In This Newsletter:ArrivalsRed Electric, Beaux Freres, Cameron, Goodfellow, Coutier, Forey, Kopke, and more!Re-ArrivalsAndre Clouet ‘1911’, Saint Cosme, and more!
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Special Collector’s Arrival
Exclusive and very limited Grand Cru Burgundy
Oregon
“Red Electric”
From a collaboration between Armstrong vineyard owner Doug Ackerman and winemaker John Grochau (of Grochau Cellars) all of Red Electric’s grapes come from Dourg’s vineyard in Ribbon Ridge. These are wines of great balance, poise, and complexity, perfect for food pairing. Perfect for the Holiday dinner table. The Winery itself is named after the “Red Electric” commuter trains that revolutionized life in the Willamette Valley, carrying passengers from Portland to the Valley in the early 20th century. Red Electric Evening Primrose Chardonnay, Ribbon Ridge 2021 750ml $31.90 special, 14 bottles availableWinery Notes “Bright pale yellow. Served chilled, the wine offers notes of chalk, stone fruits, flint, oyster shells and apricot pit. As it unfurls with time and aeration, honeysuckle and crunchy white peach skin dominate the nose and give way to a strong, viscous finish with dry honey, lemon skin and gooseberry. Very chablisienne, and the most complete Evening Primrose to date.” Red Electric Pinot Noir TGV, Ribbon Ridge 2021 750ml $64.50 special, 24 bottles availableWinery Notes “Crimson color. Soaring aromatics display the opulence of the 2021 vintage. Blackberry, lavender, blood orange and fresh bing cherry notes intermingle with middle eastern spices such as cumin and cardamom… Intensity gathers in a full mid-palate that gives way to a waterfall of tannins that are at once chalky, fine and saturating.” Check out an interview with Winemaker John Grochau, Courtesy of Linfield University Archives and the Oregon Wine History Archive.
“Beaux Freres”
Beaux Freres Beaux Freres Vineyard Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2021 1.5L $269 special, 4 magnums availableJeb Dunnuck 97 Points “Layered and graceful, the 2021 Pinot Noir The Beaux Freres Vineyard pours a ripe ruby hue and reveals a beautiful perfume of orange rind, fresh red plum, clove spice, and rocky earth. Medium-bodied, with tremendous energy, fine tannins, a mineral texture, and a great, lightly toasty finish, it’s a gorgeous wine to drink over the next 10-12 years. Absolutely beautiful.” Wine Advocate 95+ Points “Medium ruby-purple, the 2021 Pinot Noir The Beaux Frères Vineyard opens slowly on the nose to a core of wild blackberry and blueberry, revealing tones of forest floor, licorice, bitters and floral potpourri as it spends time in the glass. The light-bodied palate is soft and juicy with surprisingly concentrated flavors for its delicate frame, and it has a long, floral finish. This is elegant, expressive and easy to drink!” Winery Notes “When the first few blocks were planted in 1988, no one could have predicted the consistent magic that would spring forth for decades to come. The old 1940s dairy pasture is now fully transformed to 25 acres of Pinot Noir vines whose forest perimeter creates a nearly mystical landscape. The 2021 wine is full of classic features: ripe, dark cherry skins, orange zest, and subtle white flower and miso notes.”
“Cameron”
Cameron Abbey Ridge Chardonnay, Willamette Valley 2021 750ml $89 special, only 4 bottles availableWinery Note “Our Abbey Ridge Chardonnay wine emanates from vines that have been growing for over 45 years in one of the highest-elevation vineyards in the Dundee Hills. As a result, this wine is always lean with perfect mouthwatering acidity. It is quite reminiscent of wines from Chablis. Aromas of lemon grass, lime leaf and tarte tatin fill the nose and its palate offers mineral nuances. Its rich vibrancy is due in part to its 2 year aging with the yeast sediment on the bottom of French oak barrels.” Cameron Abbey Ridge Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2021 750ml $79 special, 36+ bottles availableWinery Note “WOW is the descriptor that immediately comes to mind. A vivid dark ruby color, unusual for Abbey Ridge, is your first indication that this is something different. The aromas are equally intense notes of black cherry, cardamom, nutmeg and cinnamon. The mouth is sublime, ending with Abbey Ridge Pinot’s signature lingering finish. This may well be one of the greatest offerings of Abbey Ridge Pinot noir ever!” Cameron Clos Electrique Blanc Chardonnay, Dundee Hills 2021 750ml $75 special, 36+ bottles availableWinery Note “This delicious wine has aromatic notes of kaffir lime, lemon curd and brioche with background notes of coriander. When chilled, the mouth has a mineral quality which gives way to a bright grapefruit flavor as it warms.” Cameron Clos Electrique Rouge Pinot Noir 2021, Dundee Hills 750ml $75 special, 36+ bottles availableWinery Note “The Clos Electrique Rouge from 2021 is an astounding wine with notes of leather, porcini mushrooms, forest floor and a dose of plums bringing in the finish. Its perfect silky mouth and a nice round finish cry for a café 90’s Duck l’orange, chanterelles sautéed with butter and sherry, a Ribeye cooked to perfection or perhaps even cardboard. I mean really, this wine makes anything taste better.”
“Goodfellow”
Goodfellow House Block Whistling Ridge Pinot Noir, Ribbon Ridge 2019 750ml $51.90 special, 24 bottles availableVinous 95 Points – Josh Raynolds “Brilliant red. An impressively complex bouquet evokes mineral-tinged red fruits, potpourri and exotic spices, and a hint of botanical herbs emerges as the wine opens up. Juicy, sharply focused and energetic on the palate, offering sweet cherry liqueur, raspberry and floral pastille flavors and an exotic touch of blood orange. The spice and floral notes drive a strikingly long, smooth finish framed by polished, well-knit tannins.” Goodfellow Lewman Vineyard Pinot Gris 2019, Eola-Amity Hills 750ml $28 special, 11 bottles available Goodfellow Whistling Ridge Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2019 375ml $21.90 special, 12 half-bottles availableWinery Note “Vibrantly red fruited, elegant and light-bodied. Red currants, pie cherries, and fresh strawberry, stony earth, wood spice, kitchen herbs and orange peel. Weightless, refreshing, crystalline, juicy in the mouth while still being youthfully edgy and tightly wound.” Goodfellow Whistling Ridge Pinot Gris 2021, Willamette Valley 750ml $28 special, 11 bottles availableWinery Note “Fennel seed, orchard fruit, a hint of smoked meat, and green honey, with dried apricot and mandarin in the palate. The texture and nerve is tremendous, and this is one of the most delicious and serious Pinot Gris we have produced. Don’t let crappy Pinot Gris make you think you don’t like the grape…done well, it is refreshing and quenching, with lovely crispness while still having a dynamic, textural presentation. Fermented in neutral Acacia 820L puncheon, this is a delicious and serious aromatic white.”
Champagne
“RH Coutier”
A staff favorite! The Coutier family has called the Grand Cru village of Ambonnay, famous for their superlative pinot noir, home since the 1600’s. The Coutier family recognized the region’s potential for Chardonnay, planting the first vines in the region in 1948. These wines are a must for your holiday gatherings and celebrations! RH Coutier Tradition Brut Grand Cru NV 750ml $39 special, 36+ bottles availableWine & Spirits 91 Points “[Review for 2022 disgorgement] The Coutier family blends 20 percent chardonnay into the pinot noir for this cuvée, all of it estate grown in the grand cru village of Ambonnay. The wine balances tart lemon and lime scents with notes of sourdough starter and rhubarb. Almost cakey in its richness, this has the limestone acidity to cut through rich foods, whether seared foie gras or braised short ribs.” Importer Note “Disgorged February 2022, base 2017 60% + 40% reserves.” RH Coutier Blanc De Blancs Brut Grand Cru NV 750ml $41.90 special, 36+ bottles availableAntonio Galloni – Vinous“[Review for 2022 release] The NV Brut Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru is fabulous. Rich and quite dense, the Blanc de Blancs is decidedly powerful, maybe a bit more than usual. This release is based on 2018, and the richness of the year really comes through in the wine’s layered, expansive feel. Tangerine oil, lemon confit, white flowers, spice and chamomile build effortlessly. This is an especially heady, vinous Champagne with all the elements very much in balance.” Importer note “Disgorged December 2022, base vintage 2019 60% + 40% reserves.” RH Coutier Rose Brut Grand Cru NV 750ml $43.50 special, 36+ bottles availableWine Spectator 91 Points “[Reviewed in 2020 for a prior disgorgement] A pure note of macerated cherry is backed by a firm acidity in this lively rosé Champagne, while a subtle, smoky underpinning and hints of pink grapefruit peel and grated ginger ride the creamy bead.” Importer note “Disgorged February 2023, base vintage 2019 60% + 40% reserves.” RH Coutier Pierre Aux Larrons Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs 2016 750ml $89 special, 11 bottles availableImporter Note “In 1948, Henri Coutier was one of if not THE first to plant chardonnay in Ambonnay, a Grand Cru villages normally devoted to Pinot Noir. He planted this varietal in a single-vineyard plot called Pierre aux Larrons, and this plot has become the source of all massale selection chardonnay cuttings that the winery uses. In 2015, his grandson Antoine returned to the estate to vinify his first vintage and the decision was made to make the first single-vineyard chardonnay bottling for the estate.” RH Coutier Brut 2015 750ml $69 special, 35 bottles availableImporter Notes “75% Pinot Noir, 25% Chardonnay. Golden yellow color with a very “pinot” nose (read cherry). Rich and full in the mouth, with plenty of creaminess. Nice acidity and structure enhanced by the Chardonnay finishes very fresh and long. Wonderful balance with ripe fruit aromatics makes this a very seductive bubbly.” “This area consists of pure Belemnite chalk originating from Bouzy and continuing throughout most of Champagne. This unique soil allows the vines to root deeply, retaining the ideal amount of moisture while allowing the excess to drain away thoroughly. Produced only the best years. It is the reflection of the harvest from the vintage in our terroir. This wine show complexity and the best expression of the vintage it represents. The time on lees adds an extra dimension to the wine thus achieving what we think is a perfect balance.”
“Laurent Perrier”
#1 WINE ON JAMES SUCKLING 2023 TOP 100…
Laurent Perrier Grand Siecle No. 26, Champagne NV 750ml $249 special, 10 bottles availableJames Suckling 100 Points “This is really something. Electric on the palate. The aromas are so complex with sliced fresh and dried ginger, subtle pie crust, tarte tatin and hints of nutmeg with some salted caramel. Toasted bread, too. Always subtle. The palate is full- to medium-bodied yet hemmed-in with a freshness and balance that draws you back. Savory and vibrant. It’s full of energy. Spectacular. Fascinating. Symphonic blend of 2012, 2008 and 2007. 65% of the 2012, 25% of the 2008 and 10% of the 2007. Eight grand cru. Chardonnay 58% and 42% pinot noir. Disgorged February 2023. 10 years on the lees. 7g/L dosage. Drink or hold.” Janis Robinson 19.5/20 Points“Powerful aroma of orange peel and something in the putty/chalk spectrum. It somehow manages to be both tight yet approachable, dense in terms of flavour concentration yet filigree in terms of texture. As usual, it’s so Chardonnay! Overriding citrus character and quite amazingly long, a mouthful tingling on the palate for minutes not seconds. Enormous finesse. Massive pleasure. This would make the most luxurious aperitif. Michel Fauconnet, having welcomed the new chef de cave in January 2023, must be especially proud of this wine.”
“Billecart Salmon”
Billecart Salmon Brut Rose, Champagne NV 750ml $89 special, 7 bottles availableTyson Stelzer- Champagne Guide 93-95 Points “40% chardonnay, 30% pinot from the Montagne de Reims and the Grande Vallée de la Marne, 30% meunier from the Vallée de la Marne and the southern slopes of Épernay; less than 8% red wine; 40% reserves; vinified in stainless steel tanks; full malolactic fermentation; aged 36 months on lees; 9g/L dosage; DIAM). This cuvée has attained that wonderful place where lees age contributes great texture and mouthfeel, without diminishing purity or freshness. Eminently persistent, it carries with grace and poise amidst fine chalk mineral texture, taut acid focus and a fine, creamy bead. Enjoy it in its ravishing youth. Audrey Frick- JebDunnuck.com 94 Points “The NV Champagne Brut Rose is an attractive pale salmon hue, with a fresh perfume of wild strawberry, ripe peach, white and red flowers, a hint of tropical fruit, and grapefruit. The palate is rounded, with fruit up front and through the mid-palate, and it has a silky and fresh lift. There is a wonderful ease and drinkability to this wine, which delivers balance and finesse. Drink 2022-2037.”
France
“Domaine Forey”
Domaine Forey Bourgogne Passetoutgrain, Burgundy 2021 750ml $28 special, 4 bottles availableImporter’s Notes “A lively blend of equal parts Pinot Noir and Gamay from old interplanted vines planted on the plain, Forey’s Passetoutgrain is a playful and inviting wine that delivers pleasant fruit tied to notes of black pepper.”
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Domaine Forey Bourgogne Pinot Noir, Burgundy 2021 750ml $39 special, 5 bottles availableImporter’s Notes “This wine is produced from various holdings in Vosne and Nuits, all of which are old vines (from vines planted between 1954 and 1974). The élevage is done in the larger demi-muid barrel format and is usually the last wine harvested but the first wine to be bottled.”
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Domaine Forey Les Perrieres, Nuits-Saint-Georges Premier Cru 2021 750ml $124.50 special, 3 bottles available Domaine Forey Vosne-Romanee, Cote de Nuits 2021 750ml $96 special, 6 bottles available Domaine Forey Echezeaux Grand Cru, Cote de Nuits 2021 750ml $239 special, 2 bottles availableNo reviews for the 2021. 2020 review provided for reference.93 Points Decanter “This wine is blended from two plots totaling 0.3ha located in Les Treux and the Clos St-Denis. The grapes are given a cold soak and fermented with a percentage of whole clusters, punched down daily. The result is aged in casks (50% new) for 16-20 months. The result has a somewhat restrained blackberry and cassis fruit with an earthy, almost savoury edge. The texture is firm and tannic, almost a bit rustic. This wine should be held for at least five years before drinking and will show well for twenty years.”
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“Chateau Pegau“
Pegau Chateauneuf De Pape Cuvee Reservee, Rhone 2020 750ml $81.90 special, 25 bottles availableWine Advocate 96-98 Points “I was even more impressed by the 2020 Châteauneuf du Pape Cuvée Réservée than the 2019. Boasting crazily complex floral scents, garrigue, raspberries and cherries, this is one incredibly perfumed example of Pegau. Medium to full-bodied, silky, elegant and long, this is quintessential Pegau. My tastings during my evening visit to Domaine du Pegau included a number of other wines, both from Chateau Pegau and Selection Laurence Feraud. Those will be included in my follow-up coverage of other appellations of the Southern Rhône. For this report, I’ve focused on the current and upcoming releases from the property itself.”
Italy
Cavallotto Bricco Boschis Vignolo, Barolo Riserva DOCG, Piedmont 2017 750ml $119 special, 12 bottles availableMonica Lerner – Wine Advocate 95 points “Vignolo is a small vineyard site just down the hill from Bricco Boschis. The 2017 Barolo Riserva Vignolo (made with organic fruit) shows extra richness and density and more mineral definition that give this wine precision and focus. There is pencil shaving, crushed stone and licorice around a core of wild berry fruit and soft cherry. This vintage shows a broader more generous personality overall. The vines are 40 years old on average, and this Barolo ages in large Slavonian oak casks for 60 months. Production is limited to 2,609 bottles this vintage.” Fratelli Alessandria Barolo DOCG, Piedmont 2019 750ml $59 special, 36 bottles availableWine Advocate 95 Points “These village-specific wines are growing in popularity, and among the various expressions on the market today, this wine from Verduno is really quite special thanks to its highly distinctive floral aromas and its delicate sense of inner balance. A new project being inaugurated with this vintage, the Fratelli Alessandria 2019 Barolo del Comune di Verduno shows a fine, streamlined mouthfeel with polished tones of river stone, crushed rose and licorice root. The aromas are refined and fragile. This is a 20,000-bottle release.”
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Lisini Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Tuscany 2018 750ml $59 special, 12 bottles availableDecanter 95 Points “Near Sant’Angelo in Colle, on the road that leads to Castelnuovo dell’Abate, Lisini is within the zone of Sesta. The estate preference is to pick quite late, and they are one of the last in the area to harvest. The relative ripeness and concentration is evident in 2018 but not at the expense of balance. In fact, Lisini’s Brunello is one of the vintage’s more exciting and profound wines. It opens slowly with hints of chestnut and smoke, then discloses dark cherry, iron and fragrant moist soil. Tannins are tightly stitched yet malleable, giving a satisfying mouthful. Finishes with a salty tang and mineral drive.” Wine Spectator 94 Points “Rich and deep, with base notes of plum and loamy earth offsetting cherry, hibiscus and eucalyptus flavors. Dense, with muscular tannins and lively acidity lending support. The long aftertaste evokes earth and Mediterranean brush. Best from 2026 through 2045.” Vietti Roero Arneis DOCG, Piedmont 2022 750ml $24 special, 17 bottles availableWinemaker Notes “Pale straw yellow color with fresh floral, citrus and melon aromas with almond hints. An unoaked, dry, medium bodied white wine with crisp acidity, the Arneis is a well-balanced, elegant wine with good complexity and a lingering finish. Great as an aperitif with light hors d’oeuvres, crudités, seafood, salads, light soups, simply prepared veal, pork, chicken and creamy cheese.”
Spain
“Envinate”
Envinate ‘Benje’ Blanco, Canary Islands 2022 750ml $29.50 special, 12 bottles availableJose Pastor importer note “100% Listán Blanco. From several parcels of 70–110-year-old vines at 900-1200m elevation farmed by Envínate and 15 local families. Viticulture here is highly traditional: vines grow untrained, the soils [are] worked by hand, and no chemicals are used.”
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Envinate ‘Benje’ Tinto, Canary Islands 2022 750ml $29.50 special, 36 bottles availableEnvinate ‘Benje’ Tinto, Canary Islands 2022 1.5L $77 special, only 2 magnums availableJose Pastor importer note “90% Listán Prieto, 9% Listán Blanco, 1% Tintilla. From several parcels of 70–120-year-old vines at 900-1200m elevation farmed by Envínate and 15 local families. Viticulture here is highly traditional: vines grow untrained, the soils is worked by hand, and no chemicals are used.”
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Envinate (& A Chingao Vineyards) ‘Migan Chingao’ Tinto, Valle de la Orotava 2022 750ml $44.50 special, 6 bottles availableEnvinate (& A Chingao Vineyards) ‘Migan Chingao’ Tinto, Valle de la Orotava 2022 1.5L $94.50 special, only 2 magnums availableJose Pastor importer note “100% Lístan Negro. From the La Habanera parcel of 100+ year-old vines, all north-facing and trained in the traditional cordón trenzado at 620m above sea level.” A James Suckling Top 100 Wine of 2023!Envinate ‘Migan’ Tinto, Canary Islands 2021 750ml $49 special, 12 bottles availableZekun Shuai-James Suckling 98 points “Nervy, nicely funky, precise and mineral nose with a “protective” flintiness and an alluring peppery edge to the wild berries and pomegranate. Fine, dissolved tannins with a mealy, dusty texture, tapping into a super tangy, fresh palate full of grapefruit zest and wild berries. Really long and irresistible now, but can age.” Envinate ‘Albahra’, (Castilla-La Mancha) Vinos Mediterráneos 2022 750ml $25.50 special, 36 bottles availableJose Pastor importer note “About 70% Garnacha Tintorera and 30% Moravia Agria with small quantities of old vine Pardillo and young Garnacha Tinta. From a number of parcels of vines (3 of Garnacha Tintorera near Albacete, 1 of Moravia Agria near Manchuela) planted on calcareous, clay, and sandy soils of up to 900m of elevation. Viticulture is organic, vines are trained en vaso and mostly range from 30-45-years-old.”
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Envinate (& A Chingao Vineyards) ‘Albahra Chingao’, Castilla La Mancha 2022 750ml $31.50 special, 12 bottles availableEnvinate (& A Chingao Vineyards) ‘Albahra Chingao’, Castilla La Mancha 2022 1.5L $89 special, only 3 magnums availableJose Pastor importer note “100% Garnacha Tintorera. From a single parcel of 30-year-old Garnacha Tintorera vines planted on calcareous soils at 800m elevation. The vines are trained en vaso and the only vineyard treatments are with sulfur.”
Kopke Colheita Tawny 1978 750ml $119 special, 5 bottles availableNick Room-Iwsc 97 Points “Excellent in all aspects. Caramel and molasses on the nose, palate abundant with deeper toffee, vanilla and ripe prune. Cedar spices combine with fine citrus fruit around a red fruit core. Balanced and with further evolution still to come. Seriously good.” Mark Squires-Wine Advocate 94 Points “The 1978 Colheita Tawny Port was bottled in 2015 with 119 grams per liter of residual sugar and a bar top cork (typical for the house). It is very graceful for its age, finishing with a wave of sweetness, fruit and sugar. Emphasizing the caramel more than the molasses, this is irresistibly delicious, but it becomes more complex and puts on weight as it airs and warms. The wine shows off its power and hints of Brandy on the rather tense finish, too. Overall, this is a beauty that becomes more impressive the longer you sit with it. Then, you realize that its balance is simply perfect, yet it stands out in most every category. This is very fine and the price is pretty nice for the age and the quality.” Roger Voss-Wine Enthusiast 94 Points “Not one of the generally declared vintages for Port, this year produced some ripe, sweet single quinta vintages. It also was a good year for rich, sweet tawnies. This is ripe, toffee-like in character packed with ripe raisin and sultana flavors. It is a luxurious wine, of course ready to drink.” Kopke Colheita Tawny 2007 750ml $41.90 special, 5 bottles availableWine Spectator 91 Points “Warm toffee, cinnamon and ginger notes glide through, enhanced by a light streak of juniper. Ends with accents of dark tea and a flash of bitter almond. Drink now.” Mark Squires-Wine Advocate 90 Points “The 2007 Colheita Tawny Port comes in with 112 grams per liter of residual sugar. This is a friendly and easy ten-year Tawny, with a bright feel and an elegant mid-palate. It finishes well, tasty and fresh. There’s nothing overly complicated here, but it is impossible to dislike.” Kopke Colheita Tawny 2005 750ml $49 special, 5 bottles availableWine & Spirits 93 Points “Cool and refined upfront, this is polished and posh with sweet plum and vanilla scents in the middle. Then it gets a sunny lift in the end, lasting on honeycomb and notes of dried apricots. A gracious and refined way to end a holiday meal.”
Re-Arrivals
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 96 Points “[Reviewed 2021] The NV Un jour de 1911… is another 100% Bouzy Pinot Noir with an ancient label design. The shining golden-colored cuvée combines ripeness, complexity and finesse with intensity and elegance on both the nose and palate. It’s a powerful and rich yet very fine and balanced Champagne with great freshness and complex length. It is juicy and intense but also highly delicate, and its mineral tension and persistent finish make it a first-class wine for elaborate dishes. A great Champagne, with a label that doesn’t give any more detailed information regarding vintages or disgorgement date, but we know it’s always a 50/50 blend of three vintages (including one great millésime at least 10 years old) and reserve wines from a solera system. I tasted the wine as a Brut with Clouet’s German importer in Bremen. You shouldn’t drink it too early, as it would be a waste of its talents.” James Suckling 95 Points “[Reviewed 2021] A rich and expansive champagne with tons of mature aromas of dried fruit (apricots!) and candied orange. Teeters on the edge of decadence, but has enough vitality to stay on the right side of that line. Plenty of textural complexity on the palate and a long, chalky finish that keeps giving and giving. Spot-on balance. Drink or hold.” Saint Cosme Cotes du Rhône, France 2022 750ml $14 special, 36+ bottles availableCase-12 of Saint Cosme Cotes du Rhône, France 2022 750ml $149 special, 5 cases available
Importer Note “Saint Cosme Côtes-du-Rhône is produced from 100% Syrah and is from the the stony Villafranchian terraces of the Gard. The vineyards are known for their limestone sand, red clay, and pebbles, which give a freshness and intensity to the Syrah grapes. The wine is partially destemmed, fermented with natural yeasts, and vinified in concrete vats.”
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Decugnano dei Barbi ‘Frammento’ Orvieto Classico, Umbria 2021 750ml $16 arrival special, 22 bottles available
Suzanne: What a fascinating nose! It is decidedly mineral with layers of chalk, talc, and calcium. It’s as minerally as an antacid! Joking aside, there are lovely notes of pear juice, fresh bay, and mint. In the mouth, this is more reserved than the Casa Pica, but with noticeably more depth. The body is moderate, perhaps a touch lighter than the Casa Pica, but with more acidity. It’s exceedingly well balanced. The finish shows touches of lees, like a high quality Muscadet or a Côte des Blancs Champagne. Winery note “Immerse yourself in the experience of tasting our Orvieto Classico, Frammento – an elegant and pleasantly versatile wine, perfect for accompanying your everyday moments. Its name evokes the fragments of seashells that fill our soils, witnesses of the sea that once covered them millions of years ago. But it also evokes the philosophical concept of terroir, and the fact that even in a sip of wine (a “fragment”), the totality of the soul of the place is still preserved.”
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Decugnano dei Barbi ‘Mare Antico’ Orvieto Classico Superiore, Umbria 2021 750ml $21.90 special, 20 bottles available
Suzanne: This pours a delicate straw color. The nose has floral aromas of peonies, geraniums, jasmine and mint. There’s a touch of vanilla fragrance like vanilla bean ice cream. On the palate, this is densely flavored with notes of pear tart, Chantilly cream, oyster shells, and white tea. There’s a briskness note here like freshly ground coffee. Overall, this gives an impression of a dry GG Riesling or Chablis. The finish has notes of cultured butter and Maldon sea salt. It’s long and lingering. An incredible value. Winery Note “Mare Antico is the wine that best represents Decugnano dei Barbi. The name itself refers to that ancient sea on which our vineyards grow today. The grapes come from our oldest vineyards, whose roots lie in sandy and shell-rich soils to capture the soul of the place and transform it into a delicious drop of wine.”
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The next best price is $25/bottle by the case
 Close-Out Sales Dr. H. Thanisch Bernkasteler Badstube Riesling Kabinett, Mosel 2016 750ml WAS $26 NOW 21.90 special, 2 bottles availableDavid Schildknecht – Vinous 91 Points “Ripe pear and apple dominate on the nose as well as on a silken, buoyant palate, supported by subtle sweetness. Mouthwatering salinity and transparency to crystalline stony nuances give the long, refreshingly juicy finish a fascinating and delightful sense of shimmer.”
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Dr. H. Thanisch Erben Bernkasteler Badstube Spatlese, Mosel 2017 750ml WAS $28 NOW $21.90 special, 21 bottles availableStephan Reinhardt – Wine Advocate 93 Points “The 2017 Bernkasteler Badstube Riesling Spätlese is still pretty reductive but clear and elegant on the crunchy slate and floral nose. Lush and salty on the pure, refined and elegant palate, this is a concentrated, densely woven and sensual Badstube with the mineral grip and tension of this often underrated Grosse Lage. Tasted from AP 8 18 in March 2019.” Dr. H. Thanisch Bernkasteler Badstube Riesling Spatlese, Mosel 2019 750ml WAS $29 NOW $24 special, 6 bottles availableStephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 93 Points “Vinified in old fuder vats until May and bottled at the end of August this year, the 2019 Bernkasteler Badstube Riesling Spätlese is clear, precise and elegant on the flinty and crunchy nose. On the palate, this is a perfectly round, textured, finessed and stimulatingly salty Spätlese of great elegance and finesse. I tried to spit it three times and always failed. There is this very rare reflex that you can’t avoid, and before you even think about it, you want to swallow it. Gorgeous. Tasted at the domain in September 2020.”
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Dr. H. Thanisch Erben Bernkasteler Doctor Spatlese, Mosel 2016 750ml WAS $49 NOW $41.90 special, 9 bottles availableStephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 93 Points “The 2016 Berncasteler Doctor Riesling Spätlese shows a complex, smoky, fresh and elegant bouquet but is still slightly reductive. Piquant and mineral on the palate, with generous fruit, this is an elegant, crystalline and complex Doctor Spätlese with a dense, salty, very expressive and persistent finish. Keep this wine for at least a decade. Tasted March 2018.”
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Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 91+ Points “The 2019 Bernkasteler Graben Riesling GG is adjacent to Thanisch’s Doctor parcel yet a bit less warm. From 60- to 70-year-old-vines, this is a smoky, intense and elegant Riesling with very fine, precise and crunchy gray slate aromas. Medium-bodied, intense and complex on the palate, this is a tight, long and structured dry Graben Riesling with a refreshing lemon aroma on the concentrated and refreshing finish. This is complex but very promising and currently pretty closed, although the bottle was opened two days earlier. Tasted at the domain in September 2020.”
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Stuart Pigott-Jamessuckling.com 94 points “What a beautiful nose of leaves and white flowers, dripping after rain. With aeration, peach, nectarine and mandarin-orange notes emerge. Concentrated, racy and very polished, this is a stunning dry riesling with a long, mineral finish. Drink or hold. Screw cap.”
Grapelive 94 Points “This is a winery that about to break out and join some elite company, in fact they are riding high after winning, as mentioned, the famous Riesling Cup award with their unique multi (Grand) cru Von den Grossen Lagen Trocken Riesling. This wine is just extra proof there is real quality here! The lightly golden hued and generously textured Paradies will age well. It’s full of charm, class and potential. Best to let this one have another 3 to 5 years, though it certainly is delicious right now.”
Collector’s Corner
Grand Cru Burgundies
These are fantastic deals for some of the most exclusive wines on the planet!
Arriving November 24th:
Domaine Armand Rousseau Chambertin Clos-de-Beze Grand Cru, Cote de Nuits 2019 750ml $3,499 pre-arrival special, only 3 bottles arrivingDecanter 100 Points “Brooding dark fruits on the nose, super-ripe without any jamminess or overt oakiness. Splendid attack, with power and tension. The firm tannins are much more pronounced than in Chambertin, and provide a lot of grip. Truly adolescent and shouldn’t be broached for years. The fruit is currently submerged beneath the assertive structure – this has 13.7% alcohol without any chaptalisation, hence the power. It may well overtake the more elegant Chambertin in 20 years, but who knows?”
This is Lowest Bottle Price in the United States Today!
Average is $5,210!
Grand Cru Offerings Available Now:
Bouchard Pere et fils Le Corton Grand Cru, Cote de Beaune 2020 750ml $199 special, 7 bottles availableWine Spectator 95 Points “Shows aromatic sandalwood, floral, cherry and exotic spices on the nose, with intense cherry and berry fruit on the palate. This has serious grip, despite the acidity and tannins meshing harmoniously with the flavors and supple texture. Offers fine length, with the fruit and spice notes persisting. Best from 2026 through 2043.” Domaine Philippe Charlopin-Parizot Bonnes-Mares Grand Cru, Cote de Nuits 2013 750ml $399 special, 5 bottles availableWine Spectator 94 Points “There’s a lot of oak here, lending char, vanilla and whisky elements to the core of black cherry and black currant flavors. Fresh and firm, though the finish absorbs the oak better than the initial attack. Vibrant and long, this just needs time to integrate. Best from 2020 through 2036.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Philippe Charlopin Charmes Chambertin Grand Cru, Côte de Nuits 2013 750ml $299 special, 2 bottles availableWine Spectator 94 Points “Bright and focused, exhibiting spicy black cherry, raspberry, earth, smoke, vanilla and toast aromas and flavors. Bracing acidity offsets the lush texture, driving this to a long, expansive finish. Best from 2019 through 2030.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Joseph Drouhin Corton Grand Cru, Cote de Beaune 2018 750ml $219 special, 9 bottles availableJames Suckling 94 points “Cherry crushed-strawberry and rose aromas with notes of fresh herbs. It’s medium-to full-bodied with sleek tannins and lively acidity. Round and juicy with a bright core of fruit on the mid-palate. Fresh, with soft power and a flavorful finish.”
This is the only listing in the USA today by the bottle!
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Argiano Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Tuscany 2018 750ml 
WINE SPECTATOR #66 TOP 100 2023!!!