In This Newsletter:
Subscriber Special:
Brovia
New Continuum Review from the Wine Advocate
A Grand Grand Venuer Sale
New Week – New Arrivals
Trending
Subscriber Special:
Brovia
For traditionally made Barolo (and if you’re looking for a not-discovered-pricing alternative to Burlotto), Brovia are some of the best wines you can buy (at any price, really, but especially for the price).If you’re new to Brovia, here’s the scoop: Wonderful, expressive wines made and farmed in traditional methods. They hit all the right notes in terms of thoughtful vineyard management (organic without certification, careful pruning, and hand harvesting) and are unapologetically classic in their winemaking (long and slow fermentation and long aging in large barrels and, subsequently, in bottle).
Brovia has an assortment of excellent vineyard holdings that are mostly in Serralunga. Rocche and Villero are obviously top vineyards that are well known, but the other gem in the portfolio is the Brea “Ca’Mia” which is a wine that stands out in any lineup for its combination of Serralunga power and elegance.
We try and carry as many of their wines as we can and the 2015 Barolos are notable successes. Brovia’s normal style is lean and coiled, so the extra warmth of the vintage pushed the wines to be a little grander than usual. These are all wines that are shaping up to be epics and are also wines that you’ll look back on and wish you had bought more of (especially the way Brovia’s star/pricing is rising).
5% off any 6-11 bottles of Brovia
10% off any 12+ bottles of Brovia
Offer Ends Wednesday, August 12th at 10 AM
Discount Will Not Display Online or In Your Cart
We will adjust your invoice before processing your card
10% off any 12+ bottles of Brovia
Offer Ends Wednesday, August 12th at 10 AM
Discount Will Not Display Online or In Your Cart
We will adjust your invoice before processing your card
On Sale & In Stock Now
Brovia Rocche di Castiglione, Barolo DOCG 2015 750ML ($119.95) Displayed price: $99, that’s $94.05 at 5% or $89.10 at 10% off, 26 bottles in stock now
Brovia Rocche di Castiglione, Barolo DOCG 2015 1.5L ($269.95) Displayed price: $219, that’s $208.05 at 5% or $197.10 at 10% off, 3 bottles in stock now
Monica Larner – Wine Advocate 95 points “The Brovia 2015 Barolo Rocche di Castiglione (the last wine I tasted in this series of cru expressions) opens to the darkest color of this series, with a firm core of black fruit. This wine is silky and satiny in terms of texture—one of the trademarks of this sandy-soil cru in Castiglione Falletto—but don’t underestimate that structural firmness that holds it tightly together. It would take nicely to veal involtini with asparagus.”
Antonio Galloni 94 points “Brovia’s flagship 2015 Barolo Rocche di Castiglione is a decidedly full-bodied wine. The richness of this warm vintage comes through loud and clear in an ample, resonant Barolo endowed with serious textural depth. Lifted floral and spice notes add an attractive upper register as the 2015 starts to open up in the glass. Even so, the Rocche stands out for its volume and sheer size, both of which are unusual for this Castiglione Falletto site, where the wines tend to be more lithe. The Rocche appears to be the Barolo most shaped by the growing season in this range.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
The average price nationally is $106
Brovia Brea ‘Vigna Ca’ Mia’, Barolo DOCG 2015 750ML ($99.95) Displayed price: $88, that’s $83.60 at 5% or $79.20 at 10% off, 30 bottles in stock now
Brovia Brea ‘Vigna Ca’ Mia’, Barolo DOCG 2015 1.5L ($249.95) Displayed price: $199, that’s $189.05 at 5% or $179.10 at 10% off, 6 magnums in stock now
Antonio Galloni 94+ points “The 2015 Barolo Brea Vigna Ca’ Mia captures all the best the vintage has to offer. Black cherry, plum, espresso, sage, menthol, licorice and leather are all kicked up a few notches in a decidedly dark, strapping Barolo that screams with Serralunga character. Exotic, dark and totally alluring, the 2015 has a very bright future, but readers should be prepared to be patient, as the tannins clearly need time to soften.”
Monica Larner – Wine Advocate 93 points “The Brovia 2015 Barolo Brea Vigna Ca’ Mia offers good balance and an authentic representation of the vintage. You can sense some of the heat of the growing season here, thanks to the wine’s open and accessible persona; it enters the palate with softness and elegance. This was the first of the single-vineyard wines from Brovia released this year that I tasted in a flight meant to increase in intensity.”
This was the lowest listed price in the USA today,
Now it’s even lower!
The average price is $104
Brovia Garblet Sue Barolo DOCG, Piedmont 2015 750ML ($89.95) Displayed price: $79, that’s $75.05 at 5% or $71.10 at 10% off, 29 bottles in stock now
Brovia Garblet Sue Barolo DOCG, Piedmont 2015 1.5L ($219.95) Displayed price: $189, that’s $179.55 at 5% or $161.10 at 10% off, 6 magnums in stock now
Antonio Galloni 94 points “The 2015 Barolo Garblèt Sue’ is dense and powerful in the glass. A rush of black cherry, plum, lavender, iron and sage literally burst from the glass. Ample, full-bodied and intense, the Garblèt Sue’ is another stellar wine in this range. The typically incisive Garblèt Sue’ tannins are nearly buried by the sheer richness of the fruit. Today, the Garblèt Sue’ is distinguished by its wild, feral profile and huge core of fruit. In this vintage, the Garblèt is the overachiever in the range relative to how it shows in most vintages.”
Monica Larner – Wine Advocate 94 points “Showing some immediate softness, the 2015 Barolo Garblèt Sue’ is beautifully approachable and generously accommodating, even at this early stage in the wine’s drinking window. Bring it out with a selection of goat cheeses. It’s interesting to note that, at 40 years old, the vines of this cru in Castiglione Falletto actually rank as some of the youngest held by the Brovia estate, founded in 1863, before the unification of Italy.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $93
Brovia Villero, Barolo DOCG 2015 750ML ($99.95) Displayed price: $88, that’s $83.60 at 5% or $79.20 at 10% off, 35 bottles in stock now
Brovia Villero, Barolo DOCG 2015 1.5L ($249.95) Displayed price: $199, that’s $189.05 at 5% or $179.10 at 10% off, 6 magnums in stock now
Monica Larner – Wine Advocate 94 points “The 2015 Barolo Villero offers richness and darkness with fruit from Castiglione Falletto, and it’s one of the more intense wines I tasted within this selection. The Villero is a balanced and polished Barolo that opens to nicely integrated fruit and spice tones, expertly interwoven and united. The wine has a beautiful entry to the palate. Indeed, this pretty wine presented a united front, with seamless and graceful integration.”
Antonio Galloni 93+ points “The 2015 Barolo Villero is a very pretty, mid-weight wine. Silky tannins and beautifully expressive aromatics give the Villero considerable finesse. On the palate, though, the 2015 is far less expressive. That is not entirely surprising, as the Villero often needs a few years to truly blossom. Sweet floral and spice notes start to open with time in the glass, but the Villero is not an especially forthcoming 2015 Barolo.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $103
Brovia Barolo DOCG, Piedmont 2015 750ML ($59.95) Displayed price: $49, that’s $46.55 at 5% or $44.10 at 10% off, 12 bottles in stock now
Importer Note “Always a stunning value and a perfect encapsulation of the Brovia house style, their Barolo “normale” is comprised 60% of a portion of their holdings in Brea (the oldest and best-exposed vines are bottled separately as “Ca’Mia”—see below) and 40% of the younger vines of their three crus in Castiglione Falletto. One feels both the spicy, boisterous generosity of Serralunga d’Alba and the mineral thrust of Castiglione Falletto in this wine, and the 2015 is a particularly layered, dynamic version, offering excellent concentration but relative accessibility at this early stage.”
This was the lowest listed price in the USA today,
Now it’s even lower!
The average price is $59
Brovia Sori del Drago Barbera d’Alba, Piedmont 2017 750ML ($35.95) Displayed price: $31.90, that’s $30.31 at 5% or $28.71 at 10% off, 17 bottles in stock now
Importer note “This Barbera is produced from grapes harvested in the “Garblet” vineyard (also known as “Fiasco”) of Castiglione Falletto from a 0.8 hectare plot on a south-southeast facing slope at 250 meters altitude. The major part of the vineyard was planted in 1970 with a portion being replanted in 1993. The “Sori del Drago” is fermented at 28 degrees Celsius for slightly more than a week. The wine is then racked into stainless steel tank and is aged for 15 to 18 months before being bottled (unfiltered). Approximately 4500 bottles are produced annually with 2400 allocated to us for the US market.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
5% off any 6-11 bottles of Brovia
10% off any 12+ bottles of Brovia
Offer Ends Wednesday, August 12th at 10 AM
Discount Will Not Display Online or In Your Cart
We will adjust your invoice before processing your card
We offer 70+ Barolos in stock now,
shop the complete list on our web store!
New Review by Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Wine Advocate
Continuum has emerged over the last several years as one of the most important wineries in eastern Napa Valley. With a beautiful estate vineyard located on a prime, west-facing exposure on Pritchard Hill, overlooking Lake Hennessey, Tim Mondavi honors his family’s heritage while making some of the most exciting wines in the Valley. Big, bold, seductive, and hard to find, Continuum’s flagship red is sought after by collectors, enthusiasts and casual drinkers alike.Continuum Proprietary Red, Oakville 2017 750ML ($299.95) $259 special, 10 bottles in stock now
Continuum Proprietary Red, Oakville 2017 375ML ($149.95) $128 special, 21 half-bottles in stock now
Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Wine Advocate 97+ points “A blend of 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Cabernet Franc, 9% Petit Verdot and 9% Merlot, the deep garnet-purple 2017 Proprietary Red soars out of the glass with notions of baked blueberries, plum preserves and blackcurrant cordial, backed up by nuances of chocolate mint, wild sage, violets and pencil shavings, plus an earthy hint of Chinese five spice. The rich, seductive, full-bodied palate is jam-packed with spicy black fruit preserves, framed by wonderfully plush tannins and a lively backbone, finishing long and opulent.”
A Grand Grand Venuer Sale
Alain Jaume’s Domaine Grand Veneur is a trailblazer in Chateauneuf du Pape that continues to make some of the finest wines in the appellation. These are some of the most dramatic, powerful and opulent bottlings made in the Southern Rhone today and the prices they charge make them a steal compared to their nearest competitors.Grand Veneur was one of the first in the region to use new oak barrels and consistently use more Syrah and Mourvèdre to than many of their peers, resulting in wines that have color and power than wines that driven by Grenache for their character. The flagship is clearly the Vieilles Vignes—a wine that is on par with Clos de Papes, Janasse’s “XXL” and Clos St. Jean’s top cuvees, but is still less than $100 a bottle—for now. That said, the other wines offer excellent value, as well, from the drink-now, traditionally minded “Miocene” to their full-throttle “Les Origines.”
We’re offering you a Subscriber-only special on the Grand Veneur wines—5% off mix and match orders of 6-11 bottles and 10% off 12+ bottles. That includes our Case-6 specials, so if you want to stock up, now’s the time! This special pricing is valid only until we open for business at 10 AM on Tuesday, so don’t delay!
5% Off Any 6-11 bottles of Domaine Grand Veneur Wines
10% Off Any 12+ bottles of Domaine Grand Veneur Wines
Offer includes Case-6 specials
Offer Ends Tuesday, August 11th at 10AM
Discount Will Not Display Online or In Your Cart
We will adjust your invoice before processing your card
Shop the sale on our web store!
10% Off Any 12+ bottles of Domaine Grand Veneur Wines
Offer includes Case-6 specials
Offer Ends Tuesday, August 11th at 10AM
Discount Will Not Display Online or In Your Cart
We will adjust your invoice before processing your card
Shop the sale on our web store!
New Week – New Arrivals
California
Sometimes, you just need a butter-bomb
Harken Barrel Fermented Chardonnay, California 2018 750ML ($17.95) $13.50 special
VinopolNote: An unapologetic buttery-toasty Cali Chard, harkening back (get it?) to the classic butter-bomb style. A real Rombauer-killer.
Bedrock Wine Co. Evangelho Vineyard Heritage Red, Contra Costa County 2018 750ML ($41.95) $34.90 special
Antonio Galloni 94 points “The 2018 Evangelho Heritage Wine is so alluring. Sweet cherry, pomegranate, blood orange and perfumed red roses all grace this silky, captivating wine from Bedrock. Dollops of Mataro and Carignan round out this field blend, but it is the high percentage of Zinfandel, and its bright acid profile, that carries the day. This is such a gorgeous and expressive wine.”
Winery Note “2018 was our second vintage with full control of farming at our nearly 130-year-old estate site (still gives me chills to say that), and we enjoyed a mild and even vintage leading to a relatively late harvest at this amazing Delta site. This is a classic Evangelho, showing the bright and composed fruit we expect along with the savory bite inflected by the Mataro and Carignan, and one that should provide plenty of pleasure throughout the years.”
Sometimes, you just need a butter-bomb
Harken Barrel Fermented Chardonnay, California 2018 750ML ($17.95) $13.50 specialVinopolNote: An unapologetic buttery-toasty Cali Chard, harkening back (get it?) to the classic butter-bomb style. A real Rombauer-killer.
Bedrock Wine Co. Evangelho Vineyard Heritage Red, Contra Costa County 2018 750ML ($41.95) $34.90 special
Antonio Galloni 94 points “The 2018 Evangelho Heritage Wine is so alluring. Sweet cherry, pomegranate, blood orange and perfumed red roses all grace this silky, captivating wine from Bedrock. Dollops of Mataro and Carignan round out this field blend, but it is the high percentage of Zinfandel, and its bright acid profile, that carries the day. This is such a gorgeous and expressive wine.”
Winery Note “2018 was our second vintage with full control of farming at our nearly 130-year-old estate site (still gives me chills to say that), and we enjoyed a mild and even vintage leading to a relatively late harvest at this amazing Delta site. This is a classic Evangelho, showing the bright and composed fruit we expect along with the savory bite inflected by the Mataro and Carignan, and one that should provide plenty of pleasure throughout the years.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $37
France
Only three bottles available
Bereche et Fils Ambonnay Grand Cru Millesime, Champagne 2014 750ML ($199.95) $169 special
A single parcel Champagne of 100% Pinot Noir. Aged sur lattes for 54 months.
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
The average price nationally is $175
Only three bottles available
Bereche et Fils Mailly-Champagne Grand Cru, Champagne 2014 750ML ($199. 95) $189 special
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 95 points “Due for release this year, the 2014 Grand Cru Mailly-Champagne is also showing very well indeed, revealing a more exuberantly fruit-driven bouquet than its 2013 sibling, featuring aromas of citrus oil, green pear, fresh pastry, beeswax and smoke. Medium to full-bodied, chalky and incisive, it’s long and concentrated, with a resonant, saline finish.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $195
Bereche et Fils Brut Reserve, Champagne (2016) NV 1.5L ($179.95) $149 special, only three magnums available, disgorged 10/2019
Bereche et Fils Brut Reserve, Champagne (2016) NV 3L ($379.95) $319 special, only two three-liters available, disgorged 05/02/2020
Antonio Galloni 93 points “The NV Brut Réserve (2016 base, disgorged December 2018) is especially finessed on this release, with a bit more floral lift from the Chardonnay than is often the case, and also slightly higher dosage, all of which works very well. Lemon confit, white flowers and mint add to the wine’s decidedly bright profile. This is a fabulous edition of the Brut Réserve. Dosage is 7 grams per liter. Disgorged: December, 2018.” [Disgorgement dates vary]
Only two magnums available
Bereche et Fils Les Beaux Regards Cuvee Unique Extra Brut Millesime, Champagne 2013 1.5L ($599.95) $449 special
Disgorged December 2018. 100% Chardonnay. Only 190 magnums were bottled.
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Only three bottles available
Domaine Henri Gouges Les Chaignots, Nuits-Saint-Georges Premier Cru 2018 750ML ($119.95) $95 special
Neal Martin-Vinous 91 points “The 2018 Nuits Saint-Georges Les Chaignots 1er Cru is de-stemmed this year. It has a pretty, fragrant bouquet of raspberry and wild strawberry fruit, plus touches of rose petal and iris flower. The medium-bodied palate offers supple tannins and a fine line of acidity, the 20% new oak nearly integrated. It does feel a little conservative on the finish, but there is certainly elegance here.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $104.99
Domaine Henri Gouges Clos des Porrets Monopole, Nuits-Saint-Georges Premier Cru 2018 750ML ($119.95) $95 special
Neal Martin-Vinous 88-90 points “The 2018 Nuits Saint-Georges Clos des Porrets-Saint-Georges 1er Cru was due to be racked the following week and bottled before the end of the year. It has a generous bouquet of upfront red cherry and crushed strawberry fruit, a little too ripe for my liking and when compared to previous vintages. The medium-bodied palate offers soft tannins, gentle grip and plenty of fleshy red fruit, although it is missing some grip and density toward the finish. Pleasant, but I would broach this in its youth.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $121
Domaine Tempier Bandol La Migoua, Provence 2016 750ML ($79.95) $59 special
“Lying outside the village of Le Beausset, the La Migoua vineyard is the highest elevation site of the three and sits at 270 meters above sea level; it consists of diverse clay and limestone soils. Possessing the smallest amount of Mourvèdre (~55%) and the most Grenache, this cuvee is always slightly less powerful and rich than the other two single vineyards, yet is always the most perfumed and complex.” –Jeb Dunnuck [no reviews for the 2016 vintage]
Importer Note “50% Mourvèdre, 20% Grenache, 26% Cinsault, 4% Syrah from 40+ year old vines on clay and limestone soils. Destemmed, fermented with indigenous yeasts and then aged 18-20 months in large oak foudres.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $77
Italy
Bruno Giacosa Barolo DOCG, Piedmont 2016 750ML ($219.95) $179 special
James Suckling 94 points “The berry and tar character is already coming through clearly here. It shows readiness and focus. Full-bodied with firm, silky tannins and attractive orange-peel and spice notes, turning to flowers. Chewy, yet polished and pretty. This comes from the young vineyards on the estate. Drinkable now, but better after 2022.”
Importer note “Only made in the best years (last vintage 2005) from estate owned fruit in La Morra (not Serralunga where the Falletto vineyard is)”
Elvio Cogno Ravera, Barolo DOCG 2016 750ML ($119.95) $99 special
Wine Enthusiast 99 points “Cellar Selection. From the estate that proved the extraordinary quality of the Ravera subzone, this compelling wine opens with heady scents of rose, iris, perfumed berry, new leather and camphor. Focused and full bodied, the precise palate is delicious and firmly structured, featuring ripe red cherry, crushed raspberry, licorice and tobacco framed in tightly knit fine-grained tannins. Fresh acidity keeps it beautifully balanced and lends youthful tension. Drink 2024–2056 – Kerin O’Keefe”
Antonio Galloni 94 points “The 2016 Barolo Ravera shows all of the energy and tension this site is so well-known for. Penetrating acids and veins of tannin give the Ravera its drive and overall feel. Naturally, the 2016 is going to need at least a few years to be at its best, but it has tremendous breeding and character to burn. White pepper, mint, sweet red cherry and citrus add to the wine’s high-toned profile. This is another stellar wine from Cogno.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Trending
Domaine de la Bastide Blanche Bandol Rose, Provence 2019 750ML ($27.95) $21.90 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Domaine de la Bastide Blanche Bandol Rose, Provence 2019 1.5L ($59.95) $49 special, 4 magnums in stock now
Importer note “Mourvedre, Grenache, Cinsault & Clairette from clay, limestone & cailloux. Organic. Dense cherry and raspberry fruit with citrus and stone flavors. Full body with a perfectly balanced and long finish.”
Domaine de la Bastide Blanche Bandol Rose, Provence 2019 1.5L ($59.95) $49 special, 4 magnums in stock now
Importer note “Mourvedre, Grenache, Cinsault & Clairette from clay, limestone & cailloux. Organic. Dense cherry and raspberry fruit with citrus and stone flavors. Full body with a perfectly balanced and long finish.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
The average price nationally is $25
One of several exclusive super-deals on local wines in stock now!
Day Wines Momtazi Vineyard Pinot Noir, McMinnville 2016 750ML ($53.95) $33 special, 36+ bottles in stock nowCase-6 Day Wines Momtazi Vineyard Pinot Noir, McMinnville 2016 750ML ($299.95) $189 special (that’s only $31.50/bottle!)
Case-12 Day Wines Momtazi Vineyard Pinot Noir, McMinnville 2016 750ML ($599.95) $345 special (that’s only $28.75/bottle!)
John Gilman 93 points “The 2016 Momtazi Vineyard bottling of Pinot Noir from Day Wines is the ripest of these 2016s, as it comes in at fourteen percent octane. It is beautifully black fruity on the nose (as all the examples from Momtazi have been that I have been fortunate enough to taste), offering up scents of black plum, sweet dark berry, black tea, balsam bough, a beautiful base of soil tones, chicory, gentle spice tones and a bit of cedar. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied, complex and beautifully balanced, with a fine core of fruit, great mineral drive and grip, ripe, well-integrated tannins and a long, tangy and promising finish. While this is the ripest of the 2016 pinots from Brianne Day, it is no less pure or precise and is a great bottle in the making. 2024-2055.”
Josh Raynolds – Vinous 92 points “Limpid red. A highly aromatic bouquet evokes fresh dark berries and baking spices, along with smoky mineral and musky earth overtones. Juicy and broad on the palate, offering alluringly sweet black raspberry, cherry, rose pastille and spicecake flavors that deepen steadily with air. Delivers a suave blend of power and energy and finishes with finely woven tannins and strong, floral-driven persistence.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $49.50
Cameron Abbey Ridge Pinot Noir 2017 750ML ($79.95) $66 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Winery note “The 2017 Abbey Ridge Pinot noir has aromas of cherry, pomegranate, cranberry and spiced oranges mingling with straw, ginger and as always rose petals. A higher percentage of Pommard in this year’s blend introduces flavors of cracked pepper, black olive and salumi. The front to back of the palate is seamless, with soft tannins, bright lively acidity, a long lingering finish and perfect moderate alcohol of 12.8%. At over 40 years of age, Abbey Ridge is one of the oldest and best vineyards in the state of Oregon.”
VinopolNote: Abbey Ridge is one of the most hallowed sites in the Willamette Valley. Planted in 1975, the Pinot Noir here is own rooted and at one of the highest elevations in the Dundee Hills. The elevation and classic Jory soils give the wine an intense personality—high toned, elegant and tensile, with good power and a strong voice. This bottling has been one of the defining Oregon Pinots since John Paul started making it.
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
The average price nationally is $70
Even the most “picky” houses declare 5-6 vintages a decade, but Heidsieck will only release this wine under the most perfect of circumstances (the last vintage released was the epic 1995). The resulting wine is powerful, intense but beyond elegant, as only Chardonnay given extended lees aging can provide.
Charles Heidsieck Blanc des Millenaires, Champagne 2004 750ML ($199.95) $169 special, 24+ bottles in stock nowDecanter 98 points – World Wine Awards 2019 “This Blanc de Blancs Champagne is a bright morning gold in colour, with fine-seamed bubbles and rich, expressive and expansive aromas. Beaten cream, pounded hazels, a hint of baking apples, brioche fresh from the oven. But all these notes are drawn with great subtlety, underscoring the fruit quality of the Chardonnay vineyards used in this blend. On the palate, the wine retains all that aromatic grace and amplitude, marrying it to a shapely fruit presence, vibrant though now well-rounded acidity and textural charm, too. A head-turner. Drink 2019-2028.”
Wine Advocate 95 points “Disgorged in November 2017 after 13 years on the lees, the stunning 2004 Blanc des Millénaires is a worthy successor to the 1995. Unfurling in the glass with aromas of green apple, pear, brioche and fresh pastry that are framed by a lovely smoky, autolytic top note, the wine is full-bodied, ample and concentrated, with ripe acids, superb depth at the core and a textural, vinous quality while remaining very classical in profile. The finish is long and expansive. A blend of Chardonnay from Cramant, Avize, Oger, Mesnil-sur-Oger and Vertus, it saw nine grams per liter dosage. This is a terrific blanc de blancs from Charles Heidsieck that has a long and glorious future ahead of it. Sadly, the price of this cuvée has finally caught up with the quality.”
Wine Spectator 95 points “A seamless Champagne, showing a texture of raw silk, this weaves vibrant acidity with an expressive range of glazed apple and poached white cherry fruit flavors, with pickled ginger and saffron spice details and rich notes of pastry cream, toast and coffee liqueur. More about finesse than power, this is long and creamy on the mineral-tinged finish. Drink now through 2028. [Reviewed Dec 2018]”
[Disgorgement dates may vary from reviews]
Castello di Camigliano Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Tuscany 2015 750ML ($49.95) $38 special, 24+ bottles in stock now
Case-6 Castello di Camigliano Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Tuscany2015 750ML ($299.95) $219 special (that’s only $36.50/bottle!)
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 94 points “The Camigliano 2015 Brunello di Montalcino sees fruit from a 50-hectare vineyard planted 300 to 350 meters above sea level. The soils show lots of variation with clay, sand, rock and marine fossils. The wine’s bouquet reveals classic Brunello characteristics of wild berry, forest floor, pressed rose petal, crushed stone and spice. You also get those typical balsam and herbal tones that are so specific to Montalcino. In fact, I argue that they come across with even more intensity in a beautifully balanced and sunny vintage such as 2015. This wine ages in 60-hectoliter botti for 24 months, making for a firm yet surprisingly streamlined mouthfeel. With 160,000 bottles made, the wine was released in January 2020.”
James Suckling 94 points “A bright and elegant Brunello that suggests sliced oranges, tulips and rose petals. Medium-to full-bodied and finely structured, drawing on silky layers of tannins and a vibrant edge of acidity. Drink now or hold.”
Wine Spectator 93 points “A focused, lively red, this exhibits cherry, strawberry, earth, mineral and Mediterranean herb flavors. Dense, staying fresh as this unwinds on the lingering aftertaste. Best from 2023 through 2042.”
Gaja is one of the most respected names in the world of wine. Unlike many other ultra-premium Barolos, Gaja’s 2014 Sperss is already drinking beautifully, even in its relative youth. Transcending the modernist versus traditionalist categories, Gaja is truly in a class of its own—and the 2014 Sperss is the perfect example. Immediate yet complex, structured yet elegant, beautiful today yet undeniably cellar-able, this wine is deserving of your attention.
Gaja Sperss Barolo, Piedmont 2014 750ML ($319.95) $179 special, 24+ bottles in stock nowJames Suckling 95 points “More forward and in a more earthly realm than the dizzying heights of the Conteisa this vintage, but it’s so endearing and immediately delights. The aromas range from elderberries and black cherries to brambleberries and Chinese spices. Full-bodied and structured with powerful tannins that encase bright and forthright blue fruit, which is polished over by a sheen of glimmering acidity. Long finish. Delicious now, but better in 2022.”
Wine Enthusiast 95 points “Underbrush, tobacco, toasted hazelnut, menthol and grilled herb aromas slowly take shape on this focused red. On the structured elegant palate, taut refined tannins and fresh acidity provide an ageworthy framework for raspberry compote, juicy Marasca cherry, orange zest, white pepper and star anise. It already has layers of depth and loads of finesse, but hold for even more complexity. Drink 2022–2030.”
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 94 points “This is a slightly more subdued vintage of this legendary wine, albeit just as sophisticated as past editions. The 2014 Barolo Sperss opens to gorgeous aromas of dark fruit, wet earth and white truffle. The vineyards in Serralunga d’Alba produced much less fruit than average and suffered from bouts of downy mildew during the rainy seasons. But Serralunga d’Alba fruit is also harvested late, and that extra time was important for achieving grape ripeness targets. The wine presents depth and complexity within the context of a thinner vintage. Having said that, the bouquet is spectacular.”
Decanter 94 points “Sperss comes from two crus in Serralunga, and like Gaja’s Barbarescos it’s aged in a combination of barriques and large barrels. As so often is the case, it’s a wine that combines power and finesse. It has a subdued cherry nose with a touch of oak, leading to a palate which is rich, powerful and tannic, but not too assertive. It’s well balanced and fleshy, with lots of velvety texture and grain, and there’s still an underlying freshness and finesse. Very long finish.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $222
The average price is $292
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