The 95 Point Cuilleron St. Joseph Blanc
2015 Clos de Papes – A Long Awaited Powerhouse
#Trending Wines from the Weekend
Spring Arrives Friday: Clos St. Magdeleine Rosé
Staff Picks: Oregon and Burgundy, Intertwined and Incredible
March Clearance Sale, Continued
Almaviva: A Perfect (100pt) Chilean Wine
Anakota’s High Scoring, Massive Cabernet
Two Magical Burgundies
95 Points from Grapelive
The Cuilleron St. Joseph Blanc “Digue”
Grapelive 95 points “At Rosenthal Imports Tasting in San Francisco featuring their fantastic set of old world producers, with a focus on Rhone and Bordeaux, I was struck by just how brilliant the 2016 Northern Rhone whites were, in some cases like this Cuilleron Saint-Joseph Blanc, they managed to out shine the amazing and show stopping 2015 reds, both from the Rhone and Bordeaux! As a long time follower and fan of Cuilleron, I was thrilled with his latest set of wines, from his generic varietal bottlings, like his pretty Viognier and Marsanne to his Cru (Lieu-Dieu) offerings, both his white and reds are stunning in the 2015 and 2016 vintages, these wines have glorious purity and life as well as textural pleasures and length, they all seem to over perform for the price, and while young still show elegance and complexity. This rare 100% Roussanne Saint-Joseph Blanc Lieu-Dit Digue was my personal favorite, Cuilleron ferments his AOC whites with native yeasts and in wood with long lees elevage (aging in barrel) and malos in small barrels with Burgundy like care and batonage (aged Sur Lie with lees stirring), this especially shows in the heavenly mouth feel and beautiful class in the glass, it’s a fresh and vibrant wine, but with impressive depth and density, it is great alternative to the money pricy Hermitage Blanc, it really is exceptional and ultra quality for the money. The Yves Cuilleron Digue starts with faint delicate white flowers, yeasty notes, wet stone and white orchard fruits on the nose before opening up on the full bodied palate to gorgeous apricot, peach and exotic tropical fruits, which are not overt or sweetly expressed, but lifting and seductive in their subtlety along with hints of fennel, clove and creamy melon and citrus sorbet, a touch of classic oily charm and saline with a background of liquid rock and flinty mineral tones, this an absolutely brilliant wine. The verve and vibrancy add cut and structure, again I was starstruck with this gorgeous Rhone white, and while stunning on it’s own it will gain tremendously with mid term cellaring and would be awesome with lobster or swordfish as well as baked ham or chanterelles in simple rich cuisine. Drink this fantastic Saint-Joseph Blanc over the coming decade, it’s a Roussanne superstar and delivers a huge win for this varietal on the world stage!”Agusti Torello Mata Trepat Rosat Brut Cava, Catalonia 2014 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 special, 25 bottle in stock now
Grapelive 93 points “How I went all my years in the wine business and not have had Agusti Torelló Mata Cava seems impossible, this is one of the great sparkling wine producers of the world and finally I can now say I’ve had their amazing bubbly, I am thrilled with this discovery of, which I must be one of the last people in this seriously connected world to do so, this hand crafted Cava is from just outside Barcelona in the Penedès region of Catalunya. The four sons, Agustí, Gemma, Alex and Lali run this top estate, founded in 1950, though the family brand started in the 1990’s by Agusti the elder, using only Méthode Champenoise, and they only work with indigenous varieties, which include Macabeu, Parellada and Xarel-lo as well as Trepat, the red grape that is used for this fine Rosado (Rosé) Cava, their range of Cavas includes dry and very dry, low dosage styles that show in fact terroir and traditional character, while being luxurious, wonderfully energetic and poised with class and balance. This 2014 Trepat Rosat Reserva, aged 24 months on the lees is a sexy dry crisp sparkling that is quite expressive in fruit and leesy rich on the palate with distinct cherry and distilled raspberry notes along with a layered yeasty mouth feel and an exceptionally glorious mousse that is creamy, but full of vigorous vitality. Deeply pink and magenta, this Agusti Torelló Mata Cava highlights it’s Mediterranean influence and is perfect for warm days, it’s dry feel and brisk nature make it refreshing, but complex enough to enjoy with many cuisine options, with air it gains dusty strawberry, mineral notes as well as cranberry, apple skin, bright herbs, wet shale and bread dough, finishing with hints of floral tones that leave an impression of rose water and tangy citrus. This is a brilliant wine, 100% Trepat, a grape that was almost forgotten and replaced by Pinot Noir has made a stunning comeback in recent years, thank goodness that some old vines still remain and make sparkling and reds of authentic delicacy as it does here in Bodegas Agusti Torelló Mata’s fabulous pink bubbly, do not miss this joyous dry Cava, perfect for a long Sunday brunch!”
Grapelive 92+ points “The beautifully golden and lush Knoll Traminer is an off dry and textural white from the Wachau region of Austria. It’s a unique and almost iconic example of varietal and place from a producer more known for their famous Gruner and Riesling wines. It is wonderfully mature in feel and style, somewhere between an Alto Adige and Alsace in expression. This clone, not as sweetly perfumed as an Alsace Gewürztraminer and more sensual in mouthfeel than the Italian versions, is almost a wine that cannot be classified dry or sweet as it has a wonderfully balanced nature. Even though Traminer has naturally low acidity, you never think it is overt or cloying. [This wine] still has that sexy seductive roundness, with its forward and almost botrytis-like honeyed nectar presence in the glass. Fermented to 14%, this Emmerich Knoll Traminer Loibener Smaragd is all about opulent details and exotic flavors, some subtle and some flamboyant, that unfold in a complex array with expressive lychee, dried apricot, pear puree, rose oil and earthy notes along with faint flinty spice, tropical elements, sweet and sour herbs, creme brûlée, lemon and clove. I must admit, this is a confusing wine in many ways, but I still adore its glorious and audacious nature. It would be magical [with] a wide variety of cuisine and food choices. Less sweet foods would be best, more like foie gras, extreme briny dishes, even oysters, plus tangy/fruit or palm dates or dried figs to Korean BBQ beef! Again, this wine makes you think sweet, but it is not really a dessert wine and incredibly intriguing. It’s a rare beauty. This was my very first experience with it, and now that I’ve tasted it and reflected on it, I want more!”
Arriving Tomorrow
The Majestic 2015 Clos des Papes
And Other Coveted, High Scoring Bottlings
#14 Wine Of The Year – Wine Spectator Top 100 2017
Wine Spectator 98 points “This has a drop-dead gorgeous core of cassis and raspberry pâte de fruit flavors that holds center stage but still allows notes of Lapsang souchong tea, anise, incense and shiso leaf to chime in. Very long, with a sublime feel through the mineral-tinged finish. So seductive already, but this will cruise in the cellar. Drink now through 2040.”Wine Advocate 97 points “Bottled in May, the 2015 Chateauneuf du Pape is a floral, elegant, unbelievably complex wine. Roses and violets, cherries and stone fruit, cinnamon and allspice and more are carried across the full-bodied yet almost weightless palate, finishing in a swirl of silky tannins and lingering spice. Drink it over the next two decades.”
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 94-96 points “(raised in foudres) Deep ruby. Hugely aromatic red and dark berry, potpourri and floral scents are underscored by smoky minerality and an exotic suggestion of Asian spices. Sappy, focused and impressively deep yet lively, offering alluringly sweet raspberry, cherry compote and spicecake flavors and a refreshingly bitter touch of blood orange. Puts on weight and spreads out steadily with air, acquiring a succulent herb note that carries through the strikingly long, mineral-laced, gently tannic finish. This beauty is shaping up to be among the standouts of this extremely successful vintage.”
Casanuova delle Cerbaie Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Tuscany 2012 750ML ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival special
James Suckling 96 points “Beautiful clarity on the nose with lavender, raspberry and violet aromas. Medium to full body, firm and silky tannins and a long, fresh and simply fantastic finish. Best ever. Better in 2021.”
Muller-Catoir Haardter Mandelring Scheurebe Trocken, Pfalz 2016 750ML ($39.95) $33 pre-arrival special
Terry Theise note “Zero botrytis, so Martin opted to make this dry masterpiece. It’s less wiggly than the Haardt but also deeper, more layered; a wine of great, deep humor, an exegesis of cassis, physio-sweet, with a hugely clinging salty finish. If dry Scheurebe can be grandiose, this one is.”
#Trending
The Most Popular Wines of the Weekend
James Suckling 93 points “Very perfumed and vivid on the nose. Equally so on the palate with a medium body, integrated tannins and a long and linear finish. Very polished and silky. Drink now.”Antonio Galloni – Vinous 92 points “Succulent dark cherry, plum, lavender, menthol and French oak are very nicely delineated in the 2013 Chianti Classico Riserva. There is lovely depth and juiciness to the fruit, but the Riserva remains very much medium in body. A wine of restraint and polish, the 2013 Riserva is super-impressive today. Drink it over the next 10-15 years.”
Monica Larner – Wine Advocate 91 points “The 2013 Chianti Classico Riserva is a lovely and balanced wine that offers a crisp and elegantly streamlined taste of organically-grown Sangiovese. This is a versatile and food friendly wine that shows the best of the Radda in Chianti subzone (with high altitude freshness and acidity).”
Case-12 Chateau de L’Ou ‘Secret de Schistes ‘ Rouge, IGP Cotes Catalanes 2015 750ML ($549.95) $419 special (that’s only $34.92/bottle!)
Wine Advocate 96 points “Saturated black in color, the 2015 IGP Côtes Catalanes Secret de Schistes is reminiscent of Manfred Krankl’s SQN Syrahs with its deep, unctuous, layered profile. Cassis, chocolate, licorice, smoked herbs and ample minerality all emerge from this full-bodied, sexy beauty that just begs to be drunk. Possessing ripe tannin, a stacked mid-palate and a great finish, it will be better in a year or two and keep for a decade.”
Domaine Marcel Lapierre Morgon, Beaujolais 2016 1.5L ($69.95) $59 special, 12 magnums in stock now
Domaine Marcel Lapierre Morgon, Beaujolais 2016 750ML ($34.95) $28 special, 32 bottles in stock now
James Suckling 93-94 points “This barrel sample from one of the masters in Beaujolais shows such a balance and focus already. Juicy and fruity with lots of plummy fruit and spice character. Fine tannins and a crisp finish. Clear and ethereal.”
Wine Spectator 95 points “This is dreamy, with creamed melon, pear and green fig flavors gliding along, framed by light brioche and meringue flavors. The long finish just lets the fruit hang beautifully. Offers refined opulence. Drink now through 2022.”Grapelive 94 points “Mark Vlossak’s brilliant 2014 Freedom Hill Pinot is bursting with minty rose oil, Bing cherry and mineral tones. This bright and gripping wine is absolutely everything you’d want from an Oregon Pinot. In fact it’s very Volnay like in the glass with racy fruits, earth, spice and intense detail. I already want more! Coming off the replanted northern block, exclusive to St. Innocent, this young vine Pinot shows the quality of its Coastal Range terroir with a mix of Wadenswil, Pommard and 777 clones on ancient sedimentary soils. It’s a very different site than let’s say the Jory soils of Dundee. The warm days add tannin to the skins while the cooler nights add to the vibrant acidity, all of which add up to a complex and firmly structured Pinot Noir. In this 2014 vintage it is the best of everything, making it a stunning example of Willamette Valley Pinot. To capture the pureness and vivid nature, Vlossak chose to used all de-stemmed grapes, fermented in cold lots in stainless steel then raised in 27% new French oak for 16 months, ending up with bright flavors and with vintage influenced heady 14.2% natural alcohol. Mark Vlossak founded St. Innocent in 1988. He is in the generation that brought Oregon to world attention along with Ken Wright, Mike Etzel (Beaux Freres) and John Paul of Cameron. His wines age gracefully and are wonderful values when compared to the other wines at this level, especially in a vintage as good in Oregon as 2014 was! This 2014 Freedom Hill, with its ruby/garnet hue looks beautiful in the glass. [It] delivers black cherry, plum and wild strawberry fruits on the medium bodied palate along with rose petals, mineral, subtle spearmint/tea spices, earthy loam and a touch of vanilla. Everything is tightly wound but well integrated with an exciting lightness of texture. This is a seriously good Pinot that has years of life and progression ahead of it. I see great potential in 5 to 7 years, though I just love its youthful thrill and intensity of form right now. Last year, I had the 2000 Freedom Hill and it was fantastically fresh and showed almost no decay or age at all, so while this vintage is from younger vines, the terroir quality is certainly there. I will be getting a few more bottles myself!”
Josh Raynolds 93 points “Limpid ruby. Heady, smoke-accented red and dark berry scents pick up hints of succulent herbs, candied flowers and minerals with air. Deeply concentrated yet lithe on the palate, offering intense black raspberry and cherry cola flavors and hints of star anise, rose pastille and mocha. Closes very long and smooth, with displaying resonating dark fruit character and gentle tannic grip.”
Spring Arrives Friday
Clos St. Magdeleine’s Incredible Rosé
If you’ve been to Cassis, you know the vineyard—a peninsula of vines that juts out into the bay of Cassis. It might be the most beautiful spot in the world to make wine, surrounded by the bright blue water of the Mediterranean with the Calanques all around. The wine tastes like the place—full of sunshine and brightness. It’s one of the archetypical rosés of Provence and is perfect for getting into a summer frame of mind. Plus, at this price it won’t be around for long.
Arriving Friday:
Clos Sainte Magdeleine Cassis Rose, Provence 2016 750ML ($39.95) $28 pre-arrival special
Case-12 Clos Sainte Magdeleine Cassis Rose, Provence 2016 750ML ($459.95) $299 pre-arrival special (that’s only $24.92/bottle!)
Grapelive 94 points “One of Provence’s most sought after producers, Clos Sainte Magdeleine crafts mostly Cassis Blanc (a blend of Marsanne, Ugni Blanc and Clairette mostly with a touch of Bourboulenc). In recent years they have been getting lots of attention for their Rose, which is a modern Provence blend of 40% Grenache, 40% Cinsault, 20% Mourvèdre, a rival to the more famous pinks of Bandol and Domaine Tempier. Like Tempier, Clos Sainte Magdeleine is organic and very limited. The grapes come off the regions limestone and clay soils with the red grape vines being between 10 and 40 years old. [The vines are] close to the sea, so there is the saline and cool freshness the Mediterranean brings along with a ripe warm of this sunny South of France place. The Sack-Zafiropulos family has been making wine here for four generations, with Jonathan Sack now producing the wines in the beautiful awe inspiring little coastal port village (Cassis). The wines are a huge hit with those that want authentic crisp wines of character and quality, and they pair well with the local fish based cuisine. While a hit here in the states, largely because of [importer Kermit Lynch]’s tireless promotion of the region’s wines, these wines grab the attention of well-to-do travelers that adventure to Cassis and Marseille. This 2016 is just hitting its stride now. It’s brilliant and intense with a regal sense of austerity and restraint with dust strawberry, earthy watermelon and tart sour cherry along with a peppery/flinty spice, wet stones and saline, which gets your saliva glands pumping along. This is light and brisk, but with a sense of vinous/sensual texture while remaining filled with fresh charm. It’s absolutely perfection in a dry pink. This is a terroir-driven wine of distinction and purity that will drink for a few years.”
The next best price is $30.77
The average price is $35
Staff Picks:
Burgundy and Oregon, Intertwined
I recently had the pleasure of attending a fairly extensive blind-tasting comparing recent-vintage Burgundy with the wines coming out of Goodfellow Family Cellars. It was who’s who of Burgundy, with names like Dujac, Dugat-Py, Fourrier, Barthod, Tremblay, Chandon De Briailles, Gouges, etc. all present and accounted for.
There were two big takeaways, for me: First, I need to buy and cellar a lot more of the Goodfellow wines, which were both very difficult to distinguish from a lot of the top tier Burgs and also their qualitative equal, at half the price (or less). The wines were great and, freed of the expectation of the labels, it was easy to see that the Willamette Valley doesn’t really have “catching up to do” when it comes to top tier wines from Burgundy. The second takeaway? The 2013 Burgundy vintage is massively underrated.
Recent vintages have lined up stylistically between Oregon and Burgundy, so each flight was composed of wines from the same year and although ’14 and ’15 were exactly what you’d expect, 2013 stood out both for personality and quality. 2013 is considered neither a bad nor a “great” vintage, but based on the wines we tasted, it’s massively underrated. The wines showed exceptional charm as well as really good complexity and depth. Vineyard and producer distinctions popped and although these probably won’t be 30 year wines, if you’re looking for wines to drink over the next 15 years, these are some fantastic bottles.
Some Suggested Wines:
Goodfellow Family Cellars Heritage No. 4 Pinot Noir, Oregon 2015 750ML ($69.95) $59 special, 6 bottles in stock now
Winery notes: “Made with great thought, our reserve wine is crafted to stand strong for years to come. The genesis was a wine to age for our son to enjoy one day. Thus, it seems more new oak and is made from our favorite parcel of the vintage. Lay down for as long as you can, as patience is to be rewarded. Whistling Ridge Vineyard Pinot from a 1990 planting aged for 20 months in French oak. Sedimentary soils with a South/Southeast exposure at 350-450’ elevation. Dry farmed.”
Goodfellow Family Cellars Bishop Creek Vineyard Pinot Noir, Oregon 2014 750ML ($41.95) $33 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-6 Goodfellow Family Cellars Bishop Creek Vineyard Pinot Noir, Oregon 2014 750ML ($219.95) $189 special (that’s only $31.50/bottle!)
Case-12 Goodfellow Family Cellars Bishop Creek Vineyard Pinot Noir, Oregon 2014 750ML ($419.95) $349 special (that’s only $29.08/bottle!)
Josh Raynolds 91 points “Vivid red. A highly perfumed bouquet evokes fresh red berries, cherry, candied flowers and musky earth, backed by a touch of smokiness. Lively black raspberry and floral pastille flavors pick up hints of bitter chocolate and licorice with aeration. The clinging, focused finish features fine-grained, slow-mounting tannins and repeating floral character. Give this one a little air time.”
The next best price is $39.99
Winery note “Beginning in 2012, Goodfellow Family Cellars began bottling our Heritage selections. Each bottling in this series originates from a single site, and typically a single block within the vineyard. The wines represent our most perfect marriage of new world site and old world soul. They are wines that will stand the test of time and improve within their years of rest. Our Heritage selections are our ambassadors forthe quality of the terroirs in Oregon’s Willamette Valley. The vineyard selection for Heritage Number 6 is the Fir Crest Vineyard, and presents flavors of black tea, raspberry and cinnamon.”
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 92+ points “Good dark red. Sexy aromas of dark cherry, minerals, licorice and smoke, plus a whiff of charred oak. Still a touch reduced but lush, deep and packed with dark cherry and dark berry fruit. The licorice note returns on the horizontal, rising finish, which features suave tannins and leaves the salivary glands vibrating.”
Domaine de Montille Les Mitans, Volnay Premier Cru 2013 750ML ($149.95) $119 special, 7 bottles in stock now
Stephen Tanzer-Vinous 89-92 points “(the only one of these 2013s that was vinified with 100% whole clusters; these degenerating vines produce tiny berries that are usually very ripe): Dark, full red. Seductive aromas of redcurrant and rose petal. Delivers lovely inner-mouth perfume, with flavors of raspberry, smoke and minerals lifted by peppery spices and flowers. Intense premier cru with enticing sweetness and excellent precision. Finishes with firm but fine-grained dusty tannins and noteworthy grip. Just 50% of normal production in 2013.”
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 90 points “Bright red. Very primary, vibrant aromas of raspberry, rose petal and mint. Juicy and tightly wound, showing lovely intensity and energy but a medicinal reserve in the early going. I like the combination of density and airiness. Finishes with excellent cut and verve.”
Burghound 92 points “Seemingly without fail the Lafarges achieve genuinely remarkable purity of fruit and the 2013 Clos du Château des Ducs proves to be no exception as the high-toned nose is the essence of red pinot fruit along with subtle hints of spice, earth, floral and soft stone nuances. There is terrific delineation and even more minerality with a bit more punch and power on the dusty, mouth coating and lingering finish. This is perhaps a bit more delicate than it usually is though it is by no means light.”
Wine Advocate 91-93 points “The 2013 Volnay 1er Cru Clos du Chateau des Ducs has a tightly would bouquet with brambly red fruit, blackberry leaf and granitic scents that waft reluctantly from the glass. The palate is very well structured with a keen line of acidity, ebullient red cherry and strawberry fruit with delineated, very focused and long in the mouth. Excellent.”
Domaine Marcel Deiss Huebuhl, Alsace 2008 750ML ($59.95) Was $49, Now $39 special
Stephen Tanzer 92 points “(pinot gris and muscat) Full orange-gold. Pungent, high-toned aromas of orange, spices and medicinal herbs; conveys a strong botrytis character. A very sweet, energetic fruit bomb in the mouth, with brisk acidity giving grip to the rather exotic flavors of tangerine, apricot, yellow peach, botanical herbs and spices. Big and broad but not heavy. Finishes long, tactile and slightly phenolic, showing its pinot gris side today.” ST
Weingut Joh. Bapt. Schafer Burg Layer Schlossberg Riesling Spatlese, Nahe 2015 750ML ($69.95) Was $59, Now $49 special
Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2015 Burg Layer Schlossberg Riesling Spätlese was auctioned in Bad Kreuznach in September 2016. Sourced from vines that are less than 30 years old, it opens with a very clear, ripe and almost tropical fruit aroma intertwined with delicate, flinty notes from the reddish/silvery slatey clay soils. This is another reductive styled, racy, piquant and finesse-full Riesling with tropical fruit aromas, some toasted speck and date flavors. Its combination of finesse and lush fruit texture reminds me of red slate Rieslings from the Mosel such as Ürziger Würzgarten or the red slate parts of the Pünderich Marienburg. The finish is full of tension and grip. A gorgeous Spätlese of which 400 liters have been produced.”
Mosel Fine Wines 92 points “Made from a 25-year-old parcel and harvested at 94° Oechsle, this delivers a nice set of fruity and juicy aromatics including yellow peach, quince star anise, rose water and grapefruit juice. The wine starts off on the light side on the palate but creamy fruits paired with rich Auslese GK styled sweetness quickly take over before some pear, pineapple and peach lead the way to a juicy and creamy long finish. This is a nicely creamy and clean Auslese GK styled Riesling. 2022-2035”
Domaine Saint Damien Gigondas Vieilles Vignes, Rhone 2015 750ML ($37.95) Was $28, Now $24 special
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 91-93 points “Dark ruby. Aromas and flavors of ripe red and blue fruits pick up floral and peppery spice nuances as the wine opens up. Smooth and expansive on the palate, showing very good depth as well as energy and spicy back-end lift. The gently gripping, very persistent finish leaves behind hints of candied flowers and licorice.”
Domaine Servin Les Clos, Chablis Grand Cru 2015 750ML ($79.95) Was $69, Now $59 special
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 94 points “(bottled in April): Bright, light yellow-green. Ineffable scents of lime, white peach, fresh apricot, white pepper and crushed stone. Surprisingly intense and sweet on the palate, with lovely supporting minerality and acidity to frame the seamless orchard fruit and spice flavors. Not an austere Clos–in fact almost friendly–but beautifully balanced. Its tight, very long finish suggests that it will evolve gracefully in bottle.”
Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2015 Chablis Grand Cru les Clos has a very composed bouquet with white citrus fruit, orange blossom, limestone and a touch of flint. It is harmonious and detailed, shrugging off the warmth of the growing season. The palate is very well balanced with a fine bead of acidity. There is fine focus here, good body and depth with a hint of fresh fig interlacing the citrus fruit on the saline finish. This is a classy offering from Domaine Servin and winemaker Marc Cameron.”
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The Perfect Chilean Wine
Almaviva
This Franco-Chliean project continues to impress since its inception in 1998. The collaboration celebrates the elegance and winemaking skill of the Rothschilds and the Chilean thumbprint that only the most singular terroir could provide. This is a truly harmonious wine that will belong in your cellar for a very long time. This wine, with its 100 point score, will be a touchstone for collectors for a long time.
Vina Almaviva, Puente Alto 2015 750ML ($149.95) $119 pre-arrival special
James Suckling 100 points “A glorious and complex nose of tobacco, blackberries and hints of stones and flowers. Hints of bitter chocolate. Full-bodied, very tight and compacted. Linear backbone gives this form and tension. It has the same character on the palate as well as cayenne and other spice. Loved the 2014 but this shows more fine-grained tannins. So balanced and harmonious. A blend of 69% cabernet sauvignon, 24% carmenere, 5% cabernet franc and 2% petit verdot. Needs four or five years in bottle but a joy to taste now.”
Rising Star Cabernet With Serious Points
Arriving Friday
Robert Parker 98 points “The 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Helena Dakota displays more blackberry, blueberry and graphite, with some flowers such as violets, notes of pen ink, a full-bodied, concentrated, succulent and fleshy mouthfeel, and a long, long finish. This is another 25- to 30-year wine.”
Robert Parker 93+ points “The 2014s are 30-year wines, even in such a supple, easygoing and charming vintage. The 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Helena Montana has an opaque purple color, a beautiful nose of graphite, creosote, incense, blackberry and licorice, and maybe a touch of charcoal and earth. The tannins are soft, and there is enormous fruit as well as a deep, full-bodied mouthfeel and some coffee in the finish. It should drink well for 25-30 years.”
Antonio Galloni 92 points “Anakota’s 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Helena Montana has turned out beautifully. Dark, sumptuous and beautifully resonant in the glass, the 2014 exudes richness. Red cherry jam, raspberry, mint and licorice abound. Flamboyant and opulent, with soft contours and good structure, the 2014 hits all the right notes.”
The average price is $118
Arriving April 6th
When you name a vineyard after the Baby Jesus, it better be good. That’s a lot of pressure to live up to and it’s then little wonder that Bouchard’s flagship wine is the Vignes de L’Enfant Jesus—a subsection of the famous Beaune Greves vineyard. The 2015 is a triumph for this wine—one of the finest to come out of the Cote de Beaune in any vintage and especially in 2015.
Bouchard Pere & Fils Greves Vignes de L’Enfant Jesus, Beaune Premier Cru 2015 750ML ($149.95) $119 pre-arrival special
Burghound 92-94 points “A discreet though not invisible application of wood sets off highly complex aromas of plum liqueur and a wide range of floral elements that are trimmed in soft spice and earth notes. There is outstanding richness to the full-bodied and concentrated medium-bodied flavors that possess a seductive, even caressing mouth feel before concluding in a decidedly firm, well-balanced and slightly austere finish. This is very clearly built-to-age and should mature slowly over the next 12 to 15 years. Very impressive.”
We also have a small parcel of back-vintage Nuits from David Duband arriving the same day. Duband is best known for taking over Jacky Truchot’s old vines when the legendary vigneron retired, but his winemaking is certainly remarkable in its own right. Duband uses a high percentage of whole cluster and produces wines of remarkable character and depth. Aux Thorey is a vineyard known for relative finesse, a rarity in powerful Nuits, so the wine always reminds us a little of Vosne.
Domaine David Duband Aux Thorey, Nuits-Saint-Georges Premier Cru 2010 750ML ($99.95) $79 pre-arrival special
Burghound 89-92 points “A nicely broad mélange of earth, spice, red currant and blackberry gives way to rich, delicious and beautifully rendered flavors that possess excellent delineation on the vibrant, intense and driving finish. This provides an interesting contrast between the silky mid-palate and the notably firm and linear finish. This will require up to a decade of bottle age first.”
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