Monday 1-23-17 Newsletter

Super Sales Preview; Featured New Arrivals: Isole e Olena & Felsina Gran Selezione; Featured Re-Arrival: Nicolas-Jay #96 WotY; New Week – New Arrivals; Louis Jadot Sale; Sine Qua Non Sale; Johannes Selbach in PDX; Italian Wine Sale; Spanish Wine Sale; Il Carbonaione & Bel-Air Arriving Wednesday; Lopez de Heredia Arriving Friday; 2010 Lisini Brunello Arriving Mid-Feb

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Super Sales Preview

We’ve cut prices on almost 50 wines from around the world. Here’s a special preview of some of the highlights. For the complete list of sales, keep reading!

Louis Jadot Echezaux Grand Cru 2012 750ML ($249.95) Was $169, Now $152.10, 12 bottles available
Wine Enthusiast 96 points “Hugely dense, packed with ripe and generous black fruits, this is already showing its serious side with complex tannins and a dark, brooding texture that also brings out the wood aging. The fruit, a gorgeous array of perfumed black plums and damsons, is developing well, just hinting at future greatness.”
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 93+ points “Bright, dark red. Captivating high-toned aromas of raspberry, cherry liqueur, spices, crushed stone and musky minerals. Juicy, sappy and sharply delineated, conveying exhilarating lift to its tactile flavors of red berries, menthol and spices. Strong acidity shuts down the wine’s fruit on the back, but the firmly tannic, backward finish shows soil-driven salinity and wonderfully vibrant lingering notes of dark cherry and licorice.”

This was the lowest listed price in the USA today,
Now it’s even lower!
The average price is $216

Don’t miss the twenty additional Louis Jadot wines, in-stock and on sale now. Read on to see the entire list!

Sine Qua Non Rattrapante Grenache, California 2012 750ML ($899.95) Was $699, Now $519, 2 bottles available
Robert Parker 100 points “A perfect wine any way you look at it, the 2012 Grenache Rattrapante comes all from the Eleven Confessions Vineyard in the Sta. Rita Hills and spent 33 months in 27% new French oak. My notes start – and end – with “Wow.” Giving up tons of black raspberries, peppery herbs, licorice, dried flowers and cured meats, it’s a massively concentrated, rich and layered Grenache that somehow manages to stay graceful, lively and fresh on the palate. There are roughly 800 cases of this elixir and any Grenache lover should do their best to latch onto a bottle (or two). It’s also worth noting that this cuvee saw 26% whole clusters, which is a small change from past vintages.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $549
The average price is $720

Don’t miss the additional seven Sine Qua Non bottlings on sale now – keep reading to see the entire list of these high-scoring collectibles!

Casanova di Neri Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2011 750ML ($59.95) Was $49, Now $44.10, 36+ bottles available
Antonio Galloni 92 points “Casanova di Neri’s 2011 Brunello di Montalcino is a very pretty and expressive wine. Sweet red cherry, menthol, rose petal and mint open up first, followed by a touch of blood orange that adds lovely aromatic lift and brightness throughout. Although not especially complex, the 2011 should drink beautifully for at least a handful of years. Today, it is quite pretty and expressive.”
Wine Advocate 92 points “Giacomo Neri has produced a very approachable wine in this warm vintage. The 2011 Brunello di Montalcino is plump and juicy with loads of dark fruit and mild spice at the back. It doesn’t have the depth or complexity of the gorgeous 2010 vintage, but the wine does a very good job presenting the main traits you look for in Brunello. The fruit is lively and the acidity gives the wine a sense of buoyancy and brightness. The tannins are very well integrated. It doesn’t reach Brunello greatness, but it is a good Brunello.”
Grapelive 93+ points “Casanova di Neri is one of Italy’s great wineries and a blue chip standard Brunello year after year. Of course, I was most interested in the soon to be released 2011 Brunello offerings, and how they’d compare to the 2010’s. Similar to 2011 Barolo, these wines gained from the warmer summer heat, these are more generous wines with sweeter tannins and will be easy to please in their youth. Casanova di Neri really did a great job here as these Sangiovese Grosso Brunello di Montalcino 2011’s both have balance, depth and vitality. The 2011 Casanova di Neri White Label, the Brunello Normale, is full of flavor, extract and energy with ripe fruit, structure to match and pleasing mouth feel. [It] starts with a touch of graphite/flint, red raspberry, sweet minty herbs, light floral tones and cigar wrapper leading to a full and round palate of blackberry, cherry, spiced plum and wild strawberry fruits along with cedar, black fig, anise and warm stones. The body is lavishly textured, but there is lift and vigor with just enough acidity and fine tannin to frame this spot on Brunello. This will be a sleeper, while most people will chase the top end wines and or keep tracking down 2010’s this looks set to be a great wine that might get overlooked. That will be a mistake: this is one to have and drink over the next decade. It’s very nice stuff.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $53

We have nine more Italian wines on sale now – see the full list below!

Familia Nin-Ortiz ‘Nit de Nin’, Priorat DOCa 2013 750ML ($119.95) Was $99, Now $79.10, 27 bottles available
Wine Advocate 96+ points “The 2013 Nit de Nin matured in 3,200-liter oak foudres for some 16 months, and wants to be an old-style blend of grapes from slope vineyards showcasing the typicity of Priorat. The full clusters from ancient vineyards fermented with indigenous yeasts and produced some 4,000 bottles that were filled in March 2015. I previously had the opportunity of tasting the wine just after being bottled and was somehow reduced and dizzy. Now it’s a completely different story. The 16 months in bottle have polished the wine and the reductive character is completely gone. However, everything is subtler, it’s not as explosive as when it is really young and shows its exuberance, there is a calmed beauty. The palate is always very refined with fantastic freshness and subtle minerality, pure and fresh, even if it’s also very powerful.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Don’t miss the five additional Spanish wines on sale now – keep reading for the full list, including Lopez de Heredia and Marco Abella!

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Featured New Arrivals

Isole e Olena Chianti Classico Gran Selezione DOCG 2010 750ML ($219.95) $179 special
Isole e Olena Chianti Classico Gran Selezione DOCG 2010 1.5L ($499.95) $369 special
Antonio Galloni 98+ points “The 2010 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione is extraordinary. A wine of pedigree and class, the 2010 boasts magnificent intensity and depth yet never comes across as heavy. The flavors are layered, nuanced and beautifully delineated in the glass. Plum, black cherry, spice, menthol and sweet spices are laced into the exquisite finish. The 2010 is a stunner today, but also has plenty of upside for the future. A reduction of time in barrel vis-a-vis the 2006 has paid off handsomely. The 2010 is going to be expensive, but it is worth every penny. Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot round out the blend.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $200

Felsina Berardenga ‘Colonia’, Chianti Classico Gran Selezione DOCG 2010 750ML ($199.95) $119 special
Wine Advocate 95+ points “When you hear the story of the effort that went into making the Colonia vineyard, you have to wonder if the fine folks at Fèlsina are absolutely mad. It took them two years of dynamite blasting to clear the imposing rock that had forced previous generations of the Poggiali family to virtually abandon this site. But an ambitious Giovanni Poggiali takes credit for making this spectacular vineyard what it is today. The wine produced here is quickly becoming the second flagship product after Fontalloro. The 2010 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Colonia is a wine of enormous beauty and depth. This is Sangiovese at its highest expression and any doubt I had about the previous vintage (which was the first time this wine appeared as a Gran Selezione) have been washed away by this current release. What really stands out are the wine’s precise mineral and graphite aromas that lend an incredible sense of focus and balance. The oak element is also beautifully integrated.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

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Featured Re-Arrival

#96 Wine Spectator Wine of the Year 2016

Nicolas-Jay Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2014 750ML ($69.95) $64 special
Grapelive 94+ points “The new Meo-Camuzet Oregon project, the Nicolas-Jay Pinot Noir is out, and it is a brilliant and luscious wine with deep fruit and youthful intensity. Bottle age should bring amazing rewards, this is a stunner! Nicolas-Jay takes full advantage of nature’s gift here with explosive fruit, a seductive nose of rose petal, violets and sweet smoke, a dark core and a glorious array of layers, flavors and length with blackberry, cherry, sweet plum and tangy currant fruits, mixed spice, light mineral tones, hints of cedar, blueberry/concord grape, cinnamon and delicate earthy loam. Look for lots more complexity as it unlocks hidden treasure over the coming decade. Almost full-bodied, the 2014 Nicolas-Jay is very much alive with lifting acidity, graceful silken tannins and gorgeous sexy mouth feel, a bit more flamboyant than the Ken Wright 2014’s, but with similar detail. This may have had a Burgundian touch, but it is all Oregon in character and terroir, close to what you’d expect from top producers like Beaux Freres. Don’t miss a chance to get a few bottles, and while this Pinot is great now, it should be better in 5 to 10 years. This winery is off to a fantastic start!”
Wine Spectator 93 points “Broad, expressive and light-footed, this brims with cherry, plum, licorice and cashew flavors that keep singing on the focused finish. Drink now through 2024. 1,750 cases made.”

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New Week – New Arrivals

California

Dominus Estate Christian Moueix, Napa Valley 2012 375ML ($119.95) $99 special
Robert Parker 99 points “Flirting with perfection, the 2012 Dominus is composed of 93% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Petit Verdot and 2% Cabernet Franc. Five thousand cases were produced, a relatively modest amount from this large vineyard’s big crop. Christian Moueix told me that there was plenty of heat in 2012, but there were no excessive hot spells that can plague Napa Valley vintners during the growing season and harvest. This wine’s opaque plum/purple color is accompanied by a beautiful nose of sweet crème de cassis, a touch of background oak (only 40% new oak is used), spice box, cedarwood, black cherries and a hint of spring flowers. The complex, intense aromatics are followed by a deep, opulent, multidimensional, full-bodied wine with not a hard edge to be found. Everything is seamlessly crafted in this beauty and the vintage’s abundant richness is well-displayed. This 2012 can be drunk in its exuberant youthfulness or cellared for another 20-25 years.”

Dominus Estate Christian Moueix, Napa Valley 2013 375ML ($179.95) $149 special
Robert Parker 100 points “The 2013 Dominus is, to my way of thinking, one of the most profound wines Christian Moueix has yet made in his rather brilliant winemaking history, both in France and in Napa Valley. This wine, with very low yields of only 3,500 cases and a final blend of 89% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Petit Verdot and 4% Cabernet Franc, offers up notes of cedar wood, forest floor, loamy soil and oodles of blackberry and blackcurrant fruit. Very opaque purple in color, super-pure and intense, this wine has low acidity, but ripe, noticeable tannins. This is a 30- to 40-year wine and a profound effort from this famous vineyard in Yountville. Drink it over the next 40+ years.”
Antonio Galloni 100 points “The 2013 Dominus overwhelms all the senses with its magnificent overall balance and towering intensity. Deep and nearly impenetrable in the glass, the 2013 boasts off the charts dry extract and overall power. Violets, smoke, black cherries, menthol, incense, crème de cassis and dark spices are some of the many signatures that take shape in the glass. Even better in bottle than it was in barrel, the 2013 is utterly magnificent. This is a remarkably vivid, nuanced wine considering its sheer size.”
James Suckling 100 points “The aromas to this are multidimensional and fascinating with black truffles, bark, cloves, black currants and citrus – even ginseng. Full-bodied, yet reserved, even austere, with chewy and powerful tannins that remain polished and refined. The flavors are more umami and savory. Then there’s forest fruits and red orange undertones. It lasts for minutes. A wine to age for a lifetime. It’s an experience to taste this. A new classic showing its history and tradition as a source of the greatest wines ever from Napa. A wine to always enjoy.”
France – Loire

Herve Villemade Domaine du Moulin Cheverny Blanc, Loire 2015 750ML ($19.95) $16.60 special
Importer note “A white blend of typically 70% sauvignon blanc and 30% chardonnay from Herve’s family’s holding around Cheverny.  Meant to be enjoyed young.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Herve Villemade Domaine du Moulin Cheverny Rouge, Loire 2015 750ML ($19.95) $16.60 special
Importer note “The domaine’s basic red blend 50% pinot noir and 50% gamay from Herve’s family’s holding around Cheverny. Whole cluster maceration to preserve the primary fruit of both cepages.  Meant to be enjoyed young.”

Thierry Germain “Les Roches” Saumur-Champigny, Loire 2015 750ML ($27.95) $21.90 special
Grapelive 93+ points “The beautiful and detailed all biodynamic/organic 2015 Les Roches by Thierry Germain takes a few moments to unveil itself, like an exotic fan dancer. But then wow, this gorgeous chalky and perfumed 100% Cabernet Franc really shows its class and energy, it’s absolutely stunning. The Thierry Germain Saumur Champigny Les Roches comes from mostly 30 to 40 year old vines set on clay, chalk, sand and limestone. It was 100% de-stemmed, native yeast fermented in stainless and raised in old foudres and stainless steel on the fine lees for just a few months without added sulfur. This pure and natural Saumur Champigny is medium bodied and delicate. It has layers of graceful flavors and intriguing class. The nose brings earth, violets, mineral notes and a hint of bell pepper and mixed spices leading to a refined palate of blackberry, creme de violet, tart currants, black cherry and earthy mulberry fruits with cinnamon, truffle, chalky dust, lavender oil and sweet basil. This charming Cabernet Franc speaks to the soul and heart. It gives remarkable terroir expression and is a great value. At 13% alcohol it is perfectly balanced and wonderfully open knit with ripe opulence and dreamy texture. Imported now by Kermit Lynch, drink over the next 3 to 5 years, though I suspect it can easily go well longer. Cab Franc lovers will not want to miss this vintage of Thierry Germain, and especially this seductive and classic Les Roches Saumur Champigny which really over delivers, it’s a brilliant starting point to explore his wines and the region.”

Italy – Piedmont

Bartolo Mascarello Dolcetto d’Alba 2015 750ML ($39.95) $33 special

Bartolo Mascarello Barolo DOCG 2012 750ML ($149.95) $125 special
Antonio Galloni 95 points “Freshly cut flowers, mint, raspberry and red stone fruits all lift from the glass in the Maria-Theresa Mascarello’s 2012 Barolo. Silky, open-knit and gracious, the 2012 is surprisingly delicious today. This is a decidedly mid-weight, approachable Barolo that is already quite open and delicious. Best of all, the 2012 won’t need years to come together. Mascarello fans should buy the 2012 to drink over the near and medium-term, while some of the more structured vintages age in the cellar. A model of grace and finesse, the 2012 is striking in its beauty, even if it clearly doesn’t have the depth or multi-dimensional personality of the very best years. Drink: 2018-2032.”

Adriano Marco e Vittorio Sanadaive, Barbaresco DOCG 2013 750ML ($27.95) $24 special
Wine Enthusiast 94 points “Enticing scents of fragrant blue flower, ripe red berry, baking spice, menthol and new leather lead the way. Fresh and elegant, the palate delivers juicy red cherry, raspberry, cinnamon, white pepper and licorice while firm, polished tannins lend structure and a smooth mouthfeel. Drink 2018–2023.”

Adriano Marco e Vittorio Basarin, Barbaresco DOCG 2012 750ML ($27.95) $24 special
Wine Spectator 93 points “Sweet strawberry, cherry and currant fruit weaves throughout this elegant, intense Barbaresco. The structure is assertive, yet this stays fresh and vibrant on the long finish. Floral and leafy underbrush notes add depth. Best from 2018 through 2030.”

Giacomo Fenocchio Dolcetto d’Alba 2015 750ML ($19.95) $16 special
Wine Spectator 91 points “This is a touch earthy yet concentrated and dense, sporting blackberry, pomegranate and black pepper notes. The finish is fluid, with a lingering essence of graphite. Drink now through 2020.”

Giacomo Conterno Cerretta Barbera d’Alba 2014 750ML ($59.95) $49 special
Wine Advocate 93+ points “The 2014 Barbera d’Alba Cerretta is a magnificent expression and an unexpected surprise. The Barbera d’Alba Cerretta has often taken a back seat to the more prominent Barbera d’Alba Francia. Among the two, I found that this wine offers even more depth of expression and nuance. The vineyard site in Serralunga d’Alba has clay soils that have contributed to the sheer sense of elegance and structure offered here. The results are grand and opulent. The wine ends with a playful touch of brimstone or dark mineral that frames its fruity core.”

Giacomo Conterno Vigna (Cascina) Francia Barbera d’Alba 2014 750ML ($59.95) $49 special
Wine Advocate 92 points “The 2014 Barbera d’Alba Francia opens to beautiful fullness and sheer depth that represents the darker, softer and more generous side of this grape. I tasted the wine from barrel approximately one month before bottling. Roberto Conterno says that 2014 was a good year for both Barbera, but especially Nebbiolo that experienced a natural selection process in the vineyard due to low yields. This wine offers ripe fruit tones with bold lines and beautifully balanced concentration.”

Giacomo Conterno Cerretta, Barolo DOCG 2012 750ML ($249.95) $199 special
Antonio Galloni 94-97 points “Conterno’s 2012 Barolo Cerretta boasts superb aromatic presence, precision and overall silkiness, with seemingly endless layers of fruit that come from all directions. Freshly cut flowers, sweet red cherry/plum fruit, hard candy, spice and new leather lead to the pliant, silky finish. The 2012 might very well be the most precise, nuanced Cerretta yet.”
Wine Advocate 94 points “To be released in October 2016, the 2012 Barolo Cerretta opens to a profound and buoyant bouquet that is particularly driven by menthol freshness, as well as pretty nuances of balsam herb and forest fruit with licorice, tilled earth and truffle. The wine is balanced and ethereal. It’s so difficult to achieve this level of aromatic definition (especially in a warm year like 2012), but Roberto Conterno has done so with a deft hand. This is a complete expression of Barolo with aromatic intensity that is matched by an enduring sense of structure and medium-weight appeal.”

Giacomo Conterno (Cascina) Francia Barolo DOCG 2012 750ML ($219.95) $189 special
Antonio Galloni 94-97 points “The 2012 Barolo Francia is dark, virile and intense, with a huge center of fruit to match its distinctly brooding personality. Today, the 2012 also comes across as quite closed in on itself, but there is a level of pure depth here that is absolutely compelling. Conterno has decided not to bottle a Monfortino, so there is good reason to think the bottled Francia has the potential to be stellar.”
Wine Advocate 95 points “Since the 2010 vintage, this wine is named Francia (not Cascina Francia) to keep with the new Menzioni Geografiche Aggiuntive (or official cru naming) in Barolo and Barbaresco. The 2012 Barolo Francia is a seductive and silky expression that flows gracefully over the palate with power and determination. The nose is expressive, and decidedly more articulate than many of the more muted wines made by neighboring estates in this warm vintage. The quality of the mouthfeel is of special interest. This beautiful Barolo already shows stunning texture, richness and integrity, despite this very early preview tasting. I tasted this wine in barrel shortly before bottling.”
Italy – Sicily

Tenuta delle Terre Nere ‘Vigne Niche’ Calderara Sottana Bianco Etna, Sicily 2015 750ML ($39.95) $29 special
Winery note “As opposed to my other Etna Bianco, which is a field blend of five varieties, Vigne Niche is 100% Carricante. I made this wine for the first time in 2007, after having had the fortune of tasting a 42 year old Carricante from the East side of the Etna. It was so beautiful, vigorous and impeccable in its venerable age that I was moved to produce something like it myself. I tried to imagine how a talented winemaker would have made such a wine half a century ago, with little or no technology and sought to do the same. Vigne Niche is the result. Have it with leek, pumpkin or onion soup, lobster bisque, risotto, oven baked fish, poultry, braised rabbit.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $34.80

Tenuta delle Terre Nere ‘Vigne Niche’ Santo Spirito Bianco Etna, Sicily 2015 750ML ($37.95) $29 special
Winery note “The two new white Crus, Calderara Sottana and Santo Spirito, feature Carricante grapes from old and young vines, for Carricante is a rare commodity in a D.O.C. overwhelmingly devoted to reds, rarer still on Etna’s Northern slopes. In fact, Carricante vineyards answer for only 4% of the appellation. Both wines are barrel fermented and aged in large oak barrels. These are late blooming wine of unusual complexity and great longevity, which will reward you for your patience with a rare, noble beauty.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $34.80

Tenuta delle Terre Nere Santo Spirito Rosso Etna, Sicily 2014 750ML ($49.95) $39 special
Ian D’Agata–Vinous 94 points “Deep red. Fresh, very deep red cherry, almond paste, sweet spice and fresh herbs on the aromatic nose. Then vibrant, juicy and dense, showing a firm tannic backbone; lively but harmonious acidity extends the ripe deep red cherry and mineral flavors on the long, suave, complex back end. Very typical of the Santo Spirito cru. With its soft, fleshy, perfumed personality, this is readier to drink than some of the other crus from Terre Nere in 2014, but has the stuffing to age well. A truly outstanding Etna Rosso, made from grapes grown in the highest portion of Santo Spirito, not far from the Guardiola cru.”

Tenuta delle Terre Nere Calderara Sottana Rosso Etna, Sicily 2014 750ML ($39.95) $33 special
Ian D’Agata–Vinous 92+ points “Good deep red. Captivating aromas of sweet cherry, crushed rocks and violet. Juicy, suave and perfumed, showing excellent vinosity to the complex, very precise flavors of plum, sour red cherries and dried herbs. Fine-grained tannins and lovely lingering aromatic perfume are featured on the long, very pure finish. Another superb vintage for this bottling, which is the most Burgundian of all of Terre Nere’s various Etna Rosso crus. It also strikes me as having less of an alcohol thrust than the other reds made at Terre Nere in this vintage.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $38

Tenuta delle Terre Nere ‘Feudo di Mezzo’ Etna Rosso, Sicily 2014 750ML ($49.95) $39 special
Ian D’Agata–Vinous 89 points “Bright ruby-red. Aromas of raspberry, minerals, potpourri and ink. Suave, clean and tight, offering reticent red fruit flavors accented by mint and botanical herbs. Less expressive and showy than is common for this cru; though it’s suave and sharply delineated, it seems a tad clenched and simple today on the long, firmly tannic, almost tough back end. The 2104 vintage, one of the greatest ever on Etna, has generally given more austere, deeper Etna Rosso wines that aren’t as forward as usual, so I may in fact be underestimating this wine. Time will tell.”

Tenuta delle Terre Nere Guardiola Rosso Etna, Sicily 2014 750ML ($59.95) $49 special
Ian D’Agata–Vinous 95+ points “Good full red. The captivating nose combines raspberry, red currant, minerals, violet and truffle and has a penetrating quality. Then sweet, fresh and juicy, showing outstanding purity and a Nebbiolo-like texture to the red fruit, floral and sweet spice flavors. Impeccably balanced, fine-grained Etna Rosso that finishes extremely long, vibrant and suave. Guardiola is the Etna cru that most often delivers Barolo-like reds. It’s also a relatively cool site whose wines really benefit in warmer vintages, when Nerello Mascalese’s anything-but-shy tannins are able to reach optimal ripeness, giving a highly structured but magically polished wine. I wouldn’t be surprised to see this merit an even higher score in four or five years’ time.”

Tenuta delle Terre Nere Prephylloxera La Vigna di Don Peppino Rosso Etna, Sicily 2014 750ML ($99.95) $89 special
Ian D’Agata–Vinous 96+ points “Luminous red. Red cherry, marzipan, raspberry jam, quinine, blood orange and a dusting of powdered minerals on the drop-dead gorgeous nose. Wonderfully juicy, sweet and gripping in the mouth, showing superb nuance and verve to the soft, fleshy red fruit, candied violet and balsamic flavors. Finishes vibrant and with noteworthy length; broad but polished tannins coat the entire mouth. An Etna Rosso of memorable purity and precision, this is great to drink already but promises greater things still to come. Made from a parcel of old pre-phylloxeric vines that grow in the Calderara Sottana vineyard (one row of which actually grows in the Santo Spirito cru), but at 100+ years of age, the Don Peppino vines are much older than those used for the Calderara Sottana bottling. In fact, this wine is a textbook example of the importance of old vines, because as delightful as the Calderara Sottana Etna Rosso is, the Don Peppino is vastly superior due to its softer, nobler tannins and greater depth and complexity of fruit.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $110
Germany

Weingut Daniel Vollenweider Wolfer Goldgrube Riesling Kabinett, Mosel 2015 750ML ($27.95) $24 special
Mosel Fine Wines 92+ points “Harvested at approx. 88° Oechsle, this offers a gorgeous nose of grapefruit, white peach, ginger and spices. It starts off with the power of a Spätlese on the palate but some gorgeously firm acidity comes through in the finish and brings balance to the aromatics. The finish is seemingly endless in presence. There is nice development potential here. 2025-2040.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

For our special feature on Johannes Selbach’s visit and new releases, keep reading!
Austria

Schloss Gobelsburg Tradition Riesling Reserve, Kamptal 2014 750ML ($59.95) $44 special
Terry Theise: “Made as always from Gaisberg old-vines, and in 2014 that wine had far more botrytis than I’m comfortable with. This wine has it also. It is highly atypical, so do not expect it to taste as it “usually” does, and if you’re averse to botrytis in dry Rieslings then you won’t be happy here.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

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Burgundy Sale

Strikes Again

In our previous newsletter, we cut prices on 22 in-stock Faiveley wines. We’re at it again – dropping our already low or lowest prices on in-stock Louis Jadot. See the complete list below and shop online on our web store!

Louis Jadot Montrachet Grand Cru 2012 750ML ($599.95) Was $428, Now $385.20, 9 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 95 points “(13.9% natural alcohol, from vines on the Chassagne side): Bright, pale yellow. Knockout pure nose offers discreet notes of stone fruits, clove and iodiney minerality. At once powerful and vibrant in the mouth, offering great volume, depth and lift to its palate-staining spice and mineral flavors. The iodiney quality carries through to the very long, precise finish. Wonderfully juicy and energetic considering that it’s carrying a moderate four grams of acidity. This should evolve gracefully in bottle for a decade or more.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $492

Louis Jadot Beaune Premier Cru Anniversary 2012 750ML ($69.95) Was $48, Now $43.20, 21 bottles available
Antonio Galloni 92-94 points “Building off the considerable success of their 2009 Beaune 150th Anniversary 1er Cru, Jadot has decided to make the wine again in top years. One of the highlights in this range, the 2012 boasts stunning power, depth and harmony. The lifted aromatics recall the Ursules, but here the fruit possesses more volume and creaminess. An explosive, layered finish rounds things out in style. Some of the parcels in the blend are Avaux, Cent Vignes, Pertuisots, Vignes Franches, Perrières, Toussaints and Chouacheux.”

This was the lowest listed price in the USA today,
Now it’s even lower!
The average price is $57

Louis Jadot Domaine des Heritiers En Caradeux Clos de la Croix de Pierre Rouge, Pernand-Vergelesses Premier Cru 2010 750ML ($99.95) Was $69, Now $62.10, 26 bottles available
Wine Enthusiast 92 points “The Clos de la Croix de Pierre forms part of the En Caradeux premier cru, and it creates poised wines. This is the red partner to a white also produced by Louis Jadot, and it displays juicy red fruit, layered with firm tannins. Drinkable now, but also capable of aging for five years.” WE

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Louis Jadot Nuits-Saint-Georges 2011 750ML ($52.95) Was $39, Now $35.10, 15 bottles available
Burghound 87-89 points “An earthy and quite somber nose of dark berries, underbrush and cassis aromas slides into attractively round and supple flavors that possess good volume before culminating in a delicious if mildly rustic finish. The tannins are ripe and well-integrated and this is a classic Nuits villages in character and style.” BH

This was the lowest listed price in the USA today,
Now it’s even lower!
The next best price is $43.97
The average price is $50

Louis Jadot Domaine Gagey Les Boudots, Nuits-Saint-Georges Premier Cru 2011 750ML ($99.95) Was $69, Now $62.10, 17 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 91(+?) points “Medium red.  Brooding aromas of dark fruits, mint and menthol.  Rich and deep on the palate, with spicy red fruit flavors lifted by a note of orange peel.  Finishes with substantial dusty tannins and juicy persistence.” ST

This was the lowest listed price in the USA today,
Now it’s even lower!
The next best price is $75.99

Louis Jadot Pommard 2011 750ML ($59.95) Was $41.90, Now $37.71, 18 bottles available
“A hint of wood can be seen on the ripe but agreeably fresh aromas of red berry fruit liqueur and warm earth scents. There is reasonably good volume to the round and supple flavors that offer good detail and verve on the lightly mineral-inflected, austere and rustic finish where the wood resurfaces.”—Burghound

This was the lowest listed price in the USA today,
Now it’s even lower!
The next best price is $52.19

See the complete list of our on sale wines from Jadot below:

Jadot sale spread sheet

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Give the Gift that Never Expires!

Can’t decide on the perfect gift?

Let them!

We offer gift certificates in any amount with no taxes, fees or expiration date.

Gift certificates are not available through our web store. To order, please stop in, call or email. We are happy to mail gift certificates to any domestic address at no charge.

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Sine Qua Non Sale

Best prices for rare & exquisite wines

Sine Qua Non Into The Dark Grenache, Sta Rita Hills 2004 1.5L ($2,199.95) Was $1,799, Now $1,499, 1 magnum available
Wine Advocate 99 points “More up-front and open-knit, the 2004 Into the Dark (Grenache) checks in as a blend of 84% Grenache, 8% Mourvedre, 7% Syrah and 1% Viognier that comes mostly from Manfred’s 11 Confessions Vineyard, yet includes small portions from Alban (10%) and Alta Mesa (9%) Vineyard. Reminding me of Clos Saint-Jean’s Sanctus Sanctorum with its incredible bouquet of sweet kirsch, licorice, dried baking spices, graphite and ground pepper, this beauty flows onto the palate with impeccable purity, perfect integration of its fruit, tannin and acidity, and blockbuster length. As is common with this estate’s wine, it’s the purity paired with serious richness that sets it apart. While still youthful and benefiting from a healthy decadence, I think it’s drinking at point and would aim to drink bottles over the coming 4-5 years. It will evolve gracefully for longer, but I see no reason to hold off.”

This was the lowest listed price in the USA today,
Now it’s even lower!
The next best price is $2328.99

Sine Qua Non Patine Syrah, California 2011 750ML ($599.95) Was $449, Now $299, 3 bottles available
Wine Advocate 98 points “A wine that needs to be forgotten in the cellar for 5-6 years, the 2011 Syrah Patine checks in as a blend of roughly 97% Syrah and the balance Roussanne and Viognier. It too comes all from the estate’s Eleven Confessions Vineyard and saw 39 months in 63% new French oak. Backward, tight, concentrated and structured, with full-bodied richness and depth, it gives up Guigal La Landonne like aromas and flavors of graphite, sweet oak, smoked meats, pepper and black raspberry and cassis-like fruit. While it shows the vintage’s cooler nature, it has a stacked mid-palate and will evolve gracefully for 15-20 years.” JD

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $405

Sine Qua Non Poker Face Syrah, Santa Barbara County 2004 750ML ($.95) Was $559, Now $519, 1 bottle available
Sine Qua Non Poker Face Syrah, Santa Barbara County 2004 1.5L ($2,199.95) Was $1,999, Now $1,799, 1 magnums available
Wine Advocate 97 points “Starting off the Syrah-based wines, the 2004 Poker Face (Syrah) is aging beautifully. A blend of 96% Syrah, 2.5% Mourvedre and 1.5% Viognier (from the Eleven Confessions, White Hawk, Alban, Bien Nacido, and Alta Mesa vineyards) that was aged in 80% new French oak, it offers up a perfumed, fresh bouquet of sweet blackberry liqueur, creme de cassis, spring flowers and licorice that gives way to a full-bodied, seamless, gorgeously textured feel on the palate. Rich and decadent, it has notable, yet beautifully integrated acidity and stays remarkably fresh, detailed and even elegant. It still needs a lengthy decant to shine, and will continue to thrill over the coming decade or so.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price for the 750ML is $887
The next best price for the 1.5L is $2,175

Sine Qua Non Raven Series Grenache #8, Santa Barbara County 2006 1.5L ($1,199.95) Was $999, Now $899, 1 bottle available
Robert Parker 98 points “2006 Ravens Series (# 6 and 7 Grenache): This blend of 90% Grenache and 10% Syrah, largely from the 11 Confessions Vineyard, with a small amount from Bien Nacido, spent 21 months in barrel. It is really strutting its stuff now, and showing even better than my original note predicted in August of 2009. The wine has loads of meat, licorice, smoke, charcoal and graphite, as well as huge peppery, blackberry and black cherry notes. Full-bodied, with great acidity, nicely integrated tannin, an admirable mouthfeel and tremendous length, this killer Grenache is still young and probably 3-5 years away from prime time drinking.”

This was the lowest listed price in the USA today,
Now it’s even lower!

Sine Qua Non Raven Series Syrah #10, Santa Barbara County 2006 1.5L ($999.95) Was $799, Now $719, 1 bottle available
Robert Parker 96 points “The 2006 Raven Series Syrah, a blend of 93% Syrah, 5% Grenache, and 2% Viognier that spends just under two years in French oak. Offering a dense purple color, gorgeous fruit, and a sweet perfume of graphite, blackberries, blueberries, charcoal, licorice, tar, and new oak, it is a dense, full-bodied, well-endowed, beautifully layered, pure Syrah that should drink well for 10-15 years.”

This was the lowest listed price in the USA today,
Now it’s even lower!

Sine Qua Non Touche Syrah, California 2012 750ML ($999.95) Was $799, Now $579, 2 bottles available
Robert Parker 100 points “Lastly, the utterly perfect 2012 Syrah Touche reminds me of a great vintage of Guigal’s Cote Rotie La Landonne. A blend of 93% Syrah, 5% Petite Sirah and 2% Viognier, all from the Eleven Confessions Vineyard in the Sta. Rita Hills, it spent 40 months in 78% new French oak. Deep, concentrated, full-bodied and layered, with a multidimensional texture and to-die-for notes of camphor, cured meats, violets, smoke and assorted dark fruits, this beauty has fine, perfectly ripe tannin and blockbuster length. Give it 3-4 years and drink over the following two decades.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $727

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Selbach in the House:

Quality Time with One of Germany’s Finest

johannes selbach and ewald moseler with namesIt’s always a pleasure to meet and talk to winemakers, but talking to someone like Johannes Selbach is an extra treat.  He’s obviously a great winemaker, but it’s rare to find someone so articulate and thoughtful about how and why he makes the decisions that he does.  Over the course of about an hour, we got a chance to pick his brain and taste through a killer selection of wines, some of which we’ll highlight here today.

The big takeaway from talking to Mr. Selbach is that he wants his wines to be useful at the table, first and foremost.  His dry wines are dry, but have fruit and aren’t overly high in alcohol (no 14% monsters here).  His off-dry wines, which he’s known for, are bright and salty, with enough sugar to support the fruit, but not so much as to be cloying.  Compared to some Spatlese and Auslese, the wines are less showy, but much easier to drink an entire bottle of—without sacrificing complexity and intellectual interest, either.

He’s obviously high on 2015 as a vintage, which he calls a “no-brainer, incredible year” that had everything he wants in a year.  But he also suggested that 2014, for people who like leaner wines, is one to buy as well.  Lower in alcohol and sugar, with high acids, it’s a great vintage to drink young while you wait for the 2015’s to come around.  The staff will be buying a lot of each, so you guys have been warned.

Newly Arrived from Selbach-Oster

Selbach-Oster Riesling Kabinett, Mosel 2015 750ML ($27.95) $21.90 special, 21 bottles available
Mosel Fine Wines 89 points “This fruity-styled Kabinett was fermented to a low 30 g/l of residual sugar. It offers a rather reduced but very fresh nose of green apple, some underripe white peach and aniseed herbs on the nose. The wine delivers a gorgeously zesty feel on the slender palate and a really crispy Kabinett feel in the finish. Now-2025.”

Selbach-Oster ‘Anrecht’ Zeltinger Himmelreich Riesling Spatlese, Mosel 2014 750ML ($49.95) $33 special, 10 bottles available
Wine Advocate 93 points “Bottled with 8% alcohol, the 2014 Zeltinger Himmelreich Riesling Spätlese Anrecht (erroneously designated as Spätlese instead of Auslese) opens with a super ripe and intense, stunningly bright and clear bouquet of very fine Riesling flavors; there are apple and pip aromas due to a higher proportion of golden and green grapes, and a lesser proportion of botrytis, due to the higher altitude of the Anrecht plot. There is so much finesse and piquancy in this juicy, elegant and well concentrated Riesling, which reveals a long and complex finish, as well as great finesse.”
David Schildknecht–Vinous 93 points “This product of block-picking (as opposed to selective picking) conveys a sense of ripeness and botrytization that could as easily have been captured in the word “Auslese.” Candied lemon, mint and anise mingle in the nose with suggestions of the quince, apple and Persian melon that come to dominate on a lush and expansive yet animatedly juicy palate. A hint of white raisin testifies delectably to the share of shriveled berries. Sweaty salinity lends mouthwatering intrigue while the fruit retains an invigoratingly tangy edge in a finish that readily stimulates the desire to take the next seductive, by no means overly sweet sip.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $40!

Selbach-Oster Bernkasteler Badstube Riesling Spatlese, Mosel 2015 750ML ($34.95) $28 special, 19 bottles available
Mosel Fine Wines 92 points “This delivers a zesty and restrained nose of laurel, a hint of fresh yellow fruits and spices. The wine is delicately creamy and fruity on the palate with great acidity cleansing the mouth-watering finish. This is plain gorgeous and hard to resist at this early stage. It will gain in finesse with age though.2025-2040”

Selbach-Oster Graacher Domprobst Riesling Spatlese, Mosel 2014 750ML ($29.95) $24 special, 21 bottles available
Wine Advocate 91 points “Pure and flinty, with very fine and concentrated Riesling aromas on the aristocratic nose opens the 2014 Graacher Domprobst Riesling Spätlese. Very juicy and piquant on the palate, this is a very elegant and finesse-full Spätlese that reveals an enormous salty and mouthwatering finish. Just lovely and expressive.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Selbach-Oster Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Rotlay Riesling, Mosel 2014 750ML ($59.95) $44 special, 12 bottles available
Wine Advocate 94+ points “The 2014 Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese Rotlay offers a superbly clear and concentrated bouquet with tropical fruit aromas (mango, pineapples) and fine botrytis. Picked with 110° Oechsle, this is a sweet, piquant, highly elegant and refined Riesling with a lingering purity and salinity, as well as the repetition of the tropical fruit aromas of the nose. With great finesse and concentration, this is quite noble and expressive Riesling.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Selbach-Oster ‘Schmitt’ Zeltinger Schlossberg Riesling, Mosel 2014 750ML ($59.95) $44 special, 10 bottles available
Wine Advocate 95 points “Picked with 105° Oechsle, the 2014 Zeltinger Schlossberg Riesling Auslese Schmitt displays a stunning freshness and purity on the slightly spicy-toned nose, where stony and flinty flavors–but less botrytis flavors–are indicated compared to the Rotlay. Piquant and salty on the palate, with a nice grip and more purity and freshness, this is the finest and most piquant of the single parcel crus; the finish is as long as it is stimulatingly salty and grippy. White peach and nectarine flavors in the long aftertaste. Great Riesling.”
David Schildknecht–Vinous 93 points “This block-picked (as opposed to selectively picked) offering leads with a heady and complex nose of musky faded narcissus, fennel pollen, pear preserves, papaya and candied lime. The lush yet stone-lined and shimmeringly mineral-tinged palate impression is correspondingly multifaceted and exotically ripe, backed by an amazingly high yet only modestly sweet-tasting 86 grams of residual sugar. The contribution of botrytis is similarly subtle, engendering enormous concentration while leaving behind no fungal spores or smudgy fingerprints. A prodigious finish welcomes the next sip.”

Selbach-Oster Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese, Mosel 2015 750ML ($39.95) $33 special, 5 bottles available
Mosel Fine Wines 93 points “This offers a beautiful nose of cassis, grapefruit, greengage, apricot tree flower, white flowers and herbs. A more yellow fruit driven side comes through on the palate with yellow peach playing with acidity to produce a mouth-watering cocktail of Mosel charm. A hint of sweetness in the finish is still in need of integration of this gorgeous Auslese in the making. 2025-2045.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Selbach-Oster Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Riesling Spatlese, Mosel 2014 750ML ($29.95) $24 special, 36 bottles available
Wine Advocate 92 points “The 2014 Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Riesling Spätlese indicates a higher proportion of botrytis, which delivers a rich and concentrated, yet very clear fruit with coffee bean and ripe pip aromas. Very elegant and finely piquant on the palate, this is a nicely succulent and perfectly balanced Spätlese with a long, salty finish–and a good complexity and structure. I would recommend drinking this excellent Sonnenuhr no earlier than 2021.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $30!

Selbach-Oster Zeltinger Sonnenuhr R Riesling Spätlese Trocken 2014 750ML ($34.95) $28 special, 9 bottles available
Wine Advocate 92 points “The 12.5% alcohol 2014 Zeltinger Sonnenuhr R Riesling Spätlese trocken was picked on October 20 — so almost one month later than the regular Spätlese — from 80+ year-old, ungrafted vines in and next to the Rotlay plot, with a higher percentage of well selected botrytis. The wine displays a ripe and intense fruit aroma intermixed with coolish stony and flinty, as well as herbal flavors on the nose. Full-bodied, rich and elegant, with a mouthful of concentrated Riesling fruit, a piquant acidity and minerality, this is an expressive and “big,” ripe yet pure and very terroir-driven Riesling of remarkable complexity and length that can go for up to 15 years.”

We have 24 wines in stock now from Selbach-Oster, that’s 556 bottles! See the full list below, including eight wines arriving in January. To read reviews or purchase wines, visit our web store!

selbach oster spread sheet

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Italian Wine Sale

Frescobaldi Luce della Vite ‘Luce’ Toscana IGT, Tuscany 2008 750ML ($99.95) Was $79, Now $71.90, 12 bottles available
James Suckling 95 points “Blackberry, black currant and spice flavors hold court in this polished, international-style red. The tannins are dense, yet matched by sweet fruit, and the finish evokes tobacco and spice. Merlot and Sangiovese. Best from 2014 through 2020. 6,200 cases made” WS

Cantina del Pino Albesani, Barbaresco DOCG 2010 750ML ($59.95) Was $51.90, Now $46.71, 17 bottles available
Antonio Galloni 94 points “Cantina del Pino’s 2010 Barbaresco Albesani is another huge, powerful wine. Black cherries, smoke, licorice and asphalt hit the palate in a powerful, structured Barbaresco that is going to require some time. As always, the richness and depth of Albesani comes through, but in this vintage, there is also plenty of underlying structure to allow the 2010 to age gracefully for years.” AG

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Cantina del Pino Albesani, Barbaresco DOCG 2011 750ML ($59.95) Was $49, Now $44.10, 19 bottles available
Wine Advocate 94 points “The 2011 Barbaresco Albesani is the wine that surprised me most among Cantina del Pino’s new releases. It shows an exceptional level of focus and clarity with tight tannins at the back that keep it stitched together tightly. It shows an impressive level of unity and precision. The bouquet is slow to start, but once it does it delivers a steady stream of dark fruit, licorice, balsam herb and crushed mineral. The Albesani cru, with its thick clay soils, evidently had enough underground moisture to avoid heat stress on the vines during the hot summer.” ML

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Paitin di Pasquero-Elia ‘Sori Paitin’, Barbaresco DOCG 2012 750ML ($49.95) Was $39, Now $35.10, 36+ bottles available
Antonio Galloni 93 points “Dark red cherry, plum, smoke, mint and leather are some of the notes that emerge from the 2012 Barbaresco Sorì Paitin. The Sorì Paitin is quite a bit more complex than it was from barrel, largely because the bottled wine is composed of approximately 30% wine that was originally destined for the Vecchie Vigne. As a result, this is one of the few 2012s I tasted that has real upside potential, even if it is relatively approachable today.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $43

Paitin di Pasquero-Elia ‘Vecchie Vigne’ Sori Paitin, Barbaresco DOCG 2010 750ML ($89.95) Was $69, Now $62.10, 29 bottles available
Antonio Galloni 95+ points “The 2010 Barbaresco Sorì Paitin Vigne Vecchie hits the palate with fabulous depth and intensity. Savory herbs, smoke, tobacco, incense, menthol and licorice race out of the glass in an intense, structured Barbaresco loaded with class, energy and pure power. There is plenty to look forward to, once the tannins soften a bit. The 2010 has closed down pretty dramatically since the last time I tasted it, about a year ago. Readers will have to be patient. The 2010 spent a total of 30 months in cask.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $79

Montevertine Le Pergole Torte Toscana IGT 2012 750ML ($149.95) Was $119, Now $107.10, 36+ bottles available
Antonio Galloni 94 points “The 2012 Le Pergole Torte is brilliant. In fact, this is one of the best showings of the 2012 that I can recall. The flavors are bright, focused and pulsing with energy. Because of its mid-weight structure and not overly complex personality, the 2012 looks like it will start drinking well sooner rather than later. Even today, the 2012 is extremely beautiful. This is a terrific showing for the 2012.”

Casanova di Neri Tenuta Nuova, Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2011 750ML ($119.95) Was $79, Now $71.10, 24 bottles available
Wine Advocate 95 points “This is another fabulous wine from Giacomo Neri. The 2011 Brunello di Montalcino Tenuta Nuova is a deeply layered expression with bold tones of dark fruit that are softened and enhanced by spice, leather, tobacco and balsam herb. The wine is very beautiful and polished with slightly less depth and complexity compared the outstanding (100 point) vintage that precedes it. Despite the vintage variation, this is a wine of enormous pedigree and importance. It is generous and confident with a presentation that offers purity, intensity and persistence.”
James Suckling 94 points “A red with earthy, meaty, salty, ripe fruit aromas and flavors. Full body with round, velvety tannins and a flavorful finish. So much richness and depth. Needs at least a year or two to come together.”
Antonio Galloni 93 points “The 2011 Brunello di Montalcino Tenuta Nuova is dark, sensual and inviting, with lovely textural depth and fine balance. Macerated dark cherry, plum, smoke, lavender and spice flesh out in a succulent, expressive Brunello that should drink well with minimal cellaring.”

Marcarini Brunate, Barolo DOCG 2011 750ML ($69.95) Was $49, Now $44.10, 32 bottles available
Antonio Galloni 91 points “Marcarini’s 2011 Barolo Brunate comes across as a bit light in this vintage. Site specific nuance is pushed to the background in this decidedly mid-weight Barolo. Dark red cherry, tobacco, mint and crushed flowers flesh out in a relatively pliant, open Brunate that uncharacteristically appears to be built for near and medium-term drinking.”

Marcarini La Serra, Barolo DOCG 2011 750ML ($59.95) Was $41.90, Now $37.71, 33 bottles available
Antonio Galloni 90 points “The 2011 Barolo La Serra is classy and polished to the core. Sweet floral notes meld into kirsch, red cherry and raspberry. This is one of the more floral, lifted Barolos of the vintage, while the structure tends towards the lighter end of the spectrum. Crushed flowers, mint and spices are all laced into the super-expressive finish framed by classically austere La Serra tannins.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

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Our Current
Shipping Promos:

Along with Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and California,
we now offer flat rate shipping to Colorado. Here’s the scoop:

Single orders of any quantity of wines qualify for the flat rate;
this does not apply to orders held in storage for any reason
or multiple orders consolidated into one shipment.
The flat reach for each state is, as follows:

-to Oregon for $17,
-Washington & Idaho for $20,
-and California & Colorado for $25

Take Advantage of the Flat Rate!

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Spanish Wine Sale

R. Lopez de Heredia Vina Tondonia Gran Reserva, Rioja DOCa 1964 750ML ($1,199.95) Was $999, Now $899, 3 bottles available
Winery-direct cellar released bottles
Decanter 98 points, Wine Spectator 95 points “Extraordinary. Sweet vanilla and dried berry aromas and flavors have an unexpected richness in this vibrant red. Impressive for its balance of concentration and elegance; firm tannins meld with a creamy texture. The long finish defines traditional Rioja at its best.”

R. Lopez de Heredia Vina Tondonia Gran Reserva, Rioja DOCa 1981 750ML ($249.95) Was $199, Now $179.10, 15 bottles available
Winery-direct cellar released bottles
Wine Advocate 95 points “The 1981 Vina Tondonia Gran Reserva has a vibrant nose reminiscent of coeval Burgundy, with scents of citrus peel, orange rind, singed leather and a Tuscan delicatessen. The palate has a penetrating orange peel and tart cherry entry with potent earthy notes at its core. It is supremely well-balanced with an energetic finish underpinned by crisp dry tannins. This wonderful Rioja is drinking perfectly now and will age effortlessly. Drink now-2020+ ” (08/2012)

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Bodegas Marco Abella ‘Clos Abella’, Priorat DOCa 2009 750ML ($99.95) Was $49, Now $44.10, 36+ bottles available
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 93 points “(50% carinena, 39% garnacha and 11% cabernet sauvignon; aged for two years in French oak): Saturated ruby. Heady aromas of cherry, cassis, mocha, Indian spices and underbrush are sharpened by a smoky mineral quality. Juicy, sappy and concentrated, showing excellent density to its smoke-tinged flavors of blueberry, cherry-vanilla and candied flowers. A fleshy, expansive, sexy wine that shows the warmth of the vintage to good effect, finishing with strong mineral cut, smooth tannins and lingering smokiness.”

This was the lowest listed price in the USA today,
Now it’s even lower!
The next best price is $60.64

Familia Nin-Ortiz ‘Nit de Nin’, Priorat DOCa 2012 1.5L ($199.95) Was $169, Now $152.10, 8 magnums available
Wine Advocate 97 points “If the Planetes was impressive, wait for the 2012 Nit de Nin, which is a similar wine but at two levels of intensity, depth and elegance above. It’s also a single-vineyard wine from a very old plot in Porrera in the Mas d’en Caçador vineyard at some 500 meters altitude on an impressive slope planted with very old vines on slate soils. It’s approximately 60% Garnacha Peluda (which is a different strain producing lighter-colored wines with higher acidity than the regular Garnacha) and the rest Cariñena. The wine is pure, perfumed, intoxicating even, floral and spicy, intense and captivating. The palate is highly refined, with pure flavors, great freshness, completely focused, nothing blurry at all in there, generous but fine at the same time. It ends very tasty, with a saline minerality. I had the chance to visit the vineyard on my last night in Priorat, and when you see it you understand that it HAS to produce great wine. Simply superb. Drink or keep. 4,000 bottles were filled in March 2014.”

This was the lowest listed price in the USA today,
Now it’s even lower!
The next best price for the magnum is $179.98

Alvaro Palacios Finca Dofi, Priorat DOCa 2007 750ML ($79.95) Was $69, Now $62.10, 11 bottles available
Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2007 Finca Dofi ups the ante. It is sourced from a single vineyard with a cepage of 60% Garnacha and 40% Cabernet, Syrah, and Merlot aged in 100% new oak. It displays a more expressive nose of mineral, Asian spices, smoke, espresso, black cherry, and licorice. On the palate it is dense but approachable. It merits several years of cellaring, and its optimal drinking window extends from 2013 to 2022.”
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 92+ points “Opaque ruby. Expansive aromas of dark cherry, blackberry, iron, tobacco and cedar. Very rich but lively, offering sweet red and dark berry flavors and a hint of licorice. Packs serious punch and shows a chewy, youthfully tannic quality on the long, penetrating finish. Unevolved right now and in need of at least another few years in bottle, but this is very promising.”

This was the lowest listed price in the USA today,
Now it’s even lower!
The average price is $78

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Sneak Peek

Arriving Wednesday

The terraced Il Carbonaione vineyard lies at over 1,400 feet in elevation. Here are found old Sangiovese di Lamole vines, a rare indigenous varietal, growing in the sandy, loamy soils. The Fiore family ages the wine for 14 months in large oak tonneux before aging in bottle an additional six months. The wine is a unique opportunity to taste such a finely crafted single-vineyard & rare-clonal bottling!

Poggio Scalette Il Carbonaione Alta Valle della Greve IGT, Tuscany 2012 750ML ($69.95) Was $49, Now $44 pre-arrival special, ETA January 25th
Antonio Galloni 95 points “The 2012 Il Carbonaione comes across as quite shy and reserved today, with less of its typical exuberance. That just makes me think the wine is going to need a few years to blossom. Sweet red cherry, plum, kirsch, spice and rose petal nuances gradually emerge from the glass, but the 2012 remains reticent and not fully expressive. I would not be surprised to see the market look past the 2012, as it is not at all showy, but that will just create an opportunity for savvy consumers. There is plenty to look forward to. Readers will have to be patient, though. Over the years, Il Carbonaione has built a tremendous track record of aging very well. Next to Chianti Classico’s other 100% Sangioveses, Carbonaione is made in a sweeter, jammier style with more mid-palate opulence. Although showy in its youth, Carbonaione needs time in bottle to show at its best.”

Poggio Scalette Il Carbonaione Alta Valle della Greve IGT, Tuscany 2013 750ML ($69.95) Was $49, Now $41.90 pre-arrival special, ETA January 25th
Antonio Galloni 95+ points “The 2013 Il Carbonaione is compelling. That’s the good news. The bad news, if you can call it that, is that the 2013 is going to take the better part of the next decade to be at its best. Black cherry, plum, licorice and menthol are all fused together. Today, the 2013 is rich, deep and unctuous, with superb depth and striking balance. Opening a bottle anytime soon, though, is likely to be a mostly academic exercise, as the Carbonaione is so primary, it almost tastes like a barrel sample!”

Chateau Bel-Air, Pomerol 2009 750ML ($37.95) $29 pre-arrival special, ETA January 25th
Case-12 Chateau Bel-Air, Pomerol 2009 750ML ($419.95) $299 pre-arrival special (that’s only $24.92/bottle and the lowest listed price in the USA today!), ETA January 25th
“Owned by the Martin family (who also own Gloria), this dense ruby/plum-colored sleeper of the vintage displays oodles of fruit as well as some notes of Christmas fruitcake and roasted herbs along with loads of cassis. Tasty, round, generous, and ripe, this 2009 has a lot going for it.”–Robert Parker

Chateau Bel-Air, Pomerol 2010 750ML ($37.95) $29 pre-arrival special, ETA January 25th
Case-12 Chateau Bel-Air, Pomerol 2010 750ML ($419.95) $299 pre-arrival special (that’s only $24.92/bottle!), ETA January 25th
Grapelive 92 points “The vintage shows through here without question, a great year makes this lovely Pomerol a terrific value and wonderfully textured wine from Chateau Bel-Air. This dark and full bodied Pomerol hits all the right notes and does so with class, vitality and verve showing beautiful detail and complexity in a forceful, but elegantly pure Merlot, this is really seductive stuff in the glass, holding its own against far more expensive labels with ease and poise. The rich layers of fruit, mineral tones and sweet tannin give decadence and refined structure, highlighting Merlot’s promise in a world that sometimes lacks the respect of this often maligned varietal. Chateau Bel-Air has captured in the bottle the right bank’s charm and beauty in this 2010, it shows terroir, with subtle loamy/earth, plummy dense mouth feel and stylish silken length with a wine that has the potential to age another 10 to 15 years, but is pretty darn good right now too. The lead off here is dark floral tones a hint of smoky cedar and black cherry fruit with blackberry, plum, dark kirsch liqueur along with a touch of mint, dried clay, a touch of cigar wrapper and vanilla. This fine Bordeaux delivers well beyond its price and is wonderful with food choices that range from duck breast, lamb, roast pork, wild mushroom dishes to prime rib, and or any comforting winter fare really, and it can also be enjoyed with cheeses or on its own. This is the kind of wine that brings you back to Bordeaux, and certainly makes you wonder why you don’t drink more Merlot, drink this Chateau Bel-Air Pomerol from 2016 to 2028.”

Arriving Friday

The name in classical Rioja – new release from the Bosconia vineyard!
R. Lopez de Heredia Vina Bosconia Reserva, Rioja DOCa 2005 750ML ($39.95) $31.90 pre-arrival special, ETA January 27th
Wine Advocate 94 points “A worthy follow up to the 2004 is the 2005 Viña Bosconia Reserva, a wine that they consider the most rustic and powerful in the winery, but that I find as elegant and subtle as it gets. This feels very much in line with the 2004, maybe a notch above even, a lower yielding year. The nose is somehow closed and feels young with the elegant rusticity lurking from the bottom of the glass, clean and precise. The tannins are velvety and there is great acidity–a constant here. The wine is terribly elegant. I simply loved this wine.”
Unmatched value!
Domaine du Vieux Telegraphe Chateauneuf-du-Pape La Crau, Rhone 2013 750ML ($69.95) $49 pre-arrival special
Josh Raynolds – Vinous 92 points “Limpid ruby. A highly expressive bouquet evokes ripe red berries, potpourri and peppery spices, and a smoky mineral nuance gains strength as the wine opens up. Offers concentrated raspberry liqueur and spicecake flavors and deeper licorice and bitter chocolate flavors sharpened and given spine by juicy acidity. Effortlessly plays richness off elegance and finishes sweet, spicy and impressively long, with velvety tannins lending shape and grip.”
Wine Spectator 92 points “Rather perfumy up front, with savory, mint and incense notes leading the way for silky cherry and raspberry coulis flavors. The finish is lined with subtle tobacco, warm stone and floral hints, ending with a light balsam twinge. This should put on some weight with age. Best from 2017 through 2026.” WS

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $56.50

Arriving Mid-February

Lisini Brunello di Montalcino Riserva DOCG, Tuscany 2010 750ML ($89.95) $69 pre-arrival special
Wine Spectator 95 points “Leather, truffle, underbrush and spice aromas swirl around the core of sweet cherry and raspberry in this multifaceted red. Vivid and firmly structured, with a lingering aftertaste of mineral and tobacco. Austere now, but this should be fine in two to three years. Best from 2019 through 2033.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $74

Lisini Ugolaia, Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2010 750ML ($119.95) $89 pre-arrival special
Wine Spectator 97 points “This complex red shows a duality between the aromas of rose, strawberry and currant and the savory notes of earth, tobacco and mineral. The muscular structure is more allied to the latter, but this remains fresh, resonant and long. You could match this to a grilled steak now or let mellow for a few years. Best from 2019 through 2035.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $100

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