Christmas Countdown! December 14th 2015 Newsletter

– Tyler

OREGON
Evesham Wood Chardonnay, Willamette Valley 2014 750ML ($17.95) $14 special
VinopolNote: Old vine Chardonnay from the Eola-Amity Hills.

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Evesham Wood Illahe Vineyard Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2013 750ML ($31.95) $27 special
Winery note “Our good friends the Fords continue to grow exceptional grapes for us even as they have significantly expanded their own production. While still on the darker fruit side, the 2013 bottling has more elegance and lift than the 2012. Great structure with juicy, bright red cherry and subtle oak notes. 295 cases produced.”Brick House Vineyards Gamay Noir, Ribbon Ridge 2014 750ML ($31.95) $26.60 special
Winery note “For centuries Gamay Noir au Jus Blanc has been the singular grape of the Beaujolais region of France. But the marine sediments of Ribbon Ridge share much in common with the rolling hills of Beaujolais, including low soil pH and an abundance of mica/silica. Bright, floral and often laced with hind of anise or licorice, Brick House Gamay has found many friends since first released in 1995.”Haden Fig Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2014 750ML ($27.95) $24 special
Winery note “This year’s Willamette Valley blend is comprised of 50% Cancilla Vineyard, 25% Croft Vineyard and 25% Bjornson Vineyard.  Though 2014 was a warm growing season, the WV bottling is showing tremendous restraint and complexity.  Dark fruit is mixed with bright cherry and raspberry, sweet damp forest and juicy acidity.”

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Crowley Gehrts Vineyard Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2013 750ML ($54.95) $44 special
Winery note “Gehrts Vineyard shares a fence line with the acclaimed Domaine Drouhin in what we like to call the “Grand Cru” district of the Dundee Hills.  Farmed and managed by Richard and Nancy Gehrts, we have the privilege of not only receiving amazing fruit every year,  but have witnessed the evolution of this spectacular site as it has gained its pedigree and prominence as a magical vineyard.”

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Arterberry Maresh Chardonnay, Dundee Hills 2012 750ML ($59.95) $49 special
Wine Advocate 91 points “The 2012 Chardonnay includes some purchased fruit from the Coastal Range, a vineyard at 1,400 feet that is apparently “in the middle of nowhere,” where the fruit ripens only once every four years. It contains some fruit from the Weber vineyard, plus Dijon clones from Maresh. Basket-pressed to retain solids, it spend 26 months in used barrel and was bottled unfiltered. It has a very poised bouquet with flint and smoke infusing the lime flower and citrus lemon aromas. The palate is well balanced with fine acidity, slightly waxy in texture with tropical tones coming through on the finish, touches of candied orange peel lingering on the aftertaste. Excellent.”

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Arterberry Maresh Chardonnay Maresh Vineyard 2011 750ML ($79.95) $66 special
Wine Advocate 92 points “Bottled after 20 months of long but passive lees contact, the Arterberry-Maresh 2011 Chardonnay Maresh Vineyard is alluringly and stimulatingly scented with fresh lime, tangerine, iris and ginseng, whose pits, rinds and roots piquantly lace an at once brightly juicy and subtly creamy palate. There are lovely clarity, buoyancy, and salvia-inducing salinity here such as one misses in Chardonnay from anywhere outside of Chablis or the Jura. Interestingly, Maresh will typically allow his Chardonnay must to settle, chilled, for two full weeks before letting it ferment spontaneously. I wonder what influence that might have on its longevity. All I know for sure is that from analogy with the corresponding 2009, I’m pretty confident that this long-finishing 2011 will reward through at least 2016.” WA

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Arterberry Maresh Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills 2013 750ML ($27.95) $24 special
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 91 points “Bright red. Aromas of cherry pit and dark berry skin, with exotic Indian spice and woodsmoke notes adding complexity. Juicy, concentrated and smooth, offering gently sweet, palate-caressing blackberry and rose pastille flavors that show good depth and power for the year. Finishes smooth, sappy and long, with dusty tannins coming in slowly to add grip. A big success for an entry-level bottling from this vintage.” JRArterberry Maresh Pinot Noir Maresh Vineyard 2013 750ML ($69.95) $54 special
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 92 points “Vivid red. An exotically perfumed bouquet evokes fresh red berries, spicecake and rose oil, along with a smoky mineral overtone. Shows deeper dark fruit character on the palate, offering sweet, energetic black raspberry and cherry flavors and a strong spine of juicy acidity. Closes with repeating smokiness, fine-grained tannins and outstanding fruit-driven persistence.” JR

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Arterberry Maresh Weber Vineyard Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills 2011 750ML ($59.95) $49 special
Wine Advocate 92 points “Tart skin to ripe plum and singed edges to bloody red meat – along with impressions of moss, lichen and peat – mark the intriguingly complex Arterberry Maresh 2011 Pinot Noir Weber Vineyard. Polished but firm, it displays impressive penetration and grip. There is a stony impression here that adds to the metaphoric noir of this pinot, yet allied to the levity realized by low alcohol and to energetic, incisive juiciness courtesy inter alia of low pH. This paradoxical alliance of dark and bright elements, brooding and energy, is something I associate with many of the finest Burgundies; and I suspect that the bottling in question will only gain in intrigue through 2025, if not beyond, while retaining its stamina and even its ability to refresh.” WA

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Arterberry Maresh Weber Vineyard Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills 2012 750ML ($69.95) $54 special
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 93 points “Brilliant red. Explosive mineral- and spice-laced red berry liqueur and cherry aromas, along with suggestions of incense and musky rhubarb. Sappy, sweet and palate-staining, offering intense raspberry and cherry-cola flavors that tighten up slowly with aeration. Deftly combines power with finesse and finishes spicy and very long, with fine-grained tannins making a late appearance and folding quickly into the wine’s energetic fruit.” JRCameron Winery ‘Abbey Ridge’ Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2008 750ML ($149.95) $119 special
Wine Advocate 92 points “The 2008 Pinot Noir Abbey Ridge comes from the estate’s oldest vines. Medium cherry red, it displays a fragrant bouquet of Asian spices, incense, floral notes, cherry, and raspberry. Incipiently complex on the palate, it will benefit from 2-3 years of additional cellaring to fully unwind and will provide enjoyment through 2020, perhaps longer.” WA

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Cameron Winery ‘Abbey Ridge’ Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2009 750ML ($149.95) $119 special
Wine Advocate 92 points “The 2009 Pinot Noir Abbey Ridge comes from the estate’s oldest vines. Medium cherry red, it displays a fragrant bouquet of Asian spices, incense, floral notes, cherry, and raspberry which John Paul attributes to the Wadenswil clones. Incipiently complex on the palate, it will benefit from 1-2 years of additional cellaring and will provide enjoyment through 2019, perhaps longer.”Cameron Winery ‘Abbey Ridge’ Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2010 750ML ($149.95) $119 special
Wine Advocate 91-92+ points”Based on the oldest blocks at that site, Cameron’s 2010 Pinot Noir Abbey Ridge – which represented a single fermentation lot tasted from multiple barrels, and will total around 200 cases – smells pungently of cherry, purple plum, and holly berry, all shadowed by their distilled counterparts; incense; sage; citrus oils; and brown spices. These manifold features go on to inform a sappy, bright, buoyant palate, finishing with grip and verve. Expect a good 15 or more year run.” WA

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Cameron Winery ‘Abbey Ridge’ Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2011 750ML ($99.95) $79 special
Wine Advocate 91-92+ points “In thinking about the personality evoked here, I’m imagining a blend of Lafarge Volnay with Erich Weber’s non-malo Saar Spatburgunder! Tasted in pieces from barrel, Cameron’s 2011 Pinot Noir Abbey Ridge – eventually around two-thirds Wadenswil and one-third Pommard clones – is dominated by tart, fresh ginger-tinged juicy red fruits shadowed by their distilled counterparts, traits by now firmly associated with its vintage; and while it’s marked by an impression of maceration on their pits and seeds, the tannins still come off as mild and conducive to considerable textural allure even in youth. A saline, sweet, iodine-tinged evocation of lobster shell reduction makes for mouthwatering savor; shitakes add to the umami effect; and even with a stony undertone as well as cyanic fruit pit notes none of the component lots here manages to come off as overly austere. I suspect this will thrill through at least 2022.” DSCameron Winery Clos Electrique Rouge, Willamette Valley 2002 750ML ($179.95) $149 special

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Cameron Winery Clos Electrique Rouge, Willamette Valley 2006 750ML ($149.95) $119 specialCameron Winery Clos Electrique Rouge, Willamette Valley 2008 750ML ($149.95) $119 special
Wine Advocate 92 points”The 2008 Clos Electrique Rouge displays a similar elegant personality. Medium ruby red with aromas of spice box, wild berries, incense, and smoke, on the palate it has excellent concentration, intense flavors, and several years of aging potential. It will offer a drinking window extending from 2013 to 2023.” WA

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Cameron Winery Clos Electrique Rouge, Willamette Valley 2009 750ML ($149.95) $119 special
Wine Advocate 92 points “The 2009 Pinot Noir Clos Electrique Rouge displays a similar elegant personality. It is a high-toned, beautifully perfumed Pinot with aromas of spice box, wild berries, incense, and smoke. In the glass it has excellent balance, a bit of structure, and lots of finesse. It has 1-2 years of aging potential and will offer a drinking window extending from 2012 to 2021.” WA

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Cameron Winery Clos Electrique Rouge, Willamette Valley 2010 750ML ($149.95) $119 special
Wine Advocate 91-92+ points “From four barrels of Cameron 2010 Pinot Noir Clos Electrique, only three were selected for separate bottling. Tart-edged cherry and cranberry strongly marked by toasted nut and piquant fruit pit inform the nose; then make for a brashly intense palate impression. Yet this is also the most seductively-, silken-textured of the Cameron 2010 Pinots. Herbal and smoky notes add further complexity to a gripping finish. This promises to keep you actively engaged as tasters for a long time – perhaps even two decades.” WA

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Cameron Winery Clos Electrique Rouge, Willamette Valley 2011 750ML ($99.95) $79 special
Wine Advocate 91-92+ points “the Cameron 2011 Pinot Noir Clos Electrique leads with strikingly penetrating and high-toned scents of kirsch, holly berry distillate, black pepper and green herbs. “Since this is an earlier, warmer site than Abbey Ridge,” relates Paul, “I usually think of a vintage like this as favoring it.” Moreover, tiny berries and a high rate of millerandage associated with the heritage vine selections planted here (for more about which consult my Issue 202 Cameron coverage) tend toward concentration of acids as well as ripe flavors. The overall effect is richly flavored yet vividly bright, a downright mouth-shaking as well as refreshing finishing the wine’s myriad pungent, tart, piquant, and incisive elements.” WACALIFORNIA
Inman Family Wines OGV (Olivet Grange Vineyard) Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley 2010 750ML ($49.95) $33 special
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 93 points “(made with one-half whole clusters and 12.5% alcohol): Bright ruby-red. A heady, spice-accented bouquet displays scents of strawberry preserves, potpourri and incense, complemented by a lively note of white pepper. Silky, spicy and lithe, with an alluring sweetness and bright mineral cut to its intense red fruit and floral pastille flavors. Pure and seamless pinot, with great upfront appeal and a delicacy that hearkens to the Old World. The “OGV” here stands for Olivet Grange Vineyard, the Inmans’ home property. They are unable to use the word “Grange” in the wine name because of legal challenges.” ST

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Brandlin Cabernet Sauvignon, Mount Veeder 2012 750ML ($69.95) $59 special
Wine Spectator 92 points “Exhibits a rich, tapered core of dark berry, anise, cedar and loamy earth, with firm yet rounded tannins that support the fruit mix, giving this traction and depth. Drink now through 2028.” WSStonestreet Alexander Mountain Estate Legacy Red, Alexander Valley 2012 750ML ($99.95) $74 special
Robert Parker 95 points “The 2012 Proprietary Red Legacy, an 866-case blend of 68% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest Merlot and Cabernet Franc, may turn out to be the finest Legacy ever made. It exhibits terrific intensity along with beautiful notes of plums, blackberries, blueberries, licorice, tobacco leaf and damp earth. Full-bodied, softer, with more velvety tannins than the other Cabernets, it is a plush, drinkable red to consume over the next 15-20 years.” RP

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FRANCE-CHAMPAGNE
Champagne Hebrart Selection Premier Cru Brut NV 750ML ($59.95) $41.90 special
Terry Theise-“The SMART MONEY is on this; if it isn’t the ABSOLUE BEST VALUE in the offering it’s in the top two or three. It’s all free-run, 70% old-vines Mareuil PN and 30% CH from Oiry and Chouilly. 75% 2010, and 25% 09-08. Deg 10/2014. More lemon and mirabelles; fantastically chalky, bright, salty, the dosage is just perfect; finish of chalk dust, jasmine, brown butter, endlessly singing. A certain tensile pull will delight lovers of bracing Champagne—but those guys never get fruit like this.”

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Jose Michel & Fils Brut Tradition NV 750ML ($39.95) $33 special
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 91 points “(70% Pinot Meunier and 30% Chardonnay; 9 g/l dosage): Light yellow-gold. Fresh tangerine, pear and sweet butter on the fragrant nose. Smooth and weighty in the mouth, offering pliant orchard fruit and melon flavors and a bracing kick of bitter citrus zest. A minerally element adds lift and cut to the penetrating finish, which leaves a suave floral note behind.” JRFRANCE-BORDEAUX
Kalian Bernasse Monbazillac Gourmandise 2011 375ML ($17.95) $14 special
Winery note “85% Semillon, 15% Muscadelle.  While similar to Sauternes and Barsac, the wines of Monbazillac differ in the exceptional values they represent.  The Griaud family farms their 22 acre estate with responsible viticulture and precision, often picking six times in quest of heavenly nectar.  The result is impeccable character and acidity, offering notes of honey, tropical fruits and baklava.  While drinkable now, it can be cellared for several years, offering a perfect foil for Roquefort cheese, crème brulee or foie gras.”FRANCE-BURGUNDY
Domaine Francois Raveneau Blanchot, Chablis Grand Cru 2010 750ML ($369.95) $319 special
Antonio Galloni 95 points “An intriguing, rich, almost tropical expression of fruit emerges from the 2010 Chablis Blanchot, owing to the warmer microclimate in this site. The Blanchots is ripe, seductive and enveloping. Stylistically it is one of the flashier 2010s here. Layers of fruit build to the deeply resonant, radiant finish. The Blanchot should drink well relatively early.” AGLouis Jadot Nuits-Saint-Georges 2009 750ML ($59.95) $49 special
Burghound 86-89 points “The expressive nose blends both upper and lower register red berry fruit and warm earth aromas that include hints of the sauvage and humus, both of which can also be found on the appealingly intense and well-detailed medium-bodied flavors that are supported by moderately rustic structure and good length. This is a classic Nuits with a robust mouth feel and slightly unrefined tannins.”BH

Louis Jadot Nuits-Saint-Georges 2010 750ML ($54.95) $44 special
John Gilman 88+ points “The current rendition of the 2010 Jadot Nuits AC is long and complex, but a bit four-square at the present time. Keep in mind though that this wine will probably be ‘dressed up’ a bit with the addition of some barrels of premier cru, so in all likelihood, my score will ultimately prove to be quite conservative for this wine in its finished form. Today, the nose offers up notes of red and black cherries, coffee, woodsmoke, fresh herbs and a fine, complex base of soil. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied and impressively sappy at the core, with a very good signature of soil, ripe tannins and fine length and grip on the finish. If this wine gains a bit more refinement from its addition of de-classified premier cru, this will be outstanding.”JG

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FRANCE-LOIRE
Marc Deschamps Pouilly-Fume Vinealis 2012 750ML ($39.95) $33 special
Importer note “In the best of vintages, Marc Deschamps isolates the grapes from the oldest vines in the Champs de Cri vineyard (60 plus years of age as of 2012) which sits on the classic kimmeridgian marne of this region and vinifies a small amount of wine in barrel (4 to 8 barrels or 1200 to 2400 bottles in the vintages when it is produced).  Both fermentation and elevage occur in small oak barrels between one and five years of age with extensive lees contact.  This produces a broad, rich wine which maintains a lively acidity in the finish; it is round and fleshy with a hint of menthol and citrus on the palate.  600 or so bottles are allocated to us for the US market.”

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FRANCE-RHONE
Domaine de La Janasse Cotes du Rhone Reserve 2013 750ML ($21.95) $18 special
Case-12 Domaine de La Janasse Cotes du Rhone Reserve 2013 750ML ($249.95) $199 special (that’s only $16.58/bottle!)
“A ripe, fruit-driven style, with raspberry and plum pâte de fruit flavors, backed by a lively red licorice note. Drink now.”–Wine SpectatorFRANCE-JURA
Michel Gahier Arbois Trousseau Le Clousot 2014 750ML ($31.95) $28 special
VinopolNote: This bottling is produced from Michel Gahier’s youngest vines (twenty year old vines).  No sulphites are added.Michel Gahier Arbois Trousseau Vigne DE Louis 2014 750ML ($39.95) $33 special
Importer note “This vineyard in Montigny has a northeast exposure which requires a harvest later than the other “cru” reds.  The vines are forty years old (as of 2011).  Gahier likes this cuvée with about four or five years of age to it.”

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Michel Gahier Arbois Trousseau Les Grands Vergers 2014 750ML ($41.95) $36 special
Importer note “This vineyard site produces Gahier’s greatest red.  The vines are sixty to seventy years of age, the soil is heavily “marl”.  The vines are on a gentle slope with superb exposure to the sun.  The result is a classic Trousseau.”FRANCE-LANGUEDOC
Michel Gassier Costieres de Nimes Nostre Pais Rouge 2012 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 special
Case-12 Michel Gassier Costieres de Nimes Nostre Pais Rouge 2012 750ML ($279.95) $219 special (that’s only $18.25/bottle!)
Wine Advocate 93-94 points “My favorite vintage of this cuvee to date, the 2012 Nostre Pais Costieres de Nimes comes from the southern, cooler part of the appellation and was bottled in June of this year. A blend of 50% Grenache, 20% Syrah, 20% Mourvèdre and the balance Carignan and Cinsault, it was fermented with 25-50% whole clusters and aged half in 1-2 year old demi-muids and half in concrete tanks. Gorgeous black raspberry, cassis, licorice, wild herbs and crushed flowers all emerge from this medium to full-bodied, seamless and thrillingly pure 2012. Possessing fantastic complexity, freshness and textured, it’s an incredible wine from this often overlook appellation. Drink it over the coming 3-5 years.” JDVignobles Prissette Villa Symposia Coteaux du Languedoc l’Equilibre, Languedoc-Roussillon 2011 750ML ($21.95) $18 special
Wine Advocate 91 points “Offering up piercing notes of scrub brush, juniper, sage and some exotic wood qualities, with a core of dark cherry and black raspberry fruit, the 2011 Languedoc Pezenas Equilibre is medium to full-bodied, layered and pure, with fantastic richness that never comes across as heavy or cumbersome. Made from Syrah, Carignan and Grenache and aged in all larger oak, it’s a gorgeous red to drink over the coming 5-7 years.” JDVignobles Prissette Villa Symposia Coteaux du Languedoc l’Origine, Languedoc-Roussillon 2011 750ML ($41.95) $36 special
Wine Advocate 92 points “The 2011 Languedoc Origine checks in as a blend of Syrah and Grenache that spent 18 months in foudre. Slightly fresher, with bright berry and purple fruits, licorice, roasted herbs and ample background meatiness, this beauty hits the palate with medium to full-bodied richness, impressive purity of fruit and loads of texture. It should impress over the coming 5-7 years or so, and certainly, there’s no harm in drinking now.” JD

ITALY-TUSCANY
Tenuta Brunelli ‘Martoccia’ Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2010 750ML ($69.95) $59 special
Wine Spectator 93 points “This concentrated style shows cherry and raspberry fruit along with peppery greens such as arugula, mustard and shiso, graced with tobacco accents. The tannins leave a firm coating on the finish. Shows the potential for aging. Best from 2019 through 2032. 1,250 cases made.”

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ITALY-PIEDMONT
Cantina del Pino Langhe Nebbiolo 2013 750ML ($24.95) $19 special
Wine Spectator 91 points “A pretty red, offering rose, cherry, strawberry and tobacco flavors, allied to a firm backbone. Delicate and tensile, finding good equilibrium in the end. Drink now through 2022.” WS

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Azelia di Luigi Scavino Bricco dell’Oriolo Dolcetto d’Alba 2013 750ML ($17.95) $14 special
Antonio Galloni 89 points “The 2013 Dolcetto d’Alba Bricco dell’Oriolo is very pretty in this vintage. High altitude vineyards in Montelupo Albese yield an especially floral, lifted Dolcetto long on personality and class. Pine, mint, crushed flowers, dark red cherries and a slight gamy note add the final nuances of complexity.” AGAzelia di Luigi Scavino Vigneto Punta Barbera d’Alba 2012 750ML ($27.95) $21.90 special
Antonio Galloni 88 points “Pliant and expressive, the 2012 Barbera d’Alba Punta is all about texture and juiciness. Dark raspberries, freshly cut flowers, spices and mint meld together in the glass. This silky, racy Barbera is pure class.” AGAzelia di Luigi Scavino Barolo DOCG 2011 750ML ($39.95) $29 special
James Suckling 94 points “Fascinating aromas of iron, terra cotta and dried fruits. Full body, with chewy tannins and a juicy finish. Muscular yet polished Barolo. Better in 2018. Better than 2010.” JS

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Azelia di Luigi Scavino Margheria, Barolo DOCG 2011 750ML ($89.95) $66 special
Antonio Galloni 96 points “Iron, smoke, spices, rose petal, lavender and mint meld into a core of dark red fruit in the 2011 Barolo Margheria. Here, too, the style is all about finesse, nuance and complexity. Firm tannins convey an overall impression of classicism. The Margheria is the most classic of the wines in the Scavino range. Three years in cask, with natural malos the spring after the harvest are among the choices that give the Margheria its unique personality. This is a terrific showing from the Margheria, a wine that has blossomed considerably since I last tasted it.” AGAzelia di Luigi Scavino ‘San Rocco’, Barolo DOCG 2011 750ML ($89.95) $59 special
Antonio Galloni 95 points “As it usually is, the 2011 Barolo San Rocco is the darkest and richest of the Azelia Barolos, but it too is quite polished in this vintage. Dark red cherries, licorice, spices and new leather flesh out in a Barolo that shows the depth of Serralunga, but with gorgeous mid-palate pliancy, silky tannins and soft contours for a young Barolo. Here, too, the wine’s balance is incredibly alluring, especially since the San Rocco has a history of drinking well throughout its entire life.” AG
Wine Spectator 93 points “Licorice and sweet spice notes grace the cherry and tar flavors in this intense and compact red. All the components are well-proportioned, but this needs time to come together. Offers a classic Serralunga profile. Best from 2019 through 2035.” WSProduttori del Barbaresco ‘Barbaresco DOCG’ 2008 750ML ($39.95) $31.90 special
Produttori del Barbaresco ‘Barbaresco DOCG’ 2008 1.5L ($99.95) $66 special
Wine Advocate 91+ points “The Produttori’s 2008 Barbaresco is simply fabulous. A sweet bouquet melds into expressive fruit in a Barbaresco that is exceptionally polished and refined. The 2008 boasts striking sweetness and inner perfume to match its understated, elegant personality. Quite frankly, the 2008 is very hard to resist today, as the tannins are quite polished. Unusually sweet, silky and refined, the 2008 will take the better part of a decade to show the full breadth of its pedigree. At $37, it is one of the very finest values in ageworthy wine from anywhere in the world. This is a magnificent showing from the Produttori and a great introduction to the 2008 harvest at this historic house. Anticipated maturity: 2018-2038.”WA

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Produttori del Barbaresco Montestefano, Barbaresco Riserva DOCG 2008 750ML ($79.95) $59 special
Antonio Galloni 95+ points “The 2008 Barbaresco Riserva Montestefano is exquisite and harmonious from start to finish. Among the more structured 2008s, the Montestefano is the wine that most hides its tannin, as the fruit is intensely perfumed, rich and totally seductive. Today the Montestefano provides the illusion of being relatively accessible, but it is virtually certain to shut down in bottle. The 2008 boasts striking aromatics, seemingly endless layers of fruit and power to burn. Readers can think of the Montestefano as a synthesis of Montefico, Ovello and Rabaja. Not bad, to say the least. Anticipated maturity: 2018-2048.” AGProduttori del Barbaresco Ovello, Barbaresco Riserva DOCG 2008 750ML ($69.95) $59 special
Wine Advocate 95+ points “The Produttori’s 2008 Barbaresco Riserva Ovello is a reference point wine for the village, even if, in truth, Ovello is a fairly diverse zone with many exposures. Firm, steely tannins support a core of expressive fruit in this vibrant, energetic Barbaresco. The 2008 is going to require considerable patience, but it is striking, even today. Sweet floral notes reappear on the vivid, utterly breathtaking finish, adding lift, precision and vibrancy. This is a stunning wine from the Produttori. The style is built on tension, energy and focus; in other words, all the qualities Ovello is known for. Anticipated maturity: 2018-2048.” WAITALY-OTHER
Ronco Calino Brut, Franciacorta DOCG NV 750ML ($31.95) $28 special
Wine Advocate 90 points “The NV Franciacorta Brut is a standard 80-20 blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. This is a crisp and luminous expression with a clean and direct delivery of crisp fruit, citrus and green apple. This approach is solid and refreshing. In the mouth, this sparkler offers silky perlage and an evident point of bright acidity. This wine is best for near-term consumption.” WASPAIN
Gramona La Cuvee Gran Reserva Cava, Catalonia 2011 750ML ($24.95) $19 special
“This cava has been aged for 36 months on the lees in the silence of the cellar. Pale with greenish reflections. Good intensity and definition.  Stone fruit –peach, loquat–apple, pear. A citric hint of lemon peel provides freshness. Buttery notes and a subtle touch of almond flowers. Fresh and kind on entry. Medium-bodied, good weight of fruit. Well integrated crispy mousse. Refreshing finish and sustained acidity. It can be enjoyed throughout the meal, from the ‘aperitif’ through to the ‘digestif’. Gastronomic and versatile.”–Winery Notes

Bodegas Castano Solanera Vinas Viejas, Yecla 2013 750ML ($19.5) $16 special
Robert Parker 92 points “Even better is the 2013 Solanera is a “Vinas Viejas” that differs from the Castano (100% Monastrell), as this blend is 70% Monastrell, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15 % Grenache, aged 10 months in French and American oak. Another difference from the Hecula is that it was aged equal parts in tank and the other half in French oak. The Solanera, which comes from relatively high-altitude limestone soils at 900 meters, has a dense purple color, a big sweet kiss of blueberry and blackberry fruit mixed with crushed chalk, a full-bodied mouthfeel, beautiful purity, density and richness. The oak is well concealed by the lavish fruit–the wine just amazing. Drink it over the next 2-3 years, as these powerhouses are best consumed in their exuberant and extroverted youth.” RP