Monday, July 13th, 2015
New Arrival Special Feature
Joseph Drouhin Chorey-les-Beaune 2012 750ML ($27.95) $22.70 special
Case-12 Joseph Drouhin Chorey-les-Beaune 2012 750ML ($299.95) $249 special (that’s only $20.75/bottle!)
Antonio Galloni 88 points “A tasty, entry-level offering, the 2012 Chorey-les-Beaune stands out for its beautiful bright red fruit, expressive floral overtones and vibrant saline notes. Delineation, tension and energy are the hallmarks. This is a beautifully balanced wine in its class.” AG
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $30
Don’t miss the other new arrivals from Joseph Drouhin below!
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Mid-West, East & South – Summer Shipping Saver
Whisk your wine through warmer weather!
Now for the summer season we are offering UPS Three Day Select Service for the price of UPS Ground for shipments normally travelling 4 or more business days.
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FRANCE-BURGUNDY
Joseph Drouhin ‘Drouhin-Vaudon’ Chablis 2013 750ML ($21.95) $19 special
Case-6 Joseph Drouhin ‘Drouhin-Vaudon’ Chablis 2013 750ML ($119.95) $109 special (that’s only $18.17/bottle!)
Case-12 Joseph Drouhin ‘Drouhin-Vaudon’ Chablis 2013 750ML ($249.95) $199 special (that’s only $16.58/bottle and the lowest listed price in the USA today!)
Producer notes “A dry and fruity wine, easy to drink. Its colour is pale gold with greenish hues. Very fresh aromas reminiscent of citrus (lemon or grapefruit); small pleasant touches of fern or coriander are found as well. On the palate, dry and fruity, with mineral notes. Pleasant and long aftertaste.”
Joseph Drouhin Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru 2012 750ML ($249.95) $199 special
Wine Advocate 93-95 points “The 2012 Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru, which comes from lieu-dit “Les Languettes” was picked on September 19 and comes from their own vines, as it has for the last three vintages. Fortunately, there was no hail but the crop was still reduced by 50%, equating to three barrels in total. It already has an attractive nose, albeit one that is tightly coiled at present, coveting its apricot and beeswax aromas, keeping them back for later. The palate is spicy on the entry with a fine line of acidity. There is lovely weight here, with quite a precocious, yet still tightly wound finish that suggests it deserves five to six years to really come around. Excellent.” NM
Joseph Drouhin Le Musigny Grand Cru 2011 750ML ($799.95) $589 special
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 92-95 points “Good deep red. Captivating aromas of blueberry, violet, coffee bean, white pepper and crushed stone. Juicy on entry, then tight and imploded in the middle, with an energetic core of fruit currently dominated by the wine’s structure. Most impressive today on the rising, expanding back end, which saturates the mouth with dusty minerality. This will need eight to ten years of cellaring.” ST
Burghound 93-95 points “Don’t miss! A highly spiced, cool and reserved nose features superb breadth with a wonderfully appealing array of plum, violets, wet stone and essence of red berry fruit. The exceptionally rich, focused and intensely mineral-inflected broad-shouldered flavors evidence focused power and a sleek muscularity before terminating in an explosive and palate saturating finish of genuinely stunning length. This is a knockout in every respect.” BH
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $595
The average price is $683
Joseph Drouhin Le Musigny Grand Cru 2012 750ML ($999.95) $799 special
Burghound 96 points “Here the expressive nose is even more complex and spicier than the Amoureuses with its fresh and impressively pure notes of black cherry, plum, violets and cassis that are trimmed by a backdrop of softly toasty oak. There is good power and excellent size, weight and muscle on the big-bodied flavors that exude plenty of mouth coating dry extract that also serves to buffer the very firm tannins on the strikingly persistent and almost painfully intense finish. There is a beguiling contrast between the silky mid-palate and the powerful finish that just goes on and on. This should be stunning in time but this is definitely not a wine for early consumption.” BH
Domaine des Croix Cent Vignes, Beaune Premier Cru 2012 750ML ($69.95) $49 special
Antonio Galloni 90-92 points “Violets, tobacco and sweet spices open up in the 2012 Beaune Cent Vignes. Here the style is floral and lifted, with silky tannins that underpin the fruit. The wine’s total sense of grace and mid-weight structure both suggest it will drink nicely with minimum cellaring. I tasted the 2012 from tank right before bottling.” AG
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $59.95
Domaine des Croix Les Bressandes, Beaune Premier Cru 2012 750ML ($79.95) $69 special
Antonio Galloni 92-94 points “The 2012 Beaune Bressandes boasts tremendous power, intensity and length. Today, the flavors are remarkably undeveloped and primary. Here, it is the wine’s texture that impresses most of all. There is plenty of depth in the glass, but the 2012 needs at least a few years in bottle for all the elements to come together fully. The dark, resonant finish is particularly appealing.” AG
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $74.95
ITALY-TUSCANY
Siro Pacenti Pelagrilli, Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2008 750ML ($59.95) $49 special
James Suckling 92 points “Clear aromas of plums, cherries and flowers follow through to a full body, with velvety tannins, fresh acidity and a clean bright finish. A modern and focused wine. Drink or hold.” JS
Siro Pacenti Pelagrilli, Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2009 750ML ($59.95) $49 special
James Suckling 94 points “Fascinating aromas of limestone, oyster shell, currant and blueberry. Full body, refined and integrated tannins and a juicy finish. One of the best 2009 Brunellos! A master winemaker for the region. Best Pelagrilli yet. Drink or hold.” JS
ITALY-OTHER
Casale Marchese Frascati Superiore DOCG, Lazio 2014 750ML ($14.95) $11.90
Winery notes “Nose profile: hints of tropical fruit are immediate, nuanced with light, herby floral notes. Palate profile: a zesty wine, that is robust, with a soft, elegant, mouthfilling finish. Frascati should always be consumed before the next harvest starts. Casale Marchese Frascati is very drinkable even as early as February-March, but it comes into its own as summer approaches, enhanced by a brief stay in the bottle.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
GERMANY
Hans Kramp Ayler Kupp Riesling Kabinett Trocken, Saar 1989 750ML ($39.95) $29 special
VinopolNote: The 1989 Kabinett Trocken was one of three wines inherited indirectly by Florian Lauer (of Weingut Peter Lauer). Lauer’s father purchased plots of the Ayler Kupp vineyard from Hans and Rudolf Kramp when they retired, and had access to their cellar across the street from his winery. Florian had the wines tested since the rows of bottles were poorly labeled, and has reconditioned the bottles that were aged undisturbed for over 25 years. This Kabinett is of a style (due partly to changing practices and to global warming) that is no longer made: only 9.3% alcohol yet completely dry – light and ethereal.
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
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Just a reminder about our current shipping specials during this season:
For the Mid-West, East, and South during the summer season we are offering UPS Three Day Select Service for the price of UPS Ground for shipments that would normally travel four or more business days to their destination.
We offer flat rate shipping on any size single order / single shipment
-to Oregon for $17,
-Washington & Idaho for $20,
-and California for $25
These rates do not apply to orders held in storage here for any reason.
Multiple orders consolidated into one shipment do not qualify for flat rate shipping.
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Arriving This Month
Fanti Estate – Brunello di Montalcino
The Fanti family has owned and operated their estate to the south of Montelcino since the beginning of the 18th century. There are just over 50 hectares of vineyards among the olive orchards and forest land that is part of the estate. The vineyards lie in the amphitheatre of the Castelnuovo dell’Abate near the Roman Basilica of Sant’Antim. The soils are “galestro” (marl) and the drastic diurnal shift helps produce wines of great elegance and robust character.
The 2010 vintage in Brunello is widely considered by professional reviews to be one of the greatest. The growing conditions were near perfect, with ideal warmth during ripening and strong diurnal temperature swings that allowed for phenolic ripeness with retained acidity. The best show lush fruit, bright acidity and strong tannins, suggesting an aging potential of 10-20 years.
Fanti Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2010 750ML ($44.95) $36 pre-arrival special
Wine Spectator 94 points “A big, powerful red, with dense tannins and black cherry and blackberry flavors. Balanced in a muscular way, this remains tight and brooding despite the long, fresh finish. Shows potential. Best from 2020 through 2038. 1,600 cases imported.” WS
Fanti ‘Vallocchio’, Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2010 750ML ($69.95) $49 pre-arrival special
Wine Spectator 94 points “Full of cherry, plum and spice flavors, this is shaded by a touch of oak. Rich and smooth overall, showing ample tannins underneath and a full, expansive finish. Exhibits fine balance and expression. Best from 2018 through 2032. 0400 cases imported.” WS
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $55.99
The average price is $68
2010 Brunellos Available Here Now
“2010 is the top Brunello di Montalcino vintage of the new millennium because it shows the best traits of my other two favorite vintages, 2006 and 2007, in tandem. It beautifully combines the freshness, structure, linearity and aging potential of 2006 with the intensity, opulence, balsam distinctiveness and tannic richness of 2007. In 2010 you get it all.” -Wine Advocate’s vintage report
“The year 2010 for Brunello di Montalcino is the greatest modern vintage of Italy’s most famous red wine region. Never have the wines been so profound in quality, character, and quantity from the best hillside vineyards of Montalcino. They represent a new paradigm for Tuscany’s unique sangiovese-based red.” -James Suckling
Altesino Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2010 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 36+ bottles available
James Suckling 95 points “Wonderful decadent aromas of musk, orange peel and plum follow through to a full body, with soft tannins and a long and rich finish. Salty and savory. Layers of gorgeous fruit. Drink or hold.” JS
Caparzo Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2010 750ML ($49.95) $34.50 special, 13 bottles available
Case-12 Caparzo Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2010 750ML ($479.95) $359 special, 4 cases available
James Suckling 95 points “So much dried-lemon and orange-peel character here. Wet leaf, wet earth, stone and lightly smoked meat. Full body, integrated tannins and a savory, tangy finish. Fleshy and yummy. Fabulous deal. Drink or hold on release.” JS
Antonio Galloni 93 points “Bright red cherries, plums, smoke, tobacco, flowers, cedar and spices are all beautifully delineated in the 2010 Brunello di Montalcino. Vibrant and lifted throughout, the 2010 captures the freshness of the vintage in spades. Already soft and accessible, the 2010 can be enjoyed now or cellared for a decade or so.” AG
Wine Advocate 92 points “Caparzo’s 2010 Brunello di Montalcino is a lush and voluptuous wine with soft cherry aromas at the front of spice, dark chocolate and toasted almond. The wine is more approachable in style with a drinking window that can offer pleasure to those too impatient to wait. The tannins are also more evolved and integrated for a more gentle approach. The finish is marked by an evident touch of vanilla from the oak.” WA
La Gerla Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2010 750ML ($59.95) $47 special, 36+ bottles available
La Gerla Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2010 1.5L ($149.95) $119 special, 3 magnums available
Antonio Galloni 95 points “La Gerla’s 2010 Brunello di Montalcino is absolutely delicious. Dark red cherries, plums, mint, smoke, tobacco and licorice flesh out in a wine that offers notable depth, structure and power. The 2010 is medium in body and also quite polished, yet there is a level of inner sweetness and perfume that makes the wine incredibly appealing, even today. Ideally, though, readers should give the 2010 at least a few years in the cellar. The precise, delicate finish is a thing of beauty.”
Flavio Fanti La Palazzetta Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2010 750ML ($49.95) $39 special, 9 bottles available
Importer note “La Palazzetta is a small family run winery, with 18 hectares of vineyards that are situated on the south-eastern edge of Montalcino in the tiny village of Castelnuovo dell’Abate. Cultivating his vineyards organically, Flavio Fanti is a traditionalist who somewhat straddles the fence. While only utilizing large Slovenian and French oak for his Brunello, he chooses to use various size barrique for his rosso in order to create a wine that is characteristic of Sangiovese Grosso, but incredibly approachable upon release.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Piancornello Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2010 750ML ($49.95) $39 special, 36+ bottles available
Antonio Galloni 93 points “The 2010 Brunello di Montalcino is deceptive in its mid-weight structure, but there is plenty going on in the glass. Dried rose petal, tobacco, iron, dried cherries and cinnamon open up in an insistent Brunello loaded with personality. Fruit is pushed to the back, while intensely ferrous and savory notes are quite expressive. The lifted finish adds attractive overtones in a powerful yet mid-weight Brunello that impresses for its balance and class.” AG
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $45.99
Ciacci Piccolomini d’Aragona Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2010 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 36+ bottles available
James Suckling 94 points “Very perfumed with flower, truffle, light wet earth and cherry character. Full body and full integrated ripe tannins and caresses your palate. Very fine and pretty. Slight soya undertone. Succulent and enticing. You want to drink this.” JS
Ciacci Piccolomini d’Aragona Pianrosso, Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2010 750ML ($79.95) $66 special, 21 bottles available
James Suckling 98 points “Aromas of lilac, dark berry and sandalwood follow through to a full body, with fine tannins and an intense and savory finish. Very intense and very long. Succulent. Amazing balance and depth to this red. It’s so beautiful to taste now but it will be much better in five to ten years. A triumph.” JS
2010 Brunellos Arriving Late July
Argiano Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2010 750ML ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival special
Antonio Galloni 94 points “The 2010 Brunello di Montalcino jumps from the glass with notable energy and precision. Grilled herbs, smoke, tobacco, rose petal and mint are all beautifully delineated in the glass. Distinctly savory and mineral notes add complexity to the expressive, stone-inflected fruit in a chiseled, pulsating Brunello endowed with considerable energy. The tannins need time to soften, but Argiano’s 2010 is unquestionably a winner.” AG
Siro Pacenti Pelagrilli, Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2010 750ML ($59.95) $41.90 pre-arrival special
James Suckling 96 points “Aromas of dark berry, stone, dried Chinese mushroom and flowers. This is full-bodied, with layers of ripe, intense fruit and a long, long finish. Massive. Needs time to soften. Try in 2018.” JS
Antonio Galloni 95 points “The 2010 Brunello di Montalcino Pelagrilli is one of the more open, resonant wines readers will come across. Dark cherry, plum, smoke, spice and new leather blossom as this rich, textured Brunello shows off its considerable personality. The flavors are dark, bold and voluptuous throughout, but supported by persistent veins of salinity. This is a fabulous wine from Giancarlo Pacenti. Although the 2010 is labeled ‘Pelagrilli’ 20% of the fruit comes from Pacenti’s holdings in the Piancornello district, in the south of Montalcino. Drink: 2015-2027.” AG
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $50
Siro Pacenti Vecchie Vigne, Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2010 750ML ($119.95) $89 pre-arrival special
James Suckling 100 points “Complex aromas of walnut, dark fruit, stone, oyster shell, chalk and dried fruits. This shows fabulous intensity and balance with layer upon layer of fruit and polished tannins. Builds on the palate. It goes on for minutes. Better in 2019.” JS
2010 Brunello Arriving August 2015
Casanova di Neri Tenuta Nuova, Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2010 750ML ($219.95) $169 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 100 points “The 2010 Brunello di Montalcino Tenuta Nuova is a protagonist of the vintage. The fruit is deep and dark with rich levels of extract, intensity and flavor. It goes far beyond your standard cherry and blackberry to include plum cake, spice bread and bacon-wrapped prune. Nothing is obvious or monochromatic about this wine. Everything is nuanced and ethereal. Tenuta Nuova is also distinguished by the linear mineral notes that are characteristic of this single-vineyard site. In 2010, those traits are especially well-defined and pronounced. The tannins reach a level of suppleness that is almost impossible to find in the sometimes prickly and acidic Sangiovese grape. If there is one thing Giacomo Neri has mastered, it is harvesting at optimal ripeness: He knows his property and his vines better than most and it shows. Collectors will want to put this wine aside ten years or longer.” WA
2010 Brunello Arriving Late October
Il Poggione Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2010 750ML ($89.95) $69 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 98 points “The 2010 Brunello di Montalcino is a striking wine that shows uncompromising varietal pureness, albeit in a most concentrated and elaborate form. This is what great Sangiovese is all about. There’s so much happening on the nose and the wine brings you to cherry, spice, licorice, cured meat, pressed rose and grilled meat in equal measure. No one element overpowers the next. The mouthfeel is also tight and bright with the kind of fruit intensity that promises long cellar aging. This Brunello is only at the beginning of a long road ahead. The longer the wine stays in the glass, the more it offers in terms of complexity and intensity. This is a true standout that can be enjoyed for up to 20 years ahead.” ML
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It’s a Little Bit Funny…
Unusual Wines from Around the World
OREGON
Cameron Ramato Pinot Gris 2014 750ML ($27.95) $24 special, 31 bottles available
Winery note “Rame: Italian for copper, ramato: copper-colored. Ramato is a copper-colored Pinot grigio made in the tradition of north-eastern Italy. A very tricky wine to pull off. Very limited production.”
VinopolNote: 100% Pinot Gris from Abbey Ridge vineyard made as an ‘orange’ wine. Grapes are harvested just as the seeds begin to brown. The grapes are crushed and the juice is left on the skins for 4-5 hours to extract color before pressing. The wine is aged for 6-8 months in neutral barrique to stabilize color and to allow the proteins to settle out without filtration.
Love & Squalor Rose of Gewurztraminer “A Frayed Knot” 2014 750ML ($19.95) $16 special, 23 bottles available
Winery note “Love & Squalor 2014 ‘A Frayed Knot’ Rosé of Gewurztraminer is truly a singular wine from the 1971 Sunnyside Vineyard. The color is a pale coral from a long cold skin maceration and was fermented dry in Pinot barrels. It has a floral and sweet nose, medium weight body and a nice mineral finish.”
Johan Vineyards Pétillant Naturel Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2014 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 special
Josh Raynolds-Vinous Media 90 points “Deep, lurid pink. A wild, highly perfumed bouquet evokes medicinal red fruits, blood orange, potpourri and quinine, with a zesty white pepper overtone; smells exactly like a Negroni. The palate offers incisive redcurrant and bitter cherry flavors and a jolt of orange pith, along with a hint of candied ginger. Dry and minerally on the long, precise finish, which shows resonating spice and floral notes. The Brooklyn and Portland crowd will especially go nuts for this but I suspect that plenty of un-hip wine lovers will as well; I did and I’m an old suburban guy.”
Imbue Vineyard Aged Petal & Thorn Aperitif Wine 375ML ($24.95) $21.90 special, 2 half-bottles available
Winemaker Notes–“Striking feminine aromas of chamomile and orange-peel waft from the glass, with more orange, pine, and cinnamon on the palate. A broad silky texture and pleasing sweetness lend weight to the mouth feel, before ultimately giving way to the assertive Amaro-inspired, bitter finish.”
CALIFORNIA
Kalin Cellars Cuvee DD Sonoma Pinot Noir, Alexander Valley 1999 750ML ($44.95) Was $39, Now $33, 15 bottles available
Winery notes “The grape source is Demostene Ranch located in the Alexander Valley. The vineyard is the oldest Pinot Noir plantation in this region, and was established with a clone which produces small berries and low yields. The soil is a mixture of clay, silt and limestone. The vineyard is dry farmed and within one mile of the Russian River. Demostene Ranch traditionally produces intense wines which possess exceptional fruit definition, combined with a richly textured palate and great length of finish. The particular vineyard characteristics are reminiscent of violets, wild red fruits (cassis and cherries), exotic oriental spices, sous-bois, etc.”
Lieu Dit Melon de Bourgogne, Santa Maria Valley 2013 750ML ($24.95) $20.90 special, 5 bottles available
Winemaker note “I like the leaner style – the bright mineral side. Richer wines have been the notion of California for the last twenty years. But… it’s refreshing to make wines that have a little more restraint.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
FRANCE-CHAMPAGNE
Champagne Aubry Le Nombre d’Or Sable Blanc de Blancs Campanae Veteres Vites Brut 2009 750ML ($89.95) $69 special, 10 bottles available
Antonio Galloni 93 points “Lemon oil, white flowers, mint and crushed rocks jump from the glass in Aubry’s 2009 Sablé Blanc des Blancs, a blend of Chardonnay, Arbanne, Petit Meslier and Fromenteau. The bright, focused style will appeal most to readers who enjoy tense, vibrant Champagnes. This is a stellar showing from the Aubry brothers. In particular, I am impressed with the level of freshness here given the warm, radiant vintage” AG
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
FRANC-BURGUNDY
Domaine Leroy Bourgogne Aligote 2009 750ML ($89.95) $59 special, 16 bottles available
VinopolNote: One of the few producers to make serious and ageworthy Aligote. A textural and weighty wine.
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
FRANCE-ALSACE
Domaine Marcel Deiss Grasberg 2010 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 23 bottles available
Wine Advocate 93 points “Striking, high-toned aromas of maraschino, pistachio and mirabelle distillate in the Deiss 2010 Grasberg put me in mind of previous renditions from this site and field-blend that favors Riesling, Pinot Gris and Traminer variants. Tingling pineapple informs its firm yet lusciously juicy palate, leading to a long, supportively sweet finish featuring the invigorating interaction of chalk, white pepper, orange and lemon zests, and nut extracts with peach and pineapple. Look for this beauty to perform impressively through at least 2025.” WA
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Domaine Marcel Deiss Huebuhl Bergheim 2008 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 23 bottles available
Wine Advocate & Stephen Tanzer 92 points “(pinot gris and muscat) Full orange-gold. Pungent, high-toned aromas of orange, spices and medicinal herbs; conveys a strong botrytis character. A very sweet, energetic fruit bomb in the mouth, with brisk acidity giving grip to the rather exotic flavors of tangerine, apricot, yellow peach, botanical herbs and spices. Big and broad but not heavy. Finishes long, tactile and slightly phenolic, showing its pinot gris side today.” ST
This is the only listing in the USA today!
FRANCE-OTHER
Les Capriades Vin de France Pet’Sec NV ($27.95) $24 special, 4 bottles available
VinopolNote: A dry blend of Chenin Blanc and Cabernet Franc produced using the Methode Ancestrale method whereby the fermenting wine is bottled before completion to and left to finish in the bottle, producing a semi-sparkling wine.
Chateau De La Mar La Chapelle, Roussette de Savoie AOP Cru Marestel 2011 750ML ($34.95) $29 special, 6 bottles available
Winery note “Typical wood aging that gives power to a bouquetée expression, with candied and spicy aromas: vanilla, mocha and fresh wood, hawthorn, candied pear and rhubarb, green tea and gingerbread. Mouth: Full-bodied, warm and fat that lenghtens thanks to maturing. Vines: 40 years old , grape variety Altesse, partially grassed and integrated farming.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Jacques Puffeney Arbois Cuvee Sacha NV 750ML ($44.95) $36 special, 4 bottles available
Importer note “This cuvée is Jacques Puffeney’s blend of Savagnin with Chardonnay. Although the percentages change year-to-year, there is usually about twice as much Chardonnay in the blend as Savagnin. This, too, is vinified in the classic Jura style: aged in foudres, no topping off, bottled two or so years after harvest. The “Sacha” is a compelling wine of great length and complexity.”
Jean Francois Ganevat Vieux Macvin du Jura NV 750 ML ($69.95) $39 special, 9 bottles available
VinopolNote: Blend of 2/3 unfermented must of Savagnin and 1/3 Marc of Savagnin. Barrel aged for 8 years before bottling.
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $45.99
L’Oustal Blanc Naick Blanc, Languedoc-Roussillon 2011 750ML ($34.95) $29 special, 22 bottles available
Wine Advocate 92 points “The 2011 Naick Blanc offers another level of texture, richness and depth, with better overall integration and balance. Spiced apples, toast, almond and mineral all flow from the glass and this medium to full-bodied white has a full, layered texture, integrated acidity and a great finish. It will be best with food and should drink nicely for a number of years.” WA
This is the only listing in the USA today!
GERMANY
Selbach-Oster ‘Anrecht’ Zeltinger Himmelreich Riesling Spatlese, Mosel 2011 750ML ($39.95) $29 special, 29 bottles available
Wine Advocate 94 points “The block-picked, lightly-botrytized Selbach 2011 Zeltinger Himmelreich Riesling Anrecht leads with a gorgeous though subtle amalgam of apple blossom, chamomile, sweet lime, pear nectar, and quince preserves, all of which reconvene on a silken-textured, subtly creamy and oily yet admirably juicy and utterly transparent palate, through which shimmer stony, smoky and saline notes. Allying a Kabinett-like sense of levity, primary juiciness and mineral interaction with the richness of flavor typical for a great Auslese – at just 7.5% alcohol yet not dominated by its sheer sweetness! – this perfectly illustrates precisely the point of block picking that captures all of the sorts of ripeness that are out there and layers them on the palate to render a masterpiece of counterpoint and harmony. Expect this to be worth following for a quarter century, though who can really tell, absent any recent track record for such a wine.” WA
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Selbach-Oster ‘Anrecht’ Zeltinger Himmelreich Riesling Spatlese, Mosel 2012 750ML ($39.95) $29 special, 36+ bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 92 points “($38) Golden yellow. Expansive aromas of caramelized apple, candied peach and lemon curd. The succulent flavors of honey and apricot pith are kept vibrant by refreshing acidity. The long finish, offering complex notes of tangerine and toasted nuts, tastes almost dry.” ST
ITALY-PIEDMONT
Stefano Farina Le Brume Langhe Rosso 2009 750ML ($19.95) $16 special, 20 bottles available
Wine Spectator 90 points “Charred oak aromas mark this dense red, which offers black cherry and blackberry flavors augmented by roasted vanilla, clove and smoke elements. Modern in style, with no holds barred. This won’t appeal to everyone. Barbera, Nebbiolo and Merlot. Drink now through 2020.” WS
Weingut Pfeffingen Estate Dry Scheurebe, Pfalz 2013 750ML ($21.95) $18 special, 10 bottles available
Importer note “The estate is known for its pioneering work with the Scheurebe grape, thanks mainly to Karl Fuhrmann, Jan’s grandfather. He took cuttings of Scheurebe from the neighboring Annaberg and replanted them in the Herrenberg. The Pfeffingen Estate produces 10,000 cases and is a member of the VDP.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Casa Ronsil ‘l’Enfant Terrible’ Avana, Valsusa DOC 2011 750ML ($17.95) $14 special, 18 bottles available
VinopolNote: 100% Avana from the Valsusa DOC. The name translates as “Terrible children” as Avana was a notriously difficult to pick grape, mainly grown along steep, rocky hillsides. Typically a blending partner of classic Piedmont grapes, this varietal is known for its bright acidity and light peppery notes.
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
ITALY-OTHER
Foradori Morei Teroldego Vigneti delle Dolomiti IGT, Trentino-Alto Adige 2012 750ML ($59.95) $41.90 special, 12 bottles available
Foradori Morei Teroldego Vigneti delle Dolomiti IGT, Trentino-Alto Adige 2012 1.5L ($119.95) $99 special, 3 magnums available
Antonio Galloni 94 points “Foradori’s Teroldego Morei is once again compelling in 2012. A host of intensely savory/mineral notes meld into a core of dense dark red and black stone fruits. Grilled herbs, lavender and smoke follow, adding considerable aromatic intrigue. Big tannins support the huge, explosive finish in a wine endowed with magnificent complexity and pedigree. The dark, brooding finish is particularly of note. Today, the 2012 stands out for its superb complexity and undeniable pedigree. The Morei was vinified and aged in upright terra cotta amphorae.”AG
SPAIN
Descendientes de J. Palacios Petalos, Bierzo 2012 750ML ($24.95) $18 special, 22 bottles available
Wine Advocate 93 points “One of my sure values, I thought the 2012 Pétalos could not be surpassed so I opened a bottle next to the 2012 Pétalos del Bierzo, and I was wrong. The 2012 is extremely aromatic, with flowery aromas of violets, lilies and roses, really fresh, with notes of red fruit (acid strawberries), no traces of oak whatsoever, subtle, really Burgundian with hints of blood oranges, denoting freshness. The medium-bodied palate is extremely balanced, elegant, round, with volume and incredible freshness. For a young, entry-level wine there is incredible complexity, developing notes of fennel and aromatic herbs, all of it very harmonious and subtle. For Ricardo there is a change to a cycle of Atlantic vintages (2012, 2013 and 2014 so far), but 2012 was a special vintage, shorter and dried, but at the same time fresh. This could very well be the best Pétalos ever, and I cannot recommend enough.” WA
Back tomorrow to briefly tell you about our French super sale for Bastille Day!