Italy

One of Piedmont’s simple delights
Cieck ‘Erbaluce’ Erbaluce di Caluso DOCG, Piedmont 2019 750ML ($26.95) $19 special
Importer note “This wine is simply called Erbaluce as it represents the most straightfoward expression of our erbaluce grapes. Aiming to preserve the fruity sensations at their best, the bunches are pressed whole, then the pips, stems and skins are immediately removed. The must is then cold fermented so that the aromatic and flavour compounds, typicaly of the fruit, are not lost. After a few months in stainless steel tanks, the wine is bottled at the beginning of spring, the year after harvesting.”

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Dry & unfiltered
Angelo Negro Brachetto, Piedmont 2019 750ML ($24.95) $19.90 special
Importer note “Cherry red color with purple hue. Cloudy due to presence of residual yeast. Bright, fresh aromatics coupled with delicate hints of violet and rose. A pleasantly tart wine with notes of candied red fruit on the palate. Chill, shake, serve!”


Freisa is a wild-child offspring of Nebbiolo, and this version is delightfully zippy and rustic
La Miraja Freisa d’Asti, Piedmont 2019 750ML ($26.95) $19.90 special
Importer note “Nose: Subtle yet aromatic. Dominated by bright red fruit—most notably strawberry—and underlying notes of forest floor, fresh mushroom, violet, and geranium. Palate: A noteworthy floral character gives way to perfectly ripened strawberry mitigated by stony minerality, reliable acidity, and hints of white pepper. A textbook example of still Freisa made in a style that balances rusticity with finesse. Think homemade strawberry-rhubarb pie.”

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Classic Brunello, supersized
Il Paradiso di Frassina Moz Art, Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2014 1.5L ($119.95) $99 special
Eric Guido-Vinous 92 points “Deep bright red-ruby. Oriental spices and botanical herbs complicate rich red fruit and balsamic oil aromas and flavors. Rich, ripe and suave, with a glyceral mouthfeel and strong hints of bitter herbs to the repeating ripe red cherry notes on the long thick, mouthcoating back end. A very good showing for 2014.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $148.50 

“Such a pretty wine”
Il Paradiso di Frassina Moz Art, Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2015 750ML ($69.95) $54.50 special
Eric Guido-Vinous 91 points “Here I’m finding a dusty and understated display of dried cherries, red florals, and crushed stone, with hints of leather and animal musk. On the palate, soft textures and cooling acids make for a lifted display, carrying pretty strawberry and floral tones, backed by saline-minerals which seem to slowly evolve into a coating of fine tannin. The finish is long and slightly tart, resonating on brisk acids and minerals, with saturating red berry and rosy florals slowly fading. Such a pretty wine.”
Kerin O’Keefe-Wine Enthusiast 91 points “Aromas of oak-driven spice, toasted notes and mature dark-skinned berry take center stage along with a whiff of fragrant purple flower. Reflecting the nose, the taut linear palate features raspberry compote, vanilla, coconut and a hint of star anise alongside polished tannins.”

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A Rosso di Montalcino that punches way above its weight
Stella di Campalto Rosso di Montalcino, Tuscany 2015 750ML ($119.95) $99 special
Ian D’Agata-Vinous 93 points “Very pale red. Delicately spicy and herbal nuances complement red cherry and berries on the perfumed floral nose. Then similarly impressive in the mouth, with sneaky concentration and depth to the redcurrant, strawberry and floral flavors. Finishes long and suave, with saline nuances but enticing lovely sweetness. Knockout Rosso.”
Eric Guido-Vinous 92 points “The 2015 Stella di Campalto Rosso di Montalcino shows a beautiful translucent ruby color, with a bouquet of sweet florals and dusty spice giving way to fresh strawberries, white smoke, and hints of leather. On the palate, soft textures flesh out across the senses in a wave of pure bright cherry, lifted by a core of vibrant acidity, which energizes yet also adds sweetness to its pretty red fruits, as minerals settle in and inner floral tones develop. The finish is long yet quite feminine, resonating on ripe red fruits, sweet florals, and spice, with lingering acids which sizzle on the senses. The 2015 is an understated yet remarkably pretty vintage for the Rosso; it’s a wine that begs to be drunk, not tasted, showing all the best qualities of the vintage while maintaining perfect form. It also worth mentioning that this was tasted within a flight of 2015 Brunellos, and it held its own.”


“So clean, so pure, and so easy to like, yet decidedly savory as well”
Stella di Campalto Brunello di Montalcino Riserva DOCG, Tuscany 2013 750ML ($249.95) $199 special
Ian D’Agata-Vinous 95 points “Deep red. Initially slightly reduced, but clears with aeration to showcase peach, blood orange, cinnamon, balsamic oils, and talcum powder on the pretty but still youthful nose. Fresh and juicy, but boasting noteworthy size to the pretty red berry and floral flavors. A complicating note of cocoa and coffee rises to the fore on the long juicy finish that showcases sneaky concentration and lurking tannic power. Still youthfully chewy and with some oak that needs to be resolved, but this is a very promising Brunello.”
Eric Guido-Vinous 95 points “I could sit with this glass of 2013 Stella di Campalto Brunello di Montalcino Riserva for hours, simply taking in its bouquet, as it rises up from the glass with an alluring and intoxicating display of crushed ripe strawberries, both rich and sweet, giving way to exotic spice, rhubarb, dusty florals, and mineral tones. On the palate, it’s taking a turn to the savory side, as fleshy textures are offset by zesty acids, with a mix of cherry sauce, spice, wild herbs, and minerals drenching the senses, as pretty inner floral tones develop. It finishes fresh, yet buzzing with energy, contrasted by a tart berry twang, with resonating minerals, spice, and just a hint of fine tannin. This is so clean, so pure, and so easy to like, yet decidedly savory as well. The 2013 Riserva will have a lot of fans and comes off to me as a perfect mix of the 2008 and 2010 vintages.”

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The average price is $214

The ageing potential is off the charts
Tenuta Col d’Orcia Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Tuscany 2015 750ML ($59.95) $49 special
Eric Guido – Vinous 94 points “At first, the 2015 Brunello di Montalcino is quite closed in the glass, to the point I move on to the wine next to it… However, upon returning to the glass a few minutes later, I come to realize that the 2015 simply needs time to come to life; and once it does, watch out. Here I find a gorgeous and intense display, mixing savory and sweet, as well as, earth and fruit, as dusty cedar and spice give way to ripe strawberry with a hint of citrus, with wild herbs and a hint of animal musk adding further depths. On the palate, silky textures meld into woodland red berry fruits, zesty spice, hints of cedar, savory herbs, saline minerals, and mounting tannins. The finish is long and structured, yet there remains enough primary fruit to balance it all out, as well as resonating acids, intriguing hints of citrus, and spice. This is remarkably balanced, singing already, yet it’s full of potential for the cellar.”
Wine Spectator 94 points “This combines the best characteristics of Sangiovese, with cherry and strawberry fruit, earth, leather and iron notes and balsamic elements of wild thyme, rosemary and Mediterranean scrub. Shows a bit of heat on the finish, yet remains fresh and long. Best from 2023 through 2042. 16,600 cases made, 3,000 cases imported. — BS”
Wine Advocate 93 points “The Col d’Orcia 2015 Brunello di Montalcino (made with organic fruit) has a very distinctive aromatic profile with subtle hints of rusty iron and moist potting soil. However, this wine also shows an impressive evolution in the glass with those earthy and sanguine notes lifting to reveal sweet oak tones of vanilla and baking spice that remain pronounced in a second underlayer. To me, Col d’Orcia’s wines are almost always characterized by a medicinal or balsamic element, and the primary fruit is downplayed as a result. This vintage puts on a good show with wild berry, blackcurrant and dried blackberry. That said, this wine is more ethereal and spicy than it is fruity per se.”


Spain

Balanced, fresh, precise
Bodegas y Vinedos Artuke ‘Pies Negros’, Rioja DOCa 2018 750ML ($24.95) $19.50 special
Case-12 Bodegas y Vinedos Artuke ‘Pies Negros’, Rioja DOCa 2018 750ML ($299.95) $215 special (that’s only $/bottle!)
Luis Gutierrez-Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2018 Pies Negros was produced with grapes from the Sierra Cantabria in the village of Ábalos, so another village wine, even if it won’t get the official qualification, as they don’t have a winery in Ábalos! It’s a blend of Tempranillo with 15% Graciano fermented with destemmed but uncrushed grapes with indigenous yeasts, and it matured in 500-liter oak barrels for 12 months, except for 10% of the volume that was kept in concrete for that time. This didn’t stop growing in the glass, and the aromas are subtle and elegant. Since they started working with larger oak containers, they had to learn to work under more reductive conditions; they now seem to have mastered it, at least in some of the wines, like this one. The wines are subtler and less immediate than the wines aged in barrique, and this long-cycle vintage has a tendency toward this profile of wines. The palate is very balanced and fresh, with a core of red fruit, with bright flavors and very good precision. 70,000 bottles produced.”

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“A great Gran Reserva in the making”
Vinedos de Paganos El Puntido Gran Reserva, Rioja DOCa 2007 750ML ($69.95) $49 special
Luis Gutierrez-Wine Advocate 96 points “[Reviewed June 2019] Putting my nose in the glass of the 2007 El Puntido Gran Reserva transported me to the classical Riojas from yesteryear. The wine has a fully developed nose with all the textbook descriptors of a good aged Rioja—forest floor, cigar ash, cold bonfire, truffle, cherries in liqueur, blonde tobacco, spices and iodine. But this is a classical Gran Reserva that has something that was not that traditional, and it comes from a single vineyard and matured in brand new French oak barrels for 28 months. But time in bottle has polished it (it was bottled in June 2010, almost nine years ago); the tannins are mostly resolved and it’s nicely textured. It has what I love about the best red wine—it’s salty rather than sweet, there is no room for sweetness here, and it’s sapid and tasty and has great balance and freshness. This is developing at a very slow pace and should continue doing so for a very long time. A great Gran Reserva in the making. Only 5,000 bottles were produced from 2007, a very cold vintage, when the grapes were harvested the last three days of October, and it snowed the first of November!”
Jeb Dunnuck 94 points “[Reviewed Sept 2019] A much smaller production that was aged longer (28 months) in new French oak, the 2007 El Puntido Gran Reserva comes from the same vineyard as the El Puntido but is a parcel selection. Blackcurrants, plums, smoked earth, incense, and violet notes all emerge from this elegant, silky, beautifully polished wine that’s full-bodied, has fine tannins, no hard edges, and a great finish. It has power, but this is more about finesse and elegance.”

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The average price is $59

“This full-bodied, rich, powerful wine has an incredible sense of elegance and finesse”
Bodegas Muga Seleccion Especial Reserva, Rioja DOCa 2015 750ML ($49.95) $36 special
Case-12 Bodegas Muga Seleccion Especial Reserva, Rioja DOCa 2015 750ML ($549.95) $399 special (that’s only $33.25/bottle and the lowest listed price in the USA today!)
James Suckling 96 points “The balance and purity to this wine is really impressive with blackberries, black truffles and dark fruit. Wet earth. Full body. Tight and compact. Structured, long and powerful. Superb length. Compressed and polished texture. Drink in 2022.”
Jeb Dunnuck 95 points “The 2015 Selección Especial checks in as 70% Tempranillo and the balance Garnacha, Mazuelo, and Graciano that’s an old vine and terroir selection. Aged 6 months in new oak followed by 24 months in 90% French oak and 10% American oak, it has a beautiful bouquet of blueberries, black raspberries, crushed violets, incense, and cedar. This gives way to a full-bodied, rich, powerful wine that has an incredible sense of elegance and finesse on the palate. It’s a brilliant Rioja that can be drunk today or cellared for 10-15 years or more.”
Luis Gutierrez-Wine Advocate 94 points “The very perfumed, expressive and floral 2015 Selección Especial is a lot fresher than the stereotype of the vintage I had before I tasted 2015 widely. It’s a year that has turned out fresher than what the weather during the growing season pointed at. It was a dry and warm year, but the wines have very good freshness, which in this case feels exceptional. My first surprise was how aromatic and open the wine is for such a young age, with aromas of lavender and other Mediterranean herbs jumping from the glass. I expected that from the 2016s, but I thought the 2015 was going to be more closed and reticent. The palate is medium to full-bodied with fine-grained tannins, balanced, fresh and very clean. This combines energy and elegance with classical Rioja character. 220,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in December 2017.”

The average price is $42

Envinate seeks to highlight the individual terroirs of the Canary Islands and Ribeira Sacra. They produce wines of purity with low-intervention winemaking and vineyard management using ancient vineyards.

Envinate ‘Benje’ Blanco, Canary Islands 2019 750ML ($36.95) $33 special
Envinate ‘Benje’ Blanco, Canary Islands 2019 1.5L ($99.95) $79 special
Winery note “Benje Blanco is sourced from several old-vine, untrained pie franco parcels of Listan Blanco. Each parcel is hand-harvested and vinified separately in a mix of concrete tank and open tubs. 75% of the fruit is pressed directly off the skins, the other 25% is skin- macerated 14-40 days between 18-30C. The wine is then raised for 8 months in 60% concrete and 40% old French barriques on fine lees without battonage or added SO2. Bottled without filtration. Benje Blanco is a high-toned white wine, showing its volcanic terruño with smoky notes wrapped around the orchard fruit core, braced by Atlantic-infused high-elevation acidity. Pair it with prawns, scallops, roasted pork or goat.”


Envinate ‘Benje’ Tinto, Canary Islands 2019 750ML ($39.95) $29 special
Envinate ‘Benje’ Tinto, Canary Islands 2019 1.5L ($99.95) $79 special
Winery note “Benje Tinto is sourced from 1,000 meters elevation, old-vine, pie franco parcels of Listan Prieto (Mission) with a bit of Tintilla, named “Masca,” “La Zanja,” “Valle de Arriba,” and “Llano Redondo”, all of them located in Santiago del Teide. Each parcel is hand-harvested and vinified separately, some in concrete and some in small open tubs. Maceration is 10-30 days (depending on parcel) with daily punch-down; malolactic fermentation is in neutral French barriques, then raised 8 months in the same barrels without battonage or added SO2. Bottling is without fining or filtration. This is a pure and vertical expression of high elevation, volcanic Canary terruño with notes of red fruits, peppercorns, flowers, and volcanic soil – a beautiful wine to pair with grilled meats and mojo rojo.”

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The average price is $34

Envinate ‘Albahra’ Tinto, Spain 2019 750ML ($29.95) $24 special
Luis Gutierrez-Wine Advocate 94 points “I also got to taste the just bottled 2019 Albahra. The blend is slightly different from the 2018 because the rains affected Moravia, so it’s probably around 75% Garnacha Tintorera and 25% Moravia Agria, which is a late-ripening variety. It’s juicy and very young, with a little less alcohol than the 2018—the Moravia was lower in alcohol than normal and gives the wine a little more freshness. It has very fine tannins and is less tannic than normal for its young age, and it feels gentle but with character. It’s impressive, because it feels as good as the 2018. It seems like they are now mastering the Moravia Agria, which is not an easy grape. 50,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in July 2020. Albahra is the Mediterranean blend from Envínate, a red that combines Garnacha Tintorera from Almansa and Moravia Agria from Manchuela. This is their more available wine, as they produce 50,000 bottles of it.”

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Envinate & A Chingao Vineyards ‘Vidueno de Santiago del Teide’, Ycoden-Daute-Isora 2019 750ML ($49.95) $41.90 special, only 3 bottles available!
Winery note “Vidueño de Santiago del Teide is sourced from a tiny 0.15ha parcel of old-vine, untrained pie franc Listan Blanco and Listan Prieto. This co-planted parcel is hand-harvested, destemmed and macerated for 15 days in an open tub, then transferred to three old 228L French barriques to age for 8 months on fine lees without battonage or added SO2. Bottling is without fining, filtration or any added SO2. Due to its high elevation, this wine offers much less Atlantic character than their Taganan or Valle de La Orotava cuvees. Vidueno is a volcanic mountain wine, high-toned and vibrant, with smoky strawberry fruit balanced with fine tannins and refreshing acidity. Pair it with roasted meats and full- flavored seafood dishes.”

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This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
The average price nationally is $23

 

 

Nikolaihof is a giant of Austrian wine—a producer whose history and quality are unrivaled even in a country full of great producers. The estate dates back to Roman times and the Saahs family has run the property for over a century and a quarter. They produce wines of deep resonant flavors, which have fresh brightness but standout for an undercurrent of vinosity. They’re bright, precise and mineral-drenched with the power and density of the Wachau. These are the heights of Austrian wine.

The products of a grossly underrated wine producing country, Nikolaihof’s wines are always a shrewd buy. However, at closeout pricing these are no brainers for anyone who appreciates bright, mineral-driven white wine. As with many of our current closeout specials however, quantities are limited, so don’t sleep on these unmissable deals.

In stock now:

Familie Saahs Nikolaihof Gut’s Riesling, Wachau 2013 750ML ($44.95) Was $31.90, Now $19, 7 bottles in stock now
Terry Theise: “23 g/l of residual sugar, as it happened, and every wine here is as-it-happened. So Nikki declined to futz with it. The result tastes like something Florian Weingart would have made in the Wachau, all the mirabelle and herbs but with a different twangy terroir here. I don’t know what “use” you’ll make of it; I only know I like it.”

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Familie Saahs Nikolaihof im Weingebirge Smaragd Gruner Veltliner, Wachau 2012 750ML ($69.95) Was $59, Now $49, 3 bottles in stock now
David Schildknecht–Vinous 92 points “An intriguing, ethereal nose suggests iris, ginseng, moss, beet root and a hint of blond tobacco. Beet, turnip and kohlrabi inform a plushly textured, expansive yet for Smaragd amazingly buoyant palate. Alkalinity, stoniness and tincture of iodine lend cut and a certain austerity to a finish that flashes back to the complexity of the wine’s bouquet. Those with a predilection for Nikolaihof wines (such as I) are going to appreciate this bottling more than my score might suggest.”

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Familie Saahs Nikolaihof Gelber Muskateller, Wachau 2007 750ML ($49.95) Was $36, Now $27, 1 bottle in stock now
Terry Theise note “The quick-&-dirty on the vintages: ’07 is good and ’08 is stunning and wonderful, ++ quality. ’09 is yellow-fruit, more vintage than Muscat. ’10 remains a favorite, sweet and giving, it nurses the palate. ++ ’11 is Muscat and then some! Even has some Riesling mojo going on. + ’12 is dense, almost tannic, herbal, another kind of complexity. Also +.”

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Familie Saahs Nikolaihof Gelber Muskateller, Wachau 2011 750ML ($59.95) Was $36, Now $27, 1 bottle in stock now
Terry Theise note “The quick-&-dirty on the vintages: ’07 is good and ’08 is stunning and wonderful, ++ quality. ’09 is yellow-fruit, more vintage than Muscat. ’10 remains a favorite, sweet and giving, it nurses the palate. ++ ’11 is Muscat and then some! Even has some Riesling mojo going on. + ’12 is dense, almost tannic, herbal, another kind of complexity. Also +.”

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Familie Saahs Nikolaihof Neuburger, Wachau 2011 750ML ($39.95) Was $28, Now $21.90, 10 bottles in stock now
David Schildknecht–Vinous 89 points “This soft and (at only 12.5% alcohol) full-feeling rendition of Neuburger emphasizes that grape’s inherent nuttiness, though the usual resemblance to white asparagus still applies. A faintly smoky piquancy adds an intriguing counterpoint to an otherwise soothing finish.”

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Familie Saahs Nikolaihof Riesling vom Stein Smaragd, Wachau 2009 750ML ($69.95) Was $59, Now $49, 4 bottles in stock now
Mosel Fine Wines 91 points “[Reviewed April 2019] The 2009er Riesling Smaragd vom Stein presents a ripe and quite advanced nose of toffee, cooked apple, mirabelle in alcohol, bread crust, apricot cream and camphor, as well as some wax polish. The wine is smooth and develops delicately ripe flavors of fruits and nut cream on the palate and leaves a nice feel of grip in the zesty finish. The after-taste of this ripe and slightly oxidative expression of dry Riesling is straight and herbal. Now-2024.”
Wine Spectator 91 points “Features a honeyed, floral aroma, with rich, decadent flavors of baked apple, licorice, dried pineapple and slate. Dried basil and mango notes linger on the complex and powerful finish. Drink now through 2018. 38 cases imported. “

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Familie Saahs Nikolaihof Riesling vom Stein Smaragd, Wachau 2011 750ML ($79.95) Was $59, Now $49, 5 bottles in stock now
Wine Advocate 94 points “The 2011 Riesling Smaragd Vom Stein opens with the ripe charm and winning self-confidence of a warm vintage. Super clear, with ultra-ripe (not overripe though!) and concentrated fruit aromas on the nose along with floral and herbal flavors, there is no cool soul so far, since the baby-fruit takes it all. Full-bodied, rich and powerful on the palate, this is a very juicy but also pure and complex wine still full of finesse, fresh and very, very long. It is a mighty, firmly structured, but nevertheless, refreshing and very mineral as well as elegant Riesling full of energy and vibrancy. The finish is impressively long and filled with tension and the aging potential should be terrific. It’s a great drinking experience today, and I suppose it will always be in the next 20 or 25 years”
Terry Theise notes: “This is gorgeous. Fresh fruit but a cloistery silence around it. Hay and straw, the fresh profile only hinting at its murmury depths; a wine of the brightest morning, with decades ahead of it.”

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Familie Saahs Nikolaihof Riesling vom Stein Smaragd, Wachau 2012 750ML ($79.95) Was $69, Now $49, 8 bottles in stock now
David Schildknecht–Vinous 92 points “this lives up to its name with a stony, alkaline undertone. There is a faintly reductive hint of machine oil that, along with whiffs of gentian and iris, complements fresh and spirituous expressions of apple. The palate impression is fresh, juicy, and buoyant, with floral, mineral and herbal-spicy nuances. It’s a delightful example of the vintage paradox that despite high must weights and advanced flavor ripeness, the best 2012s can be elegant and light-footed. Coriander and fennel seeds add appeal to the sustained finish.”

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Familie Saahs Nikolaihof Riesling vom Stein Smaragd, Wachau 2013 750ML ($74.95) Was $59, Now $49, 2 bottles in stock now
David Schildknecht–Vinous 93-94 points “Whereas its 2012 predecessor was bottled in April 2015, this 2013 was still several weeks out from bottling when I last tasted it in June 2016. The combination of richness with juiciness and levity, as well as a complex array of scents and flavors including alkali, wet stone, almond, hazelnut, apple, white peach, sage, ginger, gentian and narcissus, render this a worthy exemplar of its profoundly successful vintage. Subtly waxy in feel, but refreshingly juicy, it finishes with animation and fascinating diversity.”
Terry Theise: “Not surprising how gorgeous this is—’13 rules! The wine is all a swollen umami middle, and all a complex and sweet mélange of grains, leaves, rock dust and flowers. Haunting smoky length, like summer squash on the grill. It’s melted the explicit high-notes of ’13 into a murmur of butter and powdered ginger. Who in the world makes wine like this? Radiance seen through frosted glass. Someone says she loves you, and you can’t believe your ears.”

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Familie Saahs Nikolaihof Riesling vom Stein Smaragd, Wachau 2014 750ML ($69.95) Was $49, Now $44
David Schildknecht 97 points “In a departure from usual Nikolaihof practice – given that it had by then been filtered and assembled into tank – I was offered my first taste of this wine shortly before the initial, December 2017 bottling. The wine was exciting then, and when re-tasted repeatedly in the course of 2018 had only gained in stature. Moss, lemon zest, peach kernel and toasted grain on the nose put me in mind of a relatively austere white Burgundy. But that sense of kinship dims with the emergence of high-toned hints of lavender and mint, mouthwatering ocean breeze and a sappy, juicy abundance of fresh lime and white peach juiciness on the silken palate. There are also faint hints of kirsch and mothball such as one can encounter from time to time at this address and to whose volatility some tasters might object. The finish is transparent to a veritable carpet of mineral matter – albeit a levitating, vibrantly undulating one! Crushed stone, alkali, mineral salts and iodine combine with herbal and protein-rich flavors for something approximating a blend of oyster liquor and clam stock that set my salivary glands to palpitating. And now for the astonishing kicker: This remarkable stuff filled the largest cask in the Nikolaihof cellar, with a capacity of 12,000 liters! Half was bottled in 2017 and 2018; the rest will be held back – let’s hope eventually to inform a Vinothek offering. “The only sense in which this wine needed to be bottled,” noted Saahs, “was in order to avoid Vom Stein Smaragd temporarily dropping from our price list and to make room in the cellar. It wasn’t the phases of the moon calling the shots,” he added with a sly grin. (Re-tasted alongside, the corresponding 2013 showed at the upper end of my earlier projection. But despite issuing from one of the two finest Wachau vintages that it has been my privilege to taste as young wines, that 2013 doesn’t quite reach the complexity nor exhibit the clarity and energy of this 2014 – not for now, at least.)”
James Suckling 95 points “An intensely minerally riesling that combines considerable power with a slim silhouette. Finely etched dried-pear and candied-lemon flavors echo through the long, subtle finish. From biodynamically grown grapes. Demeter certified. Drink or hold. Screw cap.”

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Familie Saahs Nikolaihof Vom Stein Jungfernlese Riesling, Wachau 2006 750ML ($59.95) Was $39, Now $33, 2 bottles in stock now
Terry Theise notes: “It means the virgin-vintage, the first crop from young vines. And it’s what the Germans would call Feinherb, and it’s what any sane person would call irresistible! A potion of iris and lavender, spicy and penetrating; very long, seductively earthy, like a really profound Nahe Spätlese, almost the 5-spice and wildflower of Dönnhoff’s Felsenberg.”

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Familie Saahs Nikolaihof Baumpresse, Wachau 2011 750ML ($129.95) Was $79, Now $69, 11 bottles in stock now
David Schildknecht–Vinous 93 points “Nicknamed for the 18th-century “tree press” recently reactivated by Nikki Saahs (the tree in question must have begun growing in the Middle Ages), and now also labeled for its vineyard of origin, this was bottled in 2013 (like the corresponding Smaragd), but only recently released. At 12.5 percent alcohol, this silken-textured Riesling manages, as did other Nikolaihof wines of its vintage, to avoid any sense of heaviness; although there is a rich foundation of succulently ripe white peach and Persian melon, white currant and transparent apple lend tart-edged tang and crunch. A hint of heliotrope hangs over the whole performance, its sweet perfume further pointing to the generous phenolic evolution characteristic of this vintage. There are significant albeit nicely integrated oxidative elements here as well – a legacy of the wine’s upbringing in smaller barrels than are otherwise utilized at the Nikolaihof – with moss, toasted grains and nuts, wet stone and quinine lending a slightly sinister aspect to the long, multilayered finish. As was the case with this wine’s predecessors, Nikki Saahs maintains that it will retain its current level of freshness for many years. I’m skeptical.”
Terry Theise: “It’s painfully spendy, but have you seen that massive press? Apart from which, truth is truth; the wine is superb. Grain and smoke and jasmine and turkey stock and fingerlings at their little sweet best. This wine is intense, though with all of 12.5% alc.”

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Familie Saahs Nikolaihof Steiner Hund Reserve Riesling, Wachau 2012 750ML ($89.95) Was $69, Now $59, 3 bottles in stock now
David Schildknecht–Vinous 95 points “Prominent lemony brightness and underlying alkalinity do not convey an immediate impression of such a ripe, sunny vintage as this was. Aromatically alluring sea breeze, fennel pollen, and green and black tea persist in the mouth, where this wine also grabs hold of the palate and salivary glands in an outpouring of lemon-drenched oyster liquor. The combination of polish and clarity on display is similarly striking, though by no means unusual in an installment of what is in effect the Nikolaihof’s iconic offering. The long, vibrant finish displays kaleidoscopic flavor interactions no less memorable or mesmerizing for their being nuanced and understated; nor is there any let-up in the onrush of marine salinity. The Saahs family bottled this wine in April 2015 and released it just as stocks of its 2010 counterpart were running low, leaving the 2011 behind in cask for now.”

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Familie Saahs Nikolaihof Steiner Hund Reserve Riesling, Wachau 2014 750ML ($79.95) Was $59, Now $49
James Suckling 98 points “A huge dried apricot nose. In spite of the power this is super-elegant with a very long, radically mineral character that makes the wine swell in your mouth at the amazing finish. It may be too dry for some, but I find this spectacular. Drink or hold as long as you dare!”
David Schildknecht 96 points “Like its remarkable Vom Stein counterpart, I tasted this wine after it had been racked to tank, a few months before its December 2017 bottling, then again from bottle in the course of 2018. The penetrating nose is dominated by white peach, white currant and lime, anticipating the brightly juicy palate impression. But suggestions of crushed stone, bittersweet iris, clam stock, radish, kelp and smoky black tea add increasing intrigue as the wine opens to the air and is worked over in the mouth. There is underlying firmness but also a suggestion of silkiness born of lengthy lees exposure in cask, and the sense of levity, remarkably, is that of a typical Nikolaihof Federspiel more than of a Smaragd. The vibrant finishing influx of alkali, crushed stone, iodine, mineral salts, mustard seed and white pepper is almost savagely intense, practically stinging – taking matters in an at once mouthwatering and invigorating but also slightly austere direction. Here’s further proof for any who remain skeptics that the 2014 vintage – its challenges and vicissitudes notwithstanding – has at its very best delivered some of the Wachau’s and neighboring Lower Austria’s most exciting and potentially ageworthy wines of the past two decades. Tasting the outstanding 2013 alongside, this 2014 came nipping right at its heels: attention au chien!”
Wine Enthusiast 96 points “Cellar Selection. The beeswax, wet stone, hayflower and dried lemon notes on the nose of this wine suggest development. Its dry, slender yet concentrated palate has a weightless fluidity that echoes with eloquent beeswax and citrus oil flavors. The combination of lightness and beautiful depth make it so intriguing and moreish. Subtle, lovely, taut and fresh, it’s nowhere near its peak. The finish reveals a brilliant dash of mandarin. Drink 2028–2040.”

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Magnums in stock now:

Familie Saahs Nikolaihof Steiner Hund Reserve Riesling, Wachau 2012 1.5L ($179.95) Was $149, Now $119, 2 magnums in stock now
David Schildknecht–Vinous 95 points “Prominent lemony brightness and underlying alkalinity do not convey an immediate impression of such a ripe, sunny vintage as this was. Aromatically alluring sea breeze, fennel pollen, and green and black tea persist in the mouth, where this wine also grabs hold of the palate and salivary glands in an outpouring of lemon-drenched oyster liquor. The combination of polish and clarity on display is similarly striking, though by no means unusual in an installment of what is in effect the Nikolaihof’s iconic offering. The long, vibrant finish displays kaleidoscopic flavor interactions no less memorable or mesmerizing for their being nuanced and understated; nor is there any let-up in the onrush of marine salinity. “

This is the lowest listed magnum price in the USA today!

Familie Saahs Nikolaihof Riesling vom Stein Smaragd, Wachau 2012 1.5L ($149.95) Was $99, Now $89, 2 magnums in stock now
David Schildknecht–Vinous 92 points “this lives up to its name with a stony, alkaline undertone. There is a faintly reductive hint of machine oil that, along with whiffs of gentian and iris, complements fresh and spirituous expressions of apple. The palate impression is fresh, juicy, and buoyant, with floral, mineral and herbal-spicy nuances. It’s a delightful example of the vintage paradox that despite high must weights and advanced flavor ripeness, the best 2012s can be elegant and light-footed. Coriander and fennel seeds add appeal to the sustained finish.”

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Love Austrian wine? We have over 50 wines from Austria currently available.
Shop our entire selection, including famous names like Alzinger, FX Pichler, Gobelsburg and more on our web store!

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Francois Pouillon is both an innovator and a traditionalist, looking to ancient traditions in Champagne as a way to drive forward the quality of his wines. With an assortment of top-class vineyards in Äy, the Vallée de la Marne, and the Montagne de Reims, which he farms organically (with some biodynamics thrown in) he looks to make pure, crystalline champagnes.

Like most of the very best growers, he’s begun bottling a number of single-vineyard wines, but that doesn’t tell the story of his dedication. He still uses a wooden basket press, which is an extremely gentle (and very low yielding) way to press wines, and he makes sure that all the vineyards’ lots are kept separately until the very last minute. The resulting wines are beautifully complex and detailed, with a vitality that’s really special.

We’ve brought in a selection of these gems, which are finally available in Oregon. Lovers of Champagne should take note and act quickly, because there isn’t a lot of each bottling to go around.


Just Arrived, In Stock Now:

R. Pouillon & Fils Cuvee de Reserve Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($59.95) $49 special
Importer Note “Each year this is a blend of crus from all of Pouillon’s holdings and is composed of roughly 65% pinot noir, 20% pinot meunier, and 15% chardonnay. This cuvée has evolved over time and improved in quality to better reflect the evolution of the domaine at large. Today the “Réserve” Brut is fermented with native yeasts predominantly in neutral barrique, with 20% fermented in enameled tank. Elevage continues a minimum of 6-8 months before the wine is is blended with the previous vintage and the “perpetual cuvée” to be refermented in bottle. “

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R. Pouillon & Fils Solera Premier Cru Extra Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($89.95) $69 special
Importer Note “The idea of this cuvée is to erase the influence of vintage and focus solely on terroir. It is 50% each chardonnay and pinot noir and all from Mareuil-sur-Aÿ. Every year, 30% is racked off for secondary fermentation and replaced with 30% new wine. Up until the 2010 vintage was added, the entire Solera was aged in steel; it is now aged in oak uprights and undergoes full malolactic.”

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R. Pouillon & Fils ‘Les Chataigniers’ Extra Brut, Champagne 2014 750ML ($119.95) $84 special
Importer Note “Les Châtaigniers is a vineyard parcel located in the village of Festigny on the left bank of the Marne valley. Here the concentration of clay in the soil makes this terroir an ideal expression for pinot meunier. François farms meunier vines of 10 and 25 years old with the same organic rigor he applies elsewhere.”

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R. Pouillon et Fils Valnons Brut Nature, Champagne 2012 750ML ($129.95) $95 special
Importer Note “The name of this cuvée is short for “les Valnons Froid Cul”—a famous and seemingly cold hill in Aÿ. This wine embodies a very unique and rare experience: tasting true blanc de blancs from one of the best situated slopes in Aÿ, a grand cru famous for rich, articulate pinot noir. This wine delivers clear mineral verve with distinctive richness and intense texture. “

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“Owner/winemaker Todd Hamina has an admirable track record for producing ageworthy Pinot Noir and his 2016s are no exception.” –Josh Raynolds
Biggio Hamina Claygate Vineyard Pinot Noir, Ribbon Ridge 2016 750ML ($39.95) $28 special
Case-6 Biggio Hamina Claygate Vineyard Pinot Noir, Ribbon Ridge 2016 750ML ($199.95) $159 special (that’s only $26.50/bottle!)
Case-12 Biggio Hamina Claygate Vineyard Pinot Noir, Ribbon Ridge 2016 750ML ($399.95) $299 special (that’s only $24.92/bottle!)
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 94 points “Bright red. An exotically perfumed bouquet displays intense red fruit, potpourri and incense qualities. Spice and savory herb nuances build as the wine opens up. Bright and energetic in the mouth, offering densely packed and appealingly sweet raspberry liqueur, cherry and spicecake flavors that pick up a smoky mineral note on the back half. Plays power off of finesse deftly and finishes extremely long and floral, with sneaky, fine-grained tannins and a touch of exotic spices.”

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The next best price is $34.50

Day describes their Momtazi bottling as their “our flagship Pinot Noir from one of Willamette Valley’s most prized biodynamic vineyards and our most age-worthy wine.”  It‘s normally the most expensive Pinot in the Day Wines lineup at $54, but we’re able to offer it for just $33 per bottle and $28.75 per bottle on case purchases. 
Day Wines Momtazi Vineyard Pinot Noir, McMinnville 2016 750ML ($53.95) $33 special
Case-6 Day Wines Momtazi Vineyard Pinot Noir, McMinnville 2016 750ML ($299.95) $189 special (that’s only $31.50/bottle!)
Case-12 Day Wines Momtazi Vineyard Pinot Noir, McMinnville 2016 750ML ($599.95) $345 special (that’s only $28.75/bottle!)
John Gilman 93 points “The 2016 Momtazi Vineyard bottling of Pinot Noir from Day Wines is the ripest of these 2016s, as it comes in at fourteen percent octane. It is beautifully black fruity on the nose (as all the examples from Momtazi have been that I have been fortunate enough to taste), offering up scents of black plum, sweet dark berry, black tea, balsam bough, a beautiful base of soil tones, chicory, gentle spice tones and a bit of cedar. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied, complex and beautifully balanced, with a fine core of fruit, great mineral drive and grip, ripe, well-integrated tannins and a long, tangy and promising finish. While this is the ripest of the 2016 pinots from Brianne Day, it is no less pure or precise and is a great bottle in the making. 2024-2055.”
Josh Raynolds – Vinous 92 points “Limpid red. A highly aromatic bouquet evokes fresh dark berries and baking spices, along with smoky mineral and musky earth overtones. Juicy and broad on the palate, offering alluringly sweet black raspberry, cherry, rose pastille and spicecake flavors that deepen steadily with air. Delivers a suave blend of power and energy and finishes with finely woven tannins and strong, floral-driven persistence.”

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One of the biggest sleepers in the Rhone, year in and out.
Château Pesquie Ventoux Artemia, Rhône 2016 750ML ($49.95) $39 special
Case-6 Château Pesquie Ventoux Artemia, Rhône 2016 750ML ($299.95) $219 special
Decanter-World Wine Awards 97 points “This is stacked with the black fruits of the region, plus violets, thyme, lavender, dried herbs and tannins that are ripe and of the appropriate proportion. Still very youthful and will flourish with time in bottle. Modern and very classy indeed. Genius wine, very long and intense, its purity magnificent.”
Jeb Dunnuck 94 points “Made from equal parts Syrah and Grenache, the 2016 Ventoux Cuvee Artemia is another terrific vintage for this cuvee. Still young, backward and unevolved, it has tons of potential in its blue fruits, graphite, crushed rock and violet-tinged aromas and flavors. Medium to full-bodied, concentrated, with terrific purity of fruit, and fine, building tannin, it needs 2-3 years of bottle age and will keep for a decade or more.”
Wine Advocate 94 points “A 50-50 blend of Grenache and Syrah, aged in 50% new oak, the 2016 Ventoux Artemia is a tremendous effort. It combines blueberries and stone fruit with cedary notes and then underscores those attractive aromas and flavors with a full-bodied, velvety texture and a bright, crisp finish. Lovely stuff.”

Scott will hate us calling this wine “crushable”—but it is.
Bow & Arrow Rhinestone Red, Willamette Valley 2019 750ML ($29.95) $20.90 special
Case-12 Bow & Arrow Rhinestone Red, Willamette Valley 2019 750ML ($319.95) $228 special (that’s only $19/bottle!)
Winery note “To understand Rhinestones we have to talk about the Cheverny region of France’s Loire Valley where, by law, the red wines must be a blend of Gamay and Pinot Noir.  We follow this stricture with all the Pinot and Gamay fruit we source from Johan Vineyard.  The blend is determined by nature and vintage.  Aged in a mixture of concrete and old barriques, this wine is the flagship of the Bow & Arrow operation and communicates what we’re about as much as anything we make.  Effortlessly drinkable but rewards detective work if you’re in the mood.”

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Grant Coulter is one of the hottest winemakers in the Willamette Valley right now.
Hundred Suns Old Eight Cut Chardonnay, Willamette Valley 2019 750ML ($39.95) $29 special
Winery note “This bottling is Hundred Suns Wine’s first vintage producing Chardonnay.  Grapes were sourced from two organically farmed vineyards in the Eola-Hills. Bracken Vineyard sits between 630-730 feet on volcanic soils (Nekia, Ritner, Witzel and Jory) of varying depths. Koosah is a stunning high-elevation site perched at 1,000 feet. Both lots were whole cluster pressed in to 500 liter neutral puncheons.  Slow natural fermentations and 11 months sur lee aging produced a wine with bright acid, stone fruit, and floral aromatics.”

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A delicious bubbly from the closest winery to Barcelona.
AA Alta Alella Mirgin Reserva Brut Nature Cava NV 750ML ($21.95) $18 special
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 91 points “Light, bright yellow-gold. Displays pungent, mineral-accented aromas of dried pear, lemon pith, fennel and chamomile that show very good clarity and spicy lift. Weighty, focused and dry on the palate, which displays refreshingly bitter citrus pith, pear skin and quinine flavors and a hint of peachiness. Manages to come off hefty as well as graceful and finishes long and taut, with resonating stoniness and a touch of spicy ginger. (disgorged after 15 months on its lees).”

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Southern Hemisphere

An excellent sub-$10 Chardonnay, Excelsior Chardonnay
Excelsior Chardonnay, Robertson 2018 750ML ($11.95) $9.90 special
Neal Martin-Vinous 91 points “The 2018 Excelsior was 25% fermented in new French oak and 25% fermented with wild yeast. It has a detailed, fresh citrus peel and light passion fruit bouquet, the oak neatly integrated. The palate is taut and fresh, offering a lovely twist of sour lemon on the entry, moderate depth and a taut, quite saline finish. Excellent.”


“Balanced…complete and precise”
Laberinto Sauvignon Blanc, Maule Valley 2019 750ML ($21.95) $18 special
Luis Gutierrez-Wine Advocate 94+ points “2019 was a milder year than 2018, and the 2019 Cenizas de Laberinto Sauvignon Blanc is marginally more civilized than the 2018 I tasted next to it. It was kept with the lees in the fermentation vessel for some eight months. Even so, in this part of much cooler Maule, the differences between vintages tend to be more subtle, and 2019 is not a warm vintage, just less cold. Perhaps the wine is a little rounder, more citrusy than herbal and surprisingly has lower alcohol than the 2018 I tasted next to it. It has terrific balance on the palate, with acidity that still makes you salivate and is effervescent but perhaps not as sharp as colder years. It’s a balanced vintage, and the wine feels very complete and precise. 18,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in November 2019. He has moved from screwcap to natural cork in 2019, as he thinks it will result in higher complexity as the wine ages in bottle. Bravo!”


One of the best values in Malbec, a category already known for great value
Vaglio Wines Aggie Malbec, Uco Valley 2018 750ML ($21.95) $18 special
Case-12 Vaglio Wines Aggie Malbec, Uco Valley 2018 750ML ($249.95) $199 special (that’s only $16.58/bottle!)
James Suckling 95 points “Wonderful intensity of crushed berries, pink pepper and volcanic salt. Full-bodied, yet fresh and vivid with energy and focus. Extremely long and flavorful. Drink or hold.”

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Pacific Northwest

A bottle that will get you excited about the 2018 vintage
Twill Cellars Pinot Noir, Northern Willamette Valley 2018 750ML ($24.95) $19.80 special
Winery note “Brooding, savory aromatics of dried rose, bitter cherry, earth, blood orange, soy, toasted grain and ripe raspberries. Flavors of blood orange, dark chocolate, warm spices, espresso, and ripe raspberry. Both taut and intense.”

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Like wandering through an ancient orchard in the French Alps
Loop de Loop White Blend, Columbia Gorge 2019 750ML ($24.95) $19.90 special
VinopolNote: A fragrant and balanced white blend from the high elevation Acadia Vineyard in the Gorge. Beautiful and soulful, it’s like wandering through an ancient orchard in the French Alps.

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“Five vineyards… coming together to make a singular wine of Oregon”
Ovum ‘Old Love’ White Blend, Oregon 2019 750ML ($24.95) $19.90 special 
Winery note “It’s golden hue is the first thing you’ll notice (thanks amphora), and without putting your nose to the glass you’ll start getting wafts of salted lemon, fresh peeled orange and aloe vera. The aromas are multiple layers deep where you’ll find verbena, straw, key lime, sea spray, river rock. The palate shows the sensual texture of cask fighting with the rawness of amphora, and yet it finishes with bright minerality. Bitter orange marmalade lingers on the fingers, echoing the initial top notes of wine. 2019 OLD LOVE comes from FIVE vineyards planted throughout Oregon: Willamette, Eola-Amity, Columbia Gorge, Southern OR. The sites are focused on sustainable farming practices – dry farming, organic and minimal additions. Some are not certified organic, but are in the process of converting. Each site is chosen for its unique qualities that it will lend to the final wine. 2019 is primarily Riesling, but OLD LOVE is not about a single grape – it is about the vineyards coming together to make a singular wine of Oregon.”

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France

A steal from legendary Château Siran
Château Siran Saint-Jacques de Siran, Bordeaux Superieur 2016 750ML ($19.95) $16.60 special
Case-12 Château Siran Saint-Jacques de Siran, Bordeaux Superieur 2016 750ML ($239.95) $179 special (that’s only $14.92/bottle!)
Wine Enthusiast 88 points “This spicy wine with firm tannins is setting out well. Black-currant flavors are balanced with generous tannins and a rich character that will give the wine a full and juicy character. Drink from 2022.”

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2015 produced a number of top value Bordeaux and this is one of our favorites
Château Marjosse, Bordeaux 2015 750ML ($19.95) $17 special
Case-12 Château Marjosse, Bordeaux 2015 750ML ($239.95) $189 special (that’s only $15.75/bottle!)
James Suckling 91 points “Aromas of spices, currants and milk chocolate with fresh-basil undertones. Full-bodied, layered and rich with lots of fruit and character on the finish. Tannins are velvety and dusty in texture. Excellent for this chateau. Needs two or three years to soften. Try in 2020.”
“Pierre Lurton’s 2015 Marjosse is a big, bold wine packed with black cherry, tobacco, chocolate, smoke, leather and licorice. This dark, brooding wine should drink nicely upon release. There is plenty going on.” –Antonio Galloni
“The medium garnet-purple colored 2015 Marjosse has a nose of crushed black raspberries and red plums with touches of blackberries and damp soil. Medium to full-bodied, it has good expression and a chewy frame with nice balance and plenty of fruit.” – Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Wine Advocate

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Organic and traditionally made
Domaine la Remejeanne Côtes du Rhône Un Air de Remejeanne, Rhône 2019 750ML ($19.95) $17 special
Importer note “Owned by the dynamic Oliver Klein, this certified organic domaine is located in the small high altitude village of Sabran, nestled in dramatic hills divided between forests of green oak and sun-soaked vineyards. All of the vines at the estate are found at high altitudes between 200 and 280 meters. This results in a cooler climate than most of the Southern Rhône, and endows the wines with a freshness and liveliness not often encountered in the region. Klein is an extremely conscientious winemaker, using very traditional methods to maintain the highest quality of wine. All the grapes are hand-harvested, undergoing long, slow fermentations with indigenous yeasts before being aged in concrete or older wood. This hands off approach creates wines of elegance and class.”

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Saint Cosme’s best value?
Chateau de Saint Cosme Côtes du Rhône Les Deux Albion, Rhône 2018 750ML ($24.95) $18 special
Importer Note “Château de Saint Cosme Côtes-du-Rhône Les Deux Albion is a blend of Syrah, Grenache, Carignan, Mourvèdre, and Clairette from the three Côtes-du-Rhône-Villages communes of Plan de Dieu, Saint Maurice, and Cairanne. The whole clusters are co-fermented with indigenous yeasts and vinified in conical wooden vats and concrete tanks for 18 months. Les Deux Albions is one of the outstanding wines of Louis Barruol’s collection and highlights the exceptional value that can still be found in the Côtes-du-Rhône category. The wine combines depth, structure, and finesse with aromas and flavors of roasted game, mesquite, and olive, crushed plum, and black currants.”

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Looking for the best values in the shop? Check out the 168 case specials we’re currently offering on our web store.

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“Domaine Huet’ means ‘I make the best damn Chenin Blanc on the planet’ …” Mike Steinberger, Wine Diarist

Huet makes some of the most undervalued great wine in the world. Take any metric you’d use to adjudicate greatness (complexity, age-worthiness, terroir, aromatic intensity, world-wide praise, etc) and Huet’s Vouvray is on the list, at prices far below almost anything else in their class. These wines offer near-unmatched flexibility at the table, and Domaine Huet’s reputation guarantees long ageing potential. Made according to tradition and terroir, with utmost respect for nature, Huet wines can keep for over a century. 

The estate has long been ahead of its time. This is one of France’s pioneers in biodynamic viticulture. Today, horses still plough between the rows, and in the winery the recipe remains relatively simple. Fermentation takes place half in stainless steel, half in old oak, without malolactic fermentation. After only six months, the wines are bottled and then laid to age in a cellar dug from tuffeau rock, no air conditioning required. From here the Huet work is done: the rest is up to nature, and what eventually tastes like divine intervention. 

We’ve always carried a wide selection of Huet wines and are eagerly anticipating this week’s new arrivals, several bottlings from the terrific 2019 vintage. 

Pre-Arrivals ETA, Friday, October 23rd:

Domaine Huet Vouvray ‘Le Mont’ Demi-Sec, Loire 2019 750ML ($59.95) $45 pre-arrival special
Stephan Reinhardt – Wine Advocate 97 points “The 2019 Vouvray Le Mont Demi-Sec is clear, fresh, deep and complex yet pure, fine, elegant and perfectly interwoven on the nose, where notes of crushed flint stones, limestones and concentrated citrus fruit aromas and even iodine notes are revealed. Very elegant and refined on the palate, this is a round, juicy, seductively fruity yet firmly structured and piquant Le Mont whose sweetness is captured by fine tannins and a sustainably dense, vital and salty finish. The 2019 Demi-Sec is a great Chenin and the finer Le Mont of the two, and it is doubtlessly a long-distance runner that should be cellared for at least a decade even though it’s hard to resist today. Impressive! 13.5% alcohol. 17,500 bottles made. Tasted in July 2020.”
Antonio Galloni – Vinous 94 points “The 2019 Demi-Sec Le Mont is a gorgeous expression of this site. In the Demi-Sec style, Le Mont naturally gains in volume and resonance, but it also has much more pronounced earthy, mineral inflections. Apricot, baked pear, marzipan, chamomile and lemon confit build into the bright, creamy finish. The 2019 is such a classy wine.”


Domaine Huet Vouvray ‘Le Mont’ Sec, Loire 2019 750ML ($49.95) $39 pre-arrival special
Stephan Reinhardt – Wine Advocate 94+ points “Again, Huet’s 2019 Vouvray Le Mont Sec reflects the unique, south-facing nine-hectare vineyard with its pebbly flint (silex) and green clay soils wonderfully! Pure, fresh and flinty on the deep, intense yet also floral and herbal nose that represents a concentrated and firm white stone fruit aroma with lemon and grapefruit notes as well as fennel, anise and cumin hints. The bouquet gets darker and stonier with a lot of aeration (during days, to be honest). The leitmotif, though, remains the characteristic mix of aromatic fruit aromas with flint stone and volcanic basalt tones that, at this early stage and poured straight from the bottle, remind me of the Rieslings from Forst, Pfalz (Germany). In any case, this is like perfume on rocky stones! On the palate, Le Mont Sec is a rich, lush and round, very concentrated yet silky textured, elegant, vital and tightly structured 2019 with a powerful, intense and long finish with lingering salinity intertwined with tight, perhaps slightly dry tannins. I recommend cellaring this round yet tight and concentrated Chenin for a decade and then drinking it slowly over many years and with, hopefully, even better integrated tannins. 13.5% alcohol. 30,000 bottles made. Tasted in July 2020.”
Antonio Galloni – Vinous 94 points “The 2019 Sec Le Mont is precise and beautifully cut. A wine of laser-like focus, Le Mont dazzles with its purity. Citrus peel and floral accents are nicely lifted, but it is the wine’s energy that impresses most. Le Mont is a subtle wine that speaks softly, but what it has to say is priceless.”


Domaine Huet Vouvray ‘Clos du Bourg’ Sec, Loire 2019 750M ($49.95) $39 pre-arrival special
Stephan Reinhardt – Wine Advocate 97 points “The 2019 Vouvray Clos du Bourg Sec offers a deep, rich yet pure and refined, intensely aromatic, darker-toned nose with aromas of fully ripe stone and tropical fruit intertwined with earthy, chalky and yeasty notes that make up for further finesse and complexity. Full-bodied, round and fruity on the palate, this is a deep, intense, juicy, silky-textured yet tight, chalky, very complex, sustainably structured and persistently salty-mineral Chenin from old vines that give extra concentration as well as a spectacularly expressive character. This is a great, age-worthy Vouvray with fine tannins and lingering salty tension and finesse. What a finish! The 2019 needs a while to gain finesse and even more complexity. The wine served from the bottle that I tasted nine days before was incredibly amazing! The 2019 is a duty for all Chenin aficionados! 13.5% alcohol. 30,000 bottles made. Tasted in July 2020.”
Antonio Galloni – Vinous 95 points “The 2019 Sec Clos du Bourg is a wine of stature and vertical build. There is real gravitas to the orchard fruit, spice and earthy flavors. Tasted blind, Clos du Bourg might be confused with a red wine such is its feeling of volume and structure. Far from an easygoing Vouvray, Clos du Bourg is a very serious wine. I loved it. In a word: marvelous. In three words: don’t miss it.”


Domaine Huet Vouvray ‘Le Haut Lieu’ Sec, Loire 2019 750ML ($39.95) $33 pre-arrival special
Stephan Reinhardt – Wine Advocate 95 points “The deep brown clay soils of the Haut-Lieu plateau provide the typical fruitiness and freshness wonderfully in Huet’s 2019 Vouvray Le Haut-Lieu Sec. Ripe pear, tangerine and orange fruits with notes of lemon grass and green pimientos intertwined with very fine chalky and later tobacco notes give a remarkably fine, elegant and harmonious, subtly complex and simply gorgeous bouquet with floral (lime blossom!) and yeasty aromas that are immediately attractive. Delicate and linear on the palate, this is a pure, fresh, bone-dry, lean and textured, highly refined and perfectly interwoven Chenin with persistent purity, finesse, salty-mineral tension and very fine tannins. Highly finessed and so pure and vivacious! This is a chalky picture-book Haut-Lieu that can age for many years, even though it is already dangerously seductive! There was no dry Le Haut-Lieu produced in 2018, but the 2019 is possibly the finest, most delicate and elegant I’ve had in recent years, at least at this early stage. A terrific and buoyant Vouvray that any Chenin lover should try—or, better yet, cellar! 13% alcohol. 80,000 bottles made. Tasted in July 2020.”
Antonio Galloni – Vinous 92 points “The 2019 Sec Le Haut-Lieu is classy, polished and simply impeccable. Soft, silky contours wrap around a core of peach and lemon confit fruit. The first impression is all about texture. White flowers, pear and white pepper are some of the nuances that emerge over time, adding complexity, while clean, minerally notes grace the exquisite finish.”


We have 19 Domaine Huet wines in stock now.
Shop the entire selection on our web store!