Tag Archives: Online Shopping

2016 JJ Prum: New to the January 2019 Sale!

Click here to see all 14 of the 2016 Prum wines in our January Sale in our web store.

joh. jos. prum wehlener sonnenuhr spatlese 2016 mosel germanyManfred and Katarina Prum make some of the finest and most sought after wines of the middle-Mosel. We’re adding a number of these great wines to our January sale, all from the excellent 2016 vintage.  2016 is a fantastic vintage to stock up on.  We’ve bought a bunch and you should, too—it’s a perfect counterpoint to the ageworthy 2015’s and the somewhat inconsistent (and expensive) 2017’s that are in the pipeline.

Keep reading for more, including details on all of the wines Continue reading →

Vinopolis Sunday Supplement 12-15-18

Subscriber-Only Loire Valley Flash Sale 

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What could make the Loire Valley even better?Subscriber-Only Loire Valley Flash Sale

10% Off Displayed Prices

10% off in-stock wines from the Loire
Sale Ends on Monday (12/17) at
10 AM Pacific
Does not apply to pre-arrival wines
Discount will not appear online, we will manually apply before finalizing your order.

David Schildknecht once described the Loire as the “bargain garden of France” in a Wine Advocate article.  We tend to agree with him—it seems as though everywhere we look along the lengthy river we find wines that are excellent deals.  We don’t just mean at the low end of the market either, as some of the most expensive wines from the Loire are often incredible value compared to their peers. We’re making those deals even better and slashing 10% off the wines from the region (including our already discounted case specials!)

Whether you’re after racy whites and sparklers, sumptuous rosés, bright and fresh reds or richer, more powerful versions of both colors (plus some excellent rosé) the Loire Valley is a source of a laundry list of notable wines at prices you aren’t going to be able to pass up.

If you aren’t familiar with the region, a quick overview: Starting from the mouth of the river we find Muscadet, the crisp, white wines made from Melon de Bourgogne.  These are perfect whites for aperitifs to pair with oysters and all manner of shellfish.  Moving upriver, you hit Anjou and it’s sub-regions—the white grape of choice is now Chenin Blanc, probably dry (ala Savennieres, the most notable AOC in Anjou, but occasionally sweet (Quarts de Chaume/Layon).  Reds come from Cabernet Franc, mostly, though some more obscure varieties sneak into the picture as well.

Next to Anjou is Saumur, known for excellent bubbly, and some of the most powerful red wines in the Loire, made from Cabernet Franc.  Touraine, perhaps the most famous of all of the Loire regions is next, and is home to Vouvray (Chenin, dry to sweet), Bourgueil, and Chinon (Cabernet Franc). Don’t sleep on the wines of Cheverny, though—they can be real charmers and are often radically undervalued for the deliciousness they provide. Finally, we hit the upper Loire, home of Sancerre and Pouilly Fume, which need no further introduction.

The Loire is already the source of some of the best deals in the wine world and these prices makes the wines can’t miss.  Stock up quickly, though, these sale prices end when we open for business (10AM, PT) on Monday (12/17).

10% off in-stock wines from the Loire
Sale Ends on Monday (12/17) at 10 AM Pacific
Does not apply to pre-arrival wines
Discount will not appear online, we will manually apply before finalizing your order.
You can see our highlights below or shop all 81 in stock Loire wines by clicking here!

In Stock & On Sale Now:

The hidden gem (and most mineral driven) cru bottling from Pepiere.
Domaine de la Pepiere Muscadet Sevre-et-Maine Monnieres-St-Fiacre, Loire 2015 750ML ($29.95) Displayed price: $24, Now $21.60 Loire Valley Super Special
Domaine de la Pepiere Muscadet Sevre-et-Maine Monnieres-St-Fiacre, Loire 2015 1.5L ($59.95) Displayed price: $51.90, Now $46.71 Loire Valley Super Special
Winery note “Our Monnieres – Saint Fiacre Cru is situated in the heart of the Muscadet Sèvre et Maine appellation. It is bordered by two rivers and its confluence: to the North by the Sèvre and to the South-East by the Maine. The landscape consists of hills dotted with windmills. The Monnieres – Saint Fiacre Cru is planted on a subsoil of gneiss covered by a fine top-soil of sandy limestone. This results in moderate precociousness and fertility. The constant winds in the vines help keep the vines aerated. After a year’s worth of meticulous work in the vines, the grapes are hand-harvested and carefully brought back to the cellar. Whole clusters with stems are pressed pneumatically. The grape juice is very lightly racked off its gross lees, and then ferments naturally in glass-lined, underground vats for about 2 months using only indigenous yeasts. The wine is aged for a minimum of 2 years with its fine lees, which are stirred occasionally. This aging process gives the wine its robust structure.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $25 for the 750ML
Bruno Cormerais is pushing the limits of extended lees aging with remarkable results.
Domaine Bruno Cormerais Muscadet Sevre-et-Maine “Tess”, Loire 2012 750ML ($41.95) Displayed Price: $33, Now $29.70 Loire Valley Super Special
VinopolNote: This exceptional Muscadet spends 72 months sur lie in tank before bottling.  The long lees time gives it unusual weight and richness for a wine made from Melon.  A sneaky great substitute for leaner white Burgundy.
This is the only listing in the USA today!
This is what writers mean by “bistro red.” Delicious and slightly serious, perfect with winter fare.
Domaine de Pallus Chinon Messanges Rouge, Loire 2016 750ML ($17.95) Displayed Price: $14, Now $12.60 Loire Valley Super Special
Case-12 Domaine de Pallus Chinon Messanges Rouge, Loire 2016 750ML ($179.95) Displayed Price: $149, Now $134.10 Loire Valley Super Special (that’s only $11.18/bottle!)
Wine Spectator 90 points
“A very fresh style, with high-pitched red currant and bitter cherry notes, lined with a mouthwatering iron streak. Bright savory and floral accents add lift on the finish. Very pure. Drink now through 2022. 2,000 cases made.”
This was the lowest listed price in the USA today,
Now it’s even lower!
We have a number of great wines from Thierry Germain (check the website) but this is a steal.
Thierry Germain Domaine des Roches Neuves Saumur-Champigny La Marginale, Loire 2015 750ML ($59.95) Displayed Price: $33, Now $29.70 Loire Valley Super Special
Grapelive 94 points “Intensely concentrated and mineral toned, the gorgeous Thierry Germain La Marginale Saumur-Champgny 2015 coats the palate with dark fruits and a perfect amount of pure Cabernet Franc bell pepper, spice and earthiness. [The] impressive mouth feel is bigger than you’d expect with thick layers of black currant, cherry, plum and vine picked red berries. This Saumur-Champigny is a stunner, wonderfully open and warm on the full bodied palate. Germain’s story is a unique one. He relocated to the Loire from Bordeaux in the early 1990s, and soon fell under the spell and influence of his spiritual father, the late Charly Foucault of the famous Clos Rougeard. Thierry would ultimately convert his entire domaine to biodynamic viticulture following the leading lights of the region. Imported by Kermit Lynch, Thierry Germain is one of the leaders in the Loire’s organic movement and his Domaine Des Roches Neuves, with vineyards that are planted in the Saumur (Blanc) for Chenin and Saumur-Champigny (Rouge) Cabernet Franc, has gained world renowned acclaim. [He] is one of the poster child example(s) of success in biodynamic wine growing in France, like Nicolas Joly, but more especially for his reds, like this one. According to Kermit Lynch, Thierry harvests on the relatively early side to preserve fresh, vibrant fruit, even though I always find his wines ripe and perfumed. His goal is to produce Cabernet Franc with purity, finesse, and drinkability, while avoiding rusticity, vegetal or weedy character, and harsh/rough tannins. With this 2015 La Marginale, mission accomplished. This beautifully deep and dark garnet hued wine comes of a tiny parcel of 45 year old vines set on clay and Turonien Supérieur limestone. It’s only made in great vintages, is crafted from 100% de-stemmed fruit and fermented in foudre (large oak cask) with light pumpovers and then aged in a wide range of oak, most all used, from barrique to huge cask for almost two years. The layers include blackberry, red currant, black cherry and dark plum fruits, minty herb, violets, sandalwood/cedar, tobacco, a light bell pepper tone and chalky stones. Everything feels warm and round in the mouth and almost luxurious, but there is a nice purity of terroir that shines through with a touch of savory integrity. I love the rich textural presence here. This cuvee is something special. It can age for another decade, but is very compelling now.”
This was the lowest listed price in the USA today,
Now it’s even lower!
The average price is $38
Huet+2016=Winner.  A fantastic, bracingly dry white.
Domaine Huet Vouvray Le Mont Sec, Loire 2016 750ML ($47.95) Displayed price: $39, Now $35.10 Loire Valley Super Special
Wine Spectator 94 points “Green plum and verbena notes lead the way for now, with a flash of quinine on the finish. This is juicy, but still a bit compact overall, with the core of ample pear, quince and ginger flavors in reserve. Just wait for everything to knit together and stretch out, as the purity and length are there. Best from 2018 through 2028.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
The average price nationally is $42
Demi-sec is always the sweet spot in the Huet lineup and this wine is absolutely stunning.
Domaine Huet Vouvray Le Haut Lieu Demi-Sec, Loire 2016 750ML ($59.95) Displayed price: $46,
Now $41.40 Loire Valley Super Special
Case-6 Domaine Huet Vouvray Le Haut Lieu Demi-Sec, Loire 2016 750ML ($299.95) Displayed price: $249, Now $224.10 Loire Valley Super Special (that’s only $37.35/bottle!)
Wine Spectator 96 points
“This delivers a beautiful display of purity and grace, with creamed Jonagold apple, star fruit, white peach and chamomile notes flowing seamlessly, backed by wet stone and fresh verbena accents. Subtle but persistent energy ripples through the very long finish. Drink now through 2035.”Foreau’s leaner style makes his sweet wines electric. The Reserve is only made in the best years.
Philippe Foreau Domaine du Clos Naudin Vouvray Moelleux Reserve, Loire 2009 750ML ($119.95) Displayed Price: $79, Now $71.10 Loire Valley Super Special
Wine Advocate 97 points “What there was in this vintage of botrytis, Foreau reports, essentially went into his 2009 Vouvray Moelleux Reserve. Brown-spiced pear liqueur and quince preserves dominate the proceedings – wreathed in perfume of freesia and lily – and there are buoyancy and elegance, despite viscosity, enormous richness of texture and residual sweetness, that indeed point to the magic nobility rot can convey. Its sense of lift – when combined with luscious, still juicy suggestions of grapefruit and blood orange familiar from the corresponding demi-sec – wards off any risk of palate fatigue. Mysterious botrytis manifestations of stale bread, truffle, and white raisin emerge from the empty glass. This extraordinary achievement will stand with such past great Foreau moelleux reserves as 2005, 2003, and 1989-90 and is likely to merit 30 or more years of consideration. In direct comparison, what strikes one about the 2005 today is its more obvious sense of botrytis and its slightly diminished sense of acidity and lift. But it maintains the edge in sheer complexity.” WA

Every Constance that’s been made (typically only 1-2x a decade) has been a legend.
Domaine Huet Vouvray ‘Cuvee Constance’ Moelleux, Loire 2015 500ML ($249.95) Displayed Price: $219, Now $197.10 Loire Valley Super Special, only 3 500ml-bottles in stock!
Wine Spectator 99 points
“Stunning from the start, with a silky and refined feel despite the panoply of dried quince, fig, pear and apricot flavors that are exotic in nature. Lovely green tea, orange blossom and persimmon notes fill in the background. Obviously sweet, but with persistent dry almond and orange extract details that lend latent tension through the seamless and nearly endless finish. The first Cuvee Constance bottling since the 2009 vintage. Drink now through 2060.”
Wine Advocate 96 points “Rarely produced and selected from the vineyards Le Haut-Lieu, Le Mont and Clos du Bourg, Huet’s 2015 Vouvray “Cuvée Constance” offers a deep, clear, intense and concentrated nose of ripe stone fruits, peanut butter cookie, spicy, earthy-mineral and some volatile aromas. Sweet, salty, piquant and mineral with a firm structure and very elegant, concentrated, refined fruit, this is a sweet wine with great purity and mineral finesse on the very long, promising finish. The 2016 is still pretty sweet (142 grams of residual sugar) and should be cellared for at least two or three decades. Total production: 2,800 500-milliliter bottles. Tasted February 2018.”
John Gilman 98 points “I have been looking forward to the release of Domaine Huët’s 2015 Cuvée Constance ever since I tasted a year ago the rest of the stunning range of wines produced here in the vintage. It is a great vintage for Domaine Huët and the Cuvée Constance is everything one could hope for from the confluence of this great estate and a legendary vintage. The wine is still very youthful, but its ultimate brilliance is very easy to see, as the wine wafts from the glass in a celestial constellation of orange, fresh apricot, incipient tea leaves, a nice touch of soil, hints of lanolin, orange peel, barley sugar and a hint of upper register smokiness. On the palate the wine is pure, full and nascently complex, with laser-like focus, a bottomless core, great acids and marvelous balance on the very, very long, zesty and energetic finish. This is still a very young wine and will need years to start to show its secondary and tertiary layers of complexity, but they are lurking here and in the fullness of time, this will be breathtaking in its beauty. (Drink between 2025-2100).”

10% off in-stock wines from the Loire
Sale Ends on Monday (12/17) at
10 AM Pacific
Does not apply to pre-arrival wines
Discount will not appear online, we will manually apply before finalizing your order.
You shop all 81 in stock Loire wines, including wines from Plouzeau, Baudry, Dagueneau, Guiberteau, & Lucien Crochet by clicking here!

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Thanks for reading!

 

Averaen: December 2018

A New Project from Baron Ziegler, One of the Founders of Banshee

averaen focusWe’re pleased to welcome the exceptional wines of Averaen to Vinopolis—at more than exceptional pricing. If you’re unfamiliar with these wines, you’d be excused—2016 is only the label’s second year in existence, but they’ve already established themselves as a top producer of rich, terroir-driven Pinot Noir in Oregon.

Averaen is a project of Baron Ziegler, one of the founders of Banshee wines, and liketheir Cali-counterparts, the Averaen wines deliver exceptional value—a hard thing to do in Pinot Noir.  These are exceptionally made, well reviewed single vineyard wines (and one Willamette blend) that are a steal for the prices we’re offering them at.

Averaen Croft Vineyard Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2016 750ML ($49.95)  Buy Now: $36 special
Josh Raynolds 93 points “(50% whole clusters and 50% new French oak) Brilliant red. Powerful smoke- and spice-accented red berry liqueur, mocha and floral pastille scents show excellent clarity and pick up notes of licorice and cola with air. Sweet and expansive on the palate, offering juicy black raspberry, cherry cola, lavender and spicecake flavors that become livelier on the back half. This weighty yet lithe Pinot finishes smooth and very long, featuring slow-building tannins and resonating florality.”

Averaen ‘Eola Springs Vineyard’ Pinot Noir, Eola-Amity Hills 2016 750ML ($49.95) Buy Now: $36 special
Josh Raynolds 93 points “(50% whole clusters and 50% new French oak) Vivid red. Spice-tinged black raspberry and cherry scents are complicated by hints of cola, pungent flowers and smoky minerals. Sweet and seamless on the palate, offering energetic red and dark berry and vanilla flavors along with suggestions of rose pastille and blood orange that add complexity. Concentrated but vibrant and precise in character, delivering strong finishing thrust, interwoven tannins and excellent, floral-driven persistence.”

Averaen Meredith Mitchell Vineyard Pinot Noir, McMinnville 2016 750ML ($49.95) Buy Now: $36 special
Josh Raynolds 92 points “(20% whole clusters and 50% new French oak) Lurid red. Blackberry and boysenberry aromas are complicated by suggestions of cola and candied violet, and a smoky mineral note lends nervy lift. Incisive dark berry and bitter cherry flavors slowly gain flesh and become sweeter in the midpalate. Impressively precise and energetic, delivering strong finishing thrust and dusty, building tannins that make a late appearance.”

Averaen Nysa Vineyard Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills 2016 750ML ($49.95) Buy Now: $39  special
Josh Raynolds 93 points “(30% whole clusters and 50% new French oak) Deep vivid red. A highly aromatic bouquet evokes red fruit liqueur, mocha and Asian spices, along with a smoky mineral overtone. Juicy, seamless and precise on the palate, offering sweet raspberry, rose pastille and spicecake flavors that deepen and spread out steadily with air. Conveys a suave blend of richness and finesse and finishes with supple, harmonious tannins and outstanding clarity and floral-tinged persistence.”

Averaen Flood Line Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2016 750ML ($39.95) Buy Now: $26  special
Josh Raynolds 91 points “(40% new French oak) Bright red. Aromas of ripe red berries and cherry, along with subtle cola and licorice nuances. Sweet and penetrating on the palate, offering bitter cherry and raspberry flavors that flesh out on the back half. A smoky note emerges on the clinging finish, which features fine-grained tannins and suave red fruit preserve and mocha qualities.”

The Wine Spectator Wine of the Year: November 2018

SOLD OUT!

Tenuta San Guido Sassicaia 2015

The time of year is finally upon us when Wine Spectator bestows a wine with their Wine of the Year honor, ranking it at the top of their annual Top 100 Wines of the Year list.  We have a small allocation arriving November 20th, available for sale now.  Grab it while you can.

In Stock Now:

Tenuta San Guido Sassicaia, Tuscany 2015 750ML ($299.95)
Buy Now: $249

#1 Wine Of The Year – Wine Spectator Top 100 In 2018

sassicaia bottleJames Suckling 98 points “Love the aromas to this young red with blackcurrants, sage, cinnamon and five-spice character. Changes all the time. Full-bodied, dense and powerful with a ripe and rich tannin backbone that gives form and beauty to the ripe and beautiful fruit. Tight and very long. Approachable now but will reward more in five to six years. A classic Sassicaia.”
Wine Advocate 97 points “Having followed this wine’s evolution in barrel for the past few years, it is an honor to evaluate the final product. This Sassicaia has blossomed since my previous encounters with it as a young, awkward adolescent. The long-awaited 2015 Bolgheri Sassicaia represents a tremendous effort that comes together with seamless precision and focus. This is a confident and proud red wine from Tuscany. Starting with the primary material at hand, you sense the quality of fruit thanks to the wine’s beautifully dark appearance and the rich texture it offers to the palate. The acidity is integrated, but more freshness still would have been welcomed in my view (and would also contribute to its longevity). The bouquet is amplified both in terms of volume and length. Its playlist includes dark berry fruit, spice, leather, licorice and roasted coffee bean. Yet, the mouthfeel is extremely graceful and silky. The wine’s undisputed pedigree is showcased on the palate. It should also be noted that this edition of Sassicaia feels more ready and open to me. It will age and evolve beautifully, but the 2015 Sassicaia can also be enjoyed in the medium-term. This wine is all about the here and now.”
Wine Spectator 97 points “Rich and concentrated, this red features black currant, blackberry, violet, mineral and spice flavors. Dense yet lively, structured yet impeccably balanced, with vibrant acidity driving the long, fruit-filled aftertaste. The oak is beautifully integrated. Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2023 through 2042.”
Wine Enthusiast 97 points “Cellar Selection. This iconic wine’s blackberry, cedar and vanilla aromas fill the glass. The elegant, structured palate delivers juicy black currant, black cherry, exotic spice, crushed herb and menthol flavors alongside taut, fine-grained tannins. It boasts a fantastic combination of delicious, ripe fruits, balanced by remarkable freshness and agility for the hot vintage. Drink 2022–2035.”

Large Format Sunday Special 11-10-18

A Large Sale on Large Bottles

For Thanksgiving (and Beyond)

It’s officially holiday party/dinner season, with the big one (Thanksgiving) right around the corner.  The weather has turned brisk and the festive feeling is back.  When we host parties and big-to-do’s, we love to make a magnum (or two) the feature of the evening.  Sure, you could just buy a couple 750’s and call it a night, but the sight of an oversized bottle of something special being passed around really helps make the night feel memorable in a way that two smaller bottles never will.  Large formats just scream generosity—of spirit and of wine.

To make your holiday partying a little bit easier, we’re offering Newsletter Subscribers 10% off on all large format bottles (magnums on up) through the end of the weekend.  No matter your price range, we’ve got you covered—there are over 120+ different magnums in stock right now, to say nothing of three and six liters!  Please note, that the sale prices won’t display on our website—this deal is for our newsletter subscribers only—but we’ll manually apply it before we finalize your order.

10% off All In Stock Large Format (1.5L+) Bottles!

Discount does not apply to pre-arrival offers
Cannot be combined with other discounts
Discount will not appear in online shopping cart
We will apply it here before charging

Sale Ends Monday Morning (November 12th) at 10:00AM Pacific

To head straight to our website and see all of the (120+) magnums in stock now, just click here. or just search for “1.5L”(3L, 6L, etc) in the webstore.  We’ve got a few highlights and suggestions here, in case you need inspiration.

Vouette et Sorbee Cuvee Fidele Extra Brut, Champagne (2013) 1.5L ($149.95) $119 Displayed Price, $107.10 Subscriber Special
Importer Note “Fidèle is 100% Pinot Noir mainly from the lieux-dits of Fonnet and Briaunes with additional fruit from the other sites Bertrand farms. Fermented in oak, then 20 months sur latte, Extra-Brut. Deep color, distinct red fruits, forward and lush. Dangerously tasty.”

This is the lowest listed price for a magnum in the USA today!
Andre Clouet Grande Reserve Brut, Champagne NV 1.5L ($99.95) $79 Displayed Price, $71.10 Subscriber Special
Andre Clouet Grande Reserve Brut, Champagne NV 3L ($319.95) $269 Displayed Price, $242.10 Subscriber Special
Antonio Galloni 90 points “The NV Brut Grande Reserve emerges from the glass with layers of hazelnut, pear, spice and dried flower aromas. This rich, creamy wine impresses for its balance and sheer richness. I loved it.” AG
This is the lowest listed price for a magnum in the USA today!
This is the lowest listed price for a double-magnum in the USA today!
Louis Nicaise Premier Cru Brut Millesime, Champagne 2008 1.5l ($149.95) $119 Displayed Price, $107.10 Subscriber Special
This is the only listing for a magnum in the USA today!

Nikolaihof im Weingebirge Gruner Veltliner Federspiel, Wachau 2013 1.5L ($89.95) $79 Displayed Price, $71.10 Subscriber Special
David Schildknecht–Vinous 93 points “Bittersweet floral notes waft from the glass and continue to play across the palate. Roasted root vegetables mingled with dark leafy greens, smoky nut oils, moss, iodine-tinged shellfish reduction and tangy fresh lime make for an expression of Grüner Veltliner that is deep and dark but at the same time refreshingly juicy and stimulatingly crunchy. Finishing lift and utterly intriguing length further encourage the next sip.” DS
Wine Advocate 91 points “The 2013 Grüner Veltliner Federspiel Im Weingebirge opens clear and slightly flinty, though very discreet in its bright aromatic pip fruit and lemon flavors on the nose. However, its depth, freshness and mineral complexity is already indicated. On the palate this straight, crisp, light to medium-bodied Gruner is driven more by its origin than it is by the variety that gives a limey freshness to the wine which is pure, mineral and zesty. The finish of this authentic character is clear, straight and tension-filled. The aging potential excellent.”
This is the lowest listed price for a magnum in the USA today!
Reichsrat von Buhl Deidesheimer Maushohle Riesling Trocken, Pfalz 2015 1.5L ($89.95) $59 Displayed Price, $53.10 Subscriber Special
Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2015 Deidesheimer Mäusehöhle Riesling (AP 2216) opens with a pure and refreshing, rather coolish aroma (compared to the Leinshöhle) of ripe yellow fruits intertwined with stony aromas. Round, fresh and elegant on the palate, this full-bodied and well-balanced Riesling is tightly woven, but fine and very mineral. It displays ripe yellow apple flavors in the finish, as well as nice and stimulating grip. The finish is pure and salty, really vitalizing in its freshness and clarity. According to the label, this is 12.5% alcohol.”
This is the lowest listed price for a magnum in the USA today!

Weingut Donnhoff Norheimer Dellchen Riesling Grosses Gewachs, Nahe 2016 1.5L ($179.95) $149 Displayed Price, $134.10 Subscriber Special
Stuart Pigott – Jamessuckling.Com 96 points “Very refined peach, rose hip and wild berry on the nose. Stunning concentration, elegance and finesse make this one of the stars of the vintage on the Nahe. The super-mineral finish almost literally takes your breath away. Drink now or hold.”
Wine Advocate 95 points “From slate and porphyry soils, the 2016 Nahe Riesling Norheimer Dellchen “GG” is very pure, precise and mineral on the elegant, subtle nose, where ripe seed fruit aromas are displayed. Very sensual! Full-bodied, rich and round, this is a highly elegant, intense and dense Riesling with a persistent finish. Very aromatic and sensual, but it needs some time to gain even more finesse.”
Terry Theise note “A conglomerate of slate and porphyry, the site entails the little hollows between cliff-sides; it’s very steep and terraced and quiet, which may account for the wines’ riddlesome nature, wines of pure inference and umami that need several years not just to blossom, but simply to say what they taste like. This is especially true of the dry wines. This ’16 is relatively overt and smoky, but no sequence of descriptors will be useful—it’s just too soon. The texture seems more lush than usual, and there’s an earthy note, and as compelling as it is, I respect the shroud and will wait patiently.”

Anne et Jean-Francois Ganevat Cuvee Madelon Nature, Vin de France 2015 1.5L ($119.95) $89 Displayed Price, $80.10 Subscriber Special
80% Gamay from Morgon and Brouilly + 20% Enfarinés (Heirloom Jura Variety)

This is the lowest listed price for a magnum in the USA today!
La Gerla Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Tuscany 2013 1.5L ($119.95) $99 Displayed Price, $89.10 Subscriber Special
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 94 points “The 2013 Brunello di Montalcino is elegant, balanced and bright. The pretty luminosity of the wine’s appearance helps to underline this positive impression. The bouquet is nuanced and layered with dried fruit aromas that segue to spice, tar and balsam herb. You get sassy aromas of licorice, tar and cola on the close.”
Ian D’agata-Vinous 93+ points “Bright red. Pure and very flinty nuances complement aromas and flavors of strawberry-rhubarb and wild berries on the nose and palate. Dense and juicy and boasting a focused, penetrating mouthfeel, this finishes long and clean with a very strong note of licorice. Best classico Brunello from La Gerla in some time.”
This is the lowest listed price for a magnum in the USA today!
Domaine Jean Foillard Morgon Cote du Py, Beaujolais 2016 1.5L ($99.95) $89 Displayed Price, $80.10 Subscriber Special
Nick Stock – Jamessuckling.Com 96 points “Crushed violets and attractive dark strawberries and raspberries on the nose with a slightly flinty, stony edge of graphite. The palate has depth and density, which set it apart from the Corcelette. More depth and richness here. A long, powerful and deep-set palate. Acidity holds the finish fresh. Needs a year or two. Drink from 2020.”
Josh Raynolds 95 points “Lurid ruby. An expansive, mineral-accented bouquet displays powerful red and dark berry, incense and potpourri qualities, and a Moroccan spice nuance adds urgency and lift. Bright, seamless and alluringly sweet, offering palate-staining black raspberry, blueberry, violet pastille and spicecake flavors that slowly firm up with aeration. Shows superb depth and clarity, with nary a rough edge to be found. Closes supple, sweet and insanely long, leaving a sexy floral note behind.”

Antichi Vigneti di Cantalupo Collis Breclemae, Ghemme DOCG 2010 1.5L ($119.95) $99 Displayed Price, $89.10 Subscriber Special
Winery note “Made entirely of Nebbiolo grown in the hillside vineyard called ‘Collis Breclemae,’ picked in the second half of October. About two weeks of maceration with the skins, then the wine is aged for 36 months in used barrels ranging between 900 and 2800L. Very rocky soil, which presumably explains the very distinctive mineral character the wine shows. Very round tannins that remind me of 70% dark chocolate, not at all bitter, just savory; this will age brilliantly, but if I’m eating ribeye now I would drink this with it in a second. Really big wine with excellent balance.”

This is the lowest listed price for a magnum in the USA today!
Cantina del Pino Ovello, Barbaresco DOCG 2013 1.5L ($219.95) $189 Displayed Price, $170.10 Subscriber Special
#61 Wine Of The Year – Wine Spectator Top 100 2017
Wine Spectator 97 points “A pretty, firmly structured red, with delicate flavors and subtle power, this evokes floral, red berry, mineral, tobacco and tar aromas and flavors, remaining harmonious and long on the mineral- and tobacco-tinged finish. Best from 2020 to 2036.”
This is the lowest listed price for a magnum in the USA today!
Cave Yves Cuilleron Cote Rotie Madiniere, Rhone 2015 1.5L ($169.95) $139 Displayed Price, $125.10 Subscriber Special
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 93 points “Lurid ruby. Pungent, mineral-laced black and blue fruit preserve, olive and incense scents on the deeply perfumed nose. Shows serious depth as well as surprising vivacity, offering sweet boysenberry and cherry compote flavors that become spicier with air. Supple and broad, delivering a very long, sweet finish that shows excellent clarity, harmonious tannins and lingering floral and spicecake nuances.”

Ridge Vineyards Monte Bello, Santa Cruz Mountains 1995 1.5L ($799.95) $699 Displayed Price, $629.10 Subscriber Special
Cellar release by the winery.
Antonio Galloni 97 points “[Tasted in July 2016] The 1995 Monte Bello is powerful, bright and incisive. At twenty years of age, the 1995 retains gorgeous, refreshing acidity that gives the wine lift and energy. The 1995 is a brooding Monte Bello, with darker tonalities of fruit and accompanying notes of smoke, licorice, spice, menthol, tobacco and cedar. Although the 1995 is striking today, it could also use more time in bottle, as it remains a touch compact and austere, especially next to the 2012 and 2002 tasted alongside it. Readers who enjoy cool, mineral and savory inflected Cabernets will adore the 1995, a wine that will drink well for another 20 years. Vineyard manager David Gates describes 1995 as a cool, relaxed, late ripening season that yielded small berries with elevated tannins. A second recent bottle was a bit more open and ample. Either way, the 1995 Monte Bello is a remarkably vivid, expressive wine that has a long life ahead of it.”
James Suckling 97 points “[Tasted in 2012] Amazing flowers and lavender and blackberries. Love the nose. Tobacco and cigar box. Full-bodied, with firm and round tannins. Then there’s rosemary and berry on the finish. Give it time.”
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 95 points “[Tasted in 2018] The product of a late-October harvest, the 1995 vintage was Eric Baugher’s first vintage as Ridge’s winemaker alongside Paul Draper, and I remember him telling me in 2012 that he was afraid extraction had been pushed too far and that the wine might always be somewhat monolithic. In the last three years, however, the 1995 Monte Bello has began to shed some of its formidable tannins, and it’s clear that those fears were unfounded. The nose offers up rich aromas of cassis and red plums that mingle with nuances of sweet, loamy soil, cigar box and subtle leather. On the palate, the 1995 is full-bodied, deep and super concentrated, with its powerful core of fruit framed by melting tannins and underpinned by tangy acids, concluding with a long and distinctly stony finish. Today, the 1995 ranks as one of the highlights of the decade. Think of it as a somewhat more rustic cousin of the 2005. It’s a blend of 69% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Merlot, 10% Petit Verdot and 3% Cabernet Franc that attained 12.5% natural alcohol.”

This is the lowest listed price for a magnum in the USA today!
10% off All In Stock Large Format (1.5L+) Bottles!

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Sale Ends Monday Morning (November 12th) at 10:00AM Pacific

To head straight to our website and see all of the (120+) magnums in stock now, just click here. or just search for “1.5L”(3L, 6L, etc) in the webstore. 

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