Looking for a critically-acclaimed sub-$30 Super Tuscan that is drinking beautifully today? We’ve got you covered. Caiarossa’s 2016 ‘Pergolaia’ is ready for your table (or cellar)!

Caiarossa was founded along the Tuscan coast in 1998. A thoughtful exploration of the land’s terroir led the original owners to subdivide the vineyard into 12 parcels as defined by their soil type. Careful selection of varieties for planting in each parcel followed. Over two decades later, new oak is kept to a minimum to highlight rather than overwhelm the estate’s cherished terroirs. And the results are impressive.

Caiarossa’s 2016 ‘Pergolaia’ was named one of ‘Wine Spectator’s Top 100 Wines’ in 2020 for good reason. Made with slightly less Sangiovese than usual, the wine is more accessible in its youth than past vintages. But similar to previous bottlings, it is built to age gracefully. If there’s a better $26 Super Tuscan out there, we’d love to know about.

In Stock Now:

Caiarossa ‘Pergolaia’ Toscana IGT 2016 750ML ($29.95) $26 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 94 points “Flavors of black cherry and blackberry stand up to the dense tannins in this fresh, deep and intense red, but this is equally about the vibrant acidity driving the fruit, wild herb nuances and spice-infused aftertaste. Sangiovese with Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Best from 2022 through 2040. 4,700 cases made, 1,200 cases imported.”


Love Tuscany? We have over 165 different options in stock. Shop our entire selection, including staff favorites like Castell’in Villa, Fèlsina, Fontodi and more, on our web store now.

Pauline Passot took advantage of her family’s long history growing grapes in Chiroubles to found a small winery in 2016. Their parcels are ancient, with nothing younger than 40 years old, and some vines 70, 90, or even 100 years old. These special vines yield the perfect material for crafting classically-styled Beaujolais.

Of course in Burgundy proper, the juice of similarly ancient Pinot Noir vines would set you back $100-$500/bottle. Fortunately, some fool in the 14th century decreed the grape as ‘disloyal’ and 600 years later Passot’s gems are under $25/bottle. So if you’re looking to stock up on some summertime reds, you’ll be hard pressed to find better value than (what remains) of our lineup of La Grosse Pierre’s 2018 Crus.

In Stock Now:

Domaine de la Grosse Pierre Chiroubles Cuvée Claudius, Beaujolais 2018 750ML ($29.95) $24 special, 17 bottles in stock now
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 92+ points “Bursting with aromas of cherries, blackberries, licorice and violets, the 2018 Chiroubles Claudius is medium to full-bodied, deep and concentrated, with a muscular chassis of powdery tannin largely concealed by a rich core of fruit. This is a terrific Chiroubles with the stuffing (and a high-quality Trescases cork) to evolve with grace in the cellar.”
VinopolNote “From 90-100 year old vines.”


Domaine de la Grosse Pierre Morgon Douby, Beaujolais 2018 750ML ($29.95) $24 special, 6 bottles in stock now
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 92 points “Unfurling in the glass with aromas of blackberries, violets, licorice and cracked pepper, the 2018 Morgon Douby is medium to full-bodied, velvety and succulent, with a fleshy core of fruit underpinned by powdery tannins that mark this out as one of Passot’s more structured wines this year.”
VinopolNote “From 70 year old vines.”


Domaine de la Grosse Pierre Chiroubles, Beaujolais 2018 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 special, 19 bottles in stock now
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 90 points “I underestimated the 2018 Chiroubles La Grosse Pierre when I tasted it not long after it had been bottled, and six months later, it’s performing very well. Mingling aromas of black cherries and blackberries with hints of cracked pepper and herbs, the wine is medium to full-bodied, supple and elegantly fleshy, with succulent acids, melting tannins and a seamless profile.”
VinopolNote “From 45 year old vines.”


Love Beaujolais? We have over 40 different options in stock. Shop the entire selection, including staff favorites like Anne-Sophie Dubois, Chermette Vissoux, Daniel Bouland and more, on our web store now.

Von Winning makes some of the most profound white wines on the planet. The combination of incredible vineyard sites, meticulous winemaking and a commitment to producing only the finest wines yields exactly what you’d hope: white wines of depth and complexity, with grace and mineral power. The Rieslings are dry, but unlike some of their neighbors, powerful fruit isn’t the goal here. No, the Von Winning’s Rieslings offer floral and mineral flavors that are both intense and furtive.

But what really separates Von Winning from their peers in Germany are their Sauvignon Blancs. Germany is of course not where you’d expect to find some of the best Sauvignon Blanc in the world, but the wines will make a believer out of anyone. These are rich, textural examples that move beyond varietal characteristics and into unique territory. Their closest comparison is probably the top Sauvignon of Friuli (eg, Miani, Ronco del Gnemiz), or the very best estates in Austria.

“The fact that this estate is crafting some of the very best dry wines in Germany is no fluke, rather a result of nearly obsessive winemaker Stephan Attman’s commitment to both dedicated cultivation of Deidesheim and Forst’s best sites and meticulous work in the cellar. Von Winning maintains some of the oldest parcels in Grosses Gewächs vineyards smattered across Forst, Deidesheim, and Ruppertsberg. Attman’s every decision is informed by great enthusiasm and experiences at estates in the Cote d’Or and abroad.” – Skurnik Wines

In Stock Now:

Von Winning ‘II’ Sauvignon Blanc Trocken, Pfalz 2019 750ML ($21.95) $19.50 special, 25 bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 90 points “Tasted for the second time in May this year, von Winning’s 2019 Sauvignon Blanc II offers a clear and refreshing Sancerre-like bouquet of white and green fruits along with herbaceous and flinty aromas. Round and fruity on the palate, with good freshness and a silky texture, this is a medium-bodied, very elegant, stimulatingly salty and grippy Sauvignon Blanc with a mouthwatering finish. It is much better this time than when tasted soon after the bottling half a year ago.”


Von Winning ‘I’ Sauvignon Blanc Trocken, Pfalz 2018 750ML ($44.95) $36 special, 1 bottle in stock now
Terry Theise note “How did I ever live without von Winning Sauvignon Blanc? I mean really. And how did they ever forgive my stubborn reluctance to taste these wines all those years ago? Attmann doesn’t look to the Loire for his model; he looks to White Bordeaux, and if he doesn’t deliberately look to Styria, his wines themselves do, to the volcanic zone around Kitzeck and also in southeast-Styria. He will protest that his wines don’t have the (often) excessive alcohol of the top Styrians—correctly—but I’m talking more about flavors per se.The 2018 “I” recalls my all-time favorite 2013, and only ‘18’s jalapeño nibble obtrudes upon its eerie serenity.”

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Von Winning Kirchenstuck Riesling Grosses Gewächs, Pfalz 2017 750ML ($149.95) $119 special, 6 bottles in stock now
David Schildknecht – Vinous 93-94 points “Site-typically musky notes of narcissus mingle with anticipations of the bright lime and pure, luscious white peach that dominate a silken, subtly oily, expansive palate. The layering of inner-mouth floral perfume, high-toned green herbal essences and mouthwateringly scallop-like savor is hugely impressive, leading to a finish whose musky bittersweetness reminds me of sucking on the stem-end of honeysuckle blossoms; whose salinity tugs at the salivary glands; and whose effusive fruit is transparent to stony underpinnings.”
Terry Theise [+++] “(Forst) After being overtaken by Pechstein in 2016, this supernal vineyard reasserts itself, and creates a sublime dry riesling that stands with the greatest I’ve ever encountered. Sublime, the only word that suffices. Seizes you gently but doesn’t let go. Visits every cell in your mouth and leaves you coated with flowers and stones. Great wines take you into the ground, but you don’t have subterranean eyes, and so you are blind and blissful and still and surrounded, and all the world below is present for you.”


Von Winning Deidesheimer Paradiesgarten Riesling Trocken, Pfalz 2018 750ML ($37.95) $29 special, 19 bottles in stock now
Stephen Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 90 points “The 2018 Riesling Deidesheimer Paradiesgarten “VDP. Erste Lage” opens with a clear and fragrant bouquet of white and yellow-fleshed fruits and floral and delicate fresh oak aromas. On the palate, this is a medium-bodied, tight, fresh and lush dry Riesling with edges and a grippy character. Green apples on the aftertaste. Tasted in Deidesheim, December 2019.”
Terry Theise note “The best vintage I recall of this surprising wine; curvaceous and leafy, the often-noted caraway seed nuance, along with ‘18s beaming plum-blossom aromas and the fennel and mirabelle-drenched palate could hardly be more fetching. The salty finish also doesn’t hurt!”

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Von Winning Deidesheimer Paradiesgarten Riesling Trocken, Pfalz 2019 750ML ($36.95) $31.90 special, 28 bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt – Wine Advocate 92-93 points “The 2019 Deidesheimer Paradiesgarten Riesling is very fine and sublime as well as complex on the deep, multi-layered and coolish, terroir-driven and slightly flinty nose that is really spectacular for this price point. It comes from vines grown on the eastern slope of the 1er cru (an extension of the Langenmorgen Grand Cru) on deep, calcareous loam and red sandstone. This is an elegant, juicy, very fine and salty-piquant Riesling with a core of white stone fruits and notes of peach stone. The finish is long and intense and is carried by vivacious, structuring acidity. The aftertaste reveals flavors of white vineyard peach. This is a beautiful wine and by far the best Paradiesgarten I have tasted from this producer. Tasted as a sample in May 2020.”

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Von Winning Ruppertsberger Reiterpfad Riesling, Pfalz 2018 750ML ($39.95) $31.90 special, 17 bottles in stock now
Terry Theise note “Many growers would bottle this wine as a GG; it’s probably the best site in Ruppertsberg (though Bürklin has a claim with its monopole Gaisböhl); this ’18 is peachy, sweet white corn, chervil and tarragon; it’s more melodic than Paradiesgarten but with an aloe vera and sorrel note common to good ‘18s; it’s the most appealing of the 1er Lages, sweet-natured and with a lovely grace.”

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Von Winning – Dr. Deinhard Riesling Sekt Extra Brut, Pfalz NV 750ML ($29.95) $24 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Grapelive 92 points “I’m lucky to have enjoyed this exciting Riesling Sparkler on a few occasions now. I love its intensity, crisp detail and briskly dry profile that make it celebratory but sublime with meals especially first courses or as an aperitif to whet the palate. German bubbles are incredible and this one is a classy example at a reasonable price, not to be outdone by Prosecco, the Cremants of Alsace, the Loire and Burgundy, and Champagne even, these modern Sekt(s) are stylish, elegant and full of personality. This one [is] in the mold of one of my favorite small Champagne house, Agrapart, with its cool invigorating mineral tones and extreme dry flavors. Von Winning is one of Germany’s top wineries, based in the chalky sandstone soiled Pfalz region, with an exceptional range of wines, especially their absolutely awesome series of Grosses Gewächs (Grand Cru) Rieslings, though there is excellence throughout the collection here and as I have noted in my prior reviews, Von Winning does one of the finest Sauvignon Blanc(s) in the world, too. The Extra Brut Riesling Sekt is vibrant and steely from the start with a mix of zesty citrus and peachy fruits, a hint of wet stones, leesy/yeasty notes and a faint floral element all of which folds together nicely and vigorously on the energy driven light to medium bodied palate that gains texture with air, but stays firmly taut with an expressive, subtly luxurious small bubbled mousse. This is delicious stuff, I’m so happy after a lengthy wait that the Von Winning sparkling Riesling is more readily available in the States. The Von Winning estate, founded in 1849 [and] located in Deidesheim, owns and farms, all organically, some of the oldest plots in the best Grosses Gewächs vineyards in the region, with their historic parcels divided in the Forst, Deidesheim, and Ruppertsberg zones of the Pfalz. [They] have the talents of Stephan Attmann in the cellar, who is inspired by the great wines of Burgundy and has put in place many tried and true Cote d’Or practices in place here, both in the vineyard with high density and Burgundy style pruning as well as winemaking techniques in the winery. These methods, which include small barrels in the elevage and all gravity flow (gentle) handling of the wines have led to worldwide acclaim. As mentioned their dry Rieslings are unique, richly flavored and are as beautifully compelling as any top white Burgundy, including the best from Meursault, Corton-Charlemagne and even the fabled Le Montrachet. Anyone who’s had Von Winning’s Kirchenstück, Kalkofen, Ungeheuer and or Pechstein GG’s will instantly recognize the greatness in the glass. Trust me these are outrageously good wines. Back to the sparkler, I highly recommend grabbing some of this fine bubbly and celebrate any of life’s happier moments and, wallet allowing, add a few of the single vineyard Trockens, especially those GG’s, as well as the Paradiesgarten, which is an awesome value. The Von Winning Sekt is crafted in the classic methode champenoise style with 100% Riesling being used, sourced from, as the winery notes, a selection of different vineyards close to Deidesheim on loess-clay and red sandstone soils with a lengthy period on the lees. There’s a lot to explore here at Von Winning and I suggest sampling any and all of their offerings.”


Von Winning Ungeheuer Riesling Grosses Gewächs, Pfalz 2018 750ML ($79.95) $69 special, 3 bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 92+ points “Pure, clear, fresh and oaky on the deep, intense and elegant nose, von Wininng’s 2018 Ungeheuer GG “VDP. Grosse Lage” is sweetish, round and all too charming for my personal tastes, but it’s elegant, refined and persistently long on the complex and promising finish. Fine tannin grip and orange peel flavors on the finish. Tasted in Deidesheim, December 2019.”

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Love German wine? We have over 350 different options (not a typo!) in stock. Shop the entire selection, including staff favorites like Dönnhoff, Kruger-Rumpf, Peter Lauer and more, on our web store now.

G.D. Vajra remains one of our favorite producers in the Piedmont. Probably best known for their exceptional Barolo, Vajra also makes some of the best values coming out of Piedmont today. At all price points they are reference point wines that others are judged against.

The estate has always been good, but seems to have reached another level over the last decade. Delicious, attractively priced, and organically cultivated, anyone serious about their Piemonte drinking ought to be stocking up.

Highlights, in Stock Now:

G.D. Vajra ‘Coste di Rose’, Barolo DOCG 2016 750ML ($79.95) $59 special, 29 bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 95 points “Dusty cherry, black currant, eucalyptus and hay aromas and flavors highlight this energetic red. There is purity to the beam of fruit, and while the structure is muscular, the lasting impression is of sweet fruit. Best from 2023 through 2045.”
James Suckling 95 points “This has some very attractive rose perfume and anise spice with raspberry, redcurrant and red-cherry aromas. Blueberry pastry, too. So perfumed. The palate has very fine, almost crystalline tannins and such intense, juicy and vivaciously delivered flavors of essence-like red fruit. So precise. Drinkable now, but with potential for long-term cellaring.”


G.D. Vajra Coste & Fossati Dolcetto d’Alba, Piedmont 2018 750ML ($27.95) $21.90 special, 20 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni 92 points “The 2018 Dolcetto d’Alba Coste & Fossati is a gorgeous wine. Usually, the Coste & Fossati is a richer, bigger wine; the 2018, on the other hand, offers lovely mid-palate depth, but in a restrained, perfumed style that is hugely appealing. Dark red cherry, red plum, chocolate, licorice and spice all flesh out in this delicious and inviting Dolcetto from the Vajra family. The 2018 marks the second vintage of the return to submerged cap maceration, an approach the Vajra family used up until the late 1980s.”

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G.D. Vajra Freisa ‘Kye’ Langhe Rosso, Piedmont 2015 750ML ($39.95) $33 special, 36 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni 92+ points “The 2015 Langhe Freisa Kyé is incredibly finessed. Once huge and bombastic, the Kyé has developed into a much more refined wine in recent vintages. The 2015 Kyé is dark and mysterious, not to mention quite closed in on itself. I won’t be surprised if there is more to this wine. Time will tell.”

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G.D. Vajra Langhe Nebbiolo, Piedmont 2019 750ML ($26.95) $19.90 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Winery note “2019 was marked by an early bud break, late flowering and a slow and progressive ripening. These elements turned the vintage into one of the longest and latest of the decade. Early winter snows and moderate rain falls throughout the year preserved the water reservoirs and laid the conditions for a balanced phenolic ripening. Thankfully, the Langhe were spared from both the April frost and the dramatic heat of late June. A severe hailstorm hit some vineyards on September 5th. Low yields since flowering, slow ripening, late harvest, excellent phenolic maturity and a great acidity spine: it all reminds of 2013. We foresee the potential for a truly remarkable vintage.”

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G.D. Vajra Langhe Rosso, Piedmont 2019 750ML ($17.95) $12.50 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
No reviews for the 2019. 2018 review provided for reference.
Grapelive 90 points “Vajra’s Langhe Rosso blend is primarily the classic varietals Nebbiolo, Dolcetto, and Barbera, but also has an interesting addition of Albarossa, Freisa and even a touch of Pinot Noir all of which makes for a unique Piedmonte red that shows silky tannins, tangy vibrant fruits including brandied cherries, plum, cranberry, grilled citrus (Moro orange) and tart red currant along with wild herbs, delicate rustic notes, floral elements, mineral and savory spices….Giuseppe Vajra continues the traditions of his father Aldo, who was a big advocate for organic and holistic farming and promoted a sense of lightness in the wines always searching out vineyard sites thought to be too cold and too high up to ripen, but as history shows he was spot on and Vajra’s high elevation Barolo is one of the most prized wines in the world. The Vajra Rosso is mostly all stainless steel fermented with each lot and varietal done separately and blended before an early bottling to preserve fresh brightness, which this dark ruby/blue hued 2018 shows with lovely transparent clarity. This 2018 opens up nicely with air adding pipe tobacco, black tea, cola bean and dried rose petals, but the minty zesty tartness remains until the finish, in fact it is really nice with a bit of chill and with a picnic spread and or pasta dishes. The 2017 vintage was very warm and the wines are a bit bigger and fruit driven, with these 2018 shows a little more finesse and acidity, which shows through in this Langhe Rosso, it is wine to enjoy now and often, it has a hand crafted feel, but has no pretense, it is easy and delicious. For those looking for value with want this one, no question, but if you want to stay varietal pure, I highly recommend Vajra’s Dolcello, Barbera and Nebbiolo bottlings, there’s quality, value and grace throughout the lineup here.”

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G.D. Vajra Moscato d’Asti DOCG, Piedmont 2020 750ML ($19.95) $14.50 special, 24 bottles in stock now
Milena Vaira note “Moscato is part of the culinary tradition of Piedmont. We seek for purity in our work, preserving its natural energy and wish it will always go along well with the most joyful moments of our lives and that of our friends.”

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G.D. Vajra Rosabella Rosato, Piedmont 2020 750ML ($17.95) $14.50 special, 12 bottles in stock now
No reviews for the 2020 vintage. 2019 review provided for reference.
Eric Guido-Vinous 90 points “The 2019 Vajra Rosabella, this year is a blend of 90% Nebbiolo and 10% Barbera, lifts from the glass with a remarkably pretty yet understated display of ripe pear offset by white smoke minerality, a hint of lime, and spring florals. On the palate, it coasts across the senses, delivering a more tart fruit sensation, further accentuated by saline-minerals and brisk acids. The finish is medium in length, yet buzzing with energy and neatly framed by hints of lemon and green apple.”

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Love Piedmont? We have 190 different options in stock. Shop the entire selection on our web store now, including famous names like Brovia and Vietti, as well as more from G.D. Vajra.

If Spain had an aristocracy of wines, Vega Sicilia would be king. Founded in 1864, over a century before creation of the Ribera del Duero DOC, the estate’s various owners have made singular wines ever since. In fact, Vega Sicilia can hardly be compared to other Spanish wines, not even the greats of Rioja. For one thing, the grape varieties originally planted and still grown in Vega Sicilia’s 500-acre limestone-soil vineyard include Bordeaux varieties, though 80% of the vines are Tempranillo. As a result, Vega Sicilia doesn’t taste like other Tempranillo-based wines from Spain. They’re dense and sumptuous, intense but full of finesse, complex and long-lingering on the palate, with the individuality of a monarch. This is like Spain’s First Growth, its Dominus.

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Vega Sicilia Tinto Valbuena 5, Ribera del Duero 2015 750ML ($199.95) $179 special, 5 bottles in stock now
James Suckling 97 points “The aromas to this are so complex and enticing with nutmeg, dark berries, chocolate and white pepper. Full body. Dense and layered with so much wonderful, complex and succulent character. It just makes you want to drink it. Drink or hold.”
Luis Gutierrez-Wine Advocate 96 points “The 2015 Valbuena, a red blend of mostly Tempranillo with some 5% Merlot, is released in the fifth year after the harvest. It’s explosive and showy, with a complex nose that shows a mixture of flowers and wild herbs, balsamic touches and great nuance. This wine has gained in complexity since the 2010 vintage, where they implemented some changes that increased the expressivity and precision of this wine. The tannins are fine-grained and there is very good balance, and the warm conditions of the year have been absorbed well by the wine. Despite the natural conditions of the year, the wine follows the path of freshness of the 2010. 173,673 bottles, 5,625 magnums and some larger formats produced. It was bottled in June 2018.”


Love Spanish reds? We have over 120 different options in stock. Shop our entire selection, including famous names like Comando G, Daniel Landi, Raúl Pérez and more, on our web store now.

You can tell a lot about a Brunello vintage by how early we start getting asked about it. In the case of the 2016s, well, let’s just say this is a pretty anticipated set of wines. A vintage that Wine Spectator described as “textbook”, the growing season yielded wines of elegance, freshness and harmony. More red fruited than Brunello’s excellent 2015 vintage, but offering similar levels of concentration, these are wines that are drinking beautifully young but will also age beautifully. To call 2016 Brunello’s ‘Vintage of the Century’ is no hyperbole, this is really special stuff.

We’ve already received a few 2016 Brunellos, and are eagerly anticipating arrivals from several more producers this year, including two of our favorites. Both La Gerla and Lisini are some of the bestselling wineries in Vinopolis history for good reason, producing fantastic wines year in and out. Their 2016s, though, are some of the finest bottles ever from each estate and will undoubtedly become customer favorites upon their arrival in September –at least for as long as we can keep them in stock.

Arriving in September:

La Gerla Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Tuscany 2016 750ML ($67.95) $56.50 pre-arrival special
James Suckling 96 points “Very pretty ripe and dried fruit with blackberries and sweet cherries. It’s full-bodied with depth of fruit and creamy, polished tannins. Extremely compact and long. Pure fruit at the end. A gorgeous wine. Drinkable now, but better after 2022.”

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Lisini Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Tuscany 2016 750ML ($67.95) $56.50 pre-arrival special
Vinous Eric Guido 95 points “The 2016 Brunello di Montalcino excites the senses with a wonderfully pure and fruity display of wild strawberries, woodland herbs, wet stone and flowery undergrowth. Both savory and sweet, the textures are like silk, with waves of ripe red fruits and spices which give way to salty minerals, licorice, hints of black tea and a coating of fine tannin. While youthfully structured, there’s a juicy freshness to be found throughout, creating harmonious balance and symmetry that makes the 2016 Lisini so easy to like already. That said, the best is yet to come.”


Highlights, in Stock Now:

La Gerla Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Tuscany 2015 750ML ($69.95) $55 special, 21 bottles in stock now
La Gerla Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Tuscany 2015 1.5L ($149.95) $119 special, 5 magnums in stock now
Wine Spectator 94 points “Black cherry and black currant fruit is accented by tobacco, earth and mineral flavors in this sleek yet dense red. Balsamic elements of juniper, thyme and olive add depth as this cruises to a long finish. The potential lies in the excellent length. Best from 2023 through 2042.”
Eric Guido – Vinous 94 points “La Gerla’s 2015 Brunello di Montalcino is gorgeous, showing depths of earthy moist soil, minerals and hints of animal musk up front, giving way to crushed strawberry and cherry, getting spicy with lifting minerals yet retaining a rich character throughout. On the palate, silky textures are matched by cool-toned acids and refreshing moist mineral tones, as zesty cherry and cedar come forward. It’s so balanced and smooth, with high energy lasting into the long finish, showing saturating spice and salty minerals, yet remaining cool-toned and precise. The 2015 is a beautifully balanced wine that’s firmly rooted in the earth.”

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La Gerla Riserva gli Angeli, Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2012 750ML ($99.95) $69 special, 30 bottles in stock now
La Gerla Riserva gli Angeli, Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2012 3L ($499.95) $319 special, 2 double magnums in stock now
Ian D’agata-Vinous 95 points “Bright medium ruby. Very clean and fresh aromas and flavors of red currant, cherry pit, flowers and blood orange jelly. Bright, juicy and very light on its feet, offering superb vinosity and clarity of flavor, this conveys an impression of real underlying density and a multilayered mouthfeel. A knockout wine of outstanding energy and class, finishing with polished tannins, uncanny sweetness and lovely subtle persistence, not to mention outstanding balance (it hides its 14.5% alcohol very well).”
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 95 points “Here is a dense and meaty Tusan red that flaunts its immediate power, structure and intensity. The 2012 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva gli Angeli is robust and deep thanks to a generous offering of dark fruit, spice and tar-like aromas. Fruit is carefully selected for this wine, and the grapes are fermented in stainless steel. Post fermentation, the wine goes into large Slavonian oak casks for four years. The finish is soft and supple with sweet berry flavors. This wine has made an impressive jump forward in this vintage.”

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Lisini Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Tuscany 2015 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-6 Lisini Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Tuscany 2015 750ML ($299.95) $279 special (that’s only $46.50/bottle!)
Case-12 Lisini Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Tuscany 2015 750ML ($579.95) $539 special (that’s only $44.92/bottle!)
Decanter 96 points “With vineyards between Sant’Angelo in Colle and Castelnuovo dell’Abate on the inner edge of the Sesta district, Lisini’s vineyards are cleansed by constant breezes from the Tuscan Coast. Stony soils with an important underpinning of limestone as well as elevations over 300 metres help preserve freshness in their wines. The 2015 is beautifully fragrant, almost exotic in character. Plump red fruit and sweet summer herbs fill the mouth but rather than being heavy, this is poised and transparent. Ample powdery tannins are fine and lead to a tangy marine finish.”

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Lisini Ugolaia, Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2012 750ML ($119.95) $99 special, 9 bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 96 points “A bright and elegant yet taut and structured version, this red features buried cherry, plum, earth, iron and tobacco flavors. Dynamic despite the firm grip of tannins, this should come around in a few years. Licorice and ripe cherry notes mark the finish. Best from 2020 through 2038.”

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Love Brunello? We have 47 different options in stock, including more from the 2016 vintage. Shop the entire selection on our web store now.

Cayuse is one of the most in-demand wineries in North America, producing wines from both Rhône and Bordeaux varieties that are among the finest in the world. Because Cayuse sells almost exclusively through their mailing list, even current releases can be difficult to find.

We’re proud to maintain the country’s best selection of Cayse, and add to it on Wednesday with the arrival of the 2017 Widowmaker Cabernet. A Wine Enthusiast ‘Cellar Selection’, it’s a wine that shows what’s possible when one of the best winemakers in the world gets their hands on some of Washington’s best fruit. The perfect marriage of Walla Walla terroir and Old World-inspired winemaking, Jeb Dunnuck called it a “Bordeaux look-alike”. And this description seems apt when you consider the wine’s combination of elegance and power. We were only able to get our hands on six bottles, so act accordingly.

Arriving Wednesday, July 7th:

Only 6 bottles available!
Cayuse Vineyards ‘Widowmaker’ En Chamberlin Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Walla Walla Valley 2017 750ML ($179.95) $138 pre-arrival special
Jeb Dunnuck 97+ points “The 2017 The Widowmaker En Chamberlin is another Bordeaux look-alike (it reminds me of a wine from the Graves region) that has loads of blackcurrant and cassis as well as leafy tobacco, cedar pencil, chocolate, cold fireplace and Asian spices on both the nose and palate. Rich, full-bodied, and concentrated, it has a wonderfully seamless texture, ultra-fine tannins, and a great, great finish. This beautiful, elegant yet powerful Cabernet Sauvignon will drink well for 20-30 years or more.”

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Cayuse Vineyards God Only Knows Armada Vineyard Grenache, Walla Walla Valley 2017 750ML ($149.95) $138 special, 5 bottles in stock now
James Suckling 97 points “The subtlety of fruit here is mesmerizing with sweet strawberry, floral and tangerine aromas that follow through to a medium to full body, fine and soft tannins and a long, delicious finish. It shows such polish and fineness. Drink or hold.”


Wine Enthusiast #69 Top 100 Cellar Selections 2020
Horsepower Vineyards ‘High Contrast Vineyard’ Syrah, Walla Walla Valley 2017 750ML ($219.95) $179 special, 8 bottles in stock now
Wine Advocate 96 points “Showing with a deep ruby core that fades to a purple edge, the 2017 Syrah High Contrast Vineyard explodes from the glass with pronounced smoky aromas that waft with delicate notes of dark chocolate-covered blackberries, then show hints of roasted coffee bean, notions of petrichor, baked earth and dried herbs. Medium to full-bodied, the wine is elegantly powerful, showcasing a balanced chassis of youthful tannins that evolve with the complex nature of the wine. There is a velvety firmness to the mid-palate before moving onto an elongated finish that grows in complexity and amplitude as the expression resonates harmoniously, confirming yet another blockbuster Syrah from the ever-so-talented Christophe Baron. Only 386 cases made.”
Wine Enthusiast 96 points “#69 Top 100 Cellar Selections 2020. The aromas explode from the glass, with notes of fire pit, potpourri, black olive, wet stone, dried porcini and stone. The palate is sumptuous, layered, elegant and intensely flavorful, showing abundant savory notes. A lingering black olive and earthy finish caps it off. Best after 2025.”


Cayuse Vineyards Impulsivo Tempranillo, Walla Walla Valley 2018 750ML ($179.95) $135 special, 15 bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 96 points “Showing beautifully, with pure cassis and black raspberry fruits as well as loads of dried flowers, cedar, tobacco, and dried herbs, the 2018 Impulsivo is medium to full-bodied and has a seamless, elegant texture, ultra-fine tannins, and a great finish. It shows more meaty, almost bloody nuances with time in the glass, and it’s certainly a singular expression of Tempranillo. The tannins are present yet polished and ripe, and it has a great mid-palate as well as the balance and elegance to drink nicely today yet also improve with short-term cellaring and keep for two decades.”


Love Washington wine? We have over 40 different options in stock. Shop our entire selection on our web store now, including famous names like Leonetti and Quilceda Creek, as well as more from Cayuse.

Elvio Cogno’s Iconic Barolo

Domaine de Triennes Rose, IGP Var, France 2020 750ML ($19.95) $14.90 special
Winery note “Cinsault – Syrah -Grenache – Merlot. This wine has a bouquet of strawberries and white flowers with hints of vanilla. It has the harmony and elegance that has earned world-wide appreciation of the rosés of Provence.  Triennes Rosé is the perfect accompaniment to a sunny summer afternoon.”

Domaine Saint Damien Gigondas Rose Rhone 2020 750ML ($29.95) $24 special
Weygandt-Metzler Import note “Cinsault, Syrah, Mourvedre. Organic. Sand, clay & cailloux. Tasting note: Ripe raspberry, bitter cherry, blood orange and stone. Medium body with a long finish.”

M Plouzeau Chinon Rive Gauche Rose Loire 2020 750ML ($17.95) $14 special 
Weygandt-Metzler Import note “Cabernet Franc. Sustainable. River gravel & pebbles. Sustainable. Tasting note: Rich raspberry, hints of freen pepper and touch of white peach. Medium body with a long, elegant finish.”

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Pierre-Yves Colin-Morey Bourgogne Rose de Pinot Noir Burgundy 2020 750ML ($49.95) $39 special
Importer Note: 100% Pinot Noir, 55 year old vines grown in Clay and limestone soil with Southwest exposure, Direct press rosé. Sourced from 85% Hautes Cotes de Beaune in a High altitude village of Cormot-le-grand Near Saint-Aubin Lieu dit ‘En vignes Baudet’. The remaining 15% from Santenay. Aged in large 2-3 year old barrels and unfined and unfiltered

Bodegas Ostatu Rosado Rioja DOCa 2020 750ML ($19.95) $14.50 special 

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The Eyrie Vineyards Pinot Gris Dundee Hills 2019 750ML ($24.95) $18.50 special
Winery Note: This vintage is highly aromatic, with dense layers of lime, pea shoots, and white strawberry, finishing with a spicy uplift. The texture is round and full. The forepalate is dominated by ripe lychee and passionfruit that hint at sweetness – although the wine is absolutely dry. Flavors of dried sea grass, kiwi, and currants fill out the rich and very long finish. Complex, precise, and substantial, this latest release form Eyrie continues to define the best of Oregon Pinot gris.

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Roserock Zephirine Pinot Noir Eola-Amity Hills 2017 750ML ($64.95) $55 special
James Suckling 96 Points “This has a very impressive sense of density and power with such immaculate detail and definition, in terms of tannin and fruit. The aromas are in the spicy and floral zone with blue-fruit and leafy nuances. Deceptively elegant and convincingly excellent pinot noir. Drink across the next decade.”
Josh Raynolds 94 Points -VINOUS “Limpid ruby-red. Highly perfumed, mineral- and spice-accented red fruit liqueur, incense and potpourri scents show fine definition and assertive lift. Appealingly sweet and penetrating on the palate, offering vibrant raspberry, cherry, red currant and blood orange flavors that deepen and take on spicecake and floral pastille nuances on the back half. Shows outstanding focus and solid thrust on a long, floral-tinged finish shaped by subtle, polished tannins.”
Erin Brooks-Wine Advocate 94 Points “The 2017 Zéphirine Pinot Noir is a selection of the best barrels from the Roserock vineyard. Pale to medium ruby-purple, it’s scented of crushed boysenberries, blackberries, cranberries, bergamot and forest floor with touches of dried rose petals and violets. Medium-bodied and über silky, it offers great intensity and flavor layers, grainy and fresh with a long, layered finish.”
Wine Spectator 94 Points “A dynamic wine, showing both grace and structure, this opens like a flower bloom, revealing notes of raspberry, crushed stone, fresh violet and savory tea. Builds richness and tension toward refined tannins. Drink now through 2027. 1,830 cases made.”

Patricia Green Cellars Durant Vineyard Bishop Block Pinot Noir Dundee Hills 2018 750ML ($59.95) $45 special
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 94 Points “Deep, shimmering garnet. Expressive aromas of fresh red berries, cherry, blood orange and exotic spices, energized by a touch of minerality. Sweet and seamless in the mouth, offering vibrant raspberry and bitter cherry flavors that put on weight and turn sweeter with air. Displays very good breadth and seamless texture, and finishes with impressive clarity, harmonious tannins and a resonating red fruit preserve quality. Roughly 80% whole clusters and 25% new oak.”
92 Points Wine Enthusiast “Smooth and fruity, the flavors run to strawberry and pomegranate rather than darker fruits. It’s an elegant, medium-bodied wine, all Pommard clone, balanced and good for near-term drinking.”

Colene Clemens Vineyards ‘Dopp Creek’ Pinot Noir Willamette Valley 2019 750ML ($39.95) $28 special
Wine Spectator 94 Points ” Defined by a brisk and refreshing minerality that brings focus to refined and expressive raspberry, rose petal and toasty spice flavors and builds intensity toward fine-grain tannins. Drink now through 2029. 3,241 cases made

Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte Pessac-Leognan 2016 750ML ($149.95) $138 special
Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Wine Advocate 98 Points “Composed of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot and matured in 60% new oak for 18 months, the 2016 Smith Haut Lafitte has a very deep garnet-purple color, opening with sensuous scents of warm black cherries, blackberry pie, star anise and fragrant lilacs with hints of chocolate box, cigar box and pencil lead plus wafts of truffles and crushed rocks. Medium to full-bodied, rich and seductive, it completely fills the palate with perfumed black berry preserves and superbly plush tannins, finishing epically long and beautifully layered.”
Wine Spectator 97 Points “Quite ripe, with lush waves of cassis, cherry preserve and raspberry puree flavors gliding through in no hurry, but maintaining definition and cut along the way as bramble, tar and melted licorice snap notes slowly emerge throughout. The finish features an intense echo of pastis and sweet tobacco, showing serious latent grip. Best from 2023 through 2038. 8,333 cases made. — JM”
Wine Enthusiast 97 Points “Cellar Selection. This hugely dense wine is complex and full of juicy, succulent, smoky Cabernet Sauvignon. The tannins are at the service of the fruits. The wine still has a long way to go before maturity. Don’t think about drinking it before 2025. -Roger Voss”
Neal Martin-Vinous 95+ Points “The 2016 Smith Haut-Lafitte has an opulent, lavish bouquet with layers of black cherry, Christmas cake, dark chocolate and vanilla. This wants to make an impression. The palate is very seductive, featuring lush red berry fruit, brown spices and saturated tannins. Some new oak is evident on the finish, but that will be subsumed with bottle age. I can see this aging well. Tasted blind at the annual Southwold tasting.”

Domaine Marcel Lapierre Morgon Beaujolais 2018 750ML ($41.95) $34.50 special
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 94 Points “Glistening ruby. Mineral-inflected red/blue fruits on the assertively perfumed nose, along with incense, exotic spices and fresh flowers. Alluringly sweet and penetrating, offering intense boysenberry and raspberry flavors braced by juicy acidity. Fine-grained tannins add spine to a wonderfully long, sappy finish that strongly repeats the floral and mineral notes.”

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Domaine Eric et Joel Durand Cornas Confidence Rhone 2018 750ML ($69.95) $54.50 pre-arrival special
Jeb Dunnuck 96 Points “One of my favorite Cornas, the 2018 Cornas Confidence comes from pure granite soils and was partially destemmed and brought up in 30% new French oak. The 2018 is a head-turner, revealing a dense purple color as well as sensational notes of crème de cassis, smoked bacon, graphite, bouquet garni, and liquid rock-like minerality. Rich, full-bodied, and opulent, with sweet tannins, this is one sexy Cornas that’s going to benefit from 2-3 years of bottle age and cruise for 10-15 years in cold cellars.”
Joe Czerwinski-Wine Advocate 94 Points “From the family’s mature vines (average of 30 years old) on granitic sites, the 2018 Cornas Confidence matured in 30% new oak, yet that has been “soaked up” by the wine to the point that nearly no cedar notes are discernible. Instead, there are scents of crushed stone, dark plum and dusty earth. Medium to full-bodied on the palate, it’s concentrated and tannic but not unapproachable, with a silky, lingering finish and a sprinkling of ground pepper and aniseed.”
Wine Spectator 93 Points “Lush, with lots of dark plum, raspberry and blackberry compote taking the lead, flecked with sweet bay and rosemary hints that add detail and energy through the finish. Shows a toasty back end, but the fruit wins out easily. For fans of the modern style. Best from 2022 through 2034. 140 cases made, 30 cases imported.  –JM”

Domaine Eric et Joel Durand Cornas Empreintes Rhone 2018 750ML ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival special
Jeb Dunnuck 93+ Points “The 2018 Cornas Empreintes offers a riper, more concentrated style, delivering lots of plum and darker currant fruits intermixed with notions of smoked herbs, ground pepper, violets, lavender, and spice box. It’s rich, full-bodied, and concentrated, yet the tannins here are more present, and it has a closed, angular style that’s going to benefit from bottle age. Give bottles 3-4 years at a minimum and it should have a solid decade of longevity after that.”
Joe Czerwinski-Wine Advocate 92-94 Points “Nearly as good as the Confidence, the Durands’ 2018 Cornas Empreintes is more open and approachable, with sexy blueberry, blackberry and vanilla nuances. It’s full-bodied, creamy and plush, with a long, vibrant finish.” 
Wine Spectator 92 Points “Lush and inviting, with crushed plum and warm blackberry compote notes leading the way, along with sweet bay, anise and violet accents. Has a buried iron hint but this is fairly plush overall for a Cornas. Drink now through 2032. 800 cases made, 90 cases imported.  –JM”

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Domaine Eric et Joel Durand Cornas Premices Rhone 2018 750ML ($37.95) $31.90 special
Jeb Dunnuck 94 Points “Starting with the 2018 Cornas Prémices, which can be thought of as the entry-level Cornas, it reveals a deep purple hue as well as stunning purity in its blue fruits, violets, ground pepper, and charred meat-like aromas and flavors. Rich and full-bodied, it has loads of fruit, silky tannins, and is just a killer Cornas to enjoy over the coming decade or so.”
Wine Spectator 94 Points “Solidly built, with ripe and vivid waves of crushed plum, blackberry and boysenberry fruit rolling through, laced with sweet bay and violet notes. Long twang of iron minerality pierces the finish to keep it all honest. Best from 2022 through 2036. 875 cases made, 100 cases imported.  –JM”
Joe Czerwinski-Wine Advocate 91 Points “The 2018 Cornas Premices comes from the brothers’ young vines, but it is a concentrated, stony example in its own right. Dark in hue, it offers up scents of red plums and crushed stone, plus subtle herb and floral shadings. Medium to full-bodied, with a silky texture and a refreshing hit of licorice on the lengthy finish, it’s approachable now, yet should drink well for at least 5-6 years.”

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Domaine Eric et Joel Durand Saint-Peray Rhone 2019 750ML ($29.95) $24 pre-arrival special
Jeb Dunnuck 92 Points “Lots of peach, white flowers, and quince notes emerge from the 2019 Saint-Péray, another textbook white that shows its appellation in its salinity and minerality. This beauty is medium-bodied, elegant, and perfectly balanced. Both whites from this estate are class acts and well worth buying.”

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Domaine Eric et Joel Durand Saint-Joseph Blanc Rhone 2019 750ML ($34.95) $28 pre-arrival special
Wine Spectator 93 Points “This straddles the line nicely between racy and ripe, with a mix of peach, pear and melon flavors allied to chamomile, quinine and honeysuckle notes. The interplay is even-handed throughout and there’s nice length on the finish. Drink now through 2026. 360 cases made, 50 cases imported. — JM”
Jeb Dunnuck 92 points “Based on 60% Marsanne and 40% Roussanne, the 2019 Saint Joseph Blanc is a beauty that’s well worth seeking out. Lots of buttered citrus, pineapple, and subtle quince as well as some toasty, nutty, honeyed notions emerge from this medium to full-bodied, pure, elegant white. It’s a classic Saint Joseph white to enjoy over the coming decade.”

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Domaine Eric et Joel Durand Saint-Joseph Les Coteaux Rhone 2018 750ML ($36.95) $29 pre-arrival special
Joe Czerwinski-Wine Advocate 92 Points “If the Lauteret bottling is a lovable puppy dog of a wine, the 2018 Saint Joseph Les Coteaux is a veteran bird dog—cool, taut and contained, with coiled energy and terrific poise. Scents of cedar and crushed stone appear on the nose alongside hints of mint, black cherries and cassis. It’s medium to full-bodied and sleek on the palate, with a lithe musculature and a graceful movement as it eases into a long, cool finish.”
Jeb Dunnuck 92 Points “Starting off the two Saint Joseph releases, the 2018 Saint Joseph Les Coteaux is a deeply colored, ripe, opulent effort with rocking levels of black and blue fruits, peppery herbs, game, and violet aromas and flavors. Textured, medium to full-bodied, and balanced, it already offers pleasure yet should evolve for a decade.”
Wine Spectator 92 Points “Bright, pure style, with a beam of cassis and plum purée racing through, lined with violet and iron notes, ending with a dash of anise amidst an encore of fruit. Yummy. Best from 2021 through 2029. 2,000 cases made, 400 cases imported.  –JM”

Domaine Eric et Joel Durand Saint-Joseph Lautaret Rhone 2018 750ML ($41.95) $33 pre-arrival special
Jeb Dunnuck 94 Points “Slightly more expensive, the 2018 Saint Joseph Lautaret offers more smoky minerality as well as impressive darker currants, blackberries, violets, and barbecued meat-like aromas and flavors. These carry to a rich, meaty, almost bloody/iron-laced Saint-Joseph that has full-bodied richness, ripe, polished tannins, wonderful balance, and a great finish. With moderate acidity and a fleshy, already hard to resist style, enjoy bottles over the coming 10-15 years.”
Joe Czerwinski-Wine Advocate 92+ Points “The 2018 Saint Joseph Lautaret comes across as intense but slightly jammy, giving up scents of blueberry pie balanced against more savory notes of black olives and cracked pepper. Medium to full-bodied, with a ripe, supple feel and a long, silky finish, it’s a sexy Saint Joseph to drink over the near term, yet one that should also develop more complexity and improve over the next decade.”
Wine Spectator 92 Points “Alluring, with blackberry and raspberry pâte de fruit notes forming the core while anise, black tea and singed woodspice hints fill in throughout. Subtle floral and bay accents on the finish. Seductive style. Drink now through 2028. 340 cases made, 50 cases imported.  –JM”

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Chateau de Breze – Arnaud Lambert Saumur Clos de Midi Loire 2019 750ML ($24.95) $19.90 special
Wine Spectator 93 Points “This offers an expressive mix of yellow apple, persimmon and Meyer lemon flavors infused with light notes of hazelnut and hints of smoke. The acidity is electric, giving this plenty of verve and carrying all the elements to the long and seductive, lightly floral finish. Best from 2022 through 2034. 3,750 cases made, 627 cases imported. 

 

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Produttori del Barbaresco ‘Barbaresco DOCG’ Piedmont 2017 750ML ($49.95) $41.90 special
Produttori del Barbaresco ‘Barbaresco DOCG’ Piedmont 2017 CASE-6 ($299.95) $239 special
Produttori del Barbaresco ‘Barbaresco DOCG’ Piedmont 2017 CASE-12 ($599.95) $459 special
Antonio Galloni 94 Points “The 2017 Barbaresco shows just how appealing this vintage can be. In 2017, the warm, dry growing season gave the Barbaresco an extra kick of richness that fills out its frame and adds so much immediacy. Sweet red berry fruit, cinnamon, rose petal and mint are open in the glass, but it is the wine’s seductive radiance that wins the day. Pora, Ovello, Montestefano, Muncagota and Rio Sordo are the main vineyards used for the straight Barbaresco. The 2017 is such an inviting and expressive wine. Don’t miss it!”

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Clos Mogador ‘Com Tu’ Montsant 2017 750ML ($59.95) $48 special
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 93 Points “Saturated ruby. Intense dark berry, cherry pit and floral pastille aromas are complicated by suggestions of licorice and smoky minerals. Sappy and concentrated on the palate, offering vibrant bitter cherry, black raspberry and candied violet flavors that show strong, spicy back-end cut. Youthfully gripping tannins come in slowly on the persistent finish, which features lingering mineral and spice flourishes.”
Luis Gutierrez-Wine Advocate 93 Points “The 2017 Com Tu is a Garnacha from La Figuera, from white and red soils (with some more clay). It matured in old 4,000- and 5,000-liter oak vats for one year, a shorter élevage, as it’s a lighter year. The fruit is a little riper, and the wine is juicy and has the austere tannins of the limestone soils. It reminds me of a Garnacha from Châteauneuf. 12,000 bottles produced.”

Vinedos de Paganos La Nieta Rioja DOCa 2018 750ML ($179.95) $149 special
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 95 Points “Dark, brilliant ruby. A highly perfumed bouquet evokes red and blue fruit preserves, incense and potpourri, along with building mineral and exotic spice nuances. Juicy, appealingly sweet and concentrated on the palate, offering intense black raspberry, cherry liqueur and spicecake flavors that become livelier with air. Smoothly blends power and delicacy and finishes extremely long and smooth, with well-knit tannins and resonating florality.”

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Sierra Cantabria Finca El Bosque Rioja DOCa 2018 750ML ($149.95) $135 special
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 96 Points “Inky ruby. Powerful, smoke-accented cherry liqueur and blueberry scents are complicated by building floral, vanilla and exotic spice notes. Sappy, sweet and broad in the mouth, offering densely packed black and blue fruit, mocha and violet pastille flavors that slowly become spicier and livelier as the wine opens up. Shows excellent definition and mineral lift on a strikingly long, oak spice- and floral-driven finish framed by fine-grained, even tannins.”

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Weingut Wwe. Dr. H. Thanisch Erben Thanisch is classic Germany, a spectacular Riesling producer that is a mouthful to say. Named after the widow (wwe being the German abbreviation) who inherited the estate in the 19th century, Thanisch has been producing wine since 1636. Already considered one Germany’s most exceptional producers, Thanisch was one of the first estates to join the VDP Consortium in 1910, and the estate has continued to pursue excellence ever since.

Working entirely with old vines and some of the most lauded vineyards in the Mosel, it should come as no surprise that Thanisch holds the crown for highest price ever fetched at auction for a German producer. The wine in question? A bottle of 1921 Berncastler Doctor Riesling Trockenbeerenauslese that had been secretly hidden in their underground cellar for decades. It was sold in 1986 for over $16,000. 

When one thinks of extreme vineyards, most point to the Northern Rhône, Liguria, or the Canary islands. But the verdant slopes of the Mosel hide some of the most dangerous and challenging sites in the world. Any slope over 30 degrees makes mechanized assistance nearly impossible, further exacerbating backbreaking work for farmhands. If that wasn’t difficult enough, the various types of slate found in the Mosel become dangerously slippery when wet, oftentimes requiring safety winches and harnesses for laborers. About half of the estate vineyards farmed by Thanisch have aspects of 60 degrees or more, offering mind-bending views of the village of Bernkastel and the Mosel River. And the resulting wines are absolute marvels across the board.

Germany’s 2019 vintage is expected to be an instant classic, having already been hailed as “Germany’s Breakout Vintage” by British critic Jancis Robinson. While Robert Parker of the Wine Advocate has declared that the 2019s “are worth cellaring for decades”. Thanks to almost perfect weather conditions, 2019 has yielded marvels across the Prädikat spectrum, and Thanisch’s are unsurprisingly some of the finest.

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Only 3 cases arriving!
Dr. H. Thanisch Bernkasteler Badstube Riesling Kabinett Feinherb, Mosel 2019 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 special
Stephan Reinhardt – Wine Advocate 92 points “The 2019 Bernkasteler Badstube Riesling Kabinett feinherb is clear, refined and flinty on the crunchy/slatey nose. Round and salty-piquant on the palate, this is a delicate and delicious Kabinett with white stone fruit aromas and a juicy finish with a stimulating slate structure and salinity. Remarkably fine. Tasted at the domain in September 2020.”
Mosel Fine Wines 92 points “The 2019er Bernkasteler Badstube Riesling Kabinett Feinherb is an off-dry wine (with 21 g/l of residual sugar) with a superbly complex and refined nose of almond cream, candied grapefruit, laurel, rosemary, mint, and freshly cut lemon. The wine develops a very beautifully juicy and fruity presence on the palate and leaves one with a refreshing feel of ripe acidity in the superbly long finish. The after-taste is beautifully animating and zesty with minty flavors of tangerine and lime. This succulent off-dry Riesling has quite some aging potential. 2024-2039.”

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Only 2 cases arriving!
Dr. H. Thanisch Bernkasteler Badstube Riesling Spätlese, Mosel 2019 750ML ($34.95) $28 special
Stephan Reinhardt – Wine Advocate 93 points “Vinified in old fuder vats until May and bottled at the end of August this year, the 2019 Bernkasteler Badstube Riesling Spätlese is clear, precise and elegant on the flinty and crunchy nose. On the palate, this is a perfectly round, textured, finessed and stimulatingly salty Spätlese of great elegance and finesse. I tried to spit it three times and always failed. There is this very rare reflex that you can’t avoid, and before you even think about it, you want to swallow it. Gorgeous. Tasted at the domain in September 2020.”
Mosel Fine Wines 93 points “The 2019er Bernkasteler Badstube Riesling Spätlese is a sweet wine with a refined and floral nose of whipped cream, vineyard peach, smoke, herbs, orange blossom, and fine spices. It proves gorgeously playful and creamy on the palate and leaves a great feeling of energy and finesse in the finish. This is a great and juicy Spätlese in the making. 2029-2049.”

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Only 3 cases arriving!
Dr. H. Thanisch Bernkasteler Doctor Riesling Auslese, Mosel 2019 750ML ($79.95) $69 special
Mosel Fine Wines 95 points “The 2019er Berncasteler Doctor Riesling Auslese was made from fruit harvested at approx. 100° Oechsle and was fermented down to sweet levels of residual sugar. It offers a hugely restrained, aniseed, and smoky nose of honeyed yellow peach, minty herbs, pear, melon, quince jelly, and vanilla touch. The wine coats the palate with ample juicy and exotic fruits, as well as apricot, black berry, and a hint of smoky raisin. The finish is still on the smooth and creamy side, even if the after-taste more than hints already at the depth, complexity, and freshness to come. Patience will be needed for this beautiful Auslese to come around and deliver all its nuances. But the wait will be more than worth it! 2034-2069.”

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Only 2 cases arriving!
Dr. H. Thanisch Bernkastel-Kues Alte Reben, Mosel 2019 ($24.95) $21.90 special
Mosel Fine Wines 90 points “The 2019er Bernkastel-Kues Riesling Alte Reben is a barely off-dry wine (with 12 g/l of residual sugar) made from grapes harvested from 40-year-old vines in the Kueser part of the city. It offers a superbly complex and refreshing nose of anise, pink grapefruit, orange peel, tangerine, mint, lead pencil, and smoke. The wine proves hugely enjoyable thanks its animating presence on the palate and leaves a precise and dry-tasting feel in the long finish. The wine develops more weight and presence with airing, but retains a great sense of grip and playfulness in the animating and beautifully balanced after-taste. Now-2034.”

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Only 2 cases arriving!
Wwe Dr. H. Thanisch Bernkasteler Graben Riesling Grosses Gewächs, Mosel 2019 ($49.95) $41.90 special
Stephan Reinhardt – Wine Advocate 91+ points “The 2019 Bernkasteler Graben Riesling GG is adjacent to Thanisch’s Doctor parcel yet a bit less warm. From 60- to 70-year-old-vines, this is a smoky, intense and elegant Riesling with very fine, precise and crunchy gray slate aromas. Medium-bodied, intense and complex on the palate, this is a tight, long and structured dry Graben Riesling with a refreshing lemon aroma on the concentrated and refreshing finish. This is complex but very promising and currently pretty closed, although the bottle was opened two days earlier. Tasted at the domain in September 2020.”

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Other highlights, in stock now:

Dr. H. Thanisch Bernkasteler Badstube Riesling Kabinett, Mosel 2016 750ML ($34.95) $24 special, 23 bottles in stock now
David Schildknecht – Vinous 91 points “Ripe pear and apple dominate on the nose as well as on a silken, buoyant palate, supported by subtle sweetness. Mouthwatering salinity and transparency to crystalline stony nuances give the long, refreshingly juicy finish a fascinating and delightful sense of shimmer.”

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Dr. H. Thanisch Bernkasteler Badstube Riesling Spätlese, Mosel 2016 750ML ($39.95) $28 special, 19 bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt – Wine Advocate 92+ points “The 2016 Bernkasteler Badstube Riesling Spätlese offers a clear, elegant nose with bright fruit, green asparagus and flinty aromas. Racy and lush on the palate, this is a refreshing, elegant but still pretty sweet Spätlese with crystalline, piquant acidity and structure. The finish is long and complex, but the wine needs a decade to integrate all its components into a fine and elegant Spätlese. Tasted March 2018.”
Mosel Fine Wines 92 points “The 2016er Badstube Spätlese offers a nice nose made of pear, white peach, cassis, minty herbs and a hint of whipped cream. The wine is nicely playful and loaded with white fruits and minerals on the palate. The finish is beautifully playful and complex. While still young, this hints at great potential. 2026-2041”

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Dr. H. Thanisch Bernkasteler Doctor Riesling Spätlese, Mosel 2017 750ML ($54.95) $39 special, 33 bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt – Wine Advocate 95+ points “The coolish, precise and elegant 2017 Berncasteler Doctor Riesling Spätlese (AP 3 18) opens to very fine tropical fruit aromas intermixed with the smoky scents of crushed black rocks. Lush and finessed on the palate, this is a firmly structured, very elegant and persistently mineral Doctor Spätlese whose salty-piquant finish and fine, crystalline structure develops enormous length and tension but also finesse and a highly elaborate style. Highly stimulating. Tasted in March 2019.”

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