In Today’s Newsletter:
Two Brand New Wines from Cameron
Another Blockbuster Vintage from an Ambitious Pfalz Estate
Paolo Bea’s Iconic Wines
New Releases from the Umbrian Master
New Wines from Amavi, Value Star of Walla Walla
Staff Pick
A Washington Wine Month Winner
#Trending
Collector’s Corner
Two Brand New Wines from Cameron
Arriving Friday, March 6th:
Cameron Pinot Noir Silvestre (Clos Electrique Vineyard), Dundee Hills 2017 750ML ($49.95) $37 pre-arrival special
Another Blockbuster Vintage
From an Ambitious Pfalz Estate
Two Brand New Wines from Cameron
Another Blockbuster Vintage from an Ambitious Pfalz Estate
Paolo Bea’s Iconic Wines
New Releases from the Umbrian Master
New Wines from Amavi, Value Star of Walla Walla
Staff Pick
A Washington Wine Month Winner
#Trending
Collector’s Corner
Two Brand New Wines from Cameron
We’re officially excited anytime there’s a new release from Cameron. When there are new, never-before bottled wines to try and sell? Well, our anticipation goes through the roof.
We’re excited to announce the impending arrival tomorrow of two new wines from one of Oregon’s greatest wineries. Anything new from Cameron is worth paying attention to and when we tried these two, we immediately put in an order for as much as John Paul would sell us.
The first of the two wines is a 100% Friulano bottling from the Clos Electrique vineyard. This fruit often goes into the Giuliano, but in 2018 the team at Cameron decided to age a few barrels worth on the skins for 50 days in an amphora. They racked the wine to neutral barrels, where it spend the next year (and then a bit). While this definitely is in the skin-contact-whites realm, it’s hardly orange—there’s little in the way of oxidative notes here. Instead, the skins contribute texture and length to the finish. This is a stunning wine and we wish we could get triple the twenty four bottles we have arriving.
Likewise, the 2018 Silvestre Pinot Noir is a fascinating, compelling bottling. This wine is from a block of Clos Electrique right next to Worden Hill Road that John Paul left un-farmed in 2018 in protest of proposed immigration policies. He never intended to make wine out of it—there was just a sign declaring that the block is representative of what vineyards would look like after mass deportations. Nevertheless, as harvest rolled around, the fruit looked really clean, if haphazard. No pruning or fruit thinning had yielded clusters that were tiny and scattered, but the team decided they should pick it and see what happened.
The resulting wine, Silvestre (“Wild” in Spanish), is what happened to the ~two barrels of Pinot Noir after they brought it back and fermented it. It shows some of the Clos Electrique DNA in its wildness, but in a leaner, brighter, slightly more savory package. This won’t be a long-lived bottle, we’d guess, but for drinking in the next five years it’s a bright, fresh charming wine. Cameron will be donating proceeds from the sale of the Silvestre to charities supporting immigrant communities in the Willamette Valley, as well, making these excellent bottles for a good cause.
Arriving Tomorrow:
Cameron Friulano Clos Electrique Vineyard, Dundee Hills 2018 750ML ($49.95) $41.90 pre-arrival special
We’re excited to announce the impending arrival tomorrow of two new wines from one of Oregon’s greatest wineries. Anything new from Cameron is worth paying attention to and when we tried these two, we immediately put in an order for as much as John Paul would sell us.
The first of the two wines is a 100% Friulano bottling from the Clos Electrique vineyard. This fruit often goes into the Giuliano, but in 2018 the team at Cameron decided to age a few barrels worth on the skins for 50 days in an amphora. They racked the wine to neutral barrels, where it spend the next year (and then a bit). While this definitely is in the skin-contact-whites realm, it’s hardly orange—there’s little in the way of oxidative notes here. Instead, the skins contribute texture and length to the finish. This is a stunning wine and we wish we could get triple the twenty four bottles we have arriving.
Likewise, the 2018 Silvestre Pinot Noir is a fascinating, compelling bottling. This wine is from a block of Clos Electrique right next to Worden Hill Road that John Paul left un-farmed in 2018 in protest of proposed immigration policies. He never intended to make wine out of it—there was just a sign declaring that the block is representative of what vineyards would look like after mass deportations. Nevertheless, as harvest rolled around, the fruit looked really clean, if haphazard. No pruning or fruit thinning had yielded clusters that were tiny and scattered, but the team decided they should pick it and see what happened.
The resulting wine, Silvestre (“Wild” in Spanish), is what happened to the ~two barrels of Pinot Noir after they brought it back and fermented it. It shows some of the Clos Electrique DNA in its wildness, but in a leaner, brighter, slightly more savory package. This won’t be a long-lived bottle, we’d guess, but for drinking in the next five years it’s a bright, fresh charming wine. Cameron will be donating proceeds from the sale of the Silvestre to charities supporting immigrant communities in the Willamette Valley, as well, making these excellent bottles for a good cause.
Arriving Tomorrow:
Cameron Friulano Clos Electrique Vineyard, Dundee Hills 2018 750ML ($49.95) $41.90 pre-arrival special
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Arriving Friday, March 6th:
Cameron Pinot Noir Silvestre (Clos Electrique Vineyard), Dundee Hills 2017 750ML ($49.95) $37 pre-arrival special
Another Blockbuster Vintage
From an Ambitious Pfalz Estate
This century has been kind to Germany. No classic wine producing country has benefited more from climate change. Historically, Germany was the source of some of the world’s finest white wines, but only in great vintages. In recent years this inconsistency has mostly become a thing of the past. Today, most years would be considered great by historical standards and 2017 was no different. Despite some challenges during the growing season, which resulted in lower yields in most regions (including Pfalz), the quality of fruit was once again very high.
Still in their infancy, the 2017s are already gaining a reputation for their balance and concentration; blockbusters today and built to cellar. For those looking to explore what the vintage has to offer, there is perhaps no better producer to start with than Müller-Catoir. A historic estate, family owned for nine generations, Müller-Catoir has embraced the best of modernity. In 2009 the winery produced their first organic vintage, and in the following decade have pioneered many modern winemaking techniques in Pfalz. The results are wines of a quality that belie their relatively modest prices.
In stock now, several different expressions of the noble Riesling. But also, world-class examples of Muskateller (Muscat), Weissburgunder (Pinot Blanc) and Scheurebe, which prove that Germany is more than a one-trick pony.
In Stock Now:
Muller-Catoir Haardter Burgergarten ‘Im Breumel’ Riesling Grosses Gewachs, Pfalz 2017 ($79.95) $59 special, 27 bottles in stock now
Case-6 Muller-Catoir Haardter Burgergarten ‘Im Breumel’ Riesling Grosses Gewachs, Pfalz 17 ($449.85) $333 special (that’s only $27.75/bottle!)
Stuart Pigott 98 points “Stand back for the arrival of a giant! Super-fresh nectarine, vanilla and Thai-basil aromas that don’t leave you in any doubt that this is a very remarkable dry riesling. Then the tidal wave of minerality comes through at the finish and sweeps everything away. From organically grown grapes. Drink or hold.”
Stephen Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 94+ points “From a 2.8 hectare clos that is the highest, coolest and stoniest (sandstone/gravel) plot of the Bürgergarten, the 2017 Riesling Bürgergarten “Im Breumel” GG offers a deep, ripe, lush and intense bouquet with fascinating flavors of crushed stones and ripe fruits. Lush and intense on the palate, this is a deep, dense, very complex and powerful dry Riesling with lingering salinity and very fine tannins. Great but way too young. Tasted in Haardt, December 2019.”
Wine Spectator 94 points “Extremely elegant and precisely crafted, with notes of star anise and lavender framing the core of crunchy pear and blood orange flavors. The acidity is appreciable, fueling the flavors and spice accents. Savory mineral details linger on the finish. Best from 2021 through 2031.”
Terry Theise note “A eucalyptus angularity and a chile-thread bite-not heat, as it only has 13% abv, but simply expressiveness. It’s rather a wild ride, not (at least now) ‘elegant’ but splashy and energetic; not quite ‘mineral’ but rocky, a clamber up a rocky chute in a bearclaw scratch landscape. It’s a departure for this wine, which has always been more comme il faut.”
Still in their infancy, the 2017s are already gaining a reputation for their balance and concentration; blockbusters today and built to cellar. For those looking to explore what the vintage has to offer, there is perhaps no better producer to start with than Müller-Catoir. A historic estate, family owned for nine generations, Müller-Catoir has embraced the best of modernity. In 2009 the winery produced their first organic vintage, and in the following decade have pioneered many modern winemaking techniques in Pfalz. The results are wines of a quality that belie their relatively modest prices.
In stock now, several different expressions of the noble Riesling. But also, world-class examples of Muskateller (Muscat), Weissburgunder (Pinot Blanc) and Scheurebe, which prove that Germany is more than a one-trick pony.
In Stock Now:
Muller-Catoir Haardter Burgergarten ‘Im Breumel’ Riesling Grosses Gewachs, Pfalz 2017 ($79.95) $59 special, 27 bottles in stock now
Case-6 Muller-Catoir Haardter Burgergarten ‘Im Breumel’ Riesling Grosses Gewachs, Pfalz 17 ($449.85) $333 special (that’s only $27.75/bottle!)
Stuart Pigott 98 points “Stand back for the arrival of a giant! Super-fresh nectarine, vanilla and Thai-basil aromas that don’t leave you in any doubt that this is a very remarkable dry riesling. Then the tidal wave of minerality comes through at the finish and sweeps everything away. From organically grown grapes. Drink or hold.”
Stephen Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 94+ points “From a 2.8 hectare clos that is the highest, coolest and stoniest (sandstone/gravel) plot of the Bürgergarten, the 2017 Riesling Bürgergarten “Im Breumel” GG offers a deep, ripe, lush and intense bouquet with fascinating flavors of crushed stones and ripe fruits. Lush and intense on the palate, this is a deep, dense, very complex and powerful dry Riesling with lingering salinity and very fine tannins. Great but way too young. Tasted in Haardt, December 2019.”
Wine Spectator 94 points “Extremely elegant and precisely crafted, with notes of star anise and lavender framing the core of crunchy pear and blood orange flavors. The acidity is appreciable, fueling the flavors and spice accents. Savory mineral details linger on the finish. Best from 2021 through 2031.”
Terry Theise note “A eucalyptus angularity and a chile-thread bite-not heat, as it only has 13% abv, but simply expressiveness. It’s rather a wild ride, not (at least now) ‘elegant’ but splashy and energetic; not quite ‘mineral’ but rocky, a clamber up a rocky chute in a bearclaw scratch landscape. It’s a departure for this wine, which has always been more comme il faut.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Muller-Catoir Haardter Burgergarten Riesling Trocken, Pfalz 2017 ($49.95) $36 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Stuart Pigott 94 points ” Effusive aromas of apricots and lemon zest with hints of summer flowers. At once succulent, graceful and finely nuanced on the palate, then very long and filigree at the finish. From organically grown grapes. Drink or hold.”
Grapelive 93 points “The Burgergarten in the Haardt vineyard as used by the famed Mueller-Catoir, or hill garden, is a Premier Cru site that is composed of weathered yellow sandstone interspersed with layer of loess and clay giving the perfect conditions to make a lush, but crisply dry Riesling of refined elegance and with a concentrated underlying power, which in 2017 is incredible and joyously perfumed. ….The 2017 Burgergarten Trocken [has] exotic tropical fruit and floral aromas with plumeria, jasmine, dried pineapple, gingery/peppery notes and grilled citrus leading the way on the racy palate, this Riesling feels a bit like Trimbach’s Cuvee Frederic Emile, adding layers of wild peach, while cherry, tangy apricot and zesty lime notes along with loads of tannin like structure, zippy acidity, chalky stones and a Chablis like steely edge! Air brings more body out and clears the touch of reduction that easily blows and this Riesling becomes in fact more white Burgundy like in some ways, while also gaining hints of spearmint, chamomile and verbena, which clearly are Riesling influences and it is strikingly impressive for keeping its tension , clarity and severity, like a firm GG should…This area can produce monumental dry Riesling, as witnessed here with this Erste Lage Trocken from Mueller-Catoir….Terry Theise, Mueller-Catoir’s famous importer, says the estate produces wines of outstanding transparency and density, and remains emblematic of Riesling at its most sophisticated, and I totally agree, these are amazingly pure wines that are both wildly entertaining in expression and wines of remarkable class and finesse…. This Burgergarten grows on you with every sip and should get even more intriguing with 3 to 5 years more are on it, patience I think will be well rewarded, and I hope I get to revisit it a few more times.”
Stephen Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 92+ points “From yellow-colored sandstone soils, the 2017 Riesling Bürgergarten “VDP. Erste Lage” is intense yet fine and pure on the slightly salty/stony, very elegant nose with its ripe and concentrated yellow-fleshed fruit aromas. The palate is pure and salty, very long and intertwines weathered terroir aromas with an airiness and lingering, very stimulating salinity. The wine is less textured than the Haardter but even more pure, deep, finessed and salty. Bone dry, with less than three grams of residual sugar, this is a concentrated yet still young Riesling that will shine in five years. Tasted in Haardt, December 2019.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Muller-Catoir Gimmeldingen Riesling, Pfalz 2017 ($29.95) $24 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Stuart Pigott – jamessuckling .com 93 points “Ripe white and yellow peaches and just enough acidity to lift the medium-full body and give the long finish some real drive. From organically grown grapes. Drink or hold.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Muller-Catoir Haardter Muskateller Trocken, Pfalz 2017 750M ($29.95) $27 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Stuart Pigott – jamessuckling .com 92 points “Wonderful pink-grapefruit and muscat nose that bowls you over. So joyful and really rather subtle for a seriously aromatic grape variety. Very bright finish. From organically grown grapes. Drink now.”
Terry Theise note “I’ve often said you have to go to the Grand Cru Goldert from ZH to fins a Muscat equal to Catoir’s, but lately the Alsace wine’s been flirting with overripeness, while the Catoir never does. Clearly I adore Muscat, but if it has a claim to stake on greatness, this is where. The ’17 is clean, brisk, shimmering, salty and gigglesome. Forget the sleek salty substance; just suck on the Thai-basil leaf while you wiggle your toes….”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $40.50
The next best price is $40.50
Muller-Catoir Haardt Scheurebe, Pfalz 2017 750ML ($29.95) $24 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Stuart Pigott – jamessuckling .com 93 points “The whiff of smoke gives the cassis nose of this wine an extra dimension. Concentrated and racy with a dangerous amount of energy. So juicy and vibrant with a long and very clean finish. From organically grown grapes. Drink or hold.”
Terry Theise note “A gooseberry note feints towards Sauvignon Blanc but pink grapefruit pulls it back; finely angular, with a sort of woodruff-like charred-leaf thing; obdurate length; the finish is like the embers of a campfire in your mouth.”
Stuart Pigott – jamessuckling .com 93 points “The whiff of smoke gives the cassis nose of this wine an extra dimension. Concentrated and racy with a dangerous amount of energy. So juicy and vibrant with a long and very clean finish. From organically grown grapes. Drink or hold.”
Terry Theise note “A gooseberry note feints towards Sauvignon Blanc but pink grapefruit pulls it back; finely angular, with a sort of woodruff-like charred-leaf thing; obdurate length; the finish is like the embers of a campfire in your mouth.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $29.99
The next best price is $29.99
Muller-Catoir Haardter Riesling Trocken, Pfalz 2017 750ML ($29.95) $24 special, 30 bottles in stock now
Stuart Pigott – jamessuckling .com 94 points “A stunning, bone-dry riesling for this moderate price level! Fine nose of sliced pears and honeysuckle. Stunning freshness and purity on the medium-full palate. The finish is subtlety reminiscent of Mosel. From organically grown grapes. Drink or hold.”
Grapelive 92 points “The 2017 Müller-Catoir Haardt Trocken is exotic and highly aromatic with lovely fruit and mineral intensity, it is a wonderful and crisply dry Riesling that reflects the vintage and its remarkable Pfalz terroir.… the talented Martin Franzen [is] running the cellar here. Franzen, who in the past ran the operations at Schlossgut Diel, employs a strict program with a move to organic practices and severe selections in the vineyards, where everything is worked and picked by hand now and focuses on ultra transparency in the wines with a reductive approach, with every wine getting a hand crafted attention to detail. The Haardt, a village bottling is a pure example with expressive bright flavors and a heavenly floral perfume, while being brisk, tangy and dusty dry on the light framed palate. Müller-Catoir does a gentle crush and gives the juice plenty of time on the skins before a slow and soft pressing before an stainless steel fermentation and aging, all to preserve vibrancy and purity, the wines are always stylish and evocative.…The Haardt Riesling Trocken is all from organic grapes that were grown on standstone soils, which gives this wine its pretty nose and steely form, and this 2017 is absolutely seducing with a complex array of sensations that ranges from tropical essences to flinty wet stones, it is clear and with a tiny hint of sunshine in the glass. In the mouth this calcareous influenced Riesling shows jasmine, oyster shell, peach, tart apricot, green apple and saline notes, adding guava/papaya, rosewater and hint of zesty lime.…this one itself is fabulous and a true value offering from this great estate. I am glad I got a few bottles of Müller-Catoir from 2017, they are looking like classics. This is a great Summer refresher, but serious enough to hang out with haute cuisine, it gets more intriguing with matching food, it can go with a wide variety of foods from fresh shellfish, spicy prawns, sushi as well as cured meats, picnic fare, street tacos and Moroccan lemon chicken even. This vivid and zippy young Riesling is a quality white that makes for a nice alternative for Chablis, Kiwi Sauv Blanc and or Albarino, drink it over the next 3 to 5 years.”
Stuart Pigott – jamessuckling .com 94 points “A stunning, bone-dry riesling for this moderate price level! Fine nose of sliced pears and honeysuckle. Stunning freshness and purity on the medium-full palate. The finish is subtlety reminiscent of Mosel. From organically grown grapes. Drink or hold.”
Grapelive 92 points “The 2017 Müller-Catoir Haardt Trocken is exotic and highly aromatic with lovely fruit and mineral intensity, it is a wonderful and crisply dry Riesling that reflects the vintage and its remarkable Pfalz terroir.… the talented Martin Franzen [is] running the cellar here. Franzen, who in the past ran the operations at Schlossgut Diel, employs a strict program with a move to organic practices and severe selections in the vineyards, where everything is worked and picked by hand now and focuses on ultra transparency in the wines with a reductive approach, with every wine getting a hand crafted attention to detail. The Haardt, a village bottling is a pure example with expressive bright flavors and a heavenly floral perfume, while being brisk, tangy and dusty dry on the light framed palate. Müller-Catoir does a gentle crush and gives the juice plenty of time on the skins before a slow and soft pressing before an stainless steel fermentation and aging, all to preserve vibrancy and purity, the wines are always stylish and evocative.…The Haardt Riesling Trocken is all from organic grapes that were grown on standstone soils, which gives this wine its pretty nose and steely form, and this 2017 is absolutely seducing with a complex array of sensations that ranges from tropical essences to flinty wet stones, it is clear and with a tiny hint of sunshine in the glass. In the mouth this calcareous influenced Riesling shows jasmine, oyster shell, peach, tart apricot, green apple and saline notes, adding guava/papaya, rosewater and hint of zesty lime.…this one itself is fabulous and a true value offering from this great estate. I am glad I got a few bottles of Müller-Catoir from 2017, they are looking like classics. This is a great Summer refresher, but serious enough to hang out with haute cuisine, it gets more intriguing with matching food, it can go with a wide variety of foods from fresh shellfish, spicy prawns, sushi as well as cured meats, picnic fare, street tacos and Moroccan lemon chicken even. This vivid and zippy young Riesling is a quality white that makes for a nice alternative for Chablis, Kiwi Sauv Blanc and or Albarino, drink it over the next 3 to 5 years.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Muller-Catoir Haardt Weissburgunder Trocken, Pfalz 2017 750ML ($27.95) $24 special, 34 bottles in stock now
Stuart Pigott – jamessuckling .com 93 points “Very creamy and silky, but without a hint of fat, this is a very polished pinot blanc with underplayed power. Delicate white-peach and pear aromas. From organically grown grapes. Drink or hold.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Muller-Catoir Haardter Herrenletten Weissburgunder, Pfalz 2017 ($39.95) $33 special, 11 bottles in stock now
Stuart Pigott – jamessuckling .com 95 points “All the heads turned when this beauty walked into the room. Ripe and fresh, deep yet very clean and delicate, this is a superb pinot blanc. From organically grown grapes. Drink or hold.”
Stephen Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 92+ points “From low-yielding vines, partly fermented in 500-liter oak and partly in stainless steel, the 2017 Weissburgunder Herrenletten “VDP. Erste Lage” opens with a clear, intense and yeasty-scented (brioche) bouquet of ripe white fruits and crushed salts but asks for a bigger glass. Lush and intense on the palate, this is a rich and powerful yet also pure, refined and sustainably salty Pinot that combines the purity, finesse and elegance of Riesling with the texture, power and fine phenolic bitterness of Pinot. Very delicate tannins here. An extraordinary Pinot Blanc that will shine in three to five years from now. Tasted in Haardt, December 2019.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Muller-Catoir Haardter Mandelring Scheurebe Trocken, Pfalz 2017 ($59.95) $49 special, 29 bottles in stock now
Stuart Pigott – jamessuckling .com 95 points “Why drink a dry white called scheurebe? Here’s the answer. An enormously complex nose of grapefruit, cassis and pineapple, then breathtaking purity and elegance on the palate and a totally uplifting and super-long finish. From organically grown grapes. Drink or hold.”
Terry Theise note “Over 50-year vines now, and this is outsized Scheu, dense and grand, spiciness to the intersection of space and time; salty and regal, and in its delightfully gnarly way gorgeous, erecting a megalith on your palate. Forget spitting; you can’t get rid of it.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Paolo Bea’s Iconic Wines
New Releases from the Umbrian Master
New Releases from the Umbrian Master
Paolo Bea is an iconic producer—a virtual one-winery symbol of Umbrian wine and it’s potential. No winery in the region produces wines as profound, interesting and delicious as the Italian masters (son Giampero is the winemaker these days).
If you’ve had these before, keep scrolling to check out the new releases—if not, pay attention. These are wines that capture the wildness of Umbrian wine and its signature grape, Sagrantino, in a way that captivates even the most jaded palates. They’re naturally made, but have classical proportions, with an almost savage ferocity to the flavors (and in the Sagrantino, the tannins as well). They’ve become quite hard to acquire in recent years (we guess the word’s gotten out), but we have some of the new wines arriving early next month.
Arriving ETA March 6th:
Paolo Bea Arboreus Bianco, Umbria IGT 2013 750ML ($79.95) $69 pre-arrival special
Importer Note “One of the early success stories in the modern-day revival of skin-macerated white wines, Bea’s beloved “Arboreus” originates from exceedingly old Trebbiano vines (up to 150 years of age) in the village of Spoleto, halfway between Bea’s home village of Montefalco and nearby Trevi. A striking instance of non-standard training, these ancient vines wrap themselves around the trunks and branches of trees (hence the wine’s name), growing and ripening high above the ground. Bea picks the fruit quite ripe and conducts an extended skin maceration (in the case of the 2014, 25 days), after which he leaves the wine on its gross lees for the better part of a year—a technique that nourishes the wine and ensures its ultimate expressive depth, but one which requires total confidence in the quality of one’s raw materials. Standing as the only wine Giampiero produced in the arduous, downy-mildew-affected 2013 vintage, this version is a particularly nimble, mineral-driven rendition of “Arboreus,” with notes of quinine, citrus zest, and fresh almonds atop a particularly lithe and delicate frame. The wine certainly does not lack for power, but its overall impression is less juicily tannic than in more typical vintages—and, at the end of the day, it’s a wine only Giampiero Bea could produce. User’s note: “Arboreus” must be served no cooler than cellar temperature to appreciate its full spectrum of aromas and flavors.”
If you’ve had these before, keep scrolling to check out the new releases—if not, pay attention. These are wines that capture the wildness of Umbrian wine and its signature grape, Sagrantino, in a way that captivates even the most jaded palates. They’re naturally made, but have classical proportions, with an almost savage ferocity to the flavors (and in the Sagrantino, the tannins as well). They’ve become quite hard to acquire in recent years (we guess the word’s gotten out), but we have some of the new wines arriving early next month.
Arriving ETA March 6th:
Paolo Bea Arboreus Bianco, Umbria IGT 2013 750ML ($79.95) $69 pre-arrival special
Importer Note “One of the early success stories in the modern-day revival of skin-macerated white wines, Bea’s beloved “Arboreus” originates from exceedingly old Trebbiano vines (up to 150 years of age) in the village of Spoleto, halfway between Bea’s home village of Montefalco and nearby Trevi. A striking instance of non-standard training, these ancient vines wrap themselves around the trunks and branches of trees (hence the wine’s name), growing and ripening high above the ground. Bea picks the fruit quite ripe and conducts an extended skin maceration (in the case of the 2014, 25 days), after which he leaves the wine on its gross lees for the better part of a year—a technique that nourishes the wine and ensures its ultimate expressive depth, but one which requires total confidence in the quality of one’s raw materials. Standing as the only wine Giampiero produced in the arduous, downy-mildew-affected 2013 vintage, this version is a particularly nimble, mineral-driven rendition of “Arboreus,” with notes of quinine, citrus zest, and fresh almonds atop a particularly lithe and delicate frame. The wine certainly does not lack for power, but its overall impression is less juicily tannic than in more typical vintages—and, at the end of the day, it’s a wine only Giampiero Bea could produce. User’s note: “Arboreus” must be served no cooler than cellar temperature to appreciate its full spectrum of aromas and flavors.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Paolo Bea ‘Lapideus’ Bianco, Umbria IGT 2016 750ML ($79.95) $69 pre-arrival special
Importer Note “Giampiero acquired a parcel of 80-year-old Trebbiano Spoletino in the town of Pigge di Trevi several years back, and 2016 marks just the third vintage of this exciting new addition to the Bea lineup. Arising from a cooler microclimate than the “Arboreus” above, “Lapideus” spent a month on it skins after pressing, followed by over 200 additional days on the gross lees—a similar vinification to “Arboreus,” yet one that yielded markedly different results. “Lapideus” has a leaner, racier carriage than the broad-shouldered “Arboreus,” with a more precise sense of acidity; it emphasizes drive over density, and its underlying salinity is not a far cry from the spellbinding wines we import from Paolo Vodopivec in the Carso—incidentally, a dear friend of Giampiero and a fellow ViniVeri administrator. A subtle note of honeyed sweetness at the wine’s core speaks of its warm-climate origins, and Bea’s propensity for wildness reveals itself in a fascinating but ephemeral cheese-rind whisper in its aromatics. Only 745 bottles were produced, the vast majority of which are destined for the US market.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Paolo Bea Santa Chiara Bianco, Umbria IGT 2017 750ML ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival special
Importer Note “The second of Bea’s two early and highly influential skin-macerated white wines, “Santa Chiara” hails from the fabled Pagliarocru, and combines roughly equal proportions of five varieties: Garganega, Grechetto, Malvasia, Sauvignon, and Chardonnay. Everything ferments together, without any additions or temperature regulation, in stainless steel, and the wine is given several years of settling before being bottled without fining or filtration. The rich, forward 2017 spent 28 days on its skins, and was bottled in May 2019 after 20 months of aging. Compared to the relatively racy 2013 “Arboreus” and the typically chiseled 2016 “Lapideus,” this vintage of “Santa Chiara” swaggers out of the bottle with macerated peaches, brassy spice notes, a liberal dash of white pepper, and candied citrus. Despite its somewhat explosive and brash personality, it possesses terrific drive and a focused, tannin-derived sense of architecture.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Paolo Bea Pagliaro Secco, Sagrantino di Montefalco DOCG 2015 750ML ($149.95) $119 pre-arrival special
Importer Note “Bea produces perhaps his most renowned wine from pure Sagrantino grown on the prized hilltop site of Pagliaro, situated at 1300 feet above sea level in Montefalco proper. Following the example of the “Rosso de Veo” above, this 2015 is absolutely jaw-dropping in its intensity and presence. Bea’s wines at their best offer a panoply of spices so intoxicating, so far-reaching, and so evocative, as to nearly defy belief. The only wines that approach Bea’s in that regard are perhaps the most un-sculpted Syrah-based wines of the Northern Rhône, but even those feel as if they have governors on their accelerators in comparison to top vintages of “Pagliaro.” Similarly large in scale to the “Rosso de Veo,” this actually presents with greater precision and nuance, its overall attack more subtle but ultimately no less impactful—direct evidence of a great terroir translated with consummate skill.”
Paolo Bea Rosso de Veo, Umbria IGT 2015 750ML ($89.95) $79 pre-arrival special
Importer Note “Since the 2005 vintage, Bea’s “Rosso de Veo” (“Veo” is the way the family’s name is pronounced in the old Umbrian dialect) is pure Sagrantino sourced from younger vines around the property and from parcels that do not quite make Giampiero’s rigorous cut for “Pagliaro,” “Pipparello,” and “Cerrete.” This 2015 is Mike Tyson in his prime: potent, assertive, brazen, and making no concessions to polite society. Monstrous in its tannins, it nonetheless presents them in such a multifaceted way as to almost transcend their viselike grip; the tannins themselves have layers, offering classic sandalwood spice on one level, mineral-saturated depth-charge stoniness on another, and—most thrillingly—a direct, naked evocation of crunching into dripping-ripe berries. Four years of élévage did nothing to blunt this astonishing wine’s unmitigated expression of freshly plucked grapes, and this is a monumental “Rosso de Veo” that should live for a very, very long time.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Paolo Bea San Valentino Rosso, Umbria IGT 2014 750ML ($69.95) $59 pre-arrival special
Importer Note “The 2014 version of Bea’s beloved “San Valentino” is a bit of an outlier. Given the difficulties of the 2014 growing season—the second in a row in which downy mildew exerted enormous pressure—Giampiero was only able to produce a single red wine, constituting the scant viable bunches from his entire range of vineyard holdings. Composed of 40% Sagrantino, 40% Sangiovese, and 20% Montepulciano, the 2014 “San Valentino” offers a classic Bea nose of subtle balsamic notes, brooding spices, and boisterous black fruits, yet it possesses a less massive structure than usual. Calling a Bea red “elegant” is a stretch, and in fact does a slight disservice to the exuberant wildness that is one of Giampero’s wines’ calling cards, but this version of “San Valentino” is indeed fairly light on its feet without exactly being polite. Like its tough-vintage counterpart “Arboreus” above, this 2014 is both somewhat atypical for its category yet unmistakably Bea at its core, and longtime fans of the estate will revel in its idiosyncratic nature as well as its pure deliciousness.”
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New Wines from Amavi
Value Star of Walla Walla
Walla Walla is one of our favorite regions to turn to for big, bold reds (and the occasional bold white). If we have a complaint about the area, though, it’s that often “entry level” wines are in the high $30’s—a tough price-point for weeknight drinking. That’s one of the reasons we’re so enthused about the Amavi, the value label of from the winemaking team at Pepper Bridge Winery.
These are wines that are classically Washington in all regards—dark colors and big, rich palates on the reds, plus a Semillon that combines weight with an alluring freshness. Better yet, they’re priced to drink, with the Syrah under $25 and the Cabernet under $25 by the case. These are wines that we’re stocking up on and if you love Washington wine, you ought to as well.
Arriving ETA March 6th:
Amavi Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon, Walla Walla Valley 2016 750ML ($39.95) $26 special, 14 bottles in stock now
Case-12 Amavi Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon, Walla Walla Valley 2016 750ML ($399.95) $289 pre-arrival special (that’s only $24.08/bottle!)
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 91 points “Bright, dark red with ruby highlights. Highly complex nose combines fruit aromas of blackberry and blueberry with notes of bitter chocolate, licorice, violet and wet-rock minerality and subtle herbal suggestions of tobacco leaf and pepper. Fine-grained, dry and ripe, with its blackberry, boysenberry and shiso leaf flavors conveying an element of medicinal reserve. Finishes with dusty, firm, essentially suave tannins and noteworthy aromatic lift. Winemaker Pellet told me that he long ago stopped doing post-fermentation maceration for Cabernet, ‘as we have plenty of tannins already.'”
James Suckling 91 points “There’s a sense of poise and polish here, thanks to judicious assemblage. The nose has a core of cassis, purple cherries and berries that lead to a palate that offers a ripe, sweeping bed of tannin. A blend of 78% cabernet sauvignon, 10% merlot, 7% cabernet franc, 4% malbec and 1% petit verdot. Drink now.”
These are wines that are classically Washington in all regards—dark colors and big, rich palates on the reds, plus a Semillon that combines weight with an alluring freshness. Better yet, they’re priced to drink, with the Syrah under $25 and the Cabernet under $25 by the case. These are wines that we’re stocking up on and if you love Washington wine, you ought to as well.
Arriving ETA March 6th:
Amavi Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon, Walla Walla Valley 2016 750ML ($39.95) $26 special, 14 bottles in stock now
Case-12 Amavi Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon, Walla Walla Valley 2016 750ML ($399.95) $289 pre-arrival special (that’s only $24.08/bottle!)
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 91 points “Bright, dark red with ruby highlights. Highly complex nose combines fruit aromas of blackberry and blueberry with notes of bitter chocolate, licorice, violet and wet-rock minerality and subtle herbal suggestions of tobacco leaf and pepper. Fine-grained, dry and ripe, with its blackberry, boysenberry and shiso leaf flavors conveying an element of medicinal reserve. Finishes with dusty, firm, essentially suave tannins and noteworthy aromatic lift. Winemaker Pellet told me that he long ago stopped doing post-fermentation maceration for Cabernet, ‘as we have plenty of tannins already.'”
James Suckling 91 points “There’s a sense of poise and polish here, thanks to judicious assemblage. The nose has a core of cassis, purple cherries and berries that lead to a palate that offers a ripe, sweeping bed of tannin. A blend of 78% cabernet sauvignon, 10% merlot, 7% cabernet franc, 4% malbec and 1% petit verdot. Drink now.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Amavi Cellars Syrah, Walla Walla Valley 2016 750ML ($39.95) $24 pre-arrival special
No reviews for the 2017 vintage. The 2016 review is provided for reference.
James Suckling 92 points “[2016 vintage] This has an attractively fruit-focused nose with ripe raspberries and blueberries, as well as baked-pastry nuances on offer. The palate has a sleek and easy feel with a wealth of rich, approachable ripe raspberries and blackberries. A blend of 88% syrah and 12% grenache. Drink now.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Amavi Cellars Semillon, Walla Walla Valley 2018 750ML ($27.95) $21.90 pre-arrival special
James Suckling 91 points “This has a fresh array of peaches and melon with a more citrusy edge on the palate that is delivered with freshness and balance. 85% semillon and 25% sauvignon blanc. Drink now.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Staff Pick
A Washington Wine Month Winner
Suzanne:
March is Washington Wine Month, so we’ve seen quite a few ‘tonians pass through town. Tasting their wines is a rare pleasure in Portland, with the focus being on local or international wines. It’s always lovely to check in with these neighbors!
We began offering the Force Majeure wines over a year ago not long after the winery began selling retail instead of just through their mailing list. It’s exciting to introduce a winery to the general public, especially one that already has a name among collectors. The winery is based on Red Mountain and now exclusively works with estate fruit.
Winemaker Todd Alexander, formerly of Bryant Family Vineyard, has crafted an excellent lineup in the 2017 vintage, including the earlier drinking Parabellum line. The Parabellum Coulee is their Syrah-based wine. Grapes are sourced exclusively from their estate vineyards. It’s crafted to be an earlier-drinking wine, and it was certainly delicious today. It showed expressive and darky smoky notes of ripe plums and blackberries. There’s chocolate here along with peppery flavors. It had an impressively long finish for ‘entry-level.’
Enjoy now with roasted meats, braised veggies or barbeque. This will be especially lovely in the summer when it’s grilling season!
In Stock Now:
Parabellum Coulee, Red Mountain 2017 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 23 bottles in stock now
Washington Wine Blog 93 points “The 2017 ‘Coulée’ Red Wine is a fantastic blend of 86% Syrah with the remainder Mourvèdre that was all sourced from the esteemed Force Majeure Vineyard in the Red Mountain AVA. Tobacco leaf and smoky undertones collide with suggestions of green peppercorns and smoked black olives that all take shape together in the glass. The soft texture entices as the black and blue fruits mingle with minerals, black tea and chocolate covered brandy soaked kirsch flavors. This is seriously good by superstar winemaker Todd Alexander.”
March is Washington Wine Month, so we’ve seen quite a few ‘tonians pass through town. Tasting their wines is a rare pleasure in Portland, with the focus being on local or international wines. It’s always lovely to check in with these neighbors!
We began offering the Force Majeure wines over a year ago not long after the winery began selling retail instead of just through their mailing list. It’s exciting to introduce a winery to the general public, especially one that already has a name among collectors. The winery is based on Red Mountain and now exclusively works with estate fruit.
Winemaker Todd Alexander, formerly of Bryant Family Vineyard, has crafted an excellent lineup in the 2017 vintage, including the earlier drinking Parabellum line. The Parabellum Coulee is their Syrah-based wine. Grapes are sourced exclusively from their estate vineyards. It’s crafted to be an earlier-drinking wine, and it was certainly delicious today. It showed expressive and darky smoky notes of ripe plums and blackberries. There’s chocolate here along with peppery flavors. It had an impressively long finish for ‘entry-level.’
Enjoy now with roasted meats, braised veggies or barbeque. This will be especially lovely in the summer when it’s grilling season!
In Stock Now:
Parabellum Coulee, Red Mountain 2017 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 23 bottles in stock now
Washington Wine Blog 93 points “The 2017 ‘Coulée’ Red Wine is a fantastic blend of 86% Syrah with the remainder Mourvèdre that was all sourced from the esteemed Force Majeure Vineyard in the Red Mountain AVA. Tobacco leaf and smoky undertones collide with suggestions of green peppercorns and smoked black olives that all take shape together in the glass. The soft texture entices as the black and blue fruits mingle with minerals, black tea and chocolate covered brandy soaked kirsch flavors. This is seriously good by superstar winemaker Todd Alexander.”
#Trending
The winery just got a 100 point score for a new release, but this ’13 is in a prime drinking window.
Domaine de la Terre Rouge Ascent Syrah, Sierra Foothills 2013 750ML ($99.95) $79 special, 8 bottles in stock now
Wine Enthusiast 96 points “This is the small-production, flagship wine from the Sierra region’s best producer of Rhône-style wines. Lovely, spicy, floral aromas and generous, complex and layered flavors make the wine irresistible, while its strong but velvety texture sets it up for a long life in the cellar for those who can resist. It smells lightly oaky, like a cigar box and cocoa, tastes deep and focused on blackberry, pomegranate and dark chocolate. The mouthfeel is both rich and a bit reserved.”
Domaine de la Terre Rouge Ascent Syrah, Sierra Foothills 2013 750ML ($99.95) $79 special, 8 bottles in stock now
Wine Enthusiast 96 points “This is the small-production, flagship wine from the Sierra region’s best producer of Rhône-style wines. Lovely, spicy, floral aromas and generous, complex and layered flavors make the wine irresistible, while its strong but velvety texture sets it up for a long life in the cellar for those who can resist. It smells lightly oaky, like a cigar box and cocoa, tastes deep and focused on blackberry, pomegranate and dark chocolate. The mouthfeel is both rich and a bit reserved.”
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Italian Syrah is a thing. This fuses Italian style with rich, opulent fruit.
Tenimenti Luigi d’Alessandro Manzano ‘Il Bosco’ Syrah Cortona, Tuscany, 2013 750ML ($49.95) $39 special
Case-6 Tenimenti Luigi d’Alessandro Manzano ‘Il Bosco’ Syrah Cortona, Tuscany, 2013 750ML ($279.95) $219 special (that’s only $36.50/bottle!)
James Suckling 96 points “Plenty of smoke and berry character with dark tea and sweet tobacco. Full body, silky and fine tannins and a beautiful finish. Seriously classy. Drink now.”
Grapelive 95 points “This Italian Syrah is unmistakably Italian in its soul, but in many ways it reminds me of Penfolds Grange with its opulence that is matched by intensity and structure with ripe layers of fruit, spice and wood tones. It’s without question of sublime quality and shows this warm vintage and terroir to near perfection. Massimo d’Alessandro’s Il Bosco Syrah from Cortona, in Tuscany, is one of the most exciting versions in Italy and is a world class wine. This 2013 does not disappoint, expressing its warm vintage with class and ripe density. It’s a truly unique and impressive wine. Syrah first came to this old ex-Etruscan enclave in Val di Chiana back in 1988 when Milan professor Attillio Scienza planted an experimental 10 acre plot using selected Rhone clones. Within 11 years the area was given DOC status for the Syrah, a truly remarkable accomplishment with Tenimenti d’Alessandro being one of the region’s biggest successes. The Il Bosco is produced from 100% Syrah grapes selected from the three oldest hillside vineyards… planted between 1988 and 1995. The wine is aged 24 months in oak, mostly French, 30% new and raised in a combination of barriques and bigger wooden casks, plus it gets an extra 12 months of bottle aging before release, similar to what you see in Brunello and Barolo, highlighting the serious nature of this wine. The palate feels dense and chewy, but refined as well, showing copious amounts of cassis, plum and blackberry along with melted black licorice, a hint of menthol, mocha and lovely mix of dried herb, spice and floral elements with touches of lavender, lilacs and vanillin. There is a Guigal-level of regal decadence here and this vintage is exceptional for d’Alessandro, making for an impressive performance. A potential 20-year wine in the offing.”
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Most $150 Napa Cabs wish they tasted like this.
Snowden Vineyards ‘Brothers Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2016 750ML ($89.95) $79 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-12 Snowden Vineyards ‘Brothers Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2016 750ML ($1,079.95) $849 special (that’s only $70.75/bottle —the lowest listed price in the country!)
Antonio Galloni 96+ points “The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Brothers is the best wine I have tasted from Diana Snowden-Seysses. Rich, explosive and savory, the 2016 dazzles with intensity in all of its dimensions. Graphite, smoke, savory herbs and spice notes wrap around a core of dark fruit in a vertical, towering Cabernet Sauvignon that captures all the vintage has to offer.”
Wine Spectator 94 points “Offers a tasty core of plum and blackberry fruit, backed by lively anise and apple wood notes. Restrained overall, with an alluring freshness and a subtle charcoal hint lingering deftly at the end. Drink now through 2032. 639 cases made.”
Viognier is such a lovely early-spring grape and the Durands do it justice.
Domaine Eric et Joel Durand ‘Caprice’ Viognier, IGP Collines Rhodaniennes 2018 750ML ($21.95) $18 special, 31 bottles in stock now
Winery Note “100% Viognier from granite soils, fermented and aged in stainless steel vats plus 20% new barrels. Light gold colour. Floral bouquet developing a spicy character with a dominant fruits flavor (apricot and exotic fruits). The attack is fresh and fleshy. Full and silky on the palate. Long spicy and fruity finish.”
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The best value from Remelluri? The best value in Rioja?
Remelluri ‘ Lindes de Remelluri Vinedos de San Vicente’, Rioja 2014 750ML ($27.95) $24 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-6 Remelluri ‘ Lindes de Remelluri Vinedos de San Vicente’, Rioja 2014 750ML ($179.95) $128 special (that’s only $21.33/bottle!)
James Suckling 96 points “Some richer, darker and deeper fruit character with plums, blackberries and a dark, earthy streak. The tannins are more upright, more elevated, and the fruit is richer and darker than in the Labastida. This has real presence, grip and energy. Try from 2021.”
Grapelive 94 points “Telmo Rodriguez, one of the most iconic and best winemakers of his generation…. has accomplished himself as a champion of terroir over varietal and employs artisan craftsmanship in the cellar, with his wines hardly ever showing overt oak or aggressive alcohol, they always show distinctive purity and a sense of place, and these secondary wines known as Lindes de Remmelluri are magnificent expressions of Rioja, they are richly flavored and soulful wines crafted from old vine purchased fruit from vineyards that prior had got into the family’s main wine. These two vineyard select wines, Labastida and this San Vincente, coming from vineyards that used to go into the Remelluri Reserva are now separated into these two new single vineyard bottlings that are absolutely stunning values, especially in this 2014 vintage….The beautiful and deep Lindes de Remelluri Viñedos de San Vicente 2014, a field blend of 95% Tempranillo and 5% Garnacha, was fermented using all native yeasts in cool stainless steel tanks and then raised in barrel, 100% French oak, for 12 months before bottling where it is rested a good amount of time as well. San Vincente in the Rioja Alta just to the east of Haro is at about 50 meters up, but hotter than the higher sites at Labastida and at the main Remelluri estate located in Rioja Alavesa which are much cooler, making this wine seem more lush, riper in satiny tannin and with a softer acidity. Grown on hardened clay and calcareous limestone over a firm core of bedrock from organic vines that average at least 40 years of age this wine shows warm dark fruits, blackberry, cherry and plum lead the way along with hints of earthy mulberry and cranberry along with lilacs, cedar/sandalwood, a touch of vanilla and a subtle array of spices. 2014 was a slightly cooler year and that really helps this wine feel alive on the opulent and full bodied palate and it lingers on and on with a echoing aftertaste that is highly impressive. Telmo’s wines are always polished and textural, but distinctly authentic with terruño character and delivering substance along with some flair, which this one shows, it should age well too, I can imagine at least another decade plus with this 2014 San Vincente.”
Big and rich, drink this one with cassoulet or an end-of-winter stew.
Domaine des Bosquets Gigondas, Rhone 2016 750ML ($31.95) $26 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 92 points “Leading off the wines from bottle, the 2016 Gigondas is a classic wine from this estate, offering a deeper ruby/purple color as well as tons of garrigue, peppery spice, and earth intermixed with ample red and black fruits. Polished, rounded and sexy, with sweet tannin, it has a modern style that won’t appeal to traditionalists yet is beautifully done. The blend is 60% Grenache, 25% Syrah, 10% Mourvèdre, and the rest Cinsault.”
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 92 points “Vivid ruby-red. Lively, expansive red berry, floral pastille and white pepper scents, along with suggestions of garrigue and smoky minerals. Sweet, focused and seamless in the mouth, offering juicy raspberry, spicecake and lavender flavors that deepen steadily on the back half. Clings with very good authority on the gently tannic finish and leaves succulent floral and herb notes behind.”
Joe Czerwinski-Wine Advocate 92 points “Hints of garrigue accent raspberries and Rainier cherries in the 2016 Gigondas. This blend of 60% Grenache, 25% Syrah, 10% Mourvèdre and 5% Cinsault is full-bodied and supple, with no hard edges, just lovely fruit. Long, seamless and delicious for drinking over the next 6-7 years, it’s a terrific introduction to the fruit-forward style at this estate. Tasted twice with consistent notes.”
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Collector’s Corner
2008 remains one of the greatest Dom vintages in recent memory. This is ageworthy but already profound.
Only two bottles left in stock (more stock arriving soon)!
Dom Perignon Luminous Collection Brut Millesime, Champagne 2008 750ML ($249.95) $199 special
#5 Wine of the Year – Wine Spectator Top 100 in 2018
Antonio Galloni 98+ points “The 2008 Dom Pérignon is fabulous, but quite remarkably, it was even more open when I tasted it a year ago. Bright, focused and crystalline in its precision, the 2008 is going to need a number of years before it is at its best. Lemon peel, white flowers, mint and white pepper give the 2008 its chiseled, bright profile. Several recent bottles have all been magnificent. What I admire most about the 2008 is the way it shows all the focus, translucence and energy that is such a signature of the year, and yet it is also remarkably deep and vertical. In other words, the 2008 is a Champagne that plays in three dimensions.”
John Gilman 98 points “The 2008 vintage of Dom Pérignon is an absolute classic in the making and this is destined to be one of the great recent years for this iconic cuvée. It is far more classically structured out of the blocks than the relatively generous 2009 version, offering up a deep, complex and very youthful bouquet of menthol, green apple, a touch of tangerine, a very complex base of minerality and notes of dried flowers in the upper register. On the palate the wine is pure, full-bodied and rock solid at the core, with precise mousse, brisk acids and stunning length and grip on the primary and laser-like finish. This will demand some cellaring to start to really stir and should prove to be an extremely long-lived vintage of DP. Stellar juice.”
Wine Spectator 96 points “There’s power to this graceful Champagne, with the vivid acidity swathed in a fine, creamy mousse and flavors of toasted brioche, kumquat, pastry cream, candied ginger and poached plum that dance across the palate. An underpinning of smoky mineral gains momentum on the lasting finish. Drink now through 2033.”
James Suckling 98 points “The best Dom since 2002. A vintage with very restrained, powerful style that has been released non-sequentially after the 2009. This has a lighter stamp of highly curated, autolytic, toasty aromas than many recent releases. Instead, this delivers super fresh and intense aromas of lemons, grapefruit and blood-orange peel. Incredible freshness here. The palate has a very smoothly delivered, berry-pastry thread with light, sweet spices, stone fruit and fine citrus fruit. This really delivers. Drink now or hold.”
Decanter 96 points “Departing chef de caves Richard Geoffroy says that 2008 is his best DP vintage since 1990. The first half of the growing season was dull and sunless, but good weather returned in mid-September and led to one of the longest harvests, running into October. The summer provided ideal conditions for a classic, cool, maritime vintage of exceptional, subtle aromas with minerality and freshness. This has a vibrant but controlled acidity, and is above all a memorable symbiosis of mature fruit and salinity derived from top terroirs. The poised mouthfeel makes this a perfect gastronomic wine, strong enough for spicy Asian cuisine from the Pacific rim, but still compatible with classics such as roast turbot and lobster.””
Only two bottles left in stock (more stock arriving soon)!
Dom Perignon Luminous Collection Brut Millesime, Champagne 2008 750ML ($249.95) $199 special
#5 Wine of the Year – Wine Spectator Top 100 in 2018
Antonio Galloni 98+ points “The 2008 Dom Pérignon is fabulous, but quite remarkably, it was even more open when I tasted it a year ago. Bright, focused and crystalline in its precision, the 2008 is going to need a number of years before it is at its best. Lemon peel, white flowers, mint and white pepper give the 2008 its chiseled, bright profile. Several recent bottles have all been magnificent. What I admire most about the 2008 is the way it shows all the focus, translucence and energy that is such a signature of the year, and yet it is also remarkably deep and vertical. In other words, the 2008 is a Champagne that plays in three dimensions.”
John Gilman 98 points “The 2008 vintage of Dom Pérignon is an absolute classic in the making and this is destined to be one of the great recent years for this iconic cuvée. It is far more classically structured out of the blocks than the relatively generous 2009 version, offering up a deep, complex and very youthful bouquet of menthol, green apple, a touch of tangerine, a very complex base of minerality and notes of dried flowers in the upper register. On the palate the wine is pure, full-bodied and rock solid at the core, with precise mousse, brisk acids and stunning length and grip on the primary and laser-like finish. This will demand some cellaring to start to really stir and should prove to be an extremely long-lived vintage of DP. Stellar juice.”
Wine Spectator 96 points “There’s power to this graceful Champagne, with the vivid acidity swathed in a fine, creamy mousse and flavors of toasted brioche, kumquat, pastry cream, candied ginger and poached plum that dance across the palate. An underpinning of smoky mineral gains momentum on the lasting finish. Drink now through 2033.”
James Suckling 98 points “The best Dom since 2002. A vintage with very restrained, powerful style that has been released non-sequentially after the 2009. This has a lighter stamp of highly curated, autolytic, toasty aromas than many recent releases. Instead, this delivers super fresh and intense aromas of lemons, grapefruit and blood-orange peel. Incredible freshness here. The palate has a very smoothly delivered, berry-pastry thread with light, sweet spices, stone fruit and fine citrus fruit. This really delivers. Drink now or hold.”
Decanter 96 points “Departing chef de caves Richard Geoffroy says that 2008 is his best DP vintage since 1990. The first half of the growing season was dull and sunless, but good weather returned in mid-September and led to one of the longest harvests, running into October. The summer provided ideal conditions for a classic, cool, maritime vintage of exceptional, subtle aromas with minerality and freshness. This has a vibrant but controlled acidity, and is above all a memorable symbiosis of mature fruit and salinity derived from top terroirs. The poised mouthfeel makes this a perfect gastronomic wine, strong enough for spicy Asian cuisine from the Pacific rim, but still compatible with classics such as roast turbot and lobster.””
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average listed price is $280
The average listed price is $280
2013 is the new sleeper vintage—already outperforming expectations. Rousseau is bankable any year, obviously.
Only one bottle available.
Domaine Armand Rousseau Pere et Fils Ruchottes-Chambertin Grand Cru ‘Clos des Ruchottes’ Monopole, Cote de Nuits 2013 750ML ($799.95) $699 special
Burghound 92-95 points “A discreet touch of wood frames notably ripe but fresh aroma of dark currant, plum, truffle, earth and wet stone. There is outstanding delineation and intensity to the refined and pure medium-bodied flavors that are shaped by deceptively pliant tannins on the saline finish that seems to be constructed from liquid stone, all wrapped in a wonderfully long and pure finish. Textbook Ruchottes.”
2014 remains one the best vintages for quality/price for top-grade Bordeaux. A touch off the level of ’15/’15 but significantly off the pricing.
Only six bottles available
Chateau Mouton Rothschild, Pauillac 2014 750ML ($799.95) $649 special
Antonio Galloni 97 points “An exciting, beautifully layered wine, the 2014 Mouton Rothschild is one of the clear highlights of the vintage. A stunning interplay of crème de cassis, graphite, menthol, sage, mocha, dark chocolate and leather takes of all the senses. The 2014 is dark, voluptuous racy. Above all else, it speaks to a total sense of balance. The blend is 81 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 16 % Merlot and 3 % Cabernet Franc.”
Neal Martin-Wine Advocate 94-96 points “The Château Mouton-Rothschild 2014 contains more tannin than the 2010 according to winemaker Philippe Dhalluin, although he stressed that this does not imply that they were finer tannin. The blend is 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% Merlot and 3% Cabernet Franc and it will of course, be matured in 100% new oak. The alcohol level just tops 13%, the first time since 2010. It has a classic Mouton nose, the slightly higher percentage of Merlot lending a little flamboyance and flair with scents of blackberry, warm gravel and cigar box scents. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin, armed with powerful core of quite rich black fruit interlaced with tobacco and allspice. There is very good structure here, a fine edginess towards the white pepper infused finish. There is almost a nuttiness to this wine, to wit, a fascinating maze-like Mouton in the making and perhaps a more cerebral Mouton compared to recent vintages.”
James Suckling 96-97 points “This is incredibly minerally with a maritime character as well as red iodine, algae, currants and great intensity. Some saltiness. Almost like a pearl in an oyster shell. This is a true wine of the soil for Mouton. Full body, racy tannins and lingering. Excellent. Unique. 81% cabernet sauvignon, 16% merlot and 4% cabernet franc.”
Corton-Charlemagne is majestic from the best hands and in ’14 Clos de la Chapelle hit a home run.
Domaine Clos de la Chapelle Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru, Cote de Beaune 2014 750ML ($199.95) $169 special
Wine Spectator 95 points “A stoniness underscores the lemon, citronella and clove flavors in this racy white. The chalky texture and light tannins on the finish set this apart. This keeps building, ending with fine energy and a lingering aftertaste. Best from 2019 through 2028. 68 cases made”
John Gilman 93+ points “The 2014 CortonCharlemagne from Clos de la Chapelle is a very fine bottle in the making. The deep and serious nose offers up scents of apple, pear, a touch of iodine, lovely, chalky soil tones, a touch of citrus peel and vanillin oak. On the palate the wine is deep, fullbodied, complex and rock solid at the core, with lovely mineral drive, crisp acids and excellent length and grip on the nascently complex finish. Fine juice in the making. 20202045+”
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This might be the rarest Keller bottling this side of G-Max.
Only ten half-bottles available
Weingut Keller Monsheimer Silberberg Rieslaner Beerenauslese, Rheinhessen 2018 375ML ($319.95) $249 special
This is the only listing in the USA today!
A hundred point score from Robert Parker (not just the Wine Advocate) make this one special.
Only one bottle available
Pride Mountain Vineyards Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, California 2013 750ML ($399.95) $349 special
Robert Parker 100 points “A real tour de force once again, and their second consecutive perfect score, is the 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve, which is 99% Cabernet Sauvignon and 1% Petit Verdot aged 22 months in 40% new French oak. It is a larger cuvée of 1,416 cases versus 450 for the Reserve Claret. The Cabernet is just under 15% alcohol. A fantastic wine, with great intensity, notes of graphite, forest floor, crème de cassis, white chocolate and blackberry, the wine hits the palate with a thunderous presence, has a multi-layered, skyscraper-like palate feel, a plush, intense texture, high but well-integrated tannin and acidity, and nicely disguised oak. This is a magnificent wine, with 79% of it coming from the Sonoma side of Spring Mountain and 21% from the Napa side. Drink it over the next 25-30+ years.”
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