In Today’s Newsletter:
One Day Subscriber Special
Save Over $340 on DRC’s 2002 Richebourg
New Wines From California “Winemakers of the Year”
Henri Gouges: New and Old Releases
Hess Collection Subscriber Special Ends Tonight
Markus Molitor’s Epic Mosel Rieslings
#Trending
One Day Subscriber Special
Save Over $340 on DRC’s 2002 Richebourg
In Stock Now:
Only one bottle available.
Domaine de la Romanee-Conti Richebourg Grand Cru, Cote de Nuits 2002 750ML ($4,199.95) Was $3,799, Now $3,458 Subscriber Special
[Back label significantly stained]
Wine Spectator 95 points “The most forward of the ’02s in both barrel and bottle, this floral- and cherry-scented red verges on opulent, yet remains fresh, pure and succulent. There’s a more decadent feel to this Richebourg.–Non-blind 2002 DRC tasting (February 2005). Best from 2014 through 2032.”
Burghound 95 points “(fashioned with <70% whole clusters). I had not tried the ’02 Riche in several years so it was interesting to see how it’s progressing. The expressive though very cool nose is finally beginning to display the initial hints of maturity with the classic dried rose petal and spice nuances adding both elegance and breadth to the pretty mix of red fruit and plum scents. There is a beguiling mouth feel to the intensely mineral-driven broad-shouldered flavors that are at once powerful but sleek, all wrapped in a muscular and palate staining finish. The refined palate impression is considerably enhanced by the dense but extremely fine tannins, in fact so much so that while this is still very clearly on the way up it could actually be drunk now with pleasure. That said I would still strongly advise holding this strikingly pretty effort for another 6 to 10 years first. I should note that while I have had relatively consistent notes over the years, occasionally I land on a bottle that seems herbaceous and almost vegetal; why this variation occurs isn’t clear but nonetheless it does happen.”
New Wines From California
“Winemakers of the Year”
Arnot-Roberts
Arriving February 14th:
Arnot-Roberts Watson Ranch Chardonnay, Napa Valley 2018 750ML ($49.95) $41.90 pre-arrival special
Winery note “Our Watson Ranch Chardonnay comes from a cold and windswept hillside overlooking the San Pablo Bay in southern Napa, southeast of the Los Carneros District. The soils are composed of calcareous clay over limestone and the vineyard is meticulously tended by Salvador Ramos, who planted the vines 25 years ago. The 2018 fermented beautifully in our cellar and produced a wine with effusive aromatic lift, abundant fruit and transparent mineral structure.”
Only six bottles available
Arnot-Roberts Coastlands Vineyard Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast 2018 750ML ($89.95) $79 pre-arrival special
Winery Note ” The iconic Coastlands Vineyard was planted by the Cobb family in 1989, just four miles from the Pacific Ocean above the small hamlet of Occidental on the Sonoma Coast. This epic site is at the absolute edge of where the Pinot Noir grape can ripen in California, and the resulting wine is a looking glass into that upbringing. The vineyard is situated at 1200’ elevation on a western facing slope with views to the ocean and unobstructed interactions with the weather that rolls in off the coast. The difficult nature of farming in this vineyard ensures low yields and a perennial struggle for the vines that cling to these exposed slopes. The Coastlands vineyard is farmed by local viticultural expert Eric Neil and remains a true benchmark site. Planting this vineyard in such a demanding and severe locale was a bold step that set a high bar for Pinot Noir on the Sonoma Coast. The resulting wines are deep and structured and have the potential to improve in the cellar for years to come.”
Only six bottles available
Arnot-Roberts Legan Vineyard Pinot Noir, Santa Cruz Mountains 2018 750ML ($79.95) $69 pre-arrival special
Winery note “Legan Vineyard was planted to Pinot Noir in 1980 on a hillside above the tiny town of Corralitos in the southern Santa Cruz mountains. It stands amidst dense redwoods at 1,200 feet elevation, overlooking the Eureka Canyon which ushers in cooling breezes from Monterey Bay. According to recent geologic research done on the property, the nutrient-poor, fine sandy-loam soil was exposed when an ancient landslide occurred over 2000 years ago. We are fortunate and thankful that Tom Legan took the risk to plant this remote site and that is thriving under the meticulous care of viticultural master, Prudy Foxx. The wines we have made to date from Legan are light on their feet, delicately structured, and elegantly vibrant. Retention of 100% whole clusters during fermentation lends an earthy spiciness to our 2018, which harmonizes beautifully with the intense fruit-driven personality of this amazing vineyard.”
Only six bottles available
Arnot-Roberts Peter Martin Ray Vineyard Pinot Noir, Santa Cruz Mountains 2018 750ML ($89.95) $79 pre-arrival special
Winery Note “The Peter Martin Ray Vineyard is on Mt. Eden in the Northeastern Santa Cruz Mountains, above the town of Saratoga. This site dates to the late 1800s, and was one of the first to be planted to Pinot Noir in California in the early 1940s. The vineyard is now of historical significance as many of today’s modern Pinot Noir plantings have been made with genetic material taken from it. Replanted in 1979, these old, stake-trained, dry-farmed vines cling precipitously to the extremely rocky and depleted Franciscan Shale soils at 1400’ elevation. The vineyard is still owned and overseen by Peter Martin Ray, the son of legendary California vintner Martin “Rusty” Ray, with assistance from local Santa Cruz legend, Rick Anzalone. This unpolished site is extremely exposed with soils that are notoriously nutrient poor, leading the vines to struggle for survival while severely limiting yields. The resulting wines we have made from this site have remained true to their mountain-grown roots; we feel they are a nod to the rich history of this fabled mountain. We are honored to work with the Ray family and look forward to contributing to the legacy that has been laid down on this hill for generations.”
Only eleven bottles available
Arnot-Roberts Rose, Lake County 2019 750ML ($34.95) $29 pre-arrival special
No reviews for the 2019 vintage – Decanter review is for reference.
Decanter 91 points – 2015 vintage “By now Arnot-Roberts need no introduction, and their Touriga Nacional rosé is already fought-over. Wild strawberry, citrus and spice meld in wine amply endowed with fruit, acidity and chalky minerality. Modest alcohol makes this safe to gulp with abandon.”
Recently Arrived, In Stock Now:
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Arnot-Roberts Watson Ranch Chardonnay, Napa Valley 2017 750ML ($44.95) $39 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.”
Only six bottles remaining
Arnot-Roberts Gamay Noir, El Dorado 2017 750ML ($39.95) $33 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.”
Only six bottles remaining
Arnot-Roberts Clary Ranch Syrah, Sonoma Coast 2017 750ML ($79.95) $66 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.”
Henri Gouges: New and Old Releases
Domaine Henri Gouges Les Pruliers, Nuits-Saint-Georges Premier Cru 2017 750ML ($149.95) $119 pre-arrival special
Decanter 93 points “The age of the vines is quite diverse in this 1.8ha block, ranging from 20 to 80 years. It’s a comparatively forward red, especially for a Nuits from the south side of the village. Notes of summer berries and tobacco pouch mingle appealingly on the nose and palate with supporting acidity and scented oak, 20% new.”
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 92 points “The 2017 Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er Cru Les Pruliers wafts from the glass with an appealing bouquet of raspberries, red cherries, spiced plums, dried flowers and earthy forest floor. On the palate, it’s medium to full-bodied, with a ripe core of fruit, tangy acids and a firm, stony finish. It’s a suave, nicely integrated rendition of a climat that can sometimes be forbiddingly structural in its youth.”
Burghound 90-93 points– Outstanding “This too is noticeably reduced and aromatically unreadable today. Otherwise there is more volume and mid-palate density to the bigger and mostly muscular flavors that possess a less refined mouthfeel on the powerful, driving and more obviously structured finale. This is really quite good though at least some patience will be required.”
Neal Martin-Vinous 90-92 points “The 2017 Nuits Saint-Georges Les Pruliers 1er Cru offers intense black cherry, boysenberry and blueberry on the ripe, candied, generous nose, becoming more floral with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with sappy red and black fruit laced with blood orange and spices. Quite dense and grippy, this is another Gouges 2017 that will require several years in bottle.”
Domaine Henri Gouges Les Vaucrains, Nuits-Saint-Georges Premier Cru 2017 750ML ($179.95) $149 pre-arrival special
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 92 points “The 2017 Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er Cru Les Vaucrains is another unusually suave offering from Gouges, offering up aromas of dark berry fruit, wild plums, baking chocolate and rich soil tones, subtly framed by cedary new wood. On the palate, the wine is medium to full-bodied, deep and dense, but notably open-knit and juicy at the core, concluding with a long, sapid finish. Given how forbidding Vaucrains can be, this is an almost disconcertingly charming effort.”
Neal Martin-Vinous 91-93 points “The 2017 Nuits Saint-Georges Les Vaucrains 1er Cru has a lovely, intense bouquet that combines blue and black fruit, crushed violet petals and incense. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannin, showing a little more cohesion than the Les Pruliers, if not quite the same mineral drive as Domaine Chevillon’s. Still, there is decent length and depth to this Les Vaucrains, though it will need several years in bottle.”
Burghound 91-93 points – Outstanding “Slightly riper aromas of plum liqueur, violet, warm earth and plenty of sauvage character lead to intense and notably dense broad-shouldered flavors that display first-rate power on the serious and youthfully austere finish. This is a big wine in the context of what is typical for the 2017 vintage and should age effortlessly.”
Domaine Henri Gouges Les Chaignots, Nuits-Saint-Georges Premier Cru 2009 750ML ($119.95) $99 pre-arrival special
Antonio Galloni 92 points “The 2009 Nuits St. Georges Les Chaignots (from the northern side of the village) emerges from the glass with crushed flowers, spices and gently perfumed fruit. This is a relatively feminine, delicate style of Nuits, with silky tannins and terrific overall balance. A final burst of red fruit informs the finish. The Chaignots was bottled mid-January 2011. Anticipated maturity: 2019-2029.”
Burghound 89-92 points “This is also quite unevolved as the nose is primary to the point of grapiness though the hallmark spiciness of the appellation can still be discerned. The middle weight flavors possess a textured and quite supple mouth feel as the tannins are well-integrated on the lingering finish that displays an attractive sense of underlying tension and fine intensity. This should be lovely in time.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Domaine Henri Gouges Les Pruliers, Nuits-Saint-Georges Premier Cru 2008 750ML ($119.95) $99 pre-arrival special
Neal Martin-Vinous 92 points “The 2008 Nuits Saint-Georges Les Pruliers 1er Cru has a pretty bouquet with cranberry, pomegranate, bergamot and Vervane tea aromas that gently unfold from the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin, quite crisp and certainly conveying more energy and tension than the 2007. It gently fans out towards the finish that is a little ferrous in style, with a dash of cracked pepper on the finish. Excellent. Tasted at the Gouges retrospective at La Cabotte.”
Stephen Tanzer 91 points “(this wine, the Vaucrains and the Saint-Georges were bottled in April of 2010): Good bright medium red. Enticing, very pure aromas of cherry, raspberry and flowers. Quite juicy and precise; not a fleshy wine but intensely fruity, taut and pure. Impressively long, rising finish. Gregory Gouges told me he finds most of the family’s 2008s to be agreeable now and probably best drunk early for their youthful fruit. He’s not convinced that the wines have enough dry extract for extended aging.”
Burghound 90-92 points – Sweet Spot Outstanding “Here is a distinct herbal character to the spicy red berry fruit and earth suffused nose that marries into rich, supple and attractively detailed middle weight flavors that possess good mid-palate concentration and culminate in a complex, harmonious and precise finish. A Pruliers of finesse and refinement.”
Domaine Henri Gouges Les Chenes Carteaux, Nuits-Saint-Georges Premier Cru 2012 750ML ($99.95) $89 pre-arrival special
Neal Martin-Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2012 Nuits St Georges 1er Cru Les Chênes Carteaux has a clean and bright bouquet with brambly red berry fruit, plenty of undergrowth, damp tobacco and roof tile scents. This is very expressive with fine delineation and the linearity that it demonstrated from barrel. The palate is medium-bodied with crisp tensile tannin, plenty of citric fruit, quite linear at the moment with a sense of energy on the stony, stoic finish. Excellent.”
Antonio Galloni 90-92 points “Blue and purple fruit, smoke, licorice, violets and cloves flesh out in the 2012 Nuits St. Georges Les Chênes Carteaux. This is an especially round, supple Chênes Carteaux with tons of near and medium-term appeal. The round, silky finish is polished and beautifully resonant, all of which suggest the 2012 will drink better earlier than some of the other wines in this range.”
Burghound 89-92 points “Here too there is a touch of spice on the well-layered nose of both red and dark currants that is liberally laced with pungent earth notes. This is bigger and richer than the Chaignots with excellent volume, punch and power, all wrapped in a detailed, saline and impressively persistent finish. While the structure is firm, the tannins are relatively fine-grained and the overall impression is not especially rustic.”
Hess Collection Subscriber Special Ends Tonight
Arriving Friday, February 7th:
The Hess Collection Estate Grown Cabernet Sauvignon, Mount Veeder 2012 750ML ($59.95) Listed price: $44, Subscriber-only two day pre-arrival special: $37.50
Robert Parker 93 points “The 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Mount Veeder (80% Cabernet Sauvignon and 20% Malbec) was one of the top wines presented to me. This wine needs another 4-5 years of cellaring and could keep 30 years. A beautiful nose of white flowers, graphite, blueberry and blackberry liqueur, along with the telltale cassis and tobacco leaf are all present in this wine, which offers great intensity and full-bodied power in a well-delineated and moderately structured style. Give the wine some time and watch it unfold. Anticipated maturity: 2020-2025+. For the quality, it is a reasonably priced wine, and there are 7,480 cases.”
Wine Enthusiast 93 points “With 20% Malbec, this wine is layered in refined complexity, swaying from juicy blueberry to herbaceous cherry and currant. Restrained in oak, with the slightest notion of vanilla on the palate, it finishes in mouthwatering dark chocolate—the tannins firm and structured.”
The Hess Collection Lion Tamer Red, Napa Valley 2016 750ML ($44.95) Listed price: $29, Subscriber-only two day pre-arrival special: $24.65
Wine Enthusiast 93 points “This is a blend of 40% Malbec, 27% Zinfandel, 21% Petite Sirah, 8% Cabernet Sauvignon and smaller amounts of Mourvèdre, Petit Verdot and Merlot. Together, they work to offer inviting elements of baking spice, cherry vanilla and a creamy palate of integrated tannins and toasted oak. The fleshy, lush feel benefits from a fresh backbone of acidity.”
This is already the lowest listed price in the USA today,
Now it’s even lower!
The next best price is $49.88
The average price is $54
Subscriber Special: 15% Off Hess Collection Wines
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Subscriber Special valid until 11:59 PM Pacific on Tuesday, February 4th
Only 12 bottles available!
Markus Molitor Urziger Wurzgarten Riesling Kabinett Trocken WK, Mosel 2016 750 ($29.95) $24 special
David Schildknecht-Vinous 93 points “Here is a gorgeous example of delicacy allied to flavor intensity and luscious fruit allied to savory mineral notes. Scents of fresh strawberry and lime anticipate the brightly juicy impression on a polished, buoyant palate. Lily-of-the-valley and rowan waft throughout, casting a memorable floral spell. The sweet-saline savor of raw scallop tugs at the salivary glands on a superbly sustained finish. Bear in mind that we’re talking here about a dry Riesling (okay, perhaps legally halbtrocken – I neither checked nor cared) with only 10.5% alcohol!”
Wine Advocate 92+ points “The 2016 Riesling Ürziger Würzgarten Kabinett (White Capsule) is deep and concentrated on the complex, citric and slatey nose but still discreet in its fruit aromas. This is serious Riesling at 10.5% alcohol! Dry but round and intense, with a creamy texture, fine tannins and lush fruit, the Würzgarten has a remarkable mineral expression, but there is not much Mosel charm and primary fruit at this early moment. Early? Well, yes. It’s early March 2018, and the wine is only slowly starting to develop. The finish, however, is dense, lush, compact, very fine, well-structured and perfectly balanced.”
Stuart Pigott-jamessuckling .com 92 points “A classic example of this special site with red volcanic soils. Aromas of freshly sliced peaches and wild strawberries pour out of the glass. Juicy, deep and delicate. The finish is full of herbs and spices. Drink or hold.”
Only 14 bottles available!
Markus Molitor Wehlener Klosterberg Riesling Auslese *** GK, Mosel 2015 750 ($69.95) $59 special
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 96 points “The 2015 Riesling Wehlener Klosterberg Auslese ** (Golden Capsule) is very clear and precise on the nose where concentrated lemon and grapefruit aromas intermix with piquant slate flavors. On the palate, this is a round, lush, piquant, crystalline and very elegant Auslese with great precision and concentration as well as remarkable finesse. The wine reveals lingering salinity and grippy piquancy in the finish that swallows the sweetness with ease. A great and precise Auslese!”
Mosel Fine Wines 93 points “This delivers a beautiful nose of yellow peach, almond cream, pineapple and poached pear. The wine proves juicy and quite ripe on the palate with honeyed flavors of yellow fruits coming through in the long and smooth finish. There is a touch of acidity coming through in the after-taste which lifts up the aromatic. This needs a decade to fully shine. 2025-2045.”
Markus Molitor Wehlener Klosterberg Riesling Kabinett WK, Mosel 2016 750 ($21.95) $17 special
David Schildknecht-Vinous 90 points “Site-typical in its apple garlanded with heliotrope and tinged with nutmeg, as well as in its subtle creaminess combined with invigorating tartness, this misses only the memorably savory, scallop-like aspect of the corresponding Haus Klosterberg bottling (which, as usual, leaned heavily on Wehlener Klosterberg).”
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 90 points “The 2016 Riesling Wehlener Klosterberg Kabinett (White Capsule) is clear, pure, fresh and mineral on the nose where citric notes are displayed. Bottled with just 10% alcohol, this is a dry yet lush and textured Kabinett with fine mineral and phenolic structure and excellent aging potential. Keep it for 4 to 5 years and then enjoy over the next 20+ years. Tasted March 2018.”
#Trending
Pizza night got a lot more fun with this wine. Also roast chicken night, stew night and the rest.
Domaine Serol Eclat de Granite Cote Roannaise, Loire 2017 750ML ($21.95) $16.50 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
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.”
An amazing Pinot Noir for under $20.
Bow & Arrow Willamete 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 delivers cult-Cabernet quality at normal Napa pricing.
Eisele Vineyard ‘Altagracia’ Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2016 750ML ($169.95) $149 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
James Suckling 96 points “Lots of violets and dark berries with sweet underbrush and fresh mushrooms, following through to a medium to full body, soft and silky tannins and a succulent and refined finish. It remains supple and beautiful. Hard not to drink now. Better after 2023.”
Wine Advocate 95 points “The Altagracia is produced almost exclusively from estate fruit this year and was bottled at the end of June 2018. Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Altagracia comes bursting forth with vivacious black cherries, blackberries, wild blueberries and cassis notes with touches of cinnamon stick, cloves, forest floor, violets and dusty earth with a waft of violets. The palate is medium to full-bodied, firm and grainy with loads of iron and mineral accents, finishing long and perfumed.”
This is sneakily one of the best New World Pinot Noirs out there—but being from Chile, it’s a steal.
Montsecano Pinot Noir, Casablanca Valley 2016 750ML ($49.95) $39 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Luis Gutierrez-Wine Advocate 94+ points “One of the best vintages of the grand vin here has to be the eponymous 2016 Montsecano, produced 100% with Pinot Noir from the zone of Las Dichas in Casablanca. The vines were planted in 2006 on red clay and granite soils and, as all the wines here, sees no oak whatsoever; it fermented in stainless steel with indigenous yeasts and was kept in egg-shaped cement vats until bottling in February 2017. This is simply delicious. This is not a Burgundy Pinot Noir, there is always a touch of rusticity here, an earthy touch. This is a pure Pinot Noir; it slowly opens up in the glass to an intoxicating mixture of wild flowers and herbs, with that rustic touch. The palate has very fine-grained tannins, tasty and long. I think this captures the intensity of the people that work here. 8,000 bottles produced.”
One Day Subscriber Special
Save Over $340 on DRC’s 2002 Richebourg
New Wines From California “Winemakers of the Year”
Henri Gouges: New and Old Releases
Hess Collection Subscriber Special Ends Tonight
Markus Molitor’s Epic Mosel Rieslings
#Trending
One Day Subscriber Special
Save Over $340 on DRC’s 2002 Richebourg
DRC’s Richebourg is one of the greatest wines in Burgundy. While less expensive than La Tâche or the namesake Romanée-Conti, it’s a bottling that can compete with them all. From a top-notch vintage like 2002? It’s an absolute gem—a rare beast that’d be the centerpiece of any collection. From now until midnight tomorrow (Wednesday, February 5th), we’re offering you over $340 off our sole bottle of this legend of Burgundy. The wine is available first come, first served and you can order on our webstore or call/email. Please note we cannot hold this wine unpaid.
Was $3,799, Now $3,458 Subscriber Special
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Subscriber Special valid until 11:59 PM Pacific on Wednesday, February 5th
Subscriber Special pricing will not display online or in your cart.
We will manually adjust pricing before finalizing your order.
Subscriber Special valid until 11:59 PM Pacific on Wednesday, February 5th
In Stock Now:
Only one bottle available.
Domaine de la Romanee-Conti Richebourg Grand Cru, Cote de Nuits 2002 750ML ($4,199.95) Was $3,799, Now $3,458 Subscriber Special
[Back label significantly stained]
Wine Spectator 95 points “The most forward of the ’02s in both barrel and bottle, this floral- and cherry-scented red verges on opulent, yet remains fresh, pure and succulent. There’s a more decadent feel to this Richebourg.–Non-blind 2002 DRC tasting (February 2005). Best from 2014 through 2032.”
Burghound 95 points “(fashioned with <70% whole clusters). I had not tried the ’02 Riche in several years so it was interesting to see how it’s progressing. The expressive though very cool nose is finally beginning to display the initial hints of maturity with the classic dried rose petal and spice nuances adding both elegance and breadth to the pretty mix of red fruit and plum scents. There is a beguiling mouth feel to the intensely mineral-driven broad-shouldered flavors that are at once powerful but sleek, all wrapped in a muscular and palate staining finish. The refined palate impression is considerably enhanced by the dense but extremely fine tannins, in fact so much so that while this is still very clearly on the way up it could actually be drunk now with pleasure. That said I would still strongly advise holding this strikingly pretty effort for another 6 to 10 years first. I should note that while I have had relatively consistent notes over the years, occasionally I land on a bottle that seems herbaceous and almost vegetal; why this variation occurs isn’t clear but nonetheless it does happen.”
Was $3,799, Now $3,458 Subscriber Special
Subscriber Special pricing will not display online or in your cart.
We will manually adjust pricing before finalizing your order.
Subscriber Special valid until 11:59 PM Pacific on Wednesday, February 5th
Subscriber Special pricing will not display online or in your cart.
We will manually adjust pricing before finalizing your order.
Subscriber Special valid until 11:59 PM Pacific on Wednesday, February 5th
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
New Wines From California
“Winemakers of the Year”
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.
Previously Sold Out, More Stock Arriving February 7th:
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.”
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.
Previously Sold Out, More Stock Arriving February 7th:
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.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Arriving February 14th:
Arnot-Roberts Watson Ranch Chardonnay, Napa Valley 2018 750ML ($49.95) $41.90 pre-arrival special
Winery note “Our Watson Ranch Chardonnay comes from a cold and windswept hillside overlooking the San Pablo Bay in southern Napa, southeast of the Los Carneros District. The soils are composed of calcareous clay over limestone and the vineyard is meticulously tended by Salvador Ramos, who planted the vines 25 years ago. The 2018 fermented beautifully in our cellar and produced a wine with effusive aromatic lift, abundant fruit and transparent mineral structure.”
Only six bottles available
Arnot-Roberts Coastlands Vineyard Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast 2018 750ML ($89.95) $79 pre-arrival special
Winery Note ” The iconic Coastlands Vineyard was planted by the Cobb family in 1989, just four miles from the Pacific Ocean above the small hamlet of Occidental on the Sonoma Coast. This epic site is at the absolute edge of where the Pinot Noir grape can ripen in California, and the resulting wine is a looking glass into that upbringing. The vineyard is situated at 1200’ elevation on a western facing slope with views to the ocean and unobstructed interactions with the weather that rolls in off the coast. The difficult nature of farming in this vineyard ensures low yields and a perennial struggle for the vines that cling to these exposed slopes. The Coastlands vineyard is farmed by local viticultural expert Eric Neil and remains a true benchmark site. Planting this vineyard in such a demanding and severe locale was a bold step that set a high bar for Pinot Noir on the Sonoma Coast. The resulting wines are deep and structured and have the potential to improve in the cellar for years to come.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Only six bottles available
Arnot-Roberts Legan Vineyard Pinot Noir, Santa Cruz Mountains 2018 750ML ($79.95) $69 pre-arrival special
Winery note “Legan Vineyard was planted to Pinot Noir in 1980 on a hillside above the tiny town of Corralitos in the southern Santa Cruz mountains. It stands amidst dense redwoods at 1,200 feet elevation, overlooking the Eureka Canyon which ushers in cooling breezes from Monterey Bay. According to recent geologic research done on the property, the nutrient-poor, fine sandy-loam soil was exposed when an ancient landslide occurred over 2000 years ago. We are fortunate and thankful that Tom Legan took the risk to plant this remote site and that is thriving under the meticulous care of viticultural master, Prudy Foxx. The wines we have made to date from Legan are light on their feet, delicately structured, and elegantly vibrant. Retention of 100% whole clusters during fermentation lends an earthy spiciness to our 2018, which harmonizes beautifully with the intense fruit-driven personality of this amazing vineyard.”
Only six bottles available
Arnot-Roberts Peter Martin Ray Vineyard Pinot Noir, Santa Cruz Mountains 2018 750ML ($89.95) $79 pre-arrival special
Winery Note “The Peter Martin Ray Vineyard is on Mt. Eden in the Northeastern Santa Cruz Mountains, above the town of Saratoga. This site dates to the late 1800s, and was one of the first to be planted to Pinot Noir in California in the early 1940s. The vineyard is now of historical significance as many of today’s modern Pinot Noir plantings have been made with genetic material taken from it. Replanted in 1979, these old, stake-trained, dry-farmed vines cling precipitously to the extremely rocky and depleted Franciscan Shale soils at 1400’ elevation. The vineyard is still owned and overseen by Peter Martin Ray, the son of legendary California vintner Martin “Rusty” Ray, with assistance from local Santa Cruz legend, Rick Anzalone. This unpolished site is extremely exposed with soils that are notoriously nutrient poor, leading the vines to struggle for survival while severely limiting yields. The resulting wines we have made from this site have remained true to their mountain-grown roots; we feel they are a nod to the rich history of this fabled mountain. We are honored to work with the Ray family and look forward to contributing to the legacy that has been laid down on this hill for generations.”
Only eleven bottles available
Arnot-Roberts Rose, Lake County 2019 750ML ($34.95) $29 pre-arrival special
No reviews for the 2019 vintage – Decanter review is for reference.
Decanter 91 points – 2015 vintage “By now Arnot-Roberts need no introduction, and their Touriga Nacional rosé is already fought-over. Wild strawberry, citrus and spice meld in wine amply endowed with fruit, acidity and chalky minerality. Modest alcohol makes this safe to gulp with abandon.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Recently Arrived, In Stock Now:
Only five bottles remaining
Arnot-Roberts Watson Ranch Chardonnay, Napa Valley 2017 750ML ($44.95) $39 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!
Only six bottles remaining
Arnot-Roberts Gamay Noir, El Dorado 2017 750ML ($39.95) $33 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!
Only six bottles remaining
Arnot-Roberts Clary Ranch Syrah, Sonoma Coast 2017 750ML ($79.95) $66 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.”
Henri Gouges: New and Old Releases
Domaine Gouges is a legendary name in Burgundy and we’re excited to announce both the new release of 2017’s as well as the acquisition of a treasure trove of back-vintage bottles. We’ll get into the new wines below (the short story is that the wines are great and delicious already) but this assortment of older bottles is almost hard to believe.
We’re looking at perfectly cellared bottles from the 2002-2013 vintages, at prices that are much closer to current releases than you’d expect given the quality of the wines and their age. We have a broad assortment of these bottles—perfect picks for to get a head start on cellaring (or in a few cases, perfect picks for your cellar now.
Henri Gouges, who founded the venerable estate, was one of the first in Burgundy to estate bottle—at the time the winery was founded most just sold grapes or wine to negociants. He also was instrumental in creating the AOC system in Burgundy and help to get a vineyard classification worked out. The estate is based in Nuits, with holdings in most of the major crus and an incredible standard of quality across the board. The current generation, Christian and Pierre (grandsons of Henri) are making some of the finest wines in the estate’s history.
The new 2017’s are not your father’s Gouges wines. The domaine is known for powerful, incredibly long lived wines, often with fierce tannins when young. Yet, when we’ve tasted these wines in the last few vintages, they’re more refined and elegant than ever. You can tell there’s a strong spine that will allow the wines to age for a long time, but they’re surprisingly delicious now.
We have 47 different wines available from Gouges—arriving soon and in stock now. Even in spreadsheet form, that’d be too long a list for this newsletter, so check out some highlights below or shop all of the wines in our online store.
Some Highlights, Arriving ETA February:
Domaine Henri Gouges Les Saint-Georges, Nuits-Saint-Georges Premier Cru 2017 750ML ($219.95) $199 pre-arrival special
Decanter 95 points “There will be less Les St-Georges in 2018, as 20% of the vineyard has been replanted – if you’re a fan of this wine, now is the time to stock up. It’s appealingly aromatic and not as dense and brooding as this wine can be, but it’s a stylish, spicy, savoury premier cru red with good focus and a backdrop of blood and iron.”
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 93+ points “The 2017 Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er Cru Les Saint Georges is showing well, wafting from the glass with aromas of smoky berry fruit, licorice, candied peel, nori and rich soil tones, having already almost entirely integrated its framing of new wood. On the palate, the wine is medium to full-bodied, ample and nicely layered at the core, with good concentration, fine-grained but firm tannins and a precise, stony finish.”
Neal Martin-Vinous 92-94 points “The 2017 Nuits Saint-Georges Les Saint-Georges 1er Cru has a refined, harmonious bouquet of blackberry and bilberry aromas penetrated by a slight flintiness. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannin and beautifully integrated oak. Seamless in texture, leading to a poised, pure finish. This is easily the best of Gouges’s 2017s. Superb.”
We’re looking at perfectly cellared bottles from the 2002-2013 vintages, at prices that are much closer to current releases than you’d expect given the quality of the wines and their age. We have a broad assortment of these bottles—perfect picks for to get a head start on cellaring (or in a few cases, perfect picks for your cellar now.
Henri Gouges, who founded the venerable estate, was one of the first in Burgundy to estate bottle—at the time the winery was founded most just sold grapes or wine to negociants. He also was instrumental in creating the AOC system in Burgundy and help to get a vineyard classification worked out. The estate is based in Nuits, with holdings in most of the major crus and an incredible standard of quality across the board. The current generation, Christian and Pierre (grandsons of Henri) are making some of the finest wines in the estate’s history.
The new 2017’s are not your father’s Gouges wines. The domaine is known for powerful, incredibly long lived wines, often with fierce tannins when young. Yet, when we’ve tasted these wines in the last few vintages, they’re more refined and elegant than ever. You can tell there’s a strong spine that will allow the wines to age for a long time, but they’re surprisingly delicious now.
We have 47 different wines available from Gouges—arriving soon and in stock now. Even in spreadsheet form, that’d be too long a list for this newsletter, so check out some highlights below or shop all of the wines in our online store.
Some Highlights, Arriving ETA February:
Domaine Henri Gouges Les Saint-Georges, Nuits-Saint-Georges Premier Cru 2017 750ML ($219.95) $199 pre-arrival special
Decanter 95 points “There will be less Les St-Georges in 2018, as 20% of the vineyard has been replanted – if you’re a fan of this wine, now is the time to stock up. It’s appealingly aromatic and not as dense and brooding as this wine can be, but it’s a stylish, spicy, savoury premier cru red with good focus and a backdrop of blood and iron.”
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 93+ points “The 2017 Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er Cru Les Saint Georges is showing well, wafting from the glass with aromas of smoky berry fruit, licorice, candied peel, nori and rich soil tones, having already almost entirely integrated its framing of new wood. On the palate, the wine is medium to full-bodied, ample and nicely layered at the core, with good concentration, fine-grained but firm tannins and a precise, stony finish.”
Neal Martin-Vinous 92-94 points “The 2017 Nuits Saint-Georges Les Saint-Georges 1er Cru has a refined, harmonious bouquet of blackberry and bilberry aromas penetrated by a slight flintiness. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannin and beautifully integrated oak. Seamless in texture, leading to a poised, pure finish. This is easily the best of Gouges’s 2017s. Superb.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Domaine Henri Gouges Les Pruliers, Nuits-Saint-Georges Premier Cru 2017 750ML ($149.95) $119 pre-arrival special
Decanter 93 points “The age of the vines is quite diverse in this 1.8ha block, ranging from 20 to 80 years. It’s a comparatively forward red, especially for a Nuits from the south side of the village. Notes of summer berries and tobacco pouch mingle appealingly on the nose and palate with supporting acidity and scented oak, 20% new.”
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 92 points “The 2017 Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er Cru Les Pruliers wafts from the glass with an appealing bouquet of raspberries, red cherries, spiced plums, dried flowers and earthy forest floor. On the palate, it’s medium to full-bodied, with a ripe core of fruit, tangy acids and a firm, stony finish. It’s a suave, nicely integrated rendition of a climat that can sometimes be forbiddingly structural in its youth.”
Burghound 90-93 points– Outstanding “This too is noticeably reduced and aromatically unreadable today. Otherwise there is more volume and mid-palate density to the bigger and mostly muscular flavors that possess a less refined mouthfeel on the powerful, driving and more obviously structured finale. This is really quite good though at least some patience will be required.”
Neal Martin-Vinous 90-92 points “The 2017 Nuits Saint-Georges Les Pruliers 1er Cru offers intense black cherry, boysenberry and blueberry on the ripe, candied, generous nose, becoming more floral with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with sappy red and black fruit laced with blood orange and spices. Quite dense and grippy, this is another Gouges 2017 that will require several years in bottle.”
Domaine Henri Gouges Les Vaucrains, Nuits-Saint-Georges Premier Cru 2017 750ML ($179.95) $149 pre-arrival special
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 92 points “The 2017 Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er Cru Les Vaucrains is another unusually suave offering from Gouges, offering up aromas of dark berry fruit, wild plums, baking chocolate and rich soil tones, subtly framed by cedary new wood. On the palate, the wine is medium to full-bodied, deep and dense, but notably open-knit and juicy at the core, concluding with a long, sapid finish. Given how forbidding Vaucrains can be, this is an almost disconcertingly charming effort.”
Neal Martin-Vinous 91-93 points “The 2017 Nuits Saint-Georges Les Vaucrains 1er Cru has a lovely, intense bouquet that combines blue and black fruit, crushed violet petals and incense. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannin, showing a little more cohesion than the Les Pruliers, if not quite the same mineral drive as Domaine Chevillon’s. Still, there is decent length and depth to this Les Vaucrains, though it will need several years in bottle.”
Burghound 91-93 points – Outstanding “Slightly riper aromas of plum liqueur, violet, warm earth and plenty of sauvage character lead to intense and notably dense broad-shouldered flavors that display first-rate power on the serious and youthfully austere finish. This is a big wine in the context of what is typical for the 2017 vintage and should age effortlessly.”
Domaine Henri Gouges Les Chaignots, Nuits-Saint-Georges Premier Cru 2009 750ML ($119.95) $99 pre-arrival special
Antonio Galloni 92 points “The 2009 Nuits St. Georges Les Chaignots (from the northern side of the village) emerges from the glass with crushed flowers, spices and gently perfumed fruit. This is a relatively feminine, delicate style of Nuits, with silky tannins and terrific overall balance. A final burst of red fruit informs the finish. The Chaignots was bottled mid-January 2011. Anticipated maturity: 2019-2029.”
Burghound 89-92 points “This is also quite unevolved as the nose is primary to the point of grapiness though the hallmark spiciness of the appellation can still be discerned. The middle weight flavors possess a textured and quite supple mouth feel as the tannins are well-integrated on the lingering finish that displays an attractive sense of underlying tension and fine intensity. This should be lovely in time.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Domaine Henri Gouges Clos des Porrets Monopole, Nuits-Saint-Georges Premier Cru 2010 750ML ($179.95) $149 pre-arrival special
Antonio Galloni 91-93 points “The 2010 Nuits St. Georges Clos des Porrets Saint-Georges is the first wine in this lineup that shows the structure of the vintage. Freshly cut flowers, minerals, graphite and black cherries are woven into a textured fabric of notable class. I especially like its energy and drive. A precise, finely-chiseled finish rounds things out nicely. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2025.”
Antonio Galloni 91-93 points “The 2010 Nuits St. Georges Clos des Porrets Saint-Georges is the first wine in this lineup that shows the structure of the vintage. Freshly cut flowers, minerals, graphite and black cherries are woven into a textured fabric of notable class. I especially like its energy and drive. A precise, finely-chiseled finish rounds things out nicely. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2025.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Domaine Henri Gouges Les Pruliers, Nuits-Saint-Georges Premier Cru 2008 750ML ($119.95) $99 pre-arrival special
Neal Martin-Vinous 92 points “The 2008 Nuits Saint-Georges Les Pruliers 1er Cru has a pretty bouquet with cranberry, pomegranate, bergamot and Vervane tea aromas that gently unfold from the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin, quite crisp and certainly conveying more energy and tension than the 2007. It gently fans out towards the finish that is a little ferrous in style, with a dash of cracked pepper on the finish. Excellent. Tasted at the Gouges retrospective at La Cabotte.”
Stephen Tanzer 91 points “(this wine, the Vaucrains and the Saint-Georges were bottled in April of 2010): Good bright medium red. Enticing, very pure aromas of cherry, raspberry and flowers. Quite juicy and precise; not a fleshy wine but intensely fruity, taut and pure. Impressively long, rising finish. Gregory Gouges told me he finds most of the family’s 2008s to be agreeable now and probably best drunk early for their youthful fruit. He’s not convinced that the wines have enough dry extract for extended aging.”
Burghound 90-92 points – Sweet Spot Outstanding “Here is a distinct herbal character to the spicy red berry fruit and earth suffused nose that marries into rich, supple and attractively detailed middle weight flavors that possess good mid-palate concentration and culminate in a complex, harmonious and precise finish. A Pruliers of finesse and refinement.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Domaine Henri Gouges Les Chenes Carteaux, Nuits-Saint-Georges Premier Cru 2012 750ML ($99.95) $89 pre-arrival special
Neal Martin-Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2012 Nuits St Georges 1er Cru Les Chênes Carteaux has a clean and bright bouquet with brambly red berry fruit, plenty of undergrowth, damp tobacco and roof tile scents. This is very expressive with fine delineation and the linearity that it demonstrated from barrel. The palate is medium-bodied with crisp tensile tannin, plenty of citric fruit, quite linear at the moment with a sense of energy on the stony, stoic finish. Excellent.”
Antonio Galloni 90-92 points “Blue and purple fruit, smoke, licorice, violets and cloves flesh out in the 2012 Nuits St. Georges Les Chênes Carteaux. This is an especially round, supple Chênes Carteaux with tons of near and medium-term appeal. The round, silky finish is polished and beautifully resonant, all of which suggest the 2012 will drink better earlier than some of the other wines in this range.”
Burghound 89-92 points “Here too there is a touch of spice on the well-layered nose of both red and dark currants that is liberally laced with pungent earth notes. This is bigger and richer than the Chaignots with excellent volume, punch and power, all wrapped in a detailed, saline and impressively persistent finish. While the structure is firm, the tannins are relatively fine-grained and the overall impression is not especially rustic.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
We have 47 different bottlings from Gouges available for purchase in our online store.
Shop them all here.
Shop them all here.
Hess Collection Subscriber Special Ends Tonight
The Hess Collection’s current lineup more than pays homage to that initial spirit, making some of the best Cabernet on Mt. Veeder at under-market prices. They have an assortment of fantastic vineyards and you pair those with star consultant winemaker Celia Welch (Scarecrow, Corra, etc), you have a recipe for truly standout wines at prices that seem practically quaint.
We have an assortment of their wines arriving this Friday, all of which represent exceptional value in impeccably crafted Napa wine. The Mount Veeder Cabernet and Lion Tamer are especially noteworthy—bottles under $50 that are everything we look for in a drink-now big red. “The Lion” is their top wine—only produced in the best vintages. The 2013, on offer today, is the first one they made in five years and it more than merits that wait.
We have an assortment of their wines arriving this Friday, all of which represent exceptional value in impeccably crafted Napa wine. The Mount Veeder Cabernet and Lion Tamer are especially noteworthy—bottles under $50 that are everything we look for in a drink-now big red. “The Lion” is their top wine—only produced in the best vintages. The 2013, on offer today, is the first one they made in five years and it more than merits that wait.
Subscriber Special: 15% Off Hess Collection Wines
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Subscriber Special valid until 11:59 PM Pacific on Tuesday, February 4th
Subscriber Special pricing will not display online or in your cart.
We will manually adjust pricing before finalizing your order.
Subscriber Special valid until 11:59 PM Pacific on Tuesday, February 4th
Arriving Friday, February 7th:
The Hess Collection Estate Grown Cabernet Sauvignon, Mount Veeder 2012 750ML ($59.95) Listed price: $44, Subscriber-only two day pre-arrival special: $37.50
Robert Parker 93 points “The 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Mount Veeder (80% Cabernet Sauvignon and 20% Malbec) was one of the top wines presented to me. This wine needs another 4-5 years of cellaring and could keep 30 years. A beautiful nose of white flowers, graphite, blueberry and blackberry liqueur, along with the telltale cassis and tobacco leaf are all present in this wine, which offers great intensity and full-bodied power in a well-delineated and moderately structured style. Give the wine some time and watch it unfold. Anticipated maturity: 2020-2025+. For the quality, it is a reasonably priced wine, and there are 7,480 cases.”
Wine Enthusiast 93 points “With 20% Malbec, this wine is layered in refined complexity, swaying from juicy blueberry to herbaceous cherry and currant. Restrained in oak, with the slightest notion of vanilla on the palate, it finishes in mouthwatering dark chocolate—the tannins firm and structured.”
This is already the lowest listed price in the USA today,
Now it’s even lower!
The average price is $58
Now it’s even lower!
The average price is $58
The Hess Collection The Lion, Mount Veeder 2013 750ML ($199.95) Listed price: $119, Subscriber-only two day pre-arrival special: $101.15
Robert Parker 96 points “The last bottled wine I tasted is also spectacular, and rivals the finest wines ever made at Hess – the 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate The Lion. It is 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Malbec and 2% Petit Verdot and obviously a cuvée meant to be the best Cabernet Sauvignon-dominated wine they produce. They didn’t make it in 2009, 2010, 2011 or 2012, so this is the first vintage in some time. Inky purple in color it offers notes of lead pencil shavings, white flowers, blueberries and blackberries. The Mt. Veeder hallmark of blue fruits and white flowers definitely comes through in this supple, opaque purple wine that is full-bodied, built like a skyscraper and super-impressive. If this is what we can continue to expect from Hess Collection, they are on a quick, express elevator to the top. There are 431 cases of this gorgeous wine.”
Robert Parker 96 points “The last bottled wine I tasted is also spectacular, and rivals the finest wines ever made at Hess – the 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate The Lion. It is 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Malbec and 2% Petit Verdot and obviously a cuvée meant to be the best Cabernet Sauvignon-dominated wine they produce. They didn’t make it in 2009, 2010, 2011 or 2012, so this is the first vintage in some time. Inky purple in color it offers notes of lead pencil shavings, white flowers, blueberries and blackberries. The Mt. Veeder hallmark of blue fruits and white flowers definitely comes through in this supple, opaque purple wine that is full-bodied, built like a skyscraper and super-impressive. If this is what we can continue to expect from Hess Collection, they are on a quick, express elevator to the top. There are 431 cases of this gorgeous wine.”
This is already the lowest listed price in the USA today,
Now it’s even lower!
The next best price is $134.09
The average price is $181
Now it’s even lower!
The next best price is $134.09
The average price is $181
The Hess Collection Lion Tamer Red, Napa Valley 2016 750ML ($44.95) Listed price: $29, Subscriber-only two day pre-arrival special: $24.65
Wine Enthusiast 93 points “This is a blend of 40% Malbec, 27% Zinfandel, 21% Petite Sirah, 8% Cabernet Sauvignon and smaller amounts of Mourvèdre, Petit Verdot and Merlot. Together, they work to offer inviting elements of baking spice, cherry vanilla and a creamy palate of integrated tannins and toasted oak. The fleshy, lush feel benefits from a fresh backbone of acidity.”
This is already the lowest listed price in the USA today,
Now it’s even lower!
The average price is $40
Now it’s even lower!
The average price is $40
Only 5 bottles available!
The Hess Collection ‘The Lioness’ Chardonnay, Napa Valley 2015 750ML ($59.95) Listed price: $44, Subscriber-only two day pre-arrival special: $37.50
Wine Advocate 93 points “This is the inaugural vintage of this new flagship Chardonnay for The Hess Collection. The 2015 Chardonnay The Lioness Estate is 100% barrel-fermented in French oak, employing 50% new oak. It opens with intense grapefruit, white peach and pineapple notes with suggestions of nutmeg, honeyed toast and orange blossoms plus a hint of beeswax. Full-bodied, rich, satiny-textured and delivering tons of tropical and stone fruit flavors, it has lovely freshness to balance and great length. 464 cases were made.”
Jeb Dunnuck 93 points “The 2015 Chardonnay The Lioness is a beauty. Brought up in 50% new French oak and bottled unfiltered, it offers a rich yet also fresh bouquet of orchard fruits, melon, allspice, and brioche. With medium to full body, a rounded, opulent texture, and moderate acidity, it’s a powerful, balanced 2015 to drink over the coming 4-5 years.”
The Hess Collection ‘The Lioness’ Chardonnay, Napa Valley 2015 750ML ($59.95) Listed price: $44, Subscriber-only two day pre-arrival special: $37.50
Wine Advocate 93 points “This is the inaugural vintage of this new flagship Chardonnay for The Hess Collection. The 2015 Chardonnay The Lioness Estate is 100% barrel-fermented in French oak, employing 50% new oak. It opens with intense grapefruit, white peach and pineapple notes with suggestions of nutmeg, honeyed toast and orange blossoms plus a hint of beeswax. Full-bodied, rich, satiny-textured and delivering tons of tropical and stone fruit flavors, it has lovely freshness to balance and great length. 464 cases were made.”
Jeb Dunnuck 93 points “The 2015 Chardonnay The Lioness is a beauty. Brought up in 50% new French oak and bottled unfiltered, it offers a rich yet also fresh bouquet of orchard fruits, melon, allspice, and brioche. With medium to full body, a rounded, opulent texture, and moderate acidity, it’s a powerful, balanced 2015 to drink over the coming 4-5 years.”
This is already the lowest listed price in the USA today,
Now it’s even lower!
The next best price is $49.88
The average price is $54
Subscriber Special: 15% Off Hess Collection Wines
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Subscriber Special valid until 11:59 PM Pacific on Tuesday, February 4th
Markus Molitor’s Epic Mosel Rieslings
Amongst our dizzying selection of German Riesling, we have everything from Mosel heavyweights to insider’s secrets from neighboring regions. However, few producers have us more excited about the present and future of Germany than Markus Molitor.
After 35 years at the helm of the family business, Markus remains one of the most respected winemakers in the world. As a staunch advocate of single bottle expressions, he not only keeps specific vineyard blocks separate, but also specific passes through the vineyard. What results is a somewhat confusing, especially to those unfamiliar with German labeling conventions, but deeply rewarding portfolio of wines to explore. Whether white capsule (dry), green capsule (off-dry), or gold capsule (fruity to nobly sweet), Markus’ wines represent some of the Mosel’s best. And thanks to his extensive holdings, Molitor offers German Riesling lovers with a passport to explore many of the region’s most important vineyards – including Ürziger Würzgarten, Wehlener Klosterberg, and Zeltinger Himmelreich, just to name a few.
In stock now, a wide range of Markus Molitor wine from two of the Mosel’s best recent vintages, 2015 and 2016. Wines that are just beginning to show their true greatness, and poised to evolve into legendary wines in the years to come.
In Stock Now:
Only 9 bottles available!
Markus Molitor Urziger Wurzgarten Riesling Auslese *** GK, Mosel 2015 750 ($119.95) $99 special
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 98+ points “The 2015 Riesling Ürziger Würzgarten Auslese *** (Golden Capsule) offers a very clear, deep, intense and complex stone fruit aroma with some very discreet toast and crushed stone flavors. Full-bodied, rich and powerful but enormously racy-piquant and mineral so that you don’t taste its sweetness, this is a great, expressive terroir wine with a huge inner concentration that comes from the soils rather than dried berries. It is based on grapes with dry raisins due to perfect botrytis combined with healthy berries that deliver the tremendous freshness in this gorgeous Auslese that also reveals some fine tannins from the aging partly in small oak.”
Only 10 bottles available!
Markus Molitor Urziger Wurzgarten Riesling Kabinett GK, Mosel 2016 750 ($27.95) $21.90 special
David Schildknecht – Vinous 92 points “A chive-like remnant of fermentative and sulfur notes largely clears with aeration to reveal site-typical scents of fresh strawberry and lime that anticipate the brightly juicy impression on a polished, subtly silken palate. Alkaline and stony accents add welcome counterpoint on a lusciously sustained finish.”
Stuart Pigott-jamessuckling .com 92 points “Very peachy, ripe and juicy with a touch of caramel. A bright and lively finish that lifts the wine. Drink or hold.”
After 35 years at the helm of the family business, Markus remains one of the most respected winemakers in the world. As a staunch advocate of single bottle expressions, he not only keeps specific vineyard blocks separate, but also specific passes through the vineyard. What results is a somewhat confusing, especially to those unfamiliar with German labeling conventions, but deeply rewarding portfolio of wines to explore. Whether white capsule (dry), green capsule (off-dry), or gold capsule (fruity to nobly sweet), Markus’ wines represent some of the Mosel’s best. And thanks to his extensive holdings, Molitor offers German Riesling lovers with a passport to explore many of the region’s most important vineyards – including Ürziger Würzgarten, Wehlener Klosterberg, and Zeltinger Himmelreich, just to name a few.
In stock now, a wide range of Markus Molitor wine from two of the Mosel’s best recent vintages, 2015 and 2016. Wines that are just beginning to show their true greatness, and poised to evolve into legendary wines in the years to come.
In Stock Now:
Only 9 bottles available!
Markus Molitor Urziger Wurzgarten Riesling Auslese *** GK, Mosel 2015 750 ($119.95) $99 special
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 98+ points “The 2015 Riesling Ürziger Würzgarten Auslese *** (Golden Capsule) offers a very clear, deep, intense and complex stone fruit aroma with some very discreet toast and crushed stone flavors. Full-bodied, rich and powerful but enormously racy-piquant and mineral so that you don’t taste its sweetness, this is a great, expressive terroir wine with a huge inner concentration that comes from the soils rather than dried berries. It is based on grapes with dry raisins due to perfect botrytis combined with healthy berries that deliver the tremendous freshness in this gorgeous Auslese that also reveals some fine tannins from the aging partly in small oak.”
Only 10 bottles available!
Markus Molitor Urziger Wurzgarten Riesling Kabinett GK, Mosel 2016 750 ($27.95) $21.90 special
David Schildknecht – Vinous 92 points “A chive-like remnant of fermentative and sulfur notes largely clears with aeration to reveal site-typical scents of fresh strawberry and lime that anticipate the brightly juicy impression on a polished, subtly silken palate. Alkaline and stony accents add welcome counterpoint on a lusciously sustained finish.”
Stuart Pigott-jamessuckling .com 92 points “Very peachy, ripe and juicy with a touch of caramel. A bright and lively finish that lifts the wine. Drink or hold.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Only 12 bottles available!
Markus Molitor Urziger Wurzgarten Riesling Kabinett Trocken WK, Mosel 2016 750 ($29.95) $24 special
David Schildknecht-Vinous 93 points “Here is a gorgeous example of delicacy allied to flavor intensity and luscious fruit allied to savory mineral notes. Scents of fresh strawberry and lime anticipate the brightly juicy impression on a polished, buoyant palate. Lily-of-the-valley and rowan waft throughout, casting a memorable floral spell. The sweet-saline savor of raw scallop tugs at the salivary glands on a superbly sustained finish. Bear in mind that we’re talking here about a dry Riesling (okay, perhaps legally halbtrocken – I neither checked nor cared) with only 10.5% alcohol!”
Wine Advocate 92+ points “The 2016 Riesling Ürziger Würzgarten Kabinett (White Capsule) is deep and concentrated on the complex, citric and slatey nose but still discreet in its fruit aromas. This is serious Riesling at 10.5% alcohol! Dry but round and intense, with a creamy texture, fine tannins and lush fruit, the Würzgarten has a remarkable mineral expression, but there is not much Mosel charm and primary fruit at this early moment. Early? Well, yes. It’s early March 2018, and the wine is only slowly starting to develop. The finish, however, is dense, lush, compact, very fine, well-structured and perfectly balanced.”
Stuart Pigott-jamessuckling .com 92 points “A classic example of this special site with red volcanic soils. Aromas of freshly sliced peaches and wild strawberries pour out of the glass. Juicy, deep and delicate. The finish is full of herbs and spices. Drink or hold.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Only 14 bottles available!
Markus Molitor Wehlener Klosterberg Riesling Auslese *** GK, Mosel 2015 750 ($69.95) $59 special
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 96 points “The 2015 Riesling Wehlener Klosterberg Auslese ** (Golden Capsule) is very clear and precise on the nose where concentrated lemon and grapefruit aromas intermix with piquant slate flavors. On the palate, this is a round, lush, piquant, crystalline and very elegant Auslese with great precision and concentration as well as remarkable finesse. The wine reveals lingering salinity and grippy piquancy in the finish that swallows the sweetness with ease. A great and precise Auslese!”
Mosel Fine Wines 93 points “This delivers a beautiful nose of yellow peach, almond cream, pineapple and poached pear. The wine proves juicy and quite ripe on the palate with honeyed flavors of yellow fruits coming through in the long and smooth finish. There is a touch of acidity coming through in the after-taste which lifts up the aromatic. This needs a decade to fully shine. 2025-2045.”
Markus Molitor Wehlener Klosterberg Riesling Kabinett WK, Mosel 2016 750 ($21.95) $17 special
David Schildknecht-Vinous 90 points “Site-typical in its apple garlanded with heliotrope and tinged with nutmeg, as well as in its subtle creaminess combined with invigorating tartness, this misses only the memorably savory, scallop-like aspect of the corresponding Haus Klosterberg bottling (which, as usual, leaned heavily on Wehlener Klosterberg).”
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 90 points “The 2016 Riesling Wehlener Klosterberg Kabinett (White Capsule) is clear, pure, fresh and mineral on the nose where citric notes are displayed. Bottled with just 10% alcohol, this is a dry yet lush and textured Kabinett with fine mineral and phenolic structure and excellent aging potential. Keep it for 4 to 5 years and then enjoy over the next 20+ years. Tasted March 2018.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Markus Molitor Zeltinger Himmelreich Riesling Auslese Feinherb ** GK, Mosel 2016 750 ($69.95) $59 special
Wine Advocate 97 points “The 2016 Riesling Zeltinger Himmelreich Auslese ** (Green Capsule) is terribly fine, pure and fresh but also perfectly ripe and rich on the nose without losing precision. Round and highly elegant on the palate, with tropical fruit flavors and just the perfect amount of sweetness, this is a great, vital Himmelreich with superb finesse, purity, mineral tension and bright fruit notes in the long and beautifully slatey finish. This is a gorgeous, exciting Riesling—very stimulating.”
Wine Advocate 97 points “The 2016 Riesling Zeltinger Himmelreich Auslese ** (Green Capsule) is terribly fine, pure and fresh but also perfectly ripe and rich on the nose without losing precision. Round and highly elegant on the palate, with tropical fruit flavors and just the perfect amount of sweetness, this is a great, vital Himmelreich with superb finesse, purity, mineral tension and bright fruit notes in the long and beautifully slatey finish. This is a gorgeous, exciting Riesling—very stimulating.”
We have 92 Markus Molitor bottlings in store or available via pre-arrival.
Shop the full selection on our web store now!
Shop the full selection on our web store now!
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Outstanding Rioja that’s classical and precise.
CVNE Cune Reserva, Rioja DOCa 2013 750ML ($27.95) $21.90 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-12 CVNE Cune Reserva, Rioja DOCa 2013 750ML ($279.95) $219 special (that’s only $18.25/bottle and the lowest listed price in the USA today!)
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 90 points “Brilliant ruby. Energetic, mineral-accented raspberry and cherry aromas reveal hints of rose, vanilla and woodsmoke. Silky and expansive on entry, offering nicely concentrated red fruit flavors that gain energy and a smoky mineral quality with air. Floral pastille and cracked pepper notes linger on the juicy, focused finish, which shows very good clarity and sneaky, fine-grained tannins. Much of the juice that would normally go into the high-end Imperial bottlings wound up in here this vintage.”
CVNE Cune Reserva, Rioja DOCa 2013 750ML ($27.95) $21.90 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-12 CVNE Cune Reserva, Rioja DOCa 2013 750ML ($279.95) $219 special (that’s only $18.25/bottle and the lowest listed price in the USA today!)
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 90 points “Brilliant ruby. Energetic, mineral-accented raspberry and cherry aromas reveal hints of rose, vanilla and woodsmoke. Silky and expansive on entry, offering nicely concentrated red fruit flavors that gain energy and a smoky mineral quality with air. Floral pastille and cracked pepper notes linger on the juicy, focused finish, which shows very good clarity and sneaky, fine-grained tannins. Much of the juice that would normally go into the high-end Imperial bottlings wound up in here this vintage.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
The average price nationally is $28
The average price nationally is $28
Pizza night got a lot more fun with this wine. Also roast chicken night, stew night and the rest.
Domaine Serol Eclat de Granite Cote Roannaise, Loire 2017 750ML ($21.95) $16.50 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
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.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
An amazing Pinot Noir for under $20.
Bow & Arrow Willamete 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!
This delivers cult-Cabernet quality at normal Napa pricing.
Eisele Vineyard ‘Altagracia’ Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2016 750ML ($169.95) $149 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
James Suckling 96 points “Lots of violets and dark berries with sweet underbrush and fresh mushrooms, following through to a medium to full body, soft and silky tannins and a succulent and refined finish. It remains supple and beautiful. Hard not to drink now. Better after 2023.”
Wine Advocate 95 points “The Altagracia is produced almost exclusively from estate fruit this year and was bottled at the end of June 2018. Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Altagracia comes bursting forth with vivacious black cherries, blackberries, wild blueberries and cassis notes with touches of cinnamon stick, cloves, forest floor, violets and dusty earth with a waft of violets. The palate is medium to full-bodied, firm and grainy with loads of iron and mineral accents, finishing long and perfumed.”
This is sneakily one of the best New World Pinot Noirs out there—but being from Chile, it’s a steal.
Montsecano Pinot Noir, Casablanca Valley 2016 750ML ($49.95) $39 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Luis Gutierrez-Wine Advocate 94+ points “One of the best vintages of the grand vin here has to be the eponymous 2016 Montsecano, produced 100% with Pinot Noir from the zone of Las Dichas in Casablanca. The vines were planted in 2006 on red clay and granite soils and, as all the wines here, sees no oak whatsoever; it fermented in stainless steel with indigenous yeasts and was kept in egg-shaped cement vats until bottling in February 2017. This is simply delicious. This is not a Burgundy Pinot Noir, there is always a touch of rusticity here, an earthy touch. This is a pure Pinot Noir; it slowly opens up in the glass to an intoxicating mixture of wild flowers and herbs, with that rustic touch. The palate has very fine-grained tannins, tasty and long. I think this captures the intensity of the people that work here. 8,000 bottles produced.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
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