95 Points / The Classic of Classic / Saint Cosme Gigondas – Best Vintage Yet? (Blink & You’ll Miss It); Staff Pick: 2011 Produttori; Marie-Noelle Ledru; 2015 Domaine Fourrier: New Offer; Baumard Savennieres 94 Points / 24 (or 21.58) Bucks; Terry Theise 2016 – The Humbly Great 2016 German Vintage Announcement
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New 95 Point Review
Saint Cosme Gigondas
Best Vintage Ever?
“Louis Barruol has been at the top of his game since the late 1990s, and over the last few vintages, he has been making some of the finest wines in the southern Rhone as well as France.” –Robert Parker
Our highly limited allocation will be gone soon – we’ve sold through almost half our allocation in the past 24 hours. Don’t hesitate!
Chateau de Saint Cosme Gigondas, Rhone 2015 750ML ($41.95) $33 special
Chateau de Saint Cosme Gigondas, Rhone 2015 1.5L ($79.95) $66 special
Wine Spectator 95 points “A textbook version of the brawny side of Gigondas, this offers a grippy alder bass line underneath layers of dark currant and fig fruit, while lots of tobacco, rosemary and bay fill in throughout. Muscular and energetic, this is built for the cellar. Best from 2019 through 2030.”
See the complete list of all in stock wines from Saint Cosme below:
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Staff Pick
Suzanne:
2011 Produttori del Barbaresco ‘M’ Crus
Produttori is a classic-style producer in Barbaresco: the grapes are macerated for four weeks before the wine is aged in large neutral oak casks 25 to 100 hectoliters in size. A true success story for a cooperative: the winery places quality above everything else, including profitability. Growers are paid according to a complex scale that takes into account the quality of the harvested grapes (not just the weight), and the decision whether to bottle crus in each vintage is carefully evaluated.
I’m drawn over and over to the ‘M’ crus of Produttori: Montefico, Montstefano and Muncagota. When it comes to red Italian wines, I enjoy the upfront tannins and acidities that just beg for rich meats and pastas. To me, these crus hold the power and structure not always found in a glass of Barbaresco – they’re almost suggestive of Barolo! The three vineyards share high levels of calcium in their soil that is said to be the cause of the higher resulting tannins. The crus’ immediate appeal is pure class, ample fruit and robust structure (especially beautiful with a 3-4 hour decant), but given time in bottle (think 5-20 years), these beauties develop notes of leather and dried spices while the tannins soften. My top pick from 2011 is the Montefico for drink-now pleasure:
Produttori del Barbaresco Montefico, Barbaresco Riserva DOCG 2011 750ML ($69.95) $59 special, 36+ bottles available
Antonio Galloni 95 points “The 2011 Barbaresco Riserva Montefico is another of the highlights in this range from the Produttori. Imagine the precision of Ovello, but with slightly darker fruit and more density and power through the middle. That’s the Montefico. A regal, towering Barbaresco, the Montefico should provide thrilling drinking for the next several decades. A rush of dark cherry, plum, smoke, licorice and tobacco add nuance on the powerful, structured finish.” AG
Produttori del Barbaresco Montestefano, Barbaresco Riserva DOCG 2011 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 36+ bottles available
Antonio Galloni 94 points “The 2011 Barbaresco Riserva Montestefano is one of the least expressive of these wines. Inward, powerful and explosive, the 2011 is not in a mood to show much today, that is pretty clear. Still, there is an obvious energy here that is impossible to miss. A firm spine of tannin gives the wine much of its signature power. Dark red cherry, smoke, pomegranate and scorched earth blossom on the dramatic finish. A wine of real density and gravitas, the 2011 Barbaresco Riserva Montestefano stands out for its pure, unbridled energy and overall intensity.” AG
Wine Advocate 94 points “The 2011 Barbaresco Riserva Montestefano is the biggest of the bunch. This wine delivers a lasting sense of structure and intensity that is especially apparent as this Barbaresco hits the palate. The bouquet exhibits signs of ripe fruit with soft layers of blackberry preserves and cherry liqueur. The wine’s tannic structure is solid and firmly stitched together, yet this wine is slightly softer and perhaps sweeter than the Riserva Muncagota, for example. This is yet another wine destined for long bottle-aging.”
Produttori del Barbaresco ‘Muncagota’, Barbaresco Riserva DOCG 2011 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 12 bottles available
Wine Spectator 95 points “All about finesse, elegance and a silky texture. Cherry, eucalyptus, licorice and spice flavors permeate the vibrant frame. The balance suggests you could enjoy this now, but there is a firm underlying structure. The terrific finish echoes the fruit and ups the ante with a chalky, minerally vein. Best from 2018 through 2032.”
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Summer Shipping Special:
Midwest, East, & South
For the summer season we are offering UPS Three Day Select Service for the price of UPS Ground for shipments normally traveling 4 or more business days by ground.
Free service upgrade only applies on single orders purchased and shipped during the promotional period. Additional fees will apply to orders held for any reason until after the promotional period and shipped by Three Day Select. Offer not valid on items purchased before the promotional period or on pre-arrival items that arrive after the promotional period ends.
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Marie-Noelle Ledru
Arriving Tomorrow!
Peter Liem: “Marie-Noëlle Ledru’s tiny, perfectionist grower-estate is known only to a handful of champagne connoisseurs, yet today she is making some of the best wines in Ambonnay. The estate has existed since 1946, and Ledru has been making the wines here since 1984. [Her (now) two hectares] of the vineyards are planted with cover crops and tilled, and she uses no herbicides or insecticides, seeking to work her vines as naturally as possible. The same sensibility extends to the cellar, where she makes the wines without filtration, without cold-stabilization and without any sulfur at disgorgement. Fermentation is all in stainless steel and enameled steel tanks, for their neutrality, and the malolactic is allowed for all wines. The wines are aged for a respectably long time on their lees, averaging about three years for the brut sans année and five years for the vintage wines, and all disgorgement is done by hand. These are vinous, terroir-expressive champagnes, and with their combination of richness, complexity and finesse, they demonstrate why Ambonnay is such a heralded grand cru.”
More notes from Peter Liem “The outstanding non-vintage wine is available in two versions: Brut and Extra Brut, the latter of which is non-dosé. Both express a deep, soil-driven intensity, and while there is usually a little Bouzy in the blend, the dominant soil signature is quintessential Ambonnay. The same base wine is used for the non-vintage rosé, blended with ten to 15 percent of Ambonnay rouge, as well as for the demi-sec, which has between 35 and 40 grams of sugar per liter. The non-vintage blend is composed of 85 percent pinot noir and 15 percent chardonnay, and the same proportions are used for the vintage-dated brut; a portion of the vintage wine is also held back for late release as a brut nature.”
Marie-Noelle Ledru Grand Cru Extra Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($89.95) $75 pre-arrival special
2012 base wine with reserve blend of 2009/2011, 50% each. 85% Pinot Noir/15% Chardonnay.
Marie-Noelle Ledru Grand Cru Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($89.95) $75 pre-arrival special
2013 base wine with reserve blend 2010/2012, 50% each. 85% Pinot Noir/15% Chardonnay.
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $81
Marie-Noelle Ledru Grand Cru Brut Nature, Champagne 2008 750ML ($119.95) $99 pre-arrival special
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $120
Marie-Noelle Ledru Cuvee du Goulte Blanc de Noirs Grand Cru Brut, Champagne 2011 750ML ($119.95) $99 pre-arrival special
Peter Liem “Ledru’s top champagne is called the Cuvée du Goulté, named for a word in the local dialect that refers to the first juice to come out of the press, considered to be of the highest quality. The Cuvée du Goulté is selected from Ledru’s finest parcels on the mid-slope of Ambonnay—it’s sometimes cited by wine writers as a single-vineyard champagne, but Ledru prefers not to commit to that. She acknowledges that in some vintages it can occasionally be from a single parcel, but it’s usually a blend of several, depending on the year. In addition, while the Cuvée du Goulté is typically a vintage-dated champagne, it doesn’t always have to be—the 2001, for example, included a small percentage of reserve wine.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
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Domaine Fourrier
2015s Arriving in August
Everything was in place for greatness when Jean-Marie Fourrier took over his family’s domaine in 1994. Vineyard holdings in Gevrey-Chambertin, including Premiers Crus and Griottes, plus Premier Cru vines in Morey, Chambolle, and Vougeot make a fine way to start. Much of it is old vines, planted between the World Wars, except the Clos Saint-Jacques which dates back to 1910: all native rootstock instead of clones. Add to this Jean-Marie’s formative years as an intern at Domaine Drouhin Oregon, and, most importantly, at the estate of the fabled Burgundian master, Henri Jayer. Although Fourrier practices total destemming and uses only 20% new oak no matter the wine, the idea of perfection in the vineyard and winery echoes the principles of Mr. Jayer.
Massale selection (again, no clones), ploughed vineyards, severe winter pruning (to avoid leaf pulling and green harvests later on), a vibrating sorting table, pigeage but no pumping over (to preserve the wine’s solid material, not just the liquid), harvests based on phenolics rather than on Brix, young (under 30 years) vine fruit sold instead of included—all of this helps explain why Fourrier wines are today some of the most sought-after Burgundies. They represent some of the best from the Côte de Nuits, the Côte d’Or, France and le monde entier, and of the Pinot Noir variety itself. A chance to taste one of Jean-Marie’s wines means fully comprehending Burgundy’s tradition of supremacy.
Arriving in Late August from Fourrier
Domaine Fourrier Bourgogne Rouge, Burgundy 2015 750ML ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival special, 6 bottles available
“The 2015 Bourgogne Rouge comes from the domaine’s own vines supplemented by contracted fruit. It has a light, candied bouquet with kirsch and orange sorbet aromas. The palate is balanced with sappy red cherries and strawberry fruit, leading to a rounded, generous finish.”–Wine Advocate
Domaine Fourrier Chambolle-Musigny Vieilles Vignes 2015 750ML ($119.95) $99 pre-arrival special, 6 bottles available
Burghound 89-91 points -Outstanding-“An elegant and high-toned array consists of red cherry, raspberry and pomegranate. The racy, ultra-fresh and energetic middle weight flavors possess both good detail and a subtle minerality that surfaces on the balanced and beautifully persistent finish. This lacy effort is classic Chambolle in style.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Domaine Fourrier Gevrey-Chambertin Vieilles Vignes 2015 750ML ($99.95) $89 pre-arrival special, 18 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 89-92 points “(from the north side of the village; the Aux Echézeaux is from the extreme south side): Bright medium red. Red fruits, animal fur and game lifted by a floral element on the nose. Plush and seamless; a step up in thickness and suavity from the Aux Echézeaux, with its deep raspberry fruit complicated by a mineral component. Mouthfilling but not heavy, finishing quite long, with tannins totally supported by fruit.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
The average price nationally is $98
Domaine Fourrier Gevrey-Chambertin Aux Echezeaux Vieilles Vignes, Cote de Nuits 2015 750ML ($119.95) $99 pre-arrival special, 12 bottles available
Burghound 89-91 points -Outstanding-“This is earthier still with its well-layered nose of cassis, humus and sauvage hints. There is excellent detail to the more obviously mineral-driven flavors that are a lovely combination of power and punch, all wrapped in a wonderfully refreshing, firm and well-balanced finale. Worth considering.”
Domaine Fourrier Morey-Saint-Denis Clos Solon Vieilles Vignes 2015 750ML ($119.95) $99 pre-arrival special, 6 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 89-90 points “Bright dark red. Very fresh aromas of blueberry and menthol plus a hint of game. Concentrated and seamless, with its crushed purple fruit flavors complicated by a suggestion of fresh blood. Offers a lovely combination of thickness and acidity and finishes with a firm tannic spine. This cool site did very well in 2015.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Domaine Fourrier Les Champeaux Vieilles Vignes, Gevrey-Chambertin Premier Cru 2015 750ML ($279.95) $249 pre-arrival special, 3 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 92-94 points “Medium red. Tighter and less fruity than the last couple of Gevrey premier crus, with restrained dark fruit flavors gaining in floral perfume with aeration. Combines impressive opulence and viscosity with superb inner-mouth energy, with a crushed blueberry flavor dominating. Turns more toward crunchy red fruits on the very long back end, which offers terrific mineral pungency and fully supported tannins.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Domaine Fourrier Les Cherbaudes Vieilles Vignes, Gevrey-Chambertin Premier Cru 2015 750ML ($219.95) $179 pre-arrival special, 2 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 91-93 points “Healthy full red. Cherry and boysenberry fruit aromas are lifted by rose petal and violet, with a gamey nuance adding complexity. Silky on entry, with its cherry and raspberry flavors enlivened by pungent minerality. In a distinctly rocky yet smooth style, like a baby Griottes.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $200
Domaine Fourrier La Combe Aux Moines Vieilles Vignes, Gevrey-Chambertin Premier Cru 2015 750ML ($219.95) $199 pre-arrival special, 3 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 92-94 points “Medium red. Restrained aromas of raspberry, cranberry and game, plus a whiff of leathery reduction. Plush wine with a seamless texture, conveying lovely sucrosité and spicy lift to its red berry flavors. The leathery element repeats in the mouth. This soil-driven premier cru shows an almost confectionery character but finishes with a firm tannic spine.”
Domaine Fourrier Clos Saint-Jacques, Gevrey-Chambertin Premier Cru 2015 750ML ($899.95) $699 pre-arrival special, 5 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 91-93 points “Good medium red. Musky aromas of tart cherry stomp and raspberry; less floral and more earthy than the Cherbaudes. Densely packed and aromatic, with sweet raspberry fruit accented by white pepper and a touch of orange zest. Finishes with firm but suave tannins and excellent energy and lift. This wine is a prime example of how the cooler spots frequently outperformed in 2015.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $800
The average price is $836
Domaine Fourrier Les Petits Vougeots Vieilles Vignes, Vougeot Premier Cru 2015 750ML ($199.95) $169 pre-arrival special, 3 bottles available
Burghound 90-93 points “As is often the case chez Fourrier this is almost as aromatically elegant with a compositionally similar nose though this displays more event floral nuances at present. Here too there is first-rate detail and punch to the racy and wonderfully refined flavors that culminate in a dusty and ever-so-mildly austere finale. A Vougeot of grace and finesse but don’t underestimate its ability to repay extended keeping.”
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 90-92 points “Bright, moderately saturated medium red. Perfumed aromas and flavors of red cherry, strawberry, game and rose petal. Plush and silky on the palate, with lovely balancing acidity framing and energizing the fruit. Finishes with seamless, fully integrated tannins and sneaky length. Fourrier describes this wine as “a smaller-scaled Amoureuses in style”–and now, through his négociant business, he also offers a real Amoureuses.”
Domaine Fourrier Griotte-Chambertin Grand Cru Vieille Vigne 2015 750ML ($999.95) $899 pre-arrival special, 3 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 94-96 points “Good deep red. Dark and slightly wild on the nose but inexpressive today. Shows the added concentration and weight of the hot vintage but less of the coolness of the vineyards exposed to the Combe de Lavaut. Flavors of purple and black fruits and crushed rock hint at violet but can’t quite match the sheer floral éclat of the Clos Saint-Jacques. This wine had been racked more recently than most of the rest and was tighter as a result. Although it’s less harmonious today, its powerful spine of acids and tannins should ensure a long and graceful evolution in bottle.”
Can’t Wait?
In Stock Now from Domaine Fourrier
Domaine Fourrier Gevrey-Chambertin Vieilles Vignes 2009 750ML ($199.95) $179 special, 12 bottles available
Antonio Galloni 92 points “The 2009 Gevrey-Chambertin floats on the palate in its finessed, well-articulated fruit. Subtle and ethereal through to the finish, the wine captures the essence and nobility of Gevrey. With time in the glass the fruit turns darker and the wine puts on weight, showing tons of pedigree and dazzling overall harmony.”
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 91 points “Good deep red. Musky aroma of raspberry, blueberry, smoke, crushed rock and game. At once sweet and taut, with an impression of lift and energy rare for the vintage. Really lovely fruit here. Fourrier told me he liked the effect of elevage in mostly older casks in 2009. “More new oak would have speeded up the evolution of the wines,” he explained. “That would have required using more sulfur dioxide but we still would have lost fruit.””
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Domaine Fourrier Gevrey-Chambertin Vieilles Vignes 2010 750ML ($219.95) $199 special, 12 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 91 points “Good bright, full red. High-pitched aromas of tangy red and darker berries and rose petal, complemented by lower-toned earth and smoke notes. Boasts terrific volume for village wine: dense, salty and soil-driven, with raspberry fruit complicated by earth and minerals. Really stimulates the taste buds on the smooth, long, lightly saline finish. Terrific village wine.”
Domaine Fourrier Griotte-Chambertin Grand Cru Vieille Vigne 2014 750ML ($1199.95) $899 special, 1 bottle available
Wine Advocate 94-96 points “The 2014 Griottes Chambertin Grand Cru has a very intense bouquet with maraschino, blueberry and violets blossoming in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with succulent ripe black fruit, blueberry and a hint of balsamic, leading to a quite a structured and dense finish that just needs a touch more finesse. I think that will develop with time. Superb.”
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Baumard Savennieres
94 Points – $24-$21.58
Bone Dry Chenin Built to Last
Arriving in September
Domaine des Baumard Savennieres, Loire 2015 750ML ($29.95) $24 pre-arrival special
Case-12 Domaine des Baumard Savennieres, Loire 2015 750ML ($319.95) $259 pre-arrival special (that’s only $21.58/bottle!)
Wine Spectator 94 points “Alluring, with quince, creamed pear, verbena and green almond flavors allied to a creamy texture, all offset beautifully through the finish by light quinine and mineral hints. Approachable, but this seems built for the cellar. Best from 2018 through 2030.”
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Terry Theise Teasers
Arriving This Fall
The info’s out on the German/Austrian pre-sell from Terry Theise. Year in, year out it’s the most wildly popular and frustratingly tiny allocation announcement. To quote the man himself, the 2016 vintage “does not appear to have a dark side… It is a medium-weight vintage and its weight is elegantly and gracefully dispersed. It is graceful overall, and also lithe, limber and lissome. It is strong when it needs to be, but it measures its strength judiciously and with restraint. It shows every aspect of superb German Riesling, but doesn’t emphasize any at the expense of the others. It is neither a fruit driven nor floral driven nor mineral driven nor acid driven vintage—it is all of these. Whatever you like about these wines, you’ll find it in plenitude.” 2016 takes a humble stance in showing you the glory of German Riesling. It is not over the top nor underwhelming. A rare quality that may, in decades to come, prove to be the Greater.
Willi Schaefer
Winemaker Willi Schaefer and his son Christophe Willi are an elusive pair. They do not have a website or rely on flashy marketing. They instead allow their fine Mosel Rieslings to speak for themselves. Willi Schaefer wines offer consistent quality and approachable prices. This is in part due to their long tradition of family viticulture and winemaking, dating back to 1121. With a mere four hectares (about 10 acres), Willi Schaefer is a tiny producer, making a very large impression that involves quite the following (and obsession) of Mosel Riesling lovers. Their distinctly delicious Rieslings and the obscure nature of Willi Schaefer has led to a cult following of their wines. Terry Thiese explains the difficulty of getting your hands on these wines with the following; “Part of it is they’re so scarce, with no desire to grow. Part of it is the wines themselves; they’re silly with deliciousness. And as crystalline as they are, as ethereally complex and limpidly clear they have a quality of calm; they don’t fuss at you how amazing they are.” These wines are known to be approachable when young with beautiful fruit components, while impressing us with their ability of maintaining their finesse 15+ years from now. There really is only one solution to this sort of ‘problem:’ drink one now and lay the other down.
Willi Schaefer Wines Arriving in October
Weingut Willi Schaefer Graacher Domprobst Riesling Kabinett, Mosel 2016 750ML ($37.95) $33 pre-arrival special
Mosel Fine Wines 92+ points “This offers a gorgeous nose of pear, earthy spices and some citrusy grapefruit elements in the background. The wine proves gorgeously well balanced on the palate, where a delicately smooth side is nicely wrapped into zesty acidity. The finish is all about pear-infused fruit purity and finesse and one is left with a great mouth-watering playfulness in the after-taste. This could ultimately exceed our expectations if the fresher side takes the upper hand at maturity. 2026-2041”
Weingut Willi Schaefer Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Kabinett, Mosel 2016 750ML ($37.95) $33 pre-arrival special
Mosel Fine Wines 90+ points “This offers a gorgeous nose of melon, herbs and spices, with a citrusy and peachy element only lurking in the background at this (early) stage. The wine proves nicely playful and delicately zesty on the palate and leaves a nice feel in the hugely complex and elegant finish. This only needs time to develop its full potential. It could ultimately exceed our expectations if the fresher side takes the upper hand at maturity. 2026-2041.”
Weingut Willi Schaefer Graacher Domprobst Riesling Spatlese #5, Mosel 2016 750ML ($54.95) $49 pre-arrival special
Mosel Fine Wines 93 points “This offers a gorgeous nose of slightly yellow fruits, ginger and earthy spices. The wine proves quite lively and nicely focused on the palate, with zesty acidity driving the aromatic profile. The wine is nicely elegant and well balanced in the focused and yellow peach infused finish. This is a gorgeous Spätlese in the making. 2026-2041”
Weingut Willi Schaefer Graacher Domprobst Riesling Spatlese #10, Mosel 2016 750ML ($44.95) $39 pre-arrival special
Mosel Fine Wines 92 points “This offers a gorgeous nose of pear, candied lemon, spices and herbs. The wine proves gorgeously elegant and pure on the palate. Unlike in other vintages, the fruity side of the Domprobst is already present and adds to the wine’s early charm. The finish is all about silk, finesse and delicacy. This gorgeously light Spätlese is all about elegance. 2026-2041”
Weingut Willi Schaefer Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Spatlese, Mosel 2016 750ML ($44.95) $39 pre-arrival special
Mosel Fine Wines 91 points “This offers a deliciously ripe nose of melon, pear and citrusy fruits. The wine proves nicely ripe and juicy on the palate, with ripe acidity. The wine is beautifully balanced, with playful but ripe acidity providing the right balance to the overall structure of the wine. The finish is multi-layered and quite elegant in its complex expression of ripeness. 2026-2041”
AJ Adam
“I sustain my vineyards by intensive soil work to bring out the essential nutrients up from the primary rock, the natural compost of a vineyard. This completion of the bond between elemental soil and the work of the vintner is another piece in the puzzle of terroir… I think in Germany we see terroir as a unity of grape, climate, soil, and the mentality of the person who works the vineyard. But the essence of that mentality is a knowledge that the geology of his terrain indeed creates the flavors in the grapes which grow there.” — Andreas Adam
In a virtually unknown side valley of the Mosel, just south of Piesport, are the steep, south-facing vineyard slopes of Dhron. Few of the younger generation have taken over for the aging winemakers of this small region except for Andreas Adam. In 2000, after working for Heymann-Lowenstein, he began resurrecting his maternal grandfather’s estate in Dhron. When Adam took the estate over, he began part time while still working in the cellar of other prestigious Mosel wineries. He took the leap to produce wines full-time around the time he was ‘discovered’ by Terry Theise and his wines were becoming internationally recognized.
The terroir of the area produces wines more similar to Saar than Mosel: the steepness, high altitude and cooling mountain breezes help the wines retain vibrant acidity, and the age of his parcels adds to the concentration and finesse. Older vines are a rarity in Dhron since much of the land was reformed, re-terraced and replanted in the 1970s, and Adam has vines dating back to the 1950s. In the winery, Adam hand sorts the grapes before they undergo natural yeast fermentation in stainless steel, fuder and halbfuder casks. He adds nothing to the fermenting wines. The result is wines of poise, energy and concentration: terroir-driven and supremely balanced.
Weingut A.J. Adam Arriving in October
Weingut A.J. Adam Riesling Trocken, Mosel 2016 750ML ($24.95) $19 pre-arrival special
Mosel Fine Wines 89 points “The 2016er Riesling Trocken is made from young vines and declassified fruit in the Hofberg and fermented in stainless steel. It delivers a gorgeous and nicely undercooled nose of greengage, white peach and pear with a great touch of ginger and white flowers to boot. The wine proves gorgeously smooth and elegant on the palate and leaves a stunning feel of refinement in the finish. This wine cruises far above the usual standards of a “mere” Estate wine! Now-2026”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Weingut A.J. Adam Dhroner Riesling Trocken, Mosel 2016 750ML ($34.95) $27 pre-arrival special
Mosel Fine Wines 91 points “The 2016er Dhroner Trocken was harvested at 85° Oechsle from fruit in the Hofberg and was aged for equal parts in stainless steel and large oak cask. The wine delivers a superb nose of grapefruit, vineyard peach, ginger and white flowers. It proves both smooth and focused on the palate and leaves one with a great feel of minerals, citrusy fruits and a hint of slate in the great finish. This “simple” Village Riesling will give many GG a good run for their money: It is that good! While enjoyable now, this will still improve and gain in complexity with age. 2019-2031.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Weingut A.J. Adam Goldtröpfchen Riesling Trocken, Mosel 2016 750ML ($89.95) $69 pre-arrival special
Mosel Fine Wines 92+ points “This wine comes from un-grafted vines (planted in 1909) in the prime Laychen sector of the Goldtröpfchen vineyard. It offers a beautiful nose of passion fruit sorbet, spices and herbs. The wine proves gorgeously full-bodied without being over-powering on the palate (it “only” boasts 12.5% of alcohol). The feel on the palate is smooth, yet a good kick of acidity comes through in the juicy finish. This splendid effort has quite some upside potential if it maintains its great focus! 2021-2036.”
Weingut A.J. Adam In der Sangerei Feinherb Riesling, Mosel 2016 750ML ($49.95) $39 pre-arrival special
Mosel Fine Wines 92 points “The off-dry Riesling is made from over 50 year-old vines in the prime “Sängerei” sector of the Dhroner Hofberg and aged in traditional oak. This offers a very appealing nose of pear, ginger, brown sugar, herbs and spices. The wine is beautifully balanced on the palate, with fruits and spices wrapped into a very elegant touch of acidity. The wine is superbly long and elegant. 2021-2036.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Weingut A.J. Adam Dhroner Hofberg Riesling Kabinett, Mosel 2016 750ML ($31.95) $26 pre-arrival special
Mosel Fine Wines 92+ points “The Dhroner Hofberg Kabinett was harvested at 83-84° Oechsle from 40 year-old vines. It offers a gorgeously inviting nose of grapefruit and other citrusy fruits. The wine is nicely crisp and intense on the palate and leaves a mouth-watering feel in the long and delicately Spätlese-styled finish. It is still slightly backward and will benefit from a little bit of aging before developing its full potential. There is quite some upside here if it manages to keep its current sense of focus. 2026-2041.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Weingut A.J. Adam Dhroner Hofberg Riesling Spatlese, Mosel 2016 750ML ($49.95) $39 pre-arrival special
Mosel Fine Wines 94+ points “This offers a gorgeous nose of cassis, earthy spices and slate. The wine is superbly balanced on the palate, with some acidity providing the right frame to a playful fruity feel. The finish is mouth-watering, intense, complex and elegant. The upside is immense if the airy side is preserved at maturity. This is a plain gorgeous Spätlese which lovers of Spätlese should buy by the bucket load! 2026-2041.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Weingut A.J. Adam Dhroner Hofberg Riesling Auslese*, Mosel 2016 375ML ($69.95) $49 pre-arrival special
Mosel Fine Wines 92 points “The 2016er Auslese * was made from the second pressing of the Eiswein grapes harvested on November 30. This already golden-colored wine delivers a rather ripe and exotic nose of grapefruit, candied passion fruit and backed pineapple. It is nicely balanced on the palate and does not exhibit the usual “Eiswein bite” of such wines but proves more luscious in style. The acidity comes eventually through in the sweet and complex finish. 2023-2036.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Weingut A.J. Adam Dhroner Hofberger Riesling Eiswein, Mosel 2016 375ML ($119.95) $99 pre-arrival special
Mosel Fine Wines 95 points “This Eiswein was harvested at 145° Oechsle on November 30. This bright- colored wine shows grapefruit, fresh pineapple, spices and herbs, wrapped into a brief whiff of volatile acidity. It is superbly fruity and elegant on the palate and leaves a great creamy and zesty feel in the long and still slightly sweet finish. This is a beautiful Eiswein made to last. Now-2031+.”
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Von Winning
Von Winning holds the title of greatest wine producer in the Pfalz, if you ask us. Sure, there are some other producers whose wines are slightly more expensive, but if you ignore cost as a “prestige” rating, the wines of Von Winning speak to us in a voice that is clearer and more interesting than anything else we’ve tried from the region. This shouldn’t be a surprise–the wines are from the best sites in the region and made with a hands-off attitude.
The wines of Von Winning speak in mineral tones. These wines are dry, as the top producers of the Pfalz are wont to focus on, and unlike some of their neighbors, powerful fruit isn’t the goal here. No, the Von Winning wines speak the language of the floral and mineral flavors that are both intense and furtive and also seemingly unable to be coaxed out of these vineyards by anyone else. They demand your attention, even when they speak under their breath.
Von Winning Wine Arriving in October
Von Winning Deidesheimer Kalkofen Riesling Grosses Gewachs, Pfalz 2016 750ML ($69.95) $59 pre-arrival special
“This is always the bomb of the GGs, the strongest and most voluminous. Roasted corn, popped sorghum with brown butter, broiled peaches and soft persimmon over a backdrop of a stone wall seething in the hot afternoon sun. Also, like happy dogs. My mind works oddly at times….”–Terry Theise
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Von Winning Deidesheimer Langenmorgen Riesling Grosses Gewachs, Pfalz 2016 750ML ($69.95) $59 pre-arrival special
“My fave! It’s the GG with the nerd glasses. Threads and skeins and capillaries of nuance; herbs, mineral…interior beauty. A wine of wet gray trees, and the air is moist with all the green of the woods. Cerebral need not mean bloodless; this wine is enthralling in its intricate Gregorian purity.”–Terry Theise
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Von Winning Pechstein Riesling Grosses Gewachs, Pfalz 2016 750ML ($99.95) $79 pre-arrival special
“All its wisteria and rock-dust and all in a warmly shimmery sweetness—or, “sweetness,” for there is none on paper but the wine is so flowery you’ll swear you taste it. True divinity here. Drink it next to a Felsenberg from Dönnhoff and consider the mystery and the kindness of the world.”–Terry Theise
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Von Winning Ungeheuer Riesling Grosses Gewachs, Pfalz 2016 750ML ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival special
“Larger production equals lower price equals entry into this rarefied world, affordably. But first you have to pronounce it right. Sorry, it’s like the password. So, think oonga-hoyer. Got it? Repeat a few times until you nail it. OONGA-HOYER! OONGA-HOYER! The wines can sometimes seem a bit obtuse in their bone-brothy way, but this one has to be the most seductive GG in recorded history; firm and caramelly, shiitakes, goose fat, but all in a heaving jiggling orgy of hedonism and licentiousness. Want some? Sure you do. Oonga-hoyer roolz.”–Terry Theise
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Georg Breuer
Georg Breuer has developed a reputation for making exceptional wines by remaining flexible to what the vintage calls for; during harvest, or in the cellar, Theresa Breuer is not locked into centuries of tradition. The exclusion of their stellar monopole vineyard from Erstes Gewächs classification inspired them to follow their own path with their wine, and it frees them to make wines that are exceedingly tasty and fresh. Their style is drier with a dedication to balance. Theresa and Markus, the cellar master, look to preserve this by being able to adapt to the vintage. Terry Theise likes this too, “ … I asked her a bunch of other questions about basic cellar practices, and her answers were as I hoped—basically, it depends. That’s always the best answer. I found the wines to be uniformly soulful, whether I liked them a little or a lot. I felt I was in the presence of wines with beating hearts, not merely wines with ‘superb’ flavors.”
Georg Breuer Arriving in October
Georg Breuer Rauenthal Nonnenberg Riesling Trocken, Rheingau 2015 750ML ($89.95) $79 pre-arrival special
Mosel Fine Wines 95 points “This offers a superb even if still slightly backward nose of yellow peach, grapefruit puree, pear, aniseed herbs and earthy spices. The wine is hugely impressive even if on the reserved side of things on the palate as minerals, some pear and citrusy fruits only wait to integrate in a few years’ time. The finish, while completely backward, is just heaven, with great freshness, mineral depth and huge precision. This is a stunning Nonnenberg in the making! 2025-2035+”
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Georg Breuer Rauenthal Estate Riesling Trocken, Rheingau 2015 750ML ($27.95) $21.90 pre-arrival special
Mosel Fine Wines 91+ points “This develops a slightly backward but hugely impressive feel of pear, candied grapefruit, bergamot, minerals, and fine herbs. The wine is nicely elegant with great but not overpowering presence on the palate and leaves a ravishing feel of passion fruit, minerals and aniseed herbs in the long and pear-infused finish. This is a spectacular rendition of the Rauenthal Estate and one which will give more than a hint of the Grand Vin for of fraction of its costs. We would not be surprised if, in fine, it will even exceed our high expectations, especially if it develops aromatically: It is that impressive! 2020-2030”
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Georg Breuer Rudesheimer Berg Schlossberg Riesling, Rheingau 2015 750ML ($99.95) $89 pre-arrival special
Mosel Fine Wines 93 points “The 2015er Schlossberg proves remarkably precise and elegant on the nose as pear, mirabelle, coconut, a hint of mango, smoke and sage emerge from the glass. It develops a slightly more exotic side driven by passion fruit and a hint of mango on the superbly focused and precise palate. The finish seems slightly on the ripe side but the long and multi-layered precision is simply remarkable. 2025-2035.”
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Georg Breuer Rudesheim Estate Riesling, Rheingau 2015 750ML ($27.95) $21.90 pre-arrival special
Mosel Fine Wines 91 points “This bright-yellow colored wine took a while to develop its first balance but offers after some airing a gorgeous nose of grapefruit, apple, pear, mango and some aniseed herbs. What is remarkable about this wine is how finely sizzled it comes over on the palate and in the long and remarkably airy finish. This is a little beauty of elegance and freshness with true “Grand Vin” traits. 2020-2030”
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Weingut Alfred Merkelbach
The Merkelbach brothers, Alfred and Rolf, age 83 and 80 respectively, make classic Mosel wine from a mere five acres, without frills. They’re the estate most of us feel a painful tugging at the heart when we introduce them to you. Their wines have always known just when to push on, and more importantly, when to stop. The brothers live simply, love what they do and don’t seem to find any joy in excess, just pure satisfaction in doing what is exactly right. Additionally, it’s no secret that these two are looking at retiring soon, releasing some of their incredible vineyards and reducing the levels of production. This is why stashing away some of these tremendous last vintages makes so much sense, and yet seems so bittersweet. Enjoy them now, enjoy them years from now; these wines could well outlast us all.
Weingut Alfred Merkelbach Arriving in October
Weingut Alfred Merkelbach Kinheimer Rosenberg Riesling Kabinett, Mosel 2016 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 pre-arrival special
Mosel Fine Wines 91 points “Harvested at a refreshing low 79° Oechsle, this offers a gorgeous nose of pear, cassis and grape. The wine is beautifully well balanced on the palate, with ripe acidity gorgeously wrapping some mouth-watering sweetness in the long finish. The finish is elegant and as light as a feather. What a beauty! 2026-2041.”
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Weingut Alfred Merkelbach Kinheimer Rosenberg Riesling Spatlese #1, Mosel 2016 750ML ($29.95) $24 pre-arrival special
Mosel Fine Wines 90 points “Harvested at a full 90° Oechsle (from a vineyard which suffered yield losses due to the outbreak of diseases in June), this offers a gorgeous nose of pear, melon, cassis, smoky slate and fine earthy spices. The wine delivers a rather ripe and smooth expression of fruity Riesling with a ripe yet tickly feel of acidity on the palate and leaves a pure and very clean feel in the intense finish (certainly by Merkelbach standards). 2026-2046”
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Weingut Alfred Merkelbach Kinheimer Rosenberg Riesling Spatlese #2, Mosel 2016 750ML ($29.95) $24 pre-arrival special
“This is cooler, even slatier, finer now—this is classy Riesling and not just “for Kinheim.” The purest apple! Swollen slate is almost smoky on the finish.”–Terry Theise
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Weingut Alfred Merkelbach Urziger Wurzgarten Riesling Spatlese #5, Mosel 2016 750ML ($29.59) $24 pre-arrival special
“An incredible portrait of Uerzig slate, in a salty kiwi-wash that defines the very soul of the being. The parcel is called Vor das Pichter, and everything about slate and Riesling seems to quiver and buzz.”–Terry Theise
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Weingut Alfred Merkelbach Urziger Wurzgarten Riesling Spatlese #6, Mosel 2016 750ML ($29.95) $24 pre-arrival special
Mosel Fine Wines 92 points “The 2016er Ürziger Würzgarten Spätlese AP06 was harvested at a refreshingly light 84° Oechsle in a parcel in the Fischerei sector situated upstream of the village of Ürzig. It offers a gorgeous nose of ripe pear, raspberry melon and spices. A great citrusy feel brings great freshness to the palate where more ripe and juicy fruits come through. The finish is delicate and elegant, with gorgeous fruity and spicy flavors in the after-taste. 2026-2041.”
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Weingut Alfred Merkelbach Urziger Wurzgarten Riesling Spatlese #7, Mosel 2016 750ML ($27.95) $21.90 pre-arrival special
Mosel Fine Wines 89 points “This offers a nice nose of peach, cassis, white flowers and fine spices. The wine is delicately zesty on the palate and leaves a clean and playful feel in the long and nicely spicy finish. This beautifully expression of off-dry Riesling will appeal to lovers of classic light-weighted Mosel wines. Now-2026”
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Weingut Alfred Merkelbach Urziger Wurzgarten Riesling Spatlese #8, Mosel 2016 750ML ($29.95) $24 pre-arrival special
Mosel Fine Wines 92+ points “The 2016er Ürziger Würzgarten Spätlese AP08 was harvested at a light 81° Oechsle from parcels behind the village of Ürzig. This offers a gorgeous nose of ripe pear, cassis, raspberry and herbs. The wine is beautifully well balanced on the palate, with ripe acidity bringing focus to the delicately smooth and still slightly tart finish. The airy and gorgeous aromatics in the after-taste are simply irresistible. This is a textbook expression of a light fruity Mosel wine! There is clear upside here if the wine develops its fresh aromatic side. 2026-2041.”
Grapelive 92 points “ The wonderfully textured and classically pure 2016 Urziger Wurzgarten Spatlese #8 is slimmer and lithe version of this historic vineyard with loads of spice, sweet fruit, mineral and smooth, but zesty acidity that makes for a lovely wine that feels incredibly well balanced and a bit drier than it is. This iron rich and red slate vineyard in the middle Mosel is a glorious site, one of the most unique terroirs in the world. It produces very sexy Riesling with surprising aromas of dark flowers, mixed spices, Asian tea, flinty/shale and exotic tropical essences, with the 2016 showing a slightly more subtle tone and earthy element adding complexity and [giving] focus to the sweetness. This sample of 2016 Merkelbach certainly impresses, and I must thank Terry Theise for pushing me in this wine’s direction. He’s been singing their praises in recent vintages. This is a winery on the rise and they offer solid quality for the money in a traditional styled wine. These are Rieslings that will age fantastically well. The palate is creamy with yellow peach, lemon/lime, green apple, apricot, pineapple and honeyed verbena as well as that liquid steely mineral and earthy spice edginess. Lingering jasmine, white lavender/rose, green melon flesh and tangerine add to the pleasure in this Spatlese, which is not overt or flamboyant like Loosen, Prum or even Christoffel versions, but with grace and charm in league with Schaefer and Selbach. Imported by Skurnik Wines and Terry Theise, Merkelbach’s 2016’s should be on your radar, especially this intriguing Urziger Wurzgarten Spatlese #8. Drink from 2019 to 2034.”
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Weingut Alfred Merkelbach ‘Urgluck’ Urziger Wurzgarten Riesling Spatlese, Mosel 2016 750ML ($31.95) $24 pre-arrival special
“This could be the greatest Merkelbach wine ever, from a “normal” vintage. A searching, almost unfathomable fragrance does not prepare you for the miraculous palate; fruit and botrytis recall the 2005 but this is slinkier and more incisive, more resinous and herbal and even tropical; tender and powerful.”–Terry Theise
Mosel Fine Wines 91+ points “Harvested at 90° Oechsle, the Spätlese Urglück delivers a beautiful nose of white peach, cassis and strawberry. The wine develops a slightly more melon and grapefruit infused side on the smooth and ripe palate and leaves a silky feel in the long and delicately juicy finish. There is quite some development potential if the fresher side comes through at maturity. 2026-2046”
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Weingut Alfred Merkelbach Urziger Wurzgarten Riesling Auslese #10, Mosel 2016 750ML ($41.95) $33 pre-arrival special
Mosel Fine Wines 90 points “The 2016er Ürziger Würzgarten Auslese AP10 was harvested at 98° Oechsle in the prime Class I former Treppchen vineyard within the Ürziger Würzgarten. This develops a rather ripe nose of melon, herbs and spices. The wine is nicely spicy and juicy on the palate and leaves a feel of ripe pear and melon enhanced by dried spices in the long finish. This is an outstanding smooth Auslese made in a style not unlike that of the finest 2003 wines. 2026-2046”
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Weingut Alfred Merkelbach Urziger Wurzgarten Riesling Auslese #11, Mosel 2016 750ML ($39.95) $31.90 pre-arrival special
Mosel Fine Wines 91 points “The 2016er Ürziger Würzgarten Auslese AP11 was harvested at 90° Oechsle in the prime Class I Pichter (locally called Langpichter) sector of the Ürziger Würzgarten. The wine develops a beautiful nose of melon, pear, grapefruit and fine spices. It proves quite smooth but multi-layered on the palate and leaves a great playful and airy feel in the long finish. This is plain beautiful and has great upside potential if the fresher zesty side comes through. 2026-2046”
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Carl Loewen
As estates go, Carl Loewen flew below all but the most sensitive Riesling radar; decades of making traditional, delicious wines, but in such small quantities. Then the good fortune of picking up the famed old Schmitt-Wagner vineyards in the late 80s brought to them a wealth of some of the best fruit in the Mosel. It is with this fruit that the Estate is being produced. The wine will knock your socks off, and we’re thrilled to bring more into the fold as they become available.
Carl Loewen Arriving in October
Carl Loewen Estate Riesling, Mosel 2016 750ML ($19.95) $16 pre-arrival special
“A Theise exclusive! (Similar to the wines I get from Catoir and Diel.) It’s a dry-enough Riesling at an attractive price, and it’s fine old-school Mosel, and a lot more joy is about to arrive on your doorstep. And I know this because every single prototype-blend we tasted was good. That is rare, and shows the quality of the base wine.”–Terry Theise
Spreitzer Arriving in October
Spreitzer Winkeler Jesuitengarten Riesling Alte Reben Feinherb 2016 750ML ($37.95) $29 pre-arrival special
Grapelive 95 points “One of my favorite Rieslings of the 2016 vintage so far is Spreitzer’s dense Jesuitegarten Alte Reben. Think of it as a more generous GG with a touch of off-dry lustiness with a rich character and amazing focus! From vines not far from the Rhein on a mix of loess, sand and gravel, the Jesuitegarten benefits from an almost lake effect. This site sits near the river’s widest point and its vines ripen earlier here, making for opulent Rieslings, but still with vibrant acidity and crystalline minerality. Less fruity than the Kabinett and Spatlese, the Alte Reben Jesuitegarten feels dry on the palate, but has what I call lush intensity with an almost full body feel. As Terry Theise says, it’s chewy, and it drinks like a red wine with the massive extract and structure adding a counter weight to the lavish fruit core. Regardless of what this wine is labeled, it’s a Grand Cru class white with gorgeous detail and length. This Riesling is beautiful, curvy and tom boy like, just think of Scarlett Johansson in a glass. The 2016 Spreitzer Feinherb Jesuitegarten Alte Reben is riveting from start to finish with a heady bouquet of spring flowers, sea shore and citrus which leads to a textured palate of green apple, mango, pineapple, lime sorbet, apricot and white cherry fruits with hints of saline/brine, wet stones, spiced herbal tea, verbena, sweet melon flesh, rosewater and lingering tangerine. This open and stylish Riesling delivers a rush of elegant pleasure and should go decades. This is super impressive and a value. If you’ve not had Spreitzer in recent vintages you are missing out. My visit to the winery last fall was mind-blowing and while I thought 2015 raised their game to the next level, these 2016 wines take it even further. Andreas and Bernd are killing it! Imported by Terry Theise and Skurnik Wines, these 2016 Spreitzer’s are coming online as I speak, but with the GG’s coming later in the year, these are seriously awesome Rieslings, especially this Jesuitegarten Feinherb.”
Terry Theise note “On the rich side of the designation, but this obdurately solid wine needs it. This is Rheingau at its chewiest, and so dignified it is almost haughty. It smells like violets but isn’t “flowery.” The kind of wine we find impressive. ”
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