1/27/16
Staff Picks; Gaja Ca’Mardanda Magari ; Coming Attractions; Felsina; Domaine Faiveley; New Vieux Telegraphe
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Staff Picks
This Week’s Top Ten
For our mid-week editions of this newsletter, we’re looking expand beyond the usual single-bottle-pick by presenting a handful of the wines we’ve been loving over the past few weeks. Below, ten awesome bottles of wine available here now:
OREGON
Evesham Wood Temperance Hill Vineyard Pinot Noir, Eola-Amity Hills 2013 750ML ($39.95) $31.90 special, 21 bottles available
Why we love it: The aromas! Sizzling red fruit, campfire spice, and herbs… An incredibly seductive wine with nice follow-through; cherry and currant flavors marry into a lasting, bright finish. A balanced and playful wine with very broad appeal. – Tyler
Winery note: “What a special place Temperance Hill is and what special wines come from it. As always, that “Temperance Hill note” is immediately evident on the nose. It’s hard to nail that note–cedar, green tobacco, freshly sawn wood–whatever you call it, it’s always there, but this year right there with it is a cherry and almost strawberry jam component. The mid palate is well-structured and full of fruit notes. 145 cases produced.”
FRANCE-BEAUJOLAIS
Pierre-Marie Chermette Domaine du Vissoux Cuvee Traditionnelle Vieilles Vignes, Beaujolais 2014 750ML ($19.95) $17 special, 14 bottles available
Why we love it: Freshness! The ‘14s from Beaujolais have tended to have a little more weight and dark fruit, and this one holds true to the vintage. Round, generous, fresh fruit with a nice hint of spice towards the finish. I just had an ’08 of this cuvee and it was spectacular. Drink one now and save one for a rainy day… – Tyler
Wine Enthusiast 88 points “This ripe wine has rich black fruits, a smoky character and a rounded, full-bodied texture. The old vines bring concentration, while the acidity gives freshness and drinkability now. — R.V. (12/1/2015)
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
FRANCE-BURGUNDY
Thomas Pico Domaine Pattes Loup Les Beauregards, Chablis Premier Cru 2013 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 18 bottles available
Why we love it: Efficiency. There’s a relentless energy to this wine, so packed with flavor and layers yet sitting so delicately on the tongue. Lemon sorbet, ripe peach, white flowers, and a kiss of spice make it classic, yet the texture of it all lends a really lovely distinctiveness. I’m crazy about this one. – Tyler
Wine Advocate 92 points “The 2013 Chablis 1er Cru Beauregard is similar to the Vaillon in that it demands coaxing from the glass. It eventually repays your patience with granite, almond and light hazelnut scents that are very focused. The palate is a little more rounded and fruit-driven than the Vaillon, with subtle hints of orange zest and white pepper, satisfying weight on the back palate with a long saline finish. This is another very fine 2013 from winemaker Thomas Pico.” NM
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 90 points “Pale straw-yellow. A bit more exotic on the nose than the Côtes de Jouan, offering scents of orange oil, yellow peach and spices. Sweeter and fruitier on the palate, with a flavor of orange zest complemented by a trace of honey. More typically 2013 in style than the Côtes de Jouan and richer on the aftertaste.” ST
FRANCE-BORDEAUX
Chateau Auney L’Hermitage ‘L’Hermitage Rouge’, Graves 2011 ($27.95) $24 special, 12 bottles available
Why we love it: Just enough earthiness and rusticity to keep you engaged but not so much to overwhelm. With a nice beef stew, this would really shine. More medium-bodied and restrained than I’m used to, with a very intriguing cranberry-licorice-tobacco-mint flavor composite.
Importer note: “Known as Chateau Le Chec until 2012, when its long-time owners changed the name to Auney l’Hermitage, the estate is run by Sylvie and Christien Auney. 60% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Malbec. Aged for 15 months in a mix of new and old oak.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
FRANCE-JURA
Michel Gahier Arbois Trousseau Le Clousot, Jura 2014 750ML ($31.95) $28 special, 21 bottles available
Why we love it: Purity. Trousseau is such a great palate-expander; when I’m getting a little tired of overdoing it with Gamay, Pinot, Cab Franc, or any of my other obsessions, I like to spice it up with a unique red such as this one. Freshness comes through with the fruit and acid alike, with an attention-grabbing swash of black pepper and baking spice which lends a real versatility to the wine. Serve chilled and pour generously.
Vinopolnote: From younger vines. Hand-harvested and destemmed; made with the intention of having a lighter, fresher interpretation of the grape.
ITALY-PIEDMONT
Alessandro e Gian Natale Fantino ‘Vigna dei Dardi’, Barolo DOCG 2010 750ML ($59.95) $46 special, 36+ bottles available
Case-6 Alessandro e Gian Natale Fantino ‘Vigna dei Dardi’, Barolo DOCG 2010 750ML ($579.95) $469 special, 2 cases available
Case-12 Alessandro e Gian Natale Fantino ‘Vigna dei Dardi’, Barolo DOCG 2010 750ML ($319.95) $249 special, 2 half-cases available
Why we love it: Value and depth. I’ve had a few “wow! wines” from Fantino recently, and though this particular bottling may be in its early stages, it’s still beautiful. Aromatically stunning and steeply, fantastically deep in flavor. By all accounts, will age with grace. – Tyler
Wine Advocate 94 points “The 2010 Barolo Cascina Dardi Bussia hits all the right marks with a beautiful sense of elegance and grace that is immediately apparent. The aromas dangle in front of you, delicately and seductively, with ethereal layers of spice, blue flower, almond paste, anisette and dried cherry or wild berry. The workmanship here reflects an attention to the minute details offered by Nebbiolo. The tannins are silky and long with deeply polished texture. Barolo Cascina Dardi Bussia is a fine, poised and super-confident expression. Drink: 2016-2026.” WA
ITALY-SICILY
Azienda Agricola Arianna Occhipinti SP68 Bianco Sicilia IGT, Sicily 2013 ($29.95) $26 special, 11 bottles available
Why we love it: Aromas, for one. Uniqueness and transparency, too. A perfect marriage of two truly different grapes, I’ve often sold it on the basis of it being the nicest-smelling wine I’ve ever had. Tropical, bright, and bewilderingly fresh. Great accompaniment to simple foods or as a skeleton key during a potluck dinner. A yardstick effort for natural wine and for Sicily-at-large. Sheesh! -Tyler
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.
GERMANY
Weingut Karthauserhof Eitelsbacher Karthauserhofberg Schieferkristall Riesling Kabinett Feinherb, Mosel 2012 750ML ($37.95) $29 special, 10 bottles available
Why we love it: For being unapologetically German Riesling-y and, well, just fun to drink. Had a bottle open for the better part of a week and it kept getting better. Everything that should be “there” is – the quince, citrus, petrol, citrus, and lush-though-controlled residual sugars. Good now, and even better in the coming months. Who am I kidding? Years. – Tyler
89+ POINTS JOHN GILMAN “The 2014 Tonschiefer is a lovely wine, with a bit different expression of minerality than the Estate Trocken, as these grapes hail entirely from the Leistenberg and are a on a bed of carbon-slate that is geological outlier of the coal beds in the Saar. The nose offers up a lovely constellation of tangerine, a hint of white cherry, wild yeasts, slate, citrus peel and a gentle topnote of lemongrass. On the palate the wine is medium-full, crisp and quite suave on the attack, with lovely focus and grip, ripe, well-integrated acids and a long, balanced and quite classy finish. Lovely juice and a fine value. 2015-2025+.” JG
Terry Theise notes “This is the dry wine from the (Oberhäuser) Leistenberg, on sandy slate. It’s pure mineral in 2014. Crisp almost to the point of brittleness, yet it’s so breathy and silky I know it will shine as it sheds its immaturity.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
SLOVENIA
Weingut Tement Domaine Ciringa Fosilni Breg Sauvignon Blanc, Stajerska Slovenia 2013 750ML ($21.95) $18 special, 12 bottles available
Why we love it: For turning our Sauv Blanc world upside town! Great acid, minerals, and lemon-kissed linear qualities – best of all, a refreshing seashell-saline sort of thing happening on the finish. I’d imagine it’s quite food-friendly, though the two times I’ve had it, all I paired with the bottle was a glass. – Tyler
Winery note “Tement winery planted Sauvignon Blanc vines on the Slovenian territory Ciringa, right next to their best single-vineyard Zieregg in Austria. The combination of the microclimate and the rich shell limestone with cambisol soil provides ideal conditions for accentuated, long-living, authentic and mineralic Sauvignon Blanc. The label on the Burgundy bottle shows a sea star fossil (found in the single vineyard Ciringa) and demonstrates the origin and the balance of this mineralic and straightforward Sauvignon Blanc.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
HUNGARY
Weingut Weninger Kekburgundi, Sopron, Hungary 2011 750ML ($19.95) $16 special, 11 bottles available
Why we love it: Because as a Hungarian-American (albeit third-generation), I don’t get to recommend wine from the homeland all that much. Spicy red fruit with an edgy earth-laden quality is balanced out with nice acidity and a mellow finish. Screwtop and all, this is going to be one of my spring-summer go-to’s. – Tyler
Winery notes: “The Sopron wine region is our passion. Since 1997 we work in this area. The Sopron cuvée pays tribute to it, representing the wideness of the Little Hungarian Plane (Kisalföld) and the strength of nature in the Ferto-Hanság National Park: a fruity and vivid wine.
Selective hand harvest. Native yeast fermentation in stainless steel. Natural malolactic fermentation and 12 months ageing in wooden tanks.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
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Gaja Ca’Mardanda Magari
A Tuscan Treasure
The Gaja winery was founded in 1859 in the Langhe district of the Piedmont region. For generations, the family was known for their traditional production of Barbarescos and Barolos. When Angelo Gaja took the helm in the 1960’s, he adopted modern methods of winemaking and became known as “the man who dragged Piedmont into the modern world.” His innovations involved introducing barrique aging, hybrid French bottle formats and longer corks. 1978, Angelo replanted a vineyard of Nebbiolo with Cabernet Sauvignon not because he loved Cabernet, but because he wanted to introduce Italy as a major contender in the world market. If he could grow and produce an international varietal that could gain respect, then he could persuade the world of the greatness of Italy’s indigenous grapes. And it worked. Today Gaja is arguably the biggest name in Italian wine. By 1994, Angelo acquired its first property in Toscana and from there went on to plant more international varietals, making some of the best, most sought after Super Tuscans.
The Ca’Marcanda Magari is 50% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 25% Cabernet Franc. It’s dark and lush with ripe berries that make it ready to drink now, but definitely worth saving for some time to evolve.
Gaja Ca’Marcanda Magari Toscana IGT, Tuscany 2012 750ML ($79.95) $49 special, 36+ bottles available
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
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
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $59.99
The average price is $72
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Coming Attractions
Arriving February 5th
All at the lowest price in the country, with limited supply. Secure these great wines ASAP!
Den Hoed ‘Marie’s View’ Red, Horse Heaven Hills 2009 750ML ($79.95) $49 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 94 points “Along the same lines, the 2009 Marie’s View is a tweaked blend of 25% each of Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Merlot, with the balance Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc and Sangiovese aged for 24 months in half new French oak. Perfumed and complex, with notions of liquid violets, sappy herbs, red and black fruits and exotic spices, this beauty hits the palate with a full-bodied, sweetly fruited, yet elegant profile that stays light and weightless. A thrilling, hedonistic drink, it will continue to deliver the goods through 2019.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $80!
The average price of any vintage of Hoed is $79!
Dunham Cellars Lewis Estate Vineyard Syrah, Columbia Valley 2011 750ML ($79.95) $59 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 94 points “Another terrific effort, and one of the strongest Syrahs in the vintage, the 2011 Syrah Lewis Vineyard is 100% Syrah that spent 30 months in 90% new French oak, which you’d never know by tasting it. Gorgeous blackberry, blueberry, wild herbs, licorice, chocolate and hints of crushed rock all emerge from this beauty, and it flows onto the palate with medium to full-bodied richness, bright acidity and a seamless, elegant profile. It’s enjoyable now, but will shine for another decade at least as well.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $74.95, which is 44% higher!
Mark Ryan Winery Long Haul Proprietary Red, Ciel du Cheval Vineyard Red, Red Mountain 2012 750ML ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 92 points “The 2012 Long Haul Ciel du Cheval Vineyard is another terrific Bordeaux blend from this team. Made from 49% Merlot, 44% Cabernet Franc and the rest Cabernet Sauvignon, it was vinified in stainless steel and aged in once used French oak barrels. It exhibits subtle hints of coffee bean in its red and black fruits, roasted meats, spice and licorice-styled bouquet, and picks up more and more floral nuances with time. Full-bodied, tight, focused and a little backward, it opens up nicely in the glass, has integrated acidity and a clean finish. Give it 2-4 years and drink it through 2032.”
Arriving Mid-February
Heitz Cellar Martha’s Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2010 1.5L ($499.95) $419 pre-arrival special
Decanter 96 points, Antonio Galloni – Vinous 96 points “Not surprisingly, the 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon Martha’s Vineyard is the least expressive of these wines. At the same time, so much of its appeal is in its tightly-coiled energy and tension. Cherry pit, smoke, blood orange, mint and spice open up with time in the glass, but the 2010 is clearly built for cellaring. The wine’s brightness and focus are compelling, but the 2010 needs time.” AG
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $449.42
Vignobles Brunier Domaine Vieux Telegraphe Chateauneuf-du-Pape La Crau Blanc, Rhone 2014 750ML ($69.95) $58 pre-arrival special
Vignobles Brunier Domaine Vieux Telegraphe Chateauneuf-du-Pape La Crau Blanc, Rhone 2014 1.5L ($149.95) $119 pre-arrival special
Wine Spectator 93 points “Captivating, with succulent apple, pear and mango notes, gilded with almond and ginger cream hints before the long, brioche-edged finish takes over. Broad, but shows cut and refinement.” WS
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $71
Henri Bonneau Chateauneuf-du-Pape Reserve des Celestins, Rhone 2010 750ML ($399.95) $319 pre-arrival special
Jab Dunnuck – Wine Advocate 97-99 points “Schedule to be bottled next week (I suspect it will be in bottle by the time you read this), the 2010 Châteauneuf du Pape Reserve des Celestins is a sensational effort. Deeper, richer and more concentrated than the Marie Beurrier, it reveals an unusually inky ruby/purple color to go with overflowing notes of kirsch liqueur, roasted meats, crushed flowers, garrigue and just about every other Provençal spice you could name. Full-bodied, beautifully concentrated, layered and a blockbuster-styled effort, it should surpass the 2007 and possibly rival the 1990. This is a tour de force in Châteauneuf du Pape! (10/2015)”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $369
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Felsina
Chianti. Classico.
Fattoria di Fèlsina has long been one of the great names in Tuscany. Based in the Chianti Classico region, Fèlsina produces one of the finest ranges of age worthy and complex Sangiovese bottlings. In 1966, when Italian viticulture was synonymous with cheap, boring wine, Dominic Poggiali Fèlsina purchased the estate. His son-in-law Giuseppe Mazzocolin took over in the 1980s, and refocused the winery on producing high quality, full-bodied Sangiovese. The vineyards are maintained with massale selections from their oldest vines. They produce several Sangiovese wines, including the declassified Fontalloro made from 50+ year old vines grown in the hills bordering Chianti Classico and Colli Sensi.
Over the past fifty years, the estate has continued to produce wines in a pure, traditional style without being tempted by international-style influences. As a result, Fèlsina has come to be known for one of the finest ranges of ageworthy and complex Sangiovese bottlings in all of Italy.
The estate has proved to be one of our most popular wineries, and we are pleased to carry xxx wines, including the recently re-arrived Felsina Chianti Classico Riserva.
Felsina Berardenga Spumante Brut NV 750ML ($27.95) $24 special, 1 bottle available
James Suckling 93 points “This is an excellent new sparkling wine with lots of dough and apple character, plus hints of lime. Full to medium body, lovely texture and a long, beautiful finish. Made in conjunction with Cesare Ferrari and it shows. 24 months on yeast in bottle. A blend of sangiovese, chardonnay and pinot noir. About 4,000 bottles made. Drink now.” JS
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Felsina Berardenga I Sistri Chardonnay Toscana IGT 2011 750ML ($27.95) $21.90 special, 29 bottles available
James Suckling 91 points “This white shows lovely apple, cream and honey character. Full body with good fruit and a clean finish. Burgundy meets Tuscany. Drink now.” JS
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Felsina Berardenga Chianti Classico DOCG 2012 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 special, 31 bottles available
Case-12 Felsina Berardenga Chianti Classico DOCG 2012 750ML ($299.95) $249 special, 1 case available (that’s only $20.75/bottle!)
James Suckling 93 points “There are mushrooms on the nose of this Chianti Classico, but these soon give way to subtle, deep aromas of blackberry crumble with hints of mint and ivy. It soon fills up the mouth with beautifully dense fruit and fine tannins, nutty, woody undertones and long finish. Gorgeous now, but better in 2016.”
Antonio Galloni 89+ points “The 2012 Chianti Classico is a great introduction to the wines of Felsina. Deeply varietal and expressive to the core, the 2012 graces the palate with the essence of Sangiovese from the southern part of the Chianti Classico zone. Sweet tobacco, underbrush, menthol, licorice and black cherries flow through to the finish, but it is the wine’s sheer balance that impresses most of all. This is a gorgeous mid-weight Chianti Classico to drink over the next decade plus.” AG
Felsina Berardenga Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG 2010 750ML ($34.95) $28 special, 23 bottles available
Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2010 Chianti Classico Riserva is host to a beautiful mix of black mineral, fruit, dried mint and eucalyptus. The wine shows elegant evolution in the glass and backs it up with dry, polished tannins. This is a stunning effort available at a reasonable price. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2028. This is one of the nicest collections of new releases by Giuseppe Mazzocolin’s Felsina. At the edge of the Chianti Classico and Chianti Colli Senesi denominations, the estate counts 475 hectares, of which 61 are planted with vineyard.” WA
Antonio Galloni 92+ points “Classicists, on the other hand, will flip out over the 2010 Chianti Classico Riserva. Black cherry, plum, smoke and menthol notes all jump out of the glass. The 2010 is translucent yet also rich, powerful and impeccably balanced. Ideally readers should cellar the 2010 for at least a few years, but that is going to be difficult considering how beautiful the wine is today.” AG
Felsina Berardenga Rancia, Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG 2009 750ML ($59.95) $41.90 special, 19 bottles available
Wine Advocate 94 points “The 2009 Chianti Classico Riserva Rancia emerges from the glass with freshly cut roses, sweet red berries, licorice, spices and tar. This is a mid-weight, silky Rancia that impresses for its textural beauty and finesse. The Rancia emerges from a high-altitude site planted from 1958 through1982 with Sangiovese. The wine is aged in French oak barrels, but the oak is never noticeable, even when the wine is young. Anticipated maturity: 2017-2029.” WA
Felsina Berardenga Rancia, Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG 2011 750ML ($59.95) $41.90 special, 36+ bottles available
Felsina Berardenga Rancia, Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG 2011 1.5L ($99.95) $89 special, 9 magnums available
Case-12 Felsina Berardenga Rancia, Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG 2011 750ML ($499.95) $469 special, 4 cases available (that’s only $39.08/bottle!)
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
Antonio Galloni 94+ points “A wine of incredible density, the 2011 Chianti Classico Riserva Rancia is virtually impenetrable, but dazzling just the same. Rose petal, mint, sage, rosemary, leather and smoke hit the palate in a voluptuous, racy Rancia. The 2011 should drink well earlier than many other recent vintages, but it should also age nicely. The fine, silky tannins are a bit uncharacteristic for a young Rancia. Over the last few years, the 2011 has really started to come together. It will be interesting to see where things go from here.” AG
Felsina Berardenga Maestro Raro Toscana IGT 2012 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 36+ bottles available
Antonio Galloni 94+ points “Fèlsina’s 2012 Maestro Raro (Cabernet Sauvignon) is a real head-turner, although it is also an infant and in need of considerable cellaring. A bold, dark wine, the 2012 is vivid in the glass, with remarkable detail for such a big wine and exceptional overall balance. The 2012 is sweeping and dramatic in style, with plenty of that year’s exotic fruit and opulence, along with plenty of sweet tobacco, rosemary, sage and cedar notes that add nuance. The 2012 needs time to fully meld together, but it is fabulous, even today.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $56
Felsina Berardenga Fontalloro Toscana IGT 2009 750ML ($69.95) $49 special, 36+ bottles available
Felsina Berardenga Fontalloro Toscana IGT 2009 750ML ($579.95) $519 special, 2 cases available (that’s only $43.25/bottle!)
Antonio Galloni 94 points “There is a lot to like in the 2009 Fontalloro (Sangiovese). For starters, the wine is rich, broad and ample on the palate. Hints of tobacco, savory herbs, licorice and menthol all add complexity over time. The over juiciness of the fruit is nicely balanced by clean veins of underlying acidity that give the 2009 much of its freshness. This is another wine endowed with superb balance and class.” AG
Felsina Berardenga Fontalloro Toscana IGT 2010 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 36+ bottles available
Felsina Berardenga Fontalloro Toscana IGT 2010 750ML ($579.95) $519 special, 1 case available (that’s only $43.25/bottle!)
Antonio Galloni 94+ points “The 2010 Fontalloro (Sangiovese) is impeccable. A sweet, open bouquet melds into expressive red fruits. Compared to the 2010 Rancia, Fontalloro is a decidedly more delicate, feminine wine. All the elements are very nicely balanced. I expect the 2010 will enjoy a fairly broad window of drinkability. Today I give the 2010 a very slight nod over the 2009, only because I think the 2010 will age a little longer, but both are striking.” AG
Felsina Berardenga Vin Santo Chianti Classico 2005 375ML ($47.95) $39 special, 29 half-bottles available
Wine Advocate 92 points “Made with Trebbiano, Malvasia and Sangiovese, the 2005 Vin Santo del Chianti Classico opens to a brilliant amber color and thick viscosity that hugs to the rim of the glass. Oak-driven tones of vanilla and caramel are immediately apparent, but quickly followed by candied fruit, butterscotch and orange peel. Clusters undergo a natural drying process on mats until February of the following year. The must is transferred to sealed oak casks containing the “mother,” or gelatinous remains from previous vintages.”
Felsina Wine Arriving in February:
Felsina Berardenga Fontalloro Toscana IGT 2011 750ML ($59.95) $49 special
Case-12 Felsina Berardenga Fontalloro Toscana IGT 2011 750ML ($699.95) $519 special (that’s only $43.25/bottle!)
Wine Spectator & Antonio Galloni 94 points “Felsina’s 2011 Fontalloro is wonderfully expressive today. Dark red cherry, plum, smoke, rose petal and sweet spices all blossom in the glass. Impeccably layered and sensual, the 2011 captures all the best qualities of the year. Sweet floral and red-toned notes burst with great energy on the structured finish. Fontalloro seems to have come a long way over the last few years. The 2011 is another drop-dead gorgeous beauty.” AG
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Domaine Faiveley
Big-Time Burgundy
Established in 1825, Domaine Faiveley has holdings in many of the most esteemed Grand and Premier Cru vineyards. Headquartered in Nuits-St.-George, they are among the largest vineyard owners in Burgundy – the estate includes over 120 hectares of vineyards. Grand Cru holdings account for 12 hectares, and 27 hectares are across Premier Cru – not bad for an operation which began solely as negociants!
As long-time champions of their region, Georges Faiveley and Camille Rodier co-organized the “Confrérie des Chevaliers du Tastevin” in 1934 as a means of promoting the top wines of Burgundy. In the years since, their efforts to present the uniqueness of sites ranging from Monthelie and Corton-Charlemagne to Batard, Meursault, and Echezeaux.
In late 2013, the Faiveley family made a surprise announcement that they had purchased 20 hectaures of vines from Domaine Dupont-Tisserandot in Gevrey-Chabertin. Under the leadership of Erwan Faiveley, the domaine’s stated goal has been to increase the family’s vineyard ownership in order to enjoy complete control of all aspects of winemaking across their entire range of cuvees.
The cellars at Domaine Faiveley recently underwent a complete renovation, with a renewed approach to winemaking beginning in 2007 (a change in barrel suppliers was chief among the changes). Harvest and pruning is performed in teams, with a meticulous focus on pruning and debudding.
We currently stock 24 wines from Domaine Faiveley, with another 17 available as Pre-Arrivals. To view all selections, search “Faiveley” on our webstore, found at www.vinopoliswineshop.com.
12 of 24 Wines Available Here Now from Domaine Faiveley:
Domaine Faiveley Les Preuses, Chablis Grand Cru 2011 750ML ($74.95) $59 special, 21 bottles available
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
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Domaine Faiveley Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru, Cote de Beaune 2011 ($249.95) $189 special, 17 bottles available
Burghound 92-94 points “Here too the wood treatment is quite deft which allows the cool Granny Smith apples, pear, wet stone and spice scents to shine. There is also a seductive mouth feel to the broad-shouldered, supple and round flavors that brim with dry extract before displaying plenty of power and punch on the seriously long finish. This is easily the most backward wine in the range at present yet the impression is unusually fine, both in the context of the appellation but also in the context of this wine in general as it’s usually more robust. Be all of that as it may, this is very, very promising.”BH
Domaine Faiveley Les Fuees, Chambolle-Musigny Premier Cru 2009 750ML ($159.95) $139 special, 6 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 91-93 points; Burghound 91-93 points “Bright red-ruby. Highly perfumed aromas of black raspberry, mocha and coffee. Very ripe on the palate but juicy, tight and gripping, with superb energy to its dark berry, floral and mineral flavors. Finishes with some superripe notes and firm tannic spine. Really refreshes the palate on the very long finish. This really grew on me.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Domaine Faiveley Les Fuees, Chambolle-Musigny Premier Cru 2010 750ML ($179.95) $133 special, 10 bottles available
Burghound 91-93 points & Stephen Tanzer 90-92 points “Here the nose is more deeply pitched compared to that of the La Combe d’Orveau with ripe yet cool red berry liqueur, earth and wet stone aromas. There is outstanding delineation to the more powerful, intense and mineral-inflected flavors where the firm but ripe tannins are almost completely buffered by the copious dry extract that really coats the palate on the balanced and strikingly persistent finish. I very much like this.”BH
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Domaine Faiveley Les Saint-Georges, Nuits-Saint-Georges Premier Cru 2008 750ML ($129.95) $99 special, 36+ bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 92-94 points & Burghound 91-93 points “Palish medium red. Medicinal red cherry, minerals, crushed stone, violet, rose petal and white pepper on the noble nose. Wonderfully silky and pure, with ineffable flavors of red fruits, spices, flowers and minerals. This is wonderfully delicate, and not a fleshy wine, yet saturates every square millimeter of the palate with flavor. The long, sweet, rising finish offers terrific cut and floral lift. Should make a worthy successor to the outstanding 2007, which also transcends its village. Hervet says that this will be bottled by hand, without filtration.”ST
Domaine Faiveley Chambertin Clos de Beze Grand Cru, Cote de Nuits 2011 750ML ($349.95) $239 special, 29 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 94 (+?) points “Medium red. Highly nuanced yet quite primary on the nose, offering scents of raspberry, underbrush, dried rose, ginger and smoky oak. Juicy, saline and quite dry, with dark berry and strawberry flavors complicated by an earthy perfume. Finishes with substantial dusty tannins and excellent length. With 24 hours in the recorked bottle, this beauty showed a silkier texture and chewy, deep flavors of raspberry and spices that saturate the palate without leaving any impression of weight. A great effort for the vintage.” ST
Domaine Faiveley Corton ‘Clos des Cortons’ Faiveley Monopole Grand Cru, Cote de Beaune 2011 750ML ($199.95) $136 special, 36+ bottles available
Antonio Galloni 95 points “Faiveley’s 2011 Corton Clos des Corton is a fitting conclusion to this great night of wine and food. Intensely saline and pointed, the 2011 impresses for its pure energy and tension. The flavors are vibrant and impeccably delineated in a Burgundy that is all about finesse. This is a great showing from the Clos des Corton.” AG
Stephen Tanzer 94 points “Medium red. Ineffable nose and palate offer red fruits, minerals, spices and flowers, complicated by game, earth and leather. Sweet, concentrated and very intense, boasting outstanding density and a fine-grained texture, with salty minerality giving the wine a weightless impression that’s remarkable considering its density. A strong tannic spine and brisk acidity energize and draw out the finish of this sharply delineated, pristine grand cru.” ST
Domaine Faiveley Les Cazetiers, Gevrey-Chambertin Premier Cru 2011 750ML ($119.95) $71.90 special, 7 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 92 (+?) points “Bright medium red with a palish rim. Lovely floral lift to the aromas of cherry pit, rose petal, mint and sexy new oak. Densely packed and silky, offering good size but a light touch. Red fruit, bitter chocolate, floral and mineral flavors display terrific precision. Finishes pure, gripping and long, with a firm underpinning of dusty but sweet tannins and a lingering floral quality. This one should evolve gracefully.” ST
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Domaine Faiveley Mazis-Chambertin Grand Cru, Cote de Nuits 2006 750ML ($159.95) $149 special, 4 bottles available
Burghound 92-94 points, Stephen Tanzer 91+ points ” A distinctly sauvage and somber dark berry fruit nose gives off notes of iron tinged warm earth, underbrush, crushed herbs and a hint of smoke followed by rich, full and moderately wooded full-bodied flavors that are notably powerful and supported by very firm tannins on the serious, long and backward finish. This too will require upward of two decades of cellar time so don’t buy this if you’re not prepared to be patient.” BH
Domaine Faiveley Mazis-Chambertin Grand Cru, Cote de Nuits 2010 750ML ($249.95) $179 special, 3 bottles available
Wine Spectator 94 points “The cherry, raspberry, earth, spice, and mineral flavors are offset by the smoky oak and solid tannins in this well-defined red. Vibrant and long, offering oak spice and mineral on the finish. This should develop beautifully. Best from 2016 – 2035.” WS
Domaine Faiveley Les Pruliers, Nuits-Saint-Georges Premier Cru 2011 750ML ($89.95) $69 special, 12 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 89-91 points “Bright medium red. Pungent flinty minerality and smoke on the nose. Very sweet, lightly saline redcurrant and raspberry flavors show modest complexity and definition. Finishes with slightly tough tannins and a touch of dryness. Needs following. This vineyard is part of Faiveley’s large contract to purchase all of Domaine Zibetti’s fruit: 2011 was the first vintage.” ST
Domaine Faiveley Aux Chaignots, Nuits-Saint-Georges Premier Cru 2011 750ML ($89.95) $69 special, 7 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 91 points “Bright medium red. Pungent, high-pitched scents of raspberry, blood orange and menthol, plus a touch of new oak. Subtly intense red berry flavors are accented by pepper and herbs. Round in the middle but tangy and precise too. Finishes with good juicy cut and length.” ST
Browse all 24 Faiveley wines we have in stock by visiting our web site: www.vinopoliswineshop.com
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Vieux Telegraphe
New Vintage from the Brunier Brothers
Vignobles Brunier Domaine Vieux Telegraphe Chateauneuf-du-Pape La Crau, Rhone 2013 750ML ($79.95) $69 pre-arrival special
Vignobles Brunier Domaine Vieux Telegraphe Chateauneuf-du-Pape La Crau, Rhone 2013 375ML ($49.95) $36 pre-arrival special, and the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Vignobles Brunier Domaine Vieux Telegraphe Chateauneuf-du-Pape La Crau, Rhone 2013 1.5L ($179.95) $128 pre-arrival special, and the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Vignobles Brunier Domaine Vieux Telegraphe Chateauneuf-du-Pape La Crau, Rhone 2013 3L ($449.95) $319 pre-arrival special, and the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Wine Spectator 92 points “Rather perfumy up front, with savory, mint and incense notes leading the way for silky cherry and raspberry coulis flavors. The finish is lined with subtle tobacco, warm stone and floral hints, ending with a light balsam twinge. This should put on some weight with age. Best from 2017 through 2026.” WS