In This Newsletter:
Latest Champagne Releases from Andre Clouet
New Week – New Arrivals
New Arrival Featurettes on:
G.D. Vajra &
Lindes de Remelluri (“Borders of Remelluri”)
New Arrival Featurette
Latest Champagne Releases from Andre Clouet
Shop our 150 in-stock Champagnes!
New Week – New Arrivals
Latest Champagne Releases from Andre Clouet
New Week – New Arrivals
New Arrival Featurettes on:
G.D. Vajra &
Lindes de Remelluri (“Borders of Remelluri”)
New Arrival Featurette
Latest Champagne Releases from Andre Clouet
Founded in 1741, the Champagne House of Andre Clouet has been making some of the most beloved Champagnes in their entire village for centuries. Jean-Francois Clouet, the current owner and winemaker, is committed to promoting the rich history (and rich Champagnes) of the region. His wines do just that, all while representing some of the best values available.
Clouet sources his cuvees from the assorted plots in the Grand Cru village of Bouzy. This village specializes in powerfully structured Pinot Noir. His releases offer ethereal fruit, dense minerality, and effusive aromatics.
Shop the latest releases of some of his finest NV offerings:
Andre Clouet Chalky Brut, Champagne NV 750ml $59 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
James Suckling 93 points “Brimming with fresh apple, lemon and wild-berry aromas underlined by a note of freshly baked baguette, this begins so charming, then it turns in a fascinating mineral direction with a pronounced saline quality. The excitement comes from the tension between these two sides of this very distinctive champagne. Very long, chalky finish. 100% chardonnay from the 2013 vintage. Drink now.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Andre Clouet Grand Cru Brut Rose, Champagne NV 750ml $54.50 special, 36 bottles in stock now
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 90 points “The latest release of Clouet’s deeply colored NV Brut Rosé No 3 Grand Cru is showing well, opening in the glass with notes of blood orange, red berries, ripe apples and oatmeal. On the palate, it’s full-bodied, broad and vinous, with ripe acids, a frothy mousse and a moderately intense finish. This is an attractive, gastronomic rosé that hails exclusively from Bouzy.” [Reviewed April 2019]
Andre Clouet Un Jour de 1911… Brut, Champagne NV 750ml $89 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 96 points “[Reviewed 2021] The NV Un jour de 1911… is another 100% Bouzy Pinot Noir with an ancient label design. The shining golden-colored cuvée combines ripeness, complexity and finesse with intensity and elegance on both the nose and palate. It’s a powerful and rich yet very fine and balanced Champagne with great freshness and complex length. It is juicy and intense but also highly delicate, and its mineral tension and persistent finish make it a first-class wine for elaborate dishes. A great Champagne, with a label that doesn’t give any more detailed information regarding vintages or disgorgement date, but we know it’s always a 50/50 blend of three vintages (including one great millésime at least 10 years old) and reserve wines from a solera system. I tasted the wine as a Brut with Clouet’s German importer in Bremen. You shouldn’t drink it too early, as it would be a waste of its talents.”
Clouet sources his cuvees from the assorted plots in the Grand Cru village of Bouzy. This village specializes in powerfully structured Pinot Noir. His releases offer ethereal fruit, dense minerality, and effusive aromatics.
Shop the latest releases of some of his finest NV offerings:
Andre Clouet Chalky Brut, Champagne NV 750ml $59 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
James Suckling 93 points “Brimming with fresh apple, lemon and wild-berry aromas underlined by a note of freshly baked baguette, this begins so charming, then it turns in a fascinating mineral direction with a pronounced saline quality. The excitement comes from the tension between these two sides of this very distinctive champagne. Very long, chalky finish. 100% chardonnay from the 2013 vintage. Drink now.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Andre Clouet Grand Cru Brut Rose, Champagne NV 750ml $54.50 special, 36 bottles in stock now
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 90 points “The latest release of Clouet’s deeply colored NV Brut Rosé No 3 Grand Cru is showing well, opening in the glass with notes of blood orange, red berries, ripe apples and oatmeal. On the palate, it’s full-bodied, broad and vinous, with ripe acids, a frothy mousse and a moderately intense finish. This is an attractive, gastronomic rosé that hails exclusively from Bouzy.” [Reviewed April 2019]
Andre Clouet Un Jour de 1911… Brut, Champagne NV 750ml $89 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 96 points “[Reviewed 2021] The NV Un jour de 1911… is another 100% Bouzy Pinot Noir with an ancient label design. The shining golden-colored cuvée combines ripeness, complexity and finesse with intensity and elegance on both the nose and palate. It’s a powerful and rich yet very fine and balanced Champagne with great freshness and complex length. It is juicy and intense but also highly delicate, and its mineral tension and persistent finish make it a first-class wine for elaborate dishes. A great Champagne, with a label that doesn’t give any more detailed information regarding vintages or disgorgement date, but we know it’s always a 50/50 blend of three vintages (including one great millésime at least 10 years old) and reserve wines from a solera system. I tasted the wine as a Brut with Clouet’s German importer in Bremen. You shouldn’t drink it too early, as it would be a waste of its talents.”
Shop our 150 in-stock Champagnes!
New Week – New Arrivals
Oregon
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Maison L’Envoye Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2023 750ml $16 special, 36 bottles in stock now
James Suckling 93 points “Perfumed aromas of raspberries, rhubarb, rose petals and spices. The palate is medium-bodied with firmly framed tannins and bright acidity, giving flavors of cranberries, toffee apples and graphite. A serious pinot with a drying structure coming from 20% whole clusters. Drink or hold.”
Arterberry Maresh Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills 2024 750ml $30.90 special, 34 bottles in stock now
Winery Note “Living and farming in the Dundee Hills since 1969 has its perks, one of which is our long term relationships with some of the best wine grape farmers in the area. Our Dundee Hills Pinot Noir is a blend of Maresh Vineyard and other vineyard fruit from our neighbors.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Patricia Green Cellars ‘Old Vine’ Pinot Noir, Ribbon Ridge 2023 750ml $36 special, 19 bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 95 points “The 2023 Pinot Noir Estate Vineyard Old Vine is the flagship wine of Patricia Green Cellars. Spicy notes of cedar, cinnamon, wildflowers, hay, and berries lead into a medium-bodied, savory palate. It’s focused and mouthwatering, with fine tannins, dusty earth, and a long finish. Fantastic.”
Patricia Green Cellars Freedom Hill Vineyard Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2023 750ml $31.90 special, 21 bottles in stock now
Eric Guido-Vinous 92 points “Delicate and understated in the glass, the 2023 Pinot Noir Freedom Hill Vineyard wafts up with nuances of geranium, rose, wet stones and wild strawberries. It possesses a pretty inner sweetness and ripe wild berry fruit across a wave of silken textures. Juicy and fresh yet also potent, this 2023 Pinot Noir leaves a licorice twang and a hint of citrus to fade slowly.”
California
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Denner Vineyards ‘The New Colossus’ Cabernet Sauvignon, Paso Robles 2023 750ml $59 special, 26 bottles in stock now
No reviews for 2023 vintage. 2022 provided for reference.
Jim Gordon-James Suckling 93 points “A focused vibrant, elegant cabernet with pure blueberry and black cherry flavors on a good structure of moderate tannins and fresh acidity. Raspberries, cocoa, rose petals and maraschino cherries. Drink now or hold.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Louis M. Martini ‘The Gryphon’ Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2021 750ml $34.50 special, 25 bottles in stock now
Jim Gordon-James Suckling 95 points “The winery’s new flagship red, Gryphon, is a full-bodied, layered and sophisticated wine that’s elegant yet well structured in tannins. It offers flower, iron and sage aromas, then focused black cherries, blueberries, spearmint and handsome oak spices on the palate. The cabernet sauvignon grapes are blended with 4% cabernet franc, 3% merlot and 2% malbec. Drink now or hold.”
France – Champagne
A.R. Lenoble Blanc de Blancs ‘Mag 19’ Chouilly Grand Cru, Champagne NV 750ml $59 special, 6 bottles in stock now
James Suckling 92 points “Restrained lemon curd dominates the nose with chalky minerality and a whiff of riper stone fruit. Slightly lifted acidity yet zesty with buttery flavors, light body and a long, toasty finish. Drink now.”
Delamotte Brut, Champagne NV 375ml $39 special, 12 half-bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 91 points “[Reviewed 2023] A delicate, mineral-driven Champagne, with an underpinning of chalk, smoke and oyster shell layered with notes of poached apricot, citronella and beeswax. Lively and persistent on the finish. Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. Drink now through 2026. 6,250 cases made.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Piper-Heidsieck Cuvee 1785 Brut, Champagne NV 750ml $39 special, 2 bottles in stock now
Claire Nesbitt-James Suckling 90 points “Croissants, sliced apples and lemon pastries on the nose of this creamy Champagne. It’s rounded and soft with attractive pastry character. Drink now.”
Pierre Paillard ‘Les Terres Roses’ Bouzy Grand Cru Brut Rosé, Champagne XX NV 750ml $89 special, 6 bottles in stock now
Claire Nesbitt-James Suckling 93 points “This pink Champagne has aromas of wild strawberries, peaches and spiced brioche. Delicate, fruity and elegant, with ripe red fruit flavors, silky bubbles and a graceful finish. 64% chardonnay and 36% pinot noir. Based on 2020. Disgorged February 2024. 3 g/L dosage. Drink now.”
Pierre Paillard ‘Les Parcelles’ Bouzy Grand Cru Extra Brut, Champagne XXI NV 750ml $69 special, 10 bottles in stock now
Pierre Paillard ‘Les Parcelles’ Bouzy Grand Cru Extra Brut, Champagne XX NV 1.5L $149 special, 1 magnum in stock now
Winery Note “Les Parcelles is a precise expression of Bouzy terroir vinified by the Paillard brothers; the powerful Pinot Noir from south-facing slopes is balanced by the finesse of the chalky subsoil. Produced mainly from the 2021 harvest, with 20% reserve wines, this cuvée is composed of 80% pinot noir and 20% chardonnay. Fermented in oak, it is cellared for three years on lees before disgorgement.”
Jacquesson Cuvée 748 Extra Brut, Champagne NV 750ml $89 special, 14 bottles in stock now
Jacquesson Cuvée 748 Extra Brut, Champagne NV 1.5L $189 special, 3 magnums in stock now
Audrey Frick-Jeb Dunnuck 94 points “The NV Champagne Cuvée 748 is a preview of this wine that has not yet been released and was disgorged just prior to tasting. Sourced from four single plots, predominantly from the 2020 vintage, it will be released next year. It’s expressive, forward, and mineral on the nose, with a vibrant sensibility at this youthful stage, offering notes of fresh red berries, wet, chalky earth, and toasted shortbread. It boasts a linear intensity, with a coiled and nervous energy at this early stage and has a long finish, with its citrus-noted fruit lasting long after the wine is gone. It will be exciting to see this as it fleshes out with another few months to a year or more in bottle. So mouthwatering and salty, with electric energy, it‘s joyful and pleasing as it opens, but it has a way to go before its ready. Drink: 2025+.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Jacquesson Avize Grand Cru Champ Cain Extra Brut, Champagne 2014 750ml $199 special, 6 bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 96 points “Jacquesson produced three single vineyards in 2014. The first of the three, the 2014 Champagne Grand Cru Avize Champ Cain Extra Brut pours a bright straw/yellow hue. I love the nose of this wine, which is enticing and pure, with notes of lemon curd and pastry cream, white peach, delicate smoky earth, and chalk. The palate is medium-bodied and delicately rounded with a graceful texture, and while it’s ripe, it keeps light on its feet and has an elegant, supple mousse. It has refreshing and pure acidity, with a precise feel, and it’s long on the palate, floating away gently over time. It should have no problem showing its best over the next two or more decades. Disgorged in January with zero dosage.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today for the magnum!
Frederic Savart L’Ouverture Blanc de Noirs Premier Cru Brut, Champagne NV 1.5L $189 special, 3 magnums in stock now
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 92 points “[Disgorgement may vary] The NV Extra-Brut L’Ouverture is 100% Pinot Noir, base 2020 with 25% reserve wines each from 2019 and 2018. Crushed red berry fruit and white flowers lend notable brightness throughout. This nervy, taut Champagne is all class. Dosage is 3.5 grams per liter. D isgorged: January 2023. (Drink between 2023-2030).”
Frederic Savart Écueil Trépail Blanc de Blancs Premier Cru Extra Brut, Champagne NV 750ml $119 special, 6 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 92 points “The NV Blanc de Blancs Écueil Trépail is a new wine from Savart in the 2021 vintage, a blend of Chardonnay from Écueil and Trépail. Tiny yields necessitated the blending of all the Chardonnay, including several parcels that are typically vinified separately (such as Le Mont des Chrétiens), for this cuvée. Purchased fruit from parcels in Trépail account for 50% of the blend. Tangerine peel, white flowers and marzipan are nicely amplified in the glass. A kiss of spice from the oak lingers on the close. This is essentially a vintage Champagne, but not declared as such. Dosage of 4 grams per liter works well. Readers will find a Champagne of notable immediacy and allure.”
France – Burgundy
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Domaine Marc Colin et Fils En Montceau, Saint-Aubin Premier Cru 2023 750ml $89 special, 6 bottles in stock now
Neal Martin-Vinous 91-93 points “The 2023 Saint-Aubin en Montceau 1er Cru hails from one of Damien Colin’s favorite lieux-dits known for its poor marl soils not dissimilar to Le Trezin in Puligny, although the vines here ripen later. It has a generous, fresh, vibrant bouquet with crushed stone and fleeting sea spray scents. Indeed, you might mistake it for a Puligny! The palate is well balanced and just a little creamy in texture, with hints of chamomile and white chocolate on the finish. This is a Saint-Aubin predisposed to give as much pleasure as possible.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Jerome Chezeaux Rue de Chaux, Nuits-Saint-Georges Premier Cru 2022 750ml $119 special, 6 bottles in stock now
Importer Note “Located almost dead-center in the appellation, Rue de Chaux is perhaps the most quintessentially “Nuits-Saint-Georges” among Chezeaux’s premier crus. Jerome owns a mere 0.29 hectares in this steep, topsoil-deficient vineyard, and his ever-elegant touch yields a wine of both grace and power. Darkly fruited, dense, and slightly brooding, it also offers an enchanting savory-spicy perfume.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Jerome Chezeaux Aux Boudots, Nuits-Saint-Georges Premier Cru 2022 750ml $125 special, 4 bottles in stock now
Winemaker Note “Always a standout in Chezeaux’s cellar, Aux Boudots is perched at the northern limit of Nuits-Saint-Georges, on the border of Vosne-Romanee. As one might expect given its location, this wine combines classically Nuits-Saint- Georges iron and sous-bois with fruit a bit more caressing and Vosne-Romanee-like than its more southerly situated counterparts. Chezeaux owns a very small 0.34-hectare parcel in this steeply sloping premier cru.”
France – Beaujolais
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Yohan Lardy ‘Poppy’ Gamay, Vin de France 2024 750ml $21.90 special, 34 bottles in stock now
No Reviews for 2024 vintage. 2023 provided for reference.
Stuart Pigott-James Suckling 91 points “This is such a joyful expression of the gamay grape with effusive summer berry fruit, including a good amount of raspberries. Juicy and zesty with so much vibrancy on the light- to medium-bodied palate. Surprising depth and length considering the the sleek frame of this wine. From organically grown grapes grown in Lancie, which is part of the Beaujolais-Villages appellation. Drink now.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Yohan Lardy Moulin-a-Vent Les Michelons, Beaujolais 2024 750ml $28 special, 17 bottles in stock now
No reviews for 2024 vintage. 2023 provided for reference.
Stuart Pigott-James Suckling 97 points “This youhtful Moulin-a-Vent has explosive berry fruit right across the spectrum of red, black and blue fruit. Stunning concentration and a wonderfully creamy texture on the medium-bodied palate. Extremely long and silky finish with fabulous balance and precision. From organically grown grapes. Drink or hold.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Yohan Lardy Moulin-a-Vent Vieilles Vignes de 1903, Beaujolais 2024 750ml $39 special, 11 bottles in stock now
Yohan Lardy Moulin-a-Vent Vieilles Vignes de 1903, Beaujolais 2024 1.5L $76 special, 5 magnums in stock now
No review for 2024 vintage. 2023 provided for reference.
Stuart Pigott-James Suckling 98 points “It’s hard to wrap your head around this extraordinary Moulin-a-Vent, but give it time, and it will wrap itself around–and into–your head. The ripe forest-berry aromas have incredible depth, giving way to a mouth-filling, full-bodied palate that’s highly structured. Then comes a gigantic wave of mineral freshness, almost perfectly underlined by fine tannins. Lastly, it glides off into the distance, pulling you with it. From organically cultivated vines planted in 1903. Drink or hold.”
France – Rhone
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Chateau de Rouanne Vinsobres, Rhone 2022 750ml $24 special, 36 bottles in stock now
Stuart Pigott-James Suckling 93 points “Dark and meaty with a wealth of wild-blackberry aromas, this is bold and powerful on the full-bodied palate. Generous fine-grained tannins. Incredible mountain freshness on the front- and mid-palates then intense licorice flavor in the long, very focused finish. A cuvee of 70% grenache, 20% syrah and 10% mourvedre. From organically grown grapes. Drinkable now.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Chateau de Rouanne Vinsobres ‘Les Cotes’, Rhone 2022 750ml $49 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Stuart Pigott-James Suckling 96 points “Welcome to graphite city. This is also super peppery and energetic in a way we associate much more with the Northern Rhone. Great concentration on the very focused, medium-bodied palate. The vitality in the sleek and pristine finish is off the charts. From organically grown grapes. Drinkable now.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Chateau de Rouanne Vinsobres ‘Rouanne et Les Crottes’, Rhone 2022 750ml $49 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Stuart Pigott-James Suckling 95 points “The superbright wild-blackberry aroma is married to mountain freshness and a pronounced saline flavor on the medium- to full-bodied palate. Very peppery and crisp in the dangerously fresh finish. So exciting now but has great aging potential too. From organically grown grapes. Drinkable now.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Maison L’Envoye Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2023 750ml $16 special, 36 bottles in stock now
James Suckling 93 points “Perfumed aromas of raspberries, rhubarb, rose petals and spices. The palate is medium-bodied with firmly framed tannins and bright acidity, giving flavors of cranberries, toffee apples and graphite. A serious pinot with a drying structure coming from 20% whole clusters. Drink or hold.”
Arterberry Maresh Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills 2024 750ml $30.90 special, 34 bottles in stock now
Winery Note “Living and farming in the Dundee Hills since 1969 has its perks, one of which is our long term relationships with some of the best wine grape farmers in the area. Our Dundee Hills Pinot Noir is a blend of Maresh Vineyard and other vineyard fruit from our neighbors.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Patricia Green Cellars ‘Old Vine’ Pinot Noir, Ribbon Ridge 2023 750ml $36 special, 19 bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 95 points “The 2023 Pinot Noir Estate Vineyard Old Vine is the flagship wine of Patricia Green Cellars. Spicy notes of cedar, cinnamon, wildflowers, hay, and berries lead into a medium-bodied, savory palate. It’s focused and mouthwatering, with fine tannins, dusty earth, and a long finish. Fantastic.”
Patricia Green Cellars Freedom Hill Vineyard Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2023 750ml $31.90 special, 21 bottles in stock now
Eric Guido-Vinous 92 points “Delicate and understated in the glass, the 2023 Pinot Noir Freedom Hill Vineyard wafts up with nuances of geranium, rose, wet stones and wild strawberries. It possesses a pretty inner sweetness and ripe wild berry fruit across a wave of silken textures. Juicy and fresh yet also potent, this 2023 Pinot Noir leaves a licorice twang and a hint of citrus to fade slowly.”
California
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Denner Vineyards ‘The New Colossus’ Cabernet Sauvignon, Paso Robles 2023 750ml $59 special, 26 bottles in stock now
No reviews for 2023 vintage. 2022 provided for reference.
Jim Gordon-James Suckling 93 points “A focused vibrant, elegant cabernet with pure blueberry and black cherry flavors on a good structure of moderate tannins and fresh acidity. Raspberries, cocoa, rose petals and maraschino cherries. Drink now or hold.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Louis M. Martini ‘The Gryphon’ Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2021 750ml $34.50 special, 25 bottles in stock now
Jim Gordon-James Suckling 95 points “The winery’s new flagship red, Gryphon, is a full-bodied, layered and sophisticated wine that’s elegant yet well structured in tannins. It offers flower, iron and sage aromas, then focused black cherries, blueberries, spearmint and handsome oak spices on the palate. The cabernet sauvignon grapes are blended with 4% cabernet franc, 3% merlot and 2% malbec. Drink now or hold.”
France – Champagne
A.R. Lenoble Blanc de Blancs ‘Mag 19’ Chouilly Grand Cru, Champagne NV 750ml $59 special, 6 bottles in stock now
James Suckling 92 points “Restrained lemon curd dominates the nose with chalky minerality and a whiff of riper stone fruit. Slightly lifted acidity yet zesty with buttery flavors, light body and a long, toasty finish. Drink now.”
Delamotte Brut, Champagne NV 375ml $39 special, 12 half-bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 91 points “[Reviewed 2023] A delicate, mineral-driven Champagne, with an underpinning of chalk, smoke and oyster shell layered with notes of poached apricot, citronella and beeswax. Lively and persistent on the finish. Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. Drink now through 2026. 6,250 cases made.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Piper-Heidsieck Cuvee 1785 Brut, Champagne NV 750ml $39 special, 2 bottles in stock now
Claire Nesbitt-James Suckling 90 points “Croissants, sliced apples and lemon pastries on the nose of this creamy Champagne. It’s rounded and soft with attractive pastry character. Drink now.”
Pierre Paillard ‘Les Terres Roses’ Bouzy Grand Cru Brut Rosé, Champagne XX NV 750ml $89 special, 6 bottles in stock now
Claire Nesbitt-James Suckling 93 points “This pink Champagne has aromas of wild strawberries, peaches and spiced brioche. Delicate, fruity and elegant, with ripe red fruit flavors, silky bubbles and a graceful finish. 64% chardonnay and 36% pinot noir. Based on 2020. Disgorged February 2024. 3 g/L dosage. Drink now.”
Pierre Paillard ‘Les Parcelles’ Bouzy Grand Cru Extra Brut, Champagne XXI NV 750ml $69 special, 10 bottles in stock now
Pierre Paillard ‘Les Parcelles’ Bouzy Grand Cru Extra Brut, Champagne XX NV 1.5L $149 special, 1 magnum in stock now
Winery Note “Les Parcelles is a precise expression of Bouzy terroir vinified by the Paillard brothers; the powerful Pinot Noir from south-facing slopes is balanced by the finesse of the chalky subsoil. Produced mainly from the 2021 harvest, with 20% reserve wines, this cuvée is composed of 80% pinot noir and 20% chardonnay. Fermented in oak, it is cellared for three years on lees before disgorgement.”
Jacquesson Cuvée 748 Extra Brut, Champagne NV 750ml $89 special, 14 bottles in stock now
Jacquesson Cuvée 748 Extra Brut, Champagne NV 1.5L $189 special, 3 magnums in stock now
Audrey Frick-Jeb Dunnuck 94 points “The NV Champagne Cuvée 748 is a preview of this wine that has not yet been released and was disgorged just prior to tasting. Sourced from four single plots, predominantly from the 2020 vintage, it will be released next year. It’s expressive, forward, and mineral on the nose, with a vibrant sensibility at this youthful stage, offering notes of fresh red berries, wet, chalky earth, and toasted shortbread. It boasts a linear intensity, with a coiled and nervous energy at this early stage and has a long finish, with its citrus-noted fruit lasting long after the wine is gone. It will be exciting to see this as it fleshes out with another few months to a year or more in bottle. So mouthwatering and salty, with electric energy, it‘s joyful and pleasing as it opens, but it has a way to go before its ready. Drink: 2025+.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Jacquesson Avize Grand Cru Champ Cain Extra Brut, Champagne 2014 750ml $199 special, 6 bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 96 points “Jacquesson produced three single vineyards in 2014. The first of the three, the 2014 Champagne Grand Cru Avize Champ Cain Extra Brut pours a bright straw/yellow hue. I love the nose of this wine, which is enticing and pure, with notes of lemon curd and pastry cream, white peach, delicate smoky earth, and chalk. The palate is medium-bodied and delicately rounded with a graceful texture, and while it’s ripe, it keeps light on its feet and has an elegant, supple mousse. It has refreshing and pure acidity, with a precise feel, and it’s long on the palate, floating away gently over time. It should have no problem showing its best over the next two or more decades. Disgorged in January with zero dosage.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today for the magnum!
Frederic Savart L’Ouverture Blanc de Noirs Premier Cru Brut, Champagne NV 1.5L $189 special, 3 magnums in stock now
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 92 points “[Disgorgement may vary] The NV Extra-Brut L’Ouverture is 100% Pinot Noir, base 2020 with 25% reserve wines each from 2019 and 2018. Crushed red berry fruit and white flowers lend notable brightness throughout. This nervy, taut Champagne is all class. Dosage is 3.5 grams per liter. D isgorged: January 2023. (Drink between 2023-2030).”
Frederic Savart Écueil Trépail Blanc de Blancs Premier Cru Extra Brut, Champagne NV 750ml $119 special, 6 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 92 points “The NV Blanc de Blancs Écueil Trépail is a new wine from Savart in the 2021 vintage, a blend of Chardonnay from Écueil and Trépail. Tiny yields necessitated the blending of all the Chardonnay, including several parcels that are typically vinified separately (such as Le Mont des Chrétiens), for this cuvée. Purchased fruit from parcels in Trépail account for 50% of the blend. Tangerine peel, white flowers and marzipan are nicely amplified in the glass. A kiss of spice from the oak lingers on the close. This is essentially a vintage Champagne, but not declared as such. Dosage of 4 grams per liter works well. Readers will find a Champagne of notable immediacy and allure.”
France – Burgundy
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Domaine Marc Colin et Fils En Montceau, Saint-Aubin Premier Cru 2023 750ml $89 special, 6 bottles in stock now
Neal Martin-Vinous 91-93 points “The 2023 Saint-Aubin en Montceau 1er Cru hails from one of Damien Colin’s favorite lieux-dits known for its poor marl soils not dissimilar to Le Trezin in Puligny, although the vines here ripen later. It has a generous, fresh, vibrant bouquet with crushed stone and fleeting sea spray scents. Indeed, you might mistake it for a Puligny! The palate is well balanced and just a little creamy in texture, with hints of chamomile and white chocolate on the finish. This is a Saint-Aubin predisposed to give as much pleasure as possible.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Jerome Chezeaux Rue de Chaux, Nuits-Saint-Georges Premier Cru 2022 750ml $119 special, 6 bottles in stock now
Importer Note “Located almost dead-center in the appellation, Rue de Chaux is perhaps the most quintessentially “Nuits-Saint-Georges” among Chezeaux’s premier crus. Jerome owns a mere 0.29 hectares in this steep, topsoil-deficient vineyard, and his ever-elegant touch yields a wine of both grace and power. Darkly fruited, dense, and slightly brooding, it also offers an enchanting savory-spicy perfume.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Jerome Chezeaux Aux Boudots, Nuits-Saint-Georges Premier Cru 2022 750ml $125 special, 4 bottles in stock now
Winemaker Note “Always a standout in Chezeaux’s cellar, Aux Boudots is perched at the northern limit of Nuits-Saint-Georges, on the border of Vosne-Romanee. As one might expect given its location, this wine combines classically Nuits-Saint- Georges iron and sous-bois with fruit a bit more caressing and Vosne-Romanee-like than its more southerly situated counterparts. Chezeaux owns a very small 0.34-hectare parcel in this steeply sloping premier cru.”
France – Beaujolais
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Yohan Lardy ‘Poppy’ Gamay, Vin de France 2024 750ml $21.90 special, 34 bottles in stock now
No Reviews for 2024 vintage. 2023 provided for reference.
Stuart Pigott-James Suckling 91 points “This is such a joyful expression of the gamay grape with effusive summer berry fruit, including a good amount of raspberries. Juicy and zesty with so much vibrancy on the light- to medium-bodied palate. Surprising depth and length considering the the sleek frame of this wine. From organically grown grapes grown in Lancie, which is part of the Beaujolais-Villages appellation. Drink now.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Yohan Lardy Moulin-a-Vent Les Michelons, Beaujolais 2024 750ml $28 special, 17 bottles in stock now
No reviews for 2024 vintage. 2023 provided for reference.
Stuart Pigott-James Suckling 97 points “This youhtful Moulin-a-Vent has explosive berry fruit right across the spectrum of red, black and blue fruit. Stunning concentration and a wonderfully creamy texture on the medium-bodied palate. Extremely long and silky finish with fabulous balance and precision. From organically grown grapes. Drink or hold.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Yohan Lardy Moulin-a-Vent Vieilles Vignes de 1903, Beaujolais 2024 750ml $39 special, 11 bottles in stock now
Yohan Lardy Moulin-a-Vent Vieilles Vignes de 1903, Beaujolais 2024 1.5L $76 special, 5 magnums in stock now
No review for 2024 vintage. 2023 provided for reference.
Stuart Pigott-James Suckling 98 points “It’s hard to wrap your head around this extraordinary Moulin-a-Vent, but give it time, and it will wrap itself around–and into–your head. The ripe forest-berry aromas have incredible depth, giving way to a mouth-filling, full-bodied palate that’s highly structured. Then comes a gigantic wave of mineral freshness, almost perfectly underlined by fine tannins. Lastly, it glides off into the distance, pulling you with it. From organically cultivated vines planted in 1903. Drink or hold.”
France – Rhone
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Chateau de Rouanne Vinsobres, Rhone 2022 750ml $24 special, 36 bottles in stock now
Stuart Pigott-James Suckling 93 points “Dark and meaty with a wealth of wild-blackberry aromas, this is bold and powerful on the full-bodied palate. Generous fine-grained tannins. Incredible mountain freshness on the front- and mid-palates then intense licorice flavor in the long, very focused finish. A cuvee of 70% grenache, 20% syrah and 10% mourvedre. From organically grown grapes. Drinkable now.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Chateau de Rouanne Vinsobres ‘Les Cotes’, Rhone 2022 750ml $49 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Stuart Pigott-James Suckling 96 points “Welcome to graphite city. This is also super peppery and energetic in a way we associate much more with the Northern Rhone. Great concentration on the very focused, medium-bodied palate. The vitality in the sleek and pristine finish is off the charts. From organically grown grapes. Drinkable now.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Chateau de Rouanne Vinsobres ‘Rouanne et Les Crottes’, Rhone 2022 750ml $49 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Stuart Pigott-James Suckling 95 points “The superbright wild-blackberry aroma is married to mountain freshness and a pronounced saline flavor on the medium- to full-bodied palate. Very peppery and crisp in the dangerously fresh finish. So exciting now but has great aging potential too. From organically grown grapes. Drinkable now.”
New Arrival Featurette:
G.D. Vajra
It’s rare to find benchmark wines that remain affordable, but not impossible. Rarer still if we’re talking about a wine-growing region considered one of the finest in the world for centuries.
Check the purchase record of any staff member, and you’ll know why we call G.D. Vajra one of our favorites. The estate is responsible for some of the finest Barolos we offer and also excels in entry-level options. The lineup as a whole is quite simply the best in Piedmont today. At all price points they are benchmark wines against which all others are judged. Shop new arrivals now!
In Stock Now:
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
G.D. Vajra Rosabella Rosato, Piedmont 2024 750ml $19 special, 15 bottles in stock now
Winery Note “Rosabella is a rosé de saignée, produced with the lighted touch in order to preserve the lightness and fragrance of our grapes. First produced between 2004 and 2007, Rosabella is a focus on Nebbiolo, with small amounts of Barbera and Dolcetto.”
G.D. Vajra ‘Clare J.C.’ Langhe Nebbiolo, Piedmont 2024 750ml $24 special, 11 bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 90 points “Bottled the day before tasting, the bright transparent ruby 2024 Langhe Nebbiolo Clare J.C. is a preview of what is to come. The nose is fresh and inviting with poppy red fruit, floral perfume, and wet stones, while the palate is snappy and refreshing, medium-bodied, and lovely, with ripe notes of white pepper and spice, likely accentuated by the addition of whole clusters in fermentation and a light carbonic maceration that add a lively verve and zest to the wine. Drink over the near term and serve with a light chill.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
G.D. Vajra Dolcetto d’Alba, Piedmont 2023 750ml $19 special, 11 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 90 points “The 2023 Dolcetto d’Alba offers up a classic profile of blue/purplish fruit, lavender, cloves and licorice. Medium in body and vibrant, the 2023 is seriously beautiful. This is what Dolcetto should be.”
G.D. Vajra Barbera d’Alba, Piedmont 2024 750ml $24 special, 10 bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 90 points “A bright ruby/magenta color, the 2024 Barbera D’Alba is spicy and lifted on the nose with notes of pepper, fresh herbs, and bright red fruit shining through. The palate is zesty and lively, with electric energy, refreshing, focused acidity, and a compact linear feel. It has a cooling sensation on the palate. Drink over the next several years. This is not a Barbera for volume of richness; it’s about the crunchy, bright fruit, and it will be best enjoyed while it retains its lively nerve.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
G.D. Vajra Barbera – Freisa, Piedmont 2023 750ml $19.50 special, 9 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 92 points “The 2023 Piemonte Barbera Freisa is terrific. Bright floral notes and lively acids give the 2023 lovely freshness to play off its forward, inviting fruit. The bouquet alone is so alluring. The Freisa is done in a style that emphasizes floral freshness more than power. Barbera and Freisa are picked together for this bottling, which means the Freisa is harvested on the earlier side.”
G.D. Vajra Bricco delle Viole, Barolo DOCG 2021 750ml $99 special, 5 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 96 points “The 2021 Barolo Bricco delle Viole is a wine of stature and breeding. Vertical in shape, the Bricco delle Viole has so much to offer. Dark-toned fruit, leather, incense, gravel and licorice add an attractive savory edge. The 2021 is an especially somber, potent Bricco delle Viole. I would not dream of touching a bottle anytime soon.”
G.D. Vajra ‘Coste di Rose’, Barolo DOCG 2021 750ml $79 special, 5 bottles in stock now
James Suckling 96 points “What an intoxicating nose of flowers like violets and roses and hints of cedar and blueberries. The palate is compact, with delineated fruit and superfine, elegant tannins. Succulent, but with a lovely, polished, underlying structure. Already a joy to drink, but will surely improve substantially with a couple of years of bottle age.”
Check the purchase record of any staff member, and you’ll know why we call G.D. Vajra one of our favorites. The estate is responsible for some of the finest Barolos we offer and also excels in entry-level options. The lineup as a whole is quite simply the best in Piedmont today. At all price points they are benchmark wines against which all others are judged. Shop new arrivals now!
In Stock Now:
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
G.D. Vajra Rosabella Rosato, Piedmont 2024 750ml $19 special, 15 bottles in stock now
Winery Note “Rosabella is a rosé de saignée, produced with the lighted touch in order to preserve the lightness and fragrance of our grapes. First produced between 2004 and 2007, Rosabella is a focus on Nebbiolo, with small amounts of Barbera and Dolcetto.”
G.D. Vajra ‘Clare J.C.’ Langhe Nebbiolo, Piedmont 2024 750ml $24 special, 11 bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 90 points “Bottled the day before tasting, the bright transparent ruby 2024 Langhe Nebbiolo Clare J.C. is a preview of what is to come. The nose is fresh and inviting with poppy red fruit, floral perfume, and wet stones, while the palate is snappy and refreshing, medium-bodied, and lovely, with ripe notes of white pepper and spice, likely accentuated by the addition of whole clusters in fermentation and a light carbonic maceration that add a lively verve and zest to the wine. Drink over the near term and serve with a light chill.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
G.D. Vajra Dolcetto d’Alba, Piedmont 2023 750ml $19 special, 11 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 90 points “The 2023 Dolcetto d’Alba offers up a classic profile of blue/purplish fruit, lavender, cloves and licorice. Medium in body and vibrant, the 2023 is seriously beautiful. This is what Dolcetto should be.”
G.D. Vajra Barbera d’Alba, Piedmont 2024 750ml $24 special, 10 bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 90 points “A bright ruby/magenta color, the 2024 Barbera D’Alba is spicy and lifted on the nose with notes of pepper, fresh herbs, and bright red fruit shining through. The palate is zesty and lively, with electric energy, refreshing, focused acidity, and a compact linear feel. It has a cooling sensation on the palate. Drink over the next several years. This is not a Barbera for volume of richness; it’s about the crunchy, bright fruit, and it will be best enjoyed while it retains its lively nerve.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
G.D. Vajra Barbera – Freisa, Piedmont 2023 750ml $19.50 special, 9 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 92 points “The 2023 Piemonte Barbera Freisa is terrific. Bright floral notes and lively acids give the 2023 lovely freshness to play off its forward, inviting fruit. The bouquet alone is so alluring. The Freisa is done in a style that emphasizes floral freshness more than power. Barbera and Freisa are picked together for this bottling, which means the Freisa is harvested on the earlier side.”
G.D. Vajra Bricco delle Viole, Barolo DOCG 2021 750ml $99 special, 5 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 96 points “The 2021 Barolo Bricco delle Viole is a wine of stature and breeding. Vertical in shape, the Bricco delle Viole has so much to offer. Dark-toned fruit, leather, incense, gravel and licorice add an attractive savory edge. The 2021 is an especially somber, potent Bricco delle Viole. I would not dream of touching a bottle anytime soon.”
G.D. Vajra ‘Coste di Rose’, Barolo DOCG 2021 750ml $79 special, 5 bottles in stock now
James Suckling 96 points “What an intoxicating nose of flowers like violets and roses and hints of cedar and blueberries. The palate is compact, with delineated fruit and superfine, elegant tannins. Succulent, but with a lovely, polished, underlying structure. Already a joy to drink, but will surely improve substantially with a couple of years of bottle age.”
Shop our 20 in-stock wines from G.D. Vajra & Luigi Baudana!
New Arrival Featurette:
Lindes de Remelluri (“Borders of Remelluri”)
The Lindes de Remelluri wines are a collaborative project with neighboring growers in the villages surrounding Telmo Rodriguez’s Granja Remelluri estate. The project was developed to showcase the unique terroirs of the region. Today, the project encompasses six of Rioja’s most important villages: Labastida, San Vicente de la Sonsierra, Ábalos, Peciña, Rivas de Tereso, and Salinillas de Buradón.
For the Ábalos wine, Telmo sourced fruit from the Marqués de Legarda estate. With its high proportion of Graciano, this organic red is stern and austere, promising a rewarding wine with some cellaring.
Peciña, to quote De Maision, offers “perfumed and floral aromatics with notes of Mediterranean herbs, taut acidity, and austere tannins from the high-altitude vineyards.” Rivas de Tereso is a remarkably small hamlet home to only 30 people. Here the limestone soils give a unique mineral impression on the herbal and floral profile. Lastly, Salinillas de Buradón offers up a stony profile from the bush-trained garnacha and tempranillo vines grown in the unique combination of quartz, iron-rich clay and blue marl soils.
In Stock Now:
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Lindes de Remelluri Vinedos de Abalos, Rioja DOCa 2021 750ml $49 special, 18 bottles in stock now
Luis Gutiérrez-Wine Advocate 95 points “The 2021 Viñedos de Ábalos from the last village in the zone was produced with grapes from the Marqués de Legarda, but his name does not appear anywhere. It has a hint of blood and iron, with some seriousness. It’s the end of the Sonsierra, a village quite protected that results in wines with a certain austerity. It’s medium to full-bodied, with very fine tannins. It has a contained 13.5% alcohol, a pH of 3.62 and 5.44 grams of acidity and comes through as fresh and in superb balance. 15,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in April 2023.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Lindes de Remelluri Vinedos de Pecina, Rioja DOCa 2021 750ml $49 special, 18 bottles in stock now
Luis Gutiérrez-Wine Advocate 94+ points “Peciña is a small parish of San Vicente de la Sonsierra, a cooler place at higher altitude. The 2021 Viñedos de Peciña shows finesse and some floral character, and it has more Garnacha character, which makes it fine-boned. It’s perfumed and elegant, with a medium to full-bodied palate with fine, chalky tannins and very focused flavors. It’s ripe without excess and comes in at 13.9% alcohol, with a pH of 3.8 and 4.42 grams of acidity. 27,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in June 2023 after it spent 12 months in oak barrels of different sizes and ages.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Lindes de Remelluri Rivas de Tereso, Rioja DOCa 2021 750ml $49 special, 18 bottles in stock now
Luis Gutiérrez-Wine Advocate 94+ points “Rivas de Tereso is a parish of San Vicente de la Sonsierra and produced a superb 2021 Viñedos de Rivas de Tereso from vineyards at higher altitude with more Garnacha and, as such, is bottled in a Burgundy bottle. It’s floral, elegant, fresh and fine-boned, with fine-grained tannins and very nice balance. It’s not a shy wine at 14.1% alcohol but has great balance. 39,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in June 2023.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Lindes de Remelluri Salinillas de Buradon, Rioja DOCa 2021 750ml $49 special, 18 bottles in stock now
Luis Gutiérrez-Wine Advocate 95 points “The 2021 Viñedos de Salinillas de Buradón comes from a parish of Labastida, the westernmost place bottled in the Lindes project, a very small place with 117 inhabitants and currently 47 hectares of vineyards in total. From two growers, they get the grapes from 4.5 of these hectares to produce 20,000 bottles. It has a lactic twist, notes of wild berries and flowers and herbs. It’s medium to full-bodied, textured, fine-grained and tasty, clean and focused. It’s surprisingly fresh and elegant, but it’s also powerful and ripe, coming in at 14.6% alcohol but with all in balance. It was bottled in June 2023.”
For the Ábalos wine, Telmo sourced fruit from the Marqués de Legarda estate. With its high proportion of Graciano, this organic red is stern and austere, promising a rewarding wine with some cellaring.
Peciña, to quote De Maision, offers “perfumed and floral aromatics with notes of Mediterranean herbs, taut acidity, and austere tannins from the high-altitude vineyards.” Rivas de Tereso is a remarkably small hamlet home to only 30 people. Here the limestone soils give a unique mineral impression on the herbal and floral profile. Lastly, Salinillas de Buradón offers up a stony profile from the bush-trained garnacha and tempranillo vines grown in the unique combination of quartz, iron-rich clay and blue marl soils.
In Stock Now:
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Lindes de Remelluri Vinedos de Abalos, Rioja DOCa 2021 750ml $49 special, 18 bottles in stock now
Luis Gutiérrez-Wine Advocate 95 points “The 2021 Viñedos de Ábalos from the last village in the zone was produced with grapes from the Marqués de Legarda, but his name does not appear anywhere. It has a hint of blood and iron, with some seriousness. It’s the end of the Sonsierra, a village quite protected that results in wines with a certain austerity. It’s medium to full-bodied, with very fine tannins. It has a contained 13.5% alcohol, a pH of 3.62 and 5.44 grams of acidity and comes through as fresh and in superb balance. 15,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in April 2023.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Lindes de Remelluri Vinedos de Pecina, Rioja DOCa 2021 750ml $49 special, 18 bottles in stock now
Luis Gutiérrez-Wine Advocate 94+ points “Peciña is a small parish of San Vicente de la Sonsierra, a cooler place at higher altitude. The 2021 Viñedos de Peciña shows finesse and some floral character, and it has more Garnacha character, which makes it fine-boned. It’s perfumed and elegant, with a medium to full-bodied palate with fine, chalky tannins and very focused flavors. It’s ripe without excess and comes in at 13.9% alcohol, with a pH of 3.8 and 4.42 grams of acidity. 27,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in June 2023 after it spent 12 months in oak barrels of different sizes and ages.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Lindes de Remelluri Rivas de Tereso, Rioja DOCa 2021 750ml $49 special, 18 bottles in stock now
Luis Gutiérrez-Wine Advocate 94+ points “Rivas de Tereso is a parish of San Vicente de la Sonsierra and produced a superb 2021 Viñedos de Rivas de Tereso from vineyards at higher altitude with more Garnacha and, as such, is bottled in a Burgundy bottle. It’s floral, elegant, fresh and fine-boned, with fine-grained tannins and very nice balance. It’s not a shy wine at 14.1% alcohol but has great balance. 39,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in June 2023.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Lindes de Remelluri Salinillas de Buradon, Rioja DOCa 2021 750ml $49 special, 18 bottles in stock now
Luis Gutiérrez-Wine Advocate 95 points “The 2021 Viñedos de Salinillas de Buradón comes from a parish of Labastida, the westernmost place bottled in the Lindes project, a very small place with 117 inhabitants and currently 47 hectares of vineyards in total. From two growers, they get the grapes from 4.5 of these hectares to produce 20,000 bottles. It has a lactic twist, notes of wild berries and flowers and herbs. It’s medium to full-bodied, textured, fine-grained and tasty, clean and focused. It’s surprisingly fresh and elegant, but it’s also powerful and ripe, coming in at 14.6% alcohol but with all in balance. It was bottled in June 2023.”
Shop our ten wines from Remelluri!
Don’t miss our additional sales going on now:
Envinate
5% off any 3-5 in-stock bottles of Envinate
10% off any 6+ or more in-stock bottles of Envinate
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Sale ends Tuesday, December 30th at 9 am Pacific.
*
Markus Molitor’s Aged Vintage Wines
2017 & Older
5% off any 3-6 in-stock bottles of 2017 or older Molitor wines
10% off any 7+ in-stock bottles of 2017 or older Molitor wines
Discount will not display online or in your cart,
We will adjust your invoice before processing your charge.
Sale ends Wednesday, December 31st at 9 am Pacific.