William Fevre’s Stunning 2017’s
A Sicilian Staff Pick
New Dönnhoff Praise from Decanter
Plus: First Offer for 2018 Grosses Gewächs!
A 96 Point, Under $25 Southwest French Find
Trending Wines
Savart, Selling Fast!
July Sale Roundup
William Fevre’s Stunning 2017’s
After the warm, rich 2015 and ’16 vintages, 2017 Chablis wines in general feel like a breath of fresh air—fresh, stony, seaside air. Yields were poor in ’17, but luckily for us and for the producers, the quality of what remained was superb—further proof that Burgundy can and will get better and better regardless of what Mother Nature throws its way.
Stylistically, 2017 is a classical vintage with a seductive side. It’s not as bracing as 2014, but shares a similar style of fruit and degree of minerality. These are beautifully Chablisienne wines that nevertheless seem to be delicious right out of the gate. The wines are marked by their chalky, smoky intensity. A character branded into the vineyards by Kimmeridgian soil. And the professional reviews gush with mineral descriptors for the entire collection on offer: from notes of “oyster shell,” “sea breeze,” and “iodiney minerality” – these are wines as intensely mineral as one could want in a fine Chablis. We’re head over heels for the wines and have a nice selection of these ’17’s arriving next month, perfect for end-of-summer drinking and/or sleeping a few years in your cellar. There are too many wines to list below, so we’ve included some highlights of the selection here. If you want to see them all, you can head to our webstore to view the entire list of Fevre wines across all vintages or just look at the ’17’s arriving soon.
Some Highlights, Arriving ETA August:
William Fevre Bougros, Chablis Grand Cru 2017 750ML ($99.95) $79 pre-arrival special
William Kelley – Wine Advocate 90-93 points “The 2017 Chablis Grand Cru Bougros is also very promising, offering up an attractive bouquet of peach, pastry cream and Meyer lemon. On the palate, it’s medium to full-bodied, bright and tangy, with a textural attack but good underlying tension and stony grip.”
Burghound 90-92 points “A cool and ripe nose features notes of pear and apple that possess background nuances of iodine and seashell. There is excellent mid-palate concentration to the big, very rich and concentrated flavors that display a very round and suave mouth feel, all wrapped in a powerful, dry and slightly rustic finale. This muscular effort delivers sneaky good length and if it can develop more depth than I imagine with time in bottle, it’s possible that my projected range will be exceeded.”
Neal Martin 90-92 points “The 2017 Chablis Bougros Grand Cru suffered a lot of frost damage and was picked at less than 20hl/ha. It has a refined bouquet, nicely delineated if just missing a little focus and energy. The palate is well balanced with good salinity on the entry, but the remainder of the palate does not follow through with the same precision and tension as the other Grand Crus.”
William Fevre Bougros Cote Bouguerots, Chablis Grand Cru 2017 750ML ($119.95) $99 pre-arrival special
William Kelley – Wine Advocate 92-94 points “The 2017 Chablis Grand Cru Bougros Côte Bouguerots is also excellent, unwinding in the glass with aromas of salty oystershells, smoky reduction, crisp peach and wet stones. On the palate, it’s full-bodied, chalky and taut, with bright acids, good concentration and a mineral finish.”
Neal Martin – Vinous 92-94 points “The 2017 Chablis Bougros Côte Bouquerots Grand Cru, picked around 23hl/ha, has a detailed bouquet with Granny Smith, grass clipping, white flower and orange pith scents that are very well defined and seem to gain intensity with aeration. The palate is very well balanced with a fine bead of acidity, a little fatter and weightier than the regular Bougros with quite an intense, saline finish. Excellent.”
Burghound 91-94 points “A deft touch of wood can be found on the cool and equally pure aromas of various citrus, spiced pear and oyster shell hints. There is fine density and punch to the brooding and powerful large-scaled flavors that brim with minerality on the tightly coiled bitter lemon-inflected finish where the wood telegraphed by the nose resurfaces.”
William Fevre Les Clos, Chablis Grand Cru 2017 750ML ($149.95) $119 pre-arrival special
William Kelley – Wine Advocate 93-95+ points “The 2017 Chablis Grand Cru Les Clos is potentially the finest of Fèvre’s 2017s, offering up notes of citrus oil, confit lemon, beeswax and sweet white flowers. On the palate, it’s full-bodied, glossy and rich, with a deep, firm core and chewy extract, balanced by juicy acids. It’s a powerful, complete Les Clos that’s built for the long haul.”
Burghound 92-94 points “Here too there is enough wood to merit mentioning on the decidedly cool and reserved nose that offers up plenty of floral elements along with those of citrus, iodine and oyster shell. The lavishly rich, muscular and overtly powerful flavors possess the hallmark minerality that carries over to the dense, citrusy and very dry finish. This beauty should age effortlessly.”
Neal Martin – Vinous 91-93 points “The 2017 Chablis Les Clos Grand Cru, from 4 hectares at the top of the hill, was harvested at around 23-24hl/ha. It has a very precise bouquet with oyster leaf, Granny Smith apples, wet granite and hints of almond that gain intensity with aeration. The palate is very well balanced with a touch of roundness on the entry that is counterbalanced by fine bead of acidity. There is wonderful salinity and a dash of spice on the finish. This is a Chablis that should give at least a decade’s worth of drinking pleasure.”
William Fevre Montmains, Chablis Premier Cru 2017 750ML ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival special
William Kelley – Wine Advocate 90-92 points “The 2017 Chablis 1er Cru Montmains exhibits notes of salty oystershells, crushed chalk, tart green apple and white flowers. On the palate, the wine is medium to full-bodied, dense and concentrated, with a firm, backward profile and tangy balancing acids. It’s derived from 12 parcels, and some 40% of the cuvée hails from Butteaux. It’s very promising.”
Burghound 88-90 points “The nose immediately makes this wine’s origins clear with its lovely aromas of oyster shell, iodine and green apple-scented aromas. There is an appealing sense of vibrancy to the delicious, intense and super-saline-inflected flavors that contrast considerably with the lavishly rich and somewhat sweet finale. A curious effort as the nose is very Chablis yet the flavors, stylistically speaking, suggest the Mâconnais.”
Neal Martin – Vinous 88-90 points “The 2017 Chablis Montmains 1er Cru was blended the previous week. The bouquet is attractive with honeysuckle and light sea spray aromas. The palate is well balanced with a smooth entry, the 30% barrel ageing lending a pleasant roundness without impeding upon the terroir. It attenuates just a little towards the finish, but otherwise this is a competent but not dazzling Montmains and I have a preference for the Vaillons or Les Lys.”
William Fevre Les Preuses, Chablis Grand Cru 2017 750ML ($119.95) $99 pre-arrival special
Neal Martin – Vinous 93-95 points “The 2017 Chablis Les Preuses Grand Cru has a well defined bouquet with hints of white flower, nettle and dandelion augmenting the green apple and spicy aromas. The palate is powerful on the entry, very intense and focused with a precise and detailed finish that is one of the best that the domaine produced on the finish. Excellent.”
William Kelley – Wine Advocate 92-95 points “The 2017 Chablis Grand Cru Les Preuses is a pretty, delicate wine, exhibiting lovely aromas of orange blossom, mandarin, oystershell and lemon oil. On the palate, it’s ample, full-bodied and elegant, with a tense, stony core and fine-boned structure. Right now, it doesn’t have the weight of the Côte Bouguerots, but it’s beautifully detailed and refined.”
Burghound 92-94 points “As is virtually always the case, this is more elegant than the Valmur with its ripe, pure and airy aromas of lavender, green apple, citrus and white orchard fruit scents. There is very good density to the relatively restrained medium-bodied flavors that possess plenty of minerality on the rich, sappy and palate coating finale. A wine of class, refinement and finesse.”
William Fevre Vaillons, Chablis Premier Cru 2017 750ML ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival special
Neal Martin – Vinous 90-92 points “The 2017 Chablis Vaillons 1er Cru comes from 3.6-hectares located mainly in the heart of the valley. It offers light pressed flower scents on the nose with hints of nettle and dandelion. The palate is well balanced with a fine bead of acidity, crisp and taut with a precise finish that just needs to develop a little more power. Very fine.”
Burghound 89-92 points “A more floral suffused nose flashes good Chablis typicity with its notes of petrol, pear and ocean breeze. Here too there is fine vibrancy to the sleeker and slightly finer medium weight flavors that offer both good minerality and salinity on the more harmonious finish. Lovely stuff.”
William Kelley – Wine Advocate 89-91 points “Notes of pastry cream, white peach, citrus oil and spring flowers introduce the 2017 Chablis 1er Cru Vaillons, a tangy, medium-bodied wine that’s supple and structurally open-knit. While I found it somewhat ephemeral, Didier Séguier contends that it’s one of the highlights of the portfolio: let’s see how it performs from bottle.”
William Fevre Valmur, Chablis Grand Cru 2017 750ML ($119.95) $99 pre-arrival special
William Kelly – Wine Advocate 92-94 points “The 2017 Chablis Grand Cru Valmur was cropped at less than 20 hectoliters per hectare this year, but it remains quite classic in profile, unfurling in the glass with notes of green orchard fruit, lemon oil and anise, framed by light reduction. On the palate, it’s full-bodied, glossy and concentrated, with bright acids, a tight-knit core and a long, mineral finish. It’s a promising Valmur.”
Neal Martin – Vinous 91-93 points “The 2017 Chablis Valmur Grand Cru, harvested at less than 20hl/ha due to frost, has a clean and precise apple blossom, orange pith and white chocolate-tinged bouquet that gradually opens with time. The palate is well balanced with crisp acidity, full of tension and with good bite, leading to a saline finish that gets the taste buds going. Very classic in style, this should age nicely in bottle.”
Burghound 90-92 points “A citrus and mineral reduction tinged nose is comprised mostly of green fruit and honeysuckle nuances. The palate impression is much like that of the Bougros as the big-bodied flavors are dense and muscular while exhibiting excellent power on the only moderately complex if solidly persistent finish.”
William Fevre Vaudesir, Chablis Grand Cru 2017 750ML 2017 750ML ($119.95) $99 pre-arrival special
Burghound 91-94 points “A background application of wood is present on the vaguely exotic aromas of dried pear, apple, white peach and quinine. There is both excellent delineation and punch to the notably saline-inflected flavors that possess good punch while retaining a lovely sense of refinement on the impressively complex and persistent finish. This is lovely juice that should age well over the mid-term.”
Neal Martin – Vinous 91-93 points “The 2017 Chablis Vaudésir Grand Cru has a well defined bouquet, quite complex with scents of honeysuckle, citrus peel, a faint touch of nougat and almond lending a soupçon of exoticism. The palate is well defined with a crisp, taut line of acidity. I admire the focus of this Vaudésir with a lightly spiced, quite tensile finish that lingers in the mouth. Excellent.”
William Kelley – Wine Advocate 91-93 points “The 2017 Chablis Grand Cru Vaudésir exhibits pretty aromas of spring flowers, orange blossom and white peach. On the palate, it’s medium to full-bodied, tangy and taut, with a lean, structural profile. It will likely fill out with further élevage.”
A Sicilian Staff Pick
When an opportunity to refresh my memory on the Gulfi wines came available recently, I was both grateful and humble in admitting that these wines have turned a corner from the dense wines of my memories. We tasted the single vineyard Nero d’Avola wines together – a treat to see the differences come to the front.
All of the wines were showing well, but the Neromaccarj stood out as having the most distinctive profile. The vineyard is the closest to the sea and has a mix of the clay, limestone and sand and the proximity to the water certainly gives the wine a brush of salinity. The fruit is dark, but not overripe, with only a little of the smoke and tar notes that can show itself in lesser bottlings. The finish was pleasant with a fresh lightness that held on and made my mouth water for another taste. The acidity was probably the most surprising aspect of the wines. I was very glad to see this, having remembered the wines from the 00’s with more density and finishing heavy. This was altogether more enjoyable, and the look of surprise was on everyone’s face.
We have a good supply on hand, and seeing the direction that these wines are taking, we’ll continue to have them available.
In Stock Now:
Gulfi Neromaccarj Sicilia IGT, Sicily 2013 750ML ($49.95) $39 special
James Suckling 95 points “The complex, plum-cake and spice nose leads into a rich and sophisticated red, in which the tannins and fruit are already perfectly integrated. Long, complex, herbal and spicy finish. From organically grown grapes.”
Wine Advocate 92+ points “The 2013 Sicilia Neromàccarj bursts open with dark fruit intensity, including dried cherry and blackberry confit. Like the other wines in this series of single-vineyard Nero d’Avola wines, this expression produces above-average density, darkness and richness. But the Neromàccarj also offers an elegant side that comes forth, thanks to the contained intensity and the firm delineation of its aromas. Smoke, tar and black olive appear on the close. The Maccari vineyard site is almost at sea level and has limestone, clay and rocky soils that are rich with organic matter. Only 3,200 bottles were made.”-ML
The next best price is $45.90
Gulfi Nerobaronj Sicilia IGT, Sicily 2013 750ML ($37.95) $29 special
James Suckling 93 points
Wine Advocate 92 points “This is a slightly more austere and sophisticated expression among Gulfi’s various single-vineyard expressions of Nero d’Avola. The 2013 Sicilia Nerobaronj delivers that same black-fruit ripeness that you get in the other wines; however, the bouquet in this wine is slightly sharper and more focused. Spice, tar and cured leather frame a dark core of black fruit. This is a thickly textured wine for medium-term consumption. The Baroni vineyard is distinguished by clay-limestone soils with white rocks. Only 6,800 bottles were made.”-ML
Ian d’Agata – Vinous 94 points “Fully saturated ruby-red. Super-ripe aromas of black cherry, raspberry jelly, incense and coriander are very typical of the Sanloré site. Then surprisingly light on its feet, offering vibrant flavors of red and black cherry, tar, licorice and pomegranate liqueur. The finish is bright and juicy and features a lingering saline nuance. Knockout Sanloré that manages to be at once powerful and graceful, the latter a quality not always evident in wines from this site, which are usually known for their richness and size.”
Wine & Spirits 94 points “This dark and brooking wine comes from 40-year-old vines rooted in reddish-brown sand and clay soils; it grows half a mile from the sea and just 30 feet above sea level, where the temperature doesn’t change much between day and night. Savory notes of black olive and roasted mushroom saturate the wine’s dark plum flavors, intensified by a trail of salinity so intense it feels almost gritty, yet the wine is brightened by mouthwatering acidity. The contrast is extreme, and it works.”
Plus: First Offer for 2018 Grosses Gewächs!
(and a few other top ’18’s)
Decanter magazine recently profiled the venerable estate, bestowing excellent reviews and noting that “Dönnhoff is one of the country’s leading lights when it comes to making great Riesling.” Part of that is because of the winemaking talent of father Helmut and now son Cornelius, but Decanter notes that “the estate owns 25ha of vines, including plots in nine Grosse Lage vineyards – the highest quality classification as set out by the VDP,” a wealth of resources that few wineries in the world can draw from.
Stylistically, “Dönnhoff is renowned for its racy, elegant wines which can have a potent mineral character and plenty of tension. The wines are whole-bunch pressed, with the drier styles fermenting naturally in cask before transferring to stainless steel and spending a handful of months on the lees.” We’ve got a brilliant collection of newly-reviewed 2018’s in stock and available for pre-arrival, though if you’d like to see all of the wines available from this classic Nahe producer, you can just head to our webstore.
Weingut Donnhoff Roxheimer Hollenpfad Riesling Trocken, Nahe 2016 750ML ($39.95) $33 special
Decanter 92 points “Nahe has been home to the Dönnhoff estate for more than 250 years, during which time they have acquired some of the most sought-after sites in the region. Grapes are sourced from 40 year old vines on steep slopes of red slate. This is a dry and elegant Riesling with primary aromas of grapefruit, lemons and a herbal hint. The palate is showing a lot of tension, marked by a green acidity and a vivid mineral core. This beauty needs a bit of time before showing its true colours.”
Case-12 Weingut Donnhoff Oberhauser Leistenberg Riesling Kabinett, Nahe 2018 750ML ($379.95) $275 special (that’s only $22.92/bottle—the lowest listed price in the USA!)
Decanter 92 points “Grown on grey clay slate soils on a steep southeast-facing site, this has a fresh nose of green apple. In the mouth it has evident sweetness (55g/l as it turns out – levels in 2018 were higher than usual), with more of that fresh apple but this time fleshed out with some richer honey and a hint of stone fruit. Despite this, it retains great balance thanks to its very present acidity. Barrel sample.”
Arriving ETA Fall:
Weingut Donnhoff Oberhauser Leistenberg Tonschiefer Riesling Trocken, Nahe 2018 750ml ($31.95) $26 pre-arrival special
Case-12 Weingut Donnhoff Oberhauser Leistenberg Tonschiefer Riesling Trocken, Nahe 2018 750ML ($379.95) $275 pre-arrival special (that’s only $22.92/bottle—the lowest listed price in the USA!)
Decanter 91 points “This is one of the most widely distributed wines of the Dönnhoff estate in the Nahe, and it showcases their pristine, clear-cut but expressive style of Riesling. Fermented in large oak but matured in stainless steel, it once again is a celebration of vibrant citrus, lemon, lime and grapefruit but with an added bounce of juicy tropical fruit at the centre. It displays the signature Dönnhoff tautness.”
Weingut Donnhoff Oberhauser Brucke Riesling Spatlese, Nahe 2018 750ML ($59.95) $41.90 pre-arrival special
Case-6 Weingut Donnhoff Oberhauser Brucke Riesling Spatlese, Nahe 2018 750ML ($319.95) $236 pre-arrival special (that’s only $39.33/bottle—the lowest listed price in the USA!)
Decanter 95 points “The 1.1ha vineyard of Brücke is a monopole of the estate. The vines are planted in loess loam soils over a slate bedrock, and its sheltered location down by the river is perfect for producing spätlese. The 2018 has a ripe green apple character on the nose, joined by notes of white flowers and a touch of honey. The palate is incredibly intense and limey, sweet yet elegant and balanced. It almost appears to be drier than the Leistenberg Kabinett at this early stage, such is its impeccable harmony, absorbing its 85g/l of residual sugar effortlessly. Snap this up when you can, but don’t touch it for a good six years or more. Barrel sample.”
2018 Grosses Gewächs
And Other Top Dönnhoff Wines
Grosses Gewächs
Weingut Donnhoff ‘Felsenturmchen’ Felsenberg Riesling Grosses Gewachs, Nahe 2018 750ML ($89.95) $66 pre-arrival special
John Gilman 94 points “The 2018 Felsenberg GG is also absolutely outstanding this year. The bouquet is impressively expressive at this early stage, soaring from the glass in a blaze of pear, tart orange, a beautiful base of slate minerality, wild yeasts, a touch of fleur de sel and a potpourri of floral scents in the upper register. On the palate the wine is full-bodied, focused and seamless, with outstanding mid-palate depth, powerful mineral drive and great cut and grip on the long, perfectly balanced and youthful finish. This will be show stopping juice in the fullness of time. 2028-2070. 94.”
John Gilman 95 points “To my mind, the Dellchen often produces the most muscular Grosses Gewächs bottling from Weingut Dönnhoff, so I wondered how it might turn out this year, where there was already so much potential for power inherent in the vintage. Much to my surprise, the 2018 Dellchen is supremely elegant this year, offering up a sophisticated bouquet of sweet grapefruit, tart apple, wild yeasts, a beautiful base of minerality, orange blossoms and lemongrass. On the palate the wine is pure, full-bodied, racy and utterly suave in its sense of balance and inner harmony, with bright acids and a very long, primary and promising finish. A great wine by any measure! 2030-2070. 95.”
John Gilman 97 points “Cornelius Dönnhoff has crafted one of the very best dry Rieslings that I tasted on this trip from the Hermannshöhle in 2018! The bouquet is deep, complex and again, so very elegant out of the blocks this year, delivering scents of pink grapefruit, tart tangerine, white flowers, a superb base of slate, lemongrass, citrus peel and just a dollop of upper register wild yeast tone. On the palate the wine is racy, focused, full-bodied and extremely mineral-driven, with a great core, laser-like focus and seamlessly balanced on the very, very long, very complex and utterly refined finish. Chapeau! 2033-2075+. 97.”
John Gilman 93 points “The 2018 Krötenpfuhl GG is absolutely superb this year. The wine is very pure on the both the nose and palate, with the bouquet delivering a lovely mix of pink grapefruit, tart orange, salty minerality, a touch of wild yeasts and a topnote of citrus blossoms. On the palate the wine is pure, full-bodied and very well-balanced, with a lovely core, ripe, vibrant acids and great focus and grip on the long, nascently complex and very elegant finish. Superb juice. 2026-2060. 93.”
John Gilman 93+ points “The Grosses Gewächs bottling from the filet section of the Höllenpfad im Mühlenberg is also very promising and again, shows the beautifully elegant refinement of all the dry Rieslings from the Dönnhoff family this year. Helmut estimates that this is thirteen percent octane or just under in this vintage. The bouquet wafts from the glass in a very refined and expressive blend of tangerine, blood orange, salty minerality, citrus peel, smoky overtones and a topnote of dried flowers. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied and really packed at the core, with racy acids, great soil signature, laser-like focus and a very long, youthfully complex and very promising finish. 2028-2060+. 93+.”
Top Off-Dry + Sweet Wines
Weingut Donnhoff Oberhauser Brucke Riesling Beerenauslese, Nahe 2018 750ML ($399.95) $349 pre-arrival special
John Gilman 100 points “The grapes for this non-botrytized BA were harvested at the beginning of November this year. The wine is utterly brilliant, offering up a pure and complex nose of white cherries, mango, pineapple, salty minerality, apple blossoms and a topnote of honeycomb. On the palate the wine is pure, full-bodied, bottomless and amazingly vibrant and precise, with racy acids, truly stunning minerality for a BA and great length and grip on the perfectly balanced finish. This is breathtakingly beautiful! 2019-2100. 100.”
Case-6 Weingut Donnhoff Niederhauser Hermannshohle Riesling Spatlese, Nahe 2018 ($399.95) $279 pre-arrival special (that’s only $46.50/bottle!)
John Gilman 95 points “The 2018 Hermannshöhle Spätlese from the estate has no intention of being upstaged by the Brücke this year, as this too is a brilliant wine. The nose jumps from the glass in a complex blaze of fresh pineapple, pungent citrus zest, apple, a beautiful base of slate, wild yeasts and a topnote of white flowers. On the palate the wine is pure, complex, medium-full and beautifully suave on the attack, with superb mineral undertow and a laser-like and electric finish. Equally stunning juice. 2025-2075.”
Weingut Donnhoff Norheimer Kirschheck Riesling Spatlese, Nahe 2018 750ML ($39.95) $33 pre-arrival special
John Gilman 92+ points “The 2018 Kirschheck Spätlese from Weingut Dönnhoff is another excellent example of the vintage. The wine is pure, very floral in personality and quite expressive out of the blocks, offering up scents of white cherries, pears, bee pollen, slate and a topnote of spring flowers. On the palate the wine is pure, fullish, vibrant and beautifully detailed, with racy acids, good mineral undertow and a long, refined and complex finish. 2019-2050+. 92+.”
A 96 Point, Under $25 Southwest French Find
Arriving Friday:
Chateau Saint-Roch ‘Kerbuccio’ Maury Sec, Languedoc-Roussillon 2016 750ML ($27.95) $21.90 pre-arrival special
Decanter 96 points “Gold Medal Winner 2018 Decanter World Wine Awards. Lovely kirsch nose with bags of ripe and authentic Maury fruit. The palate is round, fleshy and warm with a delicious richness of oak, vanilla flavour and intense and complex finish. Lovely wine that’s beautifully balanced with great typicity. Full-bodied and very polished.”
Jeb Dunnuck 93 points “Another great vintage for the cuvée, the 2016 Maury Sec Kerbuccio (75% Grenache, 20% Carignan, and 5% Mourvèdre) is loaded with character and reveals a deep purple color as well as notes of black and blue fruits, new saddle leather, exotic herbs, and tobacco. Charming, medium to full-bodied, beautifully pure, and seamless on the palate, you can’t go wrong with this wine.”
Domaine de la Mordoree Chateauneuf-du-Pape La Dame Voyageuse, Rhone 2016 750ML ($59.95) $49 special
Jeb Dunnuck 95 points “The new entry-level release from this estate is the 2016 Châteauneuf-du-Pape La Dame Voyageuse, a more Grenache-dominated blend of 90% Grenache, 4% each of Mourvèdre and Syrah, and the balance Counoise and Vaccarèse. Aged mostly in tank, with 15% in old barrels, it boasts a deep violet/purple color as well as a full-bodied, voluptuous style in its blueberry and cherry fruits, violets, damp earth, and spice-laced aromas and flavors. This cuvée is always more upfront and sexier compared to the more structured La Reine des Bois cuvée, and it’s already drinking brilliantly today. Nevertheless, it will keep for a good 10-15 years if you’re so inclined.”
Adriano Marco e Vittorio Barbaresco “Basarin”, Barbaresco DOCG 2015 750ML ($34.95) $28 special
Wine Spectator 93 points “A streak of cherry bisects the supple texture and sleek structure in this elegant red. Hints of licorice, menthol, leather and tobacco add depth as this plays out on the chewy, resonant finish. Best from 2022 through 2038.”
Goodfellow Family Cellars Bishop Creek Vineyard Pinot Noir, Oregon 2014 750ML ($49.95) $41.90 special
Josh Raynolds 91 points “Vivid red. A highly perfumed bouquet evokes fresh red berries, cherry, candied flowers and musky earth, backed by a touch of smokiness. Lively black raspberry and floral pastille flavors pick up hints of bitter chocolate and licorice with aeration. The clinging, focused finish features fine-grained, slow-mounting tannins and repeating floral character. Give this one a little air time.”
Grapelive 91 points “Delicately layered and spicy, the 2014 Bishop Creek is a pretty effort, especially for a richer vintage in Oregon. Made by Marcus Goodfellow, the ex-Evesham Wood and Westrey man, [he] is coming into his own as a talent, inspired by Doerner of Cristom and John Paul of Cameron. You can see the style showing through here. Bishop Creek, planted to Pommard and Wadenswil (old Swiss clone), [is] now owned by Nicolas Meo of the famed Burgundy Domaine Meo-Camuzet. [The vineyard] ([which is] not far from Shea Vineyards) formed this wine with its distinct strawberry and racy red cherry core along with the mixed spice, mineral tones and light wood influence. Its southern exposure and Willakenzie soils (dark rocky marine sediment) give warmth and grace. Planted in 1988, the vines ripen without flamboyant extraction, allowing more finesse to show through. At 13.9% this medium weight wine offers fine detail, opulence and restrained, almost earthy, soulfulness. Hints of bitter herb, cedar and candied citrus rind add a tangy note to the whole and the finish echoes the red fruits in subtle fashion with a touch of wilted roses lingering on. It shines right now, though best to enjoy it with cuisine to match as it is a tad shier than other 2014 Oregon Pinots (I’ve tried) and needs time and coaxing to reach its beautiful peak. Best from 2018 to 2022.”
Cavallotto Bricco Boschis, Barolo DOCG 2015 750ML ($79.95) $69 special
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 93-95 points “This is a review that looks far, far into the future since this wine is not even technically a Barolo yet. It has not finished its aging process. Tasted from barrel, the 2015 Barolo Bricco Boschis is shaping up beautifully. I tasted it next to the 2013 edition of the same wine that was reviewed last year (with 96+ points). This vintage shows depth and richness with generous texture and fiber. This vintage recalls 2011 and 2017, although it wasn’t quite as scorching hot. Of course, the 2014 vintage was not produced because of hail damage in the vineyard. After 2015, we will be treated to the highly anticipated 2016 edition.”
“This is another stellar set of wines from Fred Savart. There is not much else to say. Minimal handling allows for a very pure expression of the sites Savart works with. As always, these are rich, vinous Champagnes built on textured,multi-dimensional profiles.” – Antonio Galloni
Arriving Friday:
Savart Le Mont des Chretiens Premier Cru Extra Brut, Champagne 2014 1.5L ($299.95) $219 pre-arrival special
Antonio Galloni 94 points “The 2014 Extra Brut Le Mont des Chrétiens, 100% Chardonnay from Eceuil, is a worthy follow up to the 2013. Bright, focused and sculpted, with tons of energy, the 2014 is another winner from Fred Savart. Grapefruit, white pepper, mint and crushed rocks all run through this crystalline, precise Blanc de Blancs, with an attractive layer of reduction that adds a razor’s edge of freshness. In the glass, the 2014 is bright and perhaps a bit severe, especially next to the 2013, but it is nevertheless striking. The 2014 was vinified in 500 and 600-liter barrels. Disgorged January 2018. Dosage is 3 grams per liter.”
Case-6 Savart L’Accomplie Premier Cru Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($379.95) $309 pre-arrival special (that’s only $51.50/bottle—save over $20 per six pack!)
Savart L’Accomplie Premier Cru Brut, Champagne NV 1.5L ($149.95) $119 pre-arrival special
Antonio Galloni 92 points “The NV L’Accomplie is a blend of equal parts 2016 of 2015 vintages. Dried apricot, pear, dried flowers and chamomile are some of the notes that grace this mid-weight, sublime, totally refined entry-level Champagne from Fred Savart. All the elements are impeccably balanced in this sublime, refined Champagne. L’Accomplie is 80% Pinot and 20% Chardonnay from Ecueil and Villers-aux-Noeuds. Dosage is 5 grams per liter.” [Review is for November 2017 disgorgement in 750ml]
This is the lowest listed price for a magnum in the USA today!
Case-6 Savart L’Ouverture Premier Cru Blanc de Noirs Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($299.95) $249 pre-arrival special (that’s only $41.50/bottle!)
James Suckling 92 points “A very fragrant blanc de noirs with 20 per cent of the second press and three years on lees. The wild red fruit is super fresh, delicate and floral; the lees time has this on a neat, reductive edge. The palate is very fine, fresh and crisp. Great depth and elegance here. Drink now.”
Savart Le Mont Benoit Premier Cru Extra Brut, Champagne 2015 750ML ($139.95) $115 pre-arrival special
Importer Note
Importer Note “Le Mont des Chrétiens is a lieu dit in the village Ecueil. The parcel is entirely of Chardonnay and Fred ferments and ages it in 500L barrels. The dosage is 3g/L. (Fred used to call this cuvée Dame de Coeur.)”
Jamie Goode-Wine Anorak 95 points “The grapes for this wine used to go into Ouverture, but it’s now a new cuvée, just 1362 bottles made. 100% Pinot Noir. Fine cherries, herbs and nuts on the nose, with a palate that shows detailed, fine citrus, pear and apple fruit with some lovely red cherry notes. This has incredible precision and detail, with fine savoury nut, almond and liquorice notes. Really detailed and fine. Expressive.”
Importer Note ” Fred’s rosé is a rosé d’assemblage composed of 70% Pinot Noir, 22% Chardonnay, and 8% still red wine. It comes entirely from the village of Ecueil. It is fermented mostly in stainless steel, with around 20% of the blend made in neutral barrels. The dosage is 6g/L.”
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Force Majeure Vineyards Epinette, Red Mountain 2015 750ML ($99.95) Was $79, Now $69 July Sale Special
Jeb Dunnuck 94 points “A Pomerol look-alike, the 2015 Epinette is mostly Merlot, yet includes 30% Cabernet Franc, 16% Cabernet Franc and 4% Petit Verdot. It’s another rich, mouthfilling effort and offers lots of darker, plummy fruits, chocolate, and scorched earth aromas and flavors. With building tannin and serious structure, it isn’t for those looking for instant gratification and is going to need a solid 3-5 years of bottle age.”
Now it’s even lower!
The next best price is $89.99
That’s a difference of over $20/btl!
Wine Advocate 93-96 points “It’s going to be interesting to see if the 2015 Estate Syrah matches the 2014, and they both showed similar from barrel. The 2015 is a big, full-bodied Syrah that has tons of chalky minerality in its classic Syrah notes of blackberries, licorice and smoked meats. With good acidity, fine tannin and terrific elegance and purity, it will keep for 15+ years. Led by winemaker Todd Alexander, Force Majeure has now officially moved away from their Collaboration Series releases and is focusing exclusively on their estate vineyards on Red Mountain. The lineup is stacked with incredible wines, and I expect the quality to only go up from here as their vineyards age and they fine-tune the winemaking. The 2015s were structured and tannic, and while they’ll certainly be more polished from bottle, I suspect short term cellaring will be your friend. These are great wines, and even at their prices, these represent killer values.”
Jeb Dunnuck 94 points “Moving to the reds, the Mourvèdre-dominated 2015 Parvata GSM is a smoking effort loaded with deep, rich aromas and flavors of blackberries, currants, cured meats, and a hint of chocolate. It’s full-bodied, deep, concentrated, and perfectly balanced, and is a sensational wine.”
James Suckling 94 points “A fascinating nose of earth, brambles, forest floor, blackberries, herbs, black pepper, some animal and freshly cut herbs and tobacco. Full-bodied with firm, sturdy tannins, a wealth of bark and dark fruit, a lot of power, fresh acidity and an underbrush finish. Washington’s answer to the Southern Rhone! GSM blend. Drink in 2020.”
Now it’s even lower!
The next best price is $89.97
That’s a difference of over $20/btl!
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 91 points “Pale gold. Intense citrus and orchard fruit aromas are complicated by notes of honeysuckle, tarragon and iodine. Chewy tangerine and pear skin flavors become silkier and spicier with aeration. Shows a seductive floral quality on the clinging finish, which features a dusty mineral nuance and a touch of buttered toast.”
The average listed price is $38
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 91+ points “Healthy dark red. Very primary nose hints at black cherry, menthol and bitter chocolate lifted by a floral topnote. Then sappy and saline on the palate, showing very good chewy concentration and medicinal reserve. Quite reticent today but displays a terrific balance between sweetness and firm minerality. Bitouzet wishes he made big bottles of this juice.”
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 90 points “Bright red. Very primary, vibrant aromas of raspberry, rose petal and mint. Juicy and tightly wound, showing lovely intensity and energy but a medicinal reserve in the early going. I like the combination of density and airiness. Finishes with excellent cut and verve.”
