New Week – New Arrivals
from Oregon, California, France, Italy & Spain!
from Oregon, California, France, Italy & Spain!
Oregon
Cameron Winery ‘Giovanni’ Pinot Bianco, Willamette Valley 2023 750ml $18 special, 36 bottles in stock now
Winery note “This is the first look at the 2023 vintage, and it bodes well. With intense stone fruit aromas mixed in with a bit of citrus notes, this wine starts off correctly. And the best part is the incredible richness and finish when you take a sip. All in all, it augers well for the 2023 wines to come!”
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Crowley Chardonnay, Willamette Valley 2021 750ml $24 special, 24 bottles in stock now
Winery note “2021 Willamette Valley Chardonnay represents our evolving program, combining Draper and Wente clones as well as barrel and stainless-steel aging. Gorgeous clarity highlights the energetic color of straw laced with flashes of green.”
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Crowley Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2022 750ml $26 special, 24 bottles in stock now
Winery note “Eye catching clarity meets garnet edges mixed with crimson. Lucid and fresh, the nose displays crunchy aromatics, cranberry and pomegranate mixed with herb and citrus. Palate is smooth and elegant, showing an intriguing wax component combined with powdered fine grain tannins. Taut edging defines the flavors as sweetly elegant and delicate. Lithe and lively, strawberry, and warm spice carry the sweet spot while forest floor and autumn leaves bring in the earthen complexity. This wine stays upright and coiled as the phenolics are spread perfectly from start to finish.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Peter William Vineyard Grenache, Rogue Valley 2020 750ml $24 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Michael Alberty-Wine Enthusiast 91 points “After 10 months in neutral French oak, this Grenache is eager to make friends. Its dark chocolate and meaty aromas will make you crave pork mole. The flavors are a tangy combination of boysenberry and orange zest, with bits of tobacco and ginger. Boisterous acidity intersects with firm tannins.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Peter William GSM, Rogue Valley 2019 750ml $24 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Michael Alberty-Wine Enthusiast 91 points “This GSM, made with fruit from Peter William and Folin Vineyards, spent 20 months in French oak, 50% new and 50% neutral. It is lithe and lean, with aromas of poppies and lavender melding with blackberry tea. Raspberry and tart cherry flavors are flanked by bacon fat and cardamom.”
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Peter William Vineyard Lot W Syrah, Rogue Valley 2018 750ml $19 special, 24 bottles in stock now
Wine Reviews Online 94 points “This small batch Syrah is made from estate grown grapes which are vinified by winemaker Eric Weisinger, who is the “W” referenced on the label. The end result is a compact, powerful expression of Syrah that may be one of the best values around these days. It is pure, ripe Syrah beginning with its dark color and earthy, leathery, black pepper aromatics. It evolves in the glass and is full of black fruits and spices delivered in a compact, medium full bodied style. It was aged in American oak (30% new) and the light toasty flavor adds a little intrigue to the ripe berry and slightly floral notes in the aftertaste. Although it should be wonderfully complex in 3 to 4 years, it is nevertheless outstanding now.”
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California
Robert Mondavi Winery Sauvignon Blanc, Napa Valley 2022 750ml $18.50 special, 24 bottles in stock now
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $27.93
The next best price is $27.93
Robert Mondavi Winery Chardonnay, Napa Valley 2018 750ml $17.50 special, 24 bottles in stock now
James Suckling 92 points “An abundance of ripe stone and tropical fruit on the nose. It’s full-bodied with aromas and flavors of mango, yellow peach, salted butter and powdered praline. Lightly smoky with a crisp finish. Drink or hold.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $24.97
The next best price is $24.97
Robert Mondavi Winery Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2021 750ml $33.50 special, 30 bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 91 points “The classic 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley is outstanding, with a more black fruit-driven profile as well as some violet and scorched earth nuances. Aged 18 months in 32% new French oak, it’s medium to full-bodied, has a lifted, perfumed profile, supple tannins, and a great finish. Enjoy bottles over the coming decade.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $49
The average price is $49
France – Bordeaux
Chateau Saint-Pierre, Saint-Julien 2019 750ml $79 special, 12 bottles in stock now
James Suckling 96 points “Very pretty and typical for the appellation with aromas of blackcurrants, violets and sandalwood that follow through to a full body with layers of polished tannins and a long, flavorful finish. Lasts a long time on the palate. Classic structure. Drink after 2027.”
Decanter 95 points “Such an expressive nose, high toned, floral, a bit wild with some medicinal aspects, coffee, leather and cola notes. The texture is just gorgeous, there’s a chewiness that you find in a lot of the St-Julien’s but it’s soft, generous, round and mouth filling in a great way…This has a seductive appeal with rich fruit and rich spicing. Drinking Window 2025 – 2043.”
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 95 points “The 2019 Saint-Pierre has a little more intensity and ambition than the Gloria, offering intense blackberry, boysenberry, cedar and pencil box aromas… A great Saint-Julien.”
Wine Spectator Top 100 Wine in 2019 (#1)
Chateau Leoville Barton, Saint-Julien 2016 750ml $189 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 97 points “…Both regal and rambunctious, this is St.-Julien to a T.”
Decanter 96 points “I love this – there’s concentrated cassis on the nose with a strong, smoky edging. On the palate the coffee and dark chocolate is clear, a little bitter in an extremely attractive way, leaning against the rich, sweet black fruits. There’s no question those tannins are in full play. An excellent wine with a great life ahead. Matured in 60% new oak. Drinking Window 2024 – 2040”
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 96 points “The 2016 Léoville-Barton is fabulous. A wine of breadth and power, the 2016 has so much to offer…”
Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Wine Advocate 95+ points “…the 2016 Leoville Barton delivers a superstar nose of crème de cassis, plum preserves and blueberry compote with suggestions of fragrant earth, unsmoked cigars, licorice and cedar chest. Medium to full-bodied, rich and seductive with firm yet velvety tannins, it has a decadently rich finish.”
Wine Spectator Top 100 Wine in 2021 (#2)
Pichon Lalande Pauillac 2018 1.5L $499 special, 3 magnums in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 98+ points “The 2018 Chāteau Pichon-Longueville Comtesse De Lalande is a monster of a wine with an almost Chāteau Latour-like stature and structure, offering deep, backward, slightly reductive notes of blackcurrants, crushed stone, scorched earth, lead pencil shavings, and tobacco leaf. Based largely on Cabernet Sauvignon mixed with 23% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Petit Verdot, it’s full-bodied, concentrated, and powerful on the palate, with masses of tannins, beautiful mid-palate density, and a great finish…”
Wine Spectator 98 points “Offers a deep well of dark currant, blackberry paste and plum preserves fruit that needs time to unwind fully, as it’s shrouded in warm earth, tobacco, singed cedar, sweet bay leaf and savory notes…”
Wine Enthusiast 98 points “Cellar Selection. This famous estate at the southern end of Pauillac has produced a powerful wine. Packed blackberry fruits, laced with acidity, are just starting out on a long journey along with the tannins. The wine’s elegance is beautifully preserved within the structure. With considerable potential, the wine should not be drunk before 2027.”
Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Wine Advocate 97+ points “…Deep garnet-purple colored, it charges out of the gate with bold scents of baked plums, ripe blackcurrants and wild blueberries, followed by hints of cedar chest, pencil lead, bouquet garni and charcuterie, plus a waft of lilacs. The medium-bodied palate is beautifully crafted with its seamless freshness and firm, grainy tannins supporting the compelling, finely knit black fruits and savory nuances, finishing on a lingering fragrant-earth note…”
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 97+ points “The 2018 Pichon-Longueville Comtesse de Lalande dazzles from the very first taste… The 2018 is rich and expansive yet retains a super-classic vertical feel. Plush, silky tannins add to its immeasurable pedigree. I would cellar the 2018 for a decade or so, if patience permits. It’s a stellar wine in the making.”
Wine Spectator Top 100 Wine in 2023 (#3)
Chateau Lynch-Bages, Pauillac 2020 750ml $179 special, 7 bottles in stock now
James Suckling 99 points “A beautifully layered red with blackcurrant, hazelnut and lead-pencil character and fine, velvety tannins. Full-bodied and reserved. It’s like a tightly knit ball of polished tannins that are cashmere in texture. So very long and impressive. Give this time. A terrific Lynch. Better after 2027.”
Decanter 98 points “One of my favourite wines of the vintage, this is a wonderful example of high definition winemaking but still offering plenty of Pauillac swagger… Perfectly weighted with incredible delectability and drinkability. Persistent with a long finish. Superb effort.–Georgina Hindle.”
Neal Martin-Vinous 96 points “…It’s almost understated at first, but it opens wonderfully in the glass – quintessentially Pauillac. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins, quite concentrated that is counterbalanced by a fine bead of acidity. The saline note on the finish is superb, lingering in the mouth. What an absolutely delicious Lynch-Bages for the long-term.”
Wine Spectator 96 points “Gorgeous from the start, with cassis and violet notes leading off, followed by additional waves of black cherry and blackberry fruit as well as sweet tobacco and iron… Almost approachable for the fruit, but wait if you can. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2026 through 2040.”
Chateau Le Crock, Saint-Estephe 2016 750ml $41.90 special, 31 bottles in stock now
Roger Voss-Wine Enthusiast 94 points “Cellar Sellection… With its structured Cabernet Sauvignon, this wine is made to age. Big tannins and concentrated fruits are full and dense.”
Jane Anson-Decanter 94 points “Clearly standing out in this line-up, an impressive, well-crafted wine with great tannic hold; a wine you would be thrilled to own. Cassis, bilberry, blackberry, hawthorn, black chocolate, slate. Great texture and balance, and full of St-Estèphe signature. Great stuff.”
Chateau Larcis Ducasse, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru 2016 750ml $99 special, 12 bottles in stock now
James Suckling 99 points “The aromas here are so spellbinding with shitake mushrooms, wet earth and moss, as well as tree bark and, finally, dark fruit. The palate is incredible as it builds and grows with full body, but always tight and reserved. It shows so much depth and complexity. Please try not to touch this until 2025.”
Jeb Dunnuck 97 points “From one of my favorite estates in Bordeaux, the deeply colored 2016 Chāteau Larcis Ducasse is comprised of 87% Merlot and 13% Cabernet Franc that was brought up in 50% new French oak… Deep, rich, opulent and expansive on the palate, with building tannins, it’s a rich, layered Saint-Emilion as well as another incredible wine from this estate. Give it a few years if you can. It’s capable of keeping for three decades or more.”
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 97 points “The 2016 Larcis Ducasse is absolutely gorgeous…In 2016, Larcis brings together undeniable raciness and power in a complete package that is irresistibly beautiful. Give it a few years in bottle for the tannins to soften.”
Chateau Rabaud-Promis, Sauternes 2003 750ml $29 special, 24 bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 92 points “Very concentrated, with a dark gold color and dried pineapple, mango, honey, caramel and butterscotch. Full-bodied, with a long finish. Very, very thick and sweet. A bit monolithic on the palate. Needs time. Best after 2009. 5,000 cases made.”
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France – Burgundy
Domaine des Heritiers du Comte Lafon Mâcon-Chardonnay Clos de la Crochette 2022 750ml $49 special, 3 bottles in stock now
Domaine des Heritiers du Comte Lafon Mâcon-Chardonnay Clos de la Crochette 2022 1.5L $99 special, 1 magnum in stock now
Neal Martin-Vinous 90 points “The 2022 Mâcon-Chardonnay Clos de la Crochette has a quite backward nose that needs more tension. The palate is well-balanced with fine acidity, much more expressive than the aromatics, with a peachy, seductive finish. Lovely. But the nose needs to step up a gear.”
Domaine des Heritiers du Comte Lafon Mâcon-Prissé 2022 750ml $49 special, 3 bottles in stock now
“The 2022 Mâcon-Prissé, bottled in June, has a refined bouquet with touches of peach skin and Mirabelle. The palate is well-balanced with a fine bead of acidity with a light saline finish.” -Neal Martin, Vinous
Domaine des Heritiers du Comte Lafon Viré-Clessé 2022 750ml $59 special, 3 bottles in stock now
Neal Martin-Vinous 89 points “The 2022 Viré-Clessé comes from several parcels that, unlike the previous vintage, includes “younger” vines around 20 years old. It has an attractive bouquet of yellow flowers and a touch of peach skin. Fine delineation. The palate is well-balanced with a saline entry. Fine depth with impressive persistency. Recommended.”
Domaine des Heritiers du Comte Lafon Mâcon-Milly-Lamartine 2022 1.5L $89 special, 1 magnum in stock now
Neal Martin-Vinous 89 points “The 2022 Mâcon-Milly-Lamartine has a lively bouquet with a touch of menthol tincturing the citrus fruit. The palate is well-balanced with good concentration, quite persistent on the finish. Recommended.”
Domaine Pierre Morey Bourgogne Aligoté 2020 750ml $24 special, 7 bottles in stock now
“The 2020 Bourgogne Aligoté has quite a yeasty nose at the moment. The palate is rounded and generous with rosewater and marzipan, a touch of orange rind. It just needs a little more precision and tension, but I appreciate the concentration here.” -Neal Martin, Vinous
Domaine Pierre Morey Bourgogne Aligoté ‘Cuvee Becky’ 2021 750ml $59 special, 6 bottles in stock now
VinopolNote: The 2021 Aligoté cuvée Becky is a one off wine made from vines planted in the same year (1937) as Becky Wasserman was born as an homage to the ‘Grande Dame’. It was made in 2021, the year she passed.
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Domaine Pierre Morey Bourgogne Cote d’Or Chardonnay 2021 750ml $51.90 special, 3 bottles in stock now
Domaine Pierre Morey Meursault Les Tessons 2020 750ml $149 special, 3 bottles in stock now
Wine Advocate 92-94 points “The 2020 Meursault Les Tessons reveals aromas of crisp orchard fruit and orange oil mingled with hints of freshly baked bread and hazelnuts. Medium to full-bodied, deep and concentrated, with tangy acids and chalky structuring extract, it’s layered and seamless, standing out as the most complete of Morey’s communal bottlings from Meursault.”
Domaine Pierre Morey Meursault Les Tessons 2021 750ml $199 special, 2 bottles in stock now
Becky Wasserman note “Steep, on a light and easily-eroded soil, everyone agrees that Tessons is one of the best village level vineyards in Meursault. Lavalle, in 1855, placed it in his ‘Premieres Cuvee’ along with Genevrières Dessus, Charmes Dessus, Bouchères and Gouttes d’Or. According to the Moreys, if it wasn’t included in the AOC in 1935, it is only because most of it lay fallow after phylloxera. The majority of Tessons was was only replanted in the 1950s.”
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Domaine Pierre Morey Monthélie Rouge 2021 750ml $66 special, 6 bottles in stock now
“The 2021 Monthélie Rouge has a lovely bouquet with vibrant dark cherries and crushed strawberry scents, touches of violet surfacing with time. The palate is medium-bodied with sappy red fruit, not complex and a little sinewy on the finish. Drink over the next three to five years.” -Neal Martin, Vinous
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $72
The next best price is $72
Domaine Pierre Morey Santenots, Volnay Premier Cru 2021 750ml $169 special, 2 bottles in stock now
Importer note “Size: 0.35 ha (0.86 ac). Vine Age: Planted in 1970. Terroir: In lieu-dit Les Pétures, mid-slope with finely-textured shallow red soil. Viticulture: Certified organic and biodynamic. Vinification: 100% de-stemmed, light crushing, temperature-controlled indigenous yeast fermentation in open wooden vats, gentle extraction. Aged for 15-20 months in barrel (30-70% new), bottled by gravity, unfined, unfiltered.”
Staff favorite!
Anne-Sophie Dubois Fleurie l’Alchimiste, Beaujolais 2022 750ml $31.90 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Winemaker Notes “From southwest facing vineyards in Fleurie AOC. Soils are highly granitic. Dark berried fruits, tempered by mineral and black tea nuances. Seamless and very elegant.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Staff favorite!
Anne-Sophie Dubois Fleurie Les Labourons, Beaujolais 2022 750ml $37.50 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Importer Notes “Whereas previously the wine was a selection of the oldest fruit, Anne-Sophie has decided to take the selection one step farther and make it a selection of the best fruit from the old vine parcel. Les Labourons is the name of the lieu dit in Fleurie. In 2017, after recieving her organic certification, she wanted to rename the wine and have a new label drawn to showcase the new chapter in her winemaking. Despite the label and name change, Anne Sophie’s approach to vinification is the same as vintages past. It is 100% destemmed and aged for around 13 months in 228L neutral oak barrels.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Italy
G. B. Burlotto Viridis Langhe Sauvignon, Piedmont 2022 750ml $24 special, 12 bottles in stock now
“This estate was the second to plant Sauvignon Blanc in the Langhe after Angelo Gaja. The first vines set root in 1986 and a second parcel was planted ten years later. The folks at Comm. G.B. Burlotto were very happy with the results, and they remain one of the most important proponents of this white grape in a region dominated by red varieties. The wine is made in a very simple fashion and only sees contact with stainless steel.” –Monica Larner, Wine Advocate (no reviews available)
Mazzei Castello di Fonterutoli ‘Siepi’ Toscana IGT 2019 750ml $99 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 99 points “The 2019 Siepi continues a trend towards greater finesse and nuance in this wine. Crème de cassis, lavender, spice, licorice and plum meld together effortlessly in the glass. Dense and layered, with striking detail, the 2019 is so impressive. The flavors are bright, bold and punchy. An exceptionally beautiful and riveting wine, the 2019 is rich and concentrated, but not at all heavy. What a total knock-out.”
James Suckling 98 points “This is a really racy and fine Siepi with currant, black-cherry and dark-chocolate character. It’s medium-to full-bodied with very long, intense tannins that are linear and fine-textured. Really builds on the palate. Super structure. Finesse with power. Try after 2024 and onwards.”
Wine Spectator 96 points “Perfumed and elegant, this red features vibrant cherry, black currant and blackberry flavors allied to a supple texture. Offers mineral, tobacco, wild herb and spice accents that add detail, with lively acidity keeping it all defined and persistent. Harmonious, with excellent finesse and a long aftertaste. Sangiovese and Merlot. Best from 2025 through 2043. 2,917 cases made, 250 cases imported.”
Wine Spectator Top 100 Wine in 2023
Felsina Berardenga Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG, Tuscany 2020 750ml $33 special, 24 bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 94 points “A solidly built red introduced by aromas of mint, lavender and wild rosemary. Shows cherry, raspberry, earth, iron, sanguine and tobacco flavors allied to an almost viscous texture as this cruises to the long finish. Impressive now, yet will be better in three to five years. Best from 2026 through 2045. 5,000 cases made, 2,200 cases imported.”
Avignonesi Rosso di Montepulciano, Tuscany 2019 750ml $18 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Wine Advocate 91 points “The organic Avignonesi 2019 Rosso di Montepulciano is quite lovely. It boasts a thin and delicate approach that gets at the heart of Sangiovese. This is a pure expression of the Tuscan grape and sees a brief six months in oak. The wine reveals rose petal, blood orange, crushed stone and violet. The finish is silky and fine. This vintage represents a big jump forward in Avignonesi’s Rosso program. This is a release of exactly 93,866 bottles.”
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Avignonesi Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG, Tuscany 2019 750ml $24 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Eric Guido-Vinous 91 points “The 2019 Nobile di Montepulciano is a total pleasure on the nose. Sweet spice complements bright raspberry and cherry aromas. This envelopes the palate with silky textures balanced by juicy acidity as rose-tinged red berries cascade across the palate. It leaves a gentle coating of fine tannins while maintaining a lovely energy as hard red candy hints fade.”
Cantine Pra Cru Monte Grande Soave Classico, Veneto 2020 750ml $29 special, 30 bottles in stock now
Vinous 94 points “The 2020 Soave Classico Monte Grande is so pretty yet slightly understated, with a herbal twang that gives way to orange zests and pretty yellow flowers. This is round yet amazingly fresh and vibrant, with vivid apple tones and hints of chamomile. There’s a lasting florality and staining mix of kiwi and young mango while also salty and lightly structured. Breathtaking.”
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Cantine Pra Morandina Valpolicella Superiore Ripasso, Veneto 2019 750ml $28 special, 36 bottles in stock now
Erico Guido-Vinous 91 points “The 2019 Valpolicella Superiore Ripasso Morandina is remarkably pretty with ripe cherries and strawberries that are complemented by sweet spices and crushed stone. It boasts saturating red fruits and spices contrasted by stimulating minerality that gives way to pretty inner violet tones. This is a red wine made by a white wine producer, and it shows in the 2019’s tension. This tapers off lightly structured with a salt-and-pepper finale.”
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Spain
Bodegas Cerron Stratum Wines ‘La Servil’ Monastrell, Jumilla 2021 750ml $39 special, 24 bottles in stock now
Luis Gutierrez-Wine Advocate 94+ points “All the wines from the 2021 La Servil and above are sealed with beeswax. This comes from two plots of very old ungrafted vines planted with a Monastrell-based field blend that contains other varieties (Moravia Agria, Forcallat, Blanquilla and Rojal, etc.) at 960 meters in altitude on limestone gravel and sandy soils planted between 1954 and 1956. This vintage is the first that is certified biodynamic. It has good ripeness, 14.5% alcohol and developed aromas and flavors. This year they didn’t do any maceration, and the wines have more elegance. It’s precise, clean and pure, with energy, aromatic and floral, juicy and Mediterranean (blood orange, pomegranate) with a powerful palate, wide and long, with aromatic herbs and a tender texture but with austerity and more marked tannins and a dry chalky finish. This has balance and the stuffing to develop in bottle. This is truly outstanding and a great value too. 16,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in February 2023. The name was inspired by their grandfather, a word he used to describe the wines from the past.”
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Descendientes de J. Palacios Villa de Corullon, Bierzo 2021 750ml $54.50 special, 24 bottles in stock now
Wine Advocate 97 points “The vino de villa village red 2021 Corullón is extremely floral and elegant, clean, precise, fresh and very complete and harmonious, with a super elegant mouthfeel and a very long finish. 19,716 bottles and some smaller and larger formats produced. It was bottled in January 2022. This is super balanced and is aging slowly, with potential to age much more.”
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Descendientes de J. Palacios Moncerbal, Bierzo 2021 750ml $159 special, 6 bottles in stock now
Wine Advocate 98 points “The ultra elegant, sleek and mineral 2021 Moncerbal has amazing freshness, ultra refined tannins and lots of complexity, with layers and layers of flavors and aromas and great depth. There is a sense of harmony here that is captivating—this is pure elegance. It is floral, perfumed and velvety with very fine, chalky tannins and a sapid finish. 4,463 bottles, 107 magnums and some larger formats were filled in December 2022.”
Vinedos de Paganos El Puntido Gran Reserva, Rioja DOCa 2007 750ml $59 special, 10 bottles in stock now
Wine Advocate 96 points “Putting my nose in the glass of the 2007 El Puntido Gran Reserva transported me to the classical Riojas from yesteryear. The wine has a fully developed nose with all the textbook descriptors of a good aged Rioja—forest floor, cigar ash, cold bonfire, truffle, cherries in liqueur, blonde tobacco, spices and iodine. But this is a classical Gran Reserva that has something that was not that traditional, and it comes from a single vineyard and matured in brand new French oak barrels for 28 months. But time in bottle has polished it (it was bottled in June 2010, almost nine years ago); the tannins are mostly resolved and it’s nicely textured. It has what I love about the best red wine—it’s salty rather than sweet, there is no room for sweetness here, and it’s sapid and tasty and has great balance and freshness. This is developing at a very slow pace and should continue doing so for a very long time. A great Gran Reserva in the making. Only 5,000 bottles were produced from 2007, a very cold vintage, when the grapes were harvested the last three days of October, and it snowed the first of November!”
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Bodegas y Vinedos Artuke ‘Pies Negros’, Rioja DOCa 2020 750ml $21.90 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Wine Advocate 92+ points “As I’ve explained in previous vintages, this wine is produced with grapes from the Sierra Cantabria in the village of Ábalos, so the 2020 Pies Negros is another village wine, even if it won’t get the official qualification, as they don’t have a winery in Ábalos. It’s a blend of 85% Tempranillo with 15% Graciano that fermented with destemmed but uncrushed grapes with indigenous yeasts and matured in 500-liter oak barrels for 12 months but with 10% of the volume kept in concrete. It has strong aromatics with pungent notes of licorice and ripe fruit without excess. This is 14% alcohol and has nice balance, a soft texture and very fine and grainy tannins. 63,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in February 2022.”
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Bodegas Ordonez Nisia Verdejo, Rueda 2021 750ml $15.50 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Vinous 91 points “The 2021 Verdejo Nisia Old Vines, sourced from ancient vines in DO Rueda, underwent fermentation and a seven-month aging period in oak barrels on the lees. With a yellow hue, its aromatic profile presents notes of quince, medlar and pear, complemented by herbal and oaky undertones. The palate is creamy, refreshing and fairly concentrated, offering a malic mouthfeel that leads to a lingering and tasty finish—truly a flavorful Verdejo.”
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Back in Stock:
Peter William Daisy Creek Vineyard Viognier, Rogue Valley 2022 750ml $24 special, 24 bottles in stock now
Michael Alberty-Wine Enthusiast 93 points “The Daisy Creek Viognier is consistently one of the best white wine values in Oregon. This year’s model starts off with pear, butterscotch and talc aromas. Blazing acidity shines through as flavors like grilled pineapple, Thai basil and blood orange sorbet sashay across the palate.”
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Piper Heidsieck Prohibition Champagne NV 750ml $49 special, 30 bottles in stock now
Winery note “To commemorate the 100th anniversary since the beginning of Prohibition, Piper-Heidsieck invites you to enjoy its Cuvee Brut with a ‘Roaring Twenties’ ambiance.”
Chateau Cos d’Estournel, Saint-Estephe 2019 750ml $199 special, 7 bottles in stock now
James Suckling 99 points “This is so aromatic with blackcurrants, black berries and raspberries. Pure fruit, together with coffee and nutmeg. Really fresh and clean with bright spices. Full-bodied, yet reserved and tight with fantastic structure. So long. This is a great Cos for the cellar. A real benchmark for the true character. Needs at least five or six years to open and come around. Try after 2029.”
Decanter 98 points “Powerful and enjoyable Cos. Needs to be given time in the glass to reveal the impressively velvety texture, and the sheer depth of bitter black chocolate, black truffle and coffee notes. The tannins sit back and then build slowly to full bristling impact by the close of play. Feels extremely sophisticated, with the always-present Cos glamour. This was a vintage where the heat was starting to be worrying until the September rains that began around 22nd, and helped bring the Cabernet back into a more classical line, and away from the extremes of 2018. 40hl/h final yield.”
Bibi Graetz Testamatta Toscana IGT 2018 750ml $99 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Decanter 100 points “Finely textured, with a nuanced perfume that fills the glass and takes you to the intense underbrush of Tuscany. Succulent and yet savoury, this has a lilting freshness that is overlaid with ripe berry fruits, sage and white pepper spice, and clear minerality in terms of its scraping texture that makes your mouth water on the finish. Feels light and sculpted and yet has an intensity that skewers you to the spot. This is a great wine, with scope and imagination that doesn’t want to let you go. Genuinely stands out among the wines of this tasting, and these are a fine array of wines. As with Colore, Bibi Graetz selects only old vines, the youngest 50 years old from five different vineyard sites across Tuscany, all farmed organically. Fermentations in open 225l barrels with natural yeasts and manual punch downs. -Jane Anson”
G.D. Vajra Albe, Barolo DOCG 2019 750ml $33.50 special, 36 bottles in stock now
Wine Advocate 94 points “This is certainly one of the most popular and versatile wines made in Italy, and deservedly so. The well-priced G.D. Vajra 2019 Barolo Albe shows some ripe fruit and softness with cherry, dried raspberry and crushed rose. This vintage is similar in character to the 2016 release in that both vintages offer a linear style with good structure at the back. The mouthfeel is polished and long, affording accessibility and complexity too.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Arriving Tomorrow:
Casa Balaguer ‘La Rambla del Peligres’ Garnacha, Alicante 2019 750ml $16 pre-arrival special, 36+ bottles available
Case-12 Casa Balaguer ‘La Rambla del Peligres’ Garnacha, Alicante 2019 750ml $168 pre-arrival special (that’s only $14/bottle!)
VinopolNote: 100% Garnacha, rich and ripe from the Mediterranean Provence of Alicante.
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Arriving Friday, February 23rd:
Descendientes de J. Palacios ‘Petalos’, Bierzo 2021 750ml $21.90 pre-arrival special, 36+ bottles available
Wine Advocate 93+ points “2021 is clearly the finest vintage of the trio of 2020, 2021 and 2022, and the bottled 2021 Pétalos delivers what the unbottled samples promised: a wine with lower alcohol than ever (13.5%), lighter, a little narrower but with the juiciness of Mencía that seems to come back after some time in bottle. It has lots of notes of aromatic herbs, with some similar aromas to the La Faraona. It’s quite expressive and showy, very pleasant and easy to drink, very gourmand, with a velvety mouthfeel and very fine tannins. 320,000 bottles and 2,567 magnums produced. It was bottled between November 2022 and March 2023. Approachable now, very hedonistic.”