New Jeb Dunnuck Reviews

For Top Northern Rhone Estates

On Domaine Garon:
“This is another estate that’s slowly passing to the next generation, with sons Kevin and Fabien taking more of a lead role these days. Winemaking is largely traditional, with small amounts of destemming, a long maceration, roughly 18 months in 20-25% new oak (which is both shorter and less new oak than in the past), and bottling occurring with no fining or filtration. While both vintages reviewed here are incredibly strong, the 2017s are the finest wines I’ve tasted from the domaine.”-JD

Domaine Garon Condrieu La Vieille Maison 2017 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 23 bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 94 points “The 2017 Condrieu La Vieille Maison from Garon shows the richer style of the estate nicely. Buttered peach, tropical fruits, white flowers, and honeysuckle notes all flow to a rich, beautifully textured 2017 that has plenty of richness and depth, notable purity of fruit, and a rounded, textured, rich and full-bodied style on the palate. Drink it over the coming couple of years.”

Domaine Garon Cote Rotie Lancement 2016 750ML ($179.95) $138 special, 5 bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 94 points “The terroir always seems to yield a complex, aromatic style of Côte Rôtie, and the 2016 Côte Rôtie Lancement is just that. Fabulous notes of black raspberries, blackberries, rose petals, decayed flowers, and cured meats all flow to a medium to full-bodied, seamless 2016 that’s all about grace and elegance. It has fine tannins but is beautifully balanced and already approachable.”

Domaine Garon Cote Rotie Les Rochins 2016 750ML ($119.95) $89 special, 6 bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 95 points “Lastly, the 2016 Côte Rôtie Les Rochins sports a deep, inky color and a huge nose of crème de cassis, black raspberries, beef blood, bacon fat, and Asian spices. This total thriller of a wine is medium to full-bodied, has ultra-fine tannins, a stacked mid-palate, and a great finish. Drink it any time over the coming 15+ years.”

Domaine Garon Cote Rotie Les Triotes 2016 750ML ($69.95) $59 special, 36 bottles in stock now
Domaine Garon Cote Rotie Les Triotes 2016 1.5L ($149.95) $119 special, 5 magnums in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 92 points “The 2016 Côte Rôtie Les Triotes offers a darker, smokier style with meaty notes of red and black fruits, crushed rocks, spice box, and violets. Medium-bodied, rounded, and nicely textured on the palate, it lacks the seamless texture of the other two wines here but is still one seriously impressive wine.”

Domaine Garon Cote Rotie Sybarine 2017 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 24 bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 93-95 points “The 2017 Côte Rôtie Sybarine is in the same ballpark, with complex notes of black raspberry and cassis fruits intermixed with lots of dried flowers, violets, spice, and licorice. It’s medium to full-bodied, has silky tannins, and is another awesome looking barrel sample from this estate, which seems to have hit another level with these new releases.”

Also Newly Reviewed by Jeb Dunnuck:

Rene Rostaing Cote Rotie Ampodium 2016 750ML ($99.95) $89 special, 3 bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 93 points “Moving to the 2016s and starting with the 2016 Côte Rôtie Ampodium, this beautiful, silky, incredibly elegant wine has classic notes of red and black fruits, spring flowers, hints of bacon fat as well as green olive. Medium-bodied, about as graceful and elegant as they come, with sweet tannins and a great finish, it’s a no-brainer purchase to drink over the coming 10-15 years. I followed this bottle for two days and it does best with a decant if drinking any time soon.”

Rene Rostaing Cote Rotie Cote Blonde 2016 750ML ($249.95) $199 special, 1 bottle in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 96 points “Lastly, the 2016 Côte Rôtie Côte Blonde is more seamless and elegant, with a more perfumed, pretty style in its red and black raspberry fruits, crushed flowers, game, violets, and crushed rocks. Medium to full-bodied, ethereal, seamless, and incredibly polished, it has building tannins, no hard edges, and a great, great finish. Where the La Landonne is all meat and smoke, this is floral and red fruit-driven. Hide bottles for 2-4 years and enjoy over the following 15-20.”

Guigal Saint Joseph Lieu Dit Saint Joseph Blanc 2016 750ML ($69.95) $69 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 94 points “I was blown away by the 2016 Saint Joseph Lieu Dit Saint Joseph Blanc, which is up with some of the top vintages of this cuvée. Terrific notes of sautéed white peach, caramelized citrus, brioche and crème brûlée all give way to a medium to full-bodied, seamless, impressively balanced white. Coming from the namesake vineyard of the appellation, a south facing, granite hillside south of Tournon, this beauty will keep for over a decade.”

On Vincent Paris:
“It’s important to understand the three Cornas cuvées from the young Vincent Paris. The Granite 30 is a younger vine cuvée from less steep hillside parcels (roughly 30 degrees), and it’s mostly destemmed and brought up in a mix of mostly used barrels. There are about 1,000 cases produced. The Granite 60 comes from older vines in the Patou, Les Mazards and Sauman lieux-dits, and steep slopes (60 degrees, which is where the cuvée gets its name). This cuvée sees some stem inclusion and a similar time in mostly used barrels. This cuvée is normally a solid step up in depth and quality over the Granite 30. Roughly 400 cases is a normal production level for this release. Lastly, the La Geynale comes from the oldest vines of the estate, which were planted in 1910 and are located in the Geynale and Reynard lieux-dit. This cuvée sees very little destemming and is aged in, again, mostly neutral barrels. This is always the most backward, classically styled release in the lineup and takes a few years to integrate its stems. Nevertheless, it’s an incredible Cornas.”-JD

In Stock Now:

Vincent Paris Cornas Granit 30 2016 750ML ($39.95) $33 special, 36 bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 91 points “The 2016 Cornas Granit 30 is another winner from this estate. Ultra-pure notes of cassis, blackberries, leafy herbs, liquid violets and pepper all emerge from the glass. It’s balanced, medium to full-bodied, and textured on the palate, with the balance and purity that this estate has become known for front and center.”

Vincent Paris Cornas Granit 60 2016 750ML ($69.95) $55 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 95+ points “The 2016 Cornas Granit 60 is more backward and reticent, with smoky dark fruits, earthy minerality, pepper, and bouquet garni aromas and flavors. Deep, pure, and concentrated, it’s a big, rich wine, yet it stays polished and elegant on the palate, with a straight, focused style that builds with time in the glass. Just a brilliant wine, it can be drunk today with incredible pleasure or cellared for 10-15 years. Bravo!”

Vincent Paris Cornas La Geynale 2016 750ML ($89.95) $69 special, 16 bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 95 points “The 2016 Cornas Geynale comes all from a single vineyard (the Geynale lieu-dit) and is never destemmed. It has rockingly old school notes of currants, cedarwood, ground pepper, and cured meats. Deep, rich, layered, beautifully textured on the palate, it’s just loaded with charm, has terrific balance, no hard edges, and a big finish. It’s surprisingly accessible (this cuvée almost always requires short-term cellaring) but is going to cruise for two decades on its balance.”

Arriving Later this Spring:

Vincent Paris Cornas Granit 30 2017 750ML ($49.95) $39 pre-arrival special
Jeb Dunnuck 91-93 points “The 2017 Cornas Granit 30 shows a fresher, elegant, polished style as well as perfumed notes of black raspberries, crème de cassis, crushed violets, and hints of bouquet garni. Floral, elegant, and medium-bodied, it’s just a pretty, elegant, juicy wine that’s going to benefit from short-term cellaring and drink nicely for a decade.”

Vincent Paris Cornas Granit 60 2017 750ML ($69.95) $59 pre-arrival special
Jeb Dunnuck 93-95+ points “Similar colored, the 2017 Cornas Granit 60 comes from further up the slope and older vines. It offers a deeper, richer bouquet of black and blue fruits, smoked earth, violets, and ground pepper. Deep, full-bodied, thrillingly pure and elegant, yet still with classic Cornas density, power, and length, it’s another gem of a wine from this incredibly talented winemaker.”

Vincent Paris Cornas Geynale 2017 750ML ($79.95) $69 pre-arrival special
Jeb Dunnuck 94-96 points “The 2017 Cornas Geynale is the only wine in the lineup to not be destemmed and it comes all from the La Geynale lieu-dit. Deep saturated purple-colored, with beautiful notes of blackcurrants, smoked herbs, earth, pepper, and tons of meatiness, it’s certainly the most classic in style, as well as structured and tannic. Give this full-bodied beauty 2-4 years of bottle age and it’s going to drink nicely for 10-15 years or more. It’s an awesome wine for the true Cornas lovers out there.”

On Courbis:
“These 2016s and 2017s from the Courbis brothers are terrific follow-ons to their brilliant 2015s. The 2016 Cornas are some of the finest in the vintage and have sexy, ripe profiles that offer more pleasure than most. The 2017s are in the same ballpark, with slightly more upfront charm and approachability. In addition to the Cornas releases, this team is turning out some heavenly Saint Josephs!” -JD

Arriving ETA April:

Domaine Courbis Cornas Les Eygats 2016 750ML ($89.95) $69 pre-arrival special
Jeb Dunnuck 96 points “The 2016 Cornas Les Eygats is the gem in 2016 and has a fresh, focused, backward style that carries notes of crème de cassis, spring flowers, pepper, and crushed rocks. With full-bodied richness, good acidity, and impeccable balance, it’s a brilliant wine, but it’s going to need 2-3 years of bottle age to show its full potential.”

Just Arrived

New Releases From K Vintners’ Winemaker B. Leighton

While many think of Charles Smith as the sole voice and winemaker in the K Vintners operation, the day-to-day winemaker is Brennan Leighton.  A super-talented voice in the world of Washington wine, Brennan is extremely involved in the K wines but also has his own label, B. Leighton, which is the focus today.

These are do-not-miss wines for anyone who loves the K wines and old school, Rhone inflected Washington State reds.  Full of generous fruit and beautiful earthy and floral tones, these are wines that are powerful and delicious on release, but have the track record and pedigree to age.  These arrive in small quantities in a few weeks and we couldn’t be more excited.

Just Arrived, In Stock Now:

B. Leighton Olsen’s Brothers Vineyard Syrah, Yakima Valley 2016 750ML ($59.95) $45 special
Case-12 B. Leighton Olsen’s Brothers Vineyard Syrah, Yakima Valley 2016 750ML ($599.95) $479 pre-arrival special (that’s only $39.92/bottle!)
Stephen Tanzer 93 points “(from the Phelps clone of Syrah, which was brought up to Red Willow vineyard by David Lake in 1986): Bright, dark red. Sexy scents of raspberry, brown spices, black pepper and flowers are Côte-Rôtie-like in their soil-driven wildness. Tight and savory on the palate, with juicy dark berry and spice flavors showing terrific inner-mouth definition and energy. The firmly tannic finish features a note of roasted nuts and excellent rising length. Just 10% new oak here. Superb.”
Charles Smith / K Vintners Winery Note “Deep, dark, and brooding. Dare I say seductive? Black plum, exotic owers, grilled meats, sage, and wet earth. Finishes bold and lovely with purity. This wine is dynamic!100% Syrah / 100% whole cluster pressed / Native yeast / 39 days on skins / 20% new, 80% once-used French oak puncheons / 19 mo. barrel-aged on lees.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

B. Leighton Olsen’s Brothers Vineyard Gratitude, Yakima Valley 2016 750ML ($49.95) $41.90 special
Stephen Tanzer 93 points “(a field blend from vines planted in 2009 on volcanic soil at an altitude of 1,200 feet; winemaker Brennon Leighton originally created this wine for his wife, who loves Domaine Tempier; aged in neutral demi-muid and 500-liter puncheons): Medium red with a palish rim. Subtly scented aromas of strawberry, cranberry, spices, red licorice, tree bark and rose petal. Supple, savory and fine-grained, with an essentially gentle texture enlivened by spice and tree bark notes and nicely integrated acidity. This is really quite complex and suave, with its restrained sweetness countered by salinity and a light touch. If this blend doesn’t possess quite the body of the 2015, it has every bit as much energy and spicy persistence, not to mention excellent retention of fresh fruit. Finishes with a firm spine of ripe tannins. Another singular wine from the multi-talented Leighton. (14.5% alcohol)”
Charles Smith / K Vintners Winery Note “Another year, another beauty to be thankful for. Very expressive and vibrant with currants, cherries, fresh tobacco and star anise. This wine twists and turns broadly, but with focus, continuing with cured meats to a warm gravel finish.70% Mourvedre, 25% Grenache, 5% Syrah / 100% co-fermented and whole cluster pressed / Native yeast / 33 days on skins / 100% neutral French oak puncheons / 19 mo. barrel-aged on lees.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

A Rosé Steal from a Chateauneuf Master

Domaine du Pegau may be best known as a producer of classical, powerful Chateauneuf du Pape, but in recent years they’ve expanded their “Chateau Pegau” line to include some fantastic value priced offerings—including this fantastic rosé.  Cheekily named “Pink Pegau” and made from 100% Cinsault (a grape that gives bright, fresh wines) it’s a perfect thing to drink in the hot Rhone summer (or anywhere else for that matter).

Arriving Late This Month:

Pegau ‘Pink Pegau’ Rose, Vin de France 2017 750ML ($21.95) $14 pre-arrival special
Case-12 Pegau ‘Pink Pegau’ Rose, Vin de France 2017 750ML ($249.95) $149 pre-arrival special (that’s only $12.42/bottle!)
Wine Advocate 91 points “The plump, medium-bodied 2017 Vin de France Rose is a bit darker and richer than normal, but that’s just fine with me. Raspberry and watermelon flavors pack in more spice than usual as well, giving it more complexity and flavor interest than in the past, including a savory edge to the finish. It should drink well for at least a year.”
Josh Raynolds 90 points “Light, bright orange. Musky cherry, red berry and orange zest aromas show very good clarity and pick up a minerally nuance with air. Chewy, focused and light on its feet, offering biter cherry and redcurrant flavors that take a sweeter turn and deepen on the back half. The mineral note repeats on a long, incisive finish that leaves a hint of juicy raspberry behind.”

Looking for the best selection of rosé around? We’ve got it.  75 different bottlings in stock and arriving weekly—just click here to view all of them in our web store.

Trending Wines

The early contender for rosé of the spring. Provençal and classic.
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
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.”

This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!

An Oregon Pinot for lovers of Burgundy.
Johan Vineyards Estate Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2015 750ML ($31.95) $28 special
John Gilman 93+ points “The 2015 Estate Vineyard pinot noir from Johan Vineyards comes in at a cool 12.5 percent octane, was fermented with a bit more than forty percent whole clusters and was raised in thirty percent new oak in this vintage. The wine offers up a beautifully youthful bouquet of cherries, red berries, beet root, a fair bit of youthful sweet stem tones, a complex base of soil, a touch of mustard seed and a discreet framing of cedary oak. On the palate the wine is pure, tangy and full-bodied, with a lovely core of fruit, excellent mineral drive, moderate tannins and a very long, complex and youthful finish. This needs four or five years of bottle age to allow its stems to morph into the spice spectrum (unless one is not deterred by the more savory side of whole clusters), but it is going to be flat out stunning when it really starts to settle into its plateau of maturity. 2024-2055+”

This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!

Big, red and undervalued (because it’s from Portugal).
Quinta da Falorca Reserva Lagar, Dao 2011 750ML ($59.95) $39 special
Wine Advocate 95 points “The 2011 Reserva Quinta Da Falorca Lagar is a blend of Touriga Nacional (70%), Alfrocheiro (15%) and Tinta Roriz (15)%, aged for 18 months in new French oak. On opening, this didn’t seem anywhere near as silky as the Touriga Nacional, also reviewed. On the second day, if anything, it was more so, very Burgundian and very graceful, but also more powerful, with a bit more astringency on the finish. There are expressive fruit flavors around the edges, but, as with the Touriga, this is unevolved and needs time despite its late release.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

One of the top wines from the Rhone in 2016.
Domaine des Bosquets Gigondas Le Lieu Dit, Rhone 2016 750ML ($79.95) $59 special
Jeb Dunnuck 97 points “From a cooler terroir of sandy soils just beside the domaine, the 2016 Gigondas Le Lieu Dit is another tour de force from this brilliant estate. It sports a medium ruby color as well as a rocking bouquet of kirsch, blackberry liqueur, rose petals, damp earth, incense, and spice. Ultra-fine, seamless, elegant, and pure, it’s nevertheless powerful and rich, with awesome intensity. Readers need to snatch up this blockbuster.”
Jeb Dunnuck 96-98 points “The 2016 Gigondas Le Lieu-Dit is also 100% Grenache and comes from a parcel just beside the winery. This is a cooler, sandy terroir and the style of this cuvée is dramatically different than the La Colline cuvée, showing a much more finesse-driven, elegant, ethereal style. Nevertheless, the 2016 is one of the larger, richer example of the cuvée and sports a deep, inky color as well as to die for notes of black raspberries, crème de cassis, crushed pepper, and ground herbs. With full-bodied richness, polished, sweet tannin, no hard edges and a fabulous length, it’s another best to date cuvée from this estate.”
Wine Spectator 95 points “Deliciously ripe, featuring a bright and lively display of red currant, raspberry and blackberry coulis flavors that race along, underscored by fine but persistent chalky tannins and backed by lilac, violet, rooibos tea and savory notes along the way. The long finish ripples with fresh acidity. Best from 2020 through 2036.”

Fizzay! Bright! Crushable!
Ameztoi Rubentis Rosado, Getariako Txakolina 2018 750ML ($24.95) $19.90 special
VinopolNote: The long-awaited and lightly fizzy pink from the Basque region in Spain! A staff favorite. Always light, bright, fresh, salty and fun. The perfect aperitif wine for spring and summer.

This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!

Classic Bordeaux, great vintage and a fantastic case price.
Chateau Bel-Air, Pomerol 2010 750ML ($37.95) $28 special
Case-12 Chateau Bel-Air, Pomerol 2010 750ML ($419.95) $299 special (that’s only $24.92/bottle!)
Grapelive 92 points “The vintage shows through here without question, a great year makes this lovely Pomerol a terrific value and wonderfully textured wine from Chateau Bel-Air. This dark and full bodied Pomerol hits all the right notes and does so with class, vitality and verve. It shows beautiful detail and complexity in a forceful, but elegantly pure Merlot. This is really seductive stuff in the glass, holding its own against far more expensive labels with ease and poise. The rich layers of fruit, mineral tones and sweet tannin give decadence and refined structure, highlighting Merlot’s promise in a world that sometimes lacks the respect of this often maligned varietal. Chateau Bel-Air has captured in the bottle the right bank’s charm and beauty in this 2010, it shows terroir, with subtle loamy/earth, plummy dense mouth feel and stylish silken length with a wine that has the potential to age another 10 to 15 years, but is pretty darn good right now too. The lead off here is dark floral tones a hint of smoky cedar and black cherry fruit with blackberry, plum, dark kirsch liqueur along with a touch of mint, dried clay, a touch of cigar wrapper and vanilla. This fine Bordeaux delivers well beyond its price and is wonderful with food choices that range from duck breast, lamb, roast pork, wild mushroom dishes to prime rib, and or any comforting winter fare really, and it can also be enjoyed with cheeses or on its own. This is the kind of wine that brings you back to Bordeaux, and certainly makes you wonder why you don’t drink more Merlot. Drink this Chateau Bel-Air Pomerol from 2016 to 2028.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $39.99

The 2017 may be sold out, but the feeding frenzy is now on for Schaefer’s ’16s.
Weingut Willi Schaefer Graacher Domprobst Riesling Spatlese #10, Mosel 2016 750ML ($44.95) $39 special
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 94 points “The 2016 Graacher Domprobst Riesling Spätlese (AP #10) is one of three Spätlesen that were selected in 2016. The wine has a very clear and smoky bouquet of perfectly ripe, healthy Riesling berries and yellow-fleshed stone fruits. Round, lush and piquant, this is a very elegant and stimulating Spätlese with lingering, mouthwatering salinity. The wine is complex but not all too intellectual. It has a ripe but coolish-elegant character with a long, well-structured finish.”

Huet Hits It Out of the Park

Coming off a string of highly successful vintages, it seems Domaine Huet can do no wrong. They’ve garnered more high praise from Jeb Dunnuck.

Newly Reviewed Domaine Huet Wines:

In Stock Now:

Domaine Huet Vouvray ‘Le Haut Lieu’ Demi-Sec, Loire 2017 750ML ($41.95) $36 special
Jeb Dunnuck 95 points “The 2017 Vouvray Le Haut-Lieu Demi-Sec is also brilliant, and readers should snatch a case of this beauty. Offering up a smorgasbord of quince, green apple, honeysuckle, and flinty minerality, it’s medium-bodied, has bright, juicy acidity, beautifully integrated sweetness (it’s off dry), and a balanced, lengthy style on the palate. It’s impressive today, with an already complex, layered style, but it’s going to age beautifully for two decades or more. It’s a smoking value.”

Domaine Huet Vouvray ‘Le Mont’ Demi-Sec, Loire 2017 750ML ($49.95) $39 special
Jeb Dunnuck 96 points “The 2017 Le Mont Demi-Sec is cut from the same cloth as the le Mont Sec, yet has slightly more weight and richness. Thrilling notes of honeyed apples, caramelized limes, tangerine peel, and ripe pineapple notes all emerge from this full-bodied, deep, beautifully textured beauty that has ample density and richness, yet still glides across the palate with no sensation of weight or heaviness. It has thrilling depth of fruit, bright acidity, integrated sweetness, and perfect balance, all making for a totally captivating Vouvray to enjoy over the coming two decades or more. If drinking any time soon, a healthy decant is recommended, as this didn’t start to shine until day two.”

Domaine Huet Vouvray ‘Le Mont’ Moelleux, Loire 2017 750ML ($59.95) $49 special
Jeb Dunnuck 96 points “The 2017 Le Mont Moelleux shows the classic progression from the vibrancy of the Sec to the more layered, slightly honeyed Demi-Sec to this richer, sweeter, yet no less impressive Moelleux release. Brilliant notes of quince, honeyed tangerines, apple peel, and orange liqueur all emerge from this full-bodied, layered Vouvray that has a stacked, dense, concentrated mid-palate, high yet integrated acidity, impeccable balance, and a great finish. I couldn’t pick a favorite between this and the Demi-Sec, and both are brilliant wines. Smart readers will buy a handful of bottles of each (a six pack of each is what I intend to do) for drinking over the coming 2-3 decades.”

Re-Arriving ETA April

Domaine Huet Vouvray ‘Clos du Bourg’ Demi-Sec, Loire 2017 750ml ($49.95) $39 pre-arrival special
Jeb Dunnuck 95 points “The 2017 Clos du Bourg Demi-Sec is thrilling stuff, offering a vivid gold color as well as a kaleidoscope of honeyed citrus, white flowers, orange blossom, dried herbs, and chalky mineral-like aromas and flavors. It’s ripe and textured on the palate, with terrific concentration, yet has beautiful acidity, a seamless, perfectly balanced mouthfeel, and a great, great finish. The sweetness is brilliantly managed, and this beauty is going to keep for decades.”

Domaine Huet Vouvray ‘Le Mont’ Sec, Loire 2017 750ML ($41.95) $33 pre-arrival special
Jeb Dunnuck 93+ points “Moving to the Le Mont releases, the 2017 Le Mont Sec needs loads of air time to show at its best and didn’t really shine until day two. It has more chalky minerality and austerity compared to the Demi-Sec yet has brilliant honeyed grapefruit, tart green apple, wet stone, and sappy herb aromas and flavors that develop nicely with time in the glass, gaining richness, depth, and breadth with air. Medium-bodied, silky and elegant, with racy yet integrated acidity, it’s another wine that needs to be forgotten for a good 4-5 years, and it should evolve gracefully for a handful of decades.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Just Arrived

2008 Dom Perignon

A Legend in the Making

“The 2008 Champagnes that have been released so far capture all the potential I sensed when I first tasted the young vins clairs right after harvest. The 2008s are racy, energetic and tense, in the style of cool years like 1996, but with more fruit depth and less austerity. At the top end, the finest 2008 Champagnes are viscerally thrilling, chiseled wines that will soon be recognized as modern-day icons.…Of course wine is much more complex than numbers alone, but the first 2008s I have tasted point to an exceptional, and perhaps even legendary, vintage. 97+ points” – Antonio Galloni, on the 2008 Champagne Vintage

“Departing chef de caves Richard Geoffroy says that 2008 is his best DP vintage since 1990.” – Decanter

“The 2008 vintage of Dom Pérignon is an absolute classic in the making and this is destined to be one of the great recent years for this iconic cuvée.” – John Gilman, A View from the Cellar

#5 Wine of the Year – Wine Spectator Top 100 in 2018
Dom Perignon Brut, Champagne 2008 750ML ($249.95) $189 special
Antonio Galloni 98+ points “The 2008 Dom Pérignon is fabulous, but quite remarkably, it was even more open when I tasted it a year ago. Bright, focused and crystalline in its precision, the 2008 is going to need a number of years before it is at its best. Lemon peel, white flowers, mint and white pepper give the 2008 its chiseled, bright profile. Several recent bottles have all been magnificent. What I admire most about the 2008 is the way it shows all the focus, translucence and energy that is such a signature of the year, and yet it is also remarkably deep and vertical. In other words, the 2008 is a Champagne that plays in three dimensions.”
John Gilman 98 points “The 2008 vintage of Dom Pérignon is an absolute classic in the making and this is destined to be one of the great recent years for this iconic cuvée. It is far more classically structured out of the blocks than the relatively generous 2009 version, offering up a deep, complex and very youthful bouquet of menthol, green apple, a touch of tangerine, a very complex base of minerality and notes of dried flowers in the upper register. On the palate the wine is pure, full-bodied and rock solid at the core, with precise mousse, brisk acids and stunning length and grip on the primary and laser-like finish. This will demand some cellaring to start to really stir and should prove to be an extremely long-lived vintage of DP. Stellar juice.”
James Suckling 98 points “The best Dom since 2002. A vintage with very restrained, powerful style that has been released non-sequentially after the 2009. This has a lighter stamp of highly curated, autolytic, toasty aromas than many recent releases. Instead, this delivers super fresh and intense aromas of lemons, grapefruit and blood-orange peel. Incredible freshness here. The palate has a very smoothly delivered, berry-pastry thread with light, sweet spices, stone fruit and fine citrus fruit. This really delivers. Drink now or hold.”
Decanter 96 points “Departing chef de caves Richard Geoffroy says that 2008 is his best DP vintage since 1990. The first half of the growing season was dull and sunless, but good weather returned in mid-September and led to one of the longest harvests, running into October. The summer provided ideal conditions for a classic, cool, maritime vintage of exceptional, subtle aromas with minerality and freshness. This has a vibrant but controlled acidity, and is above all a memorable symbiosis of mature fruit and salinity derived from top terroirs. The poised mouthfeel makes this a perfect gastronomic wine, strong enough for spicy Asian cuisine from the Pacific rim, but still compatible with classics such as roast turbot and lobster.””
Wine Spectator 96 points “There’s power to this graceful Champagne, with the vivid acidity swathed in a fine, creamy mousse and flavors of toasted brioche, kumquat, pastry cream, candied ginger and poached plum that dance across the palate. An underpinning of smoky mineral gains momentum on the lasting finish. Drink now through 2033.”

Trending Wines of the Week

Now at a new, lower price, it’s moving fast.
Arnot-Roberts Sonoma Coast Syrah, California 2016 750ML ($49.95) $36 special
Antonio Galloni 92 points “The 2016 Syrah (Sonoma Coast) is dazzling. Inky and dark in its fruit profile, but also light on its feet, the 2016 is all class. Hints of lavender, black pepper, mint and cloves grace the palate in an exquisite, mid-weight Syrah that emphasizes freshness and nuance. Deceptively medium in body, the 2016 has enough underpinnings of structure to drink well for many years. This is a fabulous appellation-level Syrah.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

This is going to be trending until it sells out—a few more weeks.
Ameztoi Rubentis Rosado, Getariako Txakolina 2018 750ML ($24.95) $19.90 special
VinopolNote: The long-awaited and lightly fizzy pink from the Basque region in Spain! A staff favorite. Always light, bright, fresh, salty and fun. The perfect aperitif wine for spring and summer.

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Fantastic, classic Eola-Amity Hills Pinot Noir.
Grochau Cellars Zenith Vineyard Pinot Noir, Eola-Amity Hills 2013 750ML ($47.95) $28 special
Josh Raynolds – Vinous 93 points “Brilliant red. Powerful, spice-accented cherry and raspberry aromas are complemented by hints of candied rose, anise and smoky minerals. Sweet and focused on the palate, offering intense red and dark berry and spicecake flavors and a strong suggestion of floral pastilles. Rich yet lithe in the style, this elegant Pinot finishes with powerful, spicy thrust and silky, slow-building tannins that contribute shape and grip.”

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Kabinett Riesling is the perfect Spring beverage.
Weingut Jos. Christoffel Jr. Erdener Treppchen Riesling Kabinett, Mosel 2016 750ML ($34.95) $27 special
Mosel Fine Wines 91 points “This offers a beautiful nose of pear, citrusy fruits, brown sugar and herbs. The wine proves quite racy on the palate as lively acidity provides the frame to fresh and zesty fruits. The finish is refreshingly tart, with a nice salty side. Still a bit wild, the wine will gain in presence and elegance at maturity. 2023-2036.”
David Schildknecht-Vinous 90 points “Alluring, site-typical scents of lemongrass, sassafras and tangerine set the stage for a lusciously juicy, invigoratingly tangy, zesty palate impression. The finish is unabashedly sweet but so brightly juicy that it refreshes and calls forth the next sip. The vintage’s A.P. #1, this represents its first-picked fruit. But even then, we’re talking mid-October, so early picking goes only a little way toward explaining the modest degrees Oechsle on which this alcoholically featherweight bottling is founded. The vines themselves and how they are handled – certainly including the yields Christoffel permits – are important factors.”

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Dutton Ranch Chard under $20…no we aren’t kidding.
The Calling Dutton Ranch Chardonnay, Russian River Valley 2017 750ML ($29.95) $19 special
Case-12 The Calling Dutton Ranch Chardonnay, Russian River Valley 2017 750ML ($319.95) $199 special (that’s only $16.58/bottle!)
Winery Note “Fruit for this vintage was sourced from several locations within Dutton Ranch’s Russian River Valley vineyards. Plots in the warmer end of the valley contributed ripe tropical elements, while those from cooler areas lent minerality and a structural backbone.  Inviting notes of honeysuckle, white rose, lemon meringue and baked brioche on the nose. Balanced yet with crisp acidity on the palate with flavors of ripe Asian pear, melon and Meyer lemon with a lingering, elegant finish.”

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The average listed price is $28

Fragrant and delicious, perfect with a porch day.
Granito del Cadalso Garnacha Sierra de Gredos, Madrid 2016 750ML ($19.95) $16 special
Wine Advocate 90+ points “I tasted an unbottled sample last time, so it was time to review the bottled 2016 Granitos de Cadalso, which showed superbly, with great freshness and floral aromas, with great finesse and detail. I also liked the palate very much, where the austere and strict tannins from the granite are very noticeable. This has a great combination of approachability and seriousness. This is a great value! 14,000 bottles were filled in June 2017.”

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Top value Northern Rhone goodness.
Cave Yves Cuilleron ‘Les Vignes d’a Cote’ Syrah, Rhone 2017 750ML ($21.95) $18 special
Grapelive 92 points “One of the Northern Rhone’s top guns, Yves Cuilleron, is making some of the best wine of his career… While his 2015 and 2016 were absolutely awesome, this 2017 looks just as good if not better!… While most known for his Condrieu and Cote-Rotie, [Yves] also makes a stellar collection of Saint-Joseph, Cornas and Crozes-Hermitage as well as a line of varietal wines including this 100% Syrah from granite and alluvial soils near his village, Chavanay, near the border with the Crozes zone, in the Collines Rhodaniennes, in a steep parcel of vines… This 2017 Les Vignes d’a Cote is striking and with exceptional varietal character. [It shows] a deep purple/garnet color in the glass with a beautiful perfume of crushed violets, primary black and blue fruits, spices and camphor notes that not only come through on the nose, but transfer to the palate as well. There is ripe blueberry, plum and black cherry fruits as well as subtle creme de cassis, black olive, fresh ground peppercorns, faint cedar and anise. The mouthfeel is richer and more substantial than you’d expect from this bottling, highlighting what looks like a great vintage in the making. The Cuilleron elegance and finesse is on full display. This is a case-worthy, if not more, wine to enjoy over the next couple of years while you cellar your Cote-Rotie, Saint-Joseph and/or Crozes-Hermitage!”

One of the most distinctive SB’s we’ve tasted. Fantastic.
Massican Sauvignon Blanc, Napa Valley 2017 750ML ($39.95) $33 special
Winery note “Sauvignon blanc – 100%. The 2017 vintage in Napa Valley will always be remembered because of the wildfires that began in the late evening of Sunday, October 8. The fires spread with lightening speed because of the heavy winds that night and not only many homes were lost but also many lives in the area. Each day we take a step to repair the physical and emotional loss due to the fires but we will never forget how fragile our planet is and how quickly mother nature will remind us of the breadth and ferocity of her power.”

Just Arrived

The Iconic Wines of Paolo Bea

Paolo Bea is an iconic producer—a virtual one-winery symbol of Umbrian wine and it’s potential.  No winery in the region produces wines as profound, interesting and delicious as the Italian masters (son Giampero is the winemaker these days).

If you’ve had these before, keep scrolling to check out the new releases—if not, pay attention.  These are wines that capture the wildness of Umbrian wine and its signature grape, Sagrantino, in a way that captivates even the most jaded palates.  They’re naturally made, but have classical proportions, with an almost savage ferocity to the flavors (and in the Sagrantino, the tannins as well).  They’ve become quite hard to acquire in recent years (we guess the word’s gotten out), but we have some of the new wines that just arrived.  These are in stock, at least until they sell out (which is probably not too long for now)

In Stock Now:

Paolo Bea Pagliaro Secco, Sagrantino di Montefalco DOCG 2012 750ML ($109.95) $89 special
Importer Note “The fabled local grape of Montefalco is the Sagrantino and the Pagliaro vineyard, situated at 1300 feet in altitude, is dedicated in large part to this grape variety. The harvest of Sagrantino normally occurs during the second half of October. The cuvaison extends for forty to fifty days. The wines is then aged for one year in stainless steel, another two years in large Slavonian oak barrels and, finally, spends one more year in bottle (the wine, like all Bea wines, is unfiltered) before release. Annual production from the Pagliaro vineyard is 15,000 to 20,000 bottles.”

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The next best price is $94.99
The average listed price is $99

Paolo Bea San Valentino Rosso, Umbria IGT 2012 750ML ($59.95) $47 special
Importer Note “This wine is sourced from the San Valentino vineyard in Montefalco the soil of which is dominated by clay. The vineyard is at 1300 feet altitude. The composition of the Montefalco Rosso is 70% Sangiovese, 15% Sagrantino and 15% Montepulciano, all from a 50-year old vineyard containing the constituent grapes. Harvest usually occurs in the final ten days of October. Bea puts all the dry reds through extensive cuvaison. In this instance, the wine usually macerates for approximately 30 days before being racked and prepared for the malolactic fermentation. The wine is aged for 3 years in stainless steel and an additional 4 to 12 months in bottle before release.”

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Paolo Bea Arboreus Bianco, Umbria IGT 2012 750ML ($74.95) $66 special
Importer Note “Arboreus, Umbria Bianco Arboreus: is made from a Trebbiano clone known as Trebbiano Spoletino which is trained so that the fruit hangs high above the ground. The vineyards are planted in the low hills between Trevi and Montefalco at an elevation of 650 to 700 feet with a range of parcels facing both to the east and to the southwest. The soil is essentially clay and gravel. Harvest generally occurs during the first two weeks of October. The wine is left in contact with the skins for up to three weeks or more and is then aged in stainless steel tanks for at least two years prior to bottling. Sulfur is never added. Annual production is in the range of 3000 bottles.”

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Oregon

Patton Valley Vineyard Petillant Naturel Pinot Noir Rose, Willamette Valley 2018 750ML ($29.95) $21.90 special
Winery Note “We take our lovely Estate Pinot noir, grown specifically to be rosé, and let it sparkle. Once primary fermentation slows, the wine is left to settle before racking off of its primary lees. At bottling, a tiny 13g/l dosage of sugar is introduced and the few remaining yeast cells are left to provide the sparkle and lees-y feel as it turns into alcohol and CO2. Not disgorging makes it hazy but creates broader palate weight, pleasing textures, and balance throughout. Best consumed in one sitting.  The nose is fresh fruit and mineral – like a new bottle of Flintstone’s Chewables – and the palate is lively, playful, and electric. Lithe red fruit and citrus ride alongside the splashes of fizz, and the lees broaden the palate… just enough. Good with or without food, this is just plain great”

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The crisp, clean Willamette classic returns in a new vintage!
Ayres Pinot Blanc, Willamette Valley 2018 750ML ($19.95) $17 special
Winery note “Clean, crisp, and refreshing.  Some things in life are just easy – like a perfectly chilled bottle of Pinot Blanc paired with abundant sunshine! Mineral tones and citrus highlights deliver an instantly refreshing sensation to your palate!”

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Savory, bright and focused.  Really delightful.
Johan Vineyards Estate Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2015 750ML ($31.95) $28 special
John Gilman 93+ points “The 2015 Estate Vineyard pinot noir from Johan Vineyards comes in at a cool 12.5 percent octane, was fermented with a bit more than forty percent whole clusters and was raised in thirty percent new oak in this vintage. The wine offers up a beautifully youthful bouquet of cherries, red berries, beet root, a fair bit of youthful sweet stem tones, a complex base of soil, a touch of mustard seed and a discreet framing of cedary oak. On the palate the wine is pure, tangy and full-bodied, with a lovely core of fruit, excellent mineral drive, moderate tannins and a very long, complex and youthful finish. This needs four or five years of bottle age to allow its stems to morph into the spice spectrum (unless one is not deterred by the more savory side of whole clusters), but it is going to be flat out stunning when it really starts to settle into its plateau of maturity. 2024-2055+”

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Kelley Fox Wines ‘Momtazi Vineyard’ Pinot Noir, McMinnville 2016 750ML ($37.95) $33 special
Grapelive 95+ points “The gorgeously expressive 2016 Momtazi Pinot is spicy, vibrant and perfumed with a beautiful crimson/ruby hue in the glass. As in 2015, Fox notes, this bottling is again 100% whole cluster, and it clearly shows in this wines intensity and tension. Kelley Fox has made another awesome wine, and while the vintage was ripe this bottling is fresh and precise in detail making it a stunning effort that is absolutely thrilling, especially if you like stem inclusion. It’s a wine that should only get better and better over the next decade! The all-biodynamic Momtazi Vineyard always shows mineral and exotic spices resting on basalt from volcanoes this site has cooling breezes, dramatically set west of McMinnville with some east facing slopes. Fox likes to highlight the terroir here, so she used no new wood at all, just neutral Burgundy barrels, native yeasts and this vintage came in at 13% natural alcohol, allowing the vitality and energy to flow freely in a pure, richly textured and balanced wine. The nose is explosive with wild flowers, dark berries, minty herbs (stems) and red peppery spices which leads to a medium full palate of black cherry, strawberry jam, plum and tangy currant/berry fruits along with star anise, cinnamon and liquid violets adding a hint of green tea, blood orange and pomegranate with just a kiss of earthy chard and subtle oak. I cannot believe how great this wine is, after falling so hard for the 2015, it was with incredibly high expectations I tried this vintage 2016. It floored me, and I would be hard pressed to pick a favorite, but after time in the glass this 2016 even seduced me further still. It’s tightly wound personality and the stemmy drive might not be for everyone, but for me it’s a total thrill and the potential here is off the carts. I’m putting a bottle away for 5 to 10 years. Kelley Fox has mastered her craft and style to near perfection. This latest set of wines is simply awesome, it particular her Freedom Hill Pinot Blanc and the 2015 and 2016 Momtazi Pinot Noir(s). These are do not miss wines from Oregon. This again is an impressive lineup from a huge talent.”

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The next best price is $49.99

We’re stocking up on (very) large formats for wedding season.  Grab some now.
Andre Clouet Grande Reserve Brut, Champagne NV 1.5L ($99.95) $89 special
Andre Clouet Grande Reserve Brut, Champagne NV 6L ($599.95) $519 special
Importer note “Initially showing a very fresh bouquet of high toned fruits with hints of hazelnuts and yeasty aromas, the Grande Réserve cuvée displays highly structured red fruit notes on the palate for which the area is so famous. Long lees aging, low dosage and Grand Cru Pinot Noir fruit combine for an opulent yet balanced Champagne.”

Tarlant Zero Brut Nature, Champagne NV 750ML ($59.95) $49 special
Disgorged August 2017
Antonio Galloni 92 points “The NV Brut Nature Zero is a gorgeous entry-level Champagne. Bright, focused and wonderfully nuanced, the Brut Zero exudes class. Citrus, orchard fruit and vibrant floral notes add energy throughout. This is very nicely done. The current release is based on the 2010 vintage, with reserve wines from 2009, 2008 and 2007.” Review is for March 2017 disgorgement.

The easier-to-find analogue to Pepiere’s Briords.
Domaine Pierre Luneau-Papin Muscadet Sevre-et-Maine Sur Lie Clos des Allees Vieilles Vignes 2016 750ML ($21.95) $18 special
Wine Enthusiast 91 points “Rich and fruity, this has straightforward apple and citrus flavors. It is packed with fruitiness, a zesty character and flavors of almonds and spice, finishing with great acidity. Drink now.”

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You keep selling it out, we keep bringing it back.
Chateau de Saint Cosme Cotes du Rhone Les Deux Albion, Rhone 2016 750ML ($24.95) $19 special
Grapelive 93 points “Louis Barruol uniquely with the Chateau version of Cotes du Rhone, Les Deux Albions, uses multiple vineyard sites to gain complexity, but still co-ferments all the grapes (together) which includes mainly Syrah, but with a good dose of Grenache, Carignan, Mourvèdre and Clairette. This 2016 is gripping stuff, deep and earthy highlighting its 100% whole cluster fermentation and Syrah-based power, especially in such a vintage. This is very serious stuff. This is not your grandpa’s Cotes du Rhone. In fact it would be hard not to think of this as a full blown Chateauneuf or Crozes-Hermitage. This wine comes from parcels of vines that are set on hardened clay hillsides of ancient alluvium, along with limestone marl and rocky pebbles with southern exposures mostly, but with enough elevation and the Mistral that gives acidity, so this inky dark wine has fantastic structure and solid tannins. The Les Deux Albions is raised in a combination of unique wooden vats with a truncated cone shape and concrete tanks. This serves this wine well allowing the terroir and old school character to excel. It’s a brilliant Rhone and a killer value. Dark meaty and leathery notes lead the way along with a bouquet of melted salty black licorice, crushed violets that leads to a bold palate of boysenberry, black plums, peppercorns, dried aromatic herbs, lavender oil, cedar and lingering blueberry all of which unfold in lively and vigorous layers. It’s a full bodied red that just gets better and better with each and every sip.”
Wine Spectator 91 points “A solid, slightly gutsy version that sports dark cherry, plum and cassis flavors inlaid liberally with violet, pepper and bramble notes. Reveals a flash of licorice root on the finish. Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre and Cinsault. Drink now through 2020. 4,000 cases made.”

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Italy

Gulfi’s top value bottling returns and is stellar as always.
Gulfi Nerojbleo Nero d’Avola Sicilia IGT, Sicily 2015 750ML ($21.95) $18 special
James Suckling 93 points “The balance and juiciness to this wine is beautiful. Dried cherries and berries with hints of fresh herbs and flower petals follow through to a medium to full body, silky tannins and a delicious finish. From organically grown grapes. Drink now.”
Wine Advocate 90 points “The 2015 Nerojbleo (an IGT Terre Siciliane wine) shows a fruit-forward approach with plump cherry and summer plum that rise to the top of the bouquet with a direct and immediate personality. The quality of the fruit is ripe, dense, dark and very black in character. This is a mid-weight Sicilian wine to pair with fried chicken or spicy pork. This wine is perhaps easier in style, but I like the fresh transparency you get here. Some 80,000 bottles were made.”-ML

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Argentina

The Cabernet’s been selling like hotcakees and the Malbec might be better.
Casarena Kaoki’s Vineyard Malbec, Mendoza 2014 750ML ($29.95) $24 special
Wine Advocate 92 points “I also tasted the 2014 Malbec Naoki’s Vineyard, from a slightly warmer and riper vintage, but they compensated it with an earlier harvest and achieved lower alcohol in the wine. This was the fourth productive year for the vines, which yielded more grapes, and they were able to produce some 30,000 bottles. The fourth crop from new vines usually yields very concentrated juice full of flavors and aromas, as it’s the first time the plant is able to produce enough grapes as the root system should be properly established and it feels like the plant has been waiting to express itself. It combines some herbal aromas with plenty of violets, very floral and aromatic. The palate revealed fine tannins and very good acidity and balance. The violets kept growing as the wine sat in the glass. Very showy. Quite impressive, especially for a warmer, riper year.”
Stephen Tanzer-Vinous 92 points “(from vines on a plateau above Agrelo on the eastern side of the valley; the amount of limestone in this soil is unusual for the area, which is not normally a prime place for Malbec): Bright red-ruby. Highly aromatic perfume of blackberry, violet and licorice, plus a touch of peppery wildness; I was reminded both of Pinot Noir and northern Rhône Syrah. Plush, savory, pungent wine with distinctive limestone energy giving the middle palate a light touch. Utterly fine-grained wine with terrific subtle flavor intensity and grip. Finishes with very smooth tannins and lovely rising floral length. A very complex, penetrating Malbec with lovely restrained sweetness.”

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Natural Wine Superstar

Francois Plouzeau’s Fresh & Clean Delights

Vinopolis Highlight

Cameron’s Single Vineyard Pinot and Chard

Cameron holds a special place in the heart of anyone who loves Oregon wine.  Winemaker John Paul has been making some of the best wines to come out of the Willamette Valley since 1984.  The wines have Burgundian sensibilities, in that they age extremely well and have impeccable balance, but they are as ‘Oregon’ as they come.  If you were to ask a selection of winemakers here who their top 5 wineries are; Cameron will be in every list.

There are two main vineyards, Clos Electrique and Abbey Ridge, both in the Dundee Hills AVA.  The Clos (named after the electric deer fence that surrounds the property) makes slightly more powerful wines, while Abbey Ridge (at higher elevation) produces wines with a little more acidity and structure.  The whites are complex and intense as well, though they seem to have inverted personalities from the Pinots.

By any standard, these are some of the best wines produced in the US.  They’ve become staples here at the shop for good reason—each vintage seems to be a classic and the wines are exceptionally well priced for what they are.  Both 2015 and ’16 were exceptional vintages for Cameron, with 2016 having a bit more finesse and elegance.  It’s been a little while since we’ve highlighted these wines, but we’re running down our stock and thought we’d put the spotlight on them another time for good measure.

In Stock Now:

Cameron Winery ‘Abbey Ridge’ Chardonnay, Dundee Hills 2015 750ML ($79.95) $66 special
Josh Raynolds – Vinous 91 points “Limpid yellow. Anjou pear, Meyer lemon and chamomile scents, along with hints of fennel and sweet butter. Dry and sharply focused in the mouth, offering dried orchard fruit and citrus marmalade flavors; a late suggestion of melon adds succulence and depth. Finishes with very good cling, leaving bitter citrus pith and pear nectar notes behind.”
VinopolNote: Abbey Ridge sits high atop the Dundee Hills; a collection of vines planted on their own roots in the mid-70’s. It’s unquestionably one of the most special sites in the Willamette Valley and though it’s better known for Pinot Noir, the Abbey Chard is fantastic.  This is the most limited of the Chardonnay bottlings from Cameron and isn’t produced every year (there was no 2014 version).

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Cameron Winery ‘Abbey Ridge’ Chardonnay, Dundee Hills 2016 750ML ($79.95) $59 special
VinopolNote: Abbey Ridge sits high atop the Dundee Hills; a collection of vines planted on their own roots in the mid-70’s. It’s unquestionably one of the most special sites in the Willamette Valley and though it’s better known for Pinot Noir, the Abbey Chard is fantastic.  This is the most limited of the Chardonnay bottlings from Cameron and isn’t produced every year (there was no 2014 version).

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The next best price is $72
That’s a difference of $13/btl!

Cameron Winery Clos Electrique Blanc, Dundee Hills 2016 750ML ($79.95) $59 special
Cameron Winery Clos Electrique Blanc, Dundee Hills 2016 1.5L ($189.95) $159 special
VinopolNote: The Clos Electrique is Cameron’s estate vineyard, named after the electric deer fence that surrounds it.  This is planted to a mix of clones and is vinified traditionally—no racking and all in older barrels.  This is crisp and coiled, with distinct minerality and a lot of power in a lithe frame.  Like most vintages of the Electrique Blanc, this is quite good now but will be stellar in a few years.

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Cameron Winery ‘Abbey Ridge’ Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2016 750ML ($79.95) $59 special
VinopolNote: Abbey Ridge is one of the most hallowed sites in the Willamette Valley.  Planted in 1975, the Pinot Noir here is own rooted and at one of the highest elevations in the Dundee Hills.  The elevation and classic Jory soils give the wine an intense personality—high toned, elegant and tensile, with good power and a strong voice.  This bottling has been one of the defining Oregon Pinots since John Paul started making it.

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The next best price is $71.99
That’s a difference of over $12/btl

Cameron Winery Clos Electrique Rouge, Willamette Valley 2016 750ML ($79.95) $59 special
VinopolNote: Named after the electrified deer fence surrounding the vineyard, the Clos Electrique is the estate vineyard surrounding Cameron’s winery.  Located just up the road from Maresh vineyard, on Worden Hill Road, it’s in the promised land of the Dundee Hills and the wines deliver.  This is always the meatiest, most primal Pinot of the Cameron lineup.  We love it for its intense savoriness and quiet power—every year this is an absolute treat to drink.

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The Most Exciting Spanish Wines We’ve Tasted?

The Beautiful Montsant Wines of Vinyes D’en Gabriel

Perhaps no winery epitomizes the promise of the new Montsant like Vinyes D’en Gabriel.  Farmed without chemicals, these vineyards (up to 150 years old!) contain a mix of Samsó (Carignan), Garnacha and Syrah and the resulting wines are all varied and distinctive.  From the low to the high end, these wines captivated us like few others we’ve tasted recently.

Montsant is a great undiscovered land for lovers of Spanish wines. Based in the mountains just southwest of Barcelona, the DO forms a ring around the more famous Priorat.  Despite its more famous neighbor and proximity to a major city, Montsant remains an area where aspiring vintners can still afford land studded with old vines—and that’s what makes it one of the hottest regions in the world of Spanish wine. Those old vines, combined with unique soils, produce wines that are singular in Spain and at prices that are imminently reasonable for their quality.

Although close to Priorat, Montsant’s soils are radically different—limestone and clay to Priorat’s shiste and slate.  As a result, the best wines of Montsant have a nearly Burgundian feel to them—the acidity and precision of flavors mirrors those legendary French wines born of similar soils.  This being Spain, though, there’s a warmth and generosity to the flavors that’s unmistakable.

We just purchased a bunch of wines from Vinyes D’en Gabriel, across their entire range.  The number of different wines we brought in should tell you how exemplary these are, especially for their prices.  We’d recommend ordering a varied selection of their wines to get a sense of the varying styles and profiles the wines can carry and go from there!

In Stock Now:

Vinyes D’en Gabriel Plan Elle Carignane, Montsant 2014 750ML ($41.95) $36 special
VinopolNote: 100% Samso (the Catalan word for Carignan), this is richer and denser than you’d expect from the grape, though it still has all of that trademark lift and brightness.  This is sourced from some of the oldest vines in the property, in a mix of clay, sandy and limestone soils and aged in a variety of barrel sizes before bottling.

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Vinyes D’en Gabriel Garnatxa “Finesse,” Montsant 2015 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 special
VinopolNote: The “Finesse” and “Secret” bottlings are a fascinating pair.  Produced from two sides of the same high-elevation vineyard that is planted to 100% Garnatxa.  The “Finesse” comes from a section with limestone soils and is brighter, with a floral lift and delicacy that you’d associate with that terroir.  The “Secret” bottling comes from a section of the vineyard that is predominantly red (volcanic) clay and has more power, body and a gamey quality that’s unique.  Both are delicious and exceptional values.

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Vinyes D’en Gabriel Garnatxa “Secret,” Montsant 2015 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 special
VinopolNote: The “Finesse” and “Secret” bottlings are a fascinating pair.  Produced from two sides of the same high-elevation vineyard that is planted to 100% Garnatxa.  The “Finesse” comes from a section with limestone soils and is brighter, with a floral lift and delicacy that you’d associate with that terroir.  The “Secret” bottling comes from a section of the vineyard that is predominantly red (volcanic) clay and has more power, body and a gamey quality that’s unique.  Both are delicious and exceptional values.

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Vinyes d’en Gabriel L’Heravi Crianza, Montsant 2014 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 special
Winery note “50% Garnatxa from 80 year old vines, 50% Samso (Carignan) from 70 year old vines. L’Heravi Criança is a rich, deep cherry red with hints of violet at the rim. On the nose it is complex and refined, a blend of red fruit and wild flowers, surrounded by subtle spice and mineral notes that evoke the land from which it is produced. In the mouth it is approachable and elegant, with a good tannic structure giving it depth. The finish is long and freshly aromatic. It will continue to display its qualities over the next ten years and more.”

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Vinyes d’en Gabriel Mans de Samso, Montsant 2014 750ML ($99.95) $79 special
Winery note “Brilliant intense colour with shades of violet indicating long life, with an intense nose in which the montsant terroir predominates.  Presence of balsamic aromas from pine trees to honeycomb, touches of liquorice, mineral notes, aniseed with hints of fennel, cherry. In the mouth it is seductively moreish, full-bodied and well structured. The retronasal perception is of great aromatic complexity, with mineral notes alongside preserved fruit and fruits of the forest.”

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Vinyes d’en Gabriel L’Heravi, Montsant 2017 750ML ($19.95) $16 special
Case-12 Vinyes d’en Gabriel L’Heravi, Montsant 2017 750ML ($219.95) $169 special (that’s only $14.08/bottle!)
Winery note “L’Heravi Joven is seductive, a rich cherry colour with hints of purple. It has a potent bouquet, with notes of red fruit, wild herbs and just a touch of sweet confectionery. In the mouth it is smooth and elegant, with intense flavours accompanied by freshness and nicely integrated tannins. It will continue to display its qualities over the next 3 years or so.”

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Assorted New Champagne Arrivals

Rene Geoffroy Rose de Saignee Premier Cru Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($79.95) $49 special
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 93 points “Macerated for a couple of hours on the skins, this NV Rosé de Saignée Brut Premier Cru is 100% Pinot Noir and is entirely based on the 2013 vintage. Disgorged in September 2017 with a dosage of eight grams per liter, this has a beautifully deep and intense Pinot character with red fruit aromas on the nose. Full, round and vinous on the palate, with great elegance, complexity and expression, this is a gorgeous Rosé with great purity, elegance and intense fruitiness. Jean-Baptiste Geoffroy is truly a master of the saignée method. Tasted April 2018.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $70

Rene Geoffroy Empreinte Premier Cru Brut, Champagne 2009 750ML ($69.95) $49 special
Antonio Galloni 92 points “The 2009 Brut Cuvée Empreinte emerges from a parcel of 30 year-old vines in Cumières. Vinification and aging in oak gives the wine its sensual contours. Smoke, almond, dried pear and hazelnut lead into an expressive, layered finish. The radiance of the vintage works to flesh out some of the natural austerity of Cumières, while the wine’s balance is absolutely impeccable. Oak influences are felt, but add to the wine’s breadth rather than marking the wine excessively. Dosage is 6 grams per liter. Disgorged: December 2015.”
Wine Advocate 92 points “Disgorged in October 2015 with six grams of dosage, the 2009 Empreinte Brut Premier Cru is an assemblage of 70% Pinot Noir, 20% Chardonnay and 5% Meunier vinified in oak (barrels and foudres). It opens with a clear, intense and complex nose of white fruits along with some hints of hazelnuts, nougat and oak. Full-bodied, this is a mouth-filling Champagne with a creamy and very elegant texture, as well as very good structure. Still young and firm, this is a promising Champagne for the next 5-10 years.”
Wine Spectator 92 points “Flavors of white cherry, pastry and mandarin orange peel are layered with a subtle steak of smoke and spice in this bright and mouthwatering Champagne. Long and creamy. Disgorged September 2016. Drink now through 2027. 120 cases imported.

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $61

A. Margaine Brut Rose, Champagne NV 750ML ($59.95) $49 special
Wine & Spirits 93 points “Mostly chardonnay, this rose includes 23 percent pinot noir, one-third of that as red wine, all of it from Villers-Marmery. Its subtle strawberry scents and more powerful red-fruit flavors have an effortless balance, just sweet enough to hold the woodsy notes of tree bark and forest-berry tartness at bay. Generous in the middle, the wine tightens toward the finish, leaving a clean, bright impression. A lovely aperitif, especially with poached prawns.” [Review is for Oct 2017 disgorgement]
Terry Theise note “Arnaud’s energetic daughter Mathilde hinted she might wish to change the label on this wine, whereupon we all made Edvard Munch Scream faces and pleaded with her to leave it be. In any case the wine, after suffering from 2011’s predations, is strongly back in form the past two years. Base of 2014, it’s 75% CH, 13% PN and 10% still red PN. Disg 12/2016, this is a sheer version of this dewy-fruited being, all class and spring water purity. It’s as pretty as strawberries you never forgot because they were so divine.”

New Grapelive Review

For a Barbaresco Favorite

In Stock Now:

Ca’ del Baio ‘Autinbej’, Barbaresco DOCG 2015 750ML ($34.95) $28 special
Case-12 Ca’ del Baio ‘Autinbej’, Barbaresco DOCG 2015 750ML ($419.95) $299 special (that’s only $24.92/bottle!)
Grapelive 93 points “The 2015 Autinbej was traditionally crafted and fermented with maceration on the skins from 9 to 15 days in stainless steel tanks at controlled temperatures to preserve aromatics and fresh detail. The Grasso’s try to use only native yeasts and low sulfur in their wines, along with the sustainable vineyard practices are looking to make as a natural expression as possible. In the case of this Autinbej, it’s a blend of different crus….The resulting Barbaresco matured for 24 months in large Slavonian oak barrels (boti) followed by bottle aging for at least four months before its release, and while like most Nebbiolo based wines in the region it can and will age extremely well and effortlessly for a long time, but this one, especially in this vintage with it’s heady flavors and smooth tannins can be drunk young. This is a winery on the rise, in 2016 Giulio received a great honor, he was named “Viticulturist of the Year” by the very prestigious Gambero Rosso Italian Wine Guide….There is a lot to love here with this Nebbiolo showing a raw sex appeal in the glass with a cascade of flavors and sensations including rose petals, minty herbs, strawberry preserves, damson plum and kirsch along with black licorice, mineral, cedar, coco and hint of orange rind. The palate is chewy and youthful, but air allows this ruby/garnet and dark brick hued Barbaresco unwind and flow seamlessly in the mouth, this is impressive stuff, especially with matching cuisine and robust food choices. If this one is anything to go by then I’m going to be thrilled by the single cru bottlings and the Asili Reserva, as well as the basic Langhe Nebbiolo, if you haven’t heard of Ca’ del Baio, you should search some out soon.”

The Brave and Romantic

Domaine Garon’s Epic Cote Rotie

Let’s begin with a short digression about Cornas. When I first read Kermit Lynch’s Adventures on the Wine Route, the section that stuck most with me was the heartbreaking story of the lost vines of Cornas. As winemakers increasingly elected to seek their fortunes elsewhere rather than work the rustic and difficult slope of Cornas or chose to farm on the easier valley floor, weeds, trees and eventually houses took over the terraced vineyards. Vineyards were abandoned as modernity took root, and something was lost.

What does this have to do with the neighboring appellation of Cote Rotie? Well, such a loss is not limited to Cornas alone. The abandonment of backbreaking work in difficult terrains happens elsewhere, too, including in Cote Rotie.

Yet, against all logic and practicality, it seems, some brave souls are not only continuing the work in their families’ vineyards, these hardy few are even seeking out abandoned vineyards to reclaim the former glory of these forgotten times. Crazy? Illogical? Romantic? Perhaps. But far be it from me to argue with the results.

If you’re unfamiliar with Domaine Garon, know that the family goes back hundreds of years in and around Ampuis. The domaine as we know it was started in the early 80’s, as they began to reclaim old, abandoned vineyards in Cote Rotie. The replanted vineyards were farmed carefully and sustainably, and for years the fruit was sold to negociants. Once the restored vineyards were old enough, the family started bottling the “Les Triotes.” Various higher-tier cuvees followed as the years progressed.

These are wines that appeal to the head, the heart and some instinctive sense of nostalgia.  The quality of the fruit is evident from first sip—there’s a power and complexity to the wines that only comes from premier sites farmed by a master.  The wines are mostly destemmed, with some, but not too much new oak and as a result these can be delicious and polished when young.  With age, they turn into some of the greatest wines of Cote Rotie.  These beauties just arrived, straight from the importer, and belong in any collector’s cellar.

In Stock Now:

Domaine Garon Condrieu La Vieille Maison, Rhone 2017 750ML ($59.95) $49 special

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Domaine Garon ‘Les Grandes Parcelles’ Syrah, IGP Collines Rhodaniennes 2017 750ML ($29.95) $24 special
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 88-90 points “Lurid violet. Aromas of fresh, spice-accented black and blue fruits and licorice are given a spicy edge by a peppery flourish. Silky and appealingly sweet, offering juicy blueberry and cassis flavors that firm up steadily on the back half. Finishes on a subtly tannic note, featuring lingering blue fruit and pepper notes.”

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Domaine Garon Cotes du Rhone ‘La Part des Vivants’ 2017 750ML ($21.95) $16.60 special

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Domaine Garon Cote Rotie Les Triotes, Rhone 2016 750ML ($69.95) $59 special
Domaine Garon Cote Rotie Les Triotes, Rhone 2016 1.5L ($149.95) $119 special
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 92 points “(40% new oak) Opaque ruby. Smoky, mineral-accented cherry and blueberry scents are complicated by hints of vanilla, Indian spices and licorice. Supple and broad on the palate, offering pliant blackberry and bitter cherry flavors that become sweeter as the wine opens up. A sexy floral pastille note emerges on the clinging finish, which shows excellent clarity and gentle, slow-building tannins.”
Jeb Dunnuck 91-93 points “From a mix of the La Triotes, Mollard, Combard, and Lancement lieux-dits, the 2016 Côte Rôtie Les Triotes is charming and elegant, with lots of black raspberries, vanilla oak, candied flowers and hints of meatiness. Medium to full-bodied, elegant and silky on the palate, it’s going to drink nicely right out of the gate, yet should evolve gracefully on its balance.”
Wine Advocate 90-92 points “The 2016 Cote Rotie Les Triotes is a blend of the domaine’s parcels in the Côte Blond that will spend 18 months in oak. It doesn’t have the excitement of the lieu-dit wines, but it’s solidly made, offering hints of cedar and vanilla over red berries. It’s medium to full-bodied, with a plush texture and a long, velvety finish.”

This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast for the 750ml!
This is the only listing in the USA today for the magnum!

Domaine Garon Cote Rotie Lancement, Rhone 2016 750ML ($179.95) $138 special
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 94 points “(50% new oak and 50% whole clusters) Vivid purple. Candied cherry, blueberry, Moroccan spices and olive paste on the exotically perfumed nose. Silky, seamless and sweet on the palate, offering juicy, spice-laced black and blue fruit, floral pastille and spicecake flavors that tighten up slowly on the back half. A smoky mineral note comes up on the strikingly long finish, which is framed by smooth, well-integrated tannins.”
Wine Advocate 92-94 points “The medium to full-bodied 2016 Cote Rotie Lancement is a stunning, seductive example of Cote Rotie, with fine herbal notes entwined around ripe blueberries and cracked spices. It’s creamy through the mid-palate and onto the plush finish, where it picks up hints of mocha and mint.”
Jeb Dunnuck 92-94 points “The most aromatic of the lineup is the 2016 Côte Rôtie Lancement, 100% Syrah that was 70% destemmed and will see 20 months in French oak. It’s loaded with notes of incense, dried violets, white pepper and assorted red and blue fruits. Medium to full-bodied, elegant and seamless on the palate, with building, fine tannin, it shines for its purity and length and is an impressive barrel sample.”

This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!

Domaine Garon Cote Rotie Les Rochins, Rhone 2016 750ML ($119.95) $89 special
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 93 points “(40% new oak) Bright violet. Smoke- and mineral-accented aromas of dark berries, cherry pie and vanilla, along with a hint of olive in the background. Supple, broad and sweet on the palate, offering concentrated black raspberry, spicecake and violet pastille flavors and a snap of smoky minerality on the back half. Shows impressive energy and detail and reveals no rough edges. Finishes velvety and quite long, displaying excellent focus, even tannins and lingering spiciness.”
Jeb Dunnuck 92-94 points “The 2016 Côte Rôtie Les Rochins from Garon is a more modern styled beauty that has plenty of toasty oak and vanilla, yet also has ample classic black raspberry, spice and floral nuances. It’s ripe, medium-bodied, beautifully balanced and polished, and is loaded with charm. This cuvée is 100% Syrah and includes 20% stems.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Domaine Garon Cote Rotie La Sybarine, Rhone 2017 750ML ($59.95) $49 special
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 90-93 points “Brilliant purple. Ripe dark berries, olive and hints of camphor and cracked pepper on the fragrant nose. Sweet and energetic on the palate, offering juicy black and blue fruit flavors that pick up succulent floral and spice notes as the wine opens up. In a lively, precise style, showing very good clarity and length on a gently tannic finish that leaves olive paste and cassis notes behind.”

This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!

Previously Sold Out

Occhipinti’s Il Frappato is Back in Stock!

Arianna Occhipinti makes some of the most beloved wines in the world.  Bright, fresh and fragrant (in both colors), they don’t conform to stereotypes about what Sicilian wine is or should be.  Rather, they’re born from a cool spot on the island (Vittoria) where lighter grapes (Frappato) grow and where the breeze produces wines that have a verve and spark that’s unique.  Her wines speak very much of this place—elegant, perfumed and full of flavor and life.

We buy as much of these as we can, whether the blended, entry level SP68 line or the higher end, single varietal (or single vineyard wines).  All are delightful (and sell briskly enough that we’ve already devoted more time to them here than we probably should).  Her Il Frappato arrived last Friday and didn’t last 24 hours in the shop, so we’ve brought in a few more cases to try and satiate that intense demand.

In Stock Now:

Azienda Agricola Arianna Occhipinti Il Frappato Sicilia IGT, Sicily 2016 750ML ($49.95) $36 special
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 92+ points “The 2016 Il Frappato is another surprise hit from a vintage that was not easy generally speaking. This wine is chiseled and focused, showing a pretty mineral note that is carried forth from start to finish. The wine is delicate and finessed with small berry nuances, dried blackberry, cherry and pencil shaving. This is an elegant and graceful red wine from Sicily.”

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Bedrock’s New/Old California

You’d be forgiven for thinking Morgan Twain-Peterson was taking a free ride into the industry, his father Joel Peterson founded Ravenswood, but you’d soon learn that he is blazing his own, very opinionated and talented trail. Morgan’s passion is preservation of California’s heritage vineyards and the myriad of varietals not found anywhere else. Most notably, the focus of Bedrock is their ancient vines: gnarled old dinosaurs poking their heads up through cracked and ancient soil: varietals like Carignane, Mourvedre, Tempranillo, Alicante Bouschet, Valdigué, Peloursin, and Petite Bouschet to name a few. These vines, in Twain-Peterson’s view, represent so much more than California’s history. They represent a wine that is uniquely Californian, a style not to be found or replicated anywhere else in the world. This is could well be California’s future. These wines aren’t shy, but the surprisingly lithe aromatics and spice notes are delicate and only get better with time. They’ve got the fruit and depth that you would expect from California, but they’re tight, structured and will reward patience.

Just Arrived, In Stock Now:

The most fragrant and elegant of Bedrock’s single vineyard wines.
Bedrock Wine Co. Evangelho Vineyard Heritage Red, Contra Costa County 2017 750ML ($39.95) $36 special
Wine Spectator 94 points “Distinctive, showing briary complexity, with deep and expressive smoky anise, black cherry, black olive and green peppercorn flavors that build toward refined tannins. Zinfandel, Carignane and Mataro. Drink now through 2026.”

Classic, rich California Zinfandel at an unbeatable price.
Bedrock Wine Co. Old Vine Zinfandel, Sonoma Valley 2017 750ML ($29.95) $24 special
Wine Spectator 93 points “Old-school meets new in this Zinfandel, with just enough polish and plumpness to match the briary rusticity. Offers expressive black cherry, smoky anise and white pepper flavors. Drink now through 2024.”

Trending New Arrivals

A 94 Point Zin Blend Under $24 / bottle 

Most of the time, “value” wines from the golden state come in the form of mass produced, cynically made industrial wine from a giant winery.  In this case, though, we’re happy to present the current vintage of (small family winery) Bucklin’s Bambino—a mostly Zinfandel blend from young vines in the fabled Old Hill Ranch.  The new Wine Spectator Insider announced that this wine (which we’ve loved in the past) just got a 94 point score and as a result is certainly one of the best values, from a points perspective, in the shop.  It arrives tomorrow and, although we’re getting ten cases in, will disappear quickly.

Just Arrived, Selling Fast!

Bucklin Bambino Old Hill Ranch Zinfandel, Sonoma Valley 2015 750Ml ($27.95) $21.90 special
Wine Spectator 94 points “This distinctive and plump yet focused and refined version shows personality, with flavors of blackberry, fruitcake spices, black licorice and smoky pepper. Drink now through 2025.—T.F”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Nothing Second About These Second Wines

Many top wine estates have second labels—wines that offer a chance to taste the style and quality of a top estate for less scratch.  We’ve got two fine examples arriving at the end of this week and you’d be wise to pay attention to both.  Mt. Eden is a classic California producer and their “Domaine Eden” bottling offers a glimpse into the style and substance of the Santa Cruz Mountains producer at a fraction of the price of their top end bottling (especially at the price we’re offering it at).  Likewise, Pingus’ “Flor de Pingus” is a blockbuster, powerhouse of a wine that only lacks one thing: the triple digit price tag of its big brother.  Both arrive Friday at unusually reduced pricing—pricing we won’t be able to offer again when these sell out.

Just Arrived!

Mount Eden Vineyards ‘Domaine Eden’ Chardonnay, Santa Cruz Mountains 2014 750ML ($34.95) $21.90 special
Jeb Dunnuck 92 points “Showing a deep gold color, the 2014 Chardonnay (57% declassified Mount Eden Fruit, aged 10 months in 35% new barrels) offers lots of orchard fruits and buttered citrus, terrific minerality and reductive notes, medium-bodied richness and a silky texture. It has bright acidity, and while it doesn’t quite have the balance and finesse of the Mount Eden Chardonnay releases, it is a terrific Chardonnay.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $24.95
The average price is $30

Dominio de Pingus ‘Flor de Pingus’, Ribera del Duero 2015 750ML ($99.95) $66 special
James Suckling 95 points “Almost black-purple color. Dense black fruits aromas, fine oak and elegant dry tannins that are beautifuly integrated in the rich body. The long finish is already graceful thanks to the spot-on balance. Drink now.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $79.99
That’s a difference of over $13/btl!
The average price is $89

February Sale Recap