Wednesday, March 18, 2015
Collector’s Corner Congested!
New Arrivals of Rare & Rarer Wines
Quilceda Creek Cabernet Sauvignon Columbia Valley 2012 ($249.95) $199 special
Wine Advocate 97-100 points “More approachable (than the Galatzine Vineyard cabernet), but no less impressive, the 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon (100% Cabernet Sauvignon) looks gorgeous, and is probably the most complete wine in the lineup. Layered and rich, yet ultra-pure and also elegant, it gives up classic crème de cassis, lead pencil shavings, licorice and liquid flower like qualities to go with full-bodied richness and depth on the palate. Relatively civilized, yet with building tannin and richness, it should benefit from short term cellaring and have two decades of longevity.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Hundred Acre Kayli Morgan Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2004 750ML ($349.95) $299 special, 6 bottles available
Robert Parker 98 points “The wild man of Napa Valley, Jayson Woodbridge, has turned out one of the superstars of 2004, with the 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon Kayli Morgan. His wines always tend to be gorgeous young, offering up an impression that they’re not going to last. But his first vintage, 2000, seems to get better and better, even though it was spectacular when released. The 2004, which was harvested in September, shows an almost Pomerol-like sweet mocha, kirsch, black currant and deeply fruited mouthfeel. It is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, but the clay soils of his vineyard seem to give a sweetness of tannin and a voluptuous character to the texture. This wine oozes rich, concentrated fruit, is light on its feet and has gorgeous purity, a multidimensional mouthfeel and a stunning finish. Silky black currant, kirsch, licorice, mocha and caramelized fruit make for a stunningly full-throttle, brilliant 2004 to enjoy over the next 15 or more years.” RP
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $352
Harlan Estate, Napa Valley 2009 750ML ($799.95) $579 special, 6 bottles available
Robert Parker 97 points “The 2009 Proprietary Blend Harlan Estate is just as impressive from bottle as it was from barrel. Cloves, dark plums, cherries, smoke and graphite add richness and resonance to this powerful, incisive wine. Juicy and exuberant, the 2009 has always had a certain raciness that is impossible to resist. Layers of fruit continue to build to the enveloping, sensual finish. Readers will have a hard time keeping their hands off this hugely delicious wine. Anticipated maturity: 2019-2034.” RP
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $599.99
Harlan Estate, Napa Valley 2002 750ML ($999.95) $819 special, 3 bottles available
Robert Parker 100 points “The extraordinary Harlan Estate, which I awarded 100 points seven years ago, offers no justifiable reason to doubt its perfect score. It is still a baby, with an inky purple color and notes of smoky camphor intermixed with creme de cassis, Asian soy and a hint of cedar beginning to emerge as well as some espresso and subtle damp forest floor notes. The wine has awesome intensity, a full-bodied mouthfeel, a skyscraper-like texture, and a finish that goes on for close to a minute. This is a perfect wine, still youthful and young, and not even in full adolescence as of 2012. It has 40 or more years ahead of it, but should hit its plateau of full maturity in another 5-10 years. It is certainly one of the most showy , flamboyant and remarkable Harlan Estates made to date. (More recently, the 2007 tends to resemble this wine more than any other vintage I can think of.) Kudos to Bill Harlan!” RP
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $945
Sloan Proprietary Red, Napa Valley 2003 750ML ($299.95) $219 special, 6 bottles available
Robert Parker 96+ points “The 2003 was made by Martha McClellan and the viticulture looked over by David Abreu. The 2003 Sloan, if slightly less prodigious than the perfect 2002, remains a young wine. Notes of vanillin, espresso roast, blackberries, scorched earth, camphor and hints of charcoal and barbecue meat jump from the glass of this spicy, rich, provocative Cabernet Sauvignon. With a full-bodied mouthfeel, sweet tannin and adequate acidity, the blend includes 14% Cabernet Franc and 86% Cabernet Sauvignon from this extraordinary hillside vineyard above Auberge de Soleil in mid-Napa Valley. This wine is 2-5 years away from full maturity, and should last for another decade.” RP 6/2013
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $245
Harlan Estate, Napa Valley 2003 750ML ($599.95) $519 special, 3 bottles available
Robert Parker 98+ points “One of the most backward yet promising wines of the vintage is the 2003 Harlan Estate. Its dense opaque plum/purple color is accompanied by a sumptuous bouquet of graphite, camphor, creme de cassis, smoky barbecue wood and a hint of forest floor. Similar flavors hit the mouth with full-bodied splendor, a multidimensional mouthfeel and texture, and the sensational finish lasts more than 45 seconds. Some tannins are still present, and this wine seems much younger than expected at ten years of age, so give it 4-5 more years of bottle age and consume it over the following 20-25 years.” RP
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $550
Sine Qua Non Ode to E Grenache, Central Coast 2004 750ML ($999.95) $799 special, 3 bottles available
Wine Advocate 100 points (in 2014) “Leading off with the Grenache-driven efforts, and easily the greatest expression of the variety I’ve ever tasted from California, the 2004 Ode to E (Grenache) is mind-blowing stuff that will stand toe-to-toe with the greatest Grenache-based wines ever made. Coming from Manfred’s Eleven Confessions Vineyard and comprised of 88% Grenache, 10% Syrah and 2% Viognier, it sports a still vibrant purple color to go with off-the-hook aromas and flavors of creme de cassis, melted licorice, graphite, smoked herbs and assorted meaty nuances. Full-bodied, seamless and elegant, with incredible purity and a perfect texture, it can be consumed anytime over the coming decade.” WA
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $950
Sine Qua Non Ode to E Syrah, Central Coast 2004 750ML ($899.95) $699 special, 3 bottles available
Wine Advocate 99 points (in 2014) “The 2004 Ode to E (Syrah) is an incredible blend of 94% Syrah, 4% Grenache and 2% Viognier, all from their estate Eleven Confessions Vineyard, that spent just under four years in oak. Boasting insane notes of creme de cassis, barbecued meats, licorice, exotic spices and singed cedar, this beauty flows onto the palate with a full-bodied, seamless, pure and incredibly layered profile that carries massive fruit and concentration, yet never seems heavy, overdone or puts a foot wrong. It’s the purity of fruit, as well as the overall seamlessness that puts this right up near top of the heap. Drinking perfectly now, it will continue to evolve gracefully for another decade or more. It’s incredible juice and I wish every wine lover could have a sip (or a big glass) of it.”
This is the only listed price in the USA today!
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Aubry Champagne
“One of the most original estates in Champagne.” -Peter Liem, Champagneguide.net
L. Aubry, located in the village of Jouy-lès-Reims, sits on the harmonious hills of Petite Montagne, in the Western sector of the Montagne de Reims. L. Aubry is recognized as a grower Champagne, a small family producer that grows their grapes and makes their wine exclusively from their own vineyards. Grower Champagne is often considered analogous to the small, family estates of Burgundy, which speaks measures when considering the quality of the wines. The big names in Champagne we all too often hear about are negociants, producing millions of cases a year in which all of the grapes are purchased from vineyards throughout the entire region. The typical Grower Champagne producer makes fewer than 5,000 cases per year.
L. Aubry is one of the very few producers in Champagne to use the regions indigenous and somewhat forgotten varieties; Arbanne, Petit Meslier, Fromentea (Pinot Gris), and Enfumé, (a supposed mutation of Pinot Meunier). The estate’s plantings of these rarely used grapes were completed in 1989, coincidentally marking the Aubry family’s 200 year anniversary of cultivating grapes. Also, many of the vines on the estate are planted “en foule,” untouched and as they were before the devastation of phylloxera. These grapes are being blended with the more familiar Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay, and the use of these seldom seen varieties have been a major factor in putting Aubry on the map, expressing their originality.
Following a philosophy of discipline, respect for tradition and creativity, twin brothers Phillipe and Pierre Aubry have followed the family tradition and are now the current proprietors. Descendants of a long line of winemakers, the brothers celebrate the tradition by bringing back these varieties their ancestors once used. They have worked together to express beautiful interpretations of these ancient grapes that impart unique flavors and textures to the different blends. All vineyards are Premier Cru, with the soils consisting of a deeper type of clay and sandy topsoil, bringing a slightly less austere character to the wines and showing more purity of fruit. Aubry truly expresses the originalities and complexities of a ‘Grower Champagne’, full of individuality and incomparable character.
Aubry Champagnes Available Here Now
Aubry Champagne Brut Premier Cru NV 750ML ($41.95) $33 special, 14 bottles available
Aubry Champagne Brut Premier Cru NV 1.5L ($119.95) $89 special, 8 magnums available
Case-12 Aubry Brut Premier Cru NV 750ML ($449.95) $359 special (that’s only $29.92/bottle!), 2 cases available
Josh Raynolds 90 points “(45% Pinot Meunier, 25% Pinot Noir, 25% Chardonnay and 5% Arbanne, Petit Meslier and Fromenteau; 6 g/l dosage; disgorged in February, 2014): Light yellow. Fresh pit fruits and melon on the floral nose, with a hint of ginger lending vibrancy. Silky and seamless on the palate, offering juicy honeydew and nectarine flavors and a hint of chamomile. The gingery quality repeats on the finish, which lingers with good tenacity and focus. -.”
The magnum and case specials are the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Aubry Cuvee ‘Aubry de Humbert’ Premier Cru Millesime Classique 2006 750ML ($89.95) $69 special, 12 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 91 points “(Made from roughly equal parts Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier and aged for over more than five years on its lees; disgorged June, 2012): Pale gold. Fresh citrus zest, strawberry and quince aromas are deepened by notes of anise, vanilla and musky herbs. Dusty, gripping lemon rind and blood orange flavors give way to deeper red berries in the mid-palate, picking up a hint of chalky minerality on the back half. Finishes with firm grip, very good length and lingering strawberry and vanilla notes.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $74.94/bottle!
Aubry Le Nombre d’Or Sable Blanc de Blancs Campanae Veteres Vites Brut 2007 750ML ($89.95) $79 special, 1 bottle available
Stephen Tanzer 92 points “Made from 30% Chardonnay, 30% Petit Meslier, 20% Arbanne and 20% Pinot Blanc, with a very low dosage of 2 g/l; disgorged June, 2012): Light yellow. Intensely perfumed bouquet of orchard fruits, tangerine, chamomile and anise, along with a suggestion of ginger and a mounting floral element. Firm and dry in the mouth, with chewy pear skin and citrus flavors giving way to deeper peach and nectarine on the back half. Shows a suave blend of richness and energy, finishing very long, with lingering spiciness and minerality.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $84
Aubry Le Nombre d’Or Sable Blanc de Blancs Campanae Veteres Vites Brut 2008 750ML ($79.95) $69 special, 9 bottles available
VinopolNote All the white grapes. 30% Chardonnay, 20% Arbanne, 30% Petit Meslier and 20% Fromonteau (a.k.a. Pinot Gris). Their word Sablé is used to designate low pressure (4 instead of 6 atmospheres), and this wine has zero dosage.
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $81.99
Aubry Le Nombre d’Or Sable Blanc de Blancs Campanae Veteres Vites Brut 2009 750ML ($89.95) $69 special, 12 bottles available
Antonio Galloni 93 points “Lemon oil, white flowers, mint and crushed rocks jump from the glass in Aubry’s 2009 Sablé Blanc des Blancs, a blend of Chardonnay, Arbanne, Petit Meslier and Fromenteau. The bright, focused style will appeal most to readers who enjoy tense, vibrant Champagnes. This is a stellar showing from the Aubry brothers. In particular, I am impressed with the level of freshness here given the warm, radiant vintage”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $79.99
Aubry Le Nombre d’Or Campanae Veteres Vites Brut 2009 750ML ($79.95) $59 special, 12 bottles available
Antonio Galloni 92 points “The 2009 Brut Le Nombre d’Or Campanae Veteres Vites is another striking wine from Aubry. Lemon peel, almonds, white flowers and spices are laced together in a Champagne endowed with a real sense of phenolic weight and verticality. Many of the current releases from Aubry are finely cut this year, but the Le Nombre d’Or Campanae Veteres Vites is a wine that is very much tied to the ground. The 2009 is 25% Pinot Blanc/Fromenteau, 20% Petit Meslier, 15% Arbanne, 15% Chardonnay, 5% Pinot Meunier and 20% Pinot Noir. Bottled February 2014. Dosage is 3 grams per liter.”
Aubry Nicolas Francois Sable Rose 2008 750ML ($89.95) $77 special, 13 bottles available
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $82.99
Aubry Nicolas Francois Sable Rose 2009 750ML ($99.95) $69 special, 12 bottles available
Antonio Galloni 92 points ” They 2009 Sablé Rosé Nicolas François Aubry is steely and reserved in this vintage. This is one of the more vibrant, tense 2009 Champagnes readers will come across. Rose petal, cranberry, crushed rocks and mint all jump from the glass. The 2009 Sablé Rosé is another inward Aubry Champagne that needs time in bottle. But it is striking just the same. The 2009 spent 50 months on the lees and was bottled with no dosage..”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
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New Spring Sales!
FRANCE
Chateau Pape Clement Pessac-Leognan 2010 750ML ($349.95) $199 special, 9 bottles available
Robert Parker 100 points “I certainly underrated the 2010 Pape Clement from barrel, rating it only 93-95+. (Thank God I put a ‘plus’ there!) Having tasted it four times in Bordeaux, and rating it perfect three times and 99 the fourth time, this final blend of 51% Merlot, 47.5% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 1.5% Petit Verdot is perfection in a bottle. Tipping the scales at 14.5% natural alcohol, there are 8,000 cases of it. Its sublime elegance, the power, the medium to full-bodied texture, the silky tannins, the subtle notes of smoke, lead pencil shavings, black currants, charcoal, camphor, blueberry and cassis fruit are all remarkable. It is a rich, full-throttle wine, but the elegance and the great terroir of Pape Clement come through in abundance. It is slightly more developed and evolved than the 2005 was at a similar point in its evolution, but it certainly needs another 5-7 years to develop further nuances, which it surely will. This wine will last 30-40+ years. Kudos to proprietor Bernard Magrez, who has built an empire based on high quality more than any other characteristic.” RP
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $247
Chateau Pape Clement Pessac-Leognan 2008 750ML ($179.95) $98 special, 21 bottles available
Robert Parker 95 points “One of the top successes of the vintage, this blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot was harvested between October 8 and 24. The late harvest ensured perfect ripeness as evidenced by the sweet bouquet of black cherries, lead pencil shavings, cassis and subtle barbecue smoke. Well-balanced with good acidity, ripe tannins, medium to full body and a layered mouthfeel, this excellent 2008 can be drunk now and over the next 15+ years.” RP
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $138
Chateau Leoville-Las Cases ‘Grand Vin de Leoville du Marquis de Las Cases’, Saint-Julien 2011 750ML ($219.95) $149 special, 25 bottles available
Wine Spectator 95 points, #10 Top 100 2014, “This has some toast to shed, but retains a terrific core of crushed plum and blackberry confiture. Has a beautiful ripple of charcoal for texture, honest acidity for balance and a bolt of iron that keeps this firmly grounded. A brick-house Cabernet. Best from 2018 through 2030.” WS
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Domaine de Montille Les Mitans, Volnay Premier Cru 2011 750ML ($129.95) $89 special, 6 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 90-92 points “(100% vendange entier; 20% new oak; small, concentrated berries from old vines): Good medium red. Lovely subtle perfume of cherry and raspberry liqueur lifted by a peppery element. Sweet, dense and lively but restrained on the palate, with distinctly dark flavors of blueberry, licorice and bitter chocolate. The brooding finish features broad, palate-coating tannins. I like the peppery stem element here as it contributes energy without overpowering the wine’s fruit.” ST
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $111
Domaine Jacques Prieur Chambertin Grand Cru 2008 750ML ($399.95) $249 special, 5 bottles available
Burghound 92-94 points “This cool and equally fresh and restrained nose offers notably denser and much more complex aromas of red and blue pinot fruit, violets, earth and pungent minerality that is very much in keeping with the backward and ultra primary flavors that are firm, intense and precise, all wrapped in an austere, driving and powerful finish. This has everything it needs to amply reward long-term cellaring and it will need it.”BH
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Domaine Jacques Prieur Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru 2008 750ML ($199.95) $159 special, 6 bottles available
Wine Enthusiast 93 points “Impressively rich and dense, with dark plum and sweet fruits signalling opulence. The wine has power and intensity although it never loses the acidity of the vintage.” WE
Wine Spectator 92 points “A red full of macerated cherry, vanilla, sweet spices and mineral, this is both stylish and powerful. Still a bit rigid, but well-proportioned, with grip on the finish. Just a bit rustic in the end. Best from 2014 through 2030. 15 cases imported.” WS
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
SPAIN
Recaredo Reserva Particular Brut Nature Cava 2001 750ML ($139.95) $119 special, 6 bottles available
Wine Advocate 95 points “The 2001 Reserva Particular de Recaredo was sourced from the estate’s oldest vines and is composed of 60% Macabeu and 40% Xarel-lo with the latter fermented in cask for added structure and elegance. It spent over 100 months on lees and was finished with zero dosage. Light gold in color with beautifully refined and complex aromatics, in the glass it shows greater evolution and elegance than its cousins as well as a sense of proportion and great length.” WA
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Recaredo Turo d’en Mota Cava 2002 750ML ($179.95) $149 special, 3 bottles available
Wine Advocate 96 points “The outstanding 2002 Turo d’en Mota is pure Xarello from a single vineyard of vines planted in 1940 in Sant Sadurni d’Anoia. The first fermentation was done in oak casks where it remained for 45 days with lees stirring and underwent 8 years and three months aging before disgorgement on December 12, 2011. The bouquet is more like a dry white Burgundy than a Cava, with hints of honeysuckle, dried apricot, lemon peel and a touch of jasmine. It is beautifully defined and very complex. The palate is very well-balanced with superb delineation and focus, drawing you in with subtle notes of orange peel, tangerine, beeswax and honeycomb. Long in the mouth and utterly harmonious, one has to ask if this is the “Clos d’Ambonnay” of Cava? Drink now-2016+”WA
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
GERMANY
Weingut Daniel Vollenweider Wolfer Goldgrube Riesling Auslese Goldkapsel 2007 375ML ($89.95) $49 special, 3 half-bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 94 points “Golden yellow. Subtle aromas of bosc pear, persimmon and nut oils lifted by brown spice botrytis. Lush and velvety in texture, with ripe apricot fruit nicely framed by flinty acidity. Rich and long, with a persistently spicy finish.”ST
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Weingut Daniel Vollenweider Wolfer Goldgrube Riesling Auslese 2009 375ML ($49.95) $39 special, 7 half-bottles available
Wine Advocate 90 points “The Vollenweider 2009 Wolfer Goldgrube Riesling Auslese – picked out over numerous days and parcels – is characterized by a softer feel than the corresponding Steffensberg, with pleasantly watercolor-like impression of scents and flavors bleeding into one another while remaining transparent to stony and spicy nuances. Over-ripe Persian and musk melons, peach, quince preserves, and dustings of botrytis spice on the nose follow onto a silken, soothing, buoyant palate accompanied by hints of caramel and honey. The finish here is surprisingly restrained though subtly spicy and mineral, and having assured ourselves that the bottle is entirely in order, Vollenweider and I are both inclined to believe that its relative reticence is only a passing stage. I would want to revisit this but anticipate at least 15 years of good behavior. ” WA
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Weingut Daniel Vollenweider Wolfer Goldgrube Riesling Beerenauslese 2007 375ML ($179.95) $139 special, 2 half-bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 95 points “Rich golden yellow. Intense bouquet of yellow plum, candied pineapple and spicy botrytis. The rich, dense, honey-glazed tropical fruit flavors are highlighted by a precise minerality that keeps the palate fresh in spite of the wine’s considerable depth and sweetness. The long, complex finish features a burst of slate. A n excellent beerenauslese for the vintage.”ST
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
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A Few Among The Many
Spring Sale Specials Revisited
FRANCE-BURGUNDY
William Fevre Bougros Cote Bouguerots, Chablis Grand Cru 2009 750ML ($89.95) Was $79, Now $59, 27 bottles available
Burghound 95 points “This is a big step up in refinement, particularly aromatically with an abundance of oyster shell and tidal pool nuances that add breadth to the white flower, citrus and Chablis-style green fruit. The rich, powerful and mouth coating flavors possess real drive but also beautiful detail on the intensely mineral-driven finish that possesses outstanding length. This is really quite dry, at least within the context of the 2009 vintage. In a word, terrific.” BH
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $71
Thibault Liger-Belair Les Saint-Georges, Nuits-Saint-Georges Premier Cru 2011 750ML ($159.95) Was $109, Now $89, 29 bottles available
Burghound 93 points “(from a huge 2.10 ha parcel). The nose is all but inexpressive and only aggressive swirling liberates the reluctant red berry fruit and earth suffused aromas. There is a gorgeously silky mouth feel to the suave and opulent medium-bodied flavors that also brim with an abundance of dry extract before concluding in an intensely earthy finish. This is very, very tight today but the noteworthy upside development potential is more than evident. Strongly worth considering. Drink: 2023+.” BH
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $120
Louis Jadot Chambertin Clos-de-Beze Grand Cru 2011 750ML ($299.95) Was $249, Now $229, 6 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 94+ points “Medium red. Complex but youthfully reticent nose offers cherry, raspberry, minerals and sexy smoky oak. Juicy, silky and deep, with lovely flesh and restrained sweetness to the tangy redcurrant and spice flavors. Very well-judged use of new oak here. A building note of orange zest adds lift to the middle palate. Finishes silky, suave and long, with noble tannins. With 48 hours in the recorked bottle, this continued to show a wonderfully layered mouth feel while avoiding the peppery aspect displayed by many examples from this vintage. I’d love to try this next to the Chapelle in ten years.” ST
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $299
Domaine Faiveley Aux Vignerondes, Nuits-Saint-Georges 2009 750ML ($79.95) $69 special, 14 bottles available
Burghound 90-93 points “Here the fruit runs towards the blue side of the spectrum with aromas of blue berry, plum and violets that is in keeping with the extremely rich and mouth coating medium weight flavors that possess a seductive mouth feel even though the tannins that surface on the balanced, long and serious finish are rather firm.” BH
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
FRANCE-RHONE
Vignobles Brunier Domaine Les Pallieres Gigondas Terrasses du Diable 2010 750ML ($49.95) $36 special, 36+ bottles available
Vignobles Brunier Domaine Les Pallieres Gigondas Terrasses du Diable 2010 1.5L ($119.95) $99 special, 3 magnums available
Wine Avocate 93 points “Slightly superior, revealing more minerality and a subtle, incremental building of flavor intensity, the 2010 Gigondas Terrasse du Diable offers lots of black raspberry, kirsch and floral characteristics along with an undeniable crushed rock minerality. Medium to full-bodied and elegant as well as impressively built, rich, pure and beautifully balanced, it can be enjoyed now and over the next 15 years.”
Stephen Tanzer 93 points “Bright ruby-red. A complex, heady bouquet evokes candied red fruits, potpourri and Asian spices. Silky and seamless in texture, offering vibrant raspberry and bitter cherry flavors and an exotic touch of blood orange. Anise and herb notes come up with air and carry through a long, bright and focused finish. I underestimated this sexy wine last year.” ST
Vignobles Brunier Domaine La Roquete Chateauneuf-du-Pape 2010 750ML ($59.95) $39 special, 36+ bottles available
Case-12 Vignobles Brunier Domaine La Roquete Chateauneuf-du-Pape 2010 ($499.95) $399 special, 2 cases available
Wine Spectator 92 points “Silky and briary, with lots of pepper, savory and tobacco notes coursing along, while a hint of shiso leaf separates them from the blackberry and black currant confiture flavors. Lovely, finely beaded acidity offsets the tarry grip. Great range and tension. Best from 2014 through 2028. 1,200 cases imported.” JM
Domaine Rene Rostaing Cote-Rotie La Landonne 2011 750ML ($169.95) Was $139, Now $119, 12 bottles available
Wine Advocate 94 points “More substantial, with a meaty, muscular feel, the 2011 Cote Rotie La Landonne exhibits lots of olive tapenade, underbrush, crushed rock and blackberry-styled fruit on the nose. Full-bodied, nicely concentrated (especially for a 2011) and yet voluptuously textured, with moderate, fine tannin, it will round into form relatively early, yet evolve gracefully for 15-20 years.” WA
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $158
ITALY-PIEDMONT
Falletto di Bruno Giacosa ‘Falletto’, Barolo DOCG 2005 750ML ($249.95) $149 special, 36+ bottles available
Wine Advocate & Stephen Tanzer 94 points “The 2005 Barolo Falletto offers up a gorgeous bouquet of red cherries, flowers, spices and menthol. This is a relatively delicate, elegant Barolo Falletto yet it offers gorgeous balance, tons of inner perfume and a long, refined finish. It is one of the overachievers in 2005. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2025.”WA
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $179
Sottimano Curra, Barbaresco DOCG 2009 750ML, ($79.95) Was $59, Now $49, 11 bottles available
Wine Advocate 92+ points “Sottimano’s 2009 Barbaresco Curra is striking in this vintage. The Curra is often hard when it is young, but in 2009 the wine has a little more volume and richness, which serves to cover the tannins. Bright red berries, flowers, mint and sweet spices flesh out in this radiant, textured Barbaresco. High-toned floral notes flow through to the inviting close. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2024.” WA
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $74.99
Sottimano Fausoni, Barbaresco DOCG 2009 750ML ($59.95) Was $49, Now $39, 19 bottles available
Wine Advocate 92 points “A sweet, floral bouquet infused with a note of mint announces the 2009 Barbaresco Fausoni. This mid-weight, gracious Barbaresco is all about finesse, detail and nuance. I very much like the sense of energy here. Firm yet well-balanced tannins frame the long finish. The balance of fruit, acidity and structure is about as harmonious as it gets in 2009. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2024.” WA
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $42.99
Mauro Molino Vigna Conca Barolo 2009 ($89.95) Was $79, Now $49, 13 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 90+ points “Serious nose combines redcurrant, spices, minerals and menthol. Shows more structure and energy than the Gancia, but still nicely pliant and sweet in the middle. At once dense and juicy, this rich, broad Barolo is perked up by a pronounced brown spice character that follows through on the persistent, gripping finish, which features strong but harmonious tannins. I’d enjoy the Gancia first and give this somewhat fleshier wine more time in the cellar.”ST
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $64.95
SPAIN
Remelluri Granja Nuestra Senora de Remulleri Gran Reserva, Rioja DOCa 2005 750ML, ($89.95) Was $79, Now $59, 10 bottles available
Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2005 Gran Reserva is the first since 1999 selected from the best casks, where it is aged for 25 months in used French and American oak. It has a wonderful, wild mint-scented bouquet with hints of licorice and white fennel. The palate is medium-bodied with bold tannins that bolster its vaulted structure. It has very good weight with grippy, dry, tertiary tannins towards the long finish. It will need several years in the cellar. Drink 2016-2025.” WA
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $81
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Last Call
Caymus Vineyards 40th Anniversary Napa Cabernet Sauvignon ($79.95) $69 special
Robert Parker 96 points “They appear to be immune to some of winedom’s less than intelligent trends and fads that we see from time to time, and the result is a spectacular 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon 40th Anniversary offering. Its dense purple/black color is followed by copious quantities of crème de cassis and blackberry fruit, silky tannins, a voluptuous texture and stunning purity as well as length. This full-bodied effort is a fabulous example of Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon as well as a tribute to this amazing family. It is so good now, why wait? However, I’m sure that like most vintages of Caymus, it will last for 20-25 years. Amazing!” RP