New Scott Paul Restocks!
Freshly Discounted Champagne
Trending Wines of the Weekend
Nothing Second Class About These Second Wines
Three Winter Provencal Rosé Specials
The Return of our Best Selling Pomerol
Our Best Selling, Highest Scoring Portuguese Reds Return
Wine Spectator Advance Scores (Including a 98pt Faiveley)
Just for Special Occasions?
New Arrivals from Corliss
February Sale Recap
The Great Scott Paul Selloff continues—we’re blowing through a mountain of these very discounted wines and have new wine arriving every week. These are some incredibly well made Willamette Valley wines (either by Kelley Fox or, after 2014, Ian Burch) that are now at hard-to-believe prices. From their value label, “Wildstock,” to their single vineyard and prestige cuvee bottlings, all are discounted heavily from their original prices. We’ve just received new stock on a number of previously sold-out wines and wanted to highlight them here:
Scott Paul Wines In Stock Now:
The underrated, estate vineyard counterpart to Audrey.
Scott Paul ‘Azana’ Pinot Noir, Chehalem Mountains 2013 750ML ($59.95) $24 special
Josh Raynolds 92 points “Brilliant red. Fresh red berries, cherry compote and a hint of blood orange on the highly perfumed nose and in the mouth. Juicy and lithe in character, with no rough edges; a suave floral pastille nuance emerges on the back half. Shows excellent clarity and spicy cut on the finish, which hangs on with strong, floral tenacity.”
Scott Paul ‘Azana’ Pinot Noir, Chehalem Mountains 2014 750ML ($59.95) $24 special
Wine Spectator 92 points “Broad and spicy, open-textured and appealing, showing balletic balance and featuring black cherry, rose petal and white pepper character that glides into a long and inviting finish. Drink now through 2024. 141 cases made.”
Scott Paul ‘La Paulee’ Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2017 750ML ($39.95) $18 specialFrom the famed Nysa vineyard, this is for the Burg-heads.
Scott Paul The Long Run Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills 2011 750ML ($59.95) $33 special
Josh Raynolds 92 points “(12.9% alcohol; 20% new oak): Light, bright red. Sexy, high-pitched red berry and floral scents, with notes of star anise, underbrush and sassafras adding complexity. Offers intense raspberry and bitter cherry flavors, along with notes of rhubarb, candied flowers and orange zest. This lithe, focused, pure pinot finishes linear and very long, with echoing floral and spice notes. Pinot purists should definitely check this one out.”
Wine Enthusiast 92 points “Previously labeled as Les Gourmandises, this is now The Long Run in honor of Scott Wright’s completing his first full-length marathon in 2011. It’s all Nysa vineyard fruit, graceful and delicate, scented with rose water and satin smooth. Cranberry and wild strawberry fruit accents lead into a mouthful of cherry soda, delicate but lingering.”
Scott Paul ‘Pre’ Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills 2012 750ML ($49.95) $39 special
Burghound 92 points “Outstanding. A beautifully layered and admirably pure nose is composed of plum, violets, spice and discreet sandalwood hints. There is more volume to the slightly bigger and richer medium-bodied flavors that also possess good verve on the dusty, compact and moderately firm finish. This is clearly built to age and it will need at least 4 to 5 years and reward 8 to 10. In a word, impressive.”
Josh Raynolds 92 points “Brilliant ruby-red. Assertive red berry and incense aromas, along with suggestions of Asian spices, sassafras and minerals. Spicy, focused and racy on entry, then fleshier in the mid-palate, with vibrant raspberry and bitter cherry flavors gaining sweetness with air. Distinctly lithe for the vintage, with a whiplash of juicy red fruit defining the lively, persistent finish. This fruit was grown in the Nysa vineyard.”
Wildstock Wines In Stock Now:
Wildstock Chardonnay, Willamette Valley 2014 750ML ($19.95) $11.90 special
Wine Enthusiast “This unoaked, tank-fermented, straightforward Chardonnay has a certain steely precision that underscores crisp flavors of apple flesh and skin. Botanical highlights continue through a short, sharp finish.”
The next best price is $16.99
That’s a difference of over $5/btl!
Wine Enthusiast “Freshness is the calling card here. This wine is so crystalline-clear with palate-cleansing minerality that it’s irresistible. Green apples and light citrus flavors combine in a stylish effort made for near-term enjoyment.”
Wildstock Pinot Noir, Willamette Valey 2014 750ML ($19.95) $11.90 special
“Light red. Fresh and energetic on the nose, displaying red berry and cherry aromas that betray a bit of jamminess. Sweet raspberry and floral pastille flavors of modest concentration, plus a hint of spiciness adding back end cut. Closes clean and smooth, showing decent persistence and repeating red fruit character.”-Josh Raynolds, Vinous
We’re please to offer a number of excellent Champagnes, re-arriving at great pricing from some of our favorite growers. From rich and heady prestige cuvees to fresh, bright rosé and everything in between, we’ve got something for everyone in this set, especially at the prices we’re selling them at.
Arriving Friday
Vilmart & Cie ‘Coeur de Cuvee’ Premier Cru Brut, Champagne 2009 750ML ($179.95) $115 pre-arrival special
Antonio Galloni 94 points “A racy, exuberant wine, the 2009 Coeur de Cuvée offers up a super-appealing mélange of apricot, butter, baked apple tart and vanillin. The combination of the ripe, warm vintage along with fermentation and aging in small French oak barrels yielded an especially opulent Coeur de Cuvée with plenty of exotic and tropical overtones. The 2009 will be ready to drink with minimal cellaring.”
The average price is $151
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 93 points “Macerated for a couple of hours on the skins, this NV Rosé de Saignée Brut Premier Cru is 100% Pinot Noir and is entirely based on the 2013 vintage. Disgorged in September 2017 with a dosage of eight grams per liter, this has a beautifully deep and intense Pinot character with red fruit aromas on the nose. Full, round and vinous on the palate, with great elegance, complexity and expression, this is a gorgeous Rosé with great purity, elegance and intense fruitiness. Jean-Baptiste Geoffroy is truly a master of the saignée method. Tasted April 2018.”
The average price is $70
Antonio Galloni 92 points “The 2009 Brut Cuvée Empreinte emerges from a parcel of 30 year-old vines in Cumières. Vinification and aging in oak gives the wine its sensual contours. Smoke, almond, dried pear and hazelnut lead into an expressive, layered finish. The radiance of the vintage works to flesh out some of the natural austerity of Cumières, while the wine’s balance is absolutely impeccable. Oak influences are felt, but add to the wine’s breadth rather than marking the wine excessively. Dosage is 6 grams per liter. Disgorged: December 2015.”
Wine Advocate 92 points “Disgorged in October 2015 with six grams of dosage, the 2009 Empreinte Brut Premier Cru is an assemblage of 70% Pinot Noir, 20% Chardonnay and 5% Meunier vinified in oak (barrels and foudres). It opens with a clear, intense and complex nose of white fruits along with some hints of hazelnuts, nougat and oak. Full-bodied, this is a mouth-filling Champagne with a creamy and very elegant texture, as well as very good structure. Still young and firm, this is a promising Champagne for the next 5-10 years.”
Wine Spectator 92 points “Flavors of white cherry, pastry and mandarin orange peel are layered with a subtle steak of smoke and spice in this bright and mouthwatering Champagne. Long and creamy. Disgorged September 2016. Drink now through 2027. 120 cases imported.
The average price is $61
Wine & Spirits 93 points “Mostly chardonnay, this rose includes 23 percent pinot noir, one-third of that as red wine, all of it from Villers-Marmery. Its subtle strawberry scents and more powerful red-fruit flavors have an effortless balance, just sweet enough to hold the woodsy notes of tree bark and forest-berry tartness at bay. Generous in the middle, the wine tightens toward the finish, leaving a clean, bright impression. A lovely aperitif, especially with poached prawns.” [Review is for Oct 2017 disgorgement]
Terry Theise note “Arnaud’s energetic daughter Mathilde hinted she might wish to change the label on this wine, whereupon we all made Edvard Munch Scream faces and pleaded with her to leave it be. In any case the wine, after suffering from 2011’s predations, is strongly back in form the past two years. Base of 2014, it’s 75% CH, 13% PN and 10% still red PN. Disg 12/2016, this is a sheer version of this dewy-fruited being, all class and spring water purity. It’s as pretty as strawberries you never forgot because they were so divine.”
Le Clos du Caillou Cotes du Rhone Les Quartz, Rhone 2016 750ML ($31.95) $26 special
Wine Advocate 93 points “Exceeding my prebottling expectations, the 2016 Cotes du Rhone Les Quartz is a terrific effort that puts many Châteauneufs to shame. Aromas of crushed stone and raspberries mark the nose of this 85-15 Grenache-Syrah blend. It’s full-bodied and rich, with hints of chocolaty ripeness balanced by citrus zest on the lengthy finish.”
Jeb Dunnuck 93 points “Spice, loamy soil, dried red fruits, and plenty of dried floral notes all emerge from the 2016 Côtes du Rhône Les Quartz, which shows more and more minerality with time in the glass. It’s elegant and seamless on the palate, with building tannin, and is a terrific introduction into the wines of this estate.”
The next best price is $37.99
That’s a difference of over $11/btl!
Impressive, classic Chablis.
William Fevre Chablis, Burgundy 2016 750ML ($31.95) $33 special
Stephen Tanzer 88-90 points “(just 18 hectoliters per hectare produced): Hazy medium yellow. At once more fruity and more exotic than the Champs Royaux, offering scents of orange zest, lemon, mango and lichee. Fat, round, rather large-scaled wine with serious volume for a village offering, but kept fresh by a streak of limey acidity. Finishes with noteworthy persistence. This will be good in six months but needs time to knit.”
Burghound 88-90 points “A ripe and fresh nose offers up notes of iodine, oyster shell, mineral reduction, pear and plenty of citrus influence. There is fine density to the concentrated and sappy flavors that possess fine volume while delivering very good length and solid depth. Good stuff and worth a look.”
Domaine Saint Damien Gigondas ‘Les Souteyrades Vieilles Vignes’, Rhone 2016 750ML ($39.95) $36 special
Jeb Dunnuck 97 points “The 2016 Gigondas Les Souteyrades checks in as 80% Grenache and 20% Mourvèdre that was brought up all in foudre. It’s another powerful, concentrated, awesome wine that has slightly more exotic notes of black raspberries, crushed flowers, spice, and sappy garrigue. I almost always find a citrus note in this cuvée, which is full-bodied, opulent and mouthfilling on the palate, yet always stays graceful and lively.”
Wine Spectator Top 100 in 2018
Domaine des Baumard Quarts de Chaume, Loire 2015 750ML ($99.95) $89 special
Domaine des Baumard Quarts de Chaume, Loire 2015 375ML ($59.95) $49 special
Wine Spectator 98 points “Highly Recommended. Waves of creamed Jonagold apple, Cavaillon melon, mirabelle plum, mango and white peach flavors provide thrilling range, while flashes of honeysuckle and verbena add detail and focus throughout. Unctuous yet pure, sweet yet invigorating, with an inner brightness that matches the outward hedonism. Best from 2020 through 2045. 100 cases imported.”
Staff Pick!
Weingut Alfred Merkelbach Kinheimer Rosenberg Riesling Spatlese #2, Mosel 2017 750ML ($34.95) $26 special
Mosel Fine Wines 92 points “The 2017er Kinheimer Rosenberg Spätlese AP 2 was harvested at 88° Oechsle. It exhibits beautifully complex and refined aromatics blending floral elements with vineyard peach, grapefruit and spices. The wine is slightly reductive at first on the palate as it displays quite some racy acidity wrapped into a straight and pure structure. Notes of grapefruit, orange zest and spices emerge in the finish and lead to a slightly herbal and freshly tart feel in the after-taste. This is packed with quite some elements and only needs a couple of years to fully shine. 2025-2037.”
Terry Theise note “Same exact parcel, one harvest day apart. This one’s drier and the acid-phenolics are more grippy; a curious departure from their usual type, denser, more inscrutable. A case could be made for combining the fuders…but I didn’t make it. I’m into small-batch.”
Rich, powerful and affordably priced from Mordoree
Domaine de la Mordoree Chateauneuf-du-Pape La Dame Voyageuse, Rhone 2016 750ML ($59.95) $49 special
Jeb Dunnuck 95 points “The new entry-level release from this estate is the 2016 Châteauneuf-du-Pape La Dame Voyageuse, a more Grenache-dominated blend of 90% Grenache, 4% each of Mourvèdre and Syrah, and the balance Counoise and Vaccarèse. Aged mostly in tank, with 15% in old barrels, it boasts a deep violet/purple color as well as a full-bodied, voluptuous style in its blueberry and cherry fruits, violets, damp earth, and spice-laced aromas and flavors. This cuvée is always more upfront and sexier compared to the more structured La Reine des Bois cuvée, and it’s already drinking brilliantly today. Nevertheless, it will keep for a good 10-15 years if you’re so inclined.”
New classic from old vines.
Olivier Riviere ‘El Cadastro’, Arlanza 2014 750ML ($39.95) $28 special
Case-12 Olivier Riviere ‘El Cadastro’, Arlanza 2014 750ML ($419.95) $299 special (that’s only $24.92/bottle!)
Luis Gutierez-Wine Advocate 95 points “The 2013 was not produced, so we jumped to the 2014 Viñas del Cadastro, an old-vine cuvée with some varieties mixed in the field together with the Tempranillo, mostly some Garnacha, but also some isolated plants of Bobal, Garnacha Tintorera or other varieties. This is a ‘domaine’ wine, produced with grapes from his own vineyards, including the grapes from his flagship vineyard El Quemado in the years where it’s not bottled. There is a lot more depth and complexity here; it’s not heavy at all and it’s very balanced, and it feels like a very good vintage for this wine. It was produced with extremely low yields, some 1,500 kilos of grapes from hectare, but it doesn’t have the astringency you often find in very low yields; the vines seem to have achieved very good balance. It combines floral notes with some red and black wild berries and just a spicy twist. The wine opens up nicely with time in the glass. The tannins are very fine with the subtle austerity from the stony, deep gravel soils, coming through as extremely elegant and definitively fresher than 2012, with the alcohol pretty integrated despite having some 14.5% by volume. This is a superb Arlanza, by far the best wine I know from the small appellation. This isn’t cheap, but for the quality, it still represents very good value. 6,000 bottles were filled in September 2016. Frenchman Olivier Rivière has decided to only release his top wine from Arlanza, El Quemado, in the very best vintages, so he will bottle it in 2015 and 2016, which will be the first since 2011. In the mean time, all the best grapes go to the Viñas del Cadastro cuvée.”
The average price is $34
Nothing Second Class
About These Second Wines
Many top wine estates have second labels—wines that offer a chance to taste the style and quality of a top estate for less scratch. We’ve got two fine examples arriving at the end of this week and you’d be wise to pay attention to both. Mt. Eden is a classic California producer and their “Domaine Eden” bottling offers a glimpse into the style and substance of the Santa Cruz Mountains producer at a fraction of the price of their top end bottling (especially at the price we’re offering it at). Likewise, Pingus’ “Flor de Pingus” is a blockbuster, powerhouse of a wine that only lacks one thing: the triple digit price tag of its big brother. Both arrive Friday at unusually reduced pricing—pricing we won’t be able to offer again when these sell out.
Arriving Friday:
Mount Eden Vineyards ‘Domaine Eden’ Chardonnay, Santa Cruz Mountains 2014 750ML ($34.95) $21.90 pre-arrival special
Jeb Dunnuck 92 points “Showing a deep gold color, the 2014 Chardonnay (57% declassified Mount Eden Fruit, aged 10 months in 35% new barrels) offers lots of orchard fruits and buttered citrus, terrific minerality and reductive notes, medium-bodied richness and a silky texture. It has bright acidity, and while it doesn’t quite have the balance and finesse of the Mount Eden Chardonnay releases, it is a terrific Chardonnay.”
The next best price is $24.95
The average price is $30
James Suckling 95 points “Almost black-purple color. Dense black fruits aromas, fine oak and elegant dry tannins that are beautifuly integrated in the rich body. The long finish is already graceful thanks to the spot-on balance. Drink now.”
The next best price is $79.99
That’s a difference of over $13/btl!
The average price is $89
Three Winter Provencal Rosé Specials
We love drinking rosé in the winter and we love buying it even more this time of year. Winter time means closeout sales from distributors which mean slashed prices for you. Case in point? These three brilliant pink wines from Provence are all classics and also much less expensive than they were in the peak of summer. Stock up for drinking now until the next round of pink wine arrives.
Just Arrived:
Domaine de Terrebrune Bandol Rose, Provence 2017 750ML ($31.95) $27.75 special
Case-12 Domaine de Terrebrune Bandol Rose, Provence 2017 750ML ($349.95) $299 special (that’s only $24.92/bottle!)
Josh Raynolds 92 points “Light, bright orange. Intense, mineral-laced citrus fruit, redcurrant and peach aromas, along with a sexy floral overtone. Juicy and penetrating on the palate, offering subtly sweet red berry and pit fruit flavors that tighten up and become more nervy on the back half. Smoothly blends power and finesse and finishes with outstanding clarity and mineral- and floral-driven persistence.”
The average price is $35
Case-12 Clos Sainte Magdeleine Cassis Rose, Provence 2017 750ML ($449.95) $299 pre-arrival special (that’s only $24.92/bottle!)
Importer Note “Cassis is not only an active port, but what Kermit calls “an earthly paradise.” The vineyards of Clos Sainte Magdeleine are particularly stunning. They jut out on a private cape to meet majestic limestone cliffs, poised spectacularly above the sparkling, azure Mediterranean. With landscapes such as these, it is only fitting that writers and poets alike have found inspiration in Cassis. Only a handful of vignerons today are fortunate enough to produce A.O.C. Cassis, and the small quantities available are largely consumed locally with fresh fish—the best way to enjoy them.”
The average price is $37
Case-12 Chateau de Roquefort Cotes de Provence Corail Rose 2017 750ML ($279.95) $169 pre-arrival special
Josh Raynolds 90 points “Brilliant pink. Incisive and highly perfumed, displaying intense aromas of fresh red berries, tangerine and succulent flowers that show impressive delineation and mineral lift. Stains the palate with juicy raspberry, pink grapefruit and candied lavender flavors that deepen steadily on the back half. Finishes long, minerally and smooth, with repeating citrus fruit and floral character and a touch of spicy white pepper. This wine delivers superb bang for the buck.”
The Return of our Best Selling Pomerol
Arriving ETA February 28th:
Case-12 Chateau Bel-Air Pomerol 2010 750ML ($419.95) $299 pre-arrival special (that’s only $24.92/bottle!)
Grapelive 92 points “The vintage shows through here without question, a great year makes this lovely Pomerol a terrific value and wonderfully textured wine from Chateau Bel-Air. This dark and full bodied Pomerol hits all the right notes and does so with class, vitality and verve. It shows beautiful detail and complexity in a forceful, but elegantly pure Merlot. This is really seductive stuff in the glass, holding its own against far more expensive labels with ease and poise. The rich layers of fruit, mineral tones and sweet tannin give decadence and refined structure, highlighting Merlot’s promise in a world that sometimes lacks the respect of this often maligned varietal. Chateau Bel-Air has captured in the bottle the right bank’s charm and beauty in this 2010, it shows terroir, with subtle loamy/earth, plummy dense mouth feel and stylish silken length with a wine that has the potential to age another 10 to 15 years, but is pretty darn good right now too. The lead off here is dark floral tones a hint of smoky cedar and black cherry fruit with blackberry, plum, dark kirsch liqueur along with a touch of mint, dried clay, a touch of cigar wrapper and vanilla. This fine Bordeaux delivers well beyond its price and is wonderful with food choices that range from duck breast, lamb, roast pork, wild mushroom dishes to prime rib, and or any comforting winter fare really, and it can also be enjoyed with cheeses or on its own. This is the kind of wine that brings you back to Bordeaux, and certainly makes you wonder why you don’t drink more Merlot. Drink this Chateau Bel-Air Pomerol from 2016 to 2028.”
The next best price is $39.99
That’s a difference of over $11/btl!
Our Best Selling, Highest Scoring
Portuguese Reds Return
Portugal remains an outstanding source for full bodied, powerful red wine. Continually overshadowed by its Iberian neighbor, the reds from Portugal are woefully undervalued. This pair from Quinta da Falorca is perfect proof—two 95 point reds for under $40/bottle. The Touriga sold incredibly well last time it was in stock and we’re excited to get it back again, especially paired with the slightly more elegant Reserva Lagar (which has a few other grapes blended in). Once this tranche sells out, they’ll be gone forever, so if you loved Falorca before (or are intrigued now) you should jump in with both feet.
Arriving February 28th:
Quinta da Falorca Touriga Nacional, Dao 2011 750ML ($59.95) $39 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 95 points “The 2011 Touriga Nacional Quinta Da Falorca is a blend of Touriga grapes from three plots, two with 40 years of age and the third at ten. It was aged in new French oak for 18 months. The combination of power, finesse and seduction here make this more than a little enticing. To be sure, it is rather unevolved and it needs to pull in a little oak. Even now, though, it is slowly gathering itself. The crisp, flavorful finish, balance and good structure will support this for a couple of decades in all likelihood. It finishes with controlled power and persistent flavor. It is always a wine that leans a bit to the Burgundian and this year is no different. I liked last year’s version a lot. That may in fact be a bit lusher. This has a bit more lift, focus and penetration, granting that they are not now side-by-side. It is a very nice duo. In the long run, this will win out. It was far superior the next day, its combination of finesse and precision winning out. It has an Old-World feel (forgive the stereotype).”
Quinta Da Falorca Reserva Lagar, Dao 2011 750ML ($59.95) $39 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 95 points “The 2011 Reserva Quinta Da Falorca Lagar is a blend of Touriga Nacional (70%), Alfrocheiro (15%) and Tinta Roriz (15)%, aged for 18 months in new French oak. On opening, this didn’t seem anywhere near as silky as the Touriga Nacional, also reviewed. On the second day, if anything, it was more so, very Burgundian and very graceful, but also more powerful, with a bit more astringency on the finish. There are expressive fruit flavors around the edges, but, as with the Touriga, this is unevolved and needs time despite its late release. It is potentially a big winner, but I liked the Touriga slightly better just now. That could easily change.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Wine Spectator Advance Scores
Including a 98 Point Faiveley
Wine Spectator always publishes a few newsletters (Insider and Advance) that give us the heads up on scores in the upcoming issues. We’ve got three recently reviewed wines available for purchase, including the 98 point, in stock Clos de Beze from Faiveley.
In Stock Now:
Only seven bottles available
Domaine Faiveley Chambertin Clos de Beze Grand Cru, Cote de Nuits 2016 750ML ($449.95) $379 special
Wine Spectator 98 points “A rich, powerful version, backed by flashy oak and beefy tannins that sandwich the flavors of black cherry, blackberry, licorice, iron and tobacco. Concentrated, yet vibrant and long. Best from 2024 through 2050. 500 cases made.—B.S.”
The average price is $422
Arriving Friday:Bedrock Wine Co. Old Vine Zinfandel, Sonoma Valley 2017 750ML ($29.95) $24 special
Wine Spectator 93 points “Old-school meets new in this Zinfandel, with just enough polish and plumpness to match the briary rusticity. Offers expressive black cherry, smoky anise and white pepper flavors. Drink now through 2024.”
Arriving ETA June:
Louis Jadot Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru, Cote de Nuits 2016 750ML ($249.95) $199 special
Wine Spectator 97 points “Rose, cherry and spice aromas introduce this light-bodied, saturated version. The flavors add wild strawberry, incense and kirsch notes, while remaining persistent on the kaleidoscopic finish. Feels tense now, yet should develop nicely over time. A mineral element lingers. Best from 2023 through 2045.”
Enter Thierry Triolet’s Champagnes. The grapes are grown in the Cote de Sezanne region of Champagne. The clayey soils and warmer weather help produce grapes that are sought out by the Grande Maisons for their vibrant fruity aromas. In the hands of Thierry and his wife, Frederique, the wines offer the depth and complexity you’d expect from a Grower-Producer who also sells to Krug & Billecart Salmon.
These are by definition of crowd-pleasing Champagnes: fun, friendly, balanced and highly drinkable. The acidity is never overbearing nor do these need years in your cellar to show well. And we adore the herbal nuances that add further complexity to aromas of fresh picked apples, citrus and flowers. So stock up and celebrate daily life in style!
Perpetually one of the best values at Vinopolis.
Thierry Triolet Carte Noire Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($44.95) $31.90 special
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 90 points “(90% Chardonnay and 10% Pinot Noir; 10 g/l dosage): Light yellow. Vibrant, mineral-accented aromas of fresh citrus and orchard fruits, with suave floral and candied ginger notes adding complexity. Fleshy and broad on entry, then tighter in the mid-palate, offering juicy green apple and orange zest flavors and a touch of white pepper. Closes silky and smoky, with good clarity and length.”
Thierry Triolet Cuvee Grande Reserve Blanc de Blancs, Champagne NV 750ML ($44.95) $36 special
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 91 points “Pale gold. Intense citrus and orchard fruit aromas are complicated by notes of honeysuckle, tarragon and iodine. Chewy tangerine and pear skin flavors become silkier and spicier with aeration. Shows a seductive floral quality on the clinging finish, which features a dusty mineral nuance and a touch of buttered toast.”
New Arrivals from Corliss
We’ve got new wines from the reference-point Washington winery, Corliss. Made with the most exquisite care from one of the best vineyards in the state, these are wines that belong in the discussion of greatest Cabernet (or Bordeaux blend) made in the USA.
Corliss Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley 2013 750ML ($99.95) $89 special
Stephen Tanzer-Vinous 96+ points “(aged in 70% new oak for 28 months; this bottling will be labeled Red Mountain beginning with the 2014 vintage): Bright red-ruby. Extremely primary, pure aromas and flavors of inky cassis, blueberry, licorice and minerals. Tight and high-pitched in the mouth, displaying outstanding depth, energy and minerality but extremely closed in the early going. This huge wine finishes with chewy, late-arriving, toothdusting tannins that will require cellaring, even after the wine is released in the fall of 2018. Corliss has increased its use of tight-grained Saint-Martin barrels in this wine, and it will need a while to absorb the oak. Distinctly cool, even a bit medicinal, for the 2013 vintage, this is likely to be very long-lived. Winemaker Andre Trio told me he added a bit of Petit Verdot “for back-palate texture and finer-grained tannins.””
Corliss Red, Columbia Valley 2013 750ML ($79.95) $69 special
Stephen Tanzer-Vinous 95 points “(aged in 65% new French oak for 28 months): Bright ruby-red. Multifaceted nose offers aromas of currant, black cherry, cranberry, cocoa powder, licorice and Belgian chocolate, plus hint of tarry, earthy reduction. Wonderfully plush and utterly seamless, showing more obvious early sweetness than the Cabernet Sauvignon to its fine-grained dark fruit, chocolate and nutty oak flavors. An aromatically seductive wine of outstanding energy and finesse, this beauty finishes with noble, edge-free tannins that slowly saturate the front teeth. Should be fabulous upon its release in 2018.”
