In Today’s Newsletter:
Barolo’s Best Value?
Rougeard with Perfect Provenance
And Here Now
Familia Nin-Ortiz:
Spain’s Most Sought After wine?
Mercury Rising: Juillot’s Stellar, Affordable Burgundy
Bibbiano’s Top Chianti Gran Selezione
Staff Pick: A White Wine for Your Toughest Food Pairings
#Trending
Collector’s Corner
The Majesty of Gaja
Barolo’s Best Value?
Veglio Michelino is a new producer to us here, despite their long and venerable history. How they escaped our notice for such a long time, we don’t know (we’ll blame their local distribution), but when we found out they made a well scoring (92 point) traditional Barolo for under $30, we were all in. We were only able to get ten cases of their 2015, arriving this Friday, so if you love Barolo (and not paying too much for it) you ought to go long while you can.
Arriving this Friday:
Veglio Michelino & Figlio Barolo DOCG, Piedmont 2015 750ML ($39.95) $28 pre-arrival special
James Suckling 92 points “Some swanky, glossy oak adds toffee aromas to the ripe red cherries. Plenty of vanilla here, too. The palate delivers a fullish and round impression with plenty of oak again in the mix. Praline and ripe red cherries in abundance here. Try from 2022.”
Arriving this Friday:
Veglio Michelino & Figlio Barolo DOCG, Piedmont 2015 750ML ($39.95) $28 pre-arrival special
James Suckling 92 points “Some swanky, glossy oak adds toffee aromas to the ripe red cherries. Plenty of vanilla here, too. The palate delivers a fullish and round impression with plenty of oak again in the mix. Praline and ripe red cherries in abundance here. Try from 2022.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Rougeard with Perfect Provenance
And Here Now
Clos Rougeard is one of the toughest wines in the world to source—and older vintages even more so. These are bottles that are some of the most coveted in the world—the only producer of their stature in the Loire, they’re on par with the highest end Burgundy.
These are in stock now and if you love the wines of Rougeard, you owe it to yourself to jump on these while there are still some left. This is like winning a vinous lottery (if winning the lottery were a result of hard work and careful sourcing). These wines are directly from the cellar of the Oregon distributor for these bottles. All were bought on release and carefully stored until now—it’s hard to imagine a better source for these outside of buying directly from the cellar of the estate (and good luck with that). We’re able to offer you excellent pricing as well, as most of these wines are either national wine-searcher lows or very close—and no one else has the sort of sourcing we do.
Shop all Clos Rougeard Wines In Stock Now!
These are in stock now and if you love the wines of Rougeard, you owe it to yourself to jump on these while there are still some left. This is like winning a vinous lottery (if winning the lottery were a result of hard work and careful sourcing). These wines are directly from the cellar of the Oregon distributor for these bottles. All were bought on release and carefully stored until now—it’s hard to imagine a better source for these outside of buying directly from the cellar of the estate (and good luck with that). We’re able to offer you excellent pricing as well, as most of these wines are either national wine-searcher lows or very close—and no one else has the sort of sourcing we do.
Shop all Clos Rougeard Wines In Stock Now!
Familia Nin-Ortiz:
Spain’s Most Sought After wine?
Familia Nin-Ortiz is one of the leading lights of New Priorat. Both Ester Nin and Carles Ortiz are renowned viticulturists (Ester, notably, ran the Clos Erasmus vineyard operation for years) and some of the earliest proponents of biodynamics in Priorat, but what they’re doing together on the winery side is stunning indeed. Their wines are some of the most compelling in Priorat, combining the power inherent in the terroir with a stunning sense of energy and vitality.
They’re best known for their “Nit de Nin” single vineyard bottlings—wines which the top restaurants in Spain fight over. Both the “Mas d’En Cancador” and “La Coma d’En Romeu” are monuments of Priorat and channel the power of the appellation into focused beams of schist-based energy. Their “Planetes” releases offer a gentler, more elegant approach to the wines, perfect for drinking now.
The only complaint about these excellent bottles is the quantities. Every notable restaurant in Barcelona and Madrid (and London) are trying to put these on their wine lists, so often there’s not a lot available by the time the US gets access to them. Only 30 and 9 bottles are available of the two single vineyards and the Planetes wines are coming under four cases each. These are wines to secure now, before you can’t any more.
Arriving ETA Early March:
Familia Nin-Ortiz ‘Planetes de Nin’ Blanc, Priorat DOCa 2018 750ML ($99.95) $75 pre-arrival special
Luis Gutierrez-Wine Advocate 94 points “Cariñena Blanca has finally been added to the registry of varieties in Spain, which means it should soon be allowed by the Priorat appellation, so they could start putting it on the labels of the 2018 Planetes de Nin Carinyena Blanca. This fermented and matured in used 300-liter oak barrels for seven months. It’s 13% alcohol and has a pH of 3.2 with 6.5 grams of acidity (tartaric); they struggled to get the minimum 13% alcohol required by the appellation, as the year was very cold and they lost a lot of grapes waiting for the alcohol level. It’s a year with lots of freshness, and the wine, which feels really young and undeveloped, needs some time in the glass to open up. This is an exceptional year that is going to develop slowly in bottle. The palate is vibrant, focused and dry, with citrus freshness and a mineral finish. 1,948 bottles were filled in April 2018.”
They’re best known for their “Nit de Nin” single vineyard bottlings—wines which the top restaurants in Spain fight over. Both the “Mas d’En Cancador” and “La Coma d’En Romeu” are monuments of Priorat and channel the power of the appellation into focused beams of schist-based energy. Their “Planetes” releases offer a gentler, more elegant approach to the wines, perfect for drinking now.
The only complaint about these excellent bottles is the quantities. Every notable restaurant in Barcelona and Madrid (and London) are trying to put these on their wine lists, so often there’s not a lot available by the time the US gets access to them. Only 30 and 9 bottles are available of the two single vineyards and the Planetes wines are coming under four cases each. These are wines to secure now, before you can’t any more.
Arriving ETA Early March:
Familia Nin-Ortiz ‘Planetes de Nin’ Blanc, Priorat DOCa 2018 750ML ($99.95) $75 pre-arrival special
Luis Gutierrez-Wine Advocate 94 points “Cariñena Blanca has finally been added to the registry of varieties in Spain, which means it should soon be allowed by the Priorat appellation, so they could start putting it on the labels of the 2018 Planetes de Nin Carinyena Blanca. This fermented and matured in used 300-liter oak barrels for seven months. It’s 13% alcohol and has a pH of 3.2 with 6.5 grams of acidity (tartaric); they struggled to get the minimum 13% alcohol required by the appellation, as the year was very cold and they lost a lot of grapes waiting for the alcohol level. It’s a year with lots of freshness, and the wine, which feels really young and undeveloped, needs some time in the glass to open up. This is an exceptional year that is going to develop slowly in bottle. The palate is vibrant, focused and dry, with citrus freshness and a mineral finish. 1,948 bottles were filled in April 2018.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Familia Nin-Ortiz ‘Nit de Nin’ La Coma d’en Romeu, Priorat DOCa 2017 750ML ($179.95) $149 pre-arrival special
Luis Gutierrez-Wine Advocate 98+ points “The 2017 Nit de Nin La Coma d’en Romeu is from an extremely dry and early harvest that delivered just five hectoliters per hectare! That means they only produced 1,330 bottles from the 1.5 hectares of Garnacha on those slate terraces at 350 meters in altitude. It was bottled in April 2019. It has a beautiful and subtle nose that’s very spicy (cloves and cumin, curry and pink pepper) and floral, with a palate that feels light but has great depth and inner power, with pungent flavors and subtle minerality.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Familia Nin-Ortiz ‘Nit de Nin’ Mas d’en Cacador, Priorat DOCa 2017 750ML ($119.95) $99 pre-arrival special
Luis Gutierrez-Wine Advocate 97+ points “The 2017 Nit de Nin Mas d’en Caçador is a vintage they talk about like this: “We will remember this vintage as one of the most extreme of the decade, along with that of 2012. It is in years like these that the work we do in the field is rewarded. In spite of the climatic exceptionality, we have acidity and pH that seem like a miracle to us. Our vines did not suffer the severe frosts of this 2017.” The wine has lower alcohol than the 2016 but the same pH of 3.3; insultingly young and tender, it doesn’t feel like the wine had a long élevage in oak. It has kept very good freshness and great balance. It’s tasty, pungent and long, with power and elegance and all the components to develop nicely in bottle. 1,440 bottles were filled in April 2019.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Familia Nin-Ortiz Planetes de Nin Classic, Priorat DOCa 2017 750ML ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival special
Luis Gutierrez-Wine Advocate 95 points “The 2017 Planetes de Nin comes from the four hectares of 20-year-old Garnacha and 11-year-old Cariñena in the Planetes vineyard in Porrera at 450 meters in altitude. It’s 60% Garnacha (some of it Peluda) and the rest Cariñena, harvested early. It fermented with indigenous yeasts and matured in 3,200-liter oak vats and one 1,000-liter amphora for 17 months. It has depth and harmony, and the vines are getting older and seem to be better and better balanced. This is not that different from the 2016; it feels quite stable and has its style and character, especially since the 2015 vintage. 9,704 bottles were filled in April 2019.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Familia Nin-Ortiz ‘Planetes de Nin’ Garnatxes en Amfora, Priorat DOCa 2018 750ML ($49.95) $41.90 pre-arrival special
Luis Gutierrez-Wine Advocate 93 points “Produced with Garnacha grapes from their four hectares in Finca Planetes in Porrera, the 2018 Planetes de Nin Garnatxes en Amfora fermented with indigenous yeasts for four weeks and matured in 700- and 1,000-liter terracotta amphorae for seven months. The nose jumps out of the glass with very clean aromas that are expressive, floral and pure, with a profile of juicy fruit, like biting into a bunch of ripe Garnacha. Delicious! 6,200 bottles were filled in June 2019.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Mercury Rising:
Juillot’s Stellar, Affordable Burgundy
We’ve beat the drum pretty hard about Michel Juillot in the past and for good reason: he represents some of the best value wines in Burgundy. We’re going to continue that enthusiasm today—the new releases from Juillot are stellar and proof that there is value in Burgundy if you know where to look. That’s to say—once you venture outside the Cote d’Or there are some stunning producers making very overlooked wines, especially in Mercurey (and Givry).
Mercurey is the top village in the Cote Chalonnaise, which exists in between the Cote d’Or and the Macon. It boasts 32 Premier Cru vineyards and one of the highest volumes of red wine production, with the wines tending to be elegant and lighter. From better producers (ie: from better farmers) the wines put on more substance, resembling wines from the Cote de Beaune.
Michel Juillot is one of those top producers, the head of a family farming in the Cote Chalonnaise for generations (and with his son, Laurent, assuming more of the winemaking responsibilities, the tradition looks to continue). The estate owns a number of different parcels in a dizzying number of climats, with old vines throughout. Winemaking is pretty hands off, as well—these are wines that have polish, but not excessively so. In 2016 and ’17 (both excellent years for the Chalonnaise), they’re extremely smart buys—someone in 10+ years is going to mistake one for a solid Volnay or Beaune 1er (blind) and you’re going to look like a genius, especially for the prices.
Arriving ETA Early March:
Domaine Michel Juillot Clos des Barraults Blanc, Mercurey Premier Cru 2017 750ML ($49.95) $39 pre-arrival special
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 91 points “Juillot’s finest white from Mercurey is the 2017 Mercurey 1er Cru Clos des Barraults Blanc, a medium to full-bodied, satiny and concentrated wine that’s attractively pure and precise, offering up a charming bouquet of green orchard fruit, flowers and beeswax.”
Mercurey is the top village in the Cote Chalonnaise, which exists in between the Cote d’Or and the Macon. It boasts 32 Premier Cru vineyards and one of the highest volumes of red wine production, with the wines tending to be elegant and lighter. From better producers (ie: from better farmers) the wines put on more substance, resembling wines from the Cote de Beaune.
Michel Juillot is one of those top producers, the head of a family farming in the Cote Chalonnaise for generations (and with his son, Laurent, assuming more of the winemaking responsibilities, the tradition looks to continue). The estate owns a number of different parcels in a dizzying number of climats, with old vines throughout. Winemaking is pretty hands off, as well—these are wines that have polish, but not excessively so. In 2016 and ’17 (both excellent years for the Chalonnaise), they’re extremely smart buys—someone in 10+ years is going to mistake one for a solid Volnay or Beaune 1er (blind) and you’re going to look like a genius, especially for the prices.
Arriving ETA Early March:
Domaine Michel Juillot Clos des Barraults Blanc, Mercurey Premier Cru 2017 750ML ($49.95) $39 pre-arrival special
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 91 points “Juillot’s finest white from Mercurey is the 2017 Mercurey 1er Cru Clos des Barraults Blanc, a medium to full-bodied, satiny and concentrated wine that’s attractively pure and precise, offering up a charming bouquet of green orchard fruit, flowers and beeswax.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Domaine Michel Juillot Les Champs Martin Blanc, Mercurey Premier Cru 2016 750ML ($49.95) $33 pre-arrival special
William Kelley-Decanter 90 points “A fresh bouquet of citrus zest, white stone fruit, and a top note of mint, precedes a concentrated, full-bodied palate with good cut and grip. This is a bit tight-knit after its recent bottling, and will really begin to shine with a few more months in the cellar.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Domaine Michel Juillot Les Champs Martin Blanc, Mercurey Premier Cru 2017 750ML ($49.95) $33 pre-arrival special
“Slightly less evident wood frames the very fresh and bright aromas of citrus, acacia blossom, apple and essence of pear nuances. There is both good intensity and vibrancy to the equally fresh middle weight flavors that exude a fine bead of minerality on the delicious and agreeably dry if mildly warm finish.”-Burghound
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Domaine Michel Juillot Mercurey Les Vignes de Maillonge Blanc, Cote Chalonnaise 2017 750ML ($47.95) $33 pre-arrival special
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 90 points “Aromas of fresh pear, musk melon and orange blossom preface the 2017 Mercurey Les Vignes de Maillonge Blanc, a medium to full-bodied, concentrated and textural wine that’s attractively satiny and elegant this year. The parcel includes some 90-year-old muscaté selections of Chardonnay.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Domaine Michel Juillot Clos des Barraults Rouge, Mercurey Premier Cru 2017 750ML ($49.95) $39 pre-arrival special
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 92+ points “The 2017 Mercurey 1er Cru Clos des Barraults is one of the more reserved wines in the range, unfurling in the glass with a promising bouquet of cherries, cassis, candied peel and espresso roast. On the palate, it’s medium to full-bodied, ample and fleshy, with succulent acids, melting tannins and a pure, precise finish. As usual, it’s one of the finest wines in the range and one that possesses some upside.”
Burghound – Outstanding 90 points “A relatively airy nose speaks of both red and dark berry fruit aromas that are cut with nuances of earth, wood and a floral wisp. The caressing and impressively rich medium-bodied flavors coat the palate with dry extract on the lingering finish that isn’t quite as complex though there is no warmth.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Domaine Michel Juillot Mercurey Les Vignes de Maillonge, Cote Chalonnaise 2016 750ML ($39.95) $33 pre-arrival special
Tim Aktins-Decanter 89 points “Vigorous and firm with some extraction. Good fruit focus, aromatic with some reduction. Just slightly lacks fruit sweetness.”
“The 2016 Mercurey Les Vignes de Maillonge is somewhat more gourmand than the domaine’s regular Mercurey Village, offering up aromas of ripe cherries, strawberries and licorice followed by a medium to full-bodied, ample palate. Its fine structuring tannins are concealed in a generous core of fruit.” –William Kelley, Wine Advocate
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Domaine Michel Juillot Mercurey Les Vignes de Maillonge, Cote Chalonnaise 2017 750ML ($39.95) $33 pre-arrival special
“The 2017 Mercurey Les Vignes de Maillonge is showing well, wafting from the glass with aromas of strawberries, cherries, spices and rich soil tones. On the palate, the wine is medium-bodied, fleshy and melting, with an ampler, livelier core of fruit than Juillot’s regular Mercurey red.”-William Kelley, Wine Advocate
“Background traces of wood can be found on the liqueur-like aromas of red cherry, earth and gentle spice nuances. There is fine volume to the punchy yet caressing and serious flavors that are shaped by slightly firmer tannins on the ever-so-mildly tangy finale.”-Burgound
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Domaine Michel Juillot Bourgogne Rouge, Burgundy 2017 750ML ($29.95) $24 pre-arrival special
“Ripe aromas include those of cassis, red and dark berry fruit along with soft earth nuances. The juicy, indeed even succulent, flavors are at once delicious and round before concluding in a mildly rustic finale. This tasty effort should drink well early on.”-Burghound
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Bibbiano’s Top Chianti Gran Selezione
Starting with the 2010 vintage, growers in Chianti adopted a new classification, Gran Selezione . It stands a tier above Chianti Classico Riserva and intends to present the terroir of Tuscany’s lauded Chianti vineyards in its essence—and from what we’ve tasted, the new designation is working. From Felsina’s Colonia to Castello di Ama’s Gran Selezione to this new offering from Tenuta Bibbiano, it’s becoming clear that the best wines in the region carry the designation. This new offering, fresh of a 95 point Wine Spectator score, arrives this month at an especially sharp price.
Arriving ETA March:
Tenuta di Bibbiano ‘Montornello’, Chianti Classico Gran Selezione DOCG 2015 750ML ($39.95) $33 pre-arrival special
Case-6 Tenuta di Bibbiano ‘Montornello’, Chianti Classico Gran Selezione DOCG 2015 750ML ($239.95) $189 pre-arrival special (that’s only $31.50/bottle and the lowest listed price in the USA today!)
Case-12 Tenuta di Bibbiano ‘Montornello’, Chianti Classico Gran Selezione DOCG 2015 750ML ($479.95) $349 pre-arrival special (that’s only $29.08/bottle and the lowest listed price in the USA today!)
Wine Spectator 95 points “Relaxed, balanced and supported by dense tannins, this touts aromas of leather, tobacco, wood paneling, iron, woodsy spices and smoky cherry fruit, with a finish that is long and expansive. Drink now through 2040. 3,300 cases made, 500 cases imported.”
Arriving ETA March:
Tenuta di Bibbiano ‘Montornello’, Chianti Classico Gran Selezione DOCG 2015 750ML ($39.95) $33 pre-arrival special
Case-6 Tenuta di Bibbiano ‘Montornello’, Chianti Classico Gran Selezione DOCG 2015 750ML ($239.95) $189 pre-arrival special (that’s only $31.50/bottle and the lowest listed price in the USA today!)
Case-12 Tenuta di Bibbiano ‘Montornello’, Chianti Classico Gran Selezione DOCG 2015 750ML ($479.95) $349 pre-arrival special (that’s only $29.08/bottle and the lowest listed price in the USA today!)
Wine Spectator 95 points “Relaxed, balanced and supported by dense tannins, this touts aromas of leather, tobacco, wood paneling, iron, woodsy spices and smoky cherry fruit, with a finish that is long and expansive. Drink now through 2040. 3,300 cases made, 500 cases imported.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
The average price nationally is $36
The average price nationally is $36
Staff Pick
A White Wine for Your Toughest Food Pairings
Nina:
Grimaldi shows the fresher side of Arneis, exhibiting fuller fruit without being cloying or overbearing. The nose is waxy and herbal, with a touch of earthiness. One the palate, pear skins, lime peel and white peach emerge with hints of honey and almond, ending with a mineral, dry finish. Overall this Arneis proves to be approachable and versatile, pairing well with both aged and soft cheeses, scallop and other seafood dishes, and one of the few wines that can take on the notoriously difficult pairing of asparagus.
Bruna Grimaldi Langhe Arneis, Piedmont 2018 750ML ($19.95) $16 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
James Suckling 91 points “Beautiful freshness and composure to this arneis, which makes an entrance with bright nectarines, crushed chalk and lemon zest. Medium-bodied and tightly strung with a flinty and precise texture and feel. Drink now.”
Grimaldi shows the fresher side of Arneis, exhibiting fuller fruit without being cloying or overbearing. The nose is waxy and herbal, with a touch of earthiness. One the palate, pear skins, lime peel and white peach emerge with hints of honey and almond, ending with a mineral, dry finish. Overall this Arneis proves to be approachable and versatile, pairing well with both aged and soft cheeses, scallop and other seafood dishes, and one of the few wines that can take on the notoriously difficult pairing of asparagus.
Bruna Grimaldi Langhe Arneis, Piedmont 2018 750ML ($19.95) $16 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
James Suckling 91 points “Beautiful freshness and composure to this arneis, which makes an entrance with bright nectarines, crushed chalk and lemon zest. Medium-bodied and tightly strung with a flinty and precise texture and feel. Drink now.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Other Grimaldi wines in stock now:
Bruna Grimaldi ‘Scassa’ Barbera d’Alba Superiore, Piedmont 2016 750ML ($21.95) $18 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 91 points “The 2016 Barbera d’Alba Superiore Scassa is a meaty red wine to pair with simple beef or pork dishes. This Barbera is characterized by a dark concentration (from 12 days of skin maceration), a sweet tone of blackberry fruit and plum and integrated notes of spice, tar and licorice. It is aged for up to 15 months in tonneaux. You’ll appreciate the soft, fruit richness. Some 25,000 bottles were made.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Bruna Grimaldi Bricco Ambrogio, Barolo DOCG 2015 750ML ($49.95) $39 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 92+ points “($80) From the less-traveled Roddi township, the 2015 Barolo Bricco Ambrogio is a balanced and pretty expression that shows floral aromas of wild rose and pressed violets, followed by wild berry and blackcurrant. The wine is simple and straightforward in delivery with a clean and accessible personality. Bruna and Franco Grimaldi purchased this vineyard site in 2006, and this wine has improved in complexity and depth with each vintage that I taste. Some 6,000 bottles are made.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Bruna Grimaldi Badarina Vigna Regnola, Barolo DOCG 2015 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 93+ points “($90) This wine has already evolved to show some tar and savory aromas. The 2015 Barolo Badarina offers pretty color saturation with linear and fresh lines of plum, black fruit, dark spice and tilled earth. The wine delivers much of the heft and power promised by this Badarina cru in Serralunga d’Alba. If you’re looking for a Barolo vintage to pair with a rich meat like liver or game, this could be the one. This is Bruna Grimaldi’s flagship Barolo, as her mother was born in Badarina and this site has always had special meaning to her family. Some 8,000 bottles were produced.”
Bruna Grimaldi Briccola Nebbiolo d’Alba, Piedmont 2017 750ML ($21.95) $19 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
James Suckling 91 points “Candied orange peel, raspberry fool, rhubarb and hibiscus. Medium body, medium-firm tannins and plenty of vibrant cherries. Mineral and savory on the finish. Tightly wound. Drink now.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
#Trending
Big, rich Pinot Noir from a homestate hero.
Sequitur Pinot Noir, Ribbon Ridge 2016 750ML ($119.95) $79 pre-arrival special
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 96 points “Glimmering red. A hugely aromatic bouquet evokes fresh red fruits, Asian spices and potpourri, along with a bright mineral overtone and a touch of smokiness. Juicy, seamless and precise on the palate, offering potent, mineral-laced raspberry preserve, rose pastille and spicecake flavors that deepen and spread out steadily on the back half. Delivers a compelling blend of power and finesse and finishes with silky tannins, outstanding clarity and floral- and mineral-driven persistence.”
Wine Advocate 94+ points “Pale to medium ruby-purple in color, the 2016 Sequitur Pinot Noir has a lovely, open nose of black and red cherries and blackberries with notions of wood smoke, turned earth, autumn leaves, cardamom and potpourri. Medium-bodied, it floods the mouth with ripe black and red fruits with wonderful earthy/spicy accents, very fine, grainy tannins and mouthwatering acidity, finishing long with spice and floral layers. 480 cases produced.”
Sequitur Pinot Noir, Ribbon Ridge 2016 750ML ($119.95) $79 pre-arrival special
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 96 points “Glimmering red. A hugely aromatic bouquet evokes fresh red fruits, Asian spices and potpourri, along with a bright mineral overtone and a touch of smokiness. Juicy, seamless and precise on the palate, offering potent, mineral-laced raspberry preserve, rose pastille and spicecake flavors that deepen and spread out steadily on the back half. Delivers a compelling blend of power and finesse and finishes with silky tannins, outstanding clarity and floral- and mineral-driven persistence.”
Wine Advocate 94+ points “Pale to medium ruby-purple in color, the 2016 Sequitur Pinot Noir has a lovely, open nose of black and red cherries and blackberries with notions of wood smoke, turned earth, autumn leaves, cardamom and potpourri. Medium-bodied, it floods the mouth with ripe black and red fruits with wonderful earthy/spicy accents, very fine, grainy tannins and mouthwatering acidity, finishing long with spice and floral layers. 480 cases produced.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Powerful, rich and seductive, this is all the Malbec you’d want.
Luca Malbec, Uco Valley 2016 750ML ($39.95) $24 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
#42 – Top Cellar Selections in 2018 – Wine Enthusiast
Wine Enthusiast 94 points “Cellar Selection. Pure berry and cassis aromas are concentrated and show no holes. This Uco Valley Malbec feels pure, direct and linear, albeit with slightly scratchy tannins that should dissipate in due time. Blackberry and dry spice flavors finish full and grabby, with muscularity. Drink through 2028.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Monbousquet’s second wine is a first choice in a great vintage like ’15.
Angelique de Monbousquet, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru 2015 750ML (39.95) $29 special, 18 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni 91 points “A plush, voluptuous wine, the 2015 Angélique de Monbousquet shows quite a bit better from bottle than it did from barrel. Espresso, mocha, plum, chocolate, licorice and dried herbs emerge from this racy, opulent Saint-Émilion. The 2015 is not especially complex, but it is flat-out delicious and also a terrific choice for drinking over the next handful of years.”
James Suckling 93 points “Spices and dark fruit with decadent earth and white-truffle aromas. Full body, round and velvety tannins and a fruity finish. So velvety and delicious. Second wine of Monbousquet. Drink in 2020.”
As refreshing as wine gets, perfect to welcome an early spring.
Ameztoi Rubentis Rosado, Getariako Txakolina 2018 750ML (24.95) $21.90 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Josh Raynolds – Vinous 91 points “Shimmering orange-pink. High-pitched red currant, strawberry, orange zest and a bright mineral element on the incisive nose. Lithe and penetrating on the palate, offering intense red berry and citrus fruit flavors that pick up a sexy floral quality as the wine stretches out. Delivers a solid punch of flavor but comes off lithe, betraying no excess fat and finishing very long and precise, with a lingering suggestion of bitter citrus pith.”
VinopolNote: The much-loved and lightly fizzy pink from the Basque region in Spain! A staff favorite. Always light, bright, fresh, salty and fun. The perfect aperitif wine for the summer.
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
This is big, bold and exceptionally powerful for the price.
Bodegas Castano Solanera Vinas Viejas, Yecla 2015 750ML ($17.95) $14 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-12 Bodegas Castano Solanera Vinas Viejas, Yecla 2015 750ML ($179.95) $149 special (that’s only $12.42/bottle!)
Luis Gutierrez-Wine Advocate 92 points “The 2015 Solanera used to wear the ultimate Spanglish label, which said “Viñas Viejas of Monastrell” even if it was always a blend (in this vintage, the blend includes 20% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Garnacha Tintorera). The revamped 2015 has a completely different label that only keeps the “viñas viejas” moniker. In this wine, from the joint venture with U.S. importer Eric Solomon that started in 1999, they used part of full clusters and sourced the grapes from Casa Marta, a nine-hectare, head-pruned, dry-farmed plot on very stony soils in the north of Yecla at the foot of the Mount Arabí. It fermented in concrete vats and open-top barrels and matured in barrique, each variety separately, for some ten months, after which it was blended and bottled. This is the vintage of the big change in this wine, where, as with the majority of its siblings, there is better balance and more integrated oak, more freshness and better balance. The nose is quite captivating, especially after some time in the glass, when it starts developing some floral aromas, perfect ripeness, no warmth or alcohol and a powerful, yet terribly balanced palate with concentration and elegance, fine-grained tannins and clean, focused flavors. This is my favorite Solanera to date. 60,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in July 2017.”
Jeb Dunnuck 92 points “Another project between Eric Solomon and Jean-Marc Lafage, the 2015 Solanera Vinas Viejas is fresh and lively, with ripe, sexy notes of blueberry and blackberry fruits intermixed with more subtle notes of violets, graphite and white pepper. Possessing full-bodied richness, a seamless texture, and gorgeous purity of fruit, it’s another terrific vintage for this cuvée that’s ideal for drinking over the coming 2-4 years. The blend is 2014 is 65% Monastrell, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 15% Garnacha, all aged 10 months in 80% French and 20% American oak.”
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Robust Syrah from one of our favorite Washington producers, drinking beautifully now.
Charles Smith K Vintners Powerline Estate Syrah, Walla Walla Valley 2016 750ML ($59.95) $41.90 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Stephen Tanzer – Vinous 93 points “Bright, dark red. Slightly liqueur-like aromas of raspberry and exotic spices. Bright and penetrating, offering sharply delineated flavors of boysenberry, pomegranate and game. This high-pitched midweight delivers serious energy and a late note of pungent citrus peel adds grip to the finish. This wine and The Beautiful have similar pHs around 3.95, according to Leighton. (from the Phelps clone; fermented in large stainless steel seed bins)”
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One of the best value Cabs on the market, this is old school in all the best ways.
Snowden Vineyards The Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2016 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-12 Snowden Vineyards The Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2016 ($719.95) $519 special (that’s only $43.25/bottle!)
Antonio Galloni 93 points “Snowden’s 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon The Ranch is gorgeous. Dark, powerful and beautifully structured, the 2016 Ranch is a huge overachiever. In 2016, the Ranch is a wine of real power, gravitas and character. Black cherry, plum, lavender and savory herbs all develop in the glass, but it is the wine’s persistence and overall balance that stands out in this deeply flavorful, classically built Cabernet from Snowden. Best of all, the 2016 is a superb wine for the money.”
James Suckling 92 points “Elderberries, blueberries, blackberries and hints of hazelnuts and walnuts. Medium to full body, focused acidity and a medium-chewy finish. Drink in 2022.”
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Collector’s Corner
The Majesty of Gaja
Gaja is an iconic producer in the world of wine. What DRC is to Burgundy, Gaja’s cru bottlings are to Barbaresco—they are the wines that put the region on the modern wine collector’s map, desirable long before anything else in their appellation was. Like most pinnacle wines, they’re usually quite expensive—at our prices, though, you’d have a hard time finding something more collectible and profound.
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The 2006’s are epic chez Gaja. This is a wine to drink in a decade (at least) when it will be a star.
Gaja Costa Russi Langhe, Piedmont 2006 750ML ($499.95) $299 special, 2 bottles in stock now
Stephen Tanzer-Vinous 93 points “Good full red. Reticent strawberry and plum aromas are complicated by a medicinal component. Rounder and sweeter than the normale, but also showing excellent inner-mouth lift for all its fullness. This very broad, fine-grained wine finishes with a juicy quality and excellent structure. In spite of its firm tannins, this makes the young ’07 come off as a bit drier by comparison.”
Wine Advocate 92 points “The 2006 Langhe Costa Russi is a bit reticent at first, and two of the three bottles I tasted showed elements of reduction that eventually blew off. A gorgeous center of soft perfumed fruit lies behind the slightly unfocused bouquet. The wine reveals notable clarity and detail once it opens up in the glass, with dark cherries, flowers and minerals that linger on the finish. Anticipated maturity: 2016-2031.”
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2014 was a great year for elegant, aromatic Barbaresco and Gaja overdeliverd.
Gaja Costa Russi Barbaresco, Piedmont 2014 750ML ($499.95) $349 special, 2 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni 96 points “Soft contours, silky tannins and sweet, perfumed fruit are some of the signatures in the 2014 Costa Russi. As always, Costa Russi is the most polished and open-knit of these wines in its youth. Succulent fruit, hard candy and lifted, perfumed aromatics give the 2014 considerable early appeal, but I expect time in bottle will work its usual magic. Today, the 2014 is showing only the barest hint of its potential. Even in the early going, though, the Costa Russi is a totally sexy wine.”
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 94 points “The 2014 Barbaresco Costa Russi is a beautiful wine that delivers profound color saturation with deep ruby highlights and blackish intensity. I would describe the nose as being more horizontal rather than vertical, if that makes sense. In other words, the bouquet makes its approach with wide intensity and large-scale aromas of black fruit, spice, tar, leather and licorice. It offers fewer of the sudden high notes or moments of sharpness that you get in 2013. Despite the common perception that this was a very cool vintage, the fruit here actually tastes riper and rounder than you might expect. That’s because the vintage heat all came toward the end of the growing season, and the Gaja family left fruit on the vines to the end. In the mouth, the wine shows depth and finesse with some stubborn firmness at this young stage. It needs to flesh out further with more bottle aging.”
Wine Spectator 94 points “Tight and focused, this red features a beam of cherry, strawberry, leather, tobacco, tar and iron wrapped in the grip of dense, refined tannins. Fresh and balanced, showing plenty of energy on the resonant finish. Best from 2023 through 2040. 170 cases imported.”
We’re loving ’11 as a younger-drinking vintage. All charm and richness with softer edges.
Gaja Sori San Lorenzo Langhe, Piedmont 2011 750ML ($499.95) $399 special, 10 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni 97+ points “The 2011 Sorì San Lorenzo boasts massive depth, intensity and power. Black fruit, smoke, tar, licorice, savory herbs and leather are some of the many notes that emerge from the glass. Regardless of the year, the personality of Sorì San Lorenzo always comes through, which is why this is one of the great sites in Barbaresco, Piedmont and Italy. In 2011 the contours are a bit softer, which gives the wine a level of accessibility that is quite rare in Sorì San Lorenzos when the wines are young. Why is Sorì San Lorenzo one of the world’s most profound vineyards? Because its personality simply can’t be denied.”
Wine Advocate 96 points “The exciting 2011 Sori San Lorenzo is a wine of enormous beauty and grace. Gaia Gaja classifies her three single vineyard Langhe Nebbiolo wines as follows: Costa Russi is “flowers;” Sori Tildin is “fruit;” and San Lorenzo is “plant” (with more structure and a more compact feel). San Lorenzo does indeed boast a strong mineral component of pencil shavings and crushed granite, followed by red cherry and soft spice. The wine’s tannins start off harder than the other wines, but soften with time. Drink: 2018-2040.”
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The average listed price is $466
The average listed price is $466
Wow. This deserves all 97 points and more from Galloni—a classic in the making.
Gaja Sori San Lorenzo Barbaresco, Piedmont 2014 750ML ($499.95) $349 special, 13 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni 97+ points “The 2014 Barbaresco Sorì San Lorenzo is the most virile and explosive of Gaja’s Barbarescos. Dark, brooding and powerful, with a huge spine of tannin, the San Lorenzo is utterly regal in the glass. Gravel, smoke, menthol, tar, licorice and a host of sepia-toned fruits build into a crescendo of aromas and flavors that is truly compelling. What a gorgeous wine this is.”
Wine Spectator 95 points “Earthy notes lead off, followed by cherry, plum, graphite and tobacco flavors. Starts out broad and muscular, with a thick layer of tannins for support, yet gains elegance with aeration. A tad austere on the finish, but stays vibrant and long. Best from 2021 through 2036. 170 cases imported.”
Wine Advocate 95 points “Gaja’s 2014 Barbaresco Sorì San Lorenzo is clearly at the beginning of a long and promising aging trajectory. At it’s core, it shows a pinch of nervous energy and inner tightness that will surely unravel and soften as this beautiful wine continues along its magical journey in time. Angelo Gaja and his family present spectacular results in this controversial 2014 vintage. They have risen far above most of their peers and have shown a keen ability to understand their site and the versatility of their cherished Nebbiolo grape. The variety sings with a loud and exuberant voice, first offering plenty of primary fruit like blackberry and dried cherry. It then follows up with savory earth and spice. This is a bright and youthful wine that is set steady for a long aging future.-Monica Larner”
This is the savory side of Gaja. Less about rich fruit (though it’s got that) than earth, spice and the forest.
Gaja Sori Tildin Barbaresco, Piedmont 2014 750ML ($499.95) $349 special, 2 bottles in stock now
James Suckling 96 points “The nose has it all here with fresh cranberry character, brambleberries and lavender intermingled with darker, more complex notes of cedar, nutmeg and cinnamon. Full body, so much vibrant acidity, tangy fruit, expansive yet tight tannins and a long, savory finish. Profound minerality. Delicious now but better in 2020.”
100% Serralunga in style, this is powerful and structured with massive richness to go along.
Gaja Sperss Langhe, Piedmont 2004 750ML ($599.95) $479 special, 1 bottle in stock now
Wine Spectator 99 points “Powerful and structured. Delicate aromas of sandalwood, blackberry, licorice and cherry follow through to a full body, with very chewy tannins and loads of pretty fruit and hints of vanilla. Sneaks up on you to deliver a red for aging. Massive. An amazing wine. Best after 2014. 1,500 cases made.”
Antonio Galloni 97 points “Reviewed May 2015. The 2004 Sperss is one of the most finessed wines I have tasted from Angelo Gaja’s property in Serralunga. The darkness and gravitas of Serralunga are tempered by the supreme elegance of the year. Dark red and black cherries, smoke, tobacco, menthol and licorice flow through on the deep, resonant finish. This is another powerhouse wine that has been given an extra level of refinement in 2004.”
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The hidden gem of ’14, this is a value vis-à-vis some other vintages.
Gaja Sperss Barolo, Piedmont 2014 750ML ($319.95) $219 special, 17 bottles in stock now
James Suckling 95 points “More forward and in a more earthly realm than the dizzying heights of the Conteisa this vintage, but it’s so endearing and immediately delights. The aromas range from elderberries and black cherries to brambleberries and Chinese spices. Full-bodied and structured with powerful tannins that encase bright and forthright blue fruit, which is polished over by a sheen of glimmering acidity. Long finish. Delicious now, but better in 2022.”
Wine Enthusiast 95 points “Underbrush, tobacco, toasted hazelnut, menthol and grilled herb aromas slowly take shape on this focused red. On the structured elegant palate, taut refined tannins and fresh acidity provide an ageworthy framework for raspberry compote, juicy Marasca cherry, orange zest, white pepper and star anise. It already has layers of depth and loads of finesse, but hold for even more complexity. Drink 2022–2030.”
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 94 points “This is a slightly more subdued vintage of this legendary wine, albeit just as sophisticated as past editions. The 2014 Barolo Sperss opens to gorgeous aromas of dark fruit, wet earth and white truffle. The vineyards in Serralunga d’Alba produced much less fruit than average and suffered from bouts of downy mildew during the rainy seasons. But Serralunga d’Alba fruit is also harvested late, and that extra time was important for achieving grape ripeness targets. The wine presents depth and complexity within the context of a thinner vintage. Having said that, the bouquet is spectacular.”
Decanter 94 points “Sperss comes from two crus in Serralunga, and like Gaja’s Barbarescos it’s aged in a combination of barriques and large barrels. As so often is the case, it’s a wine that combines power and finesse. It has a subdued cherry nose with a touch of oak, leading to a palate which is rich, powerful and tannic, but not too assertive. It’s well balanced and fleshy, with lots of velvety texture and grain, and there’s still an underlying freshness and finesse. Very long finish.”
Italy’s finest expression of Sauvignon Blanc?
Gaja Alteni di Brassica Langhe, Piedmont 2015 750ML ($149.95) $99 special, 16 bottles in stock now
Case-6 Gaja Alteni di Brassica Langhe, Piedmont 2015 750ML ($699.95) $499 special (that’s only $83.17/bottle!)
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 91 points “The delightful 2015 Langhe Alteni di Brassica is a pure expression of Sauvignon Blanc. This is the only white wine in Angelo Gaja’s line that does not complete malolactic fermentation. The bouquet is exuberant and bright with green notes of salvia, wild oregano and white pepper. Those sharper tones are followed by bright layers of tropical fruit and zesty citrus. Drying mineral notes give sharp contours to the overall effect.”
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A Chardonnay full of pleasant surprises.
Gaja Rossj-Bass Chardonnay Langhe, Piedmont 2007 750ML ($99.95) $59 special, 3 bottles in stock now
Stephen Tanzer 90 points “Bright yellow-gold color. Complex aromas of yellow fruits, flowers and honey. Supple, fat and almost surprisingly sweet for this bottling, but with lively acidity guaranteeing freshness. Finishes with noteworthy persistence. I like this chardonnay’s combination of richness and verve, and prefer it to the 2006.”
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