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In Today’s Newsletter:

Towering Barolo Ravera from Elvio Cogno

Ferrando Carema’s Profound Nebbiolo

Collector’s Corner
Cult Wines from Comando G / Daniel Landi


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Newly Arrived from Piedmont

Towering Barolo Ravera from Elvio Cogno

 
If you’ve heard about the Ravera cru in Barolo (see Vajra), you have Elvio Cogno to thank.  Born and raised in Novello, the village associated with the famous vineyard, he left his partnership with Marcarini in his sixties to start his namesake winery in 1990.  He purchased Cascina Nuova, an underperforming but historic estate, and started making wines under his own name from the Ravera cru.

The resulting wines have been stupendous ever since, prompting a rush on land in Novello (and Ravera in particular), but no wineries have surpassed the original master and his son-in-law (winemaker since ’96 Valter Fissore—who is arguably even more talented than Elvio).  From their entry level “Cascina Nuova” Barolo up to his Riservas from the choicest parts of his holdings, these are wines that will appeal to every lover of classicist Barolo.

Antonio Galloni agrees as well, consistently praising the wines over multiple vintages and price levels.  Their 2014 Riserva earned a 97 point score and the wines since have more than lived up.  This is a classical estate that over delivers. 

Elvio Cogno Ravera, Barolo DOCG 2016 750ML ($119.95) $99 special, 1 bottle in stock now
Wine Enthusiast 99 points
 “Cellar Selection. From the estate that proved the extraordinary quality of the Ravera subzone, this compelling wine opens with heady scents of rose, iris, perfumed berry, new leather and camphor. Focused and full bodied, the precise palate is delicious and firmly structured, featuring ripe red cherry, crushed raspberry, licorice and tobacco framed in tightly knit fine-grained tannins. Fresh acidity keeps it beautifully balanced and lends youthful tension. Drink 2024–2056 – Kerin O’Keefe”
Antonio Galloni 94 points “The 2016 Barolo Ravera shows all of the energy and tension this site is so well-known for. Penetrating acids and veins of tannin give the Ravera its drive and overall feel. Naturally, the 2016 is going to need at least a few years to be at its best, but it has tremendous breeding and character to burn. White pepper, mint, sweet red cherry and citrus add to the wine’s high-toned profile. This is another stellar wine from Cogno.”
 
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!


Elvio Cogno Barolo Cascina Nuova, Barolo DOCG 2016 750ML ($69.95) $59 special
Antonio Galloni 92 points
 “Cogno’s 2016 Barolo Cascina Nuova is absolutely gorgeous. Pliant and expressive on the palate, the 2016 has a touch more mid-palate sweetness and texture than in the past, when the wine has been more nervous in feel. Sweet red cherry, blood orange, mint, wild flowers, cedar, sweet tobacco and anise all open up effortlessly. Silky tannins add to its considerable immediacy and appeal. This is such a pretty wine in its peer group and also a terrific example of how attractive more modestly priced Barolos are in 2016.”
 
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Elvio Cogno Barolo Bricco Pernice, Barolo DOCG 2015 750ML ($149.95) $119 special, 10 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni 95 points
 “The 2015 Barolo Bricco Pernice is an exotic, beguiling wine. Blood orange, mint, sweet red cherry, star anise and a range of spice notes give the Bricco Pernice striking aromatic and flavor complexity. Medium in body, refined and super-expressive, the 2015 has so much to offer. Best of all, it will drink well with just a few years in bottle. It is such an effortless, gracious wine. Very polished, nuanced and elegant, this silky Barolo has a ton of structure but is also impeccable in its balance.”
Importer Note “Bricco Pernice is named for the rock on which courting partridges build their nest. “Pernice” translates as “rock ptarmigan” or “partridge,” “Bricco” is a hill. This is the very latest wine from Elvio Cogno. Until a few years ago this was part of the Ravera Barolo cru; in recent years it has been expanded to incorporate the neighboring hills. The fruit of years of hard work, this wine is a dream come true, made from the finest vineyard in Novello in the most historic part of the Ravera cru. The label is designed by Elena, Elvio’s granddaughter.”
 
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!


Elvio Cogno Barolo Vigna Elena, Barolo Riserva DOCG 2014 750ML ($179.95) $135 special, 8 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni 97 points
 “The 2014 Barolo Riserva Ravera Vigna Elena is seamless in the glass, with stunning balance and all of the pedigree of this year. Medium in body and gracious, it shows elegant notes of rose petal, mint, white pepper, sweet tobacco and dried flowers. Sweet red stone fruit marry with a classic sense of austerity. All of the elements here come together in this stunning, gloriously beautiful Barolo from Cogno. Deeply expressive and intense, the 2014 Vigna Elena is not an obvious wine, but instead it is ethereal, lifted and with pure class.”


Elvio Cogno Langhe Nebbiolo Montegrilli, Piedmont 2017 750ML ($34.95) $29 special
Case-12 Elvio Cogno Langhe Nebbiolo Montegrilli, Piedmont 2017 750ML ($419.95) $319 special
Antonio Galloni 91 points
 “The 2017 Langhe Nebbiolo Montegrilli is a very pretty wine. The warm, dry vintage has given Cogno’s Nebbiolo an extra kick of richness, but without robbing the wine of its personality. Sweet dried cherry, mint, tobacco, crushed flowers and anise all flesh out in an expansive, inviting Nebbiolo that will drink nicely for at least a number of years.”


Love Barolo?  We have over 85 Barolos currently available.
Shop our entire selection, including famous names like Brovia, Cappellano, Vietti and more on our web store!
 
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Newly Arrived from Piedmont

Ferrando Carema’s Profound Nebbiolo

 
Ferrando’s Carema is one of the signature Nebbiolo based wines made outside of the Langhe.  Neal Rosenthal, its importer, described it by saying that “If there is any wine that defines the Ferrando “oeuvre” it is this one: the white label Carema. No single wine in our portfolio is more illustrative of our work than this brilliant rendition of Nebbiolo.”  It’s hard to imagine higher praise and this wine is distinctive in the all the best ways—bright, full of drive and devilishly complex, as well.

A region as far north as Carema benefits greatly from cooperative autumn weather, allowing grapes to achieve full phenolic ripeness before worrisome forecasts start to influence picking decisions.  Fortunately the weather in 2016 allowed for a historically long growing season in Piedmont, and the vintage appears destined to be legendary throughout the region.  As such, we’re excited to have received our (albeit very limited) allocation of 2016s, and recommend that you move quickly as the stock is unlikely to last long.

Ferrando White Label – Etichetta Bianca Nebbiolo di Carema, Piedmont 2016 750ML ($99.95) $79 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Ferrando White Label – Etichetta Bianca Nebbiolo di Carema, Piedmont 2016 1.5L ($199.95) $169 special, 1 bottle in stock now
Importer note
 “Ferrando’s white-label Carema is arguably the most gorgeously elegant expression of Nebbiolo in existence, and this 2016 is a textbook version. Full of driving, kinetic energy, it presents a lifted and linear palate at this youthful stage which should broaden with bottle age, as well as an intoxicating blast of high-toned spices and mountain herbs. Never an overwhelmingly powerful wine, “Etichetta Bianca” derives its sense of structure more from its acid-fruit tension than its tannins, and that is particularly the case with this 2016. Fermented in stainless steel without temperature control and using only indigenous yeasts, it spent three full years in a blend of large Stockinger botti and smaller well-used French barriques.”


Ferrando Black Label – Etichetta Nera Nebbiolo di Carema, Piedmont 2016 1.5L ($249.95) $219 special, 1 bottle in stock now
Importer note
 “The Ferrandos only produce their legendary black-label Carema when the vintage allows for it, and it never comprises more than a fifth of their total production. To be labeled as “Etichetta Nera,” the wine must first be selected in the vineyard as worthy; then, it must pass muster post-malolactic-fermentation; and finally, a third verification is performed at the end of the three-year elevage. Raised entirely in a mix of used 250- and 500-liter French barrels, the 2016 is more profound and lower-pitched on the nose than its white-label counterpart, with blacker fruit and a stronger savory imprint. Its firmly gripping, lengthily tunneling finish promises decades of positive evolution.”
 
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Also in stock from Ferrando:

Ferrando White Label – Etichetta Bianca Nebbiolo di Carema, Piedmont 2015 750ML ($89.95) $75 special, 1 bottle in stock now
Antonio Galloni 94 points
 “The 2015 Carema Etichetta Bianca is such a gorgeous wine. Dried cherry, tobacco, licorice, spice, mint and dried flowers give the 2015 striking aromatic openness, but there is plenty of mineral-drenched tannic backbone that gives this wine its distinctive personality. Medium in body, taut and full of character, the 2015 hits all the right notes. It should also start drinking relatively early and age effortlessly for many years.”
Importer note “2015 Carema ‘Etichetta Bianca.’ For us, Ferrando’s white-label Carema is perhaps the ne plus ultra of Alpine wine—as well as the most gorgeous expression of Nebbiolo in existence—and the 2015 is a future legend. With its mouthwatering acidity, its sumptuously velvety texture, its panoply of spices, and its eerily pure fruit, it embodies what makes Carema so special, yet with a bit more authority and power than in a more typical vintage. Aged in a combination of large Stockinger casks and smaller barriques and tonneaux (all well-used), it presents relatively open at this youthful stage—perhaps a function of 2015’s generosity of fruit—yet the underlying structure and tension promise a long life.”
Winery note “Made from Nebbiolo grapes harvested around the 20th of October, fermented in temperature-controlled stainless steel vats, with maceration on the skins for about 10 days. In conformity with the production regulations, refinement lasts 36 months, 30 of which in oak barrels. Tasting notes: Colour: Intense garnet red, limpid and dense. Nose: Spicy, fruity notes. Fine hints of dried flowers and rose petals. Palate: Warm, tannic mouthfeel. Well-integrated spicy notes.”


Love Piedmont?  We have over 200 wines from Piedmont currently available.
Shop our entire selection, including famous names like Cascina Delle Rose, Gaja, Vajra and more on our web store!
 
 
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Collector’s Corner

Cult Wines from Comando G / Daniel Landi

 
Comando G

“Comando G continues to serve as the reference point in Gredos. Most of the 2018s are not in bottle yet, so I mostly tasted wines from 2017—a challenging year with hail and frost that made it impossible to bottle some of the single-vineyard wines (Breña and Tamboril Tinto) and affected others, mainly the vineyards in the village of Rozas de Puerto Real. 2017 was also ripe and dry, more in line with 2012 than 2015, as the wines also have finesse and lightness. Once again Rumbo al Norte is the best wine, but in the challenging 2017 vintage, the difference from the others is even more obvious because the plot didn’t suffer hail or frost and is one of the best-prepared to withstand dry conditions. It’s a wine that transcends the vintage.” –Luis Gutierrez, Wine Advocate

“Today, along with Comando G, a handful of producers working in the Sierra de Gredos is showing how distinctive the wines can be from an area that was ignored for so long… the bottles with the most finesse and nuance, and which have drawn the most interest, are from Comando G, whose wines are now among the most compelling in Spain.”- Eric Asimov, New York Times

Comando G has become one of the hottest names in the world of Spanish wines.  Working with old Grenache (Garnacha) vines, Fernando García and Daniel Gómez Jiménez-Landi looked to estates like Rayas and Gramenon in the Rhone for inspiration to produce balanced, chiseled wines of delicate power and elegance.  Ever since Eric Asimov profiled them in the New York Times, the wines have been in incredibly short supply.

Newly Arrived from Comando G:

Comando G ‘El Tamboril’ Blanco Navaltalgordo, Sierra de Gredos 2017 750ML ($149.95) $119 special, 2 bottles in stock now
Luis Gutierrez-Wine Advocate 97 points
 “The single-vineyard 2017 Tumba del Rey Moro comes from an ungrafted 70-year-old vineyard of 0.7 hectares in the village of Villanueva de Ávila, a cliff with a pronounced slope full of chestnut trees that provide shadow to the majority of vines. It’s high in altitude, at 1,100 meters, and the soils are very sandy, from the degradation of granite. Like the others, this vineyard is worked biodynamically, and the wine is produced in a delicate way, with full bunches, a long and soft maceration (infusion) and an élevage of 14 months in a 1,000-liter oak vat. This high-altitude vineyard almost escaped the problems of the vintage but was hit by very late hail in August, and the wine feels almost untouched; it feels very complete and less evolved than the wines that were badly hit by hail. It has spices and rockrose and is a riper vintage than 2016, and it’s complex and nuanced. The palate has abundant, fine-grained tannins and is nicely textured, with the chalk-like mouthfeel of the 


Comando G ‘Rumbo al Norte’ Navarrevisca, Sierra de Gredos 2017 750ML ($379.95) $319 special, 3 bottles in stock now
Luis Gutierrez-Wine Advocate 99 points
 “I was very much looking forward to tasting the 2017 Rumbo Al Norte from bottle, a wine I had tasted a number of times during its upbringing in a 1,400-liter oak foudre, as it comes form one of the most spectacular vineyards I know, not only in Gredos, but in the whole of the world! It’s a 0.3-hectare plot in the zone known as La Breña within the village of Villanueva de Ávila, where the granite soils are very sandy and rich in quartz and gray silt and the wines have a rare combination of elegance and power as well as an ethereal quality with tons of energy and a texture that is like liquid granite. It was produced like the rest of the reds, with a long infusion with full clusters and indigenous yeasts in oak vats, then matured in a 1,400-liter oak vat for 14 months. This vineyard escaped the frost and hail of the vintage—it’s one of the few that was really untouched—and this year, the wine is head and shoulders above the rest. It’s complex and elegant, very Burgundian, stony, floral and spicy, and the good yields controlled the ripeness of the dry year. This is the vineyard that behaves better in warmer/drier years. The good news is that there are 1,656 bottles and 60 magnums of this—their largest production ever—and it was bottled in March 2019. Unfortunately, prices for this scarce bottling are skyrocketing. It was only a matter of time…”


Comando G ‘Rozas Premier-Primer Cru,’ Sierra de Gredos 2018 750ML ($59.95) $49 special
Luis Gutierrez-Wine Advocate 95 points
 “The 2018 Rozas 1er Cru is from a much better year that produced perfect ripeness of the grapes and therefore much better parameters (alcohol, pH and acidity). Within the freshness and seriousness of 2018, this is very open, expressive and spicy, like an upgrade from the La Bruja de Rozas, though not quite reaching the finesse of Las Umbrías. It’s tasty and long and has something herbal (fennel, celery), a salty touch, a little rust and a very mineral texture, with the grainy granite and finer chalk. It improves tremendously in the glass, which gives me an idea that the wine is going to improve in bottle. 2018 is a great vintage that is going to require a little more time to express its full potential. This is often the best value of the winery. 15,238 bottles and 150 magnums produced. It was bottled in January 2020.”


Comando G ‘La Bruja de Rozas,’ Sierra de Gredos 2018 750ML ($34.95) $28 special
Luis Gutierrez-Wine Advocate 93+ points
 “I tasted a very young and recently bottled 2018 La Bruja de Rozas, their village Garnacha from the village of Las Rozas de Puerto Real. It’s from a vintage that feels very complete and balanced and delivered very healthy grapes, good yields and grapes with ripe flavors and very good freshness. The wine is juicy but also sharp and mineral, backward and nuanced; it’s shy now, but it has great depth and is finely knitted, textured, mineral and salty. I think this will surpass the already-amazing 2016. It fermented and matured in oak vats of different sizes, yet there is such purity of fruit and the wine is so intense that the oak is completely transparent. I had the chance to drink this wine on repeated occasions, as I find it has an unbeatable price for the quality. It’s a more complete version of the 2016—it’s pale, bright and transparent, spicy, elegant, nuanced, juicy but complex, with not only fruit but also violets and an herbal side, and it’s characterful and a bit funky with finesse and a texture of chalk and granite. Like a Poulsard from Chambolle. High drinkability with aging potential. 53,478 bottles produced (the second largest vintage after 2016). It was bottled in August 2019.”


 
Dani Landi

Daniel Gómez Jiménez-Landi (or Dani Landi as he’s more commonly known) is certainly one half of Comando G, but his personal projects are at least as compelling and much more sought after within Spain.  Born to generations of grape growers in Méntrida, his personal project explores the unique terroirs of his home DO.

This is very much Sierra de Gredos wine, but the distinction between his personal wines, which are from his home village of Méntrida, and Comando G, which works from a broad range of terroirs, is important.  Landi’s personal wines come from vineyards that he started working with and acquiring since he started making wine at a very young age.

Newly Arrived from Daniel Landi:

Daniel Gomez Jimenez-Landi ‘Las Uvas de la Ira’ Garnacha, Mentrida 2018 750ML ($37.95) $31.90 special, 11 bottles in stock now
Luis Gutierrez-Wine Advocate 93 points
 “The red 2018 Las Uvas de la Ira has been produced with Garnacha from the same five vineyards since the initial vintage (2012) in the village of El Real de San Vicente, which is one of the villages from Méntrida (Toledo) that are part of the Gredos Mountains. The vines range between 40 and 65 years of age, and they are located at around 750 meters in altitude on sandy granite soils with lots of silt. The different vineyards are fermented separately in oak vats with indigenous yeasts and a very gentle vinification, one-third with very long macerations to provide structure and depth, one-third with a very short maceration to provide fragrance, and the remaining third finished the fermentation without skins (like a white) to add juiciness. The élevage is in oak foudres of different sizes, from 1,500 to 4,000 liters. This is a little less aromatic and more austere but very focused and bright, from a village where the wines are serious and have a chalky texture, less floral but more citrus, a bit more backward. It has a compact palate, with very fine tannins and a more chalky finish. It’s interesting to taste it next to wines from other villages, as you clearly see the difference. 18,700 bottles produced. It was bottled in August 2019.”


Daniel Gomez Jimenez-Landi ‘Cantos del Diablo’, Mentrida 2017 750ML ($119.95) $99 special, 6 bottles in stock now
Luis Gutierrez-Wine Advocate 94+ points
 “The single-vineyard 2017 Cantos del Diablo was produced with the grapes from 0.35 hectares in the village of El Real de San Vicente (Toledo), the highest vineyard in the Méntrida appellation. It’s a north-facing plot at 900 meters in altitude that was planted some 70 years ago on sandy granite soils rich in silt and is worked biodynamically. The grapes, with all the stems, fermented with indigenous yeasts in oak vats, and the wine matured in a 1,200-liter oak foudre for 12 months. This was one of the few villages from Gredos that escaped the hail and frost, and it was a dry year, so harvesting was early (10 to 15 days earlier compared with a “normal” vintage!). It’s aromatic and floral but has the austerity of the wines from El Real de San Vicente as well as a texture like liquid chalk and very fine, powdery tannins. It’s clean and ripe without excess, with a nice combination of fruit and minerality, really balanced, with intensity and finesse. Excellent 2017! 1,362 bottles were filled in March 2019.”

 
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!


Daniel Gomez Jimenez Landi ‘Las Iruelas’ El Tiemblo, Castilla y Leon 2017 750ML ($149.95) $125 special, 6 bottles in stock now
Luis Gutierrez-Wine Advocate 95 points
 “The 2017 Las Iruelas expresses the elegance and floral character the slate soils are capable of. It’s pure Garnacha from a relatively large vineyard in the Iruelas Valley in the village of El Tiemblo, province of Ávila. In reality, this slope of vines that was planted over 70 years ago has a combination of slate and granite (and sand, quartz and silt), and it’s very rocky with shallow soils, where the mother rock is only 20 centimeters from the surface. It’s isolated and surrounded by forests, and the orography (the nearby mountains) causes it to receive more rain. So, the wines have unusual finesse and subtleness. The vinification tries to preserve that character, by hand-selecting every single grape, fermenting the clusters with the yeasts from the grapes in oak vats, with a long maceration and low temperature. The wine matured in a 1,400-liter oak vat for 12 months. This is very pale, paler than it normally is, and has a more developed color and nose, combining more herbal aromas with a note of ripe berries and flowers; it’s elegant, delicate and balsamic and also a little fragile, with less finesse than Umbrías. This vineyard had hail twice and lost a lot of grapes, and the wine is probably going to evolve at a faster pace. 1,725 bottles were filled in March 2019.”

 
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!


Daniel Gomez Jimenez Landi ‘El Reventon’, Cebreros 2017 750ML ($134.95) $119 special, 5 bottles in stock now
Luis Gutierrez-Wine Advocate 94+ points
 “El Reventón in the village of Cebreros (Ávila) is really two plots just a few meters apart, but with different exposition, altitude and soils that make up one hectare of vines. Given the differences and the fact that part of the vineyard has basically no soil and the mother rock on the surface, they have been studying these soils and making further selections to decide which plants go into the wine. In 2016, they experimented with two different bottlings. But the 2017 El Reventón is a single cuvée of the grapes from both plots, as they had hail and used all the grapes that could be saved. The vinification follows the same modus operandi as with the rest of the wines—manual selection of every bunch, discarding all the single grapes that are not perfect, then fermentation with the stems and a long maceration in oak vats, of course with indigenous yeasts. The élevage was in used oak barrels and lasted for a year. The wine has good ripeness, more power than wines like Las Iruelas and more fruit and a rounder palate, but it’s a more delicate vintage than other years, more fragile because of hail. It developed a high-pitched note of curry with time in the glass, a recurring note in this wine. Only 775 bottles were filled in March 2019.”

 
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!


Love Spanish reds?  We have over 100 red wines from Spain currently available.
Shop our entire selection, including famous names like Clos Erasmus, López de Heredia, Raul Perez and more on our web store!
 
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Trending

 
A Pacific Northwest classic
Chateau Ste. Michelle Chardonnay, Columbia Valley 2018 750ML ($14.95) $9.50 special
Case-12 Chateau Ste. Michelle Chardonnay, Columbia Valley 2018 750ML ($149.95) $99 special (that’s only $8.25/bottle!)
Winery Note
 “Our Columbia Valley Chardonnay is a food-friendly wine. It is crafted in a fresh, soft style with bright apple and sweet citrus fruit character with subtle spice and oak nuances. We blend Chardonnay grapes from vineyards throughout Washington’s Columbia Valley to make this a complex and interesting wine. Cheers!”
 
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A killer value on a perennially undervalued grape
Owen Roe Sharecropper’s Merlot, Yakima Valley 2015 750ML ($19.95) $14.50 special
Case-12 Owen Roe Sharecropper’s Merlot, Yakima Valley 2015 750ML ($249.95) $149 special (that’s only $12.42/bottle!)
Winery note
 “This new bottling of Sharecropper’s Merlot shows aromas of cranberry, tart cherry, violet and spice. Dazzling flavors of black cherry, currant, plum and hints of pepper are nicely balanced with bright acidity and firm tannins, finishing with a hint of baking cocoa. Vineyard Sources- Elerding, Outlook, Red Willow and Union Gap. Barrel aged in 14% new oak for 10 months.”
 
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!


Restocked and already going fast…
Domaine de Triennes Rosé, IGP Var 2019 750ML ($19.95) $16 special
Josh Raynolds – Vinous 90 points
 “Translucent onion skin. Orange zest, persimmon, red berries and a subtle floral nuance on the fragrant nose. Concentrated but lithe and seemingly weightless, offering tangy red currant, strawberry and blood orange flavors that pick up a spicy nuance on the back half. Finishes brisk and tight, with repeating spiciness and a sneaky floral quality. This wine has the depth of flavor to handle full-flavored foods, but there’s no excess fat here, either. A solid value.”


A classic rosé from a classic rosé region
Mirabeau Classic Rosé, Cotes De Provence 2019 750ML ($27.95) $18 special
Josh Raynolds – Vinous 90 points
 “Light, brilliant orange. Raspberry, white peach and succulent flowers on the mineral-tinged nose. Sappy red berry, pit fruit and citrus zest flavors deepen slowly and take on a spicy aspect with air. Hangs on with very good tenacity, leaving pit fruit and red berry notes behind.”


Powerfully built, with rich, sumptuous fruit and seductive textures
Chateau Saint-Roch ‘Kerbuccio’, Maury Sec 2017 750ML ($24.95) $19.50 special
Jeb Dunnuck 94 points
 “One of the greatest values in the wine world has to be the Kerbuccio cuvée from Jean-Marc Lafage’s Chateau Saint Roch estate in Maury. The 2017 isn’t going to break the trend. Checking in as a blend of 80% Grenache and 20% Syrah, it’s a blockbuster, deep, massive effort that just screams Grenache from Maury. Ripe blackberries, melted chocolate, black cherries, and cured meat notes all emerge from this beautifully textured, layered, opulent wine that stays balanced and pure. Brought up in 80% new demi-muids, it shows no sense of its oak élevage, has beautiful purity and freshness, and tastes like it cost 4-5 times the price. Drink it over the coming 4-5 years.”
 
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!


Ameztoi produces our favorite rosé, and their upper-tier white is elegant and delish
Ameztoi Primus Txakoli di Getaria Hondarribi Zuri, Getariako Txakolina 2019 750ML ($29.95) $24 special
Winery note
 “[Edited for clarity] A white wine from the Hondarrabi Zuri grape. Naturally lightly sparkling. Pale with a touch of green, its bright tone has fine and elegant bubbles. Has a delicate and sophisticated fragrance, reminiscent of green apples and grapes, with a minty note. Opens dry, and is harmonious in the mouth. It has a broad and aromatic finish, which is cheerful because of its bubbles.”
 
This is the only listing in the USA today!


The flagship Pinot Noir from one of Oregon’s rising stars
Day Wines Momtazi Vineyard Pinot Noir, McMinnville 2016 750ML ($53.95) $33 special
Case-6 Day Wines Momtazi Vineyard Pinot Noir, McMinnville 2016 750ML ($299.95) $189 special (that’s only $31.50/bottle!)
Case-12 Day Wines Momtazi Vineyard Pinot Noir, McMinnville 2016 750ML ($599.95) $345 special (that’s only $28.75/bottle!)
John Gilman 93 points
 “The 2016 Momtazi Vineyard bottling of Pinot Noir from Day Wines is the ripest of these 2016s, as it comes in at fourteen percent octane. It is beautifully black fruity on the nose (as all the examples from Momtazi have been that I have been fortunate enough to taste), offering up scents of black plum, sweet dark berry, black tea, balsam bough, a beautiful base of soil tones, chicory, gentle spice tones and a bit of cedar. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied, complex and beautifully balanced, with a fine core of fruit, great mineral drive and grip, ripe, well-integrated tannins and a long, tangy and promising finish. While this is the ripest of the 2016 pinots from Brianne Day, it is no less pure or precise and is a great bottle in the making. 2024-2055.”
Josh Raynolds – Vinous 92 points “Limpid red. A highly aromatic bouquet evokes fresh dark berries and baking spices, along with smoky mineral and musky earth overtones. Juicy and broad on the palate, offering alluringly sweet black raspberry, cherry, rose pastille and spicecake flavors that deepen steadily with air. Delivers a suave blend of power and energy and finishes with finely woven tannins and strong, floral-driven persistence.”
 
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!


Classic is cool again!
Domaine du Gour de Chaulé Gigondas Tradition, Rhone 2016 750ML ($49.95) $33 special
Case-12 Domaine du Gour de Chaulé Gigondas Tradition, Rhone 2016 750ML ($399.95) $359 special (that’s only $29.92/bottle!)
Josh Raynolds – Vinous 95 points
 “Vivid ruby. An exotically perfumed bouquet evokes ripe red and pit fruits, potpourri and garrigue, and an exotic spice note emerges in the glass. Stains the palate with sweet raspberry, cherry and lavender pastille flavors that steadily put on weight with air. Conveys a suave blend of power and finesse and finishes extremely long and floral, with fine-grained tannins lending discreet grip.”


An earned reputation as one of the giants of Champagne
NV Bollinger Special Cuvee Brut, Champagne 750ML ($69.95) $54.50 special
James Suckling 92 points
 “Fine bubbles combine nicely with the cooked apples, pie crust and lemon rind. Some biscuit, too. Full body. Layered and creamy with a crisp finish. Always delicious. Drink now.” [Reviewed July 2019]
 
 
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Staff Pick

Your New Pizza Wine

 
Matt:
A half century ago Pelaverga was nearly extinct in its native village of Verduno (located within the Barolo zone of Piedmont).  Fortunately, a member of the village’s leading family, Elisa Burlotto, saw the grape’s potential and planted an entire section of the family’s Massara vineyard to the variety.  Before 1972, the year the Basadone section was planted, only a handful of Pelaverga vines survived, all mixed within rows of Nebbiolo.  For decades, the grape remained a novelty, and enjoyed little in the way of commercial success.  But its fortunes have changed in recent years as more and more wine drinkers have come to appreciate light-bodied, food-friendly reds.

Italy is of course a country that considers wine to be an essential component of any meal, and as a result the country’s wines are famously complimentary.  But many consider Pelaverga to be a stand-out even within this context thanks to its versatility.  In Piedmont the grape is paired with everything from pastas and sausage, to chicken and fish.  I’ve found Pelaverga to be fantastic with pizza, almost regardless of what’s included in the way of toppings.

So for your next pizza or pasta night ditch (or supplement) the usual suspects, and give Pelaverga a try.  You’ll be hard-pressed to find a red wine that delivers more deliciousness per dollar than this sub-$25 gem.

Castello di Verduno Basadone Pelaverga, Piedmont 2018 750ML ($27.95) $24 special
Importer Note
 “Pelaverga is indigenous to the village of Verduno, it produces red wines that are light in color but savory and distinctive on the palate. Reminds me a lot of Grignolino, another geeky Piedmontese variety. This one is aged in stainless steel before bottling without filtration. The winery’s website cannot be improved on for a description: ‘Soft, though bright ruby red. Intense fragrant nose, showing clear spicy overtones of black pepper and nutmeg, as well as fruity sensations reminiscent of cherries in spirit and strawberries. Nicely-balanced, lingering dry flavour.’ Great with salumi. I would drink this at cellar temperature.”
 
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!


Castello di Verduno also produces a delicious traditional method sparkling rosé with Pelaverga!

Castello di Verduno S-Ciopet Spumante Metodo Classico Brut Rosé, Piedmont 2014 750ML ($69.95) $39 special, 3 bottles in stock now
Winery note
 “S-ciopet is the dialect name of selvatic flower reported on label, The Silene Rigonfia. The choice is this because amenable to the sound of opening of sparkling bottle and it join at the line of selvatic flowers already rappresented on our label It is a brut rosè sparkling wine obtained with 100% of our favorite grape variety: the autochthon red variety of our village [Pelaverga]! Excellent wine as an aperitif or throughout the meal.”
 
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!


Shop our entire selection from Castello di Verduno on our web store!

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Produttori Subscriber Sale
on Rio Sordo & Muncagota


Ends Tuesday!

 
In the Piedmont, the folds and creases in the hills allow for amazing individuality in the little pocket vineyards. Exposure, drainage, soil composition all combine in a myriad of ways to bring out the best of Nebbiolo.  The brightness and balance of Barbaresco makes it a treasure for collectors.  There is a reason why it is referred to as Italy’s Burgundy.  Produttori, as a rule, has consistently made the most sought after single vineyard Barbaresco.  The wines will live forever in the cellar, and will reward those willing to stash away a case or two.

Two of our favorite crus from Produttori are Muncagota and Rio Sordo.  Muncagota comes across as a bit more tannic and structured at first look, but the subtle mint and floral components are more pronounced than in the other crus.  We love the play between the firmer structure and the elegance of the playful aromatics and fruit.  Rio Sordo seems to be the bigger wine due to the southwestern exposure.  There is a ripeness and wild quality to the bright red fruits, but these are qualities that will help the wine develop a lovely deep bass note to accompany the well-integrated acidity and silky tannins.

These wines are always fantastic values, but at subscriber special pricing, there won’t be a better time to stash away a good supply of these for the future.

5% Off Any Mix of 3-5 Produttori Muncagota & Rio Sordo bottles
10% Off Any Mix of 6+ Produttori Muncagota & Rio Sordo bottles
Subscriber Special Discount Will Not Display Online
We Will Manually Adjust Your Order Before Finalizing It
Discount Valid Until Tuesday, September 1st at 6 PM


In-Stock & On Sale Now:

Produttori del Barbaresco Muncagota Barbaresco Riserva DOCG 2013 750ML ($79.95) Displayed price $54.50
that’s $51.78 at 5% off and $49.05 at 10% off
Antonio Galloni 94 points “Like most of the wines in this lineup, the 2013 Barbaresco Riserva Muncagota is quite potent. A rush of raspberry jam, wild flowers, white pepper and mint make a strong opening statement. Succulent and yet also structured, the Muncagota has so much to offer. It should be one of the first wines in this range to start opening up, although when that will happen exactly is hard to say.”
Wine Spectator 94 points “Powerful yet underlined by racy acidity, driving the black cherry, black currant and mineral flavors. Menthol and tobacco notes add depth, keeping this intense. All the components are here, yet this will need time to really sing. Best from 2024 through 2040.”
Monica Larner – Wine Advocate 94 points “You may remember that this wine was once called Moccagatta. Produttori del Barbaresco reverted to the local Piemontese spelling of the name in 2007 to stay consistent with the geographic mapping of local cru sites. The 2013 Barbaresco Riserva Muncagota stands apart from the nine other single-vineyard Riservas presented by Produttori del Barbaresco this vintage. Of these various wines, this is the most salty and savory. There is less primary fruit intensity here. The bouquet is laced with grilled rosemary and wild sage. This growing site absorbs loads of morning sunshine with southeast-facing exposures. The mouthfeel is characterized by dry tannins and very long, balsam-like persistence. Dried ginger and herbs appear on the menthol-like finish.”
Wine Enthusiast 94 points “You’ll find aromas of star anise, freshly tilled soil, chopped herb and balsamic notes on this full-bodied red. The smooth, concentrated palate delivers juicy black cherry, raspberry compost, pipe tobacco and licorice accompanied by firm, refined tannins and bright acidity.”
 
This was the lowest listed price in the USA today, 
Now it’s even lower!


Produttori del Barbaresco Muncagota Barbaresco Riserva DOCG 2014 750ML ($79.95) Displayed price $59that’s $56.05 at 5% off and $53.10 at 10% off
Antonio Galloni 94 points “The 2014 Barbaresco Riserva Muncagota is another of the overachievers in this range. White pepper, bright red cherry, floral notes and mint cut through the fruit in this beautifully vivid, crystalline Barbaresco. There is a level of energy, drive and overall nuance in the 2014 I don’t recall having seen in the past. The 2014 is a terrific Muncagota.”
Monica Larner – Wine Advocate 94 points “The 2014 Barbaresco Riserva Muncagota is beautifully polished and bright, with dark berry fruit, ripe cherry, crushed stone and pressed flowers. The wine is compact and firm, and you feel the tannins and power in the mouth. The Muncagota remains slightly more closed in terms of the bouquet, but this will open up with some time.”
Wine Spectator 93 points “Lean and taut, this reveals mint, menthol, licorice, orange peel and subtle cherry flavors, all underscored by assertive tannins and lively acidity. An austere style, this will need time to come around. Best from 2023 through 2042.—B.S.”
 
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
The average price nationally is $65


Produttori del Barbaresco Muncagota Barbaresco Riserva DOCG 2015 750ML ($79.95) Displayed price $59that’s $56.05 at 5% off and $53.10 at 10% off
Wine Enthusiast 97 points “EDITOR’S CHOICE. Rose, red berry and star anise aromas align with earthy whiffs of forest floor and new leather. The full-bodied, delicious palate doles out succulent Morello cherry, black raspberry, licorice and chopped mint set against a backbone of firm but refined tannins. It’s already gorgeous but will be even better with just a few more years of bottle age. Drink 2022–2030.”
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 95 points “The Produttori del Barbaresco 2015 Barbaresco Riserva Muncagota shows beautifully in this sunny and warm vintage, producing intense and compelling primary fruit with wild cherry, plum and black currant. Compared to the other Riservas, the fruit profile of Muncagota is darker and richer. More significant is the role the tannins play in this wine. They contribute to a long and firm spinal cord that gives structure and muscle mass. This Barbaresco Riserva shows an affinity to shaved truffles over egg pasta, or gamey fowl such as duck or pigeon. Some 16,666 bottles were made.
Decanter 94 points “The southeast-facing Muncagota vineyard catches the morning sun, giving this wine a slightly lighter character. This 2015 has delicious red berry and cherry flavours and scents. The tannins are slightly more rustic, perhaps, and it’s the least full-bodied wine here, but its earthy elegance makes this a refreshing change for a Riserva. 13,000 bottles produced. Drinking Window 2022 – 2036.”


Produttori del Barbaresco Rio Sordo Barbaresco Riserva DOCG 2013 750ML ($79.95) Displayed price $59that’s $56.05 at 5% off and $53.10 at 10% off
Wine Enthusiast 97 points “CELLAR SELECTION. Enticing scents of wild berry, rose, baking spice and balsamic aromas come together in the glass. Juicy and full-bodied, the flavorsome palate shows succulent Morello cherry, cranberry, licorice and ground white pepper alongside a backbone of vibrant acidity and firm, polished tannins. It’s already exceptional but will benefit with more aging. Drink 2020–2038.”
Monica Larner – Wine Advocate 95 points “The delightful 2013 Barbaresco Riserva Rio Sordo is fourth on a scale of nine wines in terms of growing structure and power. This is the middle-point wine. You will immediately notice that the texture of this single-vineyard expression is increasingly thicker and pastier. The bouquet delivers opulent tones of blackberry and ripe cherry in thick and succulent waves. Yet, like the Pora, Pajè and Ovello expressions, the Barbaresco Riserva Rio Sordo is also a more accessible wine. You can save it for longer cellar aging, but you could also opt to serve it in the near or medium term. It offers both immediate pleasure and long-term potential.”
 
This was the lowest listed price in the USA today, 
Now it’s even lower!
The average price is $75


Produttori del Barbaresco Rio Sordo Barbaresco Riserva DOCG 2014 750ML ($79.95) Displayed price $59that’s $56.05 at 5% off and $53.10 at 10% off, 11 bottles in stock now
Monica Larner – Wine Advocate 96 points “The 2014 Barbaresco Riserva Rio Sordo represents a jump forward in structure compared to the other three vineyards (Pora, Pajè and Ovello) that were tasted before this wine. The Riserva Rio Sordo shows a dark and solid personality, with a tight core of black fruit that will relax and unwind with more bottle aging in the cellar. It is also slightly sharper and more focused in terms of mouthfeel, with the kind of tannic tightness you always get with young Nebbiolo in the cooler vintages such as 2014. Barbaresco lovers should jot this one down.”
Wine Spectator 94 points “This red combines a rich, fleshy texture that verges on chewy with a firm structure and cherry, menthol, licorice, spice and mineral flavors. Dense, revealing tension and dusty tannins on the long finish. Shows terrific energy. Best from 2022 through 2042.—B.S.”
This was the lowest listed price in the USA today, 
Now it’s even lower!
The average price is $67


Produttori del Barbaresco Rio Sordo Barbaresco Riserva DOCG 2015 750ML ($79.95) Displayed price $59that’s $56.05 at 5% off and $53.10 at 10% off, 8 bottles in stock now
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 96+ points “This wine usually falls somewhere in the middle of the Riserva continuum (starting with the most lithe and elegant wine and ending with the most powerful) presented by Produttori del Barbaresco in this knockout series of nine single-vineyard expressions. The 2015 Barbaresco Riserva Rio Sordo is another personal favorite. This group of Ovello, Rio Sordo, Asili and Rabajà (that sweet spot of neighboring vineyard sites in Barbaresco) is especially profound in 2015, striking a careful balance between elegance against power. The Rio Sordo offers tight and sharp fruit complete with a little tannic pinch or crunch on the close. Production is 13,333 bottles.”
Wine Enthusiast 96 points “Dark-skinned berry, camphor, rose and crushed stone aromas shape the nose along with a whiff of pipe tobacco. The aromas carry on to the structured, full-bodied palate along with juicy Marasca cherry and licorice. Firm, fine-grained tannins provide support. Drink 2022–2030.”
Decanter 94 points “At the southern end of the commune of Barbaresco lies Rio Sordo, known for producing powerful wines. First produced by Produttori in 1978, this is right on the mark, with a denseness and muscularity that makes it stand out in the lineup. It has an inky, meaty depth which seems to have absorbed the wood into it so that it’s not so pronounced, overlaid with plenty of complex, savoury damp earth character. This is less pure and ripe in feel that the Pora, and although the acidity still has presence, it’s softer, more gentle. This is a smooth, dense, intense wine that you will want to sink into. 10,000 bottles produced. Drinking Window 2022 – 2038.”


Love Barbaresco?  We have over 60 wines from Barbaresco currently available.
Shop our entire selection, including famous names like La Spinetta, Paitin, Roagna and more on our web store!