Monday Newsletter 7-17-17

New Week – New Arrivals; Staff Pick: Heymann-Loewenstein; Righteous Re-Stocks; Saint Cosme: New Releases; In-Stock Cayuse Wines; #Trending

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New Week – New Arrivals

France – Bordeaux

Chateau le Puy Cuvee Barthelemy, Bordeaux Cotes de Francs 2010 750ML ($179.95) $138 special
Winery note “The fruit of a plot of vines known as ‘Les Rocs’, planted with 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, the Barthélemy undergoes a long vinification process with no added substances. The wines are matured in oak barrels for 24 months, with our technical interventions optimised with reference to the lunar calendar and with no added sulphur dioxide or other chemical products. They are then bottled without filtration. The robe is a deep, enticing purple, while the nose boasts a rich array of aromas which seem to evoke a basket of perfectly ripe grapes. The palate is luxurious and complex, balancing great depth of flavour with a silky lightness of touch. The finish is seductive with a hint of mystery, inviting you to plunge further into this entrancing enigma. Barthélémy is an ideal partner for all grilled meats, game, mushrooms and refined, delicate ingredients, complementing without overwhelming complex flavours. Above all, Barthélemy is an emotional experience.”

This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
France – Burgundy

Domaine Mongeard-Mugneret Bourgogne Blanc, Burgundy 2014 750ML ($29.95) $24 special
Winery notes “Average vine age of 25 years; Jurassic soil with broken stones on limeston-clay soils. Hand-sorted and raised in stainless steel. With a beautiful golden colour and a clean, open nose, “Bourgogne Chardonnay” has an astonishingly wide range of aromas. The Chardonnay produces a firm, full wine, elegant, supple and mellow, full-bodied, rich and lingers long on the palate.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Alain Gras Saint-Romain Blanc 2014 750ML ($49.95) $37 special
Winery note “Powerful and sophisticated nose, with a hint of nuts, toast and vanilla beans. Expressive palate, full and supple. A wine with minerality, an elegant touch of oak, and a beautiful, long finish.”

Nicolas Potel Domaine de Bellene Cote de Nuits-Villages Les Monts de Boncourt 2014 750ML ($54.95) $44 special
Wine Advocate 88 points “The 2014 Côte de Nuits les Monts de Boncourt has an attractive bouquet, quite ripe and generous, with dried honey and subtle beeswax aromas. The palate is fresh and taut on the entry with a fine line of acidity, hints of sour lemon and dried orange peel, good weight towards the finish, if not delivering quite the persistence of a more propitious vineyard. Still, this is worth seeking out.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Domaine Jean-Marc Boillot Volnay 2014 750ML ($51.95) $41.90 special
“Medium red with a hint of amber at the rim. Redcurrant, mocha and leather on the nose, plus a whiff of underbrush. Supple flavors of cherry, raspberry and leather show modest depth. Finishes a bit short, with slightly drying tannins. Lydie Boillot noted that there was very little hail in the family’s village parcels in 2014.”–Stephen Tanzer–Vinous Media

Domaine Vincent & Sophie Morey Santenay Les Hates 2014 750ML ($34.95) $27 special
Winery note “Clay-limestone soils with a southern, sloped exposure. 100% oak aged with 45% new wood. Great delicacy and a fine, long finish in the mouth.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Domaine Bernard Moreau et Fils Bourgogne Blanc, Burgundy 2015 750ML ($37.95) $29 special
Case-12 Domaine Bernard Moreau et Fils Bourgogne Blanc, Burgundy 2015 750ML ($419.95) $319 special (that’s only $26.58/bottle!)
John Gilman 88 points “The 2015 Bourgogne Blanc from Domaine Moreau is very pretty, offering up a zesty nose of white flowers, pear, white peach, a touch of fresh almond and chalky soil nuances. On the palate the wine is full-bodied, crisp and juicy at the core, with good acids and fine length and grip on the bouncy finish. A lovely example. 2016-2023.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Domaine Bernard Moreau et Fils Chassagne-Montrachet 2015 750ML ($79.95) $66 special
Case-12 Domaine Bernard Moreau et Fils Chassagne-Montrachet 2015 750ML ($949.95) $679 special (that’s only $56.58/bottle!)
John Gilman 92 points “If there is anyone in the village that makes a more consistently beautiful bottling of Chassagne villages than Domaine Moreau, I would love to taste it! The 2015 version is another excellent example in the making, wafting from the glass in a refined and complex blend of apple, pear, a touch of orange zest, superb minerality, spring flowers, vanillin oak and the first presage of the pastry cream to come with a bit of aging. On the palate the wine is pure, full-bodied and succulent, with excellent mid-palate depth, fine focus and backend mineral drive, bright acids and a long, crisp and classy finish. Fine juice. 2016-2030+.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Domaine Bernard Moreau et Fils Les Champgains, Chassagne-Montrachet Premier Cru 2015 750ML ($119.95) $99 special
John Gilman 92+ points “The 2015 Champgains from Alex Moreau was also showing beautifully at the time of my visit, offering up a bright and classy bouquet of lemon, apple, deep soil tones, citrus zest, spring flowers and vanillin oak. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied and rock solid at the core, with fine acids, lovely focus and grip and a long, nascently complex and youthful finish. This will need a few years to unleash its secondary layers of complexity and will be delicious at its peak. 2019-2040+.”

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Domaine Bernard Moreau et Fils La Maltroie, Chassagne-Montrachet Premier Cru 2015 750ML ($119.95) $99 special
John Gilman 93+ points “In my experience, Maltroie always shows more “wet stone” minerality than chalkiness in its soil component, and this is indeed the case with the lovely 2015 version from Domaine Moreau. The bouquet is superb and utterly classic in its profile of apple, pear, wet stones, lemon blossoms and vanillin oak. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied and a bit more reserved in personality than most of these previous premier crus, with a rock solid core, bright acids and a very long, nascently complex and vibrant finish. This will demand a couple of years to blossom. 2018-2040+.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Domaine Bernard Moreau et Fils Morgeot, Chassagne-Montrachet Premier Cru 2015 750ML ($149.95) $119 special
John Gilman 94+ points “The 2015 Morgeot from Alex Moreau is a brilliant example of the vintage! The bouquet is pure, vibrant and very classy, soaring from the glass in a blaze of lemon, pear, complex, chalky soil tones, vanillin oak and lemon blossoms in the upper register. On the palate the wine is pure, full-bodied and utterly refined in profile, with a stunning core of pristine fruit, great soil inflection, bright, zesty acids and laser-like focus on the very, very long and very classy finish. Simply brilliant Morgeot! 2017-2045.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Domaine Bernard Moreau et Fils Bourgogne Pinot Noir, Burgundy 2015 750ML ($37.95) $29 special
“Like the Bourgogne Blanc, the Bourgogne Rouge 2015 chez Moreau was bottled in mid-September of 2016 and had bounced back nicely by the time of my visit. The bouquet offers up a very pretty and black fruity blend of black cherries, sweet dark berries, woodsmoke, a touch of roasted venison and a good base of dark soil tones. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied and quite accessible out of the blocks, with a sappy core,. just a touch of tannin and fine length and grip on the finish. Good juice. 2016-2025.”–John Gilman

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Domaine Bernard Moreau et Fils Chassagne-Montrachet Rouge Vieilles Vignes 2015 750ML ($59.95) $49 special
John Gilman 90+ points “The 2015 Chassagne V.V. included twenty-five percent whole clusters this year and was raised in ten percent new oak. The wine was showing very nicely, despite only having been racked two weeks ago, as it offers up a pure and black fruity blend of black cherries, bitter chocolate, pigeon, a complex base of soil tones and a smoky topnote. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied and a bit chewy today (probably more a result of the recent racking than any sign of less-polished tannins), with a sappy core, fine soil inflection, lovely focus and grip and a long, promising finish. 2019-2045+.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Domaine Philippe Charlopin-Parizot Gevrey-Chambertin Morceaux Vieilles Vignes 2014 750ML ($89.95) $59 special
Wine Spectator 93 points “There’s fine intensity to the cherry, currant and spice flavors here, along with a chewy structure and texture. All the elements hang together, with a dense matrix underlying the fruit, spice and mineral notes that grace the long finish. Best from 2022 through 2035.”

Domaine Philippe Charlopin-Parizot Marsannay En Montchevenoy 2014 750ML ($49.95) $33 special
Wine Spectator 91 points “A feral note in the aroma gives way to rich black cherry, vanilla and sandalwood flavors in this lush, firmly structured red. Harmonious and long, but needs time. Decant if you must drink this now. Best from 2019 through 2028.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Domaine Philippe Charlopin-Parizot Marsannay Les Echezots 2014 750ML ($49.95) $33 special
Wine Spectator 92 points “A rich, concentrated red, with earth and animal aromas leading off, followed by black cherry, black currant and spice flavors. Verges on a thick texture, featuring well-integrated tannins and a long, fruity aftertaste. Best from 2019 through 2029.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!
Italy – Piedmont

Monsecco Gattinara DOCG, Piedmont 2011 750ML ($41.95) $36 special
Importer note “After a manual harvest, the grapes undergo an extensive cuvaison and then are racked into a combination of large “botte” and second year French barrique for at least three years of aging prior to being bottled.”

Monsecco ‘Pelizzane’ Ghemme DOCG, Piedmont 2011 750ML ($39.95) $33 special
Importer note “An extraordinarily age-worthy wine that will mature nicely over 20 years or more in the cellar, in its youth this medium to full bodied wine shows a lovely mélange of red and dark berry fruits, with hints of tobacco and spice and a very long finish. 85% Nebbiolo with 15% Vespolina and Uva Rara of an average age of 30 years, the wine macerates for 12 days before fermentation in stainless steel. The wine is then transferred to a combination of old Slovenian botte, and second year French barrique for an additional 3 years, and to put the finishing touches on its élèvage: a year in bottle before release. A wine such as this is a testament to the glory and longevity of mountain Nebbiolo. Decant for best results!”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Marcarini Brunate, Barolo DOCG 2013 750ML ($64.95) $50.90 special
Marcarini Brunate, Barolo DOCG 2013 1.5L ($149.95) $125 special
Marcarini Brunate, Barolo DOCG 2013 3L ($319.95) $279 special
Antonio Galloni 91 points “The 2013 Barolo Brunate is laced with the essence of dark cherry, herb, licorice, sage, tobacco and menthol. The aromatic intensity, intrigue and textural depth of Brunate comes through nicely. Deep, rich and beautifully layered, the 2013 offers lovely depth and balance in the classic understated Marcarini style.”

Marcarini La Serra, Barolo DOCG 2013 750ML ($59.95) $44 special
Antonio Galloni 90 points “Marcarini’s 2013 Barolo La Serra is a very pretty, super-classic wine with plenty of La Serra aromatics and tannic grip. Sweet floral notes, crushed red berries, white pepper and mint are some of the signatures. Weightless and a touch ethereal, the 2013 possesses good depth, with beams of supporting acidity and tannin that extend the finish nicely. I would prefer to drink the 2013 sooner rather than later, as it does not appear to be built for extended cellaring.”

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Staff Pick

Heymann-Loewenstein vom Blauem Schiefer

Andy:
heymann loewenstein winesIf you’ve just awoken from a Rumpelstiltskin like slumber, the 2015 vintage from the Mosel is tremendous. This might well be the vintage that converts me to a Riesling believer, for good. The latest bottle that absolutely floored me is the vomBlauem Schiefer from Heymann-Loewenstein. I’ve been in touch with a client who worked this harvest for Heymann-Loewenstein, and she’s been absolutely chomping at the bit to get these bottles. She spoke with such reverence of the different vineyards that held the blue slate that I had to take her enthusiasm to heart and had to try one.

It’s hard to effectively describe the simultaneous intensity and lacy loveliness of this wine. The mineral component is so clear and well defined – salinity, rich slate notes – and yet the fruit is absolute perfection. Herbs and spices that are suspended between citrus and green apple; all of this is so seamless that it seems silly to try and pick out individual components of the wine. Drinking this now is such a treat that holding it for five or more years seems like a punishment.

Break out the spaetzle; here’s the vom Blauem Schiefer we’re offering today:

Heymann-Loewenstein Riesling Vom Blauem Schiefer 2015 750ML ($44.95) $33 special, 31 bottles available
Stephan Reinhardt – Wine Advocate 91 points “The 2015 Riesling Vom Blauen Schiefer opens with a beautifully clear and slatey bouquet of perfectly ripe Riesling flavors. The wine is round, piquant and salty on the palate, reveals picture book finesse and transparency and is extremely stimulating in its dry but perfectly balanced finish. The aftertaste is pretty long and already complex. If you are looking for a picture book wine of the terraced Lower Mosel, this is the one you have to taste. Thirteen percent of alcohol can hardly taste lighter and more stimulating.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

We’re also offering the following wines from Heymann-Loewenstein:

Heymann-Loewenstein Riesling Kirchberg VDP Grosse Lage 2015 750ML ($49.95) $39 special, 16 bottles available
Stephan Reinhardt – Wine Advocate 92 points “The 2015 Riesling Kirchberg ‘VDP Grosse Lage’ opens with a generous and warm, ripe Riesling aroma intertwined with some herbal and iron lemon flavors on the clear and elegant nose. This is a full-bodied, charming, finessed and elegant wine with fine tannin structure and a dry and persistent finish. Still young, the Kirchberg will benefit from further bottle aging.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Heymann-Loewenstein Riesling Stolzenberg VDP Grosse Lage 2015 750ML ($49.95) $39 special, 17 bottles available
David Schildknecht – Vinous 92 points “Lovely perfume of gentian, iris and lavender mingles with coriander and white peach in a striking aromatic display. This comes to the palate quite lushly even though tart suggestions of green plum and piquancy of fruit pits lend invigorating counterpoint. The impressively sustained finish incorporates glowing piquancy reminiscent of the corresponding Hatzenporter Kirchberg, but everything else about this strikingly floral and more generously fruited wine is dramatically different, even though the vineyards are only some 150 yards from one another. (Note that – for reasons given in introducing this estate – unless you squint or employ a magnifying glass, you’ll overlook the initials “GG” on its label that indicate this wine is a Grosses Gewächs.)”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Heymann-Loewenstein Riesling Uhlen B Blaufusser VDP Grosse Lage 2015 750ML ($69.95) $59 special, 9 bottles available
Stephan Reinhardt – Wine Advocate 94 points “The 2015 Riesling Uhlen B ‘VDP Grosse Lage’ from the Blaufüsser Lay offers the purity and perfume of the Vom blauen Schiefer but with more intensity, ripeness and complexity. This is perfectly ripe Riesling fruit on milled blue slate. Lovely flinty flavors here. On the palate, this is Riesling as a melting rock! Finessed purity and elegance with a great, very clear and salty finish. This Uhlen B is tightly woven but nevertheless transparent, finessed and elegant.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Heymann-Loewenstein Riesling Uhlen L Laubach VDP Grosse Lage 2015 750ML ($69.95) $59 special, 14 bottles available
Stephan Reinhardt – Wine Advocate 96 points “From the Laubach formation of the grand cru, the 2015 Riesling Uhlen L ‘VDP Grosse Lage’ is super flinty, refined and elegant on the nose where perfectly ripe Riesling and white truffle aromas are displayed. On the palate, this is an intense, dense and finessed Riesling with great tension, salinity and complexity. The finish is aromatic, pure and very long, really what Reinhard Löwenstein was aiming for: to serve the intellectuals as well as the hedonists. A great and age-worthy Riesling.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Heymann-Loewenstein Schieferterrassen Riesling, Mosel 2015 750ML ($39.95) $29 special, 36+ bottles available
David Schildknecht – Vinous 89 points “A penetrating and unusual aromatic mélange features zesty grapefruit, gooseberry, lemon peel, dill and musky floral perfume. Full-bodied and glycerol-rich, this finishes with strongly alkaline and stony undertones as well as fruit pit piquancy and fenugreek pungency, its tart elements contributing slight edginess but also undeniable invigoration. This is serious stuff for an intro-level wine, even if “serious” also implies a certain lack of charm. I suspect that bottle development will provide further fascination.”
“The 2015er Trocken Schieferterrassen is made from the Estate’s holdings in Winningen (Domgarten, Brückstück and Hamm) and Kobern (Fahrberg and Weissenberg) as well as from declassified fruit from its “cru” vineyards. It offers a gorgeous nose of marzipan, herbs and spices. The wine is delicately baroque and full of character on the palate as ripe yellow fruits are nicely complemented by spicy herbs and a hint of tartness in the finish. 2018-2025” –Mosel Fine Wines

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Heymann-Loewenstein Winninger Uhlen ‘R’ Roth Lay Riesling Auslese Goldkapsel, Mosel 2007 375ML ($99.95) $69 special, 30 half-bottles available
Wine Spectator 96 points “Candied citrus, jujube, sweet spice and quince paste aromas and flavors mark this sweet, bracing Riesling, which is light on its feet and resonates on the finish with a mouthwatering feel and echoes of citrus. Best from 2012 through 2045.”
Wine Advocate 95 points “Lowenstein’s 2007 Winninger Uhlen Riesling Auslese Gold Capsule Roth Lay (as in the corresponding dry wines, the letter “R” is prominent on the label of this A.P.#9) benefits from counterpoint and collaboration among bright citrus, rich pit fruit essences, and the honey of botrytis. For all of its enormous sheer ripeness and concentration, this retains a striking sense of delicacy. A snappy, spicy, pungent streak – taken together with vivid, diverse pit fruits and citrus – serves for exhilaration in a finish of memorable length and energy, with a vivid impression of crushed stone one hardly expects in a wine of such sweetness and prominent botrytization. There seems to be something of a personality role reversal at work this year, because the corresponding Rottgen Auslese is cool and refined whereas this Uhlen displays more of the piquancy and (as French growers might say) nervosite that I associate with Rottgen. But then, botrytis is always something of a wild card, so that a wine like this is profoundly and unpredictably influenced by the precise microclimatic conditions for and differences in the nature of that fungus. No doubt this too will be worth following for two or more decades.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Heymann-Loewenstein Winninger Uhlen ‘R’ Roth Lay Riesling Auslese Goldkapsel, Mosel 2010 750ML ($199.95) $149 special, 36 bottles available
Wine Advocate 93 points “Lowenstein’s 2010 Winninger Uhlen Riesling Auslese Gold Capsule Roth Lay – destined for auction – displays an almost sweaty aromatic alliance of salinity and musky pungency, along with nose-prickling lemon rind such as one might expect from an Eiswein. Suggestions of marigold and narcissus add to the exotic, pungent muskiness on display here. Fig and peach preserves; pear drops; marzipan and salted caramel intensely mark the palate, while zesty, musky, and saline mineral impingement serve for strikingly persistent stimulation. Despite its lower (7.5%) alcohol, though, this comes off not only as more viscous but also less buoyant (let alone “uncannily” so) than its Rottgen counterpart. That wine is an example of botrytis performing its magic and leaving nary a fingerprint behind, whereas here, prints are quite evident, even if fascinatingly smudge-free. This compellingly complex concentrate will not be everybody’s cup of nobly rotten Riesling, but ought to merit at least the better part of two decades attention.”

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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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Righteous Re-Stocks (Bro)

Cristom Mt. Jefferson Cuvee Pinot Noir, Eola-Amity Hills 2014 750ML ($31.95) $26 special
James Sucking 94 points “Aromas of walnuts, berries and spices with hints of orange peel. Full-bodied with a soft texture and chewy tannins. A juicy and delicious wine already. Needs a year or two to soften. Better in 2018”
Josh Raynolds Vinous 91 points “Aromas of walnuts, berries and spices with hints of orange peel. Full-bodied with a soft texture and chewy tannins. A juicy and delicious wine already. Needs a year or two to soften. Better in 2018”
Wine Advocate 90 points “The 2014 Mt Jefferson Cuvee Pinot Noir, which contains around 50% whole cluster fruit, has a lively, wild strawberry and candied orange peel scented bouquet, a touch of freshly sliced tangerine in the background. This is a vivacious bouquet with more intensity than the 2013. The palate is medium-bodied with fresh, lithe tannin. This is nicely balanced with good grip in the mouth, the 15% new oak nicely integrated with a subtle saline note towards the earthy finish. For thirty bucks, this is a great value.”

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

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.”

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 Provence Rose that tasted far above its price-point; 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 up and up. But we have a secret to share with you. The original owner of Miraval kept his best vineyard, and that is La Mascarrone.

Avignonesi Grandi Annate, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG 2012 750ML ($99.95) $79 special
Wine Advocate 93 points “You’ll notice that this wine is no longer labeled “Riserva.” Avignonesi wanted to reduce the time it spends in oak and made the name adjustment accordingly. This seems like a good idea to me. The 2012 Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Grandi Annate gives new life to one of Tuscany’s most historic wines. There is more elegance and finesse here. I must say that past vintages have been a disappointment, but this expression seems to break all ties with the past. Fruit is sourced primarily from the Banditella vineyard that tends to produce more austere and concentrated Sangiovese. Indeed, this wine is highly redolent of black fruit, tar, licorice and even a touch of white mushroom. Everyone loves a comeback story and that’s what you get here.”
James Suckling 93 points “A chewy and silky wine with just ripe fruit, chocolate and hazelnut character. Fresh earth undertone too. Medium body, fresh finish. Drink now or hold.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Weingut Donnhoff Niederhauser Hermannshohle Riesling Spatlese, Nahe 2015 750ML ($59.95) $47 special
Weingut Donnhoff Niederhauser Hermannshohle Riesling Spatlese, Nahe 2015 1.5L ($139.95) $119 special
Wine Advocate 95 points “The 2015 Niederhäuser Hermannshöhle Riesling Spätlese opens with an aristocratic bouquet of coolish, flinty slate and citrus perfume along with concentrated Riesling flavors. There is great complexity and expression here! On the palate, this wine is highly elegant and its seamless, silky texture is like that of the Dellchen GG. Very salty, full of finesse and tension on the palate–this is a great, perfectly balanced Spätlese. There is no other Riesling in the Nahe that has such nobly aristocratic attitude. It’s one of the finest Spätlese Rieslings you can buy from this vintage.”

This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today for the 750ML!
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today for the magnum!
The next best price nationally for the magnum is $131

Weingut Donnhoff Norheimer Kirschheck Riesling Spatlese, Nahe 2015 750ML ($39.95) $30.90 special
Wine Advocate 91 points “The 2015 Norheimer Kirschheck Riesling Spätlese is clear, piquant and salty on the nose, with great purity and a lovely flintiness framing the ripe yellow apple and grapefruit aromas. On the palate, this is a pretty, complex and salty Spätlese with generous but delicate fruit and lingering mineral tension and salinity. Grown on the same soil as the Leistenberg Kabinett (grey slate) but from a fully south-facing site, this is a perfect Spätlese terroir. Although this wine has just 9% alcohol, it is intense and complex and has 65 grams of residual sugar. It is a really full-bodied Riesling.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

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Saint Cosme

New Releases
“Without a doubt, the leading estate in Gigondas is Louis Barruol’s Chateau Saint-Cosme. Located just outside the village, he releases an assortment of world class Gigondas, as well as a number of value priced, negotiate-styled Cotes du Rhone efforts that always deliver high-quality” – Jeb Dunnuck in The Wine Advocate

The much praised new 2015 Saint Cosme wines have hit our shelves. We’re offering great deals on six-packs of many of the reds, so stock up & save!

2015 will be remembered as the year of glory in winemaking around the world. Burgundy was Great. Beaujolais was Great. The Mosel was Great. Champagne is looking promising. Even our local winemakers are embracing the vintage.

So it should not come as much of a surprise to those lucky lovers of the rich and expressive wines of the Southern Rhone: it too was a Great and Glorious vintage. We’ve only just begun to see offers, so we’re excited to announce this offer from one of our favorite Southern Rhone estates: Chateau de Saint Cosme.

Saint Cosme is one of our “core wineries” and a true reference point producer in the Southern and Northern Rhone. Louis Barroul is a talented winemaker and is the 14th generation of his family to make wines in the domaine that was founded in the 1500’s. The wines he makes are rich and powerful, with undeniable terroir signatures.

New releases from Saint Cosme:

Saint Cosme Cotes du Rhone Les Deux Albion Blanc, Rhone 2016 750ML ($21.95) $16 special
33% Viognier (limestone clay), 33% Marsanne (limestone sand), 33% Picpoul de Pinet (limestone sand).
25% fermented in ‘demi muids’ or 600-litre casks and 75% in small casks. Ageing on the lees.

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Chateau de Saint Cosme Le Poste Blanc, Cotes du Rhone 2015 750ML ($49.95) $39 special
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 91-92 points “(sourced from vines planted in 1963 in the heart of Gigondas): Green-tinged yellow. Vibrant, mineral-accented citrus and orchard fruit aromas are complemented by suggestions of white flowers and ginger. Juicy, focused and pure, offering vibrant orange, pear skin and white peach flavors underscored by a chalky mineral element. Becomes deeper and fleshier with air white maintaining vivacity, and finishes with excellent clarity, power and persistence.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Saint Cosme Condrieu, Rhone 2014 750ML ($69.95) $59 special
Wine Spectator 95 points “Gorgeous, with papaya, white peach, mango, persimmon and Cavaillon melon notes seamlessly stitched together, lined with light honeysuckle and jasmine accents and backed by a twinge of bitter citrus oil and well-buried minerality. An exemplary display of large-scale fruit and precision. Drink now through 2019. 416 cases made.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Saint Cosme Cotes du Rhone 2016 1.5L ($29.95) $24 special
Winery note “After the magnificent 2015, here is the superb 2016. In the Côtes du Rhône appellation, I have never seen two  vintages  of  such  a  high  standard  in  succession.  The  2016  may  even  prove  to  be  better  over  time because yields were lower than in 2015. I will repeat as many times as it takes that the Côtes du Rhône are an  extraordinary  winemaking  playground  for  those  who  like  quality.  The  region  combines  old  vines, magnificent terroirs, fairly low yields and an outstanding climate. Although I am constantly exploring every avenue, I am a huge fan of our two favourite wine areas: Vinsobres and the Villafranchian terraces of the Gard  department,  both  of  which  are  sources  for  this  wine.  The  Syrah  really  displayed  its  exceptional credentials  in  2016  with  top  quality  fruit,  magnificently  intense  colour  and  layered  texture.  Although  this wine is designed for early-drinking, it will be long-lived, which is unusual for the category. This, however, is a  consistent  feature  in  the  Côtes  du  Rhône  where  many  terroirs  show  real  pedigree  but  the  collective psyche  refuses  to  grant  them  the  recognition  they  deserve.  It  is  a  huge  pleasure  for  me  to  allow  people, irrespective of how much money they have to spend, to access a wine of this quality because it is essential that you, our clients, continue to enjoy French wine imbued with charm, identity and finesse. Blackcurrant, truffle, liquorice and wild raspberry.”

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Saint Cosme Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Rhone 2013 750ML ($49.95) $39 special
Case-6 Saint Cosme Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Rhone 2013 750ML ($279.95) $219 special (that’s only $36.50/bottle!)
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 92-93 points “Deep ruby. An expressive bouquet evokes red fruit liqueur, incense and spicecake and a smoky mineral element adds energy. Silky, concentrated and energetic, offering intense, spice-laced raspberry and cola flavors firmed by a spine of juicy acidity. Concentrated but graceful wine that finishes very long, spicy and gently tannic. Note that this wine was not in bottle when I visited Barruol in February.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $42.99
The average price is $48

Saint Cosme Cote Rotie, Rhone 2015 750ML ($69.95) $53.50 special
Case-6 Saint Cosme Cote Rotie, Rhone 2015 750ML ($359.95) $299 special (that’s only $49.83/bottle!)
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 92-94 points “(50% new oak): Glass-staining ruby. Heady, exotically perfumed red and dark berry scents are complicated by suggestions of star anise, violet and cola. Sweet, seamless and penetrating in the mouth, offering intense boysenberry and black raspberry flavors that deepen steadily on the back half. Rich yet lithe, with strong closing thrust and silky, even tannins lending framework and gentle grip.”

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Saint Cosme Saint-Joseph, Rhone 2015 750ML ($34.95) $28 special
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 91-93 points “Inky ruby. Powerful aromas of blackberry, violet and woodsmoke, plus a hint of cola that emerges with aeration. Sweet, densely packed and full-bodied, offering ripe cassis, blackberry, violet pastille and licorice flavors given lift and spine by juicy acidity. Spreads out and becomes spicier on the impressively long finish, which features chewy tannins and a sexy floral nuance.”

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Saint Cosme Crozes-Hermitage, Rhone 2015 750ML ($29.95) $26 special
Case-6 Saint Cosme Crozes-Hermitage, Rhone 2015 750ML ($169.95) $139 special (that’s only $23.17/bottle!)
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 91-93 points “Bright violet. Vibrant dark berry, violet and licorice aromas are complemented by suggestions of olive and woodsmoke. Palate-staining blackberry and bitter cherry flavors are joined by peppery spice and mineral qualities that build on the back half. Manages to be at once rich and energetic, carrying no excess fat. The very long, juicy finish is framed by harmonious tannins and leaves behind a sappy dark berry note.”

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Chateau de Saint Cosme Gigondas, Rhone 2015 750ML ($41.95) $33 special
Chateau de Saint Cosme Gigondas, Rhone 2015 1.5L ($79.95) $66 special
Wine Advocate 91-93 points “Starting with the 2015 Gigondas Classique from Barruol, this blend of 70% Grenache, 15% Mourvèdre and the rest Syrah and Cinsault will be a wine that readers will want to stockpile. Full-bodied, rich, beautifully textured and layered, with killer notes of crème de cassis, white pepper, spice and garrigue, it’s a classic Gigondas that will drink well for 15+ years.”

Chateau de Saint Cosme Gigondas Hominis Fides, Rhone 2015 750ML ($119.95) $99 special
Wine Advocate 97-99 points “A wine that might rival the 2007, the 2015 Gigondas Hominis Fides (100% Grenache from sandy soils located just down from the estate) offers full-bodied, massive and unctuous notes of currants, crushed rocks, smoked meats and licorice. Fermented with 100% whole clusters and aged mostly in older barrels, this sensational Gigondas might end up being the wine of the vintage, from the entire Southern Rhone valley! It has masses of tannin, so it’s going to require patience.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $111

Chateau de Saint Cosme Gigondas Le Claux, Rhone 2015 750ML ($119.95) $99 special
Wine Advocate 97-99 points “Another wine that might flirt with perfection is the 2015 Gigondas le Claux. It’s also 100% Grenache and comes from a site just across the road from the Hominis Fides cuvee. The soils here are slightly more limestone-based, and like all of the wine here, it’s fermented with no destemming and aged mostly in old barrels (20% is new). Camphor, currants, incense, graphite, crushed rocks and licorice all soar from this thriller and it has full-bodied richness, an incredible texture and a blockbuster finish. It will have 2-3 decades of overall longevity.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $122

Chateau de Saint Cosme Gigondas Le Poste, Rhone 2015 750ML ($99.95) $79 special
Wine Advocate 94-96 points “The 2015 Gigondas le Poste is a classic expression of this vineyard and shows the more elegant, perfumed style that always comes from this site. Violets, flowers, raspberries, blueberries and green herbs all emerge from this full-bodied, lengthy and impeccably balanced Gigondas that has ultra-fine tannin and perfectly integrated acidity. Brought up just like the other two single vineyard releases, this beauty will be more accessible in its youth, yet I suspect it will age just as long.”

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Chateau de Saint Cosme Gigondas Valbelle, Rhone 2015 750ML ($69.95) $59 special
Wine Advocate 94-96 points “Incorporating 10% Syrah, the Grenache-dominated 2015 Gigondas Cuvee Valbelle is another heavenly wine from Louis Barruol. Full-bodied, seamless and elegant, with lots of crème de cassis, crushed flowers, incense and white pepper, it has a touch less mid-palate depth than the single vineyards, but is impeccably balanced and will have two decades of longevity.”

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We offer 113 different red wines from the Rhone in-stock now – see our complete listings on our web store!

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Cayuse Wines In Stock Now!

cayuse vyds spreadsheet 7-15-17

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#Trending

Charles Smith K Vintners ‘M.C.K. Motor City Kitty’ Syrah, Washington 2014 750ML ($39.95) $36 special
Case-12 Charles Smith K Vintners ‘M.C.K. Motor City Kitty’ Syrah, Washington 2014 750ML ($479.95) $399 special (that’s only $33.25/bottle!)
Wine Advocate 95 points “Named after a cat owned by Charles when he was living in Walla Walla, the 2014 M C K Syrah sports a deep purple color as well as ripe, decadent notes of black fruits, plums, graphite, crushed rock and licorice. Big, sexy, seamless and pure, with present, yet ripe tannin, drink it through 2024. It’s worth noting that this comes completely from the River Rock vineyard in this vintage. As usual, it’s a crazy value.”
Wine Enthusiast 93 points –Editors’ Choice–“This aromatically brooding wine brings aromas of brown stems, scorched earth, smoked meat, iron, violets, orange peel and blue and black fruit. The flavors coat the palate from end to end with silky soft, unabashedly appealing fruit and savory notes. It hits the delicious gong hard, with an enduring finish.”

Stonestreet Alexander Mountain Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Alexander Valley 2014 750ML ($44.95) Was $29, Now $24
Case-6 Stonestreet Alexander Mountain Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Alexander Valley 2014 750ML ($239.95) Was $149, Now $129 (that’s only $21.50/bottle!)
Sonoma Magazine / Press Democrat –  Four Stars, Wine of the Week “($40) A bottle of Screaming Eagle will set you back $850. With this in mind, you may be in the market for a cult-cab substitute, a knockout that’s a steal for the quality. We had an impressive line-up of bottlings that over-delivered, and the best deal in the flight is our wine of the week winner — the Stonestreet Estate Vineyards, 2014 Alexander Valley, Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon, at $40. The Stonestreet is an impressive cab with layered flavors of black cherry, tobacco and cocoa. It has a round texture, and a nice length.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $34

Chateau Pesquie Terrasses Rouge, Ventoux 2007 750ML ($19.95) $11.90 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

Chateau Bel-Air, Pomerol 2010 750ML ($37.95) $29 special
Case-12 Chateau Bel-Air, Pomerol 2010 750ML ($419.95) $299 special (that’s only $24.92/bottle!)
Grapelive 92 points “The vintage shows through here without question, a great year makes this lovely Pomerol a terrific value and wonderfully textured wine from Chateau Bel-Air. This dark and full bodied Pomerol hits all the right notes and does so with class, vitality and verve. It shows beautiful detail and complexity in a forceful, but elegantly pure Merlot. This is really seductive stuff in the glass, holding its own against far more expensive labels with ease and poise. The rich layers of fruit, mineral tones and sweet tannin give decadence and refined structure, highlighting Merlot’s promise in a world that sometimes lacks the respect of this often maligned varietal. Chateau Bel-Air has captured in the bottle the right bank’s charm and beauty in this 2010, it shows terroir, with subtle loamy/earth, plummy dense mouth feel and stylish silken length with a wine that has the potential to age another 10 to 15 years, but is pretty darn good right now too. The lead off here is dark floral tones a hint of smoky cedar and black cherry fruit with blackberry, plum, dark kirsch liqueur along with a touch of mint, dried clay, a touch of cigar wrapper and vanilla. This fine Bordeaux delivers well beyond its price and is wonderful with food choices that range from duck breast, lamb, roast pork, wild mushroom dishes to prime rib, and or any comforting winter fare really, and it can also be enjoyed with cheeses or on its own. This is the kind of wine that brings you back to Bordeaux, and certainly makes you wonder why you don’t drink more Merlot. Drink this Chateau Bel-Air Pomerol from 2016 to 2028.”

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The next best price is $39.99

Domaine Huet Vouvray Le Mont Premiere Trie Moelleux, Loire 2015 750ML ($99.95) $79 special
Case-6 Domaine Huet Vouvray Le Mont Premiere Trie Moelleux, Loire 2015 750ML ($479.95) $419 special (that’s only $69.83/bottle!)
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)”

Lavau Gigondas, Rhone 2012 750ML ($24.95) $18 special, 30 bottles available
Case-12 Lavau Gigondas, Rhone 2012 750ML ($299.95) $199 special, 6 cases available (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.”

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The next best price is $24.99

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Hot Picks!

Arriving in November 2017

Armando Parusso Bussia, Barolo DOCG 2013 750ML ($89.95) $79 pre-arrival special
James Suckling 97 points “This is one of the greatest wines I have ever had from here. So much ripe cherry, raspberry and floral character. Medium body, super-refined tannins and a long and flavorful finish. So much going on here. Better in 2021.”
Wine Advocate 95 points “The 2013 Barolo Bussia is my favorite wine among Marco Parusso’s new releases. This wine shows an extraordinary level of richness and softness that speaks to the unique winemaking style proposed by this innovative producer. The Bussia cru tends to produce softer and finer fruit characteristics. The bouquet delivers elegant notes of wild berry, forest floor and white truffle with mineral notes such as pencil shaving delicately tucked in at the back. The wine sees up to 60% stem inclusion and maceration times are long. This Barolo is articulate and profoundly expressive.”

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Arriving Spring 2018

Bodega Aleanna ‘Gran Enemigo’, Mendoza, Argentina 2013 750ML ($69.95) $59 pre-arrival special
James Suckling 95 points “Very tight and beautiful wine with blackberry, blueberry and hints of tobacco, spice, and black tea. Full body, dense and powerful. Energy and intensity to this. A blend of cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc, merlot, and malbec.”

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Bodega Aleanna ‘Gran Enemigo’ Chacayes Single Vineyard Cabernet Franc, Tunuyan, Argentina 2013 750ML ($99.95) $89 pre-arrival special
James Suckling 97 points “This is crazy and deep with such an incredible depth of fruit and character. Full body, layered and dense. Yet energetic and vibrant. Focused and precise. Love. Drink in 2020.”

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Bodega Aleanna ‘Gran Enemigo’ Gualtallary Single Vineyard Cabernet Franc, Tupungato, Argentina 2013 750ML ($119.95) $99 pre-arrival special
James Suckling 99 points “This is a fabulous wine with blackberry, dark mushroom, blueberry and white pepper character. Full body, fine tannins and fantastic depth and length. Goes on for minutes. A magnificent red. Beautiful encore to the superb 2012. Drink or hold.”

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Thank you for reading!