In This Newsletter:
Volnay Sale
Collector’s Corner: Priorat
“Often compared to the muscley Pinot Noirs of its neighbor Pommard, Volnay produces smooth-structured, perfumed wines of surprising longevity – the archetypal “iron fist in a velvet glove”.” – Wine Searcher
Luxury is Calling, Will You Answer?
Stock Up & Save On:
Volnay
Volnay Sale
Collector’s Corner: Priorat
“Often compared to the muscley Pinot Noirs of its neighbor Pommard, Volnay produces smooth-structured, perfumed wines of surprising longevity – the archetypal “iron fist in a velvet glove”.” – Wine Searcher
Luxury is Calling, Will You Answer?
Stock Up & Save On:
Volnay
In the Côte de Beaune region of Burgundy lies a village adored for its elegant Pinot Noirs: Volnay. While its sister-village, Pommard, turns heads with its muscle and punch, the seductive wines of Volnay are beguiling for their silky-smoothness and age-ability. Enchanting, entrancing, and hypnotically delicious, we love these wines for their whisper-light touch.
Though no Grand Cru vineyards are found with the village, you’ll be more than impressed by the Premier Cru vineyards, which cover more than half of the vineyard acreage. Within those crus, one finds limestone-rich soils kissed by long, sunny days. Within your glass, you’ll swoon over the haunting elegance of its power.
Fall in love by joining us in our three-day sale on all things Volnay.
5% off any 3-7 in-stock bottles of Volnay
10% off any 8+ or more in-stock bottles of Volnay
Discount will not display online or in your cart,
We will adjust your invoice before processing your charge.
Sale ends Monday, September 15th at 9 am Pacific.
10% off any 8+ or more in-stock bottles of Volnay
Discount will not display online or in your cart,
We will adjust your invoice before processing your charge.
Sale ends Monday, September 15th at 9 am Pacific.
We offer twenty-two in-stock Volnay options on sale now, including:
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Domaine Bitouzet-Prieur Volnay 2020 750ml Displayed Price: $59, that’s $56.05 at 5% off and $53.10 at 10% off, 2 bottles in stock now
Burghound 89-91 points “Bourgeon de cassis aromas precede the sleeker and more refined medium weight flavors that possess a beguiling mid-palate texture before concluding in a youthfully austere, more compact and structured finale. This too is lovely but here at least a few years of patience will be necessary. (Drink starting 2026).”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Fernand & Laurent Pillot Volnay 2020 750ml Displayed Price: $59, that’s $56.05 at 5% off and $53.10 at 10% off, 3 bottles in stock now
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 90 points “Derived from four parcels, and including around one-third premier cru fruit, the 2020 Volnay Village exhibits aromas of wild berries, dark chocolate, rich soil tones and forest floor. Medium to full-bodied, velvety and vibrant, with fine concentration and attractive purity of fruit, this is a real success.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Domaine Faiveley Fremiets, Volnay Premier Cru 2019 750ml Displayed Price: $99, that’s $94.05 at 5% off and $89.10 at 10% off, 4 bottles in stock now
James Suckling 93 points “Perhaps this warm and generous wine, with a pronounced rooty character, is not the most charming Volnay out there, but it has very good depth and excellent harmony, thanks to the fine tannins. The generous finish pulls you back for more. Drink or hold.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Domaine Bernard & Thierry Glantenay Les Brouillards, Volnay Premier Cru 2020 750ml Displayed Price: $99, that’s $94.05 at 5% off and $89.10 at 10% off, 9 bottles in stock now
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2020 Volnay 1er Cru Les Brouillards is promising, mingling aromas of cherries, berries and plums with hints of rose petals, orange rind and spices. Medium to full-bodied, velvety and concentrated, it’s lively and seamless, with powdery tannins and a saline finish.”
Domaine Louis Boillot Les Angles, Volnay Premier Cru 2021 750ml Displayed Price: $119, that’s $113.05 at 5% off and $107.10 at 10% off, 7 bottles in stock now
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2021 Volnay 1er Cru Les Angles wafts from the glass with scents of cherries, raspberries, red plums, rose petals and orange zest. Medium to full-bodied, supple and layered, with sweet, powdery tannins that are largely concealed by its succulent core of fruit, it’s fine-boned and mineral.”
Domaine Louis Boillot Les Angles, Volnay Premier Cru 2022 750ml Displayed Price: $99, that’s $94.05 at 5% off and $89.10 at 10% off, 15 bottles in stock now
Neal Martin-Vinous 90-92 points “The 2022 Volnay Les Grands Poisots is now the last parcel to be picked to avoid rusticity. It has dark berry fruit on the nose, pastilles-like but with tertiary notes bubbling up with time. The palate is medium-bodied with blackberry, redcurrant and brown spices. With fine depth, taut and fresh on the finish, this is a definite improvement from last year’s wine.”
Domaine des Comtes Lafon Volnay Santenots-du-Milieu, Volnay Premier Cru 2020 750ml Displayed Price: $219, that’s $208.05 at 5% off and $197.10 at 10% off, 8 bottles in stock now
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 93-95 points “The 2020 Volnay 1er Cru Les Santenots-du-Milieu is excellent, wafting from the glass with a deep bouquet of wild berries, plums and cassis mingled with hints of spices, grilled meats and rose petals. Medium to full-bodied, layered and concentrated, it’s deep and tightly wound, with powdery structuring tannins and lively acids. This is a serious Santenots that will require some bottle age, and it’s among the best that I can remember tasting chez Lafon over the last decade.”
Domaine Pierre Morey Santenots, Volnay Premier Cru 2022 750ml Displayed Price: $179, that’s $170.05 at 5% off and $161.10 at 10% off, 4 bottles in stock now
Decanter 94 points “The Volnay Santenots from Domaine Pierre Morey is a delightful wine with a deep ruby colour bright ripe cherry fruit with floral notes and a savoury gamey edge. The texture is fresh with firm tannins and a rewardingly long finish. The grapes are from 0.34 hectares in Plures next to the vines of the Hospices. However a third of this is now replanted leaving only 18 ares. The soil is very stony here; although this version lacks the density and power of some wines from Santenots du Milieu it has its own charm and should age well. (Drink between 2025 – 2050).”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Roblet-Monnot Pere et Fils Les Brouillards, Volnay Premier Cru 2020 750ml Displayed Price: $199, that’s $189.05 at 5% off and $179.10 at 10% off, 12 bottles in stock now
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 92-94 points “The 2020 Volnay 1er Cru Les Brouillards is exceptional, wafting from the glass with aromas of wild berries and plums mingled with rose petals and raw cocoa. Medium to full-bodied, layered and concentrated, it’s deep and vibrant, concluding with an intensely perfumed finish.”
The tiny region of Priorat is one of Spain’s premier winemaking regions alongside the more traditionally-focused Rioja. Priorat is like a mirror on the modern winemaking world. You’ll find powerful and rich reds that manage to simultaneously emphasize freshness and concentration.
Old-vine Garnacha reigns supreme with its sidekick Cariñena (also known as Samso/Carignan). Barrel usage is customary, but rarely overdone. Ancient vines are the norm, which offer unmatched concentration and complexity. Most red wines spend at least twelve months in oak, allowing them to use the term “vino de guarda,” though winemakers don’t always include it on the label.
René Barbier of Clos Mogador can be credited with helping to bring Priorat out of obscurity. In 1979, he founded a small estate winery on 20 hectares. He carved terraces into the steep hillsides and planted Garnatxa alongside some French varieties into the unique llicorella soil. He waited a decade to release his first wine, which was a blend with nine other area producers. Today, the flagship red shares its name with the estate, Clos Mogador.
Clos Erasmus and Nin-Ortiz are two other names to know. All three are widely recognized as top influential wineries in this most-know region.
In Stock Now:
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Clos Mogador ‘Nelin’ Blanco, Priorat DOCa 2022 750ml $69 special, 16 bottles in stock now
Luis Gutiérrez-Wine Advocate 96 points “All the wines go through malolactic in barrel, including the white 2022 Nelin, a blend that has been changing over time. In 2022, it was produced exclusively with local varieties, Garnacha Blanca, Macabeu, Xarel·lo, Cariñena Blanca, Picapoll Blanco, Trepat Blanco, PX and Escanyavelles from four small organic vineyards. The juice from the pressing of the full clusters fermented with indigenous yeasts in 1,200-liter oak foudres, with a slow and long fermentation that takes between three and nine months. It matured in foudre for one year and then was transferred to stainless steel for six to eight more months. Despite the dry conditions and the heat waves, it came after the 2021, and the vines had enough reserves, so the wines are fresher than expected. It’s a Mediterranean blend with 14% alcohol and 5.3 grams of acidity, clean and harmonious. The north-facing plots behaved very well, and the varieties can take the conditions without a problem, so the wine doesn’t seem affected at all. In fact, it’s quite fresh, medium-bodied and very tasty, serious and characterful, a triumph over the extreme conditions of the year. It’s a white with aging potential. 9,000 bottles were filled in April 2024.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Alvaro Palacios ‘Les Terrasses’ Velles Vinyes, Priorat DOCa 2021 750ml $49 special, 15 bottles in stock now
Luis Gutiérrez-Wine Advocate 94-96 points “The sample of the 2021 Les Terrasses Velles Vinyes was truly impressive, a blend of 70% Garnacha and 30% Cariñena. It’s a lively and vibrant Priorat with lower alcohol and higher acidity and more freshness, pointing at a great vintage in the making. This could very well be the finest vintage of Terrasses, a wine that Álvaro Palacios defined as a year of concentration and class. The wine is clean and pure, with great precision. It matured in barrel and cask for the past seven months, and the wine will continue its élevage for one more year. They expect to fill some 110,000 bottles and 2,000 magnums around May 2023.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Clos i Terrasses Clos Erasmus, Priorat DOCa 2019 750ml $228 special, 5 bottles in stock now
Luis Gutiérrez-Wine Advocate 98+ points “The serious and powerful 2019 Clos Erasmus feels quite classical Priorat, with notes of graphite, black fruit and licorice; it’s a solid Priorat with weight, concentration and clout. There are still some smoke, toast and spice notes from the élevage—100% in barrel, some 40% of them new, for around 18 months—and the wine always needs a little bit of time in bottle. Despite the 15.5% alcohol, the wine comes through as balanced and with freshness, there is no heat or sensation of alcohol; you need the tannins and acidity to counterbalance the alcohol, and they are doing that here. This is more balsamic, aromatic and exuberant. It’s showy, hedonistic and rich, a solid Erasmus. The tannins are still quite present and need some more time to be resolved. 3,300 bottles were filled in May 2020.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Clos Mogador Gratallops, Priorat DOCa 2022 750ml $99 special, 14 bottles in stock now
Luis Gutiérrez-Wine Advocate 97 points “Their single-vineyard 2022 Clos Mogador, they flagship wine, was produced with a blend of grapes, mostly Garnacha and Cariñena but also some Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon (less and less, as they are regrafting most of them). It fermented with 40% full clusters and matured in 2,000- and 2,500-liter oak foudres; some are old barriques, to avoid having too much new oak, and some lots finish aging in concrete to complete some 20 months. They have implemented some changes, moving toward larger volumes, abandoning the barriques and moving to foudre (with the low volumes in 2024, the wine will be only in foudre). It has a very Mediterranean nose with plenty of dry hay and straw notes, the classical wet slate notes, very Priorat too, and it has a round palate and very fine, chalky tannins. It’s serious and harmonious and feels relaxed, without any excess. It comes in at 14% alcohol with 5.4 grams of acidity and a bone-dry finish. None of the 2022s showed excess heat or ripeness. The alcohol is contained and integrated, and the wines are balanced and harmonious but with a more Mediterranean profile. 35,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in June 2024.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Familia Nin-Ortiz ‘Planetes de Nin’, Priorat DOCa 2017 750ml $49 special, 15 bottles in stock now
Luis Gutiérrez-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.”
Browse our nine selections from Priorat now!
Don’t miss our additional sale going on now:
Saint Cosme
5% off any 3-7 in-stock bottles of Saint Cosme
10% off any 8+ or more in-stock bottles of Saint Cosme
Discount will not display online or in your cart,
We will adjust your invoice before processing your charge.
Saint Cosme sale ends Saturday, September 13th at 9 am Pacific.