New Week – New Rosé Arrivals
The Genius of Pax Mahle
First Offer: 2016 Dagueneau
A Legend of Champagne – ’08 Winston Churchill
New Natural Wine Arrivals
A Return to Greatness: Paolo Scavino’s 2015’s
First Offer: 2016 Vieux Telegraphe
West Coast Case Buys for Your Outdoor Fun!
New Vintage, Same Classic Rosado
The Unmistakable Corton Charlemagne
A Scandal in Classico
The May Sale Comes to a Close
New Week – New Rosé Arrivals
Deltetto Nebbiolo Rose, Piedmont 2018 750ML ($19.95) $16 special
Fougeray de Beauclair Marsannay Rose, Cote de Nuits 2018 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 special
Pascal et Nicolas Reverdy Sancerre Terre de Maimbray Rose, Loire 2018 750ML ($27.95) $24 special
Case-12 Pascal et Nicolas Reverdy Sancerre Terre de Maimbray Rose, Loire 2018 750ML ($299.95) $249 special (that’s only $20.75/bottle—the lowest listed price in the USA today!)
Classic Cotes du Rhone rosé. Fresh and dry.
Domaine Les Grands Bois Cotes du Rhone Cuvee Les Trois Soeurs Rose 2018 750ML ($14.95) $11.90 special
M Plouzeau Chinon Rive Gauche Rose, Loire 2018 750ML ($17.95) $14.40 special
Case-12 M Plouzeau Chinon Rive Gauche Rose, Loire 2018 750ML ($199.95) $149 special (that’s only $12.42/bottle!)
Roger et Didier Raimbault Sancerre, Loire 2018 750ML ($27.95) $24 special
Case-12 Roger et Didier Raimbault Sancerre, Loire 2018 750ML ($299.95) $249 special (that’s only $20.75/bottle!)
Just click here to view the full list in our web store.
Just Arrived
The Genius of Pax Mahle
He’s finally restored his namesake brand, Pax, to the market. The latest incarnation offers wines that might be described as a hybrid of the two styles that brought him to fame. Bright, refreshing and electric, these nonetheless have more richness and power than Wind Gap.
“Pax Mahle’s new releases are terrific. My impression is that a focus under just the Pax label after the sale of Wind Gap is bringing a greater sense of clarity and purpose to the wines in this lineup.” –Antonio Galloni, May 2019
Pax Mahle Griffin’s Lair Syrah, Sonoma Coast 2015 750ML ($69.95) $59 special
Antonio Galloni 95 points “One of the many highlights of this range, Pax’s 2015 Syrah Griffin’s Lair Vineyard is powerful and explosive in the glass, conveying a compelling sense of vertical energy. Dried flowers, tobacco, menthol, licorice, spice and leather add myriad shades of nuance to a beautifully delineated, expressive Syrah. This cool site in the Petaluma Gap gracefully handled the rigors of the warm vintage while yielding a wine endowed with terrific freshness and structure.”
Pax Mahle Castelli-Knight Ranch Syrah, Russian River Valley 2015 750ML ($69.95) $59 special
Antonio Galloni 93 points “The 2015 Syrah Castelli-Knight Ranch is sensual, open-knit and quite inviting. Blood orange, star anise and spice add gorgeous aromatic nuance to the rich, layered fruit. Ample, silky and creamy, the 2015 is a real pleasure to taste today. The combination of a north-facing site with a warm microclimate yields a wonderfully complete and nuanced wine. All the elements simply fall into place in a refined, gracious Syrah that will drink well upon release.”
Pax Mahle North Coast Syrah 2017 750ML ($41.95) $33 special
Antonio Galloni 92 points “The 2017 Syrah (North Coast) is a new wine in the range that essentially replaces The Hermit. Ripe, open-knit and expressive, the North Coast is made in a radiant, inviting style that can be enjoyed with minimal cellaring. Moreover, it is a real overachiever, as Pax only bottled the Armagh as a vineyard-designate in 2017. Vineyard sites in the North Coast Syrah are Nellessen Vineyard, Castelli-Knight Ranch, Griffin’s Lair, Walker Vine Hill, Alder Springs Vineyard, Montgomery Road Ridgetop, and Majik Vineyard.”
The next best price is $37.99
Antonio Galloni 90-92 points “Another very pretty wine in this range, the 2018 Valdiguie is bright, focused and wonderfully energetic. Rose petal, lavender and sweet dark cherry all grace this exquisite, vibrant Valdiguie from Pax. The 2018 is shaping up to be a gem. I tasted it from tank just prior to bottling.”
Arriving Mid-June:
Didier Dagueneau Blanc Fume de Pouilly, Loire 2016 750ML ($99.95) $79 pre-arrival special
Didier Dagueneau Pouilly-Fume Pur Sang, Loire 2016 750ML ($149.95) $119 pre-arrival special
Didier Dagueneau Pouilly-Fume Silex, Loire 2016 750ML ($159.95) $125 pre-arrival special
The average listed price is $151
2008 Winston Churchill
#4 -Top 100 Wine Enthusiast Cellar Selections 2018
Pol Roger Cuvee Sir Winston Churchill Brut, Champagne 2008 750ML ($299.95) $259 pre-arrival special
Wine Enthusiast 100 points “One of the great Champagnes both for its richness and its longevity, this latest incarnation is superb. The wine’s richness is linked to the ripe fruit and the dominance of Pinot Noir in the blend. It also shines in the perfect balance between the texture, the minerality and the integration of the fruit. It can be enjoyed now, but it will be better from 2020 and then for many years to come.”
Wine Advocate 97 points “Released in October of last year, Pol Roger’s 2008 Cuvée Sir Winston Churchill is showing brilliantly, unfurling in the glass with a complex bouquet of waxy citrus rind, dried white flowers, freshly baked bread, iodine and honeyed yellow apple. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied, powerful and vinous, with a deep and multidimensional core, broad structural shoulders and considerable concentration, girdled by tangy acids and displaying a youthfully frothy but incipiently fine mousse. The finish is long and intense. This is a terrific rendition of this reliably superb cuvée and well worth seeking out.(WK)”
Wine Spectator 96 points “This lovely, elegant version is more about restraint and finesse than power, caressing the palate with a silky mousse and a finely woven range of ripe Asian pear, biscuit and star fruit flavors, accented by elderflower, ground ginger and almond skin notes. Lightly mouthwatering, expanding on the chalk-tinged finish. Drink now through 2033. 700 cases imported. — AN”
Azienda Agricola Arianna Occhipinti ‘Grotte Alte’, Cerasuolo di Vittoria DOCG 2014 750ML ($75.95) $66 special
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 94 points “Made with Nero d’Avola and Frappato in equal parts, this is a mature, alluring and sultry wine. The 2014 Cerasuolo di Vittoria Classico Grotte Alte is released now after having acquired extended bottle aging since the harvest four years ago. Like the monovarietal Nero d’Avola also reviewed here, this wine offers an evident balsamic character with medicinal herb, licorice and cola. I am delighted by the integrity of the bouquet in a wine that had evidently embraced its evolutionary trajectory with gusto.”
Azienda Agricola Arianna Occhipinti ‘Siccagno’ Nero d’Avola Sicilia IGT, Sicily 2016 750ML ($47.95) $37 special
Wine Advocate 91 points “Spotlighting Sicily’s most important red grape, the 2016 Nero d’Avola Siccagno offers a beautiful balsam note that transcends all that dark fruit at the core. I came back to this bottle a few hours after I had opened it, and my positive impressions were strongly reinforced. That pretty balsamic character is in line with young Nero d’Avola. Perhaps in less-refined expressions of the grape it comes off clumsily and unbalanced. Instead, this wine has harnessed the most elegant side of the grape with rosemary essence and caper flower.”
Loop De Loop Acadia Vineyard Riesling, Columbia Gorge 2018 750ML ($19.95) $16.60 special
Winery note “Fermented medium dry in stainless with natural yeast & lees contact. This organically certified vineyard sits in ashy volcanic loam and windblown loess at 1,500 feet in elevation.”
Loop De Loop White Field Blend Acadia Vineyard, Columbia Gorge 2018 750ML ($24.95) $19 special
Winery note “While in the Acadia Vineyard you may mistake your location for the Alps. Certified organic, it cultivates exceptional cool-climate grapes such as Chardonnay, Gruner Veltliner and Riesling. Perched in the Columbia Gorge, this South facing vineyard gently slopes from 1,500 feet.”
Loop De Loop Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2017 750ML ($27.95) $21.90 special
Winery note “This blend represents the northern Willamette Valley as a whole. As with all our wines it underwent spontaneous fermentation with the wild yeasts that came in on the fruit from the vineyards. It’s composed of 9 barrels which come from 3 vineyards: Symonette Vineyard in the Eola-Amity Hills, Johan Vineyard in the Van Duzer Corridor and a third is from a vineyard in the Dundee Hills.”
Importer Note “Portela do Vento comes from several south-facing parcels of Mencía and Garnacha Tintorera in the Amandi and Quiroga-Bibei subzones. The grapes were harvested by hand in late September, 80% destemmed and fermented with wild yeasts in steel vats, and raised for 9 months in used 500 liter French barrels. This is Laura’s “glou-glou” wine that she loves to share with her American friends. Fresh and easy-drinking, it is very versatile with a wide variety of foods…or straight from the porrón! “
Paolo Scavino’s 2015’s
Paolo Scavino is once again one of the top producers in Barolo. At one point, Scavino was considered one of the preeminent producers of modernist Barolo, favoring barriques, exceptionally short macerations and a style that emphasized winemaking over terroir. These days, though, they’ve shed their overtly modernist ways (and dropped de Grazia as an importer), moving their style towards a more traditional approach.
While you aren’t going to confuse them with Mascarello or Burlotto, the current incarnation of Scavino seems to combine some of the best parts of modernism (i.e., approachable wines with rich fruit and sensual textures) with a more traditional sensibility in regards to terroir and oak flavors. 2015 was a very strong year in Barolo and Scavino made some of the best wines we’ve tasted from the house. Everything from the Nebbiolo on up is worth buying and cellaring and we’d strongly urge you to do both.
Arriving in June:
Paolo Scavino Langhe Nebbiolo, Piedmont 2017 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 pre-arrival special
Importer note “Intentionally made and farmed from the start to become Langhe Nebbiolo, this fruit is sourced from 2 Barolo crus in La Morra: Bricco Manescotto & Annunziata. A short & cool vinification in stainless is followed by 10 months in neutral oak.”
Arriving ETA September:
Paolo Scavino Barolo DOCG, Piedmont 2015 750ML ($49.95) $39 pre-arrival special
Importer note “A selection of the best casks from 7 single vineyards in the villages of Castiglione Falletto (Rocche Moriondino, Vignolo and Pernanno vineyards), Barolo (Albarella, Terlo & Vignane vineyards) and Serralunge d’Albe (San Bernardo vineyard).”
Paolo Scavino Bricco Ambrogio, Barolo DOCG 2015 750ML ($69.95) $59 pre-arrival special
Importer note “The only single cru from the Roddi village dedicated to Nebbiolo for Barolo production. Made for the first time in 2002 and almost a monopole. A geeky Barolo cru to show and explore. Perfumed, generous in its expression and soft texture.”
Paolo Scavino Carobric, Barolo DOCG 2015 750ML ($79.95) $69 pre-arrival special
Importer note “A three vineyard super blend of primarily Rocche di Castiglione with smaller amounts of Fiasco and Cannubi.”
Paolo Scavino Monvigliero, Barolo DOCG 2015 750ML ($79.95) $69 pre-arrival special
Importer note “A Grand Cru from Verduno village first produced by Scavino in the 2007 vintage. The Northern most commune in Barolo, this vineyard has a very special microclimate: warm during the day and cold at night thanks to the cooling breezes coming off the Tanaro River. Always elegant and focused with great tension.”
Paolo Scavino Prapo, Barolo DOCG 2015 750ML ($79.95) $69 pre-arrival special
Importer note “The debut release from a .78 hectare parcel acquired in 2008. Surrounded by other vines, this plot had been uncultivated for years, so after working the soil, Scavino let it rest for nearly two years before replanting to massal selections. A steep, hilltop vineyard exposed south-southeast that tops out at 370 meters in elevation, it has yellow and red sandy soils layered with silty gray marls…classic Serravallian soils.”
Paolo Scavino Ravera, Barolo DOCG 2015 750ML ($79.95) $69 pre-arrival special
Importer note “Another debut release, Scavino acquired 3 adjacent parcels totaling 2.69 hectares before the start of the 2015 growing season. A very cool site, these east facing vines planted in loose white marls are the highest amongst all of Scavino’s holdings, reaching 430 meters, and consequently the last of the estate’s crus to be harvested.”
Paolo Scavino Bric del Fiasc, Barolo DOCG 2015 750ML ($99.95) $89 pre-arrival special
Importer note “Produced from the best exposure at the top of the Fiasco Cru, this wine was first bottled as a single vineyard in 1978. Owned and farmed by the Scavino family since 1921, this vineyard demonstrates the classic Castiglion Falletto combination of elegance and power, with a density of fruit and vibrant, refined tannins.”
It’s no secret that 2016 is considered a landmark vintage in the Rhone. Across all appellations, the vintage was warm, trouble free and resulted in powerful wines with great density and impressive aromatics. Vieux Telegraphe made wines that recalled their 2007 and 2001 bottlings—ageworthy, powerful Chateauneuf du Pape that will go down as historic bottlings. We just secured our allocation of the ’16’s, arriving next week, and would urge any lovers of the Rhone to stock up.
Arriving June 6th:
Domaine du Vieux Telegraphe Chateauneuf-du-Pape La Crau, Rhone 2016 750ML ($89.95) $79 pre-arrival special
Domaine du Vieux Telegraphe Chateauneuf-du-Pape La Crau, Rhone 2016 375ML ($51.95) $44 pre-arrival special
Domaine du Vieux Telegraphe Chateauneuf-du-Pape La Crau, Rhone 2016 1.5L ($199.95) $179 pre-arrival special
Domaine du Vieux Telegraphe Chateauneuf-du-Pape La Crau, Rhone 2016 3L ($499.95) $399 pre-arrival special
James Suckling 98 points “Impressive, complex array of wild cherries, raspberries, garrigue herbs, lightly spiced pastry and stony, chalky minerals. Super-fresh florals. The palate has superb texture, roundness, completeness, depth and detail. Powerful yet elegant with powdery tannins and essence-like red fruit. Super-fleshy, supple and dense core, then strong at the edges. Layer upon layer peels away on the finish. Resounding finesse and equilibrium, showing the full potential of the plateau La Crau. Drink or hold.
Wine Advocate 96 points “Undoubtedly one of the top vintages of this wine, the 2016 Chateauneuf du Pape La Crau features classy notes of crushed stones and black tea to go along with ripe raspberries and black cherries. Full-bodied yet silky, there’s more power and richness in La Crau than in Piedlong, yet there’s commensurate elegance and finesse. The wine grows in intensity on the finish without ever seeming heavy or overripe, instead offering hints of tea and licorice.”
In Stock Now:
Case-12 RouteStock Cellars ‘Route 121’ Chardonnay, Carneros 2017 750ML ($249.95) $185 special (that’s only $15.42/bottle!)
RouteStock Cellars ‘Route 121’ Chardonnay, Carneros 2017 750ML ($19.95) $17 special
Wine Enthusiast 92 points “Editor’s Choice. This is such a lovely white wine, priced attractively, which delivers a heady entry of honey and caramelized oak. Juicy acidity lifts bold flavors of lemon meringue, green apple and tangerine, finishing with a balanced weight and intrigue of nutmeg.”
Case-12 Wildstock Pinot Noir, Willamette Valey 2014 750ML ($219.95) $119 special (that’s only $9.92/bottle!)
Wildstock Pinot Noir, Willamette Valey 2014 750ML ($19.95) $11.90 special
“Light red. Fresh and energetic on the nose, displaying red berry and cherry aromas that betray a bit of jamminess. Sweet raspberry and floral pastille flavors of modest concentration, plus a hint of spiciness adding back end cut. Closes clean and smooth, showing decent persistence and repeating red fruit character.”-Josh Raynolds, Vinous
Wildstock Pinot Blanc, Willamette Valley 2014 750ML ($19.95) $11.90 special
Wine Enthusiast “Freshness is the calling card here. This wine is so crystalline-clear with palate-cleansing minerality that it’s irresistible. Green apples and light citrus flavors combine in a stylish effort made for near-term enjoyment.”
Cameron Winery ‘Dundee Hills’ Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills 2017 750ML ($29.95) $27 special
Notes from John Paul: 12.6% alcohol. The 2017 vintage is a classic and high-toned. This is 60% Abbey Ridge fruit, which really shows on the nose with floral and cherry notes. You pick up the influence of Clos Electrique on the palate.
VinopolNote: What more could you ask for from a Dundee Hills AVA-level Pinot Noir? Pure joy.
Case-12 Cameron Winery ‘Ribbon Ridge’ Pinot Noir, Ribbon Ridge 2017 750ML ($299.95) $259 special (that’s only $21.58/bottle!)
Cameron Winery ‘Ribbon Ridge’ Pinot Noir, Ribbon Ridge 2017 750ML ($27.95) $24 special
Case-12 Goodfellow Family Cellars Syrah – Viognier, Willamette Valley 2014 750ML ($269.95) $169 special (that’s only $14.08/bottle!)
VinopolNote “This is one of the most stupendous values ever to come out of Oregon—a wine that’s unlike anything you’d expect but is completely delicious and joyous in its own idiom. This is a Syrah, from the Willamette Valley in a warm vintage, that drinks like some cross between the Northern Rhone and non-Carbonic Beaujolais. 2014 was a hot year in Oregon and given Marcus’ track record, you’d expect a powerful wine with big body and personality, but he picked early for freshness—and this wine is nothing if it’s not bright and fresh. The best comparison might be Herve Souhaut’s cult-classic Syrahs, with their airy personalities and bright flavors, but if you told us the wine was secretly Stellenbosch Mondeuse, we’d believe you. It’s not as serious as most of his Syrah, but the price isn’t either—this is a wine you can buy and drink by the case.”
Scott Paul D122 Pinot Noir, Ribbon Ridge 2014 750ML ($39.95) $24 special
Wine Spectator 90 points “Light-footed, with dark berry, cherry and floral flavors on a taut frame, finishing with presence and tension, revealing a hint of lemon peel. Drink now through 2021. 144 cases made.”
Winery note “$60. Intensely violet in color. The brooding nose is balanced between notes of strawberry jam, cranberries and dried herbs. The salinity on the palate gives way to a big, lush, long silkiness on the palate. Harvest 2014 was an Oregon winemaker’s dream vintage: almost too magical and perfect to be true. The warmer-than-normal start to the growing season persisted through the fall and ultimately led to an early harvest throughout the Willamette Valley. We began picking on September 18th at Nysa Vineyard and wrapped up on September 26th at Maresh vineyard. Thanks to the warm and dry fall, we had the luxury of picking our fruit at a leisurely pace. The first fruit arrived ripe and delicious, full of freshness, and with just the right amount of acidity. Each successive day brought us more of the same.”
Scott Paul Nysa Vineyard Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills 2015 750ML ($59.95) $24 special
Wine Enthusiast 92 points “The famous vineyard is showing well here. Winemaker Ian Burch has a fine ability to provide a distinct focus for each of the winery’s single vineyard selections. This bottling is refined, with an intriguing mix of flavors, from grapefruit and Bing cherry, to chicken broth and milk chocolate. As odd as it sounds, it all knits together quite well.”
Case-12 Scott Paul ‘Azana’ Pinot Noir, Chehalem Mountains 2013 750ML ($299.95) $249 special (that’s only $20.75/bottle!)
Josh Raynolds 92 points “Brilliant red. Fresh red berries, cherry compote and a hint of blood orange on the highly perfumed nose and in the mouth. Juicy and lithe in character, with no rough edges; a suave floral pastille nuance emerges on the back half. Shows excellent clarity and spicy cut on the finish, which hangs on with strong, floral tenacity.”
Case-12 B. Leighton Olsen’s Brothers Vineyard Syrah, Yakima Valley 2016 750ML ($599.95) $479 special (that’s only $39.92/bottle!)
Jeb Dunnuck 96 points “The 2016 Syrah comes from a site in the Yakima Valley that was planted by Leighton. Its deep ruby/purple color is followed by classic Syrah notes of dark berry fruits, smoke tobacco, olive tapenade, and ground pepper. Medium to full-bodied, with both freshness and richness, it’s impeccably balanced, with beautiful fruit and a great finish. It’s another seriously good wine from Brennon that delivers the goods. Drink it over the coming 7-8 years.”
Stephen Tanzer 93 points “(from the Phelps clone of Syrah, which was brought up to Red Willow vineyard by David Lake in 1986): Bright, dark red. Sexy scents of raspberry, brown spices, black pepper and flowers are Côte-Rôtie-like in their soil-driven wildness. Tight and savory on the palate, with juicy dark berry and spice flavors showing terrific inner-mouth definition and energy. The firmly tannic finish features a note of roasted nuts and excellent rising length. Just 10% new oak here. Superb.”
Case-12 RouteStock Cellars ‘Route 29’ Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2016 750ML ($299.95) $239 special (that’s only $19.92/bottle!)
RouteStock Cellars ‘Route 29’ Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2016 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 special
James Suckling 89 points “Rich and rather sweet with lots of black-plum character and some toasty oak. This full-bodied red is easy to enjoy, because it’s got a rather silky texture and doesn’t come off as heavy. Drink now.”
Arriving Friday
Bodegas Muga Rosado, Rioja DOCa 2018 750ML ($19.95) $16 pre-arrival special
Case-12 Bodegas Muga Rosado, Rioja DOCa 2018 750ML ($219.95) $175 pre-arrival special (that’s only $14.58/bottle!)
The Unmistakable Corton Charlemagne
When they’re on, only the Grand Crus of Montrachet and its satellites rival top-tier Corton-Charlemagne. In the hands of a producer like Coche, there’s not a more desirable wine in Burgundy and even more affordable examples offer intense white Burgundy experiences. We’ve secured three top examples (in extremely limited quantities, unfortunately) that arrive over the next several months. All hail from the lovely 2016 and ’17 vintages and show the classic minerality and detail of the best wines from the hill. Lovers of Burgundy would do well to lock these in now.
Arriving in June
Louis Jadot Domaine des Heritiers Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru 2016 750ML ($249.95) $219 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 93-95 points “The 2016 Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru was a normal crop this year since the hillside was not affected by frost. It had quite a strict and laconic bouquet at first that demanded rigorous swirling, eventually revealing attractive cold wet limestone and apple blossom notes (I might have mistook it for a Bâtard-Montrachet if blind!). The palate is very well balanced with a fine bead of acidity, plenty of sappiness here with a detailed, lightly spiced finish that lingers in the mouth. This is one of my favorite whites from Jadot in 2016.”
Decanter 93 points “This is quite ripe and expressive this year, offering up aromas of yellow orchard fruit, preserved citrus, crème pâtissière and toasted nuts. On the palate the wine is ample, full-bodied and powerful, with some chalky grip on the finish, a generous core of rich, succulent fruit, and good concentration. This seems set to drink well shortly after release. Drinking Window 2019 – 2028.”
Burghound 92-94 points “Like the Montrachet, this is strongly reduced today. The well-detailed and intensely stony medium weight plus flavors possess an excellent sense of underlying tension on the saline and green apple-infused, dry and well-balanced finish. Interestingly, the mouth feel is actually finer than that of the Montrachet though whether that will be the case when these wines are fully mature is another question.”
Arriving ETA Fall:
Only 6 bottles available!
Domaine Bonneau du Martray Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru 2016 750ML ($249.95) $219 pre-arrival special
Stephen Tanzer 95 points “(production was half of normal in 2016; aged in 30% new oak and bottled at the beginning of April of this year): Pale yellow-green. High-pitched aromas of citrus peel, menthol, lavender and white pepper. Extremely tight without coming across as austere, conveying striking purity to its bracing flavors of grapefruit pith, lemon and crushed stone. Adamant minerality gives this very dense wine terrific inner-mouth tension and yet there’s an element of leavening sweetness here as well, not to mention compelling floral perfume throughout. This wonderfully smooth, rich yet weightless wine really dances on the palate, spreading out on the unflagging back end to saturate every square millimeter of the mouth. Cellarmaster Emmanuel Hautus compared this wine to the 2009 in its combination of richness, early appeal and potential longevity.”
Wine Advocate 94 points “The 2016 Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru is showing superbly from bottle, unwinding in the glass with a classy bouquet of crisp green apple, pears, almond paste, fresh pastry and Meyer lemon. On the palate, the wine is medium to full-bodied, concentrated and precise, with serious depth, tangy acidity, and chewy structuring dry extract while remaining elegantly textural. Intense and complete, it’s an immensely promising wine which augers well for Bonneau du Martray’s future.”
The average price is $278
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 93-95 points “From a single parcel in Aloxe that neighbors one of Domaine Coche-Dury’s, the 2017 Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru Quintessence de Corton-Charlemagne offers up a lovely bouquet of ripe citrus fruit, white flowers and honeycomb. It’s full-bodied, textural and massively concentrated, with a deep and layered mid-palate, succulent acids and a long, expansive finish. This expresses the ampler, more powerful side of Corton-Charlemagne and it’s one of Girardin’s finest 2017s.”
Stephen Tanzer 92-95 points “(always from the same vines in Aloxe-Corton): Bright yellow. Musky lime and crushed stone on the nose. Rich and full but penetrating as well, offering a bracing combination of acidity and crushed-stone minerality. This tactile, densely packed, lemon-limey wine shows a light touch and finishes salty, dry and very long, with terrific energy and grip. This wine needs time and should enjoy a slow and graceful evolution in bottle, but its impeccable balance should also give it early appeal. In fact, it’s downright delicious right now!”
2015 Montevertine:
Legendary Wine from a Legendary Vintage
In Stock Now:
Montevertine Le Pergole Torte Toscana IGT, Tuscany 2015 750ML ($189.95) $166 special
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 96-98 points “Tasted as a barrel sample, the 2015 Le Pergole Torte is a 100% expression of Sangiovese sourced from the estate’s oldest vines (between 30 and 50 years old). Like the other wines from Montevertine, Le Pergole Torte sees both its alcoholic and malolactic fermentations in cement, and the wine later ages in new oak barrels for 12 to 18 months depending on the vintage. After that first phase in barrique, it goes into large botte to complete its integration. This gorgeous vintage opens to a deep, dark appearance with a velvety presentation of dark fruit and black cherry flavors. The wine’s textural richness is ultimately what sets this fantastic vintage apart.”
Antonio Galloni 95-98 points “The 2015 Le Pergole Torte is explosive and powerful while showing a remarkable level of precision. Pliant and beautifully resonant, it captures all the best qualities of the year. The oak still needs time to fully assimilate. Even so, the wine’s pedigree and potential are very much in evidence today. In a word: superb.”
Also In Stock Now:
Montevertine Le Pergole Torte Toscana IGT, Tuscany 2014 750ML ($149.95) $119 special
Antonio Galloni 97 points “The flagship 2014 Le Pergole Torte possesses striking depth, nuance and pliancy, all in the midweight, slightly slender style of the vintage. Sweet red cherry, plum, cinnamon, dried flowers, mint, cinnamon and pomegranate infuse this super-expressive, sexy Pergole Torte.”
James Suckling 96 points “A transparent wine with flowers, dark fruit and citrus fruit on the nose. Full body, firm and silky tannins and a bright and fresh finish. I love the dynamic cherry and vivid floral character. Mineral, too. Bright acidity. This is one of the best wines of the 2014 vintage in Tuscany. Auguri. Drink or hold.”
In Stock Now:
Piedlong Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Rhone 2015 750ML ($59.95) Was $49, Now $41.90 May Sale Special
James Suckling 95 points “10 hectares of elevated Châteauneuf-du-Pape, this is an hommage to grenache with just a hatful of mourvèdre. Ripe raspberry and red plum pastry aromas. Super silky, plush and layered. Extremely impressive. Shows fluidity and balance, density and lightness. 50% stalks (crushed).”
The average listed price is $53
Wine Spectator 95 points “($48) Loads of chalky grip keeps this wrapped up tight, but the core of steeped plum, fig and blackberry fruit is brimming with energy, while bay leaf, licorice root and charcoal notes chomp at the bit on the finish. Cellaring will rein this in. Best from 2021 through 2035. 700 cases made.”Wine Advocate 94 points “Produced from 30-year-old vines and aged in 20% new oak, the 2015 Cornas Empreintes features classic Cornas notes of crushed stone, bloody meat and red plums. It’s full-bodied, rich and packed with fruit and tannin but supple at the same time. It’s mouth-filling and round, then finishes long, dry and mouthwatering.”
Jeb Dunnuck 93+ points “The 2015 Cornas Empreintes is unique in the lineup as it comes 30% from more limestone soils. It’s 75% destemmed and aged in 20% new French oak. It’s more elegant and focused than the opulent Premices and gives up lots of blackberry and cassis fruits, leather, crushed rock and pepper aromatics. Deep, rich, beautifully concentrated and pure, it needs short-term cellaring but is a brilliant wine that’s going to impress for 10-15 years.”
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 93 points “Opaque ruby. Spice-accented dark fruit, violet and olive scents, along with suggestions of smoky bacon and cracked pepper. Sweet and expansive on the palate, offering densely packed cassis, blueberry and spicecake flavors that become livelier as the wine opens up. Rich yet energetic in style, showing excellent delineation and dark fruit thrust on a very long, smooth finish framed by velvety tannins.”
The next best price is $44.94
Wine Spectator 93 points “Offers a ripe, dark profile, with a core of steeped blackberry and plum fruit that picks up bay, white pepper and iron accents through the finish. Shows solid depth and fruit for the vintage, displaying excellent energy. Best from 2018 through 2029. 1,500 cases made.”