In This Newsletter:
Weekend Snowden Subscriber Sale
Ends Monday at 6 PM!
New Week – New Arrivals
New Arrival Featurette
Kruger-Rumpf
Arriving Friday
Champagne Ulysse Collin
Rhone Roundup
Collector’s Corner:
Chapoutier & Bollinger
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $20.99
Arterberry Maresh Chardonnay Maresh Vineyard, Dundee Hills 2018 750ML ($79.95) $69 special
Erin Brooks-Wine Advocate 96 points “The 2018 Chardonnay Maresh Vineyard manages power and elegance, with gunflint notes that flush out to pure roasted almonds, saline, white flowers and apple fruit on the nose. The palate offers intense, savory flavor layers in an elegant, satin-like frame, with dynamic acidity and a long, ethereal finish. This has the flesh and structure to age very well in bottle.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Arterberry Maresh Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills 2018 750ML ($29.95) $26 special
Erin Brooks-Wine Advocate 93 points “Pale ruby-purple, the 2018 Pinot Noir Dundee Hills takes its time to open, unfolding slowly to cherries, boysenberries, floral perfume and earthy nuances. The palate is elegant with pure fruit character framed by dusty tannins and rounded acidity, finishing long and nuanced. How pretty!”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Arterberry Maresh Old Vines Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills 2017 750ML ($49.95) $44 special
Josh Raynolds 96 points “Glistening scarlet. A highly complex bouquet evokes red berry and cherry preserves, along with building Asian spice, rose oil and smoky mineral flourishes. Shows fine delineation and seamless texture, offering concentrated, spice-tinged Chambord, cherry, cola and spicecake flavors that pick up a strong rose pastille nuance with air. Finishes extremely long and pure, with fine-grained tannins providing framework and gentle grip to lingering red fruit, five-spice powder and savory herb notes. 70% of this fruit comes from the estate Maresh vineyard and the other 30% is from the neighboring Weber vineyard; the vast majority of the vines were planted in the late 1970s.”
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.”
Goodfellow Family Cellars Durant Vineyard Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills 2018 750ML ($44.95) $36 special
Erin Brooks-Wine Advocate 95 points “Pale ruby, the 2018 Pinot Noir Durant Vineyard is extraordinarily perfumed this vintage, with scents of rose petals, Earl Grey tea, lavender and loads of intense black fruits. The palate is arresting, seamless and silky and loaded with perfumed flavors that call you back again and again to the glass. It’s one of the loveliest Pinot Noirs I’ve tasted this vintage from the Willamette Valley.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
France – Champagne
Marguet ‘La Grande Ruelle’ Ambonnay Grand Cru, Champagne 2015 750ML ($149.95) $99 special
Importer note “100% Pinot Noir.”
Marguet ‘Shaman’ Grand Cru Extra Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($59.95) $49 special
Marguet ‘Shaman’ Grand Cru Extra Brut, Champagne NV 3L ($319.95) $279 special
This is the base-2018, one of the first of that vintage in the shop. Get an early look at a vintage praised as the best in decades by insiders…
Bereche et Fils Brut Reserve, Champagne NV 750ML ($59.95) $45 special
Case-6 Bereche et Fils Brut Reserve, Champagne NV 750ML ($349.95) $256 special (that’s only $42.67/bottle!)
No reviews for the current disgorgement. Prior reviews provided for reference.
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 92 points “The latest release of the NV Brut Réserve was disgorged in October 2019 with seven grams per liter dosage, and it’s based on the 2017 vintage. Exhibiting a glass bouquet of citrus oil, oyster shell, fresh peach and toasted nuts, it’s medium to full-bodied, racy and tensile, with lovely depth and concentration, fine energy and a long, penetrating finish.”
Peter Liem note “The range begins with the Brut Réserve, a non-vintage brut that usually contains about 25 percent chardonnay, 25 percent meunier and 20 percent pinot noir from the base vintage, along with 30 percent of reserve wines, also from the three varieties.”
“I often find myself reaching for the NV Brut Réserve, which is reliably one of the very finest Champagnes in its peer group” –Antonio Galloni, writing on the previous disgorgement
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
France
Lucien Le Moine (the nom de plume for Mounir and Rotem Saouma) is one of the hottest names in Burgundy. The rise has been meteoric due to the scarcity of the wines (Mounir wants to keep production under 100 barrels) and also the fact that they only work with grand and premier cru vineyards (with the exception of a tiny amount of Bourgogne).
Lucien Le Moine Bourgogne Rouge, Burgundy 2017 750ML ($69.95) $59 special
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
The Saouma family also has a Chateauneuf based project and we’ve secured some of their excellent Cotes du Rhone “Inopia” wines.
Rotem & Mounir Saouma Cotes du Rhone Villages ‘Inopia’ Blanc 2017 750ML ($39.95) $29.50 special
Case-6 Rotem & Mounir Saouma Cotes du Rhone Villages ‘Inopia’ Blanc 2017 750ML ($219.95) $169 special (that’s only $28.17/bottle!)
Jeb Dunnuck 91-93 points “From vines around the estate, just north of Orange, the 2017 Côtes du Rhône Inopia Blanc is a mix of Roussanne, Marsanne, Clairette, and Bourboulenc. It’s a sensational Côtes du Rhône Blanc that offers up loads of minerality as well as orchard fruits, brioche, toasted almonds, and white flower aromas and flavors. This Burgundian styled beauty has beautiful depth, vibrant acidity, and a great finish.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Rotem & Mounir Saouma Cotes du Rhone Villages ‘Inopia’ Rouge 2016 750ML ($39.95) $29 special
Case-6 Rotem & Mounir Saouma Cotes du Rhone Villages ‘Inopia’ Rouge 2016 750ML ($219.95) $165 special (that’s only $27.50/bottle!)
Wine Spectator 90 points “Bright raspberry and cherry coulis flavors stream through, laced with light floral and lavender notes. Moderate in scale but seductive in feel. Grenache Noir, Mourvèdre, Counoise, Syrah and Cinsault. Drink now through 2021. 150 cases imported.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $31
Italy
Vie di Romans ‘Dolee’ Friulano Friuli Isonzo, Friuli-Venezia Giulia 2018 750ML ($39.95) $33 special
Petrolo is one of the leading proponents of the Val d’Arno di Sopra DOC, a small area in Tuscany that only recently received the DOC designation. Frankly, the designation should have happened a while ago—these are distinctive wines made from unique soils and the quality across the board is very high. Petrolo’s wines provide a wonderful introduction to this undervalued corner of Tuscany due to both their quality, but also thanks to their forward-thinking. Today we’re offering a wine that exemplifies this progressive orientation, Petrolo’s Sangiovese-dominant Super Tuscan Torrione, at Subscriber Special pricing. If you enjoy a more modern interpretation of Tuscany, but hate paying Super Tuscan prices, this is a can’t miss deal.
Additional stock arrived!
Petrolo Torrione Valdarno di Sopra, Tuscany 2014 750ML ($39.95) Was $21.90, Now $18
Case-12 Petrolo Torrione Valdarno di Sopra, Tuscany 2014 750ML ($449.95) Was $236, Now $199 (that’s only $16.58/bottle!)
James Suckling 92 points “A refined and silky rendition of this wine with pretty berry, citrus and light chocolate. Medium body. Chilled and delicious. Drink now.”
Spain
We were able to secure nine additional bottles of this Priorat phenom!
Familia Nin-Ortiz ‘Nit de Nin’ La Coma d’en Romeu, Priorat DOCa 2017 750ML ($179.95) $149 special
Luis Gutierrez-Wine Advocate 98+ points “The 2017 Nit de Nin La Coma d’en Romeu is from an extremely dry and early harvest that delivered just five hectoliters per hectare! That means they only produced 1,330 bottles from the 1.5 hectares of Garnacha on those slate terraces at 350 meters in altitude. It was bottled in April 2019. It has a beautiful and subtle nose that’s very spicy (cloves and cumin, curry and pink pepper) and floral, with a palate that feels light but has great depth and inner power, with pungent flavors and subtle minerality.”
Austria
Weingut Leo Alzinger Durnstein Gruner Veltliner Federspiel, Wachau 2019 750ML ($29.95) $24 special
Skurnik Wines note “Inviting and lively, often stone fruit and fine vegetable aromas; delicate, filigree and subtle texture. Never pushy, always direct, straightforward & digestible. Animating and juicy finish. The Danube makes its mark on the plain in Loiben and Dürnstein. Gravel, sand and sediments form the basis for the village Grüner Veltliner , which is juicy and elegantly exemplary for a classic spring game version.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Weingut Leo Alzinger Loibner Steinertal Gruner Veltliner Smaragd, Wachau 2019 750ML ($69.95) $59 special
Skurnik Wines note “Steinertal is an extremely complex location that offers optimal terrain for both Grüner Veltliner and Riesling. The situation turns a little to the southwest, so in the evening always gets some heat, which are relativized by air currents from the north accordingly. The ground thickness varies considerably, as does the temperature within the location. The foundation of the Grüner Veltliner lies in the lower and deeper terraces, although here too, despite a slightly creamier texture, vital acidity and profound minerality set the tone.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $66
Schloss Gobelsburg Steinsetz Gruner Veltliner Reserve Erste OTW Lage, Kamptal 2019 750ML ($34.95) $29 special
Skurnik Wines note “A single vineyard in the village of Gobelsburg, very close to the winery. Rather than the typical loess based soils that GV is typically grown in, Steinsetz is alluvial gravel with smooth, rounded river stones that would be at home in Ch. Neuf. This is a cooler site and produces wines that have more snap and less concentration than the other GV sites Ried Renner, Ried Grub and Ried Lamm, which are all Erste Lagen. 100% natural ferment in large Manhatsberg (Austrian local oak from the Kamptal) oak cask, left to mature for ten months before bottling. Austria certified Sustainable.”
Wine Enthusiast #29 Top 100 Best Buy in 2020
Schloss Gobelsburg Gobesburger Gruner Veltliner, Kamptal DAC 2019 750ML ($18.95) $16 special
Anne Krebiehl MW-Wine Enthusiast 91 points “Moss, crushed sage and yarrow play alongside green pear in this fresh, vivid wine. The slender, crisp palate adds a note of salty yeast and boosts the flavors with lemony freshness. This is quintessential Grüner—gorgeous, slender and refreshing.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Kruger-Rumpf Estate Riesling Trocken, Nahe 2019 750ML ($21.95) $18 special
James Suckling 91 points “If you’ve never tried a dry German estate riesling, then this is the right place to start, because of the very appealing juiciness, generosity and moderate acidity. Good length and great, dining-table flexibility. Drink now. Screw cap.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Kruger-Rumpf Munsterer Rheinberg Riesling Kabinett, Nahe 2019 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 special
James Suckling 91 points “I love the interplay of bright summer-fruit aromas and the vibrant, appley and lemony acidity of this sleek young thing. Drink now. Screw cap.”
Kruger-Rumpf Scheurebe Spatlese, Nahe 2019 750ML ($29.95) $24 special
VinopolNote: Smokey, exotic and subtley sweet, this Scheurebe is charming and delicious. A staff favorite.
Importer note “Completely from Dautenpflänzer old vineyards planted in the 50s. Quarzite soil. Average age of vines: 35 years.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $26
Arriving Friday
Champagne Ulysse Collin
Weekend Snowden Subscriber Sale
Ends Monday at 6 PM!
New Week – New Arrivals
New Arrival Featurette
Kruger-Rumpf
Arriving Friday
Champagne Ulysse Collin
Rhone Roundup
Collector’s Corner:
Chapoutier & Bollinger
Weekend Snowden Subscriber Sale
Ends Monday at 6 PM!
Offering one of Napa Valley’s best quality-to-price ratios, Snowden has earned the respect of both its peers and consumers alike. Today we’re thrilled to Subscriber-exclusive discounts on their already-great value Cabernets (and one great Merlot). Mix-and-match, buy in bulk and save big on one of Napa’s best estates and their stunning wines.
Located at the confluence of several of Napa Valley’s most acclaimed appellations, including Rutherford and St. Helena, Snowden is a Beverly Hills estate without the 90210 zip code. This location, on the gentle hillside of the Vaca Mountains, allows the estate’s third generation winemaker Diana Snowden Seysses to produce wines of power and nuance. Having trained in both Napa and Europe, her wines combine prototypical Napa muscle with freshness and intricate fruit. Napa Valley producers, especially those with comparable pedigrees that so convincingly achieve this balancing act, are notoriously expensive. Snowden is a rare Napa classic which remains relatively affordable.
The quality of the estate’s fruit has been an open secret within the valley for decades, and many of Napa’s most respected names have purchased fruit over the years, including Silver Oak and Caymus. However, we’re here to publicly out Snowden for the greater good. These prices do not reflect the quality on offer, and the wines deserve a place on your dinner table.
Buy Any 3-5 Bottles of Snowden, Receive a 5% Discount
Buy Any 6-11 Bottles of Snowden, Receive a 10% Discount
Buy Any 12+ Bottles of Snowden, Receive a 15% Discount
Offer valid on in-stock wines
Discount will not display online
We will adjust your order manually before finalizing and charging your card.
Snowden Subscriber Special Valid Until 6 PM Pacific Monday, January 11th
In Stock Now:
Snowden Vineyards ‘Brothers Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2017 750ML ($89.95) $75 special, that’s $71.25 at 5% off, $67.50 at 10% off, and $63.75 at 15% off!
Antonio Galloni 93+ points “The 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Brothers Vineyard is gorgeous. In this vintage, the Brothers has a bit more tannin and overall structure than normal, but in 2017 a power outage resulted in the wine staying in tank for an extra ten days. In the end, that looks to have been a help, as the 2017 offers a terrific combination of fruit density and structure, within the mid-weight style of the year at Snowden. This is a beguiling wine that may very well turn out to be a surprise in time. Super classic, old-school, medium-bodied wine with good depth and resonance alongside notes of black cherry, leather, tobacco, licorice and gravel.”
Wine Spectator 92 points “Succulent and open in feel, with friendly plum and raspberry puree notes set on a silky structure, backed by light rooibos tea and anise hints. A stylish Cabernet, offering an alluring mouthfeel. Drink now through 2029. 636 cases made.”
This was the lowest listed price on the West Coast,
Now it’s even lower!
The average price nationally is $81
Snowden Vineyards The Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2016 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, that’s $46.55 at 5% off, $44.10 at 10% off, and $41.65 at 15% off!
Antonio Galloni 93 points “Snowden’s 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon The Ranch is gorgeous. Dark, powerful and beautifully structured, the 2016 Ranch is a huge overachiever. In 2016, the Ranch is a wine of real power, gravitas and character. Black cherry, plum, lavender and savory herbs all develop in the glass, but it is the wine’s persistence and overall balance that stands out in this deeply flavorful, classically built Cabernet from Snowden. Best of all, the 2016 is a superb wine for the money.”
James Suckling 92 points “Elderberries, blueberries, blackberries and hints of hazelnuts and walnuts. Medium to full body, focused acidity and a medium-chewy finish. Drink in 2022.”
This was the lowest listed price on the West Coast,
Now it’s even lower!
The average price nationally is $54
Snowden Vineyards The Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2017 750ML ($54.95) $41.90 special, that’s $39.81 at 5% off, $37.71 at 10% off, and $35.62 at 15% off!
Antonio Galloni 90 points “The 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon The Ranch is an attractive, mid-weight wine that shows the more gracious, understated side of the year. Floral and spice notes give the 2017 lovely aromatics to play off a core of sweet red berry fruit. This is a very pretty wine.”
This was the lowest listed price on the West Coast,
Now it’s even lower!
The average price nationally is $52
Buy Any 3-5 Bottles of Snowden, Receive a 5% Discount
Buy Any 6-11 Bottles of Snowden, Receive a 10% Discount
Buy Any 12+ Bottles of Snowden, Receive a 15% Discount
Offer valid on in-stock wines
Discount will not display online
We will adjust your order manually before finalizing and charging your card.
Snowden Subscriber Special Valid Until 6 PM Pacific Monday, January 11th
Ends Monday at 6 PM!
Offering one of Napa Valley’s best quality-to-price ratios, Snowden has earned the respect of both its peers and consumers alike. Today we’re thrilled to Subscriber-exclusive discounts on their already-great value Cabernets (and one great Merlot). Mix-and-match, buy in bulk and save big on one of Napa’s best estates and their stunning wines.Located at the confluence of several of Napa Valley’s most acclaimed appellations, including Rutherford and St. Helena, Snowden is a Beverly Hills estate without the 90210 zip code. This location, on the gentle hillside of the Vaca Mountains, allows the estate’s third generation winemaker Diana Snowden Seysses to produce wines of power and nuance. Having trained in both Napa and Europe, her wines combine prototypical Napa muscle with freshness and intricate fruit. Napa Valley producers, especially those with comparable pedigrees that so convincingly achieve this balancing act, are notoriously expensive. Snowden is a rare Napa classic which remains relatively affordable.
The quality of the estate’s fruit has been an open secret within the valley for decades, and many of Napa’s most respected names have purchased fruit over the years, including Silver Oak and Caymus. However, we’re here to publicly out Snowden for the greater good. These prices do not reflect the quality on offer, and the wines deserve a place on your dinner table.
Buy Any 3-5 Bottles of Snowden, Receive a 5% Discount
Buy Any 6-11 Bottles of Snowden, Receive a 10% Discount
Buy Any 12+ Bottles of Snowden, Receive a 15% Discount
Offer valid on in-stock wines
Discount will not display online
We will adjust your order manually before finalizing and charging your card.
Snowden Subscriber Special Valid Until 6 PM Pacific Monday, January 11th
In Stock Now:
Snowden Vineyards ‘Brothers Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2017 750ML ($89.95) $75 special, that’s $71.25 at 5% off, $67.50 at 10% off, and $63.75 at 15% off!
Antonio Galloni 93+ points “The 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Brothers Vineyard is gorgeous. In this vintage, the Brothers has a bit more tannin and overall structure than normal, but in 2017 a power outage resulted in the wine staying in tank for an extra ten days. In the end, that looks to have been a help, as the 2017 offers a terrific combination of fruit density and structure, within the mid-weight style of the year at Snowden. This is a beguiling wine that may very well turn out to be a surprise in time. Super classic, old-school, medium-bodied wine with good depth and resonance alongside notes of black cherry, leather, tobacco, licorice and gravel.”
Wine Spectator 92 points “Succulent and open in feel, with friendly plum and raspberry puree notes set on a silky structure, backed by light rooibos tea and anise hints. A stylish Cabernet, offering an alluring mouthfeel. Drink now through 2029. 636 cases made.”
This was the lowest listed price on the West Coast,
Now it’s even lower!
The average price nationally is $81
Snowden Vineyards The Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2016 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, that’s $46.55 at 5% off, $44.10 at 10% off, and $41.65 at 15% off!
Antonio Galloni 93 points “Snowden’s 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon The Ranch is gorgeous. Dark, powerful and beautifully structured, the 2016 Ranch is a huge overachiever. In 2016, the Ranch is a wine of real power, gravitas and character. Black cherry, plum, lavender and savory herbs all develop in the glass, but it is the wine’s persistence and overall balance that stands out in this deeply flavorful, classically built Cabernet from Snowden. Best of all, the 2016 is a superb wine for the money.”
James Suckling 92 points “Elderberries, blueberries, blackberries and hints of hazelnuts and walnuts. Medium to full body, focused acidity and a medium-chewy finish. Drink in 2022.”
This was the lowest listed price on the West Coast,
Now it’s even lower!
The average price nationally is $54
Snowden Vineyards The Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2017 750ML ($54.95) $41.90 special, that’s $39.81 at 5% off, $37.71 at 10% off, and $35.62 at 15% off!
Antonio Galloni 90 points “The 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon The Ranch is an attractive, mid-weight wine that shows the more gracious, understated side of the year. Floral and spice notes give the 2017 lovely aromatics to play off a core of sweet red berry fruit. This is a very pretty wine.”
This was the lowest listed price on the West Coast,
Now it’s even lower!
The average price nationally is $52
Buy Any 3-5 Bottles of Snowden, Receive a 5% Discount
Buy Any 6-11 Bottles of Snowden, Receive a 10% Discount
Buy Any 12+ Bottles of Snowden, Receive a 15% Discount
Offer valid on in-stock wines
Discount will not display online
We will adjust your order manually before finalizing and charging your card.
Snowden Subscriber Special Valid Until 6 PM Pacific Monday, January 11th
New Week – New Arrivals
Oregon
Arterberry Maresh & Goodfellow just received some spiffy reviews from Erin Brooks at the Wine Advocate. We’ve always been proud to stock these and all of our local, world-class wineries!
Arterberry Maresh Chardonnay, Dundee Hills 2018 750ML ($29.95) $19 special
Erin Brooks-Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2018 Dundee Hills Chardonnay is wonderfully inviting and hedonistic! It has a perfume of spiced apples and quince, hazelnuts and beeswax, with wafts of floral perfume. The palate is broad, creamy and loaded with honeyed fruits, with juicy freshness to help carry the long, powerfully fruited finish.”
Arterberry Maresh & Goodfellow just received some spiffy reviews from Erin Brooks at the Wine Advocate. We’ve always been proud to stock these and all of our local, world-class wineries!
Arterberry Maresh Chardonnay, Dundee Hills 2018 750ML ($29.95) $19 special
Erin Brooks-Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2018 Dundee Hills Chardonnay is wonderfully inviting and hedonistic! It has a perfume of spiced apples and quince, hazelnuts and beeswax, with wafts of floral perfume. The palate is broad, creamy and loaded with honeyed fruits, with juicy freshness to help carry the long, powerfully fruited finish.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $20.99
Arterberry Maresh Chardonnay Maresh Vineyard, Dundee Hills 2018 750ML ($79.95) $69 special
Erin Brooks-Wine Advocate 96 points “The 2018 Chardonnay Maresh Vineyard manages power and elegance, with gunflint notes that flush out to pure roasted almonds, saline, white flowers and apple fruit on the nose. The palate offers intense, savory flavor layers in an elegant, satin-like frame, with dynamic acidity and a long, ethereal finish. This has the flesh and structure to age very well in bottle.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Arterberry Maresh Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills 2018 750ML ($29.95) $26 special
Erin Brooks-Wine Advocate 93 points “Pale ruby-purple, the 2018 Pinot Noir Dundee Hills takes its time to open, unfolding slowly to cherries, boysenberries, floral perfume and earthy nuances. The palate is elegant with pure fruit character framed by dusty tannins and rounded acidity, finishing long and nuanced. How pretty!”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Arterberry Maresh Old Vines Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills 2017 750ML ($49.95) $44 special
Josh Raynolds 96 points “Glistening scarlet. A highly complex bouquet evokes red berry and cherry preserves, along with building Asian spice, rose oil and smoky mineral flourishes. Shows fine delineation and seamless texture, offering concentrated, spice-tinged Chambord, cherry, cola and spicecake flavors that pick up a strong rose pastille nuance with air. Finishes extremely long and pure, with fine-grained tannins providing framework and gentle grip to lingering red fruit, five-spice powder and savory herb notes. 70% of this fruit comes from the estate Maresh vineyard and the other 30% is from the neighboring Weber vineyard; the vast majority of the vines were planted in the late 1970s.”
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.”
Goodfellow Family Cellars Durant Vineyard Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills 2018 750ML ($44.95) $36 special
Erin Brooks-Wine Advocate 95 points “Pale ruby, the 2018 Pinot Noir Durant Vineyard is extraordinarily perfumed this vintage, with scents of rose petals, Earl Grey tea, lavender and loads of intense black fruits. The palate is arresting, seamless and silky and loaded with perfumed flavors that call you back again and again to the glass. It’s one of the loveliest Pinot Noirs I’ve tasted this vintage from the Willamette Valley.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
France – Champagne
Marguet ‘La Grande Ruelle’ Ambonnay Grand Cru, Champagne 2015 750ML ($149.95) $99 special
Importer note “100% Pinot Noir.”
Marguet ‘Shaman’ Grand Cru Extra Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($59.95) $49 special
Marguet ‘Shaman’ Grand Cru Extra Brut, Champagne NV 3L ($319.95) $279 special
This is the base-2018, one of the first of that vintage in the shop. Get an early look at a vintage praised as the best in decades by insiders…
Bereche et Fils Brut Reserve, Champagne NV 750ML ($59.95) $45 special
Case-6 Bereche et Fils Brut Reserve, Champagne NV 750ML ($349.95) $256 special (that’s only $42.67/bottle!)
No reviews for the current disgorgement. Prior reviews provided for reference.
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 92 points “The latest release of the NV Brut Réserve was disgorged in October 2019 with seven grams per liter dosage, and it’s based on the 2017 vintage. Exhibiting a glass bouquet of citrus oil, oyster shell, fresh peach and toasted nuts, it’s medium to full-bodied, racy and tensile, with lovely depth and concentration, fine energy and a long, penetrating finish.”
Peter Liem note “The range begins with the Brut Réserve, a non-vintage brut that usually contains about 25 percent chardonnay, 25 percent meunier and 20 percent pinot noir from the base vintage, along with 30 percent of reserve wines, also from the three varieties.”
“I often find myself reaching for the NV Brut Réserve, which is reliably one of the very finest Champagnes in its peer group” –Antonio Galloni, writing on the previous disgorgement
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
France
Lucien Le Moine (the nom de plume for Mounir and Rotem Saouma) is one of the hottest names in Burgundy. The rise has been meteoric due to the scarcity of the wines (Mounir wants to keep production under 100 barrels) and also the fact that they only work with grand and premier cru vineyards (with the exception of a tiny amount of Bourgogne).
Lucien Le Moine Bourgogne Rouge, Burgundy 2017 750ML ($69.95) $59 special
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
The Saouma family also has a Chateauneuf based project and we’ve secured some of their excellent Cotes du Rhone “Inopia” wines.
Rotem & Mounir Saouma Cotes du Rhone Villages ‘Inopia’ Blanc 2017 750ML ($39.95) $29.50 special
Case-6 Rotem & Mounir Saouma Cotes du Rhone Villages ‘Inopia’ Blanc 2017 750ML ($219.95) $169 special (that’s only $28.17/bottle!)
Jeb Dunnuck 91-93 points “From vines around the estate, just north of Orange, the 2017 Côtes du Rhône Inopia Blanc is a mix of Roussanne, Marsanne, Clairette, and Bourboulenc. It’s a sensational Côtes du Rhône Blanc that offers up loads of minerality as well as orchard fruits, brioche, toasted almonds, and white flower aromas and flavors. This Burgundian styled beauty has beautiful depth, vibrant acidity, and a great finish.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Rotem & Mounir Saouma Cotes du Rhone Villages ‘Inopia’ Rouge 2016 750ML ($39.95) $29 special
Case-6 Rotem & Mounir Saouma Cotes du Rhone Villages ‘Inopia’ Rouge 2016 750ML ($219.95) $165 special (that’s only $27.50/bottle!)
Wine Spectator 90 points “Bright raspberry and cherry coulis flavors stream through, laced with light floral and lavender notes. Moderate in scale but seductive in feel. Grenache Noir, Mourvèdre, Counoise, Syrah and Cinsault. Drink now through 2021. 150 cases imported.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $31
Italy
Vie di Romans ‘Dolee’ Friulano Friuli Isonzo, Friuli-Venezia Giulia 2018 750ML ($39.95) $33 special
Petrolo is one of the leading proponents of the Val d’Arno di Sopra DOC, a small area in Tuscany that only recently received the DOC designation. Frankly, the designation should have happened a while ago—these are distinctive wines made from unique soils and the quality across the board is very high. Petrolo’s wines provide a wonderful introduction to this undervalued corner of Tuscany due to both their quality, but also thanks to their forward-thinking. Today we’re offering a wine that exemplifies this progressive orientation, Petrolo’s Sangiovese-dominant Super Tuscan Torrione, at Subscriber Special pricing. If you enjoy a more modern interpretation of Tuscany, but hate paying Super Tuscan prices, this is a can’t miss deal.
Additional stock arrived!
Petrolo Torrione Valdarno di Sopra, Tuscany 2014 750ML ($39.95) Was $21.90, Now $18
Case-12 Petrolo Torrione Valdarno di Sopra, Tuscany 2014 750ML ($449.95) Was $236, Now $199 (that’s only $16.58/bottle!)
James Suckling 92 points “A refined and silky rendition of this wine with pretty berry, citrus and light chocolate. Medium body. Chilled and delicious. Drink now.”
Spain
We were able to secure nine additional bottles of this Priorat phenom!
Familia Nin-Ortiz ‘Nit de Nin’ La Coma d’en Romeu, Priorat DOCa 2017 750ML ($179.95) $149 special
Luis Gutierrez-Wine Advocate 98+ points “The 2017 Nit de Nin La Coma d’en Romeu is from an extremely dry and early harvest that delivered just five hectoliters per hectare! That means they only produced 1,330 bottles from the 1.5 hectares of Garnacha on those slate terraces at 350 meters in altitude. It was bottled in April 2019. It has a beautiful and subtle nose that’s very spicy (cloves and cumin, curry and pink pepper) and floral, with a palate that feels light but has great depth and inner power, with pungent flavors and subtle minerality.”
Austria
Weingut Leo Alzinger Durnstein Gruner Veltliner Federspiel, Wachau 2019 750ML ($29.95) $24 special
Skurnik Wines note “Inviting and lively, often stone fruit and fine vegetable aromas; delicate, filigree and subtle texture. Never pushy, always direct, straightforward & digestible. Animating and juicy finish. The Danube makes its mark on the plain in Loiben and Dürnstein. Gravel, sand and sediments form the basis for the village Grüner Veltliner , which is juicy and elegantly exemplary for a classic spring game version.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Weingut Leo Alzinger Loibner Steinertal Gruner Veltliner Smaragd, Wachau 2019 750ML ($69.95) $59 special
Skurnik Wines note “Steinertal is an extremely complex location that offers optimal terrain for both Grüner Veltliner and Riesling. The situation turns a little to the southwest, so in the evening always gets some heat, which are relativized by air currents from the north accordingly. The ground thickness varies considerably, as does the temperature within the location. The foundation of the Grüner Veltliner lies in the lower and deeper terraces, although here too, despite a slightly creamier texture, vital acidity and profound minerality set the tone.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $66
Schloss Gobelsburg Steinsetz Gruner Veltliner Reserve Erste OTW Lage, Kamptal 2019 750ML ($34.95) $29 special
Skurnik Wines note “A single vineyard in the village of Gobelsburg, very close to the winery. Rather than the typical loess based soils that GV is typically grown in, Steinsetz is alluvial gravel with smooth, rounded river stones that would be at home in Ch. Neuf. This is a cooler site and produces wines that have more snap and less concentration than the other GV sites Ried Renner, Ried Grub and Ried Lamm, which are all Erste Lagen. 100% natural ferment in large Manhatsberg (Austrian local oak from the Kamptal) oak cask, left to mature for ten months before bottling. Austria certified Sustainable.”
Wine Enthusiast #29 Top 100 Best Buy in 2020
Schloss Gobelsburg Gobesburger Gruner Veltliner, Kamptal DAC 2019 750ML ($18.95) $16 special
Anne Krebiehl MW-Wine Enthusiast 91 points “Moss, crushed sage and yarrow play alongside green pear in this fresh, vivid wine. The slender, crisp palate adds a note of salty yeast and boosts the flavors with lemony freshness. This is quintessential Grüner—gorgeous, slender and refreshing.”
New Arrival Featurette
Kruger-Rumpf
The Disarmingly Charming Wines of the Nahe
Kruger-Rumpf
The Disarmingly Charming Wines of the Nahe
“It always feels somewhat miasmic to taste here, as though someone has strewn a thousand musical notes on the floor and now we have to pick them up and make them into music.” –Terry Theise
In the Nahe, Donnhoff gets all the attention, but don’t overlook the charming and well-priced wines from Kruger-Rumpf. These are elegant and flirty wines to adore. They’re fun and enjoyable right out of the gate, but hide inner complexity and soulfulness. The estate dates back to the 1700s and includes some of the greatest terroirs in the area. The wines are well-crafted from the vineyard, which is in transition to certified organic and managed with an eye toward biodiversity, to the modern winery where ferments are mostly spontaneous and where terroir expression is the main goal of winemaking. That the top wine presented here, a single-block bottling of the Abtei vineyard’s oldest and steepest section, is half the price of similar unicorn wines (think Carl Loewen’s “1896”). This is only the second vintage of this block bottling, but it’s gaining notice. 2019 is the perfect year to get in before it blows up: it’s an exceptional vintage yet it’s still a not-well-known wine. So check in on the 2018 now and cellar the 2019 (alongside your Donnhoff GGs, of course).
Newly Arrived from Kruger-Rumpf:
“While still just a Premier Cru, this might be the best kept secret of the Nahe, making for a wine with Grosses Gewachs intensity and quality. Rumpf put a lot of blood sweat and tears into working this amazing site set on phyllite, which is essentially mica slate, all with organic methods and only hand-working of the vines due to the severity of the slope.” –Kerry Winslow, Grapelive
Kruger-Rumpf Abtei ‘1937’ (Reserv) Riesling Trocken, Nahe 2019 750ML ($41.95) $36 special
James Suckling 96 points “This super mineral and super elegant dry riesling has a stunning balance, but is only just beginning to open up. Golden aromas, but no hint of opulence or overripeness. Long, graceful finish. From vines planted in 1937. Drink or hold.”
Kruger-Rumpf Rose Brut, Nahe NV 750ML ($31.95) $27 special
Importer note “Grapes: 90% Pinot Noir, 10% Riesling. Region: Nahe. Vineyard: Mostly from Kappelenberg. Soil: Slate, gravel, and clay. Production: 100% whole cluster pressed. 50% fermented entirely in old Hösch stuckfass (1200L) and 50% in stainless steel where the wine is left for 9 months. After secondary fermentation in the bottle, the wine is left on the lees for 18 months. Dosage: 4 grams (cane sugar liqueur). Mainly from Kapellenberg (slate) with one vineyard site on a plateau above the hillside of Kapellenberg where there is more gravel and clay. Not only is the vin clair for the Pinot Brut Rose sourced from different vineyards than the still rose, it’s vinified in a different manner as well. Harvested in the middle of September, without any chemical fertilizers or herbicides, the grapes are 100% whole cluster pressed in a bladder press with a short maceration of a few hours, giving just a hint or rose color.”
Disgorged March 2018
In the Nahe, Donnhoff gets all the attention, but don’t overlook the charming and well-priced wines from Kruger-Rumpf. These are elegant and flirty wines to adore. They’re fun and enjoyable right out of the gate, but hide inner complexity and soulfulness. The estate dates back to the 1700s and includes some of the greatest terroirs in the area. The wines are well-crafted from the vineyard, which is in transition to certified organic and managed with an eye toward biodiversity, to the modern winery where ferments are mostly spontaneous and where terroir expression is the main goal of winemaking. That the top wine presented here, a single-block bottling of the Abtei vineyard’s oldest and steepest section, is half the price of similar unicorn wines (think Carl Loewen’s “1896”). This is only the second vintage of this block bottling, but it’s gaining notice. 2019 is the perfect year to get in before it blows up: it’s an exceptional vintage yet it’s still a not-well-known wine. So check in on the 2018 now and cellar the 2019 (alongside your Donnhoff GGs, of course).
Newly Arrived from Kruger-Rumpf:
“While still just a Premier Cru, this might be the best kept secret of the Nahe, making for a wine with Grosses Gewachs intensity and quality. Rumpf put a lot of blood sweat and tears into working this amazing site set on phyllite, which is essentially mica slate, all with organic methods and only hand-working of the vines due to the severity of the slope.” –Kerry Winslow, Grapelive
Kruger-Rumpf Abtei ‘1937’ (Reserv) Riesling Trocken, Nahe 2019 750ML ($41.95) $36 special
James Suckling 96 points “This super mineral and super elegant dry riesling has a stunning balance, but is only just beginning to open up. Golden aromas, but no hint of opulence or overripeness. Long, graceful finish. From vines planted in 1937. Drink or hold.”
Kruger-Rumpf Rose Brut, Nahe NV 750ML ($31.95) $27 special
Importer note “Grapes: 90% Pinot Noir, 10% Riesling. Region: Nahe. Vineyard: Mostly from Kappelenberg. Soil: Slate, gravel, and clay. Production: 100% whole cluster pressed. 50% fermented entirely in old Hösch stuckfass (1200L) and 50% in stainless steel where the wine is left for 9 months. After secondary fermentation in the bottle, the wine is left on the lees for 18 months. Dosage: 4 grams (cane sugar liqueur). Mainly from Kapellenberg (slate) with one vineyard site on a plateau above the hillside of Kapellenberg where there is more gravel and clay. Not only is the vin clair for the Pinot Brut Rose sourced from different vineyards than the still rose, it’s vinified in a different manner as well. Harvested in the middle of September, without any chemical fertilizers or herbicides, the grapes are 100% whole cluster pressed in a bladder press with a short maceration of a few hours, giving just a hint or rose color.”
Disgorged March 2018
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Kruger-Rumpf Estate Riesling Trocken, Nahe 2019 750ML ($21.95) $18 special
James Suckling 91 points “If you’ve never tried a dry German estate riesling, then this is the right place to start, because of the very appealing juiciness, generosity and moderate acidity. Good length and great, dining-table flexibility. Drink now. Screw cap.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Kruger-Rumpf Munsterer Rheinberg Riesling Kabinett, Nahe 2019 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 special
James Suckling 91 points “I love the interplay of bright summer-fruit aromas and the vibrant, appley and lemony acidity of this sleek young thing. Drink now. Screw cap.”
Kruger-Rumpf Scheurebe Spatlese, Nahe 2019 750ML ($29.95) $24 special
VinopolNote: Smokey, exotic and subtley sweet, this Scheurebe is charming and delicious. A staff favorite.
Importer note “Completely from Dautenpflänzer old vineyards planted in the 50s. Quarzite soil. Average age of vines: 35 years.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $26
Arriving Friday
Champagne Ulysse Collin
Perhaps no vigneron exemplifies the New Champagne like Ulysse Collin. Born to a family of grape-growers, he worked tirelessly to free the family land from contracts selling fruit to negociants and now vinifies all of his wines as single-vineyard/vintage bottlings. His wines are profoundly introspective and challenge preconceived notions about what Champagne should be. At the forefront of the new wave of ultra-terroir-driven Champagnes, Olivier produces deeply vinous, mineral and hyper-concentrated wines. True to their terroir, these are reflections of the individual parcels.
“Winemaking as a rule here is as natural and non-interventionist as possible. All fermentation is carried out with indigenous yeasts, which can take a remarkably long time to complete: six to eight months is not at all unusual for Collin, and even when tasting vins clairs in June or July, they are typically still in the middle of their alcoholic fermentations. Both the fermentation and malolactic are carried out in three- to six-year old barriques, and the wine is neither fined nor filtered before bottling, which takes place in the fall after the harvest.” – Peter Liem, Champagneguide.net
Ulysse Collin ‘Les Enfers’ Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut, Champagne NV (2014) 750ML ($199.95) $169 pre-arrival special, only 4 bottles available
Wine Advocate 95 points “Disgorged with in March 2019 with 2.4 grams per liter dosage, the NV Extra Brut Blanc de Blancs Les Enfers (2014) is based on the 2014 vintage, supplemented by some 10% reserve wines, and spent fully 48 months on the lees. Opening in the glass with expressive aromas of fresh pastry, green mango, waxy citrus fruit and white flowers, it’s medium to full-bodied, precise and elegantly enveloping, with superb depth at the core, racy acids and a beautifully defined, delicately chalky finish. Like all of Collin’s 2014-base bottlings, this is a tender, charming rendition of Les Enfers.”
Antonio Galloni 94 points “The 2014 Extra Brut Blanc de Blancs Les Enfers is a wine of tremendous breadth and staying power. Clay-rich soils in Congy yield a Champagne of real textural resonance. Apricot, orange peel, vanilla and tropical overtones infuse the 2014 with notable character. All the elements seem amplified in the Enfers, including a mousse that is a bit brawny. This release includes 10% reserve wines from 2013 and spent a total of 48 months on its lees. Olivier Collin has another lot in the cellar that will be released with 60 months on the lees. Dosage is 2.4 grams per liter.”
Disgorgement date may vary from reviews.
Ulysse Collin ‘Les Enfers’ Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut, Champagne NV (2015) 750ML ($199.95) $169 pre-arrival special, only 4 bottles available
Ulysse Collin ‘Les Roises’ Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut, Champagne NV (2014) 750ML ($219.95) $199 pre-arrival special, only 2 bottles available
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 95 points “The NV Extra Brut Blanc de Blancs Les Roises (2014) is based on the 2014 vintage, supplemented by 10% of reserve wines from 2013, and it was disgorged with 2.4 grams per liter dosage in March 2019 after 48 months sur lattes. It’s already quite open and expressive, in keeping with Collin’s other 2014-based releases, bursting from the glass with aromas of crisp Anjou pear, waxy citrus rind, green mango, blanched almonds and pastry cream. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied, broad and enveloping, with ripe but racy acids, a deep and crisply fleshy core of fruit and a long, saline finish. This is quite a textural, gourmand and charming rendition of Les Roises, and it’s exquisitely elegant.”
Antonio Galloni 94 points “Collin’s 2014 Extra Brut Blanc de Blancs Les Roises is a wonderfully inviting, nuanced Champagne that captures the interplay of richness and freshness that this south-facing site is capable of. Apricot, melon, mint and exotic white flowers meld together in a dense, textured Champagne loaded with class and personality. This release is mostly 2014, with just 10% reserve wines from 2013. Most importantly, Les Roises is all class. Dosage is 2.4 grams per liter. Disgorged: March, 2018.”
[Disgorgement date may not match reviews]
Ulysse Collin ‘Les Roises’ Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut, Champagne NV (2015) 750ML ($199.95) $179 pre-arrival special, only 3 bottles available
Ulysse Collin ‘Les Maillons’ Blanc de Noirs Extra Brut, Champagne NV (2016) 750ML ($149.95) $119 pre-arrival special, only 13 bottles in stock now
Peter Liem note “Beginning with the 2006 vintage, Collin introduced a second wine, a blanc de noirs from a vineyard called Les Maillons, in the village of Barbonne-Fayel. The soils in this sector are chalk mixed with heavy clay, without the silex found in Vert-Toulon, and these pinot noir vines were planted in 1971.”
“Winemaking as a rule here is as natural and non-interventionist as possible. All fermentation is carried out with indigenous yeasts, which can take a remarkably long time to complete: six to eight months is not at all unusual for Collin, and even when tasting vins clairs in June or July, they are typically still in the middle of their alcoholic fermentations. Both the fermentation and malolactic are carried out in three- to six-year old barriques, and the wine is neither fined nor filtered before bottling, which takes place in the fall after the harvest.” – Peter Liem, Champagneguide.net
Ulysse Collin ‘Les Enfers’ Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut, Champagne NV (2014) 750ML ($199.95) $169 pre-arrival special, only 4 bottles available
Wine Advocate 95 points “Disgorged with in March 2019 with 2.4 grams per liter dosage, the NV Extra Brut Blanc de Blancs Les Enfers (2014) is based on the 2014 vintage, supplemented by some 10% reserve wines, and spent fully 48 months on the lees. Opening in the glass with expressive aromas of fresh pastry, green mango, waxy citrus fruit and white flowers, it’s medium to full-bodied, precise and elegantly enveloping, with superb depth at the core, racy acids and a beautifully defined, delicately chalky finish. Like all of Collin’s 2014-base bottlings, this is a tender, charming rendition of Les Enfers.”
Antonio Galloni 94 points “The 2014 Extra Brut Blanc de Blancs Les Enfers is a wine of tremendous breadth and staying power. Clay-rich soils in Congy yield a Champagne of real textural resonance. Apricot, orange peel, vanilla and tropical overtones infuse the 2014 with notable character. All the elements seem amplified in the Enfers, including a mousse that is a bit brawny. This release includes 10% reserve wines from 2013 and spent a total of 48 months on its lees. Olivier Collin has another lot in the cellar that will be released with 60 months on the lees. Dosage is 2.4 grams per liter.”
Disgorgement date may vary from reviews.
Ulysse Collin ‘Les Enfers’ Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut, Champagne NV (2015) 750ML ($199.95) $169 pre-arrival special, only 4 bottles available
Ulysse Collin ‘Les Roises’ Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut, Champagne NV (2014) 750ML ($219.95) $199 pre-arrival special, only 2 bottles available
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 95 points “The NV Extra Brut Blanc de Blancs Les Roises (2014) is based on the 2014 vintage, supplemented by 10% of reserve wines from 2013, and it was disgorged with 2.4 grams per liter dosage in March 2019 after 48 months sur lattes. It’s already quite open and expressive, in keeping with Collin’s other 2014-based releases, bursting from the glass with aromas of crisp Anjou pear, waxy citrus rind, green mango, blanched almonds and pastry cream. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied, broad and enveloping, with ripe but racy acids, a deep and crisply fleshy core of fruit and a long, saline finish. This is quite a textural, gourmand and charming rendition of Les Roises, and it’s exquisitely elegant.”
Antonio Galloni 94 points “Collin’s 2014 Extra Brut Blanc de Blancs Les Roises is a wonderfully inviting, nuanced Champagne that captures the interplay of richness and freshness that this south-facing site is capable of. Apricot, melon, mint and exotic white flowers meld together in a dense, textured Champagne loaded with class and personality. This release is mostly 2014, with just 10% reserve wines from 2013. Most importantly, Les Roises is all class. Dosage is 2.4 grams per liter. Disgorged: March, 2018.”
[Disgorgement date may not match reviews]
Ulysse Collin ‘Les Roises’ Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut, Champagne NV (2015) 750ML ($199.95) $179 pre-arrival special, only 3 bottles available
Ulysse Collin ‘Les Maillons’ Blanc de Noirs Extra Brut, Champagne NV (2016) 750ML ($149.95) $119 pre-arrival special, only 13 bottles in stock now
Peter Liem note “Beginning with the 2006 vintage, Collin introduced a second wine, a blanc de noirs from a vineyard called Les Maillons, in the village of Barbonne-Fayel. The soils in this sector are chalk mixed with heavy clay, without the silex found in Vert-Toulon, and these pinot noir vines were planted in 1971.”
Rhone Roundup
A selection of Chateauneufs arriving in January!
A selection of Chateauneufs arriving in January!
Chateau Sixtine Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Rhone 2016 1.5L ($99.95) $89 pre-arrival special
Jeb Dunnuck 97 points “The 2016 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Château Sixtine is the finest vintage of this cuvée ever made, surpassing the 2003, 2007, and 2010. Deep purple/ruby-colored, with a full-bodied, deep, powerful bouquet of blackcurrants, ground pepper, crushed violets, and spice, it’s full-bodied, has a voluptuous, powerful texture, sweet tannin, and a great, great finish, all while staying light and graceful. A blend of 50% Grenache and 25% each of Syrah and Mourvèdre, it’s going to keep for two decades.”
Wine Spectator 95 points “Sappy and intense, with a terrific beam of dark plum, boysenberry and blackberry fruit. The long finish shows a gorgeous graphite underpinning while flashes of Turkish coffee, licorice snap and roasted apple wood fill in. Great energy. Best from 2020 through 2040. 2,500 cases made, 500 cases imported. — JM”
Wine Enthusiast 94 points “Editor’s Choice. This is a forward, fleshy wine full of sun-drenched blackberry and plum flavors edged by violet and lavender perfume. While rich and concentrated, it has an invigorating crush of minerals that lends freshness to the midpalate. Ripe, seamlessly integrated tannins make it immediately appealing but it should also reward cellaring through 2036. -Anna Lee C. Iijima”
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 93 points “Shimmering ruby-red. Mineral-accented raspberry and cherry aromas are complemented by suggestions of garrigue and pungent flowers. Supple and impressively concentrated, offering appealingly sweet red berry, cherry liqueur and lavender pastille flavors that are sharpened by a jolt of white pepper. Finishes on an emphatic floral note, showing excellent clarity and harmonious tannins that build slowly.”
Jeb Dunnuck 97 points “The 2016 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Château Sixtine is the finest vintage of this cuvée ever made, surpassing the 2003, 2007, and 2010. Deep purple/ruby-colored, with a full-bodied, deep, powerful bouquet of blackcurrants, ground pepper, crushed violets, and spice, it’s full-bodied, has a voluptuous, powerful texture, sweet tannin, and a great, great finish, all while staying light and graceful. A blend of 50% Grenache and 25% each of Syrah and Mourvèdre, it’s going to keep for two decades.”
Wine Spectator 95 points “Sappy and intense, with a terrific beam of dark plum, boysenberry and blackberry fruit. The long finish shows a gorgeous graphite underpinning while flashes of Turkish coffee, licorice snap and roasted apple wood fill in. Great energy. Best from 2020 through 2040. 2,500 cases made, 500 cases imported. — JM”
Wine Enthusiast 94 points “Editor’s Choice. This is a forward, fleshy wine full of sun-drenched blackberry and plum flavors edged by violet and lavender perfume. While rich and concentrated, it has an invigorating crush of minerals that lends freshness to the midpalate. Ripe, seamlessly integrated tannins make it immediately appealing but it should also reward cellaring through 2036. -Anna Lee C. Iijima”
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 93 points “Shimmering ruby-red. Mineral-accented raspberry and cherry aromas are complemented by suggestions of garrigue and pungent flowers. Supple and impressively concentrated, offering appealingly sweet red berry, cherry liqueur and lavender pastille flavors that are sharpened by a jolt of white pepper. Finishes on an emphatic floral note, showing excellent clarity and harmonious tannins that build slowly.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Domaine de la Janasse Cuvee Vieilles Vignes, Chateauneuf-du-Pape 2012 1.5L ($199.95) $169 pre-arrival special
Jeb Dunnuck 96 points “One of my favorite wines in just about every vintage is the old vine cuvée from Janasse and the 2012 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Vieilles Vignes is another beautiful wine. Made from 85% Grenache, 10% Mourvèdre and the balance Syrah, aged in a mix of foudre and barrels, it offers terrific black fruits, crushed rocks, garrigue, and violet aromas and flavors. Full-bodied, concentrated, and beautifully balanced, with ripe tannin, it’s a joy to drink and will keep for another 10-15+ years.”
Wine Spectator 96 points “Tightly coiled for now, this features an intense, vivid core of anise, blackberry coulis, plum paste and macerated fig fruit, with black tea, smoldering tobacco and warm ganache notes. Long and dense, but very silky, with gorgeous violet and pastis details lingering in the background. Should unwind with time. Best from 2017 through 2035. 390 cases imported. — JM”
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 94 points “Inky ruby. Explosive aromas of dark berry preserves, incense and lavender, with a smoky overtone and bright minerality. Pliant and seamless in the mouth, offering intense, palate-staining cassis and blueberry flavors that are energized by juicy acidity. Shows real power and focus on the strikingly long finish, which features velvety tannins and a hint of candied flowers. There’s 15% alcohol here, which is actually quite low for this bottling, and I don’t detect any undue heat.”
Clos Saint-Jean Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Rhone 2016 750ML ($49.95) $39 pre-arrival special
Jeb Dunnuck 93 points “Moving to the reds and 85% Grenache and the rest Syrah and Mourvèdre, the base 2016 Châteauneuf-du-Pape is a beauty and boasts appealing notes of spiced red and black fruits, cedar, and garrigue. Full-bodied, ripe and undeniably sexy, it’s going to benefit from a year or three in the cellar and drink nicely for over a decade.”
Joe Czerwinski-Wine Advocate 92 points “The lush, fruit-forward 2016 Chateauneuf du Pape is a good introduction to the domaine’s Grenache-dominated style, boasting copious amounts of cherry and apricot fruit. It’s full-bodied and velvety in texture, with attractive hints of licorice emerging on the long finish. With its slightly more prominent acidity, it should drink well for longer than the 2015 or 2017 versions.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $45
Collector’s Corner
Chapoutier
Arriving in February
M. Chapoutier Ermitage l’Ermite Rouge, Rhone 2013 750ML ($299.95) $249 pre-arrival special
Wine Spectator 97 points “Sleek, with mouthwatering flavors of red currant, raspberry and cherry preserves forming the core, while a dusting of cocoa, a snap of red licorice and a long, lingering iron spine complete the picture. Very pure and focused. The minerality wins out in the end. Best from 2019 through 2032. 29 cases imported. — JM”
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 95 points “Bright purple. An impressively complex, expressive nose displays intense aromas of fresh dark berries, cherry cola, incense, allspice and smoky minerals. Spicy, deeply concentrated black and blue fruit flavors show superb focus and energy, and a suave floral pastille quality emerges as the wine opens up. Shows a compelling blend of richness and vivacity, finishing with superb lift, harmonious tannins and outstanding persistence.”
Jeb Dunnuck-Wine Advocate 96+ points “More backwards, tight and structured than either the Méal or the Pavillon, the 2013 Ermitage l’Ermite was similarly completely destemmed and raised in a scant 30% new French oak. Inky purple/blue colored, it reluctantly yields incredibly mineral-laced notes of charcoal, liquid rock, cassis, black currants and graphite. While it’s less approachable than either of the two other Hermitages, it has fabulous density and depth, ripe tannin and incredible persistence on the finish. Hide these in the cellar for a decade, and enjoy over the following three to four decades.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Can’t Wait?
Don’t miss the Pavillon bottling in stock now!
M. Chapoutier Ermitage Le Pavillon, Rhone 2013 750ML ($249.95) $219 special, 28 bottles in stock now
Wine Advocate 98+ points “The star of the show in 2013 is the 2013 Ermitage le Pavillon. Coming from the west and eastern edges of the Bessards lieu-dit and aged in 30% new French oak, its sensational black/blue color is followed by the awesome bouquet of cassis, smoked earth, graphite and caramelized meats that could come from no other terroir in the world. Full-bodied, massive, dense, sexy and with a liquid rock-like character that comes out with time in the glass, it has sweet tannin and a blockbuster finish that keeps you coming back to the glass. It needs 5-6 years of cellaring and will have 30-40 years of more of ultimate longevity.”
Josh Raynolds 96 points “Saturated ruby. Pungent, spice- and mineral-accented aromas of dark fruits, candied violet and licorice pick up a peppery topnote in the glass. Sappy, incisive and pure, offering vivacious, deeply concentrated black raspberry and boysenberry flavors and a spicy topnote. The endless finish shows superb clarity and power, harmonious tannins and a strong mineral quality.”
Wine Spectator 96 points “Racy and tightly coiled in feel, with a bright iron spine and tangy sanguine and pepper notes amid the core of cassis, bitter cherry and damson plum fruit. Shows terrific cut and precision. Minerality courses through the finish. Best from 2019 through 2030.”
Bollinger
Arriving ETA April
Arriving ETA April
Bollinger La Grande Annee Brut, Champagne 2004 1.5L ($419.95) $379 pre-arrival special
Wine Enthusiast 96 points “Cellar Selection. A blend of 66% Pinot Noir and 34% Chardonnay, this is opulent and full bodied, with toast and wood flavors. Rich and ripe, this beautiful wine is generous and still young, with just a touch of bitterness at the end. -Roger Voss.”
Antonio Galloni 95 points “Bollinger’s 2004 Brut La Grand Année is a beautiful wine with a lot of vintage character, but the style is a bit less oxidative than Bollinger fans are likely to expect. Pears, hazelnuts, spices and crushed rocks all flow through to the tense, vibrant finish. It will be interesting to see if the 2004 puts on weight in the bottle, as so many wines from this vintage have. Today, it is bright, linear and quite pretty. Green apples, pears and flowers all add lift on the close.”
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 94 points “The 2004 Grande Année Brut was disgorged in November 2013 and offers a clear, very refined, and complex though still closed bouquet with fruity aromas of fresh and stewed apples, yellow grapefruit, kaki, walnuts, tobacco, herbal tea, nougat and spicy flavors; everything is discreet here, subtle, perfectly melted together and smoky, very smoky. On the palate, this Pinot Noir/Chardonnay blend wine is highly complex and elegant, firmly structured and quite long. This is an excellent Champagne.”
Wine Spectator 94 points “Firm, with well-cut acidity and a fine texture, this is aromatic, delivering a skein of ground spice and graphite notes that mesh seamlessly with the flavors of black currant, black cherry, toasted almond, financier, honey and smoky mineral. Offers a long, mouthwatering finish. Drink now through 2024. 3,000 cases imported. — AN”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Bollinger R.D. Extra Brut, Champagne 2004 750ML ($299.95) $249 pre-arrival special
Bollinger R.D. Extra Brut, Champagne 2004 1.5L ($699.95) $499 pre-arrival special
Wine Enthusiast #53 WOTY 2019 – Cellar Selections
Wine Enthusiast 98 points “The wine’s name stands for recently disgorged and this vintage Champagne was taken off its lees in 2018. That gave many years for it to develop its depth of flavor, richness and beautifully memorable toasty flavors. Drink through 2028. -Roger Voss.”
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 97 points “Fermented in oak barrels and aged under natural corks for almost 13 years, Bollinger’s 2004 R. D. Extra Brut blends 66% Pinot Noir with 34% Chardonnay from 16 crus, 88% of which are classified as Grand Cru. The wine opens with a very clear, deep, rich and aromatic but also pure and mineral-fresh nose of crushed rocks, cherries, brioche, pain aux raisin, white nougat, chalk and ripe, yellow-fleshed fruits. Highly elegant and complex on the weightless yet persistent and salty palate, this is an intense, densely woven, firmly structured yet elegant, beautifully refined and refreshing “recent disgorgement” (February 2018) that reveals just a kiss of oxidative flavors that adds even more complexity. A great Champagne on its way to improve over many years in the bottle. Tasted June 2018.”
Antonio Galloni 96 points “Bollinger’s 2004 R.D., tasted from magnum, is all class. Silky and understated, the R.D is super-expressive and inviting today. In 2004, the R.D. is decidedly light on its feet and more perfumed than tends to be the norm at Bollinger. Candied lemon peel, mint, apricot, pastry and yellow fruits are all laced together in a Champagne that delivers the goods. The 2004 is 66% Pinot Noir and 34% Chardonnay picked between September 25 and October 8. Disgorged: November 21, 2017.”
Wine Spectator 96 points “The lovely nose of acacia blossom, toast and graphite leads to flavors of poached quince, fleur de sel, white cherry, lemon pith and almond skin in this dry and harmonious Champagne. Almost airy and ethereal in texture, yet the finely woven flavor range goes on and on, echoing on the finish. Disgorged June 2017. Drink now through 2034. 301 cases imported. — AN”
[Disgorgement date & format may vary from review.]
Thank you from the team at Vinopolis!
Be well & drink well.