November 13, 2022 Newsletter

 In This Newsletter:

Champagne

The line-up from Lebeau-Batiste is supremely drinkable with delightful mineral and fruit aromas. It’s what we love in drink-now Champagnes.

Lebeau-Batiste Tradition Brut, Champagne NV 750ml $49 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Distributor note “Pinot Meunier, Chardonnay, and Pinot Noir. Bright and fresh orchard fruit (Mountain Rose apple!) layered with hazelnuts and brioche.”

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Lebeau-Batiste Grande Reserve, Champagne NV 750ml $59 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Distributor note “100% Chardonnay. Beautifully floral, layered, and focused.”

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Lebeau-Batiste Tradition Rose, Champagne NV 750ml $69 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Distributor note “Pinot Meunier, Chardonnay, and Pinot Noir. Deliciously bright, tart berries and rose petals.”

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Vilmart & Cie Grand Cellier Premier Cru Brut, Champagne NV 750ml $74.50 special, 3 bottles in stock now
2018-base with 2017 & 2016.
Wine Spectator 94 points “[Reviewed 2022] A mouthwatering Champagne that shows seamless integration of the plush and creamy mousse, rapierlike acidity and expressive range of peach, chopped nut, ripe green apple, star anise and honeysuckle aromas and flavors that persist on the long finish. Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.”

Vilmart & Cie ‘Cuvee Rubis’ Brut Rose, Champagne NV 750ml $86.50 special, 4 bottles in stock now
Disgorged July 2020
Wine Spectator 94 points “[Reviewed 2022] A carnelian-hued rosé that’s rich and expressive, with a well-spiced range of ripe raspberry, yellow peach, elderflower, red licorice and blood orange sorbet set on a fine, chalky mousse. Showing good concentration without weight, this is a vibrant, well-tailored example. Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.”

Gaston Chiquet Special Club Grand Cru Brut Millesime, Champagne 2014 750ml $86.50 special, 3 bottles in stock now
Audrey Frick-Jeb Dunnuck 93 points “Made from 70% Chardonnay and the rest Pinot Noir, the nose of the 2014 Champagne Special Club Brut is quite attractive, with ripe stone fruit (fresh apricot), pretty flowers, and a touch of honeycomb and marzipan. The palate is approachable and finessed and has the most elegance in the range. Drink over the next 15 or more years.”

Doyard ‘Revolution’ Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Non-Dose, Champagne NV 750ml $88 special, 10 bottles in stock now
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 94 points “Based on the 2016 vintage and disgorged early this year, Doyard’s NV Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Non Dosé Révolution offers up aromas of citrus oil, freshly baked bread, honeycomb, almonds and white flowers. Medium to full-bodied, satiny and incisive, it’s a taut, elegantly textural Champagne with a fine mousse and a long, saline finish. It’s another fine rendition of this immensely reliable cuvée.”

Doyard Clos de l’Abbaye Premier Cru Extra Brut, Champagne 2017 750ml $159 special, 5 bottles in stock now
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 94 points “Despite the challenging vintage, the 2017 Extra-Brut Premier Cru Clos de l’Abbaye has turned out very well, unwinding in the glass with scents of citrus oil, lemon pith, freshly baked bread, white flowers and wet stones. Medium to full-bodied, rich and layered, with a typically vinous, structured profile, it’s deep and satiny, with tangy acids and chalky structure, concluding with a long finish.”

R.H. Coutier Grand Cru Brut Millesime, Champagne 2012 750ml $66 special, 4 bottles in stock now
No reviews available for the Brut 2012. Review is for Extra Brut 2012.
Antonio Galloni 94 points “The 2012 Extra Brut Cuvée Millésime Grand Cru is shockingly tight for a Champagne from this warm, dry year. Lemon peel, white pepper, mint and crushed rocks abound. If tasting blind, I would never have guessed this to be a Pinot-based Champagne, such is its freshness and drive. Dosage is 2 grams per liter. Disgorged: January, 2021.”


Provence

J. Mourat Collection Rose, IGP Val de Loire 2021 750ml $16 special, 36 bottles in stock now
Importer note “Organic. 40% Pinot Noir, 20% Gamay 40% Cabernet Franc grown on a mix of schist and rhyolite. Average age of the vines is 20 years. Hand-harvested, destemmed, pressed and settled with spontaneous fermentation at cool temperatures in stainless steel. Aged 5 months in tank before bottling.”
Importer note “Bright and thirst quenching Loire rose. Bursting with aromas of crushed cherry, watermelon & herb, it is fleshy on the palate with intense flavors of cherry and raspberry.”

J. Mourat O.V.N.I. Rose, IGP Val de Loire 2021 750ml $17.70 special, 24 bottles in stock now
100% Grolleau Gris

J. Mourat Grenouillere, IGP Val de Loire 2020 750ml $24.50 special, 35 bottles in stock now
80 year old Negrette vines

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Loire

Domaine de la Garreliere Touraine ‘Chenin de la Colline’, Loire 2020 750ml $24 special, 24 bottles in stock now
100% Chenin blanc from 30 year old vines on clay-limestone and silex

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Domaine de la Garreliere Touraine Sauvignon Blanc ‘Le Blanc de la Mariee’, Loire 2021 750ml $21.90 special, 24 bottles in stock now
100% Sauvignon Blanc from 20-25 year old vines on wind-deposited sand and silex soils

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Complex notes of fruit, particularly cherries, as well as hints of leather.  
Domaine Sylvain Pataille Bourgogne Rouge, Burgundy 2019 750ml $33 special, 11 bottles in stock now, 18 arriving 11/25
Decanter 91 points “Sylvain Pataille crafts excellent wines that punch well above their weight in terms of variety (like Aligoté) and region (like Marsannay). This Bourgogne Pinot is structured, complex and pure fruited with notes of griotte cherries and a sappy, moreish finish.”

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Fruit and floral aromas and a savory palate in a complex, fine drinking experience. 
Jean-Claude Bessin Chablis Vieilles Vignes, Burgundy 2020 750ml $33 pre-arrival special, re-arriving November 25th
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 91 points “Offering up aromas of citrus zest, crisp green apple, white flowers, freshly baked bread and light reduction, the 2020 Chablis Vieilles Vignes is medium to full-bodied, satiny and seamless, with tangy acids, fine depth at the core and a long, mineral finish.”
Burghound 90 points “Outstanding! This is aromatically similar to the regular cuvée but with even better Chablis character. However, there is notably better mid-palate density and power to the bigger-bodied flavors that exude outstanding intensity while coating the mouth on the beautifully long finale. While offering another dimension of depth, it comes at the price of being more structured. Highly recommended provided you have the patience to allow it at least a few years of keeping.”

Bubbles

Pretty in Pink! This is Pommery’s top bottling through rosé colored glasses. Crisp and bright, this is a fine way to welcome guests or thank your hosts!
Pommery Cuvee Louise Brut Rose Millesime, Champagne 2004 750ml $219 special, 28 bottles in stock now
James Suckling 95 points “This is a new release and shows wonderful finesse and beauty. You know that the moment you see the pale-amber color. It’s medium bodied with freshness and energy and a long, vivid finish. A joy to taste. Drink now.”
Wine Spectator 93 points “Ripe strawberry and baked white cherry flavors are set on the creamy mousse of this bright rosé Champagne, underscored by hints of almond biscotti and candied pink grapefruit peel. Clean-cut and minerally on the zesty finish. Drink now through 2027. 416 cases made, 12 cases imported.”

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Richness and body for food, but will satisfy as an aperitif, this is essentially the Grande Reserve blue label aged longer on the lees. Clouet is my go-to Thanksgiving Day Champagne, and the V6 is the pinnacle of quality:price:packaging
Andre Clouet The V6 Experience Brut, Champagne NV 750ml $49 special, 29 bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 93+ points “Aged for six years on the second lees, the yellow-golden NV Brut The V6 Experience is a Bouzy Pinot Noir that displays great purity and intensity but also reduction on the mineral-scented nose. This is deep and complex, but it needs all our patience and perhaps even a decanter or at least a big glass and lots of aeration. The palate is rich and powerful, firmly structured, very tight and still astringent on the finish, but there is so much finesse paired with power, concentration and fruit, which give the V6 a promising future. The wine just starts a bit slowly (like a rocket, which is pictured on the label), but it will most probably go very steep in a couple of years. I have ever had this cuvée before, so I can only guess, though.”

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Rock the Friendsgiving casual vibe with Cameron Spritz cans!
Cameron Winery Spritz Rose, Willamette Valley NV 250ml Can $7, 36+ cans in stock now
Winery chorus:
Oh, can you drink the Can Can?
If you can then I can
I drink Can Can if you drink Can Can…

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White

Need to knock the socks off someone special? Look no further:
Louis Jadot Domaine des Heritiers Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru, Cote de Beaune 2016 750ml $219 special, 26 bottles in stock now
Wine Enthusiast 96 points “From vineyards owned by the inheritors of the Louis Jadot estate, this wine has all the power expected from this vineyard. Its density and richness are palpable, even when crispened by a fresh citrus edge. Wood aging adds spice and enhances the aging potential. Drink from 2024.”
Stephen Tanzer-Vinous 94+ points “(Jadot bottled 35 barrels, representing a normal yield; the harvest lasted into the beginning of October): Very pale, bright yellow. Knockout nose combines lemon, ginger, botanical herbs, shiso leaf and crushed-rock minerality. Seriously concentrated wine, showing the juicy side of the 2016 vintage and the impeccable balance that was possible when yields were normal. The sharply delineated citrus, spice and mineral flavors are framed and intensified by harmonious acidity (“which was easy to control because we had so many barrels,” according to Barnier). Conveys an impression of outstanding density without weight and finishes with great palate-staining length, herbal lift and salty grip.”

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Need a white to please a crowd but not in love with buttery Chards? Try a Trebbiano from Torre dei Beati. It’s richly flavored and full bodied enough to please the KJ crowd, but with unique aromatics and a zippy acidity to keep the palate, and conversation, fresh and lively.
Torre dei Beati ‘Bianchi Grilli per la Testa’ Trebbiano d’Abruzzo 2019 750ml $26 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Eric Guido-Vinous 93 points “The 2019 Trebbiano d’Abruzzo Bianchi Grilli Per la Testa pulls you close to the glass with a display of spiced yellow apple and geranium, evolving into a mix of curry leaf, crushed stone and almond paste. This is silky with medium-bodied weight, ushering in a dense and textural mix of apricot and mineral-tinged pear. There’s so much going on here and so much more to come, as this tapers off long, staining the senses with a nutty richness under an air of honeysuckle and sage. The Bianchi Grilli Per la Testa spends eleven months on the lees in a combination of stainless steel, neutral tonneaux and acacia wood barrels. It’s quite a wine.”

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Cheap and cheerful for your festivities! Citrusy and floral, this wows for the money.
El Cep ‘Ot’ Blanc de Terrier, Penedes 2020 750ml $11.90 special, 18 bottles in stock now
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 90 points “Pale yellow. Fresh pear and honeydew melon on the fragrant nose, along with a subtle floral nuance. Silky and open-knit, showing good depth and a touch of waxiness to the ripe orchard and citrus fruit flavors. The melon note comes back on a smooth, persistent finish that features a refreshing bitter orange zest flourish.”

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Rosé / Orange

A staff favorite style of Pinot Gris for Thanksgiving, this is in its prime drinking window where the lush body and texture and intriguing mineral and fruity aromatics are perfectly balanced to take on any dish you throw its way.
Mijita Wine Co. Zenith Vineyard Skin-Contact Pinot Gris, Eola-Amity Hills 2021 750ml $26 special, 23 bottles in stock now
VinopolNote: The dark side of skin-contact Pinot Gris, in terms of color at least. This is a beautiful rosy-amber in the glass, evoking flavors of semi-dried rose petals, freshly sliced melons, and lemon zest wrapped around a savory core. 
“Lizzy Esqueda’s first wine for her Mijita label is a skin-contact Pinot Gris aged in neutral oak and old acacia barrels. It is absolutely brilliant juice: I wish Pinot Gris lovers everywhere could taste it.” -Michael Alberty, Decanter Magazine

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

A stunning rosé for an unforgettable meal
Chateau Pradeaux Bandol Rose, Provence 2021 750ml $36.50 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Joe Czerwinksi-Wine Advocate 91-93 points “Not bottled yet at the time of my spring visit to the region, the 2021 Bandol Rose nevertheless showed exceptional promise in my blind tasting. A blend of 80% Mourvèdre and 20% Cinsault, it’s a coppery flamingo-pink in color, with more extraction and tannin than your typical Bandol rosé. It’s round and ripe on the palate, medium to full-bodied, with cherry and lime notes and a long, softly dusty finish. The 2020 version, tried at the estate, is still going strong and might be even a little bit better. Don’t skip it just because it’s not called out on this list.”
Rosenthal Wine Merchant importer note “The Bandol Rosé from Pradeaux is perhaps the most serious wine in this category. Robust, rich, and complex with an ability to age gracefully, Etienne Portalis insists that the Domaine’s rosé is a gastronomic experience, not just an easy-drinking wine. We could not agree more, and tastings at Château Pradeaux have repeatedly demonstrated the graceful, profound future this wine encounters if not swallowed in its infancy.”

Red

Bring the best of the Valley to your next shindig
Sequitur Pinot Noir, Ribbon Ridge 2018 750ml $79 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Josh Raynolds – Vinous 95 points “Bright ruby-red. A highly perfumed bouquet evokes ripe red and blue fruits, cherry pie, potpourri and exotic spices, all sharpened by a smoky mineral overtone. Deeply concentrated and energetic in the mouth, offering sappy, mineral- and spice-drenched black raspberry, cherry cola and rose pastille flavors that spread out steadily on the back half. Shows fine definition and finishes extremely long and sappy, with polished tannins and lingering floral and blue fruit liqueur notes. 25% new oak.”
James Suckling 97 points “A very succulent, concentrated pinot with a strong (40%) whole-cluster influence, delivering sappy, fresh and aromatic lift to the blueberry and ripe-cherry aromas. The palate has such succulent and assertive tannin drive, yet the textural interface remains silky and fluid. It has depth and volume and a very commanding finish. Give this some time. Try from 2024.”

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Who doesn’t love a magnum for a party, especially at such a great price?
Saint Cosme Côtes du Rhône Rouge 2020 1.5L $29 special, 14 magnums in stock now
Grapelive 92 points “The latest Saint Cosme Cotes du Rhone, 100% Syrah, is an all tank aged and partial whole cluster wine with a deep purple color and far more complexity than you’d expect from a bottle in this price range with layers of blackberry, boysenberry, plum and blueberry fruits along with hints of earth, graphite, black licorice, dried herbs and crushed flowers in a beautifully smooth and textured full bodied wine. This vintage, which is Louis Barruol’s 24nd vintage of this juicy Saint Cosme Cotes du Rhone, is very polished and pleasing with just enough savory crunch to keep things interesting. This edition is an easy companion with a variety of foods and was perfect with a chilly rainy night outside, it provided lots of comfort without any pretense. Being all Syrah it feels a bit more rustic and dense than most Grenache based versions, but you can see the family relationship with Barruol’s famous Gigondas and other classic Rhone bottlings with its warm and Mediterranean personality. This is always a great wine and sublime value… The Saint Cosme Cotes du Rhone vines are set on mostly limestone sand, red clay and pebbles on Villafranchian terraces that gives this remarkably expression its stylistic charm, density and class. Barruol [notes that] he thinks Vinsobres is the best area to grow Syrah in this area, which is just to the north of Gigondas and influenced by cool alpine winds that help refresh the vines, giving ripe fruit, but with energy of natural acidity… Every year I get a bunch of Saint Cosme, of course their legendary Gigondas is a must, but I also grab bottles of their Crozes-Hermitage, Saint-Joseph and lots of this Cotes-du-Rhone Rouge!”

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A voluptuous Bordeaux to please the Cali-Cab heads and those enthralled with Old World wines
Chateau Lilian Ladouys, Saint-Estèphe 2016 750ml $36 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-6 Chateau Lilian Ladouys, Saint-Estèphe 2016 750ml $206 special (that’s only $34.33/bottle!)
James Suckling 93 points “The blueberry and blackberry aromas are certainly attractive here. Full-bodied and dense with a very velvety texture and a long, generous finish of ripe fruit and spice. Drink from 2022.”
Jeb Dunnuck 92 points “A perennial overachiever, the 2016 Château Lilian Ladouys brings the goods in 2016 and has a complex, medium to full-bodied, character-filled style to go with loads of blue fruits, incense, dried herbs, and a hint of violets. A blend of 62% Merlot, 32% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 6% Petit Verdot all raised in 30% new barrels, this charming, front end-loaded effort is well worth seeking out. It should keep for 10-15 years.”
Neal Martin – Vinous 92 points “This is the third time I have tasted the 2016 Lilian Ladouys in bottle. It retains a very intense blackberry and boysenberry bouquet laced with minerals, but displays a little more amplitude than it did in August. The tightly knit palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin and still shows the graphite seam that I remarked upon previously. There is a little more persistence now, hence the slightly higher score. Good potential.”

Dessert

I’m not looking for cloying sweet wines for my table. I like something a little oxidized to set off the savory and spiced character of late fall desserts. Try madeira or off-dry sherry for a fantastic evening.

The Rare Wine Co. Historic Series Boston Bual Special Reserve, Madeira NV 750ml $49 special, 5 bottles in stock now
Rare Wine Company note “Sweeter than either Charleston Sercial or Savannah Verdelho, Boston Bual still boasts incredible balance and refreshing acidity. The hallmark of this wine is its otherworldly complexity, featuring cinnamon-clove spiciness with overtones of citrus peel and woodsmoke. There is just enough sweetness to excel as an after-dinner wine, but its long, dry finish also makes it work beautifully with food. Port and Madeira expert Roy Hersh has written that Boston Bual “emulates some of the finest qualities of vintage Madeira … exhibiting a light amber-tawny color and a nose of dried figs, walnuts, maple syrup, mahogany and a sense of bouillon cube; the mélange of fragrances is complex and compelling. Medium in weight initially, it develops greater heft after a few days open, with a rich and sumptuous mouthfeel.””

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Alvear Asuncion Oloroso, Montilla-Moriles NV 375ml $29 special, 12 half-bottles in stock now
Wine Enthusiast Top 100 in 2021
Wine Enthusiast 93 points “A burnished orange-meets-tawny color and lively aromas of caramel and apricot get this oloroso off to a fine start. A richly intense palate with bold acidity offers plenty of depth, while toasty flavors of coffee and walnuts finish with notes of chocolate and café latte. Overall, this is stylish and a cut above. -Michael Schachner”
Jeb Dunnuck 92 points “A fortified sherry (it’s fortified to prevent the growth of Flor), the NV Alvear Oloroso Asunción (100% Pedro Ximénez) is a beautiful effort that has a great nose of candied figs, white currants, salted nuts, and malty, brown sugar notes. More medium to full-bodied, nicely balanced, with slightly less sweetness than past versions, it would make a terrific aperitif.”
Luis Gutierrez-Wine Advocate 90+ points “The NV Oloroso Asunción was produced with Pedro Ximénez grapes (like all in Montilla), and as the grape achieves higher ripeness than the Palomino, the wines have a higher natural alcohol and need less fortification to reach the 19% alcohol that it is bottled with. It’s aged in a solera system believed to be over 25 years of age, according to the documentation I received, but this used to be bottled at around 12 years old. This is still a little sweet, as it contains around 15 grams of sugar. It has a mellow character, quite approachable, with signs of medium age, not that old, aromatic and gentle in the palate, with the sugar making an appearance in the finish, balancing the faint bitterness. I prefer drier Oloroso, but here the sugar is not too noticeable. 2,600 half bottles were filled in March, in the first saca of 2019. The price is for a half bottle.”

Kopke Colheita Tawny Port, Portugal 1978 750ml $119 special, 24+ bottles in stock now (gift pack available for in-store pick up!)
Mark Squires-Wine Advocate 94 points “The 1978 Colheita Tawny Port was bottled in 2015 with 119 grams per liter of residual sugar and a bar top cork (typical for the house). It is very graceful for its age, finishing with a wave of sweetness, fruit and sugar. Emphasizing the caramel more than the molasses, this is irresistibly delicious, but it becomes more complex and puts on weight as it airs and warms. The wine shows off its power and hints of Brandy on the rather tense finish, too. Overall, this is a beauty that becomes more impressive the longer you sit with it. Then, you realize that its balance is simply perfect, yet it stands out in most every category. This is very fine and the price is pretty nice for the age and the quality.”
Roger Voss-Wine Enthusiast 94 points “Not one of the generally declared vintages for Port, this year produced some ripe, sweet single quinta vintages. It also was a good year for rich, sweet tawnies. This is ripe, toffee-like in character packed with ripe raisin and sultana flavors. It is a luxurious wine, of course ready to drink.” 

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $137.99

 

If you’re looking for your next Meunier-based superstar producer, look no further. Cedric Moussé is a young, up and coming producer in the Marne, who has a maniacal drive for quality. The wines are absolutely stunning—they thread the needle between Meunier as earthy, bass-noted Champagne and the fruity, less ‘serious’ style with admirable grace.  He’s the first producer in the Club Tresor de Champagne to release a 100% Pinot Meunier Special Club wine and Didier Gimonnet described him as one of the up and coming producers to watch.

The “wines seem to gush with red and dark fruits characteristic of Pinot Meunier, and a structured, saline minerality.” –Skurnik Wines

Newly Reviewed & Arriving Late November:

Mousse Fils L’Or d’Eugene Perpétuelle Blanc de Noirs Brut, Champagne NV 750ml $56.50 pre-arrival special
Audrey Frick-Jeb Dunnuck 91 points “The first wine in the range, the NV Champagne Blanc de Noirs L’Or d’Eugene Perpetuelle Brut is made from 80% Meunier and the remainder Pinot Noir and was fermented and aged in stainless steel. It is 50% from 2019 and the rest from a reserve spanning back to 2003. It is soft and pure, with pretty red fruited aromas of strawberry preserve, hay, and red flowers. This all moves seamlessly to the palate in an approachable way, with balanced dosage that makes this a fruit-forward and easy-drinking wine. The mousse fills the palate with a rounded feel and sweet red berries, and a hint of apricot on the finish. I like this as a fresh style for drinking as an aperitif or as a late-night treat. Drink over the next 8-10 years.”

Mousse Fils ‘Les Vignes de Mon Village’ Blanc de Meuniers, Champagne NV 750ml $75 pre-arrival special
Audrey Frick-Jeb Dunnuck 93 points “The NV Champagne Les Vignes de Mon Village is sourced exclusively from Meunier from Cuisles, raised in stainless steel, and it spent 48 months on the lees. Confectionary notes of sugar cookie lift from the glass, with ripe berries and a pure, clean wet stone. It has finesse and balance on the palate, and as with the rest of the range, it is approachable and inviting on the palate, with fresh berries and white flowers. It is fairly long on the palate and moves to more orange zest and salinity on the finish. I think this will hold up nicely over the next 15-20 years.”

Mousse Fils Terre d’Illite Blanc de Noirs Brut, Champagne 2018 750ml $88 pre-arrival special
Audrey Frick-Jeb Dunnuck 94 points “The 2018 Champagne Terre d’Illite Brut is 80% Meunier and the remainder Pinot Noir from the green clay found in this plot. It takes on more depth and broadness with notes of red plum liqueur, purple flowers, and sweet berries. I love that these wines from Mousse Fils transition so well to the palate, and this has a unique texture that feels more structured. Notes of kirsch and plum emerge, though all pristine and pure, with a saline touch. Drink this over the next 15 or more years.”

Mousse Fils ‘Special Club’ Brut, Champagne 2017 750ml $109 pre-arrival special
Audrey Frick-Jeb Dunnuck 95 points “Made from 100% Meunier, the 2017 Champagne Special Club Brut has a delicate approach, with its layers unfolding gently from the glass. Initially it displays notes of wet stone, pretty flowers, and delicate fresh raspberry fruits. The palate has more tension and nerve that suggests this will take more time to open, but I love its racier feel. It is linear, though not without its fruit wrapped around its backbone of minerality and acidity. Drink 2024-2044.”

Mousse Fils L’Or d’Eugene Rosé Perpétuelle Rosé de Noirs, Champagne NV 750ml $69 pre-arrival special
Audrey Frick-Jeb Dunnuck 92 points “The NV Champagne Rose de Noirs L’Or d’Eugene Rose Perpetuelle Brut pours a pretty pink hue, with rich aromas of rose water, hibiscus, and ripe raspberry. Its soft structure fills the palate with fresh, ripe, pristine red cherry, with a bit of tropical fruit of mango as well. It is saline and finishes with a hint more structure than its initial roundness suggests. It can stand alone or be paired well at the table. Drink over the next 10-15 years.”

Mousse Fils ‘Special Club’ Rose de Saignee, Champagne 2018 750ml $149 pre-arrival special
Audrey Frick-Jeb Dunnuck 92 points “The 2018 Champagne Special Club Rosé de Saignée Brut is ripe with juicy strawberry, fresh pressed flowers, and tangerine. The palate is assertive and structured with ripe apricot, raspberry, a soft stony finish, and lingering sweet fruit. Drink over the next 10 or more years.”

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Rocca di Montegrossi
 

Rocca di Montegrossi’s family history in their home village of Monti dates back to the year 700. Credited with the “Original Chianti” recipe, they’re a benchmark producer like no other, and are located on one of the highest elevation sites in the entire appellation. Half of their estate is still blanketed in the ancestral forest, all of which has been farmed organically since 2006. These factors converge to create Chianti of unmatched refinement, delivering the classic sour cherry, espresso, and leather with a backbone of terra cotta and dusty loam. These are big, rich versions of Chianti, with texture and density to spare, all while retaining a refreshing acidity due to the high elevation and dramatic diurnal temperature swings.  You’d swear these were Brunello/Rosso di Montalcino—except their pricing is 20% below what they’d be if they had those labels. 

Never content to sit on their laurels, Montegrossi also produce a super Tuscan inspired blend derived from the small plantings of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon that grow onsite. In comparison to the cask aging seen by the Chianti Classico, the Geremia sees a “modern” vinification with entirely French oak barrels. It captures so much of what we love about the estate with big, rich fruit and a surprising amount of elegance.  This is a wine that would be twice as expensive if it were from Bordeaux (and probably thrice if it were from Napa), but the wines of Montegrossi offer superb value. 

Highlights In Stock Now:

Rocca di Montegrossi Chianti Classico DOCG 2019 750ml $24 special, 23 bottles in stock now
Decanter 92 points “Owner Marco Ricasoli recalls the harvest of 2019 as unusually calm – one of the few in which he didn’t have to base his picking strategy on the weather forecast. While his wines never lack freshness, the 2019 is positively racy! Scents of blackberry and fennel are interlaced with smoke, and the palate brings together brambly fruit with fleshy red plum. This is mouthfilling and clean, with ripe, smooth tannins that are chalky textured – plus all of that vibrant acidity. Drinking Window 2022 – 2028.”
James Suckling 92 points “Plums, spices, mushrooms and dried herbs on the nose. It’s full-bodied with fine tannins. Juicy and textured with tangy acidity and spicy character. Flavorful finish. From organically grown grapes. Drink now.”
Antonio Galloni 91+ points “The 2019 Chianti Classico is an elegant, polished wine. Lifted aromatics, silky tannins and mid-weight structure give the 2019 its gracious personality. In 2019, the Chianti Classico is a bit restrained and less overt than it can be. That means it needs time in bottle to truly blossom. I would cellar the 2019 for at least a few years. The 2019 is so distinctive.”

Rocca di Montegrossi ‘Geremia’ Toscana IGT 2017 750ml $59 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Rocca di Montegrossi ‘Geremia’ Toscana IGT 2017 1.5L $149 special, 3 magnums in stock now
Antonio Galloni 97 points “The 2017 Geremia is a revelation. It might be even better than the 2015 or 2016, which is saying a lot. Soaring aromatics make a strong first impression. In 2017, the fruit profile leans more into the red fruit end of the spectrum. The warm, dry year yielded a Geremia that is unusually open. I doubt too many of the estate’s fans will have a problem with that given how long these wines usually take to open. Today, the 2017 Geremia is a total pleasure bomb. Don’t miss it.”

Rocca di Montegrossi ‘Ridolfo’ Toscana IGT 2015 1.5L $179 special, 21 magnums in stock now
Antonio Galloni 98+ points “The 2015 Ridolfo is a new Cabernet Sauvignon/Pugnitello blend from Marco Ricasoli bottled only in magnum. Vibrant and finely sculpted, the 2015 impresses right out of the gate. A whole range of savory aromatics, lavender, spice, licorice and mocha open with time in the glass. Sweet rose petal and cinnamon appear later, adding brightness and lift. Cabernet Sauvignon and Pugnitello are not obvious varieties to blend, as they are, on paper, more similar than complementary. Even so, the combination works so well. I can’t wait to see how this ages. The 2015 is a total knock-out!”
Wine & Spirits 96 points “Marco Ricasoli’s inaugural release of Ridolfo marries the elegance of cabernet sauvignon with pugnitello’s bright and spicy notes in a unique interpretation of Tuscan terroir. Its penetrating flavors of blackberry and cherry are crunchy and vibrant even in the warm 2015 vintage, those fruit tones underlined by notes of graphite that create a cool mineral sensation. The wine almost crackles with energy, its schistous tannins firm and flavorful. An exciting new addition to the realm of Tuscan red blends, this will be fascinating to follow as it develops over the next decade. Available only in magnum—a nod toward its expected aging potential.”

Rocca di Montegrossi Gran Selezione Vigneto San Marcellino, Chianti Classico DOCG 2016 750ml $59 special, 17 bottles in stock now
Rocca di Montegrossi Gran Selezione Vigneto San Marcellino, Chianti Classico DOCG 2016 1.5L $149 special, 3 magnums in stock now
Decanter 96 points “Vigna San Marcellino is both youthfully fresh and maturely complex. It includes a healthy dose of the deeply coloured Pugnitello grape, and both this and the Sangiovese saw long post-fermentation macerations of over 30 days in 2016. Liquorice, tarragon and broom interlace with exuberant plum and understated toasted nuances that are seductive. Laden with black cherry and rich, velvety tannins, the palate is creamy in texture, while underlying chalkiness and saline minerality lend energy, leading to a sappy, refreshing finish. Drinking Window 2023 – 2038.”
Wine & Spirits 96 points “Chianti Classico’s superb 2016 vintage yielded some excellent wines, and Marco Ricasoli-Firidolfi’s Gran Selezione is among the best we’ve tasted. The wine stands out for its combination of firm structure, elegant texture and vibrant flavors. The fruit tones are dark and plummy, a nod to the six percent of pugnitello in the blend, and the wine unfolds to reveal layers of licorice, tobacco and subtle spice. Fine tannins give shape to those rich flavors, and well-integrated acidity lifts the finish.”
Antonio Galloni 95 points “The 2016 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Vigneto San Marcellino is a dense, packed wine. Readers will have to be patient, as the 2016 is an infant. Super-ripe blue/purplish fruit, spice, leather, tobacco and menthol build in the glass. The 2016 is dense and opulent, and yet the acids pulse with energy, lending a feeling of translucence that becomes especially apparent on the finish. That combination makes for a compelling Gran Selezione that should age well for 15-20 years or more.”
Wine Spectator 95 points “A meaty, muscular version, this red displays black cherry, blackberry, tar, leather and iron aromas and flavors, offering a beam of fruit within a tightly wound, vibrant structure. Fine length. Sangiovese and Canaiolo. Best from 2024 through 2045. 1,450 cases made, 500 cases imported. — BS”

Rocca di Montegrossi Vin Santo del Chianti Classico, Tuscany 2009 375ml $89 special, 24 half-bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni 94 points “The 2009 Vin Santo is a rich, exotic wine, as it always is. Readers will find one of the richest most intense Vin Santos being made today. Plush, tropical and ample in feel, Rocca di Montegrossi’s Vin Santo is bold and racy to the core. The 350 grams of residual sugar leave the wine with tremendous textural plushness.”

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