Wednesday May 11th, 2022 Newsletter

The Graillot clan is synonymous with the northern Rhone region of Croze-Hermitage. Led by the charismatic Alain Graillot until his passing in March, his two sons Maxime and Antoin have continued in his footsteps. Maxime farms his parcels next to his father’s estate and follows the same principals of organic farming with no herbicide or pesticide usage at all. In addition Maxime utilizes exclusively old vines and neutral barrels from Burgundian estates like Domaine Romanée-Conti. As you can expect with such a pedigree 

Domaine Des Lises arriving June: 

Maxime Graillot Domaine des Lises Equis Crozes-Hermitage Rhone 2019 750ML ($41.95) $34.50 special, 36 bottles arriving 
Case-6 Maxime Graillot Domaine des Lises Equis Crozes-Hermitage Rhone 2019 750ML ($239.95) $199 special, (That’s only $33.17 per bottle)
Case-12 Maxime Graillot Domaine des Lises Equis Crozes-Hermitage Rhone 2019 750ML ($479.95) $379 special, (that’s only $31.58/bottle!)
Wine Spectator 93 points “Juicy and well-defined, with a mix of red and black cherry and currant notes that have good energy, with violet, sanguine and singed alder accents filling in throughout. The racy, focused finish pulls everything together. Drink now through 2026. 2,400 cases made, 500 cases imported. — JM”
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 92-94 points “Dark berries, licorice, olive and exotic spice aromas pick up a suave floral note with air. Sappy and energetic on the palate, offering bitter cherry, blackberry and star anise flavors that are braced by a spine of juicy acidity. The floral nuance reappears on a very long, dark-fruit-driven finish, with building tannins providing shape and grip. One-third whole clusters.”
Joe Czerwinski-Wine Advocate 91 points “Proprietor Maxime Graillot utilized 25% whole bunches in his 2019 Crozes Hermitage, a vintage he considers sturdier than 2018. It delivers plenty of raspberry and cherry fruit on the nose, a rich, velvety texture on the medium to full-bodied palate and a long, plush finish. It should drink well for at least another 5 years or so.”

“The Hors Categorie Syrah comes from the up and coming North Fork region of the Walla Walla AVA, in Oregon, which was discovered in 2003 by Christophe Baron. The site for this cuvee was purchased by Baron in 2004, planted in 2011, and his first release was in 2014.” –Jeb Dunnuck

“Hors Categorie lies far outside of Walla Walla on very steep slopes filled with broken basalt in the Oregon side of the Valley. The wines are some of the best readers will find in the region. The 2018 Syrah Hors Catégorie is the finest I have tasted since Baron began making it several years ago. The wine shows more depth and concentration than the 2017 vintage, yet more finesse than the warm 2016 vintage.” –Owen Bargreen, Vinous

Hors Categorie, Walla Walla Valley 2018 750ML ($399.95) $349 pre-arrival special, only 2 bottles available
Owen Bargreen-Vinous 100 points “Literally translated as “a place of its own,” the 2018 Syrah from Hors Catégorie was sourced from a two-acre plot at 1,400 feet of densely planted 11 years old Syrah vines. Aromatically quite intense, it shows a very Côte-Rôtie nose as green peppercorns, iron, bull’s blood, orange rind and black currant scents all take shape in the glass. The palate displays incredible balance and minerality, offering a dense core of blackberry compote, crème de violette, saline-drenched orange, and stony undertones. Glorious in its fresh youth, this has another decade or more to go in the cellar. It’s the finest edition of this wine that I have tasted so far…”
Jeb Dunnuck 98+ points “As always, the 2018 Syrah turns the savory dial up to 11, offering an incredible array of smoked blackcurrants, blueberries, cured meats, shiitake mushroom, violets, and ground pepper-like aromas and flavors. Coming from two steep hillsides of broken basalt off the north fork of the Walla Walla River, I’ve often compared this cuvée to a wine from the Côte Brune side of Côte Rôtie, and that still holds, yet this certainly has its own style. Medium to full-bodied, pure, and layered on the palate, it has gorgeous tannins, flawless balance, and a great finish. There’s nothing else in the world like it. Give bottles 2-4 years and enjoy over the following 15+.”
Wine Enthusiast 98 points “In just a few short years, this wine has distinguished itself as one of the very best in the world… It a wine that grabs you, shakes you and refuses to let go. Best after 2025. -Sean P. Sullivan”
Stephen Tanzer-Vinous 97 points “… Very rich and deep, at once juicy and imploded and still extremely young, this beauty boasts seductive incipient sweetness. The very long, slowly mounting finish features serious but perfectly buffered tannins and palate-staining persistence. The star of the cellar in 2018…”
Anthony Mueller-Wine Advocate 97 points “Another impressive bottling for Hors Catégorie… will remain a champion for almost two decades. The wine ends with a long, winding, expressive and complex finish that has me coming back for second and third helpings. This comes from a steep vineyard planted on a 60° slope that has been farmed with a biodynamic approach since its inception. Bravo, I want more! If you are lucky enough to find some of this wine, buy it! Only 1,800 bottles were made.”
 

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $399

“The Horsepower wines are made at Cayuse yet from their own set of vineyards which are farmed exclusively by horses. The wines share plenty of similarities with the Cayuse releases, yet have slightly more backward profiles that demand bottle age to show at their best.” –Jeb Dunnuck

“As part of the Bionic Wines lineup, these sensational wines made by Elizabeth Bourcier have poise, flavor density and exquisite stony terroir. These are wines with more tension than the more massive 2018s, which is attributable to the cooler 2019 vintage.” –Owen Bargreen, Vinous

Horsepower Vineyards Fiddleneck Vineyard, Walla Walla Valley 2019 750ML ($219.95) $199 pre-arrival special, only 3 bottles available
Owen Bargreen-Vinous 99 points “The stunning 2019 Grenache Fiddleneck Vineyard was sourced from a beautiful site where fiddleneck flowers were established before the vines were planted in 2015. The utterly mesmerizing nose features red rose petals, Linzer torte, umami and green olive tapenade, offering an air of aromatic complexity that is impossible to replicate in North America. On the seamless, beautifully textured palate, juicy red fruits collide with shades of white truffle, a dusting of salinity and an exquisite stony character. This is a wine unlike anything else in the world.”
 

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Horsepower Vineyards Sur Echalas Vineyard Grenache, Walla Walla Valley 2019 750ML ($219.95) $189 pre-arrival special, only 3 bottles available
Owen Bargreen-Vinous 98 points “The 2019 Grenache Sur Echalas Vineyard is an utterly sensational new wine that screams terroir. Made from a tightly spaced vineyard, it shows off green peppercorns, nori, pomegranate seed, guava, satsuma zest, freshly tilled earth and stony undertones. The palate is plush with a soft texture and an incredible sense of tension. Layers of very delicate red fruits collide with stony minerals, blood orange zest and green olive tapenade. Utterly sensational to savor right now, this has another decade or more ahead of it.”
 

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $200

Horsepower Vineyards ‘High Contrast Vineyard’ Syrah, Walla Walla Valley 2019 750ML ($219.95) $189 pre-arrival special, only 3 bottles available
Owen Bargreen-Vinous 97 points “From a site partially set on silty loam and ancient cobblestones, the 2019 Syrah High Contrast Vineyard shows beautiful stony character on the nose, alongside soy sauce, marionberry compote, asphalt and black olive tapenade, plus shades of smoked bacon. The palate is seamless and very elegant with a silky texture. Light tannins line the beautiful core of pure black fruits, alongside salty and savory tones. Utterly sensational to enjoy now, this beautiful wine will cellar well for another decade.”
 

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Horsepower Vineyards Sur Echalas Vineyard Syrah, Walla Walla Valley 2019 750ML ($219.95) $199 pre-arrival special, only 3 bottles available
Owen Bargreen-Vinous 99 points “The intense, heady 2019 Syrah Sur Echalas Vineyard is a masterpiece in the making. On the nose, it takes on white pepper and black olive tapenade alongside hoisin sauce, dark truffle, boysenberry, creosote and seaweed tones that all meld in the glass. The palate is plush, soft and incredibly complex. Fresh and vibrant with silky tannins and wonderful length. This is a beautiful wine that flirts with perfection. It will enjoy another 10-15 years in the cellar.”
 

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Horsepower Vineyards The Tribe Vineyard Syrah, Walla Walla Valley 2019 750ML ($219.95) $179 pre-arrival special, only 3 bottles available
Owen Bargreen-Vinous 96 points “The gorgeous 2019 Syrah The Tribe Vineyard is a gorgeous effort that is already drinking beautifully in its youth. On the nose, it shows off green peppercorns and smoldering stones alongside black cherry compote and roasted dates. The balance and feeling of tension and finesse midpalate are gorgeous. The weight of the core of dark fruits plays well with white pepper, umami, orange rind and shades of red cherry candy. Gorgeous in its youth, this will cellar well over the next decade.”

“Made at the same winery as Cayuse, Horsepower, and Hors Category, these No Girls wines are made by the talented Elizabeth Bourcier, who makes a more perfumed, elegant style of wine and pulls largely from the La Paciencia Vineyard in the Rocks region of Walla Walla. These are singular, gorgeous wines across the board.” –Jeb Dunnuck

No Girls La Placiencia Vineyard Grenache, Walla Walla Valley 2018 750ML ($149.95) $119 pre-arrival special, only 3 bottles available
Owen Bargreen-Vinous 97 points “The 2018 Grenache La Paciencia Vineyard is a standout bottling that was aged entirely in neutral large-format oak and saw more than 50% stem inclusion. The stony tones on the nose really entice as orange zest, teaberry, saline-drenched red cherry and charcuterie tones all come together marvelously. The palate is seamless and elegant, with impeccable texture and beautiful length. Obviously a bit richer than other vintages, this shows crazy good finesse and offers one-of-a-kind terroir.”
Jeb Dunnuck 94 points “From the same site, the 2018 Grenache La Paciencia Vineyard reveals a translucent ruby hue as well as a sappy, fresh bouquet of wild strawberries, blackberries, sappy flowers, pepper, orange blossom, and rose petals. Made in a medium-bodied, ethereal, elegant style, it has terrific purity of fruit, ripe yet crunchy tannins, and a beautiful finish. Some smoky, meaty notes emerge with time in the glass, and it has enough tannins to warrant 2-4 years of bottle age and will impress for over a decade.”

No Girls La Placiencia Vineyard Syrah, Walla Walla Valley 2018 750ML ($149.95) $119 pre-arrival special, only 3 bottles available
Jeb Dunnuck 98 points “The 2018 Syrah La Paciencia Vineyard is all Syrah from a single vineyard in the Rocks region of the Walla Walla Valley. Offering a Côte Rôtie-like perfume of black raspberries, blueberries, rose petals, smoked meat, and iron, it hits the palate with medium to full-bodied richness, a smoky, meaty, layered mouthfeel, ripe yet present tannins, and a great finish. Its purity of fruit is off the charts, it’s perfectly balanced, and while approachable today, it will benefit from 2-4 years of bottle age and keep for 15-20 years in cold cellars. It’s an incredible, singular Syrah.”
Owen Bargreen-Vinous 97 points “The 2018 Syrah La Paciencia Vineyard underwent roughly 70% stem inclusion and was aged only in neutral large-format barrels prior to bottling. The nose is ridiculously complex, offering green olives, barnyard, wet stone, tangerine zest, beautiful red fruits and red floral accents that all brilliantly sing in unison. The palate is deeply concentrated with a gorgeous sense of mouthfeel and a beautiful core of dark fruits. With more air, shades of salted smoked meats, black truffle crudo and orange rind mingle together. Savory and complex, this beautiful wine is drinking marvelously even at the three-year mark and has another decade or more to go.”

No Girls La Placiencia Vineyard Tempranillo, Walla Walla Valley 2018 750ML ($149.95) $119 pre-arrival special, only 3 bottles available
Jeb Dunnuck 96 points “Also gorgeous, the 2018 Tempranillo reveals a more opaque purple hue as well as a great nose of redcurrants, blueberries, raspberries, exotic flowers, and loads of savory spice. This carries to a rich, meaty, medium to full-bodied Tempranillo with polished tannins, notable freshness, and a beautiful finish that keeps you coming back to the glass. It’s another 2018 from this team that has the purity and elegance to drink brilliantly today yet the balance and structure to evolve for at least 15 years or more.”
Owen Bargreen-Vinous 95 points “The exceedingly good 2018 Tempranillo was aged in roughly 30% new French oak before bottling. The palate is exceedingly salty and savory, with firm tannins that hold everything in place. Bright black cherry, orange rind and salted Parma ham flavors mingle with black olives and exotic spices. Beautiful to enjoy now, this has another decade or more to go.”
 

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Shop our full lineup of wines in stock now from Christophe Baron, including his exquisite Champagnes on our web store now!
 

 

Cesarini Sforza is no beginner operation either, having been founded in 1974 by Count Lamberto Cesarini Sforza of the Duchy of Milan. Working almost entirely with Chardonnay, all of their grapes are grown organically on the traditional pergola trellis. The combination of high altitude and multi-layered soils contribute a crisp and clean minerality in addition to alpine-esque aromatics. Aged for over two years on the lees prior to disgorgement you also get some autolytic notes of brioche and sweetbread dough that bring to mind Key lime pie. The rose presents additional flavors of orange peel, oregano, and cinnamon against green strawberry and white peach.  

Cesarini Sforza Spumante Rose Brut Trentino-Alto Adige  NV 750ML ($27.95) $21.90 special, 5 bottles in stock now
Eric Guido-Vinous 91 points “The NV Brut Rosé Metodo Classico is a pretty and vibrant shade of pink, with a bouquet of smoke and crushed stone that gives way to young peach and a spritz of lime. This fills the palate with silken bubbles and savory minerals which nicely contrast its mix of ripe strawberry and baked apple. It tapers off persistent, with a salty flourish and red inner florals that linger on. Nicely done.”      
 

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Pineau d’Aunis was once ubiquitous on royal dinner tables during the Middle Ages, with the English Royals being particularly enamored by the varietal’s spicy red fruit character. Much like Pinot Noir the varietal is famed for it’s food friendliness and versatility in the cellar. Able to be fermented as still red, rose or sparkling wine the varietal shines with a variety of cuisines. Jean-Francois Merieau is lucky enough to work with exceptionally old vine examples of Pineau, with the oldest blocks on his estate being well over a century old! If that wasn’t enough the estate is organically farmed and sits in a hilly part of Touraine. The soils chalk limestone and clay create the perfect growing environment for an expression of the Loire that encapsulates both the storied reputation of the area and easy drinking pleasure. 

In stock now: 

Jean-Francois Merieau Les Bulles de Genie Loire  NV ($21.95) $18 special, 16 bottles in stock now
Importer note “The was a time when growers didn’t talk about their Pineau d’Aunis much less brag about their old vines of it. That was when much of this distinctive black cherry and peppery-flavored wine was blended away into generic sparkling wines or made into insipid sweet rosé. Jean François Mérieau treats his Pineau d’Aunis with respect and makes a delicious dry rosé, La Rosée, as well as a sparkling wine from his 60+ year old vines of this rediscovered variety. He adds a touch of Grolleau Gris to the final blend and always bottles the Bulles de Génie without any dosage.”
 

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The Tentations rosé is meant to offer an affordable introduction to the varietal and house style, and delivers in spades. Organically grown and fermented in steel with wild yeasts, the Tentations is pale in color with beautifully effusive aromas of orange peel, cherry blossom, marjoram and sea spray. A perfect introduction to Tibouren rose at a fraction of the cost you usually see.

Clos Cibonne in stock now: 

Clos Cibonne Cotes de Provence Tentations Rose France 2020 750ML ($24.95) $18 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-12 Clos Cibonne Cotes de Provence Tentations Rose France 2020 750ML ($249.95) $199 special, (that’s only $16.58/bottle!)
De Maison Selections note “Tentations offers an accessible entry-point into Provence wine. Tentations is made with exceptional ingredients, including fruit from young tibouren vines and some purchased fruit from farmers they have long-standing relationships with, in prime spots in La Londe. The Tentations wines do not undergo the extensive aging process of the Clos Cibonne line. Offering immediate and unpretentious enjoyment, they are incredible food wines and represent one of the best wine values in the Côtes de Provence region. Site: La Londe. Grapes: 50% Grenache, 20% Cinsault, 15% Syrah, and 15% Tibouren.”
 

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Sourced entirely from organic, estate grown Monastrell or Mourvèdre as it’s known elsewhere in the world  this is a delightfully refreshing yet dimensional rose featuring juicy red fruit, a plethora of citrus and a good finish. Perfect for those who prefer their wine to have more body and texture while still having aromatic lift.  

Bodegas Bleda Castillo de Jumilla Rosado Jumilla 2020 750ML ($12.95) $10.90 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Winery note “From a harvest in early September, this Monastrell rosé displays an intense array of strawberry and rose notes, woven between a harmony of crisp, blood-orange acidity and a giving, mineral texture. Fresh, tasty and well balanced. Good acidic structure. Excellent with seafood and all types of fish and light meats.”
 

This is the only listing in the USA today!
 

There are only a handful of wines in the world considered “Immortal” in terms of its life in the bottle. The most famous of these is without a doubt Tokaji. The confluence of high acid, prodigious sugar levels, perfect terroir and masterful cellarwork is what makes these wines so long lived, with bottles that are hundreds of years old still being drinkable. They’re also among some of the highest selling wines at auction, with 500ml bottles selling for tens of thousands of dollars or more!  

Have you ever had something that tasted so good you thought there was a secret ingredient? Marzio Galeotto, an Italian merchant in the 1460’s widely proclaimed that Tokaji contained flecks of actual gold. This sparked a centuries long obsession with the region, with an inexhaustible list of historical figures who proclaimed their love for the wines including Thomas Jefferson, Catherine the Great, Tolstoy and the Sun King himself, Louis the 14th who made it the court wine of Versailles. We offer a plethora of examples from Royal Tokaji Co, a producer credited with reintroducing Tokai to the world of fine wine after the elimination of the Iron Curtain. These are benchmark wines that you should try at least once in your lifetime, and have at least one in the cellar.    

In stock now:

Royal Tokaji ‘Betsek’ Single Vineyard Aszu 6 Puttonyos Tokaj 2016 500ML ($149.95) $119 special, 4 bottles in stock now
Neal Martin-Vinous 96 points “The 2016 Betsek First Growth Tokaji Aszú 6 Puttonyos contains the most residual sugar this vintage, at 185.8g/L. The clean, pure bouquet offers dried honey, a light adhesive note, lanolin and candle wax, very complex and mercurial in the glass. The elegant, well-balanced palate features apricot, quince, marmalade and a touch of ginger. What I adore is the manner in which this Betsek builds in the mouth and fans out like a great Tokaji ought to. Another outstanding single-vineyard offering from the Royal Tokaji Company.”
Wine & Spirits 95 points “[Wine & Spirits Winery of the Year in 2021 Featured Wine] Royal Tokaji’s portion of the crescent-shaped Betsek vineyard is toward the bottom of the slope, where cool air collects and the rich clay soil holds that chill. Perhaps you can taste the contrast of rich and cool in this 2016, the wine filled with creamy apricot-and-peach density of flavor, yet lifted by brisk spice, citrus and floral notes. It feels vivacious and pretty, carrying itself with an ease that belies its sweetness (it’s the richest of Royal Tokaji’s 2016 aszús, at 185 grams per liter of residual sugar).”


Royal Tokaji Ats – Mad Cuvee – Late Harvest Tokaj 2017 500ML ($24.95) $19.90 special, 19 bottles in stock now
Wine Enthusiast 93 points “This late-harvest wine carries aromas of pear and acacia flower, with flavors of Bartlett pear, apricot and dried rosemary. It has nice weight on the midpalate and the finish is pleasantly sweet without being too cloying. -Jeff Jenssen”

Royal Tokaji ‘Mezes Maly’ Aszu 6 Puttonyos Tokaj 2017 500ML ($179.95) $149 special, 11 bottles in stock now
Neal Martin-Vinous 95 points “The 2017 Tokaji Mézes Mály 6-Puttonyos, which comes from vines on loess soils, has a beautiful nose. Very pure but not intense, it offers scents of honeysuckle, clementine, lemon sherbet and a touch of black currant leaf, all showing wonderful definition. The palate is is very well balanced with impressive weight, but like the nose, there is a subtlety, a lightness of touch from start to finish. Elegant and poised, this is a very classy effort from one of Tokaji’s most renowned sites and it will age with class. 2,665 bottles produced.”
 

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Royal Tokaji ‘Szt. Tamas’ Aszu 6 Puttonyos Tokaj 2017 500ML ($149.95) $112 special, 11 bottles in stock now
Neal Martin-Vinous 95 points “The 2017 Tokaji Szt. Tamás 6-Puttonyos comes from red-clay topsoils in the commune of Mád. This is more backward compared to the Mézes Mály, and very much more citrus-driven, featuring lemon peel, orange zest and crushed stone aromas; the Aszú element is more discreet. The fresh, vibrant palate is well balanced and harmonious, offering a fine bead of acidity and candied orange peel toward the finish. Edgier than Royal Tokaji’s other 2017s, and perhaps spicier on the finish, this will be fascinating to observe mature in bottle. 3,635 bottles produced.”
 

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Royal Tokaji ‘Nyulaszo’ Aszu 6 Puttonyos Tokaj 2017 500ML ($149.95) $105 special, 9 bottles in stock now
James Suckling TOP 100 WOTY 2021
James Suckling 98 points “Spicy and earthy notes of ginseng, dried pineapple, candied citrus, fig and toffee apple. The sweetness is balanced and complemented by earthy, complex layers. Lots of spicy botrytis character. Extremely long. Complex and thought-provoking with so much dried-fruit and spicy flavor at the end. Dense and tight, yet agile. Delicious now, but if you give it another five or six years, you will see even more. 5,541 bottles produced.”
Neal Martin-Vinous 94 points “The 2017 Tokaji Nyulászó 6-Puttonyos comes from vines on brown volcanic soils overlooking the town of Mád. This has a lighter and perhaps less complex bouquet compared to Royal Tokaji’s other cuvées, though it develops nicely in the glass to reveal lemon verbena, dried mango and wild peachy scents. The palate is much more open, its impressive weight and concentration effortlessly counterbalanced by a fine line of acidity. This is very harmonious and poised, and almost Sauternes-like toward the finish. Give it 5–8 years in the cellar to allow those aromas to open. 5,541 bottles produced.”
 

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
 

Varied Vermouths
 

Did you know Vermouth was originally a medicinal product? The product we associate with modern vermouth was first made in Italy around 1786 by Antonio Carpano. The original formulation was derived from infusing wormwood and white wine together, with later formulations being what we now know as Carpano Antica and marketed as a general curative. In the centuries since there are now vermouths made all over the world, including Italy, South Africa, and France! We carry a vast array of styles in house from rich and spicy, light and botanical, and from syrupy sweet to bone dry.

Vermouths in stock now: 

The legendary Carpano is a mainstay in any professional’s bar cart for a variety of reasons beyond being the originator of the category. It is among the most versatile ingredients for cocktail mixing, and also possesses enough stuffing to be enjoyed on its own. Orange marmalade, allspice and date flavors are cushioned by a medium body and long finish that’s both sweet and bitter in a way that’s synergistic.  

Carpano in stock now: 

Carpano ‘Punt e Mes’ Vermouth Italy 750ML ($39.95) $24 special, only 3 bottles in stock now
Winery note “Punt e Mes has a golden orange color with topaz tones, herby aromas and dark red, black dahlia with vermilion shades. The initial taste is one of sweetness, characterised by an intriguing accent of orange. This is followed by the characteristically bitter taste of the quina and ends on a sweet note. Punt e Mes is delicious served straight with a slice of orange peel but is also perfect as a base for cocktails such as the famous MITO, the Manhattan or the legendary 70’s Punt e Mes.”
 

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Hammer & Tongs Sac’Resine Vermouth Oregon 750ML NV ($39.95) $29 special, only 4 bottles in stock now
From the Producer: “Sac’Resine is an original formula vermouth crafted with botanical resins of antiquity. These “Sacred Resins” were used as perfumes in rituals from birth to burial, prescribed medicinally both internally & externally, and were among the most valuable commodities dominating the ancient trade routes of South Asia and China. In my youth, my grandmother would bring us to the old mission where she used to attend mass and they would burn incense made from these resins. For more than a century, the monks and other devotees would ritually burn these very same resins as ceremonial incense, leaving the essence behind to permeate the stone walls and wood of the structure, as well as the memories of countless children accompanying their elders. A compound of these powerfully pungent saps with delicate herbs and flowers, is blended with a lightly fragrant wine and fortified with spirits to make a unique style of vermouth best categorized as something between a Bianco and a Rosso.  Loosely inspired by the most ubiquitous vermouth in the world, this light, citrusy and distinctly aromatic draft is meticulously crafted using both traditional and innovative methods.”

L.N. Mattei Cap Corse Quinquina Blanc Aperitif Corsica NV ($24.95) $21.90 special, only 4 bottles in stock now
Importer note “A true Quinquina Blanc, and unique among aperitif wines. The profile of the Cap Corse Mattei Blanc aperitif wine is defined by its distinctly Corsican components. Its all-mistelle base is of Vermentinu and Muscat Petit Grains, lending a terrific minerality, acidity and floral tones. The local Cedrat (aka citron) adds unique citrus aroma and a silky texture. Since its creation in 1872 by Louis-Napoléon Mattei, Cap Corse Mattei is the oldest and best known aperitif of Corsica. Still today family owned, and all macerations, aging and bottling are done in house. As a quinquina, Cap Corse Mattei BLANC is flavored with cinchona bark (quinine), which adds spice and depth in the mid and back palate. Fantastic on ice with tonic or soda, and even more so with a pour of gin or an agave spirit.”

L.N. Mattei Cap Corse Quinquina Rouge Aperitif Corsica NV ($24.95) $21.90 special, 2 bottles in stock now
Haus Alpenz note “Among the most famous of French Quinquina, enjoyed for generations by visitors and residents of the Island of Corsica. It is composed of a variety of local and exotic spices, walnuts and cinchona bark (quinine) on a base of Corsican Muscat and Vermentinu mistelles. The result is an aperitif of tremendous depth with a wonderfully dry finish. Since its creation in 1872 by Louis-Napoléon Mattei, Cap Corse Mattei is the oldest and best known aperitif of Corsica.”      
 

Collector’s Corner:  

Chalky Mountain High 

Vatan’s Benchmark Sauvignon Blanc 
 

France is a country known for her Grand Crus but more often than not it’s the winemakers who catapult their appellations to the top of the global buying lists. Edmond Vatan is definitively one of those, with his Sancerre from his Clos La Neore vineyard putting the appellation on the map. The estate’s farming is entirely chemical free and was one of the first producers in the region to convert to organics. Vatan is considered the most age-worthy example of the varietal on Earth, with an austerity that lasts for years after release. 

Practicing severe pruning and exactingly low intervention in both the vineyard and cellar, this is the gold standard for Sauvignon Blanc. The Clos La Neore is produced from a single hectare of 45+ year old vines on a south facing slope of pure chalk in Mont Damnes. Vatan practices extended hang time on the vine, resulting in a textural and aromatic punch far beyond what other producers deliver. After retiring to a consulting winemaker role in 2007, Edmond’s daughter Annie now holds the reigns with their production still remaining exceedingly small. Our allocation won’t last long, so act while you still have a chance! 

Vatan in stock now:  

Edmond Vatan Sancerre Clos la Neore Loire 2016 750ML ($599.95) $499 special, 10 bottles in stock now    
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!