In This Newsletter:
New Week – New Arrivals
Autumn Savings Sale:
Elvio Cogno, GD Vajra & Luigi Baudana
New Arrival Featurette:
Bollinger’s Classic Champagne
New Week – New Arrivals
New Week – New Arrivals
Autumn Savings Sale:
Elvio Cogno, GD Vajra & Luigi Baudana
New Arrival Featurette:
Bollinger’s Classic Champagne
Bollinger Special Cuvée Brut, Champagne NV 750ml $64.50 special, 18 bottles in stock now
Decanter 96 points “60% Pinot Noir, 25% Chardonnay, 15% Meunier sourced from more than 300 crus, including 85% grands and premiers crus; 15% fermented in old oak barrels. The complexity and richness of Special Cuvée is unparalleled among the entry non-vintage blends of every Champagne house, short of ascending to the mesosphere of Krug. Its grand recipe explains why, built on incredible depth of 50%-60% reserves. Triumphant complexity is a given at Bollinger, but it’s the dynamic freshness and vitality that really set it apart as one of the most affordable Champagne benchmarks.”
Decanter 96 points “60% Pinot Noir, 25% Chardonnay, 15% Meunier sourced from more than 300 crus, including 85% grands and premiers crus; 15% fermented in old oak barrels. The complexity and richness of Special Cuvée is unparalleled among the entry non-vintage blends of every Champagne house, short of ascending to the mesosphere of Krug. Its grand recipe explains why, built on incredible depth of 50%-60% reserves. Triumphant complexity is a given at Bollinger, but it’s the dynamic freshness and vitality that really set it apart as one of the most affordable Champagne benchmarks.”
New Week – New Arrivals
Oregon
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Brick House Vineyards Gamay Noir, Ribbon Ridge 2024 750ml $36 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Winery Note “Harvested on a beautiful fall day, this mix of Gamay Noir clones was fully destemmed into stainless steel fermenters. After a post-fermentation maceration we racked the wine into 100% neutral French oak barrels where it aged for ten months.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Brick House Vineyards ‘Evelyn’s’ Pinot Noir, Ribbon Ridge 2023 750ml $79 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Eric Guido-Vinous 94 points “The 2023 Pinot Noir Evelyn’s smolders up from the glass, with licorice and sage mingling with stone dust and balsamic black cherries. Perfumed and silken in character, it offers depths of tart red and black fruits that saturate, balanced by zesty acidity. The palate buzzes with tension as fine tannins mingle with violet inner florals and a hint of citrus through the dramatically long finish. Brick House continues to impress with its energetic and fruit-intense style.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Evesham Wood Illahe Vineyard Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2023 750ml $38 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Winery Note “A pretty and precociously fruited vintage of Illahe, the ‘23 pours forth with a silken splendor of lavender-tinged cherry, strawberry, and fresh raspberry before showing off its savory side. We’re reminded of the essence of fall mushrooms foraged among old growth Douglas fir–wonderfully Oregonian.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Evesham Wood Le Puits Sec Pinot Noir, Eola-Amity Hills 2023 750ml $49 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Winery Note “The Le Puits Sec is a remarkably focused and cheery wine with dried leaves framing fresh cranberry and raspberry stopping just shy of pomegranite while offering an apple-skin style of fine-grained tannin.”
Arterberry Maresh Maresh Vineyard Chardonnay, Dundee Hills 2023 750ml $71.90 special, 36 bottles in stock now
Eric Guido-Vinous 97 points “The 2023 Chardonnay Maresh Vineyard seduces with a burst of crushed flint stones, dusty sage, nectarine and gingery spice. Its textures are otherworldly, nearly oily yet sleek, with a sour citrus nervousness that excites the palate as opulently ripe apricot settles on the senses. Despite its weight and intensity, this 2023 Chardonnay leaves the palate reeling with tension, salty and lime intense, with a strong mineral resonance that adds lasting crunchiness. Gorgeous today yet balanced for a long evolution.”
Best seller is back in stock!
Arterberry Maresh Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills 2023 750ml $30.90 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 93 points “Dynamic yet sleek, with brisk acidity framed by vibrant cherry, cranberry, green tea and dusky spice flavors that zip along the snappy finish. Drink now through 2023.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Arterberry Maresh Old Vines Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills 2023 750ml $39 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Eric Guido-Vinous 95 points “The 2023 Pinot Noir Dundee Hills Old Vines blossoms in the glass, where balsamic-tinged black cherries mingle with dried roses, nuances of gravel dust and a hint of clove. This wine is seamless and elegant, silken in texture, with a solid core of minerals to balance citrus-infused wild berry fruits that slowly saturate the palate. It tapers off chewy and extremely long, leaving the palate watering for more, all framed by regal tannins.”
Arterberry Maresh Maresh Vineyard Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills 2023 750ml $59 special, 30 bottles in stock now
Eric Guido-Vinous 96 points “The 2023 Pinot Noir Maresh Vineyard is impossible to ignore, offering an array of crushed cherries and minty herbs, along with a hint of clove and stone dust that tempt the senses. Elegance defines the feel, as velvety textures are supported by cool-toned acidity while red and blue fruits swirl across the palate, leaving a crunchy mineral tinge toward the close. A web of fine-grained tannins adds structure and poise as the 2023 finishes with outstanding length and energy, leaving inner rose tones and a pleasantly bitter twang to linger. Fabulous.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Arterberry Maresh Weber Vineyard Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills 2023 750ml $56 special, 24 bottles in stock now
Eric Guido-Vinous 94 points “The 2023 Pinot Noir Weber Vineyard is wildly spicy and lifted in the glass, wafting up with a bouquet of stemmed strawberries, tangerine zest, lime and fresh basil. Soft textures are round and supple, with a savory core of minty red and blue fruits underscored by zesty acidity and salty minerals. Sweet tannins frame the finish without slowing its momentum. Tart cranberry tones linger, forcing the mouth to water as nuances of lavender fade.”
France – Other
Domaines Ott Château Romassan Bandol Rosé, Provence 2024 750ml $59 special, 18 bottles in stock now
Billy Norris-Vinous 94 points “The 2024 Rosé Château Romassan is a wine of supreme textural finesse and elegance. Beautifully weighted, broad and nearly opulent, yet in no way heavy, the 2024 drapes a blanket of floral-inflected orchard fruit across the tongue, coating every corner of the mouth through the long, focused finish. Rosewater, orange confit and a tickle of sea salt last well after the wine has exited the stage. This issuch an intentional Rosé made with the highest level of craftsmanship. I wouldn’t hesitate to age this Bandol for a few years to allow even further complexity to develop. Bravo.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Château La Fleur Saint Bonnet, Médoc, Bordeaux 2023 750ml $11.90 special, 36+ 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!
Saint Cosme ‘Micro-Cosme’ Grenache – Pinot Noir, Vin de France 2024 750ml $16 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 89 points “A fragrant and unadorned burst of black raspberry and boysenberry turns juicy and pure on the friendly palate. This is all about freshness of fruit, flecked with dried herbs and violet. Light and racy on the graphite-etched finish. A perfect red for gulping with a slight chill. Delicious. Grenache and Pinot Noir. Drink now. 3,500 cases imported.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Saint Cosme Côtes du Rhône 2024 750ml $18 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Saint Cosme Côtes du Rhône 2024 1.5L $39 special, 12 magnums in stock now
Winemaker Note “Syrah requires a warm climate to fully ripen but enough moderating effect to produce intense, aromatic wines that are not overwhelmed by sweetness and alcohol. This Syrah grows in ideal terroirs of the southern Rhône and shows the varietal’s typical spicy notes of sandalwood, violets, and black pepper.”
Italy
G. B. Burlotto Viridis Langhe Sauvignon, Piedmont 2024 750ml $36 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Winery Note “In ancient Rome, viridis was the color of the dress of the Naiads, nymphs of fresh waters. Here, however, the noble vine of the Loire distills the salt and soul of the sea from the land of Langa, the fragrant trace of herbs and wildflowers, the fresh juice of sour fruits. It is a white that, evoking all that is green, fascinates and surprises, affects and quenches one’s thirst.”
“This estate was the second to plant Sauvignon Blanc in the Langhe after Angelo Gaja. The first vines set root in 1986 and a second parcel was planted ten years later. The folks at Comm. G.B. Burlotto were very happy with the results, and they remain one of the most important proponents of this white grape in a region dominated by red varieties. The wine is made in a very simple fashion and only sees contact with stainless steel.” –Monica Larner, Wine Advocate (no reviews available)
G. B. Burlotto Elatis Rosé, Vino da Tavola, Piedmont 2024 750ml $31.50 special, 12 bottles in stock now
VinopolNote: A blend of Nebbiolo and the rare Piedmont variety Pelaverga. This is not released every vintage.
G.B. Burlotto Verduno Pelaverga, Piedmont 2024 750ml $31.50 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Importer Note “Pelaverga is an hierloom Piedmontese varietal. Matteo Ascheri aims to highlight the grape’s potential as a dry, still red with spicy, dark cherry and red-berry flavors. A medium bodied, fresh and bright red, the Pelaverga pairs well with a wide range of pastas, pizzas and lighter grilled meats and fish.”
Final restock of this special 20th anniversary release!
Tenuta delle Terre Nere ‘Bellacolonna’ 20th Anniversary Calderara Sottana Rosso Etna, Sicily 2022 750ml $49 special, 21 bottles in stock now
James Suckling 95 points ‘This is a special bottling for the 20th anniversary of the estate. It has depth and intensity with a medium to full body, a creamy stone and basalt texture, red fruits and a mushroom and bark undertone. The linear, vivid finish goes on and on. Needs time to open. Be patient.”
Spain
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Bernabeleva Arroyo del Tórtolas, Madrid 2023 750ml $49 special, 12 bottles in stock now
No reviews for 2023. 2022 provided for reference.
Luis Gutiérrez-Wine Advocate 94 points “The 2022 Arroyo del Tórtolas is a single-vineyard Garnacha from a plot that achieves higher ripeness, and it has the palest color of the 2022s. This is the wine that they consider “wilder,” and it has higher alcohol (15%) but also higher acidity, which compensates for the ripeness. It’s spicy and heady but delicate, juicy and fine-boned, with very fine tannins and a long finish where you notice the warm year. It fermented with 80% full clusters and indigenous yeasts and had a long maceration of more than 60 days. This wine is quite regular year in, year out. It matured in four used 500-liter barrels and is the one where you feel the élevage in the aromas, but nothing excessive. 2,400 bottles produced. There’s also a three-year blend from this plot.”
Bernabeleva Garnacha de Viña Bonita, Madrid 2023 750ml $69 special, 4 bottles in stock now
No reviews for 2023. 2022 provided for reference.
Luis Gutiérrez-Wine Advocate 96 points “Usually my favorite here, the 2022 Garnacha de Viña Bonita was produced with grapes from the vineyard that produces their most elegant wine, a plot on white granite soils whose grapes fermented with 80% full clusters and a long maceration of six weeks. The élevage was in three used 600-liter barrels. It has a pale and bright ruby color and a complex and intriguing nose with notes of meat broth and decayed violets plus the usual aromatic herbs and spice. The palate has the most elegant tannins of the 2022s, fine-grained and with a chalky and dry sensation in the finish. It has 14.5% alcohol, a pH of 3.4 and 5.07 grams of acidity. It is delicious and elegant. 2,200 bottles represents the largest production ever from this vineyard. It was bottled in May 2024.”
New Zealand
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Jules Taylor Gruner Veltliner, Marlborough 2023 750ml $19 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Cameron Douglas MS 93 points “Fragrant, floral, varietal and enticing bouquet of apple and citrus, some classic gentle herbaceous scents and a touch of radish. Crisp, saline, salivating and dry as the wine touches the palate, flavours of fresh, crisp white fleshed orchard fruits, there’s a grapefruit flash note and cool stone mineral quality. Youthful and taut, well made and lengthy. best drinking from 2023 through 2029.”
Jules Taylor Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough 2024 750ml $19 special, 12 bottles in stock now
James Suckling 91 points “Vibrant and fresh aromas of passion fruit, cut grass and pineapple. The light-bodied palate has a creamy mouthfeel and focused acidity, giving notes of peaches, nectarines and lychees. Tropical fruit-driven with a generous texture. Drink now. Screw cap.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
The Better Half Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough 2024 750ml $14 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Wine Enthusiast 90 points “Appealing aromas of lime, white peach and kiwi fruit lead to a palate that’s shows lovely, delicate fruit woven neatly with bright acidity, and padded by a softly pithy texture. It steers clear of the green, underripe pungency common to this style and is the better (half) for it.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
The Better Half Pinot Noir, Marlborough 2021 750ml $19 special, 11 bottles in stock now
Cameron Douglas MS 92 points “Classic Marlborough expression with aromas and flavours of dark cherry and doris plums, there’s a gentle savoury spice with fine baking spice and wood scents of vanilla and clove. Plush, fruity and dry on the palate with moderately firm tannins and plenty of acidity setting a decent foundation for core fruit flavours. Dry on the finish with plenty of pinosity and charm. Best drinking from day of purchase through 2026.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Brick House Vineyards Gamay Noir, Ribbon Ridge 2024 750ml $36 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Winery Note “Harvested on a beautiful fall day, this mix of Gamay Noir clones was fully destemmed into stainless steel fermenters. After a post-fermentation maceration we racked the wine into 100% neutral French oak barrels where it aged for ten months.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Brick House Vineyards ‘Evelyn’s’ Pinot Noir, Ribbon Ridge 2023 750ml $79 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Eric Guido-Vinous 94 points “The 2023 Pinot Noir Evelyn’s smolders up from the glass, with licorice and sage mingling with stone dust and balsamic black cherries. Perfumed and silken in character, it offers depths of tart red and black fruits that saturate, balanced by zesty acidity. The palate buzzes with tension as fine tannins mingle with violet inner florals and a hint of citrus through the dramatically long finish. Brick House continues to impress with its energetic and fruit-intense style.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Evesham Wood Illahe Vineyard Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2023 750ml $38 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Winery Note “A pretty and precociously fruited vintage of Illahe, the ‘23 pours forth with a silken splendor of lavender-tinged cherry, strawberry, and fresh raspberry before showing off its savory side. We’re reminded of the essence of fall mushrooms foraged among old growth Douglas fir–wonderfully Oregonian.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Evesham Wood Le Puits Sec Pinot Noir, Eola-Amity Hills 2023 750ml $49 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Winery Note “The Le Puits Sec is a remarkably focused and cheery wine with dried leaves framing fresh cranberry and raspberry stopping just shy of pomegranite while offering an apple-skin style of fine-grained tannin.”
Arterberry Maresh Maresh Vineyard Chardonnay, Dundee Hills 2023 750ml $71.90 special, 36 bottles in stock now
Eric Guido-Vinous 97 points “The 2023 Chardonnay Maresh Vineyard seduces with a burst of crushed flint stones, dusty sage, nectarine and gingery spice. Its textures are otherworldly, nearly oily yet sleek, with a sour citrus nervousness that excites the palate as opulently ripe apricot settles on the senses. Despite its weight and intensity, this 2023 Chardonnay leaves the palate reeling with tension, salty and lime intense, with a strong mineral resonance that adds lasting crunchiness. Gorgeous today yet balanced for a long evolution.”
Best seller is back in stock!
Arterberry Maresh Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills 2023 750ml $30.90 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 93 points “Dynamic yet sleek, with brisk acidity framed by vibrant cherry, cranberry, green tea and dusky spice flavors that zip along the snappy finish. Drink now through 2023.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Arterberry Maresh Old Vines Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills 2023 750ml $39 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Eric Guido-Vinous 95 points “The 2023 Pinot Noir Dundee Hills Old Vines blossoms in the glass, where balsamic-tinged black cherries mingle with dried roses, nuances of gravel dust and a hint of clove. This wine is seamless and elegant, silken in texture, with a solid core of minerals to balance citrus-infused wild berry fruits that slowly saturate the palate. It tapers off chewy and extremely long, leaving the palate watering for more, all framed by regal tannins.”
Arterberry Maresh Maresh Vineyard Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills 2023 750ml $59 special, 30 bottles in stock now
Eric Guido-Vinous 96 points “The 2023 Pinot Noir Maresh Vineyard is impossible to ignore, offering an array of crushed cherries and minty herbs, along with a hint of clove and stone dust that tempt the senses. Elegance defines the feel, as velvety textures are supported by cool-toned acidity while red and blue fruits swirl across the palate, leaving a crunchy mineral tinge toward the close. A web of fine-grained tannins adds structure and poise as the 2023 finishes with outstanding length and energy, leaving inner rose tones and a pleasantly bitter twang to linger. Fabulous.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Arterberry Maresh Weber Vineyard Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills 2023 750ml $56 special, 24 bottles in stock now
Eric Guido-Vinous 94 points “The 2023 Pinot Noir Weber Vineyard is wildly spicy and lifted in the glass, wafting up with a bouquet of stemmed strawberries, tangerine zest, lime and fresh basil. Soft textures are round and supple, with a savory core of minty red and blue fruits underscored by zesty acidity and salty minerals. Sweet tannins frame the finish without slowing its momentum. Tart cranberry tones linger, forcing the mouth to water as nuances of lavender fade.”
France – Other
Domaines Ott Château Romassan Bandol Rosé, Provence 2024 750ml $59 special, 18 bottles in stock now
Billy Norris-Vinous 94 points “The 2024 Rosé Château Romassan is a wine of supreme textural finesse and elegance. Beautifully weighted, broad and nearly opulent, yet in no way heavy, the 2024 drapes a blanket of floral-inflected orchard fruit across the tongue, coating every corner of the mouth through the long, focused finish. Rosewater, orange confit and a tickle of sea salt last well after the wine has exited the stage. This issuch an intentional Rosé made with the highest level of craftsmanship. I wouldn’t hesitate to age this Bandol for a few years to allow even further complexity to develop. Bravo.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Château La Fleur Saint Bonnet, Médoc, Bordeaux 2023 750ml $11.90 special, 36+ 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!
Saint Cosme ‘Micro-Cosme’ Grenache – Pinot Noir, Vin de France 2024 750ml $16 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 89 points “A fragrant and unadorned burst of black raspberry and boysenberry turns juicy and pure on the friendly palate. This is all about freshness of fruit, flecked with dried herbs and violet. Light and racy on the graphite-etched finish. A perfect red for gulping with a slight chill. Delicious. Grenache and Pinot Noir. Drink now. 3,500 cases imported.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Saint Cosme Côtes du Rhône 2024 750ml $18 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Saint Cosme Côtes du Rhône 2024 1.5L $39 special, 12 magnums in stock now
Winemaker Note “Syrah requires a warm climate to fully ripen but enough moderating effect to produce intense, aromatic wines that are not overwhelmed by sweetness and alcohol. This Syrah grows in ideal terroirs of the southern Rhône and shows the varietal’s typical spicy notes of sandalwood, violets, and black pepper.”
Italy
G. B. Burlotto Viridis Langhe Sauvignon, Piedmont 2024 750ml $36 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Winery Note “In ancient Rome, viridis was the color of the dress of the Naiads, nymphs of fresh waters. Here, however, the noble vine of the Loire distills the salt and soul of the sea from the land of Langa, the fragrant trace of herbs and wildflowers, the fresh juice of sour fruits. It is a white that, evoking all that is green, fascinates and surprises, affects and quenches one’s thirst.”
“This estate was the second to plant Sauvignon Blanc in the Langhe after Angelo Gaja. The first vines set root in 1986 and a second parcel was planted ten years later. The folks at Comm. G.B. Burlotto were very happy with the results, and they remain one of the most important proponents of this white grape in a region dominated by red varieties. The wine is made in a very simple fashion and only sees contact with stainless steel.” –Monica Larner, Wine Advocate (no reviews available)
G. B. Burlotto Elatis Rosé, Vino da Tavola, Piedmont 2024 750ml $31.50 special, 12 bottles in stock now
VinopolNote: A blend of Nebbiolo and the rare Piedmont variety Pelaverga. This is not released every vintage.
G.B. Burlotto Verduno Pelaverga, Piedmont 2024 750ml $31.50 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Importer Note “Pelaverga is an hierloom Piedmontese varietal. Matteo Ascheri aims to highlight the grape’s potential as a dry, still red with spicy, dark cherry and red-berry flavors. A medium bodied, fresh and bright red, the Pelaverga pairs well with a wide range of pastas, pizzas and lighter grilled meats and fish.”
Final restock of this special 20th anniversary release!
Tenuta delle Terre Nere ‘Bellacolonna’ 20th Anniversary Calderara Sottana Rosso Etna, Sicily 2022 750ml $49 special, 21 bottles in stock now
James Suckling 95 points ‘This is a special bottling for the 20th anniversary of the estate. It has depth and intensity with a medium to full body, a creamy stone and basalt texture, red fruits and a mushroom and bark undertone. The linear, vivid finish goes on and on. Needs time to open. Be patient.”
Spain
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Bernabeleva Arroyo del Tórtolas, Madrid 2023 750ml $49 special, 12 bottles in stock now
No reviews for 2023. 2022 provided for reference.
Luis Gutiérrez-Wine Advocate 94 points “The 2022 Arroyo del Tórtolas is a single-vineyard Garnacha from a plot that achieves higher ripeness, and it has the palest color of the 2022s. This is the wine that they consider “wilder,” and it has higher alcohol (15%) but also higher acidity, which compensates for the ripeness. It’s spicy and heady but delicate, juicy and fine-boned, with very fine tannins and a long finish where you notice the warm year. It fermented with 80% full clusters and indigenous yeasts and had a long maceration of more than 60 days. This wine is quite regular year in, year out. It matured in four used 500-liter barrels and is the one where you feel the élevage in the aromas, but nothing excessive. 2,400 bottles produced. There’s also a three-year blend from this plot.”
Bernabeleva Garnacha de Viña Bonita, Madrid 2023 750ml $69 special, 4 bottles in stock now
No reviews for 2023. 2022 provided for reference.
Luis Gutiérrez-Wine Advocate 96 points “Usually my favorite here, the 2022 Garnacha de Viña Bonita was produced with grapes from the vineyard that produces their most elegant wine, a plot on white granite soils whose grapes fermented with 80% full clusters and a long maceration of six weeks. The élevage was in three used 600-liter barrels. It has a pale and bright ruby color and a complex and intriguing nose with notes of meat broth and decayed violets plus the usual aromatic herbs and spice. The palate has the most elegant tannins of the 2022s, fine-grained and with a chalky and dry sensation in the finish. It has 14.5% alcohol, a pH of 3.4 and 5.07 grams of acidity. It is delicious and elegant. 2,200 bottles represents the largest production ever from this vineyard. It was bottled in May 2024.”
New Zealand
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Jules Taylor Gruner Veltliner, Marlborough 2023 750ml $19 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Cameron Douglas MS 93 points “Fragrant, floral, varietal and enticing bouquet of apple and citrus, some classic gentle herbaceous scents and a touch of radish. Crisp, saline, salivating and dry as the wine touches the palate, flavours of fresh, crisp white fleshed orchard fruits, there’s a grapefruit flash note and cool stone mineral quality. Youthful and taut, well made and lengthy. best drinking from 2023 through 2029.”
Jules Taylor Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough 2024 750ml $19 special, 12 bottles in stock now
James Suckling 91 points “Vibrant and fresh aromas of passion fruit, cut grass and pineapple. The light-bodied palate has a creamy mouthfeel and focused acidity, giving notes of peaches, nectarines and lychees. Tropical fruit-driven with a generous texture. Drink now. Screw cap.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
The Better Half Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough 2024 750ml $14 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Wine Enthusiast 90 points “Appealing aromas of lime, white peach and kiwi fruit lead to a palate that’s shows lovely, delicate fruit woven neatly with bright acidity, and padded by a softly pithy texture. It steers clear of the green, underripe pungency common to this style and is the better (half) for it.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
The Better Half Pinot Noir, Marlborough 2021 750ml $19 special, 11 bottles in stock now
Cameron Douglas MS 92 points “Classic Marlborough expression with aromas and flavours of dark cherry and doris plums, there’s a gentle savoury spice with fine baking spice and wood scents of vanilla and clove. Plush, fruity and dry on the palate with moderately firm tannins and plenty of acidity setting a decent foundation for core fruit flavours. Dry on the finish with plenty of pinosity and charm. Best drinking from day of purchase through 2026.”
Introducing Our Autumn Sale!
Featuring Italian Icons: Elvio Cogno, GD Vajra & Luigi Baudana
Elvio Cogno
Born and raised in Novello, Elvio Cogno came from a long line of grape growers in the region but was the first to turn the dream of winemaking into a reality.
For years, he collaborated with Marcarini (including crafting the legendary 1964 vintage from the Brunate vineyard, one of the first Barolos released as a single vineyard). In 1990, he purchased the under-performing but historic estate, Cascina Nuova. With fruit from the Ravera cru, Cogno began making classically-styled wines.
The resulting stupendous wines prompted a rush on land in Novello and Ravera in particular. His masterpieces elevated the region as a whole, no easy task for an already famous region. No wineries in Novello have surpassed the well-deserved fame of Elvio Cogno.
Though the original master passed away in 2016, the estate is in the able hands of his daughter and son-in-law, Nadia Cogno and Valter Fissore (winemaker since 1996). From their entry level “Cascina Nuova” Barolo up to the Riservas from the choicest holdings, these are wines that will appeal to every lover of Barolo, especially at our newly lower prices!
In Stock and On Sale Now:
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Elvio Cogno Barolo Cascina Nuova, Barolo DOCG 2018 750ml Was $59, Now $54.50 special, 28 bottles in stock now
Kerin O’Keefe-Wine Enthusiast 94 points “Floral aromas of rose and iris mingle with red berry and tilled earth on this perfumed red. Elegantly structured, the vibrant palate offers juicy red cherry, crushed raspberry and star anise before a savory, almost salty finish. Taut, refined tannins and bright acidity keep it balanced. Drink through 2030.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Elvio Cogno Ravera Bricco Pernice, Barolo DOCG 2015 750ml Was $99, Now $89 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Kerin O’Keefe-Wine Enthusiast 97 points “Cellar Selection. Enticing scents of rose, iris, perfumed berry and an earthy whiff of truffle shape the fragrant nose on this dazzling wine. The delicious, full-bodied palate boasts structure and a weightless elegance, delivering juicy Marasca cherry, cherry compote, cinnamon and star anise. Taut polished tannins and fresh acidity provide balance and an elegant structure. It’s already irresistible but will also age well for years. Drink 2022–2035.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Elvio Cogno Ravera Bricco Pernice, Barolo DOCG 2017 750ml Was $135, Now $119 special, 15 bottles in stock now
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 95 points “This is a medium-bodied Nebbiolo from a hot vintage with a ruby-tinged appearance. The 2017 Barolo Ravera Bricco Pernice shows generous inner fiber and richness with dried cherry, blackberry, plum and dark spice. Fruit for this wine comes from a beautiful amphitheater of vines with the perched town of Novello high up on the skyline. I love the especially smooth and soft quality to what is a powerful and lasting wine. Only 3,500 bottles were made.”
Elvio Cogno Ravera, Barolo DOCG 2017 750ml Was $94.50, Now $88 special, 17 bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 97 points “The 2017 Barolo Ravera makes a statement with its intense aromas of licorice, kirsch, pipe tobacco, and spice. Revealing a balanced and chiseled structure, the palate conveys dried raspberry, blood orange, and dried herbs. A great wine from the 2017 vintage, it feels like it will hold up to the test of time. Drink 2024-2042.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Elvio Cogno Ravera, Barolo DOCG 2018 750ml Was $94.50, Now $88 special, 5 bottles in stock now
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 94 points “The Elvio Cogno 2018 Barolo Ravera is becoming one of the most important wines in Novello, and it performs very nicely in this more challenging vintage. In fact, 2018 helps to cement Ravera’s steadfast reputation precisely because it performs so well despite spells of humidity and heat. The wine shows small-berry detailing with rust and crushed stone at the back. There is a point of bitterness that accompanies the tannins of this full-bodied wine. Production is 15,000 bottles.”
For years, he collaborated with Marcarini (including crafting the legendary 1964 vintage from the Brunate vineyard, one of the first Barolos released as a single vineyard). In 1990, he purchased the under-performing but historic estate, Cascina Nuova. With fruit from the Ravera cru, Cogno began making classically-styled wines.
The resulting stupendous wines prompted a rush on land in Novello and Ravera in particular. His masterpieces elevated the region as a whole, no easy task for an already famous region. No wineries in Novello have surpassed the well-deserved fame of Elvio Cogno.
Though the original master passed away in 2016, the estate is in the able hands of his daughter and son-in-law, Nadia Cogno and Valter Fissore (winemaker since 1996). From their entry level “Cascina Nuova” Barolo up to the Riservas from the choicest holdings, these are wines that will appeal to every lover of Barolo, especially at our newly lower prices!
In Stock and On Sale Now:
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Elvio Cogno Barolo Cascina Nuova, Barolo DOCG 2018 750ml Was $59, Now $54.50 special, 28 bottles in stock now
Kerin O’Keefe-Wine Enthusiast 94 points “Floral aromas of rose and iris mingle with red berry and tilled earth on this perfumed red. Elegantly structured, the vibrant palate offers juicy red cherry, crushed raspberry and star anise before a savory, almost salty finish. Taut, refined tannins and bright acidity keep it balanced. Drink through 2030.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Elvio Cogno Ravera Bricco Pernice, Barolo DOCG 2015 750ml Was $99, Now $89 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Kerin O’Keefe-Wine Enthusiast 97 points “Cellar Selection. Enticing scents of rose, iris, perfumed berry and an earthy whiff of truffle shape the fragrant nose on this dazzling wine. The delicious, full-bodied palate boasts structure and a weightless elegance, delivering juicy Marasca cherry, cherry compote, cinnamon and star anise. Taut polished tannins and fresh acidity provide balance and an elegant structure. It’s already irresistible but will also age well for years. Drink 2022–2035.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Elvio Cogno Ravera Bricco Pernice, Barolo DOCG 2017 750ml Was $135, Now $119 special, 15 bottles in stock now
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 95 points “This is a medium-bodied Nebbiolo from a hot vintage with a ruby-tinged appearance. The 2017 Barolo Ravera Bricco Pernice shows generous inner fiber and richness with dried cherry, blackberry, plum and dark spice. Fruit for this wine comes from a beautiful amphitheater of vines with the perched town of Novello high up on the skyline. I love the especially smooth and soft quality to what is a powerful and lasting wine. Only 3,500 bottles were made.”
Elvio Cogno Ravera, Barolo DOCG 2017 750ml Was $94.50, Now $88 special, 17 bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 97 points “The 2017 Barolo Ravera makes a statement with its intense aromas of licorice, kirsch, pipe tobacco, and spice. Revealing a balanced and chiseled structure, the palate conveys dried raspberry, blood orange, and dried herbs. A great wine from the 2017 vintage, it feels like it will hold up to the test of time. Drink 2024-2042.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Elvio Cogno Ravera, Barolo DOCG 2018 750ml Was $94.50, Now $88 special, 5 bottles in stock now
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 94 points “The Elvio Cogno 2018 Barolo Ravera is becoming one of the most important wines in Novello, and it performs very nicely in this more challenging vintage. In fact, 2018 helps to cement Ravera’s steadfast reputation precisely because it performs so well despite spells of humidity and heat. The wine shows small-berry detailing with rust and crushed stone at the back. There is a point of bitterness that accompanies the tannins of this full-bodied wine. Production is 15,000 bottles.”
G.D. Vajra
G.D. Vajra is one of our favorites. The estate is responsible for some of the finest Barolos we offer. The lineup as a whole is quite simply the best in Piedmont today. They are benchmark wines against which all others are judged. We’re offering their three single-vineyard wines at newly reduced prices. Not familiar? Let’s explore!
Ravera is their most precious, a profound wine worthy of a long sleep in your cellar, which goes for triple digits from others addresses. The Bricco delle Viole is the highest vineyard in Barolo, named for the violets that blossom across its southern exposure. In its position above the thick fogs, it receives the most sunlight with the earliest sunrise and latest sunset, as well as a wildly dramatic diurnal temperature swing. The wines are lifted with refined tannins and minerality. Coste di Rose is home to a wide range of soil types. Per Monica Larner of the Wine Advocate, this results in unique aromatics and a darker fruit profile than the Bricco delle Viole.
In Stock and On Sale Now:
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
G.D. Vajra Coste di Rose, Barolo DOCG 2018 750ml Was $64.50, Now $59 special, 13 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 92 points “The 2018 Barolo Coste di Rose is a delicate, understated Barolo that will need a bit of time to fully emerge. There’s lovely purity to the fruit here, but also some angular contours that need to resolve. The 2018 is a mid-weight wine in the style of the vintage, and yet there is fine balance.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
G.D. Vajra Coste di Rose, Barolo DOCG 2019 750ml Was $69, Now $64.50 special, 8 bottles in stock now
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 95 points “Compared to Bricco delle Viole, Coste di Rose is distinguished by sandstone soils at lower elevations of 340 to 350 meters above sea level. There is a lot of variability in the soils, and as they change, Nebbiolo behaves differently, picking up new aromas and textural qualities along the way. The G.D. Vajra 2019 Barolo Coste di Rose shows a darker core of fruit with dusty earthy tones and campfire ash. The grape skins were quite thick in 2019, meaning that less work was done with submerged cap and other extractive methods. The beauty of this wine is the mouthfeel, which feels rich, tight and silky. Coste di Rose was first made in 2015.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
G.D. Vajra Ravera, Barolo DOCG 2018 750ml Was $79, Now $74.50 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 93 points “The 2018 Barolo Ravera is a powerful, tightly wound wine. Gravel, smoke, cured meats, spice, leather, tobacco and menthol emerge, but only with quite a bit of reticence. This deceptively mid-weight Barolo has a good bit of brawn. It will be interesting to see if the fruit emerges from behind the tannins.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
G.D. Vajra Ravera, Barolo DOCG 2019 750ml Was $89, Now $81.90 special, 18 bottles in stock now
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 97 points “The organic G.D. Vajra 2019 Barolo Ravera (with fruit from the most sought-after cru in the village of Novello) reveals gorgeous tonality and color. The wine shines bright with dark ruby and garnet gemstone. Healthy Nebbiolo colors like this can be admired across the 2019 vintage. Ravera represents a union of different geologies from Barolo and Castiglione Falletto. The site has shown extraordinary versatility, especially in the face of climate change, to make wines of both strength and elegance. It is softly textured but also strong in fiber, with silky sensations followed by dark fruit and concentration. Ravera has a character all its own, and the operative word here is power.”
Ravera is their most precious, a profound wine worthy of a long sleep in your cellar, which goes for triple digits from others addresses. The Bricco delle Viole is the highest vineyard in Barolo, named for the violets that blossom across its southern exposure. In its position above the thick fogs, it receives the most sunlight with the earliest sunrise and latest sunset, as well as a wildly dramatic diurnal temperature swing. The wines are lifted with refined tannins and minerality. Coste di Rose is home to a wide range of soil types. Per Monica Larner of the Wine Advocate, this results in unique aromatics and a darker fruit profile than the Bricco delle Viole.
In Stock and On Sale Now:
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
G.D. Vajra Coste di Rose, Barolo DOCG 2018 750ml Was $64.50, Now $59 special, 13 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 92 points “The 2018 Barolo Coste di Rose is a delicate, understated Barolo that will need a bit of time to fully emerge. There’s lovely purity to the fruit here, but also some angular contours that need to resolve. The 2018 is a mid-weight wine in the style of the vintage, and yet there is fine balance.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
G.D. Vajra Coste di Rose, Barolo DOCG 2019 750ml Was $69, Now $64.50 special, 8 bottles in stock now
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 95 points “Compared to Bricco delle Viole, Coste di Rose is distinguished by sandstone soils at lower elevations of 340 to 350 meters above sea level. There is a lot of variability in the soils, and as they change, Nebbiolo behaves differently, picking up new aromas and textural qualities along the way. The G.D. Vajra 2019 Barolo Coste di Rose shows a darker core of fruit with dusty earthy tones and campfire ash. The grape skins were quite thick in 2019, meaning that less work was done with submerged cap and other extractive methods. The beauty of this wine is the mouthfeel, which feels rich, tight and silky. Coste di Rose was first made in 2015.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
G.D. Vajra Ravera, Barolo DOCG 2018 750ml Was $79, Now $74.50 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 93 points “The 2018 Barolo Ravera is a powerful, tightly wound wine. Gravel, smoke, cured meats, spice, leather, tobacco and menthol emerge, but only with quite a bit of reticence. This deceptively mid-weight Barolo has a good bit of brawn. It will be interesting to see if the fruit emerges from behind the tannins.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
G.D. Vajra Ravera, Barolo DOCG 2019 750ml Was $89, Now $81.90 special, 18 bottles in stock now
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 97 points “The organic G.D. Vajra 2019 Barolo Ravera (with fruit from the most sought-after cru in the village of Novello) reveals gorgeous tonality and color. The wine shines bright with dark ruby and garnet gemstone. Healthy Nebbiolo colors like this can be admired across the 2019 vintage. Ravera represents a union of different geologies from Barolo and Castiglione Falletto. The site has shown extraordinary versatility, especially in the face of climate change, to make wines of both strength and elegance. It is softly textured but also strong in fiber, with silky sensations followed by dark fruit and concentration. Ravera has a character all its own, and the operative word here is power.”
In 2009, G.D. Vajra was entrusted by Luigi and Fiorina Baudana to carry on the legacy of their cherished garagiste operation upon their retirement. The estate’s holdings don’t exceed seven acres, making them one of the smallest wineries in all of Piedmont. As a result, these are wines made in highly limited qualities and offer a wholly unique interpretation of the varietal.
The technical skill of Vajra is on full display with these old vines, resulting in wines that live up to the heritage of the estate and a wholly different interpretation of Nebbiolo in terms of aromatic lift and fruit profile. Snap up your dream wines at newly reduces prices on our Autumn Savings sale!
In Stock and On Sale Now:
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Luigi Baudana ‘Baudana’, Barolo DOCG 2018 750ml Was $89, Now $79 special, 18 bottles in stock now
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 94 points “With fruit from Serralunga d’Alba, the 2018 Barolo Baudana is a very different wine when compared to the other single-vineyard expressions from this estate. This has to do with site and soil, and in the case of this celebrated subzone, the wines are always more powerful, more structured and mineral-driven. Dark fruit is followed by rusty notes of iron ore and crushed clay. This wine offers good substance both in terms of finish and texture. Cascina Adelaide does a great job with the Baudana.”
Luigi Baudana ‘Baudana’, Barolo DOCG 2019 750ml Was $89, Now $81.90 special, 13 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 96 points “The 2019 Barolo Baudana is absolutely captivating. Effusive and bright in the glass, with tons of freshness and remarkable fruit purity, the Baudana offers up generous dark red fruit, spice, leather, kirsch, hard candy, cedar, tobacco and underbrush. There’s terrific depth here and exceptional balance, too. Rose petal, white pepper and chalk lift the high-toned, intensely saline finish.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Luigi Baudana Cerretta, Barolo DOCG 2018 750ml Was $89, Now $79 special, 19 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 93 points “The 2018 Barolo Cerretta is a potent, searing wine, its mid-weight structure notwithstanding. Scorching tannins wrap around a core of dark red/black fruit, gravel, smoke, crushed rocks, menthol, licorice and game. The 2018 is going to need a number of years to come around and for those formidable tannins to soften.”
The technical skill of Vajra is on full display with these old vines, resulting in wines that live up to the heritage of the estate and a wholly different interpretation of Nebbiolo in terms of aromatic lift and fruit profile. Snap up your dream wines at newly reduces prices on our Autumn Savings sale!
In Stock and On Sale Now:
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Luigi Baudana ‘Baudana’, Barolo DOCG 2018 750ml Was $89, Now $79 special, 18 bottles in stock now
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 94 points “With fruit from Serralunga d’Alba, the 2018 Barolo Baudana is a very different wine when compared to the other single-vineyard expressions from this estate. This has to do with site and soil, and in the case of this celebrated subzone, the wines are always more powerful, more structured and mineral-driven. Dark fruit is followed by rusty notes of iron ore and crushed clay. This wine offers good substance both in terms of finish and texture. Cascina Adelaide does a great job with the Baudana.”
Luigi Baudana ‘Baudana’, Barolo DOCG 2019 750ml Was $89, Now $81.90 special, 13 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 96 points “The 2019 Barolo Baudana is absolutely captivating. Effusive and bright in the glass, with tons of freshness and remarkable fruit purity, the Baudana offers up generous dark red fruit, spice, leather, kirsch, hard candy, cedar, tobacco and underbrush. There’s terrific depth here and exceptional balance, too. Rose petal, white pepper and chalk lift the high-toned, intensely saline finish.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Luigi Baudana Cerretta, Barolo DOCG 2018 750ml Was $89, Now $79 special, 19 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 93 points “The 2018 Barolo Cerretta is a potent, searing wine, its mid-weight structure notwithstanding. Scorching tannins wrap around a core of dark red/black fruit, gravel, smoke, crushed rocks, menthol, licorice and game. The 2018 is going to need a number of years to come around and for those formidable tannins to soften.”
Don’t miss our additional sales going on now:
Saint Emilion
5% off any 3-5 in-stock bottles of St. Emilion
10% off any 6+ or more in-stock bottles of St. Emilion
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Saint Emilion sale ends Tuesday, September 30th at 9 am Pacific.