New and Collectible from Orin Swift
2013 Produttori del Barbaresco Magnums
First Offer: 2016 Cameron Ribbon Ridge
Only Four Times Per Century: Foreau’s Goutte d’Or
New Arrivals Including: Janasse, Felsina, Jaboulet and More!
Vinous Loves Bursin (as Much as We Do)
New to the April Clearance Sale!
Eight Years in the Desert
Eight Years in the Desert is a box set of eight wines, each with a different, hand-crafted, mixed media label. They’re set in a custom wine box along with a book containing poetry and short stories inspiring the wines. The name comes from the eight year break that Dave Phinney (the winemaker and founder of Orin Swift) took from making Zinfandel. This wine marks his triumphant return and is a blend of Zinfandel, Petite Sirah, Syrah and small percentages of other red varietals (very similar to the original blends of the Prisoner). This is an extremely limited release (we only received one eight-bottle case) and is $1,000 (plus shipping) from the winery. We’re pleased to offer our eight-pack today:
Case-8 Orin Swift 8 Years In The Desert, Napa Valley 2016 750ML ($1199.95) $899 special
Collector’s Edition case of eight 750ml bottles
Wine Advocate 94+ points “Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2016 Zinfandel Blend Eight Years (a blend of Zinfandel, Petite Sirah and Syrah) comes bounding out of the glass with notes of raspberry pie, blackberry preserves and fruitcake with touches of hoisin and Chinese five spice plus and waft of underbrush. Full-bodied, rich and spicy in the mouth, it packs in the black fruit preserves, framed by chewy tannins and finishing on a savory note.”
Winemaker’s notes “Dark garnet with a lucid rim, the wine exhibits aromas of briar fruit, ripe blackberry and dark plum with a tinge of minerality and charred meat. Brawny on the entry, it has an equally big mid-palate with complex flavors of ripe brambly fruit, a touch of earth and notes of espresso bean. Still massive through to the finish with soft drying tannins, the unique varietal characteristics of the blend clearly reveal themselves over time. Blend: 56% Zinfandel, 34% Petite Sirah, 10% Syrah”
The next best price is $999.89
Just Arrived
Produttori del Barbaresco Montestefano, Barbaresco Riserva DOCG 2013 1.5L ($169.95) $149 special
Wine Enthusiast 96 points– Editors Choice “New leather, camphor, forest berry, dried rose and culinary spice are some of the aromas you’ll find on this exceptional red. The firmly structured, poised palate doles out juicy cranberry, crushed raspberry, white pepper and star anise framed in tightly-knit, refined tannins while bright acidity provides energy and balance. Drink 2020–2033.”
Antonio Galloni 95+ points “A dark, brooding wine, the 2013 Barbaresco Riserva Montestefano comes across as quite virile today, with huge tannins and equally imposing dark fruit. Smoke, leather, licorice and game add to an impression of raw, almost unrestrained, power. There is not a whole lot of finesse here at least not now. The Montestefano is a wine painted in broad brush strokes that emphasize power over elegance. Then again, that is Montestefano. Readers should be in no rush to open the 2013.”
Produttori del Barbaresco Ovello, Barbaresco Riserva DOCG 2013 1.5L ($169.95) $149 special
Antonio Galloni 96 points “The Produttori’s 2013 Barbaresco Riserva Ovello is all power, tension and nerve. Even so, the 2013 is remarkably civilized and much less austere than young Ovello Barbarescos usually are. Scents of cranberry, white pepper and mint give the wine its signature high-toned aromatics. The Ovello has a Volnay-like purity to its fruit, with Nebbiolo tannins and structure, of course. If that sounds appealing, well, it is. Vivid, sculpted and impossibly beautiful, the Ovello is simply magnificent.”
Wine Enthusiast 94 points “Wild berry, camphor, moist earth and violet aromas unfold in the glass. The structured, refined palate delivers juicy Marasca cherry, crushed raspberry, orange slice and white pepper alongside polished tannins and bright acidity. A soothing licorice note lingers on the finish. Drink through 2028.”
Produttori del Barbaresco Rabaja, Barbaresco Riserva DOCG 2013 1.5L ($199.95) $179 special
Antonio Galloni 96 points “The 2013 Barbaresco Riserva Rabajà is shockingly seamless in this tasting. Deep layers of fruit virtually bury the tannins, something that is so unusual for a young Rabajà. A host of dark blue-tone fruits, lavender, mint, violet and spice race across the palate in an utterly vivid, compelling Barbaresco of the highest level. Perhaps I caught the Rabajà on an unusually open day, but it is terrific and also quite refined for such a young wine.”
Breaking News
Cameron Ribbon Ridge Arrives Next Week
Philippe Foreau’s Goutte d’Or
A Golden Wine at a Remarkably Reduced Price
This is Foreau’s most prized wine, made from a careful selection of grapes and only in the choicest years. To that latter point, we’re talking about four releases, ever (in 94 years). It makes Cuvee Constance look positively mass market and Neal Rosenthal describes it as “a beacon of perfection.” It’s one of those bottles that’s both rare, expensive and somehow underpriced compared to its peer group. We sold through our initial allocation a while back but scored a little more at a crazy deal. We’re bringing it back at $80 per bottle less—a screaming deal and one we never thought we’d see. This is a wine to treasure, age and pass down to future generations, if you have the patience. Once this is gone, though, it might be another 20 years before the next release.
Arriving Friday, April 27th:
Philippe Foreau Domaine du Clos Naudin Vouvray Moelleux ‘Goutte d’Or’, Loire 2011 750ML ($299.95) Was $269, $189 pre-arrival special
VinopolNote: Foreau’s rare top bottling – a transcendent experience. 230g/L RS
Importer note “While the Moelleux Reserve is produced only a few times a decade, the Goutte d’Or is produced only a few times a century. Made only under the choicest conditions, the Goutte d’Or is a beacon of perfection. In the 94 years that the Foreau family have been producing wine, there have been only four vintages with conditions favorable enough to produce this high-water mark.”
The next best price is $217.50
The average price is $275
Other Highlights Available Here Now from Foreau:
Philippe Foreau Domaine du Clos Naudin Vouvray Sec, Loire 2015 750ML ($59.95) $44.50 special, 19 bottles in stock now
Neal Rosenthal tasting note “Philippe feels that the 2015 Sec is better than the 2002, and perhaps approaching the great ‘96 Sec. It is a rich and powerful wine, holding 5 grams of residual sugar. Carried mostly by its intense mineral backbone, it presents quite expansive in the mouth. The fruit is quite tart, which is typical of this wine, with apple skin notes, a salty and tonic mineral texture that gives the wine considerable length. Currently the nose is rather closed and shows a flinty white-pepper note. Foreau recommends waiting ideally about seven years for this wine to reach its full potential.”
The average price nationally is $48
Wine Advocate 96+ points “The golden yellow 2009 Vouvray Moelleux offers an awesome rich bouquet of a full basket of super ripe white and yellow-fleshed fruits with pure and mineral highlighted aromas as well as colored blossoms, yellow paprika, ginger, coriander, white pepper, toasted peanuts and speck. Bottled with 80 grams of residual sugar, this is a full-bodied, complex, and very elegant almost perfect moelleux à la Foreau, a really rich, ripe, sweet and perfectly balanced wine of great finesse and a persistent freshness due to the lingering salinity and piquancy. This great Moelleux is surely made from healthy berries and for all Chenin lovers and their following generations this is a must buy.” WA
Philippe Foreau Domaine du Clos Naudin Vouvray Moelleux Reserve, Loire 2009 750ML ($119.95) $79 special, 27 bottles in stock now
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
The next best price is $84.99
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Highlights from this Week’s New Wines
Case-12 Tranche Cellars Celilo Vineyard Chardonnay, Columbia Gorge 2011 750ML ($399.95) $179 special (that’s only $14.92/bottle!)
Wine Advocate 94 points “Another new wine that doesn’t fit into the above categories, the 2011 Chardonnay comes from a dry farmed vineyard located on the Washington/Oregon border, in the Columbia Gorge AVA. Spending 12 months in 40% new French oak and with Montrachet-like richness and depth, it’s loaded with ripe apple, citrus, mineral, toasted nut and brioche aromas on the nose. This flows to a medium to full-bodied Chardonnay that has gorgeous mid-palate depth, awesome precision and purity, and a blockbuster finish. A total gem, it should shine for 4-5 years. Drink now-2018.”
The next best price is $28.13
The average price is $31
Wine Advocate 98 points “The 2015 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Vieilles Vignes is a tour de force. Raspberry and apricot-scented fruit, rich chocolate notes and an incredible whirlwind of spice are delivered in this full-bodied wine that shows no heat, just waves of flavor. It should drink well for 20 years or more.”
Felsina Berardenga Chianti Classico DOCG, Tuscany 2015 750ML ($27.95) $21.90 special
Antonio Galloni 92 points “A stunning, spatial wine, the 2015 Chianti Classico Berardenga is a wine to buy by the case and savor over the next 20 or so years. All the natural richness of the 2015 vintage comes through in a creamy, voluptuous Chianti Classico that hits all the right notes.”
Monica Larner – Wine Advocate 92 points “The 2015 Chianti Classico Berardenga is a tight and elegant wine with bright berry notes followed by mineral tones of clay and chalky soil. You really taste those Castelnuovo Berardenga signatures here on the bouquet. The finish carries forward with grace, elegance and determination.”
Wine Spectator 92 points “Dense yet rich, this red offers black cherry, earth and graphite aromas and flavors. Needs a year or two to find balance, yet the lingering, tobacco-inflected finish and refined tannins indicate the potential here. Best from 2019 through 2028.”
Felsina Berardenga Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG, Tuscany 2015 750ML ($34.95) $28 special
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2015 Chianti Classico Riserva Berardenga is a wine of increased depth and power. The bouquet is redolent of dark fruit, dried cherry, grilled herbs and moist clay that has been wetted by rain drops. The wine shows power and determination on the close that gives it momentum and persistence. This wine shows good possibility for further evolution in the bottle over the next five years or more.”
Antonio Galloni 92+ points “The 2015 Chianti Classico Riserva is just beginning to show the first signs of opening in its bouquet, but it is much less giving on the palate. Readers should plan on cellaring it for at least another few years. The 2015 is a terrific example of the wild, feral Chianti Classicos that are typical of Castelnuovo Berardenga and Fèlsina.”
Jeb Dunnuck-Rhone Report 97 points “The finest vintage to date, better even than the stellar 2010, the 2015 Crozes-Hermitage Domaine De Thalabert is a gorgeous, deep, layered, and incredibly satisfying Crozes. Blackcurrants, olive tapenade, truffles and earthy notes all emerge from this full-bodied, gorgeously textured and seamless 2015. With fine tannin and no hard edge, it can be drunk today or cellaring for 15-20 years.”
Wine Advocate 93-95 points “The 2015 reds from the Northern Rhône are truly spectacular and this vintage rivals or surpasses the 2010s and 2009s. Brought up in a mix of tronconique tanks and Burgundy barrels (20% being new), the 2015 Crozes Hermitage Domaine de Thalabert is a big, serious, full-bodied effort that’s reminiscent of a slightly softer version of the 2010. Scorched earth, black fruits, cassis, black olive and a hint of graphite all emerge from this sensational Crozes Hermitage. You’ll need to forget bottles for 4-5 years, but it will have over two decades of longevity.”
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 92-94 points “(made from vines that range from 40 to 60 years old; raised for a year in oak barrels, 20 percent of them new) Youthful violet. Powerful mineral- and spice-accented blue fruit liqueur and violet aromas are complemented by suggestions of licorice and white pepper. Concentrated and expansive on the palate, offering intense blueberry, cherry and spicecake flavors and an exotic Indian spice quality that builds on the back half. Shows excellent clarity and lift on the finish, which is framed by velvety, harmonious tannins that fold smoothly into the juicy dark fruit.”
Wine Advocate 90 points “The Le Paradou label is a joint venture between the Ventoux’s Chateau Pesquie Chaudiere family and importer Eric Solomon. The 2016 Vin de France, which has already been bottled, is 100% Grenache and comes from vines in the Ventoux and the Roussillon’s Agly Valley. It was brought up all in concrete tank. Deep ruby colored, with awesome notes of garrigue, pepper, kirsch and dark fruits, this beauty hits the palate with medium to full-bodied richness, no hard edges and a great finish. It sells for a song and way over-delivers.”
Vinous Reviews Alsace
We’ve sung a lot of praise for Agathe Bursin’s wines. They deserve it, too—she’s making some really special stuff. That said, it’s always nice when a professional reviewer agrees with you and we were happy to read Ian D’Agata sing her praises in the new report from Vinous. Of special note are her Vendage Tardive and Selection de Grains Nobles wines, which are particularly outstanding in 2015.
Agathe Bursin Pinot Noir Strangenberg, Alsace 2015 750ML ($44.95) $36 special, 18 bottles in stock now
Ian D’Agata – Vinous 91+ points “Dark ruby. Aromas and flavors of flinty red cherry, violet, Asian spices and potpourri. Deeper, richer and sweeter than Bursin’s 2015 Pinot Noir Lutzental but with an austere bent on the long, stony finish. These Pinot Noir plots grow on a slope right over the village of Westhalten, on mostly clay-calcareous soil. Bursin macerates and ferments the wine as she does the Lutzental, but this strikes me as being noticeably more tannic than that wine (and of the 2014 Strangenberg, for that matter). I know this is a more important wine than the Lutzental, but right now they are just about equally enjoyable.”
Ian D’Agata – Vinous 91 points “Bright straw-yellow. Aromas and flavors of yellow apple, pear, chamomile and anise. Ripe and luscious, but with good, juicy cut providing lift and clarity. A much bigger wine than Bursin’s 2016 Riesling Graenwiller, but less nuanced. In 2016 this wine has a bit more total acidity than usual and so this is one of the more refined versions of Bursin’s Riesling Distelberg I remember tasting recently.”
Ian D’Agata – Vinous 93 points “Bright straw-green. Expressive aromas of melon, kiwi, coconut and lemon verbena, plus a whisper of minerals. Fresh, juicy, multilayered and dense, in a pliant style supported by harmonious, lively acidity. Finishes with strong, persistent fruit and floral nuances. Very refined Riesling. Bursin’s plots in the grand cru are some of the highest, situated right beneath the woods at the top of the slope.”
The next best price is $42.99
Ian D’Agata – Vinous 90 points “Pale straw. Aromas of white flowers, honey, sweet spices and candied peach. Then fresh and juicy with a surprising tannic bite to the round, honeyed fruit-cocktail flavors on the long, bright finish. Offers plenty of easygoing, early appeal. A 50/50 blend of Pinot Blanc and Auxerrois.”
Ian D’Agata – Vinous 90 points “Pale straw-green. Fresh aromas of apple and melon, complicated by hints of grapefruit and kiwi. Then very clean and well-balanced sweet and sour notes that bring grapefruit and vanilla to mind. Finishes bright and pure, if a little less aromatic than some other past Muscat wines from Bursin. An 80% Muscat Ottonel and 20% Muscat d’Alsace; the vines are roughly 70 years old.”
Agathe Bursin L’As de B, Alsace 2016 750ML ($21.95) $17 special, 20 bottles in stock now
Ian D’Agata – Vinous 89 points “Good dark yellow. Aromas and flavors of grapefruit, sweet spices and pear. Soft but lively and long on the rich, sweet finish. This is a blend of the various grapes that grow on the Bollenberg, and the 25% Gewürz and 15% Pinot Gris components explain the wine’s roundness and sweetness. The name of “As de B” stands for “Assemblage de Bollenberg”; this is essentially a high-quality Edelzwicker, but I fear this rather pretty wine is just too sweet for most people’s idea of a dry wine.”
Agathe Bursin Sylvaner Lutzeltal, Alsace 2016 750ML ($24.95) $20.90 special, 9 bottles in stock now
Ian D’Agata – Vinous 90 points “Bright straw-green. Aromas of green apple, quince, clove and white flowers. Then notes of crystallized lemon peel complicate flavors similar to the aromas. High but harmonious acidity gives this clean, precise wine a light touch. Finishes with an enticing note of sweet spices. A lovely Sylvaner, but it doesn’t strike me as one of the most concentrated Sylvaner Lutzental wines Bursin has made.”
Ian D’Agata – Vinous 93 points “Straw-green. Herbs, quince, pear and green apple on the captivating nose. Very pure and clean in the mouth, and much deeper and more complex than the Lutzental; this is the first vintage in years in which I find a truly noteworthy difference in depth and charm between the Sylvaner Eminence and the Lutzental. Finishes long, mineral and very structured. In fact, this is one of the more tactile, structured Sylvaners from Bursin that I have memory of.”
Agathe Bursin Pinot Gris Dirstelberg, Alsace 2016 750ML ($27.95) $24 special, 23 bottles in stock now
Ian D’Agata – Vinous 91 points “Pale straw-green. The nuanced nose combines ripe peach, yellow apple, white flowers and a hint of toffee. Then plenty of generous, pliant fruit nicely framed by harmonious acids and supported by a mineral backbone. Finishes long, rich and elegant and with a hint of residual sugar. This doesn’t qualify as a “classically dry” wine, but boasts such balance that it seems barely off-dry.”
Ian D’Agata – Vinous 93 points “Bright straw. Fresh, deep aromas and flavors of apple, pear and delicate sweet spice are complemented by a stony undertone and a touch of youthful austerity. The apple and spice flavors linger nicely on the back. More refined and more precise than Bursin’s 2016 Pinot Gris Dirstelberg. Bursin owns two plots of Pinot Gris in this grand cru: one is high up on calcaire soil, while the other is farther down where the Zinnkoepflé’s famous pink sandstone starts. This wine always has more acidity than the Dirstelberg, and it gains in liveliness with aeration.”
Ian D’Agata – Vinous 92 points “Bright pale yellow with golden tinges. Perfumed orange peel, grapefruit and lemon curd on the nose are complicated by notes of smoke and vanilla. Dense, juicy, clean and fresh, with a youthfully chewy quality on the long finish. More refined and longer than the Dirstelberg, though those who like big Gewürzes might prefer those to this more graceful, delicate version.”
Agathe Bursin Riesling Zinnkoepfle Vendanges Tardives, Alsace Grand Cru 2015 750ML ($79.95) $69 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Ian D’Agata – Vinous 92 points “Golden-tinged straw. The deep, rich nose boasts captivating aromas of honey, crystallized ginger and mango. Then light and refined and not at all weighty on the palate, offering precise flavors of tropical fruits and sweet spices. No noble rot hit these grapes, but there was plenty of passerillage (8.1 g/L total acidity and 65 g/L total [sugar]). Lovely VT.”
Agathe Bursin Pinot Gris Zinnkoepfle Vendages Tardives, Alsace Grand Cru 2015 750ML ($69.95) $59 special, 11 bottles in stock now
Ian D’Agata – Vinous 94 points “Vivid golden-tinged dark yellow. Apple pie, caramel, truffle and passion fruit nectar on the nose and palate, complicated by a hint of lemony botrytis. Very pure, precise and rich, displaying delightful acid-fruit balance. Closes long and luscious but with lively acidity keeping this sneakily concentrated beauty light on its feet. Clocks in at 5.3 g/L total acidity and 101 g/L residual sugar. About 20% of the grapes were hit by noble rot, which helps add a measure of complexity to this really lovely late harvest wine.”
Ian D’Agata – Vinous 93 points “Luminous straw-yellow. Truly lovely floral lift complements grapefruit and kumquat notes on the perfumed nose. Boasts a strong mineral underpinning to its white stone and tropical fruit flavors, complicated by hints of sweet spices. Another very beautiful wine from Agathe Bursin in 2016. All the grapes at VT and SGN levels of sweetness were picked on November 9, 10, and 12. This boasts 4 g/L total acidity and 73 g/L, so though certainly a sweet wine, it is not a thick, super-sticky wine.”
Ian D’Agata – Vinous 96 points “Deep golden-tinged yellow. The perfumed nose combines ripe pear, lime blossom and powdered stone, plus hints of spicy botrytis. Sweet but taut, conveying a lovely light-on-its-feet quality and displaying noticeable tang to the citrus and floral flavors; the presence of noble rot adds personality. Closes minerally and very long. This very refined SGN offers noteworthy fragrance and vibrant acidity; in fact, it’s so stony that it’s almost Riesling-like. About 30% of the grapes were hit by noble rot, and this adds complexity to what is a memorable wine (check out these numbers: 5.7 g/L total acidity and 130 g/L total [sugar]).”
Ian D’agata – Vinous 95 points “Medium golden yellow. Very typical Gewürz nose of ripe tropical fruit, sweet spices, smoky bacon and orange oil. Then rich, dense and sweet, offering bitter orange marmalade and lemon peel flavors complicated by notes of cane sugar, guava and kumquat. Finishes suave and quite luscious, at once opulent and yet light on its feet. This has terrific sugar-acid balance (4.1 g/L total acidity and 92 g/L residual sugar).”
New to the April Clearance Sale
+ Highlights of the Week!
Kermit Lynch “To get to the nitty gritty: you get a lot of Burgundian style, class, depth, and complexity for a great price.”
The average price is $31
Champagne Aubry Le Nombre d’Or Campanae Veteres Vites Brut, Champagne NV (2009) 750ML ($69.95) $45 Clearance Price
Antonio Galloni – Vinous 92 points “The 2009 Brut Le Nombre d’Or Campanae Veteres Vites is another striking wine from Aubry. Lemon peel, almonds, white flowers and spices are laced together in a Champagne endowed with a real sense of phenolic weight and verticality. Many of the current releases from Aubry are finely cut this year, but the Le Nombre d’Or Campanae Veteres Vites is a wine that is very much tied to the ground. The 2009 is 25% Pinot Blanc/Fromenteau, 20% Petit Meslier, 15% Arbanne, 15% Chardonnay, 5% Pinot Meunier and 20% Pinot Noir. Bottled February 2014. Dosage is 3 grams per liter.”
The average price is $65
Josh Raynolds 93 points “(made from fruit grown on a single site of the same name on the schist soils of the northern Côte Brune sector of the appellation; vinified entirely from whole clusters): Bright purple. Smoke- and mineral-tinged dark fruit aromas complement floral, olive and spice elements that gain strength with air. Sappy and focused on the palate, offering lively blackberry and bitter cherry flavors and a touch of candied licorice. Puts on weight with air and finishes spicy, broad and very long, with fine-grained tannins adding shape and grip.”
The average price is $56
Jeb Dunnuck – Wine Advocate 92 points “From the Cote Brune side of the appellation, from the lieu-dit la Viaillere, the 2013 Cote Rotie la Viaillere is more ripe, sexy and textured than the Neve releases, and has fabulous notes of kirsch, black raspberries, peppery spice, licorice and garrigue. Not destemmed and raised in used barrels, this beauty bucks the vintage stereotype and is medium to full-bodied, has ripe tannin and a seamless, forward texture that makes it already hard to resist. Nevertheless, it will have 10-12 years of overall longevity.”
The average price is $56
Antonio Galloni 96 points “The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Collezione Privata is superb. A delicate, nuanced wine in this vintage, the Cabernet Sauvignon speaks in hushed tones. Silky tannins and highly expressive aromatics add to an impression of total finesse. In many vintages, the Cabernet can be quite big, but not in 2013. This is a brilliant showing from Isole and proprietor Paolo De Marchi.”
The next best price is $65.98
Wine Spectator 89 points “Features a fresh red currant and pomegranate fruit core, laced with light chalk, savory and green olive accents, maintaining chalky cut through the light-bodied finish. Approachable, but pure and balanced enough to cellar for a touch. Drink now through 2020. 115 cases imported.”
The next best price is $21.89
Antonio Galloni 91 points “[Reviewed Apr 2014] Smoke, menthol, licorice, incense and grilled herbs all meld together in the 2000 Paleo Rosso. The 2000 retains good freshness and vibrancy, even if it lacks the personality of the years that follow. Grilled herbs, cassis and plums flesh out on the finish. Overall, the 2000 is a bit on the soft, delicate side, which suggests any remaining bottles should be enjoyed sooner rather than later. The 2000 is 70% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30% Cabernet Franc, the highest amount of Franc ever in the blend up to this point.[Vinopolis note: the back label just reads Cabernet Franc]”
Wine Advocate 91 points “The 2000 Paleo, a classic Bordeaux blend in this vintage, shows a high toast, vanilla-laced nose of cassis, blackberries, and Cabernet Franc herbs, and a supple, well concentrated palate of ripe fruit, minerals, and tar. The depth and intensity of 1999 are not here, but no one else achieved them in 2000 either. Drink: 2005-2018.”
Wine Spectator 90 points “Rich currant, blackberry and bark aromas follow through to a full-bodied palate, with loads of fruit and round, velvety tannins. Very long and rich. Paleo is slowly changing to a classic Bolgheri Cab blend, and the wine is much better. Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc.”
The next best price is $80.99
$80.99!!
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ean-Luc Jamet, one of two brothers behind the legendary Domaine Jamet, left in 2013 to start his own winery. He took half of the Jamet Cote-Rotie holdings with him and has made his own wine ever since. We’ve got his first vintage in the store and are adding it to the April Clearance Sale now. This is a fantastic Cote Rotie from a great Northern Rhone vintage (it seems as though the Northern Rhone tends to correspond with Piemonte in that respect). What makes it even better is the price—a full $20 cheaper per bottle ’til the end of April (or the wine sells out).
John Gilman 95 points “The 2015 Hermannshöhle BA is still a baby and was in its primary stage of development, but this will clearly be a great wine as well. The bouquet offers up scents of baked apple, tangerine, a touch of papaya, gentle smokiness, orange oil and honey. On the palate the wine is pure, full-bodied, bright and very, very deep, with great focus and grip, a very long, perfectly balanced and nascently complex finish. This will of course be approachable from the moment that it is released, but I would strongly suggest giving it at least four or five years in the cellar to allow it to start to really blossom and show some of the secondary layers of complexity that will come with bottle age. 2016-2075+.”Ewald Moseler Erdener Treppchen Riesling Kabinett, Mosel 2016 750ML ($19.95) Was $16, Now $14 Clearance Price
VinopolNote: Our most popular rose is back! La Mascaronne is the true Miraval. Yes Miraval, that delightful Provence Rose that tasted far above its price-point; until the winery was acquired by a certain Hollywood couple and the new management proceeded to stick the wine in a bulbous bottle and hike the price up and up. But we have a secret to share with you. The
Wine Advocate 96 points “Leading off the 2014s, the 2014 Grenache la Paciencia Vineyard was partially destemmed, vinified in concrete tanks and aged all in neutral foudres and 600-liter barrels. It’s a totally gorgeous red that gives up complex notes of rose petals, black cherries, olive brine, underbrush and ample salinity that literally makes you salivate. Medium to full-bodied, concentrated, and yet ethereally textured and elegance, give bottles a couple years and enjoy through 2026.”No Girls La Placiencia Vineyard Syrah, Walla Walla Valley 2014 750ML ($149.95) $138 special
Wine Spectator 96 points “Candied citrus, jujube, sweet spice and quince paste aromas and flavors mark this sweet, bracing Riesling, which is light on its feet and resonates on the finish with a mouthwatering feel and echoes of citrus. Best from 2012 through 2045.”
Ciacci Piccolomini is a top tier Brunello producer—there’s no doubt about that. They produce wines that are sought after by serious connoisseurs—they have power, grace and ageability (in short, all the things you would look for in good Brunello). That’s without regard to price, as well—even if the cost of the bottles doubled overnight, there would still be significant demand for the wines. At the current pricing, especially at the deal we got for the bottles that arrived today, these are no-brainer buys for anyone who loves the wines of Tuscany. We received less than 10 cases, so these will disappear quickly (a good chunk of those sold on pre-arrival as well).
Antonio Galloni 94 points “The 2011 Brunello di Montalcino is fabulous. In 2011, proprietor Paolo Bianchini bottled just one Brunello. That commitment to quality comes through loud and clear. Dark cherry, plum, smoke, tobacco and licorice all flesh out in an effortless, incredibly inviting wine. The warmth of the vintage and the natural generosity of these vineyards in Castelnuovo is evident, yet the 2011 possesses remarkable balance to match all of that intensity. I don’t expect the 2011 to make old bones, but is gorgeous today. Readers should expect a flamboyant, decadently full-throttle wine built on voluptuousness and generous, racy fruit. Bianchini gave the 2011 three full years in cask.”
If you haven’t read the full account from Vinous on the 2016 Beaujolais, know this: it’s a worthy follow up to 2015, but in a very different style. Where ’15 was all about power and richness, the 2016’s are, to quote Josh Raynolds, “built along more classical lines, emphasizing lively, sharply delineated red fruit, floral and spice qualities and offering succulent early drinkability.”
Chateau Thivin Cote de Brouilly, Beaujolais 2016 750ML ($39.95) $26 special
Jeb Dunnuck 92 points “The 2017 Miraflors Rosé is another beauty that’s loaded with fresh, crisp, vibrant strawberry and raspberry fruit. Clean, pure, textured and elegant on the palate, with gorgeous purity, it’s a rocking rosé that does everything right. The blend is 70% Mourvèdre and 30% Grenache Gris brought up all in tank. Hats off to vigneron Jean-Marc Lafage for another smoking good rosé!”
Robert Parker 93+ points “Lastly, the 2013 Forte is rich, full-bodied, concentrated and intense proprietary red blend. It is dense ruby/purple, full-bodied and capable of lasting 30 years.”
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 91-93 points “Bright ruby-red. Aromas and flavors of ripe red and blue fruits take on floral and peppery spice notes as the wine opens up. Silky and expansive on the palate, showing very good depth as well as energy and back-end lift. Leaves notes of candied flowers and allspice behind on the gently gripping, subtly tannic, very persistent finish.”Domaine Raymond Usseglio & Fils Chateauneuf-du-Pape Cuvee Girard, Rhone 2015 750ML ($49.95) $39 special
The thrill of celebrating with a truly old bottle of wine is unmatched in the world of wine. There’s something so magical about drinking something that’s been around as long or longer than you. It’s a feeling that’s impossible to get any other way—you know that this bottle has wine in it that’s been around through war and peace, good times and bad and now, finally, it’s going to get opened.
Wine Advocate 98 points “If someone told you they kept a wine for 84 years in barrel before bottling, you’d think they are nuts, right? Well, that’s what the folks at Toro Albalá in Aguilar de la Frontera – in the province of Cordoba, part of the Montilla Moriles appellation – did with their 1931 Don PX Convento Selección. This is part of what they call ‘vinos olvidados,’ which means ‘forgotten wines.’ The border is amber, with green tints that denote very old age. Such old age provides an array of unusual aromas and flavors, including iodine and salt that compensate the sweetness (403 grams) and even the alcohol (18%). It’s terribly balsamic, with notes of dry herbs and spices, cigar ash, carob beans (algarrobas), incense and noble woods. The palate is very, very sweet and concentrated, unctuous, dense, with a chewy texture. This goes beyond a glass of wine, a drop of it is like having a piece of cake. I don’t think this reaches the complexity and depth of the 1946, which remains the benchmark for these old sweet PX, but it’s truly terrific!… bottles were filled in June 2015.”
gushing with juicy and zesty evocations of grapefruit and blood orange that took me by delighted surprise. Toasted nuts and haunting, smoke-tinged liquid floral essences help balance and compliment the sweetness in a profound, protracted, and impeccably balanced finish.”
Neal Martin’s Wine Journal 95 points: “A very youthful deep garnet core with ruby rim. This has a much more precocious nose than the -83 with ripe blackberry, raspberry coulis, black olives and a certain minerality to it. Very fresh and well defined, the palate is full-bodied, certainly more structured and complex than the previous two declarations. Notes of black cherry, fig, raisin with a hint of savoury fruit towards the finish that has great length and refinement. Still in its youth, this has great potential…” (05/2008)
Wine Advocate 98+ points “The 2010 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Vigna Paganelli is a phenomenal achievement and a wine that captures not only the spirit of this classic vintage, but the true essence of an age-worthy wine like Brunello. This single vineyard Riserva is sharp, pristine and immaculate. It starts slow and shy, but then blossoms to beautiful intensity and aromatic brilliance. It delivers a very authentic and genuine read of Sangiovese with wild berry aromas followed by pressed violets, wet earth, tobacco and lightly toasted spice. The bouquet is seamless and very long in persistence. The same holds true for the mouthfeel. The wine delivers a fine and silky texture with a good dose of power and personality at the rear.”
grapes come from an old-vine parcel near Angelus and Beausejour-Duffau, and the final product is a blend of 65% Merlot and 35% Cabernet Franc. Again displaying plenty of minerality, which seems to be a prevailing theme throughout the 2010s from Malthus, the 2010 Vieux Chateau Mazerat is full-bodied, with an abundance of floral notes as well as black currant and blackberry fruit. Impressively endowed and built like a skyscraper, this full-bodied wine needs a good 7-8 years of cellaring and should keep for 25-30 years. Interestingly, the vines were planted in 1947.”
E. Pira & Figli Chiara Boschis Dolcetto d’Alba, Piedmont 2014 750ML ($21.95) $14 March Clearance Sale special, only 13 bottles available!
Freemark Abbey Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, California 2014 750ML ($39.95) $33 special
Domaine Marcel Lapierre Morgon, Beaujolais 2016 1.5L ($69.95) $59 special
Wine Advocate 97 points “The 1995 Unico is a worthy successor to the profound 1994 (awarded a score of 98+ in Issue #159). Opaque purple in color, it has aromatic complexity which nearly defies words. There are notes of earth, licorice, hard wood charcoal, and black currants. Full-bodied, and powerful, the wine has beautiful balance with a multi-dimensional character and the structure to last for 25-40 years. The 1960 and the 1965, drunk within the last several months, appear to have many more years ahead.”
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 94 points “(bottled in April): Bright, light yellow-green. Ineffable scents of lime, white peach, fresh apricot, white pepper and crushed stone. Surprisingly intense and sweet on the palate, with lovely supporting minerality and acidity to frame the seamless orchard fruit and spice flavors. Not an austere Clos–in fact almost friendly–but beautifully balanced. Its tight, very long finish suggests that it will evolve gracefully in bottle.”
Wine Advocate 95 points “The only Saint Joseph produced, the 2012 St Joseph Domaine de la Croix des Vignes is another incredible effort from this team. Coming from steep, granite soils and a vineyard located just beside the famed Vignes de Hospice, this beauty knocks it out of the park with its massive minerality, currants, rare beef and tapenade-like aromas and flavors. Ripe, medium to full-bodied, beautifully textured and still lively and elegant, it too will knock your socks off over the coming 15-20 years.” WA
Wine Advocate 92 points “Similar to the Saint Epine release quality-wise, the 2013 St Joseph Cuvee Francois de Tournon offers more richness, breadth and layer compared to the tighter, more focused, granite-influenced Saint Epine. Plum, black raspberry, licorice, cracked pepper and graphite flows to a medium to full-bodied, concentrated, structured 2013 that needs 3-4 years of cellaring; it will have two decades of longevity. Coming mostly from vineyards around Tournon and Mauves, it spent 12 months in 30% new French oak.”
Gaja is a name that requires no context in discussion—like Latour or DRC, it’s understood which estate is meant and that the wines are epic, change-your-dinner-plans events. Angelo Gaja is one of the primary reasons we care about Barbaresco today and the wines bearing his name remain the most treasured and collectible of the region. Furthermore, the top wines from his Brunello estate, Ca’ Marcanda, have quickly become among top two or three most sought after wines in Tuscany.
Wine Advocate 94 points “The 2011 Bolgheri Camarcanda opens to plump berry notes with apparent ripeness in the form of sun-drenched blackberry and plum. The fruit element in this Merlot-Cabernet Sauvignon-Cabernet Franc blend is dark and compelling, and the mouthfeel follows suit with soft tannins and dark concentration. The 2011 vintage is also characterized by a more evident tannic bite that should soften with time.”
Luis Gutierrez – Wine Advocate 97 points “I was really looking forward to the 2010 Prado Enea Gran Reserva, as I’ve seen a very good improvement in this cuvée in the last few vintages, and 2010 is one of the more-balanced vintages of recent times. This is the most classical among the wines in the portfolio, the one with the longer élevage, a little bit like the wines from yesteryear but with today’s knowledge about vineyards and vinification/élevage. This has settled to a blend of approximately 70% Tempranillo, 20% Garnacha and the remaining 10% between Mazuelo and Graciano, from the cooler, higher-altitude vineyards, which means they only bottle it every two or three years. In recent years, 2007 and 2008 were not bottled. It ferments in small oak vats built by their own tonneliers, and they like to delay malolactic until the spring by opening the windows so the cold from outside comes into the winery. For the aging, each variety goes into separate barrels racked from newer to older barrels to complete some 36 months or three years. It has very healthy and balanced parameters, and that’s what the wine feels like. It’s still young. It’s never a dark wine, more of a ruby or bright color, and it has a nose of youth, subtle and elegant. But the quality shows in the unbelievable elegance and harmony on the palate, where the tannins are very fine, the flavors are subtle but deep and the length is just phenomenal. This is only medium-bodied, with perfect ripeness and integrated acidity. This should have a very long life in bottle, especially as I had the chance to check the evolution of the 2004 next to this. 90,000 bottles were produced from 2010. The following vintages will be 2011, 2014 (a small bottling) and 2015.”
Wine Advocate 96 points “From weathered gray carbon slate, the 2016 Nahe Riesling Niederhäuser Hermannshöhle “GG” is excitingly pure, coolish, fresh and crystalline on the nose, where flinty scents are displayed and intermix with ripe, precise and subtle fruit aromas. This is an aristocrat! Full-bodied, intense and lush on the palate, this is a highly elegant Riesling with very fine crystalline acidity and lingering piquancy. Dense and aromatic on the aftertaste but far too young to be enjoyed today, keep it at least for another 5 years.”
Terroir Al Limit Soc. Lda. Les Manyes, Priorat DOCa 2014 750ML ($259.95) $219 pre-arrival special, only 12 bottles available!