In This Newsletter:ArrivalsCaymus, Remejeanne, Pierre Paillard, Caparzo, Gobelsburg, Cantina Pra, and more!
Wine Of The Week
Corliss Secret Squirrel
Close Out SalesWant to save big on wines from Cogno, Baudana, Dagueneau, and more? One Week SaleJJ Prum: The Rhine Stuff
Collector’s Corner97 Points for Under 99 Dollars 
ArrivalsUnited States
Conundrum Red By Caymus 2021 750ml $21.90 special, 24 bottles available Vinopolnote “Are you after a rich, complex, and approachable red blend? This Cabernet Sauvignon, ZInfindel, and Petite Syrah blend from Caymus Vineyards will satisfy you with notes of cherry, plum, and baking chocolate on the palette. Pair with strong, earthy foods, and large tables of friends.”
France“Domaine Le Remejeanne”
Domaine La Réméjeanne is a family-owned property located in the small high-altitude village of Sabran, nestled in dramatic hills divided between forests of green oak and sun-soaked vineyards. This is a much cooler climate than most of the Southern Rhône, giving the wines a freshness and liveliness not often encountered in the region.
Remejeanne Chevrefeuilles Cotes Du Rhone Blanc 2022 750ml $19.50 special, 36 bottles availableImporter’s Notes “Certified organic. Chèvrefeuilles is French for honeysuckle, the perfume of which you cannot escape during springtime in the southern Rhône. The Klein family is widely respected for their supple and aromatic Côtes du Rhône rouges, and under the guidance of Olivier Klein, Réméjeanne’s white wines have reached the same level.” Remejeanne Chevrefeuilles Cotes Du Rhône Rouge 2021 750ml $19.50 special, 36 bottles availableWinery Notes: “An airy wine, purple-red in color, with a nose of fresh red and black berries; and notes from mint chocolate. On the palate, it is an airy, sanguine wine, with energetic, never aggressive tannins.” Remejeanne Arbousiers Cotes Du Rhone Blanc 2022 750ml $24 special, 12 bottles availableWinery Notes “Certified organic from 25+ year old vines. Arbousiers is French for Strawberry. Made from a cepage that is 25% Roussanne, 25% Viognier, 25% Clairette, 13% Marsanne, and 12% Bourbolenc, this is a fanstastic Tour de Rhône for lovers of French Whites. Exceptionally complex with good acid and tropical notes.” Remejeanne Arbousiers Cotes Du Rhône Rouge 2020 750ml $24 special, 12 bottles availableWinery Notes “50% Grenache and 50% Syrah. Very deep nose of sweet spices (nutmeg), tobacco leaves and small red fruits. On the palate, aromas of cherry and bramble take precedence. This wine surprises with its beautiful ample structure, its almost minty freshness, and the silkiness of its tannins.” Remejeanne Eglantiers Cotes Du Rhone 2019 750ml $38 special, 24 bottles availableWinery Notes “100% Syrah. The nose is explosive, sanguine, smoky and evolves exuberantly with notes of violets. On the palate, the attack is fresh, suave, full of tension thanks to the Syrah.”
“Domaine Bessin-Tremblay”
Jean-Claude Bessin Chablis Fourchaume 2021 $59 special, 3 bottles available
Burghound 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.”
“Domaine du Roc Des Boutires”
Roc Des Boutires Pouilly-Fuisse 2021 750ml $59 special, 12 bottles availableImporter’s Note “Clay and limestone soils. The ‘vielles vignes’ of Chardonnay, located at the southern end of Burgundy, are planted between 250 and 500 meters in altitude, higher than the other AOC from Bourgogne. Thus, they provide both maturity and freshness to the wines. A richer style of Burgundy, the Pouilly retains a nice freshness thanks to the saline notes that appear on the finish.” Roc Des Boutires Pouilly Fuisse 1er En Bertilionne 2021 750ml $66 special, 6 bottles availableImporter’s Note “Exclusively coming from the terroir ‘en bertilionne’, 0.57 hectares (1.4 acre), limestone interlaced with marl and chalk. The ‘vielles vignes’ of chardonnay, located at the southern end of burgundy, are planted between 250 and 500 meters in altitude, higher than the other aoc from bourgogne. Thus, they provide both maturity and freshness to the wines. Vineyards face east/south-east.” Roc Des Boutires Pouilly-Fuisse Aux Bouthieres 2021 750ml $78 special, 6 bottles availableImporter’s Note “Exclusively coming from the terroir ‘Aux Bouthières’, 0.66 hectares (1.6 acre). Soils are deep, with clay, and interlaced with pieces of shale. The vineyard was officially classified as Premier Cru in 2020. Planted at an elevation of 275m (902 ft.) Vineyard orientation is East/South-East. A round and rich wine, with nice lemon notes on the finish.”
Champagne
Pierre Paillard Bouzy Terres Roses Grand Cru XVIII $49.50 special, 18 bottles availableDecanter 92 Points “A serious, elegant rosé Champagne with a creamy, toasty nose. It’s full and voluptuous in the mouth, with rich buttery brioche characters. As the palate evolves, the wine’s freshness comes through, sweeping in with lemon and grapefruit and underpinning that cherry and almond frangipane richness with tense power. A light hint of Battenberg cake emerges on the finish. With 11ha in the Bouzy terroir, well known for exceptional Pinot Noir, brothers Antoine and Quentin actually have a high proportion of Chardonnay vines for this area, and this wine unusually is majority Chardonnay (65%), with the remaining Pinot Noir, 5% of which is red wine. They put a lot of focus into the health of their soils, and they farm organically.”
Italy
Produttori Del Barbaresco Barbaresco 2019 750ml $48.50 special, 35 bottles availableJeb Dunnick 94-95 Points “There is a more pronounced mineral and delicately spiced character to the 2019 Barbaresco, with notes of wet asphalt and kirsch and vibrant purity. It has elegant concentration, with fine coiled tannins in its hints of tea leaves, bergamot, and ripe wild raspberry, and has a more pronounced structure, This is a fantastic expression.” Caparzo Brunello Di Montalcino 2017 750ml $39 special, 36+ bottles availableWine & Spirits 94 Points “Sangiovese harvested from vineyards in Montalcino’s northern, eastern and southern sectors combines to make a lively and balanced Brunello, its bold dark cherry flavors woven with notes of thyme and mint. A hint of orange peel brightens the long and spicy finish.” Wine Advocate 93 Points “This is the so-called “green label” Brunello with proprietor Elisabetta Gnudi Angelini’s signature on the front of the bottle. Her classic 2017 Brunello di Montalcino is sharp and tonic with wild raspberry, cassis, lilac, earth and garden herb. There is a sweet note of sour cherry on the mid-weight finish. This is an ample 160,000-bottle production made in a traditional approach with two years in casks made with both Slavonian and French oak.” James Suckling 93 Points “Plenty of sweet cherries and plums with some chocolate on both the nose and palate. It’s medium-to full-bodied with medium to full tannins that are plush and succulent. Fresh citrus to the fruit at the end. Remains cool and layered.”
***OUR PRICE IS THE BEST IN THE WEST***
“Cantina De Pra”
Cantina Pra Soave Classico Otto 2021 750ml $18 special, 24 bottles availableJames Suckling 92 Points “Quite refreshing and mineral with lots of green and white fruit. Stony nectarine and green-apple aromas. Pure and fresh with a textured, medium-bodied palate, showing some mineral and limey fruit. Gastronomic and delicious.” Cantina Pra Valpolicella Morandina 2021 750ml $21.90 special, 2 bottles availableVinopolnote” This certified organic blend of Corvina, Corvinone, Rondinella, and Oseleta is a lighter expression of Valpolicella, focusing on bright fruit flavors and chalky mineral notes.”
Germany and Austria
“AJ Adams”
AJ Adam Riesling Trocken 2022 750ml $24 special, 24 bottles availableImporter Note “Derived from young vines aging from 5-25 years, resulting in a wine possessing striking exotic fruit, subtle spice, wild slate aromas and a finesse of acidity. It has been fermented in steel-tanks.”
“Schlossgut Diel”
Schlossgut Diel Burgberg Riesling Grosses Gewachs 2020 750ml $89 special, 12 bottles available
Wine Advocate 93 Points “The 2020 Burgberg GG offers a bouquet that is currently very reductive, with initially vegetal fruit, then yeasty and fully ripe and concentrated Riesling aromas. This 2020 needs to be opened a day or two before consumption yet should better laid in the cellar for several years. Dense and intense on the palate, this is a round and elegant Burgberg with an initially pretty astringent and drying finish. It gains in fruit and finesse the next day but is still yeasty and quite phenolic on the slightly bitter finish. On the second day, this is a Riesling grand cru that is still a hard to describe and value; it indicates complexity and substance yet still doesn’t play its inherent music.” Schlossgut Diel Burg Layen Riesling Trocken 2021 750ml $29 special, 24 bottles available
Wine Advocate 93 Points “The 2021 Riesling Burg Layer Schlossberg 1G opens with a pure, intense and concentrated stone fruit aroma intertwined with iodine and spicy notes. Very much Riesling on the palate, with stewed fruit aromas, this is a pure, persistently saline and tensioned dry Riesling that combines ripe and concentrated fruit with a long but still tight and reduced finish.” Schlossgut Diel Riesling Reserve Sekt Extra Brut 2017 750ml $49 special, 23 bottles available
Wine Advocate 93 Points “The 2017 Riesling Réserve Extra Brut opens with a deep, rich and yeasty bouquet with iodine notes intermingled with ripe, elegant fruit and brioche aromas. Round, mouth-filling and rich but also dry on the palate, this is a pure, dense, tight, refreshing, stimulating and saline sparkling wine with refreshing lemon bitters on the crisp finish. This is an impressive Riesling Sekt that was aged on the secondary lees for 42 months. 1,200 bottles were disgorged in February 2022.”
“Schloss Gobelsburg”
Wine Advocate 93 Points “The 2020 Ried Gaisberg offers a clear, precise and spicy apricot nose with spicy notes of black rock splinters. Lush and savory as well as saline on the palate, with crystalline acidity and almost tropical fruit (passion fruit), this is a very elegant and aromatic, tightly structured yet perfectly balanced and sustainable Gaisberg Riesling with stimulating purity and crystallinity.”
Gobelsburg Riesling Heiligenstein 2020 750ml $69 special, 18 bottles availableWine Advocate 96 Points “Gobelsburg’s 2020 Ried Heiligenstein opens with a clear, bright and savory bouquet of sandstone, salt, ripe stone fruits and tea. Lush and round on the palate, this is a textured, very elegant and balanced Heiligenstein Riesling with a lingering, fine salinity on the highly elegant and aromatic finish. This is again an excellent, quiet and perfectly balanced Riesling from one of the greatest Riesling sites along the Danube River. The 2020 already drinks beautifully but can be aged for two or three decades.” Gobelsburg Riesling Schlosskellerei 2022 750ml $24 special, 24 bottles availableJames Suckling 91 Points “Attractive lemon and white-peach nose with hints of green apples and fresh herbs. Juicy, mid-weight palate with a lot of character and a lovely balance of warm elements and cool, minty undertones. Long, very harmonious finish. Drink now.”
Arriving Early August
Marc Colin Bourgogne Blanc 2020 750ml $39 special, 36+ bottles availableWine Advocate “The 2020 Bourgogne Chardonnay offers up aromas of honeyed orchard fruit, white flowers, citrus zest and freshly baked bread. Medium to full-bodied, ample and seamless, it’s a bright, charming wine that will drink well on release.” Marc Colin Chassagne-Montrachet Village Blanc 2020 750ml $89 special, 12 bottles available Marc Colin Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Vide Bourse 2020 750ml $119 special, 6 bottles availableWine Advocate 93-95 “The 2020 Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru Vide Bourse is another highlight, wafting from the glass with aromas of citrus oil, white flowers, pear and frangipane. Medium to full-bodied, satiny and layered, it’s rich but tensile, its enveloping core of fruit girdled by racy acids and chalky structuring extract. It’s the finest Vide Bourse I can remember tasting chez Colin.” Marc Colin St Aubin 1er En Montceau 2020 750ml $79 special, 24 bottles availableWine Advocate 92-94 Points “The 2020 Saint-Aubin 1er Cru En Montceau is lovely, wafting from the glass with aromas of citrus zest, white flowers and pear, framed by a discreet touch of youthful reduction. Medium to full-bodied, satiny and chiseled, it’s textural and concentrated, with good tension at the core and a long, precise finish.” Philippe Colin St Aubin Les Combes 1er Cru 2017 750ml $59 special, 27 bottles availableWine Spectator 93 Points “A sleek, supple white, with a velvety texture complementing the white peach, lemon tart, pastry and vanilla flavors. Harmonious and long, this ends with subtle, woody tannins and toast and spice elements. Fine intensity. Drink now through 2025.” Marc Colin Bourgogne Aligote 2020 750ml $34.95 special, 48 bottles available Marc Colin Bourgogne Blanc 2021 750ml $41.90 special, 12 bottles availableWine Advocate “Notes of citrus oil, white flowers and crisp green apple preface the 2021 Bourgogne Chardonnay, a medium-bodied, racy and incisive wine that exhibits more cut and tension than the last handful of vintages.” Marc Colin Chassagne-Montrachet Village Blanc 2021 $89 special, 12 bottles available Marc Colin Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Vide Bourse 2021 $119 special, 6 bottles availableWine Advocate 91-93 Points “Aromas of orange oil, peach, white flowers and buttery pastry introduce the 2021 Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru Vide Bourse, a medium to full-bodied, ample and textural wine that’s layered, seamless and saline, but which can’t quite match the cut and tension of the Cailleret this year.” Marc Colin St Aubin 1er Cru Cuvee 5c 2021 750ml $79 special, 12 bottles available Marc Colin St Aubin 1er En Montceau 2021 750ml $89 special, 12 bottles availableWine Advocate 91-93 Points “The 2021 Saint-Aubin 1er Cru En Montceau has also turned out beautifully, delivering aromas of pear, crisp green apple, clear honey, mint and iodine, followed by a medium to full-bodied, satiny and seamless palate. Racy and incisive, it’s a pure, elegant wine that will offer a broad drinking window.”
Wine Of The Week“It’s Been Flying off Our Shelves”
The Secret Is Out! “Secret Squirrel is owned and operated by Michael and Lauri Corliss. Made by the crew at Corliss Estates, Tranche Cellars consistently delivers serious, impeccably made wines that over-deliver. Secret Squirrel wines are made from declassified Corliss and Tranche fruit with all estate fruit on all wines. The Secret Squirrel is heavily Red Mountain estate fruit (70%) and the remainder is from their Blue Mountain Estate vineyard in Walla Walla Valley.”
Close-out Sale – More Price Reductions
Italy
Aldo Conterno Barolo Bussia 2017 750ml WAS $89 NOW $79 special, 9 bottles availableWine Advocate 92 Points “The Poderi Aldo Conterno 2017 Barolo Bussia shows a dark but busy quality of fruit that speaks more to the power of this hot vintage than it does the nuanced side of Nebbiolo. In this respect, the wine is quite typical of the 2017 growing season. It takes a while before the wine finds focus in the glass, but it does slowly come together to reveal broad layers of dark cherry, cassis and plum. There is some tannic tightness that leads to sour berry. A bit awkward at this young stage, it needs a few more years of cellar age to flesh out and reach balance.” Aldo Conterno Barolo Cicala 2017 750ml WAS $179 NOW $149, 10 bottles availableWine Spectator 95 Points “A solid, powerful style, this expressive red is well-marked by new oak, with plum, cherry, cigar box, menthol and sun-kissed hay flavors. Balanced and lively, with refined tannins and a long, spice-infused finish. Best from 2025 through 2042.” Aldo Conterno Barolo Colonnello 2017 750ml WAS $179 NOW $149, 11 bottles availableWine Advocate 94+ Points “The Poderi Aldo Conterno 2017 Barolo Bussia Colonnello shows good focus, structure and a sharper character that is often the distinguishing factor in this wine. The bouquet is redolent of dark fruit and plum, but it also shows a solid framing of iron ore and dark stony mineral. These give the wine greater lift and contoured edges. This is not the first time that Colonnello is my favorite wine in this lineup, and I suspect it won’t be the last.” Wine Spectator 94 Points “Offering plum, cherry, iron, eucalyptus and black pepper aromas and flavors, this broad red has absorbed the oak treatment pretty well already, with a dense matrix of tannins and lively acidity. Balanced and long, ending with elements of mineral and spice. Best from 2025 through 2043.” Luigi Baudana Barolo Cerretta 2018 750ml WAS $79 Now $69 36+ bottles availableVinous 93 Points “The 2018 Barolo Cerretta is a potent, searing wine, its mid-weight structure notwithstanding. Scorching tannins wrap around a core of dark red/black fruit, gravel, smoke, crushed rocks, menthol, licorice and game. The 2018 is going to need a number of years to come around and for those formidable tannins to soften.” James Suckling 92 Points “Bright red fruit and a nut-cream note on the nose. Medium-bodied with very fine, firm tannins and a long, intense finish. Solid and focused. Try from 2024.” Dal Forno Romano Amarone 2011 750ml WAS $369 NOW $299 6 bottles availableDecanter 99 Points “The strongest wine in my selection, yet this magnificent Amarone’s alcohol is barely visible thanks to its astonishing depth, texture and sumptuousness. Pressed black fruits seep with fruit essences; smoke and cinders; herbal complexities; teasing floral notes, all engraved into a palate that expresses creamy finesse but without a trace of superfluous fat, heat or obviousness. Beautifully crafted, as dignified as any grand Barolo.” Vinous 95+ Points “Fully saturated ruby. Very deep, intense aromas of blackcurrant, plums macerated in alcohol, soy sauce, coffee and underbrush on the complex nose. Rich, dense and balanced, with nicely focused flavors of dark berries and aromatic herbs that have a noteworthy savory tang. The long finish features repeating hints of soy sauce, espresso and underbrush. Dal Forno’s is the recognized master of a uniquely powerful, ripe, and concentrated style of Amarone.” Daterra Lorenzo Portela Vento Ribeira Sacra 2018 WAS $31.90 NOW $28 special, 27 bottles availableJohn Gilman 93 Points “The Portela Do Vento Tinto is composed of a blend of Mencía and Garnacha Tintorera, selected from several different vineyard parcels in both Quiroga and Amandi. The grapes are mostly destemmed and fermented in stainless steel tanks, prior to racking to five hundred liter, used demi-muids for ten months of elevage. The 2018 Portela Do Vento comes in at a svelte twelve percent alcohol and delivers a beautiful, black fruity bouquet of cassis, dark berries, tree bark, coffee bean, slate, cigar smoke and just a touch of upper register botanicals. On the palate the wine is precise, full-bodied and tangy, with a lovely core of fruit, excellent slate undertow, fine-grained tannins and a long, complex, palate-staining and focused finish. This is pure, light on its feet and excellent! 2023-2045+.” Importer Note “Comes from several south-facing parcels of Mencia and Garnacha Tintorera in the Amandi and Quiroga-Bibei subzones. The grapes were harvested by hand and mostly destemmed, fermented with wild yeasts in steel vats, and raised for 9 months in used 500 liter French barrels.” Duclaux Cote Rotie Maison Rouge 2018 750ml WAS $79 NOW $69 special, 36+ bottles availableWine Advocate 96 points “From arguably the most famous lieu-dit in the southern portion of the appellation, the Duclaux brothers’ 2018 Cote Rotie Maison Rouge is a showstopper. Scents of violets, stone fruit, anise-like spice and mixed berries combine to create a complex nose, while the medium to full-bodied palate is concentrated yet supremely silky, smooth and charming, ending long and elegant. It’s a superb example of the generally softer, more elegant style found around Tupin et Semons.” Jeb Dunnuck 96 Points “The flagship is the 2018 Côte Rôtie Maison Rouge, which comes from the southern end of the appellation, where the soils are finer and lighter in color. This cuvée is all Syrah and was brought up in 40% new oak. The 2018 is a rich, powerful wine by this cuvée’s standards and has a deeper ruby hue as well as a ripe, powerful nose of darker red and black fruits, bouquet garni, dried flowers, graphite, and lots of obvious minerality. Beautifully balanced, medium to full-bodied, and as seamless as they come, this is a classy, serious Côte Rôtie that needs 2-4 years of bottle age and will evolve gracefully for 20 years or more.” Wine Spectator 94 Points “Rich and tightly focused, with a sleek feel to a mix of plum, black cherry, black tea and iron notes that are seamlessly entwined. Keeps good tension through the finish. Best from 2022 through 2036. 420 cases made, 40 cases imported.” Casa Emma Chianti Gran Selezione 2015 750ml WAS $54.50 NOW $49 special, 35 bottles availableWine Advocate 94 Points “I love the manner in which this wine hits the palate, showing velvety softness and firm structure at the same time. The Casa Emma 2016 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione is bright and true with a dark center of gravity and lots of luscious fruit. Dark cherry, wild berry and plum are framed by soft tones of earth, spice and blue flower. This balanced wine emits fine notes of candied cherry and tart fruit, giving it a punchy, genuine personality. This is a knockout vintage from organic farmer Casa Emma to try with pasta made with polvere di Sangiovese, the estate’s unique pomace flour from Sangiovese.” Casa Emma Harenae Amphora Aged 2018 750ml WAS $49 NOW $44.50 special, 21 bottles availableWine Enthusiast 94 Points “Made entirely in amphora, this delicious Sangiovese has inviting, earthy aromas of ripe black plum, truffle, blackberry, baking spice and blue flower. Reflecting the nose, the enveloping, chewy palate doles out mouthfuls of fleshy Marasca cherry, raspberry compote, cinnamon and tobacco. Velvety tannins provide the almost lush framework while fresh acidity picks up the finish. Drink through 2025.” James Suckling 94 Points “Aromas of dark plums, mulberries, black tea and black licorice. It’s full-bodied with chewy tannins. Structured and focused with rich, intense layers of dark fruit. Pure fruit here. Sangiovese. Made in amphorae. Drink or hold.” Wine Advocate 93 Points “A dark and sultry expression of Sangiovese fermented in spherical amphorae, the Casa Emma 2018 Harenae doles out plenty of dried blackberry, plum, tobacco, spice and grilled herb. This is a full and generous expression that reflects the soft hills of Tuscany in its generous, mid-weight style and the sunshine of Italy in the textural darkness and richness of the fruit. This is a lovely wine with punchy bright fruit aromas to pair with a gilled, fatty steak. This is a terrific discovery I am very happy to recommend.”
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 availableWinery Notes “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”
France
Dagueneau Asteroide 2019 750ml WAS $1499 NOW $1,199 special, 2 bottles availableVinous 92 Points “Just 400 bottles of Pouilly Fumé Asteroide were made in 2019 from the same vineyard as Pur Sang, but the winemaking is different: half of the wine goes in a glass wine globe (a bit like a bonbonne), the other half in a barrel. This is a more varietal expression of the grape and the vineyard with nettle tea, dill and boxwood. Winemaker Jean-Philippe Agisson suggests this varietal character might be down to the influence of the wine globe. There’s a firm, tangy finish and a touch of savory, nuttiness on the length.” 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.”
Spain
Bodega Diaz Bayo Roble Ribera Del Duero 2020 750ml WAS $16 NOW $13.50 special, 36+ bottles availableWinery Note “100% Tempranillo; alcohol: 14%; El Monte, Valdebrero, La Viñota estate vineyards in D. O. Ribera del Duero between 900 – 920 meters; vines planted 1960 – 1995 in clayey-calcareous limestone; hand harvested; fermented in temperature controlled stainless steel tanks; aged 8 months in used French and American oak barrels; aged 6 months in bottle.”
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.”
SPECIAL FOR ONE WEEK!JJ Prum: The Rhine Stuff
 Buy 6-11 bottles for a 5% discountBuy 12+ bottles for a 10% discount SALE ENDS @6PM FRIDAY AUGUST 1ST“To drink a Riesling from Joh Jos Prüm is to enjoy a springtime of the heart and mind.”-Stephan Rheinhardt, “The Finest Wine of Germany”
Joh. Jos. Prum needs no introduction to Riesling lovers, having already become a Mosel icon during the nearly five decades during which its namesake’s son Sebastien was in charge. Their house style has itself become a Mosel archetype: delicacy and restrained sweetness, often strongly marked in youth by yeasty and otherwise fermentative aromas. Their longevity is legendary, and even the Kabinetts can spend many more, years in bottle. These are uncompromising, benchmark Mosel wines.JJ Prum Graacher Himmelreich Spatlese 2020 750ml $49.90 special, 16 bottles availableMosel Fine Wines 92+ Points “The 2020er Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Spätlese offers a quite rich and even slightly ripe nose of almond cream and bakery products as well as honeyed yellow peach, William’s pear, apricot, and anise, all wrapped into smoky and refined elements. The wine coats the palate with ample and sweet fruits, which give a smoother and ampler structure to the wine. The finish has however more presence and intensity, but still needs to integrate its tale of initial sweetness. This clearly has some upside potential as it gains finesse and elegance over time. 2028-2045.” JJ Prum Wehlener Sonnenuhr Auslese 2021 375ml $46 special, 36+ bottles availableMosel Fine Wines 96 Points “The 2021er Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese offers a superbly complex and pure fresh nose of candied grapefruit, vineyard peach, verbena, almond cream, smoke, and a hint of cassis. The wine proves superbly honeyed and creamy on the palate, where riper elements of pineapple, honeyed peach, and apricot are wrapped in candied citrusy fruits. The wine is intense and still quite broad but the finish is already pure and hugely long. This is a splendid refined Auslese, which just needs time to develop all its facets. JJ Prum Wehlener Sonnenuhr Auslese 2020 375ml $41.90 special, 35 half bottles availableMosel Fine Wines 94 Points “The 2020er Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese offers a gorgeously attractive and ripe nose of almond cream, honeyed peach, smoke, tangerine, orange zest, candied grapefruit, and apricot. The wine is luscious and proves well on the sweet side on the palate. There is presence and intensity, yet the finish is already airier and more refined than what one could initially expect. Patience will be required, as usual, for the wine to develop its full complexity and integrate all its elements. 2035-2050.” JJ Prum Wehlener Sonnenuhr Auslese GK 2016 375ml $66 special, 14 bottles availableJJ Prum Wehlener Sonnenuhr Auslese GK 2016 1.5L $229 special, Only 1 bottle leftWine Advocate 96 Points “The 2016 Wehlener Sonnenuhr Auslese (Gold Capsule) is clear, fine and subtle yet concentrated, with vegetal and ripe fruit aromas. Rich, round and piquant, this is an intense and densely woven Auslese (AP 14 17) with a long, tensioned and refreshing mineral finish that lifts the sweet fruit. Gorgeous but made for another decade.” JJ Prum Wehlener Sonnenuhr Auslese GK 2017 375ml $69 special, 6 bottles availableWine Advocate 98 Points “The 2017 Wehlener Sonnenuhr Auslese (Gold Capsule), AP 17 18, is deep and flinty on the perfectly ripe, intense and tropical-scented nose with its ripe yellow nectarine and peach aromas. The wine exhibits very fine botrytis with crunchy-salty slate features on the palate and is racy-piquant, highly stimulating, crisp and crunchy on the finish, with lingering salinity. This 2017 Sonnenuhr is still very young and needs time to calm down but is still lush and fresh, and the bottle will be emptied before you have even thought about the wine. It’s very long, complex and tensioned—just fabulous.”
| Vintage |
Wine |
Points |
Price and Availability |
| 2021 |
JJ Prum Bernkasteler Badstube Kabinett 750ml |
|
$41.90 special, 18 bottles available |
| 2017 |
JJ Prum Bernkasteler Lay Auslese LGK 375ml |
Wine Advocate 97 Points |
$99 special, 9 half bottles available |
| 2017 |
JJ Prum Bernkasteler Lay Auslese LGK 750ml |
Wine Advocate 97 Points |
$189 special, 4 bottles available |
| 2014 |
JJ Prum Graacher Himmelreich Auslese 750ml |
Wine Advocate 93 Points |
$69 special, 2 bottles available |
| 2020 |
JJ Prum Graacher Himmelreich Auslese 375ml |
Wine Spectator 94 Points |
$39 special, 21 bottles available |
| 2015 |
JJ Prum Graacher Himmelreich Auslese GK 750ml |
Mosel Fine Wines 95 Points |
$119 special, only 1 bottle left |
| 2016 |
JJ Prum Graacher Himmelreich Auslese GK 750ml |
Wine Advocate 97 Points |
$99 special, 8 bottles available |
| 2020 |
JJ Prum Graacher Himmelreich Auslese GK 750ml |
Wine Spectator 95 Points |
$125 special, 10 bottles available |
| 2016 |
JJ Prum Graacher Himmelreich Kabinett 750ml |
Wine Advocate 93 Points |
$39 special, only 1 bottle left |
| 2020 |
JJ Prum Graacher Himmelreich Kabinett 1.5L |
Wine Advocate 94 Points |
$129 special, 7 Magnum bottles available |
| 2012 |
JJ Prum Wehlener Sonnenuhr Auslese GK 1.5L |
Wine Advocate 96+ Points |
$279 special, 2 Magnum bottles available |
| 2020 |
JJ Prum Wehlener Sonnenuhr Kabinett 750ml |
Mosel Fine Wines 92 Points |
$49 special, 23 bottles available |
| 2021 |
JJ Prum Wehlener Sonnenuhr Kabinett 750ml |
|
$54.50 special, 13 bottles available |
| 2021 |
JJ Prum Wehlener Sonnenuhr Spatlese 750ml |
|
$59 special, 14 bottles available |
| 2020 |
JJ Prum Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Spatlese 750ml |
Mosel Fine Wines 93 Points |
$45 special, 29 bottles available |
Collector’s Corner
97 points (or more) for under 99 Dollars
Carl Loewen Herrenberg “1896” Riesling 2020 750ml $99 special, 6 bottles availableJames Suckling 99 Points “A moment of stillness in the midst of a crazy world. Take only a quick sip and you’ll understand rather little. But if you allow yourself to sink into this deep riesling chasm, you’ll discover an underworld of mineral fascination, married to super-ripe stone fruit. Enormously long and refined finish. Drinkable now, but best from 2023.” Clos Des Papes Chateauneuf Du Pape 2019 750ml $99 special, 11 bottles availableJeb Dunnuck 98 Points “Tasted out of bottle, the 2019 Châteauneuf Du Pape is a stunning example of this estate as well as the vintage. Gorgeous kirsch, flowery incense, spice box, and garrigue-like notes define the nose, and it hits the palate with classic Clos des Papes elegance and finesse backed up by a great mid-palate, fabulous concentration, and a monster of a finish. Don’t miss this beauty. It can be enjoyed today with incredible pleasure or cellared for two decades.” Clos Des Papes Chateauneuf Du Pape 2020 750ml $95 special, 16 bottles availableDecanter 98 Points “A very Clos des Papes vintage,’ says Vincent Avril, and I know what he means – a vintage that naturally delivers the kind of fresh, elegant wines that this estate is famous for. A tasting of several foudres point to a wine with natural, easy balance. The Mourvèdre is excellent here this year, and adds great depth to the fresh and delightful Grenache that has notes of black tea, black cherry and iron. Elegant and very fine. Drinking Window: 2023-2042” Dal Forno Romano Valpolicella Superiore 2013 $94.50 special, 3 bottles availableDecanter 97 Points “From one of the most iconic wineries in the Orientale, this is aged for two years in oak and a further three in bottle. A proper meditation wine, great with game, strong cheeses or a cigar. It has a huge nose of stewed red fruits, ethereal bramble forest fruits and blackberry jam. Generous, with spicy, bitter cherry-stone freshness. Full-bodied with a rich, intense, spicy undertone.” Drouhin Roserock Zephirine Pinot Noir 2021 750ml $59 special, 6 bottles availableJames Suckling 97 Points “Beautifully fragrant notes of cocoa-dusted raspberries and crushed blueberries with dried rose petals, sencha tea, cherry chocolate and crushed rocks. Ground spices, too. It shows both delicacy and power, with a compact and silky feeling to the tannin structure and impressive acidity which carries the freshness and tone through to the finish. Attractive tension of crunchy blue fruit and spices. Drink or hold.” Bibi Graetz Testamatta Toscana IGT 2019 750ml $89 special, 16 bottles availableJames Suckling 97 Points “Very attractive combination of dried fruit and spices with black cherries and plums. Aromas of flowers and sandalwood, too. Full-bodied and very refined, yet intense, with plush, velvety tannins that are wonderfully integrated and intertwined with the fruit. Ripe center palate. Tight at the end, suggesting the need for some serious bottle age. Very structured. Try after 2025.” Graham Vintage Port 2017 750ml $99 special, 12+ availableDecanter 98 Points “Based on Touriga Franca from south-facing slopes at Quinta dos Malvedos, with Touriga Nacional from quintas Vila Velha and Vale de Mealhadas (both predominantly north-facing), topped out with fruit from old vines at Quinta da Tua and 10% Sousão. It’s a very deep blue-black colour with an expressive, super-ripe nose of plum, mint and bergamot which springs from the glass. The palate is rich, velvety and voluptuous in typical Graham’s style. The initial richness makes the tannins, which show up on the ripe, broad, mouthwatering finish. Wonderful purity and definition. A real wow of a wine!” Mazzei Castello Di Fonterutoli Siepi 2016 750ml $99 special, 8 bottles availableJames Suckling 98 Points “What a beautiful nose of elderberries, freshly picked blackcurrants, citrus, herbs, licorice and crushed stones, amidst a backdrop of coffee beans, cedar and vanilla. Full-bodied and very subtle and refined with tightly wound tannins and an impressive balance of fruit and acidity. Long, grainy and elegant on the finish. A masterpiece. Drink in 2020.” Mt Brave Mt Veeder Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 750ml $89 special, 24 bottles availableVinous 97 Points “The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon from Mt. Brave is fabulous. Inky, rich and explosive, the 2018 possesses tremendous depth and tons of personality. Graphite, blue/purplish fruit, blackberry jam, bittersweet chocolate, sage, lavender, menthol give the 2018 tons of character to match its explosive feel. The brooding, backward wine is going to need quite a bit of time to unwind, but boy is it gorgeous.” Jeb Dunnuck 97 Points “Lots of cassis and black raspberry fruits as well as classic Mount Veeder notes of lavender, violets, bouquet garni, and rocky, mineral-like notes emerge from the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon. A deep, full-bodied mountain Cabernet Sauvignon, it has a plush, layered texture, beautiful tannins, a deep, concentrated mid-palate, and a great finish. Another head-turning wine from this label, it’s a candidate for the best Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon out there at the price point.” San Polino Brunello Di Montalcino 2016 750ml $66 special, 10 bottles availableJames Suckling 97 Points “Attractive aromas of cherry, dark mushroom, bark and walnut follow through to a full body with lots of ripe cherry and berry character in the center palate. Firm, chewy tannins draw you down the palate. Extremely long. From organically grown grapes. Better than the superb 2015? Drink after 2023 and onwards.” San Polino Helichrysum Brunello Di Montalcino 2016 $79 special, 26 bottles availableJames Suckling 98 Points “Wow. This is really complex on the nose with black cherries, mushrooms, dried flowers and cedar. Some crushed stone and dry earth or tile. This is full-bodied and very layered with wonderful depth of fruit and creamy tannins. It’s focused and serene. Better than 2015. From organically grown grapes. Try in 2024 and onwards.”
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