Tag Archives: red wine

Snowden: Napa Valley’s Best-Kept Open Secret

Snowden – 8/16/2020

Offering one of Napa Valley’s best quality-to-price ratios, Snowden has earned the respect of both its peers and consumers alike. Today we’re thrilled to offer their 2016 “Brother” bottling, as well as two vintages (2016 and 2017) of “The Ranch” bottling. Both wines punch well above their weight, offering what many consider the region’s best sub-$100 and sub-$50 Cabs respectively.

Located at the confluence of several of Napa Valley’s most acclaimed appellations, including Rutherford and St. Helena, Snowden is a Beverly Hills estate without the 90210 zip code. This location, on the gentle hillside of the Vaca Mountains, allows the estate’s third generation winemaker Diana Snowden Seysses to produce wines of power and nuance. Having trained in both Napa and Europe, her wines combine prototypical Napa muscle with freshness and intricate fruit. Napa Valley producers, especially those with comparable pedigrees that so convincingly achieve this balancing act, are notoriously expensive. Snowden is a rare Napa classic which remains relatively affordable.

The quality of the estate’s fruit has been an open secret within the valley for decades, and many of Napa’s most respected names have purchased fruit over the years, including Silver Oak and Caymus. However, we’re here to publically out Snowden for the greater good. These prices do not reflect the quality on offer, and the wines deserve a place on your dinner table.

In Stock Now:

Snowden Vineyards ‘Brothers Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2016 750ML ($89.95) $79 special
#91 Wine Spectator Top 100 of 2019
Antonio Galloni 96+ points “The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Brothers is the best wine I have tasted from Diana Snowden-Seysses. Rich, explosive and savory, the 2016 dazzles with intensity in all of its dimensions. Graphite, smoke, savory herbs and spice notes wrap around a core of dark fruit in a vertical, towering Cabernet Sauvignon that captures all the vintage has to offer.”
Wine Spectator 94 points “Offers a tasty core of plum and blackberry fruit, backed by lively anise and apple wood notes. Restrained overall, with an alluring freshness and a subtle charcoal hint lingering deftly at the end. Drink now through 2032. 639 cases made.”

Snowden Vineyards The Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2016 750ML ($59.95) $49 special
Antonio Galloni 93 points “Snowden’s 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon The Ranch is gorgeous. Dark, powerful and beautifully structured, the 2016 Ranch is a huge overachiever. In 2016, the Ranch is a wine of real power, gravitas and character. Black cherry, plum, lavender and savory herbs all develop in the glass, but it is the wine’s persistence and overall balance that stands out in this deeply flavorful, classically built Cabernet from Snowden. Best of all, the 2016 is a superb wine for the money.”
James Suckling 92 points “Elderberries, blueberries, blackberries and hints of hazelnuts and walnuts. Medium to full body, focused acidity and a medium-chewy finish. Drink in 2022.”

Snowden Vineyards The Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2017 750ML ($54.95) $41.90 special
Antonio Galloni 90 points “The 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon The Ranch is an attractive, mid-weight wine that shows the more gracious, understated side of the year. Floral and spice notes give the 2017 lovely aromatics to play off a core of sweet red berry fruit. This is a very pretty wine.”

2015 Burlotto Barolo

2015 G.B. Burlotto Barolo

6-2-19

G.B. Burlotto was considered among the absolute greatest winemakers in the world for the seventy plus years he was at the helm of the estate. After his passing in 1927, the winery and his hometown of Verduno slipped into obscurity. Now Fabio Alessandria, the great-great-grandson has taken over and Burlotto is among the best small producers in the Piedmont.

2015 Burlotto Barolos Arriving in July:

G.B. Burlotto Barolo DOCG, Piedmont 2015 750ML
Antonio Galloni 92 points “Burlotto’s 2015 Barolo is absolutely gorgeous. Pliant and open-knit, the straight Barolo captures all of the natural richness of the vintage. Succulent red cherry, plum, lavender, rose petal, spice and new leather all meld together in a supple, inviting Barolo that will be impossible to resist in its youth. This is such a beautiful and alluring wine. The base of the Burlotto Barolo is built on Breri, which is adjacent to Monvigliero, plus the portions of Rocche dell’ Olmo and Neirane that don’t make it into the Acclivi. This is a positively stellar wine. Don’t miss it.”
James Suckling 92 points “Very aromatic with sliced strawberries and cherries and hints of tangerines on the nose. Full body. Rich and juicy and a flavorful finish. Drink in 2022.”

G.B. Burlotto Barolo ‘Acclivi’, Barolo DOCG 2015 750ML
Antonio Galloni 94 points “The 2015 Barolo Acclivi is another stellar wine from Fabio Alessandria and Burlotto and is a blend of fruit from Monvigliero, Rocche dell’ Olmo and Neirane, all in Verduno. Bright, perfumed and silky on the palate, the Acclivi is a jewel of a wine. Floral notes appear in the glass, adding lift, perfume and sensuality. All the elements are in the right place. Today, Burlotto’s Cannubi and Monvigliero have become hard to find, but savvy readers will want to focus on the Acclivi, a wine that offers superb quality for the money. Another few years in bottle should help some of the fruit soften.”

G.B. Burlotto Barolo Monvigliero, Barolo DOCG 2015 750ML
Antonio Galloni 98 points “The 2015 Barolo Monvigliero is a wine of pure and total seduction. The warm vintage has filled out the wine’s frame beautifully. The interplay of ripe, succulent 2015 fruit and aromatic intensity from the whole clusters yields a positively stunning, breathtaking wine of the very highest level. Once again, Burlotto’s Barolo Monvigliero takes a place among the most compelling wines of the vintage. Readers who can find it should not hesitate!”

For pricing & availability, shop the complete list of Burlotto wines on our web store.

Domaine de Courcel

October 26th, 2018

Domaine de Courcel

Arriving Mid-November

Of the short list of producers who star in Pommard, Domaine de Courcel needs to be near the top of the list. Without a tremendous amount of fanfare, the Domaine has been turning out some of the most powerful, densely aromatic wines from a village known for long lived brooding Pinot Noir. The Courcel family has been learning how to navigate the animal intensity of Pommard fruit for 400 years. For the past two decades, the quality has steadily increased as the delicate balance between elegance and power is fine tuned.

A region between hills, most of Pommard’s vineyards are on relatively flat, protected sites. Wind and lashing rains may buffet the nearby hillside vineyards, but Pommard stays sheltered from the worst of the effects of the weather. Vineyard management and knowledge of the soils offers up rewards of fruit with dense black currant and cassis notes. The tannins are often firm and plenty, built for long term cellaring, but also offering gentle structure to those bottles opened early. Limestone dots the area but the prominent iron rich clay lends itself to the density of the flavor.

Annual production is usually less than 2500 cases, so it is nice to see these beautiful wines from a deep selection of vintages. The ageing has been done for you – all that is left is the enjoyment.

View the complete list below, or click here to shop.

Arriving Mid-November:

Domaine de Courcel Grand Clos des Epenots, Pommard Premier Cru 1990 750ML Buy Now: $199 pre-arrival special, only 1 bottle available

Domaine de Courcel Grand Clos des Epenots, Pommard Premier Cru 2005 750ML Buy Now: $149 pre-arrival special, only 2 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 93 points “Good deep red. Very ripe, smoky nose showed mounting red fruits with aeration; ultimately much less extreme than the Fremiers. Then similarly huge in the mouth, with smoke and mineral notes complicated by an exotic stone fruit (peach, apricot) character. This silky, voluptuous wine offers superb depth of flavor and slowly mounting, superripe finishing flavors that saturate the palate. Best of all, it seemed to gain in freshness as it opened in the glass.”
Wine Spectator 93 points “This red is rich, round and very accessible, tasting of freshly crushed berry and cherry. A phalanx of ripe tannins lurks in the background, but this is balanced and ends with a spicy note. Best from 2012 through 2026. 250 cases imported.”

Domaine de Courcel Grand Clos des Epenots, Pommard Premier Cru 2008 750ML Buy Now: $89 pre-arrival special, only 3 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 91+ points “Good deep red. Deep aromas of cherry, menthol, rose petal and licorice. Sweeter than the Fremiers, showing terrific intensity of red cherry flavor. Plenty of ripe acidity here but today it’s hidden behind the fruit. Finishes with substantial, ripe building tannins that call for six to eight years of patience.”

Domaine de Courcel Grand Clos des Epenots, Pommard Premier Cru 2009 750ML Buy Now: $119 pre-arrival special, only 4 bottles available
Wine Spectator 93 points “Gorgeous aromas of toasty oak lead off in this polished red, followed by black cherry, blackberry and spearmint flavors. The structure present, yet ably matched by concentrated, ripe fruit. Best from 2015 through 2025. 160 cases imported.”

Domaine de Courcel Les Fremiers, Pommard Premier Cru 2008 750ML Buy Now: $79 pre-arrival special, only 3 bottles available
Neal Martin-Wine Advocate 91-92+ points “The Courcel 2008 Pommard Fremiers delivers marvelous energy, as well as purity of tart, fresh, ripe black fruits, with nutmeg, cooked ginger, black tea, white pepper, cyanic bitterness of fruit pit, iris, and elder flower all lending complexity. Positively silken in texture though palpably dense, this finishes with vibratory intensity of vividly fresh elderberry, blackberry and cherry; pungent spices; liquid floral perfume; iron filings and crushed stone. Here is an instance of synergy between relatively high acidity and abundant yet fine tannin such as one seldom witnesses in this vintage. Expect at least 15 years of fascination from this formidable yet elegant Pinot that beautifully marries virtues of both Volnay and Pommard, as befits its location.”
Wine Spectator 90 points “Raspberry and red currant notes are married to a supple texture that initially covers its density and layer of tannins, with fine length. Best from 2013 through 2023. 85 cases imported.”

Domaine de Courcel Les Rugiens, Pommard Premier Cru 2008 750ML Buy Now: $89 pre-arrival special, only 1 bottle available
Stephen Tanzer 92+ points “Bright medium red. Complex, soil-driven nose combines redcurrant, flowers and minerals. Suave and weightless, with sneaky intensity to the brisk red fruit and minerals flavor lifted by a piquant note of orange peel. Finishes quite dry, juicy and classic, with substantial but very fine tannins and rising fruit. Winemaker Yves Confuron compares the marne blanche soil here to that of Gevrey’s Clos Saint-Jacques. This wine was bottled barely two months before my November visit and had not yet shut down.”

Want to see all Domaine de Courcel available to buy now?
Just click here for a full list in our web store.

New K Vintners Releases Arriving This Fall 2018!

The wines of K Vintners need very little introduction, as the wines Charles Smith makes under this label are some of our most popular year in and out. The new releases arrive next month and they’re highly praised and highly allocated, as usual. Three wines in particular stand out for their combination of scores and price and we expect the Beautiful, Hidden, and Cattle King bottlings to go the fastest, so if those wines look appealing to you, jump on them post haste. It’s likely we’ll sell out of several other bottlings before they arrive, but those will go the fastest.

Shop the New K Vintners Release Here!

If you’re unfamiliar with the winery, know that Charles Smith fashions himself a bit of a rock star and he ought to—he used to manage them. Then, one day, on a motorcycle trip, he rode through Walla Walla and was struck by the majesty of the terrain and the vineyards. Within a few years, he had returned to open a winery.

His first vintage was 1999 and he produced a mere 300 cases of Syrah under his label ‘K Vintners.’ And the winery has grown by leaps and bounds since. By our count, K makes more than 15 wines, most of them single vineyard Syrah, and that doesn’t count the additional projects he’s involved in such as Substance and Sixto.

At this point, Charles Smith is one of the defining wine makers for what might be the modern Washington style. His wines are big, rich, and ripe but polished. They show distinct differences between the vineyards and always have a hint of that savory, bacony quality that Syrah can bring to the table like nothing else. The only thing we can complain about is that we can’t carry them more often.

Featured K Vintners Wines Arriving In October:

“a compelling Syrah that brooks no argument”-WA
Charles Smith K Vintners The Beautiful Syrah, Walla Walla Valley 2015 750ML ($79.95) Buy Now: $59 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 98 points “Co-fermented with 3% Viognier, the 2015 Syrah The Beautiful is fabulous, bursting from the glass with exotic aromas of violets, blackberries, panforte, black olives and lychee nuts (fanciful though that mélange sounds). On the palate, it’s full-bodied, velvety and lavishly textural, cutting a broad swath across the palate, with a deep core of dark fruit and pungent savory nuance, concluding with a fine-grained, mouthwateringly sapid finish. It’s a compelling Syrah that brooks no argument.”
Jeb Dunnuck 97 points “Co-fermented with 4% Viognier, the 2015 Syrah The Beautiful Powerline Vineyard was fermented with plenty of stems and brought up mostly in neutral oak. Candied violets, game, blackcurrants, and incense notes all emerge from this beautiful, seamless beauty. It has a rich, full-bodied profile on the palate as well as a great mid-palate, fine tannin, and nicely integrated acidity. This is another singular, layered, silky beauty from this team. Keep in mind, this comes from very young vines, so I suspect the best is yet to come here, which is saying something at this quality level.”

“a monumental wine from Washington”
Charles Smith K Vintners The Cattle King Syrah, Snipes Mountain 2015 750ML ($119.95) Buy Now: $89 pre-arrival special
Jeb Dunnuck 100 points “Another off the charts effort is the 2015 Syrah Cattle King Upland Vineyard, which is also saturated purple/black in color. Possessing a more backward, yet insanely pure bouquet of crème de cassis, black fruits, smoked earth, graphite, and violets, it’s beautifully concentrated, has no hard edges, thrilling purity, and a gorgeous, layered, awesome, multi-dimensional style. It needs short-term cellaring but is a monumental wine from Washington.”

“It’s unquestionably one of the greatest Syrah from this team”
Charles Smith K Vintners The Hidden Syrah, Wahluke Slope 2015 750ML ($119.95) Buy Now: $89 pre-arrival special
Jeb Dunnuck 100 points “One of the inkier, blacker colored wines in the lineup, the 2015 Syrah The Hidden is a profound Syrah and as good as it gets. Blackcurrants, smoked meats, graphite, and tapenade notes all emerge from this seriously badass, deep, rich, balanced beauty. Concentrated, thick, and huge, yet with no weight on the palate, building tannin, and incredible elegance, it needs to be tasted to be believed. It’s unquestionably one of the greatest Syrah from this team.”
Wine Advocate 96+ points “Inky and wild, the 2015 Syrah The Hidden Northridge Vineyard offers up a savory bouquet of grilled meat, licorice, blackberries, cherries and cracked black pepper. On the palate, it’s full-bodied, ample and rich, with an authoritatively chewy chassis of fine-grained tannins and bright, succulent acids. There’s a lot of fruit and power here but plenty of savory nuance to match it. This is even more massive than the Syrah Cattle King, but it’s more nuanced too. Given the structure, it will need some time in the cellar, so forget it for 4 or 5 years and follow it for the next 15.”

K Vintners Wines Arriving In October:

The Chateauneuf styled blend from K Vintners
Charles Smith K Vintners Charlotte Red Blend, Walla Walla Valley 2015 750ML ($59.95) Buy Now: $49 pre-arrival special
Jeb Dunnuck 95 points “The 2015 Charlotte Rhône Blend Rock Garden Vineyard checks in as a co-fermented blend of 43% Grenache, 24% Mourvèdre, 20% Syrah, and 13% Roussanne vinified in concrete aged in neutral puncheons and demi-muids. Its saturated ruby/plum color is followed by a rocking bouquet of smoked meats, dried herbs, spice-box and blackcurrant fruit. It’s medium to full-bodied, seamless, and silky on the palate, yet has savory tannin that’s going to keep it drinking beautifully for a decade.”

The Deal, indeed.
Charles Smith K Vintners The Deal Sundance Vineyard Syrah, Columbia Valley 2015 750ML ($49.95) Buy Now: $39 pre-arrival special
Jeb Dunnuck 95 points “All from the Sundance Vineyard on the Wahluke Slope, the 2015 Syrah The Deal (100% Syrah, not destemmed and aged in 30% new puncheons) offers smoking notes of red and black fruits, black olive, smoked earth and a huge meatiness. Full-bodied, silky and seamless, with a rock, mineral, backward style.”

“With incredible purity, notable structure, and a lifted, perfumed style, it’s flat-out gorgeous”
Charles Smith K Vintners Klein Syrah, Walla Walla Valley 2015 750ML ($89.95) Buy Now: $79 pre-arrival special
Jeb Dunnuck 98 points “Almost always one of my favorite releases at this address, the 2015 Syrah Klein Vineyard is up with the crème de la crème in the vintage. Plums, candied cherries, violets, lavender, chocolate, and tons of dusty, earthy minerality all emerge from this exotic, singular, full-bodied, effort that has building tannin and a vibrant, rich, textured style. With incredible purity, notable structure, and a lifted, perfumed style, it’s flat-out gorgeous.”

The overlooked wine in the portfolio—this is great.
Charles Smith K Vintners ‘Ovide’ Jack’s Vineyard Cabernet – Syrah, Walla Walla Valley 2015 750ML ($59.95) Buy Now: $49 pre-arrival special
Jeb Dunnuck 95 points “The 2015 Cabernet / Syrah Ovide Jack’s Vineyard is named after Charles’ father and comes from a site next to River Rock, both in the Rocks region of the Walla Walla Valley. A blend of 70/30 Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah, its deep ruby color is followed by a terrific bouquet of blackcurrants, tapenade, dried earth and dried herbs. It’s rich, full-bodied, and concentrated, with beautiful depth.”

The return of the high scoring favorite.
Charles Smith K Vintners Powerline Estate Syrah, Walla Walla Valley 2015 750ML ($59.95) Buy Now: $49 pre-arrival special
Jeb Dunnuck 98 points “Made from 100% Syrah, the 2015 Syrah Powerline Vineyard is much more backward, brooding, and mineral-laced, with sensational notes of blackcurrants, cassis, crushed rock, and tapenade. A true powerhouse on the palate, with terrific concentration, building tannin, and a great, great finish, it’s a singular, incredible wine that does everything right. Give bottles 2-3 years and enjoy over the following decade.”

“An elegant, pretty, pure expression of the Rocks Terroir”-JD
Substance ‘Cs’ Vineyard Collection Jack’s Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley 2015 750ML ($59.95) Buy Now: $44 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 94 points “The 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Jack’s Vineyard offers up rich aromas of red and blackcurrants, espresso roast, burning embers and brown sugar. On the palate, it’s full-bodied, rich and lavish, with an ample core of fruit, melting tannins, loads of savory complexity and a sapid, saline finish. It’s a characterful Cabernet Sauvignon to follow for the coming decade.”
Jeb Dunnuck 94 points “Kirsch, caramelized red and black currants, spice, and cedar pencil notes all emerge from the 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Jack’s Vineyard. An elegant, pretty, pure expression of the Rocks Terroir, as well as Cabernet Sauvignon, it’s going to keep for a decade at least.”

“complex, elegant, singular Cabernet”-JD
Substance ‘Cs’ Vineyard Collection Powerline Cabernet Sauvignon, Walla Walla Valley 2015 750ML ($59.95) Buy Now: $44 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 95 points “Wafting from the glass with notes of rich red and black fruits, cigar tobacco, petroleum jelly and spice, the 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Powerline Vineyard is the richest, most lavish and velvety bottling in the Wines of Substance portfolio, cutting a broad swath across the palate. Full-bodied, ample and generous, it boasts plenty of savory complexity and concludes with a dry, saline finish. Dramatic and characterful, it’s immensely appealing. Sadly, at 239 cases, it’s the smallest of all these cuvées too.”
Jeb Dunnuck 94 points “Coming from mostly 169 and 2 clones of Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Powerline Vineyard offers a deep ruby color as well as complex notes of ripe black cherries, currants, leafy herbs, and tapenade. It’s rich, full-bodied, silky, and seamless, with fine, polished tannin and a great finish. Drink this complex, elegant, singular Cabernet over the coming decade or more.”

Substance ‘Cs’ Vineyard Collection Stoneridge Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley 2015 750ML ($59.95) Buy Now: $44 pre-arrival special
Jeb Dunnuck 94 points “The 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Stoneridge Vineyard sports a medium ruby, mostly opaque color to go with classic graphite, dried earth, tobacco leaf and currant fruit. It’s full-bodied, silky, pure and polished, with a hint of chocolate and oak on the finish. With a seamless texture, fine tannin and a great, great texture, drink it over the coming 10-15 years.”

Arterberry Maresh Stars: September 2018

With Two 96 Point Scores

In the New Issue of the Wine Advocate

We’ve long supported and loved the wines that Jim Arterberry makes under the Arterberry-Maresh (pronounced “marsh”) label, so it was no surprise to see him get a lot of critical praise in the new issue of the Wine Advocate. These are some incredible wines, made in a understated style from exceptional, often extremely old, vineyards. In the words of WA reviewer Erin Brooks:

“The 2016 Pinot Noirs from Arterberry Maresh offer amazing layers of sweet, precise fruits, exotic spices and earth—everything you want from great Pinot Noir. They’re concentrated and jam-packed with flavor while still maintaining excellent grainy tannic structure and very juicy acidity, not to mention they age beautifully. Jim Maresh is also crafting some beautiful Chardonnays, some of the most exciting Chardonnays I have tasted from Oregon. Jim attributes much of his success to his fruit, which comes from old vines planted by his family in the early 1970s and are entirely dry farmed.”

Available Now:

Arterberry Maresh Pinot Noir ‘Maresh Vineyard’, Dundee Hills, 2016 750ML ($79.95) Buy Now: $69 special
Wine Advocate 96 points “This wine comes from Pinot Noir vines planted in the early 1970s. Pale to medium ruby-purple in color, the 2016 Pinot Noir Maresh Vineyard is scented of lilac, violet, pure strawberry jam, rhubarb and cranberry sauce with layers of warm earth, red and black licorice and exotic spice. Medium to full-bodied, it floods the mouth with warm red cherries, strawberry and rhubarb jam notions and wonderful accents of dried violets, earth, licorice and spice. It has very, very fine, grainy tannins and juicy mouthwatering acidity, finishing epically long with spiced warm red fruits. This just sings! 371 cases produced.”

Arterberry Maresh ‘Old Vines’ Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills 2016 750ML ($49.95) Buy Now: $41.90 special
Wine Advocate 96 points “This is the first non-vineyard designate made by Jim Maresh. Pale to medium ruby in color, the 2016 Pinot Noir Old Vines has a lovely pure nose of pink peppercorn, dried black tea leaves, red and black licorice and violets with dried cranberries, red cherries and layers and layers of spice. Medium to full-bodied, it has amazing concentration of flavor in the mouth, blossoming out to pure red fruits and spicy layers, with cinnamon and autumn leaves accents, very fine-grained tannins and juicy acidity, finishing very, very long with tons of earth-laced fruit. Wow! 1,040 cases produced.”