In This Newsletter:
Jump Start Offer
2008 Dom Perignon Luminous
Mount Eden Vyd’s Luscious Edna Valley Chardonnay
New Week – New Arrivals
Alain Graillot
Trending
Back in Stock from Our Most Popular Rhone Producer:
Saint Cosme
Jump Start Offer
Best Price on ’08 Dom Perignon Luminous
Arriving This Friday
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $264
Shop our 240 Champagne selections in stock & arriving soon on our web store!
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
The average price nationally is $89
“Readers, take note. This is world class Cabernet Sauvignon that in any other region would cost 2-3 times as much” –Antonio Galloni
Mount Eden Vineyards Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Santa Cruz Mountains 2016 750ML ($119.95) $99 special, 14 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni 98 points “Mount Eden’s 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon represents the essence of what Cabernet Sauvignon is all about in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Deep, powerful and explosive, the 2016 simply has it all. A wine of tremendous depth and intensity. Readers, take note. This is world class Cabernet Sauvignon that in any other region would cost 2-3 times as much. Savory and expansive, with tons of mountain character and remarkable richness from low yields in 2016, the Cabernet Sauvignon is simply off the charts. It’s another utterly breathtaking wine from Mount Eden.”
Erin Brooks-Wine Advocate 97+ points “The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate is blended with 12% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot. The nose offers pure cassis finely layered with Chinese five spice, dried rose petals, graphite and pipe tobacco with a wild, game-like undercurrent. The palate is seamless, opening to an array of detailed fruits and spices, with a silt-like structure and expansive juicy uplift. It’s a wonderfully balanced Cabernet that offers immediate appeal plus everything it needs for a long life in the cellar. 1,582 cases produced.”
Oregon
A day at the beach in a bottle
Ovum ‘Big Salt’ White Blend, Elkton 2020 750ML ($21.95) $17 special
Winery note “2020 Big Salt is wildly aromatic, laced with Gewurz and Muscat overtones, but framed by citrusy Riesling. Salty bergamot, lemon, nectarine and white tea– exotic fruits fill out the nose. The palate is filled with the texture of Gewurz, herbal hints from Pinot Blanc, but quickly washed back with classic Riesling acidity. 2020 Big Salt pairs well with fish tacos, pesto chicken pasta, pad thai…or just chilling. Cellar: 3-8 years of optimal drinking. 45% Riesling, 35% Gewurztraminer, 11% Pinot Blanc, 9% Early Muscat, 1% others. Soils: Volcanic ash, basalt, marine sediment, alluvial, serpentine.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
J.K. Carriere Lucidite Chardonnay, Willamette Valley 2017 750ML ($44.95) $31.90 special
Winery note “The Cliff Notes: The color is the green yellow of bright brass. The nose presents earth and citrus blossom, much the same as a poppy-seed-lemon-rind dinner roll, followed by grapefruit pith, tangerine pixie stick and just a waft of peppermint. In the mouth it’s a core of expansive and exceedingly linear lemon that shouts downs everything else. As the clamor resides a beautiful lip-tingling texture that one would expect from a red wine elevates and extends the tail-out. It reverberates. What? Crazy. Vineyards: Temperance Hill sits like an old European crown at the top of the Eola-Amity Hills AVA. Only two producers get access to the Chardonnay that Dai Crisp grows there, and we are the sole makers of a single-vineyard designate from that high, late, old, cold, beautiful Chardonnay.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Kelley Fox Wines Freedom Hill Vineyard Pinot Blanc, Willamette Valley 2020 750ML ($39.95) $33 special
Kelley Fox Wines Hyland Vineyard Coury Clone Pinot Noir, McMinnville 2018 750ML ($51.95) $41.90 special
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Biggio Hamina Johnson Ridge Vineyard Pinot Noir, Eola-Amity Hills 2017 750ML ($39.95) $26 special
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 94 points “Vivid garnet. Highly perfumed red fruit, potpourri, incense and a hint of succulent herbs on the assertively perfumed nose, which is lifted by a vibrant mineral quality. Silky and energetic on the palate, offering alluringly sweet, spice-tinged cherry and raspberry liqueur and rose pastille flavors and a hint of five-spice powder. Becomes deeper with air, with no loss of urgency, and finishes with firm, spicy thrust, well-knit tannins and a floral pastille note that lingers with strong tenacity. 100% whole clusters.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Biggio Hamina Cellars Youngberg Hill Vineyard Pinot Noir, McMinnville 2014 750ML ($39.95) $26 special
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 92 points “Ruby-red. Deep-pitched aromas of cherry pit, black raspberry and licorice are energized by a bright floral topnote. Sappy, concentrated and expansive in the mouth, offering sweet red and blue fruit and lavender pastille flavors plus a touch of spicecake. Smoothly combines richness and vivacity and finishes very long and subtly tannic, with a lingering sweet floral pastille note.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $36
Biggio Hamina Cellars Holmes Gap Vineyard Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2014 750ML ($39.95) $27 special
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 92 points “Light bright red. Highly perfumed aromas of red berry preserves, Asian spices and mocha take on a bright mineral overtone as the wine opens up. Lively, appealingly sweet and penetrating in the mouth, offering fresh raspberry, cherry and spicecake flavors that gain weight with aeration. Cola and floral pastille nuances appear on a very long, spice-tinged finish framed by silky, well-knit tannins.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Twill Cellars Chardonnay, Willamette Valley 2018 750ML ($24.95) $19.80 special
Winery note “Smells of tangerine, cream, kaffir lime, saline and toasted grain, with bass notes of peach, cashew and crushed rock. Flavors of sinewy citrus fruits including tangerine, lime, and grapefruit pith are followed with resonating flavors of saline and cream.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Twill Cellars Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2018 750ML ($24.95) $19.80 special
Winery note “Brooding, savory aromatics of dried rose, bitter cherry, earth, blood orange, soy, toasted grain and ripe raspberries. Flavors of blood orange, dark chocolate, warm spices, espresso, and ripe raspberry. Both taut and intense.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Twill Cellars Stormy Morning Vineyard Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2018 750ML ($49.95) $36 special
Winery note “2018 wines are impactful, and this really shows through in pinot noir. The Stormy Morning Pinot Noir often has a bloood orange character, and in a year like 2018, that note is not missing. In fact it feels more concentrated. Blood orange, cranberry, cherry skin and rose petal can be noted on the first aromatics.With time, allspice, cola and raspberry can be found. On the palate, deep bright red fruit flavors, spice and citrus resonate through our most concentrated and structured Stormy Morning Pinot Noir to date.”
Twill Cellars Syrah, Oregon 2018 750ML ($24.95) $19.80 special
Winery note “Saturated aromas of black pepper, olive, and raspberry. With air, secondary notes of tobacco, coffee and licorice. On the palate, raspberry, dark chocolate are lifted with a grapefruit-like iron note. Tannins feel svelte and flavors feel well integrated at this early stage.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $22
Twill Cellars Steelhead Run Vineyard Syrah, Applegate Valley 2018 750ML ($39.95) $36 special
Winery note “Immediate and saturating notes of tea, blackberry, raspberry and musk are found. This is the most intense and rich Steelhead Run Syrah that we have produced. With time, notes of grapefruit, olive, and chocolate. On the palate, sweet spice, ripe raspberry, chocolate and fig. This is in a great spot currently. There is a little structure, though it won’t require the same rest or long decant as the Stormy Morning.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Beaux Frères is one of the great names in Oregon wine—a producer that helped put the Willamette Valley on the map. Big, rich wines with lots of character (plus a familial relation to the Mayor of Monkton) mean that these wines were some of the first collectable bottles from our corner of the wine world.
Beaux Freres Second Cousin Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2019 750ML ($49.95) $33 special
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Beaux Freres Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 2019 750ML ($69.95) $56 special
Shea Wine Cellars Estate Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2018 750ML ($59.95) $39 special
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 92 points “Deep magenta. Spice-laced red and dark berry, cherry cola and floral pastille scents take on a savory herb quality with air. Shows very good depth and breadth on the palate, which offers appealingly sweet red and blue fruit preserve, mocha and black tea flavors and a hint of allspice. Gains energy with air and repeats the floral note on a long, gently tannic finish that leaves a bitter cherry note behind.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
France – Burgundy & Beaujolais
Coche-Dury Caillerets, Meursault Premier Cru 2017 750ML ($1,999.95) $1,299 special
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 95 points “Aromas of citrus zest, crisp green pear, white flowers, grapefruit and pastry cream introduce the 2017 Meursault 1er Cru Les Caillerets, a medium to full-bodied, satiny and layered wine that’s deep, concentrated and incisive, concluding with a long and pronouncedly chalky finish. This is one of the high points of Coche-Dury’s 2017 portfolio and will be worth special effort to seek out.”
Neal Martin-Vinous 94 points “The 2017 Meursault Les Caillerets 1er Cru has an extremely defined bouquet of perfumed orange blossom, rosewater, crushed stone and pressed white flowers. You could nose this all day! The palate is well balanced and powerful, with intense salinity toward the pretty finish. One of Coche-Dury’s most mercurial 2017s, this opened in awesome fashion in the five minutes I spend with it.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $1,499.99
Jean-Paul Brun Domaine des Terres Dorees Beaujolais l’Ancien VV, Beaujolais 2019 750ML ($21.95) $19 special
Wine Enthusiast 89 points “From the southern region of Beaujolais, this lightly textured wine has been produced from old vines. Red-cherry fruits and perfumed acidity come together well in this ready-to-drink wine. -Roger Voss”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
France – Southern
Clos Cibonne Cotes de Provence Tibouren Cuvee Speciale des Vignettes Rose 2018 750ML ($47.95) $36 special
Importer note “Clos Cibonne’s iconic Cuvée Spéciale des Vignettes stands uniquely apart from other rosés as a classic, one-of-a-kind Côtes de Provence rosé featuring the tibouren grape in the lead role. Legendary amongst experienced French wine collectors for its texture, substance, and ability to age gracefully for a decade or more, Cuvée Spéciale des Vignettes is aged under fleurette (a thin veil of yeast, similar to the process in Sherry or Jura wines) in 120-year-old, 5,000L foudres for one year. Clos Cibonne crafts a wine that is completely it’s own through combining a rare grape with a unique aging process. Cuvée Spéciale des Vignettes is a limited wine, a selection made exclusively of the estate’s oldest, over 60-year-old organic tibouren grapes. Vignettes is often the longest-lived of the Cibonne cuvées, repaying 10+ years of cellar time. The vineyard, one of 18 Crus Classés of Côtes de Provence, consists of traditional goblet trained vines located close to the Mediterranean Sea in the foothills of the Maures mountains, overlooking Toulon’s harbor.”
Chateau Combel-la-Serre Chateau Cuvee, Cahors 2018 750ML ($26.95) $24 special
Importer note “100% Malbec. Combel’s Château Cuvée comes from estate plots totalling 3 hectares around their home village of Cournou on the limestone plateau known as the Causse at about 320m altitude. The soils for this bottling are mainly red clay with some limestone rock. The organically farmed vines average 40 years old and are kept to a yield of 40 hl/ha. The hand-harvested fruit is destemmed and crushed, with the juice fermented with native yeasts and 20 days of maceration; the temperature is kept quite cool in the beginning but allowed to rise significantly toward the end, to promote greater extraction of tannins for this bottling. A mix of cement, fiberglass and steel is used for the vinification. The wine is then aged in 500-liter tonneaux for a year. Because of the clay-heavy terroir and winemaking and aging choices, the Château Cuvée marks a significant step up in body, tannin and complexity compared to the lighter, softer Pur Fruit bottling.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Chateau Guilhem ‘Le Pot de Vin’ Merlot, IGP d’Oc 2019 750ML ($19.95) $14.50 special
Importer note “In 2015, chateau owner Bertrand Gourdou was searching through an old desk when he came across a label that his grandfather had made in the early 1970’s; that wine was called “Le pot-de-vin” which, in French, translates to “the bribe”, which for that era was an audacious play on words for a wine label! This label inspired Bertrand to make a simple, natural wine: biodynamically grown fruit, fermented with native yeast and with a negligible dose of SO2, made in concrete tanks built by his grandfather. The word “pot” also references the old-style bottle shape. The rouge is 100% Merlot from the IGP Pays d’Oc, made with no oak in a light-to-medium-bodied style with gloriously fruit, freshness and length. It is, simply put, the quintessential French bistro red.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Italy – Dolomiti
Foradori Fontanasanta Manzoni Bianco Vigneti delle Dolomiti IGT, Trentino-Alto Adige 2019 750ML ($37.95) $33 special
James Suckling 96 points “Unique aromas of lemon drops and dried limes with hay and candied pineapple, following through to a full body with layers of fruit and a wonderful flavors of peaches and nectarines, as well as some tile and stone. Creamy texture. From biodynamically grown grapes with Demeter certification. Drink now.”
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 93 points “The Foradori 2019 Manzoni Bianco Fontanasanta opens to a bright golden color with some faint copper or greenish highlights. A portion of the wine is aged in clay amphorae. The bouquet is somewhat neutral with loads of pear, Golden Delicious apple and quince. There’s nothing too fragrant or floral. Instead, the wine is grounded in unmistakable orchard fruit aromas that color both the bouquet and the wine’s flavor profile. You also get honey, saffron and candied orange peel. The wine ends with a touch of mineral dryness, like broken slate or crushed terracotta, that contributes to the tight, almost tannic finish.”
Foradori Fontanasanta Nosiola Vigneti delle Dolomiti IGT, Trentino-Alto Adige 2019 750ML ($59.95) $49 special
Foradori ‘Fuoripista’ Pinot Grigio Vigneti delle Dolomiti IGT, Trentino-Alto Adige 2019 750ML ($59.95) $49 special
Spain
Do Ferreiro Albarino, Rias Baixas 2018 750ML ($39.95) $27 special
Luis Gutierrez-Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2018 Albariño was very expressive after some time in the glass. This is their house wine, produced with grapes from the 11 hectares and up to 164 plots they work in the Salnés up to 22 kilometers from their winery in Meaño. The wine is very elegant in 2018; it’s vibrant and tasty, with the granite sapidity and the salty finish. I tasted a bottle from the end of June 2019, when the wine had had longer time sur lie, and the year in bottle does it good. 70,000 bottles produced.”
Manuel Acha ‘Atxa’ Vino Vermouth Blanco, Pais Vasco 750ML ($24.95) $19 special
Importer’s note “Acha’s Vino Vermouth Blanco is made in accordance with an old recipe passed down through the Acha family. It is made from a blend of a neutral wine and alcohol macerated with a selection of traditional botanicals including wormwood, gentian and bitter orange. Tasting Notes – Fresh, floral aromas followed on the palate by a hint of sweetness and bitter flavor framework. Serving Recommendation – The Vino Vermouth White is a sipping vermouth. Try serving as an aperitif over ice and garnished with an orange wedge or lemon slice. This Vermouth will also work exceptionally well in your favorite cocktail.”
Jump Start Offer
2008 Dom Perignon Luminous
Mount Eden Vyd’s Luscious Edna Valley Chardonnay
New Week – New Arrivals
Alain Graillot
Trending
Back in Stock from Our Most Popular Rhone Producer:
Saint Cosme
Jump Start Offer
Best Price on ’08 Dom Perignon Luminous
Arriving This Friday
Dom Perignon Luminous Collection Brut Millesime, Champagne 2008 750ML ($279.95) $199 pre-arrival special
#5 Wine of the Year – Wine Spectator Top 100 in 2018
Antonio Galloni 98+ points “The 2008 Dom Pérignon is fabulous, but quite remarkably, it was even more open when I tasted it a year ago. Bright, focused and crystalline in its precision, the 2008 is going to need a number of years before it is at its best. Lemon peel, white flowers, mint and white pepper give the 2008 its chiseled, bright profile. Several recent bottles have all been magnificent. What I admire most about the 2008 is the way it shows all the focus, translucence and energy that is such a signature of the year, and yet it is also remarkably deep and vertical. In other words, the 2008 is a Champagne that plays in three dimensions.”
John Gilman 98 points “The 2008 vintage of Dom Pérignon is an absolute classic in the making and this is destined to be one of the great recent years for this iconic cuvée. It is far more classically structured out of the blocks than the relatively generous 2009 version, offering up a deep, complex and very youthful bouquet of menthol, green apple, a touch of tangerine, a very complex base of minerality and notes of dried flowers in the upper register. On the palate the wine is pure, full-bodied and rock solid at the core, with precise mousse, brisk acids and stunning length and grip on the primary and laser-like finish. This will demand some cellaring to start to really stir and should prove to be an extremely long-lived vintage of DP. Stellar juice.”
James Suckling 98 points “The best Dom since 2002. A vintage with very restrained, powerful style that has been released non-sequentially after the 2009. This has a lighter stamp of highly curated, autolytic, toasty aromas than many recent releases. Instead, this delivers super fresh and intense aromas of lemons, grapefruit and blood-orange peel. Incredible freshness here. The palate has a very smoothly delivered, berry-pastry thread with light, sweet spices, stone fruit and fine citrus fruit. This really delivers. Drink now or hold.”
Decanter 96 points “Departing chef de caves Richard Geoffroy says that 2008 is his best DP vintage since 1990. The first half of the growing season was dull and sunless, but good weather returned in mid-September and led to one of the longest harvests, running into October. The summer provided ideal conditions for a classic, cool, maritime vintage of exceptional, subtle aromas with minerality and freshness. This has a vibrant but controlled acidity, and is above all a memorable symbiosis of mature fruit and salinity derived from top terroirs. The poised mouthfeel makes this a perfect gastronomic wine, strong enough for spicy Asian cuisine from the Pacific rim, but still compatible with classics such as roast turbot and lobster.””
Wine Spectator 96 points “There’s power to this graceful Champagne, with the vivid acidity swathed in a fine, creamy mousse and flavors of toasted brioche, kumquat, pastry cream, candied ginger and poached plum that dance across the palate. An underpinning of smoky mineral gains momentum on the lasting finish. Drink now through 2033.”
#5 Wine of the Year – Wine Spectator Top 100 in 2018
Antonio Galloni 98+ points “The 2008 Dom Pérignon is fabulous, but quite remarkably, it was even more open when I tasted it a year ago. Bright, focused and crystalline in its precision, the 2008 is going to need a number of years before it is at its best. Lemon peel, white flowers, mint and white pepper give the 2008 its chiseled, bright profile. Several recent bottles have all been magnificent. What I admire most about the 2008 is the way it shows all the focus, translucence and energy that is such a signature of the year, and yet it is also remarkably deep and vertical. In other words, the 2008 is a Champagne that plays in three dimensions.”
John Gilman 98 points “The 2008 vintage of Dom Pérignon is an absolute classic in the making and this is destined to be one of the great recent years for this iconic cuvée. It is far more classically structured out of the blocks than the relatively generous 2009 version, offering up a deep, complex and very youthful bouquet of menthol, green apple, a touch of tangerine, a very complex base of minerality and notes of dried flowers in the upper register. On the palate the wine is pure, full-bodied and rock solid at the core, with precise mousse, brisk acids and stunning length and grip on the primary and laser-like finish. This will demand some cellaring to start to really stir and should prove to be an extremely long-lived vintage of DP. Stellar juice.”
James Suckling 98 points “The best Dom since 2002. A vintage with very restrained, powerful style that has been released non-sequentially after the 2009. This has a lighter stamp of highly curated, autolytic, toasty aromas than many recent releases. Instead, this delivers super fresh and intense aromas of lemons, grapefruit and blood-orange peel. Incredible freshness here. The palate has a very smoothly delivered, berry-pastry thread with light, sweet spices, stone fruit and fine citrus fruit. This really delivers. Drink now or hold.”
Decanter 96 points “Departing chef de caves Richard Geoffroy says that 2008 is his best DP vintage since 1990. The first half of the growing season was dull and sunless, but good weather returned in mid-September and led to one of the longest harvests, running into October. The summer provided ideal conditions for a classic, cool, maritime vintage of exceptional, subtle aromas with minerality and freshness. This has a vibrant but controlled acidity, and is above all a memorable symbiosis of mature fruit and salinity derived from top terroirs. The poised mouthfeel makes this a perfect gastronomic wine, strong enough for spicy Asian cuisine from the Pacific rim, but still compatible with classics such as roast turbot and lobster.””
Wine Spectator 96 points “There’s power to this graceful Champagne, with the vivid acidity swathed in a fine, creamy mousse and flavors of toasted brioche, kumquat, pastry cream, candied ginger and poached plum that dance across the palate. An underpinning of smoky mineral gains momentum on the lasting finish. Drink now through 2033.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $264
Shop our 240 Champagne selections in stock & arriving soon on our web store!
Re-Arriving Tomorrow
Mount Eden Vyds’
Luscious Edna Valley Chardonnay!
Mount Eden Vyds’
Luscious Edna Valley Chardonnay!
The wines of Mount Eden Vineyards are legendary within the context and history of California. Winemakers and owners Jeffrey and Ellie Patterson continue to make some of the highest quality California wines in the iconic style that made these wines famous—a rarity in an age when even “classic” producers produce riper and riper bottlings every year.
Mt. Eden’s Edna Valley Chardonnay is a perpetual best-value bottling, with rich, creamy fruit and seductive textures.
Mount Eden Vineyards Chardonnay, Edna Valley 2017 750ML ($27.95) $21.90 pre-arrival special
Erin Brooks-Wine Advocate 93 points “This comes mostly from the Wolff vineyard with some fruit from the Middle Ranch vineyard. The 2017 Edna Valley Chardonnay opens with wonderful aromas of honeycomb, orange blossoms, saline, crushed shell and loads of baked apple and quince with an earthy undercurrent. The palate is medium-bodied, satiny and intense, with seamless freshness on the finish, which lingers with honeyed notions.”
Love Mount Eden Vyds? We offer two vintages of their estate Cab, in stock now!
Mount Eden Vineyards Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Santa Cruz Mountains 2015 750ML ($99.95) $79 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Decanter 95 points “The rocky minerality of the region shows from first sniff through to the lengthy finish. The earthiness is beautifully offset by fleshy red and black fruit, with spice-infused cherry, bittersweet chocolate, espresso and vanilla notes. For all its youthful intensity, the palate is remarkably fresh and bright.”
Mt. Eden’s Edna Valley Chardonnay is a perpetual best-value bottling, with rich, creamy fruit and seductive textures.
Mount Eden Vineyards Chardonnay, Edna Valley 2017 750ML ($27.95) $21.90 pre-arrival special
Erin Brooks-Wine Advocate 93 points “This comes mostly from the Wolff vineyard with some fruit from the Middle Ranch vineyard. The 2017 Edna Valley Chardonnay opens with wonderful aromas of honeycomb, orange blossoms, saline, crushed shell and loads of baked apple and quince with an earthy undercurrent. The palate is medium-bodied, satiny and intense, with seamless freshness on the finish, which lingers with honeyed notions.”
Love Mount Eden Vyds? We offer two vintages of their estate Cab, in stock now!
Mount Eden Vineyards Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Santa Cruz Mountains 2015 750ML ($99.95) $79 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Decanter 95 points “The rocky minerality of the region shows from first sniff through to the lengthy finish. The earthiness is beautifully offset by fleshy red and black fruit, with spice-infused cherry, bittersweet chocolate, espresso and vanilla notes. For all its youthful intensity, the palate is remarkably fresh and bright.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
The average price nationally is $89
“Readers, take note. This is world class Cabernet Sauvignon that in any other region would cost 2-3 times as much” –Antonio Galloni
Mount Eden Vineyards Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Santa Cruz Mountains 2016 750ML ($119.95) $99 special, 14 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni 98 points “Mount Eden’s 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon represents the essence of what Cabernet Sauvignon is all about in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Deep, powerful and explosive, the 2016 simply has it all. A wine of tremendous depth and intensity. Readers, take note. This is world class Cabernet Sauvignon that in any other region would cost 2-3 times as much. Savory and expansive, with tons of mountain character and remarkable richness from low yields in 2016, the Cabernet Sauvignon is simply off the charts. It’s another utterly breathtaking wine from Mount Eden.”
Erin Brooks-Wine Advocate 97+ points “The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate is blended with 12% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot. The nose offers pure cassis finely layered with Chinese five spice, dried rose petals, graphite and pipe tobacco with a wild, game-like undercurrent. The palate is seamless, opening to an array of detailed fruits and spices, with a silt-like structure and expansive juicy uplift. It’s a wonderfully balanced Cabernet that offers immediate appeal plus everything it needs for a long life in the cellar. 1,582 cases produced.”
New Week – New Arrivals
Oregon
A day at the beach in a bottle
Ovum ‘Big Salt’ White Blend, Elkton 2020 750ML ($21.95) $17 special
Winery note “2020 Big Salt is wildly aromatic, laced with Gewurz and Muscat overtones, but framed by citrusy Riesling. Salty bergamot, lemon, nectarine and white tea– exotic fruits fill out the nose. The palate is filled with the texture of Gewurz, herbal hints from Pinot Blanc, but quickly washed back with classic Riesling acidity. 2020 Big Salt pairs well with fish tacos, pesto chicken pasta, pad thai…or just chilling. Cellar: 3-8 years of optimal drinking. 45% Riesling, 35% Gewurztraminer, 11% Pinot Blanc, 9% Early Muscat, 1% others. Soils: Volcanic ash, basalt, marine sediment, alluvial, serpentine.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
J.K. Carriere Lucidite Chardonnay, Willamette Valley 2017 750ML ($44.95) $31.90 special
Winery note “The Cliff Notes: The color is the green yellow of bright brass. The nose presents earth and citrus blossom, much the same as a poppy-seed-lemon-rind dinner roll, followed by grapefruit pith, tangerine pixie stick and just a waft of peppermint. In the mouth it’s a core of expansive and exceedingly linear lemon that shouts downs everything else. As the clamor resides a beautiful lip-tingling texture that one would expect from a red wine elevates and extends the tail-out. It reverberates. What? Crazy. Vineyards: Temperance Hill sits like an old European crown at the top of the Eola-Amity Hills AVA. Only two producers get access to the Chardonnay that Dai Crisp grows there, and we are the sole makers of a single-vineyard designate from that high, late, old, cold, beautiful Chardonnay.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Kelley Fox Wines Freedom Hill Vineyard Pinot Blanc, Willamette Valley 2020 750ML ($39.95) $33 special
Kelley Fox Wines Hyland Vineyard Coury Clone Pinot Noir, McMinnville 2018 750ML ($51.95) $41.90 special
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Biggio Hamina Johnson Ridge Vineyard Pinot Noir, Eola-Amity Hills 2017 750ML ($39.95) $26 special
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 94 points “Vivid garnet. Highly perfumed red fruit, potpourri, incense and a hint of succulent herbs on the assertively perfumed nose, which is lifted by a vibrant mineral quality. Silky and energetic on the palate, offering alluringly sweet, spice-tinged cherry and raspberry liqueur and rose pastille flavors and a hint of five-spice powder. Becomes deeper with air, with no loss of urgency, and finishes with firm, spicy thrust, well-knit tannins and a floral pastille note that lingers with strong tenacity. 100% whole clusters.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Biggio Hamina Cellars Youngberg Hill Vineyard Pinot Noir, McMinnville 2014 750ML ($39.95) $26 special
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 92 points “Ruby-red. Deep-pitched aromas of cherry pit, black raspberry and licorice are energized by a bright floral topnote. Sappy, concentrated and expansive in the mouth, offering sweet red and blue fruit and lavender pastille flavors plus a touch of spicecake. Smoothly combines richness and vivacity and finishes very long and subtly tannic, with a lingering sweet floral pastille note.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $36
Biggio Hamina Cellars Holmes Gap Vineyard Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2014 750ML ($39.95) $27 special
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 92 points “Light bright red. Highly perfumed aromas of red berry preserves, Asian spices and mocha take on a bright mineral overtone as the wine opens up. Lively, appealingly sweet and penetrating in the mouth, offering fresh raspberry, cherry and spicecake flavors that gain weight with aeration. Cola and floral pastille nuances appear on a very long, spice-tinged finish framed by silky, well-knit tannins.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Twill Cellars Chardonnay, Willamette Valley 2018 750ML ($24.95) $19.80 special
Winery note “Smells of tangerine, cream, kaffir lime, saline and toasted grain, with bass notes of peach, cashew and crushed rock. Flavors of sinewy citrus fruits including tangerine, lime, and grapefruit pith are followed with resonating flavors of saline and cream.”
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Twill Cellars Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2018 750ML ($24.95) $19.80 special
Winery note “Brooding, savory aromatics of dried rose, bitter cherry, earth, blood orange, soy, toasted grain and ripe raspberries. Flavors of blood orange, dark chocolate, warm spices, espresso, and ripe raspberry. Both taut and intense.”
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Twill Cellars Stormy Morning Vineyard Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2018 750ML ($49.95) $36 special
Winery note “2018 wines are impactful, and this really shows through in pinot noir. The Stormy Morning Pinot Noir often has a bloood orange character, and in a year like 2018, that note is not missing. In fact it feels more concentrated. Blood orange, cranberry, cherry skin and rose petal can be noted on the first aromatics.With time, allspice, cola and raspberry can be found. On the palate, deep bright red fruit flavors, spice and citrus resonate through our most concentrated and structured Stormy Morning Pinot Noir to date.”
Twill Cellars Syrah, Oregon 2018 750ML ($24.95) $19.80 special
Winery note “Saturated aromas of black pepper, olive, and raspberry. With air, secondary notes of tobacco, coffee and licorice. On the palate, raspberry, dark chocolate are lifted with a grapefruit-like iron note. Tannins feel svelte and flavors feel well integrated at this early stage.”
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The next best price is $22
Twill Cellars Steelhead Run Vineyard Syrah, Applegate Valley 2018 750ML ($39.95) $36 special
Winery note “Immediate and saturating notes of tea, blackberry, raspberry and musk are found. This is the most intense and rich Steelhead Run Syrah that we have produced. With time, notes of grapefruit, olive, and chocolate. On the palate, sweet spice, ripe raspberry, chocolate and fig. This is in a great spot currently. There is a little structure, though it won’t require the same rest or long decant as the Stormy Morning.”
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Beaux Frères is one of the great names in Oregon wine—a producer that helped put the Willamette Valley on the map. Big, rich wines with lots of character (plus a familial relation to the Mayor of Monkton) mean that these wines were some of the first collectable bottles from our corner of the wine world.
Beaux Freres Second Cousin Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2019 750ML ($49.95) $33 special
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Beaux Freres Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 2019 750ML ($69.95) $56 special
Shea Wine Cellars Estate Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2018 750ML ($59.95) $39 special
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 92 points “Deep magenta. Spice-laced red and dark berry, cherry cola and floral pastille scents take on a savory herb quality with air. Shows very good depth and breadth on the palate, which offers appealingly sweet red and blue fruit preserve, mocha and black tea flavors and a hint of allspice. Gains energy with air and repeats the floral note on a long, gently tannic finish that leaves a bitter cherry note behind.”
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France – Burgundy & Beaujolais
Coche-Dury Caillerets, Meursault Premier Cru 2017 750ML ($1,999.95) $1,299 special
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 95 points “Aromas of citrus zest, crisp green pear, white flowers, grapefruit and pastry cream introduce the 2017 Meursault 1er Cru Les Caillerets, a medium to full-bodied, satiny and layered wine that’s deep, concentrated and incisive, concluding with a long and pronouncedly chalky finish. This is one of the high points of Coche-Dury’s 2017 portfolio and will be worth special effort to seek out.”
Neal Martin-Vinous 94 points “The 2017 Meursault Les Caillerets 1er Cru has an extremely defined bouquet of perfumed orange blossom, rosewater, crushed stone and pressed white flowers. You could nose this all day! The palate is well balanced and powerful, with intense salinity toward the pretty finish. One of Coche-Dury’s most mercurial 2017s, this opened in awesome fashion in the five minutes I spend with it.”
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The next best price is $1,499.99
Jean-Paul Brun Domaine des Terres Dorees Beaujolais l’Ancien VV, Beaujolais 2019 750ML ($21.95) $19 special
Wine Enthusiast 89 points “From the southern region of Beaujolais, this lightly textured wine has been produced from old vines. Red-cherry fruits and perfumed acidity come together well in this ready-to-drink wine. -Roger Voss”
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France – Southern
Clos Cibonne Cotes de Provence Tibouren Cuvee Speciale des Vignettes Rose 2018 750ML ($47.95) $36 special
Importer note “Clos Cibonne’s iconic Cuvée Spéciale des Vignettes stands uniquely apart from other rosés as a classic, one-of-a-kind Côtes de Provence rosé featuring the tibouren grape in the lead role. Legendary amongst experienced French wine collectors for its texture, substance, and ability to age gracefully for a decade or more, Cuvée Spéciale des Vignettes is aged under fleurette (a thin veil of yeast, similar to the process in Sherry or Jura wines) in 120-year-old, 5,000L foudres for one year. Clos Cibonne crafts a wine that is completely it’s own through combining a rare grape with a unique aging process. Cuvée Spéciale des Vignettes is a limited wine, a selection made exclusively of the estate’s oldest, over 60-year-old organic tibouren grapes. Vignettes is often the longest-lived of the Cibonne cuvées, repaying 10+ years of cellar time. The vineyard, one of 18 Crus Classés of Côtes de Provence, consists of traditional goblet trained vines located close to the Mediterranean Sea in the foothills of the Maures mountains, overlooking Toulon’s harbor.”
Chateau Combel-la-Serre Chateau Cuvee, Cahors 2018 750ML ($26.95) $24 special
Importer note “100% Malbec. Combel’s Château Cuvée comes from estate plots totalling 3 hectares around their home village of Cournou on the limestone plateau known as the Causse at about 320m altitude. The soils for this bottling are mainly red clay with some limestone rock. The organically farmed vines average 40 years old and are kept to a yield of 40 hl/ha. The hand-harvested fruit is destemmed and crushed, with the juice fermented with native yeasts and 20 days of maceration; the temperature is kept quite cool in the beginning but allowed to rise significantly toward the end, to promote greater extraction of tannins for this bottling. A mix of cement, fiberglass and steel is used for the vinification. The wine is then aged in 500-liter tonneaux for a year. Because of the clay-heavy terroir and winemaking and aging choices, the Château Cuvée marks a significant step up in body, tannin and complexity compared to the lighter, softer Pur Fruit bottling.”
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Chateau Guilhem ‘Le Pot de Vin’ Merlot, IGP d’Oc 2019 750ML ($19.95) $14.50 special
Importer note “In 2015, chateau owner Bertrand Gourdou was searching through an old desk when he came across a label that his grandfather had made in the early 1970’s; that wine was called “Le pot-de-vin” which, in French, translates to “the bribe”, which for that era was an audacious play on words for a wine label! This label inspired Bertrand to make a simple, natural wine: biodynamically grown fruit, fermented with native yeast and with a negligible dose of SO2, made in concrete tanks built by his grandfather. The word “pot” also references the old-style bottle shape. The rouge is 100% Merlot from the IGP Pays d’Oc, made with no oak in a light-to-medium-bodied style with gloriously fruit, freshness and length. It is, simply put, the quintessential French bistro red.”
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Italy – Dolomiti
Foradori Fontanasanta Manzoni Bianco Vigneti delle Dolomiti IGT, Trentino-Alto Adige 2019 750ML ($37.95) $33 special
James Suckling 96 points “Unique aromas of lemon drops and dried limes with hay and candied pineapple, following through to a full body with layers of fruit and a wonderful flavors of peaches and nectarines, as well as some tile and stone. Creamy texture. From biodynamically grown grapes with Demeter certification. Drink now.”
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 93 points “The Foradori 2019 Manzoni Bianco Fontanasanta opens to a bright golden color with some faint copper or greenish highlights. A portion of the wine is aged in clay amphorae. The bouquet is somewhat neutral with loads of pear, Golden Delicious apple and quince. There’s nothing too fragrant or floral. Instead, the wine is grounded in unmistakable orchard fruit aromas that color both the bouquet and the wine’s flavor profile. You also get honey, saffron and candied orange peel. The wine ends with a touch of mineral dryness, like broken slate or crushed terracotta, that contributes to the tight, almost tannic finish.”
Foradori Fontanasanta Nosiola Vigneti delle Dolomiti IGT, Trentino-Alto Adige 2019 750ML ($59.95) $49 special
Foradori ‘Fuoripista’ Pinot Grigio Vigneti delle Dolomiti IGT, Trentino-Alto Adige 2019 750ML ($59.95) $49 special
Spain
Do Ferreiro Albarino, Rias Baixas 2018 750ML ($39.95) $27 special
Luis Gutierrez-Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2018 Albariño was very expressive after some time in the glass. This is their house wine, produced with grapes from the 11 hectares and up to 164 plots they work in the Salnés up to 22 kilometers from their winery in Meaño. The wine is very elegant in 2018; it’s vibrant and tasty, with the granite sapidity and the salty finish. I tasted a bottle from the end of June 2019, when the wine had had longer time sur lie, and the year in bottle does it good. 70,000 bottles produced.”
Manuel Acha ‘Atxa’ Vino Vermouth Blanco, Pais Vasco 750ML ($24.95) $19 special
Importer’s note “Acha’s Vino Vermouth Blanco is made in accordance with an old recipe passed down through the Acha family. It is made from a blend of a neutral wine and alcohol macerated with a selection of traditional botanicals including wormwood, gentian and bitter orange. Tasting Notes – Fresh, floral aromas followed on the palate by a hint of sweetness and bitter flavor framework. Serving Recommendation – The Vino Vermouth White is a sipping vermouth. Try serving as an aperitif over ice and garnished with an orange wedge or lemon slice. This Vermouth will also work exceptionally well in your favorite cocktail.”
Alain Graillot
Newly Arrived
Newly Arrived
“Maxime Graillot (Alain’s son) manages this superb domaine, located on the broad plains of les Chassis. Unfortunately, Graillot estimates they lost 50% of their crop in 2019 because of hail damage. Thankfully, the domaine is looking at two very good years in 2017 and 2018. “In 2018, we had exactly the same year we had in ’17—the big difference was yield.” While yields in ’17 were 42-43 hectoliters per hectare, in 2018 they were only 34 hectoliters per hectare. “Twenty percent less—and everything has changed,” said Graillot. “If you have good yields, it can mitigate the sun’s effects.” He describes ’15 and ’18 as more sunny, while ’16 and ’17 are more terroir driven. The Alain Graillot reds are always made with 100% whole clusters, so when young, they often show herbal, tea-like and even ashy notes from the stems. Those same stems also impart a texture that I find compelling in these wines, particularly with a few years of age.” –Joe Czerwinski, Wine Advocate
Newly Arrived from Domaine Alain Graillot:
Domaine Alain Graillot Crozes-Hermitage Blanc, Rhone 2019 750ML ($49.95) $39 special
No review for the 2019. 2018 review provided for reference.
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 92 points “Pale straw-gold. Fresh orange, yellow plum and melon aromas are sharpened by suggestions of dusty minerals and white pepper. Fleshy and broad on entry, then more taut in the mid-palate, offering energetic orchard and pit fruit flavors and an emerging suggestion of fennel. Nicely concentrated but energetic as well, finishing with solid, mineral punch and strong, floral-driven persistence.”
Newly Arrived from Domaine Alain Graillot:
Domaine Alain Graillot Crozes-Hermitage Blanc, Rhone 2019 750ML ($49.95) $39 special
No review for the 2019. 2018 review provided for reference.
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 92 points “Pale straw-gold. Fresh orange, yellow plum and melon aromas are sharpened by suggestions of dusty minerals and white pepper. Fleshy and broad on entry, then more taut in the mid-palate, offering energetic orchard and pit fruit flavors and an emerging suggestion of fennel. Nicely concentrated but energetic as well, finishing with solid, mineral punch and strong, floral-driven persistence.”
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The average price is $42
Domaine Alain Graillot Crozes-Hermitage, Rhone 2018 750ML ($49.95) $39 special
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 93 points “Inky ruby. Mineral- and spice-accented aromas of ripe dark berries and candied violet show outstanding clarity and lift. At once rich and energetic in the mouth, offering juicy blackberry, bitter cherry and spicecake flavors that slowly turn sweeter on the back half. Shows outstanding clarity on the long, penetrating finish, which features well-judged tannins and lingering floral and spice notes.”
Wine Advocate 91-93 points “Maxime Graillot was confident that he will bottle a La Guiraude from 2018, but the selection hadn’t yet been made at the time of my visit. This barrel of 2018 Crozes Hermitage shows superb aromatics, with hints of black tea accenting cassis and blueberry fruit. Full-bodied, rich and velvety, it reveals some chocolaty notes yet remains remarkably fresh on the finish.”
Domaine Alain Graillot Crozes-Hermitage La Guiraude, Rhone 2017 750ML ($69.95) $59 special
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The average price is $70
Domaine Alain Graillot Saint-Joseph Rouge, Rhone 2018 750ML ($59.95) $49 special
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 93 points “Opaque violet color. Displays powerful aromas of spice-accented dark berry and cherry preserves and incense, with a smoky nuance that builds as the wine stretches out. Fleshy and broad in the mouth but surprisingly lithe as well, offering intense blackberry and boysenberry flavors and a hint of candied flowers. Finishes youthfully chewy and impressively long, with repeating florality and building tannins that add shape and firming grip.”
Wine Advocate 92-94 points “The stunning 2018 Saint Joseph boasts fabulous floral aromas, alongside notes of cassis and blueberries. It’s medium to full-bodied, silky and fine, without any suggestion of over-ripeness or jamminess. It should drink well on release and for at least a decade thereafter.”
(Graillot) Domaine des Lises Crozes-Hermitage, Rhone 2018 750ML ($39.95) $33 special
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 92 points “Opaque ruby. Smoke- and spice-accented dark berries and a hint of licorice on the lively nose. Subtly sweet blackberry and cherry flavors show very good clarity and energy and pick up a suave floral quality with aeration. Displays fine definition and strong, spicy lift on the persistent, gently tannic finish, which leaves lingering cherry and exotic spice notes behind. 30% whole clusters.”
Trending
Cameron Winery Spritz Rose, Willamette Valley NV 250ML Can ($9.95) $6.60 special
Case-6 Cameron Winery Spritz Rose, Willamette Valley NV 250ML Can ($59.95) $35 special (that’s only $5.83/can!) ***In store pick up-only on the six-pack
What do you get when you take some of the finest dry-farmed Dundee Hills Pinot Noir fruit, add a dash of Pinot Blanc, a smidge of carbonation, and a pinch of wizardry? The best can of wine money can buy. 90% La Colina Vineyard Pinot Noir, 10% Pinot Blanc from the Coast Range. #whatthestaffisdrinking
Case-6 Cameron Winery Spritz Rose, Willamette Valley NV 250ML Can ($59.95) $35 special (that’s only $5.83/can!) ***In store pick up-only on the six-pack
What do you get when you take some of the finest dry-farmed Dundee Hills Pinot Noir fruit, add a dash of Pinot Blanc, a smidge of carbonation, and a pinch of wizardry? The best can of wine money can buy. 90% La Colina Vineyard Pinot Noir, 10% Pinot Blanc from the Coast Range. #whatthestaffisdrinking
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The 2018 Freemark Abbey Napa Chardonnay is a prime example of the new era. It’s full-bodied, rich and textural—a monument to Napa’s original glory days.
Freemark Abbey Chardonnay, Napa Valley 2018 750ML ($39.95) $26 special
Case-12 Freemark Abbey Chardonnay, Napa Valley 2018 750ML ($479.95) $279 special (that’s only $23.25/bottle!)
Antonio Galloni 93 points “The 2018 Chardonnay is a very pretty, nuanced wine that deftly balances textural richness and vibrancy. Lemon peel, orchard fruit, mint and bright floral notes are finely sculpted in this classy, wonderfully polished Chardonnay from Freemark Abbey.”
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The average price is $33
Daniel Bouland makes gutsy wines from old vines in the heart of Beaujolais premier appellations. You often hear that they’re traditionally made and, although that’s true, it doesn’t begin to describe what makes the wines unique. These are wines that recall what Beaujolais would have been like before industrial farming and certainly before industrial winemaking. They’re special, powerful and age-worthy.
Daniel Bouland Morgon Les Delys, Beaujolais 2019 750ML ($49.95) $34.50 special
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 95 points “The 2019 Morgon Les Delys Vignes plantées en 1926 has turned out brilliantly, wafting from the glass with aromas of ripe cherries, blackberries, strawberries, sweet soil tones and spices. Medium to full-bodied, deep and layered, it’s seamless and multidimensional, and with striking concentration, succulent acids and powdery tannins, it’s long and penetrating. While this is carrying less puppy fat than the 2018 at the same age, it’s still quite a demonstrative, fruit-driven vintage of Les Delys, and while it will be long-lived, it can also be approached young.”
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The average price is $38
No winery symbolizes the modern quality of Tuscany like Isole e Olena. Since the arrival of Paolo de Marchi in 1976, Isole e Olena has been a quality leader in the region. Stylistically, Isole e Olena occupies a place that is at once traditional and modern. Their Chianti Classico and flagship Cepparello are both firmly rooted in the primacy of Sangiovese and the idea of Tuscan typicity. Elegance wedded to power, both wines show the nuance and bright fruit you’d expect from a classic wine of the region combined with the density and complexity of top tier, noble wines.
Isole e Olena Cepparello Toscana IGT, Tuscany 2017 750ML ($99.95) $79 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Isole e Olena Cepparello Toscana IGT, Tuscany 2017 1.5L ($199.95) $169 special, 24 magnums in stock now
Isole e Olena Cepparello Toscana IGT, Tuscany 2017 3L ($419.95) $379 special, 3 double-magnums in stock now
Antonio Galloni 97 points “The 2017 Cepparello is another in a series of stunningly beautiful Cepparellos from Paolo de Marchi. Bright and beautifully focused in the glass, with tremendous depth, the 2017 is positively stellar from the very first taste. Succulent dark cherry, plum, licorice, spice, menthol and coffee all open up with a bit of air. Here, too, Paolo De Marchi has done a tremendous job in preserving freshness in the wine. Readers who can muster the patience will be rewarded with a spectacular wine.”
James Suckling 95 points “A beautifully linear and refined sangiovese with polished tannins and super tight fruit. Yet, it shows subtle complexity of blackberries, black cherries and dark chocolate. Some hazelnuts. Intense, vibrant finish with a creamy texture. Extremely well done for this hot, dry vintage. Drink after 2023.”
The Produttori del Barbaresco normale is one of the finest values in the world of wine. The Produttori needs very little introduction as a producer of some of the finest wines in Italy, and their entry level Barbaresco delivers grace, power and complexity with a price-tag that’s still easy to swallow. What’s better, their 2017 may be the best edition ever.
Produttori del Barbaresco Barbaresco DOCG 2017 750ML ($49.95) $41.90 special
Case-12 Produttori del Barbaresco Barbaresco DOCG 2017 2017 750ML ($599.95) $459 special (that’s only $38.25/bottle!)
Case-6 Produttori del Barbaresco Barbaresco DOCG 2017 2017 750ML ($299.95) $239 special (that’s only $39.83/bottle!)
Antonio Galloni 94 points “The 2017 Barbaresco shows just how appealing this vintage can be. In 2017, the warm, dry growing season gave the Barbaresco an extra kick of richness that fills out its frame and adds so much immediacy. Sweet red berry fruit, cinnamon, rose petal and mint are open in the glass, but it is the wine’s seductive radiance that wins the day. Pora, Ovello, Montestefano, Muncagota and Rio Sordo are the main vineyards used for the straight Barbaresco. The 2017 is such an inviting and expressive wine. Don’t miss it!”
Muga is considered one of the finest old producers of Rioja, combining a traditionalist approach with modern cellar techniques. Up and down the line, their wines offer tremendous value—these are wines that will age into dynamic, complex beauties, but are delicious today.
Bodegas Muga Reserva, Rioja DOCa 2015 750ML ($34.95) $23.50 special
Jeb Dunnuck 94 points “One of the flagship cuvées from this estate that’s produced in every vintage, the 2015 Reserva is a blend of 70% Tempranillo and the rest Garnacha, Mazuelo, and Graciano that spent 24 months in used French and American oak. Blackberries, currants, cigar wrapper, cedar box, and hints of vanilla all flow to a medium-bodied, concentrated, beautiful Rioja that has ripe tannins, beautiful balance, and a great finish. You couldn’t go wrong with a case of this.”
James Suckling 94 points “Complex nose with ripe black cherries, deeply integrated cedary oak, baking spices, dried flowers, leather, fresh tobacco and earthy notes. This is silky and mellow with long, laid-back tannins that deliver ripe dark plum flavors into a spicy and earthy finish. Drink or hold.”
Luis Gutierrez-Wine Advocate 92 points “…This was a very long harvest (similar to 2016). They started at the end of August with the Cava, and they finished at the end of October with very healthy grapes, good yields and very good quality. The wine shows very good ripeness but without any excess. It has incipient complexity, still young and undeveloped but with very good balance between power and elegance, with fine-grained tannins and integrated acidity. This has to be one of the best recent vintages of this popular bottling. There are around one million bottles of it.”
Wine Enthusiast 92 points “Earthy black fruit aromas are warm and ripe. Befitting a reserva from a hot year like 2015, this is big-bodied and flush, with flavors of toasty oak, chocolate and mixed berry fruits. Ripeness is not lost on a finish with mild heat. Drink through 2023.”
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The average price is $28
Back in Stock from Our Most Popular Rhone Producer:
Saint Cosme
Saint Cosme Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Rhone 2017 750ML ($49.95) $45 special
Wine Spectator 95 points “Offers mulled plum, blackberry and black cherry fruit mixed in with steeped black tea, sandalwood and tobacco leaf notes. A mineral edge adds cut and drive to the finish, while the black tea note smolders seductively. Built for the cellar. Grenache, Mourvèdre, Syrah and Cinsault. Best from 2022 through 2036.”
Wine Advocate 94-96 points “Still awaiting bottling during my June visit, the 2017 Chateauneuf du Pape features bold notes of black cherries, cassis and spice cake. Owner Barruol says the Christmas cake is typical of La Crau. Full-bodied and voluptuous, with a long, fine and silky finish, this great effort provides one intense ride from start to finish.”
Wine Spectator 95 points “Offers mulled plum, blackberry and black cherry fruit mixed in with steeped black tea, sandalwood and tobacco leaf notes. A mineral edge adds cut and drive to the finish, while the black tea note smolders seductively. Built for the cellar. Grenache, Mourvèdre, Syrah and Cinsault. Best from 2022 through 2036.”
Wine Advocate 94-96 points “Still awaiting bottling during my June visit, the 2017 Chateauneuf du Pape features bold notes of black cherries, cassis and spice cake. Owner Barruol says the Christmas cake is typical of La Crau. Full-bodied and voluptuous, with a long, fine and silky finish, this great effort provides one intense ride from start to finish.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $60
Chateau de Saint Cosme Gigondas Le Poste Rouge, Rhone 2018 750ML ($134.95) $119 special, only 7 bottles available!
Jeb Dunnuck 97 points “Another sensational wine, the 2018 Gigondas Le Poste comes from a hillside parcel just up from the domaine, just to the east of the village of Gigondas. Deep ruby/purple-hued with killer notes of blackcurrants, ground pepper, violets, tobacco leaf, and obvious minerality, it’s full-bodied, has a fleshy, layered, opulent texture, building tannins, and a great, great finish. It shows the more approachable style of the vintage yet still bring incredible richness and depth. It will blow you away anytime over the coming 10-15 years.”
Wine Spectator 96 points “Packed, with a core of steeped plum, boysenberry and blackberry confiture flavors layered nicely with violet, anise and applewood notes. Dense but vibrant throughout, with a bundle of energetic grip on the finish that melds nicely with the fruit. Deeply buried minerality lurks at the very end. This should be long-lived. Best from 2022 through 2036.”
Wine Advocate 96-98 points “Given the intensity of every cuvée at this estate, I was blown away by the elegance shown by the 2018 Gigondas le Poste. Violet and aniseed aromas accent plum and black cherry fruit, while this full-bodied wine is creamy-velvety in texture, with a long, silky finish that folds in distinct salted-licorice notes. Wow!-JC”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $136
Chateau de Saint Cosme Gigondas Hominis Fides, Rhone 2018 750ML ($149.95) $119 special, only 10 bottles available
Jeb Dunnuck 97 points “One of the wines of the vintage, 2018 Gigondas Hominis Fides comes from a single parcel of old vines planted in more limestone/sandy soils not far from the estate (it’s just across the street from the Le Claux lieu-dit). This dense purple/ruby hued beauty boasts a sensational bouquet of ripe black raspberries, mulled cherries, black licorice, loamy soil, and a kiss of camphor, as well as plenty of peppery herb-like nuances. With full-bodied richness, it hits the palate with a seamless, elegant texture, no hard edges, building tannins and one seriously good finish. It’s not a powerhouse like the 2007 or 2016, yet has incredible finesse as well as purity of fruit and length. It benefits from a quick decant and is guaranteed to put a smile on your face any time over the coming 15+ years.”
Wine Spectator 95 points “This is dense and dark, with lots of currant and fig paste flavors that have melded with licorice root, singed apple wood and warm earth notes, followed by a long, tobacco- and garrigue-edged finish. Youthfully gutsy, but with everything in place and plenty of energy, so this should cellar well. Best from 2022 through 2036.”
Wine Advocate 94-96 points “Bold scents of asphalt and cassis appear on the nose of the 2018 Gigondas Hominis Fides. Like the other 2018s here, it’s a big, concentrated and powerful wine. In this case, it’s loaded with intense fruit and backed by waves of rich, velvety tannins, yet it finishes with zesty-briny notes and tremendous length.-JC”
Chateau de Saint Cosme Gigondas Le Claux, Rhone 2018 750ML ($119.95) $99 special, only 26 bottles available
Wine Advocate 95-97 points “Everything about the all-Grenache 2018 Gigondas le Claux is big. From the huge black cherry and blackberry fruit, to the insane levels of concentration, the rich, velvety tannins and the never-ending, licorice-tinged finish, this beauty should evolve positively for at least a decade and a half.-JC”
Wine Spectator 95 points “Quite ripe, with waves of warmed plum sauce and blackberry preserves rolling through, wrapped liberally with licorice root, sage and lavender notes. Iron minerality runs through the finish, letting the fruit and savory notes meld wonderfully. Built for the cellar. Best from 2022 through 2035.”
Jeb Dunnuck 95 points “Coming from a site just across the road from the Hominis Fides vineyard, the 2018 Gigondas Le Claux was not destemmed and brought up mostly in used, larger barrels. Beautifully Provençal notes of black raspberries, camphor, flowery incense, and peppery spice and emerge from the glass and this beauty is reminds me of a Grand Cru Red Burgundy on the palate with its seamless, elegant, layered texture. It’s not a blockbuster like the 2016 and 2017 yet shines for its complex aromatics and flawless balance. It also has more than enough structure to evolve for two decades.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $134
Thank you from the team at Vinopolis!
Be well & drink well.