New Week – New Arrivals; Staff Pick & New Arrival Features from Agathe Bursin; The Next Rougeard : Domaine du Collier; #Trending; Markham Vineyards; Chateau Le Puy; 2015 – World’s Greatest Vintage? – 2015 Chateauneuf du Pape
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New Week – New Arrivals
Oregon
Twill Cellars Molly’s Vineyard Chardonnay, Willamette Valley 2014 750ML ($37.95) $31.90 special
Winery notes: “Capturing more of the elegant, mineral-driven side to the varietal, you’ll find aromas of jasmine, flint, lemon, ginger, honey and wet stone. On the palate, lemon cream, jasmine, honey, and chamomile wrapped in a delicate, mineral-driven frame. The finish is light yet persistent, with long echoes of lemon and white tea.”
Twill Cellars Chardonnay, Northern Willamette Valley 2015 750ML ($27.95) $24 special
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $26.95
Back in stock!
Twill Cellars Syrah, Oregon 2013 750ML ($27.95) $24 special
Winery notes: “Aromas of deep, spicy red plum and blue fruit are complemented with notes of chocolate, grilled meats, salt-cured olives, coffee and tobacco. On the palate this wine is fresh and vibrant, along with a great density to both the texture and finish. It tastes a lot like it smells, with notes of minerals, saline, coffee and bitter chocolate on the finish.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Back in stock!
Crowley Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2015 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 special
VinopolNote: No whole cluster this vintage (a marked change from the 2014 release). The stems were too green to include. The grapes are from the Tukwila, La Colina and Four Winds Vineyards. More clean & focused than the 2014 release with a vibrancy attributable to the strong diurnal temperature swings during the growing season.
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
France – Alsace
Explore the fantastic new arrivals from Agathe Bursin below!
France – Burgundy
Domaine Costal Vaillons, Chablis Premier Cru 2015 750ML ($37.95) $28 special
Case-12 Domaine Costal Vaillons, Chablis Premier Cru 2015 750ML ($419.95) $299 special (that’s only $24.92/bottle!)
Importer notes: “A stunning, hand-crafted premier cru Vaillons from thirty-year-old vines. This is classic Chablis: precise, pure, and driven. Velvety citrus fruit gives way to textbook chalk, slate, and stone.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $33.58
France – Rhone
Domaine de la Janasse Cotes du Rhone Rose, Rhone 2016 750ML ($19.95) $16 special
Importer notes: “The Côtes-du-Rhône Rosé from Domaine de la Janasse is made by bleeding the tanks and vats of the Côtes-du-Rhône Rouge. It is a blend of mainly Grenache, with Cinsault, Syrah and Counoise. After the wine is bled, it finished fermentation and aging in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Italy – Piedmont
Produttori del Barbaresco ‘Paje’, Barbaresco Riserva DOCG 2008 750ML ($59.95) $49 special
Antonio Galloni 93 points “The 2008 Barbaresco Riserva Paje wraps around the palate with layers of dark fruit, spices and menthol. Today, the Paje is one of the more open of the 2008 Riservas, but there is plenty going on in the glass. Sweet floral and spiced notes add lift on the finish. As good as the Paje is, it also tends to shut down quickly in the glass. Anticipated maturity: 2018-2048.” WA
Italy – Tuscany
Staff Pick!
Felsina Berardenga Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG 2013 750ML ($37.95) $26 special
Antonio Galloni 93 points “A deep, powerful wine, the 2013 Chianti Classico Riserva has quite a bit of depth for a cool, late-ripening vintage. Sage, tobacco, menthol, smoke and dark cherry hit the palate in a deep, beautifully layered Chianti Classico endowed with real personality and class. This is another terrific wine from Fèlsina. Hints of leather, smoke and licorice reappear on the deeply expressive, virile finish.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
The average price nationally is $28
Montevertine Pian del Ciampolo Toscana IGT, Tuscany 2015 1.5L ($99.95) $79 special, only 1 magnum available!
Wine Advocate 92+ points “To be released in a few months’ time, I’m gearing up to buy the 2015 Pian del Ciampolo by the caseload. I recommend you do the same. Stock up for when you have family and friends hanging out in the kitchen for a convivial cook-off. The warm 2015 vintage was very kind to Montevertine thanks to its cooler vineyard sites in the high hills of Radda in Chianti. The entry-level Pian del Ciampolo represents a second selection of fruit with the best fruit dedicated to Le Pergole Torte. (Now there’s a wine I can’t wait to taste.) It is mostly Sangiovese with smaller parts Colorino and Canaiolo. It is fermented with ambient yeasts in cement vats, later to age in large oak cask for one year. The wine opens to a darkly saturated color and evident richness. Martino Manetti says his wines show a little more alcoholic power in this vintage compared to his neighbors. Ripe fruit flavors taper out on the finish to conclude with elegant tones of dusty mineral. This is a great deal from Tuscany.”
Spain – Priorat
Clos i Terrasses Clos Erasmus ‘Laurel’, Priorat DOCa 2013 1.5L ($119.95) $79 special
Wine Advocate 93+ points “The 2013 Laurel, from a cool and late vintage, is Garnacha with 15% Syrah and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon from vines ranging between eight and 20 years of age planted on llicorella slate soils. It aged in a combination of second use barriques, cement vats and clay amphorae (10%) for one year. The nose was a bit shy, but once it took off, it went straight for the mineral spectrum of aromas, graphite and soil with an organic side to it, with more Garnacha aromas coming through with time. The palate has a superb balance, it feels very elegant, poised and with subtle minerality. Very Priorat. This is superb, but it suffered in comparison with the otherworldly 2014.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
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Staff Picks & New Arrivals from
Agathe Bursin
Agathe Bursin is a wonderful producer of Alsatian wines, with a strong following in France, but somehow remains slightly unknown in the US. Her production sells out before it’s even bottled—mostly to private clients in Europe, but a little makes its way over to our shores. Yet when it gets here, sometimes it gets overlooked, because she makes wines that are useful at the table (and are priced as such) instead of being ‘trophy’ wines for collectors to fight over. Part of the reason for her lack of fame might be that she lacks a national importer, though her wines are brokered by Thomas Calder (who also sells Prevost/Bouchard/Pattes Loup/Boulay, etc) which speaks to the quality of the wines.
The Bursin family has been making wines in Alsace for several generations and Agathe has taken the family domaine to new levels. Educated in Burgundy, she worked in Chablis before returning home to the family winery and there is a marked Chablisienne influence on her wines in terms of their clarity of flavor and brightness. All the wines she makes are delicious, and she’s known in Alsace as something of a Sylvaner whisperer, but we’d urge you to check out the entire range!
The new arrivals are exceptional releases from the Zinnkoepfle Grand Cru vineyard, largely considered Alsace’s best vineyard. This steep hillside is the highest slope in Alsace at 410 meters, with a south and south-east exposure. The soil is calcareous sandstone with large chunks of limestone and ancient shells. The stones and terraces radiate heat during the cool nights, aiding ripening. The 2015 late harvest wines look to be stunners—the vintage allowed for very ripe wines that are stunners now and will age for a long time. It also looks to be the best vintage for Pinot Noir in Alsace since 2009 and potentially better than that.
Staff Pick Highlights:
Andy:
I have always held a soft spot in my heart for Alsatian wines. We were drinking Trimbach when I proposed to my wife, and we served Dopff au Moulin Cremant to our guests at the wedding. It was our go to glass pour at our neighborhood restaurant in Chicago, and a staple for take-out nights at home. It had been some time since I’d had one that stood apart from the rest of the crowd, but when we tasted through the Bursin lineup recently two bottles stood out – the Parad’aux Pinot Blanc and the Strangen Pinot Noir.
The Parad’aux has a crazy rich balance that threw me for a loop until our importer explained what I tasted. It is half Pinot Blanc, half Auxerrois – two early ripening, aromatic and delicious grapes that do so well in Alsace. The wine fills the glass with Meyer lemons, tumbled granite and white flowers, is surprisingly rich on the palate, but is still bright and completely refreshing. Underneath it all there was a sweet fruitiness that seemed out of context with how light the wine seemed; easily explained when we saw the push/pull of 11g/l residual sugar with 5.5g/l of acidity. The wine balances so perfectly between the sweet and tart that you only notice how tasty it is.
The Strangen Pinot Noir is a simply delicious Pinot. I have had so many Pinots from the north that tasted as though in place of chaptalization, the winemakers threw in a shovelful of gravel out of spite. However, this wine had no flaws at all – from the nose to the finish, it was all elegance. The cherries and forest notes on the nose had me thinking Oregon, but the flavors built upon that with vibrancy and lift. The acidity and tight core assures this wine of a long, delicious life. I think that among Alsatian Pinots I have tasted, this one stands out for its immediate appeal. We’ve just received our shipment of these delicious wines, but I could see supplies being diminished very quickly; grab some today.
Staff Picks, In Stock Now:
Agathe Bursin Pinot Blanc Parad’Aux, Alsace 2016 750ML ($24.95) $20.90 special
VinopolNote: Classic Alsace Pinot Blanc. Clean, crisp with nice minerality and a touch of nuttiness. This would make an excellent aperitif or a smashing pairing with fish.
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Agathe Bursin Pinot Noir Strangenberg, Alsace 2015 750ML ($44.95) $36 special
Wine Advocate 90-91 points “Picked on September 7/8, macerated for six to eight days and currently ageing in one- to three-year-old pièces from Jean-Claude Ramonet’s Domaine Ramonet in Chassagne-Montachet (Burgundy), the sample of the 2015 Pinot Noir Strangenberg blends the total of all eight barrels that are still unsulfured. (SO2 will be added only two days before the bottling that is scheduled for May 2017.) Tasted at the Domaine in Westhalten in September 2016, the Strangenberg 2015 opens with a deep, fiery and concentrated bouquet of dark ripe fruits along with beautiful spicy aromas. This wine is powerful, warm and concentrated, but also silky, typically fresh and elegant on the palate. This 2015 reveals a lot of power, but also concentration and a very promising structure, and represents an excellent Pinot Noir from one of Alsace’s potential 1ers crus.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
New Arrivals from Agathe Bursin – all exclusively available at Vinopolis!
Agathe Bursin Gewurztraminer Zinnkoepfle, Alsace Grand Cru 2016 750ML ($44.95) $36 special
Agathe Bursin Pinot Gris Zinnkoepfle, Alsace Grand Cru 2016 750ML ($44.95) $36 special
Agathe Bursin Riesling Zinnkoepfle, Alsace Grand Cru 2016 750ML ($44.95) $36 special
Agathe Bursin Gewurztraminer Zinnkoepfle Vendanges Tardives, Alsace Grand Cru 2015 750ML ($69.95) $59 special
12.5% alcohol, 72g/L residual sugar, 4.05g/L total acidity
Agathe Bursin Pinot Gris Zinnkoepfle Vendanges Tardives, Alsace Grand Cru 2015 750ML ($69.95) $59 special
13% alcohol, 101g/L residual sugar, 5.32g/L total acidity
Agathe Bursin Riesling Zinnkoepfle Vendanges Tardives, Alsace Grand Cru 2015 750ML ($79.95) $69 special
12% alcohol, 66g/L residual sugar, 8.09g/L total acidity
Agathe Bursin Gewurztraminer Zinnkoepfle Selection de Grains Nobles, Alsace Grand Cru 2015 750ML ($89.95) $79 special
12.3% alcohol, 92g/L residual sugar, 4.12g/L total acidity
Agathe Bursin Pinot Gris Zinnkoepfle Selection de Grains Nobles, Alsace Grand Cru 2015 750ML ($89.95) $79 special
11.6% alcohol, 130g/L residual sugar, 5.68g/L total acidity
These are the only listings in the USA today!
New Releases Also In Stock Now from Agathe Bursin
Agathe Bursin L’As de B, Alsace 2016 750ML ($21.95) $17 special
VinopolNote: This wine comes from the lieu-dit Bollenberg and is made from an assortment of grapes that are interplanted and harvested at the same time. Made from a mix of Riesling, Sylvaner, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, Gewürztraminer, though the exact blend changes depending on the yields in the vintage. This wine is a delightful representation of all of the things we love about Bursin, at a crazy price for its quality.
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Agathe Bursin Muscat Bollenberg, Alsace 2016 750ML ($29.95) $26 special
Winery note “[Translated] Bollenberg is one of the three arid hills bordering the village of Westhalten. A thin layer of loess lines the hillsides. The soil is a pale yellow loam, very fine and sandy with clayey limestone. This soil is particularly favorable to full expression of the different Alsatian grape varieties. The 44 year old Muscat plot is Muscat Ottonel (80%) and Muscat d’Alsace (20%). The vineyard gives the Muscat Muscat that delicate nose that only this grape can transmit. 17g/L residual sugar, 5.36 g/L total acidity. Drink as an aperitif or pair with asparagus, grilled sardines or shellfish.”
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Agathe Bursin Gewurztraminer Dirstelberg, Alsace 2016 750ML ($27.95) $24 special
Agathe Bursin Pinot Gris Dirstelberg, Alsace 2016 750ML ($27.95) $24 special
Agathe Bursin Riesling Dirstelberg, Alsace 2016 750ML ($26.95) $21.90 special
VinopolNote: The Disrstelberg vineyard is mostly composed of pink sandstone and is known as a high quality vineyard for a variety of grapes. The wines from the site tend to be linear and crisp, with good varietal character. Unlike many Alsatian producers, Bursin errs on the side of delicacy and raciness rather than pick too late and allow the wines to become rich and flabby for the sake of “power.”
These are the only listings in the USA today!
Agathe Bursin Sylvaner Lutzeltal, Alsace 2016 750ML ($24.95) $20.90 special
VinopolNote: Bursin is known for Sylvaner and this is her entry-level bottling. While it lacks the complexity and intensity of the higher-end wines, it offers great value and is wonderful insight into the house style.
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Agathe Bursin Sylvaner Eminence Zinnkoepfle, Alsace Grand Cru 2016 750ML ($39.95) $30.90 special
VinopolNote: Agathe Bursin is known in Alsace as one of the top producers of Sylvaner. This is one of her top wines and provides a compelling reason to pay attention to the grape. Aromatically really interesting with a bright, mineral palate and great texture. This is a wine worth paying attention to.
This is the only listing in the USA today!
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All in the Family
The Next Rougeard
The Domaine du Collier was started by Antoine Foucault, a man whose last name reveals the Loire winemaking royalty that he is. Antoine is the son of the late Charly Foucault, one of the two brothers who propelled the Clos Rougeard to international fame for expressive Cabernet Franc and Chenin Blanc from Saumur. That Antoine wasn’t content to wait in the wings and eventually take over the family estate says a lot about him. A driven individual, he started Collier in 1999, and his ambition has led him to make some of the best wines we’re seeing in the Loire.
The wines are modeled in some ways after the wines his father and uncle make (or made—it’ll be interesting to see if the recent sale to the owners of Ch. Montrose affects the Rougeard style). Cold cellars, organic viticulture and minimal intervention are the hallmarks of Collier (sound familiar?), though Antoine uses less new wood than Rougeard.
The whites are a focus here, with parcels located in top vineyards including Brézé. The wines are powerful and drenched with minerality—wines for lovers of classic white Burgundy and dry Chenin Blanc alike. With age, they’ll open up and become richer, revealing their nuance. The reds, while not as large a percentage of the production, are noteworthy as well for their purity and intensity. Both are wines to buy to drink and hold.
In Stock Now from Domaine du Collier:
Domaine du Collier Saumur Blanc, Loire 2012 750ML ($49.95) $36 special, 8 bottles in stock now
Domaine du Collier Saumur Blanc, Loire 2013 750ML ($44.95) $33 special, 30 bottles in stock now
VinopolNote: From mature vines between 20-75 years old and kept at low yields, this dry and rich white is a perfect entry point to the bottlings from the domaine. Really special stuff and unbelievable for the price.
Domaine du Collier Saumur Blanc La Charpenterie, Loire 2013 750ML ($69.95) $59 special, 16 bottles in stock now
VinopolNote: This is the top white wine produced by Collier and comes from the very oldest vines in the estate—over 100 years and older. This has more density and depth to it and is one of highlight dry whites of the Loire in any vintage. Although expensive, it represents great value for the quality in the bottle.
Domaine du Collier Saumur Rouge La Ripaille, Loire 2013 750ML ($51.95) $39 special, 19 bottles in stock now
VinopolNote: A profound yet approachable take on Saumur rouge. This wine has a richness and power to it that marks it immediately as from the hands of the master with a intricacy and delicacy that makes it compelling.
Domaine du Collier Saumur Rouge La Charpenterie, Loire 2013 750ML ($69.95) $59 special, 12 bottles in stock now
VinopolNote: This is the top red wine from the estate and has all of the qualities you’d expect from a scion of the Foucault family. Lay this down for 5-10 years (or longer, if you can keep your hands off of it) and it will reward your patience. It’s incredible to see that this sort of old-world wine is less than $100
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#Trending
Substance Cs Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley 2015 750ML ($19.95) $14.80 special
Wine Advocate 92 points “One of the best values I’ve tasted in a long time, the 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon from the team at K Vintners was hand-harvested, natively fermented and aged all in French oak. Smoking good notes of cassis, black currants and hints of plum all emerge from this rich, beautifully textured, layered beauty that has solid tannic grip, a silky, elegant texture and a great finish. It has real elegance and finesse and is a dark fruited, unctuous beauty to drink over the coming 3-4 years.”
R.H. Coutier Grand Cru Brut, Champagne 2008 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 36 bottles in stock now
Case-12 R.H. Coutier Grand Cru Brut, Champagne 2008 750ML ($719.95) $519 special, 2 cases in stock now (that’s only $43.25/bottle!)
Antonio Galloni 93 points “Coutier’s 2008 Brut Grand Cru is interesting to taste next to the Grands Vintages. Here the brightness, focus and tension of the 2008 vintage are front and center. Lemon peel, white, flowers, mint and chalky notes infuse this bright, finely sculpted Champagne. The interplay of Ambonnay Pinot with Chardonnay, along with the chiseled style of the year adds up a compelling and absolutely delicious bottle of Champagne. I very much like the sense of energy here.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $58
Coudert Pere ‘Clos de la Roilette’ Fleurie Cuvee Tardive, Beaujolais 2016 750ML ($34.95) $29 special, 16 bottles in stock now
Coudert Pere ‘Clos de la Roilette’ Fleurie Cuvee Tardive, Beaujolais 2016 1.5L ($69.95) $59 special, 6 magnums in stock now
VinopolNote: From 80-90 year old vines.
Importer note “A few vintages ago, [the Coudert family] started a selection of old vines cuvée that is partially aged in older oak barrels. They call this Cuvée Tardive, meaning that it needs more aging time and has even greater longevity than the Clos cuvée.”
E. Guigal Condrieu La Doriane, Rhone 2015 750ML ($119.95) $99 special, 16 bottles in stock now
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.”
Josh Raynolds – Vinous 95 points “Brilliant yellow-gold. Powerful orange, nectarine and honeydew aromas are complemented by suave floral, vanilla and chalky mineral accents. Supple and expansive in the mouth, offering deeply concentrated, smoke-tinged poached pear and peach nectar flavors that pick up honey and iodine qualities as the wine opens up. Lush and seamless but surprisingly energetic in style, showing superb closing thrust and lingering suggestions of buttery brioche and candied pit fruits.”
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.”
Giacomo Conterno Francia Barolo DOCG, Piedmont 2003 750ML ($149.95) $128 special, 12 bottles in stock now
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 on the West Coast today!
Vinopolis-Cellared Pick!
Falletto di Bruno Giacosa ‘Falletto’, Barolo DOCG 2005 750ML ($249.95) $169 special, 24+ bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni 94 points “The 2005 Barolo Falletto offers up a gorgeous bouquet of red cherries, flowers, spices and menthol. This is a relatively delicate, elegant Barolo Falletto yet it offers gorgeous balance, tons of inner perfume and a long, refined finish. It is one of the overachievers in 2005. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2025.”WA
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
The average price nationally is $211
Trending Pre-Arrival
Coche-Dury & Domaine Leflaive’s neighbor in Meursault – from the family’s vineyard site that was stripped of AOC status for 7” of pre-approved added topsoil:
Domaine Dupont-Fahn Bourgogne Blanc Chaumes des Perrieres, Burgundy 2015 750ML ($37.95) $29 pre-arrival special, ETA November
Wine Spectator “Rich and mouthfilling, offering peach and lemon flavors shaded by notes of baking spices. Vibrant and mouthwatering. Fine length. Drink now through 2021.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $34.95
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Markham Vineyards
Roots Run Deep
The recent interest in reviving old vineyards and properties in California is bringing renewed attention to some of the legacy properties of Napa Valley. Markham Vineyards has a legacy that would be hard to touch by any standards. The original winery property was established in 1879 by Jean Laurent and produced wine through a number of different owners until Bruce Markham saw the potential in the old stone cellar in St. Helena. He expanded vineyard holdings throughout the valley, but kept production based around the original location. The wines developed a strong following and even as production expanded with the new vineyards coming on line, the ratings and reviews seemed to get better and better.
Most of the team from the early days is still in place, and this might be why the wines can sometimes be viewed as a throwback to the earlier days of Napa. (Their Merlot has the bright characteristics of Bing cherries and cocoa. The Cabernet is textured well and has brown spice and boysenberry notes that build nicely.) The current winemaker, Kim Nicholls, has been with them for over twenty years. She holds very dear the idea of preserving the history and the style of the winery, and the resulting wines show varietal purity in their expression. We’re glad to offer these wines as a nod towards the deep roots of winemaking in the West, and also as a terrific value for those who would like to revisit these Napa gems.
In Stock Now from Markham Vineyards:
Markham Vineyards Estate Grown Chardonnay, Napa Valley 2016 750ML ($17.95) $14 special
Winery notes: “Bananas Foster has a toasty, brown sugar and sweet banana aroma profile that is also found in our 2016 Chardonnay. Showing a bit of minerality over the toasty oak and honey tangerine mixed with juicy pear fruit the entry comes across both rich and creamy, but finishes with a decided brightness necessary when pairing with a meal. A Caesar salad with grilled chicken or popcorn shrimp and a generous decoration of avocado would be delicious and easy to prepare tonight!”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
The average price nationally is $16
Markham Vineyards Merlot, Napa Valley 2014 750ML ($21.95) $18 special
Wine Spectator 89 points “Silky and soft, offering accents of toasty mocha, fresh thyme and spice. Drink now through 2025.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
The average price nationally is $21
Markham Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2013 750ML ($37.95) $28 special
Wine Enthusiast 91 points “Chocolate-covered raspberry forms the luscious core of this fairly priced wine that’s medium-bodied, moderately naked in its oak use and soft in its approachability. Rich, dense and luxurious, it will pair well with any grilled meats.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
The average price nationally is $34
Markham Vineyards Cellar 1879 Blend Red, Napa Valley 2014 750ML ($24.95) $19 special
Winery notes: “A blend born from our two favorite things, food and wine! Seriously fun to drink, this is quite possibly the most intriguing wine to make here at Markham, as the blend is about creating ultimate drinking pleasure. Our 2014 starts with toffee, coffee and milk chocolate punctuated with black pepper and tobacco. Ripe berry flavors reminisce of summer afternoons spent picking wild fruit in hopes of delicious treats to come. Rich and lush, the tannins hold power but turn velvety with a bit of black pepper on the finish.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $24
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Chateau Le Puy
Old-School Bordeaux Done Right
“The winery produces superb Bordeaux that epitomizes the notion of digestibilité… Digestibilité begins with deliciousness, but it also indicates wines that are easy to drink without weighing heavily in the gut. It’s an immediate, unmediated pleasure that nonetheless may be complex and contemplative… As with the best Bordeaux wines, those of Le Puy are marked by purity, precision, lightness and drinkability that encourages taking another sip. They also have an intensity of flavor despite their grace, a combination more often associated with that other great region in the east of France.” –Eric Asimov, The New York Times
The modern Bordeaux landscape is dominated by, well, modern Bordeaux. The dominant model of Bordeaux is wine made with all the modern tricks—ripe picked, lots of new oak, perhaps a little (or a lot) of micro-oxygenation. With all that in mind, we’ve been on the constant hunt for classical wines from the region. We were excited, then, to see Chateau le Puy (a selection here for a while) highlighted in this great article from the New York Times.
If you don’t have the time to read the article, we’ll give you the synopsis: Old-school Bordeaux still exists, made in a style that works well with food and is fresher than what we think of today. Chateau Le Puy also farms Biodynamically, even using horses to plow the vineyard. The resulting wines have depth and complexity (and a little rusticity) but are delicious in a way the 100% new oak crowd can’t get to.
In Stock Now from Chateau le Puy:
Chateau le Puy Cuvee Barthelemy, Bordeaux Cotes de Francs 2010 750ML ($179.95) $138 special, 10 bottles available
Importer note “A wine of more limited production (approximately 15,000 bottles per annum), this cuvée, 85% Merlot plus 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, is sourced from a single vineyard site known as “Les Rocs” on a plateau with a deep limestone bedrock. The wine spends 24 months in 228L barrels (less than 10% new) with no addition of SO2 at any stage of the elevage. A more dense and mysterious wine than its companion with a deeper robe and more firm structure, we see resemblance here to the finest old wines of its neighbors to the west in the best districts of Saint Emilion and Pomerol.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Chateau le Puy Cuvee Emilien, Bordeaux Cotes de Francs 2012 750ML ($49.95) $39 special, 17 bottles available
Case-12 Chateau le Puy Cuvee Emilien, Bordeaux Cotes de Francs 2012 750ML ($519.95) $419 special (that’s only $34.92/bottle!), 1 case available
“The most important cuvée of the domaine in terms of volume is composed of 85% Merlot, 14% Cabernet Sauvignon and 1% Carmenère. It spends a year in 50hl foudres before a year in 228L barrel. Its approach is silky from the fine tannins and it bears a color of garnet red with a hint of ruby, a seductive wine of great elegance.” – Importer note
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $43
Chateau le Puy Cuvee Emilien, Bordeaux Cotes de Francs 2013 750ML ($49.95) $39 special, 28 bottles available
Case-12 Chateau le Puy Cuvee Emilien, Bordeaux Cotes de Francs 2013 750ML ($519.95) $419 special (that’s only $34.92/bottle!), 1 case available
“The most important cuvée of the domaine in terms of volume is composed of 85% Merlot, 14% Cabernet Sauvignon and 1% Carmenère. It spends a year in 50hl foudres before a year in 228L barrel. Its approach is silky from the fine tannins and it bears a color of garnet red with a hint of ruby, a seductive wine of great elegance.” – Importer note
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $45
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Last Chance Reminder
Catena Zapata’s Top Flight Malbecs
We’ve secured 5 more six-packs of the Catena Zapata releases – arriving Wednesday, the 11th. Our first drop sold out the week they arrived, so don’t miss your final chance!
Catena Zapata Nicasia Vineyard Malbec, La Consulta, Uco Valley 2012 750ML ($129.95) $69 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.”
Catena Zapata Malbec Argentino, Uco Valley 2012 750ML ($129.95) $89 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.”
On the subject of top flight Malbecs, don’t miss Lapostolle’s 100 point Clos Apalta – available only to subscribers & arriving in February:
Casa Lapostolle Clos Apalta, Colchagua Valley 2014 750ML ($159.95) $119 pre-arrival secret special, ETA February
James Suckling 100 points “An extremely aromatic and focused Clos Apalta with blackberry, blueberry, floral and hot stone character. Full body, very linear and ultra-fine tannins. Focused and tight. Precise and long. This is the most polished and beautiful definition of this wine ever. You want to drink it now but better in 2020. A blend of carmenere, cabernet sauvignon and merlot.”
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2015 – World’s Greatest Vintage?
Mosel, Burgundy, Beaujolais, it’s hard to name a region that hasn’t excelled in this fine year. Could 2015 Chateauneuf du Pape leave them all in the dust? You won’t have to wait too long to decide for yourself…
2015 Chateauneuf du Pape In Stock Now
Famille Brechet Chateau de Vaudieu Chateauneuf-du-Pape Les Vieilles Roussanne, Rhone 2015 750ML ($89.95) $79 special, 1 bottle in stock now
Wine Advocate 97 points “Even better, and a bigger, richer wine, the 2015 Châteauneuf du Pape Les Vieilles Roussanne is a massive, unctuous effort that needs to be tasted to be believed. In fact, I’d like to line this up beside Beaucastel’s Vieilles Vignes Roussanne and see how they stack up. Stone fruits, white peach, orange blossom and even some tropical notes all emerge from this big, rich, full-bodied beauty that has a stacked mid-palate, good acidity (maybe not great acidity) and a great finish. It needs six months of bottle age to truly shine, and I would drink bottles over the following 2-3 years; at that point, it should be more clear how it will evolve.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Baron de Montfaucon Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Rhone 2015 750ML ($49.95) $39 special, 36 bottles in stock now
Winery note “The spirit I search for in Montfaucon wines is elegance and finesse. I like wines that are complex, but also enjoyable and easy to drink; like the wines of Burgundy, but working with the Southern Rhône varietals and climate. All my work is to find harmony and balance in the wine.”
2015 Chateauneuf du Pape Arriving Soon:
October
Chateau de Beaucastel Chateauneuf-du-Pape Blanc Roussanne Vieilles Vignes, Rhone 2015 750ML ($159.95) $128 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 94-97 points “Even better than the Chateauneuf du Pape Blanc, the richer, more concentrated 2015 Châteauneuf du Pape Roussanne Vieilles Vignes comes from a single parcel of vines located beside the Chateau that were planted in 1909. Full-bodied, rich, gorgeously concentrated and textured, with fabulous notes of orange blossom, buttered citrus, marmalade and honey, it will be up with the crème de la crème of the vintage. It’s worth noting that since 2009, the estate has changed the viticulture with regards to their whites, moving to slightly larger yields, with the goal of making a more elegant white that ages more predictably.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $136
November
Chateau de Beaucastel Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Rhone 2015 750ML ($99.95) $79 pre-arrival special
Chateau de Beaucastel Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Rhone 2015 1.5L ($219.95) $149 pre-arrival special
Wine Spectator 97 points “A stunner from the get-go, with waves of thoroughly seductive boysenberry, plum, blueberry and raspberry reduction forming the core, while roasted apple wood, rooibos tea, bergamot, and anise notes flash throughout. Has plenty of bass, with a Turkish coffee accent and a hint of alder driving underneath. Everything moves in lockstep through the seriously long finish. Best from 2020 through 2045”
December
Clos des Papes Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Rhone 2015 750ML ($139.95) $119 pre-arrival special
Wine Spectator 98 points “This has a drop-dead gorgeous core of cassis and raspberry pâte de fruit flavors that holds center stage but still allows notes of Lapsang souchong tea, anise, incense and shiso leaf to chime in. Very long, with a sublime feel through the mineral-tinged finish. So seductive already, but this will cruise in the cellar. Drink now through 2040.”
Wine Advocate 94-96 points “The 2015 Chateauneuf du Pape is reminiscent of a slightly improved 2005 and has a fresh, classic style with beautiful concentration, notable freshness, first-rate tannin quality, and the classic spice and sweet red and black fruits this cuvee is known for. I suspect this beauty will close down relatively quickly after bottling and take 5-6 years to show at its best, but it will drink well for 15+ years.”
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 94-96 points “(raised in foudres) Deep ruby. Hugely aromatic red and dark berry, potpourri and floral scents are underscored by smoky minerality and an exotic suggestion of Asian spices. Sappy, focused and impressively deep yet lively, offering alluringly sweet raspberry, cherry compote and spicecake flavors and a refreshingly bitter touch of blood orange. Puts on weight and spreads out steadily with air, acquiring a succulent herb note that carries through the strikingly long, mineral-laced, gently tannic finish. This beauty is shaping up to be among the standouts of this extremely successful vintage.”
February
Domaine du Pegau Chateauneuf-du-Pape Cuvee Reservee, Rhone 2015 750ML ($89.95) $75 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 93-95 points “The 2015 Châteauneuf du Pape Cuvée Réservée is beauty, and about as classic an expression of this estate as I can recall. Blackcurrants, peppery herbs, roasted meats and garrigue all emerge from this medium to full-bodied, balanced, nicely concentrated 2015 that has ripe tannin and a great finish. It’s not on par with the 2010, 2009 or 2003, but it should surpass the 2012 and have two decades or more of longevity.”
March
Domaine de Cristia Chateauneuf-du-Pape Cuvee Renaissance, Rhone 2015 750ML ($69.95) $59 pre-arrival special
Wine Spectator 96 points “This has an intense core of crushed plum, raspberry and boysenberry fruit flavors, draped with melted licorice notes and backed by a wave of warm fruitcake. Hedonistic for sure, but accents of anise, violet and singed apple wood dart around, adding extra facets of intrigue to hold your attention. Grenache and Mourvèdre. Best from 2020 through 2040.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $66
Domaine de Cristia Chateauneuf-du-Pape Vieilles Vignes, Rhone 2015 750ML ($99.95) $79 pre-arrival special
Wine Spectator 97 points “This delivers a lush, enticing blast of cassis and raspberry and boysenberry preserve flavors, carried by a silky structure that lets the fruit play out at length, giving adequate time for black tea, singed apple wood, dried anise and fruitcake notes to fill in throughout. Dreamy. Grenache. Best from 2020 through 2040.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
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Thanks for reading!