Searching For Perfection: The 100 point Chateau Pavie 2000

March 2017
pavie

There’s a world of difference between 99 and 100 points. In terms of prestige, collectability and rarity, that extra point might as well be a hundred.  The 2000 Bordeaux vintage, when it was released, was hyped as the “millennium vintage” both because of the date and because of the quality relative to any vintage of the 90’s (and earlier). In 2000, no wine generated more hype than Chateau Pavie.  One of the standout wines of the right bank, it received a 100 point score from Robert Parker in a retrospective tasting and has cemented itself as one of the classic Bordeaux of recent memory.  We have a single magnum to offer–a rarity of the first order. We hope it might find a good home in your cellar.… Read the rest

Wine of the Day: Zorzal Tinto de Tiza – 96 Points Decanter

March 2017

Zorzal Tinto de Tiza

Zorzal makes wines that never cease to impress. Their 2014 Eggo Tinto de Tiza just caught Decanter’s palate, earning itself a 96-point score in the British wine magazine along with being tagged a “Top Ten Exciting Buy.” We knew the sleek, sublime power of this wine, and the rest of the Zorzal range, long before Decanter tasted it, so we have a range of the never-oaked Eggo wines for you to try, including a Pinot Noir, a Cabernet Franc, and a Sauvignon Blanc. At $26 a bottle, the 2014 Tinto de Tiza is a wine to enjoy as often as you crave.

zorzal tinto de tizaZorzal Eggo Tinto de Tiza, Tupungato, Argentina 2014 750ML ($39.95) Buy Now: $26 special, 36+ bottles available
Decanter 96 points ‘Top 10 Exciting Buys’ “Refreshing, beautiful nose with herbal and minty cool notes but also some chalky, mineral nuances so characteristic of the Gualtallary terroir.… Read the rest

Wine of the Week: Quintessa Rutherford Red

March 2017

Deal of the Week from Quintessa!

In stock now:

Quintessa BottleQuintessa Red, Rutherford 2013 750ML ($199.95) $128 special
James Suckling 98 points “This is really fantastic on the nose with blackberry, blueberry, lavender, and violets. Even sage. Full body plus extremely integrated tannins that are polished and refined. The balance and harmony is phenomenal. Goes on for minutes. Beautiful now but will satisfy for decades. (5/3/16)”

Robert Parker 96 points “The 2013 Proprietary Red Wine has always been good, but I think they have re-positioned themselves at a much higher pinnacle with the 2013. This is a Cabernet Sauvignon-dominated blend but has important component parts such as Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Petit Verdot from their gorgeous vineyards just off the Silverado Trail in Rutherford.… Read the rest

Wine of the Day: Poggio Scalette’s Il Carbonaione 3/3/17

The experience of stumbling across a small vineyard or winemaker in Tuscany can be moment that forever changes your expectations of what Sangiovese can be. The first time we dipped into the Il Carbonaione from Poggio Scalette was just that special. Try it and see for yourself.

scaletteThe estate, which had been largely abandoned to active cultivation after the death of the previous owner, come into new hands and the fortunate discovery of Sangiovese di Lamole, planted just after the first World War, reinvigorated the estate. The vineyard may be the only example planted primarily to this classic member of the Sangiovese family. In the early nineties Vittorio Fiore came to make the wines from this special place. The results, year after year, have been singular in their depth, spice and underlying fruit.… Read the rest

Wine of the Day: Pian dell’Orino Brunello di Montalcino 2011 3/2/2017

Pian dell’Orino

Soldera. Biondi Santi. The two giants of Brunello. Pretty soon it looks like we might be able to add Pian dell’Orino to that list. Brunello insiders have known about the wines for several years now, but the secret seems to be getting out. We don’t get a lot of these wines, but we have enough to offer them today and we’re really excited to share them with you.

Piano dell’Orino combines two things that make great wine estates: good land and obsessive ownership. Caroline Pobitzer and Jan Hendrik Erbach, the owners and driving force behind these wines, have a take-no-prisoners approach to ensure that they make the finest wines in Brunello. From careful, biodynamic farming to native yeast fermentions, the wines are traditional in style but made with the utmost care, so they have silky tannin and elegant structures.

… Read the rest