In Today’s Newsletter:
Rare & Classic New Arrivals:
Redigaffi & Ornellaia
Second Chance on La Paulee
Mugneret-Gibourg
Last Call on Giuseppe Rinaldi!
Eisele Estate- Sale Pricing Must End Sunday at Midnight!
Rare & Classic: Bond & Shafer
Domaine du Chateau de Chorey New Offer
& Last Call on Chandon de Briailles
Trending Grand Marques Champagne Offers
2010 Prado Enea Reloaded!
100 Point Ports
1967 Chateau Gilette
Rare & Classic: Alion & Grange
Quilceda Creek
2015 Petalos
Rare & Classic New Arrivals
Round One, Italy
Tua Rita Redigaffi Toscana IGT, Tuscany 2004 750ML ($249.95) $199 super special, 5 bottles available
Wine Spectator 98 points “Very complex yet subtle aromas of licorice, dark chocolate, violet and raspberry. Full-bodied, with supersilky tannins and a long, long finish. Harmonious and wonderful. Reminds me of the great 1997; even better. Merlot.”
The next best price is $215
Tenuta dell’ Ornellaia Ornellaia Bolgheri Superiore, Tuscany 2006 750ML ($249.95) $199 super special, 6 bottles available
Antonio Galloni 97 points “The 2006 Ornellaia flows from the glass in a profound expression of ripe, dark fruit. With time in the glass layers of minerals, cassis, tar, sweet herbs and French oak emerge, adding further complexity. This harmonious Ornellaia combines the richness of the vintage with superb freshness and awesome balance. Today the wine’s sheer density almost manages to hide the tannins, but they are there, and the wine will ultimately benefit from a few years in the cellar. The 2006 Ornellaia is one of the highlights of this sensational Tuscan vintage.”
Wine Spectator 95 points “Dark in color, showing loads of dark fruits on the nose, as well as licorice and berries and hints of mint and cedar. Full-bodied, with refined yet chewy tannins and a ripe berry, coffee and chocolate aftertaste. New wood barrels shine through. But it will all come together with bottle age. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Best after 2012. 12,080 cases made.”
The average price is $224
Second Chance on La Paulee
Best Oregon Pinot Deal We’ve Ever Offered
Is Back
Scott Paul La Paulee regularly retails for around $40. As the benchmark price on Willamette Valley Pinot Noir slowly creeps up to that spot, we’re offering two of the greatest deals on this wine: less than half its historic average! We’ve secured a new allocation, but don’t think you can sleep on this offer – it sells out before it arrives!
Re-Arriving Tuesday, October 23rd
Bright, fresh, back on Tuesday. For now…
Scott Paul La Paulee Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2013 750ML ($39.95) $18 pre-arrival special
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 91 points “Deep red. Bright and energetic on the nose, displaying intense red berry and blood orange scents, along with candied rose and allspice highlights. Silky, sweet and incisive on the palate, offering juicy strawberry and floral pastille flavors and a spicy kick of white pepper. Closes very long and nervy; fine-grained tannins lend shape and closing grip.”
Wine Enthusiast 91 points “Sophisticated and subtle, this lovely wine expresses varietal elegance, with a bouquet of roses and raspberries to begin. The jumble of pretty fruits is framed with citrus peel and a dusting of chocolate.”
Neal Martin-Wine Advocate 90 points “The 2013 Pinot Noir la Paulee comes from fruit sourced from Maresh and Nysa in the Dundee Hills, Azana in Chehalem and from the Ribbon Ridge, matured for ten months in neutral oak. It has a very natural, Côte de Beaune-like bouquet with ample brambly red fruit with hints of black tea developing with aeration. I appreciate the focus and definition here. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannin, smooth in the mouth with just a faint honeyed note. Tart red cherries mingle with redcurrant and strawberry, segueing into a poised and fulsome finish. This should drink well over the next 7-10 years and represents great value.”
The average price is $25
Scott Paul La Paulee Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2014 750ML ($39.95) $18 pre-arrival special
Winery Note “Brilliant red in color. The spicy nose starts with being savory and leads into an array of fresh raspberry, brambleberry, and marionberry. Finely pronounced tannins combine with layers of fresh elderberry and a great balance of acid are folded into razor focused tannins which has the palate finishing with class. Our home in Carlton, Oregon (a 1915 brick creamery) is an ideal spot to revel in the virtues of Pinot Noir, as we pursue Pinot Perfection. Our sustainably farmed vineyards are among the Willamette Valley’s finest (and dare we say, most perfect). Our 2014 bottling is a selection of superior lots from our blocks of Maresh and Nysa Vineyards in the Dundee Hills and Ribbon Ridge and Azana Vineyards on the Chehalem Mountains. Bold, bright berry flavors unite with a bounty of rose, spice and cherry aromas. Pure Oregon Pinot Noir.”
The average price is $38Don’t Miss These Two Trending Top Values in Oregon Pinot!
New Score & Re-Arriving Today:
Wine Spectator 95 points “Impressive for the polished texture and elegant complexity, offering vibrant raspberry, orange peel and spice flavors that gain momentum toward refined tannins. Drink now through 2023.”
Final Call on ’16 Ahurani
Re-Arriving Friday
(For the last time!)
Kelley Fox Wines ‘Ahurani’ Pinot Noir Momtazi Vineyard, McMinnville 2016 750ML ($27.95) $24 pre-arrival special
Grapelive 94 points “One of Oregon’s talented new generation of winemakers Kelley Fox has released her latest Ahurani Pinot Noir from the biodynamic vines at Momtazi Vineyard in the McMinnville AVA. It’s a beauty. In 2016 (as in 2015) Fox used 100% whole cluster, and it’s produced from blocks on the top of the tallest hill of the vineyard. This block selection cuvee is remarkably fresh and vivid in a vintage that some found warm and even over-ripe in places… At 13% it’s as refined and bright as you’d want [and] wonderfully balanced. Fox, after long stints at Eyrie and Scott Paul wines, started her own winery with the 2007 vintage and has gained a stellar reputation ever since. [She] is one of the region’s rising stars with absolutely star quality wines with this offering of Ahurani being an exceptional value in her lineup… The ripe and warm year really allows the use of whole bunch and stems here and it shows that the total harmony found here in this gorgeously detailed Pinot. Fox’s wonderful touch and judgement are also on full display too, as there is the perfect amount of tension and stemmy thrill to go with the graceful and silky fruit. This is a wine that grabs your attention and seduces you with purity of flavor, texture, subtle perfume and dreamy length. The palate is surprisingly complex and mouth filling considering the restrained natural alcohol. This Ahurani retains an energy and acidity profile that is fresh and vibrant that provides an excellent stage to show the vivid layers of black cherry, pomegranate, wild plum and strawberry fruits, liquid mineral, a touch of earth, sweet/minty Thai basil/herbs, peppery cinnamon and a heady mix of floral elements and woodsy chanterelles. Air and time in the glass allows this youthful Pinot Noir to gain an even more intriguing and engaging charm. Its color seems to become even more translucent and glowing with a bright ruby and garnet core. [There’s] a touch of rose petal, a cut of orange tea, and a nice play of spice and sexy blue fruits on the aftertaste. This 2016 is easy to love even now, but I can really imagine things developing further over the next 2 or 3 years in bottle. I am absolutely blown away with this latest set of Kelley Fox wines. This is not a label to miss, especially her Pinot Blanc and this Ahurani Pinot Noir!”
The next best price is $29.99
Mugneret-Gibourg
Aiming for Perfection
A Burgundy Classic
Arriving October 30th
We’re receiving almost 50 precious bottles of Domaine Mugneret-Gibourg on October 30th. We’ve featured the five vintages of Echezeaux below. Check out our web store to see all 24 wines on offer!
Domaine Georges Mugneret-Gibourg Echezeaux Grand Cru 2014 750ML ($599.95) $499 pre-arrival special, only 1 bottle available
Wine Advocate 93-95 points “The 2014 Echézeaux Grand Cru comes from the usual two parcels in the vineyard that are harvested on the same day as usual and co-fermented. The 80% new oak is beautifully integrated with ebullient red cherry, raspberry and vanilla scents — a bewitching bouquet. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin, the fruit effortlessly soaking up the new oak, leaving you with an intense, mineral-rich finish with a saline tang on the aftertaste. A divine Echézeaux.”
Domaine Georges Mugneret-Gibourg Echezeaux Grand Cru 2013 750ML ($599.95) $499 pre-arrival special, only 2 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 94 points “Good bright, deep red. Complex, subtle aromas of raspberry, redcurrant and graphite minerality, plus some sexy oak tones. Ripe and silky, even plump for the year, but classically dry and light on its feet. Saturates the mouth and cheeks without leaving any impression of heaviness. At this point in my tasting, Marie-Christine Mugneret noted that these 2013s had been uncorked the previous evening. They are showing spectacularly now and I suspect they benefited dramatically from aeration. Finishes with very suave, even tannins and a suggestion of minty lift. Very classy juice.”
The next best price is $539.99
Domaine Georges Mugneret-Gibourg Echezeaux Grand Cru 2009 750ML ($579.95) $519 pre-arrival special, only 2 bottles available
Antonio Galloni 95 points “The 2009 Echézeaux comes across as rich, powerful and totally seductive. It shows considerable richness and depth in a more immediate style than the 2010. The aromatics and nuance of the 2010 are missing, but in exchange readers will find a deep, fleshy wine that will deliver considerable pleasure with minimum cellaring. I especially like the intensity of the finish.”
Domaine Georges Mugneret-Gibourg Echezeaux Grand Cru 2008 750ML ($559.95) $479 pre-arrival special, only 3 bottles available
Antonio Galloni 95 points “The 2008 Echézeaux is flat-out great. It is a deep, dark wine graced with exquisite balance, lovely inner perfume and a layered, eternal finish. Here the slightly higher percentage of new oak (70%) gives the wine an additional measure of volume. The Echézeaux is made from two parcels; Les Rouges du Bas (just in front of Clos Vougeot) and Les Quartiers de Nuits (next to Clos Vougeot) vinified together. Everything of the Echézeaux is first-class.”
Domaine Georges Mugneret-Gibourg Echezeaux Grand Cru 2005 750ML ($699.95) $599 pre-arrival special, only 1 bottle available
Stephen Tanzer 92+ points “Bright deep red. Pungent spices, redcurrant and tobacco on the very ripe nose. Lush and sweet in the middle but with no excess weight. This really spreads out to saturate the palate, offering excellent depth of flavor. Finishes with big but ripe tannins that will require patience.”
Just click here for a full list in our web store.
Last Call on Giuseppe Rinaldi!
A Trove of Beppe’s Finest
Rare Vintage Wines from Giuseppe Rinaldi
The late Giusppe (“Beppe”) Rinaldi was a true titan of traditional, old-school Barolo. He was an icon—a man who made firm, ageworthy wines even when the market only wanted glossy modern styled Barolo. The wines are landmark, collectible and scarce. We’ve been working on sourcing a parcel for some time and finally have the opportunity to present these to you, arriving in a few weeks.
Arriving October 23rd:
Just four bottles available
Giuseppe Rinaldi ‘Brunate-Le Coste’, Barolo DOCG 2009 750ML ($329.95) $299 pre-arrival special
Antonio Galloni 96 points “Dark cherries, plums, cloves, violets, incense, orange rind and tobacco meld together in the 2009 Barolo Brunate-Le Coste. A massive, powerful Barolo, the 2009 boasts stunning depth, power and richness, all in a relatively open style for this estate. I imagine the 2009 will drink well relatively early for top-flight Barolo, but it has fabulous class and intensity.”
Just one bottle available
Giuseppe Rinaldi ‘Brunate-Le Coste’, Barolo DOCG 1998 750ML ($359.95) $319 pre-arrival special
Antonio Galloni 97 points “The 1998 Barolo Brunate-Le Coste from Giuseppe Rinaldi, also from magnum, looks like a fake, as Rinaldi sold me a few magnums years ago, but insisted that I put on the labels myself, which I did, and with little skill. No matter, the wine is big, rich, intense and everything one could ask for.”
Just one bottle available
Giuseppe Rinaldi ‘Tre Tine’, Barolo DOCG, 2011 750ML ($219.95) $199 pre-arrival special
Wine Spectator 94 points “This silky and alluring red boasts flavors of rose, raspberry and strawberry, backed by firm, refined tannins. This is an elegant wine that remains long and focused on the aftertaste, where the fruit echoes and a mineral element emerges. Best from 2018 through 2032. 750 cases made.”
Antonio Galloni 93 points “Rinaldi’s 2011 Barolo Tre Tine is super-expressive and gorgeous today. Dark red cherry, plum, cloves, new leather, rose petal and mint notes are all wonderfully alive and delineated. The Tre Tine is a blend of fruit from Ravera, Cannubi-San Lorenzo and Le Coste, all in the town of Barolo. In the warm 2011 vintage, the significant presence of fruit from Ravera, a high-altitude site, gives the Tre Tine its sense of freshness and linear energy. The Brunate is a bit richer and creamier, but today, I have a slight preference for the Tre Tine, as it is fresher, more vibrant and better balanced, at least today. Best of all, the 2011 will drink well with minimal cellaring.”
Eisele Estate- Sale Pricing Must End Sunday at Midnight!
“This is one of the greatest terroirs in all of Napa Valley, if not all of California… the greatness from this fabulous terroir continues unabated.” –Robert Parker
In Stock & On Sale Now:
Eisele Vineyard Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2015 375ML ($349.95) Was $289, Now $249 Special Eisele Sale Price, only 10 half-bottles available!
Eisele Vineyard Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2015 1.5L ($1,299.95) Was $1,149, Now $959 Special Eisele Sale Price, only 5 magnums available!
Wine Advocate 100 points “Medium to deep garnet-purple in color, the 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon charges from the gate with exuberant red and black cherries notes, black currants and mulberries with a beautiful roses and lavender perfume, plus hints of sandalwood and cinnamon stick. Full-bodied, concentrated and downright explosive in the mouth, it is still wearing loads of gorgeous puppy-fat fruit flavors, offering suggestions of the complex, multilayered blockbuster that it will emerge into. The structure deserves its own mention: wonderful, seamless freshness and oh-so-fine, pixelated tannins, with an extraordinary persistence of fruit and mineral nuances. Wow.”
The next best price for the 375ml is $299
The next best price for the 1.5L is $1,099.97
Where are the 750ml bottles? – sorry, sold out!
Skurnik Imports Notes “Syrah was first planted on the estate in 1978. After making wine from the few remaining vines in 1991 and 1993, a serious commitment to this ancient and noble grape was made, increasing the plantings in the vineyard. Eisele Syrah is a profound, mysteriously compelling wine that reveals yet another aspect of the Eisele Vineyard’s unique terroir.”
Rare & Classic New Arrivals
Round Two
Extraordinary Napa
Robert Parker 97 points “The brilliant 2013 Melbury ratchets up the level of extract, with an opaque purple color, dense blueberry liqueur-like notes along with white flowers, licorice, and camphor followed by a full-bodied, incredibly seamless, concentrated, multidimensional wine. With its amazing depth and richness, while accessible now, it probably won’t hit its stride for another 5-7 years and last 30-35.”
The average price is $550
Robert Parker 96+ points “Much more structured, muscular, tannic and intense is the 2013 Quella, which exhibits blackberry notes, licorice, some truffle, graphite and damp earth, huge fruit, a muscular, full-bodied mouthfeel, and a long, moderately tannic finish. Forget it for a few years and drink it over the following 25-30+ years.”
The average price is $582
Robert Parker 99 points “The 2013 St. Eden is absolutely mind-blowing, with notes of blackcurrant liqueur and licorice as well as hints of Asian soy and lead pencil. Wonderful fruit that hits the palate with a cascade of glycerin, silky but noticeable tannins, and a big, earthy, rich, full-throttle, majestic finish of close to a minute add to this wine’s compelling personality. It should drink well for at least 30-40 years.”
The next best price is $499.95
The average price is $572
Robert Parker 100 points “The 2013 Pluribus is the finest wine I’ve tasted from this vineyard to date, capturing the vintage’s extraordinary purity and richness, with a multidimensional mouthfeel and incredible notes of blue and black fruits, charcoal, graphite and white flowers. This profound effort should hit its prime in another 5-10 years and evolve for 30-40 or more.”Bond Vecina, Napa Valley 2013 750ML ($619.95) $519 super special, 1 bottle available
Robert Parker 100 points “The perfect 2013 Vecina offers up notes of pen ink, scorched earth, espresso, blackcurrant liqueur and blackberries. It is a fabulously great wine, with supple, well-integrated tannin, decent acidity, and a skyscraper-like mouthfeel, with extraordinary purity and richness. This is an amazing wine to drink over the next 50 years, although I would probably suggest cellaring for five or more at present.”
The average price is $587
Antonio Galloni 96 points “The estate’s 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon Hillside Select is one of those rare wines that looks like it will be absolutely delicious pretty much at any point in its life. Super-refined and silky, the 2008 caresses the palate with layers of deeply expressive dark fruit. The 2008 is a wine of exceptional textural finesse and pedigree. According to Doug Shafer, cool weather in the spring resulted in small clusters with high skin to juice ratios, always a plus for high quality wines. Today the 2008 does not look like a huge Hillside Select, but is rather a wine built on polish and elegance. It will be interesting to see if the 2008 fills out in bottle, or it remains more restrained in its personality.”
The average price is $244
Arriving October 23rd
DRC
Don’t miss our recent offers on Armand Rousseau, Hudelot-Noëllat or De Villaine!
Arriving October 26th
Near-Exclusive and All Best Offers
Domaine du Chateau de Chorey
Late Release of Winery-Cellared Gems
Burghound 90-92 points “Sweet Spot Outstanding. A very floral and exceptionally fresh nose of rose and violets introduces detailed, fine and sweet middle weight flavors that are supple, pure and complex, all wrapped in a balanced, long and refined finish. This is an understated wine of harmony and style.”
The next best price is $69!!
Burghound 90 points “Outstanding. Discreet touches of wood spice and forest floor also add nuance to the slightly riper and very fresh fruit aromas that lead to rich, full and sweet flavors that are both delicious and serious as well as unusually concentrated for the vintage. Very solid quality here and worth a look.”
David Schildknecht-Wine Advocate 92 points “From the sixty year old vines rooted I chalk and flint that in my experience here (since 1985) nearly always give the most memorable but also the most austere Germain wine of a vintage, their 2006 Beaune Les Cras Vieilles Vignes displays formidable concentration and grip. Ripe black cherry and purple plum with their pits; roasted meats; peat, chalk and stone; bittersweet herbal extractions and nippy spices are the building blocks of this unusually structured 2006. There is also a juiciness of rare meat and fresh berries and a resinous sappiness to compliment the austerity of this wine’s adamant mineral expressions. The feel is firmer and the chalkiness far more pronounced than with any of the other Chateau de Chorey 2006s, but at the same time this is purest in fruit. I would plan on following this for at least a decade.”
David Schildknecht-Wine Advocate 91 points “The Germain 2008 Beaune Teurons displays aromas of roasted chestnut, cassis, nutmeg, cinnamon, blond tobacco, and vanilla, which follow on a palate of considerable friskiness and berry-freshness, underlain by notes of chalk, moss, and other aspects of forest floor. The piquancy of brown spices is especially prominent in a palate-staining finish that in no way betrays this energetic wine’s over-14% alcohol. Look for at least 10-12 years of fascination.”
On the subject of great values in Burgundy….
Chandon de Briailles
Grand Finale
Domaine Chandon de Briailles Corton-Bressandes Grand Cru, Cote de Beaune 2013 750ML (149.95) $79 pre-arrival special, only 25 bottles available!
Burghound 91-93 points “This too is quite reduced yet from barely perceptible fruit seems fresh. As is usually the case there is slightly finer mouth feel to the broad-shouldered flavors that also possess fine mid-palate concentration, all wrapped in a firmly structured but not hard finish. This is youthfully austere with just a hint of rusticity and this too will definitely require patience.”
Wine Spectator 91 points “This is spicy, with sandalwood, vanilla, green olive and wild berry flavors building from start to finish. Balanced in a lean, tightly wound style, presenting a lingering, spicy aftertaste. Best from 2018 through 2032. 334 cases made.”
The next best price is $100
The average price is $114
Wine Spectator 94 points “This needs air to reveal the deep cherry and raspberry flavors. Pure, with mineral and earth details adding grace notes. Though balanced, this will require time for the structure and flavors to meld. Fine length. Best from 2020 through 2035. 367 cases made.”
Burghound 93 points “Reduction presently dominates the nose and I would again strongly suggest decanting this first if you’re going to sample a bottle before 2 to 3 years of age. On the palate there is a seductive texture to the velvety, complex and attractively mineral-inflected medium weight plus flavors that possess a fine sense of balance and deliver excellent finishing persistence along with impressive depth. This too is textbook.”
The next best price is $99.97
The average price is $116
Burghound 92-95 points “Sweet Spot. A markedly ripe yet elegant nose that consists of rose petal, plum liqueur, lilac, spice and wet stone aromas is trimmed in enough wood to notice. The very rich, intense and wonderfully vibrant big-bodied flavors evidence obvious minerality on the mouth coating and impressively long finish. This is a big and refined effort that is very much built-to-age so patience required.”
The next best price is $140
The average price is $165
Wine Spectator 93 points “All the elements are here in this young red. The raspberry and cherry flavors are pure, framed by subtle oak spice notes and supported by a firm structure. The finish echoes fruit and spice details despite closing up a little. Best from 2019 through 2032. 98 cases made.”
Burghound 90-93 points “Reduction. Here the big-bodied flavors are both bigger and richer with fine volume and density before terminating in a velvety, palate coating and muscular finish. This is old school in style but not at all hard or even especially rustic though note well that patience will be required.”
The next best price is $107.90
Wine Spectator 93 points “Though concentrated, this is also lean and chewy, with big, dusty tannins framing blackberry and blueberry fruit. Good acidity keeps this focused, though this will need some time for the structure to resolve. Fine length. Best from 2022 through 2036. 15 cases imported.”
Burghound 91-94 points “This too manages to be at once very ripe but attractively fresh with its liqueur-like aromas of dark currant, plum, lilac and warm earth. The powerful yet sleek medium weight plus flavors brim with dry extract thanks to the concentrated amount of sappy dry extract that imparts a velvety mouth feel to the hugely long finale. This is less rustic than it usually is though with that said, it’s less refined than its two big boy stablemates.”
The next best price is $135.99
The average price is $136
Trending Pre-Arrival Offer
Arriving October 26th
2004 Krug
“2004 is clearly superior to the consistently underwhelming 2002” –Antonio Galloni
“There’s a controlled power to this poised, vinous, linear 2004… It has a luminous freshness and good density” -Decanter
“There is marvelous precision here on both the nose and palate, not to mention a sense of harmony and grace” –John Gilman, A View from the Cellar
“The poise is unquestionable” –James Suckling
Krug Brut, Champagne 2004 750ML ($299.95) $248 pre-arrival special
Antonio Galloni 97+ points “Krug’s 2004 Vintage is absolutely mesmerizing. Layers of bright, chiseled fruit open up effortlessly as the wine fleshes out with time in the glass. Persistent and beautifully focused, with a translucent sense of energy, the 2004 captures all the best qualities of the year. Moreover, the 2004 is clearly superior to the consistently underwhelming 2002 and the best Krug Vintage since 1996. Readers who can find it should not hesitate, as it is a magical bottle.”
Decanter 97 points “… It has a luminous freshness and good density without heaviness. There’s a controlled power to this poised, vinous, linear 2004, displaying candied fruits, minerals, gingerbread, white chocolate, caramel and marzipan. This has a long, dry autolytic finish, great balance and lovely bead…”
John Gilman 97 points “The new release of 2004 Krug is absolutely beautiful and is already quite elegant and open on both the nose and palate and is drinking with great finesse. I had expected this wine to be a bit more steely in structure out of the blocks, but the refinement of the blend this year has produced a wine that is already a joy to drink at age thirteen, though it will continue age gracefully for many, many decades to come…”
James Suckling 97 points “This is an extremely fresh edition and remains in a restrained mode with an intense serve of Chardonnay’s lemon citrus dominating the nose alongside lime zest, bright florals, grassy elements, fresh dough, white stones and very subtle background spice. The palate has a svelte and elegant shape…”
The average price is $288Additional Champagne Gems Arriving October 26th:
James Suckling 99 points “A mind-blowing wine. This is super subtle and intense with aromas of peaches, light strawberry and cream. Also shows rose petal and cooked peaches. Medium to full body, with ultra-fine tannins that feel like fine silk. The finish goes on for mintutes. It floats across the palate. The winemaker says the closet vintage to this is the 1990, but I think this is better.”
Antonio Galloni 95 points “The 2005 Dom Pérignon Rosé is intriguing, complex and multi-faceted. Brisk and refreshing, with a slightly herbal (but not unpleasant character), the 2005 is superb today. Over time, the wine has acquired a bit more depth and body than it showed at the outset. Even with all of its depth, though, I would not suggest cellaring the 2005 too long given the challenges of the year. Hints of blood orange, mint, sage and dried flowers add the closing shades of nuance.”
Wine Spectator 95 points “This rosé Champagne is rich and vinous, offering smoky minerality up front, expanding to show dried raspberry, mandarin orange zest, brioche and espresso crème flavors that ride the fine, lacy mousse. Spice and mineral details persist on the racy finish. Drink now through 2027.”
Wine Enthusiast 95 points “This Champagne is beautifully mature, its ripe fruit and soft texture magnified by toast and yeast. Rich and full bodied, its fine acidity keeps it in great condition. With a crisp aftertaste that gives it a delicious lift, it’s ready to drink now.”
The average price is $325
James Suckling 97 points “This is a DP that shows the ripeness of the 2009 vintage yet remains full of energy. Gorgeous aromas of cream, apple, mango, honeysuckle, and chalk follow through to a full body and super fine, tight texture. Dense and agile. Vinous. It’s like a top grand cru white Burgundy. Think Batard-Montrachet. More depth than the 2006. Drink now.”
Decanter 96 points “…Still a youngster, this will grow greatly by 2019. A more stylish son of the ’03, and cousin of the slender and charming ’06. Disgorged June 2016.”
Antonio Galloni 94+ points “The 2009 Dom Pérignon is a gorgeous, totally seductive Champagne that will drink well right out of the gate… It is not as overtly flamboyant as the 2002 nor as phenolically intense as years like 2003 and 2006. Instead, the 2009 is a beautifully balanced Champagne, with all of its elements in the right place.”Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin Brut Rose, Champagne 2008 750ML ($99.95) $69 pre-arrival special
Gilbert & Gaillard 97 points “Coppery orange-pink. The nose is shy on first pour then delivers delicate red fruit, dried fruit and mild spice notes after swirling. Fleshy attack, fine bubbles and superb freshness. A tense, elegant rose. Hugely successful, almost a foregone conclusion.”
2010 Prado Enea Reloaded!
Your Second Chance at First Growth Rioja
Muga’s top-end “Prado Enea” bottling is a wine that represents the best of Rioja. Produced only in great years and held extensively before release, this is one of the top examples of traditional Rioja and will age and deliver pleasure like a top Bordeaux—only a lot less expensive.
2010 was about as perfect a year as you could hope for in Rioja, with warm but not hot weather and a dry harvest. Muga took advantage of this and has made one of their best ever bottlings of Prada Eneo. This edition is 70% Tempranillo with the balance made up of Garnacha and Mazuelo—grapes the provide freshness and lift to go with the brooding power of the flagship grape.
We sold through our first tranche of this wine back in the spring but have secured another round, arriving in November. It’s exciting to offer this to you again, though quantities are still quite limited. Act now to secure yours before the wine disappears again.
Arriving in November:
Bodegas Muga ‘Prado Enea’ Gran Reserva, Rioja DOCa 2010 750ML ($89.95) $69 pre-arrival special
James Suckling 99 points “The wonderfully silky texture with an added juiciness is what makes this wine so very special. The flawless and seamless nature to the wine is so impressive that it takes your breath away. Plenty of beautiful fruit but what mouthfeel. Drink now and forever.”
Wine Advocate 97 points “I was really looking forward to the 2010 Prado Enea Gran Reserva, as I’ve seen a very good improvement in this cuvée in the last few vintages, and 2010 is one of the more-balanced vintages of recent times. This is the most classical among the wines in the portfolio, the one with the longer élevage, a little bit like the wines from yesteryear but with today’s knowledge about vineyards and vinification/élevage. This has settled to a blend of approximately 70% Tempranillo, 20% Garnacha and the remaining 10% between Mazuelo and Graciano, from the cooler, higher-altitude vineyards, which means they only bottle it every two or three years. In recent years, 2007 and 2008 were not bottled. It ferments in small oak vats built by their own tonneliers, and they like to delay malolactic until the spring by opening the windows so the cold from outside comes into the winery. For the aging, each variety goes into separate barrels racked from newer to older barrels to complete some 36 months or three years. It has very healthy and balanced parameters, and that’s what the wine feels like. It’s still young. It’s never a dark wine, more of a ruby or bright color, and it has a nose of youth, subtle and elegant. But the quality shows in the unbelievable elegance and harmony on the palate, where the tannins are very fine, the flavors are subtle but deep and the length is just phenomenal. This is only medium-bodied, with perfect ripeness and integrated acidity. This should have a very long life in bottle, especially as I had the chance to check the evolution of the 2004 next to this. 90,000 bottles were produced from 2010. The following vintages will be 2011, 2014 (a small bottling) and 2015.”
The average price nationally is $71
Light, fresh and beautiful
Bodegas Muga Rosado, Rioja DOCa 2017 750ML ($17.95) $14 special
Josh Raynolds 92 points “Pale orange. A highly aromatic bouquet displays fresh red berry and citrus zest scents, along with suave mineral and floral flourishes. Dry and focused on the palate, offering bitter pomegranate, redcurrant and blood orange flavors that take a deeper and sweeter turn with air. Finishes with intense mineral cut and excellent clarity, leaving persistent red berry and floral notes behind.”
The Best Value in the Shop?
Muga Reserva 2013
Tasting the 2013 Riserva, you’d think it was a wine from a seriously excellent vintage—it’s a wine worth remarking upon, priced so you can drink it on more than just a special occasion. We secured as much of this as we could so we could offer you this special pricing. Don’t pass it up.
In Stock Now:
Bodegas Muga Reserva, Rioja DOCa 2013 750ML ($27.95) $21.90 special
Case-12 Bodegas Muga Reserva, Rioja DOCa 2013 750ML ($299.95) $219 special (that’s only $18.25/bottle!)
James Suckling 92 points “This is an excellent 2013 with such purity and finesse. Cherry, stone and light cedar aromas follow through to a full body, very fine tannins and a fresh and clean finish. Hints of cedar. It shows a focused energy. Drink now.”
Wine Advocate 90 points “Jorge Muga told me he’s very proud of their 2013 Reserva, which he considers the most challenging vintage he’s seen: cold, rain, botrytis, vigor, mud … horrible! They only produced this Reserva, there’s no Selección Especial Torre Muga or Prado Enea, and they even produced less than the average volume of this bottling. This is the year they introduced optical sorting for the grapes, and they reckon that really helped to achieve the quality of this wine. In this price range and volume, it has to be one of the best wines in Rioja in 2013. It has the classical Muga character, polished and drinkable.”
The average price is $28
100 Point Ports
In Stock Now
If you’re looking for them around Christmas, you’ll be out of luck!
Taylor Fladgate Vintage Port 1994 750ML ($249.95) $219 special, 6 bottles in stock nowWine Spectator 100 points “In a word, superb. It’s full-bodied, moderately sweet and incredibly tannic, but there’s amazing finesse and refinement to the texture, not to mention fabulous, concentrated aromas of raspberries, violets and other flowers. Perhaps the greatest Taylor ever, it’s better than either the ’92 or the ’70, though it’s very like the ’70 in structure.”Taylor Fladgate Vintage Port 2003 750ML ($119.95) $99 special, 25 bottles in stock now
Taylor Fladgate Vintage Port 2003 1.5L ($299.95) $249 special, 6 magnums in stock now
Robert Parker – Hedonist’s Gazette 100 points “I noticed the Chinese love to have both a sweet wine and a vintage port at the end of a meal, which is pretty much over-kill for me. However, I was blown away by the 2003 Taylors vintage port. The Great Wall of China, Black Tie Dinner.”
Pierre Ravoni – Wine Advocate 95 points “The 2003 Taylor’s has a lovely ripe, primal bouquet of blackberry, raspberry, vanilla and marmalade that shows slightly better delineation than the Fonseca. The palate is medium-bodied with very composed, refined tannins that belie the heat of that summer. There is wonderful focus here and fine tension, the finish offering precise notes of black cherries, mulberry, cloves and white pepper. This is one of the finest Ports of a precocious vintage. Tasted May 2013.”
1967 Chateau Gilette
The Best a Sauternes (of that age or quality or provenance) this price can get!
A Chateau Cellar-Release
Wine Spectator 99 points “[Reviewed 2012] Combines the bitter orange and matchstick-tinged aspects of the ’75 with the layers of dried mango, papaya and fig of the ’79. Then there’s extra glazed pear, date, green tea and Grand Marnier notes chiming in on the gloriously sweet and supple finish. Tasted non-blind at the château.”
Neal Martin 96 points “[Reviewed 2014] The Chateau Gilette Creme de Tete 1967 is perhaps the wine that really convinced me how great this wine can be. It has the finest bouquet of several older vintages: tangerine, beeswax, pine needles and cumin, that opens wonderfully with aeration. The palate is beautifully balanced with an allspice, dried orange peel, marmalade and white pepper. This is very harmonious and elegant with a long, tender finish not far removed from a Tokaji Aszu! Lovely. Drink now-2030+.”
Alion Ribera del Duero 2008 ($119.95) $89 super special, 6 bottles available
Wine Advocate 95 points “If I was asked to hold up a bottle of what modern Ribera del Duero should taste like and what is should aspire to, the 2008 Alion would be the one in my hand. It has more intensity and volume on the nose when compared directly with the 2007. Tasted in February 2012, and then in January 2013, it remains a fabulous expression of Ribera del Duero. It boasts of heavenly bouquet of black plum, crushed violets and tobacco that soar from the glass, while displaying a level of delineation that would serve a lesson to many of its peers. The palate is medium-bodied with supple, silky-smooth tannins that belie the structure underneath. The acidity lends the 2008 a little more edginess than the 2007, while the finish has a wonderful sense of symmetry and focus. World class. Drink 2016-2025+.”
The average price is $94
Penfolds Grange, Australia 2001 750ML ($469.95) $379 super special, 6 bottles available
Wine Advocate 98+ points “It is always a treat to taste Australia’s most famous wine, Penfolds’ Grange cuvee (the word Hermitage has been dropped because of legal issues). The 2001 Grange is one of the few vintages of this cuvee to be composed of 100% Shiraz (the others being 1951, 1952, 1963, 1999, and 2000). Aged 17 months in 100% American oak, and tipping the scales at 14.5% alcohol, the 2001 is undeniably one of the top examples of this wine. At this stage, it appears to eclipse the 1998 and 1996. Inky/blue/purple to the rim, with a stunning perfume of blueberries, blackberries, chocolate, graphite, and earth, it boasts good acidity, huge tannins, magnificent concentration, and a multilayered, textured mouthfeel. It is a big, but impeccably well-balanced Shiraz that should shed some of its structure and tannin over the next 4-5 years, and be at its best between 2010-2030+.”
The average price is $462
Quilceda Creek
Not Listed Online
Limited Quantities
In Stock Now
To order, please reply to this email, call or stop in!
Jeb Dunnuck 97 points “The 2015 Palengat is a Cabernet Sauvignon-heavy blend that includes 13% Merlot and 6% Cabernet Franc. This gorgeous red offers a deep, rich, opulent style in its blackcurrants, baking spice, tobacco leaf, and graphite aromas and flavors. Possessing beautiful purity, ultra-fine tannin, a big, rich, concentrated style that somehow stays light and graceful, it’s a sensational, elegant wine that will keep for 15-20 years.”
Wine Advocate 95 points “The 2015 Palengat Vineyard is already quite expressive, wafting from the glass with sweet aromas of ripe red and black cherries, pencil lead, licorice and a nicely integrated framing of toasty new oak. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied, supple and expansive, cutting a broad swath across the palate, with its ample chassis of velvety tannins concealed by a generous core of succulent fruit. The finish is long and subtly oak inflected. It’s already drinking well and should be worth following for a dozen years. Unabashedly pleasure giving and texturally polished, the Palengat is one of the highlights of Quilceda Creek’s 2015 portfolio. It’s a blend of 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Merlot, and 6% Cabernet Franc that spent 20 months in 100% new French oak.”
Jeb Dunnuck 98+ points “Coming all from Red Mountain and 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Galitzine Vineyard spent 21 months in all new French oak. Deep inky plum/purple-colored with a huge nose of blackcurrants, singed herbs, black licorice, and scorched earth, this beast of a Washington State Cabernet has building tannin, a huge mid-palate, and a great, great finish. It needs to be forgotten for 3-4 years but will keep for 2-3 decades.”
He Loves Me Not
He Loves Me &
New Vintage of Petalos
Is Almost in Stock
Descendientes de J. Palacios ‘Petalos’, Bierzo 2015 750ML ($21.95) $18 pre-arrival specialCase-12 Descendientes de J. Palacios ‘Petalos’, Bierzo 2015 750ML ($249.95) $189 pre-arrival special (that’s only $15.75/bottle and the lowest listed price in the USA today!)
Wine Advocate 92+ points “The entry level 2015 Pétalos del Bierzo, their regional wine, in the new official category that will start working in the appellation from the 2017 vintage, a blend of many different vineyards planted with field blends, where the breakdown might come to some 5% white varieties (Valenciana/Doña Blanca, Godello and Palomino/Jerez) and around 1% other reds (Pan y Carne, Negrada and Gran Negro), all from vines ranging between 40 and 90 years of age on slopes (half of the grapes around the village of Corullón and the remainder in the rest of Bierzo). It’s a showy, approachable, aromatic and open version of Pétalos, and as I tasted it later on in the season, it felt more polished and round, with a lush texture. It’s extremely aromatic, in a way similar to the 2012. This is always one of the best values not only of Bierzo but for the whole of Spain. 310,000 bottles and 2,000 magnums produced.”
The average price nationally is $20