On Sale Now
 

The emergence of “New California” has been one of the most exciting developments in the wine world this century. The name refers to a growing number of Golden State producers making more balanced, structured wines from a state where bigger has too often been used as shorthand for better.  The results have been thrilling, especially for people who generally prefer European wines.
 
We’re proud to offer one of the movement’s vanguard producers: Bedrock Wino Co. and its creator and winemaker, Morgan Twain-Peterson. His wines stand as flagships for the current California wine industry. Although he was born into the Californian wine industry (his father Joel Peterson founded Ravenswood) he comes by his passion and vision are very much his own.  He’s blazing his own, very opinionated and talented trail, focusing on the preservation of California’s heritage vineyards and their wines.
 
The focus is ancient vines of Zinfandel, Carignan, Mourvèdre, Tempranillo, Alicante Bouschet, Valdigué, Peloursin, and Petit Bouschet, to name a few. These vines, in Twain-Peterson’s view, represent so much more than California’s history. They represent a wine that is uniquely Californian, a style not to be found or replicated anywhere else in the world. He repeats again and again that wines are made in the vineyard—and he’s got a remarkable collection of them. Each site is co-fermented to give Bedrock their signature style.
 
This is could well be California’s future. The resulting wines aren’t shy, but the surprising aromatics and spice notes are delicate and only get better with time. They’ve got the fruit and depth that you would expect from California, but they’re tight, structured and will reward patience. Just don’t wait to buy while our sale is on…
 

5% off any 3-8 in-stock bottles of Bedrock
10% off any 9 or more in-stock bottles of Bedrock
 
Discount will not display online or in your cart,
We will adjust your invoice before processing your charge.
 
Sale ends Sunday, April 21st at 9 am Pacific.

 
We offer six options from Bedrock on sale now, including:
 
Bedrock Wine Co. Alta Vista Vineyard Gewurztraminer, Moon Mountain District 2019 750ml Displayed Price: $29, that’s $27.55 at 5% off and $26.10 at 10% off, 7 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 93 points “The 2019 Gewürztraminer Alta Vista Vineyard Old Vine is another compelling wine in this range. Readers will find a dry Gewürztraminer that emphasizes a whole range of savory and floral notes. Even so, the 2019 exudes richness and the layers open with time in the glass, bringing out the wine’s creaminess.”
 
Bedrock Wine Co. Evangelho Vineyard Heritage Red, Contra Costa County 750ml Displayed Price: $44.50, that’s $42.28 at 5% off and $40.05 at 10% off, 13 bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 96 points “From Zinfandel grown in the pure sand soils of this incredible site, the 2021 Evangelho Vineyard Heritage is lifted and pure with raspberry liqueur, fresh flowers, and brushy earth. Medium-bodied, with a highly refined structure, it reveals a floral perfume of herbes de Provence and rose petals that lasts long after the wine has dissipated. With fine tannins and a gorgeous, sandy mineral texture, it’s a beautiful wine to drink over the next 10 or more years.”
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 94 points “The 2021 Evangelho Heritage Wine is dark, sensual and wonderfully expressive. Blue fruit, spice, lavender and leather all meld together in this beautifully layered Zinfandel-based field blend. The 2021 possesses unreal complexity and depth, with much of its intensity coming from punishingly low yields. The 2021 is simply fabulous.”
 
Bedrock Wine Co. Hudson Vineyard T-Block Syrah, Carneros 2021 750ml Displayed Price: $59, that’s $56.05 at 5% off and $53.10 at 10% off, 1 bottle in stock now
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 94 points “The 2021 Syrah Hudson Vineyard T Block is a dense, powerful wine. Black cherry, black olive, spice, leather, lavender, and chocolate race across the palate brightened with a good dose of whole cluster suaveness. The 2021 is a full bodied, heavy wine that deftly balances rich, layered fruit and vibrant energy.”
 
Bedrock Wine Co. Monte Rosso Zinfandel, Sonoma Valley 2021 750ml Displayed Price: $69, that’s $65.55 at 5% off and $62.10 at 10% off, 6 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 95 points “The 2021 Zinfandel Monte Rosso, a blend from two blocks, is an elegant, understated wine that shows the more floral, savory side of this historic site. A wine more of nuance than power, the Monte Rosso Zinfandel is all pedigree. Sweet red-toned fruit, chalk, dried herbs, mint and blood orange add to a feeling of brightness. This is very nicely done, and yet I feel like there is more to this wine than it is showing today.”
Jeb Dunnuck 95 points “Pouring a richer purple with a ruby tinge, the 2021 Zinfandel Monte Rosso Vineyard has classic benchmark aromas of raspberry liqueur, fresh peach, and five spice. This medium to full-bodied red is fully dry, with more serious structure and ripe tannins, and what feels like more mountain fruit character, but it retains freshness throughout. Drink 2025-2040.”
 
Bedrock Wine Co. Pato Vineyard Heritage, Contra Costa County 2021 750ml Displayed Price: $49, that’s $46.55 at 5% off and $44.10 at 10% off, 11 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 94 points “The 2021 Pato Vineyard Heritage Wine is dark and brooding from the outset. Black cherry, gravel, incense, licorice, dried herbs, menthol, tobacco and cured meats are all amplified. In 2021, the Pato is mostly Zinfandel, with a big chunk of Petite Sirah, and it is the Petite that very much drives the overall feel.”
Skurnik Wines “From the southern edge of Oakley planted on sand, Pato Heritage wine is a lovely reflection of the vintage in this increasingly suburbanized area. Here, the sandy soils buffs away the variety’s rougher edges and makes for a deeply colored but elegant element of the wine filled with dark fruit and black pepper. This is combined with the vibrant fruit from Zinfandel to make a wine that is rich but svelte.”
 
Bedrock Wine Co. ‘The Bedrock Heritage’, Sonoma Valley 2021 750ml Displayed Price: $51.90, that’s $49.31 at 5% off and $46.71 at 10% off, 36+ bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 96 points “A deep but transparent red, the 2021 The Bedrock Heritage is about 50% Zinfandel and offers aromas of fresh pencil shavings, black cherry, roasted herbs, and fresh flowers. Full-bodied, it has fine sweet tannins and note of ripe berries, mocha, and turned soil. Drink over the next 10 years”

 
Shop our six selections on sale now on our webstore!
 

Don’t miss our additional sales going on now:
 
Merkelbach
 
5% off any 3-5 in-stock bottles of Merkelbach
10% off any 6 or more in-stock bottles of Merkelbach
 
Delamotte
 
5% off any 6-11 in-stock bottles of Delamotte
10% off any 12 or more in-stock bottles of Delamotte
 
Discount will not display online or in your cart,
We will adjust your invoice before processing your charge.
 
Merkelbach sale ends Friday, April 19th at 9 am Pacific. Delamotte sale ends Saturday, April 20th at 9 am Pacific.

On Sale Now
 

Delamotte is best known as the more affordable sister estate of Salon—the original luxury-collectible single vineyard Blanc de Blancs from Le Mesnil. They share viticultural, winemaking, and management teams, per Wine Searcher. While overlooking Delamotte in favor of its wildly more expensive sister is understandable, it ignores the fact that Delamotte is a Champagne House of note in its own right.
 
What makes these Champagnes so special? These represent some of the finest Blanc de Blancs (Chardonnay) terroirs in all of Champagne. These Champagnes define chalk: the precious fruit is grown on the slopes of the Grand Cru villages of Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, Avize, Oger, and Cramant. The wines are given just a small dosage to allow the Cote des Blancs terroir to shine. The Pinot Noir and Meunier grapes, too, hail from illustrious Grand Cru villages well known to insiders: Bouzy, Ambonnay and Tours-sur-Marne.
 
These are enchanting and captivating Cote des Blancs Champagnes worthy of your attention (and ample space in your cellar). At a tenth of the price of their sister estate, these offer an incredible value, especially during our three-day sale!
 

5% off any 6-11 in-stock bottles of Delamotte
10% off any 12 or more in-stock bottles of Delamotte
 
Discount will not display online or in your cart,
We will adjust your invoice before processing your charge.
 
Sale ends Saturday, April 20th at 9 am Pacific.

 
We offer five options from Delamotte on sale now, including:
 
Delamotte Blanc de Blancs Brut NV 750ml Displayed Price: $79, that’s $75.05 at 5% off and $71.10 at 10% off, 36+ bottles in stock now
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% reserve wines. Drink now. – July 19, 2023”
 
Delamotte Brut NV 750ml Displayed Price: $59, that’s $56.05 at 5% off and $53.10 at 10% off, 36+ bottles in stock now
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. 6,250 cases made.”
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.”

Delamotte Blanc de Blancs Brut 2014 750ml Displayed Price: $135, that’s $128.25 at 5% off and $121.50 at 10% off, 7 bottles in stock now
Delamotte Blanc de Blancs Brut 2014 1.5L Displayed Price: $299, that’s $284.05 at 5% off and $269.10 at 10% off, 1 magnum in stock now
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.”
Audrey Frick-Jeb Dunnuck 94 points “A blend of the six Grand Cru villages of the Cote de Blancs, with 6.5 grams per liter dosage, the 2014 Champagne Blanc de Blancs Brut is fresh and precise, with aromas of vibrant green apple, pleasant reduction with flint, and delicate smoke, citrus blossoms, and wet stone. The transition to the palate is seamless and linear, with crisp and crunchy green fruit, and is electric with lime candy, a refined mousse, and a chalky texture. It warrants more time before opening, but it is delicious and refreshing now. Drink over 2023-2043.”
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 94 points “The 2014 Blanc de Blancs is seriously impressive. Ample in feel, Delamotte is especially rich in 2014, and yet there is plenty of freshness to balance things out. This is an especially savory style for Delamotte, and one that works so well. Dried lemon peel, pastry, almond, dried herbs and chamomile open in a beautifully translucent Blanc des Blancs that marries power and finesse. I can’t wait to see how it ages.”
 
Delamotte Brut Rosé NV 750ml Displayed Price: $119, that’s $113.05 at 5% off and $107.10 at 10% off, 10 bottles in stock now
Audrey Frick-Jeb Dunnuck 94 points “[Reviewed in 2023] The NV Champagne Rosé is a blend of 80% Chardonnay and the rest Pinot Noir, with the base of 2019, and 15% still red wine. It pours a salmon/orange-tinged hue and opens in the glass to fresh, floral, pretty aromas of nectarine, salted orange, fresh rose petal, and curry spice. Medium-bodied, it has a wonderful chalky and pithy texture, with a pinpoint mousse that’s almost an afterthought. Ripe with fruit but well-balanced and long, with mouthwatering acidity, its spicier notes (cardamom, perhaps?) start to reveal themselves as it opens, and the wine lasts long on the palate. It is quite distinctive. Drink 2024-2040. 8 grams per liter dosage.”
 
[Base vintages may differ from reviews]

 
Shop our five selections on sale now on our webstore!

Don’t miss our additional sales going on now:
 
Racines
 
5% off any 3-5 in-stock Racines wines
10% off any 6 or more in-stock Racines wines
 
Merkelbach
 
5% off any 3-5 in-stock bottles of Merkelbach
10% off any 6 or more in-stock bottles of Merkelbach
 
Discount will not display online or in your cart,
We will adjust your invoice before processing your charge.
 
Racines sale ends Thursday, April 18th at 9 am Pacific. Merkelbach sale ends Friday, April 19th at 9 am Pacific.

On Sale Now!
 

“Should we all buy more Merkelbach? Yes, of course!” – Mosel Fine Wines
 
We adore the wines of Weingut Alfred Merkelbach, irrationally and perhaps more than any other grower in the Mosel. They set the curve for the term “old-school,” having made their wines in similar style for almost 70 years. These wines capture the delicacy and etherealness of Riesling like few other wines we’ve tried. Terry Theise, when importing the wines for Skurnik, described their wines as “like VAPING Mosel Riesling.”
 
The estate is owned by two brothers, Alfred and Rolf. With no descendants to hand off the estate to, they quietly continued their work following decades of experience, practice and dedication to traditional methods of winemaking. The brothers live simply, love what they do and don’t seem to find any joy in excess, just pure satisfaction in doing what is exactly right, if the prices and Terry Theise’s stories are to be believed. They are of the dying breed in the Mosel, producing wines of a different era from vines planted decades ago.
 
The tiny estate boasts mostly ancient (and sometimes ungrafted) vines grown on steep terraces along the Mosel River in Urzig and in Kinheim. When most of the Ürziger Würzgarten vineyards were replanted during the re-alignment of the vineyards, Merkelbach’s vines remained on original rootstock. Today, the vines average around 50 years of age, spring chickens next to the brothers themselves.
 
The resulting wines are some of the most haunting expressions of the Mosel. They have a charm and an energy that’s unlike almost any other wine we’ve tasted. In fact, their closest comparison might not be in the Mosel at all, but rather with Jacky Truchot’s wines in Burgundy—another producer who managed to create unbearably delicate, ethereal wines that bottles sunshine and joy.
 
It was no secret that the brothers planned to retire. It’s one of the many reasons that we feel a painful tugging at the heart when we mention their wines to our readers. That announcement came with the 2018 vintage, the last they produced on their own.
 
As longtime lovers of these profound wines, we stocked up as much as we could in recent releases despite how bittersweet it felt to do so. We knew our readers would want to stash away some of these tremendous last vintages. For those who wish to stock up, now is the best opportunity to do so on our three-day sale. To those looking to try these wines for the first time – we doubt this will be your last and encourage you to take your first sip this very night.
 
Enjoy the wines now, enjoy them years from now; these wines could well outlast us all.
 
Check out a by-the-vintage guide & a quick explanation of the numbering system at the bottom of this newsletter!
 

5% off any 3-5 in-stock bottles of Merkelbach
10% off any 6 or more in-stock bottles of Merkelbach
 
Discount will not display online or in your cart,
We will adjust your invoice before processing your charge.
 
Sale ends Friday, April 19th at 9 am Pacific.

 
We offer twenty wines from Merkelbach on sale now, including highlights from:
 
Kinheimer Rosenberg:
 
Weingut Alfred Merkelbach Kinheimer Rosenberg Riesling Spätlese #2 2017 750ml Was $28, Now $24 special, that’s $22.80 at 5% off and $21.60 at 10% off, 24 bottles in stock now
Mosel Fine Wines 92 points “The 2017er Kinheimer Rosenberg Spätlese AP 2 was harvested at 88° Oechsle. It exhibits beautifully complex and refined aromatics blending floral elements with vineyard peach, grapefruit and spices. The wine is slightly reductive at first on the palate as it displays quite some racy acidity wrapped into a straight and pure structure. Notes of grapefruit, orange zest and spices emerge in the finish and lead to a slightly herbal and freshly tart feel in the after-taste. This is packed with quite some elements and only needs a couple of years to fully shine. 2025-2037.”
 
Weingut Alfred Merkelbach Kinheimer Rosenberg Riesling Spätlese #2 2018 750ml Displayed Price: $31.90, that’s $30.31 at 5% off and $28.71 at 10% off, 24 bottles in stock now
John Gilman-A View from the Cellar 92 points “The 2018 AP #2 Spätlese from the Rosenberg vineyard has a beautiful touch of exotic fruit to its aromatic constellation, wafting from the glass in a very refined blend of kiwi, strawberry, lime zest, an almost salty expression of slate, apple blossoms and bee pollen. On the palate the wine is vibrant, complex, medium-full and filigreed, with a lovely dollop of fruit at the core, superb mineral drive and grip, zesty acids and a long, complex and beautifully balanced finish. This is such a classic example of middle Mosel Spätlese, with stunning interplay of slate minerality, pure, precise fruit and floral tones. Just lovely. 2020-2050+. 92.”
 
Weingut Alfred Merkelbach Kinheimer Rosenberg Riesling Spätlese #3 2018 750ml Displayed Price: $31.90, that’s $30.31 at 5% off and $28.71 at 10% off, 32 bottles in stock now
John Gilman-A View from the Cellar 92+ points “The 2018 Rosenberg Spätlese AP #3 from the Merkelbachs is a touch more mineral in personality and has just a bit more mid-palate stuffing than the AP #2 version, but without sacrificing any of the classic filigree of this Prädikat level. It is also the more reserved of the two bottlings in its youthful phase, offering up scents of apple, pear, a beautiful base of slate, incipient notes of bee pollen, violets and iris blossoms. On the palate the wine is pure, medium-full and quite solid at the core, with lovely mineral undertow, zesty acids and fine focus and grip on the long and nascently complex finish. This is the Rosenberg Spätlese from 2018 that is going to demand a bit of bottle age before it starts to blossom, so the AP #2 is by far the better selection for those who are predisposed to want to drink their Merkelbach Spätlese on the early side. But, this wine will age superbly. 2024-2055+. 92+.”
 
Weingut Alfred Merkelbach Kinheimer Rosenberg Riesling Auslese #12 2018 750ml Was $33, Now $29, that’s $27.55 at 5% off and $26.10 at 10% off, 24 bottles in stock now
John Gilman-A View from the Cellar 93+ points “The AP #12 Rosenberg Auslese is a bit more glazed in personality than the AP #1 version, but it is really a pristine coating of botrytis and one could not ask for better! The beautiful bouquet wafts from the glass in a blend of pear, white grape, lavender, violets, bee pollen, a lovely touch of minerality and a whiff of apple blossoms in the upper register. On the palate the wine is vibrant, fullish and complex, with zesty acids, excellent focus and grip, a superb core and a very long, filigreed and extremely classy finish. This is a beautiful wine in the making. 2026-2065. 93+.”
 
 
Ürziger Würzgarten:
 
“Vivid, toe-curling clarity of fruit and terroir make this my most beloved Mosel agency. These are just some of the keenest, spiciest, most helplessly beautiful wines you can ever drink… Merkelbach’s wines are like the world before anyone wrote poems about it.”” –Terry Theise
 
Weingut Alfred Merkelbach Ürziger Würzgarten Riesling Kabinett #13 2018 750ml Displayed Price: $28 special, that’s $26.60 at 5% off and $25.20 at 10% off, 36+ bottles in stock now
Mosel Fine Wines 91 points “The 2018er Ürziger Würzgarten Riesling Kabinett was harvested from old un-grafted vines at 90° Oechsle in the part of the vineyard situated above the cellar of the Merkelbachs, just behind the village, and was fermented down to fruity-styled levels of residual sugar (50 g/l). It offers a hugely aromatic nose of white peach, apricot, floral elements and spices. The wine is beautifully balanced on the palate and leaves a long and refined feel of herbs in the finish. 2028-2048.”
 
Weingut Alfred Merkelbach Ürziger Würzgarten Riesling Spätlese #7 2018 750ml Displayed Price: $33 special, that’s $31.35 at 5% off and $29.70 at 10% off, 23 bottles in stock now
John Gilman-A View from the Cellar 93+ points “The AP #7 Würzgarten Spätlese from the Merkelbachs is also utterly classical in personality, but with more spice tones on both the nose and palate and an almost crystalline expression of the vintage that is utterly captivating. The superb bouquet wafts from the glass in a mix of lime, strawberries, kaleidoscopic slate minerality, bee pollen, a whisper of petrol, citrus zest and a topnote of fruit blossoms. On the palate the wine is vibrant, medium-full and slightly broader shouldered than the AP #5 version, with a great core of fruit, marvelous mineral drive and grip, zesty acids and a long, complex and perfectly balanced finish. This too is a marvelous interpretation of the Würzgarten, with perhaps a touch more depth than the AP #5, but not quite as filigreed in profile at the present time. Maybe- just maybe, this will ultimately nose out the AP #5 Spätlese with extended bottle age, but both wines are going to age beautifully and it is really hard to pick a favorite among them. They are differently style, quintessential expressions of Würzgarten Spätlese. 2023-2055+. 93+.”
 
Weingut Alfred Merkelbach Ürziger Würzgarten Riesling Spätlese #4 2020 750ml Displayed Price: $33.50, that’s $31.83 at 5% off and $30.15 at 10% off, 8 bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 92 points “From the core of the Würzgarten, including the Urglück parcel whose fuder wasn’t fine enough to be bottled alone (also in 2021), the 2020 Ürziger Würzgarten Riesling Spätlese (AP 4 21) is pure and discreet on the well-concentrated yet still muted nose. Lush and round, this is a textured, fine and filigreed yet quite intense and well-concentrated Würzgarten with a tight and saline finish. Still young, this Würzgarten should benefit from further bottle aging. 8.5% stated alcohol. Natural cork. Tasted in September 2022.”
 
Weingut Alfred Merkelbach Ürziger Würzgarten Riesling Auslese #7 2017 750ml Displayed Price: $33 special, that’s $31.35 at 5% off and $29.70 at 10% off, 27 bottles in stock now
Mosel Fine Wines 93 points “The 2017er Ürziger Würzgarten Auslese was harvested at 97° Oechsle. It displays a superbly aromatic, ripe and fruity nose of yellow peach, pineapple, honey, anise and smoke. The wine coats the rather intense palate with juicy yellow and honeyed fruits pepped up by a nice whiff of acidity. The finish is delicately smooth and long. This gorgeous “Auslese GK” in all but name only needs a decade to blossom. 2027-2047.”
Wine Spectator 93 points “A light, zesty style, with jellied lemon, yellow apple and crème brûlée notes. Very refreshing and mouthwatering, featuring a lithe profile that makes this easy to drink now. Rose water and mineral aromas echo on the finish. Drink now through 2035.—A.Z”

Weingut Alfred Merkelbach ‘Urglück’ Ürziger Würzgarten Riesling Auslese 2018 750ml Displayed Price: $39 special, that’s $37.05 at 5% off and $35.10 at 10% off, 36+ bottles in stock now
John Gilman-A View from the Cellar 94 points “The Urglück section of the Würzgarten is the Merkelbachs’ filet section, still planted with ungrafted old vines. The 2018 Urglück Auslese from Weingut Merkelbach is an utterly refined and effortless example of the vintage. The bouquet is the epitome of elegance, wafting from the glass in a blend of pear, apple, strawberry chiffon, bee pollen, lovely minerality, lime blossoms and hints of the honeycomb to come with bottle age. On the palate the wine is pure, bright and fullish, with lovely filigree and focus, a fine core, good mineral undertow and a long, nascently complex and simply superb finish. This is not flashy, but the one more pays attention to it, the further one is drawn into its bottomless sense of beauty. 2026-2065. 94.”
 
Weingut Alfred Merkelbach Ürziger Würzgarten Riesling Auslese #8 2019 750ml Displayed Price: $36 special, that’s $34.20 at 5% off and $32.40 at 10% off, 19 bottles in stock now
Mosel Fine Wines 94 points “The 2019er Ürziger Würzgarten Riesling Auslese AP 08 was harvested in the sector next to the Sonnenuhr. It offers a hugely attractive nose of vineyard peach, whipped almond cream, minty herbs, spices, William’s pear, and candied grapefruit. The wine is still on the sweet side on the palate, but its refined fruity and creamy side are superbly appealing. Add to this a great zest and a sense of purity side in the long and animating finish, and you have all the elements for a great playful Auslese in a decade and more. 2029-2059.”
 
Weingut Alfred Merkelbach Ürziger Würzgarten Riesling Auslese #2 2020 750ml Displayed Price: $39 special, that’s $37.05 at 5% off and $35.10 at 10% off, 10 bottles in stock now
Mosel Fine Wines 94+ points “The 2020er Ürziger Würzgarten Riesling Auslese AP 2 was made from essentially clean fruit picked at 94° Oechsle and was fermented down to sweet levels of residual sugar (80 g/l). It offers a most engaging nose made of pear, white peach, smoke, strawberry, smoke, and fine spices. The wine is stunningly fresh, subtly creamy, and incredibly intense on the palate. Yet the flavors are precise, focused, impactful, and then again playful. The finish is focused, finely chiseled, and incredibly persistent. The aftertaste is as light as mineral water and yet so full of flavors. This is a truly remarkable Riesling in the making, with ample Schmelz but also an incredible raciness and lightness which more than reminds us of the glorious Auslese from the 1990s! This Auslese is a great success, and even has upside potential, it is that good! 2030-2060.”
 
 
By-The-Vintage Guide:
 
2017 is a bit of an unusual year for the estate, as the natural levity and playfulness is tempered by the seriousness of the vintage. The result, though, is some of the most remarkable wines the brothers made since their breathtaking 2012’s. 
 
The 2018 vintage was a warm and generous year for Riesling. While some estates along the Mosel were left with out-of-control ripeness, to quote Mosel Fine Wines, “67 vintages of experience helped the mythical pair of brothers to navigate the vintage and to produce riper but still beautifully playful and engaging wines at all levels of the portfolio.” These are gorgeous wines that will age for decades as a lasting tribute to the final vintage the brothers produced on their own.
 
The 2019 vintage was to first in which Johannes Selbach of Selbach-Oster and his team assisted with vineyard maintenance, harvest, and vinification. Fans of the producer fear not, Johannes has kept the heart and soul of the brothers’ style.
 
2020 is similar in some respects to the two previous vintages: being warm and dry. Harvest started early, but was long and cool, allowing growers to time picking. The wines show more elegance than 2018 and less power than 2019. Per Skurnik, the wines are “juicy, succulent and draw you in,” with good extract, moderate alcohol, and structure.
 
Numbering Guide:
 
The Merkelbachs vinified each parcel separately, each fuder representing a different parcel. Because of their tiny cellar, their pradikät wines are composed of either one or two parcels, indicated by their AP number. We’ve included the AP number in the wines’ descriptions. This is the second to last set of numbers in a German pradikät wine’s entire, unique official registration number.
 
 
Shop the complete collection of Merkelbach wines on our sale now (that’s 20 options!) and browse our massive selection of 450 in-stock German Riesling options (that’s thousands of bottles!) on our webstore, including selections from Donnhoff, Molitor, and Selbach-Oster!

Don’t miss our additional sales going on now:
 
Envinate
 
5% off any 3-5 in-stock Envinate wines
10% off any 6 or more in-stock Envinate wines
 
Racines
 
5% off any 3-5 in-stock Racines wines
10% off any 6 or more in-stock Racines wines
 
Discount will not display online or in your cart,
We will adjust your invoice before processing your charge.
 
Envinate sale ends Wednesday, April 17th at 9 am Pacific. Racines sale ends Thursday, April 18th at 9 am Pacific

Top Burgundy & Champagne Winemakers Team Up in California
 
On Sale Now!
 

When one of the preeminent names in Burgundy, Étienne de Montille of Domaine de Montille, sought out land on the West Coast of America to craft Pinot Noir and Chardonnay with a Burgundian sensibility, it was only natural that he focused on the Santa Rita Hills in Santa Barbara County. (It’s a region that seems to pull at French hearts, as it did with the late Philippe Cambie and his joint project with Adam Lee of Siduri, named Beau Marchais.)
 
And draw more Frenchmen, it did. Étienne shared the news with his friend Rodolphe Péters of Champagne’s top-class grower estate, Pierre Péters, who quickly signed on and became the sparkling wine consultant for the project. Étienne partnered with Santa Barbara-area native and winegrower Justin Willett of Tyler Vineyards to manage the project on site.
 
The results? Exquisite and poised, these are wines that wowed even stodgy British palates with their complexity. To quote Beaune Imports, “the cool coastal climate and mineral based soils give [the project’s co-founders] confidence in light of global warming and it’s clear that Justin’s winemaking style would be at home in either Burgundy or Champagne.”
 

5% off any 3-5 in-stock Racines wines
10% off any 6 or more in-stock Racines wines
 
Discount will not display online or in your cart,
We will adjust your invoice before processing your charge.
 
Sale ends Thursday, April 18th at 9 am Pacific

 
We offer seven wines from Racines on sale now, including:
 
Racines Grand Reserve Sparkling Chardonnay, Sta Rita Hills NV 750ml Displayed Price: $66, that’s $62.70 at 5% off and $59.40 at 10% off, 9 bottles in stock now
Decanter 96 points “This is the best American sparkling wine I’ve ever tasted. The 2019 vintage base also includes 25% reserve wines from the 2017 and 2018 harvests. This Grand Reserve Chardonnay made from the cool Sta Rita Hills is crafted with a Champagne pedigree, and it shows. This Blanc de Blancs from across renowned Sta Rita Hills vineyards has undeniable Old World charm and sophistication. The aromatics boast ample toasted biscuit notes and great yeasty complexity from the 30 months on lees. The palate has a fantastic depth of fruit, spiced pear, cardamom, nutmeg and bruised apples. There is a subtlety of savoury biscuits and hints of almond cream. Elegant, yet bold and wildly delicious.”
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 94 points “The NV Sparkling Wine Grand Reserve is the first release in Racines’ sparkling wine project, done in collaboration with Rodolphe Peters. The first thing about the Grand Reserve readers Central Coast need to know is that it is a serious wine that greatly benefits from aeration. In fact, it only improved over the several days I followed it in bottle. My initial impression, however, was far less positive. So patience is key. Rich, ample and creamy with air, the Grand Reserve shows the rich, phenolic, mineral side of Sta. Rita Hills Chardonnay to great effect. Moreover, it has all the elements that are so often missing in the new wave of California sparkling wines, namely a fine mousse, good mid-palate depth and a long finish. The Racines sparkling wine is a work in progress, but the debut release is hugely promising.”
 
Racines ‘Sta. Rita Hills Cuvée’ Chardonnay 2020 750ml Displayed Price: $55, that’s $52.25 at 5% off and $49.50 at 10% off, 27 bottles in stock now
Decanter 93 points “A wonderfully complex wine with ample texture. The Sta Rita Hills Cuvée is sourced from some of Santa Barbara’s top Chardonnay sites. The wine sees very little new oak and, as a result, shines forth with delicate brilliance—classically cool climate Chardonnay aromatics of soft white florals, crushed chalk and a touch of mint. The palate has verve and energy with savoury petrichor-driven minerality coming to the fore, followed on by bruised apples, a touch of cardamom and honey to finish adding depth and complexity along the way.”
 
Racines Sanford & Benedict Vineyard Chardonnay, Sta. Rita Hills 2020 750ml Displayed Price: $99, that’s $94.05 at 5% off and $89.10 at 10% off, 3 bottles in stock now
Decanter 95 points “The historic Chardonnay parcel of original and own-rooted plantings dates back to 1971. These Chardonnay vines are the oldest vines in the Sta. Rita Hills Racy, yet richly textured and effusively aromatic, this wine shows a serious old vine complexity and the coastal influence of Santa Barbara county terroir. Aromatics of bruised apples and petrichor are punctuated by notes of sea foam and smoke. The palate is energised by savoury briny citrus and crushed chalk. Electric acidity amplifies the wines mineral character with hints of smoke and crushed limestone with hints of grilled lime and green mango. A revelatory California Chardonnay.”
 
Racines Wenzlau Family Vineyard Chardonnay, Sta. Rita Hills 2020 750ml Displayed Price: $89, that’s $84.55 at 5% off and $80.10 at 10% off, 21 bottles in stock now
Decanter 95 points “Beguiling complexity, depth and beauty mark this outstanding Chardonnay from the Wenzlau Family Vineyard in the Sta Rita Hills. In a year when so many of California’s wine regions were devastated by smoke, this wine shows a fresh, airy poise—delicate and precise aromas of crushed chalk, petrichor, sweet white flower pollen and hints of seaspray. The palate is exquisite; a sophistication of flavours and textures collide. A savoury, briny minerality outlines apricot skin, early-season nectarine and subtle hints of bee pollen. The finish is fine, filigreed and fresh.”
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 94 points “The 2020 Chardonnay Wenzlau Family Vineyard is one of the highlights in this range from Racines. Bright and dynamic, the 2020 is fresh, complex and also quite structured, making for a wonderfully complete wine that captures the essence of this rugged Sta. Rita Hills site. Readers should expect an intensely mineral, savory Chardonnay. I loved it.”
 
Racines ‘Sta. Rita Hills Cuvee’ Pinot Noir 2020 750ml Displayed Price: $54.50, that’s $51.78 at 5% off and $49.05 at 10% off, 20 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 93 points “The 2020 Pinot Noir Sta. Rita Hills Cuvée is a terrific introduction to the range. Crushed red berry fruit, mint, spice, rose petal and a touch of whole cluster savoriness are all beautifully delineated. This is suh a gorgeous and expressive Pinot.”
 
Racines ‘Sainte Rose’ Pinot Noir, Sta Rita Hill 2020 750ml Displayed Price: $79, that’s $75.05 at 5% off and $71.10 at 10% off, 9 bottles in stock now
Decanter 94 points “From organic vineyards along the Santa Rosa Road corridor, this Pinot Noir from Racines is a straightforward cooler site Pinot Noir from Sta Rita Hills. Aromas of strawberry fruit leather give way to notes of turned earth and crushed black basalt. The palate is savoury, with underlying dried fruit flavours. Montmorency cherries, garden soil and clove, evolve into notes of savoury herbs and streaks of graphite minerality.”
 
Racines Sanford & Benedict Vineyard Pinot Noir, Sta. Rita Hills 2020 750ml Displayed Price: $115, that’s $109.25 at 5% off and $103.50 at 10% off, 9 bottles in stock now
Decanter 94 points “From organic vineyards along the Santa Rosa Road corridor, this Pinot Noir from Racines is a straightforward cooler site Pinot Noir from Sta Rita Hills. Aromas of strawberry fruit leather give way to notes of turned earth and crushed black basalt. The palate is savoury, with underlying dried fruit flavours. Montmorency cherries, garden soil and clove, evolve into notes of savoury herbs and streaks of graphite minerality.”

 
Shop our seven selections on sale now on our webstore!
 

Don’t miss our additional sales going on now:
 
Envinate
 
5% off any 3-5 in-stock Envinate wines
10% off any 6 or more in-stock Envinate wines
 
Prinz
 
5% off any 6-11 in-stock wines from Prinz
10% off any 12 or more in-stock wines from Prinz
 
Discount will not display online or in your cart,
We will adjust your invoice before processing your charge.
 
Prinz sale ends Tuesday, April 16th at 9 am Pacific. Envinate sale ends Wednesday, April 17th at 9 am Pacific.

On Sale Now
 

Fred Prinz originally started Weingut Prinz as a “garagiste” or hobbiest winemaker operation in 1991. The critics quickly became enamored, and an invitation to join the legendary VDP consortium followed in 2005. Their estate vineyards are farmed organically, with a house style that aims for “minerality, elegance, finesse and ageing ability” that expresses terroir.
 
With high-elevation holdings in the Rheingau, the winery produces a full range of Riesling’s including the ultra-rare Eiswein. Eiswein is among the hardest wines to make on the entire planet, and is becoming rarer as climate change advances. This is on account of the time the Riesling grapes must spend on the vine as decreed by German law. There’s an endless list of things that could go wrong for the selected clusters during this time. Between the risks of rotting, not freezing sufficiently (it must reach at least -7 degrees Celsius), and hungry birds, production quantities are minuscule.
 
Johannes Selbach, winemaker-owner of Selbach-Oster and tastemaker extraordinaire of German wines (he helped Terry Theise launch his portfolio and connect with producers), was kind enough to recommend this winery to us. These are beloved and admired in Germany, yet relatively unknown in the USA. With Johannes’ guidance, we have selected a range of well-priced examples to share with you. Explore these near-exclusive releases on our three-day sale now!
 

5% off any 6-11 in-stock wines from Prinz
10% off any 12 or more in-stock wines from Prinz
 
Discount will not display online or in your cart,
We will adjust your invoice before processing your charge.
 
Sale ends Tuesday, April 16th at 9 am Pacific.

 
We offer eight wines from Prinz on sale now, including:
 
Weingut Prinz Rheingau Riesling Trocken 2020 750ml Displayed Price: $16, that’s $15.20 at 5% off and $14.40 at 10% off, 36+ bottles in stock now
Stuart Pigott (Suckling) 92 points “Very cool herbal, reine-claude plum and green-apple nose. Firm and racy with a firm mineral core. Mountain freshness at the finish. From organically grown grapes. Drink or hold. Screw cap.”
 

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

 
Weingut Prinz Hallgartener Riesling Trocken, Rheingau 2020 750ml Displayed Price: $19.50, that’s $18.53 at 5% off and $17.55 at 10% off, 36+ bottles in stock now
Stuart Pigott (Suckling) 93 points “Still a bit closed, but this has serious depth and quite some weight for 12.5% alcohol. Complex mint, tarragon and candied-lime aromas, married to fine tannins and crisp acidity. Intense, but quite austere finish. From organically grown grapes. Drink or hold.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

 
Weingut Prinz Hendelberg Riesling Trocken, Rheingau 2020 750ml Displayed Price: $28, that’s $26.60 at 5% off and $25.20 at 10% off, 36+ bottles in stock now
Stuart Pigott (Suckling) 94 points “Quite funky nose that needs some air to open up, then ripe-quince, apricot and lilac notes develop. Excellent structure behind the ripeness and creaminess, the herbal and mineral notes cascading over the palate at the firm, dry finish. From organically grown grapes.”
 

This is the only listing in the USA today!

 
Weingut Prinz Jungfer Riesling Grosses Gewachs, Rheingau 2020 750ml Displayed Price: $49, that’s $46.55 at 5% off and $44.10 at 10% off, 36+ bottles in stock now
Stuart Pigott (Suckling) 97 points “Very cool and reserved, but with great underplayed power, this is in every sense a very serious wine. Major structure crammed into a sleek package. Stunning depth at the very long, herbal and mineral finish. From organically grown grapes. Drink or hold.”
17.5 Jancis Robinson “Drink 2023 to 2030.”
 
Weingut Prinz Vom Bunten Schiefer Riesling Feinherb, Rheingau 2020 750ml Displayed Price: $16, that’s $15.20 at 5% off and $14.40 at 10% off, 36+ bottles in stock now
Stuart Pigott (Suckling) 92 points “Very clean, crisp and slatey, this has wonderful brightness and lightness of touch. Sleek and tight with a very dry balance for this (theoretically) medium-dry category. Firm finish that doesn’t let go. From organically grown grapes. Drink or hold. Screw cap.”
 

This is the only listing in the USA today!

 
Weingut Prinz Jungfer Riesling Kabinett, Rheingau 2020 750ml Displayed Price: $21.90, that’s $20.81 at 5% off and $19.71 at 10% off, 36+ bottles in stock now
Stuart Pigott (Suckling) 94 points “A stunning Kabinett that’s brimming with red apple, white peach and pomegranate. Very tense interplay of fruit, racy acidity and mountain-stream freshness. From organically grown grapes. Drink or hold.”
 

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

 
Weingut Prinz Hallgartener Jungfer Riesling Spatlese, Rheingau 2019 750ml Displayed Price: $34.50, that’s $32.78 at 5% off and $31.05 at 10% off, 36+ bottles in stock now
Stuart Pigott (Suckling) 97 points “Give yourself a holiday and forget all your cares! This super fine Spätlese has a stunning floral-honey, white-currant and dried-herb nose. Very succulent and concentrated with super bright acidity that interlocks beautifully. At the very mineral finish it’s almost dry. From organically grown grapes. Drink or hold.”
 

This is the only listing in the USA today!

 
Weingut Prinz Hallgartener Wurzgarten Riesling Eiswein, Rheingau 2016 375ml Displayed Price: $99, that’s $94.05 at 5% off and $89.10 at 10% off, 21 half-bottles in stock now
Mosel Fine Wines 93 points “AP: 63 17. The 2016er Riesling Eiswein was made from fruit harvested at approx. 120° Oechsle in Bernkastel, Erden and Ürzig on both November 29 and November 30, and was fermented down to noble-sweet levels of residual sugar (143 g/l). It develops a beautifully zesty and fresh nose of candied grapefruit, orange jelly, and spices, joined by riper notes of quince, pear puree, and almond cream after some airing. The wine is superbly balanced and refined on the palate, and leaves a rather pure and smooth feel in the very long and light finish. The sweetness still dominates the acid core in the after-taste at this stage, but this should change after a few years of cellaring. 2024-2036. (Oct 2019)”

 
This is the only listing in the USA today!
 
Shop our eight selections on sale now on our webstore!
 

Don’t miss our additional sale going on now:
 
Hundred Suns
 
5% off any 12 or more bottles of Hundred Suns
 
Discount will not display online or in your cart,
We will adjust your invoice before processing your charge.
 
Sale ends Sunday, April 14th at 9 am Pacific.