In This Newsletter:
New May Sale Wines
New Amarone on the Way
Gilded Giordano
Riesling Roundup with Selbach Oster and Korrell
Soothsayer of Swartland:
Johan Meyer’s Mother Rock wines
Perrier-Jouët: Belle Epoque
Collector’s Corner
Dominio Pingus
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New May Sale Wines
Alain Jaume & Fils Domaine Grand Veneur Chateauneuf-du-Pape Le Miocene Rouge Rhone 2017 Was $36 now $33 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Wine & Spirits 93 points “This is named for the period of time when the Rhone River sluiced its way from the Alps through Chateauneuf, leaving behind a plateau paved with the baseball-sized stones as the water retreated. Those “galets” are said to help the vines ripen their fruit in this northern sector of the appellation, the stones emanating the sun’s heat. This wine reflects both a spring-like coolness in its spicy, savory herbal notes and a warmth in its lush purple fruit. It’s spicy and firm, with a little bit of grip to the tannins that suggests this could benefit from aging in bottle for a few more years.”
Joe Czerwinski-Wine Advocate 93 points “Another stellar vintage for this cuvée, the 2017 Chateauneuf du Pape Le Miocene is a classic blend of 70% Grenache, 20% Syrah and 10% Mourvèdre from a mix of soil types, aged in older barrels and concrete tanks. It’s ripe and plummy, with notes of black cherries and licorice, yet there’s also a sense of freshness. Full-bodied and velvety in texture, it’s already approachable but has the substance to age through 2030. Tasted twice (once blind), with consistent notes.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Check out our other bottlings on sale through the rest of the month! Over 28 bottlings are on sale now including Sandhi Chardonnay, Peyrassol Rose and De Venoge Vintage Champagne!
New Amarone on the Way
The pride of the Veneto for hundreds of years, Amarone’s are among the most labor intensive and expensive wines to produce. This is attributable to a number of factors including the finicky nature of the grapes used for the blend, the months of drying prior to fermentation and extensive aging required prior to release.
Made from the traditional blend of Corvina, Corvinone and Rondinella; There are the classic flavors of Morello cherry, prunes and dark chocolate underscored by violets, pipe tobacco and roses with a finish of butterscotch. The body of the wine slightly edges out the acid and has an exceptionally long finish that goes on for minutes.
Brigaldara wines arriving ETA Fall 2022:
Brigaldara Case Vecie Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG 2016 750ML ($69.95) $54.50 pre-arrival special, 24 bottles in stock now
Case-6 Brigaldara Case Vecie Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG 2016 750ML ($319.95) $299 pre-arrival special, (That’s $49.83 per bottle!)
Eric Guido-Vinous 96+ points “The 2016 Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Case Vecie seduces with a beguiling and lifted mix of crushed stone, dusty rose and bright cherry. This is dark and velvety, moody in feel yet seductive and pliant, simply harmonious, mixing salty minerals and ripe rich red fruits and spices, hints of mocha and inner violet florals. There’s simply so much going on here. The 2016 tapers off incredibly long and structured. It’s still easy to like today with floral rose and violet tones, along with a bitter twang of balsamic spice. A simply stunning Case Vecie.”
Made from the traditional blend of Corvina, Corvinone and Rondinella; There are the classic flavors of Morello cherry, prunes and dark chocolate underscored by violets, pipe tobacco and roses with a finish of butterscotch. The body of the wine slightly edges out the acid and has an exceptionally long finish that goes on for minutes.
Brigaldara wines arriving ETA Fall 2022:
Brigaldara Case Vecie Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG 2016 750ML ($69.95) $54.50 pre-arrival special, 24 bottles in stock now
Case-6 Brigaldara Case Vecie Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG 2016 750ML ($319.95) $299 pre-arrival special, (That’s $49.83 per bottle!)
Eric Guido-Vinous 96+ points “The 2016 Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Case Vecie seduces with a beguiling and lifted mix of crushed stone, dusty rose and bright cherry. This is dark and velvety, moody in feel yet seductive and pliant, simply harmonious, mixing salty minerals and ripe rich red fruits and spices, hints of mocha and inner violet florals. There’s simply so much going on here. The 2016 tapers off incredibly long and structured. It’s still easy to like today with floral rose and violet tones, along with a bitter twang of balsamic spice. A simply stunning Case Vecie.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Brigaldara ‘Case Vecie’ Valpolicella Superiore Veneto 2019 750ML ($27.95) $24 pre-arrival special, 36+ bottles arriving
Case-6 Brigaldara ‘Case Vecie’ Valpolicella Superiore Veneto 2019 750ML ($169.95) $136 pre-arrival special (That’s $22.67 per bottle!)
Eric Guido-Vinous 92 points “The 2019 Valpolicella Superiore Case Vecie is a deep red color with a purple hue. It wafts up spicy with an attractive sour citrus tangerine note that gives way to bright cherries and dusty rose. It’s silky-smooth and decidedly savory, with saline-minerals up front giving way to tart red berries and hints of sour citrus. This is incredibly perfumed and long, yet it also maintains amazing freshness. The Case Vecie is a beautiful wine, reminding me of cru Beaujolais.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Gilded Giordano
“A stone’s throw from Barbaresco’s village centre, the winery and its vineyards were founded by Giovanni Giordano in the 1930s during a time of profound crisis in the Italian wine world. After a period of growing and selling grapes, Giovanni’s son, Luigi, made the bold decision to vinify his own grapes in 1960. Luigi Giordano is now a fourth-generation winery whose vineyards are planted in some of Barbaresco’s most prestigious crus, including Asili and Montestefano. One particular Barbaresco bottling from the cru of Cavanna showcases the winery’s elegant, hands-off style of winemaking and currently represents the only single-vineyard cru of its kind on the market.” – Importer note
Luigi Giordano is a small, family-owned winery producing elegant and classically framed Barbaresco. Sourcing from some of the region’s most celebrated vineyards, including Asili and Montestefano, Giordano’s wines are consistently excellent. Fortunately for us, Giordano remains a bit of an insider’s secret. As a result, the cru bottlings sell for nearly half as much as the same vineyard bottlings from Produttori and others. But tasting these wines, we can’t imagine that this will remain true much longer. Their wines are both thought provoking and accessible with the classic sandy tannins of Barbaresco against fabulous length on the finish. Even in examples from hotter vintages there is no lack of freshness or impression of heat, which is no small feat to achieve in the cellar.
Giordano wines in stock now:
Luigi Giordano Asili Barbaresco DOCG 2015 750ML ($69.95) $59 special, 22 bottles in stock now
Decanter 92 points “From vines planted in 2000, this has a red fruit nose that’s not very expressive presently, but the palate is fresh and limpid with very ripe fruits but with no sweetness showing, thanks to the lively acidity. It has some tension, persistence and style, with a long finish.”
Importer Note “Definite garnet red colour enriched with delicate orange highlights on ageing; ample and intense perfume with good floral and fruit jammy notes plus ethereal hints ofspices. The flavour is dry, full, elegant and aristocratic. Traditional red wine maceration for 12-15 days with ferment-ation in temperature controlled stainless steel vats using frequent pumping-over. The wine is aged for at least 18-24 months in large (30-50 hectolitre) barrels of Slavonian oak, then refined in horizont-ally-placed bottles for another 6 months.”
Luigi Giordano is a small, family-owned winery producing elegant and classically framed Barbaresco. Sourcing from some of the region’s most celebrated vineyards, including Asili and Montestefano, Giordano’s wines are consistently excellent. Fortunately for us, Giordano remains a bit of an insider’s secret. As a result, the cru bottlings sell for nearly half as much as the same vineyard bottlings from Produttori and others. But tasting these wines, we can’t imagine that this will remain true much longer. Their wines are both thought provoking and accessible with the classic sandy tannins of Barbaresco against fabulous length on the finish. Even in examples from hotter vintages there is no lack of freshness or impression of heat, which is no small feat to achieve in the cellar.
Giordano wines in stock now:
Luigi Giordano Asili Barbaresco DOCG 2015 750ML ($69.95) $59 special, 22 bottles in stock now
Decanter 92 points “From vines planted in 2000, this has a red fruit nose that’s not very expressive presently, but the palate is fresh and limpid with very ripe fruits but with no sweetness showing, thanks to the lively acidity. It has some tension, persistence and style, with a long finish.”
Importer Note “Definite garnet red colour enriched with delicate orange highlights on ageing; ample and intense perfume with good floral and fruit jammy notes plus ethereal hints ofspices. The flavour is dry, full, elegant and aristocratic. Traditional red wine maceration for 12-15 days with ferment-ation in temperature controlled stainless steel vats using frequent pumping-over. The wine is aged for at least 18-24 months in large (30-50 hectolitre) barrels of Slavonian oak, then refined in horizont-ally-placed bottles for another 6 months.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Luigi Giordano Asili Barbaresco DOCG 2016 750ML ($79.95) $59 special, 35 bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 95 points “This red finds a nice equilibrium between sappy berry, cherry and licorice flavors and balsamic notes of eucalyptus, juniper and wild rosemary. It’s harmonious, with a ripe core and long, gripping finish. Best from 2023 through 2040. 400 cases made, 100 cases imported. — BS”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Luigi Giordano Cavana Barbaresco DOCG 2017 750ML ($44.95) $33 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 92 points ” The 2017 Barbaresco Cavanna is lifted with a delicate amount of rusticity, with dried sour cherry, rhubarb, and leather. The palate is fresh and ripe, with fine tannins and notes of cranberry cocktail, fresh orange, and dusty earth. Open and inviting, the Cavanna is easy-drinking and medium-bodied. Drink 2021-2031.”
Super Subscriber Sale wine!
Importer Note “Brilliant garnet red colour with orange highlights developing with age; ample and intense perfume with fruity, jammy and spicy notes; dry, full and aristocratic flavour. Traditional red wine maceration for 15-20 days with temperature-controlled fermentation in stainless steel vats and frequent pumping-over. This wine is left to age for at least 18-24 months in large (30-50hectolitre) barrels of Slavonian oak and is then refined in horizontally-placed bottles for at least 6 months.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Luigi Giordano Montestefano Barbaresco DOCG 2016 750ML ($69.95) $49 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 93 points “A beam of cherry, strawberry and rose aromas and flavors permeates this vibrant red. Hints of thyme, menthol and tar add depth as this builds to a long, resonant finish. Shows fine energy and intensity on a slim frame. Best from 2023 through 2042. 500 cases made, 150 cases imported. — BS”
Antonio Galloni 92 points “The 2016 Barbaresco Montestefano offers all of the breadth that distinguishes this site while retaining its classic, mid-weight feel. Darker shades of Nebbiolo emerge in the black cherry, plum, lavender, licorice, sage and spice flavors. Like all of these Barbarescos, the Montestefano is super intriguing. The potential here is evident.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Luigi Giordano ‘Vigneto Buschet’ Barbera d’Alba Piedmont 2018 750ML ($27.95) $19 special, 30 bottles in stock now
Importer Note “The BUSCHET vineyard situated within the Barbaresco zone. Barbera is a vigorous, bigyielding varietal. Intense purple-red colour and ample, vinous perfume pleasantly fruited with notes of plum and blackberry; the flavour is dry, harmonious and warm, perfectly complementing the wine’s robust structure. Traditional crushing with de-stalking followed by controlled-temperature fermentation and frequent pumping-over. Maceration lasts from 8 to10 days.”
Luigi Giordano Vino Rosato Alba Piedmont 2020 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 special, 24 bottles in stock now
Importer note “100% Nebbiolo from family parcels inside Barbaresco crus of Ovello, Ronchi & Cars. Hand-picked in September. Soft pressing followed by 3-hour maceration. 2,400-bottle production.”
Region: (Barbaresco), Piedmont, Italy.
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Riesling Roundup with Selbach Oster and Korrell
As one of the oldest houses in the Mosel River Valley, their holdings encompass parcels throughout multiple sub-appellations in some of the most lauded vineyards in the entire country.
Due to the precipitous slopes of the vineyards the vines are worked and harvested entirely by hand, with cover crops being extensively planted to help prevent erosion in addition to fixing nitrogen. With a portfolio spanning the entire Prädikatswein ladder, the vineyards see multiple passes through the vineyard based on the taste of the grapes and their sugar levels. Even in hotter vintages like 2018 and 2019 the Selbach-Oster clan does a masterful job of balancing residual sugar with the regions characteristic acidity. We carry a full assortment of their bottlings beyond their currant vintages elegant Riesling including Pinot Blancs and dessert offerings.
Selbach Oster Selections in stock now:
Selbach-Oster Bernkasteler Badstube Riesling Spatlese Mosel 2019 750ML ($37.95) $31.90 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2019 Bernkasteler Badstube Riesling Spätlese is very clear, pure and flinty on the intense, elegant, crunchy and slatey nose. Salty, piquant and lush on the palate, this is a crystalline, pure and salty Badstube that is juicier and rounder than the 2018. Tasted at the domain in September 2020.”
Mosel Fine Wines 92 points “The 2019er Bernkasteler Badstube Riesling Spätlese was made from fruit picked at 90° Oechsle and was fermented down to sweet levels of residual sugar (69 g/l). It offers a very delicate and nicely perfumed nose of white flowers, rose petal, vineyard peach, apple, laurel, and herbs. The wine proves delicately juicy and refined on the smooth and slightly juicy palate and leaves a delicate sense of lightness in the more fruity-styled than really sweet-tasting finish. This is a joyful and remarkably easy-drinking expression of Spätlese. 2027-2044.”
Due to the precipitous slopes of the vineyards the vines are worked and harvested entirely by hand, with cover crops being extensively planted to help prevent erosion in addition to fixing nitrogen. With a portfolio spanning the entire Prädikatswein ladder, the vineyards see multiple passes through the vineyard based on the taste of the grapes and their sugar levels. Even in hotter vintages like 2018 and 2019 the Selbach-Oster clan does a masterful job of balancing residual sugar with the regions characteristic acidity. We carry a full assortment of their bottlings beyond their currant vintages elegant Riesling including Pinot Blancs and dessert offerings.
Selbach Oster Selections in stock now:
Selbach-Oster Bernkasteler Badstube Riesling Spatlese Mosel 2019 750ML ($37.95) $31.90 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2019 Bernkasteler Badstube Riesling Spätlese is very clear, pure and flinty on the intense, elegant, crunchy and slatey nose. Salty, piquant and lush on the palate, this is a crystalline, pure and salty Badstube that is juicier and rounder than the 2018. Tasted at the domain in September 2020.”
Mosel Fine Wines 92 points “The 2019er Bernkasteler Badstube Riesling Spätlese was made from fruit picked at 90° Oechsle and was fermented down to sweet levels of residual sugar (69 g/l). It offers a very delicate and nicely perfumed nose of white flowers, rose petal, vineyard peach, apple, laurel, and herbs. The wine proves delicately juicy and refined on the smooth and slightly juicy palate and leaves a delicate sense of lightness in the more fruity-styled than really sweet-tasting finish. This is a joyful and remarkably easy-drinking expression of Spätlese. 2027-2044.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Selbach-Oster Riesling Feinherb Mosel 2019 750ML ($21.95) $18 special, 18 bottles in stock now
Case-12 Selbach-Oster Riesling Feinherb Mosel 2019 750ML ($259.95) $195 special (That’s only $16.25 per bottle!)
Winery note “Selbach-Oster Rieslings are not ‘Zeitgeist’-trendy wines that change according to the whims of fashion. Nor are they ‘made’ according to a recipe. Though they are deeply delicious, they do not seek to ‘seduce’ with short-term exotic aromas from specially cultured yeasts, aromatic enzymes or ice-cold fermentations. They are true characters, wines with structure, wines that display their heritage, rooted deep into the slate rock like our old vines – many of which are still on their own vitis vinifera roots.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Selbach-Oster Zeltinger Riesling Kabinett Trocken Mosel 2019 750ML ($27.95) $24 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-12 Selbach-Oster Zeltinger Riesling Kabinett Trocken Mosel 2019 750ML ($319.95) $266 special, (That’s only $22.16 per bottle)
Mosel Fine Wines 90 points “The 2019er Zeltinger Riesling Kabinett Trocken comes from Estate holdings mainly in the Himmelreich (90%) as well as Schlossberg (10%). It offers a beautifully refreshing and light nose of white peach, apple, mint, herbs, anise, and spices. The wine develops good presence and the intensity of a Spätlese on the palate and leaves a nicely herbal and spicy feel in the surprisingly assertive but very satisfying finish. This is a serious Village wine to age and enjoy. 2023-2029”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Selbach-Oster Zeltinger Schlossberg Riesling Kabinett Mosel 2019 750ML ($29.95) $26 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-12 Selbach-Oster Zeltinger Schlossberg Riesling Kabinett Mosel 2019 750ML ($359.95) $279 special, (That’s only $23.25 per bottle)
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2019 Zeltinger Schlossberg Riesling Kabinett is pure and flinty on the pure, elegant, terroir-driven nose. Piquant and crystalline on the palate, this is a crunchy and crispy, well-concentrated and nicely phenolic Schlossberg with juicy fruit but a crystalline and refined finish. Very long and stimulatingly salty. Tasted at the domain in September 2020.”
John Gilman 92 points “The 2019 Schlossberg Kabinett from Selbach-Oster is really a very pretty example of the vintage, but this is more Spätlese in terms of weight and breadth of shoulder than classical Kabinett. However, this takes away nothing from the charm here on both the nose and palate, with the bouquet delivering a lovely blend of white cherry, white peach, a touch of wild yeasts, a refined base of slate, bee pollen and a topnote of apple blossoms. On the palate the wine is medium-full, complex and nicely filigreed, with good acids, fine focus and grip and a long, complex and very nicely balanced finish. Think of this as a hybrid between Kabinett and Spätlese, but with personality to burn! 2020-2040+.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Selbach-Oster Zeltinger Sonnenhuhr Riesling Beerenauslese Mosel 2018 375ML ($89.95) $79 special, 24 half bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 97 points “The 2018 Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Riesling Beerenauslese displays an intense but very clear and radiant citrus color in the glass. The nose is concentrated and fresh, with lemon chutney and broken stone aromas. Pure and fresh on the palate, this is a dense, concentrated, rich yet very precise, fresh and elegant BA with a long, crunchy, terroir-driven finish that represents the delicate slate structure of the Sonnenuhr. Still young but not really sweet due to the crystalline acidity structure. Tasted at the domain in September 2020.”
Mosel Fine Wines 94-96 points “This 2018er Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Riesling BA was harvested at approx. 130° Oechsle and was fermented down to noble-sweet levels of residual sugar (approx. 200 g/l). This cask sample offers a gorgeous and clean nose of candied grapefruit, pineapple juice, rhubarb, apricot, melon and honey. The wine is very juicy and sweet on the delicately viscous palate. The finish is quite intense and very long. This BA is still very sweet and juicy, and will please lovers of rich and intense dessert wines. 2028-2058.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Check out our full selection of Selbach Oster wines on our website or in store now!
Korrell
Korrell is a rising star of the Nahe. The estate’s most celebrated vineyard (and the backbone for all their Rieslings) is a monopole site called, appropriately, “Paradis.” Paradis is a limestone-heavy site (a rarity, much like Keller’s Kirschspiel GG), with shallow soils and sun drenched aspect. More or less everything you could ask for in a Riesling vineyard, especially to produce dry wines. The revitalization of the site, combined with meticulous cellar practices, has vaulted Korrell into the top tier of German producers.
Among their prizewinning Dry offerings, Korrell also makes eiswein in years permitting. Eiswein is among the hardest wines to make on the planet, and is becoming rarer as climate change advances. This is on account of the time the Riesling grapes must spend on the vine as decreed by German law. During the extended hang time the grapes will freeze and thaw multiple times, further concentrating the sugars and acids. There’s an endless list of things that could go wrong for the selected clusters during this time. Between the risks of rotting, not freezing enough to be harvested as eiswein or simply eaten by passing critters you can see why production quantities are minuscule to say the least.
If that wasn’t herculean enough, the grapes are legally required to be harvested by hand and processed entirely frozen (Usually requiring harvest to be done between dusk and dawn). After all that the resulting wine features an entire kaleidoscope of flavors ranging from pineapple, lychee, guava, passionfruit, and Valencia orange. These are among the most compelling sweet wines in the world, and one of the most endangered styles at that.
Korrell wines in stock now:
Weingut Korrell Johanneshof Kreuznacher Paradies Riesling Trocken Nahe 2017 750ML ($49.95) $39 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Weingut Korrell Johanneshof Kreuznacher Paradies Riesling Trocken Nahe 2017 1.5L ($99.95) $79 special, 8 magnums in stock now
Weingut Korrell Johanneshof Kreuznacher Paradies Riesling Trocken Nahe 2017 3L ($199.95) $179 special, 3 double magnums in stock now
Grapelive 94 points “The radiant and graceful Korrell Paradies Trocken leads with expressive pure apple tones. [It] impresses for its elegance and subtle character. It’s a wine of great poise and delicacy, especially admirable for such a young Riesling. The monopole estate vineyard, Paradies, is the oldest single site Korrell has and is the flagship wine from winemaker Martin Korrell. It comes from his family’s vines that are set on limestone and clay soils in Bad Kreuznach area of the Nahe region. The Paradies Riesling Trocken is a gorgeous white of depth and precise winemaking that takes advantage of this unique site in the Nahe. This wine is the heart and soul of Korrell and it is product of its unique climat,or terroir. It sees more sunshine and the limestone allows for serious concentration, while retaining acidity, though there is always great attention paid to pick dates to finely tune this signature bottling to place and vintage. Korrell mixes some traditional stainless fermentations with some native yeast and barrel ferments to craft his wines. The Paradies shows a beautiful leesy finesse that reminds me a bit of the Von Winning GG’s, with a long time on the lees adding a beautiful glycerin density to this gorgeous dry Riesling. Coming off Korrel’s incredible Riesling Cup win for his Von den Grossen Lagen (Grand Crus) Riesling Trocken, I was absolutely thrilled to be able to try this wine, and found this particular wine just as intriguing. Martin focuses on preserving heightened aromatics and crisp mineral tones, while allowing the mouth feel and depth to shine through. It is an amazing accomplishment to get it all right, and Korrell deserves his time in the limelight. This is complex and glorious stuff. Layers of green apple, peach, mixed fresh citrus and melon fruits are lifted by liquid rock, steely mineral and faint perfume of white flowers along with a silkiness of mouth feel. While still delightfully crisp, [this delivers] an exciting energy filled performance. 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.”
Stuart Pigott-Jamessuckling.com 94 points “Very clean and fresh, but behind the effusive, fruit-salad character that makes this so seductive, there is a lot of structure and the finish keeps pumping out the fruit and chalky minerality. Drink or hold.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Weingut Korrell Johanneshof Riesling Trocken Nahe 2017 750ML ($39.95) $33 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Stuart Pigott-Jamessuckling 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.”
Wine Spectator 92 points “This fruity yet dry Riesling is filled with flavors of currant and gooseberry, while juicy, orangelike acidity cuts through, carrying freshness and providing balance. The complex finish is long and inviting. This nicely sculpted white is ready to drink now, but will only get better with age. Drink now through 2027. 1,500 cases made.”
Weingut Korrell Johanneshof Kreuznacher Paradies Riesling Eiswein Nahe 2016 375ML ($99.95) $79 special, 23 half-bottles in stock now
***Half bottle***
Grapelive 94 points “Korrell is one of the Nahe’s latest break out stars and every wine I’ve tried from Martin Korrell has been absolutely stunning, including this Eiswein. Crafted from old vines at their estate monopole Paradies Vineyard in Bad Kreuznach, from those grapes that hang out until the first freeze and were individual berry picked off the vine. Concentrated in sugars, but still bristling with natural acidity the gorgeous and opulent 2016 Korrell Eiswein Paradies goes on and on in mouth. Even with the residual sugar levels off the carts, this wine stays incredibly balanced and doesn’t drink as sweet as you’d imagine, making for a heavenly experience from its perfumed nose to its lingering tropical fruits. This is entrancing stuff with layers of lychee, candied pineapple, apricot jelly, honeycomb, lime blossom, white roses, chamomile, a hint of spearmint, mineral spice and cool wet stone. A rare and exotic, this Korrell Eiswein is treat beyond words, and, while the Mosel is better known for sweet wines, I have found the Nahe in some vintages are more than equal. In fact I still think a contender for the greatest wine I ever tasted was one of Donnhoff’s version of Eiiswein from just up the river! While Tokaji and Sauternes grab sweet wine headlines, I honestly believe the Germans have them beat with TBA’s and Eiswein, because of the racy acidity that still remains in these Riesling beauties. Korrell used specially selected yeasts as there is no chance to do Sponti on the ultra-concentrated Paradies Eiswein, it needs extra special attention to detail, Korrell adds. It is pressed in a special small press for sweet wines with low quantity, read tiny production, but not wooden because they don’t want too much air contact [so as] to keep and preserve the exotic fruit aromas as much as possible as well as fresh details. Tasted from 375ml, half bottle, the 2016 Korrell Paradies Eiswein is an amazing product, and sadly isn’t listed in the United States as of yet, though their Trocken(s) should be available later this spring or early summer, so remember this one for if and when you get to Germany.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Soothsayer of Swartland:
Johan Meyer’s Mother Rock wines
Johan Meyer is one of the biggest names in the “New School” of South African wine. Working exclusively with old vines in Swartland, he strives to be as low intervention as possible. That philosophy is present from grape to glass as it were; with irrigation and chemical input not practiced in the vineyard and the finished wines receiving no filtration, fining and minimal sulfur. As you can expect after almost a year of not exporting, South African wine has become a rarity in the United States market with what remains being in highly limited quantities.
The Holocene is a blend of Cinsault, Carignan and Mourvèdre sourced from a single vineyard in Malmesbury. Dry farmed and practicing organic this could be seen as South Africa’s riposte to the GSM blends of the Southern Rhone. Very easy to enjoy in that Holocene is perfectly juicy with a minerality that brings to mind crushed lava rock with the classic fynbos you find with South African wine.
Cinsault is rapidly becoming one of the top red varietals in South Africa and the world on account of it’s drought tolerance and ability to retain acidity during heat waves. As a single varietal there is often a spectrum of blue and red fruits with high acidity and perfumed aromatics. Cinsault pairs beautifully with various cuisines including Nigerian, Lebanese, Greek and barbeque on account of the fruit tea esque tannins and refreshing acidity.
Most unique out of the Mother Rock wines is their Pet-Nat. Comprised of Chenin Blanc and Pinotage sourced from a single farm. Grown at over 1,000 feet above sea level, the wine is bottled before fermentation completes, creating bubbles from the last of the remaining sugars. Pinotage takes on a spectrum of blue, black and purple fruits underscored by a tertiary plethora of smoke and earth, with the Chenin contributing beeswax, honeysuckle, chamomile, quince and yellow apple. If one had to summarize the wine in a word: Crushable.
Mother Rock wines in stock now:
Mother Rock ‘Force Majeure – Force Celeste’ Cinsault Swartland 2020 750ML ($19.95) $16 special
Importer note “A medium-bodied red with ripe tannins, depth and drinkability from whole bunch fermentation. A great addition to the Force Majeure range.”
The Holocene is a blend of Cinsault, Carignan and Mourvèdre sourced from a single vineyard in Malmesbury. Dry farmed and practicing organic this could be seen as South Africa’s riposte to the GSM blends of the Southern Rhone. Very easy to enjoy in that Holocene is perfectly juicy with a minerality that brings to mind crushed lava rock with the classic fynbos you find with South African wine.
Cinsault is rapidly becoming one of the top red varietals in South Africa and the world on account of it’s drought tolerance and ability to retain acidity during heat waves. As a single varietal there is often a spectrum of blue and red fruits with high acidity and perfumed aromatics. Cinsault pairs beautifully with various cuisines including Nigerian, Lebanese, Greek and barbeque on account of the fruit tea esque tannins and refreshing acidity.
Most unique out of the Mother Rock wines is their Pet-Nat. Comprised of Chenin Blanc and Pinotage sourced from a single farm. Grown at over 1,000 feet above sea level, the wine is bottled before fermentation completes, creating bubbles from the last of the remaining sugars. Pinotage takes on a spectrum of blue, black and purple fruits underscored by a tertiary plethora of smoke and earth, with the Chenin contributing beeswax, honeysuckle, chamomile, quince and yellow apple. If one had to summarize the wine in a word: Crushable.
Mother Rock wines in stock now:
Mother Rock ‘Force Majeure – Force Celeste’ Cinsault Swartland 2020 750ML ($19.95) $16 special
Importer note “A medium-bodied red with ripe tannins, depth and drinkability from whole bunch fermentation. A great addition to the Force Majeure range.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Mother Rock ‘Holocene’ Swartland 2018 750ML ($37.95) $31.90 special
Wine Spectator 91 points “Fragrant and distinctive, this tangy red is light- to medium-bodied and racy, offering an expressive profile of steeped raspberry and peach fruit flavors meshed with notes of dried flowers, blood orange zest and medicinal herbs. Lingering, zesty finish. Carignan, Mourvèdre and Cinsault. Drink now through 2025. 222 cases made, 56 cases imported. — AN”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Mother Rock ‘Force Majeure – Force Celeste’ Cuvee PN Pet Nat Swartland 2021 750ML ($27.95) $24 special, 6 bottles in stock now
Importer note “A Pet-Nat that puts Pinotage in the spotlight. South Africa’s native grape is best known for its bright fruit and deep earthy character, which translate beautifully in this joyful rosé fizz. Slightly hazy salmon-pink in the glass, with aromas of raspberries, blood orange and earthy rhubarb. Fresh in the mouth, with crunchy cranberry fruit and a savoury edge. Delicious and dangerously drinkable at only 11%!”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
This is the lowest listed price in the world today!
This is the lowest listed price in the world today!
Perrier-Jouët: Belle Epoque
Tête de Cuvees are the crown jewel of any Champagne producer, and that goes double for a Grande Marque due to their roles as the region’s metaphorical “Face”. Of these houses, few are as synonymous with Chardonnay as Perrier-Jouët. Their first vintage of the Belle Époque was in 1964, and has only been made 30 times in decades since. In comparison Dom Perignon has been made 74 different times between Brut and Rose bottlings. Sourced from 5 different villages and aged for 6 years prior to disgorgement, there is meant to be both fruit and tertiary character present. We have released our final allotment of the 2011 bottling with no ETA on our next vintage, with a minuscule amount of the Rose bottling playing second chair to our offer.
Perrier-Jouët in stock now:
Perrier-Jouet Belle Epoque – Fleur de Champagne Millesime Brut Champagne 2011 750ML ($179.95) $149 special, 19 bottles in stock now
Wine Enthusiast 94 points “Always a light, ethereal style of wine, this is also very fresh and still young. It will age with its taut minerality from the Chardonnay in the blend. A softer background will become toasty over the next few years. The vintage date on this bottle is 200 years after the foundation of this producer. Drink from 2021.”
Perrier-Jouet Belle Epoque – Fleur de Champagne Brut Rose Millesime Champagne 2005 750ML ($319.95) $279 special, only 2 bottles in stock now
Wine Enthusiast 95 points “The palest of rosés, this crisp, bright and fruity wine is full of tight acidity, freshly picked raspberries and steely acidity. It could age a few more years to bring out a toastier character.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Collector’s Corner
Dominio Pingus:
The Rachmaninov of Ribera
There are only a handful of producers that are as legendary as Pingus. From their very first vintage in 1995, their wines have been described by Robert Parker as “One of the greatest and most exciting wine’s I’ve ever tasted”. The popularity of Pingus exploded when half of the latter vintage sank in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean in transit to the United States. Due to the incredibly small volume of bottles produced by Pingus the price of the bottling doubled literally overnight, with Pingus still being one of the crown jewels of high end wine investment.
Sourced from some of the oldest Tempranillo vines in the entire Ribera del Duero and farmed biodynamically by visionary founder Peter Sisseck, meticulous doesn’t begin to cover the pedigree of these wines. Aggressively pruned to produce only 1-2 buds per bushvine, each hand sorted berry is loaded with concentrated flavor. As you can expect with such an aggressive farming regimen, production volumes are minuscule to say the least. We were only able to secure a 3 bottle allotment of this wine, so you’d better act fast!
Dominio de Pingus ‘Pingus’ Ribera del Duero 2019 750ML ($1499.95) $1199 special, 3 bottles in stock now
Luis Gutierrez-Wine Advocate 99 points “I tasted the bottled 2019 Pingus two weeks after bottling. Even at this early stage and after the operation, the wine is super harmonious and elegant. They really outdid themselves here and produced an amazingly fresh, aromatic and harmonious wine in a warm vintage. It’s incredibly textured, with refined, very fine-grained and chalky tannins. It’s very balanced, and there’s no excess of anything; it has 14% alcohol, perfect ripeness and a velvety mouthfeel. It gets more floral with time in the glass, getting nuanced and really interesting. It delivers what the barrel sample promised one year ago, when the wine already surprised me. I think the word that best describes this wine is precision—it’s clean, focused, balanced and delineated. Bravo! 7,900 bottles produced. It was bottled in September 2021.”
Sourced from some of the oldest Tempranillo vines in the entire Ribera del Duero and farmed biodynamically by visionary founder Peter Sisseck, meticulous doesn’t begin to cover the pedigree of these wines. Aggressively pruned to produce only 1-2 buds per bushvine, each hand sorted berry is loaded with concentrated flavor. As you can expect with such an aggressive farming regimen, production volumes are minuscule to say the least. We were only able to secure a 3 bottle allotment of this wine, so you’d better act fast!
Dominio de Pingus ‘Pingus’ Ribera del Duero 2019 750ML ($1499.95) $1199 special, 3 bottles in stock now
Luis Gutierrez-Wine Advocate 99 points “I tasted the bottled 2019 Pingus two weeks after bottling. Even at this early stage and after the operation, the wine is super harmonious and elegant. They really outdid themselves here and produced an amazingly fresh, aromatic and harmonious wine in a warm vintage. It’s incredibly textured, with refined, very fine-grained and chalky tannins. It’s very balanced, and there’s no excess of anything; it has 14% alcohol, perfect ripeness and a velvety mouthfeel. It gets more floral with time in the glass, getting nuanced and really interesting. It delivers what the barrel sample promised one year ago, when the wine already surprised me. I think the word that best describes this wine is precision—it’s clean, focused, balanced and delineated. Bravo! 7,900 bottles produced. It was bottled in September 2021.”
