Monday New Arrivals 9-1-25

In This Newsletter:

New Week – New Arrivals
New Sale on Kunstler
Bruna Grimaldi: Barolo for the Modern Era


New Week – New Arrivals
 

Oregon
 
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Evesham Wood Blanc du Puits Sec, Eola-Amity Hills 2024 750ml $19 special, 24 bottles in stock now
Winery Note “Our Pinot Noirs have always grabbed the headlines, but this white field blend from our certified organic Le Puits Sec estate vineyard has been here from the beginning. Old vine Pinot Gris and Gewurztraminer are co-fermented with our tiny plantings of Gruner Veltliner, Rieslaner, and Traminer. Sure, we’re biased, but the 2024 vintage of our Blanc is as good as it’s ever been–a powerful personality yet perfectly balanced.”
 
Evesham Wood Eola-Amity Hills Pinot Noir 2022 750ml $31.90 special, 12 bottles in stock now
James Suckling 92 points “Charming nose of cherries, wild currants, dried herbs and forest floor. Medium-bodied with crisp acidity. Vivid, nervy and crispy throughout. There is a spicy dimension with a transparent, succulent character at the end.”
 
Evesham Wood Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 2023 750ml $24 special, 24 bottles in stock now
Winery Note “Although the Willamette Valley bottling is our least expensive and largest production bottling we put just as much of ourselves into it as our top cuvées. Vineyards such as Illahe (Mt. Pisgah, Polk County, Oregon AVA) and Mahonia (Willamette Valley, in the Jory hills just south of Salem) that Evesham Wood has been working with for decades make up the bulk of the blend along with Eola-Amity Hills AVA sites: Prophet, Koosah, Jubilee, Cortell Rose, and Sojeau. Those grapes are fermented in small lots (1.25 ton, open-topped fermenters) and punched down twice a day. This vintage of the WV blend shows a bright nose with cherry, red apple, fresh flowers, and a touch of loam along with a textural creamy/silkiness component that’s balanced by juicy acid. Showing well now, watch this wine evolve over the next 3 months to 8-10 years.”
 
 
California
 
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Hanna Chardonnay, Russian River Valley 2023 750ml $18 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
“Bright and fresh, showing a mix of citrus notes up front, with fresh-cut apple and fresh ginger flavors, plus a touch of hard lemon candy. Offers crisp acidity and spice details on the finish. Drink now. 2,654 cases made.” -Wine Spectator
 
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Hanna Sauvignon Blanc, Russian River Valley 2023 750ml $11.90 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
“Grassy and aromatic up front, offering fresh green notes of lemongrass, sweetgrass and lemon balm set against a core of passion fruit, lemon, lime and pear, with mouthwatering acidity. Drink now. 36,000 cases made.” -Wine Spectator
 
Paradigm Cabernet Sauvignon, Oakville 2021 750ml $94.50 special, 6 bottles in stock now
Decanter 97 points “This blend of 91% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc, and 3% Petit Verdot was fermented in stainless steel with a small percentage of whole berries included. Winemaker Mark Fasi explains that pressing off the wine before it goes dry helps to soften the tannins. The wine is then aged 18–20 months in approximately 50% new French oak. The Paradigm Cabernet Sauvignons are medium-bodied and exude utmost elegance, showcasing soaring tannins that are assertive yet beautifully integrated and framed by crisp, juicy acidity. The palate reveals pure and gorgeous red berry fruit, complemented by a panoply of brown spices, wild herbs like sage, and floral notes of lilacs and violets. This wine is absolutely pure, brimming with energy and tension, and delivers a stunningly refined expression. A remarkable effort, embodying balance, vitality, and sophistication. Truly impressive. The winemaker is legendary Napa icon Heidi Barrett. “
 
 
France – Champagne
 
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Lanson Black Label Brut, Champagne NV 750ml $39 special, 17 bottles in stock now
James Suckling 92 points “A fresh, balanced palate with green apples, pie crust and pears. Medium body, fine bubbles and a crisp, dry finish. Nice center palate. Four years on the lees. Drink now.”
 
Andre Clouet Silver Grand Cru Blanc de Noirs Brut Nature, Champagne NV 750ml $45 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 92+ points “[Reviewed Apr 2021] Clouet’s NV Silver Brut Nature Grand Cru is a pure Bouzy Pinot Noir that was disgorged without any dosage. This disgorgement displays a medium intense golden color and a complex and refined bouquet of ripe and pureed apples and discreet chalky as well as brioche aromas. The palate is elegant, straight and fresh, very pure and salty on the finish. This is a challenging Brut Nature that needs to be aged for two or three years to gain complexity and finesse and to smooth its current edges. The finish is mineral, limestone and salty but also a bit drying at this moment.”
 
Andre Clouet Grande Reserve Brut, Champagne NV 750ml $44.50 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Decanter 92 points “[Reviewed 2021] Incredible value for a blanc de noirs (100% Pinot Noir) grower Champagne from the grand cru vineyards of Bouzy. It shows gorgeous aromas of stone fruit, citrus and strawberry, with complex brioche nuances, remarkable balance, ongoing elegance and a rich, refined, persistent finish. Drinking Window 2021 – 2026.”
 
 
France – Bordeaux
 
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Chateau Francs Bories, Saint-Emilion 2020 750ml $19.50 special, 12 bottles in stock now
James Suckling 90 points “Aromas of cherries and cassis with hints of walnut, cocoa and bark. Medium-bodied, polished and firm with a chewy tannic grip on the mid-palate. Chalky finish. Drink after 2025.”
 
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Château La Fleur Saint Bonnet, Medoc 2023 750ml $11.90 special, 8 bottles in stock now
James Suckling 91-92 points “Good tension and focus here. Medium-bodied with a firm and chewy mid-palate, nicely filled with vibrant dark fruit. Structured.”
 
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Château Pitray, Côtes de Castillon 2019 750ml $18 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Wine Enthusiast 91 points “Soft and velvety in texture, this wine is full of ripe fruit. Cushioned by the texture, the tannins are dense enough to promise aging to this wine with potential. Drink from 2024.”
 
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Château de Ribebon, Bordeaux Supérieur 2019 750ml $17 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Wine Enthusiast 91 points “Owned by the Aubert family, this estate has produced a well-balanced wine. Tannins and spice lie easily with the berry fruits and final touches of dark chocolate. It will age well. Drink from 2023.”
 
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Chateau Bastor-Lamontagne ‘Les Remparts de Bastor-Lamontagne’, Sauternes 2020 375ml $18 special, 23 half-bottles in stock now
No reviews for the 2020 vintage. 2022 provided for reference.
James Suckling 92 points “Creamy nose with white mushrooms, wax and honeyed citrus. Sweet but not quite viscous or lush on the palate, with good complexity and a long finish. From organically grown grapes. A well-balanced Sauternes to enjoy now or in the next four to eight years.”
 
 
France – Burgundy & Beaujolais
 
Domaine Faiveley Clos des Myglands Monopole, Mercurey Premier Cru 2022 750ml $64.50 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Decanter 94 points “Faiveley’s monopole Clos des Myglands on the northern edge of the village has delivered a delightful wine in 2022, with a lovely raspberry and plum fruit character, and a hint of rose petals and earth. The wine has a pronounced sweetness and a gratifyingly silky texture on the palate. Jérôme Flous remarked that despite the lack of water in 2022, the vines of the Côte Chalonnaise had a noticeably lower pH than those of the Côte d’Or in general, which helps keep this lively and fresh. A genuinely delightful success. Drinking Window: 2025-2040.”
 
Domaine Faiveley Les Cazetiers, Gevrey-Chambertin Premier Cru 2021 750ml $235 special, 6 bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 94 points “Alluring for its exotic spice aromas and strawberry, cherry and floral flavors, this silky, inviting red is balanced, with vanilla and toasty oak notes lingering on the aftertaste. Approachable now, this should improve in the next year or two. Drink now through 2032. 56 cases imported.”
 
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Kewin Descombes Cuvée KéKé, Beaujolais 2023 750ml $24 special, 24 bottles in stock now
 
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Kewin Descombes Morgon, Beaujolais 2023 750ml $31.90 special, 24 bottles in stock now
 
 
Italy – Tuscany
 
Lisini Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2020 750ml $69 special, 20 bottles in stock now
Decanter 95 points “Here is the epitome of 2020’s seductiveness: dark exotic berries are tinged with a scent of juniper, while the palate strikes an arresting fusion of black cherry and lush apricot, with a ferruginous facet. Fulsome without being weighty, it deftly balances sumptuousness with rigour as firm tannins mark their territory. With this vintage, Lisini finally returns to its full lineup of Brunello. It is difficult to imagine the Ugolaia or Riserva bottlings topping this, however we will have to wait until next year see how those wines fare.”
 
Lisini Brunello di Montalcino Riserva DOCG 2019 750ml $119 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Decanter 97 points “Due to reduced quantities in 2019, the Lisini family decided to sacrifice their Ugolaia bottling in order to augment the Riserva. It is a striking specimen of the balmy Sesta zone in Montalcino’s southeast. Scents of myrtle and pine infuse dark cherry and black raspberry. On the palate, iron and chestnut weave through the luscious and exotic red fruit. Equally sumptuous tannins bestow a generous sandy-textured embrace. Polished and layered with mineral depths, this already feels satisfying, but the best is yet to come.”
 
 
Italy – Piedmont
 
Cappellano Otin Fiorin Pie Rupestris, Barolo DOCG 2020 750ml $239 special, 5 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni-Vinous “[Unscored per winery request] The 2020 Barolo Rupestris is an elegant, sculpted wine. It shows the mid-weight structure of the year nicely. Sweet red cherry fruit, mint, chalk, white pepper, orange peel and dried flowers open with some coaxing. I would leave this alone in the cellar for a few years, as time in bottle is essential here. I won’t be surprised if this fills out a bit over the coming years, as is often the case here. Many years ago Baldo Cappellano asked me not to score his wines, so all Cappellano wines show up on our database as NR. (Drink between 2026-2045).”
 
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
E. Pira & Figli Chiara Boschis Via Nuova, Barolo DOCG 2018 750ml $79 special, 14 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 94 points “The 2018 Barolo Via Nuova is marked by palpable brightness and tension that lend energy. Like all of these wines, the 2018 is restrained in feel, but all the elements are so well balanced. Freshly cut flowers, mint, crushed rocks, chalk and white pepper give the Via Nuova notable energy. Intense veins of supporting tannin and minerality provide the backbone.”
 
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
E. Pira & Figli Chiara Boschis Mosconi, Barolo DOCG 2021 750ml $99 special, 12 bottles in stock now
James Suckling 98 points “This Barolo opens up with aromas of bright cherries, cedar and a touch of sliced mushrooms. Medium-bodied with incisive freshness. The tannins are restrained, almost timid. The wine is overall compact and solid. Very well constructed and cohesive. Needs three years to soften, but it’s really enjoyable to taste.”
 
 
Italy – Veneto
 
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Cantine Prà Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG 2017 750ml $89 special, 6 bottles in stock now
Eric Guido-Vinous 94 points “The 2017 Amarone della Valpolicella Morandina is youthfully coy, slowly evolving with a delicate blend of dusty rose, stone dust and dried strawberries. This displays fantastic balance, cooling and crisp, with silken textures and depths of red and black fruits that slowly saturate. Crunchy tannins resonate as the 2017 tapers off dramatically long and staining, leaving a pleasantly bitter twang and saline minerals to linger on.”
 
Cantine Prà Cru Monte Grande Soave Classico 2021 750ml $36 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Eric Guido-Vinous 93 points “A vivid blend of wildflowers, yellow apples and ground ginger forms a captivating bouquet as the 2021Soave Classico Monte Grande blossoms in the glass. This is round and supple, with cooling minerality and fresh acidity, adding wonderful lift as ripe pit-fruits and minty herbal tones resonate. A tinge of lime and a salty flourish add lovely punctuation as the 2021 finishes long and staining yet graceful and floral. What a darling.”
 
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Cantine Prà Morandina Valpolicella 2023 750ml $24 special, 24 bottles in stock now
No reviews for the 2023 vintage. Previous vintage review provided for reference.
“This supple red is light-bodied and lightly juicy on the palate, with creamed strawberry, sandalwood, violet and subtle smoke notes. Crisp finish. Drink now.” -Wine Spectator
 
 
Spain
 
Bodegas Muga ‘Prado Enea’ Gran Reserva, Rioja DOCa 2016 750ml $99 special, 6 bottles in stock now
Luis Gutiérrez-Wine Advocate 97+ points “The expressive, complex and nuanced 2016 Prado Enea Gran Reserva is a textbook traditional Rioja in the making. 2016 was a very elegant year, with aging potential, volume and very good acidity and freshness. It’s full-bodied but fine-boned, has 14.5% alcohol, a pH of 3.6 and 5.25 grams per liter acidity. It has terrific balance, with all the components in the right proportion to age superbly in bottle. They have also been working on the selection of wood used. This wine matured in French and American oak barrels for three years, and the oak is super integrated. 127,808 bottles produced. It was bottled in January 2020. It was an exceptional year with volume and quality.”
 
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Bodegas Ordonez Triton Tinta de Toro, Toro 2021 750ml $19 special, 36 bottles in stock now
Wine Enthusiast 92 points “Dark violet in color, this wine has a nose of cassis, purple plum and cigar box. Silky tannins play backup to blackberry, black currant, milk chocolate, licorice and lavender flavors. Cooling spice and floral notes linger on the palate.”
 
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Bodegas Ordonez Vatan Tinta de Toro, Toro 2019 750ml $39 special, 24 bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 96 points “Coming from an even, balanced vintage that suffered from hailstorms, the 2019 Vatan is another beautifully textured, medium to full-bodied, rich yet elegant red that has so much to love. Cassis, graphite, spicy oak, and violet notes all define the aromatics, and it has ripe yet building tannins and a great finish.”

 

Kunstler Sale
 
We slashed our prices on a leader in dry Rheingau Riesling!
 

Gunter Künstler, owner and winemaker of Weingut Künstler since taking over from his father in 1992, crafts fabulous Rheingau Riesling. He is based in Hochheim, where the river Main branches off of the Rhein River. The vineyards he works with, including the Hölle and Kirschenstück offer rich veins of limestone that impart chalky notes to the wines.
 
Gunter Künstler’s wines offer exoticism and nuance with aromatics often attributed to Gruner Veltliner instead of Riesling: savory, salty, and dry. These beauties embody grace and openness. Kunstler’s best efforts remind us of the days when ‘hock’ wine of the Rheingau was prized above Bordeaux (and certainly far above the Mosel). Explore for yourself!
 
We offer four in-stock Künstler options on sale now:
 
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Weingut Künstler Hochheimer Hölle Im Neuenberg Riesling, Rheingau 2020 750ml Was $33, Now $29, 36+ bottles in stock now
Stuart Pigott (Suckling) 95 points “Enormous concentration and power for just 12.5% alcohol, the ripe peach, apricot and mirabelle aromas still restrained. Then comes the full-bodied, densely packed palate that is still so clean. So much depth at the spectacular, wide-screen finish. From organically grown grapes with Fair’n Green certification. Drink or hold. Screw cap.”
 
This was the lowest listed price in the USA today, now it’s even lower!
Weingut Künstler Hochheim Kirchenstück Riesling Grosses Gewächs, Rheingau 2020 750ml Was $59, Now $51.50, 36+ bottles in stock now
Stuart Pigott (Suckling) 96 points “Very complex nose of white chocolate, white peaches and fresh herbs. Sleek and very finely delineated, this is a super-elegant dry Rheingau riesling with a long, cool finish that ripples with notes of fennel and parsley. Drink or hold.”
 
This was the lowest listed price in the USA today, now it’s even lower!
Weingut Künstler Hochheimer Hölle Riesling Grosses Gewächs, Rheingau 2020 750ml Was $59, Now $51.50, 36+ bottles in stock now
Stuart Pigott (Suckling) 98 points “The deep, peach and apricot nose leads you into this enormously concentrated yet graceful dry riesling that’s got the stature to stand next to almost any Grand Cru white Burgundy. Enormously long, beautifully balanced finish that pulls your hand magnetically back to the glass. Drink or hold.”
 
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Weingut Künstler Kostheimer Weiss Erd Riesling Grosses Gewächs, Rheingau 2020 750ml Was $49, Now $42.50, 36+ bottles in stock now
Stuart Pigott (Suckling) 97 points “A masterpiece from an almost unknown vineyard site. The cool and deep nose pulls you into this very concentrated and supple dry riesling GG that has so much power, packed into a sleek silhouette. Long, silky and chalky finish. Drink or hold.”

Bruna Grimaldi:
 
Affordable Barolo for Modern Living
 

Bruna Grimaldi crafts classic, well-structured and delicious wines that outperform their modest price tags. The estate dates back to the 1990s, when Bruna (along with her husband, Franco Fiorino) began bottling her own wine. This decision came after decades selling off the exceptional fruit and bulk wine before eventually selling small amounts locally. As the word got out and international interest poured in, the wines have only improved.
 
The wines are distinctive and delicious. Of the three Barolos, the Camilla is the only one blended from multiple sites, mostly from the ridgelines to the north of La Morra. Limestone found throughout the area lends to softer tannins and a more approachable style; perfect for drinking now.
 
Bricco Abroggio is an outlier of a vineyard, and the wine is equally special. The site is predominantly clay and marl, so you’d expected a tannic powerhouse, yet it is light on its feet with great freshness and plenty of cellaring potential.
 
Finally, the Badarina is the flagship and pride of the estate. Bruna’s mother was born there and the family lived in a small brick house on top of the ridge. This is Serralunga; the dominant soil is ancient sandstone, and the wine is built for the long haul. Structured and tight in its youth, it develops extraordinary aromatics with age.
 
Bruna Grimaldi’s quality/price ratio is simply unequaled in Barolo. These wines are beautifully expressive, polished wines that combine the cleanliness and rich, round flavors of a modern producer with a more traditional sensibility when it comes to oak usage.

Don’t buy just one. Stock up. You’ll want to see for yourself how well these develop over the next decade and beyond.
 
Highlights In Stock Now:
 
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Bruna Grimaldi ‘Scassa’ Barbera d’Alba Superiore 2022 750ml $21.90 special, 11 bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 90 points “A mix of fruit and floral elements, this Barbera is perfumed and expressive. Raspberry, cherry, rose and violet notes pervade its elegant frame. Charming, harmonious and long. Drink now. 2,000 cases made, 500 cases imported.”
 
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Bruna Grimaldi Camilla, Barolo DOCG 2020 750ml $39 special, 30 bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 92 points “Laced with cherry, raspberry and blackberry fruit, this juicy red is supple and open despite a line of dense tannins underneath. Balanced and long, marrying elegance and power. Best from 2028 through 2043. 2,080 cases made, 1,000 cases imported.”
 
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Bruna Grimaldi Badarina, Barolo DOCG 2019 750ml $49 special, 10 bottles in stock now
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 94 points “The 2019 Barolo Badarina sees fruit from Serralunga d’Alba. The wine shows medium-rich concentration with aromas of red berry fruit and dried cherry. At the back are subtle notes of rusty nail, black licorice and crushed rose. Bruna Grimaldi and her family make wine in their winery in Grinzane Cavour but farm various parcels across the appellation. The Badarina often comes across as the boldest and most structured wine in the portfolio. Some 6,500 bottles were released.”
 
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Bruna Grimaldi Badarina, Barolo DOCG 2021 750ml $54.50 special, 24 bottles in stock now
James Suckling 94 points “A subtle and fresh Barolo with aromas of flowers, Parma violets, almonds, restrained red fruit and spices. Medium- to full-bodied with crisp acidity and velvety tannins that are well integrated with supple fruit. Dusty finish. Try from 2026.”
 
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Bruna Grimaldi Bricco Ambrogio, Barolo DOCG 2019 750ml $44.50 special, 20 bottles in stock now
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 93 points “The Bruna Grimaldi 2019 Barolo Bricco Ambrogio (with 4,500 bottles made) boasts a very vibrant and lively garnet color that is slightly on the darker side of your standard Nebbiolo. This cru site in Roddi tends to make accessible Barolos, and you could say the same for this edition. The wild card, however, is the excellent 2019 vintage, which gives this wine more abundant fruit density and structure. Generally speaking, you get a bigger bolder wine this year.”
 
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Bruna Grimaldi Bricco Ambrogio, Barolo DOCG 2021 750ml $49 special, 24 bottles in stock now
James Suckling 93 points “Austere, if not raw feel on the nose, with citrus notes, lifted oranges, fresh small violets, sour redcurrants and hints of spices. The ripeness of the tannins is good, with medium body and zesty acidity. Fully focused on freshness, but it needs time to develop fully. Try after 2028.”

Don’t miss our additional sale going on now:
 
Markus Molitor
 
5% off any 3-5 in-stock bottles of Molitor
10% off any 6+ or more in-stock bottles of Molitor
 
Discount will not display online or in your cart,
We will adjust your invoice before processing your charge.
 
Molitor sale ends Tuesday, September 2nd at 9 am Pacific.