2014 Produttori del Barbaresco Crus!
“The Most Under Rated Producer in All of Burgundy”
New Grapelive Review for a Dönnhoff Classic
Rosé of the Day Staff Pick
Get the Insider Scoop from Wine Spectator
New Foillard Arriving Tomorrow
Trending Wines
Willi Schaefer – The Ne Plus Ultra of Mosel Wine
2014 Produttori del Barbaresco Crus!
Arriving May 3rd
Produttori del Barbaresco is revered for producing classically-styled Barbaresco and Riservas of uncompromising quality and transparency. It’s a miracle that these wines are still affordable and available, especially when compared to the skyrocketing prices of Barolo. You’d be hard-pressed to find such consistent quality and complexity out of such an extensive range of single-vineyard Nebbiolos anywhere else. We are pleased to present the 2014 Crus – a range already receiving rave reviews from Italian expert Antonio Galloni:
“Piedmont fans will want to be on the lookout for the 2014 Riservas from Produttori del Barbaresco when they are released later this year. I can’t think of too many wines that offer this level of quality for what remain incredibly fair prices. Managing Director Aldo Vacca told me the 2014 harvest stretched from October 8 to 24, which is very late by present day standards. The 2014 Riservas are dark, potent and built for aging… In many years, this range includes one or two slight underperformers, but in 2014, the wines are superb across the board. Some will drink well earlier than others, of course, but this is one of the most consistently outstanding set of Riservas I can remember tasting here.” –Antonio Galloni
Consider yourself warned: These are HIGHLY limited in comparison to prior vintages (Rabaja 750’s are already sold out). Shop the complete list now by clicking here!
Arriving May 3rd:
According to Burghound
New Henri Prudhon Arrives
Most of the time when the phrase “cult wine” is used we think of small production, pricy wines with lots of points. But, every now and then, we see a wine that breaks that mold and the wines from Domain Henri Prudhon are prime examples. They aren’t expensive (or big or rich) but they are hard for us to source because they occupy a unique place in the Burgundy world. For one, they’re incredibly fairly priced, which seems to be rarer than ever before in Burgundy, but most of all, they’re mineral driven wines—even the reds.
The Prudhon wines, both white and red, seem to hold the essence of their stony terroirs inside of them. Both red and white have a minerality and precision that’s very old-school and completely captivating. They’re held back before release and so in this case both the whites and reds are from outstanding vintages, especially for the cooler St. Aubin terroir that the Prudhon family owns. This set is really something. We’ve probably said more than we should already, but here’s your first chance at them—and we can’t promise they’ll be available for long. Most of the whites arrive tomorrow, with a few stragglers and the reds arriving in the first week or so of May.
Whites Arriving Tomorrow:
Henri Prudhon & Fils Aligote, Burgundy 2016 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 pre-arrival special
Burghound “Spicy aromas of primarily green apple and citrus precede the racy, intense and delectably delicious flavors that exhibit fine length on the saline and agreeably very dry finish. A quality effort and worth your interest”
Importer (Neal Rosenthal) Note “Prudhon’s exemplary Aligoté comes from two plots—one in Saint-Aubin and one in Puligny-Montrachet—totaling just under a half-hectare. The vines are between 30 and 60 years old, and the wine is aged in stainless steel and bottled on the early side to preserve freshness”
Burghound “Here too the expressive nose flashes notes of green apple along with those of lemon zest and white flowers. There is a bit more volume if not quite the same energy to the agreeably textured flavors that offers very good depth and length in the context of what is typical for the genre. This too is worth considering.”
Burghound 90 points “The fresh and expressive nose is notably more floral in character with its aromas of Granny Smith apples, lemon-lime and matchstick hints. There is really good punch to the well-delineated medium-bodied flavors that conclude in a compact, stony and youthfully austere citrus-inflected finish that is quite dry. This is pretty tightly wound at present but my sense is that it should open up relatively quickly.”
Importer (Neal Rosenthal) Note “The beautifully situated “La Chatenière” sits right next to “Sur Gamay” on the slope (its northern edge is the southern edge of “Sur Gamay”). Prudhon owns a painfully tiny parcel here—barely a tenth of a hectare of 40-year-old Chardonnay—and the wine is always a standout, suggesting its close proximity to grand cru territory with a richer palate than the preceding wines. “La Chatenière” sees one-third new oak each year (Prudhon typically produces just three barrels, one of which is always new), but the wine bears next to no trace of wood influence.”
Burghound 90 points “A nicely complex combination offers up notes of apple and pear compote that is laced with hints of grapefruit and spiced tea. The middle weight flavors possess even better mid-palate concentration if not the same minerality or complexity on the fleshy, very dry and focused finale.”
Importer (Neal Rosenthal) Note “As the name implies, this parcel of approximately ¾ of an hectare sits on a hillside overlooking the neighboring hamlet of Gamay (directly east of Saint Aubin and a neighbor to Puligny). The vineyard is a mix of 20 year old and 60 year old vines. The soils are classic clay and limestone and the vineyards face southwest. As with the other 1er Cru whites, this wine ages in barrel (20% new oak) for 12 months before bottling. The “Sur Gamay” yields a complex wine that often requires several years to express its full character marked by notes of honey and minerals.”
Burghound 91 points “An attractively pure and expressive nose is comprised of green apple, pear, floral hints and mineral reduction scents. There is plenty of the hallmark minerality of a fine Perrières as well as good vibrancy on the utterly delicious and complex flavors that conclude in a clean, dry and mildly austere finish that is like rolling small stones around in the mouth. This too is good stuff.”
Importer (Neal Rosenthal) Note “Les Perrières” sits just below “Sur le Sentier du Clou” on the slope, immediately north of the village itself, and the Prudhons own a half-hectare of 35-year-old vines here. It’s typically more firmly mineral and linear than “Sentier du Clou,” and this 2016 follows suit, with a strict, tightly focused palate of immense electricity.”
Burghound 91 points “There is a whiff of the exotic present on the mandarin orange, white peach and hint of lychee-suffused aromas. There is a bit more volume, particularly on the mid-palate, to the medium-bodied flavors that possess a highly seductive texture on the markedly more complex and persistent finish. Good stuff.”
Importer (Neal Rosenthal) Note “Always a standout in Prudhon’s cellar, “Sur le Sentier du Clou” produces both white and red wine of great character. The Prudhons own a 0.4-hectare parcel of 35-year-old Chardonnay in this vineyard, which lies in the heart of the western flank of Saint-Aubin, completely surrounded by other premier crus.”
Burghound 88-91 points “A typical Puligny nose combines notes of white flower and white-fleshed fruit with those of spice and soft citrus nuances. There is a more sophisticated mouth feel if not the same complexity to the delicious and solidly concentrated flavors that are also generously proportioned before concluding in a sappy and persistent finish. It’s possible that this will ultimately catch the Houillères but for the moment its Chassagne cousin has the edge. Note that this should be approachable young if that’s your fruit preference.”
Importer (Neal Rosenthal) Note ““Les Enseignères” is one of those stealth values in the complex world of Burgundy. Its western border is the eastern edge of Batard-Montrachet, and it is one of the rare spots in the Cote d’Or where grand cru slopes directly down into village-level with no premier cru in between. The Prudhons own just shy of a hectare of quite old vines here—between 30 and 80 years of age.”
Reds Arriving Early May:
Henri Prudhon & Fils Bourgogne Rouge Les Charmeaux, Burgundy 2016 750ML ($27.95) $24 pre-arrival special
Importer (Neal Rosenthal) Note “This cuvée is drawn from several parcels in Saint Aubin that comprise about 7/10 of a hectare. The vines are a mix of young (10 years) and old (40 years). Clay and limestone soils with a western exposure in the western most sector of the village of Saint Aubin. The wine is aged in small barrel for eight months but no new oak is used.”
Case-12 Henri Prudhon & Fils Saint-Aubin Les Argillers Rouge, Cote de Beaune 2015 750ML ($379.95) $299 pre-arrival special (that’s only $24.92/bottle!)
Importer (Neal Rosenthal) Note ““Les Argillers” sits on the upper reaches of the slope of Saint-Aubin, just south of “Le Ban” and bordering the forest. Prudhon farms two hectares of 30-to-60-year-old vines here, and the wine they produce tends to be snappy, mineral-driven, and floral—less about Pinot Noir plushness and more about the freshness and drive of a cool-climate red wine.”
Burghound “A pretty and fresh mix of red and dark raspberry aromas reveals earth and soft spice nuances. There is better volume to the sappy, round and succulent middle weight flavors that possess a bit more overall depth and length as well as slightly more supporting structure.”
Case-12 Henri Prudhon & Fils Les Frionnes Rouge, Saint-Aubin Premier Cru 2015 750ML ($479.95) $389 pre-arrival special (that’s only $32.42/bottle!)
Importer (Neal Rosenthal) Note “The Prudhons own a solid hectare of vines between 30 and 60 years of age in this premier cru that lies just to the north of “Les Perrieres.” In keeping with the Prudhon house style, “Frionnes” emphasizes the freshness and raciness of Saint-Aubin—there is virtually no new oak used in its elevage, and there’s a certain restraint and brightness to the fruit that feels self-assured and very terroir-loyal.”
Burghound “A spicy and again attractively fresh nose offers up notes of red currant, black raspberry and a hint of violet. The mouth feel of the medium-bodied flavors is also sappy and round with reasonably good vibrancy to the naturally sweet finale. This should be enjoyable young if that’s your preference.”
Case-12 Henri Prudhon & Fils Les Rouges Gorges, Saint-Aubin Premier Cru 2015 750ML ($479.95) $389 pre-arrival special (that’s only $32.42/bottle!)
Importer (Neal Rosenthal) Note “his wine is produced from two separate parcels: one on a hillside above the hamlet of Gamay and the other from a parcel between Saint Aubin and Chassagne Montrachet. The average age of the vines is 50 years (as of 2011). A classic wine of this sector with compelling notes of animal and wild berries. The elevage is about 18 months before bottling; again, very little new oak is used.”
Burghound 87-90 points “Here the expressive nose is spicier still with its layered array of various red berries, soft earth and pretty floral nuances. There is a bit more volume to the slightly richer, seductive and caressing medium weight flavors that exude a subtle minerality onto the mildly austere and rustic finale. This could use a few years to round out.”
Case-12 Henri Prudhon & Fils Sur le Sentier du Clou Vieilles Vignes Rouge, Saint-Aubin Premier Cru 2015 750ML ($479.95) $389 pre-arrival special (that’s only $32.42/bottle!)
Burghound 89-91 points “This possesses the most elegant and perhaps even the most complex nose in the range with its layered assortment of red and black cherry, plum, violet and freshly turned earth scents. The fine complexity continues onto the solidly concentrated and more obviously mineral-inflected flavors that possess a relatively sophisticated mouth feel while concluding in a balanced and lingering finish. This is really quite good and worth considering.”
Importer (Neal Rosenthal) Note “This wine is from some of the oldest vines in the estate, planted between 40 and 80 years ago (as of 2011). The parcel is about 1.5 hectare in size and sits on a hillside between Saint Aubin and Gamay with an east-southeast exposure. There is an elevage of 15 to 18 months (with very little new oak used). Perhaps the most serious and complex of the red wines of the domaine with a character dominated by red fruits and spices supported by substantial backbone.”
Whites Arriving Early May:
Henri Prudhon & Fils Saint-Aubin Le Ban, Cote de Beaune 2016 750ML ($39.95) $33 pre-arrival special
Burghound 88 points “An admirably subtle application of wood can be discerned on the perfumed array that reflects notes of pear, floral and a whiff of tangerine. There is both good volume and richness to the plump, round and delicious flavors that exhibit a bracing salinity on the nicely detailed, dry and clean finale. This should reward a few years of cellaring but be approachable young too.”
Importer (Neal Rosenthal) Note “This village level white is sourced from multiple parcels that cover 2 2/3 hectare; the bulk of the vineyards are hillside situated and are found in the southwestern quadrant of the village. The age of the vines varies from 10 to 60 years (as of 2011). The soil is clay and limestone and the exposition is south-southeast. No new oak is utilized on this cuvée and the elevage is about eight months long.”
Burghound 89 points “Notes of green apples, matchstick and plenty of citrus elements introduce the round, caressing and utterly delicious medium weight flavors that possess good sap for such young vines, all wrapped in a sneaky long finish. This too should be enjoyable on the younger side.”
Importer (Neal Rosenthal) Note ““Les Castets” sits just underneath “Le Ban,” and it marks the beginning of a swath of premier crus that form the “fillet” of the slope above the village itself. Produced from a miniscule 0.3-hectare parcel, it shows more richness and breadth on the palate than “Le Ban” above, but with a similar vibrancy. Prudhon’s vines here are 15 years old, and they employ a modest 25% new oak, which the premier-cru density of the wine absorbs well.”
For a Dönnhoff Classic
“I actually find this wine more of a pathway to heaven”
Weingut Donnhoff Roxheimer Hollenpfad Riesling Trocken, Nahe 2017 750ML ($44.95) $33 pre-arrival special
Grapelive 93 points “The 2017 Hollenpfad Trocken is gorgeous and mineral driven with radiant yellow fruits, perfumed and classically stony in nature[. T]his is the essence of Dönnhoff and a tribute to Cornelius’ talent in the vineyards and his cellar…. Anyone that has recently tasted Dönnhoff understands this instinctively and these last three vintages have been absolutely outstanding, with both the trockens and sweet(er) wines excelling, especially bottling like this dry Hollenpfad Riesling….The Erste Lage Roxheimer Höllenpfad is a very famous, steep, south-facing vineyard of weathered red sandstone, and the old name Höllenpfad translates into English as “path to hell” and was likely named for the red sandstone soils, an anomaly in the Nahe, and maybe the hard work required to hand tend this vineyard. I actually find this wine more of a pathway to heaven, it is a beautiful and striking example of crisp dry Nahe Riesling with layers of fresh apricot, peach and tangy tangerine fruits, driving, but smooth acidity, steely class that reminds of Chablis along with a touch of tropical fruit, lime blossoms, saline, an almost meatiness, seductive rosewater and a hint of ginger and clove spiciness. This vintage is wonderfully expressive, refreshing and shows subtle depth and density/extract and it gains in textural form with air, highlighting this vineyard’s Premier Cru class and complexity. This is a serious effort and rivals some very expensive GG’s, but it is also a young wine that can be enjoyed now with much less quilt for popped the cork as it is a great value. This 2017 Hollenpfad can be and is remarkably flexible with cuisine choices and can be a porch pounder as well, it’s a fabulous Summer white, don’t miss it.”
The next best price is $37.99
The average listed price is $40
Summer is coming! One of the best ways to celebrate the season is with some good, local rosé. My favorite of the year is from Crowley. It is block-picked from the Four Winds Vineyard and clocks in at a refreshing 12.5% alcohol. Tyson Crowley works exclusively with dry-farmed fruit, resulting in wines of depth and concentration without excessive ripeness or alcohol. This is profound rosé that offers one of the best values in local wine in the shop. Snap up your case and enjoy over the next year – it will be even better as it ages!
Crowley Rose of Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2018 750ML ($21.95) $18 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Winery Note “Our personal preference for Rosé is a more Provençal-leaning style, biting and herbaceous with just enough succulent fruit to soften the edges. Low alcohol and high acid, refreshing and crisp…delivering the feeling like you aren’t really drinking, so why not keep going?! The best Rosé does that, and we wanted to see if we could draw closer to that benchmark….Color is probably the biggest wild card with Rosé and a pesky holdout until the wine finishes. You never quite know until bottling what color you have but we really like this one! Two-thirds of this wine was fermented in barrel for aromatic nuance and the rest in stainless steel to maintain edginess and cut. It all worked out and in the end we’re proud of the adjustments and really love this wine. Making Rosé is fun, probably since it’s meant to be paired with all manner of fun endeavors. Enjoy!”
Want to see all 75+ bottlings of rosé that are available to purchase right now in our webstore? Just click here for a full list.
Get the Insider Scoop
With New Wine Spectator Insider Reviews
Philip Togni Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2016 750ML ($159.95) $138 special
Wine Spectator 94 points
The average price nationally is $153
Wine Spectator 95 points “HOT WINE. Features a surprising amount of expression packed into a light frame. This very minerally white is elegant, showing beautiful harmony throughout. Refined flavors of clementine, Bosc pear, quince and elderflower are offset by a bright structure. Intense, but not overripe, with focused acidity, plenty of slate and mineral notes, and a finish filled with hints of pepper and chamomile. Drink now through 2031.”
The average price is $53
Newly Reviewed & Arriving ETA May:
“One of the movers and shakers in the Grosses Gewächs movement in Germany”
–Rudi Wiest Selections
Okonomierat Rebholz Birkweiler Kastanienbusch Riesling Grosses Gewachs, Pfalz 2017 750ML ($99.95) $69 pre-arrival special
Wine Spectator 95 points “This dry Riesling combines power and grace, with a fierce attack of zesty floral and mineral notes, expressing kumquat and nectarine details midpalate. Shows an impressive concentration of flavors packed on an elegant frame, with an underlying mineral streak running from start to finish. This is well-toned and full of energy. Best from 2022 through 2034.”
Wine Spectator 93 points “Very well put together, but could use a few more years to fully harmonize. Powerful acidity takes over the citrus and orchard fruit flavors. A bit hard to understand now, but orange oil and quince accents emerge with air, while star anise, mineral and spice details add to the charm. Best from 2023 through 2032.”
New Foillard ArrivesTomorrow
2017 is one such classic vintage—it’s an archetypical, yet powerful, year for Beaujolais. The wines, Foillard’s especially, are fresh and bright yet rich, packed with minerality and floral aromatics. The 2017’s also show incredible terroir distinction, with each cuvee showing what makes it special. The Corcellete is floral and silky, delicate but intense, whereas the Cote du Py shows more exotic spices and overt power. Finally, the Les Charmes is compact and sinewy (in part because it’s released later and is from the leaner 2016 vintage)—the highest altitude plot of the bunch, it has a bit more tannin but should blossom with a few years of age. (There’s also a miniscule quantity of the new “Athanor” super-cuvee for those who have to have the best.)
These wines are no longer cheap, but every time we drink them we’re reminded that they are some of the best wines made in their price points. Whenever they’re on the table, they’re remarkable—no matter what else is on the table with them. They arrive tomorrow in very limited quantities.
Arriving Tomorrow:
Only three bottles remain available.
Domaine Jean Foillard Morgon ‘Cuvee Athanor,’ Beaujolais 2015 750ML ($119.95) $99 pre-arrival special
Importer note “A classic grand cru Beaujolais bottling, it gives a soft, supple wine, immediate in its pleasures. When you taste a Foillard Morgon, you know you are drinking great wine. Organic.”
Domaine Jean Foillard Morgon Cote du Py, Beaujolais 2017 750ML ($49.95) $41.90 pre-arrival special
Domaine Jean Foillard Morgon Cote du Py, Beaujolais 2017 1.5L ($99.95) $89 pre-arrival special
Importer note “The dark ruby robe, gorgeously perfumed fruit, and silky long finish of this intoxicating cru are a force that can’t be reckoned with. Discover it for yourself. Organic.”
Domaine Jean Foillard Morgon Les Charmes Eponym, Beaujolais 2016 750ML ($49.95) $41.90 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 93 points “A bottling from the lieu-dit of Les Charmes that debuted with the 2013 vintage, the 2016 Morgon Eponym opens in the glass with notes of rose hip, dark plums, espresso roast and grilled meats, a light touch of reduction dissipating with aeration. On the palate, it’ medium to full-bodied, deep and satiny, with more savory structure and acidic tang than the softer, rounder [2016] Corcelette.”
Josh Raynolds 93 points “Brilliant violet. A highly complex bouquet evokes fresh red berries and cherries, along with suggestions of pungent flowers, minerals and Asian spices. Silky and focused on the palate, offering sweet, seamless black raspberry and floral pastille flavors underscored by a smoky mineral element. Gentle tannins come in slowly on the strikingly long finish, which shows excellent clarity and leaves behind sappy red fruit and lavender notes.”
Grochau Cellars Zenith Vineyard Pinot Noir, Eola-Amity Hills 2013 750ML ($47.95) $28 special
Josh Raynolds – Vinous 93 points “Brilliant red. Powerful, spice-accented cherry and raspberry aromas are complemented by hints of candied rose, anise and smoky minerals. Sweet and focused on the palate, offering intense red and dark berry and spicecake flavors and a strong suggestion of floral pastilles. Rich yet lithe in the style, this elegant Pinot finishes with powerful, spicy thrust and silky, slow-building tannins that contribute shape and grip.”
The next best price is $38
Andre Clouet ‘Dream Vintage’ Brut, Champagne 2004 750ML ($69.95) $59 special
100% Chardonnay, bottled one year after harvest. Disgorged on order.
Antonio Galloni 91 points “The 2004 Brut Dream Vintage is elegant, polished and medium in body, as wines in this vintage tend to be. Nicely balanced and harmonious, the 2004 will drink well for at least a handful of years.”
A perfect spring white and an astonishing value.
La Chablisienne Les Lys, Chablis Premier Cru 2014 750ML ($39.95) $33 special
Case-6 La Chablisienne Les Lys, Chablis Premier Cru 2014 750ML ($219.95) $179 special (that’s only $29.83/bottle!)
Burghound 92 points “Outstanding! A subtle touch of wood sets off airy and elegant aromas of cool wet stone, tidal pool, algae and green apple. There is an equally cool and restrained mouth feel to the delicate, intense and delineated middle weight flavors that deliver excellent length on the lacy and chiseled finale. This is a classic Les Lys of finesse.”
Wine Enthusiast 92 points “Grapes from this lesser known Premier Cru are often blended with those from Vaillons, yet La Chablisienne has bottled it as a separate wine. The coolness of the site translates beautifully into a crisp fruit expression that’s tight with acidity and minerality, ready to age. Drink from 2019.”
Domaine de L’Edre Cotes du Roussillon Villages 2013 750ML ($49.95) $38 special
Wine Advocate 95 points “One of the wines of the vintage is the 2013 Cotes du Roussillon Villages Domaine de l’Edre. While this cuvee had a rustic edge in the past, today it’s incredibly polished and pure, with brilliant aromatics of cassis, black raspberries, licorice, crushed flowers and chalky minerality. Medium to full-bodied, ripe, yet elegant and balanced, it’s a classic Roussillon that can be enjoyed today or cellared for a decade.”
The next best price is $47.99
Vinyes D’en Gabriel L’heravi, Montsant 2017 750ML ($19.95) $16 special
Case-12 Vinyes D’en Gabriel L’heravi, Montsant 2017 750ML ($219.95) $169 special (that’s only $14.08/bottle!)
Winery note “L’Heravi Joven is seductive, a rich cherry colour with hints of purple. It has a potent bouquet, with notes of red fruit, wild herbs and just a touch of sweet confectionery. In the mouth it is smooth and elegant, with intense flavours accompanied by freshness and nicely integrated tannins. It will continue to display its qualities over the next 3 years or so.”
Muller-Catoir Haardter Burgergarten Riesling Trocken, Pfalz 2017 750ML ($39.95) $31.90 special
Stuart Pigott – jamessuckling.com 94 points ” Effusive aromas of apricots and lemon zest with hints of summer flowers. At once succulent, graceful and finely nuanced on the palate, then very long and filigree at the finish. From organically grown grapes. Drink or hold.”
The Ne Plus Ultra of Mosel Wine
As with many things involving the wines of the Mosel, it’s best to let Terry Theise do the rest of the talking. He imports the wines from Willi Schaefer, but we don’t find his prose to be hyperbolic in the slightest. Ok, perhaps a touch, but seriously not by a lot—the wines are that good. Here’s what he has to say:
“For many tasters, these are the Ne Plus Ultra of Mosel wine, and they have attracted an almost religious following. Thus my most frustrating agency, as there is never enough wine. It is hard to put a finger on exactly what it is that makes these wines so precious. There is a candor about them that is quite disarming. They are polished too, but not brashly so. They are careful to delineate their vineyard characteristics, and they offer fruit of sublime purity. They are utterly soaring in flavor yet not without weight. What many of you seem to have warmed to is their clarity, precision and beauty of fruit, so maybe I’ll leave it at that!
“If you’re new to all this, there’s a reason these wines are so beloved. Part of it is they’re so scarce; the estate is all of 4 hectares with no desire to grow. Part of is the wines themselves; they’re silly with deliciousness. And as crystalline as they are, as ethereally complex and limpidly clear, they have a quality of calm; they don’t fuss at you how amazing they are. They are, dare I say, affectionate; they just sit in the glass and love you. And so we love them back. We banish all the unruly beasts of our ragged natures, and slip into the warm pool, and let ourselves, for once, be happy.” –Terry Theise
Featured Wines In Stock Now:
Weingut Willi Schaefer Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Kabinett, Mosel 2016 750ML ($37.95) $33 special
David Schildknecht – Vinous 92 points “Apple blossom, honeysuckle and clover on the nose reemerge as seductive inner-mouth perfume on a polished palate, accompanied by a juicy abundance of fresh apple, grapefruit and white peach. The delicacy and refreshment, not to mention lusciousness of fruit, conveyed on this Kabinett’s lingering finish render it almost impossible for me to spit. “It was like that already in February,” remarked Christoph Schaefer with a grin.”
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 91 points “The 2016 Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Kabinett displays a stony and floral bouquet with ripe white fruit aromas. Round, lush and sweet, with a refreshing and grippy minerality, this is a charming Riesling with mouthwatering salinity and precision in the very salty, titillating finish.”
Weingut Willi Schaefer Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Spatlese, Mosel 2016 750ML ($44.95) $39 special
David Schildknecht – Vinous 93 points “Scents of ripe pear and pineapple garlanded in heliotrope set the stage for a polished, subtly creamy palate performance at once luscious, invigoratingly tangy, and loaded with seductive inner-mouth perfume. I thought the corresponding Kabinett exquisitely delicate, but this Spätlese seems virtually weightless. The lingering finish is almost like an inhalation of flowers and wet stone, save for the tingling impingement of pear skin, a faint tang of pineapple core and a nip of cress. I sense that I may be in the minority, but I perceive 2016 as one of those vintages chez Schaefer where Himmelreich gives Domprobst a very serious run for its money.”
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2016 Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Spätlese is clear and precise on the deep and flinty nose that also shows some floral aromas. Round, lush and sweet on the palate, with delicate acidity and lingering salinity, this is an elegant and already very accessible Spätlese with a very fine, aromatic, mineral, piquant and salty finish. A classic.”
Weingut Willi Schaefer Graacher Domprobst Riesling Spatlese #10, Mosel 2016 750M ($44.95) $39 special
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 94 points “The 2016 Graacher Domprobst Riesling Spätlese (AP #10) is one of three Spätlesen that were selected in 2016. The wine has a very clear and smoky bouquet of perfectly ripe, healthy Riesling berries and yellow-fleshed stone fruits. Round, lush and piquant, this is a very elegant and stimulating Spätlese with lingering, mouthwatering salinity. The wine is complex but not all too intellectual. It has a ripe but coolish-elegant character with a long, well-structured finish.”
See the complete list of Willi Schaefer Rieslings available at Vinopolis below and click to shop!
