The Hidden Rhone Gems of St. Jean du Barroux

The wines he makes under the St. Jean du Barroux label are fantastic and unique—old vines plus long elevage in neutral vessels mean these read as very “old school” in tone, but with cleaner flavors and vivid aromatics.  The earliest released of his wines sees 18 months in tank before release and his top bottlings are held for two to three years before they’re bottled—a cash flow nightmare, but something that Gimel does out of a perfectionism and drive that are common to the best winemakers in the world.  We’re excited to finally offer these off-the-beaten path gems, just arrived and in stock now.

Just Arrived, In Stock Now:

Saint Jean du Barroux La Source, Ventoux 2016 750ML ($24.95) $19.50 special
Case-12 Saint Jean du Barroux Ventoux La Source, Rhone 2016 750ML ($299.95) $219 special
Importer Note “The name La Source, comes from the natural artesian spring located near the vineyards of Saint Jean du Barroux. Philippe’s approach to farming encourages low yields but there are scattered pockets of more vigorous vines which set more clusters with larger berries. Rather than drop fruit or try to force these vines to crop lower yields, they are harvested separately and used to make a more fruit-forward and frank expression of Philippe’s terroir. Harvested by hand and destemmed, this cuvée which is naturally lower in tannin only sees a short maceration and fermentation by indigenous yeasts. It is bottled “early” by Philippe’s standards usually after 18 months in tank.”

Everyday Piedmont from Burlotto and Rinaldi

We just received our yearly allocations of these workday wines from two trusted, traditional producers on Friday and want to bring them to your attention.  Burlotto and Francesco Rinaldi both offer extremely well made bottlings from the bottom to the top of their range—all at prices that offer a great deal of value.  Both specialize in old-school, traditionally made wines that highlight the grape and place without oak, over-extraction or other winemaking make-up.  In short, they’re the kind of wines we like to drink, as well, and you’d be smart to stock up on an assortment of these bottlings.

In Stock Now:

Francesco Rinaldi & Figli Gavi DOCG, Piedmont 2018 750ML ($21.95) $18 special

Francesco Rinaldi & Figli Nebbiolo d’Alba, Piedmont 2017 750ML ($34.95) $29 special
Case-12 Francesco Rinaldi & Figli Nebbiolo d’Alba, Piedmont 2017 750ML ($389.95) $315 special (that’s only $26.25/bottle!)
Winery Note ” Traditional vinification is carried out in cement tanks with skin-contact fermentation for 15-20 days and automatic pump-overs.  The wine is aged for one year in medium-capacity Slavonian oak barrels.  This is followed by refinement in bottles for several months to enhance the freshness and bouquet of the wine. The color is ruby-red, not too intense, respecting the character of the Nebbiolo grape variety. The aroma is ethereal with scents of flowers and fresh fruit.  The taste is dry with a good body.”

New Arrivals

West Coast

The quality to price ratio across all the R. Usseglio wines is great—this very much included.
Domaine Raymond Usseglio & Fils Chateauneuf-du-Pape Cuvee Imperiale, Rhone 2016 750ML ($89.95) $69 special
Jeb Dunnuck 96-100 points “Violets, spring flowers, cassis, plums, and incense notes all define the stunningly good 2016 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Imperiale. Made from 100% Grenache from very old vines, it’s full-bodied and powerful, yet also graceful, balanced and pure, with terrific freshness and purity. My money is on this flirting with perfection once bottled.”
Joe Czerwinski-Wine Advocate 95 points “Almost entirely Grenache, from parcels planted in 1901 and 1902, the 2016 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Imperiale is a stunner. Scents of roses, black tea and raspberries set the scene, while the palate is full-bodied but silky and nearly weightless, delivering an intricate, detailed interplay of red fruit, dried spices and orange zest. Despite what must be 15% alcohol or more, it shows absolutely no sign of heat.”

Monbousquet’s second wine is a first choice in a great vintage like ’15.
Angelique de Monbousquet, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru 2015 750ML ($39.95) $29 special
Antonio Galloni 91 points “A plush, voluptuous wine, the 2015 Angélique de Monbousquet shows quite a bit better from bottle than it did from barrel. Espresso, mocha, plum, chocolate, licorice and dried herbs emerge from this racy, opulent Saint-Émilion. The 2015 is not especially complex, but it is flat-out delicious and also a terrific choice for drinking over the next handful of years.”
James Suckling 93 points “Spices and dark fruit with decadent earth and white-truffle aromas. Full body, round and velvety tannins and a fruity finish. So velvety and delicious. Second wine of Monbousquet. Drink in 2020.”

Recently re-arrived, this is an epic edition of Huet’s always stunning, nearly-perfect dessert wine.
Domaine Huet Vouvray ‘Cuvee Constance’ Moelleux, Loire 2015 500ML ($249.95) $199 special
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)

#33 – James Suckling’s Top 100 Wines of the Year 
E. Pira & Figli Chiara Boschis Cannubi, Barolo DOCG 2015 750ML ($149.95) $119 special
James Suckling 99 points “Impressive roses and finely ground spices with a bright red-cherry core, as well as a fresh wild-herb thread. The sense of focus and purity here is stunning. The palate has a deeply juicy and fresh core of tightly knit tannins that carry immense power with impeccable balance. Elegantly executed wine with profound length. Try from 2025.”
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 95 points “My sample bottle of 2015 Barolo Cannubi was allowed to breathe overnight, and I really got a glimpse of how the wine evolves, showing beautiful minty notes on the bouquet with time. This Barolo is more compact in terms of build than the others and more streamlined in the mouth, but it comes across as extremely delicate, light and elegant. There is a sweet spot on the close. This wine has a unique style that is both graceful and petite, and given ample time to breathe, it would put a smile on any Barolo lover’s face.”

A top tier Tuscan treasure.  This trophy tipple tantalizes tastebuds. 
Fontodi Flaccianello della Pieve, Tuscany 2012 750ML ($119.95) $99 special
Antonio Galloni 97 points “Tasted next to the 2012 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Vigna del Sorbo, the Flaccianello is richer, deeper and more flamboyant. Super-ripe red stone fruit, smoke, licorice and dark spices meld together in a deep, powerful wine. The 2012 is impressive, but personally I prefer the finesse and freshness of the Sorbo. The greater influence of new French oak is also felt in the wine’s texture. Still, that is splitting hairs, as the level here is high. Very high.”

Compare this to Napa Cabs and blends north of $100 and come away impresed.
Argiano Solengo Toscana IGT, Tuscany 2016 750ML ($79.95) $64.50 special
Case-6 Argiano Solengo Toscana IGT, Tuscany 2016 750ML ($479.95) $359 special (that’s only $59.83/bottle!)
James Suckling 99 points “Very complex aromas of fresh flowers, blackberries and black licorice follow through to a full body, integrated tannins and a long and linear finish. Focused and racy. The tannins are so polished. Better in 2022, but already such a joy to try.”
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 95+ points “A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (50%), Petit Verdot (25%), Merlot (20%) and Sangiovese (5%), the 2016 Solengo is a terrific wine and I enjoyed my sample down to the very last drop that I coaxed from the bottle with happy enthusiasm. This is a full-bodied red (but not in an exaggerated manner) with plump and fruit-forward aromas of dark cherry, blackberry, plum, spice and sweet tobacco. The wine is balanced with excellent depth and mouthfeel momentum. I highly recommend this wine from both the 2015 and 2016 vintages, which are both terrific. Some 25,000 bottles were made.”

A zombie detector wine.
Vajra Moscato d’Asti DOCG, Piedmont 2018 750ML ($17.95) $14 special

Beaux Freres is one of the Great Names in Oregon wine—one of the wineries that helped put the Willamette Valley on the map.  Big, rich wines with lots of character (plus a familial relation to the Mayor of Monkton) mean that these wines were some of the earliest sought-after wines from our corner of the wine world.  They show all their Ribbon Ridge character in their textures and power—these are no shrinking violets. No, these wines are for lovers of the bolder style of the Pinot grape.  The ’17’s are excellent and in stock now.Just Arrived:

Beaux Freres Belles Soeurs Pinot Noir, Ribbon Ridge 2017 750ML ($109.95) $95 special
Josh Raynolds 94-95 points “Bright red. High-pitched red berry, cherry cola and incense scents show outstanding clarity and spicy lift. Palate-staining red berry preserve, spicecake and floral pastille flavors slowly deepen on the back half. Manages to come off graceful as well as lithe, with no rough edges. Finishes smooth, spicy and extremely long, featuring sneaky tannins and lingering red fruit and candied rose notes.”

Beaux Freres ‘The Beaux Freres Vineyard’ Pinot Noir, Ribbon Ridge 2017 750ML ($109.95) $95 special
James Suckling 96 points “There’s a real sense of depth and detail here with fresh cherries and blueberries, swathed in vanilla-dusted violets, fresh-cut roasting herbs and biscuit spices. The palate has a very plush and smoothly rendered feel with a long, smooth and seamless run of ripe blueberries and cherries. Concentrated and elegant pinot with a long, long finish. Drink across the next decade.”
Wine Spectator 95 points “Combines structure with verve, offering richly expressive raspberry, violet and orange peel flavors that take on polish and complexity toward well-buffed tannins. Drink now through 2028. 3,600 cases made.”
Josh Raynolds 94-95 points “Deep red. High-pitched cherry, black raspberry and rose scents are complemented by hints of succulent herbs, exotic spices and musky flowers. Shows impressive energy and focus on the palate, offering juicy dark berry, bitter cherry and rose pastille flavors given a spicy edge by a hint of star anise. Closes smooth, appealingly sweet and very long, with fine-grained tannins adding framework and gentle grip.”

Beaux Freres The Upper Terrace Pinot Noir, Ribbon Ridge 2017 750ML ($119.95) $99 special
Josh Raynolds 94-95 points “Bright red. High-pitched red berry, cherry cola and incense scents show outstanding clarity and spicy lift. Palate-staining red berry preserve, spicecake and floral pastille flavors slowly deepen on the back half. Manages to come off graceful as well as lithe, with no rough edges. Finishes smooth, spicy and extremely long, featuring sneaky tannins and lingering red fruit and candied rose notes.”

Plus, Special Sequitur Sale Pricing

Staff Pick

Scott Frank’s Air Guitar

Shipping Season is Here!

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Featured New Arrival

The 98+ Point Felsina Fontalloro
& The Highly Anticipated CCR

Felsina’s two Super-Tuscans, Fontalloro and Maestro Raro, are some of the finest wines in Italy.  Despite this, they remain stunningly undervalued.  These are wines that we’re offering under $55 but that regularly compete with bottles twice as expensive.  The 100% Sangiovese Fontalloro is a Brunello-drinker’s dream, with explosive aromatics and lots of power to back it up.  Likewise, the Maestro Raro (from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon) is a slam-dunk substitute for a Left Bank Bordeaux crossed with old-school Napa.  Both have deserved Wine Advocate scores and are going to go down as true icons of Tuscany.  The Fontalloro just arrived today alongside the best-value Chianti Classico Rieserva, and the Maestro Raro will be here soon, so stock up on all three for your cellar.

In Stock Now:

Felsina Berardenga Fontalloro Toscana IGT, Tuscany 2016 750ML ($69.95) $54.50 special
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 98+ points “The 2016 Fontalloro is the best vintage of this landmark wine that I have tasted thus far. This is a very elegant vintage, with more volume in the mouth and precise notes of tar, licorice, camphor ash, resin and Indian spice. In a race between the highly competitive 2015 and 2016 vintages, I give a slight advantage to this wine. The warmer 2015 vintage shows more richness and exuberant fruit. However, this wine from 2016 offers a more focused and chiseled delivery. I am hopeful that this wine will continue to evolve and sharpen as it ages in the bottle. This is a beautiful wine to put aside in your cellar for ten years or more.”
James Suckling 98 points “Amazing aromas of licorice, wet earth, orange peel and lavender. Full body, tight and super compact and polished. Goes on for minutes. Clearly great. Better in 2021, but already a star.”

Felsina Berardenga Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG, Tuscany 2016 750ML ($34.95) $29 special
Wine Advocate 94 points “Streamlined and elegant, this mid-weight red trots out notes of grilled herb and dark fruit nuances that segue to spice, tilled earth and savory tobacco, with great complexity. This 2016 Chianti Classico Riserva Berardenga is still a bit closed and tight, but this beautiful wine boasts all the best qualities of this vintage. It shows elegance and power, two contrasting characteristics that only work well together in the world’s most achieved expressions. The most satisfying aspect of this Riserva is the crisp acidity on the close that keeps the palate refreshed and ready for the next sip.”
Wine Spectator 93 points “This red offers density and focus, creating an ideal frame for the cherry, strawberry, almond, leather and earth flavors. A firm backbone of tannins lends structure and the finish persists, leaving an accent of bitter almond. Best from 2022 through 2040. —B.S.”
Antonio Galloni 92+ points “The 2016 Chianti Classico Riserva shows all the quality and pedigree of the year in its layered personality and overall nuance. Cedar, dried cherry, game licorice and tobacco convey the darker, gamier side of Sangiovese that is such a signature at Fèlsina. The 2016 finishes with terrific energy and bright acids that suggest it will enjoy a long life in the cellar, but readers should plan on giving it at least a few years in bottle.”

Arriving ETA October:

Felsina Berardenga Maestro Raro Toscana IGT, Tuscany 2016 750ML ($69.95) $54.50 pre-arrival special
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 97 points “Wow, this is an absolutely gorgeous wine that delivers exceptional intensity followed by compelling complexity. The bouquet on the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Maestro Raro peels back to reveal thick layers of red fruit, spice and tobacco. Despite the full weight approach of the mouthfeel, this wine maintains a deep inner sense of elegance all the while. It is still very highly wound and nervous at this young moment in its life and is going to need extra time to unwind and achieve final harmony. All the necessary elements (complexity, balance, freshness and structure) are amply present to guide the wine into the future. It should be exciting to follow its evolution over the next few decades.”

“Should we all buy more Merkelbach? Yes, of course”

Arriving ETA December:

Weingut Alfred Merkelbach Urziger Wurzgarten Riesling Auslese Urgluck, Mosel 2018 750ML ($49.95) $39 pre-arrival special
Mosel Fine Wines 93 points “The 2018er Ürziger Würzgarten Riesling Auslese Urglück was harvested at 102° Oechsle in this prime part of the vineyard still planted with ungrafted vines, and was fermented down to fully sweet levels of residual sugar (80 g/l). It offers a beautiful nose made of apricot, cream, strawberry, smoke and herbs. The wine is beautifully playful and delicately zesty on the fruity and nicely creamy palate. The finish is sweet but still remarkably mouthwatering. 2028-2048.”

Bila-Haut’s New World Attitudes

(and New Lower Pricing)

We have two wines in stock, the top-value Occultum Labidem and their top end wine, the Rectificando Invenies.  We’ve just dropped the price on the Occultum Labidem, bringing it under $25/bottle and for that price it’s hard to think of many wines that are bigger, bolder and better made.  Likewise, the R.I. is a direct competitor to wines like Sine Qua Non or Colgin, just at a half or a third of the price of the big names.  Both are in stock now and should be in your cellar ASAP.

In Stock Now:

Chapoutier Domaine de Bila-Haut Cotes du Roussillon Villages ‘Occultum Lapidem 2016 750ML ($34.95) Was $28, Now $24.50 special
Jeb Dunnuck 95 points “Deep ruby-colored, the 2016 Côtes du Roussillon Villages Latour de France Occultum Lapidem checks in as a blend of 50% Syrah, 40% Grenache and 5% each of Carignan and Mourvèdre. It’s one of the finest vintages to date for the cuvée and offers fabulous blackberry, currants, crushed rocks, and violets. Deep, rich, voluptuous and sexy, with an incredible texture, it’s a screaming value to drink over the coming decade. It’s just another brilliant wine from the Roussillon team at Chapoutier.”

Sunny Rosé for Fall Days

Pride of the Mediterranean

In Stock Now:

Domaine Vetriccie Rose, IGP Ile de Beaute 2018 750ML ($14.95) $11.90 special
Importer Note “Located in the town of Aghione, on the Costa Serena, the Vetriccie estate (bought by the Barcelo family in 1966) expresses all the attributes of a premium Corsican wine.  Pale pink in color with salmon hints. The wine is harmonious, fruity and crisp on the nose. It is well-balanced and bold on entry to the palate with good length and a rich finish. The ideal partner for a summer aperitif  or to accompany salads, white meats and grilled meats. Serve chilled 50°F.”

Domaine Bunan Mas de la Rouviere Bandol Rose, Provence 2018 750ML ($27.95) $24 special
Wine Advocate 90 points “Hints of crushed stone accent melon and lime scents on the nose of the 2018 Bandol Rose Mas de la Rouviere. It’s light to medium-bodied, not terribly intense, but fine and silky, with a long, harmonious and refreshing finish.”

Chateau Gassier Cotes de Provence ‘Esprit Gassier’ Rose 2018 750ML ($21.95) $18 special
Case-12 Chateau Gassier Cotes de Provence ‘Esprit Gassier’ Rose 2018 750ML ($249.95) $196 special (that’s only $16.33/bottle!)
Josh Raynolds – Vinous 90 points “Vivid orange-pink. High-pitched strawberry, peach and jasmine scents are complemented by building floral and herb nuances. Silky and energetic on the palate, offering fresh red berry and pit fruit flavors and a hint of bitter orange pith. Finishes silky and precise, displaying very good persistence and a repeating floral note.”
Wine Enthusiast 90 points “This wine is the heart of the production from this estate. The blend of Grenache, Cinsault, Syrah and Vermentino creates a wonderful freshness, while also showing richness and a touch of spice. It is intensely fruity and ready to drink now.”
Importer Note “‘Esprit Gassier’ is the ‘Gassier Spirit’ that combines the exceptional terroir of the Sainte-Victoire region with Côtes de Provence varietals to produce a wine that expresses the family’s passion, expertise and creativity. The beautiful label, designed by a local artist, is silk-screened on the bottle to create a striking package.  A very clear rosé with shades of peach. Intense nose with delicate aromas of white flowers and white fruit (peach). A second nose unveils spicy notes as well as scents of clementine. The mouth is round with notes of citrus fruits and a slight and healthy final acidity.”

France

Owen Roe Sharecropper’s Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley 2017 750ML ($17.95) $14 special

Weingut Keller Kirchspiel RR Riesling, Rheinhessen 2018 750ML ($79.95) $59 special

Comando G ‘Rumbo al Norte’ Navarrevisca, Sierra de Gredos 2016 750ML ($279.95) $219 special
Luis Gutierrez-Wine Advocate 100 points “The otherworldy 2016 Rumbo Al Norte had my head spinning for a good couple of hours. I tasted from two bottles, one opened the day before and one more recently opened, and the wine hadn’t deteriorated, on the contrary, the bottle opened the day before was more focused and showed more precision. Talk about a wine with a high potential for developing in bottle… It has some earthy/mineral character that somehow reminded me of some wines from Domaine Leroy in Burgundy with some Rayas thrown in. I have followed the wines from this amazing vineyard from the first vintage (2010), one of the most beautiful I know and I have been loving them from the very first minute. Everything in 2016 worked to make it really magical, as it is a complete and very harmonious wine, combining power and elegance. It is a wine that made my heart beat faster. 1,361 bottles were filled in March 2018.”

Daniel Landi ‘Las Uvas de la Ira’ Garnacha, Mentrida 2015 750ML ($39.95) $30.90 special
Luis Gutierrez-Wine Advocate 92 points “The 2015 Las Uvas de la Ira is pure Garnacha from the village of El Real de San Vicente. It comes from four different plots—three owned and one from purchased grapes—and each brings something, minerality, elegance, structure and fruit. It has an organic, earthy touch and a juicy palate with some chalky minerality; this is a polished 2015, with fine tannins, intense flavors and good freshness. 2015 was a dry and warm vintage but quite healthy and good yielding for Garnacha. It was harvested in early September, after some rain that eased the natural conditions of the growing season a little. Superb showing for the vintage, it really doesn’t show any heat. 15,000 bottles were filled in August 2016.”

Arriving Friday, September 13th:

Rio Madre, Rioja DOCa 2016 750ML ($14.95) $11.90 pre-arrival special
Josh Raynolds 90 points “(aged for six months in one to three year old French oak barrels) Inky ruby. Pungent black and blue fruits, licorice, vanilla and cola scents are complemented by a smoky nuance that builds in the glass. Chewy and focused on the palate, offering concentrated bitter cherry and cassis flavors that are lifted and braced by a spine of juicy acidity. The smoke and cherry notes echo on the youthfully tannic finish, which shows sharp delineation and strong persistence. For the price point this is quite a serious wine, and one that will reward some patience.”
Jeb Dunnuck 90 points “Made from 100% Graciano aged in neutral oak, the 2016 Rio Madre offers a ripe bouquet of black cherries, blackberries, dried flowers, leather, and damp earth. Rich and nicely concentrated, it’s medium-bodied, well-balanced, and has a solid, layered texture as well as a great finish. It blossoms with time in the glass, has plenty of fruit and character, and is a rock-solid value.”

Vajra’ Incredible Ravera

Just Arrived, In Stock Now:

G.D. Vajra Ravera, Barolo DOCG 2015 750ML ($89.95) $79 special
Antonio Galloni 95 points “The 2015 Barolo Ravera captures all the best the vintage has to offer. More importantly, it has that extra level of textural richness and sweetness that the Bricco delle Viole does not have, at least not today. Creamy and beautifully textured in the glass, the 2015 is a total winner. Bright red raspberry and pomegranate fruit notes are lifted, while expressive floral and blood orange overtones add brightness. The 2015 suggests that the Ravera might, in time, become the flagship wine here. Don’t miss it!”

La Colina is a classic Dundee Hills site and shows it—the wine has generous fruit and the soft floral notes that we look for from the AVA.  The Four Winds, on the other hand, is from a much cooler, high altitude site and shows a firm backbone and a distinct savory streak that only comes from vines living a hard life.  We also got in the Chardonnay from Four Winds, which is always one of the most Burgundian, structured and profound bottlings of the grape in the Willamette Valley.

Across the board, 2017 vintage is a return to classic Oregon and these wines very much reflect that, with beautiful aromas and an incredible freshness that provides energy to the bottom of the glass.  No matter which you choose, these are wines that are delicious and thrilling, so we’d suggest cellaring some of each.

In Stock Now:

Crowley Four Winds Vineyard Chardonnay, Willamette Valley 2017 750ML ($49.95) $44 special
Winery notes: “No matter the heat this wine never slows down. Four Winds Chardonnay comes off of a block of own-rooted Wente clone Chardonnay that was planted in 1990. Every vintage, Four Winds shows low alcohol, singing acid and a citrus nature. Twenty months in neutral barrel broadens the palate and bring a touch of sweet butter and sage.”

As good as the wines are every year, they might have outdone themselves in the 2018 vintage.  On the whole 2018 is a very good year and Dönnhoff is very much in the tip-top of the class.  The Nahe, which naturally combines the zest of the neighboring Mosel with the depth and gras of the Rhein, has been on a roll recently, but the nature of ’18 seems to play to its strengths, with intense powerful wines that are buttressed with ample acidity.

We’ve got a brilliant collection of their wines in stock now, plus are now offering their 2018 GG’s (and a few other things) on pre-arrival, as well.  If you’d like to see all of the wines available from this classic Nahe producer, you can just head to our webstore, but we’ve got the ’18 GG’s highlighted for you below.

Arriving ETA Fall:

Weingut Donnhoff ‘Felsenturmchen’ Felsenberg Riesling Grosses Gewachs, Nahe 2018 750ML ($89.95) $66 pre-arrival special
John Gilman 94 points “The 2018 Felsenberg GG is also absolutely outstanding this year. The bouquet is impressively expressive at this early stage, soaring from the glass in a blaze of pear, tart orange, a beautiful base of slate minerality, wild yeasts, a touch of fleur de sel and a potpourri of floral scents in the upper register. On the palate the wine is full-bodied, focused and seamless, with outstanding mid-palate depth, powerful mineral drive and great cut and grip on the long, perfectly balanced and youthful finish. This will be show stopping juice in the fullness of time. 2028-2070. 94.”

2017 Domaine Grand Veneur Chateauneuf

These are big, rich wines with incredible textures and explosive personalities. We’ve secured significant allocations of their three major Chateauneuf du Papes, the VV, Les Origines, and Miocene, all arriving this winter.  The VV is one of the best wines made in the region every year, while the Les Origines and Miocene both deliver excellent value for their prices.  We’re able to offer these at excellent pricing, despite the insane demand for the 2017 vintage—so lovers of the Rhone, take note.  These always sell fast and we expect this set will continue that trend.

Arriving ETA December:

Domaine Grand Veneur Chateauneuf-du-Pape Vieilles Vignes, Rhone 2017 750ML ($119.95) $89 pre-arrival special
Case-6 Domaine Grand Veneur Chateauneuf-du-Pape Vieilles Vignes, Rhone 2017 750ML ($719.95) $479 pre-arrival special (that’s only $79.83/bottle!)
Jeb Dunnuck 97+ points “The 2017 Châteauneuf Du Pape Vieilles Vignes is a bigger, richer, more opulent wine. Beautiful notes of blackcurrants, scorched earth, graphite, and crushed violets, all flow to a full-bodied, Châteauneuf Du Pape that has a voluptuous, sexy texture, brilliant depth of fruit, fine tannins, and a purity of fruit that’s hard to find in this vintage. It’s a thrill a minute, and while it’s approachable today, it will keep for 15-20 years. 416 cases.”
Decanter 96 points “Grown on galets, the fruit for this wine is all destemmed and fermented in stainless steel before being aged for 16 months, half in concrete and half in new barriques. The strong Mourvèdre component comes through as deep, ripe dark fruits and violets. It’s full-bodied and dense with soft, lush tannins, and is held together by a beam of strong acidity, finishing long. A lithe, muscular, impressive wine that will last the course. Just 5,000 bottles made.”

A Collection of Cult Wines

In Stock Now:

Only six bottles available
Hundred Acre ‘Kayli Morgan Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2007 750ML ($599.95) $449 special
Wine Advocate 100 points “[Tasted Dec 2018] The deep garnet colored 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Kayli Morgan Vineyard features gorgeous crushed plums, spicy blackberries, crème de cassis and Chinese five spice with potpourri and nuances of dried herbs, lavender, black tea and loads of crushed rocks, tilled soil and underbrush accents. Full-bodied and absolutely laden with earth and spice accents, it has a firm and grainy texture with exhilarating yet seamless freshness, finishing very long.”

Only two bottles available
Colgin Cellars IX Estate Syrah, Napa Valley 2015 750ML ($399.95) $319 special
James Suckling 100 points “Smelling this takes my breath away. Cloves, floras, metal shavings, blackberries and smoked meat. Mandarin zest, too. Full body with a perfect balance of ultra-fine tannins and great complexity. Goes on for minutes. Sets a new standard of syrah for California. Don’t wait to drink this.”
Wine Advocate 99 points “Very deep garnet-purple, the 2015 IX Syrah Estate opens with intense crushed black cherries, black plums and mulberries with underlying black pepper, peppered salami, violets and chocolate box plus a lovely star anise and sandalwood waft. Full-bodied, rich, concentrated and wonderfully soft and sexy, it gives tons of perfumed black fruit and spice cake layers, finishing very long.”
Antonio Galloni 98 points “The 2015 Syrah is a total knock-out. Super-ripe red cherry, plum, rose petal and mint are some of the notes that race out of the glass, but here, too, it is the wine’s stunning textural richness that stands out most. Full-throttle and intense in every dimension, the 2015 captivates all the senses with its magnificent, towering beauty. I would prefer to cellar the 2015 for at least a few years, but even today, in its primary stage, the 2015 is phenomenal.”

Only one magnum available
Cayuse Vineyards Wallah Wallah Special Series Syrah #6, Walla Walla Valley2014 1.5L ($279.95) $259 special
Wine Advocate 97 points “Only released in special vintages, as well as only in magnum, the 2014 Syrah Wallah Wallah Special #6 is about as Northern Rhône as it gets. More rounded, sexy and voluptuous than the other cuvees, with full-bodied richness and silky tannin, it reminds me of the Burgundian style of wine from Jean-Louis Chave. Violets, crushed rocks, graphite, smoked earth and beautiful black fruit notes emerge from this sensual, elegant, ethereally textured beauty. It might be my favorite Special cuvee to date. It’s already beautiful, but it will keep for two decades or more.”

Only one bottle available
Cayuse Vineyards God Only Knows Armada Vineyard Grenache, Walla Walla Valley 2013 750ML ($179.95) $133 special
Wine Advocate 94 points “Grenache seemed to handle the heat nicely in 2013 and the 2013 Grenache God Only Knows Armada Vineyard offers a gorgeous, rich, almost masculine style (especially when it’s tasted next to the No Girls Grenache) in its dark fruits, crushed herbs, mineral and leather scented profile. Even showing a touch of game with time in the glass, this beauty has fine tannin, plenty of fruit and a great finish, all suggesting it will drink nicely for another decade.”
Wine Spectator 94 points “A compelling wine, polished and impeccably built, with expressive raspberry and bacon fat aromas and layered smoky plum, olive and stony mineral flavors that build momentum toward refined tannins. Grenache and other red varieties. Drink now through 2024. 533 cases made.”

Only one bottle available
Cayuse Vineyards God Only Knows Armada Vineyard Grenache, Walla Walla Valley 2014 750ML ($149.95) $119 special
Jeb Dunnuck-Wine Advocate 97 points “There are 533 cases of the 2014 Grenache God Only Knows Armada Vineyard, and as always, it’s an unknown blend that’s dominated by Grenache (reportedly from vine cuttings from Rayas). It’s fermented with just about 100% whole clusters in concrete and aged mostly in neutral puncheons and foudre, with one concrete egg. A bigger, richer wine than the No Girls cuvee, this beauty packs a punch in its black cherry, reduced strawberry, herbes de Provence and crushed violet aromas and flavors. With full-bodied richness, a supple, elegant style and fine tannin, this singular beauty will benefit from a year or three of cellaring and keep for 10-15 years.”

(When I See That Old Label…)

In Stock Now:

Azienda Agricola La Torre Rosso di Montalcino, Tuscany, Tuscany 2016 750ML ($39.95) $33  special
Grapelive 95 points “The 2016 is going to be legendary in Tuscany. We are seeing the top wines already getting unbelievably good press, but there are also some killer deals on lesser known wines, especially wines like this gorgeous deep fruited and elegant La Torre Rosso di Montalcino. [Such wines] are incredible and offer a wonderful value for much less than their Brunello version. Lighter on its feet than the Brunello(s) the Rosso [shows] style and grace, it shows a complex array of flavors and a sense of never-ending length with a beautiful rose petal perfume and exotic spices. This La Torre has, what it is cliche to say, Burgundy class in the glass with ripe tannins and a gorgeous garnet/ruby hue that seduces the senses with layers of black cherry, raspberry, strawberry and plum fruits to begin on its open and generous palate with gains structure with air as well as highlighting the background elements, mineral notes and light earthiness. Additionally there is classic anise, fine cigar tobacco wrapper, sandalwood and lingering dried flowers and cranberry/currant, making for a lovely Sangiovese wine that gets even better with food, bringing out more depth and fruit intensity. There is almost nothing to fault here and the detailing and mouth feel is exceptional in this remarkable Rosso di Montalcino. This is a wine that needs to be taken out of the “Baby Brunello” box; it is really next level stuff on its own. The La Torre winery was founded not all that long ago by Italian standards back in 1976 by Giuseppe Ananìa, who purchased the La Torre estate from the famous Ciacci family of Montalcino. Now Luigi Anania, Giuseppe’s son, is the present owner and producer of the wines of La Torre. The estate is located in the commune of La Sesta, approximately 8 kilometers south of Montalcino, which is in the highest altitude section of the Brunello appellation. La Torre make four main wines, all from organic vines: Brunello di Montalcino (with a Riserva in the best years as well), Rosso di Montalcino, with the Brunello and Rosso being exclusively Sangiovese Grosso (Brunello Clone) by law, as well as a Rosso di Toscano and a Rosso di Toscano “Ampelio” which have touches of Ciliegiolo and Alicante added to a mainline of Sangiovese. The wines are all made from all grapes that are de-stemmed prior to fermentations and only indigenous yeasts are used before an extended 20 maceration on the skins. Ferments are done in a combination of steel and oak with an 18 month elevage being in large oak casks of French origin, with only about 10% of the ultimate cuvée being aged in small French barrels. Made for more early drinking pleasure and a sublime vintage really show here and I absolute love this stuff. Judging it purely on its intent and delivery it is fantastic, drink this brilliantly crafted beauty over the next 3 to 5 years.”

The Flamboyant 2016 Solitude

Arriving ETA September:

Domaine de la Solitude Chateauneuf-du-Pape Cuvee Barberini, Rhone 2016 750ML ($79.95) $69 pre-arrival special
Jeb Dunnuck 96 points “Darker colored and more modern in style, the 2016 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Barberini is a parcel selection of 50% Grenache, 30% Syrah, and 20% Mourvèdre, aged in 40% new oak. Despite the new oak, it stays firmly planted in the southern Rhône and is a rich, opulent, gorgeously layered wine. With some background oak in its blackberries, cassis, toasted spice, and graphite aromas and flavors as well as a touch of chocolate, it’s full-bodied, powerful, and concentrated on the palate, with terrific balance and length. It’s approachable today but will be better in 2-3 years and keep for two decades.”
Wine Advocate 94 points “A wine that includes an unusually high proportion of Syrah (45%), the 2016 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Barberini also includes 45% Grenache and 10% Mourvèdre. Peppery notes accent cherries, raspberries and stone fruit in this full-bodied, rich wine that turns tannic on the finish yet remains fresh and clean. Give it two years in the cellar and then drink it over the next 10.”

The Towering 2018’s of Emrich-Schonleber

Well, we aren’t going to make that mistake again and so we’re pleased to the present a broad range of Emrich-Schonleber’s 2018’s.  These are spectacular wines—every bit the equal of Dönnhoff, their main competition in the Nahe.  This is a venerable estate (they go back 250 years) working at peak form as the current generation steps into the vanguard at the winery.

They work with two awe-inspiring sites, the Halenberg and the Frühlingsplätzchen, both of which are unusually steep for the Nahe—they have slopes of up to 70%.  Halenberg is the focus for our offer today (though the Frühlingsplätzchen GG is stunning) and the vineyard is as you’d dream for the Nahe—a mixture of blue slate (like in the Mosel) and quartz.

The resulting wines are piercingly mineral, dramatically complex and something you should have in your cellar, especially from the successful 2018 vintage.  They’re best known for their top-end GG’s, but don’t sleep on the Pradikat wines, as well (or the rare, hard to get TBA).  We’re stocking up this go-round and you should, too.

Arriving ETA December:

Weingut Emrich-Schonleber Monzinger Fruhlingsplatzchen Riesling Grosses Gewachs Trocken, Nahe 2018 ($89.95) $66 pre-arrival special
John Gilman 94+ points “The 2018 Frühlingsplätzchen Grosses Gewächs from the Schönlebers is an outstanding wine in the making. The youthful bouquet offers up scents of lime, tart orange, gentle herb tones, a superb base of soil tones, a nice touch of smokiness and a topnote of dried flowers. On the palate the wine is pure, precise and full, with a lovely core, bright, zesty acids, excellent transparency and grip and a long seamlessly balanced and nicely cool finish. First class GG. 2023-2060.”