Wednesday, August 19th, 2015
Donnhoff 2013s Arriving Tomorrow; Reynvaan Arriving in September; 2011 Muga Reserva; Foradori; Germany Vintage Report – 2004; Saint Roch – Arriving Next Week; Teofilo Reyes and Ribera del Duero; Special Price Ending! Two Hands – Bella’s Garden
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Arriving Tomorrow
Donnhoff Estate Riesling, Nahe 2013 750ML ($24.95) $18.80 pre-arrival special
Case-12 Donnhoff Estate Riesling, Nahe 2013 750ML ($279.95) $199 pre-arrival special (that’s only $16.58/bottle!)
The Wine Advocate “The 2013 Riesling is quite coolish and mineral on the nose, very clear with white stone fruit aromas. Light-bodied, salty and piquant, this is a sexy Riesling, a dying sort of Riesling, a Oberhausen Kabinett off-dry, a delicious, stimulatingly piquant wine which is almost completely exported. An extremely quaffable wine.”
Terry Theise notes “I think these wines show a paradox analogous to the thread-count in linens: the more there are, the smoother it feels. Each of these wines has so much sheer material the result is they feel not soft but caressing. That said though, this ’13 has greener flavors than usual, in keeping with the vintage character. It remains the world’s greatest wine value, and it seems that some of you have also made this discovery, as we have very few cases unspoken for as I write.”
Donnhoff Oberhauser Leistenberg “Tonschiefer” Riesling Trocken, Nahe 2013 750ML ($29.95) $24 pre-arrival special
Case-12 Donnhoff Oberhauser Leistenberg “Tonschiefer” Riesling Trocken, Nahe 2013 750ML ($319.95) $249 pre-arrival special (that’s only $20.75/bottle!)
The Wine Advocate “The 2013 Riesling Trocken Tonschiefer is more sophisticated than the Gutsriesling, displaying pure, flinty slate aromas along with bright fruit aromas. Quite round and intense on the palate, this is medium-bodied, slightly piquant Riesling with a certain power, juice and length. A mouthful of wine with Spätlese level.”
Terry Theise notes “The estate wine from (mostly) Leistenberg which grows on a sandy slate called Tholeyer Schiefer. This is as limpid as spring-water, until it rears up with radicchio and with a slatey char. It’s for connoisseurs of the art of bitterness, in a jacket of cool freshness and the gleam of sunlight on the surface of the water.”
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Reynvaan Family Vineyards
2013 Allocation Arriving Mid-September
Reynvaan Family Vineyards ‘The Contender’ Syrah – Marsanne, Walla Walla Valley 2013 750ML ($89.95) $79 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 94-96 points “Blended with 3% Marsanne, the 2013 Syrah The Contender is still aging in 35% new French oak, some of which are larger puncheons. Showing the purity and focus of the vintage, it gives up lots of cassis, black raspberry, licorice and some meatiness to go with a full-bodied, elegant and fabulously textured feel on the palate. I’m not sure it matches the awesome 2012, but it’s no lightweight and will certainly impress on release and over the following decade.” JD
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Reynvaan Family Vineyards ‘Foothills in the Sun’ Reserve Syrah, Walla Walla Valley 2013 750ML ($89.95) $79 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 95 points “Incorporating less stems than the 2012, the 2013 Syrah Foothills Reserve is more masculine and powerful than the Syrah In the Hills. I offers lots of black raspberry, cracked pepper, graphite and dried violet characteristics to go with a full-bodied, seamless, concentration profile on the palate. This is a thrilling Syrah that does everything right, and while it has the fruit and texture to drink nicely now, it will continue to knock your socks off for another 10-12 years.” JD
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Reynvaan Family Vineyards In The Hills Syrah, Walla Walla Valley 2013 750ML ($79.95) $69 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 94 points “Tasted as a barrel sample, the 2013 Syrah In The Hills is a blend of 95% Syrah and 5% Viognier and is only the second vintage for this cuvee, which was first made in 2012. Sporting a distinctly northern Rhone style in its peppery herb, olive tapenade, violet and spice filled bouquet, this beauty is medium to full-bodied, elegant and layered, with striking purity of fruit. Reminding me of a quality Cote Rotie, enjoy this beauty over the coming decade.” JD
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Reynvaan Family Vineyards In The Rocks Syrah, Walla Walla Valley 2013 750ML ($79.95) $69 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 92-95 points “A cofermented blend of 95% Syrah and 5% Viognier, the 2013 Syrah In The Rocks, which saw 25% new oak, is another pretty, layered, medium to full-bodied and elegant 2013 that has perfumed raspberry, pepper, dried herbs and assorted floral aromas and flavors. Juicy and lively, with good acidity, it should be approachable on release and have 10-12 years of overall longevity.” JD
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Reynvaan Family Vineyards The Unnamed Syrah, Walla Walla Valley 2013 750ML ($79.95) $69 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 92-94 points “Tasted out of barrel, the 2013 The Unnamed Syrah, which also incorporates 10% Grenache Blanc, has a Pinot Noir vibe in its rose petal, forest floor, kirsch, blackberry and dried herb-laced bouquet. Medium to full-bodied, elegant and seamless, I’ve liked past vintages slightly more, but this is still a pretty, elegant Syrah to drink over the coming 8-10 years.” JD
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Reynvaan Family Vineyards Stonessence Syrah, Walla Walla Valley 2013 750ML ($119.95) $99 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 93-96 points “Also lacking some of the weight found in the ’12, the 2013 Syrah Stonessence saw only 5% stem inclusion to go with a similar elevage as the ’12. It’s still full-bodied and concentrated, however, and offers classic raspberry, big minerality, cracked pepper and some Cornas-like iron and bloody notes. Shining for its complexity and elegance, it should merit a score in the upper end of this range if it puts on weight in bottle.” JD
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2011 Muga Reserva
Arriving Mid-September
Bodegas Muga Reserva, Rioja DOCa 2011 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 pre-arrival special
Case-12 Bodegas Muga Reserva, Rioja DOCa 2011 750ML ($299.95) $236 pre-arrival special (that’s only $19.67/bottle and the lowest listed price in the USA today!)
Wine Advocate 91+ points “The 2011 Reserva is mostly Tempranillo complemented with some 20% Garnacha, 10% Graciano and 5% Mazuelo. There are no stainless-steel vats at Muga, so everything is fermented in oak vats and this wine is then aged for one year in new French oak barrels and a further year in used ones (three to six years old), fined with egg white and bottled. It is a Rioja that mixes the traditional and modern character with ripe fruit and contains oak aromas that are quite spicy and have some toast and smoke that should integrate with a bit of time in bottle. The palate is medium-bodied, has clean flavors that are balanced with sweet tannins. This is easy to drink, pleasant but not banal, and delivers a lot for its price. An impressive half-million bottles are produced of this wine, which is sold as Crianza in Spain and as Reserva in the rest of the world. Year after year, one of the most reliable and affordable Reservas.” LG
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Foradori
Elisabetta Foradori’s vines neatly line the base of the Dolemite Mountains, imposing and beautiful in equal parts. She began making wine upon graduating high school, taking particular interest in the Teroldego grape which is native to her home region of Trentino. While Foradori likely owes much of her renown to those wines, the estate also produces white wines of great charm and precision. Across the board, the wines are marked by great cohesion, terroir, and complexity.
The bottles themselves command a bit of attention – heavier than normal, with sparsely-printed labels and a thick seal of wax. The machismo this may suggest, along with the tradition of many other Italian reds, is not entirely the case here. Elisabetta’s handling of Teroldego results in a more delicate, layered wine whose impressiveness lies more in subtleties than brawn.
Take the ‘Morei’ bottling, for example. The vineyard from which she sources these grapes come from sandy soils of a former riverbed, often pink-tinged from high concentrations of iron. This Teroldego macerates for eight months in amphorae, oblong clay vessels who allow for less aggressive élevage – an ideal choice for a low-intervention winemaker such as Foradori. It then ages for three months in oak casks before being bottled. The resulting wine is seductively aromatic and wild; savory notes intersect with minerals, herbs, and spice. The finish continues onward, fills the mouth, and lingers.
Her Nosiola, a white grape native to Trentino, is an even further departure from the norm. In this instance, the use of amphora imbues characteristics similar to that of many Georgian and Slovenian white wines. Often decanted, the wines reveal themselves slowly yet playfully. Hints of almond, lemon, and dried flowers abound – a refreshingly raw instance of tannin, for a white wine – best suiting the wine for long dinners or tasting over the period of many days.
These reds and whites alike (magnums, too!) present a unique taste of northeastern Italy – of wines made with great consideration, deserving to be shared with anyone who has an open mind.
Foradori Wines Available Here Now
Foradori Fontanasanta Manzoni Bianco Vigneti delle Dolomiti IGT, Trentino-Alto Adige 2013 750ML ($29.95) $26 special, 1 bottle available
Wine Spectator 88 points “Dry and distinctive, with well-cut acidity framing the aromatic profile of macerated peach, cherry pit, chamomile and salted almond. Offers a spiced finish of moderate length. Drink now through 2018. Tasted twice, with consistent notes. 1,667 cases made.”AN
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $31
Foradori Teroldego Vigneti delle Dolomiti IGT, Trentino-Alto Adige 2012 750ML ($29.95) $24 special, 4 bottles available
Antonio Galloni 90 points “Dark cherries, juniper berries, smoke, tobacco and saddle leather take shape in the 2012 Foradori, the estate’s entry-level Teroldego. This is an especially racy, succulent version of the Teroldego. It is only within the last few months that varietal character has begun to truly emerge. Once again, Foradori has crafted a super-expressive, entry-level wine that overdelivers for its price.”AG
Foradori Fontanasanta Nosiola Vigneti delle Dolomiti IGT, Trentino-Alto Adige 2012 750ML ($49.95) $39 special, 7 bottles available
Antonio Galloni 92 points “The 2012 Nosiola Fontanasanta comes across as tense, vibrant and not fully expressive at this stage. There is plenty of depth to the fruit, but underlying veins of tannin are a bit prominent today. Hints of almond, dried flowers, herbs and spices add nuance in a distinctly savory, nutty finish. The Nosiola is intriguing for its tension and almost phenolic sense of structure. Here, Foradori ferments and ages the wine in upright terra cotta amphorae.”AG
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $43.99
Foradori Morei Teroldego Vigneti delle Dolomiti IGT, Trentino-Alto Adige 2011 1.5L ($119.95) $99 special, 3 magnums available
Antonio Galloni 94 points “It’s fascinating to taste the 2011 Teroldego Morei next to the Sgarzon. Here the flavors are more intensely savory and mineral-driven. This parcel is planted on an old river bed rich in rocks and sand, a terroir that gives the wine much of its distinct personality. The Morei shows a bit less opulence than the Sgarzon, but also more length and tension. Pomegranate, plum, sage, smoke, violets and graphite add nuance on the brilliant finish.”AG
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Foradori Morei Teroldego Vigneti delle Dolomiti IGT, Trentino-Alto Adige 2012 750ML ($59.95) $41.90 special, 11 bottles available
Foradori Morei Teroldego Vigneti delle Dolomiti IGT, Trentino-Alto Adige 2012 1.5L ($119.95) $99 special, 3 magnums available
Antonio Galloni 94 points “Foradori’s Teroldego Morei is once again compelling in 2012. A host of intensely savory/mineral notes meld into a core of dense dark red and black stone fruits. Grilled herbs, lavender and smoke follow, adding considerable aromatic intrigue. Big tannins support the huge, explosive finish in a wine endowed with magnificent complexity and pedigree. The dark, brooding finish is particularly of note. Today, the 2012 stands out for its superb complexity and undeniable pedigree. The Morei was vinified and aged in upright terra cotta amphorae.”AG
Foradori Vigneto Sgarzon Teroldego Vigneti delle Dolomiti IGT, Trentino-Alto Adige 2012 750ML ($49.95) $41.90 special, 6 bottles available
Foradori Vigneto Sgarzon Teroldego Vigneti delle Dolomiti IGT, Trentino-Alto Adige 2012 1.5L ($119.95) $89 special, 3 magnums available
Antonio Galloni 93 points “The 2012 Teroldego Sgarzon wraps around the palate with the essence of dark raspberries, smoke, licorice, iron, mint, rose petals and sweet spices. A wine of pure polish and voluptuousness, the 2012 will drink beautifully pretty much right out of the gate. Radiant, supple and forward in its expression of fruit, yet with plenty of underlying structure, the Sgarzon stands out from the more virile, imposing Morei. Both wines are striking, though. The Sgarzon was vinified and aged in upright terra cotta amphorae.”AG
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Foradori Vigneto Sgarzon Teroldego Vigneti delle Dolomiti IGT, Trentino-Alto Adige 2011 1.5L ($119.95) $89 special, 1 magnum available
Antonio Galloni 93 points “Raspberry jam, black cherry compote, smoke, incense, blood orange and game flow across the palate in Foradori’s 2011 Teroldego Sgarzon. A rich, sumptuous wine, the Sgarzon impresses for its pure volume and resonance. The 2011 has more than enough density to support at least a handful of years of aging. What a gorgeous wine this is.”AG
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
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German Vintage Report – 2004
Consensus on the 2004 vintage was, as reports were filed in early ’05, perhaps universally positive. Spirits were high coming off of the strong (but inconsistent) ’03 vintage, with comparisons also drawn to the ’96, ’94, and ’75 crop. February and March were considerably cold, thawing up through spring with an ultimately cool summer. Autumn came as a relief, with warm but stable days – ripening, and thus harvest, arrived late as a result.
Terry Theise’s report for the vintage swoons with high regard, though not without some caution. He notes that an initial abundance of ripeness and fruit-forward qualities mellowed into a more cohesive profile. Ultimately, he sang of the cohesion and depth of 2004. “Time will tell,” he declared, as the wines hit market.
Now, with the benefit of hindsight, we can confirm the predictions of a decade prior: the 2004ers are lovely, with true staying power. Below, we focus on a handful of bottlings we currently offer.
2004 German Rieslings Available Here Now
Anton Zimmerman Bernkastel-Kueser Riesling Kabinett, Mosel 2004 750ML ($19.95) $16 special, 7 bottles available
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Schlossgut Diel Dorsheimer Burgberg Riesling Spatlese, Nahe 2004 750ML ($69.95) $54.50 special, 19 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 92 points “Resplendent aromas of papaya, pineapple and oyster shell. Dense but juicy, with a finely spiced acidity that seizes one’s palate. Finishes with impressive concentration and length. One of the finest spatleses of the vintage.” ST
Weingut Jos. Christoffel Jr. Christoffel-Prum Erdener Pralat Riesling Auslese*** 2004 750ML ($49.95) $39 special, 5 bottles available
Mosel Fine Wines 90+ points “This is a nicely made wine with great balance and freshness. The remarkable thing is that a very subtle touch of botrytis smoke kicks in on the mid-palate and finish. This should develop remarkable well even if the wine may remain somewhat on the austere and structured side. 2012-2024.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Weingut Jos. Christoffel Jr. Christoffel-Prum Erdener Treppchen Riesling Auslese *** 2004 750ML ($44.95) $39 special, 5 bottles available
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Weingut Jos. Christoffel Jr. Christoffel-Prum Urziger Wurzgarten Riesling Auslese *** 2004 750ML ($44.95) $39 special, 16 bottles available
This is the only listing in the USA today!
2004 German Rieslings Arriving in October
Kruger-Rumpf Munsterer Dautenpflanzer Riesling Spatlese, Nahe 2004 750ML ($49.95) $39 pre-arrival special
Wine Spectator 89 points “Very firmly structured, but this is dense and offers spice and mineral shadings to complement the apple and white peach notes. Still leaning toward the structure on the finish, but this shows promise. Best from 2007 through 2020. 250 cases made.” WS Terry Theise notes “Dautenpflänzer is one the leading Grand Crus of the lower Nahe, with a typical mélange of soil types within its borders. Rumpf claims some of it is slatey and some of it is “sandy loam,” which agrees more with the standard references. It is in any case singular and immediately significant, giving a sometimes damnably complex set of aromas and flavors including coconut, violet, soursop, leaf-smoke—it is a very long list even if you’re sober. In any case it belongs with the vamping exotics of the Nahe.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Kruger-Rumpf Munsterer Pittersberg Riesling Spatlese, Nahe 2004 750ML ($49.95) $39 pre-arrival special
Wine Spectator 88 points “Off-dry, this shows plenty of pepper and mineral notes, along with peach and citrus flavors. It’s elegant and balanced, showing the Mosel style of Nahe Riesling. Moderate length. Drink now through 2018. 140 cases made.” WS
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Merkelbach Urziger Wurzgarten Auslese #6, Mosel 2004 750ML ($29.95) $21.90 pre-arrival special
Terry Theise notes “The single Fuder of 2002 Spätlese I offered last year generated orders THREE TIMES HIGHER than what we had to sell. So don’t delay to lock this up, and don’t be surprised if we can’t fill your entire order, though of course we’ll try. Also remember, Merkelbach’s Ausleses are like other growers’ Spätleses, so you needn’t worry they’ll be too “sweet” because these wines are always crisp. This ’04 is so frisky, light and dryish; a classic ’04, lime, verbena, aloe-vera and wisteria; the palate is jumpy and lively despite low-ish (7.3g/l) acidity—it was the ripest cask of the vintage here—but the salty brilliance and squeaky-clean flavors are like a balm. Still very youthful and fantastically pretty.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
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Rock some Roch!
Saint Roch
Arriving Next Week
Chateau Saint-Roch is located in the Southern French wine region of Roussillon, in the Agly Valley not far from the Mediterranean Sea. It is some of the most southern part of France, technically speaking, not far from the Peyrenees and the Catalonian region of Spain. The castle of Queribus is perched at the summit of the Corbieres Mountain and looks down upon the estate’s vineyards that lie between 400 and 1,200 feet in elevation. The soils here are of schist clay rich in limestone, which imparts elegance to the wines. The wind, called “Tramontane,” blows through the vineyard and the other common residents to the region: herbs, fig trees, blackberry bushes, and pomegranate trees, among others.
In 1998, Francis Guérin founded the domaine and purchased various vineyard plots around the area based on their soil type and ecosystem. The Syrah lies near the top of the hills, dense plantings of grey Grenache and Mourvedre cover a dale, and at the top of the Caribou plateau are black Grenache vineyards. Green harvesting and selective picking are down to limit production and ensure optimal maturity and quality. The grapes are sorted again at the winery. In the cellar, the wine undergoes slow, gentle handling.
Chateau Saint-Roch Wines Arriving Next Week
Chateau Saint-Roch Cotes du Roussillon Vieilles Vignes Blanc, Languedoc-Roussillon 2014 750ML ($19.95) $14 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 90 points “The 2014 Côtes du Roussillon Vieilles Vignes is a terrific, medium-bodied, bright and juicy effort that’s loaded with notions of citrus blossom, lime and hints of green herbs. Made from 80% Grenache Blanc and 20% Roussanne that was brought up almost exclusively in tank (10% in new oak), buy this beauty by the case and drink it over the coming year.” WA
Chateau Saint-Roch Cotes du Roussillon Villages ‘Chimeres’, Languedoc-Roussillon 2013 750ML ($21.95) $18 pre-arrival special
Case-12 Chateau Saint-Roch Cotes du Roussillon Villages ‘Chimeres’, Languedoc-Roussillon 2013 750ML ($249.95) $199 pre-arrival special (that’s only $16.58/bottle!)
Wine Advocate 93 points “A joint venture between Jean-Marc Lafage and Eric Solomon, the 2013 Cotes du Roussillon Chimeres is just another example of the brilliance of the 2013 vintage in the Roussillon. Coming all from the schist soils of Maury and a blend of 60% Grenache, 30% Syrah and 10% Carignan that spent 8-12 months in 500-liter barrels and concrete, it possesses a deep purple color to go with savory notes of kirsch and assorted darker berry fruits, pepper, truffle and damp earth. Full-bodied, thrillingly textured and with incredible purity of fruit, this knockout effort stays lively and elegant, with fine tannin, terrific length and no hard edges. It will knock your socks off over the coming 4-6 years.” WA
Chateau Saint-Roch ‘Kerbuccio’ Maury Sec, Languedoc-Roussillon 2013 750ML ($27.95) $21.90 pre-arrival special
Case-12 Chateau Saint-Roch ‘Kerbuccio’ Maury Sec, Languedoc-Roussillon 2013 750ML ($299.95) $219 pre-arrival special (that’s only $18.25/bottle and the lowest listed price in the USA today!)
Wine Advocate 95 points “One of the most incredible values I’ve tasted in a long, long time, the jaw-dropping good 2013 Kerbuccio Maury Sec (this is a new appellation dedicated to dry wines from Maury) is 40% Syrah, 30% Mourvedre and 30% Grenache, all from the black schist soils of Maury, that spent eight months in concrete tank prior to being bottled unfiltered. Its inky purple color is followed by fabulous aromas and flavors of creme de cassis, violets, crushed rocks and licorice. Full-bodied, seamless and incredibly textured, all while staying fresh and pure, it’s an off-the-charts Roussillon that will drink well for 5-8 years, possibly longer.” WA
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Teofilo Reyes and Ribera del Duero
The first forays for many young wine drinkers are often – for one reason or another – Spanish table wine. Garnacha from a jug, Tempranillo blends in adorned bottles, and dark-as-night Cabernets with a burn to rival whisky. Ribera del Duero feels, in many ways, like a grown-up version of all of that: matured, refined, and more serious. Now enjoying a moment in the spotlight, the Duero has proven to be a solid contender in the world of wine.
Landlocked on rocky terrain on the country’s northern plateau, the Ribera del Duero first held host to winemaking 2,000 years ago. Even so, it wasn’t until 1864 that the region was paid much attention beyond its borders. It was in that year that Don Eloy Lecanda y Chaves founded a winery credited with modernizing the region. Borrowing from Bordeaux, he planted Cabernet and Merlot alongside native Tempranillo vines – known locally as Tinto Fino – for what would become Bodegas Vega Sicilia.
Similar to Rioja, the use of the Tempranillo grape and extended barrel aging is a signature of the Ribera del Duero. French and American oak barrels – new and old alike – have become part of the tradition. Many of the region’s ungrafted vines are over 100 years old, providing very low yields for wines sometimes not released until ten years after harvest.
The region encounters extreme shifts in climate, with long and dry summers balanced out by hard winters. Sun exposure can be intense, though nights are often cool. Soils range from limestone to clay, stones, and sand. Though Tempranillo is the favored grape, Garnacha, Cabernet, Graciano, Mazuelo, and Malbec are also grown.
The prolonged élevage of wines in Ribera del Duero result in low acid, intense concentration, sweet and round tannins, and deep flavor profiles. Suitably paired to a wide range of meat dishes and local Spanish fare, the wines are geared to be aged for years. Periodically checking in with a favored vintage will show the remarkable ageability of the region’s wines.
Of particular interest are the wines of Teofilo Reyes, who began making wine in 1950. From the mid-70’s until 1993, he was the winemaker at Pesquera; along with his two sons, he began his namesake winery the following year. Their 2011 bottling, 100% Tempranillo, was aged for 16 months in American and French oak – some new. Big but balanced, the wine is unafraid to display oak and spice alongside a bright array of fruit.
Initially, the wine bursts with red fruit – blackcurrant on the nose, along with notes of raspberry and mocha. The palate is first hit with sweet tannin, saddle leather, and baking spice – not over-oaked or extracted. The mid-palate and finish are marked with a mélange of cherry, wild berries, chocolate, and an herbaceous kiss.
Drinking well now, this delightful bottle would benefit from decanting and would be a fine companion to lamb stew or a nice steak. Suited to age, this would be a terrific Ribera del Duero to enjoy over the next number of years.
Teofilo Reyes, Ribera del Duero 2011 750ML ($29.95) $24 special, 36+ bottles available
Case-12 Teofilo Reyes, Ribera del Duero 2011 750ML ($319.95) $259 special, 5 cases available (that’s only $21.58/bottle!)
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Other Ribera del Duero Wines Available Here Now
Bodegas Avante ‘Tineta’, Ribera del Duero 2012 750ML ($17.95) $14 special, 10 bottles available
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 91 points “(fermented in stainless steel tanks, with malo in small oak barrels, followed by 22 months of aging in French and American oak casks): Deep ruby. Sexy, perfumed aromas of cherry, blueberry and potpourri, with subtle licorice and dark chocolate qualities emerging with air. At once plush and lively, showing very good depth–and juicy acidity–to its black and blue fruit flavors. Supple tannins arrive late, adding shape to the sweet, spice-tinged finish.” JR
Bodegas Emilio Moro Finca Resalso, Ribera del Duero 2012 750ML ($21.95) $14 special, 18 bottles available
Case-12 Bodegas Emilio Moro Finca Resalso, Ribera del Duero 2012 750ML ($249.95) $149 special, 1 case available (that’s only $12.42/bottle!)
Stephen Tanzer 91 points “Vivid purple. Ripe boysenberry and blueberry aromas and an undercurrent of mocha on the nose, with candied licorice and vanilla qualities coming up with air. Lush, weighty and round, showing good thrust to its dark berry liqueur and cocoa flavors. Finishes creamy, round and long, with soft tannins and building notes of plum and dark chocolate.”
Bodegas Ismael Arroyo Val Sotillo Crianza, Ribera del Duero 2006 750ML ($34.95) $18 special, 3 bottles available
Wine Enthusiast 91 points “Vibrant and honest, with expressive raspberry and cherry aromas and flavors accented by mint leaf, liqueur and cassis. Really hits the spot and then fades away in no hurry. A smoking-good crianza that hammers home the fact that Ismael Arroyo’s wines are still leaders in RDD. Drink now-2015” WE
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $25
Dominio de Pingus PSI, Ribera del Duero 2012 750ML ($39.95) $29 special, 12 bottles available
Wine Advocate 92+ points “Let’s start with the 2012 PSI, from an extremely dry vintage, produced with Tempranillo grapes with 5% Garnacha (a percentage that will be increased in the forthcoming vintages) that fermented in cement vats and aged for 18 months in a combination of used French barriques, oak foudres and cement vats. 150,000 bottles were produced. It was bottled in May 2014 and it feels closed and inaccessible, a bit stubborn or perhaps suffering from the recent bottling. It takes a long time to open up, finally revealing a core of sweet red fruit and notes of flowers, perfectly integrated oak. The palate is medium-bodied, delicious, more in line with the 2010s than with 2011s, sleek and pure, very balanced. It feels like a cool vintage, but it was not. A real triumph. Drink 2014-2017.” WA
Bodegas Alejandro Fernandez Tinto Pesquera Crianza, Ribera del Duero 2012 750ML ($39.95) $31.90 special, 5 bottles available
Winemaker’s Notes: “The Pesquera Tinto’s cherry red color reveals its youth and fruitiness. Its aspect is clean and appears to be glyceric. On the nose, the wine’s intense bouquet reveals the best dark fruit marked by impeccable wood aromas. Hints of fallen leaves and spices such as vanilla. On the palate, the smooth entry becomes lush with abundant ripe tannins and an excellent balance between its acidity and heat. The presence of the well-integrated oak complements the fruit and spice beautifully to display a wine of great balance. A refined, long-lasting and elegant finish.”
Bodegas Emilio Moro Malleolus, Ribera del Duero 2009 750ML ($49.95) $36 special, 18 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 93 points “Opaque purple. A heady, complex bouquet evokes blackberry and blackcurrant liqueur, with suave oak spice and potpourri elements. Sweet, broad and pliant, the intense dark fruit flavors showing great power, richness and depth. Very young but flat-out seductive, finishing on a sweet, sappy note of candied dark fruits, with lush, harmonious tannins.”ST
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $42
Dominio de Pingus Flor de Pingus, Ribera del Duero 2011 750ML ($99.95) $79 special, 36+ bottles available
Wine Advocate 93-95 points “The 2011 Flor de Pingus demonstrates wonderful purity on the nose, perhaps more feminine and wily than the 2010 with luscious raspberry, blackberry and forest floor notes. The palate is full-bodied with filigree tannins and a little more volume than the 2010. It seems generous and very supple at this early juncture with a caressing, peppery finish that is extremely well focused. There 2011 has awesome potential and I cannot wait to taste this after two or three years in bottle.” WA
Dominio de Pingus Flor de Pingus, Ribera del Duero 2012 750ML ($109.95) $89 special, 5 bottles available
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 93 points “Vivid ruby. Heady aromas of fresh blackberry, boysenberry and smoky minerals are complicated by pungent hints of vanilla, violet and allspice. Lush, intensely flavored and focused, offering deep dark berry and cherry compote flavors and a suave spicecake nuance. Finishes smooth, sweet and very long, with resonating spiciness, a hint of licorice and fully absorbed tannins.” JR
Vega Sicilia Unico Gran Reserva, Ribera del Duero 2004 750ML ($399.95) $349 special, 2 bottles available
Robert Parker 97 points “Pablo Alvarez described 2004 as a textbook vintage with perfect temperatures and rain just when it was needed. The 2004 has a haunting bouquet of dark brambly black fruit, cassis, honey, a tang of marmalade and bacon fat. It already boasts an intense, burly bouquet that will require years to soften. The palate is full-bodied with succulent, ripe, intense black cherries, white pepper, minerals and liquorice and it fans out beautifully towards the finish with tar-tinged black fruit interlaced with black pepper. This is a multi-dimensional Unico, more masculine and grander than the 2005, perhaps the sibling of the 1994? ” NM
Ribera del Duero Wines Arriving Fall 2015
Vega Sicilia Tinto Valbuena 5, Ribera del Duero 2010 750ML ($159.95) $131.90 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 96 points “Since the 2010 harvest, they ferment plot by plot, and it shows. This Valbuena has almost 100 components in it, smaller lots, all of them corresponding to a plot of vines. It has all the signs of being one of the best vintages ever for this second wine from Vega Sicilia, mostly Tempranillo but with 5% Merlot that matured five months in 20,000-liter oak vats, 18 months in new barriques (equal parts French and American oak), three months in used barrels and then five months in the vats again before being bottled in May 2013. 2010 seems to have the exuberance of the 2011 and the seriousness and elegance of 2009. It has the Burgundian philosophy of terroir, with all plots fermented and aged separately, giving each vineyard what it needs in terms of vinification and elevage resulting in something like 40 separate lots to blend. This wine has gained in precision and sharpness, and is very pure with delineated aromas and flavors. It is a world-class wine, possibly the best Valbuena ever.” WA
Vega Sicilia Unico Gran Reserva, Ribera del Duero 2007 750ML ($379.95) $299 pre-arrival special
Wine Spectator 94 points “This harmonious red is balanced and deep, offering ripe plum and currant flavors, with black pepper, tobacco, licorice and mineral accents. Delivers plenty of structure, with well-integrated tannins and lively acidity. The wine remains graceful through the long, spicy finish. Drink now through 2027.”
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Last Chance Sale!
This super pricing ends August 31
Two Hands Wines Bella’s Garden Shiraz, Barossa Valley 2012 750ML ($69.95) $47 special, 36+ bottles available
Case-6 Two Hands Wines Bella’s Garden Shiraz, Barossa Valley 2012 750ML ($299.95) $259 special, 5 six-packs available (that’s only $43.17/bottle!)
Wine Spectator 95 points “Utterly seamless, focused, powerful and elegant, layered with cherry, boysenberry and red plum fruit, revealing glints of coffee, jasmine and cardamom that add extra nuances. Delivers complexity without extra weight. The finish won’t quit. Drink now through 2022. 6,000 cases made.” WS
Wine Advocate 93+ points “Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2012 Bella’s Garden Shiraz has a nose of blackberry preserves and warm cassis with hints of menthol, dark chocolate, cardamom and cedar. Full-bodied and richly fruited in the mouth, the abundant fruit is well matched by firm, rounded tannins and refreshing acid before finishing with great length. Drink it now to 2024+.”
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 93 points “Brilliant violet color. Powerful, deeply pitched aromas of blue fruit preserves, licorice, incense and mocha are lifted by a sexy Indian spice quality. Stains the palate with sweet dark fruit and cocoa flavors that gain energy and lift with aeration. Rich and expansive but lively as well. Closes velvety and very long, with lingering smokiness and smooth, harmonious tannins.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $53.95