In This Newsletter:
Staff Picks
A Multitude of Molitor
Figgins Estate
Rosé of the Day:
Bastide Blanche
Goodfellow
Daterra Viticultores – Laura Lorenzo
Trending
Francois Gay
Collector’s Corner:
2013 Burlotto Monvigliero
Francois Gay
Collector’s Corner:
2013 Burlotto Monvigliero
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Staff Picks
In a world where quality Burgundy is rapidly outpacing consumer wallets, Glantenay’s regional and village level pinots consistently impress. If you want to drink value red Burgundy with complex aromatics, silky texture, and rich red fruit, Glantenay is the producer for you.
Domaine Thierry Glantenay Bourgogne Rouge, Burgundy 2017 750ml $33 special, 13 bottles in stock now
Neal Martin-Vinous 87-89 points “The 2017 Bourgogne Pinot Noir has a clean raspberry and blackberry scented bouquet (there is a tincture of the children’s drink Ribena here!) The palate is medium-bodied with crunchy tannin, fine acidity, fresh and lively with good energy towards the finish. Recommended.”
“Glantenay’s 2017 Bourgogne Rouge is very persuasive, bursting with aromas of cassis, ripe red berries and spices. On the palate, it’s medium-bodied, satiny and succulent, with a light framing of structuring tannins and a generous core of fruit. It will deliver great pleasure on release.” -William Kelley, Wine Advocate
Domaine Thierry Glantenay Bourgogne Rouge, Burgundy 2017 750ml $33 special, 13 bottles in stock now
Neal Martin-Vinous 87-89 points “The 2017 Bourgogne Pinot Noir has a clean raspberry and blackberry scented bouquet (there is a tincture of the children’s drink Ribena here!) The palate is medium-bodied with crunchy tannin, fine acidity, fresh and lively with good energy towards the finish. Recommended.”
“Glantenay’s 2017 Bourgogne Rouge is very persuasive, bursting with aromas of cassis, ripe red berries and spices. On the palate, it’s medium-bodied, satiny and succulent, with a light framing of structuring tannins and a generous core of fruit. It will deliver great pleasure on release.” -William Kelley, Wine Advocate
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Christoph Schaefer and his wife Andrea make some of the most authentic wine in all of the Mosel. Never fearing the delicious balance that subtle sugar and bright acid can bring, these wines are an educational tour de force on German Riesling. The Himmelreich vineyard tends to bring wines with slightly spicier, red fruit notes, while the Domprobst leads with cool, minty green herbs and delicate freshness.
Weingut Willi Schaefer Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Spatlese, Mosel 2019 750ml $45 special, 33 bottles in stock now
James Suckling 95 points “Play me a love song to the Mosel! Super fresh and super precise, this Spätlese has a ton of floral delight and a wonderful interplay of the most delicate, white and yellow character with vibrant acidity. Such a clean, filigree finish you want to bathe in it. Drink or hold.”
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 94 points “The 2019 Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Spätlese is precise, fresh and pure on the nose that displays notes grated lemon rind and crushed stones. Round, piquant and juicy on the palate, this is an utterly refined yet sustainable and firmly structured Spätlese with dense and vibrating fresh Riesling fruit whose sweetness is well-compensated by mineral grip, salinity and tension. 7.5% alcohol. Tasted from AP 08 20 in June 2010.”
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A Multitude of Molitor
Vinopolis has the deepest selection of Molitor of any shop on the entire West Coast, and it’s no coincidence. This producer has taken the Riesling world by storm with astronomical review scores and unparalleled vineyard offerings. What makes Molitor most unique is the capsule coloring system he employs. White for wines that taste refreshingly dry and crisp, green for wines with beautifully integrated sugar to give aromatic lift, and gold for wines with lush sweetness and mind-blowing fruit. Shop our complete selection on our webstore now!
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Figgins Estate
The team at Leonetti consistently releases some of the most stunning Bordeaux-style reds in Walla Walla. Don’t miss the Figgins Estate, crafted by Chris Figgins and adored by critics every year.
Figgins Estate Red, Walla Walla Valley 2018 750ml $99 special, 33 bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 97+ points “The 2018 Red Wine is another stunner from this talented team. A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Petit Verdot aged 23 months in a mix of new and used barrels, it has an incredibly pure bouquet of both red and blue fruits as well as graphite, violets, and blood orange. Playing in the medium to full-bodied end of the spectrum, it stays tight and focused on the palate, with a beautiful mouthfeel, ripe yet firm, chalky tannins, plenty of mid-palate depth, and a great, great finish. It’s a gorgeous wine that will benefit from 3-5 years of bottle age and cruise for 15-20+ in cold cellars.”
Owen Bargreen-Vinous 97 points “The 2018 Red Wine Estate might just be the best edition ever of this incredible high-elevation bottling. It’s nothing short of a blending masterpiece by Chris Figgins and his winemaking team. This thing is massive monster of a wine that really needs several hours of air to get going. But once tamed, the aromatics explode out of the glass, unveiling dark currants, roasted figs, black rose petals and creosote tones with shades of green bell pepper from the Petit Verdot. The palate is soft and opulent in the mouth. Layers of crème de cassis, anise, violets, dark cherry cordial, graphite and espresso bean with green bell pepper undertones all brilliantly combine with a vibrant sense of tension, and firm tannins hold everything in place. While this is extraordinary to savor upon release, try your best to resist it for at least a few more years.”
Wine Enthusiast 95 points “Top 100 Cellar Selection 2021. Aromas of macerated cherry, coffee, flower, licorice and date lead to cherry, cranberry and raspberry flavors that give a full impression on the palate. There’s plenty of precision and detail to be had, so much acidity and a quite firm tannic structure. A big, burly, beautiful wine, it will last and drink well as long as you care to keep it. Don’t go near it now. Best after 2032. -Sean P. Sullivan”
Figgins Estate Red, Walla Walla Valley 2018 750ml $99 special, 33 bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 97+ points “The 2018 Red Wine is another stunner from this talented team. A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Petit Verdot aged 23 months in a mix of new and used barrels, it has an incredibly pure bouquet of both red and blue fruits as well as graphite, violets, and blood orange. Playing in the medium to full-bodied end of the spectrum, it stays tight and focused on the palate, with a beautiful mouthfeel, ripe yet firm, chalky tannins, plenty of mid-palate depth, and a great, great finish. It’s a gorgeous wine that will benefit from 3-5 years of bottle age and cruise for 15-20+ in cold cellars.”
Owen Bargreen-Vinous 97 points “The 2018 Red Wine Estate might just be the best edition ever of this incredible high-elevation bottling. It’s nothing short of a blending masterpiece by Chris Figgins and his winemaking team. This thing is massive monster of a wine that really needs several hours of air to get going. But once tamed, the aromatics explode out of the glass, unveiling dark currants, roasted figs, black rose petals and creosote tones with shades of green bell pepper from the Petit Verdot. The palate is soft and opulent in the mouth. Layers of crème de cassis, anise, violets, dark cherry cordial, graphite and espresso bean with green bell pepper undertones all brilliantly combine with a vibrant sense of tension, and firm tannins hold everything in place. While this is extraordinary to savor upon release, try your best to resist it for at least a few more years.”
Wine Enthusiast 95 points “Top 100 Cellar Selection 2021. Aromas of macerated cherry, coffee, flower, licorice and date lead to cherry, cranberry and raspberry flavors that give a full impression on the palate. There’s plenty of precision and detail to be had, so much acidity and a quite firm tannic structure. A big, burly, beautiful wine, it will last and drink well as long as you care to keep it. Don’t go near it now. Best after 2032. -Sean P. Sullivan”
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The average price is $109
Rosé of the Day:
Bastide Blanche
Bastide Blanche
“This cuvée is assembled by Peter Weygandt, of Weygandt-Metzler, at the domaine with the talented help of Stéphane Bourret, the winemaker, and the Bronzo family. This is delicious and very rewarding dry pink wine and, selling at almost half the price of Tempier’s Bandol Rosé, it is a real bargain!” –Kerry Winslow, Grapelive
Domaine de la Bastide Blanche Bandol Rosé, Provence 2020 1.5L $59 special, 16 magnums in stock now
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 92 points “Limpid orange-pink. Expressive red berry, blood orange and pit fruit aromas are accompanied by building mineral and floral nuances. Taut and energetic in the mouth, offering sappy strawberry, orange zest and lavender flavors braced by a spine of chalky minerality. Finishes silky and impressively long, with repeating mineral and floral notes.”
Joe Czerwinski-Wine Advocate 91 points “A blend of Mourvèdre, Grenache, Cinsault, Clairette and Ugni Blanc, La Bastide Blanche’s 2020 Bandol Rose bursts with scents of sun-warmed peaches, passion fruit and strawberries. It’s medium to full-bodied, mouthfilling and concentrated, yet finishes spry and refreshing, with a burst of salinity and citrus.”
Domaine de la Bastide Blanche Bandol Rosé, Provence 2020 1.5L $59 special, 16 magnums in stock now
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 92 points “Limpid orange-pink. Expressive red berry, blood orange and pit fruit aromas are accompanied by building mineral and floral nuances. Taut and energetic in the mouth, offering sappy strawberry, orange zest and lavender flavors braced by a spine of chalky minerality. Finishes silky and impressively long, with repeating mineral and floral notes.”
Joe Czerwinski-Wine Advocate 91 points “A blend of Mourvèdre, Grenache, Cinsault, Clairette and Ugni Blanc, La Bastide Blanche’s 2020 Bandol Rose bursts with scents of sun-warmed peaches, passion fruit and strawberries. It’s medium to full-bodied, mouthfilling and concentrated, yet finishes spry and refreshing, with a burst of salinity and citrus.”
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Domaine de la Bastide Blanche Bandol Rosé, Provence 2021 750ml $24 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 92 points “Light, bright orange. Vibrant pomegranate, blood orange and pit fruit qualities on the highly perfumed nose, along with building mineral and floral accents. Taut and focused in the mouth, nicely concentrated red berry, orange zest and lavender flavors are supported by an undercurrent of chalky minerality. Finishes floral and long, with repeating mineral and citrus fruit notes.”
Joe Czerwinski-Wine Advocate 91 points “Regularly a top Bandol, the flamingo-pink 2021 Bandol Rose comes across initially as rather simple, fruity and easy. Plum, cherry and melon notes do add attractive hints of crushed stone and lime on the zesty-briny finish of this medium-bodied effort. Tasted twice (once blind), with consistent notes.”
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Goodfellow
Marcus Goodfellow is one of the most talented winemakers in Oregon. These are profound wines, both white and red, that are made in a style that’s distinctly savory—no fruit bombs here. We love them for their coiled power and Burgundian structure. There’s a clear house styling that’s evident across the bottlings which include some of the best appellations in the Willamette Valley including the Dundee Hills, Ribbon Ridge and Eola-Amity. Oregon Pinot Noir is often grouped into “Heavy or Light” but Goodfellows iterations defy this categorization by walking the middle road between both camps.
These are wines that speak with an Oregon voice, but the tannin and acidity comes from an old-world point of view. If you haven’t tried Marcus’ wines with some age, well, now’s your chance to grab some winery-cellared releases. 2011 Pinot Noirs from the Willamette Valley are among the most acid driven and long lived in the past decade or more, with many more years still left in their bottle age trajectory. If that wasn’t enough we also have small amounts left of his Syrah as well as his Chardonnay bottlings from various sites.
Highlights In Stock Now from Goodfellow:
Winery library release in spring 2022. Drinking impeccably now with numerous enthusiastic recent notes on CellarTracker, we just can’t get over how beautifully Marcus’ wines age.
Matello ‘Souris’ Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2011 750ml $54.50 special, 29 bottles in stock now
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 91 points “(from fruit grown in the Whistling Ridge and Durant vineyards; made with 55% whole clusters and raised in 40% new oak): Vivid red. Vibrant red berry and Asian spice aromas are given depth by notes of vanilla and licorice and pick up a minerally nuance with air. Juicy raspberry and cherry-cola flavors tighten up in the mid-palate and show very good clarity. Finishes spicy and long, with silky tannins adding structure.”
These are wines that speak with an Oregon voice, but the tannin and acidity comes from an old-world point of view. If you haven’t tried Marcus’ wines with some age, well, now’s your chance to grab some winery-cellared releases. 2011 Pinot Noirs from the Willamette Valley are among the most acid driven and long lived in the past decade or more, with many more years still left in their bottle age trajectory. If that wasn’t enough we also have small amounts left of his Syrah as well as his Chardonnay bottlings from various sites.
Highlights In Stock Now from Goodfellow:
Winery library release in spring 2022. Drinking impeccably now with numerous enthusiastic recent notes on CellarTracker, we just can’t get over how beautifully Marcus’ wines age.
Matello ‘Souris’ Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2011 750ml $54.50 special, 29 bottles in stock now
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 91 points “(from fruit grown in the Whistling Ridge and Durant vineyards; made with 55% whole clusters and raised in 40% new oak): Vivid red. Vibrant red berry and Asian spice aromas are given depth by notes of vanilla and licorice and pick up a minerally nuance with air. Juicy raspberry and cherry-cola flavors tighten up in the mid-palate and show very good clarity. Finishes spicy and long, with silky tannins adding structure.”
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Goodfellow Family Cellars Whistling Ridge Vineyard Chardonnay, Ribbon Ridge 2018 750ml $38.50 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Erin Brooks-Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2018 Chardonnay Whistling Ridge has intense, pure aromas of baked apples, pie crust, hazelnuts and flint. The palate is silky and expansive with plush, nutty flavors, seamless freshness and a very long finish.”
Winery note “A beautiful, linear wine, compelling aromatically, and elegant and lively in the mouth. Sea shell, salt water, white flowers, linen, almond, lemon oil, lit match, and lime skin. White chalky minerality, crisp, and with length.”
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Goodfellow Family Cellars Richard’s Cuvee Chardonnay, Ribbon Ridge 2019 750ml $55 special, 24+ bottles in stock now
Winery note “Oh boy…first gravel and smoke, opening to fresh pear, hazelnuts, straw and raw grain, then lime and yuzu blossom. Old world notes of river stones, and seashells. Palate is immediately bright, stony, mineral, lime, clean, lucid, direct, and steely. Acidity runs through the wine from the front palate to the long, long, long finish. Like Corton from the mid-90s… 11.8% abv, finished under Diam 30. 155 cases.”
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Goodfellow Family Cellars Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2019 750ml $21.50 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Josh Raynolds 93 points “Bright garnet. Zesty red fruits and spices on the nose, plus hints of blood orange and botanical herbs. Tangy and sharply focused, offering nervy red currant, bitter cherry, orange zest and licorice flavors that take a sweet turn on the back half. Closes long and smooth, with the spice and herb notes repeating. This is a distinctly savory, restrained Pinot, which is uncommon for an entry-level offering.”
Winery cellared release in 2022!
Goodfellow Family Cellars Bishop Creek Vineyard Pinot Noir, Yamhill-Carlton District 2014 750ml $69 special, 14 bottles in stock now
Josh Raynolds 91 points “Vivid red. A highly perfumed bouquet evokes fresh red berries, cherry, candied flowers and musky earth, backed by a touch of smokiness. Lively black raspberry and floral pastille flavors pick up hints of bitter chocolate and licorice with aeration. The clinging, focused finish features fine-grained, slow-mounting tannins and repeating floral character. Give this one a little air time.”
Grapelive 91 points “Delicately layered and spicy, the 2014 Bishop Creek is a pretty effort, especially for a richer vintage in Oregon. Made by Marcus Goodfellow, the ex-Evesham Wood and Westrey man, [he] is coming into his own as a talent, inspired by Doerner of Cristom and John Paul of Cameron. You can see the style showing through here. Bishop Creek, planted to Pommard and Wadenswil (old Swiss clone), [is] now owned by Nicolas Meo of the famed Burgundy Domaine Meo-Camuzet. [The vineyard] ([which is] not far from Shea Vineyards) formed this wine with its distinct strawberry and racy red cherry core along with the mixed spice, mineral tones and light wood influence. Its southern exposure and Willakenzie soils (dark rocky marine sediment) give warmth and grace. Planted in 1988, the vines ripen without flamboyant extraction, allowing more finesse to show through. At 13.9% this medium weight wine offers fine detail, opulence and restrained, almost earthy, soulfulness. Hints of bitter herb, cedar and candied citrus rind add a tangy note to the whole and the finish echoes the red fruits in subtle fashion with a touch of wilted roses lingering on. It shines right now, though best to enjoy it with cuisine to match as it is a tad shier than other 2014 Oregon Pinots (I’ve tried) and needs time and coaxing to reach its beautiful peak. Best from 2018 to 2022.”
Winery note “Twenty five year old un-grafted Wadensville vines, dry farmed in the Yamhill-Carlton AVA are handpicked for this wine. From 3 acres, each clone is fermented separately with native yeasts in small lots, typically with 50-60% whole-clusters. The wine is aged in 0%-40% new French oak barrels for 18-21 months and bottled unfined and unfiltered. There is intensity at Bishop Creek, with deep, dark toned fruit, a spicy floral edge and savory tones with acidity and length.”
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Goodfellow Family Cellars Long Acre Whistling Ridge Pinot Noir, Ribbon Ridge 2018 750ml $46 special, 11 bottles in stock now
Josh Raynolds 95 points “Vivid garnet. A highly fragrant bouquet evokes ripe red berries, potpourri and incense, along with exotic spice and subtle earth nuances that build as the wine opens up. Sappy and penetrating on the palate, offering appealingly sweet, expressive raspberry, cherry and rose pastille flavors accented by five-spice powder and black cardamom flourishes. Nicely concentrated but graceful as well, showing impressive finishing power, repeating florality and supple, well-knit tannins.
Erin Brooks-Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2018 Pinot Noir Whistling Ridge Long Acre has a pale ruby color and slowly opening scents of amaro, licorice, charcuterie and dusty earth with a core of bright red and black berry fruit. The medium-bodied palate is grainy and fresh with loads of spicy accents lingering on the finish.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Goodfellow Family Cellars Heritage #15, Whistling Ridge Vineyard Pinot Noir, Ribbon Ridge 2019 750ml $66 special, 10 bottles in stock now
Josh Raynolds 96 points “Translucent ruby. Expansive, mineral- and spice-accented red fruit preserve, potpourri and incense aromas are joined by hints of cola and botanical herbs as the wine opens up. Alluringly sweet and energetic on the palate, offering concentrated raspberry, cherry cola, star anise and candied rose flavors that slowly unfold through the back half. Smooth, polished tannins build slowly on the impressively long, focused finish, which strongly echoes the red fruit, floral and spice notes. This suave wine will age gracefully on its balance.”
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Daterra Viticultores – Laura Lorenzo
It goes without saying that organic and biodynamic farming methods have taken root in the wine industry around the world, with Spanish vignerons like Laura Lorenzo taking organic practices to the next level. She enrolled in enology school at 16 and worked in South Africa, Argentina, and Ribeira Sacra before starting her own winemaking company, Daterra Viticultores, in 2014 to craft minimalistic wines in Ribeira Sacra’s sub-region of Quiroga-Bibei from ancient, difficult to work vineyards.
Practicing regenerative agriculture with the express purpose to minimize impact on the ecosystem, her vineyards are entirely comprised of rehabilitated native varietals, most of which are 80-120 year old bush vines. The Quiroga-Bibei region is punctuated by undulating hills and rivers largely comprised of granite. Vineyards are precipitously planted on terraces carved by the Roman and Celtic inhabitants in millennia past, largely to field blends of indigenous grapes. This allows for wholly unique expressions vineyard to vineyard, hence Lorenzo’s propensity to vinify and bottle her wines by site.
“Laura Lorenzo is one of the most heroic and iconic winemakers in Spain these days and her Daterra Viticultores label is one of the most intriguing in the wine world… Daterra Viticultores wines… are sultry, earthy seductive and celebrate a sense of wildness that captures the essence of this region and the Galician cool Atlantic climate and rugged charms.” –Kerry Winslow, Grapelive
Highlights In Stock Now:
Daterra Viticultores ‘Azos da Vila’ Tinto, Galicia 2019 750ml $33 special, 23 bottles in stock now
Luis Gutierrez-Wine Advocate 91 points “Coming from the region of Manzaneda, the red 2019 Azos da Vila is dark and a little cloudy, earthy and with some rusticity. It was produced with grapes from ancient vineyards planted with Mencía, Mouratón and Merenzao that can represent 70% of the volume and then some Alicante Bouschet, Gran Negro and Palomino. There is a volatile whiff here and some notes of apple skin intermixed with notes of herbs and acid berries. It has a contained 12.5% alcohol and fine tannins. 51,84 bottles produced.”
Importer note “Field blend of Mouraton, Mencia, Garnacha Tintorera, Merenzao, Gran Negro, and other local varieties from 80-120-year-old vines on granitic soils near Manzaneda in the Val do Bibei. Grapes partially destemmed (50%), macerate for 15 days, and fermented with wild yeasts in an old, open-top French oak barrel. Raised for 11 months in used 225L & 500L chestnut and French oak barrels.”
Practicing regenerative agriculture with the express purpose to minimize impact on the ecosystem, her vineyards are entirely comprised of rehabilitated native varietals, most of which are 80-120 year old bush vines. The Quiroga-Bibei region is punctuated by undulating hills and rivers largely comprised of granite. Vineyards are precipitously planted on terraces carved by the Roman and Celtic inhabitants in millennia past, largely to field blends of indigenous grapes. This allows for wholly unique expressions vineyard to vineyard, hence Lorenzo’s propensity to vinify and bottle her wines by site.
“Laura Lorenzo is one of the most heroic and iconic winemakers in Spain these days and her Daterra Viticultores label is one of the most intriguing in the wine world… Daterra Viticultores wines… are sultry, earthy seductive and celebrate a sense of wildness that captures the essence of this region and the Galician cool Atlantic climate and rugged charms.” –Kerry Winslow, Grapelive
Highlights In Stock Now:
Daterra Viticultores ‘Azos da Vila’ Tinto, Galicia 2019 750ml $33 special, 23 bottles in stock now
Luis Gutierrez-Wine Advocate 91 points “Coming from the region of Manzaneda, the red 2019 Azos da Vila is dark and a little cloudy, earthy and with some rusticity. It was produced with grapes from ancient vineyards planted with Mencía, Mouratón and Merenzao that can represent 70% of the volume and then some Alicante Bouschet, Gran Negro and Palomino. There is a volatile whiff here and some notes of apple skin intermixed with notes of herbs and acid berries. It has a contained 12.5% alcohol and fine tannins. 51,84 bottles produced.”
Importer note “Field blend of Mouraton, Mencia, Garnacha Tintorera, Merenzao, Gran Negro, and other local varieties from 80-120-year-old vines on granitic soils near Manzaneda in the Val do Bibei. Grapes partially destemmed (50%), macerate for 15 days, and fermented with wild yeasts in an old, open-top French oak barrel. Raised for 11 months in used 225L & 500L chestnut and French oak barrels.”
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Daterra Viticultores ‘Casas de Enriba’ Galicia 2019 750ml $31.90 special, 22 bottles in stock now
Importer note “100% Mencia from Laura’s own 20-25-year-old vines in Valdeorras, planted on granitic soils at an elevation of 550 meters. The grapes were partially destemmed and fermented in stainless steel tanks before being transferred to 4000L French oak barrels to rest for 10 months.”
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Daterra Viticultores ‘Portela do Vento’ Galicia 2018 750ml $31.90 special, 29 bottles in stock now
John Gilman 93 points “The Portela Do Vento Tinto is composed of a blend of Mencía and Garnacha Tintorera, selected from several different vineyard parcels in both Quiroga and Amandi. The grapes are mostly destemmed and fermented in stainless steel tanks, prior to racking to five hundred liter, used demi-muids for ten months of elevage. The 2018 Portela Do Vento comes in at a svelte twelve percent alcohol and delivers a beautiful, black fruity bouquet of cassis, dark berries, tree bark, coffee bean, slate, cigar smoke and just a touch of upper register botanicals. On the palate the wine is precise, full-bodied and tangy, with a lovely core of fruit, excellent slate undertow, fine-grained tannins and a long, complex, palate-staining and focused finish. This is pure, light on its feet and excellent! 2023-2045+.”
Importer Note “Comes from several south-facing parcels of Menci´a and Garnacha Tintorera in the Amandi and Quiroga-Bibei subzones. The grapes were harvested by hand and mostly destemmed, fermented with wild yeasts in steel vats, and raised for 9 months in used 500 liter French barrels. This is Laura’s “glou-glou” wine that she loves to share with her American friends. Fresh and easy-drinking, it is very versatile with a wide variety of foods…or straight from the porro´n!?”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Daterra Viticultores ‘Portela do Vento’ Galicia 2019 750ml $31.90 special, 13 bottles in stock now
Importer Note “100% Mencia from a south-facing parcel of 50-year-old vines planted on granitic, sandy soils at an elevation of 350-400 meters in the Amandi subzone of Ribeira Sacra. The grapes were destemmed and partially crushed then fermented in a used 4000L French oak foudre. The wine then rested for 11 months in the same foudre.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Trending
A Cab/Syrah blend ready to take you to flavor town
L’Aventure Optimus Paso Robles 2019 750ml $57.50 special, 31 bottles in stock now
James Suckling 96 points “Extremely aromatic with ripe chery and berry aromas, as well as flowers and citrus. Medium to full body with fine, polished tannins and a long, caressing finish. This is really well done and one of the most balanced L’Aventures I have encountered. Syrah, cabernet sauvignon and petit verdot. Drinkable now, but better in two or three years.”
Decanter 94 points “Lovely aromatic intensity, spicy and nuanced on the nose but incredibly well defined on the palate which is crisp and precise with flavours that glide across, so linear and straight. There’s a coolness to the fruit profile and a refreshing juiciness. Concentration and structure with good tannic grip – lots on offer here. A blend of 57% Syrah, 31% Cabernet Sauvignon and 12% Petit Verdot. Wines are aged for 14 months in 89% new French oak and 11% one-year-old French oak with malolactic fermentation in barrel. No fining or filtering.”
Jeb Dunnuck 94 points “The 2019 Optimus should be snatched up by savvy readers. Based on 57% Syrah, 31% Cabernet Sauvignon, and the rest Petit Verdot, it just about jumps out of the glass with gorgeous cassis, floral, pepper, and graphite-like aromas and flavors. As seamless as they come, this full-bodied, elegant, pleasure-bent 2019 is going to evolve for a decade.”
Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe Télégramme Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Rhône 2019 750ml $48 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-12 Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe Télégramme Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Rhône 2019 750ml $519 special (that’s only $43.25/bottle!)
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 93 points “Deep violet. Ripe, spice-accented dark berry and cherry preserve scents show strong garrigue and floral accents. Pliant in texture and broad in the mouth, offering sappy boysenberry, bitter cherry and floral pastille flavors and a peppery topnote. Finishes long and gently chewy, with the floral and spice notes repeating.”
Joe Czerwinski-Wine Advocate 92 points “Full-bodied, rich and highly textural, the 2019 Chateauneuf du Pape Telegramme is atypically concentrated and dense, reflecting the addition of more old-vine Grenache to the cuvée. Black cherries, salted licorice and dark chocolate all make appearances, and the wine finishes long and velvety.”
Jeb Dunnuck 92 points “Bottled early in May, the 2019 Châteauneuf Du Pape Télégramme offers a big, up-front, impressive style with classic red and blue fruits as well as licorice, peppery herbs, and crushed stone-like minerality. It has medium to full body, ripe, polished tannins, and a terrific level of class and elegance.”
L’Aventure Optimus Paso Robles 2019 750ml $57.50 special, 31 bottles in stock now
James Suckling 96 points “Extremely aromatic with ripe chery and berry aromas, as well as flowers and citrus. Medium to full body with fine, polished tannins and a long, caressing finish. This is really well done and one of the most balanced L’Aventures I have encountered. Syrah, cabernet sauvignon and petit verdot. Drinkable now, but better in two or three years.”
Decanter 94 points “Lovely aromatic intensity, spicy and nuanced on the nose but incredibly well defined on the palate which is crisp and precise with flavours that glide across, so linear and straight. There’s a coolness to the fruit profile and a refreshing juiciness. Concentration and structure with good tannic grip – lots on offer here. A blend of 57% Syrah, 31% Cabernet Sauvignon and 12% Petit Verdot. Wines are aged for 14 months in 89% new French oak and 11% one-year-old French oak with malolactic fermentation in barrel. No fining or filtering.”
Jeb Dunnuck 94 points “The 2019 Optimus should be snatched up by savvy readers. Based on 57% Syrah, 31% Cabernet Sauvignon, and the rest Petit Verdot, it just about jumps out of the glass with gorgeous cassis, floral, pepper, and graphite-like aromas and flavors. As seamless as they come, this full-bodied, elegant, pleasure-bent 2019 is going to evolve for a decade.”
Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe Télégramme Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Rhône 2019 750ml $48 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-12 Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe Télégramme Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Rhône 2019 750ml $519 special (that’s only $43.25/bottle!)
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 93 points “Deep violet. Ripe, spice-accented dark berry and cherry preserve scents show strong garrigue and floral accents. Pliant in texture and broad in the mouth, offering sappy boysenberry, bitter cherry and floral pastille flavors and a peppery topnote. Finishes long and gently chewy, with the floral and spice notes repeating.”
Joe Czerwinski-Wine Advocate 92 points “Full-bodied, rich and highly textural, the 2019 Chateauneuf du Pape Telegramme is atypically concentrated and dense, reflecting the addition of more old-vine Grenache to the cuvée. Black cherries, salted licorice and dark chocolate all make appearances, and the wine finishes long and velvety.”
Jeb Dunnuck 92 points “Bottled early in May, the 2019 Châteauneuf Du Pape Télégramme offers a big, up-front, impressive style with classic red and blue fruits as well as licorice, peppery herbs, and crushed stone-like minerality. It has medium to full body, ripe, polished tannins, and a terrific level of class and elegance.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
The average price nationally is $56
A pretty little Pinot Noir rosé from the Loire!
Pascal et Nicolas Reverdy Sancerre Terre de Maimbray Rosé, Loire 2021 750ml $26 special, 29 bottles in stock now
Importer note “100% Pinot Noir. The soil here is almost pure Terres Blanches – fossilized Marne/Kimmeridigian limestone and clay. The yields are low, about 50 Hl/Ha, with excellent natural ripeness and concentration of mineral character.”
Fuligni Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Tuscany 2014 750ml $49 special, 23 bottles in stock now
Decanter 93 points “The grapes for this Brunello come from Fuligni’s oldest vines which typically go into the Riserva. In 2014, harvest was pushed back until mid-October in order to achieve full ripeness. The wine spent the first four to five months in small 5hl barrels to stabilise the colour, with the remaining time spent in traditional large botti. It opens with iron and savoury spice before revealing leather and tobacco leaf notes. There’s definitely some flesh to pad out the structure in this well-balanced example, with smoky incense notes on the finish. Drinking Window 2020 – 2028.”
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 92+ points “The Fuligni 2014 Brunello di Montalcino is a beautiful wine. To my mind, it represents one of the best interpretations you will find from this difficult vintage that caused so much unease. The Fuligni family shows a deft hand, resulting in a wine that offers more balance, intensity and depth than a good majority of its peers. It opens to a compact and streamlined style, but it follows through with an articulate set of aromas including cassis, red rose, camphor ash and aniseed. The mouthfeel is thin in texture but lengthy in flavor and freshness. This is a very traditional expression of Sangiovese in heart and soul. Some 20,000 bottles were made.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $73
Francois Gay
Francois Gay is a tiny estate located in Chorey-les-Beaune. The domaine retains the name of the father of the current owner and winemaker, 8th generation Pascal Gay. He took over the estate in the early aughts.
The region is known for offering fantastic values, and the Domaine could be the finest of the under-the-radar picks out there. These days, just a tiny fraction of Pascal’s roughly 3,000 case production makes it state-side. Most wines are snapped up in France by savvy restaurants and locals. In the glass, the wines offer charming fruit, intense flavors, and rustic and gamey expressions of terroir.
We’re not sure when you’ll run across these wines again: the importer has closed up shop. So consider this last call!
In Stock Now from Francois Gay:
Francois Gay et Fils Aloxe-Corton, Cote de Beaune 2014 750ml $49 special, 8 bottles in stock now
Francois Gay et Fils Aloxe-Corton, Cote de Beaune 2015 750ml $59 special, 5 bottles in stock now
The region is known for offering fantastic values, and the Domaine could be the finest of the under-the-radar picks out there. These days, just a tiny fraction of Pascal’s roughly 3,000 case production makes it state-side. Most wines are snapped up in France by savvy restaurants and locals. In the glass, the wines offer charming fruit, intense flavors, and rustic and gamey expressions of terroir.
We’re not sure when you’ll run across these wines again: the importer has closed up shop. So consider this last call!
In Stock Now from Francois Gay:
Francois Gay et Fils Aloxe-Corton, Cote de Beaune 2014 750ml $49 special, 8 bottles in stock now
Francois Gay et Fils Aloxe-Corton, Cote de Beaune 2015 750ml $59 special, 5 bottles in stock now
These are the only listings in the USA today!
Francois Gay et Fils Corton Renardes Grand Cru, Cote de Beaune 2009 750ml $135 special, 1 bottle in stock now
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Francois Gay et Fils Ladoix Rouge, Cote de Beaune 2010 750ml $59 special, 4 bottles in stock now
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Collector’s Corner:
2013 Burlotto Monvigliero
“A wine that will leave readers weak at the knees”
Burlotto is not the first name on many people’s lips when thinking of Barolo, and it’s a shame since G.B. Burlotto was considered among the absolute greatest winemakers in the world for the seventy plus years he was at the helm. After his passing in 1927, the winery and his hometown of Verduno slipped into obscurity. Now Fabio Alessandria, the great-great-grandson has taken over and Burlotto regained the place it deserves among the best small producers in the Piedmont.
Tradition is first and foremost for Fabio, going so far as to use gentle crushing by foot followed by a sixty day maceration period, once common but now virtually unheard of in Barolo. The technique is used for the home vineyard of Monvigliero and the soft touch develops a wine of remarkable character with notes of cedar, olives in herbs, and something rich – like truffles – the feel is structurally powerful, but so elegant as to be shimmery. All seems to going in the right direction for Burlotto, including a perfect 100 from Galloni on the 2013 Monvigliero, which we were able to secure for you today.
In Stock Now:
G. B. Burlotto Barolo Monvigliero, Barolo DOCG 2013 750ml $599 special, 1 bottle in stock now
Antonio Galloni 100 points “Burlotto’s 2013 Barolo Monvigliero is simply magnificent. In many vintages, a young Monvigliero can come across as disjointed, especially in the aromatics and the pungent, savory notes can be overpowering. Not in 2013. All the elements are in perfect balance. A wine of soaring aromatic intensity, pedigree and class, the 2013 is thrilling from the very first taste. Rose petal, lavender, violet, spice, orange peel, white pepper and cinnamon are some of the many notes that infuse the super-expressive finish. All of Burlotto’s 2013 Barolos are exceptional. But the Monvigliero, well, it enters the realm of the deeply moving. It is a wine that will leave readers weak at the knees.”
Burlotto is not the first name on many people’s lips when thinking of Barolo, and it’s a shame since G.B. Burlotto was considered among the absolute greatest winemakers in the world for the seventy plus years he was at the helm. After his passing in 1927, the winery and his hometown of Verduno slipped into obscurity. Now Fabio Alessandria, the great-great-grandson has taken over and Burlotto regained the place it deserves among the best small producers in the Piedmont.
Tradition is first and foremost for Fabio, going so far as to use gentle crushing by foot followed by a sixty day maceration period, once common but now virtually unheard of in Barolo. The technique is used for the home vineyard of Monvigliero and the soft touch develops a wine of remarkable character with notes of cedar, olives in herbs, and something rich – like truffles – the feel is structurally powerful, but so elegant as to be shimmery. All seems to going in the right direction for Burlotto, including a perfect 100 from Galloni on the 2013 Monvigliero, which we were able to secure for you today.
In Stock Now:
G. B. Burlotto Barolo Monvigliero, Barolo DOCG 2013 750ml $599 special, 1 bottle in stock now
Antonio Galloni 100 points “Burlotto’s 2013 Barolo Monvigliero is simply magnificent. In many vintages, a young Monvigliero can come across as disjointed, especially in the aromatics and the pungent, savory notes can be overpowering. Not in 2013. All the elements are in perfect balance. A wine of soaring aromatic intensity, pedigree and class, the 2013 is thrilling from the very first taste. Rose petal, lavender, violet, spice, orange peel, white pepper and cinnamon are some of the many notes that infuse the super-expressive finish. All of Burlotto’s 2013 Barolos are exceptional. But the Monvigliero, well, it enters the realm of the deeply moving. It is a wine that will leave readers weak at the knees.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $675
“In 2013, a cool growing season and late harvest produced gorgeous Barolos with striking aromatics, silky tannins, sculpted, vibrant fruit and mid-weight structures. Readers will find a number of thrilling, utterly captivating wines that speak to the pedigree and class that are the signatures of the best Barolo vintages… Overall, the 2013s are Barolos that speak to finesse above all else. These are wines that will hold considerable appeal to readers who enjoy classically built wines.” –Antonio Galloni