Arriving in September: Domaine Dujac; Smoking Wines to Fire Up Your Grilling; Trending Like It’s Hot; Xavier Vignon; The best value in Tuscan Wine: Felsina Rancia and Fontalloro; 2004 German Riesling; Muscadet Madness: New Releases Arriving This Month; Domaine & Maison Dujac: New 2015 Releases and Winery-Cellared Releases Arriving in September
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New 2015 Releases from Domaine Dujac
Arriving in September
Featured Pre-Arrival Offer:
Domaine Dujac Clos de la Roche Grand Cru 2015 750ML ($599.95) $499 pre-arrival special, 15 bottles available
Wine Advocate 95-97 points “The 2015 Clos de la Roche Grand Cru has been aged in 80% new oak, though frankly it was difficult to discern since it was so enmeshed. The nose is beautifully defined, perhaps more precise than the Clos Saint-Denis, with crystalline red cherry and strawberry fruit, cold limestone and violet scents. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin, stunning balance and beguiling purity towards the finish that has immense grace and tension. This is one of the finest Clos de la Roche of the 2015 vintage.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
The ’15 vintage wines are scarce, so Domaine Dujac is generously offering up several winery-cellared releases from the ’09 & ’11 vintages. The supplies on all are limited, so act fast and see the rest of the offer at the bottom of this newsletter!
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Smoking Wines to Fire Up Your Grilling
This robust rosé makes a fine pairing with grilled veggies and chicken – or serve with lighter apps while you wait for the coals to get hot:
Chateau de Trinquevedel Tavel Cuvee Traditionelle Rose, Rhone 2016 750ML ($19.95) $16.60 special, 36+ bottles available
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 91 points “Deep orange-pink. Pungent, expressive aromas of dried red berries, orange pith and succulent herbs; floral and mineral elements emerge as the wine opens up. Concentrated cherry and blood orange flavors show very good clarity and energy thanks to a core of juicy acidity. Lingers with strong tenacity on the sappy finish, which leaves a suave candied lavender note behind.”
Serve this with grilled rack of lamb or other full-flavored meats:
Chateau du Retout, Haut-Medoc 2014 750ML ($21.95) $17 special, 31 bottles available
Wine Spectator 90 points “Delightfully ripe, with an inviting core of plum and blackberry preserves, picking up an anise edge on the finish. A solid alder spine runs throughout, adding length and definition. Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot and Merlot.”
Wine Enthusiast 90 points “With an unusually high proportion (nearly 17%) of Petit Verdot in the blend, this is both darkly structured and dark in color. It is weight, intense youthful acidity and black-currant fruits. It’s also rich, full of tannins and in need of several years.”
James Suckling 90 points “A leafy cabernet nose leads into quite a powerful and tannic palate with the sleek body of a marathon runner. Better in 2018.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
This big Rioja begs for big beefy cuts or richly flavored barbecue:
Bodega Akutain Reserva, Rioja DOCa 2006 750ML ($49.95) $39 special, 13 bottles available
John Gilman 92+ points “The 2006 Rioja Reserva from Bodegas Akutain includes a bit of garnacha in the blend and was aged three years in old American oak barrels prior to bottling. The wine offers up an outstanding bouquet of red and black cherries, cigar ash, excellent soil tones, a bit of bay leaf and a discreet base of American oak. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied, complex and beautifully balanced with a fine core, still a bit of backend tannin and excellent grip and focus on the very long and classy finish. This is bottled unfiltered and unlike most ten year-old bottles of Rioja, this is best decanted off of its sediment. An excellent bottle from this very exciting classical Rioja estate! 2016-2030+.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
One of our favorite grill-ready wines: this unoaked Malbec offers super bang-for-your-buck complexity. Its juicy flavors sing with burgers:
Zorzal Eggo Tinto de Tiza, Tupungato, Argentina 2014 750ML ($39.95) $26 special, 36+ bottles available
Decanter 96 points ‘Top 10 Exciting Buys’ “Refreshing, beautiful nose with herbal and minty cool notes but also some chalky, mineral nuances so characteristic of the Gualtallary terroir. Bags of red fruits and lemon on the palate, vibrant, with a sensational invigorating freshness. Austere, precise, Malbec is one of the few grapes able to get such a pure expression. Texture is amazing, tannins are finely grained and oak is superbly managed. This is the treasure of Argentina.”
Wine Advocate 94 points “The 2014 Eggo Tinto de Tiza is a blend from three different vineyards in Tupungato Winelands in Gualtallary. It’s a blend of mostly Malbec with some Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. As is the case with the whole Eggo range, the wine didn’t see any oak, and in this case it was matured in egg-shaped cement vats for one year. There are violets, plums, dark cherries and something earthy. This is slightly riper than the 2013. The medium-bodied palate has is fresh with a silky texture, pure flavors and a mineral-driven finish. At this price I’d buy it by the case. Super!”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
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Trending Like It’s Hot
Tranche Cellars Blue Mountain Vineyard Syrah, Walla Walla Valley 2010 750ML ($39.95) $21.90 special, 33 bottles available
Case-12 Tranche Cellars Blue Mountain Vineyard Syrah, Walla Walla Valley 2010 750ML ($419.95) $219 special, 1 case available (that’s only $18.25/bottle!)
Wine Advocate 93 points “A gorgeous effort, the 2010 Syrah Blue Mountain Estate Vineyard offers up ripe, full throttle aromas of smoked black fruits, hints of chocolate, toast and spice to go with a full-bodied, rich and layered profile on the palate that has no hard edges, a great mid-palate and ripe tannin that emerges on the finish. A superb value, it will dish out loads of pleasure over the coming decade. Made by the team at Corliss, these Tranche Cellars releases are not only superb, they represent excellent value as well.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $30.75
Bedrock Wine Co. Pagani Ranch Heirloom-Heritage Wine, Sonoma Valley 2015 750ML ($51.95) $46 special, 24 bottles available
Antonio Galloni 95 points “The 2015 Pagani Heritage is the most overt and flamboyant of the Sonoma Valley wines. Inky red fruit, wild flowers, violet, mint and plum infuse this super-concentrated, dense Zinfandel-based wine.”
Il Poggione Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Tuscany 2012 750ML ($79.95) $59 special, 13 bottles available
Case-6 Il Poggione Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Tuscany 2012 750ML ($449.95) $333 special, 2 six-packs available (that’s only $55.50/bottle!)
Wine Advocate 95+ points “Il Poggione is a Brunello superstar and a vintage like this reveals every reason why that affirmation is true. From the second the 2012 Brunello di Montalcino pours into the glass, you know you are in for something special. The wine is darkly saturated and rich in appearance. Absent are those slightly amber or browning hues you often get with Sangiovese in a hot vintage. Nor does the wine show flat or tired characteristics. Instead, the quality of fruit is vibrant and rich. This is a healthy, generous and exuberant Brunello with dark density and succulent fruit flavors that are followed by integrated spice and tobacco. The balance is impressive and one thing you get here is fresh acidity. This is not to be underestimated, because the acidity quota in the 2012 vintage across the appellation is not as high or evident as usual. This is one of the year’s best Brunellos.”
Marchesi Antinori Tignanello Toscana IGT 2013 750ML ($119.95) $99 special, 4 bottles available
Marchesi Antinori Tignanello Toscana IGT 2013 375ML ($69.95) $55 special, 8 half-bottles available
Wine Spectator #8 Wine of the Year in 2016
James Suckling 97 points “This is amazing on the nose with blackberry, black truffle, dried cherry and hints of tobacco. So complex on the nose. Almost no need to taste it. Full body, soft and velvety tannins, and a persistent, fabulous finish. The mouthfeel is magic. 80% sangiovese and 20% cabernet sauvignon. Drink or hold.”
Wine Advocate 96 points “The 2013 Tignanello represents the beginning of a new chapter for Italy’s ultimate game-changer wine. The blend remains 80% Sangiovese with 15% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Cabernet Franc but Renzo Cotarella tells me “stylistically-speaking, this is what we wanted to achieve.” The winemaking formula remains the same, but one of the major differences and benefits to this wine is vineyard age. The celebrated Tignanello single vineyard is now reaching 15 years old. In other words, it is in its production prime. This is a harmonious and beautifully integrated wine that reveals black fruit and baking spice.”
Antonio Galloni 95+ points “The 2013 Tignanello is a real knock-out. Rich and intense, but also linear in style, the 2013 is endowed with superb energy from start to finish. In this vintage, the Cabernet Sauvignon and Franc character is especially evident, especially in the aromatics. Today, the 2013 is tightly wound and not ready to show all of its cards. Readers will have to be patient with the 2013, but the wine has plenty to say. Above all else, this is a remarkable level of quality for a wine with Bordeaux First Growth production (but not price) often in excess of 25,000 cases.”
Wine Spectator 94 points –#8 Top 100 of 2016–“Aromas of graphite, smoke and tobacco introduce the cherry flavor in this expressive, focused red. Firm tannins and lively acidity balance the fruit and purity, while herbal, spice and mineral elements all gather steam as this plays out on the long finish. Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2017 through 2027.”
Peter Lauer ‘Barrel X’ Saar Riesling, Mosel, Germany 2015 750ML ($24.95) $19 special, 26 bottles available
Case-12 Peter Lauer ‘Barrel X’ Saar Riesling, Mosel, Germany 2015 750ML ($279.95) $219 special, 3 cases available (that’s only $18.25/bottle!)
Importer note “You all know by now the stratospheric work Florian is doing in the Saar. This has always been the ambassador wine from the winery but this vintage elevates to Senior levels of complexity.”
Eric Asimov 20 Wines under 20 Pick for Fall 2016 ““Barrel X” is the entry-level riesling of Peter Lauer, which has become something of a cult producer. Its wines are precise and jewel-like, and this one is no different, rocky on the palate with an almost razor-like focus and just the most tender touch of residual sugar.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $23
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Xavier Vignon
Few in the Southern Rhône can make wine like Xavier Vignon. Grand Veneur’s 100 Point Châteauneuf-du-Pape VV 2010, along with Raymond Usseglio’s 99 Point Cuvée Impériale 2010: Xavier fashioned both. Having studied at Montpellier’s prestigious winemaking school, and polished his skills in places like Napa, Bordeaux, and Australia, Xavier arrived in Châteauneuf in the late 1990s. Following his success there, and heeding industry advice, he began buying specific barrels from some of his winery clients and blending his own line of wines. The wine world has since thanked Xavier for his contribution, and critics like Robert Parker continuously praise his signature bottlings.
Xavier’s mission remains simple: to showcase, and exalt, the character of the Rhône Valley’s most celebrated appellations. The wines of Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Vacqueyras, and Rasteau, for example, sing in their purest voices under the guidance of Xavier. His intuition and decades of experience as a Rhône winemaker pay off not just in 99-100 points, but likewise in his own brand of wines. We are offering an assortment of Xavier Vignon wines, all in the 90+ point range, at a fraction of what you’d pay for the wines Xavier makes as consultant.
Available Here Now from Xavier Vignon:
Xavier Rasteau, Rhone 2012 750ML ($34.95) $28.80 special, 36+ bottles available
Wine Advocate 93 points “One of my favorite wines from this estate, the 2012 Rasteau offers tons of ripe dark fruit, crushed rock, licorice and minerality in its full-bodied, concentrated profile. Made from 75% Grenache, 15% Syrah and 10% Mourvedre, it’s a classic Rasteau to drink over the coming 7-8 years.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Xavier Vignon Côtes du Rhône S.M. NV 750ML ($49.95) $39 special, 36+ bottles available
Wine Advocate 94 points “The NV Côtes du Rhône S.M. is thrilling stuff. Made from equal parts Grenache and Syrah and aged half in concrete and half in barrel, it offers a full-bodied, voluptuous and decadent style to go with overflowing notes of plum and darker fruits, licorice and violets. Gorgeous on all counts, it’s a shockingly good Côtes du Rhône to drink over the coming 4-6 years, although I wouldn’t be surprised to see it last even longer.”
Xavier Vacqueyras, Rhone 2010 750ML ($31.95) $26 special, 36 bottles available
Wine Advocate 91 points “The 2010 Vacqueyras was made from a somewhat unusual blend of 50% Syrah, 30% Mourvedre and 20% Grenache, most of it from the Plateau de Garrigue, near Sarrians in Vacqueyras. This rich effort reveals lots of forest floor, roasted herb, blackberry and cassis notes as well as a hint of acacia flowers. Impeccably pure, rich and long, it should drink well for 6-8 years.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Xavier Chateauneuf-du-Pape 2010 750ML ($47.95) $38 special, 36+ bottles available
Wine Advocate 91+ points “Richer, fuller and denser is the 2010 Chateauneuf du Pape, which is composed of 65% Grenache and the rest equal parts Mourvedre and Syrah. Its dense ruby/purple color is followed by abundant notes of black fruits, licorice, lavender, Provencal herbs as well as a meaty richness.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Xavier Chateauneuf-du-Pape La Reserve VII IX X NV 750ML ($69.95) $59 special, 25 bottles available
Wine Advocate 96 points “While I reviewed this NV Châteauneuf du Pape La Reserve VII IX X (a blend from the 2007, 2009 and 2010 vintages) last year, I was able to taste it again this go around, and it still blew me away. Fabulously full-bodied and decadent, with loads of lavender, incense, black raspberry and cured-meat nuances, it’s still youthful and vibrant, with notable freshness and purity. Enjoy this brilliant wine through 2028.”
Xavier Chateauneuf-du-Pape Cuvee Anonyme X 2010 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 35 bottles available
Wine Advocate 95+ points “The powerful, rich 2010 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Anonyme reveals an off-the-chart level of extract, lots of glycerin (nearly 16% natural alcohol) and copious black cherry, blueberry, forest floor, lavender and graphite characteristics. This full-throttle red requires 3-4 years of cellaring and should keep for two decades.”
Xavier Chateauneuf-du-Pape Cuvee Anonyme X 2011 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 36+ bottles available
Wine Advocate 95 points “The top wine of the estate, the 2011 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Anonyme is a hidden gem in the vintage! A blend of Grenache, Mourvedre, Syrah, Counoise and Vaccarese, from 90-year-old vines and aged in one-third new barrels (although you wouldn’t know it), it possesses fabulous notes of blackberry and currant fruit, big minerality, roasted meats and leather. Full-bodied, with beautiful freshness, big tannin and a layered, thrillingly concentrated mid-palate, it will be better in another year or two, and have over 15 years of longevity. Drink 2015-2026.”
Xavier Chateauneuf-du-Pape Cuvee Anonyme X 2012 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 36+ bottles available
Wine Advocate 95 points “The top wine from the portfolio, the 2012 Châteauneuf du Pape Cuvee Anonyme offers thrilling purity and focus in its lively dark fruits, roasted meats and underbrush-scented bouquet. Full-bodied, ripe and textured, with fantastic polish and sweetness to its tannin, it has a supple, forward feel, yet will easily evolve for 10-15 years.”
We offer 72 different red wines to choose from in-stock now from the Southern Rhone – check out the full list on our web store!
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Felsina Rancia and Fontalloro:
The Best Value in Tuscan Wine
“May I make a suggestion? Readers would do well to buy a case of [Felsina] Rancia upon release every year and put it away. Few wines deliver so much pleasure and pedigree at maturity for what remains a very fair price.” –Antonio Galloni
We know that Tuscan wine is crazy-popular, both from the requests we get and the sales we see here at the shop. While Brunello is still the undisputed star of the show, we think more people should be buying higher-end Chianti. Unlike Brunello, there seems to be a bit of an artificial price ceiling for Chianti and so the wines, no matter their absolute quality, cost less than comparable examples from the other famous neighborhood in Tuscany.
Felsina’s Rancia Riserva is a prime example. It costs half of what a comparable Brunello would and ages for at least as long. The wines are powerful, elegant and nuanced and wonderful at the table and we have some of the sharpest pricing in the country on the 2011 and 2012—two vintages that display all of the qualities we love in different ways. The 2012 being lighter and more nuanced and the 2011 with a bit more power and fruit. You’re going to want some cases.
The Fontalloro is the flagship wine for Felsina. Made from 100% Sangiovese (like a Brunello, yes), it’s generally considered to be the best wine that they make in any given vintage. We’ve been lucky enough to acquire several vintages so that you can have your pick (or perhaps drink a small vertical every year for a while).
In-Stock Now:
Felsina Berardenga Fontalloro Toscana IGT 2009 750ML ($69.95) $49 special, 18 bottles available
Case-12 Felsina Berardenga Fontalloro Toscana IGT 2009 750ML ($579.95) $519 special, 1 case available (that’s only $43.25/bottle!)
Antonio Galloni 94 points “There is a lot to like in the 2009 Fontalloro (Sangiovese). For starters, the wine is rich, broad and ample on the palate. Hints of tobacco, savory herbs, licorice and menthol all add complexity over time. The over juiciness of the fruit is nicely balanced by clean veins of underlying acidity that give the 2009 much of its freshness. This is another wine endowed with superb balance and class.” AG
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Felsina Berardenga Fontalloro Toscana IGT 2010 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 3 bottles available
Antonio Galloni 94+ points “The 2010 Fontalloro (Sangiovese) is impeccable. A sweet, open bouquet melds into expressive red fruits. Compared to the 2010 Rancia, Fontalloro is a decidedly more delicate, feminine wine. All the elements are very nicely balanced. I expect the 2010 will enjoy a fairly broad window of drinkability. Today I give the 2010 a very slight nod over the 2009, only because I think the 2010 will age a little longer, but both are striking.” AG
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $57
Felsina Berardenga Fontalloro Toscana IGT 2012 750ML ($59.95) $46 special, 21 bottles available
Wine Advocate 94 points “The 2012 Fontalloro (100% Sangiovese) is a stunning expression and delivers the high quality we have come to expect of this celebrated IGT Toscana wine in a less important vintage. Careful work has been done here to ensure the high quality of fruit. The Fontalloro vineyard is located on the border of the Chianti Classico and the Chianti Colli Senesi appellations. Many have called upon Fèlsina to change the wine’s status to Chianti Classico Gran Selezione, but technically it can’t be because of much of the vineyard is located outside the denomination limits. The bouquet is soft and rich with dark fruit and spice. In the mouth, Fontalloro reveals integrated tannins and acidity.”
Antonio Galloni 94 points “Dark red cherry, plum, cinnamon and crushed rock nuances flesh out in the 2012 Fontalloro. Next to most of the other wines in the lineup, the 2012 Fontalloro is floral, perfumed, fresh and vibrant, with gorgeous aromatic lift, silky tannins and lovely overall balance. Fontalloro often opens up before Rancia, as is the case today, but the 2012 also possesses more than enough depth to drink well for a number of years. Still, the sexy, radiant finish makes me think most bottles won’t be around to make old bones. Put simply, the 2012 Fontalloro is an arrestingly beautiful, showy wine built to please. And please it does.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $53
Felsina Berardenga Rancia, Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG 2011 750ML ($59.95) $41.90 special, 9 bottles available
Case-12 Felsina Berardenga Rancia, Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG 2011 750ML ($499.95) $469 special, 1 case available (that’s only $39.08/bottle!)
Antonio Galloni 94+ points “A wine of incredible density, the 2011 Chianti Classico Riserva Rancia is virtually impenetrable, but dazzling just the same. Rose petal, mint, sage, rosemary, leather and smoke hit the palate in a voluptuous, racy Rancia. The 2011 should drink well earlier than many other recent vintages, but it should also age nicely. The fine, silky tannins are a bit uncharacteristic for a young Rancia. Over the last few years, the 2011 has really started to come together. It will be interesting to see where things go from here.”
Wine Advocate 94 points “From the 6.25-hectare Rancia vineyard, the 2011 Chianti Classico Riserva Rancia shows a more elaborate and stylized personality with ripe fruit tones, bursting cherry, perfumed violets and rose petal. Those floral notes add a feminine touch to what is in fact a wine of power and determination. It shows a beautiful evolution in the glass as well, with dusty mineral notes that add to the overall elegance of the dry, polished finish. This is one of the best Riservas of 2011.” ML
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Felsina Berardenga Rancia, Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG 2012 750ML ($49.95) $39 special, 36+ bottles available
Antonio Galloni 94+ points “A ripe, powerful wine, the 2012 Chianti Classico Riserva Rancia offers a level of finesse that balances some of the more overt intensity of the year. Dark cherry, plum, spice, tobacco, menthol and licorice add shades of nuance as this beautifully delineated Rancia opens up in the glass. Because of its mid-weight structure, I expect the 2012 will give up its charms relatively early by Rancia standards, which means around age 15-20. The 2012 is not an obvious or explosive Rancia, rather is a wine built on compelling overall harmony.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $46
Speaking of the great wines of Chianti, we also have Felsina’s new Gran Selezione in stock now:
Felsina Berardenga ‘Colonia’, Chianti Classico Gran Selezione DOCG 2010 750ML ($199.95) $119 special, 15 bottles available
Wine Advocate 95+ points “When you hear the story of the effort that went into making the Colonia vineyard, you have to wonder if the fine folks at Fèlsina are absolutely mad. It took them two years of dynamite blasting to clear the imposing rock that had forced previous generations of the Poggiali family to virtually abandon this site. But an ambitious Giovanni Poggiali takes credit for making this spectacular vineyard what it is today. The wine produced here is quickly becoming the second flagship product after Fontalloro. The 2010 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Colonia is a wine of enormous beauty and depth. This is Sangiovese at its highest expression and any doubt I had about the previous vintage (which was the first time this wine appeared as a Gran Selezione) have been washed away by this current release. What really stands out are the wine’s precise mineral and graphite aromas that lend an incredible sense of focus and balance. The oak element is also beautifully integrated.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
And don’t forget to visit our web store to see all 114 different Tuscan wines we have in stock right now!
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2004 German Riesling:
A Mini Restrospective
Among the many things we love about Riesling is the way that it evolves and grows more interesting with age. Young wines are all about fruit—exuberant and expressive with minerality woven in. As the wines age, the fruit fades, the wines appear to dry out and the mineral qualities come to the fore. Eventually, they become honeyed, nutty and smoky.
2004, as a vintage, was really excellent on release and is in a beautiful place right now. It’s a vintage with higher, but not extreme, acidity and wines that are lighter framed than some, but have a playful tone to them. The wines are also in a great place in terms of their evolution—they have moved out of the “fruit phase” and started to show the underlying structure and minerality in a really attractive way. We’ve managed to gather a few examples, all released from the wineries’ cellars, that we’d like to highlight today at prices that remind you why German Riesling (even approaching maturity) is one of the better deals in wine.
Featured 2004 German Rieslings In-Stock Now:
Kruger-Rumpf Munsterer Dautenpflanzer Riesling Spatlese, Nahe 2004 750ML ($49.95) $39 special, 36+ bottles available
Jancis Robinson – Top 20 German Wine Producer in 2004
“Rumpf’s 2004 Munsterer Dautenpflanzer Riesling Spatlese smells of pineapple, pear and white peach, following with a delicate and refined palate impression saturated with a sense of liquid slate and pure pear, peach and pineapple fruit. The finish is smooth and long with generous fruit augmented by subtle spice and crushed stone. Classic 2004 virtues are on display.” -David Schildknecht [Reviewed 2005]
Terry Theise notes “Dautenpflänzer is one the leading Grand Crus of the lower Nahe, with a typical mélange of soil types within its borders. Rumpf claims some of it is slatey and some of it is “sandy loam,” which agrees more with the standard references. It is in any case singular and immediately significant, giving a sometimes damnably complex set of aromas and flavors including coconut, violet, soursop, leaf-smoke—it is a very long list even if you’re sober. In any case it belongs with the vamping exotics of the Nahe.” [Reviewed 2015]
Wine Spectator 89 points “Very firmly structured, but this is dense and offers spice and mineral shadings to complement the apple and white peach notes. Still leaning toward the structure on the finish, but this shows promise. Best from 2007 through 2020. 250 cases made.” WS [Reviewed 2006]
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $44
Schlossgut Diel Dorsheimer Burgberg Riesling Spatlese, Nahe 2004 750ML ($69.95) $54.50 special, 17 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 92 points “Resplendent aromas of papaya, pineapple and oyster shell. Dense but juicy, with a finely spiced acidity that seizes one’s palate. Finishes with impressive concentration and length. One of the finest spatleses of the vintage.” ST
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $59.99
Weingut Jos. Christoffel Jr. Christoffel-Prum Erdener Treppchen Riesling Auslese***, Mosel 2004 750ML ($44.95) $39 special, 24 bottles available
VinopolNote: Erdener Treppchen is the counterpart to the Wurtzgarten and has similar red-slate soils which provide the wine with an exotic tone. The Treppchen (little staircase, for the vineyard is so steep that steps were carved into the rock for the workers) produces wines that are typically powerful and compact and require several years of age to show their stuff. Luckily, this wine, direct from the producer’s cellar, is in that window now.
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Weingut Jos. Christoffel Jr. Christoffel-Prum Urziger Wurzgarten Riesling Auslese***, Mosel 2004 750ML ($44.95) $39 special, 5 bottles available
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Kruger-Rumpf Munsterer Pittersberg Riesling Spatlese, Nahe 2004 ($49.95) $39 special, 16 bottles available
Wine Spectator 88 points “Off-dry, this shows plenty of pepper and mineral notes, along with peach and citrus flavors. It’s elegant and balanced, showing the Mosel style of Nahe Riesling. Moderate length. Drink now through 2018. 140 cases made.” WS
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
And just for fun, here’s an amazing 2004 Austrian wine:
Familie Saahs Nikolaihof Steinriesler Riesling, Wachau 2004 750ML ($99.95) $71.90 special, 6 bottles available
David Schildknecht–Vinous 95 points “Having been bottled in April 2016, this received a shorter stay in cask than its three Steinriesler predecessors. (The vineyard source is Vom Stein. On the origins of Nikolaihof Steinriesler, readers are referred to my inaugural Austrian report for Vinous; and for the origins of the name “Steinriesler,” to my review in the subsequent report of the vintage 2002 installment.) A nose mingling gentian, elderflower, seaweed, mussels, salt spray and chicken stock is about as intriguing and far from fruity as the nose of any Riesling can be. Sage, fennel, peach kernel, lemon, alkali and wet stone all chime in on the silken, buoyant (11.5 percent alcohol) palate, rendering a carpet of richness and intricate complexity that unrolls in a mouthwateringly saline finish of polished and prodigious length. Nor does this bottling forget Riesling’s first duty to refresh. Those unfamiliar with Nikolaihof Vinothek bottlings, or who have not stopped to contemplate the chemistry of maturation in a large cask that’s effectively sealed with tartrate deposits, may be surprised at how little old oak flavor or sense of oxidative evolution this wine displays, and what hints of both are present merely enhance its multifaceted depth.”
The average price is $83
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Muscadet Madness
Notes on the 2014 and 2015 vintages from David Schildknecht’s recent article:
“Vintage 2015 left most Nantais growers smiling, if less broadly than those in many other Northern European growing regions. While young vines and certain sites were stressed by summer heat and drought, abundant but not excessive late-summer rainfall restarted maturation in any malingering vines, and a generous crop could eventually be harvested relatively early. Acid levels in 2015 are surprisingly ample, probably due as much as anything to the effects of vines having periodically shut down in mid-summer. The very best wines—those made from grapes whose aromatic evolution kept pace with advancing must weights—can hold their own against the 2014s; and enophiles who prioritize texture or are sensitive to high acidity may well prefer 2015… Muscadet is in a class by itself for sheer numbers, as well as for the subtle complexity and ageworthiness of the best examples.
“Vintage 2014 is one of the finest for Muscadet in living memory. And given the stylistic vision, quality consciousness and know-how that today characterize this genre’s foremost practitioners, it’s credible to claim that no previous vintage in the Nantais has boasted so many exciting wines.” –David Schildknecht
Newly Arrived:
Hubert Rousseau Domaine des Trois Toits Muscadet Sevre-et-Maine Tire Sur Lie 2015 750ML ($19.95) $16 special
Case-12 Hubert Rousseau Domaine des Trois Toits Muscadet Sevre-et-Maine Tire Sur Lie 2015 750ML ($219.95) $169 special (that’s only $14.08/bottle!)
“After harvest the grapes are pressed and the juice is placed in underground cuves in typical and ancient fashion in the Muscadet district. The alcoholic fermentation proceeds at low temperatures for three to five weeks. Afterwards the wine is racked off the gross lies and is left to age on the fine lies until bottling. During the period of elevage, the wines are in constant contact with the lies, with frequent batonage. The result is a fresh, mineral-driven wine that occasionally carries an almost imperceptible effervescence. Bottling normally occurs during the period of March through May of the year following harvest.”–Importer note
Muscadet Arriving This Month:
Domaine Pierre Luneau-Papin Muscadet Sevre-et-Maine Sur Lie ‘Terre de Pierre’, Loire 2015 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 pre-arrival special
David Schildknecht – Vinous 91-92 points “Last tasted in late July 2016, this was due for late October bottling (after a shorter time in tank than its 2014 predecessor was given). Generously scented with apple and lemon as well as a greenhouse-like diversity of flowering and leafing things, it delectably marries a rich mouthfeel with ample primary juiciness and refreshment, and finishes with a shimmering interaction of citrus, mineral salts and stone. ”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Domaine Pierre Luneau-Papin Muscadet Sevre et Maine Sur Lie Le L d’Or Granite Vallet 2015 750ML ($29.95) $24 pre-arrival special
David Schildknecht – Vinous 93 points “Lemon, grapefruit, white currant and white peach backed by tinglingly bright acidity and wreathed in floral perfume and greenery put me unexpectedly in mind of Riesling aromatics and flavors. A firm, dense but buoyant palate is saturated with maritime salts and alkali, as well as harboring a mouthwateringly and intriguingly sardine-like animal-mineral savor. The finish practically detonates, leaving your salivary glands milked and your mouth shaken but consummately refreshed and invigorated. This beauty combines the fruity generosity typical of 2015 with brightness and decisive mineral impressions more familiar from 2014, and is almost certain to stand as a high point for its vintage.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Domaine de la Pepiere Muscadet Sevre-et-Maine Clisson, Loire 2014 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 pre-arrival special
David Schildknecht – Vinous 92 points “Scents of flowers and foliage mingle with saline, alkaline intimations of sea breeze. A surprisingly rich, silken-textured midpalate offers pear and lemon liberally laced with saliva-liberating salinity and crushed stone, leading to a long finish loaded with intrigue as well as refreshment.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
The average price nationally is $29
Domaine de la Pepiere Muscadet Sevre-et-Maine Sur Lie ‘Les Gras Moutons’, Loire 2015 750ML ($21.95) $18 pre-arrival special
David Schildknecht – Vinous 90 points “Scents of lime, grapefruit and apple signal a generosity of fruit unusual for Muscadet and confirmed on the silken-textured, expansive, yet exuberantly juicy palate. Subtle but efficacious salinity and crystalline “mineral” tactile tingle conspire to create a mouthwatering, fascinating finish. (With the migration of some fruit from this site to the estate’s Monnières-Saint Fiacre, this bottling now reflects vines averaging around 40 years of age, which Branger characterizes as “relatively young.” Reprehensibly, I neglected to taste the 2014.)”
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Domaine & Maison Dujac
2015 Releases and Winery-Cellared Releases
Arriving in September
The ’15 vintage wines are scarce, so Domaine Dujac is generously offering up several winery-cellared releases from the ’09 & ’11 vintages. The supplies on all are limited, so act fast!
Limited white & red 2015 wines arriving in September:
Domaine Dujac Morey-Saint-Denis Blanc 2015 750ML ($119.95) $99 pre-arrival special, 3 bottles available
Wine Advocate 88-90 points “The 2015 Morey-Saint-Denis Blanc sees around 20% new oak. It has a clean, precise bouquet with hints of yellow plum and citrus fruit. The palate is fresh and vibrant, lively in the mouth with hints of nectarine and mango towards the pretty finish with just the faintest of tropical notes. Almost too good to age in bottle, this is a delight.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Domaine Dujac Monts Luisants Blanc, Morey-Saint-Denis Premier Cru 2015 750ML ($199.95) $149 pre-arrival special, 3 bottles available
Wine Advocate 89-91 points “The 2015 Morey-Saint-Denis 1er Cru Mont Luisants Blanc offers very subtle hints of white chocolate and blanched almonds on the nose that opens with enthusiasm in the glass. The palate is fresh and vibrant with very fine salinity. It is pierced by a keen line of acidity that keeps the mouth tingling long after the wine has departed. I appreciate the tension and race here and it should age with style over several years.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Domaine Dujac Les Combettes, Puligny-Montrachet Premier Cru 2015 750ML ($249.95) $219 pre-arrival special, 3 bottles available
Wine Advocate 91-93 points “The 2015 Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Combettes has a focused bouquet, subtle and perhaps showing a greater mineral edge than the Folatières. The palate is a little richer than the aforementioned premier cru: veins of apricot and fresh mango, the older vines just imparting more race and tension towards the poised finish. This comes recommended.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Domaine Dujac Les Folatieres, Puligny-Montrachet Premier Cru 2015 750ML ($219.95) $189 pre-arrival special, 3 bottles available
Wine Advocate 90-92 points “The 2015 Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Folatières, which comes from two parcels of young and smaller plot of older vines, has a well-defined, austere but focused bouquet with gunflint and smoky scents reluctantly emerging. The palate is well balanced with pretty pear drop and light spicy notes, gently building to a poised finish. This is a well-crafted Puligny Folatières with nerve and focus.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Maison Dujac Pere & Fils Chambolle-Musigny 2015 750ML ($119.95) $99 pre-arrival special, 3 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 89-91 points “Bright medium red. Inviting aromas of red raspberry, smoky minerals and spices. At once velvety and vibrant, offering lovely floral lift and an intriguing carnal quality to its flavors of raspberry, red licorice and spices. Finishes with dusty tannins and lingering notes of strawberry and spices. Excellent potential here. Jeremy Seysses vinified with a significant percentage of whole clusters “across the board” in 2015 and aged his nvgociant wines in about 25% new oak.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Maison Dujac Pere & Fils Morey-Saint-Denis AOC 2015 750ML ($119.95) $99 pre-arrival special, 3 bottles available
Burghound 88-91 points “Interestingly this is actually a bit more aromatically elegant with its super fresh nose of red cherry, rose petal and lightly spiced aromas. The freshness continues onto the appealingly energetic medium weight flavors that exude a fine bead of minerality on the more complex and slightly more persistent finale.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Domaine Dujac Chambolle-Musigny 2015 750ML ($149.95) $119 pre-arrival special, 1 bottle available
Wine Advocate 88-90 points “The 2015 Chambolle-Musigny Village has a well-defined bouquet although compared to the Morey Saint-Denis Village, I could just feel the whole bunch fruit coming through more, imparting more undergrowth-like aromas. The palate is marked by tart red cherry and cranberry fruit, its spiciness on the back palate and the firm, almost Morey-like structure on the finish.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Domaine Dujac Morey-Saint-Denis AOC 2015 750ML ($149.95) $119 pre-arrival special, 9 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 89-91 points “Bright medium red. Pure, ripe aromas of raspberry and brown spices. Delivers sappy sweetness and lovely spicy lift to its red berry flavors. This intense, nicely delineated village wine really echoes on the firm, persistent finish.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Domaine Dujac Morey-Saint-Denis Premier Cru 2015 750ML ($249.95) $219 pre-arrival special, 3 bottles available
Wine Advocate 90-92 points “The 2015 Morey-Saint-Denis 1er Cru comes from four different lieux-dits from north to south of the appellation. It has an attractive bouquet with black cherries, bilberry and orange blossom; the oak neatly folded into the fruit. The palate is medium-bodied with crisp tannin, masculine in style with subtle tobacco notes infusing the slightly broody and yet fresh and tensile finish. It deserves a couple of years in bottle and should evolve into a very attractive Morey-Saint-Denis.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Domaine Dujac Les Beaumonts, Vosne-Romanee Premier Cru 2015 750ML ($399.95) $349 pre-arrival special, 2 bottles available
Wine Advocate 93-95 points “The 2015 Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru Les Beaux Monts was showing some reduction on the nose, although there is clearly plenty of ripe red cherry and cranberry fruit underneath. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannin and a silver bead of acidity. This comes across as being very harmonious with good backbone; saline in the mouth with a persistent, peppery aftertaste that lasts for over a minute. This is simply a Beaux Monts from the top-drawer.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Domaine Dujac Charmes-Chambertin Grand Cru 2015 1.5L ($699.95) $649 pre-arrival special, 1 magnum available
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 91-94 points “(racked): Bright, dark red. Inviting scents of dark raspberry, blood orange, dried flowers and musky underbrush. Sweeter, creamier and deeper than the Combottes but not yet showing quite the lift of that wine. Flavors of raspberry, chocolate and earth are joined by a bit of low-toned oak. Finishes with substantial dusty tannins and a lingering saline quality.”
Burghound 92-94 points “This is more aromatically restrained still as the earthy and sauvage-tinged nose only grudgingly provides glimpses of the pretty lavender, spice, tea and red cherry aromas. This possesses an interesting palate impression as the mid-palate is round, supple and caressing yet the finish is dusty, firm, serious and borderline rustic. I suspect that this will loosen up quickly such that it will be approachable after only 7 to 8 years yet require 15 to 18 to arrive at its full peak.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Domaine Dujac Clos Saint-Denis Grand Cru 2015 1.5L ($1,199.95) $999 pre-arrival special, 1 magnum available
Wine Advocate 94-96 points “The 2015 Clos Saint-Denis Grand Cru has a very mineral-driven bouquet, a mixture of red and black fruit, a captivating marine influence coming through with superb delineation. The palate is beautifully balanced with orange zest infusing the bright red fruit, perhaps showing the growing season a little more than the Echézeaux, but what I like here is the crescendo of flavor and the intensity on the bravura finish. It feels tightly coiled at the moment but it will surely spread its wings once in bottle.”
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 93-96 points “Full, slightly hazy red. An inviting basket of red berries on the nose, complicated by rose petal, dusty spices and penetrating minerality. At once dense and tangy on the palate, with a juicy pungency and razor-sharp definition to its red fruit and floral flavors. Wonderfully vibrant and detailed grand cru, showing more verve today than the Clos de la Roche. This impeccably balanced wine finishes with a firm spine of harmonious tannins and compelling lingering perfume. Really leaves the taste buds quivering.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Domaine Dujac Echezeaux Grand Cru 2015 1.5L ($999.95) $899 pre-arrival special, 1 magnum available
Wine Advocate 92-94 points “The 2015 Echézeaux Grand Cru has a sense of brightness on the nose that actually reminded me of Domaine de la Romanée-Conti! There is a sense of effervescence and vibrancy in situ, conveying a wine with a sense of purpose. With time, there is a touch of wilted rose petal complementing the fruit aromas. The palate is medium-bodied with succulent ripe red berry fruit, orange pith and a touch of sea salt. It shows very good length with a very precise finish, a “complete” Echézeaux that does much to impress.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Dujac Winery-Cellared Releases Arriving in September:
Domaine Dujac Les Gruenchers, Chambolle-Musigny Premier Cru 2009 750ML ($399.95) $349 pre-arrival special, 3 bottles available
Burghound 91 points “An expressive nose offers up very spicy and largely floral-dominated aromas of black raspberry liqueur. The rich, generous and forward middle weight flavors possess good verve as well as ample minerality that give lift to the mouth coating and gorgeously long finish brimming with dry extract. This is one of the more structured vintages of this wine that I have seen as it will require 10 to 15 years to be at its best.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $375
Domaine Dujac Les Gruenchers, Chambolle-Musigny Premier Cru 2011 750ML ($299.95) $249 pre-arrival special, 3 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 90+ points “(vinified entirely with whole clusters): Aromas of red cherry, raspberry, pepper and herbs. At once silky and imploded, with tightly wound flavors of tart cranberry, pepper and spices. This very lively, firmly tannic wine needs time in bottle and will merit a higher score if it gains in pliancy.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Domaine Dujac Bonnes-Mares Grand Cru 2011 750ML ($599.95) $499 pre-arrival special, 3 bottles available
Antonio Galloni 96 points “The 2011 Bonnes-Mares is dark, powerful and racy. Some of the typical Bonnes-Mares structure is tempered in this vintage, making the wine a little more accessible than it usually is. Menthol, licorice, dried herbs, smoke and dark stone fruits blossom in a dark, virile Burgundy that should provide thrilling drinking for the next 30 years or so. Although I don’t think the 2011 will take as long as most vintages to blossom, it will need at least a decade to start to open up. A recent bottle of the 1993 was stratospheric and showed no signs whatsoever of fading.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
The average price nationally is $577
Domaine Dujac Clos Saint-Denis Grand Cru 2011 750ML ($499.95) $399 pre-arrival special, 3 bottles available
Antonio Galloni 95 points “A model of elegance and finesse, the 2011 Clos St. Denis presents a hugely attractive fabric laced with orange peel, rose petals and sweet spices. The 2011 is an especially floral, lifted Clos St. Denis endowed with terrific energy and focus, while the mid-weight structure suggests it will drink well relatively early.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
The average price nationally is $456
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Thank you for reading!