Monday 3-2-2020 Newsletter

Eisele is one of the most hallowed terroirs in the Napa Valley.  Tucked into the foothills in Calistoga, it has produced incredible wines since 1971 for Phelps, Araujo, and now (indirectly) Chateau Latour, who bought the property a few years ago.  Their flagship bottling competes with First Growth Bordeaux in its collectibility, age-worthiness and complexity.  As you might expect, allocations are very limited.  We sold through our initial tranche but were able to secure an additional quantity, which just arrived. Even better? We’re offering it to you for a short time only at a discounted subscriber-only special!

Only eight bottles available
Eisele Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2016 750ML ($599.95) Displayed price: $539, Subscriber-Only Special: $479
Wine Advocate 100 points “The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon has a deep garnet-purple color. Its nose begins a little reserved, slowly revealing a quiet intensity of freshly crushed blackberries, chocolate-covered cherries, cassis and aniseed with compelling nuances of black tea, cigar box, truffles and charcuterie, plus, with coaxing, gentle wafts of red roses and crushed rocks emerge. The medium to full-bodied palate is simply arresting, offering a a myriad floral and earth sparks amidst a black fruit core and with seamless, firm, very fine-grained tannins. Well-knit freshness brings forth layer after layer of delicate nuances on the very long, mineral-laced finish. The team at Eisele, led by Frédéric Engerer (of Chateau Latour) and beautifully orchestrated by winemaker Hélène Mingot, have knocked it out of the park this vintage with this singular expression that both embraces the site’s heritage and reveals parts unknown.-LPB”
Decanter 100 points “One of the most legendary vineyards in the Napa Valley, the Eisele Vineyard was purchased by François Pinault of Château Latour in Pauillac in the Médoc, Bordeaux from the Araujo family which had owned it for 23 years (from 1990 to 2013). The winemaking is now in the hands of 41-year-old winemaker Hélène Mingot. For this vintage, Hélène used only rockiest blocks planted in shallow soils near Simmons Creek.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average listed price is $568

 

 

 

Andy:
The track record of 2016 treating Tuscany like a favorite child continues with the 2016 Piaggia Il Sasso. Billed as the original Super-Tuscan region, Carmignano has a history with Cabernet that reaches back to the Medici family being gifted Cabernet vines after Catherine Medici became the queen of France. There are requirements in place for 10 to 20 percent Cabernet to qualify as Carmignano, and the “Francesca” grapes are as much a part of the tiny region as Sangiovese.

The quality and depth of the Il Sasso is clear from the beginning with aromatics that fill the glass immediately.  The bright red color shows a deeper hue in the center, and additional spice and floral notes swirl around the tart cherry fruit. Bright and lively, yet with the hallmark smooth backbone of 2016. The finish for this “entry level” wine is very long, but never becomes heavy. It is a wine that could pair with virtually any classic Tuscan fare, and is extremely enjoyable solo. Tasted alongside the more polished and substantial Riserva, this is the wine to consume now, according to the family, but it could clearly be a great addition to the cellar for the next decade.

In Stock Now:

Piaggia Il Sasso, Carmignano DOCG 2016 750ML ($37.95) $29 special, 36 bottles in stock now
Wine Advocate 93 points “Dedicated to the estate’s paternal figure Mauro Vannucci, the 2016 Carmignano Il Sasso (with 40,000 bottles produced) is a compelling blend of 70% Sangiovese, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Merlot. This vintage delivers ample power, yet the wine remains smooth and elegant from a tactile point of view. Sangiovese’s identity emerges with aromas of wild berry, tilled earth and rose hip. The two international grapes serve to shape the firmness and structure of the mouthfeel. This wine is fermented in oak and later aged in medium-toast neutral barrique for 12 months.-ML”
Antonio Galloni 92 points “The 2016 Carmignano Il Sasso is a veritable explosion of aromas, flavors and textures. A rush of dark red and purplish berry fruit makes a strong opening statement. The interplay of rich fruit, expressive aromatics and brightness makes for a wonderfully complete, vibrant Carmignano that will be impossible to resist upon release. The 2016 is a wine of pure and total pleasure.”

Also in stock from Piaggia:

Piaggia Cabernet Franc Poggio de Colli Toscana IGT, Tuscany2015 750ML ($79.95) $59 special, 20 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni 95 points “The 2015 Cabernet Franc Poggio de’ Colli is another compelling wine from Piaggia. Silky, aromatically precise and wonderfully nuanced, the 2015 has it all. Lavender, blueberry jam and spice are some of the many notes that develop with time in the glass. This powerful, resonant Franc from Piaggia is deeply satisfying from the very first taste.”

Piaggia, Carmignano Riserva DOCG 2016 750ML ($49.95) $39 special, 11 bottles in stock now
Importer Note “The Carmignano Riserva is the flagship wine of Piaggia, first made by Mauro Vannucci in 1991. All of the grapes are from the family’s 50 year old vines in 2.5 hectares in the Piaggia cru near Pogetto, over clay and galestro soils on a south-west facing exposure at 250 meters above sea level. Made from 70% Sangiovese, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc (the French varieties were propagated from cuttings made at Chateau Lafite Rothschild in Pauillac). Fermentation on the skins lasts up to 4 weeks with indigenous yeasts. Aging occurs in French oak (no more than 10% new) for 24 months. The wine is racked occasionally during aging but is otherwise unfined and unfiltered prior to bottling. The wine rests six months in bottle before release. Approximately 2500 cases produced annually.”
Winery Note “Carmignano Riserva Piaggia, the winery’s standard-bearer, is the result of rigorous selection in an old vineyard near Poggetto, where the grapes make high quality wines that enhance the characteristics of the appellation to the full. The Riserva Piaggia is our modern interpretation of Carmignano, a wine that is made giving special attention to the finest detail: nothing is left to chance, either in the vineyard or in the cellar, because we believe our grapes deserve particular care and attention and because we want to offer the consumer a thrill that tells of the beauty of our vineyards and the aromas of our land. The Piaggia Riserva is a wine that can be aged for many years while maintaining its organoleptic qualities intact and can liven up the tables of the most demanding consumers all over the world.”

 

If you’re looking for absolutely classic, high scoring Sonoma wine with a modest price tag, you don’t have to look far beyond Bucklin.  A family owned winery that’s been making authentic wines without regard for trends or marketing, and the result is one of the most consistently superb and well-priced set of wines out there.  

Will Bucklin owns one of the oldest vineyards in Sonoma Valley, Old Hill Ranch, which was planted in the late 1800’s and is still passionately maintained (and dry farmed) today.  The original vines still produce grapes today, yielding their “Ancient” bottling.  This is a wine we’re excited to carry every year and the new release is no exception.  It’s perennially powerful, big and intense, but with enough energy to keep things in check. 

Don’t miss the entry level “Bambino” Zin and their excellent, old-school Cabernet.  From top down, they’re the epitome of classic, classy Sonoma and we’re excited to present the new set of releases.

Newly Arrived:

Bucklin Old Hill Ranch Ancient Field Blend, Sonoma Valley 2016 750ML ($39.95) $33 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 94 points “Loaded with personality and appealingly exotic, this offers a structured core, wrapped in wild berry, cracked pepper, forest floor and black licorice flavors, building richness toward refined tannins. Zinfandel, Grenache, Alicante Bouschet, Petite Sirah, Mourvèdre, Grand Noir, Syrah and Carignane. Drink now through 2030. 456 cases made.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $36

Bucklin Bambino Old Hill Ranch Zinfandel, Sonoma Valley 2017 750ML ($29.95) $24 special, 26 bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 91 points “Lively and briary, with expressive raspberry, smoky tarragon and cracked pepper flavors that pick up speed toward well-groomed tannins. Drink now through 2028. 569 cases made.”

Bucklin Old Hill Ranch Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma County 2016 750ML ($49.95) $39 special, 13 bottles in stock now
Distributor note “Established in 1852 near the town of Glen Ellen, Old Hill Ranch is one of California’s oldest vineyards. The six-acre block of Cabernet Sauvignon- a relative newcomer to the vineyard- was planted on Old Hill in 1982. This Cabernet block was planted by their neighbor Bruce Cohn, who leased the vineyard until 2004. The vines are planted in the old California style of wide spacing on a terraced hillside in what is often referred to as the ‘banana belt’ of Sonoma Valley. Aged in forty percent new French oak for twenty months.”  

 

San Maurizio Mayolet, Valle d’Aosta 2018 750ML ($44.95) $39 special, 24 bottles in stock now
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…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.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Clos de Porrets might be the most undervalued terroir in Nuits-St. George.
Domaine Henri Gouges Clos des Porrets Monopole, Nuits-Saint-Georges Premier Cru 2016 750ML ($119.95) $99 special, 18 bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 95 points “Earthy reduction in the aroma gives way to pure cherry, raspberry and stone flavors, revealing flashes of spice and dark, meaty elements. Dense and lush, with black fruit, spice and toast notes on the long finish. Powerful. Best from 2023 through 2042. 200 cases imported.”
Neal Martin – Vinous 92 points “The 2016 Nuits Saint-Georges Clos des Porrets St-Georges 1er Cru has an open and expressive bouquet with raspberry coulis, wild strawberry, orange pith and light rose petal aromas. I would just like a little more cohesion. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins and well-judged acidity, slightly confit in style with suggestions of brown sugar sweetening the finish. But harmonious and quite persistent, this is a promising Nuits Saint-Georges. Tasted blind at the 2016 Burgfest tasting.”

Montepeloso Eneo Toscana IGT, Tuscany 2015 750ML ($49.95) $34.50 special, 35 bottles in stock now
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 95 points “The 2015 Eneo is a beautifully saturated and concentrated wine. The unusual blend used here is Sangiovese with Montepulciano, Marselan and Alicante Bouschet. The bouquet is profoundly bold and exuberant, with generous integration and beautiful power. The warmth of the vintage further adds to the overall intensity of this carefully crafted red wine. The mouthfeel is seamless and soft.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $44

Powerful dry Riesling that’s perfect with early spring produce (and late spring produce, and summer produce…).
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!

A one of a kind bottling from Rioja, this pure Garnacha is elegance married to power.
Finca La Emperatriz Cepas Viejas Garnacha, Rioja DOCa 2014 750ML ($39.95) $33 special, 27 bottles in stock now
James Suckling 95 points “An intensely herbal and floral nose displaying raspberries, cherries and hints of cloves. Mint, too. Medium body, ripe and juicy tannins and a very long, citrusy and savory finish. Made from vines over 65 years old. A wine that boasts superb finesse and style. Drink or hold.”
Luis Gutierrez-Wine Advocate 93 points “The wine that won my heart this time was without a doubt the 2014 Finca la Emperatriz Garnacha Cepas Viejas. This wine is sourced from the Rioja Alta subzone, not quite the classical Garnacha place, from the only old-vine Garnacha plot they have in the estate. It displays a captivating nose of sweet Garnacha fruit akin to cherries in liqueur, but keeping the freshness in a coolish vintage like 2014. The uncrushed grapes fermented in open-top stainless steel vats and 500-liter oak barrels with indigenous yeasts after five days of pre-fermentative maceration, and it matured in 500-liter oak barrels for ten months. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins, delicious fresh flavors and very good length, ending with a tasty, almost salty note. 8,966 bottles and a bunch of magnums were produced and filled in November 2014.”

The other side of California Chardonnay, this is bright, fresh and dangerously drinkable.
Frog’s Leap Chardonnay, Napa Valley 2016 750ML ($37.95) $21.90 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
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!
The average price is $31

 

Durand is a producer on the rise. The last two vintages (’15 and ’16) are the finest wines they’ve ever produced—which makes the ’17’s even more impressive. The 2017s are the best young drinking Durand’s we’ve tasted—more delicious now than the ’15’s were at this stage, which is saying something.

It’s become harder and harder to find this sort of value in the Northern Rhone.  The market locates inefficiencies quicker than ever and exciting producers jump in price in the blink of an eye.  Nevertheless, here we are—these are fantastic bottles at prices far below what comparable St. Joseph and Cornas producers are selling for.

Stylistically, these wines are right in the pocket, so to speak.  It’s hard to find Northern Rhone wines that combine soul and polish—it seems as if most of the new wines we taste are either hyper glossy or very rustic.  To hit that sweet spot, where your wines speak very loudly of place but are elegant, drinkable and age-worthy—that’s special indeed.  To make those sorts of wines at the prices that the Durands charge seems almost unthinkable.  You owe it to yourself to check these out and drink these up before they become yet another casualty of rising Northern Rhone demand.

“One of my favorite estates in Cornas (although the domaine is in Châteaubourg), Domaine Durand is run with incredible talent and passion by Eric and Joël Durand, who also get consulting help from Fabien Ozanne. This estate falls in the quasi-modern camp and produces beautiful wines that have pure, clean fruit and classic profiles. In general, the wines are mostly destemmed and the new oak percentage falls into the 15-25% category. These are terrific wines that offer pleasure in their youth yet also age gracefully.” –Jeb Dunnuck

In Stock Now

Domaine Eric et Joel Durand Cornas Confidence, Rhone 2017 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 24 bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 97 points “The top wine from these two talented brothers is the 2017 Cornas Confidence, and it’s one of the wines of the vintage in 2017. Based on 70% destemmed Grenache and a parcel selection from pure granite soils, aged in 30% new French oak, this massively endowed, powerful, full-bodied Cornas offers a sumptuous array of spiced dark fruits, smoked meats, new leather, camphor, and peppery herbs. It shows the sexy yet also tannic style of the vintage and needs 3-4 years of bottle age. It’s going to keep for 15+ years or more.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Domaine Eric et Joel Durand Cornas Empreintes, Rhone 2017 750ML ($49.95) $39 special, 33 bottles in stock now
Domaine Eric et Joel Durand Cornas Empreintes, Rhone 2017 1.5L ($99.95) $89 special, 6 magnums in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 95 points “One of the flagship releases is the 2017 Cornas Empreintes, which comes from the steep, granite hillsides of Cornas, sees 25% stems, and is brought up in 20% new French oak. This full-bodied, concentrated effort boasts a deep purple hue, notes of peppery herbs, plums, blackberries, and smoked game, building tannins, and just about overflowing amounts of character. It’s a stunning, brilliant Cornas that’s going to benefit from 2-4 years of bottle age and cruise for 15+ years. Bravo!”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $45

Domaine Eric et Joel Durand Cornas Premices, Rhone 2017 750ML ($39.95) $33 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 93 points “Lots of blueberries, jammy blackberries, violets, licorice, and floral notes emerge from the 2017 Cornas Prémices. This fleshy, sexy, full-bodied beauty is a quintessential, hedonistic Cornas that’s already hard to resist. Nevertheless, it has enough sweet tannins to keep for over a decade. This cuvée comes from slightly younger vines (15 to 30-year-old vines) and is aged in 20% new French oak.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $38

Domaine Eric et Joel Durand Saint-Joseph Les Coteaux Rouge, Rhone 2017 750ML ($39.95) $29 special, 24 bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 90 points “Brought up mostly in used barrels (15% new), the 2017 Saint Joseph Les Coteaux offers a more straightforward style yet still has loads of classic damp earth and obvious minerality as well as terrific darker fruit. Medium-bodied and concentrated, with building tannins, it’s another beautiful, ageworthy Saint Joseph from this great estate that represents a smoking value.”

This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!

Domaine Eric et Joel Durand Saint-Joseph Lautaret Rouge, Rhone 2017 750ML ($39.95) $33 special, 24 bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 92+ points “The top Saint Joseph, the 2017 Saint Joseph Lautaret comes from older vines from the southern part of the appellation (near the village of Châteaubourg) and was brought up in 15% new French oak. It has a juicy, fresh, yet concentrated style to go with vivid dark berry fruits, crushed rock, graphite, and ground pepper notes. This terrific wine will benefit from short-term cellaring and keep for over a decade.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Domaine Eric et Joel Durand Viognier Caprice, IGP Collines Rhodaniennes 2018 750ML ($21.95) $18 special, 29 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.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Shop our 2014, 2015 & 2016 Durand wines on our web store.