In Today’s Newsletter:
July Clearance Sale
The Brilliant Burgundy of Jerome Chezeaux
#Trending
Rose! Of! The! Day!
Mt Etna’s “Best Ever”
Passopisciaro
Domaine Collotte
The Donnhoff 2017 Vintage Offer
Vietti’s 2014 Crus
July Sale Recap
July Sale
July is just starting and so is our July Clearance Sale!
Chateau Pavie, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru 2000 1.5L ($1999.95) Was $1699, Now $1,499 Clearance PriceRobert Parker 100 points “Just beginning to come around and strut its enormous potential, this wine at age 15 has been evolving like a glacier. The wine has an inky, opaque, plum/purple color and a stunningly rich nose of mulberries, bramble berries, blackberries, licorice and incense as well as touches of toast and graphite. Fabulously concentrated and full-bodied, with a multidimensional mouthfeel, this profound Pavie is in mid-adolescence. It should evolve and continue to drink well for at least another 30-40 years. This is clearly the first compelling effort made by the Perse family.” 8/2015Only 1 magnum available!
Sine Qua Non Into The Dark Grenache, Sta Rita Hills 2004 1.5L ($2,199.95) Was $1,599, Now $1,499 Clearance Price
Wine Advocate 99 points “More up-front and open-knit, the 2004 Into the Dark (Grenache) checks in as a blend of 84% Grenache, 8% Mourvedre, 7% Syrah and 1% Viognier that comes mostly from Manfred’s 11 Confessions Vineyard, yet includes small portions from Alban (10%) and Alta Mesa (9%) Vineyard. Reminding me of Clos Saint-Jean’s Sanctus Sanctorum with its incredible bouquet of sweet kirsch, licorice, dried baking spices, graphite and ground pepper, this beauty flows onto the palate with impeccable purity, perfect integration of its fruit, tannin and acidity, and blockbuster length. As is common with this estate’s wine, it’s the purity paired with serious richness that sets it apart. While still youthful and benefiting from a healthy decadence, I think it’s drinking at point and would aim to drink bottles over the coming 4-5 years. It will evolve gracefully for longer, but I see no reason to hold off.”
Now it’s even lower!
The next best price is $1,725
Taylor Fladgate Vintage Port, Portugal 2003 1.5L ($299.95) Was $249, Now $219 Clearance Price
Robert Parker – Hedonist’s Gazette 100 points “I was blown away by the 2003 Taylors vintage port. The Great Wall of China, Black Tie Dinner.”
Bereche et Fils Coteaux Champenois Blanc Les Monts Fournois Ludes 1er Cru 2015 750ML ($89.95) Was $79, Now $66 Clearance Price, ETA July 6th
The next best price is $74
Bereche et Fils Reflet d’Antan Brut, Champagne NV 1.5L ($299.95) Was $249, Now $199 Clearance Price, ETA July 6th
Now it’s even lower!
The next best price is $246.99
Norman Hardie County Unfiltered Cabernet Franc, Prince Edward County 2015 750ML ($29.95) Was $24, Now $14 Clearance Price, ETA July 6th
VinopolNote: This wine is a dead ringer for a top-flight Chinon. Deep, ripe dark fruits with just a touch of herbaceousness to remind you that this is Cab Franc this is dangerously drinkable. It’s polished, but without any new wood—a really nice combo.
Now it’s even lower!
“[2015] yielded perhaps the greatest wines of Jerome’s career thus far. His prioritizing of freshness over richness can yield wines of almost edgy leanness in less “solar” vintages (though we wholly adore such scintillating Burgundies), but in a naturally generous vintage such as 2015 the balance is eerily perfect. Fruit is a hint more fleshy, mouthfeels subtly silkier, but the characteristic Chezeaux drive and tension are fully intact. There is never a molecule of fat on Jerome’s wines, and these 2015s are no exception—in fact, we feel you’d be hard-pressed to find ‘15s of this level of filigree precision. Chezeaux wines are always comfortable in their structure but never show signs of undue extraction, and, though these 2015s may demand a bit of time, they resonate with the hum of perfect structural harmony. Buy and cellar these wines with confidence, and revel in the fact that they are priced with almost shocking modesty—a reflection of their creator’s selflessness and spirit.” –Clarke Boehling, Neal Rosenthal Imports
Jerome Chezeaux makes wines that epitomize our favorite sort of Burgundy. Age-worthy, fine and built on a core of minerality, but priced a tier below what the wines deliver. Make no mistake about it—Chezeaux makes wines that can be poured with the finest producers in Nuits, but cost 25% less. In a vintage like 2015 he really shines, as the warm year buttresses his mineral style with a bit broader shoulders and more fruit. The three premier cru Nuits-St. George wines are of particular note—they’re incredible values and are only slightly more expensive than some producer’s village bottlings.
Newly Arrived Wines from Jerome Chezeaux:
Jerome Chezeaux Bourgogne Rouge, Burgundy 2015 750ML ($34.95) $28 special
Importer note “Chezeaux’s exemplary Bourgogne Rouge comes from a smattering of parcels in Premeaux-Prissey and Nuits-Saint-Georges encompassing 2.8 hectares in total. A wonderful representative of both Jerome’s style and the classic character of Nuits-Saint-Georges and environs, it emphasizes fresh, lively fruit buttressed by firm minerality, all on a racy, energetic frame. This is a sleek, articulate Bourgogne Rouge unencumbered by oak influence, as Chezeaux employs no new barrels in its elevage.”
Jerome Chezeaux Vosne-Romanee, Cote de Nuits 2015 750ML ($69.95) $59 special
Importer note “Jerome owns a half-hectare’s worth of villages-level Vosne-Romanee, spread among three lieux-dits: “Aux Reas,” “Bossieres,” and “Meziere.” His remarkably deft, light touch allows that classic Vosne-Romanee spice and silkiness to shine through brilliantly, its dark, regal, seductive fruit contrasting the gutsier, more forcefully mineral carriage of its Nuits-Saint-Georges brethren.”
Jerome Chezeaux Aux Boudots, Nuits-Saint-Georges Premier Cru 2015 750ML ($89.95) $75 special
Importer note “Always a favorite in Chezeaux’s cellar, “Aux Boudots” is perched at the northern limit of Nuits-Saint-Georges, on the border of Vosne-Romanee. As one might expect given its location, this wine combines classically Nuits-Saint-Georges iron and sous-bois with fruit a bit more caressing and Vosne-Romanee-like than its more southerly situated counterparts. Chezeaux owns a very small 0.34-hectare parcel in this steeply sloping premier cru.”Only 6 bottles available!
Jerome Chezeaux Rue de Chaux, Nuits-Saint-Georges Premier Cru 2015 750ML ($79.95) $69 special
Importer note “Located almost dead-center in the appellation, “Rue de Chaux” is perhaps the most quintessentially Nuits-Saint-Georges among Chezeaux’s premier crus. Jerome owns a mere 0.29 hectares in this steep, topsoil-deficient vineyard, and his unfailingly elegant touch yields a wine of both grace and power. Darkly fruited, dense, and ever-so-slightly brooding, Chezeaux’s “Rue de Chaux” also offers a beguiling perfume and assertive savory-spice elements.”
Jerome Chezeaux Les Vaucrains, Nuits-Saint-Georges Premier Cru 2015 750ML ($79.95) $69 special
Importer note “Nuits-Saint-Georges famously possesses no grand cru vineyards, but “Les Vaucrains” is widely considered one in all but name. Always the most complete of Chezeaux’s premier crus, “Vaucrains” bristles with tension—an authoritative wine that exudes an impression of depth and solidity. Here, the fruit, mineral, and savory elements bind together more tightly, more seamlessly. Jerome owns just over a quarter of a hectare of east-facing vines in “Vaucrains,” and his conservative oak regimen—never more than one-third of the barrels are new—allows one to admire the power of the terroir with great clarity.”
The next best price is $74.99
Reminder
Vinopolis Wine Shop
Will Be Closed on July 4th
We will re-open on Thursday, July 5th for our regularly scheduled hours
10 am – 6 pm
#Trending
Perhaps the peak of value for Cameron. Only 10 cases remain.
Cameron Winery Dundee Hills Pinot Noir 2016 750ML ($29.95) $27 special
VinopolNote “This represents a step up from Cameron’s Willamette Valley bottling and is sourced exclusively from Abbey Ridge and Clos Electrique. It tends to be softer and more accessible than some of the higher end wines, but still shows loads of Dundee Hills character and Cameron personality. Yields were down for 2016, though, so our only complaint is that he didn’t make enough.”
This is what most California wines wish they could be, at half the price.
Domaine de L’Edre Cotes du Roussillon Villages 2013 750ML ($49.95) $38 special
Wine Advocate 95 points “One of the wines of the vintage is the 2013 Cotes du Roussillon Villages Domaine de l’Edre. While this cuvee had a rustic edge in the past, today it’s incredibly polished and pure, with brilliant aromatics of cassis, black raspberries, licorice, crushed flowers and chalky minerality. Medium to full-bodied, ripe, yet elegant and balanced, it’s a classic Roussillon that can be enjoyed today or cellared for a decade.”
The next best price is $47.99
Andy’s Staff Pick spurred a rush on this one, for good reason. Delicious.
Domaine Font Sarade Vacqueyras Premier Vin, Rhone 2015 750ML ($27.95) $24 special
Jeb Dunnuck 93 points “My favorite in the line, the 2015 Vacqueyras Le Premier Vin checks in as 80% Grenache and 20% Mourvedre that spent 14 months in French oak. It’s a killer bottle of wine and has lots of blackberries, cassis, smoked herbs and licorice aromas and flavors. Ripe, sexy and opulent, with low acidity and sweet tannin, drink it over the coming 7-8 years.”
Only the slightest bit off dry and perfect for a summer day.
Forstmeister Geltz-Zilliken Butterfly Riesling, Mosel 2016 750ML ($21.95) $14 special
Wine Spectator 90 points “The first sip of this gracious and vibrant Riesling makes you think of summer, with lovely flavors of apricot and yellow plum that are perfectly balanced with tangerinelike acidity. Drink now through 2021. 800 cases made.”
The average price nationally is $16
Everything tastes better in magnum, especially rosé on a patio.
Domaine de Triennes Rose, IGP Var 2017 1.5L ($39.95) $26 special
VinopolNote: A long-time customer favorite at the shop that is the side project of some certain big names of some certain cult Burgundy producers (Jacques Seysses of Domaine Dujac and Aubert de Villaine of DRC). The sunny slopes of Mediterranean have been the home of this winery and vineyard since 1990 where the friends found the perfect terroir to craft these limestone-influenced, refreshing wines. The rosé is light, bright and refreshing, with notes of red berries and white flowers.
Winemakers’ note “We make our wines the way we like to drink them. For the whites and the rosé, this means a constant search for freshness and aromas. Triennes rosé is the perfect accompaniment to a sunny summer afternoon.”
The next best price is $29.99 for the magnum
Snowden has long put out some of the best values in Napa Cab, this one is great.
Snowden Vineyards The Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2014 750ML ($59.95) $36.60 special
Case-12 Snowden Vineyards The Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2014 750ML ($599.95) $399 special (that’s only $33.25/bottle!)
Antonio Galloni 93 points “The 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon The Ranch is another gorgeous wine from Snowden. Dark, racy and expressive, the 2014 boasts lovely depth and polish. Dark cherry, plum, spice, mocha and leather are all pushed forward. Gracious and medium in body, with fabulous balance, the 2014 has it all. Best of all, The Ranch is one of the best values readers will find in Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. Don’t miss it!”
James Suckling 93 points “The blackberry and blueberry character is impressive with hints of walnuts too. Full body, integrated and chewy tannins and a flavorful finish. Drink in 2020.”
The average price is $49
It seems crazy this wine is still less than $40, given price increases in the region.
Chateau de Saint Cosme Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Rhone 2015 750ML ($49.95) $39 special
Wine Advocate 93 points “Sourced from three lieux-dits (including La Crau), Saint Cosme’s 2015 Chateauneuf du Pape is a blend of approximately 60% Grenache, 20-25% Mourvèdre and bits and pieces of other varieties. It’s full-bodied, rich and spicy, with hints of cumin, licorice, cinnamon and clove all swirling about on the long finish.”
The average price is $58
If you’re looking for exception value in Bandol rosé, look at this not-quite-Bandol from Pradeaux. Although the vines are located within the AOC, the combination of young vines and more Cinsault than is permitted means that this is bottled under the generic Cotes de Provence appellation. This is a brilliant wine with juicy, fresh flavors and the flavors that you expect from Bandol, but with a touch less complexity—which given the price is a tradeoff we’re happy to take.
Chateau Pradeaux Le Cotes de Provence Rose 2017 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 special
Importer note “Made from 45% Cinsault and 40% Mourvedre, with the balance split among Grenache and Carignan, this year’s pale-iron-colored Cotes de Provence Rose is closer to Bandol-level complexity and concentration than we have yet seen from this wine—a result of the vintage’s atypical concentration. A core of sappy, glycerol red-cherry fruit anchors a firm, punchy minerality, and the finish is remarkably persistent. The vineyards that comprise this wine were, in fact, classified as Bandol AOC as recently as 2012, and this 2017 clearly distinguishes itself from among the vast ocean of Cotes de Provence rose by virtue of its terroir’s unique pedigree.”
Also In Stock Now from Chateau Pradeaux:
Chateau Pradeaux Bandol Rose, Provence 2017 750ML ($34.95) $29 special, 25 bottles in stock now
Chateau Pradeaux Bandol Rose, Provence 2017 1.5L ($79.95) $69 special, 4 magnums in stock now
Importer note “Comprising, as always, 75% Mourvedre and 25% Cinsault, the bold, robustly expressive 2017 Bandol Rose offers notes of red licorice, dried sage, crunchy apple, and savory earth. The palate is ultra-intense and staining, with an almost oily core that still scans as bone-dry. Perhaps more than any other wine in the region that we encountered, this shows 2017’s rare ability to delivery sheer power without any undue fruitiness.”
This ultra-rare cuvee is aged in oak for 10 years before bottling!
Chateau Pradeaux Bandol Rouge Cuvee X 10 Ans d’Elevage, Provence 2007 750ML ($89.95) $74 special, 21 bottles in stock now
Grapelive 95 points “Done as a special project for an anniversary of Chateau Pradeaux [and] being imported by Rosenthal Wine Merchant, this Bandol X is an amazing red from one of the regions great producers. It’s unique in it was raised in oak cask for a full 10 years, but it’s what shows up in the glass which is really special here. This Mourvedre based Bandol Rouge is still fresh and vibrant, a wondrous wine of class and length. The Château Pradeaux, founded in 1752, is situated on the outskirts of the town of Saint Cyr-sur-Mer that lies directly on the Mediterranean Ocean between Toulon and Marseilles. There is almost no other place on earth vines would rather be [and] the view of the sea must be heavenly. The estate has been in the hands of the Portalis family since before the French Revolution, with Cyrille Portalis is the current head of the family’s winery… While their lovely Chateaux Pradeaux Bandol Rosé is 50% Cinsault and 50% Mourvedre, the Rouge bottlings are between 95% and 100% old vine Mourvedre as this special X is. The winemaking is traditional with organic grapes, ferments with native yeasts in concrete tanks using whole cluster, and while the regular bottling gets 48 months in large cask, the X went a full ten years in the big French oak barrels. Grown on the regions southern exposures and slopes of clay and limestone soils, the Pradeaux X Bandol Rouge is a magical terroir driven wine that shows a remarkably youthful bright garnet/ruby hue in the glass with a heightened perfume and subtle earthy tone with a hint of animal and dark fruit coming through on the bouquet. The palate is seamless with layer after layer unfolding. This is just stunning stuff right up there with First Growth Bordeaux in substance and style. Its big tannins show a refined velvety class. There’s a lot to admire here. The mouth feel is excellent and rewarding with blackberry, black cherry, dusty plums and strawberry fruits, a touch of leather, well resolved stemmy elements, salted black licorice, dried violets, lavender, graphite, minty basil, cedar and lingering kirsch. This outrageously good and transparent Bandol Rouge is a thrilling wine that has retained vitality with lifting acidity. [It] remains true to its sense of place and history. It’s everything you’d expect and want, and, while this is a rarity, don’t miss their regular Bandol Rouge and especially the Pradeaux Bandol Rosé.”
The average price is $86
Chateau Pradeaux Bandol Rouge, Provence 2013 750ML ($49.95) $39 pre-arrival special
Grapelive 94 points “Etienne Portalis, the fourteenth generation, winemaker at Pradeaux has made a brilliant and deep Bandol in the 2013 vintage. It is my pick for #Mourvedre Day. It is a traditional and old school wine that is made with the blessing of the warm Mediterranean sun and his family’s old vines. The Chateau Pradeaux, founded back in 1752, is a Provence legend and the house style is natural and powerful with Etienne only using whole cluster with stems. These are wines that have firm structures from the raw/authentic skin tannins and wines that can age many decades. That said, this 2013 shows a beautiful freshness of detail and refinement after its extended time in large used cask. The 2013 is deep in color with a dark garnet hue around a blackish core with an earthy profile that opens to a full bodied and complex wine. [It is] almost 100% Mourvedre with a tiny amount of other black grapes. It reveals layers of dusty blackberry, kirsch, plum and boysenberry fruits, peppery briar spice, leather, chalky stones, anise, bitter coco and a touch of floral lift with a mix of violet and lavender as well as a cedar/tobacco element. This 2013 is drinking with an impressive palate impact with plenty of dry grip and force, but turns generous with air with a ripe opulence allowing lots of pleasure and textural charm. It’s a serious example that will gain further with short to mid-term cellaring. Imported by Rosenthal Wine Merchant, Chateau Pradeaux is without question, along with Domaine Tempier, is a standard bearer of the region. This 2013 is a beauty that will be perfect with rustic and simple country cuisine. It’s a big, bold and robust Bandol with a natural sex appeal and inner energy. Drink over the next 10 to 15 years.”
Island Vibes and Mountain Highs
Mt Etna’s “Best Ever”
Passopisciaro
“Owner Andrea Franchetti and his team turned in Sicily’s (and one Italy’s) best wine performances of the year. Simply put, it’s nearly impossible this year to pick a favorite red wine from Passopisciaro’s many offerings, with one gorgeous, ageworthy wine after another made from the single contrada and a truly memorable Passorosso blend that strikes me as the best of them all. The 2014 vintage will long be remembered as one of Etna’s best ever, and Passopisciaro has created what look like truly epic wines. — Ian D’Agata, December 2016” –Ian d’Agata, Vinous
New review from Grapelive!
Passopisciaro Passorosso Terre Siciliane IGT, Sicily 2014 750ML ($59.95) $39 special
Case-6 Passopisciaro Passorosso Terre Siciliane IGT, Sicily 2014 750ML ($299.95) $219 special (that’s only $36.50/bottle!)
Passopisciaro Passorosso Terre Siciliane IGT, Sicily 2014 1.5L ($99.95) $79 special
Grapelive 95 points “Passopisciaro is one of Sicily’s stars, making volcanic reds that are often compared to the finest Premier Crus of Burgundy. None of that seemed possible back in 2000, when Passopisciaro founder, Andrea Franchetti [of Tenuta di Trinoro in Tuscany] first visited Sicily. He searched out an estate and finally picked out abandoned vineyards on the northern side of Mount Etna. [It offers] the unique characteristics of high-elevation terraces of highly varied black [and] lava soils that give these amazing wines their terroir character. In recent years Franchetti’s Passopisciaro, all biodynamic, has been one of world’s most talked about estates, making a wine of real impact from Etna’s Nerello Mascalese grape. [He crafts] a fuller bodied version with a touch more extract and a darker hue than some of his neighbors, while still being true to traditional norms and using grapes from Cru sites known locally as Contradas. Passopisciaro does five single-vineyard bottlings from each contrada that Franchetti gets fruit from, these include Rampante, Sciaranuova, Guardiola, Porcaria, and Chiappemacine, as well as doing this multi site Etna Rosso cuvee Passorosso, which is now a DOC. This 2014 Passopisciaro Passorosso is 100% Nerello Mascalese from vines that were planted between 1913-1943. It was fermented using specially picked yeast in cold stainless steel vats before finishing malos and aging in French casks, mostly neutral big barrels, for 18 months, finishing at a serious 15% natural alcohol, and bottled unfined and unfiltered. The 2014 Passorosso is richly textured, with classic smoky notes and spicy red fruits before opening up and gaining layer after layer including macerated cherries, strawberry, plum and raspberry fruits along with licorice, lavender oil, red pepper and flinty mineral tones. This medium/full pure Nerello Mascalese has a beautiful and textural glycerin and wonderful length. Its palate is luxurious and satiny, while still having serious impact and vitality. This is a winery to discover if you haven’t yet!”
Domaine Collotte
Yes, Under the Radar Burgundy Still Exists
“Collotte remains one of the most under the radar growers in Marsannay. At their best, these wines are striking for their purity of fruit and overall sense of harmony.” –Antonio Galloni
“The vineyards of Marsannay lie at the northern end of Burgundy’s Côte de Nuits, almost in the suburbs of Dijon, in the villages of Chenôve, Marsannay-la-Côte and Couchey. The area gained its reputation early on for rosé, but today is producing some of the best values for Pinot Noir in the Côte de Nuits. There are no premiers crus, but some excellent single vineyards (lieux-dits)… Au Champ Salomon [and] Le Clos de Jeu… are among the best sites.” –Bruce Sanderson, Wine Spectator
We’ve carried the wines from Phillipe Collotte for a few years now and each release reminds us of both what a star he is and how good the wines from Marsannay and Fixin can be. These are stunning values from Burgundy, made from “humble” terroir, but old vines, and with a steadied hand. In a great year like 2015, these are even better wines to buy –the winemaking boosted by weather that broke right in every way.
Capital “G” Great Vintages, like 2015, are wonderful times to go exploring the less famous villages of Burgundy. Historically, the vineyard (and village) classifications have been based on consistent ripeness and power, as well as complexity, so in a warm year the “lesser” sites often show much more dramatic improvement over their baseline quality than a “great” vineyard will.
We don’t mean to suggest that Phillippe Collotte is some hack winemaker who got lucky in 2015, either. He’s a serious talent with old vines and a very attentive touch in the cellar. These are wines that over deliver in every vintage (the 2014’s were great, too). Just ask Bruce Sanderson of the Wine Spectator!
Just Arrived:
From 71 year old vines!
Domaine Collotte Bourgogne Cuvee de Noble Souche, Burgundy 2015 750ML ($29.95) $19 special
VinopolNote: Surprisingly for an entry-level red, this bottling is from a parcel planted with the oldest vines of the estate: 71 year old vines grown on pebbly Cailloux soil.
Importer note “Bourgogne ‘Noble Souché’ translates to the ‘noble vine’ from almost 70 year old vines planted in 1947 on Marsannay Cailloux soil from Champforeys. Entirely, de-estemmed, slow fermentation with 5 days of pre-maceration. Aged for 11 months 90% in stainless steel tank, this is a lovely, subtlety rich Côte de Nuits wine.”
The next best price is $23.99
In Stock Now from Domaine Collotte:
A selection from two parcels
Domaine Collotte Fixin, Cote de Nuits 2015 750ML ($34.95) $28 special
Wine Spectator 91 points “Appealing aromas of burning vine cuttings and sweet spices give way to cherry and currant fruit in this smooth, smoke-tinged red. Long and satisfying, leaving a hint of mint on the finish. Drink now through 2025. 35 cases imported.”
Importer Note “The Fixin is from two parcels of Village Fixin both both with eastern exposition on calcareous clay soil. Aged in oak, 25% new, to round the tannins.”
The 40+ year old vines produce tiny, concentrated berries
Domaine Collotte Fixin Les Crais de Chene, Cote de Nuits 2015 750ML ($44.95) $36 special
Wine Spectator 92 points “A pure dose of cherry, strawberry, sweet spice and mineral marks this harmonious red. Firm and focused, with a lingering finish of spice. Shows plenty of class. Best from 2020 through 2030. 50 cases imported.”
Single lieu-dit in Marsannay
Domaine Collotte Marsannay Les Boivins, Cote de Nuits 2015 750ML ($34.95) $28 special
Wine Spectator 90 points “The core flavors of black cherry and blackberry are wrapped in oak, lending vanilla and sweet spice details along with a layer of tannins. Just needs a little more time. Best from 2020 through 2028. 110 cases imported.”
Domaine Collotte Marsannay Les Champsalomon, Cote de Nuits 2015 750ML ($34.95) $28 special
Wine Spectator 91 points “Silky, this red evokes cherry, strawberry and graphite flavors, with bright acidity keeping this fresh and focused. Harmonious and long, offering a light chalky feel on the finish. Drink now through 2023. 150 cases imported.”
Importer Note “The Marsannay Champsalomon is from the village of Couchey. The 40+ year old vines are on the marl soil of the Ostrea Acuminata.”
The next best price is $29.98
Domaine Collotte Marsannay Le Clos de Jeu, Cote de Nuits 2015 750ML ($34.95) $28 special
Wine Spectator 93 points “Linear and intense, featuring cherry, raspberry and mineral flavors defined by the taut structure. Balanced and long, with a spicy aftertaste. Best from 2021 through 2030. 100 cases imported.”
The next best price is $34.98
50+ year old vines in shallow limestone over bedrock
Domaine Collotte Marsannay En Combereau, Cote de Nuits 2015 750ML ($34.95) $28 special
Wine Spectator 92 points “Round and supple, presenting the ideal foil for the rich cherry and floral aromas and flavors. Features hint of oak and tannins on the lingering finish. Drink now through 2027. 100 cases imported.”
The next best price is $23.99
Domaine Collotte Marsannay Cuvee Vieilles Vignes, Cote de Nuits 2015 750ML ($29.95) $24 special
Grapelive 91 points “Exploring value priced Burgundy usually ends in huge disappointment, but sometimes you find a jewel. The wines of Philippe Collotte are just that, especially his old vine Marsannay, where there are 5 parcels of 50+ year old vines that make up his excellent super-value Marsannay Cuvee Vieilles Vignes. It way over-delivers for the price… He bottles everything unfiltered per his importer’s request (Weygant Metzler). It makes for an expressive and mineral-driven Pinot Noir of wonderful delicacy, but with solid fruit intensity which forms its perception of depth flavors. While starting with classic Burgundy subtly and brightness, things gain a darker feel with air allowing layers of black cherry, strawberry and earthy vine-picked berries to come through on the medium bodied palate. The mouth-feel and length are quite impressive for a wine of this price. Rose petals, chalk dust and cedar notes along with a mixed spice note add to the whole here. There’s no question this will surprise a few people. The vintage with its concentrated ripe profile certainly helped and the old vines give a charm that with put a smile on many a face. It did mine! Drink this Marsannay over the next 3 to 5 years. It’s a no-guilt Burgundy to get by the case!”
The Donnhoff 2017 Vintage Offer
Sing the Music of the Spheres
“I should acknowledge that I’ll never really understand these remarkable wines. I can reach the point of explaining how (and why) I fall short. But Helmut’s and Cornelius’ wines are ultimately inexplicable. They do not quite add up. And so they fill me with longing, and render me mute.
“Long-time readers and drinkers will perhaps be familiar with what I’m talking about, and with a certain shimmer of spirit that imbues the wines. Younger readers only need to know this: the wines of this miraculous domaine show an incomparable purity allied to unfathomable expressiveness. They are tender but not demure, or another way to say it is, they are forceful but always tender. As a rule, if you have wines of this kind of galvanic intensity, they are textured so as to pierce your palate. But Dönnhoff’s wines have a more silken profile; they seem to want to make you sigh, to loosen your shoulders and take a deep breath, to return a caress. They are themselves caressing, but you don’t know how this can be, and there’s no one you can caress in return. So then, maybe, you look for words to explain this phenomenon, or merely to register and remember it. If you’re like me, you won’t quite find them. The wines are as close to the nature of music as any wines can be. ” –Terry Theise
The wines that Cornelius and Helmut Donnhoff are making need little in the way of introduction. They’re considered, at worst, a top-five estate in Germany and many connoisseurs feel as though they’re the premier wines in the country. Based in the Nahe, which lies in between the Mosel and Rheingau, the wines seem to combine the richness and power of the latter with the bright acidity of the former. Throw in a mind-boggling number of soils (often within a single vineyard) and you have a recipe for complexity and profundity in Riesling.
We offer these wines every year, always wondering how the family will top the previous vintage. Every year we taste the wines and are blow away at the quality. 2017 looks to be no different. It’s a “serious” vintage—all savory and mineral drenched. It perhaps lacks some of 2016’s charm but more than makes up for it in profundity. Like all great producers, Donnhoff manages to take all of the vintages strengths and mitigate the weaknesses. These are intense, introspective wines that still manage to have levity and immediate appeal. They’re profound and within the world of fine wine, still woefully underpriced. You can see them all on our website by clicking here.
Donnhoff Wines Arriving in November 2018
These are the only listings in the USA today!
Weingut Donnhoff Niederhauser Hermannshohle Riesling Spatlese, Nahe 2017 750ML ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival special
Case-6 Weingut Donnhoff Niederhauser Hermannshohle Riesling Spatlese, Nahe 2017 750ML ($359.95) $279 pre-arrival special (that’s only $46.50/bottle!)
Weingut Donnhoff Oberhauser Brucke Riesling Spatlese, Nahe 2017 750ML ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival special
Case-6 Weingut Donnhoff Oberhauser Brucke Riesling Spatlese, Nahe 2017 750ML ($359.95) $279 pre-arrival special (that’s only $46.50/bottle!)
Weingut Donnhoff Niederhauser Hermannshohle Riesling Auslese Goldkapsel, Nahe 2017 750ML ($99.95) $79 pre-arrival special
Weingut Donnhoff Niederhauser Hermannshohle Riesling Auslese Goldkapsel, Nahe 2017 375ML ($49.95) $39 pre-arrival special
Weingut Donnhoff Oberhauser Brucke Riesling Auslese Goldkapsel, Nahe 2017 750ML ($89.95) $79 pre-arrival special
Weingut Donnhoff Oberhauser Brucke Riesling Auslese Goldkapsel, Nahe 2017 375ML ($49.95) $39 pre-arrival special
Grosses Gewachs Dry Wines Arriving in December 2018
These are the only listings in the USA today!
Weingut Donnhoff Niederhauser Hermannshohle Riesling Grosses Gewachs, Nahe 2017 750ML ($89.95) $79 pre-arrival special
Weingut Donnhoff ‘Felsenturmchen’ Schlossbockelheimer Felsenberg Riesling Grosses Gewachs, Nahe 2017 750ML ($69.95) $55 pre-arrival special
Case-6 Weingut Donnhoff ‘Felsenturmchen’ Schlossbockelheimer Felsenberg Riesling Grosses Gewachs, Nahe 2017 750ML ($359.95) $299 pre-arrival special (that’s only $49.83/bottle!)
Weingut Donnhoff Kreuznacher Krotenpfuhl Riesling Grosses Gewachs, Nahe 2017 750ML ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival special
Vietti’s Stunning 2014 Crus
Grand in Scope
Limited in Quantity
“This is an absolutely phenomenal set of wines from Vietti. The 2014s are every bit as magnificent as they have always been from barrel. The dual flagships Rocche di Castiglione and Ravera are superb, while the entry-level Barolo Castiglione does a great job of conveying the personality of the year. Sadly, Brunate sustained 60% hail damage. As a result, Luca Currado opted not to bottle his Barolo Brunate. Yields are down about 25% across the board, so readers will want to snap up these Barolos before they disappear.”-Antonio Galloni
Arriving July 6th:
Only 9 bottles available!
Vietti Ravera, Barolo DOCG 2014 750ML ($179.95) $159 pre-arrival special
Antonio Galloni 97 points “Another highlight in this range, the 2014 Barolo Ravera opens with the most exquisite, captivating aromatics imaginable. It will be interesting to see if it develops a bit more midpalate depth and pliancy. Today, the 2014 is a bit austere, even within the context of the year and this site, where the wines are a bit on the nervous side to start. I have seen Vietti Raveras blossom into spectacular wines and imagine that will be the case here as well. Readers should not plan on opening a bottle anytime soon.”
Vietti Rocche di Castiglione, Barolo DOCG 2014 750ML ($199.95) $179 pre-arrival special
Antonio Galloni 98 points “Vietti’s 2014 Barolo Rocche di Castiglione is shaping up to be a modern-day classic. Piercing, intense and austere in the best sense of the word, the Rocche is a wine of laser-like focus that will leave Barolo lovers weak in the knees. Candied cherry, pomegranate, kirsch, rose petal and violet overtones give the 2014 its inner sweetness and captivating perfume. In a word: stunning. Don’t miss it.”
Vietti Lazzarito, Barolo DOCG 2014 750ML ($179.95) $149 pre-arrival special
Antonio Galloni 96 points “In many ways, the gorgeous 2014 Barolo Lazzarito is the most surprising wine in the range. Once a stylistic outlier with a considerable French oak influence, today it is much closer to the other Barolos in terms of feel. Deep, dark and intense, with all of the energy of the year very much on display, the Lazzarito is super-expressive and shows a more red-toned profile than is the norm. Kirsch, mint, rose petal and chalk all develop in the glass, while beams of tannin and salinity give the wine shape and persistence. The weight and depth of Serralunga come through on the midpalate and into the finish. Even so, this is in a decidedly laid-back style for Serralunga. In 2014, I especially like the wine’s aromatic presence.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
July Sale Recap
See the complete list of wines on our July Clearance Sale below or click to shop the sale on our web store!
