11/4/2015
Featured Wine of the Day; New Arrivals; 2012 Oregon Pinots; Wines Arriving This Week; Coming Soon; Domaine Leroy
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Case-12 Novaia Corte Vaona, Amarone della Valpolicella Classico DOCG 2010 2010 750ML ($699.95) $350 special, 24 bottles available
(Please note that the Turley wines are not available through our website; please call the shop at (503) 223-6002 to arrange an order.)
Turley Wine Cellars Fredericks Zinfandel 2013 750ML ($79.95) $59 special, 6 bottles available
Antonio Galloni 95 points “The 2013 Zinfandel Fredericks Vineyard is endowed with expressive dark red and bluish fruit, game, smoke, tobacco, spice and licorice, all with a firm spine of tannin that gives the wine much of its energy and intensity. A wine that grows in the glass, the Fredericks possesses superb texture and depth throughout. This is one of the more powerful, explosive wines in the range. Above all else, though, I admire the wine’s distinct personality.” AG
The next best price is $75.99
Antonio Galloni 94+ points “The 2013 Zinfandel Hayne Vineyard shows just how special this St. Helena site is. Perfumed and aromatically compelling, the 2013 is laced with bright red cherry, flowers and sweet spices, with a hint of blood orange that adds aromatic lift. The Hayne is both deep but also notably weightless. Drink this beautifully balanced, harmonious Zinfandel over the next 15+ years.”
Antonio Galloni 96 points “Another real head-turner, Turley’s Petite Syrah Hayne Vineyard has so much to say. The flavors are bold, inky and explosive in the classic Hayne style, but there is also plenty of nuance lurking beneath all of that intensity. Blueberry jam, dark spices, menthol, licorice, plums and bittersweet chocolate flow from a virile, imposing Petite that will drink well for many, many years.” AG
The next best price is $129.99
FRANCE – BURGUNDY
Pierre Vessigaud Macon Fuisse ‘Le Haut Fuisse’ 2014 ($21.95) $18 special, 12 bottles available
Paul Jaboulet Aine Domaine de Roure Crozes-Hermitage 2012 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 12 bottles available
Wine Advocate 94 points “Coming from a small three-hectare plot of granite soils in the northern part of the appellation (which is the prime terroir), the blockbuster 2012 Crozes Hermitage Domaine Raymond Roure exhibits incredible minerality in its black raspberry, olive tapenade, spring flower, and subtle chocolate-laced aromatics. Tasting like it was filtered through a bed of rocks, it’s full-bodied, thrillingly concentrated and has superb underlying structure. In short, it’s a smoking Crozes Hermitage to drink anytime over the coming 15+ years. Unfortunately, there’s only 500 cases made.” WA
Wine Advocate 95 points “The only Saint Joseph produced, the 2012 St Joseph Domaine de la Croix des Vignes is another incredible effort from this team. Coming from steep, granite soils and a vineyard located just beside the famed Vignes de Hospice, this beauty knocks it out of the park with its massive minerality, currants, rare beef and tapenade-like aromas and flavors. Ripe, medium to full-bodied, beautifully textured and still lively and elegant, it too will knock your socks off over the coming 15-20 years.” WAFRANCE – LANGUEDOC
Alain Cavailles Cremant de Limoux ‘Resilience’ Brut 2013 750ML ($21.95) $18 special, 36 bottles available
50% Chardonnay, 40% Chenin Blanc, 10% Pinot Noir
Stellar Wines from an Epic Vintage
Aberrant Cellars ‘Virtus ex’ Pinot Noir 2012 750ML ($49.95) $33 special, 4 bottles available
Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2012 Pinot Noir Virtus Ex comes from Eola-Amity Hills and tends to be the slowest to evolve and what Eric sees as the most Old World influence. The vines are located on volcanic soils and includes 15% whole-cluster fruit due to the relatively longer hang time. It sees 15 months in 42% new French oak. It came in at 3.3 pH and 14% alcohol so no acidification was necessary. The nose makes an immediate impression: redcurrant, wild strawberry and undergrowth, almost mulchy scents. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin, plenty of refined red cherry and cranberry fruit interlaced with spice, leading to a finish that has plenty of finesse and Old World charm. This is a superb wine from winemaker Eric Eide.”
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 92 points “Bright ruby-red. Sexy, spice-laced red and dark berry scents are complicated by notes of cola, mocha, potpourri and smoky minerals. Fleshy, focused and lively, offering appealingly sweet black raspberry and cherry pit flavors that tighten up and gain spiciness with air. Packs a serious punch of fruit but comes off as lithe, finishing with excellent thrust and silky, even tannins that add structure.” JR
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 93 points “Vivid ruby with a bright rim. The nose displays an array of red fruit and floral scents, with suggestions of allspice, smoky minerals and sassafras adding complexity. On the palate, vibrant raspberry and cherry flavors show an appealing sweetness and very good depth. Juicy acidity lends lift and spine, and fine-grained tannins shape the very long, focused finish, which leaves a sweet floral pastille note behind.”Belle Pente Murto Vineyard Pinot Noir 2012 750ML ($39.95) $36 special, 8 bottles available
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 93 points “Brilliant ruby-red. Powerful smoke- and spice-accented red berry preserve and floral pastille scents show wonderful clarity, picking up notes of sassafras and cola with air. Sweet and expansive on the palate, offering juicy black raspberry and cherry-cola flavors that show an alluring spiciness and a touch of candied rose. This weighty yet lithe wine finishes with excellent thrust and smooth, slowly building tannins. The 2011 rendition of this wine is very tightly wound right now and in need of at least another five years of cellaring, by the way.”
89 points Josh Raynolds–Vinous “Brilliant red. Lively, focused aromas of fresh red berries and pepper complicated by a subtle floral nuance. Silky strawberry and bitter cherry flavors are sharpened by juicy acidity, picking up a hint of anise with aeration. Clean, nervy, gently tannic Pinot with firm closing cut and lingering spiciness.”Chehalem Wines Ridgecrest Vineyards Pinot Noir 2012 750ML ($49.95) $41.90 special, 8 bottles available
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 91 points “Ruby-red. Sexy, oak-spiced red and dark berry scents are joined by hints of cola and floral oils. Palate-caressing black raspberry, cherry-cola and rose pastille flavors tighten up in the mid-palate. Finishes round, sappy and gently tannic, with a suggestion of mocha.”
Wine Enthusiast 91 points “Dark, tart, laced with licorice, earth and tar, this is a standout among the winery’s 2012 Pinots. Black cherry and cassis fruit anchors a substantial, mouthfilling, and quite tannic wine, with a medium-term aging potential.” WE
Cristom Sommers Reserve Pinot Noir 2012 750ML ($54.95) $49 special, 3 bottles available
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 92 points “Vivid ruby-red. Heady, mineral-laced aromas of ripe red berries, allspice and potpourri. Sweet raspberry and rose pastille flavors show impressive energy and focus, with a spicecake nuance emerging with air. The floral element repeats strongly on the very long, juicy finish, which is framed by gentle, slow-mounting tannins.”
Wine Advocate 90 points “The 2012 Pinot Noir Sommers Reserve will be released near the end of 2015. It offer lively red berry fruit with redcurrant and wild raspberry scents, fine delineation with cheeky hints of marmalade and orange rind. The palate is medium-bodied and almost feral on the entry, as it seems to shoot off in a different direction. Then the acidity begins to bind it all together to form a cohesive, sorbet-fresh, bay-leaf finish that is long in the mouth. It needs to develop a little more persistence on the balsamic-tinged aftertaste, but otherwise this has good potential.” NM
Crowley La Colina Vineyard Pinot Noir 2012 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 2 bottles available
Josh Raynolds – Vinous 93 points“Vivid ruby-red. Suave and expansive on the nose, but with noteworthy verve to the aromas of red berry liqueur, floral pastilles and incense. Lithe and appealingly sweet in the mouth, offering juicy raspberry and cherry flavors that deepen and gain power in the mid-palate. Finishes round, seamless and spicy, with gentle tannins and excellent cling.”
Wine Advocate & Wine Spectator 93 points “The 2012 Pinot Noir Evenstad Reserve was picked from late summer after one of the driest on record. There was better heat accumulation, according to Erik Kramer, but he does not regard it has a hot vintage. It was a low yield at around 1.7 and 1.8 tons per acre, partly due to a preflowering cluster removal. The skin-to-pulp ratio was very high and it was raised in 65% new oak over 16 months. It has a deep garnet color. The bouquet is in stark contrast with strawberry pastille and raspberry coulis, hints of iodine developing in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with fleshy ripe red berry fruit interlaced with sea salt and white pepper. There is an undercurrent of gaminess to this 2012 that lends intrigue toward the finish that gently grips the mouth. Not as opulent as other 2012 Pinot Noirs that I have tasted, but clearly very well crafted by winemaker Erik Kramer and with a prosperous future ahead.” NMDomaine Serene ‘Yamhill Cuvee’ Pinot Noir 2012 750ML ($49.95) $41.90 special, 8 bottles available
James Suckling 93 points, Wine Enthusiast 92 points “This cuvée offers the pleasures of sweet, sappy red fruits, soft tannins and broad swaths of caramel, toasted hazelnuts and mocha. It coats the tongue with flavor and has a sort of insistence that the next sip will be even better.”WE
Winery Notes: “Consistent from vintage to vintage as the “little sister” of the Evenstad Reserve Pinot Noir, the Yamhill Cuvée Pinot Noir is a blend from each of our vineyard sites that results in a vibrant, food friendly Pinot Noir. This wine has an aroma profile that consists of red fruit, minerality, sweet and complex spice, earth and a hint of French oak. The palate offers youthful tannins and balanced acidity which lead to a smooth and graceful finish. The Yamhill Cuvée is approachable in its youth while maintaining the elegance and finesse of a Domaine Serene Pinot Noir.”
Evesham Wood Cuvee J Pinot Noir 2012 750ML ($49.95) $41.90 special, 14 bottles available
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 93 points “Vivid red. Complex and expansive on the nose, displaying vibrant red fruit and floral scents complemented by spicecake and smoky minerals. Stains the palate with energetic raspberry and bitter cherry flavors that deepen and become sweeter with air while maintaining their vivacity. This distinctly elegant, well-balanced wine finishes sweet, minerally and very long, with velvety tannins and an echo of candied flowers.”
Evesham Wood Illahe Vineyard Pinot Noir 2012 750ML ($31.95) $27 special, 6 bottles available
Winery note “Located about 15 miles southwest of Evesham Wood, Illahe Vineyard resides in the cool and misty foothills of the Coast Range. As with much of the fruit from Mahonia Vineyard, most of what originates from our friends at Illahe also makes its way into our Willamette Valley blend. But our favorite, most expressive barrels receive additional age in the caves. The 2012 is deliciously forward with dark berries and a velvety texture balanced with ample acidity.”
Evesham Wood Le Puits Sec Pinot Noir 2012 1.5L ($89.95) $79 special, 1 magnum available
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 92 points “Bright red. Suave, highly perfumed scents of red and dark berry preserves, Asian spices and cola, with a sexy floral overtone. Sweet and focused on the palate, offering intense black raspberry and rose pastille flavors and a zesty spicy quality. The berry and floral notes repeat emphatically on a very long, smooth, appealingly sweet finish that’s framed by silky, harmonious tannins.”
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 91 points “Deep, bright red. Ripe cherry and black raspberry on the nose, with complicating notes of candied rose and anise. Sappy and incisive, offering gently sweet red and dark berry flavors and a hint of cola. Shows very good lift and energy on the long, spice-tinged finish, with the cola and berry notes echoing emphatically.”
Wine Enthusiast 90 points “Sourced from 25-year-old vines, this shows traces of dried leaf, along with tart rhubarb and wild cherry fruit. A light dusting of cinnamon and coffee completes a wine that is balanced throughout, medium in length, and finished with an elegant flair.” WEGoodfellow Family Cellars Durant Vineyard 2012 750ML ($41.95) $37 special, 1 bottle available
Wine Spectator 90 points “Light and airy, with brisk acidity to balance the refreshing red berry and cherry flavors, hinting at cinnamon and talc notes as the finish lingers easily. Drink now through 2020. 175 cases made.” WS
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 93 points “Brilliant red. Vibrant, expansive red and dark berry and rose pastille scents are deepened by notes of cola and vanilla. Smooth and concentrated on the palate, with gently sweet black raspberry and cherry-cola flavors showing surprising vivacity for their heft. Pure, focused and sweet on the impressively long finish, which is framed by velvety tannins that fold smoothly into the wine’s plush fruit.”Harper Voit Antiquum Vineyard Pinot Noir 2012 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 8 bottles available
Wine Spectator 91 points “Firm in texture, with generous flavors of black tea-accented cherry and floral, persisting into an expressive finish. Best from 2016 through 2020.” WS
Harper Voit Huntington Hill Vineyard Pinot Noir 2012 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 14 bottles available
Wine Spectator 91 points “Powdery tannins underlie a sleek pulse of blackberry, cherry and floral flavors, finishing with a hint of licorice. Will benefit from cellaring. Best after 2016. 46 cases made.” WS
Harper Voit ‘Strandline’ Pinot Noir 2012 750ML ($37.95) $31.90 special, 6 bottles available
Winery note “The diversity of soil types, microclimates, and clonal selections in the Willamette Valley continues to drive our vineyard and winery work. This wine is an expression of that diversity, a synthesis of vineyards from which we craft single-vineyard wines. The 2012 Strandline Pinot Noir is immediately expressive with a fruit profile reflective of the warmer vintage. The integrated grape and oak tannins create a supple texture on the palate, while the finish is focused by refreshing acidity.”
J. Christopher ‘Dundee Hills Cuvee’ Pinot Noir 2012 750ML ($39.95) $33 special, 9 bottles available
Wine Advocate 91 points “The 2012 Pinot Noir Dundee Hills Cuvee comes from five vineyard sources, including Bella Vinda and La Colina. Picked October 11-18, 100% destemmed and matured for 20 months in oak barriques, it has a focused and vibrant bouquet with clean redcurrant and black plum fruit, with just a slight tinny quality coming through. The palate is medium-bodied with sappy red berry fruit, understated on the entry, but very nicely balanced with a focused and elegant, feminine finish. There is a sense of suaveness about this Pinot Noir that ticks all the boxes.”
Wine Enthusiast 92 points “A blend of selected barrels from several vineyards in the Dundee Hills, with the depth and power that are typical of the deep volcanic soils of the Dundee Hills. This signature wine is seamless, with subtle earthy, sanguine, with delicate red fruit notes.”
J. Christopher ‘Lumiere’ Pinot Noir 2012 750ML ($41.95) $36 special, 9 bottles available
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 93 points “Vivid red. Suave, expansive aromas of raspberry preserves, Asian spices, musky flowers and minerals, plus a subtle touch of smokiness. Juicy and broad in the mouth, showing a distinctly lithe quality to its sweet red fruit and floral pastille flavors. Silky tannins shape the long, focused finish, with the red fruit notes echoing emphatically. Incidentally, the excellent 2011 version of this wine is evolving quite slowly and is showing uncommon heft for the vintage.”
Wine Advocate 92 points “The 2012 Pinot Noir Eola Amity Hills Lumiere includes 10% cluster fruit, although Jay Somer told me that there is no intention to rank it up much higher at the moment. It comes from the northeastern flank of the Eola-Amity hills on volcanic soils with a lot of basalt and sees 20 months in 25% new French oak. It has a clean and precise bouquet with red cherries, kirsch and touches of orange sorbet that gain intensity with aeration – great clarity here and a great expression of “the dirt.” The palate is medium-bodied with sappy ripe, slightly saline fruit, a little grainy texture with good density toward the finish that is a little terse and strict, but displays very fine tension. Superb.”
J. Christopher Pinot Noir 2012 750ML ($29.95) $26 special, 12 bottles available
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 90 points “Bright ruby-red. Fresh red berries, tea rose and allspice on the fragrant nose. Silky and seamless on the palate, with redcurrant and bitter cherry flavors conveying good tension and lift. Finishes nervy and long, with resonating spiciness and fine-grained, slowly building tannins.”
Matello ‘Souris’ Pinot Noir 2012 750ML ($41.95) $37 special, 3 bottles available
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 93 points “Vivid ruby-red. Heady, complex scents of fresh red and dark berries, incense and Asian spices, with a bright mineral overtone. Intense black raspberry and spicecake flavors convey a shapely, seamless quality. Fleshes out and deepens with aeration and finishes sweet and extremely long, with lingering smokiness and harmonious tannins.”
Owen Roe Durant Vineyard Pinot Noir 2012 750ML ($49.95) $39 special, 3 bottles available
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 92 points “Brilliant ruby-red. An exotically perfumed bouquet evokes red berries, gingerbread and potpourri, with a vanilla nuance adding depth. Smooth and seamless on the palate, with sappy black raspberry and bitter cherry flavors enlivened by clove and allspice. Sweet and focused on the clinging finish, which is firmed by supple, late-arriving tannins.” JR
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 92 points “Vivid ruby. Intensely perfumed aromas of fresh blackberry, smoky minerals and incense, along with a suave floral overtone. Pure, expansive red and dark berry flavors put on weight with air and pick up a candied rose quality while maintaining impressive clarity. This rich yet energetic pinot finishes with excellent back-end thrust, supple tannins and lingering smokiness.” JR
Stephen Tanzer 90 points “Brilliant ruby-red. Intense raspberry and cherry aromas are complemented by white pepper, allspice and smoky minerals. On the palate, juicy, sharply focused red fruit flavors stretch out and gain weight with air. Finishes on a lively spicy note, with very good length and sneaky tannins. Distinctly elegant for the vintage and very enjoyable now.” STWestrey 20th Anniversary Pinot Noir 2012 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 8 bottles available
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 93 points “Brilliant ruby-red. Expressive, spice-tinged aromas of red and dark berries, cola, allspice and potpourri, with a hint of smokiness in the background. On the palate, intense, appealingly sweet black raspberry and boysenberry flavors are sharpened and lifted by juicy acidity and a touch of peppery spices. Suave, seamless and penetrating on the finish, framed by silky, fully enveloped tannins.” JR
Stephen Tanzer 92 points “Ruby-red. Intensely perfumed red and dark berry, cola and potpourri scents are given en exotic twist by notes of incense and smoky Indian spices. Offers palate-staining black raspberry and cherry liqueur flavors that are sharpened and lifted by juicy acidity and a touch of white pepper. Becomes livelier on the penetrating finish, which shows excellent clarity and depth and gentle tannic grip.” STWestrey Oracle Vineyard Pinot Noir 2012 750ML ($29.95) $26 special, 10 bottles available
WildAire Cellars Zenith Vineyard Pinot Noir 2012 750ML ($49.95) $40.90 special, 5 bottles available
Winery note “Lovely aromatics of cherries, cloves, and bramble, integrate with toasty oak and rose petals. The soft entry evolves into flavors of cherry, plum, vanilla, with ample fine grained tannins that coast into a long finish. Try this wine with roasted pork loin and a pinot – Dijon mustard demi glace. ”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Arriving this week:
Brick House Vineyards ‘Les Dijonnais’ Pinot Noir 2013 750ML ($59.95) $44 pre-arrival special
Wine Spectator 93 points “Fresh and expressive, soft in texture, this offers generous flavors of cherry, raspberry and clove that linger effortlessly against velvety tannins. Drink now through 2023.” WS
Figgins Estate Red, Walla Walla Valley 2012 750ML ($119.95) $99 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 96+ points “The Figgins 2012 Estate Red Wine is flat-out knockout stuff. Layered, gorgeously concentrated, full-bodied, and balanced, this Cabernet Sauvignon-dominated blend gives up sensational notes of cassis, black raspberry toasted bread and sweet spice on the nose. Ultra-pure, elegant and silky, it has the texture to drink nicely today, yet will age effortlessly for two decades or more. Coming from the higher elevation, eastern edge of Walla Walla (1500-1750 feet above sea level), it spent 22 months in 70% new French oak and 30% in once used barrels. This is one of the top Cabernets coming out of Washington and readers should not miss it.”CALIFORNIA
Orin Swift Cellars Mannequin 2013 750ML ($39.95) $33 pre-arrival special
Robert Parker 96 points “The 2013 Proprietary White Mannequin, which draws fruit from diverse regions of Northern California such as the Carneros Basin and the Sonoma Coast, is actually a blend of 76% Chardonnay, 8% Viognier, 6% Marsanne, 5% Grenache Blanc, 3% Muscat and 2% Roussanne. This is amazing wine, a gorgeous, full-throttle, honeyed wine with a light-gold color, oodles of tropical fruits including pineapple and mango, rose petal and floral notes, and beautifully integrated oak (aged in 40% new French oak on its lees for 11 months). This full-throttle wine is completely different and more individualistic than anything I’ve ever tasted. It is a magnificent, full-throttle, exuberant dry white to drink over the next 3-4 years.” RP
Orin Swift Cellars Papillon Red 2013 750ML ($69.95) $59 pre-arrival special
Robert Parker 95 points “The 2013 Papillon Proprietary Red is 100% from Napa and is a Bordeaux blend of Cabernet Sauvignon with Merlot, Petit Verdot, Malbec and Cabernet Franc. This killer wine has an inky purple color and offers notes of espresso roast intermixed with white chocolate, creme de cassis, blackberry and a touch of toasty oak. The wine was aged 16 months in French oak, of which 40% was new. Broad and opulent, with great intensity, purity and depth, this is another stunner from Dave Phinney, a.k.a. Orin Swift.” RP
Lillian Whitehawk Vineyard Syrah 2012 750ML ($89.95) $79 pre-arrival special
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 94 points “Inky purple. Hugely perfumed black and blue fruit aromas are complicated by suggestions of vanilla, incense and cola. Fleshy, palate-staining cassis and boysenberry flavors gain sweetness and spiciness with air, picking up licorice pastille and violet nuances that gain strength on the back half. Finishes smooth and sweet, with velvety tannins adding shape to a strikingly long, broad, spice-tinged finish.” ST
FRANCE – JURA/ARBOIS
Michel Gahier Arbois Les Crets Chardonnay 2012 750ML ($34.95) $29 pre-arrival special
Importer’s Note: The grapes for this cuvée are sourced from a hilltop vineyard (Les Crets meaning “crest of the hill”) where the Chardonnay has been grafted onto the rootstock of the local grape variety known as “Melon Queue Rouge”. The wine is aged for about fifteen months in large foudre and is then racked into the smaller format (600 liter) demi-muid for another year of elevage.
Michel Gahier Arbois La Fauquette Chardonnay 2011 750ML ($39.95) $33 pre-arrival special
Importer’s Note: This cuvée, again from a single vineyard in Montigny, is aged for one year in large foudres at which point it is then racked into smaller barrel for an additional three years “sous voile”. Called Chardonnay, the vines are of the local variety known as “Melon Queue Rouge”, a white grape the skin color of which bleeds towards red as it approaches the stem.
Michel Gahier Arbois Les Follasses Chardonnay 2013 750ML ($29.95) $24 pre-arrival special
Importer’s Note: This cuvée, again from a single vineyard in Montigny, is aged for one year in large foudres at which point it is then racked into smaller barrel for an additional three years “sous voile”. Called Chardonnay, the vines are of the local variety known as “Melon Queue Rouge”, a white grape the skin color of which bleeds towards red as it approaches the stem.
Domaine Matrot Bourgogne Pinot Noir 2013 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 pre-arrival special
Burghound “The expressive nose is very pinot in character with its almost entirely red berry fruit aromas that reveal hints of spice and earth. The delicious, textured, vibrant and detailed flavors exude a slight salinity on the clean, fruity and linear finish. This is clearly intended to be enjoyed young.”
Burghound “A brooding and more complex if much less elegant nose than usual is comprised of lightly spiced dark berry fruit liqueur aromas. There is notably more volume to the velvety, intense and more obviously mineral-inflected flavors that exhibit a very mild hint of bitterness on the short and slightly clipped finish. The bitterness will very likely dissipate but that won’t help the persistence. I would be inclined to drink this young for its fruit.”
Great Wines in the Pipeline
Arriving Mid-November:
Larmandier-Bernier Terre de Vertus Blanc de Blancs Non-Dose Premier Cru 2009 750ML ($69.95) $57 pre-arrival special
Non-Dose. Winery note “No blending for this single-cru Champagne: Chardonnays only, coming from the vineyard plots of Les Barillers and Les Faucherets situated mid-slope in Vertus, facing south-east. One terroir only and one vintage only.”ITALY – PIEDMONT
Produttori del Barbaresco ‘Barbaresco DOCG’ 2011 1.5L ($69.95) $59 pre-arrival special
Produttori del Barbaresco ‘Barbaresco DOCG’ 2011 3L ($179.95) $149 pre-arrival special
Wine Spectator 93 points “Marked by ripe cherry, strawberry, floral and tar flavors, this red is graceful and detailed, with the fruit intensity persisting on the finish. This is well-integrated, and just needs time for the tannins to soften. Excellent length. Best from 2018 through 2030.” WS
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Arriving Early December:
Colgin Cellars IX Estate Red 2012 750ML ($599.95) $499 pre-arrival special
Robert Parker 99 points “The 2012 IX Proprietary Red Estate, which comes from their gorgeous hillside vineyards overlooking Lake Hennessey high on Pritchard Hill, is a blend of 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Merlot, 11% Cabernet Franc and 8% Petit Verdot. Absolutely spectacular aromatics of spring flowers, blueberry, blackberry and blackcurrant fruit intermixed with creosote, graphite and floral notes are followed by a wine of great depth, elegance, richness and purity. Simply loaded, but with pristine harmony and equilibrium, this is a sensational tour de force and a great tribute to this spectacular hillside site on Pritchard Hill. Drink it over the next 25-35 years.” RP
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A Second Glance at Burgundian Royalty
“Domaine Leroy brings to mind the difference between good wines and the very best; it is, in fact, the absolute summit of Burgundy.” –Michel Bettane
“Lalou Bize-Leroy. The controversial Lalou must drive many Burgundians crazy given the extraordinary quality of her wines, and the high prices they fetch. She is an uncompromising winemaker, with a portfolio of red and white Burgundies that qualitatively have no peers.” –Robert Parker
“Leroy, absolute perfection. More than a model, the wines are an absolute reference. No other winery in the world holds itself to a higher standard in terms of exactitude in its viticulture. This unique winemaker lives for her vines and nothing else. Every new vintage is, for her, an event to live up to each year: produce, from the lowest possible yields, wines that are the absolute voice of their terroir.” –La Revue du Vin de France
Originally a negociant who took over her father’s company, Maison Leroy, Lalou Bize-Leroy found it more and more difficult to source wines to her exacting standards. In the late 1980s, she acquired Domaine Charles Noellat in Vosne Romanee, renaming it Domaine Leroy, and Domaine Philippe Remy in Gevry-Chambertin. Since then, she has expanded to 23 hectares, including vineyards in some of the top Grand and Premier Crus in the area: Richebourg, Les Boudots in NSG, and Clos de la Roche among others.
She is a passionate supporter and an early adopter of biodynamics and has unique vine training systems. In the 1993 vintage, which had some of the worst mildew conditions, she refused to go back to chemical treatments despite claims that she was killing her vines. The result was a drastically reduced crop size, yet wines that received near-perfect scores. Bize-Leroy does not hedge the vines (clip the ends to keep them short, which she believes harms the next year’s crop). Rather, she allows the vines to curl over the high trellising, which minimizes the formation of additional flower bunches.
The vines are old and managed to produce severely limited crops. She replaces where necessary from her own cuttings. The vines are restricted to only 4 bunches per vine with a yield near half the maximum allowed. In the winery, grapes are painstakingly sorted by hand on non-moving tables before being fermented without destemming. Domaine Leroy is a revered domaine of Burgundy and LaLou Bize-Leroy the “uncompromising” “perfectionist” at the helm, to quote the professional reviewers. The wines are limited in production and focused solely on quality and pure terroir; “the absolute summit of Burgundy.”
Domaine Leroy Wines Available Here Now!
Domaine Leroy Aux Allots, Nuits-Saint-Georges 2011 750ML ($599.95) $499 special, 6 bottles available
Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2011 Nuits St.Georges Les Allots has a striking bouquet, more immediate than the Pommard with lifted mineralite, beautifully defined and focused. The palate is medium-bodied with filigree tannins, waves of black currant and raspberry fruit underlined by superb tension and poise. Everything is reined in toward the finish that is very composed with a long aftertaste and spicy coda. Excllent.” WA
Domaine Leroy Nuits-Saint-Georges Aux Lavieres 2011 750ML ($599.95) $499 special, 3 bottles available
Wine Advocate 95 points “The 2011 Nuits-St-Georges Aux Lavieres has a nose born of the sky more than the earth: airy, lifted and feminine. Touches of cold limestone emerge with time that are entrancing. The palate is vibrant and vital on the entry with a silver thread of acidity, a gradual build in the mouth with shimmering dark cherry and bergamot, then a gentle grip on the tense and teasing Vosne-like finish. Superb.” WA
Domaine Leroy Pommard Les Vignots 2011 750ML ($599.95) $499 special, 6 bottles available
Burghound 89 points “There is a soft touch of wood to the notably ripe yet cool and airy aromas of plum, cassis and wet stone. There is excellent volume and mid-palate concentration to the medium-bodied flavors that brim with dry extract on the detailed finish that exudes a fine minerality. This balanced effort delivers fine depth and length for its level.” BH
Domaine Leroy Les Narbantons, Savigny-les-Beaune Premier Cru 2011 750ML ($799.95) $699 special, 3 bottles available
Burghound 92 points “Subtle reduction masks the subtle points of the nose though there appears to be good ripeness to the mostly dark berry fruit and earth aromas. There is excellent volume to the delicious, complex and solidly well-concentrated medium-bodied flavors that terminate in a relatively powerful, balanced and mouth coating finish. It’s rare to see a Savigny with this kind of muscle yet have it delivered with grace.” BH
Domaine Leroy Bourgogne Aligote 2009 750ML ($89.95) $59 special, 14 bottles available
VinopolNote: One of the few producers to make serious and ageworthy Aligote. A textural and weighty wine.
Domaine Leroy Bourgogne Aligote 2010 750ML ($99.95) $79 special, 8 bottles available
Domaine Leroy Bourgogne Rouge 2009 750ML ($69.95) $59 special, 10 bottles available
Domaine Leroy Clos de la Roche Grand Cru, Cote de Nuits 2007 750ML ($1,799.95) $1,599 special, 2 bottles available
Wine Advocate 96 points “Kirsch, rose hip, and soy intensely scent the Leroy 2007 Clos De La Roche, which reveals brightness and finesse as well as a saline savor unusual for its appellation. To be sure, notes of leather and crushed stone as well as smoked and roasted meats contribute further and perhaps more site-typical complexity. But it’s the sheer finesse, buoyancy, and vibratory energy on display that most amaze, leaving your tongue and gums a quiver and your salivary glands pumping helplessly. There is also a faint hint of heat, but its effect is negligible given what’s going on around you when you swallow (or, in my case, spit). Look for 20 or more years of excitement.” WA
The next best price is $1,999.99~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
‘a loaf of bread,
a jug of wine,
and thou.’
– omar khayyám