In This Newsletter:
New Weeks – New Arrivals
Staff Pick: Torre dei Beati Rosé
Rare Wine Spotlight:
Jacky Truchot
Trending
New Rosé Reviews from Vinous
Collector’s Corner:
Sine Qua Non
New Weeks – New Arrivals
Rosé
Le Galantin Bandol Rosé, Provence 2021 750ML ($21.95) $19.90 special, 24 bottles in stock now
Portland’s favorite rosé is also one of the earliest to arrive from France, so stock up quick for your summertime needs before it’s gone!
Le Galantin Bandol Rosé, Provence 2021 750ML ($21.95) $19.90 special, 24 bottles in stock now
Portland’s favorite rosé is also one of the earliest to arrive from France, so stock up quick for your summertime needs before it’s gone!
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Oregon
Quaintrelle Brick House Vineyard Pinot Noir, Ribbon Ridge 2019 750ML ($49.95) $39 special, 24 bottles in stock now
VinopolNote: Brick House’s assistant winemaker, Savannah Mills, just released this two block blend and we were stunned by the quality. It has all the seriousness of a Brick House bottling with a radiant and delicate touch. Bravo!
Winemaker’s note “From the first vintage in 2014, Quaintrelle has been a combination of Dijon 115 and Pommard clones grown according to Demeter BioDynamic standards at Brick House Vineyards. In 2018, I began to manage a small block of vines in the Northwest corner of the property to farm for this bottling. This wine is intended to be a lighter bodied, food friendly and flirtatious expression of Pinot Noir.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
France – Champagne
Paul Bara Grand Millesime Grand Cru Brut, Champagne 2014 750ML ($79.95) $69 special, 22 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni 92 points “Candied apricot, dried flowers, chamomile and spice give the 2014 Brut Grand Millésime a real sense of exoticism that is impossible to miss. Ample and creamy, the 2014 possesses terrific resonance and plenty of depth, all in a style that can be enjoyed with minimal, if any, cellaring. Disgorged: July, 2019.” [Disgorgement date may vary]
France – Bordeaux
Chateau L’Eglise-Clinet ‘La Petite Eglise’, Pomerol 2015 750ML ($79.95) $69 special, 17 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni 93 points “Denis Durantou’s 2015 La Petite Eglise is just as compelling from bottle as it was from barrel. Classy, polished and super-refined in every way, the Petite Eglise is all class. The bright red cherry, hard candy, mint and rose petal notes are beautifully delineated throughout. Even with all of its obvious fruit density, the 2015 remains light on its feet and gracious. There is no question Petite Eglise is one of the best second wines in 2015. Actually, Petite Eglise is not really a terrific second wine, it is simply a gorgeous Pomerol. That’s all there is to it.”
Decanter 93 points “Maybe you don’t want to wait for eight years before opening the bottle, or maybe you’ve got a bit of money in your pocket and you want to see what all the fuss is about with this Durantou guy in Pomerol – well here you go. This wine has his precision, his deft spinning-the-decks, magician-like ability to measure out tannins, fruit, freshness and sheer joy. It’s a second wine in name only, and although the finish is shorter than l’Eglise Clinet, that is setting the bar pretty high. Drinking Window 2020 – 2032.”
Jeb Dunnuck 92 points “The second wine of Eglise Clinet, the 2015 La Petite Eglise is a pretty, elegant, even Burgundian, 2015 that opens up beautifully with time in the glass, Ripe red currants, cherries, sandalwood, cedary spice, and dried floral notes all emerge from this medium-bodied 2015 that has fine tannin and a great finish. It’s certainly not a blockbuster but excels on its finesse and elegance. Drink it anytime over the coming decade. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to taste the top cuvee from this estate.”
This is the only listing in the USA today for the 750ml!
Italy – Piedmont
Gaja Sori San Lorenzo Barbaresco, Piedmont 2017 750ML ($679.95) $599 special, only 3 bottles available
Wine Spectator 96 points “This tightly wound red is dense with black cherry, black currant, plum, tar and iron flavors as well as tannins. Shows a lot of power and persistence, with all the components in the right proportion, ending with a long, resonant aftertaste. Needs time. Best from 2024 through 2048. 300 cases imported. — BS”
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 95+ points “The 2017 growing season saw a couple of violent hail events in the Barbaresco appellation, and this celebrated vineyard suffered some damage during a storm that hit on July 19th. Yields were reduced, but the wine holds its own thanks to the careful fruit selection process put in place by the Gaja family. Their 2017 Barbaresco Sorì San Lorenzo is a shade richer in terms of flavor concentration, as is always the case with fruit from this slightly warmer growing site. However, like the other two single-vineyard Barbaresco expressions, this wine reveals a thin, sharp and nervous personality that is driven in large part by tannic firmness and acidity. Sorì San Lorenzo adds lots of dark mineral definition to cassis, wild cherry, rose and Provence herbs. Like the other wines, it needs extra cellar aging time.”
Decanter 95 points “This is generally the most austere of the three Gaja single-vineyard wines, and it has also been described as ‘wilder’. In this vintage the nose does seem to have more weight than Sori Tildin, with rich raspberry and cherry aromas. It’s sumptuous, full-bodied and concentrated, with considerable density and weight. Despite its youthful chewiness, it’s still polished and balanced, with a very long finish. Drinking Window 2021 – 2042.”
Gaja Conteisa, Barolo DOCG 2015 750ML ($299.95) $249 special, only 11 bottles available
Wine & Spirits 98 points “From the La Morra side of the Cerequio MGA, the 2015 is deeply resonant, its dark fruit tones layered with notes of cedar, tobacco and porcini. The Gaja family has worked extensively on canopy management since the warm 1997 and 2003 vintages, and this shows in the pleasantly tart flavors of black cherry and strawberry they achieved in the warm, dry 2015 growing season. The flavors weave together in a suave, seamless texture, expanding with air while maintaining precision and freshness. —S.J.”
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 97 points “The 2015 Barolo Conteisa is a heady, exotic wine, and also one of the most complete, alluring Conteisas I have ever tasted. Conteisa is usually a wine of grace and understatement. The 2015, on the other hand, is a bold, sweeping Barolo that saturates the palate with stunning depth and volume. Even with all of its intensity, the 2015 remains vibrant. This is such a complete, harmonious wine.”
Jeb Dunnuck 97 points “A big, beefy Barolo, the 2015 Barolo Conteisa comes from a site near La Morral and was first made in 1996. It takes plenty of air to come together but offers a complex bouquet of bright cherry and currant fruit interwoven with classic licorice, tar, sappy flowers, and even hints of iron. It shows a touch more minerality with time in the glass, but this is classic, full-bodied, powerful Nebbiolo with plenty of ripe tannins, a stacked mid-palate, and a blockbuster finish. Give this structured, tight 2015 upwards of a decade of cellaring, and it’s going to keep for 30 years or more.”
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 96 points “The large shoulders of this warm 2015 vintage contrast sharply with the delicate nuances of the 2016 Barbarescos also released now from Gaja. The 2015 Barolo Conteisa is intense, with a background chorus of plum, prune, herb, mint and wild cherry. It’s a very balanced Barolo. The Cerequio vineyard that provides this fruit often suffers from hail damage because the vineyard is located along the corridor of bad weather that comes over the hill from La Morra. There was some damage in mid-August, but fruit in the 2016 vintage suffered much more extensively in comparison. In fact, so little fruit was saved that Gaia Gaja is pretty sure this wine will not be produced next vintage. She tells me that they are now experimenting with anti-hail netting at this site—an eyesore they had long hoped to avoid.”
Gaja Darmagi Cabernet Sauvignon Langhe, Piedmont 2015 750ML ($299.95) $259 special, only 1 bottle available
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 94 points “Darmagi loves a warm vintage. The 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Darmagi embraces the summer warmth like a happy sponge. This wine is faithfully true to the variety, with intensely dark fruit followed by dried cassis, exotic spice and green laurel leaf. There is a point of succulent sweetness in the mouth that is uniquely specific to this hot vintage. The wine is seamless and smooth in texture with solid structure on the close. The vines suffered from stripe disease (GLSD). This reduced the capacity of the plant’s foliar system. Gaia Gaja tells me they were able to harvest from the healthy parts of the vines to make this beautiful wine.”
Staff Pick: Torre dei Beati Rosé
Xavier:
My current favorite for an easy drinking refreshing wine choice during these hot summer days! The “Cerasuolo” rosé offers a nice departure from conventional European or domestic rosé wines. As the rich color suggests, this unique Abruzzo rosé, made from Montepulciano grapes, surprises your palate with a refreshing and bright medley of cherry and cranberry highlighted with light floral tones. It makes a terrific summer cocktail wine and also pairs well with fish, white meats or tomato based pasta dishes.
New Vinous review!
Torre dei Beati ‘Rosa-ae,’ Cerasuolo d’Abruzzo 2021 750ML ($21.95) $18 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Eric Guido-Vinous 92+ points “The color of the 2021 Cerasuolo d’Abruzzo Rosa-ae is stunning; a deep translucent red with violet shades, as a vivid mix of wet stones, strawberries and dusty rose form it’s compelling bouquet. It enters the palate with an initial burst of ripe wild berries, yet quickly gains in tension, as zesty acids and citrus tones reverberate throughout. The Rosa-ae finishes with an amazing persistence of purple- and blue-tinted florals all over a coating of salty minerals and the slightest tug of sweet tannin. This is a beauty today, yet it will also excel over the next year or two in a cold cellar. Well done.”
Winery note “‘Cerasuolo’ is the cherry colour of this very traditional Italian rose, that combines the freshness of a rose to the body of a light red. This unusual combination makes this wine very eclectic in matching food, ranging from antipasti, all’italiana, to ‘paste e fagioli’, to the typical ‘chitarra’ noodles with tomato sauce and little meatballs, to fish dishes like the celebrated Adriatic ‘brodetto'”
My current favorite for an easy drinking refreshing wine choice during these hot summer days! The “Cerasuolo” rosé offers a nice departure from conventional European or domestic rosé wines. As the rich color suggests, this unique Abruzzo rosé, made from Montepulciano grapes, surprises your palate with a refreshing and bright medley of cherry and cranberry highlighted with light floral tones. It makes a terrific summer cocktail wine and also pairs well with fish, white meats or tomato based pasta dishes.
New Vinous review!
Torre dei Beati ‘Rosa-ae,’ Cerasuolo d’Abruzzo 2021 750ML ($21.95) $18 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Eric Guido-Vinous 92+ points “The color of the 2021 Cerasuolo d’Abruzzo Rosa-ae is stunning; a deep translucent red with violet shades, as a vivid mix of wet stones, strawberries and dusty rose form it’s compelling bouquet. It enters the palate with an initial burst of ripe wild berries, yet quickly gains in tension, as zesty acids and citrus tones reverberate throughout. The Rosa-ae finishes with an amazing persistence of purple- and blue-tinted florals all over a coating of salty minerals and the slightest tug of sweet tannin. This is a beauty today, yet it will also excel over the next year or two in a cold cellar. Well done.”
Winery note “‘Cerasuolo’ is the cherry colour of this very traditional Italian rose, that combines the freshness of a rose to the body of a light red. This unusual combination makes this wine very eclectic in matching food, ranging from antipasti, all’italiana, to ‘paste e fagioli’, to the typical ‘chitarra’ noodles with tomato sauce and little meatballs, to fish dishes like the celebrated Adriatic ‘brodetto'”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
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Rare Wine Spotlight:
Jacky Truchot
“After twenty-six vintages (twenty-two of them, thankfully, having been sold in the U.S., which became his largest market), and with no heirs, 68-year-old Jacky Truchot is retiring. Even the portion of Clos Sorbe behind the hulking family manor (familiar to Burgundy lovers from the old photograph on his label) is for sale with the house. Truchot’s wines could rightly be called ‘old-fashioned’, which made them all the more exceptional and coveted in recent years. As Robert Parker wrote of them in these pages in 1991, ‘as light … as they appear, they often possess stunning fragrances and amazing richness and character.’ The expression ‘grown, not made’ has never been truer than of these wines of a farmer bonded with his vines, and they offer terrific values. Truchot expressed relief at having bowed out on a high note and especially at having missed out on 2006!” –David Schildknecht, Wine Advocate, writing in 2007 on the 2005 releases
Jacky Truchot Aux Combottes Vieilles Vignes, Gevrey-Chambertin Premier Cru 2005 750ML ($2,599.95) $1,999 special, only 1 bottle available
Jacky Truchot Aux Combottes Vieilles Vignes, Gevrey-Chambertin Premier Cru 2005 750ML ($2,599.95) $1,999 special, only 1 bottle available
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Trending
“Medium-bodied, it floods the mouth with ripe black and red fruits and wonderful earthy/spicy accents…” -Erin Brooks, Wine Advocate
Sequitur Chardonnay, Ribbon Ridge 2016 750ML ($89.95) Was $66, Now $59, 22 bottles in stock now
Josh Raynolds – Vinous 94 points “Pale yellow-gold. Fresh and incisive on the nose, displaying intense citrus and orchard fruit scents complemented by suggestions of toasty lees, iodine and sweet butter. Sappy, penetrating and seamless in texture, offering concentrated pear nectar, peach, tangerine and honeysuckle flavors that deepen slowly on the back half while maintaining energy. Finishes with repeating pear and floral notes, with a late jolt of dusty minerality pulling things together.”
Erin Brooks-Wine Advocate 93+ points “The 2016 Sequitur Chardonnay has a gregarious nose of spiced, baked yellow apples and warm pineapple with notes of toast, honey, hazelnut and hay. Medium to full-bodied, it fills the mouth with warm orchard and tropical fruits accented by nuances of baking spice, nuts and honey, with a touch of creaminess to the texture, juicy acidity and a long, mineral-laced finish. 85 cases produced.”
One of the great pillars of classical Rioja
Marques de Murrieta Reserva Rioja DOCa 2017 750ML ($29.95) $26 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-6 Marques de Murrieta Reserva Rioja DOCa 2017 750ML ($179.95) $149 special (that’s only $24.83/bottle!)
James Suckling 96 points “Incredible depth and intensity on the nose with chocolate, walnut, blackberry and wet-earth aromas. Some iodine, too. All this follows through to a full body with very silky tannins that give the wine depth and length. It’s really framed beautifully. Reserved and tight at the finish. A terrific wine for the cellar. Give this three to five years to open.”
Decanter 94 points “A great classic, with a unique Rioja character, bursting with chewy red fruits, counterpointed by minerality. Reconciling power and finesse, pleasure and style. Warm and intense. Benchmark for wines of style, high-end brands. Leaves a vibrant memory.”
Luis Gutierrez – Wine Advocate 93 points “The red 2017 Rioja Reserva is their flagship wine, of which they produce 900,000 bottles exclusively from grapes from their 300 hectares of estate vineyards. It’s a blend of 83% Tempranillo, 9% Graciano, 6% Mazuelo (Cariñena) and 2% Garnacha and has the character of the vintage, ripe and warm but without excess. The varieties fermented separately, even different plots fermented separately, and they also aged in barrel on their own. The blend is done at the end, after 20 months in American oak barrels. 2017 was a challenging year that they still consider a better vintage than 2018, as they see more concentration and power. The wine is quite lactic and creamy, still showing very young. It does feel undeveloped and in need of some time in bottle. The wine has concentration and clout, and I always consider it an ultimate example of an updated classical Reserva from Rioja. 2017 was the earliest harvest (started and finished in September), a warm and dry year when the Ygay estate miraculously escaped the terrible frost that decimated most of Europe. The challenge for this wine was to contain the ripeness and power, and they have done it. This will be released in spring 2021, so it should be a lot more integrated by then. This is always a sure value. Volumes are lower this year.”
“Silky with medium-bodied weight, ushering in a dense and textural mix of apricot and mineral-tinged pear” -Eric Guido-Vinous
Torre dei Beati ‘Bianchi Grilli per la Testa’ Trebbiano d’Abruzzo 2019 750ML ($31.95) $26 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Eric Guido-Vinous 93 points “The 2019 Trebbiano d’Abruzzo Bianchi Grilli Per la Testa pulls you close to the glass with a display of spiced yellow apple and geranium, evolving into a mix of curry leaf, crushed stone and almond paste. This is silky with medium-bodied weight, ushering in a dense and textural mix of apricot and mineral-tinged pear. There’s so much going on here and so much more to come, as this tapers off long, staining the senses with a nutty richness under an air of honeysuckle and sage. The Bianchi Grilli Per la Testa spends eleven months on the lees in a combination of stainless steel, neutral tonneaux and acacia wood barrels. It’s quite a wine.”
Sequitur Chardonnay, Ribbon Ridge 2016 750ML ($89.95) Was $66, Now $59, 22 bottles in stock now
Josh Raynolds – Vinous 94 points “Pale yellow-gold. Fresh and incisive on the nose, displaying intense citrus and orchard fruit scents complemented by suggestions of toasty lees, iodine and sweet butter. Sappy, penetrating and seamless in texture, offering concentrated pear nectar, peach, tangerine and honeysuckle flavors that deepen slowly on the back half while maintaining energy. Finishes with repeating pear and floral notes, with a late jolt of dusty minerality pulling things together.”
Erin Brooks-Wine Advocate 93+ points “The 2016 Sequitur Chardonnay has a gregarious nose of spiced, baked yellow apples and warm pineapple with notes of toast, honey, hazelnut and hay. Medium to full-bodied, it fills the mouth with warm orchard and tropical fruits accented by nuances of baking spice, nuts and honey, with a touch of creaminess to the texture, juicy acidity and a long, mineral-laced finish. 85 cases produced.”
One of the great pillars of classical Rioja
Marques de Murrieta Reserva Rioja DOCa 2017 750ML ($29.95) $26 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-6 Marques de Murrieta Reserva Rioja DOCa 2017 750ML ($179.95) $149 special (that’s only $24.83/bottle!)
James Suckling 96 points “Incredible depth and intensity on the nose with chocolate, walnut, blackberry and wet-earth aromas. Some iodine, too. All this follows through to a full body with very silky tannins that give the wine depth and length. It’s really framed beautifully. Reserved and tight at the finish. A terrific wine for the cellar. Give this three to five years to open.”
Decanter 94 points “A great classic, with a unique Rioja character, bursting with chewy red fruits, counterpointed by minerality. Reconciling power and finesse, pleasure and style. Warm and intense. Benchmark for wines of style, high-end brands. Leaves a vibrant memory.”
Luis Gutierrez – Wine Advocate 93 points “The red 2017 Rioja Reserva is their flagship wine, of which they produce 900,000 bottles exclusively from grapes from their 300 hectares of estate vineyards. It’s a blend of 83% Tempranillo, 9% Graciano, 6% Mazuelo (Cariñena) and 2% Garnacha and has the character of the vintage, ripe and warm but without excess. The varieties fermented separately, even different plots fermented separately, and they also aged in barrel on their own. The blend is done at the end, after 20 months in American oak barrels. 2017 was a challenging year that they still consider a better vintage than 2018, as they see more concentration and power. The wine is quite lactic and creamy, still showing very young. It does feel undeveloped and in need of some time in bottle. The wine has concentration and clout, and I always consider it an ultimate example of an updated classical Reserva from Rioja. 2017 was the earliest harvest (started and finished in September), a warm and dry year when the Ygay estate miraculously escaped the terrible frost that decimated most of Europe. The challenge for this wine was to contain the ripeness and power, and they have done it. This will be released in spring 2021, so it should be a lot more integrated by then. This is always a sure value. Volumes are lower this year.”
“Silky with medium-bodied weight, ushering in a dense and textural mix of apricot and mineral-tinged pear” -Eric Guido-Vinous
Torre dei Beati ‘Bianchi Grilli per la Testa’ Trebbiano d’Abruzzo 2019 750ML ($31.95) $26 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Eric Guido-Vinous 93 points “The 2019 Trebbiano d’Abruzzo Bianchi Grilli Per la Testa pulls you close to the glass with a display of spiced yellow apple and geranium, evolving into a mix of curry leaf, crushed stone and almond paste. This is silky with medium-bodied weight, ushering in a dense and textural mix of apricot and mineral-tinged pear. There’s so much going on here and so much more to come, as this tapers off long, staining the senses with a nutty richness under an air of honeysuckle and sage. The Bianchi Grilli Per la Testa spends eleven months on the lees in a combination of stainless steel, neutral tonneaux and acacia wood barrels. It’s quite a wine.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
“The Perricone [grape], or the so-called pignatello, had been the undisputed leader of the red grapes in western Sicily. Rich with red fruits…Wine of great power and harmony while expressing…fresh and lively character”-Winery notes
Caruso & Minini ‘Naturalmente Bio’ Perricone Terre Siciliane IGT Sicily 2019 750ML ($21.95) Was $18, Now $16 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $21
“Fresh cherry fruit, Mediterranean herbs and a…mineral finish. The tannins are fine-grained with refreshing and balanced acidity” -Jeb Dunnuck
La Poderina Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Tuscany 2016 750ML ($69.95) $59 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 95 points “The 2016 Brunello is lifted with dried raspberry, orange peel, thyme, and dusty earth. The palate is medium-bodied with fresh cherry fruit, Mediterranean herbs, and a saline mineral finish. The tannins are fine-grained with refreshing and balanced acidity. This red opened up and stayed fresh for days. Enjoy over the next 15 years, 2021-2036.”
James Suckling 95 points “A lovely, polished young Brunello with black cherries and floral, orange-peel and some mineral notes. It’s full-bodied and very fine-tannined with a long, focused finish. Give it two or three years to open. Better after 2022.”
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 94 points “La Poderina’s 2016 Brunello di Montalcino shows a lot of charm and grace, with a bouquet that is defined not so much by the ripeness of its fruit but by the many nuances hidden directly under the surface. The fruit shows lifted red tones with cherry and dried raspberry, but it also offers very precise minerality with crushed limestone and chalk that adds points of dustiness or dryness to the bouquet (and ultimately subtracts from the density of the mouthfeel). These lithe background tones shape what is fundamentally a very elegant, streamlined and pretty Brunello. I am very happy to recommend this new release (with 65,000 bottles to hit the market in March 2021) from La Poderina.”
“This is a gorgeously fruity and stimulating Riesling… A round, only gently sweet Riesling with clear lemon fruit,… a silky texture” -Stephan Reinhardt, Wine Advocate
Weingut Donnhoff Estate Riesling, Nahe 2020 750ML ($26.95) $20.90 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 92 points “Sourced in Oberhausen and Niederhausen (so from weathered slate and volcanic stones), the Dönnhoff estate 2020 Riesling is pure and refreshingly mineral on the nose that shows clear, bright and spicy fruit with crunchy slate aromas. Virtually a classic Kabinett, this is a round, only gently sweet Riesling with clear lemon fruit, a silky texture and very elegant, ripe and piquant acidity. This is a gorgeously fruity and stimulating Riesling to start with after a long night if you don’t have fresh fruit on the table. “We have to be careful that it doesn’t get too good for the price range,” says Helmut Dönnhoff, and he is right, because this is a Nahe classic or, as Dönnhoff puts it, “This is the light, pure optimism, a children’s choir. That is joie de vivre.” 10.5% alcohol. Tasted at the domain in July 2021.”
“These vines are located in five communes in the most famous part of the Alsatian vineyard, in the Grands Crus sector… The word Agapé comes from the Greek for unconditional love and it sums up perfectly the winery’s philosophy” -Winery notes
Domaine l’Agapé Cremant d’Alsace NV 750ML ($24.95) $19 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Wine Enthusiast 92 points “Wet chalk, tender apple and lot of lemon freshness appear on the nose of this wine. These notions are bound up on the palate in a mellow creaminess. It’s understated and elegant, with lots of fine fruit. The finish is dry and very moreish in its rounded way. -Anne Krebiehl MW”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
“Bürgergarten … refers to a garden situated on a hill. The very deep soil…has been used for wine production for centuries” -Winery notes
Muller-Catoir Haardter Burgergarten ‘Im Breumel’ Riesling Grosses Gewachs, Pfalz GG 2018 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
James Suckling 97 points Very floral with pretty herbal undertones, ranging from coriander to dill to mint. The flowers range from jasmine to honeysuckle to almond blossom. Understated and elegant from the outset. The palate has a very chalky feel to the texture with overlapping, firm lines of acidity and dainty citrus fruit. Immaculately ironed-out edges and well-defined, linear crease. Drink now or hold.
Winery Note “The age-worthy Riesling wines from this prime section of the Haardt Bürgergarten are characterised by the optimal balance between a concentrated Riesling fruit, lingering minerality, a delicate elegance and an elaborately interwoven, long finish – Riesling to perfection.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $70.99!!
New Rosé Reviews from Vinous
Ameztoi Rubentis Rosado, Getariako Txakolina, Spain 2021 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 91 points “Pale orange. Finely etched red berry, citrus zest and floral aromas, along with building herb and mineral flourishes. Taut and nervy in the mouth, offering sappy strawberry, cherry and tangerine flavors that show fine delineation and spicy lift. Closes firm and right, with persistent red fruit notes and a refreshingly bitter edge.”
Bedrock Wine Co. ‘Ode to Lulu’ Rosé of Mourvedre, Sonoma Valley, USA 2021 750ML ($29.95) $24 special, 5 bottles in stock now
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 92 points “Limpid orange-pink. Incisive, mineral-tinged aromas of fresh red berries, nectarine and citrus zest are complemented by steadily building floral and succulent herb notes. Silky and energetic on the palate, offering concentrated white peach, strawberry and tangerine flavors that show fine delineation and firm tension. Deepens steadily on a long, mineral-driven finish that leaves a repeating floral note behind.”
Chateau la Mascaronne Quat’Saisons Rosé, Cotes de Provence, France 2021 750ML ($29.95) $27 special, 10 bottles in stock now
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 91 points “Bright salmon-skin color. Fresh pit fruits, red berries and a hint of orange pith on the incisive nose. Tight and sharply focused on the palate, offering vibrant strawberry, white peach and tangerine flavors that put on weight as the wine opens up. Shows fine clarity and spicy cut on the persistent finish, which features a late floral nuance.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Peyrassol ‘Chateau Peyrassol’ Rosé, Cotes de Provence, France 2021 750ML ($41.95) $38 special, 6 bottles in stock now
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 92 points “Translucent orange. White peach, strawberry, mango and a touch of honey on the highly fragrant nose. Offers fleshy red berry and pith fruit flavors, along with hints of lavender, fennel and orange zest. Closes long, smooth and gently spicy, with the peach and floral notes repeating.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
The average price nationally is $42
Peyrassol ‘Cuvee des Commandeurs’ Rosé, Cotes de Provence, France 2021 750ML ($29.95) $24 special, 9 bottles in stock now
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 91 points “Brilliant salmon skin color. Fresh and focused on the nose, displaying vibrant strawberry, nectarine and melon scents and a spicy touch of white pepper. Silky and open-knit, showing good depth and energy to its juicy pit fruit and red berry flavors. A hint of orange zest lends bite to the juicy finish, which hangs on with very good tenacity.”
Domaine Collotte Marsannay Rosé, Burgundy, France 2021 750ML ($24.95) $19 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 91 points “Vivid orange-pink. Fresh red berries, candied rose and a dusty mineral nuance on the fragrant nose. Gently chewy and tightly wound on entry, then more fleshy in the mid-palate, displaying juicy cherry and tangerine flavors that turn sweeter on the back half. The floral note repeats on a long, focused finish that leaves a refreshingly bitter suggestion of cherry pit behind.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Domaines Ott ‘By.Ott’ Rose, Cotes de Provence, France 2021 750ML ($27.95) $24 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 90 points “Bright, peach skin color. Fresh pit fruit and red berry scents are complemented by building floral and orange pith nuances. Smooth and open knit, showing good breadth and depth to its juicy strawberry, tangerine and white peach flavors. The floral note recurs on the nicely persistent finish, which features a subtle hint of fennel.”
Domaine de la Bastide Blanche Bandol Rose, Provence, France 2021 750ML ($29.95) $24 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 92 points “Light, bright orange. Vibrant pomegranate, blood orange and pit fruit qualities on the highly perfumed nose, along with building mineral and floral accents. Taut and focused in the mouth, nicely concentrated red berry, orange zest and lavender flavors are supported by an undercurrent of chalky minerality. Finishes floral and long, with repeating mineral and citrus fruit notes.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Arriving Friday, July 22nd
Peyrassol ‘Le Clos’ Rosé, Cotes de Provence, France 2021 750ML ($79.95) $69 pre-arrival special
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 94 points “Vivid onion skin color. A highly perfumed and complex bouquet evokes fresh citrus and pit fruits, strawberry and pungent flowers, along with building mineral and succulent herb elements. Shows excellent clarity and depth to its juicy red fruit, nectarine and mango flavors, which are sweetened by a background of vanilla note. Finishes impressively long and silky, with the mineral and floral note resonating. “
Domaines Ott Chateau de Selle Rosé, Cotes de Provence, France 2021 750ML ($69.95) $54.50 pre-arrival special
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 93 points “Limpid orange. A sharply focused, mineral-accented bouquet evokes fresh red berries and pit fruits, citrus pith and pungent flowers. Silky and penetrating on the palate, offering tangy redcurrant, pomegranate and blood orange flavors and a hint of honeysuckle. The floral note builds steadily through an impressively long, nervy finish that echoes the citrus and mineral notes.”
Arriving Late July
Thibaud Boudignon Rosé de Loire, France 2021 750ML ($27.95) $24 pre-arrival special
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 92 points “Limpid orange. Vibrant, mineral- and spice tinged strawberry and orange zest aromas show fine definition and a building floral nuance. Shows firm tension and cut on the palate, offering intense citrus fruit and red berry character and a suggestion of botanical herbs. Finishes very long and precise, with the floral and mineral notes repeating.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Collector’s Corner:
Sine Qua Non
Sine Qua Non is one of the rarest cult producers in California. Their bottlings are so in demand they are sold exclusively through a mailing list and are almost never seen on the retail market. These are some of the most profound expressions of Californian wine in how they encapsulate developed richness with verve and lift at the same time. Shop our recent new arrivals below:
Sine Qua Non ‘The Inaugural’ Syrah, Sta Rita Hills 2003 750ML ($2,799.95) $1,799 special, 3 bottles in stock now
Robert Parker 100 points “The mind-boggling 2003 The Inaugural Syrah is an emotional experience to taste as well as drink. Aged 38 ½ months in French oak, it was fashioned entirely from the Eleven Confessions Vineyard, which is planted with Syrah clones #470, 174, and the Estrella River and Alban field selections. This stunning Syrah boasts a magnificent bouquet of spring flowers, blueberries, blackberries, charcoal, licorice, and roasted meats. It hits the palate with remarkable intensity, purity, and full-bodied power, but it somehow manages to dance across the taste buds with the gracefulness of a ballerina. Awesomely long, I still tasted this wine 60 seconds after I had spit it out – no easy task, even for a professional. This majestic Syrah should be a modern day legacy for Sine Qua Non, ranking alongside the other stunning Syrahs they have produced, such as the two 2002 cuvees, Just For The Love Of It and Heart Chorea. This is a nuanced, complex wine, whereas the 2004 Poker Face is more exuberant and flamboyant. It should age beautifully for 10-15+ years.”
Sine Qua Non ‘The Inaugural’ Syrah, Sta Rita Hills 2003 750ML ($2,799.95) $1,799 special, 3 bottles in stock now
Robert Parker 100 points “The mind-boggling 2003 The Inaugural Syrah is an emotional experience to taste as well as drink. Aged 38 ½ months in French oak, it was fashioned entirely from the Eleven Confessions Vineyard, which is planted with Syrah clones #470, 174, and the Estrella River and Alban field selections. This stunning Syrah boasts a magnificent bouquet of spring flowers, blueberries, blackberries, charcoal, licorice, and roasted meats. It hits the palate with remarkable intensity, purity, and full-bodied power, but it somehow manages to dance across the taste buds with the gracefulness of a ballerina. Awesomely long, I still tasted this wine 60 seconds after I had spit it out – no easy task, even for a professional. This majestic Syrah should be a modern day legacy for Sine Qua Non, ranking alongside the other stunning Syrahs they have produced, such as the two 2002 cuvees, Just For The Love Of It and Heart Chorea. This is a nuanced, complex wine, whereas the 2004 Poker Face is more exuberant and flamboyant. It should age beautifully for 10-15+ years.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $1,920
Sine Qua Non ‘The Inaugural’ Eleven Confessions Vineyard Grenache, Sta Rita Hills 2003 750ML ($4,299.95) $3,499 special, 1 bottle in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck-Wine Advocate 100 points “In addition to these new releases, I was also able to taste through a number of older vintages, including the 2001 Albino, 2006 Hoodoo Man, 2003 The Inaugural, 2004 Ode to E, 1998 E Raised, 2001 On Your Toes, 2005 Nail in My Cranium and 2007 Syrah Dangerous Birds. To say I came away impressed would be an understatement. Anyone who claims this big, rich style can-t age needs to taste these wines. I opted to just list my scores for the older releases as I find Bob’s initial write-ups spot on.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $5,999.99
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