In This Newsletter:
Subscriber Special
Santa Duc’s Regal Reds
New Grapelive Review
Daterra’s ‘Portela do Vento’ Blanco
Von Winning
Germany’s Most Exciting Producer?
Cave Mont Blanc’s Alpine Wines
Perfect for Spring
More Spring Sparklers
All $20 – $30
Collector’s Corner
Pierre Gelin’s World-Class Burgundy
Subscriber Special
Santa Duc’s Regal Reds
Santa Duc’s Regal Reds
Gigondas is the finest source of value for profound wine in the Rhône. The top estates deliver wines that compete with the very best wines of Châteauneuf-du-Pape, but at prices that are a fraction of their peers. Our Subscriber Special today, Santa Duc, is one of the very best in the region.
Santa Duc is perhaps the only estate who can match Saint Cosme as the “Most Important Winery in Gigondas”. Owners of some of the finest vineyards in the Southern Rhône, Santa Duc is a legendary producer that more than lives up to their reputation. Unlike Saint Cosme, though, their top wines aren’t yet commanding triple-digit pricing.
These are wines that manage the neat trick of being absolutely delicious now while having a track record of aging gracefully. Recent notes for older bottles like the 1995 and 1998 Hautes Garrigues are glowing, yet the wines can be on your table tonight and impress. In the last decade or so, the winery has extended its holdings into Châteauneuf and those wines are as brilliant as you’d expect, as well.
These are wines to buy in quantity—you’re going to want to drink a lot of them now and have some left in your cellar in ten years. Best of all, our pricing was already the lowest in the country, but is now by far the best. So now is the perfect time to stock up.
Gigondas
In Stock Now:
Domaine Santa Duc Gigondas Clos Derrière Vieille, Rhône 2015 750ML ($49.95) Was $41.90 Now $38, 9 bottles in stock now
James Suckling 94 points “Mostly (80%) grenache with 10% each of mourvèdre and syrah. There’s a very impressive, sheer and crunchy texture to the palate and a peppery edge. Tannins drive a long, powerful finish. Best from 2020.”
Jeb Dunnuck 92-94 points “The 2015 Gigondas Clos Derrière Vieille (80% Grenache and 10% each of Syrah and Mourvèdre) comes from the wall vineyard located just beside the village. It offers terrific notes of dusty earth, dried cherries and herbes de Provence, medium to full-bodied richness, silky tannin and a beautiful texture. Like the other 2015s, it’s going to drink nicely for 10-15 years.”
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 92-93 points “Deep ruby. Ripe raspberry, cherry liqueur, violet and a hint of garrigue on the deeply perfumed nose. Fleshy, appealingly sweet and expansive in the mouth, offering plush red and blue fruit flavors and a subtle note of candied licorice that builds in the glass. Becomes more energetic with air and finishes on a sweet red berry note, showing powerful thrust, harmonious tannins and impressive persistence.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Domaine Santa Duc Gigondas Prestige des Hautes Garrigues, Rhône 2015 750ML ($59.95) Was $49 Now $44, 23 bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 94-97 points “Lastly, the 2015 Gigondas Hautes Garrigues (60/40 Grenache and Mourvèdre) is a beauty boasting killer notes of dark fruits, crushed rocks, pepper, garrigue and scorched earth. This seriously good 2015 has building richness, a stacked mid-palate and a huge finish, all suggesting short-term cellaring will be your friend. It will keep for two decades of more.”
James Suckling 93 points “Mourvèdre steps up to one third of the blend while the balance is grenache. This has an attractive array of ripe dark cherry and blue plum fruits. The tannins are framed up with a deeper, wider shape. Try from 2020, this needs time.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next lowest listed price $59.98
The next lowest listed price $59.98
Domaine Santa Duc Gigondas Aux Lieux-Dits, Rhône 2015 750ML ($39.95) Was $33 Now $29, 36+ bottles in stock now
James Suckling 93 points “A fluid, fleshy and deeply structured wine with dark cherry and blackberry fruit flavors amid sturdy yet supple tannins. Good weight and presence. Drink now.”
Wine Spectator 93 points “Ripe but fresh, with a slightly high pitch to the mix of damson plum, cherry and rooibos tea aromas and flavors, backed by singed vanilla, tobacco and licorice root notes that give this a darker shade through the finish. Best from 2020 through 2030. 2,400 cases made, 700 cases imported.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Domaine Santa Duc Châteauneuf-du-Pape ‘Le Pied De Baud’, Rhône 2015 750ML ($69.95) Was $51.90 Now $45, 12 bottles in stock now
Wine Advocate 94 points “The 2015 Châteauneuf du Pape Le Pied de Baud, a blend of 80% Grenache, 15% Mourvèdre and 5% Cinsault, offers compelling scents of rose petals and raspberries on the nose. While not as richly textural as some of the other cuvées, it’s still a lovely, hauntingly fragrant example of Châteauneuf du Pape.”
James Suckling 94 points “This has an array of darker berry and plum fruits with a brambly, lightly spicy edge, too. The palate delivers impeccably fresh, lithe and detailed tannin texture, as well as blue fruit flavors. Juicy and energetic. Long finish. Try from 2020.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Domaine Santa Duc Châteauneuf-du-Pape ‘Les Saintes Vierges’ Rouge, Rhône 2015 750ML ($69.95) Was $59 Now $51.90, 23 bottles in stock now
Wine Advocate 95 points “The 2015 Châteauneuf du Pape Les Saintes Vierges is the most flattering of Santa Duc’s current releases, offering lushness and generosity on the palate, notes of cherries and licorice, creamy-supple tannins and a mouthwatering finish. It’s a blend of Grenache, Mourvèdre and Counoise.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Also in Stock Now:
Domaine Santa Duc Gigondas Les Hautes Garrigues, Rhône 2012 750ML ($49.95) $39 special, 1 bottle in stock now
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 92 points “Saturated ruby. Powerful, deeply pitched black and blue fruit aromas are complicated by suggestions of licorice, woodsmoke and incense. Broad, palate-coating blackberry and cherry compote flavors open up slowly with aeration. Distinctly rich but showing surprising vivacity, with velvety tannins coming in late to shape the wine’s sweet finishing fruit.”
Wine Spectator 92 points “This has a solid core of raspberry, bitter cherry and plum fruit, liberally laced with iron, violet and bay leaf notes. The long, sleek finish lets the iron edge play out, revealing a hint of blood orange in the background. Best from 2016 through 2020. 100 cases imported.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Love Rhône reds? We have 160 different options in stock. Shop the entire selection, including famous names like Domaine Jamet, Grand Veneur, Henri Bonneau and more, on our web store now.
New Grapelive Review
Daterra’s ‘Portela do Vento’ Blanco
“The 2018 Portela do Vento Vino Blanco is a stunning white wine from the incredible Laura Lorenzo, this wine is gorgeous with the class and complexity of Grand Cru Burgundy, but with its own unique character and with beautiful aromatics, this medium bodied wine, made from a blend of Ribeira Sacra grown Godello, Palomino, Doña Blanca and Colgadeira, none of which are household names, but combine here to remarkable effect. Lorenzo’s natural and organic offerings are some of the most compelling in Spain, with her hard and back breaking work in these remote vineyard sites really paying off, and while known for her Mencia based reds, her whites are equally outstanding and this 2018 is one f her best that I’ve tried, with its heady perfume, textural grace and depth just heavenly in the glass. This Portela do Blanco comes from plots in the Amandi and Val do Bibei zones set on sandy loams and granite based soils that show in this wine’s intense mineral tones and wet stone element, with vines that range from 25 to 80 years old at elevations above 500 meters on steep slopes look more like the Mosel than you’d imagine. This brilliant wine shows layers of crisp apple, pear, peach and racy citrus fruits with orange blossoms, jasmine and a touch of waxy detail along with zesty herbs, verbena, citron and hazelnut. A light golden yellow hue captures your attention, but it is the sublime mouth feel and steely core that impresses most here, it has many facets that will excite those that love Chablis, though slightly more exotic in nature like a Marcel Deiss field blend meets a South African old vine white, which are Chenin heavy, and makes sense when you know Lorenzo did a stint at Sadie Family, under the mentorship of the legendary Eben Sadie.
I have been following Laura’s wines since she was at Dominio do Bibei and was an early fan of her own label Daterra Viticultores, which was founded in 2014 with a set of small lot wines from the Ribeira Sacra, she has now enjoyed a string of successful vintages and is an international star. Lorenzo hand crafts a range of wines, mostly from a Ribeira Sacra set of small vineyards as well as in Valdeorras, and her Portela do Vento wines are regional blends exclusively from the Ribeira Sacra “Sacred Blanks”, while her Erea, Gavela, and Azos series are single village wines, and she also does a set of single parish or vinos de parroquia wines. All of Laura’s wines are transparent and highlight this regions fascinating terroir, with its cool Atlantic climate and mixture of slate, sand, schist and granite soils all showing through in these intriguing wines. The Portela do Vento Blanco, as the winery notes, comes from several parcels of native white varieties primarily from the Amandi (south-facing young vines) as well as Val do Bibei (north & northeast-facing old vines) subzones, all hand tended head trained vineyard sites, with organic and holistic farming methods employed. This dry white wine saw, according to Lorenzo, all the de-stemmed grapes go into both some used chestnut barrels and some terra-cotta amphora for a wild yeast fermentation with 5 days of skin contact before being raised for about a year in the same vessels and bottled unfined and unfiltered. This wine charms with every sip and goes fabulously with a wide array of foods, but especially with briny sea foods, I highly recommend it with shellfish, though it goes lovely with soft cheeses and even curried greens. This region has a long history in wine, with the Romans coming to this green, northwest corner of Iberia over 2,000 years ago, and they were the first to terrace these picturesque slopes and plant grape vines in Ribeira Sacra and while almost forgotten, but wines like this make it one of the most exciting wine regions in the world.” – Grapelive
Daterra Viticultores ‘Portela do Vento’ Blanco, Galicia 2018 750ML ($39.95) $31.90 special, 17 bottles in stock now
Grapelive 95 points “The 2018 Portela do Vento Vino Blanco is a stunning white wine… [full review above]”
Importer note “Portela do Vento Blanco comes from several parcels of native white varietiesprimarily from the Amandi (south-facing young vines) as well as Val do Bibei (north & northeast-facing old vines) subzones. The grapes were harvested by hand in late September due to a warm and humid summer. The fruit was destemmed into used chestnut barrels and amphora for wild yeast fermentation with 5 days of skin maceration. The wine was then raised for 11 months in the same vessels and bottled without fining or filtration. This is a “mountain white” showing bright orchard fruit, savory minerality and refreshing acidity. Pair it with grilled fish and poultry, paella and good friends.”
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Other Highlights, in Stock Now:
Daterra Viticultores ‘Camino de la Frontera’ Blanco, Castilla y León 2018 750ML ($49.95) $39 special, 8 bottles in stock now
Importer note “Camino de la Frontera Blanco comes from Angel’s ancient, northwest-facing vineyard in the Parque Natural de Los Arribes del Duero, from native Malvasia, Verdejo & Puesta en Cruz varieties. After a cool, wet & humid summer, the grapes were hand-harvested on September 20th, destemmed, crushed and wild yeast fermented in used 250 & 500L chestnut barrels with 10 days of skin maceration, then raised in the same vessels for 11 months. This is a “mountain white” showing bright orchard fruit, savory minerality and refreshing acidity. Pair it with grilled fish and poultry, paella and good friends.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Daterra Viticultores ‘Camino de la Frontera’ Tinto, Castilla y León 2018 750ML ($39.95) $31.90 special, 15 bottles in stock now
Grapelive 94 points “The unique and outstandingly expressive Camino de la Frontera, made from incredibly rare local varietals including Juan Garcia, Tinta Madrid and Rufete from a high elevation vineyard in Fermoselle is crazy delicious with deep layers of blueberry, pomegranate, açaí and earthy currant fruits, but with racy acidity, a nice umami crunchiness, spicy notes and mineral elements in a wonderfully soulful and balanced wine. To explain this exotic field blend red wine from Arribes del Duero, you’d have to imagine some amazingly different wines blended together, I am seeing elements of classic Northern Rhônes, along with characteristics you find in the red wines of the Alto Adige, as well as something like the Frappato and Nero d’Avola blends in Southern Sicily in the Vittoria region! Laura Lorenzo is one of the most heroic and iconic winemakers in Spain these days and her Daterra Viticultores label is one of the most intriguing in the wine world….The vivid and floral (violet) toned Camino de la Frontera Tinto comes from an ancient parcel with vines that are well over a hundred years old at 650 meters above sea level…. The grapes, which are all organic, were hand-harvested then traditionally foot-trodden using about 50% whole-cluster and 50% de-stemmed in this year, with as per normal with Laura’s natural wines, was wild yeast fermented. Lorenzo, who believes in transparency and wines that deliver textural pleasure, used a combination of large French oak and a 1000L chestnut wood foudre to ferment in and then this Camino de la Frontera Tinto was raised in the same vessels for 11 months. As expected in wines like this there was no manipulation during the winemaking process here and Laura’s wines see only a small dose of SO2 with all of her wines being unfined and unfiltered to preserve purity as well as showcase the individual terroirs and every distinct nuance to be found in the finished wines. This is compelling stuff and perfectly delivers everything I love about these Daterra Viticultores wines, which are sultry, earthy seductive and celebrate a sense of wildness that captures the essence of this region and the Galician cool Atlantic climate and rugged charms. “
Importer note “Camino de la Frontera Tinto comes from Angel’s ancient, northwest-facing vineyard in the Parque Natural de Los Arribes del Duero, planted to mostly Juan Garcia, Tinta Madrid (aka Tempranillo), and Rufete balanced by other indigenous varieties. After a cool, wet & humid summer, the grapes were hand-harvested on September 20-21st, 50% foot-trodden whole-cluster and 50% destemmed, wild yeast fermented in a used 4000L French oak cask and a 1000L chestnut foudre with 11 days of skin maceration, then raised in the same vessels for 11 months. This is a red wine of elegant rusticity, with a floral nose and a touch of toasty oak from the new foudre, along with soft tannins and bright acidity.”
Daterra Viticultores ‘Portela do Vento’, Galicia 2018 750ML ($39.95) $31.90 special, 32 bottles in stock now
John Gilman 93 points “The Portela Do Vento Tinto is composed of a blend of Mencía and Garnacha Tintorera, selected from several different vineyard parcels in both Quiroga and Amandi. The grapes are mostly destemmed and fermented in stainless steel tanks, prior to racking to five hundred liter, used demi-muids for ten months of elevage. The 2018 Portela Do Vento comes in at a svelte twelve percent alcohol and delivers a beautiful, black fruity bouquet of cassis, dark berries, tree bark, coffee bean, slate, cigar smoke and just a touch of upper register botanicals. On the palate the wine is precise, full-bodied and tangy, with a lovely core of fruit, excellent slate undertow, fine-grained tannins and a long, complex, palate-staining and focused finish. This is pure, light on its feet and excellent! 2023-2045+.”
Importer note “Comes from several south-facing parcels of Menci´a and Garnacha Tintorera in the Amandi and Quiroga-Bibei subzones. The grapes were harvested by hand and mostly destemmed, fermented with wild yeasts in steel vats, and raised for 9 months in used 500 liter French barrels. This is Laura’s “glou-glou” wine that she loves to share with her American friends. Fresh and easy-drinking, it is very versatile with a wide variety of foods…or straight from the porro´n!?”
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Daterra Viticultores ‘Tabernario’, Galicia 2018 750ML ($35.95) $31.90 special, 17 bottles in stock now
Grapelive 92 points “One of my favorites and a heroic winegrower, Laura Lorenzo is making some amazing wines and her 2018s look set to take her fame to the next level [under the label “Daterra Viticultores. The winery is] based in the remote Ribeira Sacra, which means “Sacred Banks” in Gallego, the local Galician dialect… Her latest Tabernario Tinto with its beautiful texture, bright flavors and mineral details that make it drink as fine as a Premier Cru Burgundy. [The Tinto is] made from old vine parcels of 60% Menci´a, 30% Alicante Bouschet and 10% Palomino… all sourced from Lorenzo’s organic vines in Amandi and Val do Bibei, both sleep river valley locations set on primarily granite soils with a covering of sand and some loams… I was thrilled with the transparent dark fruited profile with layers of Mencia led characteristics showing black cherry, wild plum, cranberry and tart currant fruits, fresh garden herbs, star anise, crushed stones, a touch of leathery earth and light cedar as well as delicate floral tones. The Ribeira Sacra [region], a favorite of the Romans, who came to this green, northwest corner of the Iberian Peninsula more than 2,000 years ago and were the first to plant and terrace the slopes to grape vines, almost forgotten in modern times due to the harsh working conditions this place is now one of the wine world’s most exciting places. This light medium bodied Tabernario red has the charm of Cru Beaujolais, like Fleurie, especially with its pretty details and a bit of northern Rhône crunchiness and game, even though as mentioned above this vintage has a satiny feel that reminds me of a Pinot. Lorenzo is committed to holistic and natural methods in the vineyards and in her cellar, looking to capture the purest form of terroir and of the vineyard. She works with indigenous or wild yeast exclusively and mostly whole cluster with elevage in only used well-seasoned oak casks of various sizes and does no adjustments other that the absolute minimum dose of SO2, all unfined and unfiltered. The 2018 vintage was not kind to Lorenzo and she lost a huge amount of grapes to severe weather, but she persevered and crafted a beauty with this Tabernario which was harvested by hand in early September…. The Ribeira Sacra is a cool Atlantic zone with granitic, schist and slate soils predominating here in a region that looks more like Germany’s river wine growing areas than most of Spain, which helps to explain Laura’s wines that have lower alcohols, this one is just 12%, and that are highly aromatic, zesty, quaffable and elegant in style. The Daterra offerings are wildly addictive and unique. I highly recommend checking them out!”
Importer note “Due to extremely adverse weather in 2018, Laura and Alvaro lost almost all of their fruit that goes into the Gavela, Erea and Azos wines. Thus was born Tabernario, half of which comes from the surviving Val do Bibei Mencía & Palomino,plus Alicante Bouschet & Mencía from the Amandi (which typically go into Portela do Vento). The grapes were harvested by hand in early September and 50% destemmed, skin-macerated for 10 days and spontaneously fermented in 500L & 1000L chestnut barrels. The wine was then raised for 11 months and bottled without fining or filtration, and only minimal additions of SO2.”
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Von Winning
Germany’s Most Exciting Producer?
Germany’s Most Exciting Producer?
Von Winning makes some of the most profound white wines on the planet. The combination of incredible vineyard sites, meticulous winemaking and a commitment to producing only the finest wines yields exactly what you’d hope: white wines of depth and complexity, with grace and mineral power. The Rieslings are dry, but unlike some of their neighbors, powerful fruit isn’t the goal here. No, the Von Winning’s Rieslings offer floral and mineral flavors that are both intense and furtive.
But what really separates Von Winning from their peers in Germany are their Sauvignon Blancs. Germany is of course not where you’d expect to find some of the best Sauvignon Blanc in the world, but the wines will make a believer out of anyone. These are rich, textural examples that move beyond varietal characteristics and into unique territory. Their closest comparison is probably the top Sauvignon of Friuli (eg, Miani, Ronco del Gnemiz), or the very best estates in Austria.
“The fact that this estate is crafting some of the very best dry wines in Germany is no fluke, rather a result of nearly obsessive winemaker Stephan Attman’s commitment to both dedicated cultivation of Deidesheim and Forst’s best sites and meticulous work in the cellar. Von Winning maintains some of the oldest parcels in Grosses Gewächs vineyards smattered across Forst, Deidesheim, and Ruppertsberg. Attman’s every decision is informed by great enthusiasm and experiences at estates in the Cote d’Or and abroad.” – Skurnik Wines
In Stock Now:
Von Winning ‘I’ Sauvignon Blanc Trocken, Pfalz 2018 750ML ($44.95) $36 special, 9 bottles in stock now
Terry Theise note “How did I ever live without von Winning Sauvignon Blanc? I mean really. And how did they ever forgive my stubborn reluctance to taste these wines all those years ago? Attmann doesn’t look to the Loire for his model; he looks to White Bordeaux, and if he doesn’t deliberately look to Styria, his wines themselves do, to the volcanic zone around Kitzeck and also in southeast-Styria. He will protest that his wines don’t have the (often) excessive alcohol of the top Styrians—correctly—but I’m talking more about flavors per se.The 2018 “I” recalls my all-time favorite 2013, and only ‘18’s jalapeño nibble obtrudes upon its eerie serenity.”
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Von Winning ‘II’ Sauvignon Blanc Trocken, Pfalz 2019 750ML ($21.95) $19.50 special, 36 bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 90 points “Tasted for the second time in May this year, von Winning’s 2019 Sauvignon Blanc II offers a clear and refreshing Sancerre-like bouquet of white and green fruits along with herbaceous and flinty aromas. Round and fruity on the palate, with good freshness and a silky texture, this is a medium-bodied, very elegant, stimulatingly salty and grippy Sauvignon Blanc with a mouthwatering finish. It is much better this time than when tasted soon after the bottling half a year ago.”
Other Highlights, in Stock Now:
Von Winning Kirchenstuck Riesling Grosses Gewächs, Pfalz 2017 750ML ($149.95) $119 special, 6 bottles in stock now
David Schildknecht – Vinous 93-94 points “Site-typically musky notes of narcissus mingle with anticipations of the bright lime and pure, luscious white peach that dominate a silken, subtly oily, expansive palate. The layering of inner-mouth floral perfume, high-toned green herbal essences and mouthwateringly scallop-like savor is hugely impressive, leading to a finish whose musky bittersweetness reminds me of sucking on the stem-end of honeysuckle blossoms; whose salinity tugs at the salivary glands; and whose effusive fruit is transparent to stony underpinnings.”
Terry Theise [+++] “(Forst) After being overtaken by Pechstein in 2016, this supernal vineyard reasserts itself, and creates a sublime dry riesling that stands with the greatest I’ve ever encountered. Sublime, the only word that suffices. Seizes you gently but doesn’t let go. Visits every cell in your mouth and leaves you coated with flowers and stones. Great wines take you into the ground, but you don’t have subterranean eyes, and so you are blind and blissful and still and surrounded, and all the world below is present for you.”
Von Winning Deidesheimer Paradiesgarten Riesling Trocken, Pfalz 2018 750ML ($37.95) $29 special, 20 bottles in stock now
Stephen Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 90 points “The 2018 Riesling Deidesheimer Paradiesgarten “VDP. Erste Lage” opens with a clear and fragrant bouquet of white and yellow-fleshed fruits and floral and delicate fresh oak aromas. On the palate, this is a medium-bodied, tight, fresh and lush dry Riesling with edges and a grippy character. Green apples on the aftertaste. Tasted in Deidesheim, December 2019.”
Terry Theise note “The best vintage I recall of this surprising wine; curvaceous and leafy, the often-noted caraway seed nuance, along with ‘18s beaming plum-blossom aromas and the fennel and mirabelle-drenched palate could hardly be more fetching. The salty finish also doesn’t hurt!”
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Von Winning Ruppertsberger Reiterpfad Riesling, Pfalz 2018 750ML ($39.95) $31.90 special, 18 bottles in stock now
Terry Theise note “Many growers would bottle this wine as a GG; it’s probably the best site in Ruppertsberg (though Bürklin has a claim with its monopole Gaisböhl); this ’18 is peachy, sweet white corn, chervil and tarragon; it’s more melodic than Paradiesgarten but with an aloe vera and sorrel note common to good ‘18s; it’s the most appealing of the 1er Lages, sweet-natured and with a lovely grace.”
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Von Winning Ungeheuer Riesling Grosses Gewächs, Pfalz 2018 750ML ($79.95) $69 special, 3 bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 92+ points “Pure, clear, fresh and oaky on the deep, intense and elegant nose, von Wininng’s 2018 Ungeheuer GG “VDP. Grosse Lage” is sweetish, round and all too charming for my personal tastes, but it’s elegant, refined and persistently long on the complex and promising finish. Fine tannin grip and orange peel flavors on the finish. Tasted in Deidesheim, December 2019.”
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Cave Mont Blanc’s Alpine Wines
Perfect for Spring
Cave Mont Blanc was founded in the early 1980s with the stated purpose of reviving abandoned vineyards within Italy’s picturesque Valle d’Aosta. Located in the shadow of Mont Blanc, the area features some of the highest elevation vineyards in all of Europe. Few machines are capable of working such extreme topographies – needless to say, they’re seldom employed within the region.
Cave Mont Blanc’s wines tether the balance between delicate and powerful – they are wine of paradoxes. The ‘1187’ bubbles, made from 100% Prie Blanc, is soft, but also offers bracing minerality. While the still Morgex Et De La Salle and Morgex Vini Estremi are both pretty and nuanced. The entire lineup is perfect for spring drinking, expressive whites and bubbles that pair perfectly with fresh air and sunbreaks.
In Stock Now:
Cave Mont Blanc de Morgex et de la Salle ‘1187’ Spumante, Aosta Valley 2018 750ML ($34.95) $28 special, 8 bottles in stock now
No review for the 2018. 2016 review provided for reference.
Ian D’agata-Vinous 93 points “Light, bright golden straw-green. Beautifully scented, nuanced, mineral-laced aromas of orange peel, lime, honeysuckle and green almond; notes of mint and minerals gain strength with aeration. Deeper and more powerful than I remember other vintages of this wine at a similar stage of development, it offers precise, energetic citrus and orchard fruit flavors complicated by white flower and stony qualities. The lingering finish is broad, steely and very pure. Lots going on here; I liked this wine’s delicate yet assertive nature. Another great sparkler this year from the Cave du Mont Blanc.”
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Cave Mont Blanc de Morgex et de la Salle Glacier Metodo Classico Brut 2016 750ML ($34.95) $28 special, 6 bottles in stock now
Ian D’agata-Vinous 92 points “Bright golden-tinged yellow. Poached pear and green apple on the nose, with notes of resin and nectarine adding complexity. The palate offers a brightly acidic, steely, fresh citrus character, plus minerals and orchard fruit flavors. Finishes long with powerful notes of nectarine and peach.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Cave Mont Blanc de Morgex et de la Salle ‘Caronte’ Extra Brut Rosato NV 750ML ($29.95) $26 special, 32 bottles in stock now
VinopolNote “Founded in 1983, to revive the abandoned vineyards on the slopes of the Mont Blanc and to perpetuate the centuries old tradition of the area, the ‘Cave’ gathers the grapes from the municipalities of Morgex and La Salle and produces, among others, one of the highest cultivated white wines in Europe.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Also in Stock Now:
Cave Mont Blanc de Morgex et de la Salle ‘Blanc de Morgex et de la Salle’, Aosta Valley 2019 750ML ($27.95) $24 special, 19 bottles in stock now
No review for the 2019. 2018 review provided for reference.
Ian D’agata-Vinous 92 points “Green-hued yellow. Piercing, precise, subtle aromas of stone fruits, minerals and peony. Extremely complex on the palate, offering a wild array of fresh orchard fruit, minerals and herb flavors, a fine-grained, vibrant texture and remarkable energy. Leaves behind an inviting note of chamomile and thyme on the long, sappy finish. Outstanding aperitif wine.”
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Cave Mont Blanc de Morgex et de la Salle Vini Estremi, Aosta Valley 2019 750ML ($29.95) $26 special, 20 bottles in stock now
VinopolNote “Founded in 1983, to revive the abandoned vineyards on the slopes of the Mont Blanc and to perpetuate the centuries old tradition of the area, the ‘Cave’ gathers the grapes from the municipalities of Morgex and La Salle and produces, among others, one of the highest cultivated white wines in Europe.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
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When you’re ready to pick up, just park in our lot,
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please let us know their name when placing your order.)
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More Spring Sparklers
All $20 – $30
All $20 – $30
France
Château de Brézé – Arnaud Lambert Crémant de Loire Brut Rosé NV 750ML ($29.95) $21.90 special, 10 bottle in stock now
Winery note “100% Cabernet Franc.”
Becky Wasserman note “Vine Age: Planted in 1981. Terroir: Lower part of the Clos du Midi, silty sand soil on 1 meter of soft Turonian limestone bedrock. Viticulture: Organic (certified). Vinification: Indigenous yeast fermentation, traditional Champagne method. Aged for 24 months.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Rouanne Brut Nature Rosé Millésime, IGP Drome Comté de Grignan 2019 750ML ($31.95) $26 special, 36+ bottle in stock now
Winemaker Louis Barruol (also of Chateau de Saint Cosme) tasting note “At opening and pouring in the glass, the sound (yes, wines do have a “sound dimension”) delivered let you know about the energy which can be found in this bottle. The colour is light and clear, with greyish / blue reflections. The nose develops wonderful aromas of silex, wild strawberry and thyme. Plenty of mineral there and not just fruit: the limestone of Rouanne sings. Give some time and oxygene: you will see these scents evolve, get finer with more and more complexity. Let the wine tell you its story. In the mouth, the aromas approached on the nose can be found in the flavours. The tension lifts the gentleness and the roundness of our ripe fruits. This is fresh, with a slight hint of iode and imperceptible bitterness. It is “light” in a good way. It flies. Rouanne rosé Brut Nature is a wine of joy and elegance. A wine of party.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Germany
Von Winning Riesling Sekt Extra Brut, Pfalz NV 750ML ($29.95) $24 special, 36+ bottle in stock now
Grapelive 92 points “I’m lucky to have enjoyed this exciting Riesling Sparkler on a few occasions now. I love its intensity, crisp detail and briskly dry profile that make it celebratory but sublime with meals especially first courses or as an aperitif to whet the palate. German bubbles are incredible and this one is a classy example at a reasonable price, not to be outdone by Prosecco, the Cremants of Alsace, the Loire and Burgundy, and Champagne even, these modern Sekt(s) are stylish, elegant and full of personality. This one [is] in the mold of one of my favorite small Champagne house, Agrapart, with its cool invigorating mineral tones and extreme dry flavors. Von Winning is one of Germany’s top wineries, based in the chalky sandstone soiled Pfalz region, with an exceptional range of wines, especially their absolutely awesome series of Grosses Gewachs (Grand Cru) Rieslings, though there is excellence throughout the collection here and as I have noted in my prior reviews, Von Winning does one of the finest Sauvignon Blanc(s) in the world, too. The Extra Brut Riesling Sekt is vibrant and steely from the start with a mix of zesty citrus and peachy fruits, a hint of wet stones, leesy/yeasty notes and a faint floral element all of which folds together nicely and vigorously on the energy driven light to medium bodied palate that gains texture with air, but stays firmly taut with an expressive, subtly luxurious small bubbled mousse. This is delicious stuff, I’m so happy after a lengthy wait that the Von Winning sparkling Riesling is more readily available in the States. The Von Winning estate, founded in 1849 [and] located in Deidesheim, owns and farms, all organically, some of the oldest plots in the best Grosses Gewächs vineyards in the region, with their historic parcels divided in the Forst, Deidesheim, and Ruppertsberg zones of the Pfalz. [They] have the talents of Stephan Attmann in the cellar, who is inspired by the great wines of Burgundy and has put in place many tried and true Cote d’Or practices in place here, both in the vineyard with high density and Burgundy style pruning as well as winemaking techniques in the winery. These methods, which include small barrels in the elevage and all gravity flow (gentle) handling of the wines have led to worldwide acclaim. As mentioned their dry Rieslings are unique, richly flavored and are as beautifully compelling as any top white Burgundy, including the best from Meursault, Corton-Charlemagne and even the fabled Le Montrachet. Anyone who’s had Von Winning’s Kirchenstück, Kalkofen, Ungeheuer and or Pechstein GG’s will instantly recognize the greatness in the glass. Trust me these are outrageously good wines. Back to the sparkler, I highly recommend grabbing some of this fine bubbly and celebrate any of life’s happier moments and, wallet allowing, add a few of the single vineyard Trockens, especially those GG’s, as well as the Paradiesgarten, which is an awesome value. The Von Winning Sekt is crafted in the classic methode champenoise style with 100% Riesling being used, sourced from, as the winery notes, a selection of different vineyards close to Deidesheim on loess-clay and red sandstone soils with a lengthy period on the lees. There’s a lot to explore here at Von Winning and I suggest sampling any and all of their offerings.”
Italy
Zanotto ‘ZB’ Brut, Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG 2018 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 special, 3 bottle in stock now
Winery note “A no residual sugar Prosecco, expressive, with cutting acidity. Produced with 100% glera grapes from a vineyard at 370 meters above sea level. This wine hails from a local winemaking tradition, made with little added sugar. The resulting spumante is decidedly dry. The fermentation takes place in stainless steel tanks, and the second, in autoclave according to the Marinotti method for 90-100 days. A subtle, elegant perlage, zesty notes of lemon, white flowers and bread crusts. Sustained acidity, length and persistence. A Conegliano-Valdobbiadene that can almost be described as extreme.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Luigi Giordano Metodo Classico Rosé Brut Nature, Piedmont 2016 750ML ($39.95) $29 special, 35 bottle in stock now
Importer Note “After soft pressing, rosé maceration is performed for two hours, followed by cold draining of the must. Fermentation takes place in stainless steel tanks at controlled temperatures. The Champagne method (‘metodo classico’) is used, with the second fermentation occurring in the bottle. Abundant, rose-tinted effervescence with a fine andpersistent perlage. The wine is rose to cherry-pink in colour with salmon highlights. The perfume is intense and ample with notes of raspberry, red berries, citrus fruits and a hint of wilted roses. The flavour is fresh and full-bodied with a soft,clean aftertaste and a slightly tannic finish.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Oregon
The Eyrie Vineyards ‘Spark’ Sparkling Rosé, Willamette Valley NV 750ML ($33.95) $27 special, 4 bottle in stock now
Erin Brooks – Wine Advocate “The NV Spark is a blend of 55% Pinot Noir, 37% Chasselas Doré and 8% Pinot Blanc, from 31-year-old vines. It is an “ultra brut,” although this particular bottling is made using forced carbonation instead of méthode Champenois. Medium to deep cherry-pink in color, it has aromas of cantaloupe, strawberries, raspberries and lemon peel with notes of stone and toast. The palate is dry with citrus and red berry flavors, spritely mousse and a refreshing, mineral-driven finish.”
Winery note “55% Pinot noir, 37% Chasselas dore & 8% Pinot blanc. Ultra Brut. 12 months aged on lees. Jory volcanic soil. 31 y/o vines.”
Distributor note “A casual sparkler from an innovative blend of grapes. The initial aroma of pear and citrus rind further develops on the palate over a structure of crisp acids and creamy fruit notes. An initial rush of exuberant bubbles is quickly followed by a soft effervesence. Slight astringency balances the richness from extended lees contact, and deftly carries the finishing tones of blood orange and wild strawberries. The Eyrie Vineyards Sparkling Rose “Spark” are sourced from the Sisters vineyard located in the Dundee Hills which was planted in 1989 at an elevation of 220-330 feet. All of Eyries vineyards are certified and farmed organic. After primary fermentation using all native yeasts, the components were blended and aged for 12 months on the lees in neutral, French oak. The wine went through full malolactic and then underwent forced carbonation (4.1 atmospheres of pressure), with zero dosage added, and was bottled under crown cap.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Mellen Meyer Brut Sparkling Brut Nature, Willamette Valley NV 750ML ($34.95) $28 special, 4 bottle in stock now
VinopolNote “Based on the 2017 vintage, this is a leaner style of Champagne-method sparkling wine. Disgorged February 2020.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Collector’s Corner
Pierre Gelin’s World-Class Burgundy
Pierre Gelin’s World-Class Burgundy
Based in the small village of Fixin, Domaine Pierre Gelin occupies a unique niche. Third generation winemaker Pierre-Emmanuel makes world-class Burgundy; however prices haven’t kept up with most of Gelin’s peers, especially those based in nearby Gevrey-Chambertin. This fact mystifies anyone who has tasted Gelin’s wines, as they more than hold their own when tasted blind against most of Gevrey-Chambertin’s most notable producers.
Scanning our selection, the Clos de Bèze will understandably be the most eye-catching; it is after all one of Burgundy’s most celebrated Grand Cru vineyards. However, don’t sleep of Gelin’s premier Cru bottlings. They over-deliver -not something we’ve come to expect from Burgundy in recent years.
The only downside is that our allocations were extremely limited, with only few bottles remaining of many of the wines. So look below for your favorite recent vintages and discover what insiders in-and-around Gevrey-Chambertin already know: Gelin is a name worth knowing.
In Stock Now:
Domaine Pierre Gelin Chambertin Clos-de-Bèze Grand Cru, Côte de Nuits 2013 750ML ($219.95) $199 special, 1 bottle in stock now
Wine Spectator 94 points “This is laced with violet, black currant and blackberry flavors, accented by earth and tobacco notes. The tannins are firm, intensified by the vibrant acidity. Shows a streak of purity and pedigree that makes this complex, long and appealing. Best from 2020 through 2035. 66 cases imported.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next lowest listed price is $299.97
The next lowest listed price is $299.97
Domaine Pierre Gelin Clos Prieur, Gevrey-Chambertin Premier Cru 2008 750ML ($69.95) $99 special, 1 bottle in stock now
Wine Spectator 90 points “Round and rich, featuring black cherry, black currant and spice flavors. A graphite note creeps in as this matches its supple texture with a firm structure. Nice length. Best from 2013 through 2024. 40 cases imported.”
Burghound 90 points “A restrained, airy and cool nose mixes a variety of red berry fruit aromas with stone, earth and a hint of spice. As it almost always is, this is really quite refined and this impression is accentuated by the fine-grain of the tannins on the moderately austere, persistent and complex finish. As with several of the wines in the range, there is just a mild hint of youthful asperity but because there is a good level of dry extract this should reasonably age out.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Domaine Pierre Gelin Clos Prieur, Gevrey-Chambertin Premier Cru 2010 750ML ($149.95) $119 special, 1 bottle in stock now
Burghound 92 points “An airy, cool and ripe nose of perfumed red pinot fruit that displays some lower range scents of humus and earth. This is also quite fine with good precision to the energetic middle weight flavors that exude a fine minerality on the concentrated and mouth coating finish. The supporting tannins are also on the refined side and I very much like this. Worth a long look.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Domaine Pierre Gelin Clos Prieur, Gevrey-Chambertin Premier Cru 2013 750ML ($99.95) $79 special, 6 bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 91 points “Shows plenty of cherry and pomegranate flavors, along with a racy structure that defines the berry, spice and mineral notes. Stays firm on the finish but should settle down with time. 40 cases imported.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Domaine Pierre Gelin Clos Prieur, Gevrey-Chambertin Premier Cru 2014 750ML ($99.95) $79 special, 2 bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 92 points “This tightly wound version delivers black cherry, blackberry, violet and light underbrush flavors. Though compact, this is concentrated and firmly structured, with a long finish. Best from 2020 through 2033. 50 cases imported.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Domaine Pierre Gelin Clos Napoleon Monopole, Fixin Premier Cru 2008 750ML ($99.95) $79 special, 2 bottles in stock now
Burghound “Here the nose also displays a hint of crushed herb to the wild red berry fruit and earth aromas. There is excellent energy and detail to the supple and lightly mineral-inflected flavors that conclude in a moderately austere, focused and well-balanced finish. This is really quite pretty if a bit edgy and I would suggest allowing this to age for a few years before cracking a bottle.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Domaine Pierre Gelin Clos de Meixvelle, Gevrey-Chambertin 2010 750ML ($119.95) $89 special, 3 bottles in stock now
Burghound “Outstanding. This is a bit more deeply pitched than the Clos Napoléon with a lovely mix of both red and dark pinot fruit scents where the earth character is different as well as it’s slightly less pungent and it’s less iron-infused as well. There is good freshness and verve to the ultra-refined medium weight flavors and the tannins are incredibly fine grained, particularly for a villages level wine. A Gevrey of finesse and refinement.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Domaine Pierre Gelin Clos de Meixvelle, Gevrey-Chambertin 2012 750ML ($89.95) $79 special, 4 bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 91 points “Rich, displaying candied cherry, currant, earth and spice flavors. This stays fresh and balanced on the long finish, with well-integrated tannins. Best from 2016 through 2028. 156 cases imported.”
Domaine Pierre Gelin Clos de Meixvelle, Gevrey-Chambertin 2013 750ML ($79.95) $69 special, 2 bottles in stock now
Burghound “Outstanding. A pungently earthy and gently wooded nose is composed by equally fresh red currant, plum, earth and herbal tea notes. The supple, round and pure medium-bodied flavors possess very fine complexity along with the typical Gevrey sauvage character on the refreshing and inviting finale. This vibrant and balanced effort is a quality Gevrey villages and worth your interest.”
Domaine Pierre Gelin Clos de Meixvelle, Gevrey-Chambertin 2014 750ML ($79.95) $59 special, 2 bottles in stock now
Neal Martin – Wine Advocate “The 2014 Gevrey Chambertin Clos de Meixvelle is a monopole located in the middle of the village (the walled vineyard next to the Les Deux Chevres hotel for those that go there). It is a flat vineyard with clayey soil and stone deposits, and this vintage was destemmed. It has a tightly wound blackberry and briary-scented nose, broody at first but opening with time. The palate is smooth on the entry with quite fine tannin. This is well balanced with nicely integrated oak, sappy black fruit and iodine towards the easy going, gentle, flavorsome finish.”
Domaine Pierre Gelin Clos de Meixvelle, Gevrey-Chambertin 2015 750ML ($99.95) $79 special, 5 bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 90 points “An intense aroma of cherry pie introduces this taut, elegant red. Spice and earth notes add complexity and vivid acidity focuses the long finish. Best from 2021 through 2035. 210 cases imported.”
Love the Côte de Nuits? We have over 200 different reds in stock. Shop the entire selection, including famous names like Dujac, Fourrier and Montille, on our web store now.
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