Featured Wine: Donnhoff 2015 Spatlese; Agathe Bursin; Wind Gap: Old-New California; Great Greek Grape: 94 Pointer from Domaine Sigalas; 2009 Bordeaux; Spanish Case Specials; Arriving in February: Foillard/JM Pillot/Clape & more!; Arriving in March: Hirsch Single Vineyard GV – 94+ Points!; Produttori del Barbaresco – 2013 Crus on the Horizon – an ‘epic vintage of classic proportions and superb pedigree’ -Antonio Galloni
Featured Wine Arriving Friday
Weingut Donnhoff Niederhauser Hermannshohle Riesling Spatlese, Nahe 2015 750ML ($59.95) $47 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 95 points “The 2015 Niederhäuser Hermannshöhle Riesling Spätlese opens with an aristocratic bouquet of coolish, flinty slate and citrus perfume along with concentrated Riesling flavors. There is great complexity and expression here! On the palate, this wine is highly elegant and its seamless, silky texture is like that of the Dellchen GG. Very salty, full of finesse and tension on the palate–this is a great, perfectly balanced Spätlese. There is no other Riesling in the Nahe that has such nobly aristocratic attitude. It’s one of the finest Spätlese Rieslings you can buy from this vintage.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
For more great wines arriving in February, see the bottom of this newsletter!
~~~~~~~~~
Agathe Bursin:
Secret Superstar of Alsace
Agathe Bursin is really wonderful producer of Alsatian wines, with a strong following in France, but somehow remains slightly unknown in the US. Her production sells out before it’s even bottled—mostly to private clients in Europe, but a little makes its way over to our shores. Yet when it gets here, sometimes it gets overlooked, because she makes wines that are useful at the table (and are priced as such) instead of being ‘trophy’ wines for collectors to fight over. Part of the reason for her lack of fame might be that she lacks a national importer, though her wines are brokered by Thomas Calder (who also sells Prevost/Bouchard/Pattes Loup/Boulay, etc) which speaks to the quality of the wines.
The Bursin family has been making wines in Alsace for several generations and Agathe has taken the family domaine to new levels. Educated in Burgundy, she worked in Chablis before returning home to the family winery and there is a marked Chablisienne influence on her wines in terms of their clarity of flavor and brightness. All the wines she makes are delicious, and she’s known in Alsace as something of a Sylvaner whisperer, but we’d urge you to check out the entire range!
Agathe Bursin Gewurztraminer Dirstelberg, Alsace 2015 750ML ($26.95) $21.90 special, 22 bottles available
VinopolNote: “The Disrstelberg vineyard is mostly composed of pink sandstone and is known as a high quality vineyard for a variety of grapes. The wines from the site tend to be linear and crisp, with good varietal character. Unlike many Alsatian producers, Bursin errs on the side of delicacy and raciness rather than pick too late and allow the wines to become rich and flabby for the sake of “power.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Agathe Bursin Gewurztraminer Zinnkoepfle, Alsace Grand Cru 2015 750ML ($41.95) $33 special, 22 bottles available
VinopolNote: “The Zinnkoepflé vineyard has been recognized as a top site since the beginning of vine cultivation in Alsace. Known especially for Gewürztraminer and Riesling, the vineyard sits in a protected area that allows for exceptional sun exposure while limiting risk of botrytis and other problems. The shelly-limestone soils provide for great acidity, so wines from here are always both rich and racy—a rare and impressive combination.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Agathe Bursin L’As de B, Alsace 2015 750ML ($21.95) $16.60 special, 36+ bottles available
VinopolNote: “This wine comes from the lieu-dit Bollenberg and is made from an assortment of grapes that are interplanted and harvested at the same time. Made from a mix of Riesling, Sylvaner, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, Gewürztraminer, though the exact blend changes depending on the yields in the vintage. This wine is a delightlful representation of all of the things we love about Bursin, at a crazy price for its quality.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Agathe Bursin Pinot Blanc Parad’Aux, Alsace 2015 750ML ($24.95) $19 special, 20 bottles available
VinopolNote: “Classic Alsace Pinot Blanc. Clean, crisp with nice minerality and a touch of nuttiness. This would make an excellent aperitif or a smashing pairing with fish.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Agathe Bursin Pinot Gris Dirstelberg, Alsace 2015 750ML ($26.95) $21.90 special, 21 bottles available
VinopolNote: “The Disrstelberg vineyard is mostly composed of pink sandstone and is known as a high quality vineyard for a variety of grapes. The wines from the site tend to be linear and crisp, with good varietal character. Unlike many Alsatian producers, Bursin errs on the side of delicacy and raciness rather than pick too late and allow the wines to become rich and flabby for the sake of “power.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Agathe Bursin Pinot Gris Zinnkoepfle, Alsace Grand Cru 2015 750ML ($41.95) $33 special, 7 bottles available
VinopolNote: “The Zinnkoepflé vineyard has been recognized as a top site since the beginning of vine cultivation in Alsace. The road in leading to the vineyard is known as “The Street of Gold” so famed were the wines. The shelly-limestone soils provide for great acidity, so wines from here are always both rich and racy—a rare and impressive combination.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Agathe Bursin Riesling Dirstelberg, Alsace 2015 750ML ($26.95) $21.90 special, 22 bottles available
VinopolNote: “The Disrstelberg vineyard is mostly composed of pink sandstone and is known as a high quality vineyard for a variety of grapes. The wines from the site tend to be linear and crisp, with good varietal character. Unlike many Alsatian producers, Bursin errs on the side of delicacy and raciness rather than pick too late and allow the wines to become rich and flabby for the sake of “power.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Agathe Bursin Riesling Zinnkoepfle, Alsace Grand Cru 2015 750ML ($41.95) $33 special, 12 bottles available
VinopolNote: “The Zinnkoepflé vineyard has been recognized as a top site since the beginning of vine cultivation in Alsace. The vineyard sits in a protected area that allows for exceptional sun exposure while limiting risk of botrytis and other problems. As a result, we always see very pure-fruited wines with a lot of finess coming from this site, owing in part to the shelly-limestone soils which provide for great acidity and nerve.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Agathe Bursin Sylvaner Eminence Zinnkoepfle, Alsace Grand Cru 2013 750ML ($31.95) $28 special, 26 bottles available
Ian D’agata–Vinous 92 points “Gold-tinged straw. Delicate aromas of peach, apricot and poached apple. Rich and dense on the palate, with lively acidity lifting the sweet flavors of orchard and tropical fruits. Finishes very long, with impeccable balance. These Sylvaner vines grow in the grand cru Zinnkoepflé, the soils of which are marked by calcaires à entroques. Planted in 1930 with a southeast exposure, these vines give the description vieilles vignes real meaning, but Bursin doesn’t care to use this wording on the label since she believes the term has been reduced to mainly marketing purposes. “In France, vieille vigne wines are made with vines ranging anywhere from as little as 20 years to as much as 100 years of age, so what‘s the point?” she asks.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Agathe Bursin Sylvaner Eminence Zinnkoepfle, Alsace Grand Cru 2015 750ML ($31.95) $28 special, 21 bottles available
VinopolNote: “Agathe Bursin is known in Alsace as one of the top producers of Sylvaner. This is one of her top wines and provides a compelling reason to pay attention to the grape. Aromatically really interesting with a bright, mineral palate and great texture. This is a wine worth paying attention to.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Agathe Bursin Sylvaner Lutzeltal, Alsace 2015 750ML ($24.95) $19 special, 21 bottles available
VinopolNote: “Bursin is known for Sylvaner and this is her entry-level bottling. While it lacks the complexity and intensity of the higher-end wines, it offers great value and is wonderful insight into the house style.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
~~~~~~~~~
Wind Gap: Old-New California
By now “New California” isn’t so new. Sure, there are lots of cool new producers on the scene (which is more exciting than ever) but the idea of a Cali producer making low-alcohol wines that are made to go with food doesn’t seem foreign. This is a good thing.
Wind Gap, the project born out Pax Mahle’s change of stylistic heart (and departure from his namesake winery) was a leader in the neo-Cali movement and the wines remain as great as ever. The Chards are snappy, the Pinots are aromatically entrancing and the Soif is as gulpable as ever. Yes, they’re no longer the new guys on the scene, but they still taste as fresh and exciting as they ever have. Whether you’ve tried the wines before or not, you’ll appreciate their deliciousness and our sharp pricing.
Wind Gap Woodruff Vineyard Chardonnay, Santa Cruz Mountains 2014 750ML ($49.95) $41.90 special, 20 bottles available
Antonio Galloni 92+ points “The 2014 Chardonnay Woodruff is one of the most distinctive wines in the Wind Gap range. Candied lemon, white flowers, mint and a subtle hint of reduction are some of the signatures in this precise, crystalline Santa Cruz Mountains Chardonnay. The 2014 needs a few years to come into its own, but it is undeniably attractive and full of potential.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Wind Gap Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir, California 2014 750ML ($49.95) $39 special, 30 bottles available
Antonio Galloni 93 points “The 2014 Pinot Noir (Sonoma Coast) is deep, pliant and incredibly inviting, with a fabulous combination of pliant fruit, expressive aromatics and superb persistence. Rose petal, mint, savory herbs and game add the closing shades of inflection. There is something (a lot) to be said for the wisdom of blending fruit from different sites to make a complete, balanced wine. Wine Gap’s appellation-level wines often prove that point eloquently, as is very much the case here.”
Wind Gap Woodruff Vineyard Pinot Noir, Santa Cruz Mountains 2014 750ML ($49.95) $41.90 special, 12 bottles available
Antonio Galloni 91+ points “The 2014 Pinot Noir Woodruff Vineyard is wonderfully lifted and aromatic, as it so often is. A pretty citrus/blood orange note leads to white pepper, sweet dried cherry and mint, all of which give the Woodruff an exotic, perfumed personality that is compelling. Gracious and light on its feet, this feminine Pinot will drink well for the better part of the next decade. The Woodruff was done with 100% whole clusters. In this vintage, the Woodruff is a touch compact, perhaps owing to the heavy fog that is often present. If the wine fleshes out in bottle, it could turn out to be even better than this note suggests.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Wind Gap Nellessen Vineyard Syrah, Russian River Valley 2014 750ML ($49.95) $39 special, 19 bottles available
Antonio Galloni 93 points “The 2014 Syrah Nellessen Vineyard is a much more typical wine for Wind Gap. A range of dark red cherry, plum, spice and lavender give the 2014 much of its sensual, inviting personality. Expressive floral and savory notes give the 2014 a kick of freshness on the finish.”
Wind Gap ‘Soif’ Red Wine, North Coast 2015 750ML ($34.95) $28 special, 21 bottles available
Antonio Galloni 90-92 points “The 2015 Old Vine Red Soif is a bit darker and richer than the 2014 tasted alongside it, but it captures the same energy and vibrancy. Dark red cherry, plum, licorice and spice meld together in a racy, voluptuous wine. There is so much to like here. The 2015 includes all three barrels of the Bedrock Mourvèdre that in the past has been bottled separately, along with dollops of Petite Sirah, Zinfandel and Carignane.”
~~~~~~~~~
Check Out Our Current Italian Sale!
We’ve got a bunch of great wines with extra discounts on sale now!
~~~~~~~~~
Our Current
Shipping Promos:
Welcome to the club, Colorado!
Along with Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and California,
we now offer flat rate shipping to Colorado! Here’s the scoop:
Single orders of any quantity of wines qualify for the flat rate;
this does not apply to orders held in storage for any reason
or multiple orders consolidated into one shipment.
The flat reach for each state is, as follows:
-to Oregon for $17,
-Washington & Idaho for $20,
-and California & Colorado for $25.
Take Advantage of the Flat Rate!
~~~~~~~~~
Shake off winter
with this fascinating white from Greece
Matt Kramer Says:
“The “new” Greek whites and reds are a revelation. Forget everything you ever thought about Greek wines.”
We, and Mark Squires of the Wine Advocate, couldn’t agree more. Explore the cradle of history with this historically delicious white…
Domaine Sigalas Santorini Assyrtico, Aegean Islands, Greece 2015 750ML ($29.95) $27 special, 36+ bottles available
Mark Squires-Wine Advocate 94 points “The 2015 Assyrtiko, Sigalas’ monovarietal Santorini, comes in at 14% alcohol. If this isn’t the unoaked wine of the vintage so far, it is pretty close and certainly on my short list. As always, Sigalas is not necessary the big blockbuster, but the winery provides superb concentration in its own right. Yet, the result always seems very graceful. When you realize how many layers there are, it seems hard to believe because it shows so well on first taste. It doesn’t seem overly big. It doesn’t seem to be hiding anything. Yet, it is. The wine always shows better with a few years in the cellar, or a day or two later. (Or, decant it. Do an experiment: taste half a bottle undecanted and compare to a decanted half bottle.) The tastings on the second day were really what sold on me this. It was fine on the first day, but impressive on the second. The concentration, finesse, balance and structure always serve this wine in good stead. This year, its purity of fruit seems even more impressive. It is a gorgeous Sigalas, mingling understatement, fine persistence and purity. Do yourself a favor and give this about three years in the cellar (maybe five). They always blossom. It is a wine that will not only hold, but improve. As I’ve stated recently, this category needs some reevaluation upwards, so it is not really that this is so unique. That said, this is still an exceptional Sigalas.”
2009 Bordeaux
In many ways, the 2009 Bordeaux vintage represented the crest of the wave for futures offerings. Prices were high and so many big-time players sat out the vintage when the wines were released. Now, that looks like the smart play as a backlog in inventory has forced Bordeaux estates and brokers to cut prices on what has been hailed as an exceptional vintage. The high end wines might hold pricing, but the “lesser” estates need to sell their wines and so we’re seeing really incredible deals come through.
The trickle down effect has been great for the average consumer, especially those looking to try some of the cru bottlings of the vintage. The wines are ready to roll now, the prices are terrific, and if you’re looking to try picking up some of the classified growths, it is a good way to test the waters to see if it is the vintage for you.
So how are the wines? They’re as subtle as the Rose Parade. Compared to the wound up ’10 vintage, these are showing their stripes now, in all their ripe glory; lush fruit, soft tannins, and perfume for days. This makes for wines that are accessible now, and while traditionalists might pooh-pooh such opulence, this is a great intro for many drinkers who are trending toward domestic producers. At a recent dinner with friends, who collect almost exclusively California reds, we drank some of the 09 Chateau Bel Air. The wine was definitely right bank Bordeaux, with licorice, dark fruit and plenty of spice, but the intensity of the fruit wowed my friends into asking about what else we could try from Bordeaux.
If you are a CA drinker looking to dip your toes on the other side of the pond, here are a few to try:
Chateau Meyney, St. Estephe 2009 750ML ($49.95) $39 special, 36+ bottles available
Case-12 Chateau Meyney, St. Estephe 2009 750ML ($549.95) $438 special, 2 cases available (that’s only $36.50/bottle!)
James Suckling 93 points “Green olives, spices and currants on the nose. Full body, with velvety tannins and a juicy finish. Lovely layers of ripe tannins and ripe fruit. Best after 2018.”
Robert Parker 92 points “I clearly underrated this wine from barrel. The finest wine made at this estate since 1982, this opaque black wine is a sleeper of the vintage, with oodles of blackberry fruit interwoven with hints of charcoal, forest floor, licorice and damp earth. Deep, rich, chewy, full-bodied and opulent, this is a fabulous Meyney that, because of its low acidity and very ripe tannin, can be drunk in 3-4 years or cellared for two decades. Bravo!”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $49
Chateau Bel-Air Pomerol 2009 750ML ($37.95) $29 special, 15 bottles available
Case-12 Chateau Bel-Air Pomerol 2009 750ML ($419.95) $299 special, 2 cases available (that’s only $24.92/bottle!)
“Owned by the Martin family (who also own Gloria), this dense ruby/plum-colored sleeper of the vintage displays oodles of fruit as well as some notes of Christmas fruitcake and roasted herbs along with loads of cassis. Tasty, round, generous, and ripe, this 2009 has a lot going for it.”–Robert Parker
Malescot St. Exupery 2009 750ML ($179.95) $149 special, 15 bottles available
James Suckling 98 points “A wine with intense spice and berry character with hints of sweet tobacco. It changes all the time from flowers to fruit and wet earth. Full-bodied with super fine tannins and ripe fruit. It’s long and juicy with lovely fruit. Super long and beautiful with fine tannins that last for minutes. Tight now but juicy and gorgeous. Best ever from here.”
Le Carre, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru 2009 750ML ($179.95) $149 special, 6 bottles available
Robert Parker 97 points “Achieving nearly 15% natural alcohol (one of the highest of the Jonathan Maltus St. Emilion estates) , this blend of approximately 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc is from vineyards that sit on limestone soils near Clos Fourtet, an area that performed brilliantly in 2009. Inky purple, with notes of graphite, vanillin, blackberry and cassis as well as crushed rock and floral notes, the wine has breathtaking extravagance and a luxuriant fruit quality that simply has to be tasted to be believed. Phenomenally rich, full-bodied, and brilliantly poised and well-balanced, this is a tour de force in winemaking and a colossal Le Carre, the finest Jonathan Maltus has yet produced. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2028.”
Chateau d’Arcole, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru 2009 750ML ($34.95) $29 special, 36+ bottles available
“A light-bodied, open-knit red, with direct damson plum and cherry preserves notes backed by modest toast that hangs on the slightly lean finish.”–Wine Spectator
Chateau Saint-Pierre, Saint-Julien 2009 750ML ($199.95) $169 special, 9 bottles available
Robert Parker 98 points “The all-time greatest wine I have ever tasted from Saint-Pierre, this estate, the smallest of the grand cru classes of St.-Julien, has an opaque purple color and a spectacular nose of subtle charcoal, creme de cassis, blackberry, and incense. Full-bodied, with striking intensity and flamboyantly rich, exuberant flavors bursting with extract, the St. Pierre has no hard edges, but rather massive, incredibly well-endowed blockbuster style, which should prove to be monumental. Give it 6-8 years to take on more definition and calm down, but this is a 30- to 40-year wine. Bravo!”RP
Chateau Quinault L’Enclos, Saint-Emilion 2009 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 12 bottles available
James Suckling 93 points “A soft and fruity wine, with orange peel and berries and plums. Full body, with super fine tannins and a fruity finish. Refined and very pretty. Structured in the end. Fresh. Succulent. A style away from the over extracted one a few years ago. Try after 2018.” JS
Wine Spectator 92 points “This is very distinctive, with live-wire acidity running through the core of damson plum, linzer torte and blackberry fruit that’s framed by a mouthwatering roasted apple wood note. The long and driven finish has a piercing iron edge and a smoldering tobacco note that adds to the dramatic profile. Best from 2015 through 2025.” WA
~~~~~~~~~
Spanish Case Specials:
Warming mid-winter Spanish Reds.
Somewhere the sun must be shining: feel the warmth with these selections, chosen to offer a wide selection of price point and style.
Case-12 Buil & Gine Montsant 17-XI 2014 750ML ($249.95) $199 special (that’s only $16.58/bottle!)
Buil & Gine Montsant 17-XI 2014 750ML ($21.95) $18 special
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 91 points “Brilliant ruby. Highly perfumed, evoking ripe cherry and blackcurrant that are complemented by slowly emerging aromas of cured meat, lavender and minerals. Enlivened by a spicy nuance, the silky, sweet and penetrating palate offers intense dark fruit and floral pastille flavors. Seamless and very nicely concentrated, with smooth tannins lending shape to a very long, fruit-driven finish.” JR
Case-12 Bodegas Roda Rioja Sela 2012 750ML ($399.95) $269 special (that’s only $22.42/bottle!)
Bodegas Roda Rioja Sela 2012 750ML ($34.95) $26 special
Wine Advocate 90 points “The 2012 Sela will be released in March 2015, and it’s a great example of Sela. It opens to bright red fruit, more shiny than 2011, and is still pretty young showing faint lactic notes and more traces of the barrel that should be absorbed with time. 2012 could be fresher and more accessible. It’s an elegant and balanced wine, with some fine-grained tannins that will be polished with bottle age. The palate is very tasty and has almost salty flavors that are quite gentle and velvety. In 2012 Sela was a blend of Tempranillo with 3% Graciano and 1% Garnacha.”
Case-12 Ilurce Rio Madre Rioja Graciano 2014 750ML ($149.95) $99 special (that’s only $8.25/bottle!)
Ilurce Rio Madre Rioja Graciano 2014 750ML ($14.95) $9.90 special
Josh Raynolds 90 points “Brilliant violet color. Intensely perfumed dark berry and floral pastille scents, along with suggestions of anise, violet and pipe tobacco. Sweet and expansive on the palate, offering sappy black and blue fruit flavors that put on weight with air. Shows very good energy and power on the long, gently tannic finish, leaving behind notes of blueberry and peppery spices.”
Case-12 Ordonez Triton Tinta De Toro 2015 750ML ($249.95) $189 special (that’s only $15.75/bottle!)
Ordonez Triton Tinta De Toro 2015 750ML ($19.95) $18 special
Robert Parker 94 points “The 2015 Triton Tinta De Toro is a stunning wine from this relatively modest appellation and vineyard owned by Jorge Ordoñez and his partners. The wine, 100% Tinto de Toro, spent eight months sur lie in Burgundy and Bordeaux barrels. It is a killer example of Toro, which produces relatively full-throttle, intense wines from ungrafted vines. This beauty, inky purple in color, offers up notes of graphite, forest floor, blackberry and cassis in a full-bodied, pedal-to-the-metal, long, rich and concentrated style. At $20.00 it is a remarkable value and probably capable of lasting up to a decade, although there is no reason to defer your gratification.”
Case-12 Lopez Heredia Tondonia Reserva Rioja 2003 750ML ($499.95) $359 special (that’s only $29.92/bottle!)
Lopez Heredia Tondonia Reserva Rioja 2003 750ML ($47.95) $33 special
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 92 points “Bright ruby-red. Ripe cherry, vanilla and floral pastilles on the smoky, oak-spiced nose. Sweet and supple on the palate, offering pliant red fruit and spicecake flavors with suave mocha and vanilla bean nuances. Quite lively and fresh for a wine from a hot vintage, and showing no excess fat. Finishes sweet, toasty and very long, with smooth tannins making a late appearance.”
Wine Spectator 91 points “Cigar box, cedar and balsamic notes frame cherry, raisin and licorice flavors in this lean, firm red. Displays grip and focus. A traditional style. Drink now through 2023.”
Case-12 Remelluri Rioja Reserva 2010 750ML ($419.95) $379 special (that’s only $31.58/bottle!)
Remelluri Rioja Reserva 2010 750ML ($39.95) $36 special
James Suckling 95 points “A wine with beautiful finesse and depth. Dark fruits, dark chocolate, hazelnut and floral character. Polished and refined. Full body. Long and beautiful. Tasty finish. The first recent vintage 100% made by Telmo Rodriguez. Drink or hold.”
Peñín Guide To Spanish Wine – Podium Award – Exceptional 96 points “(tempranillo, garnacha, graciano). Colour: cherry, garnet rim. Nose: ripe fruit, spicy, creamy oak, complex, expressive. Palate: flavourful, toasty, round tannins, balanced, elegant.”
Wine Advocate 93 points “The wine that represents the house style and also the biggest volume here with around 350,000 bottles produced is the 2010 Reserva which was cropped from an almost perfect growing season. A blend of the reds Tempranillo, Garnacha, Graciano and the whites Viura and Malvasía Riojana, it fermented with indigenous yeasts in a combination of stainless steel and oak vats then matured in French oak barrels for 17 months. The nose has earthy aromas and notes of ripe orange peel giving old-style character to the wine marked by very well-integrated oak and an obvious Rioja character. There are cherries, plums and spices with licorice and ink aromas. The day after, it has more strawberries with very good freshness, so the evolution in bottle should be good. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannins and good acidity that ends with sweet fruit flavors and something earthy, very pleasant and easy to drink. It grows on you.”
We offer 66 red wines from Spain to choose from, in-stock now. See the full list online at our web store!
~~~~~~~~~
Speaking of Spanish Wines
Check out our list of Spanish wines on extra-sale right now:
~~~~~~~~~
Arriving in February
France – Beaujolais
Domaine Jean Foillard Morgon, Beaujolais 2014 750ML ($29.95) $26 pre-arrival special
Importer note “There is something no-nonsense and straightforward about Foillard’s wine. It seems to say, let’s cut straight to deliciousness. Deliciousness with class. It has a wonderful texture going down. The finesse from start to finish seems almost offhanded.”
Domaine Jean Foillard Morgon Cote du Py, Beaujolais 2014 750ML ($49.95) $39 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2014 Morgon Côte du Py has a very well defined bouquet, though clearly at the moment it is more closed than the 2014 Morgon Cuvee Corcelette. There is great mineralité here but the aromatics will need two or three years to fully open. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannin, very fine acidity, harmonious from start to finish with a caressing dark cherry and mulberry finish that lingers in the mouth. This is an excellent Côte du Py for those prepared to afford it 3-4 years in bottle.”
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 93 points “Deep ruby. Powerful, mineral-accented aromas of ripe dark berries and candied violet, joined by slowly emerging hints of blood orange and cured meat. Palate-staining black raspberry and bitter cherry flavors unfurl and become sweeter with air, picking up an exotic touch of star anise on the back half. The mineral and floral notes come back strong on the clinging, gently tannic finish, adding energy and strong closing lift.”
Domaine Jean Foillard Morgon Les Charmes Eponym, Beaujolais 2013 750ML ($49.95) $39 pre-arrival special
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 93 points “Bright magenta. Mineral-accented aromas of ripe raspberry, cherry pit, licorice and Asian spices, complemented by a sexy floral nuance that emerges with air. Silky and focused, offering vibrant bitter cherry and red berry flavors, a hint of candied lavender and a refreshingly bitter jolt of blood orange. Finishes gently tannic, sweet and impressively long, leaving red fruit liqueur and spicecake notes behind.”
France – Burgundy
Arriving in February
Domaine Jean-Marc Pillot Bourgogne Les Grands Champs, Burgundy 2015 750ML ($29.95) $24 pre-arrival special
Importer note “From a parcel on the southeastern end of Chassagne Montrachet, this wine now passes its elevage in stainless steel tank to preserve its freshness. It shares the broad shoulders and dense texture of the wines of Chassagne. Bottled twelve months after the harvest, this wine establishes the base-line for the generous, open style adopted by Jean-Marc Pillot for all of his wines. In years of normal production, we import 2400 bottles for the US market.”
Domaine Jean-Marc Pillot Chassagne-Montrachet Les Chaumes 2014 750ML ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival special
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 92+ points “Bright lemon-yellow. Knockout nose combines musky grapefruit oil, lemon, lime, leesy baked bread and pungent crushed stone. At once penetrating and refined, conveying superb energy and precision to its bulletproof fruit. Extremely young but not hard, this premier cru reverberates and rises on the very long finish. I underestimated this wine a year ago.”
Domaine Jean-Marc Pillot Les Chenevottes, Chassagne-Montrachet Premier Cru 2014 750ML ($79.95) $66 pre-arrival special
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 92+ points “Pale, bright yellow. Penetrating aromas of lemon, minerals and white flowers. More austere than the Chaumes, offering brisk, intense flavors of lime and crushed stone. Boasts terrific inner-mouth energy and finishes with palate-saturating minerality.”
Domaine Jean-Marc Pillot Morgeot Les Fairendes, Chassagne-Montrachet Premier Cru 2014 750ML ($79.95) $69 pre-arrival special
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 93+ points “(30% new oak; Pillot has picked this parcel much earlier since 2012): Bright, pale yellow with green highlights. Aromas of lemon, lime and vanilla, plus a flinty note of limestone reduction. Highly concentrated and powerful, dominated in the early going by tactile, rocky minerality. A superb mineral-driven example of Morgeot with the spine for a slow and positive evolution in bottle.”
Domaine Jean-Marc Pillot Bourgogne Les Grandes Terres 2015 750ML ($27.95) $21.90 pre-arrival special
Importer note “This little red is a favorite of ours for its rustic, wild berry fruit and ebullient palate presence. The vineyard is located south of Chassagne in the town of Remigny. Some of the vines are quite old, approaching the 60-year mark (as of 2012).”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
France – Rhone
Arriving in February
Andre Perret Condrieu Coteau du Chery, Rhone 2012 750ML ($119.95) $99 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 95 points “The 2012 Condrieu Coteaux du Chery, which comes from one of the most heralded sites in the appellation, is also brilliant (as is his 2011!). The most rich and textured of the lineup, it offers thrilling notes of white peach, crushed rock, buttered grapefruit, flowers and tangerine to go with a medium to full-bodied, layered, yet brilliantly fresh and detailed texture that keeps you coming back to the glass. It too will drink nicely for 4-5 years.”
Domaine Auguste Clape Cornas, Rhone 2012 750ML ($179.95) $149 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 98 points “The Cornas of the vintage is Clape’s 2012 Cornas. An incredible effort, its inky purple/black color is followed by spectacular aromas and flavors of black raspberry, graphite, beef blood, iron, cedar and white pepper (among other things). This is Cornas at its finest, with insane aromatics, full-bodied richness and massive concentration, yet at the same time staying elegant, seamless and gorgeously pure. It’s more approachable than the 2010, but should still need 3-4 years of cellaring and have two decades of longevity.”
Italy – Tuscany
Arriving in February!
Montevertine Le Pergole Torte Toscana IGT, Tuscany 2013 750ML ($149.95) $119 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 98 points “Perhaps no Tuscan wine is a better vintage ambassador than the Montevertine 2013 Le Pergole Torte. This gorgeous wine seems to have captured the energy, the freshness, the spirt and the edginess of this classic vintage. It really speaks to my palate thanks to its silky consistency, its steady aromatic momentum and its understated elegance. The wine shows an uncanny level of the proverbial Tuscan nobility. The bouquet offers a delicate embroidery of wild berry and underbrush, with lingering tones of dark fruit and spice that appear on second nose. The mouthfeel is ethereal and polished with tannins that already show a superior level of integration despite the wine’s young age. The aging future looks very bright for the 2013 Le Pergole Torte.”
~~~~~~~~~
Hirsch Lamm:
The Best Kamptal Gruner Vineyard,
In the Hands of a Master
Arriving in March
Weingut Hirsch Lamm Gruner Veltliner Erste Lage OTW Reserve Trocken, Kamptal 2015 750ML ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival special
Grapelive 94+ points “Johannes Hirsch’s Lamm Gruner is truly majestic. It’s a dense, dry and powerful Gruner Veltliner that is comparable to a Grosses Gewächs; it’s a gorgeous single Grand Cru trocken white with tremendous class and pedigree. Lamm has to be considered one of the greatest vineyards in Austria, and this wine shows why! Hirsch, a winery imported by Terry Theise, has converted to all biodynamic and is Respekt certified. [Hirsch] has been flying under the radar for many years making high quality wines, but not getting huge love or attention. This is about to change, as Johannes’ 2015 are set to blow up! This was a shocking revelation: these Hirsch Grunners and Rieslings were stunningly gorgeous, in fact they were some of the best examples I’ve ever tasted from Austria ever! Right up there with Knoll, Brundlmayer, Pichler and Hirtzberger, this is a winery to watch for,… in particular this mind blowing Hirsch Lamm Gruner Veltliner! This 2015 Lamm is richly and heavenly textured with silky finesse and vital energy, hiding its powerful engine under a velvet cushion with stunning concentration and the purest minerality with layers of lemon/lime, minty almond oil, white anise, white plum and crushed stones. The vineyard Lamm is set on a core of loess and mica with a sandy/brown rocky top soil which in years like 2015 give weight and depth, without sweetness or high alcohols, meaning you can have a masterpiece like this one. This white is sexy thrilling as can be, and it is certainly living up to its potential so far. This wine when open transmits joyous harmony, pleasure throughout and subtly sprinkles in earth, spice and even a sweet/meatiness. It’s beautiful detailed and nervy or cat-like in a smooth leopard kind of way. This is greatness in the glass, it was a seriously awesome experience to meet up with Johannes and taste his latest set of wines, and it took a few weeks to find the right words about just how good they really are. I still am not sure how to express it fully. Drink this Gruner Cru over the next 5 to 10 years, and be sure to check out all of the Hirsch 2015’s!”
~~~~~~~~~
Produttori del Barbaresco Single-Vineyards
From the “Epic Vintage” 2013
Arriving in October
“Two thousand thirteen …is shaping up to be an epic vintage of classic proportions and superb pedigree. The growing season was much more stable than 2012, but it is the last month of the year, a perfect September with warm days and cool nights, that yielded Barbarescos endowed with regal intensity. The 2013s remind me of the 2010s, but with more inner sweetness and mid-palate richness.” –Antonio Galloni
Produttori has aimed to communicate the individual terroir of a given place from vintage to vintage. Founded in 1958, undertaking has grown to include 52 members who occupy over 100 hectares, producing a Barbaresco DOCG from a blend of their vineyards and nine single-vineyard cuvees in exceptional years from premier vineyards.
Produttori del Barbaresco is revered for its commitment to quality and transparent winemaking, producing classically-styled Barbaresco and Riservas that allow a rare chance to taste the true terroir of each vineyard site. Prolonged aging and traditional winemaking has lent the domaine a reputation for both consistency and quality. The grape growers are paid based on the quality of their grapes instead of quantity, which helps provide financial incentive to grow the best possible grapes and to harvest at the optimal time for each parcel.
It’s a miracle that these wines are still affordable and available, especially when compared to the skyrocketing prices of Barolo. You’d be hard-pressed to find such consistent quality and complexity out of such an extensive range of single-vineyard Nebbiolos anywhere else.
2013 Produttori Single Vineyards Arriving in October 2017
These are all the only listings in the USA today
Produttori del Barbaresco Asili, Barbaresco Riserva DOCG 2013 750ML ($69.95) $59 pre-arrival special
Produttori del Barbaresco Montefico, Barbaresco Riserva DOCG 2013 750ML ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival special
Produttori del Barbaresco Montestefano, Barbaresco Riserva DOCG 2013 750ML ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival special
Produttori del Barbaresco Montestefano, Barbaresco Riserva DOCG 2013 1.5L ($119.95) $99 pre-arrival special
Produttori del Barbaresco Muncagota, Barbaresco Riserva DOCG 2013 750ML ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival special
Produttori del Barbaresco Ovello, Barbaresco Riserva DOCG 2013 750ML ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival special
Produttori del Barbaresco Ovello, Barbaresco Riserva DOCG 2013 1.5L ($119.95) $99 pre-arrival special
Produttori del Barbaresco Paje, Barbaresco Riserva DOCG 2013 750ML ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival special
Produttori del Barbaresco Pora, Barbaresco Riserva DOCG 2013 750ML ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival special
Produttori del Barbaresco Rabaja, Barbaresco Riserva DOCG 2013 750ML ($69.95) $59 pre-arrival special
Produttori del Barbaresco Rabaja, Barbaresco Riserva DOCG 2013 1.5L ($149.95) $119 pre-arrival special
Produttori del Barbaresco Rio Sordo, Barbaresco Riserva DOCG 2013 750ML ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival special