Montevertine: Here Tomorrow!
Alain Voge 2015:
Wine Spectator Insider Hot Wines!
Newly Arrived from Cayuse
Top Deals Arriving Today
Ovum ‘Memorista’ Riesling:
95 Pts / Here Tomorrow
New Wine Spectator Insider Picks
Reds & Whites from the Northern Rhone
Trending Pre-Arrival:
Krug 2004
Featured Wines Arriving Tomorrow
Montevertine
Time has gone by and rules have changed, but the wines of Montevertine, despite being very traditional in style, are not called Chianti, out of pride and because the wines have built their own following. We’re excited to be able to offer the newest releases of the Pian del Ciampolo and the eponymous Rosso di Toscana, arriving Friday!
Arriving Tomorrow:
“2016 Pian del Ciampolo is gearing up for spectacular results”
Montevertine Pian del Ciampolo Toscana IGT, Tuscany 2016 750ML ($39.95) $33 pre-arrival special
Montevertine Pian del Ciampolo Toscana IGT, Tuscany 2016 1.5L ($89.95) $69 pre-arrival special, only 2 magnums available!
Wine Advocate 92 points “Tasted before its release, the 2016 Pian del Ciampolo is gearing up for spectacular results. This entry level red wine from Montevertine is fermented in cement vats and aged in oak for one year. This vintage marks a return to classic lines and a more subdued personality following the decidedly more exuberant and sun-ripened 2015 vintage. The 2015 vintage was its own wine, but 2016 brings us back to the basics with dark fruit and savory highlights followed by balsam herb and rosemary. The mouthfeel is polished and smooth.”
Antonio Galloni 90-92 points “The 2016 Pian del Ciampolo exudes class and a level of delineation that distinguishes it stylistically (but not qualitatively) from the 2015. Fresh and beautifully nuanced, the 2016 hits all the right notes. A closing burst of lavender, rose petal and mint punctuates the vibrant finish.”
Montevertine Rosso di Toscana IGT, Tuscany 2015 750ML ($79.95) $59 pre-arrival special
Montevertine Rosso di Toscana IGT, Tuscany 2015 1.5L ($159.95) $128 pre-arrival special, only 1 magnum available!
Montevertine Rosso di Toscana IGT, Tuscany 2015 3L ($399.95) $299 pre-arrival special, only 1 three-liter bottle available!
Antonio Galloni 94-97 points “Rich, pliant and super-expressive, the 2015 Montevertine is shaping up to be a magnificent wine. There is a radiance to the 2015 that is impossible to miss. At the same time, it’s wonderfully polished, with more than enough freshness and overall structure to support many years of exceptional drinking. Red stone fruit and expressive floral notes give the wine much of its distinctive personality. The 2015 Montevertine is a real head-turner.”
Wine Advocate 94-96 points “This beautiful wine grabs your attention from the start. Tasted as a barrel sample, the 2015 Montevertine opens to a rich and beautifully saturated color. The wine’s density is more extracted and dense, and the aromas are abundantly generous and opulent as a result. Yet, all that excess is carefully contained within the elegant and nuanced approach so perfectly expressed by this historic estate. Blue flower definition with violets and lavender segue to dark fruit, spice and white pepper. The blend is 90% Sangiovese with smaller parts Canaiolo and Colorino. The wine is fermented in cement and then ages in oak for two years. Montevertine sees fruit sourced from the same vineyard that makes Pian del Ciampolo, but fruit here represents a first selection.”
New Wine Spectator Insider Hot Wines!
Domaine Alain Voge Cornas Les Vieilles Fontaines, Rhone 2015 750ML ($179.95) $149 pre-arrival special, only 6 bottles available!
Wine Spectator 97 points “This has the density and power that is the hallmark of the vintage, with melted licorice snap and tar notes draped over a large-scale core of fig, blackberry and black currant paste flavors. The brooding finish shows a warm cast-iron accent streaking through. Best from 2022 through 2038.”
Jeb Dunnuck 96-98 points “Not yet bottled, the flagship 2015 Cornas Les Vieilles Fontaines comes from a tiny parcel of very old vines and granite soils and is brought up in 25% new barrels. Its inky purple color is followed by a terrific perfume of blackberry liqueur, blueberries, ground herbs, new saddle leather and violets. Deep, rich and concentrated, with a classic, focused style, it has terrific purity of fruit, ripe, polished tannin and a big finish. It’s not the biggest example of this cuvée, yet it’s perfectly balanced, elegant and seamless.”
Wine Advocate 96 points “Only produced in top vintages (this is the first since 2012), the 2015 Cornas Vieilles Fontaines comes from 80-year-old vines within the La Fontaine lieu-dit. It’s a tough wine to evaluate at this stage, as it’s quite closed and reticent on the nose, showing some crushed-stone notes and typical granite-based austerity, but on the palate it shows great purity of fruit and vigor. It’s full-bodied but tight-laced, focused on driving through the long finish like a thoroughbred down the stretch. Give it at least 5 years in the cellar.”
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 95 points “Opaque ruby. Mineral-accented aromas of ripe blackberry, cherry liqueur, licorice candy and vanilla, plus an exotic Indian spice nuance that gains strength as the wine opens up. At once weighty and energetic, offering densely packed black and blue fruit preserve flavors and hints of candied flowers, smoky minerals and spicecake. Smoothly blends power and energy and finishes pure and extremely long, featuring repeating spiciness and smooth, harmonious tannins.”
The average price is $165
Domaine Alain Voge Cornas Les Vieilles Vignes, Rhone 2015 750ML ($89.95) $79 pre-arrival special
Wine Spectator 96 points “Dark yet inviting, with a well of boysenberry and blackberry compote flavors luring you in, while charcoal, bay leaf and cast-iron notes add contrast and range to hold your attention. The grippy finish shows cut and energy, with a lingering savory and rosemary edge. Best from 2021 through 2037.”
Wine Advocate 95 points “Rich, deep and layered, the 2015 Cornas Vieilles Vignes has it all. Big fruit allied to spicy complexity? Check. Ample tannins that are fully ripe? Check. A finish that extends for days? Check. Oh, you want details? Hints of brown sugar, savory spices and roast meat accent black berry and plum fruit, and while the mid-palate is dense and tannic, those tannins actually turn more supple and approachable on the lingering finish.”
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 94 points “Brilliant purple. A highly perfumed bouquet displays ripe, mineral-tinged black and blue fruit, potpourri and incense qualities. Fleshy and expansive on the palate, offering densely packed yet energetic boysenberry, candied licorice and violet flavors enlivened by an undercurrent of juicy acidity. Smoothly blends richness and finesse and closes extremely long and youthfully tannic, leaving behind sexy floral pastille and dark berry liqueur notes.”
Domaine Alain Voge Cornas Les Chailles, Rhone 2015 750ML ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival special
Wine Spectator 95 points “An understated style, but focus and you’ll see just how lovely the cassis, cherry and raspberry flavors are, carried by riveting acidity and flecked with notes of powdered white pepper and violet. An iron girder drives the finish, pulling everything along. This is defined by pure, sleek cut. Best from 2020 through 2035. 915 cases made.”
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 93 points “Lurid ruby. Aromas of ripe dark berries and pungent flowers are lifted by intense mineral and peppery spice flourishes. Spicy and focused on the palate, offering intense blackberry and violet pastille flavors and salty olive and violet nuances. Puts on weight with air while maintaining vivacity. Finishes bright, smooth and impressively long, displaying excellent clarity, harmonious tannins and building spiciness.”
Domaine Alain Voge Saint-Joseph Les Cotes, Rhone 2015 750ML ($49.95) $39 pre-arrival special
Wine Spectator 92 points “Fresh, with engaging boysenberry and raspberry coulis flavors allied to mouthwatering acidity, while light lavender, anise and black tea notes weave through the finish. Drink now through 2022. 415 cases made.”
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 92 points “Deep ruby. Heady aromas of cherry liqueur, cassis, violet and olive are sharpened by a smoky mineral quality. Juicy and nicely concentrated, showing very good depth to the smoke-tinged dark berry, cherry cola and floral pastille flavors. Finishes with strong, mineral-tinged persistence, harmonious tannins and repeating smokiness.”
The next best price is $43.99
Newly Arrived from Cayuse!
Wine Advocate 95 points “Offering up notes of cracked black pepper, black truffles, smoked duck, plums, blackberry and violet, the 2013 Syrah Armada Vineyard isn’t as powerful or texturally lavish as the 2014, but at this early stage it appears to be longer and more intense. At 13.4%, it’s also slightly lower in alcohol. It’s full-bodied, sapid and layered, displaying excellent cut and energy, and I’d expect it to drink well for the next two decades.”
“beautifully elegant and nuanced”
Cayuse Vineyards Armada Vineyard Syrah, Walla Walla Valley 2014 750ML ($179.95) $149 special, 3 bottles in stock now
Wine Advocate 97 points “Complex and mouthwateringly savory aromas of grilled meat, black tea, bacon fat and cocoa nib mingle with fruit tones of red plum and cassis in an enticing mélange on the opening of the 2014 Syrah Armada Vineyard. It is a full-bodied, layered and satiny red with an expansive, textural attack that gives way to a deep, intense and masterfully controlled mid-palate and finish. Despite being the product of a warm vintage, the 2014 is beautifully elegant and nuanced.”
Cayuse Vineyards Cailloux Vineyard Syrah, Walla Walla Valley 2014 750ML ($319.95) $279 special, 3 bottles in stock now
Wine Advocate 100 points “Incorporating a touch more Viognier than normal, the 2014 Syrah Cailloux Vineyard is 93% Syrah and 7% Viognier from the first vineyard planted in the stones region of Walla Walla. Sporting a surprisingly deep, inky color, it offers a heavenly bouquet of black olives, tobacco leaf, smoked meats, pepper, blackcurrant and black cherry notes. Deep, rich and ever changing in the glass, with incredible complexity and layers, this full-bodied masterpiece has building tannin, a stacked mid-palate and a great, great finish. It’s pure perfection in Syrah, and the finest vintage of this cuvee ever made. As a bonus, it’s also the largest production Syrah they produce. Bravo!”
“I think the best of the Syrahs is the 2013 Syrah Bionic Frog”
Cayuse Vineyards Bionic Frog Syrah, Walla Walla Valley 2013 750ML ($349.95) $319 special, 1 bottle in stock now
Wine Advocate 97-99 points “I think the best of the Syrahs is the 2013 Syrah Bionic Frog, and while I’ve liked other single vineyards more than this cuvee in the past, it seems a solid step up in both 2012 and 2013. The 2013 offers incredible notes of roasted herbs, beef blood, mushrooms, scorched earth and sweet black fruits in a full-bodied, gorgeously concentrated, structured, serious style. Short-term cellaring should be the name of the game here, and while it should offer plenty of pleasure around age 5-6, I’d put money on it still singing at age 20.” JD
“phenomenal stuff”
Cayuse Vineyards Bionic Frog Syrah, Walla Walla Valley 2014 750ML ($399.95) $349 special, 2 bottles in stock now
Wine Advocate 100 points “Always one of the most unique in the lineup, the 2014 Syrah Bionic Frog is phenomenal stuff any way you look at it. Cold fireplace, charred meat, tapenade, shiitake and loads of dark, earthy fruit all emerge from this full-bodied, tight, backward and beautifully concentrated Syrah that readers just need to taste. Incredibly long, elegant, building and heavenly juicy, don’t miss a chance to get some of this! It needs 3-5 years of cellaring and is going to blow you away over the following two decades.”
The next best price is $420
Arriving Today!
Winery note “…we’ve taken a page out of Montelena history and recreated our Zinfandel by combining the best parts of the old and the new. From the old vines of the Tofanelli Ranch to our brand new Estate Primitivo plantings, we’ve relaunched our Zinfandel and are excited to share it with new packaging, a nod to the Chateau Montelena labels from the 1920’s. From the outset, 2013 had the makings of a blockbuster year. Little to no spring rain set the vineyards up for early season stress, resulting in concentrated fruit with deep, dark color. The old vines thrived in the heat of the summer and ripening progressed slowly and methodically. Compared to the acclaimed 2012 vintage, the 2013 wines will be remembered for their density and power. In the glass, our goal was to take the innate concentration of the vintage and marry it with the elegance and finesse that our vineyards express. This acute interplay is evidenced both aromatically and texturally. Cocoa, espresso, and cedar, readily apparent on the nose as the wine is poured, transition slowly to ripe blackberry, fig, and mint. The acidity on the front of the palate is contrasted and balanced by density and richness, along with notes of raspberry jam, dried blueberries, and cherry candy. The finish returns to the vineyard with a rustic earthiness and supple, yet chewy tannins.”
Wine Spectator 89 points “A crisp, elegant style, this delivers white peach, lemon cake and light mineral flavors. Balanced, lingering with lemon details and a touch of chalk. Drink now through 2018. 2,000 cases imported.”
The next best price is $26.99
“A fine effort from one of the St.-Emilion satellite appellations, the dark ruby-hued 2012 Emotion possesses good acidity along with elegant, pure black currant and black cherry fruit intermixed with cedar wood, Christmas fruitcake and incense. Attractively textured, supple and round, it should drink well for 5-7 years.”-Robert Parker, Wine Advocate
The average price is $21
Jeb Dunnuck 90 points “The light ruby/pink colored 2016 Pinot Grigio Ramato (100% Pinot Grigio that sees 10 hours of skin contact) offers a terrific bouquet of crisp strawberry fruits and a touch of dried herbs. Medium-bodied, vibrant and juicy on the palate, with a supple texture and a classically dry finish, drink it over the coming year.”
The average price nationally is $18
Wine Enthusiast 95 points “Editor’s Choice! This new take on Ovum’s Memorista cuvée—the winery’s flagship—is its ripest Riesling. It was fermented in a thousand-liter Austrian cask, with a small percentage of botrytized fruit. It’s almost liquorous, with botanical elements that accents its lime, candied citrus and dried papaya flavors. It’s potent and packed with flavor yet impeccably balanced.”
The average price is $30
Northern Rhone Reds & Whites
Delas Freres Hermitage Domaine des Tourettes-Marquise de la Tourette Blanc, Rhone 2016 750ML ($99.95) $79 special, 7 bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 96 points “Creamy and lush, with notes of pear, Cavaillon melon, white peach and persimmon gilded with a range of acacia, jasmine, verbena and honeysuckle notes. The long finish pulls everything together with a bitter almond hint, picking up brioche and salted butter accents along the way, all while showing remarkable balance. Drink now through 2040.”
Wine Spectator 94 points “Offers alluring verbena, yellow apple and Cavaillon melon aromas and flavors that flow together, with a creamy, polished feel through the shortbreadtinged finish. Delivers a beautiful feel and flow, revealing a hint of opulence. Drink now through 2023.”
The average price is $59
Wine Spectator 94 points “Racy and tightly focused, with a beam of cassis and raspberry fruit that is vivid and laced with mouthwatering lavender, savory and rosemary notes. Reveals a zing of iron through the finish. Drink now through 2030.”
The average price nationally is $61
Wine Spectator 94 points “This has a terrific core of raspberry, plum and boysenberry fruit that is vivid and pure, streaked with savory, rosemary, olive and bay leaf notes. A brisk iron accent pierces the finish, adding freshness and drive. Best from 2020 through 2035.”
Arriving This Month
Poggio al Tesoro ‘Il Seggio’ Bolgheri, Tuscany 2015 750ML ($39.95) $33 pre-arrival special
Case-6 Poggio al Tesoro ‘Il Seggio’ Bolgheri, Tuscany 2015 750ML ($219.95) $179 pre-arrival special (that’s only $29.83/bottle and the lowest listed price in the USA today!)
Wine Spectator 93 points “($60) Fresh black currant and leafy flavors announce this juicy red. Wild herb, graphite and olive notes complete the picture as this unwinds on the lingering aftertaste. Very youthful, yet has all the components, including a dense structure. Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Best from 2021 through 2033.”
2004 Krug
Lowest Listed Price in the USA!
“2004 is clearly superior to the consistently underwhelming 2002” –Antonio Galloni
“There’s a controlled power to this poised, vinous, linear 2004… It has a luminous freshness and good density” -Decanter
“There is marvelous precision here on both the nose and palate, not to mention a sense of harmony and grace” –John Gilman, A View from the Cellar
“The poise is unquestionable” –James Suckling
Antonio Galloni 97+ points “Krug’s 2004 Vintage is absolutely mesmerizing. Layers of bright, chiseled fruit open up effortlessly as the wine fleshes out with time in the glass. Persistent and beautifully focused, with a translucent sense of energy, the 2004 captures all the best qualities of the year. Moreover, the 2004 is clearly superior to the consistently underwhelming 2002 and the best Krug Vintage since 1996. Readers who can find it should not hesitate, as it is a magical bottle.”
Decanter 97 points “This is the current and latest vintage release from Krug, and is a fitting successor to 2002, though it’s very different in style – unusually, the blend contains more Chardonnay than Pinot Noir. Despite this, it is hallmark Krug with its oxidative profile. It has a luminous freshness and good density without heaviness. There’s a controlled power to this poised, vinous, linear 2004, displaying candied fruits, minerals, gingerbread, white chocolate, caramel and marzipan. This has a long, dry autolytic finish, great balance and lovely bead. Disgorged just after the next, and very different, vintage we tasted, the Krug 2003. Drinking Window 2017-2037.”
John Gilman 97 points “The new release of 2004 Krug is absolutely beautiful and is already quite elegant and open on both the nose and palate and is drinking with great finesse. I had expected this wine to be a bit more steely in structure out of the blocks, but the refinement of the blend this year has produced a wine that is already a joy to drink at age thirteen, though it will continue age gracefully for many, many decades to come. The cépages in 2004 is thirty-nine percent Chardonnay, thirty-seven percent Pinot Noir and twenty-four percent Pinot Meunier, with the wine having been disgorged in the winter of 2016. The bouquet jumps from the glass in a refined mix of apple, a touch of walnut, warm bread, lavender, a superb base of soil tones and a topnote of smokiness. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied and utterly seamless, with vibrant acids, great focus and grip, a lovely core, refined mousse and a very long, complex, racy and energetic finish. There is marvelous precision here on both the nose and palate, not to mention a sense of harmony and grace that is fairly rare in the 2004 vintage. Chapeau! 2017-2060.”
James Suckling 97 points “This is an extremely fresh edition and remains in a restrained mode with an intense serve of Chardonnay’s lemon citrus dominating the nose alongside lime zest, bright florals, grassy elements, fresh dough, white stones and very subtle background spice. The palate has a svelte and elegant shape. Smoother than the 2002, it shares the same quality of precision but not the raging power of that vintage. The poise is unquestionable, the wine very reserved, with plenty of lemon-infused citrus flavors, hints of fresh cashew and a lot of potential. Acidity holds superbly, the dosage is exactly where it should be. This is a classic release. It’s all about Chardonnay. Best from 2022 and will mature gracefully in linear style in bottle for several decades.”
Wine Advocate 96 points “From a fresh vintage and internally nicknamed ‘Luminous Freshness,’ Krug’s light golden colored 2004 Brut is brighter on the nose than the 2002 that I tasted next to it. There are fresh, candied citrus as well as ripe yellow-fleshed fruit aromas along with floral and lots of chalky notes on the well-concentrated bouquet. The palate is incredibly fruity, vibrantly fresh yet delicate and very well balanced and is provided with great elegance, texture, finesse and remarkable mineral tension. The 2004–a blend of Chardonnay (39%), Pinot Noir (37%) and Pinot Meunier (24%)–is completely built on freshness and taut yet balanced vitality. It is the last of the second trilogy in the history of the House, the first being 1988, 1989 and 1990 and the second 2002, 2003 and 2004. Tasted in April 2018 from ID 316034 that was disgorged in III/2016.”
The average price is $288