In This Newsletter:
Cali Disrupters Sale
&
Vinopolis Close-Out Featurette: Pichler-Krutzler
Cali Disrupters Sale:
Pax/Bedrock/Dominus
Unlock Your Discount Now
Cali Disrupters Sale
&
Vinopolis Close-Out Featurette: Pichler-Krutzler
Cali Disrupters Sale:
Pax/Bedrock/Dominus
Unlock Your Discount Now
California is one of the most exciting regions in the world of wine: a place where ancient vines thrive and styles are constantly changing. Our sale highlights three innovative producers: an experimenter who found the goldilocks of style, a second-generation winemaker more interested in ancient vines than family style, and a Frenchman who is winning top awards for his thoughtfully-farmed Cabernet.
Explore the three producers below!
Explore the three producers below!
5% off any 3-5 in-stock bottles from Pax / Bedrock / Dominus
10% off any 6 or more in-stock bottles from Pax / Bedrock / Dominus
Discount will not display online or in your cart,
We will adjust your invoice before processing your charge.
Sale ends Saturday, November 2nd at 9 am Pacific.
10% off any 6 or more in-stock bottles from Pax / Bedrock / Dominus
Discount will not display online or in your cart,
We will adjust your invoice before processing your charge.
Sale ends Saturday, November 2nd at 9 am Pacific.
On Sale Now:
Pax Mahle is a true superstar in the world of California wine. His eponymous label, Pax, achieved widespread acclaim and then imploded due to a dispute between the principal partners. Pax went on to form Wind Gap and again his wines drew the spotlight and press—this time in part because he was moving away from the ripe, powerful wines he had made his early name with. He’s finally restored his namesake brand, Pax, to the market. The latest incarnation offers wines that might be described as a hybrid of the two styles that brought him to fame. Bright, refreshing and electric, these nonetheless have more richness and power than Wind Gap. Don’t miss out!
Pax The Bench Vineyard Syrah 2021 750ml Displayed Price: $36, that’s $34.20 at 5% off and $32.40 at 10% off, 12 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 93 points “The 2021 Syrah The Bench Vineyard is silky, layered and expceptionally beautiful. Inky blue/purplish fruit, licrorice, lavender, black pepper and mint all race out of the glass. The 2021 is a bit lighter than some of the other wines in the range. In exchange, though, it will drink well upon release.”
Pax The Bench Vineyard Syrah 2022 750ml Displayed Price: $31.90, that’s $30.31 at 5% off and $28.71 at 10% off, 10 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 92 points “The 2022 Syrah The Bench Vineyard is a joyous, explosive wine. A burst of dark red/purplish fruit, mocha, lavender and spice saturates the palate. This is an especially forward, juicy style for Pax. There’s gorgeous immediacy here. The 2022 was done with 100% stems and aged in neutral oak.”
Pax Sonoma Hillsides Syrah Red 2022 750ml Displayed Price: $59, that’s $56.05 at 5% off and $53.10 at 10% off, 11 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 94+ points “The 2022 Syrah Sonoma Hillsides is a blend of several sites. Aging in cement helps retain a good bit of freshness, and that gives this wine quite a different feel from the other Syrahs, all of which are aged in neutral oak. The 2022 doesn’t have the immediacy or flashiness of the very best years, or of the other Syrahs in the range, but readers who can wait will find a wine of magnificent pedigree.”
The emergence of “New California” has been one of the most exciting developments in the wine world this century. The name refers to a growing number of Golden State producers making more balanced, structured wines from a state where bigger has too often been used as shorthand for better. The results have been thrilling, especially for people who generally prefer European wines.
We’re proud to offer one of the movement’s vanguard producers: Bedrock Wino Co. and its creator and winemaker, Morgan Twain-Peterson. Although he was born into the Californian wine industry (his father Joel Peterson founded Ravenswood) he comes by his passion and vision are very much his own. He’s blazing his own, very opinionated and talented trail, focusing on the preservation of California’s heritage vineyards and their wines.
The focus is ancient vines of Zinfandel, Carignan, Mourvèdre, Tempranillo, Alicante Bouschet, Valdigué, Peloursin, and Petit Bouschet, to name a few. These vines, in Twain-Peterson’s view, represent so much more than California’s history. They represent a wine that is uniquely Californian, a style not to be found or replicated anywhere else in the world. He repeats again and again that wines are made in the vineyard—and he’s got a remarkable collection of them. Each site is co-fermented to give Bedrock their signature style.
This is could well be California’s future. The resulting wines aren’t shy, but the surprising aromatics and spice notes are delicate and only get better with time. They’ve got the fruit and depth that you would expect from California, but they’re tight, structured and will reward patience. Just don’t wait to buy while our sale is on…
Bedrock Wine Co. Evangelho Vineyard Heritage Red 2021 750ml Displayed Price: $44.50, that’s $42.28 at 5% off and $40.05 at 10% off, 32 bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 96 points “From Zinfandel grown in the pure sand soils of this incredible site, the 2021 Evangelho Vineyard Heritage is lifted and pure with raspberry liqueur, fresh flowers, and brushy earth. Medium-bodied, with a highly refined structure, it reveals a floral perfume of herbes de Provence and rose petals that lasts long after the wine has dissipated. With fine tannins and a gorgeous, sandy mineral texture, it’s a beautiful wine to drink over the next 10 or more years.”
Bedrock Wine Co. Monte Rosso Zinfandel 2021 750ml Displayed Price: $69, that’s $65.55 at 5% off and $62.10 at 10% off, 1 bottle in stock now
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 95 points “The 2021 Zinfandel Monte Rosso, a blend from two blocks, is an elegant, understated wine that shows the more floral, savory side of this historic site. A wine more of nuance than power, the Monte Rosso Zinfandel is all pedigree. Sweet red-toned fruit, chalk, dried herbs, mint and blood orange add to a feeling of brightness. This is very nicely done, and yet I feel like there is more to this wine than it is showing today.”
Jeb Dunnuck 95 points “Pouring a richer purple with a ruby tinge, the 2021 Zinfandel Monte Rosso Vineyard has classic benchmark aromas of raspberry liqueur, fresh peach, and five spice. This medium to full-bodied red is fully dry, with more serious structure and ripe tannins, and what feels like more mountain fruit character, but it retains freshness throughout. Drink 2025-2040.”
Bedrock Wine Co. Old Vine Zinfandel 2022 750ml Displayed Price: $26, that’s $24.70 at 5% off and $23.40 at 10% off, 11 bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 93 points “Dynamic and generous, this Zin combines old-school briar with sleek suppleness, serving up stylish flavors of raspberry and cherry accented by savory pepper, cinnamon and garrigue tones that sail on the rich finish. Drink now through 2033. 5,000 cases made.”
Bedrock Wine Co. Pato Vineyard Heritage Red 2021 750ml Displayed Price: $49, that’s $46.55 at 5% off and $44.10 at 10% off, 5 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 94 points “The 2021 Pato Vineyard Heritage Wine is dark and brooding from the outset. Black cherry, gravel, incense, licorice, dried herbs, menthol, tobacco and cured meats are all amplified. In 2021, the Pato is mostly Zinfandel, with a big chunk of Petite Sirah, and it is the Petite that very much drives the overall feel.”
Bedrock Wine Co. Bien Nacido Vineyard X-Block Syrah 2022 750ml Displayed Price: $59, that’s $56.05 at 5% off and $53.10 at 10% off, 12 bottles in stock now
Decanter 95 points “This fragrant Syrah is sourced from two sites in the chilly coastal pocket of the Bien Nacido vineyard in the Santa Maria valley: the X block planted in 1973 and the higher elevation Z block planted in 1990. Despite its lean frame, it’s a glistening, lipsmacking wine with cutting blackberry and cassis flavours. Nervy and revitalising, with a cool, granitic undertow. (Drink between 2024-2036).”
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 94 points “The 2022 Syrah Bien Nacido Vineyard, emerging mostly from the Z block with some fruit from X block, is powerful, savory but also light on its feet for such an intense wine. Dark fruit, lavender, grilled herbs, menthol and licorice infuse the 2022 with tons of complexity. Readers will find an elegant, floral, super-expressive, savory cool-climate Syrah. There’s a good bit of stem influence, but it works so well here. (Drink between 2025-2034).”
Christian Moueix, proprietor of the legendary Château Petrus in Pomerol founded Dominus in Napa Valley. His vision has shaped Dominus into the force it is today. Despite its French heritage, the wine is defiantly California in tone and style, combining waves of rich fruit and beautiful aromatics with enough tannin to ground the wine. Practicing both dry and organic farming, Christian Moueix’s Dominus produces one of the most terroir expressive wines in the United States.
The resulting wines are ICONIC: avidly collected by enthusiasts who give the bottles pride of place in their cellars. Don’t miss a great opportunity to pick up your new statement bottle, or to back-fill your collection! These illustrious gems won’t disappoint, whether on display in your cellar or open on your table.
“Dry farming, gentle extractions and minimal use of new French oak are some of the cornerstones of the approach employed by proprietor Christian Moueix and winemaker Tod Mostero in crafting these exquisitely beautiful Cabernets.” -Antonio Galloni, Vinous
Dominus Estate Christian Moueix, Napa Valley 2018 750ml Displayed Price: $419, that’s $398.05 at 5% off and $377.10 at 10% off, 7 bottles in stock now
Dominus Estate Christian Moueix, Napa Valley 2018 375ml Displayed Price: $219, that’s $208.05 at 5% off and $197.10 at 10% off, 19 half-bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator #1 Wine of the Year in 2021
Jeb Dunnuck 100 points “The flagship 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon checks in as 89% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Petit Verdot brought up in 40% new French oak. With an essence of Cabernet-like character in its darker currants, green tobacco, cedar, graphite, and floral aromas and flavors, this gorgeous wine is full-bodied and has bright yet integrated acidity, polished tannins, and a great, great finish. It’s just gorgeously put together and a magical, flawless wine. It’s going to take a decade to hit maturity but will evolve for 40-50 years in cold cellars. It is as good as it gets in classic, age-worthy Cabernet Sauvignon!”
James Suckling 100 points “This is incredible on the nose, offering hot stones, blackcurrants, iodine and wet earth. Full-bodied with a tight center palate, then it opens with a tannin structure that is weightless and spreads across the palate. Totally integrated on the palate. This is a magic-carpet wine. Really incredible. One of the reference points for the vintage. Drinkable now and please try a bottle, but it’s one for the cellar.”
Dominus Estate Christian Moueix, Napa Valley 2019 750ml Displayed Price: $319, that’s $303.05 at 5% off and $287.10 at 10% off, 7 bottles in stock now
Lisa Perrotti-Brown, The Wine Independent 100 points “Composed of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Cabernet Franc, and 6% Petit Verdot, the 2019 Dominus was harvested from September 29 to October 10. It was aged in 40% new oak. Deep garnet-purple colored, the nose slowly unfurls to unveil beguiling floral notes of candied violets and rose oil over a core of crème de cassis, blackberry pie, and plum preserves, giving way to notions of licorice, Indian spices, iron ore, and crushed rocks. Full-bodied, the palate is jam-packed with taut, muscular black fruit layers, intertwined with gorgeous floral and exotic spice accents, and framed by firm, finely grained tannins with seamless freshness, finishing long and mineral-laced. Tightly coiled with so much latent energy waiting to explode, this is a spectacular expression of the vintage and Napanook vineyard. Still tightly coiled, give it a good 6-7 years in the cellar before broaching, and allow it a few hours in a decanter if consumed before 2032.”
Dominus Estate Christian Moueix, Napa Valley 2020 750ml Displayed Price: $349, that’s $331.55 at 5% off and $314.10 at 10% off, 5 bottles in stock now
James Suckling 98 points “Aromas of blackcurrants, black cherries, hints of graphite, wet earth, and lavender. Sandalwood. Full-bodied with an impressive and refined structure that runs deep and vertical in the wine. Chewy. Hints of chocolate and hazelnut at the end. Needs five or six years to soften.”
The Wine Independent 96 points “A blend of 95% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Cabernet Franc, the 2020 Dominus has a deep garnet-purple color. It rolls out of the glass with expressive notes of baked blackberries, preserved plums, and kirsch, with suggestions of Indian spices, sandalwood, potpourri, and black truffles, plus a ferrous hint. The full-bodied palate delivers a firm, grainy texture with just enough freshness to support the generous fruit, finishing long and oh-so-spicy. Yum!”
Dominus Estate Christian Moueix, Napa Valley 2021 750ml Displayed Price: $359, that’s $341.05 at 5% off and $323.10 at 10% off, 28 bottles in stock now
Dominus Estate Christian Moueix, Napa Valley 2021 1.5L Displayed Price: $789, that’s $749.55 at 5% off and $710.10 at 10% off, 2 magnums in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 100 points “One of the legendary Dominus, the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon is unquestionably in the same league as the 2018, 2016, 2015, 2013, 2010, and 1991, and to my mind, wine simply doesn’t get any better. Sporting a dense purple hue as well as an incredible perfume of blackcurrants, crushed stone, cedar pencil, smoke tobacco, and baking spices, it’s rich, full-bodied, and voluptuously textured, with ripe yet building tannins. It reminds me slightly of the 2010 (maybe the 2013), and I suspect it will have a similar evolution. Hide bottles for 7-8 years, and it will evolve gracefully for 30+ years. Hats off to the team of Christian Moueix and director Tod Mostero.”
James Suckling 99 points “The purity of the cabernet fruit is so enticing, with blackcurrant, rose petals, nettles and subtle graphite. Touches of terra cotta and licorice. Full-bodied with super integrated tannins that are wonderfully polished, giving a cashmere texture that is really luxurious to taste at this early stage. It is quenching and so delicious already. 95% cabernet sauvignon and 5% cabernet franc. Needs three to four years to come around but already a joy to taste.”
Vinopolis Close-Out Sale Featurette:
Pichler-Krutzler
Elisabeth Pichler-Krutzler, daughter of Franz Xaver (F.X.) Pichler, married the highly-regarded Austrian winemaker Erich Krutzler. In 2007, the pair founded the estate of Pichler-Krutlzer. Their winery is based around the great vineyards of the Wachau and produces some of Austria’s most highly regarded wines.
The pair prefer brighter, fresher wines than the style classically produced at F.X. (which itself is increasingly tending towards lower ripeness and higher acidity). These wines tend to have a little less power and a lot more versatility at the table. They’re breathtakingly complex, soulful wines that, like the remarkable wines of Selbach-Oster, are designed to be enjoyed with food.
In Stock Now:
Pichler-Krutzler Loibenberg Gruner Veltliner 2021 750ml Was $49, Now $39, 18 bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2021 Loibner Grüner Veltliner Ried Loibenberg shows an intense yellow color and opens with a pure yet intense and slightly lactic (?) or yeasty bouquet of ripe and lush, yellow fruits intertwined with notes of crushed, crystalline stones and dark flinty notes. Round and mouth-filling on the palate, this an elegant, intense and textured, savory and finely tannic Loibenberg with a sustainable saline and crystalline finish. This is a fine and elegant, finely textured and fruit-intense Veltliner that fermented longer than the other wines (until the end of January), then aged in a 1,200-liter stück barrel and was bottled at the end of August this year with 13.5% stated alcohol. The wine doesn’t have the precision and finesse of the other Veltliners at this early stage, but it will find itself after years on the bottle. Natural cork. Tasted at the domaine in September 2022.”
Pichler-Krutzler Pfaffenberg Alte Reben Gruner Veltliner 2019 750ml Was $69, Now $59, 5 bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 94 points “Vinified in a new, untoasted 900-liter oak vat, the 2019 Ried Pfaffenberg Alte Reben Grüner Veltliner was only bottled in spring this year. The intensely citrus-colored wine shows a flinty, precise, fine and fresh bouquet with ripe stone fruit aromas and spices of crunchy crystalline stones. Creamy textured, ripe, lush and very elegant, with some attractive oak notes but fine tannins, this is a sensual, well-balanced and perfectly round Pfaffenberg that has to be marketed as Kremstal Reserve because the oak influence was too dominant for the DAC tasters in Krems. There is 14.5% alcohol, which you don’t feel due to the mineral freshness and elegance. Tasted at the domain in June 2021.”
Pichler-Krutzler Kellerberg Riesling 2021 750ml Was $69, Now $59, 20 bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 95 points “The 2021 Dürnsteiner Riesling Ried Kellerberg is extremely concentrated and deep on the finely flinty and substantial nose. On the palate, this is a full-bodied, rich and savory, finely tannic and grippy Kellerberg with ripe and concentrated fruit but also a firm and saline finish. The acidity is enormous here (9.4 grams per liter), and the piquancy is well interwoven here with the extract. This is a wine to be cellared for at least 3-4 years. 13.5% stated alcohol. Natural cork. Tasted at the domaine in September 2022.”
Pichler-Krutzler Loibenberg Riesling 2021 750ml Was $59, Now $49, 7 bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 95 points “Picked between October 16 and 18, the 2021 Loibner Riesling Ried Loibenberg opens with a spectacularly pure, fresh, precise and flinty as well as dense and perfectly ripe stone fruit aroma intermingled with lemon notes. On the palate, this is a salty, saline and savory Loibenberg with an elegant, intense and persistently saline finish with tension, salt and grip. 13.5% stated alcohol. Natural cork. Tasted at the domaine in September 2022.”
The pair prefer brighter, fresher wines than the style classically produced at F.X. (which itself is increasingly tending towards lower ripeness and higher acidity). These wines tend to have a little less power and a lot more versatility at the table. They’re breathtakingly complex, soulful wines that, like the remarkable wines of Selbach-Oster, are designed to be enjoyed with food.
In Stock Now:
Pichler-Krutzler Loibenberg Gruner Veltliner 2021 750ml Was $49, Now $39, 18 bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2021 Loibner Grüner Veltliner Ried Loibenberg shows an intense yellow color and opens with a pure yet intense and slightly lactic (?) or yeasty bouquet of ripe and lush, yellow fruits intertwined with notes of crushed, crystalline stones and dark flinty notes. Round and mouth-filling on the palate, this an elegant, intense and textured, savory and finely tannic Loibenberg with a sustainable saline and crystalline finish. This is a fine and elegant, finely textured and fruit-intense Veltliner that fermented longer than the other wines (until the end of January), then aged in a 1,200-liter stück barrel and was bottled at the end of August this year with 13.5% stated alcohol. The wine doesn’t have the precision and finesse of the other Veltliners at this early stage, but it will find itself after years on the bottle. Natural cork. Tasted at the domaine in September 2022.”
Pichler-Krutzler Pfaffenberg Alte Reben Gruner Veltliner 2019 750ml Was $69, Now $59, 5 bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 94 points “Vinified in a new, untoasted 900-liter oak vat, the 2019 Ried Pfaffenberg Alte Reben Grüner Veltliner was only bottled in spring this year. The intensely citrus-colored wine shows a flinty, precise, fine and fresh bouquet with ripe stone fruit aromas and spices of crunchy crystalline stones. Creamy textured, ripe, lush and very elegant, with some attractive oak notes but fine tannins, this is a sensual, well-balanced and perfectly round Pfaffenberg that has to be marketed as Kremstal Reserve because the oak influence was too dominant for the DAC tasters in Krems. There is 14.5% alcohol, which you don’t feel due to the mineral freshness and elegance. Tasted at the domain in June 2021.”
Pichler-Krutzler Kellerberg Riesling 2021 750ml Was $69, Now $59, 20 bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 95 points “The 2021 Dürnsteiner Riesling Ried Kellerberg is extremely concentrated and deep on the finely flinty and substantial nose. On the palate, this is a full-bodied, rich and savory, finely tannic and grippy Kellerberg with ripe and concentrated fruit but also a firm and saline finish. The acidity is enormous here (9.4 grams per liter), and the piquancy is well interwoven here with the extract. This is a wine to be cellared for at least 3-4 years. 13.5% stated alcohol. Natural cork. Tasted at the domaine in September 2022.”
Pichler-Krutzler Loibenberg Riesling 2021 750ml Was $59, Now $49, 7 bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 95 points “Picked between October 16 and 18, the 2021 Loibner Riesling Ried Loibenberg opens with a spectacularly pure, fresh, precise and flinty as well as dense and perfectly ripe stone fruit aroma intermingled with lemon notes. On the palate, this is a salty, saline and savory Loibenberg with an elegant, intense and persistently saline finish with tension, salt and grip. 13.5% stated alcohol. Natural cork. Tasted at the domaine in September 2022.”
We offer 242 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:
Cayuse
Cayuse / Horsepower / No Girls / Champagne Christophe:
5% off any 3-5 in-stock bottles
10% off any 6 or more in-stock bottles
Crowd-Pleasers By-The-Dozen:
Champagne Edition
5% off any 3-5 in-stock bottles from our Champagne Crowd-Pleasers Sale
10% off any 6 or more in-stock bottles from our Champagne Crowd-Pleasers Sale
Discount will not display online or in your cart,
We will adjust your invoice before processing your charge.
Cayuse sale ends Thursday, October 31st at 9 am Pacific. Champagne Crowd-Pleasers sale ends Friday, November 1st at 9 am Pacific.