Mid-Week Newsletter 09/15/21

In This Newsletter:


Mid-Week – New Arrivals


Royally Delicious:
New Batch of Single Vineyard Tokaji Arriving This Fall


 
2019 Cristom Drop: Incoming

Trending


Santa Duc:
Saintly Southern Rhone



Calabretta Spotlight:
Pied Franco 



FX Pichler Spotlight 


Arriving Late September
From Jorge Ordonez
Featuring Selections from Muga!



Rosé Feature


Soldera: Arriving Friday


Bucklin: Field Blend Barons of Sonoma


Collector’s Corner:
Get Schisty with Clos Erasmus

 

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10AM – 6PM Daily

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Mid-Week – New Arrivals
 

France – Southern

Domaine de Cebene ‘Ex Arena’ IGP Pays d’Oc 2016 750ML ($27.95) $21.90 special
Jeb Dunnuck 92 points
 “A wine that always seems to deliver incredible bang for the buck, the 2016 Ex Arena is a tank-aged blend of 90% Grenache and 10% Mourvèdre. It has gorgeous bouquet of saddle leather, black cherries, garrigue, lavender, and pepper. Complex, elegant, yet pure southern France gorgeousness, with good freshness and a great finish, it over-delivers and will keep for 4-6 years.”
 
This is the only listing in the USA today!

Domaine Gilles Troullier Tandem, Cotes du Roussillon 2015 750ML ($34.95) $28 special
Wine Advocate 92-94 points
 “Another terrific looking barrel sample is the 2015 Cotes Catalanes Tandem. Based on Grenache and Syrah brought up in demi-muids, it’s loaded with notions of blueberries, plums, violets and spring flowers. Full-bodied, structured and tannic, yet with thrilling purity, give bottles 2-3 years and enjoy through 2027.” JD
 
This is the only listing in the USA today!


Italy

La Gerla Rosso di Montalcino Tuscany 2019 750ML ($31.95) $26.50 special
Case-6 La Gerla Rosso di Montalcino Tuscany 2019 750ML ($189.95) $149 special (that’s only $24.83/bottle!)
Eric Guido-Vinous 91 points
 “The 2019 Rosso di Montalcino makes itself known with a captivating display of dusty rose, fresh strawberries and hints of confectionary spice. This silky and feminine effort impresses further with a savory mix of red and hints of blue fruit, as salty mineral tones create a more tactile feel toward the close. A note of sour cherry pits lingers under an air of purple-tinged flowers as it tapers off lightly structured. The 2019 would benefit from a short stay in the cellar, and it should emerge as an incredibly pretty Rosso.”
 
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Ca’ del Baio ‘Asili’ Barbaresco DOCG 2018 750ML ($44.95) $39 special
Case-6 Ca’ del Baio ‘Asili’ Barbaresco DOCG 2018 750ML ($269.95) $222 special (that’s only $37/bottle!)
Wine Spectator 94 points
 “There’s a sappy, old-vine character to this red, featuring intense cherry, strawberry and floral aromas and flavors. Accents of wild herbs, iron and tobacco add depth as this plays out on the lingering finish, showing excellent balance and length. Best from 2024 through 2038. 833 cases made, 420 cases imported. — BS”
 
This is the only listing in the USA today!


Spain

Vinos do Macizo Ourensan Peixes ‘Peixe da Estrada’ Tinto, Ourense 2016 750ML ($29.95) $24 special
 
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!



Arriving Friday: 

Poderi Aldo Conterno Bussia Barolo DOCG 2016 750ML ($99.95) $85 pre-arrival special, 36 bottles available 
Wine Spectator 95 points
 “A fresh and elegant red, showing aromas and flavors of cut hay, strawberry, cherry, iron, eucalyptus and tar. Lithe and intense, with a long, savory aftertaste. Best from 2024 through 2045. BS”
 
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Royally Delicious:

New Batch of Single Vineyard Tokaji Arriving This Fall



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

Have you ever had something that tasted so good you thought there was a secret ingredient? Marzio Galeotto, an Italian merchant in the 1460’s widely proclaimed that Tokaji contained flecks of actual gold. This sparked centuries of obsession with the region, with an inexhaustible list of historical figures who proclaimed their love for the wines including Thomas Jefferson, Catherine the Great, Tolstoy and the Sun King himself, Louis the 14th, who made it the court wine of Versailles. 

We were so impressed by the two single vineyard offerings from Royal Tokaji Co that we signed on for their entire portfolio lineup. Royal Tokaji Company is a producer credited with reintroducing Tokai to the world of fine wine after the fall of the Iron Curtain. These are benchmark wines that you should try at least once in your lifetime, and have at least one in the cellar. Across the single vineyards you see a huge diversity in soil types and elevation featuring Loess, Red Clay, and various Volcanic compositions. 

Arriving ETA October 

Royal Tokaji ‘Betsek’ Single Vineyard Aszu 6 Puttonyos Tokaj 2017 500ML ($149.95) $119 pre-arrival special, 12 500ml-bottles available 
Neal Martin-Vinous 96 points
 “The 2017 Tokaji Betsek 6-Puttonyos comes from Royal Tokaji’s largest vineyard site, a crescent-shaped parcel on black volcanic soils. This has a very harmonious, Sauternes-like bouquet with orange blossom and wild peach aromas percolating through with time. The palate is poised and focused, delivering vibrant energy, a touch of spiciness on the back palate and outstanding length. This could turn out to be their finest single-vineyard release. Brilliant.”
 
This is the only listing in the USA today!

Royal Tokaji ‘Mezes Maly’ Aszu 6 Puttonyos Tokaj 2017 500ML ($179.95) $149 pre-arrival special, 12 500ml-bottles available
Neal Martin-Vinous 95 points
 “The 2017 Tokaji Mézes Mály 6-Puttonyos, which comes from vines on loess soils, has a beautiful nose. Very pure but not intense, it offers scents of honeysuckle, clementine, lemon sherbet and a touch of black currant leaf, all showing wonderful definition. The palate is is very well balanced with impressive weight, but like the nose, there is a subtlety, a lightness of touch from start to finish. Elegant and poised, this is a very classy effort from one of Tokaji’s most renowned sites and it will age with class.”
 
This is the only listing in the USA today!

Royal Tokaji ‘Nyulaszo’ Aszu 6 Puttonyos Tokaj 2017 500ML ($149.95) $105 pre-arrival special, 12 500ml-bottles available
Neal Martin-Vinous 94 points
 “The 2017 Tokaji Nyulászó 6-Puttonyos comes from vines on brown volcanic soils overlooking the town of Mád. This has a lighter and perhaps less complex bouquet compared to Royal Tokaji’s other cuvées, though it develops nicely in the glass to reveal lemon verbena, dried mango and wild peachy scents. The palate is much more open, its impressive weight and concentration effortlessly counterbalanced by a fine line of acidity. This is very harmonious and poised, and almost Sauternes-like toward the finish. Give it 5–8 years in the cellar to allow those aromas to open.”
 
This is the only listing in the USA today!

Royal Tokaji ‘Szt. Tamas’ Aszu 6 Puttonyos Tokaj 2017 500ML ($149.95), $112 special 12 500ml-bottles available
Neal Martin-Vinous 95 points
 “The 2017 Tokaji Szt. Tamás 6-Puttonyos comes from red-clay topsoils in the commune of Mád. This is more backward compared to the Mézes Mály, and very much more citrus-driven, featuring lemon peel, orange zest and crushed stone aromas; the Aszú element is more discreet. The fresh, vibrant palate is well balanced and harmonious, offering a fine bead of acidity and candied orange peel toward the finish. Edgier than Royal Tokaji’s other 2017s, and perhaps spicier on the finish, this will be fascinating to observe mature in bottle.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

In Stock Now from Royal Tokaji:

Royal Tokaji ‘Betsek’ Single Vineyard Aszu 6 Puttonyos Tokaj 2016 500ML ($149.95) $119 special, 7 500ml-bottles in stock now
Neal Martin-Vinous 96 points
 “The 2016 Betsek First Growth Tokaji Aszú 6 Puttonyos contains the most residual sugar this vintage, at 185.8g/L. The clean, pure bouquet offers dried honey, a light adhesive note, lanolin and candle wax, very complex and mercurial in the glass. The elegant, well-balanced palate features apricot, quince, marmalade and a touch of ginger. What I adore is the manner in which this Betsek builds in the mouth and fans out like a great Tokaji ought to. Another outstanding single-vineyard offering from the Royal Tokaji Company.”

Royal Tokaji ‘Nyulaszo’ Aszu 6 Puttonyos Tokaj 2016 500ML ($149.95), $119 special, 4 500ml-bottles in stock now 
Neal Martin-Vinous 95 points
 “The 2016 Nyulászó First Growth Tokaji Aszú 6 Puttonyos, which delivers 180g/L residual sugar, has a deep, honeyed, slightly more introverted bouquet compared to the Ste. Tamás. It gradually reveals scents of manuka honey, orange pith and quince jus, yet it clearly deserves several years to really open. The palate is very well balanced, harmonious and brimming with tension. Pears, Seville orange marmalade, hints of mandarin and fresh figs vie for attention. This is a powerful, intense Tokaji, but razor-sharp, delivering real precision and “bite” toward the finish. Outstanding.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!
 
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2019 Cristom Single Vineyards

Cristom is one of the hallowed names in Oregon. They’ve been a top name since their inception in 1993 and make reference point wines from their beautiful estate vineyards in the Eola-Amity Hills. Much of the credit for their success goes to their vineyards—located just below Bethel Heights and Temperance Hill, truly Cristom is one of the Grand Cru sites of Oregon. The rest of the credit goes to Steve Doerner, their winemaker since the beginning, who made a name for Calera in 1980s California before moving to Oregon and becoming a local legend.

The 2019’s are credited with being a “Classically Oregonian” vintage with much cooler weather than in the previous hot streak of vintages we saw from 2014-2018. This vintage is made even more precious when you consider that Cristom has since announced that no 2020 Pinot Noir will be made after the year’s wildfires ruined the crop. Unfortunately this is a more common story than you think, so you might want to stock up now before prices begin to reflect that.  

These are wines that have powerful personalities allied to a Burgundian sense of proportion and savor. Doerner loves to use a lot of whole clusters in fermentations and so the wines always have a grip and earthiness that grounds their deep fruit and rich textures. 2019 is being described as a “Return to normal” with minimal heat waves, dry days and breezy nights. This is also this third year in the estate’s process of biodynamic conversion, making the 2019 Cristom’s even more Burgundian inspired!

Arriving ETA Late September

Cristom Eileen Vineyard Pinot Noir Eola-Amity Hills 2019 375ML ($41.95) $36 pre-arrival special, 24 half-bottles available
Cristom Eileen Vineyard Pinot Noir Eola-Amity Hills 2019 750ML ($79.95) $69 pre-arrival special, 12 bottles available
Cristom Eileen Vineyard Pinot Noir Eola-Amity Hills 2019 1.5L ($169.95) $149 pre-arrival special, 6 magnums available
James Suckling 96 points
 “Dried-strawberry, rose-stem and wet-earth aromas follow through to a full body with firm, intense tannins and a flavorful finish. This is structured and very tight at the moment. Give it time to open and show its true self. Try after 2023.”
 
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Cristom Jessie Vineyard Pinot Noir Eola-Amity Hills 2019 375ML ($41.95) $36 pre-arrival special, 24 half-bottles available
Cristom Jessie Vineyard Pinot Noir Eola-Amity Hills 2019 750ML ($79.95) $69 pre-arrival special, 12 bottles available
Cristom Jessie Vineyard Pinot Noir Eola-Amity Hills 2019 1.5L ($169.95) 149 pre-arrival special, 6 magnums available
James Suckling 96 points
 “The aromas are pretty amazing here with dried flowers, pure fruit, sweet berries and dark strawberries. It’s full-bodied and very layered with ripe, velvety tannins and a long, flavorful finish. Richness with focus. Very drinkable now, but better after 2023.”
 
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Cristom Louise Vineyard Pinot Noir Eola-Amity Hills 2019 375ML ($41.95) $36 pre-arrival special, 24 bottles available
Cristom Louise Vineyard Pinot Noir Eola-Amity Hills 2019 750ML ($79.95) $69 pre-arrival special, 12 bottles available
Cristom Louise Vineyard Pinot Noir Eola-Amity Hills 2019 1.5L ($169.95) $149 pre-arrival special, 6 bottles available
James Suckling 95 points
 “I like the richness and freshness on the nose with strawberry and floral aromas and some rose-hip tea. It’s medium-to full-bodied with round tannins and a creamy-textured finish. Lightly chewy, showing the structure and seriousness of the wine. Drink after 2023.”
 
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Cristom Marjorie Vineyard Pinot Noir Eola-Amity Hills 2019 375ML ($41.95) $36 pre-arrival special, 24 bottles available
Cristom Marjorie Vineyard Pinot Noir Eola-Amity Hills 2019 750ML ($79.95) $69 pre-arrival special, 12 bottles available
Cristom Marjorie Vineyard Pinot Noir Eola-Amity Hills 2019 1.5L ($169.95) $149 pre-arrival special, 6 bottles available
James Suckling 95 points
 “There’s purity of fruit to this pinot with strawberry and floral aromas that follow through to a medium body with ultra-fine, firm tannins and pretty, tangy acidity. Lemon undertones. Needs time to open. Better after 2024.”
 
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Shop our back vintages of Cristom available on our web store!

 

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Trending

 
For those looking to experience what the ‘Luxury’ category of Napa Valley Cabernet tastes like but aren’t interested in forking over the typical toll, half bottles provide a great hack. They’re perfect for weeknights, when quality is often valued over quantity. In another Vinopolis coup, we secured insane pricing on half bottles from two of Napa Valley’s top producers.

La Jota’s roots in Howell Mountain date back to 1898, but their modern reincarnation began in 1982. Over the ensuing 40+ years, La Jota has secured its reputation as one of Howell Mountain’s benchmark producers. The vineyard benefits from their perch above Napa Valley’s stubborn fog line, resulting in wines that are not only more structured and fresh, but also (paradoxically) more generous. There’s a reason why many Napa enthusiasts remain so enchanted by the region’s hillside vineyards. So take advantage of these attractively priced half bottles, and spice up your weeknight drinking.

La Jota Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Howell Mountain 2014 375ML ($59.95) $39 special, 36+ half-bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 96+ points
 “Checking in as a blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Cabernet Franc, and the rest Merlot, Petit Verdot and Malbec, the 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon is another gorgeous wine from winemaker Chris Carpenter. Brought up in 90% new French oak, this classic, tight, focused beauty boasts sensational notes of crème de cassis, graphite, toasty oak, and ample minerality. These all flow to a full-bodied, beautifully concentrated, layered, tannic 2014 that has remarkable purity, impeccable balance, and a great, great finish. It’s classic, old-school, yet awesome Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon that needs 3-4 years of bottle age and will keep for 2-3 decades.”
Robert Parker 95 points “The 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon is 75.5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Cabernet Franc and the rest Merlot, Petit Verdot and Malbec, aged in 89% new French oak. The wine displays the great fruit that is possible from these two sites owned by the Jacksons. It has an opaque purple color, a big, sweet kiss of crème de cassis and blackberry with a touch of lead pencil shavings, vanilla and incense. It is full-bodied and dense, with moderately high tannins but beautiful sweetness and fruit. Drink it over the next 25-30 years.”
Wine Enthusiast 95 points “Cellar Selection. Blended with small percentages of 12% Cabernet Franc, 5% Merlot and 5% Petit Verdot, and then aged in 90% new French oak for 19 months, this stellar effort offers reduced oak, bark, toast and clove aromas and flavors alongside sizable, structured tannin and hearty ripeness. Black currant and chocolate dust a layer of tobacco. Enjoy best 2024 through 2034. -Virginie Boone”

Much like Cabernet Franc, Freisa is often passed over in favor of its child grape: Nebbiolo. Once widely planted throughout Piedmonte, Freisa is now only found in in 1000 hectares across the region. With that relative scarcity in mind, Kye is a unique find. Sourced from a single vineyard in Barolo at 1100 feet above sea level, Kye delivers rustic aromas of turned loam, hyssop and seco tobacco leaf. Flavor profile is similar to Nebbiolo but with more emphasis on botanical and spice elements.

In addition to a lip smacking fruit component evocative of fresh cranberry and Bing cherries, there is an electrifying Szechuan pepper note that makes each taste mesmerizing. Acid and tannins are medium plus and perfectly harmonized after a handful of years in the bottle. There is plenty of room for Kye to continue evolving with more bottle aging, but provides immediate reward for the impatient. Given how this wine is sturdy without being overpowering, Kye is ready for a plethora of cuisine. Lebanese, Chinese or even pizza would be at home with this Northern Italian gem. 

G.D. Vajra Freisa ‘Kye’ Langhe Rosso 2015 750ML ($39.95) $33 special, 26 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni 92+ points
 “The 2015 Langhe Freisa Kyé is incredibly finessed. Once huge and bombastic, the Kyé has developed into a much more refined wine in recent vintages. The 2015 Kyé is dark and mysterious, not to mention quite closed in on itself. I won’t be surprised if there is more to this wine. Time will tell.”
 
 
This is the only listing in the USA today!
 

Johan Meyer is one of the biggest names in the “New School” of South African wine. Working exclusively with old vines in Swartland, he strives to be as low intervention as possible. That philosophy is present from grape to glass as it were; with irrigation and chemical input not practiced in the vineyard and the finished wines receiving no filtration, fining and minimal sulfur. The Mother Rock White blend is sourced from a number of high elevation sites and is primarily composed of Chenin Blanc followed by Viognier and Grenache Blanc.

Full of texture and incredibly full bodied for a white, there’s a juxtaposition between yellow and tropical fruit (starfruit, yellow apple and papaya) and botanicals like Thai basil and sage that makes it equal parts refreshing and compelling. The microscopic inclusion of Semillion and Hárslevelű add distinctive beeswax, quince and lime flavor that make this perfect with spicier fare. As you can expect after almost a year of not exporting, South African wine has become a rarity in the United States market with what remains being in highly limited quantities. 

Mother Rock White Swartland 2019 750ML ($29.95) $26 special, 5 bottles in stock now
Importer note
 “Grapes are sourced from 5 different sites in the Swartland. The Chenin Blanc is planted on granite, koffieklip, and schist soils, the Viognier and the Harslevelu are planted on decomposed granite and clay, the Grenche Blanc is planted on decomposed granite and Malmesbury shale, and the Sémillon on granite and sand. Vineyards are farmed organically with minimal intervention. Vines are mostly dry farmed bush vines. All grapes were handpicked in the early morning during cooler weather, placed into lug boxes (smaller quantities mean reduced compaction and damage to the fruit) and then moved to cellar. 50% of the wine was fermented in concrete eggs at cooler temperature and the rest was in older 300L barrels. 15% of grapes were whole bunch fermented and spent 4 weeks on the skins. The wine ages for 10 months on the gross lees, after which it is blended and bottled without fining or filtering. The nose is beeswax, honeycomb and a touch of roasted lime and struck match. White flowers on the edges, from some of the more aromatic varietals in the blend. The palate is just stonking. Brilliant tropical fruits with a juicy, fleshy, more-ish texture. It’s a wine you hold in your mouth a bit longer – it just feels and tastes amazing, with just enough citrus to tie it all together. So incredibly drinkable and delicious, this is one to buy a lot of, as it’s just so enjoyable to drink. That wee touch of skin contact provides a depth and texture that pulls it up to another level.”     

This is the only listing in the USA today!
 
 
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Santa Duc:
Saintly Southern Rhone

Gigondas’ is the finest source of value for profound wine in the Rhone. The top estates deliver wines that compete with the very best wines in Chateauneuf-du-Pape, but at prices that are a fraction of their competition. Our feature today, Santa Duc, is one of the very best in the region and our pricing on most of their wines is the best in the country—a killer combination.

Santa Duc is perhaps the only estate who can match Saint Cosme as the “Most Important Winery in Gigondas.”  Owners of some of the finest vineyards in the Southern Rhone, Santa Duc is a legendary producer that more than lives up to their reputation. Unlike Saint Cosme, though, their top wines aren’t yet commanding triple-digit pricing.  In fact, their most expensive Gigondas bottling is still under $50—and is an absolute stunner.

Santa Duc manages to make Gigondas taste aristocratic—taming the wild mountain personality of the Dentelles into something that is at once both intensely powerful and also nuanced and complex. This is attributable to their exceptionally old vines, with their “Youngest” being over 50 years old!

These are wines that manage the neat trick of being absolutely delicious now while having a track record of aging gracefully.  Recent notes for older bottles like the ’95 and ’98 Hautes Garrigues are glowing, yet the wines can be on your table tonight and impress.  In the last decade or so, the winery has extended its holdings into Chateauneuf and those wines are as brilliant as you’d expect, as well.

In stock now: 

Domaine Santa Duc Chateauneuf-du-Pape ‘Le Pied De Baud’ Rhone 2015 750ML ($69.95) $45 special, 26 bottles in stock now
Wine Advocate 94 points
 “The 2015 Chateauneuf du Pape Le Pied de Baud, a blend of 80% Grenache, 15% Mourvèdre and 5% Cinsault, offers compelling scents of rose petals and raspberries on the nose. While not as richly textural as some of the other cuvées, it’s still a lovely, hauntingly fragrant example of Châteauneuf du Pape.”
James Suckling 94 points “This has an array of darker berry and plum fruits with a brambly, lightly spicy edge, too. The palate delivers impeccably fresh, lithe and detailed tannin texture, as well as blue fruit flavors. Juicy and energetic. Long finish. Try from 2020.”
 
This is the only listing in the USA today!

Domaine Santa Duc Chateauneuf-du-Pape ‘Les Saintes Vierges’ Rouge Rhone 2015 750ML ($69.95) $51.90 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Wine Advocate 95 points
 “The 2015 Chateauneuf du Pape Les Saintes Vierges is the most flattering of Santa Duc’s current releases, offering lushness and generosity on the palate, notes of cherries and licorice, creamy-supple tannins and a mouthwatering finish. It’s a blend of Grenache, Mourvèdre and Counoise.”
 
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Domaine Santa Duc Gigondas Clos Derriere Vieille Rhone 2015 750ML ($49.95) $38 special, 31 bottles in stock now
James Suckling 94 points
 “Mostly (80%) grenache with 10% each of mourvèdre and syrah. There’s a very impressive, sheer and crunchy texture to the palate and a peppery edge. Tannins drive a long, powerful finish. Best from 2020.”
Jeb Dunnuck 92-94 points “The 2015 Gigondas Clos Derrière Vieille (80% Grenache and 10% each of Syrah and Mourvèdre) comes from the wall vineyard located just beside the village. It offers terrific notes of dusty earth, dried cherries and herbes de Provence, medium to full-bodied richness, silky tannin and a beautiful texture. Like the other 2015s, it’s going to drink nicely for 10-15 years.”
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 92-93 points “Deep ruby. Ripe raspberry, cherry liqueur, violet and a hint of garrigue on the deeply perfumed nose. Fleshy, appealingly sweet and expansive in the mouth, offering plush red and blue fruit flavors and a subtle note of candied licorice that builds in the glass. Becomes more energetic with air and finishes on a sweet red berry note, showing powerful thrust, harmonious tannins and impressive persistence.”
 
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Domaine Santa Duc Gigondas Les Hautes Garrigues Rhone 2015 750ML ($59.95) $44 special, 16 bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 94-97 points
 “Lastly, the 2015 Gigondas Hautes Garrigues (60/40 Grenache and Mourvèdre) is a beauty boasting killer notes of dark fruits, crushed rocks, pepper, garrigue and scorched earth. This seriously good 2015 has building richness, a stacked mid-palate and a huge finish, all suggesting short-term cellaring will be your friend. It will keep for two decades of more.”
James Suckling 93 points “Mourvèdre steps up to one third of the blend while the balance is grenache. This has an attractive array of ripe dark cherry and blue plum fruits. The tannins are framed up with a deeper, wider shape. Try from 2020, this needs time.”
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 93-95 points “Full ruby. Smoke-accented aromas of red and dark berry liqueur, incense, spicecake and candied flowers show outstanding energy and clarity. Sweet, seamless and broad in the mouth, offering concentrated black raspberry, boysenberry and lavender pastille flavors that fan out steadily with air. Rich but nervy and precise as well, carrying no excess fat. Velvety tannins frame an extremely long, incisive finish that leaves behind notes of sweet dark berries and candied flowers.”
Wine Advocate 92-95 points “I loved the 2015 Gigondas Hautes Garrigues and this flagship cuvee is made from 65% Grenache and 35% Mourvèdre that’s brought up in foudre. It’s a full-bodied, concentrated, yet brilliantly proportioned Gigondas that has classy notes of blackberries, plums, garrigue and leather. It’s going to need 3-5 years of cellaring.”
 
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Domaine Santa Duc Gigondas Aux Lieux-Dits Rhone 2015 750ML ($39.95) $29 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
James Suckling 93 points
 “A fluid, fleshy and deeply structured wine with dark cherry and blackberry fruit flavors amid sturdy yet supple tannins. Good weight and presence. Drink now.”
Wine Spectator 93 points “Ripe but fresh, with a slightly high pitch to the mix of damson plum, cherry and rooibos tea aromas and flavors, backed by singed vanilla, tobacco and licorice root notes that give this a darker shade through the finish. Best from 2020 through 2030. 2,400 cases made, 700 cases imported.”
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 90-92 points “Ruby-red. Ripe red fruit and floral pastille aromas show very good detail and an energizing suggestion of white pepper. Palate-caressing raspberry and bitter cherry flavors blend depth and energy with a smooth hand and show no rough edges. Fine-grained tannins lend shape to a very long, red-fruit-dominated finish that features a subtle touch of star anise.”
 
This is the only listing in the USA today!
 
Check out our full selection of wines from the Rhone today
 
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Calabretta Spotlight: Pied Franco 

Etna has become the newest hottest region in Sicily, and for good reason.  Jancis Robinson even called it “the Burgundy of the Mediterranean,” which is an apt description of most of the new wines coming off of the high altitude slopes of Sicily’s volcano.  There is another traditional style of wine made on Etna as well, though, one that tends to have a foot in Barolo rather than in Burgundy, and its best practitioner is Calabretta. With Burgundy and Barolo prices climbing through the roof, now is a great time to explore those regions that seem to be lost in time.

Calabretta was founded in 1900 and for the majority of the time since then only sold wine in barrel or in demijohns to private customers (who would bottle the wine themselves) or to local restaurants.  Since the beginning, the farming has been organic, without chemical pesticides or herbicides—dated for a majority of the life of the winery and suddenly in vogue now.  In 1997, the third and fourth generation of the family decided that the future lay in bottling estate wines and releasing them under a family label.

The one thing that didn’t change when Calabretta started bottling was a commitment to old-school vinification and aging.  Macerations of up to 60 days are common as is long aging in botti (often up to 6 years for the high end wine).  The wines are powerful and structured but, unlike wines from lower altitudes, maintain a freshness and vibrancy to them. The Pied Franco is a stunning example of both the indigenous reds of Sicily, and the incomparable terroir of Mt. Etna. The wine is derived from ungrafted, centenary Nerello Mascalese & Cappuccio vines and planted in the remnants of an old lava flow.

Primary aromas of bay leaf, fennel, sandalwood and ‘A’a basalt that tantalize from the first smell, evocative of Barolo but with a persistent basaltic character. The flavors are just as compelling, exhibiting a range of black and red fruits. Grilled strawberry, Amarena cherries & black raspberry dance on the palate, backed by kirsch and anise. Light bodied, dry, pervasive and fine grained tannins integrate beautifully with high acid and a pervasive finish of cloves, sarsaparilla and potpourri. There’s a pervasive minerality that speaks to the lava the grapes are planted in, with an almost savory character on the finish. Pairing options are multifaceted, this would be perfect with a BBQ but could also with something more intimate like a homemade seafood pasta.  

In stock now: 

Calabretta ‘Piede Franco’ Ungrafted Rosso Sicily 2015 750ML ($54.95) $39 special, 22 bottles in stock now
Ian D’agata-Vinous 91+ points
 “Bright dark red. Camphor and herbs complicate red cherry and berries on the nose. Dense and youthfully chewy with brooding flavors of red fruit and spicy herbs. Finishes long and savory with a tactile mouthfeel. This is deeper than the regular (not made from ungrafted vines) Rosso, but is also currently less well delineated. (12.5% alcohol)”
 
This is the only listing in the USA today!

 

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FX Pichler Spotlight 

 
Does Austria come to mind when you think of exceptional wine from the Old World? You couldn’t be faulted for doing so, with the labeling scandal of 1985 still echoing when discussing Austrian wine. In spite of being the birthplace of Biodynamic farming and the strictest farming standards in the European Union, the wines of Austria remain critically undervalued. 

There is no better example of this than that of FX Pichler, who’s largely considered the best producer in the country. Take your pick between the multigenerational team of family winemakers, picture perfect estate and exceptionally old vines and you’ll see their reputation evidenced in spades. Expect a rich and full bodied expression of both Grüner and Riesling that delivers both rocky minerality and phenolic ripeness in the form of summer peach, honeycrisp apple and melon.      

In Stock Now:

F.X. Pichler Loibner Loibenberg Riesling Smaragd Wachau 2015 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 22 bottles in stock now
Wine Advocate 92 points
 “Warm and intense on the nose, ripe and concentrated white fruit aromas open the 2015 Riesling Smaragd Loibner Loibenberg, which is pure and citric on the nose and very inviting. Pure, fresh and piquant on the palate, this is rather coolish and stunningly lean and pure Loibenberg compared to the corresponding Grüner Veltliner. Lucas believes that Riesling has eventually stopped the ripening process during the vegetation period. This 2015 has grip and tension and a rather coolish character.”
David Schildknecht-Vinous 92 points “Offering a predictably riper impression than the corresponding Steinertal, this delivers peach, Persian melon and banana, with a garland of rose petals that could have come from Gewürztraminer. Yet for all of its ripeness and the expansiveness of a glycerol-rich palate, it manages to convey a lovely sense of lift, while hints of peach kernel and grapefruit zest lend welcome, stimulating counterpoint to the impressively sustained finish.”
Wine Spectator 92 points “A concentrated, peach-flavored white, with accents of honey, anise and apple exuding ripeness, while citrusy acidity reigns everything in. Stretches out lazily on the finish. Drink now through 2020.”
 
This is the only listing in the USA today!

F.X. Pichler Loibner Steinertal Riesling Smaragd Wachau 2015 750ML ($69.95) $59 special, 24 bottles in stock now
David Schildknecht–Vinous 93-94 points 
“White peach and grapefruit aromas mingle with honeysuckle on an enticing nose, and the three reunite on a glossy palate lusciously ripe and loaded with liquid floral perfume but simultaneously exuberantly and invigoratingly bright. The finish offers prolonged counterpoint of fruity, floral and stony elements. This bottling displays a combination of penetration, refinement and balancing acidity that is rare for an Austrian Riesling of its vintage.”
 
This is the only listing in the USA today!

F.X. Pichler Loibner Steinertal Riesling Smaragd Wachau 2013 750ML ($69.95) $49 special, 9 bottles in stock now
David Schildknecht–Vinous 95 points
 “Salt, white pepper and Szechuan peppercorn mouthwateringly and invigoratingly inflect luscious, juicy white peach, pineapple and lime. A sleek and refined texture contributes to this bottling’s overall sense of elegance. With a similar ringing clarity to that of the Oberhäuser, but with greater depth and complexity as befits its steep and stony origins, this projects liquid perfume of a bittersweet, iris-like sort; smoky black tea; crushed stone; and diverse peppercorns, finishing with phenomenal persistence. Interestingly and perhaps not coincidentally, at just 13% it is one of the alcoholically lightest wines of the present collection.”
 
This is the only listing in the USA today!

Shop our full listing of Austrian Wines on our web store now!
 

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Arriving Late September
From Jorge Ordonez
Featuring Selections from Muga!


 

El Cep Gelida Blanc de Blancs Brut Nature Reserva Cava Catalonia 2016 750ML ($24.95) $18 pre-arrival special
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 91 points
 “Limpid yellow. Ripe citrus and orchard fruit, floral and succulent herb qualities on the pungent nose. Dry and energetic in the mouth, showing good depth to the bitter pear skin and lemon pith flavors. Takes a spicy turn on the nervy finish, which features repeating citrus fruit character and a hint of tarragon.”
Jeb Dunnuck 91 points “I love the 2016 Gelida Blanc de Blancs Brut Nature Reserva. This Champagne look-alike offers a great nose of sautéed orchard fruits, toasted spices, brioche, and white flowers. These all carry to a medium-bodied sparkler with a lively, nicely textured mouthfeel, bright acidity and a clean, dry finish that keeps you coming back to the glass. Enjoy this beauty any time over the coming 3 to 5 years.”
Importer note “Completely biodynamic viticulture. The grapes are sourced from estate vineyards. Macabeo from Can Simón, Xarel-lo from Can Prats, Parellada from Can Castany, and Chardonnay from Can Miquel de les Planes. Completely organic viticulture, certified by the NOP.”
 
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!

Bodegas Muga Conde de Haro Brut Rose Cava Rioja 2016 750ML ($34.95) $29 pre-arrival special
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 92 points
 “Pale onion skin. Perfumed red berry, orange zest and floral aromas are sharply focused and take on a smoky mineral nuance with air. Taut and juicy in the mouth, offering fresh strawberry and tangerine flavors that unfurl through the midpalate. Finishes on a repeating red fruit note, showing very good, focused persistence.”
Luis Gutierrez-Wine Advocate 91 points “The sparkling rosé now carries the vintage on the label (thanks for listening!), and I tasted the 2016 Conde de Haro Brut Rosé, produced with Garnacha grapes from Najerilla/Cordovín. It fermented at low temperature to keep the primary aromas of the variety and was kept with lees for four months, hoping the wine would put on some more weight before putting it to referment in bottle, where it was kept with lees for 36 months, always keeping it at low temperature, which produces smaller bubbles. It’s pale and subtle and has more yeasty/toasty/leesy notes than the white, having had more time in contact with the lees in bottle. It’s elegant, and within its young profile, it has some complexity and reveals nuances of red fruit and spices. The palate is terribly tasty, dry and with some chalky feelings; it’s clean, long and persistent, really very good, the finest I have tasted to date. 25,560 bottles produced. The next vintage of this wine will be 2018. In 2017, with the short crop, they used the grapes for the still rosé.”
 
This is the only listing in the USA today!

Bodegas Muga ‘Flor de Muja’ Blanco Rioja DOCa 2018 750ML ($49.95) $39 pre-arrival special
40% Viura, 30% Garnacha Blanca, 30% Maturana
Luis Gutierrez-Wine Advocate 94 points
 “Like they did with the Rosado a few years ago, there is now a top-of-the-range white. The 2018 Flor de Muga Blanco was produced with a blend of 40% Viura from red limestone and clay soils, 30% Garnacha Blanca from classical clay and limestone and 30% Maturana Blanca planted on sandy soils. They selected the free run must after a short maceration in the press and fermented it in small oak vats (there’s no stainless steel at Muga) at low temperature. The wine was then kept with fine lees in concrete eggs for three months, during which time they expected it to fix aromas and provide some volume, and then it was aged in lightly toasted new French oak barrels for six months. The wine has been kept in bottle for 18 months.”
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 93 points “Light green-tinged yellow. Dried citrus and orchard fruit scents, along with building floral, mineral, vanilla and fennel qualities. Chewy, dry and energetic on the palate, offering sappy Meyer lemon, nectarine, chamomile and quinine flavors and a hint of waxiness. Finishes impressively long and tight, leaving orange zest and floral notes behind. Fermented in new French oak barrels and aged in concrete eggs.”
 
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Bodegas Avancia Nobleza Old Vines Godello Valdeorras 2019 750ML ($69.95) $59 pre-arrival special
No review for the 2019 available. 2020 review provided for reference.
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 94 points
 “Pale gold. Intensely perfumed pear nectar and orange zest qualities on the nose; honeysuckle and mineral notes add lift. Juicy, penetrating and sharply focused on the palate, offering concentrated citrus and orchard fruit and floral flavors along with suggestions of salty minerals and bitter quinine. Deftly melds depth and vivacity and finishes extremely long and briny, with outstanding clarity and repeating florality.”
 
This is the only listing in the USA today!

El Cep ‘Ot’ Blanc de Terrier Penedes 2020 750ML ($14.95) $11.90 pre-arrival special
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 90 points
 “Pale yellow. Fresh pear and honeydew melon on the fragrant nose, along with a subtle floral nuance. Silky and open-knit, showing good depth and a touch of waxiness to the ripe orchard and citrus fruit flavors. The melon note comes back on a smooth, persistent finish that features a refreshing bitter orange zest flourish.”
 
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Alvear 3 Miradas Ladera de Benavente Montilla-Moriles 2019 750ML ($27.95) $21.90 pre-arrival special
 
This is the only listing in the USA today!

Alvear 3 Miradas Vino de Pueblo Montilla-Moriles 2019 750ML ($21.95) $18 pre-arrival special
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 91 points
 “Light gold. Vibrant, mineral-tinged Meyer lemon and quince aromas are complemented by suggestions of honeysuckle, toasted nuts and green cardamom. Taut and energetic in the mouth, offering juicy, mineral-laced citrus and orchard fruit flavors that unfurl slowly and take on a smoky aspect on the back half. Shows very good focus and minerally cut on the impressively long, salty finish, which leaves behind notes of chamomile and fennel.”
 
This is the only listing in the USA today!

Bodegas Avancia Mencia Valdeorras 2019 750ML ($34.95) $29 pre-arrival special
 
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!

Bodegas Nekeas ‘El Chaparral de Vega Sindoa’ Navarra 2018 750ML ($17.95) $14 pre-arrival special
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 92 points
 “Deep garnet. Mineral-tinged cherry, raspberry, vanilla and exotic spice aromas show excellent clarity and take on a smoky nuance with air. Appealingly sweet and expansive on the palate, offering juicy red fruit, rose pastille and spicecake flavors energized by a minerally topnote. Shows impressive energy and florality on the persistent finish, which is given shape by polished, even tannins.”

Alvear Palacio Quemado La Raya Vino de la Tierra de Extremadura Spain 2016 750ML ($34.95) $29 pre-arrival special
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 94 points
  “Dark garnet Intensely perfumed, mineral-driven red and blue fruit, potpourri and incense scents show excellent clarity and spicy lift. Palate-staining raspberry, boysenberry, spicecake and floral pastille flavors deepen steadily through the back half. Manages to come off powerful as well as lithe and shows no rough edges. Finishes smooth and extremely long, featuring sneaky tannins and lingering red fruit, mineral and floral notes.”
 
This is the only listing in the USA today!

Alvear Palacio Quemado La Zarcita Vino de la Tierra de Extremadura Spain 2018 750ML ($21.95) $18 pre-arrival special
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 91 points 
“Opaque magenta. Red and blue fruit, floral and spice qualities on the expressive nose. Supple and appealingly sweet, offering spice-accented raspberry and boysenberry flavors and a musky hint of licorice. Finishes long and juicy, with repeating florality and gentle tannins adding final grip.”
 
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Alvear Palacio Quemado Los Acilates Vino de la Tierra de Extremadura 2016 750ML ($27.95) $24 pre-arrival special
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 93 points
 “Deep, shimmering ruby. A pungent, mineral-accented bouquet evokes fresh cherry, boysenberry and exotic spices, along with a suave floral overtone. Sappy and expansive on the palate, offering appealingly sweet red and blue fruit and floral pastille flavors and a suggestion of baking spices. The impressively long, sweet, floral-tinged finish is shaped by fine-grained tannins that fold smoothly into the wine’s vibrant fruit.”
Luis Gutierrez-Wine Advocate 92 points “The elegant, floral and perfumed 2016 Los Acilates reflected a cooler year with a longer growing season, which resulted in higher yields that achieved perfect ripeness. The aromas and flavors are precise and pure, and there is a sense of harmony that I like very much. The spectrum of aromas is about red fruit and flowers with just a pinch of spices. The palate is very elegant, with fine-grained tannins and a dry, chalky texture that I often associate with limestone soils. Delicious! 7,000 bottles produced.”
 
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!

 
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Rosé Feature
 
Looking for a rosé that drinks like a light red? Easily the most full bodied rosé I’ve tried in a long while, this is a deliciously rustic rosado made from another nearly extinct grape called Prieto Picudo. Traditionally farmed in a pruning style native to the village called rastra, which involves the grapes growing without any trellising just above the ground. This proximity reduces the amount of water lost during the incredibly dry growing season and helps the grapes ripen due to heat radiating from the ground. The vines used in this rosado are over 80 years old and grown at almost 3,000 feet above sea level at the base of the Cantabric Mountains. Grilled strawberry, cherry juice, copal resin and fennel flower make this a perfect accompaniment for BBQ, Smoked fish or middle eastern cuisine.
 
Raul Perez ‘Los Arrotos del Pendon’ Rosado Leon 2020 750ML ($24.95) $19.90 special, 21 bottles available
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 92 points 
“Light, amber-hued red. Pungent cherry, raspberry and floral aromas take on spice and smoky mineral nuances with air. Shows very good heft and chewy texture, offering sappy red berry, bitter cherry and spicecake flavors and a hint of licorice. As much a light red wine as a rosé. Finishes long and floral, with the spicy note adding final cut. – Josh Raynolds”
Skurnik Wines note “100% Prieto Picudo. Very old vines in stony clay at high altitude (800m ASL). Macerated for two days on the skins before bleeding off. Fermented with indigenous yeasts in stainless steel. Raised on the fine lees for four months in tank. Bottled without fining or filtration.”
 
Have you ever heard of the varietal called Grolleau? Named after the black color the grapes develop as they ripen, it was the most popular rose in France for nearly a century both domestically and abroad. It was so famous as a style that it was codified in the original James Bond novel Goldfinger, with Bond preferring it over Dom Perignon!
 
Grolleau is still used to make rosé today, usually in conjunction with its gray skinned mutation, Grolleau Gris. We can’t get enough of Mourat’s iteration, which is grown just 12 miles away from the Atlantic Ocean on the far western part of the Loire Valley called “Fiefs Vendeens”. This appellation is special not only for its historic patronage by Cardinal Richelieu, but also for having one of the highest percentages of certified organic and biodynamic vineyards in all of France. 
 
The appellation receives almost as much sunlight as Provence, with the temperature being mitigated by the ocean breeze from the Atlantic. These factors marry together to feature both ripe fruit notes like fresh melon, strawberries and peaches in addition to a lifted, peppery finish. The soils of the appellation are primarily quartzite with schist, creating a nuanced, mineral underpinning. Mourat is lucky enough to have a unique site that is predominantly purple schist, which further emphasizes a mineral driven spine. The Ovni is a rare offering in that it is entirely composed of Grolleau Gris, in stark contrast to the rest of the appellation which are field blends. With an average vine age of 25 years old, this is a multidimensional rose that is applicable pretty much anytime, anywhere.
 
J. Mourat O.V.N.I. Rose IGP Val de Loire750ML ($21.95) $17 special, 30 bottles in stock now
100% Grolleau Gris
 
Shop our full selection of rosé wines on our web store now!
 
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Soldera: Arriving Friday

Easily the rarest Sangiovese in the world, Soldera has become world famous for its uncompromising standards, spectacular quality, and a novel’s worth of intrigue. Coming from the spectacular 2016 vintage, this is one of the last bottlings personally attended to by the legendary Gianfranco Soldera before his unexpected passing in 2019. 

These are cult wines based on the personality of Gianfranco, and absolute treasures when you consider how few bottles are ever made every vintage. In previous years, these were labeled as Brunello Di Montalcino and would sell out without any “Pre-season” reviews by wine press. This momentum continued even after Soldera’s explosive falling out with the Consorzio di Brunello di Montalcino in 2012. 

Case Basse di Gianfranco Soldera Toscana IGT 2016 750ML ($799.95) $649 pre-arrival special, 2 bottles available 
 
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Bucklin: Field Blend Barons of Sonoma 

Bucklin’s wines come from the historic vineyard Old Hill Ranch, originally planted in 1851. This is a field blend that is a snapshot of American wine history. Coming right after the Gold Rush and the beginning of the phylloxera blight this is a field blend selected for resilience above all else. Primarily made from Zinfandel with a smattering of Grenache, Alicante Bouchet, Petite Sirah, Carignan and Mourvèdre this is only a fraction of the 30 varietals planted at the time. Farmed organically since the inception of the farm and dry farmed. 

Their Ancient is gorgeously saturated in color and leaves a spectrum of purple and red in the Marangoni flow, throwing out aromas of lavender, 5 spice, dried cherries and terra cotta in a multilayered spectacle. On the palate the old vine influence is evident, with a full body serving spiced marionberries, Italian plum, and blueberry compote by the bucketful interspersed with juniper berries, bay leaf, and sage. There’s a beautiful minerality that is reminiscent of hot sandy loam and granite. The acid and tannins are stratospheric on this wine, which speaks to a long life in the bottle but also temper the alcohol level to the point you’d expect it to be 13-14% ABV.  Get one if you can resist opening it, and a few if you can’t.

Also offered by Bucklin, the stewards of Old Hill Ranch for over three generations are wines made from their younger parcels of vines. Otto’s Grenache is composed of a hillside planting done in 2010 over decomposed volcanic tuff and basalt. Incredibly structured and burly on first pour, Otto throws out strawberry jam, kirsch cherry and fresh raspberry, but with a subtle note of dried hibiscus, daffodil and honeysuckle. There’s a tremendous minerality throughout the wine, exhibited by hot pumice in the aromas and a savory basaltic note on the finish. Otto’s Grenache is something to cellar for at least five years after the vintage, or to be had by the glass over the course of a week.

The Bambino was planted in 1998 and is generally around 75% Zinfandel co-fermented with Alicante Bouchet and Petite Sirah. The exact blend is vintage dependent as a result of Bucklin’s commitment to entirely estate grown fruit. Bambino exhibits an old world character that would have me thinking this was imported from Puglia. There’s a fruit character that sets it aside from its centarian counterparts on the ranch, but sharing in the layers of purity, spice, minerality and old world rusticity.

In Stock Now:

Bucklin Old Hill Ranch Ancient Field Blend Sonoma Valley 2018 ($49.95) $37.70 special 
Distributor Note
 “60% Zinfandel,15% Grenache, 10% Alicante Bouschet, 5% Petite Sirah and 10% “other” (20+ other varieties, in fact) from a twelve-acre block of vines that were planted in 1885. The vineyard is a mosaic of over two dozen grape varieties; the grapes are fermented together. Fermented with native yeast and aged 22 months in French oak, 40% of which is new. Bottled unfiltered.”
Winery Note “Our “Ancient Field Blend” comes from the original vines that were planted on Old Hill Ranch in the 1880’s.  Approximately 65% Zinfandel with the remaining varieties co harvested and fermented together.  Includes Grenache, Alicante Bouschet, Petite Sirah, Grand Noir, Syrah, Carignan, and Mourvedre to name a few. 12 Acres, 30 grape varieties, 1 wine.”
Dry farmed.

Bucklin Old Hill Ranch Otto’s Grenache Sonoma Valley 2019 ($49.95) $37.70 special
Wine Spectator 91 Points
 “Lively and briary, with expressive raspberry, smoky tarragon and cracked pepper flavors that pick up speed toward well-groomed tannins. Drink now through 2028. 569 cases made.”
 
This is the only listing in the USA today!

Bucklin Old Hill Ranch Bambino Zinfandel Sonoma Valley2017 ($29.95) $24 special 
Winery Note
 “Otto’s Grenache was planted to honor our Step Father Otto Teller.  Opinionated and cantankerous, Otto believed grapevines were too coddled and needed great stress to produce the best wines.  This field blend was planted in 2010 on a modestly steep hillside that faces the hot setting sun. The soils are shallow, between two to three feet deep, and they are underlain with a thick impermeable volcanic tuff made from ejected rock and ash that is compacted and cemented into rock.  If these growing conditions aren’t challenging enough, the vines are also dry farmed.  Average yields are low primarily because the berries are so small and these grapes produce very intense and colorful wine.”
Dry farmed.
 
This is the only listing in the USA today!
 
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Collector’s Corner:

Get Schisty with Clos Erasmus

Priorat or Tarraconensis as it was once called has cultivated winegrapes since the Roman Empire first occupied the area, but it was Clos Erasmus and their colleagues who transformed Priorat from sleepy backwater to a global wine powerhouse in the 1980’s and 90’s. Farming biodynamically since their inception Clos Erasmus has maintained very low production throughout the stratospheric rise of the region, and rarely exceeds 140 cases per year from their 25 acres in production. Limited does not begin to describe the scarcity of these wines, with these bottles being the crown jewel of wine lists around the world. 

In Stock Now:

Clos i Terrasses Clos Erasmus Priorat DOCa 2018 750ML ($249.95) $219 special, 10 bottles in stock now
Clos i Terrasses Clos Erasmus Priorat DOCa 2018 1.5L ($699.95) $579 special, only 1 magnum in stock now
Wine Advocate Luis Gutierrez 99 points
 “A blend of 85% Garnacha and 15% Syrah, 2018 Clos Erasmus comes from a year with good yields and enough rain for good ripeness of the grapes. The vines are now 36 years old on average, and the grapes fermented after a cold soak in 1,000-, 1,500- and 2,000-liter oak vats with indigenous yeasts and a five-week maceration. It matured in new and second use Burgundian 228-liter oak barrels, with around 40% new oak. This is a very elegant and perfumed vintage for Clos Erasmus, a wine that reveals a bright ruby color and a exotic nose that mixes flowers with tons of sweet spices. It is still very young and influenced by the élevage in oak, with something herbal and fresh, reminiscent of pine needles. The palate is textured and velvety, lace and dust, with fine-grained tannins that bring back the memories of the slate rocks; it is pure and detailed and has terrible balance, focus, inner strength, filigree and subdued minerality. I’d wait a little bit for the oak to get integrated before pulling the cork. It has the ingredients, stuffing and balance to develop nicely in bottle for a long time. 

Clos i Terrasses Clos Erasmus ‘Laurel’ Priorat DOCa 2018 750ML ($79.95) $59 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Clos i Terrasses Clos Erasmus ‘Laurel’ Priorat DOCa 2018 1.5L ($179.95) $149 special, 4 bottles in stock now 
Wine Advocate 96 points
 “The second wine here and one that is easier to drink, the 2018 Laurel was produced with fruit from the younger vines, a couple of barrels that are declassified from Clos Erasmus and the Cabernet Sauvignon, more or less 70% Garnacha and 15% each Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon. It has good ripeness and still a pH of 3.3. It fermented mostly in oak vats and 2,000-liter concrete vats with indigenous yeasts and matured for 18 months in 20,000-liter oak and concrete vats, second use barriques and some clay amphorae. It’s a bright translucent ruby color and has a perfumed and delicate nose with notes of orange peel and flowers; this is the most elegant and ethereal vintage of Laurel as far as I can remember, with red rather than black fruit and a kind of cranberry quality. The palate is medium-bodied, textured and fluid, with subtleness, balance and very fine tannins. The oak is perfectly integrated, and the wine is easy to drink, approachable and very pleasurable right now. It’s a fresh vintage with energy and finesse, quite different from previous vintages. I love it. 

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