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Category Archives: Special Features
Greatness in Gaja 1-21-24
When speaking about the wines of Gaja, one must realize they’re speaking about a man, the growth of an entire region, and the actual juice that’s in the bottle. It’s impossible to separate the three. Angelo Gaja (pictured on the right) was an individual that forever changed the perception of Piemonte and Italian wine on the global market. Largely taking over his family estate in 1961, Angelo recognized the international disinterest in fine Italian wine and he began a journey of reinventing the vinous identity of his home village of Barbaresco and the nation as a whole.
Early on, there were a few key innovations that Gaja is largely recognized as pioneering in his region. Firstly, he dramatically lowered vineyard yields across his properties to focus on developing intense concentration at the cost of of overall volume. Neighbors considered him crazy for shaving off substantial quantity in his production until they finally tasted the wines. Secondly, he began bottling wines according to the Burgundian practice of single-vineyard crus, in order to compel the broader wine community with the expressions of place he knew to be lingering beneath the surface of the Gaja label. In the cellar Gaja also begain experimenting with temperature controlled fermentation in stainless steel, shorter maceration times, and judicious use of French barriques to increase the aromatic freshness of the wines, soften Nebbiolo’s aggressive tannins, and provide additional richness and complexity.
Feeling confident in his new approach to both vineyard management and winemaking, Gaja began to launch his wines with pricing that far exceeded the typical norms of his region. The goal here was to match the quality in the bottle with a price normally only justified for some of the top wines in the world. Initial reactions were extreme and polarizing. Some consumers exited their loyalties and others began to trulty appreciate the efforts of a man possessed. Today these wines are internationally recognized as being some of the very finest that Italy can offer on a par with the Grand Crus of Burgundy and the First-Growths of Bordeaux.
The family has expanded their holdings over the years into the broader region of Tuscany and elsewhere. French varietals have been planeted to produce wines that can compete against any style globally and showcase the tour de force that is every Gaja label.
Today the winery is on it’s fifth generation of talent with Angelo’s children Gaia Gaja, Rossana Gaja, and Giovanni Gaja leading the charge as the face of the brand and the continuation of excellence. Drinking a bottle of Gaja is a magical and luxury experience that should be both savored and frequented as often as possible. Fortunately we have a large number of Gaja bottlings available now of both perfectly aged and younger vintages. These are simply not the kind of bottles you want to pass on.
Buy any 2-5 bottles, 5% discount
Buy any 6+, 10% discount
Sale ends Tuesday 9am
Featured Wines Available Now from Gaja:
Gaja Conteisa, Barolo DOCG 2015 750ml $249 special, 6 bottles available now
Wine & Spirits 98 points “From the La Morra side of the Cerequio MGA, the 2015 is deeply resonant, its dark fruit tones layered with notes of cedar, tobacco and porcini. The Gaja family has worked extensively on canopy management since the warm 1997 and 2003 vintages, and this shows in the pleasantly tart flavors of black cherry and strawberry they achieved in the warm, dry 2015 growing season. The flavors weave together in a suave, seamless texture, expanding with air while maintaining precision and freshness. —S.J.”
Vinous 97 points “The 2015 Barolo Conteisa is a heady, exotic wine, and also one of the most complete, alluring Conteisas I have ever tasted. Conteisa is usually a wine of grace and understatement. The 2015, on the other hand, is a bold, sweeping Barolo that saturates the palate with stunning depth and volume. Even with all of its intensity, the 2015 remains vibrant. This is such a complete, harmonious wine.”
Wine Advocate 96 points “The large shoulders of this warm 2015 vintage contrast sharply with the delicate nuances of the 2016 Barbarescos also released now from Gaja. The 2015 Barolo Conteisa is intense, with a background chorus of plum, prune, herb, mint and wild cherry. It’s a very balanced Barolo. The Cerequio vineyard that provides this fruit often suffers from hail damage because the vineyard is located along the corridor of bad weather that comes over the hill from La Morra. There was some damage in mid-August, but fruit in the 2016 vintage suffered much more extensively in comparison. In fact, so little fruit was saved that Gaia Gaja is pretty sure this wine will not be produced next vintage. She tells me that they are now experimenting with anti-hail netting at this site—an eyesore they had long hoped to avoid.”
Gaja Sperss Barolo 750ml $519 special, 12 bottles available now
Pre-Arrival ETA Late-January
Kerin O’Keefe 99 points “The 2019 Sperss is drop-dead gorgeous. Expressing the captivating combination of firm structure and understated finesse that defines the best Barolos from Serralunga, it opens with aromas of underbrush, forest berry, sun-warmed hay and botanical herb. Linear and focused, the vibrant, savory palate delivers red cherry, blood orange and licorice punctuated with saline mineral notes. It has incredible energy and will age beautifully. Drink 2029-2049.”
Vinous 98 points “A wine of stature and breeding, the 2019 Barolo Sperss is pure Serralunga power. Dark toned fruit, lavender, licorice, gravel and crushed rocks soar from the glass. There is plenty of the brooding intensity and tannic heft that are such signatures, but the 2019 is also wonderfully refined.”
James Suckling 96 points “Very well integrated tannins that spread across the palate and give tension and form to the wine. Medium to full body. Chewy and juicy. Needs time to soften. Better after 2028.”
Gaja Sori San Lorenzo Langhe-Barbaresco 2017 750ml $599 special, 2 bottles available now
Wine Spectator 96 points “This tightly wound red is dense with black cherry, black currant, plum, tar and iron flavors as well as tannins. Shows a lot of power and persistence, with all the components in the right proportion, ending with a long, resonant aftertaste. Needs time. Best from 2024 through 2048. 300 cases imported. — BS”
Wine Advocate 95+ points “The 2017 growing season saw a couple of violent hail events in the Barbaresco appellation, and this celebrated vineyard suffered some damage during a storm that hit on July 19th. Yields were reduced, but the wine holds its own thanks to the careful fruit selection process put in place by the Gaja family. Their 2017 Barbaresco Sorì San Lorenzo is a shade richer in terms of flavor concentration, as is always the case with fruit from this slightly warmer growing site. However, like the other two single-vineyard Barbaresco expressions, this wine reveals a thin, sharp and nervous personality that is driven in large part by tannic firmness and acidity. Sorì San Lorenzo adds lots of dark mineral definition to cassis, wild cherry, rose and Provence herbs. Like the other wines, it needs extra cellar aging time.”
Decanter 95 points “This is generally the most austere of the three Gaja single-vineyard wines, and it has also been described as ‘wilder’. In this vintage the nose does seem to have more weight than Sori Tildin, with rich raspberry and cherry aromas. It’s sumptuous, full-bodied and concentrated, with considerable density and weight. Despite its youthful chewiness, it’s still polished and balanced, with a very long finish. Drinking Window 2021 – 2042.”
Gaja Pieve Santa Restituta ‘Sugarille’, Brunello 2018 750ml $259 special, 5 bottles available now
Wine Spectator 95 points “A dark, brooding 2018, with accents of smoke, vanilla, iron and tar surrounding a core of cherry and plum flavors. Reveals balsamic elements of eucalyptus and wild herbs on the lingering finish. On the austere side now, with a core of fruit and mineral. Best from 2025 through 2043.”
Gaja Pieve Santa Restituta ‘Rennina’, Brunello 2018 750ml $236 special, 5 bottles available now
Wine Spectator 94 points “Harmonious and bordering on creamy in texture, this red features cherry, raspberry, plum, loam, almond and black pepper aromas and flavors. Reveals pleasant bitterness as this winds down on the lingering aftertaste. Best from 2026 through 2045.”
Gaja Darmagi Langhe Cabernet Sauvignon 2017 750ml $249 special, 3 bottles available now
Vinous 94+ points “The 2017 Darmagi (Cabernet Sauvignon) is gorgeous. Ample, silky and voluptuous to its core, Darmagi offers tons of immediacy and sheer appeal. Today, the 2017 is all about fruit richness and texture. Readers who prefer to see a full range of Cabernet aromatics should plan on cellaring the 2017 for at least a few years. Hints of blackberry jam, mocha, licorice and spice linger, but more than anything else, the 2017 is all about flamboyance. This is an especially strong vintage.”
Jeb Dunnuck 94 points “While a base Langhe release, the 2017 Darmagi is stunning stuff, offering a killer bouquet of ripe red and black fruits, hot asphalt, spring flowers, tobacco, and a touch of rocky, earhty minerality. With a rich, medium to full-bodied mouthfeel, a more supple, upfront style, and sweet tannins, it already offers loads of pleasure, yet its solid spine of tannins and acidity make me believe it will still be drinking nicely in 15-20 years.”
Browse our full selection of Gaja wines below and shop them now on our webstore!
| GAJA FEATURE WINES | VWS PRICE | AVAILABLE | LINK |
| GAJA BARBARESCO 2001 | $419.00 | 1 | Link |
| GAJA BARBARESCO 2005 | $419.00 | 1 | Link |
| GAJA BAROLO CONTEISA 2015 | $249.00 | 6 | Link |
| GAJA DAGROMIS BAROLO 2019 | $115.00 | 5 | Link |
| GAJA DARMAGI CAB SAUV 2015 | $259.00 | 1 | Link |
| GAJA DARMAGI CAB SAUV 2017 | $249.00 | 3 | Link |
| GAJA RESTITUTA SUGARILLE 18 | $259.00 | 5 | Link |
| GAJA ROSSJ BASS CHARD 2019 | $59.00 | 1 | Link |
| GAJA SANTA RESTITUTA BRUNELLO 18 | $99.00 | 3 | Link |
| GAJA SANTA RESTITUTA RENNINA 18 | $236.00 | 5 | Link |
| GAJA SITO MORESCO LANGHE 21 | $75.00 | 3 | Link |
| GAJA SORI SAN LORENZO 2017 750ML | $599.00 | 2 | Link |
| GAJA SPERSS BAROLO 2019 | $519.00 | 12 | Link |
Love Barbaresco wines?
Shop our complete selection of in-stock options, including picks from Produttori, Paitin, Giacosa and more on our webstore now!
Is Cabernet Franc the Quintessential Red? 1-14-24
Cabernet Franc grapes on the vine
When choosing a red wine to drink, one is faced with a plethora of flavor profiles and stylistic differences to consider. Do I desire a wine capable of deep extraction where the fruit and texture of the wine are the focus? Do I need a red that shines through its aromatic intensity and overall approachable structure? What about reds that cut through a meal with a vein of acidity and refresh the palate? I’m here to tell you that Cabernet Franc is all of these things in a way that no other red can be. Don’t believe me? Let’s discuss.
Cabernet Franc along with Sauvignon Blanc is a genetic parent of Cabernet Sauvignon. The grape is noticeably more thin-skinned than its offspring, and ripens earlier in the growing season which has long made it a dependable variety for the production of fine wine. In its birthplace of Bordeaux, Cabernet Franc adds acidity and aromatic lift to the red blends that have made both river banks of the region famous. It can easily stand up to the spice of new french oak while not losing its varietal character. In the monovarietal expressions of the Loire, it reaches its full aromatic potential, with scents of graphite, black currant, and red licorice. These wines can be either light or medium-bodied in structure depending on the winemaker’s choice of extraction, with savory undertones that beg for hearty food. In Saumur, the grape becomes something extremely delicate and closer to Pinot Noir, with crunchy red fruit and subtle bouquet. In Chinon it’s something more dark, brooding, with meaty flavors balanced by exotic leafy aromas. And in the broader world of wine outside of France, the grape is often of the most engaging red wine export, creating the most unique bottle in a line-up from producers in Tuscany or Washington State.
In short, Cabernet Franc can be rich and it can be light. It can be savory and it can be sweetly spiced. It can wow you with its varietal aromas or be the lift in a wine that seeks its own identity. And the best part of it all? It’s often one of the most affordable red wines you can find.
I think the longer you love wine the more you gravitate towards Cabernet Franc as a varietal. I see it all the time with folks that I work with and customers whose palates have traveled the world. Sometimes there’s nothing better than drinking a grape which can speak so truely of itself, no matter what form it’s been presented inside. If you’re newish to wine and you’ve already fallen for this grape, count yourself lucky to have found this magical varietal so soon in your journey. If the wine trail for you has grown long in the tooth and is craving refreshment, take a pit stop with a wine that will awaken your senses.
Cabernet Franc Available Now:
Domaine Guiberteau Saumur Rouge 2019 750ml $39 special, 35 bottles in stock now
Wine Advocate 91 points “From three parcels with vines planted between 1955 and 1957 on silt and sand topsoil covering softer limestone bedrock. the 2019 Saumur Rouge is pure Cabernet Franc naturally fermented in tank for six months. The 2019 opens with a pure and refreshing as well as spicy/floral nose with dark fruit and fresh lemon aromas as well as stony notes and a nice reduction. Wonderfully untamed. On the palate, this is a medium-bodied, fresh and silky-textured Saumur with a stimulating salty, round and fruity finish. At this young age, charm is not its greatest talent, but with bottle age, this will be a terrific Saumur rouge for many dishes and opportunities. I like this tight and traditional, straightforward style that might be a bit unpleasant at this early stage but will reward those with patience. 13.5% alcohol”
Domaine de la Chevalerie Bourgueil Breteche 2015 750ml $26 special, 22 bottles in stock now
Close Out Sale: was $31.90 now $26
Importer note “Bretêche is an old word referring to a window or entrance to a fortified building, often above a gate to enable defenders to rain arrows or what have you upon attackers. It can also refer to entrances and exits in general, and this particular vineyard grows on the edge of the Restigné commune, where a road comes in. Pierre Caslot planted his parcel between 1988 and 1992 after his wife inherited the rights to rent it from her family. They farm just over 13 acres here. The soils are young limestone and a little clay, and this makes for a long, more linear wine than Galichets or Chevalerie, one with evident stony aromatics, lift and focus given by the limestone.”
Domaine des Closiers Saumur-Champigny ‘Les Closiers’, Loire 2021 750ml $36 special, 20 bottles in stock now
John Gilamn 93 points “The 2021 Saumur-Champigny “les Closiers” from Domaine des Closiers is the winery’s basic level bottling, seeing no oak aging and being raised for six to eight months in stainless steel tank. Nevertheless, the bouquet of the 2021 is stunning, soaring from the glass in a black fruity blaze of dark berries, cassis, tree bark, cigar ash, dark soil tones and a distinctly smoky topnote. On the palate the wine is pure, fullbodied, focused and complex, with a beautiful core of black fruit, fine soil signature and grip, ripe, suave tannins and a long, vibrant and impeccably balanced finish. This is a stunning value! 2023-2050+.”
Arnaud Lambert Saumur-Champigny Terres Rouges, Loire 2021 750ml $24 special, 20 bottles in stock now
VinopolNote: 100% Cabernet Franc from 45-year-old vines grown on sand and limestone soils. Aged in stainless steel.
Caladan Cabernet Franc, Napa Valley 2017 750ml $199 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Close Out Sale: Was $219 now $199
Wine Enthusiast 96 points “A top bottling of the variety, this small-production wine is structured and strong, opening reductively, with elements of tobacco leaf, oak and sage. The savory character persists in the form of leather and black pepper, allowing just a touch of sharp red fruit to enter and complement. This wine has further secrets to be revealed; enjoy best from 2027–2032.”
Piaggia Poggio de Collo Cabernet Franc Toscana IGT 2020 750ml $66 special, 10 bottles in stock now
Vinous 97 points “The darkly alluring 2020 Cabernet Franc Poggio de’ Colli takes its time in the glass, slowly awakening with a dusty mix of red currants, pepper-tinged rose, exotic curries and the slights tough of animal musk that adds gravitas. This is velvety smooth yet finessed. It’s cool-toned in feel with a potent wave of tart raspberry fruits that saturates the palate with savory spice and mineral tones. It leaves a coating of fine tannins and a staining of berry concentration through the finale, tapering off sapid and long, yet perfectly balanced. What a radiant vintage for the Poggio de’ Colli, Piaggia’s varietal Cabernet Franc. Revisit it in five years to see some real sparks fly. ”
Proprieta Sperino ‘L Franc Bandit Vino da Tavola, Piedmont 2016 750ml $99 special, 10 bottles in stock now
Tasting Notes “100% Cabernet Franc. Chocolate and earthy notes on the nose, followed by cassis, tobacco and plum flavours on the palate. This elegant, medium-bodied wine is beautifully balanced with supple tannins and a long elegant finish.
Mark’s Top Ten Picks 1-7-24
Some wines from my wedding. Do you trust this man?
We all have different tastes and preferences when it comes to wine. This indeed is the element of the wine experience which fuels endless intrigue, novelty, and persistence to keep tasting more. Our tastes become signatures of who we are; but just like how each of us changes markedly over time as individuals, so do our tastes. A professed love of Chardonnay might evolve into a fascination with Chenin Blanc; a romance with Pinot Noir might turn to a passionate affair with Alto-Piemonte Nebbiolo. Our palates all change over time and most often that change is realized when we rediscover the wines that first moved us. Everything is fair game.
Where am I going with this? Well, my name is Mark Shipley and for the last 9 months I’ve been the penning hand behind the newsletters you’ve read each Sunday. I’m sure of course that they’re the highlight of your week (my ego is fragile I’m afraid)! It has been my pleasure to do some deeper dive features on wineries and winemakers that deserve your attention and I hope I have established some street cred for my selections.
Today I am going to expand upon the notion of personal taste by selecting 10 different wines currently available at Vinopolis that I would love to drink, and share them with you. My goal is to let you know my own tastes even deeper, and hopefully surprise a few of you with some fabulous wines you’ve never tried. If anything, I’m putting my current palate on the public record so that I can be baffled by it in a few years. Humor me and you just might end up drinking some fabulous wines.
Discounts on all these wines!
6-11 bottles for a 5% discount
12+ bottes for a 10% discount
Offer ends Monday 1/8 at Midnight PST
Discounts will be applied after orders are made and an invoice copy will be sent.
The Reds
Jim Maresh is making some of the most perfumed and delicate expressions of pinot noir in all of America. If not all of the New World. This should not be a new face for those tapped into the Oregon wine scene, but I must implore your to try their single-vineyard Weber pinot. Somehow this wine expresses the soul of what Willamette pinot is meant to represent.
#1 Arterberry Maresh Weber Vineyard Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills 2018 750ml $69 special, 24 bottles in stock now
Wine Advocate 97 points “The 2018 Pinot Noir Weber Vineyard comes from Pommard clone vines planted in 1983. It features pure aromas of cranberry and black raspberry with botanical and floral layers. The palate is seamless and complex, with powerful flavors, a silty texture and bright acidity, finishing with layer after layer of sweet berry fruit.”
Vinous 94 points “Deep crimson. Highly perfumed aromas of red and blue fruit preserves, cola, candied flowers and baking spices, along with a smoky mineral overtone. Concentrated yet lively on the palate, offering mineral-accented black raspberry, cherry liqueur, violet pastille and spicecake flavors that spread out slowly with air. Conveys a deft blend of power and finesse and finishes with steadily building tannins and strong, spicy persistence.”
The more Grenache I drink from the Rhone, the more I find myself preferring Gigondas to Chateauneuf du Pape. There’s a rocky mineral driven structure to the wines of this more remote region, and a balance of savory fruit that refreshes more than your average CDP. Gour de Chaule makes a wonderfully classic example of Gigondas that vastly overdelivers in complexity of flavor.
#2 Domaine Gour de Chaule Gigondas Cuvee Tradition, Rhone 2019 750ml $38 special, 21 bottles in stock now
Vinous 95 points “Deep magenta. A complex, intensely perfumed bouquet evokes black raspberry, kirsch and lavender, along with vibrant mineral and exotic spice flourishes. Incisive red and dark berry, bitter cherry and succulent herb flavors show fine detail and spicy cut. Chewy, slowly building tannins add shape and grip to a strikingly long, nervy finish that echoes the cherry and floral notes. All whole clusters”
The other day I had a 2012 Cameron Clos Electrique Pinot which absolutely blew my mind. The concentration, the bouquet, the endless finish. Stunning. Flawless. The bottling below has a great many years ahead of it for you to enjoy. It’s a ride you won’t want to miss.
#3 Cameron Winery Clos Electrique Rouge, Willamette Valley 2021 750ml $75 special, 21 bottles in stock now
Winery note “The Clos Electrique Rouge from 2021 is an astounding wine with notes of leather, porcini mushrooms, forest floor and a dose of plums bringing in the finish. Its perfect silky mouth and a nice round finish cry for a café 90’s Duck l’orange, chanterelles sautéed with butter and sherry, a Ribeye cooked to perfection or perhaps even cardboard. I mean really, this wine makes anything taste better.”
I, like many others, cannot consistently afford to buy top class Bordeauxs which have attained luxury pricing in recent decades. However, Bordeaux has never been more plush with quality producers at all price points. Chateau Gloria is an unclassed growth but an absolute gem of a winery. Their style is dedicatedly classic and with the string of strong recent vintages their wines have never been better.
#4 Chateau Gloria St Julien 2019 750ml $49 special, 30 bottles in stock now
Vinous 96 points “The 2019 Gloria has a compelling nose: black fruit, crushed rocks, tobacco and very subtle marine scents that are all beautifully combined. Perhaps the most precise and delineated nose among an impressive array of Saint-Julien’s this year. The palate is medium-bodied with a lively opening. A touch of soy infuses the black fruit; fine-boned with wonderful sapidity on the finish. Extraordinary length. Serious. Tasted blind at the Southwold annual tasting.”
Jeb Dunnuck 95 points “Showing beautifully, with the polished, pure, elegant style of the vintage, the 2019 Château Gloria sports a deeper ruby/purple color as well as great aromatics of cassis and assorted blue fruits to go with smoked tobacco, cedar pencil, damp earth, and floral notes. I love its purity, and it’s just a quintessential, medium to full-bodied, layered Saint-Julien that can be drunk today or cellared for a solid two decades. It should be a no-brainer purchase for the wine lovers out there.”
Jane Anson 95 points “So good, this is a vibrant mix of young and exuberant, luxurious, seriously creamy in texture, crushed stone, baked earth, smoked caramel, damson, sweet blackberry and damson fruits. This is pure pleasure, hard to resist.”
I LOVE Produttori. The story behind this cooperative estate is truely moving and so are the wines. It’s a personal pleasure to taste the Cru expressions of the each vintage young and old. 2013 was an exceptional year for Barbaresco and the Muncagota bottling is world class with delicious evolved aromas of licorice, rose petal, and black cherry.
#5 Produttori del Barbaresco ‘Muncagota’, Barbaresco Riserva DOCG 2013 750ml $69 special, 32 bottles in stock now
Vinous 94 points “Like most of the wines in this lineup, the 2013 Barbaresco Riserva Muncagota is quite potent. A rush of raspberry jam, wild flowers, white pepper and mint make a strong opening statement. Succulent and yet also structured, the Muncagota has so much to offer. It should be one of the first wines in this range to start opening up, although when that will happen exactly is hard to say.”
Wine Spectator 94 points “Powerful yet underlined by racy acidity, driving the black cherry, black currant and mineral flavors. Menthol and tobacco notes add depth, keeping this intense. All the components are here, yet this will need time to really sing. Best from 2024 through 2040.”
Wine Advocate 94 points “You may remember that this wine was once called Moccagatta. Produttori del Barbaresco reverted to the local Piemontese spelling of the name in 2007 to stay consistent with the geographic mapping of local cru sites. The 2013 Barbaresco Riserva Muncagota stands apart from the nine other single-vineyard Riservas presented by Produttori del Barbaresco this vintage. Of these various wines, this is the most salty and savory. There is less primary fruit intensity here. The bouquet is laced with grilled rosemary and wild sage. This growing site absorbs loads of morning sunshine with southeast-facing exposures. The mouthfeel is characterized by dry tannins and very long, balsam-like persistence.”
The Whites/Bubbles
Timorasso is the next big thing in Italian white wine. This grape is the Italian answer to chardonnay with medium to full body, precise tension, and sumptuous white and yellow fruits. Vietti makes arguably the best bottling of it and it’s insane that it’s only $38 on the shelf. Stock up.
#6 Vietti Timorasso – Derthona Colli Tortonesi, Piedmont 2021 750ml $38 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 92 points “A pale straw color, the 2021 Derthona Timorasso is set to be released in May of 2023. It has a savory richness to its aromatics of pine resin, fresh lime flower, and melon and is tangy on the palate, with medium body, saline, the stony texture of wet asphalt, Meyer lemon, and chamomile. It feels very much like a Chenin Blanc, but a fresh style in a warm vintage. It is long on the palate with mineral persistence.”
Many Vinopolis customers have enjoyed the entry level Lambert bottlings over the last few years. The shop regularly has to reorder stock of the Clos de Midi. However, the Coulee de Saint-Cyr is large upgrade in complexity that you won’t want to miss out on. This is powerful chenin with lots of piquant fruit and minerality.
#7 Arnaud Lambert Saumur Blanc La Coulee de Saint-Cyr 2021 750ml $41.90 special, 24 bottles in stock now
No review available for the 2020 vintage. 2018 review provided for reference.
Wine Advocate 93 points “From an east-facing 1.7-hectare plot (Les Perriéres) on top of the SCB hill, the 2018 Saumur Saint-Cyr-en-Bourg Coulée de St-Cyr opens with a deep, pure, yet intense and complex bouquet of ripe fruits intertwined with notes of crushed limestone and popcorn. Pure, refined and salty on the palate, this is a full-bodied, quite rich yet tight, fresh and persistently salty Chenin with fine yet sustainable tannins and a lot of nervy lime juice, salt and tension. This is a fantastic Chenin from limestone terroir (topped with a 50-centimeter layer of clay and salt) that is normally used for Cabernet Franc. I tasted the wine from the same bottle over 14 days, and I’d say the wine got finer and finer.”
I wasn’t going to get away without including a few rieslings on this list. Up first is this killer bottling from J.B. Becker, the badass mystic of the Rheingau. Take one look at this man and you’ll mever question whether he takes his wines seriously. The Walkenberg bottling is as bone-dry as they come with tons of structure and aromatic intensity. Becker’s rieslings can be almost more about texture than any other example I’ve drunk.
#8 J.B. Becker Riesling Spätlese Trocken Wallufer Walkenberg 2021 750ml $39 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Stuart Pigott 94 points “Still like a tight rosebud that’s just picked up some color, this is a very elegant and precise Rheingau dry riesling with crystalline purity. Stacks of candied lemon, fresh garden herb and wet stone character. Long fine-grained finish. From organically grown grapes. Drinkable now, but best from 2025. Glass stopper. (11/24/22)”
This is simply a stupid bargain. Auslese from a top pedigree vineyard produced by a top pedigree winemaker for only $39? This stuff will literally age for decades and only improve. I’ve had a number of examples of the 2018 vintage from Richter and they have all been exceptional. Buy a case and salute a great decision over the course of your lifetime.
#9 Weingut Max Ferd. Richter Brauneberger Juffer Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese, Mosel 2018 750ml $39 special, 33 bottles in stock now
Close-Out Sale: Was $49 Now $39
Wine advocate 96-97 points “The 2018 Brauneberger Juffer-Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese is very fine, concentrated and beautifully clear, with blossom honey and very fine berry aromas on the nose. (The 20% to 25% of botrytis is very clear and precise, almost imperceptible.) Lush and piquant on the palate, this is a generous but highly digestible Auslese with orange, raisin and (pink) grapefruit flavors. The finish is incredibly racy-piquant, salty and highly digestible. This is still a baby, but it is highly promising. Tasted from cask in March 2019.”
My favorite Champagne grower and ultimately my favorite NV Champagne. How in the world do they achieve such complexity in the blend year after year? Richness that’s as a light as a feather. Aromas that refresh and draw you in deeper. The most opulent of mousse that feels like it doesn’t have an end to the depth. My goodness.
#10 Bereche et Fils Brut Reserve, Champagne NV 750ml $65 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Vinous 92 points “The NV Brut Réserve is bright and finely sculpted right out of the glass. There’s terrific purity and energy running through the Brut Réserve. Crushed red berry fruit, white pepper, crushed rocks and mint all race out of the glass. This release is based on 2020, with a good bit of reserve wine (35%) that serves to create terrific balance. The 5.5 grams of dosage is not at all felt.”
New Year’s Day Germany & Austria Sale Ends Tonight 1-1-24
5% off any 1-11 in-stock German/Austrian wines
10% off any 12 or more in-stock German/Austrian wines
Offer does not apply to case discounts (case-3, case-6, or case-12) or to pre-arrival wines.
Discount will not display online or in your cart,
We will adjust your invoice before processing your card.
Discount ends Monday, January 1st at 11:59 pm Pacific
The shop is closed today, but our webstore is always open:
Order online now!
10% off any 12 or more in-stock German/Austrian wines
Offer does not apply to case discounts (case-3, case-6, or case-12) or to pre-arrival wines.
Discount will not display online or in your cart,
We will adjust your invoice before processing your card.
Discount ends Monday, January 1st at 11:59 pm Pacific
The shop is closed today, but our webstore is always open:
Order online now!
Need ideas? Shop our staff picks below!
Emrich-Schonleber – Germany
“[Emrich-Schonleber’s] Grand Cru GGs are simply among the greatest dry Rieslings made in Germany, period” – Stephan Bitterolf, Vom Boden
Despite the fame and renown of the estate inside Germany, Emrich-Schonleber flies under the radar in the USA. These are spectacular wines—every bit the equal of Dönnhoff, their main competition in the Nahe. This is the producer that inspired Stephan Bitterolf to open Vom Boden, the mostly-German wine importer best known for bringing Keller to the States.
Father and son team Werner and Frank Schönleber work with awe-inspiring sites, the most prominent being Halenberg and Frühlingsplätzchen. Both are unusually steep for the Nahe—they have slopes of up to 70%. Halenberg is as you’d dream for the Nahe—a mixture of blue slate (like in the Mosel) and quartz.
Highlights In Stock Now:
Weingut Emrich-Schonleber Fruhtau Riesling Trocken, Nahe 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) 94 points “Very racy and mineral, this has so much wild berry fruit, leaping and bounding across the palate. So much lime and herbal freshness at the finish. Drink or hold.”
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2020 Monzingen Riesling trocken Frühtau comes from younger vines in the Frühlingsplätzchen and opens with a clear, fine and reductive bouquet with coolish stony and herbal notes. Crystalline and very elegant on the palate, this is a tight, straight and still challenging, very mineral dry Riesling that will benefit from longer bottle aging. The finish is long and enormously salty. A wine to keep. 12.5% alcohol. Tasted at the domain in July 2021.”
Weingut Emrich-Schonleber Riesling Trocken ‘Mineral’ 2021 750ml Displayed Price: $36, that’s $34.20 at 5% off and $32.40 at 10% off, 22 bottles in stock now
Stuart Pigott (Suckling) 93 points “The intense aroma of red-fleshed vineyard peach is married to intense wet-stone minerality on the sleek yet compact palate. Then it leaps out like a mountain stream cascading down an Alpine cliff face at the very racy finish. Drink or hold.”
Weingut Emrich-Schonleber Halenberg Riesling Grosses Gewachs 2022 750ml Displayed Price: $89, that’s $84.55 at 5% off and $80.10 at 10% off, 9 bottles in stock now
Weingut Emrich-Schonleber Halenberg Riesling Grosses Gewachs 2022 1.5L Displayed Price: $199, that’s $189.05 at 5% off and $179.10 at 10% off, 2 magnums in stock now
Stuart Pigott (Suckling) 95 points “Very attractive nose of peach and spice with just a touch of exotic fruits. Rich and ripe with a touch of mid-palate creaminess as it rolls gently over you, the power very understated. Delicate slatey minerality at the long silky finish. Drink from release.”
Anne Krehiehl MW-Vinous 93-95 points “The 2022 Riesling Monzinger Halenberg Grosses Gewächs comes with a timid nose. A subtle tropical top note and a serene aroma of iced mint appear teasingly, captivating in its shimmering and subtle aromatic spectrum. The palate has this cool aspect, too. Freshness is buffered by a gentle yeasty creaminess that verges into a soft white citrus pith. The 2022 is smooth, slender, elegant, beautifully textured and vivid. The finish is incisive and elegant, with lasting lemon length. (Bone-dry).”
Weingut Emrich-Schonleber Halenberg Riesling Auslese 2020 750ml Displayed Price: $66, that’s $62.70 at 5% off and $ at 10% off, 20 bottles in stock now
Weingut Emrich-Schonleber Halenberg Riesling Auslese 2020 375ml Displayed Price: $38 that’s $ at 5% off and $59.40 at 10% off, 21 half-bottles in stock now
Stuart Pigott (Suckling) 98 points “Very intense, candied yellow-grapefruit nose. Super-concentrated, but the most important thing about this Auslese is the incredibly tight focus on the palate and the purity of the dried apricot and mango. Super-succulent and vibrant finish that doesn’t want to stop. Drink or hold.”
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JJ Prum – Germany
JJ Prüm’s reference-point Mosel Rieslings are some of the most profound and age-worthy white wines in the world. No other producer in the middle Mosel is as respected or collectible.
Highlights In Stock Now:
Joh. Jos. Prum Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Kabinett 2020 750ml Displayed Price: $49, that’s $46.55 at 5% off and $44.10 at 10% off, 20 bottles in stock now
Mosel Fine Wines 92 points “The 2020er Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Kabinett greets one with a superbly aromatic and refined floral nose of tangerine, candied grapefruit, minty herbs, some floral nuances, and yellow peach. The wine is very delicate and rather smooth on the spicy and suave palate. The finish proves tight and lean as some fine zesty elements come through and add a very playful and truly Kabinett footprint. The wine combines a feeling of light ripeness and cool freshness and proves a very successful Kabinett. 2028-2040.”
Joh. Jos. Prum Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Spätlese 2021 750ml Displayed Price: $59, that’s $56.05 at 5% off and $53.10 at 10% off, 12 bottles in stock now
Anne Krehiehl MW-Vinous 95 points “Smoke, lime zest, the ripest Mirabelle, and a highlight of chervil play on the nose of the 2021 Riesling Wehlener Sonnenuhr Spätlese. More air brings wonderfully ripe notions of lemon zest, not quite candied but delightfully ripe. The palate is rounded, concentrated, profound and full of golden yet citrus-edged fruit. Slightly richer than the other Spätlesen but beautifully long with alluring ripe lemon and lime freshness. Weightless substance. Wonderful.”
Joh. Jos. Prum Bernkasteler Lay Riesling Auslese Long Goldkapsel 2017 750ml Displayed Price: $189, that’s $179.55 at 5% off and $170.10 at 10% off, 4 bottles in stock now
Joh. Jos. Prum Bernkasteler Lay Riesling Auslese Long Goldkapsel 2017 375ml Displayed Price: $99, that’s $94.05 at 5% off and $89.10 at 10% off, 8 half-bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 97 points “The 2017 Bernkasteler Lay Auslese (Long Gold Capsule), AP 18 18, is very clear, intense and generous but precise on the nose, with lots of mango, ripe peach, mirabelle and honey aromas. On the palate, this is a generously rich but refined, finessed and lush Auslese with a salty-piquant finish that is intense, complex and long. Honey-sweet but still crystalline, transparent and really kicking, this is another gorgeous 2017 Auslese from the Prüm family. Tasted in March 2019.”
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F.X. Pichler – Austria
The wines of FX Pichler are legendary for their combination of richness and electric minerality. In high demand in Austria and the rest of Europe, we’re lucky to source as much as we do. No one else seems to wrangle power, freshness and complexity into a single package quite like this wizard of the Wachau. With a combination of intensive viticulture, native fermentations and great terroir, the wines are unlike anything else in the world. Broad and powerful, with a cut and minerality that’s unique, these are wines to drink now and to age, as well.
Highlights In Stock Now:
F.X. Pichler Loibner Burgstall Riesling Federspiel 2019 750ml Displayed Price: $31.90, that’s $30.31 at 5% off and $28.71 at 10% off, 36+ bottles in stock now
Stuart Pigott (Suckling) 92 points “Super crisp and crunchy with a slightly tart peach character that is so invigorating. Great mineral freshness at the finish. Drink or hold.”
F.X. Pichler Loibner Ried Loibenberg Riesling Smaragd 2020 750ml Displayed Price: $69, that’s $65.55 at 5% off and $62.10 at 10% off, 6 bottles in stock now
Stuart Pigott (Suckling) 96 points “Ravishing pineapple and orange-peel nose with a hint of mint wafting over the deep fruit. Stunning combination of juiciness, concentration and vibrancy that runs right through the very long finish. So uplifting with great aging potential. Drink or hold.”
F.X. Pichler Durnsteiner Ried Liebenberg Gruner Veltliner Smaragd 2020 750ml Displayed Price: $69, that’s $65.55 at 5% off and $62.10 at 10% off, 9 bottles in stock now
Falstaff 94-96 points “Medium yellow-green, silver reflections. Mineral, fine herbal spice, nuances of yellow fruit, hints of apricot and mango, with fine honey blossom. Complex, substantial, fine white pear, fine acidity, salty touch on the finish, already well developed, a multi-faceted food wine, good maturity and with definite ageing potential.”
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Gobelsburg – Austria
Nothing can compare to the work, mission, or resulting wines of Michael Moosbrugger of Schloss Gobelsburg. To paraphrase Stephan Reinhardt of the Wine Advocate, they are unlike any other. Yet these are not exceptional in funky and inscrutable ways. These are simply in a class above and apart from all others, as striking in their elegance and complexity as they are in their ability to move both your mind and soul.
“There is no wine on this planet that is similar in style.” –Stephan Reinhardt, Wine Advocate
Highlights In Stock Now:
Schloss Gobelsburg Ried Heiligenstein Riesling 2020 750ml Displayed Price: $69, that’s $65.55 at 5% off and $62.10 at 10% off, 17 bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 96 points “Gobelsburg’s 2020 Ried Heiligenstein opens with a clear, bright and savory bouquet of sandstone, salt, ripe stone fruits and tea. Lush and round on the palate, this is a textured, very elegant and balanced Heiligenstein Riesling with a lingering, fine salinity on the highly elegant and aromatic finish. This is again an excellent, quiet and perfectly balanced Riesling from one of the greatest Riesling sites along the Danube River. The 2020 already drinks beautifully but can be aged for two or three decades.”
Schloss Gobelsburg Ried Gaisberg Riesling 2020 750ml Displayed Price: $49, that’s $46.55 at 5% off and $44.10 at 10% off, 15 bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2020 Ried Gaisberg offers a clear, precise and spicy apricot nose with spicy notes of black rock splinters. Lush and savory as well as saline on the palate, with crystalline acidity and almost tropical fruit (passion fruit), this is a very elegant and aromatic, tightly structured yet perfectly balanced and sustainable Gaisberg Riesling with stimulating purity and crystallinity.”
Schloss Gobelsburg Schlosskellerei Riesling 2022 750ml Displayed Price: $24, that’s $22.80 at 5% off and $21.60 at 10% off, 14 bottles in stock now
Stuart Pigott (Suckling) 91 points “Attractive lemon and white-peach nose with hints of green apples and fresh herbs. Juicy, mid-weight palate with a lot of character and a lovely balance of warm elements and cool, minty undertones. Long, very harmonious finish. Drink now.”
“The ‘Tradition’ wines are an ode to the winemaking style being employed at Gobelsburg in the early 19th century – specifically the years between 1800 and 1850. This period is characterised by the era of baroque, where intense aromatisation in vinfication was being practiced.” – Winery note
Schloss Gobelsburg Tradition Heritage Cuvee 10 Year NV 750ml Displayed Price: $179, that’s $170.05 at 5% off and $161.10 at 10% off, 7 bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 98 points “Based on 2010 Renner Grüner Veltliner, with a 5% part of Gaisberg Riesling, the intensely yellow-colored NV Tradition Heritage Cuvée 10 Years Edition 850 offers a deep, pure, intense, concentrated, beautifully aromatic, spicy-floral and Traminer-like bouquet of white and yellow stone fruits, yellow rose petals as well as cloves, wax and refreshing flinty aromas. Rich, intense and highly elegant on the beautifully balanced and aromatic palate, this is a pure, vital, finessed and salty-mineral as well as tensioned and sustainable cuvée with a young, still tannic texture and remarkable oak and nougat flavors. This finely tannic 10 Years cuvée seems to be much younger and bottled from smaller barrels than the “3 years edition” sibling. There is no wine on this planet that is similar in style. The fruit is Austrian, very charming and irresistible, but the structure and texture builds the bridge to France—or more precisely Alsace and Burgundy, regions that Michael Moosbrugger adores but never would try to copy. Tasted at the domain in June and again at home in July and August 2021.”
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