Vinopolis Newsletter – Monday 1/15/2024

New Arrivals
 
 

 
Dominio IV

 

“If you walk our vine labyrinth, you may emerge from one row, turn and discover a completely new perspective. This is much like Dominio IV where love of Pinot Noir such as our “Rain of Leaves” may, in turn, lead you to a Tempranillo such as the “Tango” or “Sketches of Spain”. By the time you have encircled your way to the center you may discover a table and chairs with glass of Viognier such as our “Still Life.” ” —Patrick Reuter, Winemaker
 
Tucked away in a Barn turned wine loft in Carlton, Oregon, UC Davis educated Patrick Reuter is crafting ebullient yet elegant French and Spanish varietal wines, including this fabulous Pinot full of silky tannins, red fruits, and a pinch of spice.
Dominio IV Imagination Pinot Noir 2020 750ml $29 special, 27 bottles available
Winery Note “During the summer the Pacific Ocean and the Willamette Valley engage in a daily conversation regarding the weather. Pinot Noir records the dialogue in its berries. In the morning, the clouds of the sea creep into the valley’s forests and vineyards engaging in light chit-chat. The mid-day sun usually dominates the conversation.”
 
Also new from Oregon:
 
Bow & Arrow Pinot Gris, Arbre Vert Vineyard 2022 750ml $24 special, 12 bottles available
Scott Frank- Wine Master “From organically farmed Arbre Vert Vineyard in the Chehalem Mountains AVA.  100% Pinot Gris with long maceration and elevage.  Aged in 600l puncheon and an old barrique.  Inspired by the “orange wines” of my early years in the biz which were mostly Italian and always rustic and chewy.  Also the only wine I’ve ever made not inspired by the Loire region!  Only 94 cases produced.”
 

 
Domaine Collotte

 

 

Domaine Collotte is an old favorite Burgundy producer at Vinopolis. They are very famous for their Marsannay Roses, but these red are seriously delicious and a fantastic value.
Collotte Bourgogne Rouge Noble Souche 2021, Côte de Nuits 750ml $21.90 special, 24 bottles available
Case of 12 bottles Collotte Bourgogne Rouge Noble Souche, Côte de Nuits 2021 750ml $239 special, 3 cases available
Importer’s Note “Sustainable. 100% Pinot Noir. A wine produced from a “noble vine,” planted in 1947 on cailloux soil from Champforeys. Entirely destemmed followed by slow fermentation with five days premaceration. Aged for 11 months, with 90% of the cuvée aged in stainless steel tank. A lovely, subtlety rich Côte de Nuits wine.”
 
Lowest price in the United States
 
Collotte Chambolle-Musigny Vielle Vignes 2021 750ml $54.50 special, 18 bottles available
Importer’s Note “A superb and beautiful wine with an ample and expressive bouquet. Supremely silky tannins and endless red fruit flavors on the palate. It’s a relatively firm offering for a Chambolle, but its layered complexity and gracefulness carry the day.”
 
Lowest price in the United States
 

 
ITALY
 
 HOT!  Matho Bianco Cuvee Prosecco Brut Zero, Veneto 750ml NV $16 special, 24 bottles available
Scott Frank- Importer’s Note “Old vine Bianchetta/Verdiso/Perera-dominated blend from 1 hour north of Venice, in the foothills of the Dolomites.Brothers Bruno and Massimo Marion have run their family winery since 1999, but multiple previous generations of the Marion family have owned vines and produced wines here continuously since the 1800s. “Here” = a cluster of vineyards that extends from the hillside slopes around Conegliano and Valdobbiadene down to the banks of the Piave River, where calcareous white stones cover the soil and slowly release the heat accumulated during the day, thus optimizing grape maturity and freshness. That sounds like wine sales gibberish, I know, but it’s actually a pretty unique site (amidst a vast ocean of flat, chemically farmed, clay which is where most prosecco comes from). I’ve sold a lot of Prosecco and this takes the cake of anything under $20 I’ve tasted.  Take advantage of this introductory price!”
 
Altesino Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Tuscany 2016 750ml $59 special, 6 bottles available
Wine Advocate 95+ Points “Bold cherry, dried raspberry and myrtle add to the intensity and the brightness of the bouquet. The Altesino 2016 Brunello di Montalcino displays a lively and fruit-forward ensemble with an infectious and cheerful sense of energy. This is a tonic and crisp expression of Sangiovese with lifted berry aromas backed by subtle spice, tar and licorice gained over two years of barrel aging.”
 
Lowest price in the United States
 
Felsina Berardenga Rancia, Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG 2020 750ml $51.90 special, 17 bottles available
Wine Spectator 95 Points “Intense, with complex flavors of cherry, blackberry, violet, mineral and leafy underbrush, this red is silky and verges on racy. Harmonious and persistent, with a long, resonant aftertaste that echoes red fruit, mineral and savory elements. Best from 2025 through 2045. 4,100 cases made, 1,800 cases imported.”
 

 
“In the heart of the Serradenari cru of La Morra—the highest point in the Barolo zone, with vineyards culminating at 536 meters above sea level—Giulia passionately pursues her goal of crafting Barolo with a Burgundian sensibility. In fact, she even inherited small parcels of Chardonnay and Pinot Nero that her father planted on the estate’s cooler, north-facing sites, allowing her to pay tribute to the great wines of the Côte d’Or through the lens of Piemontese soil.” –Kermit Lynch
 
Giulia Negri Serradenari ‘Marassio’, Barolo DOCG, Piedmont 2019 750ml $149 special, 7 bottles available
James Suckling 96 Point “Aromatic with blackberries, flowers and perfumes. Some lavender. Full-bodied with very fine tannins that are like cashmere in texture. Bright finish. Lightly salty with crushed stone. Reserved. Complex. Best after 2027.”
 
Giulia Negri Serradenari Barolo DOCG, Piedmont 2019 750ml $99 special, 2 bottles available
James Suckling 97 Points “Extremely floral with violets and roses. Orange peel. Forest strawberries. Medium to full body. Very fine tannins and a long and bright finish. Racy and focused. Energetic. Like a Cannubi. Best after 2027.”
 
Giulia Negri Serradenari ‘La Tartufaia’, Barolo DOCG, Piedmont 2019 750ml $59 special, 12 bottles available
James Suckling 94 Points “Lovely fine tannins that are velvety and polished with a medium to full body. Juicy and flavorful. Hints of orange peel. Seamless. Deep mouthfeel. Clay soils.”
 
CALIFORNIA
 
Paul Hobbs George Menini Estate Chardonnay, Russian River Valley 2020 750ml $69 special, 20 bottles available
Jeb Dunnuck 95 Points “The 2020 Chardonnay George Menini Estate is lifted with fresh tarragon, flint, and candied green apple. The palate is all about its chalky mineral texture and vibrant energy. Not to confuse this with losing balance or feeling underripe, it has plenty of fruit, with lemon confit, fresh green apple, and a touch of warming baking spice. Allow another year or two in cellar and drink 2023-2034.”
Wine Advocate 95 Points “The 2020 Chardonnay George Menini Estate is the first iteration of this single-vineyard wine from Paul Hobbs, from a vineyard that he recently purchased. Previously an apple orchard, it was planted to 39 acres of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay in 2015, mostly with heritage selections like Wente and Hudson. The vines are dry farmed in classic Goldridge soils. “The newer vineyards that I purchase are in cooler pockets, so I don’t have to acidulate,” Hobbs explains. “It has become a hallmark in the quest for vineyards, and the need to dry farm.” Matured for 15 months in 30% new oak, it has very pretty scents of white peach, honey, crushed almonds and flint. The light-bodied palate is silky with expansive flavors foiled by focused acidity, and it finishes with a touch of anchoring textural grip. 491 cases produced.”
 
Only listing in the USA
 
Raen Lady Marjorie Chardonnay Sonoma Coast 2021 750ml $59 special, 6 bottles available
James Suckling 97 Points “Aromas of dried pineapple, cooked apple, white peach, flint and white peach skin. Full-bodied and very structured, with a quartz, rock and stone character and phenolic, chewy mouthfeel. White flowers at the end. New wine honoring Carlo and Dante Mondavi’s grandmother. A tiny vineyard not far from Charles Ranch. Drinkable, but better in two or three years.”
Jeb Dunnuck 94 Points “Medium gold-colored, the 2021 Chardonnay Lady Marjorie is fresh and layered with Meyer lemon curd, ripe golden apple, and cardamom. Medium to full-bodied, it has a fresh mineral texture with saline earth and a balance of savory flowers of chamomile, rocky earth, and salted pineapple. It’s long on the palate with a good balance of richness and driving mineral tension. Drink 2024-2034.”
 
Lowest price in the United States
 

 
Founded by Napa legend David Abreu in 1989, Chuck and Anne McMinn took over Vineyard 29 in 2000 and have transformed it into both a state of the art winery and an Oenophile’s dream tasting destination in downtown Napa.
 

 

 

 
“The Vineyard 29 ’29 Estate’ vineyard is located just north of the town of St. Helena, on an eastern facing slope at the base of the Mayacamas mountain range which forms the western boundary of the Napa Valley.” –Winery Note
Vineyard 29 Aida Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2019 750ml $219 special, 10 bottles available
Jeb Dunnuck 98 Points “Another magical wine in the lineup, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Aida Estate is just about all Cabernet with 2% Cabernet Franc, raised 20 months in 80% new barrels. Pure crème de cassis, truffly earth, lead pencil, new leather, and herbes de Provence-like notes define this rich, concentrated, full-bodied, yet utterly seamless 2019. It shows the layered, ripe, opulent style of the vintage and is going to cruise for 20-25 years in cold cellar. 520 cases.”
Wine Advocate 95+ Points “While I adored the Turley Petite Syrahs (yes, that’s how they were labeled) sourced from this vineyard, it’s hard to argue with the Cabernet Sauvignon that replaced those old vines. Vaguely smoky, with layers of dark fruit—black cherries, plums, cassis and blueberries—framed by lavish vanilla and cedar notes, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Aida Estate is full-bodied and expansive in the mouth, richly textured and tannic, with a long, velvety finish. It should begin drinking well in a few years and continue to do so for up to two decades.”
 
“A symbolic representation of the passion and dedication that Chuck and Anne McMinn have bestowed upon their prized vineyards. Both a blend of their vineyards, as well as their names, CEANDA stands tall as a beautiful new addition to the Vineyard 29 family. ” –Winery Note
Vineyard 29 Ceanda Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 750ml $119 special, 9 bottles available
Jeb Dunnuck 95 Points “Another St. Helena release, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Ceanda checks in as 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Cabernet Franc, and the rest Petit Verdot and Merlot, all brought up in French oak. Black fruits, chocolaty herbs, graphite, violets, and acacia flower notes all emerge from the glass, and it hits the palate with a seamless, elegant texture, ultra-fine tannins, no hard edges, and a great finish. I’d be thrilled to drink a bottle any time over the coming 20 years or more.”
Antonio Galloni 94 Points “The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon 29 Estate Ceanda is absolutely gorgeous. Medium in body and so refined, the Ceanda is wonderfully expressive today. Silky tannins and lifted aromatics lend finesse to a Cabernet that marries fruit richness with energy so well. The 2018 Ceanda is also a terrific example of the style at Vineyard 29 today, which represents a move away from the blockbuster, flamboyant wines of the past. All the elements are so nicely balanced. Ripe dark cherry, lavender, spice and menthol build into the delineated finish.”
Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Wine Advocate 93 Points “The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon CEANDA is composed of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Cabernet Franc, 3% Petit Verdot and 2% Merlot. Deep garnet-purple in color, it delivers expressive notions of blackberry pie, Black Forest cake and crème de cassis with hints of licorice, tar and Sichuan pepper plus a waft of wild sage. Full-bodied, the palate has a rock-solid, rugged structure of grainy tannins and plenty of freshness to support the black fruit preserves layers, finishing on a lingering aniseed note.”
 

 
My Favourite Neighbour ‘Harvey & Harriet’ Red Blend, Paso Robles 2020 750ml $21.90 special, 36 bottles available
Wine Advocate 95 Points “Medium ruby-purple, the 2020 Red Blend is savory and less defined than the rest of the lineup, with aromas of bell pepper, chargrill and tar over a core of red and black currants. The full-bodied palate offers a core of savory fruit, firm, grainy tannins and just enough juicy acidity on the finish to call you in for another sip.”
James Suckling 93 Points “Nice herbs, olives with a hint of savory anchovies, blackcurrants and tobacco to the nose. Juicy and bright with fine, present tannins on a medium- to full-bodied palate. Nicely flattering and fruit-forward, too. Drink or hold.”
 
My Favorite Neighbor Harvey & Harriet White Blend, Paso Robles 2021 750ml $19.50 special, 36 bottles available
Wine Advocate 95 Points “The 2021 White Blend, a blend of Albariño, Chardonnay, Viognier and Pinot Gris, has intense aromas of peach, lemongrass, fresh citrus, honey and flint, opening to new aromatic nuances with each return to the glass. The medium-bodied palate is bursting with perfumed fruit, loaded with juicy acidity, and it finishes with a touch of anchoring texture. It’s a delicious yet serious white with alluring generosity that keeps you coming back for more.”

 
Re-Arrivals

 
R. Dumont Tradition Brut NV 750ml $33 special, 30 bottles available
Importer note “The Dumont Brut NV is a blend of 90% Pinot Noir and 10% Chardonnay. The grapes from their vineyard have qualities that seem less aggressive and more sumptuous than those from the northern districts. In addition, vinification of whole berries at low temperatures enhances this quality of soft elegance. The NV is a blend of vintages typically between two and five years old. It is aged for two years on the lees before disgorgement. Dosage is 7 grams.”
 
R. Dumont Brut Rose NV 750ml $39 special, 28 bottles available
Importer Note “The Dumont Brut Rosé is made exclusively from Pinot Noir. A selection is made in the vineyard from parcels that are particularly ripe and from bunches with deeply colored skins. Fermentation proceeds as with red wines but the wine is drawn off the skins after a day or so with the Dumonts looking carefully at the balance of extraction, color and tannin. This method, known as “saignée”, is a tricky art but one that can produce the most natural and delicately complex style of Rosé champagne. The Brut Rosé NV is aged for two years on the lees before disgorgement and dosage is 10 grams.”
 

 

 

Beat the Polar Vortexes, Bomb Cyclones, and Atmospheric Rivers this winter with big Italian reds at some of the lowest prices in the country!

 

BAROLO
 

 
Pecchenino Bussia, Barolo DOCG 2015 750ml WAS $69 NOW $59 special, 14 bottles available
Antonio Galloni 93 Points “The 2015 Barolo Bussia is a very pretty, effusive wine that will drink well right out of the gate. Spice and floral notes open first. Silky and pliant, with lovely depth, the 2015 is so expressive today. Fine mineral notes extend the finish effortlessly while adding freshness and cut to balance the open-knit fruit. Readers looking for a Barolo to drink now will find so much to admire in the 2015 Bussia.”
 
Lowest price in the United States
 

Paolo Scavino Bric del Fiasc, Barolo DOCG 2017 750ml WAS $89 NOW $79 special, 19 bottles available
Antonio Galloni 95+ Points “The 2017 Barolo Bric del Fiasc is another gorgeous wine in the line up from the Scavino family. Readers will find a Barolo that is more nuanced and less bombastic than in the past. Bric del Fiasc has plenty of power on its own, so this style works so well. Dried rose petal, mint, spice, kirsch and iron all blossom with a bit of coaxing. I can’t wait to see how it ages.”
Jeb Dunnuck 95 Points “The 2017 Barolo Bric Del Fiasc has pure aromatics of stony graphitic earth, licorice, violets, and cherry liqueur. The palate is balanced, with a full structure, noted by dried apricot, blood orange, and cinnamon. The Bric del Fiasc has both floral lift as well as noble structure and has a refreshing nature. Drink 2024-2046.”
 
Lowest price on the West Coast
 
Paolo Scavino Carobric, Barolo DOCG 2017 750ml WAS $69 NOW $59 special, 8 bottles available
Antonio Galloni 95 Points “The 2017 Barolo Carobric is one of the standouts in this range, as it often is. It has an extra dimension of depth and volume that works so well here. Sweet red cherry, cedar, sweet pipe tobacco, anise and brambly notes build as this striking, expressive Barolo shows off its considerable charm. What a pretty wine it is.”

Paolo Scavino Prapo, Barolo DOCG 2017 750ml WAS $69 NOW $59 special, 11 bottles available
Antonio Galloni 95+ Points “The 2017 Barolo Prapò is yet another stellar wine in this range. Dark and brooding in the glass, the Prapò expresses all of the natural weight of this Serralunga cru, but with more overt fruit and a bit less tannic heft than is often the case. That should make the 2017 a real pleasure to drink, with just a handful of years in the cellar. Succulent black cherry, licorice, menthol, gravel and cured meats build into the heady finish.”

Lowest price on the West Coast
 
Paolo Scavino Barolo Ravera 2018 750ml WAS $69 NOW $59 special, 22 bottles available
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 93 Points “Moving over to Novello, the Paolo Scavino 2018 Barolo Ravera is slightly more simplistic in this vintage with a tart cherry element that opens loud over the bouquet. You might also notice crushed white pepper, salty limestone and crushed earth. The wine remains subtle in texture with silky tannins and medium weight. Some 6,500 bottles were made.”
 
BARBARESCO
 

 
Rizzi Barbaresco Nervo, Barbaresco DOCG 2017 750ml WAS $59 NOW $49 special, 3 bottles available
Kerin O’keefe-Wine Enthusiast 95 Points “Rose, violet and perfumed berry aromas lead the nose followed by whiffs of camphor and culinary spice. Full bodied, supremely elegant and surprisingly fresh for the hot vintage, the savory palate delivers ripe Marasca cherry, crushed raspberry, licorice and crushed mint alongside taut, refined tannins. Fresh acidity keeps it impeccably balanced. Drink 2022–2032.”
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 93 Points “Of these new releases from Rizzi, the 2017 Barbaresco Nervo is my favorite. That carefully assembled combination of fruit, minerals and Nebbiolo spice (with licorice and aniseed) is what I look for in a Barbaresco. This was not the easiest growing season by any stretch. The vintage was plagued by very cold weather during the first part of the year, followed by scorching heat during the summer. However, the folks at Rizzi have managed to preserve the freshness and linearity of that delicate Nebbiolo fruit. I would recommend a medium-term drinking window in the case of this wine, of which a precious 3,800 bottles were produced.”
 
Rizzi Boito, Barbaresco Riserva DOCG 2015 750ml WAS $99 NOW $89 special, 11 bottles available
Kerin O’keefe-Wine Enthusiast 96 Points “Cellar Selection. Camphor, pipe tobacco, iris and mature black-skinned fruit aromas shape the nose on this full-bodied red. Delicious and structured, the firm palate delivers succulent black cherry, raspberry and licorice framed in firm, tightly knit but noble tannins. Drink 2023–2030.”
 
Lowest price in the United States
 
BRUNELLO
 

 
La Fortuna Brunello Di Montalcino 2017 750ml WAS $59 NOW $49 special, 23 bottles available
Wine Advocate 93 Points “The mid-weight 2017 Brunello di Montalcino shows a smooth approach with cherry fruit and cassis. No part of this wine is overblown, and in fact, this Brunello maintains a silky personality overall. The alcohol is high at 15% in this hot vintage, although it feels relatively well tucked into the subtle fiber of this accessible Brunello. Production is 30,000 bottles.”
 
This is the only listed bottle in the world right now!
 
Mastrojanni Brunello Vigna Loreto 2015 750ml WAS$125 NOW $115 special, 22 bottles available
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 96 Points “The Mastrojanni 2015 Brunello di Montalcino Vigna Loreto shows a creamy and robust constitution with loads of black fruit and spice. If you are looking for a soft and more contemporary expression of Sangiovese, this will fit the bill. It offers profound richness and texture that is laced with black fruit, spice and tobacco. This wine moves one step beyond the comforting boundaries of Brunello in terms of both richness and extraction. If you are going to go big, you might as well do so in style. Only 8,000 bottles were released in January 2020.”
Eric Guido-Vinous 96 Points “Mastrojanni’s 2015 Brunello di Montalcino Vigna Loreto shows depths of dusty red berry fruit and subtle spice, with minty herbs, crushed stone, sweet tobacco and the slightest hint of animal musk, all in a remarkably pretty expression. On the palate, I find silky textures with cool-toned red fruits, savory spice, saline-minerals, and energizing acidity, in an expression that is both polished yet also firmly rooted in the earth, as it glides effortlessly across the senses. The finish is long, showing ripe red fruits, salty-savory-minerals, leather, and wonderfully balanced tannins. It is so pleasurable already, yet full of potential.”
 
Lowest price on the West Coast
 
La Gerla Brunello Riserva Gli Angeli 2015 750ml WAS $99 NOW $89 special, 11 bottles available
Wine Spectator 96 Points “Rich and round, here is a red full of macerated plum and cherry flavors, with almond, leather, spice and earth accents. Firms up on the finish, where the vibrant fruit echoes. Best from 2025 through 2050. 500 cases made, 280 cases imported. — BS”
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 95 Points “The La Gerla 2015 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva gli Angeli is a softly textured and fleshed out wine that shows darker and deeper fruit (compared to the 2016 Brunello that I tasted at the same time). This wine makes a great first impression, mostly thanks to that sense of quiet balance. As it opens in the glass, I notice the pretty ripeness of the vintage with dark cherry and summer plum. In all, this Riserva gives us an accessible and rich expression that will perform nicely upon release. Production is 8,560 bottles, and this wine will hit the market in April 2021.”
Kerin O’Keefe-Wine Enthusiast 95 Points “New leather, forest floor and ripe woodland-berry aromas make their way to the forefront together with whiffs of violet and pipe tobacco. Full bodied and firmly structured, the palate offers finesse and concentrated flavors including crushed raspberry, morello cherry, licorice and truffle framed in tightly knit, polished tannins. Drink 2023–2030.”
 
Lowest price in the United States
 
Salvioni Cerbaiola Brunello di Montalcino 2017 750ml WAS $199 NOW $159 special, 9 bottles available
Monica Larner- Wine Advocate 95 Points “The 2017 Brunello di Montalcino La Cerbaiola grows in intensity in the glass, with delicate aromas that are especially floral and light in character. Instead of blackberry or blackcurrant, this elegant wine delivers cassis and cranberry. Instead of overt spice, you get licorice, balsam herb and camphor ash. The Salvioni house style is ethereal and light, and although that extra vintage ripeness and concentration does register on the palate, farming and winemaking at this estate puts an emphasis on acidity over power or structure. These choices were particularly important in 2017.”
 
Lowest price on the West Coast
 
Siro Pacenti Brunello Pelagrilli 2018 750ml WAS $59 NOW $49 special, 17 bottles available
Wine Advocate 94 Points “In an elegantly designed bottle, the Siro Pacenti 2018 Brunello di Montalcino Pelagrilli delivers lots of dark fruit and blackberry, and the quality of the fruit is bold, fresh and still very much alive. The house style prizes concentration and oak spice, but the detailed-minded winemaking is impeccable.
 
Lowest price in the United States
 

Collector’s Corner
 
Beautiful Bordeaux

 
Chateau Canon, Saint-Emilion 2015 750ml $349 special, 34 bottles available
#1 Wine of the Year – James Suckling
Vinous 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 Malescot-St-Exupery, Margaux 2018 750ml $89 special, 17 bottles available
Vinous 95 points “The 2018 Malescot Saint Exupéry is every bit as compelling as it was from barrel. Powerful and incisive, the 2018 is a driving, potent Margaux that dazzles from the first taste. Iron, smoke, new leather, licorice, pressed rose petal and cedar all open in the glass, conveying tremendous nuance and a ton of character.”
Wine Advocate 95 points “The medium to deep garnet-purple colored 2018 Malescot St. Exupery leaps from the glass with expressive scents of baked blackberries, Morello cherries and boysenberries with hints of blackcurrant cordial, dark chocolate, licorice and tilled soil. The medium to full-bodied palate has impressive intensity without heaviness, delivering mouth-coating black fruits and a firm, grainy texture, finishing with a refreshing earthy lift.”

Chateau Lynch-Bages, Pauillac, France 2018 750ml $189 special, 9 bottles available $189 special, 9 bottles available
Jeb Dunnuck 98 Points “One of the finest vintages I’ve ever tasted from this address, the 2018 Château Lynch-Bages has everything you look for in a great wine: incredible aromatics, richness without weight, perfect balance, and a purity of fruit that’s just about off the charts. Dense purple, it reveals a glorious perfume of blackcurrants and blackberry fruits, a deep, unctuous mouthfeel, building tannins, and a complex array of cedar pencil, tobacco, wood smoke, and chocolate. A true blockbuster in every sense, with masses of fruit and tannins as well as moderate acidity, it will probably merit a triple-digit score in a decade and is a 50+-year wine from this team. Drink: 2028-2078. (3/11/21)”
Wine Spectator 97 Points “Vibrant, with a violet and cassis lead-in that then expands to include steeped black cherry and plum fruit as well as extra savory, iron and licorice root notes. Nice latent grip too, with a mouthwatering tug of earth at the very end. The fruit is so vibrant, it’s a tease now, but there’s structure here for the long haul, so be patient. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Best from 2025 through 2040. (3/31/21)”
James Suckling 97 Points “Aromas of blackberries, cloves, licorice, dried leaves, graphite and black olives. It’s full-bodied with firm, tight tannins. Structured and tannic with beautiful austerity and a long, mineral and layered finish. The tannins grow on the palate. Try from 2026. (1/15/21)”
 
Chateau Lynch-Bages Blanc de Lynch-Bages, Bordeaux, France 750ml $69 special, 14 bottles available
Decanter 94 Points “A balanced, juicy, slate-filled mineral edge here, with a crisp shot of mint. Has a lovely balance of rich texture and acidity, with lime blossom and citrus. Drinking Window 2020 – 2028.”

Chateau Pavie Macquin, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru 2016 750ml $119 special, 28 bottles available
Jeb Dunnuck 98+ points “Possibly the finest vintage of this cuvée to date, the 2016 Château Pavie Macquin comes from a cooler, later terroir on the upper plateau and checks in as 82% Merlot, 16% Cabernet Franc, and 2% Cabernet Sauvignon aged in 50% new oak. This deep, inky-colored effort boasts a rock star bouquet of blackcurrants, black cherries, white truffle, graphite, and spice. Deep, rich, and powerful on the palate, yet also balanced, elegant, and seamless, with ultra-fine tannins, this seamless beauty needs a decade of cellaring and will keep for 4-5 decades.”
Vinous 98 points “The 2016 Pavie Macquin is a total stunner. Rich, lush and inviting, the 2016 is a drop-dead gorgeous beauty. Sweet red cherry, plum, rose petal, lavender and mint are all given an extra kick of allure by silky tannins that caress the palate from start to finish. There is a level of precision and nuance here that is simply breathtaking. The purity of the fruit is just mind-boggling.”
James Suckling 97 points “This is very linear and driven with a precise and driven center palate. Full-bodied, tight and compact. Energetic and well formed. Give it at least five years. Try from 2024.”
Wine Advocate 96 points “Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2016 Pavie Macquin charges out of the glass with gregarious black cherries, warm blackberries and wild blueberries scents followed up by loads of red roses, baking spices, cedar chest and unsmoked cigars sparks plus a waft of wild thyme. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is an exercise in poise, revealing layer upon layer of cherries and berries flavors and tons of savory nuances, framed by firm yet exquisitely ripe tannins, finishing very long.”