In This Newsletter:
New Arrival Special Feature
Envinate:
At The Forefront of “New Spain”
New Week – New Arrivals
New Review for Beaux Freres’ Second Cousin
Trending
Chateau Lilian Ladouys & Castiglion del Bosco
Arriving ETA May
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
The average price nationally is $55
Envinate ‘Taganan’ Tinto, Canary Islands 2019 750ML ($49.95) $39 special, only 6 bottles available!
Importer note “Táganan is Guanche (the native Canary language) for slope. It is also the name of the northwestern part of Tenerife where the vines grow wild on cliffs of pure volcanic rock just above the Atlantic Ocean. Táganan Tinto is made from many different red grape varieties (some of them unidentified) and comes from very old parcels planted in between 75-300 meters elevation which are farmed by 15 different families and Envínate. The viticulture is very old-fashioned: the vines grow untrained, the soil is worked by hand, and no chemicals are used. The northern coast of Tenerife experiences a fairly temperate climate, enabling grapes to ripen at moderate alcohol levels while retaining bright acidity. The main challenges to viticulture are winds from the Atlantic and Africa and fluctuations in humidity. The grapes were hand-harvested, co-fermented 30% whole cluster with wild yeasts in open plastic tubs and concrete vats, and raised in small tanks and used barrels for 8 months. At bottling a touch of SO2 is added, but there is no fining or filtration. This is a fresh and aromatic vino tinto with notes of spice, sea salt, smoky minerals, and dark fruits – to pair with roasted meats, spicy foods, wild game, and the Canaries’ own red mojo.”
Envinate ‘Taganan’ Parcela Margalagua, Canary Islands 2019 750ML ($79.95) $61.90 special, only 3 bottles available!
Importer note “Táganan Parcela Margalagua Margalagua, or “Mother of the Water”, is the name of a small single parcel organically farmed by viticultor José Angel Alonso and Envinaté. This treacherously steep vineyard site sits in between 150-250 meters elevation just above the Atlantic Ocean, on the north side of Tenerife. As was tradition with the very old vineyards on Tenerife, Margalagua is mix planted with many different indigenous grape varieties (too many to be named here) such as Listan Negro, Listan Prieto, Baboso, Negramoll, Malvasia Negra, etc. The vines are at least 100 years old, untrained (they grow wild on the ground), and planted on their own roots, as is typical of the phylloxera-free Canary Islands. This wine was fermented in old 500 liter barrels with the whole grape clusters included, and then raised in neutral 500 liter French oak barrels for 11 months. Parcela Margaelagua is nothing short of profound – pungently aromatic with wonderful deep umami notes, high-toned citrus, spice, sea salt, and flowers. A vertical wine to drink now or hold in your cellar.”
Envinate ‘Migan’ Tinto Vinos Atlanticos Tinto, Canary Islands 2019 750ML ($67.95) $51.90 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Importer note “This newest Envínate wine is from just outside La Perdoma, on the northeast slopes of Pico del Teide, the mountain volcano on the island of Tenerife. The viticulture is very old-fashioned: the vines grow untrained, the soil is worked by hand, and no chemicals are used. The island experiences a fairly temperate climate, enabling grapes to ripen at moderate alcohol levels while retaining bright acidity. The main challenges to viticulture are winds from the Atlantic and Africa and fluctuations in humidity. Migan is sourced from two very old parcels of cordon trenzado (braided vines) Listan Negro. 60% comes from the La Habanera plot on volcanic sand at the highest elevation in the area, and 40% comes from the older San Antonio plot, lower on the slope and with more clay. The plots were hand-harvested, foot-trodden and fermented separately (La Habanera with 100% whole clusters, San Antonio 15% whole cluster) in large concrete vats, then into 228 & 600L old French barrels for malolactic and aging for 11 months. Bottling is without fining, filtration or any added SO2. Migan is a volcanic mountain wine, high-toned and vibrant, with smoky strawberry fruit balanced with fine tannins and refreshing acidity. Pair it with roasted meats and full-flavored seafood dishes.”
Envinate ‘Lousas’ Camino Novo, Ribeira Sacra 2019 750ML ($69.95) $61.90 special, only 3 bottles available!
Importer note “Lousas is the name for the slate soil that predominates in the Ribeira do Sil and Amandi subzones of the Ribeira Sacra region. The slate serves a great purpose, heating up during the daytime sun to help the grapes ripen, as well as imparting the minerality and intensely floral and spicy aromatics that are the trademarks of the Ribeira Sacra region’s wines. Parcela Camiño Novo is a southeast facing parcel that forms a small amphitheater in the Amandi subzone of Ribeira Sacra. It is a significantly cooler site for this region, and produces wines that are tight, ethereal, very focused, with great mineral depth, all the while maintaining the exotic floral, herbal, and spice aromatics that make Mencía-based wines so intriguing.The Mencía and Garnacha Tintorera grapes were hand-harvested, foot-trodden with 100% whole grape clusters, wild yeast co-fermented in open-top bins, and raised for 12 months in older 300 & 400L French barrels without racking. At bottling a touch of SO2 was added, but there was no fining or filtration. This parcel yields wines that are tight, ethereal, very focused, with great mineral depth, all the while maintaining the exotic floral, herbal, and spice aromatics that make Mencía-based wines so intriguing. Stored well, we think this wine has many years ahead of it.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $65
Envinate ‘Lousas’ Parcela Seoane, Ribeira Sacra 2019 750ML ($79.95) $66 special, only 3 bottles available!
Importer note “Lousas is the name for the slate soil that predominates in the Ribeira do Sil and Amandi subzones of the Ribeira Sacra region. The slate serves a great purpose, heating up during the daytime sun to help the grapes ripen, as well as imparting the minerality and intensely floral and spicy aromatics that are the trademarks of the Ribeira Sacra region’s wines. Seoane is a single parcel located in the Doade area of the Amandi subzone, with pure slate soil. The vineyard faces southwest, and the vines are at least 80 years of age. This site yields wines that are upfront and very Atlantic. The Mencía (and friends) grapes were hand-harvested, foot-trodden with 100% whole grape clusters, wild yeast fermented in open-top bins, and raised for 11 months in older 500L French barrels without racking. At bottling a touch of SO2 was added, but there was no fining or filtration. We think of this wine as the most classic example of a Ribeira Sacra wine, yet with an extra dimension and a bright, silky structure. Superb!”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $69
Envinate ‘Lousas’ Vinas de Aldea, Ribeira Sacra 2019 750ML ($49.95) $39 special, 24 bottles in stock now
Envinate ‘Lousas’ Vinas de Aldea, Ribeira Sacra 2019 1.5L ($99.95) $85 special, only 3 magnums available
Importer note “Lousa is the name for the slate soil that predominates in the Ribeira do Sil and Amandi subzones of the Ribeira Sacra region. The slate serves a great purpose, heating up during the daytime sun to help the grapes ripen, as well as imparting the minerality and intensely floral and spicy aromatics that are the trademarks of the Ribeira Sacra region’s wines. Aldea means “village” in the Galician dialect. In addition to focusing on single parcel wines, Envínate produces village wines in each region where they work. These Mencía grapes are fermented 1o0% whole cluster with wild yeasts in open top plastic tubs, then raised in used 300 and 400 liter French oak for 11 months with no racking. A touch of SO2 is added only at bottling, and the finished wine sees no fining or filtration. It is a very fresh and elegant vino tinto with classic, lifted aromatics of black pepper, pomegranate, and herbs, which leads to an elegant and crystalline palate with loads of saveur, peppery tannins, and a dry finish.”
Also In Stock Now:
Envinate & A Chingao Vineyards ‘Albahra Chingao,’ Almansa, Castilla La Mancha 2019 750ML ($49.95) $33 special, 1 bottle in stock now
From the highest elevation vineyard composed of old vines that also contribute to the entry-level Albahra bottling. 100% Garnacha Tintorera (aka Alicante Bouschet, a red-juiced grape).
Importer note “Albahra (Castilian for “small sea”) is named for the vineyard area in the Almansa region close to the town of Albacete, located at the southeastern tip of Castilla-La Mancha.”
Envinate ‘Benje,’ Canary Islands 2019 750ML ($39.95) $29 special, 18 bottles in stock now
Envinate ‘Benje,’ Canary Islands 2019 1.5L ($99.95) $79 special, 6 bottles in stock now
Winery note “Benje Tinto is sourced from 1,000 meters elevation, old-vine, pie franco parcels of Listan Prieto (Mission) with a bit of Tintilla, named “Masca,” “La Zanja,” “Valle de Arriba,” and “Llano Redondo”, all of them located in Santiago del Teide. Each parcel is hand-harvested and vinified separately, some in concrete and some in small open tubs. Maceration is 10-30 days (depending on parcel) with daily punch-down; malolactic fermentation is in neutral French barriques, then raised 8 months in the same barrels without battonage or added SO2. Bottling is without fining or filtration. This is a pure and vertical expression of high elevation, volcanic Canary terrun~o with notes of red fruits, peppercorns, flowers, and volcanic soil – a beautiful wine to pair with grilled meats and mojo rojo.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Haden Fig Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2019 750ML ($27.95) $24 special
Winery note “2019’s Haden Fig Willamette Valley Pinot Noir is a perfectly cheerful sort of wine — it’s serious, but never brooding. It is all about the red fruits framed by flowers and forest this year owing to its larger than usual portion of fruit from Bjornson in the Eola-Amity Hills. This wine also has the most luxurious of attributes: poise. You can drink it now, but it’ll age longer than you might expect. 851 cases produced.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Bergstrom ‘Cumberland Reserve’ Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2018 750ML ($44.95) $36 special
Erin Brooks-Wine Advocate 94+ points “Medium ruby-purple, the 2018 Pinot Noir Cumberland Reserve takes its time to unfold to notes of earth, tar and blue and black berries on the nose. The palate is medium-bodied, firm and seamlessly fresh with intense dark fruits and a peppery finish. It’s youthfully coiled and will have more to show with another couple years in bottle.”
Wine Spectator 94 points “Dynamic yet harmonious, with expressive raspberry and rose petal aromas, accented by flavors of orange peel and dusky spice. Builds richness toward polished tannins. Drink now through 2028. 4,210 cases made. — TF”
Washington & Walla Walla
Wine Enthusiast Top 100 Cellar Selection in 2020
Cayuse Vineyards Horsepower ‘High Contrast Vineyard’ Syrah, Walla Walla Valley 2017 750ML ($219.95) $179 special
Wine Advocate 96 points “Showing with a deep ruby core that fades to a purple edge, the 2017 Syrah High Contrast Vineyard explodes from the glass with pronounced smoky aromas that waft with delicate notes of dark chocolate-covered blackberries, then show hints of roasted coffee bean, notions of petrichor, baked earth and dried herbs. Medium to full-bodied, the wine is elegantly powerful, showcasing a balanced chassis of youthful tannins that evolve with the complex nature of the wine. There is a velvety firmness to the mid-palate before moving onto an elongated finish that grows in complexity and amplitude as the expression resonates harmoniously, confirming yet another blockbuster Syrah from the ever-so-talented Christophe Baron. Only 386 cases made.”
Wine Enthusiast 96 points “The aromas explode from the glass, with notes of fire pit, potpourri, black olive, wet stone, dried porcini and stone. The palate is sumptuous, layered, elegant and intensely flavorful, showing abundant savory notes. A lingering black olive and earthy finish caps it off. Best after 2025.”
Jeb Dunnuck 95+ points “The 2017 Syrah High Contrast Vineyard is more wound up and tight, with backward notes of chocolaty black fruits, toasted spice, mulled plums, cured ham, and sweet mulch all developing with time in the glass. Full-bodied and concentrated on the palate, with plenty of tannins, this is one 2017 that’s going to reward bottle age. Do your best to hide bottles for 4-5 years if possible, and it should see its 20th birthday in fine form. This is certainly for those who like a big dose of funk in their Syrah!”
Col Solare Cabernet Sauvignon, Red Mountain 2015 750ML ($69.95) $54.50 special
Jeb Dunnuck 94 points “Always 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from Red Mountain brought up in new barrels, the 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon is loaded with sweet cassis, toasted spice, dried flowers, and graphite. It shows more and more classic Red Mountain savoriness and dried earth qualities with time in the glass. It’s full-bodied, sweetly fruited, beautifully balanced, and has a great finish. It can be drunk today or cellared for 15+ years.”
James Suckling 93 points “This has a wealth of rich and intense dark plums and mulberries that really saturate the sleek and fleshy palate. Impressive concentration in an open-knit and approachable mode. 100% cabernet sauvignon. Drink or hold.”
Wine Spectator 92 points “Expressive and refined, in an appealingly zesty way, offering lively black cherry, cracked pepper and crushed stone accents that take on richness toward refined tannins. Drink now through 2023. 5,303 cases made. — TF”
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 92 points “The 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon exhibits aromas of cassis, blackberry, chocolate and creamy new oak. On the palate, it’s medium to full-bodied, rich and chewy, with plenty of juicy fruit and firm tannin. Give it a couple of years in the cellar to knit together, then follow it for the better part of a decade.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
California
Bucklin Bambino Old Hill Ranch Zinfandel, Sonoma Valley 2017 750ML ($29.95) $24 special
Wine Spectator 91 points “Lively and briary, with expressive raspberry, smoky tarragon and cracked pepper flavors that pick up speed toward well-groomed tannins. Drink now through 2028. 569 cases made.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Turley Wine Cellars Hayne Vineyard Petite Sirah, Napa Valley 2018 750ML ($99.95) $89 special
Antonio Galloni 94-97 points “The 2018 Petite Syrah Hayne Vineyard is another exceptional wine in this range. Super-ripe dark red cherry, wild flowers, mint and spice are all wonderfully alive in this lush, inky Petite from one of the most pedigreed sites in St. Helena and Napa Valley more broadly. Time in the glass brings out a brighter set of red fruit, blood orange and floral notes to round things out beautifully. The Hayne is one of many highlights in this fabulous range of 2018s from Larry Turley and Tegan Passalacqua.”
France – Champagne
Piper-Heidsieck Prohibition Edition Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($69.95) $49 special
Winery note “To commemorate the 100th anniversary since the beginning of Prohibition, Piper-Heidsieck invites you to enjoy its Cuvee Brut with a ‘Roaring Twenties’ ambiance.”
France – Burgundy
Jean-Claude Bessin Chablis Vieilles Vignes, Burgundy 2018 750ML ($44.95) $36 special
Decanter 92 points “Bottled with a highest ever alcohol level of 14.3%, but such is Jean-Claude Bessin’s skill as a winemaker that the resulting wine doesn’t seem remotely heavy or ponderous. Showing some skin tannins, notes of pink grapefruit and classic old vine concentration, this is comparatively soft but has enough extract for balance.”
Jean-Claude Bessin La Foret, Chablis Premier Cru 2018 750ML ($59.95) $49 special
Neal Martin-Vinous 91 points “The 2018 Chablis La Forêt 1er Cru has an earthy and smoky bouquet, light touches of wild mint emerging with time in the glass. The palate is well balanced, offering grapefruit, mandarin and bitter lemon notes on the entry, then slightly honeyed toward the finish, but maintaining admirable tension throughout. Maybe it just lacks the persistence of Bessin’s Montmains or Fourchaume, yet this remains a very commendable La Forêt.”
Jean-Claude Bessin Chablis La Fourchaume La Piece au Comte, Chablis Premier Cru 2018 750ML ($69.95) $54.50 special
Neal Martin-Vinous 94 points “The 2018 Chablis Fourchaume La Pièce au Comte 1er Cru has a beautiful nose of white peach, pressed white flowers, hints of nectarine and yellow plum, subtle but supremely focused. The palate is very well balanced with a fine bead of acidity. A touch of ginger lingers in the background. Very harmonious, delivering just the right amount of salinity toward the finish. Superb.”
Decanter 94 points “Jean-Claude Bessin only makes 5,000 bottles of this old vine cuvée from a lieu-dit within the larger Fourchaume Premier Cru. Combining stainless steel and oaked components, it’s rich, concentrated and appealingly honeyed, with subtle wood spices, a thread of minerality and a pure, focused, enticingly balance finish. These are never wines that have to try too hard. Drinking Window 2020 – 2026.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Jean-Claude Bessin Valmur, Chablis Grand Cru 2018 750ML ($99.95) $75 special
Decanter 95 points “The domaine’s holdings extend over 2ha and are located next to Les Clos, with a west and north-west orientation. Combining vines of different ages and a mixture of stainless steel and oaked components, this is a wine that will reward patience. Vanilla spice, white flowers and subtle iodine notes combine beautifully on the palate here with salinity providing freshness on the finish. Drinking Window 2021 – 2028.”
Neal Martin-Vinous 94 points “The 2018 Chablis Valmur Grand Cru is lucid silver in hue. The bouquet is not as immediate as Bessin’s other 2018, taking its time to unfold, revealing citrus peel, oyster shell and dew-speckled green apple aromas that are beautifully defined. The palate is succinctly balanced, effortlessly carrying the weight of this Valmur. Wonderful intensity on the finish, yet linear and steely. You might deduce this to come from a much cooler growing season than it does. Top class – a Chablis that totally transcends the vintage.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
New Arrival Special Feature
Envinate:
At The Forefront of “New Spain”
New Week – New Arrivals
New Review for Beaux Freres’ Second Cousin
Trending
Chateau Lilian Ladouys & Castiglion del Bosco
Arriving ETA May
New Arrival Special Feature
Envinate:
At The Forefront of “New Spain”
Envinate:
At The Forefront of “New Spain”
Envinate is a small group of winemaking friends (Alfonso Torrente, José Ángel Martínez, Laura Ramos, and Roberto Santana) that seek to highlight the individual terroirs of the Canary Islands and Ribeira Sacra. The friends produce wines of purity with low-intervention winemaking and vineyard management using ancient vineyards.
Envintage wines are highly sought after as authentic expressions of their terroirs and forerunners of the “New Spanish” wine movement. To quote wine writer Megan Krigbaum of Punch Magazine, “While winemaking driven by these ideals [of old-school and low-intervention management in the vineyard and winery] is commonplace in many parts of Italy and France—where the natural wine movement is manifest—Spain has been slower to adopt a less-is-more aesthetic over the ‘Big Flavor’ (i.e. ripe, excessively oaked) wines that came to define its wine culture. Envínate, for many buyers, is today’s best representation of the alternative. The wines have an undeniable transparency.” These wines have found fans among professional reviewers, too, such as Luis Gutierrez of the Wine Advocate. Although most of the new 2019s are not reviewed, he heaped well-deserved praise on the 2018s and 2017s for their complexity, value, and potential.
Newly Arrived from Envinate:
Envinate Palo Blanco, Canary Islands 2019 750ML ($67.95) $50.90 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Importer note “This newest Envínate wine is from just outside La Orotava, on the northeast slopes of Pico del Teide, the mountain volcano on the island of Tenerife. The viticulture is very old-fashioned: the vines grow untrained, the soil is worked by hand, and no chemicals are used. The island experiences a fairly temperate climate, enabling grapes to ripen at moderate alcohol levels while retaining bright acidity. The main challenges to viticulture are winds from the Atlantic and Africa and fluctuations in humidity. Palo Blanco is sourced from a 1.5ha vineyard of centenarian cordon trenzado (braided vines) Listan Blanco, and is named for the area where it’s planted. The grapes are hand-harvested, pressed full cluster into large concrete tank off the skins and fermented without malolactic occurring, then raised in two Friulian 2500L oval foudres for 10 months. Bottling is without fining, filtration or any added SO2. Palo Blanco is a volcanic island wine: high-toned, linear, saline and electric.”
Envintage wines are highly sought after as authentic expressions of their terroirs and forerunners of the “New Spanish” wine movement. To quote wine writer Megan Krigbaum of Punch Magazine, “While winemaking driven by these ideals [of old-school and low-intervention management in the vineyard and winery] is commonplace in many parts of Italy and France—where the natural wine movement is manifest—Spain has been slower to adopt a less-is-more aesthetic over the ‘Big Flavor’ (i.e. ripe, excessively oaked) wines that came to define its wine culture. Envínate, for many buyers, is today’s best representation of the alternative. The wines have an undeniable transparency.” These wines have found fans among professional reviewers, too, such as Luis Gutierrez of the Wine Advocate. Although most of the new 2019s are not reviewed, he heaped well-deserved praise on the 2018s and 2017s for their complexity, value, and potential.
Newly Arrived from Envinate:
Envinate Palo Blanco, Canary Islands 2019 750ML ($67.95) $50.90 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Importer note “This newest Envínate wine is from just outside La Orotava, on the northeast slopes of Pico del Teide, the mountain volcano on the island of Tenerife. The viticulture is very old-fashioned: the vines grow untrained, the soil is worked by hand, and no chemicals are used. The island experiences a fairly temperate climate, enabling grapes to ripen at moderate alcohol levels while retaining bright acidity. The main challenges to viticulture are winds from the Atlantic and Africa and fluctuations in humidity. Palo Blanco is sourced from a 1.5ha vineyard of centenarian cordon trenzado (braided vines) Listan Blanco, and is named for the area where it’s planted. The grapes are hand-harvested, pressed full cluster into large concrete tank off the skins and fermented without malolactic occurring, then raised in two Friulian 2500L oval foudres for 10 months. Bottling is without fining, filtration or any added SO2. Palo Blanco is a volcanic island wine: high-toned, linear, saline and electric.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
The average price nationally is $55
Envinate ‘Taganan’ Tinto, Canary Islands 2019 750ML ($49.95) $39 special, only 6 bottles available!
Importer note “Táganan is Guanche (the native Canary language) for slope. It is also the name of the northwestern part of Tenerife where the vines grow wild on cliffs of pure volcanic rock just above the Atlantic Ocean. Táganan Tinto is made from many different red grape varieties (some of them unidentified) and comes from very old parcels planted in between 75-300 meters elevation which are farmed by 15 different families and Envínate. The viticulture is very old-fashioned: the vines grow untrained, the soil is worked by hand, and no chemicals are used. The northern coast of Tenerife experiences a fairly temperate climate, enabling grapes to ripen at moderate alcohol levels while retaining bright acidity. The main challenges to viticulture are winds from the Atlantic and Africa and fluctuations in humidity. The grapes were hand-harvested, co-fermented 30% whole cluster with wild yeasts in open plastic tubs and concrete vats, and raised in small tanks and used barrels for 8 months. At bottling a touch of SO2 is added, but there is no fining or filtration. This is a fresh and aromatic vino tinto with notes of spice, sea salt, smoky minerals, and dark fruits – to pair with roasted meats, spicy foods, wild game, and the Canaries’ own red mojo.”
Envinate ‘Taganan’ Parcela Margalagua, Canary Islands 2019 750ML ($79.95) $61.90 special, only 3 bottles available!
Importer note “Táganan Parcela Margalagua Margalagua, or “Mother of the Water”, is the name of a small single parcel organically farmed by viticultor José Angel Alonso and Envinaté. This treacherously steep vineyard site sits in between 150-250 meters elevation just above the Atlantic Ocean, on the north side of Tenerife. As was tradition with the very old vineyards on Tenerife, Margalagua is mix planted with many different indigenous grape varieties (too many to be named here) such as Listan Negro, Listan Prieto, Baboso, Negramoll, Malvasia Negra, etc. The vines are at least 100 years old, untrained (they grow wild on the ground), and planted on their own roots, as is typical of the phylloxera-free Canary Islands. This wine was fermented in old 500 liter barrels with the whole grape clusters included, and then raised in neutral 500 liter French oak barrels for 11 months. Parcela Margaelagua is nothing short of profound – pungently aromatic with wonderful deep umami notes, high-toned citrus, spice, sea salt, and flowers. A vertical wine to drink now or hold in your cellar.”
Envinate ‘Migan’ Tinto Vinos Atlanticos Tinto, Canary Islands 2019 750ML ($67.95) $51.90 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Importer note “This newest Envínate wine is from just outside La Perdoma, on the northeast slopes of Pico del Teide, the mountain volcano on the island of Tenerife. The viticulture is very old-fashioned: the vines grow untrained, the soil is worked by hand, and no chemicals are used. The island experiences a fairly temperate climate, enabling grapes to ripen at moderate alcohol levels while retaining bright acidity. The main challenges to viticulture are winds from the Atlantic and Africa and fluctuations in humidity. Migan is sourced from two very old parcels of cordon trenzado (braided vines) Listan Negro. 60% comes from the La Habanera plot on volcanic sand at the highest elevation in the area, and 40% comes from the older San Antonio plot, lower on the slope and with more clay. The plots were hand-harvested, foot-trodden and fermented separately (La Habanera with 100% whole clusters, San Antonio 15% whole cluster) in large concrete vats, then into 228 & 600L old French barrels for malolactic and aging for 11 months. Bottling is without fining, filtration or any added SO2. Migan is a volcanic mountain wine, high-toned and vibrant, with smoky strawberry fruit balanced with fine tannins and refreshing acidity. Pair it with roasted meats and full-flavored seafood dishes.”
Envinate ‘Lousas’ Camino Novo, Ribeira Sacra 2019 750ML ($69.95) $61.90 special, only 3 bottles available!
Importer note “Lousas is the name for the slate soil that predominates in the Ribeira do Sil and Amandi subzones of the Ribeira Sacra region. The slate serves a great purpose, heating up during the daytime sun to help the grapes ripen, as well as imparting the minerality and intensely floral and spicy aromatics that are the trademarks of the Ribeira Sacra region’s wines. Parcela Camiño Novo is a southeast facing parcel that forms a small amphitheater in the Amandi subzone of Ribeira Sacra. It is a significantly cooler site for this region, and produces wines that are tight, ethereal, very focused, with great mineral depth, all the while maintaining the exotic floral, herbal, and spice aromatics that make Mencía-based wines so intriguing.The Mencía and Garnacha Tintorera grapes were hand-harvested, foot-trodden with 100% whole grape clusters, wild yeast co-fermented in open-top bins, and raised for 12 months in older 300 & 400L French barrels without racking. At bottling a touch of SO2 was added, but there was no fining or filtration. This parcel yields wines that are tight, ethereal, very focused, with great mineral depth, all the while maintaining the exotic floral, herbal, and spice aromatics that make Mencía-based wines so intriguing. Stored well, we think this wine has many years ahead of it.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $65
Envinate ‘Lousas’ Parcela Seoane, Ribeira Sacra 2019 750ML ($79.95) $66 special, only 3 bottles available!
Importer note “Lousas is the name for the slate soil that predominates in the Ribeira do Sil and Amandi subzones of the Ribeira Sacra region. The slate serves a great purpose, heating up during the daytime sun to help the grapes ripen, as well as imparting the minerality and intensely floral and spicy aromatics that are the trademarks of the Ribeira Sacra region’s wines. Seoane is a single parcel located in the Doade area of the Amandi subzone, with pure slate soil. The vineyard faces southwest, and the vines are at least 80 years of age. This site yields wines that are upfront and very Atlantic. The Mencía (and friends) grapes were hand-harvested, foot-trodden with 100% whole grape clusters, wild yeast fermented in open-top bins, and raised for 11 months in older 500L French barrels without racking. At bottling a touch of SO2 was added, but there was no fining or filtration. We think of this wine as the most classic example of a Ribeira Sacra wine, yet with an extra dimension and a bright, silky structure. Superb!”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $69
Envinate ‘Lousas’ Vinas de Aldea, Ribeira Sacra 2019 750ML ($49.95) $39 special, 24 bottles in stock now
Envinate ‘Lousas’ Vinas de Aldea, Ribeira Sacra 2019 1.5L ($99.95) $85 special, only 3 magnums available
Importer note “Lousa is the name for the slate soil that predominates in the Ribeira do Sil and Amandi subzones of the Ribeira Sacra region. The slate serves a great purpose, heating up during the daytime sun to help the grapes ripen, as well as imparting the minerality and intensely floral and spicy aromatics that are the trademarks of the Ribeira Sacra region’s wines. Aldea means “village” in the Galician dialect. In addition to focusing on single parcel wines, Envínate produces village wines in each region where they work. These Mencía grapes are fermented 1o0% whole cluster with wild yeasts in open top plastic tubs, then raised in used 300 and 400 liter French oak for 11 months with no racking. A touch of SO2 is added only at bottling, and the finished wine sees no fining or filtration. It is a very fresh and elegant vino tinto with classic, lifted aromatics of black pepper, pomegranate, and herbs, which leads to an elegant and crystalline palate with loads of saveur, peppery tannins, and a dry finish.”
Also In Stock Now:
Envinate & A Chingao Vineyards ‘Albahra Chingao,’ Almansa, Castilla La Mancha 2019 750ML ($49.95) $33 special, 1 bottle in stock now
From the highest elevation vineyard composed of old vines that also contribute to the entry-level Albahra bottling. 100% Garnacha Tintorera (aka Alicante Bouschet, a red-juiced grape).
Importer note “Albahra (Castilian for “small sea”) is named for the vineyard area in the Almansa region close to the town of Albacete, located at the southeastern tip of Castilla-La Mancha.”
Envinate ‘Benje,’ Canary Islands 2019 750ML ($39.95) $29 special, 18 bottles in stock now
Envinate ‘Benje,’ Canary Islands 2019 1.5L ($99.95) $79 special, 6 bottles in stock now
Winery note “Benje Tinto is sourced from 1,000 meters elevation, old-vine, pie franco parcels of Listan Prieto (Mission) with a bit of Tintilla, named “Masca,” “La Zanja,” “Valle de Arriba,” and “Llano Redondo”, all of them located in Santiago del Teide. Each parcel is hand-harvested and vinified separately, some in concrete and some in small open tubs. Maceration is 10-30 days (depending on parcel) with daily punch-down; malolactic fermentation is in neutral French barriques, then raised 8 months in the same barrels without battonage or added SO2. Bottling is without fining or filtration. This is a pure and vertical expression of high elevation, volcanic Canary terrun~o with notes of red fruits, peppercorns, flowers, and volcanic soil – a beautiful wine to pair with grilled meats and mojo rojo.”
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New Week – New Arrivals
Oregon
Local winery Maloof has been charming us consistently since we started sampling their wines last year. These are “natural” with a depth of character and quality that turns heads among even the most staunchly traditionalist crowd.
Ross & Bee Maloof L’Eau Epicee, Willamette Valley 2020 750ML ($33.95) $29 special
Winery note “Vineyard history – Small vineyard behind a residence in Sherwood, OR just north of the Chehalem Mountains. Farmed organically (without certification) by Onesimo Mora. This was an all but forgotten vineyard that Ony and his brother revived in 2006 and have been working to nurse it back to its full potential. Location – Sherwood, OR (Willamette Valley AVA). Vineyard stats- 3.5 acres, 300ft elevation. Farming – Own rooted, dry farmed, planted in the late 90s. Organic farming program (no certification). Soil – Jory. Production- 305 cases. Winemaking, fermentation and aging: 50% Riesling, 40% Gewurz, 10% Skin contact gewurz. We pressed the riesling and the gewurz separately to ferment in neutral oak, and a small portion of the Gewurz was fermented in open bins on the skins until dry, then pressed off into barrels. From there we essentially made still wine out of all of these individual lots. When we pressed the riesling, we took a bunch of the must and put into 5gallon buckets and threw them in our chest freezer. Just after the primary fermentation of the Riesling was complete, we racked the wine(s) into a single tank. From here, we thawed out a specific amount of the frozen must we held back at crush, threw it in the tank, stirred it all up real good, and bottled in the middle of the winter to lay down in tirage bins. Come spring and boom, bubbles! Some might even say “Bada Big Boom. Bubbles.””
Local winery Maloof has been charming us consistently since we started sampling their wines last year. These are “natural” with a depth of character and quality that turns heads among even the most staunchly traditionalist crowd.
Ross & Bee Maloof L’Eau Epicee, Willamette Valley 2020 750ML ($33.95) $29 special
Winery note “Vineyard history – Small vineyard behind a residence in Sherwood, OR just north of the Chehalem Mountains. Farmed organically (without certification) by Onesimo Mora. This was an all but forgotten vineyard that Ony and his brother revived in 2006 and have been working to nurse it back to its full potential. Location – Sherwood, OR (Willamette Valley AVA). Vineyard stats- 3.5 acres, 300ft elevation. Farming – Own rooted, dry farmed, planted in the late 90s. Organic farming program (no certification). Soil – Jory. Production- 305 cases. Winemaking, fermentation and aging: 50% Riesling, 40% Gewurz, 10% Skin contact gewurz. We pressed the riesling and the gewurz separately to ferment in neutral oak, and a small portion of the Gewurz was fermented in open bins on the skins until dry, then pressed off into barrels. From there we essentially made still wine out of all of these individual lots. When we pressed the riesling, we took a bunch of the must and put into 5gallon buckets and threw them in our chest freezer. Just after the primary fermentation of the Riesling was complete, we racked the wine(s) into a single tank. From here, we thawed out a specific amount of the frozen must we held back at crush, threw it in the tank, stirred it all up real good, and bottled in the middle of the winter to lay down in tirage bins. Come spring and boom, bubbles! Some might even say “Bada Big Boom. Bubbles.””
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Haden Fig Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2019 750ML ($27.95) $24 special
Winery note “2019’s Haden Fig Willamette Valley Pinot Noir is a perfectly cheerful sort of wine — it’s serious, but never brooding. It is all about the red fruits framed by flowers and forest this year owing to its larger than usual portion of fruit from Bjornson in the Eola-Amity Hills. This wine also has the most luxurious of attributes: poise. You can drink it now, but it’ll age longer than you might expect. 851 cases produced.”
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Bergstrom ‘Cumberland Reserve’ Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2018 750ML ($44.95) $36 special
Erin Brooks-Wine Advocate 94+ points “Medium ruby-purple, the 2018 Pinot Noir Cumberland Reserve takes its time to unfold to notes of earth, tar and blue and black berries on the nose. The palate is medium-bodied, firm and seamlessly fresh with intense dark fruits and a peppery finish. It’s youthfully coiled and will have more to show with another couple years in bottle.”
Wine Spectator 94 points “Dynamic yet harmonious, with expressive raspberry and rose petal aromas, accented by flavors of orange peel and dusky spice. Builds richness toward polished tannins. Drink now through 2028. 4,210 cases made. — TF”
Washington & Walla Walla
Wine Enthusiast Top 100 Cellar Selection in 2020
Cayuse Vineyards Horsepower ‘High Contrast Vineyard’ Syrah, Walla Walla Valley 2017 750ML ($219.95) $179 special
Wine Advocate 96 points “Showing with a deep ruby core that fades to a purple edge, the 2017 Syrah High Contrast Vineyard explodes from the glass with pronounced smoky aromas that waft with delicate notes of dark chocolate-covered blackberries, then show hints of roasted coffee bean, notions of petrichor, baked earth and dried herbs. Medium to full-bodied, the wine is elegantly powerful, showcasing a balanced chassis of youthful tannins that evolve with the complex nature of the wine. There is a velvety firmness to the mid-palate before moving onto an elongated finish that grows in complexity and amplitude as the expression resonates harmoniously, confirming yet another blockbuster Syrah from the ever-so-talented Christophe Baron. Only 386 cases made.”
Wine Enthusiast 96 points “The aromas explode from the glass, with notes of fire pit, potpourri, black olive, wet stone, dried porcini and stone. The palate is sumptuous, layered, elegant and intensely flavorful, showing abundant savory notes. A lingering black olive and earthy finish caps it off. Best after 2025.”
Jeb Dunnuck 95+ points “The 2017 Syrah High Contrast Vineyard is more wound up and tight, with backward notes of chocolaty black fruits, toasted spice, mulled plums, cured ham, and sweet mulch all developing with time in the glass. Full-bodied and concentrated on the palate, with plenty of tannins, this is one 2017 that’s going to reward bottle age. Do your best to hide bottles for 4-5 years if possible, and it should see its 20th birthday in fine form. This is certainly for those who like a big dose of funk in their Syrah!”
Col Solare Cabernet Sauvignon, Red Mountain 2015 750ML ($69.95) $54.50 special
Jeb Dunnuck 94 points “Always 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from Red Mountain brought up in new barrels, the 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon is loaded with sweet cassis, toasted spice, dried flowers, and graphite. It shows more and more classic Red Mountain savoriness and dried earth qualities with time in the glass. It’s full-bodied, sweetly fruited, beautifully balanced, and has a great finish. It can be drunk today or cellared for 15+ years.”
James Suckling 93 points “This has a wealth of rich and intense dark plums and mulberries that really saturate the sleek and fleshy palate. Impressive concentration in an open-knit and approachable mode. 100% cabernet sauvignon. Drink or hold.”
Wine Spectator 92 points “Expressive and refined, in an appealingly zesty way, offering lively black cherry, cracked pepper and crushed stone accents that take on richness toward refined tannins. Drink now through 2023. 5,303 cases made. — TF”
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 92 points “The 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon exhibits aromas of cassis, blackberry, chocolate and creamy new oak. On the palate, it’s medium to full-bodied, rich and chewy, with plenty of juicy fruit and firm tannin. Give it a couple of years in the cellar to knit together, then follow it for the better part of a decade.”
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California
Bucklin Bambino Old Hill Ranch Zinfandel, Sonoma Valley 2017 750ML ($29.95) $24 special
Wine Spectator 91 points “Lively and briary, with expressive raspberry, smoky tarragon and cracked pepper flavors that pick up speed toward well-groomed tannins. Drink now through 2028. 569 cases made.”
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Turley Wine Cellars Hayne Vineyard Petite Sirah, Napa Valley 2018 750ML ($99.95) $89 special
Antonio Galloni 94-97 points “The 2018 Petite Syrah Hayne Vineyard is another exceptional wine in this range. Super-ripe dark red cherry, wild flowers, mint and spice are all wonderfully alive in this lush, inky Petite from one of the most pedigreed sites in St. Helena and Napa Valley more broadly. Time in the glass brings out a brighter set of red fruit, blood orange and floral notes to round things out beautifully. The Hayne is one of many highlights in this fabulous range of 2018s from Larry Turley and Tegan Passalacqua.”
France – Champagne
Piper-Heidsieck Prohibition Edition Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($69.95) $49 special
Winery note “To commemorate the 100th anniversary since the beginning of Prohibition, Piper-Heidsieck invites you to enjoy its Cuvee Brut with a ‘Roaring Twenties’ ambiance.”
France – Burgundy
Jean-Claude Bessin Chablis Vieilles Vignes, Burgundy 2018 750ML ($44.95) $36 special
Decanter 92 points “Bottled with a highest ever alcohol level of 14.3%, but such is Jean-Claude Bessin’s skill as a winemaker that the resulting wine doesn’t seem remotely heavy or ponderous. Showing some skin tannins, notes of pink grapefruit and classic old vine concentration, this is comparatively soft but has enough extract for balance.”
Jean-Claude Bessin La Foret, Chablis Premier Cru 2018 750ML ($59.95) $49 special
Neal Martin-Vinous 91 points “The 2018 Chablis La Forêt 1er Cru has an earthy and smoky bouquet, light touches of wild mint emerging with time in the glass. The palate is well balanced, offering grapefruit, mandarin and bitter lemon notes on the entry, then slightly honeyed toward the finish, but maintaining admirable tension throughout. Maybe it just lacks the persistence of Bessin’s Montmains or Fourchaume, yet this remains a very commendable La Forêt.”
Jean-Claude Bessin Chablis La Fourchaume La Piece au Comte, Chablis Premier Cru 2018 750ML ($69.95) $54.50 special
Neal Martin-Vinous 94 points “The 2018 Chablis Fourchaume La Pièce au Comte 1er Cru has a beautiful nose of white peach, pressed white flowers, hints of nectarine and yellow plum, subtle but supremely focused. The palate is very well balanced with a fine bead of acidity. A touch of ginger lingers in the background. Very harmonious, delivering just the right amount of salinity toward the finish. Superb.”
Decanter 94 points “Jean-Claude Bessin only makes 5,000 bottles of this old vine cuvée from a lieu-dit within the larger Fourchaume Premier Cru. Combining stainless steel and oaked components, it’s rich, concentrated and appealingly honeyed, with subtle wood spices, a thread of minerality and a pure, focused, enticingly balance finish. These are never wines that have to try too hard. Drinking Window 2020 – 2026.”
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Jean-Claude Bessin Valmur, Chablis Grand Cru 2018 750ML ($99.95) $75 special
Decanter 95 points “The domaine’s holdings extend over 2ha and are located next to Les Clos, with a west and north-west orientation. Combining vines of different ages and a mixture of stainless steel and oaked components, this is a wine that will reward patience. Vanilla spice, white flowers and subtle iodine notes combine beautifully on the palate here with salinity providing freshness on the finish. Drinking Window 2021 – 2028.”
Neal Martin-Vinous 94 points “The 2018 Chablis Valmur Grand Cru is lucid silver in hue. The bouquet is not as immediate as Bessin’s other 2018, taking its time to unfold, revealing citrus peel, oyster shell and dew-speckled green apple aromas that are beautifully defined. The palate is succinctly balanced, effortlessly carrying the weight of this Valmur. Wonderful intensity on the finish, yet linear and steely. You might deduce this to come from a much cooler growing season than it does. Top class – a Chablis that totally transcends the vintage.”
Italy – Tuscany
“Rancia is always one of my favorite wines from this storied appellation (and the Castelnuovo Berardenga subzone). This vintage threw quite a few challenges at the winemaking team, but the Fèlsina 2017 Chianti Classico Riserva Rancia emerges intact, intense and beautiful. It is virtually unscathed by the heat and drought that marked this growing season. In fact, that brilliant radiance, linearity and energy of the Sangiovese grape comes through loud and clear.” – Monica Larner, Wine Advocate
Fèlsina Berardenga Rancia, Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG 2017 750ML ($54.95) $48 special
James Suckling 95 points “Plenty of fruit concentration with cherry and strawberry aromas and flavors. Full-bodied with chewy tannins and lots of concentration. Intense and rich. Give it a year or two to come together.”
Vinous 95 points “The 2017 Chianti Classico Riserva Rancia is incredibly polished and sophisticated. Silky tannins give the 2017 its racy, sleek personality. Over the last year, the 2017 has really settled into a gorgeous place. There is plenty of vintage 2017 intensity, but Rancia is distinctly medium in body and restrained. The wilder side of Sangiovese, one of the signatures of Rancia and Fèlsina more broadly, tastes a bit baked out. I can’t wait to see how the 2017 develops over the coming years and decades.”
“Rancia is always one of my favorite wines from this storied appellation (and the Castelnuovo Berardenga subzone). This vintage threw quite a few challenges at the winemaking team, but the Fèlsina 2017 Chianti Classico Riserva Rancia emerges intact, intense and beautiful. It is virtually unscathed by the heat and drought that marked this growing season. In fact, that brilliant radiance, linearity and energy of the Sangiovese grape comes through loud and clear.” – Monica Larner, Wine Advocate
Fèlsina Berardenga Rancia, Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG 2017 750ML ($54.95) $48 special
James Suckling 95 points “Plenty of fruit concentration with cherry and strawberry aromas and flavors. Full-bodied with chewy tannins and lots of concentration. Intense and rich. Give it a year or two to come together.”
Vinous 95 points “The 2017 Chianti Classico Riserva Rancia is incredibly polished and sophisticated. Silky tannins give the 2017 its racy, sleek personality. Over the last year, the 2017 has really settled into a gorgeous place. There is plenty of vintage 2017 intensity, but Rancia is distinctly medium in body and restrained. The wilder side of Sangiovese, one of the signatures of Rancia and Fèlsina more broadly, tastes a bit baked out. I can’t wait to see how the 2017 develops over the coming years and decades.”
Italy – Piedmont
Vigneti Massa Derthona Timorasso Colli Tortonesi, Piedmont 2018 750ML ($41.95) $34.50 special
Importer note “Derthona is the ancient name for Tortona, the town in southeast Piemonte after which the appellation Colli Tortonesi (Tortona Hills) is named. We often say that Timorasso is like Ali: “Float like a butterfly (baroque fruit and honeyed minerality) and sting like a bee (lots of well-integrated acidity)”. Timorasso is one of the longest-aging white varieties in Italy. In fact, the wine often needs an extra year or two in bottle before it becomes expressive and fun to drink. Good vintages easily age five to 10 years, and we’ve has bottles going back to the 1980s that remained alive. It’s especially fun to pour this wine blind for your friends who love aged white Burgundy or Riesling — after which you can point out that it costs half or a third of what a village-level white Burgundy would cost. A Tavola… / At the Table… This is not your typically light and simply refreshing Italian aperitivo white wine. It’s got substance and structure and deserves substantial food, such as richer fish, poultry, and pork dishes. Use it as you would an Austrian or (dry) Alsatian Riesling. It’s also an excellent vino da meditazione at the end of a meal.”
Vigneti Massa Derthona Timorasso Colli Tortonesi, Piedmont 2018 750ML ($41.95) $34.50 special
Importer note “Derthona is the ancient name for Tortona, the town in southeast Piemonte after which the appellation Colli Tortonesi (Tortona Hills) is named. We often say that Timorasso is like Ali: “Float like a butterfly (baroque fruit and honeyed minerality) and sting like a bee (lots of well-integrated acidity)”. Timorasso is one of the longest-aging white varieties in Italy. In fact, the wine often needs an extra year or two in bottle before it becomes expressive and fun to drink. Good vintages easily age five to 10 years, and we’ve has bottles going back to the 1980s that remained alive. It’s especially fun to pour this wine blind for your friends who love aged white Burgundy or Riesling — after which you can point out that it costs half or a third of what a village-level white Burgundy would cost. A Tavola… / At the Table… This is not your typically light and simply refreshing Italian aperitivo white wine. It’s got substance and structure and deserves substantial food, such as richer fish, poultry, and pork dishes. Use it as you would an Austrian or (dry) Alsatian Riesling. It’s also an excellent vino da meditazione at the end of a meal.”
Italy – Sicily
The Benanti family began cultivating vines on the slopes of Mount Etna in the 19th century. However it wasn’t until the late 1980s that Giuseppe Benanti revived the family’s neglected vineyards. Giuseppe spent years studying the estate’s indigenous varieties, identifying the finest clones, all the while modernizing the family’s winemaking techniques and equipment. The resulting wines are the perfect blend of modern quality and ancient soul.
Today, Benanti’s wines are some of Etna’s most coveted. Known for high quality at accessible prices, these are beloved wines in their native Italy and beyond. Benanti’s flagship Bianco and Rosso bottlings offer wonderful introductions to estate’s wines, and at $19 and $21.90 respectively you’d be hard-pressed to find a more charming (sub-$30) pair anywhere in the world.
Benanti Etna Bianco, Sicily 2019 750ML ($26.95) $20.90 special
Winery note “The wine has a pale yellow color, with bright greenish tints. The nose is intense and delicate with hints of apple. The palate is dry and mineral with pleasant acidity and salinity, persistent and harmonious. Carricante 100%, Etna’s noble autochthonous white grape variety. The berry is medium-sized with very pruinose skin that is greenish-yellow in color. The bunches are of average length and scattered. The vines are grown on sandy, volcanic soils that are rich in minerals, with sub-acid reaction. Plants range in age from 20 to 60 years and are trained in both “alberello” (head-trained bush) and spurred cordon systems, with densities of 6,000 to 7,000 vinestocks per hectare and yields of 7,000 to 8,000 kg/ha. Vineyards vary in elevation from 700 m (c. 2,300 ft) to 950 m (c. 3,100 ft) a.s.l. The climate type ranges from high hill to mountain, with a humid and rainy cooler season, high ventilation and a significant diurnal range.”
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Wine Spectator Top 100 in 2019
Benanti Etna Rosso, Sicily 2017 750ML ($24.95) $19 special
Monica Larner – Wine Advocate 91 points “The 2017 Etna Rosso (made with 80% Nerello Mascalese and 20% Nerello Cappuccio) offers a very smoky and ashy bouquet that tells you, without any doubt, that this is a wine from the mighty Etna volcano. Rose petal and light berry aromas blur and soften the lines of those pretty mineral notes that are so strong at the beginning. Blue violets and blueberries are delicate accents that fill out the close. This vintage really pulls it all together nicely, a great pairing for pappardelle with wild chanterelle mushrooms. With 70,000 bottles made, this is an accessible wine offered at a great value.”
Kerin O’Keefe – Wine Enthusiast 91 points “Smooth and bright, this boasts an earthy elegance, opening with aromas of wild berry, blue flower and Mediterranean herb that interlace with earthy whiffs of leather and game. The juicy, linear palate offers crushed red cherry, orange zest, star anise and white pepper alongside lithe tannins and lively acidity. It closes on a saline note. Drink through 2027.”
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The average price is $25
The Benanti family began cultivating vines on the slopes of Mount Etna in the 19th century. However it wasn’t until the late 1980s that Giuseppe Benanti revived the family’s neglected vineyards. Giuseppe spent years studying the estate’s indigenous varieties, identifying the finest clones, all the while modernizing the family’s winemaking techniques and equipment. The resulting wines are the perfect blend of modern quality and ancient soul.
Today, Benanti’s wines are some of Etna’s most coveted. Known for high quality at accessible prices, these are beloved wines in their native Italy and beyond. Benanti’s flagship Bianco and Rosso bottlings offer wonderful introductions to estate’s wines, and at $19 and $21.90 respectively you’d be hard-pressed to find a more charming (sub-$30) pair anywhere in the world.
Benanti Etna Bianco, Sicily 2019 750ML ($26.95) $20.90 special
Winery note “The wine has a pale yellow color, with bright greenish tints. The nose is intense and delicate with hints of apple. The palate is dry and mineral with pleasant acidity and salinity, persistent and harmonious. Carricante 100%, Etna’s noble autochthonous white grape variety. The berry is medium-sized with very pruinose skin that is greenish-yellow in color. The bunches are of average length and scattered. The vines are grown on sandy, volcanic soils that are rich in minerals, with sub-acid reaction. Plants range in age from 20 to 60 years and are trained in both “alberello” (head-trained bush) and spurred cordon systems, with densities of 6,000 to 7,000 vinestocks per hectare and yields of 7,000 to 8,000 kg/ha. Vineyards vary in elevation from 700 m (c. 2,300 ft) to 950 m (c. 3,100 ft) a.s.l. The climate type ranges from high hill to mountain, with a humid and rainy cooler season, high ventilation and a significant diurnal range.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Wine Spectator Top 100 in 2019
Benanti Etna Rosso, Sicily 2017 750ML ($24.95) $19 special
Monica Larner – Wine Advocate 91 points “The 2017 Etna Rosso (made with 80% Nerello Mascalese and 20% Nerello Cappuccio) offers a very smoky and ashy bouquet that tells you, without any doubt, that this is a wine from the mighty Etna volcano. Rose petal and light berry aromas blur and soften the lines of those pretty mineral notes that are so strong at the beginning. Blue violets and blueberries are delicate accents that fill out the close. This vintage really pulls it all together nicely, a great pairing for pappardelle with wild chanterelle mushrooms. With 70,000 bottles made, this is an accessible wine offered at a great value.”
Kerin O’Keefe – Wine Enthusiast 91 points “Smooth and bright, this boasts an earthy elegance, opening with aromas of wild berry, blue flower and Mediterranean herb that interlace with earthy whiffs of leather and game. The juicy, linear palate offers crushed red cherry, orange zest, star anise and white pepper alongside lithe tannins and lively acidity. It closes on a saline note. Drink through 2027.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $25
Italy – Other
Villa Bucci Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi Classico Riserva DOCG 2016 750ML ($69.95) $54.50 special
Wine Enthusiast Top 100 Cellar Selection 2019
Decanter 96 points “Even with more than 20 years of age, this wine from Ampelio Bucci’s oldest vineyards can be both rich and fresh. Drinking Window 2025 – 2035.”
Kerin O’Keefe-Wine Enthusiast 95 points “Delicate, enticing scents of Spanish broom, botanical herbs, beeswax and ripe citrus shape the nose. Linear and supremely elegant, the vibrant palate delivers ripe yellow peach, apricot, grapefruit and mineral alongside tangy acidity. A classic varietal note of bitter almond graces the lingering finish. Hold for even more complexity. Drink through 2026.”
James Suckling 94 points “A creamy-dreamy verdicchio that’s a masterpiece of balance and subtlety. I love the candied-citrus character that’s wrapped around the minerals through the long, polished finish. It makes you wants you to put in an immediate order for roast chicken with truffles, or for a plate of turbot. Drink or hold.”
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Vie di Romans Friuli Isonzo Chardonnay Ciampagnis, Friuli-Venezia Giulia 2018 750ML ($34.95) $28 special
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 94 points “The Vie di Romans 2018 Friuli Isonzo Chardonnay Ciampagnis is beautifully contoured with aromas of peach, melon, honey and passion fruit. The bouquet is perfumed and bright, driving a long finish and silky consistency. Like most of the other whites in this portfolio, it ages on the lees (for nine months, in this case). Instead of oak, it completes this process in stainless steel for an anaerobic environment that serves to capture those direct and linear aromas. The wine concludes with a hint of dusty mineral or crushed stone that ties it to one of the most prominent characteristics of Friuli Venezia Giulia.”
James Suckling 94 points “A rich, aromatic white with sliced and cooked apple, steel and stone. Full-bodied with layers of fruit, but in a focused and polished way. It’s creamy and fruity with a round texture and a delicious, flavorful finish. Mineral and steely notes at the end. Drink or hold.”
Buglioni ‘L’Amarone,’ Amarone della Valpolicella Classico DOCG 2016 750ML ($69.95) $57 special
Eric Guido-Vinous 93 points “The 2016 Amarone della Valpolicella Classico seduces with a sweetly spiced and extroverted display that blends medicinal black cherries, mint, lavender, sweet smoke and a dusting of cocoa powder. The textures are silky, energized by vibrant acidity, as ripe red and black fruits drench the palate, leaving notes of bitter dark chocolate, cinnamon and clove. A coating of tannin lingers, tugging at the senses with youthful poise, and hints of sour citrus and inner violet florals linger long. The 2016 is massive, structured and intense yet with tremendous balance and potential for the future. It’s rare that I find myself pouring a second glass of an Amarone during tastings, but that’s exactly what happened here. I tasted the 2016 twice and it just kept getting better.”
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Villa Bucci Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi Classico Riserva DOCG 2016 750ML ($69.95) $54.50 special
Wine Enthusiast Top 100 Cellar Selection 2019
Decanter 96 points “Even with more than 20 years of age, this wine from Ampelio Bucci’s oldest vineyards can be both rich and fresh. Drinking Window 2025 – 2035.”
Kerin O’Keefe-Wine Enthusiast 95 points “Delicate, enticing scents of Spanish broom, botanical herbs, beeswax and ripe citrus shape the nose. Linear and supremely elegant, the vibrant palate delivers ripe yellow peach, apricot, grapefruit and mineral alongside tangy acidity. A classic varietal note of bitter almond graces the lingering finish. Hold for even more complexity. Drink through 2026.”
James Suckling 94 points “A creamy-dreamy verdicchio that’s a masterpiece of balance and subtlety. I love the candied-citrus character that’s wrapped around the minerals through the long, polished finish. It makes you wants you to put in an immediate order for roast chicken with truffles, or for a plate of turbot. Drink or hold.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Vie di Romans Friuli Isonzo Chardonnay Ciampagnis, Friuli-Venezia Giulia 2018 750ML ($34.95) $28 special
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 94 points “The Vie di Romans 2018 Friuli Isonzo Chardonnay Ciampagnis is beautifully contoured with aromas of peach, melon, honey and passion fruit. The bouquet is perfumed and bright, driving a long finish and silky consistency. Like most of the other whites in this portfolio, it ages on the lees (for nine months, in this case). Instead of oak, it completes this process in stainless steel for an anaerobic environment that serves to capture those direct and linear aromas. The wine concludes with a hint of dusty mineral or crushed stone that ties it to one of the most prominent characteristics of Friuli Venezia Giulia.”
James Suckling 94 points “A rich, aromatic white with sliced and cooked apple, steel and stone. Full-bodied with layers of fruit, but in a focused and polished way. It’s creamy and fruity with a round texture and a delicious, flavorful finish. Mineral and steely notes at the end. Drink or hold.”
Buglioni ‘L’Amarone,’ Amarone della Valpolicella Classico DOCG 2016 750ML ($69.95) $57 special
Eric Guido-Vinous 93 points “The 2016 Amarone della Valpolicella Classico seduces with a sweetly spiced and extroverted display that blends medicinal black cherries, mint, lavender, sweet smoke and a dusting of cocoa powder. The textures are silky, energized by vibrant acidity, as ripe red and black fruits drench the palate, leaving notes of bitter dark chocolate, cinnamon and clove. A coating of tannin lingers, tugging at the senses with youthful poise, and hints of sour citrus and inner violet florals linger long. The 2016 is massive, structured and intense yet with tremendous balance and potential for the future. It’s rare that I find myself pouring a second glass of an Amarone during tastings, but that’s exactly what happened here. I tasted the 2016 twice and it just kept getting better.”
Austria
Christina Netzl ‘Christina’ Gruner Veltliner, Niederosterreich 2020 750ML ($26.95) $19 special
Distributor note “Climate: This vineyard is one of the cooler places in our region, which benefit from the chilled winds of the nearby River Danube, especially during hot summers. This factor allows for the intensive aromatic and fizzy acidity in the grapes to be preserved. Specifically, the red gravel (iron) brings minerality and the typical “pepper” to our Grüner Veltliner. Soil: red gravel and loess. Varieties: Gruner Veltliner. Vinification Method: Grapes are hand-harvested and pressed as whole bunches. The juice is fermented spontaneously in stainless steel in a long, slow ferment thanks to the cold cellar temperatures. Bottled unfined and unfiltered, with a small addition of sulfur.”
Greece
Stamnaki ‘Lost,’ Peloponnese 2018 750ML ($19.95) $17 special
Distributor note ““Lost”, a wine that lost its way. Destined to become an easy and cleaner kind of wine, it accidentally missed filtration and clarification, ending up as a hazy and more textured and vibrant blend. Grower: Denthis, Grapes: Moschofilero 80% / Malagousia 20%, Viticulture: Low intervention. Vinification: Cold extraction after a 2-day cold storage, low temperature fermentation, and a 1-month stay with its fine lees.”
Christina Netzl ‘Christina’ Gruner Veltliner, Niederosterreich 2020 750ML ($26.95) $19 special
Distributor note “Climate: This vineyard is one of the cooler places in our region, which benefit from the chilled winds of the nearby River Danube, especially during hot summers. This factor allows for the intensive aromatic and fizzy acidity in the grapes to be preserved. Specifically, the red gravel (iron) brings minerality and the typical “pepper” to our Grüner Veltliner. Soil: red gravel and loess. Varieties: Gruner Veltliner. Vinification Method: Grapes are hand-harvested and pressed as whole bunches. The juice is fermented spontaneously in stainless steel in a long, slow ferment thanks to the cold cellar temperatures. Bottled unfined and unfiltered, with a small addition of sulfur.”
Greece
Stamnaki ‘Lost,’ Peloponnese 2018 750ML ($19.95) $17 special
Distributor note ““Lost”, a wine that lost its way. Destined to become an easy and cleaner kind of wine, it accidentally missed filtration and clarification, ending up as a hazy and more textured and vibrant blend. Grower: Denthis, Grapes: Moschofilero 80% / Malagousia 20%, Viticulture: Low intervention. Vinification: Cold extraction after a 2-day cold storage, low temperature fermentation, and a 1-month stay with its fine lees.”
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New Review for Beaux Freres’ Second Cousin
Beaux Freres Second Cousin Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2019 750ML ($49.95) $33 special, 10 bottles in stock now
Grapelive 90 points “The entry set of wines at the famed Beaux Freres in the Willamette Valley’s Ribbon Ridge AVA are their Les Cousins Pinot Noir sourced from a wide selection of vineyards throughout the Valley and this unique The Second Cousin bottling that was produced solely from barrels (of Les Cousins) that showed a touch of Brettanomyces, a very curious and brave experiment from such a revered property, considering how evil “Brett” can be perceived. As someone that is not too fond, I was surprised by how pure and enjoyable this elegant Pinot Noir is! Beaux Freres, like their awesome neighbor, Brick House, focus on biodynamics and were inspired by the wines of Domaine de la Romanee-Conti, Domaine Leflaive and Domaine Leroy in Burgundy and usually produce some of the greatest Pinots in Oregon, so it was interesting to see a winery like Beaux Freres take this kind of risk. The results were exactly (with some luck for sure) what they had hoped, with the tiny amount of Brett adding some complexity and character without the aggressive almost roadkill-like animal or overt barnyard flavors. This 2019 is silky smooth and vibrantly fresh with pretty floral notes, a kiss of sweet smoky toast, racy and youthful layers of black cherry, plum and raspberry fruits that are nicely accented by tea spices, blood orange, cinnamon, mocha, wild herbs and a lingering, underbrush and earthy mulberry note. This lighter framed and delicately perfumed Beaux Freres The Second Cousin is drinking well and round in its youth, maybe hiding the potential Brett nuances at this stage, but I am happy as it is more subtle and the expressive fruit is deeply pleasing as is the wines beautiful dark ruby color, which invites you into the glass…”
Grapelive 90 points “The entry set of wines at the famed Beaux Freres in the Willamette Valley’s Ribbon Ridge AVA are their Les Cousins Pinot Noir sourced from a wide selection of vineyards throughout the Valley and this unique The Second Cousin bottling that was produced solely from barrels (of Les Cousins) that showed a touch of Brettanomyces, a very curious and brave experiment from such a revered property, considering how evil “Brett” can be perceived. As someone that is not too fond, I was surprised by how pure and enjoyable this elegant Pinot Noir is! Beaux Freres, like their awesome neighbor, Brick House, focus on biodynamics and were inspired by the wines of Domaine de la Romanee-Conti, Domaine Leflaive and Domaine Leroy in Burgundy and usually produce some of the greatest Pinots in Oregon, so it was interesting to see a winery like Beaux Freres take this kind of risk. The results were exactly (with some luck for sure) what they had hoped, with the tiny amount of Brett adding some complexity and character without the aggressive almost roadkill-like animal or overt barnyard flavors. This 2019 is silky smooth and vibrantly fresh with pretty floral notes, a kiss of sweet smoky toast, racy and youthful layers of black cherry, plum and raspberry fruits that are nicely accented by tea spices, blood orange, cinnamon, mocha, wild herbs and a lingering, underbrush and earthy mulberry note. This lighter framed and delicately perfumed Beaux Freres The Second Cousin is drinking well and round in its youth, maybe hiding the potential Brett nuances at this stage, but I am happy as it is more subtle and the expressive fruit is deeply pleasing as is the wines beautiful dark ruby color, which invites you into the glass…”
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We stock large formats of Beaux Freres wines up to 5 liters.
Call or email to order!
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Dutton-Goldfield is one of the premier producers in the Russian River Valley—and we’re bringing you a deal on their Dutton Ranch Chardonnay that is so good, we can’t list it online.
Dutton-Goldfield Dutton Ranch Chardonnay, Russian River Valley 2018 750ML ($39.95) Super Special Pricing: $28 special, 36+ bottles in stock now – To order, call, email, or stop by!
Case-12 Dutton-Goldfield Dutton Ranch Chardonnay, Russian River Valley 2018 750ML ($449.95) $299 special (that’s only $24.92/bottle!) – To order, call, email, or stop by!
Wine Enthusiast 93 points “This is a 100% barrel-fermented wine from such stellar sites as Mill Station, Sullivan and Walker Hill. Lively, fresh and focused, it has great acidity and tension, a pleasing energy and minerality that boosts lovely flavors of green apple, Meyer lemon and mango, finishing with balanced richness. -Virginie Boone”
Dutton-Goldfield Dutton Ranch Chardonnay, Russian River Valley 2018 750ML ($39.95) Super Special Pricing: $28 special, 36+ bottles in stock now – To order, call, email, or stop by!
Case-12 Dutton-Goldfield Dutton Ranch Chardonnay, Russian River Valley 2018 750ML ($449.95) $299 special (that’s only $24.92/bottle!) – To order, call, email, or stop by!
Wine Enthusiast 93 points “This is a 100% barrel-fermented wine from such stellar sites as Mill Station, Sullivan and Walker Hill. Lively, fresh and focused, it has great acidity and tension, a pleasing energy and minerality that boosts lovely flavors of green apple, Meyer lemon and mango, finishing with balanced richness. -Virginie Boone”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $39.99
Day Wines Momtazi Vineyard Pinot Noir, McMinnville 2016 750ML ($53.95) Was $33, Now $28 Super Special, 36+ bottles in stock now
John Gilman 93 points “The 2016 Momtazi Vineyard bottling of Pinot Noir from Day Wines is the ripest of these 2016s, as it comes in at fourteen percent octane. It is beautifully black fruity on the nose (as all the examples from Momtazi have been that I have been fortunate enough to taste), offering up scents of black plum, sweet dark berry, black tea, balsam bough, a beautiful base of soil tones, chicory, gentle spice tones and a bit of cedar. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied, complex and beautifully balanced, with a fine core of fruit, great mineral drive and grip, ripe, well-integrated tannins and a long, tangy and promising finish. While this is the ripest of the 2016 pinots from Brianne Day, it is no less pure or precise and is a great bottle in the making. 2024-2055.”
Josh Raynolds – Vinous 92 points “Limpid red. A highly aromatic bouquet evokes fresh dark berries and baking spices, along with smoky mineral and musky earth overtones. Juicy and broad on the palate, offering alluringly sweet black raspberry, cherry, rose pastille and spicecake flavors that deepen steadily with air. Delivers a suave blend of power and energy and finishes with finely woven tannins and strong, floral-driven persistence.”
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We’re smitten with the wines from Trathen Hall, produced by the former winemaker at Shea Wine Cellars, Blair Trathen, and Arabella Hall, whose winemaking experience includes Beaux Freres, Archery Summit, and Scott Paul Wines. This is a team to watch.
Trathen Hall Wines Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2017 750ML ($29.95) $24 special, 20 bottles in stock now
Wine Enthusiast 90 points “Forward and fruity, this brings raspberries and blackberries, supporting acidity and balanced tannins. Overall it’s fairly light but complete and satisfying, with an underlying minerality. Some 40% of the ferment was whole clusters. -Paul Gregutt”
Winery note “This wine is a blend of two vineyards: Momtazi Vineyard in the McMinnville AVA and La Chenaie Vineyard in the Eola-Amity Hills AVA. Both vineyards are grown on volcanically derived soils. Comprised of clones 115, Pommard and Wädenswil. The grapes were fermented in small lots and underwent native/spontaneous ferments with 50% whole clusters included. 10 months élevage in neutral French oak. This wine offers up a dark red fruited profile of raspberry, pomegranate, cranberry and blood orange. On the palate it displays soft and svelte tannins backed with good acidity which give the wine precision, focus and a lengthy finish.”
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Hundred Suns represents one of the most exciting new labels in Oregon and we’ve struggled to keep the wines in stock ever since they first arrived last summer. So take this opportunity to taste the future of Oregon while you still can.
Hundred Suns Bednarik Vineyard Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2019 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Winery note “2019 marked a return to the cool temperate conditions that make Oregon ideal for Pinot Noir. Harvested October 1st with modest sugars and intense flavor. The Pommard and Wadensvil were split into 5 unique lots. One amphora and one tank were filled and sealed to rest untouched for twelve days. The remaining fruit was destemmed into small open-top fermenters. With these cooler conditions, red loganberry and Rainier cherry take front stage, accompanied by delicate tannins and bright acid that will carry this wine for years to come. Planted deep in the cool hills near Cherry Grove, this six acre, own-rooted vineyard was planted in 1988 by William Bednarik to Pommard and Wadensvil clones. Our block is situated at 350 feet on a south/southwest exposure, overlying marine sedimentary soil. Native yeast fermentation. Destemmed. Elevage: 10 months in neutral, 5 year, air-dried 228L barrels. Farming practices: dry farmed / Organic.”
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Daniel Bouland makes gutsy wines from old vines in the heart of Beaujolais premier appellations. You often hear that they’re traditionally made and, although that’s true, it doesn’t begin to describe what makes the wines unique. These are wines that recall what Beaujolais would have been like before industrial farming and certainly before industrial winemaking. They’re special, powerful and age-worthy.
Daniel Bouland Morgon Les Delys, Beaujolais 2019 750ML ($49.95) $34.50 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 95 points “The 2019 Morgon Les Delys Vignes plantées en 1926 has turned out brilliantly, wafting from the glass with aromas of ripe cherries, blackberries, strawberries, sweet soil tones and spices. Medium to full-bodied, deep and layered, it’s seamless and multidimensional, and with striking concentration, succulent acids and powdery tannins, it’s long and penetrating. While this is carrying less puppy fat than the 2018 at the same age, it’s still quite a demonstrative, fruit-driven vintage of Les Delys, and while it will be long-lived, it can also be approached young.”
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If there is a single producer from the Rhône that embodies incredible value, it is Saint Cosme. Whether the fruit hails from the Northern or Southern extremes of the valley, all of their wines over-perform.
Saint Cosme Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Rhone 2017 750ML ($49.95) $45 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 95 points “Offers mulled plum, blackberry and black cherry fruit mixed in with steeped black tea, sandalwood and tobacco leaf notes. A mineral edge adds cut and drive to the finish, while the black tea note smolders seductively. Built for the cellar. Grenache, Mourvèdre, Syrah and Cinsault. Best from 2022 through 2036.”
Wine Advocate 94-96 points “Still awaiting bottling during my June visit, the 2017 Chateauneuf du Pape features bold notes of black cherries, cassis and spice cake. Owner Barruol says the Christmas cake is typical of La Crau. Full-bodied and voluptuous, with a long, fine and silky finish, this great effort provides one intense ride from start to finish.”
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The average price is $60
One of the greatest vintages ever for the Produttori Barbaresco normale!
Produttori del Barbaresco ‘Barbaresco DOCG’, Piedmont 2016 750ML ($59.95) $44.50 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 95 points “The 2016 Barbaresco is a tight and beautiful wine that will require more time to unwind and soften. This beautifully balanced vintage is characterized by a tight inner core of fruit that underlines the graceful aging capacity of these wines. The 2016 is shaping up to be one destined for long cellar aging. Now in its youth, the wine offers wild berry, rose and licorice aromas.”
Wine Enthusiast 95 points “Cellar Selection. Enticing aromas of violet, woodland berry, loose vineyard soil, wild mint and a hint of spearmint shape the intensely fragrant nose. The tense, young palate is still nervous but already boasts finesse, showing wild raspberry, crunchy red cherry, white pepper and star anise. Firm, refined tannins and racy acidity give it a linear, almost austere elegance, while bright acidity keeps it focused and balanced. Drink 2026-2036.”
Antonio Galloni 94 points “The 2016 Barbaresco is a stunning wine with tremendous richness for this bottling. Ample, deep and powerful, the 2016 exudes pedigree and class from start to finish. I can’t remember a straight Barbaresco here with this much fruit density and unctuous richness, and yet there is more than enough tannin and overall structure to give the wine its classically leaning feel. A blast of sweet red cherry fruit, tobacco, menthol licorice and smoke hits the potent finish. What a wine!”
R. Lopez de Heredia Vina Tondonia ‘Vina Cubillo’ Crianza, Rioja DOCa 2012 750ML ($39.95) $28 special, 12 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.”
Luiz 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.”
Chateau Lilian Ladouys & Castiglion del Bosco
Arriving ETA May
A new-school overachieving Bordeaux that’s delicious now and over the next decade.
Chateau Lilian Ladouys, Saint-Estephe 2016 750ML ($41.95) $36 pre-arrival special
Case-6 Chateau Lilian Ladouys, Saint-Estephe 2016 750ML ($239.95) $206 pre-arrival special (that’s only $34.33/bottle!)
James Suckling 93 points “The blueberry and blackberry aromas are certainly attractive here. Full-bodied and dense with a very velvety texture and a long, generous finish of ripe fruit and spice. Drink from 2022.”
Jeb Dunnuck 92 points “A perennial overachiever, the 2016 Château Lilian Ladouys brings the goods in 2016 and has a complex, medium to full-bodied, character-filled style to go with loads of blue fruits, incense, dried herbs, and a hint of violets. A blend of 62% Merlot, 32% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 6% Petit Verdot all raised in 30% new barrels, this charming, front end-loaded effort is well worth seeking out. It should keep for 10-15 years.”
Neal Martin – Vinous 92 points “This is the third time I have tasted the 2016 Lilian Ladouys in bottle. It retains a very intense blackberry and boysenberry bouquet laced with minerals, but displays a little more amplitude than it did in August. The tightly knit palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin and still shows the graphite seam that I remarked upon previously. There is a little more persistence now, hence the slightly higher score. Good potential.”
Chateau Lilian Ladouys, Saint-Estephe 2016 750ML ($41.95) $36 pre-arrival special
Case-6 Chateau Lilian Ladouys, Saint-Estephe 2016 750ML ($239.95) $206 pre-arrival special (that’s only $34.33/bottle!)
James Suckling 93 points “The blueberry and blackberry aromas are certainly attractive here. Full-bodied and dense with a very velvety texture and a long, generous finish of ripe fruit and spice. Drink from 2022.”
Jeb Dunnuck 92 points “A perennial overachiever, the 2016 Château Lilian Ladouys brings the goods in 2016 and has a complex, medium to full-bodied, character-filled style to go with loads of blue fruits, incense, dried herbs, and a hint of violets. A blend of 62% Merlot, 32% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 6% Petit Verdot all raised in 30% new barrels, this charming, front end-loaded effort is well worth seeking out. It should keep for 10-15 years.”
Neal Martin – Vinous 92 points “This is the third time I have tasted the 2016 Lilian Ladouys in bottle. It retains a very intense blackberry and boysenberry bouquet laced with minerals, but displays a little more amplitude than it did in August. The tightly knit palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin and still shows the graphite seam that I remarked upon previously. There is a little more persistence now, hence the slightly higher score. Good potential.”
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Castiglion del Bosco has become one of our go-to producers for modern-styled Brunello.
Castiglion del Bosco Campo del Drago, Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2016 750ML ($169.95) $139 pre-arrival special
James Suckling 97 points “Another structured, layered red with blackberry, plum, walnut and cigar-box aromas and flavors. It’s full-bodied with depth and intensity. Tight and structured. A wine with a long future. Fine-grained and refined. Try after 2025.”
Wine Spectator 96 points “A balanced, expressive style, offering plum, cherry, fruitcake, iron and spice flavors, which are fused to muscular tannins, but also vibrant acidity, keeping this energetic and defined. Fine balance overall and terrific length on the finish. Best from 2025 through 2048. 667 cases made, 150 cases imported. — BS”
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 95 points “The 2016 Brunello di Montalcino Campo del Drago (with only 8,000 bottles made) comes from a little vineyard measuring just 1.5 hectares. It is located at a high 450 meters above sea level, and what this parcel lacks in size, it makes up for in terms of view and exposure. The entire Castiglion del Boco property is surrounded by thick shrub oak forests, as the very name of the estate suggests (“bosco” means “forest” in Italian), with wild boar, roe deer and foxes (plenty of foxes). You most certainly smell aromas of underbrush and forest floor in this wine along with dark fruit, cherry and plum.”
Thank you from the team at Vinopolis!
Be well & drink well.