In This Newsletter:


New Arrivals:
New Wines


Coming Soon:
Wines Arriving ETA in Mid-October 


Trending



Producer Spotlight: 

Phillipe Tessier



Producer Spotlight: K Vintners


Rosé Feature 


Boulay:
The Baron of Chavignol


Collectors Corner:
Huet 

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New Arrival: 

Oregon

Averaen Chardonnay Willamette Valley 2018 750ML ($29.95) $18 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-12 Averaen Chardonnay Willamette Valley 2018 750ML ($249.95) $199 special *Case discount for in-store pickup only* 
Paul Gregutt-Wine Enthusiast 92 points “It would be hard to find a better Chardonnay at this price. A blend of grapes from two AVAs, it’s been given reserve-level care, including aging in 10% new French oak. Toasty, tasty and well balanced, it offers ripe apple fruit accented with nut butter and caramel.”
Josh Raynolds – Vinous 91 points “Light, glistening gold. Spice- and smoke-accented pear, melon and tangerine on the nose, along with a building hint of vanilla. Silky, palate-coating citrus and orchard fruit and fennel flavors smoothly blend depth and energy. Shows strong tenacity on the incisive finish, which features subtle vanilla and bitter citrus pith qualities.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

J.K. Carriere Provocateur Pinot Noir Willamette Valley 2019 750ML ($29.95) $24.40 special, 6 bottles in stock now

This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!

Colene Clemens Vineyards ‘Dopp Creek’ Pinot Noir Willamette Valley 2019 750ML ($39.95) $28 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 94 points ” Defined by a brisk and refreshing minerality that brings focus to refined and expressive raspberry, rose petal and toasty spice flavors and builds intensity toward fine-grain tannins. Drink now through 2029.


California 

Carol Shelton ‘Wild Thing’ Old Vine Zinfandel Mendocino County 2018 750ML ($21.95) $18 special, 36 bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 91 points “Medocino County. A juicy bomb of fruit, this red is also well-structured, with lively raspberry, toasty spice and roasted sage flavors that linger on a snappy finish. Drink now through 2028. 9,085 cases made. — TF”
Wine Enthusiast 90 points “This big but nicely balanced, well-rounded wine delivers plenty of fresh raspberry and blackberry flavors on a lightly tannic texture, brightened by a snap of acidity. It’s charming to taste and will be versatile with food. -Jim Gordon”


Italy

Fuligni Brunello di Montalcino DOCG Tuscany 2014 750ML ($79.95) $49 special, 32 bottles in stock now
Decanter 93 points “The grapes for this Brunello come from Fuligni’s oldest vines which typically go into the Riserva. In 2014, harvest was pushed back until mid-October in order to achieve full ripeness. The wine spent the first four to five months in small 5hl barrels to stabilise the colour, with the remaining time spent in traditional large botti. It opens with iron and savoury spice before revealing leather and tobacco leaf notes. There’s definitely some flesh to pad out the structure in this well-balanced example, with smoky incense notes on the finish. Drinking Window 2020 – 2028.”
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 92+ points “The Fuligni 2014 Brunello di Montalcino is a beautiful wine. To my mind, it represents one of the best interpretations you will find from this difficult vintage that caused so much unease. The Fuligni family shows a deft hand, resulting in a wine that offers more balance, intensity and depth than a good majority of its peers. It opens to a compact and streamlined style, but it follows through with an articulate set of aromas including cassis, red rose, camphor ash and aniseed. The mouthfeel is thin in texture but lengthy in flavor and freshness. This is a very traditional expression of Sangiovese in heart and soul.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Case Basse di Gianfranco Soldera Toscana IGT 2016 750ML ($799.95) $649 special, 2 bottles in stock now

Poderi Aldo Conterno Bussia Barolo DOCG 2016 750ML ($99.95) $85 special, 36 bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 95 points “A fresh and elegant red, showing aromas and flavors of cut hay, strawberry, cherry, iron, eucalyptus and tar. Lithe and intense, with a long, savory aftertaste. Best from 2024 through 2045.”


Hungary 

Oremus Tokaji Aszu 5 Puttonyos Tokaj 500ML ($99.95) $79 special, 11 bottles in stock now
Wine Enthusiast 95 points “Editor’s Choice. Brilliant amber in the glass, this elegant Tokaji Aszú has bright aromas of citrus blossom and candied lemon peel. On the palate there are flavors of fresh apricot, honeycomb and canned peaches. The finish is smooth and has just the right amount of acidity to balance the sweetness. -Jeff Jenssen”
Wine Spectator 94 points “Vibrantly golden, this seamless dessert wine deftly knits a firm backbone of acidity and a streak of salinity to a broad range of glazed apricot, singed orange peel, almond skin, ground cardamom and crystallized honey flavors. Delivers a long, lacy finish. Drink now through 2033. 2,000 cases made, 200 cases imported. — AN”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

 

Coming Soon:
Wines Arriving ETA in Mid-October 

Il Poggione Brunello di Montalcino DOCG Tuscany 2013 375ML ($39.95) $28 pre-arrival special 
Case-12 Il Poggione Brunello di Montalcino DOCG Tuscany 2013 375ML ($479.95) $299 pre-arrival special (that’s only $24.92/half-bottle!) 
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 96 points “The 2013 Brunello di Montalcino lives up to the impeccable reputation garnered by this estate over the years. This is a profound and beautifully rendered Sangiovese that delivers bold and luscious fruit quality with black cherry and spicy plum at the start. The bouquet follows through with mild oak notes of smoke, tar and toasted nut. There is another aromatic component that includes crushed stone and dried herb or mint. This Brunello shows elegant evolution in the glass and promises a very long aging future ahead. Some 200,000 bottles were made, so it should be easy to locate this excellent wine.”
Ian D’Agata – Vinous 95 points “Bright red. Pure, refined red cherry and wild strawberry aromas and flavors complicated by sweet spices and aromatic herbs. Deep and multilayered, the wine boasts polished tannins and a harmonious acid spine that lifts and extends the red fruit on the long, suave finish. An essence of Sant’Angelo in Colle with bigger body and palate weight than, for example, the Brunellos of Montosoli, but still sleek and refined as the best wines of Sant’Angelo in Colle can be. The cool-climate-styled 2013 vintage is precisely the type of year in which Il Poggione excels: this lovely, focused wine is the best classico Brunello from Il Poggione in years. Superb.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Domaine du Pavillon de Chavannes Cote de Brouilly Cuvee des Ambassades Beaujolais 2020 ($29.95) $25 pre-arrival special
Case-6 Domaine du Pavillon de Chavannes Cote de Brouilly Cuvee des Ambassades Beaujolais 2020 ($179.95) $142.50 pre-arrival special (That’s only $23.75 a bottle!) 
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 93 points “Brilliant violet. Expansive, spice- and mineral-accented red fruit and spicecake scents show fine delineation and pick up a suave floral note with air. Juicy, sharply focused and alluringly sweet, offering vibrant raspberry, boysenberry and five-spice powder flavors that deepen slowly through the midpalate. Shows superb energy and finishes seamless and impressively long, with polished and reverberating mineral and floral notes.”

This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!

Salon Cuvee ‘S’ Le Mesnil Blanc de Blancs Brut Oenotheque Set 2004/2006/2007/2008 ($10,299.95) $9499 pre-arrival special
Salon Vertical Case consists of six total 750ml bottles and one magnum. Includes two 750ml bottles each of Salon 2004, Salon 2006, and Salon 2007. Includes one magnum of Salon 2008. No substitutions permitted.
Reviews for the 2004 vintage:
Wine Enthusiast 98 points “Top 100 Cellar Selection in 2016…Intense minerality and ripe apple and citrus fruits accompany the purity and crisp texture that are part of its ability to age. The wine can continue for many years, certainly to 2025 and beyond. -Roger Voss”
Antonio Galloni 97+ points “The 2004 Salon has been superb each time I have tasted it over the last year or so. Bright, tense and crystalline, with all of the energy that is typical of both Salon and the vintage in the Côte des Blancs, the 2004 bristles with superb precision and cool, pulsating minerality…”
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 96 points “The 2004 Blanc de Blancs Le Mesnil Brut is another rather structured, tensile wine from a generally rather open vintage…Unlike many wines from 2004, this Salon (tasted from a bottle disgorged in January 2019) still has potential to improve with further bottle age.”
Reviews for the 2006 vintage:
Wine Enthusiast 100 points “Top 100 Cellar Selection in 2017. This new release from a great vintage for Chardonnay in Champagne is a perfect blanc de blancs, showing a wealth of intensity from the crisp, chalky, mineral tones to the perfumed apple notes… -Roger Voss”
Antonio Galloni 97 points “…Even with all of its flamboyance and pure volume, the 2006 retains quite a bit of energy and freshness. I imagine it will be a fascinating, utterly compelling Champagne to follow over the next several decades.”
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 95 points “…a fine success…”
Reviews for the 2007 vintage:
Wine Enthusiast 99 points “This legendary Champagne, only produced in exceptional years, comes from the village of Le Mesnil in the Côte des Blancs. It is made from 100% Chardonnay and aged for many years before release. Its minerality, concentration and beautiful fruit are still astonishingly young and deserve further aging. Drink from 2020.”
Antonio Galloni 96 points “The 2007 Salon is gorgeous. Weightless, delicate and understated, the 2007 is all class…”
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 96 points “…the weightless and delicate 2007 is a coolish, elegant and smoky gentleman dressed in a white tie and silk hat… The performance on the palate is pure yet concentrated, fresh and linear, very elegant and perfectly balanced, but most of all, it is extremely fine and stimulating!…The radiant 2007 Salon is one of the greatest champagnes I have had from this vintage…”

Trending

The 2019 vintage was a much welcomed “reset” in Santa Barbara after wildfires and drought seen in previous years with rain in the wintertime restoring ground reserves. That energy continued throughout the season, with the growing year recording exceptionally high acids and low yields. This is music to a winemaker’s ears, as it usually promises flavor intensity and a long life in the bottle. The 2019’s we’ve received from Sandhi are no different, offering a fabulous juxtaposition to their 2016 of the same label, both featuring notes of grilled citrus, lime leaf, sea spray and white flowers. There’s also notes of pine and oregano flower on the 2019 that makes it perfect for any course pairing. We were only able to acquire limited quantities of this vintage, so stock up while it’s here.

Vineyard sources for the Sandhi lineup include the legendary cool climate Bien Nacido, best known by the single vineyard bottlings produced by the Bien Nacido estate, Au Bon Climat, and Qupe Winery, and the world-classic, historic Sanford & Benedict. This Chardonnay is a barrel selection from these illustrious vineyards. It was crafted with the wine director at one of SF’s finest restaurants, Zuni Café. We knew it would be a charming and food-friendly wine, but we were stunned by the quality when we tasted a sample bottle last week. Fans of Evening Land will be dazzled by the beauty and elegance through a Californian lens, fans of Sandhi will be impressed by the price.

Available Now:

Sandhi Zuni Chardonnay Santa Barbara County 2019 750ML ($34.95) $24 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-12 Sandhi Zuni Chardonnay Santa Barbara County 2019 750ML ($399.95) $249 special (that’s only $20.75/bottle!)
Winery note “If you’ve ever sat at San Francisco’s iconic Zuni Café with a plate of oysters in front of you while you wait for the iconic whole roast chicken, you may have had a glass or two of this collaboration between longtime friends Rajat Parr of Sandhi and Zuni wine director Thierry Lovato.  The wine is a barrel selection from some of Sandhi’s iconic Sta. Rita Hills sites, (think Mt. Carmel, Sanford & Benedict) with enough own-rooted, 1973 Wente selection Bien Nacido Chardonnay blended in to warrant a Santa Barbara County designation.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Check out our other offerings from Sandhi and Evening Land Vineyards today!

Priorat remains one of the most sought after and highly lauded wine producing regions in all of Spain. The high concentration of old vines; cult level producers, high elevation and Mediterranean climate have made it a hotbed for Spain’s fine wine revolution. Ritme Cellars is among this new school, with some of the most critically lauded wines in the entire province. 

Priorat wines are largely based around different cultivars of Grenache and Carignan, grapes usually associated with being medium bodied and fruity. However they take on a whole new dimension on the terraced vineyards of martian-esque shale. Called llicorella by the locals it’s famous for the savory minerality that’s imparted to the grapes, in addition to ripening grapes faster by heat radiation. As a result of being under vine for thousands of years, even the entry level from Acoustic features 20-65 year old vines grown at over 1,000 feet above sea level. Considering that comparable bottlings from Priorat usually sell in the $45-60 range, this is a perfect wine to stock for long term cellaring and enjoyment. 

Acustic Celler Tinto Montsant 2018 750ML ($24.95) $19 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Luis Gutierrez-Wine Advocate 91 points “The eponymous red 2018 Acústic is a blend of 70% Cariñena and 30% Garnacha from across Montsant and matured in used barrels for nine to 10 months. It’s not a light wine, at 15% alcohol, but it has compensating acidity. The nose is quite fruit-driven, the ripeness is restrained for the alcohol level, the oak is neatly integrated, and the wine is juicy and tasty, with polished tannins and nice balance.”
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 91 points “Lurid violet. Lively blue fruit and cherry aromas pick up licorice and musky herb notes in the glass. Lush blueberry and bitter cherry flavors tighten up with air and show spicy back-end lift. Smooth tannins lend subtle grip to a long, spicy finish that echoes the cherry note. I like the mix of depth and energy here.”
Importer note “Albert Jané comes from a family steeped in the wine business in the Penedès. Beginning in 2003, Albert began acquiring small parcels of old vineyards in the rugged, varied terroir of DO Montsant. Naming his cellar “acústic”, he strives for wines that directly convey the exposition and uniqueness of each site, without artifice or contrivance. All wines are made from indigenous varieties: Garnatxa, Samsó, Garnatxa Blanc, Pansal and Macabeo. Vineyard age rangesfrom 35 to 120 years.”

This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!

The Rheingau is one of the smallest German wine regions in terms of both size and output, and yet produces some of the best Rieslings in the entire country. We were lucky enough to secure a small lot of JB Becker, one of the areas cult producers of dry Riesling. After apprenticing under a cellarmaster in his youth, Hans-Josef Becker decided to fully transition his family’s operation to Dry and Off-Dry Riesling and hasn’t looked back in 50 years. These are wines made similar in style to Prum in that fermentations are short with long elevage, or cask aging and always done with wild yeasts.

Becker’s work captures the essence of Riesling, with emphasis on the rarely seen brawny, smokey and powerful side of the varietal that is unmistakably Rheingau. From his entry level cuvee to his single vineyards there’s a distinctive huángchá, chrysanthemum and pippin apple that make it absolutely fantastic with sushi, paella or Creole food.  


In Stock Now & Highly Limited:

J.B. Becker Wallufer Riesling Trocken Rheingau 2019 1L ($29.95) $25.50 special, 7 bottles in stock now

This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!

J.B. Becker Wallufer Oberberg Riesling Kabinett Halbtrocken Rheingau 2019 750ML ($39.95) $28 special, 10 bottles in stock now

Check out our full selection of J.B Becker on our web store!

Founded by Gaston Hochar in 1930, his son Serge took the world by storm in the late 1970’s after leaving Bordeaux for the Bekka Valley. Lebanon is one of the world’s first producers of wine that dates back over 6,000 years and was mentioned throughout antiquity for its quality, but has seen almost constant unrest since World War 2. Working with a blend of varietals including Cinsault, Carignan, Grenache, Syrah and Cabernet Sauvigion for reds, the reds are built for serious aging and collecting. Expect all the power and nuance of a super Tuscan, with the lift of Bandol and a totally unique frankincense, oud and cumin character that is definitively Middle Eastern 

Chateau Musar ‘Hochar Pere et Fils’ Red, Bekaa Valley 2017 ($34.95) $28 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Decanter 91 points “This single-vineyard wine, from Aana, is made in a modern style: concentrated and slightly reductive. It shows notes of new oak barrels, lovely red berry fruit (reminiscent of Grenache) and garrigue aromas. So Mediterranean on the palate, with sweet tannins, spices and a meaty hint on the aftertaste. A very friendly, easy-to-drink and enjoyable wine. It becomes even better and more refined a day after the bottle is opened. I would recommend decanting it.”
Antonio Galloni 90 points “The 2017 Hochar is powerful and dense in the glass. Ripe flavors and incisive tannins give the 2017 much of its brooding personality. Readers should plan on opening the 2017 at least an hour or two in advance, as the tannins are rather grainy at the outset. With time, ripe black cherry, spice, leather and licorice flavors emerge nicely. The blend is 55% Cinsault, 35% Grenache and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon.”  

This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!

 Producer Spotlight: 

Phillipe Tessier

  

Tessier has become one of the landmark ‘natural wine’ producers in the Loire valley. He turns out a number of exceptional renditions of Chevery and its satellites, all bright, fresh and impressively full of life. The Cour-Cheverny appellation is less than 50 hectares in total, and remains the holdout for the heritage varietal Romorantin.The Cour-Cheverny Blanc is made from the rare grape Romorantin and has the razors edge of acidity you’d expect. Often compared to Chenin Blanc and Aligote, the resulting wine is often mineral driven and fresh, with plenty of botanical notes to add character. 

His reds are fantastic as well, made from a blend of a number of grapes (Pinot, Gamay, Franc, Côt depending) and have the fresh juiciness that you want out of a natural producer. What sets Tessier apart, though, is his craftsmanship—these are wines that are consistently excellent without much bottle variation. They are funky, but only a touch so, and are absolutely fantastic values.

In Stock Now from Tessier:

Domaine Philippe Tessier Cheverny Rouge Loire 2019 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 special, 16 bottles in stock now
Importer Note “60% Gamay; 30% Pinot Noir; 10% Cot. Clay and limestone soils. Hand harvest, 15 days of carbonic maceration for the gamay, 30% of destemmed grapes for Pinot noir, destemmed grapes for Cot. Fermented separately in tank.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Domaine Philippe Tessier Cour-Cheverny Blanc Loire 2019 750ML ($27.95) $21.90 special, 12 bottles in stock now
VinopolNote: The estate was founded in 1961 by Philippe’s father, Roger Tessier.  Philippe took over in 
1981.  The Cour-Cheverny is 100% Romarantin.  The soils are sandy loam.

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Domaine Philippe Tessier Phil’en Bulle Loire, NV 750ML ($31.95) $29 special, 25 bottles in stock now
Importer note “Philipe’s fizzy ‘pet-nat’ is the least serious but perhaps the most fun wine in the Tessier lineup. To be enjoyed fresh and frothy. 90% Romorantin and 10% Orbois.”

Domaine Philippe Tessier Toc Loire 2019 750ML ($29.95) $24 special, 23 bottles in stock now
VinopolNote: A blend of Gamay, Pinot Noir and Cot (Malbec) grown in silica rich soils with a clay subsoil. 80% whole-cluster. Natural fermentation in stainless steel and aged in stainless steel and neutral barrel.

This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!

 

Producer Spotlight: K Vintners

Charles Smith is one of the best winemakers in the State of Washington, having built and sold his labels since 2001. He clearly hasn’t been content to sit on his laurels, with bottlings encompassing both reds and whites from across Washington State. Big on character and low in price, these are wines that perfectly encapsulate the spirit of the regions production. Much like Washington State wine in general, the portfolio is Syrah heavy with guest appearances by Grenache and Chardonnay. 

In Stock Now from K Vintners:

Charles Smith K Vintners The Boy Grenache Walla Walla Valley 2017 750ML ($49.95) $36 special, 5 bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 96 points “Made from 100% Powerline Vineyard (since 2015), the 2017 Grenache The Boy Powerline Vineyard sports a lighter ruby hue as well as Rayas-like notes of decayed flowers, kirsch liqueur, licorice, and cured meats. Seamless, medium-bodied, and beautifully polished, with fine tannins, it’s a stunning, Burgundian example of this variety to enjoy over the coming 15-20 years. There are a little over 1,000 cases produced.”

This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!

Charles Smith K Vintners The Boy Grenache Walla Walla Valley 2018 750ML ($44.95) $34.50 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 96 points “Gorgeous framboise and ripe strawberry fruits as well as spice, herbes de Provence, and wildflower notes emerge from the 2018 Grenache The Boy Powerline Vineyard, and it’s medium to full-bodied, with a seamless, elegant texture and outstanding length. This is another thrilling Grenache from this team that does everything right. It’s hard to resist today yet should keep for 10-12 years in cold cellars.”
James Suckling 96 points “A lovely grenache with ripe strawberry, white pepper and hints of hazelnut on both the nose and palate. Medium to full body, fine tannins and a spicy finish. 100% whole cluster. No new oak. So yummy. Drink now or hold.

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Charles Smith K Vintners The Cattle King Syrah Snipes Mountain 2016 750ML ($89.95) $59 special, 19 bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 97+ points “The 2016 Syrah Cattle King Upland Vineyard comes from Snipes Mountain and has a singular, pretty, fresh style with more obvious acidity as well as tannins, yet it still stays in the plush, sexy style of the estate. Blue and black fruits, blood orange, violets, and exotic spice notes all define the bouquet and it’s full-bodied, incredibly pure and seamless on the palate. It’s a beautiful wine that’s going to come together nicely for 2-3 years of bottle age and keep for over a decade.”
James Suckling 95 points “From a sloping plot of deep river rock, this has a fresh array of red and blue berries with a fine, stony edge. The palate has a very sleek, composed feel with such length and composure. The purity of blackberry and blueberry flavors is entrancing. Holds so fresh. Drink this now or hold for a decade or more.”
Wine Advocate 94 points “The 2016 Syrah Cattle King leads with expressive red, black and blue fruits on the nose with a density that can be sensed just by nosing the glass. Black cherry, blackcurrant and boysenberry compote all vie for your attention with savory spices and resinous purple flowers. The full-bodied palate is dense with a pedal-to-metal winemaking approach with chewy tannins and supporting acidity. It continues to linger with spice tones as it changes over a 20-30 second period after the wine has left the palate. Just under 500 cases were produced-AM “
Stephen Tanzer – Vinous 94 points “Lively scents of redcurrant, raspberry and dried herbs, plus a whiff of tea leaf. Bright on entry, the pliant but firm in the middle palate, with its dense flavors of red berries and rocky minerality enlivened by penetrating acidity (the pH is actually 3.85). This savory, subtle midweight finishes surprisingly reticent but very long. I never would have guessed the alcohol but it should help this wine age well. Leighton noted that this vineyard was created when “the mountain rose up and pulled the river up the side of the hill”–hence the cobblestones at this altitude. (15% alcohol; from mineral-rich cobblestone soil”

This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!

Charles Smith K Vintners The Deal Sundance Vineyard Syrah Columbia Valley 2017 750ML ($37.95) $29 special, 6 bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 94 points “Similarly colored, the 2017 Syrah The Deal comes from the Sundance Vineyard and gravelly, sandy, volcanic soils. It was not destemmed and was brought up in 30% new puncheons. It’s another ethereal, complex, yet powerful wine that has loads of black raspberry and blackberry fruits, smoked game, leafy herbs, and tobacco aromas and flavors. Medium to full-bodied and just seamless on the palate, it’s going to evolve for 10-15 years.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Charles Smith K Vintners Milbrandt Vineyard Syrah Wahluke Slope 2017 750ML ($39.95) $29 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 94 points “The only wine fermented in stainless steel (they like more precision with this wine) and aged in 30% new puncheons, the 2017 Syrah Milbrandt Vineyard reveals a deep ruby color as well as ripe, sexy notes of blackberries, raspberries, black pepper, leafy herbs, and smoked game. It’s rich, medium-bodied, layered, and just a beautiful wine that will keep for 8-10 years.”
Stephen Tanzer 92 points “Dark red-ruby. Higher-pitched aromas of blueberry, redcurrant, flowers and spices. Good mineral grip gives sharp definition to the fresh red fruit and spice flavors, with aeration bringing notes of rhubarb, black cherry, wet earth and mint and an emerging saline character. Finishes with big, broad, dusty tannins that grab the tongue. Highly distinctive Syrah. (a 50/50 blend of two distinct soil types in a high-elevation site–one gravel and sand and the other featuring limestone and volcanic rock–vinified together in stainless steel).”

Charles Smith K Vintners Milbrandt Vineyard Syrah Wahluke Slope 2018 750ML ($31.95) $24.50 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 93+ points “Another ripe, sexy wine from this estate, the 2018 Syrah Milbrandt has a lifted bouquet of ripe plums, candied violets, chocolate, and gamey, peppery herb nuances. Rich, round, and mouth-filling on the palate, this full-bodied Syrah packs a punch yet stays fresh, balanced, and incredibly drinkable. It will benefit from a year or three in the cellar and drink well for over a decade.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Charles Smith K Vintners River Rock Syrah Walla Walla Valley 2016 750ML ($59.95) $39 special, 5 bottles in stock now
Winery note “This wine smells really good. It is really good! Energy galore, a focused palate. Aroma of undergrowth, raspberry, plum, sandalwood, anise, marjoram and cured meat. All culminating in a lush, taunt delivery and an unending finish. Yes, really good! 100% Syrah / 100% whole cluster pressed / Native yeast / 40 days on skins / 40% new French oak puncheons / 20 mo. barrel-aged on lees.”   

This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!

Charles Smith ‘Sixto’ Moxee Chardonnay Washington State 2016 750ML ($39.95) $28 special, 14 bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 94 points “The 2016 Chardonnay Moxee comes from more limestone soils and 50-year-old vines planted on the northeastern edge of the Yakima Valley. It’s classic Chardonnay offering beautiful, Chablis-like white flowers, lemon curd, and white peach notes. With a terrific sense of minerality, a concentrated yet balanced mouthfeel, and a great finish, it’s another terrific white from this team.”
James Suckling 94 points “The oldest of the three chardonnay vineyards (52 years) and low-yielding, this has a very rich and creamy nose with fully ripe peaches and subtle biscuit spices. The palate is plush, ripe and rich with a wealth of dense, fleshy fruit. Holds long with fresh, rye-like grain and cashews and almonds to close. Quiet esoteric and darn good chardonnay. Drink now.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Love Sixto and K Vintners? Check out our full selection of Washington Wine today!

 

Rosé Feature 

Did you know that Cru Barbaresco comes in more shades than red? Sourced from three estate vineyards in the legendary Ovello, Cars and Ronchi Cru’s this is a spectacular value on its pedigree alone. There are buckets of fresh strawberries, cranberries and red cherry, with a slightly minty-spicy finish redolent of Anise Hyssop. The aromas are equally as expressive, with a whole bouquet of elderflower, lemon blossom and orange zest rounding out the exuberance of the fruit.    

In a nutshell: explosively fruity and highly aromatic, yet still medium bodied with a slightly tannic and refreshing finish. This would be perfect garden party wine that’s compatible with anything from watercress sandwiches to gumbo.      

Luigi Giordano Vino Rosato Alba Piedmont 2020 750ML ($24.95) $19 special, 36+ 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. 

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Rosé and summertime are an inseparable pairing, or at least we think so. Nothing quite illustrates that better than Ameztoi’s Rosado. This is easily our best-selling rose in house, and rightly so! A blend of both Hondarribi Beltza and Zuri sourced from a series of organically farmed, high elevation sites in the Basque Region with the oldest vines being over 100 years old. Fermented in the traditional style of the Basque region which leaves it slightly sparkling and naturally low in sulfur! Fully dry and incredibly nuanced yet delicate with a whole spectrum of fruits ranging from strawberry to white peach. 

Ameztoi Rubentis Rosado, Getariako Txakolina 2020 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-12 Ameztoi Rubentis Rosado, Getariako Txakolina 2020 750ML ($319.95) $239 special (that’s only $19.92/bottle and the lowest listed price in the USA today!)
Importer note “The pink sibling of Ameztoi’s flagship white, this vibrant rosé is made from a mix of red and white indigenous grapes and is bottled with a little residual carbonation to give it a light spritz.”

Shop our full selection of rosé wines on our web store now!

 

Boulay: The Baron of Chavignol

You’ve heard of Didier Dagueneau and his $150+ Sancerre’s, but have you heard of Gerard Boulay? 
Gerard Boulay is one of a handful of producers in the world that makes exceptionally age worthy, collectible and profound Sauvignon Blancs from his family’s estate. This is a cult level producer that’s still at an accessible price point. It’s remarkable that these wines are available on the open market, considering the Boulay family has been known for exceptional quality since the 14th century.

Boulay’s vineyards are based in Chavignol, the true beating heart of Sancerre and the host of all the best names in the region (Vatan, the Cotats, Boulay, Dagueneau, etc). Boulay owns some of best sites in some of the best vineyards in the town.  From his parcel in La Grande Cote to Monts Damnes to the famed Clos Beaujeu, all of his wines ring with terroir and the unique minerality that’s inherent to Chavignol. Gerard Boulay says “Nature makes the wine” and strives for age worthiness above all else, having examples of his work dating back to the 1960’s still drinking beautifully. The estate’s farming is entirely chemical free, and was one of the first producers in the region to convert to organics.

If that isn’t enough, he also makes a Rose and Pinot Noir from small plantings on the same vineyards! Expect a completely different expression of Pinot Noir that’s largely unseen in today’s market dominated by powerhouse region’s like Burgundy, Germany and the United States. Boulay’s plantings of Pinot Noir are 30-45 years old on average and offer an incredibly compelling iteration of the varietal. Expect the quintessential vibrancy of French Pinot Noir but with a slightly different mineral inflection than what you would find in Burgundy. 

In stock and available now: 

Gerard Boulay Sancerre Oriane Rouge Loire 2015 750ML ($59.95) $37 special, 21 bottles in stock now
Importer Note “Boulay makes tiny amounts of still red Pinot Noir from these same vineyards as the rose, which are 35-40 year old Pinot Noir vines located on the steep hillsides in front of the his home in Chavignol. Aged in used 300-liter casks.

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Gerard Boulay Sancerre Clos de Beaujeu Loire 2019 750ML ($79.95) $51.90 special, 14 bottles in stock now
Gerard Boulay Sancerre Clos de Beaujeu Loire 2019 1.5L ($179.95) $105 special, 3 magnums in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 92 points “The unfiltered 2019 Sancerre Clos de Beaujeu comes from vines averaging 45 years of age in a southeast-facing vineyard on loamy Kimmeridgian chalk and opens with an herbal and brightly fruity bouquet. On the palate, this is a clear, fresh, round, fruity and structured Sancerre with bright fruit, some hazelnut nuances and long grip and salinity. Entirely vinified in used barriques for 12 months. Tasted in February 2021.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Gerard Boulay Sancerre Chavignol Loire 2020 750ML ($39.95) $33 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Importer note “Blend of young vine parcels on kimmeridgian slopes in the village of Chavignol.”

This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!

Gerard Boulay Sancerre Comtesse Loire 2019 750ML ($99.95) $61.90 special, 10 bottles in stock now 
Gerard Boulay Sancerre Comtesse Loire 2019 2019 1.5L ($219.95) $128 special, 3 magnums in stock now
Importer Note “From 50-75 year old vines located in the sweet spot of the Mont Dam­nés vineyard (bottom of the slope, near Clos La Neore of Vatan), this is often the most powerful wine from Boulay’s lineup. Vintage 2005 was the inaugural release.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Gerard Boulay Sancerre La Cote Loire 2019 750ML ($85.95) $55 special, 6 bottles in stock now
Gerard Boulay Sancerre La Cote Loire 2019 1.5L ($189.95) $115 special, 3 magnums in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 93 points “From a southeast-facing plot, the 2019 Sancerre La Côte is pure, deep and intense yet also fresh on the iodine-scented nose, with grip, lemon and tropical notes. The wine opens bright, clear and almost tropical on the nose and then shows tight, tense and lingering salinity and firm grip. Tasted in February 2021.”

Gerard Boulay Sancerre Les Monts Damnes Loire 2019 750ML ($79.95) $55 special, 21 bottles in stock now
Gerard Boulay Sancerre Les Monts Damnes Loire 2019 1.5L ($179.95) $119 special, 3 magnums available now 
Importer Note “Boulay began farming the steeply sloped Mont Damnés vineyard in 1982. His plot has an average vine age of 45 years. Mont Damnés’ reflective soils and south-facing exposition make it one of Chavi­gnol’s warmest sites. Overall, Gerard Boulay’s ‘terre blanche’ vineyards produce some of the most distinctive and soil-inflected Sauvignon Blancs in the Loire, with a delineation and minerality often reminiscent of a top Chablis. Boulay is certainly among the top examples of the appellation, including Boulay’s neighbors (Cotat Bros., Vatan). These are gorgeous, highly complex wines that are a clear step above ‘regular’ Sancerre, and can age easily for 10-20 years or more. In fact, we have had them all the way back to the 1959 which was magnificent! They confirm Boulay’s place in the top ranks of Loire Valley vignerons.”

This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!

Check out our full selection of Loire wines on our Web Store!

Collectors Corner: Huet 

“Domaine Huet’ means ‘I make the best damn Chenin Blanc on the planet’…” – Mike Steinberger, Wine Diarist

Huet makes some of the most undervalued great wine in the world. Take any metric you’d use to adjudicate greatness (complexity, age-worthiness, terroir, aromatic intensity, world-wide praise, etc) and Huet’s Vouvray is on the list, at prices far below almost anything else in their class.

The estate has long been ahead of its time. This is one of France’s pioneers in biodynamic viticulture. Today, horses still plough between the rows, and in the winery the recipe remains relatively simple. Fermentation takes place half in stainless steel, half in old oak, without malolactic fermentation. After only six months, the wines are bottled and then laid to age in a cellar dug from tuffeau rock, no air conditioning required. From here the Huet work is done: the rest is up to nature, and what eventually tastes like divine intervention.

Few producers anywhere in the world make better off-dry to sweet white wines than Domaine Huet. These are wines that offer near-unmatched flexibility at the table, and Domaine Huet’s reputation guarantees long ageing potential. Made according to tradition and terroir, with utmost respect for nature, Huet wines can keep for decades. Fortunately, the 2016s are already entering their first (likely of many) fantastic drinking window, so now if the perfect time to take advantage of our Subscriber Special pricing and see what you’ve been missing.

In Stock Now:

Domaine Huet Vouvray ‘Clos du Bourg’ Demi-Sec, Loire 2016 750ML ($59.95) $39 Special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 95 points “Gorgeous, with creamy-edged nectarine, yellow and green apple, pear and quince flavors that are brightly defined from start to finish, flecked with verbena and honeysuckle hints and backed by a off-dry edge on the finish. Stays fresh and pure throughout. Tempting now but there’s no rush. Drink now through 2032.”

Domaine Huet Vouvray ‘Le Haut Lieu’ Demi-Sec, Loire 2016 750ML ($59.95) $39 Special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 96 points “This delivers a beautiful display of purity and grace, with creamed Jonagold apple, star fruit, white peach and chamomile notes flowing seamlessly, backed by wet stone and fresh verbena accents. Subtle but persistent energy ripples through the very long finish. Drink now through 2035.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

#6 Wine of the Year – Wine Spectator Top 100 2017
Domaine Huet Vouvray ‘Le Mont’ Demi-Sec, Loire 2016 750ML ($59.95) $41.90  Special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 95 points “This tilts toward the flattering side of off-dry, showing a plump feel to the core of creamed pear, white peach and yellow apple fruit. Lovely verbena, honeysuckle and mineral accents keep this balanced and driven, with a long finish that lets the fruit echo. Drink now through 2032.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Domaine Huet Vouvray ‘Clos du Bourg’ Moelleux, Loire 2016 750ML ($69.95) $59 Special, 36 bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 97 points “A stunner, with beautiful pear, green fig, yellow apple and quince notes that are creamy and flirtatiously sweet, yet seamless and refined in feel. The extremely long finish lets honeysuckle and verbena notes dance throughout, with a light echo of white ginger at the very end. Best from 2020 through 2040.”

Domaine Huet Vouvray ‘Clos du Bourg’ Première Trie Moelleux, Loire 2016 750ML ($89.95) $59 Special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 96 points “This is ripe and broad, taking a slightly more power-driven approach, with a mix of tropical mango and papaya fruit, backed by orchard fruit accents of yellow apple and peach. The long, heather honey–accented finish has light piecrust and crystalized ginger hints. Best from 2020 through 2035.”

This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!

Domaine Huet Vouvray ‘Le Haut Lieu’ Moelleux, Loire 2016 750ML ($59.95) $39 Special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 95 points “Gorgeous crystallized ginger, dried quince, glazed pear and warm persimmon notes are seamlessly interwoven here, gliding through a lengthy finish that picks up a lilting green tea accent. Frankly off-dry but wonderfully pure. Drink now through 2035.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Domaine Huet Vouvray ‘Le Mont’ Moelleux, Loire 2016 750ML ($69.95) $49 Special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 96 points “Bright, even exuberant in feel, with a parade of Jonagold apple, green melon, Bosc pear and quince flavors streaming through, gilded with heather, honeysuckle and verbena notes on the long, lithe finish. Remarkably elegant despite the off-dry style. Drink now through 2035.”

Domaine Huet Vouvray ‘Le Mont’ Première Trie Moelleux, Loire 2016 750ML ($89.95) $69 Special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Wine Advocate 97 points “The 2016 Vouvray Le Mont Moelleux Première Trie opens with a very clear, deep and flinty/herbal bouquet of ripe concentrated stone fruits intermixed with chalky/smoky aromas, very complex and truly exciting! Light, fresh and tensioned on the palate, that is very pure and salty but also tight and concentrated. The 2016 Le Mont reveals crystalline acidity, delicate but serious tannin grip and a long, complex, stimulating finish. This is Chenin Blanc full of energy and aging potential, provided with concentration, lingering salinity and vibrancy. This is a fascinating Le Mont, surely the top wine of Huet’s excellent 2016 series. Bottled with 92 grams of residual sugar, it tastes less sweet than the corresponding Clos du Bourg. Tasted February 2018.”

This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!

Domaine Huet Vouvray ‘Cuvée Constance’ Moelleux, Loire 2015 500ML ($249.95) $159 Special,11 bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 99 points “Stunning from the start, with a silky and refined feel despite the panoply of dried quince, fig, pear and apricot flavors that are exotic in nature. Lovely green tea, orange blossom and persimmon notes fill in the background. Obviously sweet, but with persistent dry almond and orange extract details that lend latent tension through the seamless and nearly endless finish. The first Cuvee Constance bottling since the 2009 vintage. Drink now through 2060.”

Domaine Huet Vouvray ‘Le Mont’ Moelleux, Loire 2015 750ML ($59.95) $49 Special, 6 bottles in stock now
Wine Advocate 96 points “The apricot/golden colored 2015 Vouvray Le Mont Moelleux shows a very intense, elegant and also subtle bouquet of ripe fruit intermixed with flinty aromas. Dense, piquant and concentrated on the palate, this is a great and tension-filled Chenin with grip and persistence, but also great finesse and elegance. This is a highly complex and energetic, but also light-footed and stimulating wine with lots of mouthwatering salinity. A fascinating Chenin with great aging potential.”

Domaine Huet Vouvray ‘Le Mont’ Moelleux, Loire 2017 750ML ($59.95) $49 Special, 12 bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 96 points “A beauty, with an inviting display of succulent yellow apple, green plum, pear, persimmon and quince flavors that ripples lengthily through the finish, while light verbena, ginger and honeysuckle notes dart around. A long green tea echo runs through the finish. Shows terrific range and purity, with the sweetness easily harnessed for balance. Best from 2019 through 2040.”
Jeb Dunnuck 96 points “The 2017 Le Mont Moelleux shows the classic progression from the vibrancy of the Sec to the more layered, slightly honeyed Demi-Sec to this richer, sweeter, yet no less impressive Moelleux release. Brilliant notes of quince, honeyed tangerines, apple peel, and orange liqueur all emerge from this full-bodied, layered Vouvray that has a stacked, dense, concentrated mid-palate, high yet integrated acidity, impeccable balance, and a great finish. I couldn’t pick a favorite between this and the Demi-Sec, and both are brilliant wines. Smart readers will buy a handful of bottles of each (a six pack of each is what I intend to do) for drinking over the coming 2-3 decades.”

Love the Loire? We have 85 different options in stock now. 

 

 

Vinopolis is an independent wine shop in Portland that opened in 2004. Our goal has always been to offer the finest, broadest, and largest selection of wines at the best prices to our customers in Portland, in Oregon, across the West Coast, and throughout the United States.

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Stay safe, be well, & drink well.

In This Newsletter:


Mid-Week – New Arrivals


Royally Delicious:
New Batch of Single Vineyard Tokaji Arriving This Fall

 
2019 Cristom Drop: Incoming

Trending


Santa Duc:
Saintly Southern Rhone


Calabretta Spotlight:
Pied Franco 


FX Pichler Spotlight 


Arriving Late September
From Jorge Ordonez
Featuring Selections from Muga!


Rosé Feature


Soldera: Arriving Friday


Bucklin: Field Blend Barons of Sonoma


Collector’s Corner:
Get Schisty with Clos Erasmus
 

We’re Open for In-Store Shopping!


10AM – 6PM Daily

Properly worn masks are required at all times.
We also offer Curbside Pickup
Order Online / By Phone / By Email




Mid-Week – New Arrivals
 

France – Southern

Domaine de Cebene ‘Ex Arena’ IGP Pays d’Oc 2016 750ML ($27.95) $21.90 special
Jeb Dunnuck 92 points “A wine that always seems to deliver incredible bang for the buck, the 2016 Ex Arena is a tank-aged blend of 90% Grenache and 10% Mourvèdre. It has gorgeous bouquet of saddle leather, black cherries, garrigue, lavender, and pepper. Complex, elegant, yet pure southern France gorgeousness, with good freshness and a great finish, it over-delivers and will keep for 4-6 years.”
 

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Domaine Gilles Troullier Tandem, Cotes du Roussillon 2015 750ML ($34.95) $28 special
Wine Advocate 92-94 points “Another terrific looking barrel sample is the 2015 Cotes Catalanes Tandem. Based on Grenache and Syrah brought up in demi-muids, it’s loaded with notions of blueberries, plums, violets and spring flowers. Full-bodied, structured and tannic, yet with thrilling purity, give bottles 2-3 years and enjoy through 2027.” JD
 

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Italy

La Gerla Rosso di Montalcino Tuscany 2019 750ML ($31.95) $26.50 special
Case-6 La Gerla Rosso di Montalcino Tuscany 2019 750ML ($189.95) $149 special (that’s only $24.83/bottle!)
Eric Guido-Vinous 91 points “The 2019 Rosso di Montalcino makes itself known with a captivating display of dusty rose, fresh strawberries and hints of confectionary spice. This silky and feminine effort impresses further with a savory mix of red and hints of blue fruit, as salty mineral tones create a more tactile feel toward the close. A note of sour cherry pits lingers under an air of purple-tinged flowers as it tapers off lightly structured. The 2019 would benefit from a short stay in the cellar, and it should emerge as an incredibly pretty Rosso.”
 

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Ca’ del Baio ‘Asili’ Barbaresco DOCG 2018 750ML ($44.95) $39 special
Case-6 Ca’ del Baio ‘Asili’ Barbaresco DOCG 2018 750ML ($269.95) $222 special (that’s only $37/bottle!)
Wine Spectator 94 points “There’s a sappy, old-vine character to this red, featuring intense cherry, strawberry and floral aromas and flavors. Accents of wild herbs, iron and tobacco add depth as this plays out on the lingering finish, showing excellent balance and length. Best from 2024 through 2038. 833 cases made, 420 cases imported. — BS”
 

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Spain

Vinos do Macizo Ourensan Peixes ‘Peixe da Estrada’ Tinto, Ourense 2016 750ML ($29.95) $24 special
 

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Arriving Friday: 

Poderi Aldo Conterno Bussia Barolo DOCG 2016 750ML ($99.95) $85 pre-arrival special, 36 bottles available 
Wine Spectator 95 points “A fresh and elegant red, showing aromas and flavors of cut hay, strawberry, cherry, iron, eucalyptus and tar. Lithe and intense, with a long, savory aftertaste. Best from 2024 through 2045. BS”
 

Royally Delicious:

New Batch of Single Vineyard Tokaji Arriving This Fall

Only a handful of wines in the world are considered “Immortal” in terms of their potential life in the bottle. The most famous of these is without a doubt Tokaji. The confluence of high acid, prodigious sugar levels, perfect terroir and masterful cellar-work is what makes these wines so long lived, with bottles that are hundreds of years old still being drinkable. They’re also among some of the highest selling wines at auction, with 500ml bottles selling for tens of thousands of dollars or more!  

Have you ever had something that tasted so good you thought there was a secret ingredient? Marzio Galeotto, an Italian merchant in the 1460’s widely proclaimed that Tokaji contained flecks of actual gold. This sparked centuries of obsession with the region, with an inexhaustible list of historical figures who proclaimed their love for the wines including Thomas Jefferson, Catherine the Great, Tolstoy and the Sun King himself, Louis the 14th, who made it the court wine of Versailles. 

We were so impressed by the two single vineyard offerings from Royal Tokaji Co that we signed on for their entire portfolio lineup. Royal Tokaji Company is a producer credited with reintroducing Tokai to the world of fine wine after the fall of the Iron Curtain. These are benchmark wines that you should try at least once in your lifetime, and have at least one in the cellar. Across the single vineyards you see a huge diversity in soil types and elevation featuring Loess, Red Clay, and various Volcanic compositions. 

Arriving ETA October 

Royal Tokaji ‘Betsek’ Single Vineyard Aszu 6 Puttonyos Tokaj 2017 500ML ($149.95) $119 pre-arrival special, 12 500ml-bottles available 
Neal Martin-Vinous 96 points “The 2017 Tokaji Betsek 6-Puttonyos comes from Royal Tokaji’s largest vineyard site, a crescent-shaped parcel on black volcanic soils. This has a very harmonious, Sauternes-like bouquet with orange blossom and wild peach aromas percolating through with time. The palate is poised and focused, delivering vibrant energy, a touch of spiciness on the back palate and outstanding length. This could turn out to be their finest single-vineyard release. Brilliant.”
 

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Royal Tokaji ‘Mezes Maly’ Aszu 6 Puttonyos Tokaj 2017 500ML ($179.95) $149 pre-arrival special, 12 500ml-bottles available
Neal Martin-Vinous 95 points “The 2017 Tokaji Mézes Mály 6-Puttonyos, which comes from vines on loess soils, has a beautiful nose. Very pure but not intense, it offers scents of honeysuckle, clementine, lemon sherbet and a touch of black currant leaf, all showing wonderful definition. The palate is is very well balanced with impressive weight, but like the nose, there is a subtlety, a lightness of touch from start to finish. Elegant and poised, this is a very classy effort from one of Tokaji’s most renowned sites and it will age with class.”
 

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Royal Tokaji ‘Nyulaszo’ Aszu 6 Puttonyos Tokaj 2017 500ML ($149.95) $105 pre-arrival special, 12 500ml-bottles available
Neal Martin-Vinous 94 points “The 2017 Tokaji Nyulászó 6-Puttonyos comes from vines on brown volcanic soils overlooking the town of Mád. This has a lighter and perhaps less complex bouquet compared to Royal Tokaji’s other cuvées, though it develops nicely in the glass to reveal lemon verbena, dried mango and wild peachy scents. The palate is much more open, its impressive weight and concentration effortlessly counterbalanced by a fine line of acidity. This is very harmonious and poised, and almost Sauternes-like toward the finish. Give it 5–8 years in the cellar to allow those aromas to open.”
 

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Royal Tokaji ‘Szt. Tamas’ Aszu 6 Puttonyos Tokaj 2017 500ML ($149.95), $112 special 12 500ml-bottles available
Neal Martin-Vinous 95 points “The 2017 Tokaji Szt. Tamás 6-Puttonyos comes from red-clay topsoils in the commune of Mád. This is more backward compared to the Mézes Mály, and very much more citrus-driven, featuring lemon peel, orange zest and crushed stone aromas; the Aszú element is more discreet. The fresh, vibrant palate is well balanced and harmonious, offering a fine bead of acidity and candied orange peel toward the finish. Edgier than Royal Tokaji’s other 2017s, and perhaps spicier on the finish, this will be fascinating to observe mature in bottle.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

In Stock Now from Royal Tokaji:

Royal Tokaji ‘Betsek’ Single Vineyard Aszu 6 Puttonyos Tokaj 2016 500ML ($149.95) $119 special, 7 500ml-bottles in stock now
Neal Martin-Vinous 96 points “The 2016 Betsek First Growth Tokaji Aszú 6 Puttonyos contains the most residual sugar this vintage, at 185.8g/L. The clean, pure bouquet offers dried honey, a light adhesive note, lanolin and candle wax, very complex and mercurial in the glass. The elegant, well-balanced palate features apricot, quince, marmalade and a touch of ginger. What I adore is the manner in which this Betsek builds in the mouth and fans out like a great Tokaji ought to. Another outstanding single-vineyard offering from the Royal Tokaji Company.”

Royal Tokaji ‘Nyulaszo’ Aszu 6 Puttonyos Tokaj 2016 500ML ($149.95), $119 special, 4 500ml-bottles in stock now 
Neal Martin-Vinous 95 points “The 2016 Nyulászó First Growth Tokaji Aszú 6 Puttonyos, which delivers 180g/L residual sugar, has a deep, honeyed, slightly more introverted bouquet compared to the Ste. Tamás. It gradually reveals scents of manuka honey, orange pith and quince jus, yet it clearly deserves several years to really open. The palate is very well balanced, harmonious and brimming with tension. Pears, Seville orange marmalade, hints of mandarin and fresh figs vie for attention. This is a powerful, intense Tokaji, but razor-sharp, delivering real precision and “bite” toward the finish. Outstanding.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

 

2019 Cristom Single Vineyards

Cristom is one of the hallowed names in Oregon. They’ve been a top name since their inception in 1993 and make reference point wines from their beautiful estate vineyards in the Eola-Amity Hills. Much of the credit for their success goes to their vineyards—located just below Bethel Heights and Temperance Hill, truly Cristom is one of the Grand Cru sites of Oregon. The rest of the credit goes to Steve Doerner, their winemaker since the beginning, who made a name for Calera in 1980s California before moving to Oregon and becoming a local legend.

The 2019’s are credited with being a “Classically Oregonian” vintage with much cooler weather than in the previous hot streak of vintages we saw from 2014-2018. This vintage is made even more precious when you consider that Cristom has since announced that no 2020 Pinot Noir will be made after the year’s wildfires ruined the crop. Unfortunately this is a more common story than you think, so you might want to stock up now before prices begin to reflect that.  

These are wines that have powerful personalities allied to a Burgundian sense of proportion and savor. Doerner loves to use a lot of whole clusters in fermentations and so the wines always have a grip and earthiness that grounds their deep fruit and rich textures. 2019 is being described as a “Return to normal” with minimal heat waves, dry days and breezy nights. This is also this third year in the estate’s process of biodynamic conversion, making the 2019 Cristom’s even more Burgundian inspired!

Arriving ETA Late September

Cristom Eileen Vineyard Pinot Noir Eola-Amity Hills 2019 375ML ($41.95) $36 pre-arrival special, 24 half-bottles available
Cristom Eileen Vineyard Pinot Noir Eola-Amity Hills 2019 750ML ($79.95) $69 pre-arrival special, 12 bottles available
Cristom Eileen Vineyard Pinot Noir Eola-Amity Hills 2019 1.5L ($169.95) $149 pre-arrival special, 6 magnums available
James Suckling 96 points “Dried-strawberry, rose-stem and wet-earth aromas follow through to a full body with firm, intense tannins and a flavorful finish. This is structured and very tight at the moment. Give it time to open and show its true self. Try after 2023.”
 

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Cristom Jessie Vineyard Pinot Noir Eola-Amity Hills 2019 375ML ($41.95) $36 pre-arrival special, 24 half-bottles available
Cristom Jessie Vineyard Pinot Noir Eola-Amity Hills 2019 750ML ($79.95) $69 pre-arrival special, 12 bottles available
Cristom Jessie Vineyard Pinot Noir Eola-Amity Hills 2019 1.5L ($169.95) 149 pre-arrival special, 6 magnums available
James Suckling 96 points “The aromas are pretty amazing here with dried flowers, pure fruit, sweet berries and dark strawberries. It’s full-bodied and very layered with ripe, velvety tannins and a long, flavorful finish. Richness with focus. Very drinkable now, but better after 2023.”
 

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Cristom Louise Vineyard Pinot Noir Eola-Amity Hills 2019 375ML ($41.95) $36 pre-arrival special, 24 bottles available
Cristom Louise Vineyard Pinot Noir Eola-Amity Hills 2019 750ML ($79.95) $69 pre-arrival special, 12 bottles available
Cristom Louise Vineyard Pinot Noir Eola-Amity Hills 2019 1.5L ($169.95) $149 pre-arrival special, 6 bottles available
James Suckling 95 points “I like the richness and freshness on the nose with strawberry and floral aromas and some rose-hip tea. It’s medium-to full-bodied with round tannins and a creamy-textured finish. Lightly chewy, showing the structure and seriousness of the wine. Drink after 2023.”
 

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Cristom Marjorie Vineyard Pinot Noir Eola-Amity Hills 2019 375ML ($41.95) $36 pre-arrival special, 24 bottles available
Cristom Marjorie Vineyard Pinot Noir Eola-Amity Hills 2019 750ML ($79.95) $69 pre-arrival special, 12 bottles available
Cristom Marjorie Vineyard Pinot Noir Eola-Amity Hills 2019 1.5L ($169.95) $149 pre-arrival special, 6 bottles available
James Suckling 95 points “There’s purity of fruit to this pinot with strawberry and floral aromas that follow through to a medium body with ultra-fine, firm tannins and pretty, tangy acidity. Lemon undertones. Needs time to open. Better after 2024.”
 

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Shop our back vintages of Cristom available on our web store!

 

Trending

 

For those looking to experience what the ‘Luxury’ category of Napa Valley Cabernet tastes like but aren’t interested in forking over the typical toll, half bottles provide a great hack. They’re perfect for weeknights, when quality is often valued over quantity. In another Vinopolis coup, we secured insane pricing on half bottles from two of Napa Valley’s top producers.

La Jota’s roots in Howell Mountain date back to 1898, but their modern reincarnation began in 1982. Over the ensuing 40+ years, La Jota has secured its reputation as one of Howell Mountain’s benchmark producers. The vineyard benefits from their perch above Napa Valley’s stubborn fog line, resulting in wines that are not only more structured and fresh, but also (paradoxically) more generous. There’s a reason why many Napa enthusiasts remain so enchanted by the region’s hillside vineyards. So take advantage of these attractively priced half bottles, and spice up your weeknight drinking.

La Jota Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Howell Mountain 2014 375ML ($59.95) $39 special, 36+ half-bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 96+ points “Checking in as a blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Cabernet Franc, and the rest Merlot, Petit Verdot and Malbec, the 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon is another gorgeous wine from winemaker Chris Carpenter. Brought up in 90% new French oak, this classic, tight, focused beauty boasts sensational notes of crème de cassis, graphite, toasty oak, and ample minerality. These all flow to a full-bodied, beautifully concentrated, layered, tannic 2014 that has remarkable purity, impeccable balance, and a great, great finish. It’s classic, old-school, yet awesome Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon that needs 3-4 years of bottle age and will keep for 2-3 decades.”
Robert Parker 95 points “The 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon is 75.5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Cabernet Franc and the rest Merlot, Petit Verdot and Malbec, aged in 89% new French oak. The wine displays the great fruit that is possible from these two sites owned by the Jacksons. It has an opaque purple color, a big, sweet kiss of crème de cassis and blackberry with a touch of lead pencil shavings, vanilla and incense. It is full-bodied and dense, with moderately high tannins but beautiful sweetness and fruit. Drink it over the next 25-30 years.”
Wine Enthusiast 95 points “Cellar Selection. Blended with small percentages of 12% Cabernet Franc, 5% Merlot and 5% Petit Verdot, and then aged in 90% new French oak for 19 months, this stellar effort offers reduced oak, bark, toast and clove aromas and flavors alongside sizable, structured tannin and hearty ripeness. Black currant and chocolate dust a layer of tobacco. Enjoy best 2024 through 2034. -Virginie Boone”

Much like Cabernet Franc, Freisa is often passed over in favor of its child grape: Nebbiolo. Once widely planted throughout Piedmonte, Freisa is now only found in in 1000 hectares across the region. With that relative scarcity in mind, Kye is a unique find. Sourced from a single vineyard in Barolo at 1100 feet above sea level, Kye delivers rustic aromas of turned loam, hyssop and seco tobacco leaf. Flavor profile is similar to Nebbiolo but with more emphasis on botanical and spice elements.

In addition to a lip smacking fruit component evocative of fresh cranberry and Bing cherries, there is an electrifying Szechuan pepper note that makes each taste mesmerizing. Acid and tannins are medium plus and perfectly harmonized after a handful of years in the bottle. There is plenty of room for Kye to continue evolving with more bottle aging, but provides immediate reward for the impatient. Given how this wine is sturdy without being overpowering, Kye is ready for a plethora of cuisine. Lebanese, Chinese or even pizza would be at home with this Northern Italian gem. 

G.D. Vajra Freisa ‘Kye’ Langhe Rosso 2015 750ML ($39.95) $33 special, 26 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni 92+ points “The 2015 Langhe Freisa Kyé is incredibly finessed. Once huge and bombastic, the Kyé has developed into a much more refined wine in recent vintages. The 2015 Kyé is dark and mysterious, not to mention quite closed in on itself. I won’t be surprised if there is more to this wine. Time will tell.”

 

 

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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. The Mother Rock White blend is sourced from a number of high elevation sites and is primarily composed of Chenin Blanc followed by Viognier and Grenache Blanc.

Full of texture and incredibly full bodied for a white, there’s a juxtaposition between yellow and tropical fruit (starfruit, yellow apple and papaya) and botanicals like Thai basil and sage that makes it equal parts refreshing and compelling. The microscopic inclusion of Semillion and Hárslevelű add distinctive beeswax, quince and lime flavor that make this perfect with spicier fare. 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. 

Mother Rock White Swartland 2019 750ML ($29.95) $26 special, 5 bottles in stock now
Importer note “Grapes are sourced from 5 different sites in the Swartland. The Chenin Blanc is planted on granite, koffieklip, and schist soils, the Viognier and the Harslevelu are planted on decomposed granite and clay, the Grenche Blanc is planted on decomposed granite and Malmesbury shale, and the Sémillon on granite and sand. Vineyards are farmed organically with minimal intervention. Vines are mostly dry farmed bush vines. All grapes were handpicked in the early morning during cooler weather, placed into lug boxes (smaller quantities mean reduced compaction and damage to the fruit) and then moved to cellar. 50% of the wine was fermented in concrete eggs at cooler temperature and the rest was in older 300L barrels. 15% of grapes were whole bunch fermented and spent 4 weeks on the skins. The wine ages for 10 months on the gross lees, after which it is blended and bottled without fining or filtering. The nose is beeswax, honeycomb and a touch of roasted lime and struck match. White flowers on the edges, from some of the more aromatic varietals in the blend. The palate is just stonking. Brilliant tropical fruits with a juicy, fleshy, more-ish texture. It’s a wine you hold in your mouth a bit longer – it just feels and tastes amazing, with just enough citrus to tie it all together. So incredibly drinkable and delicious, this is one to buy a lot of, as it’s just so enjoyable to drink. That wee touch of skin contact provides a depth and texture that pulls it up to another level.”     

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Santa Duc:
Saintly Southern Rhone

Gigondas’ is the finest source of value for profound wine in the Rhone. The top estates deliver wines that compete with the very best wines in Chateauneuf-du-Pape, but at prices that are a fraction of their competition. Our feature today, Santa Duc, is one of the very best in the region and our pricing on most of their wines is the best in the country—a killer combination.

Santa Duc is perhaps the only estate who can match Saint Cosme as the “Most Important Winery in Gigondas.”  Owners of some of the finest vineyards in the Southern Rhone, Santa Duc is a legendary producer that more than lives up to their reputation. Unlike Saint Cosme, though, their top wines aren’t yet commanding triple-digit pricing.  In fact, their most expensive Gigondas bottling is still under $50—and is an absolute stunner.

Santa Duc manages to make Gigondas taste aristocratic—taming the wild mountain personality of the Dentelles into something that is at once both intensely powerful and also nuanced and complex. This is attributable to their exceptionally old vines, with their “Youngest” being over 50 years old!

These are wines that manage the neat trick of being absolutely delicious now while having a track record of aging gracefully.  Recent notes for older bottles like the ’95 and ’98 Hautes Garrigues are glowing, yet the wines can be on your table tonight and impress.  In the last decade or so, the winery has extended its holdings into Chateauneuf and those wines are as brilliant as you’d expect, as well.

In stock now: 

Domaine Santa Duc Chateauneuf-du-Pape ‘Le Pied De Baud’ Rhone 2015 750ML ($69.95) $45 special, 26 bottles in stock now
Wine Advocate 94 points “The 2015 Chateauneuf du Pape Le Pied de Baud, a blend of 80% Grenache, 15% Mourvèdre and 5% Cinsault, offers compelling scents of rose petals and raspberries on the nose. While not as richly textural as some of the other cuvées, it’s still a lovely, hauntingly fragrant example of Châteauneuf du Pape.”
James Suckling 94 points “This has an array of darker berry and plum fruits with a brambly, lightly spicy edge, too. The palate delivers impeccably fresh, lithe and detailed tannin texture, as well as blue fruit flavors. Juicy and energetic. Long finish. Try from 2020.”
 

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Domaine Santa Duc Chateauneuf-du-Pape ‘Les Saintes Vierges’ Rouge Rhone 2015 750ML ($69.95) $51.90 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Wine Advocate 95 points “The 2015 Chateauneuf du Pape Les Saintes Vierges is the most flattering of Santa Duc’s current releases, offering lushness and generosity on the palate, notes of cherries and licorice, creamy-supple tannins and a mouthwatering finish. It’s a blend of Grenache, Mourvèdre and Counoise.”
 

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Domaine Santa Duc Gigondas Clos Derriere Vieille Rhone 2015 750ML ($49.95) $38 special, 31 bottles in stock now
James Suckling 94 points “Mostly (80%) grenache with 10% each of mourvèdre and syrah. There’s a very impressive, sheer and crunchy texture to the palate and a peppery edge. Tannins drive a long, powerful finish. Best from 2020.”
Jeb Dunnuck 92-94 points “The 2015 Gigondas Clos Derrière Vieille (80% Grenache and 10% each of Syrah and Mourvèdre) comes from the wall vineyard located just beside the village. It offers terrific notes of dusty earth, dried cherries and herbes de Provence, medium to full-bodied richness, silky tannin and a beautiful texture. Like the other 2015s, it’s going to drink nicely for 10-15 years.”
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 92-93 points “Deep ruby. Ripe raspberry, cherry liqueur, violet and a hint of garrigue on the deeply perfumed nose. Fleshy, appealingly sweet and expansive in the mouth, offering plush red and blue fruit flavors and a subtle note of candied licorice that builds in the glass. Becomes more energetic with air and finishes on a sweet red berry note, showing powerful thrust, harmonious tannins and impressive persistence.”
 

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Domaine Santa Duc Gigondas Les Hautes Garrigues Rhone 2015 750ML ($59.95) $44 special, 16 bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 94-97 points “Lastly, the 2015 Gigondas Hautes Garrigues (60/40 Grenache and Mourvèdre) is a beauty boasting killer notes of dark fruits, crushed rocks, pepper, garrigue and scorched earth. This seriously good 2015 has building richness, a stacked mid-palate and a huge finish, all suggesting short-term cellaring will be your friend. It will keep for two decades of more.”
James Suckling 93 points “Mourvèdre steps up to one third of the blend while the balance is grenache. This has an attractive array of ripe dark cherry and blue plum fruits. The tannins are framed up with a deeper, wider shape. Try from 2020, this needs time.”
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 93-95 points “Full ruby. Smoke-accented aromas of red and dark berry liqueur, incense, spicecake and candied flowers show outstanding energy and clarity. Sweet, seamless and broad in the mouth, offering concentrated black raspberry, boysenberry and lavender pastille flavors that fan out steadily with air. Rich but nervy and precise as well, carrying no excess fat. Velvety tannins frame an extremely long, incisive finish that leaves behind notes of sweet dark berries and candied flowers.”
Wine Advocate 92-95 points “I loved the 2015 Gigondas Hautes Garrigues and this flagship cuvee is made from 65% Grenache and 35% Mourvèdre that’s brought up in foudre. It’s a full-bodied, concentrated, yet brilliantly proportioned Gigondas that has classy notes of blackberries, plums, garrigue and leather. It’s going to need 3-5 years of cellaring.”
 

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Domaine Santa Duc Gigondas Aux Lieux-Dits Rhone 2015 750ML ($39.95) $29 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
James Suckling 93 points “A fluid, fleshy and deeply structured wine with dark cherry and blackberry fruit flavors amid sturdy yet supple tannins. Good weight and presence. Drink now.”
Wine Spectator 93 points “Ripe but fresh, with a slightly high pitch to the mix of damson plum, cherry and rooibos tea aromas and flavors, backed by singed vanilla, tobacco and licorice root notes that give this a darker shade through the finish. Best from 2020 through 2030. 2,400 cases made, 700 cases imported.”
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 90-92 points “Ruby-red. Ripe red fruit and floral pastille aromas show very good detail and an energizing suggestion of white pepper. Palate-caressing raspberry and bitter cherry flavors blend depth and energy with a smooth hand and show no rough edges. Fine-grained tannins lend shape to a very long, red-fruit-dominated finish that features a subtle touch of star anise.”
 

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Check out our full selection of wines from the Rhone today
 

 

Calabretta Spotlight: Pied Franco 

Etna has become the newest hottest region in Sicily, and for good reason.  Jancis Robinson even called it “the Burgundy of the Mediterranean,” which is an apt description of most of the new wines coming off of the high altitude slopes of Sicily’s volcano.  There is another traditional style of wine made on Etna as well, though, one that tends to have a foot in Barolo rather than in Burgundy, and its best practitioner is Calabretta. With Burgundy and Barolo prices climbing through the roof, now is a great time to explore those regions that seem to be lost in time.

Calabretta was founded in 1900 and for the majority of the time since then only sold wine in barrel or in demijohns to private customers (who would bottle the wine themselves) or to local restaurants.  Since the beginning, the farming has been organic, without chemical pesticides or herbicides—dated for a majority of the life of the winery and suddenly in vogue now.  In 1997, the third and fourth generation of the family decided that the future lay in bottling estate wines and releasing them under a family label.

The one thing that didn’t change when Calabretta started bottling was a commitment to old-school vinification and aging.  Macerations of up to 60 days are common as is long aging in botti (often up to 6 years for the high end wine).  The wines are powerful and structured but, unlike wines from lower altitudes, maintain a freshness and vibrancy to them. The Pied Franco is a stunning example of both the indigenous reds of Sicily, and the incomparable terroir of Mt. Etna. The wine is derived from ungrafted, centenary Nerello Mascalese & Cappuccio vines and planted in the remnants of an old lava flow.

Primary aromas of bay leaf, fennel, sandalwood and ‘A’a basalt that tantalize from the first smell, evocative of Barolo but with a persistent basaltic character. The flavors are just as compelling, exhibiting a range of black and red fruits. Grilled strawberry, Amarena cherries & black raspberry dance on the palate, backed by kirsch and anise. Light bodied, dry, pervasive and fine grained tannins integrate beautifully with high acid and a pervasive finish of cloves, sarsaparilla and potpourri. There’s a pervasive minerality that speaks to the lava the grapes are planted in, with an almost savory character on the finish. Pairing options are multifaceted, this would be perfect with a BBQ but could also with something more intimate like a homemade seafood pasta.  

In stock now: 

Calabretta ‘Piede Franco’ Ungrafted Rosso Sicily 2015 750ML ($54.95) $39 special, 22 bottles in stock now
Ian D’agata-Vinous 91+ points “Bright dark red. Camphor and herbs complicate red cherry and berries on the nose. Dense and youthfully chewy with brooding flavors of red fruit and spicy herbs. Finishes long and savory with a tactile mouthfeel. This is deeper than the regular (not made from ungrafted vines) Rosso, but is also currently less well delineated. (12.5% alcohol)”
 

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FX Pichler Spotlight 

 

Does Austria come to mind when you think of exceptional wine from the Old World? You couldn’t be faulted for doing so, with the labeling scandal of 1985 still echoing when discussing Austrian wine. In spite of being the birthplace of Biodynamic farming and the strictest farming standards in the European Union, the wines of Austria remain critically undervalued. 

There is no better example of this than that of FX Pichler, who’s largely considered the best producer in the country. Take your pick between the multigenerational team of family winemakers, picture perfect estate and exceptionally old vines and you’ll see their reputation evidenced in spades. Expect a rich and full bodied expression of both Grüner and Riesling that delivers both rocky minerality and phenolic ripeness in the form of summer peach, honeycrisp apple and melon.      

In Stock Now:

F.X. Pichler Loibner Loibenberg Riesling Smaragd Wachau 2015 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 22 bottles in stock now
Wine Advocate 92 points “Warm and intense on the nose, ripe and concentrated white fruit aromas open the 2015 Riesling Smaragd Loibner Loibenberg, which is pure and citric on the nose and very inviting. Pure, fresh and piquant on the palate, this is rather coolish and stunningly lean and pure Loibenberg compared to the corresponding Grüner Veltliner. Lucas believes that Riesling has eventually stopped the ripening process during the vegetation period. This 2015 has grip and tension and a rather coolish character.”
David Schildknecht-Vinous 92 points “Offering a predictably riper impression than the corresponding Steinertal, this delivers peach, Persian melon and banana, with a garland of rose petals that could have come from Gewürztraminer. Yet for all of its ripeness and the expansiveness of a glycerol-rich palate, it manages to convey a lovely sense of lift, while hints of peach kernel and grapefruit zest lend welcome, stimulating counterpoint to the impressively sustained finish.”
Wine Spectator 92 points “A concentrated, peach-flavored white, with accents of honey, anise and apple exuding ripeness, while citrusy acidity reigns everything in. Stretches out lazily on the finish. Drink now through 2020.”
 

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F.X. Pichler Loibner Steinertal Riesling Smaragd Wachau 2015 750ML ($69.95) $59 special, 24 bottles in stock now
David Schildknecht–Vinous 93-94 points “White peach and grapefruit aromas mingle with honeysuckle on an enticing nose, and the three reunite on a glossy palate lusciously ripe and loaded with liquid floral perfume but simultaneously exuberantly and invigoratingly bright. The finish offers prolonged counterpoint of fruity, floral and stony elements. This bottling displays a combination of penetration, refinement and balancing acidity that is rare for an Austrian Riesling of its vintage.”
 

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F.X. Pichler Loibner Steinertal Riesling Smaragd Wachau 2013 750ML ($69.95) $49 special, 9 bottles in stock now
David Schildknecht–Vinous 95 points “Salt, white pepper and Szechuan peppercorn mouthwateringly and invigoratingly inflect luscious, juicy white peach, pineapple and lime. A sleek and refined texture contributes to this bottling’s overall sense of elegance. With a similar ringing clarity to that of the Oberhäuser, but with greater depth and complexity as befits its steep and stony origins, this projects liquid perfume of a bittersweet, iris-like sort; smoky black tea; crushed stone; and diverse peppercorns, finishing with phenomenal persistence. Interestingly and perhaps not coincidentally, at just 13% it is one of the alcoholically lightest wines of the present collection.”
 

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Shop our full listing of Austrian Wines on our web store now!
 

Arriving Late September
From Jorge Ordonez
Featuring Selections from Muga!

 

El Cep Gelida Blanc de Blancs Brut Nature Reserva Cava Catalonia 2016 750ML ($24.95) $18 pre-arrival special
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 91 points “Limpid yellow. Ripe citrus and orchard fruit, floral and succulent herb qualities on the pungent nose. Dry and energetic in the mouth, showing good depth to the bitter pear skin and lemon pith flavors. Takes a spicy turn on the nervy finish, which features repeating citrus fruit character and a hint of tarragon.”
Jeb Dunnuck 91 points “I love the 2016 Gelida Blanc de Blancs Brut Nature Reserva. This Champagne look-alike offers a great nose of sautéed orchard fruits, toasted spices, brioche, and white flowers. These all carry to a medium-bodied sparkler with a lively, nicely textured mouthfeel, bright acidity and a clean, dry finish that keeps you coming back to the glass. Enjoy this beauty any time over the coming 3 to 5 years.”
Importer note “Completely biodynamic viticulture. The grapes are sourced from estate vineyards. Macabeo from Can Simón, Xarel-lo from Can Prats, Parellada from Can Castany, and Chardonnay from Can Miquel de les Planes. Completely organic viticulture, certified by the NOP.”
 

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Bodegas Muga Conde de Haro Brut Rose Cava Rioja 2016 750ML ($34.95) $29 pre-arrival special
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 92 points “Pale onion skin. Perfumed red berry, orange zest and floral aromas are sharply focused and take on a smoky mineral nuance with air. Taut and juicy in the mouth, offering fresh strawberry and tangerine flavors that unfurl through the midpalate. Finishes on a repeating red fruit note, showing very good, focused persistence.”
Luis Gutierrez-Wine Advocate 91 points “The sparkling rosé now carries the vintage on the label (thanks for listening!), and I tasted the 2016 Conde de Haro Brut Rosé, produced with Garnacha grapes from Najerilla/Cordovín. It fermented at low temperature to keep the primary aromas of the variety and was kept with lees for four months, hoping the wine would put on some more weight before putting it to referment in bottle, where it was kept with lees for 36 months, always keeping it at low temperature, which produces smaller bubbles. It’s pale and subtle and has more yeasty/toasty/leesy notes than the white, having had more time in contact with the lees in bottle. It’s elegant, and within its young profile, it has some complexity and reveals nuances of red fruit and spices. The palate is terribly tasty, dry and with some chalky feelings; it’s clean, long and persistent, really very good, the finest I have tasted to date. 25,560 bottles produced. The next vintage of this wine will be 2018. In 2017, with the short crop, they used the grapes for the still rosé.”
 

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Bodegas Muga ‘Flor de Muja’ Blanco Rioja DOCa 2018 750ML ($49.95) $39 pre-arrival special
40% Viura, 30% Garnacha Blanca, 30% Maturana
Luis Gutierrez-Wine Advocate 94 points “Like they did with the Rosado a few years ago, there is now a top-of-the-range white. The 2018 Flor de Muga Blanco was produced with a blend of 40% Viura from red limestone and clay soils, 30% Garnacha Blanca from classical clay and limestone and 30% Maturana Blanca planted on sandy soils. They selected the free run must after a short maceration in the press and fermented it in small oak vats (there’s no stainless steel at Muga) at low temperature. The wine was then kept with fine lees in concrete eggs for three months, during which time they expected it to fix aromas and provide some volume, and then it was aged in lightly toasted new French oak barrels for six months. The wine has been kept in bottle for 18 months.”
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 93 points “Light green-tinged yellow. Dried citrus and orchard fruit scents, along with building floral, mineral, vanilla and fennel qualities. Chewy, dry and energetic on the palate, offering sappy Meyer lemon, nectarine, chamomile and quinine flavors and a hint of waxiness. Finishes impressively long and tight, leaving orange zest and floral notes behind. Fermented in new French oak barrels and aged in concrete eggs.”
 

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Bodegas Avancia Nobleza Old Vines Godello Valdeorras 2019 750ML ($69.95) $59 pre-arrival special
No review for the 2019 available. 2020 review provided for reference.
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 94 points “Pale gold. Intensely perfumed pear nectar and orange zest qualities on the nose; honeysuckle and mineral notes add lift. Juicy, penetrating and sharply focused on the palate, offering concentrated citrus and orchard fruit and floral flavors along with suggestions of salty minerals and bitter quinine. Deftly melds depth and vivacity and finishes extremely long and briny, with outstanding clarity and repeating florality.”
 

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El Cep ‘Ot’ Blanc de Terrier Penedes 2020 750ML ($14.95) $11.90 pre-arrival special
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 90 points “Pale yellow. Fresh pear and honeydew melon on the fragrant nose, along with a subtle floral nuance. Silky and open-knit, showing good depth and a touch of waxiness to the ripe orchard and citrus fruit flavors. The melon note comes back on a smooth, persistent finish that features a refreshing bitter orange zest flourish.”
 

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Alvear 3 Miradas Ladera de Benavente Montilla-Moriles 2019 750ML ($27.95) $21.90 pre-arrival special
 

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Alvear 3 Miradas Vino de Pueblo Montilla-Moriles 2019 750ML ($21.95) $18 pre-arrival special
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 91 points “Light gold. Vibrant, mineral-tinged Meyer lemon and quince aromas are complemented by suggestions of honeysuckle, toasted nuts and green cardamom. Taut and energetic in the mouth, offering juicy, mineral-laced citrus and orchard fruit flavors that unfurl slowly and take on a smoky aspect on the back half. Shows very good focus and minerally cut on the impressively long, salty finish, which leaves behind notes of chamomile and fennel.”
 

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Bodegas Avancia Mencia Valdeorras 2019 750ML ($34.95) $29 pre-arrival special
 

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Bodegas Nekeas ‘El Chaparral de Vega Sindoa’ Navarra 2018 750ML ($17.95) $14 pre-arrival special
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 92 points “Deep garnet. Mineral-tinged cherry, raspberry, vanilla and exotic spice aromas show excellent clarity and take on a smoky nuance with air. Appealingly sweet and expansive on the palate, offering juicy red fruit, rose pastille and spicecake flavors energized by a minerally topnote. Shows impressive energy and florality on the persistent finish, which is given shape by polished, even tannins.”

Alvear Palacio Quemado La Raya Vino de la Tierra de Extremadura Spain 2016 750ML ($34.95) $29 pre-arrival special
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 94 points  “Dark garnet Intensely perfumed, mineral-driven red and blue fruit, potpourri and incense scents show excellent clarity and spicy lift. Palate-staining raspberry, boysenberry, spicecake and floral pastille flavors deepen steadily through the back half. Manages to come off powerful as well as lithe and shows no rough edges. Finishes smooth and extremely long, featuring sneaky tannins and lingering red fruit, mineral and floral notes.”
 

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Alvear Palacio Quemado La Zarcita Vino de la Tierra de Extremadura Spain 2018 750ML ($21.95) $18 pre-arrival special
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 91 points “Opaque magenta. Red and blue fruit, floral and spice qualities on the expressive nose. Supple and appealingly sweet, offering spice-accented raspberry and boysenberry flavors and a musky hint of licorice. Finishes long and juicy, with repeating florality and gentle tannins adding final grip.”
 

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Alvear Palacio Quemado Los Acilates Vino de la Tierra de Extremadura 2016 750ML ($27.95) $24 pre-arrival special
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 93 points “Deep, shimmering ruby. A pungent, mineral-accented bouquet evokes fresh cherry, boysenberry and exotic spices, along with a suave floral overtone. Sappy and expansive on the palate, offering appealingly sweet red and blue fruit and floral pastille flavors and a suggestion of baking spices. The impressively long, sweet, floral-tinged finish is shaped by fine-grained tannins that fold smoothly into the wine’s vibrant fruit.”
Luis Gutierrez-Wine Advocate 92 points “The elegant, floral and perfumed 2016 Los Acilates reflected a cooler year with a longer growing season, which resulted in higher yields that achieved perfect ripeness. The aromas and flavors are precise and pure, and there is a sense of harmony that I like very much. The spectrum of aromas is about red fruit and flowers with just a pinch of spices. The palate is very elegant, with fine-grained tannins and a dry, chalky texture that I often associate with limestone soils. Delicious! 7,000 bottles produced.”
 

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Rosé Feature
 

Looking for a rosé that drinks like a light red? Easily the most full bodied rosé I’ve tried in a long while, this is a deliciously rustic rosado made from another nearly extinct grape called Prieto Picudo. Traditionally farmed in a pruning style native to the village called rastra, which involves the grapes growing without any trellising just above the ground. This proximity reduces the amount of water lost during the incredibly dry growing season and helps the grapes ripen due to heat radiating from the ground. The vines used in this rosado are over 80 years old and grown at almost 3,000 feet above sea level at the base of the Cantabric Mountains. Grilled strawberry, cherry juice, copal resin and fennel flower make this a perfect accompaniment for BBQ, Smoked fish or middle eastern cuisine.
 
Raul Perez ‘Los Arrotos del Pendon’ Rosado Leon 2020 750ML ($24.95) $19.90 special, 21 bottles available
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 92 points “Light, amber-hued red. Pungent cherry, raspberry and floral aromas take on spice and smoky mineral nuances with air. Shows very good heft and chewy texture, offering sappy red berry, bitter cherry and spicecake flavors and a hint of licorice. As much a light red wine as a rosé. Finishes long and floral, with the spicy note adding final cut. – Josh Raynolds”
Skurnik Wines note “100% Prieto Picudo. Very old vines in stony clay at high altitude (800m ASL). Macerated for two days on the skins before bleeding off. Fermented with indigenous yeasts in stainless steel. Raised on the fine lees for four months in tank. Bottled without fining or filtration.”
 
Have you ever heard of the varietal called Grolleau? Named after the black color the grapes develop as they ripen, it was the most popular rose in France for nearly a century both domestically and abroad. It was so famous as a style that it was codified in the original James Bond novel Goldfinger, with Bond preferring it over Dom Perignon!
 
Grolleau is still used to make rosé today, usually in conjunction with its gray skinned mutation, Grolleau Gris. We can’t get enough of Mourat’s iteration, which is grown just 12 miles away from the Atlantic Ocean on the far western part of the Loire Valley called “Fiefs Vendeens”. This appellation is special not only for its historic patronage by Cardinal Richelieu, but also for having one of the highest percentages of certified organic and biodynamic vineyards in all of France. 
 
The appellation receives almost as much sunlight as Provence, with the temperature being mitigated by the ocean breeze from the Atlantic. These factors marry together to feature both ripe fruit notes like fresh melon, strawberries and peaches in addition to a lifted, peppery finish. The soils of the appellation are primarily quartzite with schist, creating a nuanced, mineral underpinning. Mourat is lucky enough to have a unique site that is predominantly purple schist, which further emphasizes a mineral driven spine. The Ovni is a rare offering in that it is entirely composed of Grolleau Gris, in stark contrast to the rest of the appellation which are field blends. With an average vine age of 25 years old, this is a multidimensional rose that is applicable pretty much anytime, anywhere.
 
J. Mourat O.V.N.I. Rose IGP Val de Loire750ML ($21.95) $17 special, 30 bottles in stock now
100% Grolleau Gris
 
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Soldera: Arriving Friday

Easily the rarest Sangiovese in the world, Soldera has become world famous for its uncompromising standards, spectacular quality, and a novel’s worth of intrigue. Coming from the spectacular 2016 vintage, this is one of the last bottlings personally attended to by the legendary Gianfranco Soldera before his unexpected passing in 2019. 

These are cult wines based on the personality of Gianfranco, and absolute treasures when you consider how few bottles are ever made every vintage. In previous years, these were labeled as Brunello Di Montalcino and would sell out without any “Pre-season” reviews by wine press. This momentum continued even after Soldera’s explosive falling out with the Consorzio di Brunello di Montalcino in 2012. 

Case Basse di Gianfranco Soldera Toscana IGT 2016 750ML ($799.95) $649 pre-arrival special, 2 bottles available 
 

 

 

 

Bucklin: Field Blend Barons of Sonoma 

Bucklin’s wines come from the historic vineyard Old Hill Ranch, originally planted in 1851. This is a field blend that is a snapshot of American wine history. Coming right after the Gold Rush and the beginning of the phylloxera blight this is a field blend selected for resilience above all else. Primarily made from Zinfandel with a smattering of Grenache, Alicante Bouchet, Petite Sirah, Carignan and Mourvèdre this is only a fraction of the 30 varietals planted at the time. Farmed organically since the inception of the farm and dry farmed. 

Their Ancient is gorgeously saturated in color and leaves a spectrum of purple and red in the Marangoni flow, throwing out aromas of lavender, 5 spice, dried cherries and terra cotta in a multilayered spectacle. On the palate the old vine influence is evident, with a full body serving spiced marionberries, Italian plum, and blueberry compote by the bucketful interspersed with juniper berries, bay leaf, and sage. There’s a beautiful minerality that is reminiscent of hot sandy loam and granite. The acid and tannins are stratospheric on this wine, which speaks to a long life in the bottle but also temper the alcohol level to the point you’d expect it to be 13-14% ABV.  Get one if you can resist opening it, and a few if you can’t.

Also offered by Bucklin, the stewards of Old Hill Ranch for over three generations are wines made from their younger parcels of vines. Otto’s Grenache is composed of a hillside planting done in 2010 over decomposed volcanic tuff and basalt. Incredibly structured and burly on first pour, Otto throws out strawberry jam, kirsch cherry and fresh raspberry, but with a subtle note of dried hibiscus, daffodil and honeysuckle. There’s a tremendous minerality throughout the wine, exhibited by hot pumice in the aromas and a savory basaltic note on the finish. Otto’s Grenache is something to cellar for at least five years after the vintage, or to be had by the glass over the course of a week.

The Bambino was planted in 1998 and is generally around 75% Zinfandel co-fermented with Alicante Bouchet and Petite Sirah. The exact blend is vintage dependent as a result of Bucklin’s commitment to entirely estate grown fruit. Bambino exhibits an old world character that would have me thinking this was imported from Puglia. There’s a fruit character that sets it aside from its centarian counterparts on the ranch, but sharing in the layers of purity, spice, minerality and old world rusticity.

In Stock Now:

Bucklin Old Hill Ranch Ancient Field Blend Sonoma Valley 2018 ($49.95) $37.70 special 
Distributor Note “60% Zinfandel,15% Grenache, 10% Alicante Bouschet, 5% Petite Sirah and 10% “other” (20+ other varieties, in fact) from a twelve-acre block of vines that were planted in 1885. The vineyard is a mosaic of over two dozen grape varieties; the grapes are fermented together. Fermented with native yeast and aged 22 months in French oak, 40% of which is new. Bottled unfiltered.”
Winery Note “Our “Ancient Field Blend” comes from the original vines that were planted on Old Hill Ranch in the 1880’s.  Approximately 65% Zinfandel with the remaining varieties co harvested and fermented together.  Includes Grenache, Alicante Bouschet, Petite Sirah, Grand Noir, Syrah, Carignan, and Mourvedre to name a few. 12 Acres, 30 grape varieties, 1 wine.”
Dry farmed.

Bucklin Old Hill Ranch Otto’s Grenache Sonoma Valley 2019 ($49.95) $37.70 special
Wine Spectator 91 Points “Lively and briary, with expressive raspberry, smoky tarragon and cracked pepper flavors that pick up speed toward well-groomed tannins. Drink now through 2028. 569 cases made.”
 

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Bucklin Old Hill Ranch Bambino Zinfandel Sonoma Valley2017 ($29.95) $24 special 
Winery Note “Otto’s Grenache was planted to honor our Step Father Otto Teller.  Opinionated and cantankerous, Otto believed grapevines were too coddled and needed great stress to produce the best wines.  This field blend was planted in 2010 on a modestly steep hillside that faces the hot setting sun. The soils are shallow, between two to three feet deep, and they are underlain with a thick impermeable volcanic tuff made from ejected rock and ash that is compacted and cemented into rock.  If these growing conditions aren’t challenging enough, the vines are also dry farmed.  Average yields are low primarily because the berries are so small and these grapes produce very intense and colorful wine.”
Dry farmed.
 

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Collector’s Corner:

Get Schisty with Clos Erasmus

Priorat or Tarraconensis as it was once called has cultivated winegrapes since the Roman Empire first occupied the area, but it was Clos Erasmus and their colleagues who transformed Priorat from sleepy backwater to a global wine powerhouse in the 1980’s and 90’s. Farming biodynamically since their inception Clos Erasmus has maintained very low production throughout the stratospheric rise of the region, and rarely exceeds 140 cases per year from their 25 acres in production. Limited does not begin to describe the scarcity of these wines, with these bottles being the crown jewel of wine lists around the world. 

In Stock Now:

Clos i Terrasses Clos Erasmus Priorat DOCa 2018 750ML ($249.95) $219 special, 10 bottles in stock now
Clos i Terrasses Clos Erasmus Priorat DOCa 2018 1.5L ($699.95) $579 special, only 1 magnum in stock now
Wine Advocate Luis Gutierrez 99 points “A blend of 85% Garnacha and 15% Syrah, 2018 Clos Erasmus comes from a year with good yields and enough rain for good ripeness of the grapes. The vines are now 36 years old on average, and the grapes fermented after a cold soak in 1,000-, 1,500- and 2,000-liter oak vats with indigenous yeasts and a five-week maceration. It matured in new and second use Burgundian 228-liter oak barrels, with around 40% new oak. This is a very elegant and perfumed vintage for Clos Erasmus, a wine that reveals a bright ruby color and a exotic nose that mixes flowers with tons of sweet spices. It is still very young and influenced by the élevage in oak, with something herbal and fresh, reminiscent of pine needles. The palate is textured and velvety, lace and dust, with fine-grained tannins that bring back the memories of the slate rocks; it is pure and detailed and has terrible balance, focus, inner strength, filigree and subdued minerality. I’d wait a little bit for the oak to get integrated before pulling the cork. It has the ingredients, stuffing and balance to develop nicely in bottle for a long time. 

Clos i Terrasses Clos Erasmus ‘Laurel’ Priorat DOCa 2018 750ML ($79.95) $59 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Clos i Terrasses Clos Erasmus ‘Laurel’ Priorat DOCa 2018 1.5L ($179.95) $149 special, 4 bottles in stock now 
Wine Advocate 96 points “The second wine here and one that is easier to drink, the 2018 Laurel was produced with fruit from the younger vines, a couple of barrels that are declassified from Clos Erasmus and the Cabernet Sauvignon, more or less 70% Garnacha and 15% each Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon. It has good ripeness and still a pH of 3.3. It fermented mostly in oak vats and 2,000-liter concrete vats with indigenous yeasts and matured for 18 months in 20,000-liter oak and concrete vats, second use barriques and some clay amphorae. It’s a bright translucent ruby color and has a perfumed and delicate nose with notes of orange peel and flowers; this is the most elegant and ethereal vintage of Laurel as far as I can remember, with red rather than black fruit and a kind of cranberry quality. The palate is medium-bodied, textured and fluid, with subtleness, balance and very fine tannins. The oak is perfectly integrated, and the wine is easy to drink, approachable and very pleasurable right now. It’s a fresh vintage with energy and finesse, quite different from previous vintages. I love it. 

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Weekend New Arrivals

Oregon

Cameron Winery Reserve Chardonnay Dundee Hills 2019 750ML ($39.95) $36 special,

Winery Note: “The ‘Reserve’ level of Cameron Chardonnay is an incredible deal.  Made of declassified barrels of Clos Electrique and Abbey Ridge, so without the new oak that the lower level bottling sees, this wine shows facets of the grace and intensity of Abbey and the Clos without the price tag of those higher end bottlings.”

Germany

Julian Haart ‘Moselle’ Riesling Mosel 2020 750ML ($33.95) $27 special, 12 bottles in stock now

Importer note “The Moselle Riesling comes essentially from the Piesporter Goldtröpfchen, with in addition grapes from the Wintricher Ohligsberg and Piesporter Gu¨nterslay, and was fermented down to barely off-dry levels of residual sugar.”

Weiser-Kuenstler Enkircher Ellergrub Riesling Auslese Mosel 2020 375ML ($47.95) $39 special, 6 bottles in stock now

This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!

Weiser-Kuenstler Enkircher Ellergrub Riesling Spatlese Mosel 2020 750ML ($49.95) $44 special, 3 bottles in stock now

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Weingut Kunstler Riesling Feinherb Rheingau 2020 750ML ($27.95) $26 special, 4 bottles in stock now

Mosel Fine Wines 90 points “The Riesling Weiser-Künstler, as it is referred to on the main label (the reference to the vintage is left for the back label), is a barely off-dry wine (with 15 g/l of residual sugar) made from Estate’s holdings and from grapes sourced at a befriended organic grower in the Enkircher Steffensberg. It offers a stunning and pure nose which screams Mosel as beautifully scents of freshly cut flowers, white peach, a dash of whipped cream, a hint of blood orange, and slate emerge from the glass. The wine proves delicately off dry on the delicious and well-balanced palate and leaves a subtly ample feel of ripe fruits, zest of citrusy fruits, slate, and smoke. This is a truly remarkable Estate wine! Now-2030.”

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Weiser-Kuenstler Trarbacher Schlossberg Riesling Kabinett Mosel, 2020 ($31.95) $27, 6 bottles in stock now

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Weiser-Kuenstler Trarbacher Riesling Trocken Mosel 2020 750ML ($29.95) $26 special, 12 bottles in stock now

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Wein-Erbhof Stein Palmberg Alte Reben Kabinett Trocken Mosel 2020 750M ($37.95) $33 special, 12 bottles in stock now

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Wein-Erbhof Stein St Aldegunder Himmelreich Riesling Kabinett Feinherb Mosel 2020 750ML ($39.95) $33 special, 12 bottles in stock now

Chile

Concha y Toro Don Melchor Cabernet Sauvignon Puente Alto 2018 750ML ($139.95) $108 special, 17 bottles in stock now

James Suckling 100 points “This is amazing. The vibrancy and energy in this wine is stunning. The complexity of aromas are breathtaking with flowers, blackcurrants, raspberries and peaches. Full-bodied, yet ever so refined and polished with impeccable texture and beauty. The length is marvelous. This is a testimony to balance, harmony and transparency in a great red. Drink after 2023.”

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Fresh off the Botti: Vietti’s 2017 Barolos

“Vietti was founded by Carlo Vietti in the late 1800s and is based in Castiglione Falletto. Alfredo Currado married Luciana Vietti and is largely responsible for the resurrection of the Arneis grape. Today the estate is led by Luca Currado Vietti and his wife Elena. In 2016, the estate was purchased by Krause Holdings, which has enabled Luca and Elena to continue their roles while enabling them to support growth.” – Jeb Dunnuck

These are the “Grand Cru” of the Barolo reigion, and are examples of the best sites under the Vietti’s spade. Organically farmed across the board, these wines offer a fantastic snapshot of Barolo’s terroir and style diversity while still demonstrating a definitive “House style”. Highly collectible on account of the limited amounts made, these are infants in the bottle that promise decades of enjoyment after they shed their baby fat.  

Vietti Brunate Barolo DOCG 2017 750ML ($199.95) $169 special, 4 bottles in stock now

Jeb Dunnuck 96 points “Sourced from an average of 54-year-old vines in Brunate of La Morra, the 2017 Barolo Brunate was aged for 32 months in large oak cask and barriques. It offers brooding aromas of licorice, dried currant, and cedar. Congruent on the palate with mineral-rich turned earth, there is a firmly built structure with balance. Drink 2024-2050.”

Antonio Galloni 94 points “The 2017 Barolo Brunate is a powerful, brooding wine. Huge dark fruit, leather, spice, menthol and dried herbs all build in a potent Barolo that is enshrouded by tannins. The 2017 is going to need quite a bit of time in the cellar. Today, it is very much a brooding powerhouse. Dark wild cherry, licorice, tar, menthol and spice take shape in the glass, but the 2017 is clearly an infant, and an unruly one at that.”

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Vietti Lazzarito Barolo DOCG 2017 750ML ($199.95) $169 special, 17 bottles in stock now

Jeb Dunnuck 97 points “From the southwest facing amphitheater of Lazzarito in Serralunga d’Alba the 2017 Barolo Lazzarito was aged for 30 months in a combination of large oak casks and barrique. The nose is layered with elegant spice and floral notes of cedar, red plum, and brushed leather. There is incredible balance within its structure, which has deceptive ease for early drinking. Hold 3-5 years or drink 2023-2046.”

Antonio Galloni 95 points “Vietti’s 2017 Barolo Lazzarito is absolutely gorgeous. Whatever the challenges of the growing season, they appear to have been no problem here. More than anything else, the Lazzarito impresses with its magnificent depth and stature. Super-ripe red fruit, white pepper, mint, tobacco, cured meat, spice and rose petal open gradually with time in the glass. I would not be in a rush to open bottles anytime soon. The Lazzarito has been one of the most improved wines at Vietti for a number of years. The 2017 is so captivating.”

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Vietti Ravera Barolo DOCG 2017 750ML ($199.95) $169 special, 8 bottles in stock now

Jeb Dunnuck 98 points “Located in Novello, from three hectares of the Ravera MGA with southwest exposure, the 2017 Barolo Ravera was aged for 32 months in large oak casks. It is forward and expressive with fresh pine, candied cranberry, orange oil, and aniseed. The palate is full of energetic tension, balance, and purity, with apricot pit, tea leaf and saline minerality. An inspiring wine to close out the Vietti 2017 lineup. Drink 2025-2050.”

Antonio Galloni 96 points “The 2017 Barolo Ravera is a powerhouse. My impression is that the 2017 is going to develop into something truly special. It has all the energy that makes this site so distinctive, but with an extra kick of fruit density and a whole range of exotic aromatics that make for a truly drop dead gorgeous wine. Bright red/purplish fruit, rose petal, chalk and white pepper build into a finish laced with searing intensity. This is such and impressive wine.”

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Vietti Rocche di Castiglione Barolo DOCG 2017 750ML ($199.95) $169 special, 3 bottles in stock now

Antonio Galloni 96 points “The 2017 Barolo Rocche di Castiglione shows all the signatures of this site, all turned up to the maximum. I am not sure I have ever tasted a Vietti Castiglione with this much heft. Super-ripe dark red fruit, rose petal, mocha, dried herbs and menthol all build in an ample, resonant Barolo. Readers should be prepared to cellar the 2017 for the next handful of years, perhaps longer. A whole range of floral and savory notes punctuates the explosive finish.”

Jeb Dunnuck 96 points “Aged for 30 months in large oak casks, the 2017 Barolo Rocche Di Castiglione is sourced from old vines planted in 1940, 1950, and 1968 with southeastern exposure. It has a soft perfume of kirsch, fresh rose petal, and fragrant rosemary. The palate is fresh and inviting with fine tannins and noted by anise, pomegranate, and dusty earth. It is pleasurable now or hold 3-5 years and drink 2023-2036.”

Also In Stock Now:

Vietti Lazzarito Barolo DOCG 2016 750ML ($299.95) $199 special, 11 bottles in stock now

Antonio Galloni 98 points “The 2016 Barolo Lazzarito is another stunning wine in this range. The 2016 is the first vintage of the Lazzarito I can remember tasting in which intensely mineral notes accompany the more savory, earthy notes that are so typical of this site. Graphite, sage, dried flowers, crushed rocks, menthol, dried rose petal, mint, licorice and blood orange race out of the glass in a breathtaking, towering Barolo that hits all the right notes from the start to its chiseled, strikingly detailed finish. The 2016 Lazzarito is one of the most classically austere wines in this range. In a word: Magnificent.”

Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 98 points “Drawing its fruit from Serralunga d’Alba, the Vietti 2016 Barolo Lazzarito is built like a pyramid. It is grounded by a thick base of robust fruit and power and soars upward in intensity thanks to its beautifully lifted bouquet. It reveals direct and solid lines with blackberry, plum, spice, tar, licorice, candied orange peel and truffle-infused earth. A second wave of aromas offers dark minerals and ferrous qualities such as iron ore and rust. Barolo from Serralunga d’Alba are often in a category apart thanks to their richness and sheer fruit weight. With extra aeration, Lazzarito delivers mint, balsam herb or Fernet-Branca. Production is 9,293 bottles and 300 magnums. This is the finest, most complete set of wines I have ever tasted from Vietti. Congratulations.”

Wine Spectator 95 points “Juniper, sage, green tea, cherry and tar flavors mark this savory red, which is rich, backed by a bracing structure, yet remains balanced and long on the finish. Very pure and vibrant, with a fine matrix of tannins. Best from 2024 through 2043.”

Rose Feature:

Calabretta is one of our favorite producers of Sicilian wine in house. Their commitment to chemical free farming, stewarding old vines and meticulous winemaking is evident in every bottle of wine they make. Their rosato is no different, and is made from ungrafted vines planted directly into the lava rock of Mt. Etna.

The high elevation, intense sunshine and marginal soils create an incredible expression of rose filled to the brim with blood orange, watermelon pulp, Seville orange, savory minerality and rosemary smoke. This is one of the few rose’s in the global market that will improve with age, taking on notes of marmalade and white tea.   

In stock now:  

Calabretta Rosato Sicily 2019 750ML ($21.95) $18.50, 13 bottles in stock now

Winery Note: Rosato: it comes from young vines just planted in the Calderara Sottana district from a rigorous mass selection and, in part, in piedmont. Vinified according to the traditional fermentation “Pista & Mutta”, ie the must is pressed (piste) and immediately decanted (mutta), therefore in the absence of pomace there will be less tannins and less color. It was the wine that the farmers made for themselves and that they could drink after a few months. Fruity, floral, full-bodied. Dedicated to the ancient methods of winemaking.

You’d be forgiven if you have never heard of Domaines Bunan, as their wines rarely leave the French Riviera where they’re made. The domaine was founded in 1961 by a pair of brothers, Paul and Pierre Bunan when they purchased the Chateau of Le Castellet in the village of the same name. Located on the terraces above the port of Bandol called Moulin des Costes, the Chateau dates back to the 18th century and has been farmed organically since the founding of the Domaine. Comprised of a mix of Cinsault, Cabernet Sauvigion and a splash of Ugni Blanc this is meant to walk the line between the wine styles of Bandol and Provence, encompassing both fruity texture and refreshing minerality.

In stock now:

Domaine Bunan Cotes de Provence Belouve Rose France 2019 750ML ($21.95) $17 special, 10 bottles in stock now

Winery note “Cinsault 60%, Cabernet Sauvignon 30%, Ugni blanc 10%. Pale salmon pink hue. Elegant and fruity nose revealing aromas of citrus fruits. A direct and harmonious wine. A crunchy rosé with a clean attack elongated by lingering fruity notes. Pair with fish, shellfish, lamb, white meats, spicy dishes.”     

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Domaine Bunan Cotes de Provence Belouve Rose France 2020 750ML ($24.95) $18 special, 29 bottles in stock now

Winery note “Cinsault : 60% Cabernet Sauvignon : 30% Ugni blanc : 10%. Nose and palate: Pale salmon pink hue. Elegant and fruity nose revealing aromas of citrus fruits. A direct and harmonious wine. A crunchy rosé with a clean attack elongated by lingering fruity notes.”

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Magnum Feature: Arterberry Maresh

You would be hard pressed to find a more definitively Oregonian producer than Arterberry Maresh. With their home estate in the Dundee Hills being one of the oldest vineyards in the State, let alone the appellation this is one of the “Founding Families” of Oregon Pinot Noir but isn’t spoken about as much as their compatriots Erath, Ponzi and Eyrie.

This could be on account of the production volumes, which remain small to this day even with bottlings comprised of fruit from outside the estate. Organic, Dry-Farmed, and with an average vine age of 45 years old the Arterberry Maresh vineyard is one of the Dundee Hills crown jewels. We managed to secure some of their library released 2014 Pinot Noir’s, one of the best vintages ever seen in Oregon wine history.

Expect the quintessential Dundee character of cherry cola, freshly ground coffee and turned loam that’s accentuated by a full spectrum of blueberry, bing cherry, and dried cranberry. Secondary and tertiary characters are just starting to become evident with a beautiful plethora of white truffle, Tahitian vanilla, cremini mushroom, dried rose petal and black pearl tea. Being in a magnum format, there’s no rush to drink this even at it approaching 7 years old.

In stock now:

Arterberry Maresh Pinot Noir Dundee Hills 1.5L ($169.95) $139 special, 3 bottles in stock now

Wine Advocate 95 points “The 2014 Maresh Vineyard Pinot Noir has a beautiful bouquet with wonderful precision. The vine age does show through here (44-years-old now) with crisp detailed red berry fruit that just exudes Pinoté. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin, very well-judged acidity, touches of truffle and undergrowth tincturing the red berry fruit that fans out wonderfully towards the long and satisfying finish. This is a great Pinot Noir from an estate that seems to have thrived in 2014.”

Josh Raynolds-Vinous 94 points “Dark red. Intensely perfumed, spice-accented strawberry, cherry liqueur and incense aromas show excellent clarity and a bright mineral overtone. Taut, nervy and focused in the mouth, offering alluringly sweet red fruit, blood orange and rose pastille flavors that deepen and spread out slowly with air. An impressively persistent finish is framed by subtle tannins and emphatically echoes the floral and mineral notes. This wine’s interplay of power and finesse is really impressive.”    

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Also by Arterberry Maresh, in stock now: 

Arterberry Maresh Chardonnay Maresh Vineyard Dundee Hills 2017 750ML ($89.95) $79 special, 4 bottles in stock now

Josh Raynolds – Vinous 96 points “Light, bright straw-yellow. A powerfully scented nose evokes fresh honeydew melon, Meyer lemon, iodine and white flowers, and a minerally nuance builds as the wine stretches out. Sappy, concentrated and penetrating on the palate, offering vibrant orchard and citrus fruit and honeysuckle flavors and suggestions of brioche, sweet butter and iodine. A dusty mineral element adds energizing lift and cut to a wonderfully long, juicy, sharply delineated finish that leaves behind a suave floral note.”

Erin Brooks – Wine Advocate 96 points “The 2017 Chardonnay Maresh Vineyard comes from vines planted in 1983. It takes its time to reveal mushroom, tree bark, raw almonds and honeycomb aromas with a core of apple pie and white peaches with a very savory, spicy undercurrent. The medium-bodied palate explodes with flavor layers and lively acidity, finishing incredibly long and minerally. This is stunning!” 

Arterberry Maresh Chardonnay Maresh Vineyard Dundee Hills 2018 750ML ($79.95) $69 special, 4 bottles in stock now

Erin Brooks-Wine Advocate 96 points “The 2018 Chardonnay Maresh Vineyard manages power and elegance, with gunflint notes that flush out to pure roasted almonds, saline, white flowers and apple fruit on the nose. The palate offers intense, savory flavor layers in an elegant, satin-like frame, with dynamic acidity and a long, ethereal finish. This has the flesh and structure to age very well in bottle.”

Arterberry Maresh Eola Amity Chardonnay 2018 750ML ($21.95) $17 special, 15 bottles in stock now

Winery note “Young vine Wente selection Chardonnay (CH72). Handpicked and whole-cluster-pressed, fermentation took place in 20% new French oak, 20% stainless steel and 60% neutral oak. After 9 months of aging in 228L barrels, the wine was finished in stainless steel drums for 2 months on fine lees. Lightly fined and filtered, it was bottled with DIAM cork.”

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Trending

How well do you know the Crus of Beaujolais? Located on the western end of the region, the cru of Regnie is the youngest of the 10. Comprised of a single square mile however, it is one of the smallest and highest regarded. This is attributable to a number of factors with the primary being the high average elevation for vineyards (Often at 1,000+ feet above sea level), majority percentage of pink granite in the soil and widespread organic and biodynamic farming practices.

These reasons can be best exemplified by the work of Jean-Michel Dupre and his picturesque estate. Inherited from his family, the site features mostly old-vine Gamay with the oldest exceeding 100 years old. As one can expect with such providence, his wines feature incredible depth and aromatic power while still remaining light on its feet. Red and Black fruits abound including Italian plum, strawberry and redcurrant. The fruit profile is bolstered by pervasive granitic character that adds a crushed stone element to the aromas and a savory finish.

In stock now:

Domaine Jean-Michel Dupre Regnie Vignes de 1948 Beaujolais 2019 750ML ($21.95) $18 special, 6 bottles in stock now

Have you ever wondered what wines resembled thousands of years ago before the Industrial Revolution and Phylloxera? What about if you took the process of rose, but substituted white and grey wine grapes instead of using red? Enter one of the oldest forms of winemaking on earth: Orange wine. Native to Eastern Europe and small parts of northeastern Italy, the style dates back over 5,000 years and utilized local grape varietals and ceramic fermentation vessels. The process results in a wine that ranges from deep gold, to various shades of saffron and carrot orange, hence the name.

Due to the inclusion of skin and seed tannin, these are wines that are built with aging potential with an evolution in the bottle that’s entirely unique to the style. “Pulp” is sourced entirely from Grenache Gris grapes, a mutation that only occurs in vines at least 55 years of age. In this case the vines are 65 years old from Moulin’s home estate in Corbieres. Expect a slightly tannic and citrus driven profile that gives you baskets of citron, yuzu and orange peel and a dense texture that speaks to the limestone soil it was grown in. 

Vieux Moulin Orange Pulp, France 2020 750ML ($26.95) $21.90, 10 bottles in stock now

Importer note “100% skin contact Grenache gris. 100% destemmed. Maceration for one month in tank. Fermentation under temperature control in steel vats. 100% malo. No filtration. No SO2 added.”

Beerenauslese

The system for classifying wine in Germany remains a metaphorical “white whale” for many aficionados and professionals alike. The difficult pronunciations, intimidating descriptions and bewildering intersection of merchant consortiums and the German State make it a challenge to learn. Wines are classified by their oechsle, a level of sugar that’s measured by a hydrometer (As opposed to Brix as used in the United States or Baume in the rest of Europe).

If that wasn’t complicated enough the higher the oechsle comes a higher level of regulation, oftentimes making them the best examples of German wine as a result. When examining Beerenauslese and it’s close sibling, Trockenbeerenauslese the only difference is often botrytis cinera (Noble Rot) exposure. Both feature high levels of natural sugar at the time of harvest, with Trockenbeerenauslese usually being the sweeter of the two as a result of the dehydration that occurs with Botrytis. However that is producer dependent, with producers like Dönnhoff electing to isolate botrytis affected for Trockenbeerenauslese production and others not making that distinction. Across the board these are wines with medium plus to high acid that are leveled with honeyed and candied fruit profiles in line with considerable amounts of residual sugar. Aromas and finishes are oftentimes pervasive and nuanced; featuring notes of pineapple, saffron, candied ginger, candy cap mushroom and toffee. These are among the “Immortal Wines of the World” not unlike vintage Port, Tokaji, Amarone and Klein Constantia with an unlimited aging potential in the best years. Check out our selection today, these are among the most endangered wine styles on the planet in light of climate change and consumer trends.                

In stock now:

Weingut Donnhoff Niederhauser Hermannshohle Riesling Beerenauslese Nahe 2011 375ML ($199.95) $149 special, 5 bottles in stock now

Wine Advocate 96 points “Intriguingly musky and subtly fungal as well as piercing in its evocation of distilled pit fruits and botanicals, the nose of Donnhoff’s 2011 Niederhauser Hermannshohle Riesling Beerenauslese – which was picked alongside its Auslese counterpart – promises an intense palate experience that the wine very much delivers. Distilled extracts of wormwood, woodruff and anisette; maraschino and serviceberry seem to lace the amalgam of quince jelly with pear and white peach nectars in a lusciously multi-layered yet animated palate performance. A spicy and tropical suggestion of mango chutney compounds the vibrantly penetrating effect of pungent herbal and pit fruit essences in a tonsil-gripping, mouth-shaking finish.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Weingut Donnhoff Niederhauser Hermannshohle Riesling Beerenauslese Nahe 2015 375ML ($179.95) $138 special, 12 bottles in stock now

John Gilman 95 points “The 2015 Hermannshöhle BA is still a baby and was in its primary stage of development, but this will clearly be a great wine as well. The bouquet offers up scents of baked apple, tangerine, a touch of papaya, gentle smokiness, orange oil and honey. On the palate the wine is pure, full-bodied, bright and very, very deep, with great focus and grip, a very long, perfectly balanced and nascently complex finish. This will of course be approachable from the moment that it is released, but I would strongly suggest giving it at least four or five years in the cellar to allow it to start to really blossom and show some of the secondary layers of complexity that will come with bottle age. 2016-2075+.”

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Weingut Donnhoff Oberhauser Brucke Riesling Beerenauslese Nahe 2018 375ML ($299.95) $189 special, 18 bottles in stock now

John Gilman 100 points “The grapes for this non-botrytized BA were harvested at the beginning of November this year. The wine is utterly brilliant, offering up a pure and complex nose of white cherries, mango, pineapple, salty minerality, apple blossoms and a topnote of honeycomb. On the palate the wine is pure, full-bodied, bottomless and amazingly vibrant and precise, with racy acids, truly stunning minerality for a BA and great length and grip on the perfectly balanced finish. This is breathtakingly beautiful! 2019-2100. 100.”

Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 97 points “The 2018 Oberhäuser Brücke Riesling Beerenauslese is from grapes that were reserved for Eiswein. Picked in November, when the hope for ice wine had died, this is a highly concentrated yet pure and spicy-aromatic BA with some volatile notes on the nose. Rich and sweet on the palate, this is a sweet yet pure and salty-piquant, playful and tensioned BA of great class and concentration. This is very clear and piquant and concentrated with healthy, botrytis-free berries. Still Riesling and surely Brücke and doubtlessly great, with a laser-like precision and definition. Fabulous. Tasted in July 2019.”

David Schildknecht-Vinous 96 points “After, as usual, a small share of Brücke had been left for Eiswein, a tiny bit of botrytis finally showed up. Given Dönnhoff’s reputation for Brücke Eiswein, it’s not surprising that the most promising bunches were the ones that got spared the initial Auslese picking. On November 22 there was a forecast of frost, and the estate’s elite Eiswein crew was alerted to show up at daybreak. But the Ice Man evidently failed to get that message. “And at that point,” related Dönnhoff, “I just said ‘Basta! [Schluss!] Everything gets picked this morning!’” There is a lightly confectionary note here born not just of high residual sugar but also, I suspect, of the brush with frost. (Why freezing often engenders such an impression, I can’t say.) Red raspberry and quince preserves with a crystalline sugary edge and a hint of caramel seem also to be dusted with crushed stone, saliva-inducing mineral salts and whatever mysterious ore-like matter it is that informs this collection’s other Hermannshöhle bottlings. For all of its confitured and confectionary aspects, the fruit also comes off as lusciously succulent, not to mention impeccably pure. A polished and subtly creamy feel adds further allure, and the superbly sustained finish is mouthwateringly umami-rich. This is certainly one late-picked 2018 that doesn’t disappoint! But I imagine the firming and acid-concentrating effect of low temperatures (albeit 2020here near low enough to have frozen the grape solids) counteracted any sense of fruit fatigue or sagging berry skins such as is conveyed by so many late-picked 2018s.”

Markus Molitor Erdener Treppchen Riesling Beerenauslese  Gold Capsule*** Mosel 375ML ($99.95) $89 special, 17 bottles in stock now

Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 99 points “The 2017 Riesling Erdener Treppchen Beerenauslese shows a beautiful nose of white and juicy peaches intermixed with a delicate and crunchy slate aroma. What precision, finesse and purity here! The palate is correspondingly lush, highly refined and endlessly salty, with tickling crystalline acidity. A fabulous, precise and weightless Beerenauslese of great class and style. Tasted at the domain in April 2019.”

Mosel Fine Wines 97 points “The 2017er Erdener Treppchen Beerenauslese (Golden Capsule) offers a gorgeous nose of strawberry, coconut cream, almond paste and earthy elements. The wine is comparatively slender on the delicately oily palate but leaves a stunning feel of almond, grapefruit and ripe pear in the precise and pure finish. The whole thing finishes on the powerful side but everything is focused and superbly precise. This is a stunning BA in the making. 2027-2057.”

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Markus Molitor Kinheimer Hubertuslay Riesling Beerenauslese Golden Capsule Mosel 2017 375ML ($99.95) $89 special, 32 bottles in stock now

Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 99 points “The 2017 Riesling Kinheimer Hubertuslay Beerenauslese is very concentrated and fresh and needs time to open up and unfold its flavors. Salty-piquant and terribly fresh on the palate, this is another exciting discovery from the Hubertuslay, a former highly regarded cru that Molitor has brought back onto the track of the Mosel’s finest terroirs. His 2017 BA is, of course, sweet and concentrated but also stunningly precise and fresh, crystalline and salty and reveals great energy and finesse. It’s a gorgeous wine and almost too good to be true. Tasted at the domain in April 2019.”

Mosel Fine Wines 96+ points “The 2017er Kinheimer Hubertuslay Beerenauslese (Golden Capsule) offers a hugely complex and big nose of pear, grapefruit, orange blossom, candied pineapple and fine spices. The wine is beautifully playful and superbly precise on the palate, where gorgeous fruity and exotic flavors of pear, mango and apricot mingle with some almond paste and minerals. The finish is long, suave and above all very precise. Sweetness still dominates the after-taste. But give this beauty ideally more than a decade and it will prove utterly irresistible. 2032-2067.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Arriving ETA November

Markus Molitor Kinheimer Hubertuslay Riesling Beerenauslese Mosel Golden Capsule 2019 375ML ($99.95) $79 special, 12 bottles pre-arrival special

Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 95 points “The white-golden colored 2019 Kinheimer Hubertuslay Beerenauslese offers a deep, intense and concentrated bouquet with ripe and flinty-scented raisin and lemon aromas. Lush and round on the refined and elegant palate, this is a sensual, mouth-filling yet delicate BA with vivacious yet fine acidity and a long and stimulating, salty and highly seductive finish. 6.5% alcohol. Tasted in May 2021”

Check out our full selection of Beerenauslese online today!

Never Enough Nero: The Crown Jewel of Sicily

Looking for a wine that hits the same notes as Cabernet Sauvignon but with a distinctive Sicilian flair? Nero D’ Avola would like to make your acquaintance. Known also as Calabrese and often called “The Cabernet of Sicily” Nero d Avola was originally brought to the island by Greek settlers in the 8th century. Now commanding a large portion of the island’s red production, you see a tremendous style diversity based on producer, cultivation style and site.

Overall however you can expect a medium to full bodied red that delivers a spectrum of red, purple and black fruits with layered aromas of botanicals and minerals. Tannin and structure trend towards being robust and bold that rewards food pairings with richer food.We carry a number of producers in house that demonstrate a snapshot of Nero D’Avola’s character, ranging from the western cost of Marsala, to the eastern village of Pachino and the central breadbasket of Agrigento. 

Located only 12 miles from the ocean, Caruso has been making wine since the late 1800’s. However it wasn’t until the 1990’s did they ever bottle their own wine, previously contracting out to the cooperatives of Marsala. With holdings encompassing almost 300 acres at almost 1000 feet above sea level these are some of the best examples of “New Sicily” winemaking and production.

The elevation combined with the breeze coming from the Tyrrhenian Sea mitigates the otherwise sweltering conditions and reduces disease pressure. Caruso’s Nero D’ Avola features the classic black cherry, strawberry, star anise, sage and cocoa flavors with a bright acidity that keeps everything medium bodied and fresh.

Caruso & Minini Naturalmente Bio Nero d’Avola Sicilia Sicily 2019 ($21.95) $18 special, 20 bottles in stock now

Kerin O’Keefe Wine Enthusiast 88 points “Made with organic grapes, this has aromas of ripe black-skinned berry, new leather and crushed Mediterranean herb. On the medium-bodied palate, polished tannins accompany ripe Marasca cherry, star anise and a hint of carob. Bright acidity keeps it fresh. Drink through 2022.

Also from Marsala but from the plains closer to the sea, Donnafugata grows a Nero D’ Avola as well. The difference in site and practices is reflective in the wine, with their iteration being more plush and rounded in a way that speaks to a warmer growing season. There’s also a spice character not unlike black pepper on the finish that accentuates the plum and sour cherry beautifully. The lower acid as a result from the warmer site also accentuates the soft tannins, without compromising freshness.   

In stock now:

Donnafugata Sherazade Sicilia IGT Sicily 2018 750ML ($24.95) $18 special, 18 bottles in stock now

Ian D’Agata-Vinous 91 points “Bright deep red. Very perfumed and precise nose of violets, black cherry and delicate herbs. Then juicy and fresh, with outstanding sugar-acid-tannin balance on the crisp, long and lively finish. Delicious, lovely medium-bodied, very fresh red that can take a little chilling. Maybe the best Sherazade ever.”

Kerin O’Keefe-Wine Enthusiast 90 points “Aromas of mature dark-skinned berry and Mediterranean scrub lead the nose on this 100% Nero d’Avola. The bright palate delivers blackberry jam, star anise and white pepper alongside pliant tannins.”

This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!

Gulfi represents the best of Sicily’s new generation of winemakers, and is a champion of indigenous Sicilian varietals and growing practice. This is exemplified by his work with Nero D’Avola, which he farms without any chemical input, mechanized farming or even irrigation! Exclusively using the Sicilian bushvine for production and biodynamic farming practices, Gulfi is critically undervalued to say the least. Across their portfolio of Nero D’Avola, there is a pervasive minerality, clean aromatics and nuanced finishes to each wine that is unlike anything you experience in an example from Marsala or Agrigento. This is on account of the protection and shadow provided by the Iblei Mountains of Southeastern Sicily, which encourages a phenolic driven course of ripening.

In stock now:

Gulfi Nerobaronj Sicilia IGT Sicily 2016 750ML ($34.95) $28 special, 35 bottles in stock now

CASE-6 Gulfi Nerobaronj Sicilia IGT Sicily 2016 750ML ($199.95) $159 special (That’s only $26.50 per bottle!)

Ian D’agata – Vinous 93+ points “Good full medium red. Riveting high-pitched perfume of raspberry, blood orange and violet, lifted by hints of lemon and talc. Clean, focused, and well delineated, with strong minerality and fresh spices lifting the raspberry fruit and very floral flavors. Easygoing and very drinkable already, this expresses a very silky texture. Finishes vibrant and very long, with subtle perfume of strawberry and violet. A pretty wine.”

Gulfi Nerobufaleffj Nero d’Avola Sicilia IGT Sicily 2016 750ML ($59.95) $41.90 special, 29 bottles in stock now

CASE-6 Gulfi Nerobufaleffj Nero d’Avola Sicilia IGT Sicily 2016 750ML ($299.95) $237 special, (That’s only $39.50 per bottle!)

Ian D’agata-Vinous 96+ points “Luminous deep red. Aromas of red cherry, minerals, Oriental spices and vanilla on the refined nose. Then luscious, rich, deep and multilayered with spices, herbs and aromatic oak notes dominating the underlying red and spicy flavors beneath. Finishes long but with less than the usual nectar-like quality that typifies this cru; undoubtedly, a much more elegant version of Nerobufaleffj, a wine that often reaches Amarone-like levels of richness and lusciousness. This very young wine is a potential knockout; still brooding and folded upon itself; it’s a beauty that requires time in your cellar, and watch it develop into something special.”

Gulfi Neromaccarj Sicilia IGT Sicily 2016 750ML ($49.95) $33 special, 36+ bottles in stock now

Case-6 Gulfi Neromaccarj Sicilia IGT Sicily 2016 750ML ($249.95) $189 special, (That’s only $31.50 per bottle!)

Ian D’agata – Vinous 93 points “Deep ruby. Amazing floral and spicy nose of black fruit, herbs and grilled steak. Then rich and tactile, but vibrant and energetic, with well delineated flavors similar to the aromas. Finishes long with mounting but relatively polished tannic bite.”

Gulfi Nerosanlore Sicilia IGT Sicily 2011 750ML ($49.95) $39 special, 36+ bottles in stock now

Ian D’agata – Vinous 94 points “Fully saturated ruby-red. Super-ripe aromas of black cherry, raspberry jelly, incense and coriander are very typical of the Sanloré site. Then surprisingly light on its feet, offering vibrant flavors of red and black cherry, tar, licorice and pomegranate liqueur. The finish is bright and juicy and features a lingering saline nuance. Knockout Sanloré that manages to be at once powerful and graceful, the latter a quality not always evident in wines from this site, which are usually known for their richness and size.”

Wine & Spirits 94 points “This dark and brooking wine comes from 40-year-old vines rooted in reddish-brown sand and clay soils; it grows half a mile from the sea and just 30 feet above sea level, where the temperature doesn’t change much between day and night. Savory notes of black olive and roasted mushroom saturate the wine’s dark plum flavors, intensified by a trail of salinity so intense it feels almost gritty, yet the wine is brightened by mouthwatering acidity. The contrast is extreme, and it works.”

Gulfi Nerosanlore Sicilia IGT Sicily 2013 750ML ($49.95) $39 special, 3 bottles in stock now

Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2013 Sicilia Nerosanloré is a rich and plush red wine with a mid-weight approach backed by lots of rich fiber and fruity thickness. The house style at Gulfi always prizes ripeness and higher-than-average concentration. Blackberry preserves and cherry confit are backed by spice, sweet tobacco and sticky tar. The San Lorenzo vineyard site enjoys the highest altitude of all these cru sites. It is located at 600 meters above sea level and has red sandy soils.

James Suckling 93 points “I love the intense herb-liqueur and balsamic-vinegar character on the nose, also because its married to delicious richness. Still very lively for a five-year-old red and the balance of ripeness and rather supple tannins is impressive. Long finish. From organically grown grapes. Drink or hold.”

Gulfi Nerosanlore Sicilia IGT Sicily 2016 750ML ($59.95) $41.90 special, 14 bottles in stock now

CASE-6 Gulfi Nerosanlore Sicilia IGT Sicily 2016 ($299.95) $237 special, (That’s only $39.50 per bottle!)

Ian D’agata-Vinous 97 points “Luminous red. Precise, brooding aromas of ripe red cherry, flint, orange rind, cinnamon, lavender and violet, complicated by iodine and earth. Silky and sappy with refined but very concentrated extract, this smothers the taste buds but stays vibrant and not at all heavy, offering lovely definition and lift to the red cherry, raspberry, floral and mineral flavors. Finishes extremely deep and long, with ultra-suave tannins, mesmerizing inner-mouth perfume and extreme refinement; very Barolo-like. A lovely multilayered wine showcasing the elegant side of Nero d’Avola that very few producers ever manage to showcase.”

Simply put, Feudo Montoni is exceptional. Beyond their first mentioning in the 1590’s it’s rare to find a producer whose wines reflect terroir, varietal character and quality farming practices across their entire portfolio. Sourced from the oldest part (120+ years) of their organic, 80 hectare estate in Agrigento, Vrucara is grown in the traditional Sicilian bushvine from original rootstock.

Nestled on a high elevation site on Mt. Cammarata this features a dramatically cooler season than others in production, contributing to some of the most layered and nuanced iterations of Nero. From the first pour there are exuberant aromas of oregano, anise, ripe strawberry, redcurrant and blackberries intermingled with a lingering copal resin and myrrh element that fills the glass. Full of verve, and whipsawing fruit character that begins in black raspberries before a metamorphosis into spiced Italian plums and espresso.

Vrucara features incredible depth at play with high tannins and acid that hollows the palate with a long finish of rosemary and Mexican chocolate. It’s rare to find a wine this multidimensional and storied for less than $100, let alone under $50. Highly ageworthy and will reward decanting or extensive cellaring.

Feudo Montoni ‘Vrucara’ Nero d’Avola Sicilia IGT Sicily 2015 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 36+ bottles in stock now

Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 94 points “Tasted from magnum, the 2015 Sicilia Nero d’Avola Vrucara is a dark and penetrating wine with a chiseled and pungent side that delivers dried cherry and blackberry preserves. There is a point of ripeness, maybe even jammy cherry with lots of inky dark fruit. I knocked off a point or two compared to the previous edition because I am less a fan of that ripeness. You get cherry liqueur or cherry syrup sweetness on the close. However, this remains one of the benchmark bottles for Sicily’s banner grape Nero d’Avola.”

Ian D’agata-Vinous 93+ points “Good full ruby-red. Aromas and flavors of red/dark berries, plum, smoke, coriander and herbs. Juicy, taut and precise, with musky notes that extend onto the long, very smooth back end.”

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Collector’s Corner:

Biondi Santi

In the beginning there was Biondi-Santi.  Yes, Biondi Santi is the genesis of modern Brunello. The combination of bottling 100% Sangiovese wine from Montalcino, propagating the Sangiovese Grosso clone, and finally (in 1966) helping draft the regulations for the Brunello DOC. The foundational work did not stop there however, with Biondi Santi undergoing some of the first Massale or heritage selections on their estate to identify the best clones for winemaking. These results paid off in spades, with Biondi Santi’s genetic material being some of the most sought after clones of Sangiovese in the world.

Biondi-Santi makes Brunello that other estates are judged against.  Their estate, Il Greppo, occupies some of the most hallowed ground in the Brunello appellation, in the heart of Montalcino.  Their standards are high (they rarely release riservas) and their style can only be described as classic. The wines are powerful, but not overwrought, elegant but emphatic. With the oldest vines on their estate now approaching 90 years old, there’s a level of depth and power in Biondi Santi that’s unprecedented anywhere else in Montalcino. 

In Stock and Available now: 

Biondi Santi Tenuta Greppo Riserva Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2011 750ML ($579.95) $419 special, 15 bottles in stock now

Ian D’Agata-Vinous 94+ points “Dark red. Musky nuances give way to brighter red fruit, licorice and herbal aromas. Rich and dense, with flavors of red cherry and minerals lifted by hints of orange peel and bergamot, not to mention noteworthy but harmonious acidity. Finishes long with youthfully chewy tannins and lingering hints of violet. This strikes me as a slightly readier to drink version of Brunello Riserva from Biondi-Santi, but as always, it improves greatly with aeration so decant at least six hours ahead for maximum enjoyment.”

Wine & Spirits 94 points “A warm summer yielded this rich and opulent 2011 Riserva. Only fruit from the estate’s oldest vines (some up to 80 years of age) makes it into this bottling, and that old-vine concentration shows in the wine’s dense flavors: notes of black cherry and umeboshi plum layered with iodine, basil and smoke. The tightly packed flavors need time to unfold, so it’s best to decant this several hours before serving.”

Biondi Santi Tenuta Greppo Rosso di Montalcino Tuscany 2016 750ML ($119.95) $89 special, 5 bottles in stock now

Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 95 points “I am immediately smitten by the Biondi-Santi 2016 Rosso di Montalcino thanks to the purity of the aromas on display. The bouquet literally submerges the senses in Sangiovese, with those delicate aromas of wild rose, violets, wet earth and brambly forest berry. Background notes of licorice, camphor ash and balsam herb come into steady focus. I am delighted by the intensity and the immense focus of this wine. This Rosso di Montalcino stands with the best of Brunello and gives us good reason to have very high expectations for the 2016 vintage of Brunello di Montalcino that will be released appellation-wide at the beginning of next year. This is a solid mid-weight Rosso with good structure and fine points of fresh acidity that move the wine with determination and grace smoothly over the palate.”

Eric Guido-Vinous 93 points “The 2016 Rosso di Montalcino hails from lower-elevation vineyards, around 250 meters, in the northern section of Montalcino. It’s a classic, layered and dramatic wine, showing bright cherry, sweet herbs, cooling mint, dried fall leaves, tobacco and savory spice, with a presence and depth that feels more like Brunello than Rosso in character. There’s sweetness and purity to the fruit here that keeps me coming back to the glass, yet I’m sure that the 2016 will benefit from a few years of cellaring, especially as its fine tannins build toward the close. The Rosso spends twelve months maturing in Slavonian oak, and it is released two years later than most.”

Biondi Santi Il Greppo, Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2012 750ML ($199.95) $169 special, 31 bottles in stock now

Kerin O’Keefe- Wine Enthusiast 96 points “Underbrush, ripe berry, new leather and Mediterranean herb aromas slowly take shape in the glass. Showing youthful tension, the vibrant palate delivers red cherry, pomegranate, white pepper and pipe tobacco notes framed by bright acidity and taut, refined tannins. It already shows great balance and finesse but is still young and tight. Drink 2022-2035.”

James Suckling 95 points “Love the dried lemon rind, florals and red fruits. Medium to full body and a solid core of fruit and spices. Long and flavorful finish. Just a hint of sweet tobacco. Better in 2020.”

In This Newsletter:


Soldera: Seminal Sangiovese 


Low in Price but Not Quality: 
Vinopolis Bargains That Can’t be Missed

 
Crown Jewel of Chilean Cab:
Don Melchor arriving Friday


Cantalupo:
The Count of Monte Rosa  


Magnum Feature: 
Canary Island Cannon


Haart of the Mosel:
German Gems in the making


Roussillon Rose


Trending Wines:
Elite, Exclusive, Elusive 


Collector’s Corner:
Dal Forno’s Benchmark Amarone

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Soldera:
Seminal Sangiovese 

Arriving ETA September 17th

Easily the rarest Sangiovese in the world, Soldera has become world famous for its uncompromising standards, spectacular quality, and a novel’s worth of intrigue. Coming from the spectacular 2016 vintage, this is one of the last bottlings personally attended to by the legendary Gianfranco Soldera before his unexpected passing in 2019.

These are cult wines based on the personality of Gianfranco, and absolute treasures when you consider how few bottles are ever made every vintage. In previous years, these were labeled as Brunello Di Montalcino and would sell out without any “Pre-season” reviews by wine press. This momentum continued even after Soldera’s explosive falling out with the Consorzio di Brunello di Montalcino in 2012. Act fast, we only managed to secure a half case of this beauty!   

Arriving September 17th 
 
Soldera Case Basse Sangiovese Toscana IGT Tuscany 2016 750ML ($799.95) $649 pre-arrival special, 6 bottles available 

Crown Jewel of Chilean Cab:
Don Melchor arriving Friday

Arriving ETA September 10th

You’ve heard of Concha Y Toro and their work establishing Chile as a major wine hub but did you know that they have one of the most awarded Chilean wines in their portfolio as well? Don Melchor is their top cuvee from the Puente Alto region, a high elevation growing area at the foot of the Andes Mountains. Sourced from 30 year old vines (Mostly Cabernet Sauvignon) planted in alluvial runoff from the latter mountains, this is a perfect snapshot of Chile’s best terroir. If that wasn’t enough, the 2018 vintage is considered one of the best in recent memory, with no adverse weather and ideal conditions throughout the season. With an élevage entirely in French Oak (75% new) this is a collector’s item built for the long haul.       

Concha y Toro Don Melchor Cabernet Sauvignon Puente Alto 2018 750ML ($139.95) $108 pre-arrival special, 11 bottles arriving  
James Suckling 100 points “This is amazing. The vibrancy and energy in this wine is stunning. The complexity of aromas are breathtaking with flowers, blackcurrants, raspberries and peaches. Full-bodied, yet ever so refined and polished with impeccable texture and beauty. The length is marvelous. This is a testimony to balance, harmony and transparency in a great red. Drink after 2023.”

 

Cantalupo:
The Count of Monte Rosa  

You’ve heard of sister regions Barolo and Barbaresco but did you know that there is a third sibling that also specialized in Nebbiolo? Alto Piemonte as it’s known by the locals is located at the base of the Italian Alps. These mountains were formed during the shift of the African and European tectonic plates, creating one of the most diverse mix of soils in the world. 

You see everything from prehistoric marine sediment, schist, fractured limestone, granite and even sandstone. There is so much complexity that only the locals have dared to try classifying the contents of their soil, with Alberto Arlunno of Antichi Vigneti di Cantalupo leading the charge. The area has been inhabited since the Neolithic period according to archeological digs conducted, with winemaking occurring before the incursion of the Roman Empire. The Arlunno family has been farming in their home village of Ghemme since the 16th century, with their vineyards located primarily in Monte Rosa. The high elevation, varying soil types and ancestral knowledge of the site delivers a wholly unique interpretation of Spanna, the local name for Nebbiolo. 

The marginal growing conditions combined with the naturally high acid and tannin of Nebbiolo makes these among the most long lived wines in all of Italy. These climactic conditions are also conducive to weathering climate change, with warm vintages still displaying a perfect balance between ripeness and acidity. Cantalupo especially is a master of delivering fruit driven Nebbiolo that’s still loaded with secondary characteristics like botanicals, earth, minerals and truffles. Cantalupo was among the first in the area to label their wines vineyard specifically, not unlike how the Riserva line of Produttori in Barbaresco is classified. 

These are benchmark wines that are critically undervalued…for now. As climate change advances Alto Piemonte is considered to be the “Next Barolo” as balance becomes harder and harder to achieve with Nebbiolo’s famous precociousness.   
 
In stock and available now: 

Antichi Vigneti di Cantalupo Carolus Bianco, Piedmont NV (2018) 750ML ($21.95) $17 special, 4 bottles in stock now
VinopolNote: A blend of Erbaluce, Arneis and Chardonnay.  This wine is all about contrasts–bright and crisp, but with some texture from the Chardonnay.  It has a melange of stone fruit on the nose and palate, but also a pleasant herbaceousness and a touch of spice.  Pairs with just about anything, including just by itself.

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Antichi Vigneti di Cantalupo ‘Cantalupo Anno Primo’, Ghemme DOCG 2012 750ML ($44.95) $36 special, 24 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni “The 2012 Cantalupo Anno Primo is a powerful, dark potent wine. Wild cherry, spice, tobacco and menthol contribute to its brooding, somber rustic personality. The 2012 is very big and dense.” 

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $39.99

Antichi Vigneti di Cantalupo Collis Breclemae, Ghemme DOCG 2007 3L ($279.95) $219 special, 1 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni 92+ points “The 2007 Ghemme Collis Breclamae shows the deeper, slightly wilder side of Ghemme. Game, smoke, licorice, cedar and tobacco are expressed with elements of burliness and rusticity. There is more than enough depth to fill out the wine’s broad shoulders. Still, what comes through most is the wine’s virile, imposing personality.”

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Antichi Vigneti di Cantalupo Collis Breclemae, Ghemme DOCG 2011 750ML ($89.95) $69 special, 6 bottles in stock now
Antichi Vigneti di Cantalupo Collis Breclemae, Ghemme DOCG 2011 1.5L ($149.95) $119 special, 2 magnums in stock now
Antonio Galloni 91 points “The 2011 Ghemme Collis Breclemae is heady, rich and unctuous – almost unnaturally so. This is a very big wine with notes of black cherry, pine, smoke, licorice, leather and incense. The 2011 is a powerful, virile, brooding wine with real intensity.”
Importer note “Soil is made up of moraine (glacial deposit) which is high in minerals, rocks, gravel and sand. Grapes were destemmed and delicately pressed keeping the rolls of the destemmer sufficiently distant from each other in order to avoid the ill-treating of the grapes as much as possible. After the fermentation at 28-30 degrees Celsius, two pressings a day were carreid out in order to favor the extraction of the anthocyans and the polymerised tannins from the skins, which give that characteristic velvety, sweet and at the same time austere taste to this wine.”

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Antichi Vigneti di Cantalupo Collis Breclemae, Ghemme DOCG 2013 750ML ($79.95) $55 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Antichi Vigneti di Cantalupo Collis Breclemae, Ghemme DOCG 2013 1.5L ($149.95) $199 special, 18 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni 96 points “The 2013 Ghemme Collis Breclamae is fabulous. Deep, dark and also translucent, the 2013 possesses magnificent clarity as well as structure. Black cherry, lavender, truffle, mint, spice and new leather all develop in an ample, resonant Ghemme that hits all the right notes. A rich, substantial finish rounds things out in style. The 2013 can be enjoyed with minimal cellaring, but it also has the pedigree to develop in the cellar for many years to come. Each time I come back to the 2013 it is more impressive.”

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Antichi Vigneti di Cantalupo Collis Carellae, Ghemme DOCG 2011 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni 93 points “The 2011 Ghemme Collis Carellae is another huge wine in this range from Cantalupo. Sweet red cherry, plum, cedar, tobacco, mint, dried flowers and licorice are all amped up here. Even with all of its natural intensity, the 2011 possesses just enough freshness and verve to keep things in check. The 2011 is very obviously a dramatic wine, but all of the elements are nicely balanced.”    

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The average price is $55

Antichi Vigneti di Cantalupo ‘Mia Ida’ Spumante Brut Rose, Piedmont NV 750ML ($21.95) $18 special, 6 bottles in stock now
Ian D’Agata-Vinous 92 points “Very pale pink. Boasts extremely refined floral nuances to the vanilla and red cherry aromas and flavors. Bright and clean, with a lovely creamy presence on the palate and boasting sneaky concentration and complexity, not to mention a long precise finish. Lovely.”

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Magnum Feature: 
Canary Island Cannon

Envinate is a small group of winemaking friends (Alfonso Torrente, José Ángel Martínez, Laura Ramos, and Roberto Santana) that seek to highlight the individual terroirs of the Canary Islands and Ribeira Sacra. The friends produce wines of purity with low-intervention winemaking and vineyard management using ancient vineyards. 

Their Canary Island project is largely based on the island of Tenerife, where the Listan Negro vines see a wholly unique pruning technique called Cordon Trenzado. Rather than prune and tie the canes to wires as seen everywhere else in the world, the vines are instead braided together with the clusters tucked inside to protect them from the hot sun and constant wind. Due to the island’s geographic isolation (the Canary Islands are closer to Morocco than Spain) phylloxera never arrived, so the vines are ungrafted and exceptionally old. Given the highly traditional vinification and average vine age, drinking this wine is a journey into the past from the first pour. Similar to Pinot Noir or Mencia, there’s a red and black fruited character that’s plumped up by a savory and chewy texture and highly expressive aromas.    

In Stock Now:

Envinate ‘Benje’ Canary Islands 2019 1.5L ($99.95) $79 special, 6 magnums in stock now
John Gilman 92 points “The 2019 Benje Tinto from Envínate is composed from its customary blend of Listán Prieto and Tintilla, sourced from several parcels all growing at one thousand meters of elevation. Each parcel is picked and fermented separately, before blending for malo and aging in older Burgundy barrels. The wine offers up a superb aromatic constellation of bitter cherry, green peppercorns, a very complex base of volcanic minerality, chicory, a wisp of tree bark, a fine array of botanicals and a smoky topnote. On the palate the wine is pure, fullish and tangy, with lovely intensity of flavor, fine soil signature and grip, modest tannins and a long, complex and promising finish. This is quite approachable today, but still fairly primary in personality and some bottle age will reveal more complexity. 2021-2050.”
Winery note “Benje Tinto is sourced from 1,000 meters elevation, old-vine, pie franco parcels of Listan Prieto (Mission) with a bit of Tintilla, named “Masca,” “La Zanja,” “Valle de Arriba,” and “Llano Redondo”, all of them located in Santiago del Teide. Each parcel is hand-harvested and vinified separately, some in concrete and some in small open tubs. Maceration is 10-30 days (depending on parcel) with daily punch-down; malolactic fermentation is in neutral French barriques, then raised 8 months in the same barrels without battonage or added SO2. Bottling is without fining or filtration. This is a pure and vertical expression of high elevation, volcanic Canary terrun~o with notes of red fruits, peppercorns, flowers, and volcanic soil – a beautiful wine to pair with grilled meats and mojo rojo.” 

 

Haart of the Mosel:
German Gems in the making

Julian Haart is one of the brightest stars in the new generation of Mosel winemakers and is a cult figure in the making. With critics already comparing his work to his former teacher and wine icon Keller, you’d best grab these before they become rarities. With holdings of less than ten acres, everything is farmed organically and by hand (mostly out of necessity on account of the precipitous slope). 

In Stock Now from Julian Haart:

Julian Haart “1,000L” Riesling 2020 750ML ($27.95) $24 special, 26 bottles in stock now
Importer note “This is legally Trocken in 2020 and sourced from 25-year-old vines in the Grand Cru Goldtröpfchen vineyard. The “1,000L” is so-named because it is a wine that was, originally, a chosen Fuder – a 1,000L barrel. The entire barrel was bought, and that was that. The wines are always brisk, tense with high-toned citrus, good minerality.”

Julian Haart ‘J.J.’ Riesling Kabinett Mosel 2020 750ML ($33.95) $28 special, 5 bottles in stock now
Importer note “This is sourced from vines in the Grand Cru Goldtröpfchen vineyard as well as Falkenberg which is located just above on the same slope. J.J. is both a nod to Julian’s son “Johann Josef” (also the name of his Grandfather and Great-Grandfather!) as well as a homage to the house style of J.J. Prüm, of which this ultra-light style Kabinett is reminiscent of. With 46g of RS this has an elegant interplay of sweetness and acidity, the push and pull of oppulance and tension.”

Julian Haart Wines Arriving Friday, September 10th:

Julian Haart Piesporter Goldtropfchen Riesling Kabinett Mosel 2020 750ML ($49.95) $41.90 pre-arrival special

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Julian Haart ‘Moselle’ Riesling Mosel 2020 750ML ($33.95) $27 pre-arrival special
Importer note “The Moselle Riesling comes essentially from the Piesporter Goldtröpfchen, with in addition grapes from the Wintricher Ohligsberg and Piesporter Günterslay, and was fermented down to barely off-dry levels of residual sugar.”

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Roussillon Rose

There are few areas in the world that have been cultivating wine grapes as long as the South of France. Originally planted by the Corinthians in the 7th century, the region is famous for her almost constant sunshine, warm temperatures, refreshing breeze and spectacular vistas of the Mediterranean Sea and amphitheater of mountains. 

These elements converge to make it a veritable paradise, and exceptional terroir for wine. The best sites have often been cultivated since the Roman Empire, and oftentimes still feature the original stone terraces made by them to prevent erosion. Domaine Lafage is lucky enough to have one of these sites, with the oldest vines being over 80 years old.

Comprised of Grenache Noir and its mutation Grenache Gris (Which only occurs naturally when the vine reaches 50-60 years of age) with a sprinkling of younger Mourvèdre vines, this is a quintessential Roussillon rose. With a flavor profile that brings to mind apricots, peaches and river rock minerality, the sites proximity to the sea is evident in the glass with a refreshing salinity that is reminiscent of ocean air accentuated by oregano blossom, wormwood and marmalade.         

Domaine Lafage Cotes du Roussillon Miraflors Rose France 2020 ($21.95) $18 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 91 points “White peach, orange blossom, and white flower notes emerge from the 2020 Miraflors. It’s another clean, balanced, beautiful effort with bright acidity and a clean, dry finish.”
Eric Solomon Imports note “Mourvedre, Grenache Gris, Grenache Practicing Organic 80 yr old vines. Light Pink-colored with beautiful white peach, orange zest and salty sea breeze aromas and flabros in its vibrant, crisp profile. Pure and vibrant as it gets, a classic, provencal-style beauty.”

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Trending Wines:
Elite, Exclusive, Elusive 

Primarily a White Burgundy House, but don’t count out Marc Colin’s reds that we carry however, as they work with likely the oldest Pinot Noir vines in the entire village of Santenay! The site was planted in 1901 and is an experience of terroir. With only a small percentage of new oak, the varietal character of Sous bois, Keemun Gongfu, Glory Rose, and wild raspberry shines through and promises even further development for the patient.

In stock now: 

Domaine Marc Colin et Fils Santenay Vieilles Vignes Cote de Beaune 2018 750ML ($49.95) $39 special, 29 bottles in stock now
Neal Martin-Vinous 90-92 points “The 2018 Santenay Vieilles Vignes comes from 115-year-old vines, which must be some of the oldest in the region, yielding only around 20hl/ha. It has a lovely, very pure black currant and raspberry bouquet full of nascent joie-de-vivre. The medium-bodied palate matches fine-grained tannins with a bead of acidity; this is all about elegance and purity. The caressing finish is tinged with cassis and iodine. A gorgeous Santenay from Damien and Caroline Colin.”
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 89-91 points “Offering up aromas of red berries, cassis, orange rind and rose petals, the 2018 Santenay Vieilles Vignes is medium to full-bodied, rich and concentrated, its powdery tannins concealed by a layered core of fruit. This may well prove to be a sleeper of the vintage.”

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Sine Qua Non is one of the rarest cult producers in California. Their bottlings are so in demand they are sold exclusively through a mailing list and are almost never seen on the retail market. These are some of the most profound expressions of Californian wine in how they encapsulate developed richness with verve and lift at the same time. 

In stock now: 

Sine Qua Non ‘Squeezebox – Ziehharmonika’ Syrah California 2018 750ML ($299.95) $249 special, 3 bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 99 points “Checking in as 82% Syrah, 6.7% Mourvèdre, and the rest Petite Sirah and Grenache, the 2018 Syrah Ziehharmonika was largely destemmed and brought up in 51% new French oak. Gorgeous crème de cassis, smoked game, bacon fat, and spring flower notes all soar from the glass of this beauty, and it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, ripe, building tannins, and a rare mix of richness and freshness. Unquestionably made in a more restrained, elegant style compared to a decade ago, it nevertheless is flawlessly balanced, has awesome tannins, and is just another magical wine from this address that’s going to benefit from 3-5 years of bottle age and keep for two decades.”
Antonio Galloni 96-98 points “The 2018 Syrah Ziehharmonika is another absolutely exquisite wine from Elaine and Manfred Krankl. Rich, deep and potent to the core, the 2018 captures a striking mix of lush fruit as well as the energy of the year. All the elements simply fall into place in a magical Syrah that will thrill Sine Qua Non lovers. The 2018 is 82% Syrah, 6.7% Mourvèdre, 5.0% Petite Sirah, 2.3 % Grenache, 2.7% Viognier and 1.3% Muscat. Interestingly, the whole clusters are just 14%, so quite a bit lower than found in the Grenache. Vineyard sites are The Third Twin, Eleven Confessions and Cumulus, all estate ranches.” 


Named for the temple to the ancient god, Hermes the site is now one of the “Grand Crus” of the Nahe region. Comprised of 65-100 year old vines, a vertigo inducing slope, and soil comprised of black slate and limestone this is lightning in a bottle. Explosively aromatic and delivering currents of mineral infused fruit including everything from quince, yuzu, Seville orange, Harken peach and kaffir lime with an savory underscoring of yellow miso and chanterelle. 

In stock now: 

Weingut Donnhoff Niederhauser Hermannshohle Riesling Auslese Goldkapsel Nahe 2018 750ML ($99.95) $79 special, 24 bottles in stock now
Weingut Donnhoff Niederhauser Hermannshohle Riesling Auslese Goldkapsel Nahe 2018 375ML ($59.95) $49 special, 24 half-bottles in stock now
John Gilman 98 points “The purity and precision of the 2018 Hermannshöhle Auslese is the stuff that legends used to be made from. The bouquet is complex and utterly refined, offering up scents of pear, white cherries, bee pollen, a touch of orange zest, lovely salinity and a mineral bath of slate. On the palate the wine is fullish, racy and utterly seamless in its balance, with great intensity of flavor, laser-like focus and truly stunning mineral drive on the backend (particularly for Auslese), with an endless and magical finish. 2032-2090+.”
David Schildknecht-Vinous 95 points “Like its Brücke counterpart, this Auslese reflects genuinely botrytis-free grapes, said Dönnhoff, but ones that were too numerous and too high in sugar to use elsewhere, “and certainly not in the Grosses Gewächs, which would then have ended up with 14% alcohol.” Sea breeze on the nose intimates the sweet-saline savor of raw scallop that emerges on this wine’s lusciously lingering, mouthwateringly umami-rich finish. White peach and quince preserves feature throughout, reinforced on the soothingly creamy palate by nougat-like nut essences. There is an animating, juicy fresh-fruit aspect as well, and a wonderful sense of both focus and transparency to stony and ore-like nuances.”
Wine Advocate 95 points “The 2018 Niederhäuser Hermannshöhle Riesling Auslese is deep and noble in its finesse and purity that is paired with notes of crushed stones but also perfectly ripe and healthy fruits. Lush and piquant on the palate, with lingering salinity and finesse, this is the more graceful Auslese, which is less challenging than the Brücke but very delicate and finessed. The acidity is finer and the sweetness smoother and more charming yet less dramatic right now. Tasted in July 2019.”

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Muscadet was originally farmed in Burgundy, but it left the nest as Chardonnay and Aligote began to command prominence. Since the 17th century Melon de Bourgogne as it was known by in the Loire, is now one of the most prolific white varietals.  As they say in Burgundy “Wine is made in the vineyard” and this is no better evidenced by the vineyard this wine is made from. 

There is a refreshing acid that carries a cornucopia of apples, finishing with a deliciously savory white miso and ash salt. This is a wine made for seafood or something spicy like Dungeness crab, oysters in a half shell or green curry.

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Domaine de la Pepiere Muscadet Sevre-et-Maine Sur Lie ‘Les Gras Moutons’ Loire 2019 750ML ($24.95) $20.90 special, 17 bottles in stock now
Importer note “Gras Moutons is a lieu-dit made up of two parcels totaling 1.8 hectares in the cru of Monnières-Saint Fiacre. The soils consist of sand, limestone and gneiss. The constant winds in the area make for grapes that have to be harvested later than the rest. While released young, this wine always benefits from a few years in bottle.”

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Alexandre Chartogne is single handedly credited with reviving the reputation of his home village of Merfy. Located just northwest of Reims in the Massif de Saint-Thierry, Alexandre Chartogne took over his family’s 28 acres in 2006 after apprenticing under legendary Champenois, Jacques Selosse.  At its peak acclaim in the Middle Ages, there were more grapevines planted in Merfy than the entire Marne region of Champagne thanks to the local monks.

Alexandre instituted organic farming methods, horse plowing and restorative cover crops, while phasing out all chemical based inputs on the estate. Call it technical skill, or exceptional farming either way his entry level easily hits at a $75-$100 price point. The tutelage under Selosse is evident from the first pour, with beautiful aromas of autolysis and barrel fermentation like cream, toasted bread and vanilla at an undeniable level of intensity. These notes are bolstered by a spectrum of citrus, white flowers and pomme fruit like golden apple, lemon pith, quince flower and orange blossom.   

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Chartogne-Taillet Cuvee Sainte Anne Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($51.95) $44 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-6 Chartogne-Taillet Cuvee Ste Anne, Champagne NV 750ML ($299.95) $249 special (That’s $41.50 per bottle!) 
John Gilman 90+ points “The current release of Alexandre Chartogne’s Cuvée Ste. Anne non-vintage Brut is from the base year of 2017. The vins clairs were raised in a combination of both stainless steel and oak and the wine was not bottled up for secondary fermentation until July of 2018. The cépages is its customary blend of nearly equal parts of chardonnay, pinot noir and pinot meunier and the wine was disgorged in February of 2020, with a finishing dosage of just over five grams per liter. The wine offers up a vibrant bouquet of apple, white peach, a fine base of soil tones, brioche, gentle smokiness and a topnote of white flowers. On the palate the wine is bright, full-bodied, focused and complex, with a good core, elegant bubbles, fine balance and grip and a long, zesty and quite classy finish. This seems a touch longer on the backend to me than the last couple of iterations of this bottling that I have tasted and is first class, non-vintage Brut. But, this is still a fairly young wine and I would be inclined to give it some bottle age to let it start to blossom properly. 2022-2040.”
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 90 points “The latest release of Chartogne’s NV Brut Sainte Anne is based on the 2017 vintage, complemented by 40% reserve wines. Disgorged in September 2020 with five grams per liter dosage, it opens in the glass with aromas of crisp yellow orchard fruit, white flowers and fresh pastry. Medium to full-bodied, fleshy and enveloping, it’s elegantly textural, bright and precise, with a seamless, harmonious profile.”

Collector’s Corner:
Dal Forno’s Benchmark Amarone

You’d be hard pressed to find a producer more synonymous with their region’s production than Dal Forno. When it comes to Valpolicella, the Dal Forno family does just that. For more than 30 years, Dal Forno has been producing deeply concentrated Valpolicella, Amarone and Recioto.

Romano Dal Forno, the current winemaker/owner, took over the farm in 1983. Risking everything, he invested a large amount in 1990 to update the winery and refine Dal Forno’s process. The extremely bold flavor of the Valpolicella Superiore is a great example of Dal Forno’s commitment to perfection and their respect for traditional winemaking. Just short of an Amarone, it’s made entirely with fruit that has been dried, though for less time than that legally required for Amarone. A key to the Dal Forno style seems to be an incredibly low yield from their vineyard: each bottle of Valpolicella takes six vines worth of grapes to produce!

In stock and available now: 

Dal Forno Romano Vigneto Monte Lodoletta Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG 2008 750ML ($349.95) $319 special, 2 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni 98 points “The 2008 Amarone della Valpolicella is compelling. With a little air, the tannins begin to soften, releasing a myriad of intense dark aromas and flavors. Bittersweet chocolate, cloves, violets, plums and blackberry jam cover every inch of the palate in a stunning, headspinning Amarone that captures all of the best qualities of the year. When Romano Dal Forno’s wines are on, there is nothing quite like them, and that is certainly the case here. If opened young, the 2008 needs a little air. Actually, a lot of air.”
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 96 points “Production was skipped over in 2007 due to extreme hail damage. The fruit that would normally be destined to Amarone went to the lower tier Valpolicella Superiore instead. The 2008 Amarone della Valpolicella Monte Lodoletta marks a return to a slightly cooler vintage with a longer growing season slowed down during the summer’s moderate temperatures. Indeed, harvest was wrapped up during the first days of November. The blend is mostly Corvina, at about 60%, with smaller parts Corvinone, Rondinella, Croatina and Oseleta. The new Dal Forno winery was finished in 2008, complete with the unique vacuum-sealed fermentation tasks that help to avoid any intrusive oxygen during winemaking. Indeed, this wine is balanced and elegant with fruit that is still crunchy and very much alive. The tannins are firm and nicely integrated into the wine’s thick, fleshy consistency. This vintage is characterized by a very elegant and graceful approach, which must be taken into context given the enormity of a wine of this caliber. Happily, there is no doubt that this vintage should still evolve steadily over time.”

Dal Forno Romano Vigneto Monte Lodoletta Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG 2010 750ML ($349.95) $319 special, 5 bottles in stock now
Decanter 98 points “2010 is a more considered vintage compared to the outright opulence of 2009, but it’s no shrinking violet, especially in Dal Forno’s hands. This has a meaty nose with savoury hedgerow fruit , surprisingly open already. I had to put an exclamation mark after writing ‘elegant’ in my notes, as it seems incomprehensible that a wine of this magnitude could still have such balletic balance. It is broad and juicy, with chalky grip and clean, fresh acids followed by a hint of warmth on the long finish.”
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 95 points “This was an excellent vintage in much of Italy, but unfortunately the weather was not as pleasant in this specific area of the Valpolicella. The season saw a lot of rain, and a good amount of fruit was cut and left on the ground because it could not be used. Considering these difficulties, Michele Dal Forno tells me he is “more than happy with the results.” I tasted the 2010 Amarone della Valpolicella Monte Lodoletta next to the 2009 vintage, and having these two wines side by side reinforces just how different they are. The 2010 vintages is sharper, more pointed and direct in comparison, and there is a tiny point of sourness on the close. This wine does not reach the same threshold for fullness, density or richness. It does come close. The wine’s residual sugar measures between 5 and 6 grams per liter, which is normal for this wine, and the bouquet is redolent of familiar black fruit, raisin and spice. However, the wine feels a bit stuck in its tracks at the moment and is evidently experiencing a shy phase in its evolution. It has retreated.”

Dal Forno Romano Vigneto Monte Lodoletta Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG 2011 750ML ($419.95) $369 special, 7 bottles in stock now
Decanter 99 points “The strongest wine in my selection, yet this magnificent Amarone’s alcohol is barely visible thanks to its astonishing depth, texture and sumptuousness. Pressed black fruits seep with fruit essences; smoke and cinders; herbal complexities; teasing floral notes, all engraved into a palate that expresses creamy finesse but without a trace of superfluous fat, heat or obviousness. Beautifully crafted, as dignified as any grand Barolo.”
Ian D’agata-Vinous 95+ points “Fully saturated ruby. Very deep, intense aromas of blackcurrant, plums macerated in alcohol, soy sauce, coffee and underbrush on the complex nose. Rich, dense and balanced, with nicely focused flavors of dark berries and aromatic herbs that have a noteworthy savory tang. The long finish features repeating hints of soy sauce, espresso and underbrush. Dal Forno’s is the recognized master of a uniquely powerful, ripe, and concentrated style of Amarone.”

Dal Forno Romano Vigneto Monte Lodoletta Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG 2012 750ML ($419.95) $319 special, 8 bottles in stock now
James Suckling 97 points “A decadent nose of treacle tart, chocolate, tar, tons of black fruit such as blackberries and mulberries and even ash and licorice. A dense, layered mouthfeel makes for a full-bodied palate that’s explosive yet somehow so refined and pretty all at the same time. The finish goes on and on. Incredible now, but better to wait for this giant to settle well into 2020.”
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 96 points “The 2012 Amarone della Valpolicella Monte Lodoletta is a beautifully complete wine, even at this young stage in its life. You feel the youth of the wine in the tightness of the tannins and in the finely knit texture of its concentrated flavor profile. The big surprise is the wine’s fresh acidity that has been carefully safeguarded despite the heat of the vintage and the drying process so deftly executed at this landmark estate. The wine shows no sign of oxidation or evolution, not yet. There is intricate fruit layering with cherry, blackberry, spice and mesquite delivered with such precision, that level of detail defies the very bold and opulent essence of the wine. It has only just started its evolutionary journey.”
Decanter 96 points “Romano Dal Forno took control of his family’s 25ha in 1980, aged 22, quickly turning to Amarone maestro Giuseppe Quintarelli for advice and tutorship. Dal Forno focussed on a dramatic reduction of yields, replacing the oxidation-prone Molinara grape with the rare Oseleta, and set about introducing a system of manual sorting to remove less than perfect grapes. It takes nine vines to create one bottle of Dal Forno’s Amarone, with a drying period of three months leading to 15 days of fermentation in temperature-controlled steel tanks. Ageing takes place in new oak for 36 months, followed by another 24 months in bottle. It’s a blend of 60% Corvina, 20% Rondinella, 10% Croatina and 10% Oseleta. Michael Garner: Exuberant, dense and chewy with peppery black fruit flavours, while showing some delicacy of aroma. Intense and will develop further, perhaps offering more power than grace. Andrew Jefford: It’s not showy on the nose but is super-attractive, and it just grows more so the more time you spend with it. On the palate it’s rich, deep, magnificently tannic and long – an absolutely unbridled Amarone, yet at the same time of extraordinary resonance, authority and subtlety. An Amarone masterclass! Monty Waldin: Its evident concentration really comes through on the palate, with a mix of smooth and slightly more savoury, drier tannins that mingle amicably under some ripely sweet red fruit, while finishing with a distinct brightness.”

Dal Forno Romano Vigneto Monte Lodoletta Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG 2013 750ML ($419.95) $319 special, 10 bottles in stock now
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 98 points “The 2013 Amarone della Valpolicella Monte Lodoletta is my favorite wine in the retrospective, along with the amazing 2011, 2009 and 1996 vintages. This wine was released at the beginning of this year, and because Dal Forno skipped over the 2014 vintage, this is the only Amarone we will see for a while (until the highly anticipated 2015 is released). The 2013 vintage is characterized by a slightly more streamlined mouthfeel (which isn’t saying much given the baseline enormity of these wines) with carefully etched aromas of black cherry, rum cake, dark chocolate and toasted espresso. The 2013 vintage was balanced overall without the sudden heat waves we saw in the summers of 2011 and 2012. The grapes finished a slow and steady ripening process over an extended growing season. The effect is graceful and focused. Put this bottle aside in your cellar for the decades to come.”
Eric Guido-Vinous 97 points “The 2013 Amarone della Valpolicella Monte Lodoletta needs time – and a lot of it – to show all of its charms. But worry not, because you can already find pleasure in its dramatic display of rich plums and cherries dipped in mocha-infused chocolate with a dusting of cinnamon sugar and sweet tobacco. This is black as night yet truly purple in color, with depths of concentrated wild berry fruits contrasted by zesty acids that do an amazing job of lifting the expression. Grippy tannins saturate slowly, sneaking up on you and lasting throughout the impossibly long black hole of a finish, where notes of licorice, bitters and a coating of cocoa powder linger. Wow. The 2013 is built for the cellar and with tons of upside potential. If you dare to delve into one of these while young, I’d suggest opening your bottle a number of hours prior to enjoying. That said, this will be worth the wait.”

Dal Forno Romano Vigneto Monte Lodoletta Valpolicella Superiore Veneto 2013 ($119.95) $94.50 special, 27 bottles in stock now
Decanter 97 points “From one of the most iconic wineries in the Orientale, this is aged for two years in oak and a further three in bottle. A proper meditation wine, great with game, strong cheeses or a cigar. It has a huge nose of stewed red fruits, ethereal bramble forest fruits and blackberry jam. Generous, with spicy, bitter cherry-stone freshness. Full-bodied with a rich, intense, spicy undertone.”
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 95 points “This is a terrific wine that stood out—and stood tall—despite the fact that it was tasted alongside some of Dal Forno’s most important vintages of the top-shelf Amarone. If that’s not a full-on recommendation, I don’t know what is. The 2013 Valpolicella Superiore Monte Lodoletta oozes forth with thick concentration and an inky black color. The mouthfeel is thick and impenetrable, and the senses are treated to a long succession of black fruit, tar, spice, smoke, mesquite and barbecue flavors. The wine is full-bodied and very opulent, but it carries that massive intensity with grace and precision. This Valpolicella Superiore is very nicely done.”