2/22/16
New Week – New Arrivals; New Arrival Special Feature: Karthäuserhof; This Week’s Re-Arrivals; Wines Arriving This Week; 100 point Wine Arriving March 5th; Upcoming Releases from Altesino
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OREGON
Illahe Estate Tempranillo Rose, Willamette Valley 2015 750ML ($19.95) $16 special
Pressed whole cluster. Produced from one ton of estate-grown Tempranillo.
Winery note “Illahe Vineyard is planted on a south-facing slope. The slope ranges from about 4% near the bottom to over 20% near the top. The top of the vineyard is at 440 feet elevation, and the bottom 250. Illahe is a warm site that experiences slightly earlier budbreak and flowering than many other vineyards in the Willamette Valley. The grapes achieve maturity even in cooler vintages. Illahe is a LIVE-certified, Salmon Safe vineyard. We use cover crops on the entire vineyard. We are part of Oregon’s Deep Roots Coalition, and as such do not irrigate mature plants. We do extensive green pruning and conduct plant topping. We prune by hand and harvest by hand.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
J. Christopher ‘Lumiere’ Pinot Noir, Eola-Amity Hills 2013 750ML ($41.95) $36 special
Winery note: Beautifully structured wine sourced from several sites in the Eola-Amity Hills AVA. Dark in color, with beautiful depth. Crushed-berry fruit is clearly revealed on the palate, supported by excellent grip on the mid-palate and a solid, strong-boned structure. 345 cases produced.
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
J. Christopher Nuages Pinot Noir, Chehalem Mountains 2013 750ML ($39.95) $33 special
Winery note: Named in tribute to one of winemaker Jay’s favorite gypsy jazz tunes, “Nuages” Pinot Noir is our Chehalem Mountains blend. Nuages (French for “clouds”) also pays homage to the moderating influence of Oregon’s autumn cloud cover, which slows ripening to allow for the long hang time that creates fully developed flavors.
J. Christopher Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2013 750ML ($29.95) $26 special
Winery note: Our flagship wine is a classic Pinot Noir from the Willamette Valley, blended from excellent vineyards from several AVAs including the Dundee Hills, Chehalem Mountains and Eola-Amity Hills.
J Christopher J. J. Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2013 750ML ($19.95) $16 special
Winery note “J.J is the little brother of the J. Christopher wines that Jay is making at the new winery on Chehalem Mountain in Newberg. It is a fruit-forward, easy-drinking Pinot Noir that’s affordable for everyday enjoyment. This value cuvée is a cellar selection of barrels that have been declassified from the main production, mostly because they didn’t have quite the mineral intensity and textural focus that Jay demands for the J. Christopher wines. The result is an easy-going, fruitier style of wine that works very well as an introduction to Oregon Pinot Noir.”
Evening Land Silver Label ‘Seven Springs Vineyard’ Chardonnay, Eola-Amity Hills 2013 750ML ($49.95) $41.90 special
Wine Spectator 91 points “Fresh and inviting, lively on balance, with tangy citrus and lemon marmalade notes underlying the apple and spice flavors, lingering on the finish. Drink now through 2020.” WS
Evening Land Eola-Amity Hills Pinot Noir 2013 750ML ($44.95) $38 special
Wine Spectator 90 points “Light and polished, with a nubby texture underlying the transparent raspberry and peppermint flavors that pick up mineral and spice notes as the finish lingers. Drink now through 2021.”
Evening Land Silver Label ‘Seven Springs Vineyard’ Pinot Noir, Eola-Amity Hills 2013 750ML ($59.95) $51.90 special
Wine Spectator 92 points “Crisp and tangy, with a mineral character running through the raspberry and cherry flavors at the core, coming together with harmony and structural tension on the vibrant finish. Best from 2017 through 2023.”
WillaKenzie Estate ‘Terres Basses’ Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2011 750ML ($59.95) $39 special
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 91 points “Ruby-red. Aromas of black raspberry, cherry-cola and lavender pastille, with smoke and musky herb overtones and a touch of vanilla. Silky and sweet, showing good depth and vivacity to its fresh dark berry and blood orange flavors. Nicely concentrated for the vintage, finishing with noteworthy power and length and fine-grained tannins that add grip. This suave wine saw 50% new oak.” JR
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $58
WillaKenzie Estate ‘Triple Black Slopes’ Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2011 750ML ($59.95) $39 special
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 91 points ‘Bright ruby-red. Smoky cherry and black raspberry aromas are sharpened by white pepper and minerals. Shows very good clarity and depth on the palate, offering sweet red and dark berry flavors and a hint of bitter chocolate. Closes with repeating smokiness, a hint of vanilla and even tannins. I suspect that this sexy pinot will hold nicely for at least another four or five years but it’s also pretty easy to drink now.” JR
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $62
WASHINGTON
Dunham Cellars Lewis Estate Vineyard Syrah, Columbia Valley 2011 750ML ($79.95) $59 special
Wine Advocate 94 points “Another terrific effort, and one of the strongest Syrahs in the vintage, the 2011 Syrah Lewis Vineyard is 100% Syrah that spent 30 months in 90% new French oak, which you’d never know by tasting it. Gorgeous blackberry, blueberry, wild herbs, licorice, chocolate and hints of crushed rock all emerge from this beauty, and it flows onto the palate with medium to full-bodied richness, bright acidity and a seamless, elegant profile. It’s enjoyable now, but will shine for another decade at least as well.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $74.95
The average price is $76
Fidelitas Red Mountain Red, Yakima Valley 2012 750ML ($69.95) $39 special
Wine Advocate 91 points “The classic 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon from Red Mountain is more evolved and open than the single-vineyard releases. Giving up plenty of toasted bread, spice-box, cured meats, vanilla and red currants, it’s full-bodied, rounded and textured, with good tannin. Aged in 40% new French and American oak, I suspect it will evolve more rapidly than the more pricey releases, yet it should still have 10-15 years of overall longevity.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $53
Boudreaux Cellars Merlot, Columbia Valley 2009 750ML ($59.95) $33 special
Wine Advocate 92 points “All of Rob’s 2009s showed strangely last year, and I was happy that he resubmitted them this go around. Starting out, the 2009 Columbia Valley Merlot is a beauty and shows none of the volatile notes I found last year. Cassis, lead pencil, tobacco and floral notes all come together nicely in this full-bodied, elegant and layered red. Seeing 24 months in 40% new French oak, it should have a decade or more of prime drinking.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Apex Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon, Yakima Valley 2012 750ML ($29.95) $24 special
Wine Spectator 92 points “Supple, open-textured and generous, with pure currant and blackberry flavors on a deftly balanced frame. Violet nuances linger against powdery tannins on the finish. Drink now through 2022.”
CALIFORNIA
Bedrock Wine Co. ‘The Bedrock Heritage’ Wine, Sonoma Valley 2013 750ML ($49.95) $41.90 special
Antonio Galloni 94+ points “The 2013 Bedrock Heritage Wine is one of the most intriguing wines in the range. Smoke, cedar, tobacco and a host of savory notes meld together in a powerful yet nuanced wines built on delineation and energy. Even with all of its intensity, the 2013 remains lifted, floral and light on its feet for such a big wine. This is by far the most polished and refined wine I have tasted from the Bedrock Vineyard, where the wines have often been much riper and bigger.” AG
FRANCE-BEAUJOLAIS
Guy Breton Morgon, Beaujolais 2013 750ML ($37.95) $28 special
Guy Breton Morgon, Beaujolais 2013 1.5L ($69.95) $49 special
Josh Raynolds – Vinous 93 points “Brilliant ruby-red. Aromas of black raspberry, cola and star anise, plus a hint of medicinal cherry pit. On the palate, juicy dark berry, cherry-cola and spicecake flavors open with air and pick up a hint of smoky minerals. Shows a suave blend of richness and vivacity, and finishes with superb clarity, supple tannins and resonating smokiness. This bottling often shows a distinctly wild streak but I’m not seeing it so much today.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
FRANCE-OTHER
Domaine Lafage Cotes du Roussillon Cuvee Centenaire, Languedoc-Roussillon 2014 750ML ($19.95) $16 special
Wine Advocate 91 points “In the same ballpark, with beautiful minerality, stone fruits, saltiness and citrus blossom, the 2014 Côtes du Roussillon Centenaire Blanc (80% Grenache Blanc, 20% Roussanne) is medium-bodied, fresh, crisp and pure. It’s a year in, year out, spectacular value that should not be missed.” JD
Domaine Lafage Bastide Miraflors, IGP Cotes Catalanes 2013 750ML ($17.95) $14 special
Robert Parker 93 points “I have loved the wines from Domaine Lafage in the past, and this 2013 Bastide Miraflors Cotes Catalanes is one of the greatest red wine values I have tasted in the last year or so. A custom cuvee put together by Eric Solomon and Jean-Marc Lafage, it is a blend of 70% Syrah and 30% Grenache that spent one year in 80% concrete tank (Grenache) and 500-liter demi-muids (Syrah). From a Roussillon vineyard, dominated by gallets roules, that resembles many Chateauneuf du Pape vineyards, the wine undergoes a long maceration of six weeks. The result is an inky/blue/purple-colored wine offering a big, sweet bouquet of blueberries, blackberries, acacia flowers, pepper and spice. This full-bodied, opulent, majestic dry red unleashes tremendous ripeness, richness and intensity. One would normally think such a superb, remarkable wine would cost over $50 a bottle, but this beauty is available for an astonishing $14 a bottle. You’ll have to taste it to believe it! It should drink well for 2-5 years.” RP
Domaine Casabianca Rouge, Le Cuvee de Jean-Bernardin, Corse 2011 750ML ($14.95) $11.90 special
Winery note “[translated] The wine has an elegant structure that is present but not aggressive. A rather feminine wine showing fruit and finesse. Pretty, fruity nose with aromas of spring cherries and strawberries. The nose is very expressive.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
ITALY-PIEDMONT
Cascina Corte Pirochetta Vecchie Vigne, Dogliani DOCG 2012 750ML ($21.95) $18 special
Winery note “Purple-red in colour with violet-ruby flashes. Deep and vertical on the nose with fruity aromas which intermingle to create a pervasive, balanced bouquet. Cherries, plums and redcurrants are subsequently replaced by notes of spice and liquorice. The palate is forthright and full of character with tannins well to the fore, though it maintains plenty of softness and roundness. The finish is long and lingering. Demonstrably capable of ageing well for years.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
ITALY-TUSCANY
Il Poggione Rosso di Montalcino 2013 750ML ($24.95) $14 special
Il Poggione Rosso di Montalcino 2013 750ML ($249.95) $149 special (that’s only $12.42/bottle!)
Antonio Galloni – Vinous 91 points “Bright red cherries, stone fruits, smoke and tobacco are some of the notes that jump from the glass in the 2013 Rosso di Montalcino. In this vintage, the Rosso is bright, floral and medium in body, all of which make it extremely versatile. This is another fabulous Rosso from Il Poggione and also a terrific introduction to the year in Montalcino.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $16.89
The average price is $23
Felsina Berardenga Fontalloro Toscana IGT 2011 750ML ($59.95) $49 special
Case-12 Felsina Berardenga Fontalloro Toscana IGT 2011 750ML ($699.95) $519 special (that’s only $43.25/bottle and the lowest listed price in the USA today!)
Wine Spectator & Antonio Galloni 94 points “Felsina’s 2011 Fontalloro is wonderfully expressive today. Dark red cherry, plum, smoke, rose petal and sweet spices all blossom in the glass. Impeccably layered and sensual, the 2011 captures all the best qualities of the year. Sweet floral and red-toned notes burst with great energy on the structured finish. Fontalloro seems to have come a long way over the last few years. The 2011 is another drop-dead gorgeous beauty.” AG
La Gerla Riserva Gli Angeli, Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2007 1.5L ($219.95) $179 special
Wine Spectator 97 points “Spicy oak aromas greet the nose, while concentrated flavors of cherry, currant and tobacco are buried underneath. Very vibrant, with refined tannins and a lingering finish of fruit, spice and mineral. Builds on the finish, with a long aftertaste. A combination of power and finesse. Best from 2015 through 2030.”WS
James Suckling 95 points “Intense aromas of dried fruits and Christmas pudding. Turns to plums and raspberries. Full and concentrated with an intense palate of dried fruits and vanilla. Powerful and concentrated style here.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
La Miraja Ruche di Castagnole Monferrato, Piedmont 2014 750ML ($27.95) $24 special
Importer note “The singular wines of La Miraja have heretofore been impossible to find in the United States. The estate is nestled within the original castle of Castagnole Monferrato, constructed in the 11th century and retrofitted to serve as a cellar in the 1400s. In this armory-turned-cellar, Eugenio Gatti turns out Barbera d’Asti, Grignolino, and his fabled Ruché. A seventh-generation viticulturist, Eugenio personally tends to the oldest vineyard of Ruché in Castagnole Monferrato, the original birthplace of Ruché. It is here that Eugenio Gatti devotes his life’s work to producing 840 transcendent cases of wine each year. Soft tannins balanced by moderate acidity. Black pepper and floral notes on the nose. Wild berries on the palate.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Cieck Nebiollo di Canavese 2013 750ML ($27.95) $24 special
Winery note “Growing nebbiolo in our land requires great expertise and knowledge of every single particle of land. While most of today’s nebbiolo vineyards are in a guyot style, in the past many original training systems were devised. Harvesting in October and containing production yields helps obtaining grapes rich in noble compounds that give life to an elegant, long lasting wine. Our nebbiolo wine ages in large oak barrels for 18 to 24 months. Refined, elegant, with long lasting classic varietal sensations and light spicy notes on the nose. Good varietal tannins, long lasting finish full of ripe fruit and red rose sensations on the palate.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
ITALY-SICILY
Gulfi Nerobaronj Sicilia IGT 2010 750ML ($34.95) $28 special
Ian D’Agata – Vinous 92 points “Dark ruby-red. Plum and mineral aromas are lifted by a violet topnote. Then sleek, bright and juicy on the palate, offering refined mineral-driven flavors of black cherry and dark plum complicated by a delicate note of anchovy. Clean and persistent on the floral, saline finish. An extremely elegant version of Nerobaronj.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
SPAIN
Bodegas Reyes Los Basares Vino Tinto, Ribera del Duero 2013 750ML ($14.95) $11.90 special
100% Tempranillo
Bodegas Julia Roch e Hijos – Casa Castillo Monastrell, Jumilla 2014 750ML ($17.95) $14 special
Case-12 Bodegas Julia Roch e Hijos – Casa Castillo Monastrell, Jumilla 2014 750ML ($179.95) $149 special (that’s only $12.42/bottle!)
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 90 points “Lurid ruby color. Fragrant ripe cherry and red plum. Sappy and incisive, the palate offers bitter cherry and berry skin flavors, showing very good lift and energy. Fat-free, focused and brisk, with strong closing cut, fine-grained tannins and lingering berry skin and cherry pit notes.”
GERMANY
Weingut Hirsch Zobing Riesling, Kamptal 2014 750ML ($29.95) $24 special
David Schildknecht–Vinous 89 points “Bittersweet, iris-like perfume wafts all the way through this exuberant performance of pronounced yet bracing phenolic piquancy and infectious, bright juiciness. Lean and long, this cuvée gained a delightful sense of mineral interplay over the course of its first six months in bottle.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $27.99
Weingut Hirsch Kammerner Renner Gruner Veltliner Erste OTW Lage, Kamptal 2013 1.5L ($99.95) $79 special
David Schildknecht–Vinous 93 points “With a diversity of mineral nuances more familiar from Riesling, this Grüner Veltliner projects an infectiously juicy and crunchily invigorating alliance of fresh lime, orange, pea tendrils, corn shoots and ginseng, with beet root earthiness joining wet stone on the bass line. A penetrating, almost severely but downright mouth-shakingly intense finish perpetuates the full range of diversity displayed on the firm palate, accompanied by hints of iodine, black tea smokiness plus saliva-inducing salinity and animality akin to oyster liquor. This weighs in at just 12.7% alcohol, permitting a lovely sense of levity to boot. A new parcel in Renner was added this year and Hirsch’s already owned vines had reached what he judged to be proper maturity for producing a wine dedicated to and worthy of this site. He was certainly right! (For further indications of this vineyard’s potential check out my accompanying review of Schloss Gobelsburg’s 2013 rendition.)”
Terry Theise notes “It’s mineral! Oleander and scree; salty grip focused to a keen point yet also wholly dispersed over the sides of the palate. Earthier and less hi-def than Gobelsburg’s; more rocks-and-twigs but also analog and warm. Gets better month by month.”
ARGENTINA
Achaval Ferrer Quimera, Mendoza 2012 750ML ($39.95) $28 special
Case-6 Achaval Ferrer Quimera, Mendoza 2012 750ML ($199.95) $159 special (that’s only $/bottle!)
James Suckling 93 points “There’s a minerality and intensity to this wine with limestone and salt. Full-bodied yet so refined. Sexy and beautiful. Mostly malbec with cabernet franc, merlot and a bit of petit verdot. Drink or hold.”
“(aged in French oak, 40% new, for 12 months; 50% Malbec, 24% Cabernet Franc, 16% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Sauvignon and 2% Petit Verdot): Dark red-ruby. Ripe aromas of blackberry, blueberry and bitter chocolate. Dense and fine-grained, showing attractive spicy lift to its dark berry flavors. Ripe, harmonious acidity gives this wine a seamless quality. Classy juice.” Stephen Tanzer-Vinous Media
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $32
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Just Arrived Germans!
Fresh Batch of Wines from Karthäuserhof
“…Our favorite was a mouthful: the Eitelsbacher Karthäuserhofberg spätlese trocken from Karthäuserhof in the Mosel, a complex, deep and energetic wine that offered just about everything we could want in a dry riesling.” – Eric Asimov, The New York Times
The history of the Karthäuserhof Estate dates back to the year 1335, when the Holy Roman Empire gifted the vineyards to Carthusian monks. When secularism hit under Napolean’s rule, the land was auctioned off in Paris and purchased by the family who owns it to this day.
The estate resides along the Ruwer River, a small tributary to the Mosel River. A mere 200 hectares lay under vine, making the Ruwer Valley among the smallest wine regions in all of Germany. The importer of Karthäuserhof for the US describes the area quite poetically: “(the area) feels like a dense, old pine forest. Vineyards seem something of an afterthought. The Ruwer is wild, as much a home to horses and wild boars as it is to vines and vineyards. With so many forests, the valley has a unique shadow-dotted quality to it.”
Soils across the 19 hectares which Karthäuserhof occupy consist of oxidized blue and gray slate. Under head winemaker Christian Vogt, the estate bottles a handful of distinct cuvees of various levels of ripeness; surprisingly enough, almost 70% of the estate’s production is of dry wines. Vogt worked under the incredibly esteemed Ludwig Breiling for many years, and Breiling continues to consult with Vogt.
In thumbing through the tasting notes from recent Karthäuserhof vintages, one thing is clear: these are serious, empirically age-worthy wines. We’re excited to carry a wide array of the estate’s wines, as listed below.
Karthäuserhof Wines Available Here Now:
Weingut Karthauserhof Eitelsbacher Karthauserhofberg Riesling Grosses Gewachs Trocken, Mosel 2013 750ML ($69.95) $49 special, 36+ bottles available
Case-6 Weingut Karthauserhof Eitelsbacher Karthauserhofberg Riesling Grosses Gewachs Trocken, Mosel 2013 750ML ($359.95) $269 special, 7 half-cases available (that’s only $44.83/btl!)
Weingut Karthauserhof Eitelsbacher Karthauserhofberg Riesling Grosses Gewachs Trocken, Mosel 2013 375ML ($39.95) $28 special, 22 half-bottles available
Wine Advocate 93 points “Very clear, discreet and refined on the nose – where the 2013 Eitelsbacher Karthauserhofberg Riesling GG displays fine stone and fruit aromas of lemons and green apples. Lean and vital but also intense, rich and juicy on the palate, this is a lovely pure, straightforward, piquant and very salty expression of the Karthäuserhofberg terroir and the 2013 vintage. This long-distance runner has more fruit intensity than the Edition and reveals a very fine raciness and a complex finish with lingering lemon aromas.” WA
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best bottle price is $64.99!
Weingut Karthauserhof Alte Reben Eitelsbacher Karthauserhofberg Riesling Spatlese Trocken, Mosel 2014 750ML ($39.95) $33 special, 12 bottles available
Jean Fisch & David Rayer, Mosel Fine Wines #28: “Harvested with a refreshingly low 85° Oechsle, this deliciously light wine (it only has 11.5% of alcohol) is still on the rough and abrupt side of life but it will reward one with great show of white fruits, cassis and white minerals after a few years. 2019-2027+”
John Gilman, View From The Cellar #56: ” The 2014 Alte Reben Riesling Trocken from Weingut Karthäuserhof is an outstanding example of the vintage. This excellent wine delivers a fine bouquet bread fruit, pink grapefruit, wild yeasts, lovely smokiness, a fine base of slate minerality and a topnote of citrus peel. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied and rock solid at the core, with outstanding focus and grip, a fairly primary personality and superb length and balance on the young, but very promising finish.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Weingut Karthauserhof Eitelsbacher Karthauserhofberg Riesling Auslese, Mosel 2014 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 6 bottles available
Weingut Karthauserhof Eitelsbacher Karthauserhofberg Riesling Auslese, Mosel 2014 375ML ($39.95) $31.90 special, 12 half-bottles available
Weingut Karthauserhof Eitelsbacher Karthauserhofberg Riesling Auslese, Mosel 2014 1.5L ($119.95) $89 special, 6 magnums available
Jean Fisch & David Rayer, Mosel Fine Wines #28: “Vineyard selections of botrytis-affected grapes only delivered 500 liters of Auslese harvested with a comparatively low 94° Oechsle. This Auslese starts off with a beautifully complex nose of fresh fruits, with pineapple, star anise and spices providing depth to the experience. The wine is superbly playful on the palate, where mouth-watering acidity adds to the aromatic precision. A riper side comes through in the finish tough, with almond, saffron and honey giving the wine a definitive Auslese GK style. 2024-2044”
These are all the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Weingut Karthauserhof Eitelsbacher Karthauserhofberg Riesling Kabinett Feinherb 2014 750ML ($31.95) $26 special, 12 bottles available
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Weingut Karthauserhof Eitelsbacher Karthauserhofberg Riesling Kabinett 2014 750ML ($34.95) $29 special, 12 bottles available
Weingut Karthauserhof Eitelsbacher Karthauserhofberg Riesling Kabinett 2014 1.5L ($89.95) $69 special, 6 magnums available
Jean Fisch & David Rayer, Mosel Fine Wines #28: “This Kabinett harvested with 82° Oechsle was nearly completely fermented with ambient yeasts. The wine is quite backward, but hints already at gorgeous cassis and pineapple on the palate. The comparatively low level of residual sugar (44 g/l) adds to the irresistible mouth-watering feel in the finish. This is a Ruwer classic in the making, with the telltale freshness and liveliness which made the success of the Estate over the years. 2024-2039″
John Gilman, View From The Cellar #56: “The 2014 Eitelsbacher Karthäuserhofberg Kabinett is a terrific young Kabinett in this vintage that has produced some many excellent examples of this Prädikat level. The wine wafts from the glass in a very impressively complex and utterly classic constellation of green apple, a touch of white cherry, complex minerality, a touch of petrol, white flowers, a bit of wild yeasts, lemon zest and a whiff of ocean breeze in the upper register. On the palate the wine is medium- bodied, mineral and beautifully filigreed, with a nice core of fruit, bright, ripe acids, excellent focus and grip and a very long, dancing and youthful finish of excellent potential. A paradigm of its Prädikat level. 2015-2035+”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Weingut Karthauserhof ‘Ruwer’ Riesling Trocken, Mosel 2014 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 special, 24 bottles available
Jean Fisch & David Rayer, Mosel Fine Wines #28: “This delivers a clean feel of grapefruit, herbs, spices and fresh fruits. The wine is still on the sharp and reduced side on the palate and is best left alone until next year to give it a chance to flesh out and gain in aromatic zest and fruity presence. 2016-2018”
John Gilman, View From The Cellar #56: “The basic estate Riesling Trocken from Karthäuserhof is really an excellent basic bottling from the 2014 vintage, as it offers up impressive focus and cut in its medium-bodied, dry and quite complex format. The lovely nose is still on the young side, but deep and pure, as it wafts from the glass in a mix of grapefruit, wild yeasts, lemongrass, petrol, slate and dried flowers. On the palate the wine is medium-bodied, crisp and still fairly primary in personality, with an impressive core of fruit, excellent cut and grip for the vintage and a long, youthful and beautifully balanced finish. 2015-2035.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Weingut Karthauserhof Alte Reben Eitelsbacher Karthauserhofberg Riesling Spatlese Trocken, Mosel 2014 750ML ($49.95) $39 special, 12 bottles available
Weingut Karthauserhof Alte Reben Eitelsbacher Karthauserhofberg Riesling Spatlese Trocken, Mosel 2014 1.5L ($99.95) $79 special, 6 magnums available
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Weingut Karthauserhof Eitelsbacher Karthauserhofberg Tyrells Edition Riesling Trocken, Mosel 2014 750ML ($49.95) $39 special, 12 bottles available
Jean Fisch & David Rayer, Mosel Fine Wines #28: “Already at this early stage, this gorgeously light wine (with only 11.5% of alcohol) delivers beautiful scents of cassis, white flowers and minerals on the nose and a superbly playful feel on the palate. The finish is long and deliciously tart. Despite the hint of fruits, this is still only at the beginning of its life and lovers of racy Riesling will really enjoy this most in a few years’ time. 2019-2029”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Weingut Karthauserhof Eitelsbacher Karthauserhofberg Schieferkristall Riesling Kabinett Feinherb, Mosel 2012 750ML ($37.95) $29 special, 10 bottles available
Mosel Fine Wines 91 points “Schieferkristall refers to the Kabinett-styled wines at the Estate (the reference to Kabinett is pushed to the back label). A whiff of wild yeasts gives quickly way to a very attractive and floral bouquet of rose-water, grapefruit and mint. The round and fruity feel from the residual sugar (20 g/l) is nicely balanced by some zesty acidity and a pure and spicy feel in the long finish. This is a deliciously fresh and lively off-dry Riesling made with a small 9.5% of alchohol. 2014-2020”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Weingut Karthauserhof Fruchtig Riesling Spatlese, Mosel 2012 750ML ($34.95) $24 special, 34 bottles available
Mosel Fine Wines 92 points “This Wine is quite open and expressive at this early stage and explodes with juicy flavors of yellow peach, quince and some flowers on the palate. This offers everything one could expect from a juicy Spatlese. The fact that it does deliver the goods without too much richness (it has technically less than 60 g/l of residual sugar) makes it utterly delicious also at this ealrly stage. 2017-2032” MFW
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $34.99
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We Just Can’t Get Enough!
This Week’s Best Re-Arrivals
OREGON
Cameron Winery Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2014 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 special
Case-12 Cameron Winery Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2014 750ML ($249.95) $216 special (that’s only $18/bottle!)
Vinopolnote: Declassified Yamhill-Carlton bottling from, as always, non-irrigated vines. Sourced from the Briscoe Vineyard, all-Wadensweil clone. Also, delicious.
Bow & Arrow Rhinestone Red, Willamette Valley ($24.95) $21.90 special
Vinopolnote: A clean, bright, and beautifully perfumed blend of Pinot Noir and Gamay sourced from the valley and vinified right here in Portland!
FRANCE-RHONE
Cave Yves Cuilleron Syrah Les Candives, IGP Collines Rhodaniennes 2014 750ML ($27.95) $24 special
Winery note “Selection of the best vines in Chavanay. ‘Les Candives’ is not a district but the local name for Syrah. The grapes are hand-picked, then sorted, destemmed and crushed. Alcoholic-fermented in open vats. Macerated for about 2 weeks. Fermented with native yeasts. Matures 8 months in barriques.”
ITALY-PIEDMONT
Brovia Sori del Drago Barbera d’Alba, Piedmont 2013 750ML ($31.95) $28 special
Antonio Galloni 89 points “Expressive floral notes meld into sweet plum and raspberry in Brovia’s 2013 Barbera d’Alba Sorì del Drago. Silky and open-knit, the mid-weight Sorì del Drago will drink well for another handful of years. Despite its deceptively medium-bodied feel, the Sorì del Drago packs quite a punch.”
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Arriving This Week
OREGON
Arterberry Maresh Chardonnay, Dundee Hills 2014 750ML ($79.95) $69 pre-arrival special, ETA Tuesday, February 23rd
Winery note “There is a scant amount of 1983-planted Chardonnay at Weber, which is blended with Maresh and bottled as Dundee Hills Chardonnay. Focusing on purity, precision and freshness, the Chardonnay from Arterberry Maresh is built to age. Whole clusters of Chardonnay are gently pressed and see an extended settling period before being racked to 10%-15% new French oak barrels for fermentation. Malolactic proceeds naturally and is followed by a 16-month elevage on wholly undisturbed lees.”
Arterberry Maresh Juliard Vineyard Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills 2014 750ML ($69.95) $59 pre-arrival special, ETA Tuesday, February 23rd
Winery note “A classic vintage of Juliard. One of the Dundee’s most distinctive vineyards. Destemmed in 1¼ ton lots, Jim’s light touch in the winery allows the intrinsic character of the wine to blossom. Passive temperature management ensures spontaneous fermentation proceeds and is monitored and guided by sensory analysis, gentle extraction techniques and low peak temperatures. Immediately upon reaching dryness, the lots are gently pressed in a half-ton wood bladder press and settle 2-4 weeks before being transferred to 5%-10% new French Oak barrels for 14-18 months. They are only racked to prepare for bottling.”
Arterberry Maresh Weber Vineyard Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills 2014 750ML ($39.95) $33 pre-arrival special, ETA Tuesday, February 23rd
Winery note “Since 2010, Arterberry Maresh has contracted 1976 and 1983 planted, own-rooted Pommard clone Pinot Noir from Weber Vineyard. The true east-facing site is located southeast of Winderlea and gets limited afternoon sun, though tends to ripen early at 350’-450’ elevation. Since debuting in 2010, Weber has shown to be forward, deep and vibrantly perfumed. Sweet notes of juicy currant, blackcap raspberry, dark cherry, maple, earth and a resinous poppy seed note. The structure is refined and acidity taut, but Weber speaks in noble, forward tones.”
FRANCE-BURGUNDY
Jean-Philippe Fichet Meursault 2012 750ML ($69.95) $56 pre-arrival special, ETA Friday, February 26th
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 91 points “Bright medium yellow-straw. Demonstrative nose offers scents of ginger, quinine, anise, licorice and wild herbs: more spicy than fruity. Dense, tactile and pliant, with dry, chewy flavors of apple, pear and spicy oak, along with a riper suggestion of fresh apricot. This very sexy wine has the sweetness to give it early appeal and the density to deepen in bottle for several years. In a blind flight of Fichet’s 2012s, this basic village offering was an outperformer.” ST
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $71
Domaine A. & P. de Villaine Bourgogne Cote Chalonnaise La Fortune 2013 750ML ($39.95) $29 pre-arrival special, ETA Tuesday, February 23rd
Winery note “The wine seduces with its aromas of red berries and promises a good texture while being crisp and tasty.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Domaine Henri et Gilles Buisson Saint-Romain Absolu Rouge 2013 750ML ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival special, ETA Friday, February 26th
Grapelive 92 points “The latest releases from Domaine Henri & Gilles Buisson were soulfully crafted by Frederick “Fred” Buisson, a dynamic youthful winemaker that is going towards a natural style of wine, this is an excellent debut set of Burgundies, specially his classic set of Saint-Romain whites and this “Absolu” red Saint-Romain that was made from organic vines, native yeast fermented and with no sulfur added. It is similar in style to Philippe Pacalet and offers plenty of terroir and whole cluster influence and has lots of verve and spice with layers of red cherry, plum, chalk dust, loamy, cracked pepper and succulent red currants with light floral tones throughout as well as a mineral essence. This wine really grows on you in the glass revealing more charm and Pinot character with air adding hints of cranberry, apple skin, red peach and sweet tea spices. I can imagine Buisson the younger gaining a strong fan base over the next few vintages, there is a lot to admire about about this “natural” red Burgundy and for his traditional set of whites. Only tiny amounts of the production is imported, so this will be a hard get, but worth checking out if you come across it, drink over the next 3 to 5 years.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
FRANCE-RHONE
Vignobles Brunier Domaine Les Pallieres Au Petit Bonheur Les Pallieres Gigondas Rose 2014 750ML ($24.95) $17 pre-arrival special, ETA Tuesday, February 23rd
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 90 points “Vivid pink. Sexy, high-pitched red berry and orange gelato aromas show very good clarity and an emerging floral nuance. Silky and seamless on the palate, offering juicy citrus fruit and raspberry flavors that tighten up with air. Finishes gently sweet and long, leaving a lively citrus zest quality behind.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $18.74
M. Chapoutier Ermitage de l’Oree Blanc, Rhone 2011 750ML ($249.95) $199 pre-arrival special
Robert Parker 100 points “The 2011 Ermitage Cuvee de l’Oree comes from a lieu-dit known as Les Murets planted with 80- to 90-year-old Marsanne vines. The bouquet offers up scents of Asian spices, lychee nuts, white currant liqueur and peach and apricot marmalade. This stunning, honeyed, flamboyant white is perfection in a glass. Drink it over the next half century.” RP
ITALY-TUSCANY
Isole e Olena Cepparello Toscana IGT, Tuscany 2012 750ML ($89.95) $69 pre-arrival special
Isole e Olena Cepparello Toscana IGT, Tuscany 2012 1.5L ($179.95) $149 pre-arrival special
Antonio Galloni 97 points “The 2012 Cepparello is magnificent. Radiant, pliant and super-expressive, the 2012 offers magnificent intensity, with silky tannins wrapped around a core of rich, dark-toned fruit. The intensity of the fruit suggests a warm vintage, but the structure is more medium in body and typical of a cooler year. Today, the 2012 gives the impression it will drink well pretty much upon release, but history has taught me Cepparello often shuts down in bottle. Either way, the 2012 is superb.” AG
The 1.5L is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Isole e Olena Chianti Classico DOCG, Tuscany 2013 750ML ($27.95) $21.90 pre-arrival special
Antonio Galloni 90 points “The 2013 Chianti Classico brings together the fresh aromatics of a cool year along with lovely mid-palate pliancy. The flavors are bright, high-toned and decidedly leaning towards the red-fruit end of the spectrum. Crushed flowers, herbs and anise grace the soft, aromatic finish. The overall impression is of lovely mid-palate juiciness, even if the technical stats suggest a lighter-bodied wine. That is why wine can never be measured by numbers alone.”
ITALY-PIEDMONT
Marchesi di Barolo Barbaresco DOCG, Piedmont 2010 750ML ($39.95) $28 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 92 points “The 2010 Barbaresco offers a classic portrait of a beautiful wine in a celebrated vintage. There’s not much to criticize here: The fruit is fleshy and lively, the aromas are intense and well-defined, and the finish is long and juicy. There’s a playful dusting of white pepper that works exceptionally well to add focus and overall sharpness. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2025.”
Cappellano Barolo Chinato NV 750ML ($89.95) $71.90 special
Importer note “Giovanni [grandfather to the current owner]’s brother, Giuseppe, was a pharmacist who created the family formula for their famous (then and again now) Barolo Chinato, the Barolo infused with a variety of “medicines”. The Barolo Chinato is produced by following the family recipe handed down generation to generation. The “medicinal” herbs and spices are ground using a stone mortar and pestle. Both the recipe and the process are family secrets.”
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Arriving in March
E. Guigal Cote Rotie La Landonne 2009 750ML ($599.95) $533 pre-arrival special
Robert Parker 100 points “The 2009 Cote Rotie La Landonne is a killer wine. An extravagant bouquet of black truffles, roasted meats, licorice, ground pepper, blackberries, scorched earth and camphor soars from this muscular, dense, over-the-top, serious, masculine La Landonne. Built like Arnold Schwarzenegger was two decades ago, this enormously concentrated bodybuilder of a wine should hit its prime in a decade, and last 40-50 years. This is no trivial boast as the debut vintage of La Landonne, the 1978, is just reaching full maturity at age 34.” RP
Wine Spectator 99 points “This delivers a stunningly ripe, pure, polished bolt of plum confiture, along with notes of anise, mocha, blueberry coulis, Black Forest cake and espresso. The finish sports admirable grip for this ripe-styled vintage, with a grounding rod of iron buried deeply. There’s fruit and muscle now, with minerality to burn while this is cellared. Best from 2015 through 2040.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $589
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New Releases: Altesino
Arriving Mid-March
It’d be hard to obscure the influence that Altesino has had on Montalcino, on Tuscany, and Italian wine-at-large. The estate ushered in the “Montosoli” concept – their version of “cru” – in 1975, were first to employ barriques for aging within the region, and were the first to offer Brunello futures in 1985.
Across five “Montosoli” – totaling 44 hectares under vine – the estate makes a broad range of wines, with their Brunello di Montalcino and Brunello Riserva earning consistent acclaim. In only finest vintages, the Brunello di Montelcino “Montalcino” is made. Winemaking at Altesino is best described as being traditional while set within a modern facility.
Kickstarting our selection of new Brunello releases are these three bottlings from the estate, all arriving mid-March:
Altesino Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2011 750ML ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival special
James Suckling 92 points “This is long and delicious with lovely cherry, chocolate and fresh walnut flavors. Linear yet open with persistence and joy. Drink now.”
Altesino Montosoli, Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2011 750ML ($99.95) $84.80 pre-arrival special
James Suckling 94 points “A very ripe style with prune, berry and salted-nut aromas and flavors. Full body, savory intensity and a long, flavorful finish. Lots of juicy, fabulous fruit. Shows the greatness of the vineyard. Drink or hold.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Altesino Brunello di Montalcino Riserva DOCG 2010 750ML ($119.95) $99 pre-arrival special
James Suckling 97 points “A sexy and silky riserva with dried fruit, blueberry and cedar character. Full body, firm tannins and long and gorgeous finish. So linear and precise. Chocolate-covered cherry center palate. Terrific young wine. Best riserva ever from here. Better in 2018.”
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