Category Archives: Newsletter Archive

Maxiumum Max Ferd Richter Sale 10-6-24

Before getting into the details below…let me just tell you that I think Max Ferd Richter’s wines are some of the most criminally underpriced wines from the entire Mosel. There are numerous producers in the peer group of this estate that achieve less excellence and charge much more for their wines. It is hard to fathom how world class wine from vineyards as mind-bogglingly steep as those that Max Ferd Richter farms could be so affordable. We’ve put these wines at discount already and we’ve made a lot of customers happy. But if you’re like me, the 3-4 bottles I have of this stuff in my cellar seem incredibly lonely…and I’d like to grab a case more that I can drink for the next few decades.

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The first thing that jumps out about Max Ferd. Richter wines is the incredible real estate the winery holds. It is ancient, dating back over 300 years and now under the helm of 10^th-generation winemaker Constantin Richter. Vineyard management is focused on maximizing quality. Harvest is completely by hand with multiple, meticulous passes through the vineyard to ensure only the finest grapes are harvested. As an example, botrytized grapes are hand-selected at the single berry level.

The Middle Mosel is where all the historic glory of German Riesling rests. Based on their holdings and the quality of their wines, Richter deserves to be a name on par with JJ Prum, Fritz Haag, Willi Schaefer, etc. but poor distribution has prevented them from reaching the level of fame that they deserve (which, frankly, is great for your budget).

The stars of show are the Brauneberger Juffer-Sonnenuhr wines. Here, the soil is heavy in iron, imparting a darker sense to its minerality. In 2018, the wines seemed to show the most balance and knocked the socks off quite a few reviewers. Stephan Reinhardt from the Wine Advocate wrote of the Spatlese that its “piquant finesse and mineral tension [evoked] that of the Scharzhofberger and the Euchariusberg,” noting too that he “can hardly imagine any better Spätlese from 2018.” If that’s not enough for you, don’t sleep on the more decadent Wehlener Sonnenhur wines, including the dry Uralte Reben GG, aged in traditional fuder and crafted from vines over 125 years old, and the Kabinett, which we suggest as pairings with fresh fruit or cream pies.

In 2018, the Richters leaned in to what Mother Nature provided in the moderately warm and dry vintage. The results are utterly delicious now, but with sugar and acid levels that will do well in the cellar. To quote Mosel Fine Wines’ take on these 2018s, the wines are simply amped up versions of their classic style. These wines show “a touch more ripeness and roundness than usual, but also with the playful side that has made the success of their Estate over the years… All in all, Max Ferd. Richter took the vintage and produced utterly enjoyable and playful wines. One could nearly say: As usual.”

These are gloriously complex wines, built for the cellar and affordable enough to buy in quantity, especially on our three-day sale.

“I like the 2018 wines as they are quite charming. They combine the ripe zest of 2012 with the roundness of 2011.” – Constantin Richter, as quoted by Mosel Fine Wines

5% off any 6-11 bottles of in-stock Max Ferd. Richter wines
10% off any 12 or more bottles of in-stock Max Ferd. Richter wines

Discount will not display online or in your cart,
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Sale ends Wednesday, October 9th at 9 am Pacific.

Brauneberger Juffer Vineyard

We offer 6 wines from Max Ferd. Richter, including:

Weingut Max Ferd. Richter Brauneberger Juffer Riesling Kabinett, Mosel 2018 750ml Displayed Price $24, that’s $22.80 at 5% off and $21.60 at 10% off, 2 bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 94-96 points “The 2018 Brauneberger Juffer Riesling Kabinett is deep but bright and refined on the flinty nose that offers perfectly ripe Riesling and crunchy slate aromas with a warm iron touch. On the palate, this is a lush, refined, salty-piquant, even racy Riesling with generous fruit and a very long, salty-piquant and crystalline finish. This is a highly complex Riesling in the most delicate expression. It’s one of the wines you just have to buy—there won’t be any regrets, not today or in 30 years. Since this Brauneberger has slightly more sulfur compared to the Wehlener Sonnenuhr, which still hasn’t been filtered and was tasted from the lees, I will retaste the wines early next year, as I am convinced a Mosel Riesling needs two winters to unmask itself. Tasted in March 2019.”

Weingut Max Ferd. Richter Brauneberger Juffer-Sonnenuhr Riesling Grosses Gewachs, Mosel 2018 750ml Displayed Price: $36, that’s $34.20 at 5% off and $32.40 at 10% off, 20 bottles in stock now
Stuart Pigott (Suckling) 94 points “I love the discreet mirabelle, spice and angelica notes of this finely chiseled dry Mosel riesling that has plenty of depth and structure, but doesn’t yet announce it loudly. Needs some time to open up, but the classic elegance is already very clear. Drinkable now, but better from 2022.”

Weingut Max Ferd. Richter Veldenzer Elisenberg Riesling Kabinett, Mosel 2018 750ml Displayed Price: $21.90, that’s $20.81 at 5% off and $19.71 at 10% off, 11 bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 92-94 points “The 2018 Elisenberger Riesling Kabinett is dense, cool, very precise and flinty-mineral on the nose, which is still reductive but exciting. Coming from a coolish side valley that was picked at roughly 84° to 85° Oechsle at the end of September, this is a gorgeously lush and mouth-filling Riesling with the mineral piquancy of quartzite soils. There is no aggressive acidity here, there is nice tartaric acidity that makes this a seductive Kabinett you can’t resist. This is a fabulous, very long and enchanting Riesling. The wine has slightly more than 50 grams of residual sugar and comes in at 8.5% alcohol. It was scheduled to be bottled a couple of days after I tasted it from the cask at the end of March 2019.”

Weingut Max Ferd. Richter Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Uralte Reben Grosses Gewachs, Mosel 2018 750ml Displayed Price: $39, that’s $37.05 at 5% off and $35.10 at 10% off, 36+ bottles in stock now
Mosel Fine Wines 91+ points “The 2018er Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Trocken Uralte Reben GG was made in traditional Fuder cask from over 100 year-old un-grafted vines in the Brück part of the vineyard. It offers an intense nose made of grapefruit bitter, anise, herbs and some white flowers. The wine develops a rather intense but quite structured feel of lemon zest, camphor, herbs and fine spices on the palate. The finish is quite powerful and hugely tart. 2021-2028.”

Weingut Max Ferd. Richter Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Spatlese, Mosel 2018 750ml Displayed Price: $33, that’s $31.35 at 5% off and $29.70 at 10% off, 10 bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 94-96 points “From the two oldest plots (80-90 years old and 120 years old), the fuder-fermented 2018 Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Spätlese offers great precision and aromas of tropical fruit intertwined with very fine slate on the nose. On the palate, the wine is mouth-filling and salty-piquant, with mango and slate flavors on the racy finish. This is dangerous stuff, very dangerous, yet it’s also tight and tensioned. This is, for the moment, the finest and most stimulating Wehlener Sonnenuhr. Dangerous. Really dangerous. Tasted in March 2019.”

Already reduced on our close-out sale, now even lower!
Weingut Max Ferd. Richter Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese ***, Mosel 2018 375ml Displayed Price: $49, that’s $46.55 at 5% off and $44.10 at 10% off, 36+ half-bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 97+ points “The first three-starred Auslese since 2005 (prior to that, it was 1993, 1983 and 1975), the 2018 Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese *** was picked at about 145° Oechsle. This is incredibly clear, pure, fine and fresh on the lush, concentrated, herbal and grapefruit-scented nose. On the palate, this is a generously lush, refined and salty-piquant Auslese with a tight mineral structure and lingering salinity. This is highly refined and extremely stimulating. It already drinks all too well today, but Constantin recommends cellaring it for at least 10 years. Tasted in March 2019.”
Mosel Fine Wines 95 points “The 2018er Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese *** Fass 138 is a botrytis selection harvested at 138° Oechsle on old vines in the prime Sandpichter sector, and was fermented down to noble-sweet levels of residual sugar. It offers a gorgeous nose of date, pineapple, almond cream, raisin and smoky spices. The wine is beautifully creamy and yet zesty on the palate and leaves a gorgeous feel of ripe fruits and creamy almond in the long and suave finish. While intense, this noble-sweet Auslese retains an immensely satisfying playful side. 2033-2068.”

Chablis Dreams Sale 10-5-24

Chablis Dreams Sale

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Classically, Chablis is a crisp, clean white Burgundy, made from Chardonnay vines grown in extremely chalky, limestone soil. With a unique soil composition and a plethora of exceptional sites, Chablis is an essential item for anyone’s cellar. Given the cooler growing season, the wines are more angular than the Côte-d’Or, offering a lifted brightness that makes them excellent pairings with appetizers, lighter pasta dishes, and seafood. For sheer terroir-infused bang for your buck, they’re impossible to beat.

With a tremendous amount of variance in terms of flavor expression, the best Chablis are characterized by their high acids, pervasive minerality, and a fruit profile that tends to skew towards citrus and orchard fruit. As they age, the mineral and tertiary characters of the wines blossom, with the best examples having decades of potential bottle age.

Chablis became so popular in the 20th century that its good name was co-opted, most notably by big California jug wine producers. This legacy has left us with our current state: a once famous wine region, still beloved by a modest group of devotees, is now too often overlooked.

Today we’re featuring a number of terrific options that represent everything we love about the region’s wines on our special, three-day sale. So, stock up on this food-friendly white, and (re)discover what makes Chablis so timeless.

5% off any 4-8 in-stock wines from Chablis
10% off any 9 or more in-stock wines from Chablis

Discount will not display online or in your cart,
We will adjust your invoice before processing your charge.

Sale ends Tuesday, October 8th at 9 am Pacific.

We offer twenty-six options from Chablis on sale now, including:

Domaine Long-Depaquit Bougros, Chablis Grand Cru 2019 750ml Displayed Price: $89, that’s $84.55 at 5% off and $80.10 at 10% off, 14 bottles in stock now
James Suckling 93-94 points “Super fragrant and attractively ripe peach aromas with a very lively and pure attitude. The palate offers such attractive and succulent ripe peaches and a sleeve of lemon, piercing right through to the long, fresh finish. Drink over the next five years.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Domaine Bernard Defaix Vaudesir, Chablis Grand Cru 2022 750ml Displayed Price: $91.90, that’s $87.31 at 5% off and $82.71 at 10% off, 6 bottles in stock now
Decanter 93 points “Cool, restrained, nutty characters on the palate. A bit of wood is evident but there is plenty of balance and concentration to suggest this will develop very well once in bottle. Very good purity and ripeness of fruit. Tank sample.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Domaine Camille et Laurent Schaller Vau de Vey, Chablis Premier Cru 2022 750ml Displayed Price: $39, that’s $37.05 at 5% off and $35.10 at 10% off, 26 bottles in stock now
Decanter 90 points “Plenty of cool, fresh sensations on both nose and palate; shows the personality of this premier cru. More green apple fruit in character with plenty of acidity on the finish, should gain a bit more weight and complexity with a further 12 months in bottle.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Domaine Daniel-Etienne Defaix Chablis Vieilles Vignes 2020 750ml Displayed Price: $39, that’s $37.05 at 5% off and $35.10 at 10% off, 8 bottles in stock now
Winemaker Notes “This cuvée is sourced from vines the age of which is between 45 and 70 years. A wine of exceptional concentration for a village level appellation, this wine is always a true expression of the kimmeridgian soils that make Chablis so distinctive. Aged for thirty months before release, Defaix’s old vines Chablis is richly dense with a classic pierre a fusil bouquet and long mineral-infused finish.”

This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!

Domaine Laroche Les Blanchots, Chablis Grand Cru 2020 750ml Displayed Price: $149, that’s $141.55 at 5% off and $134.10 at 10% off, 10 bottles in stock now
Winery Note “The favourite Grand Cru of Domaine Laroche, offering much finesse and charm. Les Blanchots is a unique terroir made of a layer of white clay on Kimmeridgian limestone with ammonites. This is the ideal combination to keep the right amount of water for roots. The South-East exposure allows slow ripening and favours aroma development. Blanchots is delicate, silky and shows its charm after 5 years in bottle. At peak after 10 to 12 years.”

William Fevre Bougros, Chablis Grand Cru 2019 750ml Displayed Price: $99, that’s $94.05 at 5% off and $89.10 at 10% off, 12 bottles in stock now
Jasper Morris-Inside Burgundy 94 points “This is not the legendary Côte de Bouguerots bottling, but the regular Bougros – which still stood out alongside its peers. The fruit shows grand cru weight and the sunshine quality of the vintage, juicy but well balanced, while the crystalline purity of the finish sets this wine apart.”
James Suckling 94 points “Aromas of aniseed and lemon rind with dried apple and pear follow through to a full body. Yet, it’s tight and layered with a compact palate and plenty of fruit. Needs time to open. Try after 2023.”

Domaine Louis Michel & Fils Vaudesir, Chablis Grand Cru 2021 750ml Displayed Price: $108, that’s $102.60 at 5% off and $97.20 at 10% off, 14 bottles in stock now
John Gilman-A View From the Cellar 95 points “Domaine Michel’s parcels in Vaudésir actually have a northerly exposition and are nicely sheltered, so they were spared much of the frost damage and the yields here were only off by about ten percent in 2021. The wine has turned out splendidly, offering up a bright and complex bouquet of lemon, apple, dried flowers, a marvelously complex base of minerality, incipient notes of beeswax and a nice touch of orange peel in the upper register. On the palate the wine is deep, full bodied and very precise, with a great core of fruit, racy acids, superb mineral drive and a long, complex and impeccably balanced finish. This is going to be outstanding. 2026-2060+.”

Domaine Christian Moreau Pere & Fils Les Clos, Chablis Grand Cru 2020 750ml Displayed Price: $135, that’s $128.25 at 5% off and $121.50 at 10% off, 5 bottles in stock now
John Gilman-A View From the Cellar 95 points “The 2020 les Clos from the Moreau family is an excellent wine in the making. The nose is deep, pure and nascently complex, delivering scents of pear, apple, flinty, chalky soil tones, beeswax, a nice touch of vanillin oak and a topnote of lime blossoms. On the palate the wine is full-bodied, poised and rock solid at the core, with superb mineral drive and focus, bright, snappy acids, laser-like focus and a very, very long, very precise finish. All this beautiful example of les Clos will need is time in the cellar to start hitting on all cylinders.”
Jasper Morris 95 points “Pale colour with a fresh green tint. A fine reserved and classic nose, extremely promising. A little barrel toast but it hardly intrudes on the concentration of fruit. More saline than sometimes, and still awkwardly youthful, but all the necessary components are there.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Thomas Pico Domaine Pattes Loup Vaillons, Chablis Premier Cru 2019 750ml Displayed Price: $79, that’s $75.05 at 5% off and $71.10 at 10% off, 15 bottles in stock now
No review for the 2019 vintage. 2018 review provided for reference.
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 93 points “Pico produces his 2018 Chablis 1er Cru Vaillons from certified organic fruit in the climat of Séchet. Unwinding in the glass with notes of crisp green orchard fruit, almond paste, white flowers and orange oil, it’s medium to full-bodied, satiny and incisive, with an ample core of fruit, chalky structuring extract and a long, saline finish.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Domaine Vocoret et Fils Les Clos, Chablis Grand Cru 2021 750ml Displayed Price: $79, that’s $75.05 at 5% off and $71.10 at 10% off, 30 bottles in stock now
Winemaker Note “Moderate lemon-yellow in color with intense aromas of fresh lime and mango. On the palate, fresh citrus, lemon and lime with tropical fruit nuances.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Shop our twenty-six in-stock Chablis selections on sale now on our webstore!

Don’t miss our additional sale going on now:

Rocca di Montegrossi Sale

5% off any 3-5 in-stock wines from Montegrossi
10% off any 6 or more in-stock wines from Montegrossi

Discount will not display online or in your cart,
We will adjust your invoice before processing your charge.

Montegrossi sale ends Sunday, October 6th at 9 am Pacific.

Vinopolis Newsletter 10-4-24

In This Newsletter:

New Arrivals
Faust, Torre dei Beati, L’Hetre, Clos de Sarpe, Riccolo Grassi, and more

You’re Invited To The Hottest Bar in France…
The Côte des Bar, that is

New Arrivals

California

Faust Wines

Looking for the perfect Halloween tipple? Featuring stylishly macabre labels and an ominous Victorian Mansion tasting room (the “Faust Haus”) in the hills of St Helena, Faust Wines produces Cabernet Sauvignon of a notably dark and brooding character. Despite pulling fruit from top estate vineyards in both Rutherford and Coombsville, this is a well-priced Napa wine you won’t have to sell your soul for.

hot deal! Faust Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, USA 2022 750ml $49 special, 36 bottles available
(Not reviewed yet, 2021 rating provided for reference)
James Suckling 95 Points (2021) “Inviting aromas of ripe blackcurrants and blackberries as well as crushed walnuts, cedar and bark. Full-bodied, creamy and structured with firm, polished tannins. Balanced and even with a lingering finish.”
David Jelinek-Winemaker “Violets and toasted baking spice open on the nose of our 2022 Faust Napa Valley, with savory layers of slate and cedar joining in the background. Concentrated, perfectly ripe black cherry is spiced with the wine’s signature star anise and framed by fine, chalky tannin that unfold into richness on the palate. Mouthwatering freshness sustains the dance of fruit and minerality through a lingering finish.”

France

From Jacques Thienpoint owner of the celebrated Bordeux estate Le Pin, comes this fantastically underpriced Côtes de Castillon winery. Merlot dominant, with a fine and complex bouquet.
staff pick L’Hetre, Castillon Cotes de Bordeaux, France 2016 750ml $29.50 special, 33 bottles available
Julia Harding MW-Jancis Robinson “L’Hêtre 2016 Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux is the first release of this wine from the organically farmed estate perched at 100 m on the end of the St-Philippe d’Aiguilhe limestone plateau, the highest point in Bordeaux…‘Rich in blackcurrant fruit with a savoury dark glow to make it more than just fruit. Just a touch of smoky char even though the oak is well in the background, a seductive fruit sweetness. On the palate, this is beautifully balanced, the alcohol perfectly integrated in the tannic structure and fruit core with a fresh tang that runs through the middle. There’s a cool fluidity to it even with its depth and length. Fine, dry, lingering and savory aftertaste. Impressive first vintage with a promising future in the bottle. I opened this on a Sunday evening and it was still tasting fresh and vibrant four days later. This is a very classy wine, and the tannins tell you everything: fine, definite, building in the mouth but in perfect balance with the fruit and freshness. Blue-blooded Castillon. Catch it while you can.'”

Chateau La Gaffeliere ‘Clos La Gaffeliere’, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru, France 2020 750ml $36 special, 36 bottles available
Vinous 91-93 Points “The 2020 Clos La Gaffelière is a super attractive second wine. It is a bit darker and more overt than the Grand Vin, both of which lend quite a bit of immediacy. Black cherry, plum, spice, chocolate and leather build nicely in the glass. This supple, juicy Saint-Émilion will drink well right out of the gate.”

Chateau Clos de Sarpe, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru, France 2015 1.5L $199 special, 3 bottles available
Jeb Dunnuck 97+ Points “Showing even better now than on release, the 2015 Château Clos de Sarpe might be one of the greatest wines to ever emerge from this tiny vineyard just outside of Saint Emilion. Dense purple/plum-hued, with an enormous bouquet of blueberries, blackberries, white truffles, violets, and spring flowers, it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, an incredible sense of opulence, and silky, polished tannins. It’s absorbed just about every trace of its oak élevage, and while it’s an incredible drink today, it’s going to evolve for 30+ years or more.”
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 95 Points “The 2015 Clos de Sarpe boasts off-the-charts richness. Full-throttle and unapologetically opulent, Clos de Sarpe is probably the most exotic of the more modern, sumptuous Saint-Émilions. Super-ripe black cherry, chocolate, leather, spice and new French oak are all pushed forward. Ripeness and unctuousness are taken to the edge in this exotic beauty.”

Clos Saint-Jean Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Rhone, France 2016 750ml $49 special, 24 bottles available
Jeb Dunnuck 93 Points “Moving to the reds and 85% Grenache and the rest Syrah and Mourvèdre, the base 2016 Châteauneuf-du-Pape is a beauty and boasts appealing notes of spiced red and black fruits, cedar, and garrigue. Full-bodied, ripe and undeniably sexy, it’s going to benefit from a year or three in the cellar and drink nicely for over a decade.”

Lowest listed price in the USA!

Certified Organic!
Chateau Rieussec ‘Les Carmes de Rieussec’, Sauternes, France 2012 375ml $21.90 special, 36+ bottles available
James Molesworth-Wine Spectator “Plump and open, offering green plum, nectarine and coconut notes, with a round, easy feel through the plantain-tinged finish. Tasted non-blind.”

Usseglio Chateauneuf-du-Pape Cuvee La Part des Anges, Rhone, France 2021 750ml $69 special, 24 bottles available
Joe Czerwinski-Wine Advocate 98 Points “A blend of 70% Mourvèdre, 20% Grenache and 10% Syrah, the 2021 Chateauneuf du Pape la Part des Anges is the first vintage of this cuvée to be vinified in demi-muids. The cedar seems more subtle and better integrated than past vintages as a result, adding nuance to the other aromas of crushed stone, plums and black cherries. Full-bodied, rich and velvety in texture, with a near-limitless finish, this is simply super stuff.”

Oregon

Purple Hands Freedom Hill Vineyard Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley, USA 2022 750ml $66 special, 9 bottles available
Jeb Dunnuck 97 Points “A richer reflective ruby hue, the 2022 Pinot Noir Freedom Hill Vineyard is a savory wine with notes of wet stones, graphite, pine, fresh black cherries, mixed berries, and tea leaf. It is very appealing on the palate early on with refined tannins and a juicy feel. It’s very attractive now, and it’s not going to slow down any time soon.”

Purple Hands Haakon Lenai Chardonnay, Dundee Hills, USA 2022 750ml $59 special, 6 bottles available
Jeb Dunnuck 96 Points “A light hazy yellow hue, the 2022 Chardonnay Haakon/Lenai Vineyard delivers delicate flint notes along with rocky earth, preserved lemon, bright apples, and concentrated, salty earth. Medium to full-bodied, it has compact intensity, with electricity driving through the palate, and I also love the texture of this wine. Fully dry, with great extract, it has depth and richness without being heavy. It’s a fantastic and age-worthy wine to drink over the next 10-12 years.“

Only listing in the USA!

Purple Hands Haakon Lenai Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills, USA 2022 750ml $66 special, 9 bottles available
Jeb Dunnuck 98 Points “A youthful ruby red hue, the 2022 Pinot Noir Haakon/Lenai Vineyard comes from 27-year-old vines in the main estate vineyard … There is real crystalline depth to this wine as well as more purity and clarity, and it has bright, ripe acidity, mouthwatering freshness, and a great finish. Its ripe tannins are very well-framed, and it has a long finish. Much more purity and clarity here. Drink 2024-2044. This is by far the best wine in the Purple Hands lineup.”

Purple Hands Latchkey Vineyard Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills, USA 2022 750ml $59 special, 6 bottles available
Jeb Dunnuck 96 Points “The 2022 Pinot Noir Latchkey Vineyard is from 18-year-old vines grown on ancient volcanic soils. A bit deeper ruby red, it’s aromatic of black raspberries, rosemary, pressed flowers, and anise. Medium to full-bodied, it is ripe with a rounded, plush, approachable feel, but it has seamless structure and is going to age gracefully over the coming 12-15 years.”

Purple Hands Shea Vineyard Pinot Noir, Yamhill-Carlton District, USA 2022 750ml $59 special, 12 bottles available
Jeb Dunnuck 96 Points “From one of the highest elevations in this vineyard, the 2022 Pinot Noir Shea Vineyard is a transparent red hue and is aromatic of ripe cherries, spices, mossy earth, and a lightly gamey but clean earth note. It is an elegant and lifted expression of the Shea Vineyard, with bright acidity, fine tannins, and a more linear feel, and as it opens, it starts to show its broader shoulders and its deeper notes come through.”

Italy

staff pick Roccolo Grassi Valpolicella Superiore, Veneto, Italy 750ml $29 special, 36+ bottles available
Eric Guido-Vinous 94+ Points “An enticing mix of incense, black tea, cracked pepper and red wild berries emanate from the 2016 Valpolicella Superiore. This is undeniably elegant, with its silky textures that seem to coat the entire palate in a seductive layer of violet-tinged fruits and suave lavender and chocolate notes. That said, this is not sweet nor overly rich; in fact, the 2016 is truly harmonious and poised, boasting tremendous concentration that’s lifted by saline-infused acids. It leaves the palate completely saturated with cloves and allspice, as it tapers off structured and long. This is next-level Valpolicella Superiore, and it may even one day warrant a higher score. Marco Sartori uses 30% appassimento grapes in his Valpolicella, which are dried for twenty days. This wine is refined in a 50% – 50% mix of large oak cask and barrique, of which only about 20% are new”

Lowest listed price in the USA!

Cavalli Tenuta degli Dei ‘Le Redini’ Toscana IGT, Tuscany, Italy 2019 750ml $26 special, 36+ bottles available
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 93 Points “The 2019 Le Redini is another fabulous wine in this lineup. A blend of Merlot and Alicante, Le Redini impresses with its energy and vibrancy. Plum, mocha, gravel, spice and licorice are all beautifully delineated. In 2019, Le Redini has an extra kick of energy that is just compelling. It’s a wine of extreme pleasure.”

Only listing in the USA!

Jermann Pinot Grigio Venezia Giulia IGT, Friuli Venezia Giulia, Italy 2022 750ml $24 special, 24 bottles available
Jeff Porter- Wine Enthusiast 92 Points “This classic Pinot Grigio’s aromas flow out of the glass showing fresh orchard notes, white flowers, lemon drop candy and crushed stone. It’s lively on the palate with the sprightly levity of lemon zest, green apple skin, wild green herbs and a zip of acidity.”

Mazzarosa ‘Vere Novo’ Montepulciano d’Abruzzo, Italy 2020 750ml $39 special, 36 bottles available
Decanter 97 Points- Platinum Award- “Plenty of ripe plum, blueberries, and well-integrated oak, with subtle accents of thyme and laurel. Quite light in concentration, with a delicacy of acid and tannins. The wine shows a perfumed spine of herbs that runs throughout the palate’s lingering finish. -Decanter World Wine Awards Tasting Panel”

Lowest listed price in the USA

Pagliarese Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG, Tuscany, Italy 2018 750ml $31.90 special, 24 bottles available
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 93 Points “The 2018 Chianti Classico Riserva is another gorgeous old-school wine from Pagliarese. Black cherry, cloves, licorice, leather and woodsmoke give the 2018 its distinctive, somber feel. This dense, super-expressive Riserva certainly has tons of character. Tasting the 2018 is like stepping back in time thirty years.”

Pieropan Soave Classico, Veneto, Italy 2023 750ml $19 special, 36 bottles available
Jeff Porter-Wine Enthusiast 93 Points “Every year Pieropan captures the soul of Soave, Garganega and the vintage in such a pristine way that it keeps us in awe. This vintage shines with aromas of Fuji pears, Anjou apples, lemon blossom and flint. The palate is crisp with green apple skin and lemon zest flavors that give way to toasted almonds, acacia honey and a minerality so deep that you might as well be in a quarry. Drink now–2040.”

Torre dei Beati Montepulciano d’Abruzzo, Italy 2021 750ml $21.90 special, 24 bottles available
Vinous 92 Points “The 2021 Montepulciano d’Abruzzo is wonderfully fresh and fruit-forward. A balance of dusty rose and foreign spices complements dried strawberries. It sweeps across the palate, lifted yet racy in style, with silken textures and polished wild berry fruits that swirl throughout. The 2021 leaves a web of finegrained tannins, showing wonderful harmony while tapering off with a hint of salted licorice.”

You’re Invited To The Hottest Bar in France…

The Côte des Bar, that is

What do you get when you combine the same soil type of such luminous regions as Chablis and Chavignol with Champagne… you get some of the most hypnotic sparkling wines in the world.

A giant Kimmeridgian basin (the petrified remains of ancient seabed dwellers) spans much of Northern France, disappearing and reappearing in parts of Burgundy, the Loire, and Champagne’s Cote des Bar. Grapes grown in this soil are known for their minerality, focused flavors, and piercing acidic structure which combine in a unique je ne sais quoi often compared to a jolt of electricity.

The largest and most famous producer in the Cote des Bar is the illustrious Champagne Drappier, but there is a growing number of intrepid farmer-vintners creating a big stir at the Bar. These grower-producers exemplify the emerging wild and nervy style of the region.

Let’s take a closer look at two of the rising stars of the Cote des Bar, shall we?

Vouette et Sorbee: The Pilgrim’s Progress

Beginning his journey in 1986, Bertrand Gautherot has become the most influential vigneron in the modern Côte des Bar, an inspirational and outspoken advocate of organic and natural Champagne production. A pioneer in the region, he set the tone by switching his entire operation to Biodynamic viticulture.

These are essential, captivating Champagnes. Pure, eclectic, and electric.

Vouette et Sorbee Cuvee Blanc d’Argile Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut, Champagne, France (2019) NV 750ml $99 special, 1 bottle available
Anne Krebiehl Mw-Vinous 92 Points “The NV Brut Nature Blanc d’Argile (2019) is a pure Chardonnay. Lemon and nettle seep into melted butter and a mere insinuation of blossom honey. The palate is bone dry and textured with dried corn husk and wheat chaff, salty, expansive, yet contoured by lemony brightness. This is a distinct, honey-edged Chardonnay with a salted caramel highlight. It’s delicious, engaging and most appetizing. The finish is sustained with lots of umami echoes. (Drink between 2024-2030).”

Vouette et Sorbee Fidele Extra Brut, Champagne, France (2019) NV 750ml $79 special, 7 bottles available
Jancis Robinson 17.5/20 “There’s a dramatic, fragrant and peach-sweet oiliness to this wine. Strikingly unusual, complex, exciting and with a Verdicchio-like bitterness it’s really vinous. It’s compelling – it keeps drawing me back.”

Best price in the USA

Marie Courtin: Something Wondrous This Way Comes

Single-vineyard…single-varietal… biodynamic… san-soufre.

These are some of the concepts that inspired Dominique Moreau to start her own winery in 2005. Beyond the buzzwords, this is a stellar project with wines that will stand the test of time.

The winery itself is named for Moreau’s Grandmother, who imbued Dominique with a sense of wonder in nature and the power of its energies. Beyond just organic or Biodynamic practices, Dominique uses pendulums in the vineyard to gauge the energy emitted from grapes and discern ripeness.

Her wines are becoming modern classics, cult-like in their draw… try them today and catch the buzz for yourself!

Marie Courtin Efflorescence Blanc de Noirs Extra Brut, Champagne, France 2017 750ml $79 special, 8 bottles availables
Marie Courtin Efflorescence Blanc de Noirs Extra Brut 2017 1.5L $179 special, 1 magnum available
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 91 Points “The 2017 Extra Brut Efflorescence (100% Pinot Noir) displays good depth texturally and lovely persistence, but I would like to see more focus on the aromatics. Then again, this is a 2017. A slightly forgiving palate is required to fully appreciate this. Zero dosage. Disgorged in March of 2023.”

Marie Courtin Efflorescence Blanc de Noirs Extra Brut, Champagne, France 2018 1.5L $199 special, 1 magnum available
Marie Courtin Efflorescence Blanc de Noirs Extra Brut 2018 3L $449 special, 1 Jeroboam available
Importer Notes “This barrel fermented vintage cuvee is made from grapes from the bottom of the hill, which Dominique belives results in greater power and aging potential. Zero dosage.”
750ml bottle is lowest listed price on the west coast

Marie Courtin Concordance Blanc de Noirs Extra Brut, Champagne, France 2018 750ml $99 special, 2 bottles available
Importer Notes “Harvest from massale selection vines 35-40 years in age from a single, 2.5 hectares parcel located in Polisot (Cote des Bar) … Aged sur lie for three years … Dominique’s zero dosage, zero sulfur Pinot Noir is powerful and complex.”

…beyond these standard bottlings, we have Marie’s Amphora Aged bottles:

Marie Courtin Amphora Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut, Champagne, France 2020 750ml $149 special, 6 bottles available
Importer Notes “After years of fermentations in tank, foudre and barrel, Dominique Moreau has ventured into the foray of amphora vinification and ageing. The Blanc de Blancs is a unique blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc and Arbanne, all grown in the kimmeridgian-centric soils of Polisot. The resulting wine is textured, bursting with energy and goes down easy.”

Marie Courtin Amphora Blanc de Noirs Extra Brut, Champagne, France 2020 750ml $149 special, 3 bottles available
Importer Notes “After years of fermentations in tank, foudre and barrel, Dominique Moreau has ventured into the foray of amphora vinification and ageing. The Blanc de Noirs is 100% Pinot Noir grown in the kimmeridgian-centric soils of Polisot. The resulting wine is deep and focused with penetrating bubbles and real staying power.”

… and the Coteaux Champenois (still wine) she produces as well:

Marie-Courtin Coteaux Champenois Blanc Tremble, Champagne, France 2019 750ml $89 special, 5 bottles available
(Review is for the NV version, reviewed in November 2023. Provided for reference.)
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 92 Points “The NV Coteaux Champenois Le Blanc du Tremble shows good depth and phenolic intensity. Pear, apricot, white flowers and lightly tropical notes all grace this wonderfully deep and expressive Coteaux. Blanc du Tremble is 100% Pinot Noir from 35-40-year-old vines, aged in clay and sandstone amphorae. Terrific.”

Marie Courtin Coteaux Champenois Le Blanc du Tremble, Champagne, France 2020 750ml $79 special, 5 bottles available
Importer Note “Dominique Moreau’s Coteaux Champenois “Blanc du Tremble” is made from 100% massale selection Pinot Noir. Aged in clay and sandstone amphoras with produced with zero sulfur added, this Coteaux Blanc is rich, racy and textured. Nose is reminiscent of Concordance Blanc de Noir sans soufre Champagne with its aromas of stonefruit and honey. An indulgent and classy Coteaux in very limited supply!”

Rocca di Montegrossi – On Sale Now 10-2-24

Rocca di Montegrossi Sale

Unlock Your Discount Now

Chianti remains one of the best value regions in Italy, despite its great international acclaim. Case in point? The wines from Rocca di Montegrossi. These are big, rich versions of Chianti, with texture and density to spare.

The rosé, a blend of Merlot and Sangiovese, captures beautiful spice and fruit notes in a charming, food-friendly package. The Gran Selezione, made only in the best years, is a stunning wine from the San Marcellino vineyard, made unique with the inclusion of the rare, indigenous red variety Pugnitello. This composes about 5% of the blend, and adds a layer of earth and black berry notes. This wine is rich and irresistible in a bold style. Those looking to really get to know this grape can experience the “Ridolfo” bottling, a Cab-Pugnitello blend available exclusively in magnum. Lovers of super Tuscans can scoop up the “total pleasure bomb” that is the revelatory “Geremia.” This 70-30 Merlot/Cabernet blend is powerful and intense with a long aging potential.

These are a superb collection of bold wines that offer incredible density and impact balance by the suave elegance and terroir found only in the best wines of the Chianti region.

5% off any 3-5 in-stock wines from Rocca di Montegrossi
10% off any 6 or more in-stock wines from Rocca di Montegrossi

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Sale ends Sunday, October 6th at 9 am Pacific.

We offer six options from Montegrossi on sale now, including:

Rocca di Montegrossi Rosato Toscana IGT 2022 750ml Displayed Price: $20.90, that’s $19.86 at 5% off and $18.81 at 10% off, 6 bottles in stock now
Eric Guido-Vinous 92+ points “A burst of sour melon and crushed rocks gives way to green apples and fresh mint as the captivating 2022 Rosato blossoms in the glass. This blends vibrant acidity with zesty mineral tones and sweet spice to create a truly harmonious and high-energy vibe on the palate. Nothing is out of place as the 2022 finishes with a tinge of crisp minerality, leaving the mouth watering as gingery spice hints fade. This is stunning today, yet it may get even better over the coming months in bottle.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Rocca di Montegrossi Vigneto San Marcellino Gran Selezione, Chianti Classico DOCG 2017 750ml Displayed Price: $59, that’s $56.05 at 5% off and $53.10 at 10% off, 5 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 94 points “The 2017 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Vigneto San Marcellino is potent, but also shockingly closed for this dry, warm year. Readers will have to be patient with the 2017 as it needs quite a bit of time to be at its best. Succulent dark cherry, plum, mocha, cloves and licorice all build into the huge, explosive finish. There’s tremendous substance here, not to mention tons of sheer character.”

This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!

Rocca di Montegrossi ‘Geremia’ Toscana IGT 2017 750ml Displayed Price: $59, that’s $56.05 at 5% off and $53.10 at 10% off, 19 bottles in stock now
Rocca di Montegrossi ‘Geremia’ Toscana IGT 2017 1.5L Displayed Price: $149, that’s $141.55 at 5% off and $134.10 at 10% off, 1 magnum in stock now
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 97 points “The 2017 Geremia is a revelation. It might be even better than the 2015 or 2016, which is saying a lot. Soaring aromatics make a strong first impression. In 2017, the fruit profile leans more into the red fruit end of the spectrum. The warm, dry year yielded a Geremia that is unusually open. I doubt too many of the estate’s fans will have a problem with that given how long these wines usually take to open. Today, the 2017 Geremia is a total pleasure bomb. Don’t miss it.”

Rocca di Montegrossi ‘Ridolfo’ Toscana IGT 2015 1.5L Was $179, Displayed Price: $159, that’s $151.05 at 5% off and $143.10 at 10% off, 15 magnums in stock now
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 98+ points “The 2015 Ridolfo is a new Cabernet Sauvignon/Pugnitello blend from Marco Ricasoli bottled only in magnum. Vibrant and finely sculpted, the 2015 impresses right out of the gate. A whole range of savory aromatics, lavender, spice, licorice and mocha open with time in the glass. Sweet rose petal and cinnamon appear later, adding brightness and lift. Cabernet Sauvignon and Pugnitello are not obvious varieties to blend, as they are, on paper, more similar than complementary. Even so, the combination works so well. I can’t wait to see how this ages. The 2015 is a total knock-out!”

Rocca di Montegrossi Vin Santo del Chianti Classico 2009 375ml Was $89, Displayed Price: $79, that’s $75.05 at 5% off and $71.10 at 10% off, 22 half-bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 94 points “The 2009 Vin Santo is a rich, exotic wine, as it always is. Readers will find one of the richest most intense Vin Santos being made today. Plush, tropical and ample in feel, Rocca di Montegrossi’s Vin Santo is bold and racy to the core. The 350 grams of residual sugar leave the wine with tremendous textural plushness.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Shop our six in-stock Rocca di Montegrossi selections on sale now on our webstore!

Don’t miss our additional sales going on now:

Northern Rhone Sale

5% off any 4-8 in-stock wines from the Northern Rhone
10% off any 9 or more in-stock wines from the Northern Rhone

Royal Tokaji

5% off any 3-5 in-stock wines from Royal Tokaji
10% off any 6 or more in-stock wines from Royal Tokaji

Discount will not display online or in your cart,
We will adjust your invoice before processing your charge.

Northern Rhone sale ends Friday, October 4th at 9 am Pacific. Royal Tokaji sale ends Saturday, October 5th at 9 am Pacific.

Vinopolis Newsletter 10-02-24 PM

In This Newsletter:

Arriving Friday
Big scores for Purple Hands! Plus Allegrini, Faust, and more

New Arrivals
Merry Edwards, Cameron, Tissot, Barolo Mascarello, and many more

Beyond Biondi
Our Other Favorite Brunellos

Arriving Friday

Oregon

Purple Hands Wine

Purple Hands Freedom Hill Vineyard Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley, USA 2022 750ml $66 special, 12 bottles available
Jeb Dunnuck 97 Points “A richer reflective ruby hue, the 2022 Pinot Noir Freedom Hill Vineyard is a savory wine with notes of wet stones, graphite, pine, fresh black cherries, mixed berries, and tea leaf. It is very appealing on the palate early on with refined tannins and a juicy feel. It’s very attractive now, and it’s not going to slow down any time soon.”

Purple Hands Haakon Lenai Chardonnay, Dundee Hills, USA 2022 750ml $59 special, 6 bottles available
Jeb Dunnuck 96 Points “A light hazy yellow hue, the 2022 Chardonnay Haakon/Lenai Vineyard delivers delicate flint notes along with rocky earth, preserved lemon, bright apples, and concentrated, salty earth. Medium to full-bodied, it has compact intensity, with electricity driving through the palate, and I also love the texture of this wine. Fully dry, with great extract, it has depth and richness without being heavy. It’s a fantastic and age-worthy wine to drink over the next 10-12 years.“

Only listing in the USA!

Purple Hands Haakon Lenai Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills, USA 2022 750ml $66 special, 12 bottles available
Jeb Dunnuck 98 Points “A youthful ruby red hue, the 2022 Pinot Noir Haakon/Lenai Vineyard comes from 27-year-old vines in the main estate vineyard … There is real crystalline depth to this wine as well as more purity and clarity, and it has bright, ripe acidity, mouthwatering freshness, and a great finish. Its ripe tannins are very well-framed, and it has a long finish. Much more purity and clarity here. Drink 2024-2044. This is by far the best wine in the Purple Hands lineup.”

Purple Hands Latchkey Vineyard Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills, USA 2022 750ml $59 special, 6 bottles available
Jeb Dunnuck 96 Points “The 2022 Pinot Noir Latchkey Vineyard is from 18-year-old vines grown on ancient volcanic soils. A bit deeper ruby red, it’s aromatic of black raspberries, rosemary, pressed flowers, and anise. Medium to full-bodied, it is ripe with a rounded, plush, approachable feel, but it has seamless structure and is going to age gracefully over the coming 12-15 years.”

Purple Hands Shea Vineyard Pinot Noir, Yamhill-Carlton District, USA 2022 750ml $59 special, 12 bottles available
Jeb Dunnuck 96 Points “From one of the highest elevations in this vineyard, the 2022 Pinot Noir Shea Vineyard is a transparent red hue and is aromatic of ripe cherries, spices, mossy earth, and a lightly gamey but clean earth note. It is an elegant and lifted expression of the Shea Vineyard, with bright acidity, fine tannins, and a more linear feel, and as it opens, it starts to show its broader shoulders and its deeper notes come through.”

Italy

Mazzarosa ‘Vere Novo’ Montepulciano d’Abruzzo, Italy 2020 750ml $39 special, 36 bottles available
Decanter 97 Points- Platinum Award- “Plenty of ripe plum, blueberries, and well-integrated oak, with subtle accents of thyme and laurel. Quite light in concentration, with a delicacy of acid and tannins. The wine shows a perfumed spine of herbs that runs throughout the palate’s lingering finish. -Decanter World Wine Awards Tasting Panel”

Lowest listed price in the USA

Pieropan Soave Classico, Veneto, Italy 2023 750ml $19 special, 36 bottles available
Jeff Porter-Wine Enthusiast 93 Points “Every year Pieropan captures the soul of Soave, Garganega and the vintage in such a pristine way that it keeps us in awe. This vintage shines with aromas of Fuji pears, Anjou apples, lemon blossom and flint. The palate is crisp with green apple skin and lemon zest flavors that give way to toasted almonds, acacia honey and a minerality so deep that you might as well be in a quarry. Drink now–2040.”

Allegrini Palazzo della Torre Veronese IGT, Veneto, Italy 2021 750ml $19.50 special, 24 bottles available
(Not reviewed yet, 2020 review provided for reference)
Jeff Porter- Wine Enthusiast “A portion of this wine undergoes a drying process called appassimento and then is blended into the non-dried wine. This process gives the wine richness and intensity while also keeping the freshness needed to balance out the wine. Aromas of blackberry, cassis, sour cherry, mixed herbs and dried violets spill from the glass. The palate is rich yet in balance, with savory notes and forest floor combining with the densely packed fruit, and a perfectly timed pop of acidity on the finish.”

Jermann Pinot Grigio Venezia Giulia IGT, Friuli Venezia Giulia, Italy 2022 750ml $24 special, 24 bottles available
Jeff Porter- Wine Enthusiast 92 Points “This classic Pinot Grigio’s aromas flow out of the glass showing fresh orchard notes, white flowers, lemon drop candy and crushed stone. It’s lively on the palate with the sprightly levity of lemon zest, green apple skin, wild green herbs and a zip of acidity.”

California

Faust Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, USA 2022 750ml $49 special, 36 bottles available
(Not reviewed yet, 2021 rating provided for reference)
James Suckling 95 Points (2021) “Inviting aromas of ripe blackcurrants and blackberries as well as crushed walnuts, cedar and bark. Full-bodied, creamy and structured with firm, polished tannins. Balanced and even with a lingering finish.”
David Jelinek-Winemaker “Violets and toasted baking spice open on the nose of our 2022 Faust Napa Valley, with savory layers of slate and cedar joining in the background. Concentrated, perfectly ripe black cherry is spiced with the wine’s signature star anise and framed by fine, chalky tanning that unfold into richness on the palate. Mouthwatering freshness sustains the dance of fruit and minerality through a lingering finish.”

New Arrivals

Oregon

Cameron Winery Reserve Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills, USA 2022 750ml $39 special, 36 bottles available
Winery Note “The ’22 Dundee Hills blend includes fruit from Abbey Ridge and La Colina vineyards and punches well above its weight. Clean, dark and red fruit aromas and notes of black tea, earth, and allspice paired with subtle tannins and balanced acidity. This wine has a pleasant, round mouthfeel that can be thoughtfully quaffed or heartily slurped depending on the needs of the meal or the consumer.”

Cameron Winery Dundee Hills Chardonnay, Willamette Valley, USA 2022 750ml $24 special, 16 bottles available
Winery Note “Vinified from Abbey Ridge & Clos Electrique fruit, this is the best Chardonnay in its price range on the market. Lime leaf and orange blossom aromatics with a light touch of vanilla make me think of tarte au citron! A lovely rich mouth with some tartness allows it to be both an aperitif while you’re cooking and it will go with the meal afterward, though if you drink enough while you’re cooking, this latter point will be unimportant!”

California

Merry Edwards Meredith Estate Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley, USA 2018 750ml $79 special, 13 bottles available
Virginie Boone-Wine Enthusiast 95 Points “This wine is exuberantly layered in bright tones of pomegranate and strawberry, while textured with integrated tannins and oak. Complementary elements
of forest floor, black tea and clove play well with the fruitiness and enduring lushness on the palate.”

Lowest listed price in the USA
Average price $91

Racines Sainte-Rose Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir 2019 750ml $59 special, 9 bottles available
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 94 Points “The 2019 Pinot Noir Saint Rose a new wine in this lineup. The 2019 is a blend of the best barrels from Domaine de la Côte and La Encantada vineyards. Ripe red cherry, blood orange, spice, menthol and a good deal of savoriness from the 50% whole clusters are front and center. Pliant and creamy, the 2019 is so expressive today. A few years in bottle should help the tannins soften.”

Lowest listed price in the USA
Average price $79

France

Domaine Benedicte & Stephane Tissot

“A wine made with love and passion produces an emotion… You can find in a wine the personality and the character of those who made it because each gesture, each operation, each decision has its importance.” -Stephane Tissot

Stephane Tissot Arbois Les Bruyeres Chardonnay, Jura, France 2020 750ml $49 special, 8 bottles available
Luis Gutierrez-Wine Advocate 94 Points “The 2019 Les Bruyères Chardonnay is flintier, more rustic, more reductive with the classical bitter twist in the finish. The Trias soils always seem to give this wine a spicy Jura twang, and 2019 was a good year for the clay soils. It should develop nicely in bottle.”

Domaine Ostertag

Domaine Ostertag Fronholz Riesling, Alsace, France 2020 750ml $41.90 special, 7 bottles available
Kermit Lynch Importer Note “Perched on a hillside near the village of Epfig, the Fronholz vineyard is known for producing craggy, mineral-driven Rieslings with bracing acidity. The Ostertag family farms their parcels biodynamically, and the Fronholz’s vibrant mix of fruit and earth, flesh and structure, is their hallmark.”

Lowest listed price in the USA
Average price is $64

Domaine Ostertag Pinot Gris Fronholz, Alsace, France 2021 750ml $49 special, 12 bottles available
Kermit Lynch Importer Note “The elegance and class of this grandiose cuvée are thrilling to behold. Fronholz is a vineyard composed primarily of quartz, and the taste of an Ostertag wine from here is reminiscent of this stone: sleek, transparent, and brilliant.”

Lowest listed price in the USA
Average price is $58

Domaine Alex Foillard

Alex Foillard Cote de Brouilly, Beaujolais, France 2019 750ml $34.50 special, 10 bottles available
Kermit Lynch Importer Note “Jean Foillard, a soft-spoken perfectionist who has arguably become the Beaujolais’s most talented vigneron working today. He crafts reds that range from silky to succulent from the Cru of Morgon’s top sites. Their balance, finesse, and age-worthiness are unrivaled in the region.”

Italy

Bartolo Mascarello

Bartolo Mascarello Barolo DOCG, Piedmont, Italy 2020 750ml $235 special, 10 bottles available
Decanter 97 Points “In the blend of Maria Teresa Mascarello’s Barolo 2020 the replanted San Lorenzo vineyard makes a comeback with a small portion of young-vine fruit. It was harvested on 2 October while the rest (from Rocche dell’Annunziata and Cannubi) was picked from 4-8 October after the rain. The result is a wine with a backdrop of very fresh redcurranty fruits violets deep spices including liquorice root as well as hints of linden almost camphor and wild strawberry. A defined expression demonstrating a lot of maturity and savouriness.”

Lowest listed price on the West Coast

Cascina Baricchi

Cascina Baricchi ‘Riva della Coda’ Barbera d’Alba, Piedmont, Italy 2020 750ml $34.50 special, 24 bottles available
(Not reviewed, 2020 vintage provided for reference)
Antonio Galloni-Vinous (2020) “Cascina Baricchi’s 2018 Barbera d’Alba Riva della Coda is a heady, bombastic wine. Sumptuous black cherry, licorice, menthol, game, tobacco and earthy notes all hit the palate. The 2018 is rich and quite boisterous. While not the most elegant Barbera readers will come across, the 2018 does pack a pretty huge punch. It’s a big wine for the dinner table.”

Lowest listed price in the USA

Cascina Baricchi Rose delle Casasse, Barbaresco DOCG, Italy 2017 750ml $79 special, 36 bottles available
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 95 Points “The 2017 Barbaresco Riserva Rose delle Casasse is a rich, heady wine that is going to need a number of years to come into its own. Time in the glass releases gorgeous aromatics to play off a core of dark red/purplish fruit, spice and licorice notes. There’s tons of depth and character, but this is an uncharacteristically reticent 2017. Give this exotic beauty time. The aromatics alone are so inviting.”

Lowest listed price on the West Coast

…also available from Cascina Baricchi:

Cascina Baricchi Rose delle Casasse, Barbaresco DOCG, Italy 2016 750ml $89 special, 7 bottles available
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 94 Points “The 2016 Barbaresco Riserva Rose delle Casasse is a fine follow up to the stellar 2015. A bit more austere than its older sibling, the 2016 presents a distinctly savory profile redolent of crushed flowers, herbs, mint, spice, leather and tobacco, while the fruit is pushed into the background. Naturally, it will be interesting to see if some of that inner sweetness emerges in time. A few months separating two tastings suggest that may very well happen. This is such a gorgeous wine.”

Piero Benevelli

Piero Benevelli Ravera di Monforte, Barolo DOCG, Italy 2019 750ml $59 special, 6 bottles available
Kermit Lynch Importer Note “Beautiful, classic Barolo nose. Intense depth. Fresh and complex in the mouth. Wonderful finish. Great wine! Massimo Benevelli has created a masterpiece of Nebbiolo from the distinctive Ravera cru of Barolo in Monforte d’Alba. With a good decanting, this wine is sublime now, but the wise bet would be to stick a case of this in the deepest, darkest part of your cellar.”

Alois Lageder

Alois Lageder Versalto Pinot Bianco Alto Adige, Trentino-Alto Adige, Italy 2020 750ml $24 special, 11 bottles available
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 92 Points “The well-priced Alois Lageder 2020 Pinot Bianco Versalto is a new organic and biodynamic submission (with 13,000 bottles produced). The wine is slightly closed on first nose, but it eventually reveals crisp apple, lychee fruit, honeydew melon and crushed limestone. It delivers high-elevation freshness and crystalline sharpness that reflects these snow-capped mountain surroundings. It is fermented in steel but aged on the lees in both steel and oak. Fruit is sourced across three vineyards: Tirolo (in Merano), Pochi and Penone ranging from 480 and 660 meters in elevation.”

Beyond Biondi

Our Other Favorite Brunellos

Biondi Santi takes up a lot of space in our offerings and sale emails. It makes sense, seeing as how Biondi is the foundation that the entire region has been built upon, but today we are going to explore a few of the very best bottles of Brunello we currently have on offer.

Let’s dig in shall we?

Mastrojanni Vigna Loreto, Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Italy 2015 750ml $115 special, 22 bottles available
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 96 Points ” …shows a creamy and robust constitution with loads of black fruit and spice. If you are looking for a soft and more contemporary expression of Sangiovese, this will fit the bill … If you are going to go big, you might as well do so in style.”

San Polino Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Tuscany, Italy 2016 750ml $66 special, 13 bottles available
James Suckling 97 Points “Attractive aromas of cherry, dark mushroom, bark and walnut follow through to a full body with lots of ripe cherry and berry character in the center palate. Firm, chewy tannins draw you down the palate. Extremely long. From organically grown grapes. Better than the superb 2015? Drink after 2023 and onwards.”

Casanova di Neri Cerretalto, Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Italy 2012 750ml $379 special, 8 bottles available
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 98 Points ” …offers a prolonged, flowing and carefully massaged drinking experience that drapes over the senses with some studied intensity and lots of intriguing complexity … Bold cherry fruit and spice are tightly woven together. In the mouth, the wine shows texture, depth and succulence. Generally speaking, this is not my favorite vintage in Montalcino, but this wine suddenly made me forget that thought.”

Sassetti Livio Pertimali Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Tuscany, Italy 2015 1.5L $159 special, 4 bottles available
James Suckling 98 Points “There’s something ethereal in the nose with flowers, cherries, strawberries and shitake mushrooms. Full body. This grows on the palate with super tannin and fruit structure. So much berry flavor and round, caressing tannins that fill your mouth. Tight at the end. This needs four to five years to show its true greatness. Try after 2023.”

Lowest Magnum Price in the USA
Elsewhere $199.99

Fuligni Brunello di Montalcino Riserva DOCG, Tuscany, Italy 2012 750ml $199 special, 8 bottles available
Wine 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. Best from 2021 through 2040.”

Average listed Price $209

Siro Pacenti PS Vecchie Vigne, Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Italy 2019 750ml 113.50 special, 12 bottles available
James Suckling 99 Points “Black cherries, lavender, black mushrooms, lead pencil and violets on the nose. Full-bodied with a powerful and polished tannin structure that follows through to the very end. Pure, silky texture. Fascinating aftertaste of ripe fruit, yet it’s fresh and tense. Some orange peel, too. Glorious at the end. So well-crafted and pointed. This needs another three to five years to integrate but already extremely impressive.”

Average listed Price $122

And last but not least… sigh. Yes, it’s Biondi-Santi. It’s just so good, we couldn’t help but put a bottle of Biondi-Santi on our Biondi-less list. This wine that James Suckling called a “new classic” is too great a wine to resist… and it’s on sale?!

Biondi Santi Tenuta Greppo Riserva, Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Italy 2016 750ml $619 special, 5 bottles available
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 99 Points “Wow, here is a vintage I’ve been anxiously waiting to try. The 2016 growing season was one of the best in recent memory in Montalcino, and if we look back in time, this vintage marks the year Biondi-Santi was sold to a French group … The wine offers wild nuances of forest berry and tart cherry, and there are herbal side notes as well as floral tones of dried violet and lilac. The tannins are soft, powdery and feel like they melt away on the palate.”

Average listed Price $808!