In Today’s Newsletter:
2004 Krug – Best Price!
Incredible Gem from Chateau St Cosme Steals the Show –Wine Spectator
New Arrival from Guarachi
French Classics on the September Clearance Sale!
Best deal of the year, so far… Aldo Conterno
K Vintners Arriving Tomorrow
Resonance Estate Vineyard Bottling
Domaine Louis-Claude Desvignes
Dom Perignon & Veuve Clicquot
Gatinois: The Glory of Äy
Rare & Cherished Ridge Monte Bello
Vilmart’s Rare Cuvee
Final Countdown
for the
September Clearance Sale
Lowest Listed Price in the USA!
“2004 is clearly superior to the consistently underwhelming 2002” –Antonio Galloni
“There’s a controlled power to this poised, vinous, linear 2004… It has a luminous freshness and good density” -Decanter
“There is marvelous precision here on both the nose and palate, not to mention a sense of harmony and grace” –John Gilman, A View from the Cellar
“The poise is unquestionable” –James Suckling
Antonio Galloni 97+ points “Krug’s 2004 Vintage is absolutely mesmerizing. Layers of bright, chiseled fruit open up effortlessly as the wine fleshes out with time in the glass. Persistent and beautifully focused, with a translucent sense of energy, the 2004 captures all the best qualities of the year. Moreover, the 2004 is clearly superior to the consistently underwhelming 2002 and the best Krug Vintage since 1996. Readers who can find it should not hesitate, as it is a magical bottle.”Decanter 97 points “This is the current and latest vintage release from Krug, and is a fitting successor to 2002, though it’s very different in style – unusually, the blend contains more Chardonnay than Pinot Noir. Despite this, it is hallmark Krug with its oxidative profile. It has a luminous freshness and good density without heaviness. There’s a controlled power to this poised, vinous, linear 2004, displaying candied fruits, minerals, gingerbread, white chocolate, caramel and marzipan. This has a long, dry autolytic finish, great balance and lovely bead. Disgorged just after the next, and very different, vintage we tasted, the Krug 2003. Drinking Window 2017-2037.”
John Gilman 97 points “The new release of 2004 Krug is absolutely beautiful and is already quite elegant and open on both the nose and palate and is drinking with great finesse. I had expected this wine to be a bit more steely in structure out of the blocks, but the refinement of the blend this year has produced a wine that is already a joy to drink at age thirteen, though it will continue age gracefully for many, many decades to come. The cépages in 2004 is thirty-nine percent Chardonnay, thirty-seven percent Pinot Noir and twenty-four percent Pinot Meunier, with the wine having been disgorged in the winter of 2016. The bouquet jumps from the glass in a refined mix of apple, a touch of walnut, warm bread, lavender, a superb base of soil tones and a topnote of smokiness. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied and utterly seamless, with vibrant acids, great focus and grip, a lovely core, refined mousse and a very long, complex, racy and energetic finish. There is marvelous precision here on both the nose and palate, not to mention a sense of harmony and grace that is fairly rare in the 2004 vintage. Chapeau! 2017-2060.”
James Suckling 97 points “This is an extremely fresh edition and remains in a restrained mode with an intense serve of Chardonnay’s lemon citrus dominating the nose alongside lime zest, bright florals, grassy elements, fresh dough, white stones and very subtle background spice. The palate has a svelte and elegant shape. Smoother than the 2002, it shares the same quality of precision but not the raging power of that vintage. The poise is unquestionable, the wine very reserved, with plenty of lemon-infused citrus flavors, hints of fresh cashew and a lot of potential. Acidity holds superbly, the dosage is exactly where it should be. This is a classic release. It’s all about Chardonnay. Best from 2022 and will mature gracefully in linear style in bottle for several decades.”
Wine Advocate 96 points “From a fresh vintage and internally nicknamed ‘Luminous Freshness,’ Krug’s light golden colored 2004 Brut is brighter on the nose than the 2002 that I tasted next to it. There are fresh, candied citrus as well as ripe yellow-fleshed fruit aromas along with floral and lots of chalky notes on the well-concentrated bouquet. The palate is incredibly fruity, vibrantly fresh yet delicate and very well balanced and is provided with great elegance, texture, finesse and remarkable mineral tension. The 2004–a blend of Chardonnay (39%), Pinot Noir (37%) and Pinot Meunier (24%)–is completely built on freshness and taut yet balanced vitality. It is the last of the second trilogy in the history of the House, the first being 1988, 1989 and 1990 and the second 2002, 2003 and 2004. Tasted in April 2018 from ID 316034 that was disgorged in III/2016.”
The average price is $288Keep reading to see our incredible offers on Dom Perignon and Veuve Cliquot!
Featured New Review
Wine Spectator Insider
Loves the 2016 St Cosme Gigondas!
Incredible Gem from Chateau St Cosme Steals the Show –Wine Spectator
In Stock Now:
Case-6 Chateau de Saint Cosme Gigondas, Rhone 2016 750ML ($519.95) $419 special (that’s only $34.92/bottle!)
Case-12 Chateau de Saint Cosme Gigondas, Rhone 2016 750ML ($289.95) $219 special (that’s only $36.50/bottle!)
Wine Spectator 95 points “Perfumy and stylish, with rooibos tea, blood orange and cherry aromas and flavors weaving through, infused with sandalwood, anise, bay leaf, sage and pepper notes along the way. A very fine and persistent chalky spine supports it all. Best from 2020 through 2035.”
The average price is $54
New Arrival
Wine Enthusiast 94 points “This 100% varietal wine comes from two stellar sites: Broken Rock on Atlas Peak and Las Piedras, an appropriately gravelly site farmed by Andy Beckstoffer. Together, they yield magic—a thick, juicy and well-integrated layering of red cherry, clove and cigar that exudes a strong barrel presence and structured tannin profile.”
Wine Spectator 92 points “The initial push of vivid raspberry and currant picks up herb and earth notes, gaining a measure of elegance and grace before ending with firm tannins. Best from 2019 through 2030. 650 cases made.”
The average price is $77
Bereche et Fils Reflet d’Antan Brut, Champagne NV 1.5L ($299.95) Was $219, Now $199 September Clearance Price, only 4 magnums remaining!
Antonio Galloni 93 points “The flagship NV (2012) Reflet d’Antan is quite rich and intense, yet it also maintains striking translucence. Dried flowers, herbs and spices add aromatic nuance throughout, but, as is often the case, Reflet d’Antan is a wine of texture and feel above all else. Dosage is 6 grams per liter. Disgorged December 2016.”
Now it’s even lower!
The next best price for the magnum is $257
A modern Jayer
Lucien Le Moine Bourgogne Rouge, Burgundy 2010 750ML ($69.95) Was $59, Now $49 September Clearance Price
VinopolNote: Lucien Le Moine (the nom de plume for Mounir and Rotem Saouma) is one of the hottest names in Burgundy. The rise has been meteoric due to the scarcity of the wines (under 100 barrels) and that they only work with grand and premier cru vineyards—with the exception of a tiny amount of Bourgogne. To understand why the Le Moine Bourgogne rouge is such an exceptional wine, the first thing to understand is that the house doesn’t make, or set out to make, anything close to average wine. Jaspar Morris MW calls them an “haute-coture negociant” and just like a high end designer, they want everything they do to make a statement. The Bourgogne is a blend of village and premier cru wine from some under-the-radar appellations and even some Premier and Grand Cru barrels that don’t quite meet the exceptionally lofty standards to be sold under the vineyard names. Less than 500 bottles make it into the US, so the chance to acquire some is a special opportunity. When you couple that exceptional raw material with the Le Moine house style, which is heavily influenced by Jayer, you end up with wines in a very exclusive peer group. That style produces exceptionally sensual wines—wines that have textures like silk and explosive fruit that seems to arrive in waves from nowhere. They’re the opposite of rustic—polished and luxurious. These are wines that any wine lover should covet and take pains to acquire for their cellar. 2010 is looking like an all-time great Burgundy vintage. This bottling gives a clear picture into why.
One of our favorite Chambertin satellites.
Domaine Philippe Charlopin Charmes-Chambertin Grand Cru, Cote de Nuits 2013 750ML ($249.95) Was $219, Now $199 September Clearance Price
Wine Spectator 94 points “Bright and focused, exhibiting spicy black cherry, raspberry, earth, smoke, vanilla and toast aromas and flavors. Bracing acidity offsets the lush texture, driving this to a long, expansive finish. Best from 2019 through 2030.”
A wow wine from a tip top vintage.
Domaine Perrot-Minot Les Beaux Monts Vieilles Vignes, Vosne-Romanee Premier Cru 2010 750ML ($199.95) Was $179, Now $159 September Clearance Price
Antonio Galloni 91-93 points “The 2010 Vosne-Romanée Les Beaux Monts is deep, dark and sensual. It currently comes across as young, but there is gorgeous fleshiness and mid-palate pliancy that makes the Beaux Monts totally irresistible.”
Now it’s even lower!
The next best price is $186
The “second” rosé from Simone—a wonderful
Chateau Simone Les Grands Carmes de Simone Rose, IGP Bouches-du-Rhone 2014 750ML ($39.95) Was $33, Now $26 September Clearance Price
Importer note “We are pleased to be able to access a larger quantity of the “Grandes Carmes de Simone” Rosé this year, which is classified as a Vin de Pays des Bouches du Rhone. From a small north-facing site just around the hill from the Chateau itself, the wine is 45% Grenache, 30% Mourvedre, 20% Merlot and 5% Cinsault. It receives the same special care as the flagship Palette, with manual harvests and extended elevage in small foudre.”
The average price is $33
A rosé in a class and style by itself.
Chateau Simone Palette Rose, Provence 2016 750ML ($64.95) Was $51.90, Now $41.90 September Clearance Price
Chateau Simone Palette Rose, Provence 2016 1.5L ($139.95) Was $119, Now $99 September Clearance Price
Neal Rosenthal note “The Château Simone Rosé is a wine that belies the notion that rosés are simple wines to be drunk up young. We have indulged ourselves with 10-year old Château Simone Rosé and have marveled at the tenacity, vibrancy and complexity of this very serious wine. The blend is identical to the rouge: 45% Grenache, 30% Mourvèdre, 5% Cinsault, 20% Syrah, Castet, Manosquin, Carignan, Muscat Noir & Blanc. Aged in barrel, it is powerful and age-worthy with a steely character and a grey-tinted aura to the faded rose-petal robe.”
The average price is $59
Steely lean and vivid, a pure bolt of Alpine freshness
Domaine Jean Masson & Fils Savoie Apremont Coeur d’Apremont Vieilles Vignes 2016 750ML ($49.95) Was $39, Now $36 September Clearance Price
Importer note: Shows a deep minerality and super long finish.
Winery note “Our flagship wine, the cuvee Coeur d’Apremont is sourced from the same plots every year, selected with the greatest care by Jean-Claude Masson. The grass cover-cropping and the age to the vines (80 years on average) result in tiny yields. Thus, when the fruit is picked at optimum maturity, it highly expresses all its aromatic potential. The result, after a long fermentation on fine lees, is a powerful wine of purity, characterized by notes of exceptional candied fruit: apricot, fig and peach.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Want to see all of the wines in the September Clearance Sale?
Keep reading until the end of the newsletter for the full list!
Best deal of the year, so far…
Arriving Tomorrow!
Charles Smith K Vintners The Cattle King Syrah, Snipes Mountain 2015 750ML ($119.95) $89 pre-arrival special
Jeb Dunnuck 100 points “Another off the charts effort is the 2015 Syrah Cattle King Upland Vineyard, which is also saturated purple/black in color. Possessing a more backward, yet insanely pure bouquet of crème de cassis, black fruits, smoked earth, graphite, and violets, it’s beautifully concentrated, has no hard edges, thrilling purity, and a gorgeous, layered, awesome, multi-dimensional style. It needs short-term cellaring but is a monumental wine from Washington.”
Charles Smith K Vintners The Hidden Syrah, Wahluke Slope 2015 750ML ($119.95) $89 pre-arrival special
Jeb Dunnuck 100 points “One of the inkier, blacker colored wines in the lineup, the 2015 Syrah The Hidden is a profound Syrah and as good as it gets. Blackcurrants, smoked meats, graphite, and tapenade notes all emerge from this seriously badass, deep, rich, balanced beauty. Concentrated, thick, and huge, yet with no weight on the palate, building tannin, and incredible elegance, it needs to be tasted to be believed. It’s unquestionably one of the greatest Syrah from this team.”
Wine Advocate 96+ points “Inky and wild, the 2015 Syrah The Hidden Northridge Vineyard offers up a savory bouquet of grilled meat, licorice, blackberries, cherries and cracked black pepper. On the palate, it’s full-bodied, ample and rich, with an authoritatively chewy chassis of fine-grained tannins and bright, succulent acids. There’s a lot of fruit and power here but plenty of savory nuance to match it. This is even more massive than the Syrah Cattle King, but it’s more nuanced too. Given the structure, it will need some time in the cellar, so forget it for 4 or 5 years and follow it for the next 15.”
Charles Smith K Vintners The Deal Sundance Vineyard Syrah, Columbia Valley 2015 750ML ($49.95) $39 pre-arrival special
Jeb Dunnuck 95 points “All from the Sundance Vineyard on the Wahluke Slope, the 2015 Syrah The Deal (100% Syrah, not destemmed and aged in 30% new puncheons) offers smoking notes of red and black fruits, black olive, smoked earth and a huge meatiness. Full-bodied, silky and seamless, with a rock, mineral, backward style.”
Charles Smith K Vintners ‘Ovide’ Jack’s Vineyard Cabernet – Syrah, Walla Walla Valley 2015 750ML ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival special
Jeb Dunnuck 95 points “The 2015 Cabernet / Syrah Ovide Jack’s Vineyard is named after Charles’ father and comes from a site next to River Rock, both in the Rocks region of the Walla Walla Valley. A blend of 70/30 Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah, its deep ruby color is followed by a terrific bouquet of blackcurrants, tapenade, dried earth and dried herbs. It’s rich, full-bodied, and concentrated, with beautiful depth.”
Substance ‘Cs’ Vineyard Collection Jack’s Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley 2015 750ML ($59.95) $44 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 94 points “The 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Jack’s Vineyard offers up rich aromas of red and blackcurrants, espresso roast, burning embers and brown sugar. On the palate, it’s full-bodied, rich and lavish, with an ample core of fruit, melting tannins, loads of savory complexity and a sapid, saline finish. It’s a characterful Cabernet Sauvignon to follow for the coming decade.”
Jeb Dunnuck 94 points “Kirsch, caramelized red and black currants, spice, and cedar pencil notes all emerge from the 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Jack’s Vineyard. An elegant, pretty, pure expression of the Rocks Terroir, as well as Cabernet Sauvignon, it’s going to keep for a decade at least.”
Substance ‘Cs’ Vineyard Collection Powerline Cabernet Sauvignon, Walla Walla Valley 2015 750ML ($59.95) $44 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 95 points “Wafting from the glass with notes of rich red and black fruits, cigar tobacco, petroleum jelly and spice, the 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Powerline Vineyard is the richest, most lavish and velvety bottling in the Wines of Substance portfolio, cutting a broad swath across the palate. Full-bodied, ample and generous, it boasts plenty of savory complexity and concludes with a dry, saline finish. Dramatic and characterful, it’s immensely appealing. Sadly, at 239 cases, it’s the smallest of all these cuvées too.”
Jeb Dunnuck 94 points “Coming from mostly 169 and 2 clones of Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Powerline Vineyard offers a deep ruby color as well as complex notes of ripe black cherries, currants, leafy herbs, and tapenade. It’s rich, full-bodied, silky, and seamless, with fine, polished tannin and a great finish. Drink this complex, elegant, singular Cabernet over the coming decade or more.”
Resonance Estate Vineyard Bottling
Arriving Tomorrow!
When the esteemed Maison Louis Jadot first ventured outside of France, Jadot’s famed winemaker, Jacques Lardière, selected the Resonance Vineyard in the Willamette Valley, a biodynamic, dry-farmed site of ungrafted vines.
2014 is the first vintage they estate released their wine as a single-vineyard
You’ll find it here for the absolute best price in the USA
(Expect to pay $52-79 elsewhere!)
Any lower price you see online if for the Willamette Valley bottling, which we sell for $28!
Arriving Friday, September 28th:
Uncommon pedigree for an unheard of price…
Resonance Resonance Vineyard Pinot Noir, Yamhill-Carlton District 2014 750ML ($69.95) $37 pre-arrival special
Case-6 Resonance Resonance Vineyard Pinot Noir, Yamhill-Carlton District 2014 750ML ($279.95) $199 pre-arrival special (that’s only $33.17/bottle!)
Wine Enthusiast 94 points “This exceptional vineyard, more than 35-years-old, brings a wealth of subtle details to a wine that has both grace and power. There’s truffle, earth, mocha, plum, spice, coffee and on and on it goes, all well integrated already. Experience would suggest that wines from this vineyard, previously made for Sineann, are exceptionally ageworthy. Drink now if you must, or cellar and drink from 2022 to 2030.”
The average price is $49
Beaujolais of the Day
Domaine Louis-Claude Desvignes
Arriving Friday, October 5th
“His vineyards came to him by inheritance and the Desvignes family, as the name suggests, has been making Morgon for generations. The vineyards are on the Montagne de Py in the center of Morgon, the fruit of which is of far superior quality to that produced in the outlying areas of the appellation. If there were a classification of vineyards in Morgon, Côte-de-Py would be a premier cru and Javernières a grand cru. They are located on the best exposition of the hill, with soil of decomposed schist, and Javernières is a plot within the Côte-de-Py with a little more clay.” –Louis Dressner Imports
Top of the Class Beaujolais Arriving Friday, October 5th
Domaine Louis Claude Desvignes Morgon Cote du Py Javernieres, Beaujolais 2017 750ML ($34.95) $28 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 95 points “The superb 2017 Morgon Côte du Py Javernières wafts from the glass with a kaleidoscopic bouquet of black cherries, wild blueberries, licorice and dried rose petals. On the palate, it’s medium to full-bodied, with striking concentration and depth, structured around finer, more elegant tannins than the regular Côte du Py bottling. The finish is incredibly long.”
Wine Advocate 93 points “Unfurling in the glass with notes of black cherries, mulberries, cracked black pepper and dark chocolate, the 2017 Morgon Côte du Py is a deep, brooding, medium to full-bodied wine with considerable power and firm but fine-grained extract. Concentrated and structured, it will reward patience.”
The average price nationally is $28
Arriving Mid-October
Dom
&
Veuve
James Suckling 99 points “A mind-blowing wine. This is super subtle and intense with aromas of peaches, light strawberry and cream. Also shows rose petal and cooked peaches. Medium to full body, with ultra-fine tannins that feel like fine silk. The finish goes on for mintutes. It floats across the palate. The winemaker says the closet vintage to this is the 1990, but I think this is better.”
Antonio Galloni 95 points “The 2005 Dom Pérignon Rosé is intriguing, complex and multi-faceted. Brisk and refreshing, with a slightly herbal (but not unpleasant character), the 2005 is superb today. Over time, the wine has acquired a bit more depth and body than it showed at the outset. Even with all of its depth, though, I would not suggest cellaring the 2005 too long given the challenges of the year. Hints of blood orange, mint, sage and dried flowers add the closing shades of nuance.”
Wine Spectator 95 points “This rosé Champagne is rich and vinous, offering smoky minerality up front, expanding to show dried raspberry, mandarin orange zest, brioche and espresso crème flavors that ride the fine, lacy mousse. Spice and mineral details persist on the racy finish. Drink now through 2027.”
Wine Enthusiast 95 points “This Champagne is beautifully mature, its ripe fruit and soft texture magnified by toast and yeast. Rich and full bodied, its fine acidity keeps it in great condition. With a crisp aftertaste that gives it a delicious lift, it’s ready to drink now.”
The average price is $327
James Suckling 97 points “This is a DP that shows the ripeness of the 2009 vintage yet remains full of energy. Gorgeous aromas of cream, apple, mango, honeysuckle, and chalk follow through to a full body and super fine, tight texture. Dense and agile. Vinous. It’s like a top grand cru white Burgundy. Think Batard-Montrachet. More depth than the 2006. Drink now.”
Decanter 96 points “Unbroken sun through August and early September helped to shape an idyllic harvest, on 12th September. Superb maturity of fruit in flawless health has produced a wine with wafting scents of both fresh and confit of spiced lemon and wild cherry. Despite the heat, the wine has freshness, vitality and length. Still a youngster, this will grow greatly by 2019. A more stylish son of the ’03, and cousin of the slender and charming ’06. Disgorged June 2016.”
Antonio Galloni 94+ points “The 2009 Dom Pérignon is a gorgeous, totally seductive Champagne that will drink well right out of the gate. Medium in body and unusually open-knit at this stage, the 2009 is one of the most accessible young Dom Pérignons I can remember tasting. It is an excellent choice to drink while waiting for the release of the stellar 2008 and some recent vintages that remain very young, including the 2006. Despite the warm, ripe personality of the 2009 Dom Pérignon is quite gracious, but there is plenty of depth underpinning the fruit. With each successive tasting, the 2009 seems to have gained more power and breadth, especially on the finish. Above all else, the 2009 is decidedly restrained for a warm, radiant vintage. It is not as overtly flamboyant as the 2002 nor as phenolically intense as years like 2003 and 2006. Instead, the 2009 is a beautifully balanced Champagne, with all of its elements in the right place. Tasted three times.”
Gilbert & Gaillard 97 points “Coppery orange-pink. The nose is shy on first pour then delivers delicate red fruit, dried fruit and mild spice notes after swirling. Fleshy attack, fine bubbles and superb freshness. A tense, elegant rose. Hugely successful, almost a foregone conclusion.”
Decanter 96 points “It is quite something to be invited to the launch of Champagne Veuve Clicquot 2008 at Clos des Lambrays, one of the finest grands crus of Burgundy’s Côte de Nuits and acquired by LVMH in April 2014. It was rumoured to have paid close to €100m. The Veuve Clicquot 2008 is VC Chef de Caves Dominique Demarville’s first solo vintage. What fascinated him at Lambrays was winemaker Thierry Brouin’s consummate talent in capturing from the red iron-rich soil a wonderfully bright character in the wine- so fresh, rich yet elegant, density and delicacy in magical harmony. The same can be said for my two coups de coeur in Clicquot 2008. — Veuve Clicquot 2008 (Magnum) — Shimmering green-gold. Easily up several notches from the bottle. Perfect balance of freshness, ripe acidity and complex vinosity to come. Near perfect wine, patina of seasoned spice of subtle oak. — Elegant and complex Champagne with plenty of fine mousse and flavours of toast, smoke and roasted fruit notes to balance the fresh acidity. A refined and refreshing fullbodied wine in a gastronomic style with the potential to drink well for many years.”
Wine Spectator 93 points “Very elegant, this is chiseled by racy acidity that’s swathed in the refined, creamy mousse and flavors of crème de cassis, preserved lemon, biscuit and dried apricot. Long and lacy on the smoke-tinged, minerally finish.”
Gilbert & Gaillard 93 points “Light yellow. Refined nose showing subtle notes of stone fruits and brioche. Lovely refined texture and bubbles, ethereal freshness and a tense profile on the palate. Precise yet streamlined. A beautiful rendition of minimalist elegance.”
Gatinois:
The Glory of Äy
Arriving Friday, October 5th
Äy is an easy town to love in Champagne and also a town that’s easy to have never heard about. It’s Pinot country but its biggest and most famous landowner, Bollinger, doesn’t have anything on their labels to let you know where they’re based. Nevertheless, that richer, more powerful style that everyone associated with Bollinger (and the other big producer in the town, Gosset) is very much the flavor of Äy. This is Pinot country and the Champagnes from the town show tons of rich fruit and opulent, impressive textures.
Of the producers in Äy, Gatinois might be the most undervalued. The family farms some of the best land in the town and works with a very high proportion of a massale selection of Pinot Noir called “Petite Pinot d’Äy” that has extremely small berries. These small berries ensure an exceptionally flavorful base wine that translate into the finished product—Gatinois’ wines are rich, textured and powerful. We’re excited to carry them and they arrive at the end of the month, in plenty of time for celebratory fall drinking.
Arriving Friday, October 5th
This gives Bollinger a run for the money at a lot less $$.
Gatinois Grand Cru Reserve Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($59.95) $41.90 pre-arrival special
2013 Base
Winery note “Attractive yellow hue with honeyed reflections. The complex nose offers white flowers, yellow fruits and candied citrus. 3 years of ageing in our cellars allows the champagne to develop a rich, smooth texture on the palate, with notes of stewed fruit, brioche and honey complemented by the generosity of Pinot Noir.”
Gatinois Grand Cru Tradition Brut NV 750ML ($49.95) $39 pre-arrival special
Importer note “Composed mainly of the 2014 vintage, with a small bit of reserve wine. Fermentation (100% malo) in stainless steel with indigenous yeasts. Estate-owned Pinot Noir (majority is Petit Pinot d’Ay) and Chardonnay grown in the Grand Cru village of Äy. Most of their Pinot holdings are comprised of massale selection Petite Pinot d’Ay: a small-yielding, tiny berried clone that is unique to this village. [The soil] has a good percentage of limestone found in subsoils. Technically located in Vallée de la Marne, but its terroir and exposition are more like Montagne de Reims.”
Gatinois Grand Cru Rose d’Ay Brut NV 750ML ($69.95) $49 pre-arrival special
Importer note “Estate-owned Pinot Noir (majority is Petit Pinot d’Ay) and Chardonnay grown in the Grand Cru village of Äy. Most of their Pinot holdings are comprised of massale selection Petite Pinot d’Ay: a small-yielding, tiny berried clone that is unique to this village. Assemblage-style rosé made mostly from the 2013 vintage, with a small bit of reserve wine. The still wine (Pinot Noir) was sourced from 60 year old vines. Fermented (100% malo) in stainless steel with indigenous yeasts. [The soil] has a good percentage of limestone found in subsoils. Technically located in Vallée de la Marne, but its terroir and exposition are more like Montagne de Reims.”
Rare & Cherished Ridge Monte Bello
Winery Cellar Release
Only four magnums of this rare treasure are available, so act fast!
“The 1995 is striking today” –Antonio Galloni writing in 2016
Ridge Vineyards Monte Bello, Santa Cruz Mountains 1995 1.5L ($799.95) $699 pre-arrival special
Antonio Galloni 97 points “[Tasted in July 2016] The 1995 Monte Bello is powerful, bright and incisive. At twenty years of age, the 1995 retains gorgeous, refreshing acidity that gives the wine lift and energy. The 1995 is a brooding Monte Bello, with darker tonalities of fruit and accompanying notes of smoke, licorice, spice, menthol, tobacco and cedar. Although the 1995 is striking today, it could also use more time in bottle, as it remains a touch compact and austere, especially next to the 2012 and 2002 tasted alongside it. Readers who enjoy cool, mineral and savory inflected Cabernets will adore the 1995, a wine that will drink well for another 20 years. Vineyard manager David Gates describes 1995 as a cool, relaxed, late ripening season that yielded small berries with elevated tannins. A second recent bottle was a bit more open and ample. Either way, the 1995 Monte Bello is a remarkably vivid, expressive wine that has a long life ahead of it.”
James Suckling 97 points “[Tasted in 2012] Amazing flowers and lavender and blackberries. Love the nose. Tobacco and cigar box. Full-bodied, with firm and round tannins. Then there’s rosemary and berry on the finish. Give it time.”
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 95 points “[Tasted in 2018] The product of a late-October harvest, the 1995 vintage was Eric Baugher’s first vintage as Ridge’s winemaker alongside Paul Draper, and I remember him telling me in 2012 that he was afraid extraction had been pushed too far and that the wine might always be somewhat monolithic. In the last three years, however, the 1995 Monte Bello has began to shed some of its formidable tannins, and it’s clear that those fears were unfounded. The nose offers up rich aromas of cassis and red plums that mingle with nuances of sweet, loamy soil, cigar box and subtle leather. On the palate, the 1995 is full-bodied, deep and super concentrated, with its powerful core of fruit framed by melting tannins and underpinned by tangy acids, concluding with a long and distinctly stony finish. Today, the 1995 ranks as one of the highlights of the decade. Think of it as a somewhat more rustic cousin of the 2005. It’s a blend of 69% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Merlot, 10% Petit Verdot and 3% Cabernet Franc that attained 12.5% natural alcohol.”
The next best price for the magnum is $799.99
“The Blanc des Blancs Les Blanches Voies, here in its first release, is simply tremendous and also one of the most hauntingly beautiful Champagnes I tasted during my recent trip through the region.” — Antonio Galloni, July 2018
Only 6 bottles available!
Vilmart Les Blanches Voies Blanc de Blancs, Champagne 2009 750ML ($419.95) $379 pre-arrival special
Antonio Galloni 96 points “Here in its first release, the 2009 Blanc de Blancs Les Blanches Voies is positively stellar. Old vines confer remarkable power, gravitas and explosive energy, and yet the 2009 preserves remarkable freshness to play off the resonant, deeply layered fruit. Intense graphite, mineral, citrus and floral notes add myriad shades of nuance to an expansive, powerful Blanc de Blancs that hits all the right notes. The purity and vibrancy of the flavors here is simply striking. The Blanches Voies gets one more year on the lees than the flagship Coeur de Cuvée and also a dosage of just 4 grams per liter, the lowest ever in the history of Vilmart. The 2009 is positively stellar. Don’t miss it! Production is just 2,400 bottles. Disgorged March 17.”
Terry Theise note “Way back in the day, VIlmart made a BdB and it was excellent. I missed it when it was discontinued, but this new and spectacular wine more than makes up for it. Deg 3/2017, and drier than the rest of the range, it has great richness (pheasant stock, applewood smoke) and a tangelo-citrus lift, a pixilated chalky-dusty minerality, all conspire in a rumble of interplay that stops you cold and leaves you warm. Entirely original, and a new vibrancy of mineral for Vilmart.”
Final Countdown
September Clearance Sale
Ends Sunday at 11:59 PM
Want to see all the fantastic wines on the September Sale?
Head to our website or view the entire list below:
