In This Newsletter:
Vinopolis Closeout Selections: Nahe
Summertime arrivals:
Arriving June 2022
Valdespino: The Apex of Andalucía
California Dreaming:
Mt.Eden Vineyards Chardonnay
Collector’s Corner:
Andre Clouet’s Un Jour de 1911…
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Vinopolis Closeout Selections: Nahe
Interested in a style of Riesling that combines the elegance and minerality of the Mosel and the heft of the Rheingau? In spite of being one of the smallest growing districts in the country, the new generation of producers has jockeyed international attention from stalwarts like the Mosel. The Nahe is one of the most compelling growing regions in the entire country for a multitude of factors. Easily the favorite district amongst the staff, these are some of the most “Bulletproof” wines you’ll ever find.
Their terroir is incomparably diverse, with the highly compressed soils yielding examples of every geological family. These geological factors range from iron rich sandstone, to pure slate, and even chalk limestone. Most impressively these differences are often a kilometer or less apart, permitting a huge spectrum of what the average Nahe tastes and smells like in addition to giving winemakers leeway for any style of Riesling they desire.
Framed by the crossroads of the Hunsrück Hills, Nahe River and the Black Forest; The Nahe sees one of the driest growing seasons in Germany. This is on account of the surrounding topography creating a channel of cold air that mimics a wind tunnel, which in turn helps mitigate heat spikes and the development of disease. Much like the rest of Germany, the Nahe is considered a “cool” growing region, but has had little problem with ripening historically due to the southern aspect of most vineyards.
The wines from the Nahe are hard to describe under a monolithic regional style, however most Rieslings will present a mineral character ranging from river rock, to a crystalline influence on the aromas and fruit. There are also examples that can be seen that feature a smoky, spicy character depending on if they were grown with a high percentage of volcanic stone underneath. One of the most unique characteristics of Nahe wines is how they can be enjoyed both in their youth and after extended aging, especially in light of the success of recent vintages. We’ve selected a number of producers based in the Nahe to put on sale that highlight these aspects, and promise further development for the patient.
Nahe Selections on sale now:
Doctor Crusius is one of the leading producers in Germany’s Nahe growing region. Located just south of the country’s most celebrated terroirs, Nahe is a favorite amongst German wine insiders. After decades of aggressively acquiring many of the region’s finest vineyards, Crusius has assembled a vineyard portfolio that is the envy of his neighbors. Celebrated growing regions like Traisen and Schlossböckelheim would be household names if located in the Mosel, but instead offer smart buying opportunities for those in the know.
Dr. Crusius Traiser Bastei Riesling Spätlese, Nahe 2016 750ML ($49.95) Was $39 Now $33, 10 bottles in stock now
Wine Advocate 91 points “The 2016 Nahe Riesling Traiser Bastei Spätlese (AP 29 17) offers a clear, intense and complex nose that is fresh and stony/mineral rather than fruity and benefits from aeration. Very elegant, precise and noble on the palate, with a lovely mineral piquancy and lingering salinity, this is a complex as well as delicate Spätlese with a stimulatingly clear and piquant finish. Delicious but not as luscious and sexy as the auctioned Felsenberg. 9% alcohol.”
Their terroir is incomparably diverse, with the highly compressed soils yielding examples of every geological family. These geological factors range from iron rich sandstone, to pure slate, and even chalk limestone. Most impressively these differences are often a kilometer or less apart, permitting a huge spectrum of what the average Nahe tastes and smells like in addition to giving winemakers leeway for any style of Riesling they desire.
Framed by the crossroads of the Hunsrück Hills, Nahe River and the Black Forest; The Nahe sees one of the driest growing seasons in Germany. This is on account of the surrounding topography creating a channel of cold air that mimics a wind tunnel, which in turn helps mitigate heat spikes and the development of disease. Much like the rest of Germany, the Nahe is considered a “cool” growing region, but has had little problem with ripening historically due to the southern aspect of most vineyards.
The wines from the Nahe are hard to describe under a monolithic regional style, however most Rieslings will present a mineral character ranging from river rock, to a crystalline influence on the aromas and fruit. There are also examples that can be seen that feature a smoky, spicy character depending on if they were grown with a high percentage of volcanic stone underneath. One of the most unique characteristics of Nahe wines is how they can be enjoyed both in their youth and after extended aging, especially in light of the success of recent vintages. We’ve selected a number of producers based in the Nahe to put on sale that highlight these aspects, and promise further development for the patient.
Nahe Selections on sale now:
Doctor Crusius is one of the leading producers in Germany’s Nahe growing region. Located just south of the country’s most celebrated terroirs, Nahe is a favorite amongst German wine insiders. After decades of aggressively acquiring many of the region’s finest vineyards, Crusius has assembled a vineyard portfolio that is the envy of his neighbors. Celebrated growing regions like Traisen and Schlossböckelheim would be household names if located in the Mosel, but instead offer smart buying opportunities for those in the know.
Dr. Crusius Traiser Bastei Riesling Spätlese, Nahe 2016 750ML ($49.95) Was $39 Now $33, 10 bottles in stock now
Wine Advocate 91 points “The 2016 Nahe Riesling Traiser Bastei Spätlese (AP 29 17) offers a clear, intense and complex nose that is fresh and stony/mineral rather than fruity and benefits from aeration. Very elegant, precise and noble on the palate, with a lovely mineral piquancy and lingering salinity, this is a complex as well as delicate Spätlese with a stimulatingly clear and piquant finish. Delicious but not as luscious and sexy as the auctioned Felsenberg. 9% alcohol.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Dr. Crusius Muhlberg Riesling Grosses Gewächs, Nahe 2016 750ML ($69.95) Was $59 Now $49, 10 bottles in stock now
Stuart Pigott 91 points “A very minty cool nose, then a sleek and cool wine that’s really underplayed, but has quite some power behind it. A long, rather complex finish. Should be more open from 2018 and drink for some years beyond.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Dr. Crusius Schlossböckelheimer Felsenberg Riesling Beerenauslese Goldkapsel, Nahe 2015 375ML ($179.95) Was $159 Now $135, 8 half bottles in stock now
Mosel Fine Wines 98 points “Harvested at a full-on 153° Oechsle (i.e. sugar levels technically qualifying for TBA), this auction BA starts off on the primary and discreet side at first before rapidly exhibiting huge finesse, complexity and depth with honeyed notes of apricot, pineapple, mango, vanilla cream and other exotic fruits. The botrytis gives the wine a great exotic, luscious and unctuous texture with plenty of juice, creamy viscosity and smoothness on the palate. The wine is, of course, still very sweet at this stage (it has no less than 229 g/l of residual sugar), but the interplay with some gorgeously playful acidity makes for a superbly clean and focused feel in the long finish. The only drawback of this little masterpiece of a BA is that it is still a good decade away from maturity. Patience is required! 2030-2085.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Dr. Crusius Traiser Rotenfels Riesling Kabinett, Nahe 2016 750ML ($29.95) Was $26 Now $21.90, 1 bottle in stock now
Stuart Pigott 90 points “This Kabinett may have a full grapey sweetness at the front, but the finish is very clean and almost dry thanks to the vibrant acidity and a hint of wild berries. Drink now or hold.”
Winery note “The Traiser Rotenfels with its steep southern slopes on the shoulder of the magnificent Rotenfels massif is the heart of our impressive vineyard location. For over 200 years, these parcels have been producing top wines from dry to noble sweet, which convey the feeling of biting into the Riesling grape with every sip. Low alcohol, lightness, fine aromas and delicate structure – these attributes make our Traiser Rotenfels Riesling Kabinett. This makes it versatile and an elegant companion for a relaxing evening.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Dr. Crusius Traiser Rotenfels Riesling Spätlese, Nahe 2016 750ML ($44.95) Was $33 Now $29, 22 bottles in stock now
Wine Advocate 90 points “The 2016 Nahe Riesling Traiser Rotenfels Spätlese has a clear, fine and elegant bouquet of ripe tropical fruits intermixed with lemon and stony flavors. Light, lush and round on the palate, with purity, stimulating salinity and ripe, textured fruit, this is an elegant and harmonious Spätlese with remarkable finesse. It is not very complex but so delicate…! 8.5% alcohol.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Kruger-Rumpf Dorsheimer Burgberg Riesling Grosses Gewachs, Nahe 2018 750ML ($59.95) Was $49, Now $39, 36+ bottles in stock now
Grapelive 94+ points “Coming from a tiny incredibly steep Grand Cru site, the Burgberg Vineyard, that is set on volcanic and quartz soils near Munster in the village of Dorsheim. The Kruger Rumpf Burgberg GG is one of the most exciting wines of vintage at this small winery… It is fantastically mineral-driven dry Riesling…”
Wine Advocate 93+ points “From low-yielding vines planted in the 1950’s and 1960’s, the 2018 Burgberg Riesling GG is absolutely great on the pure, clear and refreshing, super flinty and mineral nose. On the palate, this is an intense, highly complex and elegant dry Riesling with crystalline acidity and a long and refreshing, crystalline and salty finish. Bottled and tasted in July 2019.”
David Schildknecht-Vinous 93 points “Scents and luscious palate presence of white peach, yellow plum and grapefruit are wreathed in iris. Gloss and textural plushness – there is an almost doughy midpalate impression – are allied to a striking finishing sense of buoyancy and clarity. The salinity tugs at the salivary glands and, along with the wine’s sense of animation, leaves the tongue quivering. I tend to believe that the conjunction of such pronounced salinity and the site’s high percentage of quartzite is more than mere coincidence, though it would be nice to learn of relevant scientific investigation.”
Terry Theise note “Here’s how it goes. I taste through all the GGs and try to glean where they each will go, and which are likely to be best. Then a year or two later I drink them in their finished form and see how wrong I was. Or was I wrong? I make the best guess I can, with 30-some years behind me, knowing how wines generally behave and how they might surprise you, and to feign certainty under those circumstances is a knave’s game. But what else can I trust? I’m not always wrong; sometimes I’m right! Maybe even often. Just know, please, that this is educated guesswork—but with that out of the way, this is what I found on the day…. Burgberg demonstrates profundity or the strong potential thereof. It is resolutely un-trivial. It’s not “austere,” it simply has no time to suffer fripperie.”
This was the lowest listed price in the USA today,
Now it’s even lower!
The next best price is $64.40
Now it’s even lower!
The next best price is $64.40
Kruger-Rumpf Munsterer Rheinberg Riesling Kabinett, Nahe 2018 750ML ($21.95) Was $18, Now $16, 36+ bottles in stock now
Wine Advocate 89 points “From a southeast-facing vineyard, picked at 83/84° Oechsle around the 20th of September and vinified in stainless steel and large oak in equal parts, the 2018 Münster Rheinberg Riesling Kabinett is beautifully clear, fresh and stony/piquant on the precise, stimulating, slightly nutty and coffee-bean nose. Round, lush and sweet on the first palate, this is a fresh, salty-piquant and elegant Kabinett with stimulating grip on the finish. This is a beautifully lean, light and digestible Kabinett in the good old style. Tasted in July 2019.”
Terry Theise note “Our basic and faithful friend, this perennial and tasty Kabinett from the steep quartzite vineyard, and this ’18 is sleek and rippling and snappy and racy.”
Wine Advocate 89 points “From a southeast-facing vineyard, picked at 83/84° Oechsle around the 20th of September and vinified in stainless steel and large oak in equal parts, the 2018 Münster Rheinberg Riesling Kabinett is beautifully clear, fresh and stony/piquant on the precise, stimulating, slightly nutty and coffee-bean nose. Round, lush and sweet on the first palate, this is a fresh, salty-piquant and elegant Kabinett with stimulating grip on the finish. This is a beautifully lean, light and digestible Kabinett in the good old style. Tasted in July 2019.”
Terry Theise note “Our basic and faithful friend, this perennial and tasty Kabinett from the steep quartzite vineyard, and this ’18 is sleek and rippling and snappy and racy.”
This was the lowest listed price in the USA today,
Now it’s even lower!
The next best price is $21.99
Kruger-Rumpf Munsterer Pittersberg Riesling Grosses Gewachs, Nahe 2018 750ML ($51.95) Was $46, Now $39, 36+ bottles in stock now
Wine Advocate 93+ points “The 2018 Im Pitterberg Riesling GG is bright and floral on the fragrant and elegant, spicy-mineral nose. Full-bodied and intense on the palate, with rich and concentrated fruit that is balanced by a tight and mineral structure and lingering salinity, this is an elegant, very complex and sustainable dry Riesling with crunchy stone flavors and a gripping finish. This is a great Nahe wine from the 2018 vintage. Tasted in July 2019.”
David Schildknecht-Vinous 92 points “Scents of white peach anticipate the cool juiciness as well as the peach fuzz invigoration and peach kernel piquancy that emerge on a firm palate. A bright influx of fresh lime lends animation and enhances refreshment on a finish that also features mouthwatering veal stock savor and vivid wet stone. (For background on the naming of this site and the origin of its fruit, consult my review of the corresponding 2015.)”
This was the lowest listed price in the USA today,
Now it’s even lower!
The next best price is $50.99
Now it’s even lower!
The next best price is $50.99
Summertime arrivals:
Arriving June 2022
Thierry Germain is considered one of the best producers in the Loire, if not the world according to their importer Kermit Lynch. Championing Biodynamic farming practices, eschewing new oak and long élevage in large format vats and barrels these can be considered a wholly transparent look into Cabernet Franc from Saumur-Champigny. With the exceptional 2019 vintage arriving this June, there has never a better time to experience Germain’s masterfully made wines. We also have a number of back vintages and higher end offerings, including his old-vine Chenin Blanc from Saumur!
Thierry Germain Wines arriving June 2022:
Thierry Germain Domaine des Roches Neuves Saumur-Champigny Franc de Pied Loire 2019 750ML ($69.95) $59 pre-arrival special
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 95 points “Warm, intense and with super ripe yet refined and precise dark fruit, spicy toast and flint aromas open the 2019 Saumur Champigny Franc de Pied, which comes from a huge layer of sandy soil that has been planted at a high density of 10,000 vines per hectare. Fermented with whole clusters, the fruit is generous and elegant on nose and palate, pure and refined but rich and aromatic. This is a full-bodied and generous but finessed and fresh red with a marvelous texture and perfectly balanced fruit. The wine is superb, and although there might be more exciting terroirs, the silky texture and refreshing grip is unique, probably due to the antique vines and the whole-cluster fermentation, a method that is quite rare in Saumur. This Franc de Pied is fabulous, pure, fresh and crunchy and reminds me of finest Austrian Blaufränkisch. Tasted in June 2021.”
Vinous 94 Points “Hailing from a sandy site planted in 2004, the 2019 Saumur Champigny Franc de Pied is the last wine that its maker Thierry Germain serves up. It’s like a fondant potato melting in your mouth with its silken ease; it has breadth too, although with the seeming weight of air. This is a touch savory, and a hint of leather sits in the background, but it adds rather than detracts from the complexity. Scented, lengthy finish.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Other Thierry Germain Wines in stock now:
Thierry Germain Domaine des Roches Neuves Saumur-Champigny Loire 2018 750ML ($31.95) $21.90 special
Case-12 Thierry Germain Domaine des Roches Neuves Saumur-Champigny Loire 2018 750ML ($359.95) $239 special, (that’s only $19.92/bottle!))
Grapelive 91 points ” I love [Thierry Germain’s] wines, especially the Cabernet Franc bottlings, like this Cuvee Domaine, they always show fresh, clean lines, energy and pretty aromatics with the older vine parcels and crus showing deeper concentration and power. Germain’s goal, as [importer Kermit] Lynch puts it, is to produce Cabernet (Franc) with purity, finesse, and drinkability, while avoiding rusticity, vegetal character, and hard tannins, which in my experience he does often and well… The Cuvee Domaine comes from a mix of parcels ranging from 5 to 70 years old set on classic sand, clay and Tuffeau Limestone, which drives the vibrancy and lifts the floral bouquet, with 100% de-stemmed grapes fermented in all stainless steel tanks with a minimum of lees contact and just under six months total of elevage in a combination of tank and large neutral wood casks. Like the Les Roches (blue label) the Cuvee Domaine is meant to be a quaffer, but still serious in character and surprisingly with enough structure to age for a decade or more, especially in a vintage like this 2016, with its concentration of fruit and natural acidity, since Thierry picks on the earlier side. The Cuvee Domaine…is only native yeast fermented and the vines are…in the heart of AOC, which are, as mentioned, all biodynamic, making for a very natural expression with a dark and earthy personality. Uplifting layers of black cherry, plum and mulberry fruits lead the way with a touch of crushed raspberry, minty herb, a classic pyrasine green bell pepper note, crushed chalk, a faint hint of cedar and loamy earthy wrapped in a ripe form and soft tannins, this is an impressive medium bodied Cab Franc to enjoy sooner versus later, be sure to look for this fine effort.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Thierry Germain Domaine des Roches Neuves Saumur Blanc Clos de l’Echelier Loire 2015 ($99.95) $79 special, 2 bottles in stock now
Importer note “100% Chenin Blanc from 70 year old vines. Soil is sand, clay, and Turonien Superieur limestone.”
VinopolNote: “Only 100 or so cases of this are made in a given year, from vines that are 70 years old. 100% Chenin Blanc grown on a mix of sand, clay and limestone, this wine has all of the power you’d hope for out of dry Chenin, with a lushness that you don’t find in places like Savennières. Expect rich fruit with a hint of smokiness and lemon-blossom aromas. Really a stunner.”
You’ve heard of iconic Brunello’s like Biondi Santi but Salvioni should also be on your radar as well. With less than 10 acres or 1/5th of their property planted to grapevines, pampered doesn’t begin to cover the winegrowing philosophy. Grown at over 1,200 feet above sea level, there is a near constant breeze that assists in maintaining acidity and reducing disease pressure. In order to maximize the power of their old vines, yields are highly reduced and spend more than the required time in vat and bottle. We’ve just secured our allocation for their entry level, offering a snapshot of their house style at a lower price point than their other bottlings.
Salvioni Arriving June 2022:
Salvioni Cerbaiola Rosso di Montalcino Tuscany 2018 750ML ($99.95) $85 pre-arrival special
Eric Guido-Vinous 93 points “The 2018 Salvioni Rosso di Montalcino leads off with a zesty, fresh display of Sangiovese fruit, as a mix of cherry and strawberry is complemented by hints of sweet spice, leather and gorgeous exotic florals. On the palate, I’m finding a wonderfully pure expression, focused on ripe red fruits with energizing acids and subtle spice, as pretty inner rose develops toward the close. Hints of fine tannin and minerals mingle throughout the finish, and a staining of black cherry lingers on and on. What a beautiful, feminine, and truly enjoyable vintage for the Salvioni Rosso.”
Ian D’agata-Vinous 93 points “Medium bright red. Candied raspberry, blueberry, and flowers on the nose and in the mouth. Suave but still youthfully tight, vibrant and perfumed on the long steely finish. A bright Rosso that finishes clean and seamless, featuring terrific cut and length.”
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 93 points “Giulio Salvioni’s 2018 Rosso di Montalcino La Cerbaiola is a silky and fine expression of Sangiovese, a welterweight offering that jabs with little punches of wild berry, tilled soil and blue flower. This Rosso accomplishes an important feat here: It is not a less intense expression of the mighty Tuscan grape, but rather a more nuanced one. That’s exactly what a top-ranked Rosso di Montalcino should be. We’re not looking for that characteristic Brunello power. This wine instead provides us with an approachable yet pleasurable experience, packed tight with varietal and territorial purity. This release weighed in at a relatively sprightly 10,133 bottles.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Salvioni Wines in stock now:
Salvioni Cerbaiola Brunello di Montalcino DOCG Tuscany 2016 750ML ($249.95) $219 special, 11 bottles in stock now
Kerin O’Keefe-Wine Enthusiast 100 Points “Cellar Selection. Absolutely stunning, this gorgeous red has enticing aromas of wild rose, forest berries, new leather and camphor. Full-bodied and delicious, the smooth, structured palate is all about flavor, focus and finesse, doling out succulent black cherry, crushed raspberry, star anise and white pepper notes framed in tightly knit, refined tannins. Bright acidity keeps it impeccably balanced. Beautiful now and will continue to age and develop even more complexity for years to come”.
Eric Guido-Vinous 97+ points “The 2016 Brunello di Montalcino slowly comes to life, opening with a smoky, brooding and dark bouquet. It first unleashes its florals with crushed roses and hints of geranium, then deepens to reveal black cherry and raspberry, and finally a chorus of tobacco and wild herbs. You could lose yourself in the glass. The 2016 is incredibly silky and textural, displaying a youthful density that tempts the imagination while casting a savory display of mineral-tinged dark fruits, more black than red, with hints of dried orange and exotic spice. A saturation of fine tannin awaits on the finish, previously masked by the Salvioni’s primary power, as a mix of sage and hints of licorice slowly fade. There is so much potential here; but today, the 2016 is in dire need of cellaring. I tasted the 2016 multiple times over the course of two days and it didn’t budge.”
Valdespino: The Apex of Andalucía
Sherry is one of the most underappreciated wine styles in the entire world, and is one of the best buys in the market as a result! Valdespino is no different, in spite of being one of the most pedigreed and critically lauded in the entire Sherry Triangle. Records found onsite indicate that Valdespino was founded in 1264, making them one of the first Bodegas to make sherry in the entire region.
Production has largely stayed the same throughout it’s almost 800 year history, and is the last producer still fermenting in oak using wild yeasts from a single vineyard. This approach marries perfectly to their estate holdings in the Macharnudo Alto, the highest elevation vineyard in The Sherry Triangle (And nicknamed “The Romanée-Conti of Jerez”). The site’s reputation is so lauded that Valdespino was contracted to the Royal families of Spain and Sweden to provide their respective households with Sherry from the latter vineyard exclusively.
The vineyard is comprised almost entirely of chalk, or albariza as it’s called locally which imparts a distinctive, pervasive and saline minerality to the finished wine. The commitment to quality does not stop after harvest and initial vinification, with the average time spent in solera being twice the required minimum. Take for instance their Fino sherry, which traditionally spends the least amount of time in the solera but still has an average of 10 years old (Compared to the legally required 2 years in cask). The aging commitment reaches its apex with Valdespino’s VORS range (Very Old Rare Sherry), with the VOR Amontillado having an average age of 60 years old!
Due to the inherent saline minerality that is part of Valdespino’s house style these are incredibly food friendly Sherries. The traditional pairing of paella or charcuterie or even something along the lines of sushi, oysters in half shell or lobster. Given the fortification that Sherry undergoes, it is also perfect suited for slowly enjoying over the course of a week and will continue to evolve in your refrigerator.
Valdespino Wines in stock now:
A.R. Valdespino Coliseo Amontillado VORS Sherry Andalucia VORS 375ML ($249.95) $179 special, 4 half-bottles in stock now
Wine Advocate 99 points “The NV Amontillado Coliseo VORS, is an extremely old (much older than the 30 years certified by the VORS classification) and concentrated wine. It is unique, as its origin is from Sanlucar de Barrameda, mainly from the Pago Miraflores, which produced very sharp wines. Dark mahogany colored, with a bright green border, is very aromatic, balsamic and complex, with wild herbs, candied orange rind, spices and dates. The palate is extremely concentrated, dry, and intense but it has no edges, with lively acidity and an eternal finish. It’s an extreme wine, some might find it too much, but it’s certainly unique and among the greatest wines in the world, to be sipped slowly and in tiny quantities. One of the greatest Amontillados in existence today. Drink 2013-2025.” WA
Production has largely stayed the same throughout it’s almost 800 year history, and is the last producer still fermenting in oak using wild yeasts from a single vineyard. This approach marries perfectly to their estate holdings in the Macharnudo Alto, the highest elevation vineyard in The Sherry Triangle (And nicknamed “The Romanée-Conti of Jerez”). The site’s reputation is so lauded that Valdespino was contracted to the Royal families of Spain and Sweden to provide their respective households with Sherry from the latter vineyard exclusively.
The vineyard is comprised almost entirely of chalk, or albariza as it’s called locally which imparts a distinctive, pervasive and saline minerality to the finished wine. The commitment to quality does not stop after harvest and initial vinification, with the average time spent in solera being twice the required minimum. Take for instance their Fino sherry, which traditionally spends the least amount of time in the solera but still has an average of 10 years old (Compared to the legally required 2 years in cask). The aging commitment reaches its apex with Valdespino’s VORS range (Very Old Rare Sherry), with the VOR Amontillado having an average age of 60 years old!
Due to the inherent saline minerality that is part of Valdespino’s house style these are incredibly food friendly Sherries. The traditional pairing of paella or charcuterie or even something along the lines of sushi, oysters in half shell or lobster. Given the fortification that Sherry undergoes, it is also perfect suited for slowly enjoying over the course of a week and will continue to evolve in your refrigerator.
Valdespino Wines in stock now:
A.R. Valdespino Coliseo Amontillado VORS Sherry Andalucia VORS 375ML ($249.95) $179 special, 4 half-bottles in stock now
Wine Advocate 99 points “The NV Amontillado Coliseo VORS, is an extremely old (much older than the 30 years certified by the VORS classification) and concentrated wine. It is unique, as its origin is from Sanlucar de Barrameda, mainly from the Pago Miraflores, which produced very sharp wines. Dark mahogany colored, with a bright green border, is very aromatic, balsamic and complex, with wild herbs, candied orange rind, spices and dates. The palate is extremely concentrated, dry, and intense but it has no edges, with lively acidity and an eternal finish. It’s an extreme wine, some might find it too much, but it’s certainly unique and among the greatest wines in the world, to be sipped slowly and in tiny quantities. One of the greatest Amontillados in existence today. Drink 2013-2025.” WA
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
A.R. Valdespino Inocente Single Vineyard Fino Sherry Andalucia 375ML ($14.95) $11.90 special, 4 half-bottles in stock now
Wine & Spirits 95 points “Best Buy. Inocente is Valdespino’s flagship, a wine from the Macharnudo Alto vineyard, where the soil is pure white albariza. It ferments in 600-liter wooden casks without added yeasts, a practice that has become increasingly rare in Jerez. The intensity of the wine’s salinity is remarkable – iodine and salt – coming together with ripe white fruit, scents of nuts and exotic spices. The structure is dry and austere, like drinking the juice of stones. This will last for a decade in the cellar, but it’s impossible to hold onto a bottle if there’s raw seafood nearby.”
Wine Advocate 94 points “The NV Fino Inocente must be one of the few wines in Jerez that is still fermented in 600-liter American oak botas, which is an incredible amount of work compared with fermenting tens of thousands of kilos of grapes (or even more) in a big stainless steel tank. This method was the norm of yesteryear, but is so labor intense that it was discontinued in most wineries, and gives a big diversity of wines, as each barrel has its own character, which contributes to the complexity of the blend. Furthermore, the bottled wine is on average 8 to 10 years old. One other thing that makes it apart from other Finos is that the grapes are exclusively from the high part of the Macharnudo vineyard, so this is a single-vineyard Fino. The nose is very complex, showing the effect of the long lees contact: chalk, dried hay, aromatic herbs and salty almonds. The palate is full, but at the same time elegant and balanced, powerful and fine, with the texture of a Meursault rather than a Puligny. A very complex wine, that manages to be both powerful and elegant. Inocente is great value for money. Drink 2013-2016.”
A.R. Valdespino Manzanilla Deliciosa Sherry Andalucia 750ML ($19.95) $17 special, 18 bottles in stock now
Decanter 94 points “About five to six years old, from La Guita bodega. Bright astringency and vivid intensity, with a long, refreshing finish. Not subtle, or washed out; and in this case, I preferred this to the en rama version.”
Wine & Spirits 92 points “Deliciosa grows at the Pago Miraflores in Sanlucar de Barrameda and it’s typically aged for five years under flor. This latest saca shows a lovely mix of almond flavors, salt and white fruit, all melding into the wine’s deep mineral notes. It’s substantial enough to serve in the company of blackened redfish.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
A.R. Valdespino Viejo C.P. Calle Ponche Single Vineyard Palo Cortado Dry Sherry Jerez 750ML ($52.95) $38 special, 6 bottles in stock now
Wine & Spirits 96 points “The wines that make up this Palo Cortado have an average age of more than 25 years. Originally, it was aged in Calle Ponce in the city of Jerez; hence the initials still printed on the label. During aging, the wine is refreshed with Fino Inocente and Amontillado Tío Diego, two other top bottlings in Valdespino’s portfolio. The end result is a wine that smells smoky and rich in caramelized flavor, but tastes dry to the bone; all those ripe flavors become the purest mineral impressions. A sense of chalky albariza soil floods the palate as the acidity tingles along the tongue, leading the way into a vertical wine, intense and vibrant.”
Wine Advocate 93 points “The NV Palo Cortado Viejo C.P. produced from Palomino from the Macharnudo Alto is feed with specific casks of Fino Inocente and Amontillado Tio Diego. It was traditionally aged in the Calle Ponce (Ponce Street), and if has kept the C.P. initials since then. It’s not age-certified, but the average age of the bottled wine is 25 years. The color is old gold or light amber, and the nose hints at a relatively old wine, with plenty of lactic notes, sweet vanilla, iodine, bitter oranges and spices. The palate is clean and delineated, subtle and on the elegant side of Palo Cortado, ending very dry.”
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A.R. Valdespino El Candado Pedro Ximenez Sherry Andalucia 375ML ($17.95) $14 special, 6 half-bottles in stock now
Wine & Spirits 92 points “A PX from ten-year-old soleras, this is deliciously creamy. It combines raisined grape flavors with scents of figs and chestnuts, while subtle acidity plays in the background. The complexity develops further in the glass, building toward notes of chocolate, cinnamon and exotic spices.”
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California Dreaming:
Mt.Eden Vineyards Chardonnay
California is famous around the world for her Chardonnay with an entire ecosystem of different styles, growing regions and practices. After stunning the world in the 1976 Judgement of Paris, California chardonnay became comparable to white burgundy and has been a measuring rod ever since. In the ensuing decades since this upset, two styles have taken prominence in the State’s output. On one end of the spectrum there is the rich, plush and riper style that made California an icon; and a leaner, mineral and restrained iteration that’s meant to emulate the “French style” of winemaking.
Mt. Eden Vineyards is a historic estate located in the Edna Valley, with its founding in 1945 making it one of the oldest producers in the region. Farming without irrigation on their estate and sourcing from some of the oldest planted chardonnay in the state, these are benchmark producers of the richer California style in a way that retains freshness. We are lucky enough to feature two labels from their portfolio, both of which feature old vines, French oak barrel fermentation and years of potential age in the bottle. Mt. Eden Vineyards is known for having chardonnays that are still fresh and drinkable even after 15 years, making them a true New World rarity.
Mount Eden Vineyards in stock now:
Mount Eden Vineyards Chardonnay Edna Valley 2018 750ML ($29.95) $21.90 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Erin Brooks-Wine Advocate 94 points “The 2018 Chardonnay Wolff Vineyard from Edna Valley is pure, energetic and fresh this vintage. The nose is lovely, loaded with floral perfume and ripe citrus fruits. The palate is silky and expansive with a shimmering mineral character and a long, pure finish. It improved over the two to three days it was open and will benefit from a long decant. 4,256 cases produced.”
Mount Eden Vineyards Wolff Vineyard Chardonnay Edna Valley 2017 750ML ($27.95) $21.90 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Erin Brooks-Wine Advocate 93 points “This comes mostly from the Wolff vineyard with some fruit from the Middle Ranch vineyard. The 2017 Edna Valley Chardonnay opens with wonderful aromas of honeycomb, orange blossoms, saline, crushed shell and loads of baked apple and quince with an earthy undercurrent. The palate is medium-bodied, satiny and intense, with seamless freshness on the finish, which lingers with honeyed notions.”
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Collector’s Corner:
Andre Clouet’s Un Jour de 1911…
Did you know that Tête de Cuvee’s can also be non-vintage? While it’s true that non-vintage bottlings are every champenois “Bread and butter” there can still be top offerings made from the style. Often done from an artistic decision rather than economic, Clouet cites blending masters Laurent Perrier and Krug for the inspiration behind the cuvee. Taking the concept of using assemblage to create “A perfect year” within the bottle and combining it with a solera of reserve wines is how Clouet has melded the two styles and has clearly succeeded.
Andre Clouet crafts their 1911 cuvee from the 10 best plots in their portfolio in the Grand Cru village of Bouzy. The village shares borders with 3 other Grand Cru villages and specialized in powerfully structured Pinot Noir. As such, the 1911 is entirely Pinot Noir and exemplifies the village’s reputation beautifully. Comprised of a single vintage that’s at least 7 years old and a solera based reserve wine that was started in 1998, this is champagne that encapsulates both maturity and youthful vigor. Complex doesn’t begin to cover this wine with the solera aging for the reserve wine portion adding incredible nuance like white truffle, rose petal, ground coffee, and miso to the flavor profile. The aromas are equally compelling, delivering a spectrum of white flowers like jasmine and orange blossom against a chalky backdrop.
In stock and available now:
Andre Clouet Un Jour de 1911 Champagne, NV 750ML ($99.95) $74.50 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni 93+ points “[Review is for a prior disgorgement] The NV Grand Cru Cuvee 1911 emerges from the glass with the most haunting of perfumes. Sweet rose petal and jasmine are some of the nuances that emerge over time. Despite recent disgorgement, the purity of the fruit and the extraordinary elegance of the mousse are hard to miss. This is an exceptional, elegant version of the 1911 that should drink beautifully for years to come. The bottle I tasted needed quite a bit of air to open up, so readers should be patient with the wine at this stage.”
Andre Clouet crafts their 1911 cuvee from the 10 best plots in their portfolio in the Grand Cru village of Bouzy. The village shares borders with 3 other Grand Cru villages and specialized in powerfully structured Pinot Noir. As such, the 1911 is entirely Pinot Noir and exemplifies the village’s reputation beautifully. Comprised of a single vintage that’s at least 7 years old and a solera based reserve wine that was started in 1998, this is champagne that encapsulates both maturity and youthful vigor. Complex doesn’t begin to cover this wine with the solera aging for the reserve wine portion adding incredible nuance like white truffle, rose petal, ground coffee, and miso to the flavor profile. The aromas are equally compelling, delivering a spectrum of white flowers like jasmine and orange blossom against a chalky backdrop.
In stock and available now:
Andre Clouet Un Jour de 1911 Champagne, NV 750ML ($99.95) $74.50 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni 93+ points “[Review is for a prior disgorgement] The NV Grand Cru Cuvee 1911 emerges from the glass with the most haunting of perfumes. Sweet rose petal and jasmine are some of the nuances that emerge over time. Despite recent disgorgement, the purity of the fruit and the extraordinary elegance of the mousse are hard to miss. This is an exceptional, elegant version of the 1911 that should drink beautifully for years to come. The bottle I tasted needed quite a bit of air to open up, so readers should be patient with the wine at this stage.”
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