In Today’s Newsletter:
The Most Overlooked Great Wines In Germany?
Vietti’s Castiglione
The 2016 Barolo Frenzy Starts
Frog’s Leap Friday
Ultra-Classic Napa Wines at Fantastic, Old School Prices
Staff Pick: Last of the Willamette Valley 2012s
Mercury Rising: Juillot’s Stellar, Value Burgundy
Heros of Italy’s Hidden Great Wine Region
Bibbiano’s Top Chianti Gran Selezione
#Trending
Collector’s Corner
Delas’ Top Wines
The Most Overlooked Great Wines In Germany?
Selbach-Oster is the single most overlooked estate in the Middle Mosel. If that statement seems crazy to you, bear with us—after all, we understand your skepticism. It’s easy to find their wines at shops and in restaurants, so clearly they get some attention.
Unfortunately, the efficiency of their distribution obscures that Selbach-Oster makes wine every bit as good or better than collectible producers like Prum or Molitor. Not that you’d know it from pricing, though—Selbach’s wines are among the best values out there. For better or worse, the fairness of their prices lead many consumers to group them with much less prestigious estates, which is a win for lovers of wine, even if it’s unfair to the Selbachs.
What makes the Selbach wines so special (and perhaps what makes them as underrated) is that they aren’t showy or extreme, especially when it comes to levels of residual sugar and acidity. This makes them incredibly useful at the table. The trend in Germany today seems to “declassify” in ripness, leading true Kabinett and Spatlese to be rare beasts indeed.
Selbach seems to squarely resist the trend, even though they could pick riper and leave more residual sugar in pursuit of high scores. That would lead to wines that would be more “opulent,” but wouldn’t work very well at the table.
We have a broad assortment of the Selbach-Oster wines, from Kabinett to Beernauslese and everything in between—25 different skus in all. From dry to sweet, we’ve got you covered. You can see all the different wines in our webstore, or keep reading for some highlights.
In Stock Now:
Selbach-Oster Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese, Mosel 2015 750ML ($39.95) $36 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 95 points “The 2015 Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese is bright, pure, very fine, floral and flinty on the nose. It is provided with perfectly ripe and concentrated, slate-flavored fruit aromas intermixed with lemon and grapefruit notes. This is a lush, piquant and elegant, filigreed and finessed Auslese. It has great finesse and provided with a lot of Spiel and salt. The finish is pure, piquant and salty, but also lush and generous. This is a very precise, straight and stimulating, highly digestible Auslese with a lot of energy, tension and aging potential. It is very clear and there is no hint of botrytis here.”
Mosel Fine Wines 93 points “This offers a beautiful nose of cassis, grapefruit, greengage, apricot tree flower, white flowers and herbs. A more yellow fruit driven side comes through on the palate with yellow peach playing with acidity to produce a mouth-watering cocktail of Mosel charm. A hint of sweetness in the finish is still in need of integration of this gorgeous Auslese in the making. 2025-2045.”
Selbach-Oster Zeltinger Schlossberg Riesling Kabinett, Mosel 2016 750ML ($31.95) $24 special, 22+ bottles in stock now
Case-12 Selbach-Oster Zeltinger Schlossberg Riesling Kabinett, Mosel 2016 750ML ($289.95) $249 special (that’s only $20.75/bottle!)
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 92 points “Opening with nice reduction but precise and ripe fruit as well as crunchy slate aromas on the nose, the 2016 Zeltinger Schlossberg Riesling Kabinett is pure and flinty, well-structured and quite aristocratic (though a frivolous aristocrat), with a firm structure, lush fruit and a lovely lightness and buoyancy. Very stimulating and mouthwatering, but it’s far too young to appreciate the full complexity it will deliver in a couple of years. Salty, grippy and fruity—just a perfect Kabinett.”
Stuart Pigott – jamessuckling .com 91 points “Super-fresh and vibrant with a cool, mineral-herbal personality and a very clean, long finish. You could drink it any time during the next decade, but why wait?”
Mosel Fine Wines 90+ points “The 2016er Zeltinger Schlossberg Kabinett was harvested at 86-87° Oechsle. It develops a slightly ripe nose of pear puree, herbs and spices. The wine is nicely playful and delicately infused with herbs on the palate and leaves a juicy feel in the direct and elegant finish. This is still reduced and will need some time to develop its full potential. 2026-2041.”
Selbach-Oster Bernkasteler Badstube Riesling Auslese, Mosel 2014 750ML ($34.95) $24 special, 19 bottles in stock now
Importer note “Bernkasteler Badstube is a small grosslage; the component single-sites are distinct from one another, but one can organize them thus: Lay stands alone. Doktor-Graben (at least the good parts of Graben!) Stand together, and Matheisbildchen-Bratenhöfchen stand together, and give us what we see now; heavier understructure, not quite as tensile, due to richer soil, and signature flavors of kirsch and almost Pouilly-Fumé flint; the piquant exotics of the mosel. Typically, they are medium in body.”
Selbach-Oster Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Rotlay Riesling, Mosel 2014 750ML ($59.95) $39 special, 24 bottles in stock now
Wine Advocate 94+ points “The 2014 Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese Rotlay offers a superbly clear and concentrated bouquet with tropical fruit aromas (mango, pineapples) and fine botrytis. Picked with 110° Oechsle, this is a sweet, piquant, highly elegant and refined Riesling with a lingering purity and salinity, as well as the repetition of the tropical fruit aromas of the nose. With great finesse and concentration, this is quite noble and expressive Riesling.”
Selbach-Oster ‘Schmitt’ Zeltinger Schlossberg Riesling, Mosel 2014 750ML ($59.95) $41.90 special, 19 bottles in stock now
Grapelive 95+ points “The brilliant and exotic Schmitt comes from the steep slate hill above the church, set back from the Mosel. There is great southern exposure here and it less affected by noble rot, a big plus in 2014. It allowed this rich and lush wine to remain crystalline and focused. This is one of the great wines of the vintage! Johannes Selbach’s top wines are not Trocken/Grosses Gewachs, but are single block wines from Cru sites. They are also heavy weighted, dense and medium sweet, but it is not about the sugar: it is all about the terroir and overall balance. These are wines of hedonism, power, textural pleasure and vitality, especially the Schmitt in 2014. It explores the boundaries of perfection in a fantastically difficult vintage. The was a savage thinning of the crop and a tiny window to get the grapes in to make this masterpiece from the old vines at Zeltinger Schlossberg. It is truly amazing with all the problems and heartbreak endured here that a wine of this quality and gorgeous detail managed to happen at all. Somehow this block come through and made one of the most glorious Riesling wines of the year. The 2014 Schmitt by Selbach-Oster starts with a sweet perfume. This wine shows white roses, dripping jasmine, hints of gardenia and tropical essences that lead to a full bodied, Auslese weight palate with apricot, green apple, lime and mango fruits leading the way along with a mix of spicy mineral and flinty stones, briny sea shore notes, soft honey decadence, creamy verbena and sweet peach flesh. The finish carries over the core of fruit and richness, but there is a burst of dynamic acidity and vibrancy. This is not a flabby wine and you are left with a dreamy/haunting impression with lingering tangerine sorbet, crushed stone and wet steeliness. This is fabulous Riesling and one you’ll want in the cellar. This has 100 Point potential and it will also drink well young. It already has poise and elegance, but should last two or three decades! Don’t be afraid of its sugar levels, it drinks like a lavish Grand Cru Corton-Charlemagne and is a spectacular wine from Selbach-Oster!”
Selbach-Oster Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Riesling Spatlese, Mosel 2015 750ML ($34.95) $28 special, 10 bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 93+ points “The 2015 Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Riesling Spätlese seems not as clear and brilliant on the nose as the corresponding Schlossberg and Badstube in the first moments, but this changes after a while in the glass when it becomes more clear and flinty. Full-bodied, lush and mouth-filling this is a very sweet but also mineral and piquant Spätlese with a fine acidity and a lingering salinity. This is a very rich, but firmly structured Spätlese that comes along as an Auslese and should be aged for 15 or 20 years to show all its talents.”
David Schildknecht – Vinous 92 points “A strikingly ripe nose of white peach, pear and fig with musky and decadent floral overtones translates on a glossy and expansive palate into a sumptuous display of rich fruit and liquid perfume backed by generous sweetness. But for all of this wine’s up-front opulence, it finishes with buoyancy, irrepressible refreshment and impressive clarity, revealing site-typical smoky, alkaline and stony nuances.”
Mosel Fine Wines 92 points “AP#15. Notes of spontaneous fermentation give way to candied grapefruit, cassis and peach, with herbs and spices firmly pushed to the background. The wine delivers a slightly Auslese creamy feel on the palate and leaves a clean fruity feel in the long finish. 2025-2040.”
Vietti’s Castiglione
The 2016 Barolo Frenzy Starts
Vietti’s Barolo “Castiglione” may be the most reliable value in Barolo and in a year like 2016…well, it’s almost unfair that this wine is under $50. This is their “entry” Barolo, but in practice, it’s more like a mid-tier bottling (the Perbacco functions as an entry level wine entirely from Barolo vineyards). As a result, it sees slightly younger vines (generally from Ravera) and also (importantly) all of the vineyards which are important but in which Vietti’s holdings are too small to make a cru bottling. It’s always a remarkably complete Barolo for the price, fermented and aged like the crus—the only difference is in the final blend.
In a once-in-a-generation vintage like 2016, this wine goes from being very good to being exceptional. This is the equal to many $70+ bottlings from other vintages. Vietti has been on fire the last few years and this is only adding to their string of remarkable wines. This is one of the first ’16 Barolos we’ve seen and based on the (deserved) hype, securing them us going to be competitive—so don’t wait around.
Arriving Friday:
Vietti Castiglione, Barolo DOCG 2016 750ML ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival special
Antonio Galloni 94 points “The 2016 Barolo Castiglione is a dazzling wine that will show readers just how compelling this vintage is, even among entry-level wines from top producers. Rich, ample and explosive, the 2016 possesses tremendous richness and resonance from the very first taste. Bright red cherry and red plum fruit, wild flowers, mint, blood orange and spice build as this sumptuous, dramatic Barolo shows all it’s got. As always, the Castiglione is built on a core of fruit from Ravera. In 2016, the Castiglione benefits from the inclusion of several new sites, including Ginestra, Mosconi, Bricco Ravera (in Monforte), Le Coste, Costabelle, Meriame, Briccolina and Codana. All I can say is: What a wine!”
Frog’s Leap Friday
Ultra-Classic Napa Wines at Fantastic, Old School Prices
The Most Overlooked Great Wines In Germany?
Vietti’s Castiglione
The 2016 Barolo Frenzy Starts
Frog’s Leap Friday
Ultra-Classic Napa Wines at Fantastic, Old School Prices
Staff Pick: Last of the Willamette Valley 2012s
Mercury Rising: Juillot’s Stellar, Value Burgundy
Heros of Italy’s Hidden Great Wine Region
Bibbiano’s Top Chianti Gran Selezione
#Trending
Collector’s Corner
Delas’ Top Wines
The Most Overlooked Great Wines In Germany?
Selbach-Oster is the single most overlooked estate in the Middle Mosel. If that statement seems crazy to you, bear with us—after all, we understand your skepticism. It’s easy to find their wines at shops and in restaurants, so clearly they get some attention.
Unfortunately, the efficiency of their distribution obscures that Selbach-Oster makes wine every bit as good or better than collectible producers like Prum or Molitor. Not that you’d know it from pricing, though—Selbach’s wines are among the best values out there. For better or worse, the fairness of their prices lead many consumers to group them with much less prestigious estates, which is a win for lovers of wine, even if it’s unfair to the Selbachs.
What makes the Selbach wines so special (and perhaps what makes them as underrated) is that they aren’t showy or extreme, especially when it comes to levels of residual sugar and acidity. This makes them incredibly useful at the table. The trend in Germany today seems to “declassify” in ripness, leading true Kabinett and Spatlese to be rare beasts indeed.
Selbach seems to squarely resist the trend, even though they could pick riper and leave more residual sugar in pursuit of high scores. That would lead to wines that would be more “opulent,” but wouldn’t work very well at the table.
We have a broad assortment of the Selbach-Oster wines, from Kabinett to Beernauslese and everything in between—25 different skus in all. From dry to sweet, we’ve got you covered. You can see all the different wines in our webstore, or keep reading for some highlights.
In Stock Now:
Selbach-Oster Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese, Mosel 2015 750ML ($39.95) $36 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 95 points “The 2015 Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese is bright, pure, very fine, floral and flinty on the nose. It is provided with perfectly ripe and concentrated, slate-flavored fruit aromas intermixed with lemon and grapefruit notes. This is a lush, piquant and elegant, filigreed and finessed Auslese. It has great finesse and provided with a lot of Spiel and salt. The finish is pure, piquant and salty, but also lush and generous. This is a very precise, straight and stimulating, highly digestible Auslese with a lot of energy, tension and aging potential. It is very clear and there is no hint of botrytis here.”
Mosel Fine Wines 93 points “This offers a beautiful nose of cassis, grapefruit, greengage, apricot tree flower, white flowers and herbs. A more yellow fruit driven side comes through on the palate with yellow peach playing with acidity to produce a mouth-watering cocktail of Mosel charm. A hint of sweetness in the finish is still in need of integration of this gorgeous Auslese in the making. 2025-2045.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Selbach-Oster Zeltinger Schlossberg Riesling Kabinett, Mosel 2016 750ML ($31.95) $24 special, 22+ bottles in stock now
Case-12 Selbach-Oster Zeltinger Schlossberg Riesling Kabinett, Mosel 2016 750ML ($289.95) $249 special (that’s only $20.75/bottle!)
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 92 points “Opening with nice reduction but precise and ripe fruit as well as crunchy slate aromas on the nose, the 2016 Zeltinger Schlossberg Riesling Kabinett is pure and flinty, well-structured and quite aristocratic (though a frivolous aristocrat), with a firm structure, lush fruit and a lovely lightness and buoyancy. Very stimulating and mouthwatering, but it’s far too young to appreciate the full complexity it will deliver in a couple of years. Salty, grippy and fruity—just a perfect Kabinett.”
Stuart Pigott – jamessuckling .com 91 points “Super-fresh and vibrant with a cool, mineral-herbal personality and a very clean, long finish. You could drink it any time during the next decade, but why wait?”
Mosel Fine Wines 90+ points “The 2016er Zeltinger Schlossberg Kabinett was harvested at 86-87° Oechsle. It develops a slightly ripe nose of pear puree, herbs and spices. The wine is nicely playful and delicately infused with herbs on the palate and leaves a juicy feel in the direct and elegant finish. This is still reduced and will need some time to develop its full potential. 2026-2041.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Selbach-Oster Bernkasteler Badstube Riesling Auslese, Mosel 2014 750ML ($34.95) $24 special, 19 bottles in stock now
Importer note “Bernkasteler Badstube is a small grosslage; the component single-sites are distinct from one another, but one can organize them thus: Lay stands alone. Doktor-Graben (at least the good parts of Graben!) Stand together, and Matheisbildchen-Bratenhöfchen stand together, and give us what we see now; heavier understructure, not quite as tensile, due to richer soil, and signature flavors of kirsch and almost Pouilly-Fumé flint; the piquant exotics of the mosel. Typically, they are medium in body.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Selbach-Oster Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Rotlay Riesling, Mosel 2014 750ML ($59.95) $39 special, 24 bottles in stock now
Wine Advocate 94+ points “The 2014 Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese Rotlay offers a superbly clear and concentrated bouquet with tropical fruit aromas (mango, pineapples) and fine botrytis. Picked with 110° Oechsle, this is a sweet, piquant, highly elegant and refined Riesling with a lingering purity and salinity, as well as the repetition of the tropical fruit aromas of the nose. With great finesse and concentration, this is quite noble and expressive Riesling.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Selbach-Oster ‘Schmitt’ Zeltinger Schlossberg Riesling, Mosel 2014 750ML ($59.95) $41.90 special, 19 bottles in stock now
Grapelive 95+ points “The brilliant and exotic Schmitt comes from the steep slate hill above the church, set back from the Mosel. There is great southern exposure here and it less affected by noble rot, a big plus in 2014. It allowed this rich and lush wine to remain crystalline and focused. This is one of the great wines of the vintage! Johannes Selbach’s top wines are not Trocken/Grosses Gewachs, but are single block wines from Cru sites. They are also heavy weighted, dense and medium sweet, but it is not about the sugar: it is all about the terroir and overall balance. These are wines of hedonism, power, textural pleasure and vitality, especially the Schmitt in 2014. It explores the boundaries of perfection in a fantastically difficult vintage. The was a savage thinning of the crop and a tiny window to get the grapes in to make this masterpiece from the old vines at Zeltinger Schlossberg. It is truly amazing with all the problems and heartbreak endured here that a wine of this quality and gorgeous detail managed to happen at all. Somehow this block come through and made one of the most glorious Riesling wines of the year. The 2014 Schmitt by Selbach-Oster starts with a sweet perfume. This wine shows white roses, dripping jasmine, hints of gardenia and tropical essences that lead to a full bodied, Auslese weight palate with apricot, green apple, lime and mango fruits leading the way along with a mix of spicy mineral and flinty stones, briny sea shore notes, soft honey decadence, creamy verbena and sweet peach flesh. The finish carries over the core of fruit and richness, but there is a burst of dynamic acidity and vibrancy. This is not a flabby wine and you are left with a dreamy/haunting impression with lingering tangerine sorbet, crushed stone and wet steeliness. This is fabulous Riesling and one you’ll want in the cellar. This has 100 Point potential and it will also drink well young. It already has poise and elegance, but should last two or three decades! Don’t be afraid of its sugar levels, it drinks like a lavish Grand Cru Corton-Charlemagne and is a spectacular wine from Selbach-Oster!”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Selbach-Oster Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Riesling Spatlese, Mosel 2015 750ML ($34.95) $28 special, 10 bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 93+ points “The 2015 Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Riesling Spätlese seems not as clear and brilliant on the nose as the corresponding Schlossberg and Badstube in the first moments, but this changes after a while in the glass when it becomes more clear and flinty. Full-bodied, lush and mouth-filling this is a very sweet but also mineral and piquant Spätlese with a fine acidity and a lingering salinity. This is a very rich, but firmly structured Spätlese that comes along as an Auslese and should be aged for 15 or 20 years to show all its talents.”
David Schildknecht – Vinous 92 points “A strikingly ripe nose of white peach, pear and fig with musky and decadent floral overtones translates on a glossy and expansive palate into a sumptuous display of rich fruit and liquid perfume backed by generous sweetness. But for all of this wine’s up-front opulence, it finishes with buoyancy, irrepressible refreshment and impressive clarity, revealing site-typical smoky, alkaline and stony nuances.”
Mosel Fine Wines 92 points “AP#15. Notes of spontaneous fermentation give way to candied grapefruit, cassis and peach, with herbs and spices firmly pushed to the background. The wine delivers a slightly Auslese creamy feel on the palate and leaves a clean fruity feel in the long finish. 2025-2040.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Vietti’s Castiglione
The 2016 Barolo Frenzy Starts
Vietti’s Barolo “Castiglione” may be the most reliable value in Barolo and in a year like 2016…well, it’s almost unfair that this wine is under $50. This is their “entry” Barolo, but in practice, it’s more like a mid-tier bottling (the Perbacco functions as an entry level wine entirely from Barolo vineyards). As a result, it sees slightly younger vines (generally from Ravera) and also (importantly) all of the vineyards which are important but in which Vietti’s holdings are too small to make a cru bottling. It’s always a remarkably complete Barolo for the price, fermented and aged like the crus—the only difference is in the final blend.
In a once-in-a-generation vintage like 2016, this wine goes from being very good to being exceptional. This is the equal to many $70+ bottlings from other vintages. Vietti has been on fire the last few years and this is only adding to their string of remarkable wines. This is one of the first ’16 Barolos we’ve seen and based on the (deserved) hype, securing them us going to be competitive—so don’t wait around.
Arriving Friday:
Vietti Castiglione, Barolo DOCG 2016 750ML ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival special
Antonio Galloni 94 points “The 2016 Barolo Castiglione is a dazzling wine that will show readers just how compelling this vintage is, even among entry-level wines from top producers. Rich, ample and explosive, the 2016 possesses tremendous richness and resonance from the very first taste. Bright red cherry and red plum fruit, wild flowers, mint, blood orange and spice build as this sumptuous, dramatic Barolo shows all it’s got. As always, the Castiglione is built on a core of fruit from Ravera. In 2016, the Castiglione benefits from the inclusion of several new sites, including Ginestra, Mosconi, Bricco Ravera (in Monforte), Le Coste, Costabelle, Meriame, Briccolina and Codana. All I can say is: What a wine!”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Frog’s Leap Friday
Ultra-Classic Napa Wines at Fantastic, Old School Prices
Frog’s Leap is one of the last great old-school Napa producers. Seemingly immune to trends, they’ve made classically proportioned wines since their founding and continue to today. If you want Cabernet that has fruit but also structure and freshness, Frog’s Leap’s wines are right up your alley. Ditto their Chard, Merlot and Zinfandel—these are wines that are at home on the table, complementing food and refreshing the palate.
We’ve got a great assortment of these wines arriving Friday at stellar pricing—these are wines that you’re going to want around for your table and your cellar.
Arriving Friday:
Frog’s Leap Estate Grown Cabernet Sauvignon, Rutherford 2016 750ML ($69.95) $45 pre-arrival special
Antonio Galloni 93 points “The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Grown from Frog’s Leap is dark, bold and luscious, with generous dark cherry, plum spice, leather. Forward and supple, the 2016 will drink well right out of the gate, and yet it also has enough freshness to age nicely for a number of years. In 2016, the Cabernet has gorgeous depth to play off a classic, mid-weight sense of structure. This is a positively joyous Cabernet Sauvignon from Frog’s Leap.”
Decanter 92 points World Wine Awards ” 91% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Cabernet Franc, 3% Merlot. Powerful and rich with luscious blackcurrant compote, wood smoke, cedar and leather. Grippy tannins and wonderfully balanced toasty oak leads to a delightful finish.”
We’ve got a great assortment of these wines arriving Friday at stellar pricing—these are wines that you’re going to want around for your table and your cellar.
Arriving Friday:
Frog’s Leap Estate Grown Cabernet Sauvignon, Rutherford 2016 750ML ($69.95) $45 pre-arrival special
Antonio Galloni 93 points “The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Grown from Frog’s Leap is dark, bold and luscious, with generous dark cherry, plum spice, leather. Forward and supple, the 2016 will drink well right out of the gate, and yet it also has enough freshness to age nicely for a number of years. In 2016, the Cabernet has gorgeous depth to play off a classic, mid-weight sense of structure. This is a positively joyous Cabernet Sauvignon from Frog’s Leap.”
Decanter 92 points World Wine Awards ” 91% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Cabernet Franc, 3% Merlot. Powerful and rich with luscious blackcurrant compote, wood smoke, cedar and leather. Grippy tannins and wonderfully balanced toasty oak leads to a delightful finish.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Frog’s Leap Chardonnay, Napa Valley 2016 750ML ($37.95) $21.90 pre-arrival special
Winery note “Carneros Chardonnay at its very best: pure, clean, fresh, restrained, drinkable. A unique combination of barrel fermentation followed by extended “sur lie” aging in concrete vats. Balance and restraint in a varietal not always associated with these traits.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Frog’s Leap Merlot, Rutherford 2015 750ML ($39.95) $29 pre-arrival special
Winery note “Extravagant plum fruit aromas enriched by the lush flavors that Merlot is famous for. Grown in cool clay soils, this wine shows why some of the rarest and most expensive wines in the world start with Merlot. Miles was an idiot!”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Frog’s Leap Zinfandel, Napa Valley 2016 750ML ($37.95) $24 pre-arrival special
Winery note “Delightful aromas of summer-berry conserve combined with a touch of spice and fresh fruit flavors. A Zinfandel that draws its power from sophistication instead of raw alcohol content. Made in the classic field blend style including significant portions of Petite Sirah and Carignan.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Staff Pick
Matt:
The greatness of the Willamette Valley’s 2012 vintage is no secret. The so called “vintage of the century” produced wines that were spectacular from the moment they hit the bottle. And the expectation was that they also possessed all the elements necessary to cellar beautifully. But as with anything, only time would tell. Now nearly 8 years on it’s become abundantly clear, those expectations were well founded. The 2012s seem to just be getting better with age.
I’ve opened several 2012s over the past few weeks, all stunning, but a standout was Scott Paul’s 2012 ‘Pre’. The fruit hails from the celebrated Nysa Vineyard, which boarders Domaine Drouhin’s estate vineyard high up in the Dundee Hills. Simply put, this is crème of the crop fruit from the crème de la crème vintage.
Slightly closed upon opening, after some time (and air) this wine really started to sing. The distinctive Dundee Hills red fruit character has softened, but in its place complex herbal and spicy nuance that seem to change by the minute.
So, if you’re similar to me and are having a hard time keeping your hands off your 2012s and need to stock-up before they go from scarce to extinct on retail shelves, don’t delay. We’ve got less than a case left and don’t expect the rest to last long!
Scott Paul ‘Pre’ Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills 2012 750ML ($49.95) $39 special
Josh Raynolds 92 points “Brilliant ruby-red. Assertive red berry and incense aromas, along with suggestions of Asian spices, sassafras and minerals. Spicy, focused and racy on entry, then fleshier in the mid-palate, with vibrant raspberry and bitter cherry flavors gaining sweetness with air. Distinctly lithe for the vintage, with a whiplash of juicy red fruit defining the lively, persistent finish. This fruit was grown in the Nysa vineyard.”
Burghound 92 points “Outstanding. A beautifully layered and admirably pure nose is composed of plum, violets, spice and discreet sandalwood hints. There is more volume to the slightly bigger and richer medium-bodied flavors that also possess good verve on the dusty, compact and moderately firm finish. This is clearly built to age and it will need at least 4 to 5 years and reward 8 to 10. In a word, impressive.”
The greatness of the Willamette Valley’s 2012 vintage is no secret. The so called “vintage of the century” produced wines that were spectacular from the moment they hit the bottle. And the expectation was that they also possessed all the elements necessary to cellar beautifully. But as with anything, only time would tell. Now nearly 8 years on it’s become abundantly clear, those expectations were well founded. The 2012s seem to just be getting better with age.
I’ve opened several 2012s over the past few weeks, all stunning, but a standout was Scott Paul’s 2012 ‘Pre’. The fruit hails from the celebrated Nysa Vineyard, which boarders Domaine Drouhin’s estate vineyard high up in the Dundee Hills. Simply put, this is crème of the crop fruit from the crème de la crème vintage.
Slightly closed upon opening, after some time (and air) this wine really started to sing. The distinctive Dundee Hills red fruit character has softened, but in its place complex herbal and spicy nuance that seem to change by the minute.
So, if you’re similar to me and are having a hard time keeping your hands off your 2012s and need to stock-up before they go from scarce to extinct on retail shelves, don’t delay. We’ve got less than a case left and don’t expect the rest to last long!
Scott Paul ‘Pre’ Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills 2012 750ML ($49.95) $39 special
Josh Raynolds 92 points “Brilliant ruby-red. Assertive red berry and incense aromas, along with suggestions of Asian spices, sassafras and minerals. Spicy, focused and racy on entry, then fleshier in the mid-palate, with vibrant raspberry and bitter cherry flavors gaining sweetness with air. Distinctly lithe for the vintage, with a whiplash of juicy red fruit defining the lively, persistent finish. This fruit was grown in the Nysa vineyard.”
Burghound 92 points “Outstanding. A beautifully layered and admirably pure nose is composed of plum, violets, spice and discreet sandalwood hints. There is more volume to the slightly bigger and richer medium-bodied flavors that also possess good verve on the dusty, compact and moderately firm finish. This is clearly built to age and it will need at least 4 to 5 years and reward 8 to 10. In a word, impressive.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Mercury Rising: Juillot’s Stellar, Value Burgundy
We’ve beat the drum pretty hard about Michel Juillot in the past and for good reason: he represents some of the best value wines in Burgundy. We’re going to continue that enthusiasm today—the new releases from Juillot are stellar and proof that there is value in Burgundy if you know where to look. That’s to say—once you venture outside the Cote d’Or there are some stunning producers making very overlooked wines, especially in Mercurey (and Givry).
Mercurey is the top village in the Cote Chalonnaise, which exists in between the Cote d’Or and the Macon. It boasts 32 Premier Cru vineyards and one of the highest volumes of red wine production, with the wines tending to be elegant and lighter. From better producers (ie: from better farmers) the wines put on more substance, resembling wines from the Cote de Beaune.
Michel Juillot is one of those top producers, the head of a family farming in the Cote Chalonnaise for generations (and with his son, Laurent, assuming more of the winemaking responsibilities, the tradition looks to continue). The estate owns a number of different parcels in a dizzying number of climats, with old vines throughout. Winemaking is pretty hands off, as well—these are wines that have polish, but not excessively so. In 2016 and ’17 (both excellent years for the Chalonnaise), they’re extremely smart buys—someone in 10+ years is going to mistake one for a solid Volnay or Beaune 1er (blind) and you’re going to look like a genius, especially for the prices.
Arriving ETA Late February:
Domaine Michel Juillot Clos des Barraults Blanc, Mercurey Premier Cru 2017 750ML ($49.95) $39 pre-arrival special
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 91 points “Juillot’s finest white from Mercurey is the 2017 Mercurey 1er Cru Clos des Barraults Blanc, a medium to full-bodied, satiny and concentrated wine that’s attractively pure and precise, offering up a charming bouquet of green orchard fruit, flowers and beeswax.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Domaine Michel Juillot Les Champs Martin Blanc, Mercurey Premier Cru 2016 750ML ($49.95) $33 pre-arrival special
William Kelley-Decanter 90 points “A fresh bouquet of citrus zest, white stone fruit, and a top note of mint, precedes a concentrated, full-bodied palate with good cut and grip. This is a bit tight-knit after its recent bottling, and will really begin to shine with a few more months in the cellar.”
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Domaine Michel Juillot Les Champs Martin Blanc, Mercurey Premier Cru 2017 750ML ($49.95) $33 pre-arrival special
“Slightly less evident wood frames the very fresh and bright aromas of citrus, acacia blossom, apple and essence of pear nuances. There is both good intensity and vibrancy to the equally fresh middle weight flavors that exude a fine bead of minerality on the delicious and agreeably dry if mildly warm finish.”-Burghound
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Domaine Michel Juillot Mercurey Les Vignes de Maillonge Blanc, Cote Chalonnaise 2017 750ML ($47.95) $33 pre-arrival special
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 90 points “Aromas of fresh pear, musk melon and orange blossom preface the 2017 Mercurey Les Vignes de Maillonge Blanc, a medium to full-bodied, concentrated and textural wine that’s attractively satiny and elegant this year. The parcel includes some 90-year-old muscaté selections of Chardonnay.”
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Domaine Michel Juillot Clos des Barraults Rouge, Mercurey Premier Cru 2017 750ML ($49.95) $39 pre-arrival special
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 92+ points “The 2017 Mercurey 1er Cru Clos des Barraults is one of the more reserved wines in the range, unfurling in the glass with a promising bouquet of cherries, cassis, candied peel and espresso roast. On the palate, it’s medium to full-bodied, ample and fleshy, with succulent acids, melting tannins and a pure, precise finish. As usual, it’s one of the finest wines in the range and one that possesses some upside.”
Burghound – Outstanding 90 points “A relatively airy nose speaks of both red and dark berry fruit aromas that are cut with nuances of earth, wood and a floral wisp. The caressing and impressively rich medium-bodied flavors coat the palate with dry extract on the lingering finish that isn’t quite as complex though there is no warmth.”
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Domaine Michel Juillot Mercurey Les Vignes de Maillonge, Cote Chalonnaise 2016 750ML ($39.95) $33 pre-arrival special
Tim Aktins-Decanter 89 points “Vigorous and firm with some extraction. Good fruit focus, aromatic with some reduction. Just slightly lacks fruit sweetness.”
“The 2016 Mercurey Les Vignes de Maillonge is somewhat more gourmand than the domaine’s regular Mercurey Village, offering up aromas of ripe cherries, strawberries and licorice followed by a medium to full-bodied, ample palate. Its fine structuring tannins are concealed in a generous core of fruit.” –William Kelley, Wine Advocate
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Domaine Michel Juillot Mercurey Les Vignes de Maillonge, Cote Chalonnaise 2017 750ML ($39.95) $33 pre-arrival special
“The 2017 Mercurey Les Vignes de Maillonge is showing well, wafting from the glass with aromas of strawberries, cherries, spices and rich soil tones. On the palate, the wine is medium-bodied, fleshy and melting, with an ampler, livelier core of fruit than Juillot’s regular Mercurey red.”-William Kelley, Wine Advocate
“Background traces of wood can be found on the liqueur-like aromas of red cherry, earth and gentle spice nuances. There is fine volume to the punchy yet caressing and serious flavors that are shaped by slightly firmer tannins on the ever-so-mildly tangy finale.”-Burgound
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Domaine Michel Juillot Bourgogne Rouge, Burgundy 2017 750ML ($29.95) $24 pre-arrival special
“Ripe aromas include those of cassis, red and dark berry fruit along with soft earth nuances. The juicy, indeed even succulent, flavors are at once delicious and round before concluding in a mildly rustic finale. This tasty effort should drink well early on.”-Burghound
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Heros of Italy’s Hidden Great Wine Region
Italy’s Valle d’Aosta, on the border of France and Switzerland, is perhaps the best wine region that most drinkers have never heard of. Best known for incredible skiing, and its iconic mountains (Mont Blanc, the Matterhorn, etc…), it also produces incredible wines in both red and white—all of which remain overlooked and undervalued, as a result.
Feudo di San Maurizio is one of the best handful of producers, making wines that capture the essence of the region. We’ve finally secured tiny amounts of their excellent 2018’s (24 bottles of each wine) and get to present them to you today. The two reds will surprise you with their depth and complexity, despite their stainless steel upbringing and the Petite Arvine reminds us that the grape is one of the best white varieties in Italy.
Arriving ETA February 28th:
San Maurizio Mayolet, Valle d’Aosta 2018 750ML ($44.95) $39 pre-arrival special
Ian D’Agata-Vinous 95 points “Bright red. Delicately floral and sweet spice nuances complement bright raspberry and red currant aromas and flavors, complicated by hints of white pepper, nutmeg, coriander and cumin. Juicy, dense, long and pure, with a remarkably fresh, very spicy and saline finish and notes of lavender and peony. This light-boded wine is at once juicy, spicy and bright. Planted at 700–1,000 meters above sea level, the vintage characteristics play a huge role in what Vallet’s Mayolet wine will taste like each year; this has 12.5% alcohol, while the 2017 clocks in at 14.5% alcohol. Not surprisingly, given the variety’s extremely compact bunches (which makes Mayolet a pain to work with and hence many producers are abandoning it, a big mistake given the quality of the wines), the grapes are picked in three different tries or passes in the vineyard. Aged in stainless steel only.”
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Feudo di San Maurizio Cornalin, Valle d’Aosta 2018 750ML ($39.95) $36 pre-arrival special
Ian D’Agata-Vinous 93 points “Deep red. Rich, luscious flavors of red cherry, Oriental spices, black tea and black cherry. Tactile, sweet and long, featuring youthfully chewy but noble tannins that provide backbone. Finishes very long and smooth, with a perfumed note of lavender. 13.5% alcohol. Only stainless steel.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Feudo di San Maurizio Petite Arvine Valle d’Aosta 2018 750ML ($37.95) $33 pre-arrival special
Ian D’Agata-Vinous 90 points “Luminous straw-green. Apple, nectarine and white peach complicated by white flowers. Clean, fresh flavors similar to the minty aromas have a tactile, delicately chewy mouthfeel (despite the absence of any skin contact here). Finishes very long, juicy and clean, with a minty nuance and a hint of residual sugar (purposely left so as to emphasize the aromatic molecules of a semi-aromatic variety). About 5,000 bottles a year.”
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Bibbiano’s Top Chianti Gran Selezione
Starting with the 2010 vintage, growers in Chianti adopted a new classification, Gran Selezione . It stands a tier above Chianti Classico Riserva and intends to present the terroir of Tuscany’s lauded Chianti vineyards in its essence—and from what we’ve tasted, the new designation is working. From Felsina’s Colonia to Castello di Ama’s Gran Selezione to this new offering from Tenuta Bibbiano, it’s becoming clear that the best wines in the region carry the designation. This new offering, fresh of a 95 point Wine Spectator score, arrives next month at an especially sharp price.
Arriving ETA March 2020:
Tenuta di Bibbiano ‘Montornello’, Chianti Classico Gran Selezione DOCG 2015 750ML ($39.95) $33 pre-arrival special
Case-6 Tenuta di Bibbiano ‘Montornello’, Chianti Classico Gran Selezione DOCG 2015 750ML ($239.95) $189 pre-arrival special (that’s only $31.50/bottle and the lowest listed price in the USA today!)
Case-12 Tenuta di Bibbiano ‘Montornello’, Chianti Classico Gran Selezione DOCG 2015 750ML ($479.95) $349 pre-arrival special (that’s only $29.08/bottle and the lowest listed price in the USA today!)
Wine Spectator 95 points “Relaxed, balanced and supported by dense tannins, this touts aromas of leather, tobacco, wood paneling, iron, woodsy spices and smoky cherry fruit, with a finish that is long and expansive. Drink now through 2040. 3,300 cases made, 500 cases imported.”
Arriving ETA March 2020:
Tenuta di Bibbiano ‘Montornello’, Chianti Classico Gran Selezione DOCG 2015 750ML ($39.95) $33 pre-arrival special
Case-6 Tenuta di Bibbiano ‘Montornello’, Chianti Classico Gran Selezione DOCG 2015 750ML ($239.95) $189 pre-arrival special (that’s only $31.50/bottle and the lowest listed price in the USA today!)
Case-12 Tenuta di Bibbiano ‘Montornello’, Chianti Classico Gran Selezione DOCG 2015 750ML ($479.95) $349 pre-arrival special (that’s only $29.08/bottle and the lowest listed price in the USA today!)
Wine Spectator 95 points “Relaxed, balanced and supported by dense tannins, this touts aromas of leather, tobacco, wood paneling, iron, woodsy spices and smoky cherry fruit, with a finish that is long and expansive. Drink now through 2040. 3,300 cases made, 500 cases imported.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
The average price nationally is $36
The average price nationally is $36
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One of the best value Cabs on the market, this is old school in all the best ways.
Snowden Vineyards The Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2016 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-12 Snowden Vineyards The Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2016 ($719.95) $519 special (that’s only $43.25/bottle!)
Antonio Galloni 93 points “Snowden’s 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon The Ranch is gorgeous. Dark, powerful and beautifully structured, the 2016 Ranch is a huge overachiever. In 2016, the Ranch is a wine of real power, gravitas and character. Black cherry, plum, lavender and savory herbs all develop in the glass, but it is the wine’s persistence and overall balance that stands out in this deeply flavorful, classically built Cabernet from Snowden. Best of all, the 2016 is a superb wine for the money.”
James Suckling 92 points “Elderberries, blueberries, blackberries and hints of hazelnuts and walnuts. Medium to full body, focused acidity and a medium-chewy finish. Drink in 2022.”
Snowden Vineyards The Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2016 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-12 Snowden Vineyards The Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2016 ($719.95) $519 special (that’s only $43.25/bottle!)
Antonio Galloni 93 points “Snowden’s 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon The Ranch is gorgeous. Dark, powerful and beautifully structured, the 2016 Ranch is a huge overachiever. In 2016, the Ranch is a wine of real power, gravitas and character. Black cherry, plum, lavender and savory herbs all develop in the glass, but it is the wine’s persistence and overall balance that stands out in this deeply flavorful, classically built Cabernet from Snowden. Best of all, the 2016 is a superb wine for the money.”
James Suckling 92 points “Elderberries, blueberries, blackberries and hints of hazelnuts and walnuts. Medium to full body, focused acidity and a medium-chewy finish. Drink in 2022.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Robust Syrah from one of our favorite Washington producers, drinking beautifully now.
Charles Smith K Vintners Powerline Estate Syrah, Walla Walla Valley 2016 750ML ($59.95) $41.90 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Stephen Tanzer – Vinous 93 points “Bright, dark red. Slightly liqueur-like aromas of raspberry and exotic spices. Bright and penetrating, offering sharply delineated flavors of boysenberry, pomegranate and game. This high-pitched midweight delivers serious energy and a late note of pungent citrus peel adds grip to the finish. This wine and The Beautiful have similar pHs around 3.95, according to Leighton. (from the Phelps clone; fermented in large stainless steel seed bins)”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
The standby—this is the most bang for your buck in Champagne, every year.
Andre Clouet Grande Reserve Brut, Champagne NV 750ML (39.95) $36 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-12 Andre Clouet Grande Reserve Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($599.95) $399 special (that’s only $33.25/bottle!)
Wine Advocate 90 points “The latest release of André Clouet’s NV Brut Grand Réserve Grand Cru is showing well, exhibiting a nicely integrated bouquet of red apple, ripe citrus fruit, honeycomb and blanched almonds, followed by a medium to full-bodied, enveloping palate with a fine mousse, ripe but racy acids and an elegant, understated profile, concluding with a well-defined finish. This is a stylish, harmonious wine that makes for a fine introduction to the Clouet portfolio.” [Reviewed April 2019]
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An iconic wine from a great vintage.
Mayacamas Vineyards Chardonnay, Mount Veeder 2016 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 17 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni 95 points “The 2016 Chardonnay is fabulous. A vivid, textured wine, the 2016 possesses remarkable finesse and intensity in all of its dimensions. Lemon oil and white flowers are amped up by the natural intensity of these old vines. The 2016 was fermented and aged in neutral oak, with no malolactic fermentation. Mayacamas is setting a new standard for what California Chardonnay can be. Don’t miss it.”
Wine Enthusiast 95 points “Editor’s Choice. From the mighty dry-farmed site within the secluded appellation, this incredible wine is expressive in tones of flint, fig, pear and lemon peel, with lasting acidity that brightens and freshens the palate. Medium bodied, it’s soft in feel yet structured, balanced and complex.”
Old-school winemaking, distinctively Spanish.
Bodegas Castano Solanera Vinas Viejas, Yecla 2015 750ML ($17.95) $14 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-12 Bodegas Castano Solanera Vinas Viejas, Yecla 2015 750ML ($179.95) $149 special (that’s only $12.42/bottle!)
Luis Gutierrez-Wine Advocate 92 points “The 2015 Solanera used to wear the ultimate Spanglish label, which said “Viñas Viejas of Monastrell” even if it was always a blend (in this vintage, the blend includes 20% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Garnacha Tintorera). The revamped 2015 has a completely different label that only keeps the “viñas viejas” moniker. In this wine, from the joint venture with U.S. importer Eric Solomon that started in 1999, they used part of full clusters and sourced the grapes from Casa Marta, a nine-hectare, head-pruned, dry-farmed plot on very stony soils in the north of Yecla at the foot of the Mount Arabí. It fermented in concrete vats and open-top barrels and matured in barrique, each variety separately, for some ten months, after which it was blended and bottled. This is the vintage of the big change in this wine, where, as with the majority of its siblings, there is better balance and more integrated oak, more freshness and better balance. The nose is quite captivating, especially after some time in the glass, when it starts developing some floral aromas, perfect ripeness, no warmth or alcohol and a powerful, yet terribly balanced palate with concentration and elegance, fine-grained tannins and clean, focused flavors. This is my favorite Solanera to date. 60,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in July 2017.”
Jeb Dunnuck 92 points “Another project between Eric Solomon and Jean-Marc Lafage, the 2015 Solanera Vinas Viejas is fresh and lively, with ripe, sexy notes of blueberry and blackberry fruits intermixed with more subtle notes of violets, graphite and white pepper. Possessing full-bodied richness, a seamless texture, and gorgeous purity of fruit, it’s another terrific vintage for this cuvée that’s ideal for drinking over the coming 2-4 years. The blend is 2014 is 65% Monastrell, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 15% Garnacha, all aged 10 months in 80% French and 20% American oak.”
As refreshing as wine gets, perfect to welcome an early spring.
Ameztoi Rubentis Rosado, Getariako Txakolina 2018 750ML (24.95) $21.90 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Josh Raynolds – Vinous 91 points “Shimmering orange-pink. High-pitched red currant, strawberry, orange zest and a bright mineral element on the incisive nose. Lithe and penetrating on the palate, offering intense red berry and citrus fruit flavors that pick up a sexy floral quality as the wine stretches out. Delivers a solid punch of flavor but comes off lithe, betraying no excess fat and finishing very long and precise, with a lingering suggestion of bitter citrus pith.”
VinopolNote: The much-loved and lightly fizzy pink from the Basque region in Spain! A staff favorite. Always light, bright, fresh, salty and fun. The perfect aperitif wine for the summer.
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Monbousquet’s second wine is a first choice in a great vintage like ’15.
Angelique de Monbousquet, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru 2015 750ML (39.95) $29 special, 25 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni 91 points “A plush, voluptuous wine, the 2015 Angélique de Monbousquet shows quite a bit better from bottle than it did from barrel. Espresso, mocha, plum, chocolate, licorice and dried herbs emerge from this racy, opulent Saint-Émilion. The 2015 is not especially complex, but it is flat-out delicious and also a terrific choice for drinking over the next handful of years.”
James Suckling 93 points “Spices and dark fruit with decadent earth and white-truffle aromas. Full body, round and velvety tannins and a fruity finish. So velvety and delicious. Second wine of Monbousquet. Drink in 2020.”
Collector’s Corner
Delas’ Top Wines
Delas is one of the most notable landholders in the Northern Rhone, with holdings in some of the best vineyards in every major AOC, yet they still manage to be overlooked when people put together collections of wine from the region. We’d like to remedy that, so permit us a few seconds to sing their praises.
Delas makes some of the most powerful, intense wines in the Northern Rhone at prices that make them one of the superior values in the region. Density and richness are a hallmark of both the reds and the whites—there are no shrinking violets in the lineup. We turn to them for big, bold wines that often show very well young—a remarkable trait in their part of France.
The hill of Hermitage , in particular, is one of the most privileged pieced of wine geography—a tiny area producing legendary wine. As a result, the cost of entry tends to be high—with only a handful of exceptions. The best of those? Delas, a fantastic producer making Hermitage at more than attainable prices.
Their top tier Bessards bottling comes entirely from the “Bas de Coteau” section of Bessards and is considered one of the two or three best parcels in the entirety of Hermitage. While not as inexpensive as their Tourettes, the price to quality ratio is off the charts for a wine of this pedigree (especially on the drinking-great-now 2004). Delas’ Bessards is dense, powerful and profound—capable of matching any Hermitage out there.
For whatever reason, the market has yet to catch up to the quality coming out of Delas’ cellar. The Northern Rhone has turned into one of the hottest markets in the wine world, with many wineries getting expensive overnight. That hasn’t happened to Delas—yet. With the quality of recent vintages and the scores involved, we definitely see it happening soon, though, so if you love these wines now is the time to back up the truck.
In Stock Now:
Delas Freres Hermitage Les Bessards, Rhone 2015 750ML ($249.95) $219 special, 28 bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 100 points “The top cuvée from Delas is the 2015 Hermitage Les Bessards, and it’s always 100% Syrah from the steep, broken granite soils of the Bessards lieu-dit. Aged 18 months in 30% new barrels, its purple/plum color is followed by a huge nose of blackcurrants, graphite, toasted spice, crushed rocks and saddle leather. Powerful, massively concentrated, and tannic, it has a broad, expansive, heavenly texture, a thick mid-palate (you could almost use a fork for this beauty), and a great finish. Despite the richness level, it stays balanced and graceful on the palate, and is never over the top or heavy. It’s a perfect Hermitage that will start to shine with 4-5 years of bottle age and keep for three decades or more. Bravo!”
Wine Enthusiast 96 points “Cellar Selection! There’s a striking balance here calibrating bold, almost muscular ripeness against an invigorating granite edge. This wine is plump and full bodied, full of supple blackberry and plum flavors balanced by pert acidity and taut, penetrating tannins. It should be in peak from 2020–2035 but hold further.”
Wine Advocate 95-97 points “The top cuvée is the 2015 Hermitage les Bessards, which comes from the middle to lower portion of the steep, granite hillside known as Bessards, unquestionably one of the best terroirs for Syrah in the world. Its inky purple color is followed by a full-bodied, rich, thrillingly concentrated red that has huge tannin, bright acidity and a solid mid-palate concentration. It still tastes like it just came from the press and will need to be forgotten for a decade. As normal, it’s completely destemmed and will see 18 months in 30% new oak.”
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 96 points “Inky ruby. A highly aromatic bouquet evokes candied black and blue fruits, along with complicating suggestions of smoky minerals, candied flowers, olive and vanilla. Deep, chewy and expansive in the mouth, offering impressively concentrated dark berry liqueur, fruitcake and salty olive flavors that are complicated by a hint of smoky minerality and a building floral pastille note. Distinctly rich and powerful but surprisingly graceful as well, showing noteworthy clarity and mineral-driven thrust on the strikingly long finish.”
Delas Freres Hermitage Les Bessards, Rhone 2013 750ML ($249.95) $159 special, 7 bottles in stock now
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 95 points “(aged in 70% new oak for 18 months): Inky ruby. Sexy, highly perfumed aromas of ripe dark berries, cherry liqueur, peppery spices and fresh flowers, backed by a hint of olive. Supple and appealingly sweet, offering intense, deeply concentrated blackberry and violet pastille flavors and a suggestion of star anise. Finishes pure, sweet and energetic on the penetrating finish, showing outstanding focus and slow-building tannins.”
Wine Advocate 94+ points “Closed, tight and backwards, the 2013 Hermitage les Bessards is a big, full-bodied, burly wine that offers first rate purity in its black raspberry, ozone, liquid rock, and creosote-like bouquet. It has plenty of material and density, but will need 7-8 years of bottle age to become approachable. As normal, it comes all from the “Bas de Coteau” portion of the Bessards lieu-dit, was completely destemmed and saw 18 months in 30% new French oak.”
Delas makes some of the most powerful, intense wines in the Northern Rhone at prices that make them one of the superior values in the region. Density and richness are a hallmark of both the reds and the whites—there are no shrinking violets in the lineup. We turn to them for big, bold wines that often show very well young—a remarkable trait in their part of France.
The hill of Hermitage , in particular, is one of the most privileged pieced of wine geography—a tiny area producing legendary wine. As a result, the cost of entry tends to be high—with only a handful of exceptions. The best of those? Delas, a fantastic producer making Hermitage at more than attainable prices.
Their top tier Bessards bottling comes entirely from the “Bas de Coteau” section of Bessards and is considered one of the two or three best parcels in the entirety of Hermitage. While not as inexpensive as their Tourettes, the price to quality ratio is off the charts for a wine of this pedigree (especially on the drinking-great-now 2004). Delas’ Bessards is dense, powerful and profound—capable of matching any Hermitage out there.
For whatever reason, the market has yet to catch up to the quality coming out of Delas’ cellar. The Northern Rhone has turned into one of the hottest markets in the wine world, with many wineries getting expensive overnight. That hasn’t happened to Delas—yet. With the quality of recent vintages and the scores involved, we definitely see it happening soon, though, so if you love these wines now is the time to back up the truck.
In Stock Now:
Delas Freres Hermitage Les Bessards, Rhone 2015 750ML ($249.95) $219 special, 28 bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 100 points “The top cuvée from Delas is the 2015 Hermitage Les Bessards, and it’s always 100% Syrah from the steep, broken granite soils of the Bessards lieu-dit. Aged 18 months in 30% new barrels, its purple/plum color is followed by a huge nose of blackcurrants, graphite, toasted spice, crushed rocks and saddle leather. Powerful, massively concentrated, and tannic, it has a broad, expansive, heavenly texture, a thick mid-palate (you could almost use a fork for this beauty), and a great finish. Despite the richness level, it stays balanced and graceful on the palate, and is never over the top or heavy. It’s a perfect Hermitage that will start to shine with 4-5 years of bottle age and keep for three decades or more. Bravo!”
Wine Enthusiast 96 points “Cellar Selection! There’s a striking balance here calibrating bold, almost muscular ripeness against an invigorating granite edge. This wine is plump and full bodied, full of supple blackberry and plum flavors balanced by pert acidity and taut, penetrating tannins. It should be in peak from 2020–2035 but hold further.”
Wine Advocate 95-97 points “The top cuvée is the 2015 Hermitage les Bessards, which comes from the middle to lower portion of the steep, granite hillside known as Bessards, unquestionably one of the best terroirs for Syrah in the world. Its inky purple color is followed by a full-bodied, rich, thrillingly concentrated red that has huge tannin, bright acidity and a solid mid-palate concentration. It still tastes like it just came from the press and will need to be forgotten for a decade. As normal, it’s completely destemmed and will see 18 months in 30% new oak.”
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 96 points “Inky ruby. A highly aromatic bouquet evokes candied black and blue fruits, along with complicating suggestions of smoky minerals, candied flowers, olive and vanilla. Deep, chewy and expansive in the mouth, offering impressively concentrated dark berry liqueur, fruitcake and salty olive flavors that are complicated by a hint of smoky minerality and a building floral pastille note. Distinctly rich and powerful but surprisingly graceful as well, showing noteworthy clarity and mineral-driven thrust on the strikingly long finish.”
Delas Freres Hermitage Les Bessards, Rhone 2013 750ML ($249.95) $159 special, 7 bottles in stock now
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 95 points “(aged in 70% new oak for 18 months): Inky ruby. Sexy, highly perfumed aromas of ripe dark berries, cherry liqueur, peppery spices and fresh flowers, backed by a hint of olive. Supple and appealingly sweet, offering intense, deeply concentrated blackberry and violet pastille flavors and a suggestion of star anise. Finishes pure, sweet and energetic on the penetrating finish, showing outstanding focus and slow-building tannins.”
Wine Advocate 94+ points “Closed, tight and backwards, the 2013 Hermitage les Bessards is a big, full-bodied, burly wine that offers first rate purity in its black raspberry, ozone, liquid rock, and creosote-like bouquet. It has plenty of material and density, but will need 7-8 years of bottle age to become approachable. As normal, it comes all from the “Bas de Coteau” portion of the Bessards lieu-dit, was completely destemmed and saw 18 months in 30% new French oak.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Delas Freres Hermitage Les Bessards, Rhone 2004 750ML ($199.95) $119 special, 16 bottles in stock now
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 94 points “Ruby-red. Very pungent, deep aromas of tobacco- and underbrush-laced red and blackcurrant. Powerful and rich, showing impressive sweetness to its potent cassis and blackberry flavors. Really stains the palate, finishing with exceptional purity and mineral tones. Whatever tannins are here (and you know there are plenty) are completely absorbed by the sheer fruit mass.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Wait, there’s more! Want to see all of the Delas we offer? You can view the entire list in our webstore.
Thanks for reading!