Need ideas? Browse our staff picks below:
 
California
 
Snowden Vineyards ‘Brothers Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2017 750ml Was $75, Displayed Price: $66, that’s $62.70 at 5% off and $59.40 at 10% off, 11 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 93+ points “The 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Brothers Vineyard is gorgeous. In this vintage, the Brothers has a bit more tannin and overall structure than normal, but in 2017 a power outage resulted in the wine staying in tank for an extra ten days. In the end, that looks to have been a help, as the 2017 offers a terrific combination of fruit density and structure, within the mid-weight style of the year at Snowden. This is a beguiling wine that may very well turn out to be a surprise in time. Super classic, old-school, medium-bodied wine with good depth and resonance alongside notes of black cherry, leather, tobacco, licorice and gravel.”
 

 
Ulysses Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Oakville, Napa Valley 2018 750ml Was $169, Displayed Price: $145, that’s $137.75 at 5% off and $130.50 at 10% off, 12 bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 99 points “Just about pure perfection and the finest wine I’ve tasted from this address, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon is mostly Cabernet Sauvignon yet includes smaller amounts of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, all from a site just north of Dominus. This deep, inky hued beauty offers up a beautiful, full-bodied, richly textured, and incredibly concentrated style that carries ample black and blue fruit as well as notes of crushed stone, scorched earth, graphite, and lead pencil. It has the focused, structured style of the 2018 vintage and is going to benefit from 4-6 years (if not a decade) of bottle age and will be a 30+ year wine.”
James Suckling 98 points “Aromas of terra cotta, chocolate and hazelnut with iron and ink. Dusty. Full-bodied and round. Layered. Flamboyant and juicy. Rather soft and gorgeous. Some walnut and chocolate at the end. Persistent. Always there. Drinkable now, but will age wonderfully.”
Antonio Galloni 97 points “The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon is the best wine off Christian Moueix’s Oakville ranch so far. Deep, creamy and generous, the 2018 captures the unqiue blend of fruit in a savoriness that is typical of the southern sector of Oakville where cooling winds from the south lend palpable freshness and vivacity to the vines. Black fruit, chocolate, spice, lavender and new leather are some of the many notes that build into the sumptuous finish.”
Joe Czerwinski-Wine Advocate 96 points “The current-release 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon shows more cherries and bay leaf on the nose than prior vintages. There’s still a solid framework of cedar, loam and cassis, hints of mocha and licorice, but there’s also a bit more freshness and lift. It’s medium to full-bodied and densely concentrated yet silky and finessed, with a long, elegant finish.”
 

 
 
Champagne
 
Charles Ellner Seduction Brut Millesime, Champagne 2007 750ml Was $69, Displayed Price: $59, that’s $56.05 at 5% off and $53.10 at 10% off, 20 bottles in stock now
International Wine Review 93 points “The 2007 ‘Seduction’ is a lovely showing from this house. This begins to impress with inviting aromas of baked apples, pears and lemon oil with hints of toast and chalky mineral nuances all taking shape. On the palate this displays a wonderful elegant side, but with plenty of energy from the underlying acidity which drives this wine through the complex finish. Overall this is a fantastic bottle of Champagne that is drinking beautifully today and still has a few more years of drinking pleasure ahead.”
 

 
 
Rhone
 
Domaine Saint Damien Gigondas Rose, Rhone 2021 750ml Was $28, Displayed Price: $21.90, that’s $20.81 at 5% off and $19.71 at 10% off, 18 bottles in stock now
Joe Czerwinski-Wine Advocate 89 points “The medium salmon-hued 2021 Gigondas Rose features scents of pink grapefruit, guava and melon. A blend of 50% Cinsault, 30% Mourvèdre and 20% Grenache, it’s medium-bodied, with a lovely, silky texture and a long finish that echoes of crushed stone and paraffin.”
Importer note “From the lieu dit “La Moutte” this tiny production rosé is from mostly 45 year old Cinsault planted in 1970, and 10-15 year old Mourvèdre and Syrah. Cold maceration for 6 hours in the press and slow pneumatic pressing. Fermentation in stainless steel tanks with occasional lees stirring. 70% Cinsault, 15% Syrah, 15% Mourvèdre. Soil: Red sandy clay soil with broken round stones (cailloux). Organic.”
 

 
Domaine du Tunnel Cornas, Rhone 2018 750ml Was $79, Displayed Price: $69, that’s $65.55 at 5% off and $62.10 at 10% off, 24 bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 95-97 points “Readers looking for the essence of Cornas would do well to pick up a case of the 2018 Cornas. Deep purple, with a heavenly bouquet of blueberries, raspberries, crushed violets, olives, ground pepper, and gamey meats, this beauty hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a balanced, classy texture, building yet polished tannins, and a great finish. It’s a winner.”
 

 
 
Tuscany
 
That’s right – all of our Close-Out case deals are included in this sale!
Fattoria Carpineta Fontalpino Do ut des Toscana IGT 2016 750ml Was $49, Displayed Price: $39, that’s $37.05 at 5% off and $35.10 at 10% off, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-6 Fattoria Carpineta Fontalpino Do ut des Toscana IGT 2016 750ml Displayed Price: $219, that’s $208.05 at 5% off and $197.10 at 10% off, 2 six-packs in stock now
James Suckling 95 points “The fruit here really takes your breath away with its intensity, as well as purity. Blackberry crumble, pressed violets, ink, iodine, charcoal, vanilla and resin. It’s the polish of the tannins that really makes this wine, carrying itself effortlessly over a shimmer of electric acidity to the long finish. Drink in 2023. Made from organically grown grapes.”
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 94 points “The 2016 Do Ut Des (a blend of Sangiovese, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon) exhibits a generous and expansive personality that hits the palate like a warm embrace from a favorite friend. This is a succulent and smooth red wine with thick layers of bold cherry, dried blackberry, leather, rose hip and scorched earth. In the mouth, the wine proceeds with medium- to full-bodied texture and elegantly contoured fruit flavors.”
Wine Spectator 94 points “Sleek and focused, with black currant, black cherry, plum, iron and tobacco flavors coursing through from start to finish. Tightly wound and vibrant, this lingers with subtle licorice and spice elements. Shows fine harmony and length. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot. Best from 2023 through 2036. 1,650 cases made, 200 cases imported. — BS”
 

 
La Gerla Riserva gli Angeli, Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2015 750ml Was $99, Displayed Price: $89, that’s $84.55 at 5% off and $80.10 at 10% off, 11 bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 96 points “Rich and round, here is a red full of macerated plum and cherry flavors, with almond, leather, spice and earth accents. Firms up on the finish, where the vibrant fruit echoes. Best from 2025 through 2050. 500 cases made, 280 cases imported. — BS”
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 95 points “The La Gerla 2015 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva gli Angeli is a softly textured and fleshed out wine that shows darker and deeper fruit (compared to the 2016 Brunello that I tasted at the same time). This wine makes a great first impression, mostly thanks to that sense of quiet balance. As it opens in the glass, I notice the pretty ripeness of the vintage with dark cherry and summer plum. In all, this Riserva gives us an accessible and rich expression that will perform nicely upon release. Production is 8,560 bottles, and this wine will hit the market in April 2021.”
Kerin O’Keefe-Wine Enthusiast 95 points “New leather, forest floor and ripe woodland-berry aromas make their way to the forefront together with whiffs of violet and pipe tobacco. Full bodied and firmly structured, the palate offers finesse and concentrated flavors including crushed raspberry, morello cherry, licorice and truffle framed in tightly knit, polished tannins. Drink 2023–2030.”
 

 
Rocca di Montegrossi Vin Santo del Chianti Classico, Tuscany 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.”
 

 
 
Germany
 
Weingut Clemens Busch Marienburg Riesling Kabinett, Mosel 2018 750ml Was $24, Displayed Price: $19, that’s $18.05 at 5% off and $17.10 at 10% off, 20 bottles in stock now
James Suckling 92 points “Lightly smoky with some lemon pith and dried spices. There’s some light sweetness here, but it’s nicely balanced out by the edgy acidity. Taut and very precise on the finish. Drink now.”
David Schildknecht-Vinous 91 points “White peach, apple, honeydew melon and lime are tinged with lemongrass and cilantro on the nose, and with nippy cress on an otherwise polished, lusciously fruited and subtly soothing palate. Nearly 60 grams of sugar manage to come off as entirely supportive, and the lingering finish both soothes and stimulates.”
 

 
Weingut Donnhoff Felsenberg Riesling Grosses Gewachs, Nahe 2020 750ml Was $79, Displayed Price: $66, that’s $62.70 at 5% off and $59.40 at 10% off, 19 bottles in stock now
James Suckling 98 points “If you are a terroir fundamentalist, then this enormous depth of smoky and wild-herb character will light your fire, but otherwise approach with caution. With the second and third sip you feel the attractive, grapefruity side of the wine. Then comes the paradox. There is also a touch of grapefruit-pith bitterness at the radically mineral finish, and this adds to the excitement. From organically grown grapes with Fair’n Green certification. Drink or hold.”
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 95 points “The 2020 Felsenberg GG is deep, intense and complex on the pure and elegant, well-defined and slightly flinty nose. Pure, intense and juicy on the palate, this is a crystalline, refined and salty Felsenberg with great terroir expression and length, even though the wine is still puristic or even ascetic in the finish. Not as charmingly fruity as Crusius’s interpretation but with the same length and tension. 13% alcohol. Tasted at the domain in July 2021 and again six weeks later in Wiesbaden during the GG tastings.”
 

 
Muller-Catoir Haardter Burgergarten ‘Im Breumel’ Riesling Grosses Gewachs, Pfalz 2018 750ml Was $49, Displayed Price: $39, that’s $37.05 at 5% off and $35.10 at 10% off, 36+ bottles in stock now
James Suckling 97 points “Very floral with pretty herbal undertones, ranging from coriander to dill to mint. The flowers range from jasmine to honeysuckle to almond blossom. Understated and elegant from the outset. The palate has a very chalky feel to the texture with overlapping, firm lines of acidity and dainty citrus fruit. Immaculately ironed-out edges and well-defined, linear crease. Drink now or hold.”
Winery Note “The age-worthy Riesling wines from this prime section of the Haardt Bürgergarten are characterised by the optimal balance between a concentrated Riesling fruit, lingering minerality, a delicate elegance and an elaborately interwoven, long finish – Riesling to perfection.”
 

 
 
Spain
 
Familia Nin-Ortiz ‘Nit de Nin’ Mas d’en Cacador, Priorat DOCa 2017 750ml Was $99, Displayed Price: $89, that’s $84.55 at 5% off and $80.10 at 10% off, 33 bottles in stock now
Luis Gutierrez-Wine Advocate 97+ points “The 2017 Nit de Nin Mas d’en Caçador is a vintage they talk about like this: “We will remember this vintage as one of the most extreme of the decade, along with that of 2012. It is in years like these that the work we do in the field is rewarded. In spite of the climatic exceptionality, we have acidity and pH that seem like a miracle to us. Our vines did not suffer the severe frosts of this 2017.” The wine has lower alcohol than the 2016 but the same pH of 3.3; insultingly young and tender, it doesn’t feel like the wine had a long élevage in oak. It has kept very good freshness and great balance. It’s tasty, pungent and long, with power and elegance and all the components to develop nicely in bottle. 1,440 bottles were filled in April 2019.”
 

 
 
Collector’s Corner Burgundies
 
Domaine Leflaive Batard-Montrachet Grand Cru 2021 750ml Was $2,199, Displayed Price: $1,999, that’s $1,899.05 at 5% off and $1,799.10 at 10% off, 2 bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 96 points “Round and vibrant, this white leans into the citrusy spectrum of flavors, offering lemon, orange peel and yuzu notes accented by apple and stone. Linear and intense on the superlong finish, where the flavors expand and linger. Best from 2025 through 2035.”
 
Coche-Dury’s Hospices de Beaune Pommard Cuvee Suzanne Chaudron 2019 750ml Was $899, Displayed Price: $799, that’s $759.05 at 5% off and $719.10 at 10% off, 1 bottle in stock now
Hospices de Beaune note “This wine is a classical Pommard with good balance of freshness, elegance and tension. The bouquet shows a powerful, dark fruit character that continues on the mouth. A classic yet very interesting wine. When the Cyrot-Chaudron couple left vineyards to the Hospices de Beaune in 1979, the gift included several plots of very ancient vines. When in perfect condition, yielding small quantities of fine fruit, these have been retained. There is virtually no Premiers Crus vineyard in this Cuvée, but over 40% was planted prior to 1959, with the oldest block dating from 1910. More than a third (35%) of the Cuvée comes from the Southeast facing, low-yield hillsides of Les Petits Noizons, which dominate Pommard from the north.”
 

 
Shop the sale on our webstore now, including picks from Bruno Giacosa, Chateau Peyrassol, Gaja, Molitor, Salvioni, Tua Rita, and dozens more!
 

Crozes-Hermitage is a workhorse appellation. Named for the commune of Crozes and the smaller appellation of Hermitage that it surrounds, Crozes-Hermitage offers a diverse range of soil types and terroir within the Northern Rhone. The majority of the production are Syrah reds with a smattering of Marsanne / Roussanne white blends. Its wines tend to be more approachable in their youth than those from Hermitage, and far, far more affordable. Especially on our two-day sale!
 

 
The Graillot clan is synonymous with Crozes-Hermitage. Originally led by the charismatic Alain Graillot (who honed his trade at Domaine Dujac), his two sons, Maxime and Antoin, have continued in his footsteps since his passing. Maxime himself founded his own estate with his father’s blessing in 2004 and in 2008 took over the majority of winemaking duties at his father’s estate.
 
With a focus on old vines and organic farming methods, as well as the use of neutral barrels from Burgundian estates like Domaine Romanée-Conti, these are exceptionally well-crafted and an absolute bargain on our two-day sale.
 
Domaine Alain Graillot Crozes-Hermitage Blanc 2020 750ml Displayed Price: $39, that’s $37.05 at 5% off and $35.10 at 10% off, 3 bottles in stock now
Importer note “Practicing organic. 80% Marsanne, 20% Roussanne. 35+ year old vines. Very rocky gravel soils. Indigenous yeasts. No malo. Fermented and aged in 50% 1 year old Burgundy barrels, 50% stainless steel.”
 
Maxime Graillot Equis Domaine des Lises Crozes-Hermitage 2019 750ml Displayed Price: $34.50, that’s $32.78 at 5% off and $31.05 at 10% off, 36+ bottles in stock now
Importer note “From the lieu dit ‘Les Picheres’ in the famed Beaumont Monteux commune of Crozes-Hermitage. 35+ year-old vines.”
Wine Spectator 93 points “Juicy and well-defined, with a mix of red and black cherry and currant notes that have good energy, with violet, sanguine and singed alder accents filling in throughout. The racy, focused finish pulls everything together. Drink now through 2026. 2,400 cases made, 500 cases imported. — JM”
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 92-94 points “Dark berries, licorice, olive and exotic spice aromas pick up a suave floral note with air. Sappy and energetic on the palate, offering bitter cherry, blackberry and star anise flavors that are braced by a spine of juicy acidity. The floral nuance reappears on a very long, dark-fruit-driven finish, with building tannins providing shape and grip. One-third whole clusters.”
 
Also In Stock and On Sale Now from Crozes-Hermitage:
 
Delas Freres Crozes-Hermitage Le Clos 2019 750ml Displayed Price: $59, that’s $56.05 at 5% off and $53.10 at 10% off, 20 bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 93 points “Sleek and refined, with a smoldering bay and cast iron hints along the edges of a core of dark cherry and plum preserve notes. Juicy, yet restrained, iron-tinged finish. Drink now through 2030. 500 cases made, 83 cases imported. –JM”
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 92-94 points “A deeply perfumed bouquet evokes ripe black/blue fruits, olive and potpourri, and a mineral element adds lift. Sappy and penetrating on the palate, offering broad-shouldered boysenberry, bitter cherry and candied violet flavors that are given spine and lift by a core of juicy acidity. Shows sharp focus on the penetrating finish, where dusty, slow-building tannins add gentle grip and focus.”
 
Emmanuel Darnaud Crozes-Hermitage Au Fil du Temps 2018 750ml Displayed Price: $49, that’s $46.55 at 5% off and $44.10 at 10% off, 19 bottles in stock now
Emmanuel Darnaud Crozes-Hermitage Au Fil du Temps 2018 1.5L Displayed Price: $89, that’s $84.55 at 5% off and $80.10 at 10% off, 9 magnums in stock now
Joe Czerwinski-Wine Advocate 94 points “Marked by intense aromas of licorice and seared beefsteak, Darnaud’s 2018 Crozes Hermitage Au Fil du Temps backs those up with notes of blueberries and black olives. Full-bodied, richly concentrated and tannic—but supple and ripe—with a bright, refreshing and lengthy finish, it’s a beauty of a Crozes to drink over the next decade.”
Jeb Dunnuck 94 points “More chocolatey black and blue fruits, violets, damp earth, and bouquet garni-like notes emerge from the 2018 Crozes-Hermitage Au Fil Du Temps. This rich, powerful, full-bodied Crozes shows the classic balance, elegance, and purity that are present in all of Emmanuel’s wines. With plenty of mid-palate depth, ripe, mouth-coating tannins, and outstanding length, this brilliant effort will keep for 10-15 years.”
Wine Spectator 94 points “On the exotic side, with a mix of açaí, blueberry and boysenberry reduction flavors entwined with licorice root and singed alder notes. Everything knits wonderfully through the finish, letting the fruit drip while the background notes flicker. Drink now through 2028. 210 cases made, 40 cases imported. –JM”
 
Saint Cosme Crozes-Hermitage 2020 750ml Displayed Price: $39, that’s $37.05 at 5% off and $35.10 at 10% off, 36+ bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 90-92 points “Leading off the red Northern Rhônes from barrel, the 2020 Crozes-Hermitage is medium to full-bodied, textured, and seamless, with classic berry, darker fruits, pepper, and violet aromatics. I love its texture.”

Saint Cosme Crozes-Hermitage 2021 750ml Displayed Price: $33.50, that’s $31.83 at 5% off and $30.15 at 10% off, 36+ bottles in stock now
Not reviewed yet, 2020 review provided for reference
Jeb Dunnuck 90-92 points “Leading off the red Northern Rhônes from barrel, the 2020 Crozes-Hermitage is medium to full-bodied, textured, and seamless, with classic berry, darker fruits, pepper, and violet aromatics. I love its texture.”
 

Schafer-Frohlich is a star in the Nahe, making some of the most coveted dry Riesling in Germany. Family owned and growing winegrapes for over 200 years, this is an essential estate with limited availability in the USA.
 
Powerful, mineral-drenched and resolutely bright, these are some of the finest white wines in the world, at a fraction of the price of their peers in Burgundy or Alsace. As a result, allocations are tiny: Michelin-starred restaurants fight over them and European collectors stash as many in their cellars as possible. The estate was brought to the attention of the American importer Rudi Wiest by none other than Helmut Dönnhoff.
 
Current winemaker Tim Frohlich took over his family’s estate at the impressive age of 19 in the mid-1990s. The estate was invited into the VDP consortium in 2001. He became the youngest person in the history of Germany to be named the winemaker of the year by Gault-Millau in 2010.
 
They have continued to impress and amaze, winning award after award for the quality of their wines. Tim’s goal for his wines is to exemplify finesse, elegance and the character of the site where the grapes were grown. Their holdings encompass 47 acres in 6 different GG areas, making their quality consistently high across their portfolio.
 
We have stellar pricing across the board, including on the hard-to-find GG wines, which are the pinnacle of the Schafer-Frohlich lineup.
 
“…even the dry village/terroir wines are gorgeous here and have more expression than many German GG Rieslings. The Felseneck GG is probably one of the finest dry Rieslings produced in Germany so far. I can hardly think of more precision, finesse and elegance in dry Nahe Rieslings.” -Stephan Reinhardt, Wine Advocate
 

 
In Stock and On Sale Now from Schafer-Frohlich:
 
Schafer-Frohlich Riesling Trocken, Nahe 2017 750ml Displayed Price: $26, that’s $24.70 at 5% off and $23.40 at 10% off, 7 bottles in stock now
Stuart Pigott (JamesSucking) 92 points “A seriously racy and minerally dry riesling that has serious depth at the long, sleek finish, where it achieves lift off! Drink now.”
David Schildknecht-Vinous 91 points “Here is one of those Nahe Rieslings from a vintage that leads with unusually Chablis-like animal and mineral elements. Saffron and sea breeze mingle with lemon rind, struck flint and chicken stock on the nose as well as on a polished, infectiously juicy palate, where an influx of ripe white peach serves for succulence and the piquancy of peach kernel and lemon pip for further counterpoint. The buoyant finish – by no means for the first time in a Schäfer-Fröhlich Gutsriesling – gets a remarkable purchase on the salivary glands while both enthralling and refreshing the lucky consumer. In its own way, arguably, this wine testifies as vividly to the value of Bockenau terroir as do Schäfer-Fröhlich’s two Grosse Gewächse from his home village, because nowadays this entry-level offering labors under the handicap of being sourced almost entirely from very young vines. Yes, the “Vulkangestein” and “Schiefergestein” bottlings that serve as the estate’s middle-tier dry Rieslings are more overtly concentrated. But in vintage 2017, they aren’t more complex than this ostensibly lesser sibling, and lack its sheer charm, buoyancy and infectious drinkability.”
 

 
Schafer-Frohlich Riesling Trocken, Nahe 2018 750ml Displayed Price: $26, that’s $24.70 at 5% off and $23.40 at 10% off, 22 bottles in stock now
John Gilman 90+ points “The 2018 Estate Riesling Trocken is also an excellent bargain from Tim Fröhlich this year. The wine is twelve percent in alcohol and carries an impressive 8.5 grams of acidity this year, with all of the fruit for this bottling hailing from volcanic soils. The bouquet is beautifully expressive out of the blocks, offering up scents of lemon, tart orange, wild yeasts, an excellent mineral underpinning, white flowers and citrus zest. On the palate the wine is pure, elegant and medium-full, with lovely focus and grip, outstanding cut and grip and a long, complex and dancing finish. A stunning value this year! 2019-2040+.”
 

“Schiefergestein comes from vineyards of slate in Bockenau and Monger as well as younger vines from the grand cru of Felseneck, planted to soils of blue Devonian slate, basalt and quartz.” -Importer note
Schafer-Frohlich ‘Schiefergestein’ Bockenauer Riesling Trocken, Nahe 2020 750ml Displayed Price: $38, that’s $36.10 at 5% off and $34.20 at 10% off, 30 bottles in stock now
Stuart Pigott (JamesSucking) 95 points “Forget what you heard about this vintage in Germany, here is a very exciting exception. What a mysterious dry riesling this is, the complex nose of fresh sage, anise and flint pulling you into the staggeringly focused, mineral palate. Dangerously energetic at the explosive wet-stone finish. From organically grown grapes with Fair’n Green certification. Drink or hold. (8/8/22)”
 

“Vulkangestein consists of vines planted to holdings with volcanic soils in and around Schlossbockelheim as well as younger vines from the grand cru Felsenberg, planted to weathered volcanic porphyry soils and quartz.” -Importer note
Schafer-Frohlich Vulkangestein Riesling Trocken, Nahe 2020 750ml Displayed Price: $28, that’s $26.60 at 5% off and $25.20 at 10% off, 34 bottles in stock now
Stuart Pigott (JamesSucking) 94 points “Intensely spicy and expressive, but the fruit aromas are just beginning to unfurl. Grapefruit pith and bergamot, plus a slew of wild herbs. Somehow this manages to be very structured, yet have a silky texture on the sleek palate. Intense wet-stone minerality at the finish. 100% from the GG vineyards Felsenberg and Stromberg. From organically grown grapes with Fair’n Green certification. Drink or hold.”
 

 
Close-Out Sale Wine: Was $79
Schafer-Frohlich Felsenberg Riesling Grosses Gewachs, Nahe 2017 750ml Displayed Price: $69, that’s $65.55 at 5% off and $62.10 at 10% off, 7 bottles in stock now
John Gilman 96 points “The 2017 Felsenberg GG is a masterpiece in the making, with the bouquet soaring from the glass in a youthful and very elegant constellation of pink grapefruit, wild yeasts, tart peach, plenty of smokiness, a great base of salty soil tones, dried flowers and a topnote of citrus peel. On the palate the wine is pure, full-bodied and rock solid at the core, with ripe, snappy acids, superb complexity and great length and grip on the poised and perfectly balanced finish. This is a stunning young vintage of Felsenberg!”
Stuart Pigott (JamesSucking) 96 points “Despite the ample concentration and power, this is really filigree with great delicacy and breathtaking freshness at the finish.”
Mosel Fine Wines 95 points “This Schlossböckelheimer Felsenberg GG is quite smoky and reductive at first, and only gradually reveals its complexity as notes of thyme, orange zest, black tea and a hint of fennel emerge from the glass. The nose expands by the minute yet remains highly smoky. The wine proves beautifully fruity and delicately smooth side on the palate, where some cream and pineapple juice add to the overall charming yet complex side of this Riesling. The finish proves still quite compact and beautifully linear, which gives a gorgeously focused and restrained feel to the wine. This is in need of aging, but the potential at maturity is huge. 2027-2047.”
 

 
Schafer-Frohlich Felsenberg Riesling Grosses Gewachs, Nahe 2018 750ml Displayed Price: $89, that’s $84.55 at 5% off and $80.10 at 10% off, 12 bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 95+ points “The 2018 Felsenberg Riesling GG opens with a deep, intense and rich, concentrated and aromatic but also flinty bouquet full of ripe Riesling fruits and coolish herbal/vegetal as well gooseberry aromas. On the palate, this is a lush, intense, very mineral, salty-piquant and tightly structured dry Riesling from volcanic rocks. It’s a powerful but elegant, fresh and precise Riesling with great complexity and lingering salinity. A fabulous Felsenberg with lots of vitality and youthful grip. 13% alcohol. Natural cork. Tasted in August and October 2019.”
John Gilman 94+ points “By picking early in the Felsenberg, Tim Fröhlich was able to keep around 7.5 grams of acidity in his GG here this year, and he estimates that the wine will end up just about 12.5 percent octane. It is an absolutely superb bottle in the making, with the nose delivering a beautiful young constellation of tart orange, pink grapefruit, flint, smoke, lemongrass, wild yeasts, citrus peel and a delicate topnote of white flowers. On the palate the wine is pure, fullbodied and very elegant and seamless in balance, with a superb core of fruit, lovely backend mineral lift, bright acids and a very long, complex and extremely promising finish. Great juice. 2024-2065.”
 

 
Schafer-Frohlich Kupfergrube Riesling Grosses Gewachs, Nahe 2018 750ml Displayed Price: $99, that’s $94.05 at 5% off and $89.10 at 10% off, 18 bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 96 points “The 2018 Kupfergrube Riesling GG is clear and precise on the aromatic nose that displays enormously ripe and concentrated Riesling fruit that reflects the heat of the vintage, especially in south-facing vineyards like this. Almost raisin flavors here. Crystalline and elegant on the palate, this is a linear and mineral but lush, rich and powerful Riesling with grip and tension and lingering salinity that indicates very good aging potential. 13% alcohol. Natural cork. Tasted from a bottle declared as Fassprobe (a sample) in October 2019.”
 

 
Close-Out Sale Wine: Was $85
Schafer-Frohlich Stromberg Grosses Gewachs Riesling, Nahe 2017 750ml Displayed Price: $75, that’s $71.25 at 5% off and $67.50 at 10% off, 19 bottles in stock now
David Schildknecht-Vinous 96 points “White peach, gooseberry and lime are laced in the nose with chamomile, peppermint and pennyroyal. Those juxtapositions anticipate the dynamic of ripeness and citricity as well as of soothing and pungently invigorating elements that characterize this entire amazing performance. There is remarkable sheer succulence and intensity of glowingly pit-tinged white peach, zesty lime and crunchy, seedy gooseberry on the surprisingly silken palate. It’s as if concentration of fruit flavors were inversely proportional to the Stromberg’s rocky, virtually topsoil-free surface. But this is not to suggest that mineral flavor elements are short-changed. Far from it! That “dark minerality” that Fröhlich deems can be unpacked as some combination of smoky peat and black tea with stone suffusion and alkaline accents. ‘As ripe as they might get,’ notes Fröhlich, ‘the berries on these old vines never lose their greenish tint or make the transition to deep gold,’ and that is reflected in the vivid freshness and juicy animation of a long, fugal finish that tingles the tongue and tugs at the cheeks. If Bockenau’s virtues went virtually unnoticed until the 21st century, those of today’s Stromberg sites were almost completely unknown until Schäfer-Fröhlich produced their first, vintage 2012 Grosses Gewächs showcasing them. ‘When we had to demonstrate to the VDP with historical evidence that this site was Grosses Gewächs-worthy,’ relates Fröhlich, ‘we uncorked a [nearly-dry] 1957 Spätlese from my grandfather that was unbelievably fresh and fine.'”
Mosel Fine Wines 96 points “The 2017er Bockenauer Stromberg GG proves rather reduced and smoky at first. It then gradually reveals riper notes of pineapple, orange, yellow peach, tangerine and gingerbread, all wrapped into spices and residual scents from the spontaneous fermentation. The wine proves coats the palate with juicy and lightly flavors. The finish is however focused and even racy thanks to a pure and lime driven acidity kicking in. A slightly tart side in the after-taste still needs to melt into the wine but the wine is hugely impressive. 2025-2037”
Decanter 95 points “The customary reduction resulting from a spontaneous, slow ferment still clouds the nose of this Riesling. From porphyry soils on a rocky, elevated site we get almost piercing freshness that presses all of the pleasure buttons of dry Riesling fans. Bundled around a central, bright shaft of acid are alluring notes of citrus and juicy passion fruit. A most wonderful, stony, precise juxtaposition of exactitude and juiciness.”
 

Schafer-Frohlich Stromberg Grosses Gewachs Riesling, Nahe 2021 750ml Displayed Price: $115, that’s $109.25 at 5% off and $103.50 at 10% off, 3 bottles in stock now
Schafer-Frohlich Stromberg Grosses Gewachs Riesling, Nahe 2021 1.5L Displayed Price: $259, that’s $246.05 at 5% off and $233.10 at 10% off, 5 magnums in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 98-99 points “The 2021 Stromberg GG offers a bright and pure, enormously radiant and earthy/herbal bouquet of crushed porphyry rocks and concentrated Riesling berry aromas intermingled with iodine notes. Great purity mixed with intensity and complexity. Full-bodied, refined and enormously salty on the palate, this is a compact, fresh and challenging dry Riesling with elegant and rich fruit, great density and no makeup at all. This is a bone dry but juicy wine that represents a long-distance runner with salty grip and tension. Tasted as a sample at the domaine in July 2022.”
 

 
Close-Out Sale Wine: Was $39
Schafer-Frohlich Bockenauer Felseneck Riesling Spatlese, Nahe 2017 750ml Displayed Price: $33, that’s $31.35 at 5% off and $29.70 at 10% off, 20 bottles in stock now
David Schildknecht-Vinous 93 points “Elder flower and peony, ripe quince and white peach on the nose presage a lusciously-fruity and profusely floral inner-mouth performance. The feel is glossy but buoyant. The succulent and superbly-concentrated finish remains transparent to floral nuances as well as revealing a shimmering sense of crystalline and flinty stoniness.”
 

 
Schafer-Frohlich Bockenauer Felseneck Riesling Spatlese, Nahe 2018 750ml Displayed Price: $44.50, that’s $42.28 at 5% off and $40.05 at 10% off, 18 bottles in stock now
David Schildknecht-Vinous 93 points “As usual, this issues from the estate’s oldest Felseneck vines. An estate-typical reductive note of struck flint and bruised lime peel is allied to aromas of ripe kiwi and white peach, along with hints of green herbs that are transformed into a cooling sense of infusion on the lusciously fruited, silken-textured and buoyant palate. For all of its richness, this finishes with near-rapier penetration, tongue-tingling vibrancy and transparency to underlying wet stone.”
 

 
Close-Out Sale Wine: Was $59
Schafer-Frohlich Bockenauer Felseneck Riesling Spatlese Goldkapsel, Nahe 2018 750ml Displayed Price: $49, that’s $46.55 at 5% off and $44.10 at 10% off, 17 bottles in stock now
John Gilman 93+ points “The 2018 Goldkapsel Spätlese from the Felseneck vineyard was made solely with shriveled golden berries and there is not a trace of botrytis in this beautiful wine this year. The bouquet is nicely youthful at the present time and takes a bit of coaxing to offer up a gorgeous blend of pear, white cherries, wild yeasts, a lovely undertow of salty slate, white flowers and a whisper of upper register smokiness. On the palate the wine is very pure, medium-full and racy, with a lovely core, superb filigree and bounce and a very long, vibrant and complex finish. This just dances across the palate. 2024-2070.”
 

 
“The objective of [José Lovaglio’s] own project, Vaglio, launched in 2014, is to showcase a range of different Malbec terroirs; he takes the same approach to extraction with all of these wines and… they all carry the same gentle price tag. Lovaglio makes his wines in a refurbished dairy in El Peral in the northwest corner of Uco Valley. Thanks to his use of concrete vats and the facility’s thick walls, he is able to ferment his wines without refrigeration.” –Stephen Tanzer, Vinous Media
 
“Here, [José Lovaglio] produces single vineyard wines from different sub-regions and soil types, all vinified in the same way with minimal intervention and oak contact. Each of Jose’s wines represent different stages of his life.” –David Bowler wine
 
José Lovaglio crafts supremely drinkable and affordable wines. These wines offer oodles of complexity and terroir, with an exceptional ability to pair with a wide range of foods. Pair the Bordeaux-style dry white with winter salads and spring veggies, and pair the Malbec reds with braised meats and hearty grilled dishes.
 
My particular favorite of the lineup was the Temple, crafted from vineyards in the Valle de Uco. Here, Lovaglio uses fruit from vines that average over 80 years old. It shows plenty of lush red and black raspberry notes, some notes of raked autumn leaves, and a pretty black pepper note to the finish. The Chacra bottling from Luján de Cuyo is from younger vines, with softer tannins and lush black fruit notes. Think of this as a Merlot to the Temple’s more serious Cab Sauv-style.
 
Stock up as these beauties are on a special two-day sale!
 
Vaglio Blanco, Tupungato 2020 750ml Displayed Price: $14, 36+ bottles in stock now
Joaquin Hidalgo-Vinous 91 points “The 2020 Chardonnay Vaglio Blanco is blended with 10% Sémillon from El Peral, Uco Valley, and was aged in 500-liter barrels for eight months. Yellowy green in the glass. The nose is a little more lively than the 2019 version, presenting notes of dill, herbs and fruit with honey and oak in the background, which also features a little pear. Broad on the palate, it has well-judged freshness, an elegant feel and a fruity aftertaste.”
Brazos Wine importer note “This is a blend of 90% Chardonnay and 10% Semillon from El Peral in the Uco Valley, Mendoza. The nose is lively and bright with notes of green apple, pear, whites flowers, and a little green pea. The palate is well balanced with dense fruit and crisp acid.”
 

 
Vaglio Chacra Malbec, Agrelo 2018 750ml Displayed Price: $14, 36+ bottles in stock now
James Sucking 93 points “A dense, compact malbec with intense, blackberry and wet-earth character. Full body. Creamy texture. Tangy and delicious on the finish. Ends with green tobacco and tar. Excellent. Drink now.”
Brazos Wines importer note “This is 100% hand harvested Malbec is from a single vineyard in Agrelo, Lujan de Cuyo. The wine is dark with notes of dark fruits like plum, raisin and blackberry pie. The supple tannins and hint of oak lead to a round, smooth finish wrapped in caramel and walnuts.”
 

 
Vaglio Temple Malbec, Anchoris 2018 750ml Displayed Price: $14, 36+ bottles in stock now
James Sucking 93 points “This is always a delicious red with lots of crushed-berry and walnut character. Full-bodied, dense and juicy. Lots of old-vine character. Succulent. Drink now.”