Time for Tempier Rosé
Top Rated Sonoma Chard and Pinot at National Best Pricing
Legendary Chateauneuf/Legendary Vintage
New Super Tuscan Treasures
New May Sale Wine: Top Value Pinot Grigio
Rose of the Day: Other Facets of Rioja
The Historic, Coveted Wines of Bernkastel
Trending Wines
The May Sale, Recapped
Time for Tempier Rosé
Tempier is the most in-demand rosé. Their pink wine from Bandol is considered to be one of the finest examples of the genre, and the wine that sparked the craze for dry rosé in the United States (thanks largely to Kermit Lynch, Tempier’s importer). We’re excited to finally be able to offer our allocation.
Please note: As with prior years, our allocation is limited and we expect most of the wine to sell tonight. We highly recommend ordering through the web store. Orders placed by email, phone or in store will not be processed until the store opens at 10 am (PT), and skus may have sold out by then.
You can view all the Tempier available on the website by clicking here.
Arriving Mid/Late June:
Domaine Tempier Bandol Rose, Provence 2018 750ML ($54.95) $49 pre-arrival special
Domaine Tempier Bandol Rose, Provence 2018 375ML ($34.95) $29 pre-arrival special
Domaine Tempier Bandol Rose, Provence 2018 1.5L ($149.95) $119 pre-arrival special
Domaine Tempier Bandol Rose, Provence 2018 3L ($399.95) $349 pre-arrival special
Love Bandol? Don’t miss the excellent Tempier reds that just arrived and the delightful rosés on offer from La Galantin, Pradeaux and Bastide Blanche!
At National Best Pricing
We have their “Seascape” Pinot and Chardonnay arriving on Friday and carrying 97+ and 98 point scores with them. The pricing is especially sharp (the best in the country) and that turns these excellent wines into arresting deals. Stop what you’re doing and load up.
Arriving Friday:
Hartford Court Seascape Vineyard Chardonnay, Sonoma Coast 2016 750ML ($79.95) $69 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 98 points “The 2016 Hartford Court Chardonnay Seascape Vineyard leaps from the glass with exuberant notes of green mangoes, yuzu, mandarin peel and pink grapefruit with touches of baker’s yeast, pie crust, beeswax and oyster shell. It’s medium-bodied with a very, very taut, intense and refreshing palate, sporting incredible tension and layers and finishing very long and very minerally. 327 cases produced.-LPB”
Wine Advocate 97+ points “The 2016 Hartford Court Pinot Noir Seascape Vineyard is pale to medium ruby-purple colored and opens with vibrant cranberries, pomegranate and Bing cherries scents with touches of underbrush, wild sage, red roses and mossy bark with a waft of tilled soil. Medium to full-bodied, the palate packs in the elegant red fruit and earthy layers, finishing on a long, lingering, provocative mineral note.-LPB”
Beaurenard Over-Delivers, Again
Working with old vines in the heart of Cheateuneuf, Beaurenard makes wines that stir the soul of any lover of the Rhone. Big, bold and loaded with complexity and detail, their wines offer tremendous drinking experience. Whether you’re looking at their top-of-the-line “Boisrenard” bottlings (perpetually one of the two or three best wines in the entire AOC) or their entry level “Tradition,” these wines offer superb value, as well. We’ve loaded up with all that we could get and they arrive on Friday.
Arriving Friday:
Domaine de Beaurenard Chateauneuf-du-Pape Boisrenard, Rhone 2016 750ML ($89.95) $75 pre-arrival special
Case-6 Domaine de Beaurenard Chateauneuf-du-Pape Boisrenard, Rhone 2016 750ML ($499.95) $419 pre-arrival special (that’s only $69.83/bottle—the lowest listed price in the country!)
Jeb Dunnuck 98 points “More complex and nuanced as well as powerful, the 2016 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Boisrenard is a field blend (two-thirds Grenache and the rest a mix of varieties) that spent 18 months in a combination of older barrels, new barrels, and foudre. Its deep purple/ruby color is followed by a sensational perfume of blackberries, black raspberries, Asian spices, and graphite. With full-bodied richness, building tannin, remarkable purity, and a huge finish, it’s going to rival the 2001 as the best vintage to date. You should have this in your cellar.”
Wine Spectator 96 points “Solidly built, with a sappy core of kirsch, blackberry paste and red licorice flavors tightly coiled together and backed by roasted apple wood, warm stone and tobacco leaf notes through the finish. The beautiful fruit should develop nicely with extended cellaring, as this has serious grip and drive. Best from 2020 through 2040. 800 cases made, 250 cases imported. — JM”
Wine Advocate 96 points “Just like the regular cuvée, the 2016 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Boisrenard includes all 18 of the appellation’s permitted varieties, although it’s mostly (66%) Grenache Noir. Strawberries and raspberries shine on the nose, followed by a full-bodied palate that’s creamy-silky and lush but also bright, lively and long. It’s a super effort, at what should be a realistic price.(JC)”
Case-12 Domaine de Beaurenard Chateauneuf-du-Pape (Tradition), Rhone 2016 750ML ($549.95) $419 pre-arrival special (that’s only $34.92/bottle—the lowest listed price in the country!)
Wine Advocate 93 points “Beaurenard has excelled this vintage. The 2016 Chateauneuf du Pape is no slouch, with ample richness, bold cherry and apricot fruit and attractive hints of dried spices and garrigue. Complex, full-bodied and supple, it finishes long and silky. It’s two-thirds Grenache Noir, with the rest composed of the 17 other permitted grape varieties.(JC)”
Wine Spectator 93 points “Nicely packed, with raspberry and plum compote flavors at the core, liberally lined with singed alder, tobacco and warm brick accents. The finish has a grippy edge, but this red stays fresh and driven overall. Best from 2020 through 2030. 6,000 cases made, 1,200 cases imported. — JM”
Now, it seems strange to see Super Tuscans as rebellious—they represent some of the pinnacles of Tuscan wine, rivaling classic Bordeaux for ageability and power. In that transition, the wines have become almost undervalued—they’re no longer the “new” thing, but for lovers of Bordeaux or California Cabernet, they represent an incredible chance to acquire age-worthy wines at (relatively) approachable prices. We’re big fans of the wines here and wanted to highlight a few that we think deserve a little more attention. They arrive tomorrow and deserve a place in any wine lover’s cellar.
Arriving Tomorrow
Podere Sapaio ‘Sapaio’ Bolgheri Superiore, Tuscany 2015 750ML ($79.95) $59 pre-arrival special
James Suckling 96 points “So much fresh pressed violet and blackberry character as well as iodine, quartz, slate and tile. Full body, grippy yet linear and polished tannins, fine acidity and a long, minerally finish. So refined. Drink in 2020.”
#25 Wine of the Year – James Suckling Top 100 in 2018
Tenuta Sette Ponti Oreno Toscana IGT, Tuscany 2016 750ML ($119.95) $89 pre-arrival special
Case-6 Tenuta Sette Ponti Oreno Toscana IGT, Tuscany 2016 750ML ($599.95) $499 pre-arrival special
James Suckling 99 points “Gorgeous floral and deep, dark berry aromas with hints of spices such as cinnamon and hazelnuts. Full body and ultra-fine and strong tannins that are powerful yet so sleek and beautiful. Fantastic length and texture. Deep, dark and profound. Takes you on a long journey and shows you its true character. Better in 2025. Give it time.”
Poggio al Tesoro ‘Il Seggio’ Bolgheri, Tuscany 2015 750ML ($39.95) $33 pre-arrival special
Case-6 Poggio al Tesoro ‘Il Seggio’ Bolgheri, Tuscany 2015 750ML ($219.95) $179 pre-arrival special
Wine Spectator 93 points “($60) Fresh black currant and leafy flavors announce this juicy red. Wild herb, graphite and olive notes complete the picture as this unwinds on the lingering aftertaste. Very youthful, yet has all the components, including a dense structure. Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Best from 2021 through 2033.”
James Suckling 93 points “A super refined and pretty red with sweet tobacco, currant and berry character. Red stone. Medium to full body, fine tannins and a fresh finish. Drink now.”
In Stock Now, More Arriving Tomorrow:
Tenuta San Guido Le Difese Toscana IGT, Tuscany 2016 750ML ($27.95) $19.50 special
Wine Advocate 90 points “A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Sangiovese, the 2016 Le Difese shows a more evident touch of ripe fruit that you don’t perceive in the Guidalberto, which makes me think it comes from the Sangiovese component that is only used in this wine. The overall effect of that ripeness is that it downplays the wine’s inner complexity. But this entry-level red from Tenuta San Guido was never aiming for huge complexity to begin with. Dark cherry and cherry is followed by wild strawberry and tangy rose hip. This wine happily delivers on its promises of freshness and accessibility.”
New to the May Sale!
In Stock Now:
Terlato Family Vineyards Pinot Grigio, Friuli-Venezia Giulia 2016 750ML ($21.95) Was $16, Now $14 May Sale Special
Case-12 Terlato Family Vineyards Pinot Grigio, Friuli-Venezia Giulia 2016 750ML ($249.95) $149 May Sale Special (that’s only $12.42/bottle!)
Jeb Dunnuck 90 points “The 2016 Pinot Grigio from Friuli is a value priced effort well worth your time and money. Citrus blossom, a touch of tropical fruits, and lots of honeyed citrus all flow to medium-bodied, nicely balanced, clean, and straight up delicious white that has plenty of texture and length yet stays fresh and lively. Drink up.”
Wine Enthusiast 90 points “Heady aromas of pear, beeswax and white spring flower take center stage in this lovely white. The medium-bodied palate doles out white peach, citrus and almond flavors, with fresh acidity.”
Now it’s even lower!
The average listed price is $20
In Stock Now:
#93 Wine Enthusiast Top 100 Wines of 2018
Bodegas Muga Rosado, Rioja DOCa 2017 750ML ($17.95) $14 special
Josh Raynolds 92 points “Pale orange. A highly aromatic bouquet displays fresh red berry and citrus zest scents, along with suave mineral and floral flourishes. Dry and focused on the palate, offering bitter pomegranate, redcurrant and blood orange flavors that take a deeper and sweeter turn with air. Finishes with intense mineral cut and excellent clarity, leaving persistent red berry and floral notes behind.”
Wine Enthusiast 90 points “Bright, peppy aromas of tangerine and nectarine are clean and attractive. A healthy palate braced by proper acidity offers flavors of cantaloupe and peach, while this is steady and fresh on the finish.”
Just click here to view the full list in our web store.
Doctor + Badstube From Thanisch
The challenge is worth it, though, as the best wines from the Doctor, including these from Thanisch, are spectacular indeed. Every year we fight and scrap to secure as much as we can from Thanisch, who’s turned into a cult classic producer. They make bottlings from two vineyards. One is from the Doctor and the other from the Badstube, which incorporates a few different vineyards in and around Bernkastel. These wines are the essence of thrilling Mosel wines, with a richness and stature that only the Doctor can bring.
In Stock Now:
Dr. H. Thanisch Bernkasteler Doctor Riesling Kabinett, Mosel 2017 750ML ($39.95) $33 special
Mosel Fine Wines 93 points “The 2017er Berncasteler Doctor Kabinett offers a wonderfully complex and refined nose of white flowers, spices, whipped cream, minty herbs, earl grey and vanilla. The wine is ethereally light and refined on the palate, where it delivers some Kabinett precision and finesse with great multilayered complexity. The finish is all about finesse, delicacy and refinement. This is a great Kabinett in the making. 2027-2042.”
Mosel Fine Wines 93 points “The 2017er Berncasteler Doctor Spätlese offers a ripe nose of yellow peach, orange blossom, apricot, coconut cream, pear and smoke, all wrapped into some toffee. The wine is compact and still on the sweet side and intense on the palate. Riper fruits including apricot, mango and melon kick in and make for a delicately creamy and still rather sweet feel in the finish. This big backward offer will need more than a decade to absorb its sweetness and develop the inherent finesse of Doctor wines. 2032-2057.”
Mosel Fine Wines 91 points “The 2017er Bernkasteler Badstube Spätlese offers a gorgeously ripe and fruity nose of pineapple, candied grapefruit, melon and pear, all wrapped into a touch of aniseed herbs. It displays quite some ripe yellow fruits on the structured and quite intense palate often found in Auslese rather than Spätlese. The finish is driven by zesty acidity and spices, so that the feeling of sweetness is well packed into a racy structure. 2025-2037.”
Mosel Fine Wines 90 points “The 2017er Bernkasteler Badstube Kabinett displays a subtly fruity and floral aromatic profile with great complexity and finesse on the nose. Notes of whipped cream, candied grapefruit, yellow peach, pear and herbs are wrapped into delicately cream and light sweetness on the palate. The finish is light-weighted and delicately creamy. 2025-2037.”
Dr. H. Thanisch Bernkasteler Doctor Riesling Kabinett, Mosel 2016 750ML ($49.95) $39 special
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2016 Berncasteler Doctor Riesling Kabinett has a lovely clear and aromatic stone fruit bouquet with coolish, flinty slate aromas. Lush, round and highly attractive on the palate, this is a very elegant and charming Doctor with a seriously mineral, stimulatingly salty finish. Tasted March 2018.”
David Schildknecht – Vinous 92 points “Musky, sweaty notes mingle with scents of ripe pear, white peach, decadent freesia and lily. The palate impression is lusciously fruity, subtly sweet, faintly creamy and extremely delicate – perfectly suited to the prominence of inner-mouth perfume. The finish features striking lift along with inhalative flavor retention. (Breathing in and out after spitting – or swallowing – it’s almost as if the wine hadn’t left your mouth.)”
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2016 Berncasteler Doctor Riesling Spätlese shows a complex, smoky, fresh and elegant bouquet but is still slightly reductive. Piquant and mineral on the palate, with generous fruit, this is an elegant, crystalline and complex Doctor Spätlese with a dense, salty, very expressive and persistent finish. Keep this wine for at least a decade. Tasted March 2018.”
David Schildknecht – Vinous 92 points “A product of picking on three different days, this “regular” Doctor Spätlese bottling (there are two others from Thanisch in 2016) leads with alkaline, saline scents of sea breeze such as I can’t recall before from this site. With that comes a greenhouse-like allusion to flowering and leafing things, as well as intimations of the fresh apple, pear, and honeydew melon that dominate on the glossy palate. This is startlingly cool and northerly-fruited in personality for a Doctor Spätlese, which complements the sense of delicacy delivered on a lingering finish transparent to alkaline and stony nuances. And in enjoying it, I didn’t once think about sweetness, because its presence is modest and entirely supportive.”
David Schildknecht – Vinous 91 points “Ripe pear and apple dominate on the nose as well as on a silken, buoyant palate, supported by subtle sweetness. Mouthwatering salinity and transparency to crystalline stony nuances give the long, refreshingly juicy finish a fascinating and delightful sense of shimmer.”
Mosel Fine Wines 90 points “The 2016er Badstube Kabinett was harvested at 88° Oechsle. It offers a delicately ripe nose of pear, earthy spices, slate and smoke. The wine comes to life on the palate as acidity peps up some succulent pear right into the long finish and gives it a gorgeously lively and well-balanced side. The after-taste is elegantly playful. 2026-2041”
Dr. H. Thanisch Bernkasteler Badstube Riesling Spatlese, Mosel 2015 750ML ($31.95) $28 special
John Gilman 93 points “The 2015 Badstube Spätlese from Weingut Dr. Thanisch is a lovely wine, wafting from the glass in a complex and vibrant aromatic blend of white cherries, delicious apple,. slate, lime blossoms and a topnote of bee pollen. On the palate the wine is pure, medium-full and very elegant, with lovely filigree, racy acids and outstanding length and grip on the complex, vibrant and bouncy finish. I really love the structural tension of this wine.”
Wine Advocate 92+ points “The 2015 Bernkasteler Badstube Riesling Spätlese is perfectly ripe and elegant on the nose, with a clear and aromatic Riesling aroma intermixed with slate and noble sur-lie flavors. Lush and round, very elegant and precise, this is a very fine and delicate Spätlese with gorgeous fruit. The finish is long and intense, stimulatingly vital and finessed. This Spätlese is a wine to keep for two or three decades.”
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 92+ points “The 2016 Bernkasteler Badstube Riesling Spätlese offers a clear, elegant nose with bright fruit, green asparagus and flinty aromas. Racy and lush on the palate, this is a refreshing, elegant but still pretty sweet Spätlese with crystalline, piquant acidity and structure. The finish is long and complex, but the wine needs a decade to integrate all its components into a fine and elegant Spätlese. Tasted March 2018.”
Mosel Fine Wines 92 points “The 2016er Badstube Spätlese offers a nice nose made of pear, white peach, cassis, minty herbs and a hint of whipped cream. The wine is nicely playful and loaded with white fruits and minerals on the palate. The finish is beautifully playful and complex. While still young, this hints at great potential. 2026-2041”
Matello Willamette Valley Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2014 750ML ($24.95) $18 special
VinopolNote: Lots of whole cluster to balance out the warmth and richness of the year. 2014 power and fruit marries with spice and structure to produce a beautifully integrated bottle of Pinot Noir.
La Chablisienne Vaulorent, Chablis Premier Cru 2014 750ML ($39.95) $33 special
Case6- La Chablisienne Vaulorent, Chablis Premier Cru 2014 750ML ($219.95) $179 special
Decanter 95 points “An exuberant, complex nose packed full of exotic fruits, asparagus and elderflower with well integrated oak. The palate has a very strong fruity expression with an oily depth and harmony and very impressive length. All the pieces of the Chablis puzzle are in place here.”
Burghound 92 points “Outstanding. As is usually the case this is more elegant, particularly on the floral and white orchard fruit suffused nose that is nuanced by plenty of classic Chablis elements and in particular mineral reduction. There is also a bit more volume to the caressing, intense and voluminous flavors that drip with minerality on the refined but powerful finale where a discreet touch of wood arises. This offers ample development potential and should be lovely with time. Drink: 2021+”
Arnot-Roberts Sonoma Coast Syrah, California 2017 750ML ($49.95) $39 special
Antonio Galloni 93 points “The 2017 Syrah (Sonoma Coast) is a gorgeous wine and a huge overachiever in its peer group. Bright red cherry and plum fruit, rose petal, lavender and spice abound in this super-expressive, pliant Syrah. The purity of the flavors is simply remarkable. Medium in body, gracious and beautifully perfumed, the 2017 is a rock-star wine.”
Shockingly serious for the price.
Chateau du Retout, Haut-Medoc 2014 750ML ($21.95) $16 special
Case-12 Chateau du Retout, Haut-Medoc 2014 750ML ($299.95) $179 special
Wine Spectator 90 points “Delightfully ripe, with an inviting core of plum and blackberry preserves, picking up an anise edge on the finish. A solid alder spine runs throughout, adding length and definition. Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot and Merlot.”
Wine Enthusiast 90 points “With an unusually high proportion (nearly 17%) of Petit Verdot in the blend, this is both darkly structured and dark in color. It is weight, intense youthful acidity and black-currant fruits. It’s also rich, full of tannins and in need of several years.”
James Suckling 90 points “A leafy cabernet nose leads into quite a poweful and tannic palate with the sleek body of a marathon runner. Better in 2018.”
Just stunning and entering its prime drinking window. Wow.
Jacques Lassaigne Millesime Brut Nature, Champagne 2006 750ML ($119.95) $99 special
Wine Advocate 94+ points ” The 2006 Millésime Blanc de Blancs Brut Nature from Montgueux’s Le Cotet vineyard (64%) and 60-year-old vines in Les Paluets is a fascinating, absorbing Champagne. Golden in color, it offers a deep and rich yet unmasked, natural bouquet of yeasty-scented Chardonnay flavors quoting pineapples, buttercup, ripe honeydew melon, biscuits, turrón, white chocolate with pine nuts and dried apricots. Rich and full-bodied but pure and natural again on the palate, this is an intense, full-flavored and multi-layered Champagne with an alluringly salty finish. Each gram of more sugar would have reduced the purity, and by nature, the rich character of this Brut Nature that has power and complexity enough to mesmerize by its natural beauty. I tasted the wine again in November 2015 and it offered a lovely iodine and chalky bouquet, a highly elegant and balanced palate with a complex minerality and structure, and an iodine/salty aftertaste. This is great Champagne and worth a try. The wine did not see any oak, although you might feel there must have been at least a kiss of oak — none! The 2006 was disgorged in September 2013.”-SR
In Stock Now:
Piedlong Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Rhone 2015 750ML ($59.95) Was $49, Now $41.90 May Sale Special
James Suckling 95 points “10 hectares of elevated Châteauneuf-du-Pape, this is an hommage to grenache with just a hatful of mourvèdre. Ripe raspberry and red plum pastry aromas. Super silky, plush and layered. Extremely impressive. Shows fluidity and balance, density and lightness. 50% stalks (crushed).”
The average listed price is $53
Wine Spectator 95 points “($48) Loads of chalky grip keeps this wrapped up tight, but the core of steeped plum, fig and blackberry fruit is brimming with energy, while bay leaf, licorice root and charcoal notes chomp at the bit on the finish. Cellaring will rein this in. Best from 2021 through 2035. 700 cases made.”
Wine Advocate 94 points “Produced from 30-year-old vines and aged in 20% new oak, the 2015 Cornas Empreintes features classic Cornas notes of crushed stone, bloody meat and red plums. It’s full-bodied, rich and packed with fruit and tannin but supple at the same time. It’s mouth-filling and round, then finishes long, dry and mouthwatering.”
Jeb Dunnuck 93+ points “The 2015 Cornas Empreintes is unique in the lineup as it comes 30% from more limestone soils. It’s 75% destemmed and aged in 20% new French oak. It’s more elegant and focused than the opulent Premices and gives up lots of blackberry and cassis fruits, leather, crushed rock and pepper aromatics. Deep, rich, beautifully concentrated and pure, it needs short-term cellaring but is a brilliant wine that’s going to impress for 10-15 years.”
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 93 points “Opaque ruby. Spice-accented dark fruit, violet and olive scents, along with suggestions of smoky bacon and cracked pepper. Sweet and expansive on the palate, offering densely packed cassis, blueberry and spicecake flavors that become livelier as the wine opens up. Rich yet energetic in style, showing excellent delineation and dark fruit thrust on a very long, smooth finish framed by velvety tannins.”
The next best price is $44.94
Wine Spectator 95 points “This has a lovely, perfumy mix of savory, mint, tobacco, blood orange, cherry and bergamot notes, with finely beaded acidity and silky but ample structure. Long, mineral- and shiso leaf-infused finish. Best from 2020 through 2035.”JM
Wine Advocate 94 points “The flagship wine, the 2015 Chateauneuf du Pape, is a blend of 60% Grenache, 20% Mourvèdre, 15% Syrah and 5% other permitted varieties. It features delicate floral scents and ample cherry and licorice aromas. Somehow, it manages to be full-bodied and almost creamy in texture but without much weight, then it ends powerfully, with a flourish of rich Mexican chocolate on the long, silky finish. It should drink well for up to 20 years.”
The average listed price is $81
Wine Spectator 93 points “Offers a ripe, dark profile, with a core of steeped blackberry and plum fruit that picks up bay, white pepper and iron accents through the finish. Shows solid depth and fruit for the vintage, displaying excellent energy. Best from 2018 through 2029. 1,500 cases made.”