In This Newsletter:
Arrivals
Vietti, Foradori, Selbach-Oster, Cameron, and more!
Staff PickOrange wine done rightAll Week Sale
Weingut Emrich-SchonleberCollector’s CornerBest Coast: Premium Wines From California, Oregon, and Washington
New Arrivals
Italy
“Vietti”
Vietti Barbaresco Masseria Roncaglie 2019 750ml $128 special, 6 bottles availableVinous 98 Points “The 2019 Barbaresco Masseria Roncaglie is the best Barbaresco I have ever tasted from Vietti. Bright, translucent and full of energy, the 2019 is stunning from the very first taste, and it was poured after all the Barolos in the range. Crushed flowers, sweet red berry fruit, cinnamon, mint and orange peel all grace this exquisite, mind-blowing Barbaresco. The 2019 is pure and total finesse. For many years, the Barbaresco has been the hidden gem in this lineup. I am not sure how much longer that will last. The 2019 is outrageously beautiful. Don’t miss it!” Vietti Barolo Monvigliero 2019 750ml $269 special, 9 bottles availableVinous 97 Points “The 2019 Barolo Monvigliero is stunning. What a wine. Rich, heady and explosive, the 2019 is a gorgeous, spherical Barolo that dazzles right out of the gate. Aromatically broad and expansive, the 2019 fleshes out beautifully in the glass. Bright red-toned fruit, orange zest, mint, spice and bright saline notes saturate the palate on the back end. The 2019 is a total stunner, even in this stage of youthful austerity. It comes across as a bit rustic compared to the 2018, but the final verdict on that won’t be evident for at least a number of years. This is the first vintage that includes a second parcel in Monvigliero. In the cellar, one lot saw submerged cap maceration, the other did not.” Vietti Barolo Cerequio 2019 750ml $249 special, 12 bottles availableVinous 98 Points “The 2019 Barolo Cerequio is a worthy follow up to the stellar 2018. Aromatic and deeply pitched, the 2019 races across the palate with remarkable depth and intensity. Crushed rted berry fruit, rose petal, mint, and cinnamon all open in the glass, but it is the wine’s silkiness and suppleness that impresses most. A kick of acids and tannins puts an exclamation point on the finish. This is a gorgeous Cerequio that takes all the finesse this site offers, and then turns up the volume. What a wine.” Vietti Barolo Brunate 2019 750ml $259 special, 9 bottles availableVinous 98 Points “The 2019 Barolo Brunate is a powerhouse. Black cherry, plum, spice, lavender, mocha, gravel and scorched earth all build as this virile, potent Barolo struts its stuff. The Brunate, is another super-impressive wine in this range. To be perfectly honest, the Brunate has never been one of my favorite wines here, but the 2019 is undeniably great. Perhaps the combination of parcels Vietti has today explains the multi-dimensional vibrancy that comes through. This is simply magnificent.” Vietti Barolo Rocche Di Castiglione 2019 750ml $299 special, 6 bottles availableVinous 99 Points “The 2019 Barolo Rocche di Castiglione is all class. Deep and sensual, the 2019 once again shows how magical this site is. A Barolo with no hard edges and tons of sensuality, the 2019 is positively stellar. Silky tannins wrap around a core of bright red-toned fruit. The purity of the flavors is remarkable. Sweet floral and spice notes lend tons of lift as the Rocche gains in dimension with time in the glass. Resonant, expansive and sensual to the core, the Rocche will thrill Vietti fans.” Vietti Barolo Lazzarito 2019 750ml $239 special, 23 bottles availableVinous 97 Points “The 2019 Barolo Lazzarito continues a trend seen in recent years in which the focus has been more about finesse than raw power. Intense red fruit, iron, dried herbs, chalk, dried rose petal and white pepper all run through this deep, virile Barolo. The power and intensity of Serralunga really come alive on the heady, explosive finish. Bright saline notes linger on the deep, resonant finish. A Barolo of raw, unbridled power, the Lazzarito demands patience.” Vietti Barolo Ravera 2019 750ml $299 special, 30 bottles availableVinous 100 Points “The 2019 Barolo Brunate is a powerhouse. Black cherry, plum, spice, lavender, mocha, gravel and scorched earth all build as this virile, potent Barolo struts its stuff. The Brunate, is another super-impressive wine in this range. To be perfectly honest, the Brunate has never been one of my favorite wines here, but the 2019 is undeniably great. Perhaps the combination of parcels Vietti has today explains the multi-dimensional vibrancy that comes through. This is simply magnificent.” Vietti Barolo Riserva 2015 750ml $149 special, 12 bottles availableJeb Dunnick 96 Points “The first vintage for the 2015 Barolo Riserva offers richness and depth of profile, with spiced red plum, sweet balsamic, and licorice. It is full-bodied, with potent intensity in its notes of kirsch and dark mineral earth as well as its sweet tannins.” Vinous 94 Points “The 2015 Barolo Riserva is a new wine from Vietti conceived as a blend that changes every year, a sort of Riserva of the Castiglione, in that it is a Barolo made from the many lots Vietti has at their disposal. Exotic red fruit, blood orange, spice, leather and cedar are some of the aromas and flavors that emerge from the glass. The 2015 shows the aromatic complexity of a wine that has been in bottle for a few years, naturally it does not offer the singularity of the vineyard designates. I won’t be surprised if this bottling improves in future vintages as the direction becomes even more clearly defined.”
“Azienda Agricola Foradori”
Foradori ‘Lezer’ Teroldego 2022 750ml $24 special, 18 bottles availableImporter Note “100% Teroldego. It was Foradori’s first ‘vin de soif’ style wine, and they enjoyed the change of pace so much that even in the warm, productive 2018 vintage, they decided to make it again; jungle plants appear at the border of the label as a humorous nod to the more “tropical”–as winemaker son Emilio refers to it–conditions of this vintage. Maceration is less than 24 hours in various vessels; fermentation is spontaneous and finishes dry. It is juicy, soft and bright.”
France
“Champagne Eric Rodez á Ambonnay”
Eric Rodez Blanc De Blancs NV 750ml $89 special, 6 bottles availableWinery Note Brut champagne produced exclusively from several different harvests of Chardonnay. In fact, this cuvée normally sees 5 or 6 different vintages in order to ensure the same delicacy between years. Very flowery and delicate, and much more sensual than champagnes made with strictly high percentages of Pinot Noir. Eric Rodez Cuvee Des Crayeres NV 750ml $69 special, 6 bottles availableWinery Note This brut champagne is made with a blend of 50% Pinot Noir and 50% Chardonnay, with 40% to 45% reserve wines used in the blend. Pinot Noir brings body and structure, Chardonnay conveys delicacy and elegance. The nose is floral with a hint of citrus fruits. The palate is balanced and dense.
“Alain Chabanon”
Alain Chabanon Campredon Llarzac 2020 750ml $24 special, 23 bottles availableVinopolnote “Organic/Biodynamic Terrasses du Larzac is possibly the most exciting slice of the Languedoc these days, taking advantage of cool air flowing in nightly from mountains to the north to balance the sunny, warm, Mediterranean days. Chabanon’s Campredon is a terrific example of the results, a boisterous and ripe blend of Syrah, Mourvedre and Grenache that’s perfectly balanced by fresh notes of blood orange and minerality. Ripe and deep without weight or heaviness.” Alain Chabanon L’esprit De Font Caude 2018 750ml $39 special, 36 bottles availableVinopolnote “Mourvèdre/Syrah/Grenache from Montpeyroux. This cuvée is the flagship of the estate, it is also the oldest, first vintage in 1994, composed of equal parts Mourvèdre and Syrah, plus a touch of Grenache. A lot of elegance for this wine which is between classicism and modernity.” Alain Chabanon Petit Trelans Blanc 2022 750ml $28 special, 12 bottles availableVinopolnote “A stunning blend of biodynamic Vermentino and Chenin, this white is produced from a poor, stony, clay-limestone soil. During vinification, fermentation is done in stainless steel vats and élevage lasts 36 months, of which 12 in French oak barrels. Alain Chabanon also produces a wonderfully French and unctuous white wine with notes of fresh fruits, quince, citrus fruits and honeysuckle.”
Arriving Friday
“Selbach Oster”
Selbach-Oster Zelt Himmelreich Anrecht Auslese 2021 750ml $59 special, 12 bottles availableWine Advocate 96-97 Points “The 2021 Zeltinger Himmelreich Auslese Anrecht opens with a very clear, intense and smoky bouquet of crushed rocks with flinty and iodine notes as well as nutty and yeasty ones. Full-bodied, lush and intensely mineral on the palate, this is a pure and elegant but juicy and refined Auslese with a long, crystalline and saline, well-structured finish. Good tension, grip and length. It’s a superb Riesling of the vintage and certainly a long-distance runner.” Selbach-Oster Zeltinger Schlossberg Kabinett 2020 750ml $24 special, 36 bottles availableWine Advocate 93+ Points “The 2020 Zeltinger Schlossberg Kabinett offers a bright yet intense and finely flinty, very delicate bouquet of bright fruits and crushed/weathered slate. Lush and round but vital and bright on the palate, this is a highly delicate and saline, well balanced and juicy picture-book Kabinett. Superb!” Selbach-Oster Zelt Schlossberg Kabinett 750ml 2021 $26 special, 36 bottles availableWine Advocate 92 Points “The 2021 Zeltinger Schlossberg Kabinett is bright and pure on the elegant and refined nose that shows bright slate and fruit as well as herbal aromas. Lush and piquant as well as saline on the palate, this is a playful and juicy, classic Kabinett with a stimulating finish.” Selbach-Oster Zeltinger Schloss Schmitt Auslese 2021 750ml $69 special, 17 bottles availableWine Advocate 95-96 Points “The 2021 Zeltinger Schlossberg Auslese Schmitt exhibits a very clear, coolish and piquant bouquet with concentrated white (stone) fruit and crushed stone aromas with some hints of caramel. Very delicate and finessed on the palate, this is a piquant and saline, crystalline and playful Auslese in a digestible sweet style. The finish is crunchy, crystalline and slatey, which gives iodine flavors and lots of tension that uplifts the richness of this promising beauty.”
Arriving Early September
Cameron Nebbiolo 2019 750ml $39 special, 36 bottles availableVinopolnote: Why is it that no one in Oregon does northern italian varietals quite like Jean Paul of Cameron Winery? It’s simple, just as he went to Burgundy to learn how to craft proper, varietally correct Pinot Noir, Jean Paul journeyed to Piedmont to unlock the secrets of Nebbiolo. Expect cherries and rose petals on the palette, lithe tannins around the edges, and great acidic lift that drinks like the Langhe’s best. Cameron Pinot Noir Reserve Dundee Hills 2021 750ml $39 special, 36+ bottles availableWinery Notes “First and foremost bing cherry. Maybe a little stewed. Accentuated by a cocoa nib base note. Straw and sandalwood. Turkish fig, iodine and boysenberry. Ferrous on the nose, I want to say blood. A back note of sage and come with me on this one, nasturtium. Also library chair leather, candied orange rind, lavender, soft tannins, that roll across the tongue. A blend of Abbey Ridge, Clos Electrique, and La Colina vineyards.”
Wine of the Week
Orange Wine Done Right
Probably the most elegant example of orange wine we’ve come across. Far from a new trend, Ramatos are a traditional Italian style of pinot grigio named after the copper color the wine develops when kept on the skins during fermentation. With a bouquet including stone fruits and black tea on the nose, a solid backbone of tart acidity, and subtle tannic grip on the palate, this is a perfect refresher for the late summer heat.
Close-out Sale – Price Reductions
Chateau Margilliere Bastide Provence Rose 2021 750ml WAS $16 NOW $14 special, 22 bottles availableWinery Note “A robe of very pale and attractive pink. Expressive of a wild strawberry, the nose reveals a hint of grapefruit. A large and delicate mouth for the pleasure of the buds, with aromas of raspberry and jasmine.” Certified organic. Corsini Marsiliana Maremma Toscana 2015 750ml WAS $36 NOW $33 special, 36+ bottles availableWine Advocate 95 Points “Described as the “grand vin” of this estate, the 2015 Marsiliana is remarkable for its precision and definition. This limited-release Tuscan red is a well-structured blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot. The forest and floral notes are some of the fine details mirroring the vineyards of limestone earth nestled among the Maremma pines. Black fruit is matched seamlessly to savory nuances. The vintage is still young, as this wine is built for the long haul.” James Suckling 94 Points “Beautiful clarity on the nose with tangerine peel, citrus, licorice, herbs and Chinese spices. Full-bodied and tight. Yet, there are caressing tannins and a mineral finish which carries itself long and succulent. Drink in 2020.” Les Mesclances Romane Cotes De Provence Rose 2020 750ml WAS $24 NOW $19 special, 23 bottles availableWine Advocate “The 2020 Cotes de Provence Rose Romane is a blend of 42% Grenache, 40% Cinsault and 18% Syrah. Fermented and aged in stainless steel, it’s a predictable pale salmon-hued wine, with vibrant notes of lime zest, alpine strawberries and hints of peach and melon. Medium-bodied, it’s crisp, clean and impeccably made, with a lasting finish. For the price, it’s a solid value.” Macizo Ourensan Peixe De Estrada 2016 750ml WAS $24 NOW $19 special, 20 bottles availableWine Advocate 93 Points “In the initial vintage, the top of the range is the 2016 Peixes da Rocha, a blend of grapes from two extreme and cold plots, Santa Mariña de Froxais at 825 meters in altitude and the southeast-facing Bacelo da Cova in Punxeiro at 725 meters in altitude. The two plots have a field blend that includes red and white grapes, even if the main grape is Mencía. Production methods are similar for all three wines—fermentation with full clusters and indigenous yeasts and élevage in used 500-liter French barriques for some 12 months. It has a stony, flinty sensation and is aromatic and floral, with great elegance. It has a very intense palate with pungent flavors, very fine tannins and a mineral, almost salty sensation. 3,500 bottles were filled in February 2018.” Merkelbach Kinheimer Rosenberg Spatlese #1 2017 750ml WAS $24 NOW $24 special, 30 bottles availableVinous 91 Points “Very ripe Bartlett pear garlanded in honeysuckle features both on the nose and in the mouth. The midpalate combines delicacy and animation – appropriate to the inner-mouth florality and fruit juiciness on display – with creaminess and glossiness of texture. A squeeze of lime adds to the liveliness of a subtly sweet, buoyant, stone-lined and satisfyingly sustained finish. Water-color-like in its alliance of transparency with slight diffusion, this lovely Spätlese offers a delicate wash of flavors.” Merkelbach Kinheimer Rosenberg Spatlese #2 2017 750ml WAS $28 NOW $24 special, 36+ bottles availableMosel 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.” Migot Vin Gris Rose Cotes De Toul 2021 750ml WAS $26 NOW $21.90 special, 10 bottles availableVom Boden importer note “The Mosel River begins in Alsace but spends most of its time running north through the Lorraine, the ignored little-brother of Alsace. This is the homeland of rosé, here called “Vin Gris.” For those looking for wines of finesse and delicacy, this is a thrilling region and there is no one better than the young Camille Migot: all hand-harvested, certified organic, all wild-yeast fermentations, NO chaptalization. SERIOUS. The Vin Gris is the calling card of the region, layered rosé that carries the nervous energy of the north.” Monteillet Cote-Rotie Fortis 2014 750ml WAS $59 NOW $49 special, 7 bottles availableVinous 92-93 Points “Dark purple. Spice-accented aromas of dark berry preserves and candied flowers gain a bright mineral nuance in the glass. Fresh and incisive on the palate, offering sappy blackberry and boysenberry flavors and hints of allspice and licorice. Fine-grained tannins give shape to a long, juicy, penetrating finish that emphatically echoes the floral note.” Morgenster Lourens River Valley Red 2014 750ml WAS $21 NOW $18 special, 28 bottles availableVinous 92 Points “The 2014 Lourens River Valley is a Bordeaux blend that offers light blackberry, tobacco and smoky scents on the nose; a hint of hickory develops with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied, fleshy and ripe, with supple tannins and a pinch of sour cherry and balsamic toward the finish. Quite mellow, so much so that you almost overlook the concentration here. Excellent.” Mourat Collection Val De Loire Rose 2021 750ml WAS $18 NOW $14 special, 12 bottles availableImporter note “Organic. 40% Pinot Noir, 20% Gamay 40% Cabernet Franc grown on a mix of schist and rhyolite. Average age of the vines is 20 years. Hand-harvested, destemmed, pressed and settled with spontaneous fermentation at cool temperatures in stainless steel. Aged 5 months in tank before bottling.” Mourat Grenouillere Negrette Rouge 2020 750ml WAS $29 NOW $21.90 special, 25 bottles available80 year old Negrette vines Mourat Ovni Val De Loire Rose 2021 750ml WAS $19 NOW $16 special, 13 bottles available100% Grolleau Gris Musto Carmelitano Aglianico Vulture Maschitano 2017 750ml WAS $19 NOW $16 special, 36+ bottles availableVinous 92+ Points “The 2017 Aglianico del Vulture Maschitano Rosso lifts from the glass with a rich and darkly alluring mix of crushed plums and blackberries complemented by nuances of lavender, violets and a dusting of exotic spice. While silky, almost creamy in feel, there’s a core of saline-minerals and bright acidity that adds riveting tension, as tart wild berries mix with a twang of sour citrus and wild herbal tones. This thrilling, young Aglianico finishes long and lightly structured, keeping the energy high with a sweet-and-sour tug of dark fruits and hints of blood orange that linger impossibly long. The 2017 Maschitano Rosso is the total package, yet it comes from the youngest vines of the estate and represents the most accessible of the Musto Carmelitano portfolio.” Bodegas Muga Seleccion Especial Rioja 2018 750ml WAS $44 NOW $39 special, 79 bottles availableWine Advocate 94 Points “2018 was a cooler vintage, with a fairly long maturation, which made the wines somewhat fresher and less alcoholic, as showcased by the 2018 Selección Especial, a classical blend of the four red varieties from Rioja, Tempranillo, Garnacha, Mazuelo and Graciano with contained ripeness (14.05% alcohol) and good freshness. It fermented in oak casks with indigenous yeasts and matured in French oak barrels, 40% of them new, for 26 months. They were not very happy with the vintage and had to sort and discard, but as they didn’t produce Prado Enea, Torre Muga or Haro, those grapes went into this wine. They are reluctant about 2018, but I think it was a vintage capable of the best and the worst, and this 2018 is floral, expressive and elegant. It’s medium to full- bodied, with very fine, chalky tannins, combining power and elegance. Amazing! 187,200 bottles produced. It was bottled in January 2021.”
All Week Sale
Emrich-Schonleber
From the upper Nahe region of Germany, hidden in pockets of blue and red slate, lie some of the purest and most highly regarded Grosse Lage (Grand Cru) vineyards in all of Germany, three of which are held by Weingut Emrich-Schonleber. With an elegance reminiscent of Mosel, but a power that evokes thoughts of the Rheingau, these wines are mineral, powerful, and beautifully concentrated. From their age-worthy Grosses Gewachs, lively and vivid kabinetts and trockens, to their less heralded but fantastic Rivaners and Weissburgunders, there is no wrong place for wine fans to begin with Emrich-Schonleber.
They really do produce something for everyone.
Buy 6-11 bottles for a 5% discount
Buy 12+ bottles for a 10% discount
Emrich-Schonleber Fruhlingsplatz Grosses Gewachs Riesling 2020 750ml $85 special, 7 bottles availableDecanter 97 Points “The Frühlingsplätzchen is in the cooler western part of the Nahe region, which has endowed this Riesling with tightly wound acidity. The wine is produced in a very classic style, underpinned by beauty and silkiness. At the same time, there is plenty of varietal character with citrus fruit and grapefruit as well as nuances of wet stones alluding to its origin. The tight structure leads to a long finish.” Emrich-Schonleber Halenberg Auslese Riesling 2020 375ml $38 special, 21 bottles availableJames Suckling 98 Points “Very intense, candied yellow-grapefruit nose. Super-concentrated, but the most important thing about this Auslese is the incredibly tight focus on the palate and the purity of the dried apricot and mango. Super-succulent and vibrant finish that doesn’t want to stop.” Emrich-Schonleber Halenberg Auslese Riesling 2020 750ml $66 special, 22 bottles availableJames Suckling 98 Points “Very intense, candied yellow-grapefruit nose. Super-concentrated, but the most important thing about this Auslese is the incredibly tight focus on the palate and the purity of the dried apricot and mango. Super-succulent and vibrant finish that doesn’t want to stop.” Emrich-Schonleber Halenberg Grosses Gewachs Riesling 2021 750ml $99 special, 8 bottles availableStuart Pigott 98 Points “The vibrant white-peach, wild-herb and floral bouquet of this stunning GG makes a serious statement. Very compact and concentrated, it’s only just beginning to reveal its abundant treasures. Super-focused and precise, it grows and grows as it shoots over the palate at great speed. Incredible depth of wet-stone minerality at the super-long finish.” Emrich-Schonleber Halenberg Spatlese Riesling 2020 750ml $41.90 special, 19 bottles availableJames Suckling 98 Points “A giant Spätlese that’s packed to the gills with peach and berry fruit, salty minerality and supernaturally vibrant acidity. Such complexity that it’s hard to express in such a string of adjectives. Breathtaking freshness at the finish. Decades of aging potential.” Emrich-Schonleber Halenberg Spatlese Riesling 2021 750ml $54.50 special, 6 bottles availableStuart Pigott 97 Points “A stunning Spatlese, but if you’re looking for an easy-going, juicy, sweetish riesling, then you’re in the wrong place, because this is a radical wine. Super-mineral and super-focused, with a dangerous amount of energy. Very youthful nose with tons of wild-berry and herb character. Extremely crystalline finish. Drink or hold.” Emrich-Schonleber Halenberg TBA Riesling 2018 375ml $299 special, 21 bottles availableWine Advocate 98+ Points “The 2018 Halenberg Riesling Trockenbeerenauslese is incredibly pure and aromatic on the nose where super ripe but clear peach aromas are displayed. Extremely rich and refined on the palate, this is a ripe, terribly sweet but refined, fresh and salty-piquant TBA with a stimulating finish. A fabulous wine.”
| Vintage |
Wine |
Points |
Price and Availability |
| 2021 |
Fruhlingsplatz GG Riesling 750ml |
Pigott 95 |
$89 special, 12 bottles |
| 2020 |
Fruhtau Riesling Trocken 750ml |
WA 93 |
$38 special, 36+ bottles |
| 2021 |
Fruhtau Riesling Trocken 750ml |
JS 92 |
$39 special, 10 bottles |
| 2018 |
Halenberg Auslese Riesling 750ml |
Vinous 94 |
$57 special, 9 bottles |
| 2018 |
Halenberg GG Riesling 750ml |
WA 95+ |
$69 special, 14 bottles |
| 2018 |
Halenberg Spatlese Riesling 750ml |
Vinous 93 |
$39 special, 18 bottles |
| 2020 |
Halgans Riesling Trocken 750ml |
WA 94 |
$41.90 special, 12 bottles |
| 2021 |
Halgans Riesling Trocken 750ml |
JS 93 |
$44.50 special, 3 bottles |
| 2020 |
Mineral Riesling Trocken 750ml |
JS 93 |
$29 special, 17 bottles |
| 2021 |
Mineral Riesling Trocken 750ml |
JS 93 |
$36 special, 30 bottles |
| 2021 |
Neiderberg Riesling Kabinett 750ml |
Pigott 95 |
$39 special, 8 bottles |
| 2021 |
Neiderberg Riesling Trocken 750ml |
Pigott 94 |
$59 special, 12 bottles |
| 2020 |
Riesling Lenz 750ml |
|
$24 special, 36 bottles |
| 2018 |
Riesling Trocken 750ml |
Gilman 89+ |
$21.90 special, 19 bottles |
| 2020 |
Riesling Trocken 750ml |
JS 93 |
$21.90 special, 21 bottles |
| 2021 |
Estate Riesling Trocken 750ml |
JS 91 |
$24 special, 22 bottles |
| 2020 |
Rivaner Muller-Thurgau 750ml |
|
$19.90 special, 3 bottles |
| 2021 |
Rivaner Trocken 750ml |
|
$19.50 special, 4 bottles |
| 2021 |
Weissburgunder 750ml |
JS 92 |
$29 special, 2 bottles |
SALE ENDS @6PM FRIDAY
Collector’s CornerBest Coast
Abreu Madrona Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon 2001 750ml $599 special, 1 bottle availableRobert Parker 100 Points ” While I am not surprised that the 2001 Thorevilos turned out to be perfect, the 2001 Madrona Ranch was more of an eye-opener in that it has become even more extraordinary than I predicted eight years ago. A prodigious wine, with complex notes of subtle barbecue smoke intermixed with blueberry pie, black currant liqueur, acacia flowers, lead pencil shavings, and sweet foresty floor notes, this wine builds incrementally with layer upon layer of fruit, glycerin and concentration. The finish goes well past a minute, and the wine is full-bodied and deep, with wonderfully sweet tannin. It is still an adolescent in terms of its total evolution, but it is irresistible simply because of the flawless nature of the wine and incredible perfume and flavor intensity. Simply amazing!” Aubert UV Vineyard Pinot Noir 2016 750ml $149 special, 2 bottles availableJeb Dunnuck 100 Points “Leading off the Pinot Noirs, this is unquestionably the finest set of releases from the estate I’ve ever tasted, and it appears some of the magic Mark finds with his Chardonnays is finding its way over to the Pinot Noirs. The 2016 Pinot Noir UV Vineyard is 100% Calera clone (which reportedly comes from Vosne-Romanée) from a site in the Sonoma Coast and was brought up in 60-70% new French oak. It also saw around 10-20% whole clusters. Incredible ripe cherries, strawberries, exotic spices, blood orange, and floral notes all soar from this transparently colored, multi-dimensional, layered Pinot Noir that has no hard edges, ultra-fine tannin, and a finish that just won’t quit. It’s the finest Pinot Noir ever made from this address.” Aubert Pinot Noir UV-SL Vineyard 2016 750ml $159 special, 4 bottles availableJeb Dunnuck 99 Points “The 2016 Pinot Noir UV-SL Vineyard flirts with perfect and is another incredible effort from the Sonoma Coast. Deeply colored, with ripe cherries, underbrush, black currants, graphite, blood orange, and forest floor notes, it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, ample tannin, a big mid-palate, and a blockbuster finish. Despite being a rich, powerful wine, it shows remarkable elegance and purity, as well as a weightless, seamless texture. Brought up in 70% new French oak, drink it over the coming decade.” Hundred Acre Kayli Morgan Vineyard Cabernet 2009 750ml $499 special, 3 bottle availablesWine Advocate 96 Points “Medium to deep garnet colored, the 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Kayli Morgan Vineyard gives up bold blackcurrant cordial, blackberry compote and raspberry pie scents with hints of chocolate-covered cherries, roses and lilacs plus hints of charcuterie and yeast extract. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is wonderfully elegant, with wonderful vivacity and perfume and a satiny texture with a very long finish.” Morlet Joli Coeur Pinot Noir 2013 750ml $119 special, 1 bottle availableWine Advocate 96 Points “The 2013 Pinot Noir Joli Coeur is what Luc Morlet calls Athe sweet spot@ of his Coteaux Nobles Vineyard. The berries tend to size up smaller and the clusters weigh less. This has an extra gear in it, so to speak, and displays plenty of black and red currant fruits, some rose petals and other floral notes, forest floor, a full-bodied mouthfeel, terrific texture, and remarkable richness and purity. This stunner will age well for 10-15 years.” Sine Qua Non Grenache Female 2013 750ml $319 special, 2 bottles availableWine Advocate 98 Points “Showing similar to a previous bottle tasted in Colorado, the 2013 Grenache Female (78% Grenache, 19% Syrah and 3% Mourvedre) is more high toned and pretty than the 2014, with perfumed notes of black raspberries, licorice, herbes de Provence and violets. Similar on the palate to the 2014, yet perhaps with a touch more tannin, give this beauty a few years and drink it through 2033.” Ridge Monte Bello Santa Cruz Mountains 2013 750ml $349 special, 1 bottle availableWine Advocate 100 Points “The 2013 Monte Bello is a very special vintage for this great wine. Amazingly, it has yet to shut down, unfurling in the glass to reveal a bouquet of black raspberries, cassis, rich espresso roast, cigar wrapper, subtle black truffle and burning embers that has already integrated its 100% new oak remarkably completely. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied, powerful and multidimensional, with a lavishly textural attack that segues into a stunningly layered, richly structured mid-palate endowed with incredible depth and concentration underpinned by succulent acids. The finish is long, vibrant and beautifully delineated. The 2013 is a blend of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Petit Verdot, 7% Cabernet Franc and 5% Merlot, and it attained 13.6% natural alcohol. Analytically, this ranks as one of the most tannic vintages of Monte Bello ever produced, but the tannins are of such high quality and cloaked in such a wealth of fruit that Ridge forwent their habitual egg white fining this year—beginning a trend that has continued since. This profound Monte Bello will begin to blossom as it reaches age ten and should prove practically immortal.”
Oregon
Beaux Freres The Beaux Freres Vineyard Pinot Noir 2021 750ml $124.95 special, 6 bottles available
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.” Bergstrom Estate Pinot Noir 2021 750ml $141.80 special, 5 bottles availableWine Advocate 94 Points “Pale ruby-purple, the 2021 Pinot Noir Bergström Vineyard segues from gentle flinty tones to scents of raspberry, cranberry, lavender, dried herbs and touches of orange peel. The light-bodied palate is delicate and perfumed with a softly chalky texture, fireworks of fresh acidity and a long, ethereal finish with wafts of floral and citrus. Offer it another 2-3 years in bottle.” Bergstrom Le Pre Du Col Pinot Noir 2021 750ml $114.50 special, 6 bottles availableWine Advocate 94 Points “Medium ruby, the 2021 Pinot Noir Le Pré du Col Vineyard has pretty scents of raspberry, cranberry, bergamot and mushroom, revealing more aromatic detail as it spends time in the glass. The light-bodied palate is chalky and refreshing with concentrated fruit and loads of botanical and floral accents on the long, layered finish. I love this fragrant, detailed expression!” Drouhin Roserock Zepherine Pinot Noir 2021 1.5L $128 special, 6 bottles available
James Suckling 97 Points “Beautifully fragrant notes of cocoa-dusted raspberries and crushed blueberries with dried rose petals, sencha tea, cherry chocolate and crushed rocks. Ground spices, too. It shows both delicacy and power, with a compact and silky feeling to the tannin structure and impressive acidity which carries the freshness and tone through to the finish. Attractive tension of crunchy blue fruit and spices. Drink or hold.”
Washington
Cayuse Syrah Armada Vineyard 2019 750ml $159 special, 1 bottle availableJeb Dunnuck 98+ Points “The 2019 Syrah Armada Vineyard comes from a higher density planting just beside the estate, and it’s always a more dense, backward wine. Darker, black fruits, smoked meat, ground pepper, iron, and just subtle bloody, meaty nuances emerge from this beauty, and it’s medium to full-bodied on the palate, with building, firm tannins, wonderfully integrated acidity, and a great finish that makes you salivate due to its sense of salinity and minerality. It needs plenty of air if drinking any time soon but is another tour de force in Rocks Syrah! It has 20-25 years of prime drinking ahead of it.” Cayuse Impulsivo Tempranillo 2020 750ml $119 special, 25 bottles availableJames Suckling 95 PointsSkurnik Notes “100% Tempranillo. En Chamberlin Vineyard (Walla Walla Valley AVA). Planted in 1998. 10′ by 4′ planting density. 6.1 acres planted. 12-18” of silty loam and basalt cobblestone soils. 875 ft. elevation.” Horsepower Syrah Tribe Vineyard 2016 750ml $169 special, 23 bottles availableJeb Dunnuck 97+ Points “The 2016 Syrah The Tribe is largely in the same mold with a gamy, meaty, backward profile. Smoked meats, earthy dark fruits, ground pepper, and wood smoke are all present in this medium to full-bodied, concentrated Syrah that’s going to benefit from 3-5 years of bottle age and cruise for 15-20 years.” Horsepower Syrah Tribe Vineyard 2017 750ml $169 special, 11 bottles availableJeb Dunnuck 97 Points “Beautiful notes of red and black raspberries, tobacco, plum sauce, loamy earth, and loads of floral notes emerge from the 2017 Syrah The Tribe Vineyard, another tight, closed wine that’s going to benefit from bottle age. Medium to full-bodied, with notable freshness as well as plenty of underlying structure, it reminds me of Cote Rotie from the Cote Blonde lieu-dit with its incredible floral character as well as its seamless texture. Beautifully done and one of the standouts in the lineup in 2017, give bottles a healthy decant if drinking any time soon, and my money is on it benefiting from 2-3 years of bottle age and evolving for 15-20 years or more.” Horsepower Syrah Tribe Vineyard 2019 750ml $179 special, 12 bottles availableWine Advocate 97 Points “The 2019 Syrah The Tribe Vineyard starts with a stemmy, fresh and savory nose with a delightful meaty aroma and dusty florals before wafting with a succulent raspberry skin essence. Medium to full-bodied, the Syrah displays a vibrant mineral tension and spicy mouthfeel before subtle flavors of dried herbs sway with a firm tannic structure. The wine continues to evolve and unpack over the long, lingering finish with a pleasing smoky nuance and persistent peppery note. Give it a few more years in the bottle before opening. Bravo!” No Girls Tempranillo La Paciencia Vineyard 2016 750ml $119 special, 11 bottles availableJeb Dunnuck 97 Points “Similarly colored, the 2016 Tempranillo La Paciencia Vineyard offers an exotic bouquet of black cherries, violets, chocolate, tobacco, smoke, and candied orange rind. It’s deep, beautiful, savory, and full-bodied, with a thrilling texture. It’s another incredibly elegant, singular wine from this estate. 321 cases.”
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