Saturday, May 27th, 2016
Memorial Day Weekend is Willamette Valley Weekend in Oregon – we’re gearing up with these new releases from three of our favorite producers:
Belle Pente
Arriving Tuesday, May 31st
The Belle Pente line-up shines in the Yamhill-Carlton AVA. Since 1996, Belle Pente has produced outstanding estate-grown and independent-vineyard wines, about 4,500 cases per year. Organic viticulture has been practiced since 2000, and biodynamic techniques were introduced in 2005. Elegance guides the winemaking, rather than over-extraction, and new oak is kept to a minimum. This respect for nature, both in the vineyard and winery, becomes apparent with the first sniff: wines of finesse and terroir, pure and beautiful, genuinely Willamette Valley.
These new releases arrive Tuesday, May 31st:
Belle Pente Willamette Valley Chardonnay 2013 750ML ($21.95) $18 pre-arrival special
The average price is $37
50% Belle Pente Estate Vineyard (Yamhill-Carlton), 25% Bella Vida Vineyard (Dundee Hills), 25% Murto Vineyard (Dundee Hills)
This is the only listing in the USA today!
New Releases Available Here Now
Crowley just released two new wines: a single-vineyard rose and a soft, easy-drinking Pinot.
Crowley Pinot Noir Rosé 2015 750ML ($24.95) $18 special
Single block of Pinot Noir from the Four Winds Vineyard
New Releases Available Here Now
Winery note: “The 2014 Silice Vineyard Pinot Noir has a very dark ruby color. This wine is robustly aromatic showcasing the sweet spicy and floral character that these silica-rich soils are known for with notes of: gingerbread, black licorice/anise, sweet violets, dark raspberry, red roses, black cherry and tar. The flavor profile is of sweet candied dark fruits enveloped in suave but copious fine grained tannins. Youthful and charming at the same time. Decant in 2016. Drink between 2017 and 2027+”
The average price is $65
VinopolNote: The Le Pre du Col (or ‘meadow on the mountain’) is planted to marine sedimentary soils in the Ribbon Ridge AVA. The winery describes the AVA as offering Pinots sweet cinnamon spice and ripe Oregon strawberry and cherry aromas.
Winery note: “The 2013 Cumberland Reserve is dark red cherry in color and showcases an explosive and heady aromatic profile of fresh black cherries, red raspberries a slight kirsch note and ripe blueberries. The fruit character is bright and pure and only slightly lifted and framed by great Oregon spice and loamy earth character which adds depth and dimension to this very promising wine. In the mouth the wine is a fantastic expression of pure Oregon Pinot Noir with great verve and lift and vibrancy showing off rich, ripe berry flavors and a suave velvet-like structure which caresses the palate with its succulence but also promises a great future with its minerality and sweet tannins. Drink now-2019+”
The next best price for the 375ML is $24.99
Winery note: “From the outstanding 2014 vintage, the 100% estate farmed Cumberland Reserve Pinot Noir is potentially our best reserve blend in over a decade. It is dark burgundy in color with a youthful violet hue at the rim of the glass and could easily be mistaken for an old world effort. Its lovely aromatics are a sweet and savory mixture of dark fruits like blackberry, marionberry and blueberry, a dustiness resembling cigar tobacco, a rocky mineral quality, along with whole cluster inspired herbs and a rich meatiness. This wine is full bodied with robust dark fruit flavors, but also very balanced with vibrant juicy acidity and youthful wonderfully formed sweet tannins. This is a lively wine with suave texture which makes it a candidate for the cellar as well as being very enjoyable young. You will not want to skip out on the majestic 2014 vintage wines. Decant if drinking in 2016 then drink over 10-15 years.”
Chris Brockway produces small lots of obscure varietal and old-school-styled wines. Below you’ll find a lean and zippy Zinfandel, a Carignan from 139 year old vines, an intriguingly aromatic Valdiguie (known as ‘Napa Gamay’ until the 1980s) and a peppery 100% Counoise from iron-rich soils. The Cellar is set up much like Edmunds St John and Donkey & Goat: a small scale, urban negociant making head-turning and fascinating wines. The Valdiguie and Zinfandel arrive next Friday. Stay tuned in late June when the old, old vine Carignan and the Counoise arrive.
Broc Cellars Valdiguie, Solano County Green Valley 2014 750ML ($27.95) $24 pre-arrival special, ETA June 3rd
Partial carbonic maceration
From 20 year old vines
Broc Cellars ‘Carbonic’ Old Vine Carignan, Alexander Valley 2014 750ML ($27.95) $24 pre-arrival special, ETA late June
From vines planted in 1877. Field blend of 85% Carignan, 10% Alicante and 5% other varietals
New Releases
K Vintners Wines Available Here Now
Charles Smith K Vintners The Creator Cabernet – Syrah, Walla Walla Valley 2013 750ML ($69.95) $59 special, 27 bottles available
Wine Advocate 94-96 points “I think the first time its all from Jack’s Vineyard in Walla Walla, the 2013 The Creator (70/30 Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah) is still aging in 50% new French oak. It has lots of iodine, dried blood (these are classic Rocks aromatics), pepper, chocolate and peat moss that flow to a full-bodied, voluptuously textured, ripe Cabernet that has plenty of mid-palate depth and sweet tannin. While it’s a big, rich, ripe wine, it never comes across as heavy or cumbersome. It should benefit from 2-3 years in the cellar and drink well over the following decade.”
Winery note “This is a classic year for this awesome wine. Textbook aromas and flavors…let’s go! Cured black olive, fresh and dried herb, earthy and meaty. The Cabernet wins the day with graphite, pencil lead, black currant, and rock galore. Hail The Creator!”
Charles Smith K Vintners ‘El Jefe’ Stoneridge Vineyard Tempranillo, Wahluke Slope 2013 750ML ($69.95) $56.50 special, 24 bottles available
Wine Advocate 91-93 points “Coming from the same vineyard as the Royal City Syrah, the 2013 El Jefe Tempranillo Stoneridge Vineyard (100% Tempranillo) sports a semi-opaque ruby color to go with lots of spice-box, dried violets, toasted bread and cured meat-like aromas and flavors. Firm, savory and still full-bodied and textured, it should come together nicely once in bottle, but I suspect short-term cellaring will help.”
Winery note “Spanish it is. Roasted tomato, blood sausage, and oh so savory. Depth and complexity rule the day, as does Stoneridge Vineyard, the home of El Jefe.”
Charles Smith K Vintners ‘M.C.K. Motor City Kitty’ Syrah, Outlook Vineyard, Washington State 2013 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 10 bottles available
Wine Advocate 95-97 points “Coming from an older vineyard planted next to Dick Bushey’s Bushey Vineyard, Smith’s 2013 M C K Syrah (this stands for Motor City Kitty) is inky colored and off-the-charts good, with layers of black fruits, olive tapenade, crushed rock and pepper. Massive, full-bodied, decadent and voluptuous, it’s certainly not for those craving lightweight aromas and flavors and dishes out immense pleasure.”
Charles Smith K Vintners River Rock Syrah, Walla Walla Valley 2013 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 24 bottles available
Winery note “Immediately earthy, meaty and brooding. A finessed mouthful of crushed stone, cool ash, hung meat and savory herb. Long on the palate and long in the memory. The River Rock Vineyard is owned and farmed by Dana Dibble, planted in 2001. The site is located south of Walla Walla in the old Walla Walla River bed; the soil is rocky and with great drainage. The clone of Syrah sourced is Tablas Creek, which thrives in the big river stone cobble. This is the warmest site in the Walla Walla Valley.”
Charles Smith K Vintners Rock Garden Syrah, Walla Walla Valley 2013 750ML ($69.95) $56.50 special, 24 bottles available
Wine Advocate 92-94 points “Offering up impressive plum, peat, light black powder, ground pepper and violets, the 2013 Syrah Rock Garden gives up medium to full-bodied richness and depth on the palate, with fine tannin and outstanding length. It should end up being a low to mid 90s scoring effort that will impress for upwards of a decade. I’ll have reviews for all of the 2013s from barrel next year as well.”
Winery note “Asian five spice, black plum, and cool ash – that’s just the nose. It pushes on to a palate of raw meat and cured olive saturated in an unctuous deep mouthfeel. From the Rocks. It Rocks!”
Wine Spectator 91 points “Lithe and savory, showing green olive, moss and wet leaf notes around a core of black cherry and plum fruit. The tannins are nicely contained, and the finish rolls on without excess weight. Best after 2017. 658 cases made. –HSCharles Smith K Vintners The Boy Grenache – Syrah, Walla Walla Valley 2013 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 8 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 90 points “(done in used puncheons; 45 days on the skins): Medium red with a palish rim. Pretty, floral aromas of cherry and raspberry convey a Pinot-like quality. Sweet, lightly smoky and silky, with raspberry, cherry and earth flavors dominating. The tannins are quite suave owing to the extended maceration. Smooth and round from day one–and remarkably easy to drink.”
Winery notes “88% Grenache, 12% Syrah from the Northridge & River Rock Vineyards. A regal wine. A beautiful ruby robe, velvety and revealing – layer upon layer of supple and refined fruit. Layers of ‘je ne sais quoi,’ complex, sophisticated and elegant wine.”Charles Smith K Vintners Charlotte, Walla Walla Valley 2012 750ML ($69.95) $59 special, 6 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 92 points “(a Châteauneuf du Pape blend from the Rocks, fermented entirely with whole clusters in cement and stainless steel, with the white grapes and the lighter reds at the bottom of the tank; then aged in large neutral puncheons for 30 months): Moderately saturated medium red. Spicy, iron-scented cherry and raspberry aromas display noteworthy precision. A step up in intensity from the Boy, boasting terrific cut and energy to its uncompromisingly dry red berry and spice flavors. Finishes with a firm spine of acids and dusty, fine-grained tannins, hints of bay leaf and fresh blood, and subtle saline length.”
Charles Smith K Vintners ‘El Jefe’ Stoneridge Vineyard Tempranillo, Washington 2012 750ML ($69.95) $59 special, 1 bottle available
Wine Advocate 92-94 points “Aged in 80% new French oak, the 2012 El Jefe Tempranillo Stoneridge Vineyard gives up classic Christmas spice, cedar and graphite to go with a core of both red and black styled fruit. Medium to full-bodied, elegant and with the tannic grip of the variety, this solid effort will benefit from short-term cellaring and evolve gracefully for over a decade.” WA
Charles Smith K Vintners ‘Guido’, Walla Walla Valley 2012 750ML ($49.95) $41.90 special, 14 bottles available
Wine Advocate 91 points “The 2012 Sangiovese Guido sports a translucent ruby color to go with outstanding notes of black cherries, dried herbs, rose petal and cured meats. It’s nicely balanced, has classic typicity and will have a decade of longevity” JD
Summer Shipping SaverFor the summer season we are offering
UPS Three Day Select Service for the price of UPS Ground
for shipments normally travelling 4 or more business days.
Free service upgrade only applies on single orders shipped during the promotional period.
Additional fees will apply to orders held for any reason until after the promotional period
and shipped by Three Day Select.
Offer not valid on pre-arrival items that arrive after the promotional period.
Don’t forget about our other current shipping promos:
We offer flat rate shipping on any size single order / single shipment
-to Oregon for $17,
-Washington & Idaho for $20,
-and California for $25
These rates do not apply to orders held in storage here for any reason.
Multiple orders consolidated into one shipment
do not qualify for flat rate shipping.
Greatest Hits Back in Stock
Bitouzet-Prieur is the product of a marriage which links two great winemaking families – the Bitouzets of Volnay and the Prieurs of Meursault. Their operations span six generations, with Vincent Bitouzet and his son Francois currently at the helm; they’re among the oldest in the region as well as one of the first family-owned domaines to bottle their wines.
What you can expect is nothing short of classic age-worthy wines that are genuinely reflective of the terroir in each of their parcels. The Bitouzet-Prieurs owns roughly 12 hectares of vineyards, all farmed organically. Grapes are harvested manually and only native yeasts are employed in fermentation. What one can expect from their efforts is classic, age-worthy wines which genuinely reflect their respective terroirs.
Below are our two most popular Meursault and Volnay wines from the domaine, newly re-arrived and the only listings in the USA:
Domaine Bitouzet-Prieur Meursault Clos du Cromin 2011 750ML ($69.95) $49 special
Antonio Galloni–Vinous 92 points “The 2011 Meursault Clos du Cromin is all about freshness, energy and vibrancy. Lemon, white flowers, jasmine and a hint of spice are supported by clean veins of minerality that add tension and brightness. With time in the glass, the wine becomes increasingly more focused, vibrant and persistent. I very much like the sense of energy here.” AG
Domaine Bitouzet-Prieur Les Caillerets, Volnay Premier Cru 2011 1.5L ($179.95) $119 special
Antonio Galloni–Vinous 93 points “The 2011 Volnay Caillerets is one of the most explosive wines in this range. Black cherries, plums, licorice, smoke and tar literally jump from the glass. The 2011 is round and voluptuous on the palate, yet also backed up by considerable structure. Hints of cloves, new leather and sweet tobacco add the final layers of nuance. In 2011 there are just three barrels of Caillerets, one of which is new, a slightly higher ratio than is typically the case.” AG
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Domaine Tempier
Rosé Arrives Early July
One of the great wineries of Provence, Domaine Tempier produces what may be the world’s most celebrated rosé. Their exceptional Bandol red and white are not to be missed, either. The Tempier family has owned its 94-acre estate since 1834. Champions of Mourvèdre post-phylloxera, Tempier has restored this delicious variety back to its high rank in the nobility of wine grapes. Accordingly, organic vineyard practices ensure the natural expression of Bandol’s renowned terroir. Hands-off, traditional winemaking follows suit, but does not exclude modern advancements such as temperature-controlled fermentation. Domaine Tempier makes 11,000 cases per vintage, and the wines have earned a devout following worldwide. If you haven’t tried one yet, here is your chance:
Domaine Tempier Bandol Rosé, Provence 2015 750ML ($47.95) $39 pre-arrival special
Domaine Tempier Bandol Rosé, Provence 2015 375ML ($27.95) $24 pre-arrival special
Domaine Tempier Bandol Rosé, Provence 2015 1.5L ($99.95) $89 pre-arrival special
Domaine Tempier Bandol Rosé, Provence 2015 3.0L ($449.95) $399 pre-arrival special
Winery note “50% Mourvèdre, 28% Grenache, 20% Cinsault, 2% Carignan. The grapes used to make our rosé come from selected parcels where the vines are on average 20 years old. The yields are low, which explains the intense concentration and distinct expression of each varietal in this wine. The presence of Mourvedre gives this wine its strong character, balance and complexity. An intense fruit and floral nose make this an attractive rosé. The palate is rounded and full with fruity aromas of peach and pomegranate, followed by delicate spice notes and a pleasant freshness created by acidic balance. The grapes are harvested by hand. In the ripening process, we aim for a hint of freshness with some acidity and slightly less alcohol than for the red wines.”
(and much overlap between!)
Arrive mid-June from California, France and Spain
Wine Enthusiast 96 points “This has a grand array of exotic flinty, meaty, smoky and spicy aromas. The powerful flavors taste a bit restrained at first sip, then unfold and seem to expand on the palate. Pure and brilliant layers of ripe blackberry, smoked herbs and darkest chocolate ride on an elegant texture of fine tannins and supportive acidity. Drink from 2018–2030.”
The average price is $88
Wine Enthusiast 92 points “A bold but well-behaved wine, this is spicy and meaty in aroma, generously layered with flavors of black plums, blackberries and incredibly velvety tannins. The way that the core of delicious fruit is shrouded in thick but soft tannins and threaded with acidity is a marvel. It’s tempting to drink now but lay it down until 2018 if possible.”
Wine Enthusiast 94 points “This is a big, flavorful wine, luscious in aroma, flavor and texture from the first whiffs of spicy oak and funky earth through saturated blackberry and clove flavors. The texture is both velvety and almost stiff at the same time. Drink now through 2020.”
Wine Enthusiast 94 points “Focus and precision describe this wine. Subtle aromas of grilled herbs and wood smoke precede dark flavors of just-ripe black cherries and blueberries. A sleek texture of firm tannins and refreshing acidity gives a lot of personality. It is medium to full bodied, and will only get better with time. Best after 2020.”
FRANCE-BURGUNDY
Jean-Paul & Benoit Droin Valmur, Chablis Grand Cru 2013 750ML ($69.95) $59 pre-arrival special
Wine Enthusiast 96 points “Extra rich, ripe and round , this offers a full fruitiness that explodes in the mouth. Tannins and structure are all there, although the main thrust of this wine is the balance between this tension and the generous fruits that are developing. Drink from 2019.”
FRANCE-RHONE
Domaine La Garrigue Vacqueyras 2012 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 pre-arrival special
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 91 points “Deep red. Vibrant, spice-accented raspberry, cherry and floral pastille aromas are complicated by hints of star anise and smoked meat. Supple and open-knit, offering juicy red fruit and spicecake flavors plus a deeper suggestion of licorice pastille. Plays power off elegance smoothly, showing no excess fat. A refreshing jolt of peppery spices adds lift and cut to the persistent finish.” JR
SPAIN
Black Slate Gratallops, Priorat DOCa 2014 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 pre-arrival special
Garnacha Negre, Carinyena, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah. Sustainably grown. From Eric Solomon Selections.
Celler Capcanes Mas Donis Negre, Montsant 2013 750ML ($17.95) $14 pre-arrival special
Winery Note: “Medium ruby with flecks of violet; lovely perfume of cherry and red berries; ripe and complex; floral, with ripe crispy fruit; medium body; pure fruit seduction and charm; fine finish with ripe soft tannins and nicely refreshing aftertaste. A fresh, crisp, and lively summer red, to be served slightly chilled. 65% Grenache, 15% Carinyena, 5% Syrah, 5% Merlot, 5% Tempranillo, 5% Cabernet.”
Clos i Terrasses Clos Erasmus ‘Laurel’, Priorat DOCa 2013 750ML ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival special
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 93 points “Brilliant ruby. Heady, mineral-laced aromas of candied red fruit, Indian spices and rose pastille. Juicy and incisive on the palate, offering intense raspberry and bitter cherry flavors that gain sweetness and spiciness in the glass. Packs a powerful punch but comes off lithe and precise, with alluring sweetness and a touch of candied rose on the gently tannic finish. This suave wine was aged in a combination of French oak tanks, barrels and clay amphoras for 18 months.”
Bodegas Contador – Benjamin Romeo ‘Predicador’, Rioja DOCa 2009 750ML ($34.95) $28 pre-arrival special
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 92 points “(96% tempranillo, 3% garnacha and 1% viura, aged for 16 months in one-year-old French oak barrels): Glass-staining ruby. Explosive, alluring aromas of black and blue fruits, incense, licorice and vanilla bean. Lush and broad but juicy and focused as well, with suave candied dark berry flavors accented by sexy floral and Indian spice nuances. Finishes broad, spicy and impressively long, with echoing boysenberry and licorice notes. In the context of flamboyant, new-wave Rioja this is an absolute steal.”
The average price is $32
Suertes Del Marques Winery
Canary Island Wine Arrives Mid-June
After thirty years of growing the autochthonous grapes of Tenerife, including centenarian Listán Negro and Blanco vines, Suertes del Marqués founded its own winery in 2006. The estate owns 27 acres, all on the north part of the island, where the soil is composed of sand and clay on volcanic soils. Note that phylloxera never arrived on Tenerife, so rootstocks are not used, and the vines are never irrigated. Suertes del Marqués purchases another 37 acres of grapes from local growers. Organic vineyard practices dictate the winegrowing, and everything in the vineyard and cellar is done by hand. Fermentation takes place in concrete vats, pumping is kept to a minimum, and most wines are aged in neutral French oak. Spain has the greatest biodiversity in all of Europe, and these wines from Tenerife, compared to La Rioja or Priorat, add more proof.
Decanter Magazine, October 2015: “[Suertes del Marqués] pursues a strictly hands-off philosophy, flirting with natural wine ideologies and following some biodynamic practices. Minimal sulphur dioxide is used, only indigenous yeasts are employed, and the wines are never filtered or fined. The naturally low yields created by these old vines, climate and soils are celebrated, and across the Suertes del Marqués range the wines capture the freshness and agility that mark so many of the most exciting contemporary fine wines.”
Suertes del Marques 7 Fuentes Tinto, Valle de la Orotava, Canary Islands 2013 750ML ($21.95) $18 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 92 points “The QPR champion 2013 7 Fuentes is a blend of Listán Negro and 15% Tintilla (the local name given to Trousseau) from different plots on volcanic soils of ungrafted, old vineyards. Each plot is fermented separately with indigenous yeasts in cement vats and small bins. Sixty-five percent of the wine matures in cement and the rest is transferred to 500-liter oak barrels for a period of seven months. After some initial reduction (give it an energetic decanting) there are showy aromas of dried flowers, white pepper, pumice, volcanic ash and perhaps some plums with savage, meaty undertones. The palate is silky with supple tannins framing the red fruit and pungent flavors that are intermixed with notes of volcanic rocks. It reminds me quite a lot of the 2011 that is pure minerals. This is one to buy by the case; it is a bargain” WA
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 91 points “(98% listan negra and 2% tintilla; aged for eight months in a combination of concrete tanks and 500-liter French oak barrels): Brilliant red. Spice- and mineral-tinged red fruits on the intensely perfumed nose and palate. Fine-grained and very well balanced, with sexy floral pastille and incense qualities coming up with aeration. Finishes with strong mineral cut, no obvious tannins and excellent spicy persistence.” JR
Wine Advocate 92 points “The 2012 La Solana is a single-vineyard Listán Negro planted with very old, ungrafted vines at 300-450 meters altitude on volcanic soils, probably their oldest vineyard. The wine aged for one year in 500-liter French oak barrels. It feels serious and closed, ripe with plums, violets and rocks, developing more perfume with time in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied, with fresh, acid red fruit flavors and a mineral, earthy finish with the dried roses making a glorious comeback in the finish. 9,000 bottles.” WA
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 91 points “Brilliant ruby. A complex bouquet evokes intense raspberry, floral and mineral scents and a hint of Asian spices. Vibrant and precise on the palate, offering lively red fruit flavors that gain sweetness with air. Silky tannins give shape to the finish, which emphasizes juicy red fruit and rose pastille qualities.” JR
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Equipo Navazos
The Perfect Edit
The sherries of Equipo Navazos enjoy a bit of a cult following, and not without justification: the company was established with the sole intent of showcasing overlooked casks from the very finest sherry makers. Their mission statement contextualizes it best:
“These wines come from soleras and individual casks that remain, relatively neglected by the market in the last few decades, in the bodegas of some of the most prestigious Andalusian producers. Some of them are unexpected but fortunate findings, testimony of the anonymous work of generations of wine men and wine women, others are the result of a long-standing collaboration (between Equipo Navazos and the winemakers)… Aware of the sleeping treasures that rested buried in the cellars of Jerez, Sanlúcar and El Puerto, as well as in and around Montilla, we decided to rescue some of these jewels.”
Wine Advocate 91 points “According to the website, it is one Luis Gutierrez who came up with the term: “Florpower.” As stated on the label in Roman numerals, Lot 44 La Bota de Vino Blanco MMX “Florpower” comes from the 2010 vintage: unfortified Palomino from chalky Sanlucar soils that spends 32 months under flor and 8 months in sherry casks. Jesus mentioned that he did not want to risk excessive oxidation. It has a very attractive nose of beeswax, honeysuckle, smoked walnut that is clean and supremely well-focused. The palate is poised with impressive weight and presence in the mouth allied with a crisp seam of acidity: bitter lemon and dried orange peel, cloves and walnut towards the attractive, focused finish. This is a joy to behold, although I will have to ask my colleague what exactly “florpower” is and where I can buy some for myself.”
Wine Advocate 95 points “The Lot 37 La Bota de Amontillado is selected from around 100 butts from the amontillado Soleras of Rainera P. Marin that were acquired by the Estevez Group and the idea here was to choose butts with freshness and heightened aromatics. Bottled in September 2012 it has a lucid deep straw color. The nose is very attractive with caramel, hazelnut, Turkish Delight and a touch of wild honey that are all very well defined and vibrant. The palate is very well-balanced with that caramel note coming through and combining beautifully with quince, white pepper, dried honey and marmalade. The oxidative element is perfectly judged on the finish with a delicate, nutty aftertaste that renders this approachable and for want of a better word – delicious!”
Equipo Navazos La Bota de Fino No. 35 ‘Macharnudo Alto’ Sherry, Andalucia NV 750ML ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 95 points “The La Bota De Fino Macharnudo Alto 35 was bottled in June 2012, and shows a deep golden color. This wine is sourced from the Inocente solera from Valdespino, and averages 10 years under flor. The idea is that once the wines age for a long time and the flor sharpens the wine, if you continue to age it further it gains in volume and intensity, making them much more powerful and if you like, less fine. An old wine that is a complex gentle giant crying for food. It shows a deep old-gold color, and feels dense and concentrated. The very complex nose is redolent of yeast, chalk, esparto grass, salted almonds and iodine, and keeps changing and developing as the wine stays in the glass. The palate is full-bodied, intense, balanced, ending dry with a bitter note. As good as Fino gets. Drink 2013- 2019.”
Wine Advocate 98 points “Equipo Navazos has recently released a handful of Palos Cortados because they jumped at the chance to buy some extremely old wines from Pedro Romero. This NV La Bota de Palo Cortado 51 Bota GF is a single cask that was bottled in February 2014 averaging some 75 years of age in a solera system. GF are the initials of Gaspar Florido, a grower from Sanlúcar who owned some of the best plots in the Armijo vineyard inside Pago Miraflores in Sanlúcar de Barrameda, where this wine was likely born. At that time the wines were cask fermented and could have had a few years under flor. The Palo Cortados 47, 48 and this one, and even the Amontillado 49 are somehow related and have a common origin, but this one is closer to the 48. Given that it’s not easy to define these wines, other than to compare them with each other, I find this one to have more Palo Cortado character with a little more sweetness and with a hint of Oloroso. Out of these beasts, this is the most approachable and drinkable. Only 1,200 half bottles were filled with the content of one single cask.”
Wine Advocate 96 points “Same as with the editions 39 and 40, 59 and 60 are also devoted to Manzanilla Pasada, both originating from an old solera belonging to La Guita, starting with The NV La Bota de Manzanilla Pasada 59 Capataz Rivas. As number 30, it has been named after Rafael Rivas, capataz for several decades at La Guita’s cellars at Sanlúcar’s Calle Misericordia until his recent retirement, who in 1986 started a small 15 cask solera with old Manzanilla. Both this 59 and 60 are taken from this solera, and while 60 is from a single cask, this 59 blends wines from the other 14. The average age of the wine is estimated to be around 15 years. Some 3,000 500-milliliter bottles were filled in June 2015.”
Equipo Navazos La Bota de Manzanilla Pasada No. 60 Sherry, Andalucia NV 500ML ($119.95) $88 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 97 points “The so-called NV La Bota de Manzanilla Pasada 60 Bota Punta is sourced from a special cask “Bota Punta” that was already bottled as numbers 20, 40 and 50. This particular cask from the Manzanilla Pasada ‘solera’ from the Calle Misericordia winery from La Guita was isolated, because it has a very marked biological character – a very old Manzanilla that keeps more ‘flor’ than the other butts in the ‘solera’ and shows less oxidative. The other particularity is that this cask is always refilled with wine from the other 14 casks from the ‘solera’, and therefore keeps an average age a couple of years older, around 17 years, while keeping a younger/fresher profile. They all have the iodine and saline character, the seaweed, low tide and the vertical palate. This is the most special -and scarce and expensive – of all the manzanillas pasadas from Navazos. Really world class. This is the one with depth and sharpness beyond belief, a step up in complexity, elegance and balance. It’s funny how the wine seems to overcome oxidation and starts getting sharper and sharper again. This is truly outstanding.”
Wine Advocate 95 points “The relatively old NV La Bota de Amontillado 61 Bota NO was offered in the past as number 31 (bottled in October 2011), aged 35- to 40-years-old. It comes from a ‘solera’ that is marked as “Manzanilla Amontillada Vieja” in the winery, Sanlúcar Viejo, belonging to Rainera P. Marín (La Guita). The wine is thought to be around 40-years-old on average and is an elegant and harmonious Amontillado, quite different from the very old and concentrated Amontillados. The style they aim for here is to age the wines with the barrels fully topped-up, so the wines age slowly and feel comparatively younger than what they are, but at the same time they are more elegant. 2,000 half-liter bottles were filled at the end of 2015.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Time to Say Good Buy
Chateau Puech-Haut
Inspired Languedoc – @ $16.60 // $14.92
…..A sensational offering from proprietor Gerard Bru:
Until Midnight May 31st:
Case-12 Chateau Puech-Haut Coteaux du Languedoc Saint-Drezery Prestige Rouge 2013 750ML ($249.95) $179 special* (that’s only $14.92/bottle and the lowest listed price in the USA today!)
Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2013 Coteaux du Languedoc Prestige (which was already in bottle at the time of this tasting) is a blend of 55% Grenache and 45% Syrah aged all in concrete tank. Fresh, elegant and thrillingly pure, with first rate aromas of blackberry, fresh plum, licorice and ground herbs, it is decidedly sexy and forward, yet stays perfectly balanced, with juicy acidity and fine tannin on the finish. Easily one of the top estates in the Languedoc (if not southern France), Chateau Puech Haut lies just outside the village of Saint-Drezery and is owned and run by Gerard Bru, with consulting help from Philippe Cambie. They produce a number of cuvees, with their entry level efforts representing superb values, and their top cuvees being able to stand toe to toe with the greatest wines in the world.”
Afterward, Price Goes to $18/btl and $189/case!
Stay tuned tomorrow for a special offer…
