NEW ARRIVALS: OREGON
Belle Pente Estate Reserve Pinot Noir, Yamhill-Carlton District 2013 1.5L ($119.95) $89 special
Winery note “The Estate Reserve is a barrel selection from the best parts of the vineyard, with the core of the blend coming from our original block planted in 1994 paired with our steep south-west facing block planted in 1998 to the Wadensvil selection of Pinot Noir. As the vineyard matures, the process of selecting barrels for this bottling gets harder every year … but the resulting wine seems to get better and better! Although the wine-making protocol for the estate reserve is essentially the same as for our single vineyard wines, there are a couple of notable exceptions. While all the top wines include a little bit of whole cluster, indigenous yeast fermentation, 18 month elevage, and gravity flow processing from fermenter all the way to the bottle, the Estate Reserve enjoys a slightly higher percentage of new barrels (about half) and longer aging in bottle prior to release (typically around 18 months). This imparts more structure for aging, and allows the wine to be released at the beginning of its drinking window.”
Wine Advocate 89 points “The 2013 Pinot Noir Murto Vineyard, from vines planted in 1978 on volcanic soils, has a crisp and lively bouquet with redcurrant and cranberry scents, a touch of fennel and garrigue developing in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with tart cherry fruit, wild strawberry and a slightly clipped, yet fresh and chewy finish. Enjoy this sappy Pinot Noir over 8-10 years.”
The next best price is $39.98
Wine Enthusiast 91 points –Cellar Selection
Winery note: “67% Pinot Noir, 33% Chardonnay. Disgorged Spring 2016. A stunning bouquet of Bosc pear, stone fruit, Brioche and Crème Fraiche highlighted by notes of white grapefruit and nectarine on the palate. The mouth feel is a rich, creamy texture riding on a bracing and mouth-watering acidity followed by an enduringly long finish.”
NEW ARRIVALS: WASHINGTON
Cayuse Vineyards Bionic Frog Syrah, Walla Walla Valley 2007 750ML ($319.95) $269 special
Wine Advocate 99 points “The 2007 Bionic Frog Syrah surrenders a splendid aromatic array of forest floor, herbs, olives, bacon, underbrush, blueberry, and black cherry. This is followed by a voluptuous wine with gobs of succulent fruit, impeccable balance, enough fine-grained tannin to evolve for 5-7 years, and a lengthy, seductive finish. Give it 5-7 years of additional cellaring and drink it from 2015 to 2027.”
The average price is $303
Wine Advocate 94 points “Baron’s 2008 Grenache Armada Vineyard God Only Knows displays delectable scents and luscious palate presence of lightly-cooked strawberry and plum laced with nut oils and shadowed by plum and herb distillates. Seamlessly polished, almost velvety and glycerol-rich as well as sweetly ripe, this, nonetheless, projects a torrent of primary fruit juiciness along with levity and energy. Saliva-inducing salinity along with piquant fruit pit, and iodine accents add riveting counterpoint to a finish of prodigious length that manages to simultaneously sooth and stimulate. I would expect this to reward attention for at least another decade.” WA
Spottswoode Family Estate Grown Cabernet Sauvignon, St. Helena 2013 750ML ($219.95) $179 special
Robert Parker 99+ points “Yields continued to increase in 2013, with just over 4,000 cases of wine from a blend of 88% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Cabernet Franc and 4% Petit Verdot. This is another killer effort from Spottswoode. Inky bluish purple to the rim, it has hints of violets intermixed with sweet foresty notes, blackcurrants, chocolate and a touch of subtle smoke and earth. It is dense, with higher acidity and more noticeable structure than the 2012, but is as concentrated, dense and promising. Some patience is warranted in 2013, and I would suggest waiting another 5-6 years before pulling the cork on one. It is a 50-year wine at the very minimum and a great classic.”
Spottswoode Lyndenhurst Cabernet Sauvignon, St Helena 2013 750ML ($89.95) $79 special
James Suckling 96 points “Fantastic aromas of blueberry, blackberry, violets, black licorice and stones. Full-bodied, firm, silky, and fresh. Very long and balanced. Beautiful tannins. All in harmony. Drink in 2019.”
Freemark Abbey Chardonnay, Napa Valley 2014 750ML ($27.95) $21.90 special
Case-12 Freemark Abbey Chardonnay, Napa Valley 2014 750ML ($299.95) $239 special (that’s only $19.92/bottle and the lowest listed price in the USA today!)
Robert Parker 91 points “The 2014 Chardonnay is a non-malolactic 100% Chardonnay that’s 45% barrel-fermented. The wine is sensational. There are nearly 10,000 cases of this wine, which shows loads of white peach, honeysuckle, green apple and melon notes in a distinctive, clean, steely Chablis-like style. There is some tropical fruit, such as pineapple, but the overall character is one of great acid, medium to full-bodied mouthfeel, and no real oak influence. Drink it over the next 4-5 years.”
Freemark Abbey Merlot, Napa Valley 2013 750ML ($29.95) $24 special
Case-12 Freemark Abbey Merlot, Napa Valley 2013 750ML ($319.95) $256 special (that’s only $21.34/bottle and the lowest listed price in the USA today!)
Winery note: “The dominant flavor of this rich and smooth Merlot is black cherry, with nuances of milk chocolate, integrated spicy oak and arugula. Great balance of fruit, body, tannin and acidity. The depth and richness of flavor provide a smooth profile that delivers from the initial sip and continues on the palate for a long beautiful finish.”
Robert Parker: “I tasted two Merlots from Freemark Abbey. The 2013 Merlot Napa, which comes from multiple sources, is their biggest cuvée (89.1% Merlot and the rest Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc and Malbec aged almost 16 months in oak). A deep ruby color, with notes of mocha, white chocolate, black cherry and dried herbs, the wine is medium-bodied, shows loads of supple, lush fruit, easygoing soft tannin and a round juiciness. Isn’t this exactly what buyers of Merlot are looking for?”
Freemark Abbey Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, California 2012 750ML ($37.95) $31.90 special
Case-12 Freemark Abbey Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, California 2012 750ML ($399.95) $333 special (that’s only $27.75/bottle and the lowest listed price in the USA today!)
Robert Parker 93 points ‘An absolutely fabulous value is the 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa. This comes from multiple sources and there are 46,000+ cases of it. A stunning Cabernet Sauvignon and a classic example of Napa viticulture, this blend of 75.5% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Malbec, was aged just over two years in oak. Loads of sweet blackcurrant fruit, cocoa, a touch of toast, earth, and baking spice are all present in this wine that has terrific fruit on the attack and mid-palate, a full-bodied mouthfeel, no hard edges and a luscious, opulent, gorgeously pure style. Drink it over the next 10-15 years. Although I wouldn’t be surprised to see it last longer. For old-time reader/subscribers, this might be the modern-day equivalent of the great 1974 Souverain Vintage Selection that I recommended back in the late 1970s and is still going strong today.”
Freemark Abbey Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon, California 2012 750ML ($89.95) $69 special
James Suckling 93 points “The blueberry, walnut, shiitake mushroom and stone aromas are impressive. Full body, chewy tannins and a solid core of fruit. Needs two or three years to resolve the tannins but excellent. Try in 2018”
Freemark Abbey ‘Sycamore’ Cabernet Sauvignon, Rutherford 2004 750ML ($119.95) $89 special
Wine Enthusiast 95 points “A real success story for this hot vintage. Feels gracious and generous in the mouth, offering complex, fat flavors of blackberries, cherries, raspberries, mocha and cedar that turn spicy on the finish. The tannins are elaborately ripe and fine.”
Wine Advocate 93 points “Kudos to winemaker Ted Edwards. Lastly, the 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon Sycamore Vineyard, which is just to the south of Bosche, is 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Merlot and the rest Cabernet Franc, from the gravelly, clay and loamy soils of this area. It, too, was aged 24 months in French oak and seems dense, full-bodied, powerful and backward as well. Most of the 2004s are far more open than this cuvee and the Bosche, but there is plenty of ripe fruit, moderate tannin and a deep black currant, blackberry, smoky sweetness, with a full, voluminous mouth texture. Give this one another 2-3 years of bottle age and drink it over the following 15-20.” WA
The next best price is $95
Andre Clouet Grande Reserve Brut NV 750ML ($39.95) $36 special
Antonio Galloni 90 points “The NV Brut Grande Reserve emerges from the glass with layers of hazelnut, pear, spice and dried flower aromas. This rich, creamy wine impresses for its balance and sheer richness. I loved it.” AG
Andre Clouet Silver Grand Cru Blanc de Noirs Brut Nature NV 750ML ($39.95) $36 special
100% Grand Cru, 100% Pinot Noir, no dosage
Antonio Galloni 91 points “The NV Brut Nature Silver is naturally a very focused, driven wine given the no-dosage style. This shows wonderful nuance and depth all the way through to the long finish, with bright aromas and flavors but less of the toastiness than some of the house’s other wines. The mousse and finish are both utterly impeccable in their elegance.” AG
Louis Latour Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru 2014 750ML ($149.95) $119 special
Winery note “With a superb pale yellow colour, our Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru 2014 shows an intense and complex nose of grilled almond with lightly smoked notes. Aromas of almond paste blends with flinty notes. The mouth is powerful, generous and frank. We also find grilled notes and fresh almond aromas. Very beautiful length, with nice minerality.”
The next best price is $139
Jancis Robinson “Juice brought to Puligny. Hardly any oak. Vignoble enlarged from 2014 to include another 8 ha, to make a total of 20.5 ha. They have 24 ha in Côte d’Or. Fresh and clean but tricky after tasting Chevalier! Clean and very frank with good acidity.”
The average price is $50
Domaine Fourrier Griotte-Chambertin Grand Cru Vieille Vigne 2014 750ML ($1,199.95) $899 special
VinopolNote: Only 2 bottles available!
Wine Advocate 94-96 points “The 2014 Griottes Chambertin Grand Cru has a very intense bouquet with maraschino, blueberry and violets blossoming in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with succulent ripe black fruit, blueberry and a hint of balsamic, leading to a quite a structured and dense finish that just needs a touch more finesse. I think that will develop with time. Superb.”
Domaine Fourrier Morey-Saint-Denis Clos Solon Vieilles Vignes 2014 750ML ($99.95) $89 special
Wine Advocate 89-91 points “The 2014 Morey St Denis Clos Solon was showing a little reduction on the nose when I tasted it. The palate is much more indicative with a very pure, fleshy and expressive entry — vibrant redcurrant and strawberry, quite linear and structured with a saline tang on the finish. This has great potential.”
Domaine Fourrier Les Petits Vougeots Vieilles Vignes, Vougeot Premier Cru2014 750ML ($179.95) $159 special
Wine Advocate 90-92 points “The 2014 Vougeot 1er Cru les Petit Vougeot (which unlike the Clos Vougeot is “domaine”) offers kirsch, orange zest and apricot blossom on the nose, generous from the start and no coaxing necessary. The palate is medium-bodied with succulent ripe tannin, rounded in the mouth, no smooth edges with pure strawberry and raspberry coulis infused with white pepper and sage. This is a lovely Vougeot from Jean-Marie Fourrier.”
Famille Brechet Domaine des Bosquets Gigondas La Colline 2013 750ML ($69.95) $59 special
Wine Advocate 95 points “Easily one of the wines of the vintage, the 2013 Gigondas La Colline is an incredible wine from a vintage that too often delivers mid-weight, austere wines. Made from almost all Grenache that spent 19 months in 25% new demi-muids (there’s a scant four barrels made), its surprisingly dark color is followed by beautifully perfumed notes of black raspberries, blackberry, licorice, limestone-like minerality and flowers. Full-bodied, layered, silky and ultra-pure, with fine tannin, it’s already hard to resist but will have an easy 10-12 years of overall longevity.”
NEW ARRIVALS: ITALY-TUSCANY
Importer note “The younger brother of Brunello di Montalcino, the Rosso di Montepulciano from Piancornello is a versatile, medium bodied Sangiovese with lots of varietal fruit, including cherries and fresh plums.”
NEW ARRIVALS: ITALY-PIEDMONT
Roagna Paje Vecchie Viti, Barbaresco DOCG 2010 750ML ($199.95) $179 special
Antonio Galloni 95 points “A rich, heady wine, the 2010 Barbaresco Pajé Vecchie Viti is arguably the most complex and nuanced of Luca Roagna’s 2010 Barbarescos, as the balance of fruit, acidity and tannin is magnificent. Deep, pliant and beautifully structured in the glass, the 2010 impresses with its superb harmony. Sweet red stone fruits, chalk, iron, mint and wild flowers are laced into the incisive, tannic finish. This super-classic, old-vine Nebbiolo is the epitome of the ‘iron fist in a velvet glove’ that is often invoked to describe Barolo and Barbaresco. Patience is key.” AG
Roagna La Pira Vecchie Viti, Barolo DOCG 2010 750ML ($199.95) $179 special
Antonio Galloni 96 points “The 2010 Barolo Pira Vecchie Viti emerges from the estate’s oldest vines planted in 1937. Here, the wine is deep, powerful and explosive, with striking inner sweetness but also imposing, searing tannins that are likely to require extended bottle age to soften. A crescendo of aromas and flavors hits the rich, concentrated finish. When will the 2010 be ready to drink? That is anybody’s guess.”
Cascina delle Rose Donna Elena Barbera d’Alba Superiore, Piedmont 2013 750ML ($31.95) $28 special
Winery note “The grapes for this wine are sourced from a specific selection of old clones and the wine is aged in large Slavonian oak barrels for approximately 20 months. Intense ruby red with garnet reflections. Complex bouquet, of macerated fruits (cherry, plum, black cherry), slightly spicy (cinnamon, cloves) with a dark chocolate finish. Good tannic balance. Intense, warm, and persistent with particular elegance and deepness. It paired well with red meats, lamb, medium seasoned cheeses.”
Winery note “Aged in large Slavonian oak barrels for approximately 15 months. Deep ruby red with slight garnet reflections. Show a freshness typical of Barbera with hints of cherry, blackberry, raspberry and cassis. A touch of balsamic gives finesse to the slightly spicy bouquet. Good tannins and persistence. It’s elegant and balanced. It pairs well with red meat, medium cheeses and fish.”
Winery note “Bright ruby red with violet hues and crisp on the palate, with a delicate scent of wild rose and violet, cherry, red fruits and gooseberry. Elegant notes cinnamon and cloves. Good structure and acidity with silky tannins and lovely aromatic persistence.”
Winery note “Bright garnet red. Floral and elegant notes of roses and violet (which is classic of the Tre Stelle); a direct, deep, and clear expression of the vineyard. Notes of fruit (maraschino cherries, berries), vanilla, leather, and tobacco. Dry, balanced and enduring, with dense texture of fine and silky tannins, great elegance and persistence. It goes well with salami, cured ham, red and white meat, and medium-aged cheeses.”
Cascina delle Rose Barbaresco Rio Sordo, Barbaresco DOCG 2013 750ML ($69.95) $59 special
Cascina delle Rose Barbaresco Rio Sordo, Barbaresco DOCG 2013 1.5L ($149.95) $119 special
Winery note “Barbaresco Rio Sordo was born through a severe selection in a vineyard of Nebbiolo grapes. The immediate characteristics are its complexity and deepness accompanied with elegance and finesse. The colour is garnet red with slight orange flecks. The taste is intense and persistent and its intriguing perfume as slight hint of wild fruit, spicy with sensations of leather and pepper. It combines perfectly with important red meats dishes, roasts, mature cheeses.”
Cascina delle Rose Tre Stelle, Barbaresco DOCG 2013 1.5L ($149.95) $119 special
Cascina delle Rose Tre Stelle, Barbaresco DOCG 2013 3L ($299.95) $249 special
Winery note “100% Nebbiolo. Great character, undoubted delicacy and femininity together for a long-lived wine and amazing pleasure even young, thanks to the sleek and silky tannins. Bright garnet red with orange highlights, lively and balanced tannins, notes of roses and violets, ripe plum, licorice, tobacco and chocolate. Finally spicy with elegant ethereal notes. Remarkable persistence. It goes well with game meat and blue cheese, but also young is a perfect partner on every table.”
NEW ARRIVALS: GERMANY
Hirsch Julienas
Back in Stock
If the Chenas from Hirsch presents a rosy elegance, the Julienas prefers a darker, meatier translation of Gamay. The nose is full of wild herbs, with a powerful yet satisfying blend of red fruit, fresh-tilled earth, and flirty yin-yang of flowers and spice on the finish. Such a beautiful display of contrasts here… –Tyler
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Super Sales
We’ve slashed prices on wines from Brunier & Bernabeleva
Vignobles Brunier Piedlong Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Rhone 2012 750ML ($59.95) Was $46, Now $39
VinopolNote: The inaugural vintage of the Piedlong bottling from Brunier is produced from two parcels on the famous Plateau du Piélong. Here are found the sandy soils that produce profound and elegant Chateauneufs. The two parcels (lieu-dit Piélong for the Grenache and lieu-dit Pignan for the Mourvèdre) are adjacent to the famous Le Rayas vineyard and produce wine for 1/10 the price of their famous neighbor…
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 93 points “Deep ruby. Assertive aromas of fresh black and blue fruits, potpourri and garrigue, along with hints of cola and anise. Sappy and seamless on the palate, with juicy boysenberry, cassis and floral pastille flavors that flesh out with air. Fine-grained tannins build on the finish, which lingers with excellent tenacity and resonating spiciness.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Bernabeleva Arroyo del Tortolas, Madrid 2012 750ML ($41.95) Was $33, Now $29
Wine Advocate 94 points “The 2012 Arroyo del Tórtolas is one of their single-vineyard reds, in this case it’s a north facing-slope of 1.25 hectares, planted with 2,200 plants per hectare that are 65 years old. The soil is quite thin and poor, rich in granite. Fermentation is carried out in oak tinas (vats), with stems, but on a higher or lower proportion depending on the vintage, and foot trodden. Malolactic fermentation is in used barriques of different sizes (from 225 to 600 liters) made of French oak where the wine ages for one year. This is the plot of vines that gets more complete ripeness, the nose is very sharp and focused, with notes of good ripeness, some pine cone traces, red berries, flowers and dry herbs. The palate is really supple, straight, vertical, with very good acidity (this is harvested earlier than other plots, as the grapes ripen earlier which somehow provides for better acidity) with fine, velvety and elegant tannins. This is a great expression of Garnacha and, even though it’s not cheap, it still represents good value. Bravo!”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $37
Ostertag Sale
Low, Low Prices on Select Wines In-Stock & Here This Week
Here Now:
Ian D’Agata–Vinous 91 points “Bright pale yellow. Ripe but vibrant aromas of white peach and jasmine. Silky on entry, then round and ripe in the mid-palate, energized by lovely lemony cut. The sweet spice, resin and strawberry flavors show a tactile texture and an almost meaty quality and leave the taste buds vibrating. Displays the lift and verve of this vintage in spades. A great Fronholz.” ID
Now it’s even lower!
The next best price is $39.63
Wine Advocate 94 points “Ostertag’s 2011 Riesling Muenchberg mingles fresh, very ripe apple and pear with candied grapefruit and kumquat rinds, caramelized parsnip, caraway, and fresh ginger, all wreathed in peat-like and charred smokiness, and putting me in mind of a Riesling dosed with Gewurztraminer. There is an uncanny combination of body and high glycerol with brightness here, leading to a finish of exuberant juiciness, zesty cut, interactive complexity and formidable sheer grip. I would anticipate this meriting return visits though at least 2025.” WA
Wine Enthusiast 95 points “Intense and rich, this is impressive, ripe and full-bodied. It has a great texture with the steeliness of Riesling embedded in the richly fruity, concentrated floral and white fruit flavors. Now at the stage where it is good to drink for its fruitiness, it has much more to come. Best to wait until 2018.”
Now it’s even lower!
The average price is $62
Arriving September 9th from Ostertag:
Domaine Ostertag Riesling Muenchberg, Alsace Grand Cru 2013 750ML ($69.95) $41.90 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 95 points “From 30- to 75-year-old vines on red sandstone and volcanic sediments, Ostertag’s 2013 Riesling Grand Cru Muenchberg shows a clear, very precise and deep, multi-layered bouquet with flinty flavors intertwined with tropical aromas; it is absolutely fascinating in its ripeness and intensity. Very deep, rich and fleshy on the palate, with the dense and juicy texture of ripe Riesling mingled with the precisely mineral taste of pure stones and rocks, this is a firm, very complex, highly elegant and persistent Riesling, still fairly stringent in its mouth-watering and salty finish, but with an aging potential of 20+ years.”
James Suckling 94 points “A dense and rich white with a wonderful clarity and brightness plus flowers, strawberry and sliced apple character. Full body, fresh acidity and a mineral, citrus undertone. Made from biodynamically grown grapes. Dry. Drink now.”
Ian D’Agata – Vinous 93 points “Medium yellow. Aromas of fresh peach, orange zest, lemon verbena and flint. Big, fat and broad, with concentrated stone fruit, lime, brown spice and honey flavors. Conveys an element of oiliness buffered by musky herbs and minerality. Finishes long, spicy and honeyed; very Muenchberg! Still very youthful; I’d suggest cellaring it for at least another four years before pulling the cork.”
The next best price is $48.99
The average price is $55
our current shipping specials:
Free service upgrade only applies on single orders purchased and shipped during the promotional period. Additional fees will apply to orders held for any reason until after the promotional period and shipped by Three Day Select. Offer not valid on pre-arrival items that arrive after the promotional period.
–Washington & Idaho for $20,
-to Oregon for $17, and California for $25
Multiple orders consolidated into one shipment do not qualify for flat rate shipping.
Beautiful Breton of Beaujolais
Guy Breton Beaujolais Villages ‘Cuvee Marylou’, Beaujolais 2014 750ML ($27.95) $21.90 pre-arrival special
Josh Raynolds 90 points “Youthful violet. Lively aromas of fresh red berries, lavender and allspice are joined by subtle mineral and anise nuances. Silky, gently sweet and focused, offering nervy red currant and raspberry flavors braced by zesty acidity and a subtle peppery note. Shows good depth but comes off as lithe, finishing with very good clarity and sneaky tannins.”
Guy Breton Morgon, Beaujolais 2014 750ML ($34.95) $28 pre-arrival special
Guy Breton Morgon, Beaujolais 2014 1.5L ($69.95) $59 pre-arrival special
Josh Raynolds 93 points “Vivid ruby. Urgent aromas of fresh dark berries, licorice and incense are accompanied by a suggestion of smoked meat in the background. Sappy and broad on entry, then more taut in the midpalate, offering concentrated boysenberry, bitter cherry and violet pastille flavors and a hint of spicecake. A vibrant mineral flourish adds lift and cut to the finish, which lingers with excellent floral-tinged persistence.”
The next best price for the 750ML is $29.55
The next best price for the magnum is $71
Josh Raynolds 91 points “Brilliant ruby. Mineral-tinged aromas of black raspberry, cherry and lavender pastille, along with a hint of white pepper in the background. Lithe and appealingly sweet, offering dark berry and spicecake flavors lifted by juicy acidity. Shows very good clarity and minerally cut on the finish, which is framed by sneaky, harmonious tannins.”
September Super Sale – Part One
Arriving September 9th
Meyer Fonne Cremant d’Alsace Brut Extra NV 750ML ($24.95) $16 pre-arrival special
Importer note “60% Pinot Auxerrois, 20% Chardonnay, 15% Pinot Blanc, 5% Pinot Noir. The grapes are harvested at a potential alcohol of around 11% and vinified in the méthode champenoise. Around mid-March, the first fermentation is finished and the wine is bottled for the second fermentation, which lasts two to three months. It is left in bottle for at least twelve months before disgorging, when a minimum of dosage is added.”
The next best price is $19.99
The average price is $24
Josh Raynolds 92 points “(made from vines that were reportedly planted between 1935 and 1970; malo and aging in French oak for 20 months): Opaque ruby. Heady, seductively perfumed aromas of dark berry liqueur, cherry-cola, Indian spices and candied violet, with a smoky mineral nuance adding vivacity. Sweet, penetrating and seamless on the palate, offering intense black raspberry and mocha flavors underscored by juicy acidity. At once rich and energetic, finishing with strong thrust, supple tannins and a whiplash of floral pastilles.”
Wine Spectator 91 points “Rich yet harmonious, this polished red delivers a core of black cherry and cassis, framed with smoke, mineral, licorice and espresso notes. Juicy acidity and well-integrated tannins lend structure. In the modern style. Drink now through 2022. 10,000 cases made.”
The average price is $16
Josh Raynolds 90 points “Brilliant violet color. Intensely perfumed dark berry and floral pastille scents, along with suggestions of anise, violet and pipe tobacco. Sweet and expansive on the palate, offering sappy black and blue fruit flavors that put on weight with air. Shows very good energy and power on the long, gently tannic finish, leaving behind notes of blueberry and peppery spices.”
Domaine Gramenon Cotes du Rhone La Sagesse, Rhone 2014 750ML ($37.95) $27 pre-arrival special
Josh Raynolds 91 points “Vivid ruby-red. Potent, mineral-laced red berry liqueur and cherry aromas are complicated by suggestions of peppery spices and garrigue. Lively and alluringly sweet, offering juicy black raspberry and lavender pastille flavors that become deeper with air while maintaining vivacity. Fine-grained tannins build slowly on an impressively long, penetrating finish, which leaves behind suave spicecake and kirsch notes.”
The next best price is $30.40
The average price is $33
Domaine Gramenon Cotes du Rhone Sierra du Sud, Rhone 2014 750ML ($34.95) $24.40 pre-arrival special
Josh Raynolds 91 points “Deep ruby. A complex bouquet evokes musky red and dark berries, cherry pit, olive, dried flowers and pungent herbs. Chewy and focused on the palate, offering gently sweet raspberry, boysenberry, violet pastille and spicecake flavors that become livelier as the wine opens up. Pliant tannins give shape to a very long, spicy finish that features a lingering blue fruit note.”
Wine Advocate 91 points “A smokin’ southern Rhone is the 2014 Côtes du Rhône la Sierra du Sud, which is 100% Syrah, from 15- to 35-year-old vines, that was destemmed and aged in a combination of tank and barrels. Ground pepper, wild herbs, black cherries and the essence of blackberry fruit all emerge from this medium to full-bodied, ripe, layered and beautifully textured 2014. It has more depth and richness than most in the vintage and will keep for upwards of a decade.”
The average price is $30
Montepeloso Eneo Toscana IGT, Tuscany 2011 750ML ($49.95) $39 pre-arrival special
Wine Spectator 93 points “A fresh red, boasting plum, black cherry, spice and leather flavors. The harmony and intensity make this enjoyable now, but the wine should continue to develop over the next five years. Montepulciano, Sangiovese, Alicante and Marselan. Drink now through 2022. 1,500 cases made.”
Antonio Galloni 92 points “Black cherries, raspberry jam, cloves lavender and violets are some of the many notes that take hold of the senses in the 2011 Eneo. This dark, brooding beauty possesses fabulous depth and intensity all the way through to the voluptuous finish. The Eneo is very ripe – in the style of the year – but all the elements are in the right place. The blend is 45% Sangiovese, 35% Montepulciano, 15% Alicante and 5% Marselan.” AG
The average price is $47
Part Two
Arriving September 9th
Importer note “Clos du Roy means ‘vineyard of the king.’ Vines average 40 years old and are grown in calcareous slopes with sand and red clay subsoil. Aged in barrel for 12-16 months, 30% new oak.”
The next best price is $27.93
Regis Bouvier Marsannay Longeroies Vieilles Vignes Rouge 2012 750ML ($37.95) $24 pre-arrival special
Importer note “Les Longeroies means ‘alongside the king.’ Vines average 50 years old and are grown in calcareous slopes. Aged in barrel for 12-16 months, 30% new oak.”
The next best price is $31.97
Wine Spectator: “Savory notes of black olive and tobacco leaf lead the way in this medium-bodied red. The underlying plum and blackberry flavors are matched with fresh acidity and integrated tannins, with an easy, clean finish. Drink now. 190 cases imported.”
The next best price is $17.79
Catherine et Pierre Breton Bourgueil Trinch, Loire 2014 750ML ($24.95) $16 pre-arrival special
Wine Spectator 90 points “Lovely olive, bay and pepper notes stream forth, all well-embedded in a core of crushed plum and blackberry fruit. The bay detail lingers through the finish, showing a leathery echo in the background. Drink now through 2020. 495 cases imported.”
The average price is $22
Maxime Magnon Corbieres Campagnes, Languedoc-Roussillon 2014 750ML ($39.95) $31.90 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 93 points “Leading off the reds, the 2014 Corbieres Campagnes is terrific, and the greatest wine I’ve tasted from the estate in some time. It’s inky purple color is followed by textbook Carignan (it’s 100% Carignan) notes of black and blue fruits, liquid violets, plums, iodine and freshly crushed rock. This medium to full-bodied, elegant, seamless effort shows the potential of the variety and will benefit from 1-2 years of bottle age and keep through 2024.”
The average price is $37
Weingut A.J. Adam Piesporter Goldtropfchen Riesling Grosses Gewachs, Mosel 2014 750ML ($89.95) $69 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 93+ points “From one of the rare ungrafted plots in the grand cru (which was reconstructed in the late 1980s and 1990s) the 2014 Goldtröpfchen Riesling trocken displays a super fine and highly complex bouquet with flinty and herbal aromas intermixed with ripe, elegant Riesling and red cassis flavors; there are also notes of coffee beans, nuts and fruit pips. Full-bodied, highly complex and elegant, this is great and straight terroir Riesling from the Mosel. It is really dry and mineral, nicely piquant and salty, as well as very pure, thanks to the old vines and small but intensely flavored grapes. The finish is enormously long and reveals the great structure, intensity and aging potential of this stunning Goldtröpfchen.”
The next best price is $77.80
The average price is $81
Staff Picks
Franchere Havlin Vineyard Gruner Veltliner, Willamette Valley 2014 750ML ($17.95) $16 special
Domaine Leflaive Macon-Verze, Burgundy 2012 750ML ($49.95) $39 special
Get ‘Em While They’re Hot!
Wines Currently Trending
Caparzo Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Tuscany 2011 750ML ($39.95) $33 special, 36+ bottles available
Antonio Galloni 94 points “The 2011 Brunello di Montalcino is a terrific wine for the year. Sweet red cherry, plum, tobacco, mint, sweet spices and orange peel are all front and center. This is a gorgeous 2011 Brunello that represents everything the vintage can be; open-knit, accessible and polished. I don’t expect the 2011 will be a long-term ager, but it is exceptionally beautiful and delicious today.”
James Suckling 93 points “A ripe, juicy wine with blueberry, chocolate, walnut and cherry character. Round and savory. Silky tannins. Very close quality to the fabulous 2010. Delicious now.”
Giacomo Conterno Francia Barolo DOCG, Piedmont 2009 750ML ($179.95) $128 pre-arrival special, Arriving September 9th
Wine Advocate 96 points “Because Monfortino was not produced this vintage, the 2009 Barolo Cascina Francia benefits from the extra fruit that would have otherwise gone toward the world’s most celebrated Barolo Riserva. I tasted the 2009 Barolo Cascina Francia in barrel two years ago and am delighted by its steady evolution. This is a wine of sophisticated intensity and persuasion. The bouquet peels back to reveal dark fruit, licorice, tar and dried rose. The vintage was warm, resulting in extra plumpness and roundness in terms of mouthfeel. The style is slightly more immediate, but this is a great aging wine nonetheless.”
Antonio Galloni 95 points “Conterno’s 2009 Barolo Cascina Francia wraps around the palate with gorgeous depth. A wine of volume and breadth, the 2009 fleshes out beautifully on the palate with layers of harmonious, silky fruit. Sweet tobacco, mint, flowers, spices and the most beautiful pure fruit all flesh out on the voluptuous, inviting finish. All the elements are in place for the 2009 to develop into a superb Barolo, but readers will have to be patient as the wine was just bottled. I remember what happened the last time Conterno bottled a Cascina Francia, but no Monfortino. The vintage was 2007, and I deeply regretted not having purchased that wine.”
James Suckling 95 points “This has a wonderful long and beautiful style with super fine and persistent tannins. It’s full yet so elegant. The perfumes are of roses and dark fruits while it’s quite savory on the palate. Roberto Conterno made no Monfortino this vintage so declassified the entire production into this wine as he did in 2007. Drink or hold.”
Stephen Tanzer 94 points “Good bright medium red. Deep, expressive nose offers strawberry, camphor, marzipan and earthy minerality. Like liquid silk on entry, then very rich, ripe and sweet in the middle, offering complex notes of red berries, roasted herbs, leather and smoked meat. Finishes sappy and very long, with lush tannins and serious breadth. The tannins are more than supported by the wine’s strong mid-palate material. This wine includes the fruit that would normally go into the Monfortino bottling.”
The average price is $159
Charles Smith K Vintners Milbrandt Vineyard Syrah, Wahluke Slope 2014 750ML ($34.95) $29 special, 36+ bottles available
Wine Advocate 94 points “Probably the greatest vintage of this cuvee to date, the 2014 Syrah Milbrandt Vineyard is 100% Syrah, fermented with 100% whole clusters, that spent 15 months in 20% new French oak barrels and puncheons. This beauty is overflowing with notes of cassis, caramelized meats, licorice and spice, which gives way to a full-bodied, concentrated, superbly textured Syrah that can be enjoyed today, or cellared for a decade.”
Case-12 Vignobles Prissette Villa Symposia Coteaux du Languedoc l’Equilibre 2011 750ML ($249.95) $199 special, 2 cases available
Wine Advocate 91 points “Offering up piercing notes of scrub brush, juniper, sage and some exotic wood qualities, with a core of dark cherry and black raspberry fruit, the 2011 Languedoc Pezenas Equilibre is medium to full-bodied, layered and pure, with fantastic richness that never comes across as heavy or cumbersome. Made from Syrah, Carignan and Grenache and aged in all larger oak, it’s a gorgeous red to drink over the coming 5-7 years.” JD
Reynvaan Family Vineyards ‘The Classic’ Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Walla Walla Valley 2013 750ML ($89.95) $79 special, 30 bottles available
Wine Advocate 94-96 points “First made in 2012, the 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon The Classic comes from vines planted in 2008 and is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. Aged in 40% new French oak, it sports an inky purple color to go with awesome notes of cassis, jammy blackberries, wild herbs and graphite. Full-bodied, fresh and elegant, yet with rocking concentration, this is a serious Cabernet that has the class to drink nicely in its youth, yet the balance, depth and structure to evolve for upward of two decades.”
Reynvaan Family Vineyards ‘The Contender’ Syrah – Marsanne, Walla Walla Valley 2014 750ML ($99.95) $89 pre-arrival special, Arriving September 9th
Wine Advocate 94-96 points “Checking in as a mix of 94% Syrah and 6% Marsanne, the 2014 Syrah The Contender is another elegant, medium to full-bodied, layered wine from this estate that offers plenty of texture and length. Blackberries, violets, plums, pepper and hints of iron all emerge from this beauty, which can be enjoyed on release or cellared for a decade or more.”
Reynvaan Family Vineyards In The Rocks Syrah, Walla Walla Valley 2014 750ML ($99.95) $88 pre-arrival special, Arriving September 9th
Wine Advocate 95-97 points “From a warmer terroir and the estate’s vineyard in The Rocks region of Walla Walla, the 2014 In the Rocks Syrah (5% Viognier) sports an inky purple color to go with flat out gorgeous notes of liquid blackberries, violets, earth and spice. Concentrated, ripe and sexy, it should knock your socks off right out of the gate, yet cruise for 15 years in the cellar.”
Newly Arrived from J Christoffel Jr.
Auslese $24 / ***Auslese $33:
We stole them – so can you…
These are the only listings in the USA today!
Weingut Jos. Christoffel Jr. Christoffel-Prum Urziger Wurzgarten Riesling Auslese***, Mosel 2014 750ML ($59.95) $33 special
VinopolNote on Urziger Wurzgarten: The Urziger Wurzgarten, or ‘spice garden’ is an intensely steep, iron-rich red slate vineyard. Though it’s located right next to the Erdener vineyards, the Ürziger wines are vastly different: the volcanic soils and favorable drainage lead to an earthy, spice-laden, tropical fruit-tinged wine.
VinopolNote: Erderner Prälat occupies a mere 2.2 hectares. Entirely south-facing, the vineyard is surrounded by cliffs which insulate the vines – as a result, Prälat is one of the warmest plots in the region. Over time, it has also become one of the most sought-after vineyards. Given the limited space, only a few winemakers have access to the vineyard.
Arriving This Week
Latta Northridge Vineyard Malbec, Wahluke Slope 2011 750ML ($59.95) Was $49, Now $44 pre-arrival special, ETA September 6th
Wine Advocate 95 points “Rock star stuff, especially in the vintage, the 2011 Malbec Northridge Vineyard gives up classic blackberry, pepper and assorted flowers and spice aromas and flavors to go with a full-bodied, seamless and elegant feel on the palate. Gaining more than one “awesome” in my notes, this should not be missed by any Washington State wine lover. This is a new project by Charles Smith winemaker Andrew Latta, and the wines are awesome across the board. This is one bandwagon to get on. His 2011 Malbec is the best example of the variety I’ve tasted from Washington.”
Winery note “Four Winds is an ideal vineyard site for the fresh, acid driven and austere Chardonnay that we aspire to make. Located high in the foothills of the McMinnville Coast Range, these 20 year old Wente clone vines deliver pristine Chardonnay with personality and restrained elegance.”
VinopolNote “Outstanding! Aged on the lees with no stirring for 20 months in two neutral barrels and one second fill barrel. 100% Wente clone.”
Teso La Monja Romanico, Toro 2014 750ML ($17.95) $14 pre-arrival special, ETA September 9th
Robert Parker 92 points “The 2014 Romanico is the better value of the two, with fabulous, dense blackberry and cassis fruit, with licorice, camphor and forest floor. It is dense, full-bodied, opulent, and a dazzling example of a wine made from modest yields of 31 hectoliters per hectare from their younger and middle-aged vineyards. It is 100% Tinto de Toro and their largest production cuvée. It is a sensational buy at $17.00, tasting more like a wine that costs three times that price.”
Wine Advocate 96 points “Because Monfortino was not produced this vintage, the 2009 Barolo Cascina Francia benefits from the extra fruit that would have otherwise gone toward the world’s most celebrated Barolo Riserva. I tasted the 2009 Barolo Cascina Francia in barrel two years ago and am delighted by its steady evolution. This is a wine of sophisticated intensity and persuasion. The bouquet peels back to reveal dark fruit, licorice, tar and dried rose. The vintage was warm, resulting in extra plumpness and roundness in terms of mouthfeel. The style is slightly more immediate, but this is a great aging wine nonetheless.”
Antonio Galloni 95 points “Conterno’s 2009 Barolo Cascina Francia wraps around the palate with gorgeous depth. A wine of volume and breadth, the 2009 fleshes out beautifully on the palate with layers of harmonious, silky fruit. Sweet tobacco, mint, flowers, spices and the most beautiful pure fruit all flesh out on the voluptuous, inviting finish. All the elements are in place for the 2009 to develop into a superb Barolo, but readers will have to be patient as the wine was just bottled. I remember what happened the last time Conterno bottled a Cascina Francia, but no Monfortino. The vintage was 2007, and I deeply regretted not having purchased that wine.”
James Suckling 95 points “This has a wonderful long and beautiful style with super fine and persistent tannins. It’s full yet so elegant. The perfumes are of roses and dark fruits while it’s quite savory on the palate. Roberto Conterno made no Monfortino this vintage so declassified the entire production into this wine as he did in 2007. Drink or hold.”
Stephen Tanzer 94 points “Good bright medium red. Deep, expressive nose offers strawberry, camphor, marzipan and earthy minerality. Like liquid silk on entry, then very rich, ripe and sweet in the middle, offering complex notes of red berries, roasted herbs, leather and smoked meat. Finishes sappy and very long, with lush tannins and serious breadth. The tannins are more than supported by the wine’s strong mid-palate material. This wine includes the fruit that would normally go into the Monfortino bottling.”
The next best price is $134.95
The average price is $160
Titan from Triton
Well Worth the Wait
That’s Triton of Toro, Not Jupiter!
Arriving in October
Jorge Ordoñez Bodegas Triton Tridente Tempranillo Vino de la Tierra, Castilla y Leon 2015 750ML ($19.95) $18 pre-arrival special
Case-12 Jorge Ordoñez Bodegas Triton Tridente Tempranillo Vino de la Tierra, Castilla y Leon 2015 750ML ($249.95) $189 pre-arrival special
Robert Parker 94 points “The 2015 Triton Tinta De Toro is a stunning wine from this relatively modest appellation and vineyard owned by Jorge Ordoñez and his partners. The wine, 100% Tinto de Toro, spent eight months sur lie in Burgundy and Bordeaux barrels. It is a killer example of Toro, which produces relatively full-throttle, intense wines from ungrafted vines. This beauty, inky purple in color, offers up notes of graphite, forest floor, blackberry and cassis in a full-bodied, pedal-to-the-metal, long, rich and concentrated style. At $20.00 it is a remarkable value and probably capable of lasting up to a decade, although there is no reason to defer your gratification.”
Very Well Worth the Wait
Arriving in October
Weingut A.J. Adam Dhroner Hofberg Riesling Grosses Gewachs, Mosel 2015 750ML ($79.95) $69 pre-arrival special, ETA October
The next best price is $99.97