Newsletter 05/14/2023

 In This Newsletter:

New Arrivals
Eyrie, Elvio Cogno, Domaine Nozay, and more
Arriving Soon
Biondi-Santi
Staff Pick
Renardat Fache Bugey-Cerdon
Featured Winery
The Wines of Isole e Olena
Three Day Sale
Mother’s Day Special: Bouquet of Rosés
May Sale- Rhone Wines
When in Rhone, Save Money
Collector’s Corner
Simply the Best: Port Edition
New Arrivals

Oregon
 
“Eyrie: The Fabulous Farm”
Eyrie Trifolium Dundee Hills 2020 750ml $33 special, 21 bottles available
Eyrie Trifolium Dundee Hills 2020 Case of 12 bottles $349 special [29.08 per bottle]
Vinopolnote “A mixture of the three red grapes grown by Eyrie (Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier, and Trousseau) featuring red fruit flavors backed with earthy notes and leathery tannins: this limited edition wine feels like a Loire wine by way of Willamette. This is the best Oregon red blend we’ve tasted in some time

Eyrie Vineyard Pinot Meunier 2018 750ml $39 special, 12 bottles available
James Suckling 93 Points ” Aromas of wild raspberries and fresh strawberries with touches of dried roses and leaves. Medium-bodied with fine, silky tannins. Some savory character to the fresh fruit. Soft yet textured on the palate with bright acidity and a racy finish. Drink now.”
 
Eyrie Pinot Noir The Eyrie Vineyard 2018 750ml $79 special, 3 bottles available
Wine Advocate 98 Points “Pale ruby, the 2018 Pinot Noir The Eyrie is a stunning wine with 10-15 years of aging potential. It has detailed scents of raspberries, blackberries, star anise, tangerine oil and violets, and it continues to unfold aromatically as it spends time in the glass. Delicately intense, it glides through the mouth like velvet, with seemingly endless flavor and nuance, and a finish that goes on and on.”
 
“Bow and Arrow”
Bow & Arrow Rose 2022 750ml $19.50 special, 12 bottles available
Winemaker’s Note: “
This year’s rosé is a short maceration of Gamay from the organically farmed Hughes Hollow vineyard. Natural as can be! It’s a stainless steel fermented study on wet rocks and perhaps a border skirmish between watemelon Jolly Ranchers and Grapefruit Jarritos.  Unyeasted, unfiltered, unfined and unmanipulated. Only made in years that lend themselves to making quality rose.”

Bow & Arrow Chenin Blanc Union School Vineyard 2021 750ml $24 special, 12 bottles available
Winemakere’s Note: “
100% sourced from Union School Vineyard. I travelled to Matthew Rorick’s Heritage Vineyard a few years back and collected cuttings from his Chenin block after finding a grower willing to graft for me. The site is perfect for SB and Chenin – slightly warmer, good drainage, crotchety old German at the helm… I ripen till the fruit turns yellow and speckled like a bird’s egg and then direct press to large 500 liter casks for fermentation and aging. The elevage ranges from 12 to 18 months. The goal is to make a dry but extracted expression more akin to Savennière rather than say a Vouvray Sec.”
 
“Hamacher”
Hamacher “H” Pinot Noir Willamette Valley 2018 750ml $24 special, 24 bottles available
Winery Note: “
Bright, fruit-forward, and elegant, this is an incredible representation of Oregon Pinot Noir.”
 
 France

“Closerie Du Pelan”
Closerie du Pelan was established by Regis Moro in 1984 and is the unique expression of grapes harvested in the Pelan “lieu-dit,” to the north-east of Saint-Émilion village. They use no fertilisers, weedkiller, or any other synthetic products, creating an environment which fosters vigour and healthy root growth in the vineyards.

Closerie Du Pelan Blanc 2016 750ml $36 special, 12 bottles available
Winery Note 
“Comprising a miniscule portion of the estate’s total production, the Closerie du Pelan Blanc is 100% Sauvignon Blanc, vinified and aged in steel, with malolactic fermentation having occurred without inducement. This 2016 is ripe but bright, with notes of preserved lemon and a hint of salt—a supremely satisfying and unfussy white Bordeaux.”

Closerie du Pelan Rouge 2005 750ml $69 special, 12 bottles available
Winery Note “
The identity of Closerie du Pelan is shaped by the native yeasts present in our berries, gentle extraction without inputs and ageing in used barrels. The 2005 Rouge is youthful and primary, with broad, well-coated tannins, and a lurking sense of power that has yet to unfurl. Mostly Cabernet Sauvignon with a bit of Merlot and Petit Verdot.”
 
“Domaine De Nozay Sancerre”
Le Nozay is a small 17th-century castle located near the village of Sainte Gemme en Sancerrois to the north of Sancerre. In 1970 Baron Philippe de Benoist and his wife Marie-Hélène came to settle in what would become became Domaine du Nozay. Starting with one hectare of Sauvignon Blanc in 1971, they have extended their vineyards to over 15 hectares in the present day. They build fresh and structured Sancerres, which build to elegant heights of crisp acidity that are never brittle or one-note. 

Domaine De Nozay Sancerre 2021 750ml $36 special, 18 bottles available
Domaine De Nozay Sancerre La Maratre 2021 750ml $39 special, 12 bottles available
Domaine De Nozay Clos Du Nozay Sancerre 2021 750ml $69 special, 6 bottles available
 
“Domaine Moillard”
Classic producer centered in Nuit-Saint-George with holdings across the Cote de Nuits and Cote de Beaune, featuring Grand and Premier Cru vineyards throughout the Cote D’or.
 
Moillard Bourgogne Aligote 2021 750ml $19.50 special, 36+ bottles available
Moillard Chassagne-Montrachet 2020 750ml $69 special, 24 bottles available 
Moillard Meursault 2020 750ml $69 special, 24 bottles available
Moillard Pommard Les Grands Epenots 1er Cru 2019 750ml $79 special, 24 bottles available
Moillard Puligny-Montrachet 2020 750ml $69 special, 24 bottles available
 
“Clos Cibonne”
Planted exclusively with the rare Tibouren grape variety, Clos Cibonne has always blazed their own path in Provence. One of the finest rose producers in the world, their dedication to heritage, terroir, and organic viticulture led to their inclusion in the 1950’s Cotes De Provence Classifications, becoming one of just 18 Crus in the whole region.

Clos Cibonne Tibouren Provence Rose Tradition 2021 750ml $39 special, 12 available
 
Italy
 
“Cogno: Elvio has entered the Building”
Elvio Cogno Barbera D’alba Bricco Dei Merli 2020 750ml $33 special, 36 bottles available
Wine Enthusiast 92 Points “Starting with its bright ruby color to its long-lasting finish, this is a classic Barbera. Aromas of bright tart cherries and wild raspberries mixed with fresh herbs and forest floor. The palate is electric with vibrant acidity, amazing texture and wild fresh plums mixed with deep earthy notes.”
 
Elvio Cogno Barolo Ravera 2018 750ml $94.50 special, 18 bottles available
Wine Advocate 94 Points “The Elvio Cogno 2018 Barolo Ravera is becoming one of the most important wines in Novello, and it performs very nicely in this more challenging vintage. In fact, 2018 helps to cement Ravera’s steadfast reputation precisely because it performs so well despite spells of humidity and heat. The wine shows small-berry detailing with rust and crushed stone at the back. There is a point of bitterness that accompanies the tannins of this full-bodied wine.”
 
Elvio Cogno Barolo Ravera Bricco Pernice 2017 750ml $135 special, 18 bottles available
Wine Advocate 95 Points “This is a medium-bodied Nebbiolo from a hot vintage with a ruby-tinged appearance. The 2017 Barolo Ravera Bricco Pernice shows generous inner fiber and richness with dried cherry, blackberry, plum and dark spice. Fruit for this wine comes from a beautiful amphitheater of vines with the perched town of Novello high up on the skyline. I love the especially smooth and soft quality to what is a powerful and lasting wine.”
 
Elvio Cogno Barolo Cascina Nuova 2018 750ml $59 special, 36 bottles available
Wine Enthusiast 94 Points “Floral aromas of rose and iris mingle with red berry and tilled earth on this perfumed red. Elegantly structured, the vibrant palate offers juicy red cherry, crushed raspberry and star anise before a savory, almost salty finish. Taut, refined tannins and bright acidity keep it balanced. Drink through 2030.”
 
“Azienda Agricole Inama”
Inama Soave Classico Vigneti Di Foscarino 2020 $28 Special, 18 bottles available
James Suckling 95 Points “Very ripe, yet discreet and so mineral and punchy, almost like smelling a wet rock. Bone-dry and crisp, yet elegant and textured. Really attractive and subtle with a linear, mineral finish. Delicious now, but will hold, too.”
 
“Fun with Nuns”
Monastero Cistercensi Coenobium Lazio Bianco 2021 $33 special, 12 available
Importer’s Note 
“Trebbiano, Verdicchio, and Malvasia Produced by the nuns at Monastero Trappiste. The grapes are Co-harvested and Co-fermented, translating the power of the volcanic soils. Striking minerality somberly interplay with smoke, iron and green apple while fennel front and honey finish on the palate.”
 
Spain

“Biodynamic, old vine Albarino from a true artisan”
Alberto Nanclares Dandelion Albarino Baixas 2021 750ml $29 special, 11 bottles available
Importer’s Note “
This Albariño is loaded with cooling and juicy citrus notes and a pop of corase sea salt. This bottle packs plenty of thirst-quenching zest, to pair with salty snacks, fried seafood, or peppery meals.”
 
“Bodegas Valdespino”
Valdespino Manzanilla Deliciosa 750ml $17 special, 12 bottles available
Decanter 94 Points “About five to six years old, from La Guita bodega. Bright astringency and vivid intensity, with a long, refreshing finish. Not subtle, or washed out; and in this case, I preferred this to the en rama version.”

Valdespino Inocente Fino 750ml $19.50 special, 8 bottles available
Valdespino Inocente Fino 375ml $11.90 special, 12 bottles available
Wine & Spirits 95 Points “Best Buy. Inocente is Valdespino’s flagship, a wine from the Macharnudo Alto vineyard, where the soil is pure white albariza. It ferments in 600-liter wooden casks without added yeasts, a practice that has become increasingly rare in Jerez. The intensity of the wine’s salinity is remarkable – iodine and salt – coming together with ripe white fruit, scents of nuts and exotic spices. The structure is dry and austere, like drinking the juice of stones. This will last for a decade in the cellar, but it’s impossible to hold onto a bottle if there’s raw seafood nearby.”

Valdespino Amontillado Tio Diego 750ml $21.90 special, 7 bottles available
Wine & Spirits 93 Points “Extremely dry, this austere Amontillado comes from the white chalky albariza soils of the famed Macharnudo vineyard. It aged under flor for about eight years, and then spent eight more years aging oxidatively before being bottled. At first, it shows only the classic flavors of iodine and salt, with enchanting sea breeze notes. You have to wait for the fruit flavors to emerge, notes of roasted white fruit and nuts emerging in the midst of its cool flavors.”
 
 

Biondi Santi

Newest Release Arriving Early June

A brief story: in 1870, a Tuscan farmer named Ferruccio Biondi-Santi discovered a particularly dark, thick-skinned variety of sangiovese among his vines (dubbed Brunello or “brown one”) which produced very tannic and complex wines. He began aging these Brunello wines in wood, unusual for Tuscan wines at the time, and setting them aside after bottling. 150 years later, Brunello di Montalcino is one of the most heralded regions in the world with over 200 producers, but this wine is the original Brunello.

Biondi Santi Rosso Di Montalcino 2019 750ml $109 special, 12 bottles arriving
James Suckling 94 Points “Aromas of sliced citrus, cherry and flowers follow through to a medium body, with creamy tannins and crunchy fruit at the finish. Lovely combination of fruit and acidity. Very drinkable now but will age nicely. (10/5/22)”
Vinous 92 Points “The 2019 Rosso di Montalcino keeps me coming back to the glass to take in its dusty mix of dried strawberries and currants offset by lifting nuances of shaved pine and mint. Soft and round in expression, the 2019 impresses on its lush textures and vivid wild berry fruit. Through it all, a core of saline tension builds, mingling minerals with gentle tannins, as the 2019 finishes with a staining of concentration, yet maintains a lovely freshness. Drink: 2023-2028. (Oct 2022)”
 
Biondi Santi Il Greppo Brunello 2017 750ml $249 special, 12 bottles arriving
James Suckling 96 Points “Sweet berry orange peel cedar bark and forest flower aromas follow through to a medium to full body with linear and fine tannins and a crunchy undertone. It’s very subtle and fresh for a 2017. Crisp and vivid. It?s refined and acid-driven. Needs three to four years more to soften. Try after 2026.”
Jeb Dunnuck 96 Points “The 2017 Brunello Di Montalcino is surprising in its freshness considering the warmth of the vintage and speaks to the cooler northern-facing exposition of the estate. It is refined with ripe red cherry raspberry anise and incense and is fresh with cherry fruit warming spices macchia and herbes de Provence. It is ripe though it maintains a medium frame with well-managed tannins and balanced acidity. It is a lovely and charming wine and is rather approachable now. Drink 2024-2040.”
Wine Independent 96 Points “The 2017 Biondi Santi Brunello has a lightly fragrant oak nose with notes of cream and vanilla and cherry. The weight is beautifully ethereal with a little of that weightless quality that you find in very fine wines. The tannins have a slight grippy dryness but it is not excessive and there is a green sharpness to the cherry flavors that linger on the palate. It has lots of finesse and flow and a fine texture. For this wine the new team from EPI were involved a little with the vineyard but 2018 will be the first vintage they made completely from start to finish. Biondi Santi have not yet released their 2018 Brunello so when it is released it will more accurately reflect their ideas and style but with this 2017 they have already delivered a beauty.”
 
Biondi Santi Il Greppo Brunello Riserva 2016 750ml $749 special, 6 bottles arriving
James Suckling 98 Points “Aromas of strawberries flowers fresh mushroom forest flower sandalwood and hints of balsamic. Full-bodied and tight on the finish. This is a linear and fine-tannined red. Available in March 2023. Needs another five years or so to show its full potential. New classic. Better after 2026.”
Jeb Dunnuck 98 Points “The 2016 Brunello Di Montalcino Riserva is layered and unfolds in the glass with incense baking spice ripe red cherry and cedar. It has more concentration and length through the mid-palate and offers an impeccable balance of structure ripeness and tension. It is expressive on the nose but it is even more impactful at this stage with its intensity through the palate with nearly electric energy of wild raspberry rose petal tea leaf and orange zest. Allow for cellaring another 3-4 years. Drink 2026-2046.”
Wine Spectator 98 Points “A harmonious balanced red this sets the stage perfectly for the cherry strawberry floral iron and tobacco flavors. Fresh and detailed with a linear profile and refined structure driving the seemingly endless finish. Superb. Best from 2026 through 2050.”
 
But wait… there’s more Biondi Santi to peruse that’s available RIGHT NOW!
 
Vintage Wine Points Price/Quantity
2018 Biondi Santi Rosso Montalcino 750ml  Wine Advocate 94 Points $99 special, 36+ bottles available
2012 Biondi Santi Il Greppo Brunello 750ml Wine Enthusiast 96 Points $169 special, 12 bottles available
2016 Biondi Santi Il Greppo Brunello 750ml  Wine Enthusiast 98 Points $235 special, 8 bottles available
2007 Biondi Santi Il Greppo Brunello 750ml  James Suckling 95 Points  $249 special, 1 bottle available
2011  Biondi Santi Il Greppo Brunello Riserva 750ml  Wine Enthusiast 96 Points  $459 special, 14 bottle available
2012 Biondi Santi Il Greppo Brunello Riserva 750ml 
Wine Advocate 97 Points 
$599 special, 1 bottle available
2013 Biondi Santi Il Greppo Brunello Riserva 750ml  Wine Advocate 98 Points  $649 special, 1 bottle available
1983 Biondi Santi Il Greppo Brunello Riserva 750ml Wine Advocate 96 Points  $1,199 special, 1 bottle available
New Arrival Staff Pick
 

 
Renardat Fache Cerdon Du Bugey 2020 750ml $24 special, 24 bottles available
“This is a lovely and festive sparkling wine made in the ancestral method. Great for brunches and lunches, this wine is low in alcohol with some residual sugar, but also toastiness from the bottle conditioning, so it is fruity, but never cloying. This wine is also a fantastic substitute for a mimosa.”
-Tracy
Featured Winery

The Wines of Isole E Olena
 
The name ‘Isole e Olena’ came about in the 1950s when the De Marchi family purchased and combined two adjoining estates, ‘Isole’ and ‘Olena’, each of which dated back hundreds of years. The estate is located in the heart of the Chianti Classico region at the midway point between Siena and Florence. His innovative approach to winemaking and dedication to traditional practices has earned Isole e Olena a place among the top producers in Chianti Classico.

Among their most renowned wines is their “Cepparello,” is a single-vineyard wine that embodies the power and finesse of Tuscan Sangiovese. They also produce several wines featuring Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, and Chardonnay of a quality that gives France a run for its money.

Isole E Olena Cepparello 2018 750ml $89 special, 6 bottles available
Three Glasses, Gambero Rosso: “The current range continues to perform at the heights of excellence, wines with a strong personality, capable of expressing their territory of origin, regardless of the grape. Aromatically, the Sangiovese Cepparello ’18 centers on vibrant notes of ripe fruit adorned by spices. In the mouth it’s well balanced, unveiling a supple and drinkable palate with a silky touch, very fine it its tannic texture. (2022)”
Wine Advocate 96 Points “A pure expression of Sangiovese, the 2018 Cepparello is a beautiful expression that speaks to the classic and most exemplary side of this versatile and deeply expressive grape. This vintage is especially bright and ethereal with a true sense of luminosity and clarity that radiates from both the wine’s appearance and its fragrant bouquet. Tart cherry and cassis segue to balsam herb and wild violets. To the palate, the wine shows muscle and determination with sweet tannins and impressive depth of favor. Cepparello remains true to its unique identity in this vintage.”
James Suckling 95 points “The aromas of dark fruit and hazelnuts are so enticing, with undertones of licorice and slate. Medium to full body with round tannins and a savory finish. It’s so pretty to taste now. Just a hint of allspice at the end. Drinkable now, but better in 2023. (8/4/21)”
Vinous 94+ points “The 2018 Cepparello is a brilliant, tightly wound wine that is going to need a number of years to unwind. Today I very much like its energy and vibrancy. Readers will find a Cepparello that is more about persistence than volume. Dark red/purplish berry fruit, spice, lavender and menthol are laced into the silky finish.”
 
Vintage Wine Points Price/Quantity
2017 Isole E Olena Chianti Classico 1.5L Decanter 93 Points $49 special, 14 bottles available
2015 Isole E Olena Chianti Classico Gran Selezione 750ml  Vinous 96+ Points $249 special, 6 bottles available
2014 Isole E Olena Cabernet Sauvignon 750ml Vinous 96 Points $63.50 special, 3 bottles available
2015  Isole E Olena Cabernet Sauvignon 750ml Wine Advocate 95+ Points $66 special, 27 bottles available
2018 Isole E Olena Cabernet Sauvignon 750ml James Suckling 97 Points $99 special, 17 bottles available
2015 Isole E Olena Cepparello 1.5L James Suckling 96 Points $149 special, 4 bottles available
2017 Isole E Olena Cepparello 1.5L Vinous 97 Points $169 special, 22 bottles available
2017 Isole E Olena Cepparello 3L Vinous 97 Points $379 special, 3 bottles available
2019  Isole E Olena Cepparello 750ml Vinous 96 Points $99 special, 13 bottles available
2019 Isole E Olena Cepparello 1.5L Vinous 96 Points $219 special, 4 bottles available
2019 Isole E Olena Syrah 750ml Vinous 95 Points $75 special, 21 bottles available
2010  Isole E Olena Vin Santo 375ml   $59 special, 10 bottles available
3 Day Sale
Rosés for Mother

Buy any 6-11 bottles of Rosé for a 5% discount
Buy 12+ bottles of Rosé for a 10% discount


Sales ends Monday 10am
Each 1.5L (Magnum) bottle will be counted as 2 bottles when applied to the discount.
Each 3.0L bottle will be the equivalent of 4 bottles.
6.0L bottles will be counted as 8 bottles.

This is first come / first served and limited to stock on hand.
Discount does not apply to pre-arrival wines or case discounts.
Discount will not display online, we will adjust your invoice before charging your card.


Brick House Intentional Rose Of Pinot Noir 2022 750ml $29 special, 36 bottles available
Paul Gregutt 92 Points This is only the third intentional (non saignée) rosé ever made at Brick House I am told. It comes from young vines that were replanted after phylloxera began taking out the older Pinot. This was sourced from a five year old Pommard block. Don’t let the light color fool you, this is a big, flavorful, fruit-powered rosé, rich with sweet bubblegum, peach, papaya and tropical fruit flavors.
 
Chateau Margilliere Bastide Provence Rose 2021 750ml $14.50 special, 36+ bottles available
Winery Note “A robe of very pale and attractive pink. Expressive of a wild strawberry, the nose reveals a hint of grapefruit. A large and delicate mouth for the pleasure of the buds, with aromas of raspberry and jasmine.” Certified organic.
 
Domaines Ott By Ott Cotes Provence Rose 2021 750ml $24 special, 36+ bottles available
Wine Advocate 91 Points “Call it a down year if you must, but the 2021 Cotes de Provence Rose Chateau de Selle remains one of the region’s top wines. Scents of tangerine, peach, crushed stone and lime zest mark the nose, while the medium-bodied palate is plump and juicy, finishing long and layered. The assemblage this year is 55% Grenache, 30% Cinsault, 10% Mourvèdre and 5% Syrah.”
 
Gobelsburg Cistercien Rose Kamptal 2021 750ml $18 special, 35 bottles available
Winery Note “Rosé on the estate is not seen as a secondary product to red wine. So we are not doing ‘saignée’ in order to concentrate the reds, but we are working our vineyards in order to get the perfect Gobelsburg Rosé–style, which is somehow closer to a white wine than towards a red wine style. We are seeking a nice and elegant aroma, fresh and lean texture and a acidity for pure drinking pleasure.”
 
Le Galantin Bandol Rose 2022 750ml $21.90 special, 36+ bottles
Vinopolnote “Le Galantin is one of our favorite arrivals every year. Made in a fresh style emphasizing stone fruit, citrus, and saline minerality, this wine feels like a long-awaited spring vacation to the coast.”
 
Peyrassol Le Clos Peyrassol Rose 2021 750ml $69 special, 34 bottles available
Vinous 94 Points “Vivid onion skin color. A highly perfumed and complex bouquet evokes fresh citrus and pit fruits, strawberry and pungent flowers, along with building mineral and succulent herb elements. Shows excellent clarity and depth to its juicy red fruit, nectarine and mango flavors, which are sweetened by a background of vanilla note. Finishes impressively long and silky, with the mineral and floral note resonating. “
 
May Sale- All Rhone Wines

Buy 6-11 bottles for a 5% discount
Buy 12+ bottles for a 10% discount

Ends May 31st at 6pm… the best selection is NOW!
Each 1.5L (Magnum) bottle will be counted as 2 bottles when applied to the discount.
Each 3.0L bottle will be the equivalent of 4 bottles.
6.0L bottles will be counted as 8 bottles.

This is first come / first served and limited to stock on hand.
Discount does not apply to pre-arrival wines or case discounts.
Discount will not display online, we will adjust your invoice before charging your card.




Saint Damien Gigondas Souteyrades VV 2019 750ml $34.50 special, 36+ bottles available
Jeb Dunnuck 96 Points “Lastly, the 2019 Gigondas Les Souteyrades is more classic, with pure dark, peppery fruits as well as garrigue, cedar, and leather notes. Medium to full-bodied, concentrated, and perfectly balanced, it has impressive tannins and will benefit from short-term bottle age. As with the other Gigondas here, you should expect 10-15 years of prime drinking. This cuvée is 80% Grenache and 20% Mourvèdre, aged all in foudre.”

Domaine Du Tunnel Cornas 2018 750ml $69 special, 33 bottles available
Jeb Dunnuck 95-97 Points “Readers looking for the essence of Cornas would do well to pick up a case of the 2018 Cornas. Deep purple, with a heavenly bouquet of blueberries, raspberries, crushed violets, olives, ground pepper, and gamey meats, this beauty hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a balanced, classy texture, building yet polished tannins, and a great finish. It’s a winner.”

Rene Rostaing Condrieu La Bonnette 2020 750ml $89 special, 2 bottles available
Jeb Dunnuck 92 Points “Always beautiful, and a wine you don’t hear enough about, Rostaing’s 2020 Condrieu La Bonnette has vibrant notes of ripe peach, flowers, honeyed minerality, and even a kiss of green almond. More medium-bodied on the palate, it has the fresher, pure style of this estate, yet this is no mid-weight Condrieu either, and it has classic Viognier texture and length. It’s beautifully done.”

Henri Bonneau CDP Celestins 2012 750ml $419 special, 4 bottles available
Wine Spectator 97 Points “This defines old school, with savory detail and notes of roasted chestnut, fresh tobacco leaf, cedar and brick dust leading off, backed by a core of currant, cherry and plum fruit flavors that is lightly dried yet nonetheless fresh and racy in feel. Singed juniper and bay leaf hints score the finish. Likely to hold just like this for some time. Best from 2020 through 2040.”
 
Vintage Wine Points Price/Quantity
2021 Saint Damien Gigondas Rose 750ml   $28 special, 37 bottles available
2017 Clos Du Caillou CDP Tradition 750ml 91-92 Points Vinous $39 special, 36+ bottles available
2018 E. Darnaud Crozes Hermitage Au Fil Du Temps 750ml Wine Advocate 94 Points $49 special, 24 bottles
2017 Domaine Grand Veneur Chateauneuf Pape Origines 750ml Wine Enthusiast 95 Points $59 special, 30 bottles available
2019 Yann Chave Hermitage 750ml Vinous 94-96 Points $119 special, 7 bottles available
2018 Vieux Telegraphe CDP La Crau Rouge 1.5L
James Suckling 96 Points
$189 special, 13 bottles available
Collector’s Corner

Fonseca Vintage Port 1985 750ml $119 special, 8 bottles available
Wine Spectator 95 Points “A hard, take-no-prisoners Port, extremely powerful and still closed when last tasted. Deep inky color, with concentrated blackberry and raisin aromas, full-bodied, with massive raisin flavors, a superb backbone and a very long finish.”
 
Quinta Do Noval Vintage Port 2016 750ml $119 special, 33 bottles available
#42 Wine Of The Year – James Suckling Top 100 In 2018
James Suckling 98 Points “This is a superb baby Noval that reminds me of the 1966. Chewy yet so polished. The light sweetness suggests an overall dialing back of the sugar content. Stemmy and lightly green. A truly classic Noval. Almost all from Pinhao. Buy. Better in 2025.”
Vinous 97 Points “The 2016 Vintage Port was picked mainly from 19 September in ideal conditions. It is more broody than the 2017 at the moment and demands a little more encouragement from the glass. I have been prudent with my reviews in the past, but this 2016 seems to have considerably improved in the four years since I last encountered it. More earthy in style, it offers lovely dusky black fruit, sage, a touch of menthol and star anis, unfolding in the glass with each swirl. The palate is medium-bodied with a velvety entry. Superb tension here, the acidity cuts through the richness of this Port with effortless ease. Linear, poised and mineral-driven, Vintage Port gets little better than this. Tasted at the Quinta do Noval tasting at Spring restaurant in London.”
Wine Spectator 97 Points “This has terrific energy from the start, with a bramble note inlaid in the core of cherry and plum paste flavors. Sappy, sweet and fresh, with a plum cake-infused finish. Gains focus and polish as it stretches out in the glass.—Non-blind Quinta do Noval vertical (May 2018). Best from 2030 through 2055. 6,000 cases made.”
 
Taylor Fladgate Vintage Port 2017 1.5L $199 special, 6 bottles available
#28 – James Suckling’s Top 100 Wines Of The Year
James Suckling 99 Points “Complex aromas of tar, wet earth, dark berry and flowers follow through to a full body, medium sweet and amazing compacted concentration. Vertical and so deep. It goes on for minutes. Truly excellent. Better after 2027.”
Wine Advocate 99 Points “The 2017 Vintage Port is a field blend aged for approximately 20 months in wood. It comes in with 100 grams of residual sugar. Rich, concentrated and often sensational, this is well structured, even better in its fruit profile. While the fruit is terrific, it is also wonderfully fresh. This is arguably a great Taylor’s, but it still needs to prove its final case in the cellar. I don’t think that will be a problem. As I said when I first saw it, it effortlessly combines brilliant fruit and structure. It does everything right, and it is a formidable competitor to its Vinha Velha sibling in this report. And at half the price.”
Vinous 98 Points “The 2017 Taylor’s Vintage Port comes from their three quintas: Vargellas, de Terra Feita and do Junco, picking commencing at Vargellas on September 1, the earliest since 1945. Now this boasts a bold and more flamboyant bouquet vis-à-vis the Croft with layers of blackcurrant, blueberries, violet and allspice. Wonderful definition here and as it ratchets up through the gears with aeration manages to maintain impressive delineation. The palate is medium, rather full-bodied. The first impression is one of freshness, completely disguising that summer’s dryness and warmth, a disarming finesse built around the frame of tannins that would have been impossible years ago. It is a silky-smooth Taylor’s, one of the most polished 2017 Vintage Ports with energy and tension flooding through the finish. Aristocratic as ever, totally Taylor’s, yet still translating the growing season with aplomb. Total production is 11,500 cases.”

Kopke Colheita Tawny 1957 750ml $489 special, 3 bottles available
Iwsc 98 Points “Still showing elegance and incredible complexity when considering the age. Soft and mellow, loaded with ripe soft stone fruit. Harmonious yet still has austere delights to savour. Still has development to come.”
Wine Advocate 95 Points “The 1957 Colheita Tawny Port was seen before, but it’s worth revisiting in the USA, since it’s a great wine. This is also the new 2015 bottling. It has 127 grams per liter of residual sugar. It is stunning how youthful this is. Lush and rich on opening, it has mature flavors that emerge, easily demonstrating the complexity and concentrated aromatics one expects. Gripping on the finish, this delivers fruit flavor and seems to linger indefinitely. When I first saw this, it was tasted next to even more brilliant Colheitas and a bit overshadowed. On its own, it is even more stunning. It was pretty fine next to some other greats here as well.”

Kopke Colheita Tawny 1937 750ml $799 special, 1 bottle available
Wine Advocate 94 Points “The 1937 Colheita Tawny Port comes in with 156 grams per liter of residual sugar. This is surprisingly fresh and surprisingly elegant for its age. It demonstrates its age when it finishes with power, showing remarkable grip and length, plus all those old Tawny flavors you want, the molasses, baked caramel. There’s a touch of brandy lurking here and there. While this has far more power and complexity than the 1967 this issue, it does lack that wine’s elegance and balance. The hard edge here is pretty hard, even if that intensity is sometimes very admirable. (I suspect it will show better if you come back in three days after opening it. They do change a little after pulling that cork, just a little, after that first rush.) At times, though, that hard edge makes it less attractive. The texture is smooth and unctuous. Overall, this is a fine experience in a blockbuster style. In some ways, I liked it no more than the 1967, though, perhaps less. To be sure, they are very differently styled as this, of course, emphasizes its power and that extra bit of complexity. Don’t drink this too warm—that can make all the difference.”
 
Vintage Wine Points Price/Quantity
2016 Dow Vintage Port 750ml Wine Spectator 98 Points $99 special, 23 bottles available
2017 Dow Vintage Port 750ml Vinous 98 Points $99 special, 20 bottles available
2017 Graham Vintage Port 750ml Decanter 98 Points $99 special, 30 bottles available
NV Kopke 40 Year Tawny 375ml Wine Spectator 95 Points $119 special, 2 bottles available
1978 Kopke Colheita Tawny 750ml IWSC 97 Points $119 special, 13 bottles available
NV Kopke 30 Year Tawny 750ml
Wine Spectator 94 Points
$128 special, 2 bottles available
1967 Kopke Colheita Tawny 375ml Wine Advocate 95 Points $139 special, 1 bottle available
1967 Kopke Colheita Tawny 375ml   $139 special, 1 bottle available
1995  D’Olivieras Tinta Negra Madeira 750ml Wine Spectator 96 Points $219 special, 6 bottles
2017 Dow Vintage Port 1.5L Vinous 98 Points $219 special, 3 bottles available

 
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