In This Newsletter:
Italian Magnums Sale
Champagne Featurette: A. Margaine
Italian Magnums Sale
Champagne Featurette: A. Margaine
The Big Bold Italian Magnum Sale
Stock Up & Save!
Stock Up & Save!
It’s time for one of our favorite sales events: Italian magnums are on our three-day sale! With picks from Produttori del Barbaresco, Felsina, Cavallotto, Isole e Olena, and more, you’re sure to find the perfect Italian magnum for your party.
5% off any 3-5 in-stock Italian magnums and/or large format
10% off any 6 or more in-stock Italian magnums and/or large format
Discount will not display online or in your cart,
We will adjust your invoice before processing your charge.
Sale ends Friday, March 21st at 9 am Pacific.
10% off any 6 or more in-stock Italian magnums and/or large format
Discount will not display online or in your cart,
We will adjust your invoice before processing your charge.
Sale ends Friday, March 21st at 9 am Pacific.
We offer thirty in-stock Italian Magnums options on sale now, including:
Benanti Serra della Contessa ‘Particella No. 587’ Etna Rosso Riserva, Sicily 2016 1.5L Displayed Price: $249, that’s $236.55 at 5% off and $224.10 at 10% off, 5 magnums in stock now
Eric Guido-Vinous 95 points “The 2016 Etna Rosso Serra della Contessa Particella No. 587 Riserva is dark and savory in the glass, grumbling up with notes of crushed rocks and ash that evolve further to reveal musky black currants, hints of licorice and dried violets. This is velvety-smooth, yet not weighty in feel. Instead, the 2016 seems to glide effortlessly across the palate, yet what it leaves behind is a saturation of primary fruit and mineral tones, as well as silky tannins that penetrate deeply. The Serra della Contessa finishes structured yet long and unexpectedly fresh, with balsam herbs and a touch of salted licorice that slowly fades. This Etna Rosso is a powerhouse, but it is in need of cellaring to reveal all of its charms.”
This is the only listing in the USA today for the magnum!
Brovia Villero, Barolo DOCG 2019 1.5L Displayed Price: $289, that’s $274.55 at 5% off and $260.10 at 10% off, 1 magnum in stock now
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 96 points “With fruit from one of the top growing sites in Castiglione Falletto, the 2019 Barolo Villero shows a slightly ripe and soft side with cherry and dried raspberry followed by licorice, tar and rusty metal. This is an elegant expression, with a terrific sense of focus, that delivers complexity and depth, especially in this excellent vintage. Only 5,000 bottles were released.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Cavallotto Bricco Boschis Vigna San Giuseppe, Barolo Riserva DOCG 2016 1.5L Displayed Price: $399, that’s $379.05 at 5% off and $359.10 at 10% off, 2 magnums in stock now
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 98 points “A certified organic wine, the Cavallotto 2016 Barolo Riserva Bricco Boschis Vigna San Giuseppe is born in vineyards on a beautiful ridge in Castiglione Falletto with wide views of both the sunrise and the sunset. From this magical site at the heart of the Barolo appellation comes a wine that represents the very best of vintage and territory. Dark fruit, dried cherry, wild plum, rose and iron ore meet a perfect intersection that gives this Barolo a beautiful sense of balance and inner energy. Fruit comes from a 2.4-hectare plot with southwest-facing vines that are 60 years old. After destemming, the grapes see 28 days of skin contact (semi-submerged caps) in steel tanks. Secondary fermentation occurs in cement in the spring following the harvest. The wine is aged in Slavonian oak for 60 months. Production is 8,794 bottles and other larger formats.”
Antichi Vigneti di Cantalupo Collis Breclemae, Ghemme DOCG 2013 1.5L Displayed Price: $119, that’s $113.05 at 5% off and $107.10 at 10% off, 6 magnums in stock now
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 96 points “The 2013 Ghemme Collis Breclamae is fabulous. Deep, dark and also translucent, the 2013 possesses magnificent clarity as well as structure. Black cherry, lavender, truffle, mint, spice and new leather all develop in an ample, resonant Ghemme that hits all the right notes. A rich, substantial finish rounds things out in style. The 2013 can be enjoyed with minimal cellaring, but it also has the pedigree to develop in the cellar for many years to come. Each time I come back to the 2013 it is more impressive.”
This is the only listing in the USA today for the magnum!
Felsina Berardenga Fontalloro Toscana IGT 2018 1.5L Displayed Price: $128, that’s $121.60 at 5% off and $115.20 at 10% off, 7 magnums in stock now
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 95 points “The 2018 Fontalloro is bright, floral and full of energy. In most vintages, Fontalloro is quite open, but the 2018 is especially nervy and taut. That won’t be an issue in time, of course, but readers should plan on being patient. Sangiovese is so expressive here. A whole range of floral and savory accents lingers on the close.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Giacomo Conterno Francia Barolo DOCG 2018 3L Displayed Price: $1,349, that’s $1,281.55 at 5% off and $1,214.10 at 10% off, 1 double-magnum in stock now
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 95+ points “The 2018 Barolo Francia is powerful, deep and also a touch austere. It shows the edginess of all the 2018s, but also has a feeling of textural creaminess that adds tons of character. Spice, menthol, leather and a whole range of balsamic overtones build into the deep, imposing finish. Roberto Conterno decided to forego his Barolo Monfortino in 2018, opting instead to blend all the casks into his Francia bottling. When that happens, Francia often surprises down the road. That could very well turn out to be the case here.
Isole e Olena Cepparello Toscana IGT 2017 3L Displayed Price: $379, that’s $360.05 at 5% off and $341.10 at 10% off, 2 double-magnums in stock now
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 97 points “The 2017 Cepparello is another in a series of stunningly beautiful Cepparellos from Paolo de Marchi. Bright and beautifully focused in the glass, with tremendous depth, the 2017 is positively stellar from the very first taste. Succulent dark cherry, plum, licorice, spice, menthol and coffee all open up with a bit of air. Here, too, Paolo De Marchi has done a tremendous job in preserving freshness in the wine. Readers who can muster the patience will be rewarded with a spectacular wine.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Isole e Olena Cepparello Toscana IGT 2019 1.5L Displayed Price: $219, that’s $208.05 at 5% off and $197.10 at 10% off, 1 magnum in stock now
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 96 points “The 2019 Cepparello is super-impressive, even though it has just been bottled. Ample and creamy, with its classic sense of mid-weight structure, the 2019 has so much to offer. Silky tannins wrap around a core of red/purplish berry fruit. New leather, spice and a hint of oak meld together effortlessly in the glass. I can’t wait to check in on it in another 6-12 months or so. The 2019 is shaping up to be positively stellar. Drink: 2027-2049. (Sep 2021)”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Il Paradiso di Frassina MozArt, Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2014 1.5L Displayed Price: $89, that’s $84.55 at 5% off and $80.10 at 10% off, 3 magnums in stock now
Eric Guido-Vinous 92 points “Deep bright red-ruby. Oriental spices and botanical herbs complicate rich red fruit and balsamic oil aromas and flavors. Rich, ripe and suave, with a glyceral mouthfeel and strong hints of bitter herbs to the repeating ripe red cherry notes on the long thick, mouthcoating back end. A very good showing for 2014.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
La Gerla Riserva gli Angeli, Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2016 1.5L Was $219, Displayed Price: $189, that’s $179.55 at 5% off and $170.10 at 10% off, 3 magnums in stock now
La Gerla Riserva gli Angeli, Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2016 3L Was $449, Displayed Price: $399, that’s $379.05 at 5% off and $359.10 at 10% off, 2 double-magnums in stock now
Eric Guido-Vinous 96 points “Smoldering with remarkable depth, the 2016 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Gli Angeli makes itself known with a blend of spicy citrus peels and minty herbs giving way to masses of black cherry, strawberries, hints of iodine and smoke. This is a textural thrill ride, velvety and almost weighty in feel, while finding wonderful balance in its vibrant acidity and the tart wild berry fruits and savory spices that are unleashed upon the palate. Hints of mocha combine with sour cherry and almond paste through the impressively long and classically structured finale. In the end, the 2016 Gli Angeli is the total package. This Riserva is a single-vineyard bottling from La Gerla’s northern Montalcino vineyard, which was planted by Biondi-Santi in 1968.”
These are the only listings in the USA today for the magnum and double-magnum!
Montevertine Rosso Toscana IGT 2020 1.5L Displayed Price: $249, that’s $236.55 at 5% off and $224.10 at 10% off, 1 magnum in stock now
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 95 points “The 2020 Montevertine shows a generous, open-knit presentation with dark fruit, blue flower and delicate mineral highlights. The wine is 90% Sangiovese with small additions of Canaiolo and Colorino. It shows a medium-rich core of fruit but also offers a filigree of background nuances that renders it all the more enticing and interesting. The is a true beauty, showing the subtleties and nuances that can be achieved with native Tuscan grapes in a warm vintage.”
Produttori del Barbaresco Montestefano, Barbaresco Riserva DOCG 2017 1.5L Displayed Price: $169, that’s $160.55 at 5% off and $152.10 at 10% off, 5 magnums in stock now
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 96 points “The 2017 Barbaresco Riserva Montestefano is darkly concentrated and among the richest wines in this series of single-vineyard Riservas. Montestefano is angular, textured and bold with dark fruit aromas, dried blackberry, toasted almond and cured tobacco. With this vintage, you get an age-worthy wine that offers brawn and power for drinking in the medium term, but it will become increasingly silky and slender with time. Dusty tannins and crushed stone appear on the long finish. There were 14,486 bottles produced.”
Produttori del Barbaresco Ovello, Barbaresco Riserva DOCG 2017 1.5L Displayed Price: $169, that’s $160.55 at 5% off and $152.10 at 10% off, 6 magnums in stock now
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 94+ points “One of the bigger productions (with 17,744 bottles) in the Produttori del Barbaresco’s portfolio is the 2017 Barbaresco Riserva Ovello. All of the Riservas in this vintage are characterized by especially exuberant and bold aromas, and this bottle is a prime example. Cassis, wild cherry, tobacco, rusty nail and licorice build intensity. The wine is tapered and silky in texture, but it also offers a good amount of power (and 15% alcohol) to carry it through the aging process.”
Produttori del Barbaresco Rabaja, Barbaresco Riserva DOCG 2019 1.5L Displayed Price: $199, that’s $189.05 at 5% off and $179.10 at 10% off, 3 magnums in stock now
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 94 points “The 2019 Barbaresco Riserva Rabajà is redolent of dark fruit, crushed rocks, graphite, sage, menthol and lavender all race across the palate, supported by bracing, young Rabajà tannins that make themselves felt. This mid-weight, powerhouse Barbaresco packs quite a punch.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast for the magnum!
Rocca di Montegrossi ‘Ridolfo’ Toscana IGT 2015 1.5L Was $179, Displayed Price: $159, that’s $151.05 at 5% off and $143.10 at 10% off, 15 magnums in stock now
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 98+ points “The 2015 Ridolfo is a new Cabernet Sauvignon/Pugnitello blend from Marco Ricasoli bottled only in magnum. Vibrant and finely sculpted, the 2015 impresses right out of the gate. A whole range of savory aromatics, lavender, spice, licorice and mocha open with time in the glass. Sweet rose petal and cinnamon appear later, adding brightness and lift. Cabernet Sauvignon and Pugnitello are not obvious varieties to blend, as they are, on paper, more similar than complementary. Even so, the combination works so well. I can’t wait to see how this ages. The 2015 is a total knock-out!”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Paolo Scavino Bric del Fiasc, Barolo DOCG 2019 1.5L Displayed Price: $249, that’s $236.55 at 5% off and $224.10 at 10% off, 4 magnums in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 98 points “The 2019 Barolo Bric del Fiasc is the hallmark wine of the estate, and it shows. Taking on more concentration, it is pure and generous with kirsch, star anise, nutmeg, and menthol and moves impressively to the palate with ease and nobility. It offers fantastic depth while remaining true to the vintage and propels forward through an arch of acidity, while having grounded notes of Earl Grey tea, black cherry, and crushed stones as well as ripe tannins. Drink 2026-2046.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Sassetti Livio Pertimali Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2015 1.5L Displayed Price: $159, that’s $151.05 at 5% off and $143.10 at 10% off, 3 magnums in stock now
James Suckling 98 points “There’s something ethereal in the nose with flowers, cherries, strawberries and shitake mushrooms. Full body. This grows on the palate with super tannin and fruit structure. So much berry flavor and round, caressing tannins that fill your mouth. Tight at the end. This needs four to five years to show its true greatness. Try after 2023.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today for the magnum!
Shop our thirty Italian Magnums selections now!
Champagne Featurette:
A. Margaine
Arnaud Margaine has helmed his family’s estate in the Premier Cru village of Villers-Marmery in the Montagne de Reims since 1989. He sells some of his estate’s fruit to Clicquot, Bollinger and Lanson. He’s not one to rest on his laurels, and still experiments with vinifying in used barrel or using cover crops in the vineyard to make the roots dig deeper, all with the goal of improving quality over the long term.
Today, the estate is being increasingly taken over by his energetic and incredibly knowledge daughter, Mathilde Margaine, who is the fifth generation to run the estate and the first woman. The wines are light and ethereal, and will only improve in the cellar for several years.
In Stock Now:
A. Margaine ‘Le Brut’ Premier Cru, Champagne NV 750ml $54.50 special, 13 bottles in stock now
Audrey Frick-Jeb Dunnuck 90 points “The NV Champagne Le Brut is 86% Chardonnay and the rest Pinot Noir, with 40% from the 2021 vintage. That was a complicated year for the estate since they lost most of the crop due to mildew, so this has almost 70% reserve wine. In the glass, it pours a bright silver straw color and reveals a clean and focused nose, with refreshing aromas of bread dough, fresh pear, attractive citrus, and peach blossom. It’s approachable and easy-drinking, with a refreshing and fully dry feel, a fine mousse, and a crispy, fresh finish. Drink over the next several years.”
Today, the estate is being increasingly taken over by his energetic and incredibly knowledge daughter, Mathilde Margaine, who is the fifth generation to run the estate and the first woman. The wines are light and ethereal, and will only improve in the cellar for several years.
In Stock Now:
A. Margaine ‘Le Brut’ Premier Cru, Champagne NV 750ml $54.50 special, 13 bottles in stock now
Audrey Frick-Jeb Dunnuck 90 points “The NV Champagne Le Brut is 86% Chardonnay and the rest Pinot Noir, with 40% from the 2021 vintage. That was a complicated year for the estate since they lost most of the crop due to mildew, so this has almost 70% reserve wine. In the glass, it pours a bright silver straw color and reveals a clean and focused nose, with refreshing aromas of bread dough, fresh pear, attractive citrus, and peach blossom. It’s approachable and easy-drinking, with a refreshing and fully dry feel, a fine mousse, and a crispy, fresh finish. Drink over the next several years.”
Shop all 144 of our in-stock Champagne selections here!
Don’t miss our additional sales going on now:
Albariño
5% off any 3-5 in-stock bottles of Albarino
10% off any 6 or more in-stock bottles of Albarino
Chateau de Rouanne
5% off any 3-5 in-stock bottles of Chateau de Rouanne
10% off any 6 or more in-stock bottles of Chateau de Rouanne
Discount will not display online or in your cart,
We will adjust your invoice before processing your charge.
Albariño sale ends Wednesday, March 19th at 9 am Pacific. Chateau de Rouanne sale ends Thursday, March 20th at 9 am Pacific.