In This Newsletter:

Molitor Sale


 
The Multiverse of the Mosel
 
Stock Up & Save On:
 
Markus Molitor
 

There may be no more ambitious winemaker in the world than Markus Molitor. His determination and drive to make the best possible wines has made him a towering figure in the Mosel, with an impressive, modern winery and holdings in almost every important vineyard in the region.
 
This drive results in a wide variety of bottlings. Most winemakers would pick a vineyard once or twice and vinify the lots together—it’s easier and the wines are good. Molitor, though, asks what each parcel and pick would be like on its own—treated as if it were a wine of distinction rather than a blending component. The result is a dizzying number of bottlings that all strive toward perfection. The critical praise backs this up: Markus Molitor’s wines are some of the most celebrated in the world.
 
Molitor distinguishes the style of his wines by capsule color, Prädikat level, and star designation. If you’re not familiar, here’s our guide to understand what is captured under each cork.  
 
Capsule Color:
 
Molitor uses three capsule colors: white, green, and gold. White capsule wines are dry (‘trocken’ in German) with no perceptible residual sugar. Green capsule reflect what Germans refer to as a ‘feinherb’ or just slightly off-dry style, usually with 15-20g or more of residual sugar per liter. This is probably the most classical of all Mosel wine styles, where the interplay of sugar and acid is delicate and balanced. Lastly, gold capsules indicate a sweet and fruity style of Riesling with lush concentration and a fruit spectrum that spans all the way from orchard to tropical. All three of these styles can age beautifully for many years.
 
Prädikat Level:
 
Molitor labels his wines using the German Prädikat system, which essentially indicates the ripeness of the grapes (that’s not technically what it means, but it’s close enough for our purposes). These standards also prohibit the use of added sugar during fermentation (chaptalization).
 
The potential alcohol and sugar content increase as one ascends the Prädikat levels from Kabinett, Spätlese, Auslese, Beerenauslese, and up to the rare and precious Trockenbeerenauslese. Kabinett wines are lighter bodied juice with filigree and coolness from the Mosel slate. Spätlese have additional intensity and stone-fruit notes on the nose.  Auslese indicates extremely complex wines of higher ripeness that can often be savored completely on their own. The last two are considered dessert styles, with rich concentration, a lush and creamy mouthfeel, and unrivaled length and ageability.
 
Star Designation:
 
Molitor’s use of star designations (asterisks) on his Auslese is straightforward. With Molitor, more asterisks on the bottle means a higher quality designation (up to a maximum of ***). All levels are sure to give immense pleasure and reward the connoisseur that seeks to understand them entirely.


We have a dazzling selection of Markus Molitor’s wines in stock, and are eager to share them with you. Discover for yourself why we insist on carrying so many of these brilliant wines. Pick your favorite style and stock up during our three day sale!
 

5% off any 3-5 in-stock bottles of Molitor
10% off any 6+ or more in-stock bottles of Molitor
 
Discount will not display online or in your cart,
We will adjust your invoice before processing your charge.
 
Sale ends Friday, October 17th at 9 am Pacific.

 
We offer eighty-six in-stock Molitor options on sale now, including:
 
Dry / Trocken (White Capsule)
 
Markus Molitor Riesling Alte Reben Mosel Trocken 2018 750ml Displayed Price: $29, that’s $27.55 at 5% off and $26.10 at 10% off, 15 bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 92 points “…perfectly ripe and pure on the intense yet elegant and refined, crystalline nose. Round and juicy on the palate, this is a rich and creamy-textured, finely tannic and phenolic Riesling with grip…”
 
Markus Molitor Graacher Domprobst Riesling Kabinett Trocken 2018 750ml Displayed Price: $21.90, that’s $20.81 at 5% off and $19.71 at 10% off, 16 bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 90 points “…deep and flinty on the terroir-driven, dark and smoky nose. Full, round and juicy on the palate, this is a rich yet pure and slatey Domprobst with crunchy grip and fruity intensity…”
 
Markus Molitor Urziger Wurzgarten Riesling Kabinett Trocken 2018 750ml Displayed Price: $28, that’s $26.60 at 5% off and $25.20 at 10% off, 36+ bottles in stock now
Stuart Pigott-James Suckling 92 points “Very fresh lemon-balm and blossom nose with no hint of the opulence of the vintage. Excellent balance of bright lemon and white-peach fruit with silky acidity and a whisker of unfermented grape sweetness that smooths the touch of tannin. Drink or hold.”
 
Markus Molitor Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Spätlese Trocken 2018 750ml Displayed Price: $36, that’s $34.20 at 5% off and $32.40 at 10% off, 18 bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 93+ points “… offers a clear, fresh, bright and aromatic bouquet of white mandarins and mirabelles intertwined with the pure and refreshing tone of crushed stones and herbs. This bouquet gets you into the wine immediately. Round and intense on the succulent palate, this is a medium-bodied, elegant and very charming Sonnenuhr Spätlese with rather mild acidity but a serious terroir expression on the finish…”
 
Markus Molitor Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Auslese ** Trocken 2017 750ml Displayed Price: $66, that’s $62.70 at 5% off and $59.40 at 10% off, 28 bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 97 points “From 80- to 120-year-old vines, the intensely citrus-yellow colored [wine] offers an absurdly deep, highly intense, complex and concentrated bouquet with lime confit, perfectly ripe white stone fruits and flinty notes of crushed stones and lemon zest. On the palate, this is a dense, rich and powerful yet highly elegant and seamlessly textured Sonnenuhr with very fine tannins and a tightly woven structure that channels the immense power of this dry Riesling. “Physical drinking starts here,” Markus Molitor says with a smile, and indeed, this is a spectacularly strong and concentrated Riesling. Despite its power, density and tension, the 2017 is super elegant and silky and reveals perfectly ripe, interwoven acidity and spicy piquancy. This is a fascinating Riesling with outstanding finesse and a very long, promising finish. This is one of the finest two-starred Auslesen I have tasted from Markus Molitor, and it kisses the three-star level. I can only recommend buying some cases and enjoying this beauty over the next 20 to 30 years…”
 
Markus Molitor Erdener Treppchen Auslese *** Trocken 2019 750ml Displayed Price: $119, that’s $113.05 at 5% off and $107.10 at 10% off, 12 bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 98+ points “Partly from the Felsentreppe, the [wine]opens with a pure, fresh and flinty, iron-rich and refined bouquet of tropical fruit aromas with notes of broken (red) slate, lemon oil and lemon juice. Fat but refined, this wine combines the incompatible. Round and wide as well as precise and piquant on the palate, this is a full-bodied, rich and concentrated yet powerful, vibrantly fresh and persistently salty Riesling with cognac or whisky features due its oaky and iodine character. Highly vital and salty, very elegant and complex, vibrantly fresh, with seriously firm tannin grip and a generous tropical stone fruit aroma, this is a giant in the making, but it needs some years to celebrate its class. Any Meursault would honor this Mosel Riesling that has been aged in a 770-liter Stockinger vat and a Burgundy pičce…”
 
Markus Molitor Wehlener Sonnenuhr Auslese *** Trocken 2019 750ml Displayed Price: $119, that’s $113.05 at 5% off and $107.10 at 10% off, 14 bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 98+ points “… offers a deep, ripe and highly intense yet refined and noble bouquet of ripe (tropical) stone fruits such as mango, golden passion fruit and persimmon, finely crushed and flinty slate as well as iodine notes. Rich and intense yet highly refined and crystalline on the palate, with vibrant yet finessed acidity and lots of elegant or even subversive power, grip and tension, this is a highly elegant, multilayered and endlessly salty as well as frisky Sonnenuhr that delivers all the charm and complexity we may expect from this praised grand cru but rarely had in our glasses as perfectly as it comes here. This is a sustainable Sonnenuhr that I have rarely tasted with such a firm and serious structure and initial austerity. The wine has salt and tannic grip on the finish, but it has to be aged for another 8-10 years at least. One day this might be another giant from the Molitor category of ‘physical drinking.’…”
 
 
Off-Dry / Feinherb (Green Capsule)
 
Markus Molitor Urziger Wurzgarten Riesling Kabinett Feinherb 2019 750ml Displayed Price: $28, that’s $26.60 at 5% off and $25.20 at 10% off, 28 bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 94+ points “… opens pure and flinty on the deep and complex, very intense yet bright and fascinating, seductive and terroir-driven nose. Lush and round on the palate yet with salty-piquant and vibrantly fresh acidity, this is a structured, even somewhat tannic Kabinett to cellar for at least 2-3 more years. Very long and endlessly salty…”
 
Markus Molitor Zeltinger Himmelreich Riesling Kabinett Feinherb 2019 750ml Displayed Price: $26.50, that’s $25.18 at 5% off and $23.85 at 10% off, 24 bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 94 points “… beautifully clear, fresh and flinty on the complex and crunchy, slate-driven bouquet of bright fruits and crushed stones. On the palate, this is a mouth-filling, juicy, vibrantly fresh and crisp, stimulating and piquant Kabinett with gorgeous slatey grip and a salivating finish. A fabulous Kabinett from 40+-year-old Riesling vines…”
 
Markus Molitor Bernkasteler Badstube Riesling Auslese * Feinherb 2020 750ml Displayed Price: $41.90, that’s $39.81 at 5% off and $37.71 at 10% off, 18 bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 96 points “… clear, deep and intense on the concentrated, mineral and lemon-scented nose that shows bright and fresh fruit and very fine broken slate aromas. Full-bodied, very intense and lush, with sweet fruit, this is an enormously salty, complex, very long, energetic and tensioned Badstube with a hint of caramel on the finessed and crystalline finish that also reveals laser-sharp but ripe acidity. The finish is very intense and concentrated but savory and stimulating. This Riesling is like a bright laser beam! But it is also very intense and concentrated. A promising wine that is made to be cellared for a minimum of 10 to 15 years…”
 
Markus Molitor Zeltinger Himmelreich Riesling Auslese ** Feinherb 2016 750ml Displayed Price: $59, that’s $56.05 at 5% off and $53.10 at 10% off, 17 bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 97 points “…terribly fine, pure and fresh but also perfectly ripe and rich on the nose without losing precision. Round and highly elegant on the palate, with tropical fruit flavors and just the perfect amount of sweetness, this is a great, vital Himmelreich with superb finesse, purity, mineral tension and bright fruit notes in the long and beautifully slatey finish. This is a gorgeous, exciting Riesling—very stimulating.”
 
Markus Molitor Kinheimer Rosenberg Riesling Auslese *** Feinherb 2016 750ml Displayed Price: $89, that’s $84.55 at 5% off and $80.10 at 10% off, 22 bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 97 points “… offers a super fine raisin and refreshing slatey/flinty bouquet that indicates great purity, finesse and crunchy/slatey freshness. The fermentation stopped at 34 grams of residual sugar per liter (11% alcohol), and the resulting wine is highly delicate, pure, lush and piquant on the palate. It is quite sweet and shows celery flavors as well as great tension that is neither rustic nor challenging but really fine, giving vibrancy, grip and energy to the lush and generous but always precise and elegant Riesling fruit. This is an exciting wine, and Markus filled it as a three-starred Auslese for the first time because he was convinced the wine deserves it…”
 
Markus Molitor Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Auslese *** Feinherb 2019 750ml Displayed Price: $119, that’s $113.05 at 5% off and $107.10 at 10% off, 22 bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 99 points “…opens enormously deep, intense and complex on the nose that immediately indicates the wine is in an exceptional class on its own. Only with lots of aeration does the wine become more and more pure and fresh and develop a flinty lemon note with the finest perfume. On the palate, this is a rich, round and complex, sweet, wide and mouth-filling, very generous, free and easy-flowing Himmelreich of exceptional finesse and beauty. The finish is so stimulating, salty, pure and crunchy in its slate character, whereas the crater dug by the piquancy is filled in by the perfectly ripe and healthy fruit with lush intensity. The 2019 Himmelreich Auslese *** is sensational and the finest I have ever tasted from Markus Molitor…”
 
 
Fully Sweet (Gold Capsule)
 
Kabinett & Spätlese
 
Markus Molitor Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Riesling Kabinett GK 2018 750ml Displayed Price: $28, that’s $26.60 at 5% off and $25.20 at 10% off, 18 bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 92+ points “… intense and aromatic on the nose that displays a concentrated and ripe stone-fruit aroma with reductive, sulfuric notes. Round and silky on the palate, this is a crystalline, salty-piquant and structured Kabinett with intense and sweet yet elegant fruit and a promising long and grippy finish…”
 
Markus Molitor Urziger Wurzgarten Riesling Spätlese GK 2017 750ml Displayed Price: $39, that’s $37.05 at 5% off and $35.10 at 10% off, 12 bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 95 points “…complex and mineral on the densely woven yet fresh and crunchy-herbal nose. It’s a dense, concentrated, piquant and structured Spätlese with lush and ripe fruit whose sweetness is nearly completely absorbed by the Würzgarten raciness and iron-rich terroir character. This is a fabulous Spätlese!…”
 
Two-Star Auslesen
 
Markus Molitor Graacher Domprobst Riesling Auslese ** GK 2019 750ml Displayed Price: $49, that’s $46.55 at 5% off and $44.10 at 10% off, 21 bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 95 points “The golden-yellow colored [wine] is intense yet very clear and fresh with lemon juice aromas and dark-toned notes of crushed flint stone. Lush and refined on the vivacious and remarkably finessed palate, this is a light, round and fleshy, textured and mouth-filling Domprobst with very fine tannins, delicate mineral acidity and lingering salinity. Promising and with stimulating, crystalline grip but still far too young…”
 
Markus Molitor Urziger Wurzgarten Riesling Auslese ** GK 2017 750ml Displayed Price: $49, that’s $46.55 at 5% off and $44.10 at 10% off, 25 bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 97 points “According to Markus Molitor, [this wine] is made from entirely healthy grapes. It displays a highly attractive bouquet of fine grapefruit and raisin aromas intermixed with flinty-crystalline slate notes. Juicy on the palate, this is a dense, sweet, intense yet piquant, highly delicate Auslese with a long, refined and salty-crunchy finish…”
 
Markus Molitor Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese ** GK 2019 750ml Displayed Price: $69, that’s $65.55 at 5% off and $62.10 at 10% off, 19 bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 96 points “… exhibits a white-golden color along with a clear, bright, flinty and lemon-scented bouquet of ripe and healthy citrus fruits intertwined with finely crushed slate aromas. Mouth-filling, fresh and highly delicate on the palate, this is a finessed and stimulating Auslese with hidden intensity and complexity and currently firm phenolic grip with crystalline acidity and lingering salinity…”
 
Three-Star Auslesen
 
Markus Molitor Benkasteler Badstube Riesling Auslese GK 2017 375ml Displayed Price: $59, that’s $56.05 at 5% off and $53.10 at 10% off, 18 half-bottles in stock now
Markus Molitor Benkasteler Badstube Riesling Auslese GK 2017 750ml Displayed Price: $99, that’s $94.05 at 5% off and $89.10 at 10% off, 21 bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 98 points “… offers a deep, pure, precise, smoky, highly concentrated yet refined and coolish nose of stewed stone fruits, candied lemons and grapefruits that intermingle with crushed stone and some leathery aromas. Lush and round on the generous but precise and highly finessed palate, this is an almost weightless Auslese with a honey-sweet yet piquant and salty finish. This is another laser-sharp but also sensual highlight of the vintage…”
 
Markus Molitor Kinheimer Hubertuslay Riesling Auslese *** GK 2019 750ml Displayed Price: $119, that’s $113.05 at 5% off and $107.10 at 10% off, 24 bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 97+ points “… utterly intense as well as refined on the subtle, finely slatey and crunchy nose. Piquant and fresh on the first attack, this is a crystalline, finely grippy and lingering salty Auslese with great tension, finesse and terroir expression. This is an Auslese to keep for another 5-10 years. This is very precise and piquant and still grippy, but it will smoothen with time…”
 
Markus Molitor Ockfener Bockstein Riesling Auslese *** GK 2019 750ml Displayed Price: $119, that’s $113.05 at 5% off and $107.10 at 10% off, 23 bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 98 points “…concentrated, fresh and piquant on the highly refined nose that shows very fine berry aromas intertwined with crushed slate and therefore with coolish and flinty, immediately attractive and stimulating notes. Lush and elegant on the immaculate and seamless palate, this is rather smooth but mouth-salivating and stimulating salty Auslese with great finesse and concentration…”
 
Markus Molitor Urziger Wurzgarten Riesling Auslese *** GK 2017 750ml Displayed Price: $119, that’s $113.05 at 5% off and $107.10 at 10% off, 19 bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 98+ points “…a very intense and concentrated yet pure and fruity Auslese provided with refreshing crunchy, herbal and iron-rich, clayey slate aromas. This displays perfect botrytis on a bright, pure, fresh and delicate bouquet full of ripe stone and citrus fruits as well as notes of crushed stones. It is fascinatingly fresh and salty-piquant on the palate, with pronounced acidity; this is a sweet but weightless Auslese with acidity that cuts through fruit and slate and tickles the tongue. This is a highly stimulating and crystalline Auslese that is impossible to spit out. Simply amazing!…”
 
Markus Molitor Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese *** GK 2019 750ml Displayed Price: $125, that’s $118.75 at 5% off and $112.50 at 10% off, 17 bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 99 points “… opens with an immediately attractive bouquet, with perfectly ripe peach aromas intermingled with very fine crunchy and flinty slate notes. Lush and intense yet weightless, with an enormously salty, finessed and elegant but also generously fruity palate lifted by crystalline and mouth-salivating acidity, this is a filigreed, transparent and immaculate Auslese of mind-blowing finesse and elegance and the sexiest expression of complexity…”
 
Markus Molitor Zeltinger Schlossberg Riesling Auslese *** GK 2019 750ml Displayed Price: $119, that’s $113.05 at 5% off and $107.10 at 10% off, 24 bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 99 points “… offers a fascinating fresh and concentrated nose with very fine berry and lemon aromas intertwined with crunchy blue-slate notes. Lush, refined and piquant on the palate, this is a highly elegant and stimulating Auslese with a dense yet tensioned texture and great terroir expression. A fabulous, highly stimulating Riesling whose sweetness is just ripe and concentrated Riesling fruit!…”
 
Markus Molitor Zeltinger Himmelreich Riesling Auslese *** GK 2017 750ml Displayed Price: $99, that’s $94.05 at 5% off and $89.10 at 10% off, 14 bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 98 points “… a concentrated, super precise and refreshing bouquet of lemon chutney, candied grapefruit zests and spicy slate aromas. What piquancy and precision! It’s already sharp as a laser beam on the nose. The palate is concentrated, highly refined and elegant but nervy and salty in the vibrating underground. This Auslese has a seamless texture and reveals great finesse with stimulating salinity and crystal clear, even filigreed structure. This is an amazing, Eiswein-like Auslese that will last four or more decades…”
 

Dessert-Style
 
Markus Molitor Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Riesling Beerenauslese * 2017 375ml Displayed Price: $199, that’s $189.05 at 5% off and $179.10 at 10% off, 17 half-bottles in stock now
Markus Molitor Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Riesling Beerenauslese * 2017 750ml Displayed Price: $399, that’s $379.05 at 5% off and $359.10 at 10% off, 12 bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 100 points “… intense, fine and flinty on the highly precise nose with crunchy slate and grapefruit notes. Dense and concentrated on the palate, it has sweet but elegant and highly refined fruit intertwined with salty-finessed slate salinity and delicate acidity. This is a beautifully balanced BA from Molitor’s most important grand cru vineyard. Many readers might prefer its sweet and charming richness to the delicate finesse and crystallinity of the Würzgarten BA, which will be ready to drink sooner. But this Zeltinger Sonnenuhr in turn will gain even more finesse and drinkability over the years…”
 
Markus Molitor Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Riesling Trockenbeerenauslese 2019 750ml Displayed Price: $499, that’s $474.05 at 5% off and $449.10 at 10% off, 10 bottles in stock now
Markus Molitor Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Riesling Trockenbeerenauslese 2019 375ml Displayed Price: $249, that’s $236.55 at 5% off and $224.10 at 10% off, 17 bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 97 points “… deep, intense and flinty on the nose that exhibits clear, ripe and concentrated fruit with very fine botrytis notes intertwined with aromas of crushed slate and candied lemon rind. Round and elegant on the seamless palate, this is a rich yet finessed and elegant, super tensioned and mineral TBA with electrifying acidity and a highly stimulating finish. There are not many TBAs around that are as digestible as this one, which is really extraordinary. 6.5% alcohol…”

 
Shop our eighty-six Molitor selections now!



Don’t miss our additional sale going on now:
 
Graacher Domprobst: Single-Vineyard Rieslings from Multiple Producers!
 
5% off any 3-5 in-stock bottles of Graacher Domprobst
10% off any 6+ or more in-stock bottles of Graacher Domprobst
 
Discount will not display online or in your cart,
We will adjust your invoice before processing your charge.
 
Graacher Domprost sale ends Wednesday, October 15th at 9 am Pacific.

In This Newsletter:

Champagne Sale



Stock Up & Save On:
 
Champagne
 

We’re capping off our French Week with a three-day sale on the most beloved region of all: Champagne. This miraculous drink brings class and elegance to any gathering—even takeout nights at home. Need budget-friendly bubbles for your next party or want to snag a few bottles for holiday dinners? Now’s the perfect time to stock up while the savings are on.
 
We’re featuring dozens of highlights below from our 131 in-stock Champagnes, including selections from Portland’s favorite growers like Bérêche and Savart, recent top vintages like the epic 2008 or the warm and delicious 2019, and stunning limited releases like Cristal’s Vinotheque. Find them all in our shop and on our webstore!
 

5% off any 3-5 in-stock bottles of Champagne
10% off any 6+ or more in-stock bottles of Champagne
 
Discount will not display online or in your cart,
We will adjust your invoice before processing your charge.
 
Sale ends Tuesday, October 14th at 9 am Pacific.

 
We offer 131 in-stock Champagne and Coteaux Champagnois options on sale now, including:
 
Coteaux Champagnois
 
Did you know Champagne is home to a growing movement to make non-sparkling wines? These are Coteaux Champagnois: still wines, typically single-varietal, and unexpectedly stunning.

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Marie Courtin Coteaux Champenois Le Blanc du Tremble 2019 750ml Displayed Price: $89, that’s $84.55 at 5% off and $80.10 at 10% off, 4 bottles in stock now
Review is for the NV version, reviewed in November 2023. Provided for reference.
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 92 points “The NV Coteaux Champenois Le Blanc du Tremble shows good depth and phenolic intensity. Pear, apricot, white flowers and lightly tropical notes all grace this wonderfully deep and expressive Coteaux. Blanc du Tremble is 100% Pinot Noir from 35-40-year-old vines, aged in clay and sandstone amphorae. Terrific.”
 
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Hebrart Coteaux Champenois Blanc Le Leon 1er Cru 2016 750ml Displayed Price: $219, that’s $208.05 at 5% off and $197.10 at 10% off, 2 bottles in stock now
“Hebrart’s 2016 Coteaux Champenois Blanc Le Leon 1er Cru is a very pretty wine. Soft and curvy, the 2016 offers plenty of immediate appeal. Lemon confit, white flowers and mint all grace this super-expressive, inviting Coeaux Champenois that will drink well right out of the gate.” -Antonio Galloni, Vinous
 

 
Crowd-Pleasers
 
Planning a party? Looking for a great budget-friendly option that won’t feel like… less? Shop these great under-$50/bottle picks during our three-day sale!
 
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Charles-le-Bel ‘Inspiration 1818’ Brut NV 750ml Displayed Price: $39, that’s $37.05 at 5% off and $35.10 at 10% off, 20 bottles in stock now
Billecart-Salmon Winemaker’s Note “Sparkling and crystalline with fine and plentiful bubbles. A blooming nose with harmonious notes of butter, white flesh fruits as well as Mirabelle plums and dried fruits. A well-balanced mouth, structured thanks to the greatness of the Pinot Noirs, with flavors of white flesh fruits. The chardonnay brings to this wine a refreshing finish with notes of citrus fruits and pepper. For over 20 years, the Billecart-Salmon House has been crafting a second champagne. Discover the wine known under the name of Inspiration 1818, echoing the family’sestate’s year of creation. The qualities of this champagne are approved by the same tasting committee as the rest of the Billecart-Salmon champagne range. Chardonnay 37%, Pinot Meunier 30%, Pinot Noir 33%.”
 
Andre Clouet Silver Grand Cru Blanc de Noirs Brut Nature NV 750ml Displayed Price: $45, that’s $42.75 at 5% off and $40.50 at 10% off, 36 bottles in stock now
Andre Clouet Silver Grand Cru Blanc de Noirs Brut Nature NV 3L Displayed Price: $299, that’s $284.05 at 5% off and $269.10 at 10% off, 9 double-magnums in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 92+ points “[Reviewed Apr 2021] Clouet’s NV Silver Brut Nature Grand Cru is a pure Bouzy Pinot Noir that was disgorged without any dosage. This disgorgement displays a medium intense golden color and a complex and refined bouquet of ripe and pureed apples and discreet chalky as well as brioche aromas. The palate is elegant, straight and fresh, very pure and salty on the finish. This is a challenging Brut Nature that needs to be aged for two or three years to gain complexity and finesse and to smooth its current edges. The finish is mineral, limestone and salty but also a bit drying at this moment.”
 
R.H. Coutier Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Brut NV 750ml Displayed Price: $49, that’s $46.55 at 5% off and $44.10 at 10% off, 35 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 92 points “The NV Brut Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru is fabulous. Rich and quite dense, the Blanc de Blancs is decidedly powerful, maybe a bit more than usual. This release is based on 2018, and the richness of the year really comes through in the wine’s layered, expansive feel. Tangerine oil, lemon confit, white flowers, spice and chamomile build effortlessly. This is an especially heady, vinous Champagne with all the elements very much in balance. The Blanc de Blancs is a blend of 60% 2018 and 40% reserve wines.” [Disgorgement & base vintages may vary]
 
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Diebolt-Vallois Tradition Brut NV 750ml Displayed Price: $44.50, that’s $42.28 at 5% off and $40.05 at 10% off, 36+ bottles in stock now
Winery Note “A balanced champagne, perfect as an aperitif or at the beginning of the meal. Varieties used: 40% Chardonnay, 30 – 40% Pinot Noir, 20 – 30% Pinot Meunier. Terroir: The grapes come from various terroirs belonging to the estate. Vinification: Fermentation in thermostatically controlled vats. Dosage: 6-8 g/l.”
 
Henriot Brut Souverain NV 750ml Displayed Price: $49, that’s $46.55 at 5% off and $44.10 at 10% off, 20 bottles in stock now
James Suckling 95 points “A superprecise, reductive style due to bright lime-peel aromas enhanced by chalky minerality with linden tree and yellow plums. Light-bodied, it has zesty acidity with pinprick bubbles, a tight-knit structure and a chewy yet very polished finish. Mineral-laden aftertaste. Drink or hold.”
 
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Louis Nicaise Premier Cru Reserve Brut NV 750ml Displayed Price: $49, that’s $46.55 at 5% off and $44.10 at 10% off, 14 bottles in stock now
17.5/20 Samantha Cole-Johnson, Jancis Robinson “The blend is 40% Chardonnay, 30% Pinot Noir and 30% Pinot Meunier. Grapes were pressed gently and fermented in 15% neutral French oak, 85% stainless steel. After fermentation the wines remained on their lees in barrel and tank for a minimum of seven months. 70% of the blend underwent malolactic conversion, softening the acidity and giving the wine a fuller, more rounded texture. Before bottling, the wine was blended with 55% reserve wines. The wine then underwent a second fermentation and spent 20 months on the lees in bottle.”
 
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Piper-Heidsieck Prohibition Edition Brut NV 750ml Displayed Price: $49, that’s $46.55 at 5% off and $44.10 at 10% off, 14 bottles in stock now
Falstaff Magazine 91 points “Light golden yellow, silver reflections, delicate mousse. Fresh mango notes with a hint of lime, orange zest, light blossom honey, nuances of yellow apple. Medium body, subtle fruit expression, yellow tropical fruit, integrated acidity, honey touch in the finish, versatile.”  
Rare & Precious
 
These are some of our most exclusive and hard-to-find Champagnes that you’d can name-drop with pride to your nerdiest friends!
 
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Christophe Baron ‘Les Hautes Blanches Vignes’ Brut Nature 2019 1.5L Displayed Price: $269, that’s $255.55 at 5% off and $242.10 at 10% off, 3 magnums in stock now
James Suckling 95 points “Very creamy and focused Champagne with notes of cherry blossoms, jasmine, pink grapefruit, white peaches, fennel and brioche. It’s medium-bodied with a very fine and delicate mousse that dances across the palate. Bone dry with beautiful balance and length. 100% pinot meunier from a vineyard planted in 1969. From organically grown grapes. In magnums only. Zero dosage. Disgorged May 2023. Drink or hold.”
 
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Pascal Doquet Champ d’Alouettes Grand Cru Extra Brut 2005 750ml Displayed Price: $179, that’s $170.05 at 5% off and $161.10 at 10% off, 2 bottles in stock now
Winery Note “Pascal is fortunate to have some very old parcels in the mid-slope of this renowned Grand Cru village. His grandfather consolidated nearly a hectare of vines in Champ d’Alouettes, of which Pascal owns 60% of the original holdings.”
 
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Pehu Simonet ‘Face Nord’ Millésime Grand Cru 2008 750ml Displayed Price: $135, that’s $128.25 at 5% off and $121.50 at 10% off, 8 bottles in stock now
Skurnik Wines Importer Note “50% Pinot Noir, 50% Chardonnay. A fourth-generation producer, David Pehu has taken this 7.5-hectare domaine, located in the Grand Cru of Verzenay in a decidedly ‘Burgundian’ direction. After coming to the estate in 1988, David’s philosophy changed with time, adjusting to focus on certified organic farming and single site and single Cru expressions… In Verzenay Grand Cru, David farms 3.5 hectares including very old vine parcels. Apart from a very small parcel in Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, the majority of the holdings are all in the Grand Crus of Verzy, Sillery, Mailly, and Bouzy… Pehu strictly avoids the malolactic for all of his wines, including the red wines used for making rosé, as he believes that blocking the malo through a very cold cellar better preserves the finesse and expression of fruit in the long run.”
 
Tarlant ‘Le Triumvirat’ Brut Nature Millésime 2009 750ml Displayed Price: $119, that’s $113.05 at 5% off and $107.10 at 10% off, 6 bottles in stock now
Importer Note “58% Chardonnay/42% Pinot Noir. Most vintages, the Tarlants make a unique, usually multi-parcel wine as a snapshot of that particular vintage’s personality. This blend came from three plots–L’Enclume, Crayons and Sablés–hence the “Triumvirat” moniker. 2009 was according to Benoît Tarlant “a very solar year, of richness and power”. All of the vines are organically farmed and harvested by hand, with the clusters very slowly and gently pressed. The juice ferments spontaneously with native yeasts in Burgundy barrels; the wine does not go through malolactic fermentation. Triumvirat was bottled in 2010,disgorged in 2023 and received zero dosage.”
 
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Valentin Leflaive Blanc de Blancs Le Mesnil Sur Oger Grand Cru Extra Brut Millesime NV (2015) 750ml Displayed Price: $99, that’s $94.05 at 5% off and $89.10 at 10% off, 9 bottles in stock now
James Suckling 94 points “[Review is for different disgorgement] Aromas of apple pie with lemon curd and stone. Full-bodied with a solid palate of layered fruit and phenolics. Dense and focused with lots of fruit, yet composed and focused. Structured. Almost tannic. Dosage 5g/L.”
 
Vilmart & Cie ‘Cuvee Rubis’ Brut Rosé NV 750ml Displayed Price: $99, that’s $94.05 at 5% off and $89.10 at 10% off, 12 bottles in stock now
Audrey Frick-Jeb Dunnuck 92 points “The NV Champagne 1er Cru Cuvee Rubis Brut Rose is a bright pale pink color, and is fruity and inviting on the nose, with notes of strawberries, pastry cream, candied grapefruit, and fresh roses. Medium-bodied, it is refreshing and approachable on the palate, with a refined and rounded mousse and a quaffable nature to drink on its own or at the table. This crowd pleaser will drink well over the coming 5-7 years, but I like it where it is now for its fresh style. (Drink between 2024-2032).”
Tête de Cuvées
 
These are the tippity-top of the Champagne hierarchy from some of the most famous names on the planet!
 
Bollinger La Grande Annee Brut 2015 1.5L Displayed Price: $419, that’s $398.05 at 5% off and $377.10 at 10% off, 2 magnums in stock now
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 96 points “Bollinger’s 2015 Brut Grand Année is an intriguing wine in that is clearly reflects the decision to pick on the later side in order to avoid vegetal notes derived from the mismatch of alcoholic and phenolic ripeness. “Balance was hard to achieve in 2015,” Chef de Cave Denis Bunner notes. “At 10% in sugar, the fruit was simply not ripe. We had to wait to reach the optimal window of ripeness.” Bunner also opted to increase the Chardonnay, so the blend is 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay, as opposed to the more typical 70/30 blend, with more Verzenay than Aÿ in the Pinots. Dried citrus peel, sage, menthol, sage, tangerine peel and spice build with some coaxing. Light tropical overtones develop with aeration. There’s real density and textural richness here. This will be a fascinating vintage to follow. Stylistically, it is the complete opposite from the much more linear 2014 that precedes it. Dosage is 8 grams per liter. Disgorged: May 2023. Drink: 2028-2040.”
 
Pol Roger Cuvee Sir Winston Churchill Brut 2015 750ml Displayed Price: $299, that’s $284.05 at 5% off and $269.10 at 10% off, 6 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 95 points “The 2015 Brut Cuvée Sir Winston Churchill shows off the savory side of the vintage to great effect. Hints of dried pear, sage, mint, dried flowers, lemon oil and chamomile open gradually in this mid-weight, lithe edition of Pol Roger’s tête de cuvée. The 2015 unfolds nicely with time in the glass, but I wouldn’t think of opening a bottle anytime soon. Readers will find a nervy Winston Churchill marked by notable freshness and vigor more than size. This is a fine effort in a vintage that has proven to be far trickier than most observers originally envisioned. Dosage is 7 grams per liter. Disgorged September 2022. “
 
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Pommery Cuvee Louise Brut Rosé Millésime 2004 750ml Displayed Price: $249, that’s $236.55 at 5% off and $224.10 at 10% off, 28 bottles in stock now
James Suckling 95 points “This is a new release and shows wonderful finesse and beauty. You know that the moment you see the pale-amber color. It’s medium bodied with freshness and energy and a long, vivid finish. A joy to taste. Drink now.”
 
Louis Roederer Cristal Millésime Brut 2015 750ml Displayed Price: $379, that’s $360.05 at 5% off and $341.10 at 10% off, 6 bottles in stock now
The Wine Independent 98 points “The 2015 Cristal is a blend of 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay. No malo-lactic was employed and 25% wine was aged in oak. The dosage is 7 grams per liter. An exquisitely delicate yet complex perfume of clover honey freshly shaved ginger marzipan and jasmine slowly emerges from the nose giving way to a core of pear tart persimmons and apple butter. The palate is an exercise in finesse featuring very fine bubbles and fantastic intensity with a myriad of spice and floral nuances finishing with impressive persistence and jaw-dropping poise. This is a style for those that embrace purity soft-spoken expression and impeccable crafting. It won’t disappoint those who love Champagne in its initial youthful perfume flushes yet will undoubtedly reward the patient with a richer toastier more obvious and opulent style with 5-10 years+ of cellaring.”
 
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
De Venoge Louis XV de Venoge Brut Millésime 2008 750ml Was $249, Displayed Price: $219, that’s $208.05 at 5% off and $197.10 at 10% off, 28 bottles in stock now
James Suckling 95 points “This is really punchy and broad-shouldered with muscular structure and citrusy undertones. Full body. Lightly tannic and a fresh and vivid finish. This is the first vintage without malolactic fermentation ever. One for the cellar. Better in 2022.”  
It’ll Grow On You:
Vintage Picks from our Favorite Growers (And Grower-Adjacent)
 
These vintage wines will make your head spin in a good way – they capture the magic of a season from the terroir of family-farmed plots.
 
Raphael et Vincent Bereche ‘Cote’ Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Millésime 2016 750ml Displayed Price: $135, that’s $128.25 at 5% off and $121.50 at 10% off, 11 bottles in stock now
VinopolNote: Oger is a tiny, Grand Cru village in the Côte des Blancs region of Champagne. It is often mistaken for Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, given the similarity in name. In Peter Liem’s book, “Champagne” Rodolphe Péters of Pierre Péters describes it as producing wines with “delicate with aromas of red fruit and tangerine.” Liem goes on to describe the village as producing riper and more fragrant wines than Mesnil due to the east-facing bowl that captures sunlight. Wine from the village is also used as the basis for Charles Heidsieck’s Grand Cru Côte des Blancs blends.
 
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Elise Dechannes ‘Essentielle’ Blanc de Noirs Extra Brut 2021 750ml Displayed Price: $69, that’s $65.55 at 5% off and $62.10 at 10% off, 9 bottles in stock now
Winery Note “100% Pinot Noir. Nose: Citrus fruits, lemon and orange zest; refreshing and hydrating. Mouth: A delicate initial mouthfeel with great presence; light, tangy and pure. A soft, enveloping finish.”
 
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Jose Michel & Fils Clos Saint Jean Blanc de Blancs Brut 2014 750ml Displayed Price: $59.50, that’s $56.53 at 5% off and $53.55 at 10% off, 36+ bottles in stock now
Importer Note “The Blanc de Blancs is produced in the best vintages. It is made from a small plot of Chardonnay grown in the village of Saint Agnan on the left bank of the Marne. The wine is fermented in stainless steel and then matured both in tank “sur lie” and in ‘demi-muids’. After the secondary fermentation it rests ‘sur lattes’ for at least 5 years allowing the Chardonnay qualities to broaden and mature. Dosage is 5 grams. It is a wine of impeccable character, showing both nobility and restraint. It is worthy of cellaring for at least two years after disgorgement.”
 
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Domaine Nowack ‘Les Bauchets’ Pinot Noir Extra Brut 2018 750ml Displayed Price: $69, that’s $65.55 at 5% off and $62.10 at 10% off, 19 bottles in stock now
Importer Note “Estate fruit. From single parcel “Les Bauchets” on pure Marne soils. 45 year old vines. Vinification & Aging Base wine is from 2019 – fermented with native yeasts, aged in small oak barrels, unfiltered and unfined. Tirage 5/2020. No dosage. Disgorged 1/2024. 2g/L RS. Importer’s Notes Producer Profile The only 100% fully sparkling Pinot Noir produced at the domaine.”
 
Suenen Oiry Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut NV (2021) 750ml Displayed Price: $95, that’s $90.25 at 5% off and $85.50 at 10% off, 12 bottles in stock now
Anne Krebiehl MW-Vinous 93 points “The NV Extra Brut Blanc de Blancs Oiry Grand Cru is a pure Chardonnay. Creaminess, fresh and crusty baguette and Golden Delicious apple unite on an enticing nose with a bright green apple frisson as an overtone. Slenderness and delicacy define the body, but the flavors are full and almost generous. They evoke creamy porridge, mellow, freshly peeled yellow apple flesh, and a lovely sense of saltiness that has the ocean tanginess of an oyster shell. The longer you savor this, the saltier and more enticing it becomes: enfolding and oh-so-chalky. This Extra Brut is lovely and captivating, with a totally appetizing umami finish. [Disgorgement date may vary].”
  

Exceptional Non-Vintage Options
 
We can’t let vintage have all the fun! By blending together vintages, winemakers capture the essence of their land through a language that transcends the years. These are consistently some of the most delicious and best values for the money.
 
Franck Bonville Unisson Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs NV 750ml Displayed Price: $59, that’s $56.05 at 5% off and $53.10 at 10% off, 14 bottles in stock now
Yohan Castaing-Wine Advocate 90 points “Based on 2018 vintage and complemented with some vins de réserve from 2017, the NV Unisson Grand Cru is showing well today, evoking aromas of white fruits, flowers, chamomile and almonds. Medium-bodied, round and vinous, with a juicy core of fruit and a pinpoint mousse, it’s long and delicate with bright acids and a fresh, ethereal finish. Dosage: five grams per liter.”
 
Guy Larmandier Cramant Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Brut Zero NV 750ml Displayed Price: $59, that’s $56.05 at 5% off and $53.10 at 10% off, 12 bottles in stock now
Guy Larmandier Cramant Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Brut Zero NV 375ml Displayed Price: $36, that’s $34.20 at 5% off and $32.40 at 10% off, 24 bottles in stock now
Importer Note “From Chardonnay vines in the Grand Cru village of Cramant. The total absence of any sense of sweetness in this Brut Zéro allows the limestone to take center stage, and it presents in a more piercing and saline manner than in Larmandier’s Brut wines. Despite its relative rigorousness and austerity, however, this is by no means a difficult wine. Rather, it will appeal to those who relish the sort of palpable, intense mineral character Champagne is capable of when made in such a straightforward fashion. Aged 3 years sur lattes.”
 
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Philipponnat Royale Reserve Brut NV 750ml Displayed Price: $54.50, that’s $51.78 at 5% off and $49.05 at 10% off, 23 bottles in stock now
James Suckling 93 points “Complex and smoky nose with orange blossom, green apple, licorice, chalky minerality and toasted bread. Refined palate with pinprick mousse, crisp acidity and a tight, tense and clean aftertaste. 65% pinot noir, 32% chardonnay and 3% pinot meunier. Disgorged in 2024. Dosage 8g/L. Drink now.”
 
Bereche et Fils Brut Reserve NV (2022-base) 750ml Displayed Price: $69, that’s $65.55 at 5% off and $62.10 at 10% off, 21 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 91 points “The NV Brut Réserve (base 2022) is such a classy wine. This release, based on 2022, is all finesse. Cranberry, mint, white pepper, slate and dried flowers all grace the palate. Stylistically, the Brut Réserve has evolved into a more refined Champagne than what was the norm just a few years ago. The one thing that is evident, though, is a slightly harder texture vis-à-vis the other wines in the range, likely because of aging on crown cap rather than cork. Élevage was done 70% in cask and 30% in tank. Dosage is 5.2 grams per liter.”
 
Frederic Savart L’Ouverture Blanc de Noirs Premier Cru Brut NV 750ml Displayed Price: $69, that’s $65.55 at 5% off and $62.10 at 10% off, 12 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 92 points “[Disgorgement may vary] The NV Extra-Brut L’Ouverture is 100% Pinot Noir, base 2020 with 25% reserve wines each from 2019 and 2018. Crushed red berry fruit and white flowers lend notable brightness throughout. This nervy, taut Champagne is all class. Dosage is 3.5 grams per liter. Disgorged: January 2023. (Drink between 2023-2030).”

 
Shop our 127 Champagne selections now!
 

 
Don’t miss our additional sales going on now:
 
Bordeaux
 Red, White & Dessert

5% off any 3-5 in-stock bottles of Bordeaux wines
10% off any 6+ or more in-stock bottles of Bordeaux wines
 
Rhone Valley
Red & White
 
5% off any 3-5 in-stock bottles of Rhone Valley wines
10% off any 6+ or more in-stock bottles of Rhone Valley wines
 
Discount will not display online or in your cart,
We will adjust your invoice before processing your charge.
 
Rhone sale ends Sunday, October 12th at 9 am Pacific. Bordeaux sale ends Monday, October 13th at 9 am Pacific.

In This Newsletter:

Bordeaux Sale



Stock Up & Save On:
 
Bordeaux
 

The most esteemed of French wine regions, Bordeaux is home to age-worthy reds, luscious and unexpected whites, and some of the most famous desserts wines in the world.
 
Dry white wines are either single-varietal expressions of Sauvignon Blanc or Semillon, or are blends of the two, often with small additions of other aromatic grapes. Top releases age well, while entry-level picks are a refreshing and more neutral alternative to Sancerre or New Zealand Sauvignon Blancs.
 
For reds, a major consideration is the appellation: those on the Right Bank tend to be Merlot-based with softer tannins and more approachable profile in their youth, but outstanding potential in the cellar. Appellations to know include Saint-Émilion (best known for its prestige and ageability) and Pomerol (the renege without a classification system that is nonetheless one of the most sought-after for its quality and exclusivity).
 
The Left Bank wines, including the region of Medoc and the towns of Margaux (legendary for perfection), Saint-Julien (an insider’s favorite), and Pauillac (home to the most First Growths for good reason).
 
The finest dessert wines hail from Sauternes and the sub-appellation village of Barsac. Here, the soils are rich in limestone and the grapes less prone to botrytis, resulting in purer aromatics and stunning freshness.  
 
It’s hard to pick a favorite, so we’ve made it easier by placing all in-stock Bordeaux on our three-day sale.
 

5% off any 3-5 in-stock bottles of Bordeaux wines
10% off any 6+ or more in-stock bottles of Bordeaux wines
 
Discount will not display online or in your cart,
We will adjust your invoice before processing your charge.
 
Sale ends Monday, October 13th at 9 am Pacific.

 
We offer fifty-five in-stock Bordeaux options on sale now, including:
 
Dry White Wines
 
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Bernard Magrez ‘Le Bordeaux de Bernard Margrez’ Blanc 2024 750ml Displayed Price: $21.90, that’s $20.81 at 5% off and $19.71 at 10% off, 11 bottles in stock now
Winemaker Note “This white Bordeaux is fine yet complex, with rich aromas of grape-fruit, pear and pineapple yielding to subtle mineral notes. The first sip reveals a richness and harmony; the bright acidity rounds it out nicely to give the fullest expression of Bordeaux Sauvignon Blanc.”
 
Chateau Haut Rian Blanc 2023 750ml Displayed Price: $14, that’s $13.30 at 5% off and $12.60 at 10% off, 12 bottles in stock now
Wine Enthusiast 90 points “Old Sémillon vines grown on limestone soil form the background to this wine. With pineapple aromas and a mineral texture, the wine’s fruit is full of grapefruit and kiwi flavors. It is crisp, ripe and ready to drink.”
 
Chateau Pape Clement Blanc, Pessac-Leognan 2012 750ml Displayed Price: $189, that’s $179.55 at 5% off and $170.10 at 10% off, 8 bottles in stock now
Robert Parker-Wine Advocate 96 points “I am not sure what the exact blend is for the 2012 Pape Clément, but it has a light gold color and is a gorgeously full-bodied, multi-dimensional wine with great texture in its notes of rose petal, honeysuckle, crystallized/caramelized tropical fruits, mandarin orange and honeyed lemon. Aged 15 months in mostly new French oak, this is another brilliant achievement for proprietor Bernard Magrez from this tiny white wine vineyard, although I would rate it slightly below his perfect 2009. Anticipated maturity: now-2030.”
45% Sauvignon Blanc, 44% Semillon, 6% Muscadelle & 5% Sauvignon Gris
 

 
Red Wines – Right Bank (Merlot-based)
 
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Chateau de Pitray, Cotes de Castillon 2019 750ml Displayed Price: $18, that’s $17.10 at 5% off and $16.20 at 10% off, 12 bottles in stock now
Wine Enthusiast 91 points “Soft and velvety in texture, this wine is full of ripe fruit. Cushioned by the texture, the tannins are dense enough to promise aging to this wine with potential. Drink from 2024.”
 
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Chateau Belair-Monange, Saint-Émilion Grand Cru 2018 750ml Displayed Price: $249, that’s $236.55 at 5% off and $224.10 at 10% off, 8 bottles in stock now
James Suckling 99 points “Very intense blackberries, black olives, blueberries and dried flowers. Stony minerality. Even some pine. Full-bodied with superb depth of fruit and ultra fine tannins that are intense and polished. The finish is so long and delivers so much flavor, from wet earth to blackberry again. Seamless palate. Try after 2026.”
 
Chateau Canon, Saint-Émilion Grand Cru 2010 750ml Displayed Price: $179, that’s $170.05 at 5% off and $161.10 at 10% off, 11 bottles in stock now
Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Wine Advocate 96+ points “[Reviewed in 2020] Deep garnet colored, the 2010 Canon features wonderfully expressive notes of dried mulberries, stewed plums and baked black cherries with hints of mocha, bay leaves and fallen leaves. Full-bodied, opulent and super spicy, it has a plush texture with a racy line supporting the hedonic fruit, finishing with jaw-dropping persistence.”
 
Chateau Clos de Sarpe, Saint-Émilion Grand Cru 2016 750ml Displayed Price: $89, that’s $84.55 at 5% off and $80.10 at 10% off, 6 bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 97 points “An off-the-hook Saint-Emilion, the inky colored 2016 Chāteau Clos de Sarpe is mostly Merlot but includes 15% Cabernet Franc. A beautiful, floral character gives way to more blueberry, raspberry, spice, and cedar notes, and it’s medium to full-bodied, fresh, and elegant on the palate, with thrilling purity of fruit. It’s still tight and reserved at the moment, with a focused feel on the palate, but has tons of potential. Give bottles 5-7 years of bottle age and enjoy over the following 15+.”
 
Chateau Troplong Mondot, Saint-Émilion Grand Cru 2017 750ml Displayed Price: $149, that’s $141.55 at 5% off and $134.10 at 10% off, 18 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 98+ points “The 2017 Troplong Mondot is stunning, just as it was en primeur. Rich and ample, yet endowed with striking energy as well, the 2017 is the first vintage made by new CEO Aymeric de Gironde and consulting winemaker Thomas Duclos. The 2017 takes hold of all the senses and never lets up. All of the power that is typical of this site is evident, it seems to come so naturally, and yet picking earlier and then using a lighter hand in the cellar yielded a Troplong of uncommon energy and vibrancy. The 2017 has been nothing short of thrilling on the four occasions I have tasted it from bottle so far. What a wine!”
 
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Chateau La Fleur Morange, Saint-Émilion Grand Cru 2015 750ml Displayed Price: $88, that’s $83.60 at 5% off and $79.20 at 10% off, 13 bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 96+ points “Coming from 100-year-old vines and 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Franc, the 2015 Chāteau La Fleur Morange is a downright stunner that does everything right. Cassis, crushed flowers, lead pencil shavings and lots of minerality all flow to a full-bodied, elegant, incredibly layered 2015 that has a great mid-palate, sweet tannin and a great, great finish. This is an incredible Saint-Emilion readers should do whatever they can to latch onto a few bottles. This cuvee is also made with guidance from Claude Gros, and he’s certainly hit a home run with this one.”
 
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Chateau le Puy Cuvee Emilien, Francs Cotes de Bordeaux 2022 750ml Displayed Price: $49.50, that’s $47.03 at 5% off and $44.55 at 10% off, 24 bottles in stock now
Importer Note “Le Puy’s main-production wine “Emilien” is comprised of 85% Merlot, 14% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 1% Carmenère. After spontaneous fermentation in cement vats, it is transferred to 50-hectoliter foudres for one year, then to old 225-liter barriques for an additional year, before being bottled without fining or filtering. There is a harmony of elements in the wines of Le Puy–a weaving together of acid, fruit, tannin, mineral and earth–that is spellbinding. The “Emilien” offers a succulence of sappy red fruit as well as a driving, tunneling palate of remarkable energy. A subtle but irresistible umami pervades the palate and grounds some of the wine’s higher tones with its savory pull.”
 
Chateau Clinet, Pomerol 2010 750ml Displayed Price: $175, that’s $166.25 at 5% off and $157.50 at 10% off, 2 bottles in stock now
Decanter 97 points “[Reviewed in 2020] The definition of poised and confident, this has pretty much consistently delivered since the very first taste during En Primeur. Deeply layered, textured, confident and powerful, both very Pomerol and very 2010. Coffee beans and bitter chocolate are the dominant flavours alongside cassis and blackberry autumnal berry fruits. Both gourmet and restrained. Just about ready to go but will hugely benefit from three to four hours in carafe first, and will further improve over the next few years, and indeed over the decades to come”
 
Chateau Rouget, Pomerol 2019 750ml Displayed Price: $59, that’s $56.05 at 5% off and $53.10 at 10% off, 18 bottles in stock now
Decanter 95 points “Ripe and dried red berry fruit on the nose, raisins, freshly picked raspberries and blueberries. Some wonderful potpourri perfume too. Great grip and hold from the start – this is tannic and they coat the mouth but with such a bright and juicy aspect too. Real energy here, a lighter if you can say that (as still 14.5%) style, with focus on delicate red fruits, perfume and dark chocolate. RIch to start with, muscular with a bold immediate taste then the delicacy comes in. A wonderful aerial style that is all in balance but still needs some time. It will reward cellaring. Great potential here and quality winemaking on show. Tasted twice.”
Red Wines – Left Bank (Cabernet Sauvignon-based)
 
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Chateau La Fleur Saint Bonnet, Medoc 2023 750ml Displayed Price: $11.90, that’s $11.31 at 5% off and $10.71 at 10% off, 36+ bottles in stock now
James Suckling 91-92 points “Good tension and focus here. Medium-bodied with a firm and chewy mid-palate, nicely filled with vibrant dark fruit. Structured.”
 
Chateau Cos d’Estournel, Saint-Estèphe 2018 750ml Displayed Price: $279, that’s $265.05 at 5% off and $251.10 at 10% off, 7 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 98 points “The 2018 Cos d’Estournel is a racy, powerful Saint-Estèphe that is going to need quite a bit of time to find its center. Today, it is tightly wound, but all the energy is there. Lush and extravagantly ripe, the 2018 possesses tremendous depth and plenty of energy to back it all up. Here, too, I found the wine a bit more expressive and giving en primeur. (Drink between 2028-2058).”
 
Chateau Cos d’Estournel, Saint-Estèphe 2008 750ml Displayed Price: $219, that’s $208.05 at 5% off and $197.10 at 10% off, 3 bottles in stock now
Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Wine Advocate 95 points “The medium to deep garnet colored 2008 Cos d’Estournel is blended of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Merlot and 2% Cabernet Franc. Pow! The nose explodes with notes of baked cherries, preserved plums, fried herbs, beef drippings and warm cassis with wafts of wood smoke, salami and tobacco leaf. Medium-bodied, the palate is elegant and earthy/savory in character, sporting beautifully ripe, grainy tannins and bags of freshness, finishing on a lingering mineral note. Drink: 2018-2035.”

Chateau Lascombes ‘Chevalier de Lascombes’, Margaux 2022 750ml Displayed Price: $44.50, that’s $42.28 at 5% off and $40.05 at 10% off, 6 bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 93 points “The second wine of Château Lascombes, the 2022 Chevalier de Lascombes is beautifully textured and medium-bodied, offering bright cassis and darker, almost blue fruits, alongside spicy floral nuances. It has an elegant mouthfeel and a great finish. Aged in oak barrels, this should evolve well for 10-15 years. (Drink between 2025-2040).”
 
Chateau Malescot-St-Exupery, Margaux 2018 750ml Displayed Price: $89, that’s $84.55 at 5% off and $80.10 at 10% off, 9 bottles in stock now
Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Wine Advocate 95 points “The medium to deep garnet-purple colored 2018 Malescot St. Exupery leaps from the glass with expressive scents of baked blackberries, Morello cherries and boysenberries with hints of blackcurrant cordial, dark chocolate, licorice and tilled soil. The medium to full-bodied palate has impressive intensity without heaviness, delivering mouth-coating black fruits and a firm, grainy texture, finishing with a refreshing earthy lift.”
 
Chateau Rauzan-Segla, Margaux 2016 750ml Displayed Price: $159, that’s $151.05 at 5% off and $143.10 at 10% off, 3 bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 98 points “I continue to love the 2016 Rauzan-Ségla, a thrillingly complete, flawlessly balanced, and borderline perfect Margaux that should be snatched up by readers. Notes of cassis, graphite, tobacco leaf, and earth all give way to a full-bodied effort that has building tannins, no hard edges, and a level of purity and elegance that’s just about off the charts. Given its purity and balance, it’s accessible today, but it will be best with 4-5 years of bottle age and keep for 3-4 decades.”
 
Chateau Grand-Puy-Lacoste, Pauillac 2019 750ml Displayed Price: $89, that’s $84.55 at 5% off and $80.10 at 10% off, 17 bottles in stock now
Neal Martin-Vinous 97 points “The 2019 Grand-PuyLacoste has a well-defined bouquet with cedar and graphite infused black fruit, hints of pencil shavings, controlled and refined. The palate is medium-bodied with filigree tannins, taut and fresh with a pixelated and mineral-driven finish, lingering long in the mouth. What a heavenly 2019 Pauillac. Tasted blind at the Southwold annual tasting.”
 
Chateau Lynch-Bages, Pauillac 2020 750ml Displayed Price: $179, that’s $170.05 at 5% off and $161.10 at 10% off, 12 bottles in stock now
James Suckling 99 points “A beautifully layered red with blackcurrant, hazelnut and lead-pencil character and fine, velvety tannins. Full-bodied and reserved. It’s like a tightly knit ball of polished tannins that are cashmere in texture. So very long and impressive. Give this time. A terrific Lynch. Better after 2027.”
 
Chateau Pichon-Longueville au Baron de Pichon-Longueville, Pauillac 2019 750ml Displayed Price: $199, that’s $189.05 at 5% off and $179.10 at 10% off, 2 bottles in stock now
Jane Anson-Inside Bordeaux 98 points “Highest proportion of Cabernet Sauvignon on record, a reflection of how exceptionally well this grape did in 2019. The aromatics are all-enveloping, powerful and nuanced and totally delicious, drawing you in and refusing to let go. Slate, pencil lead, cassis, damson, layer upon layer of brilliance, if not quite the over-aweing concentration and enveloping character of the 2016. 80% new oak.”
 
Chateau Pontet-Canet, Pauillac 2015 750ml Displayed Price: $189, that’s $179.55 at 5% off and $170.10 at 10% off, 6 bottles in stock now
James Suckling 98 points “So much floral and dark-fruit character with almonds and walnut shell. Full body and ultra-fine tannins. Powerful. Classic style with a harmony and energy. Goes on for minutes. A superb wine with great fruit. Real Bordeaux.”
 
Chateau Leoville Barton, Saint-Julien 2018 750ml Displayed Price: $135, that’s $128.25 at 5% off and $121.50 at 10% off, 10 bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 97 points “Cassis, crushed plum and steeped blackberry fruit is all packed into this wine, along with tar, violet and roasted apple wood notes, plus a terrific tug of warm earth. Shows lots of energy in reserve, with a tightly knit finish pulling everything together. Cellaring required. Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Best from 2026 through 2040. 11,600 cases made. — JM”
 
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Chateau Leoville Poyferre, Saint-Julien 2014 750ml Displayed Price: $99, that’s $94.05 at 5% off and $89.10 at 10% off, 18 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 95 points “The 2014 Léoville Poyferré is gorgeous. Dark, sumptuous and ample on the palate, it possesses remarkable depth. Dark cherry, plum, smoke, scorched earth, licorice and menthol all flesh out as this radiant, deeply expressive wine shows off its considerable pedigree. The 2014 is going to need time to fully come together, but it is super-impressive. Tasted two times.”
 
Chateau Leoville Poyferre, Saint-Julien 2016 750ml Displayed Price: $149, that’s $141.55 at 5% off and $134.10 at 10% off, 36 bottles in stock now
Decanter 98 points “Relatively closed right now, as are all the St-Juliens, this takes time to open in the glass but does so to reveal lots of northern Médoc character in the liquorice and brambly fruit puree, with touches of caramel and sweet cassis. It’s hewn out of slate boulders with layers of tannin – a lovely construction that’s deepened even further during ageing. 2% Cabernet Franc finishes the blend. Matured in 80% new oak. Michel Rolland consults. Drinking Window 2024 – 2040.”
Don’t forget the magnums!
 
Chateau Angelus, Saint-Émilion Grand Cru 2016 1.5L Displayed Price: $899, that’s $854.05 at 5% off and $809.10 at 10% off, 10 magnums in stock now
Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Wine Advocate 98+ points “Sporting a deep garnet-purple color, the 2016 Angélus erupts from the glass with powerful notes of blackberry pie, ripe black cherries and juicy black plums with an undercurrent of star anise, rose petals, chocolate mint, pencil shavings and woodsmoke plus a waft of allspice. The palate is pure decadence. Medium to full-bodied, rich and generously fruited, this wine is by no means heavy—it positively glimmers with freshness and vivacity, lending an ethereal nature to all that richness and power, beautifully framed by velvety tannins and finishing with epic length. The generosity, layers and plushness make for an absolutely DELICIOUS drink right now, but I’d suggest waiting 3-5 more years for the fireworks to really begin.”
 
Chateau des Laurets, Puisseguin-Saint-Émilion 2005 1.5L Displayed Price: $199, that’s $189.05 at 5% off and $179.10 at 10% off, 2 magnums in stock now
VinopolNote: From the right bank of Bordeaux, this merlot dominant blend is full of red and purple fruit, with secondary notes of earthiness and leather. The oak creates a smooth and full body structure. Open and decant; this wine is ready to drink now!
 

 
Sauternes & Barsac
 
The ne plus ultra of dessert wines!
 
Chateau Coutet, Sauternes – Barsac 2020 750ml Displayed Price: $49, that’s $46.55 at 5% off and $44.10 at 10% off, 17 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 94 points “The 2020 Coutet is much more refined and light on its feet than it was from barrel. Tangerine peel, mint, passionfruit, white flowers and a hint of marzipan all grace this airy, wonderfully refined Barsac. “
 
Chateau Bastor-Lamontagne ‘Les Remparts de Bastor-Lamontagne’, Sauternes 2020 375ml Displayed Price: $18, that’s $17.10 at 5% off and $16.20 at 10% off, 21 half-bottles in stock now
No reviews for the 2020 vintage. 2022 provided for reference.
James Suckling 92 points “Creamy nose with white mushrooms, wax and honeyed citrus. Sweet but not quite viscous or lush on the palate, with good complexity and a long finish. From organically grown grapes. A well-balanced Sauternes to enjoy now or in the next four to eight years.”

 
Shop our four Sauternes and Barsac selections now!


 
Don’t miss our additional sales going on now:
 
Loire Valley
 
5% off any 3-5 in-stock bottles of Loire Valley wine
10% off any 6+ or more in-stock bottles of Loire Valley wine
 
Rhone Valley
Red & White
 
5% off any 3-5 in-stock bottles of Rhone Valley wines
10% off any 6+ or more in-stock bottles of Rhone Valley wines
 
Discount will not display online or in your cart,
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Loire Valley sale ends Saturday, October 11th at 9 am Pacific. Rhone sale ends Sunday, October 12th at 9 am Pacific.

In This Newsletter:

Rhone Valley Sale
96 PT Castiglion del Bosco Lands Friday


 
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Rhone Valley
   
Shop all 113 in-stock red Rhone wines here