In This Newsletter:ArrivalsJean-Claude Bessin, Produttori Del Barbaresco, and more!Special Pre-ArrivalGD Vajra
Staff Pick
Domaine De La Terre Rouge Syrah
Close Out SalesFantastic deals from around the worldCrisp Summer White WinesWe’re here to help you beat the heatOne Week SaleElvio Cogno meets 5-10% discounts– ENDS TODAY
Collector’s Corner
On the Rhone again
 Special Arrival
…Barolo bounces back with a stellar vintage in 2019 that could very well represent the beginning of a new cycle of strong, outstanding years for this historic appellation. The 2019s are potent, tightly wound wines that will thrill readers who appreciate the nuance, subtlety, and structure of Nebbiolo. Today, the 2019s show elements that, at times, recall vintages such as 2016, 2005, and 1995.
-Vinous
Paolo Scavino Barolo 2019 750ml $39.50 special, 36+ bottles availablePaolo Scavino Barolo 2019 1.5L $99 special, 6 magnum bottles availablePaolo Scavino Barolo 2019 375ml $24 special, 24 half-bottles availableJeb Dunnuck 92 Points “Pouring a jeweled ruby hue, the 2019 Barolo is lovely and detailed, with floral perfume and notes of candied roses, raspberry preserves, and sweet baking spices. This medium-bodied red is mouthwatering from the start and is balanced with ripe red berries, orange peel, and cinnamon. Fine yet present tannins are propelled forward by fresh acidity and a mineral-tinged finish. I continue to be impressed with the direction this estate has been heading in, and this wine is certainly no exception, lending great insight into the work they have put in. Drink 2024-2034.” Paolo Scavino Barolo Bricco Ambrogio 2019 750ml $59 special, 18 bottles availableJeb Dunnuck 93 Points “Moving into the single cru wines, the 2019 Barolo Bricco Ambrogio is lifted and appealing, with spice and floral notes weaving together, along with wild strawberry, candied flowers, and fresh sage. This continues gracefully to the palate while taking on the tension and linear drive that readers should come to expect from the 2019 vintage. Medium-bodied and long on the palate, it has present but refined tannins throughout. Drink 2025-2045.” Paolo Scavino Barolo Bric Del Fiasc 2019 750ml $99 special, 22 bottles availablePaolo Scavino Barolo Bric Del Fiasc 2019 1.5L $249 special, 4 bottles availableJeb Dunnuck 98 Points “The 2019 Barolo Bric del Fiasc is the hallmark wine of the estate, and it shows. Taking on more concentration, it is pure and generous with kirsch, star anise, nutmeg, and menthol and moves impressively to the palate with ease and nobility. It offers fantastic depth while remaining true to the vintage and propels forward through an arch of acidity, while having grounded notes of Earl Grey tea, black cherry, and crushed stones as well as ripe tannins. Drink 2026-2046.” Paolo Scavino Barolo Monvigliero 2019 750ml $71.90 special, 12 bottles availableJeb Dunnuck 94 Points “Coming from Verduno, the 2019 Barolo Monvigliero is nuanced with spices and floral elegance and is pure and ripe with raspberry liqueur, rose petal, peppercorn, and cedar. This medium-bodied red is svelte and refined while having good concentration and drive, with notes of pomegranate, orange zest, and dusty earth. Zesty and lifted, this will take another couple of years to open and mature into the graceful wine it is destined to become. Drink 2025-2040” Paolo Scavino Barolo Prapo 2019 750ml $75 special, 22 bottles availableJeb Dunnuck 95 Points “Taking on a deeper profile, the 2019 Barolo Prapo exudes notes of kirsch, black licorice, polished leather, and lavender. Full-bodied and approachable, its refined, ripe tannins do well to accept the ripeness of the fruit that remains pure. It has a silkiness in its texture and fruit profile without losing structure and delivers notes of black tea, truffle, and blackberry as well as a long finish. Drink 2025-2045.” Paolo Scavino Barolo Ravera 2019 750ml $75 special, 30 bottles availableJeb Dunnuck 95 Points “Aromatically more expressive and ripe with red flowers and fruits, the 2019 Barolo Ravera is more exuberant and open at this stage, with candied cherry, menthol, and sweet balsamic herbs. The palate takes a more savory and coiled stance at this youthful stage, with iron-rich earth, grenadine, and salted orange. Building tannins are in concert with a persistent spine of acidity that will need time to loosen its grip, but this is a fantastic wine to hold and drink 2026-2046.”
New Arrivals
France
“Among Chablis’ top half-dozen domaines (The Wine Advocate)“
Jean-Claude Bessin Chablis Fourchaume 2021 $59 special, 3 bottles availableBurghound 91-93 Points “Outstanding. This too is very firmly reduced though once again there is really lovely underlying tension suffusing the bigger-bodied flavors that also possess a beguiling texture while delivering notably better depth and persistence on the balanced and youthfully austere finale. Good stuff and this too is worthy of your interest.”
“Two great domains from one producer”
Bret Brothers Pouilly-Fuisse Carementrant 2021 750ml $69 special, 4 bottles availableWinery Note “Our Pouilly-Fuissé is a blending of two small plots of old vines, one on the East-facing slope of the village of Fuissé, the other on the plateau of white marl (type of limestone) characteristic of the lower part of the village. A bottle that may be savoured now but which will take some years before it fully blooms into a rich and mineral.” La Soufrandiere St Veran La Bonnode Ovoide 2021 750ml $59 special, 4 bottles available
Winery Note “As of this year, we’re producing another version of our Saint-Véran La Bonnode. The juice fermented naturally in a cement ovoid tank (19hl) for one year, with no added sulfur. In August, the wine was racked to stainless steel tank for a final ageing period on fine lees. It will be bottled, without filtration, in January 2020. A pure, magnificent, ethereal wine. One rediscovers Chardonnay in a new light. The experiment will continue with a second ovoid tank in 2019.” La Soufrandiere Pouilly-Vinzelles Climat Quarts 2021 750ml $79 special, 7 bottles available
Winery Note “The earth here is soft, aerated, perfumed. It is alive. The soul of the terroir is undeniably present. With an almost magical exposure at the top of a southeast-facing slope, our oldest Chardonnay vines (45 to 80 years old) are rooted in an active limestone and clay soil (Bajocian, rich with siliceous crystals), giving birth to powerful, age-worthy wines. The nose is citrusy and mineral, and the balanced palate shows complexity and a long finish.”
La Soufrandiere Les Quarts Cuvee Zen 2021 750ml $79 special, 5 bottles available
Winery Note “We produce a “Zen” version of multiple cuvées, with no added sulfur until bottling… Walk, listen, smell. You are in the middle of the plowed La Soufrandière vineyard of Pouilly-Vinzelles Climat “Les Quarts,” on a terroir that we think is one of the best in Burgundy. The nose is citrusy and mineral, and the balanced palate shows complexity and a long finish.”
Arriving July 28th“Produttori Del Barbaresco”
Produttori Del Barbaresco Don Fiorino Riserva 2016 $169 special, 6 bottles availableKerin O’Keefe 98 Points “A new edition to the winery’s already impressive lineup, the gorgeous Produttori Del Barbaresco 2016 Don Fiorino Riserva stuns with its impeccable class, structure and youthful tension. Made with 50% grapes from the Produttori’s nine famous crus and 50% from other top sites (Basarin, Cottà, Cole, Fasèt and San Cristoforo), it boasts aromas and flavors of ripe raspberry, star anise, cake spice and almost salty mineral notes. An ode to the the parish priest who united 19 growers in 1958 and created the Produttori del Barbaresco cooperative, it’s linear, precise and still youthfully austere. Aged for thirty months in 15hl French casks, it’s extremely well balanced, with firm, refined tannins and fresh acidity.” James Suckling 98 Points “Incredible aromas of white truffle, meat, wet earth, lightly burnt orange peel and pure fruit. Medium-bodied and very compact, with a block of silky tannins that run through the palate and then come out at the end with a gorgeous texture. It’s very drinkable now, but will age wonderfully. This is a special release. They never made a serious blended riserva in their history. Spring 2023 release.” Wine Spectator 95 Points “Rich, broad and spicy, exhibiting plum, cherry, tar, licorice and eucalyptus aromas and flavors. Offers muscle and grace, with intensity and persistence on the long finish. To be released April 2023.”
Arriving Late July
“Vietti”
Vietti Barolo Riserva 2015 750ml $149 special, 12 bottles availableVinous 94 Points “The 2015 Barolo Riserva is a new wine from Vietti conceived as a blend that changes every year, a sort of Riserva of the Castiglione, in that it is a Barolo made from the many lots Vietti has at their disposal. Exotic red fruit, blood orange, spice, leather and cedar are some of the aromas and flavors that emerge from the glass. The 2015 shows the aromatic complexity of a wine that has been in bottle for a few years, naturally it does not offer the singularity of the vineyard designates. I won’t be surprised if this bottling improves in future vintages as the direction becomes even more clearly defined.”
Also Arriving from Vietti:
Vietti Barbaresco Masseria Roncaglie 2019 750ml $128 special, 4 bottles availableVinous 98 PointsVietti Barolo Monvigliero 2019 750ml $269 special, 9 bottles availableVinous 97 Points Vietti Barolo Cerequio 2019 750ml $249 special, 12 bottles availableVinous 98 Points Vietti Barolo Brunate 2019 750ml $259 special, 9 bottles availableVinous 98 PointsVietti Barolo Rocche Di Castiglione 2019 750ml $299 special, 6 bottles availableVinous 99 Points Vietti Barolo Lazzarito 2019 750ml $239 special, 23 bottles availableVinous 97 Points Vietti Barolo Ravera 2019 750ml $299 special, 30 bottles availableVinous 100 Points
Special Pre-Arrival: Mid to Late AugustG.D. Vajra and Luigi Baudana 
What makes the wines of G.D. Vajra so special? It’s more than just the legendary cooling fogs of Piedmont and its patchwork of disparate soils. It’s also a commitment to innovation and dedication to the land.
The winery’s founder Aldo Vajra was involved in the turbulence of late 60’s Italian politics. His father, fearing for the young Aldo, confined him to their family farm, where his interest in radical politics turned into an interest in radical agriculture. An early adopter of sustainable agriculture, they became Piedmont’s first organic farm in 1971, finally certified in 2019. In 2009, as Luigi and Fiorina Baudana were nearing retirement, the Vajra family took over operation of the Baudana’s Serralunga estate, continuing the excellence of Luigi’s wines and even taking them to new heights.
These are wines of elegance and patience, with the underlying boldness that lovers of nebbiolo cherish. The Vajra wines are as lithe and complex as any wine to be found in the Barolo region, while the Baudana wines balance the high-toned energy of nebbiolo with the power of Serralunga’s terroir.
Staff Pick
California
Domaine De La Terre Rouge Syrah Cotes L’ouest 2016 $19.50 special, 20 bottles available“It’s summertime and I want to be outside as much as possible– that means camping, cookouts, and all things grilled. With its smoky, meaty character, and intricately layered tannic structure, this is the perfect wine for barbecue season.”
Crisp Summer Whites
We’re here to help you beat the heat
Coquina Wines Pinot Gris 2021 750ml $21.90 special, 34 bottles availableVinopolnote “Formerly of Kosta Browne and Failla, winemakers Dana Benn and Nicole Staples came to to the Willamette valley to make something that was truly their own. Like a cross between Pinot Grigios of the Italian Alps and a fine Alsatian Pinot Gris. Structured and very complex.” Jules Taylor Sauvignon Blanc 2022 750ml $18 special, 34 bottles availableWinemaker’s Note “Mind-blowingly incredible diversity of full-throttle flavor, within a row, even within a bunch. Grassy, summery, bright honesty with a hint of spill the beans.”
Kellerei Kaltern Saleit Chardonnay 2018 750ml $16 special, 29 bottles availableVinopolnote “Full of tropical fruit aromas, especially pineapple and banana, with vanilla and butter rounding off this expressive nose. Full-bodied and balanced on the palate, long lingering finish with echoes of ripe fruit.” Patricia Green Sauvignon Blanc 2022 750ml $21.90 special, 9 bottles availableWinery Note “This is classic Sauvignon Blanc provided you do not think this variety should smell like cut grass and cat pee. This has high-toned and heavily fruited aromatics with a distinct limey/citrus tinge along with the hint of straw and minerals which is what ripe Sauvignon Blanc should have as its varietal typicity.” Pepiere Muscadet La Pepie 2021 750ml $18 special, 36+ bottles availableImporter Note “In 2016, Pépière’s classic, earliest-release bottling saw an addition to the label, the “La Pépie” moniker, because of the necessity of adding non-estate fruit to the production. It marked the first time the estate had purchased fruit. It comes from neighboring parcels that match their terroirs and work philosophy.” Pieropan Soave 2021 750ml $18 special, 32 bottles available91 Points Wine & Spirits “Taut acidity enlivens flavors of fleshy pear and golden apple. Floral and fresh, with a touch of leesy richness, this is a classy table wine”. Royal Tokaji The Oddity Dry Furmint 2019 750ml $18 special, 36+ bottles availableVinopolnote “If you love your wines very zippy and a touch funky, this is the bottle for you. The Furmint is whole cluster pressed and then fermented in a combination of stainless steel tanks and Hungarian Zemplen oak with absolutely no malolactic fermentation.” Tan Fruit Petite Tan Fruit Chardonnay 2022 750ml $19.50 special, 36+ bottles availableVinopolnote “Bright and tight, Chablisienne style Chardonnay. This goes down easier than Lemonade on a hot day.” Tenute Bosco Piano Dei Daini Etna Bianco 2019 750ml $19 special, 29 bottles availableVinopolnote “A blend of historically important indigenous varieties of Carricante, Catarratto, Grecanico and Inzolia from the vineyards in the two contradas of Paino dei Daini and Santo Spirito. A remarkably fresh wine, pleasantly persistent, with an appropriate balance of acidity and minerality.” Triennes Sainte Fleur Viognier IGP 2020 750ml $18 special, 21 bottles availableVinopolnote “From two of Burgundy’s greatest names – Jacques Seysses, founder of Domaine Dujac, and Aubert de Villaine, co-owner of Domaine de la Romanée-Conti comes this Viognier with intense perfume of apricot, honey-suckle, white flowers and honey lavender, this lovely white strikes a beautiful balance between aromatic richness, crisp acidity, and excellent mineral structure.”
Close-out Sale – More Price Reductions
Roc Des Boutires Pouilly-Fuisse Bertilionne 2020 750ml WAS $61.90 NOW $49 special, 23 bottles availableImporter’s Note “In the village of Pouilly, in the middle of the Pouilly-Fuissé AOC lies Domaine du Roc des Boutires. The winery’s name draws on both terroir and tradition: its proximity with the Roche de Solutré, an emblem of the appellation and a testament to the extraordinary geologic richness of this vineyard; as well as the domaine’s settlement in the very heart of one of the best terroirs of the appellation —“Aux Bouthières.” In the ancient French vocabulary, a “boutière” was a secondary road that mule skinners used for the transportation of oils and wines in remote parts of the country. The Wine’s color can be described as vibrant straw with green-gold reflections. Complex aromas of citrus and orchard fruit, lemon, pear, peach and honey with layers of minerality and subtle oak. Classic and elegant.” Chateau Du Moulin-A-Vent Moulin-A-Vent 2019 750ml WAS $33 NOW $29, 36+ bottles availableWine Enthusiast 93 Points “Cellar Selection. A selection of fruit from the three best parcels of the estate, this wine shows great ripeness, solid tannins and impressive berry fruits. It is developing into a fine wine that needs more aging. Drink from 2024.” Chateau Sissan Cadillac Cotes De Bordeaux 2020 750ml WAS $16 NOW $14 special, 36+ bottles availableChateau Sissan Cadillac Bordeaux 2020 Case of 12 750ml bottles WAS $169 NOW $149, 5 availableDecanter 93 Points “From a gravel-strewn vineyard undergoing organic conversion, Sissan’s 2020 release is intensely aromatic with the signature fine palate texture that keeps all of us coming back to Cadillac Cotes de Bordeaux as a can’t-miss source for value in the overall category.” Chevalerie Bourgueil Diptyque 2018 750ml WAS $24 NOW $19 special, 19 bottles availableVinopolNote “The “bistro” wine of the bunch, easy-drinking with crushed berry notes. Serve lightly chilled with just about any food you can think of. Like all of the estate’s wines, this is farmed biodynamically.” Chevalerie Bourgueil Breteche 2015 750ml WAS $31.90 NOW $26, 27 bottles availableImporter Note “Bretêche is an old word referring to a window or entrance to a fortified building, often above a gate to enable defenders to rain arrows or what have you upon attackers. It can also refer to entrances and exits in general, and this particular vineyard grows on the edge of the Restigné commune, where a road comes in. Pierre Caslot planted his parcel between 1988 and 1992 after his wife inherited the rights to rent it from her family. They farm just over 13 acres here. The soils are young limestone and a little clay, and this makes for a long, more linear wine than Galichets or Chevalerie, one with evident stony aromatics, lift and focus given by the limestone.” Coche-Dury Hospices Cuvee Chaudron Pommard 2019 750ml WAS $899 NOW $799 special, 1 bottle availableImporter Note “Hospices de Civiles de Beaune is a former charitable almshouse founded in 1443 in the town of Beaune. It is now a modern hospital, with the original buildings serving as a museum. Since 1859, a charity wine auction has raised funds for the hospital with the wines produced being released under the Hospice’s umbrella label.” Burghound 90 points “An attractively fresh nose is comprised by notes of both red and dark currant, earth and a whiff of oak. The medium weight flavors possess reasonably good underlying tension and complexity though the finish, while reasonably persistent, is slightly drying. There are aspects to admire but it would be fair to say that the balance isn’t quite completely dialed in. In sum, this is good but not really distinguished.” Collotte Marsannay Le Clos De Jeu 2018 750ml WAS $33 NOW $29 special, 36+ bottles availableWeygandt-Metzler Importer Note “The Clos de Jeu Marsannay comes from several parcels of 50 year old vines from Clos de Jeu on soft limestone crinoidal soil. Aged in oak, 25% new, this wine is harmonious in its flavors and tannins.” Clos Des Fees Roussillon Villages 2015 750ml WAS $54.50 NOW $49 special, 12 bottles availableClos Des Fees Roussillon Villages 2015 750m Case of 6 750ml bottles WAS $299 NOW $279, 3 availableWine Advocate 96 Points “Eighteen months in new French oak barrels has given the 2015 Côtes du Roussillon Villages le Clos des Fées a certain tightness and discipline lacking in the Vieilles Vignes bottling. There’s still massive fruit and buried complexity, full body and rich tannins, but there’s also firmness of structure that shows the serious, age-worthy side of Bizeul’s winemaking. Vanilla and baking spices accent deep, dark cherries and plums, ending in a long, velvety finish.” Denis Chaput Noir de Jade Champagne Blanc de Noir Extra-Brut NV WAS $49 NOW $39 special, 24 bottles
Le Guide Hachette “Construit sur la récolte 2014, ce pur pinot noir or rose mêle au nez la mie de pain à des nuances délicates d’acacia et de pêche. La fleur miellée, le fruit et le coulis de fruits s’épanouissent dans une bouche équilibrée entre fraîcheur et rondeur, qui finit sur une touche mentholée. Du caractère et de l’élégance.” La Chablisienne Les Clos Chablis 2018 WAS $69 NOW $59 special, 21 bottles available Le Guide Hachette “The Chablis Grand Cru are complete wines, with strong personality, and never cease improving with age. These nectars with their elegant colour and strong nose are particularly racy on the palate, offering a gloriously long finish and a remarkable keeping potential.” La Chablisienne L’Homme Mort Chablis 2019 WAS $39 NOW $34.50 special, 30 bottles availableLe Guide Hachette “Pale gold in color, a limpid and brilliant wine. Initially fresh and deliciously floral on the nose, enhanced by a touch of minerality. Becomes more intense on aeration. Nicely fresh, taut and immediate in the mouth with fine precision. Long, finely mineral finish. A Chablis 1er Cru designed for keeping.”
USA
Cadence Bel Canto Red 2019 WAS $69 NOW $59 special, 18 bottles availableJeb Dunnuck 96 points “The 2019 Bel Canto is more Cabernet Franc-dominated and includes 17% Merlot. While it doesn’t match the 2018, it’s a beauty offering impressive redcurrant and spiced plum fruits, notes of spicy oak, dried flowers, and leafy herbs, medium to full body, a pure, seamless, gorgeous texture, and ultra-fine tannins. It’s just a stunning Cabernet Franc from Washington State that offers incredible pleasure today given its balance and texture yet will evolve for 20+ years. 290 cases.” Cayuse Impulsivo Tempranillo 2020 WAS $133 NOW $119 special, 28 bottles available
James Suckling 95+ points; Jeb Dunnuck 94+ points “Tight and closed, with notions of bloody blue fruits, iodine, rose petals, and cedarwood, the 2020 Impulsivo hits the palate with medium to full-bodied richness, a nicely balanced, layered mouthfeel, and ripe tannins that emerge on the finish. I like its concentration, and its tannins are polished and beautifully integrated, but this is in need of a solid 4-5 years of bottle age to show its full potential. It should have 20-25 years of overall longevity when all is said and done.”
Germany
Clemens – Busch Marienberg Riesling Kabinett 2018 WAS $24 NOW $19 special, 36+ bottles availableJames Suckling 92+ points “Lightly smoky with some lemon pith and dried spices. There’s some light sweetness here, but it’s nicely balanced out by the edgy acidity. Taut and very precise on the finish. Drink now.” Vinous 91 points “White peach, apple, honeydew melon and lime are tinged with lemongrass and cilantro on the nose, and with nippy cress on an otherwise polished, lusciously fruited and subtly soothing palate. Nearly 60 grams of sugar manage to come off as entirely supportive, and the lingering finish both soothes and stimulates.” Wine Spectator 91 points “Shows yeasty notes at first, with accents of jasmine and hops, followed by electric acidity that fuels the green apple, lemon and nectarine flavors. Balanced and beautiful in terms of texture, exhibiting substance. Smoky details emerge on the well-defined finish.”
Italy
Carpineta Fontalpino Do Ut Des Tuscany 2016 WAS $49 NOW $39 special, 36+ bottles availableJames Suckling 95 points “The fruit here really takes your breath away with its intensity, as well as purity. Blackberry crumble, pressed violets, ink, iodine, charcoal, vanilla and resin. It’s the polish of the tannins that really makes this wine, carrying itself effortlessly over a shimmer of electric acidity to the long finish. Drink in 2023. Made from organically grown grapes.” Wine Advocate 94 points “The 2016 Do Ut Des (a blend of Sangiovese, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon) exhibits a generous and expansive personality that hits the palate like a warm embrace from a favorite friend. This is a succulent and smooth red wine with thick layers of bold cherry, dried blackberry, leather, rose hip and scorched earth. In the mouth, the wine proceeds with medium- to full-bodied texture and elegantly contoured fruit flavors.” Wine Spectator 94 points “Sleek and focused, with black currant, black cherry, plum, iron and tobacco flavors coursing through from start to finish. Tightly wound and vibrant, this lingers with subtle licorice and spice elements. Shows fine harmony and length. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot. Best from 2023 through 2036. 1,650 cases made, 200 cases imported. — BS” Caruso E Minini Pericone Sicily 2019 WAS $19 NOW $16 special, 36+ bottles available“The Perricone [grape], or the so-called pignatello, had been the undisputed leader of the red grapes in western Sicily. Rich with red fruits…Wine of great power and harmony while expressing…fresh and lively character” -Winery notes
SPECIAL FOR 8 MORE HOURS– ELVIO COGNO!
Buy 6-11 bottles for a 5% discount
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SALE ENDS TONIGHT @6PM FRIDAY JULY 21ST
Elvio Cogno gained experience as wine-maker and partner at Marcarini, and in the middle 1990’s acquired the lands to support his own new venture. Cogno’s wines, now vinified by Valter Fissore, are amongst the highest caliber produced in Langhe. They are well-known and consistently well received by critics both in Europe and the United States. Antonio Galloni, founder of Vinous Media, states, “the truth is that all of the wines in the estate’s lineup are fabulous from top to bottom… Elvio Cogno (is) one of Barolo’s leading estates.” Elvio Cogno has been named “Winery of the Year” by Wine & Spirits Magazine for four of the past six years.
Elvio Cogno Barbera d’Alba Bricco di Merli 2020 750ML- $28 pre-discount, 36 bottles availableWine Enthusiast 92 points “Starting with its bright ruby color to its long-lasting finish, this is a classic Barbera. Aromas of bright tart cherries and wild raspberries mixed with fresh herbs and forest floor. The palate is electric with vibrant acidity, amazing texture and wild fresh plums mixed with deep earthy notes.” Wine Spectator 91 points “A supple, even creamy texture embraces the blackberry, plum and leather flavors in this concentrated red. Firms up, with well-meshed tannins flexing on the finish. Drink now through 2027. 830 cases made, 250 cases imported.” Elvio Cogno Barolo Ravera Bricco Pernice 2015 750 ML- $99 pre-discount, 38 bottles availableWine Enthusiast 97 points “Cellar Selection. Enticing scents of rose, iris, perfumed berry and an earthy whiff of truffle shape the fragrant nose on this dazzling wine. The delicious, full-bodied palate boasts structure and a weightless elegance, delivering juicy Marasca cherry, cherry compote, cinnamon and star anise. Taut polished tannins and fresh acidity provide balance and an elegant structure. It’s already irresistible but will also age well for years. Drink 2022–2035.” Wine Advocate 96 points “The Elvio Cogno 2015 Barolo Ravera Bricco Pernice delivers the depth, richness and concentration that are a hallmark of this pretty vintage. This wine is a pure expression of the productive Lampia clone of Nebbiolo. Generous layers of blackberry, wild cherry, rose hip, ferrous earth and campfire ash are neatly folded together to build the wine’s intensity. Like the other wines from this estate, the tannic management is spot-on. You are aware of the wine’s youthful structure, but it is delivered without hard edges or sharp points. A mere 4,000 bottles were produced.” Antonio Galloni 95 points “The 2015 Barolo Bricco Pernice is an exotic, beguiling wine. Blood orange, mint, sweet red cherry, star anise and a range of spice notes give the Bricco Pernice striking aromatic and flavor complexity. Medium in body, refined and super-expressive, the 2015 has so much to offer. Best of all, it will drink well with just a few years in bottle. It is such an effortless, gracious wine. Very polished, nuanced and elegant, this silky Barolo has a ton of structure but is also impeccable in its balance.” Wine Spectator 95 points “Aromas of camphor and sweet pipe tobacco give way to cherry, tar and wild scrub flavors in this densely structured red, which is elegant and sinewy, with a lingering, chewy finish. Best from 2023 through 2045.” Elvio Cogno Barolo Ravera Bricco Pernice 2017 750ML – $119 pre-discount, 18 bottles availableWine Advocate 95 points “This is a medium-bodied Nebbiolo from a hot vintage with a ruby-tinged appearance. The 2017 Barolo Ravera Bricco Pernice shows generous inner fiber and richness with dried cherry, blackberry, plum and dark spice. Fruit for this wine comes from a beautiful amphitheater of vines with the perched town of Novello high up on the skyline. I love the especially smooth and soft quality to what is a powerful and lasting wine. Only 3,500 bottles were made.” Elvio Cogno Barolo Cascina Nuova 2016 750ML- $49 pre-discount, 22 bottles availableWine Enthusiast 96 points “Rose, woodland berry and baking spice shape the nose along with crushed mint notes on this fragrant red. The savory, polished palate boasts succulent raspberry, ripe strawberry and white pepper before taut tannins and bright acidity reveal a firm, elegant structure. Star anise lingers on the finish. Drink 2023–2036.” Wine Advocate 94 points “Of the four Elvio Cogno Baroli out on the market now, this wine is the most immediate and accessible of the bunch. Production is an ample 20,000 bottles. The 2016 Barolo Cascina Nuova is a terrific wine with impeccable balance. The bouquet offers dark fruit aromas, licorice, smoke, tar and spice. These aromatic pieces slide together with precision to create an intriguing and multifaceted puzzle. It shows good fruit weight and concentration, reinforced by firm tannins, freshness and a silky mouthfeel. This is a terrific go-to Barolo from a classic vintage. The wine is fermented in stainless steel and then ages for two years in botte grande made with Slavonian oak. “ Elvio Cogno Barolo Cascina Nuova 2018 750ML- $59 pre-discount, 36 bottles availableWine Enthusiast 94 points “Floral aromas of rose and iris mingle with red berry and tilled earth on this perfumed red. Elegantly structured, the vibrant palate offers juicy red cherry, crushed raspberry and star anise before a savory, almost salty finish. Taut, refined tannins and bright acidity keep it balanced. Drink through 2030.” Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2018 Barolo Cascina Nuova is fine-tuned with plenty of wild berry, cassis, grilled herb and crushed stone. The aromas are quite classic for Nebbiolo, but what stands out here is the directness and freshness with which they are delivered. The tannins are tucked carefully inside the smooth, silky character of this elegant wine.” Elvio Cogno Barolo Ravera 2017 750ML- $94.50 pre-discount, 35 bottles availableJeb Dunnuck 97 points “The 2017 Barolo Ravera makes a statement with its intense aromas of licorice, kirsch, pipe tobacco, and spice. Revealing a balanced and chiseled structure, the palate conveys dried raspberry, blood orange, and dried herbs. A great wine from the 2017 vintage, it feels like it will hold up to the test of time. Drink 2024-2042” Wine Advocate 94 points “The Ravera cru is seeing renewed energy and interest, thanks to the hard work of the Elvio Cogno team. They believed in Novello from the very beginning, and today a wine like the 2017 Barolo Ravera shows special confidence and pride. This pretty Barolo made with a blend of Nebbiolo clones (Lampia and Michet) reveals a slow succession of aromas with dark cherry and blackberry. The results are lasting, contoured and beautifully focused, thanks to mineral notes of rusty iron or brick. Nuanced notes of licorice and campfire ash round off the finish.” Monica Larner Elvio Cogno Barolo Ravera 2018 750ML- $94.50 pre-discount, 18 bottles availableWine Advocate 94 points “The Elvio Cogno 2018 Barolo Ravera is becoming one of the most important wines in Novello, and it performs very nicely in this more challenging vintage. In fact, 2018 helps to cement Ravera’s steadfast reputation precisely because it performs so well despite spells of humidity and heat. The wine shows small-berry detailing with rust and crushed stone at the back. There is a point of bitterness that accompanies the tannins of this full-bodied wine.”
Collector’s CornerOn The Rhone Again
Henri Bonneau CDP Celestins 2012 750ml $419 special, 4 bottles availableWine Spectator 97 Points “This defines old school, with savory detail and notes of roasted chestnut, fresh tobacco leaf, cedar and brick dust leading off, backed by a core of currant, cherry and plum fruit flavors that is lightly dried yet nonetheless fresh and racy in feel. Singed juniper and bay leaf hints score the finish. Likely to hold just like this for some time. Best from 2020 through 2040. Chapoutier Ermitage L’ermite Rouge 2013 750ml $249 special, 13 bottles availableWine Spectator 97 Points “Sleek, with mouthwatering flavors of red currant, raspberry and cherry preserves forming the core, while a dusting of cocoa, a snap of red licorice and a long, lingering iron spine complete the picture. Very pure and focused. The minerality wins out in the end. Best from 2019 through 2032. Chapoutier Ermitage Le Meal Blanc 2011 750ml $279 special, 2 bottles availableWine Advocate 99 Points “Surprisingly, I preferred the 2011 Ermitage le Meal Blanc over the 2012 on this occasion and it showed a more flamboyant, sexy style in its caramelized pineapple, tropical, honeyed and floral personality. Big, rich and decadent, with fabulous fruit intensity and length, this rock star flirts with perfection and will keep for another 3-4 decades.” Clos Des Papes Chateauneuf Du Pape 2017 750ml $119 special, 9 bottles availableVinous 95-96 Points “Shimmering violet. Pungent aromas of red and blue fruit preserves, potpourri and smoky minerals, along with a spicy nuance that builds as the wine opens up. Youthfully chewy and deeply concentrated, displaying sappy black raspberry, bitter cherry and boysenberry flavors and suggestions of candied lavender and licorice. Shows impressive finesse for its depth and finishes extremely long and precise, with building tannins that meld smoothly with the wine’s densely packed fruit.” Delas Cote Rotie La Landonne 2019 1.5L $549 special, 3 Magnum bottles availableDecanter 97 Points “Immediately this has the darkness and aromatic austerity of La Landonne. Very full-bodied, expansive on the palate with mouthcoating flavour and tannin but not heavy. This is seriously tannic, but it’s not tough. Great character, great power and perfect balance. Alcohol is just a little raised, but this is a blockbuster. Around 3,000 bottles made. Fermented in open-top concrete tanks for 20 days, then matured in new and one-year-old barrels for 14 months. Drinking Window 2026 – 2035.” Wine Spectator 96 Points “This is dark and still a bit reticent, with a cast iron cloak around the core of dark currant, plum and blackberry paste flavors, showing lots of sweet bay leaf, anise and singed apple wood notes in the background. There’s serious grip through the finish. For the cellar. Best from 2024 through 2038. 267 cases made, 40 cases imported.” Delas Cote Rotie La Landonne 2019 750ml $279 special, 6 bottles availableDecanter 97 Points “Immediately this has the darkness and aromatic austerity of La Landonne. Very full-bodied, expansive on the palate with mouthcoating flavour and tannin but not heavy. This is seriously tannic, but it’s not tough. Great character, great power and perfect balance. Alcohol is just a little raised, but this is a blockbuster. Around 3,000 bottles made. Fermented in open-top concrete tanks for 20 days, then matured in new and one-year-old barrels for 14 months. Drinking Window 2026 – 2035.” Delas Hermitage Les Bessards 2019 750ml $219 special, 36+ bottles availableDelas Hermitage Les Bessards 2019 1.5L $449 special, 8 Magnum bottles availableJeb Dunnuck 99 Points “My favorite release from this estate is consistently their Les Bessards Hermitage, and their 2019 is no exception. Coming from the western part and pure broken granite soils on the west side of this magical hill, it sports a dense purple hue to go with a brilliant perfume of cassis, graphite, scorched earth, burning embers, spring flowers, and peppery herbs. Incredibly complex, layered, and nuanced, with classic Hermitage characteristics, it still stays firmly planted in the ripe, sunny, sexy vintage. Full-bodied, concentrated, and structured on the palate, it has a wealth of tannins, flawless balance, and a great finish. This is pure Hermitage magic that needs to be forgotten for 4-5 years and will evolve for 20-30 years in cold cellars. Hats off to the team at Delas for another incredible wine.” Delas Hermitage Ligne Crete Grandes Vignes 2019 750ml $299 special, 12 bottles availableDelas Hermitage Ligne Crete Grandes Vignes 2019 1.5L $619 special, 3 bottles availableVinous 96-98 Points “Powerful, highly perfumed aromas of black/blue fruit liqueur, licorice, olive and potpourri are complemented by an exotic suggestion of incense. Stains the palate with intense boysenberry, cherry, cassis and spicecake flavors that deepen steadily through the midpalate. Shows a suave blend of power and delicacy and betrays no rough edges. Youthfully chewy tannins add shape to an extremely long, mineral-driven finish that delivers outstanding clarity and floral thrust.” Garon Cote-Rotie Lancement 2020 750ml $189 special, 4 bottles availableJeb Dunnuck 95-97 Points “The 2020 Côte Rôtie Lancement has more black fruits as well as some classic Côte Rôtie floral and mineral notes. This vineyard normally yields a more ethereal, feminine wine, but this is a powerful, dense, stacked barrel sample with plenty of fine grained tannins and a great finish.” Garon Cote-Rotie Les Triotes 2016 1.5L $119 special, 3 Magnum bottles availableVinous 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.” Domaine Gourt De Mautens Vaucluse IGP 2015 1.5L $199 special, 3 bottles availableJeb Dunnuck 97 Points “The Chambolle-Musigny of the Rhône, the 2015 IGP Vaucluse from Jerome Bressy is a totally sensational blend of 50% Grenache and the balance a mix of Mourvèdre, Carignan, Counoise, Vaccarèse, Cinsault, Syrah, and Terret Noir (we’re getting close to all the varieties). Aged in a mix of concrete tanks, foudre, demi-muids, and barrels, bottled unfined and unfiltered, this naked beauty has just about everything you could want from a bottle of wine. Notes of rose petals, kirsch, blackberries, garrigue, and spice all emerge from this pure, elegant and gorgeous red that offers full-bodied richness, no hard edges and a killer finish. It got more than a few Wows in my notes and is an ethereally textured southern Rhône that needs to be tasted to be believed. Anticipated maturity: 2017 – 2030.” Domaine Gourt De Mautens Vaucluse IGP 2016 750ml $119 special, 4 bottles availableJeb Dunnuck 97 Points “As to the red, the 2016 Vaucluse reminded me of the 2007 with its incredible opulence, sweetness of fruit, and flamboyant style. Awesome black raspberry and strawberry fruit characteristics all intermix with notes of incense, white and black pepper, fruit cake, plums, garrigue, and Asian spices on the nose. Full-bodied, deep, and concentrated on the palate, it doesn’t pull any punches and the sweet fruit scale (I wouldn’t be surprised if there was a kiss of residual sugar here), yet has beautiful purity, no hard edges, and a fabulous, clean, dry finish. It took plenty of air to show at its best and will benefit from just short-term cellaring. It’s one of the sexiest wines in the vintage and will keep for a decade.” Jaboulet Hermitage La Chapelle 2016 750ml $225 special, 5 bottles availableJeb Dunnuck 97 Points “The 2016 Hermitage La Chapelle is slightly denser than the 2017 and is a bigger, richer, more structured wine than the La Maison Bleue. Crème de cassis, blackberries, crushed rocks, ozone, scorched earth, and violet notes all emerge from this beautifully classic, elegant, seamless wine that carries full-bodied richness, building tannins, and a big finish, all while staying in the classic, elegant, balanced style of the vintage. It has plenty of tannins and is a quintessential La Chapelle that will have three decades of longevity.” James Suckling 97-98 Points “Very spicy and peppery with blue-granite aromas plus hints of grilled and smoked meat. Cloves and nutmeg. Full body, round and juicy tannins and a super spicy finish that almost burns with so much character yet turns fine and focused at the end. A beauty.” Jaboulet Hermitage La Chapelle 2017 750ml $189 special, 27 bottles availableWine Advocate 98 Points “The 2017 Hermitage La Chapelle comes from the firm’s vineyards on the western half of the Hermitage slope, primarily Le Méal, but with substantial contributions from Les Rocoules and Les Bessards. Classic notes of cassis, black olives, mocha and roasted meat are joined by hints of baking spices in a wine that’s full-bodied, deep, dense and rich, with a velvety texture and a lingering finish. It’s lower in alcohol than the 2018, less voluptuous and maybe just a step behind that monumental wine, but it’s still a serious collectible with three decades of evolution ahead of it.” Jaboulet Hermitage La Chapelle 2019 750ml $199 special, 6 bottles availableWine Advocate 98-100 Points “Might this be the next vintage of La Chapelle to crack triple digits? Knockout aromas of crushed stone, violets, blueberries, and cassis mark the nose of the 2019 Hermitage La Chapelle, while the full-bodied palate is undeniably more intense and powerful than the more elegant 2018. Rich and velvety, it coats the mouth with dark fruit and creamy-textured espresso, yet retains remarkable length and licorice-derived peppery freshness on the finish. Wow!” Saint Cosme Gigondas Hominis Fides 2020 750ml $128 special, 16 bottles availableJeb Dunnuck 97-100 Points “At the moment, the 2020 Gigondas Hominis Fides looks to be the standout of the three single vineyards, although all three are beautiful wines in the making. It certainly offers the most power and concentration, with lots of ground pepper, Provençal garrigue, violets, and loamy soils notes, as well as a darker cassis and berry-driven core of fruit. It builds beautifully on the palate, with ample structure, incredible balance, and a great, great finish.” Vieux Telegraphe Cdp La Crau Rouge 2018 1.5L $189 special, 13 bottles availableJames Suckling 96 Points “Traditionally dominated by clairette (45%) and grenache blanc (30%), then roussanne and bourboulenc. The vines average 50+ years and there’s a very restrained nose with dialed-back white-pear and chalk aromas with dried flowers, too. The palate has a super fresh, zippy feel and a long, juicy and attractive core of fresh, salty minerals. The balance is innate and very fluid. Drink or hold.” Vieux Telegraphe Cdp La Crau Rouge 2020 3L $489 special, 1 bottle availableVieux Telegraphe Cdp La Crau Rouge 2020 6L $899 special, 1 bottle availableJames Suckling 96-97 Points “Such a deep and meaty nose with a slew of wild-herb, savory and subtle balsamic notes. Then comes the expansive and very concentrated palate , which reveals so many spicy nuances as it rolls over the palate, the stunning fine tannins pushing the finish out even further. A grenache-based blend from 60-year-old vines.”
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Yann Chave Hermitage 2018 750ml $119 special, 6 bottles availableJeb Dunnuck 97 Points “Gorgeous black raspberry and cassis fruits as well as complex saddle leather, dried flower, spice, and stony minerality all emerge from the 2018 Hermitage. One of the finest wines I’ve tasted from Yann Chave, this beautiful wine is full-bodied and has a rounded, expansive texture, building tannins, and again, a wonderful sense of minerality. This stunning Hermitage will benefit from 4-5 years of bottle age and cruise for two decades. Bravo!” Vinous 94 Points “Youthful purple. Smoke- and mineral-accented black and blue fruit preserve, licorice and incense scents, along with a hint of exotic spices in the background. Impressively concentrated yet lively as well, offering spice-laced black currant, bitter cherry and candied violet flavors that become sweeter with air. Delivers solid punch but comes off graceful, finishing with superb, floral-driven persistence and dusty, slow-building tannins. Chave owns vines in the Peleat and Les Beaumes lieux-dits. Raised in a combination of new and used demi-muids.” Yann Chave Hermitage 2019 750ml $119 special, 7 bottles availableVinous 94-96 Points “A complex bouquet evokes ripe blackberry, cherry compote, licorice and violet, energized by a spicy cracked pepper nuance. Broad and fleshy in the mouth, offering densely packed, smoke-tinged black/blue fruit, exotic spice and floral pastille flavors that pick up a minerally nuance as the wine opens up. Shows superb delineation and spicy lift on a long, silky finish framed by steadily building tannins. There were five demi-muids of this wine in 2019, all of them new.”
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