In This Newsletter:
New Week – New Arrivals
Cedric Bouchard – Roses de Jeanne
FIRST COME/FIRST SERVED
Oregon
Championship Bottle ‘Gravity’s Pull’ Chardonnay, Dion Vineyard, Laurelwood District 2019 750ML ($39.95) $33 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Winery note “2019 was a stellar year for white wine in the Willamette Valley and Gravity’s Pull is yet another star of our lineup—exactly how we want our wines from this grape to taste. Showing exceptional cut and drive, and combining aromas of bright, yet exotic, fruit with plenty of stony, savory flavors and a palate of minerality etched with citrus zest and patina-ed with orchard fruit, we think Gravity’s Pull is a prime example of why serious drinkers should be looking for Chardonnay from this part of Oregon.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
The Eyrie Vineyards Pinot Blanc, Dundee Hills 2020 750ML ($29.95) $25.50 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Distributor note “When Alsatian clones of Pinot blanc finally became available in Oregon, a small test plot was planted in Eyrie’s Sisters estate vineyard. The block was doubled in the late ‘90s but still yields only a limited production. Eyrie’s style is dry, medium-bodied and full-flavored and closely resembles Pinot blanc from Alsace. The wine undergoes natural temperature primary fermentation and full malolactic fermentation in stainless steel. In keeping with our hands-off winemaking style, this wine displays rich and broadly complex varietal aroma, clean and crisp flavors, and soft but bright texture.”
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Domaine Drouhin Oregon Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills 2018 750ML ($44.95) $39 special, 24 bottles in stock now
Erin Brooks-Wine Advocate 94+ points “Medium ruby-purple, the 2018 Pinot Noir Dundee Hills opens with savory notions of leather, graphite and tobacco with a core of red and blue berry fruits. The palate is medium-bodied with concentrated, incredibly spicy flavor layers, firm and super fresh, and it finishes very long and flavorful. Give it another 2-3 years in bottle.”
Nicolas Jay Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2017 750ML ($59.95) $44 special, 6 bottles in stock now
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 93 points “Deep, glistening red. Sexy, assertively perfumed aromas of fresh red fruits, potpourri and baking spices, with a hint of cola in the background. Juicy and focused on the palate, Jay’s 2017 Pinot Noir offers vibrant raspberry, bitter cherry, blood orange and rose pastille flavors and a late jolt of spicy white pepper. Made in a fresh, exuberant style, with silky tannins sneaking in slowly to add shape and grip to the impressively long, spice-accented finish. Aged in 30% new oak.”
John Gilman 93 points “It has been about a year since I last tasted a bottle of the 2017 Nicolas-Jay pinot noir, and the wine is slowly starting to blossom, but remains several years away from its peak of drinkability. It is a beautiful wine, tipping the scales at 13.5 percent octane and offering up a refined bouquet of black cherries, a hint of Morey-like beetroot, pigeon, a fine undertow of soil tones, raw cocoa, a gentle foundation of new wood and a smoky topnote. On the palate the wine is full-bodied, refined and elegant, with lovely structure and balance, a fine core and a long, suavely tannic and nascently complex finish. I was very impressed with this wine last summer and it is aging quite gracefully. 2027-2055+.”
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California
Roederer Estate L’Ermitage Brut, Anderson Valley 2015 750ML ($69.95) $59 special, 18 bottles in stock now
John Gilman 93+ points “I know that there are a lot of extremely good sparkling wines now made in the United States, but to my palate, the Roederer Estate “l’Ermitage” bottling is the finest. The 2015 vintage of this excellent wine is composed of a cépages of fifty-two percent chardonnay and forty-eight percent pinot noir. It was finished with a dosage of eight grams per liter in this vintage. The wine delivers a superb and very refined bouquet of tart pear, apple, fresh-baked bread, a complex base of soil, discreet smokiness and a topnote of dried flowers. On the palate the wine is deep, young, full-bodied and very elegant in profile, with a lovely core, excellent soil signature, bright acids, extremely elegant mousse and a long, complex and beautifully balanced finish. This is so seamlessly balanced that it is already drinking very well at six years of age, but it has the potential to blossom and improve with bottle age and I would love to drink it a decade down the road! The 2015 is clearly a very, very special vintage for the l’Ermitage bottling at Roederer Estate! 2021 – 2045.”
James Suckling 93 points “A lovely, aromatic nose of autumn leaves, fresh cream and pears. Medium-bodied with fresh, bright acidity. Citrus and nutmeg wash over the palate. The tight mousse lifts the palate upward, while remaining grounded by notes of white pepper and candied ginger. Yeasty finish. Drink now.”
Galerie Wines ‘Pleinair’ Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2017 750ML ($49.95) $33 special, 36 bottles in stock now
Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Wine Advocate 91 points “The 2017 Pleinair Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon has a very deep garnet-purple color and bursts from the glass with crushed blueberries, black cherry compote and boysenberries with touches of raisin cake, Chinese five spice and potpourri. Full-bodied, rich and spicy in the mouth, it has lovely freshness and a lovely bit of chew texturing the finish.”
Antonio Galloni 91 points “The 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Pleinair is racy, silky and super-expressive. Sweet floral and spice notes give the 2017 pretty aromatic top notes and brightness. This is a very solid value in the world of Napa Valley Cabernet, marked by plush red fruit and floral notes.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $38.59
France – Champagne
Drappier Carte d’Or Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($49.95) $38 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-6 Drappier Carte d’Or Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($299.95) $219 special (that’s only $36.50/bottle!)
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 91 points “Disgorged in April 2021, Drappier’s new NV Brut Carte d’Or delivers attractive aromas of golden orchard fruit, stone fruit, honeycomb and white flowers. Medium to full-bodied, fleshy and enveloping, it’s charming and elegantly vinous, with a flavorful core of fruit, lively acids and a chalky finish.”
Wine Spectator 90 points “Racy acidity enlivens this crisp and lacy Champagne. Well-knit, with the delicate mix of ripe white cherry, blanched almond, yellow plum and grated ginger flavors. Drink now. 3,000 cases imported. — AN”
Delamotte Blanc de Blancs Vintage Brut, Champagne 2012 750ML ($119.95) $99 special, 12 bottles in stock now
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 94+ points “Delamotte’s 2012 Blanc de Blancs continues to perform very well, unwinding in the glass with scents of crisp orchard fruit, buttered toast, white flowers, fresh bread and orange oil. Medium to full-bodied, deep and layered, it’s racy and concentrated, with an elegant mousse and a long, mineral finish. This is well worth seeking out.”
Antonio Galloni 94 points “Delamotte’s 2012 Brut Vintage is rich, creamy and super-expressive. This is only the second vintage (the first was 2008) in which fruit from Oiry rounds out the classic core of Le Mesnil, Oger and Cramant that forms the backbone of the Vintage. Dried pear, white flowers, chamomile and mint are some of the notes that grace this exquisite understated Blanc de Blancs. The 2012 offers terrific depth and textural resonance in a creamy, expressive style that captures the radiant personality of the year and the understated, quiet voice that is such a Delamotte signature.”
Decanter 94 points “The first vintage release since 2008, this blend of six Chardonnay grands crus has spent almost seven years on lees in the cellar. This will age gracefully for at least 10 years, but is delicious and surprisingly accessible now, creamy, rich and concentrated with an almost exotic white flower character, and a hint of ginger spice. Would be a heavenly match for Asian seared salmon, or chicken with morels or truffles. Drinking Window 2020 – 2030.”
France – Burgundy
Fougeray de Beauclair Bourgogne Pinot Noir 2019 750ML ($29.95) $23.50 special, 12 bottles in stock now
“A distinctly earthy nose features a touch of the sauvage on the mostly dark berry fruit aromas. The delicious, round and appealingly textured flavors possess enough depth and persistence to be interesting on the lightly structured finale. This should drink well almost immediately.” -Burghound
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France – Rhone
Mas de Libian Cotes du Rhone Bout d’Zan, Rhone 2020 750ML ($19.95) $15.50 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Our favorite entry-level Rhone!
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France – Bordeaux
Chateau Haut-Bergey, Pessac-Leognan 2010 750ML ($69.95) $59 special, 32 bottles in stock now
Robert M. Parker JR 92 points “From Helene Garcin, this blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30% Merlot displays classic tobacco leaf and smoky barbecue notes along with rich black currants and crushed rocks in a medium to full-bodied, seductive, attractively up-front style. Some Asian plum sauce is also noticeable in this complex, evolved and delicious wine, which can be drunk over the next 10-15 years. It is a sleeper of the vintage.”
Germany
“The 2020 growing season was hot and dry and the harvest season mostly cloudy and rainy: The result is a unique vintage with incredible lightness, filigreed precision, subtlety, and a dash of ripeness.” –Mosel Fine Wines, 2020 Vintage Overview
Peter Lauer Ayler Riesling Fass 25 Trocken, Saar, Mosel 2020 750ML ($34.95) $27 special, only 12 bottles available
Stuart Pigott 93 points “Beautiful nose of sliced pear with hints of rose and freshly baked bread. Very racy and focused on the medium-bodied palate with a diamond-bright, mineral finish. Drink or hold.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Peter Lauer Ayler Kupp Fass 3 Riesling, Saar, Mosel 2020 750ML ($37.95) $33 special, only 12 bottles available
Stuart Pigott 95 points “An amazing village wine with intense yellow-grapefruit and lime-zest aromas. Serious concentration, but so cool and precise, the apricot ripeness and herbal freshness exactly matched. Very long, pure finish with tons of slate character! On paper this is medium-dry, but for us its easily dry enough. Drink or hold.”
Peter Lauer Ayler Riesling Fass 4 Feinherb, Saar, Mosel 2020 750ML ($31.95) $25.50 special, only 12 bottles available
Stuart Pigott 93 points “With its nose of yellow and summer flowers, this sleek dry riesling is a very striking wine. Super refreshing and you can almost hear the bees buzzing! Drink or hold.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Peter Lauer Ayler Kupp Fass 2 Riesling Trocken, Saar, Mosel 2020 750ML ($37.95) $33 special, only 12 bottles available
Stuart Pigott 92 points “Tart pear, white peach and a hint of gooseberry makes this sleek and slightly austere dry riesling both very fresh and expressive. Intensely lemony finish. Drink or hold.”
Peter Lauer Ayler Fass 87 Riesling Kabinett “Special Edition”, Saar, Mosel 2020 750ML ($39.95) $31.90 special, only 12 bottles available
Stuart Pigott 92 points “The effusive, spring-meadow nose pulls you into this super-crisp Kabinett that’s dangerously refreshing. There must be a bunch of unfermented grape sweetness in here, but you barely feel it, because of the driving acidity. Drink now.”
Peter Lauer ‘Kern’ Ayler Kupp Fass 9 Riesling, Saar, Mosel 2020 750ML ($49.95) $44 special, only 9 bottles available
Stuart Pigott 96 points “I love the nose of leaves and flowers that are dripping with rainwater after a tropical storm. Great interplay of power and freshness, ripeness and delicacy, tropical fruit and fine-grained minerality through the very long finish. Drink or hold.”
Peter Lauer Fass 8 Ayler Kupp Riesling Kabinett, Saar, Mosel 2020 750ML ($41.95) $36 special, only 12 bottles available
Stuart Pigott 93 points “Very cool and reserved with mint and basil notes, this is a very elegant Kabinett with plenty of wet-stone minerality and a long, super-clean finish with only a hint of natural grape sweetness. Drink now.”
Peter Lauer ‘Neuenberg’ Fass 17 Riesling, Saar, Mosel 2020 750ML ($67.95) $54.50 special, only 12 bottles available
Stuart Pigott 95 points “Still a bit shy, the peach and apricot aromas of this dry riesling steadily expand in the glass. However, that doesn’t prepare you for the major concentration and structure on the palate, or the very long finish with its intense wet-stone minerality. Drinkable now, but best from 2022.”
Peter Lauer ‘Stirn’ Ayler Kupp Fass 15 Riesling, Saar, Mosel 2020 750ML ($49.95) $44 special, only 5 bottles available
Stuart Pigott 95 points “So fresh and floral, this is already so effusive and joyful, the juiciness seeming to float weightlessly on the mid-palate, but its anchored by plenty of fine tannins that precisely match the full wet-stone character. Mountain-stream freshness at the totally vibrant finish. Great aging potential! Drink or hold.”
Peter Lauer Ayler Kupp ‘Unterstenberg’ Fass 12 Riesling, Saar, Mosel 2020 750ML ($44.95) $38 special, only 12 bottles available
Stuart Pigott 94 points “Brimming with stone fruit and ripe melon with just a whiff of smoked bacon. Powerful and well-structured, but the generous fruit dominates until you reach the bold, mineral finish, which is pretty dry. Drink or hold.”
Italy – Tuscany
Fuligni Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Tuscany 2016 750ML ($119.95) $99 special, only 5 bottles available
#13 Top 100 Cellar Selection – Wine Enthusiast
Decanter 99 points “The Fuligni family moved from Maremma to Montalcino early in the 20th century, establishing the estate in 1923. Maria Flora has been at the helm since 1971, with her nephew Roberto managing most of the operations today. This historic property has released one of the most exquisite wines of 2016. Revealing its complexities gradually, it unfolds with a smoky flintiness, balsamic nuances and Mediterranean herbs. Seemingly endless in layers and depth, there is generosity but it never weighs the palate down. Powerful, sophisticated tannins are finely powdered, and piercing acidity radiates throughout. Hints of liquorice, violet, blood orange and iron eventually emerge. Lengthy and effortlessly commanding. Drinking Window 2024 – 2042.”
Kerin O’Keefe-Wine Enthusiast 99 points “Enticingly fragrant, this opens with heady aromas of rose, violet, new leather, truffle and a whiff of camphor. Vibrant and focused, the chiseled, elegant palate is all about finesse, delivering bright red cherry, orange zest, licorice and white pepper framed in taut, refined tannins. Bright acidity keeps it superbly balanced and fresh. It’s already drinking beautifully but hold for even more complexity. Drink 2024–2036.”
Eric Guido-Vinous 98 points “Dark, inward and intense, the 2016 Brunello di Montalcino is a towering effort that will thrill collectors for many years to come. It arrives in waves, first black fruits evolving to red, then sage and earthy minerals, followed by brown spice and, finally, hints of tobacco. Youthfully dense, velvety and in no hurry to unfurl the complex web of fruit, minerals and tannins found within, this instead leaves you guessing at what’s to come. That said, there’s perfect symmetry here, along with the combination of structure and primary intensity to guarantee many years of positive maturation. Hints of licorice, currant and baker’s chocolate linger long. This is simply gorgeous.”
Avignonesi Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG, Tuscany 2016 750ML ($29.95) $24 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Wine Enthusiast 93 points “Cellar Selection. Fragrant and loaded with finesse, this has enticing aromas of dark-skinned berry, violet, camphor and whiffs of pipe tobacco. The vibrant, linear palate has great tension, delivering juicy Morello cherry, crushed mint, orange zest and star anise framed in taut, fine-grained tannins. It’s balanced, with bright acidity. Drink 2022–2036. -Kerin O’Keefe”
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Spain
Nanclares y Prieto ‘Dandelion’ Albarino, Rias Baixas 2020 750ML ($29.95) $23.50 special, 24 bottles in stock now
Importer note “100% Albarino from 15 organically farmed inland plots of 24-45-year-old Albarino vines in the Val do Salnes, planted on sandy, decomposed granite soils. 2020 was a warm vintage in Rias Baixas: the winter was rainy and warm, which continued into April and May.”
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Adega Algueira Mencía, Ribeira Sacra 2019 750ML ($24.95) $18 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Luis Gutierrez-Wine Advocate 90 points “The textbook varietal 2019 Mencía shows the rustic personality of the region through the grapes from different places. They were very happy with the conditions of the 2019 vintage, as it was warmer and drier than 2018, which meant healthier grapes. It has a moderate 13% alcohol and very good freshness for a grape that does not have very high acidity. It fermented with indigenous yeasts, with 15 to 20 days of maceration, and it was bottled unoaked. It’s nicely textured, pleasant and juicy, not terribly complex but really pleasant.”
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 90 points “Deep red. Spice-accented red berries and cherry on the nose, along with a subtle floral nuance that builds with air. Juicy and focused on the palate, offering lively raspberry and bitter cherry flavors that fan out through the back half. Finishes silky and long, with lingering spiciness and discreet tannins that add gentle grip.”
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Lopez de Heredia Vina Cubillo Crianza, Rioja DOCa 2012 750ML ($39.95) $25.50 special, 24 bottles in stock now
James Suckling 95 points “Wonderful aromas of mushrooms, bark, cigar tobacco and plums with just a hint of citrus. Full-bodied with incredible softness and complexity. Subtle chocolate, fruit and walnut in the aftertaste. Goes on for minutes. Fantastic wine. Classic, textbook Rioja. A joy. Incredible value! Drink or hold.”
Luis Gutierrez-Wine Advocate 93 points “I was quite impressed by the 2012 Viña Cubillo Tinto Crianza, a classical Rioja that is nicely crafted, with less aging in barrel than the rest of reds and therefore with more fruit character and less López de Heredia signature. This was born as a red for tapas, a blend of 70% Tempranillo, 20% Garnacho and 5% each Graciano and Mazuelo with 13.5% alcohol. It matured in well-seasoned American oak barrels for three years. It has ripe fruit (black rather than red) without excess and a pinch of spices and a twist of oak. 94,500 bottles produced. There are seven lots of this. I tasted a bottled that was filled in May 2018.”
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 92 points “Glistening ruby. Spice-accented aromas of red berries, cherry cola and candied rose, plus a smoky nuance in the background. Supple and energetic in style, with a core of zesty acidity adding lift and cut to bitter cherry and red currant flavors that take a sweeter turn through the midpalate. Finishes long and smooth, delivering gentle tannic grip, a snap of peppery spices and repeating florality.”
Mas Martinet was founded in 1981. Working under the idea that a greater expression was possible, Mas Martinet planted French varietals like Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Merlot alongside their old-vine Carignan and Grenache. Their efforts pay off brilliantly in the multidimensional character found in the finished wines, with co-fermentation being a house practice to ensure harmony. The reds are not the only jewels in their crown however, with their Ranci Dolce being an homage to the sweet wines that were originally the calling card of Priorat. There is also an orange wine that is made from a field blend of white varietals and fermented in amphora with its skins, also done as an homage to the village wines of millennia past.
Mas Martinet ‘Martinet Bru’ Priorat DOCa 2018 750ML ($44.95) $36 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Luis Gutierrez-Wine Advocate 93+ points “The 2018 Martinet Bru is a wine that was born in 1990 and is now their way into Priorat but more about the stone than the fruit, less ripe than in the beginning, with complexity rather than voluptuosity. It’s a blend of Garnacha, Cariñena, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot from three organically farmed vineyards between Falset and Torroja. The grapes are picked early but at different times, fermented with some full clusters, co-fermented when possible (Garnacha-Syrah-Merlot and Cariñena-Syrah-Cabernet) with indigenous yeasts in concrete vats. It matured in a combination of 4,500-liter oak vats, used 300-liter barrels, amphorae and glass demijohns. It’s elegant and fresh, nuanced and clean. It’s very harmonious and feels very balanced, with fresh flavors and very fine tannins. It’s one of the finest vintages for this bottling.”
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 93 points “Deep violet. Assertive black and blue fruit, licorice and violet scents are complemented by suggestions of baking spices and smoky minerals. Pliant and concentrated on the palate, offering ripe cherry, cassis and floral pastille flavors and a hint of spicecake. Closes very long and smooth, with resonating florality and building tannins that add gentle grip.”
Mas Martinet ‘Clos Martinet’ Tinto Priorat DOCa 2017 750ML ($99.95) $89 special, 6 bottles in stock now
Luis Gutierrez-Wine Advocate 95 points “The 2017s feel relaxed, something unusual in Priorat. The 2017 Clos Martinet has seen a change, as they stopped using the sorting table and stopped using the pied de cuve, because the harvest was very easy. They harvested in August—the earliest ever until 2018—and they didn’t have time to do anything; so, they put the grapes in the vats and let them ferment, and that’s what they have been doing ever since. They feel that there is less manipulation of the grapes now, and that could have helped to make wines more relaxed. This is truly harmonious and expressive, elegant and powerful, not showing any heat—in fact, it’s showing very much freshness.”
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 95 points “Deep, shimmering ruby. Expansive cherry and blue fruit aromas are complemented by suggestions of smoky minerals, incense and candied lavender. Well concentrated and alluringly sweet, offering black raspberry, cherry cola and boysenberry flavors that are sharpened and supported by a spine of juicy acidity. Finishes smoky, seamless and impressively long, with polished tannins adding shape and gentle grip.”
Mas Martinet ‘Els Escurcons’ Priorat DOCa 2018 750ML ($149.95) $119 special, 2 bottles in stock now
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 96 points “Bright-rimmed ruby. Mineral-accented aromas of fresh red and blue fruits, along with suggestions of exotic spices, potpourri and licorice. Stains the palate with sappy, mineral-accented black raspberry, cherry and mulberry flavors, while smoky minerality adds energetic lift and spine. Polished tannins shape the finish, which clings with excellent tenacity and resonating mineral, spice and floral notes. All whole clusters.”
Luis Gutierrez-Wine Advocate 95 points “The 2018 Els Escurçons comes from a 20-year-old vineyard, a massal selection of old Garnacha from Porrera on south- and southwest-facing terraces of ferruginous decomposed llicorella slate. In June 2015, 30 hectares of forest around the vineyard burned down, and 10% of the vines also died. The vineyard expression has been coming back since 2016, but they feel it has changed, as the vegetation around it has disappeared. The first two vintages after the fire showed anger and stress, and 2018 begins to be more open, more relaxed, a process that seems to culminate in 2020. The full clusters were crushed and put into 200-liter amphorae where they fermented with indigenous yeasts for three weeks. The wine matured in glass demijohns for 13 months. It has a strong note of iron intermixed with aromatic herbs and flowers and is fluid and gentle, with very fine tannins. The profile of all of these 2018s is elegant and fresh, quite different from the past. It has a very stony and somehow wild personality.”
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Mas Martinet Pesseroles Brisat Blanc Priorat DOCa 2018 750ML ($99.95) $89 special, 2 bottles in stock now
Importer note “Pesseroles Brisat comes from the white wine state that we have at the road of Pesseroles. Planted in 2002, and with traditional varieties from Priorat, such as Picapoll blanc, Pedro Ximenez and Garnatxa blanca. The crumbled slate-containing land of the vineyards at the side of the road of Pesseroles features a subsoil with more presence of clay than in other estates, which makes it a wine with a great structure. Varietals: 43% Picapoll blanc, , 29% Pedro Ximenes and 28% Garnatxa blanca.”
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Mas Martinet ‘Ranci Dolc’ Garnatxa Negra Priorat DOCa 2017 375ML ($149.95) $119 special, 2 half-bottles in stock now
Luis Gutierrez-Wine Advocate 93 points “[Review for the 2020 release] The second bottling of the NV Ranci Dolç de Martinet very clearly shows the bottling information on its label (number 2 in 2020), as it’s taken from the solera they started using old lees from traditional rancios in the Priorat. It’s 16.5% alcohol and has 83 grams of sugar per liter. The Garnacha vineyard they use has been certified organic since 2006, but because this is a vintage blend of wines starting in 1995 and barrels from 1975, they cannot certify the wine. The grapes are left to dehydrate in the shadow for a number of days—which can be as short as seven days or as long as 14, sometimes even 21—and after that time the clusters are foot trodden and fermented in a barrel for one year. Two years after the harvest, that wine comes into the vintage blend of the solera. It seems to be taking the character of rancio more; the aromas are not sweet and instead are more about iodine and nuts, with a touch of carob beans. The palate also feels less sweet, and there is good balance and freshness, what you need in a sweet wine.”
Importer note “A very special wine, a tribute to history and the traditional way of producing rancio wine in Priorat. A 100% natural sweet Garnacha aged in very old barrels which are more than 100 years old, and with their centenary mothers. The first bottling of this wine was done after 20 years of ageing. A delicate and very appetising jewel, but also exceptionally fine and balanced. TYPE: Sweet oxidated. VINTAGE: 2107. VARIETY: 100% Grenache.”
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Cedric Bouchard – Roses de Jeanne
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Cedric Bouchard Roses de Jeanne Les Ursules Blanc de Noirs 2017 750ML ($199.95) $169 pre-arrival special, only 7 bottles available
Cedric Bouchard Roses de Jeanne Les Ursules Blanc de Noirs 2017 1.5L ($399.95) $359 pre-arrival special, only 1 magnum available
Antonio Galloni 93 points “The 2017 Blanc de Noirs Les Ursules presents a soft, hushed expression of Pinot Noir. Dried orchard fruit, ginger, lemon confit and dried flowers. Perfumed, floral accents add a pretty flourish. Like all of the 2017s, the Ursules comes across as a bit light and best suited to relatively near-term drinking. No dosage.”
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This is the lowest listed price in the USA today for any vintage!
Cedric Bouchard Roses de Jeanne Presle Blanc de Noirs 2017 750ML ($249.95) $219 pre-arrival special, only 2 bottles available
Antonio Galloni 94 points “The 2017 Blanc de Noirs Presle is very subdued in this tasting. Medium in body and soft, the 2017 Presle is decidedly hushed in its personality and voice. It will be interesting to see if the aromatics and fruit emerge a bit more fully with time. Today, Presle is soft, silky and ready to go. No dosage.”
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Cedric Bouchard Roses de Jeanne Cote de Bechalin NV (2014) 750ML ($149.95) $109 pre-arrival special, only 3 bottles available
Antonio Galloni 94 points “The 2014 Blanc de Noirs Côte de Bechalin La Parcelle is bright, focused and tightly wound, all of which will serve it well in the future. I especially admire the tension and energy here. Readers should plan on cellaring the 2014 for at least a few years. It’s an absolutely exquisite wine and a hidden gem in a range where the spotlight usually falls on other wines. Kirsch, plum, dried flowers, lemon peel and bright orchard fruit linger.”
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The next best price is $119
Cedric Bouchard Roses de Jeanne La Boloree Blanc de Blancs (Pinot Blanc) 2017 750ML ($249.95) $219 pre-arrival special, only 1 bottle available
Antonio Galloni 94 points “The 2017 Blanc de Blancs La Bolorée shows its typical brightness and energy, but like all the 2017s in the range, the volume is turned down and there is just less of the heady, explosive richness found in the very best years. White pepper, green orchard fruit, crushed rocks and flowers lend nuance. La Bolorée has a track record of aging beautifully. I am deeply interested in seeing where the 2017 goes in the coming years. No dosage.”
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Fun Finds from France!
Arriving Friday, December 10th
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Schoffit Chasselas Vieilles Vignes, Alsace 2019 750ML ($27.95) $21.90 pre-arrival special
Wine Spectator 89 points “A lovely, lithe white, with a delicate spine of lightly mouthwatering acidity and a pretty range ripe apricot, ruby red grapefruit sorbet, pickled ginger and almond blossom, followed by a stony finish. Drink now. 100 cases imported. –AN”
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Schoffit Pinot Blanc Vieilles Vignes, Alsace 2019 750ML ($27.95) $21.90 pre-arrival special
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Schoffit Pinot Gris Cuvee Tradition, Alsace 2017 750ML ($29.95) $24 pre-arrival special
Wine Enthusiast 91 points “Aromatic notes of pear immediately set the tone on the nose of this wine that’s all about clarity and freshness. The concentrated palate packs some brightness to counter the rich and powerful pear flavors while some pith adds a textural element. The wine has power, drive and a dry finish. -Anne Krebiehl MW”
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Schoffit Riesling Rangen de Thann Clos Saint-Theobald, Alsace Grand Cru 2019 750ML ($69.95) $59 pre-arrival special
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Domaine des Bruyeres Chenas, Beaujolais 2019 750ML ($21.95) $18 pre-arrival special
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 90 points “Bright violet. Lively cherry and red currant scents, along with building floral and spice flourishes. Juicy, focused and lithe on the palate, offering zesty red and blue fruit flavors that slowly deepen through the back half. Shows a refreshing bitter note on the persistent, focused finish, which is firmed by dusty, even tannins.”
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Domaine des Bruyeres Julienas, Beaujolais 2019 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 pre-arrival special
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 91 points “Light ruby-red. Vibrant raspberry, cherry and violet scents show excellent clarity and pick up smoky mineral and spice accents with air. Juicy and focused on the palate, offering lively bitter cherry and red berry flavors that convey an appealing bland of depth and energy. The floral note repeats strongly on a long, seamless finish that features silky tannins and a touch of mocha.”
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Domaine des Bruyeres Moulin-A-Vent, Beaujolais 2019 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 pre-arrival special
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 91 points “Limpid ruby. Spice-tinged cherry and black raspberry on the nose, with licorice and cola nuances emerging as the wine opens up. Juicy and energetic on the palate, offering bitter cherry and dark berry flavors that show sharp definition and a hint of candied violet. Closes long and spicy, with sneaky tannins adding shape and final grip.”
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Pierre-Marie Chermette Domaine du Vissoux Moulin-a-Vent Les Trois Roches, Beaujolais 2019 750ML ($34.95) $28 pre-arrival special
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 93 points “Bright ruby-red. Pungent red and blue fruits and candied violet on the lively, mineral- and spice-accented nose. Bright, spicy and energetic in character, offering sappy black raspberry and boysenberry flavors that show fine clarity and deepen slowly with air. Displays subtle chewiness on the gently tannic finish, which hangs on with strong, spicy tenacity and a repeating floral note.”
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 93 points “Exhibiting aromas of raspberries, wild berries and orange rind, the 2019 Moulin-à-Vent Les Trois Roches is medium to full-bodied, velvety and perfumed, with a delicate core of fruit, lively acids and melting tannins. This is an especially elegant, harmonious rendition of Les Trois Roches, and I can’t wait to see how it develops.”
Pierre-Marie Chermette Domaine du Vissoux Fleurie les Garants, Beaujolais 2019 750ML ($34.95) $28 pre-arrival special
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 94 points “The 2019 Fleurie Les Garants has turned out beautifully, wafting from the glass with aromas of plums, raspberries and pomegranate mingled with hints of rose petals and subtle spices. Medium to full-bodied, pure and precise, it’s seamless and delicate, with sneaky concentration, striking balance and a long, penetrating finish.”
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 93 points “Saturated garnet. Mineral- and spice-accented red and blue fruit aromas pick up a sexy floral quality with air. Concentrated yet lively in style, offering juicy raspberry, bitter cherry and boysenberry flavors that show fine clarity and back-end cut. The floral note repeats emphatically on the gently tannic finish, which lingers with strong persistence.”
Pierre-Marie Chermette Domaine du Vissoux ‘Origine’ Vieilles Vignes, Beaujolais 2020 750ML ($21.95) $17 pre-arrival special
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Domaine Alary Cairanne La Jean de Verde, Rhone 2018 750ML ($34.95) $28 pre-arrival special
Joe Czerwinski-Wine Advocate 92-94 points “A blend of 90% Grenache and 5% each Carignan and Mourvèdre, from a site at the top of the appellation, the 2018 Cairanne la Jean de Verde is a promising example, even if it is a step behind the otherworldly 2016. Exciting notes of raspberries, stone fruit and allspice appear on the nose, while the medium to full-bodied palate is ripe and round, even creamy in texture on the mid-palate, then turns rich and velvety on the long finish.”
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Le Clos du Caillou Chateauneuf-du-Pape Tradition, Rhone 2017 750ML ($49.95) $44.50 pre-arrival special
Case-6 Le Clos du Caillou Chateauneuf-du-Pape Tradition, Rhone 2017 750ML ($299.95) $249 pre-arrival special (that’s only $41.50/bottle!)
Case-12 Le Clos du Caillou Chateauneuf-du-Pape Tradition, Rhone 2017 750ML ($499.95) $479 pre-arrival special (that’s only $39.92/bottle!)
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 91-92 points “Glistening ruby-red. Pungent cherry pit and black currant aromas, along with hints of licorice, musky herbs and cracked pepper. Chewy and focused on the palate, offering slow-to-open bitter cherry and dark berry flavors braced by an undercurrent of juicy acidity. Shows firm tannic grip on the persistent finish, which leaves suggestions of candied licorice and cherry preserves behind. This is a pretty serious example of a “basic” bottling, and it deserves some patience.”
Jeb Dunnuck 90 points “Kirsch, blackberry, ground pepper, and incense notes all dominate the bouquet of the medium to full-bodied 2017 Châteauneuf Du Pape Le Caillou. It offers beautiful purity of fruit, a rounded, mouthfilling texture, and a great finish. Drink it over the coming decade.”
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Lilbert is one of the best kept secrets in Champagne. Drawing from Grand Cru vineyards in the Cote des Blancs, Lilbert makes blanc de blancs wines from some excellent vineyards in a finessed, minerally style. Their wines have a notable brioche-y character, as well, due to the large quantities of reserve wines in their various blends. At the prices asked, these are wines that massively over-deliver. That’s certainly because they fly under the radar (at the moment) but that could (and should) change over the next few years.
Arriving Friday, December 10th:
Lilbert-Fils Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($69.95) $51.90 pre-arrival special
Wine Enthusiast 92 points “Grand cru grapes from the Côte des Blancs give this Champagne great intensity and texture. While the bottling is still a little young, it does have hints of the richness of maturity that will shine through the white fruits and lemon flavors. Drink this fine bottling from 2021. -Roger Voss”
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 91+ points “The latest rendition of Lilbert’s NV Grand Cru Cramant Blanc de Blancs was disgorged in spring 2019 with a low three grams per liter dosage. It’s based on the 2016 vintage, complemented by 50% reserve wines. Offering up a crisp and pure bouquet of green apple, wet stones and lemon oil, as well as subtle suggestions of freshly baked bread, it’s medium to full-bodied, racy and incisive, with fine depth at the core, a delicate mousse and a chalky finish. This is quite a tender, charming rendition of this cuvée, despite the very low dosage, but as usual it will amply reward some aging on cork.”
Antonio Galloni 90 points “The NV Brut Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru is a very pretty entry-level wine in this lineup. Citrus and floral overtones give the Brut lovely freshness to match its weightless, gracious personality. Understated and classy, the Brut is an absolute delight. I would prefer to drink it as an aperitif or alongside lighter foods. The low dosage of 3 grams per liter adds to the wine’s taut feel. The current release is based on 2016, with 50% reserve wines.”
Lilbert-Fils Perle Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($89.95) $75 pre-arrival special
Wine Enthusiast 93 points “The Perle style is a comparative rarity in Champagne, bottling the wine at a lower than usual pressure. This dry Champagne is therefore softly textured with an open mousse. It does however have all the fine, tight minerality of great Chardonnay in Champagne and will surely develop further. Drink from 2021.”
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 92 points “The latest release of the NV Extra Brut Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Perle was disgorged in fall 2018 with five grams per liter dosage, and it’s a blend of equal parts 2015 and 2014, complemented by some 10% reserve wines. Offering up a lovely bouquet of fresh peach, lemon oil, white flowers and hints of the elegantly nutty complexity to come, the wine is medium to full-bodied and textural but incisive, with a creamy low-pressure mousse, a tight-knit core that needs a little time on cork to unwind and an elegantly chalky finish.”
Wine Spectator 91 points “Ripe pineapple and white cherry fruit flavors are accented by honeysuckle and spice notes in this appealing blanc de blancs Champagne, which is lithe and harmonious, with a fresh, lightly chalky finish. Disgorged autumn 2018. Drink now through 2023. 200 cases made, 40 cases imported.”
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Lilbert-Fils Blanc de Blancs Cramant Grand Cru Vintage Brut, Champagne 2015 750ML ($149.95) $99 pre-arrival special, only 18 bottles available
Antonio Galloni 92 points “The 2015 Brut Blanc de Blancs Cramant Grand Cru is a powerful, dense wine with a huge center of fruit and tons of sheer persistence. There is a feeling of gravitas here that is palpable. Citrus, white flowers, mint and chamomile are all amplified in this decidedly large scaled vintage Champagne from Lilbert-Fils. Dosage is 3 grams per liter.”
[Disgorgement date may vary from reviews]
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Francois Gay et Fils Corton Renardes Grand Cru, Cote de Beaune 2009 750ML Was $149, Now $135, 1 bottle in stock now
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Francois Gay et Fils Corton Renardes Grand Cru, Cote de Beaune 2010 750ML Was $135, Now $119, 2 bottles in stock now
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Francois Gay et Fils Ladoix Rouge, Cote de Beaune 2010 750ML Was $69, Now $59, 5 bottles in stock now
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Love Burgundy?
Don’t miss our Pierre Bouree sale!
We’ve slashed prices on 19 wines (that’s 40 bottles!) from 1990 through 2015.
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New Week – New Arrivals
Cedric Bouchard – Roses de Jeanne
FIRST COME/FIRST SERVED
Fun Finds from France
Arriving Friday
Best Kept Secret of Champagne:
Lilbert
Francois Gay:
Subscriber Special
Arriving Friday
Best Kept Secret of Champagne:
Lilbert
Francois Gay:
Subscriber Special
New Week – New Arrivals
Oregon
Championship Bottle ‘Gravity’s Pull’ Chardonnay, Dion Vineyard, Laurelwood District 2019 750ML ($39.95) $33 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Winery note “2019 was a stellar year for white wine in the Willamette Valley and Gravity’s Pull is yet another star of our lineup—exactly how we want our wines from this grape to taste. Showing exceptional cut and drive, and combining aromas of bright, yet exotic, fruit with plenty of stony, savory flavors and a palate of minerality etched with citrus zest and patina-ed with orchard fruit, we think Gravity’s Pull is a prime example of why serious drinkers should be looking for Chardonnay from this part of Oregon.”
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The Eyrie Vineyards Pinot Blanc, Dundee Hills 2020 750ML ($29.95) $25.50 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Distributor note “When Alsatian clones of Pinot blanc finally became available in Oregon, a small test plot was planted in Eyrie’s Sisters estate vineyard. The block was doubled in the late ‘90s but still yields only a limited production. Eyrie’s style is dry, medium-bodied and full-flavored and closely resembles Pinot blanc from Alsace. The wine undergoes natural temperature primary fermentation and full malolactic fermentation in stainless steel. In keeping with our hands-off winemaking style, this wine displays rich and broadly complex varietal aroma, clean and crisp flavors, and soft but bright texture.”
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Domaine Drouhin Oregon Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills 2018 750ML ($44.95) $39 special, 24 bottles in stock now
Erin Brooks-Wine Advocate 94+ points “Medium ruby-purple, the 2018 Pinot Noir Dundee Hills opens with savory notions of leather, graphite and tobacco with a core of red and blue berry fruits. The palate is medium-bodied with concentrated, incredibly spicy flavor layers, firm and super fresh, and it finishes very long and flavorful. Give it another 2-3 years in bottle.”
Nicolas Jay Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2017 750ML ($59.95) $44 special, 6 bottles in stock now
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 93 points “Deep, glistening red. Sexy, assertively perfumed aromas of fresh red fruits, potpourri and baking spices, with a hint of cola in the background. Juicy and focused on the palate, Jay’s 2017 Pinot Noir offers vibrant raspberry, bitter cherry, blood orange and rose pastille flavors and a late jolt of spicy white pepper. Made in a fresh, exuberant style, with silky tannins sneaking in slowly to add shape and grip to the impressively long, spice-accented finish. Aged in 30% new oak.”
John Gilman 93 points “It has been about a year since I last tasted a bottle of the 2017 Nicolas-Jay pinot noir, and the wine is slowly starting to blossom, but remains several years away from its peak of drinkability. It is a beautiful wine, tipping the scales at 13.5 percent octane and offering up a refined bouquet of black cherries, a hint of Morey-like beetroot, pigeon, a fine undertow of soil tones, raw cocoa, a gentle foundation of new wood and a smoky topnote. On the palate the wine is full-bodied, refined and elegant, with lovely structure and balance, a fine core and a long, suavely tannic and nascently complex finish. I was very impressed with this wine last summer and it is aging quite gracefully. 2027-2055+.”
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California
Roederer Estate L’Ermitage Brut, Anderson Valley 2015 750ML ($69.95) $59 special, 18 bottles in stock now
John Gilman 93+ points “I know that there are a lot of extremely good sparkling wines now made in the United States, but to my palate, the Roederer Estate “l’Ermitage” bottling is the finest. The 2015 vintage of this excellent wine is composed of a cépages of fifty-two percent chardonnay and forty-eight percent pinot noir. It was finished with a dosage of eight grams per liter in this vintage. The wine delivers a superb and very refined bouquet of tart pear, apple, fresh-baked bread, a complex base of soil, discreet smokiness and a topnote of dried flowers. On the palate the wine is deep, young, full-bodied and very elegant in profile, with a lovely core, excellent soil signature, bright acids, extremely elegant mousse and a long, complex and beautifully balanced finish. This is so seamlessly balanced that it is already drinking very well at six years of age, but it has the potential to blossom and improve with bottle age and I would love to drink it a decade down the road! The 2015 is clearly a very, very special vintage for the l’Ermitage bottling at Roederer Estate! 2021 – 2045.”
James Suckling 93 points “A lovely, aromatic nose of autumn leaves, fresh cream and pears. Medium-bodied with fresh, bright acidity. Citrus and nutmeg wash over the palate. The tight mousse lifts the palate upward, while remaining grounded by notes of white pepper and candied ginger. Yeasty finish. Drink now.”
Galerie Wines ‘Pleinair’ Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2017 750ML ($49.95) $33 special, 36 bottles in stock now
Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Wine Advocate 91 points “The 2017 Pleinair Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon has a very deep garnet-purple color and bursts from the glass with crushed blueberries, black cherry compote and boysenberries with touches of raisin cake, Chinese five spice and potpourri. Full-bodied, rich and spicy in the mouth, it has lovely freshness and a lovely bit of chew texturing the finish.”
Antonio Galloni 91 points “The 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Pleinair is racy, silky and super-expressive. Sweet floral and spice notes give the 2017 pretty aromatic top notes and brightness. This is a very solid value in the world of Napa Valley Cabernet, marked by plush red fruit and floral notes.”
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The next best price is $38.59
France – Champagne
Drappier Carte d’Or Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($49.95) $38 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-6 Drappier Carte d’Or Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($299.95) $219 special (that’s only $36.50/bottle!)
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 91 points “Disgorged in April 2021, Drappier’s new NV Brut Carte d’Or delivers attractive aromas of golden orchard fruit, stone fruit, honeycomb and white flowers. Medium to full-bodied, fleshy and enveloping, it’s charming and elegantly vinous, with a flavorful core of fruit, lively acids and a chalky finish.”
Wine Spectator 90 points “Racy acidity enlivens this crisp and lacy Champagne. Well-knit, with the delicate mix of ripe white cherry, blanched almond, yellow plum and grated ginger flavors. Drink now. 3,000 cases imported. — AN”
Delamotte Blanc de Blancs Vintage Brut, Champagne 2012 750ML ($119.95) $99 special, 12 bottles in stock now
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 94+ points “Delamotte’s 2012 Blanc de Blancs continues to perform very well, unwinding in the glass with scents of crisp orchard fruit, buttered toast, white flowers, fresh bread and orange oil. Medium to full-bodied, deep and layered, it’s racy and concentrated, with an elegant mousse and a long, mineral finish. This is well worth seeking out.”
Antonio Galloni 94 points “Delamotte’s 2012 Brut Vintage is rich, creamy and super-expressive. This is only the second vintage (the first was 2008) in which fruit from Oiry rounds out the classic core of Le Mesnil, Oger and Cramant that forms the backbone of the Vintage. Dried pear, white flowers, chamomile and mint are some of the notes that grace this exquisite understated Blanc de Blancs. The 2012 offers terrific depth and textural resonance in a creamy, expressive style that captures the radiant personality of the year and the understated, quiet voice that is such a Delamotte signature.”
Decanter 94 points “The first vintage release since 2008, this blend of six Chardonnay grands crus has spent almost seven years on lees in the cellar. This will age gracefully for at least 10 years, but is delicious and surprisingly accessible now, creamy, rich and concentrated with an almost exotic white flower character, and a hint of ginger spice. Would be a heavenly match for Asian seared salmon, or chicken with morels or truffles. Drinking Window 2020 – 2030.”
France – Burgundy
Fougeray de Beauclair Bourgogne Pinot Noir 2019 750ML ($29.95) $23.50 special, 12 bottles in stock now
“A distinctly earthy nose features a touch of the sauvage on the mostly dark berry fruit aromas. The delicious, round and appealingly textured flavors possess enough depth and persistence to be interesting on the lightly structured finale. This should drink well almost immediately.” -Burghound
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France – Rhone
Mas de Libian Cotes du Rhone Bout d’Zan, Rhone 2020 750ML ($19.95) $15.50 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Our favorite entry-level Rhone!
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France – Bordeaux
Chateau Haut-Bergey, Pessac-Leognan 2010 750ML ($69.95) $59 special, 32 bottles in stock now
Robert M. Parker JR 92 points “From Helene Garcin, this blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30% Merlot displays classic tobacco leaf and smoky barbecue notes along with rich black currants and crushed rocks in a medium to full-bodied, seductive, attractively up-front style. Some Asian plum sauce is also noticeable in this complex, evolved and delicious wine, which can be drunk over the next 10-15 years. It is a sleeper of the vintage.”
Germany
“The 2020 growing season was hot and dry and the harvest season mostly cloudy and rainy: The result is a unique vintage with incredible lightness, filigreed precision, subtlety, and a dash of ripeness.” –Mosel Fine Wines, 2020 Vintage Overview
Peter Lauer Ayler Riesling Fass 25 Trocken, Saar, Mosel 2020 750ML ($34.95) $27 special, only 12 bottles available
Stuart Pigott 93 points “Beautiful nose of sliced pear with hints of rose and freshly baked bread. Very racy and focused on the medium-bodied palate with a diamond-bright, mineral finish. Drink or hold.”
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Peter Lauer Ayler Kupp Fass 3 Riesling, Saar, Mosel 2020 750ML ($37.95) $33 special, only 12 bottles available
Stuart Pigott 95 points “An amazing village wine with intense yellow-grapefruit and lime-zest aromas. Serious concentration, but so cool and precise, the apricot ripeness and herbal freshness exactly matched. Very long, pure finish with tons of slate character! On paper this is medium-dry, but for us its easily dry enough. Drink or hold.”
Peter Lauer Ayler Riesling Fass 4 Feinherb, Saar, Mosel 2020 750ML ($31.95) $25.50 special, only 12 bottles available
Stuart Pigott 93 points “With its nose of yellow and summer flowers, this sleek dry riesling is a very striking wine. Super refreshing and you can almost hear the bees buzzing! Drink or hold.”
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Peter Lauer Ayler Kupp Fass 2 Riesling Trocken, Saar, Mosel 2020 750ML ($37.95) $33 special, only 12 bottles available
Stuart Pigott 92 points “Tart pear, white peach and a hint of gooseberry makes this sleek and slightly austere dry riesling both very fresh and expressive. Intensely lemony finish. Drink or hold.”
Peter Lauer Ayler Fass 87 Riesling Kabinett “Special Edition”, Saar, Mosel 2020 750ML ($39.95) $31.90 special, only 12 bottles available
Stuart Pigott 92 points “The effusive, spring-meadow nose pulls you into this super-crisp Kabinett that’s dangerously refreshing. There must be a bunch of unfermented grape sweetness in here, but you barely feel it, because of the driving acidity. Drink now.”
Peter Lauer ‘Kern’ Ayler Kupp Fass 9 Riesling, Saar, Mosel 2020 750ML ($49.95) $44 special, only 9 bottles available
Stuart Pigott 96 points “I love the nose of leaves and flowers that are dripping with rainwater after a tropical storm. Great interplay of power and freshness, ripeness and delicacy, tropical fruit and fine-grained minerality through the very long finish. Drink or hold.”
Peter Lauer Fass 8 Ayler Kupp Riesling Kabinett, Saar, Mosel 2020 750ML ($41.95) $36 special, only 12 bottles available
Stuart Pigott 93 points “Very cool and reserved with mint and basil notes, this is a very elegant Kabinett with plenty of wet-stone minerality and a long, super-clean finish with only a hint of natural grape sweetness. Drink now.”
Peter Lauer ‘Neuenberg’ Fass 17 Riesling, Saar, Mosel 2020 750ML ($67.95) $54.50 special, only 12 bottles available
Stuart Pigott 95 points “Still a bit shy, the peach and apricot aromas of this dry riesling steadily expand in the glass. However, that doesn’t prepare you for the major concentration and structure on the palate, or the very long finish with its intense wet-stone minerality. Drinkable now, but best from 2022.”
Peter Lauer ‘Stirn’ Ayler Kupp Fass 15 Riesling, Saar, Mosel 2020 750ML ($49.95) $44 special, only 5 bottles available
Stuart Pigott 95 points “So fresh and floral, this is already so effusive and joyful, the juiciness seeming to float weightlessly on the mid-palate, but its anchored by plenty of fine tannins that precisely match the full wet-stone character. Mountain-stream freshness at the totally vibrant finish. Great aging potential! Drink or hold.”
Peter Lauer Ayler Kupp ‘Unterstenberg’ Fass 12 Riesling, Saar, Mosel 2020 750ML ($44.95) $38 special, only 12 bottles available
Stuart Pigott 94 points “Brimming with stone fruit and ripe melon with just a whiff of smoked bacon. Powerful and well-structured, but the generous fruit dominates until you reach the bold, mineral finish, which is pretty dry. Drink or hold.”
Italy – Tuscany
Fuligni Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Tuscany 2016 750ML ($119.95) $99 special, only 5 bottles available
#13 Top 100 Cellar Selection – Wine Enthusiast
Decanter 99 points “The Fuligni family moved from Maremma to Montalcino early in the 20th century, establishing the estate in 1923. Maria Flora has been at the helm since 1971, with her nephew Roberto managing most of the operations today. This historic property has released one of the most exquisite wines of 2016. Revealing its complexities gradually, it unfolds with a smoky flintiness, balsamic nuances and Mediterranean herbs. Seemingly endless in layers and depth, there is generosity but it never weighs the palate down. Powerful, sophisticated tannins are finely powdered, and piercing acidity radiates throughout. Hints of liquorice, violet, blood orange and iron eventually emerge. Lengthy and effortlessly commanding. Drinking Window 2024 – 2042.”
Kerin O’Keefe-Wine Enthusiast 99 points “Enticingly fragrant, this opens with heady aromas of rose, violet, new leather, truffle and a whiff of camphor. Vibrant and focused, the chiseled, elegant palate is all about finesse, delivering bright red cherry, orange zest, licorice and white pepper framed in taut, refined tannins. Bright acidity keeps it superbly balanced and fresh. It’s already drinking beautifully but hold for even more complexity. Drink 2024–2036.”
Eric Guido-Vinous 98 points “Dark, inward and intense, the 2016 Brunello di Montalcino is a towering effort that will thrill collectors for many years to come. It arrives in waves, first black fruits evolving to red, then sage and earthy minerals, followed by brown spice and, finally, hints of tobacco. Youthfully dense, velvety and in no hurry to unfurl the complex web of fruit, minerals and tannins found within, this instead leaves you guessing at what’s to come. That said, there’s perfect symmetry here, along with the combination of structure and primary intensity to guarantee many years of positive maturation. Hints of licorice, currant and baker’s chocolate linger long. This is simply gorgeous.”
Avignonesi Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG, Tuscany 2016 750ML ($29.95) $24 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Wine Enthusiast 93 points “Cellar Selection. Fragrant and loaded with finesse, this has enticing aromas of dark-skinned berry, violet, camphor and whiffs of pipe tobacco. The vibrant, linear palate has great tension, delivering juicy Morello cherry, crushed mint, orange zest and star anise framed in taut, fine-grained tannins. It’s balanced, with bright acidity. Drink 2022–2036. -Kerin O’Keefe”
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Spain
Nanclares y Prieto ‘Dandelion’ Albarino, Rias Baixas 2020 750ML ($29.95) $23.50 special, 24 bottles in stock now
Importer note “100% Albarino from 15 organically farmed inland plots of 24-45-year-old Albarino vines in the Val do Salnes, planted on sandy, decomposed granite soils. 2020 was a warm vintage in Rias Baixas: the winter was rainy and warm, which continued into April and May.”
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Adega Algueira Mencía, Ribeira Sacra 2019 750ML ($24.95) $18 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Luis Gutierrez-Wine Advocate 90 points “The textbook varietal 2019 Mencía shows the rustic personality of the region through the grapes from different places. They were very happy with the conditions of the 2019 vintage, as it was warmer and drier than 2018, which meant healthier grapes. It has a moderate 13% alcohol and very good freshness for a grape that does not have very high acidity. It fermented with indigenous yeasts, with 15 to 20 days of maceration, and it was bottled unoaked. It’s nicely textured, pleasant and juicy, not terribly complex but really pleasant.”
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 90 points “Deep red. Spice-accented red berries and cherry on the nose, along with a subtle floral nuance that builds with air. Juicy and focused on the palate, offering lively raspberry and bitter cherry flavors that fan out through the back half. Finishes silky and long, with lingering spiciness and discreet tannins that add gentle grip.”
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Lopez de Heredia Vina Cubillo Crianza, Rioja DOCa 2012 750ML ($39.95) $25.50 special, 24 bottles in stock now
James Suckling 95 points “Wonderful aromas of mushrooms, bark, cigar tobacco and plums with just a hint of citrus. Full-bodied with incredible softness and complexity. Subtle chocolate, fruit and walnut in the aftertaste. Goes on for minutes. Fantastic wine. Classic, textbook Rioja. A joy. Incredible value! Drink or hold.”
Luis Gutierrez-Wine Advocate 93 points “I was quite impressed by the 2012 Viña Cubillo Tinto Crianza, a classical Rioja that is nicely crafted, with less aging in barrel than the rest of reds and therefore with more fruit character and less López de Heredia signature. This was born as a red for tapas, a blend of 70% Tempranillo, 20% Garnacho and 5% each Graciano and Mazuelo with 13.5% alcohol. It matured in well-seasoned American oak barrels for three years. It has ripe fruit (black rather than red) without excess and a pinch of spices and a twist of oak. 94,500 bottles produced. There are seven lots of this. I tasted a bottled that was filled in May 2018.”
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 92 points “Glistening ruby. Spice-accented aromas of red berries, cherry cola and candied rose, plus a smoky nuance in the background. Supple and energetic in style, with a core of zesty acidity adding lift and cut to bitter cherry and red currant flavors that take a sweeter turn through the midpalate. Finishes long and smooth, delivering gentle tannic grip, a snap of peppery spices and repeating florality.”
Mas Martinet was founded in 1981. Working under the idea that a greater expression was possible, Mas Martinet planted French varietals like Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Merlot alongside their old-vine Carignan and Grenache. Their efforts pay off brilliantly in the multidimensional character found in the finished wines, with co-fermentation being a house practice to ensure harmony. The reds are not the only jewels in their crown however, with their Ranci Dolce being an homage to the sweet wines that were originally the calling card of Priorat. There is also an orange wine that is made from a field blend of white varietals and fermented in amphora with its skins, also done as an homage to the village wines of millennia past.
Mas Martinet ‘Martinet Bru’ Priorat DOCa 2018 750ML ($44.95) $36 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Luis Gutierrez-Wine Advocate 93+ points “The 2018 Martinet Bru is a wine that was born in 1990 and is now their way into Priorat but more about the stone than the fruit, less ripe than in the beginning, with complexity rather than voluptuosity. It’s a blend of Garnacha, Cariñena, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot from three organically farmed vineyards between Falset and Torroja. The grapes are picked early but at different times, fermented with some full clusters, co-fermented when possible (Garnacha-Syrah-Merlot and Cariñena-Syrah-Cabernet) with indigenous yeasts in concrete vats. It matured in a combination of 4,500-liter oak vats, used 300-liter barrels, amphorae and glass demijohns. It’s elegant and fresh, nuanced and clean. It’s very harmonious and feels very balanced, with fresh flavors and very fine tannins. It’s one of the finest vintages for this bottling.”
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 93 points “Deep violet. Assertive black and blue fruit, licorice and violet scents are complemented by suggestions of baking spices and smoky minerals. Pliant and concentrated on the palate, offering ripe cherry, cassis and floral pastille flavors and a hint of spicecake. Closes very long and smooth, with resonating florality and building tannins that add gentle grip.”
Mas Martinet ‘Clos Martinet’ Tinto Priorat DOCa 2017 750ML ($99.95) $89 special, 6 bottles in stock now
Luis Gutierrez-Wine Advocate 95 points “The 2017s feel relaxed, something unusual in Priorat. The 2017 Clos Martinet has seen a change, as they stopped using the sorting table and stopped using the pied de cuve, because the harvest was very easy. They harvested in August—the earliest ever until 2018—and they didn’t have time to do anything; so, they put the grapes in the vats and let them ferment, and that’s what they have been doing ever since. They feel that there is less manipulation of the grapes now, and that could have helped to make wines more relaxed. This is truly harmonious and expressive, elegant and powerful, not showing any heat—in fact, it’s showing very much freshness.”
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 95 points “Deep, shimmering ruby. Expansive cherry and blue fruit aromas are complemented by suggestions of smoky minerals, incense and candied lavender. Well concentrated and alluringly sweet, offering black raspberry, cherry cola and boysenberry flavors that are sharpened and supported by a spine of juicy acidity. Finishes smoky, seamless and impressively long, with polished tannins adding shape and gentle grip.”
Mas Martinet ‘Els Escurcons’ Priorat DOCa 2018 750ML ($149.95) $119 special, 2 bottles in stock now
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 96 points “Bright-rimmed ruby. Mineral-accented aromas of fresh red and blue fruits, along with suggestions of exotic spices, potpourri and licorice. Stains the palate with sappy, mineral-accented black raspberry, cherry and mulberry flavors, while smoky minerality adds energetic lift and spine. Polished tannins shape the finish, which clings with excellent tenacity and resonating mineral, spice and floral notes. All whole clusters.”
Luis Gutierrez-Wine Advocate 95 points “The 2018 Els Escurçons comes from a 20-year-old vineyard, a massal selection of old Garnacha from Porrera on south- and southwest-facing terraces of ferruginous decomposed llicorella slate. In June 2015, 30 hectares of forest around the vineyard burned down, and 10% of the vines also died. The vineyard expression has been coming back since 2016, but they feel it has changed, as the vegetation around it has disappeared. The first two vintages after the fire showed anger and stress, and 2018 begins to be more open, more relaxed, a process that seems to culminate in 2020. The full clusters were crushed and put into 200-liter amphorae where they fermented with indigenous yeasts for three weeks. The wine matured in glass demijohns for 13 months. It has a strong note of iron intermixed with aromatic herbs and flowers and is fluid and gentle, with very fine tannins. The profile of all of these 2018s is elegant and fresh, quite different from the past. It has a very stony and somehow wild personality.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Mas Martinet Pesseroles Brisat Blanc Priorat DOCa 2018 750ML ($99.95) $89 special, 2 bottles in stock now
Importer note “Pesseroles Brisat comes from the white wine state that we have at the road of Pesseroles. Planted in 2002, and with traditional varieties from Priorat, such as Picapoll blanc, Pedro Ximenez and Garnatxa blanca. The crumbled slate-containing land of the vineyards at the side of the road of Pesseroles features a subsoil with more presence of clay than in other estates, which makes it a wine with a great structure. Varietals: 43% Picapoll blanc, , 29% Pedro Ximenes and 28% Garnatxa blanca.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Mas Martinet ‘Ranci Dolc’ Garnatxa Negra Priorat DOCa 2017 375ML ($149.95) $119 special, 2 half-bottles in stock now
Luis Gutierrez-Wine Advocate 93 points “[Review for the 2020 release] The second bottling of the NV Ranci Dolç de Martinet very clearly shows the bottling information on its label (number 2 in 2020), as it’s taken from the solera they started using old lees from traditional rancios in the Priorat. It’s 16.5% alcohol and has 83 grams of sugar per liter. The Garnacha vineyard they use has been certified organic since 2006, but because this is a vintage blend of wines starting in 1995 and barrels from 1975, they cannot certify the wine. The grapes are left to dehydrate in the shadow for a number of days—which can be as short as seven days or as long as 14, sometimes even 21—and after that time the clusters are foot trodden and fermented in a barrel for one year. Two years after the harvest, that wine comes into the vintage blend of the solera. It seems to be taking the character of rancio more; the aromas are not sweet and instead are more about iodine and nuts, with a touch of carob beans. The palate also feels less sweet, and there is good balance and freshness, what you need in a sweet wine.”
Importer note “A very special wine, a tribute to history and the traditional way of producing rancio wine in Priorat. A 100% natural sweet Garnacha aged in very old barrels which are more than 100 years old, and with their centenary mothers. The first bottling of this wine was done after 20 years of ageing. A delicate and very appetising jewel, but also exceptionally fine and balanced. TYPE: Sweet oxidated. VINTAGE: 2107. VARIETY: 100% Grenache.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Cedric Bouchard – Roses de Jeanne
Cedric Bouchard, winemaker and owner of the Roses de Jeanne estate (his Champagnes are known interchangeably by his name and the winery name), has achieved cult status. If you know, you know. If you don’t… well…
Orders will be run first come / first served through the web store. Please your order now to lock in your bottles.
Arriving Friday, December 17th:
Cedric Bouchard Roses de Jeanne Blanc de Noirs Cote de Val Vilaine NV (2019) 750ML ($119.95) $89 pre-arrival special
Antonio Galloni 93 points “The 2019 Blanc de Noirs Val Vilaine is rich, ample and so expressive. The 2019 captures all of the radiance of the vintage in this open-knit, voluptuous expression. Pear, baked apple, dried flowers, chamomile and spice build into the racy, opulent finish. Don’t miss it. No dosage.”
Orders will be run first come / first served through the web store. Please your order now to lock in your bottles.
Arriving Friday, December 17th:
Cedric Bouchard Roses de Jeanne Blanc de Noirs Cote de Val Vilaine NV (2019) 750ML ($119.95) $89 pre-arrival special
Antonio Galloni 93 points “The 2019 Blanc de Noirs Val Vilaine is rich, ample and so expressive. The 2019 captures all of the radiance of the vintage in this open-knit, voluptuous expression. Pear, baked apple, dried flowers, chamomile and spice build into the racy, opulent finish. Don’t miss it. No dosage.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Cedric Bouchard Roses de Jeanne Les Ursules Blanc de Noirs 2017 750ML ($199.95) $169 pre-arrival special, only 7 bottles available
Cedric Bouchard Roses de Jeanne Les Ursules Blanc de Noirs 2017 1.5L ($399.95) $359 pre-arrival special, only 1 magnum available
Antonio Galloni 93 points “The 2017 Blanc de Noirs Les Ursules presents a soft, hushed expression of Pinot Noir. Dried orchard fruit, ginger, lemon confit and dried flowers. Perfumed, floral accents add a pretty flourish. Like all of the 2017s, the Ursules comes across as a bit light and best suited to relatively near-term drinking. No dosage.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today for any vintage!
Cedric Bouchard Roses de Jeanne Presle Blanc de Noirs 2017 750ML ($249.95) $219 pre-arrival special, only 2 bottles available
Antonio Galloni 94 points “The 2017 Blanc de Noirs Presle is very subdued in this tasting. Medium in body and soft, the 2017 Presle is decidedly hushed in its personality and voice. It will be interesting to see if the aromatics and fruit emerge a bit more fully with time. Today, Presle is soft, silky and ready to go. No dosage.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Cedric Bouchard Roses de Jeanne Cote de Bechalin NV (2014) 750ML ($149.95) $109 pre-arrival special, only 3 bottles available
Antonio Galloni 94 points “The 2014 Blanc de Noirs Côte de Bechalin La Parcelle is bright, focused and tightly wound, all of which will serve it well in the future. I especially admire the tension and energy here. Readers should plan on cellaring the 2014 for at least a few years. It’s an absolutely exquisite wine and a hidden gem in a range where the spotlight usually falls on other wines. Kirsch, plum, dried flowers, lemon peel and bright orchard fruit linger.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $119
Cedric Bouchard Roses de Jeanne La Boloree Blanc de Blancs (Pinot Blanc) 2017 750ML ($249.95) $219 pre-arrival special, only 1 bottle available
Antonio Galloni 94 points “The 2017 Blanc de Blancs La Bolorée shows its typical brightness and energy, but like all the 2017s in the range, the volume is turned down and there is just less of the heady, explosive richness found in the very best years. White pepper, green orchard fruit, crushed rocks and flowers lend nuance. La Bolorée has a track record of aging beautifully. I am deeply interested in seeing where the 2017 goes in the coming years. No dosage.”
This is the only listing in the USA today for any vintage!
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Fun Finds from France!
Arriving Friday, December 10th
Le Haut Medoc d’Issan, Haut-Medoc 2016 750ML ($49.95) $36 pre-arrival special
Case-6 Le Haut Medoc d’Issan, Haut-Medoc 2016 750ML ($299.95) $199 pre-arrival special (that’s only $33.17/bottle!)
Importer note “Here’s your opportunity to experience the soul of a great Margaux (a classified third growth Margaux no less) without the usual expense. This boutique ~1,500 case cuvee is made from fruit grown on a small plot 3 miles west of Issan’s Margaux estate in Arsac, Haut-Medoc, just outside the Margaux appellation boundary – yet literally adjacent to other classified growth Bordeaux estates and with very similar terroir. Mostly Merlot and Cab Sauv, grapes are hand-picked and then brought to Chateau d’Issan and vinified in the exact same manner as the estate’s Margaux grand vin. And with the mindset that it can be much more approachable to enjoy drinking in its youth. Obviously the 2016 vintage was superb with solid wines at every level of the Bordeaux hierarchy, especially in the Haut-Medoc. This 2016 Haut-Medoc d’Issan is extremely enjoyable and well-balanced. It showcases polished tannins and moderate, balanced alcohol and acidity. The wine has a bright and vivid bouquet of dark cherry, blueberry, and lead pencil. While pure fruit components drive the pallet, there is plenty of other earth and spice notes, with great texture and mineral accents, all in a beautiful medium-bodied package. Don’t let this “third bottling” or “Haut Medoc” terroir fool you, there’s solid pedigree in the glass for the price!”
Case-6 Le Haut Medoc d’Issan, Haut-Medoc 2016 750ML ($299.95) $199 pre-arrival special (that’s only $33.17/bottle!)
Importer note “Here’s your opportunity to experience the soul of a great Margaux (a classified third growth Margaux no less) without the usual expense. This boutique ~1,500 case cuvee is made from fruit grown on a small plot 3 miles west of Issan’s Margaux estate in Arsac, Haut-Medoc, just outside the Margaux appellation boundary – yet literally adjacent to other classified growth Bordeaux estates and with very similar terroir. Mostly Merlot and Cab Sauv, grapes are hand-picked and then brought to Chateau d’Issan and vinified in the exact same manner as the estate’s Margaux grand vin. And with the mindset that it can be much more approachable to enjoy drinking in its youth. Obviously the 2016 vintage was superb with solid wines at every level of the Bordeaux hierarchy, especially in the Haut-Medoc. This 2016 Haut-Medoc d’Issan is extremely enjoyable and well-balanced. It showcases polished tannins and moderate, balanced alcohol and acidity. The wine has a bright and vivid bouquet of dark cherry, blueberry, and lead pencil. While pure fruit components drive the pallet, there is plenty of other earth and spice notes, with great texture and mineral accents, all in a beautiful medium-bodied package. Don’t let this “third bottling” or “Haut Medoc” terroir fool you, there’s solid pedigree in the glass for the price!”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Schoffit Chasselas Vieilles Vignes, Alsace 2019 750ML ($27.95) $21.90 pre-arrival special
Wine Spectator 89 points “A lovely, lithe white, with a delicate spine of lightly mouthwatering acidity and a pretty range ripe apricot, ruby red grapefruit sorbet, pickled ginger and almond blossom, followed by a stony finish. Drink now. 100 cases imported. –AN”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Schoffit Pinot Blanc Vieilles Vignes, Alsace 2019 750ML ($27.95) $21.90 pre-arrival special
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Schoffit Pinot Gris Cuvee Tradition, Alsace 2017 750ML ($29.95) $24 pre-arrival special
Wine Enthusiast 91 points “Aromatic notes of pear immediately set the tone on the nose of this wine that’s all about clarity and freshness. The concentrated palate packs some brightness to counter the rich and powerful pear flavors while some pith adds a textural element. The wine has power, drive and a dry finish. -Anne Krebiehl MW”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Schoffit Riesling Rangen de Thann Clos Saint-Theobald, Alsace Grand Cru 2019 750ML ($69.95) $59 pre-arrival special
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Domaine des Bruyeres Chenas, Beaujolais 2019 750ML ($21.95) $18 pre-arrival special
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 90 points “Bright violet. Lively cherry and red currant scents, along with building floral and spice flourishes. Juicy, focused and lithe on the palate, offering zesty red and blue fruit flavors that slowly deepen through the back half. Shows a refreshing bitter note on the persistent, focused finish, which is firmed by dusty, even tannins.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Domaine des Bruyeres Julienas, Beaujolais 2019 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 pre-arrival special
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 91 points “Light ruby-red. Vibrant raspberry, cherry and violet scents show excellent clarity and pick up smoky mineral and spice accents with air. Juicy and focused on the palate, offering lively bitter cherry and red berry flavors that convey an appealing bland of depth and energy. The floral note repeats strongly on a long, seamless finish that features silky tannins and a touch of mocha.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Domaine des Bruyeres Moulin-A-Vent, Beaujolais 2019 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 pre-arrival special
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 91 points “Limpid ruby. Spice-tinged cherry and black raspberry on the nose, with licorice and cola nuances emerging as the wine opens up. Juicy and energetic on the palate, offering bitter cherry and dark berry flavors that show sharp definition and a hint of candied violet. Closes long and spicy, with sneaky tannins adding shape and final grip.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Pierre-Marie Chermette Domaine du Vissoux Moulin-a-Vent Les Trois Roches, Beaujolais 2019 750ML ($34.95) $28 pre-arrival special
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 93 points “Bright ruby-red. Pungent red and blue fruits and candied violet on the lively, mineral- and spice-accented nose. Bright, spicy and energetic in character, offering sappy black raspberry and boysenberry flavors that show fine clarity and deepen slowly with air. Displays subtle chewiness on the gently tannic finish, which hangs on with strong, spicy tenacity and a repeating floral note.”
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 93 points “Exhibiting aromas of raspberries, wild berries and orange rind, the 2019 Moulin-à-Vent Les Trois Roches is medium to full-bodied, velvety and perfumed, with a delicate core of fruit, lively acids and melting tannins. This is an especially elegant, harmonious rendition of Les Trois Roches, and I can’t wait to see how it develops.”
Pierre-Marie Chermette Domaine du Vissoux Fleurie les Garants, Beaujolais 2019 750ML ($34.95) $28 pre-arrival special
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 94 points “The 2019 Fleurie Les Garants has turned out beautifully, wafting from the glass with aromas of plums, raspberries and pomegranate mingled with hints of rose petals and subtle spices. Medium to full-bodied, pure and precise, it’s seamless and delicate, with sneaky concentration, striking balance and a long, penetrating finish.”
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 93 points “Saturated garnet. Mineral- and spice-accented red and blue fruit aromas pick up a sexy floral quality with air. Concentrated yet lively in style, offering juicy raspberry, bitter cherry and boysenberry flavors that show fine clarity and back-end cut. The floral note repeats emphatically on the gently tannic finish, which lingers with strong persistence.”
Pierre-Marie Chermette Domaine du Vissoux ‘Origine’ Vieilles Vignes, Beaujolais 2020 750ML ($21.95) $17 pre-arrival special
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Domaine Alary Cairanne La Jean de Verde, Rhone 2018 750ML ($34.95) $28 pre-arrival special
Joe Czerwinski-Wine Advocate 92-94 points “A blend of 90% Grenache and 5% each Carignan and Mourvèdre, from a site at the top of the appellation, the 2018 Cairanne la Jean de Verde is a promising example, even if it is a step behind the otherworldly 2016. Exciting notes of raspberries, stone fruit and allspice appear on the nose, while the medium to full-bodied palate is ripe and round, even creamy in texture on the mid-palate, then turns rich and velvety on the long finish.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Le Clos du Caillou Chateauneuf-du-Pape Tradition, Rhone 2017 750ML ($49.95) $44.50 pre-arrival special
Case-6 Le Clos du Caillou Chateauneuf-du-Pape Tradition, Rhone 2017 750ML ($299.95) $249 pre-arrival special (that’s only $41.50/bottle!)
Case-12 Le Clos du Caillou Chateauneuf-du-Pape Tradition, Rhone 2017 750ML ($499.95) $479 pre-arrival special (that’s only $39.92/bottle!)
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 91-92 points “Glistening ruby-red. Pungent cherry pit and black currant aromas, along with hints of licorice, musky herbs and cracked pepper. Chewy and focused on the palate, offering slow-to-open bitter cherry and dark berry flavors braced by an undercurrent of juicy acidity. Shows firm tannic grip on the persistent finish, which leaves suggestions of candied licorice and cherry preserves behind. This is a pretty serious example of a “basic” bottling, and it deserves some patience.”
Jeb Dunnuck 90 points “Kirsch, blackberry, ground pepper, and incense notes all dominate the bouquet of the medium to full-bodied 2017 Châteauneuf Du Pape Le Caillou. It offers beautiful purity of fruit, a rounded, mouthfilling texture, and a great finish. Drink it over the coming decade.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Best Kept Secret of Champagne:
Lilbert
Arriving Friday
Lilbert
Arriving Friday
Lilbert is one of the best kept secrets in Champagne. Drawing from Grand Cru vineyards in the Cote des Blancs, Lilbert makes blanc de blancs wines from some excellent vineyards in a finessed, minerally style. Their wines have a notable brioche-y character, as well, due to the large quantities of reserve wines in their various blends. At the prices asked, these are wines that massively over-deliver. That’s certainly because they fly under the radar (at the moment) but that could (and should) change over the next few years.
Arriving Friday, December 10th:
Lilbert-Fils Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($69.95) $51.90 pre-arrival special
Wine Enthusiast 92 points “Grand cru grapes from the Côte des Blancs give this Champagne great intensity and texture. While the bottling is still a little young, it does have hints of the richness of maturity that will shine through the white fruits and lemon flavors. Drink this fine bottling from 2021. -Roger Voss”
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 91+ points “The latest rendition of Lilbert’s NV Grand Cru Cramant Blanc de Blancs was disgorged in spring 2019 with a low three grams per liter dosage. It’s based on the 2016 vintage, complemented by 50% reserve wines. Offering up a crisp and pure bouquet of green apple, wet stones and lemon oil, as well as subtle suggestions of freshly baked bread, it’s medium to full-bodied, racy and incisive, with fine depth at the core, a delicate mousse and a chalky finish. This is quite a tender, charming rendition of this cuvée, despite the very low dosage, but as usual it will amply reward some aging on cork.”
Antonio Galloni 90 points “The NV Brut Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru is a very pretty entry-level wine in this lineup. Citrus and floral overtones give the Brut lovely freshness to match its weightless, gracious personality. Understated and classy, the Brut is an absolute delight. I would prefer to drink it as an aperitif or alongside lighter foods. The low dosage of 3 grams per liter adds to the wine’s taut feel. The current release is based on 2016, with 50% reserve wines.”
Lilbert-Fils Perle Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($89.95) $75 pre-arrival special
Wine Enthusiast 93 points “The Perle style is a comparative rarity in Champagne, bottling the wine at a lower than usual pressure. This dry Champagne is therefore softly textured with an open mousse. It does however have all the fine, tight minerality of great Chardonnay in Champagne and will surely develop further. Drink from 2021.”
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 92 points “The latest release of the NV Extra Brut Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Perle was disgorged in fall 2018 with five grams per liter dosage, and it’s a blend of equal parts 2015 and 2014, complemented by some 10% reserve wines. Offering up a lovely bouquet of fresh peach, lemon oil, white flowers and hints of the elegantly nutty complexity to come, the wine is medium to full-bodied and textural but incisive, with a creamy low-pressure mousse, a tight-knit core that needs a little time on cork to unwind and an elegantly chalky finish.”
Wine Spectator 91 points “Ripe pineapple and white cherry fruit flavors are accented by honeysuckle and spice notes in this appealing blanc de blancs Champagne, which is lithe and harmonious, with a fresh, lightly chalky finish. Disgorged autumn 2018. Drink now through 2023. 200 cases made, 40 cases imported.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Lilbert-Fils Blanc de Blancs Cramant Grand Cru Vintage Brut, Champagne 2015 750ML ($149.95) $99 pre-arrival special, only 18 bottles available
Antonio Galloni 92 points “The 2015 Brut Blanc de Blancs Cramant Grand Cru is a powerful, dense wine with a huge center of fruit and tons of sheer persistence. There is a feeling of gravitas here that is palpable. Citrus, white flowers, mint and chamomile are all amplified in this decidedly large scaled vintage Champagne from Lilbert-Fils. Dosage is 3 grams per liter.”
[Disgorgement date may vary from reviews]
Shop our 170+ Champagnes in stock now!
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10 AM – 6 PM Daily
Local mandates require properly worn masks for all regardless of vaccination status.
We also offer Curbside Pickup & Shipping
Order Online / By Phone / By Email
Francois Gay
Subscriber Special
Subscriber Special
Francois Gay is a tiny estate located in Chorey-les-Beaune. The domaine retains the name of the father of the current owner and winemaker, 8th generation Pascal Gay. He took over the estate in the early aughts.
The region is known for offering fantastic values, and the Domaine could be the finest of the under-the-radar picks out there. These days, just a tiny fraction of Pascal’s roughly 3,000 case production makes it state-side. Most wines are snapped up in France by savvy restaurants and locals. In the glass, the wines offer charming fruit, intense flavors, and rustic and gamey expressions of terroir.
We’re not sure when you’ll run across these wines again: the importer has closed up shop. So consider this last call. Fortunately for you, we’ve slashed prices!
In Stock and On Sale Now from Francois Gay:
Francois Gay et Fils Aloxe-Corton, Cote de Beaune 2009 750ML Was $79, Now $69, 3 bottles in stock now
Francois Gay et Fils Aloxe-Corton, Cote de Beaune 2010 750ML Was $79, Now $69, 5 bottles in stock now
Francois Gay et Fils Aloxe-Corton, Cote de Beaune 2014 750ML Was $59, Now $49, 8 bottles in stock now
Francois Gay et Fils Aloxe-Corton, Cote de Beaune 2015 750ML Was $69, Now $59, 7 bottles in stock now
The region is known for offering fantastic values, and the Domaine could be the finest of the under-the-radar picks out there. These days, just a tiny fraction of Pascal’s roughly 3,000 case production makes it state-side. Most wines are snapped up in France by savvy restaurants and locals. In the glass, the wines offer charming fruit, intense flavors, and rustic and gamey expressions of terroir.
We’re not sure when you’ll run across these wines again: the importer has closed up shop. So consider this last call. Fortunately for you, we’ve slashed prices!
In Stock and On Sale Now from Francois Gay:
Francois Gay et Fils Aloxe-Corton, Cote de Beaune 2009 750ML Was $79, Now $69, 3 bottles in stock now
Francois Gay et Fils Aloxe-Corton, Cote de Beaune 2010 750ML Was $79, Now $69, 5 bottles in stock now
Francois Gay et Fils Aloxe-Corton, Cote de Beaune 2014 750ML Was $59, Now $49, 8 bottles in stock now
Francois Gay et Fils Aloxe-Corton, Cote de Beaune 2015 750ML Was $69, Now $59, 7 bottles in stock now
These are the only listings in the USA today!
Francois Gay et Fils Corton Renardes Grand Cru, Cote de Beaune 2009 750ML Was $149, Now $135, 1 bottle in stock now
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Francois Gay et Fils Corton Renardes Grand Cru, Cote de Beaune 2010 750ML Was $135, Now $119, 2 bottles in stock now
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Francois Gay et Fils Ladoix Rouge, Cote de Beaune 2010 750ML Was $69, Now $59, 5 bottles in stock now
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Love Burgundy?
Don’t miss our Pierre Bouree sale!
We’ve slashed prices on 19 wines (that’s 40 bottles!) from 1990 through 2015.
Shop the sale on our web store now.
Thank you from the team at Vinopolis!
Be well & drink well.