Monday Newsletter – 6-19-17

New Week – New Arrivals; Back in Stock: Cameron, Dom & Krug; Staff Pick Producer: Alzinger; Beerenauslese – Fun to Say / Fun to Drink – German Dessert Riesling; Ingrid Groiss; The Delicious Natural Wines of Grange Tiphane; Chapoutier: Rhone’s Greatest Hits; Budget-Friends Rhone (And Rhone-Adjacent) Wine; Domaine Paul Autard

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Summer Shipping Special:

Midwest, East, & South

For the summer season we are offering UPS Three Day Select Service for the price of UPS Ground for shipments normally traveling 4 or more business days by ground.

Free service upgrade only applies on single orders purchased and shipped during the promotional period.  Additional fees will apply to orders held for any reason until after the promotional period and shipped by Three Day Select.  Offer not valid on items purchased before the promotional period or on pre-arrival items that arrive after the promotional period ends.

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New Week – New Arrivals

Oregon

Vincent Bjornson Vineyard Pinot Noir, Eola-Amity Hills 2015 750ML ($39.95) $33 special
Winery Note “Bjornson vineyard is higher in the Eola Hills, where there’s red volcanic soil over basalt and the afternoons see coastal winds come over the hill to keep the daytime high temperatures moderate. This year’s Bjornson is brilliant ruby in color, not as dark as usual but with no less intensity. The aroma is piney with a touch of mint mixed in with bright crystalline red berry fruit notes. The flavors echo all that, with a bright, energetic thrust and a strong mineral quality. Bjornson can show a bit like cru Beaujolais when young, with a brushy Gamay quality that’s hard to describe but so delicious and satisfying. I like wines with a bit of edge and nerve, rather than plush but shapeless flavor of more heavy-handed winemaking technique. This wine has all that, and is poised to age well as usual with this site. Two barrels.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Vincent Pinot Noir, Eola-Amity Hills 2015 750ML ($29.95) $24 special
Winery note “This year’s Eola-Amity Hills bottling is a blend of Bjornson, Zenith, Silvershot and (new to me) Temperance Hill vineyards. The result is a classic expression of my home AVA, with a softer texture than the vineyard wines blended for earlier consumption. Don’t be afraid to hold on to this bottling though – examples going back to my first vintage 2009 are still drinking wonderfully. Bottled last August to capture its youthful freshness and held for spring release. Ten barrels.”

Vincent Silvershot Vineyard Pinot Noir, Eola-Amity Hills 2015 750ML ($39.95) $33 special
Winery note “Silvershot is the new name for Crowley Station Vineyard, renamed after a trademark dispute in the past year. New name but it’s another classic savory red fruited wine from this cool, windy site on the far southwest part of the Eola Hills. The grapes here were harvest on September 18 at 22.5 brix from own-rooted vines in the oldest part of the vineyard, planted in 2000. (Grapes from the younger west block, picked earlier in September, all went to the Eola-Amity Hills bottling). As with Zenith and Bjornson, the Silvershot was bottled after 18 months in cask with no filtration. It shows some dense but lively cherry fruit flavors and delicate herb and toast notes, finishing with a fine worsted texture. This vineyard always give a pronounced savory character I love, and it’s here again for sure. Two barrels”

This is the only listing in the USA today!
California

La Jota Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Howell Mountain 2013 1.5L ($179.95) $136 special
La Jota Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Howell Mountain 2013 750ML ($99.95) $69 special
Decanter 98 points “Resplendent aromas of voluptuous blackcurrant and plum. This is certainly rich and concentrated, yet it all seems to be in balance, with firm chocolatey tannins supporting the dense and solid fruit. (Feb 2017)”
Wine Enthusiast 95 points “This full-bodied, concentrated wine shows plenty of power in its bringing together of the variety with smaller percentages of Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Malbec. With a huge presence on the palate that lingers and stays in one’s brain, it shows a reductive quality of toasted oak along with black pepper, bark and leather saddle,. It’s a wine to enjoy from a giant leather chaise, if possible.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
France – Rosé

Chateau la Mascaronne Cotes de Provence Quat’Saisons Rose, Provence 2016 1.5L ($59.95) $49 special
Chateau la Mascaronne Cotes de Provence Quat’Saisons Rose, Provence 2016 750ML ($21.95) $18 special
VinopolNote: La Mascaronne is the true Miraval. Yes Miraval, that delightful $18 Provence Rose that tasted like $30; until the winery was acquired by a certain Hollywood couple and the new management proceeded to stick the wine in a bulbous bottle and hike the price to $30+. But we have a secret to share with you. The original owner of Miraval kept his best vineyard, and that is La Mascarrone.

This is the only listing in the USA today for the magnum!
France – Loire

Chateau de l’Eperonniere Cremant de Loire 2013 750ML ($24.95) $19 special
Importer note “This aromatic and expressive Crémant shows what superb sparkling wine can be made from Chenin Blanc with ample aging sur lattes (in this case, 3 years).With fine mousse and notes of yellow apple and wisteria across the midpalate, it’s nicely balanced with 2 grams of dosage tempering the naturally high acidity of Chenin Blanc.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
France – Rhone

Domaine des Accoles Le Rendez-vous des Acolytes Grenache, Ardeche 2015 750ML ($19.95) $16.60 special
Winery note “[Translated] 100% Grenache from 10 to 20 year old vines. 100% charming. A light, fruity wine meant to be enjoyed among friends.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Domaine des Accoles ‘Le Cab’ des Acolytes’ Rouge, IGP Coteaux de l’Ardeche 2014 750ML ($19.95) $16.60 special
Winery note “[Translated] From 20 year old Cabernet Sauvignon vines. 50% whole cluster. Gently pressed so as not to extract too much tannin. A fruity and pleasant wine meant to be enjoyed among friends. Excellent with grilled meats, charcuterie and cheeses or even spicy dishes or chocolate.”

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Back in Stock!

Cameron Winery ‘Arley’s Leap’ Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2014 750ML ($59.95) $46 special
Wine Advocate 91-93 points “The 2014 Pinot Noir Arley’s Leap has a fresh, vibrant bouquet with blackberry and briary fruit, a little darker than I was expecting, but still extremely well defined and “natural.” The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin, well-integrated oak, smooth in texture with blackberry, raspberry and hints of vanilla pod towards the well-defined finish. Great potential.”

Krug Grande Cuvee, Champagne NV 750ML ($219.95) $169 special
Wine Spectator 95 points “This mouthwatering Champagne shows a lovely sense of finesse, with firm acidity deftly married to a rich profile of crème de cassis, toasted brioche and lime blossom, accented by hints of café au lait, singed orange peel and exotic spice. Long and plush on the finish.” (10/2016)

Dom Perignon Brut, Champagne 2006 750ML ($179.95) $149 special
Antonio Galloni 97 points “The 2006 Dom Pérignon is a beautifully balanced, harmonious Dom Pérignon that strikes an incredibly appealing stylistic middle ground. Rich, voluptuous and creamy, the 2006 shows off fabulous intensity in a style that brings together the ripeness of 2002 with the greater sense of verve and overall freshness that is such a signature of the 2004. Bass notes and a feeling of phenolic grip on the finish recall the 2003, as the Pinot Noir is particularly expressive today. After an irregular summer that saw elevated temperatures in July followed by cooler, damp conditions in August, more favorable weather returned in September, pushing maturation ahead and leading to a long, protracted harvest. The 2006 falls into the family of riper, more voluptuous Dom Pérignons, but without veering into the level of opulence seen in vintages such as 2002.”
Wine Advocate 96 points “The 2006 Dom Pérignon comes from a very rich vintage with an early ripeness that brought a lot of aromatic maturity. The white-golden prestige cuvée contains a bit more Chardonnay than Pinot Noir and opens with a deep and seductive, pretty accessible nose with intense yet fresh fruit aromas of pineapples, with peaches and tangerines. Lively and elegant on the palate, this is a full-bodied, unusually aromatic and fruity DP with a long and tension-filled expression.”
Richard Juhlin 94(97) points [English Translation] ‘It’s not often you fall backwards when a wine is first launched on the market. This time both me and my friends, who got to try this jewel at my champagne bar, fell in love instantly. It is all here so beautifully orchestrated in this incredibly well-balanced and flowing rich symphony. It is so voluptuously charming and welcoming immediately, but at the same time so complex that the interest in what you will discover in the next gulp never ceases. Here are all the pillars that I perceive a Dom Pérignon should have. A gigantic large and intense aroma, a silk caressing structure and a dazzling grand finale. Notes from the sea, roasted nuts, coffee, brioche, tropical green fruits, stone fruit, green apples, sweet orange citrus, gunpowder, nougat, mushroom cream and black truffle are all there like a perfectly tailored tuxedo. Love at first sight.”

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Staff Pick Producer

Alzinger:

A Producer I’d Prefer Not to Talk About

Saul:
With most of these winery write ups, I’m more than happy to go on at length about all of the different reasons to buy the wines, about the history of the estate and how distinguished the various cuvees are.  With Alzinger, though, I feel conflicted.  These are special wines, which we don’t get a ton of, from a producer that is possibly my favorite in Austria (and certainly in the Wachau).  It would be nice to have them sit here in the shop for a few months so I can slowly buy more, but for obvious reasons that’s not a good idea.

The Alzinger style is one of restraint and balance, which yields wines that are impressively aromatic and reward focus and contemplation.  They aren’t so bombastic that they take up all of your attention, so they’re incredible wines to pair with food.  Both Gruner and Riesling are excellent, up and down the ripeness scale (they make my favorite Federspiel wines), and they age beautifully.  If you like old-school, old world wines (white Burgundy, or Alsatian wines before the planet turned into an oven), you should buy these.  They’re really something

Highlight of Alzinger Wines In Stock Now:

Weingut Leo Alzinger Muhlpoint Gruner Veltliner Federspiel, Wachau 2014 750ML ($34.95) $28 special, 12 bottles available
David Schildknecht–Vinous 89 points “Reflecting a full percentage point more in potential alcohol than the corresponding Frauenweingarten, this bottling with its palpably high glycerol and dry extract has surprising stuffing for a Federspiel of its vintage. Nonetheless, it remains buoyant, while bringing to bear enhanced textural polish, clarity and follow-through. Fresh lima beans are drizzled with lime juice and seasoned with green herbs, the crunch and piquancy of dark leafy greens adding to the grip and invigoration of a sustained finish.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Weingut Leo Alzinger Loibner Steinertal Gruner Veltliner Smaragd, Wachau 2011 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 4 bottles available
Falstaff Report 95 points “(translated) Bright Green Yellow. Fine yellow peach fruit, delicate orange flavor, mineral touch, multi-faceted bouquet, succulent, very elegant texture, fine stone fruit touch, balanced, underlaid with a finesse acid structure remains very good stick, mineral finish, very good from an inspiring transparency, aging potential.” FR

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Weingut Leo Alzinger Loibner Steinertal Gruner Veltliner Smaragd, Wachau 2012 750ML ($69.95) $55 special, 6 bottles available
Joel Payne 91 points “Intense ripe aromas of pineapple, cantaloupe and white pepper. Quite concentrated, warmly rich and powerful, yet cool, austere and focused. Mineral spices and a nearly salty impression linger on the long finish.” JP

Weingut Leo Alzinger Durnsteiner Riesling Federspiel, Wachau 2013 750ML ($39.95) $29 special, 9 bottles available
David Schildknecht–Vinous 89 points “The village designation on this wine’s label calls attention to its having originated in diverse vineyards. Green apple and rhubarb tartness along with green herbal pungency render this one of those 2013 instances where you might mistake Riesling for Grüner Veltliner (or vice-versa). Lemony juiciness renders the penetrating finish even brighter and tarter than what came before, but the wine’s herbal aspect makes for considerable, satisfyingly cooling counterpoint. A slight apple skin chewiness invigorates, and a lick of salt activates the salivary glands.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Weingut Leo Alzinger Durnsteiner Riesling Smaragd, Wachau 2015 750ML ($44.95) $36 special, 19 bottles available

Weingut Leo Alzinger Durnsteiner Hollerin Riesling Smaragd, Wachau 2015 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 5 bottles available
David Schildknecht–Vinous 91 points “Mint, elderflower, ripe peach, honeydew melon and orange combine for a lovely nose and a voluminous, richly fruited palate full of inner-mouth perfume. Tangy fresh lime brightness lends animation while huckleberry and orange peel deliver invigorating counterpoint on a lingering finish.”

Weingut Leo Alzinger Loibenberg Riesling Smaragd, Wachau 2015 750ML ($69.95) $59 special, 5 bottles available
David Schildknecht–Vinous 90-91 points “Last tasted in June 2016 from tank (after having briefly sojourned in cask), this is tight, firm and bright in a way one doesn’t typically associate with its site, much less from an unremittingly warm vintage. “With our higher, east-facing Riesling sites,” noted Alzinger, “you could say that our Loibenberg Riesling is really not all that Loibenberg-typical,” though he acknowledged that acid retention seemingly specific this year to the Loibenberg and Dürnstein sectors is something of a mystery. All of that having been noted, the midpalate impression here is also expansive, with its ripe peach and pear accompanied by eau de vie-like inner-mouth esters. Stone and peach kernel lend slightly austere counterpoint to a pithily concentrated, seriously sustained finish.”

We offer 100 different Austrian wines in stock now (that’s 12 different wines or 72 bottles in-stock now from Alzinger!) – see the complete list on our web store!

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Beerenauslese

Fun to Say / Fun to Drink

German Dessert Riesling

Sauternes, at the upper end of the dessert wine market, gets all of the glory, but across the board, there’s no better dessert wine out there than Beerenauslese Riesling from Germany.  The reason for this is simple.  No other dessert wine out there has such freshness and elegance while maintaining that luscious complexity that you want out of an after dinner beverage.

These wines are so delicious that (unlike most Sauternes, in our opinion) you don’t have problems emptying a bottle once it’s open, but they’re also so aromatic it can be hard to stop smelling the wines and start drinking them!  Even better—the pricing.  Compared to almost any other wine in their class, they’re bargains.  We have a great collection (including some exclusive picks from Jos. Christoffel Jr.) and wanted to share them with you today.

German Beerenauslese Wines Available Here Now:

Weingut Jos. Christoffel Jr. Christoffel-Prum Urziger Wurzgarten Riesling Beerenauslese, Mosel 2005 750ML ($179.95) $133 special, 12 bottles available
Weingut Jos. Christoffel Jr. Christoffel-Prum Urziger Wurzgarten Riesling Beerenauslese, Mosel 2005 375ML ($89.95) $69 special, 24 half-bottles available
2005 Vintage: Wine Spectator 98 points “Lush, ripe Rieslings at all quality levels; acidity, though low in some, balances richness in most.”

These are the only listings in the USA today!

Weingut Jos. Christoffel Jr. Christoffel-Prum Urziger Wurzgarten Riesling Beerenauslese, Mosel 1976 700ML ($219.95) $179 special, 9 bottles available
1976 Vintage: Wine Spectator 96 points “Ripe, powerful; plenty of botrytis.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Weingut Jos. Christoffel Jr. Christoffel-Prum Graacher Domprobst Riesling Beerenauslese, Mosel 1976 700ML ($219.95) $179 special, 10 bottles available
1976 Vintage: Wine Spectator 96 points “Ripe, powerful; plenty of botrytis.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Weingut Jos. Christoffel Jr. Christoffel-Prum Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Beerenauslese, Mosel 1995 750ML ($179.95) $149 special, 2 bottles available

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Weingut Donnhoff Niederhauser Hermannshohle Riesling Beerenauslese, Nahe 2011 375ML ($199.95) $149 special, 9 half-bottles available
Wine Advocate 96 points “Intriguingly musky and subtly fungal as well as piercing in its evocation of distilled pit fruits and botanicals, the nose of Donnhoff’s 2011 Niederhauser Hermannshohle Riesling Beerenauslese – which was picked alongside its Auslese counterpart – promises an intense palate experience that the wine very much delivers. Distilled extracts of wormwood, woodruff and anisette; maraschino and serviceberry seem to lace the amalgam of quince jelly with pear and white peach nectars in a lusciously multi-layered yet animated palate performance. A spicy and tropical suggestion of mango chutney compounds the vibrantly penetrating effect of pungent herbal and pit fruit essences in a tonsil-gripping, mouth-shaking finish.” WA

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $174.98 for the half-bottle!

Weingut Donnhoff Niederhauser Hermannshohle Riesling Beerenauslese, Nahe 2015 375ML ($179.95) $138 special, 9 half-bottles available
John Gilman 95 points “The 2015 Hermannshöhle BA is still a baby and was in its primary stage of development, but this will clearly be a great wine as well. The bouquet offers up scents of baked apple, tangerine, a touch of papaya, gentle smokiness, orange oil and honey. On the palate the wine is pure, full-bodied, bright and very, very deep, with great focus and grip, a very long, perfectly balanced and nascently complex finish. This will of course be approachable from the moment that it is released, but I would strongly suggest giving it at least four or five years in the cellar to allow it to start to really blossom and show some of the secondary layers of complexity that will come with bottle age. 2016-2075+.”

Dr. Crusius Schlossbockelheimer Felsenberg Riesling Beerenauslese Goldkapsel 2015 375ML ($179.95) $159 special, 12 half-bottles available
2016 German Auction Wine
Mosel Fine Wines 98 points “Harvested at a full-on 153° Oechsle (i.e. sugar levels technically qualifying for TBA), this auction BA starts off on the primary and discreet side at first before rapidly exhibiting huge finesse, complexity and depth with honeyed notes of apricot, pineapple, mango, vanilla cream and other exotic fruits. The botrytis gives the wine a great exotic, luscious and unctuous texture with plenty of juice, creamy viscosity and smoothness on the palate. The wine is, of course, still very sweet at this stage (it has no less than 229 g/l of residual sugar), but the interplay with some gorgeously playful acidity makes for a superbly clean and focused feel in the long finish. The only drawback of this little masterpiece of a BA is that it is still a good decade away from maturity. Patience is required! 2030-2085.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Selbach-Oster Bernkasteler Badstube Riesling Beerenauslese, Mosel 2006 375ML ($119.95) $99 special, 4 half-bottles available
Wine Advocate 96 points “The 2006 Bernkastler Badstube Riesling Beerenauslese smells of liqueur-like, jellied, vanilla- and chocolate-covered purple plums and black cherries. The implosive palate concentration though is simply beyond “liqueur-like” and into realms I can’t recall. Strong brown spices, herbal concentrates add complexity and a buttery, creamy texture does not prevent this wine from preserving the most remarkable clarity of jellied pit fruit concentration, photo-electric brilliance of fruit acids lighting the way to an endless finish. It may not be the most complex Beerenauslese today, but give it time! Is this a “fifty year” wine … “seventy”…? All that matters is to decide whether you want to greedily take it with you to the grave or pass some on. The Germans have an expression: “So was kurz vorm Sterben” – “to experience such a thing shortly before dying.” This wine is one of those things.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Selbach-Oster Zeltinger Schlossberg Riesling Beerenauslese*, Mosel 2005 375ML ($149.95) $99 special, 24+ half-bottles available
Wine Spectator 98 points “Sweet and backed by a vibrant structure, this is elegant and detailed, with concentrated red berry, lime and nectarine. One of the few BAs to show a mineral component. Terrific balance and harmony, ending with a long, slate-tinged aftertaste. Drink now through 2040.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Weingut Willi Schaefer Graacher Domprobst Riesling Beerenauslese, Mosel 2011 375ML ($209.95) $159 special, 5 half-bottles available
Wine Advocate 97 points “The Schaefer 2011 Graacher Domprobst Riesling Beerenauslese restores the brightness, vivacity, penetrating and interplay of flavors that characterized the two magnificent Domprobst Spatlesen in the present collection but had receded as one made one’s way through the Spatlesen. Never has Willi Schaefer’s repeated mantra that green-golden ripe berries must be well-represented in a B.A. been more deliciously illustrated. Juicy and candied lemon, apple jelly and fresh apple concentrate, quince paste, white raisin, vanilla cream, and salted caramel all inform a rich yet exuberant palate performance that enervates even as it envelops. This should have half a century of adventure in store.” WA

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $184.99

Weingut Daniel Vollenweider Wolfer Goldgrube Riesling Beerenauslese, Mosel 2007 375ML ($179.95) $139 special, 2 half-bottles available
Mosel Fine Wines 96+ points “Reviewed 2017. Harvested at over 190° Oechsle, this golden-colored wine delivers a huge TBA-styled nose driven by raisin, date, mirabelle compote and orange marmalade. The wine is oily and still cloyingly sweet on the palate but the precision, depth and multi-layered purity, above all in the after-taste, is simply remarkable. One is left with brown sugar, date, sage and the purest of honey and a great acidity in the long and creamy finish. This is far from ready and could develop positively in aromatic precision as the sensation of sweetness recedes with further aging. 2027-2047. AP # 09 08.”
Stephen Tanzer 95 points “Rich golden yellow. Intense bouquet of yellow plum, candied pineapple and spicy botrytis. The rich, dense, honey-glazed tropical fruit flavors are highlighted by a precise minerality that keeps the palate fresh in spite of the wine’s considerable depth and sweetness. The long, complex finish features a burst of slate. An excellent beerenauslese for the vintage.”ST

This is the only listing in the USA today!

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Arriving June 23rd

Ingrid Groiss

While wrapping your tongue around the pronunciation of Gemischter Satz may be difficult (we’ll wait while you try it three times fast) wrapping your head around it might prove the elevating task. It is a field wine, or more derisively known as a tavern wine. Like Marcel Deiss in Alsace, Ingrid Groiss subscribes to the belief that by blending all the varietals of the vineyard, one can capture the essence of terroir.  Her mastery of the land and vine extends to single-varietal Gruner, as well.

We’re pleased to announce our pre-sell offer from this tiny yet mighty winery. Wines arrive on Friday, June 23rd:

Weingut Ingrid Groiss ‘Braitenpuechttorff’ Gemischter Satz, Weinviertel 2016 750ML ($29.95) $24 pre-arrival special
Winery note “Gemischter Satz is a wine from different grape varieties that are grown together in one single vineyard. The grapes grow together, they are harvested and also processed together. It´s the most traditional way of planting in Austria. Among our varieties in the Gemischter Satz are Chardonnay, Müller Thurgau, Welschriesling, Grüner Veltliner, Riesling, Grauburgunder, Pinot Blanc, Frühroter Veltliner, Neuburger, Zierfandler, Rotgipfler, Sämling, Roter Veltliner, Grauer Vöslauer, Hietl Rote, Weiße Vöslauer and Silberweiße”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Weingut Ingrid Groiss ‘Pankraz’ Gruner Veltliner Reserve, Weinviertel 2015 750ML ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival special
David Schildknecht–Vinous 90-91 points “From old vines on a site near the Schablau, and featuring a similarly complex mix of sand, gravel, conglomerate and marl, this first-time Groiss offering was raised in older 500-liter Austrian oak barrels, with nearly one-third of the fruit having been destemmed by hand and its berries incorporated intact in the fermentation. When I tasted in June, the wine had only just been racked off its gross lees and berry remnants. Lime, rhubarb, white peach and fresh apple project a sense of brightness and primary juiciness that belie the effects of lees and skin contact, though there is also an impressive sense of midpalate density and finishing phenolic grip. Alkaline and chalky notes lend a certain austerity, but a succulent abundance of fresh fruit nicely complements that.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Weingut Ingrid Groiss Sauberg Tradition Gruner Veltliner 2015 750ML ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival special
David Schildknecht–Vinous 90-91 points “From a geologically diverse site, more of which Groiss has recently planted, this was raised in Austrian oak demi-muids and due to have been bottled at the end of summer 2016. At 13.5 percent, it’s the highest-alcohol among her 2015s, and a trace of warmth accompanies its textural richness and sumptuous meld of pear and mirabelle with caramelized parsnip and rutabaga. The resonant, low-toned finish is convincingly persistent and subtly underlain with wet stone.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Weingut Ingrid Groiss ‘In der Schablau’ Gruner Veltliner Reserve Weinviertel 2015 750ML ($41.95) $38 pre-arrival special
David Schildknecht–Vinous 92-93 points “Last tasted from tank soon after its June 2016 assemblage, and still on its fine lees, this was due to have been bottled in late summer. Pear, persimmon and green bean dominate the nose as well as a glycerol-rich and expansive midpalate that showcases the wine’s generous ripeness while preserving a crunch of green bean and introducing cooling inflections of mint and basil. Incisive white pepper, chalk, stone and savory blond tobacco add to the saliva-inducing complexity of a superbly sustained finish as mouth-cleansing and refreshing as it is succulently fruity.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

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Arriving June 23rd

The Delicious Natural Wines of Grange Tiphane

Damien Delecheneau is a winemaker who does Natural Wine the right way.  Working out of Touraine, in the Loire, the wines he makes under his family’s label “La Grange Tiphane” have captivated those in the know in both Paris and the US.  In a broad sense, he makes ‘Natural Wine,’ but without the flaws and bottle variation that you sometimes associate with the category. Really, he makes classic wines.

The family holdings encompass a number of different grapes, from the common Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Franc to the slightly more obscure Cot and Grolleau.  All of the wines have a bell-clear purity of flavor to them and seem to disappear effortlessly once they’re open, especially the Ad Libitum.  The Becarre and Quatre Mains are both age-worthy efforts that are complex and will reward time in the cellar.

Arriving June 23rd from La Grange Tiphaine:

Domaine La Grange Tiphaine Touraine Amboise Ad Libitum, Loire 2015 750ML ($21.95) $19 pre-arrival special
VinopolNote: A midweight to light red that is super gulpable.  It’s a blend of the three big grapes for the Touraine—Gamay, Cab Franc and Cot—and goes down too easily.  Don’t buy just one bottle.  We warned you.

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Domaine La Grange Tiphaine Touraine Amboise Becarre, Loire 2015 750ML ($31.95) $27 pre-arrival special
VinopolNote: This is a serious bottle of Cabernet Franc, on par with anything from Chinon but Baudry’s very top bottlings.  The 2015 vintage brought a lot of ripeness, so no greenness and less herbal flavors than usual, but with lots of great dark fruit and some structure to balance it out.  A real stunner and one to drink now or age for a little while.

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Domaine La Grange Tiphaine Montlouis Nouveau Nez, Loire 2014 750ML ($31.95) $27 pre-arrival special
VinopolNote: We’ll keep this simple: this is one of the two or three best pet-nats we’ve tried.  Made from 100% Chenin Blanc and sparkling as a the result of a single fermentation, this is bubbly (though not as much as Champagne) and flat out delicious.

Domaine La Grange Tiphaine Touraine Quatre Mains, Loire 2015 750ML ($49.95) $41.90 pre-arrival special
VinopolNote: This is the top white from the estate—a 100% Sauvignon Blanc grown on Silex soils that reminds us of Dageneau in how it marries richness and minerality.  In a vintage like 2015, it should be approachable young, but this stunner will only become more and more exciting with age.  Damien Delecheneau is a producer to watch and this wine is the first item on his resumé.

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Also arriving this month:

Vincent Dauvissat Chablis, Burgundy 2014 750ML ($79.95) $69 pre-arrival special
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 91 points “The nose suggests terrific stony cut and a yeasty baked bread quality. Then tightly wound and densely packed, with taut, incisive flavors of lemon, white peach, brown spices and stone. An outstanding Chablis villages with aging potential.”
Burghound 90 points “Here the nose is compositionally similar to the Petit Chablis though at the same time more elegant and more complex. There is impressive volume and richness to the seductively textured middle weight flavors that exude a fine bead of minerality on the sappy, balanced and solidly persistent finish. This notably dry effort should drink well young yet age effortlessly for 5 to 8 years, perhaps even a bit longer. Excellent.”

Vincent Dauvissat Vaillons, Chablis Premier Cru 2013 750ML ($99.95) $89 pre-arrival special
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 91 points “Aromas of menthol, minerals and wet stone suggest an austere wine. Then rich but backward on the palate, conveying noteworthy sweetness to the complex flavors of pineapple, mirabelle, apricot pit and violet. Finishes with a lightly phenolic edge. Not quite as pure as the 2014 edition but a triumph for its vintage.”
Burghound 91 points “A very fresh and cool nose features notes of mineral reduction, dried apricot, wet stone and citrus. The intense and beautifully well-detailed flavors possess a silky mouth feel as well as the same stony character telegraphed by the nose, all wrapped in an impressively long and slightly austere and lemon-inflected finish. This sleek effort should reward a few years of bottle age yet also be accessible on the early side.”

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Chapoutier

Rhone’s Greatest Hits

Here Now & Later

Chapoutier is one of the hallmark producers of the Rhone.  Only Jaboulet can match them for history and breadth, though Chapoutier’s wines have been much better in the last 20+ years.  Founded in 1808, the winery has grown slowly and steadily ever since, with holdings in every major important vineyard in the Northern Rhone.

The wines are definitely powerful, the Chapoutier trademark, but with a depth and levity to them that makes them engaging and refreshing.  The whites are almost all Marsanne and are intense and rich—these are whites that grab your attention and hold them.  They consistently have earned high praise (read: points) from major critics and are the benchmarks for white wines in their various appellations.

The reds are compelling as well, and 100% Syrah from the Northern Rhone (the Cote Rotie doesn’t have any Viognier in it).  These are wines that have a magnetic field around them—dense and complex.  They have all of the qualities one expects from Syrah and are frequently cited by winemakers as being the source of inspiration.

In other words, a touchstone producer.

In-Stock Now from Chapoutier:

M. Chapoutier Ermitage de l’Oree Blanc, Rhone 2010 750ML ($299.95) $249 special, 4 bottles available
Robert Parker 100 points “There are 716 cases of the 2010 Ermitage de l’Oree. I have been following this cuvee since its debut vintage and this 100% Marsanne possesses more richness than most Burgundy Montrachets. Although aged in 100% new, 500-liter demi-muids, the wine reveals no evidence of oak. Honeysuckle, caramelized citrus, white peach, quince and white currant characteristics are viscous and full-bodied, yet the wine possesses striking precision and laser-like focus. This monumental effort is the most opulent and richest of all Chapoutier’s dry whites in 2010.”RP

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $261

M. Chapoutier Ermitage de l’Oree Blanc, Rhone 2011 750ML ($249.95) $199 special, 1 bottle available
Robert Parker 100 points “The 2011 Ermitage Cuvee de l’Oree comes from a lieu-dit known as Les Murets planted with 80- to 90-year-old Marsanne vines. The bouquet offers up scents of Asian spices, lychee nuts, white currant liqueur and peach and apricot marmalade. This stunning, honeyed, flamboyant white is perfection in a glass. Drink it over the next half century.” RP

M. Chapoutier Ermitage Le Meal Blanc, Rhone 2011 750ML ($219.95) $159 special, 11 bottles available
Wine Advocate 99 points “Surprisingly, I preferred the 2011 Ermitage le Meal Blanc over the 2012 on this occasion and it showed a more flamboyant, sexy style in its caramelized pineapple, tropical, honeyed and floral personality. Big, rich and decadent, with fabulous fruit intensity and length, this rock star flirts with perfection and will keep for another 3-4 decades.”

M. Chapoutier Saint-Joseph Blanc ‘Les Granits’, Rhone 2011 750ML ($69.95) $59 special, 6 bottles available
Robert Parker 96 points “The brilliant 2011 St.-Joseph Les Granits Blanc offers up scents of caramelized citrus, orange blossoms and honeysuckle. It is full-bodied with loads of fruit, and as of now, the telltale minerality has not yet penetrated the lavish fruit notes.” RP

This is the lowest listed by the bottle price in the USA today!

M. Chapoutier Ermitage Le Meal Rouge, Rhone 2001 750ML ($249.95) $219 special, 6 bottles available
Wine Advocate 94 points “Reminding me of the 2005 (albeit with less concentration) with its classic, straight and focused personality, the 2001 Ermitage le Meal offers lots of gamy meats, olive, bacon fat and dark fruits to go with a medium to full-bodied, seamless, silky and elegant style on the palate. Shining for its purity, elegance and freshness – all of which make it hard to resist today – it’s a great choice for readers looking for a classic, mature Hermitage that’s drinking at point. It should hold for another 10-15 years.”

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M. Chapoutier Ermitage Le Pavillon, Rhone 2011 750ML ($349.95) $289 special, 2 bottles available
Wine Advocate 100 points “Even better and a prodigious effort that hits all my sweet spots, the 2011 Ermitage Le Pavillon comes from one of the top terroirs on Hermitage hill, the granite soils of the Les Bessards lieu-dit. Spectacularly perfumed, with raspberry, blackberry, licorice, toasted spices and assorted floral nuances, this full-bodied effort has massive depth and richness, no hard edges and masses of finely polished tannin that emerge on and frame the finish. It will be approachable at an earlier age than either the 2009 or 2010, yet should nevertheless have 2-3 decades of ultimate longevity.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $320

M. Chapoutier Hermitage Monier de la Sizeranne, Rhone 2007 750ML ($129.95) $79 special, 2 bottles available
Robert Parker 90-93 points “The 2007 Ermitage La Sizeranne displays a similar deep ruby/purple-tinged color in addition to sweet aromas of raspberries, black currants, smoke, gun flint, and spice. This full-bodied, well-made wine reveals outstanding richness, purity, and overall balance. Consume it over the next 15-20 years.” RP

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $96

Chapoutier Wine Arriving in June:

M. Chapoutier Hermitage Chante-Alouette, Rhone 2015 750ML ($89.95) $69 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 95 points “The finest vintage for this cuvée I’ve ever tasted, the sensational 2015 Hermitage Chante Alouette boasts awesome notes of white peach, orange marmalade and white flowers in a rich, full-bodied, concentrated style. Coming from three different terroirs on Hermitage Hill (Méal, Les Murets and Chante Alouette), don’t miss it!”

Chapoutier Wine Arriving in July:

M. Chapoutier Ermitage de l’Oree Blanc, Rhone 2013 750ML ($249.95) $199 pre-arrival special, only 6 bottles available!
Wine Advocate 100 points “Leading off three single-vintage whites from Hermitage, the stunning 2013 Ermitage Cuvee de L’Orée has an off-the-hook bouquet that includes just about everything you could think of when considering Hermitage Blanc. White peach, white flowers, almond paste, quince and wet rock are just some of the nuances, and it packs a serious punch on the palate, with full-bodied richness, a flamboyant, expansive texture and riveting focus and purity. Give it a year or so and drink it over the following 2-3 decades.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!

M. Chapoutier Ermitage Les Greffieux Rouge, Rhone 2013 750ML ($119.95) $99 pre-arrival special
Wine Spectator 95 points “Offers a solid, dark profile, with baker’s chocolate, loam and warm gravel notes providing the bass line, while a core of plum and blackberry compote waits in reserve. Solidly rendered, showing ample grip, this just needs a little time to unfurl in the cellar. Best from 2019 through 2030.”
Wine Advocate 94 points “One of the broader, more expansive and mouth-filling Hermitage in the vintage, the 2013 Ermitage les Greffieux comes from a site located lower down on the slope, just underneath the Méal and right up next to the town of Tain l’Hermitage. Its inky purple color is accompanied by terrific notes of blackberries, black raspberries, toasted spice, charcoal and roasted meats. Full-bodied, mouth-filling and with rock solid density and depth, its sweet tannin and overall elegant profile — all suggesting it will drink nicely for upwards of two decades.”
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 94 points “Deep ruby. A highly perfumed bouquet evokes fresh red and dark berries, Indian spices, candied violet and incense, lifted by a bright mineral quality. Silky, sweet and energetic on the palate, offering vibrant black raspberry, floral pastille and spicecake flavors that spread out and gain weight with air. Manages to be both powerful and graceful, offering superb back-end punch and velvety tannins that shape the floral finish.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

We offer 134 different wines in stock now from the Rhone Valley (that’s 17 different white wine options, 102 different reds and 15 different rosés – that’s over 2,700 bottles!). Visit our web store to browse the complete list.

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Budget-Friends Rhone (And Rhone-Adjacent) Wine

Arriving in July

Domaine Boisson Cotes du Rhone Villages Massif d’Uchaux Clos de la Brussiere, Rhone 2009 750ML ($24.95) $18 pre-arrival special
Case-12 Domaine Boisson Cotes du Rhone Villages Massif d’Uchaux Clos de la Brussiere, Rhone 2009 750ML ($299.95) $199 pre-arrival special (that’s only $16.58/bottle!)
Robert Parker 91 points “Even better is the 2009 Cairanne Clos de la Brussiere from the Massif d’Uchaux, the newest Cotes du Rhone-Villages appellation. A dark ruby/purple color is followed by deliciously ripe fruit in this seriously stacked and packed effort. Revealing lots of kirsch liqueur, loamy soil, garrigue and lavender notes, this full-bodied, richly fruity, pure, well-balanced 2009 should drink well for 4-5 years.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Lavau Cotes du Rhone Villages, Rhone 2013 750ML ($14.95) $11.90 pre-arrival special
Case-12 Lavau Cotes du Rhone Villages, Rhone 2013 750ML ($179.95) $119 pre-arrival special (that’s only $9.92/bottle!)
Wine Spectator 88 points “Juicy blackberry and raspberry fruit races along, inlaid with subtle black tea and anise notes. Focused finish.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $12.74

Lavau Gigondas, Rhone 2012 750ML ($24.95) $18 pre-arrival special
Case-12 Lavau Gigondas, Rhone 2012 750ML ($299.95) $199 pre-arrival special (that’s only $16.58/bottle!)
Wine Spectator 90 points “Features a dark profile, with steeped plum, black licorice and graphite notes framed by Lapsang souchong tea and carrying through the fleshy, well-defined finish. Very solid.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $26

Chateau Pesquie Terrasses Rouge, Ventoux 2007 750ML ($19.95) $11.90 pre-arrival special
Robert Parker 91 points “The 2007 Terrasses Rouge is a custom cuvee put together for importer Eric Solomon. Made from 60-year-old Grenache and 30-year-old Syrah, one-third is aged in small barrels and the rest in foudre and tank. I’m sure discounters will offer this cuvee for around $12 a bottle, which makes it a remarkable bargain. A dense ruby/purple color is followed by aromas of cassis, kirsch, lavender, pepper, and spice. The sweetness of the tannins, abundant glycerin, razor sharp focus, and wonderful depth make for a wine that transcends its humble price and bucolic appellation.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $19.95

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Arriving in September

Domaine Paul Autard Chateauneuf-du-Pape La Cote Ronde, Rhone 2010 750ML ($69.95) $59 pre-arrival special
Robert Parker 94 points “A sensational effort, the 2010 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee La Cote Ronde reveals a touch of toasty oak in the aromatics, but it is beautifully integrated with kirsch, roasted Provencal herb, espresso and black currant aromas. This full-throttle, masculine and rich wine possesses sweet tannins as well as good integration of structure and acidity. It is built for the long haul, yet can be drunk in 2-3 years or cellared for two decades.”
Wine Spectator 93 points “This isn’t shy, with flashy mocha, toasted raisin, cinnamon and pastis aromas rushing forth, but there’s sleek, integrated structure and solid layers of linzer torte, plum pâte de fruit and bramble to fill it out. A tarry edge lingers on the finish. Best from 2014 through 2026.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

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Thank you for reading!