Saturday Special 8-8-20

Alain Jaume’s Domaine Grand Veneur is a trailblazer in Chateauneuf du Pape that continues to make some of the finest wines in the appellation.  These are some of the most dramatic, powerful and opulent bottlings made in the Southern Rhone today and the prices they charge make them a steal compared to their nearest competitors.

Grand Veneur was one of the first in the region to use new oak barrels and consistently use more Syrah and Mourvèdre to than many of their peers, resulting in wines that have color and power than wines that driven by Grenache for their character. The flagship is clearly the Vieilles Vignes—a wine that is on par with Clos de Papes, Janasse’s “XXL” and Clos St. Jean’s top cuvees, but is still less than $100 a bottle—for now.  That said, the other wines offer excellent value, as well, from the drink-now, traditionally minded “Miocene” to their full-throttle “Les Origines.”

We’re offering you a Subscriber-only special on the Grand Veneur wines—5% off mix and match orders of 6-11 bottles and 10% off 12+ bottles.  That includes our Case-6 specials, so if you want to stock up, now’s the time!  This special pricing is valid only until we open for business at 10AM on Tuesday, so don’t delay!

5% Off Any 6-11 bottles of Domaine Grand Veneur Wines
10% Off Any 12+ bottles of Domaine Grand Veneur Wines
Offer includes Case-6 specials
Offer Ends Tuesday, August 11th at 10AM
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In Stock Now:

Domaine Grand Veneur Chateauneuf-du-Pape Vieilles Vignes, Rhone 2017 750ML ($119.95) $89 Displayed Price, that’s $84.55 at 5% off or $80.10 at 10% off!
Case-6 Domaine Grand Veneur Chateauneuf-du-Pape Vieilles Vignes, Rhone 2017 750ML ($719.95) $479 Displayed Price, that’s $455.05 at 5% off or $431.10 at 10% off! (that’s only $71.85/bottle!)
Jeb Dunnuck 97+ points “The 2017 Châteauneuf Du Pape Vieilles Vignes is a bigger, richer, more opulent wine. Beautiful notes of blackcurrants, scorched earth, graphite, and crushed violets, all flow to a full-bodied, Châteauneuf Du Pape that has a voluptuous, sexy texture, brilliant depth of fruit, fine tannins, and a purity of fruit that’s hard to find in this vintage. It’s a thrill a minute, and while it’s approachable today, it will keep for 15-20 years. 416 cases.”
Decanter 96 points “Grown on galets, the fruit for this wine is all destemmed and fermented in stainless steel before being aged for 16 months, half in concrete and half in new barriques. The strong Mourvèdre component comes through as deep, ripe dark fruits and violets. It’s full-bodied and dense with soft, lush tannins, and is held together by a beam of strong acidity, finishing long. A lithe, muscular, impressive wine that will last the course. Just 5,000 bottles made.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average listed price is $120
 

Domaine Grand Veneur Chateauneuf-du-Pape Les Origines, Rhone 2017 750ML ($69.95) $52.50 Displayed Price, that’s $49.88 at 5% off or $47.25 at 10% off!
Case-6 Domaine Grand Veneur Chateauneuf-du-Pape Les Origines, Rhone 2017 750ML ($419.95) $289 Displayed Price, that’s $274.55 at 5% off or $260.10 at 10% off! (that’s only $43.35/bottle!)
Jeb Dunnuck 95+ points “The 2017 Châteauneuf Du Pape Les Origines takes things up a notch on the serious scale and has a much more concentrated, focused, structured style. A blend of 50% Grenache, 30% Mourvèdre, and the rest Syrah that saw 50% new barrels, it offers a rich, concentrated, focused texture, notes of black raspberries, roasted garrigue, pepper, and tons of minerality, building tannins, and outstanding length. The new oak is beautifully integrated, it’s perfectly balanced, and it’s one of those wines that has a kiss of modern character yet stays firmly planted in the Southern Rhône.”
 

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $63

Domaine Grand Veneur Chateauneuf-du-Pape Le Miocene Rouge, Rhone 2017 750ML ($49.95) $39 Displayed Price, that’s $37.05 at 5% off or $35.10 at 10% off!
Case-6 Domaine Grand Veneur Chateauneuf-du-Pape Le Miocene Rouge, Rhone 2017 750ML ($299.95) $219 Displayed Price, that’s $208.05 at 5% off or $197.10 at 10% off! (that’s only $32.85/bottle!)
Jeb Dunnuck 91 points “The traditional cuvée at this great estate is the 2017 Châteauneuf Du Pape Le Miocene, and in 2017 it’s a classic blend of 70% Grenache, 20% Syrah, and 10% Mourvèdre, brought up mostly in concrete (there’s a small amount in older barrels). It has a wonderful fresh, forward, delicious style as well as notes of black raspberries, garrigue, pepper, and hints of flowers. Pure, medium to full-bodied, upfront and ready to go, it’s a beauty geared for drinking over the coming 8-10 years.”
 

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $52.99

Domaine Grand Veneur Chateauneuf-du-Pape Vieilles Vignes, Rhone 2016 750ML ($149.95) $119 Displayed Price, that’s $113.05 at 5% off or $107.10 at 10% off!
Jeb Dunnuck 100 points “The 2016 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Vieilles Vignes is up with the crème de la crème of the vintage and in the same league as the perfect 2010. Awesome notes of blackberries, crème de cassis, charred meats, licorice, and violets all soar from the glass. It’s powerful, opulent, and structured, with building tannin, a huge mid-palate, and a blockbuster finish, yet it never loses its sense of purity and elegance. It’s an incredible achievement from this estate. The blend is 45% Grenache, 45% Mourvèdre, and 10% Syrah, all aged in 55% new French oak.”
Wine Advocate 97 points “A terrific effort, the 2016 Chateauneuf du Pape Vieilles Vignes is a blend of 50% Grenache, 40% Mourvèdre and 10% Syrah. It’s dense and rich almost beyond belief, packed with super ripe fruit that comes dangerously close to being chocolaty and fudge-like, yet it retains a sense of balance. Earth, spice and dark fruit notes linger for minutes on the long, tannic finish. Give it at least a couple of years in the cellar, and drink it over the next decade and a half. Tasted twice, with consistent notes.-JC”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Domaine Grand Veneur Chateauneuf-du-Pape Les Origines, Rhone 2016 750ML ($69.95) $59 Displayed Price, that’s $56.05 at 5% off or $53.10 at 10% off!
Jeb Dunnuck 94-96+ points “Possibly the finest vintage of this cuvée to date, the 2016 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Les Origines (50% Grenache, 30% Mourvèdre, and the balance Syrah) offers a full-bodied, unctuous, yet thrillingly pure style in its black raspberry, cassis, licorice and spice aromas and flavors. It has a smoking good mid-palate, building, ripe tannin and a huge finish.”
Wine Spectator 93 points “Inviting, with layered flavors of boysenberry, fig and blackberry preserves forming the foundation, while melted black licorice, warm fruitcake and wood spice notes are inlaid throughout. A lingering ganache echo adds more base through the hefty finish. Grenache, Mourvèdre and Syrah. Best from 2022 through 2035.”

Domaine Grand Veneur Chateauneuf-du-Pape La Fontaine Blanc, Rhone 2016 750ML ($69.95) $59 Displayed Price, that’s $56.05 at 5% off or $53.10 at 10% off!
Jeb Dunnuck 95 points “The flagship 2016 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc La Fontaine is a more substantial, serious effort that offers notes of caramelized citrus, brioche, honeysuckle and orange blossom. Rich, layered and concentrated, yet also fresh and lively, it’s a terrific white that’s going to sing on the dinner table. Drink it anytime over the coming 4-5 years (it will keep even longer).”
Josh Raynolds 94 points “Vivid straw-gold. An intensely perfumed bouquet evokes ripe pear, candied orange, smoky minerals and chamomile, along with a deeper suggestion of honey. Energetic, palate-staining citrus and orchard fruit flavors show outstanding clarity and slowly put on weight and spread out with air. The mineral note reappears on the finish, which shows a noteworthy combination of richness and sharply defined, bright, filigreed character.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

 

It’s not common knowledge, but the owners of Felsina (the Poggiali family) aren’t originally from Tuscany.  They hail from Romagna, where they purchased the Podere La Berta in 2009.  It was a labor of love—they wanted to highlight the uniqueness of Sangiovese from their familial homeland.  The estate was modernized and replanted, with the Poggiali’s pouring money and expertise and time into the project—and the results are delicious (and excellent values).

This is a winery that’s given the same care and attention as its more famous brother, but the prices are significantly less steep—this isn’t Chianti, after all.  All the vineyards at Podere La Berta are farmed with biodynamic practices, just as at Felsina, and the winemaking follows similar protocols, as well.  We’ve just received their entry level Sangiovese, which would be a perfect pairing for all sorts of pizzas, pastas or grilled foods.


Just Arrived, In Stock Now:

Podere La Berta Sangiovese di Romagna, Emilia-Romagna 2018 750ML ($17.95) $14 special
Eric Guido-Vinous 90 points “The 2018 Podere La Berta Romagna Sangiovese shows moist earth notes and minerals, plus hints of young strawberry, bell pepper and dusty florals. It finishes medium in length and remarkably fresh, while still resonating on fruit purity and hints of subtle spice.”



Looking for other great Sangiovese values? Check out these fantastic bottles:

We’re smitten with the delightful and textured wines from La Gerla.  This offers a sneak peak into the house style for a lot less money than a Brunello.
La Gerla Rosso di Montalcino, Tuscany 2018 750ML ($29.95) $24 special
Eric Guido – Vinous 91 points “The 2018 Rosso di Montalcino is polished, dark and earthy, with crushed black cherry lifted by peppery herbs and minerals as sweet spices develop in the glass. Silky textures carry brisk acids over the senses, ushering in tart red fruits, with hints of savory herbs, in a wonderfully fresh expression. The finish is medium in length, coating the palate in tart red fruits, with saturating fine tannin and cedary spices.”
Made from the younger vines in Castelnuovo, it’s basically a baby declassified Brunello. This wine spends 4 months in Slavonian botti.
La Gerla ‘Poggio gli Angeli’ Sangiovese Toscana IGT, Tuscany 2017 750ML ($21.95) $18 special
Case-12 La Gerla ‘Poggio gli Angeli’ Sangiovese Toscana IGT, Tuscany 2017 750ML ($249.95) $199 special (that’s only $16.58/bottle!)
Eric Guido – Vinous 90 points “La Gerla’s 2017 Poggio gli Angeli displays a mix of fresh, wild red berries, savory, spicy herbs and hints of cedar. On the palate, soft textures give way to crushed raspberry and cherry, with hints of sweet spice and sage. The finish is long and fresh, elevated by zesty acids, and showing hints of strawberry and inner floral notes.”

Lisini is a stalwart classicist in Brunello and their “San Biagio” shows off the cool toned, slightly earthier side of Sangiovese in a brilliantly priced package.
Lisini San Biagio Toscana IGT, Tuscany 2016 750ML ($24.95) $19 special
Case-12 Lisini San Biagio Toscana IGT, Tuscany 2016 750ML ($259.95) $199 special (that’s only $16.58/bottle and the lowest listed price in the USA today!) 
Eric Guido – Vinous 90 points “What a wonderfully fresh and vibrant expression of Sangiovese, showing peppery herbs and florals up front and then giving way to crushed cherries with hints of leather and undergrowth. On the palate, the 2016 Lisini San Biagio is cool-toned and silky, while delivering a beautiful display of pure red berry fruits, laced with minerals and spice. The finish is long with a staining of cherry, as zesty acids and mineral tones sizzle upon the senses. Lisini never ceases to amaze.”


La Fortuna is one of absolute favorite Brunello estates and their Rosso is a stellar deal, even by their standards.  
La Fortuna Rosso di Montalcino, Tuscany 2018 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 special
Grapelive 91 points “The 2018 La Fortuna Rosso di Montalcino is ripe, textured and silky smooth with pure Sangiovese character. It goes wonderfully with simple cuisine and shows a good cut of freshness for easy youthful drinking pleasure. The 2018 vintage is less serious than 2016 in the Montalcino area, but still offers plenty of flavor and value to savvy Tuscan fans. The Rosso di Montalcino “Baby Brunello” offerings are going to be fun and there will be plenty of bargains to be found, like this La Fortuna with its polished and elegant styling. Fresh out the box the La Fortuna is smoothly rich with vine-picked tangy blackberry, wild plum, cranberry, strawberry and tart cherry fruits along with blood orange, tobacco leaf, potpourri florals, rosemary, lavender and spiced cedar notes. A richer form comes out with air and food, making it a medium to full bodied Sangiovese that has a lot of charm, especially for the price. This 100% Sangiovese Grosso (Brunello clone) was crafted with traditional care and made for early drinking with grapes coming from vineyard parcels that range from 15 to 25 years on the semi volcanic soils of the region and was fermented in temperature controlled tanks with about a 20 day maceration on the skins to give it that dark burgundy hue in the glass. After fermentation this La Fortuna Rosso di Montalcino is racked mostly to large Slovenian oak casks for six months and aged a further six months in mainly 1 and 2 times filled small French barriques, which explains the luxurious velvety mouth feel, before bottling. This estate goes back a long way with the Zannoni [family] first arriving at “La Fortuna” back in 1907 to work the farmstead and through the generations rose up to finally purchase the property and become a private winery and label with fifth generation Gioberto Zannoni now in charge at this highly regarded Brunello label. I suggest buying the 2013 and 2016 if you can still find them, but don’t overlook these tasty and graceful 2018s either.”