In This Newsletter:Special ArrivalElegance and Ageability: Crowley WinesArrivalsDomaine Pabiot, Caballus Cellars, Resonance Wines, Louis Jadot, Domaine ForeyBack In Stock!
Our new favorite VinopolPick Estate: Decugnano dei Barbi
Close-out SalesBarolo, Barbaresco, Brunello
Collector’s Corner
Cru Burgundy: Often imitated, never replicated
Special Arrival Crowley Wines
“Elegance and Ageability”
Tyson Crowley creates some of the most charming and disarmingly delicious wines in the Valley. (See smile in Exhibit A.) Though the wines are rarely reviewed, he has, as the late and great Josh Raynolds put it, a “loyal following.” We’re happy to include ourselves in that group. His wines combine both delicious upfront fruit with a bright acidity and a keen sense of terroir. And the wines age beautifully – we’ve been fortunate enough to taste several late releases with five to ten years of bottle age on them. That’s a notable achievement for a winemaker whose first release was in 2006!
Right now, we have two of his single vineyard Pinot Noirs in stock, the flagship Four Winds Vineyard bottling, which Tyson farms himself, and the La Colina Vineyard bottling from the Dundee Hills. Four Winds is a strikingly cool and high-altitude site. It shows a firm backbone and a distinct savory streak that only comes from vines living a hard life. La Colina, on the other hand, is a classic Dundee Hills site and it shows: the wine has generous fruit and the soft floral notes with an undercurrent of dark mineral notes that we look for from the AVA. Don’t miss his “Entre Nous” bottling, a barrel selection meant for younger drinking with food that is seen on some of the best wine lists in Portland and beyond.
The Helen is named in honor to his grandmother, a “rich and lively” woman full of “kindness, empathy, and grit.” This bottling is the second of two, and is “contemporary and cutting edge” in style, offering lush notes of oak spice, ginger, and salted lemon. The Sojeau is fun and delicious, offering up the Crowley trademark spice alongside a lean profile. There’s plenty of red fruit and black tea notes with a strong spine of tannin promising a long life for this Pinot. Lastly, we have his 2022 Willamette Valley Pinot Noir. This is a blend of four dry-farmed vineyards: La Colina (46%), Four Winds (38%), Tuckwilla (9%) and Sojeau (7%). This is, as one staff member put it, a case wine. This will reward at any holiday table or elevate a quiet bowl of veggie stew by the fire.
“Tyson Crowley made his first wines under his own name in 2005 and has slowly built up his production over the years, but this is still a micro-producer, issuing about 3,000 cases total, per vintage. The winery has developed a loyal following even as it retains a distinct insider status. The pricing for these Pinot Noirs is extremely low given the quality of what’s in the bottle, and fans of elegant, balanced wines will adore them for their energy and fine detail. Very little new oak is used here – no more than a third and usually in the zero to 15% range – and the wines tend to be relatively low in alcohol as well.” –Josh Raynolds, February 2022
In Stock Now from Crowley Wines:
Crowley Phoebe Chardonnay Four Winds Vineyard, Willamette Valley 2020 750ml $55 special, 15 bottles in stock nowWinery Note “Aromas of Asian pear, lemon chiffon, honeysuckle, mint and a trace of eucalyptus. The palate has the typical Four Winds high tension and firm acidity combined with mineral to complete its austerity. Richness from barrel enters mid palate and merges with silky texture and creamy fruit to a complete high energy finish. Beeswax lingers as does lime-pie. Wente & Draper clones. Native fermentation.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Crowley Entre Nous Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills 2021 750ml $36 special, 21 bottles in stock nowNo reviews for the 2021 vintage. 2019 review provided for reference.Josh Raynolds-Vinous 92 points “Vivid garnet. Raspberry, blueberry, candied flowers and a deeper suggestion of licorice on the perfumed, spice-accented nose. Juicy red and blue fruit, cola and spicecake flavors put on weight as the wine opens up. Nicely concentrated yet lively as well, finishing long and smooth, with harmonious tannins lending subtle grip.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Crowley Four Winds Vineyard Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2021 750ml $49 special, 17 bottles in stock nowNo reviews for the 2021 vintage. 2019 review provided for reference.Josh Raynolds-Vinous 94 points “Deep, shimmering garnet. Intensely perfumed red and blue fruits, potpourri, incense and exotic spice scents show excellent clarity and take on a suggestion of blood orange with air. Juicy and precise on the palate, offering concentrated raspberry, boysenberry, cherry cola and spicecake flavors and a suave rose pastille nuance. Plays power off delicacy with a sure hand and finishes very long and smooth, with polished tannins framing repeating red fruit and floral notes.” Winery Note “In the glass this wine shines translucent red with amber hued edges. Herbs and dried flowers greet the nose, then give way to black cherry and watermelon. As it opens up, traces of pencil shavings give this wine incredible aromatic intrigue.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Crowley La Colina Vineyard Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills 2021 750ml $49 special, 28 bottles in stock nowNo reviews for the 2021 vintage. 2019 review provided for reference.Josh Raynolds-Vinous 94 points “Limpid ruby. Highly expressive aromas of raspberry liqueur, cherry cola, baking spices and succulent herbs show fine definition and acquire a suave floral note as the wine opens up. Silky and expansive on the palate, offering appealingly sweet red and blue fruit, candied lavender and exotic spice flavors that tighten up on the back half. Finishes sappy and impressively long, with strong red fruit thrust, repeating florality and gently gripping tannins.” Winery Note “The 2021 La Colina introduces the results of a technique that brings our Pinots ever closer to the refined aim we aspire to…maximum polish with a searing terroir presence. Pumpover cap treatment during fermentation (much like a pour-over coffee experience) delivers delicate but powerful fruit essences.”
Arriving Friday, November 10th from Crowley Wines:
Crowley Helen Chardonnay Four Winds Vineyard, Willamette Valley 2021 750ml $49 pre-arrival specialWinery note “Draper block selection will define Helen. Picked early and pressed green to match this salty and minerally material, Helen’s fermentation is long and spontaneous. To emphasize immediacy, we remove from barrel after 11 months and store in tank for the remaining 7. Color is vibrant straw and green, clarity shimmers. Nose is austere, dominated by citrus, tangerine, and lemon. Brioche richens things up as does hints of cream. Palate is clean and ripe and a mix of savory spice and oak fill out the body on the way to its supple finish. Meursault came to mind with this wine. “Helen and Phoebe Chardonnays are an homage to my wonderful grandmothers. Each was a rich and lively person – full of kindness, empathy, and grit. They were also uniquely different from one another. So, the idea of the Helen and Phoebe Chardonnays are to both represent the differences that our amazing Four Winds Vineyards offers…blocks and clones…while also pursuing an identity in the winemaking based off the women themselves. Phoebe, classic and timeless. Helen, contemporary and cutting edge. Our creative method with the material in the winery is evolving but the results are so far stellar. -Tyson”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Spicy and light-bodied, this will make waves at your Thanksgiving table, or at any shindig with this festive season’s food!Crowley Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2022 750ml $26 pre-arrival specialWinery note “Eye catching clarity meets garnet edges mixed with crimson. Lucid and fresh, the nose displays crunchy aromatics, cranberry and pomegranate mixed with herb and citrus. Palate is smooth and elegant, showing an intriguing wax component combined with powdered fine grain tannins. Taut edging defines the flavors as sweetly elegant and delicate. Lithe and lively, strawberry, and warm spice carry the sweet spot while forest floor and autumn leaves bring in the earthen complexity. This wine stays upright and coiled as the phenolics are spread perfectly from start to finish.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Black tea and red fruit wrap around your palate with this zippy offering. This is the first vintage Tyson released a wine from this vineyard. Tasting it just this Friday, we can tell that it promises to be a rewarding relationship!Crowley Sojeau Vineyard Pinot Noir, Eola-Amity Hills 2021 750ml $49 pre-arrival specialWinery Note “This wine opens with bold aromas of dried raspberries and cacao powder. Dusty scents morph into graphite, sage and plum as the wine opens up. On the palate, the wine drinks surprisingly lithe and light with flavors of lingonberry, plum preserve and RC Cola. The finish is long with acidity and fine tannins supporting one another in balanced tension. This wine is young and fun to drink now, but will also benefit from a few years of cellaring. Vineyard info: “Sojeau vineyard sits at 650 feet elevation at the southwest end of the Eola-Amity AVA. The site, previously a cherry orchard, was purchased by Denny and T in 2007. They planted 15 Acres of Pinot Noir vines on the 51 acre property – Pommard, Dijon and Wadenswil. The Pommard makes up 50% of the Pinot vines, while Dijon 115 and Wadenswil make up the other 50%.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
New Arrivals
France
“Domaine Pabiot- a quiet revolution in the Loire”
 After growing up tending his family’s vineyards, Jonathan Didier Pabiot went to the Languedoc looking for inspiration and ended up under the tutelage of biodynamic evangelist Leon Barral. Upon his return, Jonathan converted 3 hectares of the family’s vines to biodynamic farming and after only 6 months his father was so impressed that that he converted all 17 hectares of his vines to biodynamic. They are one of only three organic growers in Pouilly-Fumé and were the first to be Demeter certified. These wines are lithe and stunning, with an electric current running through them straight to your palette and a mildly smokey.Jonathan Didier Pabiot Pouilly-Fume Aubaine, Loire 2021 750ml $44.50 special, 12 bottles availableWinery Notes “For Aubaine we select plots located on a very stony limestone terroir of Portlandian marls. It’s a boon (“aubaine”) to work on this soils… after fermentation the wine stays on the lees in concrete tanks for 18 months, protected from vibrations and temperature variations.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Jonathan Didier Pabiot Pouilly-Fume ‘Elisa’, Loire 2022 750ml $29.50 special, 12 bottles availableVinopolnote “Previously called prelude, this is the domaine’s young vine cuvee (4-12 years). Taken from all three soil types Jonathan farms, (clay, limestone, and flint) this is a brilliant introduction to the winery’s freshness, finesse, and complexity. Lees aged for a textured mouthfeel.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Jonathan Didier Pabiot Pouilly-Fume Eurythmie, Loire 2021 $54.50 special, 12 bottles availableWinery Note “For this cuvée, created in 2008, we select a plot planted on Kimmeridgian marls and another plot planted on a flint terroir. Aging takes place for 12 months in demi-muids ( 500 liters) and barrels ( 228 liters) then 6 months in stainless steel tanks to settle. 2008 was a deciding year for our estate, a balance between our way of thinking and the way of working in the vinery and the vineyard changed the style of our wines, there for the name Eurythmie.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Jonathan Didier Pabiot Pouilly-Fume ‘Leon’, Loire 2021 750ml $33 special, 12 bottles availableJonathan Didier Pabiot Pouilly-Fume ‘Leon’, Loire 2021 1.5L $69 special, 6 magnums availableVinopolnote “Named after the winemaker’s mentor, the Languedoc biodynamic pioneer Leon Barral, this wine is a culmination of with all our older vineyards from all of our terroirs limestone, clay-limestone and flint. The wine is aged in stainless steel and concrete tanks on the lees of fermentation for 12 to 18 months.”
This is the lowest priced 750ml AND magnum listing in the USA!
Jonathan Didier Pabiot Pouilly-Fume Utopia, Loire 2021 750ml $66 special, 12 bottles availableWinery Note “This cuvée comes from a plot of old vines planted on Kimmeridgian marls. Because the best jams are made in old jars ( french proverb ). I age this wine in our oldest barrels between 10 and 15 years old. Since I started working, I have vinified a few barrels using the natural method, without inputs, in order to better understand my wines. Understand when they are sensitive, and when I have to be careful. In 2017 I decided to bottle our natural wine and create our cuvée, Utopia.”
Arriving Friday
Oregon
The French invasion?
The story of friendship in a bottle… this is a fantastic micro-release wine project between Veronique Drouhin of Domaine Drouhin and Isabelle Dutarte of De Ponte Cellars.What’s in the bottle is a masterclass of finesse and French style from Oregonian fruit and earth.Caballus Cellars Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2015 750ml $49 pre-arrival specialNot reviewed, 2014 review provided for referenceJames Suckling 95 Points “Terrific aromas of raspberries, blackberries, stones and bark. Full-bodied, tight and chewy with linear and defined tannins that are silky and beautiful. Wonderful length and focus. A tiny-production wine from Veronique Drouhin and Isabelle Dutartre.”
Lowest Listed Price in the USA!
What does a life-long French Vigneron doin their retirement? Start a new winery of course! That’s exactly what Jacques Lardiere, the long-time winemaker for Louis Jadot did with his former employers, finding a new home in Carlton, Oregon. Without even leaning on their clout, these wines are conquering American palettes and wowing major publications, including their recent spot in Wine Spectator’s Top Ten Wines of 2023! Resonance Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2021 750ml $34.50 pre-arrival special#9 IN WINE SPECTATOR TOP 100 OF 2023!Wine Spectator 94 Points “Precise and elegantly structured, with detailed raspberry, savory tea and crushed stone accents that gather richness and tension toward refined tannins. Drink now through 2031.”
France
“Louis Jadot”
Louis Jadot Chateau des Jacques Moulin-a-Vent Clos du Grand Carquelin, Beaujolais 2021 750ml $49 pre-arrival specialJames Suckling 94 Points “Stunning nose of violets and amarena cherry! Ripe and concentrated with plenty of fine tannins and an acidity that’s extremely elegant for the 2021 vintage. Very long finish with stacks of wet stone and licorice character, plus a touch of vanilla. Excellent aging potential. Drink or hold.” Louis Jadot Chateau des Jacques Moulin-a-Vent Clos de Rochegres, Beaujolais 2021 750ml $41.90 pre-arrival specialNot Reviewed yet, 2020 review supplied for referenceJames Suckling 93 Points “The deep blueberry nose pulls you into this remarkably ripe and beautifully balanced 2021 Moulin-a-Vent that has what we look for in single-vineyard wines from this appellation. Gentle entry, then plenty of fine tannins at the long, velvety finish where there’s some crushed stone minerality. Drink or hold.”
Italy
Trediberri Rocche dell’Annunziata, Barolo DOCG 2019 750ml $89 pre-arrival specialTrediberri Rocche dell’Annunziata, Barolo DOCG 2019 1.5L $219 pre-arrival specialVinous 95 Points “The 2019 Barolo Rocche dell’Annunziata is the best wine I have tasted yet from Nicola and Stefania Oberto. The biggest change here in recent years is the elimination of small oak in favor of casks, a move that really allows the full character of Rocche dell’Annunziata to come through. Dark cherry, kirsch, hard candy, rose petal and mint are all amplified in this gorgeous, translucent Barolo. A range of perfumed, floral accents lifts the intensely aromatic finish.”
Arriving November 17th
“Domaine Forey”
 This small winery is a giant in terms of quality. Featuring over 150 years of winemaking history, their wines have changed with the times from more austere offerings to a more structured and concentrated style, painterly in their precision and built for long-term againg. Their Cru offerings, including Echezaux bottlings, are both a treat and a value. Do not pass up these sumptuous gems!Domaine Forey Bourgogne Passetoutgrain, Burgundy 2021 750ml $28 pre-arrival special, 9 bottles arrivingImporter’s Notes “A lively blend of equal parts Pinot Noir and Gamay from old interplanted vines planted on the plain, Forey’s Passetoutgrain is a playful and inviting wine that delivers pleasant fruit tied to notes of black pepper.” Domaine Forey Bourgogne Pinot Noir, Burgundy 2021 750ml $39 pre-arrival special, 6 bottles arrivingImporter’s Notes “This wine is produced from various holdings in Vosne and Nuits, all of which are old vines (from vines planted between 1954 and 1974). The élevage is done in the larger demi-muid barrel format and is usually the last wine harvested but the first wine to be bottled.” Domaine Forey Les Perrieres, Nuits-Saint-Georges Premier Cru 2021 750ml $124.50 pre-arrival special, 3 bottles arriving These are the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Domaine Forey Echezeaux Grand Cru, Cote de Nuits 2021 750ml $239 pre-arrival special, 2 bottles arrivingNo reviews for the 2021. 2020 reviews provided for reference.Burghound 95 Points “A distinctly reserved nose grudgingly offers up its combination of violet, lavender and rose petal scents with those of various dark berries and exotic spice hints. There is fine volume and freshness to the energetic medium weight plus flavors where the supporting tannins are prominent on the balanced finale that delivers first rate length. This is terrific though indisputably a wine that is going to require extended patience, at least if you wish to enjoy it at its apogee.” Decanter 93 Points “This wine is blended from two plots totaling 0.3ha located in Les Treux and the Clos St-Denis. The grapes are given a cold soak and fermented with a percentage of whole clusters, punched down daily. The result is aged in casks (50% new) for 16-20 months. The result has a somewhat restrained blackberry and cassis fruit with an earthy, almost savoury edge. The texture is firm and tannic, almost a bit rustic. This wine should be held for at least five years before drinking and will show well for twenty years.”
Lowest listed Bottle price in the USA today
Back In Stock!
Our new favorite VinopolPick Estate:
Decugnano dei Barbi
Here’s a quick summary for those that missed our earlier newsletter:
This historic Umbrian estate works with ancient marine soils dating back over three million years. As the first-in-the-US to carry a wide range of their wines in stock and by-the-bottle, we are offering five wines: two Super Tuscan-style blends and three mineral-driven whites.
What shocked us most was the value: these are far, far below that, ranging in the teens and low twenties.
In Stock Now:
Start with their refreshing “Casa Pica” bottling sourced from younger Vermentino vines (made famous in Sardinia yet tragically overlooked elsewhere in Italy). Decugnano dei Barbi ‘Casa Pica’ Bianco, Umbria IGT 2021 750ml $14 specialCase-12 Decugnano dei Barbi ‘Casa Pica’ Bianco, Umbria IGT 2021 750ml $149 special (that’s only $12.42/bottle!)Suzanne: Unlike the big and bold reds, the whites are restrained and mineral-driven. The Casa Pica is the most forward of the three with a deep lemon yellow color. It has notes of shucked oyster shells, lemon zest, vitamin box, and tarragon, notes which repeat on the palate. It’s moderately full in body with a refreshing crispness to the acidity. The savoriness and saline quality remind me of oysters with mignonette sauce. The moderate finish leaves an impression of lemon juice and green pears. It’s rich enough for chicken sauté or fried tofu dishes.
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $15/bottle by the case
Their Orvieto Classico “Frammento” blends of fragrant indigenous and internationally famous grapes with more heft and complexity (recognized as a “Top Wine” by Slow Wine multiple years in a row). Decugnano dei Barbi ‘Frammento’ Orvieto Classico, Umbria 2021 750ml $16 specialSuzanne: What a fascinating nose! It is decidedly mineral with layers of chalk, talc, and calcium. It’s as minerally as an antacid! Joking aside, there are lovely notes of pear juice, fresh bay, and mint. In the mouth, this is more reserved than the Casa Pica, but with noticeably more depth. The body is moderate, perhaps a touch lighter than the Casa Pica, but with more acidity. It’s exceedingly well balanced. The finish shows touches of lees, like a high quality Muscadet or a Côte des Blancs Champagne.
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $20/bottle by the case
The apex white wine is the “Mare Antico” (ancient sea, a nod to the terroir). This Orvieto Classico Superiore includes Chardonnay in the blend for a truly thrilling taste-driven tour of the essence of the place. Decugnano dei Barbi ‘Mare Antico’ Orvieto Classico Superiore, Umbria 2021 750ml $21.90 specialSuzanne: This pours a delicate straw color. The nose has floral aromas of peonies, geraniums, jasmine and mint. There’s a touch of vanilla fragrance like vanilla bean ice cream. On the palate, this is densely flavored with notes of pear tart, Chantilly cream, oyster shells, and white tea. There’s a briskness note here like freshly ground coffee. Overall, this gives an impression of a dry GG Riesling or Chablis. The finish has notes of cultured butter and Maldon sea salt. It’s long and lingering. An incredible value.
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $25/bottle by the case
The “Battito,” is a Sangiovese-Cabernet-Merlot little number with character and class to spare. The bottle features an ancient Latin palindrome “In girum imus nocte et consumimur igni,” which they translate as “we wander in the night and are consumed by fire.” With such evocative inspiration, it’s no wonder this wine exudes hedonism and class. It’s a wine that calls you to, as the winery puts it, “indulge in an exciting journey through your deepest desires and allow yourself to be consumed by its fiery passion.” Decugnano dei Barbi ‘Battito’, Umbria IGT 2020 750ml $17 specialSuzanne: The wine is an inky ruby in the glass. Notes of black cherries and flamed orange peel emerge with air. There is an intriguing tar and engine grease note, underneath the fruit. Overall, its aromatics are moderate in intensity. On the palate, there are vibrant red and black raspberry notes alongside a touch of orange zest, stewed plum, and mulling spices. The body is moderately full with fine, sandy tannins. The Sangiovese really comes through. The finish shows amaro-like spice notes with a hint of green olives. The wine is juicy enough to pair with a heavily spiced Thai chicken curry, but serious enough for a braise or roasted mushroom dish, especially with tomatoes.
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $20/bottle by the case
The top red bottling, “A.D. 1212,” is named for the year in which clergy made wine at what is now the estate. It’s Syrah-based and aged in French oak, with a splash of Montepulciano to add verve. It’s a sensuous wine that will satisfy now and for years to come. Decugnano dei Barbi ‘A.D. 1212’, Umbria IGT 2019 750ml $24 specialSuzanne: The wine is dark and inky in color with aromas of graphite, black tea, and purple lilacs. It’s fragrant and lush on the nose, just like the palate, which has juicy flavors of blackberries and black olives. There’s a little hint of toasted rye bread from the oak. The tannins are grippy and drying. The finish is full of black raspberries, olives and toast. Yum.
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Close-out Sales
Just in time for the Holidays– Barolo, Barbaresco, and Brunello!
“Paolo Scavino”
Paolo Scavino Bric del Fiasc, Barolo DOCG 2017 750ml WAS $89 NOW $79 special, 21 bottles availableAntonio Galloni 95+ Points “The 2017 Barolo Bric del Fiasc is another gorgeous wine in the line up from the Scavino family. Readers will find a Barolo that is more nuanced and less bombastic than in the past. Bric del Fiasc has plenty of power on its own, so this style works so well. Dried rose petal, mint, spice, kirsch and iron all blossom with a bit of coaxing. I can’t wait to see how it ages.” Jeb Dunnuck 95 Points “The 2017 Barolo Bric Del Fiasc has pure aromatics of stony graphitic earth, licorice, violets, and cherry liqueur. The palate is balanced, with a full structure, noted by dried apricot, blood orange, and cinnamon. The Bric del Fiasc has both floral lift as well as noble structure and has a refreshing nature. Drink 2024-2046.” Paolo Scavino Carobric, Barolo DOCG 2017 750ml WAS $69 NOW $59 special, 13 bottles availableAntonio Galloni 95 Points “The 2017 Barolo Carobric is one of the standouts in this range, as it often is. It has an extra dimension of depth and volume that works so well here. Sweet red cherry, cedar, sweet pipe tobacco, anise and brambly notes build as this striking, expressive Barolo shows off its considerable charm. What a pretty wine it is.” Paolo Scavino Prapo, Barolo DOCG 2017 750ml WAS $69 NOW $59 special, 16 bottles availableAntonio Galloni 95+ Points “The 2017 Barolo Prapò is yet another stellar wine in this range. Dark and brooding in the glass, the Prapò expresses all of the natural weight of this Serralunga cru, but with more overt fruit and a bit less tannic heft than is often the case. That should make the 2017 a real pleasure to drink, with just a handful of years in the cellar. Succulent black cherry, licorice, menthol, gravel and cured meats build into the heady finish.”
These are the lowest listed prices on the left Coast!
Paolo Scavino Barolo Ravera 2018 750ml WAS $69 NOW $59 special, 24 bottles availableMonica Larner-Wine Advocate 93 Points “Moving over to Novello, the Paolo Scavino 2018 Barolo Ravera is slightly more simplistic in this vintage with a tart cherry element that opens loud over the bouquet. You might also notice crushed white pepper, salty limestone and crushed earth. The wine remains subtle in texture with silky tannins and medium weight. Some 6,500 bottles were made.”
“Pecchenino”
Pecchenino Bussia, Barolo DOCG 2015 750ml WAS $69 NOW $59 special, 16 bottles availableAntonio Galloni 93 Points “The 2015 Barolo Bussia is a very pretty, effusive wine that will drink well right out of the gate. Spice and floral notes open first. Silky and pliant, with lovely depth, the 2015 is so expressive today. Fine mineral notes extend the finish effortlessly while adding freshness and cut to balance the open-knit fruit. Readers looking for a Barolo to drink now will find so much to admire in the 2015 Bussia.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA!
“Rizzi”
Rizzi Barbaresco Nervo, Barbaresco DOCG 2017 750ml WAS $59 NOW $49 special, 6 bottles availableKerin O’keefe-Wine Enthusiast 95 Points “Rose, violet and perfumed berry aromas lead the nose followed by whiffs of camphor and culinary spice. Full bodied, supremely elegant and surprisingly fresh for the hot vintage, the savory palate delivers ripe Marasca cherry, crushed raspberry, licorice and crushed mint alongside taut, refined tannins. Fresh acidity keeps it impeccably balanced. Drink 2022–2032.” Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 93 Points “Of these new releases from Rizzi, the 2017 Barbaresco Nervo is my favorite. That carefully assembled combination of fruit, minerals and Nebbiolo spice (with licorice and aniseed) is what I look for in a Barbaresco. This was not the easiest growing season by any stretch. The vintage was plagued by very cold weather during the first part of the year, followed by scorching heat during the summer. However, the folks at Rizzi have managed to preserve the freshness and linearity of that delicate Nebbiolo fruit. I would recommend a medium-term drinking window in the case of this wine, of which a precious 3,800 bottles were produced.” Rizzi Boito, Barbaresco Riserva DOCG 2015 750ml WAS $99 NOW $89 special, 12 bottles availableKerin O’keefe-Wine Enthusiast 96 Points “Cellar Selection. Camphor, pipe tobacco, iris and mature black-skinned fruit aromas shape the nose on this full-bodied red. Delicious and structured, the firm palate delivers succulent black cherry, raspberry and licorice framed in firm, tightly knit but noble tannins. Drink 2023–2030.”
Lowest listed Bottle pricing in the USA!
“La Fortuna”
La Fortuna Brunello Di Montalcino 2017 750ml WAS $59 NOW $49 special, 32 bottles availableWine Advocate 93 Points “The mid-weight 2017 Brunello di Montalcino shows a smooth approach with cherry fruit and cassis. No part of this wine is overblown, and in fact, this Brunello maintains a silky personality overall. The alcohol is high at 15% in this hot vintage, although it feels relatively well tucked into the subtle fiber of this accessible Brunello. Production is 30,000 bottles.”
This is the only listed bottle in the world right now!
Collector’s Corner
Cru Burgundy:
Often Imitated, Never Replicated
No wine in history is more synonymous with luxury and royalty than Burgundy. Its dedication to terroir and vineyard selection is the stuff of legends. Its Cru system, pioneered through the experimentation of medieval Cistercian monks is still a mark quality over five hundred years later.
Today we focus on two of the most famous and esteemed Grand Crus in Burgundy, Corton and Corton-Charlemagne:
James Suckling 94 points “Cherry crushed-strawberry and rose aromas with notes of fresh herbs. It’s medium-to full-bodied with sleek tannins and lively acidity. Round and juicy with a bright core of fruit on the mid-palate. Fresh, with soft power and a flavorful finish.”
This is the only listing in the USA today by the bottle!
Domaine Berthelemot Corton Grand Cru, Cote de Beaune 2019 750ml $129 special, 11 bottles availableBerthelemot is quite young for a domaine in Burgundy, having been founded as recently as 2006. At roughly 15 hectares with plots in Beaune, Pommard, Meursault, Puligny, and Chassagne, they have expanded exactly as fast as they desired, converting vineyards into sustainable and biodynamic properties as they go.
This is the only listing in the USA today by the bottle!
Bouchard Pere & Fils Le Corton Grand Cru, Cote de Beaune 2020 750ml $199 special, 7 bottles availableWine Spectator 95 Points “Shows aromatic sandalwood, floral, cherry and exotic spices on the nose, with intense cherry and berry fruit on the palate. This has serious grip, despite the acidity and tannins meshing harmoniously with the flavors and supple texture. Offers fine length, with the fruit and spice notes persisting. Best from 2026 through 2043.” Vincent Girardin Quintessence de Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru, Cote de Beaune 2017 750ml $219 special, 12+ bottles availableWilliam Kelley-Wine Advocate 93+ Points “The 2017 Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru Quintessence de Corton-Charlemagne was one of the most introverted wines in the range when I revisited it from bottle, unwinding to reveal scents of pear, white flowers, confit citrus and a delicate top note of petrol. On the palate, it’s full-bodied, ample and satiny, with a deep and intensely concentrated core, but it’s still very reserved after its recent bottling. Some patience will be in order here, though at maturity, I’m sure my score will look conservative.” William Kelley-Wine Advocate 93-95 Points “From a single parcel in Aloxe that neighbors one of Domaine Coche-Dury’s, the 2017 Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru Quintessence de Corton-Charlemagne offers up a lovely bouquet of ripe citrus fruit, white flowers and honeycomb. It’s full-bodied, textural and massively concentrated, with a deep and layered mid-palate, succulent acids and a long, expansive finish. This expresses the ampler, more powerful side of Corton-Charlemagne and it’s one of Girardin’s finest 2017s.” Domaine Faiveley Corton ‘Clos des Cortons Faiveley’ Monopole Grand Cru, Cote de Beaune 2016 750ml $249 special, 7 bottles availableStephen Tanzer 95-98 Points “Bright ruby. Fruit-driven aromas of crushed black cherry and dark raspberry convey outstanding pungent lift. Incredibly concentrated, sappy and primary, conveying outstanding juicy purity and compelling thickness to its dark fruit and violet flavors. At once hugely powerful and utterly seamless, this wine finishes with great spicy length and lift. A real essence of Burgundy–and likely to evolve gracefully for 25 years or more.” Louis Jadot Domaine des Heritiers Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru, Cote de Beaune 2016 750ml $249 special, 17 bottles availableWine Enthusiast 96 Points “From vineyards owned by the inheritors of the Louis Jadot estate, this wine has all the power expected from this vineyard. Its density and richness are palpable, even when crispened by a fresh citrus edge. Wood aging adds spice and enhances the aging potential. Drink from 2024.” Michel Juillot Corton Les Perrieres Grand Cru, Cote de Beaune 2020 750ml $119 special, 12 bottles availableBurghound 92 Points “Like several wines in the range, there is a hint of the sauvage adding interest to the notably ripe yet still fresh aromas of black cherry, raspberry liqueur and a healthy dollop of wood and menthol. The slightly bigger-bodied flavors are not particularly dense, but the mid-palate texture is certainly attractive while the lingering, moderately austere and balanced finale delivers fine length.” Michel Juillot Corton Charlemagne Grand Cru, Cote de Beaune 2016 1.5L $289 special, 8 magnums availableBurghound 91 Points “Generous wood dominates the otherwise fresh green apple, pear and white flower scents. There is ample minerality on the solidly dense and relatively powerful medium weight flavors that possess a caressing mouth feel that contrasts markedly with the powerful and impressively long finish where the wood is again quite prominent. I can’t say that the style appeals to me as the wood is more than I prefer but this should still make for fine drinking in a few years time.” Domaine de Montille Corton Clos du Roi Grand Cru, Cote de Beaune 2020 750ml $249 special, 7 bottles availableDecanter 96 Points “Super-ripe blackberry and plum fruit touched with leather, spice and smoke. The texture is impressively dense and concentrated, yet the wine never loses its silky elegance which lingers invitingly on the long finish. This is a really impressive Corton Clos du Roi. The domaine owns a parcel of 0.83ha in the centre of the vineyard at mid-slope. The organic-certified vines are fermented with a substantial proportion of whole clusters and aged in 30% new casks. Drinking Window: 2025-2060. (Nov 2021)” Domaine Ponsot Corton-Bressandes Grand Cru, Cote de Beaune 2013 750ml $449 special, 4 bottles availableJancis Robinson 18/20 Points “Mid crimson. Very expressive nose and savoury. Lip smacking and hugely appetising with its medium weight of red-fruit flavours – pomegranate? – and bone-dry finish. Most attractive. Great balance and very neat finish.”
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