In This Newsletter:
New Grapelive Review &
2017 Jaboulet Special Feature
New Week – New Arrivals
#Trending
Collector’s Corner
2017 Domaine de la Romanee-Conti
New Grapelive Review &
2017 Jaboulet Special Feature
The hill of Hermitage is one of the most famous wine landmarks in the world. The hill of Hermitage was the home of a knight seeking solace from the horrors of the Crusades upon his return home. He planted the vineyards that would become Hermitage and then built a chapel to pray in and that building, the Chapel of Saint Christopher, is the defining marker of the hillside. The name, Hermitage, takes the name of the hermit’s refuge.
Jaboulet purchased the Chapel of Saint Christopher and the surrounding plot of land in 1919—possibly the choicest part of the whole appellation. This is the core of their blend for La Chapelle, which for many defines what Hermitage can be, though the entire line of wines Jaboulet makes from the AOC (and its neighbor) is exceptional. These are big, dense wines, with loads of Hermitage character and those effortless Syrah flavors that just don’t quit on extremely long finishes. 2017 looks to be incredible successes for the northern Rhone, and critics agree that Jaboulet is one of the standout producers. Check out Kerry Winslow of Grapelive’s latest review on the 2017 Crozes!
Newly Reviewed and In Stock Now:
Paul Jaboulet Aine Domaine de Thalabert Crozes-Hermitage, Rhone 2017 750ML ($39.95) $33 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Grapelive 94 points “Drinking more like a great Cote-Rotie than a Crozes-Hermitage, the 2017 Domaine de Thalabert Crozes Rouge by Caroline Frey and Jaboulet is a profound effect considering the searing heat of the vintage with an intense inky color and beautifully elegant detailing. This is a stunning pure Syrah wine that thrills the palate. This black/purple hued Domaine Paul Jaboulet Aine Croze-Hermitage “Domaine de Thalabert” starts with some flair and flamboyance highlighted by crushed violets, creme de cassis and espresso roast before classic flavors unfold on the full bodied palate with boysenberry, damson plum, kirsch, blueberry compote and loganberry coulis as well as black licorice, grilled herbs de Provence, a touch of earth, peppercorns, tapenade and sweet cedar notes along with a faint mocha element. While heady, this wine is wonderfully drinkable with a very stylish and balanced form. It comes in at about 13.5% natural alcohol, so it can be enjoyed without any oppressive heat showing, or aggressive tannins, making it easy to enjoy in its youth and sublime with food, especially roast meats, savory mushroom dishes and rustic cuisine. It has enough sweet fruit to go with Turkish lamb or Korean BBQ Pork… Air brings out a fuller expression of the succulent dark fruits as well as allowing hints of camphor/graphite and delicate mineral tones. This wine lingers on and on heavenly in the glass. This is a Syrah to spend some time with to enjoy it in its complete performance. It is truly excellent until the last drop leaves the bottle… The Domaine Paul Jaboulet Aine, now owned by the Frey family, led by the talented winemaking tigress Caroline Frey, has been an iconic estate in the Northern Rhone and one of the big three in the region along with Guigal and Chapoutier. [The Domaine is] best known for their fabled La Chapelle vineyard in Hermitage, Syrah’s most holy site! There have been wines made here since pre-Roman times, but it was Antoine Jaboulet’s plantings in 1834 and focus on quality which really started to establish the area as one of the major wine producing appellations of the world. After he passed, the land was passed on to his two sons Henri and Paul. The Frey family, who bought the fade glory Jaboulet in 2006, have become big time players in premium French wine production having serious quality properties in Champagne, Burgundy and Bordeaux, which includes Chateau La Lagune in Haut-Medoc and Château de Corton André in the Cote de Beaune. Caroline, who studied in Bordeaux is one of France’s rising stars and has her hand in many projects, with even a biodynamic high elevation vineyard in Switzerland under her care… [Her efforts] have certainly brought this estate back to the elite status it enjoyed in the 1950s and 1960s. The Thalabert parcel, a special terroir, is located in Crozes’ pebble-strewn granite soiled lieu-dit of Les Chassis, which has owned by Jaboulet since its founding back in 1834 and is regarded as maybe the greatest set of vines in the Crores-Hermitage AOC, all organic and biodynamic. Frey uses partial whole bunches and well-judged use of new wood, really putting the focus on the vintage and trying for transparency and luxurious texture in her recent releases. This 2017 is proving to be a very tasty version, maybe not as serious as 2015 and 2016 for the cellar. This is one to drink up and offers a stunning value.”
Highlights Also In Stock Now from Jaboulet:
A cellar-worthy vintage of the Crozes!
Paul Jaboulet Aine Domaine de Thalabert Crozes-Hermitage, Rhone 2016 750ML ($47.95) $33 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-6 Paul Jaboulet Aine Domaine de Thalabert Crozes-Hermitage, Rhone 2016 750ML ($279.95) $179 special (that’s only $29.83/bottle and the lowest listed price in the USA today!)
Jeb Dunnuck 94 points “The 2016 Crozes Hermitage Domaine De Thalabert offers a rocking (and classic) bouquet of ripe black fruits intermixed with notions new saddle leather, pepper, garrigue, and hints of bacon fat. This ripe, medium to full-bodied, silky wine has remarkable purity, is already complex, and finishes with serious length. Drink it over the coming 10-15 years.”
Wine Advocate 93 points “The classically styled 2016 Crozes Hermitage Domaine de Thalabert boasts savory scents of black olive and leather. Medium to full-bodied, it’s plummy and rich, creamy and ripe but savory and earthy, not jammy at all, with a lingering, velvety-textured finish. It drinks well now, but it should continue to evolve and drink well through 2035.-JC”
Josh Raynolds – Vinous 92-94 points “(20% new oak) Bright violet. Highly perfumed, mineral-accented dark berries, cherry liqueur and candied violet on the nose. At once rich and energetic, offering juicy, focused black raspberry and cherry cola flavors along with a hint of smokiness. Turns sweeter on the lively, penetrating finish, which features sneaky tannins and a strong echo of smoky minerality.”
James Suckling 92-93 points “This shows pretty dark fruit along with cloves, dark berries and hints of black pepper. Medium to full body and a juicy finish.”
The average price is $39
Paul Jaboulet Aine Hermitage La Chapelle, Rhone 2017 750ML ($219.95) $189 special, 21 bottles in stock now
Wine Advocate 98 points “The 2017 Hermitage La Chapelle comes from the firm’s vineyards on the western half of the Hermitage slope, primarily Le Méal, but with substantial contributions from Les Rocoules and Les Bessards. Classic notes of cassis, black olives, mocha and roasted meat are joined by hints of baking spices in a wine that’s full-bodied, deep, dense and rich, with a velvety texture and a lingering finish. It’s lower in alcohol than the 2018, less voluptuous and maybe just a step behind that monumental wine, but it’s still a serious collectible with three decades of evolution ahead of it.-JC”
James Suckling 98 points “The icon is in dangerously seductive form. Such pristine dark cherries, blackberries and dark plums, dark chocolate, finely crushed spices and plenty of crushed dark stones on offer. The palate is very intense, very slick and fine tannins deliver an almost playfully soft impression. The oak is super integrated. Like La Maison Bleue, this approachability is an aberration, as it has immense power, concentration and length with such regal and alluring swagger at the finish. But there is so much more to come. Try from 2024, better after 2030.”
Josh Raynolds 95 points “Saturated violet color. Intensely perfumed ripe black/blue fruits, violet candy, exotic spices and smoky minerals show fine definition and lift. Juicy and focused on the palate, offering deeply concentrated yet lively black raspberry, boysenberry, floral pastille and spicecake flavors and a late touch of licorice. Finishes smooth, sappy and extremely long, with chewy tannins lending shape and grip to resonating dark berry and floral notes.”
Shop our entire selection of Jaboulet wines
in stock now and arriving in September!
Love the Rhone?
Don’t miss our Saint Cosme wines arriving this month!
New Week – New Arrivals
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Washington
Charles Smith’s wines (K Vintners, Substance) are some of the most coveted, popular wines to come out of Washington State—and we’re sweetening our already great price on his entry level “Cs” Cabernet with a new Case-12 special. For just $159, you can stock up on one of the best values out there in West Coast Cabernet (that’s only $13.25/bottle!).
Substance ‘Cs’ Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley 2018 750ML ($17.95) $14.50 special
Case-12 Substance ‘Cs’ Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley 2018 750ML ($219.95) $159 special (that’s only $13.25/bottle!)
James Suckling 93 points “This has the wonderful, dark-fruit and olive character of a ripe cabernet sauvignon, but the polished tannins fold over the wine. It’s full-bodied, yet agile and focused at the finish. Real wine for the money. Drink now.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
The average price nationally is $16
California
From a vineyard planted in the 1880’s, this Zin based blend is powerful and age-worthy.
Bedrock Wine Co. ‘Old Hill Ranch Heritage’, Sonoma Valley 2018 750ML ($69.95) $59 special
Antonio Galloni 96 points “The 2018 Old Hill Heritage Wine is one of the many drop-dead gorgeous wines in the Bedrock range this year. The field blend of 30 varieties confers unusual complexity and nuance. Lavender, mint and sweet red cherry fruit develop, but it is the balance of power and finesse that I find most compelling. There are just so many layers of the Old Hill. Readers lucky enough to find it are in for a real treat.”
Wine Advocate 94 points “The 2018 Old Hill Ranch Heritage comes from a vineyard planted to a field blend of over 30 varieties, with a good amount of Grenache, that has been farmed organically since the 1960s. Medium ruby-purple, it has a bright, open nose of stone fruit salad, blueberries, black cherries, Earl Grey tea leaves, dried citrus peel and tree bark with oodles of exotic spices and dried flowers. Medium to full bodied, it’s tightly coiled but intense in the mouth, with a chewy frame and wicked juicy acidity, finishing very long and technicolor. Yes!-EB”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
France
Vouette et Sorbee ‘Textures’ Brut Nature, Champagne (2016) NV 750ML ($149.95) $119 special, only two bottles available!
No reviews available for the 2016 vintage. Following review is for 2015:
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 93 points “Bertrand Gautherot’s biodynamic NV Brut Nature Textures (R14) is a 100% Pinot Blanc from the 2015 harvest that was fermented on the skins in ceramic vessels. Disgorged in November 2016, the wine shows an intense straw-yellow-golden color and a beautifully deep and complex yet fine nose with ripe, concentrated white and yellow-fleshed fruit aromas. Pure, round, fine and very elegant on the palate, this is a juicy, perfectly balanced and beautifully vinous cuvée with a very fine mousse and subtle intensity. It is firm and stimulatingly salty on the complex finish, with ripe apple and lemon/lime flavors in the aftertaste. This is a gorgeous wine whose velvety texture makes it a great wine for itself. There is no aggression or tightness, just a delicate flow of white, fresh fruits with a dash of lime juice and some lip-smacking salinity. Tasted August 2018.”
Domaine Leflaive Macon-Verze Les Chenes, Burgundy 2017 750ML ($79.95) Was $66, Now $59 special
Wine Advocate 90 points “A new lieu-dit bottling from Leflaive that derives from two southeast-facing parcels, the 2017 Mâcon-Verzé Les Chênes offers up aromas of white peach, Meyer lemon and crisp orchard fruit, followed by a medium-bodied, satiny palate, with racy acids, good concentration and more texture and amplitude than the regular Mâcon-Verzé.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $65
Chateau Latour a Pomerol, Pomerol 2012 750ML ($149.95) $89 special
Robert Parker 93+ points “A very strong effort from this estate in the Jean-Pierre Moueix stable, this 2012 (14.5% natural alcohol) has a dense ruby/purple color, a big, sweet kiss of mocha, blackcurrants, and black cherries, and notes of truffle and earth. Full-bodied, ripe and one of the great successes from this estate over recent decades, the 2012 is a must-purchase for Pomerol enthusiasts. Silky tannins, superb concentration and a long, long finish suggest a good 20+ years of evolution at minimum. Bravo!”
Antonio Galloni 93 points “The 2012 Latour a Pomerol is intensely aromatic and beautifully layered in the glass. Sweet herbs, tobacco, raspberry jam, mint and roasted coffee beans are all laced together. Sensual and inviting, the 2012 is all about subtlety and nuance. Super-ripe black cherries, iron, smoke and tobacco add further complexity. The 2012 deftly balances unctuous richness with terrific aromatic presence and delineation. The Cabernet Franc is particularly expressive today.”
Wine Enthusiast 93 points “Bay, tobacco and mesquite notes lead the way, with a lush core of fig, boysenberry and plum fruit filling in quickly behind. Serious tobacco, charcoal and loam notes give the finish a hefty feel, but there’s purity and polish here, too. Cellar for maximum effect. Best from 2017 through 2027. 1,333 cases made.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average listed price is $116
Chateau Plince, Pomerol 2014 750ML ($59.95) $41.90 special
James Suckling 93 points “Focused and fruity with lots of flowers and blackberry character. Medium to full body, silky tannins and a long and subtle finish. Shows polish and finesse. Better in 2020.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
The average price nationally is $44
Chateau Rouget, Pomerol 2013 750ML ($79.95) $45 special
Antonio Galloni 90-92 points “The 2013 Rouget is wonderfully dark and fleshy in the glass. Sweet, layered and impeccable, the 2013 impresses for its depth and juiciness. The new oak is a bit present at the moment, but that should not be too much of an issue over time. The style is extroverted, racy and ripe, and it all works beautifully here. What a pretty wine this is. Tasted twice.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Chateau La Serre is part of the Moueix family of wineries—a name that needs little in the way for Bordeaux enthusiasts. While it may not be as grand as some of its fellows (like, err, Petrus and Trotanoy), La Serre offers incredible value for the price. Representing a harmony between traditional production styles and immediate drinkability, these are great bottles for drinking now or cellaring.
Chateau La Serre, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru 2010 750ML ($69.95) $49 special
Wine Spectator 92 points “This has a nice sappy edge, offering kirsch and boysenberry preserves flavors that course along, with lots of mouthcoating fruitcake and melted licorice on the finish. There’s a tarry thread too, for added texture and length. Solid. Best from 2015 through 2025. 1,800 cases made. — JM”
James Suckling 93 points ” Rich and spicy note with cranberries, nutmeg and crushed white pepper. Seville orange, chocolate and blackberries coming out after a while. Full and dense on the palate with polished tannins and very long finish with lots of dark fruit. Pretty wine. Drink from 2015.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $59
Chateau La Serre, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru 2015 750ML ($59.95) $39 special
Jeb Dunnuck 93 points “Made from 75% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2015 Château La Serre is a ripe, sexy beauty that’s packed with fruit. Black cherries, blueberries, leafy herbs and hints of tobacco all emerge from this ripe, opulent 2015 that has sweet tannin, a charming, forward style, moderate concentration, and a great finish. It should be a smoking value and delivers loads of pleasure already. Tasted twice.”
James Suckling 93 points “Suave, cedary oak aromas with bright vanillin-dusted plums, raspberries and some graphite. The palate delivers clean-cut tannins, carrying flavors of blackberries and mulberries to an upbeat finish. Drink or hold.”
Chateau La Serre, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru 2016 750ML ($59.95) $39 special
Jeb Dunnuck 93 points “The 2016 Château La Serre sports a medium ruby/purple color and is 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc raised in 50% new oak. Offering up a perfumed bouquet of black raspberries, black cherries, tobacco, and truffly, damp earth, this beauty is medium to full-bodied, has terrific purity of fruit, moderate tannins, and an undeniably charming, rounded style that’s going to evolve nicely for 15 years or more. It’s one of the finest versions of this cuvée I’ve tasted.”
James Suckling 92 points “This has aromas of hung meat, spicy red and dark plums and cherries with some chalky nuances. This leads to a succulent, juicy and vibrant array of fresh, crisp tannins that deliver fresh red-berry flavors. Try from 2022.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Italy
Val di Suga Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Tuscany 2015 750ML ($69.95) $49 special
Decanter 92 points “As of the 2015, all of Val di Suga’s wines spend less time in wood to curb Sangiovese’s tendency to oxidise. This wine brings together grapes from all three of Val di Suga’s distinct vineyard sites in equal proportions. Fragrant orange and raspberry notes progress into darker, earthier nuances. There is a saline edge and a gentle grip holding together lush fruit. It’s a touch short but still bright and tangy on the finish.”
James Suckling 92 points “A dense and linear red with medium to full body, chewy tannins and a slightly extracted finish. Needs time to soften. Better after 2022.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
The average price nationally is $60
Germany
Wein-Erbhof Stein Secco Sparkling Rose, Mosel 2019 750ML ($29.95) $24 special
Importer note “Steep slate soils. Second fermentation in tank. Pinot Noir with approximately 20% Cabernet and Merlot, élevage all stainless.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
New review!
Weingut Willi Schaefer Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Grosses Gewachs, Mosel 2018 750ML ($79.95) $59 special
Mosel Fine Wines 94 points “The 2018er Himmelreich GG, as it is written on the main part of the label, comes from fruit picked in the Himmelreich and Stablay parts of the vineyard, and was fermented spontaneously and aged on its gross lees in traditional Fuder cask until June 2019. It offers a stunningly complex nose made of lemongrass, mirabelle, grapefruit, herbs, wet stone, and delicately earthy spices. The wine proves stunningly playful and balanced on the light-footed but intense palate. It leaves a superbly engaging feel of fresh fruits, minerals, and herbs pepped up a most delicate touch of tickly acidity in the long and suave finish. The after-taste is all about airiness as more fruits, minerals, and refreshing elements add depth to the experience. This is a stunning expression of airy dry Mosel Riesling. What a huge success! 2023-2033”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Weingut Carl Loewen Estate Riesling, Mosel 2018 750ML ($24.95) $19 special
Wine & Spirits 91 points “An exclusive blend for Terry Theise Selections, this is bright and stylish, with crisp, lemony fruit over earthy minerality. The umami tones give it breadth and richness, while the wine remains invigorating.”
Terry Theise note “[+] The best vintage yet of this “bespoke” bottling for lil’ ol’ me. It’s fine, mineral and grassy, solid and salty, lyric and bright, with a little twang from the red slate. Everything works here, texture and character and interplay, and yet the harmony isn’t slack but instead finely taut.”
#12 – James Suckling’s Top 100 Wines of the Year
Weingut Donnhoff Norheimer Dellchen Riesling Grosses Gewachs, Nahe 2018 750ML ($89.95) $69 special
Stuart Pigott 99 points “A dense and layered white with minerals, salt, white pepper, chalk, dried lemon and subtle pears. Pumice. Wow. Tiny film of oil. Creamy and insane. What a wine. Magic. One for the cellar. Drink or hold.”
David Schildknecht-Vinous 95 points “Scents of white peach and pear strongly marked by pit and seed arouse expectations of both juiciness and piquancy that are amply fulfilled on a full, glossy palate. A whiff of gentian anticipates bittersweet inner-mouth florality. There is a bit more gloss here and a bit less firmness than displayed by the other dry Dönnhoff 2018s, but also an inexplicable sense of lift despite close to 13% alcohol. The overall impression is impressively rich, but the superbly sustained finish delivers a pleasant sharpness of raw ginger, mouthwatering and lip-licking salinity and a riveting array of stony, alkaline and ineffable mineral notes. “In 1965,” noted Dönnhoff, referring to one of the most notoriously awful vintages for Riesling Germany in anyone’s memory, “Dellchen was the sole site from which it proved possible to render a Naturwein – to achieve completeness without having to do anything to the must – and that really impressed me. But at the same time, this site has an amazing ability to withstand even extreme drought, because there is a critical source of water beneath it. And if that weren’t the case, these sun-exposed terraces” – which also catch reflected light from unprecedented nearness to the Nahe’s surface – “would easily overheat.””
John Gilman 95 points “To my mind, the Dellchen often produces the most muscular Grosses Gewächs bottling from Weingut Dönnhoff, so I wondered how it might turn out this year, where there was already so much potential for power inherent in the vintage. Much to my surprise, the 2018 Dellchen is supremely elegant this year, offering up a sophisticated bouquet of sweet grapefruit, tart apple, wild yeasts, a beautiful base of minerality, orange blossoms and lemongrass. On the palate the wine is pure, full-bodied, racy and utterly suave in its sense of balance and inner harmony, with bright acids and a very long, primary and promising finish. A great wine by any measure! 2030-2070. 95.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Spain
Avinyo Brut Reserva Cava, Catalonia 2017 750ML ($21.95) $18 special
Importer note “Grapes: Macabeu, Xarel-lo, and Parellada. Vine age: 15 to 50 years. Soil: Clay calcareous. Farming: Practicing Organic. Vinification: Aged 18 to 22 months before being disgorged.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $19.99
Wine Spectator’s “Highly Recommended” Ribera del Duero
Bodegas Resalte de Penafiel ‘Origen de Resalte’, Ribera del Duero 2015 750ML ($34.95) $26 special
Case-12 Bodegas Resalte de Penafiel ‘Origen de Resalte’, Ribera del Duero 2015 750ML ($399.95) $279 special (that’s only $23.25/bottle —the lowest listed price in the country!)
Wine Spectator 93 points “Highly Recommended. Firm and polished, this solid red shows loamy earth, espresso and clove notes framing a core of currant and dried fig flavors. The muscular tannins are well-integrated and balanced by lively acidity. Harmonious and energetic. Drink now through 2035. 10,620 cases made, 2,340 cases imported.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
#Trending
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
A staff picked red wine that’s great for summer feasts!
Domaine Charles Joguet Chinon Les Petites Roches, Loire 2016 750ML ($29.95) $21.90 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-12 Domaine Charles Joguet Chinon Les Petites Roches, Loire 2016 750ML ($359.95) $219 special (that’s only $18.25/bottle!)
Domaine Charles Joguet Chinon Les Petites Roches, Loire 2016 1.5L ($59.95) $49 special, 3 magnums in stock now
Importer Note “When Charles Joguet took over the family vineyards in 1957, he set out to do something that was unheard of in the Loire Valley. Rather than blending all the fruit from his varied parcels, he opted for a more Burgundian approach and began vinifying each individually, highlighting Chinon’s diversity of soils and exposures and playing with the nuances of vine age to propose a gamut of different wines of unique character. It is in this spirit that the domaine’s current vigneron, Kevin Fontaine, crafts the cuvée Les Petites Roches, named for the estate’s gravelly terroirs. Given light treatment in the cellar, this wine shows off Cabernet in its most delicate, charming form, rife with aromas of roses, damp earth, and little red berries, along with a gentle tannin holding it all together. This classic representation of Cabernet Franc from Chinon can be enjoyed over the next five or so years with roast chicken, pork chops, or game.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $24
Serious Dolcetto at a very, very friendly price.
Marziano Abbona Papa Celso, Dolcetto di Dogliani DOCG 2017 750ML ($27.95) $21.90 special, 18 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni 93 points “The 2017 Dogliani Papà Celso is a drop-dead gorgeous stunner. One of the most compelling wines in all of Italy, the Papà Celso captures the essence of Dolcetto from Dogliani in stunning style. The warm, dry year concentrated the flavors and textures, and yet all of the signatures are very much in place. A rush of black cherry jam, game, smoke, leather, and licorice infuse this super-expressive, beautifully delineated wine from Marziano Abbona. Don’t miss it.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
#33 – James Suckling’s Top 100 Wines of the Year
E. Pira & Figli Chiara Boschis Cannubi, Barolo DOCG 2015 750ML ($149.95) $119 special, 32 bottles in stock now
James Suckling 99 points “Impressive roses and finely ground spices with a bright red-cherry core, as well as a fresh wild-herb thread. The sense of focus and purity here is stunning. The palate has a deeply juicy and fresh core of tightly knit tannins that carry immense power with impeccable balance. Elegantly executed wine with profound length. Try from 2025.”
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 95 points “My sample bottle of 2015 Barolo Cannubi was allowed to breathe overnight, and I really got a glimpse of how the wine evolves, showing beautiful minty notes on the bouquet with time. This Barolo is more compact in terms of build than the others and more streamlined in the mouth, but it comes across as extremely delicate, light and elegant. There is a sweet spot on the close. This wine has a unique style that is both graceful and petite, and given ample time to breathe, it would put a smile on any Barolo lover’s face.”
Wine Spectator 95 points “A beam of rose, raspberry and kirsch notes highlights this aromatic, elegant red. Racy and structured, this focuses the fruit flavors, picking up leafy underbrush, mint, spice and tar elements, building to a firm finish. Best from 2022 through 2040.”
Italian Cab perfectly combines Old World pedigree with New World flair at undervalued pricing. This can beat out any under $100 Cali Cab.
Isole e Olena Collezione Privata Cabernet Sauvignon Toscana IGT, Tuscany 2015 750ML ($99.95) $69 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni 94 points “The 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon is a wine of elegance and finesse that shows the effects of rain during harvest in its decidedly mid-weight, lithe construction. Even so, the 2015 offers lovely aromatic presence and persistence. Grilled herbs, crème de cassis, licorice, violet, plum, spice and licorice all develop, but the 2015 remains decidedly delicate for this bottling. My impression is that it will age more on its freshness rather than on its concentration.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Poised and elegant with just a touch of sweetness. It’s incredibly flexible at table!
Weingut A.J. Adam In der Sangerei Riesling, Mosel 2017 750ML ($49.95) $39 special, 32 bottles in stock now
Stuart Pigott – Jamessuckling 96 points “Super peachy with great brilliance and refinement. This is a great Spätlese that’s dry enough for the finest lobster dish, but it is also powerful enough to cope with the spiciest curry. The very long finish keeps pumping out fruit and minerals. Drink or hold.”
Terry Theise “A cadaster parcel within the Hofberg, this has often been a beloved wine for me. This ’17 is quite serious, in the vintage way, not as suave as usual but with a different kind of grip and length. Half was lost to frost, so there’s just one Fuder, of an earnest, dark-toned mineral wine, with a pointed acidity that sucks up every one of the 25g/l RS.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Collector’s Corner
2017 Domaine de la Romanee-Conti
The Wines Against Which
All Others Are Measured
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Only one bottle available
Domaine de la Romanee-Conti Corton Grand Cru 2017 750ML ($1,999.95) $1,499 pre-arrival special
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2017 Corton Grand Cru is performing beautifully from bottle, bursting from the glass with a captivating bouquet of peonies, rose hips, sweet red berries, orange rind, spices and subtle soil tones. On the palate, the wine medium to full-bodied, supple and velvety, with succulent acids, good concentration and a long, exquisitely perfumed finish. Indeed, it’s only by comparison with the domaine’s utterly suave wines from Vosne-Romanée later in the tasting that this Corton’s tannins seem comparatively coarse-grained. Picked on September 4th, it is showing appreciably better than it did when I tasted it from tank before bottling last year.”
Allen Meadows-Burghound 93 points “A ripe, fresh and layered nose combines notes of plum, spice, earth and plenty of floral influences. There is fine richness to the relatively supple middle weight flavors that possess a velvety mid-palate mouthfeel along with reasonable if not special density, all wrapped in a youthfully austere, balanced and sneaky long finish where a hints of warmth and sweetness eventually emerge. This minerally effort needs to develop better depth but the potential appears to be present for that to occur.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $1,895
Only one bottle available
Domaine de la Romanee-Conti Grands Echezeaux Grand Cru 2017 750ML ($2,499.95) $1,999 pre-arrival special
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 94+ points “More brooding and reserved than the Échézeaux that preceded it in the tasting, the 2017 Grands Échézeaux Grand Cru unwinds in the glass with an enticing bouquet of cassis, blackberries, blood orange, exotic spices and musk. On the palate, it’s full-bodied, ample and fleshy, with a more introverted, structured profile than the Échézeaux, its considerable reserves of concentrated fruit framed by an abundance of powdery tannin and succulent acids. Long and penetrating, this will reward sustained bottle age. The Grands Échézeaux was picked on September 12.”
Neal Martin-Vinous 94 points “The 2017 Grands Echézeaux Grand Cru was picked at 41hl/ha on September 12 and bottled on May 21 and 23, 2019. Given 10–15 minutes to open, it is clearly richer on the nose compared to its petit frère, revealing hints of kirsch, red currant and orange pith and subtle loamy aromas. The palate is medium-bodied, with suppler tannins than the Echézeaux and hints of wild mint, freshly rolled tobacco and a touch of spice toward the harmonious finish, which fans out effortlessly; it is perhaps less grippy than the 2015. This is an open “G.E.” since it can often be difficult to read just after bottling. It will give enormous pleasure over the next two decades. 1,290 cases produced.”
Allen Meadows-Burghound 94 points “A cooler, more elegant and equally spicy nose of mostly red fruits and Asian-style tea is wonderfully fresh if notably more restrained. As is typically the case there is more size and weight to the broad-shouldered flavors that are shaped by firmer and slightly less fine-grained tannins on the impressively persistent finish. This is not as concentrated or powerful as it usually is but even so, it is going to require at least 10 years or so of patience and should amply reward 15 to 18.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $2,595
Only one bottle available
Domaine de la Romanee-Conti La Tache Grand Cru Monopole 2017 750ML ($3,999.95) $3,399 pre-arrival special
Neal Martin-Vinous 97 points “The 2017 La Tâche Grand Cru was picked on September 6 and 7 at 34hl/ha and bottled between March 25 and April 24. As Aubert de Villaine had noted earlier, this is a more introverted La Tâche that bided its time in the glass. The fruit is slightly darker than the Romanée-Saint-Vivant, with the addition of a little blueberry and violet and background scents of moorland, though they needed 10–15 minutes in the glass before they revealed themselves. The medium-bodied palate delivers lithe tannins matched with a very fine line of acidity. This displays more body and grip than the Richebourg or Romanée-Saint-Vivant, and wondrous piquancy on the loamy finish. What it does not possess, unlike the previous two vintages, is a never-ending aftertaste. This La Tâche does its job but prefers not to hang around…”
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 96+ points “The 2017 La Tâche Grand Cru soars from the glass with a captivating and beautifully integrated bouquet of exotic spices, rose petals, raspberries, cherries and blood orange mingled with notions of cinnamon and coniferous forest floor. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied, deep and multidimensional, with a deep and tightly coiled core that marks it out as the most muscular wine in the cellar, displaying considerable concentration and largely concealed structure. While this is a dramatic young La Tâche, there’s evidently plenty held in reserve, too, and it simply has appreciably more presence than any of the other wines that preceded it in this tasting.”
Allen Meadows-Burghound 96 points “Other than perhaps a great Musigny, La Tâche is the most aromatically compelling wine in Burgundy with its perfumed fireworks in a glass with a nose that is ultra-spicy, exuberantly fresh and impressively broad-ranging array of rose petal, exotic and herbal tea, lavender, plum, violet, sandalwood, soy and a whiff of hoisin. There is a beguiling sense of underlying tension to the supple and almost easy-going mid-palate of the deceptively forward medium-bodied flavors that progressively tighten up on the dusty, exceptionally stony and saline if ever-so-mildly warm finish that flashes excellent depth and superb persistence as well as plenty of youthful austerity. This is a La Tâche of contrasts as the mid-palate suggests early accessibility yet the firm core of tannins makes clear that the 2017 LT will require extended keeping if you wish to experience it at its peak.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $4,624
Only one bottle available
Domaine de la Romanee-Conti Richebourg Grand Cru 2017 750ML ($3,199.95) $2,699 pre-arrival special
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 95 points “The 2017 Richebourg Grand Cru offers up generous aromas of ripe strawberries, raspberries, cinnamon and coniferous forest floor, framed by a lavish application of creamy new oak that’s less immediately integrated than in the Domaine’s other wines at this early stage. On the palate, the Richebourg is full-bodied, rich and multidimensional, with a lavishly enveloping attack and supple structuring tannins that are almost entirely concealed by its deep core of fruit. Long and sapid, this is a spectacular wine in the making.”
Allen Meadows-Burghound 95 points “A discreet application of wood frames the even more complex and spicier nose of relatively high-toned, cool and airy aromas of red berries, violet, rose petal, orange pekoe tea and a hint of leather. The sleek, intense and sophisticated middle weight plus flavors brim with both minerality and dry extract that buffers the slightly firmer tannic spine shaping the hugely long, powerful and beautifully harmonious finale. It would be fair to observe that this isn’t the most concentrated Richebourg the Domaine has ever produced but it is one that should age effortlessly on its balance. In sum, this is a highly refined and elegant Riche with a positively gorgeous mouthfeel.”
Only four bottles available
Domaine de la Romanee-Conti Romanee-Saint-Vivant Grand Cru 2017 750ML ($2,999.95) $2,799 pre-arrival special
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 95 points “The 2017 Romanée-St-Vivant Grand Cru was also showing very well indeed, soaring from the glass with scents of cassis, violets, blood orange, cinnamon and espresso roast that are complemented by carnal nuances of smoked duck and musk. On the palate, it’s full-bodied, multidimensional and enveloping, with terrific concentration, rich and powdery structuring tannins and a long, saline finish. This is a dramatic, head-turning Romanée-St-Vivant in the making, and it is showing even better in bottle than it did from barrel.”
Neal Martin-Vinous 95 points “The 2017 Romanée-Saint-Vivant Grand Cru was picked on September 10 and 11 at 36hl/ha and bottled between April 26 and May 21. It initially has a more reticent bouquet compared to the Richebourg and requests more time in the glass. Eventually it evolves wonderful, almost pixelated scents of red berry fruit, wild hedgerow and crushed stone. Although it is less intense than the previous two vintages, I discern a touch more precision and focus than in the Richebourg. The palate is medium-bodied with lithe tannins. There is a little more body and depth than in the aforementioned Grand Cru; more energy, perhaps. A mixture of red and black fruit emerges toward the finish, the latter becoming more prominent with aeration. This is a delicious Romanée-Saint-Vivant. Beautiful. 1,693 cases produced…”
Allen Meadows-Burghound 94 points “A markedly floral and very finely nuanced nose almost timidly reflects notes of rose petal, violet, red currant, sandalwood, tangerine peel and a whisper of anise. The sleek and strikingly refined medium-bodied flavors culminate in a sneaky long if decidedly compact and quite serious finish that is presently on the youthfully austere side. This is an exercise in lace and grace though not one without plenty of punch.”
Only three bottles available
Domaine de la Romanee-Conti Romanee-Conti Grand Cru 2017 750ML ($14,999.95) $13,999 pre-arrival special
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 98 points “Wafting from the glass with a deep and complex bouquet of dark wild berries, cassis, wilted rose petals, blood orange, exotic spices, licorice and coniferous forest floor, the 2017 Romanée-Conti Grand Cru is full-bodied, satiny textured and multidimensional. It’s just as powerful as this year’s La Tâche but even more elegantly framed by filigree structure, concluding with an intensely sapid and penetratingly fragrant finish. Pristinely balanced, this young Romanée-Conti possesses huge reserves for the long haul despite its deceptively supple youthful appeal, and it will reward extended bottle age.”
Allen Meadows-Burghound 97 points “Once again there is evident restraint to the almost taciturn but still kaleidoscopically broad-ranging nose of wonderfully pure and fresh and spicy aromas that include plenty of floral influences on the red currant, cherry, sandalwood and rose petal. The silky and equally pure middle weight flavors possess excellent punch and a similar level of minerality on the focused, powerful, linear and impressively persistent finish that slowly fans out as it sits on the palate. In contrast to the flash of the La Tâche, this is Zen-like in its sense of harmony and focus. Like many of the DRC ’17s, this should be approachable somewhat earlier than normal yet still be capable of reward 20+ years of cellaring.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $16,400
New Grapelive Review &
2017 Jaboulet Special Feature
New Week – New Arrivals
#Trending
Collector’s Corner
2017 Domaine de la Romanee-Conti
New Grapelive Review &
2017 Jaboulet Special Feature
The hill of Hermitage is one of the most famous wine landmarks in the world. The hill of Hermitage was the home of a knight seeking solace from the horrors of the Crusades upon his return home. He planted the vineyards that would become Hermitage and then built a chapel to pray in and that building, the Chapel of Saint Christopher, is the defining marker of the hillside. The name, Hermitage, takes the name of the hermit’s refuge.Jaboulet purchased the Chapel of Saint Christopher and the surrounding plot of land in 1919—possibly the choicest part of the whole appellation. This is the core of their blend for La Chapelle, which for many defines what Hermitage can be, though the entire line of wines Jaboulet makes from the AOC (and its neighbor) is exceptional. These are big, dense wines, with loads of Hermitage character and those effortless Syrah flavors that just don’t quit on extremely long finishes. 2017 looks to be incredible successes for the northern Rhone, and critics agree that Jaboulet is one of the standout producers. Check out Kerry Winslow of Grapelive’s latest review on the 2017 Crozes!
Newly Reviewed and In Stock Now:
Paul Jaboulet Aine Domaine de Thalabert Crozes-Hermitage, Rhone 2017 750ML ($39.95) $33 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Grapelive 94 points “Drinking more like a great Cote-Rotie than a Crozes-Hermitage, the 2017 Domaine de Thalabert Crozes Rouge by Caroline Frey and Jaboulet is a profound effect considering the searing heat of the vintage with an intense inky color and beautifully elegant detailing. This is a stunning pure Syrah wine that thrills the palate. This black/purple hued Domaine Paul Jaboulet Aine Croze-Hermitage “Domaine de Thalabert” starts with some flair and flamboyance highlighted by crushed violets, creme de cassis and espresso roast before classic flavors unfold on the full bodied palate with boysenberry, damson plum, kirsch, blueberry compote and loganberry coulis as well as black licorice, grilled herbs de Provence, a touch of earth, peppercorns, tapenade and sweet cedar notes along with a faint mocha element. While heady, this wine is wonderfully drinkable with a very stylish and balanced form. It comes in at about 13.5% natural alcohol, so it can be enjoyed without any oppressive heat showing, or aggressive tannins, making it easy to enjoy in its youth and sublime with food, especially roast meats, savory mushroom dishes and rustic cuisine. It has enough sweet fruit to go with Turkish lamb or Korean BBQ Pork… Air brings out a fuller expression of the succulent dark fruits as well as allowing hints of camphor/graphite and delicate mineral tones. This wine lingers on and on heavenly in the glass. This is a Syrah to spend some time with to enjoy it in its complete performance. It is truly excellent until the last drop leaves the bottle… The Domaine Paul Jaboulet Aine, now owned by the Frey family, led by the talented winemaking tigress Caroline Frey, has been an iconic estate in the Northern Rhone and one of the big three in the region along with Guigal and Chapoutier. [The Domaine is] best known for their fabled La Chapelle vineyard in Hermitage, Syrah’s most holy site! There have been wines made here since pre-Roman times, but it was Antoine Jaboulet’s plantings in 1834 and focus on quality which really started to establish the area as one of the major wine producing appellations of the world. After he passed, the land was passed on to his two sons Henri and Paul. The Frey family, who bought the fade glory Jaboulet in 2006, have become big time players in premium French wine production having serious quality properties in Champagne, Burgundy and Bordeaux, which includes Chateau La Lagune in Haut-Medoc and Château de Corton André in the Cote de Beaune. Caroline, who studied in Bordeaux is one of France’s rising stars and has her hand in many projects, with even a biodynamic high elevation vineyard in Switzerland under her care… [Her efforts] have certainly brought this estate back to the elite status it enjoyed in the 1950s and 1960s. The Thalabert parcel, a special terroir, is located in Crozes’ pebble-strewn granite soiled lieu-dit of Les Chassis, which has owned by Jaboulet since its founding back in 1834 and is regarded as maybe the greatest set of vines in the Crores-Hermitage AOC, all organic and biodynamic. Frey uses partial whole bunches and well-judged use of new wood, really putting the focus on the vintage and trying for transparency and luxurious texture in her recent releases. This 2017 is proving to be a very tasty version, maybe not as serious as 2015 and 2016 for the cellar. This is one to drink up and offers a stunning value.”
Highlights Also In Stock Now from Jaboulet:
A cellar-worthy vintage of the Crozes!
Paul Jaboulet Aine Domaine de Thalabert Crozes-Hermitage, Rhone 2016 750ML ($47.95) $33 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-6 Paul Jaboulet Aine Domaine de Thalabert Crozes-Hermitage, Rhone 2016 750ML ($279.95) $179 special (that’s only $29.83/bottle and the lowest listed price in the USA today!)
Jeb Dunnuck 94 points “The 2016 Crozes Hermitage Domaine De Thalabert offers a rocking (and classic) bouquet of ripe black fruits intermixed with notions new saddle leather, pepper, garrigue, and hints of bacon fat. This ripe, medium to full-bodied, silky wine has remarkable purity, is already complex, and finishes with serious length. Drink it over the coming 10-15 years.”
Wine Advocate 93 points “The classically styled 2016 Crozes Hermitage Domaine de Thalabert boasts savory scents of black olive and leather. Medium to full-bodied, it’s plummy and rich, creamy and ripe but savory and earthy, not jammy at all, with a lingering, velvety-textured finish. It drinks well now, but it should continue to evolve and drink well through 2035.-JC”
Josh Raynolds – Vinous 92-94 points “(20% new oak) Bright violet. Highly perfumed, mineral-accented dark berries, cherry liqueur and candied violet on the nose. At once rich and energetic, offering juicy, focused black raspberry and cherry cola flavors along with a hint of smokiness. Turns sweeter on the lively, penetrating finish, which features sneaky tannins and a strong echo of smoky minerality.”
James Suckling 92-93 points “This shows pretty dark fruit along with cloves, dark berries and hints of black pepper. Medium to full body and a juicy finish.”
The average price is $39
Paul Jaboulet Aine Hermitage La Chapelle, Rhone 2017 750ML ($219.95) $189 special, 21 bottles in stock now
Wine Advocate 98 points “The 2017 Hermitage La Chapelle comes from the firm’s vineyards on the western half of the Hermitage slope, primarily Le Méal, but with substantial contributions from Les Rocoules and Les Bessards. Classic notes of cassis, black olives, mocha and roasted meat are joined by hints of baking spices in a wine that’s full-bodied, deep, dense and rich, with a velvety texture and a lingering finish. It’s lower in alcohol than the 2018, less voluptuous and maybe just a step behind that monumental wine, but it’s still a serious collectible with three decades of evolution ahead of it.-JC”
James Suckling 98 points “The icon is in dangerously seductive form. Such pristine dark cherries, blackberries and dark plums, dark chocolate, finely crushed spices and plenty of crushed dark stones on offer. The palate is very intense, very slick and fine tannins deliver an almost playfully soft impression. The oak is super integrated. Like La Maison Bleue, this approachability is an aberration, as it has immense power, concentration and length with such regal and alluring swagger at the finish. But there is so much more to come. Try from 2024, better after 2030.”
Josh Raynolds 95 points “Saturated violet color. Intensely perfumed ripe black/blue fruits, violet candy, exotic spices and smoky minerals show fine definition and lift. Juicy and focused on the palate, offering deeply concentrated yet lively black raspberry, boysenberry, floral pastille and spicecake flavors and a late touch of licorice. Finishes smooth, sappy and extremely long, with chewy tannins lending shape and grip to resonating dark berry and floral notes.”
Shop our entire selection of Jaboulet wines
in stock now and arriving in September!
Love the Rhone?
Don’t miss our Saint Cosme wines arriving this month!
New Week – New Arrivals
Oregon
Staff favorite!
Mellen Meyer Sparkling Brut Nature Willamette Valley NV 750ML ($34.95) $28 special
VinopolNote: Based on the 2017 vintage, this is a leaner style of Champagne-method sparkling wine. Disgorged February 2020. Sourced from dry-farmed vineyards.
Staff favorite!
Mellen Meyer Sparkling Brut Nature Willamette Valley NV 750ML ($34.95) $28 special
VinopolNote: Based on the 2017 vintage, this is a leaner style of Champagne-method sparkling wine. Disgorged February 2020. Sourced from dry-farmed vineyards.
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Washington
Charles Smith’s wines (K Vintners, Substance) are some of the most coveted, popular wines to come out of Washington State—and we’re sweetening our already great price on his entry level “Cs” Cabernet with a new Case-12 special. For just $159, you can stock up on one of the best values out there in West Coast Cabernet (that’s only $13.25/bottle!). Substance ‘Cs’ Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley 2018 750ML ($17.95) $14.50 special
Case-12 Substance ‘Cs’ Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley 2018 750ML ($219.95) $159 special (that’s only $13.25/bottle!)
James Suckling 93 points “This has the wonderful, dark-fruit and olive character of a ripe cabernet sauvignon, but the polished tannins fold over the wine. It’s full-bodied, yet agile and focused at the finish. Real wine for the money. Drink now.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
The average price nationally is $16
California
From a vineyard planted in the 1880’s, this Zin based blend is powerful and age-worthy.
Bedrock Wine Co. ‘Old Hill Ranch Heritage’, Sonoma Valley 2018 750ML ($69.95) $59 special
Antonio Galloni 96 points “The 2018 Old Hill Heritage Wine is one of the many drop-dead gorgeous wines in the Bedrock range this year. The field blend of 30 varieties confers unusual complexity and nuance. Lavender, mint and sweet red cherry fruit develop, but it is the balance of power and finesse that I find most compelling. There are just so many layers of the Old Hill. Readers lucky enough to find it are in for a real treat.”
Wine Advocate 94 points “The 2018 Old Hill Ranch Heritage comes from a vineyard planted to a field blend of over 30 varieties, with a good amount of Grenache, that has been farmed organically since the 1960s. Medium ruby-purple, it has a bright, open nose of stone fruit salad, blueberries, black cherries, Earl Grey tea leaves, dried citrus peel and tree bark with oodles of exotic spices and dried flowers. Medium to full bodied, it’s tightly coiled but intense in the mouth, with a chewy frame and wicked juicy acidity, finishing very long and technicolor. Yes!-EB”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
France
Vouette et Sorbee ‘Textures’ Brut Nature, Champagne (2016) NV 750ML ($149.95) $119 special, only two bottles available!
No reviews available for the 2016 vintage. Following review is for 2015:
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 93 points “Bertrand Gautherot’s biodynamic NV Brut Nature Textures (R14) is a 100% Pinot Blanc from the 2015 harvest that was fermented on the skins in ceramic vessels. Disgorged in November 2016, the wine shows an intense straw-yellow-golden color and a beautifully deep and complex yet fine nose with ripe, concentrated white and yellow-fleshed fruit aromas. Pure, round, fine and very elegant on the palate, this is a juicy, perfectly balanced and beautifully vinous cuvée with a very fine mousse and subtle intensity. It is firm and stimulatingly salty on the complex finish, with ripe apple and lemon/lime flavors in the aftertaste. This is a gorgeous wine whose velvety texture makes it a great wine for itself. There is no aggression or tightness, just a delicate flow of white, fresh fruits with a dash of lime juice and some lip-smacking salinity. Tasted August 2018.”
Domaine Leflaive Macon-Verze Les Chenes, Burgundy 2017 750ML ($79.95) Was $66, Now $59 special
Wine Advocate 90 points “A new lieu-dit bottling from Leflaive that derives from two southeast-facing parcels, the 2017 Mâcon-Verzé Les Chênes offers up aromas of white peach, Meyer lemon and crisp orchard fruit, followed by a medium-bodied, satiny palate, with racy acids, good concentration and more texture and amplitude than the regular Mâcon-Verzé.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $65
Chateau Latour a Pomerol, Pomerol 2012 750ML ($149.95) $89 special
Robert Parker 93+ points “A very strong effort from this estate in the Jean-Pierre Moueix stable, this 2012 (14.5% natural alcohol) has a dense ruby/purple color, a big, sweet kiss of mocha, blackcurrants, and black cherries, and notes of truffle and earth. Full-bodied, ripe and one of the great successes from this estate over recent decades, the 2012 is a must-purchase for Pomerol enthusiasts. Silky tannins, superb concentration and a long, long finish suggest a good 20+ years of evolution at minimum. Bravo!”
Antonio Galloni 93 points “The 2012 Latour a Pomerol is intensely aromatic and beautifully layered in the glass. Sweet herbs, tobacco, raspberry jam, mint and roasted coffee beans are all laced together. Sensual and inviting, the 2012 is all about subtlety and nuance. Super-ripe black cherries, iron, smoke and tobacco add further complexity. The 2012 deftly balances unctuous richness with terrific aromatic presence and delineation. The Cabernet Franc is particularly expressive today.”
Wine Enthusiast 93 points “Bay, tobacco and mesquite notes lead the way, with a lush core of fig, boysenberry and plum fruit filling in quickly behind. Serious tobacco, charcoal and loam notes give the finish a hefty feel, but there’s purity and polish here, too. Cellar for maximum effect. Best from 2017 through 2027. 1,333 cases made.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average listed price is $116
Chateau Plince, Pomerol 2014 750ML ($59.95) $41.90 special
James Suckling 93 points “Focused and fruity with lots of flowers and blackberry character. Medium to full body, silky tannins and a long and subtle finish. Shows polish and finesse. Better in 2020.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
The average price nationally is $44
Chateau Rouget, Pomerol 2013 750ML ($79.95) $45 special
Antonio Galloni 90-92 points “The 2013 Rouget is wonderfully dark and fleshy in the glass. Sweet, layered and impeccable, the 2013 impresses for its depth and juiciness. The new oak is a bit present at the moment, but that should not be too much of an issue over time. The style is extroverted, racy and ripe, and it all works beautifully here. What a pretty wine this is. Tasted twice.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Chateau La Serre is part of the Moueix family of wineries—a name that needs little in the way for Bordeaux enthusiasts. While it may not be as grand as some of its fellows (like, err, Petrus and Trotanoy), La Serre offers incredible value for the price. Representing a harmony between traditional production styles and immediate drinkability, these are great bottles for drinking now or cellaring.
Chateau La Serre, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru 2010 750ML ($69.95) $49 special
Wine Spectator 92 points “This has a nice sappy edge, offering kirsch and boysenberry preserves flavors that course along, with lots of mouthcoating fruitcake and melted licorice on the finish. There’s a tarry thread too, for added texture and length. Solid. Best from 2015 through 2025. 1,800 cases made. — JM”
James Suckling 93 points ” Rich and spicy note with cranberries, nutmeg and crushed white pepper. Seville orange, chocolate and blackberries coming out after a while. Full and dense on the palate with polished tannins and very long finish with lots of dark fruit. Pretty wine. Drink from 2015.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $59
Chateau La Serre, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru 2015 750ML ($59.95) $39 specialJeb Dunnuck 93 points “Made from 75% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2015 Château La Serre is a ripe, sexy beauty that’s packed with fruit. Black cherries, blueberries, leafy herbs and hints of tobacco all emerge from this ripe, opulent 2015 that has sweet tannin, a charming, forward style, moderate concentration, and a great finish. It should be a smoking value and delivers loads of pleasure already. Tasted twice.”
James Suckling 93 points “Suave, cedary oak aromas with bright vanillin-dusted plums, raspberries and some graphite. The palate delivers clean-cut tannins, carrying flavors of blackberries and mulberries to an upbeat finish. Drink or hold.”
Chateau La Serre, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru 2016 750ML ($59.95) $39 special
Jeb Dunnuck 93 points “The 2016 Château La Serre sports a medium ruby/purple color and is 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc raised in 50% new oak. Offering up a perfumed bouquet of black raspberries, black cherries, tobacco, and truffly, damp earth, this beauty is medium to full-bodied, has terrific purity of fruit, moderate tannins, and an undeniably charming, rounded style that’s going to evolve nicely for 15 years or more. It’s one of the finest versions of this cuvée I’ve tasted.”
James Suckling 92 points “This has aromas of hung meat, spicy red and dark plums and cherries with some chalky nuances. This leads to a succulent, juicy and vibrant array of fresh, crisp tannins that deliver fresh red-berry flavors. Try from 2022.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Italy
Val di Suga Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Tuscany 2015 750ML ($69.95) $49 special
Decanter 92 points “As of the 2015, all of Val di Suga’s wines spend less time in wood to curb Sangiovese’s tendency to oxidise. This wine brings together grapes from all three of Val di Suga’s distinct vineyard sites in equal proportions. Fragrant orange and raspberry notes progress into darker, earthier nuances. There is a saline edge and a gentle grip holding together lush fruit. It’s a touch short but still bright and tangy on the finish.”
James Suckling 92 points “A dense and linear red with medium to full body, chewy tannins and a slightly extracted finish. Needs time to soften. Better after 2022.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
The average price nationally is $60
Germany
Wein-Erbhof Stein Secco Sparkling Rose, Mosel 2019 750ML ($29.95) $24 special
Importer note “Steep slate soils. Second fermentation in tank. Pinot Noir with approximately 20% Cabernet and Merlot, élevage all stainless.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
New review!
Weingut Willi Schaefer Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Grosses Gewachs, Mosel 2018 750ML ($79.95) $59 special
Mosel Fine Wines 94 points “The 2018er Himmelreich GG, as it is written on the main part of the label, comes from fruit picked in the Himmelreich and Stablay parts of the vineyard, and was fermented spontaneously and aged on its gross lees in traditional Fuder cask until June 2019. It offers a stunningly complex nose made of lemongrass, mirabelle, grapefruit, herbs, wet stone, and delicately earthy spices. The wine proves stunningly playful and balanced on the light-footed but intense palate. It leaves a superbly engaging feel of fresh fruits, minerals, and herbs pepped up a most delicate touch of tickly acidity in the long and suave finish. The after-taste is all about airiness as more fruits, minerals, and refreshing elements add depth to the experience. This is a stunning expression of airy dry Mosel Riesling. What a huge success! 2023-2033”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Weingut Carl Loewen Estate Riesling, Mosel 2018 750ML ($24.95) $19 special
Wine & Spirits 91 points “An exclusive blend for Terry Theise Selections, this is bright and stylish, with crisp, lemony fruit over earthy minerality. The umami tones give it breadth and richness, while the wine remains invigorating.”
Terry Theise note “[+] The best vintage yet of this “bespoke” bottling for lil’ ol’ me. It’s fine, mineral and grassy, solid and salty, lyric and bright, with a little twang from the red slate. Everything works here, texture and character and interplay, and yet the harmony isn’t slack but instead finely taut.”
#12 – James Suckling’s Top 100 Wines of the Year
Weingut Donnhoff Norheimer Dellchen Riesling Grosses Gewachs, Nahe 2018 750ML ($89.95) $69 special
Stuart Pigott 99 points “A dense and layered white with minerals, salt, white pepper, chalk, dried lemon and subtle pears. Pumice. Wow. Tiny film of oil. Creamy and insane. What a wine. Magic. One for the cellar. Drink or hold.”
David Schildknecht-Vinous 95 points “Scents of white peach and pear strongly marked by pit and seed arouse expectations of both juiciness and piquancy that are amply fulfilled on a full, glossy palate. A whiff of gentian anticipates bittersweet inner-mouth florality. There is a bit more gloss here and a bit less firmness than displayed by the other dry Dönnhoff 2018s, but also an inexplicable sense of lift despite close to 13% alcohol. The overall impression is impressively rich, but the superbly sustained finish delivers a pleasant sharpness of raw ginger, mouthwatering and lip-licking salinity and a riveting array of stony, alkaline and ineffable mineral notes. “In 1965,” noted Dönnhoff, referring to one of the most notoriously awful vintages for Riesling Germany in anyone’s memory, “Dellchen was the sole site from which it proved possible to render a Naturwein – to achieve completeness without having to do anything to the must – and that really impressed me. But at the same time, this site has an amazing ability to withstand even extreme drought, because there is a critical source of water beneath it. And if that weren’t the case, these sun-exposed terraces” – which also catch reflected light from unprecedented nearness to the Nahe’s surface – “would easily overheat.””
John Gilman 95 points “To my mind, the Dellchen often produces the most muscular Grosses Gewächs bottling from Weingut Dönnhoff, so I wondered how it might turn out this year, where there was already so much potential for power inherent in the vintage. Much to my surprise, the 2018 Dellchen is supremely elegant this year, offering up a sophisticated bouquet of sweet grapefruit, tart apple, wild yeasts, a beautiful base of minerality, orange blossoms and lemongrass. On the palate the wine is pure, full-bodied, racy and utterly suave in its sense of balance and inner harmony, with bright acids and a very long, primary and promising finish. A great wine by any measure! 2030-2070. 95.”
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Spain
Avinyo Brut Reserva Cava, Catalonia 2017 750ML ($21.95) $18 special
Importer note “Grapes: Macabeu, Xarel-lo, and Parellada. Vine age: 15 to 50 years. Soil: Clay calcareous. Farming: Practicing Organic. Vinification: Aged 18 to 22 months before being disgorged.”
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The next best price is $19.99
Wine Spectator’s “Highly Recommended” Ribera del Duero
Bodegas Resalte de Penafiel ‘Origen de Resalte’, Ribera del Duero 2015 750ML ($34.95) $26 special
Case-12 Bodegas Resalte de Penafiel ‘Origen de Resalte’, Ribera del Duero 2015 750ML ($399.95) $279 special (that’s only $23.25/bottle —the lowest listed price in the country!)
Wine Spectator 93 points “Highly Recommended. Firm and polished, this solid red shows loamy earth, espresso and clove notes framing a core of currant and dried fig flavors. The muscular tannins are well-integrated and balanced by lively acidity. Harmonious and energetic. Drink now through 2035. 10,620 cases made, 2,340 cases imported.”
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#Trending
Neal Rosenthal brings in the best collection of rosés from Europe. Chateau Peyrassol is especially elegant and nuanced, with excellent minerality and poise.
Chateau Peyrassol Rose, Cotes de Provence 2019 750ML ($34.95) $28 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Chateau Peyrassol Rose, Cotes de Provence 2019 1.5L ($99.95) $79 pre-arrival special, arriving in July
Wine Advocate 91 points “A blend of Cinsault, Grenache, Syrah, Ugni Blanc and Rolle from estate fruit, Peyrassol’s 2019 Cotes de Provence Rose is a strident, intense rosé that demands attention. It hints at passion fruit at first, then broadens out to include notes of pink grapefruit, red currant and even a touch of peach, but it always retains a sinewy structure and bright acidity. It’s medium-bodied, with a silky texture in the mouth and a long, mouthwatering finish. Yum!”
VinePair Rose of the Year 2020 “A delightful reminder of what makes Provence rosé so popular, this wine ticks all the boxes. The nose is delicate but serves layers of white flowers, red fruit, and a sprinkle of savory spices. The palate is both bold and refreshing, with tangy fruit cut by a piercing jolt of acidity. Add a hint of wet rocks and a dusting of white pepper to the equation, and you’ve got yourself the best rosé of 2019. If you can’t find this exact bottle, the producer’s entire range is equally impressive and should be sought out. Average price: $35.”
Rosenthal Wine Merchant note “This is the elite cuvée of the estate relying as it does on grapes harvested from the oldest vines of the domaine (35 years and older). Principally composed of Cinsault, Grenache and Syrah, the “Chateau” bottling also sees the addition, from time-to-time of Tibouren, the ancient and regal Provencale grape. This Rosé is produced via the “direct press” method and has a long cuvaison designed to produce a wine of character and concentration. Vinified in stainless steel and bottled in late winter – early spring, production is quite limited.”
Tasty and budget-friendly Champagnes are easy to find here. This is classically-styled and balanced blend of 75% Grand Cru Pinot Noir and 25% Premier Cru Chardonnay. Of course, our lowest in the country pricing is what really makes it a great value!
Camille Saves Carte Blanche Premier Cru Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($49.95) $36 special, 34 bottles in stock now
Disgorged November 2017. No reviews for this current disgorgement. Prior review provided for reference.
Wine Spectator 90 points “Floral and spice notes accent ripe Golden Delicious apple, almond biscotti, dried cherry and orange zest flavors in this creamy, balanced Champagne. Clean-cut and lightly juicy on the finish. Disgorged April 2015. Drink now through 2018. 3,000 cases made.”
Chateau Peyrassol Rose, Cotes de Provence 2019 750ML ($34.95) $28 special, 36+ bottles in stock nowChateau Peyrassol Rose, Cotes de Provence 2019 1.5L ($99.95) $79 pre-arrival special, arriving in July
Wine Advocate 91 points “A blend of Cinsault, Grenache, Syrah, Ugni Blanc and Rolle from estate fruit, Peyrassol’s 2019 Cotes de Provence Rose is a strident, intense rosé that demands attention. It hints at passion fruit at first, then broadens out to include notes of pink grapefruit, red currant and even a touch of peach, but it always retains a sinewy structure and bright acidity. It’s medium-bodied, with a silky texture in the mouth and a long, mouthwatering finish. Yum!”
VinePair Rose of the Year 2020 “A delightful reminder of what makes Provence rosé so popular, this wine ticks all the boxes. The nose is delicate but serves layers of white flowers, red fruit, and a sprinkle of savory spices. The palate is both bold and refreshing, with tangy fruit cut by a piercing jolt of acidity. Add a hint of wet rocks and a dusting of white pepper to the equation, and you’ve got yourself the best rosé of 2019. If you can’t find this exact bottle, the producer’s entire range is equally impressive and should be sought out. Average price: $35.”
Rosenthal Wine Merchant note “This is the elite cuvée of the estate relying as it does on grapes harvested from the oldest vines of the domaine (35 years and older). Principally composed of Cinsault, Grenache and Syrah, the “Chateau” bottling also sees the addition, from time-to-time of Tibouren, the ancient and regal Provencale grape. This Rosé is produced via the “direct press” method and has a long cuvaison designed to produce a wine of character and concentration. Vinified in stainless steel and bottled in late winter – early spring, production is quite limited.”
Tasty and budget-friendly Champagnes are easy to find here. This is classically-styled and balanced blend of 75% Grand Cru Pinot Noir and 25% Premier Cru Chardonnay. Of course, our lowest in the country pricing is what really makes it a great value!
Camille Saves Carte Blanche Premier Cru Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($49.95) $36 special, 34 bottles in stock now
Disgorged November 2017. No reviews for this current disgorgement. Prior review provided for reference.
Wine Spectator 90 points “Floral and spice notes accent ripe Golden Delicious apple, almond biscotti, dried cherry and orange zest flavors in this creamy, balanced Champagne. Clean-cut and lightly juicy on the finish. Disgorged April 2015. Drink now through 2018. 3,000 cases made.”
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A staff picked red wine that’s great for summer feasts!
Domaine Charles Joguet Chinon Les Petites Roches, Loire 2016 750ML ($29.95) $21.90 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-12 Domaine Charles Joguet Chinon Les Petites Roches, Loire 2016 750ML ($359.95) $219 special (that’s only $18.25/bottle!)
Domaine Charles Joguet Chinon Les Petites Roches, Loire 2016 1.5L ($59.95) $49 special, 3 magnums in stock now
Importer Note “When Charles Joguet took over the family vineyards in 1957, he set out to do something that was unheard of in the Loire Valley. Rather than blending all the fruit from his varied parcels, he opted for a more Burgundian approach and began vinifying each individually, highlighting Chinon’s diversity of soils and exposures and playing with the nuances of vine age to propose a gamut of different wines of unique character. It is in this spirit that the domaine’s current vigneron, Kevin Fontaine, crafts the cuvée Les Petites Roches, named for the estate’s gravelly terroirs. Given light treatment in the cellar, this wine shows off Cabernet in its most delicate, charming form, rife with aromas of roses, damp earth, and little red berries, along with a gentle tannin holding it all together. This classic representation of Cabernet Franc from Chinon can be enjoyed over the next five or so years with roast chicken, pork chops, or game.”
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The average price is $24
Serious Dolcetto at a very, very friendly price.
Marziano Abbona Papa Celso, Dolcetto di Dogliani DOCG 2017 750ML ($27.95) $21.90 special, 18 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni 93 points “The 2017 Dogliani Papà Celso is a drop-dead gorgeous stunner. One of the most compelling wines in all of Italy, the Papà Celso captures the essence of Dolcetto from Dogliani in stunning style. The warm, dry year concentrated the flavors and textures, and yet all of the signatures are very much in place. A rush of black cherry jam, game, smoke, leather, and licorice infuse this super-expressive, beautifully delineated wine from Marziano Abbona. Don’t miss it.”
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#33 – James Suckling’s Top 100 Wines of the Year
E. Pira & Figli Chiara Boschis Cannubi, Barolo DOCG 2015 750ML ($149.95) $119 special, 32 bottles in stock now
James Suckling 99 points “Impressive roses and finely ground spices with a bright red-cherry core, as well as a fresh wild-herb thread. The sense of focus and purity here is stunning. The palate has a deeply juicy and fresh core of tightly knit tannins that carry immense power with impeccable balance. Elegantly executed wine with profound length. Try from 2025.”
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 95 points “My sample bottle of 2015 Barolo Cannubi was allowed to breathe overnight, and I really got a glimpse of how the wine evolves, showing beautiful minty notes on the bouquet with time. This Barolo is more compact in terms of build than the others and more streamlined in the mouth, but it comes across as extremely delicate, light and elegant. There is a sweet spot on the close. This wine has a unique style that is both graceful and petite, and given ample time to breathe, it would put a smile on any Barolo lover’s face.”
Wine Spectator 95 points “A beam of rose, raspberry and kirsch notes highlights this aromatic, elegant red. Racy and structured, this focuses the fruit flavors, picking up leafy underbrush, mint, spice and tar elements, building to a firm finish. Best from 2022 through 2040.”
Italian Cab perfectly combines Old World pedigree with New World flair at undervalued pricing. This can beat out any under $100 Cali Cab.
Isole e Olena Collezione Privata Cabernet Sauvignon Toscana IGT, Tuscany 2015 750ML ($99.95) $69 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni 94 points “The 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon is a wine of elegance and finesse that shows the effects of rain during harvest in its decidedly mid-weight, lithe construction. Even so, the 2015 offers lovely aromatic presence and persistence. Grilled herbs, crème de cassis, licorice, violet, plum, spice and licorice all develop, but the 2015 remains decidedly delicate for this bottling. My impression is that it will age more on its freshness rather than on its concentration.”
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Poised and elegant with just a touch of sweetness. It’s incredibly flexible at table!
Weingut A.J. Adam In der Sangerei Riesling, Mosel 2017 750ML ($49.95) $39 special, 32 bottles in stock now
Stuart Pigott – Jamessuckling 96 points “Super peachy with great brilliance and refinement. This is a great Spätlese that’s dry enough for the finest lobster dish, but it is also powerful enough to cope with the spiciest curry. The very long finish keeps pumping out fruit and minerals. Drink or hold.”
Terry Theise “A cadaster parcel within the Hofberg, this has often been a beloved wine for me. This ’17 is quite serious, in the vintage way, not as suave as usual but with a different kind of grip and length. Half was lost to frost, so there’s just one Fuder, of an earnest, dark-toned mineral wine, with a pointed acidity that sucks up every one of the 25g/l RS.”
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Collector’s Corner
2017 Domaine de la Romanee-Conti
The Wines Against Which
All Others Are Measured
To say DRC is the finest example of Burgundy is an understatement. These are the finest wines produced in the world. Iconic and highly sought after, these are devoted followed and drunk in ecstasy. These arrive mid-July directly from the national importer, Wilson Daniels, through our local distributor.
“The Domaine de la Romanée-Conti’s 2017s are showing brilliantly from bottle, and this tasting with Bertrand de Villaine was one of the absolute high points of my two months of visits along the Côte d’Or… spending an hour or two with full glasses of wines such as these is not merely of immense professional interest but, I admit, a source of great personal pleasure… it is clear that this is a vintage that will give immense pleasure to anyone able to secure a few bottles. Hauntingly aromatic, structurally supple and pungently intense, this vintage will drink well younger than both its 2016 and 2015 predecessors, but it is much closer in quality to those two vintages than I perceived 12 months ago. At the end of our tasting, the group spent some time discussing possible analogies, and the comparison I found the most compelling is with the Domaine de la Romanée-Conti’s 1985 vintage. Indeed, I had drunk a superb 1985 Grands-Echézeaux from the domaine over dinner with a good friend a few days before my visit, and the similarities in overall balance between the two vintages were strikingly apparent as I tasted through the young 2017s. The domaine’s 2017 Montrachet also merits special comment, as it is a magical wine built for the ages.” William Kelley, Wine Advocate
Arriving ETA Mid-July:
Only two bottles available
Domaine de la Romanee-Conti Montrachet Grand Cru 2017 750ML ($6,999.95) $5,999 pre-arrival special
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 99 points “Aromas of crisp green pear, citrus oil, mandarin, fresh pastry, clear honey and oak vanillin introduce the 2017 Montrachet Grand Cru, a full-bodied, deep and textural wine that’s voluminous and powerful but incisive, with racy structuring acids and a long, chalky and elegantly honeyed finish. “If we had tried to conceive of the ideal Montrachet, we might have imagined something like this,” admits Bertrand de Villaine, and the 2017 certainly numbers among the finest renditions of this iconic bottling over the last decade and beyond.”
Allen Meadows-Burghound 97 points “A restrained nose flirts with the exotic while requiring aggressive swirling to eventually reveal aromas of essence of pear and apple compote, passion fruit, tangerine peel, spice and a subtle but not invisible touch of wood. The dense, opulent and caressing big-bodied flavors possess outstanding mid-palate concentration thanks to the copious amount of sappy dry extract that also buffers the citrus-tinged acidity shaping the hugely long, youthfully austere, dry and gorgeously complex finish. This is at once powerful and muscular yet for all of the imposing size and weight, the balance is impeccable save for a minor touch of warmth. Even so, there is a real sense of harmony that should enable this exceptionally tightly wound beauty to age gracefully for years to come. This is sublime and while 2017 is not the best young Montrachet that I have tasted from the Domaine, but among them and this has the potential to be genuinely great as it should have no problem making for very old bones.”
“The Domaine de la Romanée-Conti’s 2017s are showing brilliantly from bottle, and this tasting with Bertrand de Villaine was one of the absolute high points of my two months of visits along the Côte d’Or… spending an hour or two with full glasses of wines such as these is not merely of immense professional interest but, I admit, a source of great personal pleasure… it is clear that this is a vintage that will give immense pleasure to anyone able to secure a few bottles. Hauntingly aromatic, structurally supple and pungently intense, this vintage will drink well younger than both its 2016 and 2015 predecessors, but it is much closer in quality to those two vintages than I perceived 12 months ago. At the end of our tasting, the group spent some time discussing possible analogies, and the comparison I found the most compelling is with the Domaine de la Romanée-Conti’s 1985 vintage. Indeed, I had drunk a superb 1985 Grands-Echézeaux from the domaine over dinner with a good friend a few days before my visit, and the similarities in overall balance between the two vintages were strikingly apparent as I tasted through the young 2017s. The domaine’s 2017 Montrachet also merits special comment, as it is a magical wine built for the ages.” William Kelley, Wine AdvocateArriving ETA Mid-July:
Only two bottles available
Domaine de la Romanee-Conti Montrachet Grand Cru 2017 750ML ($6,999.95) $5,999 pre-arrival special
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 99 points “Aromas of crisp green pear, citrus oil, mandarin, fresh pastry, clear honey and oak vanillin introduce the 2017 Montrachet Grand Cru, a full-bodied, deep and textural wine that’s voluminous and powerful but incisive, with racy structuring acids and a long, chalky and elegantly honeyed finish. “If we had tried to conceive of the ideal Montrachet, we might have imagined something like this,” admits Bertrand de Villaine, and the 2017 certainly numbers among the finest renditions of this iconic bottling over the last decade and beyond.”
Allen Meadows-Burghound 97 points “A restrained nose flirts with the exotic while requiring aggressive swirling to eventually reveal aromas of essence of pear and apple compote, passion fruit, tangerine peel, spice and a subtle but not invisible touch of wood. The dense, opulent and caressing big-bodied flavors possess outstanding mid-palate concentration thanks to the copious amount of sappy dry extract that also buffers the citrus-tinged acidity shaping the hugely long, youthfully austere, dry and gorgeously complex finish. This is at once powerful and muscular yet for all of the imposing size and weight, the balance is impeccable save for a minor touch of warmth. Even so, there is a real sense of harmony that should enable this exceptionally tightly wound beauty to age gracefully for years to come. This is sublime and while 2017 is not the best young Montrachet that I have tasted from the Domaine, but among them and this has the potential to be genuinely great as it should have no problem making for very old bones.”
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Only one bottle available
Domaine de la Romanee-Conti Corton Grand Cru 2017 750ML ($1,999.95) $1,499 pre-arrival special
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2017 Corton Grand Cru is performing beautifully from bottle, bursting from the glass with a captivating bouquet of peonies, rose hips, sweet red berries, orange rind, spices and subtle soil tones. On the palate, the wine medium to full-bodied, supple and velvety, with succulent acids, good concentration and a long, exquisitely perfumed finish. Indeed, it’s only by comparison with the domaine’s utterly suave wines from Vosne-Romanée later in the tasting that this Corton’s tannins seem comparatively coarse-grained. Picked on September 4th, it is showing appreciably better than it did when I tasted it from tank before bottling last year.”
Allen Meadows-Burghound 93 points “A ripe, fresh and layered nose combines notes of plum, spice, earth and plenty of floral influences. There is fine richness to the relatively supple middle weight flavors that possess a velvety mid-palate mouthfeel along with reasonable if not special density, all wrapped in a youthfully austere, balanced and sneaky long finish where a hints of warmth and sweetness eventually emerge. This minerally effort needs to develop better depth but the potential appears to be present for that to occur.”
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The next best price is $1,895
Only one bottle available
Domaine de la Romanee-Conti Grands Echezeaux Grand Cru 2017 750ML ($2,499.95) $1,999 pre-arrival special
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 94+ points “More brooding and reserved than the Échézeaux that preceded it in the tasting, the 2017 Grands Échézeaux Grand Cru unwinds in the glass with an enticing bouquet of cassis, blackberries, blood orange, exotic spices and musk. On the palate, it’s full-bodied, ample and fleshy, with a more introverted, structured profile than the Échézeaux, its considerable reserves of concentrated fruit framed by an abundance of powdery tannin and succulent acids. Long and penetrating, this will reward sustained bottle age. The Grands Échézeaux was picked on September 12.”
Neal Martin-Vinous 94 points “The 2017 Grands Echézeaux Grand Cru was picked at 41hl/ha on September 12 and bottled on May 21 and 23, 2019. Given 10–15 minutes to open, it is clearly richer on the nose compared to its petit frère, revealing hints of kirsch, red currant and orange pith and subtle loamy aromas. The palate is medium-bodied, with suppler tannins than the Echézeaux and hints of wild mint, freshly rolled tobacco and a touch of spice toward the harmonious finish, which fans out effortlessly; it is perhaps less grippy than the 2015. This is an open “G.E.” since it can often be difficult to read just after bottling. It will give enormous pleasure over the next two decades. 1,290 cases produced.”
Allen Meadows-Burghound 94 points “A cooler, more elegant and equally spicy nose of mostly red fruits and Asian-style tea is wonderfully fresh if notably more restrained. As is typically the case there is more size and weight to the broad-shouldered flavors that are shaped by firmer and slightly less fine-grained tannins on the impressively persistent finish. This is not as concentrated or powerful as it usually is but even so, it is going to require at least 10 years or so of patience and should amply reward 15 to 18.”
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The average price is $2,595
Only one bottle available
Domaine de la Romanee-Conti La Tache Grand Cru Monopole 2017 750ML ($3,999.95) $3,399 pre-arrival special
Neal Martin-Vinous 97 points “The 2017 La Tâche Grand Cru was picked on September 6 and 7 at 34hl/ha and bottled between March 25 and April 24. As Aubert de Villaine had noted earlier, this is a more introverted La Tâche that bided its time in the glass. The fruit is slightly darker than the Romanée-Saint-Vivant, with the addition of a little blueberry and violet and background scents of moorland, though they needed 10–15 minutes in the glass before they revealed themselves. The medium-bodied palate delivers lithe tannins matched with a very fine line of acidity. This displays more body and grip than the Richebourg or Romanée-Saint-Vivant, and wondrous piquancy on the loamy finish. What it does not possess, unlike the previous two vintages, is a never-ending aftertaste. This La Tâche does its job but prefers not to hang around…”
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 96+ points “The 2017 La Tâche Grand Cru soars from the glass with a captivating and beautifully integrated bouquet of exotic spices, rose petals, raspberries, cherries and blood orange mingled with notions of cinnamon and coniferous forest floor. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied, deep and multidimensional, with a deep and tightly coiled core that marks it out as the most muscular wine in the cellar, displaying considerable concentration and largely concealed structure. While this is a dramatic young La Tâche, there’s evidently plenty held in reserve, too, and it simply has appreciably more presence than any of the other wines that preceded it in this tasting.”
Allen Meadows-Burghound 96 points “Other than perhaps a great Musigny, La Tâche is the most aromatically compelling wine in Burgundy with its perfumed fireworks in a glass with a nose that is ultra-spicy, exuberantly fresh and impressively broad-ranging array of rose petal, exotic and herbal tea, lavender, plum, violet, sandalwood, soy and a whiff of hoisin. There is a beguiling sense of underlying tension to the supple and almost easy-going mid-palate of the deceptively forward medium-bodied flavors that progressively tighten up on the dusty, exceptionally stony and saline if ever-so-mildly warm finish that flashes excellent depth and superb persistence as well as plenty of youthful austerity. This is a La Tâche of contrasts as the mid-palate suggests early accessibility yet the firm core of tannins makes clear that the 2017 LT will require extended keeping if you wish to experience it at its peak.”
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The average price is $4,624
Only one bottle available
Domaine de la Romanee-Conti Richebourg Grand Cru 2017 750ML ($3,199.95) $2,699 pre-arrival special
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 95 points “The 2017 Richebourg Grand Cru offers up generous aromas of ripe strawberries, raspberries, cinnamon and coniferous forest floor, framed by a lavish application of creamy new oak that’s less immediately integrated than in the Domaine’s other wines at this early stage. On the palate, the Richebourg is full-bodied, rich and multidimensional, with a lavishly enveloping attack and supple structuring tannins that are almost entirely concealed by its deep core of fruit. Long and sapid, this is a spectacular wine in the making.”
Allen Meadows-Burghound 95 points “A discreet application of wood frames the even more complex and spicier nose of relatively high-toned, cool and airy aromas of red berries, violet, rose petal, orange pekoe tea and a hint of leather. The sleek, intense and sophisticated middle weight plus flavors brim with both minerality and dry extract that buffers the slightly firmer tannic spine shaping the hugely long, powerful and beautifully harmonious finale. It would be fair to observe that this isn’t the most concentrated Richebourg the Domaine has ever produced but it is one that should age effortlessly on its balance. In sum, this is a highly refined and elegant Riche with a positively gorgeous mouthfeel.”
Only four bottles available
Domaine de la Romanee-Conti Romanee-Saint-Vivant Grand Cru 2017 750ML ($2,999.95) $2,799 pre-arrival special
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 95 points “The 2017 Romanée-St-Vivant Grand Cru was also showing very well indeed, soaring from the glass with scents of cassis, violets, blood orange, cinnamon and espresso roast that are complemented by carnal nuances of smoked duck and musk. On the palate, it’s full-bodied, multidimensional and enveloping, with terrific concentration, rich and powdery structuring tannins and a long, saline finish. This is a dramatic, head-turning Romanée-St-Vivant in the making, and it is showing even better in bottle than it did from barrel.”
Neal Martin-Vinous 95 points “The 2017 Romanée-Saint-Vivant Grand Cru was picked on September 10 and 11 at 36hl/ha and bottled between April 26 and May 21. It initially has a more reticent bouquet compared to the Richebourg and requests more time in the glass. Eventually it evolves wonderful, almost pixelated scents of red berry fruit, wild hedgerow and crushed stone. Although it is less intense than the previous two vintages, I discern a touch more precision and focus than in the Richebourg. The palate is medium-bodied with lithe tannins. There is a little more body and depth than in the aforementioned Grand Cru; more energy, perhaps. A mixture of red and black fruit emerges toward the finish, the latter becoming more prominent with aeration. This is a delicious Romanée-Saint-Vivant. Beautiful. 1,693 cases produced…”
Allen Meadows-Burghound 94 points “A markedly floral and very finely nuanced nose almost timidly reflects notes of rose petal, violet, red currant, sandalwood, tangerine peel and a whisper of anise. The sleek and strikingly refined medium-bodied flavors culminate in a sneaky long if decidedly compact and quite serious finish that is presently on the youthfully austere side. This is an exercise in lace and grace though not one without plenty of punch.”
Only three bottles available
Domaine de la Romanee-Conti Romanee-Conti Grand Cru 2017 750ML ($14,999.95) $13,999 pre-arrival special
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 98 points “Wafting from the glass with a deep and complex bouquet of dark wild berries, cassis, wilted rose petals, blood orange, exotic spices, licorice and coniferous forest floor, the 2017 Romanée-Conti Grand Cru is full-bodied, satiny textured and multidimensional. It’s just as powerful as this year’s La Tâche but even more elegantly framed by filigree structure, concluding with an intensely sapid and penetratingly fragrant finish. Pristinely balanced, this young Romanée-Conti possesses huge reserves for the long haul despite its deceptively supple youthful appeal, and it will reward extended bottle age.”
Allen Meadows-Burghound 97 points “Once again there is evident restraint to the almost taciturn but still kaleidoscopically broad-ranging nose of wonderfully pure and fresh and spicy aromas that include plenty of floral influences on the red currant, cherry, sandalwood and rose petal. The silky and equally pure middle weight flavors possess excellent punch and a similar level of minerality on the focused, powerful, linear and impressively persistent finish that slowly fans out as it sits on the palate. In contrast to the flash of the La Tâche, this is Zen-like in its sense of harmony and focus. Like many of the DRC ’17s, this should be approachable somewhat earlier than normal yet still be capable of reward 20+ years of cellaring.”
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The next best price is $16,400
Vinopolis is an independent wine shop in Portland that opened in 2004. Our goal has always been to offer the finest, broadest, and largest selection of wines at the best prices to our customers in Portland, in Oregon, across the West Coast, and throughout the United States.
Thank you for reading and for continuing to support our team at Vinopolis!
Stay safe, be well & drink well.
Thank you for reading and for continuing to support our team at Vinopolis!
Stay safe, be well & drink well.