2012 Il Poggione: One for the Collectors; New May Sales; Wine Spectator Reviews 2015 German Riesling; Masi’s Mastery—Amarone and More!; New Wines Arriving Tomorrow; Killer Cali at Best in the US Prices; May Sales Recap
~~~~~~~~~~
Breaking News:
Movin’ On Up!
Il Poggione
& New Case-6 Price!
Now Arriving May 28th:
Most Brunello collectors buy either traditional or modern examples with the exception of a few wines whose appeal seems to transcend stylistic categories. These wines are the real ‘collectible’ Brunelli—there’s always going to be a market for them. In that category, Il Poggione manages to be unique. It’s a wine that’s traditionally made, yet approachable, beloved across the board and is still reasonably priced.
For that reason, Il Poggione remains one of our favorite wines in Brunello—it’s tough to beat the combination of quality and price. The wines are probably the least expensive, collectible-quality Brunello out there. The 2012 vintage is no exception and the wine is gorgeous, from a warm vintage but with the freshness and elegance you expect from Il Poggione. We have some arriving at the end of the month and we’re excited to offer them to you today.
Il Poggione Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Tuscany 2012 750ML ($79.95) $59 pre-arrival special
Case-6 Il Poggione Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Tuscany 2012 750ML ($449.95) $333 pre-arrival special (that’s only $55.50/bottle!)
Wine Advocate 95+ points “Il Poggione is a Brunello superstar and a vintage like this reveals every reason why that affirmation is true. From the second the 2012 Brunello di Montalcino pours into the glass, you know you are in for something special. The wine is darkly saturated and rich in appearance. Absent are those slightly amber or browning hues you often get with Sangiovese in a hot vintage. Nor does the wine show flat or tired characteristics. Instead, the quality of fruit is vibrant and rich. This is a healthy, generous and exuberant Brunello with dark density and succulent fruit flavors that are followed by integrated spice and tobacco. The balance is impressive and one thing you get here is fresh acidity. This is not to be underestimated, because the acidity quota in the 2012 vintage across the appellation is not as high or evident as usual. This is one of the year’s best Brunellos.”
~~~~~~~~~~
New May Sale Wine
Pinot Meunier is so frequently overlooked as the third grape of Champagne. At the hands of a rarified few (Prevost, Mignon and Dehu to name perhaps half) the glory of this grape comes into its own. Think of it as Gamay: derided and overlooked in favor of Pinot and Chard, yet so full of minerality and charm. The ability of this grape to express terroir is so often ignored by grower, producer and drinker alike. Here, in this single-parcel, single-varietal Champagne, one can truly appreciate the depth and complexity achieved at the hands(-off approach) of masters.
Dehu ‘La Rue des Noyers’, Champagne NV (2012) 750ML ($119.95) Was $99, Now $89, 21 bottles available
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 93+ points “Benoît Déhu’s NV Extra Brut La Rue des Noyers is a 100% Meunier from a biodynamically farmed 1.7 hectare plot in Fossoy with dark limestone soils. Fermented and aged for ten months in used 228 liter barrels but with “no malolactic, no racking, no filtering, no cold stabilization and no fining,” says Benoît Déhu, when he presented me his wine at the presentation of the Origines Champagne group in Château de Pierry earlier this year. “We produce our wines like our colleagues in Burgundy.” It had two different Cuvées of this wine. Their first was entirely based on the 2011 vintage and was disgorged in June 2014 with a minimal dosage of one gram per liter. It is an impressively deep, intense and full-bodied Champagne that displays ripe fruit and slightly smoky flavors on the nose; it is very pure, complex and well structured on the palate. This stunningly powerful and persistent Champagne is surely made for a long distance run. The second wine is the successor and based on vintage 2012, but disgorged with no dosage. This is a very delicate and elegant release with a superbly refined mousse. However, it is also straight, firm and perhaps even finer than the 2011.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
See the complete list of all 34 wines on sale now for our special May Sale at the bottom of this newsletter!
~~~~~~~~~~
New Reviews from Wine Spectator
Bruce Sanderson of the Wine Spectator has jumped onto the 2015 German Riesling bandwagon with gusto. We’re highlighting his new reviews below for these fab finds in stock now. Apologies, though, that’s it’s only bits and pieces –WS is always late to the party and a lot of wines sold out pre-arrival. If any of these appeal to you, don’t delay as it’s unlikely we can get more:
Joh. Jos. Prum Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Auslese Goldkapsel, Mosel 2015 1.5L ($219.95) $199 special, 6 magnums available
Wine Spectator 94 points “A gossamer texture belies the intensity and concentration of this elegant white combining floral, peach, apple, spice and slate notes, with a tangy and succulent finish. Best from 2020 through 2036.”
This is the only listing in the USA today for the magnum!
Selbach-Oster Zeltinger Himmelreich Riesling Kabinett Halbtrocken, Mosel 2015 750ML ($27.95) $21.90 special, 21 bottles available
Wine Spectator 93 points “Pungent, with aromas of slate and ripe orchard fruit, this sleek white displays complex flavors of flowers, peach, quince and slate. A hint of chive works into the mix as this remains persistent on the finish. Drink now through 2024.”
Von Winning Kirchenstuck Riesling Grosses Gewachs, Pfalz 2015 750ML ($139.95) $99 special, 2 bottles available
Wine Spectator 93 points “Complex and beautifully crafted, with orchard blossom aromas, and flavors of ripe quince and blood orange, this firmly structured white has a spine of powerful but well-integrated acidity. The finish is infused with savory spice notes. Best from 2019 through 2029.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $114.99
Schlossgut Diel Dorsheimer Goldloch Riesling Grosses Gewachs, Nahe 2015 750ML ($79.95) $59 special, 7 bottles available
Wine Spectator 92 points “A well-crafted, mineral-infused white, delivering aromas of lemon peel and dried herb, and flavors of quince and peach, with hints of wet stone. A dried chamomile note lingers on the finish. The powerful acidity should mellow after several years of cellaring. Best from 2020 through 2035.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $74.99
Joh. Jos. Prum Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Spatlese, Mosel 2015 1.5L ($99.95) $79 special, 5 magnums available
Wine Spectator 92 points “A racy, tensile version, whose peach, apple and lime flavors are stretched tight along its axis. Delicate, vibrant and mouthwatering on the long finish. Drink now through 2028.”
This is the only listing in the USA today for the magnum!
Carl von Schubert Maximin Grunhauser Herrenberg Riesling Auslese, Mosel 2015 750ML ($69.95) $59 special, 20 bottles available
Wine Spectator 92 points “Though delicate and filigreed, this white packs a lot of flavor and intensity into a slim frame. Creamsicle, brown butter and mineral notes converge on the lingering aftertaste. Best from 2024 through 2038.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Joh. Jos. Prum Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Kabinett, Mosel 2015 1.5L ($79.95) $66 special, 1 magnum available
Wine Spectator 94 points – Hot Wine “This juicy and harmonious white, with a easy-drinking character, offers complex aromas hinting at violet, black currant and peach, while the flavors pick up apple and mineral notes, all capped by a long aftertaste echoing fruit, mineral and floral elements. Drink now through 2024.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today for the magnum!
The next best price is $83.99 for the magnum!
~~~~~~~~~~
Masi Arriving Friday
Amarone and Beyond
For over 200 years, the Boscaini family has farmed grapes and made wine in the Veneto region of Italy. They are the cutting edge of Amarone yet adhere to the traditional methods of production. Sound mutually exclusive? Not so: the family has led research into the what and why of historical practices. Their curiosity led to the understanding of the chemical changes that occur during the traditional drying appassimento method (the drying of the grapes) while studying the indigenous varieties. Their work in the vineyards to classify crus beginning in the 1950s and to improve the art of vine growing has led the region to international fame. They bring the deeply held appreciation for tradition to its modern apex from their extensive holdings in the Vento. We’re proud to present two new gems from the family, arriving tomorrow: the special selection Brolo di Campofrorin Oro– a bargain at under $20 – and the Riserva Amarone for which they are heralded:
Masi Brolo di Campofiorin Oro Rosso Veronese IGT, Veneto 2013 750ML ($29.95) $19 pre-arrival special
Case-6 Masi Brolo di Campofiorin Oro Rosso Veronese IGT, Veneto2013 750ML ($149.95) $99 pre-arrival special (that’s only $16.50/bottle!)
Importer note “Ruby red colour with purplish tinges to the edges. Cherries and ripe plums on the nose with subtle hints of chocolate and cinnamon. Soft and full bodied on the palate with a big structure, velvety tannins, notable acidity and attractive hints of plum conserve and sweet spices, which last forever on the finish. ‘Brolo’ is equivalent to the French ‘clos,’ a walled vineyard. This special selection of Campofiorin expresses the individual style of local Veronese varieties (particularly Corvina) and the original methods of appasimento and Masi’s double fermentation. This dry, rich, velvety, complex and elegant wine is aged in small oak barrels. Brolo di Campofiorin vineyards are located in Valgatara di Marano, in the heart of Valpolicella Classico, where grapes for the original Campofiorin are grown, with very deep alluvial soil on eocenic limestone. Like Campofiorin, this wine is produced using Masi’s double fermentation system. Wine from fresh grapes undergoes temperature-controlled fermentation with selected yeasts. The end of November, the wine is re-fermented, with 30% of semi-dried Corvina grapes. Malolactic follows fermentation. The wine is aged in 600-liter ‘fusti veronesi’: Allier and Slavonian oak barrels, before a period in bottle.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Masi Costasera Riserva, Amarone della Valpolicella Classico DOCG 2009 750ML ($79.95) $59 pre-arrival special
Wine Spectator 92 points “Plush and mouthwatering, this layers sweet and savory flavors of black raspberry puree, fragrant leather, sun-dried cherry, cocoa powder, wild herb and olive. A well-structured red for the cellar, but accessible now, presenting a long, smoke-tinged finish. Drink now through 2029.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $67
Vinopolis Exclusive – In Stock Now from Masi
Masi Osar Veronese IGT, Veneto 2000 750ML ($79.95) $59 special, 10 bottles available
“Very meaty and raisiny on the nose, with mineral and fresh herb notes. Full-bodied and tightly packed, with a vein of raisiny black fruit coating the abundant velvety tannins. Needs time to unravel. Rustic but concentrated. Made from a local variety, Oseleta.” –Wine Spectator
This is the only listing in the USA today!
~~~~~~~~~~
Arriving Tomorrow
Mount Eden Vineyards ‘Domaine Eden’ Cabernet Sauvignon, Santa Cruz Mountains 2013 750ML ($39.95) $36 pre-arrival special
Antonio Galloni 92 points “Another gorgeous wine, the 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon is a huge overachiever in its price range. Inky dark red and blue-fleshed fruit, smoke, spices and licorice hit the palate as this exuberant, radiant Cabernet shows off its racy personality. There is more than enough plumpness to make the 2013 approachable young, but also enough density to drink well for a number of years. Graphite, smoke, licorice and black cherry jam infuse the super-expressive finish.”
Christophe Mignon Brut Rose, Champagne NV 750ML ($69.95) $59 pre-arrival special
Antonio Galloni 94 points “Christophe Mignon’s NV Brut Rosé Pur Meunier is tremendous. Sweet rose petal, tobacco, dried cherry, star anise and cranberry are beautifully delineated in a vinous, beautifully textured Champagne that hits all the right notes. Intense, but also light on its feet, the Brut Rosé Pur Meunier is a wine readers will want to follow over several hours. The current release is equal parts 2013 and 2012 vintages, bottled with 6 grams of dosage.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Just in time for the summer sunshine:
Isaac Cantalapiedra ‘Cantayano’ Vino de la Tierra de Castilla y Leon, Spain 2015 750ML ($24.95) $20.90 pre-arrival special
Case-12 Isaac Cantalapiedra ‘Cantayano’ Vino de la Tierra de Castilla y Leon, Spain 2015 750ML ($259.95) $219 pre-arrival special (that’s only $18.25/bottle and the lowest listed price in the USA today!)
John Gilman 93+ points “Isaac Cantalapiedra and his son, winemaker Maule, cultivate twenty hectares of vines in and just outside of the borders of Rueda- hence the Castilla y León DO on this bottle, despite the fact that seven hectares of their Verdejo vineyards are in the heart of Rueda. This wine is crafted with natural yeast fermentation, with ninety percent fermented in stainless steel and ten percent in older French casks, with the wine spending eight months nurturing on its fine lees prior to bottling. The 2015 Cantayano delivers a deep, complex bouquet loaded with personality, reveling in scents of pear, peach stone, wild fennel, incipient notes of beeswax, salty soil tones and a nice herbal touch of lemongrass in the upper register. On the palate the wine is pure, focused and very full-bodied for Verdejo, with a rock solid core, excellent soil signature, bright acids and outstanding length and grip on the vibrant and still quite youthful finish. This is a dynamite bottle of Verdejo that should continue to improve over the next five to seven years in the bottle and may well last longer than that! 2017-2025+.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
~~~~~~~~~~
Score These Killer Picks from Cali!
Arriving May 19th:
La Jota Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Howell Mountain 2013 750ML ($99.95) $79 pre-arrival special
Decanter Magazine 98 points “Resplendent aromas of voluptuous blackcurrant and plum. This is certainly rich and concentrated, yet it all seems to be in balance, with firm chocolatey tannins supporting the dense and solid fruit.”
Wine Enthusiast 95 points – Cellar Selection – “This full-bodied, concentrated wine shows plenty of power in its bringing together of the variety with smaller percentages of Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Malbec. With a huge presence on the palate that lingers and stays in one’s brain, it shows a reductive quality of toasted oak along with black pepper, bark and leather saddle,. It’s a wine to enjoy from a giant leather chaise, if possible. Cellar until 2023.”
Hartford Family Winery Hartford Court Arrendell Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley 2014 750ML ($119.95) $89 pre-arrival special
Robert Parker 96 points “The 2014 Pinot Noir Arrendell Vineyard is often not picked until after Halloween, as it is one of the coldest vineyards in the Russian River Valley. Its spicy, complex notes of allspice, sassafras, sweet black cherries and Asian plum sauce are exotic, fragrant and intense. The superb fragrance is matched by an exotic, silky, fleshy wine with dark berries (especially ripe raspberries and black cherries), soft tannins, and full body. This is a head-turning “wow” Pinot Noir to drink over the next decade.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $99.94
Hartford Family Winery Hartford Court Fog Dance Vineyard Pinot Noir, Green Valley 2014 750ML ($69.95) $49 pre-arrival special
Robert Parker 93 points “The 2014 Pinot Noir Fog Dance Vineyard comes from Dijon clones 115, 667 and 777 grown in another cold, windy area in the Green Valley, south of the old hippie town of Forestville. Soft, spicy, tart red cherries in addition to some plum, Asian spice, and forest floor are all present in this luscious, sexy, complex wine that offers up loads of fragrance, medium to full body and a heady finish. Drink it over the next 7-10 years.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $53.10
The average price is $65
Bootleg Red Blend, Napa Valley 2013 750ML ($39.95) $31.90 pre-arrival special
Case-12 Bootleg Red Blend, Napa Valley 2013 750ML ($419.95) $333 pre-arrival special (that’s only $27.75/bottle and the lowest listed price in the USA today!)
Robert Parker 94 points “The 2013 Proprietary Red from Bootleg is a major sleeper of not only the vintage, but in its entire concept. There are just over 8,000 cases of this wine, which has been culled from KJ vineyards on Atlas Peak, Oakville, Mt. Veeder, Rutherford and Spring Mountain. The wine is a blend of 27% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Petite Sirah, 21% Zinfandel, 12% Merlot, and the rest Malbec and Petit Verdot. That’s like throwing in the entire kitchen sink, but the result is a stunningly delicious, complex, big-time, sexy style of wine with a deep, opaque purple color, a beautiful nose of blackberries and blueberries, with some lavender Provençal herbs, licorice and a touch of espresso. The wine has a fabulous texture, a plush, full-bodied mouthfeel, and beautiful purity and depth. It’s something that could only be made in California, given the blend, but it is off-the-charts in terms of its hedonistic appeal. At the same time, it is complex enough to satisfy the intellectual senses as well. Drink it over the next 5-6 years. A big-time winner.”
~~~~~~~~~~
May Sale Recap
