Wine Spectator’s Top 100; A Nouveau Feeling – Nouveau Thanksgiving Day Sale Wine; California New Arrivals; Cedric Bouchard Roses de Jeanne: Arriving December 1st; Beaucastel
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Wine Spectator’s Top 100 Wines of 2017
Act fast – these wines are selling like crazy!
#5
Chateau de Saint Cosme Gigondas, Rhone 2015 750ML ($69.95) $59 special – in stock now!
Chateau de Saint Cosme Gigondas, Rhone 2015 1.5L ($119.95) $119 special – in stock now!
Wine Spectator 95 points “A textbook version of the brawny side of Gigondas, this offers a grippy alder bass line underneath layers of dark currant and fig fruit, while lots of tobacco, rosemary and bay fill in throughout. Muscular and energetic, this is built for the cellar. Best from 2019 through 2030.”
#6
Domaine Huet Vouvray ‘Le Mont’ Demi-Sec, Loire 2016 750ML ($59.95) $49 special – in stock now!
Wine Spectator 95 points “This tilts toward the flattering side of off-dry, showing a plump feel to the core of creamed pear, white peach and yellow apple fruit. Lovely verbena, honeysuckle and mineral accents keep this balanced and driven, with a long finish that lets the fruit echo. Drink now through 2032.”
#7
Arriving in May 2018
Chateau Canon la Gaffeliere, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru 2014 750ML ($119.95) $99 pre-arrival special
Wine Spectator 95 points “This cuts a wide swath, with mouthwatering tobacco and warm ganache notes leading the way, followed by a wave of fig, blackberry and black currant preserves. Shows remarkable definition already, even though the structure is strident. Tempting now, but just put this in the back of the cellar. Best from 2020 through 2035. 4,083 cases made.”
Antonio Galloni 95+ points “One of the wines of the vintage, the 2014 Canon La Gaffelière is explosive, lifted and aristocratic in its breeding. Bright Cabernet Franc aromatics give the wine its signature lift and precision. Raspberry jam, rose petal, mint, blood orange, tobacco and pomegranate build slowly on the palate, leading to a super-expressive, finely knit finish. Powerful yet also impeccably refined, the 2014 has it all. The 2014 is 55 % Merlot, 37 % Cabernet Franc and 8 % Cabernet Sauvignon. Don’t miss it. Tasted two times.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~
A Nouveau Feeling
Nouveau Thanksgiving Day Sale Wine
Beaujolais Nouveau is a fun tradition to take part in—wine rushed to market to capture all of the gorgeous, fresh fruit that fades with aging—the wines are almost like tasting out of fermenter. Too often, though, the result is wines which are over-manipulated and industrial—forced to market too soon through a wave of winemaking tricks that leave them tasting like banana candy.
There is a Nouveau Wave in Beaujolais (and here in Oregon), though. Producers are making wines which are called Nouveau and which are made in that spirit, but are allowed to take their time and finish fermentation on their own, with natural yeasts and minimal intervention. Some years that means that they are released for “Nouveau Day” and sometimes they aren’t, but this year, we’re excited to present Domaine Dupeuble’s Noveau on the “official” day.
This is a wine that’s a perfect example of what we love about the fresh stuff. Imported by Kermit Lynch, it’s fresh, lively and practically drinkable by the pint. This is something to pour at Thanksgiving, Christmas or just next Tuesday, with Pizza. Enjoy.
Dupeuble Pere et Fils Beaujolais Nouveau, Beaujolais 2017 750ML ($21.95) $17 special
Dupeuble Pere et Fils Beaujolais Nouveau, Beaujolais 2017 1.5L ($41.95) $36 special
Importer note “Tradition runs deep in the family, but each generation has also managed to add something new, including increasing the property. Today it is comprised of one hundred hectares, about forty percent of which is consecrated to vineyards. Strong advocates of the lutte raisonnée approach to vineyard work, they tend their vines without the use of any chemicals or synthetic fertilizers. The vineyards, planted primarily to Gamay, face Southeast, South, and Southwest, and about two thirds of the property is on granite-based soil. The grapes are harvested manually and vinified completely without SO2. The wines are not chaptalized, filtered, or degassed and only natural yeasts are used for the fermentation. The wines of Dupeuble represent some of the best values in the Beaujolais today and are widely regarded for their very high quality and eminently reasonable price.”
See the complete list below of all wines on sale now for Thanksgiving Specials!
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Nouveau-ly Arrived
[Really, We Can’t Help It–Sorry]
From California
Ramey Woolsey Road Vineyard Chardonnay Russian River Valley 2014 750ML ($69.95) $56 special
Antonio Galloni 94 points “The 2014 Chardonnay Woolsey Road Vineyard is a powerful, intense wine with real phenolic intensity. This is an especially rich, deep and layered wine with exquisite finesse and pedigree. Readers should be prepared to cellar the 2014 for at least a few years. This is a special Chardonnay in the making.
Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2014 Chardonnay Woolsey Road Vineyard has exotic jasmine, pineapple and guava notes with hints of crème brulee and croissant. Medium-bodied with plenty of finesse in the mouth, it gives a nice balance between the fruit and savory flavors, with a silken texture and finishing long and toasty.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Ramey Platt Vineyard Chardonnay Sonoma Coast 2014 750ML ($69.95) $59 special
Wine Advocate 95 points “The 2014 Chardonnay Platt Vineyard has expressive pink grapefruit, warm peaches and brioche notes with hints of praline and ginger. Medium-bodied with great richness and depth in the mouth, it has a lovely creamy texture offset by a wicked backbone of freshness, finishing long with mineral and savory/yeasty layers.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Ramey Ritchie Vineyard Chardonnay Russian River Valley 2014 750ML ($69.95) $59 special
Antonio Galloni 95 points “The 2014 Chardonnay Ritchie Vineyard is the most exuberant and layered of David Ramey’s Chardonnays. It is also stylistically the wine that is closest in style to past. Rich, sumptuous and layered, the Ritchie expresses intensity in all of its dimensions. Even with all of its richness, the 2014 confers aromatic intensity and freshness. This, too, is very nicely done.”
Wine Advocate 95 points “Youthfully mute at this primary stage, the 2014 Chardonnay Ritchie Vineyard offers suggestions of lemon curd, white peaches and white grapefruit with underlying notes of honeyed toast and butterscotch. The palate is full-on seduction with an appealingly oily texture and tons of peaches and cream flavors, finishing long with a lively lift.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Ramey Annum Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2014 750ML ($99.95) $79 special
Antonio Galloni 91-94 points “The 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Annum is shaping up to be a jewel of a wine. Rich, unctuous and powerful, as it was last year, the 2014 is endowed with layers of dark, silky fruit, striking inner sweetness and gorgeous aromatics, all qualities that are typical of the eastern portion of Oakville.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $96
Ramey Pedregal Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville 2014 750ML ($219.95) $169 special
Antonio Galloni 92-95 points “The 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Pedregal Vineyard is another hugely promising wine from David Ramey. Exotic in its aromatic profile, with tons of depth, the 2014 is exceptionally beautiful, layered and nuanced. This is a gorgeous and highly nuanced wine with a bright future.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $187
Peter Michael ‘Les Pavots’ Estate Red, Knights Valley 2013 750ML ($219.95) $189 special
Robert Parker 98+ points “The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Les Pavots, which is their proprietary red wine blend from Knights Valley, is a killer effort, and one of their all-time greats, ranking right up there with the 2007 or 1997. A blend of 69% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Cabernet Franc and the rest Merlot and Petit Verdot, there are 3,600 cases of it. The wine displays plenty of mocha, chocolate, blackberry, creosote and charcoal in an incredibly complex fragrance. Full-bodied and opulent, it shows, loads of tannin, a hint of unsmoked cigar tobacco and plenty of black and blue fruits. Opaque purple to the rim, this wine is in need of a good 5-6 years of cellaring and certainly has 30-40 years of life in it.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $226
Dominus Estate Christian Moueix, Napa Valley 2001 750ML ($299.95) $219 special
Robert Parker 98 points “A brilliant showing for Christian Moueix’s well-known Napanook Vineyard, the 2001 Dominus is a blend of 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc and 10% Petit Verdot. A classic in the making, this is a flawless, seamless example of elegant, complex Napa Cabernet Sauvignon that possesses a Bordeaux-like personality. This gorgeous, sexy, opulent, dense ruby/purple-colored wine reveals sweet caramel, mocha, creme de cassis and kirsch notes intermixed with a hint of espresso roast as well as underbrush. Ripe, long and full-bodied with well-integrated tannin, acidity, alcohol and wood, this prodigious 2001 is drinkable now and over the next 25+ years given this estate’s longevity track record. A virtually perfect wine, it is one of the most complex 2001s at present.”
Colgin Cellars IX Estate Syrah, Napa Valley 2014 750ML ($349.95) $319 special
James Suckling 97 points “Incredible aromas of grilled meat, blackberries, rose petals and black velvet. Medium to full body and ultra-velvety tannins — even if this doesn’t show at first. It lags for five or six seconds and then grows and grows. Linear structure.”
Robert Parker 95 points “Lastly, the 2014 Syrah IX Estate has this incredibly fragrant, flowery bouquet that makes it seem as if there were some Viognier co-fermented with it, but it’s always 100% Syrah coming from their steep vineyards. Oodles of honeysuckle, blackberry, black cherry, graphite and some exotic white fruits seem present in this full-bodied, lush, savory, sexy and intense wine that is irresistible in 2014, and for that reason, destined to be drunk in its first 10-15 years, although I suspect it could last longer.”
Bedrock Wine Co. ‘The Bedrock Heritage’, Sonoma Valley 2016 750ML ($59.95) $46 special
Winery note “Diane Kenworthy, who has overseen farming at Bedrock Vineyard for the last ten years, has a sage mantra that the best vineyards teach you how to farm them over time. I think the same can be said of making wines from a great vineyard. Over time you see the gentle nuances of ripening and subtle variations in a vineyard. You gain a better understanding of maximizing the potential of a vineyard in a given year rather than attempting to force it into a particular style. Bedrock Vineyard is always going to have orange-scented perfume and rooted tannins, but outside of that I have been amazed by the variations of vintage. A wine that is well-built, a little gruff at first, but full of nuance, soft eyes, and a well-hewn heart. Composed of the 27 different varieties found in the old vines at Bedrock Vineyard, the wine is dominated by the classic California field blend of Zinfandel, Carignane, Mataro, Petite Sirah, Syrah, and Alicante Bouschet. However, it also has Cabernet, Merlot, Castets, Trousseau Noir, Grenache, Bequignol, Mondeuse, Semillon, Tempranillo, Muscadelle, and more. From the heart of Sonoma Valley, this is the wine closest to our hearts.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Bedrock Wine Co. Evangelho Vineyard Heritage Red, Contra Costa County 2016 750ML ($41.95) $34.90 special
Winery note “Coming from own-rooted Zinfandel, Mataro, Carignan, Palomino, Alicante, and Mission planted in the 1890s on 40’ banks of granitic beach sand, this wine is a unique expression of a California field blend.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Paul Hobbs Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, St Helena, Napa Valley 2014 750ML ($349.95) $269 special
Lisa Perrotti-Brown – Wine Advocate 95+ points “Made from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon and displaying a deep garnet-purple color, the 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard opens with pronounced crème de cassis, mocha, black forest cake and cloves over lavender, bay leaf and menthol nuances. Full-bodied, concentrated and seductive, it has a gorgeous velvety texture and plenty of freshness lifting the opulent flavors, finishing with a spices and herbs kick.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $287.73
The average price is $300
Paul Hobbs Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Oakville 2014 750ML ($519.95) $449 special
Lisa Perrotti-Brown – Wine Advocate 98+ points “Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard reveals notes of blackberry preserves and blueberry compote with chocolate box, star anise, sandalwood, dried meat and black loam nuances. The full-bodied palate is earthy and muscular, with a solid frame of ripe, grainy tannins and just enough freshness to support the taut earthy and savory flavors, finishing on a lingering spicy note. 840 cases were made.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Cedric Bouchard
Roses de Jeanne
Arriving December 1st
Always highly allocated, the (mostly) 2013 release of Cedric Bouchard will be magical. Since 2000, Cedric Bouchard has created single-vineyard, single-vintage wines described by Peter Liem as “exquisite… champagnes of remarkable density and concentration.”
“The Bouchard wines deconstruct Champagne into purest essence, with a range of single-vintage, single-variety, single-vinyard Champagnes of remarkable transparency and breed… There are few wines from anywhere in the world that give more pleasure than Cedric Bouchard’s Champagnes. Don’t miss them.” –Antonio Galloni
Cedric Bouchard Roses de Jeanne Cote de Bechalin, Champagne NV (2010) 750ML ($119.95) $99 pre-arrival special, 16 bottles available
Cedric Bouchard Roses de Jeanne La Haute-Lemblee Blanc de Blancs Brut, Champagne 2013 750ML ($149.95) $119 pre-arrival special, 4 bottles available
Cedric Bouchard Roses de Jeanne La Boloree Blanc de Blancs, Champagne 2013 750ML ($179.95) $149 pre-arrival special, 1 bottle available
Cedric Bouchard Roses de Jeanne La Presle, Champagne 2013 750ML ($179.95) $149 pre-arrival special, 2 bottles available
Cedric Bouchard Roses de Jeanne Les Ursules Blanc de Noirs, Champagne 2013 750ML($119.95) $99 pre-arrival special, 2 bottles available
Cedric Bouchard Roses de Jeanne Les Ursules Blanc de Noirs, Champagne 2013 1.5L ($319.95) $279 pre-arrival special, 3 magnums available
Cedric Bouchard Roses de Jeanne Blanc de Noirs Cote de Val Vilaine, Champagne NV (2015) 750ML ($69.95) $59 pre-arrival special, 36+ bottles available
Also arriving in December:
Christophe Mignon Brut Nature Pur Meunier, Champagne NV 750ML ($59.95) $46 pre-arrival special, ETA Late December
Importer note “This zero dosage 100% Pinot Meunier cuvée is a stunner. Beautiful, expressive nose of red fruits and faint floral aromas. Rich on the palate with balanced acidity, taut minerality and a super dry finish. Sourced from a vineyard located in the communes of Festigny and Le Breuil. Blend of parcels planted in 1976.”
Visit our web store to see our complete list of Champagnes, from Grower to Grande Marques!
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Beaucastel
2016 Chateauneuf-du-Pape: A Classic Vintage
“The growing season was warm during the day, but cool at night, with an unusually large diurnal swing, leading to slow, even ripening across all varietals while maintaining acidity. Reds are laden with fruit, yet extremely racy and fresh in feel; whites are pure, bristling with energy. A truly rare vintage. 96-99 points.” – Wine Spectator on the vintage
For many lovers of the southern Rhone, Chateau Beaucastel represents the ne plus ultra of meaty, earthy and rich Chateauneuf du Pape. The estate is a landmark, both because the Perrin family (who have owned the estate seemingly forever) is an excellent ambassador for the region and because the style of the estate is pretty well unmatched by anyone in the area.
Beaucastel is unusual in Chateauneuf for the high percentage of Mourvèdre used in the blend, resulting in dark wines with a rich earthiness that balances the otherwise generous fruit. Beaucastel is good every year, but in great years, like ’16, they’re epic. Even before Chateauneuf du Pape was collectible or sought after as a region, the wines from this venerable estate were in high demand—and that demand continues today. We’re pleased to announce that we now have pricing and quantities to offer for the 2016’s. Don’t delay—these are wines to buy quickly and age slowly.
Chateau de Beaucastel Arriving in Spring 2018
Chateau de Beaucastel Chateauneuf-du-Pape Blanc, Rhone 2016 750ML ($89.95) $79 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 94 points “The family is a great believer in Roussanne as the white grape of the Southern Rhône, and the 2016 Chateauneuf du Pape Blanc includes 80% of that variety. Waves of honeyed pineapple and tangerine sorbet flood the senses. This is really lush, yet it’s underscored by a briny sense of freshness that prolongs and lingers on the finish. It may be drunk young or aged several years.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Chateau de Beaucastel Chateauneuf-du-Pape Blanc Roussanne Vieilles Vignes, Rhone 2016 750ML ($179.95) $159 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 96 points “The 500-case production of this wine comes from a three-hectare parcel of Roussanne planted in 1909. The 2016 Chateauneuf du Pape Roussanne Vieilles Vignes takes the quality of Beaucastel’s traditional white and raises it another level. Caramelized pineapple sounds sweet and cloying, but it isn’t when it’s backed by amazing texture, citrus zest and a briny sensation on the never-ending finish. As this was the last wine of my visit to the estate, I found it especially hard to spit out.”
Chateau de Beaucastel Arriving in Late Fall 2018
Chateau de Beaucastel Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Rhone 2016 750ML ($79.95) $69 pre-arrival special
Chateau de Beaucastel Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Rhone 2016 1.5L ($169.95) $149 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 95-97 points “No surprise, the 2016 Chateauneuf du Pape takes the quality of the Coudoulet and ratchets it up a notch (or two!). I tasted the preliminary blend from foudre and was blown away by its potential. At 35% Mourvèdre, 25% Grenache, 15% Syrah, 10% Counoise, 5% Cinsault and 10% other permitted varieties, it shows amazing purity in its scents of dark fruit and licorice, richness and weight without any excess of alcohol and a finish that goes on and on.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today for the 750ML!
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ravenous for Rhone?
We offer 117 red Rhone wines in stock now – including these newly arrived gems below!
Chateau de Beaucastel Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Rhone 2013 750ML ($79.95) $59 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2013 Châteauneuf du Pape is a beauty and has a rare level of concentration and depth in the vintage. Blueberry, crushed flowers, pepper, and violet aromas and flavors flow nicely to a medium to full-bodied, structured and tannic Beaucastel that has impressive purity and plenty of length. It’s not massive, but still needs 4-5 years of cellaring and will keep for a decade after that.”
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 92 points “Opaque ruby. Deep-pitched black and blue fruit liqueur aromas are complemented by suggestions of licorice and cola. Broad, sweet and fleshy, offering concentrated blackberry and boysenberry flavors enlivened by juicy acidity and a peppery spice nuance. Tightens up slowly on the youthfully tannic, focused finish, which clings with resonating spiciness and outstanding tenacity.” JR
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $83
Le Vieux Donjon Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Rhone 2011 750ML ($59.95) $39 special, 10 bottles in stock now
Josh Raynolds – Vinous 93 points “Bright ruby. A heady bouquet presents candied red fruits, garrigue, woodsmoke and cured meat, with an exotic Asian spice quality gaining strength with air. Sappy, penetrating and seamless, offering sweet, concentrated red and dark berry flavors and a touch of licorice. The smoke and spice notes come back strong on the clinging finish, which is framed by silky, nicely woven tannins. This already shows terrific complexity.”
Domaine de Beaurenard Chateauneuf-du-Pape Boisrenard, Rhone 2012 750ML ($69.95) $49 special, 6 bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 95 points “Offers a grippy feel, with taut licorice and tar notes stretching from start to finish. Ripe plum, raspberry and blackberry fruit flavors fill in the core, while hints of anise and juniper hang in the background. The finish reveals a bolt of graphite. Should age very nicely. Best from 2015 through 2030. 125 cases imported.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $63
Domaine de Beaurenard Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Rhone 2007 750ML ($39.95) $33 special, 6 bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 91 points “Fresh and forward, with rounded texture and slightly jammy notes of plum, fig and blackberry fruit laid softly over a mineral streak. Open and juicy through the finish, picking up blueberry and fruitcake hints that balance the forward fruit. Drink now through 2019. 8,330 cases made.”
Josh Raynolds – Vinous 90 points “Vivid red. Pungent bouquet of smoky red berries and cherry-cola complemented by notes of Asian spices and vanilla. Sappy, palate-coating red fruit flavors are given bite by a note of white pepper and pick up a candied floral quality on the back half. Drinks well now, and finishes with very good clarity and sweet persistence.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $36
Chateau La Nerthe Chateauneuf-du-Pape Cuvee des Cadettes, Rhone 2005 750ML ($149.95) $99 special, 6 bottles in stock now
Wine Advocate 95+ points “Coming from a selection of the top parcels of the estate, and a blend of 43% Grenache, 36% Syrah and 21% Mourvèdre, the 2005 Châteauneuf du Pape Cuvee des Cadettes was aged all in smaller barrels prior to bottling. Like the classic cuvee, it’s still youthful and lively, with gorgeous blackberry, cassis, toasted spice, vanilla and charcuterie-like qualities all emerging from the glass. Full-bodied, concentrated and still structured, with the firm tannic spine that’s common in the vintage, it’s nevertheless beautiful today given its wealth of fruit and texture. This is a classic, age-worthy Châteauneuf that will have 25+ years of overall longevity when all is said and done.”
Wine Spectator 95 points “This delivers attention-grabbing mocha and cocoa aromas and offers a lush palate of juicy plum sauce, raspberry and boysenberry fruit, with licorice snap and graphite. The long, driven finish is really fine-grained, and this gains steam as it moves along. Drink now through 2025. 1,500 cases made.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $170
Domaine du Pegau Chateauneuf-du-Pape Cuvee Reservee, Rhone 2008 750ML ($69.95) $59 special, 6 bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 92 points “A dark, lightly chewy style, with roasted mesquite and dark licorice notes leading the way for a powerful core of black Mission fig, blackberry preserve, Turkish coffee and bittersweet cocoa notes. There’s a flash of truffle on the finish. Drink now through 2022. 3,300 cases made.”
Josh Raynolds – Vinous 91 points “Saturated ruby. A wild, highly expressive bouquet displays red and dark berries, Asian spice and musky garrigue, accented by smoke and game notes in the background. Juicy and precise, with sweet raspberry and cherry flavors that take a bitter turn with air. Tannins come on late and add grip to a long, sappy finish.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $67
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Thank you for reading!