In This Newsletter:
Newly Arrived from Biondi Santi
Including The Rare Riserva
New Week – New Arrivals
Trending Rosés
Newly Arrived from
The Excellent Max Ferd. Richter
Evening Land:
2018s Arriving Friday
Collector’s Corner
First Offer:
2019 Markus Molitor
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Biondi Santi Tenuta Greppo, Rosso di Montalcino 2016 750ML ($119.95) $89 special
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 95 points “I am immediately smitten by the Biondi-Santi 2016 Rosso di Montalcino thanks to the purity of the aromas on display. The bouquet literally submerges the senses in Sangiovese, with those delicate aromas of wild rose, violets, wet earth and brambly forest berry. Background notes of licorice, camphor ash and balsam herb come into steady focus. I am delighted by the intensity and the immense focus of this wine. This Rosso di Montalcino stands with the best of Brunello and gives us good reason to have very high expectations for the 2016 vintage of Brunello di Montalcino that will be released appellation-wide at the beginning of next year. This is a solid mid-weight Rosso with good structure and fine points of fresh acidity that move the wine with determination and grace smoothly over the palate.”
Eric Guido-Vinous 93 points “The 2016 Rosso di Montalcino hails from lower-elevation vineyards, around 250 meters, in the northern section of Montalcino. It’s a classic, layered and dramatic wine, showing bright cherry, sweet herbs, cooling mint, dried fall leaves, tobacco and savory spice, with a presence and depth that feels more like Brunello than Rosso in character. There’s sweetness and purity to the fruit here that keeps me coming back to the glass, yet I’m sure that the 2016 will benefit from a few years of cellaring, especially as its fine tannins build toward the close. The Rosso spends twelve months maturing in Slavonian oak, and it is released two years later than most.”
In Stock Now:
Biondi Santi Il Greppo, Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2012 750ML ($199.95) $169 special
Kerin O’Keefe- Wine Enthusiast 96 points “Underbrush, ripe berry, new leather and Mediterranean herb aromas slowly take shape in the glass. Showing youthful tension, the vibrant palate delivers red cherry, pomegranate, white pepper and pipe tobacco notes framed by bright acidity and taut, refined tannins. It already shows great balance and finesse but is still young and tight. Drink 2022-2035.”
James Suckling 95 points “Love the dried lemon rind, florals and red fruits. Medium to full body and a solid core of fruit and spices. Long and flavorful finish. Just a hint of sweet tobacco. Better in 2020.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $186
Rosé
Chateau du Seuil Coteaux d’Aix-en-Provence ‘La Chapelle du Seuil’ Rose 2020 750ML ($17.95) $15.50 special
Josh Raynolds – Vinous 90 points “Light orange-pink. Bright and sharply focused on the nose, displaying fresh red berry and pit fruit aromas and a suggestion of orange peel. Lively strawberry and nectarine flavors stretch out with air and take on a succulent herb nuance. Clings strongly on the silky finish, which leaves a subtle peach note behind.”
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Chateau du Seuil Coteaux d’Aix-en-Provence Rose 2020 750ML ($21.95) $19 special
Skurnik Wines note “The Château du Seuil sits on the Puyricard plateau at an altitude between 350 and 450 meters, the highest site in Aix-en-Provence. Its towers date to the 13th and 16th century and it is classified on the list of French historic monuments. While the estate’s grounds cover nearly 340 hectares, only 62 hectares are planted to vines while another portion is dedicated to olive oil production. Owners Agnès et Robert Daussu are completely renovating the old Château and updating the cellar, as well as converting to organic farming. Sitting on an ancient fault line, the terroir is incredibly complex: clay, chalk, and rocks, with layers of iron-laden calcaire, and big galet. The vineyards benefit from the dry hot climate which is moderated by the Mistral wind. Enologist Pierre Guerin, who works also at Chateau Peyrassol, vinifies and ages the wine in tank. 30% Syrah, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Grenache, 15% Cinsault. From the highest vineyards in Aix-en-Provence. 35+ year old vines. 350-500m altitude. Clay-limestone soil. Direct press rosé. Fermented and aged in tank.”
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Oregon
J.K. Carriere Antoinette Pinot Noir Willamette Valley 2017 750ML ($69.95) $59 special
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 94 points “Dark magenta. An exotically perfumed bouquet evokes fresh red berries, cherry liqueur, exotic spices, cola and potpourri. Spicy and penetrating on the palate, offering concentrated, sharply delineated black raspberry and bitter cherry flavors that turn sweeter on the back half. Shows excellent clarity and a sexy candied rose quality on the gently tannic finish, which lingers with sharp focus and floral-driven persistence.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
California
Only 5 bottles available!
Ulysses Vineyard, Napa Valley 2017 750ML ($179.95) $149 special
James Suckling 96 points “Extremely aromatic with crushed berries, currants, flowers and hints of uncured tobacco leaf. Carnations. Medium to full body and extremely fine tannins that are firm and polished. Vertical tannins draw you down. Some blanched-walnut character to the blue fruit. Fresh and clean at the finish… So beautiful to drink now.”
Winemaker’s Notes “With black tea leaf and brioche, Ulysses 2017 delivers dense layers of deep cherry, balsamic, peat, forest berries and fresh walnut, woven through a finely grained texture, and a lingering warm cacao powder finish.”
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France – Champagne
Noel Bazin L’Unanime Blanc de Blancs Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($59.95) $44 special
Importer note “The L’Unanime returns! “The unanimous” is the Bazin’s entry level cuvee, an assemblage of 50% 2017, 50% solera. Up to 50 year old vines in the Premier Cru Villers-Marmery. Crisp and light, a slight oxidative note and stern chalky minerality. Perfect champagne for any occasion and appeasing to all!”
Winery note “[Translated and edited for clarity] 100% Montagne de Reims Chardonnay (a rarity). The wine is 50% 2017, 40% reserve wine from Solera, and 10% reserve wine raised in oak. The nose is floral. Acacia and Granny Smith apple notes give a beautiful impression of finesse and freshness. The palate is fresh, fruity and delicious with great elegance due to the Chardonnay from the village of Villers-Marmery.”
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R.H. Coutier Cuvee Tradition Grand Cru Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($49.95) $36 special
Case-6 R.H. Coutier Cuvee Tradition Grand Cru Brut, Champagne NV750ML ($279.95) $209 special (that’s only $34.83/bottle!)
Antonio Galloni 92 points “[Review for prior disgorgement] The NV Brut Tradition Grand Cru is fabulous. Rich, ample and creamy in the glass, the Brut Tradition captures all of the natural intensity of Ambonnay in its expansive personality. Pinot Noir drives this blend in both its flavor profile and weight. Red cherry, plum, cinnamon, cedar and dried flowers are some of the many notes that build over time. This release is based on 2013, with 40% reserve wines. Disgorged: November, 2019.
France – Burgundy
Domaine Leroy Bourgogne Blanc Burgundy 2016 750ML ($99.95) $79 special
William Fevre Vaulorent, Chablis Premier Cru 2017 750ML ($89.95) $79 special
Antonio Galloni 94 points “Another striking wine in this range, the 2017 Chablis Vaulorent 1er Cru has so much to offer. It possesses striking inner sweetness and exceptional balance, with real staying power that builds into a substantial finish laced with a striking array of orchard fruit, lemon confit and wild flowers. There is so much substance and sheer density here.”
Wine Advocate 94 points “The 2017 Chablis 1er Cru Vaulorent is a terrific effort that’s one of the finest premier cru bottlings from Fèvre that I’ve ever tasted. Unwinding in the glass with a lively bouquet of fresh peach, green apples, spring blossom, oyster shell and wheat toast, it’s medium to full-bodied, deep and multidimensional, with exceptional concentration, racy acids and a long, penetrating finish. Didier Séguier should be very proud of this weightless but intense Vaulorent, a wine that outshines plenty of grand cru Chablis this year.”
William Fevre Bougros Cote Bouguerots, Chablis Grand Cru 2017 750ML ($139.95) $119 special
Antonio Galloni 96 points “The 2017 Chablis Bougros Côte Bouguerots Grand Cru is mind-bending. Usually a more powerful Chablis, in 2017 the Côte Bouguerots is airy, weighty and beautifully lifted, with pretty floral and saline notes that confer a great deal of freshness. The 2017 opens up beautifully with time in the glass, showing tons of volume and resonance, all retaining its bright, sculpted personality.”
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Vincent Girardin Quintessence de Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru 2017 750ML ($249.95) $219 special
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 93+ points “The 2017 Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru Quintessence de Corton-Charlemagne was one of the most introverted wines in the range when I revisited it from bottle, unwinding to reveal scents of pear, white flowers, confit citrus and a delicate top note of petrol. On the palate, it’s full-bodied, ample and satiny, with a deep and intensely concentrated core, but it’s still very reserved after its recent bottling. Some patience will be in order here, though at maturity, I’m sure my score will look conservative.”
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 93-95 points “From a single parcel in Aloxe that neighbors one of Domaine Coche-Dury’s, the 2017 Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru Quintessence de Corton-Charlemagne offers up a lovely bouquet of ripe citrus fruit, white flowers and honeycomb. It’s full-bodied, textural and massively concentrated, with a deep and layered mid-palate, succulent acids and a long, expansive finish. This expresses the ampler, more powerful side of Corton-Charlemagne and it’s one of Girardin’s finest 2017s.”
Stephen Tanzer 92-95 points “(always from the same vines in Aloxe-Corton): Bright yellow. Musky lime and crushed stone on the nose. Rich and full but penetrating as well, offering a bracing combination of acidity and crushed-stone minerality. This tactile, densely packed, lemon-limey wine shows a light touch and finishes salty, dry and very long, with terrific energy and grip. This wine needs time and should enjoy a slow and graceful evolution in bottle, but its impeccable balance should also give it early appeal. In fact, it’s downright delicious right now!”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $281.67
Only five bottles available!
Vincent Girardin Les Folatieres Puligny-Montrachet Premier Cru 2017 750ML ($149.95) $119 special
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2017 Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Folatières bursts with aromas of citrus oil, mandarin and crisp yellow apples mingled with warm brioche, wheat toast and struck flint. Medium to full-bodied, satiny and textural, it’s racy and precise, with a crisp core of fruit and a long, penetrating finish.”
Stephen Tanzer-Vinous 91-94 points “Bright medium yellow. Aromas of yellow fruits, minerals and flowers, plus a hint of reduction. Conveys an impression of density without weight, with terrific acid tension giving the flavors of citrus fruits, flowers and spicy oak a sharply chiseled character in spite of the wine’s element of reduction. Finishes sappy, savory, tactile and dry, with noteworthy lift. Terrific potential here.”
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 91-93+ points “The 2017 Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Folatières is showing especially well, unwinding in the glass with a classy nose of blanched almonds, ripe citrus fruit, green apple and spring flowers. On the palate, it’s medium to full-bodied, satiny and pure with good concentration, tangy acids and an elegant, integrated profile.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $159
Only eight bottles available!
Domaine Henri Boillot Les Charmes, Meursault Premier Cru 2018 750ML ($149.95) $119 special
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 92 points “Offering up aromas of buttered citrus fruit, Anjour pear, dried white flowers and fresh pastry, Boillot’s 2018 Meursault 1er Cru Les Charmes is medium to full-bodied, layered and textural, with an ample core of exuberant fruit, lively acids and an expansive finish. This is a fleshy, fruit-driven Charmes that will offer a broad drinking window.”
Only one bottle available!
Domaine Henri Boillot Les Perrieres Meursault Premier Cru 2018 750ML ($199.95) $179 special
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 94 points “Unwinding in the glass with aromas of white flowers, waxy citrus rind, green pear, fresh mint and nutmeg, the 2018 Meursault 1er Cru Les Perrières is medium to full-bodied, chalky and introverted, with terrific tension and structuring dry extract in this warm vintage, concluding with a long and mineral finish.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $189
Domaine Henri Boillot Puligny-Montrachet Les Combettes Puligny-Montrachet Premier Cru 2018 750ML ($179.95) $149 special
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2018 Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Combettes offers up aromas of orange oil, waxy citrus rind, fresh pear and white flowers, followed by a medium to full-bodied, satiny and enveloping palate that’s supple and succulent, underpinned by lively acids and concluding with chalky grip. As usual, this was the first parcel Boillot harvested in 2018.”
France – Rhone
Only five bottles available!
M. Chapoutier Le Clos, Saint-Joseph, 2016 750ML ($179.95) $159 special
Wine Advocate 97 points “Looking even better than it did last year, now that it’s in the bottle, Chapoutier’s 2016 Saint-Joseph Le Clos is impressive indeed. Classy notes of crushed stone and pencil shavings are joined by floral hints of violets, plus ripe cassis on the nose. Full-bodied, rich and concentrated, it comes across as dense yet not heavy (does that make any sense?), finishing with silky tannins and a tremendously long finish. It’s a tour de force in Saint-Joseph, nearly equal in quality to Chapoutier’s parcel-selection wines from across the river in Hermitage.”
Jeb Dunnuck 95-97+ points “Much more mineral-driven, the 2016 Saint Joseph Le Clos comes from an early ripening parcel located south of Tournon, high up on the granite slopes overlooking the Rhône River. It sports an inky color as well as a liquid rock-like character in its black and blue fruits, pepper, bay leaf and violet bouquet. Rich, full-bodied, incredibly pure, and sensationally concentrated, with fine, fine tannin and a great finish, it’s a beautiful wine that could match what was achieved in 2015.”
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Domaine des Remizieres Hermitage Cuvee Emilie, Rhone 2010 750ML ($99.95) $79 special
Robert Parker 96 points “A profound blockbuster is the 2010 Hermitage Cuvee Emilie. An opaque purple color, unctuous texture, and sweet perfume of creme de cassis, blackberry liqueur, acacia flowers and graphite are all found in this enormously endowed, full-bodied, viscous, thick wine. It is nearly over-the-top in richness, but everything comes together with no bitterness, astringency or heaviness. The oak is well-concealed because of the wine’s extravagant fruit and glycerin. This is a 25-year Hermitage.”
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France – Southwest
Domaine Labranche-Laffont Madiran 2017 750ML ($19.95) $16 special
Importer note “Based on Tannat with 20% Cabernet Franc and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon. Made mostly in concrete vats, with around 1/3 raised in older barrels. A wine that responds well to air.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $18
Domaine Labranche-Laffont Vieilles Vignes, Madiran 2017 750ML ($27.95) $24 special
Importer note “100% Tannat. From several parcels that total 7.5 acres. One parcel of roughly 2 acres is of pre-phylloxera vines in the neighborhood of 150 years old; the other parcels support vines that are at least 50 years old. Grapes are de-stemmed and the wine is raised in Bordeaux barrels, roughly 20% of which are new each year. Given several hours of aeration, this Tannat blossoms. In exceptional years, Christine will vinify the block of pre-phylloxera vines separately and bottle the wine as her cuvée Préphylloxérique. In all other years, the wine from these ancient vines goes into the vieilles vignes cuvée.”
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Italy – Tuscany
Tenuta Argentiera ‘Argentiera’ Bolgheri Superiore, Tuscany 2016 750ML ($99.95) $79 special
Case-6 Tenuta Argentiera ‘Argentiera’ Bolgheri Superiore, Tuscany 2016 750ML ($599.95) $449 special (that’s only $74.83/bottle!)
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 97 points “The 2016 Bolgheri Superiore Argentiera is 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc, and the Cabernet Sauvignon logically feels and tastes most prominent. This is a dark and penetrating Tuscan red that is beautifully elevated, thanks to the extremely elegant and buoyant quality of the aromas. They lift gracefully from the glass with light-footed, almost fleeting character. However, don’t underestimate the power and the concentration of the wine, because this vintage delivers both with abundance. I’ve had my eye on this estate since the vineyards were first planted some 20 years ago, and there is no doubt that this vintage brings Tenuta Argentiera into a new era as a Bolgheri protagonist. Some 80,000 bottles were made.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
The average price nationally is $89
La Fortuna Brunello di Montalcino DOCG Tuscany 2016 750ML ($54.95) $47 special
James Suckling 96 points “Enticing aromas of black cherries, dark mushrooms, bark and dried flowers, such as roses and honeysuckle. It’s full-bodied, layered and chewy with loads of cherry, plum and orange peel on the palate. Chewy finish with some bitter lemon and smoke at the end. Best ever? Give it four or five years to soften. Try after 2024.”
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 94 points “I have really enjoyed these latest releases from La Fortuna from the past few years. The 2016 Brunello di Montalcino (with 35,000 bottles produced) opens to a dark ruby or garnet appearance and shows impressive aromatic intensity. With that intensity comes sharpness and precision. The aromas unfold quickly to display candied fruit, cocktail cherry, licorice, cola and dark spice. This is a frank and naked expression of Sangiovese from an excellent vintage.”
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Bibi Graetz Casamatta Toscana IGT Tuscany 2018 750ML ($17.95) $14 special
Case-12 Bibi Graetz Casamatta Toscana IGT Tuscany 2018 750ML ($199.95) $149 special (that’s only $12.42/bottle!)
Italy – Other
Cieck ‘Erbaluce’ Erbaluce di Caluso DOCG Piedmont 2019 750ML ($26.95) $19 special
Importer note “This wine is simply called Erbaluce as it represents the most straightfoward expression of our erbaluce grapes. Aiming to preserve the fruity sensations at their best, the bunches are pressed whole, then the pips, stems and skins are immediately removed. The must is then cold fermented so that the aromatic and flavour compounds, typicaly of the fruit, are not lost. After a few months in stainless steel tanks, the wine is bottled at the beginning of spring, the year after harvesting.”
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Produttori del Barbaresco Langhe Nebbiolo Piedmont 2019 750ML ($29.95) $21.90 special
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Guerrieri Gonzaga Tenuta San Leonardo ‘San Leonardo’ Vigneti delle Dolomiti IGT, Trentino-Alto Adige 2013 750ML ($79.95) $66 special
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 96 points “The flagship wine from this celebrated Trentino estate was not produced in 2012. We do have the stunning 2013 San Leonardo on the market now. This vintage is large in scale and has immediate intensity, and I am somewhat surprised by the volume and seamless bouquet that appears this early in the game. This vintage shows balanced ripeness with plummy fruit aromas that are carefully contrasted against spice, leather and fine tobacco. The blend is Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenère and Merlot, and San Leonardo is always aged in barrique for four years (of which only 25% of the barrels are new). This is a bottle to keep long (extra long) in your cellar.”
Germany
Peter Lauer Senior Fass 6 Riesling, Mosel 2020 750ML ($31.95) $28 special
“Nicknamed in an allusion to the style of wine favored by Florian Lauer’s grandfather – but also by many “old-time” customers of the estate – this bottling from west-facing slopes at the northern extreme of Ayl used to be uniformly dry but in recent years, can be very subtly off-dry.” -David Schildknecht, Vinous
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Lebanon
Chateau Musar Bekaa Valley 2013 750ML ($69.95) $51.90 special
Antonio Galloni 93 points “The 2013 Chateau Musar is bold, punchy and intensely perfumed. Rose petal, ripe red fruit, sage, mint, cinnamon and sweet tobacco give the 2013 a very strong aromatic presence that continues to build. Medium in body, with lovely red fruit character, the 2013 Musar could use a few years in bottle to fully come together. I expect it will always have a strong pungent signature.”
Decanter 92 points “This wine needs vigorous decanting otherwise it appears reduced. It shows evidence of French oak ageing: notes of vanilla with a cedar touch along with the plum fruit. Slightly meaty flavours suggest development. Amazingly balanced, with some volatile acidity providing additional freshness. With time it picks up hints of liquorice like an old Hermitage. Impressive volume yet a suave touch – a classic Musar!”
Chateau Musar ‘Hochar Pere et Fils’ Red Bekaa Valley 2017 750ML ($34.95) $28 special
Decanter 91 points “This single-vineyard wine, from Aana, is made in a modern style: concentrated and slightly reductive. It shows notes of new oak barrels, lovely red berry fruit (reminiscent of Grenache) and garrigue aromas. So Mediterranean on the palate, with sweet tannins, spices and a meaty hint on the aftertaste. A very friendly, easy-to-drink and enjoyable wine. It becomes even better and more refined a day after the bottle is opened. I would recommend decanting it.”
Antonio Galloni 90 points “The 2017 Hochar is powerful and dense in the glass. Ripe flavors and incisive tannins give the 2017 much of its brooding personality. Readers should plan on opening the 2017 at least an hour or two in advance, as the tannins are rather grainy at the outset. With time ripe black cherry, spice, leather and licorice flavors emerge nicely. The blend is 55% Cinsault, 35% Grenache and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
The average price nationally is $31
Chile
Terrazas de Los Andes ‘Cheval des Andes’ Mendoza 2017 1.5L ($199.95) $179 special
James Suckling 100 points “This is the greatest Cheval des Andes ever. The integration of fruit, tannins and acidity is fantastic. Full-bodied, tight and solid with beautiful depth and integrity. Extremely long and exciting. Complex and compelling. Available in September 2020. Better after 2024.”
Luis Gutierrez-Wine Advocate 97+ points “In the last few years, a handful of wines from Chile and Argentina—often French owned—have been released in September through the Place de Bordeaux, the network of négociants that sell most of the Bordeaux wines and some of the leading wines from other regions. The 2017 Cheval des Andes is one such wine. 2017 saw an early harvest, but they started picking on the 6th of March and continued until the 10th of April, more or less normal dates, early but not so much. The varietal break down this vintage comes to 62% Malbec and 38% Cabernet Sauvignon, and the wine is slightly riper and higher in alcohol than 2016 (this 2017 is 14.2% alcohol). The different plots fermented separately with selected yeasts, and the élevage lasted for 15 months and was in 50/50 new and second use barrels, 90% of them French and the rest made with wood from Eastern Europe. They used 45% Bordeaux barrels, 45% 400-liter barrels and, for the first time, a 2,500-liter oak foudre. This is clearly the darkest of the trio of vintages I tasted together here—2015, 2016 and 2017—but all three have the elegant and powerful profile, the luxurious and creamy character found in the best Bordeaux wines in the last few years, wines of power with precision, concentration, energy and finesse. This seems to combine the clout of the 2015 and the freshness of the 2016 and feels something in between those two vintages. Their work in the vineyard toward the maturity of the tannins meant the challenge in 2017 was to not let the grapes ripen too fast and too early. The work is different for Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec, to get round tannins in Cabernet and get some tension in Malbec, the contrary of the normal tendency of the varieties. 2017 has less ripeness than the 2015 but more density than the 2016. The texture is velvety, precise and harmonious. This year, they introduced a larger foudre for 10% of the wine, with the aim to reach 20%, so that volume is increasing every year. I think this is showing more precision, and in a more challenging year, they managed to keep the quality on par with 2016. They have changed the label this year, to a cleaner and more elegant label that also reflects the direction the wine is going in. 81,500 bottles produced. It was bottled in January 2019.”
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Crowley Rose Willamette Valley 2020 750ML ($24.95) $17.70 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Winery note “This wine opens with a bloom of apricot blossoms and crunchy pear aromas. The palate is focused and fresh, layered with stone fruits and mouthwatering salinity. We are astonished and pleased with the complexity this wine reveals – not your everyday rosé!”
VinopolNote: From the Four Winds and Tukwilla Vineyards, this is a top WV rosé every year. The Four Winds fruit is 100% Pommard clone from an own-rooted block dedicated to rosé production, it has a depth, richness, and complexity that will reward all year round. Full malo. Fully delicious.
Dry farmed.
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Cameron Winery Pinot Gris Ramato Dundee Hills 2020 750ML ($39.95) $29.90 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Winery note “Rame: Italian for copper, ramato: copper-colored. Ramato is a copper-colored Pinot grigio made in the tradition of north-eastern Italy. A very tricky wine to pull off. Very limited production.” Dry farmed.
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Provençal Picks:
Domaines Ott ‘By.Ott’ Rose Cotes de Provence 2020 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 special, 36+ bottles available
Case-12 Domaines Ott ‘By.Ott’ Rose Cotes de Provence 2020 ($299.95) $236 special (that’s only $19.67/bottle!)
Josh Raynolds – Vinous 90 points “Light orange-pink. Ripe pit fruits and red berries on the nose, along with a hint of smokiness. Juicy and open-knit, offering strawberry and nectarine flavors that show very good clarity and back-end cut. Finishes smooth and long, leaving a suggestion of pit fruits behind.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Peyrassol ‘Chateau Peyrassol’ Rose, Cotes de Provence 2020 750ML ($39.95) $33 special, 29 bottles in stock now
Case-12 Peyrassol ‘Chateau Peyrassol’ Rose, Cotes de Provence 2020 750ML ($479.95) $369 special (that’s only $30.75/bottle!)
Josh Raynolds – Vinous 92 points “Light, brilliant orange-pink. Highly perfumed, mineral-accented red berry and pit fruit aromas are complemented by a floral note that builds in the glass. Juicy and sharply focused in the mouth, offering vibrant strawberry, blood orange and white peach flavors and a suave touch of honeysuckle. Concentrated yet lithe in style, finishing with intense mineral- and floral-driven thrust.”
Importer note “100% estate fruit, offering the purest expression of a great Provencal terroir. [These are] the oldest vines of the estate from the Girette and Longchamps areas, currently under organic conversion. Pale in color, with soft rose-tinted overtones, Château Peyrassol radiates freshness. It’s subtle nose of citrus, vine peach, apricot and delicate florals is inviting. It has a dense palate, poised and lively, and is notable for its balance, punctuated by a long, fruity finish. Harvested during the cool temperature of the night, the fruits are destemmed and pressed with minimal exposure to oxygen to preserve freshness and aromas. The grapes are vinified by direct pressing and in the course of this process the wine develops its delicate pink color. After fermentation in stainless steel at a controlled temperature, a light racking is completed to retain only the best lees which are then worked carefully to promote both the aromatic expression and the potential of the wine to last over time. 45% Cinsault, 25% Grenache, 12% Ugni Blanc, 10% Syrah, 8% Rolle.”
Winery note “Pale in colour, with soft rose-tinted overtones, Château Peyrassol radiates freshness. Its subtle nose of citrus, vine peach, apricot and fine floral notes is inviting. It has a beautiful, dense palate, delicate and lively, and is notable for its balance and full body, punctuated by a long, fruity finish. It is the perfect accompaniment to fish soups, carpaccios and all varieties of grilled fish, but will also add sparkle to red berry desserts.”
Chateau Les Mesclances Cotes de Provence La Londe Cuvee Faustine Rose 2020 750ML ($39.95) $34.50 special, 26 bottles in stock now
Rosenthal Wine note ““Faustine” Côtes de Provence La Londe Rosé The lone wine from the exceptional La Londe sub-appellation, Faustine receives the greatest care at vinification, with a full 15 hours of maceration for the Grenache, along with a saignée of Mourvedre and Syrah. Explosive aromas overlay a complex and noble structure that show clearly why this wine is a cut above the classic Cotes de Provence character.”
Clos Cibonne “Tentations” Rose, Cotes de Provence 2020 750ML ($24.95) $18 special, 36+bottles in stock now
Case-12 Clos Cibonne “Tentations” Rose, Cotes de Provence 2020 750ML ($249.95) $199 special (that’s only $20.75/bottle and the lowest listed price in the USA today!)
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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Fun Favorites from Around Europe:
Ameztoi Rubentis Rosado Getariako Txakolina 2020 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-12 Ameztoi Rubentis Rosado Getariako Txakolina 2020 750ML ($319.95) $239 special (that’s only $19.92/bottle!)
Importer note “The pink sibling of Ameztoi’s flagship white, this vibrant rosé is made from a mix of red and white indigenous grapes and is bottled with a little residual carbonation to give it a light spritz.”
Region: Getariako Txakolina, Pais Vasco (Basque Country), Spain.
Domaine Brazilier Tradition Rose Coteaux du Vendomois Loire 2020 750ML ($18.95) $14.40 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
VinopolNote: A perennial favorite, this 100% Pineau d’Aunis rosé is all fresh cut grapefruit zest and white pepper, with pretty pink fruit and a very zippy, dry finish. A rosé for lovers of dry, crunchy wine.
Region: Coteaux du Vendomois, Loire Valley, France.
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Wine Spectator Top 100 in 2020
R. Lopez de Heredia Vina Tondonia Gran Reserva Rosado Rioja DOCa 2009 750ML ($299.95) $119 special, 6 bottles in stock now
Josh Raynolds – Vinous 94 points “Light bright amber-hued orange. Mineral- and spice-accented red currant and cherry scents, joined by building herb and floral nuances. Shows noteworthy depth as well as energy to the bitter cherry, succulent herb, spicecake and blood orange flavors, which turn sweeter as the wine stretches out. Finishes extremely long and chewy, with resonating floral and red fruit character and a lingering suggestion of fennel. Aged for four years in neutral American oak barrels and racked twice a year.”
Luis Gutierrez-Wine Advocate 93+ points “The unique and personal 2009 Viña Tondonia Rosado Gran Reserva is a little darker than the 2008 I tasted next to it. It also feels a little riper and nuttier, with some traces of ripe apricots and flowers. It’s also fuller and not as sharp as the 2008 and has a dry, chalky/stony palate. These are unique wines that develop in bottle for a long time. 14,200 bottles were filled in April 2015.”
Wine Spectator 93 points “The deep, rusty color announces that this is not a typical rosé. Distinctive, offering tangy acidity and light, firm tannins that frame the rich texture, giving this plenty of structure for food. Orange peel, tarragon, iodine and beeswax notes frame the dried cherry and tangerine flavors. Unique. Garnacho, Tempranillo and Viura. Drink now through 2029. 1,166 cases made.”
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The average price is $144
Bodegas Muga Rosado Rioja DOCa 2019 750ML ($19.95) $14.50 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
James Suckling 90 points “Pleasant watermelon, pink-guava and peach character with some citrus. It’s medium-bodied with good fruit and a fresh finish. Macabeo, grenache and tempranillo. Drink now.”
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New arrival!
Wein-Erbhof Stein Rose Trocken Mosel 2020 750ML ($21.95) $18.50 special
Importer note “Our favorite rebel/activist in the Mosel, Ulli Stein is one of the world’s most soulful growers. This is one of the few rosés from the Mosel and has become a cult favorite. Shimmering, dry with rigorous acidity.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $24
Cellar Stars:
Chateau Simone Palette Rose Provence 2019 750ML ($79.95) $69 special, 19 bottles in stock now
Rosenthal Wine note “Chateau Simone Palette Rosé: The Château Simone Rosé is a wine that belies the notion that rosés are simple wines to be drunk up young. We have indulged ourselves with 10-year old Château Simone Rosé and have marveled at the tenacity, vibrancy and complexity of this very serious wine. The blend is identical to the rouge: 45% Grenache, 30% Mourvèdre, 5% Cinsault, 20% Syrah, Castet, Manosquin, Carignan, Muscat Noir & Blanc. Aged in barrel, it is powerful and age-worthy with a steely character and a grey-tinted aura to the faded rose-petal robe. We import, on average, 1500 bottles per annum for the US market.”
Peyrassol ‘Le Clos Peyrassol’ Cotes de Provence Rose 2019 750ML ($69.95) Was $55, Now $49 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Super Subscriber Sale Wine!
Wine Advocate 93 points “Predominantly Tibouren, with the balance of the blend being Grenache and Rolle, Peyrassol’s super pale 2019 Cotes de Provence Rose Le Clos Peyrassol offers up scents of crushed stone, garrigue, white peach and lime, all tinged with tart red berries. It’s medium-bodied on the palate, with a silky-wet stone feel and a lingering finish that seems to build in red fruit intensity while remaining citrusy and refreshing at the same time. One of the best wines in this year’s tasting, this is a limited-production cuvée from a walled vineyard located on the estate.”
Rosenthal Wine Merchant note “It is made from a single parcel which is equally planted to Cinsault and Tibouren (a touch of Rolle makes it into this cuvee as well). The soil is a mix of clay and limestone with a lot of large rocks on the surface. The site has a bit of depression which helps more even ripening, since the soil holds a little more water than other parcels. The 2016 is the palest of the three roses, with a very silvery salmon hue. At the moment of tasting the nose was a tad firm, showing flinty mineral notes. The palate is quite rich and dense with an almost white Burgundy presence. The fruits lean a little sweeter than the other cuvées, with hints of pear and passion fruit. Even so, the wine is completely dry and has a super-long mineral finish. It’s a great rosé that has the potential to age, and we hope some of you keep a few bottles to drink over the next several years.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $55
Chateau de Manissy Cuvee des Lys Tavel Rose Rhone 2019 750ML ($21.95) $16 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 91 points “Brilliant orange color. Mineral-accented red berry and citrus fruit aromas are complemented by a sexy floral nuance. Concentrated and energetic in the mouth, offering juicy redcurrant, cherry and candied rose flavors that slowly turn sweeter on the mid-palate. The mineral and floral notes echo on a penetrating finish that hangs on with very good tenacity. Drink 2020 – 2023.”
Importer note “Grenache, Clairette & Syrah from clay, river rock and sandy soils. Biodynamic. Juicy raspberry, watermelon, crushed minerals and burnt sugar. Full body with a long finish… Entirely hand-harvested. Maceration of 12-24 hours to extract primary aromas. Fermentation with only indigenous yeasts at a very low temperatures over 2 days, then increased in temperature to 25°C for 7 days in order to increase the fruity taste. Aged in concrete tanks and stainless steel. Natural balanced acidity of about 3.6hg/L and PH of 3.5mg/L with less than 1gr/L residual sugar. This cuvée comes from a plot of 10 hectares that is enclosed by a forest.”
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Most Highly Anticipated (Arriving ETA July):
Domaine de la Bastide Blanche Bandol Rose Provence 2020 750ML ($31.95) $26 pre-arrival special
Case-12 Domaine de la Bastide Blanche Bandol Rose Provence 2020 750ML ($359.95) $288 pre-arrival special (that’s only $24/bottle!)
Weygandt-Metzler Import note “Mourvedre, Grenache, Cinsault, Clairette. Organic. Clay, limestone & cailloux. Tasting note: Dense cherry and raspberry fruit with citrus and stone flavors. Full body with a perfectly balanced and long finish.”
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Weingut Max Ferd. Richter Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Trocken Uralte Wurzelechte Reben, Mosel 2018 750ML ($59.95) $39 special
Mosel Fine Wines 91+ points “The 2018er Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Trocken Uralte Reben GG was made in traditional Fuder cask from over 100 year-old un-grafted vines in the Brück part of the vineyard. It offers an intense nose made of grapefruit bitter, anise, herbs and some white flowers. The wine develops a rather intense but quite structured feel of lemon zest, camphor, herbs and fine spices on the palate. The finish is quite powerful and hugely tart. 2021-2028.”
“In lieu of “Auslese trocken” or “Grosses Gewächs,” the Richters elected to name this dry Riesling “Age-Old Ungrafted Vines,” and if, as alleged, the vines in question really are 120 years old, one can hardly consider that title hyperbole.”-David Schildknecht, writing on the 2015 vintage
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Weingut Max Ferd. Richter Brauneberger Juffer Sonnenuhr Riesling Grosses Gewächs, Mosel 2018 750ML ($59.95) $45 special
James Suckling 94 points “I love the discreet mirabelle, spice and angelica notes of this finely chiseled dry Mosel riesling that has plenty of depth and structure, but doesn’t yet announce it loudly. Needs some time to open up, but the classic elegance is already very clear. Drinkable now, but better from 2022.”
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 91+ points “The 2018 Brauneberger Juffer-Sonnenuhr Riesling GG trocken is subtle and elegant on the refined, flinty and herbal nose that displays beautifully pure and fine, dark and iron-rich slate aromas typical for this magical terroir. Intense and rich yet pure and bone dry on the palate, this is a precise yet long and salty JSU with a stimulating, very elegant finish. It is stunningly pure and fresh for this vintage but also quite austere. From vines planted in the 1980s, which means they are about 100 years younger than those from the original part of the Wehlener Sonnenuhr. Tasted at the domain in September 2020.”
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Weingut Max Ferd. Richter Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Kabinett Feinherb Mosel 2018 750ML ($27.95) $21.90 special
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2018 Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Kabinett Feinherb is sourced partly (two-thirds) from the old, central part of the vineyard (“Im Brück”) with 80- to 90-year-old vines and partly (one-third) from an upper plot with 20-year-old vines. Entirely vinified in traditional fuders, this is a bright, lush, warm and very fine Sonnenuhr with fine slate aromas intermixed with floral, flinty and perfectly ripe fruit aromas. The fruit aroma is almost endless. Lush, round and intense on the palate, the 2018 is perfectly ripe and concentrated but celebrates the finesse and mineral tension of the Sonnenuhr and finishes with lingering salinity and stimulating grip. Still reductive due to the addition of sulfur, this highly promising Sonnenuhr was bottled with 24 grams of well-packed residual sugar. Bottled in early March 2019 and tasted at the end of the month.”
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Weingut Max Ferd. Richter Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Kabinett Mosel 2018 750ML ($29.95) $24 special
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 93-95 points “Mostly from very old vines (80 to 90 years old) and vinified partly (one-third) in stainless steel, the 2018 Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Kabinett offers a fine, flinty, super sensual, mind-blowing bouquet of perfectly ripe but coolish, precise and even quartzite-like aromas. On the palate, the wine is wide, pure, elegant and energetic—a powerhouse but in the most delicious and delicate way. The palate is complex, opening wide but always precise and very, very long, with great mineral grip and tension but also lush and sensual features. This is a great Mosel Riesling indeed. Tasted from the cask in March 2019.”
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Weingut Max Ferd. Richter Veldenzer Elisenberg Riesling Kabinett Mosel 2018 750ML ($27.95) $21.90 special
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 92-94 points “The 2018 Elisenberger Riesling Kabinett is dense, cool, very precise and flinty-mineral on the nose, which is still reductive but exciting. Coming from a coolish side valley that was picked at roughly 84° to 85° Oechsle at the end of September, this is a gorgeously lush and mouth-filling Riesling with the mineral piquancy of quartzite soils. There is no aggressive acidity here, there is nice tartaric acidity that makes this a seductive Kabinett you can’t resist. This is a fabulous, very long and enchanting Riesling. The wine has slightly more than 50 grams of residual sugar and comes in at 8.5% alcohol. It was scheduled to be bottled a couple of days after I tasted it from the cask at the end of March 2019.”
Mosel Fine Wines 92 points “The 2018er Veldenzer Elisenberg Riesling Kabinett was harvested at 84° Oechsle and was fermented down to fruity-styled levels of residual sugar (50 g/l). It offers a beautiful nose made of white peach, cassis, gooseberry, pear, laurel, herbs and spices. The wine develops the delicate creaminess of a Spätlese on the otherwise nicely crisp palate. The finish is long and nicely fruity. Ripe mirabelle and some herbs join the zesty side in the after-taste. 2028-2048.”
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Weingut Max Ferd. Richter Brauneberger Juffer Riesling Kabinett Mosel 2018 750ML ($29.95) $24 special
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 94-96 points “The 2018 Brauneberger Juffer Riesling Kabinett is deep but bright and refined on the flinty nose that offers perfectly ripe Riesling and crunchy slate aromas with a warm iron touch. On the palate, this is a lush, refined, salty-piquant, even racy Riesling with generous fruit and a very long, salty-piquant and crystalline finish. This is a highly complex Riesling in the most delicate expression. It’s one of the wines you just have to buy—there won’t be any regrets, not today or in 30 years. Since this Brauneberger has slightly more sulfur compared to the Wehlener Sonnenuhr, which still hasn’t been filtered and was tasted from the lees, I will retaste the wines early next year, as I am convinced a Mosel Riesling needs two winters to unmask itself. Tasted in March 2019.”
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The average price nationally is $27
Weingut Max Ferd. Richter Brauneberger Juffer Sonnenuhr Riesling Spatlese Mosel 2018 750ML ($39.95) $33 special
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 95-96 points “From 30- to 40-year-old vines, the 2018 Brauneberger Juffer-Sonnenuhr Riesling Spätlese is flinty, precise and reductive on the coolish nose, with discreet and fine (but lush!) pineapple aromas and very fine notes of crushed, smooth slate. On the palate, this is a clear, fresh, lush, highly finessed, piquant and salty Riesling with very tannins and lingering salinity and piquancy. This is a fabulous Spätlese with piquant finesse and mineral tension that seems to be familiar with that of the Scharzhofberger and the Euchariusberg. I can hardly imagine any better Spätlese from 2018. Tasted from the cask in March 2019.”
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Weingut Max Ferd. Richter Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Spatlese, Mosel 2018 750ML ($39.95) $33 special
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 94-96 points “From the two oldest plots (80-90 years old and 120 years old), the fuder-fermented 2018 Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Spätlese offers great precision and aromas of tropical fruit intertwined with very fine slate on the nose. On the palate, the wine is mouth-filling and salty-piquant, with mango and slate flavors on the racy finish. This is dangerous stuff, very dangerous, yet it’s also tight and tensioned. This is, for the moment, the finest and most stimulating Wehlener Sonnenuhr. Dangerous. Really dangerous. Tasted in March 2019.”
Mosel Fine Wines 93 points “The 2018er Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Spätlese was made from clean grapes harvested at a full 95° Oechsle, and was fermented down to fully sweet levels of residual sugar (95 g/l). It offers a beautiful nose of bitter lemon, mirabelle, laurel and whipped cream. The wine delivers nice flavors of pear, ginger, Provence herbs, cream and herbs, and leaves the beautifully racy but unctuous structure of an Auslese in the finish. It remains beautifully playful in the after-taste. 2028-2048.”
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Weingut Max Ferd. Richter Brauneberger Juffer Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese Mosel 2018 750ML ($59.95) $49 special
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 96-97 points “The 2018 Brauneberger Juffer-Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese is very fine, concentrated and beautifully clear, with blossom honey and very fine berry aromas on the nose. (The 20% to 25% of botrytis is very clear and precise, almost imperceptible.) Lush and piquant on the palate, this is a generous but highly digestible Auslese with orange, raisin and (pink) grapefruit flavors. The finish is incredibly racy-piquant, salty and highly digestible. This is still a baby, but it is highly promising. Tasted from cask in March 2019.”
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Arriving in July from Max Ferd. Richter:
Weingut Max Ferd. Richter Veldenzer Elisenberg Riesling Spatlese Mosel 2018 750ML ($39.95) $29 pre-arrival special
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 94-96 points “Sourced from old vines, the 2018 Elisenberger Riesling Spätlese was harvested in the third week of October as the very last “regular” wine (so 3.5 weeks after the Kabinett). It is based on completely healthy fruit and was vinified entirely in traditional fuders. Offering a deep and flinty bouquet, this is a lush, elegant, highly refined and stimulating Spätlese with a salty-piquant finish. Tasted from the cask in March 2019.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Weingut Max Ferd. Richter Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese ***, Mosel 2018 375ML ($79.95) $59 pre-arrival special
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 97+ points “The first three-starred Auslese since 2005 (prior to that, it was 1993, 1983 and 1975), the 2018 Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese *** was picked at about 145° Oechsle. This is incredibly clear, pure, fine and fresh on the lush, concentrated, herbal and grapefruit-scented nose. On the palate, this is a generously lush, refined and salty-piquant Auslese with a tight mineral structure and lingering salinity. This is highly refined and extremely stimulating. It already drinks all too well today, but Constantin recommends cellaring it for at least 10 years. Tasted in March 2019.”
Mosel Fine Wines 95 points “The 2018er Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese *** Fass 138 is a botrytis selection harvested at 138° Oechsle on old vines in the prime Sandpichter sector, and was fermented down to noble-sweet levels of residual sugar. It offers a gorgeous nose of date, pineapple, almond cream, raisin and smoky spices. The wine is beautifully creamy and yet zesty on the palate and leaves a gorgeous feel of ripe fruits and creamy almond in the long and suave finish. While intense, this noble-sweet Auslese retains an immensely satisfying playful side. 2033-2068.”
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Newly Arrived from Biondi Santi
Including The Rare Riserva
New Week – New Arrivals
Trending Rosés
Newly Arrived from
The Excellent Max Ferd. Richter
Evening Land:
2018s Arriving Friday
Collector’s Corner
First Offer:
2019 Markus Molitor
We are open for in-store shopping
Properly worn masks will be required at all times.
Our maximum capacity will be six customers at one time.
Properly worn masks will be required at all times.
Our maximum capacity will be six customers at one time.
Newly Arrived from Biondi Santi
Including Their Rare Riserva
Including Their Rare Riserva
There is Sangiovese and there is Brunello, there is Brunello and then there is Biondi-Santi. Arguably the most famous house in Tuscany, few can claim credit for establishing themselves as a regional powerhouse and appellation promethean quite like them. Biondi-Santi makes Brunello that other estates are judged against. Their estate, Il Greppo, occupies some of the most hallowed ground in the Brunello appellation, in the heart of Montalcino. Their standards are high (they rarely release riservas) and their style can only be described as classic.
After World War II, Biondi-Santi was the only wine producer left in the entire village of Montalcino. How things have changed! Using heritage clones of Sangiovese from their high elevation, estate vineyard, new vinification techniques and unheard of cellaring practices Biondi-Santi turned Brunello into a household name among Italian wine collectors and they remain the standard against anyone else is judged. Considered to be one of the “Immortal wines of the world” these are absolute masterpieces after decades in the cellar, developing flavors like black tea, dried fruits, coffee and figs. Considering they spend at least three years just resting in cask before bottling after a famously long maceration period, these are wines built for aging. The wines are powerful, but not overwrought, elegant but emphatic. These are the wines that Brunello lover’s dream about.
Newly Arrived from Biondi Santi:
Biondi Santi Tenuta Greppo Riserva, Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2011 750ML ($579.95) $419 special
Ian D’Agata-Vinous 94+ points “Dark red. Musky nuances give way to brighter red fruit, licorice and herbal aromas. Rich and dense, with flavors of red cherry and minerals lifted by hints of orange peel and bergamot, not to mention noteworthy but harmonious acidity. Finishes long with youthfully chewy tannins and lingering hints of violet. This strikes me as a slightly readier to drink version of Brunello Riserva from Biondi-Santi, but as always, it improves greatly with aeration so decant at least six hours ahead for maximum enjoyment.”
Wine & Spirits 94 points “A warm summer yielded this rich and opulent 2011 Riserva. Only fruit from the estate’s oldest vines (some up to 80 years of age) makes it into this bottling, and that old-vine concentration shows in the wine’s dense flavors: notes of black cherry and umeboshi plum layered with iodine, basil and smoke. The tightly packed flavors need time to unfold, so it’s best to decant this several hours before serving.”
After World War II, Biondi-Santi was the only wine producer left in the entire village of Montalcino. How things have changed! Using heritage clones of Sangiovese from their high elevation, estate vineyard, new vinification techniques and unheard of cellaring practices Biondi-Santi turned Brunello into a household name among Italian wine collectors and they remain the standard against anyone else is judged. Considered to be one of the “Immortal wines of the world” these are absolute masterpieces after decades in the cellar, developing flavors like black tea, dried fruits, coffee and figs. Considering they spend at least three years just resting in cask before bottling after a famously long maceration period, these are wines built for aging. The wines are powerful, but not overwrought, elegant but emphatic. These are the wines that Brunello lover’s dream about.
Newly Arrived from Biondi Santi:
Biondi Santi Tenuta Greppo Riserva, Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2011 750ML ($579.95) $419 special
Ian D’Agata-Vinous 94+ points “Dark red. Musky nuances give way to brighter red fruit, licorice and herbal aromas. Rich and dense, with flavors of red cherry and minerals lifted by hints of orange peel and bergamot, not to mention noteworthy but harmonious acidity. Finishes long with youthfully chewy tannins and lingering hints of violet. This strikes me as a slightly readier to drink version of Brunello Riserva from Biondi-Santi, but as always, it improves greatly with aeration so decant at least six hours ahead for maximum enjoyment.”
Wine & Spirits 94 points “A warm summer yielded this rich and opulent 2011 Riserva. Only fruit from the estate’s oldest vines (some up to 80 years of age) makes it into this bottling, and that old-vine concentration shows in the wine’s dense flavors: notes of black cherry and umeboshi plum layered with iodine, basil and smoke. The tightly packed flavors need time to unfold, so it’s best to decant this several hours before serving.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Biondi Santi Tenuta Greppo, Rosso di Montalcino 2016 750ML ($119.95) $89 special
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 95 points “I am immediately smitten by the Biondi-Santi 2016 Rosso di Montalcino thanks to the purity of the aromas on display. The bouquet literally submerges the senses in Sangiovese, with those delicate aromas of wild rose, violets, wet earth and brambly forest berry. Background notes of licorice, camphor ash and balsam herb come into steady focus. I am delighted by the intensity and the immense focus of this wine. This Rosso di Montalcino stands with the best of Brunello and gives us good reason to have very high expectations for the 2016 vintage of Brunello di Montalcino that will be released appellation-wide at the beginning of next year. This is a solid mid-weight Rosso with good structure and fine points of fresh acidity that move the wine with determination and grace smoothly over the palate.”
Eric Guido-Vinous 93 points “The 2016 Rosso di Montalcino hails from lower-elevation vineyards, around 250 meters, in the northern section of Montalcino. It’s a classic, layered and dramatic wine, showing bright cherry, sweet herbs, cooling mint, dried fall leaves, tobacco and savory spice, with a presence and depth that feels more like Brunello than Rosso in character. There’s sweetness and purity to the fruit here that keeps me coming back to the glass, yet I’m sure that the 2016 will benefit from a few years of cellaring, especially as its fine tannins build toward the close. The Rosso spends twelve months maturing in Slavonian oak, and it is released two years later than most.”
In Stock Now:
Biondi Santi Il Greppo, Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2012 750ML ($199.95) $169 special
Kerin O’Keefe- Wine Enthusiast 96 points “Underbrush, ripe berry, new leather and Mediterranean herb aromas slowly take shape in the glass. Showing youthful tension, the vibrant palate delivers red cherry, pomegranate, white pepper and pipe tobacco notes framed by bright acidity and taut, refined tannins. It already shows great balance and finesse but is still young and tight. Drink 2022-2035.”
James Suckling 95 points “Love the dried lemon rind, florals and red fruits. Medium to full body and a solid core of fruit and spices. Long and flavorful finish. Just a hint of sweet tobacco. Better in 2020.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $186
New Week – New Arrivals
Rosé
Chateau du Seuil Coteaux d’Aix-en-Provence ‘La Chapelle du Seuil’ Rose 2020 750ML ($17.95) $15.50 special
Josh Raynolds – Vinous 90 points “Light orange-pink. Bright and sharply focused on the nose, displaying fresh red berry and pit fruit aromas and a suggestion of orange peel. Lively strawberry and nectarine flavors stretch out with air and take on a succulent herb nuance. Clings strongly on the silky finish, which leaves a subtle peach note behind.”
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Chateau du Seuil Coteaux d’Aix-en-Provence Rose 2020 750ML ($21.95) $19 special
Skurnik Wines note “The Château du Seuil sits on the Puyricard plateau at an altitude between 350 and 450 meters, the highest site in Aix-en-Provence. Its towers date to the 13th and 16th century and it is classified on the list of French historic monuments. While the estate’s grounds cover nearly 340 hectares, only 62 hectares are planted to vines while another portion is dedicated to olive oil production. Owners Agnès et Robert Daussu are completely renovating the old Château and updating the cellar, as well as converting to organic farming. Sitting on an ancient fault line, the terroir is incredibly complex: clay, chalk, and rocks, with layers of iron-laden calcaire, and big galet. The vineyards benefit from the dry hot climate which is moderated by the Mistral wind. Enologist Pierre Guerin, who works also at Chateau Peyrassol, vinifies and ages the wine in tank. 30% Syrah, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Grenache, 15% Cinsault. From the highest vineyards in Aix-en-Provence. 35+ year old vines. 350-500m altitude. Clay-limestone soil. Direct press rosé. Fermented and aged in tank.”
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Oregon
J.K. Carriere Antoinette Pinot Noir Willamette Valley 2017 750ML ($69.95) $59 special
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 94 points “Dark magenta. An exotically perfumed bouquet evokes fresh red berries, cherry liqueur, exotic spices, cola and potpourri. Spicy and penetrating on the palate, offering concentrated, sharply delineated black raspberry and bitter cherry flavors that turn sweeter on the back half. Shows excellent clarity and a sexy candied rose quality on the gently tannic finish, which lingers with sharp focus and floral-driven persistence.”
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California
Only 5 bottles available!
Ulysses Vineyard, Napa Valley 2017 750ML ($179.95) $149 special
James Suckling 96 points “Extremely aromatic with crushed berries, currants, flowers and hints of uncured tobacco leaf. Carnations. Medium to full body and extremely fine tannins that are firm and polished. Vertical tannins draw you down. Some blanched-walnut character to the blue fruit. Fresh and clean at the finish… So beautiful to drink now.”
Winemaker’s Notes “With black tea leaf and brioche, Ulysses 2017 delivers dense layers of deep cherry, balsamic, peat, forest berries and fresh walnut, woven through a finely grained texture, and a lingering warm cacao powder finish.”
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France – Champagne
Noel Bazin L’Unanime Blanc de Blancs Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($59.95) $44 special
Importer note “The L’Unanime returns! “The unanimous” is the Bazin’s entry level cuvee, an assemblage of 50% 2017, 50% solera. Up to 50 year old vines in the Premier Cru Villers-Marmery. Crisp and light, a slight oxidative note and stern chalky minerality. Perfect champagne for any occasion and appeasing to all!”
Winery note “[Translated and edited for clarity] 100% Montagne de Reims Chardonnay (a rarity). The wine is 50% 2017, 40% reserve wine from Solera, and 10% reserve wine raised in oak. The nose is floral. Acacia and Granny Smith apple notes give a beautiful impression of finesse and freshness. The palate is fresh, fruity and delicious with great elegance due to the Chardonnay from the village of Villers-Marmery.”
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R.H. Coutier Cuvee Tradition Grand Cru Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($49.95) $36 special
Case-6 R.H. Coutier Cuvee Tradition Grand Cru Brut, Champagne NV750ML ($279.95) $209 special (that’s only $34.83/bottle!)
Antonio Galloni 92 points “[Review for prior disgorgement] The NV Brut Tradition Grand Cru is fabulous. Rich, ample and creamy in the glass, the Brut Tradition captures all of the natural intensity of Ambonnay in its expansive personality. Pinot Noir drives this blend in both its flavor profile and weight. Red cherry, plum, cinnamon, cedar and dried flowers are some of the many notes that build over time. This release is based on 2013, with 40% reserve wines. Disgorged: November, 2019.
France – Burgundy
Domaine Leroy Bourgogne Blanc Burgundy 2016 750ML ($99.95) $79 special
William Fevre Vaulorent, Chablis Premier Cru 2017 750ML ($89.95) $79 special
Antonio Galloni 94 points “Another striking wine in this range, the 2017 Chablis Vaulorent 1er Cru has so much to offer. It possesses striking inner sweetness and exceptional balance, with real staying power that builds into a substantial finish laced with a striking array of orchard fruit, lemon confit and wild flowers. There is so much substance and sheer density here.”
Wine Advocate 94 points “The 2017 Chablis 1er Cru Vaulorent is a terrific effort that’s one of the finest premier cru bottlings from Fèvre that I’ve ever tasted. Unwinding in the glass with a lively bouquet of fresh peach, green apples, spring blossom, oyster shell and wheat toast, it’s medium to full-bodied, deep and multidimensional, with exceptional concentration, racy acids and a long, penetrating finish. Didier Séguier should be very proud of this weightless but intense Vaulorent, a wine that outshines plenty of grand cru Chablis this year.”
William Fevre Bougros Cote Bouguerots, Chablis Grand Cru 2017 750ML ($139.95) $119 special
Antonio Galloni 96 points “The 2017 Chablis Bougros Côte Bouguerots Grand Cru is mind-bending. Usually a more powerful Chablis, in 2017 the Côte Bouguerots is airy, weighty and beautifully lifted, with pretty floral and saline notes that confer a great deal of freshness. The 2017 opens up beautifully with time in the glass, showing tons of volume and resonance, all retaining its bright, sculpted personality.”
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Vincent Girardin Quintessence de Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru 2017 750ML ($249.95) $219 special
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 93+ points “The 2017 Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru Quintessence de Corton-Charlemagne was one of the most introverted wines in the range when I revisited it from bottle, unwinding to reveal scents of pear, white flowers, confit citrus and a delicate top note of petrol. On the palate, it’s full-bodied, ample and satiny, with a deep and intensely concentrated core, but it’s still very reserved after its recent bottling. Some patience will be in order here, though at maturity, I’m sure my score will look conservative.”
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 93-95 points “From a single parcel in Aloxe that neighbors one of Domaine Coche-Dury’s, the 2017 Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru Quintessence de Corton-Charlemagne offers up a lovely bouquet of ripe citrus fruit, white flowers and honeycomb. It’s full-bodied, textural and massively concentrated, with a deep and layered mid-palate, succulent acids and a long, expansive finish. This expresses the ampler, more powerful side of Corton-Charlemagne and it’s one of Girardin’s finest 2017s.”
Stephen Tanzer 92-95 points “(always from the same vines in Aloxe-Corton): Bright yellow. Musky lime and crushed stone on the nose. Rich and full but penetrating as well, offering a bracing combination of acidity and crushed-stone minerality. This tactile, densely packed, lemon-limey wine shows a light touch and finishes salty, dry and very long, with terrific energy and grip. This wine needs time and should enjoy a slow and graceful evolution in bottle, but its impeccable balance should also give it early appeal. In fact, it’s downright delicious right now!”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $281.67
Only five bottles available!
Vincent Girardin Les Folatieres Puligny-Montrachet Premier Cru 2017 750ML ($149.95) $119 special
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2017 Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Folatières bursts with aromas of citrus oil, mandarin and crisp yellow apples mingled with warm brioche, wheat toast and struck flint. Medium to full-bodied, satiny and textural, it’s racy and precise, with a crisp core of fruit and a long, penetrating finish.”
Stephen Tanzer-Vinous 91-94 points “Bright medium yellow. Aromas of yellow fruits, minerals and flowers, plus a hint of reduction. Conveys an impression of density without weight, with terrific acid tension giving the flavors of citrus fruits, flowers and spicy oak a sharply chiseled character in spite of the wine’s element of reduction. Finishes sappy, savory, tactile and dry, with noteworthy lift. Terrific potential here.”
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 91-93+ points “The 2017 Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Folatières is showing especially well, unwinding in the glass with a classy nose of blanched almonds, ripe citrus fruit, green apple and spring flowers. On the palate, it’s medium to full-bodied, satiny and pure with good concentration, tangy acids and an elegant, integrated profile.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $159
Only eight bottles available!
Domaine Henri Boillot Les Charmes, Meursault Premier Cru 2018 750ML ($149.95) $119 special
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 92 points “Offering up aromas of buttered citrus fruit, Anjour pear, dried white flowers and fresh pastry, Boillot’s 2018 Meursault 1er Cru Les Charmes is medium to full-bodied, layered and textural, with an ample core of exuberant fruit, lively acids and an expansive finish. This is a fleshy, fruit-driven Charmes that will offer a broad drinking window.”
Only one bottle available!
Domaine Henri Boillot Les Perrieres Meursault Premier Cru 2018 750ML ($199.95) $179 special
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 94 points “Unwinding in the glass with aromas of white flowers, waxy citrus rind, green pear, fresh mint and nutmeg, the 2018 Meursault 1er Cru Les Perrières is medium to full-bodied, chalky and introverted, with terrific tension and structuring dry extract in this warm vintage, concluding with a long and mineral finish.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $189
Domaine Henri Boillot Puligny-Montrachet Les Combettes Puligny-Montrachet Premier Cru 2018 750ML ($179.95) $149 special
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2018 Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Combettes offers up aromas of orange oil, waxy citrus rind, fresh pear and white flowers, followed by a medium to full-bodied, satiny and enveloping palate that’s supple and succulent, underpinned by lively acids and concluding with chalky grip. As usual, this was the first parcel Boillot harvested in 2018.”
France – Rhone
Only five bottles available!
M. Chapoutier Le Clos, Saint-Joseph, 2016 750ML ($179.95) $159 special
Wine Advocate 97 points “Looking even better than it did last year, now that it’s in the bottle, Chapoutier’s 2016 Saint-Joseph Le Clos is impressive indeed. Classy notes of crushed stone and pencil shavings are joined by floral hints of violets, plus ripe cassis on the nose. Full-bodied, rich and concentrated, it comes across as dense yet not heavy (does that make any sense?), finishing with silky tannins and a tremendously long finish. It’s a tour de force in Saint-Joseph, nearly equal in quality to Chapoutier’s parcel-selection wines from across the river in Hermitage.”
Jeb Dunnuck 95-97+ points “Much more mineral-driven, the 2016 Saint Joseph Le Clos comes from an early ripening parcel located south of Tournon, high up on the granite slopes overlooking the Rhône River. It sports an inky color as well as a liquid rock-like character in its black and blue fruits, pepper, bay leaf and violet bouquet. Rich, full-bodied, incredibly pure, and sensationally concentrated, with fine, fine tannin and a great finish, it’s a beautiful wine that could match what was achieved in 2015.”
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Domaine des Remizieres Hermitage Cuvee Emilie, Rhone 2010 750ML ($99.95) $79 special
Robert Parker 96 points “A profound blockbuster is the 2010 Hermitage Cuvee Emilie. An opaque purple color, unctuous texture, and sweet perfume of creme de cassis, blackberry liqueur, acacia flowers and graphite are all found in this enormously endowed, full-bodied, viscous, thick wine. It is nearly over-the-top in richness, but everything comes together with no bitterness, astringency or heaviness. The oak is well-concealed because of the wine’s extravagant fruit and glycerin. This is a 25-year Hermitage.”
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France – Southwest
Domaine Labranche-Laffont Madiran 2017 750ML ($19.95) $16 special
Importer note “Based on Tannat with 20% Cabernet Franc and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon. Made mostly in concrete vats, with around 1/3 raised in older barrels. A wine that responds well to air.”
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The next best price is $18
Domaine Labranche-Laffont Vieilles Vignes, Madiran 2017 750ML ($27.95) $24 special
Importer note “100% Tannat. From several parcels that total 7.5 acres. One parcel of roughly 2 acres is of pre-phylloxera vines in the neighborhood of 150 years old; the other parcels support vines that are at least 50 years old. Grapes are de-stemmed and the wine is raised in Bordeaux barrels, roughly 20% of which are new each year. Given several hours of aeration, this Tannat blossoms. In exceptional years, Christine will vinify the block of pre-phylloxera vines separately and bottle the wine as her cuvée Préphylloxérique. In all other years, the wine from these ancient vines goes into the vieilles vignes cuvée.”
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Italy – Tuscany
Tenuta Argentiera ‘Argentiera’ Bolgheri Superiore, Tuscany 2016 750ML ($99.95) $79 special
Case-6 Tenuta Argentiera ‘Argentiera’ Bolgheri Superiore, Tuscany 2016 750ML ($599.95) $449 special (that’s only $74.83/bottle!)
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 97 points “The 2016 Bolgheri Superiore Argentiera is 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc, and the Cabernet Sauvignon logically feels and tastes most prominent. This is a dark and penetrating Tuscan red that is beautifully elevated, thanks to the extremely elegant and buoyant quality of the aromas. They lift gracefully from the glass with light-footed, almost fleeting character. However, don’t underestimate the power and the concentration of the wine, because this vintage delivers both with abundance. I’ve had my eye on this estate since the vineyards were first planted some 20 years ago, and there is no doubt that this vintage brings Tenuta Argentiera into a new era as a Bolgheri protagonist. Some 80,000 bottles were made.”
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The average price nationally is $89
La Fortuna Brunello di Montalcino DOCG Tuscany 2016 750ML ($54.95) $47 special
James Suckling 96 points “Enticing aromas of black cherries, dark mushrooms, bark and dried flowers, such as roses and honeysuckle. It’s full-bodied, layered and chewy with loads of cherry, plum and orange peel on the palate. Chewy finish with some bitter lemon and smoke at the end. Best ever? Give it four or five years to soften. Try after 2024.”
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 94 points “I have really enjoyed these latest releases from La Fortuna from the past few years. The 2016 Brunello di Montalcino (with 35,000 bottles produced) opens to a dark ruby or garnet appearance and shows impressive aromatic intensity. With that intensity comes sharpness and precision. The aromas unfold quickly to display candied fruit, cocktail cherry, licorice, cola and dark spice. This is a frank and naked expression of Sangiovese from an excellent vintage.”
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Bibi Graetz Casamatta Toscana IGT Tuscany 2018 750ML ($17.95) $14 special
Case-12 Bibi Graetz Casamatta Toscana IGT Tuscany 2018 750ML ($199.95) $149 special (that’s only $12.42/bottle!)
Italy – Other
Cieck ‘Erbaluce’ Erbaluce di Caluso DOCG Piedmont 2019 750ML ($26.95) $19 special
Importer note “This wine is simply called Erbaluce as it represents the most straightfoward expression of our erbaluce grapes. Aiming to preserve the fruity sensations at their best, the bunches are pressed whole, then the pips, stems and skins are immediately removed. The must is then cold fermented so that the aromatic and flavour compounds, typicaly of the fruit, are not lost. After a few months in stainless steel tanks, the wine is bottled at the beginning of spring, the year after harvesting.”
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Produttori del Barbaresco Langhe Nebbiolo Piedmont 2019 750ML ($29.95) $21.90 special
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Guerrieri Gonzaga Tenuta San Leonardo ‘San Leonardo’ Vigneti delle Dolomiti IGT, Trentino-Alto Adige 2013 750ML ($79.95) $66 special
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 96 points “The flagship wine from this celebrated Trentino estate was not produced in 2012. We do have the stunning 2013 San Leonardo on the market now. This vintage is large in scale and has immediate intensity, and I am somewhat surprised by the volume and seamless bouquet that appears this early in the game. This vintage shows balanced ripeness with plummy fruit aromas that are carefully contrasted against spice, leather and fine tobacco. The blend is Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenère and Merlot, and San Leonardo is always aged in barrique for four years (of which only 25% of the barrels are new). This is a bottle to keep long (extra long) in your cellar.”
Germany
Peter Lauer Senior Fass 6 Riesling, Mosel 2020 750ML ($31.95) $28 special
“Nicknamed in an allusion to the style of wine favored by Florian Lauer’s grandfather – but also by many “old-time” customers of the estate – this bottling from west-facing slopes at the northern extreme of Ayl used to be uniformly dry but in recent years, can be very subtly off-dry.” -David Schildknecht, Vinous
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Lebanon
Chateau Musar Bekaa Valley 2013 750ML ($69.95) $51.90 special
Antonio Galloni 93 points “The 2013 Chateau Musar is bold, punchy and intensely perfumed. Rose petal, ripe red fruit, sage, mint, cinnamon and sweet tobacco give the 2013 a very strong aromatic presence that continues to build. Medium in body, with lovely red fruit character, the 2013 Musar could use a few years in bottle to fully come together. I expect it will always have a strong pungent signature.”
Decanter 92 points “This wine needs vigorous decanting otherwise it appears reduced. It shows evidence of French oak ageing: notes of vanilla with a cedar touch along with the plum fruit. Slightly meaty flavours suggest development. Amazingly balanced, with some volatile acidity providing additional freshness. With time it picks up hints of liquorice like an old Hermitage. Impressive volume yet a suave touch – a classic Musar!”
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The average price nationally is $61
The average price nationally is $61
Chateau Musar ‘Hochar Pere et Fils’ Red Bekaa Valley 2017 750ML ($34.95) $28 special
Decanter 91 points “This single-vineyard wine, from Aana, is made in a modern style: concentrated and slightly reductive. It shows notes of new oak barrels, lovely red berry fruit (reminiscent of Grenache) and garrigue aromas. So Mediterranean on the palate, with sweet tannins, spices and a meaty hint on the aftertaste. A very friendly, easy-to-drink and enjoyable wine. It becomes even better and more refined a day after the bottle is opened. I would recommend decanting it.”
Antonio Galloni 90 points “The 2017 Hochar is powerful and dense in the glass. Ripe flavors and incisive tannins give the 2017 much of its brooding personality. Readers should plan on opening the 2017 at least an hour or two in advance, as the tannins are rather grainy at the outset. With time ripe black cherry, spice, leather and licorice flavors emerge nicely. The blend is 55% Cinsault, 35% Grenache and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon.”
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The average price nationally is $31
Chile
Terrazas de Los Andes ‘Cheval des Andes’ Mendoza 2017 1.5L ($199.95) $179 special
James Suckling 100 points “This is the greatest Cheval des Andes ever. The integration of fruit, tannins and acidity is fantastic. Full-bodied, tight and solid with beautiful depth and integrity. Extremely long and exciting. Complex and compelling. Available in September 2020. Better after 2024.”
Luis Gutierrez-Wine Advocate 97+ points “In the last few years, a handful of wines from Chile and Argentina—often French owned—have been released in September through the Place de Bordeaux, the network of négociants that sell most of the Bordeaux wines and some of the leading wines from other regions. The 2017 Cheval des Andes is one such wine. 2017 saw an early harvest, but they started picking on the 6th of March and continued until the 10th of April, more or less normal dates, early but not so much. The varietal break down this vintage comes to 62% Malbec and 38% Cabernet Sauvignon, and the wine is slightly riper and higher in alcohol than 2016 (this 2017 is 14.2% alcohol). The different plots fermented separately with selected yeasts, and the élevage lasted for 15 months and was in 50/50 new and second use barrels, 90% of them French and the rest made with wood from Eastern Europe. They used 45% Bordeaux barrels, 45% 400-liter barrels and, for the first time, a 2,500-liter oak foudre. This is clearly the darkest of the trio of vintages I tasted together here—2015, 2016 and 2017—but all three have the elegant and powerful profile, the luxurious and creamy character found in the best Bordeaux wines in the last few years, wines of power with precision, concentration, energy and finesse. This seems to combine the clout of the 2015 and the freshness of the 2016 and feels something in between those two vintages. Their work in the vineyard toward the maturity of the tannins meant the challenge in 2017 was to not let the grapes ripen too fast and too early. The work is different for Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec, to get round tannins in Cabernet and get some tension in Malbec, the contrary of the normal tendency of the varieties. 2017 has less ripeness than the 2015 but more density than the 2016. The texture is velvety, precise and harmonious. This year, they introduced a larger foudre for 10% of the wine, with the aim to reach 20%, so that volume is increasing every year. I think this is showing more precision, and in a more challenging year, they managed to keep the quality on par with 2016. They have changed the label this year, to a cleaner and more elegant label that also reflects the direction the wine is going in. 81,500 bottles produced. It was bottled in January 2019.”
Trending Rosés
The temps are rising, and that means it’s rosé time. Whether you’re looking for something to ponder over after years in your cellar or a light & breezy patio sipper, we have you covered. Shop our full selection on our web store or browse our recommendations below!
#drinklocal Picks:
Evening Land ‘Seven Springs Vineyard’ Rose of Pinot Noir Eola-Amity Hills 2019 750ML ($29.95) Was $26, Now $21.90 super special, 30 bottles in stock now
Winery note “The 2019 Seven Springs Rosé of Pinot Noir comes from young vines Pinot planted up on the vineyard’s East Ridge. These densely planted vines grow in well-draining soils and receive a full day of sunshine during the growing season. The gradual and even ripening that occurred during the 2019 growing season resulted in beautifully layered wines, with nuance and refinement. For the rosé, we were fortunate to realize a depth of flavor and aroma across the bright fruit and floral spectrum while still retaining mouthwatering acidity and freshness. The wine opens with a subtle whiff of reduction followed by under-ripe strawberries, white flowers, and dried apricots. The palate is lively and whimsical and begs for a dish like fritto misto or a salad nicoise.”
#drinklocal Picks:
Evening Land ‘Seven Springs Vineyard’ Rose of Pinot Noir Eola-Amity Hills 2019 750ML ($29.95) Was $26, Now $21.90 super special, 30 bottles in stock now
Winery note “The 2019 Seven Springs Rosé of Pinot Noir comes from young vines Pinot planted up on the vineyard’s East Ridge. These densely planted vines grow in well-draining soils and receive a full day of sunshine during the growing season. The gradual and even ripening that occurred during the 2019 growing season resulted in beautifully layered wines, with nuance and refinement. For the rosé, we were fortunate to realize a depth of flavor and aroma across the bright fruit and floral spectrum while still retaining mouthwatering acidity and freshness. The wine opens with a subtle whiff of reduction followed by under-ripe strawberries, white flowers, and dried apricots. The palate is lively and whimsical and begs for a dish like fritto misto or a salad nicoise.”
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Crowley Rose Willamette Valley 2020 750ML ($24.95) $17.70 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Winery note “This wine opens with a bloom of apricot blossoms and crunchy pear aromas. The palate is focused and fresh, layered with stone fruits and mouthwatering salinity. We are astonished and pleased with the complexity this wine reveals – not your everyday rosé!”
VinopolNote: From the Four Winds and Tukwilla Vineyards, this is a top WV rosé every year. The Four Winds fruit is 100% Pommard clone from an own-rooted block dedicated to rosé production, it has a depth, richness, and complexity that will reward all year round. Full malo. Fully delicious.
Dry farmed.
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Cameron Winery Pinot Gris Ramato Dundee Hills 2020 750ML ($39.95) $29.90 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Winery note “Rame: Italian for copper, ramato: copper-colored. Ramato is a copper-colored Pinot grigio made in the tradition of north-eastern Italy. A very tricky wine to pull off. Very limited production.” Dry farmed.
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Provençal Picks:
Domaines Ott ‘By.Ott’ Rose Cotes de Provence 2020 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 special, 36+ bottles available
Case-12 Domaines Ott ‘By.Ott’ Rose Cotes de Provence 2020 ($299.95) $236 special (that’s only $19.67/bottle!)
Josh Raynolds – Vinous 90 points “Light orange-pink. Ripe pit fruits and red berries on the nose, along with a hint of smokiness. Juicy and open-knit, offering strawberry and nectarine flavors that show very good clarity and back-end cut. Finishes smooth and long, leaving a suggestion of pit fruits behind.”
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Peyrassol ‘Chateau Peyrassol’ Rose, Cotes de Provence 2020 750ML ($39.95) $33 special, 29 bottles in stock now
Case-12 Peyrassol ‘Chateau Peyrassol’ Rose, Cotes de Provence 2020 750ML ($479.95) $369 special (that’s only $30.75/bottle!)
Josh Raynolds – Vinous 92 points “Light, brilliant orange-pink. Highly perfumed, mineral-accented red berry and pit fruit aromas are complemented by a floral note that builds in the glass. Juicy and sharply focused in the mouth, offering vibrant strawberry, blood orange and white peach flavors and a suave touch of honeysuckle. Concentrated yet lithe in style, finishing with intense mineral- and floral-driven thrust.”
Importer note “100% estate fruit, offering the purest expression of a great Provencal terroir. [These are] the oldest vines of the estate from the Girette and Longchamps areas, currently under organic conversion. Pale in color, with soft rose-tinted overtones, Château Peyrassol radiates freshness. It’s subtle nose of citrus, vine peach, apricot and delicate florals is inviting. It has a dense palate, poised and lively, and is notable for its balance, punctuated by a long, fruity finish. Harvested during the cool temperature of the night, the fruits are destemmed and pressed with minimal exposure to oxygen to preserve freshness and aromas. The grapes are vinified by direct pressing and in the course of this process the wine develops its delicate pink color. After fermentation in stainless steel at a controlled temperature, a light racking is completed to retain only the best lees which are then worked carefully to promote both the aromatic expression and the potential of the wine to last over time. 45% Cinsault, 25% Grenache, 12% Ugni Blanc, 10% Syrah, 8% Rolle.”
Winery note “Pale in colour, with soft rose-tinted overtones, Château Peyrassol radiates freshness. Its subtle nose of citrus, vine peach, apricot and fine floral notes is inviting. It has a beautiful, dense palate, delicate and lively, and is notable for its balance and full body, punctuated by a long, fruity finish. It is the perfect accompaniment to fish soups, carpaccios and all varieties of grilled fish, but will also add sparkle to red berry desserts.”
Chateau Les Mesclances Cotes de Provence La Londe Cuvee Faustine Rose 2020 750ML ($39.95) $34.50 special, 26 bottles in stock now
Rosenthal Wine note ““Faustine” Côtes de Provence La Londe Rosé The lone wine from the exceptional La Londe sub-appellation, Faustine receives the greatest care at vinification, with a full 15 hours of maceration for the Grenache, along with a saignée of Mourvedre and Syrah. Explosive aromas overlay a complex and noble structure that show clearly why this wine is a cut above the classic Cotes de Provence character.”
Clos Cibonne “Tentations” Rose, Cotes de Provence 2020 750ML ($24.95) $18 special, 36+bottles in stock now
Case-12 Clos Cibonne “Tentations” Rose, Cotes de Provence 2020 750ML ($249.95) $199 special (that’s only $20.75/bottle and the lowest listed price in the USA today!)
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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Fun Favorites from Around Europe:
Ameztoi Rubentis Rosado Getariako Txakolina 2020 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-12 Ameztoi Rubentis Rosado Getariako Txakolina 2020 750ML ($319.95) $239 special (that’s only $19.92/bottle!)
Importer note “The pink sibling of Ameztoi’s flagship white, this vibrant rosé is made from a mix of red and white indigenous grapes and is bottled with a little residual carbonation to give it a light spritz.”
Region: Getariako Txakolina, Pais Vasco (Basque Country), Spain.
Domaine Brazilier Tradition Rose Coteaux du Vendomois Loire 2020 750ML ($18.95) $14.40 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
VinopolNote: A perennial favorite, this 100% Pineau d’Aunis rosé is all fresh cut grapefruit zest and white pepper, with pretty pink fruit and a very zippy, dry finish. A rosé for lovers of dry, crunchy wine.
Region: Coteaux du Vendomois, Loire Valley, France.
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Wine Spectator Top 100 in 2020
R. Lopez de Heredia Vina Tondonia Gran Reserva Rosado Rioja DOCa 2009 750ML ($299.95) $119 special, 6 bottles in stock now
Josh Raynolds – Vinous 94 points “Light bright amber-hued orange. Mineral- and spice-accented red currant and cherry scents, joined by building herb and floral nuances. Shows noteworthy depth as well as energy to the bitter cherry, succulent herb, spicecake and blood orange flavors, which turn sweeter as the wine stretches out. Finishes extremely long and chewy, with resonating floral and red fruit character and a lingering suggestion of fennel. Aged for four years in neutral American oak barrels and racked twice a year.”
Luis Gutierrez-Wine Advocate 93+ points “The unique and personal 2009 Viña Tondonia Rosado Gran Reserva is a little darker than the 2008 I tasted next to it. It also feels a little riper and nuttier, with some traces of ripe apricots and flowers. It’s also fuller and not as sharp as the 2008 and has a dry, chalky/stony palate. These are unique wines that develop in bottle for a long time. 14,200 bottles were filled in April 2015.”
Wine Spectator 93 points “The deep, rusty color announces that this is not a typical rosé. Distinctive, offering tangy acidity and light, firm tannins that frame the rich texture, giving this plenty of structure for food. Orange peel, tarragon, iodine and beeswax notes frame the dried cherry and tangerine flavors. Unique. Garnacho, Tempranillo and Viura. Drink now through 2029. 1,166 cases made.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
The average price is $144
Bodegas Muga Rosado Rioja DOCa 2019 750ML ($19.95) $14.50 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
James Suckling 90 points “Pleasant watermelon, pink-guava and peach character with some citrus. It’s medium-bodied with good fruit and a fresh finish. Macabeo, grenache and tempranillo. Drink now.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
New arrival!
Wein-Erbhof Stein Rose Trocken Mosel 2020 750ML ($21.95) $18.50 special
Importer note “Our favorite rebel/activist in the Mosel, Ulli Stein is one of the world’s most soulful growers. This is one of the few rosés from the Mosel and has become a cult favorite. Shimmering, dry with rigorous acidity.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $24
Cellar Stars:
Chateau Simone Palette Rose Provence 2019 750ML ($79.95) $69 special, 19 bottles in stock now
Rosenthal Wine note “Chateau Simone Palette Rosé: The Château Simone Rosé is a wine that belies the notion that rosés are simple wines to be drunk up young. We have indulged ourselves with 10-year old Château Simone Rosé and have marveled at the tenacity, vibrancy and complexity of this very serious wine. The blend is identical to the rouge: 45% Grenache, 30% Mourvèdre, 5% Cinsault, 20% Syrah, Castet, Manosquin, Carignan, Muscat Noir & Blanc. Aged in barrel, it is powerful and age-worthy with a steely character and a grey-tinted aura to the faded rose-petal robe. We import, on average, 1500 bottles per annum for the US market.”
Peyrassol ‘Le Clos Peyrassol’ Cotes de Provence Rose 2019 750ML ($69.95) Was $55, Now $49 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Super Subscriber Sale Wine!
Wine Advocate 93 points “Predominantly Tibouren, with the balance of the blend being Grenache and Rolle, Peyrassol’s super pale 2019 Cotes de Provence Rose Le Clos Peyrassol offers up scents of crushed stone, garrigue, white peach and lime, all tinged with tart red berries. It’s medium-bodied on the palate, with a silky-wet stone feel and a lingering finish that seems to build in red fruit intensity while remaining citrusy and refreshing at the same time. One of the best wines in this year’s tasting, this is a limited-production cuvée from a walled vineyard located on the estate.”
Rosenthal Wine Merchant note “It is made from a single parcel which is equally planted to Cinsault and Tibouren (a touch of Rolle makes it into this cuvee as well). The soil is a mix of clay and limestone with a lot of large rocks on the surface. The site has a bit of depression which helps more even ripening, since the soil holds a little more water than other parcels. The 2016 is the palest of the three roses, with a very silvery salmon hue. At the moment of tasting the nose was a tad firm, showing flinty mineral notes. The palate is quite rich and dense with an almost white Burgundy presence. The fruits lean a little sweeter than the other cuvées, with hints of pear and passion fruit. Even so, the wine is completely dry and has a super-long mineral finish. It’s a great rosé that has the potential to age, and we hope some of you keep a few bottles to drink over the next several years.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $55
Chateau de Manissy Cuvee des Lys Tavel Rose Rhone 2019 750ML ($21.95) $16 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 91 points “Brilliant orange color. Mineral-accented red berry and citrus fruit aromas are complemented by a sexy floral nuance. Concentrated and energetic in the mouth, offering juicy redcurrant, cherry and candied rose flavors that slowly turn sweeter on the mid-palate. The mineral and floral notes echo on a penetrating finish that hangs on with very good tenacity. Drink 2020 – 2023.”
Importer note “Grenache, Clairette & Syrah from clay, river rock and sandy soils. Biodynamic. Juicy raspberry, watermelon, crushed minerals and burnt sugar. Full body with a long finish… Entirely hand-harvested. Maceration of 12-24 hours to extract primary aromas. Fermentation with only indigenous yeasts at a very low temperatures over 2 days, then increased in temperature to 25°C for 7 days in order to increase the fruity taste. Aged in concrete tanks and stainless steel. Natural balanced acidity of about 3.6hg/L and PH of 3.5mg/L with less than 1gr/L residual sugar. This cuvée comes from a plot of 10 hectares that is enclosed by a forest.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Most Highly Anticipated (Arriving ETA July):
Domaine de la Bastide Blanche Bandol Rose Provence 2020 750ML ($31.95) $26 pre-arrival special
Case-12 Domaine de la Bastide Blanche Bandol Rose Provence 2020 750ML ($359.95) $288 pre-arrival special (that’s only $24/bottle!)
Weygandt-Metzler Import note “Mourvedre, Grenache, Cinsault, Clairette. Organic. Clay, limestone & cailloux. Tasting note: Dense cherry and raspberry fruit with citrus and stone flavors. Full body with a perfectly balanced and long finish.”
Noble and Overlooked
The Excellent Max Ferd. Richter
The Excellent Max Ferd. Richter
The wine that first got me [Saul] into German wine was an old bottle of Max Ferd. Richter. It was an ’81 Kabinett, recorked and relabeled at the estate, and re-released at 20+ years old. It was a revelation—my first taste of older German Riesling and a fantastic wine despite the less-than-stellar vintage. When we got the offer for Richter that you see today, my eyes lit up—these are some fantastic wines that don’t make it across the US as widely as they should.
When you talk about the wines and the region, the first thing that jumps out is the incredible real estate the winery holds. The Middle Mosel is where all the historic glory of German Riesling rests. Vineyards like Wehlener Sonnenhur, Brauneberger Juffer-Sonnenuhr and the Graach duo of Himmelreich and Domprost comprise some of the most heralded sites in the world for Riesling and perhaps no estate has better holdings than Max Ferd. Richter.
Based on their holdings and the quality of their wines, Richter deserves to be a name on par with JJ Prum, Fritz Haag, Willi Schaefer, etc. but poor distribution has prevented them from reaching the level of fame that they deserve (which, frankly, is great for pricing). These are gloriously complex wines, built for the cellar and affordable enough to buy in quantity.
“Constantin Richter was quite relaxed when describing his 2018 vintage: ‘…I like the 2018 wines as they are quite charming. They combine the ripe zest of 2012 with the roundness of 2011.’ The Richters did not defy the vintage as some of their colleagues. They played with the vintage to produce some gorgeous wines with a touch more ripeness and roundness than usual, but also with the playful side that has made the success of their Estate over the years. The sweet spot of the vintage are the fruity-styled wines, provided one takes into account that these wines sometimes kick at a level higher than their Prädikat indicated on the label….All in all,Max Ferd. Richter took the vintage and produced utterly enjoyable and playful wines. One could nearly say: As usual.” – Mosel Fine Wines
Newly Arrived from Max Ferd. Richter:
Weingut Max Ferd. Richter Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Kabinett Trocken, Mosel 2018 750ML ($29.95) $24 special
John Gilman 93+ points “The 2018 Kabinett Trocken from the Himmelreich was produced from a parcel of vines that are eighty to ninety years of age, situated right up at the top of the slope. This is outstanding in 2018 and very delicately-styled and filigreed, with the wine topping out at eleven percent octane this year. This had not yet been bottled and was really lovely on both on the nose and palate, with the bouquet wafting from the glass in a mix of apple, lemon, superb minerality, a dollop of wild yeasts and a smoky topnote. On the palate the wine is pure, medium-bodied and beautifully mineral, with fine intensity of flavor, bright acids, excellent focus and superb cu Constantin Richter has been full-time back at the family estate since the 2012 vintage, and previous to this he did a few stages and cut and grip on the long and complex finish. This is first class juice! 2022-2060.”
When you talk about the wines and the region, the first thing that jumps out is the incredible real estate the winery holds. The Middle Mosel is where all the historic glory of German Riesling rests. Vineyards like Wehlener Sonnenhur, Brauneberger Juffer-Sonnenuhr and the Graach duo of Himmelreich and Domprost comprise some of the most heralded sites in the world for Riesling and perhaps no estate has better holdings than Max Ferd. Richter.
Based on their holdings and the quality of their wines, Richter deserves to be a name on par with JJ Prum, Fritz Haag, Willi Schaefer, etc. but poor distribution has prevented them from reaching the level of fame that they deserve (which, frankly, is great for pricing). These are gloriously complex wines, built for the cellar and affordable enough to buy in quantity.
“Constantin Richter was quite relaxed when describing his 2018 vintage: ‘…I like the 2018 wines as they are quite charming. They combine the ripe zest of 2012 with the roundness of 2011.’ The Richters did not defy the vintage as some of their colleagues. They played with the vintage to produce some gorgeous wines with a touch more ripeness and roundness than usual, but also with the playful side that has made the success of their Estate over the years. The sweet spot of the vintage are the fruity-styled wines, provided one takes into account that these wines sometimes kick at a level higher than their Prädikat indicated on the label….All in all,Max Ferd. Richter took the vintage and produced utterly enjoyable and playful wines. One could nearly say: As usual.” – Mosel Fine Wines
Newly Arrived from Max Ferd. Richter:
Weingut Max Ferd. Richter Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Kabinett Trocken, Mosel 2018 750ML ($29.95) $24 special
John Gilman 93+ points “The 2018 Kabinett Trocken from the Himmelreich was produced from a parcel of vines that are eighty to ninety years of age, situated right up at the top of the slope. This is outstanding in 2018 and very delicately-styled and filigreed, with the wine topping out at eleven percent octane this year. This had not yet been bottled and was really lovely on both on the nose and palate, with the bouquet wafting from the glass in a mix of apple, lemon, superb minerality, a dollop of wild yeasts and a smoky topnote. On the palate the wine is pure, medium-bodied and beautifully mineral, with fine intensity of flavor, bright acids, excellent focus and superb cu Constantin Richter has been full-time back at the family estate since the 2012 vintage, and previous to this he did a few stages and cut and grip on the long and complex finish. This is first class juice! 2022-2060.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Weingut Max Ferd. Richter Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Trocken Uralte Wurzelechte Reben, Mosel 2018 750ML ($59.95) $39 special
Mosel Fine Wines 91+ points “The 2018er Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Trocken Uralte Reben GG was made in traditional Fuder cask from over 100 year-old un-grafted vines in the Brück part of the vineyard. It offers an intense nose made of grapefruit bitter, anise, herbs and some white flowers. The wine develops a rather intense but quite structured feel of lemon zest, camphor, herbs and fine spices on the palate. The finish is quite powerful and hugely tart. 2021-2028.”
“In lieu of “Auslese trocken” or “Grosses Gewächs,” the Richters elected to name this dry Riesling “Age-Old Ungrafted Vines,” and if, as alleged, the vines in question really are 120 years old, one can hardly consider that title hyperbole.”-David Schildknecht, writing on the 2015 vintage
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Weingut Max Ferd. Richter Brauneberger Juffer Sonnenuhr Riesling Grosses Gewächs, Mosel 2018 750ML ($59.95) $45 special
James Suckling 94 points “I love the discreet mirabelle, spice and angelica notes of this finely chiseled dry Mosel riesling that has plenty of depth and structure, but doesn’t yet announce it loudly. Needs some time to open up, but the classic elegance is already very clear. Drinkable now, but better from 2022.”
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 91+ points “The 2018 Brauneberger Juffer-Sonnenuhr Riesling GG trocken is subtle and elegant on the refined, flinty and herbal nose that displays beautifully pure and fine, dark and iron-rich slate aromas typical for this magical terroir. Intense and rich yet pure and bone dry on the palate, this is a precise yet long and salty JSU with a stimulating, very elegant finish. It is stunningly pure and fresh for this vintage but also quite austere. From vines planted in the 1980s, which means they are about 100 years younger than those from the original part of the Wehlener Sonnenuhr. Tasted at the domain in September 2020.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Weingut Max Ferd. Richter Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Kabinett Feinherb Mosel 2018 750ML ($27.95) $21.90 special
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2018 Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Kabinett Feinherb is sourced partly (two-thirds) from the old, central part of the vineyard (“Im Brück”) with 80- to 90-year-old vines and partly (one-third) from an upper plot with 20-year-old vines. Entirely vinified in traditional fuders, this is a bright, lush, warm and very fine Sonnenuhr with fine slate aromas intermixed with floral, flinty and perfectly ripe fruit aromas. The fruit aroma is almost endless. Lush, round and intense on the palate, the 2018 is perfectly ripe and concentrated but celebrates the finesse and mineral tension of the Sonnenuhr and finishes with lingering salinity and stimulating grip. Still reductive due to the addition of sulfur, this highly promising Sonnenuhr was bottled with 24 grams of well-packed residual sugar. Bottled in early March 2019 and tasted at the end of the month.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Weingut Max Ferd. Richter Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Kabinett Mosel 2018 750ML ($29.95) $24 special
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 93-95 points “Mostly from very old vines (80 to 90 years old) and vinified partly (one-third) in stainless steel, the 2018 Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Kabinett offers a fine, flinty, super sensual, mind-blowing bouquet of perfectly ripe but coolish, precise and even quartzite-like aromas. On the palate, the wine is wide, pure, elegant and energetic—a powerhouse but in the most delicious and delicate way. The palate is complex, opening wide but always precise and very, very long, with great mineral grip and tension but also lush and sensual features. This is a great Mosel Riesling indeed. Tasted from the cask in March 2019.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Weingut Max Ferd. Richter Veldenzer Elisenberg Riesling Kabinett Mosel 2018 750ML ($27.95) $21.90 special
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 92-94 points “The 2018 Elisenberger Riesling Kabinett is dense, cool, very precise and flinty-mineral on the nose, which is still reductive but exciting. Coming from a coolish side valley that was picked at roughly 84° to 85° Oechsle at the end of September, this is a gorgeously lush and mouth-filling Riesling with the mineral piquancy of quartzite soils. There is no aggressive acidity here, there is nice tartaric acidity that makes this a seductive Kabinett you can’t resist. This is a fabulous, very long and enchanting Riesling. The wine has slightly more than 50 grams of residual sugar and comes in at 8.5% alcohol. It was scheduled to be bottled a couple of days after I tasted it from the cask at the end of March 2019.”
Mosel Fine Wines 92 points “The 2018er Veldenzer Elisenberg Riesling Kabinett was harvested at 84° Oechsle and was fermented down to fruity-styled levels of residual sugar (50 g/l). It offers a beautiful nose made of white peach, cassis, gooseberry, pear, laurel, herbs and spices. The wine develops the delicate creaminess of a Spätlese on the otherwise nicely crisp palate. The finish is long and nicely fruity. Ripe mirabelle and some herbs join the zesty side in the after-taste. 2028-2048.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Weingut Max Ferd. Richter Brauneberger Juffer Riesling Kabinett Mosel 2018 750ML ($29.95) $24 special
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 94-96 points “The 2018 Brauneberger Juffer Riesling Kabinett is deep but bright and refined on the flinty nose that offers perfectly ripe Riesling and crunchy slate aromas with a warm iron touch. On the palate, this is a lush, refined, salty-piquant, even racy Riesling with generous fruit and a very long, salty-piquant and crystalline finish. This is a highly complex Riesling in the most delicate expression. It’s one of the wines you just have to buy—there won’t be any regrets, not today or in 30 years. Since this Brauneberger has slightly more sulfur compared to the Wehlener Sonnenuhr, which still hasn’t been filtered and was tasted from the lees, I will retaste the wines early next year, as I am convinced a Mosel Riesling needs two winters to unmask itself. Tasted in March 2019.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
The average price nationally is $27
Weingut Max Ferd. Richter Brauneberger Juffer Sonnenuhr Riesling Spatlese Mosel 2018 750ML ($39.95) $33 special
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 95-96 points “From 30- to 40-year-old vines, the 2018 Brauneberger Juffer-Sonnenuhr Riesling Spätlese is flinty, precise and reductive on the coolish nose, with discreet and fine (but lush!) pineapple aromas and very fine notes of crushed, smooth slate. On the palate, this is a clear, fresh, lush, highly finessed, piquant and salty Riesling with very tannins and lingering salinity and piquancy. This is a fabulous Spätlese with piquant finesse and mineral tension that seems to be familiar with that of the Scharzhofberger and the Euchariusberg. I can hardly imagine any better Spätlese from 2018. Tasted from the cask in March 2019.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Weingut Max Ferd. Richter Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Spatlese, Mosel 2018 750ML ($39.95) $33 special
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 94-96 points “From the two oldest plots (80-90 years old and 120 years old), the fuder-fermented 2018 Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Spätlese offers great precision and aromas of tropical fruit intertwined with very fine slate on the nose. On the palate, the wine is mouth-filling and salty-piquant, with mango and slate flavors on the racy finish. This is dangerous stuff, very dangerous, yet it’s also tight and tensioned. This is, for the moment, the finest and most stimulating Wehlener Sonnenuhr. Dangerous. Really dangerous. Tasted in March 2019.”
Mosel Fine Wines 93 points “The 2018er Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Spätlese was made from clean grapes harvested at a full 95° Oechsle, and was fermented down to fully sweet levels of residual sugar (95 g/l). It offers a beautiful nose of bitter lemon, mirabelle, laurel and whipped cream. The wine delivers nice flavors of pear, ginger, Provence herbs, cream and herbs, and leaves the beautifully racy but unctuous structure of an Auslese in the finish. It remains beautifully playful in the after-taste. 2028-2048.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Weingut Max Ferd. Richter Brauneberger Juffer Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese Mosel 2018 750ML ($59.95) $49 special
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 96-97 points “The 2018 Brauneberger Juffer-Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese is very fine, concentrated and beautifully clear, with blossom honey and very fine berry aromas on the nose. (The 20% to 25% of botrytis is very clear and precise, almost imperceptible.) Lush and piquant on the palate, this is a generous but highly digestible Auslese with orange, raisin and (pink) grapefruit flavors. The finish is incredibly racy-piquant, salty and highly digestible. This is still a baby, but it is highly promising. Tasted from cask in March 2019.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Arriving in July from Max Ferd. Richter:
Weingut Max Ferd. Richter Veldenzer Elisenberg Riesling Spatlese Mosel 2018 750ML ($39.95) $29 pre-arrival special
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 94-96 points “Sourced from old vines, the 2018 Elisenberger Riesling Spätlese was harvested in the third week of October as the very last “regular” wine (so 3.5 weeks after the Kabinett). It is based on completely healthy fruit and was vinified entirely in traditional fuders. Offering a deep and flinty bouquet, this is a lush, elegant, highly refined and stimulating Spätlese with a salty-piquant finish. Tasted from the cask in March 2019.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Weingut Max Ferd. Richter Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese ***, Mosel 2018 375ML ($79.95) $59 pre-arrival special
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 97+ points “The first three-starred Auslese since 2005 (prior to that, it was 1993, 1983 and 1975), the 2018 Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese *** was picked at about 145° Oechsle. This is incredibly clear, pure, fine and fresh on the lush, concentrated, herbal and grapefruit-scented nose. On the palate, this is a generously lush, refined and salty-piquant Auslese with a tight mineral structure and lingering salinity. This is highly refined and extremely stimulating. It already drinks all too well today, but Constantin recommends cellaring it for at least 10 years. Tasted in March 2019.”
Mosel Fine Wines 95 points “The 2018er Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese *** Fass 138 is a botrytis selection harvested at 138° Oechsle on old vines in the prime Sandpichter sector, and was fermented down to noble-sweet levels of residual sugar. It offers a gorgeous nose of date, pineapple, almond cream, raisin and smoky spices. The wine is beautifully creamy and yet zesty on the palate and leaves a gorgeous feel of ripe fruits and creamy almond in the long and suave finish. While intense, this noble-sweet Auslese retains an immensely satisfying playful side. 2033-2068.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Evening Land
2018s Arriving Friday
Celebrity sommelier, wine writer and winemaker Rajat Parr knocks it out of the park again with a phenomenal 2018 vintage from his Oregon project, Evening Land Vineyards.
2018 marked the end of an era for Oregon winegrowing, with this being the last of our “Hot” vintages before a return to classic Oregon in the 2019 season. While hot and dry like the 2014-17 vintages, 18 was marked by minimal heat spikes in comparison with the addition of a cool and dry end to the season. In the case of Evening Land and their estate, this allowed for them to achieve maximal ripeness while still maintaining the quintessential character of Oregon Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. These are wines built for long term aging but are showing brilliantly at this time, albeit a bit austere. Both the Pinot Noir and the Chardonnay feature a basaltic mineral quality that accents their fruit character in a way that tames the ripeness and contributes to a long finish. The Chardonnay is a perfect example of the Oregon style, featuring both fruit and oak influence that are held together with plenty of acid. The Pinot Noir received some whole cluster inclusion, which contributes to a more structured and tannic varietal character along with judicious new oak. Grown in Oregon but with a definite eye on Burgundian style and practices in the cellar.
The consistent quality across their portfolio speaks to their biodynamic practices and treasure trove of old vines. We will also be bringing in the Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from Salem Wine Co. which primarily comes from the younger blocks on the estate as well as two neighboring vineyards, exhibiting a brighter and more youthful expression of the estate. These are meant to be enjoyed in their youth, perhaps while your Seven Springs wines come to fruition and feature entirely neutral cooperage.
Evening Land Wines Arriving Friday, June 18th:
Evening Land ‘Seven Springs Vineyard’ Rose of Pinot Noir Eola-Amity Hills 2020 750ML ($29.95) $24 pre-arrival special
Winery note “The Seven Springs Rosé comes from the young Pinot Noir vines planted up on the vineyard’s East Ridge. These densely planted vines grow in well-drained soils and receive a full day of sunshine during the growing season. This cuvée offers a lively acidity, fresh fruit flavors and subtle floral characteristics.”
2018 marked the end of an era for Oregon winegrowing, with this being the last of our “Hot” vintages before a return to classic Oregon in the 2019 season. While hot and dry like the 2014-17 vintages, 18 was marked by minimal heat spikes in comparison with the addition of a cool and dry end to the season. In the case of Evening Land and their estate, this allowed for them to achieve maximal ripeness while still maintaining the quintessential character of Oregon Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. These are wines built for long term aging but are showing brilliantly at this time, albeit a bit austere. Both the Pinot Noir and the Chardonnay feature a basaltic mineral quality that accents their fruit character in a way that tames the ripeness and contributes to a long finish. The Chardonnay is a perfect example of the Oregon style, featuring both fruit and oak influence that are held together with plenty of acid. The Pinot Noir received some whole cluster inclusion, which contributes to a more structured and tannic varietal character along with judicious new oak. Grown in Oregon but with a definite eye on Burgundian style and practices in the cellar.
The consistent quality across their portfolio speaks to their biodynamic practices and treasure trove of old vines. We will also be bringing in the Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from Salem Wine Co. which primarily comes from the younger blocks on the estate as well as two neighboring vineyards, exhibiting a brighter and more youthful expression of the estate. These are meant to be enjoyed in their youth, perhaps while your Seven Springs wines come to fruition and feature entirely neutral cooperage.
Evening Land Wines Arriving Friday, June 18th:
Evening Land ‘Seven Springs Vineyard’ Rose of Pinot Noir Eola-Amity Hills 2020 750ML ($29.95) $24 pre-arrival special
Winery note “The Seven Springs Rosé comes from the young Pinot Noir vines planted up on the vineyard’s East Ridge. These densely planted vines grow in well-drained soils and receive a full day of sunshine during the growing season. This cuvée offers a lively acidity, fresh fruit flavors and subtle floral characteristics.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Evening Land ‘Seven Springs Vineyard’ Chardonnay Eola-Amity Hills 2018 750ML ($39.95) $33 pre-arrival special
Erin Brooks-Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2018 Chardonnay Seven Springs Vineyard has pretty aromas of elderflower, poached pears, quince and bakers yeast. In the mouth, it’s medium -bodied and satiny in texture, fleshing out to broad, savory tones and finishing long and fresh. Fruit for this cuvée comes from both the younger and older vines.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
(Evening Land) Salem Wine Co. Chardonnay Eola-Amity Hills 2018 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 pre-arrival special
Erin Brooks-Wine Advocate 92 points “The 2018 Salem Wine Co. Chardonnay has a nose of elderflower, pear, baker’s yeast and lemongrass with touches of beeswax. The palate is medium-bodied with broad, savory flavors, bright freshness and a long, flavorful finish. This is made from younger vines a few hundred feet away from the older vines in Seven Springs vineyard, planted with a slight south-facing exposition.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Evening Land Seven Springs Vineyard Pinot Noir, Eola-Amity Hills 2018 750ML ($39.95) $33 pre-arrival special
Erin Brooks-Wine Advocate 91 points “Pale to medium ruby-purple, the 2018 Pinot Noir Seven Springs Estate has gently broody scents of blackberries, earth, dried violets and herbs. The light to medium-bodied palate is soft, bright and spicy with earthy undertones and fresh acidic lift, finishing delicate and long.”
(Evening Land) Salem Wine Co. Pinot Noir Eola-Amity Hills 2018 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 pre-arrival special
Erin Brooks-Wine Advocate 91 points “The 2018 Salem Wine Co. Pinot Noir has a nose of ripe red and black berry jam with touches of powered sugar and spices. The medium-bodied palate has ripe fruits with a grainy, fresh frame and long finish.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Collector’s Corner:
First Offer:
2019 Markus Molitor
There may be no more ambitious winemaker in the world than Markus Molitor. His determination and drive to make the best possible wines has made him a towering figure in the Mosel, with an impressive, modern winery and holdings in almost every important vineyard in the region. The critical praise backs his strive for perfection— Markus Molitor’s wines are some of the most celebrated in the world. Whether white capsule (dry), green capsule (off-dry), or gold capsule (fruity to nobly sweet), he manages to produce wines that captivate and astound.
Thank you from the team at Vinopolis!
Be well & drink well.