In Today’s Newsletter:
National Best Price
Maggy Hawk’s Impressive Jory Hills Pinot
New Price Drops from France
Familia Nin-Ortiz
New Subscriber Specials & Case Pricing
More Specials from California, Italy & Spain
Paitin: Top Level Barbaresco at Mid-Level Pricing
Now Even Lower
Staff Pick
Fèlsina’s Timeless Chianti Classico
Collector’s Corner
Sérafin: Gevrey-Chambertin’s Best Kept Secret?
National Best Price
Maggy Hawk’s Impressive Jory Hills Pinot
“The 2017 Pinot Noir Jory Hills Vineyard is an extroverted, luscious Pinot loaded with character. Black cherry, plum, lavender and spice come together in a bold, creamy Pinot endowed with plenty of richness and exuberance. The Jory Hills, from Oregon’s Willamette Valley…is undeniably impressive.” – Antonio Galloni
Maggy Hawk Jory Hills Vineyard Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills 2017 750ML ($69.95) $49 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni 94 points “The 2017 Pinot Noir Jory Hills Vineyard is an extroverted, luscious Pinot loaded with character. Black cherry, plum, lavender and spice come together in a bold, creamy Pinot endowed with plenty of richness and exuberance. The Jory Hills, from Oregon’s Willamette Valley…is undeniably impressive.”
Wine Spectator 93 points “Shows polish and presence, with expressive rose petal and raspberry aromas that pair with multilayered boysenberry and orange peel flavors, finishing with well-groomed tannins. Drink now through 2027.”
Maggy Hawk Jory Hills Vineyard Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills 2017 750ML ($69.95) $49 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni 94 points “The 2017 Pinot Noir Jory Hills Vineyard is an extroverted, luscious Pinot loaded with character. Black cherry, plum, lavender and spice come together in a bold, creamy Pinot endowed with plenty of richness and exuberance. The Jory Hills, from Oregon’s Willamette Valley…is undeniably impressive.”
Wine Spectator 93 points “Shows polish and presence, with expressive rose petal and raspberry aromas that pair with multilayered boysenberry and orange peel flavors, finishing with well-groomed tannins. Drink now through 2027.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next lowest listed price is $65.70
The average price nationally is $66
The next lowest listed price is $65.70
The average price nationally is $66
Love Oregon Pinot Noir? We have 125 in stock now. Shop the entire selection, including staff favorites like Cameron, Crowley, Goodfellow and more, on our web store now.
New Price Drops from France
Famille Perrin Vinsobres Les Hauts de Julien, Rhône 2015 750ML ($49.95) Was $45 Now $39, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-6 Famille Perrin Vinsobres Les Hauts de Julien, Rhône 2015 750ML ($299.95) Was $259 Now $219 (that’s only $36.50/bottle!)
Jeb Dunnuck 95 points “The 2015 Vinsobres Les Hauts De Julien comes from the Vinsobres region, which is a cooler terroir located in the northern part of the southern Rhône. Based largely on very old vine Syrah blended with Grenache, it offers a vibrant purple color as well as a sensational bouquet of blueberries, cracked pepper, violets, lavender, and exotic spices. Incredibly textured, full-bodied, deep, and opulent, with awesome purity of fruit, it’s another sensational vintage for this cuvée that would pass undetected in a blind lineup of top Cornas. Drink it anytime over the coming decade.”
Case-6 Famille Perrin Vinsobres Les Hauts de Julien, Rhône 2015 750ML ($299.95) Was $259 Now $219 (that’s only $36.50/bottle!)
Jeb Dunnuck 95 points “The 2015 Vinsobres Les Hauts De Julien comes from the Vinsobres region, which is a cooler terroir located in the northern part of the southern Rhône. Based largely on very old vine Syrah blended with Grenache, it offers a vibrant purple color as well as a sensational bouquet of blueberries, cracked pepper, violets, lavender, and exotic spices. Incredibly textured, full-bodied, deep, and opulent, with awesome purity of fruit, it’s another sensational vintage for this cuvée that would pass undetected in a blind lineup of top Cornas. Drink it anytime over the coming decade.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Château Pesquie Ventoux Artemia, Rhône 2016 750ML ($49.95) Was $39 Now $36, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-6 Château Pesquie Ventoux Artemia, Rhône 2016 750ML ($299.95) Was $219 Now $199 (that’s only $33.17/bottle!)
Decanter-World Wine Awards 97 points “This is stacked with the black fruits of the region, plus violets, thyme, lavender, dried herbs and tannins that are ripe and of the appropriate proportion. Still very youthful and will flourish with time in bottle. Modern and very classy indeed. Genius wine, very long and intense, its purity magnificent.”
Jeb Dunnuck 94 points “Made from equal parts Syrah and Grenache, the 2016 Ventoux Cuvee Artemia is another terrific vintage for this cuvee. Still young, backward and unevolved, it has tons of potential in its blue fruits, graphite, crushed rock and violet-tinged aromas and flavors. Medium to full-bodied, concentrated, with terrific purity of fruit, and fine, building tannin, it needs 2-3 years of bottle age and will keep for a decade or more.”
Wine Advocate 94 points “A 50-50 blend of Grenache and Syrah, aged in 50% new oak, the 2016 Ventoux Artemia is a tremendous effort. It combines blueberries and stone fruit with cedary notes and then underscores those attractive aromas and flavors with a full-bodied, velvety texture and a bright, crisp finish. Lovely stuff.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Peyrassol Côtes de Provence ‘Le Clos Peyrassol’ Rosé 2019 750ML ($69.95) Was $59 Now $49, 36+ bottles in stock now
Wine Advocate 93 points “Predominantly Tibouren, with the balance of the blend being Grenache and Rolle, Peyrassol’s super pale 2019 Côtes de Provence Rosé Le Clos Peyrassol offers up scents of crushed stone, garrigue, white peach and lime, all tinged with tart red berries. It’s medium-bodied on the palate, with a silky-wet stone feel and a lingering finish that seems to build in red fruit intensity while remaining citrusy and refreshing at the same time. One of the best wines in this year’s tasting, this is a limited-production cuvée from a walled vineyard located on the estate.”
Wine Enthusiast 91 points “The Knights Templar founded Commanderie in the 13th century and grapes have been grown here since. Philippe Austruy has owned the property since 2001. This wine is soft and ripe, with a smooth texture. Acidity comes from orange-peel and red-currant flavors that permeate the wine and give it a bright aftertaste. Drink now. Rosenthal Wine Merchant.”
Rosenthal Wine Merchant note “It is made from a single parcel which is equally planted to Cinsault and Tibouren (a touch of Rolle makes it into this cuvee as well). The soil is a mix of clay and limestone with a lot of large rocks on the surface. The site has a bit of depression which helps more even ripening, since the soil holds a little more water than other parcels. The 2016 is the palest of the three rosés, with a very silvery salmon hue. At the moment of tasting the nose was a tad firm, showing flinty mineral notes. The palate is quite rich and dense with an almost white Burgundy presence. The fruits lean a little sweeter than the other cuvées, with hints of pear and passion fruit. Even so, the wine is completely dry and has a super-long mineral finish. It’s a great rosé that has the potential to age, and we hope some of you keep a few bottles to drink over the next several years.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Domaine Vincent Paris Cornas Granit 60, Rhône 2016 750ML ($69.95) Was $55 Now $49, 36+ bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 95+ points “The 2016 Cornas Granit 60 is more backward and reticent, with smoky dark fruits, earthy minerality, pepper, and bouquet garni aromas and flavors. Deep, pure, and concentrated, it’s a big, rich wine, yet it stays polished and elegant on the palate, with a straight, focused style that builds with time in the glass. Just a brilliant wine, it can be drunk today with incredible pleasure or cellared for 10-15 years. Bravo!”
Wine Advocate 94-96 points “Tasted from tank prior to bottling, the 2016 Cornas Granit 60 has the potential to eclipse the 2015. The nose is an exciting blend of flowers, minerals and fruit, while the palate is full-bodied and generous without the hardness or austerity of the 2015. This standout 2016 finishes long, plush and bright. With only about 5,000 bottles made, shrewd buyers will snap it up on release.”
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 93-95 points “(no new oak) Inky ruby. Smoke-accented black and blue fruits, licorice and olive on the intensely perfumed nose. Plush, sweet and broad on the palate, offering sweet blackberry, cassis and spicecake flavors that are energized by a vein of juicy acidity. Shows excellent depth as well as energy and finishes extremely long and smooth; rounded tannins build steadily and add shape and gentle grip to the lush, creamy dark fruit.”
This was the best price in the USA
Now even lower!
The next lowest listed price is $69.99
Now even lower!
The next lowest listed price is $69.99
Domaine Vincent Paris Cornas Granit 60, Rhône 2017 750ML ($69.95) Was $55 Now $49, 36+ bottles in stock now
Josh Raynolds – Vinous 93 points “Inky ruby. Smoke-accented dark berries and cherry liqueur on the highly perfumed nose. Juicy and seamless in texture, offering appealingly sweet blackberry and boysenberry flavors underscored by a smoky mineral quality. Fine-grained tannins build steadily on a long, floral-tinged finish that leaves a salty olive note behind.”
Jeb Dunnuck 93-95+ points “Similar colored, the 2017 Cornas Granit 60 comes from further up the slope and older vines. It offers a deeper, richer bouquet of black and blue fruits, smoked earth, violets, and ground pepper. Deep, full-bodied, thrillingly pure and elegant, yet still with classic Cornas density, power, and length, it’s another gem of a wine from this incredibly talented winemaker.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Love French wine? We have over 1,000 different wines from France in stock now. Shop the entire inventory on our web store, including extensive selections from Burgundy, the Rhône, the Loire and Champagne.
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When you’re ready to pick up, just park in our lot,
give us a call, & we’ll bring your order to your car.
(If another adult is picking up for you,
please let us know their name when placing your order.)
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503-223-6002
Familia Nin-Ortiz
New Subscriber Specials & Case Pricing
Familia Nin-Ortiz is one of the leading lights of “New Priorat”. Both Ester Nin and Carles Ortiz are renowned viticulturists (Ester, notably, was the vineyard guru behind Clos Erasmus) 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.
Nin-Ortiz is probably best known for their “Nit de Nin” single vineyard bottling, however their ‘Planetes’ releases are also excellent. Stylistically they are gentler and more elegant, perfect for drinking now. And unlike the estate’s top wines you don’t have to spend a lot to enjoy some of the most exciting wines coming out of Spain today.
In Stock Now & Just Reduced:
Familia Nin-Ortiz ‘Planetes de Nin’ Garnatxes en Àmfora, Priorat DOCa 2016 750ML ($44.95) Was $33 Now $29, 36+ bottles in stock now
Luis Gutierrez-Wine Advocate 92 points “The 2016 Planetes de Nin Garnatxes en Àmfora was produced with biodynamically farmed Garnacha that fermented with indigenous yeasts and matured in 700- and 1,000-liter terracotta amphorae for seven months. They do two versions, one with a little SO2 and the other without, and the difference is minimal. At first one was more closed, but when it opened up, they were very similar and showed some herbal and raspberry leaf aromas intermixed with wild berries and notions of earth, aromatic and balanced. It has fine tannins and a velvety texture. 7,395 bottles were filled in April 2017.”
Nin-Ortiz is probably best known for their “Nit de Nin” single vineyard bottling, however their ‘Planetes’ releases are also excellent. Stylistically they are gentler and more elegant, perfect for drinking now. And unlike the estate’s top wines you don’t have to spend a lot to enjoy some of the most exciting wines coming out of Spain today.
In Stock Now & Just Reduced:
Familia Nin-Ortiz ‘Planetes de Nin’ Garnatxes en Àmfora, Priorat DOCa 2016 750ML ($44.95) Was $33 Now $29, 36+ bottles in stock now
Luis Gutierrez-Wine Advocate 92 points “The 2016 Planetes de Nin Garnatxes en Àmfora was produced with biodynamically farmed Garnacha that fermented with indigenous yeasts and matured in 700- and 1,000-liter terracotta amphorae for seven months. They do two versions, one with a little SO2 and the other without, and the difference is minimal. At first one was more closed, but when it opened up, they were very similar and showed some herbal and raspberry leaf aromas intermixed with wild berries and notions of earth, aromatic and balanced. It has fine tannins and a velvety texture. 7,395 bottles were filled in April 2017.”
This was the best price in the USA
Now even lower!
Now even lower!
Familia Nin-Ortiz ‘Planetes de Nin’ Blanc, Priorat DOCa 2018 750ML ($99.95) Was $75 Now $69, 18 bottles in stock now
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 lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Familia Nin-Ortiz ‘Planetes de Nin’, Priorat DOCa 2017 750ML ($59.95) $49 subscriber special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-6 Familia Nin-Ortiz ‘Planetes de Nin’, Priorat DOCa 2017 750ML ($299.95) $279 subscriber special (that’s only $46.50/bottle!)
Case-12 Familia Nin-Ortiz ‘Planetes de Nin’, Priorat DOCa 2017 750ML ($579.95) $539 subscriber special (that’s only $44.92/bottle!)
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.”
Love Spanish wine? We have 23 whites and 124 reds from Spain in stock now. Shop the entire selection, including famous names like Do Ferreiro, Terroir al Límit, Vega Sicilia and more, on our web store now.
More Specials from California, Italy & Spain
California
Opus One, Napa Valley 2017 750ML ($399.95) Was $349 Now $319, 4 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni 95+ points “A remarkable wine for the year, the 2017 Opus One is a dense, full-throttle beauty. Plush fruit and soft, silky contours give the 2017 its racy personality. Exotic, beautifully perfumed and impeccable in its balance, Opus One is one of the most complete wines of the vintage. In 2017, Opus One has a distinctly red-toned fruit profile that distinguishes it from the surrounding vintages.”
Wine Advocate 95 points “Opus One had picked 91% of their fruit before the fires started in 2017, and only two lots were eliminated from consideration. The 2017 Opus One, bottled in July 2019, is a blend of 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8.5% Petit Verdot, 5% Cabernet Franc, 4.5% Merlot and 1% Malbec. Medium to deep garnet-purple colored, it slowly grows on the nose, revealing compelling notes of baked black cherries, mulberries, black raspberries, warm cassis and blackberry pie with nuances of spice cake, yeast extract, tapenade, licorice and dusty soil with a waft of wild sage. Medium-bodied, the palate has a lively skip in its step, featuring bags of juicy raspberry and cassis-laced fruit and a refreshing line, supported by ripe, plush tannins, finishing long and graceful.-LPB”
James Suckling 95 points “Lots of currant and floral notes on the nose. Hints of mint and spice. Medium-to full-bodied, round and savory with creamy, juicy tannins. Hints of citrus underneath. Bright, fresh and delicious. Drink or hold.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Pax Castelli-Knight Ranch Syrah, Russian River Valley 2015 750ML ($69.95) Was $59 Now $49, 17 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni 93 points “The 2015 Syrah Castelli-Knight Ranch is sensual, open-knit and quite inviting. Blood orange, star anise and spice add gorgeous aromatic nuance to the rich, layered fruit. Ample, silky and creamy, the 2015 is a real pleasure to taste today. The combination of a north-facing site with a warm microclimate yields a wonderfully complete and nuanced wine. All the elements simply fall into place in a refined, gracious Syrah that will drink well upon release.”
Winery Note “Our 15th Vintage working with this exceptional site and the exceptional people that own the vineyard and farm the land. The bright orange Haire Clay soils that cling to the slopes of this site are a godsend in warm dry vintages like 2015. Black pepper and intense black currants hold down the deep and brooding aromas. Brown spices, pink peppercorn, blackberries and black cherries show up with air. This Syrah is dense and concentrated but lifted by natural acidity and firm aromas and flavors from the stems. Not quite as fleshy as the 2012 (in a good way), but very enjoyable and approachable on release and guaranteed to improve in your cellar like every other Castelli-Knight Ranch before it.”
This was the best price in the USA
Now even lower!
The next lowest listed price is $63.44
Now even lower!
The next lowest listed price is $63.44
Pax Griffin’s Lair Syrah, Sonoma Coast 2015 750ML ($69.95) Was $59 Now $49, 4 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni 95 points “One of the many highlights of this range, Pax’s 2015 Syrah Griffin’s Lair Vineyard is powerful and explosive in the glass, conveying a compelling sense of vertical energy. Dried flowers, tobacco, menthol, licorice, spice and leather add myriad shades of nuance to a beautifully delineated, expressive Syrah. This cool site in the Petaluma Gap gracefully handled the rigors of the warm vintage while yielding a wine endowed with terrific freshness and structure.”
Winery Note “Our 14th vintage working with this incredible site that introduced us to the Petaluma Wind Gap. Also, the first wine we have released from this site since Jim Griffin has passed and Joan Griffin has sold the property. Two people that we and all other Syrah lovers owe a tremendous debt of gratitude. Black fruit, iodine, tar and a floral display of violets and white flowers frame this exotic Syrah. The palate weight is huge but lifted by the cool breezes that keep the acidity naturally high in this coastal vineyard. Iodine and salt air components ground the wine in coastal California, but the leather, tar and violets hint at a different landscape across the Atlantic. A wine that drinks very young and probably will for another 5+ years, drink one this spring with some lamb and squirrel the rest away for another occasion down the road.”
This was the best price in the USA
Now even lower!
The next lowest listed price is $59.99
Now even lower!
The next lowest listed price is $59.99
Philip Togni Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2016 750ML ($159.95) Was $135 Now $125, 20 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni 96 points “A regal wine, the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate has really shut down following its recent bottling, which is probably a very good thing for its long-term prospects, although it does make the wine harder to read. Today, the 2016 is dark, powerful and quite savory, with tremendous persistence and class to burn. Translucent, deep and exquisitely layered, the 2016 has a lot to offer. Dark red cherry, plum, wild herb, cedar, tobacco and smoke build as the 2016 starts to open up in the glass. This is a jewel of a wine from the Togni family.”
Wine Advocate 94-96 points “A barrel sample, the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate is deep garnet-purple in color with loads of blue and black fruits—very spicy—with a fragrant earth undercurrent. The palate is medium-bodied and elegant with very fine, firm, ripe tannins and great freshness, finishing vivacious and earthy.”
Wine Spectator 94 points “Youthfully tight, this mineral-edged style offers a core of currant and black cherry fruit, framed by iron, bay leaf, menthol and singed alder notes. A mulled spice edge emerges on the finish as everything slowly melds together, ending with a persistent tarry echo. Best from 2022 through 2038.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Italy
Fattoria Le Pupille ‘Saffredi’ Maremma Toscana, Tuscany 2014 750ML ($79.95) Was $69 Now $59, 13 bottles in stock now
James Suckling 96 points “Sexy blueberry, spice and black pepper. Mushroom. Full body and ultra-fine tannins. Extremely long and just starting to come around now. Needs a little more time in bottle. Splendid finish. Try in 2019 but already amazing.”
Spain
Compania de Vinos Telmo Rodríguez ‘Pegaso Barrancos de Pizarra’ Vino de la Tierra de Castilla y Leon 2013 750ML ($44.95) Was $36 Now $33, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-6 Compania de Vinos Telmo Rodríguez ‘Pegaso Barrancos de Pizarra’ Vino de la Tierra de Castilla y Leon 2013 750ML ($259.95) Was $199 Now $182.50 (that’s only $30.42/bottle!)
James Sucking 96 points “Exuberant red berries and cherries with a fine, rose-like edge and some coal smoke. Very juicy, fleshy, rich and ripe mid-palate with a dense, long and showy, glossy black-cherry finish. Drink or hold.”
Wine Advocate 94 points “Cropped from a cooler and late ripening vintage, the 2013 Pegaso Barrancos de Pizarra resulted in fresh wines and certainly worked well with the slate soils of these old Garnacha vines in Cebreros. This has a very good balance between ripeness and freshness, power and elegance, with the character of the soils slowly coming through in the shape of fresh meat and beef blood, with the iron-like notes still pretty shy. This should develop nicely in bottle. 8,931 bottles produced.”
Paitin: Top Level Barbaresco at Mid-Level Pricing
Now Even Lower
Understanding how a family’s tie to their land can influence their wines is terribly important when tasting and appreciating old-world producers. When the family’s ownership over their vineyards predates their country’s unification, you start to understand their grasp of the nuances that can be squeezed out of 42 acres of Italian hillsides.
The Elia family purchased their vineyards in 1796. From atop the hill where the winery sits, you can overlook the two main vineyard sites and understand the difference in microclimate, soil type and techniques for farming. The Bricco di Nieve side of the hill is steep, breezy and has beautiful older vines that produce the gorgeous sori Paitin Barbaresco. The other side of the hill has the looser iron rich soil that is the Serra vineyard. Tasting the two Barbaresco side by side is a lesson in site location and the unique qualities that can be shown, just a stone’s throw away.
Secondo Pasquero-Elia and his two sons, Giovanni and Silvano have enlisted enologist Dante Scaglione (Bruno Giacosa) to draw even more from such an amazing site. The results offer a glimpse into the future of the winery and the wines to come. The wines are solid, deep, and built to last – echoing the family and their tie to their home and spectacular vineyards. These wines were already great values before our latest price drop. Now they’re no-brainers for fans of traditionally made Nebbiolo.
In Stock Now & Just Reduced:
Paitin di Pasquero-Elia ‘Serraboella’, Barbaresco DOCG 2014 750ML ($41.95) Was $33 Now $29, 26 bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 92 points “Currant, strawberry, cherry, floral and leafy flavors are the highlights of this racy, elegant red. Balanced on the firm side, with excellent length. Best from 2020 through 2032. 800 cases made.”
The Elia family purchased their vineyards in 1796. From atop the hill where the winery sits, you can overlook the two main vineyard sites and understand the difference in microclimate, soil type and techniques for farming. The Bricco di Nieve side of the hill is steep, breezy and has beautiful older vines that produce the gorgeous sori Paitin Barbaresco. The other side of the hill has the looser iron rich soil that is the Serra vineyard. Tasting the two Barbaresco side by side is a lesson in site location and the unique qualities that can be shown, just a stone’s throw away.
Secondo Pasquero-Elia and his two sons, Giovanni and Silvano have enlisted enologist Dante Scaglione (Bruno Giacosa) to draw even more from such an amazing site. The results offer a glimpse into the future of the winery and the wines to come. The wines are solid, deep, and built to last – echoing the family and their tie to their home and spectacular vineyards. These wines were already great values before our latest price drop. Now they’re no-brainers for fans of traditionally made Nebbiolo.
In Stock Now & Just Reduced:
Paitin di Pasquero-Elia ‘Serraboella’, Barbaresco DOCG 2014 750ML ($41.95) Was $33 Now $29, 26 bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 92 points “Currant, strawberry, cherry, floral and leafy flavors are the highlights of this racy, elegant red. Balanced on the firm side, with excellent length. Best from 2020 through 2032. 800 cases made.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Paitin di Pasquero-Elia ‘Sori Paitin Serraboella’, Barbaresco DOCG 2015 750ML ($69.95) Was $49 Now $45, 25 bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 95 points “Sweet cherry and strawberry fruit is framed by earth, eucalyptus, tobacco and tar notes in this rich yet firm red. The assertive tannins suggest a glacial evolution but the lasting impression of fruit shows this wine’s potential. Best from 2022 through 2040. 815 cases made.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Paitin di Pasquero-Elia ‘Sori Paitin Vecchie Vigne’, Barbaresco DOCG 2011 750ML ($99.95) Was $79 Now $69, 7 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni 95+ points “The 2011 Barbaresco Sorì Paitin Vigne Vecchie is just as stunning as it has always been. A wine of extraordinary purity, the 2011 is laced with rose petals, spices, mint, sweet red berries. The balance of fruit, acidity and tannin is simply magnificent. At the same time, the power and breadth of Serraboella comes through in spades.”
This was the best price in the USA
Now even lower!
The next lowest listed price is $88.97
Now even lower!
The next lowest listed price is $88.97
Love Barbaresco? We have over 50 different options from Barbaresco in stock now. Shop the entire selection on our web store, including famous names like La Spinetta and Produttori, as well as more from Paitin.
Staff Pick
Fèlsina’s Timeless Chianti Classico
Andy:
What wine is more classic than a perfectly made Chianti? So many of us have fond memories of Sangiovese, even if the early versions we might have had were not particularly noteworthy and the fond memories might be centered more around a first date at a cheap Italian restaurant. Real Chianti Classico, we have come to learn, is so much more than good pizza wine and if there is a benchmark that could be recognized as having all of the calling cards of an excellent Chianti, it would be Fèlsina.
Year in, year out, the producers are few and far between who can claim to have the quality and consistency of Fèlsina. The two workhorses, the Chianti Classico and the Classico Riserva could be the greatest values in Tuscany. After having the 2018 Classico open for most of the day, I noted aromas of dark cherries, wild herbs, earthiness, as well as something slightly untamed and animal on the nose. It was also surprisingly fresh and bright, with enough tannin to let you know that it will perform for years to come. The 2016 Riserva was more reticent, though after a day the glimmers of what is to come shone through. Similar to the Classico, but with a bit of cedar, smoke and licorice, it was slightly darker in its fruit profile. However it was still dominated by cherry and game. This is a true cellar surprise for those who like to play the “guess what I paid” game. I am grabbing this in Magnum to enjoy with my son in about 15 years.
The entire line up is so fun to taste through, but for those who look for simply the best in their Tuscan reds, you won’t go wrong with any of them. No rolling the dice on these – they’re simply delicious.
In Stock Now:
Fèlsina Berardenga Chianti Classico DOCG, Tuscany 2018 750ML ($29.95) $24 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-6 Fèlsina Berardenga Chianti Classico DOCG, Tuscany 2018 750ML ($179.95) $136 special (that’s only $22.67/bottle!)
James Suckling 93 points “Perfumed and fresh with cherries, cedar and hints of dried flowers. It’s medium-bodied with fine tannins and a long, direct finish. Really lively and fresh. Very typical for a top Chianti Classico. Drink now.”
Antonio Galloni 92 points “The 2018 Chianti Classico Berardenga is endowed with so much class. In 2018, the Classico is a bit more restrained than it can be. That mid-weight sense of structure, though, gives the wine quite a bit of early appeal. Even so, I would cellar the 2018 for a few years, as all the elements haven’t fully come together just yet. Dark cherry, game, smoke, licorice and earthy notes are a reminder we are in Castelnuovo Berardenga, even if the 2018 has less weight and overt power than Fèlsina fans are used to seeing.”
Kerin O’keefe-Wine Enthusiast 92 points “New leather, camphor and blue flower are some of the aromas you’ll find on this bright, fragrant red. On the medium-bodied palate, vibrant acidity and taut tannins surround cassis, Marasca cherry and tobacco notes. Drink 2022–2028.”
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 91 points “The Fèlsina 2018 Chianti Classico Berardenga is a toned and delicate expression of 100% Sangiovese from a vintage that produced beautifully subtle and understated wines. It shows good momentum driven by dark fruit, blackberry and summer cherry. The intensity of these aromas is downplayed and rendered less pronounced, adding elegance and fragility. Pretty background notes of spice and balsam herb add an extra layer of complexity. An ample 280,000 bottles were produced.”
Fèlsina Berardenga ‘Colonia’, Chianti Classico Gran Selezione DOCG 2010 750ML ($199.95) $119 special, 2 bottles in stock now
Wine Advocate 95+ points “When you hear the story of the effort that went into making the Colonia vineyard, you have to wonder if the fine folks at Fèlsina are absolutely mad. It took them two years of dynamite blasting to clear the imposing rock that had forced previous generations of the Poggiali family to virtually abandon this site. But an ambitious Giovanni Poggiali takes credit for making this spectacular vineyard what it is today. The wine produced here is quickly becoming the second flagship product after Fontalloro. The 2010 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Colonia is a wine of enormous beauty and depth. This is Sangiovese at its highest expression and any doubt I had about the previous vintage (which was the first time this wine appeared as a Gran Selezione) have been washed away by this current release. What really stands out are the wine’s precise mineral and graphite aromas that lend an incredible sense of focus and balance. The oak element is also beautifully integrated.”
What wine is more classic than a perfectly made Chianti? So many of us have fond memories of Sangiovese, even if the early versions we might have had were not particularly noteworthy and the fond memories might be centered more around a first date at a cheap Italian restaurant. Real Chianti Classico, we have come to learn, is so much more than good pizza wine and if there is a benchmark that could be recognized as having all of the calling cards of an excellent Chianti, it would be Fèlsina.
Year in, year out, the producers are few and far between who can claim to have the quality and consistency of Fèlsina. The two workhorses, the Chianti Classico and the Classico Riserva could be the greatest values in Tuscany. After having the 2018 Classico open for most of the day, I noted aromas of dark cherries, wild herbs, earthiness, as well as something slightly untamed and animal on the nose. It was also surprisingly fresh and bright, with enough tannin to let you know that it will perform for years to come. The 2016 Riserva was more reticent, though after a day the glimmers of what is to come shone through. Similar to the Classico, but with a bit of cedar, smoke and licorice, it was slightly darker in its fruit profile. However it was still dominated by cherry and game. This is a true cellar surprise for those who like to play the “guess what I paid” game. I am grabbing this in Magnum to enjoy with my son in about 15 years.
The entire line up is so fun to taste through, but for those who look for simply the best in their Tuscan reds, you won’t go wrong with any of them. No rolling the dice on these – they’re simply delicious.
In Stock Now:
Fèlsina Berardenga Chianti Classico DOCG, Tuscany 2018 750ML ($29.95) $24 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-6 Fèlsina Berardenga Chianti Classico DOCG, Tuscany 2018 750ML ($179.95) $136 special (that’s only $22.67/bottle!)
James Suckling 93 points “Perfumed and fresh with cherries, cedar and hints of dried flowers. It’s medium-bodied with fine tannins and a long, direct finish. Really lively and fresh. Very typical for a top Chianti Classico. Drink now.”
Antonio Galloni 92 points “The 2018 Chianti Classico Berardenga is endowed with so much class. In 2018, the Classico is a bit more restrained than it can be. That mid-weight sense of structure, though, gives the wine quite a bit of early appeal. Even so, I would cellar the 2018 for a few years, as all the elements haven’t fully come together just yet. Dark cherry, game, smoke, licorice and earthy notes are a reminder we are in Castelnuovo Berardenga, even if the 2018 has less weight and overt power than Fèlsina fans are used to seeing.”
Kerin O’keefe-Wine Enthusiast 92 points “New leather, camphor and blue flower are some of the aromas you’ll find on this bright, fragrant red. On the medium-bodied palate, vibrant acidity and taut tannins surround cassis, Marasca cherry and tobacco notes. Drink 2022–2028.”
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 91 points “The Fèlsina 2018 Chianti Classico Berardenga is a toned and delicate expression of 100% Sangiovese from a vintage that produced beautifully subtle and understated wines. It shows good momentum driven by dark fruit, blackberry and summer cherry. The intensity of these aromas is downplayed and rendered less pronounced, adding elegance and fragility. Pretty background notes of spice and balsam herb add an extra layer of complexity. An ample 280,000 bottles were produced.”
Fèlsina Berardenga ‘Colonia’, Chianti Classico Gran Selezione DOCG 2010 750ML ($199.95) $119 special, 2 bottles in stock now
Wine Advocate 95+ points “When you hear the story of the effort that went into making the Colonia vineyard, you have to wonder if the fine folks at Fèlsina are absolutely mad. It took them two years of dynamite blasting to clear the imposing rock that had forced previous generations of the Poggiali family to virtually abandon this site. But an ambitious Giovanni Poggiali takes credit for making this spectacular vineyard what it is today. The wine produced here is quickly becoming the second flagship product after Fontalloro. The 2010 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Colonia is a wine of enormous beauty and depth. This is Sangiovese at its highest expression and any doubt I had about the previous vintage (which was the first time this wine appeared as a Gran Selezione) have been washed away by this current release. What really stands out are the wine’s precise mineral and graphite aromas that lend an incredible sense of focus and balance. The oak element is also beautifully integrated.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The national average price is $147
The national average price is $147
Fèlsina Magnums in Stock Now:
Fèlsina Berardenga Chianti Classico DOCG, Tuscany 2016 1.5L ($69.95) $59 special, 14 magnums in stock now
Wine Advocate 92+ points “This is an excellent vintage in Chianti Classico that shows especially well in the simple, more accessible wines such as this. The 2016 Chianti Classico Berardenga delivers the power and density of its territory. The southern side of the appellation often shows the richest expressions of Sangiovese. This wine opens to sweet aromas of dark fruit, cherry and plum. The wine shows a slightly savory side as well with spice and dried terracotta that recalls the gray gravel soils of the region. Bay leaf, cola and chopped mint appear as subtle background notes. Some 260,000 bottles were made.”
Wine & Spirits 92 points “The temperate 2016 growing season yielded a beautifully perfumed and posed Chianti Classico at Fèlsina. The aromas and flavors are pure Tuscany, with scents of lavender and dried thyme that lead into flavors of ripe black cherry and even savory tomato skin. Notes of pink peppercorns and leafy tobacco emerge with air, adding layers to the fleshy fruit.”
Antonio Galloni 91+ points “The 2016 Chianti Classico Berardenga is a stellar, joyous wine. Bold, powerful and ample, with a good deal of finesse for such a big wine, the 2016 shows why this is such a compelling vintage for Chianti Classico. Leather, game, smoke, tobacco and licorice infuse a wine that oozes Sangiovese character. The 2016 needs a few years in bottle to be at its best, but is already pretty alluring. Moreover, this is a fabulous expression of the estate. Don’t miss it.”
James Suckling 93 points “This is fragrant and floral with dark berries on the nose. Medium body, firm and silky tannins and a fresh, clean finish. A driven and linear Chianti Classico. The backbone of fresh acidity gives this focus. Drink now or hold.”
This is the lowest listed magnum price in the USA today!
Fèlsina Berardenga Rancia, Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG 2013 1.5L ($119.95) $99 special, 2 magnums in stock now
Antonio Galloni 96 points “A huge, vibrant wine, the 2013 Chianti Classico Rancia will need at least a few years in bottle to be approachable and much more than that to be at its best. Huge swaths of tannin give the wine its energy and feel. The essence of Sangiovese from Castelnuovo Berardenga comes through loud and clear. Readers should expect an especially virile, potent Rancia in 2013.”
Antonio Galloni 96+ points “Fèlsina’s 2013 Chianti Classico Riserva Rancia bristles with energy, with veins of underlying acidity that give the wine its focus and drive. Dark red cherry, plum, rose petal, herb and licorice are some of the signatures. Most of the Fèlsina Chianti Classicos are defined by their dark fruit and savory notes, but the Rancia is also wonderfully bright and lifted from start to finish while staying very much true to the house style. Today, the Rancia gives the impression it will unwind at a glacial pace. I imagine most bottles of the 2013 will be drunk before the wine truly enters its prime.”
Wine Advocate 95 points “Here is another highlight of the vintage. The 2013 Chianti Classico Riserva Rancia is a dark, moody and sophisticated wine. It does not reveal itself immediately or in any obvious way. Instead, it doses out its intensity in careful measurements. The whole performance is seductive to say the least. That slow momentum leads to dark cherry with spice, grilled herb, wet earth and dried rose. Fèlsina’s Riserva Rancia is a very elegant wine, both on the nose and in the mouth.”
This is the lowest listed magnum price in the USA today!
Fèlsina Berardenga Rancia, Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG 2015 1.5L ($139.95) $115 special, 8 magnums in stock now
James Suckling 95 points “Plenty of dark plums, black cherries, blackberry pie, cedar, tobacco and a hint of orange rind. There’s a real vitality to the palate, which is so well carved out by firm, savory tannins and seriously bright acidity. A chewy finish. Drink in 2022.”
Wine Spectator 94 points “The fine cherry, plum, leather and spice flavors pick up accents of chocolate, earth and mineral as this red gathers steam. Builds to a firmly structured finish, where sweet fruit and dusty tannins linger. Drink now through 2028.”
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 94-97 points “The 2015 Chianti Classico Riserva Rancia is one of the most finessed young Rancias I have ever tasted. Silky, aromatically precise and nuanced to the core, the 2015 is shaping up to be a jewel of a wine. This is an impressive showing.”
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Collector’s Corner
Sérafin: Gevrey-Chambertin’s Best Kept Secret?
Sérafin: Gevrey-Chambertin’s Best Kept Secret?
Sérafin is one of the best names in Gevrey-Chambertin that’s not talked about enough—and we’re trying to correct that problem. Christian Sérafin is one of the best producers in Gevrey, making powerful, intense wines, at prices that are far lower than most of his peers. However critics are starting to take notice, and if recent scores are any indication, the secret appears to be getting out.
Besides organic viticulture, low yields, and old vines, Sérafin sticks to an idiosyncratic recipe in the cellar: total destemming, long cuvaisons, and mostly new or lightly used barrels. Their richness and concentration beg cellaring, and the magic of the Côte de Nuits rewards such patience. This is serious Burgundy. Complexity is a given, as is age-worthiness and concentration—there are no shrinking violets in this bunch.
We have a number of Sérafin bottlings in stock now from 2011, 2012 and 2014, all wines that belong in any Burgundy lover’s cellar -especially at the prices we’re able to offer them at.
In Stock Now:
Sérafin Père & Fils Les Cazetiers, Gevrey-Chambertin Premier Cru 2011 750ML ($219.95) $139 special, 4 bottles in stock now
Stephen Tanzer 93 points “Moderately saturated medium red. Very reticent but pure aromas of redcurrant, dark cherry, earth, leather and spices. A dense, nicely balanced midweight, with ripe acidity giving shape to the cherry, licorice and espresso flavors. Firmly tannic but with plenty of thickness of texture to support its backbone. Finishes chewy and long but youthfully tight, with lovely aromatic persistence. I’d hold this until 2020.”
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Sérafin Père & Fils Les Cazetiers, Gevrey-Chambertin Premier Cru 2012 750ML ($249.95) $149 special, 3 bottles in stock now
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 92-94 points “Good bright, deep red. Reticent aromas of black cherry, minerals, mint and menthol. Densely packed, fresh and energetic, showing a strong spice character to its black cherry and mineral flavors. Has the thickness of texture to carry its tannins. Finishes spicy and long, with a lingering note of chocolatey oak. From a crop level of 38 hectoliters per hectare: Sérafin made four barrels, compared to a normal five.”
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Sérafin Père & Fils Les Cazetiers, Gevrey-Chambertin Premier Cru 2014 750ML ($219.95) $149 special, 5 bottles in stock now
Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2014 Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Les Cazetiers has a lifted bouquet, very well defined with blackcurrant, black cherry, undergrowth and cold black tea aromas that gain intensity on the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins, fine acidity, the oak neatly integrated here and allowing the terroir to show through on the clean, precise, minerally finish. This is just a lovely Gevrey-Chambertin from Sérafin.”
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 92 points “(this fruit is always picked at the end, noted winemaker Frédérique Bachotet): Bright, dark red-ruby. Very ripe cherry and chocolate scents. Wonderfully rich, deep wine with a restrained sweetness and noteworthy density to its flavors of redcurrant, spices and saline minerality. The terroir really speaks here. The long finish features lingering earth tones.”
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Sérafin Père & Fils Gevrey-Chambertin Vieilles Vignes, Côte de Nuits 2012 750ML ($139.95) $99 special, 11 bottles in stock now
Neal Martin-Vinous 91 points “The 2012 Gevrey-Chambertin Vieilles Vignes is one of my favourite recent vintages with plush, exuberant black plum and raspberry fruit, a touch of tomato vine in the background. I admire its definition and it shows more charm than its 2011 counterpart. The palate has a fine grip as it is gentle and insistent. Yes, there is a sturdiness to this Gevrey, like many of Sérafin’s wines, yet there is admirable delineation and freshness on the finish. You could drink this now, though I would prefer to leave it for two or three more years. Tasted at Goedhuis’s Burgundy tasting at Vintners Hall.”
Antonio Galloni 90-92 points “One of the real gems in this range, the Gevrey-Chambertin Vieilles Vignes wraps around the palate with gorgeous depth and dimension. Violets, cloves and menthol meld into a core of dark fruit. The vintage has given the Vieilles Vignes an extra bit of volume that is hugely appealing. All the elements fall into place effortlessly. This voluptuous Gevrey should offer a wide window of fabulous drinking.”
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Sérafin Père & Fils Les Corbeaux, Gevrey-Chambertin Premier Cru 2012 750ML ($149.95) $99 special, 17 bottles in stock now
Wine Advocate 91-93 points “The 2012 Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Corbeaux comes from 0.45-hectares of vines planted in 1968 by Christian’s father adjacent to Mazis-Chambertin. It has a precocious bouquet compared to the Vieilles Vignes, with scents of mulberry, dark plum and luscious black fruit that are tightly controlled. The palate is medium-bodied with a slightly grainy entry. This is showing the oak a little more than the Vieilles Vignes at the moment, but there is sufficient concentration to absorb that with time. The linear finish, crisp and taut, bodes well for the future.”
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Sérafin Père & Fils Le Fonteny, Gevrey-Chambertin Premier Cru 2011 750ML ($159.95) $99 special, 3 bottles in stock now
Stephen Tanzer 91 points “Moderately saturated medium red. Black cherry, raspberry and a whiff of meat on the nose, lifted by pungent pepper and blood orange treble notes. Less open than the village wine, showing lovely spicy lift to the flavors of red fruits and flowers. Juicy, elegant Gevrey with serious length and lingering spice character.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Sérafin Père & Fils Le Fonteny, Gevrey-Chambertin Premier Cru 2012 750ML ($199.95) $119 special, 10 bottles in stock now
Wine Advocate 91-93 points “The 2012 Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Fonteny comes from 0.33-hectares of vine planted in 1965. It has a somehow more “languid” bouquet, demonstrated a touch more fruit compared to the Corbeaux, the fruit erring more to red than black. The palate is rounded and velvety smooth on the entry with vibrant cassis and blackcurrant fruit, fine tannins and impressive presence towards the finish that continues long after the wine has departed. Excellent.”
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Sérafin Père & Fils Les Millandes, Morey-Saint-Denis Premier Cru 2012 750ML ($149.95) $89 special, 8 bottles in stock now
Stephen Tanzer 91-93 points “Deep, spicy aromas of black cherry, violet, menthol and espresso. Densely packed and sappy, with a liqueur-like ripeness to the flavors of black cherry and mint. A rather rectilinear wine with a serious spine of dusty tannins that will require some aging. In a more structured, masculine style in 2012, like the Gevrey Vieilles Vignes and the Cazetiers.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
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