New Arrivals; DuMol Special Sale; Tempier Lands; Languedoc—France’s Vanguard; 2015 FX Pichler; Barolo by Cameron; Game of Rhones; Fall Arrivals from Bordeaux and Elsewhere
~~~~~~~~~~
Summer Shipping Special:
Midwest, East, & South
For the summer season we are offering UPS Three Day Select Service for the price of UPS Ground for shipments normally traveling 4 or more business days by ground.
Free service upgrade only applies on single orders purchased and 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 items purchased before the promotional period or on pre-arrival items that arrive after the promotional period ends.
~~~~~~~~~~
New Weekend – New Arrivals
Domaine Bechtold Cremant d’Alsace Brut 2014 750ML ($27.95) $21.90 special
Neal Rosenthal “The soul of raciness and finesse, this wine is equal parts Chardonnay and Auxerrois from the 2013 vintage, bottled with no dosage, and disgorged in May of 2015. Electric and citrusy, with the earthy depth of the Auxerrois grape coming through on the palate, and firm limestone-y minerality on the finish.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Chateau Simone Palette Blanc, Provence 2012 750ML ($69.95) $59 special
Neal Rosenthal “The white from Simone is a truly unique creation based primarily on Clairette that is supplemented with Grenache Blanc, Bourboulenc, Ugni Blanc and a touch of Muscat Blanc. The white, brisk in its youth, animated by a bouquet of pine-resin, evolves slowly into a sensual masterpiece with its lingering finish built on a mass of minerality. This is a remarkably age-worthy wine with the potential to give ever-more pleasure over a span two decades or more.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Cappellano Barolo Chinato, Piedmont NV 500ML ($59.95) $49 special
Antonio Galloni 93 points “Cappellano’s Barolo Chinato, which is more on the savory side of things, is a personal favorite.”
Neal Rosenthal “Giovanni [grandfather to the current owner]’s brother, Giuseppe, was a pharmacist who created the family formula for their famous (then and again now) Barolo Chinato, the Barolo infused with a variety of “medicines”. The Barolo Chinato is produced by following the family recipe handed down generation to generation. The “medicinal” herbs and spices are ground using a stone mortar and pestle. Both the recipe and the process are family secrets.”
~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~
Featured Weekend Sale:
DuMol Chardonnay
at the Lowest Price in the Country
DuMOL Chardonnay, Russian River Valley 2014 750ML ($61.95) Was $53.90, Now $48! Only 24 bottles available
Antonio Galloni 92 points “DuMol’s 2014 Chardonnay (Russian River Valley) is a gorgeous appellation-level wine. Apricot, chamomile, white flowers, honey and orange peel flesh out in the glass. Creamy, open-knit and expressive, the 2014 is an absolute winner, especially at this level. Attractive saline notes underpin the finish.”
Wine Advocate 92 points “The 2014 Chardonnay Russian River has a classic baked apricots and apple pie-laced nose with nuances of roasted nuts and buttered toast. Medium to full-bodied and richly fruited, it has a seductive touch of oiliness to the texture and great vitality, finishing a little spicy.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~
Tempier is in the House!
There’s not a whole lot to say other than Domaine Tempier Rosé has arrived. Many consider it to be the greatest rosé in the world and based on the way it sells, this isn’t a minority opinion. Although stocks are running low after our pre-arrival offering, we managed to wrangle some extra wine out of our distributor (including one more 3L!) and so we still have a little to offer. Fire away.
Domaine Tempier Bandol Rose, Provence 2016 750ML ($49.95) $44 special
Domaine Tempier Bandol Rose, Provence 2016 375ML ($29.95) $24 special
Domaine Tempier Bandol Rose, Provence 2016 1.5L ($119.95) $99 special
Domaine Tempier Bandol Rose, Provence 2016 3L ($319.95) $289 special
Click here to head to the website to purchase or just give us a call to place an order.
~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~
France’s New California:
The Vanguard of the Languedoc-Roussilon
On a superficial level, the comparisons between the Languedoc and California are easy: warm, temperate weather, olive trees and big rich wines. Both areas are also the source of most of the bulk wine produced in their respective nations as a result of this extreme fertility. But look a little closer and another, more interesting, comparison jumps out.
Both California and the Languedoc-Roussillon have a lot of old vines that are inexpensive to acquire. This is a really great combination if you’re a young winemaker with something to prove, as it allows you to access old vine material at costs that don’t require you to be descended from royalty to acquire it.
Just as with California, we’re seeing a range of styles emerge in this ‘new’ Languedoc from rich and powerful (Domaine de l’Edre, like Bedrock in Cali) to lighter and more elegant (Le Loup Blanc like, well, lots of new-Cali producers). We’ve highlighted a few here that we think are worth seeking out and trying and we hope you’ll share in our enthusiasm!
In Stock Now from the Languedoc-Roussilon
Mas Cal Demoura Terrasses du Larzac L’Infidele, Languedoc-Roussillon 2010 750ML ($31.95) $27 special, 36+ bottles available
Wine Advocate: “Meaning “One must remain” in Occitan, Mas Cal Demoura was created by Jean-Pierre Jullien in 1970. At the time, there was a mass exodus of vignerons away from their own estates, and the region in general, due to an inability to make a living producing wine. Jean-Pierre followed this trend, but in 1985, his son Olivier set off on his own, creating the now benchmark estate Mas Jullien (which is also reviewed in this report). Following his son’s example, Jean-Pierre left the coop in 1993, sold a number of his vineyards, but kept the best 5 hectares for his own estate. Jean-Pierre retired in 2004, selling the estate (after working with them for a year during the transition) to the current owners, Isabelle and Vincent Goumard, who both studied winemaking in Dijon. The estate now covers roughly 11 hectares located outside the village of Jonquieres, in the heart of the Terrasses du Larzac region. The wines are all noteworthy, with medium to full-bodied richness that’s always balanced by classy, elegant overall profiles that remain a joy to drink. They’re all highly recommended.” JD
Importer Notes: “The historic cuvée of Jean-Pierre Jullien, L’Infidèle is a blend of all the regional grapes – Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre, Cinsault and Carignan. The Goumards make choices in the vineyard and in the cellar that will emphasize finesse and freshness in this bottling, allowing for full expression of the fruit. The grapes are partially destemmed. Temperature is rigorously controlled. The cuvaison can extend for as long as six weeks with frequent remontage. Aging takes place mostly in older demi-muids and each grape variety undergoes the primary stages of the elevage separately. Based upon a series of ongoing tastings, the Goumards determine the final blend and then the five varieties are assembled in cuve and aged for an additional six to eight months prior to bottling. The wine is bottled without filtration.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Maxime Magnon Corbieres Campagnes, Languedoc-Roussillon 2014 750ML ($39.95) $31.90 special, 36 bottles available
Wine Advocate 93 points “Leading off the reds, the 2014 Corbieres Campagnes is terrific, and the greatest wine I’ve tasted from the estate in some time. It’s inky purple color is followed by textbook Carignan (it’s 100% Carignan) notes of black and blue fruits, liquid violets, plums, iodine and freshly crushed rock. This medium to full-bodied, elegant, seamless effort shows the potential of the variety and will benefit from 1-2 years of bottle age and keep through 2024.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Vignobles Prissette Villa Symposia Coteaux du Languedoc l’Origine 2013 750ML ($39.95) $33 special, 36+ bottles available
Wine Advocate 93 points “The terrific 2013 Pézenas l’Origine shows the hallmark spice-laced perfume of this appellation. Lots of red fruits, crushed flowers, spice and violet nuances give way to a medium-bodied, elegant and sweetly fruited 2013 that has fine tannin and a seamless, sexy texture. Drink this beauty anytime over the coming 5-6 years.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Vignoble du Loup Blanc Minervois ‘Le Regal du Loup’, Languedoc-Roussillon 2012 750ML ($17.95) $14 special, 13 bottles available
VinopolNote: Grenache 50%, Carignan 40%, Syrah 10%. Soil: Clay and limestone. Age of vines: 25 to 50 years. Ageing: 12 months in concrete tank
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Domaine le Clos du Serres l’Humeur Vagabonde, IGP Pays de l’Herault 2011 750ML ($39.95) $33 special, 10 bottles available
Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2011 Coteaux du Languedoc Terrasses du Larzac l’Humeur Vagabonde highlights the old-vines Carignan of the estate. Comprised of 50% Carignan (100-year-old vines) and 25% each of Grenache and Syrah, it gives up a brilliant array of blackcurrants, licorice, old leather, damp earth and liquefied herbs to go with a medium to full-bodied, layered and seamless profile on the palate. Gaining additional structure with time in the glass, this beauty has solid mid-palate depth, ample underlying structure and a big finish. Give it another year and enjoy bottles through 2021. ” WA
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Domaine de L’Edre Cotes du Roussillon Villages 2013 750ML ($49.95) $41.90 special, 36+ bottles available
Case-6 Domaine de L’Edre Cotes du Roussillon Villages 2013 750ML ($299.95) $239 special, 4 six-packs available (that’s only $39.83/bottle!)
Wine Advocate 95 points “One of the wines of the vintage is the 2013 Cotes du Roussillon Villages Domaine de l’Edre. While this cuvee had a rustic edge in the past, today it’s incredibly polished and pure, with brilliant aromatics of cassis, black raspberries, licorice, crushed flowers and chalky minerality. Medium to full-bodied, ripe, yet elegant and balanced, it’s a classic Roussillon that can be enjoyed today or cellared for a decade.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Don’t forget you can see all 26 wines in stock from the Languedoc-Roussillon on our website, www.vinopoliswineshop.com
~~~~~~~~~~
2015 FX Pichler
Arriving Next Week
Sommelier and Riesling Legend Paul Greico once said, “If F.X. was a guitarist, Jimmy Page would stand aside” and no truer hyperbole has ever been uttered in the world of wine. F.X. Pichler stands as one of the two or three most important Austrian producers and hands down the winery crafting the most powerful, complex and bombastic dry Riesling and Gruner Veltliner on the planet.
The wines of F.X. Pichler are unique, in that no one else seems to wrangle both power and complexity into a single package quite like this wizard of the Wachau. With a combination of intensive viticulture, native fermentations and great terroir, the wines are unlike anything else in the world. Broad and powerful, with a cut and minerality that are unique to the vineyards in the Wachau.
The 2015 vintage, which we’re offering today, is something special as well. As Willi Brundlmayer (in the Kamptal) put it, “Conditions were perfect in 2015: everything happened at the right time, leaving no wishes unfulfilled.” Growers could make wines as stylistic epitome of their choosing, which means that if you’re an FX Pichler fan, these might be (and forgive the phrase) the most FX Pichler wines ever. They arrive in next week and we have the best prices on the west coast, so if you know what you’re looking for, feel free to click here to go straight to the wines on our website.
The Gruners:
F.X. Pichler Durnsteiner Kellerberg Gruner Veltliner Smaragd, Wachau 2015 750ML ($89.95) $79 pre-arrival special
F.X. Pichler Durnsteiner Kellerberg Gruner Veltliner Smaragd, Wachau 2015 375ML ($49.95) $39 pre-arrival special – this is the only listing in the USA today!
Wine Advocate 94 points “Like the Liebenberg from weathered granite and gneiss soils, but in a higher and cooler spot, the 2015 Grüner Veltliner Smaragd Dürnsteiner Kellerberg opens with an intense and herbal-flavored, rather spicy and stony bouquet of ripe and concentrated bright fruits. Full-bodied, ripe and piquant on the palate, this is a rich and powerful, well-concentrated and elegant Kellerberg with a rich extract and a long and persistent finish. The 2015 should be cellared for at least another 3-5 years.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
F.X. Pichler Durnsteiner Liebenberg Gruner Veltliner Smaragd, Wachau 2015 750ML ($69.95) $59 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 93-94 points “The 2015 Grüner Veltliner Smaragd Dürnsteiner Liebenberg comes from 70- to 80-year-old vines on a rare calcareous slate soil. The wine displays a very clear and pure, pretty open and lovely spicy, crystalline and flinty bouquet with ripe pip fruit aromas. Very distinguished and rather coolish in its expression. Full-bodied, round and elegant, with tension, salt and grip in the finish, this is a charmingly ripe and juicy but also challenging mineral and piquant Veltliner from one of the most exciting terroirs. The finish is powerful and complex but also fresh and stimulatingly piquant. Pichler has bottled this wine since 2010.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
F.X. Pichler Loibner Berg Gruner Veltliner Smaragd, Wachau 2015 750ML ($51.95) $44 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 92-93 points “From probably the warmest vineyard of the Wachau, the 2015 Grüner Veltliner Smaragd Loibner Loibenberg is a full-bodied, rich and intense, very juicy, but also piquant and mineral Veltliner with tobacco flavors on the nose. Dense and with an old-vines intensity, this Loibenberg offers ripe yellow stone fruits with a tropical touch, but is also very well structred and finishes with a long and salty aftertaste. An impressive wine.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
F.X. Pichler M Gruner Veltliner Smaragd, Wachau 2015 750ML ($89.95) $79 pre-arrival special
F.X. Pichler M Gruner Veltliner Smaragd, Wachau 2015 1.5L ($189.95) $169 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 94-95 points “The 2015 Grüner Veltliner Smaragd M is a selection of the ripest (overripe) grapes from the Loibenberg, Kellerberg and Liebenberg. Harvested in the last week of November and macerated for 20 to 24 hours, this is a rich and creamy textured yet elegant and vibrantly fresh Veltliner monument with finesse and purity and a long and tension-filled finish. Great salinity and concentration. An elegant and expressive wine for XXL drinkers.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
F.X. Pichler Urgestein Terrassen Gruner Veltliner Smaragd, Wachau 2015 750ML ($41.95) $36 pre-arrival special
David Schildknecht–Vinous 92 points “This blend from numerous sites (not rendered in vintage 2014 due to paucity of fruit) brims with luscious, juicy white peach and grapefruit, and its combination of citricity, green herbal pungency and stony underpinnings puts me as much in mind of Riesling as of Grüner Veltliner. Silken and enveloping on the palate, it retains its sense of energy and brightness through an invigoratingly peach-kernel-inflected, tinglingly stone-infused and mouthwateringly salt-tinged finish. Despite harboring 13.5 percent alcohol, the wine also conveys a subtle and attractive sense of lift.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
The Rieslings:
F.X. Pichler Durnsteiner Kellerberg Riesling Smaragd, Wachau 2015 750ML ($119.95) $85 pre-arrival special
David Schildknecht–Vinous 95-96 points “A pungently smoky, incisive, savory mélange of sage, dark tobacco and black pepper is allied to ripe peach and garlanded with heliotrope in a head-turningly intense nose. That full range of elements reprises on a polished palate, whose textural caress and sweet sense of ripeness are combined with welcome, tangy, chewy counterpoint of peach skin and a refreshingly juicy squirt of fresh lime. The finish offers a mouthwateringly prolonged, kaleidoscopic interaction of fruity, savory and smoky elements – plenty rich, yet with rare cut and animation for its vintage.”
F.X. Pichler Loibner Berg Riesling Smaragd, Wachau 2015 750ML ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival special
F.X. Pichler Loibner Berg Riesling Smaragd, Wachau 2015 375ML ($39.95) $33 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 92 points “Warm and intense on the nose, ripe and concentrated white fruit aromas open the 2015 Riesling Smaragd Loibner Loibenberg, which is pure and citric on the nose and very inviting. Pure, fresh and piquant on the palate, this is rather coolish and stunningly lean and pure Loibenberg compared to the corresponding Grüner Veltliner. Lucas believes that Riesling has eventually stopped the ripening process during the vegetation period. This 2015 has grip and tension and a rather coolish character.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
F.X. Pichler M Riesling Smaragd, Wachau 2015 750ML ($79.95) $69 pre-arrival special
David Schildknecht–Vinous 91-92 points “Reliance on late-harvested Loibenberg fruit resulted in a bottling that finished with too much residual sugar to qualify as Smaragd. (More thoroughly shriveled Loibenberg fruit resulted in a B.A. and T.B.A.) Lusciously ripe peach is tinged with banana and mingled with almond extract and liquid heliotrope perfume. Fortunately, a measure of grapefruit is not only pungently fragrant but also brightly juicy and piquantly zesty, helping – along with piquancy of peach kernel – to offset this bottling’s enveloping richness and sheer surfeit of ripe, sugar-reinforced fruit. The impressively sustained finish is, however, not at all overtly sweet.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
F.X. Pichler Loibner Oberhauser Riesling Smaragd, Wachau 2015 750ML ($49.95) $39 pre-arrival special
David Schildknecht–Vinous 92 points “A site-typical meld of apricot and lime is garlanded with iris on the nose and reprises with wonderful purity and vivid freshness on a silken-textured, expansive palate. Piquant apricot kernel and a lick of wet stone lend counterpoint on a lusciously lingering finish that irresistibly calls forth the next sip.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
F.X. Pichler Loibner Steinertal Riesling Smaragd, Wachau 2015 750ML ($69.95) $59 pre-arrival special
David Schildknecht–Vinous 93-94 points “White peach and grapefruit aromas mingle with honeysuckle on an enticing nose, and the three reunite on a glossy palate lusciously ripe and loaded with liquid floral perfume but simultaneously exuberantly and invigoratingly bright. The finish offers prolonged counterpoint of fruity, floral and stony elements. This bottling displays a combination of penetration, refinement and balancing acidity that is rare for an Austrian Riesling of its vintage.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
~~~~~~~~~~
John Paul’s Friend in Barolo
A little over a decade ago, John Paul decided to host a young Italian man named Lapo Berti as harvest help at Cameron winery. He worked harvest and became friends with John Paul and left to seek his fortune in the wine world. The two never lost contact, even as Lapo made his way to Australia and France and then finally back to the Piedmont. We’re offering both the first Barolo that Lapo Berti made commercially as well as the first “John Paul Selection.” The wine is a classic La Morra Barolo—soft and delicate with a deep resonance that stirs your soul. It’s a Barolo that you certainly could drink young, but it should age for quite some time if you have the willpower. Lapo only made a few hundred cases, so quantities are limited, but we secured as large an allocation as we could. How long it lasts, though, is another matter.
Lapo Berti Barolo DOCG La Morra 2012 750ML ($49.95) $39 special, 30 bottles available
VinopolNote: “The first ever ‘John Paul Selection’ from the legendary winemaker at Cameron. This comes from an old friend of his from prime La Morra fruit. The wine is soft and supple for Barolo, true to the La Morra style, but has depth and complexity. We’re excited to see how it ages but suspect it will go the distance if you can keep your hands off of it. This is an early drinking delight!”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
There are a few other Barolos we like for drinking now, so here are some highlights:
Marcarini Brunate, Barolo DOCG 2011 750ML ($69.95) $49 special, 18 bottles available
Antonio Galloni 91 points “Marcarini’s 2011 Barolo Brunate comes across as a bit light in this vintage. Site specific nuance is pushed to the background in this decidedly mid-weight Barolo. Dark red cherry, tobacco, mint and crushed flowers flesh out in a relatively pliant, open Brunate that uncharacteristically appears to be built for near and medium-term drinking.”
Marcarini La Serra, Barolo DOCG 2011 750ML ($59.95) $39 special, 26 bottles available
Antonio Galloni 90 points “The 2011 Barolo La Serra is classy and polished to the core. Sweet floral notes meld into kirsch, red cherry and raspberry. This is one of the more floral, lifted Barolos of the vintage, while the structure tends towards the lighter end of the spectrum. Crushed flowers, mint and spices are all laced into the super-expressive finish framed by classically austere La Serra tannins.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Giacomo Conterno Francia Barolo DOCG, Piedmont750ML ($149.95) $128 special, 18 bottles 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.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Bruna Grimaldi Badarina Vigna Regnola, Barolo DOCG 2010 750ML ($59.95) $38 special, 33 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 92+ points “this 1.5-hectare plot, planted on shallow white soil at a high altitude of 420 meters in Serralunga, is the estate’s “original” vineyard, where Bruna Grimaldi’s grandfather was born; the only Barolo for which Grimaldi uses cappello sommerso for extraction): Medium-deep red. Complex aromas of raspberry, truffle, smoke and underbrush. Large-scaled, concentrated and rich, offering powerful, lightly medicinal flavors of raspberry and strawberry complicated by licorice and menthol. This very young wine finishes dry and broad, with serious granular tannins calling for extended aging. The Badarina spends a full 36 months in oak and is released a year later than the other Barolos of its vintage. (Grimaldi kept a bit of this fruit in both 2010 and 2009 to make a reserve bottling, but the 2009 will not be released until 2015.)” ST
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Massolino Parussi, Barolo DOCG 2011 750ML ($89.95) $69 special, 16 bottles available
Wine Advocate 93 points “With fruit from Castiglione Falletto, the 2011 Barolo Parussi is an epic wine with thick layers of dark fruit, spice and pressed rose. This expression is absolutely irresistible in terms of its generosity, overall intensity and silky smoothness. It presents a more immediate style with soft lines and a generous, fruity texture. Massolino has produced an impressive line of new releases. ”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
~~~~~~~~~~
Game of Rhones
The southern Rhone provides some of the landmark wines of France in Gigondas and Chateauneuf du Pape, but also provides inspiration for great wines from all over the world, especially in California. All of these wines are powerful and rich, that’s the nature of most Grenache/Syrah blends, of course, but the best manage to have a vibrancy and energy to them that is unique. We wanted to highlight a few of our favorites that are in stock right now. These would be perfect for drinking in the backyard with some grilled meats or aging for a special occasion.
Saxum Vineyards James Berry Vineyard, Paso Robles 2012 750ML ($149.95) $125 special, 2 bottles available
Wine Advocate 97+ points “There are 1,580 cases of the 2012 James Berry Vineyard and it reminds me of the 2009 Janasse Chaupin (which is one of Justin’s favorite wines). Incorporating more Mourvedre than normal, it’s made from 43% Grenache, 29% Mourvedre, 18% Syrah and 10% Counoise that’s aged in a combination of concrete and barrel. Rock star stuff, with fabulous black raspberry, cassis, spring flowers and charred meat aromas and flavors, this beauty hits the palate with full-bodied richness and depth, yet stays lively, incredibly pure and elegant, with lots of fine tannin emerging on the finish. It will benefit from 2-3 years in the cellar and have 15-20 years of ultimate longevity.”
Domaine Les Pallieres Gigondas Terrasses du Diable, Rhone 2013 750ML ($49.95) $33 special, 36+ bottles available
Case-12 Domaine Les Pallieres Gigondas Terrasses du Diable, Rhone 2013 750ML ($539.95) $359 special, 5 cases available (that’s only $29.92/bottle!)
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 92 points “Dark ruby. Candied red berries, cherry compote and potpourri on the highly pungent nose; a mineral element adds vivacity. Energetic black raspberry and bitter cherry flavors show excellent clarity and a hint of licorice pastille that builds as the wine opens up. The energetic finish repeats the floral and mineral notes, while supple tannins lend shape and grip.”
Wine Spectator 90 points “Offers a taut, slightly sinewy feel, with cedar-laced grip cutting through the core of dried cherry, red currant and raspberry flavors. Displays a lightly chalky spine on the finish, with an ample tobacco note.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Domaine Raymond Usseglio & Fils Chateauneuf-du-Pape Cuvee Girard, Rhone 2014 750ML ($44.95) $28 special, 14+ bottles available
Case-12 Domaine Raymond Usseglio & Fils Chateauneuf-du-Pape Cuvee Girard, Rhone 2014 750ML ($479.95) $299 special, 4 cases available (that’s only $24.92/bottle!)
Wine Advocate 87-90 points “Similar to the classic cuvee, the 2014 Châteauneuf du Pape Cuvée Girard is a custom blend for importer Peter Weygandt. Showing a touch darker fruit and possibly more concentration, it has building tannin and a solid finish. It has outstanding potential.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Xavier Chateauneuf-du-Pape Cuvee Anonyme X, Rhone 2011 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 36+ bottles available
Wine Advocate 95 points “The top wine of the estate, the 2011 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Anonyme is a hidden gem in the vintage! A blend of Grenache, Mourvedre, Syrah, Counoise and Vaccarese, from 90-year-old vines and aged in one-third new barrels (although you wouldn’t know it), it possesses fabulous notes of blackberry and currant fruit, big minerality, roasted meats and leather. Full-bodied, with beautiful freshness, big tannin and a layered, thrillingly concentrated mid-palate, it will be better in another year or two, and have over 15 years of longevity. Drink 2015-2026.”
Xavier Rasteau, Rhone 750ML ($34.95) $28.80 special, 36+ bottles available
Wine Advocate 93 points “One of my favorite wines from this estate, the 2012 Rasteau offers tons of ripe dark fruit, crushed rock, licorice and minerality in its full-bodied, concentrated profile. Made from 75% Grenache, 15% Syrah and 10% Mourvedre, it’s a classic Rasteau to drink over the coming 7-8 years.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
We offer 72 different red wines to choose from in-stock now from the Southern Rhone – check out the full list on our web store!
~~~~~~~~~~
Arriving This Fall!
2015 Clementin de Pape Clement
2015 in Bordeaux is being recorded as one that hits the rare sweet spot for those who love to drink these wines. Landing, stylistically, somewhere between 2009 and 2010 where there is a lot of fruit present, but not as hedonistic as 2009, and well balanced with tannic structure and fine acidity, but not nearly as austere as 2010. Decanter described this vintage as a medium term drinker that will offer wine lovers a chance to explore this often overlooked region of Bordeaux.
Pape Clement shares some nice real estate, its closest neighbor being Haut-Brion, but until the winery’s management was taken over by Bernard Magrez the wines were difficult to find and the results were not always up to expectations. The thorough exploration revealed only the most basic updates to the winery’s techniques were needed to improve consistency and the results have been spectacular.
The 2015 Clementin de Pape Clement, the second wine of the estate, mirrors the plantings in the vineyard: 56/40 Cabernet Sauvignon to Merlot, with a dash of Petit Verdot. Aromas that build upon ripe, abundant cherry fruit, followed by an Asian spice box and a tight whiff of smoke. Tannins are present but rounded and certain to be an integral part of this wine in the near future. A modest amount of cellar time is in store for these wines, yet it isn’t one to shy away from. Accessing the Clementin in its youth will not disappoint, but will certainly make you wonder what the next bottle will be like.
Le Clementin du Chateau Pape Clement, Pessac-Leognan 2015 750ML ($49.95) $39 pre-arrival special, 24 bottles available
James Suckling 92-93 points “A firm and silky second wine with blueberry and blackberry aromas and flavors…Full body, bright and fresh. Fine tannins.”
More Great Wines Arriving This Fall
E. Guigal Condrieu La Doriane, Rhone 2015 750ML ($119.95) $89 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 99 points “Easily one of the greatest Condrieu I’ve ever tasted is the 2015 Condrieu La Doriane. A wine that needs to be tasted to be believed, it possesses a huge nose of toasted brioche, liquid rocks, apricot, flower oil and salty minerality. Unctuous, full-bodied, massively rich, yet also elegant and graceful, with beautiful freshness, enjoy this tour de force over the coming 5-6 years.”
Wine Spectator 95 points “Lush, with papaya, mango and ginger notes layered seamlessly, while hints of heather honey, anise and piecrust hang in the background. The long and rich finish has no choice but to let the fruit power on. All hedonism and thoroughly delicious. Drink now through 2022.”
Paul Jaboulet Aine Hermitage La Chapelle, Rhone 2015 750ML ($319.95) $236 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 97-100 points “A wine that might surpass the 2009 and 2010 is the 2015 Hermitage La Chapelle, which has more than a passing resemblance to the 1990. This inky black/blue-colored Hermitage offers an off-the-charts array of blackberries, blueberries, crushed rocks, wood smoke and charred meats. Thick, unctuous, full-bodied and incredibly layered, with sweet tannin, it’s a tour de force that’s going to have three to four decades of longevity.”
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 96-98 points “(20% new oak): Dark purple. Explosive, mineral-accented scents of ripe dark berries, licorice, incense, vanilla and exotic spices, with a smoky nuance in the background. Deeply concentrated yet strikingly lively and precise on the palate, offering intense, finely detailed black and blue fruit, bitter cherry and floral pastille flavors that are complemented by hints of olive, allspice and star anise. Offers an uncanny blend of richness and finesse, with no rough edges. Shows remarkable energy and thrust on the endless finish which features supple tannins that add shape and gentle grip. This is one of the finest examples of young La Chapelle that I have ever tasted from barrel, and that includes the legendary 1989, 1990 and 1991 trio. If you love northern Rhône wines this one really shouldn’t be missed.”
Chateau de L’Ou ‘Secret de Schistes ‘ Rouge, IGP Cotes Catalanes 2015 750ML ($49.95) $39 pre-arrival special
Case-12 Chateau de L’Ou ‘Secret de Schistes ‘ Rouge, IGP Cotes Catalanes 2015 750ML ($549.95) $419 pre-arrival special (that’s only $34.92/bottle!)
Wine Advocate 96 points “Saturated black in color, the 2015 IGP Côtes Catalanes Secret de Schistes is reminiscent of Manfred Krankl’s SQN Syrahs with its deep, unctuous, layered profile. Cassis, chocolate, licorice, smoked herbs and ample minerality all emerge from this full-bodied, sexy beauty that just begs to be drunk. Possessing ripe tannin, a stacked mid-palate and a great finish, it will be better in a year or two and keep for a decade.”
E. Pira & Figli Chiara Boschis Cannubi, Barolo DOCG 2013 750ML ($119.95) $89 pre-arrival special
Antonio Galloni 96 points “The 2013 Barolo Cannubi is silky, vibrant and wonderfully perfumed. Sweet floral notes, meld into a core of bright red cherry, mint, white pepper and white flowers. Aromatically precise and finely sculpted, the 2013 possesses superb balance. In 2013, the Cannubi is all class. This is one of the most refined and gracious of Chiara Boschis’ 2013 Barolos and a very typical wine for the vintage. In a word: terrific!”
G.D. Vajra Bricco delle Viole, Barolo DOCG 2013 750ML ($99.95) $79 pre-arrival special
Antonio Galloni 97 points “The 2013 Barolo Bricco delle Viole is a real head-turner. Sweet, perfumed, vivid and exceptionally beautiful, the 2013 is simply stunning. A wine of exceptional finesse and sensuality, the 2013 hits all the right notes. Today, the 2013 reminds me of the 2008, but with more depth, density and creaminess – especially through the middle – and slightly redder fruit tones.”
Mazzei Tenuta Belguardo Maremma Toscana, Tuscany 2013 750ML ($49.95) $39 pre-arrival special
Wine Spectator 95 points “A red of great purity and polish, offering black cherry, blackberry, spice and herb flavors, this evokes tobacco, graphite and leather nuances as it builds nicely on the palate. Finishes with grip, harmony and complexity, as well as terrific length. Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Drink now through 2028.”
Passopisciaro ‘Passorosso’ Terre Siciliane IGT, Sicily 2014 750ML ($49.95) $39 pre-arrival special
Ian D’Agata–Vinous 97 points “Bright red-ruby. The captivating nose combines strawberry, raspberry, minerals, violet and flint aromas. Creamy-sweet but amazingly light on its feet, offering palate-staining, perfumed flavors of soft red berries, ripe red cherry, vanilla, aromatic herbs and crushed rock. Rich, ripe and suave, but displays a penetrating, saline and energetic quality that gives this beauty a three-dimensional mouthfeel and a light-on-its-feet quality. Finishes with great length and wonderfully polished tannins. Absolute knockout wine: from a memorable vintage on Etna, this is most likely the best Passorosso ever (in earlier vintages, it used to be called simply Passopisciaro). Mainly Nerello Mascalese.”
Catena Zapata Malbec Argentino, Uco Valley, Argentina 2012 750ML ($129.95) $69 pre-arrival special
James Suckling 98 points “Very dense and powerful with a tight palate of blue fruit and raspberry undertones. Salty with wonderful length and intensity. A blend of malbec from Nicasia Vineyard in Altamira and Adrianna Vineyard in Gualtallary. Drink in 2022 but so great now.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $108
Catena Zapata Nicasia Vineyards Malbec, La Consulta, Argentina 2012 750ML ($129.95) $59 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 95 points “The 2012 Malbec Catena Zapata Nicasia Vineyard feels fresher and more harmonious than the 2011, when in reality the vintage character is the opposite. It is sourced from the vineyard that names the wine and that is located in Altamira. The Malbec grapes fermented in open barrels and cement vats with 15% whole-cluster Cabernet Franc. There is one extra level of precision and harmony here. It has an elegant nose and the palate almost reflects the tension in the skin of the grapes with its a velvety texture and great acidity. This is really tasty and long, it could be the best Nicasia ever produced.”
James Suckling 95 points “Vivd aromas of currants and blackberries. So much dark fruit. Violets too. Full body, yet buttressed with a center palate of salty acidity and firm tannins. From grapes grown in Altamira. Persistent and vibrant. Drink or hold.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $110