VinopolPick Thursday – New Arrivals

These diverse (and illustrious) wines just arrived to our store yesterday. Some of these are re-arrivals, having sold out in their debut here:

Shafer Vineyards was founded in 1972 by John Shafer after he moved to the Stags Leap District of Napa Valley.  The family developed the existing vineyard, replanting poor vines where needed and expanding the site along the steep hills.  They produce several highly sought-after wines and in 1993, their Cabernet outranked several First Growth Bordeaux wines in an international blind tasting event.  The Shafer Relentless is a rich and lush coferment of Syrah and Petite Sirah from their estate vineyard.  It is named in tribute to one of their winemaker’s who the family believes helped increase the quality of their wines.  This 2008 was rated Wine Spectator’s Wine of the Year in 2012.  Shafer Relentless Syrah Napa 2008 ($199.95) $169 special
Wine Spectator’s #1 Wine of the Year 2012
Wine Spectator 96 points “The aromatics are full and distinct, with loads of dark berry and charcoal, then this unfolds touches of black cherry, raspberry and red and black licorice on the palate, sailing along and firming nicely on the finish. Shows all the muscle, density, richness and range of flavor found in many Shafer reds, yet takes it to another level in this vintage. The best Relentless yet. Syrah and Petite Sirah. Best from 2013 through 2023”Louis Jadot

Maison Louis Jadot was founded in 1859.  Today, Jadot is one of the largest negociants as well as producing a significant portion of wine from their vineyard holdings.  Since 2010, Frederic Barnier is the director of winemaking.  Their Batard-Montrachet Grand Cru is located between the villages of Puligny Montrachet and Chassagne Montrachet.  The vineyard soil is rich in chalk.  The 100% Chardonnay wine is fermented and aged over 18 months in oak.  The resulting wine is rich with floral, spice and apple notes.  The Chapelle-Chambertin Grand Cru is a Domaine wine that is aged for 18 months in barrel.  It is a more delicate red with a soft texture yet a rich perfume.

Louis Jadot Batard-Monrachet Grand Cru 2011 ($319.95) $249 special 
Wine Spectator 95 points “Butter, floral and spice aromas and rich peach and melon flavors come together with the creamy texture in this intense and opulent white. Harmonious and expressive, but this will be even better in two to three years. Offers a lingering, complex aftertaste, where a mineral element emerges. Best from 2016 through 2027.”
John Gilman 95 points “The 2011 Bâtard-Montrachet from Louis Jadot is another brilliant wine in the making, soaring from the glass in a deep and very youthful aromatic blend of apple, lime zest, tangerine, complex soil tones, a touch of iodine and a gentle base of new wood. On the palate the wine is pure, full-bodied and very powerfully-built, with a rock solid core, snappy acids and stunning focus and grip on the very young, structured and magical finish. A very pure and racy example of young Bâtard-Montrachet that has been built to last!…”

Louis Jadot Chapelle-Chambertin Grand Cru 2010 ($219.95) $199 special
Stephen Tanzer 95 points “Good full, medium red.  Expressive, nuanced aromas of strawberry, raspberry, crushed stone, smoke and flowers.  Glyceral yet light on its feet, with a suave, silky texture to its vibrant, savory red fruit, floral and mineral flavors.  Not at all a superripe style:  really perks up the palate and leaves the mouth refreshed on the very long, sweet/savory finish.  This classy grand cru finishes with captivating perfumed lift.”

Henri Boillot

Henri Boillot is the fifth generation winemaker in his family.  Since 2005, he has owned and managed the Domaine founded by his grandfather.  The vineyards are sustainably grown and strictly pruned to reduce yields.  The handpicked grapes are hand sorted twice and completely destemmed.  His 2010 Volnay and 2010 Pommard Domaine bottlings are both aged for 18 months in barrel.  The Volnay is floral and earthy with dark fruit notes while the Pommard is richer with dark coffee and chocolate notes alongside black cherries and fine tannins.

Domaine Henri Boillot Pommard 2010 ($59.95) $49 special
Antonio Galloni 90-92 points “The 2010 Pommard is pure sensuality. Sweet roses, dark red fruit and spices wrap around the palate in this supple, refined wine. The Pommard impresses for its elegance and richness. It is a beautiful and highly representative 2010. Sweet floral notes linger on the finish. The Pommard is made from vines in Clos Blanc, a 1er Cru vineyard. – Henri Boillot turned out a superb set of 2010 reds. Best of all, readers won’t have to shell out a fortune to enjoy them, as a number of the more modestly priced wines far exceed the quality of their respective appellations”

Domaine Henri Boillot Volnay 2010 ($59.95) $49 special
Burghound 90 points ‘OUTSTANDING TOP VALUE’ “This is more aromatically reserved with an elegant nose of red and dark pinot fruit, earth and an interesting note of smoked tea. There is even more refinement to the mouth feel of the lightly mineral-infused medium-bodied flavors that possess a dusty and rather serious finish of impeccable balance and persistence. This may be labeled as a villages but it’s easily of 1er quality.”

Donnhoff

 

Donnhoff German Rieslings are undoubtedly one of the greats.  Since the mid-18th century, the Donnhoff family has been producing wine in Germany.  Their current winemaker, Helmut Donnhoff, took over in 1971.  Helmut has embraced the new emphasis of the great German winemaking association (VDP) of producing dry Rieslings from the best parcels in the best vineyards.  These wines are labeled Grosses Gewächs (Great Growth).  These are the dry Grand Crus of the German Riesling world made from grapes at the ripeness level of Auslese wines.  They are pure expressions of the terroir of the best vineyard parcels, sustainably grown with strict pruning regimes. The wine is a stunning balance of body, texture, alcohol and fruit.  This wine is from the 2011 vintage, a great vintage for Germany which brought extreme weather and resulted in excellent ripeness balanced by moderate acidity.Weingut Donnhoff Niederhauser Hermannshohle Riesling Grosses Gewachs 2011 ($99.95) $79 special
John Gilman 97+ points “Not to be outdone by the Dellchen, the 2011 Hermannshöhle Grosses Gewächs is also profound! The deep and completely kaleidoscopic nose soars from the glass in a magical blend of white cherries, pink grapefruit, crystalline minerality, citrus peel, lemongrass and a smoky topnote. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied, pure and Porsche-like in the passing lane, with stunning mid-palate depth, ripe, racy acids, brilliant focus and grip and a very, very pure and very long and elegant finish. A seamless and utterly stunning young wine! 2020-2050.”Orma

Tuscan native Antonio Moretti, owner of several distinguished estates around Italy, founded the Orma estate in the Bolgheri region.  This region is famous for its rebellious winemakers producing fascinating wines from international varieties such as Merlot and Cabernet.  The estate produces one wine from its 13.5 acre vineyard.  It is predominately Merlot, with Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc and is aged in French barriques.  Enjoy with roasted meats and flavorful braises.  The 2010 vintage is lovely now, but expect it to develop in bottle for several more years.

Podere Orma ‘Orma’ IGT BOLGHERI 2010 ($69.95) $59 special
James Suckling 96 points “There is something so subtle and rich here with chocolate, red chilies and ripe plums on the nose. Full body, with velvety tannins and a juicy finish. This is so delicious now but better in 2017. Best ever from here. A blend of 50% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Cabernet Franc. From Bolgheri. Just next door to Ornellaia.”

Produttori del Barbaresco

Produttori del Barbaresco re-established the growers cooperative Cantine Sociali to help local grape growers pool resources.  The winery produces several single vineyard wines in exceptional years as well as their DOCG Barbaresco wine, a blend from all of their vineyard sites.  As a means of encouraging the members to produce the best grapes, growers are paid based on the quality instead of quantity.  Aldo Vacca is the current director of Produttori.  Wines from the Rabaja vineyard are complex with silky tannins and dark fruit aromas.  The 2008 produced an elegant and long-lived example of Produttori at its best.

Produttori del Barbaresco Rabaja Riserva 2008 ($89.95) $77 special
Wine Advocate 96+ points “The 2008 Barbaresco Riserva Rabaja is utterly magnificent in this vintage. Usually a powerhouse, the 2008 is incredibly refined to the point it seems to literally hover on the palate. It is a wine of exquisite grace and beauty. All the elements are in place. I could describe the aromas and flavors, but that would be doing this majestic Barbaresco a huge disservice. Ultimately, the 2008 Rabaja, is all about textural finesse and pure elegance. This is another breathtaking wine from the Produttori. A king among kings. Anticipated maturity: 2018-2048.”