Category Archives: Special Features

Elite Garnacha On Sale Now! 5-5-24

Clos Mogador: Bodega Espectacle Vins Espectacle del Montsant Garnacha 2020 - Lobenbergs Gute Weine


We’re all familiar with the grenache based wines of Southern France. In fact, I’d imagine this is the first place that the wine nerd’s brain descends upon when discussing grenache as a varietal and the styles of wine we feel are emblematic of it. But this is actually not the grape’s true place of heritage! Ampelographical evidence suggests that the grape was first born in Spain’s Northeastern regions of Aragon & Catalonia, where seed remains of Garnacha have been carbon dated back to 153 BC. This predates written records in Europe. It was in the 1300s onwards that the grape began to expand its presence, taking root in outher parts of Southern Europe like Sardinia, Greece, and France.

Tasting a grape from its place of origin brings a sense of enormity and significance that cannot be replicated. When I enjoy wine, I see myself not only as someone that appreciates great flavor, but as an actual adventurer and witness to the history and culture of the broader world. The celebration of what makes any grape or style unique is what continuously pulls me back into the passion and forms the deep reverance I have for classic regions.

Which brings me to our offer today! On sale now is simply some of the best garnacha that Spain has ever made. Coming straight from the heartland of garnacha’s origins are the wines of Espectacle del Montsant. These wines are a project of Rene Barbier of Clos Mogador and other associates that are revitalizing the notion of high quality potential that the garnacha grape can achieve. The vineyards in the Sierras of Montsant are of very high altitude (upwards of 2300 feet above sea level), comprised of diverse soils including limestone, clay, granite, and slate. What truly makes the vine material special though is that its some of the most ancient in all of Spain, with much of it being 100 years old or more.

These are rich and textural red wines. The broad fruit potential of the garnacha is expressed here in combination with fresh acidity maintained from high altitude growing conditions and steep slopes. The Mediterranean climate is realized so intimately in the final product, with the all the warmth of the Spanish sun creating silky tannins and opulent structure. What’s striking is that the wines never feel top heavy in spite of their ripeness and higher alcohol; but rather show obvious elegance in the glance with very lifted aromas of flowers and delicate spice.

With our discount applied, these are practically the lowest prices you can find anywhere for these wines. We have 3 vintages on offer and it’s an amazing opportunity to assemble a miniature vertical for you to taste through by yourself or with guests. Discount available only through this coming Wednesday so act fast!
 

Buy any 3-5 bottles for a 5% discount

Buy any 6+ bottles for a 10% discount

Discounts will be applied after orders are received.

Offer ends on Wednesday May 8th at 9AM PST


 
Available Vintages of Espectacle:

Espectacle del Montsant 2018 750ml $119 special, 21 bottles available
Wine Spectator 98 points “As with other wines, I also tasted the 2018 Espectacle del Montsant next to the 2017 to catch up, as I last tasted the region some 16 months ago. 2018 was a cooler year of slow ripeness, and the grapes achieved an amazing 16% alcohol. The wine is truly spectacular, true to its name. It has tons of violet notes and aromatic herbs, the palate is gentler, and the tannins are rounder, polished and elegant. It has full body but isn’t heavy. There is a lot of complexity, and the wine developed slowly in the glass, showing nuances of cereals, kirsch, orange peel and lots of spices and herbs. It’s opulent and full, deep and complex. Amazing in its style. Some 6,500 bottles produced.”

Espectacle del Montsant 2019 750ml $125 special, 31 bottles available
Wine Advocate 99 points “It’s always an exciting moment tasting a new vintage of the wine from one of the most beautiful vineyards in Montsant, and the 2019 Espectacle del Montsant didn’t disappoint. It’s always Mediterranean, heady and ripe, decadent and hedonistic. 2019 was a warm and quite classical vintage in the zone, with good ripeness (the wine’s label lists 15.5% alcohol), and the wine is hedonistic, nuanced and complex, with very good acidity, which is one of the characteristics that makes this vintage so complete. Despite everything, the wine is medium to full-bodied and comes through as perfumed and ethereal. They do long macerations and long aging in foudre. 2019 is a very serious vintage for this wine; it’s a little closed and needs time in the glass, and it’s tight and seamless, a little austere for what this wine usually is. This is truly spectacular.”

Espectacle del Montsant 2020 750ml $135 special, 27 bottles available
Wine Advocate 97 points “The 2020 Espectacle del Montsant has 15% alcohol, lower than the two previous vintages despite being a warmer year, and it has power and concentration (from the weather and the low yields from mildew), reaching a good concentration with freshness, which is the key to having a balanced 2020. The wine is floral, and the profile of fruit is more primary. It also has abundant, fine-grained tannins that are going to require some more time in bottle. Espectacle always has the floral expression and the elegance of this unique vineyard in Montsant. Starting in 2022, Christian Barbier, who is leading the regenerative viticulture in the Priorat/Montsant zone, will be in charge of the viticulture here.”

The One Hundred Club 4-29-24

 In This Newsletter:

The One Hundred Club
Featuring Bibi Graetz, Chateau Smith Lafitte, Louis Roederer, Mouton Rothschild, and more!
 
100 Point wines for as little as 99 dollars
 

Bibi Graetz.
 
“From a medieval castle, Castello di Vincigliata, acquired by his parents over 60 years ago, winemaker Bibi Graetz crafts his wines on a hillside overlooking the great city of Florence. Beginning initially with only a small, 5-acre vineyard on this hillside in Fiesole, in little under two decades, Bibi has become one of Italy’s most ingenious winemakers adding “cult winemaker” in addition to “talented abstract artist” to his dossier.” –Folio Fine Wines
 
Bibi Graetz Testamatta Toscana IGT, Tuscany, Italy 2018 750ml $99 special, 12 bottles available
Jane Anson-Decanter 100 Points “Finely textured, with a nuanced perfume that fills the glass and takes you to the intense underbrush of Tuscany … Succulent and yet savoury, this has a lilting freshness that is overlaid with ripe berry fruits, sage and white pepper spice, and clear minerality in terms of its scraping texture that makes your mouth water on the finish … This is a great wine, with scope and imagination that doesn’t want to let you go.“

 
Taylor Fladgate.
 
“The 2016s are much more finished and refined; they exemplify strength and form. It suggests that they can be consumed slightly younger, perhaps in five to eight years, but they will continue to age beautifully for decades ahead. Maybe the 2016 is the new 1963 — a legendary year that was always admired for its balance and strength.” –James Suckling, “Is 2016 Vintage Port A Legend In The Making?”
 
#4 Wine of the Year – James Suckling Top 100 in 2018
Taylor Fladgate Vintage Port, Portugal 2016 750ml $99 special, 13 bottles available
James Suckling 100 Points “OMG. This is really the most amazing young Taylor’s I have ever tasted. Full-bodied and lightly sweet with super power…”

 
L’Aventure Winery.
 
In 1996 when the respected Bordeaux winemaker Stephan Asseo wanted to break out of a creative rut, he moved his family to California. Now in Paso Robles, about as far west as he could possibly move he began mixing Bordeaux and Rhone varietals, aging wines in clay amphora as well as oak barrels, and many new adventures that strict French winemaking regulations had prevented in the past. His new project became a runaway hit with collectors and was quickly followed by accolades from top wine reviewers.
 
L’Aventure Estate Cuvee, Paso Robles, USA 2019 750ml $119 special, 16 bottles available
Jeb Dunnuck 100 Points “Pure perfection from Paso Robles, the 2019 Estate Cuvee checks in as 50% Syrah, 35% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 15% Petit Verdot that was raised in 81% new French oak. Incredible cassis and black berry fruits as well as violets, chocolate, graphite, and who knows what else emerges from the glass, and it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a concentrated yet weightless mouthfeel, building tannins, and a great finish. It’s more seamless and approachable than the more backward, structured 2018 and will have two decades of prime drinking.”
 
 
Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte Grand Cru Classe de Graves 1959.
 
“It is clear from tasting the range of wines from Smith Haut Lafitte that they were indeed situated in a sweet-spot location and possessing just the right sort of terroir to hit the absolute heights of greatness this vintage has to offer, with all the hurdles skillfully managed by Teitgen and his team. These wines are truly breathtaking. Bravo!” -William Kelley
 
 New Arrival!  Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte, Pessac-Leognan, France 2020 750ml $179 special, 11 bottles
Jeb Dunnuck 100 Points ” …the 2020 Château Smith Haut Lafitte sports a dense purple hue to go with incredible aromatics of blackberries, blueberries, scorched earth, wood smoke, and acacia flowers. One of the most concentrated, rich, and sexy wines in the vintage, this massive and extraordinarily opulent 2020 shows the vintage’s pure, elegant profile yet backs it up with sensational levels of fruit and texture. Based on 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, and the balance Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, it already offers pleasure given its wealth of fruit … Not enough can be said about the quality of these wines. Bravo to Florence and Daniel Cathiard, as well as to director Fabien Teitgen, for another incredible achievement.”
James Suckling 99-100 Points “So much blackcurrant, graphite and iodine character. Full-bodied. Incredible quality to the tannins. They are polished yet powerful. It’s so long and complete with such depth and toned muscles. Vertical. Very fresh and energetic. Will it be better than the famous 2015? Maybe the best ever.”
Wine Advocate 98-100 Points ” …opening with flamboyant notes of blackcurrant pastilles, chocolate-covered cherries and molten licorice, leading to nuances of ground cloves, woodsmoke, crushed rocks and dusty soil. The medium to full-bodied palate bursts with opulent black fruit preserves and shimmering mineral sparks, framed by exquisitely ripe and fantastically firm tannins and seamless freshness, finishing with epically long-lasting earthy and savory layers. This is the singular voice of Smith Haut Lafitte at its finest, and wow-oh-wow is it worth a listen.”

 
Clos i Terrasses.
 
“Always a benchmark against which all other Priorats must be measured…” –Jay S Miller, The Wine Advocate
 
Clos i Terrasses Clos Erasmus, Priorat DOCa, Spain 2020 750ml $289 special, 4 bottles available
Wine Advocate 100 Points “The still young and primary 2020 Clos Erasmus feels very floral and ethereal (within Priorat and Clos Erasmus); it’s a fresher and lighter expression but without being weak. It’s still a baby that needs to burn the baby fat (there are still some lactic notes from the malolactic in barrel). The wine is always around 3.2 or 3.3 pH and has some 15% to 15.5% alcohol, but the sensation this year is of a much fresher, more balanced and elegant wine. This should make an elegant bottle of mature Priorat with a decade in bottle, and I guess it will be long lived. Glorian mentioned that a small lot that normally goes to Laurel was added to the blend of Erasmus, resulting in a lot of added freshness and a note of orange blossom, which makes sense to me with the floral character of the wines and the extra freshness I perceived. This is really beautiful. It’s a very special vintage of Erasmus that unfurls incredible complexity and tantalizing aromas with time in the glass—blood orange (talk about freshness!), curry and cassis. It has great purity, complexity, elegance and finesse… A very different Clos Erasmus. Bravo! There are some 3,600 bottles. It was bottled in May 2022.” 
 
 
Chateau Canon St. Emilion.
 
#1 Wine of the Year –James Suckling
 
Chateau Canon, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru, France 2015 750ml $349 special, 34 bottles available
Antonio Galloni 100 Points “From the very beginning, the 2015 Canon has made an eloquent case for itself as one of the wines of the vintage. Multiple tastings from bottle only confirm what several early tastings hinted at: the 2015 Canon is simply extraordinary in every way. Sumptuous and exotic, with no hard edges and exceptional balance, the 2015 grabs hold of all the senses and never lets up. A rush of red fruit intermingled with floral notes, spice and smoke notes effortlessly runs up the wine’s vertical structure as the 2015 thrills with every twist and turn. The 2015 Canon is a rare wine that is both hedonistic and intellectual – well, maybe it is a bit more hedonistic-leaning. It doesn’t matter. Don’t miss it. This 2015 is masterpiece from General Manager Nicolas Auderbert and his team at Canon.”
Neal Martin 100 Points “The 2015 Canon was a benchmark wine that seemed to revitalize this historic estate. I was crossing my fingers that it would not disappoint in bottle and I am glad to say that it delivers the goods. It has a very intense bouquet (just as it showed out of barrel) with laser-like precision offering wild strawberry, raspberry preserve, wet limestone and hints of truffle. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannin, clean and fresh with pure black and red fruit whose every atom appears infused with minerals. The mouth is tingling long after the wine has exited and your brain is thinking…when is the next sip coming? It is frankly heads and shoulders above almost every Saint Émilion this vintage, to reaffirm, a benchmark for this historic estate that will give pleasure to many over the coming years. Astonishing.”
James Suckling 100 Points “Seductive. The nose draws you in deep: It’s like staring into a well of pristine dark cherries, dark plums, blackberries and mulberries. All the oak is perfectly subsumed. The palate’s flawless with immense depth and power and it’s so balanced as to appear to float. Immaculate fresh dark-berry and plum flavors. Silky and deep, ribbon-like finish. Perfect. Best from 2022.”

 
Dominus Estate.
 
Christian Moueix’s storied career began with some of the most well-regarded Chateaus in Bordeaux including, among many others, Belair-Monange, Château La Fleur-Pétrus, and Château Trotanoy. Dominus Estates was Christian’s first California project, started on a recommendation from Robert Mondavi himself. The winery has received top marks from some of the world’s most prestigous and influential wine critics, including 4 perfect 100 point scores from Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate.
 
Wine spectator #1 wine of the year 2021!
Dominus Estate Christian Moueix, Napa Valley, USA 2018 750ml $419 special, 7 bottles available
Dominus Estate Christian Moueix, Napa Valley, USA 2018 375ml $219 special, 19 half bottles available
Jeb Dunnuck 100 Points “The flagship 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon checks in as 89% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Petit Verdot brought up in 40% new French oak. With an essence of Cabernet-like character in its darker currants, green tobacco, cedar, graphite, and floral aromas and flavors, this gorgeous wine is full-bodied and has bright yet integrated acidity, polished tannins, and a great, great finish. It’s just gorgeously put together and a magical, flawless wine. It’s going to take a decade to hit maturity but will evolve for 40-50 years in cold cellars. It is as good as it gets in classic, age-worthy Cabernet Sauvignon!”
James Suckling 100 Points “This is incredible on the nose, offering hot stones, blackcurrants, iodine and wet earth. Full-bodied with a tight center palate, then it opens with a tannin structure that is weightless and spreads across the palate. Totally integrated on the palate. This is a magic-carpet wine. Really incredible. One of the reference points for the vintage. Drinkable now and please try a bottle, but it’s one for the cellar.”

 
Louis Roederer.
 
Not very many wines were created as a way to prevent an assassination. In fact, only one wine ever was… but what a wine it turned out to be! Indeed Cristal, perhaps the most prestigious champagne in history, was personally designed by Roederer for Tsar Alexander II in 1867 for his historic dinner with Germany’s Kaiser Wilhelm. The bottle itself featured a unique crystal clear glass that revealed the true color of the wine (making it harder to mix with poisons) and an uncharacteristic flat bottom that could not hide explosives. And the wine itself? It became a legend… this is a wine synonymous with the highest levels of quality and luxury. It’s literally fit for a King.
 
Louis Roederer Cristal Millesime Brut, Champagne, France 2002 750ml $599 special, just 1 bottle available
Antonio Galloni 100 Points Vinous “Roederer’s 2002 Cristal, from magnum, is just off the charts…….The texture, breadth, and overall pedigree here is just remarkable, with layers of apricot, spice, dried flowers, and citrus conft that continue to build over time. The 2002 is neither old nor young; it is quite simply eternal…“
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 98 Points “Roederer’s 2002 Cristal is a fabulous wine! Originally released in 2009, it was re-released in March this year—and was sold out in a very short time. The Cristal I tasted at Roederer in May 2018 was disgorged in 2010, after seven years sur lie. Its amazing richness and concentration makes it a forerunner of the 2015 and follows the 1999 … Intense and very elegant in the mouth, this is a ripe, rich and concentrated yet also pure and vital Cristal with great finesse, elegance and mineral complexity. It’s a sublime Champagne right now, although it’s more wine than Champagne.”

 
Chateau Mouton Rothschild.
 
“Cellar Selection. A dense, smooth and opulent wine bursting with ripe Cabernet Sauvignon flavors. It’s regal and well structured, balancing the natural exuberance of Mouton with a more severe side. This is a wine with power, yet not without its charms from the fruitiness and final acidity. This great wine will age many, many years. –Roger Voss“
 
Chateau Mouton Rothschild, Pauillac, France 2010 750ml $999 special, just 1 bottle available
Decanter 100 Points “Smoked grilled tar on the nose, it feels both very 2010 and supremely Mouton – accomplished and confident. A more glamorous, enticing edge than the other Pauillac Firsts at this 10 year window. There are plentiful tannins but they are lined with air, and the overall feel is of plush, plumped fruits, like being rolled-up in luxurious sheets. It is very different in character to the other two Pauillac Firsts, but no less enjoyable. It feels higher in alcohol, more Cos than Lafite in terms of personality, in the way that Pichon Baron is more Latour than Comtesse, but it is nuanced and clever and surprising.”
Wine Spectator 99 Points “This remains the stunner, a battleship of a wine, brimming with cassis, blackberry and fig fruit that has melded together now, with the backdrop of alder, bay leaf and menthol starting to emerge a bit more. The long finish is loaded with grip, pulling the fruit and other components together. And then there’s that flash of iron at the very end. Awesome wine.”
 
 
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Vietti up to 10% Off (New 2020s available)! 4-28-24


It’s a great time of year when we get to offer new releases of Vietti. They’re simply one of the top producers in all of Piedmont if not all of Italy. Like 2019, 2020 is shaping up to be an absolutely incredible vintage, putting Barolos & Barbarescos in the market that display classic pedigree and great potential to age. Vietti’s estate has some of the most envious vineyard holdings to be found in all of Barolo and we’ve brought in practically all of their single vineyard bottlings for you to enjoy. This is no small opportunity for Piedmont fans as it provides an unmatched chance to taste all angles of the vintage in the distinct terroirs of the region.

The key to Vietti’s success has been the mastery over both modern and traditional approaches in winemaking. Rather than rest on the assumption that the old ways are best, or be seduced by the notion that new is always better, Vietti has chosen its own path. The wines are given traditional extended maceration in the winery to extract ample tannin and complex aroma from the nebbiolo grape skins before they’re matured in a combination of both barrique and large oak vessels. The approach is never heavy handed but always done to achieve the perfect balance between finesse, aromatic intensity, and ageworthy structure.

This estate treats all of its wines with immense care and you can taste the passion across the entire portfolio. In recent years I’ve been overwhelmingly impressed by not only the cru Barolos but also the entry level barberas, langhe nebbiolos, and whites of Arneis and Timorasso. There isn’t a single bottle of Vietti that I’ve opened which hasn’t been a pleasure to drink. And trust me, the bottle doesn’t last long once it’s opened.

Take advantage of the discounts below while you can because they’ll be gone by Wednesday at 9AM PST! These wines are gauranteed to be in our shop by Friday so you can rest assured that they’ll be available for pickup at your leisure. All Vietti wines are included in this sale, so don’t forget to check out the bottlings we have currently on our shelves, delightful back vintages included.
 

Buy any 3-5 bottles for a 5% discount

Buy any 6+ bottles for a 10% discount

Discounts will be applied after orders are received.

Offer ends on Wednesday May 1st at 9AM PST


 
Arriving Barolo & Barbaresco from Vietti:

Vietti Barbaresco Roncaglie Masseria 2020 750ml $135 special, 6 bottles available
PRE-ARRIVAL ETA MAY 3RD
James Suckling 96 points “Very perfumed and pretty with sliced strawberries and citrus blossom. Plenty of forest berries, too. Medium to full body. Creamy tannins and a fresh finish. Fine texture and gorgeous. Vegan. Hard not to drink but will be even better in 2027.”
Vinous 94+ points “The 2020 Barbaresco, from vines in Roncaglie, sizzles with tension. Bright, redtoned fruit, orange peel, mint, white pepper and crushed rocks are all beautifully delineated. In many vintages, the Roncaglie is quite showy. That is hardly the case in 2020, a vintage in which the wine is classically austere and in need of time. Super-classic.”

Vietti Barbaresco Rabaja Riserva 2019 750ml $319 special, 2 bottles available
PRE-ARRIVAL ETA MAY 3RD
Vinous 95 points “The 2019 Barbaresco Riserva Rabajà is a new wine from Vietti. It soars out of the glass with a captivating bouquet redolent of crushed flowers, herbs, mint and orange peel. The aromatics alone are beguiling. Nervy and classic in build, with gorgeous inner sweetness, the 2019 is utterly irresistible.”

Vietti Barolo Brunate 2020 750ml $235 special, 12 bottles available
PRE-ARRIVAL ETA MAY 3RD
James Suckling 97 points “Harmonious and seductive with endless counts of aromas in good depth. Strawberries, crushed raspberries, fresh lavender, tile, mineral and mild spices. Medium to full body with chalky, powerful tannins. Bright and tense at the center with extensive development with sour cherries, mineral, white pepper and grapefruit. The lengthy finish is focused, precise and taut.”
Vinous 94 points “The 2020 Barolo Brunate is a dark, beguiling wine. Black cherry, dried herbs, leather, game, licorice and incense lend gorgeous sepia-toned nuance. Brooding and inward, the 2020 clearly needs time. It is a super-classic Brunate that is hard to read in the early going, but the weight, substance and power are clearly there. Dense, meaty and dark, the 2020 shows Serralunga-like intensity.”

Vietti Barolo Castiglione 2020 750ml $59 special, 35 bottles available
PRE-ARRIVAL ETA MAY 3RD
James Suckling 94 points “Racy and focused. I like the aromas of lavender, violet and white roses alongside strawberry, cranberry and stone. Medium body, with firm and fine tannins that are long and succulent. It’s fine and polished.”
Vinous 93 points “Fragrant, polished and vibrant right out of the gate, the 2020 Barolo Castiglione displays beautifully-lifted notes of crushed red berry fruit, rose petal, mint, white pepper and orange peel. This classically built, mid-weight Barolo is classy to the core. Like all the 2020s here, it will benefit from time in bottle or a good decant.”

Vietti Barolo Cerequio 2020 750ml $259 special, 12 bottles available
PRE-ARRIVAL ETA MAY 3RD
James Suckling 97 points “Impressive depth of color and brightness from this Cerequio that comes with so much fruit. So fragrant and complex. Fresh brambly raspberries, red cherries, grapefruit and mineral. Pure, ripe and racy, with fully resolved tannins and a tense, compact finish. Expressive and impressive! Vegan. Already approachable for the depth of fruit, but better from 2027 for additional complexity.”
Vinous 95+ points “The 2020 Barolo Cerequio once again confirms that buying this vineyard is one of the smartest decisions Vietti ever made. A wine of nuance and class, the Cerequio captures all the pedigree of this great site. Crushed red berry fruit, kirsch, blood orange, spice and mint soar out of the glass, all framed by nervy tannins that convey classicism. This is an exotic, racy Barolo.”

Vietti Barolo Lazzarito 2020 750ml $235 special, 12 bottles available
PRE-ARRIVAL ETA MAY 3RD
James Suckling 96 points  “There is a little more savoriness here, showing contained power. Tar and dark minerality. Plenty of forest berries, dried orange peel, frozen grapefruit and raspberries. Very structured and full-bodied, with firm, chewy tannins rendering the bold austere quality to the wine. But at the end, this is focused and taut, with a crunchy, spicy finish full of length. From organically grown grapes. Vegan. Drinkable now if you are willing to embrace austerity, but this should be better from 2027.”
Vinous 93 points “The 2020 Barolo Lazzarito is a blend of fruit picked before and after the early October rains. It marries power and finesse to a notable degree. Dark red fruit, menthol, licorice, crushed rocks and dried herbs open nicely in the glass. This is a bit light for a Serralunga Barolo, although the tannic structure is there. This is missing a bit of personality.”

Vietti Barolo Monvigliero 2020 750ml $219 special, 9 bottles available
PRE-ARRIVAL ETA MAY 3RD
James Suckling 99 points “One of the palest and most perfumed Barolos from Vietti with a transparent, ruby-orange hue. This is a super nuanced, elegant, expressive and ethereal Monvigliero that grows on me, with enchanting notes of grilled grapefruit, thyme, frozen raspberries and mineral. A subtle splash of white pepper and mezcal-like smokiness. Really refined and transparent, with some citrus and mineral tensions that are closely knit with the fine, crumbled tannins. So much finesse and detail here, and its complexity will continue to unwind. Really composed, soulful and mind-blowing! An otherworldly, idiosyncratic Barolo that actually reminded me of the finest Gredo garnacha. A big wow that deserves attention. Vegan. Best with a Burgundy glass. Can drink now or from 2027.”
Vinous 92 points “The 2020 Barolo Monvigliero is a very pretty, ethereal wine. Crushed flowers, mint, bright, red-toned fruit, dried herbs and spice are nicely lifted. This pretty, nuanced Barolo is very classy, but also on the lighter side. The 2020 is beguiling, but also a bit ethereal–this fruit may have been picked too early.”

Vietti Barolo Ravera 2020 750ml $235 special, 12 bottles available
PRE-ARRIVAL ETA MAY 3RD
James Suckling 96 points “Perfumed, composed and agile with notes of cherries, wild strawberries, white pepper, frozen raspberries, dried flowers and some stones. Full-bodied with fine, chalky tannins and crisp acidity. Bright and vertical with controlled power throughout. Textural and subtle. Great tension and energy on the mid-palate and onto the long, focused finish.”
Vinous 94 points “Picked on October 9 and 10, the 2020 Barolo Ravera has plenty of Ravera classicism and tension, but also feels a bit light in the mid-palate. Ravera is never a huge wine in body, but the depth is often there, even if expressed in an understated and more linear manner. The 2020 lacks that depth. Red-toned fruit, blood orange, mint, spice and white pepper lend brilliance throughout.”

Vietti Barolo Riserva 2016 750ml $159 special, 3 bottles available
PRE-ARRIVAL ETA MAY 3RD
James Suckling 96 points “Savory, complex and very structured. Savory sour berries, cranberries and ashy minerals with ripe stems, rose hips and a touch of tar, licorice, balsamic and blood orange. This is very powerful and broad-shouldered on the palate. But as you let it breathe, this Barolo certainly gets a bit more airy and perfumed. Drink from 2026.”
Vinous 92 points “The 2016 Barolo Riserva is a powerful, dense wine. Dark fruit, spice, leather, menthol and licorice lend tons of intensity. In 2016, the Riserva is mostly from Teodoro, a site Vietti has been experimenting with for a number of years. The wine was done with 60% whole clusters and saw 18 months in wood, in other words shorter aging than the other Barolos, an approach that seems well suited to this wine, based on early trials I tasted over the years. Time has helped the stems integrate, from how this wine showed a few years ago, when I first tasted it. The 2016 is deep, powerful and persistent, but also very clearly a work in  progress.”

Vietti Barolo Rocche Castiglione 2020 750ml $259 special, 9 bottles available
PRE-ARRIVAL ETA MAY 3RD
Vinous 96 points “The 2020 Barolo Rocche di Castiglione is a magical wine from a magical site. It marries finesse and volume to a degree that is not found in most of the other wines in this range. Castiglione Falletto is the center of the Barolo production zone, literally and figuratively, the place where many different soil types meet. As a result, the wines often possess mind-blowing balance, which is very much the case here.”
James Suckling 96 points “Charming and enticing with aromas of sweet cherries, strawberries, cedar, dried herbs and some baking spices. Sensational concentration with a vivid center-palate on the full to medium body. The fine and firm tannins are harmoniously balanced by the succulent red currants and crisp acidity.”


Additional Vintages and Bottlings from Vietti:

Vietti Barolo Lazzarito 2019 750ml $239 special, 23 bottles available
Wine Advocate 98 points “With fruit from Serralunga d’Alba, the Vietti 2019 Barolo Lazzarito is a historic cornerstone wine of this mighty portfolio. It is also one of the Vietti Barolos that consistently delivers extreme quality and pleasure with each new release. Like the other wines presented here, winemaking is straightforward, with submerged cap fermentations lasting 30 to 35 days (although those times were reduced in 2019 because this vintage was not suited to long maceration times). Serralunga d’Alba always delivers power and richness. There are aromas of dried tobacco leaf, perfumed tea, crushed rose and iron ore. The bouquet is extremely expressive.”
Vinous 97 points “The 2019 Barolo Lazzarito continues a trend seen in recent years in which the focus has been more about finesse than raw power. Intense red fruit, iron, dried herbs, chalk, dried rose petal and white pepper all run through this deep, virile Barolo. The power and intensity of Serralunga really come alive on the heady, explosive finish. Bright saline notes linger on the deep, resonant finish. A Barolo of raw, unbridled power, the Lazzarito demands patience.”

Vietti Barolo Castiglione 2019 750ml $58.50 special, 5 bottles available
Vinous 94 points “The 2019 Barolo Castiglione is elegant, translucent and classy. Crushed red berry fruit, orange peel, mint and cinnamon all grace this elegant, wonderfully nuanced Barolo from Vietti. I especially admire the energy here. In many vintages, the Castiglione is easygoing and quite accessible, but I see the 2019 Castiglione Falletto needing a few more years to come into its own. I especially admire its focus and cut.”

Vietti Barolo Cerequio 2019 750ml $249 special, 4 bottles available
Vinous 98 points “The 2019 Barolo Cerequio is a worthy follow up to the stellar 2018. Aromatic and deeply pitched, the 2019 races across the palate with remarkable depth and intensity. Crushed red berry fruit, rose petal, mint, and cinnamon all open in the glass, but it is the wine’s silkiness and suppleness that impresses most. A kick of acids and tannins puts an exclamation point on the finish. This is a gorgeous Cerequio that takes all the finesse this site offers, and then turns up the volume. What a wine.”
Wine Advocate 97+ points “Vietti was able to buy a 9,000-square meter piece of Cerequio from Michele Chiarlo, arguably the king of this celebrated cru. And because this is a new addition to the portfolio, the Vietti team is still learning the ropes. For example, there is a fresh minty tone that pops up from the bouquet of the 2019 Barolo Cerequio. “That minty note was a mystery to us,” Luca Currado tells me. “But then we understood that its part of Cerequio.” This wine shows a firm grip on the palate that does extend out to include some textural softness, but it ultimately remains quite structured. Among the grand cru sites of La Morra, Luca Currado tells me that “Cerequio is the brother and Brunate is the sister.” His wife Elena Penna adds, “We’ve never had two sites so close to one another show such a great difference between them.”

Vietti Barolo Ravera 2018 750ml $199 special, 12 bottles available
Vinous 95+ points “The 2018 Barolo Ravera is a wine of real depth and vertical structure. As always, the Ravera is a taut, nervy Barolo built on energy more than volume. Readers will have to be patient, as the Ravera is likely to require a number of years to be at its most expressive. Even in the early going, it is vibrant and full of life. Rose petal, chalk, blood orange and white pepper lend striking exotic top notes that are quite suggestive of what the future is going to bring. What a gorgeous Barolo this is.”
Wine Advocate 95 points “Vietti is one of a handful of estates to bring the Ravera MGA of Novello to the current popularity it enjoys now. Their 2018 Barolo Ravera has a smoky personality with crushed stone and pencil shavings. There is plenty of dark fruit at the back, ripe cherry and blackberry mostly, and the wine is tonic and firm in terms of its structure and tannins. The Ravera is a wine of enormous length and a finely tuned texture. Exactly 7,560 bottles were made.”

Vietti Barbera Scarrone 2021 750ml $51.90 special, 11 bottles available
Vinous 94 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.”

Vietti Timorasso – Derthona Colli Tortonesi 2021 750ml $38 special, 19 bottles available
Jeb Dunnuck 92 points“The 2021 Barbera d’Alba Vigna Scarrone is dense, plush and explosive. A rush of dark red cherry/plum fruit, mocha, licorice, spice, rose petal and a kick of French oak all build in the glass. Potent and quite deep, the Scarrone is another lights-out Barbera from Vietti. In recent years, the Scarrone has come along very well. Then again, these vines were planted in 1989, so they are no longer ‘young’, just younger than the Vigna Vecchia, where the oldest vines date to 1918.”

 

Bottlings Arriving this coming Friday May 3rd
 
VIETTI WINES ON SALE NOW  VWS PRICE  AVAILABLE LINK
VIETTI BARBARESCO MASSERIA 2020 $135.00 6 Link
VIETTI BARBARESCO RABAJA RSV 19 $319.00 2 Link
VIETTI BAROLO BRUNATE 2020 $235.00 12 Link
VIETTI BAROLO CASTIGLIONE 2020 $59.00 35 Link
VIETTI BAROLO CEREQUIO 2020 $259.00 12 Link
VIETTI BAROLO LAZZARITO 2020 $235.00 12 Link
VIETTI BAROLO MONVIGLIERO 2020 $219.00 9 Link
VIETTI BAROLO RAVERA 2020 $235.00 12 Link
VIETTI BAROLO RISERVA 2016 $159.00 3 Link
VIETTI BAROLO ROCCHE CASTIG 2020 $259.00 9 Link


And even more Vietti available now…
 
VIETTI WINES ON SALE NOW  VWS PRICE  AVAILABLE LINK
VIETTI BARBARESCO RONCAGLIE 18 $119.00 3 Link
VIETTI BARBERA D’ALBA TREVIGN 21 $26.00 8 Link
VIETTI BARBERA SCARRONE 2021 $51.90 11 Link
VIETTI BARBERA SCARRONE VV 2020 $76.00 6 Link
VIETTI BAROLO BRUNATE 2017 $169.00 1 Link
VIETTI BAROLO BRUNATE 2018 $199.00 6 Link
VIETTI BAROLO CASTIGLIONE 2019 $58.50 5 Link
VIETTI BAROLO CEREQUIO 2018 $199.00 7 Link
VIETTI BAROLO CEREQUIO 2019 $249.00 4 Link
VIETTI BAROLO LAZZARITO 2017 $169.00 6 Link
VIETTI BAROLO LAZZARITO 2019 $239.00 23 Link
VIETTI BAROLO RAVERA 2017 $169.00 2 Link
VIETTI BAROLO RAVERA 2018 $199.00 12 Link
VIETTI BAROLO RISERVA 2015 $149.00 3 Link
VIETTI BAROLO RISERVA 2016 $159.00 3 Link
VIETTI BAROLO ROCCHE CASTIG 2018 $219.00 3 Link
VIETTI BAROLO ROCCHE CASTIG 2019 $299.00 1 Link
VIETTI DOLCETTO D’ALBA 2022 $21.90 8 Link
VIETTI MOSCATO D’ASTI 2023 $19.00 11 Link
VIETTI NEBBIOLO PERBACCO 2021 $28.00 6 Link
VIETTI TIMORASSO DERTHONA 21 $38.00 19 Link

Love Barolo wines?

Shop our complete selection of Barolo in-stock options on our webstore now!
 

Kruger-Rumpf up to 10% Off! 4-21-24

Georg and Julia
Georg and Julia of Kruger-Rumpf

5% off any 3-5 in-stock Kruger-Rumpf wines
10% off any 6 or more in-stock Kruger-Rumpf wines
Sale ends Wednesday April 24th at 9AM PST
 
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Kruger-Rumpf is a top quality estate in the Nahe which lies between the Mosel and the Rhine rivers—sort of a halfway point between both, geographically and stylistically.  What I think I love most about this winery is the value that their bottlings offer in terms of price to quality ratio. It’s a shame really that I’m rejoicing that a winery doesn’t charge higher prices for their wines when they absolutely deserve to, but the benefit can’t be ignored. The GG (Grosses Gewachs or “Great Growth”) bottlings from Kruger-Rumpf are criminally delicious, and I’m not exaggerating when I say you’ll be drinking some of the finest white wine on the planet. If you’re new to riesling don’t worry, these wines are bone dry and full of mineral tension. However, the estate does offer some slightly sweet wines for those that love a guilty pleasure.

More on the estate itself. The family history here goes back to 1708 and the lineage of devoted individuals can trace itself 3 more centuries and multiple world wars to where it is today. At one point there were only a handful of hectares that survived for the winery following WWII, and it is a testament to the dedication of these artisans that we still can drink their wines today. The quality has never been higher. Georg, the current winemaker has continued the winery’s emphasis on experimention and innovation, balancing age old techniques with new grape varieties like chardonnay and pinot noir. The results speak for themselves as these wines were picked up by Terry Theise, a riesling importing legend in the early 1990s and have found favour ever since.

The Abtei Reserv bottlings are of particular note for their exceptional value and old vine pedigree. As mentioned earlier, the GGs are stunning examples of their kind and true testaments to what riesling can be. With prices like we have listed and with the additional discounts available for multiple bottles and half case purchases, this is a no brainer steal of an opportunity.


The GG Bottlings: World Class Dry Wines

Kruger-Rumpf Burgberg Riesling GG, Nahe 2018 750ml $59 special, 19 bottles available
Grapelive 94+ points “Coming from a tiny incredibly steep Grand Cru site, the Burgberg Vineyard, that is set on volcanic and quartz soils near Munster in the village of Dorsheim. The Kruger Rumpf Burgberg GG is one of the most exciting wines of vintage at this small winery… It is fantastically mineral-driven dry Riesling. This latest set of wines, especially the Rieslings, from Georg Rumpf and his family are some of the best yet from this estate. The GG’s and the Premier Cru Trockens are gorgeous wines.”
Wine Advocate 93+ points “From low-yielding vines planted in the 1950’s and 1960’s, the 2018 Burgberg Riesling GG is absolutely great on the pure, clear and refreshing, super flinty and mineral nose. On the palate, this is an intense, highly complex and elegant dry Riesling with crystalline acidity and a long and refreshing, crystalline and salty finish. Bottled and tasted in July 2019.”
Vinous 93 points “Scents and luscious palate presence of white peach, yellow plum and grapefruit are wreathed in iris. Gloss and textural plushness – there is an almost doughy midpalate impression – are allied to a striking finishing sense of buoyancy and clarity. The salinity tugs at the salivary glands and, along with the wine’s sense of animation, leaves the tongue quivering. I tend to believe that the conjunction of such pronounced salinity and the site’s high percentage of quartzite is more than mere coincidence, though it would be nice to learn of relevant scientific investigation.”

Kruger-Rumpf Burgberg Riesling GG, Nahe 2021 750ml $59 special, 18 bottles available
Mosel Fine Wines 92 points “The 2021er Burgberg Riesling GG, as it is referred to on the consumer label, presents a hugely aromatic, perfumed, and captivating nose of tangerine, lily flower, may tree, Conference pear, and almond cream as well as a hint of toffee. The wine coats the palate with juicy and light-yellow fruits and flowers and leaves superbly clean, focused, and animating feel of herbs and spices in the very long and precise finish. The length is really superb. What a beautiful attractive and aromatic GG. 2024-2031.”

Kruger-Rumpf Dautenpflan Riesling GG, Nahe 2021 750ml $44.50 special, 6 bottles available
Mosel Fine Wines 91 points “The 2021er Dautenpflänzer Riesling GG, as it is referred to on the consumer label, has a delicately ripe and aromatic nose of lily flowers, canned yellow peach, William’s pear, orange blossom, may tree, violet, and a dash of litchi. The wine is playful and zesty on the palate, where fresh flavors of orchard fruits make for a very attractive side. The finish is long and bone-dry in taste, with a hint of tartness in need of integration. This fruit-driven and aromatic dry wine will please lovers of the style. 2024-2031”

Kruger-Rumpf Pitterberg Riesling GG, Nahe 2018 750ml $39 special, 36+ bottles available
Wine Advocate 93+ points “The 2018 Im Pitterberg Riesling GG is bright and floral on the fragrant and elegant, spicy-mineral nose. Full-bodied and intense on the palate, with rich and concentrated fruit that is balanced by a tight and mineral structure and lingering salinity, this is an elegant, very complex and sustainable dry Riesling with crunchy stone flavors and a gripping finish. This is a great Nahe wine from the 2018 vintage. Tasted in July 2019.”
Vinous 92 points “Scents of white peach anticipate the cool juiciness as well as the peach fuzz invigoration and peach kernel piquancy that emerge on a firm palate. A bright influx of fresh lime lends animation and enhances refreshment on a finish that also features mouthwatering veal stock savor and vivid wet stone. (For background on the naming of this site and the origin of its fruit, consult my review of the corresponding 2015.)”

Kruger-Rumpf Pitterberg Riesling GG, Nahe 2021 750ml $49 special, 4 bottles available
Wine Advocate 93+ points “The 2018 Im Pitterberg Riesling GG is bright and floral on the fragrant and elegant, spicy-mineral nose. Full-bodied and intense on the palate, with rich and concentrated fruit that is balanced by a tight and mineral structure and lingering salinity, this is an elegant, very complex and sustainable dry Riesling with crunchy stone flavors and a gripping finish. This is a great Nahe wine from the 2018 vintage. Tasted in July 2019.”
Vinous 92 points “Scents of white peach anticipate the cool juiciness as well as the peach fuzz invigoration and peach kernel piquancy that emerge on a firm palate. A bright influx of fresh lime lends animation and enhances refreshment on a finish that also features mouthwatering veal stock savor and vivid wet stone. (For background on the naming of this site and the origin of its fruit, consult my review of the corresponding 2015.)”


Perfectly Balanced Entry Level Dry Wines

Kruger-Rumpf Abtei ‘1937 Reserv’ Riesling Trocken, Nahe 2018 750ml $33 special, 36+ bottles available
CLOSE-OUT SALE   WAS $39   NOW $33
Grapelive 94-96 points “The 2018 barrel sample of Kruger-Rumpf’s Abtei 1937 was stunningly gorgeous with brilliant details, ripe extract density, vivid mineral tones and vibrant acidity showing a purity and vitality of youth, but with the complexity and length of its old vine material. Georg Rumpf has crafted a Trocken beauty here with layers of delicacy and substance. This juice is on par with almost any GG, making it an incredible value already. Be sure to book your allocation of this ultra-limited bottling from Terry These and importer Skurnik Wines. You will not be disappointed, I know I will be hustling to get some myself.
Vinous 91 points “This bottling is sourced from the oldest vines, planted in 1937, on an exciting steep, stony site that the Rumpfs are restoring (and about which you can read much more in my reviews of the Rumpfs’ vintage 2016 and inaugural vintage 2015 renditions of Abtei Riesling, both of which originated entirely in this oldest parcel).
Terry Theise note ” A special lot aged in a Hösch 1200-liter cask, it comes from the best part of the site, planted in 1937 and shows a lovely old-school touch, from the bright silvery mineral and the warm breathy caskyness.”

Kruger-Rumpf Abtei ‘1937 Reserv’ Riesling Trocken, Nahe 2021 750ml $41.90 special, 20 bottles available
Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2021 Bingerbrücker Abtei Rupertsberg “1937” Riesling trocken shows a deep, clear, refined and elegant, complex and predominantly stony bouquet with notes of fresh lemon juice and some herbal nuances. Mouthfilling, round and vital on the palate, with crystalline and savory acidity, this is a silky, supple and fruit-intense but always elegant and refined dry Riesling from vines planted in 1937. The 2021 reveals a palatable phenolic structure and currently lacks some charm, but its stimulating lemon notes and saline vitality are highly promising. 12% stated alcohol. Natural cork. Tasted in October 2022.”

Kruger-Rumpf Estate Trocken Riesling 2021 750ml $18 special, 20 bottles available
Wine Advocate 91 points “Rumpf’s 2021 Binger Riesling Trocken is pure and crystalline yet intense and elegant on the refined and “classic” nose. Tart and bitter yet also round and dense on the palate, this is an intense and textured, seriously structured dry Riesling from the famous red quartzite soils of the Scharlachberg. 12% stated alcohol. Screw-cap closure. Tasted in October 2022.”


Some Sweet & Sparkling

Kruger-Rumpf Im Pitterberg Riesling Spatlese GK, Nahe 2018 750ml $39 special, 21 bottles available
Vinous 95 points “Picked at the end of October but with minimal botrytis, this certainly stands in magnificent contradiction to my vintage generalization that picking past the middle of that month was not advantageous. Unlike its counterpart form the Dautenpflänzer, this was raised in cask, and was allowed to ferment to a lower level of residual sugar. It comes off as a riper, richer sibling of the corresponding Im Pitterberg Riesling Kabinett, its gloss merging with creaminess, yet with fresh white peach and lime juiciness complementing ripe quince and serving for animation and refreshment. The finish is unexpectedly electrifying in its vibrancy and mouthwateringly saline, and gains stimulating counterpoint from peach kernel piquancy, peach fuzz prickle and a crystalline sense of stone-showering mineral impingement. (If there is a second, “regular” Im Pitterberg Spätlese from this vintage, I am not aware of it.)”

Kruger-Rumpf Scheurebe Spatlese 2020 750ml $26 special, 13 bottles available
Skurnik Importer note “Completely from Dautenpflänzer old vineyrdas planted in the 50s. Soil Type Quarzite. Age of Vines (Average) 35 years. Yield 40hl/ha. Farming Technique Sustainable. Fermentation & Elevage Stainless steel, fermentation with natural yeasts. Total Acidity 8.5. Residual Sugar 73 g/L. 8.5% Alcohol.”

Kruger-Rumpf Rose Brut NV 750ml $29 special, 16 bottles available
Importer note “Grapes: 90% Pinot Noir, 10% Riesling. Region: Nahe. Vineyard: Mostly from Kappelenberg. Soil: Slate, gravel, and clay. Production: 100% whole cluster pressed. 50% fermented entirely in old Hösch stuckfass (1200L) and 50% in stainless steel where the wine is left for 9 months. After secondary fermentation in the bottle, the wine is left on the lees for 18 months. Dosage: 4 grams (cane sugar liqueur). Mainly from Kapellenberg (slate) with one vineyard site on a plateau above the hillside of  Kapellenberg where there is more gravel and clay. Not only is the vin clair for the Pinot Brut Rose sourced from different vineyards than the still rose, it’s vinified in a different manner as well. Harvested in the middle of September, without any chemical fertilizers or herbicides, the grapes are 100% whole cluster pressed in a bladder press with a short maceration of a few hours, giving just a hint or rose color.”
 
 
KRUGER-RUMPF WINES AVAILABLE NOW  VWS PRICE  AVAILABLE LINK
KRUGER-RUMPF ABTEI “1937” 2018 $33.00 36+ Link
KRUGER-RUMPF ABTEI “1937” 2020 $39.00 1 Link
KRUGER-RUMPF ABTEI “1937” 2021 $41.90 20 Link
KRUGER-RUMPF BURGBERG GG 18 $59.00 19 Link
KRUGER-RUMPF BURGBERG GG 21 $59.00 18 Link
KRUGER-RUMPF DAUTENPFLAN GG 21 $44.50 6 Link
KRUGER-RUMPF DAUTENPFLAN SPAT 18 $24.00 1 Link
KRUGER-RUMPF ESTATE TROCKEN 21 $18.00 20 Link
KRUGER-RUMPF PITTER SPAT GK 18 $39.00 21 Link
KRUGER-RUMPF PITTERBERG GG 18 $39.00 36+ Link
KRUGER-RUMPF PITTERBERG GG 21 $49.00 4 Link
KRUGER-RUMPF ROSE BRUT NV 750ML $29.00 16 Link
KRUGER-RUMPF SCHEUREBE SPAT 20 $26.00 13 Link

New Envinate Bottlings up to 10% Off! 4-14-24



 

5% off any 6-11 in-stock Envinate wines
10% off any 12 or more in-stock Envinate wines
Sale ends Wednesday April 17th at 9AM PST
 
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Four new exciting Envinate bottlings have hit our shelves! These wines will immediately be available for purchase at a 5% or 10% discount for half and full case purchases. The 2022 Palo Blanco is particularly exciting, having received 98 points from Wine Advocate upon review. I can tell you from personal experience that this bottling is very compelling, with exotic aromas of smoky candied lemon and delicate flowers that frame fine-boned acidity. A perfect white to open as the sun lingers longer and longer in the Spring.

All of our in-stock Envinate wines will be on sale as well through this Wednesday.You won’t find a wider selection anywhere else.

Winery Overview:

Back in 2019 when I first tasted the wines of Envinate I was impressed but cautious with my enthusiasm. I told myself that these spicy, exotic red and white wines from the Canary Islands and smaller appellations in Spain would be a temporary moment in the zeitgeist of wine trends. A blip on the timeline for new wave wines coming out of Spain. I was wrong. These wines have continued to improve vintage after vintage and now represent the revolutionizing wine movement in Spain as it’s foremost exciting producer. The 2021 and 2022 releases are profound with incredibly elegant acidity, smoky red & white fruits, and unbeatable food pairability.

You know what I was also wrong about? The prices. I had figured that these wines and their somewhat limited production scale (take a look at their vineyards on the Canary Islands and you’ll see what I mean) would catch the cult wine geek demand curve and become completely unaffordable for the general enthusiast looking to explore modern Spanish wine. Instead, the prices continue to be wildly approachable with the wine in bottle far out performing what the consumer will pay. If you take advantage of our discount offering today, the price you pay will be comically at odds with how good the wine is you’ll be drinking. It’s hard to fathom how these wines are even present in the global market given how wildly difficult it is to produce them. The Canary Islands offer a challenging environment for winemaking, with steep volcanic slopes, windy conditions, and varying microclimates. Envinate embraces these challenges and crafts wines that reflect the character of the islands while pushing the boundaries of traditional winemaking.

The grapes they’re using also completely reinvent the notion of noble varieties in the mind of the wine nerd. Grapes such as Listan Blanco, Listan Negro, Listan Prieto, Listan Gaucho, Baboso, Negramoll, Albillo Criollo, Marmajuelo, Gual (missing several I’m sure) present themselves in wines coming from Tenerife while Mencia, Garnacha Tintorera, Brancellao, Merenzao, Grao Negro form cuvees from the mainland in Ribeira Sacra. If you’re looking for something new to experience in Spanish wine, look no further.


 Newly Arrived Envinate Wines:
 
Envinate Palo Blanco 2022 | 8Wines EU/UKEnvinate Palo Blanco 2022 750ml $54.50 special, 33 bottles available
Wine Advocate 98 points “The heat from late August didn’t affect much the grapes that were used for the 2022 Palo Blanco, as they are picked much later than the grapes from other zones of Tenerife. So, the 2022 vintage in Los Realejos is a lot fresher than in Taganana or La Orotava. In fact, I liked the palate of this 2022 better than that of the 2021; it’s vibrant, lovely and fresh. The nose is still a little reductive, and the notes of flowers and herbs take time to emerge. It was bottled in July 2023. 98, drink 2024-2030”

Envinate Taganan Blanco 2022 750ml $54.50 special, 12 bottles available
Wine Advocate 94 points “The 2022 Táganan Blanco has a mellow nose with notes of ripe yellow fruit, dried flowers, aromatic herbs and crushed rocks. 2022 was extremely dry and delivered healthy grapes that were harvested early, and the wine kept a moderate 12% alcohol and very high acidity (7.1 grams) that give it a lively palate with citrus freshness and a very tasty, salty finish. This didn’t go through malolactic fermentation and matured in neutral barrels with lees for nine months. 3,200 bottles produced. It was bottled in July 2023.”

Envinate taganan tinto 2017 - xtrawine.comEnvinate Taganan Tinto 2022 750ml $54.50 special, 36 bottles available
Wine Advocate 94+ points “The just-bottled 2022 Táganan Tinto is juicy and primary but with very good balance and no excess. It has less reductive character and is sapid and balanced. They did slightly shorter macerations and used a little more full clusters for this wine. It’s a very good vintage for this bottling. It was bottled in July 2023. 94+, drink 2025-2030”

Envinate La Santa Ursula 2022 750ml $54.50 special, 36 bottles available
Wine Advocate 95 points “The 2022 La Santa de Úrsula is balsamic and reveals notes of rose petals and talcum powder. The fruit is darker (riper) and it has a juicy palate with fine tannins and a long lingering finish. 8000 bottles and 100 magnums produced. It was bottled in July 2023.”

Additional Envinate Wines:

Envinate Albahra Tinto 2022 750ml $25.50 special, 22 bottles available
Wine Advocate 95 points “The 2022 Albahra is from a year of good quality and good quantity, when the blend was slightly different, 62% Garnacha Tintorera, 30% Moravia Agria, 5% Garnacha and 3% Pardillo, because they rented a vineyard where they also have white (Pardillo) grapes (they might produce a white in 2023). 2022 in the Mediterranean zone was a dry year but it was not as warm as in other zones of Spain, and they think it was the best year so far for the Moravia Agria. So, the wines have more freshness and more acidity. Another big change is that 2022 was the first year that was vinified in their new winery in the zone. So, it’s a much fresher wine than the 2021, which was a warmer year”

Envinate Benje Blanco 2022 750ml  $29.50 special, 14 bottles available
Wine Advocate 93+  “All wines are unfiltered and unfined, and the 2022 Benje Blanco showed a little cloudy but with an extremely expressive, nuanced and elegant nose, very subtle. It was a cooler year with more freshness, so they used less flor (which is always used to sharpen the whites), and the palate is long and vertical, very tasty. This is the finest vintage of this wine to date. 21,000 bottles and 240 magnums produced. It was bottled in June 2023.”
Jose Pastor Importer Note “100% Listán Blanco. From several parcels of 70–110-year-old vines at 900-1200m elevation farmed by Envínate and 15 local families. Viticulture here is highly traditional: vines grow untrained, the soils [are] worked by hand, and no chemicals are used.”

Envinate Benje Tinto 2022 750ml $29.50 special, 3 bottles available
Wine Advocate 94+ points “The red 2022 Benje is floral, expressive, clean and elegant, reflecting a very good year in the region, with notes of rose petals and talcum powder, a fine texture and very elegant tannins. This has to be the most elegant Benje to date. 28,000 bottles. It was bottled in July 2023.”
Jose Pastor Importer Note “90% Listán Prieto, 9% Listán Blanco, 1% Tintilla. From several parcels of 70–120-year-old vines at 900-1200m elevation farmed by Envínate and 15 local families. Viticulture here is highly traditional: vines grow untrained, the soils is worked by hand, and no chemicals are used.”

Envinate La Santa Ursula 2021 750ml $54.50 special, 6 bottles available
James Suckling 96 points “Beautiful nose full of white pepper funk, grapefruit, wild raspberries, chalk and mineral. On the palate, this is ethereal and lively but super tense with a bit more verticality than the equally attractive, funky but linear Táganan. Textured, mineral and wild finish that develops in the finish. Goes on and on. Delicious and so drinkable now, but this can age, for a decade, too, if not more.”

Envinate Migan Tinto 2021 750ml $49 special, 5 bottles available
James Suckling  98 points “Nervy, nicely funky, precise and mineral nose with a “protective” flintiness and an alluring peppery edge to the wild berries and pomegranate. Fine, dissolved tannins with a mealy, dusty texture, tapping into a super tangy, fresh palate full of grapefruit zest and wild berries. Really long and irresistible now, but can age.”



Ribeira Sacra vineyard parcels

Envinate Lousas Aldea 2021 750ml $44.50 special, 13 bottles available
James Suckling 96 points “Excellent depth with a vibrant lift of pepperiness to the wild and airy bramble fruit and minerality. Chalky and broad on the palate but really weightless with chalky tannins and a fresh, refined finish. Delicious now.”

Envinate Lousas Doade 2021 750ml $59 special, 2 bottles available
James Suckling 95 points  “Fine, chalky nose with fresh brambly fruit, pomegranate, tile and white pepper. Lots of wild fruit on the palate with fine, fresh tannins and a long finish full of wild herbs and some cooked grapefruit. So drinkable now, why hold?”
89% Mencía, 10% other varieties

Envinate Lousas Seoane 2021 750ml $84.50 special, 2 bottles available
Wine Advocate 96 points “The 2021 Lousas Parcela Seoane comes from a field blend of 90% Mencía and 10% other varieties on gneiss and quartz soils, with old vines, all fermented together with full clusters that were foot trodden, and then the wine matured in neutral 228-, 400- and 500-liter oak barrels. It has 13% alcohol and good freshness and acidity. It is a bit austere and closed, somehow with less energy than how the 2022 was showing today. 2,200 bottles were filled in November 2022.”

Envinate Lousas Rosende 2021 750ml $84.50 special, 2 bottles available
Importer note “From a single vineyard of 28-60-year-old vines in Rosende, in O Saviñao, the soils here remind them of the northern Rhône with granite crystals flecked through the sand. The wine is full of cherries, berries, wild strawberries and a slightly savoury, umami finish.”
85% Mencía, 15% other varieties

Envinate Misturado de Abeleda 2021 750ml $54.50 special, 6 bottles available
Jose Pastor Importer Note “Misturado de Abeleda is sourced from a centenarian parcel located in Ribeiras do Sil. This is a  rare, mixed-planted parcel, with about 70% red and 30% white grapes. The grapes were hand-harvested, foot-trodden and co-fermented 100% whole cluster with wild yeasts in open top plastic tubs, then raised in used 300 and 400 liter French oak for 11 months with no racking. The finished wine is bottled without fining, filtration or added SO2. A throwback to Ribeira Sacra’s early days.”
 
ENVINATE WINES  VWS PRICE  AVAILABLE LINK
ENVINATE ALBAHRA CHINGAO 2022 $31.50 3 Link
ENVINATE ALBAHRA CHINGAO 22 MAG $89.00 3 Link
ENVINATE ALBAHRA TINTO 2022 $25.50 22 Link
ENVINATE BENJE BLANCO 2022 750ML $29.50 14 Link
ENVINATE BENJE TINTO 2021 MAG $79.00 1 Link
ENVINATE BENJE TINTO 2022 750ML $29.50 3 Link
ENVINATE BENJE TINTO 2022 MAG $77.00 2 Link
ENVINATE LA SANTA URSULA 2021 $54.50 6 Link
ENVINATE LA SANTA URSULA 2022 $54.50 36 Link
ENVINATE LOUSAS ALDEA 2021 $44.50 13 Link
ENVINATE LOUSAS ALDEA 2021 MAG $99.00 3 Link
ENVINATE LOUSAS DOADE 2021 $59.00 2 Link
ENVINATE LOUSAS ROSENDE 2021 $54.50 8 Link
ENVINATE LOUSAS SEOANE 2021 $84.50 2 Link
ENVINATE MIGAN 2017 $69.00 1 Link
ENVINATE MIGAN CHINGAO 2022 MAG $94.50 2 Link
ENVINATE MIGAN TINTO 2021 750ML $49.00 5 Link
ENVINATE MISTURADO DE ABELEDA 21 $54.50 6 Link
ENVINATE PALO BLANCO 2021 750ML $54.50 3 Link
ENVINATE PALO BLANCO 2022 $54.50 33 Link
ENVINATE TAGANAN BLANCO 2022 $59.00 12 Link
ENVINATE TAGANAN TINTO 2022 $54.50 36 Link