In This Newsletter:
Oregon Classics Sale
Grape of the Week: Nerello Mascalese
Eyrie & Westrey: Oregon Classics Sale
Oregon Classics Sale
Grape of the Week: Nerello Mascalese
Eyrie & Westrey: Oregon Classics Sale
The Eyrie Vineyards
The Eyrie Vineyards is the original winery of the Dundee Hills. Founded by David Lett in 1965. David selected his location after careful consideration, wanting to prove that cool-climate European varieties could thrive in the United States. He planted the first Pinot Noir vines in the Willamette Valley, a prophetic selection.
In 2005, his soft-spoken yet brilliant son, Jason Lett, took over as winemaker and vineyard manager. He explored new varieties, such as Trousseau, without compromising on quality. The winery produces about the same volume it always has, around 9,000 cases annually, keeping the focus on craft and quality. We adore these wines. They are precious beyond measure, a reflection of the Letts’ foresight, knowledge, and hard work.
Westrey
Founded in 1993 by Amy Wesselman and David Autrey, Westrey is a core producer in the Dundee Hills. They are farmers, first and foremost. They’re not bombastic enough to chase the ephemeral fame of trendy styles. Instead, they live their time-tested values. They prize sustainability, sourcing exclusively organic or LIVE-certified vineyards. Their fruit is all dry-farmed, too, because they believe it produces “better wines and respects the scarcity of water.” Their estate vineyard, Oracle, was originally planted in 1977 and revived, quite literally, by Amy and David after they purchased the property in 2000.
Unlike most Willamette Valley estates, Westrey holds back their wines for years before release, doing the cellaring for us. Their wines are beautiful examples of vintages perhaps forgotten, revealing complexities that are easily missed in younger wines.
Shop these two Oregon classic producers during our three-day sale!
In 2005, his soft-spoken yet brilliant son, Jason Lett, took over as winemaker and vineyard manager. He explored new varieties, such as Trousseau, without compromising on quality. The winery produces about the same volume it always has, around 9,000 cases annually, keeping the focus on craft and quality. We adore these wines. They are precious beyond measure, a reflection of the Letts’ foresight, knowledge, and hard work.
Westrey
Founded in 1993 by Amy Wesselman and David Autrey, Westrey is a core producer in the Dundee Hills. They are farmers, first and foremost. They’re not bombastic enough to chase the ephemeral fame of trendy styles. Instead, they live their time-tested values. They prize sustainability, sourcing exclusively organic or LIVE-certified vineyards. Their fruit is all dry-farmed, too, because they believe it produces “better wines and respects the scarcity of water.” Their estate vineyard, Oracle, was originally planted in 1977 and revived, quite literally, by Amy and David after they purchased the property in 2000.
Unlike most Willamette Valley estates, Westrey holds back their wines for years before release, doing the cellaring for us. Their wines are beautiful examples of vintages perhaps forgotten, revealing complexities that are easily missed in younger wines.
Shop these two Oregon classic producers during our three-day sale!
5% off any 3-5 in-stock bottles of Eyrie & Westrey
10% off any 6+ or more in-stock bottles of Eyrie & Westrey
Discount will not display online or in your cart,
We will adjust your invoice before processing your charge.
Sale ends Saturday, June 7th at 9 am Pacific.
10% off any 6+ or more in-stock bottles of Eyrie & Westrey
Discount will not display online or in your cart,
We will adjust your invoice before processing your charge.
Sale ends Saturday, June 7th at 9 am Pacific.
We offer thirteen in-stock Eyrie & Westrey options on sale now, including:
The Eyrie Vineyards Estate Pinot Gris, Dundee Hills 2022 750ml Displayed Price: $24.50, that’s $23.28 at 5% off and $22.05 at 10% off, 5 bottles in stock now
Eric Guido-Vinous 92 points “The 2022 Pinot Gris Estate is delicate, with an understated bouquet of wildflowers and hints of ginger. The entry is round and soothing, contrasted by a reverberation of acid-driven tension as white pit fruits and sour melon nuances swirl throughout. The 2022 tapers off with a pleasantly bitter twang as lime and liquid stone suggestions fade slowly.”
The Eyrie Vineyards Estate Chardonnay, Dundee Hills 2022 750ml Displayed Price: $44.50, that’s $42.28 at 5% off and $40.05 at 10% off, 20 bottles in stock now
Erin Brooks-Wine Advocate 92 points “The 2022 Chardonnay Estate has inviting aromas of dried apples, mixed nuts, beeswax and spicy undertones. The medium-bodied palate offers surprisingly concentrated, savory flavors. Its luxurious, mouth-coating texture is balanced by mouthwatering acidity, and it has a long, flavorful finish.”
The Eyrie Vineyards Estate Pinot Meunier, Dundee Hills 2021 750ml Displayed Price: $44.50, that’s $42.28 at 5% off and $40.05 at 10% off, 8 bottles in stock now
Winery Note “The Estate blend combines Pinot from Eyrie’s 5 certified-organic estate vineyards. Farming is certified organic, but Jason and his team take this only as a starting point. Viticulture at all of the Estate vineyards follows the precepts of regenerative no-till farming, with strict attention paid not just to the vines but to the healthy networks of soil organisms that support them. Not only does this approach avoid the need for artificial irrigation, it also nourishes the vines without the need for additional fertilizer, and captures atmospheric carbon. Picked by hand, our Pinot Meunier is destemmed and put into a variety of fermenters, from small one-ton bins to a 5 ton wooden cuve, to undergo native primary fermentation. Our barrels are mostly neutral—for this vintage, only 8% were new. Having undergone native malolactic fermentation, hand punched twice a day, the 2021 Pinot Meunier was blended after 22 months and then bottled and sealed under Diam cork.”
The Eyrie Vineyards Trousseau, Dundee Hills 2022 750ml Displayed Price: $36, that’s $34.20 at 5% off and $32.40 at 10% off, 7 bottles in stock now
Eric Guido-Vinous 92 points “Remarkably pretty, the 2022 Trousseau mixes savory woodland berries with rosemary, sage and hints of wet stone. It opens with a pretty inner sweetness and crisp red berry fruits, taking on a tinge of spice and white pepper toward the close. It finishes incredibly fresh and clean, tapering off with medium length and a pleasantly crunchy sensation.”
The Eyrie Vineyards Estate Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills 2021 750ml Displayed Price: $49, that’s $46.55 at 5% off and $44.10 at 10% off, 24 bottles in stock now
Eric Guido-Vinous 94+ points “The 2021 Pinot Noir Estate lifts from the glass with a mentholated freshness, giving way to dried roses and strawberries. Silky and enveloping, it possesses a core of vividly ripe wild berries and sweet herbal tones that resonate over a tactile staining of saline minerals. Grippy tannins saturate through the long, spicy finish as repleting inner florals and bitter hints of licorice fade.”
The Eyrie Vineyards Sisters Vineyard Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills 2021 750ml Displayed Price: $59, that’s $56.05 at 5% off and $53.10 at 10% off, 2 bottles in stock now
Eric Guido-Vinous 94 points “The 2021 Pinot Noir Sisters blossoms in the glass with woodland berries and herbs complicated by allspice and clove. The palate is round and supple with cooling acidity and ripe wild berries cascading throughout, leaving a sweet spice tinge toward the close. This finishes with remarkable freshness, a gentle sour citrus twang, and slowly fading hints of red plum. The 2021 is already showing beautifully, but there’s the balance to excel over the next five to seven years of cellaring. (Drink between 2025-2035).”
Westrey Pinot Gris, Willamette Valley 2018 750ml Displayed Price: $18, that’s $17.10 at 5% off and $16.20 at 10% off, 14 bottles in stock now
Decanter 93 points “A showy and opulent Pinot Gris with six years of bottle age, this wine defies expectations of simplicity for the variety aromatics of ripe stone fruits and dried white flowers with a hint of clover honey. The palate shows richness, honeyed peach and nectarine flesh, and dried notes of tarragon and mint offer complexity and freshness, showing the real ageability of this stalwart Willamette Valley varietal.”
Westrey Reserve Chardonnay, Willamette Valley 2017 750ml Displayed Price: $33, that’s $31.35 at 5% off and $29.70 at 10% off, 2 bottles in stock now
Decanter 92 points “[Tasted July 2024] The 2017 Reserve Chardonnay from Westrey balances richness wonderfully with saline minerality and savoury dried florals. Chamomile, white pepper and seaspray aromatics play nicely with smoky grilled lemon notes. The palate shows savoury lemongrass, oyster shells and piquant notes of citrus rind alongside spiced pear, with white pepper carrying the finish. Drinking Window 2024-2029.”
Westrey Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2021 750ml Displayed Price: $24, that’s $22.80 at 5% off and $21.60 at 10% off, 12 bottles in stock now
Decanter 89 points “Tasted July 2024] A dense and riper-styled Pinot Noir from Westrey, 50% of the fruit from Carlton Hill Vineyard and the other half from Holmes Gap in the Van Duzer Corridor. Dark berries and forest floor notes mark the aromatics, and the palate is dusty blackberries with hints of wild herbs with a zippy acidity to lighten the finish. Drinking Window 2024- 2030.”
Westrey ‘Nadja’ Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2021 750ml Displayed Price: $49, that’s $46.55 at 5% off and $44.10 at 10% off, 8 bottles in stock now
Decanter 90 points “A dark and redolent barrel selection from the 2021 vintage, the Nadja carries a Willamette Valley designation and is focused on ripeness and fleshy black fruits. Notes of cola spice and kirsch aromas announce a concentrated, fruit-forward Pinot Noir expression. The palate shows flashes of baking chocolate, dark black plums and Christmas spice. Rich and ripe.”
It’s an oversimplification to describe Nerello Mascalese as Sicilian Pinot Noir, but it’s a fitting comparison given how well the Italian grape exceeds at reflecting it terroir. The indigenous grape is grown along the slope of Mount Etna, the irascible volcano on Sicily’s eastern coast. We have Marc de Grazia, proprietor of the Terre Nere estate, to thank for bringing international fame to these wines by way of his wine importing and wine making acumen.
Likely an offspring of Sangiovese, Nerello Mascalese offers a near-perfect lens through which to explore the volcanic soils of its homeland in some of Europe’s highest elevation vineyards. The wines are deeply perfumed and complex, showing berry and spice notes alongside myriad others. With crisp acidity, medium-body and -tannins, and a moderate depth of color, you’d be forgiven for mistaking this for a Burgundy or cool-climate Syrah. But there’s more to the wines than just a French facsimile, especially given the availability of ancient-vine bottles at modest prices.
Highlights of Nerello Mascalese & Blends In Stock Now:
Calabretta Nerello Mascalese Vigne Vecchie Sicilia IGT 2015 750ml $34.50 special, 22 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 93 points “The 2015 Nerello Mascalese Vigne Vecchie is simply stunning, erupting from the glass with a burst of crushed black cherries, cloves, blood orange and hints of dusty earth. This is soft-textured, nearly fleshy in feel, with a core of tart red berry fruits offset by sour citrus as rosy inner florals form toward the close. It finishes with staining length and concentration, just lightly structured, leaving a sensation of hard red candies to fade. This is a vibrant vintage of Vigne Vecchie, but it possesses the balance for further evolution.”
Calabretta ‘Gaio Gaio’ Rosso, Sicily 2022 750ml $21.90 special, 6 bottles in stock now
100% Nerello Mascalese
Winery Note “Red wine from young vines planted in the Calderara Sottana district after rigorous mass selection, and partly without rootstock. The fruity character and delicate floral soul suggest a young, tasteful and drinkable wine. We recommend drinking it even in summer…with the help of an ice basket.”
Cusumano Alta Mora Guardiola Etna Rosso, Sicily 2014 750ml $59 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 95+ points “The 2014 Etna Rosso Guardiola is a wine of unique beauty and character. Having seen this stunning vineyard in person and climbed its steep ascent on the flank of the volcano, I am immediately reminded of the warm smells that come from these sun-scorched soils and the wild herbal notes that come off the scrub brush that grows in this harsh, otherworldly environment. This wine offers an immediate sense of place. The bouquet is elegant, almost ephemeral at first. It grows exponentially in intensity and complexity as the wine takes on more air in the glass. Give it the time it merits. Tangy acidity and sour cherry keep the palate very much alive. Congratulations to Cusumano of Alta Mora for this authentic taste of Etna inspiration. Only 5,310 bottles were made. Fruit comes from a three-hectare vineyard with 120-year-old vines.”
Girolamo Russo ‘San Lorenzo’ Etna Rosso, Sicily 2021 750ml $69.50 special, 4 bottles in stock now
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 96+ points “The Girolamo Russo 2021 Etna Rosso San Lorenzo is a very exciting wine with so much energy and verve. It opens to lean-bodied concentration with a brilliant ruby shine. The wine shows a long array of wild fruit and tiny berry aromas backed by crushed white pepper and crushed stone. San Lorenzo is one of the most impressive interpretations of Etna. I highly recommend you try and cellar this wine.”
Tenuta delle Terre Nere ‘Bellacolonna’ 20th Anniversary Calderara Sottana Rosso Etna 2022 750ml $44.50 special, 36 bottles in stock now
James Suckling 95 points ‘This is a special bottling for the 20th anniversary of the estate. It has depth and intensity with a medium to full body, a creamy stone and basalt texture, red fruits and a mushroom and bark undertone. The linear, vivid finish goes on and on. Needs time to open. Be patient.”
Tenuta delle Terre Nere ‘Dagala di Bocca d’Orzo’ Etna Rosso 2022 750ml $138 special, 4 bottles in stock now
James Suckling 99 points “This is really alluring with a density and a creamy, silky texture that goes on and on. Medium- to full-bodied, it has great texture and length with raspberries and some dried orange peel. Subtle, seductive and caressing. Drink or hold”
Tenuta delle Terre Nere Feudo di Mezzo Etna Rosso 2022 750ml $49 special, 4 bottles in stock now
Eric Guido-Vinous 93 points “Rosy and perfumed, the 2022 Etna Rosso Feudo di Mezzo opens with a lovely bouquet that blends dried flowers with crushed strawberries and hints of lavender. This displays textures of pure silk with a lifted and finessed feel. Tart wild berry fruits add a lovely inner tension.”
Tenuta delle Terre Nere Prephylloxera La Vigna di Don Peppino Calderara Sottana Etna Rosso 2022 750ml $165 special, 7 bottles in stock now
Eric Guido-Vinous 96 points “Darkly alluring and youthfully backward, the 2022 Etna Rosso Prephylloxera La Vigna di Don Peppino Calderara Sottana smolders up with a blend of sweet spices, dusty violets and ash, giving way to dried black cherries, sage and cloves. This is velvety yet finessed, with a polished wave of ripe red and blue fruit that flows across a juicy stream of acidity. Hints of sour citrus add contrast toward the close. It finishes remarkably fresh and energetic, still tannic but lively, as crunchy tannins resonate and an air of lavender slowly fades. This is an elegant and genuinely harmonious edition of this cuvée. Simply stunning.”
Tenuta delle Terre Nere Santo Spirito Etna Rosso 2022 750ml $49 special, 6 bottles in stock now
James Suckling 96 points “Dark and purple fruits with sliced mushroom and crushed stone, as well as terra-cotta and red-earth character in both the nose and palate. Full and powerful with chewy tannins and muscle. Good depth of fruit. Citrus fruit, too. It turns very perfumed and intense. Chewy at the end. Needs time to soften. Try after 2027.”
Likely an offspring of Sangiovese, Nerello Mascalese offers a near-perfect lens through which to explore the volcanic soils of its homeland in some of Europe’s highest elevation vineyards. The wines are deeply perfumed and complex, showing berry and spice notes alongside myriad others. With crisp acidity, medium-body and -tannins, and a moderate depth of color, you’d be forgiven for mistaking this for a Burgundy or cool-climate Syrah. But there’s more to the wines than just a French facsimile, especially given the availability of ancient-vine bottles at modest prices.
Highlights of Nerello Mascalese & Blends In Stock Now:
Calabretta Nerello Mascalese Vigne Vecchie Sicilia IGT 2015 750ml $34.50 special, 22 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 93 points “The 2015 Nerello Mascalese Vigne Vecchie is simply stunning, erupting from the glass with a burst of crushed black cherries, cloves, blood orange and hints of dusty earth. This is soft-textured, nearly fleshy in feel, with a core of tart red berry fruits offset by sour citrus as rosy inner florals form toward the close. It finishes with staining length and concentration, just lightly structured, leaving a sensation of hard red candies to fade. This is a vibrant vintage of Vigne Vecchie, but it possesses the balance for further evolution.”
Calabretta ‘Gaio Gaio’ Rosso, Sicily 2022 750ml $21.90 special, 6 bottles in stock now
100% Nerello Mascalese
Winery Note “Red wine from young vines planted in the Calderara Sottana district after rigorous mass selection, and partly without rootstock. The fruity character and delicate floral soul suggest a young, tasteful and drinkable wine. We recommend drinking it even in summer…with the help of an ice basket.”
Cusumano Alta Mora Guardiola Etna Rosso, Sicily 2014 750ml $59 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 95+ points “The 2014 Etna Rosso Guardiola is a wine of unique beauty and character. Having seen this stunning vineyard in person and climbed its steep ascent on the flank of the volcano, I am immediately reminded of the warm smells that come from these sun-scorched soils and the wild herbal notes that come off the scrub brush that grows in this harsh, otherworldly environment. This wine offers an immediate sense of place. The bouquet is elegant, almost ephemeral at first. It grows exponentially in intensity and complexity as the wine takes on more air in the glass. Give it the time it merits. Tangy acidity and sour cherry keep the palate very much alive. Congratulations to Cusumano of Alta Mora for this authentic taste of Etna inspiration. Only 5,310 bottles were made. Fruit comes from a three-hectare vineyard with 120-year-old vines.”
Girolamo Russo ‘San Lorenzo’ Etna Rosso, Sicily 2021 750ml $69.50 special, 4 bottles in stock now
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 96+ points “The Girolamo Russo 2021 Etna Rosso San Lorenzo is a very exciting wine with so much energy and verve. It opens to lean-bodied concentration with a brilliant ruby shine. The wine shows a long array of wild fruit and tiny berry aromas backed by crushed white pepper and crushed stone. San Lorenzo is one of the most impressive interpretations of Etna. I highly recommend you try and cellar this wine.”
Tenuta delle Terre Nere ‘Bellacolonna’ 20th Anniversary Calderara Sottana Rosso Etna 2022 750ml $44.50 special, 36 bottles in stock now
James Suckling 95 points ‘This is a special bottling for the 20th anniversary of the estate. It has depth and intensity with a medium to full body, a creamy stone and basalt texture, red fruits and a mushroom and bark undertone. The linear, vivid finish goes on and on. Needs time to open. Be patient.”
Tenuta delle Terre Nere ‘Dagala di Bocca d’Orzo’ Etna Rosso 2022 750ml $138 special, 4 bottles in stock now
James Suckling 99 points “This is really alluring with a density and a creamy, silky texture that goes on and on. Medium- to full-bodied, it has great texture and length with raspberries and some dried orange peel. Subtle, seductive and caressing. Drink or hold”
Tenuta delle Terre Nere Feudo di Mezzo Etna Rosso 2022 750ml $49 special, 4 bottles in stock now
Eric Guido-Vinous 93 points “Rosy and perfumed, the 2022 Etna Rosso Feudo di Mezzo opens with a lovely bouquet that blends dried flowers with crushed strawberries and hints of lavender. This displays textures of pure silk with a lifted and finessed feel. Tart wild berry fruits add a lovely inner tension.”
Tenuta delle Terre Nere Prephylloxera La Vigna di Don Peppino Calderara Sottana Etna Rosso 2022 750ml $165 special, 7 bottles in stock now
Eric Guido-Vinous 96 points “Darkly alluring and youthfully backward, the 2022 Etna Rosso Prephylloxera La Vigna di Don Peppino Calderara Sottana smolders up with a blend of sweet spices, dusty violets and ash, giving way to dried black cherries, sage and cloves. This is velvety yet finessed, with a polished wave of ripe red and blue fruit that flows across a juicy stream of acidity. Hints of sour citrus add contrast toward the close. It finishes remarkably fresh and energetic, still tannic but lively, as crunchy tannins resonate and an air of lavender slowly fades. This is an elegant and genuinely harmonious edition of this cuvée. Simply stunning.”
Tenuta delle Terre Nere Santo Spirito Etna Rosso 2022 750ml $49 special, 6 bottles in stock now
James Suckling 96 points “Dark and purple fruits with sliced mushroom and crushed stone, as well as terra-cotta and red-earth character in both the nose and palate. Full and powerful with chewy tannins and muscle. Good depth of fruit. Citrus fruit, too. It turns very perfumed and intense. Chewy at the end. Needs time to soften. Try after 2027.”
Don’t miss our additional sale going on now:
Gerard Boulay
5% off any 3-5 in-stock bottles of Gerard Boulay
10% off any 6+ or more in-stock bottles of Gerard Boulay
Discount will not display online or in your cart,
We will adjust your invoice before processing your charge.
Gerard Boulay sale ends Friday, June 6th at 9 am Pacific.