Monday Newsletter 6-5-17

Subscriber-Only Special: 10% Off In-Stock Barolo; Featured New Arrival: Drappier Super Special; New Week – New Arrivals; A Case of Vinsanity: New Arrivals/Re-Arrivals & More!; Staff Picks: Burgundy; Selbach-Oster: Supremely Drinkable Riesling; Single Vineyard Rare Clone Sangiovese from Tuscany; Leon Barral; Cantalupo – New Magnum Arrivals & More to Come! Italian High Scorers: Arriving Late June from Montevetrano & Parusso

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Subscriber-Only Two Day Special

Sale Ends Tuesday, June 6th at 11:59 PM!

Your special discount: 10% off listed price on all in-stock Barolos

Discount does not apply to pre-arrival offers
Discount will not appear in online shopping cart
We will apply it here before charging

We offer 56 different Barolos in-stock and available here now, that’s over 750 bottles, including such names as Brovia & Burlotto, Giacomo Borgogno & Giacomo Conterno, Bruno Giacosa, Giuseppe Mascarello, Scarpa to Roberto Voerzio & Vietti, you’re certain to find treasures! Top picks include:

Falletto di Bruno Giacosa ‘Falletto’, Barolo DOCG 2005 750ML ($249.95) Displayed price $169, Your price $152.10, 36+ bottles available
Antonio Galloni 94 points “The 2005 Barolo Falletto offers up a gorgeous bouquet of red cherries, flowers, spices and menthol. This is a relatively delicate, elegant Barolo Falletto yet it offers gorgeous balance, tons of inner perfume and a long, refined finish. It is one of the overachievers in 2005. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2025.”WA

This was the lowest listed price in the USA today,
Now it’s even lower!
The average price is $201

G. B. Burlotto Barolo DOCG 2012 750ML ($49.95) Displayed price $39, Your price $35.10, 34 bottles available
Antonio Galloni 91 points “The 2012 Barolo is a gorgeous entry-level offering from Burlotto and a fabulous introduction to the house style. Lifted, precise and translucent, the 2012 is a pure joy to taste today. This mid-weight, refined Barolo is pure class. Sweet red berry, mint and spice nuances are laced into the super-expressive, inviting finish. Most of this fruit is sourced from Breri.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $45

Giacomo Borgogno & Figli Cannubi, Barolo DOCG 2008 750ML ($179.95) Displayed price $119, Your price $107.10, 14 bottles available
James Suckling 96 points “A dense, chewy wine with plum and dried fruit character. Lots of mineral, sandy and balsamic character. Full body, ripe tannins and a flavourful finish. Structured and rich. Serious Cannubi. Needs at least three or four years of bottle age.” JS
Antonio Galloni 94 points “Violets, tar, smoke, rose petals, spices and dark fruit are some of the many notes that emerge from the 2008 Barolo Cannubi. An intense, dramatic wine for the year, the 2008 boasts layered fruit and equally thrilling structure, even if at times it is a bit rustic. This is a decidedly burly wine from Cannubi, a vineyard mostly associated with finesse. It will be interesting to see how things come together in bottle. Today, it is the wine’s striking inner perfume that makes me most hopeful for the future.” AG

This was the lowest listed price in the USA today,
Now it’s even lower!
The average price is $132

Giacomo Conterno Francia Barolo DOCG 2003 750ML ($149.95) Displayed price $128, Your price $115.20, 19 bottles available
Antonio Galloni 94 points “The 2003 Barolo Cascina Francia is soft, silky and very nicely balanced, especially in its tannins, where the wine really stands out next to so many peers. Readers should open the 2003 at least an hour in advance to allow the aromatics to open up. This is a very sexy and open young Barolo from Conterno with very little signs of the challenging growing season.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Roberto Voerzio Riserva Vecchie Viti dei Capalot e Brunate, Barolo DOCG 2004 1.5L ($699.95) Displayed Price: $519, Your price $467.10, 12 magnums available
Antonio Galloni 98 points “Voerzio no longer makes his Barolo Riserva Vecchie Viti dei Capalot e delle Brunate. The 2004 is a great reminder of just how fabulous this wine was. A huge, vertical wine, the 2004 boasts magnificent depth and overall intensity. The flavors are boldly sketched in a dramatic Barolo built on pure muscle. A host of black cherry, cloves, smoke, menthol, tar and blackberry jam flow through to the intense finish. Beguiling and powerful, the 2004 will provide fascinating drinking for the next 10-15 years, perhaps longer. Of all the 2004s here, this is the wine that has had the most positive evolution in bottle.” (05/2015)

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Does not apply to pre-arrival offers
Sale ends midnight of the 6th!
Discount will not appear in online shopping cart
We will apply it here before charging

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Featured New Arrival

Champagne Super Special!

Drappier Carte d’Or Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($49.95) $35.50 special
Wine Spectator 91 points “This balanced version is firm and lightly toasty, with a tightly knit mix of ripe plum, blanched almond and orange liqueur flavors. Ample ground spice and pink grapefruit zest notes show on the vivacious finish. Drink now through 2020.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $48

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New Week – New Arrivals

Oregon

Maison Roy Petite Incline Pinot Noir 2015 750ML ($39.95) $31.90 special
VinopolNote: Marc-André Roy and Jared Etzel founded Domaine Roy et Fils in 2012. Their families have long worked together in the Oregon wine industry: both of their fathers, together with Robert Parker, founded Beaux Freres Winery in 1991. Their focus continues to be on producing top quality Willamette Valley wines through the exacting care and meticulous work in the vineyard and winery. Domaine wines are produced from the estate vineyards, while the Maison wines are made from grapes sourced from similarly-minded growers in the Valley.

This is the only listing in the USA today!
Washington

Cor Cellars Sugarloaf Vineyard Tempranillo, Rattlesnake Hills 2015 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 special
Winery note “Go North! Tempranillo has arrived in Washington in the saddle. Tobacco and chamomile, jamon iberico, and wild berries on the trail.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!
California

Carpe Diem Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2014 750ML ($27.95) $24 special
Winery Notes “Grapes for the Carpe Diem Cabernet Sauvignon have been selected exclusively from the best vineyards in the world-renowned Napa Valley. Vinified under the strict supervision of Christian Moueix’s winemaking team in Yountville, Carpe Diem embodies the essence of Napa Valley classic Cabernet Sauvignon. It is a straightforward wine expressing its bountiful fruit with aromas of wild strawberries and soft tannins. Oak is used sparingly to keep Carpe Diem fresh and vibrant. Aged: 12 months in barrel. Fermentation: 15 days, stainless steel.”

Bedrock Wine Co. Pagani Ranch Heirloom-Heritage Wine, Sonoma Valley 2015 750ML ($51.95) $46 special
Antonio Galloni 95 points “The 2015 Pagani Heritage is the most overt and flamboyant of the Sonoma Valley wines. Inky red fruit, wild flowers, violet, mint and plum infuse this super-concentrated, dense Zinfandel-based wine.”

Bedrock Wine Co. Nervo Ranch Heritage Red, Alexander Valley 2015 750ML ($59.95) $49 special
Antonio Galloni 93 points “The 2015 Nervo Ranch Heritage, from a site in Alexander Valley planted in 1936, is quite powerful and savory in style. Sweet tobacco, herbs, menthol, licorice and black pepper are some of the many notes that give the Nervo its distinctive personality.”
France – Rhone

Chateau de Vaudieu ‘Les Vieilles Roussanne…’ Chateauneuf du Pape Blanc 2015 750ML ($89.95) $79 special
Wine Advocate 97 points “Even better, and a bigger, richer wine, the 2015 Châteauneuf du Pape Les Vieilles Roussanne is a massive, unctuous effort that needs to be tasted to be believed. In fact, I’d like to line this up beside Beaucastel’s Vieilles Vignes Roussanne and see how they stack up. Stone fruits, white peach, orange blossom and even some tropical notes all emerge from this big, rich, full-bodied beauty that has a stacked mid-palate, good acidity (maybe not great acidity) and a great finish. It needs six months of bottle age to truly shine, and I would drink bottles over the following 2-3 years; at that point, it should be more clear how it will evolve.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!
Only 12 bottles available

Clos Saint-Jean Chateauneuf-du-Pape Sanctus Sanctorum, Rhone 2012 1.5L ($599.95) $499 special
Wine Advocate 99 points “The 2012 Châteauneuf du Pape Sanctus Sanctorum is a singular wine and comes from a small plot of ancient Grenache vines that are located on the famed La Crau lieu-dit, on the eastern edge of the appellation, near Vieux Télégraphe. It offers an insane bouquet of cassis, kirsch and black raspberry intermixed with sweet licorice, toasted spice and ground pepper that’s to die for. This is followed by a massive, full-bodied, seamless wine that has building tannin, no hard edges and a finish that won’t quit. The only problem here is that it’s almost impossible to get your hands on a bottle (there are roughly 200 magnums to go around). It’s certainly in the same ballpark as the 2009 and 2010, and will have two decades of longevity, although it should be firing on all cylinders in 5-6 years.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $650
Very limited- only 2 magnum bottles available
Italy – Piedmont

Vietti Roero Arneis DOCG, Piedmont 2016 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 special
Winery note “Pale straw yellow color with fresh floral, citrus and melon aromas with hints of almond. An unoaked, dry, medium bodied white wine with crisp acidity, the Arneis is well-balanced, elegant wine with good complexity and a lingering finish.”

Marco Porello ‘Camestri’, Roero Arneis DOCG 2016 750ML ($17.95) $14.40 special
“This unoaked Arneis has delicate fragrances of ripe fruits and flowers, while it has a fresh taste thanks to its balanced acidity, very well supported by a rich body and structure. Due to its fragrance the wine can be enjoyed young or left to age for two or three years.”–Winery note
Italy – Liguria

Bisson Ciliegiolo Rose Golfo del Tigullio, Liguria 2016 750ML ($24.95) $18 special
Importer note “When is a rosé not a rosé? We have struggled with whether to officially classify the Ciliegiolo varietal in this category or whether to present it as a light-colored red wine with lots and lots of character (much as we do, for example, the Poulsard from the Jura). No matter what moniker we use, the fact is that this wine is a joyous presence at the table with its bountiful berry flavor, brilliant rose-ruby color and energetic freshness. From the Italian riviera via the talented Piero Lugano.”

This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Italy – Veneto

Ca’ La Bionda Valpolicella Classico, Veneto 2015 750ML ($17.95) $14 special
“80% Corvina e Corvinone, 20% Rondinella, 5% other indigenous varieties among which Molinara. The wine opens with a nose of fresh red fruits and floral notes that recall violets. Elegant and light, this wine is all about freshness and easy drinking, a wine to drink everyday in good company and with a wide variety of Italian style foods from pasta to roast meats.”–Winery notes
Italy – Calabria

Scala Rosso Ciro Classico, Calabria 2013 750ML ($17.95) $14 special
“100% Gaglioppo. Ruby-red colour, powerful and persistent fragrance. Well-balanced and harmonic flavour with an evident typical note of Gaglioppo.”–Winery note

This is the only listing in the USA today!
Spain – Sherry

A.R. Valdespino Inocente Single Vineyard Fino Sherry, Andalucia 750ML ($21.95) $19 special
Wine Advocate 94 points “The NV Fino Inocente must be one of the few wines in Jerez that is still fermented in 600-liter American oak botas, which is an incredible amount of work compared with fermenting tens of thousands of kilos of grapes (or even more) in a big stainless steel tank. This method was the norm of yesteryear, but is so labor intense that it was discontinued in most wineries, and gives a big diversity of wines, as each barrel has its own character, which contributes to the complexity of the blend. Furthermore, the bottled wine is on average 8 to 10 years old. One other thing that makes it apart from other Finos is that the grapes are exclusively from the high part of the Macharnudo vineyard, so this is a single-vineyard Fino. The nose is very complex, showing the effect of the long lees contact: chalk, dried hay, aromatic herbs and salty almonds. The palate is full, but at the same time elegant and balanced, powerful and fine, with the texture of a Meursault rather than a Puligny. A very complex wine, that manages to be both powerful and elegant. Inocente is great value for money. Drink 2013-2016.”

A.R. Valdespino Manzanilla Deliciosa Sherry, Andalucia 750ML ($19.95) $16 special
A.R. Valdespino Manzanilla Deliciosa Sherry, Andalucia 375ML ($13.95) $10.90 special
Wine Advocate 89 points “The impressive line-up is opened with the pale-colored NV Manzanilla Deliciosa, which is produced with Palomino grapes from the Miraflores vineyard and aged for five years under yeast. It is a finer version of La Guita, easy to drink, with a sweet note of apples in the nose, a polished and gentle palate, ending with a saline touch.”

A.R. Valdespino Contrabandista Amontillado Sherry, Andalucia 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 special
Wine Advocate 89 points “The NV Contrabandista is a blend of the style called medium dry that is usually a very commercial category of cheap sherries. It is an off-dry blend of Palomino produced in an Amontillado way (biological + oxidative aging) and around 5% Pedro Ximénez with 30 grams of residual sugar which averages 18 years of age. It’s has a mahogany color, with a bright amber border with aromas of dates and raisins that give a sapid, bittersweet sensation in a medium-bodied palate of moderate sweetness. This is easy to drink.”

A.R. Valdespino El Candado Pedro Ximenez Sherry, Andalucia 375ML ($17.95) $14 special
Wine Spectator 93 points “Offers layers of macerated date, ganache, warm caraway, buckwheat honey and chocolate-covered orange peel notes, with a deep, intense finish that lets a wonderfully smoky hint curl through. The power is obvious, the range and definition more subtle. Drink now.” WS
Portugal – Port

Fonseca Vintage Port 2009 375ML ($49.95) $39 special
Wine Spectator 95 points “This is gorgeously vibrant and grapey, with good cut to the luscious dark fruit and cedar flavors that are flanked by zesty acidity and tannins. A touch brooding midpalate, with a minerally rush and a finish of slate and iron. Best from 2016 through 2036.”
Wine Advocate 94 points “The Fonseca 2009 has a very sweet, typically opulent bouquet of black plum, blackberry, chimney soot and a touch of pencil shavings that is very complex and alluring. The palate is full-bodied with powerful ripe blackberry, allspice, clove and balsamic notes, a roiling, powerful, assertive Fonseca with a sweet, dark chocolate-tinged finish that grips the mouth, but it needs two decades to mellow and demonstrate the finesse to balance the intensity.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

A Case of Vinsanity

We offer case-6 and case-12 specials on 74 items from around the world. Check out some tops picks below including new and re-arrived case specials!

Newly Arrived!
Case-6 Domaine Huet Vouvray Le Mont Moelleux Premiere Trie, Loire 2015 750ML ($479.95) $419 special, 2 six-packs available (that’s only $69.83/bottle!)
Domaine Huet Vouvray Le Mont Moelleux Premiere Trie, Loire 2015 750ML ($99.95) $79 special, 7 bottles available
Wine Advocate 98 points “The 2015 Vouvray Le Mont Moelleux Première Trie is super clear, ripe and aromatic on the nose, highly elegant and with lovely flinty flavors. Intense and concentrated, with great finesse and vitality, this is a highly elegant and perfectly balanced wine with a persistent grip and salinity. Great balance and harmony.”
John Gilman 97 points “The 2015 Vouvray ‘Le Mont’ Moelleux Première Trie from Domaine Huët is utterly brilliant wine, which is at least fifteen years away from truly blossoming, but is so good right now that it is going to be next to impossible not to drink this wine in the blush of youth! The stunning nose shows a gorgeous glazing of botrytis in its constellation of pineapple, honeyed quince, sweet grapefruit, lovely minerality, orange blossoms, a hint of lavender, citrus oils, dried flowers and just a whisper of the new leather that will arrive with bottle age. On the palate the wine is pure, full-bodied and utterly seamless in balance, with a great core, laser-like focus, superb nascent complexity and lovely grip on the endless, vibrant and dancing finish. Magical juice. 2025-2085. (Sep/Oct 2016)”

Newly Arrived!
Case-12 Monteraponi Chianti Classico DOCG, Tuscany 2014 750ML ($269.95) $219 special, 4 cases available (that’s only $18.25/bottle!)
Monteraponi Chianti Classico DOCG, Tuscany 2014 750ML ($27.95) $21.90 special, 14 bottles available
“Fermented without selected yeasts or temperature control, this bright, savory blend of 95% Sangiovese and 5% Canaiolo opens with classic varietal aromas of red berry, fragrant blue flower and a whiff of new leather. The fresh, easy drinking palate doles out juicy wild cherry, chopped herb and a hint cinnamon offset by vibrant acidity and supple tannins.”–Wine Enthusiast

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $28

Newly Re-Arrived!
Case-12 Domaine des Cassagnoles Gros Manseng Selection, IGP Cotes de Gascogne 2015 750ML ($149.95) Was $119, Now $99, 8 cases available (that’s only $8.25/bottle!)
Domaine des Cassagnoles Gros Manseng Selection, IGP Cotes de Gascogne 2015 750ML ($14.950 Was $11.90, Now $9, 36+ bottles available
Winery Notes–“The Gros Manseng produces fleshier, more ample wines with fruity apricot and pear aromas. It is a lively wine, but not to excess, with a persistent final. It may be kept for several years and should be drunk chilled, at a temperature of 50-53°”

Case-6 Vouette et Sorbee Cuvee Fidele Extra Brut, Champagne NV (2012) 750ML ($479.95) $336 special, 3 six-packs available (that’s only $56/bottle!)
Vouette et Sorbee Cuvee Fidele Extra Brut, Champagne NV (2012) 750ML ($89.95) $59 special, 36+ bottles available
Antonio Galloni 95 points “The NV (2012) Extra Brut Fidele is another fabulous wine from Vouette & Sorbée. Here, the richness of Pinot Noir comes through loud and clear in the wine’s depth and overall richness. Creamy and beautifully layered throughout, the 2012 hits all the right notes. Red berry, mint, flowers, sweet spices and candy fill out the wine’s broad frame effortlessly. What a gorgeous wine this is. Simply put, the 2012 is a total knock-out.”

Case-12 Jean-Claude Dagueneau Domaine des Berthiers Pouilly-Fume, Loire 2015 750ML ($299.95) $219 special, 4 cases available (that’s only $18.25/bottle!)
Jean-Claude Dagueneau Domaine des Berthiers Pouilly-Fume, Loire 2015 750ML ($24.95) $20.90 special, 36+ bottles available
Winery note “100% Sauvignon blanc from 20 to 30 year old vines grown in Silex and calcaire soils. Golden green reflections. Discreet aromas on the nose with a hint of ripe orange. A taste of fruit drops and lemon peel on the palate.”

This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!

Case-12 Domaine du Pegau Chateauneuf-du-Pape Cuvee Reservee, Rhone 2013 750ML ($719.95) $549 special, 1 case available (that’s only $45.75/bottle!)
Domaine du Pegau Chateauneuf-du-Pape Cuvee Reservee, Rhone 2013 750ML ($69.95) $49 special, 18 bottles available
Domaine du Pegau Chateauneuf-du-Pape Cuvee Reservee, Rhone 2013 1.5L ($149.95) $128 special, 1 magnum available
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 93 points “Deep ruby. Potent aromas of ripe dark berries, licorice pastille, woodsmoke, game and garrigue, plus a peppery nuance that adds spiciness and lift. Round and fleshy on the palate, offering intense blackberry and bitter cherry flavors that become livelier and sweeter with air. The very long, energetic, sharply focused finish features fine-grained tannins and subtle, lingering notes of dark berries and smoked meat.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $63

Case-12 Bodegas Triton Tridente Tempranillo Vino de la Tierra de Castilla y Leon 2015 750ML ($249.95) $189 special, 2 cases available (that’s only $15.75/bottle and the lowest listed price in the USA today!)
Bodegas Triton Tridente Tempranillo Vino de la Tierra de Castilla y Leon 2015 750ML ($19.95) $18 special, 34 bottles available
Robert Parker 94 points “The 2015 Triton Tinta De Toro is a stunning wine from this relatively modest appellation and vineyard owned by Jorge Ordoñez and his partners. The wine, 100% Tinto de Toro, spent eight months sur lie in Burgundy and Bordeaux barrels. It is a killer example of Toro, which produces relatively full-throttle, intense wines from ungrafted vines. This beauty, inky purple in color, offers up notes of graphite, forest floor, blackberry and cassis in a full-bodied, pedal-to-the-metal, long, rich and concentrated style. At $20.00 it is a remarkable value and probably capable of lasting up to a decade, although there is no reason to defer your gratification.”

This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!

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Staff Picks:

Saul:
The Comte bottlings from Lafon are wildly expensive and sought after, yet Dominique Lafon’s side project, bottled under his full name, seems to fly under the radar (it was founded in 2007).  I just noticed we had a little over a half case left of the Epenottes he made and was shocked that this wine (from the 2010 vintage—a really excellent year) was still around.  Epenottes crosses the border from Beaune into Pommard, which makes this an especially good deal—you aren’t paying for the Pommard label on the wine.

Dominique Lafon Les Epenottes, Beaune Premier Cru 2010 750ML ($99.95) $79 special, 7 bottles available
Wine Advocate 91 points “The 2010 Beaune Epenottes fleshes out beautifully in the glass with dark red berries, spices and licorice. This is an incredibly expressive, layered wine built on a serious core of fruit buffered by the vibrant minerality of the year. Anticipated maturity: 2012+.” WA

Saul:
Meo-Camuzet is one of the legendary Domaines of Burgundy, with holdings in a lot of great parcels (especially in Nuits and Vosne).  While the higher end wines are both really expensive and also very rich, the basic Bourgogne is a fantastic wine at a great price.  This is a wine that outperforms many village wines that cost a lot more—the trademark Meo-Caumuzet opulence is a nice touch for an appellation that can sometimes be on the thin side.  Really good stuff, especially from the 2014 vintage.

Meo Camuzet Bourgogne Rouge, Burgundy 2014 750ML ($39.95) $29 special, 36+ bottles available
“Outstanding top value. All but invisible wood sets off the markedly earthy aromas of various red berries and a hint of cassis. There is fine intensity to the relatively precise middle weight flavors that possess a touch youthful austerity.”—Burghound

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $39

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Selbach-Oster

Supremely Drinkable Riesling

Johannes Selbach is a thoughtful winemaker producing Rieslings first and foremost to be useful at the table. His dry wines are dry, but have fruit and aren’t overly high in alcohol (no 14% monsters here).  His off-dry wines, which he’s known for, are bright and salty, with enough sugar to support the fruit, but not so much as to be cloying.  Compared to some Spatlese and Auslese, the wines are less showy, but much easier to drink an entire bottle of—without sacrificing complexity and intellectual interest, either.

He’s obviously high on 2015 as a vintage, which he calls a “no-brainer, incredible year” that had everything he wants in a year.  But he finds much to love in the 2014 vintage, especial for people who like leaner, mineral-driven wines.  Lower in alcohol and sugar, with high acids, it’s a great vintage to drink young while you wait for the 2015’s to come around.

We’re enthralled by his wines, and think you will be, too, so we’ve stocked up on all we could find. That’s nine vintages, 33 different wines and 1,095 bottles, all told!

Here’s six great picks from Selbach-Oster in-stock now:

Selbach-Oster ‘Anrecht’ Zeltinger Himmelreich Riesling Spatlese, Mosel 2012 750ML ($39.95) $33 special, 36+ bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 92 points “($38) Golden yellow. Expansive aromas of caramelized apple, candied peach and lemon curd. The succulent flavors of honey and apricot pith are kept vibrant by refreshing acidity. The long finish, offering complex notes of tangerine and toasted nuts, tastes almost dry.” ST

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $35.99

Selbach-Oster Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese, Mosel 2015 750ML ($39.95) $36 special, 36+ bottles available
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 95 points “The 2015 Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese is bright, pure, very fine, floral and flinty on the nose. It is provided with perfectly ripe and concentrated, slate-flavored fruit aromas intermixed with lemon and grapefruit notes. This is a lush, piquant and elegant, filigreed and finessed Auslese. It has great finesse and provided with a lot of Spiel and salt. The finish is pure, piquant and salty, but also lush and generous. This is a very precise, straight and stimulating, highly digestible Auslese with a lot of energy, tension and aging potential. It is very clear and there is no hint of botrytis here.”
Mosel Fine Wines 93 points “This offers a beautiful nose of cassis, grapefruit, greengage, apricot tree flower, white flowers and herbs. A more yellow fruit driven side comes through on the palate with yellow peach playing with acidity to produce a mouth-watering cocktail of Mosel charm. A hint of sweetness in the finish is still in need of integration of this gorgeous Auslese in the making. 2025-2045.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Selbach-Oster Zeltinger Schlossberg Riesling Kabinett, Mosel 2015 750ML ($29.95) $24 special, 36+ bottles available
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 92+ points “The 2015 Zeltinger Schlossberg Riesling Kabinett is deep and smoky on the very clear, refreshing nose with its bright fruit aromas and smoky flavors of crushed stones. On the palate, this is a lush and mouth-filling Riesling with great purity, super grip and lingering salinity. The Schlossberg is surely more complex than the regular Kabinett, but I wouldn’t drink it before 2025. It has 9.5% alcohol and less than 50 grams of residual sugar.”
Mosel Fine Wines 92 points “This offers a nice nose of herbs, grapefruit and spices. The wine is gorgeously fruity and elegant on the palate, with some Spätlese presence but also true Kabinett character and lightness. The wine is gorgeously long and elegant. 2023-2040”

This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!

Selbach-Oster Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese**, Mosel 2013 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 36+ bottles available
Selbach-Oster Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese**, Mosel 2013 375ML ($39.95) $33 special, 36+ half-bottles available
Wine Advocate 94 points “Bright in color the two-starred 7.5% alcohol 2013 Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese ** is an intensely (noble) sweet and creamy-textured selection, which was picked on November 1 and is made for future generations. Very sweet and dense on the palate it still has to become more wine-y but the wine has definitely talent.” WA

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Selbach-Oster ‘Schmitt’ Zeltinger Schlossberg Riesling, Mosel 2014 750ML ($59.95) $44 special, 36+ bottles available
Wine Advocate 95 points “Picked with 105° Oechsle, the 2014 Zeltinger Schlossberg Riesling Auslese Schmitt displays a stunning freshness and purity on the slightly spicy-toned nose, where stony and flinty flavors–but less botrytis flavors–are indicated compared to the Rotlay. Piquant and salty on the palate, with a nice grip and more purity and freshness, this is the finest and most piquant of the single parcel crus; the finish is as long as it is stimulatingly salty and grippy. White peach and nectarine flavors in the long aftertaste. Great Riesling.”
David Schildknecht–Vinous 93 points “This block-picked (as opposed to selectively picked) offering leads with a heady and complex nose of musky faded narcissus, fennel pollen, pear preserves, papaya and candied lime. The lush yet stone-lined and shimmeringly mineral-tinged palate impression is correspondingly multifaceted and exotically ripe, backed by an amazingly high yet only modestly sweet-tasting 86 grams of residual sugar. The contribution of botrytis is similarly subtle, engendering enormous concentration while leaving behind no fungal spores or smudgy fingerprints. A prodigious finish welcomes the next sip.”

This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
The average price is $49

Selbach-Oster Zeltinger Schlossberg Riesling Beerenauslese*, Mosel 2005 375ML ($149.95) $99 special, 36 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!
The next best price is $119.99

We have 33 different wines in stock now from Selbach-Oster, that’s 1,095 bottles! See the full list below. To read reviews or purchase wines, visit our web store!

selbach-oster spread sheet 6-5

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Tuscan Treasure

Single Vineyard, Rare Clone

The experience of stumbling across a small vineyard or winemaker in Tuscany can be moment that forever changes your expectations of what Sangiovese can be. The first time we dipped into the Il Carbonaione from Poggio Scalette was just that special. Try it and see for yourself.

The estate, which had been largely abandoned to active cultivation after the death of the previous owner, come into new hands and the fortunate discovery of Sangiovese di Lamole, planted just after the First World War, reinvigorated the estate. The vineyard may be the only example planted primarily to this classic member of the Sangiovese family. In the early nineties Vittorio Fiore came to make the wines from this special place. The results, year after year, have been singular in their depth, spice and underlying fruit. From the winery, “This is the wine conceived and desired by Vittorio Fiore after long years of study and working experience, and it is the result of an exceptional pairing and synergy: Sangiovese and the Ruffoli vineyards in Greve in Chianti. The results of this synergy – grapes harvested in the Carbonaione vineyard – are worked with passion and dedication by Vittorio Fiore and his son Jurij in order to obtain a wine of great power and elegance, capable of expressing in all of its richness the terroir in which it is born.”

You can experience three vintages of this profound and rare wine, which Antonio Galloni calls “compelling,” “a stunner,” and having “a tremendous track record of aging very well.” In-stock now:

Podere Poggio Scalette Il Carbonaione Alta Valle della Greve IGT, Tuscany 2013 750ML ($69.95) $41.90 special, 36+ bottles available
Antonio Galloni 95+ points “The 2013 Il Carbonaione is compelling. That’s the good news. The bad news, if you can call it that, is that the 2013 is going to take the better part of the next decade to be at its best. Black cherry, plum, licorice and menthol are all fused together. Today, the 2013 is rich, deep and unctuous, with superb depth and striking balance. Opening a bottle anytime soon, though, is likely to be a mostly academic exercise, as the Carbonaione is so primary, it almost tastes like a barrel sample!”

Podere Poggio Scalette Il Carbonaione Alta Valle della Greve IGT, Tuscany 2012 750ML ($69.95) $44 special, 15 bottles available
Antonio Galloni 95 points “The 2012 Il Carbonaione comes across as quite shy and reserved today, with less of its typical exuberance. That just makes me think the wine is going to need a few years to blossom. Sweet red cherry, plum, kirsch, spice and rose petal nuances gradually emerge from the glass, but the 2012 remains reticent and not fully expressive. I would not be surprised to see the market look past the 2012, as it is not at all showy, but that will just create an opportunity for savvy consumers. There is plenty to look forward to. Readers will have to be patient, though. Over the years, Il Carbonaione has built a tremendous track record of aging very well. Next to Chianti Classico’s other 100% Sangioveses, Carbonaione is made in a sweeter, jammier style with more mid-palate opulence. Although showy in its youth, Carbonaione needs time in bottle to show at its best.”

Podere Poggio Scalette Il Carbonaione Alta Valle della Greve IGT, Tuscany 2010 750ML ($99.95) $79 special, 7 bottles available
Antonio Galloni 97 points “The 2010 Carbonaione (Sangiovese) is a stunner. Deep, rich and utterly impeccable, the 2010 boasts breathtaking richness, energy and power. The flavors remain incredibly primary in a wine that will require years to develop. Graphite, crushed rocks, blue/black fruit, plums and smoke emerge over time. As phenomenal as the 2010 is today, it really should be cellared for at least a few years. This is a drop dead gorgeous wine from Vittorio and Jurij Fiore.” AG

This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!

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Leon Barral

Faugeres is a small appellation in southwestern France that bears more than a little resemblance to Chateauneuf du Pape. The soils are rocky, really rocky, in the same way (you may ask yourself, “how did anyone decide to plant vines there?”) and the wines are made from similar grapes.  The wines, though, seem to have a bit more elegance and a little less alcohol than their Rhone cousins. This, given the way the climate in Southern France is changing, is a good thing to us, and the wines of Leon Barral stand apart as the best in Faugeres, without question.

Kermit Lynch imports them and has this to say: “Domaine Léon Barral is a beacon of revolutionary winegrowing. Didier farms thirty hectares of vineyards, and this is no small feat. Incorporating biodynamic practices into a vineyard means working the soil rigorously, and with so much land to farm, it is fortunate that he has so much help…. The grapes benefit the most from this environment, which ultimately translates to tremendously powerful, complex, and age-worthy wines. Most of Didier’s vines get full southern sun exposure. In this Mediterranean climate where summer heat waves and drought are constant during the growing season, pruning in the gobelet style shelters the grapes from the blistering sun. Most of his vines are very old, but vary up to ninety years of age, keeping yields naturally low. Once in the cellar, Didier’s harvest is cared for with the same zeal, although he would consider the wine all but finished once it leaves the vineyard. This level of artisanry was once nearly extinct had it not been for Didier and the profound influence he is having over other viticulteurs who now see how his work ethic and ideology translates to results.”

Domaine Leon Barral Faugeres wines available here now:

Domaine Leon Barral Faugeres, Languedoc-Roussillon 2013 750ML ($37.95) $33 special, 23 bottles available
Kermit Lynch notes: “50% Carignan, 30% Grenache, 20% Cinsault, from 40 to 70 year old vines grown on schist soils.  Grapes are biodynamically farmed and all grapes are harvested by hand and then sorted. Depending on the variety, grapes are de-stemmed (in general, grapes from the youngest vines), however whole clusters are also used. No SO2 is added. Wine is vinified in gravity-fed, cement cuves with native yeasts.”

Domaine Leon Barral Faugeres Jadis, Languedoc-Roussillon 2013 750ML ($54.95) $49 special, 18 bottles available
Kermit Lynch notes: “50% Carignan, 30% Syrah 20% Grenache from 30 to 60 year old vines grown on schist soils.  Grapes are biodynamically farmed and all grapes are harvested by hand and then sorted. Depending on the variety, grapes are de-stemmed (in general, grapes from the youngest vines), however whole clusters are also used. No SO2 is added. Wine is vinified in gravity-fed, cement cuves with native yeasts.”

Domaine Leon Barral Faugeres Valiniere, Languedoc-Roussillon 2013 750ML ($79.95) $69 special, 5 bottles available
Kermit Lynch notes:”80% Mouvedre 20% Syrah from 15 to 30 year old vines grown on schist soils.  Grapes are biodynamically farmed and all grapes are harvested by hand and then sorted. Depending on the variety, grapes are de-stemmed (in general, grapes from the youngest vines), however whole clusters are also used. No SO2 is added. Wine is vinified in gravity-fed, cement cuves with native yeasts.”

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Cantalupo

King of Ghemme

New Magnum Arrivals

& More to Come!

In the Nebbiolo country of northern Piedmont – removed from the star-studded Langhe – one finds a few regions whose wines render that noble Nebbiolo grape in a beautiful and more delicate style at approachable prices. Gattinara is one, and Ghemme is another. From here in Ghemme, beneath the imposing Alpine peak of Monte Rosa, come the wines of Cantalupo. With 84 acres under vine, family-owned Cantalupo has been making Nebbiolo wines since 1969. Soils here are alluvial, from glacial moraines retreated during the last Ice Age, a change from the Langhe. Cantalupo performs all of the vineyard work, including harvest, by hand, and uses traditional Slavonian oak along with some French oak. The wines are raised in a cellar cut into the hillside, and they show plenty of elegance and red fruit, with a medium-full body. Any fan of Nebbiolo ought to know the name Cantalupo, and its cooler-clime version of Italy’s premier red grape.

Check out the newly arrived magnums from Cantalupo below. Many are also available here now in 750ML:

Antichi Vigneti di Cantalupo ‘Anno Primo,’ Colline Novaresi, Piedmont 2008 1.5L ($89.95) $79 special, 3 magnums available
Antonio Galloni 90 points “The 2008 Cantalupo Anno Primo is built on a serious spine of tannin and energy, both of which give it considerable power. Dark red cherry, tobacco, smoke, herbs and leather are all expressed with quite a bit of intensity. The 2008 offers solid balance in a virile style that is probably best enjoyed at the dinner table.”

This is the only listing in the USA today for the magnum!

Antichi Vigneti di Cantalupo ‘Anno Primo,’ Colline Novaresi, Piedmont 2009 1.5L ($89.95) $79 special, 3 magnums available
Antichi Vigneti di Cantalupo ‘Anno Primo,’ Colline Novaresi, Piedmont 2009 750ML ($44.95) $38 special, 17 bottles available
Case-12 Antichi Vigneti di Cantalupo ‘Anno Primo,’ Colline Novaresi, Piedmont 2009 750ML ($479.95) $399 special, 3 cases available (that’s only $33.25/bottle and the lowest listed price in the USA today!)
Antonio Galloni 92 points “The 2009 Cantalupo Anno Primo is a gorgeous, super-classic Ghemme. Rosewater, bright red cherry, geranium, tobacco, pine and mint are beautifully delineated throughout. Aromatically intense and focused, the 2009 shows exactly what makes Nebbiolo from Ghemme so delicious. This is an absolutely gorgeous wine that won’t break the bank. At times, the aromatic signatures are quite reminiscent of Mascarello’s Barolo Monprivato, although the tannic and acid signatures are very much those of Ghemme.”

This is the only listing in the USA today for the magnum!

Antichi Vigneti di Cantalupo Collis Breclemae, Ghemme DOCG 2005 1.5L ($119.95) $89 special, 3 magnums available
Antonio Galloni 92+ points “Amazingly, the 2005 Collies Breclamae comes across as very young. A massive, full-bodied wine, the 2005 is laced with autumn leaves, spices, pine, menthol and licorice, but at the end of the day, the 2005 is really in no mood to show all of its cards. Even at eight years of age, the 2005 needs more time in bottle to release the full breadth of its aromas and flavors, and allow the tannins to start softening. This is an impressive showing.”

This is the only listing in the USA today for the magnum!

Antichi Vigneti di Cantalupo Collis Breclemae, Ghemme DOCG 2006 1.5L ($119.95) $89 special, 3 magnums available
Antichi Vigneti di Cantalupo Collis Breclemae, Ghemme DOCG 2006 750ML ($59.95) $46 special, 12 bottles available
Importer note “Made entirely of Nebbiolo grown in the hillside vineyard called ‘Collis Breclemae,’ picked in the second half of October. About two weeks of maceration with the skins, then the wine is aged for 36 months in used barrels ranging between 900 and 2800L. Very rocky soil, which presumably explains the very distinctive mineral character the wine shows. Very round tannins that remind me of 70% dark chocolate, not at all bitter, just savory; this will age brilliantly, but if I’m eating ribeye now I would drink this with it in a second. Really big wine with excellent balance.”

These are the only listings in the USA today!

Antichi Vigneti di Cantalupo Collis Breclemae, Ghemme DOCG 2007 1.5L ($119.95) $89 special, 6 magnums available
Antichi Vigneti di Cantalupo Collis Breclemae, Ghemme DOCG 2007 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 25 bottles available
Antonio Galloni 92+ points “The 2007 Ghemme Collis Breclamae shows the deeper, slightly wilder side of Ghemme. Game, smoke, licorice, cedar and tobacco are expressed with elements of burliness and rusticity. There is more than enough depth to fill out the wine’s broad shoulders. Still, what comes through most is the wine’s virile, imposing personality.” AG

This is the only listing in the USA today for the magnum!

Also in-stock now from Cantalupo:

Antichi Vigneti di Cantalupo ‘Agamium,’ Colline Novaresi, Piedmont 2011 750ML ($21.95) $17 special, 36+ bottles available
Importer note “Made entirely of Nebbiolo from three different estate vineyards, normally picked at the beginning of October and macerated with the skins for 6 days. Aged for 12 months in stainless steel, then another twelve months in 900L and 3,000L Slavonian oak barrels, almost all used. In effect this is declassified Ghemme, so the soils are morainic and the wine shows the same mineral character that the bigger wines do, just in a more forward form. Amazing value.”

This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!

Antichi Vigneti di Cantalupo Collis Carellae, Ghemme DOCG 2009 750ML ($49.95) $39 special, 13 bottles available
Antonio Galloni 94 points “A big, dense wine, the 2009 Collis Carellae shows the wilder, gamier side of Ghemme. Leather, smoke, cedar, tobacco and menthol make a strong first impression. The 2009 possesses tons of depth and vertical structure. Some of the initial elements of rusticity blow off with air, so readers should be ready to open the 2009 in advance. There is no shortage of personality. That much is clear.”

This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!

Antichi Vigneti di Cantalupo Signore di Bayard, Ghemme DOCG 2006 750ML ($59.95) $41.90 special, 4 bottles available
VinopolNote: A special bottling of 100% Nebbiolo produced by the winery only in the best years, the Signore di Bayard is a tribute to the 16th Century Knight of Bayard, Peter Terrail, the “Good Knight without fear and without reproach.”  It is a block selection of the oldest vines from the estate.  These vines are growing in gravel moraine soil at 280-310m (306-340’) in elevation.  The grapes are hand-picked and sorted before undergoing a cold soak.  Fermentation takes place naturally with the stems.  The wine is aged for 18 to 24 months in 100% new French oak barrels before being bottled unfiltered.  It is a dense and tannic wine with an excellent aging potential.

This is the only listing in the USA today!

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Arriving in June:

Antichi Vigneti di Cantalupo Il Mimo Nebbiolo Rosato Colline Novaresi, Piedmont 2016 750ML ($19.95) $16 pre-arrival special
Importer note “Estate-grown Nebbiolo fruit, crushed and left to macerate overnight, then pressed off and fermented at low temperature. This is the first rosè from Nebbiolo that I remember from northern Piedmont, maybe 15 years ago, and it’s just delicious: raspberries, strawberries, fresh acidity. Nice bright flavorful complement to all kinds of foods (salmon, roast chicken, pork, salumi…). Don’t hold the price against it!”
“Vivid dark pink. Clean, fresh aromas of cassis, licorice, and spicecake. Then rather tight and much less pliant than this wine is normally, displaying good density and depth nonetheless. Red cherry and licorice flavors are nicely lifted by hints of violet, but a firm acid spine and a grainy, chalky mouthfeel leave a strong tactile, not especially fruity impression. The finish hints at a touch of residual sweetness and violet.”-Ian D’Agata – Vinous

This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!

Arriving in August:

Antichi Vigneti di Cantalupo ‘Anno Primo,’ Colline Novaresi, Piedmont 2010 750ML ($41.95) $33 pre-arrival special
Antichi Vigneti di Cantalupo ‘Anno Primo,’ Colline Novaresi, Piedmont 2010 1.5L ($89.95) $77 pre-arrival special
Importer note “Made entirely of Nebbiolo, normally picked in the middle of October. About ten days on the skins, aged in Slavonian oak casks of 1,500 and 3,000L capacity for 24 months before bottling. If you love Barolo and Barbaresco you owe it to yourself to try this wine; chewy but refined tannins, beautiful texture, very flavorful and aromatic, showing many of the same notes as Barolo and Barbaresco would, but with a mineral overlay that is very attractive. Completely traditional and also completely clean winemaking, my favorite. Drinkable now but will age beautifully for 20 years or more.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Antichi Vigneti di Cantalupo Signore di Bayard, Ghemme DOCG 2008 750ML ($49.95) $39 pre-arrival special
VinopolNote: A special bottling of 100% Nebbiolo produced by the winery only in the best years, the Signore di Bayard is a tribute to the 16th Century Knight of Bayard, Peter Terrail, the “Good Knight without fear and without reproach,” who died at the foot of the hill of Breclema.  It is a block selection of the oldest vines from the estate.  These vines are growing in gravel moraine soil at 280-310m (306-340’) in elevation.  The grapes are hand-picked and sorted before undergoing a cold soak.  Fermentation takes place naturally with the stems.  The wine is aged for 18 to 24 months in 100% new French oak barrels before being bottled unfiltered.  It is a dense and tannic wine with an excellent aging potential.

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Antichi Vigneti di Cantalupo Collis Breclemae, Ghemme DOCG 2010 750ML ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival special
Antichi Vigneti di Cantalupo Collis Breclemae, Ghemme DOCG 2010 1.5L ($119.95) $99 pre-arrival special
Winery note “Made entirely of Nebbiolo grown in the hillside vineyard called ‘Collis Breclemae,’ picked in the second half of October. About two weeks of maceration with the skins, then the wine is aged for 36 months in used barrels ranging between 900 and 2800L. Very rocky soil, which presumably explains the very distinctive mineral character the wine shows. Very round tannins that remind me of 70% dark chocolate, not at all bitter, just savory; this will age brilliantly, but if I’m eating ribeye now I would drink this with it in a second. Really big wine with excellent balance.”

These are the only listings in the USA today!

Antichi Vigneti di Cantalupo Collis Carellae, Ghemme DOCG 2010 750ML ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival special
Importer note “Carella is one of the historic cru of Ghemme. The name Carella is a very ancient geographical name of Celtic origin, “Carellaedunum” which means “Rise of Carella”. Among its vineyards were discovered Neolithic finds, dating back to the 4th millennium B.C.”

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Italian High Scorers

Arriving Late June

Armando Parusso Bussia, Barolo DOCG 2008 750ML ($89.95) $69 pre-arrival special
Antonio Galloni 95 points “The 2008 Barolo Bussia is striking. Layers of super-ripe dark fruit, violets, minerals, menthol and spices flow from the glass. The Bussia is deep, textured and dazzling. Spiced, mentholated notes develop in the glass, lending a distinctly balsamic air to the Bussia. The 2008 boasts superb depth through to the dazzling finish.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Only six bottles available!

Montevetrano di Silvia Imparato Colli di Salerno IGT, Campania 2010 750ML ($99.95) $79 pre-arrival special
Antonio Galloni 96 points “The 2010 Montevetrano is flat-out gorgeous. Vibrant, floral aromatics lead to layers of beautifully delineated fruit in this finely sculpted chiseled Montevetrano. A wine of extraordinary beauty, the 2010 impresses for its clarity and nuance. I don’t think I have ever tasted a young Montevetrano with this much pure silkiness and finesse. There is a level of precision and delineation in the 2010 that is truly marvelous. I can’t wait to see how it ages. The 2010 is also notable for a much higher percentage of Aglianico (30%) than has been common in the past, while the international varieties are less prominent in the blend. In 2010 Montevetrano is 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Aglianico and 20% Merlot, which means the Cabernet Sauvignon now plays a much smaller role in the blend.”

Only five bottles available!

Montevetrano di Silvia Imparato Colli di Salerno IGT, Campania 2013 750ML ($89.95) $59 pre-arrival special
Case-6 Montevetrano di Silvia Imparato Colli di Salerno IGT, Campania 2013 750ML ($479.95) $319 pre-arrival special (that’s only $53.17/bottle and the lowest listed price in the USA today!)
James Suckling 96 points “This is a famous red that delivers depth and finesse. Full body, ultra-fine tannins and a wonderful finish of blackberry, cocoa and spices including black peppercorns. One of the best Montevetranos in years. A blend of aglianico and merlot. Drink or hold.”

Thank you for reading!