05-04-2022 Newsletter

When looking for premium offerings in the world of wine Spain is without a doubt the biggest “Bang for your buck”. With grapevines planted from tip to tail and a beautiful assortment of styles, there are also large amounts of old vines still planted throughout the country, promising more intense aromas and flavors as well as a favorable aging trajectory. 

Spanish Selections in stock now: 

Based in the Valdeorras, or the Valley of Gold region, their champion grape is the indigenous Godello grape. A rarity in that the varietal is shared by both Portugal and Spain, the grape reaches its apex in the high elevation hills of pure schist and black slate. Sourced from a single vineyard planted in 1939 these are among the oldest vines still utilized for commercial production. The flavors include a plethora of orchard character such as apple and pear blossom against a delightful pear skin, quince, nectarine and summer peach flavor. The judicious use of new French oak brings additional structure against the slatey minerality not unlike well-crafted White Burgundy or Savennieres. 

The Mencia is equally compelling. Primarily the latter varietal there is also being small amounts of Garnacha Tintorera (The same cultivar of Grenache used in Priorat to the south) and indigenous varietals Mouratón (Juan García), Gran Negro, Sousón, Cariñena. As a traditional field blend aged in neutral oak this is a Mencia inspired by iterations of centuries past, while still delivering a clean and refreshing red fruited character. The exceptional terroir is evident throughout, with pervasive aromatics and a refreshing finish evocative of slate. 

Bodegas Avancia Wines in stock now: 

Bodegas Avancia Nobleza Old Vines Godello Valdeorras 2020 750ML ($69.95) $56.50 special, 29 bottles in stock now
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.”
Luis Gutierrez-Wine Advocate 92 points “A new top-of-the-range white, the 2020 Nobleza Godello is a barrel selection from the wine from the Finca Aeiroá, which was planted in 1939 on schist and slate soils above the village of O Barco. They selected 900 liters from three 600-liter barrels, one of them new. It’s textured, voluptuous and ripe at 14% alcohol but with balancing acidity. It’s peppery and spicy and a little marked by the oak, with a dry, slightly astringent finish. It should improve with time in bottle. 1,148 bottles were filled in July 2021.”
 

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Bodegas Avancia Mencia Valdeorras 2019 750ML ($37.95) $31.90 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
James Suckling 92 points “Dark plums, blackcurrants, grilled herbs, roasted coffee and smoked meat on the nose. Medium-to full-bodied with firm, velvety tannins. Smoky, rich and concentrated. Very smooth-textured. Drink or hold.”
 

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Priorat remains one of the most sought after and highly lauded wine producing regions in all of Spain. The high concentration of old vines, cult level producers, high elevation and Mediterranean climate have made it a hotbed for Spain’s fine wine revolution. Priorat wines are largely based around Grenache and Carignan, grapes usually associated with being medium-to-full bodied and fruity. However they take on a whole new dimension on the terraced vineyards of martian-esque shale. Called llicorella by the locals it’s famous for the savory minerality that’s imparted to the grapes, in addition to ripening grapes faster by heat radiation. Pushing those bold flavors to the next level often involves colonizer grapes like Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah which Bobet has since added to their estate bottlings.  

The 2016 vintage in Priorat is highly lauded even compared to her sister, the juggernaut of 2015 in that ripeness was also met with elegant levels of acid promising a long life in the bottle. The primary flavors are a plethora of black fruits with the most pronounced being blackberries and blackcurrant with additional fruits like Marionberry revealing themselves with time. 
  
The flavors continue to develop and refine after time in the glass; revealing grilled strawberry, sage, za’atar, wet slate and ash salt. Impressively lifted for how full bodied and tannic the other elements are but provides balance and synergy. This is beautiful now but promises to become a work of art after more time in the cellar to shed it’s baby fat.   

Ferrer Bobet in stock now: 

Ferrer Bobet Priorat DOCa 2016 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-6 Ferrer Bobet Priorat DOCa 2016 750ML ($359.95) $279 special, (That’s $46.50 per bottle!) 
James Suckling 97 points “Such purity of ripe blackberries and dark cherries, as well as redder, cherry notes, really makes a striking impression on the nose. The fresh florals and leafy nuances are followed by such pure berries and red plums. The tannins are stunning, so polished and perfectly formed, holding super long and fresh. Wow. Drink or hold.” 
 

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Practicing regenerative agriculture with the express purpose to minimize impact on the ecosystem, her vineyards are entirely comprised of rehabilitated native varietals. Mixing her production between leased and purchased plots, her youngest vines are over 50 years old! Lorenzo’s operation is based in Ribeira Sacra or the “Sacred Shore” the region is punctuated by undulating hills and rivers largely comprised of granite. Vineyards are precipitously planted on terraces carved by the Roman and Celtic inhabitants in millennia past, largely to field blends of indigenous grapes. This allows for wholly unique expressions vineyard to vineyard, hence Lorenzo’s propensity to vinify and bottle her wines by site.

Daterra Lorenzo wines in stock now: 

Daterra Viticultores ‘Portela do Vento’ Galicia 2018 750ML ($39.95) $31.90 special, 39 bottles in stock now
John Gilman 93 points “The Portela Do Vento Tinto is composed of a blend of Mencía and Garnacha Tintorera, selected from several different vineyard parcels in both Quiroga and Amandi. The grapes are mostly destemmed and fermented in stainless steel tanks, prior to racking to five hundred liter, used demi-muids for ten months of elevage. The 2018 Portela Do Vento comes in at a svelte twelve percent alcohol and delivers a beautiful, black fruity bouquet of cassis, dark berries, tree bark, coffee bean, slate, cigar smoke and just a touch of upper register botanicals. On the palate the wine is precise, full-bodied and tangy, with a lovely core of fruit, excellent slate undertow, fine-grained tannins and a long, complex, palate-staining and focused finish. This is pure, light on its feet and excellent! 2023-2045+.”
Importer Note “Comes from several south-facing parcels of Menci´a and Garnacha Tintorera in the Amandi and Quiroga-Bibei subzones. The grapes were harvested by hand and mostly destemmed, fermented with wild yeasts in steel vats, and raised for 9 months in used 500 liter French barrels. This is Laura’s “glou-glou” wine that she loves to share with her American friends. Fresh and easy-drinking, it is very versatile with a wide variety of foods…or straight from the porro´n!?”
 

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Daterra Viticultores ‘Portela do Vento’ Galicia 2019 750ML ($36.95) $31.90 special
Importer Note:“100% Mencia from a south-facing parcel of 50-year-old vines planted on granitic, sandy soils at an elevation of 350-400 meters in the Amandi subzone of Ribeira Sacra. The grapes were destemmed and partially crushed then fermented in a used 4000L French oak foudre. The wine then rested for 11 months in the same foudre.”
 

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With dozens of top tier California Cabernet Sauvignons to choose from, we have no shortage of incredible options from the Golden State. Napa Valley continues to produce some of the world’s finest examples of the world’s most beloved grape. The most standout of these is without a doubt, the operations under the leadership of Christian Moueix. Practicing both dry farming and organic practices, these are among the most terroir expressive wines in the entirety of California. We’ve just secured another allotment of Dominus from the legend-in-the-making vintage of 2019, more of the fantastically dense 2018 and a library release of the incredible 2013! As with our last offering of his wines, you’d better secure them now before they pre-sell. We also have a number of other premium Napa Cabernets on the shelf for comparison and collecting in their own right. 

Dominus wines arriving Friday, May 13th: 

Dominus Estate Christian Moueix Napa Valley 2013 750ML ($699.95) $619 pre-arrival special, 12 bottles arriving 
Robert Parker- Wine Advocate 100 points “The 2013 Dominus is, to my way of thinking, one of the most profound wines Christian Moueix has yet made in his rather brilliant winemaking history, both in France and in Napa Valley. This wine, with very low yields of only 3,500 cases and a final blend of 89% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Petit Verdot and 4% Cabernet Franc, offers up notes of cedar wood, forest floor, loamy soil and oodles of blackberry and blackcurrant fruit. Very opaque purple in color, super-pure and intense, this wine has low acidity, but ripe, noticeable tannins. This is a 30- to 40-year wine and a profound effort from this famous vineyard in Yountville. Drink it over the next 40+ years.”
Antonio Galloni- Vinous 100 points “The 2013 Dominus overwhelms all the senses with its magnificent overall balance and towering intensity. Deep and nearly impenetrable in the glass, the 2013 boasts off the charts dry extract and overall power. Violets, smoke, black cherries, menthol, incense, crème de cassis and dark spices are some of the many signatures that take shape in the glass. Even better in bottle than it was in barrel, the 2013 is utterly magnificent. This is a remarkably vivid, nuanced wine considering its sheer size.”
William Kelly- Decanter 100 points “A captivating bouquet of violets, lilac, black fruit, blood orange and meaty soil tones is striking for its extravagent range and amplitude; and on the palate, the wine is three-dimensional, sophisticatedly savoury, and massive but refined. Tod Mostero remarks that, having crafted the 2013 Dominus, he can die happy as a winemaker. Selection here was especially rigorous, as the team wanted to realise the vintage’s unparalleled potential as fully as possible, so only 3,500 cases were produced. A special label commemorates the 30th anniversary of Dominus Estate.”


Dominus Estate Christian Moueix Napa Valley 2019 750ML ($359.95) $319 pre-arrival special
Dominus Estate Christian Moueix Napa Valley 2019 1.5L ($799.95) $649 pre-arrival special
Lisa Perrotti-Brown- The Wine Independent 100 points “Composed of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Cabernet Franc, and 6% Petit Verdot, the 2019 Dominus was harvested from September 29 to October 10. It was aged in 40% new oak. Deep garnet-purple colored, the nose slowly unfurls to unveil beguiling floral notes of candied violets and rose oil over a core of crème de cassis, blackberry pie, and plum preserves, giving way to notions of licorice, Indian spices, iron ore, and crushed rocks. Full-bodied, the palate is jam-packed with taut, muscular black fruit layers, intertwined with gorgeous floral and exotic spice accents, and framed by firm, finely grained tannins with seamless freshness, finishing long and mineral-laced. Tightly coiled with so much latent energy waiting to explode, this is a spectacular expression of the vintage and Napanook vineyard. Still tightly coiled, give it a good 6-7 years in the cellar before broaching, and allow it a few hours in a decanter if consumed before 2032.”


Dominus wines in stock now: 

Dominus Estate Christian Moueix Napa Valley 2018 750ML ($499.95) $419 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 100 points “The flagship 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon checks in as 89% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Petit Verdot brought up in 40% new French oak. With an essence of Cabernet-like character in its darker currants, green tobacco, cedar, graphite, and floral aromas and flavors, this gorgeous wine is full-bodied and has bright yet integrated acidity, polished tannins, and a great, great finish. It’s just gorgeously put together and a magical, flawless wine. It’s going to take a decade to hit maturity but will evolve for 40-50 years in cold cellars. It is as good as it gets in classic, age-worthy Cabernet Sauvignon!”
James Suckling 100 points “This is incredible on the nose, offering hot stones, blackcurrants, iodine and wet earth. Full-bodied with a tight center palate, then it opens with a tannin structure that is weightless and spreads across the palate. Totally integrated on the palate. This is a magic-carpet wine. Really incredible. One of the reference points for the vintage. Drinkable now and please try a bottle, but it’s one for the cellar.”
Wine Advocate 99+ points “Very deep garnet-purple colored, the 2018 Dominus slowly emerges from the glass with profound notes of blackcurrant cordial, ripe black plums, boysenberries and Black Forest cake with hints of violets, star anise, cracked black pepper, raspberry leaves and pencil lead, plus a touch of garrigue. Medium to full-bodied, the palate delivers impactful black fruit layers, creating a beguiling sense of richness that is beautifully countered by invigorating freshness and great poise, framed by super ripe, plush tannins and beautiful tension, finishing on a lingering fragrant earth note and, finally, lots of mineral sparks. For all that it is at the moment, one cannot help but feel that this 2018 is holding something back. Give it a good five years in bottle, at least, and then get set for what I suspect will be a mind-blowing transformation over the next 30 years+.-LPB”
Antonio Galloni 97 points “The 2018 Dominus is wild and exotic from the first taste. Lifted aromatics make a strong opening impression. There is something exuberant about the 2018 that is hard to describe. The 2018 is not a huge Dominus, nor is it massively structured, but the intensity of the flavors is remarkable just the same. Dark raspberry, spice, leather and cedar are some of the many notes that open over time.”
 

Check out our other top tier offerings, including Christian Moueix’s sister project, Ulysses!

Ulysses in stock now: 

Ulysses Vineyard Napa Valley 2013 750ML ($199.95) $179 special , 2 bottles in stock now
James Suckling 98 points “Fabulous subtle aromas of black currants, violets and lilacs with a hot stone undertone. Full-bodied and dense, it shows such wonderful energy and synergy that delivers a firm yet gentle tannin backbone and complex mouthfeel that seduces you. Evolves wonderfully. Second wine from this new estate, which is owned by Christian Moueix of Dominus and Bordeaux.”
Robert Parker 96 points “The 2013 Ulysses is absolutely mind-boggling, as so many wines from this vintage are. Gorgeous blueberry and blackberry fruit, along with the telltale cassis and floral notes, jump from the glass. Again, this is Pauillac-like, with some cedar wood and subtle barrique smells. Again produced nearly all from Cabernet Sauvignon, the wine is full-bodied, powerful, rich and long, with slightly sweeter tannins than the 2012. Production in 2013 was 960 cases, and Moueix told me that the entire growing season averaged about two and half weeks ahead of schedule from bloom break to harvest. This is a prodigious effort and will certainly stand as the great Ulysses of the first trio to be released. I suspect it will be drinkable in 3-4 years and keep for 30 or more, given the Moueix track record.”
Antonio Galloni 95+ points “Gravel, smoke, graphite, savory herbs, tobacco and iron are some of the signatures in the 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon. A typical wine from the eastern sector of Oakville on the border with Yountville, the 2013 is loaded with feral, savory notes, while the expression of blue/blackish fruit lies a bit more in the background. In 2013, the main signature is an expression of structure that is both vertical but also incredibly insistent through to the finish. In other words, this is a super-classic 2013 built for the cellar.”

Ulysses Vineyard Napa Valley 2018 750ML ($179.95) $149 special
Ulysses Vineyard Napa Valley 2018 375ML ($99.95) $79 special
Ulysses Vineyard Napa Valley 2018 1.5L ($399.95) $319 special
James Suckling 98 points “Aromas of terra cotta, chocolate and hazelnut with iron and ink. Dusty. Full-bodied and round. Layered. Flamboyant and juicy. Rather soft and gorgeous. Some walnut and chocolate at the end. Persistent. Always there. Drinkable now, but will age wonderfully.”
Antonio Galloni 97 points “The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon is the best wine off Christian Moueix’s Oakville ranch so far. Deep, creamy and generous, the 2018 captures the unqiue blend of fruit in a savoriness that is typical of the southern sector of Oakville where cooling winds from the south lend palpable freshness and vivacity to the vines. Black fruit, chocolate, spice, lavender and new leather are some of the many notes that build into the sumptuous finish.”

Dr. Crane Vineyard is one of Napa’s heritage vineyards, with its first planting dating to the 1920’s. Replanted to Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot in the late 90’s the site is famed for the high portions of gravel throughout the 21 planted acres. Soils are comprised of a thin layer of loam before giving way to bedrock, with the site originally housing a quarry in the 18th century. We are lucky enough to secure two different bottlings of Cabernet from the same vineyard, with both delivering on the vineyards storied reputation.

Salvestrin wines in stock now: 

Salvestrin Winery Dr. Crane Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon St Helena 2018 750ML ($99.95) $89 special, 12 bottles in stock now
#9 WINE SPECTATOR WINE OF THE YEAR IN 2021
Wine Spectator 95 Points “Bright and fresh, with lots of red currant, plum and black cherry fruit notes driving along nicely, while a subtle tug of iron runs underneath. Late floral and warm earth flashes on the finish add more range and contrast. Focused, detailed and really well built. To be released October 2021. Best from 2022 through 2035. 1,260 cases made. — JM”
Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Wine Advocate 94+ points “The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Dr. Crane Vineyard is a blend of 94% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Merlot and 2% Cabernet Franc. Deep garnet-purple in color, it strides confidently out of the glass with notions of crushed black and red currants, ripe blackberries and black raspberries plus hints of dried Mediterranean herbs, tilled soil and pencil lead. The medium to full-bodied palate is chock-full of crunchy black and red berries, framed by firm, grainy tannins and a lively backbone, finishing long with loads of minerals and an herbal lift.”

Salvestrin Winery ‘Three D’ Cabernet Sauvignon St Helena 2018 750ML ($219.95) $189 special, 4 bottles in stock now
Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Wine Advocate 98 points “Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon 3D Dr. Crane Vineyard prances out of the glass with a gorgeous perfume of warm cassis, black cherries and black raspberries, plus hints of roses, lavender, underbrush and camphor, with an exotic touch of sandalwood. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is tightly wound with a rock-solid frame of firm, grainy tannins and lovely freshness to support the muscular black fruits, finishing epically long and beautifully earthy.”
 

 

Easily our most affordable and popular house from the Rhone, Saint Cosme produces wines from the entirety of the valley. Beyond being delicious across the board, the thorough line of the portfolio is their affordability, oftentimes being priced at half of what you’d expect from other benchmark producers. Due to popular demand we’ve lined up a new batch of the 2019 Cote Rotie and Croze Hermitage bottlings. The vintage was marked by severe yield reductions due to concurrent frosts in the start of the season with scorching heat waves. As you can expect quantities are lower in this vintage than ever seen in previous years. 

Saint Cosme Arriving Friday, May 63th   

Chateau de Saint Cosme Cote Rotie Rhone 2019 750ML ($79.95) $69 pre-arrival special, 24 bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 95-97 points “Not destemmed and just pure, old school Côte Rôtie, the 2019 Côte Rôtie offers a monster bouquet of ground pepper, blackberries, smoked earth, graphite, and assorted darker, meaty red and black fruits. Gorgeous on the palate as well, it’s medium to full-bodied and flawlessly balanced, with ripe, present tannins and a killer finish. It has a little Jamet-like wild, classic character and is going to benefit from 7-8 years of bottle age.”
Wine Spectator 95 points ” A racy, high-pitched, mineral-driven style, with raspberry and damson plum coulis notes pierced with savory and sanguine accents. The long, tight-grained, iron-edged finish resonates. Best from 2022 through 2034.”
Joe Czerwinski-Wine Advocate 95 points “Big florals and raspberries mark the nose of Saint Cosme’s 2019 Cote Rotie. Hints of stems show through, and this wine clearly would benefit from a few years in the cellar, but it is far from being unapproachable. Normally a blend of several lieux-dits, it sees about 30% new oak in its élevage, but the wood is scarcely noticeable. Medium to full-bodied, creamy and supple on the palate, with a long, fruit-infused finish, this should age gracefully for a decade or more.”  
 

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Chateau de Saint Cosme Crozes-Hermitage Rhone 2019 750ML ($39.95) $33 pre-arrival special, 36 bottles in stock now
Grapelive 94 points “I am a huge fan of Louis Barroul’s negociant line of Northern Rhone bottlings, which seem, as I say almost every year, to get better with each new release. I especially love this Crozes-Hermitage bottling. The latest Saint Cosme Crozes-Hermitage, with its seductive purple/ruby hue, opens up with crushed violets and dark berries on the nose, leading to a full bodied palate of boysenberry, damson plum, blueberry fruits, along with light earthy notes, anise, cedar and olive tapenade. There is a purity flavors in this 2019, along with good acidity and well-judged tannic structure that hold things in taut detail, making for a beautifully crafted wine. The year provided good ripeness for a graceful mouth feel that is impressive for this appellation. This wine is a stunning value, delivering all the best that this grape has to offer. Barruol sources his Crozes-Hermitage from the granite hillsides of Gervans and Erôme, just behind Hermitage hill, noting himself that the wines are often quite similar to those of Hermitage, which explains why I can’t get enough of it. Going on, he adds that where these Syrah grapes are grown, it could almost be a unique appellation in its own right, because there is a huge difference within the terroirs of Crozes-Hermitage and this area is very different from the flatter sections. Saint Cosme, located in Gigondas, is famous for their estate and single terroir bottlings of Gigondas, which are maybe some of the greatest Grenache based wines on the planet. The property which dates back to 1416 was acquired Barruol’s ancestors back in 1570, and at the end of the sixteenth century they built a splendid residence over those ancient cellars. Château de Saint Cosme, which is on the 14th generation, is an exceptional and historical winery, with its Gallo-Roman fermentation vats perfectly preserved it lives and breathes with that connection to the past… I find the harmony in this wine almost perfect… The energy and roundness gives this wine a luxurious feel, but doesn’t take away Syrah’s natural funk and savory tones. This impresses me every time I take a sip and makes this a crowd pleasing wine. Again, I love these Northern Rhone negociant offerings from Saint Cosme almost as much their legendary Gigondas, especially this Crozes, which is a stunning value. If you’ve not had these wines now is a great time to explore them!”
Jeb Dunnuck 92-94 points “Pure, classic Northern Rhône notes of spiced blackberry fruits, peppery herbs, bacon fat, and some gamey, bouquet garni-like nuances all emerge from the 2019 Crozes-Hermitage. and it’s medium to full-bodied, concentrated, and unevolved. Give bottles 2-3 years and enjoy over the following decade or more. It’s a smoking good Crozes-Hermitage.”
Wine Spectator 92 points “Nicely rendered, with a mix of juicy red cherry and dark plum fruit flavors backed by black tea, warm stone and sanguine accents. Focused and pure, iron-edged finish leaves a mouthwatering feel, while the finish is unencumbered by any toast. Lovely. Drink now through 2028. 1,000 cases made, 267 cases imported.  –JM”
Joe Czerwinski-Wine Advocate 91 points “Blueberries, black cherries and black olives all mingle easily on the nose of Saint Cosme’s 2019 Crozes Hermitage. It’s a big, fruit-driven offering, medium to full-bodied, but it also shows excellent depth as it supports the fruit with ripe, supple tannins and a long, velvety finish. Drink it over the next few years for its sheer exuberance.”
 

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Check out our full selection of Saint Cosme and Rhone Reds in-store and online!
 

One of the first wine regions to break the price ceiling, we have a number of bottlings that deliver on the areas reputation for powerful, ageworthy and highly collectible wines. Whether your preference is Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot dominant, we’ve got you covered!

Bordeaux Selections in stock now:  

Chateau Canon Saint-Emilion Grand Cru 2010 750ML ($199.95) $179 special, 24 bottles in stock now
Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Wine Advocate 96+ points “[Reviewed in 2020] Deep garnet colored, the 2010 Canon features wonderfully expressive notes of dried mulberries, stewed plums and baked black cherries with hints of mocha, bay leaves and fallen leaves. Full-bodied, opulent and super spicy, it has a plush texture with a racy line supporting the hedonic fruit, finishing with jaw-dropping persistence.”
Decanter 96 points “[Reviewed in 2020] You know you are on the Right Bank limestone plateau with this wine not by the fruit character, which is savoury, dark and concentrated, but by the juicy finish, which remains a little austere even after 10 years. After 15 minutes in the glass it opens up to be gloriously appetising and sapid (a word that is used much more frequently in French, and that sums up why limestone soils can transmit such appetising, drinkable and mouth watering flavours and textures, and why wines of this type work so well with food). At this stage it is the 2009 that delivers a readier-to-drink wine, but this is subtle and complex and has pulsating sense of purpose. Drinking Window 2022 – 2042.”

Chateau Canon Saint-Emilion Grand Cru 2015 750ML ($399.95) $349 special, 31 bottles in stock now
#1 Wine of the Year – James Suckling
Antonio Galloni 100 points “From the very beginning, the 2015 Canon has made an eloquent case for itself as one of the wines of the vintage. Multiple tastings from bottle only confirm what several early tastings hinted at: the 2015 Canon is simply extraordinary in every way. Sumptuous and exotic, with no hard edges and exceptional balance, the 2015 grabs hold of all the senses and never lets up. A rush of red fruit intermingled with floral notes, spice and smoke notes effortlessly runs up the wine’s vertical structure as the 2015 thrills with every twist and turn. The 2015 Canon is a rare wine that is both hedonistic and intellectual – well, maybe it is a bit more hedonistic-leaning. It doesn’t matter. Don’t miss it. This 2015 is masterpiece from General Manager Nicolas Auderbert and his team at Canon.”
Neal Martin 100 points “The 2015 Canon was a benchmark wine that seemed to revitalize this historic estate. I was crossing my fingers that it would not disappoint in bottle and I am glad to say that it delivers the goods. It has a very intense bouquet (just as it showed out of barrel) with laser-like precision offering wild strawberry, raspberry preserve, wet limestone and hints of truffle. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannin, clean and fresh with pure black and red fruit whose every atom appears infused with minerals. The mouth is tingling long after the wine has exited and your brain is thinking…when is the next sip coming? It is frankly heads and shoulders above almost every Saint Émilion this vintage, to reaffirm, a benchmark for this historic estate that will give pleasure to many over the coming years. Astonishing.”
James Suckling 100 points “Seductive. The nose draws you in deep: It’s like staring into a well of pristine dark cherries, dark plums, blackberries and mulberries. All the oak is perfectly subsumed. The palate’s flawless with immense depth and power and it’s so balanced as to appear to float. Immaculate fresh dark-berry and plum flavors. Silky and deep, ribbon-like finish. Perfect. Best from 2022.”


Chateau Angelus Saint-Emilion Grand Cru 2015 750ML ($479.95) $419 special, 5 bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 97+ points “A total blockbuster is the 2015 Angelus and it’s reminiscent of a slightly more elegant 2009. Made from 62% Merlot and 38% Cabernet Franc brought up in new barrels, this rich, opulent beauty boast killer notes of blackcurrants, blackberry liqueur, truffle, chocolate and scorched earth. With full-bodied richness, building, ripe tannin and a stacked profile on the palate, this hedonistic Bomb of a wine from Hubert de Boüard needs 4-5 years of cellaring and will keep for three decades or more.”

Chateau Angelus Saint-Emilion Grand Cru 2016 1.5L ($1049.95) $899 special, only 8 magnums in stock now 
Case-6 Chateau Angelus Saint-Emilion Grand Cru 2016 1.5L ($5999.95) $5099.95 special, (that’s $849.83 per magnum)
Wine Enthusiast 100 points “Top 100 Cellar Selection In 2019. This is a rich, perfumed wine, with dense tannins and intense layers of black plum and spice. The palate is firmly built yet broadened out by plump dark-fruit tones and honed by a solid, dry core. Drink from 2025. -Roger Voss”