Weekend Newsletter 2/10/2018

So Many New Arrivals: Rhone, Burgundy, Champagne; Oregon Classics For Now and Years to Come; La Closerie du Pic – Back in Stock; Heidler Gruner Veltliner; Domaine de la Janasse Pre Arrival Offer; Dal Forno

~~~~~~~~~~
Featured New Arrivals

Chateau de Saint Cosme Cotes du Rhone Les Deux Albion, Rhone 2015 750ML ($24.95) $19 special
Case-12 Chateau de Saint Cosme Cotes du Rhone Les Deux Albion, Rhone 2015 750ML ($269.95) $199 special (that’s only $16.58/bottle!)
James Suckling 92 points “Impressive pepper and spice aromas with blackberry and almost tarry accents. The palate has a deep-set black fruit and licorice core. Exceptional depth and a smoky, alluring finish. A star of CdR. Drink now.”
Wine Advocate 90 points “A blend of 50% to 60% Grenache and the balance Syrah, the 2015 Cotes du Rhone les Deux Albions is, in the words of proprietor Louis Barruol, “A great success.” I’d have to agree. Scents of fresh blueberries are immediately appealing, while the plump, medium to full-bodied palate ends in a light flurry of tannins. Give it another year in the cellar and drink it over the next 7-8 years.”

This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
The average price nationally is $21

~~~~~~~~~~

Just Re-Arrived:

Domaine Faiveley Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru, Cote de Nuits 2010 750ML ($219.95) $159 special
Case-6 Domaine Faiveley Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru, Cote de Nuits 2010 750ML ($1119.95) $899 special (that’s only $149.83/bottle!)
Stephen Tanzer-Vinous 93-96 points “(just 20 hectoliters per hectare produced): Good deep red. Very pure, complex nose melds black cherry, minerals, black pepper, wild herbs and an earthy nuance. Large-scaled, sweet and rich, with a strong mineral underpinning to the flavors of black cherry and spices. A very powerful and impressive Clos Vougeot with outstanding persistence. The crop-limiting effect of the December frost has produced a wine with stunning concentration.”
Burghound 92-95 points “This is unusually elegant in 2010 with its refined nose of raspberry and earth though there are background notes of grilled meat and smoke. The supple, mouth coating and utterly delicious broad-shouldered flavors possess a silky texture yet there is plenty of power and punch to the very firmly structured finish. While there is a certain delicacy present, this will still need all of 15 years to realize its full potential. Drink 2025+.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $165
The average price is $178

~~~~~~~~~~
New Pinot Arrivals from the Willamette Valley
The Willamette Valley continues to turn out some of the finest wines made anywhere in the world, at some of the best prices for their quality.  We’ve got a lot of new stuff coming in, but these beauties just arrived and we wanted to feature them today.  Our pricing is fantastic on these—the best in the country.  Just don’t delay, as with most of the best stuff that comes out of the valley, quantities are not what we’d like them to be.
Roco Winery Gravel Road Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2014 750ML ($21.95) $16 special
James Suckling 93 points “Purity of fruit is so alluring with strawberry and citrus undertones. Perfumed. Full body, firm and chewy tannins and a long and flavorful finish. Very structured. Needs to soften with bottle age. Better in 2019.”
Winery note: A blend of Vitae Springs, Marsh Estate, Knudsen, Shea, Wapato & Wits End Vineyards.

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $18.99
The average price is $24

Roco Winery Wits’ End Pinot Noir, Chehalem Mountains 2014 750ML ($34.95) $28 special
Wine Spectator 91 points “Lighter than most 2014s, this shows open texture and polish to the red berry, pomegranate and rose petal flavors, riding smoothly into the finely wrought finish. Drink now through 2022. 390 cases made.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $42

Purple Hands Stoller Vineyard Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills 2015 750ML ($49.95) $41.90 special
Wine Spectator 94 points “Supple, expressive and vibrant, with rose petal, raspberry and stony mineral aromas and elegantly layered flavors that glide sleekly toward a refined finish. Drink now through 2023. 600 cases made.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $48

St. Innocent Freedom Hill Vineyard Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2014 750ML ($37.95) $29 special
Josh Raynolds 93 points “Limpid ruby. Heady, smoke-accented red and dark berry scents pick up hints of succulent herbs, candied flowers and minerals with air. Deeply concentrated yet lithe on the palate, offering intense black raspberry and cherry cola flavors and hints of star anise, rose pastille and mocha. Closes very long and smooth, with displaying resonating dark fruit character and gentle tannic grip.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $31.19
The average price is $37

~~~~~~~~~~
February Clearance Sale!

Highlight Best Buy
Betz Family Winery La Cote Rousse Syrah, Red Mountain 2015 750ML ($79.95) Was $69, Now $59, 36+ bottles in stock now
Wine Advocate 96 points “The 2015 Syrah la Cote Rousse is a blockbuster Syrah from Red Mountain that’s from the Ranch at the End of The Road and Ciel du Cheval vineyards. It’s a mix of four different clones and is brought up in barrel. This deep, inky, seriously black Syrah gives up Hermitage-like notes of scorched earth, charred meats, graphite and licorice. It’s a big, concentrated effort that’s going to benefit from short-term cellaring and keep through 2035.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Is the February Clearance Sale still running? You betz! See the full list of wines here:

~~~~~~~~~~

Oregon Classics (and Some That Will Be)

New Vinous Reviews For Some of Our Favorites

Josh Raynolds just published a great look at the Oregon wine world beyond Pinot Noir.  While we’ve known for quite some time that the Willamette Valley is producing some of the best Chardonnay in the country (and also a bunch of other great stuff), it’s great to see a little national recognition as well.  These are some of the best scoring wines that are in stock, from some of our favorite producers.

Whites:

Arterberry Maresh Maresh Vineyard Chardonnay, Dundee Hills 2015 750ML ($79.95) $69 special, 11 bottles in stock now
Josh Raynolds – Vinous 94 points “Pale gold. Intense mineral- and smoke-accented citrus and orchard fruit scents show outstanding clarity and hints of jasmine and iodine. Displays deeper pit fruit character on the palate, offering juicy, smoke-accented nectarine, pear and Meyer lemon flavors that show excellent tension as well as concentration. The mineral quality repeats strongly on the penetrating finish, which leaves behind sappy Meyer lemon and mineral notes.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Cameron Winery Abbey Ridge Vineyard Chardonnay, Dundee Hills 2015 750ML ($79.95) $66 special, 22 bottles in stock now
Josh Raynolds – Vinous 91 points “Limpid yellow. Anjou pear, Meyer lemon and chamomile scents, along with hints of fennel and sweet butter. Dry and sharply focused in the mouth, offering dried orchard fruit and citrus marmalade flavors; a late suggestion of melon adds succulence and depth. Finishes with very good cling, leaving bitter citrus pith and pear nectar notes behind.”

Cameron Winery Clos Electrique Vineyard Blanc, Dundee Hills 2015 750ml ($79.95) $66 special, 16 bottles in stock now
Josh Raynolds – Vinous 92 points “Pale gold. A powerfully scented bouquet evokes fresh pear, Meyer lemon, iodine and jasmine, and a smoky mineral nuance builds with aeration. Sappy, concentrated and penetrating on the palate, offering mineral-accented citrus and orchard fruit flavors and hints of chamomile and toasted brioche. The mineral element adds bright lift and cut to the impressively long, tensile finish, which leaves behind a suave floral note.”

Crowley Four Winds Vineyard Chardonnay, Willamette Valley 2015 750ML ($49.95) $41.90 special, 21 bottles in stock now
Josh Raynolds – Vinous 92 points “Limpid yellow. Assertive, mineral-tinged Meyer lemon and pear scents show very good clarity and complicating suggestions of iodine, jasmine and smoky lees. Minerally and precise on the palate, offering energetic orchard and citrus fruit flavors along with deeper suggestions of buttered toast and nectarine. Shows impressive energy and tension and finishes silky and long, featuring a lingering suave floral nuance.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Goodfellow Family Cellars Chardonnay, Willamette Valley 2015 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 special, 5 bottles in stock now
Josh Raynolds – Vinous 90 points “Brilliant straw-yellow. Fresh citrus and orchard fruit aromas, along with hints of dried fig, lemon zest and buttered toast. Juicy and focused on the palate, offering pear nectar and Meyer lemon flavors sharpened by a hint of spicy ginger. Finishes long and smooth, displaying a hint of smokiness and a building floral quality.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Matello Whistling Ridge Vineyard White, Ribbon Ridge 2015 750ML ($21.95) $18 special, 3 bottles in stock now
Josh Raynolds – Vinous 90 points “Light bright yellow. Pungent dried pear, lemon pith and beeswax scents carry a subtle floral overtone. Chewy and dry on the palate, offering bitter pear skin and quinine flavors and a touch of Meyer lemon. Finishes with very good focus, cut and persistence, leaving a suave honeysuckle note behind.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Timothy Malone Medici Vineyard Riesling, Chehalem Mountains 2016 750ML ($19.95) $16 special, 28 bottles in stock now
Josh Raynolds – Vinous 91 points “Pale yellow. Powerful pear nectar, peach, Meyer lemon and honey aromas are lifted by notes of candied ginger and dusty minerals, accompanied by a subtle floral note in the background. Smooth and fleshy but sharply focused as well, offering palate-coating orchard and pit fruit flavors that become more energetic with aeration. A bitter citrus pith nuance comes up with air and carries through an impressively lively, penetrating finish.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Reds:

Bow & Arrow Gamay Noir, Willamette Valley 2016 750ML ($21.95) $18 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Josh Raynolds – Vinous 90 points “Bright magenta. Fresh red and blue fruit scents, along with subtle herb and mineral overtones. Nervy and light on its feet, offering bitter cherry and boysenberry flavors underscored by a peppery spice quality. Closes with solid grip and strong persistence, leaving behind cherry pit and violet pastille notes.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Matello Fool’s Journey Deux Vert Vineyard, Willamette Valley 2013 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 special, 2 Bottles in stock now
94% Syrah, 6% Viognier
Josh Raynolds – Vinous 90 points “Bright violet. Smoke-tinged dark berries and pungent flowers on the nose. Juicy and focused on the palate, offering bitter cherry and cassis flavors that take a sweeter turn on the back half. Dusty tannins make a late appearance and add gentle grip to the smooth, energetic finish.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Twill Cellars Syrah, Oregon 2014 750ML ($27.95) $24 special, 11 bottles in stock now
Josh Raynolds – Vinous 90 points “Brilliant violet. Vibrant cherry and black currant scents are complemented by suggestions of black pepper, licorice and olive paste. Taut and structured on entry, then fleshier in the midpalate, offering smoke-tinged dark berry and bitter cherry flavors that are sweetened by a floral pastille nuance. Fine-grained tannins build steadily on the finish, which lingers with very good, spicy persistence. This wine is showing distinct Old World character.”

~~~~~~~~~~

New Arrivals

New Arrivals: France – Champagne

Mousse Fils ‘Anecdote’ Lieu dit Les Varosses Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($59.95) $49 special
Wine Spectator 91 points “[Reviewed 2017] A snappy Champagne, well-cut and lightly chalky, with juicy pear, white raspberry, apple blossom and lemon zest flavors. A tang of salinity shows on the finish. Drink now through 2021. 25 cases imported.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $54.95
The average price is $57

Vilmart & Cie Grand Cellier d’Or Premier Cru Brut, Champagne 2012 750ML ($89.95) $79 special
Antonio Galloni 91+ points “Vilmart’s 2012 Grand Cellier d’Or is bold, racy and seductive, with all of the radiance of the vintage very much in evidence. Lemon confit, jasmine, vanillin, herbs and dried flowers are all pushed forward. Expressive and inviting, the 2012 will drink well with minimal cellaring. Even so, my impression is that the 2012 will be a bit more giving with further time in bottle. Dosage is 8 grams per liter.”

Bereche et Fils Les Beaux Regards Blanc de Blancs, Champagne NV (’13) 750 ($89.95) $79 special
Antonio Galloni – Vinous 93 points “Lemon confit, apricot, chamomile, spice and lightly honeyed notes run through the (2013) Les Beaux Regards. The late harvest has given the Beaux Regards a distinctly exotic personality. Rich, powerful and beautifully textured, the 2013 will drink well for many years to come. There is so much to like. Dosage is 3 grams per liter.”

Marie Courtin ‘Allegeance’ Extra Brut Rose, Champagne 2012 750ML ($119.95) $99 special
Josh Raynolds 91 points “The 2012 Extra Brut Allégeance Rose de Macération is beautifully nuanced in the glass. Scents of dried herb, mint, dried cherry and tobacco give the wine striking aromatic depth. Interestingly, the 2012 is much less giving on the palate, where it remains tightly wound and a touch severe. It will be interesting to see if further time in bottle relaxes the wine a bit further. Disgorged in June 2017 with no dosage.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Recently Re-Arrived:

Champagne Hebrart Special Club Millesime Brut, Champagne 2012 750ML ($79.95) $69 special
Antonio Galloni 92 points “The 2012 Brut Spécial Club Millésimé 1er Cru is a powerful, authoritative wine. Lemon peel, white flowers and orchard fruit are some of the many nuances that blossom in a rich, resonant Champagne loaded with class and personality. Creamy and ample, with terrific depth and plenty of volume, the 2012 will drink well for a number of years. The 2012 finishes just a touch dry, but there is a good deal of substance as well. Disgorged: April 2017. Dosage is 6.5 grams per liter.”
Burghound 92 points “This is still quite young as there is no trace of maturity to the super-fresh, yeasty, citrusy and green apple-suffused nose. There is excellent intensity to the delicious and reasonably complex flavors where the supporting and very firm mousse possesses a fine bead on the clean, dry and somewhat linear and lean finish. This is not particularly complex at present but this is clearly not at its peak and I would suggest buying this only if you intend to allow it at least another 3 to 7 years of bottle age. 92/2024+.”

Pierre Paillard ‘Les Terres Roses’ Bouzy Grand Cru Brut Rose, Champagne NV 750ML ($59.95) $46 special
Wine Spectator 91 points “[Reviewed Nov 2017] This mouthwatering rosé is firm and toasty, with a spiced thread of flavor unraveling through notes of wild cherry, candied ginger, graphite and citrus. Lively, offering a creamy, lingering finish. Disgorged September 2016. Drink now through 2022. 700 cases made.”
New Arrivals: France – Languedoc

Chateau Puech-Haut Pic Saint-Loup La Closerie du Pic, Languedoc-Roussillon 2014 750ML ($31.95) $24 special
Wine Advocate 92-94 points “Still not yet bottled (I tasted it from barrel last year as well), the 2014 Languedoc Pic Saint Loup Closerie du Pic is a blend of mostly Syrah and Mourvèdre, with a splash of Grenache. It got a big “wow” in my notes and has fabulous, fresh, lively notes of dark fruits, crushed rocks and spring flowers. There’s notable oak on the nose, but it’s beautifully integrated and lends a polish and richness to its texture. Full-bodied, with ripe tannin and a great finish, this is a sensational Pic Saint Loup that will drink well right out of the gate, yet evolve for 7-8 years or more.”
New Arrivals: France – Loire

Caves Louis de Grenelle Saumur Corail Brut Rose, Loire NV 750ML ($19.95) $16 special
VinopolNote: Impossible to not like. Fresh, bright & refreshing. Delicious, too! Cabernet Franc.

Jean-Francois Merieau Gamay de Touraine Le Bois Jacou, Loire 2016 750ML ($17.95) $14 special
VinopolNote: Pure delight & delightfully pure. Each sip promotes another.

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

New Arrivals: Italy

Proprieta Sperino ‘L Franc Bandit Vino da Tavola, Piedmont 2010 750ML ($119.95) $99 special
Wine Advocate 96 points “A Vino da Tavola, the 2010 ‘L Franc is a pure expression of Cabernet Franc made from the acidic, sandy soils of Alto Piemonte. Only 1,000 bottles were produced. This is a stunning red wine with profound depth and vast horizons. The wine’s appearance is incredibly dense and dark but the bouquet is refined and elegant—almost lightweight or ethereal. You get back fruit, exotic spice, powdered mocha, licorice and cured tobacco. The wine carries an evidently important level of dry extract, but it does so with the utmost grace and transparency.”

Proprieta Sperino Lessona, Piedmont 2012 750ML ($69.95) $59 special
Wine Advocate 92 points “The 2012 Lessona is a wine that is heavily shaped by the sandy soils that characterize the appellation. This vintage is a little shy and demure with a slightly undertone or softly spoken manner. The wine is extremely elegant and polished with light touches of wild berry followed by ash, cola and finely etched mineral nuances. There is a touch of rusty metal or aromas of dried blood. The mouthfeel is very long and finely textured.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $70

Proprieta Sperino Uvaggio Coste della Sesia Rosso, Piedmont 2013 750ML ($37.95) $29 special
Wine Advocate 93+ points “This wine is named Uvaggio in reference to the fact it represents a blend of three grapes: 80% Nebbiolo, 15% Vespolina and 5% Croatina. Some of the fruit for the 2013 Coste della Sesia Uvaggio is harvested from parcels with sandy soils that give the wine more perfumed characteristics and other fruit is harvested from granite-rich soils that give the wine more structure and fiber. This is a deep and authentic red wine with balanced red fruit aromas that saturate a long and silky mouthfeel. Savory tones of spice and leather give the wine staying power. In all, the 2013 vintage is delicate and nuanced in nature.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $32

Just Re-Arrived:

Caprili Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Tuscany 2012 750ML ($59.95) $33.50 special
Case-6 Caprili Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Tuscany 2012 750ML ($319.95) $189 special (that’s only $31.50/bottle!)
Wine Spectator 94 points “Appealing aromas and flavors of cherry, almond, leather, iron and earth are the hallmarks of this muscular red. Remains fresh and persists on the aftertaste, with echoes of iron and tobacco. Best from 2021 through 2035. 3,500 cases made.”
Ian D’agata – Vinous 93 points “Bright deep red. Very perfumed, pure aromas of raspberry, red cherry, flint and violet. Juicy but dense, with vibrant acidity lifting the floral berry and cherry flavors on the long mineral finish, characterized by an especially silky mouthfeel. Knockout Brunello.”
Wine Enthusiast 93 points “Truffle, leather, mature black-skinned fruit and carob aromas emerge from this powerful red. The full-bodied palate delivers succulent wild cherry, black raspberry, licorice, pipe tobacco and grilled herb flavors with big, chewy tannins. Drink 2019–2027.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Canalicchio Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Tuscany 2012 750ML ($59.95) $32.50 special
Canalicchio Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Tuscany 2012 375ML ($29.95) $18 special
International Wine Report 93 points “The 2012 Canalicchio is a beautifully crafted, refined Brunello which spent more than 24 months in medium-large Slavonia oak casks. It slowly opens with aromas of dried cherries ans plums woven together with walnuts, tobacco, leather, dried spices and hints of balsamic. Medium-bodied and firm, with a fine grained tannins and lovely balance leading to the ultra-long, chewy finish. Today this is still a bit austere and will require a few years of additional bottle age before it becomes fully accessible. (Best 2020-2029) – February, 2017 (JD).”
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 92 points “The 2012 Brunello di Montalcino shows excellent continuity with past vintages and underlines a house style that is specific to this estate. This is a nuanced and delicate expression of Sangiovese that delivers grace and power. It walks a fine line between these two opposites. The bouquet is redolent of wild berry, red currant, grilled herb, wild mushroom and underbrush. I gave the 2011 vintage the same score, although the differences between the two wines are pronounced. The 2011 vintage shows the warm climate with more directness, whereas this edition offers more subtle depth and finesse. Both wines are most appropriate for near or medium-term drinking.”
Ian D’agata-Vinous 92 points “Lively bright red. Primary aromas of raspberry, cherry cola and crushed rocks. At once sweet and austere, with juicy, very pure, red berry flavours, this is rather light in weight with a gentle texture in the typical Franco Pacenti style. Finishes minerally and long with vibrant violet nuances. This ought to blossom nicely given a few years in the cellar.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

New Arrivals: Austria

Weingut Hiedler Kittsmanberg Gruner Veltliner Reserve Erste OTW Lage, Kamptal 2016 750ML ($44.95) $36 special
Terry Theise note: “It’s always been the blue-eyed child in a family of brown eyes, a kind of neo-classical structure with Delphic columns and strong muscular lines. This vintage is also stern and serious and powerful, nettle-y and peppery, but right now it’s all yin, and I’m waiting to see if a sweet fruit develops.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Weingut Hiedler Loss Gruner Veltliner, Kamptal 2016 750ML ($21.95) $18 special
Terry Theise note: “Among the starter-GVs I offer, this one is the creamiest, and I’d suggest it for the taster who isn’t sure he “likes Veltliner.” The ’16 is charming and fluid, lentilly and savory, not as opulent as the ’15 but much richer than the ’14”

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

Weingut Hiedler Thal Gruner Veltliner Reserve Erste OTW Lage, Kamptal 2016 750ML ($29.95) $24 special
Terry Theise note: “A superb vintage for this! Swollen, exotic aromas suggest Semillon or Viognier as much as GV, but the palate is markedly focused, even more vertical than usual though still luscious; like a semi-freddo of vinosity, as fluid as a Styrian wine and as spicy as a Gumbo. Lissome and rippling.”

Weingut Hiedler Schenkenbichl Gruner Veltliner Reserve Erste OTW Lage, Kamptal 2016 750ML ($39.95) $33 special
Terry Theise note: “Ludwig says it’s ‘pure gneiss’ but the standard reference says otherwise-amphibolite with ‘siliceous material’-and in any case these are the first vintages where this vineyard’s wine is being bottled by itself. With the ’16 we find a contained but massive opulence, more baroque now; wet cereal and ore, nettles and mustard and quite Wachau-like. Forthcoming and easy to grab but also with unfolding layers of complexity.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Weingut Hiedler Gaisberg Riesling Reserve Erste OTW Lage, Kamptal 2016 750ML ($44.95) $36 special
Terry Theise note: “For me the class of the ’16 Hiedler Rieslings – a Heiligenstein was in some trough, though the “cannabis” aroma Ludwig Jr.noted was certainly “interesting…” But this Gaisberg is a riot of white flowers and honeysuckle, leading into a juicy minty palate, replete with mineral as a side-note in a stream of lavish yet focused fruit; Asian pear, mirabelle, strawberry. You can call it exquisite; I won’t argue.”

Weingut Hiedler Ried Kogelberg Riesling Reserve Erste OTW Lage, Kamptal 2016 750ML ($49.95) $39 special
Terry Theise note: “A relatively high-elevation site on mica-schist and amphibolite, the wine is firm and aristocratic, standing at attention. It reminded me of Rüdesheimer Berg, actually. Not so much minerals as rocks and not so much rocks as BOULDERS. It isn’t in the least austere—it has a ton of flavor, grill-marks and shoe-polish and physalis, and for all it’s an upstanding-citizen it is also generous.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Weingut Hiedler Langenlois Riesling, Kamptal 2016 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 special
Terry Theise note: “The name has shifted from Urgestein to the village-designation, but the wine is the same as before. The ’16 is a total sweetheart; iris and white lilac, lacy and winsome yet spicy and herbal; companionable and articulate and abidingly flavory, gliding between marjoram-sorrel and iris and other spring flowers.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Weingut Hiedler Steinhaus Riesling Reserve Erste OTW Lage, Kamptal 2016 750ML ($37.95) $28 special
Terry Theise note: “WTF is it with this site? Is there a more remarkable Riesling anywhere in the world?? The wines are like some hybrid of Albariño, Chenin and Sauv-Blanc, herbal, limey, sorrel, aloe vera, hyacinth and herbs. It is my subjective fave among Ludwig’s Rieslings. The site is steep with myriad little terraces, amphibolite and gneiss higher up, loess lower down, giving a Riesling for people who love Scheurebe, or you might say it’s Riesling having birthday sex. For me this is a not-to-be-missed wine in this offering because it gives you all its warm-hearted kinky generosity for a reasonable price. Fragrances are refined, lime and verbena, but the palate is explosive, completely delicious and almost shatteringly complex; hyperactive interplay of herbs, ripe citrus, exotic fruit all blasted together in a Hadron-collider buzz of life-force, a twitching spazzy dance of herbal ripeness. No one—no damn one on earth could have made a Riesling like this. Give it up for individuality! And take a deep bow Mr. Hiedler.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

~~~~~~~~~~

Domaine de la Janasse

Finding Their Own Balance

Janasse is one of the half-dozen benchmark modern producers of Chateauneuf du Pape, though Eric Solomon, their importer, points out that they have a style all their own.  He says “In attempting to describe the wines at Janasse one is confronted with the inadequacies in using ‘style’ to express their qualities. While there is a modern facet to the richness of the fruit, it is beautifully paired with a pronounced sense of place and complexity.”

We agree—there are both lushly approachable and also redolent of the unique terroir of Chateauneuf.  The Vieilles Vignes is the flagship of the lineup, one of the most powerful and intense bottlings from the appellation.  The Chaupin doesn’t get the recognition it probably deserves as a result, but it’s an incredible bottle of wine, especially for the price (in great years like 2012 and 2016, it’s not too far off from the VV bottling).  The rosé, too, is delicious, rich and vibrant with a snappy finish.  Janasse, it seems, is doing no wrong their winemaking and you should get in on the action.

Domaine de la Janasse Wines Available Here Now:

Domaine de la Janasse Chateauneuf-du-Pape Cuvee Chaupin 2012 750ML ($79.95) $59 special, 19 bottles available
Wine Advocate 94 points “The 2012 Châteauneuf du Pape Cuvee Chaupin, which I was able to taste (and drink) from multiple bottles, is a beautiful Grenache that comes from the cooler, northeastern edge of the appellation. Coming almost all from the Chapouin lieu-dit (it gets a small bit from La Janasse), it gives up the classic notes of black berries, spring flowers, violets, and licorice that I always seem to find in this cuvee. Building nicely on the palate, it is medium to full-bodied, beautifully textured, has tons of sweet fruit and solid, if not firm, tannin that come out on the finish. It will be better in another couple of years and have 15+ years of overall longevity.”

Domaine de la Janasse Cuvee Vieilles Vignes, Chateauneuf-du-Pape 2012 750ML ($119.95) $89 special, 20 bottles available
Wine Advocate 96 points “Up in the top handful of wines in the vintage (which should come as no surprise to anyone who follows this estate), the 2012 Châteauneuf du Pape Vieilles Vignes is a full-bodied, beautifully concentrated, rich and layered Châteauneuf that doesn’t put a foot wrong. Made from 85% Grenache, 10% Mourvedre and the rest Syrah, it offers blockbuster notes of blackberry, liquid-violets, spice and serious minerality to go with awesome mid-palate depth and layers of sweet tannin. Like the Cuvee Chaupin, it will be better in another handful of years and thrill through 2027.”

Domaine de la Janasse Cotes du Rhone Rose, Rhone 2015 750ML ($19.95) Was $16, Now $11.90 special, 36+ bottles available
VinopolNote: A versatile rose with savory, herbal notes from a legendary Chateauneuf producer. A blend of Grenache, Syrah and Cinsault grown in clay limestone, galets and sandy soil. Practicing organic & biodynamic.
Importer note “Hand harvested and fermentation in tank, vines are between 10 and 60 years old. Wine is aged for 4 months in tank. A fruity and generous rosé with strawberry and clay aromas. Drink within the next two years.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $14.95

Arriving ETA October:

Domaine de la Janasse Chateauneuf-du-Pape Cuvee Chaupin, Rhone 2016 750ML ($119.95) $99 pre-arrival special
Jeb Dunnuck 97-100 points “Made with close to 50% stems (the highest in a while) and brought up in foudre and demi-muids (20% new), the 2016 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Chaupin sports deep ruby/purple color as well as sensational notes of kirsch liqueur, black raspberries, crushed flowers, crushed rocks, and incense. Just a huge, rich, unctuous wine, it offers everything you could want from Grenache and is certainly going to challenge the 2007 and 2010 as the greatest expression of this terroir to date.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Domaine de la Janasse Cuvee Vieilles Vignes, Chateauneuf-du-Pape 2016 750ML ($149.95) $119 pre-arrival special
Jeb Dunnuck 98-100 points “Incorporating 8% Mourvèdre, 12% Syrah and 5% other permitted variety, 60% destemmed, the 2016 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Vieilles Vignes sports a deep, inky color as well as sensational notes of black currants, smoked meats, earth and crushed rocks. Deep, rich, unctuous and decadent, with huge extract and richness, yet never over the top or overripe, it’s a killer wine that’s going to flirt with perfection on release.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Domaine de la Janasse Chateauneuf-du-Pape (Cuvee Tradition), Rhone 2016 750ML ($69.95) $59 pre-arrival special
Jeb Dunnuck 94-96 points “Incorporating 10% Syrah and 15% Mourvèdre, the Grenache-dominated 2016 Châteauneuf-du-Pape (there’s a touch of Cinsault) sports a saturated ruby/purple color. It shows hints of new oak in its black raspberries, blackberry, cured meats, crushed violets and spice-driven aromatics. This gives way to a rich, incredibly concentrated base cuvée that could easily be mistaken for the Vieille Vignes from another good year. Polished, concentrated and young, it’s going to need bottle age.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

~~~~~~~~~~

Dal Forno 2009

The Best Price for this Veneto Benchmark

In the world of collectible wines from the Veneto, there are two names: Quintarelli (of course) and our hero today, Dal Forno.  Where the Quintarelli wines are built on finesse, Dal Forno is all about power, richness and concentration.  The Valpolicella Superiore we’re highlighting today is a perfect example—this is a wine that’s showy and ageworthy, dense and rich.  It’s finally hitting its optimal drinking window and with a short decant is absolutely brilliant.  We scored a great deal on it and are excited to offer it to you today.

Dal Forno Romano Vigneto Monte Lodoletta Valpolicella Superiore, Veneto 2009 750ML ($99.95) $79 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Wine Advocate 94+ points “Built like a tank, the 2009 Valpolicella Superiore Monte Lodoletta is a masterful achievement. This wine shows so beautifully, especially in a warm but balanced vintage like 2009. The fruit is expressive and articulate with deep layers of blackberry preserves, dried cherry, dark chocolate, espresso bean, mesquite smoke and soy sauce. The mouthfeel is super rich and concentrated as the Dal Forno signature style would dictate. The tannic bite is still strong and this wine needs a few more years to stretch out its muscular build. I’d suggest drinking it after 2018.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $99

~~~~~~~~~~

Thanks for reading!