A Collection of Regal Roumier
+ Just Arrived DRC
New Arrivals:
Last Chance on Scott Paul
& Spottswoode’s Epic 2015
Fall Rosé Sale – Magnum Edition
Old Vines+High Altitudes = Stunning Rioja
New Reviews from Mosel Fine Wines:
JJ Prum, Donnhoff, Rebholz,
Schaefer-Frolich, Loewen, and Grunhaus
A Collection of Regal Roumier
Arriving Next Tuesday:
Domaine Georges & Christophe Roumier Les Cras, Chambolle-Musigny Premier Cru 2010 750ML ($499.95) $419 pre-arrival special, only 2 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer-Vinous 93 points “Good bright, full red. Perfumed nose and palate offer very pure raspberry, smoke, minerals and sexy soil tones. Sweet, ripe and utterly suave, showing excellent concentration and intensity but also an exhilarating impression of weightlessness. Classic 2010 style, showing lovely refinement, a light touch, sweet tannins and terrific lingering perfume.”
Burghound 93 points “An ultra-fresh, cool, airy and admirably pure nose features crystal clear and transparent red pinot fruit and essence of stone. This is a bit firmer than the Combottes with even more evident minerality on the delicious, focused and beautifully well-delineated flavors that terminate in a precise, long, linear and palate staining finish. Terrific and worth a special search to find though be aware that this youthfully austere effort will required extended cellaring.”
The next best price is $475
Domaine Georges & Christophe Roumier Bonnes-Mares Grand Cru, Cote de Nuits 2009 750ML ($2,499.95) $2,199 pre-arrival special, only 3 bottles available
Antonio Galloni 98 points “Roumier’s 2009 Bonnes-Mares is without question one of the wines of the vintage. Firm yet beautifully integrated tannins provide the backdrop for the highly nuanced, expressive aromas and flavors that emerge from the glass. All the elements are in the right place in this extraordinary, moving wine. At times the Bonnes-Mares comes across as very powerful, at other times it is quite sensual. In other words, it is pure magic in the glass. Burgundy fans will flock to the Musigny because of its rarity but there is a very real possibility that the Bonnes-Mares will outshine it over time.”
Burghound 96 points “This is also remarkably fresh with very ripe but not over ripe aromas of cassis, spice, stone and raspberry liqueur. There is a palpable sense of energy running through the rich, powerful and brooding broad-shouldered flavors that benefit from a huge dollop of dry extract that pushes the very firm tannic spine to the background on the explosive and youthfully austere finish that possesses genuinely outstanding length. I very much like the balance here and this should age effortlessly for decades.”
The average price is $2,392
Burghound 92 points “This is also remarkably fresh with cool and markedly earthy dark berry fruit aromas that exhibit much more floral influence as well. There is good concentration to the moderately powerful, intense and muscular medium-bodied flavors that are supported by firm and mildly rustic tannins on the impressively long finish. This is not an especially big Charmes but I like the delivery and balance.”
Stephen Tanzer-Vinous 90 points “Good medium red. Dark raspberry, coffee and spicy oak on the nose; this wine’s flamboyant ripeness almost came as a shock following the more reticent 2006s. Big, round, plush and ripe, with spicy dark raspberry and chocolate flavors and considerable density for village wine. Quite smooth and harmonious at the moment: Roumier volunteered that this is not as closed yet as he expected it would be.”
Burghound 89 points “Deep ruby. A pretty and very high-toned nose features a beguiling mix of red and black berry fruit and hints of underbrush and spice that introduce rich, precise and wonderfully fresh flavors that display a mineral streak on the energetic and persistent finish. A very attractive villages and worth a look plus it should deliver 5 to 7 years of upside development.”
The average price is $489
In Stock Now from Roumier
Domaine Georges & Christophe Roumier Bonnes-Mares Grand Cru, Cote de Nuits 2013 750ML ($1,199.95) $999 special, 1 bottle available
Burghound 95 points “This is quite floral with plenty of earth and assorted spice elements adding interest to the very fresh mix of green tea and red and dark berry fruit scents. There is outstanding power and concentration to the broad-shouldered flavors that possess a robust mouth feel and ample minerality, all wrapped in a moderately austere and hugely long finish. This is a big, indeed even opulent but balanced wine that is clearly built for longer-term cellaring.”
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Just Arrived
Bright, fresh, and in stock, for now…
Scott Paul La Paulee Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2013 750ML ($39.95) $18 special
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 91 points “Deep red. Bright and energetic on the nose, displaying intense red berry and blood orange scents, along with candied rose and allspice highlights. Silky, sweet and incisive on the palate, offering juicy strawberry and floral pastille flavors and a spicy kick of white pepper. Closes very long and nervy; fine-grained tannins lend shape and closing grip.”
Wine Enthusiast 91 points “Sophisticated and subtle, this lovely wine expresses varietal elegance, with a bouquet of roses and raspberries to begin. The jumble of pretty fruits is framed with citrus peel and a dusting of chocolate.”
Neal Martin-Wine Advocate 90 points “The 2013 Pinot Noir la Paulee comes from fruit sourced from Maresh and Nysa in the Dundee Hills, Azana in Chehalem and from the Ribbon Ridge, matured for ten months in neutral oak. It has a very natural, Côte de Beaune-like bouquet with ample brambly red fruit with hints of black tea developing with aeration. I appreciate the focus and definition here. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannin, smooth in the mouth with just a faint honeyed note. Tart red cherries mingle with redcurrant and strawberry, segueing into a poised and fulsome finish. This should drink well over the next 7-10 years and represents great value.”
The average price is $25
Scott Paul La Paulee Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2014 750ML ($39.95) $18 special
Winery Note “Brilliant red in color. The spicy nose starts with being savory and leads into an array of fresh raspberry, brambleberry, and marionberry. Finely pronounced tannins combine with layers of fresh elderberry and a great balance of acid are folded into razor focused tannins which has the palate finishing with class. Our home in Carlton, Oregon (a 1915 brick creamery) is an ideal spot to revel in the virtues of Pinot Noir, as we pursue Pinot Perfection. Our sustainably farmed vineyards are among the Willamette Valley’s finest (and dare we say, most perfect). Our 2014 bottling is a selection of superior lots from our blocks of Maresh and Nysa Vineyards in the Dundee Hills and Ribbon Ridge and Azana Vineyards on the Chehalem Mountains. Bold, bright berry flavors unite with a bounty of rose, spice and cherry aromas. Pure Oregon Pinot Noir.”
Spottswoode’s Epic 2015
Spottswoode Family Estate Grown Cabernet Sauvignon, St. Helena 2015 750ML ($249.95) Displayed Price $225 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 100 points “Composed of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot, the deep purple-black colored 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon has a beautiful nose of dried roses, lavender and Chinese five spice over a core of warm blackcurrants, kirsch and wild blueberries, plus wafts of fallen leaves and dusty earth. The medium to full-bodied palate features the most amazing intensity of perfumed red, black and blue fruit flavors supported by exquisitely fine-grained tannins and seamless freshness, finishing with epic length and depth. Truly stunning.”
Jeb Dunnuck 99 points “A more exuberant, sexy wine than the 2014, yet still in the house style emphasizing elegance and purity, the 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate knocks it out of the park with its huge nose of crème de cassis, plums, Asian spices, scorched earth, tobacco leaf and graphite. This flows to a full-bodied, opulent, incredibly concentrated wine reminiscent of the 2013 on steroids. Full-bodied, with building tannin, integrated acidity, a stacked mid-palate, and a great finish, this is a tour de force in Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon from one of the greats. It has three to four decades of life ahead of it.”
And the subscriber-only pricing is the lowest listed price in the USA!
The average price is $235
Magnum Edition
Elouan Rose, Oregon 2016 1.5L ($39.95) Was $29, Now $18 rosé super-sale price, 17 magnums in stock now
“Made exclusively of Pinot Noir harvested from several parcels … a mix of Oxfordian “caillottes” and Kimmeridgian “marne”. This Rosé is made using the direct press method with the whole berries entering the pressoir. The musts ferment in temperature-controlled cuves (85%) as well as a small percentage in older barrels (15%). The fermentation occurs over three weeks. The wines is bottled in the spring of the following year.”–Importer Notes
Importer note “The always-warm and inviting Genovesi clan expressed justifiable enthusiasm over their 2017 Cassis Rose—a wine of painfully low production (Bagnol suffered over a 50% crop loss in ’17 due to hydric stress and early-spring frost, the second severely compromised harvest in a row here quantity-wise) but vigorous character. Always among the most coveted of our roses, this vintage is even more blatantly saline than usual, with a sense of dense power lurking below the unabashedly pretty candied strawberry and quinine-inflected freshness. The finish really announces the vintage’s concentration, with a high-toned drive and a sense of mineral-driven solidity.”
Now it’s even lower!
The next best price is $69.99
Wine Advocate 92 points “Beautiful as always, the 2016 Saint Drezery Prestige Rose offers clean, crisp notes of white peach, strawberries and hints of flowers. It’s a terrific, medium-bodied, elegant beauty to buy by the case.”
A classic bright rosé.
Marc Plouzeau Chinon Rive Gauche Rose, Loire 2017 750ML ($17.95) Was $14, Now $11.90 rosé super-sale price, 36+ bottles in stock now
Josh Raynolds 90 points “Light, bright orange. Vibrant, mineral-accented aromas of fresh red berries, orange pith and rose oil on the tightly focused nose. Dry and nervy in the mouth, offering lively strawberry, cherry and citrus zest flavors that show very good clarity and minerally cut. Closes brisk and long, with resonating floral and red fruit notes and a hint of succulent herbs.”
VinopolNote “While Chinon is best known for its lovely, savory bistro reds, a few producers make dynamite rosé from the AOC as well. Plouzeau is one of those that makes excellent rosé, and the 2017 version just landed. As a red, some don’t love Chinon because of its herbal, savory streak, but that’s tempered in rosé form, turning into a lovely background note of thyme or rosemary to complement the bright juicy fruit. This is dry and crisp—and more importantly budget friendly.”
The average price is $16
Chateau Carignan L’Orangerie De Carignan Rose, Premieres Cotes de Bordeaux 2017 ($17.95) Was $14, Now $11.90 rosé super-sale price, 36+ bottles in stock now
Winery note “50% Merlot, 50% Cabernet Sauvignon. A salmon pink color.The nose is a subtle bouquet of flowers and red fruits.On the palate, it is a lively wine, refreshing, delicate and well balanced with a very pleasant finish.”
“Soft and easy, with modest peach and white raspberry fruit flavors. Rounded finish. Drink now.” -Wine Spectator
Domaine Saint Damien Gigondas Rose, Rhone 2017 750ML ($27.95) Was $24, Now $21.90 rosé super-sale price, 25 bottles in stock now
Josh Raynolds – Vinous 91 points “Limpid orange. Incisive orange pith and red currant aromas are complemented by building herb and floral accents. Silky and round on the palate, offering intense red berry and blood orange flavors firmed by a jolt of bitter cherry pit. Finishes with strong authority, echoing the orange and floral notes.”
Wine Advocate 90 points “Mainly Cinsault (70%) from 80-year-old vines (the balance is split between Grenache and Mourvèdre), the 2017 Gigondas Rose is a medium-bodied wine that captures much of that variety’s elusive fruit and spice character. Hints of melon and redcurrant pick up notes of dried, savory spice on the finish.”
Domaine de la Janasse Cotes du Rhone Rose, Rhone 2016 750ML ($19.95) Was $16, Now $11.90 rosé super-sale price, 36+ bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 90 points “Made in a more Tavel than Côtes du Rhône style, the raspberry colored 2016 Côtes du Rhône Rose offers lots of strawberry fruit, medium-bodied richness, a supple, textured style and clean finish. It too has the freshness and purity to handle a summer day, but will also shine on the dinner table.”
Importer notes “The Côtes-du-Rhône Rosé from Domaine de la Janasse is made by bleeding the tanks and vats of the Côtes-du-Rhône Rouge. It is a blend of mainly Grenache, with Cinsault, Syrah and Counoise. After the wine is bled, it finished fermentation and aging in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks.”
Domaine Les Grands Bois Cotes du Rhone Cuvee Les Trois Soeurs Rose 2017 750ML ($14.95) Was $11.90, Now $9.90 rosé super-sale price, 32 bottles in stock now
Josh Raynolds – Vinous 89 points “Limpid orange-pink. Ripe strawberry and tangerine and a subtle floral note on the fragrant nose and in the mouth. In a fleshy, smooth style but shows good energy and lift as well. Finishes with repeating florality and good, red-fruit-driven persistence.”
Now it’s even lower!
The next best price is $13.99
Stunning Rioja
Arriving in November
“The wine that won my heart”
Finca La Emperatriz Cepas Viejas Garnacha, Rioja DOCa 2014 750ML ($39.95) $33 pre-arrival special
James Suckling 95 points “An intensely herbal and floral nose displaying raspberries, cherries and hints of cloves. Mint, too. Medium body, ripe and juicy tannins and a very long, citrusy and savory finish. Made from vines over 65 years old. A wine that boasts superb finesse and style. Drink or hold.”
Luis Gutierrez-Wine Advocate 93 points “The wine that won my heart this time was without a doubt the 2014 Finca la Emperatriz Garnacha Cepas Viejas. This wine is sourced from the Rioja Alta subzone, not quite the classical Garnacha place, from the only old-vine Garnacha plot they have in the estate. It displays a captivating nose of sweet Garnacha fruit akin to cherries in liqueur, but keeping the freshness in a coolish vintage like 2014. The uncrushed grapes fermented in open-top stainless steel vats and 500-liter oak barrels with indigenous yeasts after five days of pre-fermentative maceration, and it matured in 500-liter oak barrels for ten months. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins, delicious fresh flavors and very good length, ending with a tasty, almost salty note. 8,966 bottles and a bunch of magnums were produced and filled in November 2014.”
Weingut Joh. Jos. Prüm
Newly Reviewed 2017 JJ Prum Wines Arriving in March 2019
Joh. Jos. Prum Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Auslese Goldkapsel, Mosel 2017 750ML ($149.95) $119 pre-arrival special
Joh. Jos. Prum Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Auslese Goldkapsel, Mosel 2017 375ML ($69.95) $59 pre-arrival special
Mosel Fine Wines 95 points “This 2017er Graacher Himmelreich Auslese GK displays a gorgeous and multi-layered nose mixing vineyard peach, honey and almond cream with fresher elements including minty herbs, smoke and spices. Despite being hugely complex, the wine remains magnificently light and airy at all time on the palate. The finish is deeply layered and vibrating. This is a classic JJ Prüm Auslese GK in the making! 2032-2067.”
Joh. Jos. Prum Bernkasteler Lay Riesling Auslese Lange Goldkapsel, Mosel 2017 375ML ($119.95) $99 pre-arrival special
Mosel Fine Wines 94 points “The 2017er Bernkasteler Lay Auslese lange GK delivers an almost exuberant nose (at least f or Joh. Jos. Prüm standards) of mango, ripe pineapple, acacia honey, caraway, gingerbread, star anise and pear puree all pepped up by a fleeting touch of volatile acidity. The wine proves lusciously generous and slightly oily on the palate driven by flavors of almond paste, candied exotic fruits and honey. This small BA in the making is quite impressive. 2027-2057.”
Joh. Jos. Prum Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Auslese, Mosel 2017 375ML ($39.95) $33 pre-arrival special
Mosel Fine Wines 94 points “This 2017er Graacher Himmelreich Auslese immediately captures one’s attention through the complex yet refreshing side of its nose made of smoke, herbs, grilled citrus, yellow peach and grass. The wine is breathtakingly pure on the delicately creamy palate, where yellow peach and some almond cream add depth to the experience. The finish is superbly crisp, pure and vibrating. This is a delightfully zesty Auslese in the making. 2027-2047.”
This is the only listing in the USA today for the 375ml!
Mosel Fine Wines 93 points “This 2017er Wehlener Sonnenuhr Spätlese displays a beautiful nose of white peach, flowers, tangerine, almond paste, spices and a hint of apricot. The wine is beautifully playful thanks to some zesty and herbal acidity on the palate. The zesty side takes over the structure of the wine in the finish and makes for a remarkable crisp after-taste. This is in need of cellaring (at least a decade) in order to develop its full complexity and smoothen at the edges. 2027-2047.”
Joh. Jos. Prum Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese, Mosel 2017 750ML ($69.95) $59 pre-arrival special
Joh. Jos. Prum Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese, Mosel 2017 375ML ($41.95) $33 pre-arrival special
Joh. Jos. Prum Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese, Mosel 2017 1.5L ($149.95) $119 pre-arrival special
Mosel Fine Wines 92+ points “This 2017er Wehlener Sonnenuhr Auslese is almost non-saying at first and only timidly delivers scents of vineyard peach, grapefruit, pear puree, spices and gingerbread. The wine is delightfully playful and delicately sweet on the palate, where almond cream, peach and candied melon make for a smooth and round feeling. A fresher side underpinned by some zesty grapefruit comes through in the finish and after -taste. This Auslese will test the patience of wine lovers, yet reward those with the patience to wait: This is a great Auslese in the making, and one which has quite some upside potential if it freshens up with time. 2032-2047.”
Joh. Jos. Prum Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Spatlese, Mosel 2017 1.5L ($99.95) $89 pre-arrival special
Mosel Fine Wines 92 points “This 2017er Graacher Himmelreich Spätlese is driven by reductive notes of smoke and f ire stone at first. It develops more complex elements driven by notes of spices, lime, herbs and dill after some airing. The wine proves delicate smooth, juicy and light on the palate and leaves one with a smooth and round sensation in the finish. The after-taste is all about smoke, kiwi and white peach wrapped into some sweetness which still needs integrate. This smooth version of Graacher Himmelreich will need a few years to absorb its sweeter side and develop its inner balance. 2027-2042.”
This is the only listing in the USA today for the magnum!
Joh. Jos. Prum Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese Goldkapsel, Mosel 2017 375ML ($89.95) $69 pre-arrival special
Mosel Fine Wines 92 points “This 2017er Wehlener Sonnenuhr Auslese GK starts off with a whiff of volatile acidity, which peps up the rather rich and ripe scents of apricot, mango, honey, smoke, ginger cake and spices. The wine is superbly playful on the palate but still on the sweet side in the finish. A good acidic structure runs through the finish and gives it grip and crispness. 2027-2047.”
Joh. Jos. Prum Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Kabinett, Mosel 2017 750ML ($49.95) $45 pre-arrival special
Mosel Fine Wines 92 points “This 2017er Wehlener Sonnenuhr Kabinett offers a superbly floral nose complemented by vineyard peach, almond cream, smoke, minty herbs, pear and cassis. The wine is delicate, floral and elegantly smooth on the palate yet develops a gorgeously focused and very persistent side full of intensity and complexity in the straight and multi-layered finish. This is a great Kabinett in the making. 2027-2037.”
Joh. Jos. Prum Bernkasteler Badstube Riesling Auslese, Mosel 2017 750ML ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival special
Mosel Fine Wines 91 points “This 2017er Bernkasteler Badstube Auslese gradually reveals a quite attractive and ripe nose of quince, yellow peach, pineapple, Muscat and grapefruit, wrapped into a touch of apricot and volatile acidity. The wine proves nicely juicy and fruity as yellow peach, pear and melon drive the flavors on the palate. This sweet and smooth Badstube Auslese proves quite direct and ripe. It should provide outstanding pleasure on the medium term. 2025-2037.”
Joh. Jos. Prum Bernkasteler Badstube Riesling Spatlese, Mosel 2017 750ML ($49.95) $39 pre-arrival special
Mosel Fine Wines 91 points “This 2017er Bernkasteler Badstube Spätlese is slightly reductive at first, but is quick to reveal a really refreshing, cool and appealing nose of herbs, lemongrass, smoke, grapefruit zest and laurel. The wine has the creamy and juicy presence of an Auslese (certainly by Joh. Jos. Prüm standards) on the palate, w here almond paste and some coconut cream drive the flavors. The finish is superbly juicy, light and very charming, even if only medium-long at this stage. 2025-2037.”
Joh. Jos. Prum Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Kabinett, Mosel 2017 750ML ($39.95) $33 pre-arrival special
Joh. Jos. Prum Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Kabinett, Mosel 2017 1.5L ($89.95) $69 pre-arrival special
Mosel Fine Wines 89+ points “This 2017er Graacher Himmelreich Kabinett is still quite marked by residual scents from its spontaneous fermentation. It then gradually reveals its nose made of herbs, green apple, white peach and mint. The wine proves very light and delicate on the transparent yet quite lean palate. The medium long and of f-dry finish is straight, zesty and crisp. This Kabinett is as light as water and there is just a touch of ripeness coming through in the after-taste which gives the wine a slightly bigger side. There is ample upside if it manages to harness the power at maturity. 2024-2032+.”
dry collection ever), producing a dazzling set of dry Riesling which will appeal to the heart of lovers of elegance, presence and finesse.” – Mosel Fine Wines
Arriving in December
Weingut Donnhoff Niederhauser Hermannshohle Riesling Grosses Gewachs, Nahe 2017 750ML ($119.95) $99 pre-arrival special
Mosel Fine Wines 96 points “The 2017er Niederhäuser Hermannshöhle GG delivers a breathtaking nose made of zesty fruits such as grapefruit, lime, yuzu and tangerine peel as well as spices, aniseed herbs and refreshing minty elements. The wine starts off on the fruity side on the palate but quickly gains in focus and intensity as glorious smoky and zesty flavors kick in. These lead one seamlessly to a hugely long, intense finish full of mineral and salty elements. This is a stunning dry Riesling in the making! 2027-2047.”
Weingut Donnhoff Norheimer Dellchen Riesling Grosses Gewachs, Nahe 2017 1.5L ($219.95) $189 pre-arrival special
Mosel Fine Wines 95 points “The 2017er Norheimer Dellchen GG exhibits a superbly aromatic and fruit-driven nose of pineapple, grapefruit, apple, grape juice and lime, all wrapped into smoke and anise. The nose gains even in finesse and presence with further airing. The wine has great presence and focus on the palate, w here spices and delicately herbal notes give a great refreshing side to this playful dry Riesling. The finish is pure, gorgeously long and driven by lime. This is a classic in the making. 2025-2042.”
Donnhoff Felsenberg Riesling Grosses Gewachs, Nahe 2017 750ML ($69.95) $55 pre-arrival special
Donnhoff Felsenberg Riesling Grosses Gewachs, Nahe 2017 1.5L ($189.95) $159 pre-arrival special
Mosel Fine Wines 95 points “This 2017er Schlossböckelheimer Felsenberg GG, referred internally at the Estate as Felsentürmchen (there is a tower depicted on the label), delivers a beautifully restrained and delicate nose of may tree, quince, orange blossom, a hint of fennel and coconut, all wrapped into smoke and aniseed herbs. The wine proves superbly zesty and focused on the palate, where it gradually gains in weight and presence. Yet the finish is also quite pure and zesty and tastes fully dry. The after-taste is all about gooseberry, yuzu and smoke. This racy Riesling will need a couple of years to develop its full complexity, but the underlying material is already breathtakingly good. 2027-2047.”
The next best price is $69
Weingut Donnhoff Krotenpfuhl Riesling Grosses Gewachs, Nahe 2017 1.5L ($179.95) $149 pre-arrival special
Mosel Fine Wines 93 points “The 2017er Bad Kreuznacher Krötenpfuhl GG delivers a spicy and minty nose of ripe fruits including pear, apple, prune and grapefruit. But it is on the palate that this wine really shines, combining energy and finesse with beautifully f lowery and grapefruit driven elements. A great salty side adds depth to the fully dry and superbly mineral after-taste. This is a great dry Riesling in the making. 2025-2037.”
The next best price is $64.99
This is the only listing in the USA today for the magnum!
Arriving ETA March 2019:
Okonomierat Rebholz Birkweiler Kastanienbusch Riesling Grosses Gewachs, Pfalz 2017 750ML ($99.95) $69 pre-arrival special
Mosel Fine Wines 93 points “This 2017er Birkweiler Kastanienbusch GG offers a beautiful nose of pear, quince, grapefruit zest and aniseed herbs. The wine proves still rather backward on the palate where shy but beautifully focused flavors of spices and minerals are lifted up by some nicely ripe but tickly acidity. The finish is beautifully tart and fully dry. 2022-2037.”
Mosel Fine Wines 92 points “The 2017er Siebeldinger im Sonnenschein Ganz Horn GG offers a beautiful nose of ripe pear, chalky minerals, earth spices and some smoky elements. The wine does not come over as bone-dry on the palate but makes more than up for this through gorgeously mineral and smoky elements in the precise and delicately zesty finish. 2022-2037.”
Mosel Fine Wines 97 points “This 2017er Bockenauer Felseneck GG delivers a gloriously reductive nose of grapefruit zest, grilled pineapple, minty herbs, nettle, yuzu, lime tree and orchard fruits, all wrapped into residual scents of spontaneous fermentation, bacon, smoke and spices. The wine is beautifully focused on the palate, where ripe fruits are perfectly framed by minty herbs, grapefruit zest and ginger -driven spices. The finish is stunningly long, salty and herbal. There is still a hint of tartness in need of integration. With airing, the wine gains in density and shows huge presence and even a touch of power, without ever being hot. This is a magical dry Riesling in the making! 2027-2047.”
The next best price is $99
Mosel Fine Wines 94 points “This 2017er Monzinger Halenberg GG is still marked by some residual scents from its spontaneous fermentation. These give however quickly way to delicate scents of almond cream, white flowers, yellow peach, mirabelle and pear. The wine is all about beautiful flavors of gingery spices and grapefruit acidity on the creamy palate. The finish is superbly long and focused, and the after -taste is nicely dry. This is a refined and elegant dry Riesling. 2024-2037.”
Arriving ETA November:
Weingut Carl Loewen ‘1896’ Longuicher Maximiner Herrenberg Riesling, Mosel 2017 750ML ($99.95) $79 pre-arrival special
Mosel Fine Wines 95 points “The 2017er Riesling “1896” comes from century-old un-grafted vines (planted in 1896) in the Longuicher Maximiner Herrenberg using traditional winemaking methods dating back to the 1900s and was fermented down to 12.5 g/l of residual sugar. It proves comparatively reduced and only gradually reveals a gorgeous nose made of grapefruit, greengage, herbs and fine spices. The wine is beautifully focused but also remarkably intense on the palate loaded with ripe fruits, a hint of camphor and plenty of minerals. It leaves one with a smooth and complex feel in the mineral and slate-infused finish. This is intense and even bold but remains utterly focused right into the after-taste. It only needs a few years of bottle aging in order for the hint of sweetness to melt into the wine. It will then prove a stunning piece of dry-tasting wine: What a huge success! 2022-2032.”
Mosel Fine Wines 94 points “The 2017er Longuicher Maximiner Herrenberg GG was fermented with ambient yeasts in traditional Fuder casks from fruit harvested on over 100 year-old un-grafted vines. The wine proves still rather reduced at first but develops some attractive even if comparatively ripe scents of mirabelle, herbs, oregano and creamy elements, all wrapped into a whiff of volatile acidity. After some extensive airing, the wine shows a much fresher side, where grapefruit, cassis, herbs and floral elements make for a stunning experience. The wine is smooth and complex on the palate and leaves a rewarding feel in the long and creamy finish. A good kick of zest lifts the after -taste. There really needs a lot of airing (and we talk days rather than hours) before revealing the goods but, trust us, this wine is worth waiting for! 2022-2037.”
Mosel Fine Wines 93 points “The 2017er Longuicher Maximiner Herrenberg Trocken “1896” Alte Reben is a dry Riesling made from century-old un-grafted vines (planted in 1896) in a plot at the lower end of the vineyard. A hint of residues from spontaneous fermentation quickly gives way to quite refined notes of white minerals, mint, yellow peach and pear. The wine significantly gains from airing and develops smoky notes of spices and herbs. It shows intensity and even a touch of power on the impeccably balanced palate, leading to a very long and mineral-infused finish. This beautiful wine, made in a slightly more powerful style than in recent vintages, proves no less impressive. It is utterly pure and refined. 2022-2032.”
Mosel Fine Wines 93 points “The 2017er Thörnicher Ritsch GG was fermented with ambient yeasts in traditional Fuder casks from fruit harvested on 60 year-old and partially ungrafted vines. This offers a rather ripe and delicately ample nose made of lemon, pear, starfruit, whipped cream, Provence herbs and fine spices. The wine is nicely playful and elegant on the zesty palate and leaves an intense and mouthwatering feel of herbs and ripe lemon in the long and lingering finish. This is a stunningly stylish dry Riesling in the making. 2022-2037.”
Mosel Fine Wines 92 points “The 2017er Leiw ener Laurentiuslay Trocken Alte Reben comes from pre-World War I un-grafted vines in the steep hill part of the vineyard. It offers a delicately creamy yet also f lowery nose made of almond, white peach, vanilla pod, plum and pear, all w rapped into some smoky slate. The wine starts off on the zesty side on the palate before it develops more presence as juicy notes of grapefruit, pear, cassis and herbs come through. The finish is full of presence, intense and powerful yet also remarkably playful and zesty. The after-taste is intense and leaves one with plenty of powerful yet beautiful flavors of minerals and herbs. This is a stunning expression of dry Leiwener Laurentiuslay in the making. 2022-2032.”
Carl von Schubert Maximin Grunhauser Abtsberg Riesling Grosses Gewachs, Mosel 2017 750ML ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival special
Carl von Schubert Maximin Grunhauser Abtsberg Riesling Grosses Gewachs, Mosel 2017 1.5L ($119.95) $99 pre-arrival special
Mosel Fine Wines 93 points “The 2017er Maximin Grünhäuser Abtsberg GG was made from fruit harvested at approx. 90° Oechsle. The wine develops a gorgeous nose of cassis, spices and herbs. It proves remarkably precise and full of presence on the palate and leaves a still firm and assertive feel in the finish. This lively GG is full of promise. 2022-2037.”