In This Newsletter:
Featured New Arrival
Kumeu River
New Week – New Arrivals
New Review from Grapelive
For Produttori del Barbaresco
Dr. Burklin-Wolf
The Pfinest in the Pfalz
New Review from Grapelive
For Produttori del Barbaresco
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $24.99
Dr. Burklin-Wolf Estate Riesling Trocken, Pfalz 2017 750ML ($21.95) $16 pre-arrival special
James Suckling 92 points “Very fine, peachy nose with hints of herbs and fresh almonds. Ripe yet racy with a long, clean, mineral finish. From biodynamically grown grapes. Drink now.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Dr. Burklin-Wolf Wachenheimer Altenburg P.C. (Premer Cru) Riesling Trocken, Pfalz 2017 750ML ($39.95) $24 pre-arrival special
David Schildknecht-Vinous 92 points “Piquant notes of apple and citrus pith mingle on the nose with crushed stone and struck flint, suggesting this interpretation of Altenburg will likely reflect the austerity and rigor of its gravelly soil and coolest of all Bürklin-Wolf microclimates. On top of that, I suspect this wine is suffering the most from its recent bottling of any Bürklin’s vintage 2017 P.C.’s. Even so, the site’s character is irrepressible. The firm palate musters more than enough primary juiciness to guarantee refreshment, and its piquant, pithy combination of hickory nut, lemon seed and stone carries into a mouthwateringly saline, formidably gripping, practically mouth-shaking finish. Give this time! (It already responds well to a good shaking.)”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Can’t wait? We carry some of the best producers in the Pfalz in house, including Müller-Catoir, Eugen Müller and Von Winning!
New Wine Advocate Reviews
For Emrich-Schonleber
Despite the fame and renown of the estate inside Germany, Emrich-Schonleber flies under the radar in the USA. These are spectacular wines—every bit the equal of Dönnhoff, their main competition in the Nahe. This is a venerable estate (they go back 250 years) working at peak form as the current generation steps into the vanguard at the winery.
Working with two awe-inspiring sites, the Halenberg and the Frühlingsplätzchen (both of which are unusually steep for the Nahe—they have slopes of up to 70%), the wines are piercingly mineral, dramatically complex, and a must have for your cellar. Emrich-Schonleber is best known for top-end GG’s, but don’t sleep on the Pradikat wines.
“The 2020 Rieslings from Emrich-Schönleber are at a consistently high level” –Stephan Reinhardt, Wine Advocate
In Stock Now
Weingut Emrich-Schonleber Monzinger Riesling Kabinett, Nahe 2020 750ML ($37.95) $31.90 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 93 points ´”Predominantly from a late-ripening plot of the Niederberg, the 2020 Monzinger Riesling Kabinett is clear, bright, fresh and piquant on the flinty, attractively reductive and finely fruity nose. Piquant and fresh on the palate, this is a bright, lush and slatey, crystalline Riesling with a stimulatingly salty and piquant finish. Absolutely fabulous. 9% alcohol. Tasted at the domain in July 2021.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $34
Weingut Emrich-Schonleber ‘Mineral’ Riesling Trocken, Nahe 2020 750ML ($36.95) $29 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-6 Weingut Emrich-Schonleber ‘Mineral’ Riesling Trocken, Nahe 2020 750ML ($219.95) $166 special (that’s only $27.67/bottle and the lowest listed price in the USA today!)
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 91+ points “From younger vines in the Niederberg, Schönleber’s 2020 Riesling trocken Mineral is bright and pure yet also intense and mineral on the characterful and flinty/stony nose. Pure and enormously fresh, this is a lean but tensioned and quite racy dry Riesling with grip and tension on the finish. This is no Riesling for hedonists but for Riesling aficionados. The wine is precise like a razor and fresh like an oyster should be. Good finish with intense fruit aromas and lemon freshness. 12.5% alcohol. Tasted at the domain in July 2021.”
The average price is $33
Weingut Emrich-Schonleber Halgans Riesling Trocken, Nahe 2020 750ML ($49.95) $41.90 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 94 points “The 2020 Monzingen Riesling trocken Halgans is deep, intense and complex on the nose that shows bright and intense lemon fruit intermingled with flinty stone aromas and notes of blue slate splitters. Pure and tensioned on the palate, this is a full-bodied, very complex and structured dry Riesling from younger vines in the Halenberg. Almost 50% of the grapes come from the steepest part of the cru, and this probably gives the power and intensity on the finish. This is a spectacular wine with a certain generosity but a merciless terroir expression on the finish. Needs time, though. 12.5% alcohol. Tasted at the domain in July 2021.”
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Arriving January 2022
Weingut Emrich-Schonleber Monzinger Halenberg Riesling Auslese, Nahe 2020 750ML ($79.95) $66 pre-arrival special
Weingut Emrich-Schonleber Monzinger Halenberg Riesling Auslese, Nahe 2020 375ML ($44.95) $38 pre-arrival special
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 94 points “The 2020 Halenberg Auslese is intensely aromatic, precise and fresh on the nose that reveals tropical (passion) fruit aromas intertwined with flinty notes. Lush and generous but precise and elegant on the palate, this is a very dangerous (digestible) Auslese that is so generous but also so precise and crystalline that it is impossible to spit out. A gorgeous Halenberg. Tasted at the domain in July 2021.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $74
Weingut Emrich-Schonleber Fruhtau Riesling Trocken, Nahe 2020 750ML ($44.95) $38 pre-arrival special
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2020 Monzingen Riesling trocken Frühtau comes from younger vines in the Frühlingsplätzchen and opens with a clear, fine and reductive bouquet with coolish stony and herbal notes. Crystalline and very elegant on the palate, this is a tight, straight and still challenging, very mineral dry Riesling that will benefit from longer bottle aging. The finish is long and enormously salty. A wine to keep. 12.5% alcohol. Tasted at the domain in July 2021.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Weingut Emrich-Schonleber Monzinger Halenberg Riesling Spatlese, Nahe 2020 750ML ($49.95) $41.90 pre-arrival special
Case-6 Weingut Emrich-Schonleber Monzinger Halenberg Riesling Spatlese, Nahe 2020 750ML ($299.95) $238 pre-arrival special (that’s only $39.67/bottle!)
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 94 points “The 2020 Halenberg Riesling Spätlese is wild and spicy on the clear, fresh and elegant as well as aromatic nose. Full-bodied, piquant and juicy on the palate, this is a gorgeously aromatic Halenberg that needs years to open up and gain finesse. The Halenberg is richer, more sumptuous and sweeter than the Frühlingsplätzchen but still reductive on the finish. 8.5% alcohol. Tasted at the domain in July 2021.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Bonus Review – Arriving ETA Mid-October
Selbach-Oster Pinot Blanc Reserve, Mosel 2019 750ML ($39.95) $33 pre-arrival special
Stephan Reinhardt Wine Advocate 93+ points “Selbach’s 2019 Pinot Blanc Réserve from a west-facing plot in the Schlossberg in Zeltingen is only the second vintage but already a little masterpiece. The nose is clear, fresh and intense, and its pure, soil-driven spiciness and precision of fruit represents the cooler slate terroir more than any ambitious, Burgundy-copying winemaking. After one and a half years on the lees in three-year-old barriques, very fine sur lie aromas intertwine with the fruit after a little while to add further complexity. Silky, round and highly elegant on the palate, this is a full-bodied, rich and perfectly balanced yet seriously structured Pinot Blanc with an enamel texture, fine tannins and the crystalline and salty acidity grip of a great Mosel terroir. It is highly stimulating on the salty, mouth-watering and aromatic finish. This is a pleasant Pinot Blanc all along the line. Total production: 1,487 bottles. Do not enjoy this excellent wine too cold: 14 degrees Celsius (or 57 degrees Fahrenheit) would be ideal. Tasted in September 2021.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
We’re offering 17 new wines from Selbach-Oster arriving in mid-October. Shop the full offer on our web store!
Featured New Arrival
Kumeu River
New Week – New Arrivals
New Review from Grapelive
For Produttori del Barbaresco
The Pfinest in the Pfalz
New Stephan Reinhart Reviews for Emrich-Schonleber
La Fortuna’s Landmark Brunello Riserva
Featured New Arrival
Kumeu River
Kumeu River Estate Chardonnay, Kumeu 2020 750ML ($37.95) $31.90 special
James Suckling 95 points “Intense and complex chardonnay with lemons and peaches, as well as pastry and fresh cream. The palate is stacked with ripe-peach flavor and fresher, citrus tones and has complex, layered texture. Classy wine. Drink now. Screw cap.”
Rebecca Gibb MW-Vinous 91 points “There’s a sense of calm to the 2020 Chardonnay Estate, a blend of six different sites. It is mellow, offering a plump cushion of Chardonnay goodness on the midpalate but not becoming heavy nor opulent, its youthful edge and fresh acidity tying it together into a precise finish. It offers classic subtle Chardonnay characters of Golden Delicious apple, white nectarine and a mere whiff of oak-derived smokiness. Well constructed, satisfying and elegant.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Kumeu River Coddington Chardonnay, Kumeu 2020 750ML ($49.95) $45 special
James Suckling 97 points “This is a wine of real purity and elegance with fresh sliced peaches and lemons, as well as some light pastry notes. The palate is fine, unwaveringly long and pure with enlivening acidity through the finish. Stunning. Drink or hold. Screw cap.”
Rebecca Gibb MW-Vinous 93 points “Another typically weighty expression from Kumeu’s Coddington vineyard, the 2020 Chardonnay Coddington fills the midpalate with its density and breadth. It is a wine of clarity, the oak-derived smoky, nutty notes providing a savory layer over nectarine and lemon meringue. However, this is not a wine that needs multiple flavor descriptors; it’s a wine of texture. Expect the smooth, mellow mouthfeel to be followed up with lovely precision and sinew on the lengthy, smoky finish.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $55.99
Kumeu River Hunting Hill Chardonnay, Kumeu 2020 750ML ($59.95) $51.90 special
James Suckling 96 points “A complex chardonnay with yellow citrus, as well as lemon-curd and creamy tones. Light hazelnut, too. The palate has such all-encompassing, fresh peachy flavors and builds impressively through the long, full finish. Drink or hold. Screw cap.”
Rebecca Gibb MW-Vinous 95 points “Possibly the most complete Hunting Hill Chardonnay I’ve tasted in youth, the 2020 provides a harmonious, melt-in-your-mouth impression. It has breadth and concentration but retains a sense of elegance on the midpalate before finishing with precision and length. Yes, there’s a little bit of flint character too, but then Hunting Hill is known to be reductive; give it time. Like Forrest Gump, it runs through a finish line and keeps on going effortlessly. There’s no box of chocolates here, though; it’s all white nectarine, citrus, white flowers and a touch of smoked nuts.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $69.99
Kumeu River Maté’s Vineyard Chardonnay, Kumeu 2020 750ML ($79.95) $69 special
James Suckling 100 points “This is such impressive chardonnay in terms of power and complexity, delivering so much with such poise. Aromas of lemons and peaches intersect with lightly spicy oak and brioche on the nose. The palate drops mouth-filling flavors of peach and lemon and winds tight, before exploding long on the finish with a long, nutty afterglow. Perfect chardonnay. Drink over the next decade or more. Screw cap.”
Rebecca Gibb MW-Vinous 97 points “The Chardonnay Mate’s Vineyard, appears to have gone on a yoga retreat in 2020: not only is its usual powerful self, but it’s remarkably zen too, exuding a sense of calmness. It is full-bodied, round and offers fruit ripeness, but the propensity of the Mendoza clone to hen-and-chicks means that it retains a sense of nerve, with powerful citrusy acidity providing the needle that pulls a tight thread through this wine’s core. The 2020 is still far too young, and it is aromatically shy, but even in its full mature glory, it won’t exhibit aromatic fireworks – nor should it. This is Chardonnay. Okay, you might detect lemon and limes, white flowers and just-ripe white nectarine, with 30% new oak imbuing an additional layer of savoriness, but when it comes down to it, this wine’s trump card is in its shape, texture and persistence.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $76.99
Kumeu River Rays Road Chardonnay, Kumeu 2020 750ML ($49.95) $39 special
James Suckling 95 points “This is a fuller style from Hawke’s Bay and quite different from the rest of the Kumeu range of chardonnays. Bold, ripe peaches dominate the nose and palate. The texture is impressively silky and smooth. Very fleshy and complete. Impressive. Drink or hold.”
New Weekend – New Arrivals
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
France
Arlaux Grande Cuvee Premier Cru Brut NV 750ML ($49.95) $39 special
Wine Enthusiast 90 points “From a vineyard with records going back over 1,000 years, this nonvintage cuvée is balanced and rounded, with harmony between the apple and tangy fruits and a touch of toastiness from bottle aging. It is ready to drink. -Roger Voss”
Importer notes “Arlaux is a small family-run champagne house producing only 5,000 cases a year located in a small village on the Petit Montagne de Reims called Vrigny. Arlaux has been producing champagne since 1826 but the Arlaux-Marchal family have lived in Vrigny since the 13th century. Exclusively 1er Cru Champagne with a minimum of 4 years aging. They only use their own grapes from 20 to 100 year old vines which are hand-picked in order to select only the very best. All Arlaux cuvées are 100% Premier Cru and 100% Tête de Cuvée (meaning that they only use the juice of the 1st press).”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Arnaud Lambert Chateau de Breze Cremant de Loire Brut Rose NV 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 special
Winery note “100% Cabernet Franc.”
Becky Wasserman note “Vine Age: Planted in 1981. Terroir: Lower part of the Clos du Midi, silty sand soil on 1 meter of soft Turonian limestone bedrock. Viticulture: Organic (certified). Vinification: Indigenous yeast fermentation, traditional Champagne method. Aged for 24 months.”
Domaine Matrot Bourgogne Chardonnay, Burgundy 2019 750ML ($37.95) $26 special
“Bottled in July, the 2019 Bourgogne Blanc has a well-defined bouquet of light nutty notes, the 20% new oak nicely integrated. The palate is well balanced with a lightly honeyed opening, touches of ginger and dried apricot and a spicy finish. Good substance for a Bourgogne Blanc.” –Neal Martin, Vinous
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Domaine La Garrigue Vacqueyras, Rhone 2018 750ML ($26.95) $24 special
Wine Enthusiast 93 points “Editor’s Choice. Sun-kissed raspberries and rose petals perfume this bright, penetrating blend of Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre and Cinsault. It’s a surprising contrast to this producer’s equally delicious but significantly brawnier 2017 bottling. Full bodied but freshly composed, it highlights crisp red-plum and cherry flavors lifted by a mineral undertow and brisk acidity. This lovely wine is ready now but should hold well through 2026. -Anna Lee C. Iijima”
Italy – Piedmont
Cantina del Pino Barbaresco DOCG, Piedmont 2017 750ML ($49.95) $46 special
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 93 points “The Cantina del Pino 2017 Barbaresco reveals a beautifully light garnet color in the glass. The wine shows extra intensity in terms of its aromas with wild rose, lilac and cherry. That combination of floral and fruity doesn’t completely define the bouquet because you also get a good dose of crushed mineral, smoke and spice. Like most of the wines I tasted from this vintage, this release of 13,000 bottles shows extra power and tightness in terms of its tannins. Give it a little extra bottle time.”
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Castello di Verduno Barbaresco DOCG, Piedmont 2018 750ML ($59.95) $47 special
Antonio Galloni 92 points “The 2018 Barbaresco from Castello di Verduno is a very pretty, gracious wine with effusive aromatics, bright fruit and mid-weight structure. In other words, classic Barbaresco. Time in the glass brings out hints of sweet tobacco, mint, cedar and dried red cherry. The 2018 is such a gorgeous wine. Drink it over the next decade.”
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Italy – Tuscany
Petrolo is one of the leading proponents of the Val d’Arno di Sopra DOC, a small area in Tuscany that only recently received the DOC designation. Frankly, the designation should have happened a while ago—these are distinctive wines made from unique soils and the quality across the board is very high. Petrolo’s wines provide a wonderful introduction to this undervalued corner of Tuscany due to both their quality and to their forward-thinking.
Petrolo Torrione Valdarno di Sopra, Tuscany 2018 750ML ($37.95) $28 special
Case-6 Petrolo Torrione Valdarno di Sopra, Tuscany 2018 750ML ($219.95) $159 special (that’s only $26.50/bottle!)
Case-12 Petrolo Torrione Valdarno di Sopra, Tuscany 2018 750ML ($419.95) $299 special (that’s only $24.92/bottle!)
James Suckling 92 points “A refined and silky rendition of this wine with pretty berry, citrus and light chocolate. Medium body. Chilled and delicious. Drink now.”
Cavalli Tenuta degli Dei Toscana IGT Tuscany 2016 750ML ($59.95) $46 special
Case-12 Cavalli Tenuta degli Dei Toscana IGT Tuscany 2016 750ML ($719) $499 special (that’s only $41.58/bottle and the lowest listed price in the USA today!)
Case-6 Cavalli Tenuta degli Dei Toscana IGT Tuscany 2016 750ML ($359) $259 special (that’s only $43.17/bottle!)
James Suckling 97 points “What an amazing nose with pure herbs coming to the fore, soon to be joined by fresh brambleberries, blueberries, violets, heather, lavender, pine needles and forest floor. Full body, chewy but incredibly fine tannins, and tons of floral undertones. Elegant and resoundingly beautiful. Delicious now, but better in 2023.”
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 96 points “The 2016 Tenuta Degli Dei is gorgeous. Power, structure and finesse come together in a wine that impresses for its superb balance and sheer class. Medium in body, but with tremendous fruit density and persistence, the 2016 has so much to offer. Sweet floral notes develop on the finish, adding perfume, lift and sensuality. I would cellar it for at least a few years to allow its full aromatic presence to emerge.”
It’s been nearly a quarter of century since Fabio Chiarelotto purchased the Montepeloso estate, and although the vineyard was already well-known within Tuscany, Chiarelotto knew the site had the potential for greatness. The 2018 A Quo includes the usual suspects –Cabernet Sauvignon, Montepulciano, and Sangiovese, but also more obscure varieties like Marselan and Alicante Bouschet. Thanks in part to this fascinating mix of local and imported varieties, the wine offers far more complexity and intrigue than you expect from a sub-$20/bottle (by the six-pack), and seems destined to become a customer favorite.
Montepeloso A Quo Toscana IGT, Tuscany 2018 750ML ($29.95) $20.90 special
Case-6 Montepeloso A Quo Toscana IGT, Tuscany 2018 750ML ($179.95) $119 special (that’s only $19.83/bottle!)
Monica Larner – Wine Advocate 92 points “A blend of 35% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Montepulciano, 15% Sangiovese, 15% Marselan and 5% Alicante Bouschet, the Montepeloso 2018 A Quo is the entry-level expression that unfolds to a rich and sultry display of dark fruit, spice and a touch of charred meat. The blend is quite eccentric, but the basic elements are all there, such as the structure from the Cabernet Sauvignon, the wild character of the Montepulciano and the perfumed intensity of the other grapes. This is a 35,000-bottle production and a terrific value buy.”
Antonio Galloni – Vinous 92 points “The 2018 A Quo is rich and explosive in the glass, with superb presence and tons of intensity, but all in the gracious style of the year. Crushed flowers, sweet red berry fruit and spice are front and center. In 2018, A Quo is supremely delicious. Best of all, it remains a tremendous value in artisan wine.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Pojer e Sandri Nosiola Vigneti delle Dolomiti IGT, Trentino-Alto Adige 2019 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 special
Eric Guido-Vinous 92 points “Zesty lemon peel, lime, stone dust, granny smith and a hint of nutty richness defines the bouquet on the 2019 Nosiola. It’s energetic and spicy, tugging at the palate with zesty acids, minerals and notes of tart apple with building inner florals. Citrus-driven tension creates a sweet and sour effect throughout the lip-smacking finale, like grapefruit with a sprinkle of white sugar, backed by a hint of smoke. This is really very pretty and a benchmark expression of Nosiola.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Austria
Vom Boden Vineyard Project – Gober & Freinbichler Blaufrankisch, Burgenland 2020 750ML ($19.95) $18 special
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Spain
Gelida Blanc de Blancs Brut Nature Reserva Cava Catalonia 2016 750ML ($24.95) $18 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!
The average price nationally is $21
Bodegas Muga Conde de Haro Brut Rose Cava Rioja 2016 750ML ($34.95) $29 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!
Do Ferreiro Albarino, Rias Baixas 2018 1.5L ($69.95) $59 special
Luis Gutierrez-Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2018 Albariño was very expressive after some time in the glass. This is their house wine, produced with grapes from the 11 hectares and up to 164 plots they work in the Salnés up to 22 kilometers from their winery in Meaño. The wine is very elegant in 2018; it’s vibrant and tasty, with the granite sapidity and the salty finish. I tasted a bottle from the end of June 2019, when the wine had had longer time sur lie, and the year in bottle does it good. 70,000 bottles produced.”
Josh Raynolds – Vinous 92 points “Green-tinged straw. Vibrant, mineral-tinged citrus and orchard fruit qualities on the nose, along with a suave floral topnote. Shows fine definition and mineral lift to the juicy pear and Meyer lemon flavors, which take on a hint of tarragon with air. The floral and mineral notes dominate a long, focused finish that features a suggestion of bitter quinine.”
This is the only listing in the USA today for the magnum!
Bodegas Muga ‘Flor de Muja’ Blanco Rioja DOCa 2018 750ML ($49.95) $39 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.”
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El Cep ‘Ot’ Blanc de Terrier Penedes 2020 750ML ($14.95) $11.90 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!
Bodegas Avancia Mencia, Valdeorras 2019 750ML ($34.95) $29 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 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.”
Featured New Arrival
Kumeu River
Kumeu River Estate Chardonnay, Kumeu 2020 750ML ($37.95) $31.90 special
James Suckling 95 points “Intense and complex chardonnay with lemons and peaches, as well as pastry and fresh cream. The palate is stacked with ripe-peach flavor and fresher, citrus tones and has complex, layered texture. Classy wine. Drink now. Screw cap.”
Rebecca Gibb MW-Vinous 91 points “There’s a sense of calm to the 2020 Chardonnay Estate, a blend of six different sites. It is mellow, offering a plump cushion of Chardonnay goodness on the midpalate but not becoming heavy nor opulent, its youthful edge and fresh acidity tying it together into a precise finish. It offers classic subtle Chardonnay characters of Golden Delicious apple, white nectarine and a mere whiff of oak-derived smokiness. Well constructed, satisfying and elegant.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Kumeu River Coddington Chardonnay, Kumeu 2020 750ML ($49.95) $45 special
James Suckling 97 points “This is a wine of real purity and elegance with fresh sliced peaches and lemons, as well as some light pastry notes. The palate is fine, unwaveringly long and pure with enlivening acidity through the finish. Stunning. Drink or hold. Screw cap.”
Rebecca Gibb MW-Vinous 93 points “Another typically weighty expression from Kumeu’s Coddington vineyard, the 2020 Chardonnay Coddington fills the midpalate with its density and breadth. It is a wine of clarity, the oak-derived smoky, nutty notes providing a savory layer over nectarine and lemon meringue. However, this is not a wine that needs multiple flavor descriptors; it’s a wine of texture. Expect the smooth, mellow mouthfeel to be followed up with lovely precision and sinew on the lengthy, smoky finish.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $55.99
Kumeu River Hunting Hill Chardonnay, Kumeu 2020 750ML ($59.95) $51.90 special
James Suckling 96 points “A complex chardonnay with yellow citrus, as well as lemon-curd and creamy tones. Light hazelnut, too. The palate has such all-encompassing, fresh peachy flavors and builds impressively through the long, full finish. Drink or hold. Screw cap.”
Rebecca Gibb MW-Vinous 95 points “Possibly the most complete Hunting Hill Chardonnay I’ve tasted in youth, the 2020 provides a harmonious, melt-in-your-mouth impression. It has breadth and concentration but retains a sense of elegance on the midpalate before finishing with precision and length. Yes, there’s a little bit of flint character too, but then Hunting Hill is known to be reductive; give it time. Like Forrest Gump, it runs through a finish line and keeps on going effortlessly. There’s no box of chocolates here, though; it’s all white nectarine, citrus, white flowers and a touch of smoked nuts.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $69.99
Kumeu River Maté’s Vineyard Chardonnay, Kumeu 2020 750ML ($79.95) $69 special
James Suckling 100 points “This is such impressive chardonnay in terms of power and complexity, delivering so much with such poise. Aromas of lemons and peaches intersect with lightly spicy oak and brioche on the nose. The palate drops mouth-filling flavors of peach and lemon and winds tight, before exploding long on the finish with a long, nutty afterglow. Perfect chardonnay. Drink over the next decade or more. Screw cap.”
Rebecca Gibb MW-Vinous 97 points “The Chardonnay Mate’s Vineyard, appears to have gone on a yoga retreat in 2020: not only is its usual powerful self, but it’s remarkably zen too, exuding a sense of calmness. It is full-bodied, round and offers fruit ripeness, but the propensity of the Mendoza clone to hen-and-chicks means that it retains a sense of nerve, with powerful citrusy acidity providing the needle that pulls a tight thread through this wine’s core. The 2020 is still far too young, and it is aromatically shy, but even in its full mature glory, it won’t exhibit aromatic fireworks – nor should it. This is Chardonnay. Okay, you might detect lemon and limes, white flowers and just-ripe white nectarine, with 30% new oak imbuing an additional layer of savoriness, but when it comes down to it, this wine’s trump card is in its shape, texture and persistence.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $76.99
Kumeu River Rays Road Chardonnay, Kumeu 2020 750ML ($49.95) $39 special
James Suckling 95 points “This is a fuller style from Hawke’s Bay and quite different from the rest of the Kumeu range of chardonnays. Bold, ripe peaches dominate the nose and palate. The texture is impressively silky and smooth. Very fleshy and complete. Impressive. Drink or hold.”
New Weekend – New Arrivals
Oregon
Beaux Freres The Beaux Freres Vineyard Pinot Noir, Ribbon Ridge 2019 750ML ($109.95) $91.90 special
James Suckling 95 points “A perfumed nose of cherry, wild strawberry, forest floor, dried flower, smoke and spice box. It’s medium-bodied with fine, creamy tannins and lively acidity. Round and balanced with a velvety texture. Layered with a long, savory finish. Unfiltered. Drink or hold.”
Wine Spectator 94 points “Taut with tension, this slowly unwinds with complex cherry and guava flavors that are laced with notes of fresh tarragon and hints of river stone, building richness toward medium-grained tannins. Drink now through 2030. 2,355 cases made. — TF”
California
Bevan Cellars EE Tench Vineyard Red, Oakville 2016 750ML ($249.95) $189 special, only 2 bottles available
Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Wine Advocate 99+ points “Some of the top wines from this spectacular vintage are starting to close down, including this impressive beauty. Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2016 Proprietary Red EE Tench Vineyard is a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Cabernet Franc and 5% Merlot. Just a little more subdued than when I last tasted it, the nose features gorgeous blueberry pie, molten chocolate, plum preserves and mulberries notions with hints of camphor, cloves, earth and cigar box. Full-bodied and voluptuously endowed, with decadently velvet-textured tannins, the acid sits perfectly balanced in the background, finishing with epic length and so many layers. The way this is headed, I would not be surprised if it emerges in a few years hitting glorious, three-digit perfection. 1,403 cases were made.”
Jeb Dunnuck 98 points “The 2016 Tench Vineyard EE Red Wine checks in as a blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Cabernet Franc, and the rest Merlot, which is the smallest amount of Cabernet Franc to date. Brought up in new barrels, it has gorgeous blue fruits, violets, spring flowers, and damp earth. Medium to full-bodied, elegant, and just about as seamless and silky as it gets, this is a magical wine to drink over the coming 15 years or more.”
Beaux Freres The Beaux Freres Vineyard Pinot Noir, Ribbon Ridge 2019 750ML ($109.95) $91.90 special
James Suckling 95 points “A perfumed nose of cherry, wild strawberry, forest floor, dried flower, smoke and spice box. It’s medium-bodied with fine, creamy tannins and lively acidity. Round and balanced with a velvety texture. Layered with a long, savory finish. Unfiltered. Drink or hold.”
Wine Spectator 94 points “Taut with tension, this slowly unwinds with complex cherry and guava flavors that are laced with notes of fresh tarragon and hints of river stone, building richness toward medium-grained tannins. Drink now through 2030. 2,355 cases made. — TF”
California
Bevan Cellars EE Tench Vineyard Red, Oakville 2016 750ML ($249.95) $189 special, only 2 bottles available
Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Wine Advocate 99+ points “Some of the top wines from this spectacular vintage are starting to close down, including this impressive beauty. Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2016 Proprietary Red EE Tench Vineyard is a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Cabernet Franc and 5% Merlot. Just a little more subdued than when I last tasted it, the nose features gorgeous blueberry pie, molten chocolate, plum preserves and mulberries notions with hints of camphor, cloves, earth and cigar box. Full-bodied and voluptuously endowed, with decadently velvet-textured tannins, the acid sits perfectly balanced in the background, finishing with epic length and so many layers. The way this is headed, I would not be surprised if it emerges in a few years hitting glorious, three-digit perfection. 1,403 cases were made.”
Jeb Dunnuck 98 points “The 2016 Tench Vineyard EE Red Wine checks in as a blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Cabernet Franc, and the rest Merlot, which is the smallest amount of Cabernet Franc to date. Brought up in new barrels, it has gorgeous blue fruits, violets, spring flowers, and damp earth. Medium to full-bodied, elegant, and just about as seamless and silky as it gets, this is a magical wine to drink over the coming 15 years or more.”
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France
Arlaux Grande Cuvee Premier Cru Brut NV 750ML ($49.95) $39 special
Wine Enthusiast 90 points “From a vineyard with records going back over 1,000 years, this nonvintage cuvée is balanced and rounded, with harmony between the apple and tangy fruits and a touch of toastiness from bottle aging. It is ready to drink. -Roger Voss”
Importer notes “Arlaux is a small family-run champagne house producing only 5,000 cases a year located in a small village on the Petit Montagne de Reims called Vrigny. Arlaux has been producing champagne since 1826 but the Arlaux-Marchal family have lived in Vrigny since the 13th century. Exclusively 1er Cru Champagne with a minimum of 4 years aging. They only use their own grapes from 20 to 100 year old vines which are hand-picked in order to select only the very best. All Arlaux cuvées are 100% Premier Cru and 100% Tête de Cuvée (meaning that they only use the juice of the 1st press).”
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Arnaud Lambert Chateau de Breze Cremant de Loire Brut Rose NV 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 special
Winery note “100% Cabernet Franc.”
Becky Wasserman note “Vine Age: Planted in 1981. Terroir: Lower part of the Clos du Midi, silty sand soil on 1 meter of soft Turonian limestone bedrock. Viticulture: Organic (certified). Vinification: Indigenous yeast fermentation, traditional Champagne method. Aged for 24 months.”
Domaine Matrot Bourgogne Chardonnay, Burgundy 2019 750ML ($37.95) $26 special
“Bottled in July, the 2019 Bourgogne Blanc has a well-defined bouquet of light nutty notes, the 20% new oak nicely integrated. The palate is well balanced with a lightly honeyed opening, touches of ginger and dried apricot and a spicy finish. Good substance for a Bourgogne Blanc.” –Neal Martin, Vinous
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Domaine La Garrigue Vacqueyras, Rhone 2018 750ML ($26.95) $24 special
Wine Enthusiast 93 points “Editor’s Choice. Sun-kissed raspberries and rose petals perfume this bright, penetrating blend of Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre and Cinsault. It’s a surprising contrast to this producer’s equally delicious but significantly brawnier 2017 bottling. Full bodied but freshly composed, it highlights crisp red-plum and cherry flavors lifted by a mineral undertow and brisk acidity. This lovely wine is ready now but should hold well through 2026. -Anna Lee C. Iijima”
Italy – Piedmont
Cantina del Pino Barbaresco DOCG, Piedmont 2017 750ML ($49.95) $46 special
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 93 points “The Cantina del Pino 2017 Barbaresco reveals a beautifully light garnet color in the glass. The wine shows extra intensity in terms of its aromas with wild rose, lilac and cherry. That combination of floral and fruity doesn’t completely define the bouquet because you also get a good dose of crushed mineral, smoke and spice. Like most of the wines I tasted from this vintage, this release of 13,000 bottles shows extra power and tightness in terms of its tannins. Give it a little extra bottle time.”
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Castello di Verduno Barbaresco DOCG, Piedmont 2018 750ML ($59.95) $47 special
Antonio Galloni 92 points “The 2018 Barbaresco from Castello di Verduno is a very pretty, gracious wine with effusive aromatics, bright fruit and mid-weight structure. In other words, classic Barbaresco. Time in the glass brings out hints of sweet tobacco, mint, cedar and dried red cherry. The 2018 is such a gorgeous wine. Drink it over the next decade.”
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Italy – Tuscany
Petrolo is one of the leading proponents of the Val d’Arno di Sopra DOC, a small area in Tuscany that only recently received the DOC designation. Frankly, the designation should have happened a while ago—these are distinctive wines made from unique soils and the quality across the board is very high. Petrolo’s wines provide a wonderful introduction to this undervalued corner of Tuscany due to both their quality and to their forward-thinking.
Petrolo Torrione Valdarno di Sopra, Tuscany 2018 750ML ($37.95) $28 special
Case-6 Petrolo Torrione Valdarno di Sopra, Tuscany 2018 750ML ($219.95) $159 special (that’s only $26.50/bottle!)
Case-12 Petrolo Torrione Valdarno di Sopra, Tuscany 2018 750ML ($419.95) $299 special (that’s only $24.92/bottle!)
James Suckling 92 points “A refined and silky rendition of this wine with pretty berry, citrus and light chocolate. Medium body. Chilled and delicious. Drink now.”
Cavalli Tenuta degli Dei Toscana IGT Tuscany 2016 750ML ($59.95) $46 special
Case-12 Cavalli Tenuta degli Dei Toscana IGT Tuscany 2016 750ML ($719) $499 special (that’s only $41.58/bottle and the lowest listed price in the USA today!)
Case-6 Cavalli Tenuta degli Dei Toscana IGT Tuscany 2016 750ML ($359) $259 special (that’s only $43.17/bottle!)
James Suckling 97 points “What an amazing nose with pure herbs coming to the fore, soon to be joined by fresh brambleberries, blueberries, violets, heather, lavender, pine needles and forest floor. Full body, chewy but incredibly fine tannins, and tons of floral undertones. Elegant and resoundingly beautiful. Delicious now, but better in 2023.”
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 96 points “The 2016 Tenuta Degli Dei is gorgeous. Power, structure and finesse come together in a wine that impresses for its superb balance and sheer class. Medium in body, but with tremendous fruit density and persistence, the 2016 has so much to offer. Sweet floral notes develop on the finish, adding perfume, lift and sensuality. I would cellar it for at least a few years to allow its full aromatic presence to emerge.”
It’s been nearly a quarter of century since Fabio Chiarelotto purchased the Montepeloso estate, and although the vineyard was already well-known within Tuscany, Chiarelotto knew the site had the potential for greatness. The 2018 A Quo includes the usual suspects –Cabernet Sauvignon, Montepulciano, and Sangiovese, but also more obscure varieties like Marselan and Alicante Bouschet. Thanks in part to this fascinating mix of local and imported varieties, the wine offers far more complexity and intrigue than you expect from a sub-$20/bottle (by the six-pack), and seems destined to become a customer favorite.
Montepeloso A Quo Toscana IGT, Tuscany 2018 750ML ($29.95) $20.90 special
Case-6 Montepeloso A Quo Toscana IGT, Tuscany 2018 750ML ($179.95) $119 special (that’s only $19.83/bottle!)
Monica Larner – Wine Advocate 92 points “A blend of 35% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Montepulciano, 15% Sangiovese, 15% Marselan and 5% Alicante Bouschet, the Montepeloso 2018 A Quo is the entry-level expression that unfolds to a rich and sultry display of dark fruit, spice and a touch of charred meat. The blend is quite eccentric, but the basic elements are all there, such as the structure from the Cabernet Sauvignon, the wild character of the Montepulciano and the perfumed intensity of the other grapes. This is a 35,000-bottle production and a terrific value buy.”
Antonio Galloni – Vinous 92 points “The 2018 A Quo is rich and explosive in the glass, with superb presence and tons of intensity, but all in the gracious style of the year. Crushed flowers, sweet red berry fruit and spice are front and center. In 2018, A Quo is supremely delicious. Best of all, it remains a tremendous value in artisan wine.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Pojer e Sandri Nosiola Vigneti delle Dolomiti IGT, Trentino-Alto Adige 2019 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 special
Eric Guido-Vinous 92 points “Zesty lemon peel, lime, stone dust, granny smith and a hint of nutty richness defines the bouquet on the 2019 Nosiola. It’s energetic and spicy, tugging at the palate with zesty acids, minerals and notes of tart apple with building inner florals. Citrus-driven tension creates a sweet and sour effect throughout the lip-smacking finale, like grapefruit with a sprinkle of white sugar, backed by a hint of smoke. This is really very pretty and a benchmark expression of Nosiola.”
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Austria
Vom Boden Vineyard Project – Gober & Freinbichler Blaufrankisch, Burgenland 2020 750ML ($19.95) $18 special
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Spain
Gelida Blanc de Blancs Brut Nature Reserva Cava Catalonia 2016 750ML ($24.95) $18 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!
The average price nationally is $21
Bodegas Muga Conde de Haro Brut Rose Cava Rioja 2016 750ML ($34.95) $29 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.”
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Do Ferreiro Albarino, Rias Baixas 2018 1.5L ($69.95) $59 special
Luis Gutierrez-Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2018 Albariño was very expressive after some time in the glass. This is their house wine, produced with grapes from the 11 hectares and up to 164 plots they work in the Salnés up to 22 kilometers from their winery in Meaño. The wine is very elegant in 2018; it’s vibrant and tasty, with the granite sapidity and the salty finish. I tasted a bottle from the end of June 2019, when the wine had had longer time sur lie, and the year in bottle does it good. 70,000 bottles produced.”
Josh Raynolds – Vinous 92 points “Green-tinged straw. Vibrant, mineral-tinged citrus and orchard fruit qualities on the nose, along with a suave floral topnote. Shows fine definition and mineral lift to the juicy pear and Meyer lemon flavors, which take on a hint of tarragon with air. The floral and mineral notes dominate a long, focused finish that features a suggestion of bitter quinine.”
This is the only listing in the USA today for the magnum!
Bodegas Muga ‘Flor de Muja’ Blanco Rioja DOCa 2018 750ML ($49.95) $39 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.”
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El Cep ‘Ot’ Blanc de Terrier Penedes 2020 750ML ($14.95) $11.90 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.”
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Bodegas Avancia Mencia, Valdeorras 2019 750ML ($34.95) $29 special
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Bodegas Nekeas ‘El Chaparral de Vega Sindoa’ Navarra 2018 750ML ($17.95) $14 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.”
New Review from Grapelive
For Produttori del Barbaresco
Produttori del Barbaresco ‘Barbaresco DOCG’ Piedmont 2017 750ML ($49.95) $41.90 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-6 Produttori del Barbaresco ‘Barbaresco DOCG’ Piedmont 2017 750ML ($299.95) $239 special (that’s only $39.83/bottle!)
Case-12 Produttori del Barbaresco ‘Barbaresco DOCG’ Piedmont 2017 750ML ($599.95) $459 special (that’s only $38.25/bottle!)
Grapelive 93 points “The brilliant ruby and orange tinted 2017 Barbaresco DOCG from the Produttori del Barbaresco is already drinking fabulously with classic Nebbiolo character. Though it has a ripe sensation on the full bodied palate from the warm vintage, it still has a chalky mineral note and some rustic tannin to balance things out. This is a remarkably poised and alluring effort. The stylish and high quality co-op continues to impress. While I loved the 2013s and especially the 2016s here, this 2017 is just about equal. I was captivated with my first impressions here and the lovely aromatics with wilted roses, anise and earthy tones adding to the brandied cherries and damson plum fruits. The palate is complex, playing the heightened fruit against a nice savory edginess. It adds a deeper sense of currant and a nice cedary spice to the mix as it opens up. Food brings greater depth and pleasure to the experience and brings out the softer and [prettier] side of this Nebbiolo, while hints of iron/meat and truffle come through in the background… Coming from various parcels and exposures, set on limestone and clay soils, rich in calcium with sandy veins, the 2017 was stainless steel vat fermented and then aged 24 months in traditional large oak casks… It is quite amazing that this wine, with 22,000 cases made, can be this good, this unique and this consistent. It is a tribute to each and every one of the collection of individual farmers that go about their work with such pride and passion.”
Case-6 Produttori del Barbaresco ‘Barbaresco DOCG’ Piedmont 2017 750ML ($299.95) $239 special (that’s only $39.83/bottle!)
Case-12 Produttori del Barbaresco ‘Barbaresco DOCG’ Piedmont 2017 750ML ($599.95) $459 special (that’s only $38.25/bottle!)
Grapelive 93 points “The brilliant ruby and orange tinted 2017 Barbaresco DOCG from the Produttori del Barbaresco is already drinking fabulously with classic Nebbiolo character. Though it has a ripe sensation on the full bodied palate from the warm vintage, it still has a chalky mineral note and some rustic tannin to balance things out. This is a remarkably poised and alluring effort. The stylish and high quality co-op continues to impress. While I loved the 2013s and especially the 2016s here, this 2017 is just about equal. I was captivated with my first impressions here and the lovely aromatics with wilted roses, anise and earthy tones adding to the brandied cherries and damson plum fruits. The palate is complex, playing the heightened fruit against a nice savory edginess. It adds a deeper sense of currant and a nice cedary spice to the mix as it opens up. Food brings greater depth and pleasure to the experience and brings out the softer and [prettier] side of this Nebbiolo, while hints of iron/meat and truffle come through in the background… Coming from various parcels and exposures, set on limestone and clay soils, rich in calcium with sandy veins, the 2017 was stainless steel vat fermented and then aged 24 months in traditional large oak casks… It is quite amazing that this wine, with 22,000 cases made, can be this good, this unique and this consistent. It is a tribute to each and every one of the collection of individual farmers that go about their work with such pride and passion.”
Dr. Burklin-Wolf
The Pfinest in the Pfalz
Arriving Friday
The Pfinest in the Pfalz
Arriving Friday
Closer to Strasbourg than Berlin, the Pfalz is nestled between the Haardt Mountains and the Rhine River in a veritable oasis of forests and hills. Archeological records show that the district was one of the first areas in the entire world to have widespread consumption and production of wine, dating back to 550 B.C.E.
The beneficial growing conditions make for some of the most interesting and diverse expressions of German wine, with dry Riesling still being the crown jewel.
Dr. Burklin-Wolf is one of the oldest family-owned wineries in Germany, and is still going strong. Helmed since 1990 by Bettina Bürklin-von Guradze, she converted the estate to biodynamics and has only improved an already incredible winery.
“…this may well be the best and most consistent producer of great dry Riesling in the world.” –Joel Payne, Vinous
Arriving Friday, October 1st
Dr. Burklin-Wolf Wachenheimer Riesling Trocken, Pfalz 2017 750ML ($24.95) $18 pre-arrival special
James Suckling 92 points “Slightly funky (from wild ferment) but also great citrus, pear and peach aromas. Good concentration for a village wine with quite a linear profile. Very clean finish. From biodynamically grown grapes. Drink or hold.”
The beneficial growing conditions make for some of the most interesting and diverse expressions of German wine, with dry Riesling still being the crown jewel.
Dr. Burklin-Wolf is one of the oldest family-owned wineries in Germany, and is still going strong. Helmed since 1990 by Bettina Bürklin-von Guradze, she converted the estate to biodynamics and has only improved an already incredible winery.
“…this may well be the best and most consistent producer of great dry Riesling in the world.” –Joel Payne, Vinous
Arriving Friday, October 1st
Dr. Burklin-Wolf Wachenheimer Riesling Trocken, Pfalz 2017 750ML ($24.95) $18 pre-arrival special
James Suckling 92 points “Slightly funky (from wild ferment) but also great citrus, pear and peach aromas. Good concentration for a village wine with quite a linear profile. Very clean finish. From biodynamically grown grapes. Drink or hold.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $24.99
Dr. Burklin-Wolf Estate Riesling Trocken, Pfalz 2017 750ML ($21.95) $16 pre-arrival special
James Suckling 92 points “Very fine, peachy nose with hints of herbs and fresh almonds. Ripe yet racy with a long, clean, mineral finish. From biodynamically grown grapes. Drink now.”
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Dr. Burklin-Wolf Wachenheimer Altenburg P.C. (Premer Cru) Riesling Trocken, Pfalz 2017 750ML ($39.95) $24 pre-arrival special
David Schildknecht-Vinous 92 points “Piquant notes of apple and citrus pith mingle on the nose with crushed stone and struck flint, suggesting this interpretation of Altenburg will likely reflect the austerity and rigor of its gravelly soil and coolest of all Bürklin-Wolf microclimates. On top of that, I suspect this wine is suffering the most from its recent bottling of any Bürklin’s vintage 2017 P.C.’s. Even so, the site’s character is irrepressible. The firm palate musters more than enough primary juiciness to guarantee refreshment, and its piquant, pithy combination of hickory nut, lemon seed and stone carries into a mouthwateringly saline, formidably gripping, practically mouth-shaking finish. Give this time! (It already responds well to a good shaking.)”
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Can’t wait? We carry some of the best producers in the Pfalz in house, including Müller-Catoir, Eugen Müller and Von Winning!
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We also offer Curbside Pickup & Shipping
Order Online / By Phone / By Email
10 AM – 6 PM Daily
Local mandates require properly worn masks for all regardless of vaccination status.
We also offer Curbside Pickup & Shipping
Order Online / By Phone / By Email
New Wine Advocate Reviews
For Emrich-Schonleber
Despite the fame and renown of the estate inside Germany, Emrich-Schonleber flies under the radar in the USA. These are spectacular wines—every bit the equal of Dönnhoff, their main competition in the Nahe. This is a venerable estate (they go back 250 years) working at peak form as the current generation steps into the vanguard at the winery.
Working with two awe-inspiring sites, the Halenberg and the Frühlingsplätzchen (both of which are unusually steep for the Nahe—they have slopes of up to 70%), the wines are piercingly mineral, dramatically complex, and a must have for your cellar. Emrich-Schonleber is best known for top-end GG’s, but don’t sleep on the Pradikat wines.
“The 2020 Rieslings from Emrich-Schönleber are at a consistently high level” –Stephan Reinhardt, Wine Advocate
In Stock Now
Weingut Emrich-Schonleber Monzinger Riesling Kabinett, Nahe 2020 750ML ($37.95) $31.90 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 93 points ´”Predominantly from a late-ripening plot of the Niederberg, the 2020 Monzinger Riesling Kabinett is clear, bright, fresh and piquant on the flinty, attractively reductive and finely fruity nose. Piquant and fresh on the palate, this is a bright, lush and slatey, crystalline Riesling with a stimulatingly salty and piquant finish. Absolutely fabulous. 9% alcohol. Tasted at the domain in July 2021.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $34
Weingut Emrich-Schonleber ‘Mineral’ Riesling Trocken, Nahe 2020 750ML ($36.95) $29 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-6 Weingut Emrich-Schonleber ‘Mineral’ Riesling Trocken, Nahe 2020 750ML ($219.95) $166 special (that’s only $27.67/bottle and the lowest listed price in the USA today!)
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 91+ points “From younger vines in the Niederberg, Schönleber’s 2020 Riesling trocken Mineral is bright and pure yet also intense and mineral on the characterful and flinty/stony nose. Pure and enormously fresh, this is a lean but tensioned and quite racy dry Riesling with grip and tension on the finish. This is no Riesling for hedonists but for Riesling aficionados. The wine is precise like a razor and fresh like an oyster should be. Good finish with intense fruit aromas and lemon freshness. 12.5% alcohol. Tasted at the domain in July 2021.”
The average price is $33
Weingut Emrich-Schonleber Halgans Riesling Trocken, Nahe 2020 750ML ($49.95) $41.90 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 94 points “The 2020 Monzingen Riesling trocken Halgans is deep, intense and complex on the nose that shows bright and intense lemon fruit intermingled with flinty stone aromas and notes of blue slate splitters. Pure and tensioned on the palate, this is a full-bodied, very complex and structured dry Riesling from younger vines in the Halenberg. Almost 50% of the grapes come from the steepest part of the cru, and this probably gives the power and intensity on the finish. This is a spectacular wine with a certain generosity but a merciless terroir expression on the finish. Needs time, though. 12.5% alcohol. Tasted at the domain in July 2021.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Arriving January 2022
Weingut Emrich-Schonleber Monzinger Halenberg Riesling Auslese, Nahe 2020 750ML ($79.95) $66 pre-arrival special
Weingut Emrich-Schonleber Monzinger Halenberg Riesling Auslese, Nahe 2020 375ML ($44.95) $38 pre-arrival special
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 94 points “The 2020 Halenberg Auslese is intensely aromatic, precise and fresh on the nose that reveals tropical (passion) fruit aromas intertwined with flinty notes. Lush and generous but precise and elegant on the palate, this is a very dangerous (digestible) Auslese that is so generous but also so precise and crystalline that it is impossible to spit out. A gorgeous Halenberg. Tasted at the domain in July 2021.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $74
Weingut Emrich-Schonleber Fruhtau Riesling Trocken, Nahe 2020 750ML ($44.95) $38 pre-arrival special
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2020 Monzingen Riesling trocken Frühtau comes from younger vines in the Frühlingsplätzchen and opens with a clear, fine and reductive bouquet with coolish stony and herbal notes. Crystalline and very elegant on the palate, this is a tight, straight and still challenging, very mineral dry Riesling that will benefit from longer bottle aging. The finish is long and enormously salty. A wine to keep. 12.5% alcohol. Tasted at the domain in July 2021.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Weingut Emrich-Schonleber Monzinger Halenberg Riesling Spatlese, Nahe 2020 750ML ($49.95) $41.90 pre-arrival special
Case-6 Weingut Emrich-Schonleber Monzinger Halenberg Riesling Spatlese, Nahe 2020 750ML ($299.95) $238 pre-arrival special (that’s only $39.67/bottle!)
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 94 points “The 2020 Halenberg Riesling Spätlese is wild and spicy on the clear, fresh and elegant as well as aromatic nose. Full-bodied, piquant and juicy on the palate, this is a gorgeously aromatic Halenberg that needs years to open up and gain finesse. The Halenberg is richer, more sumptuous and sweeter than the Frühlingsplätzchen but still reductive on the finish. 8.5% alcohol. Tasted at the domain in July 2021.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Bonus Review – Arriving ETA Mid-October
Selbach-Oster Pinot Blanc Reserve, Mosel 2019 750ML ($39.95) $33 pre-arrival special
Stephan Reinhardt Wine Advocate 93+ points “Selbach’s 2019 Pinot Blanc Réserve from a west-facing plot in the Schlossberg in Zeltingen is only the second vintage but already a little masterpiece. The nose is clear, fresh and intense, and its pure, soil-driven spiciness and precision of fruit represents the cooler slate terroir more than any ambitious, Burgundy-copying winemaking. After one and a half years on the lees in three-year-old barriques, very fine sur lie aromas intertwine with the fruit after a little while to add further complexity. Silky, round and highly elegant on the palate, this is a full-bodied, rich and perfectly balanced yet seriously structured Pinot Blanc with an enamel texture, fine tannins and the crystalline and salty acidity grip of a great Mosel terroir. It is highly stimulating on the salty, mouth-watering and aromatic finish. This is a pleasant Pinot Blanc all along the line. Total production: 1,487 bottles. Do not enjoy this excellent wine too cold: 14 degrees Celsius (or 57 degrees Fahrenheit) would be ideal. Tasted in September 2021.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
We’re offering 17 new wines from Selbach-Oster arriving in mid-October. Shop the full offer on our web store!
La Fortuna’s Landmark Brunello Riserva
La Fortuna is a top producer of Brunello, having turned their small (11 hectare) estate into one of the most consistently excellent in all of Tuscany. The winery makes beautiful wines, with rich, ripe fruit and plush textures that maintain an earthiness to them grounded and allows them to age beautifully. The star of their lineup is undoubtedly their Brunello Riserva—a towering wine that is as majestic and complex as they come in Tuscany.
Made from the best parcels of their vineyard and then held longer in barrel and bottle for maximum complexity, it’s one of the highlights of any Brunello vintage, and even more special in a year like 2012. We have the best price in the country, so make sure you grab a six-pack (or two) for your cellar.
In Stock Now:
La Fortuna Brunello di Montalcino Riserva DOCG 2012 750ML ($119.95) $89 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-6 La Fortuna Brunello di Montalcino Riserva DOCG 2012 750ML ($699.95) $515 special (that’s only $85.83/bottle!)
La Fortuna Brunello di Montalcino Riserva DOCG 2012 1.5L ($259.95) $199 special, 4 magnums in stock now
La Fortuna Brunello di Montalcino Riserva DOCG 2012 3L ($499.95) $399 special, 3 double-magnums in stock now
Wine Spectator 97 points “Perfumed, with wild herb aromas and a subtle mix of strawberry and cherry fruit. Vibrant and dense, with fine acidity driving the long finish. Though elegant, there is intensity and fine energy on the aftertaste. Best from 2022 through 2028.”
Made from the best parcels of their vineyard and then held longer in barrel and bottle for maximum complexity, it’s one of the highlights of any Brunello vintage, and even more special in a year like 2012. We have the best price in the country, so make sure you grab a six-pack (or two) for your cellar.
In Stock Now:
La Fortuna Brunello di Montalcino Riserva DOCG 2012 750ML ($119.95) $89 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-6 La Fortuna Brunello di Montalcino Riserva DOCG 2012 750ML ($699.95) $515 special (that’s only $85.83/bottle!)
La Fortuna Brunello di Montalcino Riserva DOCG 2012 1.5L ($259.95) $199 special, 4 magnums in stock now
La Fortuna Brunello di Montalcino Riserva DOCG 2012 3L ($499.95) $399 special, 3 double-magnums in stock now
Wine Spectator 97 points “Perfumed, with wild herb aromas and a subtle mix of strawberry and cherry fruit. Vibrant and dense, with fine acidity driving the long finish. Though elegant, there is intensity and fine energy on the aftertaste. Best from 2022 through 2028.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Thank you from the team at Vinopolis!
Be well & drink well.