In Today’s Newsletter:
Last Chance at a 95 Point Oregon Chardonnay
Baby Sassicaia
2016 de Montille at National Best Pricing
New Grapelive Reviews for QPR Champs
#Trending Wines
Top Rosé Picks for the Beginning of Spring
New Vinous Reviews for 2017 Von Winning GG’s
First Offer! 2016 Tignanello
A Top Malbec Blend from Michel Rolland
Last Chance at a 95 Point Oregon Chard
Hey, Hey, Hey, Here Comes Richard’s!
Marcus Goodfellow’s Matello and Goodfellow Family Cellars labels have been mainstays at the shop for some time now—wines that we carry regardless of vintage, scores or overall hype. The wines are amongst the best in Oregon and consistently some of the most inspiring wines we taste. When the Wine Advocate’s review for the 2014 Richard’s Cuvee Chardonnay came out, we can’t say we were particularly surprised – the praise is well deserved.
The 750’s of the Richard’s sold out in a flash, as you’d expect, but it turns out that the winery had a number of cases of half bottles that no one has pounced on. Lucky for you, we’ve scooped up the last available from the winery, so once these are gone, they’re gone. In the meantime, this in-its-prime Chardonnay will make a beautiful wine to buy in bulk—the half bottles just make it that much more convenient.
Arriving Tomorrow:
Goodfellow Family Cellars Richard’s Cuvee Chardonnay, Willamette Valley 2014 375ML ($24.95) $20.90 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 95 points “The 2014 Chardonnay Richard’s Cuvee knocks it out of the park with a nose of ripe apricots, pink grapefruit and guava underscored by fresh ginger, baking bread, beeswax and yeast extract hints with a waft of jasmine. Medium-bodied, the palate is very elegant and refined, with incredible freshness and depth wrapped in a lovely satiny texture, finishing with long lasting mineral and spices layers. Wow!”
Baby Sassicaia
Sassicaia is the most famous wine from Tenuta San Guido, indeed one of the most famous wines in all of Italy. Though very few people know it, the estate also makes lower tier wines that can be quite excellent, especially for their prices. The wine we’re highlighting now is one such gem and is a blend of Cabernet and Sangiovese that shows San Guido’s practiced hand. This is one to stock up on!
Just Arrived, In Stock Now
Tenuta San Guido Le Difese Toscana IGT, Tuscany 2016 750ML ($27.95) $19.50 special
Wine Advocate 90 points “A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Sangiovese, the 2016 Le Difese shows a more evident touch of ripe fruit that you don’t perceive in the Guidalberto, which makes me think it comes from the Sangiovese component that is only used in this wine. The overall effect of that ripeness is that it downplays the wine’s inner complexity. But this entry-level red from Tenuta San Guido was never aiming for huge complexity to begin with. Dark cherry and cherry is followed by wild strawberry and tangy rose hip. This wine happily delivers on its promises of freshness and accessibility.”
2016 de Montille
At National Best Pricing
The Côte de Beaune hardly hosts a better-known name than de Montille. It’s as if the family of archetypical Burgundian vignerons arose from the earth of Volnay centuries ago. The late Hubert de Montille helped make the domaine famous for its classic style of age-worthy Burgundy, and now his son and daughter make the wines. Low yields and partial whole-cluster fermentation remain the norm, but the modern de Montille reds have softer tannins, are more aromatic, and they don’t require as much cellar time as before. Few other wines from Beaune, Pommard, and Volnay speak of their terroir and of Burgundian culture like de Montille wines do.
We’re in the process of receiving our allocation of their genius 2016’s—some arrived today, with the balance getting in next week. 2016 is another standout year in Burgundy and these treasures are some of the best wines the new generation at de Montille have produced—the only issue is the quantities involved. The best wines in Burgundy are always scarce, but the combinations of crop loss due to frost and hail means that the 2016s are even harder to come by than usual. The wines will be sold first-come, first served (and don’t say you weren’t warned!).
Just Arrived:
Domaine de Montille Les Greves, Beaune Premier Cru 2016 750ML ($119.95) $89 special
Burghound 88-91 points “A more deeply pitched and much earthier nose is comprised by notes of plum, violet and a whiff of game. There is fine volume and punch to the more powerful medium-bodied flavors that possess better depth and persistence though here too there is a trace of dryness though it is less evident.”
Stephen Tanzer 88-91 points “(vinified with one-third whole clusters and aged in 20% new oak; from vines averaging 40 years of age, with some as old as 70; 30% of the crop was lost to frost): Medium red. Ripe cherry on the nose. Offers a bit more stuffing and sweetness than the Perrières, along with some floral and herbal notes, but the essentially soft middle palate turns distinctly firmer and more medicinal toward the back. Finishes with dusty tannins and a repeating herbal quality. This wine will need further élevage–and time in bottle–to come into harmony.”
Neal Martin 89-91 points “The 2016 Beaune 1er Cru Greves was matured in 20% new oak with one-third whole cluster fruit. It has a perfumed bouquet with blackberry, red cherries and iris aromas, the terroir here more expressive than the Perrieres for the moment. The palate is medium-bodied with firm tannin, the oak lending a little more depth than the other Beaune premier crus; there’s sinew on the finish. Give this 3 or 4 years in bottle.”
The next best price is $99.98
That’s a difference of over $10 per bottle!
Stephen Tanzer 88-90 points “(vinified with one-third whole clusters and aged in 15% new oak; the average vine age here is 30 years but most of the vines are younger than that; the crop level here was down 30% in 2016): Healthy medium red. Aromas of black cherry, leather and licorice. Juicy and energetic, offering good texture but also some distinctly cool menthol and medicinal nuances. In a slightly rigid style, finishing with firm tannins. This wine only completed its malolactic fermentation in August.”
The next best price is $74.99
That’s a difference of over $15 per bottle!
Domaine de Montille Aux Thorey, Nuits-Saint-Georges Premier Cru 2016 1.5L ($249.95) $199 special
Burghound 90-93 points “This too is overtly spicy and floral with notes of warm earth, plum and cool dark cherry. There is both good volume and detail to the less prominently mineral-driven medium weight flavors that possess a chalky mouth feel, all wrapped in a delicious, balanced and nicely complex finale. This is lovely stuff and already quite harmonious.”
Neal Martin 91-93 points “The 2016 Nuits Saint Georges 1er Cru Aux Thorey includes two-thirds whole cluster fruit, matured in 50% new oak. It has a fragrant bouquet with hints of crushed violet suffusing the red berry fruit, more blue fruit emerging with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with slightly chalky tannin, maybe a little backward and rigid for this vineyard at the moment, but it will mellow with time in bottle. I admire the terroir expression on the finish here. Give this 4 or 5 years if you can, because this has something up its sleeve and will meliorate in bottle.”
Stephen Tanzer 90-92 points “(from 45- to 50-year-old vines planted on limestone; vinified with two-thirds whole clusters): Slightly hazy red. Deep but youthfully stunted aromas of black raspberry and licorice. Very rich and quite dry; less expressive today than most of the estate’s 2016s from the Côte de Beaune but conveys subtle saline minerality. Finishes with chalky, fine-grained tannins and lingering notes of red berries and oak spices. (Domaine de Montille did not produced any Nuits-Saint-Georges Aux Saints-Juliens in 2016.)”
The next best price is $97
The average listed price is $105
This is the lowest listed price for a magnum in the USA today!
Arriving Tomorrow:
Domaine de Montille Bourgogne Rouge, Burgundy 2016 750ML ($49.95) $39 pre-arrival special
Burghound 92-94 points “This too is exceptionally pretty with its perfumed aromas of essence of plum, violet, earth and once again a gentle application of wood influence. The rich, full-bodied and succulent large-scaled flavors possess a beguiling mix of power, vibrancy and delineation that also characterizes the beautifully long and balanced finish where the only nit is a forgivable trace of warmth. Good stuff though again, patience advised.”
Neal Martin 93-95 points “The 2016 Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru is one-third whole cluster, less than in recent years according to winemaker Brian Sieve, with almost 50% new oak. It has a beautiful bouquet with scents of blackberry, raspberry coulis, crushed strawberries and seams of wet limestone underneath. The oak is seamlessly integrated here. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin, very focused and taut with pure black cherry and crushed strawberry on the tensile finish. This is a very stylish, quite ambitious Clos de Vougeot. Excellent.”
The average listed price is $210
Burghound 91-94 points “A beautifully fresh, airy and even perfumed nose speaks of various dark berry, violet, earth and a discreet hint of oak. The equally refined, cool and vibrant big-bodied flavors possess a taut muscularity while displays plenty of minerality on the sappy, balanced and impressively complex finale.”
Stephen Tanzer 90-92 points “(these 65-year-old vines escaped the frost; vinified with two-thirds whole clusters and aged in 50% new oak): Healthy full red. Aromas of cherry and currant show a chocolatey ripeness. Plush and silky in the mouth, but more about volume today than flavor intensity. Red fruit and savory mineral flavors are accented on the broad back end by notes of licorice and herbs; one is aware of the whole clusters here. The dusty tannins reach the front teeth. This wine has a tendency to absorb its wood and stems quickly, noted Sieve, which probably explains why it’s a bit out of sorts right now.”
The next best price is $169.99
The average listed price is $190
Domaine de Montille Les Pezerolles, Pommard Premier Cru 2016 1.5L ($349.95) $289 pre-arrival special
Stephen Tanzer 91-93 points “(from the north side of Pommard above Les Grands Epenots on active limestone soil; vinified with one-third whole clusters and aged in one-third new oak): Good dark red. Tight aromas of black cherry, redcurrant and rust (there’s a bit of iron in the soil here as well), lifted by a floral quality. Savory and fine-grained, with red berry flavors enlivened by saline minerality. Not a big wine but offers an attractive blend of sweet, savory and acidic elements. This minerally, salty wine finishes with big, mouth-dusting tannins.”
Burghound 90-92 points “Today there is enough reduction to push the underlying fruit to the background. Otherwise the middle weight flavors possess a similar mouth feel to the Taillepieds with fine delineation and more subtle minerality on the mildly austere finish that flashes a hint of dryness though I doubt that it will last.”
Neal Martin 90-92 points “The 2016 Pommard 1er Cru Les Pezerolles is one-third whole cluster fruit. Around half the vineyard suffered frost damage in this year. There is more red fruit here than other cuvées from de Montille: raspberry, wild strawberry and a touch of Bing cherry. The palate is well balanced with fine and slightly chalky tannin. There’s also a fine line of acidity, then the finish clams up for now and says, “Revenez plus tard.” Give this 4 to 5 years in bottle.”
The next best price is $149
The average listed price is $158
Domaine de Montille Rugiens-Bas, Pommard Premier Cru 2016 1.5L ($399.95) $349 pre-arrival special
Stephen Tanzer 92-94 points “(one-third vendange entier; 40% new oak; just racked following a very late malo): Healthy medium red. Compelling aromas and flavors of redcurrant, iron, rose petal and minerals. At once silky and penetrating, with its sweetness perfectly balanced by harmonious acidity. Shows captivating rose petal perfume throughout. The seriously tannic, floral finish displays real length and grip. This wine should age beautifully but even today there’s no hardness. The crop was reduced by about 30% due to the frost, noted winemaker Sieve.”
Burghond 91-93 points “discreet but not invisible application of wood surrounds overtly spicy and floral aromas of plum and dark currant that flash plenty of earth characters. There is first-rate punch to the delineated, muscular and mineral-inflected broad-shouldered flavors that terminate in a saline, youthfully austere and impressively persistent finish. Patience will clearly be essential as this will need time.”
Neal Martin 92-94 points “The 2016 Pommard 1er Cru Les Rugiens Cuvée Hubert apparently had a very late malolactic that did not finish until September or October. Similar to the previous two vintages, it comes from the lieu-dit “Les Rugiens-Bas.” It has a complex and inviting bouquet with black cherries, crushed rose petals and undergrowth aromas, just a suggestion of dried blood emerging with time. The palate is medium-bodied, the 40% new oak is absorbed by the fleshy red fruit, and it is adorned with a lovely, ferrous finish. Drink over the next 15 or 20 years.”
The average listed price is $181
Stephen Tanzer 90-92 points “(this vineyard features more clay than most Volnay premier crus, but the crop level was very uneven in 2016 owing to the frost, with the bottom of the vineyard wiped out, the middle portion missing 30% of its normal fruit and the top “overloaded,” according to Sieve; vinified with one-third whole clusters and aged in one-third new oak): Healthy medium red. Reticent but ripe scents of black cherry, licorice and musky chocolate. The dark chocolate element carries through on the palate but the wine also shows surprising acidity and lively notes of licorice and herbs. Saturates the tongue and palate on the aftertaste, with the tannins rather suave but serious. This wine is typically more about texture than minerality as the tannins soften, noted Sieve.”
Burghound 89-92 points “A moderately toasty nose frames brooding and restrained aromas of various dark berries that also reflect plenty of earth characters. The exceptionally rich and attractively textured flavors possess notably firm tannins on the wood-inflected finish, indeed this could be fairly described as a robust Champans.”
Neal Martin 89-91 points “The 2016 Volnay 1er Cru Champans suffered frost damage on the lower reaches and 50% damage on the mid-slope of the vineyard. It includes one-third whole cluster and matured in 30% new oak. It has a surprisingly broody and more introverted bouquet than recent vintages, defined but certainly holding everything back. The palate is well structured but bullish and rustic, quite rough tannin at the moment, a broad shouldered and square-jawed Volnay that will require several years in bottle.”
The next best price is $139.99
That’s a difference of over $11 per bottle!
The average listed price is $149
Domaine de Montille Les Mitans, Volnay Premier Cru 2016 1.5L ($319.95) $279 pre-arrival special
Stephen Tanzer 91-93 points “(two-thirds whole clusters; one-third new oak; the sand on top of the limestone here typically yields relatively soft tannins, according to winemaker Brian Sieve): Good dark red. Cool black cherry aroma lifted by a stony quality. A step above the preceding samples in both juiciness and finesse; in fact, a real high-wire act of captivating sweetness and bright acidity. Very fine-grained, serious wine with excellent grip and length. These 45-year-old vines avoided the frost but yielded very little fruit, as they were very sensitive to rain and wind during the flowering.”
Burghound 90-93 points “As is usually the case, this is more aromatically elegant still with is airy array of intensely floral dark pinot fruit and spiced plum scents. The wonderfully refined and lilting flavors are shaped by notably fine-grained yet firm tannins on the focused and balanced finish that firms up considerably on the youthfully austere finish. This is textbook Mitans and lovely stuff.”
Neal Martin 90-92 points “The 2016 Volnay 1er Cru Les Mitans includes two-thirds whole cluster fruit and around 30% new oak. Around one-quarter of the vines suffered frost damage here. It has a more charming bouquet than the Champans, the whole bunch neatly disguised and lending discrete definition and focus. The palate is medium-bodied with firm tannin and well-judged acidity. It’s quite structured like the Les Champans; however, I discerned more grace and finesse here.”
The next best price is $139.99
That’s a difference of over $11 per bottle
This is the only listing for a magnum in the USA today!
Stephen Tanzer 91-94 points “(vinified entirely with whole clusters and aged in 35% new oak; the average vine age here is 65 years and the soil features gravel on limestone): Bright medium-deep red. Deeply pitched, fruit-driven aromas of black raspberry and dark cherry, plus a hint of smoky minerality. Wonderfully plush yet lively, displaying more volume and depth than the Mitans. Lovely silky Volnay without any impression of undue weight. Really fills the mouth and echoes on the finish while maintaining superb vivacity. Here the acidity is ripe and the broad tannins distinctly suave and fine-grained. This is showing beautifully considering that it only finished its malolactic fermentation in September.”
Burghound 91-93 points “This too is intensely floral on the restrained, ultra-fresh and pure nose that blends both red and dark berries together with slightly exotic nuances of spice and tea. The mouth feel of the medium-bodied and overtly mineral-driven flavors is at once refined but powerful with excellent underlying tension suffusing the moderately austere, firm and built-to-age finish. This should be first-rate in time but patience is required.”
Neal Martin 91-93 points “The 2016 Volnay 1er Cru Taillepieds is 100% whole cluster and 30% new oak. This vineyard was not affected by the frost. It has a very intense blackberry and Morello cherry-scented bouquet with hints of iodine and incense developing with time. I adore the controlled opulence here. The palate is medium-bodied with firm tannin but less rigid than the Mitans, with a touch of salinity, a light marine influence toward the finish. This has very good potential, but it will reward those with patience to cellar 4 or 5 years.”
The average listed price is $146
New Grapelive Reviews
For QPR Champs
Grapelive 94-96 points “This Jaboulet Crozes-HermitagevDomaine de Thalabert 2015 with it’s concentration, ripe flavors and refined tannins is a lovely and impressive effort, not without grip or intensity, displays a meaty soul and terroir driven personality with layers of boysenberry, damson plum, blueberry compote, creme de cassis, fig paste, light cedar notes, mocha and earthy/tar like elements with hints of black licorice, leather, bacon fat and embers. Caroline Frey and team have done a masterful job, making a purple/garnet hued wine that gathers itself with air adding a hint of sweet toasty oak, with about 20% new barrels were used and crushed violets and candied black cherry in a sultry, seductive and a full bodied effort. Still in throws of youth, this Domaine de Thalabert will need plenty of cellar time to fully evolve, but the potential is clear as day to see in the bottle, curiosity got the best of me, rather than common sense, as I should have cellared this beauty another decade at least….The Domaine de Thalabert Crozes-Hermitage site was the first vineyard purchased by Jaboulet and is considered one of the benchmark vineyard sites in the Appellation as well as being the oldest, it now sports 60 to 80 year old vines, biodynamically grown on pebbly terraces that are glacial in origin, with the bedrock close to the topsoil….Jaboulet is one of the iconic estates in the Northern Rhone, most famous for their La Chappelle Hermitage Rouge from the spiritual home high up on Hermitage Hill overlooking the Rhone River….this label is as popular as ever with her top wines being as highly praised and sought after as any in France. For those that cannot afford the La Chapelle, like me, it is great to be able to drink Frey’s wines, and this Crozes-Hermitage “Domaine de Thalabert” is a great one to invest in without too much guilt, so be sure to look for it and be as patient as possible”Saint Cosme Saint-Joseph, Rhone 2016 750ML ($29.95) $26 special
Grapelive 92 points “Louis Barruol’s negociant Saint-Joseph Rouge comes from, as he puts it, one of the most underrated areas of the Rhone Valley, being a great area with steep slopes and ancient granite soils making for usually perfumed and tension filled wines of elegance and vitality. The exceptional vintage 2016, which as per normal is from old 100% Serine clone (ancient local variety of Syrah) and Barruol employed 30% whole cluster fermentation to add complexity and a dynamic quality that can sometime be missing from non-estate grown versions. The wine was aged twelve months in oak with it being 20% in new casks, 40% in casks used once and 40% in casks used for two or three times prior, which is more or less what was used for his medium level AOC wines, like his Crozes-Hermitage and basic Gigondas. Where as the Crozes-Hermitage was, at this point at least, much more perfumed and racy with a powerful sense of violets, this 2016 Saint-Joseph is more meaty and shows an earthier character, less floral in it’s youth and richer on the palate with layers of blackberry. plum, boysenberry, currant and kirsch fruit along with a hint of leather, tobacco and camphor, as well as a delicate spicy edge that should become more pronounced with age as the baby fat settles and the stems raise the aromatics. Tight and dense, things look to refine and it should reveal a more elegant character with age, best to give this one a few years more before opening. Still, that said, it is hard to find a better bottle of Saint-Joseph for the price than this”
The average listed price is $37
Grapelive 92 points “It’s terribly hard not to love these 2017 vintage Rieslings from Germany, and especially these Von Winnings that hail from the Pfalz region, these are wines that show terroir, beautiful aromatics and a Burgundy like elegance and textural quality. This 2017 Estate Trocken is bright with cool mineral intensity and stony in character, but with a feeling of extract and density that is quite riveting for a wine in this price class with layers of tangerine, green apple, lime zest, chamomile, lemongrass, crystallized ginger and chalky and saline infused wet stones. This vintage builds as it opens, expanding to give a real impact on the palate, while staying laser like sharp in detail and acid driven, it’s wonderfully expressive and impressive and stunning with cuisine. Von Winning is committed to organic farming and train their vines much the same way as they do in the Cote D’Or, preferring native yeasts and lees aging in oak casks along with stainless in the basic wines, again there is a nod to Burgundy with their inspiration….Beyond the top wines here there is a lot of value too, in particular, this estate Trocken Riesling which delivers intensely dry crisp detail and complexity for an insanely low price….this 2017 version is a class act with a bone dry focus, but with, as mentioned, surprising depth and length gaining hints of rosewater, earthy gooseberry, tropical essences and apricot in the glass, this is a fantastic year for German wines and this one has potential to age 10 to 15 years, though it is already pretty easy to love!”
The next best price is $19
Cave Yves Cuilleron ‘Les Vignes d’a Cote’ Syrah, Rhone, 2017 750ML ($21.95) $18 special
Grapelive 92 points “One of the Northern Rhone’s top guns, Yves Cuilleron, is making some of the best wine of his career… While his 2015 and 2016 were absolutely awesome, this 2017 looks just as good if not better!… While most known for his Condrieu and Cote-Rotie, [Yves] also makes a stellar collection of Saint-Joseph, Cornas and Crozes-Hermitage as well as a line of varietal wines including this 100% Syrah from granite and alluvial soils near his village, Chavanay, near the border with the Crozes zone, in the Collines Rhodaniennes, in a steep parcel of vines… This 2017 Les Vignes d’a Cote is striking and with exceptional varietal character. [It shows] a deep purple/garnet color in the glass with a beautiful perfume of crushed violets, primary black and blue fruits, spices and camphor notes that not only come through on the nose, but transfer to the palate as well. There is ripe blueberry, plum and black cherry fruits as well as subtle creme de cassis, black olive, fresh ground peppercorns, faint cedar and anise. The mouthfeel is richer and more substantial than you’d expect from this bottling, highlighting what looks like a great vintage in the making. The Cuilleron elegance and finesse is on full display. This is a case-worthy, if not more, wine to enjoy over the next couple of years while you cellar your Cote-Rotie, Saint-Joseph and/or Crozes-Hermitage!”Huet’s 2016 was the vintage others dream about. This is the flagship.
Domaine Huet Vouvray ‘Clos du Bourg’ Sec, Loire 2016 750ML ($47.95) $39 special
Case-6 Domaine Huet Vouvray ‘Clos du Bourg’ Sec, Loire 2016 750ML ($269.95) $219 special
Wine Spectator 95 points “Gorgeous, with creamy-edged nectarine, yellow and green apple, pear and quince flavors that are brightly defined from start to finish, flecked with verbena and honeysuckle hints and backed by a off-dry edge on the finish. Stays fresh and pure throughout. Tempting now but there’s no rush. Drink now through 2032.”
Wine Advocate 93 points “From 30-year-old vines on calcareous loam soils, the 2016 Vouvray Clos du Bourg Demi-Sec offers a clear, pure, fine and intensely aromatic bouquet with tropical fruit and chalky aromas. Round, lush and exotic on the palate, with a silky texture and salty piquancy on the finish, the 2016 needs up to a decade to integrate the 19 grams of residual sugar. The finish is lovey, concentrated, juicy and well structured, with a lingering and stimulating salinity. Tasted February 2018.”
Tua Rita Giusto di Notri Toscana IGT, Tuscany 2008 750ML ($79.95) $59 special
Wine Enthusiast 95 points “This fabulous blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot delivers loads of plush softness and succulent richness. Aromas of chocolate, ripe fruit and spice are distinct and clear, and the wine shows compelling complexity and intensity overall.”
Antonio Galloni 94 points “The 2008 Giusto di Notri is wonderfully alive in the glass. Dark red berries, flowers, spices, grilled herbs, licorice and leather are some of the notes that flesh out in this dazzling, vibrant Giusto di Notri. Polished tannins provide the backdrop for the silky, expressive finish. A final blast of red fruit adds freshness and brightness on the close. Giusto di Notri is 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc.”
The next best price is $69
Luigi Baudana ‘Dragon’ Langhe Bianco, Piedmont 2017 750ML ($24.95) $18 special
Wine Spectator 89 points “Riesling-like, this white exhibits a mix of floral, apricot and apple flavors backed by bracing acidity. Vibrant and juicy, with fine length. Drink now through 2024. 1,600 cases made.”
Diamond Creek Gravelly Meadow Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2015 750ML ($249.95) $188 special
James Suckling 96 points “The aromas of mint, blueberries and blackberries are very intense. Full-bodied, layered and softly textured; yet it delivers a firm and lightly chewy finish. Hot stones, too. This is a wine that will improve with three to four years of bottle aging.”
Wine Enthusiast 94 points “Soy, tobacco and dried herb mark this appropriately named wine, which does indeed have a gravelly, chalky aspect to its texture and taste. From a five-acre vineyard block of the estate, it is endlessly complex and nuanced, despite its full-bodied richness and concentration.”
Winery notes “Our second coolest micro-climate is our five-acre Gravelly Meadow vineyard. Originally a pre-historic river bed, this stony, gravelly soil drains rapidly and the vines struggle for moisture. Gravelly Meadow is our lowest yielding vineyard. The wines are described as “earthy, cedary, jammy and ripe blackberry with a spicy expansive finish.”Arriving Tomorrow:
Ameztoi Rubentis Rosado, Getariako Txakolina 2018 750ML ($24.95) $19 pre-arrival special
VinopolNote: The long-awaited and lightly fizzy pink from the Basque region in Spain! A staff favorite. Always light, bright, fresh, salty and fun. The perfect aperitif wine for spring and summer.
The average listed price is $24
Spring is officially here. The calendar and (at least in Portland) the forecast have us dreaming of sunny, mild days that are perfect for sitting outside and drinking rosé. While the weather may have the last laugh over the next month or so, we’re stocking up on all our favorite pink wines now. We’re going to be sure that any blue skies and warm days we see are going to be met with fresh, delicious rosé and the smell of charcoal grills. Here are a few of our favorite picks to get your stash back up to spring and summer speed.
In Stock Now:
A classic Provence producer with all the right moves.
Chateau de Roquefort Cotes de Provence Corail Rose 2017 750ML ($24.95) $16 special
Case-12 Chateau de Roquefort Cotes de Provence Corail Rose 2017 750ML ($279.95) $169 special (that’s only $14.08/bottle!)
Josh Raynolds 90 points “Brilliant pink. Incisive and highly perfumed, displaying intense aromas of fresh red berries, tangerine and succulent flowers that show impressive delineation and mineral lift. Stains the palate with juicy raspberry, pink grapefruit and candied lavender flavors that deepen steadily on the back half. Finishes long, minerally and smooth, with repeating citrus fruit and floral character and a touch of spicy white pepper. This wine delivers superb bang for the buck.”
Clos Sainte Magdeleine Cassis Rose, Provence 2017 750ML ($39.95) $28 special
Case-12 Clos Sainte Magdeleine Cassis Rose, Provence 2017 750ML ($449.95) $299 special
Importer Note “Cassis is not only an active port, but what Kermit calls “an earthly paradise.” The vineyards of Clos Sainte Magdeleine are particularly stunning. They jut out on a private cape to meet majestic limestone cliffs, poised spectacularly above the sparkling, azure Mediterranean. With landscapes such as these, it is only fitting that writers and poets alike have found inspiration in Cassis. Only a handful of vignerons today are fortunate enough to produce A.O.C. Cassis, and the small quantities available are largely consumed locally with fresh fish—the best way to enjoy them.”
The average listed price is $37
Domaine Charvin Cotes du Rhone Rose, Rhone 2017 750ML ($21.95) $16.60 special
Josh Raynolds – Vinous 90 points “Light lurid orange. Mineral-accented red berry and floral aromas are complemented by a subtle mineral element that gains power as the wine opens up. Juicy and expansive in the mouth, showing appealingly sweet raspberry, tangerine and lavender flavors and seamless texture. Concentrated yet lively in style, finishing with strong mineral thrust and a suave floral echo.”
VinopolNote “Charvin remains one of the best producers of old school, traditional Chateauneuf du Pape (the 2013, in stock now, is savory, gutsy and delicious). They also make a fantastic Cotes du Rhone rosé, all peaches and cherries on the nose. On the palate you get more of the same with a touch of citrus zest and a bright crisp finish. This wine is nicely medium bodied and one of those that you can pair with everything from grilled fish to hamburgers and grilled lamb. Like their reds, this is made from organically farmed grapes and fermented with indigenous yeasts.”
Chateau Gassier Cotes de Provence ‘Esprit Gassier’ Rose 2018 750ML ($21.95) $18 special
Case-12 Chateau Gassier Cotes de Provence ‘Esprit Gassier’ Rose 2018 750ML ($249.95) $196 special
Importer Note “‘Esprit Gassier’ is the ‘Gassier Spirit’ that combines the exceptional terroir of the Sainte-Victoire region with Côtes de Provence varietals to produce a wine that expresses the family’s passion, expertise and creativity. The beautiful label, designed by a local artist, is silk-screened on the bottle to create a striking package. A very clear rosé with shades of peach. Intense nose with delicate aromas of white flowers and white fruit (peach). A second nose unveils spicy notes as well as scents of clementine. The mouth is round with notes of citrus fruits and a slight and healthy final acidity.”
Chateau de Calavon Coteaux d’Aix-en-Provence Rose 2017 750ML ($21.95) $18 special
Case-12 Chateau de Calavon Coteaux d’Aix-en-Provence Rose ROSE 2017 750ML ($249.95) $179 special
Josh Raynolds – Vinous 90 points “Light bright orange. Mineral-tinged red fruit and peach aromas show very good clarity and pick up a subtle floral nuance with air. Juicy and light on its feet, offering zesty strawberry and orange pith flavors that slowly deepen as the wine stretches out. Lingers with strong persistence on the incisive finish, leaving an appealingly sweet strawberry note behind.”
Wine Advocate 90 points “A blend of 65% Cinsault, 20% Grenache and 15% Syrah, Calavon’s 2017 Coteaux d’Aix en Provence Rose is another solid rosé effort from the portfolio of American importer Peter Weygandt. This one is medium-bodied, quite taut and perfumed, with hints of garrigue, stone fruit and lingering citrus on the finish.”
New Reviews for 2017 Von Winning GG’s
“What comes of a growing season in which Nature keeps her foot firmly on the accelerator and doesn’t hit the brakes until the last second? One answer can be found in the reactions of German vines and vintners to record-setting conditions in the course of 2017, and in the often distinctively delicious but highly diverse Rieslings that resulted.
“The overall upshot of 2017 for German Riesling is wines possessing palpable density, insistently efficacious acidity, and an edgy sense of energy that occasionally translates into mouth-shaking eruptions. At times and from certain places, there is a rustic or gruff side to the wines’ grip and phenolic intensity, something accentuated in those sectors where botrytis turned into a significant factor. Yet many of the dry wines evince a welcome impression of subtle oiliness – schmaltz, if you will – that helps assuage any tendency toward angularity.” – David Schildknecht – Vinous
Arrving ETA May:
Von Winning Kirchenstuck Riesling Grosses Gewachs, Pfalz 2017 750ML ($149.95) $119 pre-arrival special
David Schildknecht – Vinous 93-94 points “Site-typically musky notes of narcissus mingle with anticipations of the bright lime and pure, luscious white peach that dominate a silken, subtly oily, expansive palate. The layering of inner-mouth floral perfume, high-toned green herbal essences and mouthwateringly scallop-like savor is hugely impressive, leading to a finish whose musky bittersweetness reminds me of sucking on the stem-end of honeysuckle blossoms; whose salinity tugs at the salivary glands; and whose effusive fruit is transparent to stony underpinnings.”
Terry Theise [+++] “(Forst) After being overtaken by Pechstein in 2016, this supernal vineyard reasserts itself, and creates a sublime dry riesling that stands with the greatest I’ve ever encountered. Sublime, the only word that suffices. Seizes you gently but doesn’t let go. Visits every cell in your mouth and leaves you coated with flowers and stones. Great wines take you into the ground, but you don’t have subterranean eyes, and so you are blind and blissful and still and surrounded, and all the world below is present for you.”
David Schildknecht – Vinous 93-94 points “Peach kernel as well as toasted nuts and rye are piquantly signaled on the nose, accompanied by pungent green herbs; the gripping palate adds cheek-tugging persimmon. Fortunately, these are joined by an almost pulpy evocation of mirabelle and white peach, to which it seems (the wine being analytically almost bone-dry) as though sheer extract has conveyed a suggestion of sweetness. Iodine and crushed stone add mineral mystery to a profoundly layered, prodigious finish. This already striking success is a prime candidate for unfiltered bottling.”
Terry Theise [++(+)] ” is breathtaking, full of grip and this kind of salty rye-crust on a blistery pizza; no fruit or flower but everything else, every herb and every leaf and a precise peppery power”
David Schildknecht – Vinous 93-94 points “A penetrating nose of peppermint and wintergreen anticipates the simultaneously cooling and glowing impression conveyed on an expansive and silken yet crushed-stone-suffused palate. Mirabelle provides a welcome midpalate suggestion of fruitiness. Like the corresponding Jesuitengarten, this finishes with tongue-tingling vibrancy and remarkable persistence. At the same time, lime-like juiciness refreshes, and strong salinity milks the salivary glands. Hopefully, this concentrated essence of its site will permit unfiltered bottling.”
Terry Theise [++] “is the most beloved perhaps of all Pfalz vineyards, and ’17 is…well…stonier and spicier than 2016s masterpiece; more zing, with a voice that could shatter a glass.”
Terry Theise [+] “is beautifully untamed, like a big man whose belly is all muscle”
David Schildknecht – Vinous 93-94 points “A fascinating and alluring nose adds to high-toned sweet corn and herbs (in fresh and distilled form) a distinct, mouthwatering evocation of sweet-saline, mineral-laden raw scallop. A full, oily-rich palate is palpably lees-enriched and faintly marked by lanolin and resin from barrel, but chiefly informed by luscious sweet corn and a salivary-gland-milking reprise of scallop. Sizzle of corn shoot, ginger and lime zest invigorate on a gripping finish strikingly transparent to stony underpinnings. Let’s hope none of this is lost getting into bottle early in 2019!”
Terry Theise [++] “is insane! A great vintage.”
“No wine from Marchesi Antinori has ever garnished a perfect score from Robert Parker Wine Advocate in the past. This seems profoundly counterintuitive given the enormous influence wines like Tignanello have had on the very definition of vino italiano. Like the actor who never gets the Oscar, the dedicated winemaking team at Marchesi Antinori continues to focus fervently on the task at hand with an almost maniacal level of craftsmanship and swagger.” – Monica Larner, Wine Advocate
Arriving ETA October:
“This classic vintage of Tignanello has a leg up…over the previous vintage”
Marchesi Antinori Tignanello Toscana IGT, Tuscany 2016 750ML ($149.95) $133 pre-arrival special
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 95-97 points “Tasted from barrel, the 2016 Tignanello will be released next year in April. This celebrated red blend is of course mostly Sangiovese with about 15% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Cabernet Franc. If 2015 is an ideal vintage for Tuscan blended reds made with the great Bordeaux varieties, the 2016 vintage is better suited to Italian grapes such as Sangiovese. This classic vintage of Tignanello has a leg up, albeit slim, over the previous vintage precisely because the protagonist here is Sangiovese. This wine shows a high caliber of fresh primary fruit that is direct and intense. In the mouth, the wine is focused and sharp. Ultimately, the 2016 Tignanello is slightly more streamlined compared to the more fleshy 2015. This adds to the firm elegance you get here.”
A Top Malbec Blend
From Michel Rolland
Clos de los Siete by Michel Rolland, Vista Flores 2015 750ML ($19.95) $14 special
Case-12 Clos de los Siete by Michel Rolland, Vista Flores 2015 750ML ($219.95) $149 special (that’s only $12.42/bottle!)
Wine Spectator 91 points “Offers a lithe and well-cut blend of cherry, dried berry, currant and spice box flavors that mesh easily. The richly textured finish lingers with creamy notes. Malbec, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Drink now through 2021. 54,000 cases made. –KM”
James Suckling 93 points “A fine and fresh wine with blueberries and fresh herbs. Medium body, refined and focused. Linear and tight texture. Very long and bright. Layered and delicious. Drink and enjoy.”
Wine Advocate 90 points “2015 was the first of the rainy El Niño vintages, which resulted in some challenges for the Valle de Uco, where the grapes for the 2015 Clos de Los Siete red blend are grown. The blend changes with the year and is decided by tasting, but it’s always more than 50% Malbec complemented with Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Petit Verdot. Thirty percent of the wine remains unoaked to keep the freshness, and the rest matured in first, second and third use barriques for 11 to 12 months. This is a regular and harmonious wine with a commercial profile, approachable, polished and sleek. The palate is medium to full-bodied with round, lush tannins and clean flavors. 780,000 bottles produced.”