In This Newsletter:
New Week – New Arrivals
New Italian Pre-Arrival Offers From:
Podere Le Boncie, Lisini, Siro Pacenti & Vietti
New Arrival Featurette:
Château Léoube
New Week – New Arrivals
New Week – New Arrivals
New Italian Pre-Arrival Offers From:
Podere Le Boncie, Lisini, Siro Pacenti & Vietti
New Arrival Featurette:
Château Léoube
This winery is undergoing a renewal at the hands of Romain Ott of the world-class Provence estate Domaine Ott. With an emphasis on sustainability and the promotion of the local culture, this is a must-try collection of wines ready to take you on a journey to the Mediterranean.
Newly Arrived from Chateau Leoube:
Chateau Leoube ‘Love by Leoube’, Cotes de Provence 2024 750ml $29 special, 6 bottles in stock now
The Drinks Business (Awarded Gold Medal) “The wine has raspberry, strawberry, and pomegranate fruit, with light rose petal and creamy lees overlay. Nearly dry, the light-bodied palate flavors are framed by racy acidity. Delicate, but showing good concentration and length.”
Chateau Leoube ‘Rosé de Leoube’ Rosé, Cotes de Provence 2024 750ml $33 special, 6 bottles in stock now
London Wine Competition 91 points (Awarded Silver Medal) “Notes of cooked plum, lemon rind and a subtle smokiness, the palate is fruit-forward with lively acidity, warm texture and a well-balanced finish of decent length.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Chateau Leoube Le Secret de Leoube’ Rosé, Cotes de Provence 2024 750ml $39 special, 6 bottles in stock now
London Wine Competition 96 points (Awarded Gold Medal) “”Pale blush pink with savory edge and charming red apple fruit, the palate is fresh and balanced with a subtle cranberry bitterness that adds complexity and a long, elegant finish.”
Chateau Leoube ‘Rouge de Leoube’, Cotes de Provence 2020 750ml $21.90 special, 6 bottles in stock now
Importer Note “This is a beautiful spicy, fruity red wine with notes of blackberry, pepper and cinnamon — all characters typically found in Syrah, the grape variety that dominates the blend.”
Newly Arrived from Chateau Leoube:
Chateau Leoube ‘Love by Leoube’, Cotes de Provence 2024 750ml $29 special, 6 bottles in stock now
The Drinks Business (Awarded Gold Medal) “The wine has raspberry, strawberry, and pomegranate fruit, with light rose petal and creamy lees overlay. Nearly dry, the light-bodied palate flavors are framed by racy acidity. Delicate, but showing good concentration and length.”
Chateau Leoube ‘Rosé de Leoube’ Rosé, Cotes de Provence 2024 750ml $33 special, 6 bottles in stock now
London Wine Competition 91 points (Awarded Silver Medal) “Notes of cooked plum, lemon rind and a subtle smokiness, the palate is fruit-forward with lively acidity, warm texture and a well-balanced finish of decent length.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Chateau Leoube Le Secret de Leoube’ Rosé, Cotes de Provence 2024 750ml $39 special, 6 bottles in stock now
London Wine Competition 96 points (Awarded Gold Medal) “”Pale blush pink with savory edge and charming red apple fruit, the palate is fresh and balanced with a subtle cranberry bitterness that adds complexity and a long, elegant finish.”
Chateau Leoube ‘Rouge de Leoube’, Cotes de Provence 2020 750ml $21.90 special, 6 bottles in stock now
Importer Note “This is a beautiful spicy, fruity red wine with notes of blackberry, pepper and cinnamon — all characters typically found in Syrah, the grape variety that dominates the blend.”
New Week – New Arrivals
Oregon & Walla Walla
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Lange Estate Winery Rosé of Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2024 750ml $21.90 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Jeremy Young-Internation Wine Report 93 points “The 2024 Lange Estate Winery Rosé from the Dundee Hills is a radiant expression of estate-grown Pinot Noir, as visually captivating as it is complex. Its pale blush hue shimmers in the glass, setting the stage for a beautifully lifted aromatic profile of white peach, crushed rose petals, watermelon rind, and blooming gardenia. On the palate, vibrant acidity frames flavors of dried lemon peel, wild raspberry, and a delicate herbal nuance, adding depth to its elegant core. Medium-bodied with a silky texture, the wine sails into a long, graceful finish marked by citrus zest and stony minerality. Both refined and refreshing, this is a standout rosé that offers energy, charm, and a clear sense of.”
Beaux Freres The Beaux Freres Vineyard Pinot Noir, Ribbon Ridge 2022 750ml $124.50 special, 6 bottles in stock now
Decanter 97 points “A gorgeous Pinot Noir, the plantings from 1988 are being replanted as the phyloxerated vines are being removed. This wine shows elegance and grace while maintaining depth and concentration, but make no mistake, it’s built to age. The Beaux Frères Vineyard is clonally diverse with a massale selection of Pommard and Wadenswil and 115. Red fruited aromas and beautiful interplay between bright berries mixed with fresh mint and savoury herbs. The palate remains fresh and elegant, with red-fruited generosity and savoury depth of spearmint and wild anise. (Drink between 2024-2040).”
Coattails Wine Horsetail Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2022 750ml $29 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Winery Note “The Horsetail blend is designed to show round, supple tannin, and primary fruit right out of release. It should develop for a minimum of 2 years but often not more than 5 years due to its innately lighter structure.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Hundred Suns Gamay Noir, Willamette Valley 2024 750ml $31.90 special, 24 bottles in stock now
Winery Note “With a warm growing season and picture-perfect weather in fall, our collection of dry-farmed Gamay vineyards yielded fruit full of flavor with layers of rich texture and juicy acidity. Fermented with native yeast and aged in 10% terracotta amphora and 909% in neutral oak. Bottled unfined and unfiltered. 25% La Belle Promenade Vineyard, Chehalem Mtn AVA. 100% whole cluster. 33% Jubilee Vineyard, Eola-Amity Hills AVA. 50% whole cluster. 42% Carson Phillips Vineyard, Dundee Hills AVA. 100% destemmed.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Hundred Suns ‘Old Eight Cut’ Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2023 750ml $31.90 special, 20 bottles in stock now
Winery Note “Black cherries, a hint of red currant, and a dusting of dark chocolate. The first sip shows a center point of sweetness that is buttressed by ripe tannins and a hint of nori that give the wine a serious edge. With air and time, the sappy spicy notes that come from partial whole cluster fermentation resonate on the finish, making this wine that will drink well now and over the next 10 years. The Old Eight Cut refers to a diamond cut dating back to the 1400s using simple tools and few cuts to enhance the natural brilliance of the stone without disguising its true nature.”
Westrey Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2021 750ml $24 special, 25 bottles in stock now
Decanter 89 points “[Tasted July 2024] A dense and riper-styled Pinot Noir from Westrey, 50% of the fruit from Carlton Hill Vineyard and the other half from Holmes Gap in the Van Duzer Corridor. Dark berries and forest floor notes mark the aromatics, and the palate is dusty blackberries with hints of wild herbs with a zippy acidity to lighten the finish. Drinking Window 2024- 2030.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Echolands Blue Mountain Vineyard Cabernet Franc, Walla Walla Valley 2022 750ml $48 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Decanter 97 points “A savoury, fresh, and delicious Cabernet Franc reflective of the cool site in the foothills of the Blue Mountains. Pine bough, pomegranate and violet aromas mark a real freshness. There is ample structure framing the savoury dried herbs and slate minerality. Blue fruits, fresh brambleberries, mint and evergreen tips. Fresh and delicious.”
France – Champagne
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
(Billecart-Salmon) Charles le Bel ‘Inspiration 1818’ Brut NV 750ml $39 special, 24 bottles in stock now
Billecart-Salmon Winemaker’s Note “Sparkling and crystalline with fine and plentiful bubbles. A blooming nose with harmonious notes of butter, white flesh fruits as well as Mirabelle plums and dried fruits. A well-balanced mouth, structured thanks to the greatness of the Pinot Noirs, with flavors of white flesh fruits. The chardonnay brings to this wine a refreshing finish with notes of citrus fruits and pepper. For over 20 years, the Billecart-Salmon House has been crafting a second champagne. Discover the wine known under the name of Inspiration 1818, echoing the family’s estate’s year of creation. The qualities of this champagne are approved by the same tasting committee as the rest of the Billecart-Salmon champagne range. Chardonnay 37%, Pinot Meunier 30%, Pinot Noir 33%.”
Jacquesson Cuvee 748 Extra Brut NV 750ml $89 special, 6 bottles in stock now
Jacquesson Cuvee 748 Extra Brut NV 1.5L $189 special, 3 magnums in stock now
Audrey Frick-Jeb Dunnuck 94 points “The NV Champagne Cuvée 748 is a preview of this wine that has not yet been released and was disgorged just prior to tasting. Sourced from four single plots, predominantly from the 2020 vintage, it will be released next year. It’s expressive, forward, and mineral on the nose, with a vibrant sensibility at this youthful stage, offering notes of fresh red berries, wet, chalky earth, and toasted shortbread. It boasts a linear intensity, with a coiled and nervous energy at this early stage and has a long finish, with its citrus-noted fruit lasting long after the wine is gone. It will be exciting to see this as it fleshes out with another few months to a year or more in bottle. So mouthwatering and salty, with electric energy, it‘s joyful and pleasing as it opens, but it has a way to go before its ready. Drink: 2025+.”
Pierre Paillard ‘Les Parcelles’ Bouzy Grand Cru Extra Brut (XXI) NV 750ml $67.50 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Winery Note “Les Parcelles is a precise expression of Bouzy terroir vinified by the Paillard brothers; the powerful Pinot Noir from south-facing slopes is balanced by the finesse of the chalky subsoil. Produced mainly from the 2021 harvest, with 20% reserve wines, this cuvée is composed of 80% pinot noir and 20% chardonnay. Fermented in oak, it is cellared for three years on lees before disgorgement.”
Pierre Paillard ‘Les Parcelles’ Bouzy Grand Cru Extra Brut (XX) NV 1.5L $145 special, 3 magnums in stock now
Kristaps Karlins-Wine Advocate 92 points “Paillard’s NV Bouzy Grand Cru Les Parcelles XX hails from the 2020 vintage and, in keeping with the tradition, incorporates 20% reserve wines. It embodies the signature blend of 80% Pinot Noir and 20% Chardonnay, sourced exclusively from the sun-drenched, south-facing slopes of Bouzy. The bouquet is expressive, unfolding with aromas of pear, ripe citrus and warm spices, mingling with nuances of toasted bread and orange zest. On the palate, it is medium- to full-bodied, showcasing a livelier, more luminous fruit profile than its predecessor, driven by racy acidity and finishing with a pronounced saline finish. True to the estate’s approach, maturation take place in 350-liter oak barrels, with the final cuvée composed from a mosaic of approximately 25 distinct parcels across Bouzy. The dosage is set at two grams per liter.”
Suenen Oiry Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut NV (2021) 750ml $95 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Anne Krebiehl MW-Vinous 93 points “The NV Extra Brut Blanc de Blancs Oiry Grand Cru is a pure Chardonnay. Creaminess, fresh and crusty baguette and Golden Delicious apple unite on an enticing nose with a bright green apple frisson as an overtone. Slenderness and delicacy define the body, but the flavors are full and almost generous. They evoke creamy porridge, mellow, freshly peeled yellow apple flesh, and a lovely sense of saltiness that has the ocean tanginess of an oyster shell. The longer you savor this, the saltier and more enticing it becomes: enfolding and oh-so-chalky. This Extra Brut is lovely and captivating, with a totally appetizing umami finish. [Disgorgement date may vary].”
Suenen ‘C+C’ Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut (2021) 1.5L $299 special, 2 magnums in stock now
Anne Krebiehl MW-Vinous 94 points “The NV Extra Brut Blanc de Blancs C + C Grand Cru gets its name from Chouilly and Cramant, the villages where the Chardonnay was picked. The nose presents yellow apple peel with a sheen of waxiness and a sense of dried ears of wheat and a touch of ocean air. Saltiness is immediate on the slender palate, where concentration gives a sense of salted apple flesh, wet oyster shell and deep chalk. Slender, earthy, intense and deeply oceanic. Fruit subsides to let soil speak. There’s a fine but slightly dissipating mousse. [Disgorgement date may vary].”
France – Burgundy
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Domaine Daniel-Etienne Defaix Chablis Vieilles Vignes 2021 750ml $39 special, 24 bottles in stock now
Importer Note “This cuvée is sourced from vines the age of which is between 45 and 70 years. A wine of exceptional concentration for a village level appellation, this wine is always a true expression of the kimmeridgian soils that make Chablis so distinctive. Aged for thirty months before release, Defaix’s old vines Chablis is richly dense with a classic “pierre a fusil” bouquet and long mineral-infused finish.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Domaine Daniel-Etienne Defaix Cote de Lechet, Chablis Premier Cru 2010 750ml $64.50 special, 20 bottles in stock now
Winery Note “In fascinating contrast to “Vaillon”, Defaix’s “Côte de Lechet” is a master class in mineral precision. This remarkably steep site (a 45% gradient) with very poor soil produces a wine that Danny describes as embodying “the real, true mineral expression of Chablis.” Freshly blasted chalk dominates the nose, with notes of lemon, honey, and fresh herbs lurking underneath; still, this is a wine of minerality first and foremost. The family owns a 3.5-hectare parcel of 45-year-old vines in this distinctive cru, most of which are planted within a parcel known as the Clos des Moines.”
France – Other
Domaine Lafage Novellum Chardonnay, IGP Cotes Catalanes 2023 750ml $16 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-12 Domaine Lafage Novellum Chardonnay, IGP Cotes Catalanes 2022 750ml $174.50 special (that’s only $14.54/bottle!)
James Suckling 91 points “This has apricots, peaches, lemon curd and hazelnuts on the nose, followed by hints of crushed stones on a creamy, full-bodied palate. Supple and very clean. 100% chardonnay. Drink now.”
Italy
Pieropan La Rocca Soave Classico, Veneto 2022 750ml $49 special, 5 bottles in stock now
James Suckling 96 points “The only oak-inflected cuvee at the estate. Aged in 100% used tonneaux, both French and Slavonian. Superb aromas of pistachios, peaches and dried mangoes. Broad and expansive, yet funneled into a vortex of tension by freshness that sublimates any sense of obvious power. A wonderful expression of a warmer vintage that suits perfectly this compelling site. Drink or hold.”
Pieropan La Rocca Soave Classico, Veneto 2023 750ml $49 special, 11 bottles in stock now
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Gurrieri Frappato Terre Siciliane IGT, Sicily 2023 750ml $21.90 special, 23 bottles in stock now
VinopolNote: Lighter in profile, Gurrieri’s Frappato is a fantastic red wine to drink in the summer months, especially as a beverage while you grill. You see Siciliy is not just a viticultural hotspot, the Southern end of the island is in the same latitude as North Africa. It’s easy to bake under the Sun there. Chill this wine down to see a Sicilian farmer’s favorite way to beat the heat!
Felsina Berardenga Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG, Tuscany 2021 750ml $34.50 special, 24 bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 95 points “The core of cherry, pomegranate and raspberry fruit is detailed with Tuscan scrub, iron, vanilla and tobacco notes as this intense red builds in power to the expansive conclusion, where its fruit, mineral and wild herb flavors converge. Shows fine balance and length; this just needs time to absorb the oak. Best from 2027 through 2043. 5,000 cases made, 2,000 cases imported.”
Spain
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Envinate ‘Palo Blanco’, Canary Islands 2023 750ml $51.90 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Luis Gutiérrez-Wine Advocate 98+ points “The grapes for the 2023 Palo Blanco were harvested earlier than ever, picked even earlier than the grapes from Taganana. It was a warm year, but the wine feels more like it’s from a cool climate; it has a moderate 11.5% alcohol and is volcanic and less reductive than in previous years, fine-boned and sharp, with a vibrant palate, effervescent acidity (7.1 grams and a pH of 3.05) and a dry chalkiness that gives it salinity. It’s approachable but should also age in bottle. 13,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in July 2024.”
Importer Note “From four parcels of 100+ year-old vines near Los Realejos.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Envinate Táganan Blanco, Canary Islands 2023 750ml $49 special, 30 bottles in stock now
Luis Gutiérrez-Wine Advocate 95+ points “The 2023 Táganan Blanco didn’t go through malolactic and matured in larger barrels (they are abandoning the 228-liter oak barrels), and the wine seems to have gained in freshness. It’s also less reductive—volcanic, yes, but less reductive. It has 11.5% alcohol and a pH of 3.02 with 7.24 grams of acidity. It’s vibrant and sharp, clean, light to medium-bodied, with purity and symmetry. This wine is going from strength to strength. 6,500 bottles produced. It was bottled in June 2024.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Clos Mogador ‘Nelin’ Blanco, Priorat DOCa 2022 750ml $69 special, 6 bottles in stock now
Luis Gutiérrez-Wine Advocate 96 points “All the wines go through malolactic in barrel, including the white 2022 Nelin, a blend that has been changing over time. In 2022, it was produced exclusively with local varieties, Garnacha Blanca, Macabeu, Xarel·lo, Cariñena Blanca, Picapoll Blanco, Trepat Blanco, PX and Escanyavelles from four small organic vineyards. The juice from the pressing of the full clusters fermented with indigenous yeasts in 1,200-liter oak foudres, with a slow and long fermentation that takes between three and nine months. It matured in foudre for one year and then was transferred to stainless steel for six to eight more months. Despite the dry conditions and the heat waves, it came after the 2021, and the vines had enough reserves, so the wines are fresher than expected. It’s a Mediterranean blend with 14% alcohol and 5.3 grams of acidity, clean and harmonious. The north-facing plots behaved very well, and the varieties can take the conditions without a problem, so the wine doesn’t seem affected at all. In fact, it’s quite fresh, medium-bodied and very tasty, serious and characterful, a triumph over the extreme conditions of the year. It’s a white with aging potential. 9,000 bottles were filled in April 2024.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Clos Mogador Gratallops, Priorat DOCa 2022 750ml $99 special, 6 bottles in stock now
Luis Gutiérrez-Wine Advocate 97 points “Their single-vineyard 2022 Clos Mogador, they flagship wine, was produced with a blend of grapes, mostly Garnacha and Cariñena but also some Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon (less and less, as they are regrafting most of them). It fermented with 40% full clusters and matured in 2,000- and 2,500-liter oak foudres; some are old barriques, to avoid having too much new oak, and some lots finish aging in concrete to complete some 20 months. They have implemented some changes, moving toward larger volumes, abandoning the barriques and moving to foudre (with the low volumes in 2024, the wine will be only in foudre). It has a very Mediterranean nose with plenty of dry hay and straw notes, the classical wet slate notes, very Priorat too, and it has a round palate and very fine, chalky tannins. It’s serious and harmonious and feels relaxed, without any excess. It comes in at 14% alcohol with 5.4 grams of acidity and a bone-dry finish. None of the 2022s showed excess heat or ripeness. The alcohol is contained and integrated, and the wines are balanced and harmonious but with a more Mediterranean profile. 35,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in June 2024.”
Austria
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Weingut Jaunegg Sand & Schotter Sauvignon Blanc, Sudsteiermark 2022 750ml $31.90 special, 12 bottles in stock now
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Weingut Jaunegg Sand & Schotter Weissburgunder, Sudsteiermark 2022 750ml $31.90 special, 12 bottles in stock now
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Lange Estate Winery Rosé of Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2024 750ml $21.90 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Jeremy Young-Internation Wine Report 93 points “The 2024 Lange Estate Winery Rosé from the Dundee Hills is a radiant expression of estate-grown Pinot Noir, as visually captivating as it is complex. Its pale blush hue shimmers in the glass, setting the stage for a beautifully lifted aromatic profile of white peach, crushed rose petals, watermelon rind, and blooming gardenia. On the palate, vibrant acidity frames flavors of dried lemon peel, wild raspberry, and a delicate herbal nuance, adding depth to its elegant core. Medium-bodied with a silky texture, the wine sails into a long, graceful finish marked by citrus zest and stony minerality. Both refined and refreshing, this is a standout rosé that offers energy, charm, and a clear sense of.”
Beaux Freres The Beaux Freres Vineyard Pinot Noir, Ribbon Ridge 2022 750ml $124.50 special, 6 bottles in stock now
Decanter 97 points “A gorgeous Pinot Noir, the plantings from 1988 are being replanted as the phyloxerated vines are being removed. This wine shows elegance and grace while maintaining depth and concentration, but make no mistake, it’s built to age. The Beaux Frères Vineyard is clonally diverse with a massale selection of Pommard and Wadenswil and 115. Red fruited aromas and beautiful interplay between bright berries mixed with fresh mint and savoury herbs. The palate remains fresh and elegant, with red-fruited generosity and savoury depth of spearmint and wild anise. (Drink between 2024-2040).”
Coattails Wine Horsetail Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2022 750ml $29 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Winery Note “The Horsetail blend is designed to show round, supple tannin, and primary fruit right out of release. It should develop for a minimum of 2 years but often not more than 5 years due to its innately lighter structure.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Hundred Suns Gamay Noir, Willamette Valley 2024 750ml $31.90 special, 24 bottles in stock now
Winery Note “With a warm growing season and picture-perfect weather in fall, our collection of dry-farmed Gamay vineyards yielded fruit full of flavor with layers of rich texture and juicy acidity. Fermented with native yeast and aged in 10% terracotta amphora and 909% in neutral oak. Bottled unfined and unfiltered. 25% La Belle Promenade Vineyard, Chehalem Mtn AVA. 100% whole cluster. 33% Jubilee Vineyard, Eola-Amity Hills AVA. 50% whole cluster. 42% Carson Phillips Vineyard, Dundee Hills AVA. 100% destemmed.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Hundred Suns ‘Old Eight Cut’ Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2023 750ml $31.90 special, 20 bottles in stock now
Winery Note “Black cherries, a hint of red currant, and a dusting of dark chocolate. The first sip shows a center point of sweetness that is buttressed by ripe tannins and a hint of nori that give the wine a serious edge. With air and time, the sappy spicy notes that come from partial whole cluster fermentation resonate on the finish, making this wine that will drink well now and over the next 10 years. The Old Eight Cut refers to a diamond cut dating back to the 1400s using simple tools and few cuts to enhance the natural brilliance of the stone without disguising its true nature.”
Westrey Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2021 750ml $24 special, 25 bottles in stock now
Decanter 89 points “[Tasted July 2024] A dense and riper-styled Pinot Noir from Westrey, 50% of the fruit from Carlton Hill Vineyard and the other half from Holmes Gap in the Van Duzer Corridor. Dark berries and forest floor notes mark the aromatics, and the palate is dusty blackberries with hints of wild herbs with a zippy acidity to lighten the finish. Drinking Window 2024- 2030.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Echolands Blue Mountain Vineyard Cabernet Franc, Walla Walla Valley 2022 750ml $48 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Decanter 97 points “A savoury, fresh, and delicious Cabernet Franc reflective of the cool site in the foothills of the Blue Mountains. Pine bough, pomegranate and violet aromas mark a real freshness. There is ample structure framing the savoury dried herbs and slate minerality. Blue fruits, fresh brambleberries, mint and evergreen tips. Fresh and delicious.”
France – Champagne
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
(Billecart-Salmon) Charles le Bel ‘Inspiration 1818’ Brut NV 750ml $39 special, 24 bottles in stock now
Billecart-Salmon Winemaker’s Note “Sparkling and crystalline with fine and plentiful bubbles. A blooming nose with harmonious notes of butter, white flesh fruits as well as Mirabelle plums and dried fruits. A well-balanced mouth, structured thanks to the greatness of the Pinot Noirs, with flavors of white flesh fruits. The chardonnay brings to this wine a refreshing finish with notes of citrus fruits and pepper. For over 20 years, the Billecart-Salmon House has been crafting a second champagne. Discover the wine known under the name of Inspiration 1818, echoing the family’s estate’s year of creation. The qualities of this champagne are approved by the same tasting committee as the rest of the Billecart-Salmon champagne range. Chardonnay 37%, Pinot Meunier 30%, Pinot Noir 33%.”
Jacquesson Cuvee 748 Extra Brut NV 750ml $89 special, 6 bottles in stock now
Jacquesson Cuvee 748 Extra Brut NV 1.5L $189 special, 3 magnums in stock now
Audrey Frick-Jeb Dunnuck 94 points “The NV Champagne Cuvée 748 is a preview of this wine that has not yet been released and was disgorged just prior to tasting. Sourced from four single plots, predominantly from the 2020 vintage, it will be released next year. It’s expressive, forward, and mineral on the nose, with a vibrant sensibility at this youthful stage, offering notes of fresh red berries, wet, chalky earth, and toasted shortbread. It boasts a linear intensity, with a coiled and nervous energy at this early stage and has a long finish, with its citrus-noted fruit lasting long after the wine is gone. It will be exciting to see this as it fleshes out with another few months to a year or more in bottle. So mouthwatering and salty, with electric energy, it‘s joyful and pleasing as it opens, but it has a way to go before its ready. Drink: 2025+.”
Pierre Paillard ‘Les Parcelles’ Bouzy Grand Cru Extra Brut (XXI) NV 750ml $67.50 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Winery Note “Les Parcelles is a precise expression of Bouzy terroir vinified by the Paillard brothers; the powerful Pinot Noir from south-facing slopes is balanced by the finesse of the chalky subsoil. Produced mainly from the 2021 harvest, with 20% reserve wines, this cuvée is composed of 80% pinot noir and 20% chardonnay. Fermented in oak, it is cellared for three years on lees before disgorgement.”
Pierre Paillard ‘Les Parcelles’ Bouzy Grand Cru Extra Brut (XX) NV 1.5L $145 special, 3 magnums in stock now
Kristaps Karlins-Wine Advocate 92 points “Paillard’s NV Bouzy Grand Cru Les Parcelles XX hails from the 2020 vintage and, in keeping with the tradition, incorporates 20% reserve wines. It embodies the signature blend of 80% Pinot Noir and 20% Chardonnay, sourced exclusively from the sun-drenched, south-facing slopes of Bouzy. The bouquet is expressive, unfolding with aromas of pear, ripe citrus and warm spices, mingling with nuances of toasted bread and orange zest. On the palate, it is medium- to full-bodied, showcasing a livelier, more luminous fruit profile than its predecessor, driven by racy acidity and finishing with a pronounced saline finish. True to the estate’s approach, maturation take place in 350-liter oak barrels, with the final cuvée composed from a mosaic of approximately 25 distinct parcels across Bouzy. The dosage is set at two grams per liter.”
Suenen Oiry Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut NV (2021) 750ml $95 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Anne Krebiehl MW-Vinous 93 points “The NV Extra Brut Blanc de Blancs Oiry Grand Cru is a pure Chardonnay. Creaminess, fresh and crusty baguette and Golden Delicious apple unite on an enticing nose with a bright green apple frisson as an overtone. Slenderness and delicacy define the body, but the flavors are full and almost generous. They evoke creamy porridge, mellow, freshly peeled yellow apple flesh, and a lovely sense of saltiness that has the ocean tanginess of an oyster shell. The longer you savor this, the saltier and more enticing it becomes: enfolding and oh-so-chalky. This Extra Brut is lovely and captivating, with a totally appetizing umami finish. [Disgorgement date may vary].”
Suenen ‘C+C’ Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut (2021) 1.5L $299 special, 2 magnums in stock now
Anne Krebiehl MW-Vinous 94 points “The NV Extra Brut Blanc de Blancs C + C Grand Cru gets its name from Chouilly and Cramant, the villages where the Chardonnay was picked. The nose presents yellow apple peel with a sheen of waxiness and a sense of dried ears of wheat and a touch of ocean air. Saltiness is immediate on the slender palate, where concentration gives a sense of salted apple flesh, wet oyster shell and deep chalk. Slender, earthy, intense and deeply oceanic. Fruit subsides to let soil speak. There’s a fine but slightly dissipating mousse. [Disgorgement date may vary].”
France – Burgundy
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Domaine Daniel-Etienne Defaix Chablis Vieilles Vignes 2021 750ml $39 special, 24 bottles in stock now
Importer Note “This cuvée is sourced from vines the age of which is between 45 and 70 years. A wine of exceptional concentration for a village level appellation, this wine is always a true expression of the kimmeridgian soils that make Chablis so distinctive. Aged for thirty months before release, Defaix’s old vines Chablis is richly dense with a classic “pierre a fusil” bouquet and long mineral-infused finish.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Domaine Daniel-Etienne Defaix Cote de Lechet, Chablis Premier Cru 2010 750ml $64.50 special, 20 bottles in stock now
Winery Note “In fascinating contrast to “Vaillon”, Defaix’s “Côte de Lechet” is a master class in mineral precision. This remarkably steep site (a 45% gradient) with very poor soil produces a wine that Danny describes as embodying “the real, true mineral expression of Chablis.” Freshly blasted chalk dominates the nose, with notes of lemon, honey, and fresh herbs lurking underneath; still, this is a wine of minerality first and foremost. The family owns a 3.5-hectare parcel of 45-year-old vines in this distinctive cru, most of which are planted within a parcel known as the Clos des Moines.”
France – Other
Domaine Lafage Novellum Chardonnay, IGP Cotes Catalanes 2023 750ml $16 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-12 Domaine Lafage Novellum Chardonnay, IGP Cotes Catalanes 2022 750ml $174.50 special (that’s only $14.54/bottle!)
James Suckling 91 points “This has apricots, peaches, lemon curd and hazelnuts on the nose, followed by hints of crushed stones on a creamy, full-bodied palate. Supple and very clean. 100% chardonnay. Drink now.”
Italy
Pieropan La Rocca Soave Classico, Veneto 2022 750ml $49 special, 5 bottles in stock now
James Suckling 96 points “The only oak-inflected cuvee at the estate. Aged in 100% used tonneaux, both French and Slavonian. Superb aromas of pistachios, peaches and dried mangoes. Broad and expansive, yet funneled into a vortex of tension by freshness that sublimates any sense of obvious power. A wonderful expression of a warmer vintage that suits perfectly this compelling site. Drink or hold.”
Pieropan La Rocca Soave Classico, Veneto 2023 750ml $49 special, 11 bottles in stock now
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Gurrieri Frappato Terre Siciliane IGT, Sicily 2023 750ml $21.90 special, 23 bottles in stock now
VinopolNote: Lighter in profile, Gurrieri’s Frappato is a fantastic red wine to drink in the summer months, especially as a beverage while you grill. You see Siciliy is not just a viticultural hotspot, the Southern end of the island is in the same latitude as North Africa. It’s easy to bake under the Sun there. Chill this wine down to see a Sicilian farmer’s favorite way to beat the heat!
Felsina Berardenga Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG, Tuscany 2021 750ml $34.50 special, 24 bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 95 points “The core of cherry, pomegranate and raspberry fruit is detailed with Tuscan scrub, iron, vanilla and tobacco notes as this intense red builds in power to the expansive conclusion, where its fruit, mineral and wild herb flavors converge. Shows fine balance and length; this just needs time to absorb the oak. Best from 2027 through 2043. 5,000 cases made, 2,000 cases imported.”
Spain
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Envinate ‘Palo Blanco’, Canary Islands 2023 750ml $51.90 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Luis Gutiérrez-Wine Advocate 98+ points “The grapes for the 2023 Palo Blanco were harvested earlier than ever, picked even earlier than the grapes from Taganana. It was a warm year, but the wine feels more like it’s from a cool climate; it has a moderate 11.5% alcohol and is volcanic and less reductive than in previous years, fine-boned and sharp, with a vibrant palate, effervescent acidity (7.1 grams and a pH of 3.05) and a dry chalkiness that gives it salinity. It’s approachable but should also age in bottle. 13,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in July 2024.”
Importer Note “From four parcels of 100+ year-old vines near Los Realejos.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Envinate Táganan Blanco, Canary Islands 2023 750ml $49 special, 30 bottles in stock now
Luis Gutiérrez-Wine Advocate 95+ points “The 2023 Táganan Blanco didn’t go through malolactic and matured in larger barrels (they are abandoning the 228-liter oak barrels), and the wine seems to have gained in freshness. It’s also less reductive—volcanic, yes, but less reductive. It has 11.5% alcohol and a pH of 3.02 with 7.24 grams of acidity. It’s vibrant and sharp, clean, light to medium-bodied, with purity and symmetry. This wine is going from strength to strength. 6,500 bottles produced. It was bottled in June 2024.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Clos Mogador ‘Nelin’ Blanco, Priorat DOCa 2022 750ml $69 special, 6 bottles in stock now
Luis Gutiérrez-Wine Advocate 96 points “All the wines go through malolactic in barrel, including the white 2022 Nelin, a blend that has been changing over time. In 2022, it was produced exclusively with local varieties, Garnacha Blanca, Macabeu, Xarel·lo, Cariñena Blanca, Picapoll Blanco, Trepat Blanco, PX and Escanyavelles from four small organic vineyards. The juice from the pressing of the full clusters fermented with indigenous yeasts in 1,200-liter oak foudres, with a slow and long fermentation that takes between three and nine months. It matured in foudre for one year and then was transferred to stainless steel for six to eight more months. Despite the dry conditions and the heat waves, it came after the 2021, and the vines had enough reserves, so the wines are fresher than expected. It’s a Mediterranean blend with 14% alcohol and 5.3 grams of acidity, clean and harmonious. The north-facing plots behaved very well, and the varieties can take the conditions without a problem, so the wine doesn’t seem affected at all. In fact, it’s quite fresh, medium-bodied and very tasty, serious and characterful, a triumph over the extreme conditions of the year. It’s a white with aging potential. 9,000 bottles were filled in April 2024.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Clos Mogador Gratallops, Priorat DOCa 2022 750ml $99 special, 6 bottles in stock now
Luis Gutiérrez-Wine Advocate 97 points “Their single-vineyard 2022 Clos Mogador, they flagship wine, was produced with a blend of grapes, mostly Garnacha and Cariñena but also some Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon (less and less, as they are regrafting most of them). It fermented with 40% full clusters and matured in 2,000- and 2,500-liter oak foudres; some are old barriques, to avoid having too much new oak, and some lots finish aging in concrete to complete some 20 months. They have implemented some changes, moving toward larger volumes, abandoning the barriques and moving to foudre (with the low volumes in 2024, the wine will be only in foudre). It has a very Mediterranean nose with plenty of dry hay and straw notes, the classical wet slate notes, very Priorat too, and it has a round palate and very fine, chalky tannins. It’s serious and harmonious and feels relaxed, without any excess. It comes in at 14% alcohol with 5.4 grams of acidity and a bone-dry finish. None of the 2022s showed excess heat or ripeness. The alcohol is contained and integrated, and the wines are balanced and harmonious but with a more Mediterranean profile. 35,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in June 2024.”
Austria
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Weingut Jaunegg Sand & Schotter Sauvignon Blanc, Sudsteiermark 2022 750ml $31.90 special, 12 bottles in stock now
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Weingut Jaunegg Sand & Schotter Weissburgunder, Sudsteiermark 2022 750ml $31.90 special, 12 bottles in stock now
New Italian Pre-Arrival Offers
Arriving This Month
Podere Le Boncie:
If you’re a big fan of Montevertine, Castell’in Villa or Stella di Campalto, you need to stockpile the wines that Giovanna Morganti makes under her Podere Le Boncie label. The estate is a mere three hectares in Chianti Classico, planted to a high-density mix that’s anchored around Sangiovese, but with a smattering of old-school Tuscan grapes, as well.
Importer Neal Rosenthal describes the wines as “ferociously elegant”—as pithy a description as we’ve seen. The Boncie wines are based around grace rather than power and richness—a real study in contrast to their famous neighbors. Unfortunately, total production is less than 1,500 cases, of which only a few hundred make it to the US. This is already turning into a cult producer, so act accordingly.
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Podere Le Boncie ‘Chiesamonti’ Rosso, Toscana IGT 2022 750ml $84.50 pre-arrival special, 15 bottles available
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 95 points “The 2022 Chiesamonti is stellar. Chiesamonti is often marked by slightly coarse tannins. In 2022, intense summer heat amplified the fruit, yielding an especially showy, racy edition of the Chiesamonti. Plush contours wrap around a core of dark red/purplish fruit, blood orange, rose petal, lavender and spice. Readers will have a hard time keeping their hands off this wine. And why should they? This is pure and total seduction.”
Podere Le Boncie ‘Le Trame’ Rosso, Toscana IGT 2022 750ml $86.50 pre-arrival special, 12 bottles available
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 96 points “The 2022 Le Trame offers up scents of red Sangiovese fruit framed by beams of nervy tannin that start to soften with a bit of time in the glass. It’s a gorgeous wine from proprietors Giovanna Morganti and Giorgio Serao. High class. (Drink between 2027-2042).”
Lisini:
Lisini is a classic producer, both in style and in that they were one of the original 25 wineries in the Brunello Consortium. They’re known for powerful wines that see extensive aging in large casks and bottle before release, which softens their textures and gives them wonderful secondary flavors. These are reference-point Brunellos that belong in the cellar of any collector.
Lisini Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Tuscany 2020 750ml $69 pre-arrival special, 18 bottles available
Decanter 95 points “Here is the epitome of 2020’s seductiveness: dark exotic berries are tinged with a scent of juniper, while the palate strikes an arresting fusion of black cherry and lush apricot, with a ferruginous facet. Fulsome without being weighty, it deftly balances sumptuousness with rigour as firm tannins mark their territory. With this vintage, Lisini finally returns to its full lineup of Brunello. It is difficult to imagine the Ugolaia or Riserva bottlings topping this, however we will have to wait until next year see how those wines fare.”
Lisini Brunello di Montalcino Riserva DOCG, Tuscany 2019 750ml $119 pre-arrival special, 12 bottles available
Decanter 97 points “Due to reduced quantities in 2019, the Lisini family decided to sacrifice their Ugolaia bottling in order to augment the Riserva. It is a striking specimen of the balmy Sesta zone in Montalcino’s southeast. Scents of myrtle and pine infuse dark cherry and black raspberry. On the palate, iron and chestnut weave through the luscious and exotic red fruit. Equally sumptuous tannins bestow a generous sandy-textured embrace. Polished and layered with mineral depths, this already feels satisfying, but the best is yet to come.”
Siro Pacenti:
If you prefer your Tuscan reds to lean modern stylistically, think Altesino or Casanova di Neri, then we have a producer that deserves your attention. These are wines that have power and richness, but a deft hand in the cellar keeps the elegance of the Sangiovese grape intact. We offer three vintages of the old-vine bottling in stock. Sourced from 40- to 60-year-old vines from the Pelagrilli and Piancornello vineyard, these are concentrated beauties that will unfurl majestically in your cellar or decanter.
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Siro Pacenti PS Pelagrilli, Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2020 750ml $64.50 pre-arrival special, 12 bottles available
James Suckling 96 points “A round and juicy red with berry, cherry, mushroom and wet-earth character on both the nose and palate. It’s full-bodied with integrated tannins that are soft and luscious. Long, flavorful finish. Drinkable now, but better in two or three years.”
Winery-cellared late release!
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Siro Pacenti PS Vecchie Vigne, Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2013 750ml $169 pre-arrival special, 4 bottles available
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 95 points “[Reviewed 2018] Showing more oak definition, texture and overall fruity richness, the 2013 Brunello di Montalcino Vecchie Vigne benefits from the concentration and complexity you get with old vines. The wine wraps thickly over the palate, imparting luscious aromas of dried cherry, exotic spice, pressed rose and scorched earth along the way. This is a wine for the cellar. The bouquet has a lot to give, but this will require some extra time. All the elements are there for an excellent aging future. Some 27,000 bottles were produced.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Siro Pacenti PS Vecchie Vigne, Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2020 750ml $134.50 pre-arrival special, 6 bottles available
James Suckling 97 points “Intense, overt and fruit-focused Brunello with fresh violets soaked into bright, crushed raspberries, as well as ash and balsamic depth. Full-bodied yet framed and polished, with a deep tannin structure. It’s very tightly wound in the center-palate, meaning it needs time to open and gain full expression. Allow at least three years for it to come around. Best after 2028.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Siro Pacenti PS Rosso di Montalcino, Tuscany 2023 750ml $44.50 pre-arrival special, 24 bottles available
James Suckling 92 points “This graceful and perfumed wine shows aromas of toast, licorice, vanilla, pomegranates, violets and cinnamon. Its restrained character is improved by fruit concentration and weight, a full body, crisp acidity and well-handled, velvety tannins. Drinkable now, but best from spring 2025.”
Vietti:
“For the last two decades or so, the style at Vietti has been one that straddles modern and more traditional styles. The wines were never as opulent as those of the modern school, but also never as ethereal or massively tannic as those of the classic school… [Winemaker Eugenio] Palumbo has the freedom to take Vietti into a new era where I think the wines are going to be even more refined than those of the past. I have to say, I left this tasting [of the 2021s] extremely energized.” -Antonio Galloni, Vinous
Vietti Brunate, Barolo DOCG 2021 750ml $249 pre-arrival special, 6 bottles available
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 97+ points “Brunate is also one of my favorite wines from Vietti (and, boy, is it hard to choose favorites) thanks to that playful hint of fresh mint that I usually find, especially in the best vintages. You certainly get it in the 2021 Barolo Brunate, and although I’m not sure how long it will last as the wine evolves, my experience suggests it only gets stronger and more beautiful in time. Indeed, this vintage (with 23 days of skin maceration) shows exceptional depth and precision with aromas that go beyond the mint, spanning instead to grilled rosemary and Darjeeling tea. The wine shows excellent textural support and broad shoulders, followed by tannins that are both sweet and chalky. It shows profound generosity and depth. Brunate always has an intense, dark soul. A total of 4,835 bottles were made.”
Vietti Castiglione, Barolo DOCG 2021 750ml $66 pre-arrival special, 36 bottles available
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 94 points “This is a serious beauty that reminds us of the brilliant work underway at this leading estate. Yes, ownership has changed over recent years, but this wine remains “Rocche-solid.” From an epic vintage, the Vietti 2021 Barolo Rocche di Castiglione is a classic with those elegant mineral notes of glacial till and flake salt followed by carefully ripened fruit, blackcurrant and a finely tuned floral note of fragrant tea leaf that hits the high notes. The effect is ethereal but also precise. Fruit comes from two parcels, one planted in 1958 and the other in 1969, and the blend is half of each fermented together. Fruit was picked on October 1st, and the wine saw 24 days on the skins. The first year this wine was produced is 1961. The Rocche di Castiglione site has 35% sand with marl soils that continue to evolve, kicking out more new sand. Only 3,728 bottles exist, and that’s the bad news.”
Vietti Lazzarito, Barolo DOCG 2021 750ml $259 pre-arrival special, 6 bottles available
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 97 points “Fruit for this wine comes from a three-hectare parcel in Serralunga d’Alba near the village, with south and southwestern exposures in a small amphitheater. The soils in this area are older and thus more evolved, but they always create wines of strong character. The Vietti 2021 Barolo Lazzarito is easy to identify thanks to its salty mineral finish, which is almost metallic in taste, and its bright hints of sweet rosemary and wild herb. These delicate high notes form pretty framing to a dark core of elegant fruit. The estate counts five vineyards in Serralunga d’Alba, but Lazzarito is the only MGA bottling. Production is a bit larger here, with 10,363 bottles made this vintage.”
Vietti Barbaresco Roncaglie (Masseria), Barbaresco DOCG 2021 750ml $149 pre-arrival special, 6 bottles available
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 96 points “Past vintages of this wine were called Roncaglie Masseria, but the word Masseria has been removed. The Vietti 2021 Barbaresco Roncaglie draws its fruit from inclined vineyards that produce fruit with finesse and elegance. This pretty wine opens to a note of fragrant flower or heritage rose that accompanies you over a long, silky close. In a good vintage like 2021, vintners could push skin macerations a little longer. This wine saw 25 days on the skins compared to 22 days in the 2022 vintage. Vietti recently purchased land in Rabajà, a site that produces profound wines, and this plot in Roncaglie has a greater presence of sand in its soils, creating more floral and delicate expressions instead. This matures in large oak casks for 24 months, and production is 6,066 bottles.”
Vietti Cerequio, Barolo DOCG 2021 750ml $239 pre-arrival special, 12 bottles available
Decanter 97 points “Uplifting nuances of mint and strawberry are brilliantly countered by a grounding earthiness that reaches mineral depths. This is elegantly weighted with enduring strength, and the tannins exhibit a powerful stoniness yet are gracefully proportioned. Really the epitome of balance – but nowhere near ready. Introduced in 2018, Cerequio (along with Monvigliero) is among the most recent editions to Vietti’s lineup of single-MGA Barolos. The 0.79 hectare plot purchased from Michele Chiarlo falls within the Barolo township just above Sarmassa. (Drink between 2028-2043).”
If you’re a big fan of Montevertine, Castell’in Villa or Stella di Campalto, you need to stockpile the wines that Giovanna Morganti makes under her Podere Le Boncie label. The estate is a mere three hectares in Chianti Classico, planted to a high-density mix that’s anchored around Sangiovese, but with a smattering of old-school Tuscan grapes, as well.
Importer Neal Rosenthal describes the wines as “ferociously elegant”—as pithy a description as we’ve seen. The Boncie wines are based around grace rather than power and richness—a real study in contrast to their famous neighbors. Unfortunately, total production is less than 1,500 cases, of which only a few hundred make it to the US. This is already turning into a cult producer, so act accordingly.
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Podere Le Boncie ‘Chiesamonti’ Rosso, Toscana IGT 2022 750ml $84.50 pre-arrival special, 15 bottles available
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 95 points “The 2022 Chiesamonti is stellar. Chiesamonti is often marked by slightly coarse tannins. In 2022, intense summer heat amplified the fruit, yielding an especially showy, racy edition of the Chiesamonti. Plush contours wrap around a core of dark red/purplish fruit, blood orange, rose petal, lavender and spice. Readers will have a hard time keeping their hands off this wine. And why should they? This is pure and total seduction.”
Podere Le Boncie ‘Le Trame’ Rosso, Toscana IGT 2022 750ml $86.50 pre-arrival special, 12 bottles available
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 96 points “The 2022 Le Trame offers up scents of red Sangiovese fruit framed by beams of nervy tannin that start to soften with a bit of time in the glass. It’s a gorgeous wine from proprietors Giovanna Morganti and Giorgio Serao. High class. (Drink between 2027-2042).”
Lisini:
Lisini is a classic producer, both in style and in that they were one of the original 25 wineries in the Brunello Consortium. They’re known for powerful wines that see extensive aging in large casks and bottle before release, which softens their textures and gives them wonderful secondary flavors. These are reference-point Brunellos that belong in the cellar of any collector.
Lisini Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Tuscany 2020 750ml $69 pre-arrival special, 18 bottles available
Decanter 95 points “Here is the epitome of 2020’s seductiveness: dark exotic berries are tinged with a scent of juniper, while the palate strikes an arresting fusion of black cherry and lush apricot, with a ferruginous facet. Fulsome without being weighty, it deftly balances sumptuousness with rigour as firm tannins mark their territory. With this vintage, Lisini finally returns to its full lineup of Brunello. It is difficult to imagine the Ugolaia or Riserva bottlings topping this, however we will have to wait until next year see how those wines fare.”
Lisini Brunello di Montalcino Riserva DOCG, Tuscany 2019 750ml $119 pre-arrival special, 12 bottles available
Decanter 97 points “Due to reduced quantities in 2019, the Lisini family decided to sacrifice their Ugolaia bottling in order to augment the Riserva. It is a striking specimen of the balmy Sesta zone in Montalcino’s southeast. Scents of myrtle and pine infuse dark cherry and black raspberry. On the palate, iron and chestnut weave through the luscious and exotic red fruit. Equally sumptuous tannins bestow a generous sandy-textured embrace. Polished and layered with mineral depths, this already feels satisfying, but the best is yet to come.”
Siro Pacenti:
If you prefer your Tuscan reds to lean modern stylistically, think Altesino or Casanova di Neri, then we have a producer that deserves your attention. These are wines that have power and richness, but a deft hand in the cellar keeps the elegance of the Sangiovese grape intact. We offer three vintages of the old-vine bottling in stock. Sourced from 40- to 60-year-old vines from the Pelagrilli and Piancornello vineyard, these are concentrated beauties that will unfurl majestically in your cellar or decanter.
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Siro Pacenti PS Pelagrilli, Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2020 750ml $64.50 pre-arrival special, 12 bottles available
James Suckling 96 points “A round and juicy red with berry, cherry, mushroom and wet-earth character on both the nose and palate. It’s full-bodied with integrated tannins that are soft and luscious. Long, flavorful finish. Drinkable now, but better in two or three years.”
Winery-cellared late release!
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Siro Pacenti PS Vecchie Vigne, Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2013 750ml $169 pre-arrival special, 4 bottles available
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 95 points “[Reviewed 2018] Showing more oak definition, texture and overall fruity richness, the 2013 Brunello di Montalcino Vecchie Vigne benefits from the concentration and complexity you get with old vines. The wine wraps thickly over the palate, imparting luscious aromas of dried cherry, exotic spice, pressed rose and scorched earth along the way. This is a wine for the cellar. The bouquet has a lot to give, but this will require some extra time. All the elements are there for an excellent aging future. Some 27,000 bottles were produced.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Siro Pacenti PS Vecchie Vigne, Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2020 750ml $134.50 pre-arrival special, 6 bottles available
James Suckling 97 points “Intense, overt and fruit-focused Brunello with fresh violets soaked into bright, crushed raspberries, as well as ash and balsamic depth. Full-bodied yet framed and polished, with a deep tannin structure. It’s very tightly wound in the center-palate, meaning it needs time to open and gain full expression. Allow at least three years for it to come around. Best after 2028.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Siro Pacenti PS Rosso di Montalcino, Tuscany 2023 750ml $44.50 pre-arrival special, 24 bottles available
James Suckling 92 points “This graceful and perfumed wine shows aromas of toast, licorice, vanilla, pomegranates, violets and cinnamon. Its restrained character is improved by fruit concentration and weight, a full body, crisp acidity and well-handled, velvety tannins. Drinkable now, but best from spring 2025.”
Vietti:
“For the last two decades or so, the style at Vietti has been one that straddles modern and more traditional styles. The wines were never as opulent as those of the modern school, but also never as ethereal or massively tannic as those of the classic school… [Winemaker Eugenio] Palumbo has the freedom to take Vietti into a new era where I think the wines are going to be even more refined than those of the past. I have to say, I left this tasting [of the 2021s] extremely energized.” -Antonio Galloni, Vinous
Vietti Brunate, Barolo DOCG 2021 750ml $249 pre-arrival special, 6 bottles available
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 97+ points “Brunate is also one of my favorite wines from Vietti (and, boy, is it hard to choose favorites) thanks to that playful hint of fresh mint that I usually find, especially in the best vintages. You certainly get it in the 2021 Barolo Brunate, and although I’m not sure how long it will last as the wine evolves, my experience suggests it only gets stronger and more beautiful in time. Indeed, this vintage (with 23 days of skin maceration) shows exceptional depth and precision with aromas that go beyond the mint, spanning instead to grilled rosemary and Darjeeling tea. The wine shows excellent textural support and broad shoulders, followed by tannins that are both sweet and chalky. It shows profound generosity and depth. Brunate always has an intense, dark soul. A total of 4,835 bottles were made.”
Vietti Castiglione, Barolo DOCG 2021 750ml $66 pre-arrival special, 36 bottles available
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 94 points “This is a serious beauty that reminds us of the brilliant work underway at this leading estate. Yes, ownership has changed over recent years, but this wine remains “Rocche-solid.” From an epic vintage, the Vietti 2021 Barolo Rocche di Castiglione is a classic with those elegant mineral notes of glacial till and flake salt followed by carefully ripened fruit, blackcurrant and a finely tuned floral note of fragrant tea leaf that hits the high notes. The effect is ethereal but also precise. Fruit comes from two parcels, one planted in 1958 and the other in 1969, and the blend is half of each fermented together. Fruit was picked on October 1st, and the wine saw 24 days on the skins. The first year this wine was produced is 1961. The Rocche di Castiglione site has 35% sand with marl soils that continue to evolve, kicking out more new sand. Only 3,728 bottles exist, and that’s the bad news.”
Vietti Lazzarito, Barolo DOCG 2021 750ml $259 pre-arrival special, 6 bottles available
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 97 points “Fruit for this wine comes from a three-hectare parcel in Serralunga d’Alba near the village, with south and southwestern exposures in a small amphitheater. The soils in this area are older and thus more evolved, but they always create wines of strong character. The Vietti 2021 Barolo Lazzarito is easy to identify thanks to its salty mineral finish, which is almost metallic in taste, and its bright hints of sweet rosemary and wild herb. These delicate high notes form pretty framing to a dark core of elegant fruit. The estate counts five vineyards in Serralunga d’Alba, but Lazzarito is the only MGA bottling. Production is a bit larger here, with 10,363 bottles made this vintage.”
Vietti Barbaresco Roncaglie (Masseria), Barbaresco DOCG 2021 750ml $149 pre-arrival special, 6 bottles available
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 96 points “Past vintages of this wine were called Roncaglie Masseria, but the word Masseria has been removed. The Vietti 2021 Barbaresco Roncaglie draws its fruit from inclined vineyards that produce fruit with finesse and elegance. This pretty wine opens to a note of fragrant flower or heritage rose that accompanies you over a long, silky close. In a good vintage like 2021, vintners could push skin macerations a little longer. This wine saw 25 days on the skins compared to 22 days in the 2022 vintage. Vietti recently purchased land in Rabajà, a site that produces profound wines, and this plot in Roncaglie has a greater presence of sand in its soils, creating more floral and delicate expressions instead. This matures in large oak casks for 24 months, and production is 6,066 bottles.”
Vietti Cerequio, Barolo DOCG 2021 750ml $239 pre-arrival special, 12 bottles available
Decanter 97 points “Uplifting nuances of mint and strawberry are brilliantly countered by a grounding earthiness that reaches mineral depths. This is elegantly weighted with enduring strength, and the tannins exhibit a powerful stoniness yet are gracefully proportioned. Really the epitome of balance – but nowhere near ready. Introduced in 2018, Cerequio (along with Monvigliero) is among the most recent editions to Vietti’s lineup of single-MGA Barolos. The 0.79 hectare plot purchased from Michele Chiarlo falls within the Barolo township just above Sarmassa. (Drink between 2028-2043).”
Don’t miss our additional sales going on now:
The Eyrie Vineyards & Goodfellow Family Cellars
5% off any 4-7 in-stock bottles of Eyrie & Goodfellow
10% off any 8+ or more in-stock bottles of Eyrie & Goodfellow
Espectacle del Montsant and Clos Mogador
5% off any 3-5 in-stock bottles of Espectacle del Montsant & Clos Mogador
10% off any 6+ or more in-stock bottles of Espectacle del Montsant & Clos Mogador
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The Eyrie Vineyards & Goodfellow Family Cellars sale ends Tuesday, August 5th at 9 am Pacific. Espectacle del Montsant and Clos Mogador sale ends Wednesday, August 6th at 9 am Pacific.