In Today’s Newsletter:
Make Every Day PJ Day
New Arrivals from John Paul of Cameron
Modern Classics – New Stocks of 2016 Huet
Highly Scored/Highly Allocated Bordeaux
The 97 Point Passopisciaro Rosso
Under $20 and 95 Points: The Inspiring Feudi’s Rubrato
Maximin Grunhauser and JJ Prum, Stars of 2016, Arrive
Get Excited About the 2016 Ports—Neal Martin Is!
Hot Tickets, Selling Fast. The June Sale Continues
Trending Wines of the Weekend
2010 Gloria is Standout Value
Make Everyday
Perrier-Jouet Day
With Jaw-Dropping Pricing
We’re getting a fantastic deal on Perrier-Jouet’s entry-level Brut, arriving this Friday. While the house is best known for their eye catching, luxury Belle Epoque bottling (you know, the one with the painted flowers) their NV bottling is always a great standby in a richer, Bollinger inflected vein. Quantities are limited, so get your order in early (the web store is the best way to do this, but your welcome to call or email, as well and we’ll get you set up if there’s still any left).
Arriving Friday:
Perrier-Jouet Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($49.95) $28 pre-arrival special
Wine Spectator 90 points “Lively and mouthwatering, with flavors of black currant, graphite, candied lemon zest and smoky mineral, supported by a creamy mousse. A balanced crowd-pleaser. Drink now through 2018.”
New Arrivals
Two Top Picks from John Paul at Cameron
VinopolNote “This represents a step up from Cameron’s Willamette Valley bottling and is sourced exclusively from Abbey Ridge and Clos Electrique. It tends to be softer and more accessible than some of the higher end wines, but still shows loads of Dundee Hills character and Cameron personality. Yields were down for 2016, though, so our only complaint is that he didn’t make enough.”Lapo Berti del Comune di La Morra, Barolo DOCG 2013 750ML ($49.95) $44 special
VinopolNote: “The first ever ‘John Paul Selection’ from our favorite winemaker at Cameron. This comes from an old friend of his from prime La Morra fruit. The wine is soft and supple for Barolo, true to the La Morra style, but has depth and complexity. We’re excited to see how it ages but suspect it will go the distance if you can keep your hands off of it.”
Domaine Huet is the Last Undervalued Great French Wine. No, this is not new information, but yes, it is still very true. No other white winemaker in France produces wines that consistently age into masterpieces at anything resembling this sort of price. We probably don’t need to say much more, but if you aren’t on the Huet train already, let us explain the genius of these wines.
Huet makes the top wines in Vouvray and has for quite some time now. What makes them amazing is that they make incredible wines from bone dry, mineral drenched Sec all the way to nobly sweet, honeyed dessert wines (and everything in between—including the Demi-Sec range, which are some of our favorites and, like German Riesling, are very flexible at the table).
They seemingly age forever, gaining complexity and density, but impressively are priced like low-tier white Burgundy. It’s this last part that’s so perplexing. You can put well-aged Huet on the table with any top tier white Burgundy and it has a chance of being not only in the same league, but the best wine on the table. It often costs 1/2-1/5th that of the Burgs. That’s insane.
We just got another tranche of their wildly successful 2016’s in stock. The ’16’s are probably the most successful collection at Huet since the vaunted 2002’s. These are wines that are electric in their minerality but opulent in their texture and grand in their flavors. We’re jazzed to have more in stock.
Domaine Huet Vouvray ‘Clos du Bourg’ Sec, Loire 2016 750ML ($47.95) $39 special
Wine Spectator 93 points “Bright and pure, with delightful pear, green almond and green plum notes laced with a fennel streak, ending with finely beaded acidity and a mineral echo through the finish. Very refined. Drink now through 2027.”
Domaine Huet Vouvray ‘Le Haut Lieu’ Sec, Loire 2016 750ML ($39.95) $33 special
John Gilman 90 points “The 2016 Le Haut Lieu Sec from Domaine Huet is a pretty wine and much less powerful than the 2015 version. The wine offers up lovely youthful aromatics of quince, tart pineapple, chalky minerality, orange peel, lanolin, a whisper of the honeycomb to come with bottle age and a gently floral top note. On the palate the wine is crisp, full-bodied and nicely detailed, with good, but not great depth at the core, sound acids and very nice length and grip on the nascently complex finish. I like the shape of this wine very much, which does not have quite as much in reserve as many recent vintages of this bottling, but which has plenty of complexity and really impeccable balance. It may well age like the 1988 vintage here. 2017-2045.”
Domaine Huet Vouvray ‘Le Mont’ Sec, Loire 2016 750ML ($47.95) $39 special
Wine Spectator 94 points “Green plum and verbena notes lead the way for now, with a flash of quinine on the finish. This is juicy, but still a bit compact overall, with the core of ample pear, quince and ginger flavors in reserve. Just wait for everything to knit together and stretch out, as the purity and length are there. Best from 2018 through 2028.”
Domaine Huet Vouvray ‘Clos du Bourg’ Demi-Sec, Loire 2016 750ML ($59.95) $46 special
Case-6 Domaine Huet Vouvray ‘Clos du Bourg’ Demi-Sec, Loire 2016 750ML ($299.95) $249 special (that’s only $41.50/bottle!)
Wine Spectator 95 points “Gorgeous, with creamy-edged nectarine, yellow and green apple, pear and quince flavors that are brightly defined from start to finish, flecked with verbena and honeysuckle hints and backed by a off-dry edge on the finish. Stays fresh and pure throughout. Tempting now but there’s no rush. Drink now through 2032.”
Domaine Huet Vouvray ‘Le Haut Lieu’ Demi-Sec, Loire 2016 750ML ($59.95) $46 special ($59.95) $46 special
Case-6 Domaine Huet Vouvray ‘Le Haut Lieu’ Demi-Sec, Loire 2016 750 ($299.95) $249 special (that’s only $41.50/bottle!)
Domaine Huet Vouvray ‘Le Haut Lieu’ Demi-Sec, Loire 2016 375ML ($24.95) $21.90 special
Wine Spectator 96 points “This delivers a beautiful display of purity and grace, with creamed Jonagold apple, star fruit, white peach and chamomile notes flowing seamlessly, backed by wet stone and fresh verbena accents. Subtle but persistent energy ripples through the very long finish. Drink now through 2035.”
Domaine Huet Vouvray ‘Le Mont’ Demi-Sec, Loire 2016 750ML ($59.95) $49 special
Case-6 Domaine Huet Vouvray ‘Le Mont’ Demi-Sec, Loire 2016 750 ($299.95) $249 special (that’s only $41.50/bottle!)
#6 Wine Of The Year – Wine Spectator Top 100 2017
Wine Spectator 95 points “This tilts toward the flattering side of off-dry, showing a plump feel to the core of creamed pear, white peach and yellow apple fruit. Lovely verbena, honeysuckle and mineral accents keep this balanced and driven, with a long finish that lets the fruit echo. Drink now through 2032.”
Domaine Huet Vouvray ‘Clos du Bourg’ Moelleux, Loire 2016 750ML ($69.95) $59 special
Case-6 Domaine Huet Vouvray ‘Clos du Bourg’ Moelleux, Loire 2016 750ML ($399.95) $319 special (that’s only $53.17/bottle!)
Wine Spectator 97 points “A stunner, with beautiful pear, green fig, yellow apple and quince notes that are creamy and flirtatiously sweet, yet seamless and refined in feel. The extremely long finish lets honeysuckle and verbena notes dance throughout, with a light echo of white ginger at the very end. Best from 2020 through 2040.”
Domaine Huet Vouvray ‘Le Haut Lieu’ Moelleux, Loire 2016 750ML ($59.95) $46 special
Case-6 Domaine Huet Vouvray ‘Le Haut Lieu’ Moelleux, Loire 2016 750ML ($299.95) $249 special (that’s only $41.50/bottle!)
Wine Spectator 95 points “Gorgeous crystallized ginger, dried quince, glazed pear and warm persimmon notes are seamlessly interwoven here, gliding through a lengthy finish that picks up a lilting green tea accent. Frankly off-dry but wonderfully pure. Drink now through 2035.”
Domaine Huet Vouvray ‘Le Mont’ Moelleux, Loire 2016 750ML ($69.95) $59 special
Case-6 Domaine Huet Vouvray ‘Le Mont’ Moelleux, Loire 2016 750ML ($399.95) $319 special (that’s only $53.17/bottle!)
Wine Spectator 96 points “Bright, even exuberant in feel, with a parade of Jonagold apple, green melon, Bosc pear and quince flavors streaming through, gilded with heather, honeysuckle and verbena notes on the long, lithe finish. Remarkably elegant despite the off-dry style. Drink now through 2035.”
Domaine Huet Vouvray ‘Le Mont’ Premiere Trie Moelleux, Loire 2016 750ML ($89.95) $79 special
Case-6 Domaine Huet Vouvray ‘Le Mont’ Premiere Trie Moelleux, Loire 2016 750ML ($499.95) $419 special (that’s only $69.83/bottle!)
Wine Advocate 97 points “The 2016 Vouvray Le Mont Moelleux Première Trie opens with a very clear, deep and flinty/herbal bouquet of ripe concentrated stone fruits intermixed with chalky/smoky aromas, very complex and truly exciting! Light, fresh and tensioned on the palate, that is very pure and salty but also tight and concentrated. The 2016 Le Mont reveals crystalline acidity, delicate but serious tannin grip and a long, complex, stimulating finish. This is Chenin Blanc full of energy and aging potential, provided with concentration, lingering salinity and vibrancy. This is a fascinating Le Mont, surely the top wine of Huet’s excellent 2016 series. Bottled with 92 grams of residual sugar, it tastes less sweet than the corresponding Clos du Bourg. Tasted February 2018.”
Wine Spectator 96 points “Juicy in feel, with an intense beam of glazed peach, dried apricot, fresh ginger and heather honey notes, backed by baked mirabelle plum accents and a flash of almond cream on the long, rich finish. A wonderful balancing act, keeping the exotic fruit and sweetness fresh and delineated. Best from 2020 through 2035.”
Domaine Huet Vouvray ‘Clos du Bourg’ Premiere Trie Moelleux, Loire 2016 750ML ($89.95) $79 special
Case-6 Domaine Huet Vouvray ‘Clos du Bourg’ Premiere Trie Moelleux, Loire 2016 750ML ($499.95) $419 special (that’s only $69.83/bottle!)
Wine Spectator 96 points “This is ripe and broad, taking a slightly more power-driven approach, with a mix of tropical mango and papaya fruit, backed by orchard fruit accents of yellow apple and peach. The long, heather honey–accented finish has light piecrust and crystalized ginger hints. Best from 2020 through 2035.”
Arriving Today
The Right Bank in Bordeaux has been on fire in the last few years, with wines from St.-Emilion doing especially well. We’re pleased to offer two fine examples, arriving today—one rated 98+ points by Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate, the other the #7 in Wine Spectator’s Top 100 list last year. Both are at incredibly sharp pricing and offer tremendous value in the world of top, top tier Bordeaux. Stock up if you can—we were only able to secure a small tranche of each at these prices.
Le Dome, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru 2015 750ML ($179.95) $149 special
Wine Advocate 98+ points “Composed of 80% Cabernet Franc and 20% Merlot, the deep garnet-purple colored 2015 Le Dome has a drop dead gorgeous perfume of violets, black forest cake, rose hip and red jelly with touches of lavender, spice cake and earth. The palate is medium to full-bodied and super intense with super ripe, super fine-grained tannins, wonderful freshness and a very long perfumed, mineral-laced finish.”
Chateau Canon la Gaffeliere, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru 2014 750ML ($119.95) $99 special
#7 – Wine Spectator Top 100 in 2017
Wine Spectator 95 points “This cuts a wide swath, with mouthwatering tobacco and warm ganache notes leading the way, followed by a wave of fig, blackberry and black currant preserves. Shows remarkable definition already, even though the structure is strident. Tempting now, but just put this in the back of the cellar. Best from 2020 through 2035. 4,083 cases made.”
Antonio Galloni 95+ points “One of the wines of the vintage, the 2014 Canon La Gaffelière is explosive, lifted and aristocratic in its breeding. Bright Cabernet Franc aromatics give the wine its signature lift and precision. Raspberry jam, rose petal, mint, blood orange, tobacco and pomegranate build slowly on the palate, leading to a super-expressive, finely knit finish. Powerful yet also impeccably refined, the 2014 has it all. The 2014 is 55 % Merlot, 37 % Cabernet Franc and 8 % Cabernet Sauvignon. Don’t miss it. Tasted two times.”
One constant on the island of Sicily is the looming shadow of Mt. Etna, the highest and most active volcano in Europe. Though Etna giveth, and Etna taketh away (abruptly). And yet, the appeal of revitalizing the vineyards – some half buried by recent lava flows – is too great to resist. Nerello Mascalese is so perfectly paired to its place that there is no place on earth that could even begin to replicate the results achieved here.
Despite the cool temperatures, often 20-30 degrees cooler than at the coast, the vines are healthy and active due to the sunlight that reflects off the seas below. Passopisciaro is balanced, polished and definitely a refined take on a grape that was viewed as quaint for its rusticity for decades. The Passorosso, a blend of the five contrada that Franchetti works with, is viewed as one of the best introductions available to the wines of Etna, with 2014 being hailed by Ian d’Agato of Vinous as the best vintages yet for this wine.
We had this wine available for a hot second last year—the score plus the price meant that the wine sold out before it arrived. We were lucky enough to secure a second tranche that arrives at the end of this month. Like before, we expect it to go quickly. If you’re among the many who emailed requesting more, jump on this now. We also finally have magnums available, which offer the same tremendous value in an even more celebratory package.
Passopisciaro Re-Arriving Today:
Passopisciaro ‘Passorosso’ Terre Siciliane IGT, Sicily 2014 750ML ($59.95) $39 special
Case-6 Passopisciaro ‘Passorosso’ Terre Siciliane IGT, Sicily 2014 750ML ($299.95) $219 special (that’s only $36.50/bottle!)
Passopisciaro ‘Passorosso’ Terre Siciliane IGT, Sicily 2014 1.5L ($99.95) $79 special
Ian D’agata–Vinous 97 points “Bright red-ruby. The captivating nose combines strawberry, raspberry, minerals, violet and flint aromas. Creamy-sweet but amazingly light on its feet, offering palate-staining, perfumed flavors of soft red berries, ripe red cherry, vanilla, aromatic herbs and crushed rock. Rich, ripe and suave, but displays a penetrating, saline and energetic quality that gives this beauty a three-dimensional mouthfeel and a light-on-its-feet quality. Finishes with great length and wonderfully polished tannins. Absolute knockout wine: from a memorable vintage on Etna, this is most likely the best Passorosso ever (in earlier vintages, it used to be called simply Passopisciaro). Mainly Nerello Mascalese.”
A Star of Southern Italy
James Suckling 95 points “This shows such a beautiful density and texture with licorice and blackberry character. Full and layered yet always tight and focused. A fantastic young red. Drink or hold.”
The Last of the Fantastic 2016 Germans
Prum and Grunhaus Drop
2016 is a fantastic vintage to stock up on. We’ve bought a bunch—it’s a perfect counterpoint to the ageworthy 2015’s and the somewhat inconsistent (and expensive) 2017’s that are in the pipeline. We have some of our last arriving 2016’s arriving today, from the legendary producers JJ Prum and Maximin Grunhaus.
Both Prum and Grunhaus are known for epic, intense, long lived wines that are the apogee of their respective regions (the Mosel and Ruwer, respectively). These are wines that you should have in your cellar—they’re the most epic wines that you can afford to buy in quantity. We’re excited to get these in—you should be too.
Arriving Today:
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2016 Graacher Himmelreich Kabinett (AP 21 17) is deep, cool and flinty on the nose, pretty mineral though still a bit reductive. Round, intense and juicy, this is a densely woven Kabinett with ripe nectarine and plummy flavors as well as a tightly woven and refreshing mineral structure. The finish is pretty persistent and extremely stimulating. Compared to the Badstube, the Himmelreich is more aromatic and expressive. Tasted in March 2017.”
David Schildknecht – Vinous 92 points “Scents and juicy generosity of mint-tinged and honeysuckle-garlanded fresh apple and black currant are allied to a polished, glossy, buoyant palate presence, leading to a lusciously sustained, delicate finish tinged with crystalline stony inflections. The sweetness here is totally supportive and entirely discreet. This is one of those Kabinetts one seems to inhale in the finish, with floral perfume and wet stone prominent, and only sheer refreshment reminds you of its fluid nature.”
Joh. Jos. Prum Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Spatlese, Mosel 2016 750ML ($49.95) $39 special
“The 2016 Graacher Himmelreich Spätlese (AP 08 17) is discreet and smoky on the deep, well-defined nose. Juicy-piquant and salty on the well-structured and refreshingly mineral palate, the Himmelreich is tight and expressive, with the sweetness superbly balanced by the spicy, grippy phenols/minerals. This is a really complex Spätlese that is highly stimulating today and will still be so in 20 or 30 years.”
David Schildknecht – Vinous 94 points “This is another Prüm 2016 seductively loaded with floral perfume, but here it’s bittersweet, suggesting gentian and iris as well as honeysuckle. The palate and superbly sustained finish deliver delicacy allied to silken richness and gloss, featuring intense pear, pineapple, quince and almond paste flavors together with striking transparency to stony and maritime mineral nuances.”
Joh. Jos. Prum Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Kabinett, Mosel 2016 750ML ($39.95) $31.90 special
Mosel Fine Wines 92 points “This delivers a beautiful nose of flowers, whipped cream, herbs, smoke, vineyard peach, and apricot blossom. The wine is delicate, light weighted and has good presence with ripe fruits including peach, pear and a touch of toffee on the palate. It develops quite some Spätlese presence and intensity in the hugely long finish.”
Joh. Jos. Prum Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese, Mosel 2016 750ML ($59.95) $51.90 special
Joh. Jos. Prum Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese, Mosel 2016 375ML ($39.95) $33 special
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 94 points “The 2016 Wehlener Sonnenuhr Auslese (AP 13 17) is clear, fresh and vegetal/floral on the pretty complex but clear and refreshingly flinty nose. Bottled with 8.5% alcohol, this is a lush, piquant and well-structured Spätlese with good grip and a perceptible sweetness. The finish is intense and complex and reveals a firm mineral structure.”
Wine Spectator 94 points “Pure, flying like a butterfly across the palate, this starts with mineral and floral notes up front, but unfolds to show multiple layers of flavor, remaining seductive throughout. The peach, glazed pear and honey flavors are perfectly balanced, with power and force seemingly reserved. Shows wonderful expression. Drink now through 2037.”
Joh. Jos. Prum Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Spatlese, Mosel 2016 750ML ($49.95) $41.90 special
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 94 points “The 2016 Wehlener Sonnenuhr Spätlese (AP 23 17) is still discreet, floral and finely mineral rather than fruity on the nose compared to the other 2016 Spätlesen. Lush, piquant and juicy on the palate, this is a firm but sensual Sonnenuhr with remarkable finesse, lightness and lingering salinity. Tasted March 2018.”
Mosel Fine Wines 92+ points “This proves quite closed at first. A hint of volatile acidity quickly gives way to beautiful flavors of canned yellow peach, apricot blossom, grapefruit and a touch of toffee on the nose. The wine develops ripe aromas on the creamy, intense and smooth palate. The finish is full of honeyed fruits, roasted pineapple and butter cream. This Auslese-styled expression of Wehlener Sonnenuhr will need quite some time to integrate its richness, but could then turn out even better than anticipated as the fresher side emerges at maturity.”
“Fermented in old oak fuders, the 2016 Maximin Grünhaus Abtsberg Riesling “GG” opens with a deep, fascinatingly precise and flinty bouquet of perfectly ripe, healthy Riesling berries and pineapple aromas. Full-bodied (at 12% alcohol), rich, lush and intense, this is a firmly structured yet mouth-filling and very elegant Abtsberg with a very long, crystalline and mouthwateringly salty finish. Still young, this Riesling will benefit from further bottle aging. It’s the finest dry Abtsberg I have tasted here. Impressive. Bottled May 2017; tasted March 2018.”
Mosel Fine Wines 93 points “Quite reductive at first, this only gradually offers fresh and cool notes of gooseberry, smoke, cassis, flowers, mint and white peach. The wine is then, almost surprisingly, playful and fruity on the palate with juicy notes of yellow peach, tangerine and spices. It remains focused and pure in the very long and zippy dry finish. This wine is still hugely primary at this early stage, as Abtsberg wines often are, and it will need a couple of years of bottle aging to reveal its full potential. It should then prove a smashing piece of dry Ruwer Riesling made in an ethereally but no less satisfying style.”
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 95 points “The 2016 Maximin Grünhaus Abtsberg Riesling Spätlese shows a pure, reductive and extremely flinty/crunchy bouquet with perfectly ripe but still crisp and healthy fruit. Lush, round and very elegant on the palate, this is a piquant, beautifully balanced and refined Spätlese with grace and finesse. A fabulous wine! Tasted March 2018.”
Mosel Fine Wines 94 points “The wine proves superbly elegant and inviting on the nose with cassis, herbs, pear and fresh fruits. The wine is gorgeously zesty on the palate and leaves a grandiose feel of herbs in the long and herb-infused finish. This is a plain beauty cut along the traditionally zesty, cassis-infused and minty lines of great Maximin Grünhaus wines. 2026-2041.”
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 92 points “The 2016 Maximin Grünhaus Riesling Alte Reben is the successor of the Abtsberg Alte Reben, although it is not entirely sourced in the Abtsberg anymore but also the Herrenberg. The wine opens with clear, precise, aromatic, beautifully concentrated and finely mineral-scented Riesling fruit with some tropical fruit aromas such as pineapples. On the palate, this is a medium-bodied, very mineral but also juicy-piquant and crystalline Riesling with the grip and tension of the former Abtsberg. It is an impressive Grünhäuser Riesling with good length and complexity but just 11.5% alcohol. Stimulatingly salty. Impressive! Tasted in March 2018 from AP 2 17.”
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 94 points “The 2016 Maximin Grünhaus Herrenberg Riesling Spätlese shows a very stony/mineral bouquet with crunchy slate and bright, precise yet ripe and concentrated fruit aromas. On the palate, this is a stunningly pure and tensioned Spätlese that doesn’t taste that sweet due to its firm mineral grip and expression. Only two fuders were produced of this super lush and stimulating Spätlese. Gosh, this is gorgeous! Tasted March 2018.”
Mosel Fine Wines 93 points “This offers a gorgeous nose of fresh herbs, cassis, spices and herbs. The wine proves superbly playful and elegant on the palate and leaves a great feel of herbs in the long and elegant finish. This is a plain gorgeous Spätlese with zest and delicate presence. The precision and purity are simply staggering. 2026-2041.”
Neal Martin, Vinous
Arriving ETA September:
Taylor Fladgate Vintage Port, Portugal 2016 750ML ($119.95) $89 pre-arrival special
Neal Martin – Vinous 97 points ” In 2016 Taylor’s began picking in Vargellas on 17 September, followed by Pinhão Valley estate on 23 and 26 September. The 2016 Vintage Port has an aristocratic bouquet with tight wound aromas of blackberry, bilberry, crushed stone, black olive and a light, marine-tinged element, perhaps almost peat-like. The palate is just beautiful with fine, chiseled tannins and a perfect line of acidity. There is that almost “arching” structure one always seeks in a great Taylor’s with a gentle but insistent grip towards the finish. It is everything you really want from a Vintage Port. Production is 6,200 cases.”
Neal Martin – Vinous 96 points “The 2016 Fonseca Vintage Port began to be picked on 21 September at their Panascal vineyard, their Quinta do Cruzeira vineyard not picked until 6 October. It is deep, almost inky in colour. The bouquet is very intense with luscious black fruit laced with embers, clove and hints of bay leaf. There is wonderful purity here and a broodiness that suggests you’d better be patient. The palate is sweet and lively on the entry with some gorgeous ginger and curry leaf notes littered over the compact black fruit. There is wonderful density to this Fonseca. It is like a coiled spring with so much energy towards the finish that you just know this will be a long-term prospect. Superb. Production is 4,900 cases.”Croft Vintage Port, Portugal 2016 750ML ($99.95) $79 pre-arrival special
Neal Martin – Vinous 94 points “The 2016 Croft Vintage Port has a taut bouquet at first that demands a good 20 or 30 minutes to get into its stride. It eventually reveals scents of blackberry, bilberry, chimney soot, clove, and just a hint of scorched earth in the background. The palate is spicy and vivacious on the entry: black fruit, clove, white pepper and curry powder (almost like a Balti!) I love the personality imbued into this Croft, a Vintage Port that seems to be wearing its heart on its sleeve. Excellent. Production is 3,050 cases.”
June Sale
Hot Tickets, Selling Fast
Although a few hot wines have sold out, there are still a number of incredible deals on sale through the end of this month. We’ve got a spreadsheet below (and you can see all of the wines in our web store, here) but if you want a few of our top picks, here they are:
Belle Glos ‘Clark & Telephone’ Vineyard Pinot Noir, Santa Maria Valley 2016 1.5L ($99.95) $79 Clearance Price
Winery note “The color is a deep scarlet-red with lush aromas of blackberry bramble, nutmeg, and hint of caramel. The wine is fresh and exuberant in the mouth with sumptuous strawberry jam, ripe black cherry, cranberry and warm gingerbread. It is perfectly balanced with refreshing acidity, velvety tannins and a hint of toffee carrying through its long finish. When asked to describe this wine, I simply say it’s like a taste of Christmas, all year long!”
Now $179 Clearance Price
Winery notes: “Our second coolest micro-climate is our five-acre Gravelly Meadow vineyard. Originally a pre-historic river bed, this stony, gravelly soil drains rapidly and the vines struggle for moisture. Gravelly Meadow is our lowest yielding vineyard. The wines are described as “earthy, cedary, jammy and ripe blackberry with a spicy expansive finish.”
The next best price is $192.99
Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2011 Neromàccarj is the wine that, in my opinion, best encompasses the overall winemaking philosophy at Gulfi. Like the other Nero d’Avola selections presented, this wine boasts a super enriched and concentrated style. On top of black fruit and cherry marmalade, the bouquet offers Teriyaki, barbecue smoke and asphalt-like aromas. Neromàccarj presents a more balanced and complete picture because its large bulk is spread evenly in proportioned elements. In other words, the opulence of the bouquet is perfectly matched to the large footprint left on the finish.”
Wine Advocate 94+ points “The 2014 Syrah Morrison Lane Vineyard from Walla Walla offers a perfumed bouquet of incense, white pepper, plum and hoisin sauce, as well as full-bodied richness, building tannin and a great finish. It needs short term cellaring to integrate those tannin, but is an impressive Syrah.”
Terry Theise notes: “It means the virgin-vintage, the first crop from young vines. And it’s what the Germans would call Feinherb, and it’s what any sane person would call irresistible! A potion of iris and lavender, spicy and penetrating; very long, seductively earthy, like a really profound Nahe Spätlese, almost the 5-spice and wildflower of Dönnhoff’s Felsenberg.”
Wine Advocate 93 points “Bottled with 8% alcohol, the 2014 Zeltinger Himmelreich Riesling Spätlese Anrecht (erroneously designated as Spätlese instead of Auslese) opens with a super ripe and intense, stunningly bright and clear bouquet of very fine Riesling flavors; there are apple and pip aromas due to a higher proportion of golden and green grapes, and a lesser proportion of botrytis, due to the higher altitude of the Anrecht plot. There is so much finesse and piquancy in this juicy, elegant and well concentrated Riesling, which reveals a long and complex finish, as well as great finesse.”
David Schildknecht–Vinous 93 points “This product of block-picking (as opposed to selective picking) conveys a sense of ripeness and botrytization that could as easily have been captured in the word “Auslese.” Candied lemon, mint and anise mingle in the nose with suggestions of the quince, apple and Persian melon that come to dominate on a lush and expansive yet animatedly juicy palate. A hint of white raisin testifies delectably to the share of shriveled berries. Sweaty salinity lends mouthwatering intrigue while the fruit retains an invigoratingly tangy edge in a finish that readily stimulates the desire to take the next seductive, by no means overly sweet sip.”
Browse the complete list of our June Sale wines below!
Trending
The Hottest Wines from Last Weekend
Elouan Pinot Noir, Oregon 2016 750ML ($21.95) $18 Clearance Price
Case-6 Elouan Pinot Noir, Oregon 2016 750ML ($129.95) $99 Clearance Price (that’s only $16.50/bottle!)
Case-12 Elouan Pinot Noir, Oregon 2016 750ML ($249.95) $179 Clearance Price (that’s only $14.92/bottle!)
Wine Spectator 88 points “Well-knit and approachable, with delicate raspberry and spice flavors. Drink now through 2022.”$79 special
Wine Enthusiast 97 points– Cellar Selection “Still young but already boasting extraordinary pedigree, this fantastic wine opens with hallmark scents of wild berry, new leather, chopped herb, tilled soil and a whiff of violet. The polished, full-bodied palate delivers juicy wild cherry, crushed raspberry, white pepper and licorice while youthfully assertive, noble tannins and bright acidity provide age-worthy structure. A pipe tobacco note lingers on the finish. Drink 2023–2038.”
Antonio Galloni 96+ points “The Barbaresco Riserva Montefico shows all the energy and focus that is typical of this great site, but there is so much depth to the fruit that some of the more angular contours have been softened. Bright saline-infused notes lead to wild flowers and an exotic melange of red fruits in this beautifully delineated, vivid Barbaresco. All the elements are simply in the right place.”
Wine Spectator 95 points “This beefy red evokes cherry, licorice, herb, mineral and tobacco aromas and flavors. Rich and densely structured, with iron, tobacco and cherry notes lingering on the long finish. Best from 2023 through 2035.”
Casanuova delle Cerbaie Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Tuscany 2012 750ML ($59.95) $49 special
James Suckling 96 points “Beautiful clarity on the nose with lavender, raspberry and violet aromas. Medium to full body, firm and silky tannins and a long, fresh and simply fantastic finish. Best ever. Better in 2021.”
Domaine Zind-Humbrecht Riesling Brand, Alsace Grand Cru 2014 750ML ($99.95) $69 special
James Suckling 96 points “A dense and linear riesling with sliced limes, lemons and flint. Bright and precise. Full-bodied, layered and beautiful. Great finish to this. Big and flavorful. Yet not showy. Drink now.”
The next best price is $89.94
Bear Flag Wines Zinfandel, Sonoma County 2015 750ML ($21.95) $18 special
Wine Spectator 92 points “Plump and piquant, with expressive blackberry and orange zest aromas and lots of personality, accenting smoky cracked pepper and black olive flavors that build toward zesty tannins. Drink now through 2022. 11,000 cases made.”
Vieux Chateau Mazerat, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru 2010 750ML ($119.95) $75 special
Robert Parker 95+ points “This is one of the tightest, most backward wines in the Jonathan Malthus portfolio. The grapes come from an old-vine parcel near Angelus and Beausejour-Duffau, and the final product is a blend of 65% Merlot and 35% Cabernet Franc. Again displaying plenty of minerality, which seems to be a prevailing theme throughout the 2010s from Malthus, the 2010 Vieux Chateau Mazerat is full-bodied, with an abundance of floral notes as well as black currant and blackberry fruit. Impressively endowed and built like a skyscraper, this full-bodied wine needs a good 7-8 years of cellaring and should keep for 25-30 years. Interestingly, the vines were planted in 1947.”
The average price is $89
Celler Cecilio Black Slate Gratallops, Priorat DOCa 2015 750ML ($21.95) $18 special
Wine Advocate 90 points “The Black Slate series wines are produced by different producers from different villages of Priorat for US importer Eric Solomon, as is the case of the 2015 Black Slate Gratallops from Celler Cecilio. They want to show the character of the Priorat grapes in the different villages. It’s a blend of Cariñena, Garnacha and Syrah from (guess what?) slate soils that fermented separately with indigenous yeasts and with 20% of the volume being raised in oak barrels for some eight or nine months. I noticed the Syrah here, combined with classical Gratallops sweet Garnacha and a pinch of spices. The palate is medium-bodied, with the fine slate texture, generous, warm and showy, but without excess, with the graphite holding it together. This is a Gratallops Vi de Villa.”
Back Vintage Gloria
A Standout of 2010
Arriving Friday
Neal Martin 94 points “Tasted January 2014. Tasted blind at the Southwold Bordeaux 2010 tasting. The outstanding Gloria 2010 has a lovely bouquet with ripe blackberry, briary, cedar and tobacco fruit that is very precise. The palate is medium-bodied, the tannins exerting a gentle but insistent grip. This is very well balanced and focused with superbly integrated oak on the satisfying finish. Great out of barrel, great in bottle, this is a Saint Julien that has really upped its game in recent vintages.”
Robert Parker 93 points “The 2010 Gloria is an ass-kicking, fabulous value once again from this estate, which would probably be classified if the 1855 hierarchy of the wines of the Medoc were ever done again. Abundant notes of cedar wood, fruitcake, flowers, creme de cassis and kirsch are all present in this full-bodied, opulent, dense, dark ruby/purple wine. It is slightly more restrained than the flamboyant 2009, but equal in quality. This is a juicy, well-proportioned, sensationally concentrated, super-ripe Gloria to drink over the next decades. Of course, it is a sleeper of the vintage, given the reasonable price it normally sells for.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
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