Monday 1-12-15

January 12, 2015

Jump Start Sale

Re- Arriving This Friday


Felsina Chianti Classico DOCG 2011 750 ML ($24.95) $18 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 92 points
“The 2011 Chianti Classico is absolutely impressive and is one of the best base Chianti Classicos I have tasted from 2011. You feel the ripeness and heat of the vintage, but this wine also delivers surprising finesse and complexity. Black cherry and baking spice mingle on the bouquet. Soft tannins wrap around the palate. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2025.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~New Arrival Special Feature
Borgogno Barolo

Representing the historic roots of Barolo, the Borgogno winery is a touchstone for Barolo with over 250 years of winemaking in the area. This historic house was founded in 1761 by Bartolomeo Borgogno, but its real history begins when, in 1920, Cesare Borgogno, the youngest of five siblings, took over management of the family estate. A striking and charismatic figure, he immediately conveyed a sense of enthusiasm and brought about substantial innovations, leading to worldwide distribution of Borgogno wines. Upon the death of Cesare Borgogno in 1968, the running of the company passed to his granddaughter Ida and her future husband, Franco Boschis, who had both been closely involved in the operation, and then to their children Cesare and Giorgio.
Borgogno’s vineyards in the heart of Barolo
In 2008, the Boschi family sold the Borgogno winery to Italian entrepreneur Oscar Farinetti, but the winery at its core has remained very much the same. In addition to improvements around the estate, the introduction of a new owner brought to an end any wines made from purchased fruit, allowing the winery to focus on their estate bottlings, including their plots in top Barolo crus. Winemakers and original owners Cesare and Giorgio remained at the winery for several years to oversee the transition, and, starting in 2012, Andre Farinetti completed his oenology studies and took over the helm.Located in prized Barolo territory, the 20 hectare Borgogno estate draws on vines from the surrounding crus of Cannubi, Liste , Fossati, and San Pietro. Winemaking at the estate is the definition of traditional. Vinification follows the formula of long maceration and extended aging in large casks, typically beginning in stainless steel before moving to small oak barrels where the wine is aged for at least 4 years. The winery has recently begun to focus on vinfying each separate parcel to retain the fruit’s integrity and capture the terroir’s identity in their single vineyard bottlings.  A calling card for the estate is longevity, they are celebrated for their well- stocked cellar of old wines, and the wines themselves are capable of aging for over 20 years, a treat for any lover of traditional Barolo.

In Stock Available Now
Giacomo Borgogno Barolo DOCG Vigna Liste 2008 750ML ($119.95) $89 special
Antonio Galloni 93+ points
“Cool veins of bracing minerality form the backbone in Borgogno’s 2008 Barolo Liste. Today, the 2008 is virtually impenetrable, as the vintage and the site have combined to produce a big, powerful Barolo that will require considerable cellaring before it is ready to show all its cards. Still, there is a lot to like here, especially for those who can be patient. Tar, smoke, incense and scorched earth all add gravitas on the close, but with more time in the glass some of the sweeter notes begin to emerge. The 2008 Liste is shaping up to be magnificent.”Giacomo Borgogno Barolo DOCG Fossati 2008 750ML ($119.95) $89 special
Antonio Galloni 93 points
“A mesmerizing wine, the 2008 Barolo Fossati opens with hints of plum, black cherry, menthol, violets and licorice. There is an elusiveness to the Fossati that is marvelous to behold, as the wine seems to constantly change in the glass. Now that it is in bottle, the wine has shut down a bit, but its inner sweetness and perfume are still very much in evidence.”

Giacomo Borgogno Barolo DOCG Cannubi 2008 750ml($179.95) $149 special
James Suckling 96 points
“A dense, chewy wine with plum and dried fruit character. Lots of mineral, sandy and balsamic character. Full body, ripe tannins and a flavourful finish. Structured and rich. Serious Cannubi. Needs at least three or four years of bottle age.”
Antonio Galloni 94 points “Violets, tar, smoke, rose petals, spices and dark fruit are some of the many notes that emerge from the 2008 Barolo Cannubi. An intense, dramatic wine for the year, the 2008 boasts layered fruit and equally thrilling structure, even if at times it is a bit rustic. This is a decidedly burly wine from Cannubi, a vineyard mostly associated with finesse. It will be interesting to see how things come together in bottle. Today, it is the wine’s striking inner perfume that makes me most hopeful for the future.”

Giacomo Borgogno Barolo DOCG 2006 1.5liter ($219.95) $179 special
Antonio Galloni 93 points
“The 2006 Barolo is the finest young, straight Barolo I have tasted from Borgogno in a long time, maybe ever. It embodies everything that Barolo is, from the mysterious bouquet to the mid-weight expression of fruit to the firm yet regal tannins. This is simply gorgeous juice. A sensual me´lange of sweet dark cherries and leather lead to freshly cut roses, tar and licorice in this deceptively medium- bodied wine. It reminds me of the Baroli I tasted as a young person, the wines that taught me the breadth that only Nebbiolo is capable of. The powerful finish suggests the wine will age for a number of years, but with some air, the 2006 is striking even today.”

Giacomo Borgogno Barolo DOCG 2007 1.5LITER ($219.95) $169 special
Antonio Galloni 92 points
“The 2007 Barolo is gorgeous. In keeping with the style of the house, it boasts a considerably firm core of tannin that supports the fruit. There is plenty of 2007 intensity and richness in the glass, but those elements are balanced by the wine’s pure structure and inner tension. The 2007 can be enjoyed young if given some air, and it should drink nicely for a dozen years, if not longer. Even with all the tannin, I don’t see this being an especially long-lived Barolo.”

Giacomo Borgogno Barolo DOCG 2008 1.5LITER ($219.95) $179 special
Antonio Galloni 92 points
“Borgogno’s 2008 Barolo shows what a beautiful vintage this is. Dark red cherries, plums, tobacco, wild flowers, savory herbs and tobacco are some of the many notes that emerge from the glass. Over the last two years, the 2008 has blossomed beautifully in bottle. This is the best bottle I have tasted so far. The 2008 is a blend of fruit from San Pietro, Bricco delle Viole and Cannubi/San Lorenzo, all in the village of Barolo.”

This Week’s New Arrivals
OREGON
Elk Cove Pinot Noir Willamette Valley 2012 750ML ($29.95) $26 special
Wine Spectator 90 points
“Fresh and vibrant, showing polish to its currant and blackberry flavors. Finishes with density and finesse. Drink now through 2020.”Penner Ash Pinot Noir Willamette Valley 2012 750ML ($49.95) $39 special
Stephen Tanzer 90 points
“Brilliant ruby-red.  Intense raspberry and cherry aromas are complemented by white pepper, allspice and smoky minerals.  On the palate, juicy, sharply focused red fruit flavors stretch out and gain weight with air.  Finishes on a lively spicy note, with very good length and sneaky tannins.  Distinctly elegant for the vintage and very enjoyable now.”

Domaine Serene Evenstad Reserve Pinot Noir 2011 750ML ($79.95) $69 special

Domaine Serene Yamhill Cuvee Pinot Noir 2011 750ML($49.5) $41.90 special
Wine Enthusiast 90 points “The widely available Yamhill Cuvée is bright and polished, showing a tangy mix of cranberry and strawberry fruit. It’s built with precision, accenting the crisp fruit with streaks of lemon, orange and grapefruit.”

Boedecker Shea Vineyard Pinot Noir 2012 750ML ($79.95) $69 special
Wine Spectator 94 points
“Taut, focused, light, lively and inviting, with pepper and clove accents around a vivid core of cherry and raspberry fruit, dancing easily through the long and expressive finish. Drink now through 2022. 175 cases made.”

CALIFORNIA
Orin Swift Mannequin White Blend 2012 750ML ($29.95) $24 special
Wine Advocate 93 points
“The 2012 Proprietary White Mannequin is composed of 48% Chardonnay, 14% Sauvignon Blanc, 12% Grenache Blanc, 12% Viognier, 8% Marsanne, 4% Roussanne and 2% Muscat aged in 40% new French oak, 40% neutral oak and 20% stainless steel. No shy wine at 15.5% natural alcohol (but there is no heat to the wine), it offers a sensational level of honeyed mango, pineapple and other tropical fruits as well as a medium to full-bodied, luscious mouthfeel with surprisingly good acidity and freshness. The overall impression is one of honeyed pears, melons, pineapples and caramelized citrus. This killer wine should be enjoyed in its first 1-2 years of life.”
Vinopolnotes- This is the lowest listed price in the USA! The average listed price is 25% higher at $30 / bottle

FRANCE
Pol Roger Brut Blanc De Blancs 2002 750ML ($134.95) $99 special
Stephen Tanzer 95 points
“Pale gold.  Intense, mineral-dominated aromas of candied citrus fruits, pear, anise, smoky lees and chamomile, plus a sexy floral nuance and a hint of sweet butter.  Palate-staining orchard and citrus fruit flavors show outstanding depth and energy, picking up chalky mineral and spice notes with air.  Strikingly concentrated and precise wine with strong finishing punch and noteworthy persistence.  This concentrated, deftly balanced Champagne is built for a long, graceful evolution.”

Selosse Initial Grand Cru Brut Blanc De Blancs NV 750ML ($219.95) $199 special
Antonio Galloni 94 points
“The NV Initial is especially open in this release, with notable texture, richness and resonance. Lemon peel, white flowers and almonds all open up in the glass, followed by honey and slight elements of Burgundian-like reduction. Initial is always Selosse’s most vibrant wine, as it is once again this year. The pure breadth and verticality of these Chardonnays from Avize, Cramant Oger is compelling. Readers who want to explore Anselme Selosse’s wines should start here…”

Selosse Substance Grand Cru Brut Blanc De Blancs NV 750ML ($399.95) $369 special
Antonio Galloni 97 points
“The NV Substance, Selosse’s first solera-style Champagne is quite restrained in this release with more freshness and fewer oxidative notes than are typical. Honey, graphite, dried apricots, wild flowers and anise blossom in an ample, resonant Chardonnay loaded with personality. The flavors are remarkably bright, pure and focused..”

Jacques Selosse Extra-Brut Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Version Originale NV 750ML ($279.95) $249 special
Antonio Galloni 95 points
“Tasted after the Initial, the NV V.O. (Version Originale) presents slightly darker, more burnished tonalities of Chardonnay. Almond, marzipan, dried rose petals, spices and anise blossom in an ample, generous Champagne built on volume, but supported by insistent veins of minerality. Hints of trademark Selosse oxidation make the V.O. a bit more eccentric, especially for readers who might not be familiar with these Champagnes. V.O. emerges from parcels in Avize, Cramant and Oger, all Grand Cru villages. The vintages are 2006, 2005 and 2004.”

Domaine Mongeard-Mugneret Echezeaux Grand Cru 2012 ($119.95) $99 special
John Gilman 94 points
“It seems a bit disorientating to only have the single example of Echézeaux produced from the Mongeard family these days, as their Vieilles Vignes bottling was such a flagship of the estate. However, with that parcel now reverting back to a cousin, in 2012 there is just this single Echézeaux in the stable, but the wine has really turned out beautifully in this vintage. The wine wafts from the glass in a very classy blend of red plums, cherries, woodsmoke, a complex base of soil, fresh herbs, incipient notes of venison and bonfire and a fine framing of cedar. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied, complex and very refined, with a rock solid core, lovely soil inflection, ripe tannins, tangy acids and a very long, classy and palate-staining finish. Lovely juice. 2025-2075.”

Domaine Mongeard-Mugneret Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru 2012 ($179.95) $149 special
John Gilman 94+ points
“Like the 2012 Echézeaux, the Clos Vougeot from Mongeard-Mugneret is supremely elegant out of the blocks this year. The superb bouquet is a mix of red plums, cocoa, cherries, gamebirds, a touch of nutskin, woodsmoke, a fine base of soil and spicy new wood. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied, pure and complex with a sappy core of fruit, excellent focus and balance, velvety tannins and great style and grace on the long and youthfully complex finish. A great bottle of Clos Vougeot in the making. 2025-2075.”

Domaine Mongeard-Mugneret Echezeaux La Grand Complication Cru 2012 ($199.95) $179 special
Burghound 92-94 points
“A background application of wood frames the intensely floral aromas of ripe black cherry fruit and Asian spice nuances. The stems are evident on the big, dense and very serious flavors that brim with dry extract that helps to buffer the very firm tannic spine on the wonderfully complex and persistent finish. This is decidedly old school in style and I wouldn’t buy this beast without the express intention of cellaring it for the long-term.”

Domaine Mongeard-Mugneret Grands-Echezeaux 2012 ($219.95) $189 special
John Gilman 96+ points
“The 2012 Grands Echézeaux from Domaine Mongeard-Mugneret is a great young wine and a very impressive example of just how special this vintage is in the Côte de Nuits. The exceptional and quite classic bouquet offers up scents of red and black plums, cocoa, duck, woodsmoke, a beautifully complex base of soil tones and a very suave base of vanillin oak. On the palate the wine is pure, full-bodied and quite plush and refined on the attack, with a sappy core of fruit, great soil signature, fine-grained tannins and a very long, tangy and utterly seamless finish. A great wine. 2025-2075.”

Domaine Mongeard-Mugneret Richebourg 2012 ($599.95) $419 special
Burghound 93-95 points
“Don’t miss! A distinctly toasty nose of subtle spice, earth and very cool yet ripe dark berry fruit aromas are trimmed in plenty of floral character. There is gorgeous intensity to the mineral-driven big-bodied flavors that possess outstanding delineation on the extract-rich mid-palate before terminating in a refined but overtly powerful and muscular finish that delivers strikingly good length. This too is decidedly built for longer-term cellaring.”


ITALY
Isole e Olena Cepparello 2011 750ML ($89.95) $66 special
Isole e Olena Cepparello 2011 1.5LITER ($159.95) $133 special
James Suckling 95 points
“Aromas of currant, bark and orange peel. Nutmeg powder. Full body and chewy tannins. Savory, with balsamic and nuts. I love the juicy, decadent character to this. Drink or hold.”
Antonio Galloni 94+ points “Isole e Olena’s 2011 Cepparello is remarkably silky, polished and refined, especially considering the challenges of the vintage. Dark red stone fruits, wild flowers, menthol and sweet spices all meld together gracefully in the glass. Voluptuous and racy but also an impeccably balanced wine with phenomenal length and a super-expressive finish. The 2011 will offer a wide window of drinking pleasure pretty much upon release. Drink: 2017-2026.”

Isole e Olena Collezione De Marchi Cabernet Sauvignon 2010 ($99.95) $79 special
Antonio Galloni 98 points
“The 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon Collezione De Marchi is magnificent. Violets, smoke, plums and cassis jump from the glass in a stunning wine. All I can say is the 2010 is incredible. Just bottled one month ago, the 2010 shows no hard edges, incredibly expressive aromatics and beautifully delineated fruit. The 2010 isn’t a huge wine, but rather one built on exceptional finesse and elegance.  It is one of the great wines of what has turned out to be a great Tuscan vintage.”

Contesa Vigna Corvino Montepulciano d’Abruzzo 2012 750ML ($11.95) $9.90 special

Cavalchina Bardolino Veneto 2011 750ML ($14.95) $11.90 special

Rive Della Chiesa Asolani Brut Prosecco NV 750ML ($14.95) $11.90 special

Valle Dell’ Acate Ibidini Nero d’Avola 2012 750ML ($17.95) $14 special

SPAIN
Descendientes de Jose Palacios Pétalos del Bierzo 2012 ($21.95) $18 special
Wine Advocate 93 points “One of my sure values, I thought the 2011 Pétalos could not be surpassed so I opened a bottle next to the 2012 Pétalos del Bierzo, and I was wrong. The 2012 is extremely aromatic, with flowery aromas of violets, lilies and roses, really fresh, with notes of red fruit (acid strawberries), no traces of oak whatsoever, subtle, really Burgundian with hints of blood oranges, denoting freshness. The medium-bodied palate is extremely balanced, elegant, round, with volume and incredible freshness. For a young, entry-level wine there is incredible complexity, developing notes of fennel and aromatic herbs, all of it very harmonious and subtle. For Ricardo there is a change to a cycle of Atlantic vintages (2012, 2013 and 2014 so far), but 2012 was a special vintage, shorter and dried, but at the same time fresh.”

Descendientes de Jose Palacios Corullon 2012 ($49.95) $39 special
Wine Advocate 95 points
“As they are growing in vineyards in Moncerbal, the Corullón bottling has more and more Moncerbal, with its base from San Martín, a little from Fontelas and El Ferro. The 2012 Corullón is very fresh and aromatic, with citric aromas, very subtle, like an amplified version of Pétalos, more fragrant and fresh than Moncerbal, really open and accessible, changing by the minute, with faint notes of underbrush and captivating hints of bitter almonds and fennel. The palate is medium-bodied, very accessible, silky, with velvety tannins and good acidity. This is approachable now, but with it’s balance, freshness and weight, it should age effortlessly and with class. I’m also tempted to say that this is the best Corullón to date”

Descendientes de Jose Palacios Las Lamas 2012 ($119.95) $99 special
Wine Advocate 97 points
“Without a doubt the 2012 Las Lamas is the star of the vintage,and I’m talking not about the winery only, but about the whole of the Bierzo! If all the 2012 wines here are flowery and perfumed, Las Lamas has aromas of white flowers rather than violets, the citric notes are finer, like blood orange zest. Ricardo feels Las Lamas was picked in exactly the correct day, because Mencía is a very sensitive grape, and if you pick it one day too late or one day too early you get over ripeness or green, vegetal aromas. He talks about wild rose and quince, and I also get some soil, earthy, Gevrey-like. I think they really hit the bull’s eye in 2012. The palate shows prodigious balance and harmony, like a tightrope walker moving steadily across the line, it dances on your tongue with the lightness and elegance of a ballerina. Ethereal, without being light.”

Pingus PSI Ribera Del Duero 2011 750ML ($41.95) $33 special
Stephen Tanzer 91 points
“Glass-staining ruby.  Dark berry, bitter chocolate and potpourri on the perfumed nose.  Spicy, penetrating black and blue fruit flavors show impressive clarity and lift, with a zesty mineral nuance adding bite.  Smooth and seamless on the subtly tannic finish, which leaves juicy blueberry and violet pastille notes behind.”

Pingus Flor De Pingus Ribera del Duero 2012 750ML ($109.95) $89 special
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 93 points
“Vivid ruby. Heady aromas of fresh blackberry, boysenberry and smoky minerals are complicated by pungent hints of vanilla, violet and allspice. Lush, intensely flavored and focused, offering deep dark berry and cherry compote flavors and a suave spicecake nuance. Finishes smooth, sweet and very long, with resonating spiciness, a hint of licorice and fully absorbed tannins.”

SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE
Mollydooker Carnival of Love 2013 750ML ($89.95) $66 special
Wine Spectator 93 points
“Dense, dark and brooding, with smoky, tarry overtones to the pulsing core of blueberry, plum and black tea flavors, weaving licorice notes through the finish.”

Ernesto Catena Padrillos Malbec Vista Flores, Argentina2013 750ML ($14.95) $11.90 special

Vina Cobos Felino Cabernet Sauvignon Argentina 2013 750ML ($19.95) $16.60 special
James Suckling 91 points “This shows such beautiful fruit with currant, walnut and light chocolate character. Full body, with firm tannins and a fruity finish. Reserve and balanced.”

Vina Cobos Felino Malbec Argentina 2013 750ML ($19.95) $16 special
James Suckling 92 points
“This intense Malbec has been rounded out with small amounts of Cabernet Sauvignon (4%) and Merlot (3%), sourced from the same sites in Luján de Cuyo, Maipú and Valle de Uco that the winery uses for all Felino wines. The wine is aged 8 months in American and French oak barrels (20% new) to further integrate aromatics and flavors.”

Just a reminder about our current shipping specials during this season:We offer flat rate shipping on any size single order / single shipment
-to Oregon for $17,
-Washington & Idaho for $20,
-and California for $25

These rates do not apply to orders held in storage here for any reason. Multiple orders consolidated into one shipment do not qualify for flat rate shipping.
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Syrah
Re-Born in the USA

With the success of Syrah in France and Australia, ambitious wine producers around the world have been inspired to cultivate this delicious varietal. The first plantings of Syrah in California took place in the Napa Valley in 1878. The majority of vines were destroyed during the 1890′s following a devastating attack of phylloxera, but, by 1898, growers were once again planting Syrah. Spreading in the United States, Syrah experienced a renaissance in the 1970’s in California and more recently has risen to new fame in Washington. A dedicated band of American winemakers, known as the Rhone Rangers, has been devoted to Syrah and Rhone varietals, encouraging the growth these grapes have seen in the US. The heat-loving Syrah grape variety has adapted well to the warm venues of California and Washington, sparking a revival of interest in these robust red wines. Syrah is known for its dark fruited character and rich tannins, common flavors can range from red berry to olive and a strong peppery characteristic can be found in all the wine to a varying extent. New World Syrah is characterized as more fruit driven than its European counterparts, but there are many producers throughout California and Washington that are producing more serious wines, worthy of contemplation and long term cellaring, with Washington producers the Reynvaan Family, and California-based Araujo and Colgin at the forefront.
Washington Syrah-based Wines In Stock and Available Now
Betz Syrah La Cote Rousse 2012 750ML ($69.95) $59 special 7 bottles available
Wine Advocate 95 points
“95 points.  More mineral-driven, with savory spices, dried earth and floral notes balanced by a rocking core of fruit, the 2012 Syrah La Cote Rousse is more backwards and reticent than the La Serenne, and will need short-term cellaring to unwind. Possessing full-bodied richness, beautiful concentration, high, yet sweet tannin, and a terrific finish, this awesome Syrah will be at its best from 2017-2027.”Force Majeure Syrah Collaboration III 2010 750ML ($149.95) $119 special 10 bottles available
Wine Advocate 97 points
“The Collaboration III is made by Mike MacMorran and is 100% Syrah from the Ciel du Cheval Vineyard on Red Mountain. The 2010 Syrah Collaboration Series III is incredible. Aged 20 months in 33% new Burgundy barrels prior to bottling, it gives up totally gorgeous notes of ripe black fruits, smoked earth, crushed rock and bacon fat. Hitting the palate with a full-bodied, elegant and seamless profile, it continues to build in the glass, showing sweet tannin, incredible purity and blockbuster length. It’s the most masculine and mineral-driven in style of the three vintages of the cuvee reviewed here.”

Reynvaan Syrah The Contender 2012 750ML ($119.95) $99 special 13 bottles available
Wine Advocate 96-98 points
“The 2012 Contender is just another incredible effort from this estate. A big, full-bodied, layered, decadent and exotic Syrah, it gives up loads of blackberry, plum, earth, cracked pepper and assorted bacon/meaty qualities that continue to change and evolve in the glass. Incorporating 3% Marsanne, it has the texture and balance to shine on release, yet will have no problems over the following decade either.”

Reynvaan Syrah Foothills Reserve 2012 750ML ($99.95) $89 special 3 bottles available
Wine Advocate 96 points
“Certainly one of the wines of the vintage, the 2012 Foothills Reserve offers additional pepper, earthy minerality, olive tapenade and cured meats in its masculine, full-bodied and layered personality. Blossoming in the glass, it’s unfortunate that there’s a scant 200 cases of this beauty to go around. Nevertheless, it has awesome purity, excellent mid-palate depth and beautiful focus and precision on the finish. Give it 1 to 2 years in the cellar and drink bottles through 2027.”

Reynvaan Syrah In The Hills 2012 750ML ($99.95) $89 special 25 bottles available
Wine Advocate 95+ points
“Starting first with the wines already in bottle, the new 2012 Syrah In The Hills is another northern Rhone styled effort that’s co-fermented with 10% Viognier and 15-30% whole cluster. Coming from the Foothills in the Sun vineyard located around the estate, it gives up a fantastic, Cote-Rotie like bouquet of bacon fat, violets, pepper and olives to go with a core of sweet black raspberry styled fruit. Medium to full-bodied, layered, seamless and beautifully concentrated, with fine tannin, it’s a knockout effort to enjoy over the coming 12 to 15 years.”

Reynvaan Syrah In The Rocks 2012 750ML ($99.95) $89 special 20 bottles available
Wine Advocate 95-97 points
“Including just a smidge (2%) of Viognier in 2012, the 2012 In The Rocks gives up lovely aromas and flavors of violets, wild flowers, smoke and assorted purple-styled fruits to go with a chewy, rich and beautifully textured profile on the palate. Staying remarkably fresh and elegant, it should be enjoyable on release and shine over the following decade or so.”

Reynvaan Syrah The Unnamed 2012 750ML ($99.95) $89 special 25 bottles available
Wine Advocate 95-97 points
“From the Rocks Region of Walla Wall, all of which were still in barrel at the time of this tasting, the 2012 Syrah Unnamed checks in as a blend of 90% Syrah and 10% Grenache Blanc that sees roughly 25% new French oak. Giving up rocking red and black fruits, black pepper, ground herbs and smoked meats, it’s a rich, full-bodied, fabulously textured effort to drink over the coming 10 to 12 years.”

California Syrah-based Wines In Stock and Available Now

Ramey Sonoma Coast Syrah 2011 750ML ($41.95) $36 special 12 bottles available
Antonio Galloni 94+ points
“Ramey’s 2011 Syrah is flat-out gorgeous. In this vintage, the Syrah includes the Rodgers Creek fruit, so it is more varietal than is typically the case. Savory herbs, dried flowers, black cherries and black pepper are some of the many notes that flow through to the finish. Quite simply, the 2011 is an extraordinary wine in its price range.”Failla Syrah Hudson Vineyard 2010 750ML ($59.95) $51.90 special 2 bottles available
Antonio Galloni 95 points
“Black olives, savory herbs, asphalt, bittersweet chocolate, cloves and menthol all flesh out in Failla’s 2010 Syrah Hudson Vineyard. A dark, rich wine, the 2010 saturates the palate with endless waves of flavor. There is so much going on in the glass, it’s hard to know where to start. A deep, layered finish rounds out this explosive, rich Syrah beautifully. Jordan used 100% whole clusters here, but they are totally integrated with the wine.”

Araujo Eisele Vineyard Syrah 2004 750ML ($179.95) $149 special 3 bottles available
Wine Advocate 92 points
“Syrah has done well in this climate, and the 2004 Syrah Eisele Vineyard is a more elegant, lighter-styled wine than I thought from tasting it last year. It is still well-delineated with a dark ruby/purple color, floral and blackberry notes, a subtle peppery touch and a hint of meat. The wine is pretty and does include a small percentage of Viognier in the blend (usually around 3-4%). Unfortunately, the production of this wine is only around 300-400 cases.”

Araujo Eisele Vineyard Syrah 2010 750ML ($249.95) $189 special 10 bottles available
Robert Parker 96 points
“Another standout, the 2010 Syrah Eisele Vineyard is drop-dead gorgeous. A bevy of black olives and plums burst from the glass in an explosive wine loaded with varietal nuance and sheer power. The cooler vintage brought out the best. This is a marvelous, totally compelling wine endowed with massive concentration and depth. The addition of 3% Viognier and a small amount of stems add complexity. Black fruit, tobacco, savory herbs, licorice and menthol are layered into the brooding finish.”

Colgin IX Syrah Estate 2006 750ml ($179.95) $149 special 1 bottle available
Wine Advocate 93 points
“Not to be forgotten are the 400+ cases of Colgin’s Estate IX Syrah. The French-styled 2006 IX Syrah Estate offers an exotic nose of roasted meats, bouquet garni, and flowers, silky tannins, and full-bodied blackberry and cherry fruit. Drink it over the next 5-7 years.”

Colgin IX Syrah Estate 2008 750ml ($199.95) $149 special 3 bottles available
Robert Parker & Wine Spectator 94 points
“Interesting French-like Syrahs are also made from the estate’s steep hillside vineyards. The 2008 IX Syrah Estate is performing even better than it did last year from barrel. Juicy bacon fat, roasted meat, grilled herb and smoky notes are classic northern Rhone Syrah characteristics. A floral component suggests some Viognier could be co-fermented, but this is 100% Syrah. The wood is well-concealed in this full-bodied, delicious wine. It is capable of a decade or more of cellaring”RP

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Staff Picks

Rive Della Chiesa Prosecco NV 750ML ($14.95) $11.90 staff pick special
“The Rive della Chiesa estate was founed in the 1940s by the Gasparetto family in the Veneto region, focusing on making expressive and pure Prosecco. A crisp sparkling with a pleasant floral aroma, this wine has a touch of sweetness on the palate that lingers with notes of grapefruit, lemon and stone fruit. Foamy bubbles, a toasty quality and steely finish make this well-priced Prosecco more than welcome at brunch or with appetizers. ”
-Afton

Descendientes J Palacios Bierzo Petalos 2012 ($24.95) $18 staff pick special
“Made from Mencia, a grape variety indigenous to northwest Spain, once thought to be Cabernet Franc. Quite floral on the nose. On the palate, ripe red raspberry  and plum, a hint of herbs, with subtle minerality, and silky, smooth tannins.  Try with grilled wild game, or barbacoa tacos. A great value at $18.”

-Troy 

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Brunello di Montalcino
&
Tenuta Ciacci Piccolomini d’Aragona

Of the three famous Tuscan wine regions producing wine from the Sangiovese grape, Brunello di Montalcino DOCG produces some of the finest, darkest and most age-worthy.  Producers here grow the Sangiovese Grosso clone, known by its local name of Brunello or ‘little dark one.’  In good vintages, the wines are full-bodied and rich, with notes of berries, vanilla, earth and spice.Although winemaking in Montalcino dates to the early 14th century, 100% Sangiovese Grosso wine was not first produced until the 1870s after the unification of Italy.  Before that time, winemakers in the area produced field blend wines that included both red and white grapes.  Ferruccio Biondi-Santi, considered the father of Brunello di Montalcino, was the first to vinify Brunello grapes separately.  He also skipped the standard practice of a second fermentation and aged his wines significantly longer in oak barrels.  His resulting wine was noticeably fresher and expressed more fruit than the rest.  By the end of WWII, Brunello di Montalcino wine had earned a reputation as one of Italy’s finest wines.  In 1980, the region became the first Italian region to be granted DOCG status.

During the 1980s, a ‘modern’ style of Brunello was developed.  While traditional wines are complex and tannic with restrained fruit, whereas the modern wines have richer fruit notes with a greater oak influence.  The traditional style follows Biondi-Santi’s practice of extended ageing in large oak vats.  The modern style incorporates a short barrel maturation in small French oak barriques.

Of recent vintages, 2004, 2006, 2007 and 2010 were considered exceptional.  2004 wines are balanced and highly aromatic.  2006 was slightly cooler than the following year, resulting in austere and linear wines with long ageing potential.  The 2007 was dry and warm, but not hot, with a long ageing potential of its opulent and balanced wines.  Wines from 2008 were very good, and the best producers made wines worth long cellaring.  The 2005 vintage was very good despite some rain during harvest.  It will be ready for you to enjoy while you are waiting for the ’06s and ‘07s.

The astonishing 2010 vintage is widely considered by critics to be one of the greatest Brunello has ever seen.  The weather during the vintage was quite similar to the 2006 vintage: mild, rainy spring with warm but not hot summers leading into a mild, dry fall.  Grapes were healthy in general without excessive yields.

We are pleased to offer our first 2010 Brunellos from Ciacci Piccolomini d’Aragona.  The estate was founded from land and cellars formerly held by the Church.  In 1877, Francesco Ciacci purchased the estate from a private owner.  The estate was renamed when his descendent married Alberto Piccolomini d’Aragona.  Guiseppe Gianchini managed the estate’s vineyards and olive groves and the food and wine production for the Countess during the mid-20th century.  She willed him the estate when she passed away without any heirs in 1985.  His children, Paolo and Lucia (pictured right), have owned and operated the estate where they grew up since their father passed away in 2004.

The vineyards are in the south of Montalcino on stony slopes near the Orcia river, which helps to moderate the microclimate of the area.  They own some of the best land within the Vigna di Pianrosso.  Vineyards are pruned in the winter to a T growth system and green harvested during the growing season to reduce and concentrate yields.  The temperature-controlled fermentation takes place in stainless steel and glass-lined cement.  The Riserva is aged in Slavonian oak for four years and in bottle for one year.  It is only produced in the best vintages.  The DOCG comes from 40 acres of vineyards with marl soil.  It is aged for 2 years in Slavonian oak and four months in bottle.  The single-vineyard is aged for three years in Slavonian oak and 8 months in bottle.

Ciacci Piccolomini Wines Arriving March 2015
Ciacci Piccolomini d’Aragona Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2010 750ML ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival special
Ciacci Piccolomini d’Aragona Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2010 375ML ($34.95) $26 pre-arrival special
James Suckling 94 points
“Very perfumed with flower, truffle, light wet earth and cherry character. Full body and full integrated ripe tannins and caresses your palate. Very fine and pretty. Slight soya undertone. Succulent and enticing. You want to drink this. Better in 2016.”Ciacci Piccolomini d’Aragona Pianrosso, Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2010 750ML ($79.95) $66 pre-arrival special
Ciacci Piccolomini d’Aragona Pianrosso, Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2010 1.5LITER ($199.95) $149 pre-arrival special
James Suckling 98 points
“Aromas of lilac, dark berry and sandalwood follow through to a full body, with fine tannins and an intense and savory finish. Very intense and very long. Succulent. Amazing balance and depth to this red. It’s so beautiful to taste now but it will be much better in five to ten years. A triumph.”

Ciacci Piccolomini d’Aragona ‘Vigna di Pianrosso Santa Caterina d’Oro’, Brunello di Montalcino Riserva DOCG 2007 750ML ($119.95) $99 pre-arrival special
James Suckling 97 points
“A red with sliced meat, dark chocolate, berry and spice. Full body, silky tannins and a tangy finish. A harmonious and beautiful wine. This is so layered and fabulous. So wonderful. These riserva Brunellos from Ciacci are always phenomenal.” JS

Can’t wait to drink Brunello?  Try these wines, Available Here Now!
Biondi Santi Tenuta Greppo Annata, Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2006 750ML ($178.95) $159 special 8 bottles available
Antonio Galloni 94 points
“The 2006 Brunello di Montalcino is remarkably harmonious at this young stage, quite a departure at Biondi-Santi. The 2006 shows dazzling richness and integrity in its powerful fruit in a totally captivating, sensual style. This is a beautifully centered, complete Brunello with a bright future ahead of it. The Brunello was fermented in cement and aged for three years in cask.” AGBiondi Santi Tenuta Greppo Annata, Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2007 750ML ($178.95) $149 special 11 bottles available
Antonio Galloni 94 points
“The 2007 Brunello di Montalcino is gorgeous. The estate’s preference for picking on the early side is one of the factors that help balance some of the fleshiness of the vintage. This is an especially silky, supple Brunello from Biondi-Santi. The overt personality of the year comes through, but not at the expense of the house’s style. Floral notes reappear to frame the elegant, expressive finish.” AG

Biondi Santi Tenuta Greppo Annata, Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2008 750ML ($178.95) $139 special 16 bottles available
Antonio Galloni 92 points
“The 2008 Brunello di Montalcino Annata is quite pretty in this vintage. It displays a classic profile of underbrush, tobacco, smoke, licorice and black cherries. The tannins are firm but nicely balanced. I expect the 2008 will drink well with minimum cellaring. It is one of the more open Brunellos I can remember tasting here. Still, there is plenty of Biondi Santi kick in the wine’s acidity and tannin profile.”

Casanova di Neri Cerretalto, Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2006 750ML ($249.95) $169 special 20 bottles available
James Suckling 99 points
“Aromas of ripe strawberries, sandalwood, and flowers follow though to a full body, with soft tannins and a fruity finish. This is so long and gorgeous, with intense fruit and a defined and beautiful structure. Amazing fruit at the finish. Gorgeous now, but will age beautifully. The palate builds and show such depth. So wonderful now, but better in 2015.”

Cerbaiona di Diego Molinari Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2005 750ML ($129.95) $89 special 3 bottles available
Wine Advocate 93 points
“The 2005 Brunello di Montalcino impresses for its elegance, balance and class. Silky, finessed tannins frame dark cherries, flowers, minerals, menthol, tobacco and spices. The 2005 doesn’t have the kaleidoscopic, multi-dimensional personality of the finest Brunellos here, but it reveals outstanding length and plenty of style, albeit in a smaller-scaled, lithe expression of this site. Ideally, readers should open the wine several hours prior to serving. It is a wonderful effort in this vintage. 2010-2020.”WA

Cerbaiona di Diego Molinari Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2008 750ML ($199.95) $125 special 9 bottles available
Antonio Galloni 93+ points
“Succulent red cherries, dried roses, violets, tar and spices are some of the many notes that are woven together in the 2008 Brunello di Montalcino. Intensely perfumed, the 2008 shows many of the classic Cerbaiona signatures, even if it is a touch less polished than some of the recent vintages. At the same time, the 2008 has come together nicely over the last few years, so it will be interesting to watch what happens with further time in bottle. Dried rose petals and spices add complexity to the subtle, layered flavors. This is one of the stronger wines of the year.”

Marchesi de Frescobaldi Castelgiocondo, Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2006 750ML ($79.95) $59 special 15 bottles available
James Suckling 95 points
“Frescobaldi’s Brunello always delivers great quality in just about any vintage. Gorgeous nose of ripe berries and slice plums with an almost peach undertone. Full bodied, with a solid core of gorgeously clean and clear dark fruits. Dense and integrated tannins on the finish. So long and fascinating. Best after 2013” JS

Fuligni Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2008 750ML ($79.95) $59 special 23 bottles available
Antonio Galloni 92+ points
“One of the clear highlights of the vintage, the 2008 Brunello di Montalcino emerges from the glass with black cherries, violets, cloves, menthol, licorice and tar. The 2008 stands out for its impeccable balance and layered, highly expressive personality. A translucent, mid-weight, silky finish is totally striking. Once again, Fuligni made one of the more refined wines of the village. In 2008 there is no Riserva. All the best of the lots made it into the straight bottling. If I had to bet on a 2008 Brunello that might surprise on the upside in a few years Fuligni would be near or at the top of my list.” AG
James Suckling 93 points “This is a balanced wine with dried berry and prune character with hints of cedar. Full body, with firm tannins and a juicy finish. Delicious and flavorful. Lovely now. Absolutely delicious.” JS

Il Poggione Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2007 750ML ($89.95) $59 special 4 bottles available
Wine Advocate 94 points
“The 2007 Brunello di Montalcino is flat-out sexy. Layers of dark red fruit caress the palate in this round, voluptuous Brunello. Sweet roses, violets, mint and spices appear later, adding further complexity. The 2007 boasts striking inner perfume, radiant fruit and silky, super-refined tannins. Readers are going to have a hard time keeping their hands off this extraordinary wine. As great as the 2007 is today, it will be even better in a few years’ time. This is a fabulous showing from Il Poggione. Anticipated maturity: 2017-2037.”WA

Il Poggione Vigna Paganelli, Brunello di Montalcino Riserva DOCG 2007 750ML ($119.95) $99 special 9 bottles available
Antonio Galloni 96 points
“Il Poggione’s 2007 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Vigna Paganelli is utterly stunning, but it is surprisingly tannic and huge for a vintage in which so many wines are much more approachable. Layers of dark red stone fruit open up on the palate, followed by sweet spices, savory herbs and mint. Beautifully perfumed and expressive throughout, the 2007 is a jewel of a wine. The only thing it needs is time.” AG
Wine Advocate 95 points “The estate’s 2007 Brunello di Montalcino has developed beautifully over the last year. Freshly cut flowers, dark raspberries, spices and mint all take shape in a 2007 that impresses for its freshness and pure energy. Sweet roses and violets linger on the finish. I imagine the 2007 will enjoy a very broad drinking window. Today it is drop-dead gorgeous. The combination of dry extract above 34 and acidity north of 6% is exceedingly rare and suggests the wine will age for several decades. Anticipated maturity: 2017-2047.” WA

La Gerla Riserva gli Angeli, Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 06 750ML ($79.95) $51.90 special 16 bottles available
Wine Spectator 93 points
“Ripe plum, cigar box and iron notes are backed by solid tannins and lively acidity in this muscular red. There’s also a suppleness in the texture that should increase as the tannins are absorbed. Best from 2015 through 2032.”WS

La Poderina Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2006 750ML ($74.95) $59 special 3+ cases available
James Suckling 95 points
“Blueberries, flowers and raspberries. Love the nose, like so many others. Full body, with fine tannins and a silky textured finish. So much going on here. Class”JS

Azienda Lisini Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2006 750ML ($79.95) $59 special 1 bottle available
Stephen Tanzer 92+ points
“Good deep red. Aromas of crushed cherry, minerals and pungent smoke. Intense red berry and spice flavors are framed by strong but integrated acidity. Not at all overly sweet but broad, rich and concentrated. Classy, floral sangiovese with superb energy and lift, and the structure to support a slow and graceful evolution in bottle.”

Tenute Silvio Nardi Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2007 750ML ($59.95) $49 special 15 bottles available
James Suckling 95 points
“A very structured 2007 Brunello, with ripe and firm tannins and beautiful fresh fruit. Full body, chewy and intense, with a long finish. This is the best from here in years. Wonderful depth of fruit.”

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Faiveley Burgundy Stock List44 different wines

 Each & All at the Best Listed Price in the USA! 

Faiveley Chablis Les Clos Grand Cru 2011 750ml ($79.95) $66 special 18 bottles available
Burghound 92 points
“A classic Les Clos nose of oyster shell, white flowers and wet stone leads to intensely mineral-inflected and broad-shouldered flavors that display cuts-like-a-knife delineation before culminating in a clean and very dry finish. There is a note of petrol to the finish that adds to the unmistakable Chablis character.”

Faiveley Chablis Les Preuses Grand Cru 2011 750ml ($74.95) $59 special 29 bottles available
Burghound 91 points
“This offers markedly better complexity on the cool and pure aromas of iodine, tidal pool and white orchard fruit. There is fine intensity to the attractively mineral-driven medium-bodied flavors that are at once succulent yet precise, all wrapped in a harmonious and beautifully lingering finish.”

Faiveley Puligny- Montrachet Les Folatieres Premier Cru 2011 750ml ($119.95) $99 special 1 bottle available
Burghound 90-93 points ‘OUTSTANDING’
“A beautifully complex, cool and elegant nose of acacia blossom, white orchard fruit and plenty of wet stone nuances complements the equally stony, intense and ultra-pure medium weight flavors that possess outstanding detail and verve. I very much like the balance and refinement and this should be accessible young as there is fine mid-palate concentration and plenty of extract which imparts a fleshy mouth feel.”

Faiveley Bienvenues Batard Montrachet Grand Cru 2009 750ml ($249.95) $199 special 2 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 92 points
“Palish green-yellow. Crushed stone, lemon-lime, hazelnut and a whiff of leesy complexity on the explosive nose. Boasts terrific density and sucrosite but with excellent acid backbone and firm minerality providing lift and shape. Best today on the long finish, which features palate-staining red grapefruit and crushed stone flavors. These 50-year-old vines are planted in deep soil, but there’s a lot of minerality in the subsoil, notes Hervet. Offers superb potential, but the 2008 may be even better.”

Faiveley Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru 2010 750ml ($249.95) $177 special 8 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 95-97 points
“Aroma of cold steel.  Great energy to the flavors of crushed rock and citrus fruits.  A wine of outstanding richness and chewy texture, this Corton-Charlemagne washes over the palate like a wave.  An infant today but destined for a long life in bottle.  Conveys an impression of great solidity.  (I also loved the Bienvenue-Batard-Montrachet for its exhilarating acid/sugar balance and spicy, citric intensity, but neither it nor Faiveley’s more austere Batard was near the end of its secondary fermentation.  The Puligny-Montrachet Les Folatieres showed a piquant floral quality and terrific sappy length.)”

Faiveley Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru 2011 750ml ($249.95) $189 special 18 bottles available
Burghound 92-94 points
“Here too the wood treatment is quite deft which allows the cool Granny Smith apples, pear, wet stone and spice scents to shine. There is also a seductive mouth feel to the broad-shouldered, supple and round flavors that brim with dry extract before displaying plenty of power and punch on the seriously long finish. This is easily the most backward wine in the range at present yet the impression is unusually fine, both in the context of the appellation but also in the context of this wine in general as it’s usually more robust. Be all of that as it may, this is very, very promising.”

Faiveley Chambertin Clos De Beze Grand Cru 2011 750ml ($349.95) $249 special 3+ cases available
Stephen Tanzer 94 (+?) points
“Medium red.  Highly nuanced yet quite primary on the nose, offering scents of raspberry, underbrush, dried rose, ginger and smoky oak.  Juicy, saline and quite dry, with dark berry and strawberry flavors complicated by an earthy perfume.  Finishes with substantial dusty tannins and excellent length.  With 24 hours in the recorked bottle, this beauty showed a silkier texture and chewy, deep flavors of raspberry and spices that saturate the palate without leaving any impression of weight.  A great effort for the vintage.”

Faiveley Chambolle Musigny Les Charmes Premier Cru 2011 750ml ($119.95) $99 special 5 bottles available
Burghound 90-92 points
“This is notably more refined aromatically than the Beaux Bruns with a pure and relatively high-toned nose composed primarily of various red berries with hints of plum and violets. There is equally comparable refinement on the palate as the delicious and attractively precise flavors are supported by very fine grained tannins on the admirably persistent finish. Textbook.”

Faiveley Chambolle Musigny Combe D’orveau Premier Cru 2011 750 ($139.95) $119 special 8 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 91-94 points
“(25% vendange entier; the lieu-dit is Petit Musigny):  Medium red.  Raspberry, pungent smoky minerality and truffley underbrush on the perfumed nose.  Juicy, tactile and saline, with musky red raspberry fruit complicated by crushed-stone minerality.  Mounts impressively on the chewy aftertaste.”

Faiveley Chambolle Musigny Les Fuees Premier Cru 2009 750ml ($159.95) $139 special 6 bottles available
Burghound 91-93 points, Stephen Tanzer 91-93 points
  “Bright red-ruby. Highly perfumed aromas of black raspberry, mocha and coffee. Very ripe on the palate but juicy, tight and gripping, with superb energy to its dark berry, floral and mineral flavors. Finishes with some superripe notes and firm tannic spine. Really refreshes the palate on the very long finish. This really grew on me.” ST

Faiveley Chambolle Musigny Les Fuees Premier Cru 2010 750ml ($179.95) $149 special 12 bottles available
Burghound 91-93 points & Stephen Tanzer 90-92 points
“Here the nose is more deeply pitched compared to that of the La Combe d’Orveau with ripe yet cool red berry liqueur, earth and wet stone aromas. There is outstanding delineation to the more powerful, intense and mineral-inflected flavors where the firm but ripe tannins are almost completely buffered by the copious dry extract that really coats the palate on the balanced and strikingly persistent finish. I very much like this.”BH

Faiveley Clos De Vougeot Grand Cru 2011 750ml ($159.95) $136 special 11 bottles available
Burghound 92-94 points
“An attractively complex and unusually refined nose speaks of red currant, kirsch, soft earth and a hint of wood spice. There is a refined mouth feel to the larger-scaled flavors thanks to the fine grain of the ripe and well-integrated tannins on the mildly austere and impressively long, indeed even explosive finish. This is terrific and the backend offers the same excellent depth the nose promises. Lovely stuff.”

Faiveley Corton Clos De Corton Grand Cru 2011 750ml ($199.95) $136 special 3+ cases available
Antonio Galloni 95 points
“Faiveley’s 2011 Corton Clos des Corton is a fitting conclusion to this great night of wine and food. Intensely saline and pointed, the 2011 impresses for its pure energy and tension. The flavors are vibrant and impeccably delineated in a Burgundy that is all about finesse. This is a great showing from the Clos des Corton.”
Stephen Tanzer 94 points “Medium red.  Ineffable nose and palate offer red fruits, minerals, spices and flowers, complicated by game, earth and leather.  Sweet, concentrated and very intense, boasting outstanding density and a fine-grained texture, with salty minerality giving the wine a weightless impression that’s remarkable considering its density.  A strong tannic spine and brisk acidity energize and draw out the finish of this sharply delineated, pristine grand cru.”

Faiveley Echezeaux Grand Cru 2010 750ml ($199.95) $133 special 24 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 92-95 points
“Good full red.  Pungent aromas of raspberry, crushed stone and white pepper.  Enters with intense raspberry and spices, then turns firm and floral in the middle, showing superb energy and sappiness to the primary red fruit and mineral flavors.  With its saline impression of extract and strong tannic spine, this should evolve in bottle for couple of decades.”

Faiveley Gevrey Chambertin 2010 750ml ($79.95) $39 special 3 bottles available
Wine Enthusiast 90 points
“Light colored and fruity, this is all about red fruit—its structure and firm tannins coming out slowly. This village wine demonstrates the richness of the appellation, showing a fine balance between its ripe fruit and its smoky, dry, tannic core.”

Faiveley Gevrey Chambertin Les Cazetiers Premier Cru 2011 750ml ($119.95) $71.90 special 29 bottles available
Faiveley Gevrey Chambertin Les Cazetiers Premier Cru 2011 1.5LITER ($249.95)$199 special 3 magnums available
Stephen Tanzer 92 (+?) points
“Bright medium red with a palish rim.  Lovely floral lift to the aromas of cherry pit, rose petal, mint and sexy new oak.  Densely packed and silky, offering good size but a light touch.  Red fruit, bitter chocolate, floral and mineral flavors display terrific precision.  Finishes pure, gripping and long, with a firm underpinning of dusty but sweet tannins and a lingering floral quality.  This one should evolve gracefully.”

Faiveley Gevrey Chambertin Clos Issarts Premier Cru 2010 750ml ($99.95) $79 special 3 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 88-91 points
“Good bright, dark red.  Reduced, rather wild aromas of cherry and mocha.  Sweet and thick but a bit youthfully tart owing to firm acidity.  Densely packed but disjointed today, with saline soil tones dominating the middle palate.  Tannins are nicely ripe though.  In a reductive phase and hard to assess with accuracy.”

Faiveley Gevrey Chambertin Clos Issarts Premier Cru 2011 750ml ($99.95) $79 special 1 bottle available
Stephen Tanzer 91-93 points
“Precise aromas of raspberry and crushed rock.  Sweet, silky and deep, with crushed raspberry and mineral flavors complicated by smoke and game nuances.  Boasts superb thickness and palate presence without any heaviness.  Finishes with lovely lift and a whiplash of red fruits, smoke and minerals.  Faiveley is no longer farming these vines organically, and adviser Bernard Hervet notes that this wine now shows less reduction and early grapefruit character.”

Faiveley Gevrey La Combe Aux Moines Premier Cru 2011 750ml ($89.95) $66 special  11 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 89-92 points
“Bright medium red.  Lively aromas of redcurrant, red cherry and pepper, plus a whiff of game.  Shows strong graphite and pepper notes in the mouth, but the wine’s fruit is currently suppressed by sulfur.  Finishes saline, dense and chewy, with more obvious tannins than the Chambolle cuvees.  This needs the sweetening influence of a racking.”

Faiveley Latricieres Chambertin Grand Cru 2008 750ml ($189.95) $169 special 3 bottles available
Burghound 94 points
“A distinctly cool and ultra-elegant nose of restrained and exceptionally fresh mineral-infused red pinot fruit gives way to stone-inflected, tightly focused and delineated middle weight plus flavors that are beautifully tension-filled. This possesses a beguiling personality as there’s real verve and punch on the delicious but linear finish where more minerality surfaces. This strikingly persistent effort is not only classy but seriously lovely as the sense of harmony is second to none in this group. Moreover, because this is a wine of refined power, it could actually be enjoyed now though it seems a shame to waste so much upside potential.”

Faiveley Latricieres Chambertin Grand Cru 2010 750ml ($229.95) $159 special 11 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 93-95 points
“Good bright dark red.  Wonderful mineral tang lifts the complex aromas of raspberry, cherry, pomegranate, coffee, pepper and spices.  Fat, sweet and deep, with the piquant minerality and a peppery element giving lift and energy to the middle palate.  Notes of candied strawberry and raspberry are complicated by saline soil tones.  Powerfully structured wine with long, bright finishing flavors that saturate the sides of the mouth.”

Faiveley Latricieres Chambertin Grand Cru 2011 750ml ($179.95) $146 special 6 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 92-94 points
“Good full medium red.  High-pitched aromas of raspberry, crushed stone, white pepper, blood orange and flowers.  Tight today and folded in on itself, with some excess CO2 currently suppressing the mid-palate fruit.  Fairly tough tannins cut off the wine’s finishing flavors, but the intensity and precision of this grand cru suggest that it will reward seven or eight years of cellaring.”

Faiveley Mazis Chambertin Grand Cru 2006 750ml ($159.95) $129 special 8 bottles available
Burghound 92-94 points, Stephen Tanzer 91+ points
” A distinctly sauvage and somber dark berry fruit nose gives off notes of iron tinged warm earth, underbrush, crushed herbs and a hint of smoke followed by rich, full and moderately wooded full-bodied flavors that are notably powerful and supported by very firm tannins on the serious, long and backward finish. This too will require upward of two decades of cellar time so don’t buy this if you’re not prepared to be patient.”

Faiveley Mazis Chambertin Grand Cru 2008 750ml ($249.95) $159 special 1 bottle available
Stephen Tanzer 94 points
“Good deep red. Ineffably complex aromas of wild red fruits, menthol, white pepper, minerals and powdered stone. A wine of great nobility, a bit imploded on entry, then wonderfully complex and aromatic in the middle, with terrific sappiness and energy to the lightly saline flavors of red fruits, spices, licorice and crushed stone. The rising, endless finish titillates the taste buds. This makes the Latricieres seem dry in comparison.”

Faiveley Mazis Chambertin Grand Cru 2010 750ml ($249.95) $169 special 11 bottles available
Wine Spectator 94 points
“The cherry, raspberry, earth, spice, and mineral flavors are offset by the smoky oak and solid tannins in this well-defined red. Vibrant and long, offering oak spice and mineral on the finish. This should develop beautifully. Best from 2016 – 2035.”

Faiveley Nuits St Georges Les Porets St-Georges Premier Cru 2006 750ml ($69.95) $59 special 4 bottles available
Burghound 88-91 points
“Very discreet if not invisible wood frames ripe animale aromas that include game, underbrush and serious dark pinot fruit aromas that are very Nuits in character and this frank typicity continues onto the structured and slightly rustic broad-shouldered flavors that culminate in real power, weight and punch. This is a big wine with plenty of muscle and it will need at least a decade to be at its best.”

Faiveley Nuits St Georges Les Porets St-Georges Premier Cru 2011 750ml ($69.95) $59 special 3 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 92 points
“Good bright, dark red.  Pure aromas of rose petal and exotic Middle Eastern spices.  Juicy and on the cool side, showing a distinctly incisive character and excellent lift to the perfumed red berry and mineral flavors.  Still quite tightly wound and restrained.  The impression of tactile minerality carries through to the aromatic, long finish.”

Faiveley Nuits St Georges Les Pruliers Premier Cru 2011 750ml ($89.95) $69 special 12 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 89-91 points
“Bright medium red.  Pungent flinty minerality and smoke on the nose.  Very sweet, lightly saline redcurrant and raspberry flavors show modest complexity and definition.  Finishes with slightly tough tannins and a touch of dryness.  Needs following.  This vineyard is part of Faiveley’s large contract to purchase all of Domaine Zibetti’s fruit:  2011 was the first vintage.”

Faiveley Nuits St Georges Aux Chaignots Premier Cru 2011 750ml ($89.95) $69 special 9 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 91 points
“Bright medium red.  Pungent, high-pitched scents of raspberry, blood orange and menthol, plus a touch of new oak.  Subtly intense red berry flavors are accented by pepper and herbs.  Round in the middle but tangy and precise too.  Finishes with good juicy cut and length.”

Faiveley Nuits St Georges Les Damodes Premier Cru 2011 750ml ($89.95) $69 special 4 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 91-94 points
“(50% new oak; no whole clusters):  Good bright, deep red.  Soil-driven aromas and flavors of red berries, caraway seed, mocha, chocolate and spices, lifted by a floral topnote.  Tactile and intense, with strong saline minerality contributing to the impression of energy and precision.  Finishes with suave, fine-grained tannins and excellent lift.”

Faiveley Nuits St Georges Les St Georges 2000 Premier Cru 750ml ($119.95) $99 special 8 bottles available

Faiveley Nuits St Georges Les St Georges 2008 Premier Cru 750ml ($129.95) $99 special 3+ cases available
Stephen Tanzer 92-94 points & Burghound 91-93 points “Palish medium red. Medicinal red cherry, minerals, crushed stone, violet, rose petal and white pepper on the noble nose. Wonderfully silky and pure, with ineffable flavors of red fruits, spices, flowers and minerals. This is wonderfully delicate, and not a fleshy wine, yet saturates every square millimeter of the palate with flavor. The long, sweet, rising finish offers terrific cut and floral lift. Should make a worthy successor to the outstanding 2007, which also transcends its village. Hervet says that this will be bottled by hand, without filtration.” ST

Faiveley Nuits St Georges Les St Georges 2011 Premier Cru 750ml ($149.95) $119 special 13 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 93 points
“Bright medium red.  Pure, refined nose offers scents of redcurrant, peony, rose petal, mint and orange peel.  Juicy and elegant, with lovely cut giving razor-sharp focus to the red fruit, spice, floral and mineral flavors.  Classically dry and youthfully imploded today, even a bit wiry and tart, but the wine’s saline stony minerality and firm tannic spine promise a graceful evolution in bottle.  Impresses more for its finesse than for its flesh.”

Faiveley Nuits St Georges Aux Vignerondes Premier Cru 2009 750ml ($79.95) $69 special 14 bottles available
Burghound 90-93 points
“Here the fruit runs towards the blue side of the spectrum with aromas of blue berry, plum and violets that is in keeping with the extremely rich and mouth coating medium weight flavors that possess a seductive mouth feel even though the tannins that surface on the balanced, long and serious finish are rather firm.”

Faiveley Pommard Les Rugiens Premier Cru 2011 750ml ($119.95) $89 special 9 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 91-94 points
“Good bright, full red.  Medicinal red cherry, rose petal and licorice on the pure but reticent nose.  Deep, sappy and spicy in the mouth, displaying excellent lift for the vintage.  Finishes with terrific saline breadth and suave tannins.  This very rich and sophisticated Rugiens will need time in bottle.”

Faiveley Volnay Fremiets Premier Cru 2011 750ml ($69.95) $59 special 12 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 89-92 points
“(this and the following wines were still in barrel in November; this vineyard was picked first in 2011, along with the Beaune Clos de L’Ecu):  Bright red.  Pungent red fruits and orange peel on the lively nose.  Reticent and rather tight in the mouth, but with a suave grain and lovely lift to the red fruit flavors.  Quite closed in the early going.”

Faiveley Volnay Santenots Premier Cru 2010 750ml ($119.95) $89 special 1 bottle available
Burghound 90-93 points
“Very deep ruby. An explosive and highly complex nose offers up aromas of raspberry and cherry liqueur along with hints of lavender and violets. The medium-bodied flavors possess outstanding richness and volume with excellent levels of dry extract that render the tannins almost invisible at present though the finish is sufficiently firm to suggest that they will require 12 to 15 years to fully resolve. I very much like the balance and sense of harmony here.”

Faiveley Volnay Santenots Premier Cru 2011 750ml ($79.95) $61.90 special 22 bottles available
Burghound 90-92 points
“As would typically be the case this is notably riper than the Frémiets with notes of cassis, plum and black cherry. There is equally good phenolic maturity to the quite solidly structured and even robust flavors that exhibit a taut muscularity before terminating in a delicious and complex finish. This is much less refined and mineral-driven but there is just more depth and a bit more persistence as well though patience will be necessary”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Time to say Goodbye

In the prime of its life:

Hexamer Meddersheimer Rheingrafenberg Riesling Spatlese* 2003 ($39.95) $21.90 special (was $33)
Vinopolnote- This special 1 Star selection and bottling was reserved and aged for a decade in Hexamer’s cellars.
CellarTracker rating 92 / 100 – average of 10 notes from 6 consumers
“A hint of petrol and flint on the nose. On the palate, ripe and rich, with layered notes of honey, peach, apple, and lychee fruit. A hot year in Germany, which explains the lower acidity you come to find in most German Rieslings. Still, it shows great length on the finish.”
-Troy“This golden yellow wine is rich and supple, a textbook aged Riesling with pungent petrol aromas and a glass filled with tropical pineapple and citrus. A zippy lime-zest quality helps bring this rich white to a bright finish, and a touch of lingering sweetness begs for a spicy dish to pair with this tasty wine.”
-Afton

“This is a fuller-bodied Riesling full of richness and a slightly silky, waxy texture.  With a bit of age, it has begun to develop a bit of petrol and honey notes, yet has still managed to hold on to citrus components and stone fruits; lime, peach, tangerine and apricot.   Great slate and limestone mineral components and for 2003, the acid has held on quite nicely.  At 7.5%, it is an incredible food wine that will go well with spicy Thai, Mexican or Indian Cuisine.”
-Lizzy

Wine Spectator 90 points “(on the non-reserved version, in 2005) A crunchy Riesling, with grapefruit, petrol and citrus notes riding the racy structure. Still tight and compact at this stage; it needs time to integrate. Best from 2006 through 2020.”
Winery Notes “The Meddersheimer Rheingrafenberg our best Meddersheimer location, includes a total of approximately 22 hectares; . 7.3 hectares of planted mainly with Riesling, are managed by us the soil in the two forest-ringed valleys of the Nahe, which together form the Meddersheimer Rheingrafenberg, is superficial weathered sandstone from the time of Oberrotweil Lying, which are mainly of quartzite gravel and – sanden composed. ., On the up to 55% steep, south-east facing vineyards grow on barren rock bottom approach particularly small-berried grapes are bursting with minerality downright The wines are characterized by their delicate and mineral type; they are characterized by a wide potpourri of Riesling flavors, led by lime, apple and quince, underlined by a delicate acidity. The growing here Rieslings have enormous potential.” – Weingut Hexamer Importer (Terry Thiese)
Expert consumer review in 2013– wineloverspage.com “10 years on, and this is still extremely youthful and fresh. The sweetness that was so prominent in earlier bottles is beginning to back off, but this is otherwise a very fruit forward, primary wine. It is certainly not suffering from its screw cap closure, but it is advancing at a very slow pace. Dare I say glacial”