AJ Adam and the Hidden Treasure of the Mosel Sale 12-9-24

In This Newsletter:
 
A.J. Adam Sale
&
Vinopolis Close-Out Featurette: Aldo Conterno
 


Out of the Valley, Into the Light
 
Stock Up & Save on
 
A.J. Adam

 
In a virtually unknown side valley of the Middle Mosel, just south of Piesport, are the steep, south-facing vineyard slopes of Dhron. It’s an obscure area, despite archeological evidence showing it to be the Mosel’s oldest winegrowing area, dating back to 220 BCE. Few of the younger generation have taken over for the aging winemakers of this small region, leading the region to fall into obscurity during the 1980s and 90s.
 
One of the rare exceptions of younger winemakers is Andreas Adam. Though his family’s holdings had dwindled to one hectare and his parents had chosen not to make wine themselves, Adam restarted his family’s estate. He released his first wine from the 2000 vintage at 19 years-old after honing his craft at Heymann-Loewenstein. Not long after, Johannes Selbach shared his name with Terry Theise, who imported his wines into the US, bringing international attention. His sister, Barbara, joined the family estate in 2013 after having worked for Franz Keller in Baden and Klaus-Peter Keller in the Rheinhessen.
 
Their holdings have expanded to five hectares, including from two Grand Cru vineyards in Dhron: Hofberg and Has’chen. The terroir produces wines more similar to Saar than Mosel: the steepness, high altitude and cooling mountain breezes across the network of tributaries help the wines retain vibrant acidity, and the age of his parcels adds to the concentration and finesse. Older vines are a rarity in Dhron since much of the land was reformed, re-terraced, and replanted in the 1970s. In Hofberg, with its red schist soils, Adam has vines dating back to the 1950s, while in Has’chen, their vines are ungrafted and were planted in 1930.
 
In the winery, Adam hand sorts the grapes before they undergo natural yeast fermentation in stainless steel, fuder and halbfuder casks. He adds nothing to the fermenting wines.  The result is wines of poise, energy and concentration: terroir-driven and supremely balanced. The wines are a reminder of the glory these once-prized vineyards held in decades past, and offer a look to their exceptional future.
 
5% off any 3-5 in-stock bottles from A.J. Adam
10% off any 6 or more in-stock bottles from A.J. Adam

 
Discount will not display online or in your cart,
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Sale ends Thursday, December 12th at 9 am Pacific.
 
We offer six A.J. Adam options on sale now, including:
 
Weingut A.J. Adam Dhroner Riesling 2022 750ml Displayed Price: $39, that’s $37.05 at 5% off and $35.10 at 10% off, 2 bottles in stock now
Mosel Fine Wines 91+ points
“The 2022er Dhroner, as it is referred to on the front label, is a Fuder-fermented wine made from fruit harvested on 45-year-old vines in the middle part (slightly less steep) part of the main hill. The wine offers a beautiful nose of ripe lemon, grapefruit, white flowers, whipped cream, and smoke. It is beautifully playful on the palate with well-integrated acidity and spicy elements. Ripe and lemony fruits make for a beautifully elegant and not overly racy feel in the finish. This is a beautiful dry wine in the making with quite some upside as the flavors develop more precision. 2024-2032.”
 
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
 
Weingut A.J. Adam Dhroner Has’chen Riesling Grosses Gewachs 2022 750ml Displayed Price: $66, that’s $62.70 at 5% off and $59.40 at 10% off, 11 bottles in stock now
Mosel Fine Wines 93 points
“The 2022er Häs’chen, as it is referred to on the consumer label (the reference to GG is provided in small print on the side of the label), is a dry wine fermented in oak cask with fruit picked on un-grafted vines planted in 1933. It offers a superb even if still slightly yeasty and backward nose which only gradually reveals its stunning scents grapefruit, elderflower, a hint of cassis, floral elements, whipped cream, and smoke. The wine develops a beautifully subtle feel on the palate where fresh fruit and fine spices make for a hugely enjoyable experience. The finish is incredibly alluring as it is not overly intense but oh-so subtle and refined. 2027-2037.”
 
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
 
Weingut A.J. Adam Dhroner Hofberg Riesling Grosses Gewachs 2021 750ml Displayed Price: $69, that’s $65.55 at 5% off and $62.10 at 10% off, 12 bottles in stock now
Mosel Fine Wines 93 points
“The 2021er Hofberg, as it is referred on the consumer label (the reference to GG is provided in small print on the side of the label), was fermented in Fuder with fruit picked on up 55 to 60-year-old vines situated in classical parts on the main hill of the vineyard. It captures one’s attention with a bright, aromatic, and complex nose of white peach, greengage, grapefruit, lemon, fine spices, almond cream, and herbs. The wine is superbly structured on the palate, where some fine fruity elements join the party and add some Schmelz to the otherwise stony and herbal core. The finish is very long, pure, and fully dry with some salty notes coming through in the after-taste. 2024-2036.”
 
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
 
Weingut A.J. Adam Dhroner Hofberg Riesling Grosses Gewachs 2022 750ml Displayed Price: $69, that’s $65.55 at 5% off and $62.10 at 10% off, 11 bottles in stock now
Mosel Fine Wines 93 points
“The 2022er Hofberg, as it is referred on the consumer label (the reference to GG is provided in small print on the side of the label), was fermented in Fuder with fruit picked on up 55 to 60-year-old vines situated in classical parts on the main hill of the vineyard. It offers a superb nose made of citrusy fruit, mirabelle, whipped cream, laurel, carraway, and herbs. The wine proves subtle and playful on the palate and leaves a gorgeously long and spicy feel in the finish. The aftertaste is subtle, playful, and delicate. 2027-2037.”
 
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
 
Weingut A.J. Adam Dhroner Hofberg Riesling Spätlese 2022 750ml Displayed Price: $49, that’s $46.55 at 5% off and $44.10 at 10% off, 8 bottles in stock now
Mosel Fine Wines 93 points
“The 2022er Hofberg Spätlese, as it is referred to on the front label, was made from fruit harvested at 86° Oechsle in the backside of the main hill and was fermented down to fruity-styled levels of residual sugar (67 g/l). It offers a beautiful nose made of whipped cream, citrusy elements, melon, herbs, and smoke. The wine proves nicely smooth and creamy on the palate and leaves a gorgeously playful feel with perfectly integrated acidity in the long finish. A touch of sweetness still needs to integrate in the aftertaste, something which will have happened in a decade or so. 2032-2047.”
 
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
 
Weingut A.J. Adam Dhroner Hofberg Riesling Auslese * 2016 375ml Displayed Price: $39, that’s $37.05 at 5% off and $35.10 at 10% off, 11 half-bottles in stock now
Mosel Fine Wines 92 points
“The 2016er Auslese * was made from the second pressing of the Eiswein grapes harvested on November 30. This already golden-colored wine delivers a rather ripe and exotic nose of grapefruit, candied passion fruit and backed pineapple. It is nicely balanced on the palate and does not exhibit the usual “Eiswein bite” of such wines but proves more luscious in style. The acidity comes eventually through in the sweet and complex finish. 2023-2036.”


Vinopolis Close-Out Sale Featurette:

Aldo Conterno Barolo
 
Son of the famous Giacomo Conterno, Aldo purchased his own estate, Favot, in 1969 to explore alternatives to the strictly traditional methods of the family estate. He took inspiration from Angelo Gaja and from his experiences while traveling in the United States.
 
Although he introduced some modern winemaking techniques that improved the quality of the wines, including temperature-controlled fermentation, he never fully embraced the “modern” heavily oak-influenced style. He eschewed new oak on the Barolos and continued to hand-harvest the grapes, using gentle pressing and shorter macerations in the cellar.
 
The results were polished and elegant wines with pure and bold fruit profiles. Since his passing in 2012, his three sons have run the estate. These are standard bearer wines for the region, and worthy of a dedicated spot in your cellar.
 
In Stock and On Sale Now:
 
This single-vineyard bottling from Bussia hails from 40- to 45-year-old vines and rated a favorite of the lineup in the 2017 vintage by Monica Larner of the Wine Advocate.
Poderi Aldo Conterno Colonnello, Barolo DOCG 2017 750ml Was $179, Now $149, 3 bottles in stock now
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 94+ points
“The Poderi Aldo Conterno 2017 Barolo Bussia Colonnello shows good focus, structure and a sharper character that is often the distinguishing factor in this wine. The bouquet is redolent of dark fruit and plum, but it also shows a solid framing of iron ore and dark stony mineral. These give the wine greater lift and contoured edges. This is not the first time that Colonnello is my favorite wine in this lineup, and I suspect it won’t be the last.”
Wine Spectator 94 points “Offering plum, cherry, iron, eucalyptus and black pepper aromas and flavors, this broad red has absorbed the oak treatment pretty well already, with a dense matrix of tannins and lively acidity. Balanced and long, ending with elements of mineral and spice. Best from 2025 through 2043. —B.S.”
 
A Riserva Barolo bottled only in the finest years, the Granbussia is a blend of the oldest vines of the village’s three top crus: Romirasco, Cicala, and Colonnello.
Poderi Aldo Conterno Granbussia, Barolo Riserva DOCG 2012 750ml Was $889, Now $789, 6 bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 95 points
“The earthy, woodsy aromas show some evolution in this red, with just a hint of white truffle, yet there’s still a hefty dose of spicy oak to be resolved. Rich and sumptuous midpalate, showing plum, cherry, tar and tobacco flavors shaded by vanilla and toasty spices, with firm, dusty tannins laying a grip on the long finish. Give this another year or two in the cellar. Best from 2024 through 2042. From Italy. —B.S.”
 
We offer 213 wines on our Close-Out Sale in stock now.

Shop the sale on our webstore now!


 
Don’t miss our additional sales going on now:

Hermitage
 
5% off any 3-5 in-stock bottles from Hermitage
10% off any 6 or more in-stock bottles from Hermitage
 
Nikolaihof
 
5% off any 3-5 in-stock bottles from Nikolaihof
10% off any 6 or more in-stock bottles from Nikolaihof

 
Discount will not display online or in your cart,
We will adjust your invoice before processing your charge.

 
Hermitage sale ends Tuesday, December 10th at 9 am Pacific. Nikolaihof sale ends Wednesday, December 11th at 9 am Pacific.