In Today’s Newsletter:
A 24 Hour Sale
On the Best Produttori Normale Ever
A Loire Gamay With Old-School Beaujolais Pricing
Our New Favorite Under $20 Pinot?
Previously Sold Out – Re-Arriving Friday
2018 Keller Von der Fels
Hartford Court’s Top Sonoma Chard and Pinot
Collector’s Corner
Freemark Abbey – Napa’s Comeback Kid
New Wines from Arnot Roberts
Trending Wines
A 24 Hour Sale
On the Best Produttori Normale Ever
The Produttori del Barbaresco is a unique producer in the world of wine—a co-op which is nonetheless the definitive producer in their region. Barbaresco vintages are judged based on whether or not the Produttori decides to bottle their set of single-vineyard riservas and their flagship “Normale” is often the first bottle of Barbaresco wine drinkers try. Well, we’re here to offer you a fantastic deal on the best bottle of that Normale the Produttori’s ever made, along with their finest ever Langhe Nebbiolo.
The 2016 Barbaresco vintage is one of the finest in recent memory and the Produttori’s Barbaresco is absolutely stunning. This is, in theory, their entry level Barbaresco bottling, but we’ve already seen two 95 point scores (Wine Advocate, Wine Enthusiast) plus a 94 point score from Antonio Galloni. This is a powerfully built bottle of Barbaresco which belies its $45 price tag—even more so for the next 24 hours, when we’re offering you an additional 10% off this fantastic wine.
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
A Loire Gamay With Old-School Beaujolais Pricing
A 24 Hour Sale
On the Best Produttori Normale Ever
A Loire Gamay With Old-School Beaujolais Pricing
Our New Favorite Under $20 Pinot?
Previously Sold Out – Re-Arriving Friday
2018 Keller Von der Fels
Hartford Court’s Top Sonoma Chard and Pinot
Collector’s Corner
Freemark Abbey – Napa’s Comeback Kid
New Wines from Arnot Roberts
Trending Wines
A 24 Hour Sale
On the Best Produttori Normale Ever
10% off the 2016 Produttori Normale Barbaresco for one day only
The Produttori del Barbaresco is a unique producer in the world of wine—a co-op which is nonetheless the definitive producer in their region. Barbaresco vintages are judged based on whether or not the Produttori decides to bottle their set of single-vineyard riservas and their flagship “Normale” is often the first bottle of Barbaresco wine drinkers try. Well, we’re here to offer you a fantastic deal on the best bottle of that Normale the Produttori’s ever made, along with their finest ever Langhe Nebbiolo.
The 2016 Barbaresco vintage is one of the finest in recent memory and the Produttori’s Barbaresco is absolutely stunning. This is, in theory, their entry level Barbaresco bottling, but we’ve already seen two 95 point scores (Wine Advocate, Wine Enthusiast) plus a 94 point score from Antonio Galloni. This is a powerfully built bottle of Barbaresco which belies its $45 price tag—even more so for the next 24 hours, when we’re offering you an additional 10% off this fantastic wine.
Subscriber Special: Save 10% on the 2016 Produttori del Barbaresco Barbaresco
Subscriber Special Pricing Valid Until 6PM Friday, January 24th
Special Pricing Will Not Display Online,
We Will Manually Adjust Pricing Before Finalizing Your Order
Subscriber Special Pricing Valid Until 6PM Friday, January 24th
Special Pricing Will Not Display Online,
We Will Manually Adjust Pricing Before Finalizing Your Order
Arriving Friday:
Produttori del Barbaresco Barbaresco DOCG, Piedmont 2016 750ML ($49.95) Displayed Price: $45, Your Price: $40.50 Subscriber Special
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 95 points “The 2016 Barbaresco is a tight and beautiful wine that will require more time to unwind and soften. This beautifully balanced vintage is characterized by a tight inner core of fruit that underlines the graceful aging capacity of these wines. The 2016 is shaping up to be one destined for long cellar aging. Now in its youth, the wine offers wild berry, rose and licorice aromas.”
Wine Enthusiast 95 points “Cellar Selection. Enticing aromas of violet, woodland berry, loose vineyard soil, wild mint and a hint of spearmint shape the intensely fragrant nose. The tense, young palate is still nervous but already boasts finesse, showing wild raspberry, crunchy red cherry, white pepper and star anise. Firm, refined tannins and racy acidity give it a linear, almost austere elegance, while bright acidity keeps it focused and balanced. Drink 2026-2036.”
Antonio Galloni 94 points “The 2016 Barbaresco is a stunning wine with tremendous richness for this bottling. Ample, deep and powerful, the 2016 exudes pedigree and class from start to finish. I can’t remember a straight Barbaresco here with this much fruit density and unctuous richness, and yet there is more than enough tannin and overall structure to give the wine its classically leaning feel. A blast of sweet red cherry fruit, tobacco, menthol licorice and smoke hits the potent finish. What a wine!”
Also arriving Friday:
An absolutely outstanding edition of the Produttori Langhe Nebbiolo—bigger, richer and bolder than usual, but still delicious right now.
Produttori del Barbaresco Langhe Nebbiolo, Piedmont 2018 750ML ($29.95) $21.90 pre-arrival special
Decanter 91 points “This Langhe Nebbiolo is sourced from across the region and on a combination of soil types. It’s fermented in concrete to preserve freshness, before ageing for five months in large oak barrels. It displays ripe, vanilla-scented hedgerow fruits with a fresh, crunchy, sweet cherry aroma. In the mouth it has impressive intensity and plenty of playful acidity. The dark fruit flavours are supported by a supple texture and the nuances of spice are perfumed and exotic. A brilliant wine for early drinking and great quality considering the basic appellation.”
Wine Enthusiast 90 points “Rose and wild berry aromas lead the way, while the palate offers ripe Marasca cherry, raspberry compote, star anise and a hint of iron. It’s full bodied but accessible, thanks to pliant tannins and fresh acidity.”
Produttori del Barbaresco Barbaresco DOCG, Piedmont 2016 750ML ($49.95) Displayed Price: $45, Your Price: $40.50 Subscriber Special
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 95 points “The 2016 Barbaresco is a tight and beautiful wine that will require more time to unwind and soften. This beautifully balanced vintage is characterized by a tight inner core of fruit that underlines the graceful aging capacity of these wines. The 2016 is shaping up to be one destined for long cellar aging. Now in its youth, the wine offers wild berry, rose and licorice aromas.”
Wine Enthusiast 95 points “Cellar Selection. Enticing aromas of violet, woodland berry, loose vineyard soil, wild mint and a hint of spearmint shape the intensely fragrant nose. The tense, young palate is still nervous but already boasts finesse, showing wild raspberry, crunchy red cherry, white pepper and star anise. Firm, refined tannins and racy acidity give it a linear, almost austere elegance, while bright acidity keeps it focused and balanced. Drink 2026-2036.”
Antonio Galloni 94 points “The 2016 Barbaresco is a stunning wine with tremendous richness for this bottling. Ample, deep and powerful, the 2016 exudes pedigree and class from start to finish. I can’t remember a straight Barbaresco here with this much fruit density and unctuous richness, and yet there is more than enough tannin and overall structure to give the wine its classically leaning feel. A blast of sweet red cherry fruit, tobacco, menthol licorice and smoke hits the potent finish. What a wine!”
Also arriving Friday:
An absolutely outstanding edition of the Produttori Langhe Nebbiolo—bigger, richer and bolder than usual, but still delicious right now.
Produttori del Barbaresco Langhe Nebbiolo, Piedmont 2018 750ML ($29.95) $21.90 pre-arrival special
Decanter 91 points “This Langhe Nebbiolo is sourced from across the region and on a combination of soil types. It’s fermented in concrete to preserve freshness, before ageing for five months in large oak barrels. It displays ripe, vanilla-scented hedgerow fruits with a fresh, crunchy, sweet cherry aroma. In the mouth it has impressive intensity and plenty of playful acidity. The dark fruit flavours are supported by a supple texture and the nuances of spice are perfumed and exotic. A brilliant wine for early drinking and great quality considering the basic appellation.”
Wine Enthusiast 90 points “Rose and wild berry aromas lead the way, while the palate offers ripe Marasca cherry, raspberry compote, star anise and a hint of iron. It’s full bodied but accessible, thanks to pliant tannins and fresh acidity.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Subscriber Special: Save 10% on the 2016 Produttori del Barbaresco Barbaresco
Subscriber Special Pricing Valid Until 6PM Friday, January 24th
Special Pricing Will Not Display Online,
We Will Manually Adjust Pricing Before Finalizing Your Order
Subscriber Special Pricing Valid Until 6PM Friday, January 24th
Special Pricing Will Not Display Online,
We Will Manually Adjust Pricing Before Finalizing Your Order
A Loire Gamay With Old-School Beaujolais Pricing
We’ve secured one of the deals of the month, arriving tomorrow. This is one of the best under $20 Gamays you’ll taste. Why? Because in the words real estate agents—location matters. If you love Beaujolais and wish it were still priced like a Tuesday night wine, you should be looking for wines from nearby regions—in this case Domaine Serol’s killer “Eclat de Granit” from the Côte Roannaise.
If you head due west from Beaujolais you would quickly find yourself in…the Loire? Yes, the Loire. The Loire heads south after passing Orleans and eventually runs parallel with Burgundy and Beaujolais. That means that you’re on the same belt of granite soils that gives us crus like Morgon and Moulin-a-Vent, but with the value that only obscure regions bring—indeed the Côte Roannaise would be on our short list of underpriced regions in France.
Domaine Serol is one of, if not the, best estates in the Côte Roannaise—a region known for granite soils and a very unique cultivar of the Gamay grape (Gamay Saint Romain, which is to regular Gamay as Brunello’s Sangiovese Grosso is to regular Sangiovese). This granite-rich area is cooler than Beaujolais, but the wines always have the power we associate with the granitic crus like Morgon.
Serol’s Eclat de Granit is the perfect wine to start exploring this undersung region. Made from a blend of vineyards, which all have granitic soils, it’s beautifully bright fruited and peppery. There are some seriously old vines contributing to this wine—up to 80 years old and even the younger plots are made from a selection massale. That translates to real character and interest, which are immense for a wine under $20. Lovers of Beaujolais should be all over this, and quickly—we don’t expect it to stay a secret for long.
Arriving Friday, January 24th:
Domaine Serol Eclat de Granite Cote Roannaise, Loire 2017 750ML ($21.95) $16.50 pre-arrival special
Grapelive 93 points “Stephane Serol is making compelling wines from his upper Loire [Valley] Cote Roannaise estate [using the] Saint Romain clone of Gamay. These are wines that defy regional landscapes and should be almost considered an iconic individual appellation or maybe a lost Cru Beaujolais on par with Morgon or Cote de Brouilly! Especially this 2017 Eclat de Granite which is plush and expressive much in the same way Dutraive, Lapierre, Sunier, Thivin, Chanrion and Thevenet are with plenty of intense Cote Roannaise mountain tannin and structure. Minerally detailed, this beautifully clear Serol Gamay has a deep sense of varietal, place and remote wildness. Stephane has captured his place in the bottle to near perfection. Vivid purple, magenta and ruby/garnet in the glass the Eclat de Granite is bursting with vibrancy and dark flavors showing flinty spices, herbs, violets and walnut complexities to go along with a core of blackberry, blue plum and bing cherry fruit, adding a touch of grenadine, straw and tart blood orange as well as a faint trace of stony/earthiness in an absolutely balanced wine that really delivers exceptional quality. One of the best vintages from Serol, it combines a lovely and graceful medium bodied palate and a flowing almost seamless stream of Gamay flavors, textural pleasure and a vivacious personality. [It’s] easy to love from start to finish. Serol, whose Domaine sits at high elevation not too far from the Loire’s source at the Massif Central, has some 80 year old vines and is the fifth generation to farm and make wine up here. He and his wife Carine have made this wild almost forgotten land a serious place to search out. Stephane employed partial whole cluster and traditional fermentation with his 2017 Eclat de Granite and raised it in a combination of neutral cask and tank, again to add live, grip and sense of place and while non carbonic it has a pop of juicy fruit and some nervy coil from the limited use of stems. This is almost impossible for Gamay lovers to resist and Burgundy fans will also grudging and maybe secretly adore this stuff as they do with producers like Foillard! Serol works all organic and is almost finished converting to full biodynamic practices in the vineyards and in the cellar uses ultra-low sulfur. Rather than [label] him as a natural winemaker, I’d say he is committed to his land and passionate in everything he does. Drink his 2017 Eclat de Granite over the next 3 to 5 years, if not longer.”
If you head due west from Beaujolais you would quickly find yourself in…the Loire? Yes, the Loire. The Loire heads south after passing Orleans and eventually runs parallel with Burgundy and Beaujolais. That means that you’re on the same belt of granite soils that gives us crus like Morgon and Moulin-a-Vent, but with the value that only obscure regions bring—indeed the Côte Roannaise would be on our short list of underpriced regions in France.
Domaine Serol is one of, if not the, best estates in the Côte Roannaise—a region known for granite soils and a very unique cultivar of the Gamay grape (Gamay Saint Romain, which is to regular Gamay as Brunello’s Sangiovese Grosso is to regular Sangiovese). This granite-rich area is cooler than Beaujolais, but the wines always have the power we associate with the granitic crus like Morgon.
Serol’s Eclat de Granit is the perfect wine to start exploring this undersung region. Made from a blend of vineyards, which all have granitic soils, it’s beautifully bright fruited and peppery. There are some seriously old vines contributing to this wine—up to 80 years old and even the younger plots are made from a selection massale. That translates to real character and interest, which are immense for a wine under $20. Lovers of Beaujolais should be all over this, and quickly—we don’t expect it to stay a secret for long.
Arriving Friday, January 24th:
Domaine Serol Eclat de Granite Cote Roannaise, Loire 2017 750ML ($21.95) $16.50 pre-arrival special
Grapelive 93 points “Stephane Serol is making compelling wines from his upper Loire [Valley] Cote Roannaise estate [using the] Saint Romain clone of Gamay. These are wines that defy regional landscapes and should be almost considered an iconic individual appellation or maybe a lost Cru Beaujolais on par with Morgon or Cote de Brouilly! Especially this 2017 Eclat de Granite which is plush and expressive much in the same way Dutraive, Lapierre, Sunier, Thivin, Chanrion and Thevenet are with plenty of intense Cote Roannaise mountain tannin and structure. Minerally detailed, this beautifully clear Serol Gamay has a deep sense of varietal, place and remote wildness. Stephane has captured his place in the bottle to near perfection. Vivid purple, magenta and ruby/garnet in the glass the Eclat de Granite is bursting with vibrancy and dark flavors showing flinty spices, herbs, violets and walnut complexities to go along with a core of blackberry, blue plum and bing cherry fruit, adding a touch of grenadine, straw and tart blood orange as well as a faint trace of stony/earthiness in an absolutely balanced wine that really delivers exceptional quality. One of the best vintages from Serol, it combines a lovely and graceful medium bodied palate and a flowing almost seamless stream of Gamay flavors, textural pleasure and a vivacious personality. [It’s] easy to love from start to finish. Serol, whose Domaine sits at high elevation not too far from the Loire’s source at the Massif Central, has some 80 year old vines and is the fifth generation to farm and make wine up here. He and his wife Carine have made this wild almost forgotten land a serious place to search out. Stephane employed partial whole cluster and traditional fermentation with his 2017 Eclat de Granite and raised it in a combination of neutral cask and tank, again to add live, grip and sense of place and while non carbonic it has a pop of juicy fruit and some nervy coil from the limited use of stems. This is almost impossible for Gamay lovers to resist and Burgundy fans will also grudging and maybe secretly adore this stuff as they do with producers like Foillard! Serol works all organic and is almost finished converting to full biodynamic practices in the vineyards and in the cellar uses ultra-low sulfur. Rather than [label] him as a natural winemaker, I’d say he is committed to his land and passionate in everything he does. Drink his 2017 Eclat de Granite over the next 3 to 5 years, if not longer.”
Our New Favorite Under $20 Pinot?
A New Lower Price for Bow & Arrow
A New Lower Price for Bow & Arrow
Bow & Arrow may be best known for their Loire-inspired bottlings (like Rhinestones and Air Guitar) but they make a fantastic bottle of Willamette Valley Pinot Noir, as well. Crafted from an assemblage of some of the best vineyards in the Van Duzer Corridor, this wine shows a cooler-climate tone that evokes its European influences. This wine would be/is a steal for north of $20, but we’ve been working hard to bring you an even lower price—just $18/btl.
2018 is already starting to look like a special vintage in the Willamette Valley—the wines we’ve tasted have impressed us with their combination of intensity of flavor with brightness and liveliness. Scott Frank’s winemaking style is definitely influenced by his time as the assistant winemaker at Cameron and this bottling shows grace and elegance with a sizzle that we’ve come to expect from the B&A wines. We’ve got a case and a half in stock now, plus more arriving Friday, so load up.
In Stock Now:
Bow & Arrow Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 2018 750ML ($24.95) Was $21.90, Now $18 special
Winemaker Note “[W]hile this ethos of “wine for the people” infuses the entire posture at Bow & Arrow, it’s this wine, the Willamette Valley Pinot in particular, that serves as our proof of concept. You can make, in the Willamette Valley, a Pinot Noir sourced from Biodynamic and Organic fruit that is lovingly and naturally tended to form start to finish AND sell it at a price that nearly anyone can glass pour. Assembled mainly from Johan Vineyard, Walnut Ridge and Hughes Hollow fruit, this wine was handled no differently than our single vineyard, top priced Pinot Noir. Tasted blind I imagine it would hang tough with any line-up of Oregon Pinots of any price or pedigree. (“I humbly submit” keeps getting auto-corrected to this hubristic nonsense. I’m sorry.)”
2018 is already starting to look like a special vintage in the Willamette Valley—the wines we’ve tasted have impressed us with their combination of intensity of flavor with brightness and liveliness. Scott Frank’s winemaking style is definitely influenced by his time as the assistant winemaker at Cameron and this bottling shows grace and elegance with a sizzle that we’ve come to expect from the B&A wines. We’ve got a case and a half in stock now, plus more arriving Friday, so load up.
In Stock Now:
Bow & Arrow Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 2018 750ML ($24.95) Was $21.90, Now $18 special
Winemaker Note “[W]hile this ethos of “wine for the people” infuses the entire posture at Bow & Arrow, it’s this wine, the Willamette Valley Pinot in particular, that serves as our proof of concept. You can make, in the Willamette Valley, a Pinot Noir sourced from Biodynamic and Organic fruit that is lovingly and naturally tended to form start to finish AND sell it at a price that nearly anyone can glass pour. Assembled mainly from Johan Vineyard, Walnut Ridge and Hughes Hollow fruit, this wine was handled no differently than our single vineyard, top priced Pinot Noir. Tasted blind I imagine it would hang tough with any line-up of Oregon Pinots of any price or pedigree. (“I humbly submit” keeps getting auto-corrected to this hubristic nonsense. I’m sorry.)”
This was the lowest listed price in the USA today,
Now it’s even lower!
Now it’s even lower!
Previously Sold Out – Re-Arriving Tomorrow
2018 Keller Von der Fels
“…probably the very finest bargain in the universe of dry Rieslings in all of Germany” – John Gilman
Keller is one of those wineries we can’t get enough of—the wines are fantastic and they don’t stick around very long once (if) they hit the shelves. We’ve highlighted the entry level bottlings before, (which we’re running lower on, so snag those while you can) but today we’re featuring their mid-tier “Von der Fels.” We sold out of our initial tranche, but managed to source a few more cases that will surely disappear quickly.
This edition is sourced mostly from Kirschspiel and displays true GG character at a much, much lower pricing. If you’re looking for a ~$40 dry Riesling to age for a decade that’s going to over-deliver when you open it up, this year’s Von der Fels is a great candidate. For us, this is the sweet spot for Keller in terms of pricing:quality. It delivers nearly GG experiences when cellared for 1/3rd the going rate of the GG’s it’s up against. As you’d expect quantities are limited, so if you missed it the first time around (or didn’t buy enough), act quickly.
Arriving Friday:
Only 48 bottles available!
Weingut Keller ‘Von der Fels Riesling’ Trocken, Rheinhessen 2018 750ML ($49.95) $39 pre-arrival special
John Gilman 93 points “The 2018 von der Fels Riesling Trocken is magnificent this year and is probably the very finest bargain in the universe of dry Rieslings in all of Germany in this vintage! The wine offers up a beautifully pure and vibrant bouquet of pink grapefruit, tart orange, chalky minerality, dried flowers, citrus peel, a dollop of wild yeasts and a gently smoky topnote. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied, precise and impressive tensile for the vintage, with a great core, superb elegance and focus, outstanding backend mineral drive and a very long, very pure and complex finish. Great juice. 2023-2060+.”
Keller is one of those wineries we can’t get enough of—the wines are fantastic and they don’t stick around very long once (if) they hit the shelves. We’ve highlighted the entry level bottlings before, (which we’re running lower on, so snag those while you can) but today we’re featuring their mid-tier “Von der Fels.” We sold out of our initial tranche, but managed to source a few more cases that will surely disappear quickly.
This edition is sourced mostly from Kirschspiel and displays true GG character at a much, much lower pricing. If you’re looking for a ~$40 dry Riesling to age for a decade that’s going to over-deliver when you open it up, this year’s Von der Fels is a great candidate. For us, this is the sweet spot for Keller in terms of pricing:quality. It delivers nearly GG experiences when cellared for 1/3rd the going rate of the GG’s it’s up against. As you’d expect quantities are limited, so if you missed it the first time around (or didn’t buy enough), act quickly.
Arriving Friday:
Only 48 bottles available!
Weingut Keller ‘Von der Fels Riesling’ Trocken, Rheinhessen 2018 750ML ($49.95) $39 pre-arrival special
John Gilman 93 points “The 2018 von der Fels Riesling Trocken is magnificent this year and is probably the very finest bargain in the universe of dry Rieslings in all of Germany in this vintage! The wine offers up a beautifully pure and vibrant bouquet of pink grapefruit, tart orange, chalky minerality, dried flowers, citrus peel, a dollop of wild yeasts and a gently smoky topnote. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied, precise and impressive tensile for the vintage, with a great core, superb elegance and focus, outstanding backend mineral drive and a very long, very pure and complex finish. Great juice. 2023-2060+.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Hartford Court’s Top Sonoma Chard and Pinot
Hartford Court is a leader in top tier Pinot and Chardonnay from Sonoma—regularly making wines that out score names like Martinelli, Kosta Browne, Williams-Selyem and more. Based on scores and critical press, Hartford belongs in the conversation with names like Peter Michel—except that they do it for a steep discount over those glitzy producers.
We’ve featured high scoring wines from them in the past and they’ve always been crowd favorites—for good reason. It’s hard to find wines with this sort of quality at these prices and Hartford Court manages to deliver thoroughly California wines at very high quality for not a lot of money. We have two new Chards and a Pinot Noir arriving Friday, ready for you to buy now.
Arriving Friday:
Hartford Court Far Coast Vineyards Chardonnay, Sonoma Coast 2016 750ML ($79.95) $66 pre-arrival special
Case-6 Hartford Court Far Coast Vineyards Chardonnay, Sonoma Coast 2016 750ML ($479.95) $359 pre-arrival special (that’s only $59.83/bottle!)
Wine Advocate 96 points “The 2016 Hartford Court Chardonnay Far Coast Vineyard is a little youthfully closed with crushed rocks and chalk dust notes over a core of mandarin peel, Golden Delicious apples, pear tart and lightly browned toast. Medium to full-bodied, the palate simply vibrates with electric tension, offering vibrant citrus and apple layers and finishing long and stony. 323 cases produced.”
Hartford Court Jennifer’s Chardonnay, Russian River Valley 2016 750ML ($79.95) $69 pre-arrival special
Case-6 Hartford Court Jennifer’s Chardonnay, Russian River Valley 2016 750ML ($479.95) $389 pre-arrival special (that’s only $64.83/bottle!)
Wine Advocate 97+ points “The 2016 Hartford Court Chardonnay Jennifer’s Vineyard displays intense notes of grapefruit, green guava, mango and pineapple with nuances of talc, oyster shells and fresh ginger. The palate is medium-bodied, elegant and super intense with tightly wound layers of citrus and tropical fruits and bags of mineral notions on the epically long finish. This needs time but should emerge from the cellar gloriously in 2-3 years! 337 cases produced.”
We’ve featured high scoring wines from them in the past and they’ve always been crowd favorites—for good reason. It’s hard to find wines with this sort of quality at these prices and Hartford Court manages to deliver thoroughly California wines at very high quality for not a lot of money. We have two new Chards and a Pinot Noir arriving Friday, ready for you to buy now.
Arriving Friday:
Hartford Court Far Coast Vineyards Chardonnay, Sonoma Coast 2016 750ML ($79.95) $66 pre-arrival special
Case-6 Hartford Court Far Coast Vineyards Chardonnay, Sonoma Coast 2016 750ML ($479.95) $359 pre-arrival special (that’s only $59.83/bottle!)
Wine Advocate 96 points “The 2016 Hartford Court Chardonnay Far Coast Vineyard is a little youthfully closed with crushed rocks and chalk dust notes over a core of mandarin peel, Golden Delicious apples, pear tart and lightly browned toast. Medium to full-bodied, the palate simply vibrates with electric tension, offering vibrant citrus and apple layers and finishing long and stony. 323 cases produced.”
Hartford Court Jennifer’s Chardonnay, Russian River Valley 2016 750ML ($79.95) $69 pre-arrival special
Case-6 Hartford Court Jennifer’s Chardonnay, Russian River Valley 2016 750ML ($479.95) $389 pre-arrival special (that’s only $64.83/bottle!)
Wine Advocate 97+ points “The 2016 Hartford Court Chardonnay Jennifer’s Vineyard displays intense notes of grapefruit, green guava, mango and pineapple with nuances of talc, oyster shells and fresh ginger. The palate is medium-bodied, elegant and super intense with tightly wound layers of citrus and tropical fruits and bags of mineral notions on the epically long finish. This needs time but should emerge from the cellar gloriously in 2-3 years! 337 cases produced.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average listed price is $72
The average listed price is $72
Hartford Court Arrendell Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley 2016 750ML ($99.95) $89 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 97 points “Medium to deep ruby-purple colored, the 2016 Hartford Court Pinot Noir Arrendell Vineyard is a little youthfully mute to begin, opening out to display gorgeous rose hip tea, kirsch and warm cranberries with hints of dried thyme, black soil and tree bark plus a hint of fungi. The medium to full-bodied palate completely coats the mouth with earth-laced red berry and kirsch notions, framed by very firm, very fine-grained tannins and great freshness, finishing very long with a compelling herbal lift. 348 cases produced.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Collector’s Corner
Freemark Abbey – Napa’s Comeback Kid
Freemark Abbey – Napa’s Comeback Kid
Freemark Abbey makes some of the most undervalued Cabernet in Napa, from old vineyards in prime terroirs that (now) command high scores. We’ve just secured our allocation of their two stellar 2015 single vineyard Cabs—both of which scored an eye-opening 97 points from the Wine Advocate. You’d expect wines from these sorts of terroirs with these scores to cost well over $200, but we’re able to offer you both bottlings for under $150 per bottle.
A lot of that has to do with Freemark Abbey’s rocky road to their current status as an elite producer. Their modern era dates back to 1967, when the winery was purchased and quickly transformed into one of the most recognized and prestigious wineries in the 70’s and 80’s. Unfortunately, over time, quality slipped and the reputation of the once legendary winery fell into a bit of obscurity.
After a few ownership changes, the winery was sold in 2005 to Jackson Family, who have poured money and attention into it in a way that hasn’t been seen since its original heyday. Winemaker Ted Edwards was brought in and the winery has been on a steady path upwards ever since.
The single vineyard wines are the showstoppers with Bosché and Sycamore leading the way. Bosché is the most famous of these vineyard designates, from an old vineyard that been producing spectacular wines for Freemark since the winery’s early days. Sycamore is located only a few miles down the road, with a profile that belies its proximity to Oakville (compared to Bosché’s pure Rutherford signature). Both excelled in the 2015 vintage and scored 97 points from the Wine Advocate. We have limited quantities of each arriving Friday and would urge you to secure these now.
Arriving Friday:
Freemark Abbey Bosche Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Rutherford 2015 750ML ($179.95) $149 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 97 points “Blended of 92% Cabernet Sauvignon and 8% Merlot, the 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Bosche Vineyard has a deep garnet-purple color and is scented of earthy nuances of truffles, dusty soil and underbrush with a core of crème de cassis, black cherry compote and blueberry pie plus hints of camphor and scorched earth. Full, concentrated, rich and densely packed with loads of earth and black fruit layers, it has a firm, ripe, grainy frame and oodles of freshness, finishing long. 2,018 cases produced.”
A lot of that has to do with Freemark Abbey’s rocky road to their current status as an elite producer. Their modern era dates back to 1967, when the winery was purchased and quickly transformed into one of the most recognized and prestigious wineries in the 70’s and 80’s. Unfortunately, over time, quality slipped and the reputation of the once legendary winery fell into a bit of obscurity.
After a few ownership changes, the winery was sold in 2005 to Jackson Family, who have poured money and attention into it in a way that hasn’t been seen since its original heyday. Winemaker Ted Edwards was brought in and the winery has been on a steady path upwards ever since.
The single vineyard wines are the showstoppers with Bosché and Sycamore leading the way. Bosché is the most famous of these vineyard designates, from an old vineyard that been producing spectacular wines for Freemark since the winery’s early days. Sycamore is located only a few miles down the road, with a profile that belies its proximity to Oakville (compared to Bosché’s pure Rutherford signature). Both excelled in the 2015 vintage and scored 97 points from the Wine Advocate. We have limited quantities of each arriving Friday and would urge you to secure these now.
Arriving Friday:
Freemark Abbey Bosche Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Rutherford 2015 750ML ($179.95) $149 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 97 points “Blended of 92% Cabernet Sauvignon and 8% Merlot, the 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Bosche Vineyard has a deep garnet-purple color and is scented of earthy nuances of truffles, dusty soil and underbrush with a core of crème de cassis, black cherry compote and blueberry pie plus hints of camphor and scorched earth. Full, concentrated, rich and densely packed with loads of earth and black fruit layers, it has a firm, ripe, grainy frame and oodles of freshness, finishing long. 2,018 cases produced.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Freemark Abbey Sycamore Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Rutherford 2015 750ML ($179.95) $139 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 97+ points “A blend of 88.2% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4.4% Petit Verdot, 4.2% Cabernet Franc and 3.2% Merlot, the deep garnet-purple colored 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Sycamore Vineyards comes skipping out of the glass with a spring it its step and singing notes of crushed blackcurrants, fresh blackberries and red and black plums with touches of underbrush, fungi, wild sage, chocolate mint and cigar boxes. Full-bodied and built like a brick house, it has a rock-solid frame of firm, grainy tannins and seamless freshness supporting the generous, crunchy fruit, finishing long with a touch of minerality. 2,101 cases produced.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average listed price is $151
The average listed price is $151
New Wines from Arnot Roberts
Arnot-Roberts has been one of the vanguard producers of the “New California” movement, making wines that deserve to be paid attention to as some of the best in the United States. Started by childhood friends Duncan Arnot Meyers and Nathan Lee Roberts in 2001, they’ve quickly established themselves as some of the best producers of restrained, elegant California wines. In 2013 the San Francisco Chronicle named them “Winemakers of the Year” in recognition of the quality and consistency of the wines they’re producing.
If you’ve never had the wines before, don’t expect soft fruity wines. Everything they touch has a backbone to it—a spine of acid and tannin that makes you think of the great wines of France far quicker than their California neighbors. These are serious wines with serious structures, built to age.
Arriving Friday:
Arnot-Roberts Trout Gulch Vineyard Chardonnay, Santa Cruz Mountains 2016 750ML ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival special
Antonio Galloni 96 points “The 2016 Chardonnay Trout Gulch is wonderfully polished, nuanced and transparent. Lemon peel, white flowers, mint and chalk notes give the Trout Gulch its distinctive, bright flavor profile. In some years, the Trout Gulch has leaned towards the more austere of the Chardonnay spectrum. The 2016 has all the energy of the more tightly wound vintages, but with a bit more textural resonance that is the result of the wine having spent more time on its lees during aging.”
Arnot-Roberts Watson Ranch Chardonnay, Napa Valley 2017 750ML ($44.95) $39 pre-arrival special
Antonio Galloni 93 points “The 2017 Chardonnay Watson Ranch is a gorgeous wine. Apricot, chamomile, dried flowers, sage and dried pear are all laced together in this super-expressive, inviting Chardonnay. Readers should be prepared to cellar the 2017, as it is quite closed today. Bright saline notes add freshness and zip to this super-expressive Chardonnay.”
If you’ve never had the wines before, don’t expect soft fruity wines. Everything they touch has a backbone to it—a spine of acid and tannin that makes you think of the great wines of France far quicker than their California neighbors. These are serious wines with serious structures, built to age.
Arriving Friday:
Arnot-Roberts Trout Gulch Vineyard Chardonnay, Santa Cruz Mountains 2016 750ML ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival special
Antonio Galloni 96 points “The 2016 Chardonnay Trout Gulch is wonderfully polished, nuanced and transparent. Lemon peel, white flowers, mint and chalk notes give the Trout Gulch its distinctive, bright flavor profile. In some years, the Trout Gulch has leaned towards the more austere of the Chardonnay spectrum. The 2016 has all the energy of the more tightly wound vintages, but with a bit more textural resonance that is the result of the wine having spent more time on its lees during aging.”
Arnot-Roberts Watson Ranch Chardonnay, Napa Valley 2017 750ML ($44.95) $39 pre-arrival special
Antonio Galloni 93 points “The 2017 Chardonnay Watson Ranch is a gorgeous wine. Apricot, chamomile, dried flowers, sage and dried pear are all laced together in this super-expressive, inviting Chardonnay. Readers should be prepared to cellar the 2017, as it is quite closed today. Bright saline notes add freshness and zip to this super-expressive Chardonnay.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Arnot-Roberts Gamay Noir, El Dorado 2017 750ML ($39.95) $33 pre-arrival special
Antonio Galloni 91 points “The 2017 Gamay Noir El Dorado is gorgeous. Bright red cherry, raspberry, rose petal, mint and blood orange are all woven together in a mid-weight, refreshing red that has so much to offer. Exquisite in its beauty and nuance, the El Dorado is striking today. Here, too, the whole cluster influence is not particularly strong.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Arnot-Roberts Clary Ranch Syrah, Sonoma Coast 2017 750ML ($79.95) $66 pre-arrival special
Antonio Galloni 96 points “The 2017 Syrah Clary Ranch is striking. Deep and resonant on the palate, the 2017 has so much to say. Some of the angular edges and intense savoriness the Clary Ranch can show have been soften by the intense heat of the year. Silky, fine tannins wrap around a core of dark cherry, plum, lavender, spice and pepper. A Syrah of power and structural intensity, the Clary Ranch is incredibly distinctive, and that is in a lineup in which many of the wines are exceptional. Two thousand-seventeen is a superb vintage for the Clary Ranch Syrah.”
Trending Wines
This is a beautiful, powerful wine that is everything we love about ’16 in Tuscany.
Piaggia Carmignano Riserva, Tuscany 2016 750ML ($49.95) $39 special, 17 bottles in stock now
Importer Note “The Carmignano Riserva is the flagship wine of Piaggia, first made by Mauro Vannucci in 1991. All of the grapes are from the family’s 50 year old vines in 2.5 hectares in the Piaggia cru near Pogetto, over clay and galestro soils on a south-west facing exposure at 250 meters above sea level. Made from 70% Sangiovese, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc (the French varieties were propagated from cuttings made at Chateau Lafite Rothschild in Pauillac). Fermentation on the skins lasts up to 4 weeks with indigenous yeasts. Aging occurs in French oak (no more than 10% new) for 24 months. The wine is racked occasionally during aging but is otherwise unfined and unfiltered prior to bottling. The wine rests six months in bottle before release. Approximately 2500 cases produced annually.”
Winery Note “Carmignano Riserva Piaggia, the winery’s standard-bearer, is the result of rigorous selection in an old vineyard near Poggetto, where the grapes make high quality wines that enhance the characteristics of the appellation to the full. The Riserva Piaggia is our modern interpretation of Carmignano, a wine that is made giving special attention to the finest detail: nothing is left to chance, either in the vineyard or in the cellar, because we believe our grapes deserve particular care and attention and because we want to offer the consumer a thrill that tells of the beauty of our vineyards and the aromas of our land. The Piaggia Riserva is a wine that can be aged for many years while maintaining its organoleptic qualities intact and can liven up the tables of the most demanding consumers all over the world.”
Piaggia Carmignano Riserva, Tuscany 2016 750ML ($49.95) $39 special, 17 bottles in stock now
Importer Note “The Carmignano Riserva is the flagship wine of Piaggia, first made by Mauro Vannucci in 1991. All of the grapes are from the family’s 50 year old vines in 2.5 hectares in the Piaggia cru near Pogetto, over clay and galestro soils on a south-west facing exposure at 250 meters above sea level. Made from 70% Sangiovese, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc (the French varieties were propagated from cuttings made at Chateau Lafite Rothschild in Pauillac). Fermentation on the skins lasts up to 4 weeks with indigenous yeasts. Aging occurs in French oak (no more than 10% new) for 24 months. The wine is racked occasionally during aging but is otherwise unfined and unfiltered prior to bottling. The wine rests six months in bottle before release. Approximately 2500 cases produced annually.”
Winery Note “Carmignano Riserva Piaggia, the winery’s standard-bearer, is the result of rigorous selection in an old vineyard near Poggetto, where the grapes make high quality wines that enhance the characteristics of the appellation to the full. The Riserva Piaggia is our modern interpretation of Carmignano, a wine that is made giving special attention to the finest detail: nothing is left to chance, either in the vineyard or in the cellar, because we believe our grapes deserve particular care and attention and because we want to offer the consumer a thrill that tells of the beauty of our vineyards and the aromas of our land. The Piaggia Riserva is a wine that can be aged for many years while maintaining its organoleptic qualities intact and can liven up the tables of the most demanding consumers all over the world.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
The number of great Gamays coming out of the WV continues to astonish. This is delicious.
Evening Land ‘Seven Springs Vineyard’ Gamay Noir, Eola-Amity Hills 2018 750ML ($39.95) $33 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Winery Note “We’re proud to farm some of the oldest Gamay vines in North America. The combination of our volcanic soils and the Gamay grape matched with a traditional Beaujolaise approach in the cellar make this wine our most drinkable bottling from the entire vineyard.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
An unusual co-ferment leads to an absolutely stunning Cote-Rotie-like wine.
Reynvaan Family Vineyards ‘The Contender’ Syrah, Walla Walla Valley 2016 750ML ($99.95) $69 special, 28 bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 96 points “The 2016 Syrah Estate The Contender from this terrific estate checks in as 95% Syrah and 5% Marsanne that was mostly destemmed (there’s 35% stems) and aged 18 months in barrel. Black raspberries, plums, toasted spice, ground pepper and decaying flower notes all emerge from this incredibly elegant, seamless Syrah that shines for its complexity, elegance, and richness. With plenty of tannins and impeccable balance, it’s approachable today yet will keep for 10-15 years with no issues.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $79.98
The average listed price is $84
The next best price is $79.98
The average listed price is $84
This new project from the team at Saint Cosme, Vinsobres is where Gigondas was 10-15 years ago.
Chateau de Rouanne Vinsobres, Rhone 2018 750ML ($34.95) $28 special
Case-12 Chateau de Rouanne Vinsobres, Rhone 2018 750ML ($399.95) $299 special (that’s only $24.92/bottle—the lowest listed price in the USA today!)
Importer note “Château de Rouanne is a historic estate with a 12th century medieval castle, situated on a classified Roman site located in the southern Rhône Valley. The name of the estate comes from “Rugius”, which is said to be the name of the original Roman owner. The estate totals 177 acres (72 hectares), including 153 acres (62 hectares) of vines. Château de Rouanne was purchased by Louis Barruol, owner and winemaker of Château de Saint Cosme, in May of 2019. Barruol sees enormous potential in Château de Rouanne, having worked with the previous owners for years as a source for some of his négociant wines. ‘It reminds me a lot of Saint Cosme when I took it over in 1992. It’s an unknown sleeping beauty waiting for a vigneron to truly love it.’ The vineyard of Château de Rouanne is a unique one-block monopole, planted entirely with 50+ year old vines, which are a selection massale of Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre. The ancient terroir is comprised of limestone and sandy marl soils dating back to the Pliocene epoch. Barruol uses whole bunches during fermentation, as the stems absorb alcohol and help retain acidity and tannin. Indigenous yeasts are used to impart the character and the purity of the terroir into the wine. The wine is aged for 16 months in concrete vats and is bottled unfined and unfiltered in order to deliver a “straight to the ground” interpretation of this unique vineyard. Raspberry, violet, licorice, peony, black pepper and gingerbread. Greatly textured with prominent saltiness and length in the finish.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Points:price, this is an absolute champion.
Valle Reale Montepulciano d’Abruzzo 2018 750ML ($17.95) $14 special
Case-12 Valle Reale Montepulciano d’Abruzzo 2018 750ML ($179.95) $149 special (that’s only $12.42/bottle—the lowest listed price in the USA today!)
Ian D’Agata – Vinous 94 points “Bright red. Red cherry and flowers on the perfumed nose; much more fragrant than the 2017 Montepulciano d’Abruzzo. Then fresh and juicy, with bright red fruit repeating in the mouth. Finishes long and savory, showcasing notable purity. Outstanding cool-climate Montepulciano of noteworthy refinement. Very, very well done; I’m not sure readers fully realize just how hard it is to obtain a result of this level in a cold-weather environment such as that of Popoli. This success speaks loudly of the capability and talent of owner Leonardo Pinzolo and his Valle Reale technical team.”
Thanks for reading!