In This Newsletter:
Rheingau Sale
4 Monos
Stock Up & Save On:
Rheingau Wines
Rheingau Sale
4 Monos
Stock Up & Save On:
Rheingau Wines
While the Mosel Valley captures the majority of press about German wine, the Rheingau was once considered Germany’s finest winemaking region before falling into obscurity itself in the previous century. The topographic isolation provided by confluence of the Taunus Mountains and Rhein River creates an oasis for growing Riesling. In contrast to other growing regions that feature a high percentage of slate, the Rheingau is characterized by high proportions of sandstone and quartzite.
Today, interest and investment has brought the region back into the limelight. Quality-focused estates are becoming, if not common names among the average wine drinker, better known among insiders. The German fine wine association, the VDP, has also helped promote the region and its mostly-dry wines.
There are several notable producers benefiting from the renewed interest in the region, including longtime favorites at the shop: J.B. Becker, Weingut Künstler, and Weingut Prinz.
J.B. Becker crafts ultra-long-aging dry or mostly dry Rieslings from his family’s estate, and has for over fifty years. His wines are structured and heavily-influenced by their terroir, often resulting in notes of saline and iodine that brings to mind Chablis. Their longevity in the cellar is hard to match; even the Kabinetts reliably cellar for decades.
Gunter Künstler, owner and winemaker of Weingut Künstler since taking over from his father in 1992, makes fabulous Rheingau Riesling. He is based in Hochheim, where the river Main branches off of the Rhein River. The vineyards he works with, including the Hölle and Kirschenstück offer rich veins of limestone that impart chalky notes to the wines. These beauties embody grace and openness.
Fred Prinz originally started Weingut Prinz as a “garagiste” or hobbiest winemaker operation in 1991. The critics quickly became enamored, and an invitation to join the legendary VDP consortium followed in 2005. Their estate vineyards are farmed organically, with a house style that aims for “minerality, elegance, finesse and ageing ability” that expresses terroir. With high-elevation holdings in the Rheingau, the winery produces a full range of Riesling’s including the ultra-rare Eiswein.
Browse highlights of our in-stock Rheingau selections below or shop the complete list on our webstore. These are producers that might not get the flashy ad campaigns, but are adored by insiders and professional reviewers for their value, complexity, and agability. Shop now during our three-day sale!
Today, interest and investment has brought the region back into the limelight. Quality-focused estates are becoming, if not common names among the average wine drinker, better known among insiders. The German fine wine association, the VDP, has also helped promote the region and its mostly-dry wines.
There are several notable producers benefiting from the renewed interest in the region, including longtime favorites at the shop: J.B. Becker, Weingut Künstler, and Weingut Prinz.
J.B. Becker crafts ultra-long-aging dry or mostly dry Rieslings from his family’s estate, and has for over fifty years. His wines are structured and heavily-influenced by their terroir, often resulting in notes of saline and iodine that brings to mind Chablis. Their longevity in the cellar is hard to match; even the Kabinetts reliably cellar for decades.
Gunter Künstler, owner and winemaker of Weingut Künstler since taking over from his father in 1992, makes fabulous Rheingau Riesling. He is based in Hochheim, where the river Main branches off of the Rhein River. The vineyards he works with, including the Hölle and Kirschenstück offer rich veins of limestone that impart chalky notes to the wines. These beauties embody grace and openness.
Fred Prinz originally started Weingut Prinz as a “garagiste” or hobbiest winemaker operation in 1991. The critics quickly became enamored, and an invitation to join the legendary VDP consortium followed in 2005. Their estate vineyards are farmed organically, with a house style that aims for “minerality, elegance, finesse and ageing ability” that expresses terroir. With high-elevation holdings in the Rheingau, the winery produces a full range of Riesling’s including the ultra-rare Eiswein.
Browse highlights of our in-stock Rheingau selections below or shop the complete list on our webstore. These are producers that might not get the flashy ad campaigns, but are adored by insiders and professional reviewers for their value, complexity, and agability. Shop now during our three-day sale!
5% off any 3-5 in-stock bottles of Rheingau wines
10% off any 6+ or more in-stock bottles of Rheingau wines
Discount will not display online or in your cart,
Discount does not apply to non-alcoholic wines,
We will adjust your invoice before processing your charge.
Sale ends Tuesday, June 10th at 9 am Pacific.
10% off any 6+ or more in-stock bottles of Rheingau wines
Discount will not display online or in your cart,
Discount does not apply to non-alcoholic wines,
We will adjust your invoice before processing your charge.
Sale ends Tuesday, June 10th at 9 am Pacific.
We offer twenty-six in-stock Rheingau options on sale now, including:
Weingut Kunstler Hochheimer Holle Im Neuenberg Riesling 2020 750ml Displayed Price: $33, that’s $31.35 at 5% off and $29.70 at 10% off, 36+ bottles in stock now
Stuart Pigott (Suckling) 95 points “Enormous concentration and power for just 12.5% alcohol, the ripe peach, apricot and mirabelle aromas still restrained. Then comes the full-bodied, densely packed palate that is still so clean. So much depth at the spectacular, wide-screen finish. From organically grown grapes with Fair’n Green certification. Drink or hold. Screw cap.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Weingut Kunstler Kostheimer Weiss Erd Riesling Grosses Gewachs 2020 750ml Displayed Price: $49, that’s $46.55 at 5% off and $44.10 at 10% off, 36+ bottles in stock now
Stuart Pigott (Suckling) 97 points “A masterpiece from an almost unknown vineyard site. The cool and deep nose pulls you into this very concentrated and supple dry riesling GG that has so much power, packed into a sleek silhouette. Long, silky and chalky finish. Drink or hold.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Weingut Prinz Hallgartener Jungfer Riesling Grosses Gewachs 2020 750ml Displayed Price: $49, that’s $46.55 at 5% off and $44.10 at 10% off, 36+ bottles in stock now
Stuart Pigott (Suckling) 97 points “Very cool and reserved, but with great underplayed power, this is in every sense a very serious wine. Major structure crammed into a sleek package. Stunning depth at the very long, herbal and mineral finish. From organically grown grapes. Drink or hold.”
J.B. Becker Wallufer Walkenberg Riesling Kabinett Trocken 2022 750ml Displayed Price: $33.50, that’s $31.83 at 5% off and $30.15 at 10% off, 19 bottles in stock now
Stuart Pigott (Suckling) 92 points “Very clean and bright for such a warm vintage with delicate floral aromas, this is at once elegant and well structured thanks to the healthy tannins that give this serious presence at the long finish for just 11.5% alcohol. From organically grown grapes. Drink or hold.”
Weingut Prinz Vom Bunten Schiefer Riesling Feinherb 2020 750ml Displayed Price: $16, that’s $15.20 at 5% off and $14.40 at 10% off, 36+ bottles in stock now
Stuart Pigott (Suckling) 92 points “Very clean, crisp and slatey, this has wonderful brightness and lightness of touch. Sleek and tight with a very dry balance for this (theoretically) medium-dry category. Firm finish that doesn’t let go. From organically grown grapes. Drink or hold. Screw cap.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
J.B. Becker Eltviller Sonnenberg Riesling Kabinett, Johannisberg 2022 750ml Displayed Price: $34.50, that’s $32.78 at 5% off and $31.05 at 10% off, 10 bottles in stock now
Stuart Pigott (Suckling) 90 points “Only for those seeking bone-dry wines will this seem anything other than dry. Appealing balance of ripeness, discreet tannin and lively acidity on the medium-bodied palate of this well-structured wine. Plenty of dried pear and apple ring character. Firm finish. From organically grown grapes. Drink or hold.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
August Kesseler ‘R’ Riesling Kabinett 2023 750ml Displayed Price: $16.50, that’s $15.68 at 5% off and $14.85 at 10% off, 36+ bottles in stock now
Stuart Pigott (Suckling) 94 points “What a striking, barely off-dry riesling with a beautiful nose of bergamot, oranges and delicate spicy notes. Terrific structure beneath the wealth of fruit, the delicate spritz lightening this medium-bodied wine that has just 11.5% alcohol. Long, graceful finish. A cuvee of wines from sites in Rudesheim, Kiedrich, Hattenheim. Drink now.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Weingut Josef Spreitzer ‘303’ Oestricher Lenchen Riesling Spätlese 2018 750ml Displayed Price: $49, that’s $46.55 at 5% off and $44.10 at 10% off, 5 bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 92 points “Concentrated, with peach, orange peel and spice aromas and flavors set on a velvety texture. Nicely structured, showing complexity, focus and length due to the acidity, which will help this age gracefully. Best from 2022 through 2036. 50 cases imported.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Weingut Prinz Hallgartener Wurzgarten Riesling Eiswein 2016 375ml Displayed Price: $99, that’s $94.05 at 5% off and $89.10 at 10% off, 10 half-bottles in stock now
Mosel Fine Wines 93 points “AP: 63 17. The 2016er Riesling Eiswein was made from fruit harvested at approx. 120° Oechsle in Bernkastel, Erden and Ürzig on both November 29 and November 30, and was fermented down to noble-sweet levels of residual sugar (143 g/l). It develops a beautifully zesty and fresh nose of candied grapefruit, orange jelly, and spices, joined by riper notes of quince, pear puree, and almond cream after some airing. The wine is superbly balanced and refined on the palate, and leaves a rather pure and smooth feel in the very long and light finish. The sweetness still dominates the acid core in the after-taste at this stage, but this should change after a few years of cellaring. 2024-2036. (Oct 2019).”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Shop our twenty-six Rheingau selections now!
For You,
4 Monos
The friends behind the Spanish winery “4 Monos” (4 Monkeys) fell in love with the Sierra de Gredos during a hiking trip and returned to establish what would quickly become one of the region’s leading producers. Equal parts Mediterranean and Alpine, the region spans three viticultural regions (Méntrida, Vinos de Madrid, and Castilla y León) but represents a terroir all their own. 4 Monos’ wines are tense and evocative, crafted with a minimalist winemaking approach to ensure that the terroir they fell in love can speak for itself.
In Stock Now:
4 Monos Viticultores GR-10 Blanco, Sierra de Gredos 2022 750ml $28 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Luis Gutiérrez-Wine Advocate 91 points “The 2022 GR-10 Blanco has a deeper color but lower alcohol (13.5%) than the 2023 I tasted next to it. Both years had similar cycles, and this one feels a little fresher, with notes of pollen and honey denoting the additional age. It’s round and juicy, with supple flavors and the characteristic bitter twist in the finish. 1,850 bottles produced. It was bottled in July 2023.”
In Stock Now:
4 Monos Viticultores GR-10 Blanco, Sierra de Gredos 2022 750ml $28 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Luis Gutiérrez-Wine Advocate 91 points “The 2022 GR-10 Blanco has a deeper color but lower alcohol (13.5%) than the 2023 I tasted next to it. Both years had similar cycles, and this one feels a little fresher, with notes of pollen and honey denoting the additional age. It’s round and juicy, with supple flavors and the characteristic bitter twist in the finish. 1,850 bottles produced. It was bottled in July 2023.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
4 Monos Viticultores GR-10 Tinto, Sierra de Gredos 2022 750ml $26 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Luis Gutiérrez-Wine Advocate 92+ points “The red 2022 GR-10 Tinto is a blend of 85% Garnacha and 15% Cariñena that fermented with full clusters and matured in barrels of different sizes and one 4,200-liter oak vat for seven months. It’s fruit-driven, the profile of the year, with 13.5% alcohol, good freshness and some more austere tannins as the grapes come from the lower part of Cadalso and Cenicientos. It’s expressive, aromatic and clean, with a medium-bodied palate that is juicy and tasty, with a supple finish. This is delicious and really impressive for the year. It represents very good value for money and a great introduction to the elegant style of the Garnachas from Gredos. They produced some 31,000 bottles. It was bottled in late August and early September 2023.”
4 Monos Viticultures La Danza del Viento ‘Arroyo de las Ánimas’ 2021 750ml $59 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Luis Gutiérrez-Wine Advocate 95+ points “The new single-vineyard red 2021 La Danza del Viento Arroyo de las Ánimas (bottled in 2020 but sold almost exclusively to the Mugaritz restaurant) comes from a plot between the lieux-dits of La Alberca and Lancharrasa between Cadalso and Cenicientos at 960 meters above sea level, with a west exposure but very shady, as it’s on a forest slope. The soil is very shallow degraded gray granite. The wine is perfumed and ethereal, with floral and citrus notes and is structured but with silky tannins. It was picked at the end of September and fermented with 100% uncrushed grapes, mostly full clusters and indigenous yeasts, and the wine matured in 500-liter barrel for 15 months. It has an expressive nose that is floral, with the herbal side from Cenicientos. It has a solid palate with great harmony, fine tannins and supple flavors and a long, clean and focused finish; this is closer to the La Isilla than Molino Quemado but doesn’t quite reach the same refinement and elegance. It has a moderate 13.5% alcohol, with a pH of 3.31 and 5.85 grams of acidity. Only 654 bottles produced. It was bottled in June 2023.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
4 Monos Viticultures La Danza del Viento ‘La Isilla’ 2021 750ml $64.50 special, 9 bottles in stock now
Luis Gutiérrez-Wine Advocate 96+ points “My favorite wine this time was the 2021 La Danza del Viento La Isilla, the single-vineyard red from Cadalso de los Vidrios. It has an ethereal and floral personality that transcends the style of the village. It showcases the vintage with its firm tannins balanced by the tension, length and complexity of the wine. This comes from a vineyard at 860 meters above sea level on very fine sandy soils that they have been recovering since 2013; the grapes were picked in mid-September and fermented with full clusters and a 47-day maceration. It has 2% Cariñena in addition to a majority of Garnacha. The wine matured in 500-liter French oak barrels for 15 months. It has terrific tension, freshness and balance, velvety tannins and a vibrant, symmetric and crystalline finish. It has 13.5% alcohol, a pH of 3.25 denoting very good freshness and 5.56 grams of acidity. This is superb. Only 630 bottles produced. It was bottled in June 2023.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
4 Monos Viticultores ‘Aguja del Fraile’ Sierra de Gredos 2021 750ml $49 special, 24 bottles in stock now
Luis Gutiérrez-Wine Advocate 95 points “The 2021 Aguja del Fraile is their village red from Cadalso de los Vidrios and comes from a number of vineyards (five). It contains around 5% Cariñena and fermented with full clusters and had a longer maceration of 45 days. It matured in 400- and 500-liter oak barrels and five months in a 1,780-liter foudre. It has 14% alcohol and a pH of 3.25 and is fresher and cooler than the previous year. It has contained ripeness but keeping the fruit and the juiciness, with the fine-grained tannins and the strong granite sensation from the village. There’s one more plot in this 2021 from the La Isilla lieu-dit, and they believe this has improved the wine, making it narrower and finer-boned. 1,850 bottles and six magnums produced. It was bottled in June 2023.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
4 Monos Viticultores ‘Cien Lanzas’ Cenicientos, Sierra de Gredos 2020 750ml $33 special, 15 bottles in stock now
Luis Gutiérrez-Wine Advocate 94 points “The 2020 Cien Lanzas was produced with Garnacha (and around 5% Cariñena and Garnacha Blanca) from four plots in Cenicientos. It fermented in concrete and oak vat with a long maceration, and it matured for five months in oak vats and 500-liter barrels and then in a 4,800-liter foudre for another 12 months. It has 14.5% alcohol but doesn’t show it. The expressive nose is very floral coupled with good freshness and mellow acidity. The tannins are similar to previous vintages, but the nose has gained in detail and refinement, which also comes back on the finish. This is the best vintage so far for this bottling. 6,400 bottles and four magnums produced. It was bottled in June 2022.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Browse our 150 in-stock Spanish selections!
Don’t miss our additional sale going on now:
Bartolo & Giuseppe Mascarello
5% off any 3-5 in-stock bottles of Bartolo & Giuseppe Mascarello
10% off any 6+ or more in-stock bottles of Bartolo & Giuseppe Mascarello
Discount will not display online or in your cart,
We will adjust your invoice before processing your charge.
Our Mascarello sale ends Monday, June 9th at 9 am Pacific.