Monday, June 29th 2015
Flash Sale
Arriving June 30th
Perrier-Jouet Blason Rose, Champagne NV 750ML ($79.95) $39 pre-arrival special
Case-6 Perrier-Jouet Blason Rose, Champagne NV 750ML ($419.95) $199 pre-arrival special (that’s only $33.17/bottle!)
Wine Spectator 91 points “($85) Vibrant and refined in texture, this well-knit rosé Champagne meshes a chalky base note with flavors of almond biscotti, fresh ginger, white raspberry and candied kumquat. Drink now through 2019. 1,500 cases imported.”AN
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $49.97
The average price is $77
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Mid-West, East & South – Summer Shipping Saver
Whisk your wine through warmer weather!
Now for the summer season we are offering UPS Three Day Select Service for the price of UPS Ground for shipments normally travelling 4 or more business days.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
OREGON
Elevee Three Martins Rose of Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2014 750ML ($29.95) $21.90 special
Winemaker’s note “We made a VERY small amount of ‘Rosé of Pinot Noir’ this year. We named it ‘Three Martins’… a tribute to my Dad and Grandpa. Bright and crisp, with strawberries, stone fruit, and summer melon around a mineral core. This wine is completely dry (no sweetness). A serious Rosé and the perfect Summer wine!”
Holden Bjornson Vineyard Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2013 750ML ($34.95) $29 special
VinopolNote: The Bjornson Vineyard is part of a 107 acre parcel in Salem, OR that includes protected forest land, fields and a stream. Sustainably managed.
This is the only listing in the USA today!
CALIFORNIA
Varner Wine Bee Block Spring Ridge Vineyard Chardonnay, Santa Cruz Mountains 2013 750ML ($59.95) $49 special
Varner Home Block Spring Ridge Vineyard Chardonnay, Santa Cruz Mountains 2013 750ML ($59.95) $49 special
FRANCE-CHAMPAGNE
Ulysse Collin ‘Les Maillons ‘Rose De Saignee Extra Brut NV (2010) 750ML ($119.95) $89 special
FRANCE-BURGUNDY
Maison Pascal Clément Bourgogne Blanc, Chardonnay 2013 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 special
Winery note “A pure, clear crystalline gold in colour with green highlights; hazelnut notes underlie accents of honey, butter, nuanced with fern, spices and tones of white flowers (hawthorn, acacia) and flint. To the palate, an aromatic wine, fine but not light, full-bodied but not heavy, smooth and firm, dry and tender, rounded and rather intense, little structure but persistent.”
Domaine Simon Bize et Fils Les Champlains Bourgogne Blanc 2012 750ML ($34.95) $28 special
Wine Advocate 87-89 points “The 2012 Bourgogne Blanc Les Champlains comes from vines located adjacent to “Les Perrieres” and contains 20% Pinot Beurot. It has a simple nose with citrus fruit and grass clippings that is missing just a little vigor at present. The palate is well-balanced, more complex than the nose suggests with touches of dried apricot and honeycomb towards the composed finish. Very pretty.” WA
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Domaine Simon Bize et Fils Savigny-les-Beaune Blanc 2012 750ML ($59.95) $49 special
Wine Advocate 89-91 points “The 2012 Savigny-les-Beaune Village is a blend of three parcels. It takes a little encouragement, but offers attractive aromas of shaved almond and a touch of smoke with time. The palate has a pleasant fatness on the entry and a touch of lemongrass on the tip of the tongue. It glides towards the finish, maintaining fine weight and presence. This should drink well for around 5-6 years after bottling.” WA
Maison Pascal Clément Bourgogne Rouge, Pinot Noir 2012 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 special
Winery note “To the eye, a richly-coloured crimson wine that turns a deeper ruby colour with age, all the way to dark purple. To the nose, the bouquet opens on a palette of small red and black fruits (strawberry, cherry, blackcurrant, blueberry) followed by cooked prune with peppery, animal, woody, moss and mushroom touches. Bourgogne Rouge is very lively in the mouth, structured, with a supple, rounded backbone. Its tannins and fruitiness work hand-in-hand, with the chewy tannins balancing the thrust of the secondary aromas. Volume, fullness, in one word: vinous.”
Domaine Simon Bize et Fils Savigny-les-Beaune Aux Grands Liards 2012 750ML ($69.95) $59 special
Wine Advocate 90-92 points “The 2012 Savigny-les-Beaune Les Grands Liards comes from three plots at the foot of the slope with a higher proportion of clay towards the bottom. The nose is more opaque, denser than the Les Bourgeots with pure black currant and boysenberry scents that are very well-defined. The palate is very harmonious with supple, silky tannins on the entry that caress the mouth, dovetailing into a composed and quite succulent finish lent weight by the clayey soils. This has quality and substance, probably worth cellaring for 2 or 3 years.” WA
FRANCE-RHONE
Blachon Saint-Joseph Rouge “Cuvee Hommage Roger Blachon” 2012 750ML ($34.95) $29 special
Importer note “Forget what’s trending and all that “wow factor” stuff. What you have here is Saint-Joseph from the very kernel of appellation. Pull the cork and pour this wine to let it seduce you. A garnet purple with tones almost black projects from the glass. In the bouquet find aromas of violet and white pepper; while on the palate it is a smooth and supple wine. Distinct minerality and fruits that recall black raspberry and dark plum lead to a finish that stays with you long after your taste. With very few exceptions, you just can’t get Syrah like this from anywhere else.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $39.99
FRANCE-LOIRE
Domaine de Nerleux Cremant de Loire La Folie des Loups Rose NV 750ML ($21.95) $18 special
Winery note “[Translated] A persistent nose of red and black fruits that provide a beautiful fruity freshness. A velvety palate with fine sparkling bubbles. The lively and subtle aromas of rose, rosemary, cherry and resin persist, softened by vanilla and licorice.”
FRANCE-OTHER
Domaine Belluard Les Perles du Mont Blanc Brut Ayse Savoie Sparkling NV (2010 base) 750ML ($27.95) $24 special
Winery note: “[Translated] 100% Gringet. Floral and fruity nose. In the mouth, it is characterized by its finesse and minerality.”
VinoolNote: Gringet was thought to be a clone of Savignin, another indigenous grape of the Savoie. Belluard is one of the few producers crafting serious wines from the grape, and is widely considered the best.
ITALY-PIEDMONT
Proprieta Sperino ‘Rosa del Rosa’ Rosato Coste della Sesia, Piedmont 2014 750ML ($19.95) $16 pre-arrival special
Winery note “Mineral, fresh and savoury.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Proprieta Sperino “Uvaggio” Coste della Sesia Rosso, Piedmont 2011 750ML ($39.95) $29 pre-arrival special
Wine Enthusiast 90 points “A blend of Nebbiolo, Vespolina and Croatina, this opens with a medley of aromas that include ripe berry, underbrush, truffle, menthol, leather and spice. The firm palate delivers crushed black cherry, game, grilled herb, ground pepper and a balsamic note. It still has youthfully assertive tannins that need to unwind and soften. Drink 2016–2026.” WE
Proprieta Sperino “Lessona,” Piedmont 2009 750ML ($69.95) $59 pre-arrival special
Antonio Galloni 94 points “Sperino’s 2009 Lessona is drop-dead gorgeous. Sweet red berries, tobacco, menthol and licorice all flesh out in a juicy, soft Nebbiolo with no hard edges and plenty of supple, deeply expressive fruit. This is an unusually resonant, generous young Lessona built on balance and symmetry. I expect the 2009 will be even better in another few years, but it is already a drop-dead gorgeous beauty.” AG
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $64
Proprieta Sperino “L’Franc [Bandit]” Vino da Tavola, Piedmont 2009 750ML ($119.95) $99 pre-arrival special
Winery note “The noble terroir of Lessona gives a strong personality to this pure Cabernet Franc, extraordinary because of maturity of tannins, aromatic finesse and savoury minerality. Here there is an out of mind wine that breaks the appellation rules. The wine ages in French oak barriques, 50% new wood for 40 months.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
ITALY-OTHER
D’Antiche Terre Falanghina del Sannio, Campania 2011 750ML ($19.95) $16 special
VinopolNote: The Falanghina del Sannio DOC of Campania exclusively produces white wines in several styles. This is the dry, still style from the Falanghina grape, known for offering fragrances of orange blossoms, apples and pine.
GERMANY
Weingut Keller Riesling Trocken, Rheinhessen 2014 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 special
John Gilman 91+ points “As is the case every year, there is nothing “basic” about the “basic” Riesling Trocken from Klaus-Peter Keller. In 2014, this wine finished up at 11.5 percent alcohol and eight grams per liter of acidity. The yields were very low this year for this wine and it has ended up with a rock solid core as a result, with the bouquet a fine, youthful blend of grapefruit, tart orange, petrol, chalky soil tones, lemon peel and a topnote of dried flowers. On the palate the wine is pure, fullish and quite deep, with lovely, nascent complexity, ripe, snappy acids and superb length and grip on the focused and serious finish. As Klaus-Peter noted, “perhaps this is the best basic Riesling we have made.” It deserves a few years in the cellar to start to unfold its secondary layers of complexity and is a great value in 2014. 2017-2030+.” JG
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Just a reminder about our current shipping specials during this season:
For the Mid-West, East, and South during the summer season we are offering UPS Three Day Select Service for the price of UPS Ground for shipments that would normally travel four or more business days to their destination.
We offer flat rate shipping on any size single order / single shipment
-to Oregon for $17,
-Washington & Idaho for $20,
-and California for $25
These rates do not apply to orders held in storage here for any reason.
Multiple orders consolidated into one shipment do not qualify for flat rate shipping.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Arriving Soon
Arriving This September
Vilmart & Cie Coeur de Cuvee Premier Cru Brut, Champagne 2007 750ML ($149.95) $125 pre-arrival special
Terry Theise notes “This will continue Laurent’s streak of making the best wine in Champagne from “difficult” vintages, and indeed this is as good as the GREAT 2001—and maybe better. It brings a nettle-y green sting to the magnificent grace and concentration of this ever-improving wine. The length is replete with pepper, leather and verbena; the salt and stocky savor are mindbending—dried porcini, rare duck breast, clove and satsumas, all into a seemingly endless finish you want scoop back out of your mouth and drink again.”
Arriving This August
R.H. Coutier Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($49.95) $39 pre-arrival special
Case-6 R.H. Coutier Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($269.95) $219 pre-arrival special (that’s only $36.50/bottle!)
Case-12 R.H. Coutier Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($519.95) $419 pre-arrival special (that’s only $34.92/bottle!)
Antonio Galloni 92 points “Coutier’s NV Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru, 100% Chardonnay from Ambonnay, remains one of the most compelling, under the radar wines in Champagne, not to mention a fabulous value. Round, textured and supple in the glass, the Blanc de Blancs shows the more textured, side of Chardonnay. These soils in Ambonnay confer an unusual level of richness and breadth. In my view, this is Coutier’s best Champagne. Disgorged May 2014. Dosage is 6 grams per liter.” AG
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $43.99/bottle
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
It’s Imperative
Aperitifs
Overlooked in the USA for far too long, vermouths and other aperitif wines are making a comeback. But what are these bittersweet beverages and what should you do with them? We can categorize these drinks under the general heading of aperitif wines. They are composed of a base wine, or mistelle, that is fortified, aromatized, bittered and usually sweetened. The base wine is typically white even in red aperitifs. It can be sweetened by adding sugar or by stopping the fermentation of the base wine. Fortification is often done with grape or other neutral spirits. A bittering ingredient, herbs, plants and spices are used to add flavors and aromas. Caramel and plant extracts can be, and most often are, used to color white base wines red.
In many Mediterranean countries, grape-growers blend herbs and spices with wines to create homemade beverages shared with visitors. These wines were produced during throughout Mediterranean history and were first recorded by the Greeks. The Greeks developed this practice to create medicinal tonics and to help preserve the wines. They added honey as a sweetener, and herbs and plants for flavors, including resins. By the Middle Ages, two centers of production were well established: one in Piedmont near the Alps and the other near what is now Savoy. The Alps provided the Piedmontees with an abundance of herbs and the vineyards around Savoy provided the winemakers with an abundance of mediocre wine they flavored with the exotic spices arriving through their area via Venice.
The French began the practice of adding quinine, a bittering agent, to aperitifs for its antimalarial properties during the 18th century. Commercial production of aperitifs began in the 18th century, and many modern aperitifs are still produced with the same recipes. There are three general categories of aperitifs depending upon the traditional bittering ingredient: vermouth, americanos and quinquinas.
Vermouth takes its name from the German word for wormwood, an herb, and once a prominent ingredient. Two main types are sweet red vermouths (Italian-style Vermouth di Torino) and dry or drier white vermouths (French-style). Vermouth di Torino originated in Italy around the 18th century. It is most common to see these as cocktail ingredients rather than aperitifs. The red coloring usually comes from caramel instead of red wine. French-style vermouths were developed around the same time. These vermouths are more floral and herbal in flavor. In America, some wineries, especially those with ties to spirits, are delving into vermouth.
Americanos and quinquinas are not true vermouths because they do not use wormwood as the bittering agent. Americanos get their bitterness from gentian root, though some contain wormwood. The name is derived from the word “amer” for bitter. Quinquinas (pronounced ken-KEE-nah) are aperitif wines bittered with cinchona bark, which naturally contains quinine.
Expect your vermouth to last up to 6 weeks if tightly sealed and refrigerated after opening.
Below is a list of these aperitif wines that we regularly stock:
OREGON
Imbue Cellars ‘Petal & Thorn’ Aged Aperitif Wine 375ML ($24.95) $21.90 special
Winemaker notes “Striking feminine aromas of chamomile and orange-peel waft from the glass, with more orange, pine, and cinnamon on the palate. A broad silky texture and pleasing sweetness lend weight to the mouth feel, before ultimately giving way to the assertive Amaro-inspired, bitter finish.”
Hammer & Tongs Vermouth L’Afrique 750ML ($39.95) $33 special
Winemaker notes “L’Afrique is an original formula of botanicals from West and North African regions. Some of these constituents are ubiquitous and known throughout the world in a range of consumables from curries to colas. An ancient ceremonial blessing invoked upon partaking in one of these ingredients translates as “What ever good he is looking for, he will see it.” While it took me more than 30 years to “see it”, the formula had been galvanized in a very early memory, but remained latent for the better part of 3 decades. It represents my earliest awareness of the fertility of the earth and that distinctly warm, humic character that accompanies the anaerobic flow of nature underground. Compounded with classic carminative herbs & spices, these botanicals are blended with a heavy & brooding wine and fortified with spirits to make a distinctly American style Rosso Vermouth. Modeled after some of the greatest and most unique beverages of Italy & France, this dark, rich and pleasantly earthy libation is meticulously crafted using both traditional and innovative methods.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Hammer & Tongs Vermouth Sac’Resine 750ML ($39.95) $33 special
From the Producer: “Sac’Resine is an original formula vermouth crafted with botanical resins of antiquity. These “Sacred Resins” were used as perfumes in rituals from birth to burial, prescribed medicinally both internally & externally, and were among the most valuable commodities dominating the ancient trade routes of South Asia and China. In my youth, my grandmother would bring us to the old mission where she used to attend mass and they would burn incense made from these resins. For more than a century, the monks and other devotees would ritually burn these very same resins as ceremonial incense, leaving the essence behind to permeate the stone walls and wood of the structure, as well as the memories of countless children accompanying their elders. A compound of these powerfully pungent saps with delicate herbs and flowers, is blended with a lightly fragrant wine and fortified with spirits to make a unique style of vermouth best categorized as something between a Bianco and a Rosso. Loosely inspired by the most ubiquitous vermouth in the world, this light, citrusy and distinctly aromatic draft is meticulously crafted using both traditional and innovative methods.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
FRANCE
Dolin Vermouth de Chambery Blanc, Savoie 750ML ($17.95) $14 special
Dolin Vermouth de Chambery Dry, Savoie 750ML ($17.95) $14 special
Dolin Vermouth de Chambery Rouge, Savoie 750ML ($17.95) $14 special
VinopolNote: Dolin is a respected producer of AOC French-style vermouths from Chambery, France in the Alps. The recipes that are still followed today were developed in 1821. It was granted AOC in 1932. Expect these to be subtle in aromas and sweetness and enjoyable as aperitifs over ice. They produce three styles: dry, blanc and rouge. The dry has less than 30 g/L sugar, and the others are 130 g/L. The neutral base wines are left to macerate with local herbs and plants for several months before being sweetened and fortified. The rouge is colored with certain plants and caramel. Try these with traditional French appetizers such as pates, charcuterie or escargot.
Violet Freres Byrrh Grand Quinquina, Languedoc-Roussillon 750ML ($23.95) $19 special
Importer notes “Byrrh Grand Quinquina is made to the original late 19th century recipe that earned fame both in France and overseas. Its long legacy is also documented by a half century of magnificent poster art. This aperitif brings together cinchona (quinine), exotic spices and botanicals onto a base of mistilles and local Grenache, then rested in large oak barrels. Byrrh Grand Quinquina offers a lucious balance of ripe fruit and subtle spice. Delicious alone, or try in some of the old classic Byrrh drinks.”
Lillet Rose Aperitif 750ML ($21.95) $18.90 special
Winery note “Like Lillet Blanc, the main grape variety in Lillet Rosé is Sémillon. These wines are combined with natural liqueurs, handcrafted in Podensac from sweet and bitter oranges and berries. It is this meticulously balanced blend that gives Lillet Rosé its delicate aromas. Tasting note: Light aromas of berries, orange blossom and grapefruit. Fresh, lively and fruity. Balanced structure. Slightly acidic.”
Lillet Blanc Aperitif 750ML ($23.95) $19.90 special
Winery note “The main grape variety in Lillet Blanc is sémillon, which gives it a full, fleshy structure. Lillet is a range of refreshing aperitifs with a smooth, fruity taste. Tasting note: Aromas of candied oranges, honey, pine resin and exotic fruits. Full and fleshy on the palate.”
ITALY
Carpano ‘Punt e Mes’ Vermouth 750ML ($21.95) $18.80 special
Producer note “Punt e Mes has a golden orange color with topaz tones, herby aromas and dark red, black dahlia with vermilion shades. The initial taste is one of sweetness, characterised by an intriguing accent of orange. This is followed by the characteristically bitter taste of the quina and ends on a sweet note.”
Carpano ‘Antica Formula’ Vermouth 1L ($39.95) $33 special
Producer note “Carpano Antica Formula is the Italian vermouth par excellence, made from white wine, Piedmontese muscatel and the rich wines of southern Italy. Its taste comes from carefully selected brewed mountain herbs, although its most prominent feature is its vanilla bouquet, matched by notes of spices and dried fruit such as star anise, orange peel and dates.”
Carpano Bianco Dry Vermouth 1L ($24.95) $21.90 special
Producer notes “Carpano Bianco has a light yellow colour, a fresh and complex aroma and an easily identifiable winey note, in addition to citrussy and exotic fruit flavours. Fresh cocoa beans and almonds complete the bouquet of this delicious vermouth. An initially smooth and velvety palate is rounded off by a complex winey note with mineral tones. Persistent and delightful, this vermouth is perfect for any occasion.”
Giulio Cocchi Americano Aperitivo, Piedmont 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 special
Importer note “Made to the same recipe since 1891, this extraordinary aperitif wine has long been a staple of Asti. On a base of estate-grown Moscato di Asti is infused a blend of herbs, fruit and spices, most notably cinchona, gentian and citrus, and laid down for a year before being released. In Piemonte it is served chilled with ice, a twist of orange peel and a splash of soda to bring out all its natural aroma and fragrances. Outside of Italy it is revered as one of last great blanc/bianco aperitif wines, essential to a wide range of classic mixed drinks.”
Cappelletti ‘Il Specialino’ Vino Aperitivo Americano Rosso, Trentino-Alto Adige 750ML ($23.95) $19 special
VinopolNote: Cappelletti Americano Rosso is a red americano from Trento, Italy. It is fairly new to the American market. It is made from a base of Trebbiano, with gentian and citrus on the nose.
In-store pick up only, shipping not available
SPAIN
Yzaguirre Dry Reserva Vermouth [Blanco], Catalonia NV 1L ($31.95) $26 special
Yzaguirre Rojo Reserva Vermouth, Catalonia NV 1L ($31.95) $24 special
Destilerias Acha ‘Atxa’ Vino Vermouth Blanco, Spain 750ML ($21.95) $18 special
Importer’s note “Acha’s Vino Vermouth Blanco is made in accordance with an old recipe passed down through the Acha family. It is made from a blend of a neutral wine and alcohol macerated with a selection of traditional botanicals including wormwood, gentian and bitter orange. Tasting Notes – Fresh, floral aromas followed on the palate by a hint of sweetness and bitter flavor framework. Serving Recommendation – The Vino Vermouth White is a sipping vermouth. Try serving as an aperitif over ice and garnished with an orange wedge or lemon slice. This Vermouth will also work exceptionally well in your favorite cocktail.”
Destilerias Acha ‘Atxa’ Vino Vermouth Rojo 750ML ($21.95) $18 special
Importer’s note “Acha’s Vino Vermouth Rojo is made in accordance with an old recipe passed down through the Acha family. It is made from a blend of a neutral wine and alcohol macerated with a selection of traditional botanicals including wormwood, gentian, and cherry. Tasting Notes – Licorice and wild herbs framed by bitter components and a markedly wild berry fruit. Serving Recommendation – The Vino Vermouth Rojo is a sipping vermouth. Try serving as an aperitif over ice and garnished with an orange wedge or lemon slice. This Vermouth will also work exceptionally well in your favorite cocktail.”
Perucchi Gran Reserva Tinto 1L ($19.95) $15 special
Perucchi Gran Reserva Blanc 1L ($19.95) $15 special
VinopolNote: D. Augustus Perucchi developed Perucchi vermouth in the 1800s in Cataluña, Spain. It is a blend of herbs, plants and roots from around the Mediterrenean. The infusions are aged with the base wine in oak casks. The company prides itself on using many of the original equipment including the casks and presses. Their red vermouth is sweet and expresses the wood aging with notes of tobacco and licorice. The white vermouth is drier, faintly spicy, and has notes of ginger and chamomile. Enjoy the white as an aperitif with tapas foods, especially cured ham, and the red as a degestif with cheeses.
In-store pick up only, shipping not available
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Sherry, Can You Come Out Tonight?
“… sherry has few peers in the wine world. Its rich diversity of styles ensures that there is a wine to accompany virtually any dish, and the peculiar qualities of sherry itself- the flor- influenced characteristics of fino and manzanilla, and the oxidative complexity of other styles- contributes to its compatability at the table.” –Peter Liem, Sherry, Manzanilla & Amontillado
Sherry, hailing from DO Jerez, is one of the oldest styles of wine still being made today, and is one of the flagship wines of Spain. All true Sherry comes from the vineyards around Jerez de la Frontera and the nearby coastal towns of Puerto de Santa Maria and Sanlucar de Barrameda, forming the three points of the ‘Sherry Triangle’. Made in an oxidative style using a solera system, a practice of aging wines in old barrels and blending casks of different vintages, these wines are known for their nutty flavors. Excellent as an apertif or a dinner wine, Sherry has recently seen a recent resurgence in popularity for its wide array of flavors, ranging from the dry and briny Finos to the dark, concentrated sweetness of Pedro Ximenez.
Bodegas Tradición
Though only established in 1998, the family behind Bodegas Tradición has a history that traces back to the earliest days of Sherry production. Joaquin Rivero, a descendant of one of the oldest sherry houses, Bodega CZ, began by purchasing and renovating an abandoned bodega in Jerez. To reclaim his family’s traditional heritage of pure and authentic Sherry, a series of older soleras were procured from several historic firms. Specializing exclusively in top quality, traditionally aged Sherries, all of Bodegas Tradicion’s wines (with the exception of the Fino) are aged for at least 20 years. Each one exceptional in its class, all are bottled, labeled, and numbered by hand. Neither fining nor cold-stabilization occur, and only the minimal possible filtration takes place before bottling.
Bodegas Tradicion VORS 30 Years Old Amontillado Sherry, Andalucia NV 750ML ($79.95) $69 special, 4 bottles available
Wine Advocate 96 points “The NV Tradición Amontillado VORS, certainly has the more complex and subtle nose of all these VORS and is on average 45 years old. It has a very clean nose, with elegance and complexity, powerful but subtle notes of hazelnuts, honey and even some dates. The medium-bodied palate shows a sharp wine with strong salinity, it has the power and the lightness, in a very difficult combination. Drink 2013-2020.” WA
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $75.94
Bodegas Tradicion Cream VOS 20 Years Sherry, Andalucia NV 750ML ($79.95) $69 special, 9 bottles available
“This is the most recent addition to the portfolio (so new that it has yet to be reviewed) and completely transcends the Cream category. It also represents the only blend bottled by the bodega with 70% coming from 35+ year old Oloroso barrels and 30% from young 5 year old PX barrels. Here the intensity of old Oloroso blends seamlessly with the dried fruit concentration of the Pedro Ximenex, creating a wine that appeals to both dessert wine drinkers and those seeking a pairing for sturdier main dishes. Being a VOS, it is certified by the Consejo Regulador to be greater than 20 years average age at bottling, an extremely rare Cream sherry indeed.”–Importer Notes
Bodegas Tradicion Fino Sherry, Andalucia NV 750ML ($49.95) $39 special, 6 bottles available
Wine Advocate 92 points “The NV Fino Viejo Tradición is purchased from suppliers, it averages 12 years old, and is used to feed their Amontillado, but the (limited) market demand for this kind of wine has convinced them of producing 1,500 bottles now, and they will bottle another 1,500 in October. Unfiltered, unfined, this would have been considered a Fino Amontillado in the past. Golden color, pungent and powerful nose, with flower notes, it has a big palate, but it’s still a Fino–a fine wine– it’s old, extremely complex, low in acidity, but keeping the freshness, a little saline with the typical bitter end. This should have an interesting evolution in bottle. Drink 2013-2016.” WA
Bodegas Tradicion VORS 30 Years Old Oloroso Sherry, Andalucia NV 750ML ($84.95) $71.90 special, 6 bottles available
Wine Advocate 95 points “The single vintage wines are different, but they are not necessarily better than the solera wines. In fact I preferred the Oloroso VORS to the two single-vintage; I found it more complex and fluid, while the single vintages were more concentrated and powerful, but not as nuanced. I’m talking about the NV Tradición Oloroso VORS, on average 45-50 years old, which gives the wine a concentration of glycerin and dry extract that is amazing. Silky, very interesting to see the wine that has been blended over the years is more complex. The proverbial iron fist in a velvet glove, it is full-bodied, and still follows the same, clean, elegant, precise line of the rest of the wines from Tradición. Drink 2013-2025.” WA
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $78
Bodegas Tradicion VORS 30 Years Old Palo Cortado Sherry, Andalucia NV 750ML ($109.95) $89 special, 5 bottles available
Wine Advocate 94 points “The NV Palo Cortado Tradición VORS, averages 32 years of age, which they consider the correct age for Palo Cortado, so it is not just an old Sherry. Light amber-colored, the nose has a sweet sensation, apricots, and almonds but then the mouth is very dry and saline, fine and light, with flavors of hazelnut, a little varnish, very elegant, intense, pungent, a little spirity. It has a delineated palate, superb intensity, and very long finish. Classical, elegant, clean, intense and delicate could be common descriptors for all their wines. A textbook Palo Cortado. Drink 2013-2019.” WA
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $94.74
Toro Albala
Aged Vintage Pedro Ximenez
Toro Albala is the world’s only source of aged vintage Pedro Ximenez. High-density PX is subjected to a decades-long reduction process, in which casks are topped exclusively with wine of the same vintage while suffering an annual 3% volume loss. Toro Albala’s youngest aged vintage, Don PX Gran Reserva, is released after a minimum of 25 years in cask. Amontillado is released with a minimum of 35 years’ age.
New releases arriving in July
Bodegas Toro Albala Marques de Poley Amontillado Seleccion 1951 750ML ($279.95) $219 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 95 points “My favorite of the two Amontillados is the 1951 Amontillado Selección a rare, single-vintage Amontillado produced with Pedro Ximénez grapes as is the norm in Montilla-Moriles. It’s a bright mahogany color with an amber-green tint that reveals pharmaceutical notes and balsamic, with roasted, charred aromas and a sweetish palate that retains the sharpness expected in this kind of wine. It is lacking a bit in the mid-palate before ending with a slightly bitter, tarry finish. This is completely different to an Amontillado from Jerez.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Bodegas Toro Albala Don PX Convento 1955 750ML ($379.95) $299 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 98 points “One more single-harvest, old sweet wine, the 1955 Don PX Convento Selección was bottled in September 2014 and it had been aged slowly in very old American oak barrels and getting thick and concentrated through evaporation. Its 320 grams of sugar are (partially) compensated by 6.5 grams of acidity. It has a nose and palate of chocolate-covered candied orange, spices, molasses. I’d say the dominant aromas in the nose are dark chocolate. It’s very dense, developing notes of very concentrated licorice and balsamic, mint, camphor and evolving notes of petrol with time. Complex, rare and unique.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Bodegas Toro Albala Don PX Convento 1929 750ML ($459.95) $359 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 95 points “The extreme 1929 Don PX Convento Selección is a thick, dense and unusual, rare sweet beast. It is very dark with a green border, dense, oily and serious full-bodied palate with the profile of a PX from Jerez. With 500 grams of residual sugar per liter, it is a little monolithic, a little heavy and not so easy to drink. Still it is an impressive, very sweet wine that is really unique”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Toro Albala Available Here Now
Bodegas Toro Albala Don PX Reserva Especial 1949 750ML ($249.95) $219 special, 2 bottles available
Wine Advocate 97 points “The 1949 Don PX Reserva Especial differs from the other old wines from the winery as it is less dark, it even has a (very dark) translucent tone compared with the others, maybe because it has 2% more alcohol. It feels incredibly elegant and balanced, fresher in comparison than the beasts from 1962 and 1946, medicinal, full of spicy notes of cinnamon, cloves, a touch of ash, and the smell of an antique shop. The palate is fluid, sweet and fresh. Putting a drinking window to these wines feels a bit silly. You should drink it whenever you have the occasion. Drink 2013-2040.” WA
Other Sherries Available Here Now
Alvear Festival Pale Cream, Montilla-Moriles NV 750ML ($14.95) $7.70 special, 14 bottles available
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $10.77
Alvear Fino, Montilla-Moriles NV 750ML ($14.95) $7.70 special, 18 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 90 points “Subtle, very delicate aromas of fresh bread and almonds. Round but shapely; easygoing and fresh. Lovely shape. Not at all austere.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $12.49
Alvear Pedro Ximenez de Anada, Montilla-Moriles 2011 375ML ($79.95) $47 special, 26 bottles available
Case-12 Alvear Pedro Ximenez de Anada, Montilla-Moriles 2011 375ML ($999.95) $479 special, 3 cases available (that’s only $39.92/half-bottle!)
Robert Parker 100 points “Alvear’s 2011 Pedro Ximenez de Anada is the most amazing Pedro Ximenez I have ever tasted. It may also be one of the first to be vintage-dated. The grapes were hand-harvested in September, then allowed to dry in the sunshine until they began fermentation, which is ultimately arrested by the addition of spirits. The wine spent six months in large American oak prior to being bottled. It is an amazing effort that looks like molasses. Notes of macerated figs, chocolate and caramelized tropical fruits emerge from this full-bodied, unctuously-textured wine. While sweet, it has enough acidity to balance out its richness. This astonishing 2011 Pedro Ximenez will last as long as any reader of this newsletter.” RP
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $54.99
Bodegas El Maestro Sierra Amontillado Sherry, Andalucia 1830 NV 375ML ($99.95) $81.90 special, 2 bottles available
Wine Advocate 92 points “Next in sweetness is the light amber colored non-vintage (Vinos Viejos) Amontillado 1830 VORS, which has been aged at least 50 years in the solera system. It is racy and intense and would work well with lobster bisque” WA
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $97.99
Bodegas El Maestro Sierra Oloroso 1/14 Vinos Viejos, Jerez de la Frontera NV 375ML ($99.95) $81.90 special, 2 bottles available
Wine Advocate 93 points “The (Vinos Viejos) Oloroso 1/14 VORS is medium amber and spicier than its predecessor, with just noticeable sweetness, complex flavors (toffee and caramel come to mind) and outstanding length” WA
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $89.98
Bodegas El Maestro Sierra Vinos Viejos Palo Cortado Sherry, Andalucia NV 375ML ($99.95) $81.90 special, 5 bottles available
Producer note “It takes a skilled capataz, or cellar master, to recognize an unruly sherry; sherry that chooses its own path to aging. These aren’t Amontillados, and they’re not Olorosos. They are something unique and all their own, they are Palo Cortados. 100% Palomino from Albariza or chalk soil. The Solera is over 70 years old.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $84.99
Fernando de Castilla Antique Fino Sherry, Andalucia NV 500ML ($29.95) $23 special, 15 bottles available
Wine Advocate 93 points “The NV Antique Fino is eight years of average age when bottled; it’s fragrant and perfumed, feminine and subtle, with dry flowers and a rare balance between old and young. The palate shows a much more serious wine, pungent, intense, saline, sharp and at the same time delicate, complex and long, most probably because it’s fortified to 17% at the time of bottling, something that was common in the past, but that almost nobody does anymore. A most unusual old-style Fino. Bravo! 4,000 bottles produced yearly. Drink 2013-2018. Bodegas Rey Fernando de Castilla were created in 1972, but had a history going back to 1837. In 1999 the company was sold to a group of investors lead by Norwegian Jan Pettersen, who had worked previously at Osborne for 16 years. In the end Pettersen took control of the company, enlarging the business and taking the quality of its wines to the very top. This is a small- to medium-sized bodega (1,000 botas, capacity for 200,000 liters and selling 250,000 bottles per year), clearly focused on quality. The Antique range that I have tasted here, sold in half-liter bottles, represents their top of the range, and even if it has no official age certification, the wines are certainly old. All wines, regardless of style or category follow a clear line; they are all on the elegant side, balanced, clean and easy-to-understand wines.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $44
Bodegas Hidalgo La Gitana Palo Cortado Wellington VOS Aged 20 Years Sherry, Andalucia NV 500ML ($49.95) $38 special, 1 bottle available
Wine Spectator 91 points “A clean, racy style, with almond and hazelnut husk notes backed by toasted corn, walnut and singed sandalwood accents. A touch of dried persimmon echoes on the very dry finish. Drink now.” WS
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $55
Gonzalez Byass Tio Pepe Fino en Rama Sherry, Andalucia 750ML ($26.95) $21.90 special, 4 bottles available
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $23.56
A.R. Valdespino Contrabandista Amontillado Sherry, Andalucia 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 special, 11 bottles available
A.R. Valdespino Cardenal Palo Cortado VORS Sherry, Andalucia NV 375ML ($169.95) $159 special, 3 bottles available
A.R. Valdespino Cardenal Palo Cortado VORS Sherry, Andalucia NV 750ML ($299.95) $279 special, 1 bottle available
Wine Advocate 99 points “The NV Amontillado Coliseo VORS, is an extremely old (much older than the 30 years certified by the VORS classification) and concentrated wine. It is unique, as its origin is from Sanlucar de Barrameda, mainly from the Pago Miraflores, which produced very sharp wines. Dark mahogany colored, with a bright green border, is very aromatic, balsamic and complex, with wild herbs, candied orange rind, spices and dates. The palate is extremely concentrated, dry, and intense but it has no edges, with lively acidity and an eternal finish. It’s an extreme wine, some might find it too much, but it’s certainly unique and among the greatest wines in the world, to be sipped slowly and in tiny quantities. One of the greatest Amontillados in existence today. Drink 2013-2025.” WA
Peter Liem–“A complex demanding wine averaging over 60 years of age. This actually originates as a manzanilla, spending 15 to 20 years in Sanlucar before being blended and aged in Jerez. The result is an amontillado of tremendous finesse, balancing its vivid concentration with a stelly, racy structure”PL
A.R. Valdespino Coliseo Amontillado VORS Sherry, Andalucia 375ML ($249.95) $199 special, 5 bottles available
Wine Advocate 99 points “The NV Amontillado Coliseo VORS, is an extremely old (much older than the 30 years certified by the VORS classification) and concentrated wine. It is unique, as its origin is from Sanlucar de Barrameda, mainly from the Pago Miraflores, which produced very sharp wines. Dark mahogany colored, with a bright green border, is very aromatic, balsamic and complex, with wild herbs, candied orange rind, spices and dates. The palate is extremely concentrated, dry, and intense but it has no edges, with lively acidity and an eternal finish. It’s an extreme wine, some might find it too much, but it’s certainly unique and among the greatest wines in the world, to be sipped slowly and in tiny quantities. One of the greatest Amontillados in existence today. Drink 2013-2025.” WA
Peter Liem–“A complex demanding wine averaging over 60 years of age. This actually originates as a manzanilla, spending 15 to 20 years in Sanlucar before being blended and aged in Jerez. The result is an amontillado of tremendous finesse, balancing its vivid concentration with a stelly, racy structure”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
A.R. Valdespino Inocente Single Vineyard Fino Sherry, Andalucia 375ML ($14.95) $11.90 special, 4 bottles available
A.R. Valdespino Inocente Single Vineyard Fino Sherry, Andalucia 750ML ($21.95) $19 special, 6 bottles available
Wine Advocate 94 points “The NV Fino Inocente must be one of the few wines in Jerez that is still fermented in 600-liter American oak botas, which is an incredible amount of work compared with fermenting tens of thousands of kilos of grapes (or even more) in a big stainless steel tank. This method was the norm of yesteryear, but is so labor intense that it was discontinued in most wineries, and gives a big diversity of wines, as each barrel has its own character, which contributes to the complexity of the blend. Furthermore, the bottled wine is on average 8 to 10 years old. One other thing that makes it apart from other Finos is that the grapes are exclusively from the high part of the Macharnudo vineyard, so this is a single-vineyard Fino. The nose is very complex, showing the effect of the long lees contact: chalk, dried hay, aromatic herbs and salty almonds. The palate is full, but at the same time elegant and balanced, powerful and fine, with the texture of a Meursault rather than a Puligny. A very complex wine, that manages to be both powerful and elegant. Inocente is great value for money. Drink 2013-2016.”
A.R. Valdespino Manzanilla Deliciosa Sherry, Andalucia 750ML ($19.95) $16 special, 5 bottles available
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
A.R. Valdespino Toneles Moscatel Sherry, Andalucia NV 375ML ($299.95) $269 special, 2 bottles available
Wine Advocate 100 points “The NV Moscatel Toneles has reached a mythical status locally in Spain. It’s an extremely old, concentrated and powerful sweet wine that was long forgotten, because there was no market for it. The color is dark brown, almost opaque with amber-green edges. The ever-changing nose is an explosion of spices (curry and cinnamon) and noble woods, and from the sheer concentration it displays a myriad of roasted coffee, dark chocolate, balsamic herbs and even a note of coconut. After some time in the glass the roasted orange notes of Muscat come back intermixed with very spicy incense notes. Give it more time and it smells of camphor. It’s fascinating to smell it over the course of a few hours? even days. The palate is immensely concentrated, with the alcohol perfectly integrated and the extreme sweetness compensated by a piercing acidity that reminds me of some century-old Madeiras. It ends with an acute coffee note. The aftertaste is eternal. It is exceptional that such an old wine (it could be over 80 years of average age) keeps the freshness and balance, but when this happens, the wine is exceptional. A world-class sweet wine that shows what aged Muscat is able for. With its 430 grams of residual sugar, this wine is indestructible, but only 100 bottles are withdrawn and bottled yearly from a single, large cask. Drink 2013-2034.” WA
A.R. Valdespino Viejo C.P. Calle Ponche Single Vineyard Palo Cortado Dry Sherry, Jerez 750ML ($41.95) $36 special, 5 bottles available
Wine Advocate 93 points “The NV Palo Cortado Viejo C.P. produced from Palomino from the Macharnudo Alto is feed with specific casks of Fino Inocente and Amontillado Tio Diego. It was traditionally aged in the Calle Ponce (Ponce Street), and if has kept the C.P. initials since then. It’s not age-certified, but the average age of the bottled wine is 25 years. The color is old gold or light amber, and the nose hints at a relatively old wine, with plenty of lactic notes, sweet vanilla, iodine, bitter oranges and spices. The palate is clean and delineated, subtle and on the elegant side of Palo Cortado, ending very dry.”
A.R. Valdespino El Candado Pedro Ximenez Sherry, Andalucia 375ML ($17.95) $14 special, 6 bottles available
Wine Spectator 93 points “Offers layers of macerated date, ganache, warm caraway, buckwheat honey and chocolate-covered orange peel notes, with a deep, intense finish that lets a wonderfully smoky hint curl through. The power is obvious, the range and definition more subtle. Drink now.” WS
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~