Extremely Limited!  



 

You know that you’ve made it as a wine region when the French start getting involved…
 
Unlike 1976’s infamous Judgement of Paris, this wine is a celebration of transatlantic winemaking collaboration rather than a competition. When two of the world’s most famous winemakers, Bordeaux’s Baron Philippe de Rothschild and Napa’s Robert Mondavi, joined forces to create a unique masterpiece in 1979, this new winemaking legend was born. Opus One is one of our most requested wines, these bottles will not last long!
 

 
Opus One Proprietary Red, Napa Valley, USA 2017 750ml $358 special, 6 bottles available
Decanter 96 Points “A fist of late summer cherries, raspberry and bilberry fruits set out their stall, all with the juicy character that confirms, even in a hot vintage like 2017, Opus can deliver balance and sculpted elegance. Beautiful grip, creamy texture with a strikingly powerful tannic frame. As the wine stays in the glass the floral aromatics begin to bloom up. A brilliant Opus. 20 days maceration – around half what it would have been a decade ago. 54% native yeast, as part of their native yeast project. 5% Merlot and 1% Malbec complete the blend. Harvest spread out over September 5 to October 8, just before the fires, by which time they had less than 10% of the fruit still out on the vines.”
Wine Advocate 95 Points “Opus One had picked 91% of their fruit before the fires started in 2017, and only two lots were eliminated from consideration. The 2017 Opus One, bottled in July 2019, is a blend of 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8.5% Petit Verdot, 5% Cabernet Franc, 4.5% Merlot and 1% Malbec. Medium to deep garnet-purple colored, it slowly grows on the nose, revealing compelling notes of baked black cherries, mulberries, black raspberries, warm cassis and blackberry pie with nuances of spice cake, yeast extract, tapenade, licorice and dusty soil with a waft of wild sage. Medium-bodied, the palate has a lively skip in its step, featuring bags of juicy raspberry and cassis-laced fruit and a refreshing line, supported by ripe, plush tannins, finishing long and graceful.”
 

Lowest listed price on the West Coast
 

 

 
 

 
 

The Cline Family never used chemicals to control herbs and pests in their vineyards. You see, when Fred and Nancy started Cline Family Cellars in 1982, they saw sustainable viticulture as a way to ensure they would be able to hand down their legacy to multiple generations. You can taste that dedication to quality and longevity in these wines. They are not price-gouging, they are not coasting on the family name: these are excellent wines at incredible prices perfect for family gatherings and barbecues.
 
“Our parents were busy raising seven children and farming our seven vineyard ranches. This collection honors their hard work and the diverse terroirs of each ranch that influence the wines. The collection includes Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Merlot, Pinot Noir and Sauvignon Blanc and are meant to be paired with food, family and friends.” -Hilary Cline, second generation vintner of Cline Family Wines
 

Cline Cellars Seven Ranchlands Chardonnay, Sonoma County, USA 2022 750ml $16 special, 36 bottles available
Winery Note “Grapes for this Chardonnay come from three of our Sonoma Coast Vineyards located to the East of Petaluma – Catapult, Diamond Pile and Tolay Vista. This region is called “The Petaluma Gap”, defined as a corridor of cool air that comes from the Pacific Ocean and flows toward the east through the gap in the Sonoma Mountain range. This cool climate is ideal for slowly ripening Chardonnay and maintaining acidity.”
 
Cline Cellars Seven Ranchlands Sauvignon Blanc, North Coast, USA 2022 750ml $16 special, 12 bottles available
Winery Note “Grapefruit grabs you at first, as aromas of lemon and orange zest follow. Bright flavors of lime, melon and guava are vibrant and juicy. The finish is long and refreshing and will pair well with chicken, pork, fish, seafood, and salads.”
 
Cline Cellars Seven Ranchlands Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast, USA 2021 750ml $19.50 special, 12 bottles available
Winery Note “Seven Ranchlands is an amazing Pinot Noir, offering an array of red berry characters with depth and richness on the palate making this a superb wine to pair with many cuisines.”
 
Cline Cellars Seven Ranchlands Cabernet Sauvignon, North Coast, USA 2021 750ml $19.50 special, 36 bottles available
Winery Note “Layers of luscious blackberry, blueberry and plum notes plus wafts of tobacco, cassis and leather are classic of a Cabernet and this Cline Cab has it all. The finish is long with medium-grained tannins and an invigorating richness.”
 
Cline Cellars Seven Ranchlands Merlot, Sonoma Coast, USA 2021 750ml $19.50 special, 12 bottles available
Winery Note “Seven Ranchlands Merlot shows off an array of fresh boysenberry, mulberry, plum and leather with wonderful characters of raspberry, cassis, cedar, and vanilla bean. Balanced acidity and rich tannin structure make this an amazing, yet easy drinking cool climate Merlot.”
 

 
 Hot Deal!  My Favourite Neighbour Blanc (Chardonnay), Paso Robles, USA 2021 750ml $33 special, 36 bottles available
Erin Brooks-Wine Advocate 97 Points “The 2021 MFN Blanc Chardonnay is very ripe in style with scents of banana chip, apple pie, jasmine, allspice and brown sugar. The full-bodied palate is packed with ripe, spicy fruits and plenty of refreshing acidity, and it finishes long with a satiny, mouth-coating texture. It’s an old-school style reminiscent of Napa that fans of ripe, oaked Chardonnays will enjoy.”
 

Lowest listed price on the West Coast

 

 
 Staff Pick  Coe Cellars Mission Hills Sangiovese, Walla Walla Valley, USA 2021 750ml $26.50 special, 36+ bottles available
VinopolNote “Coe Cellars produces just one wine: a 100% Sangiovese Grosso (the specific clone used in Brunello Di Montalcino production) grown exclusively in the Mission Hill Vineyard in Walla Walla. Dedicated to making ‘as old world of a wine in the New World as possible,’ Coe Cellars’ Sangiovese has a ripe cherry profile, with hints of savory dried herbs around the edges, lithe tannins, and a pleasantly tart finish. Blind fold us and we’d swear this is from Tuscany.”
 

This is the only listing in the United States

 
 

 

 
Champagne Delamotte is the sister wine of the ultra-luxurious Champagne Salon… and it definitely does deserve mentioning in the same sentence as its famous cousin. This Grand Cru champagne from Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, described by Wine Enthusiast as the “The Small Village that Houses the World’s Best Champagne” is a stunningly fantastic wine for a fraction of Salon’s price.
 
The Choice is simple, the choice is yours. Do yourself a favor and choose Delamotte today!
 
Delamotte Blanc de Blancs Vintage Brut, Champagne, France 2014 750ml $128 special, 17 bottles available
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 94 Points “Delamotte’s just-released 2014 Blanc de Blancs has turned out very well indeed, opening in the glass with scents of citrus zest, crisp orchard fruit, fresh bread and wet stones. Medium to full-bodied, chiseled and incisive, with excellent depth at the core, racy acids and a chalky finish, this isn’t as muscular as the 2008 or 2012, but it has real cut and persistence and should age very gracefully indeed.”
 
…also currently available from Delamotte:
 
Delamotte Blanc de Blancs Brut, Champagne, France NV 750ml $79 special, 36+ bottles available
James Suckling 93 Points “Croissants, toasted sourdough, white pears, acacia and lemon meringue pie. Salty almond notes on the palate. Deliciously saline and creamy, with silky bubbles and a gently toasty finish. 100% chardonnay from Mesnil, Avize and Oger. Based on 2017 vintage with 20% reservewines. Drink now.”
 
Delamotte Brut, Champagne, France NV 750ml $59 special, 36+ bottles available
Wine Spectator 91 Points “[Reviewed 2023] A delicate, mineral-driven Champagne, with an underpinning of chalk, smoke and oyster shell layered with notes of poached apricot, citronella and beeswax. Lively and persistent on the finish. Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. Drink now through 2026.”
James Suckling 91 Points “Attractively chalky and biscuity nose, with some honey, apricots and lemon cream. It’s balanced and focused, with very fine bubbles, a medium body and well-rounded finish. 60% chardonnay, 35% pinot noir and 5% meunier. Base wine from 2018 with 20% reserve wines from 2017 and 2016. Drink now.”
 

France
 

 

Importer’s Note “Domaine Charlopin Tissier was created in 2013 with only 1.08 hectares of vines by husband and wife Yann Charlopin and Justine Tissier. The young couple now hold just over 4 hectares of vines in Bourgogne, Côte de Nuits-Villages, Marsannay, Gevrey Chambertin, Morey-Saint-Denis, Vosne Romanée, and Pernand-Vergelesses. Inspired by the elegant wines of his mentor Jean-Marie Fourrier, the wines of Domaine Charlopin Tissier are  wines of elegance and finesse. After studying wine in Beaune and spending time making wine in Tasmania, Sancerre and Chablis, Yann Charlopin returned home to work with his father Philippe Charlopin. When the opportunity arose to acquire some of Justine’s family’s vines in Marsannay and with a vision of the wines he would like to create, Yann did not pass up the opportunity to venture out on his own. With the encouragement of Jean-Marie Fourrier, Yann and Justine purchased Domaine David Clarke in Morey-Saint-Denis.
 
“In the vineyard, all farming is organic and done by hand. Once harvested, all grapes are fully de-stemmed, undergo a cold maceration and are fermented with natural yeasts. Yann does little racking as he prefers a long, slow élevage on the fine lees.”
 

 
Domaine Charlopin Tissier Marsannay Rouge, Cote de Nuits, France 2022 750ml $49.50 special, 36+ bottles available

Average price is $60

 
Domaine Charlopin Tissier Marsannay Les Longeroies, Cote de Nuits, France 2022 750ml $54.50 special, 36+ bottles available

$67 elsewhere

 
Domaine Charlopin Tissier Marsannay La Montagne, Cote de Nuits, France 2022 750ml $56.50 special, 12 bottles available

$67 elsewhere

 
Domaine Charlopin Tissier Pernand-Vergelesses, Cote de Beaune, France 2022 750ml $59 special, 12 bottles available

$72 elsewhere

 

 
Vignobles Levet Cote Rotie, Rhone, France 2021 750ml $94.50 special, 2 bottles available
Vinous 92-94 Points “Deep, lurid violet color. High-pitched red and blue fruit, floral and baking spice scents, along with deeper suggestions of olive and dark chocolate. In a bright, nervy style, showing fine clarity and spicy lift to its bitter cherry, blueberry and allspice flavors. Closes long and precise, with the red fruit and floral notes repeating.”
 

Lowest listed Price on the West Coast

 
 
Italy
 

 
 

Giovanna Morganti always wanted to make wine, but she wanted to make it on her own terms. As a student she participated in a project to preserve and plant nearly hundreds of distinct indigenous Tuscan grape varieties throughout the region… that was when her future winery began to take shape in her mind. When Giovanna inherited a small olive farm (Le Boncie) she began her vineyard planted with the likes of Ciliegiolo, Colorino, Foglia tonda, Mammolo, Prugnolo, and many more rare and historic grapes. It is this melange of heritage varietals along with Sangiovese that make her wines such inimitable classics.
 
As part of our commitment to bringing you the very best wines from every region, we are excited to present these stunning Tuscan reds. These are great wines for any occasion and they will age beautifully.
 
Podere le Boncie Chiesamonti Toscana IGT, Tuscany, Italy 2021 750ml $74.50 special, 12 bottles available
Vinous 95 Points “The 2021 Chiesamonti is a potent, full-bodied wine that is going to need time to unwind. Herbs, wildflowers, spice, leather and menthol build in this backward, potent red from Le Boncie. There’s plenty of stuffing and textural intensity in this deep, resonant wine. I can’t wait to see how it ages.”
 
Podere le Boncie Le Trame, Toscana IGT, Tuscany, Italy 2021 750ml $74.50 special, 12 bottles available
Vinous 98 Points “The 2021 Le Trame is everything I hoped it would be. Intensely aromatic, silky and deep, with explosive fruit, the 2021 is a rapturously beautiful wine that captures proprietor Giovanna Morgante at her very best. Readers will have to be patient, as the 2021 needs time to be at its most expressive, but its potential is already evident from the very early going. Le Boncie could very well turn out to be Italy’s next superstar estate. Readers will want to snap up these wines before that becomes apparent to the public.”
 

 
 Hot Deal!  Brancaia Tre Toscana IGT, Tuscany, Italy 2021 750ml $20.90 special, 36 bottles available
James Suckling 93 Points “Aromas of ripe blackberries and mulberries with blue flowers and dried rosemary undertones. Some dry earth, too. Medium- to full-bodied with creamy tannins and chalky texture. Succulent and racy. From organically grown grapes. Drink or hold.”
 

Casanova di Neri Tenuta Nuova, Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Italy 2018 750ml $115 special, 12 bottles available
Wine Advocate 95 Points “Here’s a treat from Casanova di Neri. Aged in tonneaux for 30 months, the 2018 Brunello di Montalcino Tenuta Nuova is fleshed out and rich with pretty layers of dark fruit, dried blackberry, spice and cured tobacco. There is a point of sour cherry in this vintage that folds into crushed flower, balsam herb, licorice and crushed stone. The bouquet is classic, but the Casanova di Neri magic touch comes through thanks to the wine’s balance and pretty intensity. I can’t, however, overlook a powerful 15% alcohol content that leaves its mark.”

 

Shop Our Selections By Category:
Champagne * Austria * Brunellos * Oregon Pinot Noir * Rhone Reds * Rosé
And dozens more!

 

The Wines of Bartolo Mascarello



   
Sauvignon Blanc Conquers The World
             

 Staff Picks


Oregon Chardonnay
 

 

 

Tan Fruit Petite Tan Fruit Chardonnay 2022 750ml $19 special, 36+ bottles available
Vinopolnote “Electric lemonade! This zippy, bargain priced introduction to Jimmy Maresh’s oeuvre, features finely tuned stone fruit notes and lightly toasted hazelnut aromas. This is an even better release then the 2021 vintage featuring more nuance and character… we almost never see quality chardonnay at this price anymore!”
 
Goodfellow Chardonnay ‘Vin Soif,’ Willamette Valley, Oregon 2023 750ml $24 special, 30 bottles available
Vinopolnote “12% alcohol? What year is this?! I’m so happy I met this bottle… like many consumers I’ve noticed the steady alcoholic uptick in formerly cool climates like the Willamette Valley. Well, Goodfellow is bucking that trend with this lovely little summer sipper. Bright and fresh on the palette, this wine features eggshell and preserved lemon on the nose, and fresh citrus on the palette with a lightly toasted hazelnut finish.”
 
Kelley Fox Chardonnay Willamette Valley 2023 750ml $26 special, 19 bottles available
Vinopolnote “How does she keep doing it? With every vintage and every wine, I keep asking myself this. And it leads to a natural follow-up question regarding Kelley Fox… how much longer will I be able to afford her wines? Citrus and stone fruit are immediately evident on the palette, buoyed by fresh acidity, and lingering floral aromas. Kelley Fox is the Queen of the Willamette natural wine scene and the insane depth of this, her most basic Chardonnay, shows why.

 

 

 

What’s the secret to greatness? Is it luck or hard work? In the case of Weingut Carl Loewen, it’s a bit of both. The estate has been in the Loewen family for 3 generations now, lucky for the current generation who inherited it, however it was also their diligence and hard work that have brought them such an eclectic and enviable patchwork of great vineyards to choose from. You see, in the 1980’s and 90’s when the German wine industry was still in disarray, the Lowen family began buying up the steepest, most dilapidated, and unwanted vineyards in Mosel and rehabilitating them. In addition, many of these vineyards still retained super low-yielding, ungrafted, plantings up to 120 years old!
 
These wines present an authenticity that simply cannot be found from younger plantings or upstart wineries that still trying to find their sea-legs. As luck would have it, we have 8 of these great wines at some of — if not the— lowest prices in the United States.
 
This is one of the wine world’s great unicorn wines, the Carl Loewen 1896 Riesling is from the oldest Riesling vines in Germany, and from a Grand Cru steep Mosel vineyard that transmits absolute purity of terroir.
Weingut Carl Loewen ‘1896’ Longuicher Maximin Herrenberg Alte Reben Riesling, Mosel, Germany 2021 750ml $46.50 special, 10 bottles available
Mosel Fine Wines 93 Points “The 2021er Maximin 1896 Herrenberg Alte Reben Trocken, as it is referred to on the front label, is a dry wine picked on un-grafted vines planted in 1896 in a plot at the lower end of the vineyard and was fermented and matured in Fuder. It proves quite smoky and herbal at first before delivering a pure nose of freshly cut pineapple, greengage, pear, and minty herbs, all wrapped into lime and may tree. The wine proves zesty and pure on the light-weighted yet complex palate. It leaves a very intense and smoky feel in the long and focused finish. The after-taste is all about lime, spices, and herbs, with a touch of salty elements in the background. This is a really great dry Riesling.”
 

Lowest listed price in the USA

 
Weingut Carl Loewen Longuicher Herrenberg Riesling Kabinett, Mosel, Germany 2021 750ml $26 special, 5 bottles available
Mosel Fine Wines 90 Points “The wine is superbly light-weighted and finely juicy on the aromatic but fresh palate. The finish is very clean and precise with good length. This is a superb aromatic Kabinett to enjoy in its youth on its fruity side. 2025-2031+”
 

Lowest price on the West Coast

 
Carl Loewen Laurentiuslay Spatlese 2018 750ml $29 special, 3 bottles available
David Schildknecht-Vinous 93 Points “Grapefruit, lime and orange mingle with Persian melon and mango on the nose and the lusciously citric, brightly juicy yet subtly tropical palate. The feel is polished and, for all of the wine’s animating brightness, also subtly creamy. Incidentally, the wine was picked very early in October and a full week ahead of the corresponding (also highly successful) dry “Alte Reben” bottling.”
 

This is the only listing in the United States!

 
Weingut Carl Loewen Leiwener Laurentiuslay Riesling Spatlese, Mosel, Germany 2022 750ml $31.90 special, 12 bottles available
James Suckling 94 Points “Wonderful nose of white peach, lemon zest and fresh mint. Very bright and zesty with impressive energy this is an extremely refreshing wine for a Spatlese with the conventional amount of unfermented grape sweetness, in fact it taste barely off-dry. Exciting purity and precision at the vibrant finish. Vegan. Drink or hold.”
 

Lowest listed price in the USA

 
Weingut Carl Loewen Leiwener Laurentiuslay Alte Reben Riesling Trocken, Mosel, Germany 2021 750ml $33 special, 24 bottles available
James Suckling 93 Points “I love the delicate lemon balm and Amalfi lemon nose of this very elegant and filigree dry Mosel riesling. Long racy and lemony finish. Just 11.5% alcohol, but it’s still clearly medium-bodied, perhaps because of the up to 100 year old vines. Vegan. Drink or hold.”
 

Lowest price on the West Coast

 
Weingut Carl Loewen Longuicher Herrenberg Riesling Kabinett, Mosel, Germany 2022 750ml $26 special, 33 bottles available
James Suckling 93 Points “It’s hard to resist the warm peach fruit and baking spice aromas of this succulent Kabinett. However, on the palate this has an exciting twist of cassis freshness. Excellent vitality. From up to 100-year-old ungrafted vines.”

 

 

Burgundy
 
This little known village, located just outside of Chablis, is unique to the region as the only appellation for Sauvignon Blanc in the Burgundy region. Sharing the same Kimmeridgian clay soils as such famous spots as Chablis, the Cote des Bar, and certain sections of the Loire Valley. What you get from Saint Bris then is a Sauvignon Blanc with a more Chablisienne sensibility and elegance. Don’t sleep on this wine, it’s an oft-overlooked gem.
 
Domaine Felix Saint-Bris Sauvignon 2019 750ml $24 special, 4 bottles available
Producer Note “Its vivacious nature is enhanced by minerals notes that give it a good structure. The end is very pleasant and leaves the palate fresh and wanting more.”
 
Bordeaux
 
Normally a blend of Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, and other lesser known regional  grape s, this Bordeaux Blanc is a rare example of a single varietal Sauvignon Blanc. Expect excellent great minerality and crispness form this wine. It’s a rarity!
 
Closerie du Pelan Blanc 2016 750ml $36 special, 8 bottles available
Importer Notes “Comprising a miniscule portion of the estate’s total production, the Closerie du Pelan Blanc is 100% Sauvignon Blanc, vinified and aged in steel, with malolactic fermentation having occurred without inducement. This 2016 is ripe but bright, with notes of preserved lemon and a hint of salt–a supremely satisfying and unfussy white Bordeaux.”
 
 
The Loire Valley
 
Home to many of the finest (and priciest, let’s not mince words) Sauvigon Blancs on the market, the Loire Valley is home to wines that represent both the sophistication of centuries old tradition and some of the most radical, naturally observant and terroir forward wineries in the world.
 
Gerard Boulay Sancerre Mont Damnes 2022 750ml $59 special, 16 bottles available
Gerard Boulay Sancerre Mont Damnes 2022 1.5L $119 special, 3 magnums available
Importer Note “Boulay began farming the steeply sloped Mont Damnés vineyard in 1982. His plot has an average vine age of 45 years. Mont Damnés’ reflective soils and south-facing exposition make it one of Chavi¬gnol’s warmest sites. Overall, Gerard Boulay’s “terre blanche” vineyards produce some of the most distinctive and soil-inflected Sauvignon Blancs in the Loire, with a delineation and minerality often reminiscent of a top Chablis. Boulay is certainly among the top examples of the appellation, including Boulay’s neighbors (Cotat Bros., Vatan). These are gorgeous, highly complex wines that are a clear step above “regular” Sancerre, and can age easily for 10-20 years or more. In fact, we have had them all the way back to the 1959 which was magnificent! They confirm Boulay’s place in the top ranks of Loire Valley vignerons.”
 
Dagueneau Sancerre Mont Damne 2019 750ml $249 special, only one 1 bottle available
Rebecca Gibb MW-Vinous 94 Points “The 2019 Sancerre Le Mont Damné has an intensity and bounce to it as if it is heralding the start of an announcement on a tannoy: bing, bong, bing. Off this prized kimmeridgian soil vineyard above the village of Chavignol, it remains closed and a little uptight, making you wait for the big reveal. While many 2019 Sancerres were on the bigger side, this is taut and precise with no sense of any overripeness nor alcohol heaviness. It’s not Sauvignon Blanc-like either, speaking more of its place than variety, which seems to be the goal of every producer in Sancerre, which is rather disrespectful to the grape in my mind. Instead, there’s a crystalline character, a savoriness, crip apple and the merest hint of almond. Exemplary stuff.”
 
Domaine Ferand Girard Sancerre La Garenne 2022 750ml $29 special, 5 bottles available
Importer Note “100% Sauvignon Blanc. ‘La Garenne’ was named for the original 2.5-hectare plot from which it came. Today, the name remains while the fruit may come from across the fifth-generation Girards’ 14 hectares of vines, which are spread over slopes in five communes including Verdigny and Saint Satur and which include three distinct terroirs: gravel soils (caillottes), flint (silex) and heavy clay (grosses terres). The Girards farm sustainably and harvest the steepest slopes by hand and the flatter sites by machine. Parcels are vinified separately–fermented with native yeasts in steel tank–then aged in tank and blended (the US only sees ‘La Garenne’).”
 
JD Pabiot Pouilly Fume Aubaine 2021 750ml $44.50 special, 22 bottles available
Rebecca Gibb MW-Vinous 90 Points “The 2021 Aubaine is aromatic with floral and gooseberry characters. Having spent 18 months in concrete tank on lees and tasted every two weeks to check the condition, it has taken on a richness of texture and breadth that coats the palate. It is suave and ready to enjoy, with a pretty elderflower scent lingering on the medium-length, lightly savory finish.”
 
Roc de L’abbaye Sauvignon Blanc Val de Loire 2022 750ml $19.50 special, 11 bottles available
Wine Enthusiast 92 Points “Classic Loire Sauvignon Blanc. This wine has a well-integrated nose of white peach, green apple, orange and lemon citrus, wild thyme and honeysuckle. Red apple slice and dried grass add depth and complexity along with minerality on the finish.”
 
Vatan Sancerre Clos Neore 2018 1.5L $699 special, 2 bottles available
Rebecca Gibb MW-Vinous 96 Points “Clarity is a term that accurately describes the 2018 Sancerre Clos La Neore. It has a pure and intense core of fruit. But it’s not fruity. It’s a sophisticated style with a distinctive aromatic profile- chamomile tea, lemon, honey, and almond meal and an almost tonic-like edge. While showing the ripeness of the 2018 season, it retains its shape with a corset of acidity and phenolics that guide the wine on and on.”
 

New Arrivals
 
 

 
Azienda Gulfi Societa Agricola


 
“Anyone who doubts the longevity and site-transparent properties of Nero d’Avola needs to only check with the Gulfi portfolio.” -Eric Guido, Vinous
 

Gulfi Nerosanlore Sicilia IGT, Sicily, Italy 2017 750ml $44.50 special, 12 bottles available
James Suckling 93 Points “Old tile and ripe berry with some flowers and nuts. Just a hint of dried fruit. Full-bodied with round, succulent tannins and a juicy and tangy finish. From organically grown grapes. Drink now.”
 
Gulfi Cerasuolo di Vittoria DOCG, Sicily, Italy 2022 750ml $24 special, 22 bottles available
James Suckling 91 Points “Fresh, brambly nose with hibiscus and geraniums. Crunchy and elegant on the palate with a medium body and some firm tannins that carry the red cherries and raspberries. Fresh and expressive.”
 
Gulfi Rossojbleo Nero d’Avola Sicilia IGT, Sicily, Italy 2022 750ml $21.90 special, 22 bottles available
Winery Note “Nero d’Avola 100%, grown as a sapling carried on an espalier. Nero d’Avola takes its name from Avola, a town near Pachino in the province of Syracuse, where several centuries ago it was selected by the winemakers of the area. Grown without synthetic inputs or irrigation, this is the entry-level offering from Gulfi. Meant to be a light and juicy iteration of Nero D’Avola.”

 

Oregon
 
 Hot deal!  Illahe Pinot Gris, Willamette Valley, USA 750ml $21.90 special, 12 bottles available
Winery Note “The aromatics of the gris jump out of the glass with notes of sweet grass, honey crisp apple, animal cracker, lemon, ginger, honey, dried apricot and a hint of salinity. Our wooden foudre helps give this gris has lovely texture with centered acidity and rich juicy mouthfeel.”
 
France
 

 
In the Macon, tucked away below the magnificent limestone “Rock of Vergisson” which juts fin-like above the village of Vergisson, lies Domaine Sangouard-Guyot, a self-described “human-sized” winery that has produced small-scale, hand-made chardonnays for generations. The Rock, a product of the Mesozoic era, shows signs of habitation since prehistoric… perhaps ancient ancestors of current proprietor Pierre-Emmanuel? While the family has farmed their land since the 1850’s, there is a true lived-in quality to these wines and a great sense of place which is less common to the Macon than many other regions of Burgundy.
 

 
Domaine Sangouard-Guyot Macon Vergisson La Roche, Burgundy, France 2022 750ml $21.90 special, 24 bottles available
Winery Notes “This Mâcon-Vergisson La Roche, aka “The Rock” grows on a plot of land of 50 acres on the limestone Rock of Vergisson. Thanks to its soil and southern aspect, right on the border of Pouilly-Fuissé, this wine is said to be Pouilly-Fuissé’s “little brother. Although very pleasant to drink young, the wine will grow softer with aging for up to 5 years! The nose is generous, fruity and floral, sometimes slightly muscat like. The mouth is smooth with nice flavours of exotic fruit.”
 
Domaine Sangouard-Guyot Macon Vineuse Clos de Bressandes, Burgundy, France 2022 750ml $21.90 special, 24 bottles available
Winery Notes “This Mâcon-Villages grows on a plot of 1 ha (2,5 acres) “Le clos de la Bressande” in the village of Hurigny. Thanks to its exposure to sun (south/south-east) the grapes ripen beautifully to make this refreshing wine with very present aromas of fruit and flowers protected by low-temperature maturing. It is a refreshing wine with very present aromas of fruit (peaches) and flowers (acacia, hawthorn): a delightful wine!”

 Staff Picks


Oregon Chardonnay

 

 

Tan Fruit ‘Petite Tan Fruit’ Chardonnay, USA 2022 750ml $19 special, 36+ bottles available
Vinopolnote “Electric lemonade! This zippy, bargain priced introduction to Jimmy Maresh’s oeuvre, features finely tuned stone fruit notes and lightly toasted hazelnut aromas. This is an even better release then the 2021 vintage featuring more nuance and character… we almost never see quality chardonnay at this price anymore!”
 

Lowest Price in the USA

 
Goodfellow Chardonnay ‘Vin Soif,’ Willamette Valley, Oregon 2023 750ml $24 special, 30 bottles available
Vinopolnote “12% alcohol? What year is this?! I’m so happy I met this bottle… like many consumers I’ve noticed the steady alcoholic uptick in formerly cool climates like the Willamette Valley. Well, Goodfellow is bucking that trend with this lovely little summer sipper. Bright and fresh on the palette, this wine features eggshell and preserved lemon on the nose, and fresh citrus on the palette with a lightly toasted hazelnut finish.”
 

Kelley Fox Wines Willamette Valley Chardonnay, Oregon, USA 2023 750ml $26 special, 19 bottles available
Vinopolnote “How does she keep doing it? With every vintage and every wine, I keep asking myself this. And it leads to a natural follow-up question regarding Kelley Fox… how much longer will I be able to afford her wines? Citrus and stone fruit are immediately evident on the palette, buoyed by fresh acidity, and lingering floral aromas. Kelley Fox is the Queen of the Willamette natural wine scene and the insane depth of this, her most basic Chardonnay, shows why. 
 

 

 

Burgundy
 
This little known village, located just outside of Chablis, is unique to the region as the only appellation for Sauvignon Blanc in the Burgundy region. Sharing the same Kimmeridgian clay soils as such famous spots as Chablis, the Cote des Bar, and certain sections of the Loire Valley. What you get from Saint Bris then is a Sauvignon Blanc with a more Chablisienne sensibility and elegance. Don’t sleep on this wine, it’s an oft-overlooked gem.
 
Domaine Felix Saint-Bris Sauvignon, Burgundy, France 2019 750ml $24 special, 4 bottles available
Producer Note “Its vivacious nature is enhanced by minerals notes that give it a good structure. The end is very pleasant and leaves the palate fresh and wanting more.”
 

This is the only listing in the United States

Bordeaux
 
Normally a blend of Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, and other lesser known regional  grapes, this Bordeaux Blanc is a rare example of a single varietal Sauvignon Blanc. Expect excellent great minerality and crispness form this wine. It’s a rarity!
 
Closerie du Pelan Blanc, Vin de France 2016 750ml $36 special, 8 bottles available
Importer Notes “Comprising a miniscule portion of the estate’s total production, the Closerie du Pelan Blanc is 100% Sauvignon Blanc, vinified and aged in steel, with malolactic fermentation having occurred without inducement. This 2016 is ripe but bright, with notes of preserved lemon and a hint of salt–a supremely satisfying and unfussy white Bordeaux.”
 
 
The Loire Valley
 
Home to many of the finest (and priciest, let’s not mince words) Sauvigon Blancs on the market, the Loire Valley is home to wines that represent both the sophistication of centuries old tradition and some of the most radical, naturally observant and terroir forward wineries in the world.
 
Gerard Boulay Sancerre Les Monts Damnes, Loire, France 2022 750ml $59 special, 16 bottles available
Gerard Boulay Sancerre Les Monts Damnes, Loire, France 2022 1.5L $119 special, 3 magnums available
Importer Note “Boulay began farming the steeply sloped Mont Damnés vineyard in 1982. His plot has an average vine age of 45 years. Mont Damnés’ reflective soils and south-facing exposition make it one of Chavi¬gnol’s warmest sites. Overall, Gerard Boulay’s “terre blanche” vineyards produce some of the most distinctive and soil-inflected Sauvignon Blancs in the Loire, with a delineation and minerality often reminiscent of a top Chablis. Boulay is certainly among the top examples of the appellation, including Boulay’s neighbors (Cotat Bros., Vatan). These are gorgeous, highly complex wines that are a clear step above “regular” Sancerre, and can age easily for 10-20 years or more. In fact, we have had them all the way back to the 1959 which was magnificent! They confirm Boulay’s place in the top ranks of Loire Valley vignerons.”
 
Louis-Benjamin – Didier Dagueneau Sancerre ‘Le Mont Damne’, Loire, France 2019 750ml $249 special, only one 1 bottle available
Rebecca Gibb MW-Vinous 94 Points “The 2019 Sancerre Le Mont Damné has an intensity and bounce to it as if it is heralding the start of an announcement on a tannoy: bing, bong, bing. Off this prized kimmeridgian soil vineyard above the village of Chavignol, it remains closed and a little uptight, making you wait for the big reveal. While many 2019 Sancerres were on the bigger side, this is taut and precise with no sense of any overripeness nor alcohol heaviness. It’s not Sauvignon Blanc-like either, speaking more of its place than variety, which seems to be the goal of every producer in Sancerre, which is rather disrespectful to the grape in my mind. Instead, there’s a crystalline character, a savoriness, crip apple and the merest hint of almond. Exemplary stuff.”
 
Domaine Fernand Girard Sancerre La Garenne, Loire, France 2022 750ml $29 special, 5 bottles available
Importer Note “100% Sauvignon Blanc. ‘La Garenne’ was named for the original 2.5-hectare plot from which it came. Today, the name remains while the fruit may come from across the fifth-generation Girards’ 14 hectares of vines, which are spread over slopes in five communes including Verdigny and Saint Satur and which include three distinct terroirs: gravel soils (caillottes), flint (silex) and heavy clay (grosses terres). The Girards farm sustainably and harvest the steepest slopes by hand and the flatter sites by machine. Parcels are vinified separately–fermented with native yeasts in steel tank–then aged in tank and blended (the US only sees ‘La Garenne’).”
 
Jonathan Didier Pabiot Pouilly-Fume Aubaine, Loire, France 2021 750ml $44.50 special, 22 bottles available
Rebecca Gibb MW-Vinous 90 Points “The 2021 Aubaine is aromatic with floral and gooseberry characters. Having spent 18 months in concrete tank on lees and tasted every two weeks to check the condition, it has taken on a richness of texture and breadth that coats the palate. It is suave and ready to enjoy, with a pretty elderflower scent lingering on the medium-length, lightly savory finish.”
 
Domaine Roc de l’Abbaye – Florian Mollet Sauvignon Blanc, IGP Val de Loire, France 2022 750ml $19.50 special, 11 bottles available
Wine Enthusiast 92 Points “Classic Loire Sauvignon Blanc. This wine has a well-integrated nose of white peach, green apple, orange and lemon citrus, wild thyme and honeysuckle. Red apple slice and dried grass add depth and complexity along with minerality on the finish.”
 
Edmond Vatan Sancerre Clos la Neore, Loire, France 2018 1.5L $699 special, 2 bottles available
Rebecca Gibb MW-Vinous 96 Points “Clarity is a term that accurately describes the 2018 Sancerre Clos La Neore. It has a pure and intense core of fruit. But it’s not fruity. It’s a sophisticated style with a distinctive aromatic profile- chamomile tea, lemon, honey, and almond meal and an almost tonic-like edge. While showing the ripeness of the 2018 season, it retains its shape with a corset of acidity and phenolics that guide the wine on and on.”