July Sale Ends Tonight; New Week – New Arrivals; 2012 Barbaresco Special Highlight; Bedrock Wine Co.; 2015 FX Pichler; Domaine de la Terre Rouge: New Releases; Agusti Torello Mata: New Releases; 2013 Produttori Crus
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July Sale
Ending Tonight!
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New Week – New French Arrivals
Beaujolais
Guy Breton Morgon Vieilles Vignes, Beaujolais 2015 750ML ($34.95) $29 special
Case-12 Guy Breton Morgon Vieilles Vignes, Beaujolais 2015 75ML ($419.95) $319 special (that’s only $26.58/bottle!)
Guy Breton Morgon Vieilles Vignes, Beaujolais 2015 1.5L ($79.95) $69 special
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 94 points “Limpid violet. A seductively perfumed bouquet evokes fresh red berries, Asian spices and potpourri, and subtle cola and licorice nuances emerge with aeration. Juicy and pure on the palate, offering intense raspberry, lavender pastille and spicecake flavors and a refreshingly bitter touch of blood orange. Delivers a serious payload of vibrant berry and spice character without excess weight, and finishes extremely long and nervy, displaying no rough edges and lingering florality.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Guy Breton Regnie, Beaujolais 2015 750ML ($31.95) $26 special
Case-12 Guy Breton Regnie, Beaujolais 2015 750ML ($359.95) $289 special (that’s only $24.08/bottle!)
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 92 points “Full ruby. Spice-tinged dark berries and a hint of violet on the fragrant nose. Supple and seamless in texture, offering pliant blackberry and cherry compote flavors that show impressive depth and power as well as vivacity. Closes velvety and broad, with gentle tannic grip, resonating florality and excellent persistence.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Bordeaux
Chateau le Puy Cuvee Emilien, Cotes de Francs 2012 750ML ($49.95) $39 special
Case-12 Chateau le Puy Cuvee Emilien, Cotes de Francs 2012 750ML ($519.95) $419 special (that’s only $34.92/bottle!)
Chateau le Puy Cuvee Emilien, Cotes de Francs 2013 750ML ($49.95) $39 special
Case-12 Chateau le Puy Cuvee Emilien, Cotes de Francs 2013 750ML ($519.95) $419 special (that’s only $34.92/bottle!)
Winery Notes “The fruit of a plot of vines planted with 85% Merlot, 14% Cabernet Sauvignon and 1% Carménère, Emilien is matured in oak barrels and casks for 24 months. The robe is garnet red, with hints of ruby in the younger wines and a touch of orange in the older vintages, with a diaphanous onion-skin finesse to the oldest bottles. The nose is fruity, with ripe red fruit aromas dominated by blackcurrant and redcurrant, accented with roasted almond notes and occasional hints of mushrooms and undergrowth. The palate is well-rounded, full-bodied and precise, with velvety tannins paving the way for a finish is long and enjoyably complex. A wine of great finesse, with smooth tannins in its youth but also the potential to age and grow for several decades, revealing the full depth and character of this prestigious terroir.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
The average price for the 2012 is $43
The average price for the 2013 is $46
France – Rhone
Domaine Vincent Paris Cornas Granit 30, Rhone 2015 750ML ($44.95) $36 special
Domaine Vincent Paris Cornas Granit 30, Rhone 2015 1.5L ($89.95) $79 special
Wine Advocate 91-94 points “Starting with his younger vine cuvée, the 2015 Cornas Granit 30 (1,500 cases) comes from the Patou and Saint Pierre lieux-dits and will see roughly 15 months in barrel. It’s a deep, sexy, fruit-loaded beauty that has a saturated purple color, awesome notes of blackberries, blueberries, violets, spring flowers and licorice, as well as full-bodied richness and sweet, yet present tannin. This puppy has tons of fruit and is relatively upfront and textured, but it has enough tannin to benefit from 2-4 years of bottle age.”
This is the only listing in the USA today for the magnum!
Domaine Vincent Paris Cornas Granit 60, Rhone 2015 750ML ($59.95) $49 special
Domaine Vincent Paris Cornas Granit 60, Rhone 2015 1.5L ($119.95) $99 special
Wine Advocate 92-95 points “Possessing additional minerality, as well as tannin, the sensational 2015 Cornas Granit 60 offers a kaleidoscope of black raspberry, blueberries, liquid violets, licorice and crushed rocks. Mostly destemmed and coming from the steep parcels located at higher elevations (lieux-dits Patou, Mazards and Sauman), this rich, concentrated, full-bodied beauty will need 4-5 years (or more) of cellaring to shed its baby fat and integrate its tannin, but it’s a killer wine readers should buy by the case; there were just over 400 cases produced.”
Domaine Vincent Paris Cornas La Geynale, Rhone 2015 750ML ($69.95) $59 special
Domaine Vincent Paris Cornas La Geynale, Rhone 2015 1.5L ($149.95) $128 special
Wine Advocate 95-97 points “The 2015 Cornas La Geynale comes from the oldest vines of the estate and the lieux-dits of Reynard and La Genale, all steep, granite terroirs. This cuvée, which is never destemmed, is aged in older barrels. It’s certainly the most classic in style, with more pepper, game, olives and earth, yet still possesses the same purity, fruit and wealth of material found in these cuvées. Full-bodied, deep, concentrated, structured and perfectly balanced, it’s an incredibly complete wine that will need to be forgotten for 4-5 years, and will keep for 10-15 years. Bravo!”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $69
Loire
Domaine de la Pepiere Muscadet Sevre-et-Maine Clisson, Loire 2014 1.5L ($59.95) $49 special
David Schildknecht 92 points “Scents of flowers and foliage mingle with saline, alkaline intimations of sea breeze. A surprisingly rich, silken-textured midpalate offers pear and lemon liberally laced with saliva-liberating salinity and crushed stone, leading to a long finish loaded with intrigue as well as refreshment.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $54.99
Domaine du Collier Saumur Blanc, Loire 2013 750ML ($44.95) $33 special
VinopolNote: From mature vines between 20-75 years old and kept at low yields, this dry and rich white is a perfect entry point to the bottlings from the domaine. Really special stuff and unbelievable for the price.
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $46
Domaine du Collier Saumur Blanc La Charpenterie, Loire 2013 750ML ($69.95) $59 special
VinopolNote: This is the top white wine produced by Collier and comes from the very oldest vines in the estate—over 100 years and older. This has more density and depth to it and is one of highlight dry whites of the Loire in any vintage. Although expensive, it represents great value for the quality in the bottle.
Domaine du Collier Saumur Rouge La Ripaille, Loire 2013 750ML ($51.95) $39 special
VinopolNote: A profound yet approachable take on Saumur rouge. This wine has a richness and power to it that marks it immediately as from the hands of the master with a intricacy and delicacy that makes it compelling.
Domaine du Collier Saumur Rouge La Charpenterie, Loire 2013 750ML ($69.95) $59 special
VinopolNote: This is the top red wine from the estate and has all of the qualities you’d expect from a scion of the Foucault family. Lay this down for 5-10 years (or longer, if you can keep your hands off of it) and it will reward your patience. It’s incredible to see that this sort of old-world wine is less than $100.
Provence
Peyrassol ‘La Croix Peyrassol’ Rouge, IGP Mediterranee 2016 750ML ($19.95) $16 special
“This cuvée is crafted specifically for presentation in the United States and is the result of a close collaboration between RWM and the team at Peyrassol (Alban Cacaret, Wladimir Holobinka [vineyard manager], Pierre Guérin [consulting oenologue] and Francoise Rigord [who maintains an active interest in the estate]). The blend varies depending on the particular conditions of the vintage but normally is composed of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah in varying proportions. It highlights the fresh wild berry fruits of the region married to a firm minerality that provides structure and discipline to the wine.”–Importer note
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
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2012 Barbaresco:
Wines That Are What You Say You Want
More often than not, when we get asked about an interesting wine, the question is “Can I drink it tonight?” rather than “How long with this age?” This makes perfect sense—we buy wines to enjoy them and generally we tend to want to open any wines we buy now rather than waiting years or decades for the wines to become approachable (or else we get impatient—self-restraint is hard!). In that case, it’s often better to avoid the “great” years in favor of the good ones, unless you like drinking walls of tannin that will take years to shed and reveal the profundity within.
If this sort of drinking pattern describes you, 2012 Barbaresco looks to be a fantastic option for you. Much softer and more approachable than the epic 2011’s (which were a league better than their Barolo counterparts), Antonio Galloni describes them as “a pretty vintage with considerable near and medium-term appeal. The wines show good, ripe fruit and mid-weight personalities…. Based on what I have tasted so far, 2012 is not a profound vintage, nor is it marked by any particularly significant challenges (as was the case in 2009), rather it is a solid year with a number of gorgeous, mid-weight wines that combine a classic sense of structure with the pliant fruit of a warm vintage, a pretty attractive combination in my book.”
Our top pick for tonight is the 2012 from Socre. Four generations of the current owner’s, Marco Piacentino’s, family have farmed the estate that pre-dates their ownership. The family sold exclusively to private local families until 1999, when Marco began bottling the wines for commercial consumption. In 2012, he constructed a new winery in the rolling hills of Tre Stella. It’s an incredible value from the region, offering complexity in its youth from an estate that, to quote Antonio Galloni, “continues their rise into the upper echelon of producers in Barbaresco [producing] a finessed style of Barbaresco…These are very pretty wines with lovely balance.”
Socre Barbaresco DOCG, Piedmont 2012 750ML ($39.95) $33 special, 36+ bottles available
Antonio Galloni 92 points “The 2012 Barbaresco is dark, plummy and absolutely delicious, with plenty of up-front fruit and pure appeal. Sweet tobacco, rose petal, mint, cherries and licorice open up in the glass. The tannins retain a touch of firmness, but otherwise, this is a hugely appealing Barbaresco, especially considering it is the estate’s entry-level wine.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $34.99
Additional in-stock 2012 Barbaresco:
Adriano Marco e Vittorio Basarin, Barbaresco DOCG 2012 750ML ($31.95) $26 special, 29 bottles available
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.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Ca’ del Baio Marcarini, Barbaresco DOCG 2012 750ML ($36.95) $28 special, 3 bottles available
Antonio Galloni 92 points “The 2012 Barbaresco Marcarini shows a much darker expression of Treiso, along with greater depth, ripeness and textural richness than the Vallegrande. Black cherry, plum, cloves, leather and smoke all open up in a Barbaresco endowed with considerable mid-palate sweetness and distinctly baritone-inflected nuances. Here the expression of Nebbiolo is broad and ample.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $38.99
Cantina del Pino Ovello, Barbaresco DOCG 2012 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 24 bottles available
Wine Advocate 94 points “No one farms the Ovello cru like Renato Vacca. The 2012 Barbaresco Ovello is elegant and poised, unlike some of other expressions from this vineyard that taste very ripe in this vintage. His interpretation brings out the subtle nuances and the evident power of Nebbiolo from this sun-drenched hillside facing the Barbaresco church steeple. Dark fruit segues to spice, balsam herb and polished mineral.”
Paitin di Pasquero-Elia ‘Sori Paitin’, Barbaresco DOCG 2012 750ML ($49.95) $39 special, 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.”
Sottimano Cotta, Barbaresco DOCG 2012 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 18 bottles available
Wine Enthusiast 93 points “Aromas of red berry, tilled earth, menthol and dark cooking spice unfold in the glass. The structured, elegant palate doles out ripe wild cherry, mint, licorice, blood orange and chopped herb alongside firm, fine-grained tannins. It’s still tight so let it unwind for a few more years.”
Antonio Galloni 92 points “The 2012 Barbaresco Cottà shows its typical profile of round, ample fruit and generosity, but with a touch less richness than is the norm. Broad, ample textures fill out the wine’s frame nicely. Pine, menthol and dark spices wrap around a core of super-expressive dark red stone fruits. All of the typical Cottà signatures are in place, but in miniature, which is to say this is a highly representative wine for the year.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
The average price nationally is $54
Sottimano Fausoni, Barbaresco DOCG 2012 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 13 bottles available
Wine Advocate 94 points “Sottimano’s 2012 Barbaresco Fausoni shows highly impressive results with a smooth entry to the palate followed by bright fruit flavors that are fused with floral accents, spice and licorice. Fausoni reveals pretty transparency with brilliant garnet accents. The aromas are tonic, vibrant and fresh. There’s plenty of menthol and cardamon-infused lift on the finish. This is a very satisfying wine that promises a long life ahead.”
Antonio Galloni 92 points “The 2012 Barbaresco Fausoni is a very pretty, up-front wine with lovely fruit and precision. Crushed raspberries, flowers and sweet spices grace the palate as the wine opens up in the glass. The flavors are nicely layered in a soft, delicate Barbaresco that shows the more perfumed, aromatic side of Nebbiolo. In 2012, the Fausoni is all about immediacy.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $60
We offer 179 different in-stock red wines from Piedmont. See the full list on our web store!
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Summer Shipping Special:
Midwest, East, & South
For the summer season we are offering UPS Three Day Select Service for the price of UPS Ground for shipments normally traveling 4 or more business days by ground.
Free service upgrade only applies on single orders purchased and shipped during the promotional period. Additional fees will apply to orders held for any reason until after the promotional period and shipped by Three Day Select. Offer not valid on items purchased before the promotional period or on pre-arrival items that arrive after the promotional period ends.
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Rockin’ the Bedrock
Bedrock Wine Co.
You’d be forgiven for thinking Morgan Twain-Peterson was taking a free ride into the industry, his father Joel Peterson founded Ravenswood, but you’d soon learn that he is blazing his own, very opinionated and talented trail. Morgan’s passion is preservation of California’s heritage vineyards and the myriad of varietals not found anywhere else. This appreciation and dedication came from a distance as he was in New York finishing his degree in American History. Absence makes the heart grow fonder, and Morgan returned to make wine.
Most notably, the focus of Bedrock is their ancient vines. Morgan repeats again and again that wines are made in the vineyard. And what tremendous vineyards he works with. Gnarled old dinosaurs poking their heads up through cracked and ancient soil: varietals like Carignane, Mourvedre, Tempranillo, Alicante Bouschet, Valdigué, Peloursin, Serene, Petite Bouschet, Grand Noir de la Calmette to name a few. These vines, in Twain-Peterson’s view, represent so much more than California’s history. They represent a wine that is uniquely Californian, a style not to be found or replicated anywhere else in the world. This is could well be California’s future.
These wines aren’t shy, but the surprising little aromatics and spice notes are delicate and only get better with time. They’ve got the fruit and depth that you would expect from California, but they’re tight, structured and will reward patience. Similar to some of the older Ridge Zinfandels, you won’t be disappointed if you throw them into the decanter and punch your ticket, but book in advance. Getting there is half the fun.
Top Picks from Bedrock Wines In-Stock Now:
Bedrock Wine Co. Sauvignon Blanc, Sonoma County 2016 750ML ($29.95) $26 special, 24 bottles available
“This wine is almost entirely from the lovely Uboldi Ranch, which is planted on some of the only Sandy Goldridge Loam outcroppings in Sonoma Valley. Located to the south of the town of Kenwood as the valley hills begin to creep towards Sonoma Mountain, the site is both steep and rocky, which helps balance the natural vigor of the Sauvignon Blanc vines. Our section of the vineyard is planted exclusively to Musqué clone, which I prefer for its soaring aromatics. In order to give ourselves the most options when assembling the blend we fermented the wine in a combination of stainless steel tank at cold temperature, cigare barrels (the same used by Dagueneau in the Loire) and smaller piece. Though normally we tend to get pretty close to 50% of each in the final blend, we found that the increased texture and expressiveness provided by the barrel-fermented lots was too hard to resist, and the final wine this year saw 95% barrel fermentation. Of that just about 17% of it is new. It is so much fun to make Sauvignon Blanc!”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Bedrock Wine Co. ‘The Bedrock Heritage’ Wine, Sonoma Valley 2015 750ML ($59.95) $49 special
Robert Parker 96 points “Possibly the flagship wine is the 2015 Proprietary Red The Bedrock Heritage. This ancient vineyard is planted with 27 different varieties, so I won’t even begin to list them, as that is a book in itself. This is Rhône Valley-like, with notes of Mediterranean herbs, blackberries, blueberries, loamy soil notes, incense, creosote, steak tartare and pepper followed by a wine of great intensity – built like a skyscraper, with layers of fruit and extraction. It is a sensational effort, super-complex, and best drunk over the next decade.”
Bedrock Wine Co. Old Vine Zinfandel, Sonoma Valley 2015 750ML ($27.95) $24 special, 36+ bottles available
Wine Spectator 93 points “Rich and supple, this is an explosion of pure, decadent fruit. Floral huckleberry and Chinese five-spice powder aromas open to layered blackberry, dark chocolate and licorice flavors that linger. Drink now through 2026.”
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2015 FX Pichler
Sommelier and Riesling Legend Paul Greico once said, “If F.X. was a guitarist, Jimmy Page would stand aside” and no truer hyperbole has ever been uttered in the world of wine. F.X. Pichler stands as one of the two or three most important Austrian producers and hands down the winery crafting the most powerful, complex and bombastic dry Riesling and Gruner Veltliner on the planet.
The wines of F.X. Pichler are unique, in that no one else seems to wrangle both power and complexity into a single package quite like this wizard of the Wachau. With a combination of intensive viticulture, native fermentations and great terroir, the wines are unlike anything else in the world. Broad and powerful, with a cut and minerality that are unique to the vineyards in the Wachau.
The 2015 vintage, which we’re offering today, is something special as well. As Willi Brundlmayer (in the Kamptal) put it, “Conditions were perfect in 2015: everything happened at the right time, leaving no wishes unfulfilled.” Growers could make wines as stylistic epitome of their choosing, which means that if you’re an FX Pichler fan, these might be (and forgive the phrase) the most FX Pichler wines ever.
The Gruners:
F.X. Pichler Durnsteiner Kellerberg Gruner Veltliner Smaragd, Wachau 2015 750ML ($89.95) $79 special
Wine Advocate 94 points “Like the Liebenberg from weathered granite and gneiss soils, but in a higher and cooler spot, the 2015 Grüner Veltliner Smaragd Dürnsteiner Kellerberg opens with an intense and herbal-flavored, rather spicy and stony bouquet of ripe and concentrated bright fruits. Full-bodied, ripe and piquant on the palate, this is a rich and powerful, well-concentrated and elegant Kellerberg with a rich extract and a long and persistent finish. The 2015 should be cellared for at least another 3-5 years.”
F.X. Pichler Durnsteiner Liebenberg Gruner Veltliner Smaragd, Wachau 2015 750ML ($69.95) $59 special
Wine Advocate 93-94 points “The 2015 Grüner Veltliner Smaragd Dürnsteiner Liebenberg comes from 70- to 80-year-old vines on a rare calcareous slate soil. The wine displays a very clear and pure, pretty open and lovely spicy, crystalline and flinty bouquet with ripe pip fruit aromas. Very distinguished and rather coolish in its expression. Full-bodied, round and elegant, with tension, salt and grip in the finish, this is a charmingly ripe and juicy but also challenging mineral and piquant Veltliner from one of the most exciting terroirs. The finish is powerful and complex but also fresh and stimulatingly piquant. Pichler has bottled this wine since 2010.”
F.X. Pichler Loibner Loibenberg Gruner Veltliner Smaragd, Wachau 2015 750ML ($51.95) $44 special
Wine Advocate 92-93 points “From probably the warmest vineyard of the Wachau, the 2015 Grüner Veltliner Smaragd Loibner Loibenberg is a full-bodied, rich and intense, very juicy, but also piquant and mineral Veltliner with tobacco flavors on the nose. Dense and with an old-vines intensity, this Loibenberg offers ripe yellow stone fruits with a tropical touch, but is also very well structred and finishes with a long and salty aftertaste. An impressive wine.”
F.X. Pichler M Gruner Veltliner Smaragd, Wachau 2015 750ML ($89.95) $79 special
F.X. Pichler M Gruner Veltliner Smaragd, Wachau 2015 1.5L ($189.95) $169 special
Wine Advocate 94-95 points “The 2015 Grüner Veltliner Smaragd M is a selection of the ripest (overripe) grapes from the Loibenberg, Kellerberg and Liebenberg. Harvested in the last week of November and macerated for 20 to 24 hours, this is a rich and creamy textured yet elegant and vibrantly fresh Veltliner monument with finesse and purity and a long and tension-filled finish. Great salinity and concentration. An elegant and expressive wine for XXL drinkers.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
This is the only listing in the USA today for the magnum!
F.X. Pichler Urgestein Terrassen Gruner Veltliner Smaragd, Wachau 2015 750ML ($41.95) $36 special
David Schildknecht–Vinous 92 points “This blend from numerous sites (not rendered in vintage 2014 due to paucity of fruit) brims with luscious, juicy white peach and grapefruit, and its combination of citricity, green herbal pungency and stony underpinnings puts me as much in mind of Riesling as of Grüner Veltliner. Silken and enveloping on the palate, it retains its sense of energy and brightness through an invigoratingly peach-kernel-inflected, tinglingly stone-infused and mouthwateringly salt-tinged finish. Despite harboring 13.5 percent alcohol, the wine also conveys a subtle and attractive sense of lift.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
The Rieslings:
F.X. Pichler Durnsteiner Kellerberg Riesling Smaragd, Wachau 2015 750ML ($119.95) $85 special
David Schildknecht–Vinous 95-96 points “A pungently smoky, incisive, savory mélange of sage, dark tobacco and black pepper is allied to ripe peach and garlanded with heliotrope in a head-turningly intense nose. That full range of elements reprises on a polished palate, whose textural caress and sweet sense of ripeness are combined with welcome, tangy, chewy counterpoint of peach skin and a refreshingly juicy squirt of fresh lime. The finish offers a mouthwateringly prolonged, kaleidoscopic interaction of fruity, savory and smoky elements – plenty rich, yet with rare cut and animation for its vintage.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
F.X. Pichler Loibner Loibenberg Riesling Smaragd, Wachau 2015 750ML ($59.95) $49 special
F.X. Pichler Loibner Loibenberg Riesling Smaragd, Wachau 2015 375ML ($39.95) $33 special
Wine Advocate 92 points “Warm and intense on the nose, ripe and concentrated white fruit aromas open the 2015 Riesling Smaragd Loibner Loibenberg, which is pure and citric on the nose and very inviting. Pure, fresh and piquant on the palate, this is rather coolish and stunningly lean and pure Loibenberg compared to the corresponding Grüner Veltliner. Lucas believes that Riesling has eventually stopped the ripening process during the vegetation period. This 2015 has grip and tension and a rather coolish character.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
F.X. Pichler M Riesling Smaragd, Wachau 2015 750ML ($79.95) $69 special
David Schildknecht–Vinous 91-92 points “Reliance on late-harvested Loibenberg fruit resulted in a bottling that finished with too much residual sugar to qualify as Smaragd. (More thoroughly shriveled Loibenberg fruit resulted in a B.A. and T.B.A.) Lusciously ripe peach is tinged with banana and mingled with almond extract and liquid heliotrope perfume. Fortunately, a measure of grapefruit is not only pungently fragrant but also brightly juicy and piquantly zesty, helping – along with piquancy of peach kernel – to offset this bottling’s enveloping richness and sheer surfeit of ripe, sugar-reinforced fruit. The impressively sustained finish is, however, not at all overtly sweet.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
F.X. Pichler Loibner Oberhauser Riesling Smaragd, Wachau 2015 750ML ($49.95) $39 special
David Schildknecht–Vinous 92 points “A site-typical meld of apricot and lime is garlanded with iris on the nose and reprises with wonderful purity and vivid freshness on a silken-textured, expansive palate. Piquant apricot kernel and a lick of wet stone lend counterpoint on a lusciously lingering finish that irresistibly calls forth the next sip.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
F.X. Pichler Loibner Steinertal Riesling Smaragd, Wachau 2015 750ML ($69.95) $59 special
David Schildknecht–Vinous 93-94 points “White peach and grapefruit aromas mingle with honeysuckle on an enticing nose, and the three reunite on a glossy palate lusciously ripe and loaded with liquid floral perfume but simultaneously exuberantly and invigoratingly bright. The finish offers prolonged counterpoint of fruity, floral and stony elements. This bottling displays a combination of penetration, refinement and balancing acidity that is rare for an Austrian Riesling of its vintage.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
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Arriving August 4th
Domaine de la Terre Rouge
Glorious Vintage / High Elevation Beauties
Along the western edges of the Sierra Nevadas in Amador County lies Shenandoah Valley. Here, amid the rolling hills and high peaks, Bill Easton and Jane O’Riordan founded Domaine de la Terre Rouge, named in homage to the iron-rich soils found in the region. The winery is dedicated to capturing the essence of the landscape within its wines and the focus is high elevation wines highlighting the complexity and nuance within each distinct site in small lot, 100-400 case production. Sentinel Oak is the oldest Syrah vineyard in the Sierra Nevada, planted in 1982. DTR ranch is the coolest Syrah site of the estate, reminiscent of a Northern Rhone wine. High Slopes is sourced from the three highest elevation Syrah sites, showing racy aromatics and a perfumed Côte Rôtie-esque nose.
These highly limited wines arrive August 4th:
Domaine de la Terre Rouge Ascent Syrah, Sierra Foothills 2013 750ML ($99.95) $79 pre-arrival special
Wine Enthusiast 96 points “This is the small-production, flagship wine from the Sierra region’s best producer of Rhône-style wines. Lovely, spicy, floral aromas and generous, complex and layered flavors make the wine irresistible, while its strong but velvety texture sets it up for a long life in the cellar for those who can resist. It smells lightly oaky, like a cigar box and cocoa, tastes deep and focused on blackberry, pomegranate and dark chocolate. The mouthfeel is both rich and a bit reserved.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Domaine de la Terre Rouge DTR Ranch Syrah, Fiddletown 2013 750ML ($44.95) $34.80 pre-arrival special
Wine Enthusiast 91 points “This is a very solid, well-structured and deeply flavorful wine from the first whiff of blackberries and black pepper to the mouth-coating but dry flavors to the lingering spicy finish. Best to drink after 2018.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Domaine de la Terre Rouge High Slopes Syrah, Sierra Foothills 2013 750ML ($44.95) $34.80 pre-arrival special
Wine Enthusiast 93 points “Massive in structure and very generous in flavor, this wine has light vanilla and nutmeg aromas, but dark and potent blackberry and espresso flavors smothered in a thick layer of fine tannins. There is no denying the wine’s richness but it holds everything in a dry, firm texture to achieve great balance.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Domaine de la Terre Rouge ‘Sentinel Oak Vineyard Pyramid Block’ Syrah, Shenandoah Valley 2013 750ML ($44.95) $38 pre-arrival special
Wine Enthusiast 95 points “This gorgeous, concentrated, mouthfilling wine is delicious to sip now but will certainly improve in the cellar for a decade or more. Tempting black cherry and boysenberry flavors seem to swell in the mouth, while light baking-spice and black-pepper accents weave in and out. Even on the finish it keeps surging with dark fruits and spices.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
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Arriving in August
Agusti Torello Mata
Divine Cava
“From a family of musicians and tailors, Agusti Torello Mata founded his winery in 1950, supporting this venture by constructing Penedes first dedicated wine laboratory. The winery now manages 100 hectares of organically farmed old vines, the youngest being 30 years. They are dedicated to producing reserva and gran reserva cavas from the traditional indigenous grape varities (Macabeo from the coast, Xarel·lo form the central area and Parellada from the pre-costal mountain range, together with the red Trepat and white Malvasia/Subirat Parent varieties). The wines are benchmarks for great cava.” –Importer note
Agusti Torello Mata Cava Brut Reserva, Catalonia 2013 750ML ($19.95) $18 pre-arrival special
Case-12 Agusti Torello Mata Cava Brut Reserva, Catalonia 2013 750ML ($239.95) $199 pre-arrival special (that’s only $16.58/bottle!)
Macabeu 39%, Xarel·lo 23% and Parellada 38%. From vines in the Penedès region.
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Agusti Torello Mata Gran Reserva Brut Nature Cava, Catalonia 2011 750ML ($31.95) $24 pre-arrival special
Macabeu 38%, Xarel·lo 28% and Parellada 34%. From vines in the Penedès region.
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Agusti Torello Mata Gran Reserva Brut Cava, Catalonia 2012 375ML ($19.95) $14 pre-arrival special
Macabeo, Xarel.lo and Parellada from the Penedès area.
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Agusti Torello Mata Kripta Gran Reserva Cava, Penedes 2008 750ML ($89.95) $79 pre-arrival special
Macabeu 45%, Xarel·lo 20% and Parellada 35% From very old vines in the Penedès region.
Wine Advocate 92 points “The current vintage of the special cuvée is the 2008 Kripta, a classical blend of the local grapes Macabeo, Xarello and Parellada aged in contact with the lees in bottle for a long time, no less than five years, during which time the bottle is closed with a cork (it’s usually a crown stopper). Apparently this gives the wine a different character and is the way it was traditionally done. This is a polished Cava with yeast and brioche aromas and a soft palate with clean, developed flavors and integrated acidity. A benchmark for the Cavas with five years in contact with lees. 24,300 bottles produced.”
Agusti Torello Mata Trepat Rosat Brut Cava, Catalonia 2014 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 pre-arrival special
Case-12 Agusti Torello Mata Trepat Rosat Brut Cava, Catalonia 2014 750ML ($279.95) $225 pre-arrival special (that’s only $18.75/bottle!)
100% Trepat
This is the only listing in the USA today!
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Produttori Super Specials
2013 Crus
Arriving in April 2018
In 2013, overall production is down versus the 2011 vintage. No 2012 crus were made and no 2014 crus are expected. Though this speaks well for the quality of the ’13 vintage, it bodes ill for the supply!
“Two thousand thirteen …is shaping up to be an epic vintage of classic proportions and superb pedigree. The growing season was much more stable than 2012, but it is the last month of the year, a perfect September with warm days and cool nights, that yielded Barbarescos endowed with regal intensity. The 2013s remind me of the 2010s, but with more inner sweetness and mid-palate richness.
“Aldo Vacca has deftly brought the Produttori del Barbaresco into modern times while making subtle changes to farming and winemaking yet maintaining the traditional style that has made this coop so adored by its rabidly loyal fan base. The changes at Produttori have been gradual to the degree they aren’t always so noticeable, but they are there. No one knows every nook and cranny of Barbaresco better than Aldo Vacca, but Vacca has also proven to be incredibly wise in making choices that have positioned the Produttori for much continued success in the future.”–Antonio Galloni
The wines are slated for release next spring. Don’t miss your chance!
Produttori del Barbaresco Asili, Barbaresco Riserva DOCG 2013 750ML ($69.95) $59 pre-arrival special
Case-12 Produttori del Barbaresco Asili, Barbaresco Riserva DOCG 2013 750ML ($699.95) $619 pre-arrival special (that’s only $51.58/bottle!)
Produttori del Barbaresco Montefico, Barbaresco Riserva DOCG 2013 750ML ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival special
Case-12 Produttori del Barbaresco Montefico, Barbaresco Riserva DOCG 2013 750ML ($599.95) $519 pre-arrival special (that’s only $43.25/bottle!)
Produttori del Barbaresco Montestefano, Barbaresco Riserva DOCG 2013 750ML ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival special
Produttori del Barbaresco Montestefano, Barbaresco Riserva DOCG 2013 1.5L ($119.95) $99 pre-arrival special
Case-12 Produttori del Barbaresco Montestefano, Barbaresco Riserva DOCG 2013 750ML ($599.95) $519 pre-arrival special (that’s only $43.25/bottle!)
Produttori del Barbaresco Muncagota, Barbaresco Riserva DOCG 2013 750ML ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival special
Case-12 Produttori del Barbaresco Muncagota, Barbaresco Riserva DOCG 2013 750ML ($599.95) $489 pre-arrival special (that’s only $40.75/bottle!)
Produttori del Barbaresco Ovello, Barbaresco Riserva DOCG 2013 750ML ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival special
Produttori del Barbaresco Ovello, Barbaresco Riserva DOCG 2013 1.5L ($119.95) $99 pre-arrival special
Case-12 Produttori del Barbaresco Ovello, Barbaresco Riserva DOCG 2013 750ML ($599.95) $519 pre-arrival special (that’s only $43.25/bottle!)
Produttori del Barbaresco Paje, Barbaresco Riserva DOCG 2013 750ML ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival special
Case-12 Produttori del Barbaresco Paje, Barbaresco Riserva DOCG 2013 750ML ($599.95) $499 pre-arrival special (that’s only $41.58/bottle!)
Produttori del Barbaresco Pora, Barbaresco Riserva DOCG 2013 750ML ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival special
Case-12 Produttori del Barbaresco Pora, Barbaresco Riserva DOCG 2013 750ML ($599.95) $519 pre-arrival special (that’s only $43.25/bottle!)
Produttori del Barbaresco Rabaja, Barbaresco Riserva DOCG 2013 750ML ($69.95) $59 pre-arrival special
Produttori del Barbaresco Rabaja, Barbaresco Riserva DOCG2013 1.5L ($149.95) $119 pre-arrival special
Case-12 Produttori del Barbaresco Rabaja, Barbaresco Riserva DOCG2013 750ML ($699.95) $619 pre-arrival special (that’s only $51.58/bottle!)
Produttori del Barbaresco Rio Sordo, Barbaresco Riserva DOCG 2013 750ML ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival special
Case-12 Produttori del Barbaresco Rio Sordo, Barbaresco Riserva DOCG 2013 750ML ($599.95) $499 pre-arrival special (that’s only $41.58/bottle!)
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Thank you for reading!