In This Newsletter:ArrivalsCasanova Neri, Vega Sicilia, St Theodoric, and many more!Staff PickTorelli CavaFeatured Winery
Chateau Rouanne
3 Day Sale
Weingut Selbach-Oster
May Sale- Rhone WinesLAST CHANCE!
June Sale- Spanish WinesMuga and moreCollector’s CornerBrunello: Your patience will be rewarded
 Arrivals May 26th
Italy
“Casanova Di Neri”
Casanova Di Neri Brunello Giovanni Neri 2018 750ml $269 special, 9 bottles availableWine Advocate 96 Points “Here’s an exciting and important new addition to the Casanova di Neri portfolio. The 2018 Brunello di Montalcino Giovanni Neri is shapely and enriched in an extremely pleasing manner. The Neri family has perfected its approach to concentration and fruit weight over the many years they have been making excellent wines. This wine gives the appearance of being full-bodied, but ultimately, it reveals a very elegant side. Ripe cherry and blackberry cede to oak spice, toast and crushed white stone. The tannins are softly pliable and sweet. Compared to the estate’s other wines, Tenuta Nuova and Cerretalto, Giovanni Neri is finer and more delicate, even fragile in personality. Some 5,400 bottles were made in this inaugural release.”
Lowest Price in the USA
Casanova Di Neri Brunello Di Montalcino 2018 750ml $61.90 special, 24 bottles availableWine Advocate 93 Points “With a special commemorative label that celebrates its 40th birthday (1978–2018), the Casanova di Neri 2018 Brunello di Montalcino is lush and carefully concentrated to offer intensity and textural richness. The bright fruit remains intact in this wine, with plenty of cherry and blackberry, in an encouraging nod to the future cellar potential of this bottle. Many Brunellos from this vintage reveal faded or dried fruit, but thankfully not this wine. Casanova Neri Brunello Tenuta Nuova 2018 750ml $119 special, 12 bottles availableJeb Dunnuck 96+ Points “There is more depth to the 2018 Brunello Di Montalcino Tenuta Nuova, with light smoky earth, black cherry, licorice, and black pepper. It is polished with fresh crunchy fruit yet retains a good amount of concentration, with notes of black raspberry, turned fresh soil, and graphite. Mouthwatering, with salinity, fresh acidity, and great length, it has fine tannins and warming spice on the finish. Drink 2024-2044.” James Suckling 96 Points “Elegant and perfumed nose of dried roses, violets, lemon zest, slate, cherries, aniseed and truffles. Very fine, tight and precise tannins. Medium to full body. I like the floral and saline undertones. So precise and fresh with a tight finish. Crushed stones at the end. Try in 2025, but already attractive to taste and drink.”
“Torre Beati”
Vinopolnote “Maraschino, strawberry, and tangerine. This 100% Montepulciano wine is a fresh and lively rosato that is perfect for seafood of all types- including sushi. Whole cluster pressed, vinified in 100% stainless steel.”
France
“St. Theodoric”
St Theodoric Chateauneuf Du Pape Le Grand Pin 2020 750ml $89 special, 12 bottles availableWine Advocate 98 Points “The 2020 Chateauneuf du Pape Le Grand Pin is about as aromatic and perfumed as CdP gets, with scents of lavender, rosemary, pine sap, bay leaves, cherries, raspberries and orange zest making for a swirling bouquet of complex deliciousness. Full-bodied and silky-textured, it finishes long and elegant. Just sensational stuff.” Jeb Dunnuck 95 Points “All Grenache coming from sandy soils in the northern part of the Pignan lieu-dit, the 2020 Châteauneuf Du Pape Le Grand Pin was not destemmed and is still resting in older demi-muids. It has a classic, exotic perfume of ripe strawberries and cherry-like fruit as well as rose petal, baking spices, sappy garrigue, and exotic flowers. Medium to full-bodied on the palate, this spicy, complex, nuanced 2020 has ripe tannins, a layered, balanced mouthfeel, and a great finish.”
St Theodoric Chateauneuf Du Pape Guigasse 2020 750ml $89 special, 12 bottles availableWine Advocate 97 Points “From the lieu-dit of the same name, the 2017 Chateauneuf du Pape La Guigasse is all undestemmed Grenache matured in demi-muids, possibly as long as 30-36 months, according to Baptiste Grangeon, who looks after the wines for American importer Peter Weygandt. Less perfumed than it is some years, it still positively bursts with raspberries and cherries, hints of cola and peppery spice. It’s full-bodied, rich and silky-textured, with a long, plush yet vibrant finish that hints at mint and garrigue. Tasted twice (once blind), with consistent notes.” Jeb Dunnuck 95 Points “The 2017 Châteauneuf Du Pape La Guigasse comes from a single lieu-dit in the heart of the appellation and is 100% Grenache that was not destemmed and brought up in old barrels. It’s a Provençal as they come offering a killer perfume of spiced red and black fruits, white pepper, garrigue, and herbes de Provence to go with a medium to full-bodied seamless style on the palate. It benefits from air, is perfectly balanced, and is a complex, layered, incredibly satisfying 2017 Châteauneuf du Pape that can be cellared today or cellared for 15 years or more.”
“Domaine Tempier”
One of the most coveted and storied producers in all of France is soon to reach our shelves! If you haven’t experienced Domain Tempier before then this is your chance round out a benchmark piece of your wine education, and if you have experienced it…..it’s time to stock up!
Domain Tempier Bandol Blanc 2021 750ml $49 special, 18 bottles availableWine Advocate 92-94 points “Primarily Clairette (60%) and Ugni Blanc (30%), with bits of Bourboulenc, Marsanne and Rolle, the 2021 Bandol Blanc was still in tank when I visited early last year. It presents a striking juxtaposition of ripe pears and honeyed richness with brighter notes of fresh lime juice on the nose and medium-bodied palate, finishing with a sense of plush richness balanced by mouthwatering citrus zest and brine.” Domain Tempier Bandol Rouge 2020 750ml $56 special, 36+ bottles availableWine Advocate 91-93 points “Tasted from foudre, the 2020 Bandol Cuvee Classique had been blended the week before my visit. Already showing classic notes of tree bark and truffle layered against cherries and raspberries and a touch of olive, it looks relatively precocious. In the mouth, it’s medium to full-bodied, concentrated and rich, with a long, plush finish.” Domain Tempier Bandol La Migoua 2020 750ml $81.80 special, 32 bottles availableWine Advocate 92-94 points “The 2020 Bandol la Migoua—tasted from foudre—is a bit tarry and rubbery (expected, to some degree, in young Mourvèdre-based wines) but opens up to reveal seductive, ripe notes of blackberries and mulberries. A blend of approximately 55% Mourvèdre, 25% Cinsault, 15% Grenache and 5% Syrah, it’s medium to full-bodied on the palate, concentrated but silky in feel and elegant on the long finish.” Domain Tempier Bandol La Tourtine 2020 750ml $89 special, 36+ bottles available
Wine Advocate 94-96 points “Mainly Mourvèdre (85%), with Cinsault and Grenache, the 2020 Bandol la Tourtine was still in foudre at the time of my visit last year. Scents of cola, smoke and red berries provide ample complexity on the nose, while the medium to full-bodied palate is concentrated and almost creamy in texture while remaining fresh and dynamic on the lengthy finish.”
“Domaine Serol Eclat”
Tucked into the foothills of the Côte Roannaise, this iconoclastic Loire specializes in red wines made from Gamay St Roman, a clone of Beaujolais’ Gamay Noir, a rather delicious alteration of Gamay Noir. The Gamay St Roman grape from Domaine Serol has tones that combine Burgundy’s Pinot Noir and North Rhone’s Syrah, along with the parent, Gamay Noir. These wines are unique and delicious.
“Domaine Denizot”
Domaine Denizot Sancerre Blanc 2021 750ml $24 special, 18 bottles availableImporter’s Notes: “A blend of Lieu Dits such as les Bouffants, Cote de l’Epée and Monts Damnés. Pneumatic pressing and gravity fed into concrete vats for fermentation over indigenous yeasts. Aged in concrete on fine lees. Domaine Denizot Sancerre Pinot Noir 2021 750ml $28 special, 6 bottles availableImporter’s Note: From old vine Kimmeridgean grapes, Denizot Sancerre Rouge is elegant and juicy with pleasant notes of fresh red fruits (strawberries, cherry stones). Finesse and depth combine perfectly, bringing balance and voluptuousness to this Pinot Noir. Racked and fined, but bottled unfiltered.
“Domaine Desvignes Beaujolais”
Desvignes Morgon Chateau Gaillard 2021 750ml $33 special, 36 bottles availableWine Advocate 90 Points “Aromas of cherries, smoky berries and plums preface the 2021 Morgon Château Gaillard, a medium to full-bodied, ample and enveloping wine with a sweet core of fruit, lively acids and an open, giving profile. Cropped at a yield of 17 hectoliters per hectare as a result of frost, it was entirely destemmed this year.” Desvignes Morgon Javernieres 2021 750ml $39 special, 32 bottles availableWine Advocate 94 Points “There’s no Impenitents bottling this year, so everything went into the 2021 Morgon Côte du Py Javernières, a brilliant effort in this challenging vintage. Unfurling in the glass with aromas of cherries, ripe plums, wild berries, vine smoke and petals, it’s medium to full-bodied, ample and fleshy, with terrific mid-palate volume, ripe tannins, tangy acids and a long, penetrating finish.” Desvignes Morgon Montpelain 2021 750ml $33 special, 32 bottles availableWine Advocate 91 Points “The 2021 Morgon Montpelain opens in the glass with a delicately spicy bouquet of red berries, plums and vine smoke, followed by a medium to full-bodied, ample and fleshy palate framed by fine, powdery tannins that assert themselves with gentle grip on the finish. This is always one of the more classically structured wines in the range, and that’s true even in this open, giving vintage.”
Spain
“Vega Sicilia”
The most famous of all Spanish wineries, Vega Sicilia has been producing iconoclastic wines since 1864 that have both expanded and reinforced the idea of what a Spanish wine can be. Often compared to the very finest Premier Cru wines of Bordeaux, Vega Sicilia utilizes particularly low yield harvests and extended again, only releasing their wines when they meet their stringent standards.Vega Sicilia Pintia Toro 2018 750ml $79 special, 12 bottles availableWine Advocate 95 Points “The nose is very expressive, with bright cherry fruit, and the wine is fresher than the norm in the region, with integrated alcohol and oak, reflecting a very cool year, floral and perfumed. The palate is medium-bodied and reveals very fine and elegant tannins. This has to be one of the finest vintages of Pintia.” Vega Sicila-Benjamin Rothschild Macan Rioja 2018 750ml $99 special, 12 bottles availableWine Advocate 94+ Points “The 2018 Macán has moderate alcohol (14%) and more freshness (pH 3.69), reflecting a cooler and rainier year that forced them to fine-tune the sorting and selection of the grapes, which fermented with selected yeasts. The élevage was in barrel (55%) and larger foudres for 16 months. 2018 was quite different from 2019, as it was cooler and rainier. The wine is serious and harmonious, which was a challenge, and winemaker Gonzalo Iturriaga told me that they had to be very careful and sort and select the grapes. It’s textured and elegant, a style that follows the path of the 2016; it’s elegant but with depth, managing the élevage in foudre better, which was a learning process they started in 2016. 74,570 bottles, 2557 magnums and some larger formats produced. It was bottled in September 2020.” Vega Sicila-Rothschild Macan Rioja Clasico 2019 750ml $59 special, 24 bottles availableWine Advocate 93+ Points “The second wine in the Bordeaux sense is the 2019 Macán Clásico, a more concentrated and powerful wine cropped from a warmer and drier year that was saved by the 80 liters of rain in the first half of September. It fermented in stainless steel with 10% of their own yeasts, and the élevage was 22% in stainless steel and the rest in new and used oak barrels, mostly French but with around 5% of them American, and lasted 12 months. It has a moderate 14% alcohol, mellow acidity and good freshness and balance. 2019 was a dry and warm year when they did a soft vinification to avoid harsh tannins. The nose is ripe without excess, and the oak is neatly integrated. The palate is juicy and round, with fine tannins and a velvety texture.”
“Bodega Diaz”
Bodega Diaz Bayo Roble Del Duero 2020 750ml $16 special, 36 bottles available
Bodega Diaz Bayo Roble Ribera Del Duero Case of 12 750ml bottles $168 special, that’s a 2 dollar discount per bottleWinemaker’s Note Tempranillo from a 30-year-old clay and limestone parcel at 840 meters elevation. Aged for six months in used French oak and six months in bottle prior to release, bright red fruit is backed by ample palate richness, finishing mineral and long. Reminiscent of the wines that originally impulsed the Ribera del Duero phenomenon!
California
Marietta Cellars Christo Rhone Blend 2019 750ml $21.90 special, 36 bottles availableWine Advocate 96 Points “A blend of Syrah, Grenache, Petite Sirah and Viognier, the 2019 Christo has a deep ruby-purple color and alluring scents of blueberry jam and cassis with accents of loamy earth, violet, coffee beans and iron. The full-bodied palate is powerful yet silky, with seamless acidity and gobs of pure violet perfume on the long, layered finish. It’s easy to drink now but offers a decade or more of cellaring potential.
Staff PickPenedes
Agusti Torello Mata Cava Brut Reserva 2018 750ml $21.90 special, 10 bottles available“This is such a great little sparkler. Small batch, handcrafted, and made in the champagne method from organic, old vine Parellada, Macabeu, and Xarel-lo. These folks only release vintage cavas, which is quite rare for the region. Each release from them is a study of the time and place these wines evolved. They are a master class on cava, lightyears ahead of much of the competition.” -Tracy
Featured Winery
Chateau Rouanne
 Although the vines in this old Vinsobres estate were planted in the 1960’s, the viticultural history of the site dates back to Gallo-Roman times built upon limestone marl soils originating in the Pliocene era. Spread between 72 hectares it is also the site of three lieu dits: “Guerin,” “Les Cotes,” and “Les Crottes.” Louis Barruol, the 14th generation owner of the the winery Saint Cosme, was a long-time admirer of the finesse and elegance of Chateau de Rouanne’s wines, purchasing it in 2019 and has been crafting wines of undeniable power and terroir since.
Vinsobres has been underrated wine region for decades, but with people like Barruol investing their money and know-how, it is finally beginning to get its due. Look for beauty and elegance in the “Guerin,” bold power in “Les Cotes,” and richness and intensity in the “Les Crottes.” Chateau de Rouanne Vinsobres 2019 750ml $24 special, 36+ bottles available
Jeb Dunnuck 90 points “Looking at the reds, the 2019 Vinsobres is unquestionably outstanding and has lots of Syrah character in its dark, meaty fruits, peppery herb, violet, and chalky mineral-like aromas and flavors. Medium-bodied, nicely textured, and balanced, it has plenty of structure and will keep for 8-10 years.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Chateau de Rouanne Vinsobres “Les Cotes” 2019 750ml $59 special, 20 bottles available
Wine Spectator 93 points “Winey and muscular, with cassis and bitter plum reduction notes leading the way, while baker’s chocolate, tobacco and warm humus fill in behind. Grippy and dark on the finish, with an old-school edge lingering. Syrah, Mourvèdre and Grenache. Best from 2023 through 2030. 350 cases made, 200 cases imported.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Chateau de Rouanne Vinsobres “Les Crottes” 2019 750ml $59 special, 27 bottles available
Wine Spectator 93 points “Rich and well-built, this offers up a serious dark core of black currant and plum reduction flavors supported by graphite, humus and cast iron notes, with sweet bay leaf, violet and tobacco notes filling in the background. A wine with a smoldering intensity. Grenache and Syrah. Best from 2023 through 2032. 350 cases made, 200 cases imported.” Jeb Dunnuck 91+ points “Lastly, the 2019 Rouanne Et Les Crottes is the same 70% Grenache and 30% Syrah, not destemmed, and brought up in demi-muids. It’s more straight, structured, and tannic, with lots of black fruits and chalky minerality. Fresh, focused, medium to full-bodied, and balanced, it needs 2-3 years of bottle age and will have 10-15 years of overall longevity.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Chateau de Rouanne Vinsobres “Guerin” 2019 750ml $69 special, 27 bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 92 points “The Grenache-dominated single vineyard 2019 Vinsobres Lieu-Dit Guerin is brilliant as well. Concentrated, medium to full-bodied, and opulent, it has lots of red and black fruits, plenty of peppery herbs and meaty nuances, terrific balance, and outstanding length. It’s another gorgeous wine from this talented winemaker, and this is an estate to watch.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
These wines are included in our Rhone wine sale ending on May 31st
3 Day Sale
Selbach Rieslings
Buy 6-11 bottles for a 5% discount
Buy 12+ bottles for a 10% discount
Ends May 30th at 10am
This is first come / first served and limited to stock on hand.
Discount will not display online, we will adjust your invoice before charging your card.
So what is the Selbach’s secret? If you’ve tried any of the Selbach family’s wines you know they’re among the most distinguished and consistently excellent wineries in Mosel.
The family has deep roots having made wine from their dramatic, beautifully sloped vineyards for over 400 years. Today, Johannes Selbach and his wife Barbara, with the help of son Sebastian, manage their vineyards and winery with passion and respect for the estate’s long held traditions. Johannes has continued the use of 1000 liter oak fuder in his cellar, bringing in new large casks every few years. Vinification is carried out in a combination of fuder and stainless steel, in a hands-off manner with no fining, and with wild yeasts. The focus is on meticulous work in the vineyard (organic and sustainable farming) with the aim to produce and bring home perfect fruit.
Because their approach in winemaking is minimal, Johannes and Sebastian will allow wines to ferment naturally, as slow or as complete as manifest, resulting in more dry wines in some vintages and more fruity wines in others.
Selbach-Oster Bern Badstube Riesling Auslese* 2019 $45 special, 21 bottles availableWine Advocate 96 Points “The 2019 Bernkastler Badstube Riesling Auslese * is deep and concentrated on the still reductive, flinty and stony nose. Piquant, racy, dense and rich on the palate, this is a laser-sharp, salty-piquant and crunchy Auslese with concentrated lemon chutney notes and lingering salinity and grip. It is stunningly precise and like an ice wine because everything is concentrated due to the perfectly clear and clean botrytis. Tasted at the domain in September 2020.” Mosel Fine Wines 95 Points “The 2019er Bernkasteler Badstube Riesling Auslese * comes from a parcel of old un-grafted vines in the Bernkasteler Graben situated next to the Bernkasteler Doktor and was fermented down to noble-sweet levels of residual sugar (117 g/l). It offers a superbly attractive and complex nose of grapefruit, yellow peach, honeyed pear, spices, flowers, and mint. The wine coats the palate with ample juicy and yellow honeyed fruits, almond cream, and a touch of nut paste and leaves one with a sense of herbal flavors reminiscent of great Doktor wines in the crystal clear and very long finish. The after-taste of this truly magnificent Auslese feels sweet rather than noble-sweet. 2029-2059.” Selbach-Oster Schlossberg Beerenauslese* 2005 375ml $89 special, 10 bottles availableWine Spectator 98 Points “Sweet and backed by a vibrant structure, this is elegant and detailed, with concentrated red berry, lime and nectarine. One of the few BAs to show a mineral component. Terrific balance and harmony, ending with a long, slate-tinged aftertaste. Drink now through 2040.”
| Vintage |
Wine |
Points |
Price/Quantity |
| 2019 |
J.h. Selbach Zelt Himmelreich Riesling Kabinett 750ml |
|
$16 special, 36+ bottles available |
| 2019 |
Selbach-Oster Estate Riesling Feinherb 750ml |
|
$18 special, 15 bottles available |
| 2013 |
Selbach-Oster Zelting Sonnenuhr Auslese** 375ml |
Wine Advocate 94 Points |
$24 special, 10 bottles available |
| 2019 |
Selbach-Oster Zeltinger Riesling Kab Trocken 750ml |
Mosel Fine Wines 90 Points |
$24 special, 33 bottles available |
| 2019 |
Selbach-Oster Zelt Schlossberg Riesling Kabinett 750ml |
Wine Advocate 93 Points |
$26 special, 36+ bottles available |
| 2019 |
Selbach-Oster Bern Badstube Riesling Spatlese 750ml |
Wine Advocate 93 Points |
$31.90 special, 36+ bottles available |
| 2019 |
Selbach-Oster Pinot Blanc Reserve 750ml |
Wine Advocate 93+ Points |
$33 special, 7 bottles available |
| 2019 |
Selbach-Oster Zelt Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese 750ml |
Wine Advocate 95 Points |
$39 special, 20 bottles available |
| 2020 |
Selbach-Oster Graach Domprobst Riesling GG 750ml |
Stuart Pigott 95 Points |
$45 special, 14 bottles available |
| 2017 |
Selbach-Oster Zelt Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese** 750ml |
Wine Advocate 96 Points |
$54.50 special, 35 bottles available |
May Sale- All Rhone Wines
Final week!
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!
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.
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.
Chapoutier Ermitage L’ermite $249 special, 15 bottles availableWine Spectator 97 Points “Sleek, with mouthwatering flavors of red currant, raspberry and cherry preserves forming the core, while a dusting of cocoa, a snap of red licorice and a long, lingering iron spine complete the picture. Very pure and focused. The minerality wins out in the end. Best from 2019 through 2032. 29 cases imported.” Clape Le Vin Des Amis Rouge 2020 750ml $59 special, 4 bottles availableDecanter 91 Points “Fragrant style of Syrah, with violets and liquorice, a touch of acetone and blueberry. Thirst-quenching, with good acidity, there’s plenty of space in the wine, while the finish is dry and refreshing.” Yves Cuilleron Cote Rotie Madiniere 2015 1.5L $139 special, 2 bottles availableVinous 93 Points “Lurid ruby. Pungent, mineral-laced black and blue fruit preserve, olive and incense scents on the deeply perfumed nose. Shows serious depth as well as surprising vivacity, offering sweet boysenberry and cherry compote flavors that become spicier with air. Supple and broad, delivering a very long, sweet finish that shows excellent clarity, harmonious tannins and lingering floral and spicecake nuances.” E. Darnaud Crozes Hermitage Au Fil Du Temps 2018 750ml $49 special, 24 bottlesWine Advocate 94 Points “Marked by intense aromas of licorice and seared beefsteak, Darnaud’s 2018 Crozes Hermitage Au Fil du Temps backs those up with notes of blueberries and black olives. Full-bodied, richly concentrated and tannic—but supple and ripe—with a bright, refreshing and lengthy finish, it’s a beauty of a Crozes to drink over the next decade.”
June Sale- All Spanish Wines
Get a jump on next month’s savings!!!
Buy 6-11 bottles for a 5% discount
Buy 12+ bottles for a 10% discount
Ends June 30th at 6pm… the best selection is NOW!
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.
 Muga Anden La Estacion Rioja Crianza 2018 750ml $19 special, 36+ bottles availableVinous 90 Points “Dark ruby. Ripe red fruits, vanilla and pipe tobacco on the nose, with spice and woodsmoke nuances emerging as the wine stretches out. Gently sweet and supple on the palate, offering juicy cherry liqueur and spicecake flavors braced by a spine of tangy acidity. Smooth tannins add shape and subtle grip to the persistent finish, which leaves a warm red fruit preserve note behind. Drink: 2022-2027.” Bodegas Muga Seleccion Especial Rioja 2018 750ml $41.90 special, 36+ bottles availableWine Advocate 94 Points “… a classical blend of the four red varieties from Rioja, Tempranillo, Garnacha, Mazuelo and Graciano with contained ripeness (14.05% alcohol) and good freshness. It fermented in oak casks with indigenous yeasts and matured in French oak barrels, 40% of them new, for 26 months … It’s medium to full- bodied, with very fine, chalky tannins, combining power and elegance. Amazing! 187,200 bottles produced. It was bottled in January 2021.” Bodegas Muga Prado Enea Rioja 2015 750ml $84.80 special, 30 bottles availableWine Advocate 97 Points “The most classical of their wines, the 2015 Prado Enea Gran Reserva is a blend of Tempranillo, Garnacha, Mazuelo and Graciano, mostly from Rioja Alta (Sajazarra, Cellorigo and Fonzaleche), but the Garnacha is from different plots in the zone of Tudelilla at high altitude … This is, year in, year out, my favorite wine from Muga, and in this powerful and ripe year, these late-harvesting vines ripened thoroughly and delivered a full array of aromas and flavors so that the wine has plenty of depth and complexity. It has a very classical profile, with incipient tertiary notes, perfumed, floral and rich, textured and beautifully balanced.” Bodegas Muga Rioja Torre Muga 2019 750ml $108.50 special, 23 bottles availableJeb Dunnuck 98 Points “The 2019 Torre Muga is always a more powerful, ripe expression of Rioja that never loses its sense of place. Deep ruby/purple, with a glorious bouquet of cassis, graphite, tobacco leaf, chocolate, and crushed stone, it hits the palate with medium to full-bodied richness, a deep, pure, multi-dimensional texture, building tannins, and good acidity. It’s young, unevolved, yet oh, so promising. Hide bottles for 7-8 years if you can, and it will cruise for 20-30 years. The blend is 80% Tempranillo and the balance Mazuelo and Graciano, aged 18 months in French oak.” Bodegas Muga Aro 2019 750ml $349 special, 4 bottles availableJeb Dunnuck 100 points “Pure magic, the 2019 Aro is 70% Tempranillo and 30% Graciano from a plant by plant selection of the Muga family’s oldest vines of Tempranillo, blended with a substantial portion of Graciano. This dense purple behemoth has a primordial bouquet of pure cassis, graphite, crushed stone, lead pencil, new leather, and hints of spring flowers. Building incrementally on the palate, with full-bodied richness, a huge mid-palate, and ripe, velvety tannins, this is one heavenly Rioja that deserves 7-8 years of bottle age and will age like a First Growth from Bordeaux. Hats off to the team at Muga for another incredible wine.”
Collector’s Corner
Brunello: Your patience will be rewarded
Biondi Santi Il Greppo Brunello 2012 750ml $169 special, 9 bottles availableWine Enthusiast 96 Points “Underbrush, ripe berry, new leather and Mediterranean herb aromas slowly take shape in the glass. Showing youthful tension, the vibrant palate delivers red cherry, pomegranate, white pepper and pipe tobacco notes framed by bright acidity and taut, refined tannins.” Biondi Santi Il Greppo Brunello 2016 750ml $235 special, 8 bottles availableWine Enthusiast 98 Points “#23 Top 100 Cellar Selections 2022” … “Loaded with finesse, the linear, savory palate features red cherry, orange zest, star anise and black tea alongside tightly wound, fine-grained tannins. Bright acidity keeps it impeccably balanced … Drink 2026–2041” Biondi Santi Il Greppo Brunello 2007 750ml $249 special, 1 bottle availableJames Suckling 95 Points “The nose is full of flowers and berries with dark cherries and ripe strawberries. Hints of flowers too. It’s full-bodied, with wonderful structure with bright acidity. Super clean and beautiful … Needs to age for a long time. Classic wine.” Biondi Santi Il Greppo Brunello Riserva 2011 750ml $459 special, 14 bottle availableWine Enthusiast 96 Points “Beautifully balanced, this opens with alluring scents of wild berry, rose, baking spice and whiffs of chopped herb. It’s already tempting but the best is yet to come. Drink 2021–2031.” Biondi Santi Il Greppo Brunello Riserva 2012 750ml $599 special, 1 bottle availableWine Advocate 97 Points ” …the wine is splendent and focused with a very direct and impactful delivery of aromas. It also shows a specifically floral personality with dried rose petal or blue violet that I did not recognize in most of the other Brunellos from this classic vintage.” Biondi Santi Il Greppo Brunello Riserva 2013 750ml $649 special, 1 bottle availableWine Advocate 98 Points ” …a stunning wine from all points of view. Seamless integration and elegant complexity are what stand out, and it’s worth dedicating a few extra lines to the aromatic depth that is put so beautifully on display as the wine slowly unfolds. The bouquet starts off with wild cherry, earth, wet ash, crème de cassis and pruny chocolate … At this young stage, this 2013 vintage could be considered a bit shy or slow to start, but this will play out to great advantage in the long term as the wine continues its bottle evolution. Biondi Santi Il Greppo Brunello Riserva 1983 $1,199 special, 1 bottle availableWine Advocate 96 Points “[Reviewed July 2021] This precious bottle is part of Biondi-Santi’s late-release program for collectors … The 1983 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is showing beautifully on its aging timeline, although this bottle is slightly more evolved since I last tasted this vintage in 2019 before the pandemic. With slow and measured determination, the bouquet embraces dried fig, cured bresaola, burnt caramel, wet campfire, dried oregano and a familiar aroma that reminds me of the Florence leather market. However, there is a lot of life and vertical lift in this Riserva, thanks in great part to the beautiful freshness that keeps the tannins alive and adds a pop of pretty acidity to the close. The wine shows its age with pride and grace, and the final results are quite spectacular. In fact, I’m opening the drinking window up by an additional five years thanks to the latitude and depth shown here.” Fuligni Brunello Di Montalcino Riserva 2012 750ml $199 special, 11 bottles availableWine Spectator 98 Points “Bright and juicy, this is packed with cherry, strawberry, floral and mineral aromas and flavors. Linear in shape and tightly wound, yet very pure, with a long, detailed aftertaste that pulls all the elements together. La Gerla Brunello Riserva Gli Angeli 2016 3L $449 special, 3 bottles availableVinous 96 Points “Smoldering with remarkable depth, the 2016 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Gli Angeli makes itself known with a blend of spicy citrus peels and minty herbs giving way to masses of black cherry, strawberries, hints of iodine and smoke. This is a textural thrill ride, velvety and almost weighty in feel, while finding wonderful balance in its vibrant acidity and the tart wild berry fruits and savory spices that are unleashed upon the palate. Hints of mocha combine with sour cherry and almond paste through the impressively long and classically structured finale. In the end, the 2016 Gli Angeli is the total package. This Riserva is a single-vineyard bottling from La Gerla’s northern Montalcino vineyard, which was planted by Biondi-Santi in 1968.” Pian Dell’orino Brunello Bassolino Sopra 2010 750 $599 special, 1 bottle availableWine Advocate 100 Points “The 2010 Brunello di Montalcino Bassolino di Sopra is the equivalent of the estate’s Riserva. Only 3,000 bottles were made and the wine was not produced in 2009 or 2008. Nor will it be made in 2011 or 2013. Future editions are 2012 and 2015. Bassolino di Sopra is silky and smooth, but it also has a fine textural fabric that gives the wine an enormous sense of tactile intensity in terms of mouthfeel. This is a magnificent achievement with an extreme sense of purity and freshness that is elegant and streamlined. The bouquet reveals slight and miniature shifts in its evolution that keep your curiosity as you contemplate the wine in the glass. Wild berry is followed by a steady stream of balsam herb, cola, crushed oyster shell and delicate floral tones. The vineyards are located between 330 and 370 meters above sea level with limestone deposits and red soils. Farming is biodynamic.”
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