In Today’s Newsletter:
Subscriber Special
Big Discounts on Select Clos de la Chapelle Burgundies
New Review!
“A Terrific, Noteworthy Vinsobres”
Don’t Forget Our Other Subscriber Specials
Ending Tomorrow Night
Eisele Vineyards & Beaux Freres Les Cousins
The Serious Side of Albarino
Trending
Collector’s Corner
Delamotte’s Extended Tirage Masterpieces
Subscriber Special
Big Discounts on Select Clos de la Chapelle Burgundies
Save Up to $20/Bottle on Some of Burgundy’s Finest
We’ve written extensively on how great we think the Clos de la Chapelle wines are. The domaine has acquired one of the most exceptional collections of vineyards in the Cote de Beaune, with holdings in any number of truly top-class sites. These are wines that are built for the serious Burgundy drinker but are currently undervalued relative to their peers in Volnay.
This is an estate on the rise. Tasting these wines and reading about their attitudes toward winemaking makes it painfully obvious that they are driven in a fundamentally different way from their peers. It won’t be long until Clos de la Chapelle is thought of (and priced with) wines like D’Angerville, Lafon and Lafarge as some of the top bottlings in Volnay.
This is a domaine that’s only been around in its current incarnation since 2011, and yet has already been a featured winery at La Paulee and has received strong reviews from both Burghound and John Gilman. The winery now owns land in an array of the top vineyard sites in Volnay, Pommard and Corton and makes truly excellent renditions of each—with moderate whole cluster use, small amounts of new oak and brilliantly balanced ripeness.
This all screams “collectible estate in the making” but at prices that aren’t quite to that level yet. At some point, you’re going to be bragging to your friends about what a crazy deal you got on the Clos de la Chapelle wines, back in the day—but only if you take advantage of this sale.
Clos de la Chapelle Sale Prices Valid Until Sunday, April 19th at 6PM PT
In Stock Now:
This is an estate on the rise. Tasting these wines and reading about their attitudes toward winemaking makes it painfully obvious that they are driven in a fundamentally different way from their peers. It won’t be long until Clos de la Chapelle is thought of (and priced with) wines like D’Angerville, Lafon and Lafarge as some of the top bottlings in Volnay.
This is a domaine that’s only been around in its current incarnation since 2011, and yet has already been a featured winery at La Paulee and has received strong reviews from both Burghound and John Gilman. The winery now owns land in an array of the top vineyard sites in Volnay, Pommard and Corton and makes truly excellent renditions of each—with moderate whole cluster use, small amounts of new oak and brilliantly balanced ripeness.
This all screams “collectible estate in the making” but at prices that aren’t quite to that level yet. At some point, you’re going to be bragging to your friends about what a crazy deal you got on the Clos de la Chapelle wines, back in the day—but only if you take advantage of this sale.
Clos de la Chapelle Sale Prices Valid Until Sunday, April 19th at 6PM PT
In Stock Now:
Clos de la Chapelle Sale Prices Valid Until Sunday, April 19th at 6PM PT
Want to shop all the sale wines right now? Just head to our webstore for a full list.
New Review!
“A Terrific, Noteworthy Vinsobres”
Chateau de Rouanne is a new project from the team at Saint Cosme, located in Vinsobres, in the northern part of the southern Rhone. While Saint Cosme had been buying grapes from Rouanne for years, they recently bought the entire property and the 2018 is the inaugural vintage under the Chateau de Rouanne label. Jeb Dunnuck just reviewed the new (first) release and concludes it’s a winner—exactly what we thought when we tasted it the first time.
Saint Cosme is probably our top selling producer, year in and out. We carry a variety of their wines, from their single vineyard, estate grown Gigondas to their excellent value negociant bottlings from the Northern Rhone. When we heard they had purchased a historic estate in Vinsobres, we had high hopes—and the wine lives up.
Chateau de Rouanne dates back to Roman times, with limestone and sandy marl soils planted to a massale selection of Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre. Vinsobres is pretty far north for the Southern Rhone and reminds us of where Gigondas was 10-15 years ago, both in terms of pricing and climate. In Saint Cosme’s hands, that’s a very, very good thing, as we think you’ll see.
Chateau de Rouanne ,Vinsobres 2018 750ML ($31.95) $28 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-12 Chateau de Rouanne ,Vinsobres 2018 750ML ($399.95) $299 special (that’s only $24.92/bottle!)
Jeb Dunnuck 90 points “The 2018 Vinsobres comes from an estate owned by Louis Barruol (of Château Saint Cosme in Gigondas) and checks in as a blend of 50% Grenache, 40% Syrah, and 10% Mourvèdre, all from a single parcel just outside the village of Vinsobres. Revealing a deep purple, translucent hue as well as lots of mulberry and black raspberry fruit interwoven with notes of ground pepper, violets, and game, it hits the palate with medium-bodied richness, a rounded, supple, elegant texture, notable purity, and outstanding length. Seeming to have one foot in the Northern Rhône with its gamey, violet characteristics and one foot in the south with its richness and opulence on the palate, it’s a terrific, noteworthy Vinsobres to enjoy over the coming 4-6 years.”
Saint Cosme is probably our top selling producer, year in and out. We carry a variety of their wines, from their single vineyard, estate grown Gigondas to their excellent value negociant bottlings from the Northern Rhone. When we heard they had purchased a historic estate in Vinsobres, we had high hopes—and the wine lives up.
Chateau de Rouanne dates back to Roman times, with limestone and sandy marl soils planted to a massale selection of Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre. Vinsobres is pretty far north for the Southern Rhone and reminds us of where Gigondas was 10-15 years ago, both in terms of pricing and climate. In Saint Cosme’s hands, that’s a very, very good thing, as we think you’ll see.
Chateau de Rouanne ,Vinsobres 2018 750ML ($31.95) $28 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-12 Chateau de Rouanne ,Vinsobres 2018 750ML ($399.95) $299 special (that’s only $24.92/bottle!)
Jeb Dunnuck 90 points “The 2018 Vinsobres comes from an estate owned by Louis Barruol (of Château Saint Cosme in Gigondas) and checks in as a blend of 50% Grenache, 40% Syrah, and 10% Mourvèdre, all from a single parcel just outside the village of Vinsobres. Revealing a deep purple, translucent hue as well as lots of mulberry and black raspberry fruit interwoven with notes of ground pepper, violets, and game, it hits the palate with medium-bodied richness, a rounded, supple, elegant texture, notable purity, and outstanding length. Seeming to have one foot in the Northern Rhône with its gamey, violet characteristics and one foot in the south with its richness and opulence on the palate, it’s a terrific, noteworthy Vinsobres to enjoy over the coming 4-6 years.”
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When you’re ready to pick up, just park in our lot,
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(If another adult is picking up for you,
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503-223-6002
Don’t Forget Our Other Subscriber Specials
Ending Tomorrow Night
Eisele Vineyards
Eisele is one of the most hallowed terroirs in the Napa Valley. Tucked into the foothills in Calistoga, it has produced incredible wines since 1971 for Phelps, Araujo and now (indirectly) Chateau Latour, who bought the property a few years ago. Their flagship bottling is made to compete with first growth Bordeaux and very much does—this is collectible and profoundly complex and ageworthy. And on our subscriber sale, it’s made an even better star of your cellar.
Subscriber Special Pricing Valid Until Friday, April 17th at 6PM
In Stock & On Sale Now:
Eisele Vineyard (formerly Araujo) Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2016 750ML ($599.95) Was $539, Now $479 Subscriber Special, 8 bottles in stock now
Wine Advocate 100 points “The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon has a deep garnet-purple color. Its nose begins a little reserved, slowly revealing a quiet intensity of freshly crushed blackberries, chocolate-covered cherries, cassis and aniseed with compelling nuances of black tea, cigar box, truffles and charcuterie, plus, with coaxing, gentle wafts of red roses and crushed rocks emerge. The medium to full-bodied palate is simply arresting, offering a a myriad floral and earth sparks amidst a black fruit core and with seamless, firm, very fine-grained tannins. Well-knit freshness brings forth layer after layer of delicate nuances on the very long, mineral-laced finish. The team at Eisele, led by Frédéric Engerer (of Chateau Latour) and beautifully orchestrated by winemaker Hélène Mingot, have knocked it out of the park this vintage with this singular expression that both embraces the site’s heritage and reveals parts unknown.-LPB”
Decanter 100 points “One of the most legendary vineyards in the Napa Valley, the Eisele Vineyard was purchased by François Pinault of Château Latour in Pauillac in the Médoc, Bordeaux from the Araujo family which had owned it for 23 years (from 1990 to 2013). The winemaking is now in the hands of 41-year-old winemaker Hélène Mingot. For this vintage, Hélène used only rockiest blocks planted in shallow soils near Simmons Creek.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $565
The average price is $565
Eisele Vineyard ‘Altagracia’ Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2016 750ML ($169.95) Was $149, Now $119 Subscriber Special, 36+ bottles in stock now
James Suckling 96 points “Lots of violets and dark berries with sweet underbrush and fresh mushrooms, following through to a medium to full body, soft and silky tannins and a succulent and refined finish. It remains supple and beautiful. Hard not to drink now. Better after 2023.”
Wine Advocate 95 points “The Altagracia is produced almost exclusively from estate fruit this year and was bottled at the end of June 2018. Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Altagracia comes bursting forth with vivacious black cherries, blackberries, wild blueberries and cassis notes with touches of cinnamon stick, cloves, forest floor, violets and dusty earth with a waft of violets. The palate is medium to full-bodied, firm and grainy with loads of iron and mineral accents, finishing long and perfumed.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
A profound and “mysteriously compelling wine”
Eisele Vineyard Syrah, Napa Valley 2015 750ML ($279.95) Was $199, Now $169 Subscriber Special, 5 bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 94 points “Rich, polished and densely complex, with expressive blackberry, bay leaf and smoky pepper flavors that take on intensity toward refined tannins. Drink now through 2027.”
Skurnik Imports Notes “Syrah was first planted on the estate in 1978. After making wine from the few remaining vines in 1991 and 1993, a serious commitment to this ancient and noble grape was made, increasing the plantings in the vineyard. Eisele Syrah is a profound, mysteriously compelling wine that reveals yet another aspect of the Eisele Vineyard’s unique terroir.”
Subscriber Special Pricing Valid Until Friday, April 17th at 6PM
Beaux Freres’ Les Cousins
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Subscriber Special Pricing Valid Until Friday, April 17th at 6PM
A secret blend of barrels from one of the Willamette Valley’s Great Estates. This is a crazy bargain next to the single vineyard wines that run at roughly three times the price. A true insider value!
Beaux Freres Les Cousins Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2018 750ML ($49.95) Displayed price: $37, Your Price: $33.50 Subscriber Special
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
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Subscriber Special Pricing Valid Until Friday, April 17th at 6PM
The Serious Side of Albarino
Most Albarino is industrial wine. Not that it’s bad, but there’s a formula to your basic $10-$15 bottle of Galician white. The wine is picked earlyish, before rain can risk the harvest, and fermented with a selection of commercial yeasts that give the generic white wine a lot of fruitiness (especially on the nose) and a little bit more body. It’s aged very briefly in stainless steel tanks and sent to market as fast as possible to be a simple, if often tasty, quaffer.
By contrast Alberto Nanclares does things very differently in pursuit of excellent wine. He uses indigenous yeasts, eschewing the quick and fruity fermentations for ones that last longer and produce distinct mineral notes in the wines. Those mineral notes are what separates the great (or as he’d argue, true) Albarino from the commodity stuff. In the hands of a master like Nanclares, Albarino has more in common with great Chablis or a GG from Keller than it does with something like Torrontes.
Nanclares also likes to work with very old vines, often trained in the traditional Albarello (overhead/pergola) method. This training is an extremely labor intensive way to farm the vineyard, but yields excellent wines. It’s fallen out of favor as it requires almost all the work to be done by hand and so requires a dedication to the vineyard that only a handful of producers still have. Few are willing to work this way anymore and as a result, few make wines like these. If you love deeply soulful, mineral drenched whites, you owe it to yourself to pick some up and see what true Albarino really tastes like.
Arriving Tomorrow, Friday April 17th:
Bodegas Nanclares ‘Alberto Nanclares’ Albarino, Rias Baixas 2018 750ML ($39.95) $33 pre-arrival special
Importer note “Nanclares Albariño comes from 8 parcels in the parroquias (or parishes) of Cambados and Ribadumia. After a cool spring and late summer heat in August, grapes were hand-harvested from Sept. 10th to Oct. 6th, pressed whole cluster into two 2000L steel vats and five used 450-500L French oak barrels, and fermented with native yeast with malolactic fermentation suppressed in order to retain the naturally high acidity. The wine was raised on the lees for 9 months, bottled with modest levels of SO2, and was not clarified or filtered. An acid-driven, profound, and angular expression of Val do Salnés Albariño!”
Bodegas Nanclares ‘Soverribas de Nanclares’, Rias Baixas 2018 750ML ($49.95) $45 pre-arrival special
Importer note “Soverribas Albariño comes from a single, southwest-facing parcel named Paraje Manzaniña, located in the parroquia of Padrenda (Meaño). After a wet and cool spring and summer, it turned dry and hot in August, with hand-harvesting on Sept. 10th through Oct. 6th. Grapes were pressed whole-cluster and fermented and raised on the lees in an old 2,200L French oak tina for 11 months with battonage for the first 3 months, bottled on Aug. 21st (fruit day) without fining or filtration, and modest amounts of SO2. An angular and serious vin de garde Rías Baixas wine. Decant before serving.”
By contrast Alberto Nanclares does things very differently in pursuit of excellent wine. He uses indigenous yeasts, eschewing the quick and fruity fermentations for ones that last longer and produce distinct mineral notes in the wines. Those mineral notes are what separates the great (or as he’d argue, true) Albarino from the commodity stuff. In the hands of a master like Nanclares, Albarino has more in common with great Chablis or a GG from Keller than it does with something like Torrontes.
Nanclares also likes to work with very old vines, often trained in the traditional Albarello (overhead/pergola) method. This training is an extremely labor intensive way to farm the vineyard, but yields excellent wines. It’s fallen out of favor as it requires almost all the work to be done by hand and so requires a dedication to the vineyard that only a handful of producers still have. Few are willing to work this way anymore and as a result, few make wines like these. If you love deeply soulful, mineral drenched whites, you owe it to yourself to pick some up and see what true Albarino really tastes like.
Arriving Tomorrow, Friday April 17th:
Bodegas Nanclares ‘Alberto Nanclares’ Albarino, Rias Baixas 2018 750ML ($39.95) $33 pre-arrival special
Importer note “Nanclares Albariño comes from 8 parcels in the parroquias (or parishes) of Cambados and Ribadumia. After a cool spring and late summer heat in August, grapes were hand-harvested from Sept. 10th to Oct. 6th, pressed whole cluster into two 2000L steel vats and five used 450-500L French oak barrels, and fermented with native yeast with malolactic fermentation suppressed in order to retain the naturally high acidity. The wine was raised on the lees for 9 months, bottled with modest levels of SO2, and was not clarified or filtered. An acid-driven, profound, and angular expression of Val do Salnés Albariño!”
Bodegas Nanclares ‘Soverribas de Nanclares’, Rias Baixas 2018 750ML ($49.95) $45 pre-arrival special
Importer note “Soverribas Albariño comes from a single, southwest-facing parcel named Paraje Manzaniña, located in the parroquia of Padrenda (Meaño). After a wet and cool spring and summer, it turned dry and hot in August, with hand-harvesting on Sept. 10th through Oct. 6th. Grapes were pressed whole-cluster and fermented and raised on the lees in an old 2,200L French oak tina for 11 months with battonage for the first 3 months, bottled on Aug. 21st (fruit day) without fining or filtration, and modest amounts of SO2. An angular and serious vin de garde Rías Baixas wine. Decant before serving.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Bodegas Nanclares ‘A Grana’, Galicia 2018 750ML ($69.95) $59 pre-arrival special
Importer note “A Graña is from a single, northeast-facing vineyard of the same name, on sandy granitic soils. After a wet and cool spring and summer, it turned dry and hot in August, with hand-harvesting on Sept. 10th through Oct. 6th. The grapes were whole-cluster pressed and wild yeast fermented in a used 800L chestnut cask and a 200L steel tank, and raised on the lees for 11 months with weekly battonage only until December, then bottled on Aug. 21st (fruit day) with very modest levels of SO2 and without clarification or filtration. An acid-driven, profound, and angular expression of Val do Salnés Albariño!”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Bodegas Nanclares Coccinella Albarino, Rias Baixas 2018 750ML ($69.95) $59 pre-arrival special
Importer note “Coccinella is from a single pie franco (own-rooted) centenarian Albariño vineyard called Paraje Inxertal. This rare parcel faces to the northwest and sits on pure sandy soils. After a wet and cool spring and summer, it turned dry and hot in August, with hand-harvesting on Sept. 10th through Oct. 6th. The grapes were wild yeast fermented and raised on the lees for one year in a 400L used French barrel with battonage for the first 3 months, bottled on Aug 21st (fruit day) with modest levels of SO2, and without clarification or filtration. An ocean-infused, multilayered and age-worthy old vines Meaño! One of the most distinctive and terruño-driven single vineyard Albariños we’ve ever had. Decant before serving.”
Importer note “Coccinella is from a single pie franco (own-rooted) centenarian Albariño vineyard called Paraje Inxertal. This rare parcel faces to the northwest and sits on pure sandy soils. After a wet and cool spring and summer, it turned dry and hot in August, with hand-harvesting on Sept. 10th through Oct. 6th. The grapes were wild yeast fermented and raised on the lees for one year in a 400L used French barrel with battonage for the first 3 months, bottled on Aug 21st (fruit day) with modest levels of SO2, and without clarification or filtration. An ocean-infused, multilayered and age-worthy old vines Meaño! One of the most distinctive and terruño-driven single vineyard Albariños we’ve ever had. Decant before serving.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Bodegas Nanclares ‘Crisopa’ Albarino, Rias Baixas 2018 750ML ($69.95) $59 pre-arrival special
Importer note “Crisopa Branco Tradicional comes from the same parcel as “Soverribas” (Paraje Manzaniña) but is picked one day earlier to select the best bunches. After a wet and cool spring and summer, it turned dry and hot in August, with hand-harvesting on Sept. 10th through Oct. 6th. The grapes were foot-trodden in open plastic vats with 100% whole-clusters, and then skin-fermented for 20 days in a steel vat. After a vertical press the wine is racked into a used 500L French oak cask, where it rests for 11 months on the lees with battonage for first 3 months, before being bottled on Aug. 21st (fruit day) without clarification, filtration and only modest amounts of SO2. A fascinating and extremely textured Vinho Branco made in the style of the ancients!”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Also in the camp of Serious/Real/Old-School Albarino? Do Ferreiro, who makes some awesome single-vineyard wines that are in stock now.
Do Ferreiro Albarino Lourido, Rias Baixas 2017 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 13 bottles in stock now
Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2017 Lourido shows the austerity of the poor granite soils, like the ones in this zone very close to the island of La Toja. But the palate is also more mineral, vibrant, intense and pungent, with citrus acidity and very long in the palate. They started working these small plots in 2014 and were surprised because the vines are very close to the sea, yet the wine has less salinity. This is because salinity comes from fog, not from proximity to the sea, and so they ended up with a very mineral, electric palate. This is a great addition to the Do Ferreiro portfolio. 1,300 bottles produced. It was bottled in late September 2018. It would be very interesting to see how this ages.”
Wine and Spirits 93 points “Gerardo Méndez selects this wine from parcels of 50-year-old vines rooted in weathered granite. There’s a delicate pink cast to its zesty grapefruit flavors. The texture is just creamy enough to surround the wine’s structure, creating a push-pull of freshness and toasty richness. Tina Vaughn of The Simone in NYC likened those toasty flavors to the yeastiness of fregola sarda, a couscous-like pasta from Sardinia; you could bridge it to this wine with saffron and clams.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Bodegas Gerardo Mendez Do Ferreiro Dous Ferrados, Rias Baixas 2017 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 3 bottles in stock now
Wine Advocate 92 points “The 2017 Dous Ferrados is basically the evolution of the Albariño Barrica. They started in 2011, and Gerardo used vines from sandy soils. His son Manuel changed the wine in 2015—he used grapes from red slate soils and felt the wine went better with the barrique. In 2016 he thought the oak was very subtle and wanted to change the name, removing the reference to the barriques. They only produce two 500-liter barrels, and one “ferrado” is the amount land that they need to fill one barrique, hence the name of the wine. If you are put off by the idea of oak and Albariño, taste this. The salinity comes through here, perhaps because of the slow oxygenation through the pores of the oak, and they search for complexity, especially the change in the mouthfeel. The wine was in contact with the lees for eight months. This has volume and clout, with perhaps a rounder palate than the Adina. With time in the glass, notes of licorice and aniseed emerge. The barrels are ten years old, so they do not lend aromas or flavors. In the future, they might experiment with foudres and other sizes. 1,300 bottles were filled in September 2018.”
Wine & Spirits 92 points “This wine ferments in 500-liter casks, where it ages for eight months on the fine lees. While the fruit sustains its clean freshness, that time on the lees has enriched it with notes of buttercups and daffodils, as well as some pomelo bitterness. It’s bold and juicy enough for skate Grenobloise,or grilled swordfish.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Trending
A top pick for new-Spainish profundity.
Raul Perez Ultreia de Valtuille, Bierzo 2015 750ML ($79.95) $49 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Josh Raynolds 95 points “Vivid ruby. An expansive, seductively perfumed bouquet of ripe red/blue fruits, pot-pourri, exotic spices and cola, along with an intense mineral overtone. Concentrated yet vibrant in character, showing superb definition and mineral lift to the sweet raspberry, boysenberry, cola, spicecake and violet pastille flavors. Shows alluring sweetness and powerful thrust on the youthfully tannic finish, which hangs on with outstanding clarity and mineral-driven persistence. (All whole clusters and neutral French oak.) “
Raul Perez Ultreia de Valtuille, Bierzo 2015 750ML ($79.95) $49 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Josh Raynolds 95 points “Vivid ruby. An expansive, seductively perfumed bouquet of ripe red/blue fruits, pot-pourri, exotic spices and cola, along with an intense mineral overtone. Concentrated yet vibrant in character, showing superb definition and mineral lift to the sweet raspberry, boysenberry, cola, spicecake and violet pastille flavors. Shows alluring sweetness and powerful thrust on the youthfully tannic finish, which hangs on with outstanding clarity and mineral-driven persistence. (All whole clusters and neutral French oak.) “
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
This wine arrives later this month but is already making waves.
Caruso E Minini Perricone Naturalmente Bio 2017 750ML ($24.95) $20.90 pre-arrival special, ETA Late April
Case-12 Caruso E Minini Perricone Naturalmente Bio 2017 750ML ($299.95) $228 pre-arrival special, ETA Late April (that’s only $19/bottle!)
Ian D’Agata-Vinous 95 points “Bright medium red. Pungently perfumed nose offers violet, lavender, Szechuan pepper, lemongrass, blood orange and small red berries. Then juicy and very fresh flavors similar to the aromas, plus a building licorice note, linger impressively on the medium-bodied mouthfeel. Closes with magical, persistent inner-mouth perfume and truly exceptional clarity and cut. This sees no oak whatsoever, and therefore the wine’s magical perfume is really allowed to shine through. A real knockout of a wine, and easily one of the two or three best Perricones I have ever tried.”
Yeasty and floral, like a baked pear tart with a wildflower honey drizzle. Dry yet sleek.
Loredan Gasparini Asolo Prosecco Superiore DOCG, Veneto NV 750ML ($17.95) $13.90 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
James Suckling 90 points “Delicious combination of pear and biscuit on the palate with medium body, bright acidity and a fresh finish. Fresh and satisfying. A different style of Prosecco that you should check out.”
Decanter 89 points “Loredan Gasparini’s Asolo Prosecco Superiore is grown on mineral soils that give the wine structure. This wine uses wild yeasts, providing a beautiful range of flavours; elderflower and peaches are supported by a lovely, soft mousse.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
An Andy Staff Pick, this never fails to delight.
Anne-Sophie Dubois Fleurie l’Alchimiste, Beaujolais 2018 750ML ($34.95) $28 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Anne-Sophie Dubois Fleurie l’Alchimiste, Beaujolais 2018 1.5L ($79.95) $66 special, 5 magnums in stock now
No reviews for the 2018 vintage. Most recent review provided for reference.
Josh Raynolds 93 points “[2016 Vintage] Deep bright-rimmed ruby. Intense, mineral-accented red/dark berry scents pick up a sexy floral quality with air. Concentrated yet lively in the mouth, offering juicy, spice-tinged black raspberry, bitter cherry and floral pastille flavors that show excellent clarity and back-end thrust. A touch of candied licorice appears on the gently tannic finish, which lingers with outstanding, mineral-driven tenacity.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
One of the best bottles in Rioja in any given vintage, the 2012 is a standout.
Remelluri Gran Reserva, Rioja DOCa 2012 750ML ($99.95) $89 special, 24+ bottles in stock now
Case-6 Remelluri Gran Reserva, Rioja DOCa 2012 750ML ($599.95) $499 special (that’s only $83.17/bottle!)
James Suckling 96 points “The DNA of Remelluri is here. Wild mountain herb character, structured and firm, these tannins are succulent and deeply expressive. Powerful and assertive red plums, wild cherries and roasting herbs with the oak sitting well. Power and balance. Try from 2021.”
Luis Gutierrez-Wine Advocate 94+ points “A blend of Tempranillo, Garnacha and Graciano, the 2012 Granja Remelluri Gran Reserva represents what they are aiming for with this wine, a classical expression of the place, the quintessence of the vineyards. The select their oldest vineyards and age the wine for a long time, coming back to those early years of a modern Rioja that has now turned into a classic. It has some dusty tannins, with good grip and length. It was bottled in 24,238 bottles after an élevage of 26 months. It has been in bottle since May 2015.”
Remelluri Gran Reserva, Rioja DOCa 2012 750ML ($99.95) $89 special, 24+ bottles in stock now
Case-6 Remelluri Gran Reserva, Rioja DOCa 2012 750ML ($599.95) $499 special (that’s only $83.17/bottle!)
James Suckling 96 points “The DNA of Remelluri is here. Wild mountain herb character, structured and firm, these tannins are succulent and deeply expressive. Powerful and assertive red plums, wild cherries and roasting herbs with the oak sitting well. Power and balance. Try from 2021.”
Luis Gutierrez-Wine Advocate 94+ points “A blend of Tempranillo, Garnacha and Graciano, the 2012 Granja Remelluri Gran Reserva represents what they are aiming for with this wine, a classical expression of the place, the quintessence of the vineyards. The select their oldest vineyards and age the wine for a long time, coming back to those early years of a modern Rioja that has now turned into a classic. It has some dusty tannins, with good grip and length. It was bottled in 24,238 bottles after an élevage of 26 months. It has been in bottle since May 2015.”
Collector’s Corner
Delamotte’s Extended Tirage Masterpieces
Delamotte is best known as the more affordable arm of Salon—the original luxury-collectible single vineyard Blanc de Blancs from Le Mesnil. While that’s understandable, it tends to ignore the fact that Delamotte is a Champagne house of not in its own right (it’s much easier for other merchants to shout “Salon for $$” than to sell the Champagne on its own merit). If one were making a case for Delamotte as a great producer on their own, you could look no further than their “Collection” wines.
These are the peak of the Delamotte range, held on the lees longer and disgorged late to capture the full glory of mature Champagne. They have the racy brightness of their Cote de Blancs origins balanced against toasty, rich flavors that only come with age. The best comparison for these wines might be Bollinger’s “RD” series, except that Bollinger always works from a place of power and Delamotte from elegance and finesse.
The only challenge with these wines is finding them—they’re extremely rare and so when we discover a parcel of them, we jump on it as quickly as we can. We’ve managed to secure a few different vintages, some of which have already sold out. The rest won’t last long.
In Stock Now:
Delamotte Blanc De Blancs Collection, Champagne 2000 750ML ($249.95) $219 special, 11 bottles in stock now
Delamotte Blanc De Blancs Collection, Champagne 2000 1.5L ($599.95) $499 special, 10 magnums in stock now
These are the peak of the Delamotte range, held on the lees longer and disgorged late to capture the full glory of mature Champagne. They have the racy brightness of their Cote de Blancs origins balanced against toasty, rich flavors that only come with age. The best comparison for these wines might be Bollinger’s “RD” series, except that Bollinger always works from a place of power and Delamotte from elegance and finesse.
The only challenge with these wines is finding them—they’re extremely rare and so when we discover a parcel of them, we jump on it as quickly as we can. We’ve managed to secure a few different vintages, some of which have already sold out. The rest won’t last long.
In Stock Now:
Delamotte Blanc De Blancs Collection, Champagne 2000 750ML ($249.95) $219 special, 11 bottles in stock now
Delamotte Blanc De Blancs Collection, Champagne 2000 1.5L ($599.95) $499 special, 10 magnums in stock now
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Delamotte Blanc De Blancs Collection, Champagne 1999 750ML ($249.95) $219 special, 1 bottle in stock now
Wine Advocate 94 points “From a very warm and generous year, the 1999 Blanc de Blancs Collection (disgorged in October 2015) offers a rich and intense bouquet of ripe Chardonnay and buttercup. Rich, super ripe and intense, but also precise on the palate, this is a full-bodied, complex, mineral and fresh Champagne. It is very well-defined and even finesse-full, with great tension. This is at perfect maturity. It is a simply a great vintage Champagne that has been produced only in the vintages of 1964, 1970, 1983, 1985, 1988, 1991, 1990, 1999, 2000 and 2002.”
Wine Spectator 93 points “Flavors of baked plum, lemon preserves, biscotti and crystallized honey are enlivened and focused by well-cut acidity that firms this harmonious Champagne. Lacy in texture and fresh, with a zesty finish of delicate spice and mineral details. Disgorged 2018. Drink now through 2024. 25 cases imported.”
Antonio Galloni 92 points “The 1999 Brut Vintage (Collection) is a gorgeous wine that will especially please readers who enjoy Champagnes with the nuance that develops with time in bottle. Apricot jam, orange peel, hazelnut, dried flowers and lightly honeyed notes all develop in a rich, burnished Champagne endowed with tons of nuance intermingled with the freshness that Chardonnay in the Côte des Blancs expresses so eloquently. Certainly, the 1999 is a bit rustic relative to recent vintages here, but it nevertheless offers fine drinking.”
Wine Advocate 94 points “From a very warm and generous year, the 1999 Blanc de Blancs Collection (disgorged in October 2015) offers a rich and intense bouquet of ripe Chardonnay and buttercup. Rich, super ripe and intense, but also precise on the palate, this is a full-bodied, complex, mineral and fresh Champagne. It is very well-defined and even finesse-full, with great tension. This is at perfect maturity. It is a simply a great vintage Champagne that has been produced only in the vintages of 1964, 1970, 1983, 1985, 1988, 1991, 1990, 1999, 2000 and 2002.”
Wine Spectator 93 points “Flavors of baked plum, lemon preserves, biscotti and crystallized honey are enlivened and focused by well-cut acidity that firms this harmonious Champagne. Lacy in texture and fresh, with a zesty finish of delicate spice and mineral details. Disgorged 2018. Drink now through 2024. 25 cases imported.”
Antonio Galloni 92 points “The 1999 Brut Vintage (Collection) is a gorgeous wine that will especially please readers who enjoy Champagnes with the nuance that develops with time in bottle. Apricot jam, orange peel, hazelnut, dried flowers and lightly honeyed notes all develop in a rich, burnished Champagne endowed with tons of nuance intermingled with the freshness that Chardonnay in the Côte des Blancs expresses so eloquently. Certainly, the 1999 is a bit rustic relative to recent vintages here, but it nevertheless offers fine drinking.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Delamotte Blanc De Blancs Collection, Champagne 2002 1.5L ($599.95) $499 special, 2 magnums in stock now
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 94 points “The 2002 Blanc de Blancs Millésimé Collection is showing superbly, bursting from the glass with aromas of lemon curd, lime zest, white flowers, praline and walnut oil. On the palate, it’s medium to full-bodied, ample and fleshy, with muscular structuring extract, incisive acids and a long, complex finish. This is a beautifully complete, expressive vintage Delamotte that is beginning to drink well.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Thanks for reading!