New Dom Perignon Review; Featured New Arrivals; New Week – New Arrivals; Staff Pick; New Arrival Special Feature: Brovia; Mollydooker; Corino; Arianna Occhipinti; Arriving Soon
Galloni has Spoken
Antonio Galloni 97 points “The 2006 Dom Pérignon is a beautifully balanced, harmonious Dom Pérignon that strikes an incredibly appealing stylistic middle ground. Rich, voluptuous and creamy, the 2006 shows off fabulous intensity in a style that brings together the ripeness of 2002 with the greater sense of verve and overall freshness that is such a signature of the 2004. Bass notes and a feeling of phenolic grip on the finish recall the 2003, as the Pinot Noir is particularly expressive today. After an irregular summer that saw elevated temperatures in July followed by cooler, damp conditions in August, more favorable weather returned in September, pushing maturation ahead and leading to a long, protracted harvest. The 2006 falls into the family of riper, more voluptuous Dom Pérignons, but without veering into the level of opulence seen in vintages such as 2002.”
Richard Juhlin 94(97) points ‘[English version] It’s not often you fall backwards when a wine is first launched on the market. This time both me and my friends, who got to try this jewel at my champagne bar, fell in love instantly. It is all here so beautifully orchestrated in this incredibly well-balanced and flowing rich symphony. It is so voluptuously charming and welcoming immediately, but at the same time so complex that the interest in what you will discover in the next gulp never ceases. Here are all the pillars that I perceive a Dom Pérignon should have. A gigantic large and intense aroma, a silk caressing structure and a dazzling grand finale. Notes from the sea, roasted nuts, coffee, brioche, tropical green fruits, stone fruit, green apples, sweet orange citrus, gunpowder, nougat, mushroom cream and black truffle are all there like a perfectly tailored tuxedo. Love at first sight.’
Wine Spectator 96 points “Intensely and seductively aromatic, billowing purple plum, blueberry, blackberry and espresso notes that resolve on the velvety palate. The tension between the fruity and savory character persists into the long and vivid finish. Drink now through 2023.”HS
Alvaro Palacios Finca Dofi, Priorat DOCa 2013 750ML ($89.95) $69 special
Wine Advocate 96 points “2011 was not an easy act to follow as it produced what probably was the best Dofí to date, yet the 2013 Finca Dofí is as good or even better! The single-vineyard 2013 Finca Dofí, made since 2011 with Garnacha and perhaps 5% Cariñena (previously made with Cabernet Sauvignon), was fermented in oak vats with indigenous yeasts and matured in barriques for 16 months after malolactic. They have achieved a level of sophistication in the élevage of this wine because it is completely different from the wines of, say, 2005 (or 1995!) that were hard and full of tannins. This 2013 is nothing like that. Of course, there are tannins, but the texture is completely different, more akin to a Barolo with earthiness that is coated by ripe fruit to create a singular, unmistakable Priorat. Again, the best Dofí to date. 18,000 bottles produced.” LG
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The average price is $78
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Dominique comes from a family of Burgundian winemakers, and yet has found his little place in the world a stone’s throw from Lake Geneva. Though he’s begun to make some Pinot back near his hometown, his focus in the Savoie has been Savagnin and Chasselas – and goodness gracious, how lovely it’s been!
Chasselas doesn’t have the greatest reputation, and it has a few dozen names across the world. This one feels like a well-kept secret, though, with broad strokes of lace, minerals, lemon zest, and wild flowers. It’s a charming, flirtatious wine – one which keeps the conversation going without interrupting – and the clincher here is in the subtleties.
Same deal as always for me: native yeasts, organic winemaking, rippin’ acidity, and careful-handed winemaking. The Chasselas is perfect to open a meal, seal a deal, or stow away in the garage to swig from when the relatives get to be too much come Thanksgiving. Don’t say I didn’t warn you…
Owen Roe Sharecropper’s Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2014 750ML ($21.95) $18 special
Winery note “The 2014 Sharecropper’s is a vintage that will surely shock and amaze you. This Pinot Noir exudes bold dark fruit flavors and spice to please every palate. The Willamette Valley benefited from a warm growing season which made for relatively high sugar and phenolic ripeness, as well as an abundant crop. This vintage is a staff favorite; try a bottle tonight with grilled cedar plank salmon and it’s easy to see why.”
The next best price is $21.99
Winery note: “Our 2014 Willamette Valley bottling consists 100% 39-year-old Draper Selection clonal material from our estate, Oracle Vineyard, located in the Dundee Hills. Our old, own-rooted, non-irrigated vines really showed their greatness. The wine displays the broad, rich character of the 2014 vintage. Aromas of ripe pear and baked apple are accompanied by balanced fruit and wonderful natural acidity on the palate. The Chardonnay has a very Burgundian texture on the palate. Each barrel was vinified separately in French oak using multiple a diversity of yeasts to increase complexity. The wine underwent a complete malo-lactic fermentation before bottling. It was left on the lees during the aging process to add a slight yeasty character and a velvety texture. This eight barrel lot had 25% new oak in it. After a traditional Burgundian clarification regime during cold-stabilization, the wine was bottled in September of 2015, without filtration, after 12 months on the lees. Only 188 cases produced.”
Winery note “Justice is located in the Eola-Amity Hills AVA next to Bethel Heights Vineyard. At an elevation of around 500 feet, the vine rows face due south on Nekia soil with a sedimentary subsoil. Showing the weight and brilliant color that is typical of the 2013 vintage, this wine explodes from the glass. On the nose one is invited to taste through aromas of marionberry, raspberry, red-current, earth, and a hint of a floral note. The entry shows big berry fruit, with excellent weight and a refined structure. As the roots continue deeper into the sedimentary subsoil, the fruit expression of Justice has moved toward darker fruit and notes of mineral and chalk. This six-barrel lot had one new barrel, two one-year-old barrels with the balance neutral wood. It was racked once in the spring of 2014 with inert gas after an indigenous malo-lactic. We bottled it unfined and unfiltered at the end of September 2014 after 12 months in oak. 147 cases produced.”
Winery note “2014 was a vintage of ripe clean grapes with moderate to high sugar levels and ripe phenolics. Yields increased by 16% from 2013 and grapes were picked at a high level of ripeness. Merriman Vineyard and Lenne Vineyard are both located in Yamhill-Carlton and fall in the rain shadow of Trask Mountain, the tallest mountain in the Coastal Range. The 2014 Kilmore Pinot Noir is a blend of Pommard, Wadensvil and Dijon clone Pinot Noir from exceptional vineyard sites in the Yamhill-Carlton AVA. The dark fruit and coffee notes are hallmarks of the distinct ocean bottom soils in the area of Oregon.”
Brick House Vineyards ‘Les Dijonnais’ Pinot Noir, Ribbon Ridge 2013 750ML ($59.95) $44 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
The average price is $48
Long Shadows Poet’s Leap Riesling, Columbia Valley 2014 750ML ($21.95) $19 special
Wine Spectator 91 points “Silky, lively and elegant, with layers of pear, citrus, wax and floral flavors in lovely proportion, finishing harmoniously and slightly off-dry. Drink now through 2022.” WS
Gramercy Cellars Southern Blend Lower East, Columbia Valley 2012 750ML ($34.95) $26 special
Case-12 Gramercy Cellars Southern Blend Lower East, Columbia Valley 2012 750ML ($359.95) $279 special (that’s only $23.25/bottle!)
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Winery note “Reminiscent of the bold Abbot’s Table blends of past vintages, this 2014 bottling is rich and structured. Sweet aromas of red plums, cherry cordial and a slight floral characteristic. These sweet aromas give way to a more serious palate brimming with ripe Bing cherries, cinnamon and clove with a lingering mocha finish. The 2014 Abbot’s is beautifully structured with bright acidity and fine mouth-coating tannins. Varietal Breakdown: 46% Zinfandel, 31% Sangiovese, 14% Blaufränkisch, and 9% Malbec”
Figgins Estate Red, Walla Walla Valley 2012 750ML ($119.95) $99 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, White Blend 2013 750ML ($39.95) $33 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, Napa Valley 2013 750ML ($69.95) $59 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
The average price is $68
Vilmart & Cie Grand Cellier d’Or Premier Cru Brut 2008 1.5L ($299.95) $279 special
Wine Advocate 94 points “An 80-20 Chardonnay-Pinot blend from a single 45-year-old vineyard planted solely to selection massale in Rilly, Vilmart’s 2008 Brut Grand Cellier d’Or is scented with gentian and iris, along with intimations of the lemony juiciness and the alkaline, saline, chalky mineral bath that follow on the palate. A miso and clam stock-like savor serves for saliva-inducement in a finish at once gripping and glowing, with an exuberantly invigorating meld of lemon, nuts, musky rose radish and diverse sprouts of grains and legumes, not to mention the palate-coating persistence of mineral elements. I imagine that this will prove worth following for the next half dozen or more years.” DS
FRANCE-BURGUNDY
Domaine des Malandes Chablis 2014 750ML ($21.95) $18 special
Burghound 89 points “A slightly riper but equally fresh array of various white and yellow orchard fruit aromas also exhibits plenty of classic Chablis elements. As is usually the case this is bigger and richer with fine intensity and excellent salinity on the stony and saliva-inducing finale. This could be from nowhere other than Chablis and would also make for a higher-end, and age-worthy, house white. Recommended.”
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Antonio Galloni 92 points ‘Everything is in the right place in the 2010 St. Aubin Clos de Meix. A round, seamless and totally alluring white, the Clos de Meix impresses for its fabulous balance. Although quite open at first, the 2010 turns weightless and a bit ethereal on the gracious finish.” AG
Importer note “To capture all of the texture and nuance Remi now bottles all of his wines without filtration sixteen months after vintage. He does the longest fermentation in Meursault 2 months long! To enhance the mineral character over sweetness or bitterness, Remi ages all his wines in tight-grained 1200L Stockinger barrels from Austria.”
The next best price is $34.80
Wine Advocate 90-92 points “The 2012 Meursault Les Narvaux comes from 40 and 50-year old vines in the lieu-dit “Narvaux-Dessus” that was purchased in 2008. It has more potency on the nose compared to the En Luraule and the Sous la Velle, whilst the palate is crisp and taut with good focus and impressive tension on the vibrant finish. This is another great Narvaux – premier cru in all but name as far as I am concerned.” WA
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Wine Advocate 90-92 points “The 2012 Meursault Les Chevaliers has a very vibrant, shimmering bouquet with citrus peel, orange blossom, hints of tropical fruit and minerals. The palate is well balanced with finely judged acidity, excellent tension and a cheeky, oyster shell finish. This surpasses everything you could ask from Meursault village cru.”
Domaine Remi Jobard Les Genevrieres, Meursault Premier Cru 2012 750ML ($99.95) $79 special
Wine Advocate 92-94 points “The 2012 Meursault 1er Cru Les Genevrieres is blessed with another compelling bouquet with a surfeit of mineralite spilling over from the glass. The palate is very harmonious with citrus lemon, orange rind, dovetailing into a tense, bitter lemon finish that is vigorous and persistent. This is a great Genevrieres that should age gracefully over 10 to 15 years.”
The next best price is $99.08
Wine Advocate 92-94 points “The 2012 Meursault 1er Cru Le Poruzot-Dessus comes from a 0.57-hectare parcel of vines planted in 1944 and 1985. It has a lovely bouquet bursting with mineralite and tension. It actually reminds me of one of Jean-Marc Roulot’s gems. The palate is very well balanced with a crisp, very focused, citric entry. There is lovely poise and freshness here – a wine leaves you craving to taste it out of bottle tout de suite.”
The next best price is $96.67
Winery note “The Blagny “La pièce sous le Bois” Premier Cru, just like its neighbour Meursault-Blagny Premier Cru Blanc, is strongly marked by its terroir. It is one of very few appellations in the Côte de Beaune where Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grow happily side by side on the same parcel. During the first four years the wine offers a complex range of aromas with dark fruits such as blueberries and blackberries followed by spicy notes. After five to seven years of aging, aromas of undergrowth develop. An ideal accompaniment to pigeon, duck, winged game and meat in reduced sauces.”
Domaine Matrot Bourgogne Pinot Noir 2013 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 special
“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.”—Burghound
Winery note “The wine is remarkably intense in colour and has aromas of fresh and ripe fruits. In the mouth it has concentration and structure. It is “chewy” and needs some time to reach its peak. This long-lived wine makes, while young, an excellent accompaniment to grilled red meats and, as it matures, will set off the flavours of meat dishes in sauce, or marinated game. A wine for all seasons, and one to remind us that Chassagne-Montrachet can and does produce high quality red wines at affordable prices.”
Chateau Rival-Bellevue, Bordeaux Superieur 2010 750ML ($14.95) $11.90 special
85% Merlot, 15% Cabernet
Vinopolpick- Classically Bordeaux in character. Really. Further proof of the miracle of 2010 in Bordeaux.
FRANCE-LOIRE
Gerard Boulay Sancerre Chavignol 2014 750ML ($29.95) $26 special
Case-12 Gerard Boulay Sancerre Chavignol 2014 750ML ($349.95) $289 special (that’s only $24.08/bottle!)
Importer note “Base of Kimmeridgean limestone soil. Gerard manually works the soil. All fruit is hand-harvested and undergoes natural yeast fermentation in tank. Aged 8 months on lees in about 95% tank, 5% large used wood.”
FRANCE-RHONE
Paul Jaboulet Aine Domaine de Roure Crozes-Hermitage 2012 750ML ($59.95) $49 special
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
Paul Jaboulet Aine Saint-Joseph Domaine de la Croix des Vignes 2012 750ML ($69.95) $59 special
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.” WA
Michel Gahier Arbois Les Follasses Chardonnay 2013 750ML ($29.95) $24 special
Importer note: The soil in this single vineyard site in Montigny is typical clay – limestone mix. Gahier leaves this wine under the veil (“sous voile”) for a more extensive period of time than the “Les Crets”; thus, the wine reflects the classical hazelnut and honeyed quality of the best of the whites from the region. Typically, it is quite full-bodied but carries a significant level of acidity that makes the wine particularly age-worthy.
Importer 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 special
Importer 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.
ITALY-TUSCANY
Azienda Agricola La Torre Rosso di Montalcino 2013 750ML ($39.95) $33 special
Winery note “Bouquet: winy with notes of violet and tobacco. Flavour: the dry, smooth flavour of a classical sangiovese.”
ITALY-PIEDMONT
Noah Croatina Coste Della Sesia 2011 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 special
Importer note: “To our delight, this wine from young Andrea Mosca’s cellars in Brusnengo in the Alto Piemonte is developing nicely and shows, with a considerably higher degree than I anticipated, a true sense of terroir. In fact, this wine from Croatina is much more fine than it almost should be … a “minor” grape displaying an elegance and finish that is rare at this level. It is not at all fruity but rather quite linear with a muted but clear spice to its flavors; the tannins are strict but subtle leading to a refreshing “finale” … all in all a lovely way to further engage with the wide range of appellations and terroirs in the Alto Piemonte.””
Giacomo Conterno Cascina Francia Barbera d’Alba 2012 750ML ($59.95) $39 special
Antonio Galloni 94 points “The 2012 Barbera d’Alba Cascina Francia stands out for its exceptional finesse and delicacy. Sweet rose petals, mint, cinnamon and red berries are all laced together in a soft, polished Barbera long on class and finesse. Perfumed notes continues to open up in the glass, while brighter, more saline-inflected notes give the wine its sense of energy and tension. This is a magnificent showing. Ideally, readers will be able to give the 2012 at least another year or two in bottle.” AG
Winery note “Brick red color tending towards an orange hue. An intense and delicate bouquet of aged Barolo, sarsaparilla and spices – in particular licorice, marjoram, rhubarb and coriander. Also offers notes of bitter orange peel, absinthe, cinnamon, clove and bay leaf. Soft, warm and powerful, with a semisweet long finish. Produced from Barolo wine. Each year, about 1,000 bottles of at least 10 years or older Barolo vintages are blended in a single stainless steel tank then quinine, sugar, alcohol and secret infusion of various spices (about 15-16) are added to the blend of Barolo.”
Giuseppe Quintarelli Primofiore Veneto IGT 2011 750ML ($59.95) $49 special
Case-12 Giuseppe Quintarelli Primofiore Veneto IGT 2011 750ML ($599.95) $519 special (that’s only $43.25/bottle!)
Importer note: “The “first flower” is the only red wine at Quintarelli that does not employ dried grapes or the ripasso technique. It is also the youngest red wine released by the estate every year. After harvest, grapes left in wooden boxes to continue ripening. After pressing and fermentation, wine is aged for several years in Slavonian oak barrels. 50% Corvina and Corvinone, 50% Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc”
Case-12 Novaia Corte Vaona, Amarone della Valpolicella Classico DOCG 2010 750ML ($699.95) $359 special (that’s only $29.92/bottle!)
Wine Advocate 92 points “Representing a special selection of fruit, the 2010 Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Corte Vaona does a great job of balancing out intensity and elegance. The bouquet shows tones of ripe fruit, forest berry, bramble, licorice and cola. In fact, the atoms are not nearly as dense or thick compared to wine’s peers. Considerable power and heft is delivered in the mouth, however. This wine can be consumed immediately, or put aside for a few more years.” WA
Vina Ijalba Livor Tinto, Rioja DOCa 2014 750ML ($14.95) $11.90 special
Vinopolnote: A lively and fruity Tempranillo with a touch of spice; a fantastic everyday sipper.
GERMANY
Beurer Kieselsandstein Stettener Riesling, Wurttemberg 2013 750ML ($31.95) $28 special
Winery note “[Translated] Our Riesling Kieselsandstein comes from over 35 year old vines. The vines are rooted in barren, rocky pebbly sandstone, which lends our Riesling a fresh and pronounced minerality. Through strict yield reduction of one bunch per shoot the wine shows a pronounced aroma of ripe, yellow fruit with a long finish.”
Peter Lauer ‘Barrel X’ Saar Riesling, Mosel 2014 750ML ($21.95) $18 special
John Gilman, View From The Cellar: “The 2014 Barrel Alt Scheidt” Riesling Feinherb had also just been bottled, and naturally, as it is one of the less expensive wines in the lineup, it is under the screw. The wine offers up a pretty nose of white cherries, pears, slate, white flowers and lime zest. On the palate the wine is medium-full, bright and generous on the attack, with good acids, a fair bit of sweetness and nice length on the wide open and nicely laid back finish. Perhaps this will show a bit more backend precision when it has time to bounce back from its bottling. Good juice. 2015-2020”
Stephan Reinhardt, Wine Advocate: “Made not exclusively from their own vineyards the 9% alcohol (plus 20 or 22 grams residual sugar) 2014 Alt Scheidt Riesling (or Barrel X in the US) is an untamed flavored Saar Riesling with a lovely slate aroma and a very sappy and piquant taste. It is lovely juicy and sweet, but also very elegant, and a nothing but lovely type of Kabinett, although Floran Lauer does not want to name it like this because predicates are used only for sweet wines.”
AUSTRIA
Weingut Emmerich Knoll Gelber Traminer Smaragd, Wachau 2013 500ML ($49.95) $39 special
Winery’s note: This designation was first applied to wines of the 1986 vintage and now describes the best, most valuable wines from the Wachau. These wines, which have a minimum must weight of 18.2° KMW, ripen only on the sunniest vineyards and even then can be picked only in very good vintage years. Emerald (smaragd) lizards feel especially comfortable amongst the terraced vineyards of the Wachau. On fine days, they bask in the sun next to the grapevines and have become the symbol for Wachau wines with their mature physiological ripeness. These particularly valuable wines, with an alcohol content of 12.5 Vol.% or more can only be produced in the very best years.
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
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95 points Wine Enthuisast The streamlined palate reveals something that is equally generous and tart, like pink grapefruit or pomelo. There is a lovely phenolic texture, too, with intimations of riper fruit in the background that will still take their time to appear. Best to let this slumber for a while in a cool cellar. Drink as of 2018.
AUSTRALIA
Two Hands Wines Sexy Beast Cabernet Sauvignon, McLaren Vale 2013 750ML ($34.95) $28 special
Wine Spectator 91 points “Firm in texture, this savory style wraps a moderate grip of tannins around orange peel—accented black fruit and tar flavors, coming together on the focused, expressive and seductive finish. Drink now through 2020.”
Brovia: New Arrivals
from The Great Estate
Giacinto Brovia found the Brovia estate in 1863 in the village of Castiglione Falletto. In 1953, the grandchildren of Giacinto, brothers Giacinto and Raffaele, took over the winery and brought it back up the full production after the trials of phylloxera, war and economic difficulties that rocked Italy.
Giacinto studied as an oenologist and oversees the production of the wine. Raffaele, an agronomist, oversaw the vineyards until his passing in 2011. His daughters, Cristina and Elena, have stepped into his role and assist generally with the estate. The estate’s vineyards are located in the village and the neighboring village of Serralunga d’Alba and include holdings in the Rocche, Villero, Garblet Sue and Brea vineyards. They farm organically without certification and use techniques to limit yields such as pruning and thinning excess grapes during the summer. The wines are lightly crushed before fermentations that can last up to a month or more depending upon grape variety. The wines are aged in barrel for an average of two years before being bottled unfiltered. The wines are aged in bottle for 18-24 months before release.
Antonio Galloni 93 points “The 2011 Barolo Garblèt Sue’ is remarkably polished and sophisticated, two qualities that are rarely found in this Castiglione Falletto site, where the wines tend to be much more sinewy and virile. White pepper, pomegranate and sweet red cherries are some of the notes that open up in the glass. The flavors remain bright, focused and beautifully delineated in the glass. I very much like the sense of energy here, although I have to admit, the softer edges of 2011 are incredibly alluring.” AG
Antonio Galloni 94 points “The 2011 Barolo Rocche di Castiglione is sweet, floral and wonderfully expressive, all Brovia signatures. Silky tannins provide the backdrop as this sensual, polished Barolo shows off its class. Perfumed notes are woven throughout, but it is the wine’s exceptional textural finesse that stands out most. Hints of hard candy, mint, cinnamon and succulent red cherries add the final shades of dimension. In 2011, the Rocche stands out for its total sense of class.” AG
Antonio Galloni 93 points “The 2011 Barolo Villero is one of the most structured wines in the range. Here the firm tannins and ample frame both suggest the 2011 will drink well for many years, once the tannins start softening. Orange peel, wild flowers, red stone fruits and spices flesh out on the creamy finish. It’s always interesting to taste the Villero next to the Rocche, as the two sites are pretty close to the other, yet the wines are remarkably different. Here the heat of the year is quite evident, while the Rocche benefits from greater ventilation and therefore a bit more freshness.” AG
Brovia Sori del Drago Barbera d’Alba 2013 750ML ($31.95) $28 special, 12 bottles available
“Perennially, this is my favorite Barbera I represent. These 70 year old vines are from the famed “Garblet Sué” parcel (more commonly referred to as “Bricco del Fiasc”) in Castiglione Falletto. Any other estate would have long since cashed in by planting Nebbiolo. This vineyard is planted at almost 1,000 feet elevation which is about as high as Falletto gets. As always, juice is fermented at a relatively brisk temp and then racked into stainless steel for 18mos. Simple, perfect Barbera. 120 cases imported to the USA.” –Importer note
Brovia Valmaggione Nebbiolo d’Alba 2011 750ML ($37.95) $31.90 special, 10 bottles available
Importer’s note: Produced from grapes hand-harvested from sand-infused soils in the Valmaggiore vineyard site in the village of Vezza d’Alba, just north of Alba. This is a half-hectare vineyard that faces south at 340 meters altitude. The vines were planted in 1975. This wine is not oak-aged; rather it is racked into a stainless steel vat to age for at least one year before bottling. Approximately 2500 bottles are produced of this elegant, velvety wine of medium-body and exquisite balance; half of that production is destined for the US market.
Case-12 Brovia Valmaggione Nebbiolo d’Alba 2012 750ML ($419.95) $349 special, 2 cases available (that’s only $29.08/bottle and the lowest listed price in the USA today!)
Importer Notes “Sorry to double down with the superlatives, but for me, this is the most exciting wine the Brovia family bottles. It is the cheapest, lowest abv%, highest elevation, most northerly, most north facing Nebbiolo bottling in the family’s lineup — and the most limited production wine they make. Always a huge winner for me. “Valmaggione” (the actual name of the vineyard is ValmaggioRe, but the printer misspelled the label during the first vintage and the Brovia family decided to stick with it as a joke) is a parcel in Vezza d’Alba that produces some very expensive and sought after wines by more modernist producers like Sandrone. Super steep, sandy soils with great drainage that make for a wine with pronounced freshness and lift. No oak, no extended élevage. Pure, great wine.”
Brovia Barolo DOCG 2010 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 13 bottles available
James Suckling 91 points “This is spicy, with meat, chocolate and dried-fruit character. Medium body, dense fruit and chewy tannins. Needs two years to soften: better in 2016.”
Brovia Barolo DOCG 2011 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 7 bottles available
Case-12 Brovia Barolo DOCG 2011 750ML ($619.95) $519 special, 1 case available (that’s only $43.25/bottle and the lowest listed price in the USA today!)
Antonio Galloni 90-92 points “The 2011 Barolo is sumptuous and expressive, with all of the immediacy that is so typical of the year. Dark red cherry, plums, hard candy, spice and tobacco are all woven into a layered finish graced with soft contours and fabulous overall balance for a straight Barolo. As Brovia fans know, the straight Barolo is 70% young-vine fruit from Brea (above 20 years of age), plus the wine that is left over when the single-vineyard Barolos go into cask.” AG
Giovanni Corino
Brilliant New Arrivals
The use of sulfur and copper are strictly monitored and pesticides are only used when absolutely necessary. Cow manure is used as fertilizer, only indigenous yeasts are employed, and no filtration or clarification are performed.
Come 2005, the estate was split evenly between the family’s two sons, Giuliano and Renato. Giovanni Corino, the ‘classic’ estate, fell under Giuliano’s control, though the brothers get along well and often collaborate. We’re excited to offer a new spread of Corino wines at the shop, listed below.
Corino Wines Arriving Soon
Giovanni Corino Dolcetto d’Alba 2011 750ML ($29.95) $14 pre-arrival special
Antonio Galloni 88 points “Corino’s 2011 Dolcetto d’Alba is an absolutely joyous, delicious wine bursting with juicy, varietal fruit. Plums, violets, tar and exotic spices flesh out on the vinous, inviting finish.” AG
The next best price is $19.99
The average price is $23
Case-12 Giovanni Corino Barbera d’Alba 2012 750ML ($249.95) $179 pre-arrival special (that’s only $14.92/bottle!)
Antonio Galloni 88 points “The 2012 Barbera d’Alba is juicy, expressive and generous. Dark red cherries, plums, spices and licorice meld together in a pretty, vinous Barbera to drink over the next few years.” AG
Case-12 Giovanni Corino Barolo DOCG 2010 750ML ($479.95) $359 pre-arrival special (that’s only $29.92/bottle!)
Wine Spectator 90 points “A fresh, elegant red, showing cherry, floral, loam and underbrush flavors. This is firm, yet ripe and long, with gripping tannins on the finish. Best from 2017 through 2030.” WS
The average price is $41
Case-6 Giovanni Corino Barolo Vigna Giachini, Barolo DOCG 2010 750ML ($299.95) $264 pre-arrival special (that’s only $/bottle!)
Case-12 Giovanni Corino Barolo Vigna Giachini, Barolo DOCG 2010 750ML ($599.95) $479 pre-arrival special (that’s only $/bottle!)
Wine Spectator 94 points “Focused, juicy and long, this red is packed with cherry, floral, tobacco and underbrush flavors. Still a bit tight now, but stays long. The sweet fruit returns on the finish. Best from 2018 through 2030.” WS
The average price is $58
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Mollydooker
Aussie Royalty
Mollydooker Wines Available Here Now:
Mollydooker Blue Eyed Boy Shiraz, South Australia 2014 750ML ($59.95) $49 special
Winery note “Upon smelling this wine, your senses are immediately drawn in by a bouquet of deep blueberry, rich plum and coffee. These prominent fruit flavours are closely followed by chocolate and lustrous licorice spice with creamy vanilla constantly weaving its way through. This beautifully balanced wine is a classic representation of our Blue Eyed Boy: truly a vibrant, ripe, and indulgent experience.”
Mollydooker Gigglepot Cabernet Sauvignon, South Australia 2014 750ML ($59.95) $49 special
Winery note” Showcases the best of what McLaren Vale Cabernet has to offer; dark fruits of blackberry and blackcurrant burst upon first smelling this decadent wine. Expressive layers of violet, rich vanilla cream and mocha coat your palate giving way to deep chocolate and subtle hints of mint. Underlining tannins reinforce these complex and full flavours that continue to develop and linger in your mouth for ages.”
Mollydooker Carnival of Love Shiraz, McLaren Vale 2014 750ML ($89.95) $69 special
Winery note “Luscious cherry, blackberry and plum jam fruit flavours marry together, forming this powerful yet elegant Shiraz. Made from a selection of McLaren Vale’s premier grapes, its deep colour and fragrant nose leads to quite a voluptuous palate of fruit intertwined with rich mocha, coffee and chocolate, with traces of licorice and toffee. Carnival of Love offers exceptional complexity while remaining balanced and delightful to drink.”
Mollydooker Enchanted Path Shiraz – Cabernet Sauvignon, McLaren Vale 2014 750ML ($99.95) $79 special
Winery note “A mouthful of red fruit; cherries, wild berries and fresh plum greet you upon tasting this year’s harmonious blend of Shiraz and Cabernet. The two complement each other seamlessly as vanilla and dark chocolate integrate with cinnamon spice and notes of mocha to form the perfect balance. Silky tannins give this enjoyable wine phenomenal length, allowing your taste buds to continue to dance long after the last sip.”
A Fearless Sicilian
Occhipinti began with about 2.5 acres of abandoned vines within the southern town of Vittoria. She slowly expanded fourfold, reintroducing indigenous varietals to the land via massale selection. She later began to rent 50+ year old Frappato and Nero d’Avola wines, growing in size as her abilities and reputation grew. She is a fearless winemaker whose respect for the land comes through in elegant, soulful wines which beautifully exhibit the terroir of her native Sicily.
Arianna employs a wide range of vessels during elevage – depending on the cuvee, she has used concrete, amphora, stainless steel, and fiberglass. In 2014, she only used one treatment of copper and sulphur – a real achievement for a natural winemaker who has said that her key to success is “…not irrigating, harvesting late and not using fertilizers.” She believes that freshness and minerality is best achieved from the subsoils of a vineyard, as“any wine made from young vines or chemically grown vines feeding only off of the top soil will have the cooked, hot characteristics people associate with wine from warm regions.” The wines, in turn, are seductively fresh, layered, and aromatic. We’re thrilled to carry a number of her new offerings, all listed below.
Azienda Agricola Arianna Occhipinti Il Frappato Sicilia IGT 2012 750ML ($41.95) $36 special, 12 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 91 points “Good bright medium red. Wild red berries, sour red cherry, violet and sweet spices on the nose, plus hints of blood orange and savory earthy scents. Bright and juicy on entry, then tougher and concentrated in the middle, showing less floral lift and more fleshiness than is usual with frappato. Finishes long and full, with strong iron and saline traces. Very well done: give this highly promising frappato at least two years of cellaring for optimal drinking. Unlike the 2013 SP68 white wine, the new red wine vintages by young Arianna Occhipinti show pure floral aromas unmarred by oxidative tones, which were once much more evident in these wines.” ST
Arianna Occhipinti ‘Siccagno’ Nero d’Avola Sicilia IGT 2012 750ML ($39.95) $33 special, 12 bottles available
Importer note: 100% Nero d’Avola from a sandy, chalky vineyard located 270 meters above sea level and planted using alberello training at a density of 6k vines per hectare. The average age of the vines is 35 years. The wine is fermented using indigenous yeasts after a maceration period of 40 days on the skins. The wine then spends 16 months in large, 25hl Slovenian oak casks and an additional six months in bottle before being released. Super-rich and dark with great perfume. Very sappy with an intense boysenberry aroma and bright purple color. This is not your average Nero d’Avola. The intensity in color and richness is counterbalanced by fresh, lively acidity and great lift.
Vinopolnote: A bright, fresh, and aromatic blend of Albanello – native to the Ragusa area near Vittoria – and Zibbibo – otherwise known as Muscat de Alexandria – one of the oldest genetically unmodified varietals still in existence.
Azienda Agricola Arianna Occhipinti SP68 Sicilia Rosso IGT 2014 750ML ($27.95) $24 special, 24 bottles available
Importer’s note: Named for the road going past the winery, SP68 is a blend of Nero d’Avola and Frappato. This is a perfect balance of power and finesse; the Nero imparts rich dark fruits and the Frappato adds a high-toned raspberry note. Simply stunning.
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Arriving Soon!
ETA Nov 16-20
Domaine Gerard Mugneret Les Boudots, Nuits-Saint-Georges Premier Cru 2013 750ML ($149.95) $119 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 94-95 points “The 2012 Nuits Saint Georges 1er Cru Les Boudots has a really quite wonderful, effervescent bouquet that is immensely pure and refined, offering superb mineralite and tension. The palate is very fresh on the entry with concentrated pure sorbet-infused red fruit that contain superb tension and vibrant on the finish, leaving the mouth tingling. This could be one of the finest Nuits Saint Georges 2012s on the market.” WA
The next best price is $129.
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.”
Domaine Lafage ‘Tessellae’ Carignan Vieilles Vignes 2013 750ML ($19.95) $16.60 pre-arrival special
Case-12 Domaine Lafage ‘Tessellae’ Carignan Vieilles Vignes 2013 750ML ($219.95) $179 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 94 points “A custom cuvee and joint venture with importer Eric Solomon, the 2013 Tessellae Vieilles Vignes is 100% Carignan and comes from 70-year-old vines and the schist soils of Maury and Les Aspres. It is an off-the-charts value that offers up thrilling notes of black raspberry, chocolate, graphite, tar and licorice to go with a voluptuous, decadent, yet seamless and gorgeously pure feel on the palate. Seriously, this wine is smoking good and should thrill for 4-5 years, if not longer. Just pretend you paid more for it.”