Almost Mid-Week Newsletter 3-22-2022

To borrow parlance from the holiday season it’s the most wonderful time of year when Selbach-Oster’s team decides to visit us at Vinopolis. As one of the oldest houses in the Mosel River Valley, their holdings encompass parcels throughout multiple sub-appellations in some of the most lauded vineyards in the entire country. 

Due to the precipitous slopes of the vineyards the vines are worked and harvested entirely by hand, with cover crops being extensively planted to help prevent erosion in addition to fixing nitrogen. With a portfolio spanning the entire Prädikatswein ladder, the vineyards see multiple passes through the vineyard based on the taste of the grapes and their sugar levels. Even in hotter vintages like 2018 and 2019 the Selbach-Oster clan does a masterful job of balancing residual sugar with the regions characteristic acidity. We carry a full assortment of their bottlings beyond their currant vintages elegant Riesling including Pinot Blancs, Sparkling Riesling and dessert offerings.      

Selbach Oster Wines in stock now: 

Selbach-Oster Bernkasteler Badstube Riesling Spatlese Mosel 2019 750ML ($37.95) $31.90 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2019 Bernkasteler Badstube Riesling Spätlese is very clear, pure and flinty on the intense, elegant, crunchy and slatey nose. Salty, piquant and lush on the palate, this is a crystalline, pure and salty Badstube that is juicier and rounder than the 2018. Tasted at the domain in September 2020.”
Mosel Fine Wines 92 points “The 2019er Bernkasteler Badstube Riesling Spätlese was made from fruit picked at 90° Oechsle and was fermented down to sweet levels of residual sugar (69 g/l). It offers a very delicate and nicely perfumed nose of white flowers, rose petal, vineyard peach, apple, laurel, and herbs. The wine proves delicately juicy and refined on the smooth and slightly juicy palate and leaves a delicate sense of lightness in the more fruity-styled than really sweet-tasting finish. This is a joyful and remarkably easy-drinking expression of Spätlese. 2027-2044.”
 

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Selbach-Oster Riesling Feinherb Mosel 2019 750ML ($21.95) $18 special, 18 bottles in stock now   
Case-12 Selbach-Oster Riesling Feinherb Mosel 2019 750ML ($259.95) $195 special (That’s only $16.25 per bottle!)    
Winery note “Selbach-Oster Rieslings are not ‘Zeitgeist’-trendy wines that change according to the whims of fashion. Nor are they ‘made’ according to a recipe. Though they are deeply delicious, they do not seek to ‘seduce’ with short-term exotic aromas from specially cultured yeasts, aromatic enzymes or ice-cold fermentations. They are true characters, wines with structure, wines that display their heritage, rooted deep into the slate rock like our old vines – many of which are still on their own vitis vinifera roots.”
 

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Selbach-Oster Zeltinger Riesling Kabinett Trocken Mosel  2019 750ML ($27.95) $24 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-12 Selbach-Oster Zeltinger Riesling Kabinett Trocken Mosel  2019 750ML ($319.95) $266 special, (That’s only $22.16 per bottle) 
Mosel Fine Wines 90 points “The 2019er Zeltinger Riesling Kabinett Trocken comes from Estate holdings mainly in the Himmelreich (90%) as well as Schlossberg (10%). It offers a beautifully refreshing and light nose of white peach, apple, mint, herbs, anise, and spices. The wine develops good presence and the intensity of a Spätlese on the palate and leaves a nicely herbal and spicy feel in the surprisingly assertive but very satisfying finish. This is a serious Village wine to age and enjoy. 2023-2029”
 

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Selbach-Oster Zeltinger Schlossberg Riesling Kabinett Mosel 2019 750ML ($29.95) $26 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-12 Selbach-Oster Zeltinger Schlossberg Riesling Kabinett Mosel 2019 750ML ($359.95) $279 special, (That’s only $23.25 per bottle) 
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2019 Zeltinger Schlossberg Riesling Kabinett is pure and flinty on the pure, elegant, terroir-driven nose. Piquant and crystalline on the palate, this is a crunchy and crispy, well-concentrated and nicely phenolic Schlossberg with juicy fruit but a crystalline and refined finish. Very long and stimulatingly salty. Tasted at the domain in September 2020.”
John Gilman 92 points “The 2019 Schlossberg Kabinett from Selbach-Oster is really a very pretty example of the vintage, but this is more Spätlese in terms of weight and breadth of shoulder than classical Kabinett. However, this takes away nothing from the charm here on both the nose and palate, with the bouquet delivering a lovely blend of white cherry, white peach, a touch of wild yeasts, a refined base of slate, bee pollen and a topnote of apple blossoms. On the palate the wine is medium-full, complex and nicely filigreed, with good acids, fine focus and grip and a long, complex and very nicely balanced finish. Think of this as a hybrid between Kabinett and Spätlese, but with personality to burn! 2020-2040+.”
 

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Selbach-Oster Zeltinger Himmelreich Riesling Sekt Extra Trocken Mosel 2018 750ML ($34.95) $28 special, 18 bottles in stock now
VinopolNote: Selbach-Oster is known as one of the best Riesling houses in the entire Mosel River Valley. Based in the Mittelmosel they estimate 55% of their grapevines are still ungrafted and entirely planted on mind-bendingly steep slopes. These factors converge with generations of winemaking talent to make some of the most compelling examples of Riesling in the world, be they sweet, dry or sparkling. Their Sekt is no exception, which undergoes champagne-style fermentation in the bottle as opposed to the more standard tank method. This creates a finer bubble, additional complexity and aging potential in the bottle, at half the price of what grower champagne is selling for these days!
 

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Selbach-Oster Zeltinger Sonnenhuhr Riesling Beerenauslese Mosel 2018 375ML ($89.95) $79 special, 24 half bottles in stock now 
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 97 points “The 2018 Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Riesling Beerenauslese displays an intense but very clear and radiant citrus color in the glass. The nose is concentrated and fresh, with lemon chutney and broken stone aromas. Pure and fresh on the palate, this is a dense, concentrated, rich yet very precise, fresh and elegant BA with a long, crunchy, terroir-driven finish that represents the delicate slate structure of the Sonnenuhr. Still young but not really sweet due to the crystalline acidity structure. Tasted at the domain in September 2020.”
Mosel Fine Wines 94-96 points “This 2018er Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Riesling BA was harvested at approx. 130° Oechsle and was fermented down to noble-sweet levels of residual sugar (approx. 200 g/l). This cask sample offers a gorgeous and clean nose of candied grapefruit, pineapple juice, rhubarb, apricot, melon and honey. The wine is very juicy and sweet on the delicately viscous palate. The finish is quite intense and very long. This BA is still very sweet and juicy, and will please lovers of rich and intense dessert wines. 2028-2058.”
 

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Cayuse Vineyards God Only Knows Armada Vineyard Grenache Walla Walla Valley 2018 750ML ($199.95) $179 special, 8 bottles in stock now
Owen Bargreen Vinous 99 points “The 2018 Red Wine God Only Knows is a truly mesmerizing blend of nearly all Grenache with a small part Syrah, sourced from the Armada vineyard, farmed at a mere 1.5 tons per acre. The incredibly savory nose features blood orange zest, red cherry candy, nori and pomegranate seed with stony undertones. The palate is liquid silk that makes this wine truly all its own. Lip-smacking acidity, beautiful tension and an exceedingly long finish add to the equation. The purity of fruit here is second to none. This very “Château Rayas” bottling is nothing short of perfection in the bottle.”
 

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Cayuse Vineyards Impulsivo Tempranillo Walla Walla Valley 2018 750ML ($179.95) $129 special, 17 bottles in stock now
Owen Bargreen Vinous 97 points “The 2018 Tempranillo Impulsivo En Chamberlin Vineyard may be the best Tempranillo botting I have tasted from Cayuse Vineyards. The wine broods in the glass. Aromatically, you’re greeted by a brilliant core of dark fruits with tobacco leaf, black tea and tar tones. The palate is soft and generous with a sensuous mouthfeel. Even with 50% new large-format French oak, this doesn’t get close to being overly oaked. Silky and elegant to savor now, it has a really long life ahead of it. This is in a league all its own for North American Tempranillo.”
 

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Cayuse Vineyards Wallah Wallah Special Series Syrah Walla Walla Valley  #12 2018 1.5L ($319.95) $289 special, 3 magnums in stock now 
Owen Bargreen Vinous 97 points “The beautiful 2018 Syrah Wallah Wallah Special #12 is a proprietary blend of Syrah sourced from a host of Cayuse vineyards. The palate is plush and silky with light tannins, layers of dark currants, green peppercorns, smoked meats and soot, and an incredible sense of texture. The length is outstanding, as are the viscosity and tension. Gorgeous now, even consumed en magnum, this downright killer wine will cellar well over the next decade.” 
 

This is the only listing in the USA today!

We have plenty of other bottlings available by Cayuse, including back vintages! 

 

It goes without saying that the 2016 vintage in Brunello is one of the best in recent memory. You can tell a lot about a Brunello vintage by how early we start getting asked about it. In the case of the 2016s, well, let’s just say this is a pretty anticipated set of wines. After the relatively hot and dry 2015 vintage, groundwater reserves were restored by a wet and snowy winter, setting the stage for an even longer growing season after generous dormancy. The 2016 vintage is known for having very similar climactic conditions, with the most standout being a lack of heat spikes against cool evenings. 

A vintage that Wine Spectator described as “textbook”, the growing season yielded wines of elegance, freshness and harmony. More red fruited than Brunello’s excellent 2015 vintage, but offering similar levels of concentration, these are wines that are drinking beautifully young but will also age beautifully. Castiglion Del Bosco exemplified this perfectly from their forested perch in the Northwest corner of the appellation. 

Arriving April 2022: 

Castiglion del Bosco Brunello di Montalcino DOCG Tuscany 2016 750M ($62.95) $54.50 pre-arrival special
James Suckling 99 points “The complexity and beauty to this is really something with cherry, walnut, tobacco and cigar-box character. Sweet cherries. It’s full-bodied and deep with super intensity and power. Layered and beautiful. Really refined tannins. Some whole-berry fermentation gives this added character. Goes on for minutes. Try after 2025.”
Decanter 97 points “We were lucky enough to have a splendid entry from Brunello di Montalcino this year, as this zone’s other Gold and Platinum medals testify, drawing on both the superb 2015 (Reserva) and 2016 vintages. Much effort went into scrutinising these wines to find a worthy candidate for our Best In Show collection — and here it is. Translucent black-red in colour, shading to a glowing garnet rim, with refined, artfully composed scents of subdued berry fruits, warm summer forest, dried mushrooms and soft suede. The wine is intense, deep, perfectly pitched in structural terms between lively, well-rounded acidity and brisk, sober tannins: a dignified, grave yet rewarding wine for a fine dinner. It is fully accessible now, yet the quality of its fruit and its balance suggest many years’ ageing potential, too.”
Vinous 95 points “The 2016 Castiglion del Bosco Brunello di Montalcino really stands out with its vivid display of crushed raspberries, lavender and clove. Further depths are found with each swirl, adding mentholated herbs and flowery undergrowth. It’s dense and dark-fruited, enveloping the palate with notes of black cherry, plum, exotic savory spice and minerals. This is soothing and pliant in spite of the 2016’s youthful state, balancing brisk acids and fine tannins to create a push and pull of structural tension. The symmetry here is spellbinding, and everything is in the right place for a long and fruitful evolution over the next ten to fifteen years. Tasted twice with consistent results.”
 

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Basque Country is famous for a great many things, with a thriving food and wine scene taking the foreground. Ubiquitous as the porrón from which it’s traditionally served from, Txakoli is a slightly fizzy wine grown in the highlands around the villages made from two closely related grapes. Hondarrabi Zuri and Beltza are white and red grapes respectively that bring to mind the salinity of the nearby sea with electric minerality and bright, citrus flavors. 

Ameztoi on in stock now:   
 
Ameztoi Rubentis Rosado Getariako Txakolina 2020 750ML ($24.95) $19 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Josh Raynolds – Vinous 92 points “Shimmering orange-pink. Pungent cherry and red berry scents take on floral and spice nuances with air. Shows silky texture and good depth to the zesty red currant and bitter cherry flavors, which turn sweeter through the midpalate. Smoothly blends heft and energy and finishes long and nervy, with a hint of bitter orange pith adding final bite.”
Importer note “The pink sibling of Ameztoi’s flagship white, this vibrant rosé is made from a mix of red and white indigenous grapes and is bottled with a little residual carbonation to give it a light spritz.”
Region: Getariako Txakolina, Pais Vasco (Basque Country), Spain.
 

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Ameztoi Primus Txakoli di Getaria Hondarribi Zuri Getariako Txakolina 2019 750ML ($29.95) $21.90 special, 19 bottles in stock now
Winery note “[Edited for clarity] A white wine from the Hondarrabi Zuri grape. Naturally lightly sparkling. Pale with a touch of green, its bright tone has fine and elegant bubbles. Has a delicate and sophisticated fragrance, reminiscent of green apples and grapes, with a minty note. Opens dry, and is harmonious in the mouth. It has a broad and aromatic finish, which is cheerful because of its bubbles.”
Note on the 2018 vintage by Luis Gutierrez (provided for reference) “The white 2018 Primus is 100% Hondarribi Zuri and was selected with the idea of aging potential. It has 11% alcohol and seven grams of acidity balanced by three grams of sugar, which resulted from fermenting the must in stainless steel at low temperature and keeping the wine with the lees at zero degrees to preserve the dissolved gas. This has a more traditional style with quite a lot of gas, closer to the light, sharp and citrus style, finishing dry with notable tart acidity.”
 

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Ameztoi Txakoli di Getaria Hondarribi Zuri Getariako Txakolina 2020 750ML ($24.95) $19.90 special, 6 bottles in stock now
Josh Raynolds – Vinous 91 points “Pale, green-tinged straw. Bright and sharply focused on the nose, displaying fresh citrus and orchard fruit flavors complemented by a chalky mineral topnote. Chewy, lithe and focused on the palate, offering vibrant lemon zest and green apple flavors and a spicy ginger nuance. A floral note emerges with air and carries through a long, taut finish that echoes the mineral note.”
Importer note “Ameztoi Txakolina is traditionally crafted with high acidity and low alcohol, utilizing only the native hondarrabi zuri variety. After hand harvesting, the must ferments in refrigerated stainless steel tanks using indigenous yeasts from the vineyard. Towards the end of alcoholic fermentation, the tanks are closed to preserve the natural carbonation from fermentation, which is the preferred style of Getaria. The tanks are then kept chilled to near freezing before bottling, which preserves the wine’s delicate, effervescent character and signature mousse. These attributes are unattainable through shortcuts such as force-carbonation, which Ameztoi has never employed.”
 

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There are few places that have been cultivating wine grapes for as long as Provence having been originally settled by the Phocian Greeks in 600 BC. Fast forward a few centuries and you have Chateau Peyrassol continuing these traditions (With a restored historical site at that) under the guidance of the Austruy family, which has invested in the vineyard and winery and has expanded the line up to include non-estate bottlings.

These are historic wines from the foothills of the Massif des Maures along the Mediterranean coast. Wine production dates back to 1256 under the Knights Templar and has been in continuous production since. The wines are produced organically with limited yields due to the severe climate, low-vigor soils, and age of the vines. Provencial rose is famous for being light in color and perfectly crushable. Usually made from blends of Grenache, Cinsault, Syrah, Mourvèdre and Carignan there are a few rarities that are made predominantly with Tibouren, one of the original grapes planted in the area. Peyrassol is one of the few estates that grow all of the permitted varietals on their estate, with Tibouren being the chief grape of their highest offering; Les Clos. 

Year in, year out, these are our most popular rosés. It’s not hard to guess why: these are well-priced, historic, and delicious.

In stock and available now: 

Peyrassol Cotes de Provence ‘Chateau Peyrassol’ Rose France 2017 3L ($199.95) $169 special, 7 three-liter bottles in stock now
Importer note “Made entirely from estate fruit in 2017, “Chateau” is primarily Cinsault, with increasingly smaller amounts of Grenache, Mourvedre, Tibouren, and Syrah. This is a higher-toned, more floral, more filigree wine than its brother above, with subtle herbal notes framing clean, lifted fruit on the nose. Though equally as dense—and perhaps more penetrating due to its more overt mineral character—it is no richer than the “Commanderie,” and it expresses the vintage’s firm tension with elegance.”
 

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Peyrassol Cotes de Provence ‘Chateau Peyrassol’ Rose France 2018 1.5L ($99.95) $69 special, 11 magnums in stock now
Importer 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.”
 

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Peyrassol Cotes de Provence ‘Chateau Peyrassol’ Rose France 2020 750ML ($39.95) $33 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-12 Peyrassol Cotes de Provence ‘Chateau Peyrassol’ Rose France 2020 750ML ($479.95) $369 special, (That’s only $30.75 per bottle!)
Josh Raynolds – Vinous 92 points “Light, brilliant orange-pink. Highly perfumed, mineral-accented red berry and pit fruit aromas are complemented by a floral note that builds in the glass. Juicy and sharply focused in the mouth, offering vibrant strawberry, blood orange and white peach flavors and a suave touch of honeysuckle. Concentrated yet lithe in style, finishing with intense mineral- and floral-driven thrust.”
Importer note “100% estate fruit, offering the purest expression of a great Provencal terroir. [These are] the oldest vines of the estate from the Girette and Longchamps areas, currently under organic conversion. Pale in color, with soft rose-tinted overtones, Château Peyrassol radiates freshness. It’s subtle nose of citrus, vine peach, apricot and delicate florals is inviting. It has a dense palate, poised and lively, and is notable for its balance, punctuated by a long, fruity finish. Harvested during the cool temperature of the night, the fruits are destemmed and pressed with minimal exposure to oxygen to preserve freshness and aromas. The grapes are vinified by direct pressing and in the course of this process the wine develops its delicate pink color. After fermentation in stainless steel at a controlled temperature, a light racking is completed to retain only the best lees which are then worked carefully to promote both the aromatic expression and the potential of the wine to last over time. 45% Cinsault, 25% Grenache, 12% Ugni Blanc, 10% Syrah, 8% Rolle.”
Winery note “Pale in colour, with soft rose-tinted overtones, Château Peyrassol radiates freshness. Its subtle nose of citrus, vine peach, apricot and fine floral notes is inviting. It has a beautiful, dense palate, delicate and lively, and is notable for its balance and full body, punctuated by a long, fruity finish. It is the perfect accompaniment to fish soups, carpaccios and all varieties of grilled fish, but will also add sparkle to red berry desserts.” 

Peyrassol Cotes de Provence ‘Cuvee des Commandeurs’ Rose France 2020 750ML ($27.95) $21.90 special, 35 bottles in stock now
Josh Raynolds – Vinous 91 points “Bright onion skin. Incisive red berry, cherry and citrus fruit aromas are complemented by building mineral and floral accents. Silky and energetic on the palate, offering intense strawberry, blood orange and honeysuckle flavors braced by a spine of juicy acidity. Finishes long and gently chewy, repeating the orange and floral notes.”
Importer note “Cuvée des Commandeurs bottles the essence of quality fruit, seeking to evoke pleasure and delight the senses. This accessible rosé was crafted to provide thirst-quenching freshness with vibrant fruitiness, without sacrificing elegance and complexity. Its rosy appearance is delicate in color and an expressive nose lends charm to this blend. A palate dominated by wild berries: gooseberry and raspberry that reveal themselves in a crisp, silky mouthfeel enhanced with a touch of minerality. 40% Grenache, 35% Cinsault, 15% Syrah, 10% Rolle. Harvested at night to preserve the acidity and in double floor boxes to prevent any early maceration and coloration of the juice. The fruit is directly destemmed and pressed on arrival in the cellar. The alcoholic fermentation takes place in temperature controlled stainless steel tanks.”

Peyrassol Cotes de Provence ‘Le Clos Peyrassol’ Rose France 2019 1.5L ($149.95) $129 special, 12 magnums in stock now
Wine Advocate 93 points “Predominantly Tibouren, with the balance of the blend being Grenache and Rolle, Peyrassol’s super pale 2019 Cotes de Provence Rose Le Clos Peyrassol offers up scents of crushed stone, garrigue, white peach and lime, all tinged with tart red berries. It’s medium-bodied on the palate, with a silky-wet stone feel and a lingering finish that seems to build in red fruit intensity while remaining citrusy and refreshing at the same time. One of the best wines in this year’s tasting, this is a limited-production cuvée from a walled vineyard located on the estate.”
 

 

Looking for a Burgundy that walks the line between elegance and extraction? Look no further than the wines of Pierre Bourée. Just like their cult neighbor Domaine Dujac, the reds are vinified entirely with whole clusters in foudre and raised in oak for two years. New oak is only used to retire barrels too old for production, allowing for the full character of their winemaking practices to be seen.

Founded in 1864 the Domaine has always done mixed production between estate holdings and négociant purchasing from long-term contracts. Currently run by Brothers Bernard and Jean-Christophe Vallet, intervention in the vineyard is limited to pruning in the spring and organic compost for fertilizer.

Bourée wines in stock now: 

Pierre Bouree Fils Le Chambertin Grand Cru Cote de Nuits 2010 750ML ($319.95) $199 special, 2 bottles in stock now
 

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Pierre Bouree Fils Le Chambertin Grand Cru Cote de Nuits, 2012 750ML ($249.95) $179 special, 3 bottles in stock now
 

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Pierre Bouree Fils Charmes-Chambertin Grand Cru Cote de Nuits 2010 750ML ($229.95) $169 special, 3 bottles in stock now
 

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Pierre Bouree Fils Les Champeaux Gevrey-Chambertin Premier Cru 2014 750ML ($139.95) $89 special, 3 bottles in stock now
 

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Pierre Bouree Fils Gevrey-Chambertin Clos de la Justice Monopole Cote de Nuits 2015 750ML ($299.95) $199 special, 3 bottles in stock now
 

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Pierre Bouree Fils Epenots Pommard Premier Cru 2009 750ML ($149.95) $89 special, 3 bottles in stock now
 

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Collector’s Corner: 
Daniel Landi 
 

When discussing the Grenache Revolution in Spain, you have to mention the work of Daniel Landi. One of the two founders of the cult label “Comando G” he has built his career around elevating Grenache to new heights. Originally hailing from Méntrida, a rural village in the Castille-La-Mancha Daniel Landi has been surrounded by Grenache practically from birth. With en masse wine production dating back to the 15th century, there are vineyards everywhere you look.

The historical prevalence of viticulture extends into the Sierra de Gredos Mountains, where Daniel sources his best fruit. Planted amongst the granite boulders and scrub vegetation, vines are 50 years old at the youngest and farmed biodynamically. The mineral rich soil, high elevation and extensive root networks make irrigation unnecessary and for one of the most compelling iterations of Grenache you’ll ever find. With the exception of his entry level cuvee, every wine that Daniel Landi makes is a single-vineyard expression to highlight the nuance of each parcel.  

Daniel Landi Wines in stock now: 

Daniel Gomez Jimenez-Landi ‘Las Uvas de la Ira’ Garnacha Mentrida 2018 750ML ($37.95) $31.90 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Luis Gutierrez-Wine Advocate 93 points “The red 2018 Las Uvas de la Ira has been produced with Garnacha from the same five vineyards since the initial vintage (2012) in the village of El Real de San Vicente, which is one of the villages from Méntrida (Toledo) that are part of the Gredos Mountains. The vines range between 40 and 65 years of age, and they are located at around 750 meters in altitude on sandy granite soils with lots of silt. The different vineyards are fermented separately in oak vats with indigenous yeasts and a very gentle vinification, one-third with very long macerations to provide structure and depth, one-third with a very short maceration to provide fragrance, and the remaining third finished the fermentation without skins (like a white) to add juiciness. The élevage is in oak foudres of different sizes, from 1,500 to 4,000 liters. This is a little less aromatic and more austere but very focused and bright, from a village where the wines are serious and have a chalky texture, less floral but more citrus, a bit more backward. It has a compact palate, with very fine tannins and a more chalky finish. It’s interesting to taste it next to wines from other villages, as you clearly see the difference. 18,700 bottles produced. It was bottled in August 2019.”
 

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Daniel Gomez Jimenez-Landi ‘Cantos del Diablo’ Mentrida 2017 750ML ($119.95) $79 special, 11 bottles in stock now
Luis Gutierrez-Wine Advocate 94+ points “The single-vineyard 2017 Cantos del Diablo was produced with the grapes from 0.35 hectares in the village of El Real de San Vicente (Toledo), the highest vineyard in the Méntrida appellation. It’s a north-facing plot at 900 meters in altitude that was planted some 70 years ago on sandy granite soils rich in silt and is worked biodynamically. The grapes, with all the stems, fermented with indigenous yeasts in oak vats, and the wine matured in a 1,200-liter oak foudre for 12 months. This was one of the few villages from Gredos that escaped the hail and frost, and it was a dry year, so harvesting was early (10 to 15 days earlier compared with a “normal” vintage!). It’s aromatic and floral but has the austerity of the wines from El Real de San Vicente as well as a texture like liquid chalk and very fine, powdery tannins. It’s clean and ripe without excess, with a nice combination of fruit and minerality, really balanced, with intensity and finesse. Excellent 2017! 1,362 bottles were filled in March 2019.”
 

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Daniel Gomez Jimenez-Landi ‘Cantos del Diablo’ Mentrida 2018 750ML ($149.95) $119 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Luis Gutierrez-Wine Advocate 95 points “The single-vineyard 2018 Cantos del Diablo was produced with the grapes from 0.35 hectares of 70-year-old Garnacha in the village of El Real de San Vicente (Toledo) at 900 meters in altitude, the highest vineyard in the Méntrida appellation. It’s a north-facing plot on sandy granite soils with lots of silt that deliver chalky tannins and a citrus freshness in the wine. The whole clusters fermented with indigenous yeasts in oak vats with a long maceration followed by an élevage in a 1,400-liter oak foudre for 12 months. This was extremely closed, even after a long time in the glass. It’s a vineyard that delivers more reductive wines (matchstick) with a strict palate and a strong mineral sensation. 1,620 bottles were filled in March 2020.”