February 16, 2015
Jump Start Sale
Arriving This Thursday
“This is the personal project of Ehren Jordan, who was the long-time apprentice at Turley Cellars. These are all elegant, cool climate, finesse-styled wines that were obviously influenced by European rather than New World models.”
— Robert Parker, December 2013
Antonio Galloni 94 points “The 2012 Chardonnay Hudson Vineyard, from one of the great sites in Napa Valley, is also one of the most classic California Chardonnays in this range. Lemon peel, pastry, flowers and sweet spices meld together in a textured, inviting Chardonnay built on texture. A wine of stunning balance and pure voluptuousness, the 2012 boasts fabulous balance and tons of personality. This is pure Hudson, not to mention a drop-dead gorgeous beauty. After many years juggling duties at both Turley and Failla, Ehren Jordan is now focused solely on his estate, but he still makes a dizzying array of wines. These Chardonnays and Pinots are essays into many of the truly great terroirs of Napa Valley, Sonoma and Mendocino. Personally I tend to gravitate towards the Sonoma Coast wines in this range, but there are plenty of fabulous wines from which to choose here. All of the 2012s were in bottle at the time of my tastings, in January 2014.”
The next best listed price is $46.95
The average listed price is $49 / bottle
Failla Chardonnay Haynes Vineyard 2012 750ML ($59.95) $46 pre-arrival special 4 bottles available
Antonio Galloni 92 points “The 2012 Chardonnay Haynes Vineyard is another very pretty wine from Ehren Jordan and Failla. Sweet floral and spice notes melt into expressive fruit in a feminine, gracious Chardonnay with tons of near-term appeal. This dry-farmed site in Coombsville planted with own-rooted vines yields Chardonnays of distinction. In this range, the Haynes doesn’t quite have the length or finesse of the very best wines, but that is splitting hairs at this level. ”
The next best listed price is $53.98
The average listed price is $57 / bottle
Failla Syrah Hudson Vineyard 2012 750ML ($59.95) $39 pre-arrival special 3+ cases available
Antonio Galloni 93 points “The 2012 Syrah Hudson Vineyard provides a fascinating contrast to the Estate Syrah. Savory and earthy notes emerge first, followed by dark fruit, leather and dried flowers. I very much like the sense of energy and depth in the glass. The 2012 is very beautiful, but not quite as striking as the Estate. ”
The next best listed price is $49
The average listed price is $55 / bottle
Domaine Servin Chablis
Lowest Listed Prices in the USA!
All at the Lowest Listed Price in the USA!
Wine Spectator 91 points “Displays a lean profile, featuring peach, lemon and mineral flavors, with a hint of yogurt. Vibrant and long, delivering a lingering finish driven by the acidity. Drink now through 2018.”Servin Chablis Les Forets Premier Cru 2012 750ML ($34.95) $27 special
Antonio Galloni 91 points “A wine of pure texture and resonance, the 2012 Chablis Les Forêts is absolutely gorgeous today. Almonds, hazelnuts and dried pear are all fused together in the glass. The 2013 is ream less, voluptuous and quite open, even at this early stage. A kick of acidity lends freshness to the finish.” AG
Servin Chablis Mont De Milieu Premier Cru 2012 750ML ($39.95) $24 special
Wine Spectator 91 points “This is creamy, boasting lemon cake, melon and spice flavors, all supported by a vibrant structure. Leaves a tangy, mouthwatering finish. Drink now through 2020. 75 cases imported.”
Servin Chablis Montee De Tonnere Premier Cru 2013 750ML ($34.95) $26 special
Wine Advocate 91 points “The 2013 Chablis 1er Cru Montee de Tonnerre has a well-defined bouquet with lime flower and freshly sliced pear, hints of orange blossom in the background. The palate is well-balanced with a saline entry that sets you up nicely for the peach skin, Nashi pear and grapefruit finish that exudes poise and grace. Excellent. Drink 2015-2022.”
Servin Chablis Les Pargues 2013 750ML ($29.95) $19 special
Antonio Galloni 87-89 points “Servin’s 2013 Chablis Les Pargues presents attractive smoke and slate nuances, along with yellow orchard fruit, mint and spices. There is plenty to admire in this subtle, nicely layered village-level Chablis.”
Servin Chablis Vaillons Premier Cru 2013 750ML ($39.95) $29 special
Antonio Galloni 90-92 points “Bright citrus, lemon peel and tangerine notes emerge from the 2013 Chablis Vaillons. One of the more energetic, vibrant 1er Crus at Servin in 2013, the Vaillons stands out for its nuance and crystalline precision.”
Servin Chablis Vaucoupin 2013 750ML ($34.95) $26 special
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 89-91 points “(from 48-year-old vines): Bright yellow. Citrus fruits, minerals and flowers on the nose, plus a suggestion of gingery spice. Intensely flavored and nicely deep, with an attractive sugar/acid balance contributing to an overall impression of smoothness. Saline and white pepper qualities add interest to the middle palate. Finishes pliant and long, with firm chalky minerality.”
Servin Chablis Les Clos Grand Cru 2011 750ML ($69.95) $49 special
Antonio Galloni 91 points “Servin’s 2011 Chablis Les Clos shows gorgeous immediacy. Smoke, gunflint, lime and pear all take shape in the glass. This is a decidedly understated Clos with lovely purity, length and delineation. The medium-bodied structure and easygoing style make the 2011 an excellent choice for drinking over the next few years.”
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This Week’s New Arrivals
OREGON
Cameron Saignee Of Pinot Noir 2013 750ML ($29.95) $24 special
Winery note “Hints of orange rind, strawberry parfait, cream, tarragon, Chinese 5 spice, frumetto (you are going to have to look that one up), and yes, Funyuns. Just plain delicious. And it’s pink.”
Argyle Reserve Pinot Noir 2012 750ML ($39.95) $33 special
Wine Spectator 92 points “A crisp and tangy red, with inviting red berry, red plum and quince flavors on a lively frame, finishing against fine tannins with intensity, persistence and harmony. Best from 2016 through 2022.”
WASHINGTON
Doubleback Cabernet Walla Walla 2012 750ML ($119.95) $99 special
Wine Advocate 94-96 points “Tasted out of barrel, the 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon should be a significant step up over the 2011. Full-bodied, beautifully textured, concentrated and rich, with high, yet sweet tannin, it offers up notions of cassis, cedar, cherry blossom and lead pencil shavings in its pure, sexy personality. Given the texture and concentration, it should drink reasonably well on release, yet evolve for two decades. Chris Figgins and Drew Bledsoe continue to release a blockbuster Cabernet under their Doubleback label.”
CALIFORNIA
Macrostie Chardonnay Sonoma Coast 2012 750ML ($21.95) $18 special
Wine Enthusiast 90 points “Editors Choice. So bright and zingy in acidity, and so ripe in tangerine, mango, lime fruit and honeysuckle, that you hardly notice the oak influence. Yet, it’s there in the form of buttered toast. The result is a big, powerful Chardonnay, clean and vibrant, for drinking now with dramatic shellfish and pork dishes.”
Macrostie Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast 2010 750ML ($34.95) $21.90 special
Wine Enthusiast 91 points “Editor’s Choice. Deep, brooding aromas of forest floor mark this dramatic Pinot. It suggests wild, woodland raspberries, pine needles, balsam, cola and earthy mushrooms. Dry and modest in alcohol, it’s a skillful interpretation of a difficult, cool vintage. Nice to drink now, and will age for at least six years.”
Round Pond Sauvignon Blanc Rutherford 2013 750ML ($27.95) $21.90 special
Wine Spectator 90 points –#83 TOP 100 2014–“Opens up with lemon verbena, citrus and melon notes that are round and juicy, balanced with sophisticated details of honeysuckle and grapefruit zest. This finishes with a crescendo of flavors, lingering on the finish. Drink now.”
Round Pond Napa Cabernet Sauvignon 2011 750ML ($29.95) $26 special
Wine Spectator “Offers an easy-drinking allure, with vivid, snappy notes of berry, light oak, dried herb and fresh tannins. Drink now through 2022.”
Round Pond Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon 2011 750ML ($59.95) $49 special
Antonio Galloni 94 points “Herbs, tobacco, cedar, iron, smoke and incense emerge from the glass in the 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate. A gorgeous, savory and totally expressive wine, the 2011 impresses for its balance and pedigree. This is without question one of the most beautiful wines of the year. The profile is decidedly European-influenced in its aromatics and structure, but the fruit is pure Napa Valley. There are only a handful of values left in first-class Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon; this is one of them.”
FRANCE
Comte Armand Pommard Clos Epeneaux Monopole Premier Cru 2006 750ML ($179.95) $149 special
Fine Wine Review 93 points “Benjamin Leroux manages to turn out consistently fine wines, no matter what challenges the vintage poses. The Pommard-Clos des Epeneaux has truffly dark fruit aromas. The wine is smooth and harmonious in the mouth with iodide, dark fruit and plenty of round tannins. I’d expect to wait 5-8 years before drinking and the wine should then hold quite well for 15-20 years.”
Burghound 92 points “In contrast to the reticence displayed from barrel, now that the ’06 is in bottle it is surprisingly open and expressive with a beautifully layered nose of raspberry, cherry and red pinot fruit nuanced by hints of spice, earth, minerals and a dried herb component that introduces intense, balanced and pure flavors that culminate in a serious, mouth coating and well built finish where the tannins are solid but not rustic or aggressive. This will require the better part of a decade to arrive at its majority as the tannins are quite firm and despite the inviting openness of the nose, the finish is on the austere side at present. Comments: Outstanding. Drink: 2014+.”
Vougeraie Pommard Les Petit Noizons 2010 750ML ($79.95) $66 special
Burghound 89-91 points –OUTSTANDING–“This is the first wine to display any significant reduction but here it’s enough to block an evaluation of the nose. The rich, intense and energetic middle weight flavors possess fine precision and plenty of mineral nuances, all wrapped in a firm, mouth coating, dusty and well-balanced finish. Petits Noizons is arguably the best villages level vineyard in Pommard and the quality of this excellent effort merits consideration.”
Vougeraie Vougeot Les Cras Premier Cru 2010 750ML ($119.95) $89 special
Burghound 91 points –OUTSTANDING–“Mild reduction reduces the expressiveness somewhat of the otherwise brooding nose that combines plenty of stone and soil tones with ripe wild red berries and floral nuances. There is excellent volume to the energetic, intense and overtly muscular medium weight plus flavors that benefit from the presence of plenty of dry extract that buffers the very firm and phenolically mature tannins on the balanced and impressively complex finish. This moderately robust yet lush effort is not without a certain refinement and overall, I very much like the depth of character.”
ITALY
Forteto Della Luja Pian Sogni Brachetto 2008 375ml ($39.95) $33 special
Winery notes “The Pian dei Sogni – field of dreams – is an ethereal, pure expression of the enchanting Brachetto grape variety. Delicate, slight and never cloying, this charming wine reveals beautiful notes of dried rose and strawberry on the nose, with flavours of sweet cherry and raspberry in the mouth. The wine pairs perfectly with chocolate, almonds, chestnuts as well as Black Forest cake. Serve at 16-18°C in long tulip glasses.”
Bisson Bianchetta Genovese U Pastine 2013 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 special
Winery note “The term U Pastine is from the local dialect indicating a very special product, appropriate for this rare white grape found only in Liguria. Lugano has saved several parcels from extinction and from which he creates a truly unique white wine that is delicate, lively and satisfying, filled with vibrant minerality; it is particularly delightful when married to the white-fleshed fish that frequent the shores of this part of Liguria … the bianchetti, the nasello and tiny, exquisitely flavored langostino.”
Oddero Dolcetto D’alba 2012 750ML($19.95) $16 special
Oddero Langhe Nebbiolo 2011 750ML ($24.95) $19 special
Vinopolnotes-The Oddero winery is located in the hamlet of Santa Maria in the commune La Morra. It was founded by Giacomo Oddero, whose family has winemaking roots in the region dating to the 18th century. The 2011 Langhe Nebbiolo is produced from a small plot in Bricco San Biagio. The wine is matured for 12 months in large oak barrels. It is a classic Nebbiolo, with good tannic grip and beautiful aromas of violets, roses, red berries and a hint of earthiness. Decant before serving or cellar for 5+ years.
Winery notes “A typical Nebbiolo, with a ruby-red color, a beautiful bouquet of violets and red fruits, with pleasant tannins which recall the earth of the Langhe.”
Oddero Barolo Bussia Soprana 2007 750ML ($119.95) $99 special
Wine Spectator 93 points “A perfumed red, with licorice, rose, menthol and underbrush aromas leading to leather and tar. The fruit has faded to dried cherry, and there’s sweetness to balance the dusty tannins on the finish. Fine length. Best from 2016 through 2032.”
Oddero Barolo Vigne Rionda 2005 750ML ($119.95) $99 special
Wine Spectator 91 points “Beginning to show some developed aromas and flavors of tar, licorice, sandalwood and spice, but there’s still a firm grip of tannins to soften before this red settles into a groove. Fresh if lean, and just a tad dry on the spicy finish. Best from 2013 through 2025.”
GERMANY/ AUSTRIA
Gobelsburg Riesling Gobelsburger 2013 750ML ($19.95) $16.60 special
Wine Spectator 92 points “Offers ripe aromas and flavors of beeswax and sage honey, with kiwifruit, melon and white currant hints. This has some dried mango notes, with an exuberant finish of white pepper and lemon curd. Drink now through 2022.”
Brundlmayer Riesling Zobinger heiligenstein lyra 2012 ($74.95) $61.90 special
Terry Theise notes: “The wine is named for the Y-shaped trellising system that increases canopy, thus shading the grapes and increasing photosynthesis. It also “looks like the vine is throwing its arms up toward the sun,” says Willi (poetically!), who adds, “And it shows that you don’t need old vines to give great Riesling.”
I show you the ’13 basically for-the-record, as it won’t be released until 2015, not to mention any sensible person would jump on the grandiose 2012.
I’m starting to sense that Lyra is a music that’s begun to write itself. Willi’s early goal was to show the utmost rapture of fruit, as an alpha to the omega of the Alte Reben and its darker gravitas. But for the last three vintages, Lyra has become almost overwhelmingly beautiful. It isn’t just fruit any more, and what began as a rapture has changed to a kind of apotheosis of fruit toward a gleaming and complicated divinity. The wine remains ecstatic, but these things are never earned easily.
’13 is graceful and massive, dense and weightless, a whirligig of complexity in which a hundred elements glide in an esoteric dance, moving quickly, stepping lightly; it has the focus and the beatific glow of Alzinger (and his wines!), somehow both serene and hyperactively intricate.
But ’12 is something else again. It smells like the pears in the Garden Of Eden, or like a cool cream in which yellow rose-petals and vanilla bean have been steeped. Has there ever been a greater Lyra? Cool and infinite; a tight nucleus of mineral and Saturn-rings of fruits, flowers and herbs. It isn’t overwhelming power—though power it has. It’s an almost devastating beauty.”
Brundlmayer Riesling Zobinger Heiligenstein 2008 ($39.95) $33 special
Terry Theise notes: “What a perfect time to reintroduce this lovely ’08. And what a perfect foil it is to the masterly ’13. The older wine is herbal and mineral, tansy and dill and romanescu. Back in ’09 I described it as piquant, and having “moon fruit.””
Nikolaihof Riesling Vinothek Wachau 1997 750ML ($219.95) $199 special
Nikolaihof Gruner Veltliner Hefeabzug 2013 750ML ($29.95) $24 special
Terry Theise notes: “CORE-LIST WINE. It means sur lie. It’s exotic this year, but has the spicy flowery euphoria of ’13 and its usual semolinasweet lees; less starchy than usual but vastly more floral, as if a potion of wisteria were dissolved in it. Very long wintergreeny finish.”
Nikolaihof Riesling Vom Stein Smaragd 2011 750ML ($79.95) $66 special
Terry Theise notes: “This is gorgeous. Fresh fruit but a cloistery silence around it. Hay and straw, the fresh profile only hinting at its murmury depths; a wine of the brightest morning, with decades ahead of it.”
Nikolaihof Riesling Vom Stein Federspiel 2006 750Ml ($49.95) $39 special
Terry Theise notes: “Bottled in 2014. Pure quiet profundity here, in a markedly smoky form. Very dry, adamantly leathery, charred, nettle-y; firm and austere. But not meager nor remotely punishing – just not a “nice guy.” I see it with a sorrel soup or something in an herb sauce with pea shoots, cressy micro-greens, yet there’s also this lovely smell of old leather.”
-to Oregon for $17,
-Washington & Idaho for $20,
-and California for $25
These rates do not apply to orders held in storage here for any reason.
Multiple orders consolidated into one shipment do not qualify for flat rate shipping.
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Deutz Deals
Owning a significant portion of its own vineyards, Deutz selects only top quality grapes from 275 acres of vineyards in the finest crus of Champagne. Its estate is spread over five villages, including some of the most beautiful locations in all Champagne. The wines are slowly and carefully aged in Deutz’ chalk-walled cellars far beneath the historic village of Aÿ, where Deutz has developed a rich, round, fruit-filled style that is complex yet refreshing.
Wine Enthusiast 95 points “Deutz’s top cuvée is as good as ever. Bottle aging has helped it to throw off its youthful awakwardness and develop a rounded, ripe style that is now a pleasure to drink. Pear and apricot flavors are still vibrant, along with a hint of toast. Finely structured and elegant, it’s wonderful to drink now, but it will be good at least until 2018. “
The average listed price is $134 / bottleArriving Thursday:
Deutz Brut Rose NV 375ML ($21.95) $19 pre-arrival special
Deutz Brut Rose NV 1.5 LITER ($99.95) $88 pre-arrival special
Antonio Galloni 91 points “The NV Brut Rosé is fabulous. A sweet, open bouquet leads to expressive fruit in this rich, textured wine. The Deutz Rosé is a serious wine that can be enjoyed as an aperitif, but it also has more than enough power in reserve to drink well at the dinner table. Floral notes reappear to round out the finish. The blend is 75% Pinot Noir and 25% Chardonnay.”
Wine Spectator 91 points “Firm and fresh, this is lightly chalky in texture, displaying a delicate mesh of white cherry, wild strawberry and white peach fruit, with notes of ground ginger, smoke and blanched almond. Elegant, with a lasting finish. Drink now through 2018.”
The next best listed prices are $25 / 375ml, $48 / 750ml, $104 / MagnumMore Champagne from Deutz – Available Here Now
Stephen Tanzer 93 points “Bright pink. Pungent, expansive aromas of dried red berries and cherry, with a brighter suggestion of blood orange and a hint of anise. Deeply pitched citrus and red berry flavors are complicated by notes of candied rose and white pepper and gain spiciness with air. Finishes on a refreshingly bitter citrus pith note, with excellent persistence. Seems fully mature but there’s no rush to drink this.”SDeutz Cuvee William 2002 750ML ($149.95) $119 special 3 bottles available
Wine Spectator 93 points “Sleek and elegant, with a fine, creamy bead supporting flavors of blackberry pie, clover honey, ground cardamom and glazed apricot. A smoke-tinged, minerally underpinning echoes on the finish. Drink now through 2027.”
Deutz Brut Millesime 2007 1.5LITER ($129.95) $109 special 1 magnum available
Wine Spectator 91 points “A sleek, minerally version, creamy in texture, with hints of chalk and smoke underscoring the subtle lemon meringue pie, crushed black currant and graphite notes. Drink now through 2022.”
Deutz Blanc De Blancs 2007 750ML ($84.95) $69 special 6 bottles available
Deutz Blanc De Blancs 2007 1.5 LITER ($159.95) $139 special 2 magnums available
Stephen Tanzer 91 points “Light, bright straw. Lemon zest, green apple and chalky minerals on the fragrant nose. Dry and precise, offering energetic citrus and orchard fruit flavors that pick up anise and honeysuckle nuances with air. Closes stony and long, with lingering floral and iodine notes.”
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New Case-12 Deals
All at the Lowest Listed Price in the USA!
Case-12 Grands Bois Cairanne Maximilian 2012 ($219.95) $189 case price special (that’s only $15.75 / bottle!)
Wine Advocate 92 points “A smoking Cairanne from one of my favorite producers, the 2012 Cairanne Maximilien (50% Grenache, 35% Mourvedre and the balance Syrah) offers terrific notes of blueberry, violets, licorice and charred earth. Voluptuous, medium to full-bodied, decadent and downright sexy, with a great mid-palate, it shows the vintage’s purity and texture, and should drink nicely through 2022.”Soos Creek Soleil Columbia Valley Red 2011 750ML ($29.95) $21.90 special
Case-12 Soos Creek Soleil Columbia Valley Red 2011 ($259.95) $219 case price special (that’s only $18.25 / bottle!)
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 90+ points “(55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot and 10% Syrah): Bright, saturated ruby-red. Brooding aromas of dark berries, licorice and violet, accented by black pepper and herbs. Densely packed and classically dry, with a fine-grained texture to the flavors of blackberry, cassis, violet, black pepper and minerals. Finishes with a firm spine of dusty, fine tannins and very good length.”
Tensley Syrah Colson Canyon 2013 750ML ($49.95) $39 special
Case-12 Tensley Syrah Colson Canyon 2013 750ML ($499.95) $419 case price special (that’s only $34.91 / bottle!)
Wine Advocate 94-97 points “The largest-scaled Colson Canyon to date, the 2013 Syrah Colson Canyon is classic cassis, black raspberry, graphite and toasty notes to go with a full-bodied, concentrated and layered profile on the palate. This got a big “Wow” in the notes, and while it doesn’t pull any punches with regards to fruit or texture, it stays lively and elegant. It will have 10-15 years of longevity”
Bodegas Borsao Tres Picos Garnacha 2012 750ML ($21.95) $18 special
Case-12 Bodegas Borsao Tres Picos Garnacha 2012 750ML ($239.95) $179 case price special (that’s only $14.91 / bottle!)
Robert Parker 92 points “The terrific 2012 Tres Picos is one of the finest inexpensive, Grenache-based wines made in the world. This full-bodied beauty boasts a deep ruby color as well as loads of strawberry and black cherry fruit, hints of lavender and crushed rocks, sweet tannin, and a broad, savory mouthfeel. It, too, should be consumed over the next 3-4 years.”
Stephen Tanzer 92 points “(half fermented in French oak and half in stainless steel): Bright purple. Heady aromas of blueberry, cherry compote, white pepper and woodsmoke, plus an exotic cinnamon note. Fresh and seamless, offering vibrant blueberry and black raspberry flavors and suave floral notes. The spicy quality lingers seductively on the tenacious finish.”
“Bianchetta (or “little white” in Italian) is not a varietal commonly known or seen outside of the Genova province in which the grape is grown, and I can understand why this is a locally adored wine along the coast of North-western Italy. This light bodied, almost clear white is a simple pleasure; pleasantly tinged with lemon and lime and a lingering character of salt water and white pepper that is mouthwatering. I want it to be summer while I drink this wine, and to be on the Ligurian coast watching boats go by. For now, I’ll have settle for pairing this with my next seafood dinner, a perfect combination for fritto misto or a buttery pasta. ”
L’oustal Blanc Naick Rouge 2011 750ml ($24.95) $18 special
“A delightul wine from Southern France. 60% Cinsault, 20% Carignan, with the rest Grenache and Syrah. Opens nicely with layers of dense dark fruit, anise, hint of lead or tar, and spice. Soft tannins make this wine ready to drink. A gem for the price.”
Arriving This Thursday February 19th
Antonio Galloni 94 points “The 2009 Giusto di Notri boasts tons of power and sheer energy. Dark cherries, plums, tobacco and incense are all wrapped around a powerful core of fruit in this expressive, beautifully delineated wine. The 2009 impresses for its length, radiance and fine overall balance. Floral notes laced with a hint of sweet rose petals add brightness and lift on the finish. “Tua Rita Toscana Redigaffi 2008 750ML ($299.95) $179 pre-arrival special
Antonio Galloni 96 points “The 2008 Redigaffi is impeccable in its elegance and polish. Dark cherries, licorice, espresso and mocha meld together beautifully in this textured, fleshy wine. Despite its sophisticated personality, there is plenty of tannin lurking underneath to provide support. This is a beautifully round, opulent, yet impeccably balanced wine of the highest level. Smoke, minerals, licorice and tar wrap around the intense finish. Redigaffi remains a unique and powerful expression of Merlot from the Tuscan coast. ”
Wine Spectator 94 points “A flamboyant wine that reminds me of California, with lots of ripe berries and toasty oak. Full and opulent, with raspberry sauce and coconut oak flavors. Needs time to come together. Pure Merlot. Best after 2013. ”
Stephen Tanzer 95 points “(100% merlot) Bright, deep ruby. Exhilarating nose combines wild berries, smoky plum, sage and flowers. Wonderfully dense and sweet, with a captivating light touch to the flavors of ripe black and red fruits, coffee and sweet spices. The wine’s oak-derived vanilla is a bit more present today than in most young vintages of Redigaffi, but the terrific core of ripe acidity really extends the finish and contributes lift. The tannins are extremely smooth and fine-grained. Much less herbal than the ’07, this is a great vintage for Redigaffi.”
Nikolaihof Gruner Im Weingebirge Smaragd 2010 1.5L ($149.95) $89 pre-arrival special
Rene Geoffroy Cuvee Volupte Brut 2006 750ML ($89.95) $59 pre-arrival special
Stephen Tanzer-Vinous 93 points “(made from 80% chardonnay and 20% pinot noir and aged on its lees for five years; disgorged June, 2012): Pale yellow. Racy, mineral-accented aromas of citrus and orchard fruits, plus a suave touch of toasty lees. Bitter citrus pith and pear skin flavors give way to softer pit fruits in the mid-palate, with chalky minerality adding spine and cut. Packs a serious punch but comes off as lithe and focused. Finishes with excellent clarity and stony persistence, leaving a dusty mineral note behind. –JR ”
Suenen Blanc De Blancs Millesime 2007 750ML ($79.95) $59 pre-arrival special
Mousse Fils Special Club Brut 2008 750ML ($119.95) $79 pre-arrival special
Special Featurette
Highlight Winery of the Week
Domaine Henri Boillot
“In every case, the Boillot wines served as excellent representatives of the fundamental character one has come to expect from these vineyards.”
–Robert Parker
Boillot is a little bit of both. At first leaving the domaine his grandfather started behind to find his own style, Henri returned home in 2005 and continues to make his mark in his family’s long history of stellar wines. Henri bought out his brother, Jean-Marc Boillot, and quickly changed the name of the winery to Domaine Henri Boillot to eliminate confusion between the two, while also continuing his negociant business, Maison Henri Boillot out of Meursault. In the very short space of time since, Henri has built an extraordinary reputation for the sheer quality and variety of his wines.Today, the domaine consists of 14 hectares of vineyards, including several Premier Crus and Grand Crus from Meursault, Puligny Montrachet, Chassagne-Montrachet, Volnay and Savigny-les-Beaune. Henri oversees all viticultural practices throughout the growing season. He avoids insecticides and herbicides, preferring sustainable farming techniques to preserve the integrity of the soil. Vines are pruned heavily in the spring to ensure low yields, the fruit of his vines harvested as late as possible to ensure maximum maturity. From village level to Grand Cru, Boillot’s wines are revered as intense, structured, and extremely age-worthy.
Grapes are hand harvested and double sorted to ensure top quality. White grapes are fermented in 350 liter barrels after
gentle crushing and red grapes undergo a long fermentation with frequent punching down to extract flavor and color. The red wines are aged in barrique for 18 months before being bottled unfined and unfiltered.
Stephen Tanzer 92 points “(these 2010s were bottled in January of 2012 after spending three months in cuve): Bright medium yellow. Pear, menthol and a salty nuance on the nose. Rich, ripe and supple but with its fat and sweetness nicely leavened by minerality. Offers a superb combination of volume and sappy, stony persistence.” STDomaine Henri Boillot Les Chevrets, Volnay Premier Cru 2008 750ML ($99.95) $79 special 12 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 91-94 points “Bright ruby-red. Expressive, very ripe nose combines black cherry, wild herbs, leather, smoke and earth. Wonderfully sweet and silky but bright, with a creamy small-berry character to the intense flavors of black cherry, iron, dark chocolate and minerals. For all its density, this conveys a juicy quality and considerable elegance.” ST
Domaine Henri Boillot Clos du Roi, Beaune Premier Cru 2009 750ML ($79.95) $69 special 3+ cases available
Stephen Tanzer 91-93 points “Saturated medium ruby. Deep aromas of kirsch, smoke, minerals, flowers and earth are reticent but pure. Big, rich and broad, with harmonious acidity framing the black cherry, chocolate and leather flavors. This classic, complete Beaune wine spreads out to saturate the palate, with lush tannins reaching the front teeth. Quite thick in the style of the vintage but without any excess weight.”ST
Domaine Henri Boillot Les Fremiets, Volnay Premier Cru 2008 750ML ($89.95) $79 special 12 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 91 points “Good deep red. Black cherry, licorice and herbs on the nose, given punch by strong peppery spices. Sweet, supple and nicely concentrated if a bit less complex and high-pitched than the 2009 version. Lovely black cherry fruit displays a tangy sweetness. The very long finish features dusty, fine-grained tannins. The crop level here was just 18 hectoliters per hectare, according to Boillot.” ST
Burghound 91 points ‘Outstanding’ “This is aromatically quite different from the Embrazées with an exceptionally pure and cool nose that features extract of white orchard fruit, lemon zest, wet stone and subtle spice nuances. There is a sophisticated mouth feel to the generous yet refined middle weight flavors that possess a remarkably well-delineated, even chiseled finish that avoids any hint of austerity.”BHDomaine Henri Boillot Les Embrazees, Chassagne-Montrachet Premier Cru 2011 750ML ($79.95) $69 special 11 bottles available
Burghound 90 points “A discreet application of oak surrounds the notably ripe aromas of several different yellow orchard fruit scents along with hints of the exotic. There is an appealing succulence to the broad-scaled flavors that manage to retain a fine sense of detail on the lightly mineral-driven, saline and vibrant finish. If this can add a bit more depth with time in the cellar my score may prove to be overly conservative.”BH
Domaine Henri Boillot Les Poruzots, Meursault Premier Cru 2011 750ML ($99.95) $75 special 6 bottles available
Burghound 91 points ‘Outstanding “This is quite floral with additional aromas of white peach, yellow orchard fruit and resin. There is good volume and plenty of power to the sappy and mouth coating medium weight plus flavors that possess fine depth and excellent persistence. This is a big but balanced wine and very Poruzots in character.” BH
Domaine Henri Boillot Bienvenues-Batard-Montrachet Grand Cru 2011 750ML ($299.95) $249 special 10 bottles available
Burghound 94 points “This is also notably ripe but the aromas do not run to the exotic as the honeysuckle, apricot, white peach and subtle spice notes are entirely classic. There is an appealing succulence to the delicious, intense and strikingly fine medium-bodied flavors and while there is certainly a sense of focused power present on the long, clean and refined finish, this is essentially a Bienvenues of finesse.”BH
Domaine Henri Boillot Criots-Batard-Montrachet Grand Cru 2011 750ML ($269.95) $219 special 9 bottles available
Burghound 93 points “This is notably riper than the Caillerets with overtly exotic dried yellow fruit, spice and floral aromas. There is outstanding richness to the powerful and broad-shouldered flavors that possess a distinctly muscular mouth feel before culminating in an opulent, clean and very dry finish. This retains a fine sense of balance and while there is certainly fine complexity, it isn’t at the same level as displayed by the other grands crus in the range.”BH
Domaine Henri Boillot Pommard 2010 750ML ($59.95) $49 special 3+ cases available
Antonio Galloni 90-92 points “The 2010 Pommard is pure sensuality. Sweet roses, dark red fruit and spices wrap around the palate in this supple, refined wine. The Pommard impresses for its elegance and richness. It is a beautiful and highly representative 2010. Sweet floral notes linger on the finish. The Pommard is made from vines in Clos Blanc, a 1er Cru vineyard. – Henri Boillot turned out a superb set of 2010 reds. Best of all, readers won’t have to shell out a fortune to enjoy them, as a number of the more modestly priced wines far exceed the quality of their respective appellations” AG
Domaine Henri Boillot Volnay 2010 750ML ($59.95) $49 special 35 bottles available
Burghound 90 points ‘Outstanding Top Value’ “This is more aromatically reserved with an elegant nose of red and dark pinot fruit, earth and an interesting note of smoked tea. There is even more refinement to the mouth feel of the lightly mineral-infused medium-bodied flavors that possess a dusty and rather serious finish of impeccable balance and persistence. This may be labeled as a villages but it’s easily of 1er quality.”BH
Domaine Henri Boillot Les Rugiens, Pommard Premier Cru 2011 750ML ($119.95) $99 special 15 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 92+ points “Good bright, deep red. Redcurrant, pepper, iron and earth tones on the nose, lifted by a suggestion of dried flowers. Reticent today but showing outstanding vinosity to its soil-driven flavors of redcurrant, spices, licorice, pepper and underbrush. Best today on the very long, floral back end, where the firm tannins currently clamp down on the wine’s fruit. This youthfully medicinal wine is tighter than the Volnay premier crus here and in need of a good seven or eight years of cellaring. Incidentally, Sebastien Boillot describes the family’s 2011s as less charming than the ’10s and ’12s and believes that they will need long aging.” ST
Domaine Henri Boillot Les Lavieres, Savigny-les-Beaune Premier Cru 2010 750ML ($59.95) $49 special 6 bottles available
Wine Advocate 90-92 points “The 2010 Savigny-les-Beaune Les Lavieres boasts striking inner perfume and an expressive core of dark red fruit. This is another big wine within the context of its appellation, but the balance is first-rate. Layers of fruit continue to build to the powerful, textured finish. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2025.” WA
Domaine Henri Boillot Les Lavieres, Savigny-les-Beaune Premier Cru 2011 750ML ($69.95) $49 special 36 bottles available
Burghound 89 points “A pungently earthy nose of lightly spiced plum and various dark pinot fruit aromas leads to energetic and well-detailed flavors that exude a fine minerality on the delicious and solidly persistent finish. I like the mouth feel as it’s relatively fine and about the only nit is a bit of gas so I would suggest decanting this if you’re going to try a bottle young.”BH
Domaine Henri Boillot Les Caillerets, Volnay Premier Cru 2009 750ML ($169.95) $99 special 8 bottles available
Burghound 93 points “Very mild reduction suppresses the red berry fruit somewhat but the notes of mocha, plum, stone and spice still shine through. The rich, minerally and impressively concentrated flavors brim with dry extract that buffers the solid tannic spine on the elegant, pure and balanced finish. Lovely.”BH
Domaine Henri Boillot Les Chevrets, Volnay Premier Cru 2011 750ML ($99.95) $77 special 10 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 91-93 points “Bright red-ruby. Rather brooding aromas of cassis, blackberry, smoke and licorice are pure and discreet. Surprisingly rich on entry, then lush and seamless in the middle, but with very good acidity framing and lifting the black fruit and game flavors. The powerful, rising finish features building tannins and a distinct thick-skinned character. The old vines in Boillot’s parcel were strongly affected by millerandage, which largely explains this wine’s extra measure of texture and concentration.” ST
Domaine Henri Boillot Les Fremiets, Volnay Premier Cru 2011 750ML ($99.95) $77 special 14 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 91-93 points “Deep red-ruby. Highly perfumed, musky aromas of black raspberry and smoky minerality. Large-scaled, round and rich but not yet complex; less creamy and fine-grained than the Chevrets, showing a youthful toughness from the calcaire-rich soil. Despite the fact that this was the first pinot parcel Boillot picked in 2011, this wine relies more on its big, ripe tannins than on its acids for balance. Really saturates the palate on the aftertaste.” ST
Domaine Henri Boillot Santenots, Volnay Premier Cru 2011 750ML ($119.95) $99 special 14 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 92-94 points “Deep red-ruby. Black raspberry, dark chocolate, game and a wild hint of leather on the nose, with a floral element emerging with air. Sweet, rich, broad and deep, boasting a velour-like, utterly mouthfilling texture that’s rare for the vintage. Excellent acidity gives this firmly tannic, very long wine terrific energy and lift. Very strong Santenots.” ST
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Time to Say Goodbye
IRIS VAN HERPEN EDITION
Antonio Galloni 96 points “The 2004 Dom Pérignon continues to develop beautifully. A vibrant, focused Champagne, the 2004 clearly reflects the personality of the year. Freshly cut flowers, white peaches and pears are woven together in a Champagne that impresses for its focus and energy. Chiseled saline note support the crystalline finish. I imagine the 2004 will always remain relatively bright and linear, but at the same time, each time I have tasted it over the last two years the 2004 seems to have a little more body and broader shoulders. The 2004 will appeal most to readers who find the 2002 and 2003 too exuberant. There is a lot to like in the glass.”
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