Saturday VinopolPick – July 18th

Saturday, July 18th, 2015

New Arrivals; Arriving This Month – Extreme Deals on Champagne and Tommaso Bussola; Case Price Deals; Barolo and Barbaresco Special Feature; Burgundy Extravaganza

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Flash Sale

Serafin Pere & Fils Gevrey-Chambertin 2012 750ML ($99.95) Was $69, Now $59, 36+ bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 88-90 points “Medium red. Smoky strawberry and a whiff of gibier on the nose. The palate shows an almost liqueur-like sweetness to the creamy flavors of red fruits, coffee and mocha. Sappy acidity and substantial tannins give shape to this lush village wine.” ST

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is 33% higher: $79

Please don’t miss the other best price Burgundies and sale prices below!

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Mid-West, East & South

Summer Shipping Saver

Whisk your wine through warmer weather!

Now for the summer season we are offering UPS Three Day Select Service for the price of UPS Ground for shipments normally travelling 4 or more business days.

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New Weekend New Arrivals

OREGON
Et Fille Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2012 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 special
Winery note “We love blending Pinot Noir from multiple vineyards. We do this process entirely and exclusively together, and it epitomizes the confluence of art and science. We use our scientific backgrounds to begin with an analytic hypothesis-driven approach, but our love of art takes over once we start engaging our senses and letting the combinations take us in surprising directions. Our goal with this blend is to allow the complexity of the Willamette Valley to reveal itself in an honest representation of the vintage. Burghound said of [the 2010 release], “when taken as a whole it offers absolutely terrific value and is highly recommended as it is rare these days to find this kind of quality for $24. One to buy by the case!”
FRANCE-RHONE
Domaine La Garrigue Vacqueyras 2012 750ML ($27.95) $24 special
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 91 points “Deep red. Vibrant, spice-accented raspberry, cherry and floral pastille aromas are complicated by hints of star anise and smoked meat. Supple and open-knit, offering juicy red fruit and spicecake flavors plus a deeper suggestion of licorice pastille. Plays power off elegance smoothly, showing no excess fat. A refreshing jolt of peppery spices adds lift and cut to the persistent finish.” JR

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
FRANCE-OTHER
Eugene Carrel & Fils Methode Traditionelle Brut, Savoie NV 750ML ($21.95) $18 special
50% Jacquere, 20% Pinot Noir, 20% Gamay, 10% Chardonnay

Guillemarine Picpoul de Pinet, Languedoc-Roussillon 2014 750ML ($14.95) $11.90 special
Importer note “This is a single organic plot reserved for the family’s own production, while 90% of their grapes are sold to the local cooperatives. The vineyard is located on soft slopes overlooking the lagoon with limestone/chalk soils. Vinification and elevage in stainless steel tanks. The wine shows surprising complexity with notes of spring flowers and a streak of minerality that provide a beautiful framework. Because the wine finishes with such clean and bracing acidity, the rich mid-palate of melon and stone fruit is a delightful surprise.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Jean Sipp Riesling Vielles Vignes, Alsace 2008 750ML ($21.95) $18 special
Winery note “A Riesling already showing a very open nose with lemony hues. The intensity of the aromas is prolonged on the palate, which is revealed with a fine acidity, balanced and persistent, with a rich finish.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

ITALY-PIEDMONT
Giacomo Borgogno & Figli “No Name” Langhe Nebbiolo 2011 750ML ($49.95) $41.90 special
Antonio Galloni 90 points “The 2011 Langhe Nebbiolo No Name is a pretty wine to drink now and over the next handful of years. Delicate and medium in body, the 2011 is laced with expressive violets, rose petals, mint and sweet red cherries. Dusty tannins complement the otherwise supple finish.” AG
Gianfranco Bovio Langhe Nebbiolo 2012 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 special
Importer note “All Annunziata, all delicious. The Annunziata is a belt of land that has had Nebbiolo planted to it since the 12th century. This approachable, sought-after bottling always gives us a fine preview of the Barolo vintage to come. Handpicked fruit, destemmed and bladder pressed, then onto stainless steel for 21 days, lastly finished in Bovio’s grand old botti. Fruit forward, rose and tar. Deelish. Even better at table. Jaded Pinot Noir drinkers come on board!”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

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Just a reminder about our current shipping specials during this season:

For the Mid-West, East, and South during the summer season we are offering UPS Three Day Select Service for the price of UPS Ground for shipments that would normally travel four or more business days to their destination.

We offer flat rate shipping on any size single order / single shipment
-to Oregon for $17,
-Washington & Idaho for $20,
-and California for $25

These rates do not apply to orders held in storage here for any reason. Multiple orders consolidated into one shipment do not qualify for flat rate shipping.

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Arriving This Month

Larmandier – Bernier Champagnes Arriving July 24th

Larmandier-Bernier ‘Longitude’ Blanc de Blancs Premier Cru Extra Brut NV 750ML ($59.95) $41.90 pre-arrival special
Winery note “It is made exclusively from our Chardonnays grown on the Côte des Blancs: Vertus, Oger, Avize, Cramant, which form a line close to the 4th meridian. “Longitude” is also an allusion to the length and the very pure, frank and mineral style of these great terroirs, where the chalk is very close to the surface.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $44.99

Larmandier-Bernier Terre de Vertus Blanc de Blancs Non-Dose Premier Cru 2009 750ML ($69.95) $51.90 pre-arrival special
Winery note “No blending for this single-cru Champagne: Chardonnays only, coming from the vineyard plots of Les Barillers and Les Faucherets situated mid-slope in Vertus, facing south-east. One terroir only and one vintage only.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $57.55

Larmandier-Bernier Vieilles Vignes de Cramant Grand Cru Extra Brut 2007 750ML ($89.95) $69 pre-arrival special
Winery note “Our old vines in Cramant face south-east and are blessed with an exceptional terroir. They are aged between 48 and over 75 years old. Their deep root system and the diversity of the old stocks contribute to the complexity of the wine. The natural alcoholic fermentation (natural yeast) and the malolactic fermentation begin spontaneously in our casks and our wooden vats. The wines are left on their natural lees for nearly a year and undergo gentle bâtonnages, but no filtering or fining. Then the bottles are then taken down into the coolness of our cellars, where the second fermentation and the maturation ‘on laths’ quietly take place over a period of a minimum of 5 years. Each bottle is disgorged manually 6 months before being marketed.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $85.54
The average price is $89

Bussola Classic & TB Arriving July 31st

When Veneto legend Giuseppe Quintarelli was asked years ago to name the region’s next superstar, he didn’t hesitate: Tommaso Bussola.

Tommaso Bussola Ca’ del Laito Valpolicella Superiore Ripasso 2010 750ML ($24.95) $18 pre-arrival special
Case-12 Tommaso Bussola Ca’ del Laito Valpolicella Superiore Ripasso 2010 750ML ($269.95) $199 pre-arrival special (that’s only $16.58/bottle)
Importer note “The Ca’ del Laito Valpolicella is made in a bold, Ripasso style that highlights the quality of Tommaso’s raw materials.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $23

Tommaso Bussola TB Valpolicella Classico Superiore 2010 750ML ($41.95) $33 pre-arrival special
Case-12 Tommaso Bussola TB Valpolicella Classico Superiore 2010 750ML ($449.95) $359 pre-arrival special
Producer notes: “Dense rich and ripe with huge extract and fruit concentration. Full of flavors of black cherry, mocha and spice. The palate is full bodied, with rich tannins and lovely balance.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $39

Tommaso Bussola Recioto della Valpolicella Classico DOCG 2009 500ML ($59.95) $41.90 pre-arrival special
Antonio Galloni 90 points “Blackberry jam, cloves, spices, dried figs and melted road tar inform the 2009 Recioto della Valpolicella Classico. Rich and boisterous to the core, the 2009 is an excellent choice for drinking over the next few years. The style is juicy, exuberant and full of pure pleasure. 500 ml.” AG

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $46.19

Tommaso Bussola Amarone della Valpolicella Classico DOCG 2008 750ML ($61.95) $46.50 pre-arrival special
Importer note “Tommaso’s first goal every year is to make the best Amarone Classico possible. An incredible Amarone value.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $59

Tommaso Bussola Available Here Now:

Tommaso Bussola Recioto della Valpolicella Classico DOCG 2005 500ML ($59.95) $49 special, 11 half-liter bottles available
Wine Advocate 90 points “The 2005 Recioto della Valpolicella Classico is an easy going but superbly elegant wine that reveals expressive aromatics, jammy dark fruit, chocolate, licorice and spices, with an attractive plumminess and outstanding depth. Anticipated maturity: 2008-2018. “WA

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

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A Case, Of Course

We offer over 110 diverse, deeply discounted case prices, such as:
Our case deals are listed on our website under “DozenDeals” or by searching for the name of the wine

WASHINGTON
Case-12 Owen Roe ‘Ex Umbris’ Syrah, Yakima Valley 2012 750ML ($279.95) $219 special, 3 cases available (that’s only $18.25/bottle and the lowest listed price in the USA today!)
Owen Roe ‘Ex Umbris’ Syrah, Yakima Valley 2012 750ML ($27.95) $21.90 special, 21 bottles available
Wine Spectator 91 points “Focused, dense and polished, with blackberry, cherry and floral flavors on a glassy, smooth texture, lingering easily and showing some transparency on the finish. Has intensity and grace. Drink now through 2018.” WS
CALIFORNIA
Case-12 Terlato Family Vineyards Pinot Grigio, Russian River Valley 2011 750ML ($219.95) $99 special, 4 cases available (that’s only $8.25/bottle and the lowest listed price in the USA today!)
Terlato Family Vineyards Pinot Grigio, Russian River Valley 2011 750ML ($21.95) $10.90 special, 36+ bottles available
Wine Enthusiast 88 points “Ripe and forward with Meyer lemon, lime, green apple and honeysuckle flavors. The finish is off dry and zesty in acidity. What an easy wine to drink with Asian, Ethiopian, Indian or Mexican fare, or by itself as a cocktail sipper.” WE

Case-12 Tensley Colson Canyon Vineyard Syrah, Santa Barbara County 2013 750ML ($499.95) $419 special, 3 cases available (that’s only $34.92/bottle!)
Tensley Colson Canyon Vineyard Syrah, Santa Barbara County 2013 750ML ($49.95) $39 special, 31 bottles available
Wine Advocate 94-97 points “The largest-scaled Colson Canyon to date, the 2013 Syrah Colson Canyon is classic cassis, black raspberry, graphite and toasty notes to go with a full-bodied, concentrated and layered profile on the palate. This got a big “Wow” in the notes, and while it doesn’t pull any punches with regards to fruit or texture, it stays lively and elegant. It will have 10-15 years of longevity” WA

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Case-12 Girard Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2012 750ML ($319.95) $249 special, 2 cases available (that’s only $20.75/bottle and the lowest listed price in the USA today!)
Girard Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2012 750ML ($29.95) $24 special, 31 bottles available

Case-12 Trentadue La Storia Cabernet Sauvignon, Alexander Valley 2012 750ML ($239.95) $199 special, 6 cases available (that’s only $16.58/bottle!)
Trentadue La Storia Cabernet Sauvignon, Alexander Valley 2012 750ML ($21.95) $18 special, 27 bottles available
“Our 2012 La Storia Cabernet is a wine worthy of aging, showing abundant varietal aromas and flavors of blueberry, blackberry and black licorice, with a hint of herbs and ripe olives.The predominately French oak aging contributes aromas of cinnamon, vanilla, cocoa dust and slight smokiness. The mouth feel is fresh and juicy with balanced acidity and very soft tannins for a young wine. Due to the relatively lower sugar at harvest the alcohol content is modest and the acidity is relatively high and that will extend the longevity of this wine. Age 4 – 7 years.” Winery Notes
FRANCE-RHONE
Case-12 Vignobles Brunier Domaine Vieux Telegraphe Chateauneuf-du-Pape La Crau Blanc 2013 750ML ($699.95) $599 special, 2 cases available (that’s only $49.92/bottle!)
Vignobles Brunier Domaine Vieux Telegraphe Chateauneuf-du-Pape La Crau Blanc 2013 750ML ($79.95) $53.50 special, 34 bottles available
Vignobles Brunier Domaine Vieux Telegraphe Chateauneuf-du-Pape La Crau Blanc 2013 1.5L ($159.95) $99 special, 5 magnums available
Wine Spectator 92 points “Very pure, with fennel, white peach, yellow apple and melon rind notes that are racy and nicely detailed, followed by quinine and wet stone accents on the long, unadorned finish. Drink now through 2018.” WS

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $59.99

Case-12 Delas Freres Ventoux 2013 750ML ($149.95) $119 special, 2 cases available (that’s only $9.92/bottle!)
Delas Freres Ventoux 2013 750ML ($14.95) $11.90 special, 31 bottles available
Wine Spectator 88 points –Best Values–“A racy, juicy version, offering mouthwatering damson plum, loganberry and red licorice notes, studded with hints of pepper and tobacco. A briary hint adds range on the finish. Drink now.” WS
ITALY-BARBARESCO
Case-12 Paitin di Pasquero-Elia ‘Serra’, Barbaresco DOCG 2011 750ML ($419.95) $399 special, 4 cases available (that’s only $33.25/bottle!)
Paitin di Pasquero-Elia ‘Serra’, Barbaresco DOCG 2011 750ML ($41.95) $36 special, 36+ bottles available
Wine Spectator 94 points “Rich and velvety, yet also vibrant and complex, this red boasts floral, berry, anise, leather and mineral flavors. Harmonious, this turns slightly chewy in texture on the lingering finish. Best from 2017 through 2027. 1,000 cases made.” WS
Antonio Galloni 93 points “Crushed flowers, sweet red berries, spices and mint race across the palate in the 2011 Barbaresco Serra. This is one of the most intense, tannic 2011 Barbarescos readers will come across. Far from an easygoing wine, the 2011 is going to need considerable patience. Hints of sweet tobacco, mint and anise add nuance on the layered, super-expressive finish. The 2011 Serra spent two years in 50-hectoliter casks.” AG

GERMANY
Case-12 Weingut A.J. Adam Dhroner Hofberg Riesling Kabinett, Mosel 2011 750ML ($349.95) $299 special, 4 cases available (that’s only $24.92/bottle!)
Weingut A.J. Adam Dhroner Hofberg Riesling Kabinett, Mosel 2011 750ML ($39.95) $29 special, 17 bottles available
Wine Advocate 92 points “Talcum and orange blossom fetchingly scent Adam’s 2011 Dhronhofberger Riesling Kabinett, then join white peach on a luscious, delicate, subtly creamy palate, with a sense of wafting inner-mouth perfume as well as nut cream and wet stone undertones lasting into a refreshing finish, where the effects of a small lot of wine with unusually high acidity are noticeable and engender a certain largely productive tension. As this opened to the air, a sense of interactive dynamic between its fruit and flowers on the one hand and emerging stony, alkaline, and saline notes on the other served to heighten an already high level of stimulation. This should be a delight to follow for the next 15 years or so and will probably gain in nuanced complexity.” WA
SPAIN
Case-12 Bodegas Emilio Moro Finca Resalso, Ribera del Duero 2012 750ML ($249.95) $149 special, 3 cases available (that’s only $12.42/bottle!)
Bodegas Emilio Moro Finca Resalso, Ribera del Duero 2012 750ML ($21.95) $14 special, 36+ bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 91 points “Vivid purple. Ripe boysenberry and blueberry aromas and an undercurrent of mocha on the nose, with candied licorice and vanilla qualities coming up with air. Lush, weighty and round, showing good thrust to its dark berry liqueur and cocoa flavors. Finishes creamy, round and long, with soft tannins and building notes of plum and dark chocolate.”

Case-12 Alvear Pedro Ximenez de Anada, Montilla-Moriles 2011 375ML ($999.95) $479 special, 3 cases available (that’s only $39.92/bottle!)
Alvear Pedro Ximenez de Anada, Montilla-Moriles 2011 375ML ($79.95) $47 special, 19 bottles available
Robert Parker 100 points “Alvear’s 2011 Pedro Ximenez de Anada is the most amazing Pedro Ximenez I have ever tasted. It may also be one of the first to be vintage-dated. The grapes were hand-harvested in September, then allowed to dry in the sunshine until they began fermentation, which is ultimately arrested by the addition of spirits. The wine spent six months in large American oak prior to being bottled. It is an amazing effort that looks like molasses. Notes of macerated figs, chocolate and caramelized tropical fruits emerge from this full-bodied, unctuously-textured wine. While sweet, it has enough acidity to balance out its richness. This astonishing 2011 Pedro Ximenez will last as long as any reader of this newsletter.” RP

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Featured Barolos & Barbarescos

Barolo and Barbaresco
The King and Queen of Wine
The Nebbiolo grape is considered by many to be a native species to the Langhe sub-region of Piedmont. There, the grape yields two world-class wines, Barbaresco and Barolo, yet is practically inseparable from its home terroir. Attempts to grow it elsewhere are rarely successful and do not yield the same level of power or complexity.

Today, less than 10% of vineyards in the Langhe are planted with Nebbiolo. But, those grape-growers that choose to take the risk and grow this finicky and late-ripening grape on their prime sites are rewarded with wines having rich tannic structure, hauntingly beautiful aromas and decades of potential aging.

Vineyards are planted along the pre-alpine hills that surround the villages. The region once lay under an inland sea that was turned into steep hills when the continental plates collided. The soil varies, but is predominately composed of limestone marl and clay. The Barbareso climate is warmer, drier and milder than the nearby region of Barolo. This allows the Nebbiolo grapes to generally ripen earlier, with slightly less tannin, than in Barolo. These are age-worthy wines and most drink best at least 10 years after the harvest. Barbaresco is considered more feminine in style than Barolo, yet no less note-worthy. The wine is spicy, lingering, richly perfumed and of refined elegance. Notes of dried flowers, red berries, white truffles and warm spices are apparent. Barolos are classically described as having aromas of tar and roses, and typically show notes of earth, truffles and dark chocolate with age as the tannins soften and integrate.

Featured Selections from the over 85 Barolos and 77 Barbarescos we offer, all available here now:

Produttori del Barbaresco, Barbaresco DOCG 2011 750ML ($37.95) $29 special, 36+ bottles available
Wine Spectator 93 points “Marked by ripe cherry, strawberry, floral and tar flavors, this red is graceful and detailed, with the fruit intensity persisting on the finish. This is well-integrated, and just needs time for the tannins to soften. Excellent length. Best from 2018 through 2030.” WS

Ca’ del Baio Asili, Barbaresco DOCG 2011 750ML ($59.95) $36.60 special, 26 bottles available
Case-12 Ca’ del Baio Asili, Barbaresco DOCG 2011 750ML ($599.95) $399 special, 1 case available (that’s only $33.25/bottle!)
Antonio Galloni 94 points “The 2011 Barbaresco Asili captures the pedigree of this great site. Freshly cut flowers, sweet red berries, mint and cinnamon all resonate in an impeccable, silky Barbaresco loaded with class. A translucent, crystalline wine, the 2011 impresses for its balance and overall harmony. What a gorgeous wine this is.” AG

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $51.99
The average price is $53

La Ca Nova Barbaresco Montestefano, Barbaresco DOCG 2010 750ML ($49.95) $39 special, 31 bottles available
Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2010 Barbaresco Montestefano is yet another beautiful wine, and like the previous Barbaresco, it presents a series of aromas that are tightly linked to Nebbiolo tradition. There are floral and herbal notes backed by playful hints of white truffle and licorice. The wine is bright, solid, elegant and fine. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2016.” WA

Sottimano Fausoni, Barbaresco DOCG 2011 750ML $69.95) $49 special, 24 bottles available
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 93 points “The 2011 Barbaresco Fausoni is unusually supple, sexy and radiant. Freshly cut flowers, sweet red berries, tobacco and mint all lift from the glass. Fausoni often shows firmer, livelier tannins, but the warm 2011 vintage has softened the contours and yielded an inviting, resonant Barbaresco to drink now and over the next handful of years. Sweet floral notes from these soils rich in sand add the final nuances of complexity. What a gorgeous wine this is.”
Wine Enthusiast 93 points “Crushed raspberry, blue flower, tilled soil and graphite aromas lead the nose on this firmly structured wine. It’s still very young and needs to open up fully, but the palate already displays breeding and class. It offers ripe black cherry, ground black pepper, licorice and grilled sage alongside tightly wound but fine tannins. Drink 2018–2026.”
Wine Advocate 91 points “The 2011 Barbaresco Fausoni is initially slow to show its aromatic potential. As it evolves in the glass, it begins to reveal dark cherry, blackberry, cinnamon spice and dark cola. The style here is bold and thick. This wine also shows noticeable power with tight tannins and some astringency. It still needs time to unwind.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $58

Falletto di Bruno Giacosa Rabaja, Barbaresco DOCG 2005 750ML ($219.95) $133 special, 23 bottles available
Wine Spectator 95 points “There’s wonderful perfumes in this young Barbaresco, with flowers and ripe berries, as well as strawberry. Full-bodied, chewy and long. Massive on the finish. A superb wine.” WS
Wine Advocate 94+ points “The 2005 Barbaresco Rabaja is the densest and richest of these 2005 Barbarescos. Because it is aged in a slightly smaller cask, the wine shows an explosive personality along with some oak nuances that require bottle age to settle down. This muscular Barbaresco resonates on the palate with layers of spiced, mentholated dark cherries, minerals and licorice. It remains a dense, structured and primary wine in need of serious bottle age for the firm tannins to melt away. This, too, is a sublime wine from Bruno Giacosa. Anticipated maturity: 2013-2025.” WA

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $148.99
The average price is $189

Giacomo Ascheri Pisapola, Barolo DOCG 2008 750ML ($49.95) $33 special, 28 bottles available
Wine Spectator 90 points “This red is vibrant and pure, displaying cherry, raspberry, tobacco and earth aromas and flavors. Displays major grip on the finish, yet seems well-proportioned for a mid- to long-term evolution. Best from 2015 through 2028.” WS

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $44

Alessandro e Gian Natale Fantino ‘Vigna dei Dardi’, Barolo DOCG 2010 750ML ($59.95) $46 special, 36+ bottles available
Case-12 Alessandro e Gian Natale Fantino ‘Vigna dei Dardi’, Barolo DOCG 2010 750ML ($579.95) $469 special, 3 cases available (that’s only $39.08/bottle!)
Case-6 Alessandro e Gian Natale Fantino ‘Vigna dei Dardi’, Barolo DOCG 2010 750ML ($319.95) $249 special, 4 six-packs available (that’s only $41.50/bottle!)
Wine Advocate 94 points “The 2010 Barolo Cascina Dardi Bussia hits all the right marks with a beautiful sense of elegance and grace that is immediately apparent. The aromas dangle in front of you, delicately and seductively, with ethereal layers of spice, blue flower, almond paste, anisette and dried cherry or wild berry. The workmanship here reflects an attention to the minute details offered by Nebbiolo. The tannins are silky and long with deeply polished texture. Barolo Cascina Dardi Bussia is a fine, poised and super-confident expression. Drink: 2016-2026.” WA

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $55.99

Poderi Aldo Conterno Colonnello, Barolo DOCG 2006 750ML ($169.95) $119 special, 15 bottles available
Wine Spectator 94 points “A rich, sumptuous Barolo, with bass tones providing a full range of plum, earth and spice to match its more elevated floral and mineral notes. Firm, but not stiff, with a fine lingering aftertaste of tobacco and spice. Best from 2013 through 2030.”WS

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $133.99

Poderi Aldo Conterno Bussia, Barolo DOCG 2009 750ML ($69.95) $59 special, 36+ bottles available
Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2009 Barolo Bussia is a magnificent wine that makes a bold opening statement thanks to the high caliber and intensity of its bouquet. Power and sheer determination set the wine on course smoothly over the palate and the quality of the tannin is firm and tense. The wine presents fruit characteristics of dried cherry and cassis that are not too obvious but are soon followed by delicate tobacco, Indian spice, cola, tar and licorice. It’s a picture-perfect young Barolo for 2009. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2025.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $72

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Burgundy Extravaganza!

We’re still celebrating Bastille Day and the Tour de France with these wines!
Enjoy these amazing deals and even lower prices on some of the finest Burgundies available
All are here now!

Domaine Huber-Verdereau Volnay 2010 750ML ($49.95) Was $36, Now $33, 36+ bottles available
Burghound 88 points “A pretty mix of red and blue pinot fruit aromas exhibits plenty of earth influence that continues onto the silky and pure middle weight flavors that culminate in a moderately rustic and austere finish. This will need a few years to flesh out and add depth.” BH

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Domaine Remi Jobard Le Poruzot Dessus, Meursault Premier Cru 2011 750ML ($99.95) Was $79, Now $69, 36+ bottles available
Antonio Galloni 92+ points “A deep, earthy wine, the 2011 Meursault 1er Cru Poruzots-Dessus hits the palate with tons of muscle and power. The style is bold and direct. There isn’t a whole lot of complexity here, but there is plenty of pure stuffing. It will be interesting to see where the 2011 goes over the coming year. Today structural elements dominate over fruit.” AG

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $99.99

Domaine Henri Boillot Santenots, Volnay Premier Cru 2011 750ML ($119.95) Was $99, Now $79, 12 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 92-94 points “Deep red-ruby. Black raspberry, dark chocolate, game and a wild hint of leather on the nose, with a floral element emerging with air. Sweet, rich, broad and deep, boasting a velour-like, utterly mouthfilling texture that’s rare for the vintage. Excellent acidity gives this firmly tannic, very long wine terrific energy and lift. Very strong Santenots.” ST

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $92

Francois Carillon Les Combettes, Puligny-Montrachet Premier Cru 2011 750ML ($119.95) $79 special, 19 bottles available
Burghound 90-92 points “This is also relatively reduced and difficult to read. There is a wonderfully elegant mouth feel to the vibrant, intense and well-delineated medium-bodied flavors that exude a lovely mineral streak on the saline-infused finish. This is not especially dense but the complexity and overall sense of refinement make for a harmonious effort that is worth considering.”BH

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $98

Serafin Pere & Fils Les Cazetiers, Gevrey-Chambertin Premier Cru 2011 750ML ($219.95) Was $169, Now $149, 12 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 93 points “Moderately saturated medium red. Very reticent but pure aromas of redcurrant, dark cherry, earth, leather and spices. A dense, nicely balanced midweight, with ripe acidity giving shape to the cherry, licorice and espresso flavors. Firmly tannic but with plenty of thickness of texture to support its backbone. Finishes chewy and long but youthfully tight, with lovely aromatic persistence. I’d hold this until 2020.” ST

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $179

Serafin Pere & Fils Les Cazetiers, Gevrey-Chambertin Premier Cru 2012 750ML ($249.95) Was $189, Now $169, 12 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 92-94 points “Good bright, deep red. Reticent aromas of black cherry, minerals, mint and menthol. Densely packed, fresh and energetic, showing a strong spice character to its black cherry and mineral flavors. Has the thickness of texture to carry its tannins. Finishes spicy and long, with a lingering note of chocolatey oak. From a crop level of 38 hectoliters per hectare: Serafin made four barrels, compared to a normal five.” ST

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $214

Louis Jadot Bonnes-Mares Grand Cru 2011 750ML ($279.95) Was $219, Now $199, 12 bottles available
John Gilman 94+ points “Vineyards such as Bonnes-Mares really have taken advantage of the elegant side of the 2011 vintage, and this is doubly true of this stunning wine from Maison Jadot. The deep, sappy and simply gorgeous nose wafts from the glass in a mélange of black cherries, dark berries, woodsmoke, game, espresso, fresh herbs, stunningly complex soil tones and cedar. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied and quite plush on the attack, with great mid-palate depth, laser-like focus, ripe, firm tannins and simply stunning length and grip on the still very young finish. Profound juice….94+”
Stephen Tanzer 93 points “Bright, deep red. Initially explosive aromas and flavors of cherry, menthol, incense and spices subsided in favor of blueberry, crushed stone and peppermint tea: very Bonnes-Mares! Wonderfully silky and scented in the mouth, displaying very good breadth but a light touch. Finishes with a broad, fine dusting of tannins and excellent length and lift. A compellingly perfumed and pure wine: am I greedy for wanting the flesh and sweetness of a warmer year?” ST

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $262

Domaine Faiveley Chambertin Clos de Beze Grand Cru 2011 750ML ($349.95) Was $249, Now $239, 30 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 94 (+?) points “Medium red. Highly nuanced yet quite primary on the nose, offering scents of raspberry, underbrush, dried rose, ginger and smoky oak. Juicy, saline and quite dry, with dark berry and strawberry flavors complicated by an earthy perfume. Finishes with substantial dusty tannins and excellent length. With 24 hours in the recorked bottle, this beauty showed a silkier texture and chewy, deep flavors of raspberry and spices that saturate the palate without leaving any impression of weight. A great effort for the vintage.” ST

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Louis Jadot Domaine des Heritiers Les Demoiselles Chevalier-Montrachet Grand Cru 2011 750ML ($399.95) Was $319, Now $289, 3 bottles available
Burghound 93-95 points “An ultra-pure and high-toned nose of wet stone, spiced pear and acacia blossom and green apple is also trimmed in just enough oak to notice. The markedly stony broad-shouldered and tautly muscular flavors possess almost painful intensity on the crystalline and explosively long finish. 2011 is a vintage where the Demoiselles is bigger than it typically is yet there is absolutely no loss of refinement or elegance.” BH

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $334

Louis Jadot Montrachet Grand Cru 2011 750ML ($419.95) $349 special, 3 bottles available
Burghound 94-97 points “Here the nose is notably more reserved with aromas of citrus zest, spice, wood toast, fennel and spice hints. This is also a very imposingly-scaled wine with its big, muscular and wonderfully complex flavors that culminate in a long, focused and explosive finish of breathtaking length and intensity. This overtly powerful effort should reward at least a decade in the cellar and drink well for another. A ‘wow’ wine.” BH

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $419.99
The average price is $465

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Peter Lauer – New Releases Arriving September 2015

From the importer:

“Florian Lauer is best known for his dry and dry-tasting Rieslings; these are the wines that have earned him his cult following. However, when the growing season allows, when the vintage demands it, Lauer will make a small quantity of Pradikat wines. Vintage 2014, a brother-vintage to the 2013, had all the acid required to handle a little bit of residual sugar and Lauer made a small amount of profound Pradikat wines: a Kabinett, a little bit of Spatlese and even a mirco-dollop of Auslese, very rare for this vintage.

“Each wine showcases the nerve and intensity that is the Lauer style; each wine has simply blazing acidity (all the wines clock in at 10+ grams acid/liter). They are all feather-weight, angelic wines that soar. Even the Auslese feels fresh and speaks of mineral.”
[Picture from the importer vom Boden]

Peter Lauer Ayler Kupp Riesling Kabinett 2014 750ML ($37.95) $31.90 pre-arrival special
John Gilman 91-92 points ‘The 2014 Ayler Kupp Kabinett from Florian Lauer is really a lovely and quite classic example of this Prädikat, with lovely acidity and minerality providing a fine filigree to the wine and a nice sense of reserve out of the blocks as well. The very classy nose wafts from the glass in a mix of green apple, tart orange, slate, lovely smokiness and a touch of dried flowers in the upper register. On the palate the wine is medium-bodied, pure and focused, with a good core, bright acids, a nice touch of sweetness on the attack and lovely length and grip on the elegant and nascently complex finish. This is quite approachable now, but still a touch primary, and I would be inclined to give it at least a few years in the cellar to develop its secondary layers of complexity. 2019-2035+.” JG

Peter Lauer Ayler Kupp Riesling Spatlese 2014 750ML ($49.95) $39 pre-arrival special
Importer note “Even lighter at only 7.5% alcohol. While the wine is a bit more plush it is still ultra-clean with great transparency and cut. Profound minerals and also 10 grams acid. Very limited.”

Peter Lauer Ayler Kupp Riesling Auslese 2014 750ML ($79.95) $69 pre-arrival special
Importer note “A very rare bird for this vintage, only a few cases will come to the U.S. Feels like many producers; Kabinetts but it has more depth, more dimension. Great mineral – an Auslese that actually shows terroir and not just botrytis. Stunning. VERY LIMITED.”