12/16/15
Veuve Clicquot ‘La Grande Dame’ 2004
Arriving Friday 12/18
Wine Spectator 94 points “A fine and lacy mousse is draped over a firm frame of well-integrated acidity, belying the complexity of this elegant Champagne. A delicately woven tapestry of black currant, piecrust, chalk, spring blossom and lemon zest flavors ends with a lasting note of smoke-tinged minerality. Drink now through 2029.” WS
California Dreamin’
Blockbuster Wines, Blockbuster Prices
Arrowood Saralee’s Vineyard Syrah, Russian River Valley 2011 750ML ($34.95) $16 pre-arrival special
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 90 points “(36% new oak): Vivid ruby. Smoky dark berry and olive tapenade scents are lifted by zesty mineral and black pepper notes, with a floral nuance adding complexity. Silky and focused on the palate, offering spice-accented blackberry and bitter cherry flavors that become sweeter with air. The floral quality recurs on the persistent, smoky finish.” ST
The next best price is $29.99!
The average price is $32!
Atalon Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2011 750ML ($31.95) $18 pre-arrival special
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 89+ points “(at 13.5% alcohol, this is a full degree lower than the Pauline’s Cuvee; includes tiny bits of merlot and petit verdot): Bright red-ruby. Musky black raspberry, blackberry, licorice, menthol and oak on the nose. Distinctly tighter and less pliant now than the Pauline’s Cuvee, displaying a touch of medicinal reserve to the sappy dark berry, violet and menthol flavors. Shows serious spine without coming off as hard: I’d give this persistent cabernet a year or two to mellow in bottle.” ST
The next best price is $23.99!
The average price is $29!
Byron Nielson Vineyard Chardonnay, Santa Maria Valley 2012 750ML ($29.95) $14 pre-arrival special
Wine Enthusiast 92 points “The aromas of this Chardonnay are zesty and fresh yet rich, with barrel smoke, caramelized pear and vanilla tones. The integration continues on the palate, with a bit of oak followed by apple, white peach, nectarine and lime zest. It’s flavorful and enjoyable now.” WE
The next best price is $28.48
It’s about pricing, selection, and service!
Burgundy
Burgundy is one of our strongest suits. From the region, we have over 350 different red cuvees and over 100 white cuvees – many of them exclusively offered, rare, or at the lowest price in the country. This includes, but certainly is not limited to these fine selections:
Domaine de Montille Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru, Cote de Nuits 2011 750ML ($199.95) $125 special, 6 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 91-93 points “(vinified entirely with whole clusters; 40% new oak): Good full red. Lovely high-pitched aromas of black cherry, blackberry, licorice and violet. Deep, sappy and vinous, with an enticing savory/sweet quality to the intense flavors of wild dark berries, violet and graphite. Finishes with firm-edged tannins, a very primary medicinal black cherry note, and lovely floral lift. This will need at least four or five years of bottle aging. Chef de cave Sieve noted that the domain owns parcels on either side of the tower in Clos Vougeot, with part of its vines located in a frost pocket that was hit hard in December of 2009.” ST
The next best price is $160.
Wine Advocate 91-93 points “The 2009 Gevrey-Chambertin Coeur du Roi is a dark, inward wine. It shows serious weight and density in its dark fruit and sensual personality. A blast of smoke, licorice and menthol informs the long, beautifully delineated finish. Anticipated maturity: 2024-2039.”WA
Dominique Laurent Bonnes-Mares Vieilles Vignes Grand Cru 2010 750ML ($329.95) $269 special, 5 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 92-95 points “(from 100-year-old vines): Deep red with ruby highlights. Wild, slightly reduced aroma dominated by black raspberry. Sappy, saline and mouthfilling, with the black fruit flavors carrying through on the palate. Most impressive today on the extremely long aftertaste, which features substantial dusty tannins and strong soil tones. Has the material to handle its 100% new oak.”ST
Domaine Dujac Aux Combottes, Gevrey-Chambertin Premier Cru 2011 750ML ($249.95) $199 special, 3 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 91+ points “Captivating aromas of pristine red fruits, minerals and underbrush, plus a whiff of porcini. Juicy and penetrating on the palate, with terrific high-pitched precision to the red raspberry and cherry flavors. Lovely cut here, as well as a tannic spine that calls for four or five years of aging. Jeremy Seysses noted that with the estate’s clonal material, their grapes are riper. “We start pulling leaves on the north side of the vines not long after the flowering, and we get thicker skins,” he told me, adding that the estate’s 2011s are tannic wines.” ST
Labet & Dechelette Chateau de La Tour Clos de Vougeot Vieilles Vignes Grand Cru 2011 750ML ($219.95) $179 special, 8 bottles available
Burghound 92-95 points “Deep ruby. Here the wood is relatively generous and less well-integrated though the aromatic profile of the ever-so-slightly riper nose is otherwise quite similar. There is more size, weight, power and concentration to the imposingly constructed flavors that are both supported and shaped by the tightly wound and extremely firm tannins, all wrapped in a mouth coating and hugely persistent finish. This displays terrific potential but it is a wine to buy only if you have the wherewithal and patience to wait.” BH
Domaine Trapet Pere et Fils Chambertin Grand Cru 2012 750ML ($379.95) $299 special, 15 bottles available
Burghound 96 points “This is ultra-cool and restrained aromatically with its airy and even elegant aromas of intensely floral, spicy and stony wild dark berry scents that are also trimmed in just enough wood to warrant commenting on. There is a gorgeous texture to the equally mineral-inflected and muscular broad-shouldered and impressively concentrated flavors that possess a Zen-like harmony on the impeccably well-balanced, moderately austere and hugely long finish. This should be genuinely wonderful if given at least a decade’s snooze in a cool cellar. I should also note that by the standards of this wine the 2012 version is not super-powerful but I very much like the sense of harmony.” AM
Stephen Tanzer-Vinous 92 points “Healthy dark red. Superripe black cherry, blueberry and menthol on the nose. Rich, creamy and sweet, in a rather powerful style for this cuvée, but with a medicinal minerality energizing the mid-plate. Finishes with substantial but suave tannins that will require patience.”ST
The next best price is $155.
Burghound 91 points “This offers markedly better complexity on the cool and pure aromas of iodine, tidal pool and white orchard fruit. There is fine intensity to the attractively mineral-driven medium-bodied flavors that are at once succulent yet precise, all wrapped in a harmonious and beautifully lingering finish.”BH
Pierre-Yves Colin-Morey Chassagne-Montrachet Les Ancegnieres 2012 750ML ($119.95) $99 special, 12 bottles available
Burghound 88-91 points “Strong sulfur-based aromas presently dominate the nose. By contrast there is a lovely sense of purity to the broad-shouldered and robust medium weight flavors that brim with dry extract on the very generously proportioned, long and well-balanced finish. This is a big wine by the typical standards of villages level wines and one that should also be approachable after only a few years of bottle age.” BH
Domaine Henri Boillot Bienvenues-Batard-Montrachet Grand Cru 2011 ($299.95) $249 special, 10 bottles available
Burghound 94 points “This is also notably ripe but the aromas do not run to the exotic as the honeysuckle, apricot, white peach and subtle spice notes are entirely classic. There is an appealing succulence to the delicious, intense and strikingly fine medium-bodied flavors and while there is certainly a sense of focused power present on the long, clean and refined finish, this is essentially a Bienvenues of finesse.”BH
Antonio Galloni 95 points “An intriguing, rich, almost tropical expression of fruit emerges from the 2010 Chablis Blanchot, owing to the warmer microclimate in this site. The Blanchots is ripe, seductive and enveloping. Stylistically it is one of the flashier 2010s here. Layers of fruit build to the deeply resonant, radiant finish. The Blanchot should drink well relatively early.” AG
The Rhone Valley
From the Rhone Valley, we feature such producers as Delas Freres, J-L Chave, Chapoutier, Domaine Vieux Telegraphe, Saint Cosme, Henri Bonneau, and Domaine de la Janasse. Some of the finest in the collection include:
Henri Bonneau Chateauneuf-du-Pape Reserve des Celestins 2009 750ML ($379.95) $299 special, 9 bottles available
Wine Advocate 95-98 points “The 2009 Chateauneuf du Pape Reserve des Celestins might be the wine of the vintage and got a big “Wow” in the notebook. Thrillingly perfumed, with kirsch, currants, herbs de Provence, dried meats and spice-like aromas and flavors, it is an absolute knockout on the nose. This is all backed up by full-bodied richness in the mouth, and it possesses terrific mid-palate depth, layers of sweet tannin and a finish that pumps out plenty of sweet fruit. I don’t know when it will be bottled, but certainly, I was blown away by the wine.” WA
Domaine de La Janasse Chateauneuf-du-Pape Cuvee Chaupin 2010 750ML ($149.95) $119 special, 7 bottles available
Robert Parker 98 points “The 2010 Chateauneuf du Pape Chaupin rivals the 2007 Chaupin (to date the best Chaupin I have yet tasted). Made from 100% Grenache (3/4 destemmed), it boasts a dense black/purple color as well as unbelievable notes of raspberries, black cherries, licorice, truffles, camphor, forest floor and garrigue. This wine is stunningly concentrated, incredibly noble, precise and expansive on the palate with mouth-saturating intensity, glycerin and extract. It is an amazing example of impeccably grown old vine Grenache translated into a natural yet full-throttle red.”RP
Robert Parker 90-93 points “The 2007 Ermitage La Sizeranne displays a similar deep ruby/purple-tinged color in addition to sweet aromas of raspberries, black currants, smoke, gun flint, and spice. This full-bodied, well-made wine reveals outstanding richness, purity, and overall balance. Consume it over the next 15-20 years.” RP
Wine Spectator 94 points “Packed with lots of dark ganache, tapenade, tobacco, blackberry compote and freshly sliced plum fruit flavors, this really courses along with noticeable energy, while bramble, singed bay leaf and charcoal stud the finish dramatically. Best from 2015 through 2027.” WS
Robert Parker 91 points “The 2010 Cote Rotie Seigneur de Maugiron has fleshed out since last year offering notes of black olives, garrigue, licorice, forest floor, bacon fat, raspberries and black currants. This medium-bodied Cote Rotie veers more toward a Burgundy-styled wine than its Syrah-based peers in the Northern Rhone. Two extraordinary wines are the offerings Jacques Grange has fashioned from the Delas Freres holdings in the Cote Brune, the 2011 and 2010 Cote Rotie La Landonne.” RP
Austria
Often overlooked, Austria is a reliable source for wines of incredible depth, precision, and value. Some of our finest producers include FX Pichler, Ott, Nikolaihof, and Gobelsburg. Below, a few highlights!
F.X. Pichler Durnsteiner Kellerberg Gruner Veltliner Smaragd, Wachau ($89.95) $69 special, 6 bottles available
Joel Payne-Vinous 94 points “Unctuous aromas of tropical fruit, spicy tobacco and white pepper. Opulent, juicy apricot extract emerges on the palate, where it’s joined by strong minerality. This rich wine offers a delicate interplay of sweetness and acidity interwoven with a wet stone character. Excellent potential.”
Wine Advocate 94 points “The Pichlers’ 2012 Gruner Veltliner Smaragd Kellerberg boasts a luscious pear and apple fruit fundament backed by a lush, glycerol-rich texture, with complementary overtones of honeysuckle and lily of the valley perfume. Yet for all of the richness my aforementioned description implies, this also boasts a remarkable sense of primary juiciness as well as lift, leading to a finish of refined, polished, succulent length, stimulatingly suffused with crushed stone and pungent Szechuan pepper. As another demonstration of how important is the character of an individual vineyard in ways that can’t be captured analytically, this wine is well over 14% in alcohol despite its buoyancy, whereas the corresponding Liebenberg at 13.5% reminds you of its alcohol and lacks levity. “One factor,” observes Lucas Pichler “is that Kellerberg is in the shadow after mid-afternoon while Liebenberg gets sun well into the evening.” Plan to follow this Kellerberg through at least 2025.”
David Schildknecht–Vinous 93 points “Honey, white peach and quince allied to hints of truffle and kelp put one in mind of certain very rich Chenins. Full yet barely over 13% in alcohol, and boasting lusciously satisfying primary juiciness, this takes on more typical Grüner Veltliner characteristics in the mid-palate in the form of caramelized parsnip, snap pea and blond tobacco, not to mention the white pepper, allied with ginger, that informs its long mouthwateringly savory and buoyant finish. Fruit from these vines, noted Ott, was especially affected by millerandage and consequently concentrated. A mere 600 liters were harvested from the Spiegel’s eight hectares!”
Wine Advocate 92 points “The 2013 Grüner Veltliner Spiegel Erste Lage is Ott’s third vintage of this Feuersbrunn cru which carries a mix of very old and very young vines which are cultivated on south-facing terraces in 280 to more than 300 meters above sea level and well protected to the northwest by the Hengstberg gravel ridge. The soils, derived from a massive blanket of loess that is draped over the Gföhler gneiss bedrock, marine sediments, and ancient gravels of the Danube River, are calcareous and silty and, in 2013, bore a light golden colored, tropical flavored, rich, sweet and harmonious Veltliner of great intensity and elegance. It intermixes ripe peach and mango aromas with tobacco and mineral flavors and develops a great length which makes the Spiegel on a par with the Rosenberg., the former more sweet, the latter more subtle perhaps.” WA
The next best price is $61.99
David Schildknecht–Vinous 93 points “This represents the 2014 bottling of a wine that no doubt had the right stuff for a full-fledged “Vinothek” release some years from now, but there was simply not enough cask capacity in the cellar. It’s being sold from the cellar door at the same price as the current 2013 release because, as Christine Saahs remarked with a wink, “We don’t want to do anything to discourage Austrian customers from trying this ‘old’ wine.” Lichen on wet stone; saline and alkaline sea breeze; mothball and apple jack; hazelnut and almond utterly fascinate in the nose, then ally themselves to youthful primary juiciness of lime and white asparagus on a silky palate. Head-scratching intrigue by no means precludes refreshment value on the long finish.”
Terry Theise notes: “Bottled in 2014. Pure quiet profundity here, in a markedly smoky form. Very dry, adamantly leathery, charred, nettle-y; firm and austere. But not meager nor remotely punishing – just not a “nice guy.” I see it with a sorrel soup or something in an herb sauce with pea shoots, cressy micro-greens, yet there’s also this lovely smell of old leather.”
Schloss Gobelsburg Gobelsburger Riesling 2013 750ML ($19.95) $16.60 special, 23 bottles available
Wine Spectator 92 points “Offers ripe aromas and flavors of beeswax and sage honey, with kiwifruit, melon and white currant hints. This has some dried mango notes, with an exuberant finish of white pepper and lemon curd. Drink now through 2022.” WS
Piedmont
There’s no shortage of show-stopping wine from Piedmont. Our selection may very well rival the finest cantinas out there – our collection includes bottlings from Mascarello, Giacosa, Brovia, Oddero, G. Conterno, Produttori del Barbaresco, and Borgogno. Among them:
Giuseppe Mascarello e Figlio Monprivato, Barolo DOCG 2008 750ML ($179.95) $149 special, 10 bottles available
#6 Wine On 2013 Wine Spectator TOP 100
Wine Spectator 95 points “Detailed and fragrant, offering floral, strawberry, cherry, licorice and spice flavors, this is elegant and underlined by a strong mineral streak. Well-proportioned, picking up intensity and complexity on the long, savory finish. Extremely fresh and classy”
Falletto di Bruno Giacosa ‘Falletto’, Barolo DOCG 2005 750ML ($249.95) $138 special, 36+ bottles available
Wine Advocate & Stephen Tanzer 94 points “The 2005 Barolo Falletto offers up a gorgeous bouquet of red cherries, flowers, spices and menthol. This is a relatively delicate, elegant Barolo Falletto yet it offers gorgeous balance, tons of inner perfume and a long, refined finish. It is one of the overachievers in 2005. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2025.”WA
Case-6 Giacomo Conterno Francia Barolo DOCG, Piedmont 2003 750ML ($799.95) $689 special, 8 half-cases available
Case-12 Giacomo Conterno Francia Barolo DOCG, Piedmont 2003 750ML ($1,549.95) $1,319 special, 3 cases available
Antonio Galloni 94 points “The 2003 Barolo Cascina Francia is soft, silky and very nicely balanced, especially in its tannins, where the wine really stands out next to so many peers. Readers should open the 2003 at least an hour in advance to allow the aromatics to open up. This is a very sexy and open young Barolo from Conterno with very little signs of the challenging growing season.” (6/2014)
Antonio Galloni 95 points “Playing true to type, the 2008 Barbaresco Riserva Pora is another of the more open wines in this vintage. But that is only in relative terms. Layers of expressive red fruit, crushed flowers and spices flesh out in this radiant Barbaresco. In most vintages the Pora is one of the more accessible of the Riservas when young. The close proximity of the vineyard to the Tanaro River results in a warm microclimate that ripens the fruit earlier than elsewhere. In 2008, though, the Pora packs a serious punch. The coolness of the late harvest comes through in a finish laced with considerable tension and minerality. This is easily one of the very best Poras I have ever tasted from the Produttori. Anticipated maturity: 2018-2048.” AG
Giacomo Borgogno & Figli Barolo Vigna Liste, Barolo DOCG 2008 750ML ($119.95) $79 special, 36+ bottles available
Antonio Galloni 93+ points “Cool veins of bracing minerality form the backbone in Borgogno’s 2008 Barolo Liste. Today, the 2008 is virtually impenetrable, as the vintage and the site have combined to produce a big, powerful Barolo that will require considerable cellaring before it is ready to show all its cards. Still, there is a lot to like here, especially for those who can be patient. Tar, smoke, incense and scorched earth all add gravitas on the close, but with more time in the glass some of the sweeter notes begin to emerge. The 2008 Liste is shaping up to be magnificent.” AG
Tuscany
From Chianti to Brunello, we can’t forget about Tuscany. Among our most popular wines originate from this picture-perfect region – from producers such as Il Poggione, Gaja, Montevertine, Isole e Olena, Felsina, and La Fortuna. Current selections include:
Il Poggione Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2004 750ML ($119.95) $79 special, 36+ bottles available
Antonio Galloni 95 points “The 2004 Brunello di Montalcino is awesome. This finessed, regal Brunello flows onto the palate with seamless layers of perfumed fruit framed by silky, finessed tannins. The wine remains extremely primary at this stage, and its full range of aromas and flavors have yet to emerge, but the sheer pedigree of this Brunello is unmistakable. The elegant, refined finish lasts an eternity, and subtle notes of menthol, spices, licorice and leather add final notes of complexity. The estate’s 2004 Brunello is a wine to buy and bury in the deepest corner of the cellar. Brunello is never inexpensive, but this is the real deal, and in relative terms, it is one of the world’s great values in fine, cellar worthy wine. Incredibly, there are 18,000+ cases of the 2004 Brunello, so it should be fairly easy to source in various markets. The Brunello is made from four vineyards ranging from 250 to 400 meters in altitude, all in Sant’Angelo in Colle. The wines from the various vineyards were aged separately in French oak casks prior to being assembled and bottled.” AG
Wine Advocate 94 points “Upped to a Bolgheri status (previously this wine was identified as a Toscana IGT), the 2012 Bolgheri Magari is simply delightful. This vintage shows extra heft and dimension that allows the wine to spread smoothly over the palate. Merlot is blended with Cabernets Franc and Sauvignon, and the taste profile in the 2012 vintage definitely favors the Merlot component. Soft cherry and dark berry segue to spice and moist tobacco. The structure of the two Cabernet varieties shows in the mouth where the wine is elegant and tight. It needs more time for bottle evolution. Angelo Gaja’s Ca’Marcanda estate has hit its stride with this latest set of wines. His management of the 2011 heat is impressive, resulting in wines with power and finesse. Ca’Marcanda never seems to get the attention it deserves, and the wines are indeed pricy. Nonetheless, they are among the finest expressions on the Tuscan coast.” ML
Gaja Ca’Marcanda Magari Toscana IGT 2012 750ML ($79.95) $49 special, 36+ bottles available
James Suckling 93 points “Bright and firm with sliced-lemon, blueberry and almond character throughout. Full body, firm tannins and a clean finish. Clean and fresh. Better in 2016.” JS
Wine Spectator 92 points “Rich and bursting with cedar, licorice, black currant and sandalwood aromas and flavors, this red is dense and chewy. Balanced and long, this begs for grilled steak or a roast. Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. Drink now through 2022. ” WS
The next best price is $58.67.
Antonio Galloni 97 points “A vivid, beautiful wine, the 2011 Pergole Torte is superb. Warm, early-maturing harvests often attenuate the differences between sites, but not here. The old vines weathered the heat better, resulting in a wine that is very much in line with the past, but with more body, amplitude and resonance. Rose petals, bright red stone fruits and mint are some of the many notes that grace the super-expressive finish. The 2011 spent one year in French oak barrels and a second year in cask.” AG
Felsina Berardenga Rancia, Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG ($59.95) $41.90 special, 36+ bottles available
Case-12 Felsina Berardenga Rancia, Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG ($499.95) $469 special, 4 cases available
Wine Advocate 94 points “From the 6.25-hectare Rancia vineyard, the 2011 Chianti Classico Riserva Rancia shows a more elaborate and stylized personality with ripe fruit tones, bursting cherry, perfumed violets and rose petal. Those floral notes add a feminine touch to what is in fact a wine of power and determination. It shows a beautiful evolution in the glass as well, with dusty mineral notes that add to the overall elegance of the dry, polished finish. This is one of the best Riservas of 2011.” ML
Isole e Olena Cepparello Toscana IGT 2011 750ML ($89.95) $55 special, 36+ bottles available
James Suckling 95 points “Aromas of currant, bark and orange peel. Nutmeg powder. Full body and chewy tannins. Savory, with balsamic and nuts. I love the juicy, decadent character to this. Drink or hold.” JS
Antonio Galloni 94+ points “Isole e Olena’s 2011 Cepparello is remarkably silky, polished and refined, especially considering the challenges of the vintage. Dark red stone fruits, wild flowers, menthol and sweet spices all meld together gracefully in the glass. Voluptuous and racy but also an impeccably balanced wine with phenomenal length and a super-expressive finish. The 2011 will offer a wide window of drinking pleasure pretty much upon release. Drink: 2017-2026.” AG
Long Shadows Vintner’s Collection
Wooden Case and 6-Pack of Acclaimed Wines
Long Shadows Vintners Collection, Columbia Valley 2013 750ML ($399.95) $319 special, 3 sets available
Contains one 750ML bottle each of Long Shadows‘ six acclaimed red wines, packaged together in a beautifully etched wood box:
Pirouette: A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot from the Wahluke Slope, Sagemoor’s Old Vine and Red Mountain Vineyards with Merlot from the estate Benches Vineyards in Horse Heaven Hills. Richly layered and complex, the wine is unfiltered and unfined to allow for a generous spectrum of aromas and flavors including black cherry, sweet spices and a hint of earth. The wine’s refined texture provides a seductive mouth feel and lengthy finish.
Feather: Randy Dunn selects the Cabernet Sauvignon the Feather from a diversity of sites: the estate Benches Vineyards for dark fruit and earthiness, the Wahluke Slope for structure and ripe tannins, and two of Washington State’s oldest vineyards, Weinbau and Dionysus, for complexity. The wine is concentrated and beautifully balanced; Feather might best be described as ‘an iron fist in a velvet glove.’ This incredibly complex wine offers an array of fresh berry aromas, complimented by spicy, dark cherry and dried current flavors that persist on the palate.
Pedestal: Produced by one of the world’s most famous winemakers, Michel Rolland. Rolland selects the Merlot from the Conner Lee and Dionysus Vineyards as well as from the estate Benches Vineyards to produce an unusually complex Merlot. Tapteil Vineyards Cabernet from Red Moutain gives it its strength and extra richness. The wine shows intense, fruit-forward notes, bursting with fresh blueberries, ripe plum, cedar and spice. Good concentration in the wine adds to its pleasing mouth feel; balanced acidity enhances its appeal. Supple tannins are well-integrated on the entry, across the mid-palate and throughout a long, layered finish.
Sequel: John Duval, formerly the the iconic Penfolds Grange, chose the Columbia Valley as his “Sequel” for the continuation of his life’s work with Syrah. He uses grapes from the Benches Vineyard for its dark flavored fruit, the Red Mountain Vineyard adds structure, and Boushey Vineyards add elegance. A generous and concentrated wine of great character, Sequel is notable for its deep purple hue, rich aromatics and layers of flavor. Almond, dark chocolate and cherry notes fill the glass, complemented by hints of black licorice, blackberry, cocoa powder and a touch of smoke.
Saggi: Father and son team Ambrogio and Giovanni Folonari teamed up to produce a wine that showcases Washington’s terroir with plenty of Italian character. Saggi, meaning ‘wisdom,’ is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Sangiovese and Syrah. The Folonaris selected Sangiovese from a 1993 planting at Boushey Vineyard which provides delicate flavors and silky tannins. Cabernet Sauvignon from Stone Tree Vineyard and Syrah from Bacchus and Boushey Vineyards enhance the wine’s refined texture. Dark cherry aromas and raspberry flavors combine with a hint of nutmeg and smoky earthiness. An elegant entry in the front of the mouth reveals refined tannins with focused concentration, enhanced by the wine’s rich and supple mouth feel.
Chester-Kidder: Allen Shoup selected winemaker Gilles Nicault to produce his vision of a wine that says “this is how good Washington wine can be.” The back bone of this wine is Cabernet from Walla Walla and nearby Candy Mountain. Its deepness and darkness is Syrah from the estate’s Benches Vineyards in Horse Heaven Hills. Finally, a unique complexity is produced by the Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc from the Sagemoor farms. Aromas of dried figs and cocoa powder, along with hints of tamarind and toasty oak are followed by intense violent and blueberry jam flavors beautifully integrated around a spicy core.
A holiday-approved crash course
…bubbles for every occasion!
The perfect Champagne to give as a gift:
Antonio Galloni 90 points “The NV Brut Grande Reserve emerges from the glass with layers of hazelnut, pear, spice and dried flower aromas. This rich, creamy wine impresses for its balance and sheer richness. I loved it.” AG
The perfect Champagne to have at home as the ‘House Champagne’:
100% Grand Cru, 100% Pinot Noir, no dosage
Antonio Galloni 91 points “The NV Brut Nature Silver is naturally a very focused, driven wine given the no-dosage style. This shows wonderful nuance and depth all the way through to the long finish, with bright aromas and flavors but less of the toastiness than some of the house’s other wines. The mousse and finish are both utterly impeccable in their elegance.” AG
The perfect Champagne for opening up a meal with a toast:
Importer’s note: “Violet and hyacinth aromas make you think of Riesling (as these wines often do), but the palate is all apples and Rainier cherries with a chalk-powder sprinkle; wonderfully silky and generous, refined and accurate. A virtual Blanc de Blancs; 90% Chardonnay to 10% Pinot Noir.”
The perfect Champagne to have on-hand for New Year’s Eve:
Importer’s note: The N.V. Brut is 55% 2010 and 45% reserve wine, with 55% of the reserve coming from a solera containing all vintages from 1998 to 2009. The blend is 45% Pinot Meunier, 25% Pinot Noir, 25% Chardonnay, and 5% of the ancient varieties Arbanne, Petit Meslier, and Fromenteau.
The perfect Champagne for stocking stuffers, end-of-year Thank-You’s, and for cubicle-mates:
Wine Spectator 92 points “The firm acidity is finely meshed in this seamless Champagne, with a rich note of chalky minerality underscoring the creamy palate’s flavors of chopped almond, black currant, fleur de sel and candied lemon zest. Disgorged Oct. 2014. Drink now through 2020.” WS
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.”
The average listed price is more than 60% higher at $36
Two Hands Bella’s Garden Shiraz 2013 ($69.95) $47 special (was $59), 36+ bottles available
Case- 6 Two Hands Bella’s Garden Shiraz 2013 ($359.95) $249 special (that’s only $41.50/bottle!), 17 half-cases availabe
The average listed price is $62
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at 503-223-6002 for assistance