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In This Newsletter:
Special Arrivals
Beyond the Vale: new wines from Yangarra Estate Vineyard
New Arrivals
Brovia, Renato Ratti, Sassetti, Montille, Heritiers, Villa Crespia, and more!
Re-Arrivals– Last Chance!
Baudana, GD Vajra, and Schaller
Staff Picks
Oregon Favorites
Vintage Report: Saint Cosme
Great reviews out of Gigondas this year
Close-out Sales
Save on top wines from France, Spain, and Germany!
Collector’s Corner
Best in the West: Top Picks from California, Oregon, and Washington
 Special Arrivals “Yangarra Estate Vineyard”
For over twenty years, Yangarra has been crafting highly acclaimed, single-vineyard estate wines in Australia’s McLaren Vale. Situated on ancient sand dunes, the property has been farmed organically and biodynamically since 2008. Yangarra specializes in Rhône varieties with emphasis on the estate’s bush-vine Grenache. Now owned by the Jackson Family, the original Grenache itself dates back to 1946 and is still the source of the estate’s best regarded wines. The McClaren Vale benefits from a Mediterranean climate, which Winemaker Peter Fraser likens to Sonoma, where the Jackson Family got their start.
Yangarra Estate Roux Beaute Roussanne 2020 750ml $69 special, 6 bottles availableWinery Note “Our unique vineyard with its weathered sand and ironstone soil starts this Roussanne’s journey towards being an extraordinary wine. Months mellowing on grape skins in large ceramic eggs ensure a wine of luxurious texture and distinctive flavor.” Yangarra Estate Vineyards High Sands Grenache 2019 750ml $249 special, 12 bottles availableWinery Note “High Sands Grenache is the pinnacle of our estate. Reaching deep within the sandy soil, our prized 1946 old vines produce wines that balance intense power and complexity with fragrance and beauty.” Yangarra Estate Vineyards Ovitelli Blanc 2020 750ml $69 special, 6 bottles availableWinery Note “Grenache Blanc, Roussanne, Clairette, Piquepoul and Bourboulenc. Inspired by the textural white wines of the Southern Rhône, Ovitelli Blanc brings these traditional varieties together in blended harmony. Gently fermented and aged with skin contact in large ceramic eggs.” Yangarra Estate Vineyards Ovitelli Grenache 2020 750ml $89 special, 12 bottles availableWinery Note “Ovitelli is the most perfumed and elegant Grenache from the sands at Yangarra. The vibrant fruit of those dry grown 1946 bush vines is rewarded with a long, luxurious ferment and a whole autumn on skins in big ceramic eggs.”
New Arrivals
France
“Les Heritiers du Comte Lafon”
Dominique Lafon took over his family estate, Domaine des Comtes Lafon in 1984 and within a few short years, his wines were some of the most prized in Burgundy and the rest is history. In 1999 he started Héritiers as a fully biodynamic domaine. His belief and passion for the region has made Héritiers a towering beacon for fine wine in the previously overlooked Chardonnay mecca. Les Heritiers Du Comte Lafon Macon-Villages 2022 750ml $33 special, 36 bottles availableVinopolnote “Founded in 1999 by Dominique Lafon, Héritiers du Comte Lafon is his trailblazing, biodynamic Mâconnais domaine. This multi-parcel blend comes from high-altitude old vines (30+ years) and like all of Heritiers wines, is fermented with native yeasts and aged in large oak barrels.”
“Domaine de Montille”
Montille Bourgogne Rouge 2020 750ml $38 special, 4 bottles availableWinemaker Notes “Domaine de Montille Bourgogne Rouge benefits from the same bio-dynamic viticulture and the same attention as the most illustrious Premiers and Grands Crus. It is an introduction to Burgundy and the Domaine. This wine is accessible from its earliest youth and reflects the quality and character of the Domaine: purity, authenticity and elegance.” Montille Beaune Sizies 1er Cru 2020 750ml $75 special, 8 bottles availableDecanter 93 Points “Bright pomegranate and black cherry aromas, with floral notes and a hint of spice. There is plenty of freshness and a slightly rustic, tannic edge on the palate, yet the wine is showing nicely and should age well over the mid-term. De Montille has 1.62ha in Beaune Sizies at the foot of the slope in fairly deep clay soils. Picking started early here, yet there is nothing tart or astringent about the wine. The grapes were vinified with one-third whole-cluster and aged in 15% new casks.”
“Arnaud Lambert”
Arnauld Lambert Clos De Midi Saumur Blanc 2022 750ml $23.50 special, 23 bottles availableWinemaker’s Note “As my first white from the hill of Brézé, Clos du Midi made quite an impression… It comes from one of the colder sites on the Brézé hill and has nearly four hectares in production. The upper section of the vineyard, on the mid-slope of the hill, is primarily made of sand and at the bottom it’s richer in clay. Although this wine is 100% Chenin Blanc, it bears the freshness of a young Sancerre, the soft richness of Chablis, but with the unmistakable charm of Chenin Blanc from Brézé.”
Italy
Brovia Barolo 2019 750ml $69 special, 35 bottles availableWine Advocate 95 Points “On a shortlist of “annata” wines to buy from Piedmont this year is the Brovia 2019 Barolo. Made from a blend of fruit from Castiglione Falletto and Serralunga d’Alba, this wine delivers a very sharp and chiseled performance that puts a priority on directness, freshness and length. This pretty wine has a pronounced fruity side and a mineral side, and these two parts converge beautifully. There are hints of dried mint and licorice on the close of this must-have wine.” Il Poggione Brunello Di Montalcino 2016 750ml $69 special, 18 bottles availableAntonio Galloni 97 Points “I’m not sure how Il Poggione manages to remain one of the largest producers of Brunello maintaining such a high level of quality and turning out some of the best wines of the vintage year after year – but they do. The 2016 Brunello di Montalcino is yet another stunning example. Depths of mineral-encased black cherries sage allspice licorice tobacco and crushed violets lift up from the glass. It’s seamlessly silky even as the palate is peppered with tart red and black berries nervous acids and savory exotic spices. This shows the density and weight of the vintage in a youthfully monolithic stance yet with all the necessary components to maintain perfect balance. The 2016 Il Poggione seems to fold in upon itself through the finish which is dark mysterious and structured with only hints of black tea and licorice to tempt the imagination. It’s a classic in the making.”
“Castello di Verduno”
Castello di Verduno Barolo 2019 750ml $54.50 special, 20 bottles availableVinous 91 Points “The 2019 Barolo is all from Boscato, in the town of Verduno. Sweet tobacco, earthiness, orange peel, cedar, dried flowers, licorice and herbs give the 2019 notable aromatic presence, while the fruit is pushed more into the background. There’s more than enough complexity to ensure a decade of fine drinking, especially once the tannins soften a touch.” Castello di Verduno Barolo Riserva Monvigliero 2017 750ml $119 special, 12 bottles availableVinous 95 Points “The 2017 Barolo Riserva Monvigliero is a big, powerful wine. Huge tannins give the 2017 its imposing personality. Red fleshed fruit, chalk, mint, white pepper, rose petal and incense all lend notable freshness and verve. There’s not much of the openness that defines so many wines in this vintage. That’s probably a good thing for its long-term prospects. There is a touch of elevated volatile acidity that readers will have to accept to fully enjoy the 2017.”
“Renato Ratti”
Renato Ratti Barolo Rocche Dell’annunziata 2019 750ml $149 special, 6 bottles availableWine Enthusiast 97 Points “The stunning wine opens with a mix of tart red and blue berries, rose and sweet and savory spices that evolve into more savory and earthy notes. The palate is refined, framing the cherry-driven sip with tobacco and wild herb flavors to near unison. It’s sublime on the finish, with vibrant acidity and fine tannins that will give the wine life for years to come.” Wine Advocate 96 Points “Pietro Ratti’s 2019 Barolo Rocche dell’Annunziata opens to a delineated bouquet with a mineral note or iodine that dovetails into purple berry fruit and lots of dried red rose and crushed flower. That evident floral imprint is something I often find in the wines that come from this side of La Morra in the south-facing ridge of vines in Rocche dell’Annunziata. With more time in the glass, the mineral note pushes to the forefront of this elegantly contoured mid-weight Barolo. The wine is powerful and tight but beautifully fragrant at the same time.” Renato Ratti Barolo Serradenari 2019 750ml $149 special, 6 bottles availableWine Enthusiast 97 Points “This wine expresses itself with aromas of wild cherries, tart red plums, dried violets and oolong tea leaves. The palate is elegant and almost dances across the mouth, leading with ripe red fruits that give way to savory flavors of fresh bay leaf, clove and balsam. Drink 2025-2040.” Wine Advocate 95 Points “Here’s an exciting new submission from the house of Ratti. Serradenari is a large MGA and one of only a few cru sites that exist on the western slope under the village of La Morra. The 2019 Barolo Serradenari has a more botanical-smelling bouquet, and by that I mean that it has lavender bud, thyme, aniseed and the kinds of flowers and herbs that you might find in a fragrant garden. It is nuanced and delicate and framed by a light note of ash or crushed limestone. It finishes quite firm or edgy. Only 6,000 bottles were made.”
Portugal
Barbeito Faja dos Padres Malvasia Candida Reserva Especial NV 500ml $119 special, 6 bottles availableTasting Notes “This growing area is called Faja dos Padres and up until recently it was only accessible by boat. It is a small piece of volcanic land sticking out into the ocean at the base of a cliff. Here Malvasia Candida, thought to have gone extinct was found and recovered. Ricardo Freitas has a near monopoly on this once thought to have been lost variety of Malvasia. The Faja zone was world famous 200 plus years ago as making the most incredible Malvasia on earth. Now this glorious wine is available again.”
Arriving Tomorrow
Sassetti Pertimali Brunello di Montalcino 2018 750ml $79 special, 18 bottles availableJames Suckling 96 Points “Intense aromas of black cherries, lavender and spice, such as nutmeg. Some sandalwood and bark, too. Full-bodied with a solid core of fruit and tannins for the vintage. Rather chewy, suggesting that additional bottle age is needed. Try after 2026.” Vinous 95 Points “Depths of dark, balsamic-tinged black cherry, plum sauce and autumnal spice make the 2018 Brunello di Montalcino impossible to ignore. This is velvety to the core, nearly opulent in feel, with a dense wave of ripe red fruits complemented by nuances of sweet lavender and tobacco. It leaves the palate clenched with fine tannins and primary concentration, creating a classic sensation that transcends the vintage. Nearly a minute goes by, and hints of cocoa and sweet herbs continue to resonate. Wow! Production at the pertimali estate was down by 20% due to the spring frost, and the decision was made to place all of the juice usually intended for the Riserva into the straight Brunello, the result being one of the top wines of the vintage.” Marabino Rosso di Contrada Nero d’Avola 2018 750ml $16 special, 30 bottles availableVinous “The 2018 Nero d’Avola Rosso di Contrada makes itself known with a peppery display of wild herbs, rose hips and black currants. Its silky textures flesh out across the palate of citrus-tinged blackberries and mineral notes. This is juicy to the last, lingering on fresh cherry pits, lavender and hints of mocha, all neatly framed by a coating of fine tannin.”
Lowest Price in the United States… next lowest is $24
“Villa Crespia Franciacorta”
Villa Crespia Franciacorta Francesco Iacono Dosaggio Zero Riserva 2008 750ml $59 special, 32 bottles availableWine Advocate 92 Points “Villa Crespia’s 2008 Franciacorta Francesco Iacono Dosaggio Zero Riserva shows careful signs of evolution with apricot, honey, saffron and dried rose petal. The complexity is subtle at first but builds in intrigue as the wine takes shape in the glass. In the mouth, this layered sparkling wine exhibits fine perlage and medium texture that feels weighty without being heavy. This is a Pinot Nero-based sparkler that ages on the lees for eight months and is partially aged in oak.”
Lowest Price in the World! Elsewhere $120
Villa Crespia Franciacorta Brolese Rose Extra Brut NV $26 special, 2 bottles availableWine Advocate 91+ Points “The Villa Crespia NV Franciacorta Brolese Rosé Extra Brut is a blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Nero, more or less in equal parts. The Pinot Nero adds backbone and structure to the wine, whereas the Chardonnay adds fragrant intensity. You will recognize aromas of wild cherry, crushed raspberry and lilac. Baked bread and croissant appear more delicately at the back. This wine offers good value, and 15,000 bottles were made.”
Lowest Price in the United States… Average price is $40
Re-Arrivals
Luigi Baudana Barolo Cerretta 2019 750ml $89 special, 29 bottles availableVinous 97 Points “The 2019 Barolo Cerretta is packed with dark cherry, smoke, gravel, blood orange incense, scorched earth, licorice and mocha. This ample, full-bodied Barolo offers tremendous depth and textural intensity. Powerful and brooding, with tons of muscle and tannin, the Cerretta is incredibly promising. It is the most potent wine in this portfolio, by a pretty substantial range.” GD Vajra Dolcetto D’alba Coste & Fossati 2020 750ml $21.90 special, 21 bottles availableVinous 92 Points “The 2020 Dolcetto d’Alba Coste & Fossati offers a bit more depth than the straight Dolcetto but with the energy that runs through all the 2020s here. Dark cherry fruit, leather, spice, tobacco and dried herbs lend notable complexity. This is beautifully done.” GD Vajra Barolo Ravera 2019 750ml $89 special, 18 bottles availableWine Advocate 97 Points “The organic G.D. Vajra 2019 Barolo Ravera (with fruit from the most sought-after cru in the village of Novello) reveals gorgeous tonality and color. The wine shines bright with dark ruby and garnet gemstone. Healthy Nebbiolo colors like this can be admired across the 2019 vintage. It is softly textured but also strong in fiber, with silky sensations followed by dark fruit and concentration. Ravera has a character all its own, and the operative word here is power.” Camille et Laurent Schaller Petit Chablis 2021 750ml $24 special, 23 bottles availableVinopolNote “20 year old vines, 8 months on fine lees in in oak, 100% Chardonnay.”
Staff Picks
Oregon Favorites
Crowley Four Winds Pinot Noir 2021 750ml $49 special, 20 bottles available“A lot of American wineries describe their wines as “Old World” styled these days, but this wine actually does remind me of Burgundy. Expect earth, acid, and savory tomato leaf under cherry fruit notes. Can hold longer, but drinks wonderfully now with mushrooms, tomato sauces, or coq au vin.”
–Tracy
Tan Fruit Petite Tan Fruit Chardonnay 2022 750ml $19.50 special, 36+ bottles available“Fall may mean a dip in temp, however there’s also a refreshing food and wine pairing that I look forward to: Oysters with a crisp mineral driven white. Jim Maresh has made this easy with his Tan Fruit project and we are fortunate enough to have these clean, focused chardonnay in a value-oriented, Chablisienne style!
– JustinVintage Report: Saint CosmeGreat reviews out of Gigondas this year Saint Cosme Gigondas Rouge 2021 750ml $45 special, 36+ bottles availableWine Spectator 94 Points “Powerful, with steeped plum and cherry coulis merging with potpourri and charred garrigue on a ripe, lush palate. Packs a wall of iron that provides a ballast for the ripe fruit, while refined tannins build in intensity. Long and complex, with a gorgeous expression of place. Grenache, Mourvèdre, Syrah and Cinsault. Drink now through 2040. Saint Cosme Gigondas Le Claux Rouge 2021 750ml $125 special, 32 bottles availableWines Spectator 95 points “Opulent and broad, with a generous cascade of ripe plum and winey cassis notes wrapped in talc-fine yet sturdy tannins. Chewy, with strappy black licorice and cast Iron moving in. A seductive, concentrated Gigondas, with impressive harmony as every element hums along toward the seemingly endless finish. Outstanding. Best from 2025 through 2040.” Saint Cosme Gigondas Le Poste Rouge 2021 750ml $125 special, 25 bottles availableWine Spectator 95 points “Densely packed and incredibly complex, with layers of sappy raspberry, dusty earth, black pepper, olive tapenade and singed rosemary. Shows tannins that are chalky-fine in feel, yet muscular enough to support a core of rich fruit, all grounded by cast-iron underpinnings. Needs time to unfurl. Best from 2025 through 2040.” Saint Cosme Gigondas Hominis Fides Rouge 2021 750ml $125 special, 24 bottles availableWine Spectator 96 points “A showstopper, this is chewy, smoky and broad-shouldered in the best possible way. Reveals layers of blackberry and plum matched by pronounced charred iron, dried thyme and black pepper. Shows serious mineral intensity and refined yet muscular tannins, which provide the framework and energy, while forest floor, tobacco and an intriguing menthol note mark the long finish. Best from 2025 through 2040.”
Close-out Sales
France
Bagnol Cassis Rose 2021 750ml WAS $36 NOW $29 special, 20 bottles availableRosenthal Wine Merchant Note “Cassis Rosé: The Rosé is produced from several parcels that comprise slightly less than 7 hectares of vineyards. The vineyards are clay and limestone, situated on a gentle slope with a north – northwest exposure. The blend is Grenache (55%), Mourvedre (31%) and Cinsault (14%). This Rosé is vinified by “pressurage direct, the must is chilled to 12 degrees Celsius, the wine ferments at 18 degrees Celsius until it is completely dry; then, the wine is bottled during the first three months of the following year after a light filtration. Production tops out at about 40,000 bottles per annum; approximately 6000 bottles are allocated to the US market.” Commanderie Bargemone Marina Provence Rose 2022 750ml WAS $39 NOW $33 special, 12 bottles availableVinous 93 Points “The 2022 Rosé Cuvée Marina Collection is a pale pink with orange hues. It entices with a subtle blend of white cherries, spice, orange zests and wet stone. This is texturally thrilling, silky verging on oily with vibrant acidity that adds abundant energy. Ripe orchard fruits and strawberry tones swirl across a core of tactile minerality. It finishes energetic and with tremendous length, leaving the palate completely refreshed as suggestions of lime-tinged pear slowly disappear. It’s nearly impossible to stop at one glass.” Bernard Baudry Chinon Le Domaine Rouge 2019 750ml WAS $26 NOW $21.90 special, 36+ bottles availableVinous 90 Points “The 2019 Chinon Le Domaine provides excellent concentration of fruit while remaining light on its feet. As well as bright primary fruit, it offers smoky bacon, spice and medicinal characters. There’s lovely sappy texture on the finish, which Baudry puts down to the limestone soils of the Chinon plateau that typically grip the side of the mouth. You can enjoy this in its youth, but it has an additional element of seriousness that means its future will stretch out to the medium term.” Bernard Baudry Chinon Clos Guillot 2020 750ml WAS $39 NOW $33 special, 36 bottles availableVinous 93 Points “Hailing from the limestone-clay slopes on the outskirts of Chinon town, home to other famous vineyards like Clos de l’Olive and Chêne Vert, Le Clos Guillot 2020 offers a cloud of Cabernet Franc fruit with fine refreshing acidity. Savory, silken and seductive, the wine is flooded with a stream of acidity. It is a calm wine with a mass of chalky tannins that coat the palate reassuringly. The finish is long, quiet and scented with dark raspberries and spice. There is a minor complaint of a touch of dryness at the very end of this wine.” Beau Buisson Bordeaux Rouge 2020 750ml WAS $16 NOW $11.90 special, 27 bottles availableBeau Buisson Bordeaux Rouge 2020 750ml Case of 12 750ml bottles,WAS $149 NOW $119, 5 Cases availableSilver Medal Gilbert & Gaiillard International Challenge“Located approximately 10 miles east south-east of St Emilion, an enjoyable sipper at cooking wine price. Swirl your first sip in your palate and the red berry flavors will unfold.” Beaucastel Chateauneuf Du Pape Blanc 2001 750ml WAS $99 NOW $89 special, 2 bottles available Beckham Estate Olivia Pinot Noir Rose 2021 750ml WAS $29 NOW $24 special, 5 bottles availableVinopolNote “Fruit from the dry farmed estate vineyard in the Chehalem Mountains fermented in amphora and aged in neutral barrel.” Bigonneau Reuilly Rouge 2019 750ml WAS $17 NOW $14, 33 bottles availableBigonneau Reuilly Rouge 2019 Case of 12 bottles available WAS $179 NOW $149 special, 3 bottles availableVinopolnote “Red wines from Reuilly can only be produced with one grape varietal: Pinot Noir Very approachable and varietally correct Pinot Noir, sold at a fraction of the price compared to its Burgundian neighbors to the east.”
Italy
Rocca Di Montegrossi Ridolfo 2015 1.5L WAS $179 NOW $159 special, 17 bottles availableAntonio Galloni 98+ Points “The 2015 Ridolfo is a new Cabernet Sauvignon/Pugnitello blend from Marco Ricasoli bottled only in magnum. Vibrant and finely sculpted, the 2015 impresses right out of the gate. A whole range of savory aromatics, lavender, spice, licorice and mocha open with time in the glass. Sweet rose petal and cinnamon appear later, adding brightness and lift. Cabernet Sauvignon and Pugnitello are not obvious varieties to blend, as they are, on paper, more similar than complementary. Even so, the combination works so well. I can’t wait to see how this ages. The 2015 is a total knock-out!” Rocca Di Montegrossi Vin Santo 2009 375ml WAS $89 NOW $79 special, 23 bottles availableVinous 94 Points “The 2009 Vin Santo is a rich, exotic wine, as it always is. Readers will find one of the richest most intense Vin Santos being made today. Plush, tropical and ample in feel, Rocca di Montegrossi’s Vin Santo is bold and racy to the core. The 350 grams of residual sugar leave the wine with tremendous textural plushness.” Corsini Marsiliana Maremma Toscana 2015 750ml WAS $36 NOW $33 special, 36+ bottles availableWine Advocate 95 Points “Described as the “grand vin” of this estate, the 2015 Marsiliana is remarkable for its precision and definition. This limited-release Tuscan red is a well-structured blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot. The forest and floral notes are some of the fine details mirroring the vineyards of limestone earth nestled among the Maremma pines. Black fruit is matched seamlessly to savory nuances. The vintage is still young, as this wine is built for the long haul.” Musto Carmelitano Aglianico Vulture Maschitano 2017 750ml WAS $19 NOW $16 special, 36+ bottles availableVinous 92+ Points “The 2017 Aglianico del Vulture Maschitano Rosso lifts from the glass with a rich and darkly alluring mix of crushed plums and blackberries complemented by nuances of lavender, violets and a dusting of exotic spice. While silky, almost creamy in feel, there’s a core of saline-minerals and bright acidity that adds riveting tension, as tart wild berries mix with a twang of sour citrus and wild herbal tones. This thrilling, young Aglianico finishes long and lightly structured, keeping the energy high with a sweet-and-sour tug of dark fruits and hints of blood orange that linger impossibly long.”
Germany
Beurer Rose Trocken Wurttemberg, Germany 2021 WAS $24 NOW $19 special, 36+ bottles availableVom Boden importer note “Beurer makes a rosé that drinks like biodynamic Gatorade – this wine zings: it is pure energy. It is fresh like a spring garden around 6am just as the overeager sun pokes its gonzo eye above the horizon, pushing away the wet dew. This rosé is a saignée of Trollinger, Portugieser, Zweigelt and Spätburgunder, all farmed biodynamically and fermented with native yeast.”
Collector’s Corner
“Best in the West”
California
Aubert UV Vineyard Pinot Noir 2016 750ml $149 special, 2 bottles availableJeb Dunnuck 100 Points “Leading off the Pinot Noirs, this is unquestionably the finest set of releases from the estate I’ve ever tasted, and it appears some of the magic Mark finds with his Chardonnays is finding its way over to the Pinot Noirs. The 2016 Pinot Noir UV Vineyard is 100% Calera clone (which reportedly comes from Vosne-Romanée) from a site in the Sonoma Coast and was brought up in 60-70% new French oak. It also saw around 10-20% whole clusters. Incredible ripe cherries, strawberries, exotic spices, blood orange, and floral notes all soar from this transparently colored, multi-dimensional, layered Pinot Noir that has no hard edges, ultra-fine tannin, and a finish that just won’t quit. It’s the finest Pinot Noir ever made from this address.” Aubert Pinot Noir UV-SL Vineyard 2016 750ml $159 special, 4 bottles availableJeb Dunnuck 99 Points “The 2016 Pinot Noir UV-SL Vineyard flirts with perfect and is another incredible effort from the Sonoma Coast. Deeply colored, with ripe cherries, underbrush, black currants, graphite, blood orange, and forest floor notes, it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, ample tannin, a big mid-palate, and a blockbuster finish. Despite being a rich, powerful wine, it shows remarkable elegance and purity, as well as a weightless, seamless texture. Brought up in 70% new French oak, drink it over the coming decade.” Sine Qua Non Grenache Female 2013 750ml $319 special, 2 bottles availableWine Advocate 98 Points “Showing similar to a previous bottle tasted in Colorado, the 2013 Grenache Female (78% Grenache, 19% Syrah and 3% Mourvedre) is more high toned and pretty than the 2014, with perfumed notes of black raspberries, licorice, herbes de Provence and violets. Similar on the palate to the 2014, yet perhaps with a touch more tannin, give this beauty a few years and drink it through 2033.”
Oregon
Beaux Freres The Beaux Freres Vineyard Pinot Noir 2021 750ml $124.95 special, 10 bottles availableWinery Notes “When the first few blocks were planted in 1988, no one could have predicted the consistent magic that would spring forth for decades to come. The old 1940s dairy pasture is now fully transformed to 25 acres of Pinot Noir vines whose forest perimeter creates a nearly mystical landscape. The 2021 wine is full of classic features: ripe, dark cherry skins, orange zest, and subtle white flower and miso notes.” Bergstrom Estate Pinot Noir 2021 750ml $141.80 special, 4 bottles availableWine Advocate 94 Points “Pale ruby-purple, the 2021 Pinot Noir Bergström Vineyard segues from gentle flinty tones to scents of raspberry, cranberry, lavender, dried herbs and touches of orange peel. The light-bodied palate is delicate and perfumed with a softly chalky texture, fireworks of fresh acidity and a long, ethereal finish with wafts of floral and citrus. Offer it another 2-3 years in bottle.” Bergstrom Le Pre Du Col Pinot Noir 2021 750ml $114.50 special, 2 bottles availableWine Advocate 94 Points “Medium ruby, the 2021 Pinot Noir Le Pré du Col Vineyard has pretty scents of raspberry, cranberry, bergamot and mushroom, revealing more aromatic detail as it spends time in the glass. The light-bodied palate is chalky and refreshing with concentrated fruit and loads of botanical and floral accents on the long, layered finish. I love this fragrant, detailed expression!”
Washington
Horsepower Syrah Tribe Vineyard 2016 750ml $169 special, 21 bottles availableJeb Dunnuck 97+ Points “The 2016 Syrah The Tribe is largely in the same mold with a gamy, meaty, backward profile. Smoked meats, earthy dark fruits, ground pepper, and wood smoke are all present in this medium to full-bodied, concentrated Syrah that’s going to benefit from 3-5 years of bottle age and cruise for 15-20 years.” Horsepower Syrah Tribe Vineyard 2017 750ml $169 special, 11 bottles availableJeb Dunnuck 97 Points “Beautiful notes of red and black raspberries, tobacco, plum sauce, loamy earth, and loads of floral notes emerge from the 2017 Syrah The Tribe Vineyard, another tight, closed wine that’s going to benefit from bottle age. Medium to full-bodied, with notable freshness as well as plenty of underlying structure, it reminds me of Cote Rotie from the Cote Blonde lieu-dit with its incredible floral character as well as its seamless texture. Beautifully done and one of the standouts in the lineup in 2017, give bottles a healthy decant if drinking any time soon, and my money is on it benefiting from 2-3 years of bottle age and evolving for 15-20 years or more.” Horsepower Syrah Tribe Vineyard 2019 750ml $179 special, 12 bottles availableWine Advocate 97 Points “The 2019 Syrah The Tribe Vineyard starts with a stemmy, fresh and savory nose with a delightful meaty aroma and dusty florals before wafting with a succulent raspberry skin essence. Medium to full-bodied, the Syrah displays a vibrant mineral tension and spicy mouthfeel before subtle flavors of dried herbs sway with a firm tannic structure. The wine continues to evolve and unpack over the long, lingering finish with a pleasing smoky nuance and persistent peppery note. Give it a few more years in the bottle before opening. Bravo!” No Girls Tempranillo La Paciencia Vineyard 2016 750ml $119 special, 11 bottles availableJeb Dunnuck 97 Points “Similarly colored, the 2016 Tempranillo La Paciencia Vineyard offers an exotic bouquet of black cherries, violets, chocolate, tobacco, smoke, and candied orange rind. It’s deep, beautiful, savory, and full-bodied, with a thrilling texture. It’s another incredibly elegant, singular wine from this estate.”
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