Saturday, October 23rd, 2015
Jump Start Sale; Quilceda Creek New Arrival; Day Wines; Montevertine; Vilmart Champagne; Knoll – Arriving Next Week; Domaine Faiveley; Giacomo Conterno Arriving in November; 2 Day Sales
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Jump Start Sale
Hartford Family Winery ‘Hartford’ Zinfandel, Russian River Valley 2013 750ML ($37.95) Was $27.50, Now $24, 36+ bottles available
Antonio Galloni 93 points “The 2013 Zinfandel Russian River Valley is an attractive, boisterous wine to drink now and over the next few years. Dark red cherry, raspberry, spice, and mint inform the juicy finish. The 2013 is gracious, inviting and pretty much impossible to resist.” AG
$24 sale price ends midnight Sunday
This was the lowest listed price, now it’s even lower!
The next best price is $28.98
The average price is $37
Don’t miss our other sale items below!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Offer of the day!
Quilceda Creek
Quilceda Creek ‘CVR’ Red Wine, Columbia Valley 2013 750ML ($69.95) $59 special, 12 bottles available
Wine Advocate 91-93 points “Slightly darker in color than the ’12, the 2013 CVR Columbia Valley Red Wine has plenty of chocolaty dark fruits, licorice and classic Cabernet herb qualities to go with a full-bodied, sexy, seamless and hard-to-resist style on the palate. While it shows the more focused nature of the vintage, it has plenty of fruit and no shortage of tannin, so while billed as the entry-level cuvee, it will still have a decade of longevity.” WA
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $69.95
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
New Arrival Special Feature
Varner El Camino Vineyard Chardonnay, Santa Barbara County 2013 750ML ($29.95) $26 special
Varner Neely Holly’s Cuvee Spring Ridge Vineyard Chardonnay, Santa Cruz Mountains 2013 750ML ($69.95) $59 special
Antonio Galloni 97 points “The 2013 Chardonnay Holly’s Cuvée presents an exotic mélange of tropical-infused fruit, smoke, butter, pastry and orange blossom, all in a rich, creamy style that offers considerable near and medium-term appeal. The oily, viscous finish alone is striking. Once again I am deeply impressed with the Holly’s Cuvée, an absolutely stunning wine that appears to have little in common with the three Varner Chardonnays from which it is composed. Don’t ask me why that is; I don’t really know the answer. In 2013, the blend is 64% Bee Block, 29% Amphitheater Block and 7% Home Block.”
Neely Hidden Block Spring Ridge Vineyard Pinot Noir, Santa Cruz Mountains 2012 750ML ($44.95) $39 special
Antonio Galloni 92 points “Succulent red cherries, raspberries, mint, sweet spices and tobacco open up effortlessly in the 2012 Pinot Noir Hidden Block from Neely. Open-knit and absolutely delicious, the 2012 is gorgeous today and should drink well for the better part of the next decade. Pretty crushed rose petal notes add perfume on the gracious, super-expressive finish.”
Neely ‘Picnic Block’ Spring Ridge Vineyard Pinot Noir, Santa Cruz Mountains 2012 750ML ($44.95) $39 special
Antonio Galloni 93 points “The 2012 Pinot Noir Picnic Block is dark, powerful and mysterious, with ferrous, earthy and gamy notes that add considerable character. The firm tannins could use another year to meld into the wine’s broad-shouldered frame, but I expect the Picnic will always remain virile and imposing in its voice, with distinct elements of rusticity. This is the shallowest of the three Chardonnay soils the Varners work with.”
Neely ‘Upper Picnic’ Spring Ridge Vineyard Pinot Noir, Santa Cruz Mountains 2012 750ML ($44.95) $39 special
Antonio Galloni 93 points “Neely’s 2012 Pinot Noir Upper Picnic is attractive, albeit not as differentiated to the Upper Picnic as it has often been in the past. Dark red cherry, plum, tobacco and spice blossom in an ample, generous Pinot Noir. The Upper Picnic is a bit more polished and less overtly tannic than the Picnic, but the wines are more similar than is often the case, one of the legacies of a vintage that smoothed out differences between vineyard sites throughout California. The creamy, expressive finish suggests the 2012 will drink well with minimal cellaring. This parcel was regrafted in 2006 to own-rooted vines.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Just a reminder about our current shipping specials during this season:
We offer flat rate shipping on any size single order / single shipment
-to Oregon for $17,
-Washington & Idaho for $20,
-and California for $25
These rates do not apply to orders held in storage here for any reason.
Multiple orders consolidated into one shipment do not qualify for flat rate shipping.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Introducing Day Wines
Brianne Day shares some things in common with her wines – they’re both full of personality, charm, and just a touch eccentric. A trip to northern Italy at age 19 left with a “backpack full of wine” and a lingering curiosity. Her start, in 2012, came after working across virtually every facet of the wine business: restaurant buyer, barrel vendor, cellar rat, salesperson… After two years of working harvest in Argentina, France, New Zealand, and Oregon, she felt ready to try her hand at winemaking.
That first vintage came with the help of a winemaker friend who lent space to work and a grower from whom Brianne began purchasing grapes. Since then, she has expanded her repertoire to include a trio of single-vineyard Pinots, a Rhone-style Syrah/Viogner blend, a sparkler, and a beguilingly lovely co-fermented field blend of Cab Franc, Tannat, and Cot. Day employs natural winemaking techniques, using only native yeasts, buying organic fruit, and no fining or filtering. The resultant wines are nothing short of lively, layered, and beautiful.
We’re happy to stock a new lineup from Day Wines, seen below
Day Cancilla Vineyard Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2014 750ML ($37.95) $33 special
Winemaker’s note “Cancilla Vineyard is a lovely certified organic, dry farmed vineyard just north of the Yamhill-Carlton AVA in the northern Willamette Valley. It sits close to the Coast Range, exactly halfway between Tillamook and Portland. In 20144 I was able to purchase six tons of Ken’s beautiful fruit and it was gorgeous. Spicy and floral aromas were abundant throughout fermentation and into the bottle. The fruit was partially destemmed, and fermented without the use of lab created yeasts or sulfur. It went through elevage in 15% new French oak and 85% neutral. The wine was racked once then bottled without fining or filtering on July 15th 2015. 13% ABV.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Day Johan Vineyard Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2014 750ML ($29.95) $26 special
Winemaker’s note “Johan Vineyard is a certified Biodynamic site in the new proposed “Perrydale Hills” AVA. This was my last Pinot pick of 2014 as the site ripens later than most of the Willamette Valley due to proximity to the coast and the Van Duzer corridor. The fruit was brought in, destemmed and fermented without the use of lab-created yeast or sulfur. It was aged in 10 percent new French oak and 90 percent neutral. It was racked twice and bottled unfiltered and unfined on July 15th 2015. 13% ABV.”
Day “Running Bare” Mae’s Vineyard Red Blend, Applegate Valley 2013 750ML ($31.95) $29 special
Winemaker’s note “I have long been interested in the concept of field blends so I was excited to find Tannat, Cabernet franc and Cot (Malbec) all growing in Mae’s Vineyard in the Applegate Valley. The fruit was grown together, picked together, and fermeneted together – so blending happened in the field. 25% of the clusters were whole – the blend is approximately 50% Cabernet franc, and 25% Tannat and Cot each. Native fermentation took 19 days and then the new wine stayed on her skins for another 5 days. The wine was pressed and put into 1 used French barrel, 1 used Hungarian barrel, and 1 new French barrel. Malo-lactic fermentation took a long time – it was completed in late June. The wine was bottled in late January 2015, unfined and unfiltered. 13% ABV.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Montevertine
Halfway beteween Florence and Siena lies a beautiful domaine with perhaps unrivaled devotion to the Sangiovese grape. Montevertine has earned great acclaim as a vanguard Tuscan producer; their detailed labels have adorned the wine lists of some of the most acclaimed restaurants worldwide.
Even so, success did not come overnight. Sergio Manetti purchased the property in 1967 as a vacation home. Manetti thought it’d be nice to make a little wine for friends and family, and so he planted two hectares of vines and built a small cantina. Come 1971, his first bottling effort impressed those he poured it for. Not long after, he jumped on the occasion and devoted himself to winemaking full-time.
In refusing to included Trebbiano in his blend, Montevertine departed from the Chianti Classico consortium, heretofore bottling under the “Rosso di Toscana” nomenclature. Very small amounts of Colorino and Canaiolo are used in their blends, but Sangiovese has always – and likely will always – perform the vast majority of the heavy lifting in Montevertine’s wines.
The estate now includes 18 hectares of vineyards, the oldest of which being the “Pergole Torte” vineyard. These parcels go towards the estate’s benchmark wine and is only bottled in vintages deemed extraordinary. . Signor Manetti has since passed, and his son Sergio is currently in charge alongside Paolo Salvi. The estate continues to be one to watch, to savor, and to share with friends and family, just as Sergio intended.
Montevertine Wines Available Here Now
Montevertine Le Pergole Torte Toscana IGT 2011 750ML ($149.95) $119 special, 36+ bottles available
Antonio Galloni 97 points “A vivid, beautiful wine, the 2011 Pergole Torte is superb. Warm, early-maturing harvests often attenuate the differences between sites, but not here. The old vines weathered the heat better, resulting in a wine that is very much in line with the past, but with more body, amplitude and resonance. Rose petals, bright red stone fruits and mint are some of the many notes that grace the super-expressive finish. The 2011 spent one year in French oak barrels and a second year in cask.” AG
Montevertine Pian del Ciampolo Toscana IGT 2013 750ML ($37.95) $31.90 special, 9 bottles available
Antonio Galloni 91 points “Readers who want to get a sense of the 2013 vintage at Montevertine should check out the Pian del Ciampolo. Translucent and weightless in the glass, the 2013 exudes remarkable purity, especially at this level. Sweet floral notes meld into vibrant red stone fruits in a striking Pian del Ciampolo that delivers the goods, big time. Sweet floral and herbal notes add nuance on the close.” AG
Montevertine Toscana IGT 2012 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 23 bottles available
Antonio Galloni 92 points “The 2012 Montevertine offers lovely depth and freshness, even if the mid-weight structure is that of a challenging vintage. Red cherry, plum, tobacco, wild flowers and mint open up in a soft Montevertine that should give up its charms relatively early. The 2012 Montevertine is the perfect choice for readers who need something to drink while some of the more important vintages of Montevertine and Pergole Torte age in the cellar. Given the interest that is sure to surround the 2013s, the 2012 should also be relatively easy to pick up. The 2012 is not a great Montevertine, but it sure is delicious right now.”
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Arriving Tuesday
Vilmart
Vilmart & Cie Coeur de Cuvee Premier Cru Brut 2007 750ML ($149.95) $125 pre-arrival special
Antonio Galloni 94+ points “Another gorgeous wine, the 2007 Coeur de Cuvée is rich, ample and totally seductive. In 2007, the Coeur de Cuvée is intensely aromatic and highly expressive, with striking textural resonance throughout. Creamy and spherical through to the finish, the 2007 is a model of elegance and sumptuousness. The 2007 can be enjoyed today for its generous personality or cellared for another decade-plus.” AG
Terry Theise notes “This will continue Laurent’s streak of making the best wine in Champagne from “difficult” vintages, and indeed this is as good as the GREAT 2001—and maybe better. It brings a nettle-y green sting to the magnificent grace and concentration of this ever-improving wine. The length is replete with pepper, leather and verbena; the salt and stocky savor are mindbending—dried porcini, rare duck breast, clove and satsumas, all into a seemingly endless finish you want scoop back out of your mouth and drink again.”
Also Available Here Now from Vilmart
Vilmart & Cie Coeur de Cuvee Premier Cru Brut 2005 750ML ($179.95) $119 special, 1 bottle available
Stephen Tanzer 93 points “(made from a blend of 80% chardonnay and 20% pinot noir; aged on its less for 78 months and disgorged in December 2012): Bright yellow. Sexy, smoke-tinged aromas of ripe citrus fruits, poached pear and candied ginger. Spicy, penetrating and pure, offering intense Meyer lemon and bitter pear skin flavors plus hints of honeysuckle and chamomile. Shows impressive urgency and focus on the finish, with the floral note echoing.” ST
Wine Advocate 93 points “Named for its being derived solely from the heart of the pressing, Vilmart’s 2005 Brut Coeur de Cuvee – aged in small barrels one-third each new, once- and twice-previously used and only disgorged after 7 years – opens with an expressive bouquet of iris, gentian, and hyacinth, behind which come intimations of the noble mushrooms, oyster liquor, and nut oils that go on to inform an at once satiny and vivacious palate. White pepper and crystalline mineral impingements in the mouthwateringly mineral and umami-rich finish testify to a transparency, clarity and buoyancy seldom found in the often problematically earthy and diffuse Champagnes of this vintage. Feel free to follow this for several more years.” WA
Vilmart & Cie Grand Cellier d’Or Premier Cru Brut 2007 1.5L ($299.95) $239 special, 3 magnums available
Wine Spectator 94 points “A skein of ground spice unravels through flavors of black cherry coulis, crème de cassis, honeycomb and brioche in this elegant version. Mouthwatering acidity and a lightly chalky texture push through to the lasting finish. Drink now through 2025.” WS
This is the only magnum listing in the USA today!
Vilmart & Cie Grand Cellier Premier Cru Brut NV 750ML ($69.95) $59 special, 2 bottles available
Wine Spectator 94 points “An explosion of flavor, with ripe nectarine, lemon curd, clover honey, jasmine and grilled nut notes set on a firm, fine china–like frame. Best from 2017 through 2025.” WS
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Weingut Emmerich Knoll
Arriving Next Week
Located in the town of Unterloiben in the Wachau of Austria, Weingut Knoll occupies some of Austria’s most celebrated vineyards. Across 15 hectares, a stunning array of (predominantly) Riesling and Gruner Veltiner is cultivated by third-generation members of the Knoll family: Emmerich III oversees the cellar, and August is head of vineyard work.
The estate produces over 25 cuvees each year, with over half of them Rieslings – relatively many for the Gruner-thirsty Austrian. The Rieslings are planted mostly on granite bedrock, while the Gruner plantings live higher up the banks of the Danube on a rich, mixed topsoil of granite and loess.
The wines of Knoll are marked with beautifully textural, layered, aromatic qualities. We’re excited to soon have them in the shop!
Weingut Emmerich Knoll Wines Arriving Next Week
Weingut Emmerich Knoll Loibner Riesling Federspiel, Wachau 2013 750ML ($34.95) $29 pre-arrival special
Weingut Emmerich Knoll Gelber Traminer Smaragd, Wachau 2013 500ML ($49.95) $39 pre-arrival special
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Weingut Emmerich Knoll Riesling Ried Pfaffenberg Auslese 2013 500ML ($69.95) $59 pre-arrival special
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Weingut Emmerich Knoll ‘Vinothekfullung’ Gruner Veltliner Smaragd, Wachau 2013 750ML ($79.95) $69 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 94 points “Always made with botrytis grapes, the 2013 Gruner Veltliner Smaragd Loibner Vinothekfullung offers a very clear and intense, though noble and fresh, aroma of honeydew melon, pineapples and hints of lychee. Very rich in extract and highly concentrated on the palate, this opulent yet still well-balanced wine is one to be enjoyed in small sips rather than in bottles (at least when it’s so young). This is an impressively rich and velvety textured wine, indeed, though it lacks the tension and freshness of the Schütt at the moment.” WA
Weingut Emmerich Knoll Ried Kellerberg Riesling Smaragd, Wachau 2013 750ML ($79.95) $69 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 95 points “Grapefruit, lemon and green tea flavors, along with hyacinth notes on the nose, welcome you to the 2013 Dürnsteiner Riesling Smaragd Ried Kellerberg, another monument in the Knoll portfolio. Pure, rich and elegant on the palate this enervating mineral, vibrant and complex Riesling reveals a great elegance and lingering salty finish. Purity and terroir in the Wachau? It really exists! This Kellerberg Riesling is long!” WA
Weingut Emmerich Knoll Ried Schutt Riesling Smaragd, Wachau 2013 750ML ($79.95) $69 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 95+ points “Purity, density and minerality – this trilogy seems to be the leitmotif of the 2013 Dürnsteiner Riesling Smaragd Ried Schütt, which reveals a clear and deep bouquet of ripe fruit aromas and some vegetal notes. Pure and elegant on the palate, the Schütt Riesling combines complexity and intensity with elegance and persistence for a great and expressive Riesling monument of the Wachau. It is even finer than the Kellerberg Riesling Smaragd.” WA
Weingut Emmerich Knoll ‘Vinothekfullung’ Loibner Riesling Smaragd, Wachau 2013 750ML ($99.95) $79 pre-arrival special
This is the only listing in the USA today!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Domaine Faiveley
Established in 1825, Domaine Faiveley has holdings in many of the most esteemed Grand and Premier Cru vineyards. Headquartered in Nuits-St.-George, they are among the largest vineyard owners in Burgundy – the estate includes over 120 hectares of vineyards. Grand Cru holdings account for 12 hectares, and 27 hectares are across Premier Cru – not bad for an operation which began solely as negociants!
As long-time champions of their region, Georges Faiveley and Camille Rodier co-organized the “Confrérie des Chevaliers du Tastevin” in 1934 as a means of promoting the top wines of Burgundy. In the years since, their efforts to present the uniqueness of sites ranging from Monthelie and Corton-Charlemagne to Batard, Meursault, and Echezeaux.
In late 2013, the Faiveley family made a surprise announcement that they had purchased 20 hectaures of vines from Domaine Dupont-Tisserandot in Gevrey-Chabertin. Under the leadership of Erwan Faiveley, the domaine’s stated goal has been to increase the family’s vineyard ownership in order to enjoy complete control of all aspects of winemaking across their entire range of cuvees.
The cellars at Domaine Faiveley recently underwent a complete renovation, with a renewed approach to winemaking beginning in 2007 (a change in barrel suppliers was chief among the changes). Harvest and pruning is performed in teams, with a meticulous focus on pruning and debudding.
Domaine & Joseph Faiveley 2013s Arriving November 3rd
Domaine Faiveley Mercurey Clos Rochette Monopole Blanc 2013 750ML ($39.95) $29 pre-arrival special
James Suckling 92 points “This is very powerful for a white from this appellation. Full body, excellent structure. Plenty on the finish. More like a premier cru Meursault. Worth finding. Drink now.” JS
Joseph Faiveley Meursault Blagny Premier Cru 2013 750ML ($89.95) $69 pre-arrival special
James Suckling 91 points “A big and solid Blagny with dried apple, pineapple and oyster shell character. Full body, pretty fruit. Lots of tension. Drink or hold.” JS
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Joseph Faiveley Les Preuses, Chablis Grand Cru 2013 750ML ($99.95) $79 pre-arrival special
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 92 points “Bright, pale yellow. Honey, anise and peat on the slightly exotic, smoky nose. Rich, tactile and ripe in the mouth, with strong acid spine to support the white peach, Meyer lemon, pear skin, iron and smoked meat flavors. This savory, generous grand cru is about much more than simply fruit. Finishes ripe, supple and long” ST
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Joseph Faiveley Bourgogne Rouge 2013 750ML ($29.95) $21.90 pre-arrival special
Domaine Faiveley Domaine de la Framboisiere Mercurey ‘La Framboisiere’ 2013 750ML ($44.95) $39 pre-arrival special
James Suckling 89 points “A refined and delicious wine with strawberry, blueberry and lemon character. Medium body, fine tannins and a clean finish. 15% new wood. Drink or hold.” JS
Joseph Faiveley Gevrey-Chambertin 2013 750ML ($79.95) $69 pre-arrival special
James Suckling 90 points “Pretty firmness and spiciness with subtle fruit. Medium to full body, delicate tannins and a fresh finish. Made from 12 different micro-areas. Drink or hold.” JS
Domaine Faiveley Nuits-Saint-Georges 2013 750ML ($79.95) $69 pre-arrival special
Domaine Faiveley Les Porets-Saint-Georges, Nuits-Saint-Georges Premier Cru 2013 750ML ($119.95) $89 pre-arrival special
James Suckling 91 points “Pretty dark fruits such as blackberry and blueberry with hints of spice. Full body, tight center palate, and fine tannins. Better in a year or two, but very delicate, firm and delicious.” JS
Domaine Faiveley Aux Chaignots, Nuits-Saint-Georges Premier Cru 2013 750ML ($119.95) $99 pre-arrival special
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 90-92 points “(vinified with 10% whole clusters): Bright red-ruby. Pure, high-pitched aromas of blackberry, blueberry, violet and crushed rock, plus a piquant hint of pepper. At once sappy and silky on the palate, showing a richer and more pliant texture than the preceding Côte de Beaune samples. Crushed dark berry flavors display excellent lift on the long, ripely tannic back end.” ST
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $115.99
Domaine Faiveley Les Damodes, Nuits-Saint-Georges Premier Cru 2013 750ML ($119.95) $99 pre-arrival special
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 90-92 points “Deep red with ruby highlights. Less fruity and more chocolatey and spicy on the nose than the Chaignots, even a bit exotic. Supple, sweet and complex on the palate, showing very good concentration to its flavors of dark fruits and aromatic spices. The premier crus from Nuits-Saint-Georges are aging in 35% to 40% new barrels in 2013, with some of the premier crus from farther north getting as much as 55%.” ST
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Domaine Faiveley La Combe aux Moines, Gevrey-Chambertin Premier Cru 2013 750ML ($119.95) $99 pre-arrival special
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 91-93 points “Healthy bright red. Classic cool Gevrey aromas of black fruits, licorice, mint and game, with lovely floral lift. Tight and youthfully imploded–much less sweet and pliant than the Amoureuses that preceded it. This east/northeast-facing site was picked at the end, along with the Corton-Charlemagne. In a distinctly cool style, finishing with lovely primary perfume.” ST
Domaine Faiveley Les Cazetiers, Gevrey-Chambertin Premier Cru 2013 750ML ($149.95) $119 pre-arrival special
James Suckling 92 points “This has some concentration and ripeness with blueberry and blackberry. Full to medium body, firm tannins and a long finish. Extremely attractive. Drink or hold.” JS
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 91-93 points “Deep, bright red. Brooding aromas of redcurrant, smoked meat and animal fur, plus a suggestion of wet match. Intensely flavored and surprisingly high-pitched; dominated today by its brisk acidity and underlying minerality. The very long, rising finish displays outstanding energy to support a graceful evolution in bottle.” ST
Domaine Faiveley Corton ‘Clos des Cortons’ Faiveley Monopole Grand Cru 2013 750ML ($279.95) $219 pre-arrival special
James Suckling 94 points “A complete and serious wine for the vintage with wonderful density of fruit and ultra-fine tannins. Full-bodied, muscular and very long. Better in 2018.” JS
Burghound 93-95 points “Don’t miss! A generous dollop of moderately toasty oak mixes with the highly layered nose of black cherry, cassis, warm earth and an impressive array of sauvage and underbrush notes. There is excellent richness to the overtly powerful and muscular flavors that possess an imposing sense of scale that continues onto the textured and mouth coating finish. Like several of the wines in the range in 2013 this is a big but not really massive wine that retains a sense of proportion even though the underlying structure is quite firm. This will need plenty of patience however.” BH
Domaine Faiveley Echezeaux Grand Cru 2013 750ML ($299.95) $259 pre-arrival special
Burghound 92-94 points “A notably spicy and attractively floral-suffused nose features notes of plum, rose petal, violets and ripe red currants. There is a seductive texture to the openly rich and generously proportioned flavors that retain a lovely sense of vibrancy on the lightly mineral-inflected finish that delivers both fine depth and length. This is a relatively refined Ech thanks to the fine grain of the supporting tannins.” BH
Domaine Faiveley Latricieres-Chambertin Grand Cru 2013 750ML ($299.95) $269 pre-arrival special
Burghound 93-95 points “Don’t miss! Here the reduction is sufficiently pronounced to flatten the fruit and render it hard to evaluate. There is superb intensity and minerality to the beautifully well-delineated middle weight flavors that also possess plenty of that lovely underlying tension on the balanced and impressively persistent finish. As the best example of Latricières always are this is a wonderful combination off finesse and focused power. Terrific.” BH
Domaine Faiveley Mazis-Chambertin Grand Cru 2013 750ML ($349.95) $299 pre-arrival special
Burghound 92-95 points “Reduction. There is outstanding richness to the beautifully textured, powerful, concentrated and energetic large-scaled flavors that terminate in a driving and explosively long finish where a touch of wood surfaces. This is a big but not inelegant Mazis with a subtle minerality that adds a touch of refinement to the very firm palate impression. Patience required yet this will be approachable young sooner than the Latricières.” BH
Domaine Faiveley Chambertin Clos de Beze Grand Cru 2013 750ML ($399.95) $359 pre-arrival special
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 93-95 points “Deep red with ruby highlights. Knockout nose offers scents of dried red berries, flowers, licorice and game–“like a mix of Latricières and Mazis but with more elegance,” says Hervet. Wonderfully silky and seamless in the mouth, but with a youthful medicinal reserve to its sappy dark fruit and game flavors. The vibrant, extremely long finish features suave, fine-grained tannins and an element of vibrancy that leaves the taste buds quivering.” ST
Browse the 27 Faiveley wines we have in stock by visiting our web site: www.vinopoliswineshop.com
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Giacomo Conterno
Arriving in November
Giacomo Conterno Cerretta Barbera d’Alba 2013 750ML ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival special
Antonio Galloni 92-94 points “The 2013 Barbera d’Alba Cerretta is fabulous. Dark and explosive on the palate, the 2013 has more than enough depth to stand up to the brilliant, incisive acidity of the year. Pomegranate, raspberry jam, wild flowers and spices flesh out in an impeccable, explosive Barbera endowed with real pedigree. Today, the Cerretta offer a bit better balance than the Francia.” AG
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Giacomo Conterno Cascina Francia Barbera d’Alba 2013 750ML ($59.95) $41.90 pre-arrival special
Case-12 Giacomo Conterno Cascina Francia Barbera d’Alba 2013 750ML ($499.95) $449 pre-arrival special (that’s only $37.42/bottle!)
Antonio Galloni 91-93 points “Conterno’s 2013 Barbera d’Alba Francia is dark, piercing and intensely mineral. Graphite, smoke, black cherries and crushed rocks open up in a powerful, intense Barbera that is going to need at least a few years in bottle to settle down. The Francia Barbera is usually quite savory and mineral. In 2013, those qualities are pushed forward, with the vibrancy acidity of the vintage front and center. The 2013 will appeal most to readers who enjoy pulsating, tense Barberas. Hints of violet and lavender add the final nuances of complexity.” AG
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $44.97
Giacomo Conterno Cascina Francia, Barolo DOCG 2011 750ML ($219.95) $199 pre-arrival special
James Suckling 98 points “Glorious aromas of roses, whole white truffles, earth and raspberry. Dusty. Subtle rosemary and lemon grass too. Full-bodied, tight and structured. Yet it opens and caresses every inch of your palate. So gorgeous now to drink. No Monfortino in this year; so absolutely amazing because it all went in here. Wow. Drink or hold.”
Antonio Galloni 94-96 points “A model of pure sensuality and grace, the 2011 Barolo Francia is utterly captivating today. An exquisite bouquet laced with crushed flowers and spices melds into a core of silky fruit in a deceptively mid-weight, regal Barolo. A host of chalky, mineral and savory notes – all signatures of Francia – underpin the fruit. The 2011 is polished and graceful to the core. In 2011, there is no Monfortino. Roberto Conterno opted to blend in that cask with his Francia casks. For about as long as I have known him, Conterno has been fervent in his belief that Nebbiolo can often overcome rain, even heavy rain, while excess heat and dryness are more challenging. Given that view, it’s hardly a surprise Conterno did not make a Monfortino in 2003, 2007 or 2009. Next to the Francia Barolos in those vintages, the 2011 is quite a bit more lifted in style.”
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Two Day Sale
Sale Ends Sunday at Midnight
R. Lopez de Heredia Vina Tondonia Reserva, Rioja DOCa 2003 750ML ($47.95) Was $38, Now $33, 36+ bottles available
Wine Spectator 91 points “Cigar box, cedar and balsamic notes frame cherry, raisin and licorice flavors in this lean, firm red. Displays grip and focus. A traditional style. Drink now through 2023.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $43
Tenuta delle Terre Nere ‘Feudo di Mezzo’ 2012 750ML ($47.95) Was $41.90, Now $36, 20 bottles available
James Suckling 94 points “I love the dried-strawberry, chocolate, nut and plum character to this. Full body, dusty tannins and a juicy, fresh finish. Excellent acidity, too. Better in 2016.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Passopisciaro Contrada P Porcaria 2011 750ML ($89.95) Was $79, Now $69, 5 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 92+ points “Good bright red. Complex, highly perfumed scents of red cherry, raspberry, marzipan, iron, white flowers and peppery herbs. Sweeter in the middle and more powerful than all the other cru bottlings from Passopisciaro in 2011, but with lively spicy lift. Finishes ripe and long, with mouthcoating tannins, a hint of vanilla and repeating red cherry and berry notes. A lovely wine, seemingly less austere than the other 2011s here. The Porcaria cru area is my favorite, with its north-exposed 80-year-old vineyards, as the grapes in this section of Etna benefit from the longest, slowest ripening period and often give wines of mindblowing complexity.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
F.X. Pichler Durnsteiner Kellerberg Gruner Veltliner Smaragd 2012 750ML ($89.95) Was $79, Now $69, 12 bottles available
Joel Payne-Vinous 94 points “Unctuous aromas of tropical fruit, spicy tobacco and white pepper. Opulent, juicy apricot extract emerges on the palate, where it’s joined by strong minerality. This rich wine offers a delicate interplay of sweetness and acidity interwoven with a wet stone character. Excellent potential.”
Wine Advocate 94 points “The Pichlers’ 2012 Gruner Veltliner Smaragd Kellerberg boasts a luscious pear and apple fruit fundament backed by a lush, glycerol-rich texture, with complementary overtones of honeysuckle and lily of the valley perfume. Yet for all of the richness my aforementioned description implies, this also boasts a remarkable sense of primary juiciness as well as lift, leading to a finish of refined, polished, succulent length, stimulatingly suffused with crushed stone and pungent Szechuan pepper. As another demonstration of how important is the character of an individual vineyard in ways that can’t be captured analytically, this wine is well over 14% in alcohol despite its buoyancy, whereas the corresponding Liebenberg at 13.5% reminds you of its alcohol and lacks levity. “One factor,” observes Lucas Pichler “is that Kellerberg is in the shadow after mid-afternoon while Liebenberg gets sun well into the evening.” Plan to follow this Kellerberg through at least 2025.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Joh. Jos. Prum Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Spatlese 2008 750ML ($44.95) Was $38, Now $33, 35 bottles available
Wine Advocate 92 points “The Prums’ 2008 Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Spatlese is less obviously rich but even more remarkably delicate than the corresponding Zeltinger Sonnenuhr. Here too, we have creaminess of texture allied to refreshing brightness. Iris, buddleia, apple, and pineapple are tinged with enticing salinity, and one is drawn back infectiously for the next sip, as this wine’s intrigue and understated charm work their magic. Over the next three decades, I predict that this will remain the most intimate and delicate of the vintage’s Prum Spatlesen.” WA
Stephen Tanzer 91 points “($44) Apricot pit, lime zest and clove on the nose. The delicate nectarine fruit and creamy texture are held aloft by nutmeg and mineral salts. Finishes bright, lively and satisfying, with a spicy character provided by the slate.” ST
Giacomo Borgogno & Figli No Name 2011 750ML ($49.95) Was $41.90, Now $36, 36 bottles available
Antonio Galloni 90 points “The 2011 Langhe Nebbiolo No Name is a pretty wine to drink now and over the next handful of years. Delicate and medium in body, the 2011 is laced with expressive violets, rose petals, mint and sweet red cherries. Dusty tannins complement the otherwise supple finish.” AG
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Nino Negri Vigneto Fracia, Valtellina Superiore DOCG 2010 750ML ($39.95) Was $33, Now $28, 20 bottles available
Wine Spectator 90 points “Floral and tobacco notes lead the way in this light-bodied version, with supple tannins. Tangy acidity backs flavors of macerated mulberry and plum fruit, incense and iron. Drink now through 2020.” WS
This was the lowest listed price, now it’s even lower!
The next best price is $37.44
The average price is $39
Bruna Grimaldi Badarina Vigna Regnola, Barolo DOCG 2010 750ML ($59.95) Was $41.90, Now $38, 36+ bottles available
Stephen Tanzer– Vinous 92+ points “this 1.5-hectare plot, planted on shallow white soil at a high altitude of 420 meters in Serralunga, is the estate’s “original” vineyard, where Bruna Grimaldi’s grandfather was born; the only Barolo for which Grimaldi uses cappello sommerso for extraction): Medium-deep red. Complex aromas of raspberry, truffle, smoke and underbrush. Large-scaled, concentrated and rich, offering powerful, lightly medicinal flavors of raspberry and strawberry complicated by licorice and menthol. This very young wine finishes dry and broad, with serious granular tannins calling for extended aging. The Badarina spends a full 36 months in oak and is released a year later than the other Barolos of its vintage. (Grimaldi kept a bit of this fruit in both 2010 and 2009 to make a reserve bottling, but the 2009 will not be released until 2015.)” ST
Domaine de la Grange des Peres, IGP Pays de l’Herault 750ML ($119.95) Was $99, Now $89, 36+ bottles available
Wine Spectator 91 points “A distinctive red, this has dried red berry and meaty notes supported by a tangy acidity. With lightly chewy tannins, this shows savory spice, bitter herb and fresh earth flavors on the finish. Syrah, Mourvèdre, Cabernet Sauvignon and Counoise. Drink now through 2017. 165 cases imported.” WS
This was the lowest listed price, now it’s even lower!
The next best price is $109.98
The average price is $122
Serafin Pere & Fils Gevrey-Chambertin 2012 750ML ($99.95) Was $59, Now $49, 36+ available
Stephen Tanzer 88-90 points “Medium red. Smoky strawberry and a whiff of gibier on the nose. The palate shows an almost liqueur-like sweetness to the creamy flavors of red fruits, coffee and mocha. Sappy acidity and substantial tannins give shape to this lush village wine.” ST
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $79.99
Louis Jadot Nuits-Saint-Georges 2011 750ML ($52.95) Was $41.90, Now $36, 24 bottles available
Burghound 87-89 points “An earthy and quite somber nose of dark berries, underbrush and cassis aromas slides into attractively round and supple flavors that possess good volume before culminating in a delicious if mildly rustic finish. The tannins are ripe and well-integrated and this is a classic Nuits villages in character and style.” BH
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Have a nice weekend!