New to the July Sale!
Opus One Deal Extended
2017 Markus Molitor
New Reviews for Oregon Wine
Rosés of the Day
New Arrivals
Staff Pick/Bandol
Trending Wines
Vieux Telegraphe’s Legendary 2016
Lisini
Domaine Gouges
First Offer: H. Boillot
July Sale Recap
New to the July Sale
Thierry Triolet Cuvee Grande Reserve Blanc de Blancs, Champagne NV 750ML ($44.95) Was $36, Now $33 July Sale Special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 91 points “Pale gold. Intense citrus and orchard fruit aromas are complicated by notes of honeysuckle, tarragon and iodine. Chewy tangerine and pear skin flavors become silkier and spicier with aeration. Shows a seductive floral quality on the clinging finish, which features a dusty mineral nuance and a touch of buttered toast.”
The average listed price is $38
Wine Spectator 95 points “This is loaded with well-defined loganberry, blackberry and boysenberry pâte de fruit flavors, flecked with anise and black tea notes and carried by a fine iron streak that lingers wonderfully. A wine of cut, purity and precision. Best from 2020 through 2035. From France.”
Wine Advocate 94 points “A blend of Syrah grapes from several lieux-dits, including Les Bessards, the 2015 Hermitage Domaine des Tourettes is aged in new and second use barrels. It’s a dark, concentrated wine, meaty, rich and tannic but with a bright beam of cassis fruit that lifts it and gives it great definition and shape on the palate. Give this medium to full-bodied wine at least 5 years in the cellar and drink it over the next 15.”
Now it’s even lower!
The average listed price is $88
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 90 points “Bright red. Very primary, vibrant aromas of raspberry, rose petal and mint. Juicy and tightly wound, showing lovely intensity and energy but a medicinal reserve in the early going. I like the combination of density and airiness. Finishes with excellent cut and verve.”
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 88 points “Moderately saturated medium red. A touch of reduction as well as a liqueur-like hint of ripeness to the musky redcurrant aroma. Lush and nicely concentrated, with the redcurrant and mineral flavors showing a slight cough medicine quality and a saline nuance. This needs a couple years in bottle to loosen up.”
Importer notes “In their home village, the Bitouzets own 2.2 hectares of vines at the village level. The vines, planted at various stages (1961, 1987, 2003) are principally found in the two neighboring sites of “Ez Echards” and “Les Aussy” which both sit immediately underneath the 1er Cru “Ronceret”. This Volnay has excellent ruby-red color; it is fresh, fruity with exuberant red berry fruit that spreads on the palate; and, it is lightly tannic in the finish to let one know this is from Volnay.”
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 92+ points “Bright red. Classy but reticent nose hints at bitter cherry. Densely packed and seriously concentrated, showing superb stony lift to the flavors of black cherry, violet and licorice. Really wonderful 2013 energy and density here, along with sneaky sweetness of fruit. Shows a youthful medicinal aspect but this is a bomb of primary dark fruits (Bitouzet described it as “a Pommard that changed its sex”). Finishes broad and long, with ripe, dusty tannins.”
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 91+ points “Healthy dark red. Very primary nose hints at black cherry, menthol and bitter chocolate lifted by a floral topnote. Then sappy and saline on the palate, showing very good chewy concentration and medicinal reserve. Quite reticent today but displays a terrific balance between sweetness and firm minerality. Bitouzet wishes he made big bottles of this juice.”
See the complete list of our July Sale Wines at the bottom of this newsletter!
Opus One Deal Extended
Now Through Monday @ 11:59 PM!
We Will Adjust Pricing Manually Before Finalizing Your Order
James Suckling 98 points “Purity and brilliance on the nose with so much currant and flower character. Roses, currant bush and fresh leaves, too. Brightness is the word that comes to mind. Full-bodied and broad-shouldered. Juicy and so gorgeous now. Balance is so wonderful here. All about harmonious fruit and tannin balance. I like it slightly better than the excellent 2014. 81% cabernet sauvignon, 4% petit verdot, 7% cabernet franc, 6% merlot and 2% malbec. Drink or hold..”
Wine Advocate 97+ points “Composed of 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Petit Verdot, 7% Cabernet Franc, 6% Merlot and 2% Malbec, Opus One’s 2015 Proprietary Red Wine is truly an iron fist in a velvet glove, delivering a powerhouse of flavors and structure with a seductively plush texture. It opens with a deep garnet-purple color and wonderfully spicy notes of cinnamon stick, cloves and fenugreek with a core of cherry preserves, redcurrant jelly, blackberry pie and warm plums plus hints of camphor, lavender and cigar box. Full-bodied, rich and bold in the mouth, it fills the palate with exotic spice-laced black and red fruits, framed by firm, beautifully ripe, grainy tannins and great freshness, finishing with epic persistence. Although it is already approachable, allow it another 3-5 years in bottle for its myriad of subtle accents to fully blossom and then drink it over the next 30+ years.”
Antonio Galloni 97 points “The 2015 Opus One is a terrific example of the year. Super-ripe and flamboyant in style, with tons of fruit pushed forward, the 2015 has a lot to offer. Today, the primary intensity of the fruit and some of the new oak need time to subside, but there is a lot to look forward to. A rush of super-ripe red cherry, plum, mocha, espresso and wild flowers build into the huge, creamy finish.”
2017 Markus Molitor
Arriving This Fall
These are the only listings in the USA today!
New Reviews from Nick Stock @ JamesSuckling.com
Willamette Valley Wines
Sequitur Pinot Noir, Ribbon Ridge 2017 750ML ($119.95) $79 special, 26 bottles in stock now
Nick Stock-JamesSuckling 96 points “Beautifully deep, blueberries and plums on offer with notes of fresh violets and moist, fresh-tilled earth. This is full of life and very pure. The palate has focused and fresh tannins that sit in very vibrant style with a deep push of concentrated blue fruit, holding the finish in superb style. So fresh and long, this will age well. Drink across the next decade or more.”
Nick Stock-JamesSuckling 92 points “Very fresh pears and melon here with peach nuances that all lead to a palate that is contained, long and seamlessly fresh with pears and melon to close. Drink now.”
Nick Stock-JamesSuckling 94 points “A very complex and richly fruited pinot that has a wealth of dark-spiced oak, chocolate and a wildly herbal thread, too. The palate has a lithe, juicy and super succulent feel with deeply expansive fruit presence and a very convincingly fleshy finish. Drink or hold.”
Nick Stock-JamesSuckling 93 points “Very attractive, fresh strawberries and cherries with a swathe of fine-ground spices on offer. The palate has a smooth array of fine tannins and a very impressively detailed run to the finish. Holds fresh and long. Drink over the next six years.”
The average listed price is $38
Nick Stock-JamesSuckling 93 points “An attractive array of rich red to dark cherries that delivers a fine layer of perfume and a wealth of bright raspberries and red cherries. The palate is subtly earthy and gently spicy with a very plush and assertive core of blueberries and red cherries. Smooth, supple and very energetic. Drink over the next six to eight years.”
The average price nationally is $34
Cayuse Horsepower Vineyards ‘The Tribe Vineyard’ Syrah, Walla Walla Valley 2016 750ML ($199.95) $179 special, 3 bottles in stock now
Nick Stock-JamesSuckling 96 points “This has such impressive, silky black fruit with interwoven spices and subtle, meaty nuances. The intensity of fruit is dialed-up in this wine. There’s a very pure, bright fruit core here that pushes out of the mid-palate with a lot of energy and stony, graphite-like notes. This has a wealth of dark berries on offer. Such length and balance. Planted at 8,500 vines per hectare. Drink or hold. Best from 2022.”
Rosés of the Day
Single Vineyard Bandol at a Bargain Price
In Stock Now:
Domaine Bunan Moulin des Costes Bandol Rose, Provence 2018 750ML ($27.95) $24 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
“Hints of crushed stone and lime zest appear on the nose of the 2018 Bandol Rose Moulin des Costes, a blend of 50% Cinsault, 40% Mourvèdre and 10% Grenache. Although only light to medium-bodied, it’s pleasantly silky in texture, with ample length on the refined, elegant finish.” -Wine Advocate
Wine Advocate 90 points “Hints of crushed stone accent melon and lime scents on the nose of the 2018 Bandol Rose Mas de la Rouviere. It’s light to medium-bodied, not terribly intense, but fine and silky, with a long, harmonious and refreshing finish.”
Want to see all 90 rosé options, in stock and arriving soon?
Just head to our web store for the full list
Goodfellow Family Cellars Richard’s Cuvee Chardonnay, Ribbon Ridge 2016 750ML ($47.95) $39 special, 24 bottles in stock now
Winery note “From a single acre of mixed Dijon and Heirloom clones, the Richard’s Cuvée aptly demonstrates the closing gap between Willamette Valley Chardonnays and white Burgundy. The ridge top exposure and shallow sedimentary soils imbue this wine with the energy and mineral finish of the very best Chardonnays.”
Marc Hebrart Selection Premier Cru Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 10 bottles in stock now
Disgorged December 2018
Antonio Galloni 93 points “The NV Brut Selection Vieilles Vignes is a cuvée of 70% Pinot Noir and 30% Chardonnay old vines, all from Mareuil, based on the 2013 vintage, so two years older than the base vintage of the Cuvee de Reserve. The old vines and the natural pedigree of 2013 confer a palpable sense of weight, texture and overall resonance. Creamy and expansive on the palate, with layers of flavor, the Selection is a gorgeous wine from Marc Hebrart.” [Review is for June 2017 disgorgement]
Wine Spectator 91 points “Rich and creamy in texture, with mouthwatering acidity providing a firm frame for flavors of glazed apricot, lemon pastry cream and candied ginger. Elegant and balanced, offering spice and floral accents on the finish.” [Review is for March 2017 disgorgement]
Beautiful, floating, exotic—great Condrieu can feel like art.
Saint Cosme Condrieu, Rhone 2017 750ML ($79.95) $59 special, 24 bottles in stock now
Importer Note “Saint Cosme Condrieu is produced from fully-ripened Viognier which Louis Barruol believes is essential to achieving the variety’s full potential. “But ripeness must not imply excessive alcohol,” says Barruol, “We seek balance.” The wine is matured for eight months in used 228-liter barrels and undergoes full malolactic fermentation on fine lees for 12 months. Saint Cosme Condrieu shows classic aromas and flavors of dried apricot, peach, and orange blossom with fennel, anise, and elderflower. Twelve months of aging on its fine lees in used Burgundian pièce brings texture to the palate. This is a classic Condrieu.”
The next best price is $68
The average listed price is $76
Chateau de Saint Cosme Gigondas, Rhone 2017 750ML ($49.95) $39 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-12 Chateau de Saint Cosme Gigondas, Rhone 2017 750ML ($599.95) $419 special (that’s only $34.92/bottle!)
Wine Advocate 91-93 points “More concentrated and tannic than the 2016, the 2017 Gigondas shows outstanding potential. Marked by hints of charred wood and mocha, it’s nevertheless rich, ripe and fruity, with a long finish. (JC)”
Decanter 92 points “Whole-cluster fruit from limestone, marl and Miocene sand soils is fermented in concrete with indigenous yeasts. It’s then aged 70% in barrel, 20% new, with the remaining 30% in concrete. It has a very oaky aromatic profile at this early stage, but it’s joined by a lovely herbal aspect from the stems. Medium to full-bodied, the fruit has a vibrant freshness and the acidity is pretty marked, while the tannins are massy but ripe and harmonious. Long finish.”
The average listed price is $55
Saint Cosme Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Rhone 2016 750ML ($49.95) $39 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Saint Cosme Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Rhone 2016 1.5L ($99.95) $89 special, 24 magnums in stock now
Wine Advocate 94-96 points “Blended, but still aging in barrel, the 2016 Chateauneuf du Pape will likely be bottled in March 2019. Brandied cherries and dried spices mark the nose of this full-bodied, plush wine. It’s slightly warm, and certainly rich, but it remains fresh and long on the finish. It should be a beauty.-JC”
Jeb Dunnuck 92-94 points “Scheduled to be bottled in October, the 2016 Châteauneuf-du-Pape checks in as a mix of 50% Grenache, 30% Mourvèdre, and 10% each of Syrah and Cinsault. Rounded, beautifully textured, and full-bodied, with terrific complexity in its incense, dried flower, cedarwood, and assorted red and black fruits, it should benefit from short-term cellaring and offer over a decade of prime drinking. “
The average listed price is $55 for the 750ML
Staff Pick/Bandol
I’m a sucker for the reds of Bandol, especially in the summertime. That might be counter intuitive—these are big red wines from a warm part of the world, so why does my desire to drink them increase with the temperature (to a point—above 90 and it’s Spritz time, despite what the NY Times says). I think it’s because the wines retain a freshness to them that’s unique and pair so well with so many grilled foods—there’s something about Bandol that just screams “things cooked over flames.”My go to for a while has been Tempier’s “basic” Bandol rouge. Like all Bandol, it’s mostly made from Mourvèdre—a grape that slowly ripens, even in the Provençal heat, and retains a beautiful freshness. Unlike the single vineyards, it’s delicious now. It’s a big wine, for sure, but the tannins are just soft enough to go with a leg of lamb or some burgers off the grill. Often, I notice that lovers of Tempier go straight for the “top” cuvees, with the intention of aging them for 20+ years. The wines are stunning that way, but you miss the joyful, rich fruit of the wines in their youth. The 2016 is an exceptional vintage for this wine and I’d recommend that you buy this by the case and drink it with abandon.
Domaine Tempier Bandol, Provence 2016 750ML ($59.95) $45 special
Case-12 Domaine Tempier Bandol, Provence 2016 750ML ($719.95) $499 pre-arrival special, re-arriving July 12th! (that’s only $41.58/bottle and the lowest listed price in the USA today!)
Importer Note “75% Mourvèdre, 14% Grenache, 9% Cinsault, 2% Carignan from 40+ year old vines on clay and limestone soils. Destemmed, fermented with indigeous yeasts and then aged 18-20 months in large oak foudres.”
“The La Tourtine parcel lies at a slightly lower elevation, in the Castellet region, and is more homogeneously clay soils. This parcel yields a powerful, rich, concentrated and surprisingly polished Bandol that has the fruit and texture to impress in its youth, yet the concentration to age beautifully.” –Jeb Dunnuck [no reviews for the 2016 vintage]
Importer Note “80% Mourvèdre, 10% Grenache, 10% Cinsault from 40+ year old vines on clay and limestone soils. Destemmed, fermented with indigenous yeasts and then aged 18-20 months in large oak foudres.”
Domaine Tempier Bandol La Migoua, Provence 2016 750ML ($79.95) $59 special
“Lying outside the village of Le Beausset, the La Migoua vineyard is the highest elevation site of the three and sits at 270 meters above sea level; it consists of diverse clay and limestone soils. Possessing the smallest amount of Mourvèdre (~55%) and the most Grenache, this cuvee is always slightly less powerful and rich than the other two single vineyards, yet is always the most perfumed and complex.” –Jeb Dunnuck [no reviews for the 2016 vintage]
Importer Note “50% Mourvèdre, 20% Grenache, 26% Cinsault, 4% Syrah from 40+ year old vines on clay and limestone soils. Destemmed, fermented with indigenous yeasts and then aged 18-20 months in large oak foudres.”
The average listed price is $78
Trending Wines
Wwe Dr. H. Thanisch Erben Thanisch Bernkasteler Doctor Riesling Spatlese, Mosel 2017 750ML ($54.95) $46 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt – Wine Advocate 95+ points “The coolish, precise and elegant 2017 Berncasteler Doctor Riesling Spätlese (AP 3 18) opens to very fine tropical fruit aromas intermixed with the smoky scents of crushed black rocks. Lush and finessed on the palate, this is a firmly structured, very elegant and persistently mineral Doctor Spätlese whose salty-piquant finish and fine, crystalline structure develops enormous length and tension but also finesse and a highly elaborate style. Highly stimulating. Tasted in March 2019.”
Mosel Fine Wines 93 points “The 2017er Berncasteler Doctor Spätlese offers a ripe nose of yellow peach, orange blossom, apricot, coconut cream, pear and smoke, all wrapped into some toffee. The wine is compact and still on the sweet side and intense on the palate. Riper fruits including apricot, mango and melon kick in and make for a delicately creamy and still rather sweet feel in the finish. This big backward offer will need more than a decade to absorb its sweetness and develop the inherent finesse of Doctor wines. 2032-2057.”
The average listed price is $63
Avennia Sestina Red, Columbia Valley 2016 750ML ($79.95) $59 special, 30 bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 95+ points “The 2016 Sestina checks in as 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Franc that saw 21 months in 48% new French oak before being bottled unfined and unfiltered. It shows the purity and elegance of the vintage beautifully and offers classic Cabernet notes of crème de cassis, lead pencil, crushed rocks, and tobacco leaf. With beautiful balance and that more elegant, finesse-driven style of the estate, it packs plenty of fruit and is a seamless wine that will benefit from 2-3 years of bottle age and keep for 15-20 years.”
Josh Raynolds 93+ points “(includes a good percentage of vines from the 1970s; aged in about 45% new oak): Bright dark red. Alluring violet and rose petal lift to the aromas of dark berries, licorice and black olive. Penetrating, savory wine with terrific saline minerality and lift to its wild berry and licorice flavors. This very concentrated, backward wine finishes with serious tannins but no rough edges. A bit more sharply focused than its 2015 sibling but this wine will need longer for its tannic spine to unclench. Even the Merlot yields were moderate in 2016, noted winemaker Chris Peterson. Following a bit of acidification, this wine finished with a pH of 3.8.”
The next best price is $79.99
Massican Sauvignon Blanc, Napa Valley 2017 750ML ($39.95) $33 special, 18 bottles in stock now
Wine Enthusiast 94 points “Floral and stony, this impressively complex and memorable white has a thirst-quenching grasp of gravelly minerality, a core element built around bold, beautiful flavors of fig, Meyer lemon and tangerine.”
Winery note “Sauvignon blanc – 100%. The 2017 vintage in Napa Valley will always be remembered because of the wildfires that began in the late evening of Sunday, October 8. The fires spread with lightning speed because of the heavy winds that night and not only many homes were lost but also many lives in the area. Each day we take a step to repair the physical and emotional loss due to the fires but we will never forget how fragile our planet is and how quickly mother nature will remind us of the breadth and ferocity of her power.”
What more can be said about Ridge’s flagship Zin?
Ridge Vineyards Geyserville Zinfandel – Carignane, Alexander Valley 2017 750ML ($49.95) $39 special, 16 bottles in stock now
Wine Advocate 93-95 points “A first look at the 2017 Geyserville Proprietary Red Wine revealed immense promise. Despite having been in barrel for a mere six months, it’s already offering up complex aromas of raspberries, blackberries and exotic spice. On the palate, it’s medium to full-bodied, pure and succulent, with superb concentration, a lovely line of ripe acidity and a chalky, fine-grained finish. The wine attained 14.7% alcohol, and Baugher believes it will be one of the best renditions of Geyserville in a decade.”
One of the best values in Northern Rhone wine out there.
Delas Freres Saint-Joseph Francois de Tournon, Rhone 2015 750ML ($44.95) $38 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-6 Delas Freres Saint-Joseph Francois de Tournon, Rhone 2015 750ML ($279.95) $199 special (that’s only $33.17/bottle and the lowest listed price in the USA today!)
Wine Advocate 93 points “Inky and concentrated, the 2015 Saint-Joseph Francois de Tournon is no easy-drinking Saint-Joseph. It’s smoky, herbal and ashy all at once, yet it’s buoyed by ample black cherry fruit and vibrant acidity. This medium to full-bodied Syrah has plenty of tannins, but they’re ultimately silky and most apparent on the long, licorice-tinged finish. This is approachable now but should be even better in 3 years and should drink well for at least another 10 after that.”
Jeb Dunnuck 93 points “Both Saint Joseph releases are brilliant in 2015. The 2015 Saint Joseph François De Tournon comes vines around Tournon, Mauves, Saint-Jean-de-Muzols, and Vion, and is always destemmed and aged in 30% new barrels. This full-bodied, rounded, sexy beauty shows the power and fruit of the vintage. With classic notes of black and blue fruits, violets, incense and pepper, drink this textured, expansive, terrific Saint Joseph over the coming 10-15 years.”
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 92 points “Dark ruby. High-pitched red and dark berry and violet aromas show excellent focus and pick up hints of cracked pepper and sandalwood with air. Sappy and seamless in texture, offering fresh black raspberry and bitter cherry flavors and a hint of candied licorice. Turns sweeter on the penetrating, impressively long finish, which features smooth, even tannins and lingering boysenberry and floral qualities.”
Vieux Telegraphe’s Legendary 2016
“One of the Top Vintages of This Wine”
It’s no secret that 2016 is considered a landmark vintage in the Rhone. Across all appellations, the vintage was warm, trouble free and resulted in powerful wines with great density and impressive aromatics. Vieux Telegraphe made wines that recalled their 2007 and 2001 bottlings—ageworthy, powerful Chateauneuf du Pape that will go down as historic bottlings. We just received an assortment of sizes for this legend in the making, from half-bottles to impressive three-liters. All would be fantastic to put away for a half-decade or so and then drink over the following twenty years.
In Stock Now:
Domaine du Vieux Telegraphe Chateauneuf-du-Pape La Crau, Rhone 2016 750ML ($89.95) $79 special
Domaine du Vieux Telegraphe Chateauneuf-du-Pape La Crau, Rhone 2016 375ML ($51.95) $44 special
Domaine du Vieux Telegraphe Chateauneuf-du-Pape La Crau, Rhone 2016 1.5L ($199.95) $179 special
Domaine du Vieux Telegraphe Chateauneuf-du-Pape La Crau, Rhone 2016 3L ($499.95) $399 special
James Suckling 98 points “Impressive, complex array of wild cherries, raspberries, garrigue herbs, lightly spiced pastry and stony, chalky minerals. Super-fresh florals. The palate has superb texture, roundness, completeness, depth and detail. Powerful yet elegant with powdery tannins and essence-like red fruit. Super-fleshy, supple and dense core, then strong at the edges. Layer upon layer peels away on the finish. Resounding finesse and equilibrium, showing the full potential of the plateau La Crau. Drink or hold.
Wine Advocate 96 points “Undoubtedly one of the top vintages of this wine, the 2016 Chateauneuf du Pape La Crau features classy notes of crushed stones and black tea to go along with ripe raspberries and black cherries. Full-bodied yet silky, there’s more power and richness in La Crau than in Piedlong, yet there’s commensurate elegance and finesse. The wine grows in intensity on the finish without ever seeming heavy or overripe, instead offering hints of tea and licorice.”
Lisini
Ugolaia is one of the best bottles of Brunello in any year it’s released—a true titan of the genre and the region. This is old-school winemaking at its best, with extended macerations to give texture, depth and gravitas and then extended aging to allow for the fierce tannins to soften before release. The resulting wine seems to have everything we’d want in traditionally made Sangiovese, expanded into fractalized detail because of the quality of the vineyard. The other wines from Lisini are also worth drinking (and cellaring) and we’ve got quite the selection in stock right now. If you’re a fan of Italian wines, you’ve got to make sure Lisini is on your radar.
In Stock Now:
Lisini Ugolaia, Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2012 750ML ($119.95) $99 special, 34 bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 96 points “A bright and elegant yet taut and structured version, this red features buried cherry, plum, earth, iron and tobacco flavors. Dynamic despite the firm grip of tannins, this should come around in a few years. Licorice and ripe cherry notes mark the finish. Best from 2020 through 2038.”
Lisini Ugolaia, Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2011 750ML ($119.95) $88 special, 18 bottles in stock now
Decanter Magazine 93 points “Pale, authentic shade. Open and well-defined on the nose with wild berry aromas. The palate has very fine, soft and refined tannins, with lots of sweet fruit. Not great structure, but attractive fleshy fruit. Drinking Window 2017 – 2025.”
Lisini Rosso di Montalcino, Tuscany 2016 750ML ($31.95) $26 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 90 points “Black cherry, blackberry, iron and wild herb flavors mark this ripe, fruity red, which is well-integrated, with dusty tannins on the finish. Drink now through 2024.”
Lisini Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Tuscany 2012 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 96 points “Exuding cherry, strawberry and floral flavors tinged with iron, earth ans spice notes, this ripe red is elegant in profile, tightly wound and deftly balanced, ending with a kick of fruit, spice and mineral elements. Best from 2020 through 2037.”
Lisini Brunello di Montalcino Riserva DOCG, Tuscany 2011 750ML ($89.95) $69 special, 29 bottles in stock now
Wine Advocate 94+ points “I have not seen a Riserva from Lisini for a while, so this wine comes as a pleasant surprise. The 2011 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva takes us back to one of the warmest vintages in recent memory. However, this wine holds nicely with plenty of lush primary fruit to keep it smelling and tasting younger than its years. Dark cherry and dried blackberry rise to the top. Soon to follow are layers of spice and sweet tobacco. The mouthfeel is thickly layered but velvety smooth all the while.”
Domaine Gouges
Henri Gouges, who founded the venerable estate, was one of the first in Burgundy to estate bottle—at the time the winery was founded most just sold grapes or wine to negociants. He also was instrumental in creating the AOC system in Burgundy and help to get a vineyard classification worked out. The estate is based in Nuits, with holdings in most of the major crus and an incredible standard of quality across the board. The current generation, Christian and Pierre (grandsons of Henri) are making some of the finest wines in the estate’s history.
Yes, these are not your father’s Gouges wines. The domaine is known for powerful, incredibly long lived wines, often with fierce tannins when young. Yet, when we’ve tasted these wines in the last few vintages, they’re more refined and elegant than ever. You can tell there’s a strong spine that will allow the wines to age for a long time, but they’re surprisingly delicious now. There’s always lots of demand for these wines and, as you’ve probably heard, quantities are extremely low in 2016, but it seems as though the 2016’s are a year to stock up on if you can find the wines (hint, hint).
Arriving ETA Late July:
Domaine Henri Gouges Nuits-Saint-Georges 2016 750ML ($99.95) $79 pre-arrival special
John Gilman 91 points “The 2016 Nuits AC had just been racked the day before my visit and had its SO2 adjusted a touch as well, and yet the wine was in good form and easy to taste! The bouquet is deep and quite sappy this year (perhaps from the addition of some Chaignots?), jumping from the glass in a lovely mix of black cherries, sweet dark berries, woodsmoke, venison, dark soil tones and raw cocoa. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied and sappy at the core, with fine focus and grip, ripe, seamless tannins and a long, vibrant and tangy finish. Fine, fine AC. 2024-2060+.”
Domaine Henri Gouges Clos des Porrets Monopole, Nuits-Saint-Georges Premier Cru 2016 750ML ($119.95) $99 pre-arrival special
Wine Spectator 95 points “Earthy reduction in the aroma gives way to pure cherry, raspberry and stone flavors, revealing flashes of spice and dark, meaty elements. Dense and lush, with black fruit, spice and toast notes on the long finish. Powerful. Best from 2023 through 2042. 200 cases imported.”
Domaine Henri Gouges Les Pruliers, Nuits-Saint-Georges Premier Cru 2016 750ML ($149.95) $119 pre-arrival special
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 93+ points “The 2016 Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er Cru Les Pruliers stands in contrast to the suave and elegant 2017 rendition. Offering up aromas of raspberries, cassis, dark chocolate, rich soil tones and cedary new oak, the wine is medium to full-bodied, dense and concentrated, with bright acids and an imposing chassis of rich, chewy tannin. Firm and tight-knit, this will require all the patience that readers will be accustomed to afford Gouges’ Pruliers.”
Neal Martin-Vinous 93 points “The 2016 Nuits Saint-Georges Les Pruliers 1er Cru has an impressive bouquet of black cherry, raspberry, orange rind, crushed stone and wilted rose petals in an antique glass vase. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannin, lovely red cherry, cranberry and raspberry fruit with great depth, more than perhaps the 2009 or 2010 towards the finish that fans out gloriously. There is a great Les Pruliers here in the making but it deserves time. Tasted at the Gouges retrospective at La Cabotte.”
Want to see all 15 different bottlings available from the legendary Domaine Gouges?
First Offer
H. Boillot
2017 represents a return to form for the white side of the Cote d’Or. 2016 was excellent when it was good, but frost and hail damaged many vineyards, reducing yields and creating riper than expected wines in some instances. By contrast, the ’17’s we’ve tasted have been both classically excellent and even across the board. These are minerally, bright and fresh, with good density and the balance to age. As you’d expect given Boillot’s stature, quantities are very limited, but they should be wonderful for the lucky few that get in on these wines.
Arriving ETA July:
Domaine Henri Boillot Clos de la Mouchere Monopole, Puligny-Montrachet Premier Cru 2017 750ML ($199.95) $159 pre-arrival special
Stephen Tanzer 94-96 points “Bright yellow. Lemon drop and oil, peach, hazelnut and flowers on the subtly complex nose. Tactile and brisk on entry, then thick and energetic in the middle palate, conveying a distinct impression of sweetness countered by pure saline minerality. The wine’s peachy fruit hints at almost honeyed ripeness without losing its verve. Finishes with outstanding mounting length. This has the palate presence and depth of a grand cru.”
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 94-96 points “From an enclave within the premier cru Perrières, Boillot’s 2017 Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Clos de la Mouchère is utterly superb this year, wafting from the glass with aromas of lemon oil, mandarin orange, beeswax, iodine and subtle smoky reduction. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied, satiny and layered, with striking volume and depth at the core, balanced by incisive acids that animate the long, mineral finish. Guillaume Boillot speculates that this monopole’s comparative variety of mesoclimates and soil types lends the resulting wine greater complexity than would be the case with a small cuvée.”
Domaine Henri Boillot Les Genevrieres, Meursault Premier Cru 2017 750ML ($199.95) $169 pre-arrival special
Stephen Tanzer 93-95 points “(Boillot described his vines in Genevrières du Haut as “two rows away from Perrières “): Pale, green-tinged yellow. Delicate nose hints at lime zest and white flowers. Wonderfully silky and energetic on the palate but also sharply delineated and tighter today than the Charmes. Discreet citrus fruit and hazelnut flavors deliver noteworthy complexity. Finishes gripping and very long, with serious salty energy. The crop level here was just 35 hectoliters per hectare, according to Boillot.”
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 92-94 points “The 2017 Meursault 1er Cru Genevrières is another of the many highlights in this superlative portfolio, unfurling in the glass with aromas of green apple, citrus oil, spring blossom and oatmeal. On the palate, it’s medium to full-bodied, layered and complete, with impressive concentration and depth at the core, ripe but vibrant acids and a stony, precise finish.”
Domaine Henri Boillot Les Perrieres, Meursault Premier Cru 2017 750ML ($219.95) $179 pre-arrival special
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 93-95+ points “Boillot’s 2017 Meursault 1er Cru Les Perrières is superb, and one of the highlights of the range this year, unfurling in the glass with notes of lemon oil, crisp green apple, struck flint and smoky reduction. On the palate, the wine is medium to full-bodied, stony and tensile, with considerable depth, concentration and chewy dry extract. It’s indelibly marked by the site that produced it.”
Stephen Tanzer 93-95 points “Pale, bright yellow. Reticent, very pure scents of underripe pineapple, white peach and crushed stone. Like the previous Meursault samples, this boasts lovely purity and suavity; it verges on opulent while delivering an almost weightless impression. Quite closed today and not revealing its inherent personality but its acidity and saline minerality are already perfectly integrated. The longest of these 2017s to this point, but this backward Perrières will need at least a few years in bottle to display its minerality.”
Stephen Tanzer 93-95 points “Bright, pale yellow. Complex and complete on the nose, offering scents of peach, flowers and saline minerality. Boasts outstanding saline concentration and energy without any rough edges but quite tightly coiled today. This boasts remarkable palate presence for premier cru and its very slowly mounting, rising finish stains the palate. Serious potential here.”
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 92-94 points “Aromas of crisp orchard fruit, mandarin, beeswax and white flowers introduce the 2017 Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Pucelles, a medium to full-bodied, chiseled wine, that represents a comparatively tensile, tight-knit rendition of this site, displaying good concentration, depth and length.”
July Sale Recap
Vive La France!