Monday, May 25, 2015
Flash Sale
Re-Arriving Tomorrow!
Familie Saahs Nikolaihof Hefeabzug Gruner Veltliner, Wachau 2013 750ML ($29.95) $21.90 special
Wine Spectator 92 points “Presents light, smoky notes on the nose, with powerful yellow plum, white currant and raspberry flavors. Hints of mocha lead to a finish full of ripe melon and candied citrus elements. Complex. Drink now through 2020”
Wine Advocate 90 points “The 2013 Grüner Veltliner Hefeabzug shows a clear and citrus-fresh bouquet with subtle pip fruit aromas on the nose, including hints of ginger. With 12% alcohol, this is a light to medium-bodied but stunningly complex, intense and tension-filled wine with a pure and lingering mineral character and a lovely piquant acidity. In its mineral character, the 2013 Hefeabzug reminds me more of a Muscadet than a so called classic Veltliner from Austria and this – for sure – is meant as a positive comment.”
Terry Theise notes: “CORE-LIST WINE. It means sur lie. It’s exotic this year, but has the spicy flowery euphoria of ’13 and its usual semolinasweet lees; less starchy than usual but vastly more floral, as if a potion of wisteria were dissolved in it. Very long wintergreeny finish.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $28
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New Arrival Special Feature
Vignobles Brunier Domaine Vieux Telegraphe Chateauneuf-du-Pape La Crau Blanc 2013 750ML ($79.95) $53.50 special
Case-12 Vignobles Brunier Domaine Vieux Telegraphe Chateauneuf-du-Pape La Crau Blanc 2013 750ML ($699.95) $599 special (that’s only $49.92/bottle!)
Wine Spectator 92 points “Very pure, with fennel, white peach, yellow apple and melon rind notes that are racy and nicely detailed, followed by quinine and wet stone accents on the long, unadorned finish. Drink now through 2018.” WS
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $59.99
The average price is $71
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New Week – New Arrivals
WASHINGTON
For a Song Chardonnay, Columbia Valley 2013 750ML ($14.95) $10.90 special
Producer note “This single vineyard Chardonnay from the Ancient Lakes AVA enjoys cooling breezes from the nearby Columbia River, enhancing its bright, precocious style. Aromas of bosc pear, spice and citrus move through a supple palate with lemon, pineapple flavors and a lively finish. Enjoy with fish, chicken or a fresh Summer salad.”
VinopolNote: This label is produced by Vinum Importing and Distribution from Northwest vineyards by winemaker Kyle Johnson. The fruit was sourced from the Caliche Lake Vineyard in the Ancient Lakes AVA.
Charles Smith K Vintners ‘The Creator’ Cabernet – Syrah, Walla Walla Valley 2012 750ML ($69.95) $59 special
Wine Advocate 93-95 points “Moving to the Bordeaux styled releases and a blend of 70% Cabernet and 30% Syrah, the 2012 The Creator offers up a classic bouquet of cassis, lead pencil shavings and hints of herbs to go with a full-bodied, layered and balanced profile on the palate. Possessing fabulous Cabernet character, with rock star texture and building tannin, it will have another 12-15 years of prime drinking.” WA
FRANCE-CHAMPAGNE
Perrier-Jouet Belle Epoque – Fleur de Champagne Brut Rose 2004 750ML ($319.95) $159 special
Wine Enthusiast 94 points “With just the right amount of toasty age, this is gorgeous. Its strawberry note is woven into its rich texture, with a flavor of fresh croissant and a final burst of acidity. It could age, but why wait?” WE
Wine Spectator 93 points “Delicate acidity and subtle flavors of black cherry, plum, black licorice and spice are well-meshed with the fine texture and creamy minerality of this elegant rosé, which has a smoky finish. Drink now through 2020. 2,000 cases imported.”
Josh Raynolds – Vinous 93 points “(50% pinot noir from the Montagne de Reims, 45% chardonnay from Cramant and Avize, and 5% pinot meunier from Dizy; 9% of the red wine component was still red wine; 8 g/l of dosage; L339110774 11:20): Pale, vivid orange. Sexy flower- and spice-tinged red berry and citrus fruit aromas are complemented by hints of buttery brioche, anise and musky herbs. Sappy and penetrating on the palate, offering intense blood orange, strawberry and musky rhubarb flavors. A toasty, leesy quality come up on the finish, which clings with impressive tenacity and alluring sweetness.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $301
Vilmart & Cie Coeur de Cuvee Premier Cru Brut 2004 1.5L ($399.95) $379 special
Antonio Galloni 95 points “A totally dazzling wine, the 2004 Coeur de Cuvée (magnum) has acquired lovely complexity and nuance over the last few years. Mirabelle plums, savory herbs and crushed rocks all take shape in the glass in a Champagne loaded with aromatic nuance and complexity. The 2004 stands out for its remarkable precision and elegance. This is a great showing from Vilmart. This bottle was disgorged in August 2013. Dosage is 8 grams per liter.” AG
Duval-Leroy Clos des Bouveries Blanc de Blancs Millesime, Champagne 2005 750ML ($79.95) $49 special
Wine Spectator 92 points “Bright and mouthwatering, featuring rich hints of pastry cream and marzipan, layered with tangy peach, blackberry, chalk, verbena and fleur de sel notes. Refined in texture, with a fresh, lingering finish. Drink now through 2025.” WS
Duval-Leroy Femme de Champagne 2000 750ML ($179.95) $119 special
Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2000 Femme de Champagne is another noble prestige cuvée of Duval-Leroy and, honestly, it is even finer, purer and more delicate than the tight and tension-full 1996. The purity, elegance and finesse is as obvious on the nose (russet apples, brioche, white chocolate, hazelnut, floral/herbal flavors) as on the palate where this medium to full-bodied wine leads to a firm and complex mineral finish of great persistence.” WA
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $149.99
FRANCE-BURGUNDY
Domaine Louis Michel & Fils Montee de Tonnerre, Chablis Premier Cru 2013 750ML ($49.95) $39 special
Antonio Galloni 92-94 points “Lemon, white flowers, sage, herbs and mint all jump from the glass in the 2013 Chablis Montée de Tonnerre. A classic and highly representative wine from this great site, the 2013 sizzles with energy, tension and pure class. Petrol, graphite and smoke add nuance on the brilliant finish. This is a great, great showing.”AG
Vinopolnotes: An unoaked Chablis from the best 1er Cru in Chablis. Montee de Tonnerre has soils and aspect similar to the hillside cluster of the Grand Cru sites nearby, northwest of Montee de Tonnere. In fact, in AG’s ratings for Louis Michel wines in 2013 vintage the Montee de Tonnerre bested Les Clos Grand Cru; and drew the match against Vaudesir Grand Cru.
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $44.99
Olivier Leflaive Chablis Les Deux Rives 2011 750ML ($24.95) $18 special
Wine & Spirits 90 points “You can feel the youth in this wine, the tightness and greenness of the fruit. It’s simple and bright when you pull the cork; beautiful, fresh chardonnay a day later. It lingers with orange scents and feels like it’s been carved from white rock.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Olivier Leflaive Chassagne-Montrachet 2011 750ML ($59.95) $36 special
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $46.19
FRANCE-BEAUJOLAIS
Daniel Bouland Morgon Corcelette Vieilles Vignes, Beaujolais 2012 750ML ($29.95) $19 special
Wine Advocate 90 points “The 2012 Morgon Corcelette comes from 60-year-old vines and IS aged in foudres. It has a broodier nose than the Cote de Brouilly with dusky blackberry and briary scents, touches of wild hedgerow and woodland. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins. It is very well-balanced, but there is something introspective toward the finish that is very engaging and urges you to take another sip. Drink now-2020.” WA
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $24.99
FRANCE-JURA
Les Granges Paquenesses Cotes du Jura ‘La Mamette’ Chardonnay, Jura 2011 750ML ($24.95) $19 special
Wine Spectator 91 points “Ginger, heather and honeysuckle notes lead the way, followed by juicy Jonagold apple and Cavaillon melon fruit. A pear skin accent adds contrast and length on the finish. Drink now through 2015. 75 cases imported.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $23.99
Les Granges Paquenesses Cotes du Jura ‘Le Plou’ Ploussard, Jura 2012 750ML ($21.95) $18 special
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $24.99
FRANCE-OTHER
Chateau Henri Bonnaud Palette Rose, Provence 2014 750ML ($29.95) $24 special
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Chateau Henri Bonnaud Cotes de Provence Sainte-Victoire Terre Promise Rose, Provence 2014 750ML ($21.95) $18 special
Case-12 Chateau Henri Bonnaud Cotes de Provence Sainte-Victoire Terre Promise Rose, Provence 2014 750ML ($249.95) $199 special (that’s only $16.58/bottle!)
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Clos Cibonne Cotes de Provence Cuvee Tradition Rose 2013 750ML ($27.95) $21.90 special
Josh Raynolds 91 points “Light orange-pink. Vibrant, mineral-accented redcurrant and strawberry aromas are complicated by notes of dried herbs, rose oil and orange peel. A saline quality underscores juicy red fruit flavors, which flesh out and deepen with air. Fresh and seamless in texture, finishing with superb clarity and length and repeating mineral and floral notes. I’ve had the chance to drink 30-year-old bottles of this wine, and while this one isn’t quite as nervy as some other recent vintages, I’d cellar it for another seven to ten years with confidence and then decant it to serve alongside grilled fish or roasted birds.”
Clos Cibonne Cotes de Provence Tibouren Cuvee Speciale des Vignettes Rose 2013 750ML ($34.95) $28 special
Josh Raynolds 93 points “Light orange. Intense red berry liqueur, blood orange and garrigue aromas are lifted and sharpened by suggestions of dusty minerals and gingery spices. Silky and concentrated, offering incisive redcurrant and bitter cherry flavors that expand on the back half. Shows a distinctly mineral, oily, almost saline quality that’s reminiscent of big-time Chablis (yes, really!) and finishes with superb energy, thrust and length. Imagine what would happen if red grapes were planted in Montée de Tonnerre and then made into pink wine: that’s pretty much what I did.”
Clos Cibonne Cotes de Provence Cuvee Tradition Rouge 2013 750ML ($29.95) $24 special
Importer note “90% Tibouren and 10% Syrah from 40 year old vines. This is Clos Cibonne’s easy drinking red: made from mostly Tibouren, this wine will make you re-evaluate what you think you know about reds from Provence. Great with a slight chill.”
These are all available at the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Orin Swift Department D 66 Proprietary Blend, IGP Cotes Catalanes 2012 750ML ($39.95) $33 special
Robert Parker 93 points “The 2012 Grenache cuvée (with some Syrah and Carignan) called D66 from Côtes Catalanes just outside of Maury, France. David Swift Phinney’s massive facility and estimable 235+ acres of old vines in the Maury sector. To say that this enterprising Californian made a serious investment in Roussillon would obviously be an understatement.” RP
Domaine le Clos du Serres l’Humeur Vagabonde, IGP Pays de l’Herault 2011 750ML ($39.95) $29 special
Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2011 Coteaux du Languedoc Terrasses du Larzac l’Humeur Vagabonde highlights the old-vines Carignan of the estate. Comprised of 50% Carignan (100-year-old vines) and 25% each of Grenache and Syrah, it gives up a brilliant array of blackcurrants, licorice, old leather, damp earth and liquefied herbs to go with a medium to full-bodied, layered and seamless profile on the palate. Gaining additional structure with time in the glass, this beauty has solid mid-palate depth, ample underlying structure and a big finish. Give it another year and enjoy bottles through 2021. ” WA
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Jean-Louis Tribouley Les Bacs Vieilles Vignes, IGP Cotes Catalanes 2012 750ML ($29.95) $24 special
Wine Advocate 92 points “More focused, firm and edgy than the riper Orchis, the 2012 Les Bacs Vieilles Vignes offers a thrilling bouquet of liquid violets, distilled herbs, pepper, leather and assorted black and blue fruits. Complex, perfumed and elegant, it hits the palate with medium to full-bodied richness, high, yet integrated acidity and firm tannin, all of which suggest it will benefit from short-term cellaring, and have 10-12 years of overall longevity.” WA
ITALY-TUSCANY
Altesino Montosoli, Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2010 750ML ($119.95) $99 special
Wine Spectator 98 points “A stunning red, featuring peony, strawberry, cherry and mineral flavors, accented by notes of wild herbs. Intense and deep, with great purity and elegance, a firmly wrought structure and a long finish. The harmony between fruit, tannins and acidity should allow this to age beautifully. Best from 2019 through 2036.” WS
James Suckling 97 points “Beautiful aromas of dark fruits and minerals. Full-bodied, succulent and chewy. It’s tight and stony. Lots of black olives and wet earth under the fruit. Bright and linear wine with beautiful layers…” JS
ITALY-PIEDMONT
Giacomo Borgogno & Figli No Name 2010 750ML ($59.95) $49 special
Antonio Galloni 91-93 points “Proprietor Oscar Farinetti continues to bottle one cask of Barolo designated juice as Langhe Nebbiolo No Name in protest to the declassification of one of his wines a few years back. Consumers are the beneficiaries, as the No Name is one of the best wines in the market in its price range. The 2010 bursts from the glass with freshly cut flowers, sweet red berries and spices. A totally seductive wine, the 2010 impresses for its purity, raciness and sheer beauty. Sweet perfumed notes add lift on the finish. Winemaker Andrea Farinetti gave the 2010 18 days on the skins, less than his other Nebbiolos, but that just makes the wine more accessible young. Readers who can find the 2010 No Name should not hesitate. It is a brilliant effort.” AG
This is the only listing in the USA today!
ITALY-TRENTINO-ALTO ADIGE
See our special feature below for newly arrived wines from Ab Fab Foradori!
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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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Foradori
After her father died at a young age, Elisabetta Foradori studied oenology at school and took over her family’s winery at twenty. Her grandfather purchased the estate in 1920. During her grandfather’s and father’s tenures, they focused on mechanized, bulk production of wine for local consumption. Bored with factory-farming, Elisabetta moved toward a more naturalistic style of managing the estate and in the process she near-single-handedly rescued the Teroldego grape and brought it into the international spotlight.
The Campo Rotaliano plain within in the foothills of the Dolomites is the home to indigenous grape varieties of Teroldego and Nosiola. The region was part of Austria for over 800 years, and Austrian oenology still has a lingering impact on the culture and farming. More recently, the plain has also been home to industrialized and mechanized farming and viticulture. These practices now banished by Foradori. Elisabetta began by replanting the vineyards through selection massale: a way of cultivating and propagating the strongest clones best suited to each individual site. This method of propagation vastly improved the quality of the grapes and brought international attention to her wines. She increased the genetic diversity of the varietal and moved it away from the emphasis on quantity to focus on varietal character and quality.
Eventually, she was drawn toward biodynamic methods, earning certification in the early 2000s. The vineyards are healthier and, after grueling work during conversion, are easier to take care of.
The vineyards are rocky with alluvial and gravel subsoils. The climate is warm, yet tempered by the mountains and the River Noce. Elisabetta has expanded the winery’s production to include single-vineyard bottlings, a reserve selection and several whites. We’re pleased to offer a selection of recent releases that were notably well received by reviewers.
Newly Arrived Wines from Foradori
Foradori Fontanasanta Manzoni Bianco Vigneti delle Dolomiti IGT, Trentino-Alto Adige 2013 750ML ($29.95) $26 special
Wine Spectator 88 points “Dry and distinctive, with well-cut acidity framing the aromatic profile of macerated peach, cherry pit, chamomile and salted almond. Offers a spiced finish of moderate length. Drink now through 2018. Tasted twice, with consistent notes. 1,667 cases made.”AN
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $30
Foradori Teroldego Vigneti delle Dolomiti IGT, Trentino-Alto Adige 2012 750ML ($29.95) $24 special
Antonio Galloni 90 points “Dark cherries, juniper berries, smoke, tobacco and saddle leather take shape in the 2012 Foradori, the estate’s entry-level Teroldego. This is an especially racy, succulent version of the Teroldego. It is only within the last few months that varietal character has begun to truly emerge. Once again, Foradori has crafted a super-expressive, entry-level wine that overdelivers for its price.”AG
Foradori Granato Vigneti delle Dolomiti IGT, Trentino-Alto Adige 2011 750ML ($69.95) $49 special
Antonio Galloni 94 points “Pomegranate, wild cherries, flowers, mint, leather and sweet spices abound in the 2011 Granato. Sexy and radiant to the core, the Granato is especially seamless in this vintage, with voluptuous fruit, silky tannins and exceptional overall balance. I imagine the 2011 will provide consumers with a wide window of drinking pleasure. Today, the fruit is naturally quite primary, so readers who prefer more shades of nuance will want to cellar the 2011 for at least a few years.”AG
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $52.80
Foradori Morei Teroldego Vigneti delle Dolomiti IGT, Trentino-Alto Adige 2012 750ML ($59.95) $41.90 special
Antonio Galloni 94 points “Foradori’s Teroldego Morei is once again compelling in 2012. A host of intensely savory/mineral notes meld into a core of dense dark red and black stone fruits. Grilled herbs, lavender and smoke follow, adding considerable aromatic intrigue. Big tannins support the huge, explosive finish in a wine endowed with magnificent complexity and pedigree. The dark, brooding finish is particularly of note. Today, the 2012 stands out for its superb complexity and undeniable pedigree. The Morei was vinified and aged in upright terra cotta amphorae.”AG
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Foradori Fontanasanta Nosiola Vigneti delle Dolomiti IGT, Trentino-Alto Adige 2012 750ML ($49.95) $39 special
Antonio Galloni 92 points “The 2012 Nosiola Fontanasanta comes across as tense, vibrant and not fully expressive at this stage. There is plenty of depth to the fruit, but underlying veins of tannin are a bit prominent today. Hints of almond, dried flowers, herbs and spices add nuance in a distinctly savory, nutty finish. The Nosiola is intriguing for its tension and almost phenolic sense of structure. Here, Foradori ferments and ages the wine in upright terra cotta amphorae.”AG
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $43.99
Foradori Vigneto Sgarzon Teroldego Vigneti delle Dolomiti IGT, Trentino-Alto Adige 2012 750ML ($49.95) $41.90 special
Antonio Galloni 93 points “The 2012 Teroldego Sgarzon wraps around the palate with the essence of dark raspberries, smoke, licorice, iron, mint, rose petals and sweet spices. A wine of pure polish and voluptuousness, the 2012 will drink beautifully pretty much right out of the gate. Radiant, supple and forward in its expression of fruit, yet with plenty of underlying structure, the Sgarzon stands out from the more virile, imposing Morei. Both wines are striking, though. The Sgarzon was vinified and aged in upright terra cotta amphorae.”AG
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
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Arriving Next Week
Arriving Tomorrow:
Domaine Louis Michel & Fils Vaillons, Chablis Premier Cru 2013 750ML ($39.95) $28 pre-arrival special
Antonio Galloni 91-93 points “The 2013 Chablis Vaillons is bright, punchy and expressive. White flowers, green pear and lemon oil jump from the glass as this expressive, wonderfully nuanced wine shows off its class and personality. The hugely appealing finish is all about direction, energy and focus.” AG
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $34.98
The average price is $39
Le Piane Boca, Piedmont 2008 750ML ($69.95) $39 pre-arrival special
Antonio Galloni 96 points “The 2008 Le Piane is more than a worthy follow-up to the gorgeous 2007. In this vintage, the wine is much more classic in style. The sweetest of black cherries, grilled herbs, menthol, spices and licorice all meld together in this beautiful, delineated, totally vibrant wine. The balance of focus and power is simply stunning. This is a dazzling effort from a small estate that seems to be ratcheting up quality with each passing vintage. One of the attributes of Nebbiolo-based wines from northern Piedmont is that they are often easy to drink when young, yet also age effortlessly for years, sometimes decades. That certainly appears to be the case here. This is magnificent effort from proprietor Christoph Kunzli.” AG
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $54.99
Arriving Thursday:
La Valentina “Spelt” Montepulciano d’Abruzzo Riserva 2010 750ML ($21.95) $18 pre-arrival special
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 92 points “Good dark ruby. Enticing scents of crushed blackberry, licorice and spices, plus a whiff of flint. Broad and pliant, with perfumed dark berry, licorice and flint flavors spreading out to coat the palate. Finishes smooth and long, with complex notes of pepper and herbs. This is much more refined than past vintages, which were too ripe and sweetly oaky. The best Spelt ever?” JR
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Time to Say Good Buy
Giuseppe Mascarello e Figlio Monprivato, Barolo DOCG 2010 750ML ($179.95) $133 special
Wine Spectator 96 points “Starts out elegant and perfumed, sporting cherry and berry flavors, picking up earth, licorice, leather and spice notes. This is all about the silky texture and civilized tannins that should come together in the next few years. Spice and earth accents line the finish. Best from 2017 through 2033.” WS
Stephen Tanzer 93-96 points “(this was a treat Mascarello pulled from cask at the end of my tasting): Medium red. Knockout nose showcases tangy red fruits, minerals and porcini. Conveys an impression of superb concentration and dusty extract, with the tactile solidity of the best young 2010s already coming through in spades. A wine of great length and potential. I’ll play the interventionist wine writer and wonder out loud why this won’t be bottled for another year. But as devil’s advocate to my devil’s advocate, 2010 is one vintage that generally has the extract and energy to benefit from an extended elevage.” ST
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $166
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