Double Feature: Italian Wine Sales 4-24-24

In This Newsletter:
 
Italian Close-Out Wines: Three-Day Sale
 &
Italian Magnum Three-Day Sale
 

 
Italian Close-Out Wines

Three-Day Sale
 

We’re offering you an additional discount on all of our 750ml Italian wines that are on our Close-Out Sale — that’s 47 options to choose from!
 

5% off any 6-11 750ml Italian Close-Out Wines
10% off any 12 or more 750ml Italian Close-Out Wines
 
Discount will not display online or in your cart,
We will adjust your invoice before processing your charge.
 
Sale ends Sunday, April 28th at 9 am Pacific.

 
View the full list here or browse below for highlights!

 
We offer 47 750ml Italian Close-Out Wine options on sale now, including:
 
From Piedmont:
 
Was $59!
Cantina del Pino Albesani, Barbaresco DOCG 2017 750ml Displayed Price: $49, that’s $46.55 at 5% off and $44.10 at 10% off, 14 bottles in stock now
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 94 points “Fruit from Albesani shows nice sharpness and a compact or complete profile that is typical of Nebbiolo. This site has fared well in this hot and dry vintage with intact aromas of wild berry, mineral and blue violets. The Cantina del Pino 2017 Barbaresco Albesani turns in a strong showing in terms of aromas but tapers out a bit in the palate. In this release of 3,000 bottles, the wine is driven largely by the textural and structural power of the vintage, and the fruit is a bit leaner on the finish right now. It will likely flesh out with time.”
 

This was the lowest listed price in the USA today,
Now it’s even lower!

 
Was $135!
Elvio Cogno Ravera Bricco Pernice, Barolo DOCG 2017 750ml Displayed Price: $119, that’s $113.05 at 5% off and $107.10 at 10% off, 17 bottles in stock now
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 95 points “This is a medium-bodied Nebbiolo from a hot vintage with a ruby-tinged appearance. The 2017 Barolo Ravera Bricco Pernice shows generous inner fiber and richness with dried cherry, blackberry, plum and dark spice. Fruit for this wine comes from a beautiful amphitheater of vines with the perched town of Novello high up on the skyline. I love the especially smooth and soft quality to what is a powerful and lasting wine. Only 3,500 bottles were made.”
 

This was the lowest listed price in the USA today,
Now it’s even lower!

 
Was $79!
Luigi Baudana Cerretta, Barolo DOCG 2018 750ml Displayed Price: $69, that’s $65.55 at 5% off and $62.10 at 10% off, 36+ bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 93 points “The 2018 Barolo Cerretta is a potent, searing wine, its mid-weight structure notwithstanding. Scorching tannins wrap around a core of dark red/black fruit, gravel, smoke, crushed rocks, menthol, licorice and game. The 2018 is going to need a number of years to come around and for those formidable tannins to soften.”
 

This was the lowest listed price in the USA today,
Now it’s even lower!

 
Was $41.90!
Paitin di Pasquero-Elia ‘Serraboella’, Barbaresco DOCG 2018 750ml Displayed Price: $38, that’s $36.10 at 5% off and $34.20 at 10% off, 12 bottles in stock now
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 94 points “This wine draws its fruit from across the Serraboella vineyard in Neive with vines of various ages. The 2018 Barbaresco Serraboella has a broad reach, thanks to its balanced aromas of wild berry, dried cherry, crushed roses and violets. The wine spreads cleanly over the palate, thanks to the extra volume offered by its earthy and delicately mineral flavors. Like other releases from Paitin, the standout feature here is the silky nature of the mouthfeel.”
 

This was the lowest listed price in the USA today,
Now it’s even lower!

 
Was $89!
Paolo Scavino Bric del Fiasc, Barolo DOCG 2017 750ml Displayed Price: $79, that’s $75.05 at 5% off and $71.10 at 10% off, 18 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 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.”
 

This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!

 
From Tuscany:
 
Was $59!
Rocca di Castagnoli Chianti Classico Gran Selezione “Stielle” 2016 750ml Displayed Price: $49, that’s $46.55 at 5% off and $44.10 at 10% off, 20 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 95 points “The 2016 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Stielle is a beautiful and distinctive wine, but it also needs time to come together. Sangiovese bristles with energy and cut as this nervy, tightly wound wine shows off its personality. The combination of a high altitude site and whole clusters in fermentation yields a Chianti Classico endowed with notable power and intensity.”
 

This is the only listing in the USA today!

 
Was $125!
Mastrojanni Vigna Loreto, Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2015 750ml Displayed Price: $115, that’s $109.25 at 5% off and $103.50 at 10% off, 22 bottles in stock now
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.”
 

This was the lowest listed price in the USA today,
Now it’s even lower!

 
Was $199!
Salvioni La Cerbaiola Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2017 750ml Displayed Price: $169, that’s $160.55 at 5% off and $152.10 at 10% off, 9 bottles in stock now
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.”
 

This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!

 
Was $79!
Tua Rita Giusto di Notri Toscana IGT 2015 750ml Displayed Price: $69, that’s $65.55 at 5% off and $62.10 at 10% off, 13 bottles in stock now
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 96 points “Here is a high performance wine from Stefano Frascolla and his family. The 2015 Giusto di Notri is mostly Cabernet Sauvignon with smaller parts Cabernet Franc and Merlot. The wine is contemporary, complex and gorgeous from tip to toe. You get a lot of power here and generous oak-driven tones of sweet espresso, chocolate and spice that surround a succulent core of dark fruit and candied cherry. All these elements appear even bigger and bolder in this warm vintage.”
 

This was the lowest listed price in the USA today,
Now it’s even lower!

 
Was $85!
Castello di Volpaia Balifico 2018 750ml Displayed Price: $74.50, that’s $70.78 at 5% off and $67.05 at 10% off, 17 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 96 points “The 2018 Balifico, Volpaia’s Sangiovese/ Cabernet Sauvignon blend, is fabulous. Rich and inky, the 2018 offers up a compelling mélange of dark berry fruit, dark spice, licorice and espresso. I especially admire the wine’s textural richness. I imagine the 2018 will drink well for many, many years to come. In this tasting it is a total knock-out.”
 
And Beyond:
 
Was $19!
Caruso & Minini ‘Naturalmente Bio’ Perricone Terre Siciliane IGT 2019 750ml Displayed Price: $16, that’s $15.20 at 5% off and $14.40 at 10% off, 25 bottles in stock now
“The Perricone [grape], or the so-called pignatello, had been the undisputed leader of the red grapes in western Sicily. Rich with red fruits…Wine of great power and harmony while expressing…fresh and lively character” -Winery notes
 

This is the only listing in the USA today!

 
Was $59!
Santa Barbara Stefano Antonucci ‘Pathos’ Marche Rosso IGT 2017 750ml Displayed Price: $49, that’s $46.55 at 5% off and $44.10 at 10% off, 36+ bottles in stock now
James Suckling 96 points “A dense and rich red with crushed-berry and chocolate character and hints of cedar and sandalwood. Medium to full body. Firm tannins. Extremely polished and opulent. One for the cellar but hard not to drink now.”
 

This is the only listing in the USA today!

 

Shop our 47 selections on sale now on our webstore!
 
We offer 219 wines on our close-out sale, including gems from the German producer Molitor, Spanish producer Nit-Ortiz, and French producer de Venoge. Shop the sale here!

 
We couldn’t leave out magnums!
 
Italian Magnum Sale
 
Starting Now
 

We’re deeply discounting all of our in-stock Italian magnums – that’s 35 options to choose from!
 

5% off any 2-4 in-stock Italian magnums
10% off any 5 or more in-stock Italian magnums
 
Discount will not display online or in your cart,
We will adjust your invoice before processing your charge.
 
Sale ends Sunday, April 28th at 9 am Pacific.

 
We offer 32 Italian magnum options on sale now, including:
 
From Sicily:
 
Benanti Serra della Contessa ‘Particella No. 587’ Etna Rosso Riserva, Sicily 2016 1.5L Displayed Price: $249, that’s $236.55 at 5% off and $224.10 at 10% off, 6 magnums in stock now
Eric Guido-Vinous 95 points “The 2016 Etna Rosso Serra della Contessa Particella No. 587 Riserva is dark and savory in the glass, grumbling up with notes of crushed rocks and ash that evolve further to reveal musky black currants, hints of licorice and dried violets. This is velvety-smooth, yet not weighty in feel. Instead, the 2016 seems to glide effortlessly across the palate, yet what it leaves behind is a saturation of primary fruit and mineral tones, as well as silky tannins that penetrate deeply. The Serra della Contessa finishes structured yet long and unexpectedly fresh, with balsam herbs and a touch of salted licorice that slowly fades. This Etna Rosso is a powerhouse, but it is in need of cellaring to reveal all of its charms.”
 

This is the only magnum listing in the USA today!

 
From Piedmont and Alto Piemonte:
 
Cantalupo Collis Breclemae, Ghemme DOCG 2013 1.5L Displayed Price: $119, that’s $113.05 at 5% off and $107.10 at 10% off, 11 magnums in stock now
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 96 points “The 2013 Ghemme Collis Breclamae is fabulous. Deep, dark and also translucent, the 2013 possesses magnificent clarity as well as structure. Black cherry, lavender, truffle, mint, spice and new leather all develop in an ample, resonant Ghemme that hits all the right notes. A rich, substantial finish rounds things out in style. The 2013 can be enjoyed with minimal cellaring, but it also has the pedigree to develop in the cellar for many years to come. Each time I come back to the 2013 it is more impressive.”
 

This is the only listing in the USA today!

 
Domenico Clerico Arte Rosso Langhe 2011 1.5L Displayed Price: $66, that’s $62.70 at 5% off and $59.40 at 10% off, 33 magnums in stock now
Stephen Tanzer-Vinous 91 points “(90% nebbiolo and 10% barbera; aged for 18 months in new French oak): Good medium red. Perfumed aromas and flavors of plum, redcurrant, tobacco and spices.”
 

This is the only listing in the USA today!

 
Brovia Villero, Barolo DOCG 2019 1.5L Displayed Price: $289, that’s $274.55 at 5% off and $260.10 at 10% off, 5 magnums in stock now
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 94 points “The 2015 Barolo Villero offers richness and darkness with fruit from Castiglione Falletto, and it’s one of the more intense wines I tasted within this selection. The Villero is a balanced and polished Barolo that opens to nicely integrated fruit and spice tones, expertly interwoven and united. The wine has a beautiful entry to the palate. Indeed, this pretty wine presented a united front, with seamless and graceful integration.”
 
Giacomo Conterno ‘Cerretta’, Barolo DOCG 2018 1.5L Displayed Price: $599, that’s $569.05 at 5% off and $539.10 at 10% off, 1 magnum in stock now
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 95-97 points “Tasted from barrel, the Giacomo Conterno 2018 Barolo Cerretta is shaping up to be a beauty. What stands out most at this very young stage is the quality and the elegant tightness of the tannins. Cerretta fruit from Serralunga d’Alba makes for powerful, structured and concentrated Nebbiolo that is delivered with naked clarity and outstanding purity. These qualities are clearly linked to the vineyard site and less to the conservative efforts executed at the winery. You taste the crunch or the nervous quality of the grape skins and pulp with dark and purple berry nuances and rusty or mineral overtones that hint at the more significant presence of clay in these soils.”
 
Produttori del Barbaresco Rabaja, Barbaresco Riserva DOCG 2017 1.5L Displayed Price: $189, that’s $179.55 at 5% off and $170.10 at 10% off, 6 magnums in stock now
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 96+ points “The Produttori del Barbaresco 2017 Barbaresco Riserva Rabajà is another spectacular release from this cooperative winery that hits it out of the ballpark with each set of new releases. That impressive track record includes this wine that delivers extreme focus, depth and integrity. The bouquet is very clear cut with dark cherry, tart plum, spice and blood orange, but it is also complex and fluid. It offers new perspectives with each swirl of the glass. From a hot vintage, the Rabajà is smooth, powerful and balanced. I would bet on long aging for this bottle. 14,438 bottles were produced.”
 
From Tuscany:
 
Felsina Berardenga Fontalloro Toscana IGT 2018 1.5L Displayed Price: $128, that’s $121.60 at 5% off and $115.20 at 10% off, 11 magnums in stock now
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 95 points “The 2018 Fontalloro is bright, floral and full of energy. In most vintages, Fontalloro is quite open, but the 2018 is especially nervy and taut. That won’t be an issue in time, of course, but readers should plan on being patient. Sangiovese is so expressive here. A whole range of floral and savory accents lingers on the close.”
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 95 points “To my palate, the 2018 vintage sometimes feels a little too ripe or baked. I was reminded of those characteristics when tasting the Fèlsina 2018 Fontalloro. There is plenty of dark fruit at its core, but this wine also reveals dry tones of jarred oregano, grilled Mediterranean herb, crushed aspirin and graham cracker. The mouthfeel is pleasantly lean and silky, and perhaps the wine delivers more in terms of length than it does weight or texture. A little more bottle age should help flesh out and soften these results.”
 
Isole e Olena Chianti Classico DOCG 2017 1.5L Displayed Price: $49, that’s $46.55 at 5% off and $44.10 at 10% off, 10 magnums in stock now
Decanter 93 points “It is strange to see a bright red wine, and to smell ripe pinky-yellow peach. But I am told that peach is not such an unusual note for the Sangiovese from this hillcrest, along which the great estates Isole e Olena, Paneretta and Monsanto sit, looking out towards the Tyrrhenian sea. Winemaker Paolo de Marchi is a great fan of the native Canaiolo Nero and blends in 15%, contributing a black/violet colour, breadth, softness and spice to balance the austerity of Sangiovese. A consistently excellent wine.’
 

This is the only listing in the USA today!

 
Montevertine Rosso Toscana IGT 2020 1.5L Displayed Price: $249, that’s $236.55 at 5% off and $224.10 at 10% off, 1 magnum in stock now
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 95 points “The 2020 Montevertine shows a generous, open-knit presentation with dark fruit, blue flower and delicate mineral highlights. The wine is 90% Sangiovese with small additions of Canaiolo and Colorino. It shows a medium-rich core of fruit but also offers a filigree of background nuances that renders it all the more enticing and interesting. The is a true beauty, showing the subtleties and nuances that can be achieved with native Tuscan grapes in a warm vintage.”

           
Shop our 32 selections on sale now on our webstore!