Eugen Müller’s it-should-be-legendary Kirchenstück; Monte Rosso: Wonder of the Wine World; Staff Pick; Janasse’s Good Juice; Guillemot—the Insider’s Pick; Delas’ Soul in the Northern Rhone; Il Poggione’s Beautiful 2011; Sauternes both Dry and Sweet; 2016 Maximin Grunhauser
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Summer Shipping Special:
Midwest, East, & South
For the summer season we are offering UPS Three Day Select Service for the price of UPS Ground for shipments normally traveling 4 or more business days by ground.
Free service upgrade only applies on single orders purchased and shipped during the promotional period. Additional fees will apply to orders held for any reason until after the promotional period and shipped by Three Day Select. Offer not valid on items purchased before the promotional period or on pre-arrival items that arrive after the promotional period ends.
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Eugen Müller’s Perpetually
Underrated Kirchenstück
Normally when it comes to writing these sorts of features, we prefer to do a lot of research and write the florid prose ourselves. That said, what Terry Theise (the importer of the following wine) has to say about Eugen Müller’s Kirchenstück is better than anything we could write, so we’ll leave him to it:
“So when I sat with Jay MacInerney for the Wall St. Journal article, I said I’d bring along something to drink. I could have chosen anything, blown him away with a great Dönnhoff or with a Selbach Eiswein or a Leitz Roseneck. What I actually chose to bring was the 2001 Kirchenstück Auslese from Müller.
“Every year for the last fifteen or more, this wine has been a masterpiece, and I can think of few if any parallels in the wine world—or in my wine world—of such sustained stellar performance year after year.
“From one of the great Riesling vineyards on earth. The price, let us observe, doesn’t reflect this…
“In early the 19th century this was considered the best Riesling site because the grapes consistently reached greater maturity. In the early 20th century the wines were just as expensive as those from the top Rheingau growths.
“‘Savagely fine vineyard fragrance, a city made of cherry blossom. The palate is literally stunning in the ferocity of its terroir, endlessly salty and flowery, already expressive and integrated, and lashing and electric… Every year for the last fifteen or more, this wine has been a masterpiece, and I can think of few if any parallels in the wine world—or in my wine world—of such sustained stellar performance year after year.’ “–Terry Theise
Weingut Eugen Muller Forster Kirchenstuck Riesling Auslese, Pfalz 2011 500ML ($34.95) $27 special, 36+ bottles available
Wine & Spirits Magazine 91 points
Terry Theise note “Savagely fine vineyard fragrance, a city made of cherry blossom. The palate is literally stunning in the ferocity of its terroir, endlessly salty and flowery, already expressive and integrated, and lashing and electric… Every year for the last fifteen or more, this wine has been a masterpiece, and I can think of few if any parallels in the wine world—or in my wine world—of such sustained stellar performance year after year.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Weingut Eugen Muller Forster Kirchenstuck Riesling Auslese, Pfalz 2012 500ML ($34.95) $29 special, 36 bottles available
Terry Theise: “Every year for the last fifteen or more, this wine has been a masterpiece, and I can think of few if any parallels in the wine world- or in my wine world- of such sustained stellar performance year after year. 2011 is and remains a masterpiece of the exotic flowery style, “a city made of cherry blossom” as I wrote last year. Bearing in mind that these wines are never very sweet, this one is more typical for the “Auslese” idiom. The 2012, though, is a swollen subterranean wave of mineral. You start at OMG and end with WTF, because even in the context of so many great years this is singular and amazing. Fantastically salty and cherry-blossomy, with obdurate length and deeply embedded mineral.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
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Louis Martini’s Monte Rosso
One of the Wonders of the Wine World
In the 1880’s you couldn’t rent a backhoe for a few weeks. There were no gas-powered jackhammers or heavy machines to let you turn a steep hillside with almost no soil into a vineyard that over a hundred and twenty years later would produce some of the finest wines in Northern California. No, you had to do it all with your hands or horses. As Bedrock’s Morgan Twain-Peterson says “putting in the 350-acre vineyard must have been one of the greatest feats of wine-growing history.”
If you’re unfamiliar with the location, the Monte Rosso vineyard sits on the Sonoma side of the Mayacamas Mountains, planted between 900 and 1200 feet of elevation. The ‘soils’ here are volcanic—with rocks giving a distinctly red character to the soil (and giving the vineyard its name). It has some of the oldest vines in the US, with Cabernet from 1938 and Zinfandel going back to the original planting. The wines are every bit as distinctive and amazing as you’d hope—they taste of the place more than the grapes, in a lot of ways. Powerful but graceful, aromatic and vibrant, these are wines to stock up on.
We have two different wines from Louis Martini (who bought the vineyard in the 1930’s and planted the Cabernet) from the legendary vineyard. If you consider yourself a California Cabernet or Zinfandel drinker, you owe it to yourself to stock up.
Louis M. Martini Monte Rosso Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma Valley 2012 750ML ($69.95) $59 special
James Suckling 95 points “I am always a fan of this wine with its dusty, red-tile and rust character, which underlines the fruit and ripe tannins. Full-bodied, powerful and tannic, all the way up to the flavorful finish. Give it three or four years to soften.”
Robert Parker 93+ points “A 15- to 20-year wine in terms of its aging potential is the 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Monte Rosso Vineyard. A blend of 93% Cabernet Sauvignon and 7% Petit Verdot, aged 27 months in a combination of French and American oak, the wine is dense, full-bodied, with notes of dusty, loamy soil interwoven with crème de cassis, blackberry, toasty oak and hints of chocolate and espresso. This is another full-throttle effort (15.2% natural alcohol), richly layered, with moderate tannin. It is accessible now but capable of lasting 25 or more years.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Louis M. Martini Monte Rosso Vineyard Gnarly Vine Zinfandel 2014 750ML ($54.95) $41.90 special
Robert Parker 95 points “Another fabulous wine, although there’s not much of it, is the 2014 Zinfandel Gnarly Vine Monte Rosso Vineyard from this fabulous first-growth vineyard in Sonoma. This is a blend of 97% Zinfandel and 3% Petite Sirah aged in 66% new French oak, 16% new American oak and the rest used. Only 500 cases were made of this whopper, which is full-bodied, has great intensity with a stunning nose of black fruits, pepper, Mediterranean herbs and spice. Good natural acidity gives focus and vibrancy to this wine that comes from vines as old as 120 years. This is a full-bodied classic Zinfandel at its very best, from one of the great vineyards in California. Finished alcohol is 16.2%, so this is a heck of a mouthful.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
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Staff Pick
De Forville Barbaresco Vigneto Loreto ‘13
Andy:
I am always digging through our 2013 wines, looking for the additions to the case stashed away for my daughter’s birth year. When we received the De Forville Barbaresco I had to try a bottle. Year in and year out, De Forville makes some of the most elegant wines available; classic, high-toned, ageable and delicious. They aren’t points darlings, nor are they frightfully overpriced. In fact, they’re downright affordable for the level of quality. My suspicion is that they’re often overlooked for this reason, and though I hate to see that happen to any producer I like, I am glad that I can be assured of finding the wine on the shelf.
The Barbaresco Vigneto Loreto is definitely going in the stash. It’s tremendously rewarding now, with a deeper than expected nose of loamy earth, herbs, cherries, and leather. The vibrancy of the wine lit up the glass, the flavors imparted were substantial, powerful and yet full of Piedmont nuance and elegance. These will continue to age and should be amazing over the next decade plus. Also, I’ve got my bottles taken care of, so you guys can go to town now.
De Forville Vigneto Loreto, Barbaresco 2013 750ML ($39.95) $31.90 special, 30 bottles available
Importer note “The exceptional Loreto “cru” of Barbaresco is the source for this most profound wine of the De Forville estate. As with the Barbaresco “Normale”, the juice is fermented in stainless steel and then racked into large oak “botti” for about two years of aging before being bottled. Vines are approximately 35 years of age (as of 2011). More full-bodied and dense than the “Normale”, the “Loreto” also has additional aging capacity.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
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Domaine de la Janasse
Powerful Chateauneuf, No Pretensions
We’re pleased to be able to offer two glorious examples of 2012 Chateauneuf-du-Pape from one of the most prestigious (yet still affordable) estates in the region. Family-owned and -run, Domaine de la Janasse grows and makes their wine with a sense of pride and tradition. Careful attention in the vineyard and cellar allows nature to work its magic alongside the Janasse team’s expertise. The Chaupin, a fresh and lively wine, consists of 100% Grenache including fruit from 100-year-old vines. The Vielles Vignes represents the estate’s crown jewel: Grenache, Mourvedre, and other varieties combine to make a deep, brooding red that longs for cellar time.
On the vintage: “this vintage produced rich, fruit-loaded and moderately concentrated wines that will drink well in their youth and evolve nicely on their balance and harmony…” –Jeb Dunnuck, Wine Advocate
Domaine de la Janasse Wines Available Here Now:
Domaine de la Janasse Cotes du Rhone Rose, Rhone 2015 750ML ($19.95) $16 special, 36+ bottles available
VinopolNote: A versatile rose with savory, herbal notes from a legendary Chateauneuf producer. A blend of Grenache, Syrah and Cinsault grown in clay limestone, galets and sandy soil. Practicing organic & biodynamic.
Importer note “Hand harvested and fermentation in tank, vines are between 10 and 60 years old. Wine is aged for 4 months in tank. A fruity and generous rosé with strawberry and clay aromas. Drink within the next two years.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Domaine de la Janasse Chateauneuf-du-Pape Cuvee Chaupin 2012 750ML ($79.95) $59 special, 33 bottles available
Wine Advocate 94 points “The 2012 Châteauneuf du Pape Cuvee Chaupin, which I was able to taste (and drink) from multiple bottles, is a beautiful Grenache that comes from the cooler, northeastern edge of the appellation. Coming almost all from the Chapouin lieu-dit (it gets a small bit from La Janasse), it gives up the classic notes of black berries, spring flowers, violets, and licorice that I always seem to find in this cuvee. Building nicely on the palate, it is medium to full-bodied, beautifully textured, has tons of sweet fruit and solid, if not firm, tannin that come out on the finish. It will be better in another couple of years and have 15+ years of overall longevity.”
Domaine de la Janasse Cuvee Vieilles Vignes, Chateauneuf-du-Pape 2012 750ML ($119.95) $89 special, 36+ bottles available
Wine Advocate 96 points “Up in the top handful of wines in the vintage (which should come as no surprise to anyone who follows this estate), the 2012 Châteauneuf du Pape Vieilles Vignes is a full-bodied, beautifully concentrated, rich and layered Châteauneuf that doesn’t put a foot wrong. Made from 85% Grenache, 10% Mourvedre and the rest Syrah, it offers blockbuster notes of blackberry, liquid-violets, spice and serious minerality to go with awesome mid-palate depth and layers of sweet tannin. Like the Cuvee Chaupin, it will be better in another handful of years and thrill through 2027.”
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Industry Insiders’ Favorite Savigny
Guillemot’s Under-the Radar Beauties
Let’s cut to the chase: the wines coming out from Domaine Pierre Guillemot are everything we’re looking for in Savigny-les-Beaune (and in reasonably priced Burgundy in general). Judging by the number of winemakers and other industry insiders who buy these wines from us, it looks like they aren’t a secret anymore, either.
If you aren’t familiar with Guillemot, allow us to give you the quick rundown: small, family run domaine in Savigny makes affordable wines that tend to be red fruited, fresh, a little rustic and priced fairly. These aren’t wines which aspire to “greatness” but simply seek to be the most honest expression of their terroirs as possible—unmasked by new oak or techniques like cold soaking. In vineyards like Serpentieres, the honest terroir is a age worthy and profound wine, but in all of the wines the dirt speaks.
Moreover, the wines tend to drink well young—they are nervy, snappy examples of Burgundy. The Savigny “VV” and the Picotins, in particular, are wines to try now while you give the rest of the lineup a few years rest. We also have supreme confidence that these wines will age into interesting and beautiful examples, but honestly, it’s hard to keep your hands off of them now. Just know that these can’t stay an industry secret much longer…
Domaine Pierre Guillemot Aux Gravains, Savigny-les-Beaune Premier Cru 2014 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 5 bottles available
Winery note “Deep soil; scree; alluvial mixed with gravel; south exposed; 270 m altitude. Grapes are sorted and 70% de-stemmed; traditional vinification; 16-day maceration; the cap is punched down manually. Fifteen months in 1- to 3-year-old barrels, with 10% new oak. Aromas of black cherry; smoky notes.”
Domaine Pierre Guillemot Les Jarrons, Savigny-les-Beaune Premier Cru 2014 750ML ($49.95) $44 special, 31 bottles available
Winery note “Vineyards on an east-facing slope near the town of Savigny-lès-Beaune. Steep slopes; deep sandy soil; 260 m altitude. Fifteen months in 1- to 3-year-old barrels, with 10% new oak. Aromas of black cherry; vanilla; mineral notes.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Domaine Pierre Guillemot Savigny-les-Beaune Les Grands Picotins, Cote de Beaune 14 750ML ($39.95) $33 special, 31 bottles available
Winery note “Village-level vineyards near the town of Savigny-lès-Beaune. Clay-limestone scree; rocky. Grapes are sorted and entirely de-stemmed; traditional vinification; 16-day maceration; the cap is punched down manually. Fifteen months in 1- to 3-year-old barrels. Aromas of bing cherry; blackcurrant; raspberry.”
Domaine Pierre Guillemot Les Serpentieres, Savigny-les-Beaune Premier Cru 2014 750ML ($49.95) $44 special, 11 bottles available
Winery note “Vineyards on a south-facing slope near the town of Savigny-lès-Beaune. The soil is composed of marl and brown earth. Fifteen months in 1- to 3-year-old barrels, with 10% new oak. Aromas of berries; strawberry; cherry; bing cherry; licorice root; peony.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Domaine Pierre Guillemot Savigny-les-Beaune Vieilles Vignes, Cote de Beaune 2014 750ML ($37.95) $33 special, 30 bottles available
Winery note: “Village-level vineyards near the town of Savigny-lès-Beaune. Clay-limestone scree and marl. Grapes are sorted and entirely de-stemmed; traditional vinification; 16-day maceration; the cap is punched down manually. Fifteen months in 1- to 3-year-old barrels. Aromas of berries; raspberry; cherry; roses; vanilla.”
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Delas’ Soul
Finding Delas’ Heart in the Northern Rhone
Delas is one of the most notable landholders in the Northern Rhone, with holdings in some of the best vineyards in every major AOC, yet they still manage to be overlooked when people put together collections of wine from the region. We’d like to remedy that, so permit us a few seconds to sing their praises.
Delas makes wines that are a) delicious and well-made and b) more than reasonably priced. This combination means that it’s possible to drink your way up and down the Northern Rhone, trying fantastic wines from fabled appellations, and you can still afford your next car payment. Sure, the wines aren’t collectible, but if you’re buying to drink, rather than to resell, give these a look. We’re proud to present a broad assortment of their wines here for your future enjoyment and winery-cellared vintages for now:
Delas Freres Cote Rotie Seigneur de Maugiron, Rhone 2010 750ML ($89.95) $69 special, 15 bottles available
Wine Spectator 94 points “Packed with lots of dark ganache, tapenade, tobacco, blackberry compote and freshly sliced plum fruit flavors, this really courses along with noticeable energy, while bramble, singed bay leaf and charcoal stud the finish dramatically. Best from 2015 through 2027.” WS
Robert Parker 91 points “The 2010 Cote Rotie Seigneur de Maugiron has fleshed out since last year offering notes of black olives, garrigue, licorice, forest floor, bacon fat, raspberries and black currants. This medium-bodied Cote Rotie veers more toward a Burgundy-styled wine than its Syrah-based peers in the Northern Rhone. Two extraordinary wines are the offerings Jacques Grange has fashioned from the Delas Freres holdings in the Cote Brune, the 2011 and 2010 Cote Rotie La Landonne.” RP
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Delas Freres Crozes-Hermitage Le Clos, Rhone 2004 750ML ($59.95) $39 special, 7 bottles available
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 89 points “Medium red. Strong mineral notes accent fresh cherry and earthier tobacco and floral aromas. Solid and firmly structured, with a racy quality to the bright cherry and rhubarb flavors. This should age very well.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Delas Freres Crozes-Hermitage Le Clos, Rhone 2013 750ML ($69.95) $59 special, 18 bottles available
Wine Advocate 93+ points “Similar to the Domaine des Grands Chemins, yet with additional structure, the inky purple/ruby colored 2013 Crozes Hermitage le Clos has lots of minerality in its smoky, meaty, dark fruited profile. Medium to full-bodied, nicely concentrated, structured yet balanced, give it 2-4 years of cellaring and enjoy over the following decade or more.”
Delas Freres Hermitage Les Bessards, Rhone 2004 750ML ($199.95) $149 special, 29 bottles available
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 94 points “Ruby-red. Very pungent, deep aromas of tobacco- and underbrush-laced red and blackcurrant. Powerful and rich, showing impressive sweetness to its potent cassis and blackberry flavors. Really stains the palate, finishing with exceptional purity and mineral tones. Whatever tannins are here (and you know there are plenty) are completely absorbed by the sheer fruit mass.”
Delas Freres Hermitage Les Bessards, Rhone 2013 750ML ($249.95) $199 special, 9 bottles available
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 95 points “(aged in 70% new oak for 18 months): Inky ruby. Sexy, highly perfumed aromas of ripe dark berries, cherry liqueur, peppery spices and fresh flowers, backed by a hint of olive. Supple and appealingly sweet, offering intense, deeply concentrated blackberry and violet pastille flavors and a suggestion of star anise. Finishes pure, sweet and energetic on the penetrating finish, showing outstanding focus and slow-building tannins.”
Wine Advocate 94+ points “Closed, tight and backwards, the 2013 Hermitage les Bessards is a big, full-bodied, burly wine that offers first rate purity in its black raspberry, ozone, liquid rock, and creosote-like bouquet. It has plenty of material and density, but will need 7-8 years of bottle age to become approachable. As normal, it comes all from the “Bas de Coteau” portion of the Bessards lieu-dit, was completely destemmed and saw 18 months in 30% new French oak.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Delas Freres Hermitage Domaine des Tourettes-Marquise de la Tourette, Rhone 2013 750ML ($119.95) Was $69 special, Now $59, 11 bottles available
Case-6 Delas Freres Hermitage Domaine des Tourettes-Marquise de la Tourette, Rhone 2013 750ML ($549.95) Was $359 special, Now $319 (that’s only $53.17/bottle!), 6 six-packs available
Wine Advocate 94 points “One of the gems in the vintage is the 2013 Hermitage Domaine des Tourettes, which comes from both the Bessards and Grandes Vignes lieux-dits on Hermitage Hill. Completely destemmed, then vinified in stainless steel and concrete tanks, the wine is aged 18 months in 30% new French oak; it offers terrific notes of dark fruits, graphite and ample minerality in a full-bodied, layered, ripe profile. It’s more approachable than the Les Bessards, yet will still have three decades of longevity.”
Delas Freres Saint-Joseph Francois de Tournon, Rhone 2013 750ML ($44.95) $28 special, 25 bottles available
Wine Advocate 92 points “Similar to the Saint Epine release quality-wise, the 2013 St Joseph Cuvee Francois de Tournon offers more richness, breadth and layer compared to the tighter, more focused, granite-influenced Saint Epine. Plum, black raspberry, licorice, cracked pepper and graphite flows to a medium to full-bodied, concentrated, structured 2013 that needs 3-4 years of cellaring; it will have two decades of longevity. Coming mostly from vineyards around Tournon and Mauves, it spent 12 months in 30% new French oak.”
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 92 points “Vivid ruby. Highly perfumed, exotic scents of black raspberry and blueberry preserves, incense and smoky minerals carry a spicy topnote. At once ripe and lively on the palate, offering palate-staining red and dark berry and cherry cola flavors and subtle floral character. Finishes spicy and very long, displaying harmonious tannins and a lingering violet note.”
Wine Spectator 92 points “Ripe and concentrated without sacrificing cut, this lets a pure beam of raspberry and blackberry coulis rush forth, backed by mouthwatering anise, black tea and iron notes. Latent grip allows the finish to linger. Best from 2016 through 2022.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
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2011 Il Poggione
Back Vintage Brunello at
the Best Price in the Country
No need to say much here, we’ve got some 2011 Il Poggione comes in next month and the pricing we have on it is spectacular. This is one to drink while your 2012’s mature and is no slouch on its own–there wasn’t a Riserva made in 2011, so all of that fruit went into this bottling.
Arriving Next Month:
Il Poggione Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Tuscany 2011 750ML ($79.95) $58.50 pre-arrival special
Case-6 Il Poggione Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Tuscany 2011 750ML ($419.95) $319 pre-arrival special (that’s only $53.17/bottle!)
Wine Advocate 95 points “Il Poggione has done a terrific job with its 2011 Brunello di Montalcino. The wine is soft, yielding and charged with a velvety and smooth texture. It is deeply redolent of dark berry, black cherry, spice, leather and tobacco. The wine’s sunny personality never feels flat or too dense. In fact, the wine offers a very tight and steely backbone that gives the wine stature and strength. This is one of my favorite Brunellos from the 2011 vintage.”
Antonio Galloni 94 points “A dark, powerful wine, the 2011 Brunello di Montalcino offers notable depth and intensity. Il Poggione’s 2011 is one of the richest, most powerful wines of the year. Black cherry, plum, lavender, cloves and new leather are some of the first nuances that open up. With time in the glass, the 2011 becomes more lifted, as brighter red cherry and raspberry-infused flavors gradually release. This is a rare 2011 that demands at least a good few years in the cellar. In 2011, Il Poggione did not bottle a Riserva. All the juice went into the straight Brunello.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $74!
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Wine From Sauternes: Dry to Sweet
Sauternes is one of the great wines of France, to be sure. We’re always excited to get a new stash in and over the next few months we’ve got some exciting selections coming in. Of particular note is the “Ygrec” or Y d’Yquem bottling—a classically made white Bordeaux from Y’quem’s hallowed terroir. It’s rich and powerful, like you’d expect, with surprisingly delicate aromatics. One for the lovers of Chevalier or Haut Brion blanc, to be sure.
Of other note is a Sauternes that we’re getting in made by Yquem from declassified fruit. Traditionally only sold to employees of the estate (and LVMH, the parent company), we managed to get our hands on a few cases of the 2010, which arrives partially this month and partially next.
Arriving this Month:
Sauternes (Declassified D’yquem) 2010 750ML ($69.95) $59 pre-arrival special
VinopolNote: Declassified d’Yquem
Arriving in August:
Case-12 Sauternes (Declassified D’yquem) 2010 750ML ($799.95) $599 pre-arrival special (that’s only $49.92/bottle!)
VinopolNote: Declassified d’Yquem
Chateau d’Yquem ‘Y’ Ygrec, Bordeaux 2014 750ML ($199.95) $169 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2014 Ygrec is a blend of 75% Sauvignon Blanc and 25% Semillon with seven grams per liter of residual sugar. It has an attractive nose with scents of nettle, dandelion, gooseberry and grass clippings, the Semillon taking a back seat to the Sauvignon Blanc at the moment. The palate is very well balanced with the 20% new oak nicely integrated (the remainder is matured in two-year-old Yquem barrels). It is very refined with lovely passion fruit and kumquat notes towards the second half where finally the Semillon makes its presence felt, with touches of brioche and lemongrass developing in the glass. What a gorgeous Ygrec.”
Wine Spectator 93 points “This has a gorgeous whiff of toast, with alluring shortbread, lemon curd and white peach flavors. The long, creamy finish lets echoes of clementine and honeysuckle drift through. Rounded and creamy overall, but plenty long. A beauty. Drink now through 2020.”
Arriving in November:
Chateau d’Yquem ‘Y’ Ygrec, Bordeaux 2013 750ML ($199.95) $169 pre-arrival special
Wine Spectator 96 points “This stunning white offers a rich display of mango and papaya flavors, gilded with peach, lemon curd and tangerine notes, all allied to a gorgeously creamy mouthfeel. Shows an extra honeyed edge, with white ginger and heather details stretching out. Despite the overall opulence, a hint of citrus oil underscores the finish for cut and vibrancy. Drink now through 2025.”
Chateau Rieussec, Sauternes 2003 750ML ($79.95) $59 pre-arrival special
Wine Spectator 95 points “Big, rich and juicy. Voluptuous, with aromas of caramel, apple and light tropical fruit. Full-bodied, round and very sweet, with loads of ripe fruit and a long butterscotch and piecrust aftertaste. Viscous texture. Hard not to drink it now. A wonderful sticky. Best after 2010.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Chateau Coutet, Barsac 2003 750ML ($59.95) $39 pre-arrival special
Wine Spectator 95 points “Honey, apple tart and lemon rind. Full-bodied, medium-sweet and very spicy with intense flavors of mace, apple and honey. Long finish. Thick and powerful. Best after 2010.”
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2016 Maximin Grunhaus
A Landmark Estate Continues
to Reach New Heights
This is the first time we’ve been able to offer the 2016’s from legendary producer Maximin Grunhaus, owned by the von Schubert family. One of the three most important historic Mosel-Saar-Ruwer estates, (along with JJ Prum and Egon Muller), the estate went through a bit of a down period in the late nineties. Starting in 2004, though, they’ve been on a roll, with each vintage being better than the last—a trend that seems to be continuing with the 2016’s. While we loved the 2015’s (and those wines are excellent), the 2016’s seem to be a slightly better class of wine, “better vintage” be damned.
If you aren’t familiar with the estate or its wines, these are German wines to pay attention to. The Ruwer valley (part of the Mosel region) is one of the coolest sub-climates in the area, producing wines that are bright and racy. The Grünhaus wines are built to last, with coiled tension and nervy minerality that unwinds with air or time. Historically, the wines absolutely required time, but over the last decade or so, cellar master Stefan Kraml has reached new heights of excellence at this iconic estate. He has embraced the richer and plusher aromatics and body of the ever warmer vintages, and adapted the winemaking to highlight the natural expressions of the grapes. These are still high-acid, leaner wines, but they’re pleasurable to drink young now.
Arriving in November:
Carl von Schubert Maximin Grunhauser Abtsberg Riesling Alte Reben Trocken, Mosel 2016 750 ($29.95) $24 pre-arrival special
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Carl von Schubert Maximin Grunhauser Abtsberg Riesling Grosses Gewachs, Mosel 2016 750ML ($59.95) $39 pre-arrival special
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Carl von Schubert Maximin Grunhauser Abtsberg Riesling Kabinett, Mosel 2016 750ML ($29.95) $24 pre-arrival special
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Carl von Schubert Maximin Grunhauser Herrenberg Riesling Kabinett, Mosel 2016 750 ($29.95) $24 pre-arrival special
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Carl von Schubert Maximin Grunhauser Abtsberg Riesling Spatlese, Mosel 2016 750ML ($37.95) $29 pre-arrival special
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Carl von Schubert Maximin Grunhauser Herrenberg Riesling Spatlese, Mosel 2016 750ML ($37.95) $29 pre-arrival special
This is the only listing in the USA today!