In This Newsletter:
Clos Erasmus:
Arriving Friday
La Fortuna
Mighty Molitor’s Power Rieslings
Harlan Estate
Henri Gouges
New Wine Spectator Insider Reviews
For Produttori del Barbaresco’s 2017s
Clos Erasmus
Arriving Friday
These are vines ranging in age from 37-60+ years old, grown biodynamically under the stewardship of Ester Nin since 2004. The parcels are scattered across the wild terrain near Gratallops in the heart of the Priorat. Here the slate soils collect in colorful fans that resemble smashed pottery. The varying aspects of each parcel’s microclimate are where the magic lies, spanning shallow valleys or climbing rough, terraced hillsides. The wines are crafted in the tiny, ancient village whose rustic charms first attracted winemaker, Daphne Glorian, and her cohorts Rene Barbier and Alvaro Palacios to the region in 1989.
Clos i Terrasses Clos Erasmus, Priorat DOCa 2019 750ML ($279.95) $228 pre-arrival special, only 18 bottles available
Daphne Glorian note, from Eric Solomon Selections “2019 was a dramatic change from 2018, with little rain during the winter (less than 136 liters between January and September), resulting in a drought compounded by an unheard-of heatwave in June, with temperatures reaching 42 degrees (107 F.) for almost a week. But trust the vines of the Priorat. Even though the extreme temperatures of June hit them hard, they are used to harsh conditions, and they adapted, returning to their normal thrifty mode. The resulting volumes were, of course, almost 20% below those of 2018 but in line with the yields we often get, 18-19 hectolitres per hectare. Harvest began at the end of August with Syrah and finished only a day earlier than average on September 18th. As expected, the combination of low yields and high temperatures speeded up the ripening process. The wines are a perfect example of Mediterranean varieties producing their best under challenging conditions. They are concentrated, solar, and yet velvety, with a strong will but happy demeanor.”
Clos i Terrasses Clos Erasmus, Priorat DOCa 2019 750ML ($279.95) $228 pre-arrival special, only 18 bottles available
Daphne Glorian note, from Eric Solomon Selections “2019 was a dramatic change from 2018, with little rain during the winter (less than 136 liters between January and September), resulting in a drought compounded by an unheard-of heatwave in June, with temperatures reaching 42 degrees (107 F.) for almost a week. But trust the vines of the Priorat. Even though the extreme temperatures of June hit them hard, they are used to harsh conditions, and they adapted, returning to their normal thrifty mode. The resulting volumes were, of course, almost 20% below those of 2018 but in line with the yields we often get, 18-19 hectolitres per hectare. Harvest began at the end of August with Syrah and finished only a day earlier than average on September 18th. As expected, the combination of low yields and high temperatures speeded up the ripening process. The wines are a perfect example of Mediterranean varieties producing their best under challenging conditions. They are concentrated, solar, and yet velvety, with a strong will but happy demeanor.”
Also Arriving Friday from Eric Solomon Selections
From Spain:
Our favorite value in Priorat! The “Black Slate” line is craft in partnership with Eric Solomon Selections to bring you great Spanish values from some of the top names in the region.
Conreria d’Scala Dei Black Slate Escaladei, Priorat DOCa 2019 750ML ($29.95) $24 pre-arrival special
Eric Solomon Selections note “Black Slate Escaladei, a blend of Garnatxa with 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, and/or Carinyena sourced from the foothills of the Montsant mountains. It stands out among its Black Slate siblings as the most elegant of the lineup, inclined more towards red fruit than black, with a high-toned minerality and spiciness. It is selected from fruit aged in foudre and French oak demi-muids.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Bodegas Mas Alta Black Slate La Vilella Alta, Priorat DOCa 2019 750ML ($29.95) $24 pre-arrival special
Eric Solomon Selections note “Eric Solomon, Bixente Oçafrain, and Philippe Cambie collaborate to create Black Slate La Vilella Alta by selecting Garnacha and Carinyena grown on both licorella and clay-limestone soils. A blend of old and young-vine fruit and small additions of Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah, La Vilella Alta is a dense and intensively flavored wine fermented in tank and aged in French oak barrels, of which 30% are new.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Bodegas Rafael Palacios ‘As Sortes Val do Bibei’ Godello, Valdeorras 2019 750ML ($89.95) $79 pre-arrival special
Decanter 98 points “Sampled from a vat, this is one of the best As Sortes I have ever tasted, comparable to the iconic 2011. It’s a prodigy of subtleness and elegance. Everything is firmly delicate in this wine. Restrained aromas open up parsimoniously, with a steely structure like a great Burgundy, but with flinty acidity almost like Grosses Gewächs from Rheingau. Despite the fact that the sample was not yet bottled, the wine had no oak influence, just the indication that it had been aged, as top Godello must. Rafael Palacios is refining his work year after year, reaching the magic of the greatest wines. A top wine, and one to keep.”
From France:
La Colline aux Fossiles Chardonnay, Vin de France 2019 750ml ($19.95) $16 pre-arrival special
Jeb Dunnuck 94 points “All Chardonnay brought up in used demi-muids, the 2019 La Colline Aux Fossiles sports a medium gold hue to go with terrific stone fruits, caramelized citrus, white flowers, and honeysuckle-like aroma and flavors as well as a beautiful sense of minerality that emerges with time in the glass. Medium to full-bodied and beautifully textured, with a layered mouthfeel and a great finish, it’s another knockout Chardonnay from the team of Eric Solomon and Jean-Marc Lafage.”
Domaine des Bosquets Gigondas Le Lieu Dit, Rhône 2019 750ML ($99.95) $88 pre-arrival special
Jeb Dunnuck 100 points “The 2019 Gigondas Le Lieu-Dit is as good as it gets – hats off to the young Julien Brechet for one of the finest Gigondas ever made. Coming from a cooler, sandy terroir next to this estate and all Grenache, it was 70% destemmed and spent 18 months in used demi-muids before being moved to concrete tanks prior to bottling. A Grand Cru Red Burgundy-like array of wild strawberries, framboise, flowers, sappy green herbs, and spice all emerge on the nose. This is followed by a seamless, full-bodied, incredibly pure Gigondas that’s more about finesse and elegance than sheer power. I love it today, yet it has the balance, as well as structure, to benefit from 2-3 years of bottle age and keep for two decades if stored properly.”
Joe Czerwinski-Wine Advocate 95-97 points “Bold raspberry and black cherry aromas are laced with Campari-like spice on the nose of the stunning 2019 Gigondas Le Lieu Dit, which comes from a sandy, southwest-facing parcel that is consistently among the last plots on the estate to be harvested. Full-bodied and velvety in texture, this is a rich, tannic (but ripe) example of Grenache that should be capable of aging well for close to two decades.”
Wine Spectator 95 points “Delicious crushed raspberry and blackberry coulis flavors weave together, giving this version an equally enticing textural edge, while mouthwatering red licorice and rooibos tea notes stitch up the edges. Subtle mineral note infuses the finish, giving this a subtle grounding as the fruit sails through. Drink now through 2035. 540 cases made, 50 cases imported. — JM”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
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Be well & drink well.
Be well & drink well.
La Fortuna