Huet 2016s: Arriving Wednesday; #Trending – Belle Pente 2014s; Bernard Moreau: Chassagne Excellence in Red and White; 2015 FX Pichler; Arriving Wednesday: Paul Jaboulet, Pio Cesare, Armando Parusso, Tua Rita Giusto di Notri & Vina Almaviva; Arriving Friday: Cameron & Arrowood; On the Subject of Jaboulet…; Top of the Line 2013 Tuscan Sangiovese
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Huet 2016s
Arriving Wednesday
Has any other winery and vintage ever generated this level of review praise across a range of eleven wines? Perhaps the only thing close is Huet’s 2015 wines…
Arriving Wednesday
Domaine Huet Vouvray ‘Clos du Bourg’ Demi-Sec, Loire 2016 750ML ($59.95) $46 pre-arrival special
Case-6 Domaine Huet Vouvray ‘Clos du Bourg’ Demi-Sec, Loire 2016 ($299.95) $249 pre-arrival special (that’s only $41.50/bottle!)
Wine Spectator 95 points “Gorgeous, with creamy-edged nectarine, yellow and green apple, pear and quince flavors that are brightly defined from start to finish, flecked with verbena and honeysuckle hints and backed by a off-dry edge on the finish. Stays fresh and pure throughout. Tempting now but there’s no rush. Drink now through 2032.”
Domaine Huet Vouvray ‘Le Haut Lieu’ Sec, Loire 2016 750ML ($39.95) $33 pre-arrival special
Case-6 Domaine Huet Vouvray ‘Le Haut Lieu’ Sec, Loire 2016 750ML ($229.95) $179 pre-arrival special (that’s only $29.83/bottle and the lowest listed price in the USA today!)
Jancis Robinson 17/20 “Already has the lanolin character very prominently on the nose, then fairly light-bodied fruit with a ripe, tropical citrus character, plus a bit of peach. Perhaps a little brief, but has lovely typical Chenin funkiness. Drink 2017-2022.”
John Gilman 90 points “The 2016 Le Haut Lieu Sec from Domaine Huet is a pretty wine and much less powerful than the 2015 version. The wine offers up lovely youthful aromatics of quince, tart pineapple, chalky minerality, orange peel, lanolin, a whisper of the honeycomb to come with bottle age and a gently floral top note. On the palate the wine is crisp, full-bodied and nicely detailed, with good, but not great depth at the core, sound acids and very nice length and grip on the nascently complex finish. I like the shape of this wine very much, which does not have quite as much in reserve as many recent vintages of this bottling, but which has plenty of complexity and really impeccable balance. It may well age like the 1988 vintage here. 2017-2045.”
The average price is $36
Can’t wait? The Wine Spectator’s Top 100 pick in 2017 from Domaine Huet is in-stock now:
#6 Wine of the Year – Wine Spectator Top 100 2017
Domaine Huet Vouvray ‘Le Mont’ Demi-Sec, Loire 2016 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 95 points “This tilts toward the flattering side of off-dry, showing a plump feel to the core of creamed pear, white peach and yellow apple fruit. Lovely verbena, honeysuckle and mineral accents keep this balanced and driven, with a long finish that lets the fruit echo. Drink now through 2032.”
See the complete list of wines both in stock and this week and in February (that’s over 1,200 bottles) from Huet below:
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#Trending
The wines from Belle Pente are a mainstay here at Vinopolis and we’re thrilled to see owner/winemaker Brian O’Donnell get some well-deserved recognition for his efforts from Josh Raynolds of Vinous Media.
In-Stock Now:
Belle Pente Estate Reserve Pinot Noir, Yamhill-Carlton District 2014 750ML ($59.95) $49 special
Belle Pente Estate Reserve Pinot Noir, Yamhill-Carlton District 2014 1.5L ($149.95) $119 special
Josh Raynolds 95 points “Limpid ruby-red. Powerful blue fruit liqueur, violet pastille, incense and smoky mineral aromas, along with hints of cola and exotic spices. Appealingly sweet and expansive on the palate, offering densely packed black raspberry, boysenberry, mocha and floral pastille flavors and a strong spicecake note. Supple, well-knit tannins give shape to the intensely fruit-driven finish, which lingers with outstanding persistence and building sweetness.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $57
Belle Pente Belle Pente Vineyard Pinot Noir, Yamhill-Carlton District 2014 750ML ($41.95) $37 special
Josh Raynolds 94 points “Deep red. Mineral-accented raspberry, cherry and incense aromas are complemented by a sexy floral nuance that builds with aeration. Supple and concentrated yet lively as well, offering intense red fruit preserve, floral pastille and spicecake flavors supported by a spine of juicy acidity. Sappy, appealingly sweet and strikingly long on the finish, which features lingering red berry and cinnamon qualities and sneaky tannins.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $45.99
Belle Pente Murto Vineyard Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills 2014 750ML ($39.95) $36 special
Josh Raynolds 94 points “(one-third new French oak) Vivid red. A heady, complex bouquet evokes fresh red and blue fruits, cola, potpourri and five-spice powder, backed by a hint of licorice. Juicy, focused and energetic but concentrated as well, offering appealingly sweet boysenberry and raspberry flavors and a hint of cocoa powder. Shows excellent clarity and spicy lift on the extremely long, focused finish, which is given shape by smooth, harmonious tannins.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $42.99
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Bernard Moreau
Chassagne Excellence in Red and White
Puligny gets all the glory in the land of the hyphenated-Montrachets, but no other village in Burgundy is as excellent for both red and white wines as Chassagne-Montrachet. Chassagne has more distinction between soil types than most Burgundy appellations and so can produce delicious, elegant reds that drink well young and also whites that are everything you want in white Burgundy. Within the village, you’d be hard pressed to find a more exciting winemaker than Bernard Moreau (one of the multitude of Moreau’s in Burgundy).
Stylistically, the Bernard Moreau wines lean toward approachability and deliciousness while young. They’ll age, too, but these are great wines to drink while some of your surlier bottles rest. The other magical thing about Moreau is price-related. Compared to some of his peers, the wines remain bargains. Not cheap, mind you, but his 1er cru bottlings are often $50-$80 less than comparable quality wines from Puligny.
We have the 2015’s in stock now. The press for the vintage is intense and deserved. These wines have power and concentration that you only get in the best years and an approachability that is uncommon for a great year. Stock up!
Top Picks from Domaine Bernard Moreau In-Stock Now:
Domaine Bernard Moreau et Fils Bourgogne Blanc, Burgundy 2015 750ML ($37.95) $29 special
“The 2015 Bourgogne Blanc from Domaine Moreau is very pretty, offering up a zesty nose of white flowers, pear, white peach, a touch of fresh almond and chalky soil nuances. On the palate the wine is full-bodied, crisp and juicy at the core, with good acids and fine length and grip on the bouncy finish. A lovely example. 2016-2023.”-John Gilman
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
The average price nationally is $32
Domaine Bernard Moreau et Fils Chassagne-Montrachet 2015 750ML ($79.95) $66 special
Case-12 Domaine Bernard Moreau et Fils Chassagne-Montrachet 2015 750ML ($949.95) $679 special (that’s only $56.58/bottle!)
John Gilman 92 points “If there is anyone in the village that makes a more consistently beautiful bottling of Chassagne villages than Domaine Moreau, I would love to taste it! The 2015 version is another excellent example in the making, wafting from the glass in a refined and complex blend of apple, pear, a touch of orange zest, superb minerality, spring flowers, vanillin oak and the first presage of the pastry cream to come with a bit of aging. On the palate the wine is pure, full-bodied and succulent, with excellent mid-palate depth, fine focus and backend mineral drive, bright acids and a long, crisp and classy finish. Fine juice. 2016-2030+.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
The average price nationally is $71
Domaine Bernard Moreau et Fils Les Champs Gain, Chassagne-Montrachet Premier Cru 2015 750ML ($119.95) $99 special
John Gilman 92+ points “The 2015 Champgains from Alex Moreau was also showing beautifully at the time of my visit, offering up a bright and classy bouquet of lemon, apple, deep soil tones, citrus zest, spring flowers and vanillin oak. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied and rock solid at the core, with fine acids, lovely focus and grip and a long, nascently complex and youthful finish. This will need a few years to unleash its secondary layers of complexity and will be delicious at its peak. 2019-2040+.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Domaine Bernard Moreau et Fils La Maltroie, Chassagne-Montrachet Premier Cru 2015 750ML ($119.95) $99 special
John Gilman 93+ points “In my experience, Maltroie always shows more “wet stone” minerality than chalkiness in its soil component, and this is indeed the case with the lovely 2015 version from Domaine Moreau. The bouquet is superb and utterly classic in its profile of apple, pear, wet stones, lemon blossoms and vanillin oak. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied and a bit more reserved in personality than most of these previous premier crus, with a rock solid core, bright acids and a very long, nascently complex and vibrant finish. This will demand a couple of years to blossom. 2018-2040+.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Domaine Bernard Moreau et Fils Chassagne-Montrachet Rouge Vieilles Vignes 2015 750ML ($59.95) $49 special
John Gilman 90+ points “The 2015 Chassagne V.V. included twenty-five percent whole clusters this year and was raised in ten percent new oak. The wine was showing very nicely, despite only having been racked two weeks ago, as it offers up a pure and black fruity blend of black cherries, bitter chocolate, pigeon, a complex base of soil tones and a smoky topnote. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied and a bit chewy today (probably more a result of the recent racking than any sign of less-polished tannins), with a sappy core, fine soil inflection, lovely focus and grip and a long, promising finish. 2019-2045+.”
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2015 FX Pichler
In Stock Now
Sommelier and Riesling Legend Paul Greico once said, “If F.X. was a guitarist, Jimmy Page would stand aside” and no truer hyperbole has ever been uttered in the world of wine. F.X. Pichler stands as one of the two or three most important Austrian producers and hands down the winery crafting the most powerful, complex and bombastic dry Riesling and Gruner Veltliner on the planet.
The wines of F.X. Pichler are unique, in that no one else seems to wrangle both power and complexity into a single package quite like this wizard of the Wachau. With a combination of intensive viticulture, native fermentations and great terroir, the wines are unlike anything else in the world. Broad and powerful, with a cut and minerality that is unique to the vineyards in the Wachau.
The 2015 vintage, which we’re offering today, is something special as well. As Willi Brundlmayer (in the Kamptal) put it, “Conditions were perfect in 2015: everything happened at the right time, leaving no wishes unfulfilled.” Growers could make wines as stylistic epitome of their choosing, which means that if you’re an FX Pichler fan, these might be (and forgive the phrase) the most FX Pichler wines ever.
All told, we offer 497 bottles in stock now (including 21 magnums and 14 half-bottles) of 26 different wines from the 2015, 2012, and 2013 vintages.
The Gruners:
F.X. Pichler Durnsteiner Kellerberg Gruner Veltliner Smaragd, Wachau 2015 750ML ($89.95) $79 special, 24 bottles in stock now
F.X. Pichler Durnsteiner Kellerberg Gruner Veltliner Smaragd, Wachau 2015 1.5L ($179.95) $133 special, 3 magnums in stock now
Wine Advocate 94 points “Like the Liebenberg from weathered granite and gneiss soils, but in a higher and cooler spot, the 2015 Grüner Veltliner Smaragd Dürnsteiner Kellerberg opens with an intense and herbal-flavored, rather spicy and stony bouquet of ripe and concentrated bright fruits. Full-bodied, ripe and piquant on the palate, this is a rich and powerful, well-concentrated and elegant Kellerberg with a rich extract and a long and persistent finish. The 2015 should be cellared for at least another 3-5 years.”
F.X. Pichler Durnsteiner Liebenberg Gruner Veltliner Smaragd, Wachau 2015 750ML ($69.95) $59 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Wine Advocate 93-94 points “The 2015 Grüner Veltliner Smaragd Dürnsteiner Liebenberg comes from 70- to 80-year-old vines on a rare calcareous slate soil. The wine displays a very clear and pure, pretty open and lovely spicy, crystalline and flinty bouquet with ripe pip fruit aromas. Very distinguished and rather coolish in its expression. Full-bodied, round and elegant, with tension, salt and grip in the finish, this is a charmingly ripe and juicy but also challenging mineral and piquant Veltliner from one of the most exciting terroirs. The finish is powerful and complex but also fresh and stimulatingly piquant. Pichler has bottled this wine since 2010.”
F.X. Pichler Loibner Loibenberg Gruner Veltliner Smaragd, Wachau 2015 750ML ($51.95) $44 special, 29 bottles in stock now
Wine Advocate 92-93 points “From probably the warmest vineyard of the Wachau, the 2015 Grüner Veltliner Smaragd Loibner Loibenberg is a full-bodied, rich and intense, very juicy, but also piquant and mineral Veltliner with tobacco flavors on the nose. Dense and with an old-vines intensity, this Loibenberg offers ripe yellow stone fruits with a tropical touch, but is also very well structred and finishes with a long and salty aftertaste. An impressive wine.”
F.X. Pichler M Gruner Veltliner Smaragd, Wachau 2015 750ML ($89.95) $79 special, 24 bottles in stock now
F.X. Pichler M Gruner Veltliner Smaragd, Wachau 2015 1.5L ($189.95) Was $169, Now $149 special, 2 magnums in stock now
Wine Advocate 94-95 points “The 2015 Grüner Veltliner Smaragd M is a selection of the ripest (overripe) grapes from the Loibenberg, Kellerberg and Liebenberg. Harvested in the last week of November and macerated for 20 to 24 hours, this is a rich and creamy textured yet elegant and vibrantly fresh Veltliner monument with finesse and purity and a long and tension-filled finish. Great salinity and concentration. An elegant and expressive wine for XXL drinkers.”
F.X. Pichler Urgestein Terrassen Gruner Veltliner Smaragd, Wachau 2015 750ML ($41.95) $36 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
David Schildknecht–Vinous 92 points “This blend from numerous sites (not rendered in vintage 2014 due to paucity of fruit) brims with luscious, juicy white peach and grapefruit, and its combination of citricity, green herbal pungency and stony underpinnings puts me as much in mind of Riesling as of Grüner Veltliner. Silken and enveloping on the palate, it retains its sense of energy and brightness through an invigoratingly peach-kernel-inflected, tinglingly stone-infused and mouthwateringly salt-tinged finish. Despite harboring 13.5 percent alcohol, the wine also conveys a subtle and attractive sense of lift.”
The Rieslings:
F.X. Pichler Durnsteiner Kellerberg Riesling Smaragd, Wachau 2015 750ML ($119.95) $85 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
David Schildknecht–Vinous 95-96 points “A pungently smoky, incisive, savory mélange of sage, dark tobacco and black pepper is allied to ripe peach and garlanded with heliotrope in a head-turningly intense nose. That full range of elements reprises on a polished palate, whose textural caress and sweet sense of ripeness are combined with welcome, tangy, chewy counterpoint of peach skin and a refreshingly juicy squirt of fresh lime. The finish offers a mouthwateringly prolonged, kaleidoscopic interaction of fruity, savory and smoky elements – plenty rich, yet with rare cut and animation for its vintage.”
F.X. Pichler Loibner Loibenberg Riesling Smaragd, Wachau 2015 750ML ($59.95) $39 special, 33 bottles in stock now
F.X. Pichler Loibner Loibenberg Riesling Smaragd, Wachau 2015 375ML ($39.95) $33 special, 11 half-bottles in stock now
Wine Advocate 92 points “Warm and intense on the nose, ripe and concentrated white fruit aromas open the 2015 Riesling Smaragd Loibner Loibenberg, which is pure and citric on the nose and very inviting. Pure, fresh and piquant on the palate, this is rather coolish and stunningly lean and pure Loibenberg compared to the corresponding Grüner Veltliner. Lucas believes that Riesling has eventually stopped the ripening process during the vegetation period. This 2015 has grip and tension and a rather coolish character.”
F.X. Pichler M Riesling Smaragd, Wachau 2015 750ML ($79.95) $69 special, 8 bottles in stock now
David Schildknecht–Vinous 91-92 points “Reliance on late-harvested Loibenberg fruit resulted in a bottling that finished with too much residual sugar to qualify as Smaragd. (More thoroughly shriveled Loibenberg fruit resulted in a B.A. and T.B.A.) Lusciously ripe peach is tinged with banana and mingled with almond extract and liquid heliotrope perfume. Fortunately, a measure of grapefruit is not only pungently fragrant but also brightly juicy and piquantly zesty, helping – along with piquancy of peach kernel – to offset this bottling’s enveloping richness and sheer surfeit of ripe, sugar-reinforced fruit. The impressively sustained finish is, however, not at all overtly sweet.”
F.X. Pichler Loibner Oberhauser Riesling Smaragd, Wachau 2015 750ML ($49.95) $39 special, 34 bottles in stock now
David Schildknecht–Vinous 92 points “A site-typical meld of apricot and lime is garlanded with iris on the nose and reprises with wonderful purity and vivid freshness on a silken-textured, expansive palate. Piquant apricot kernel and a lick of wet stone lend counterpoint on a lusciously lingering finish that irresistibly calls forth the next sip.”
F.X. Pichler Loibner Steinertal Riesling Smaragd, Wachau 2015 750ML ($69.95) $59 special, 35 bottles in stock now
David Schildknecht–Vinous 93-94 points “White peach and grapefruit aromas mingle with honeysuckle on an enticing nose, and the three reunite on a glossy palate lusciously ripe and loaded with liquid floral perfume but simultaneously exuberantly and invigoratingly bright. The finish offers prolonged counterpoint of fruity, floral and stony elements. This bottling displays a combination of penetration, refinement and balancing acidity that is rare for an Austrian Riesling of its vintage.”
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Arriving Wednesday, January 24th
Paul Jaboulet – Croze-Hermitage
“The revamped Jaboulet firm, under the leadership of Caroline Frey, seems to have settled in and are now producing one serious lineup of wines from throughout the Rhone Valley… Since 2006, owner Caroline Frey has been steadily pushing for increased quality at this historic estate. Moving all of the vineyards to sustainable farming (which takes years to see benefits), both the vineyard and cellar staff have been doubled. In addition, a new gravity operated cellar was set up in 2010. All of this shows, and across the board, the wines have impeccably made, clean and pure profiles.” – Jeb Dunnuck, Wine Advocate
Paul Jaboulet Aine Domaine de Thalabert Crozes-Hermitage, Rhone 2015 750ML ($47.95) $36 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 93-95 points “The 2015 reds from the Northern Rhône are truly spectacular and this vintage rivals or surpasses the 2010s and 2009s. Brought up in a mix of tronconique tanks and Burgundy barrels (20% being new), the 2015 Crozes Hermitage Domaine de Thalabert is a big, serious, full-bodied effort that’s reminiscent of a slightly softer version of the 2010. Scorched earth, black fruits, cassis, black olive and a hint of graphite all emerge from this sensational Crozes Hermitage. You’ll need to forget bottles for 4-5 years, but it will have over two decades of longevity.”
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 92-94 points “(made from vines that range from 40 to 60 years old; raised for a year in oak barrels, 20 percent of them new) Youthful violet. Powerful mineral- and spice-accented blue fruit liqueur and violet aromas are complemented by suggestions of licorice and white pepper. Concentrated and expansive on the palate, offering intense blueberry, cherry and spicecake flavors and an exotic Indian spice quality that builds on the back half. Shows excellent clarity and lift on the finish, which is framed by velvety, harmonious tannins that fold smoothly into the juicy dark fruit.”
Arriving Wednesday, January 24th
Pio Cesare Barolo
“Pio Cesare is what I call a “lighthouse” winery. Steadfast and standing tall among the rest, it floods the landscape with inspiration and light for a slew of smaller, boutique wineries looking to find their way. Among the most historic brands in Alba, Pio Cesare has worked hard to promote Barolo and the territory of the Langhe across the globe. Their tireless efforts have been instrumental in creating a unified Barolo identity.” – Monica Larner, Wine Advocate
Pio Cesare Barolo DOCG, Piedmont 2013 750ML ($69.95) $59 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 95 points “The Pio Cesare 2013 Barolo offers all of the plentiful qualities that make this such a memorable vintage. Because the growing season was slightly cooler compared to the two years preceding it, 2013 offers a great sense of freshness and brightness. Fruit was sourced from seven different vineyard sites (with much of it coming from Serralunga d’Alba). Starting in 2015, Monforte d’Alba fruit will be added. The tannins are tightly integrated within the firm fabric of the wine. Yet, the finish is round and supple. This Barolo offers characteristic aromas of wild berry, black truffle and cola. It is executed in a very traditional style with botte grande and a tiny part barrique to give the wine a tad more oxygen during its integration and aging process.”
Arriving Wednesday, January 24th
Parusso Barolo
“Marco Parusso is one of the most adventurous producers in Piemonte. Never content, Parusso is willing to take more risks in the pursuit of greatness than the vast majority of his colleagues.” –Monica Larner, Wine Advocate
“Parusso’s Barolos remain some of the most unique wines in Piedmont.” –Antonio Galloni, Vinous Media
Armando Parusso Bussia, Barolo DOCG 2013 750ML ($89.95) $79 pre-arrival special
James Suckling 97 points “This is one of the greatest wines I have ever had from here. So much ripe cherry, raspberry and floral character. Medium body, super-refined tannins and a long and flavorful finish. So much going on here. Better in 2021.”
Wine Advocate 95 points “The 2013 Barolo Bussia is my favorite wine among Marco Parusso’s new releases. This wine shows an extraordinary level of richness and softness that speaks to the unique winemaking style proposed by this innovative producer. The Bussia cru tends to produce softer and finer fruit characteristics. The bouquet delivers elegant notes of wild berry, forest floor and white truffle with mineral notes such as pencil shaving delicately tucked in at the back. The wine sees up to 60% stem inclusion and maceration times are long. This Barolo is articulate and profoundly expressive.”
Arriving Wednesday, January 24th
From Tua Rita’s Cellar,
Cheaper Than Current Release
(Why not let the winery cellar it for you?)
Tua Rita has quietly become one of the best producers of super-Tuscan wine, with a special touch for Cabernet based wines, especially. These are wines that age beautifully and will surprise you by outclassing wines that are twice as expensive. When we saw that we could acquire some back vintage Giusto di Notri, their flagship Bordeaux-style blend at a price that would be less than the current release. It’s entering the prime of its life but still has many, many years left ahead of it, as well. This is one to stock up on if you love Bordeaux or Super-Tuscans.
Tua Rita Giusto di Notri Toscana IGT, Tuscany 2008 750ML ($79.95) $59 pre-arrival special
Wine Enthusiast 95 points “This fabulous blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot delivers loads of plush softness and succulent richness. Aromas of chocolate, ripe fruit and spice are distinct and clear, and the wine shows compelling complexity and intensity overall.”
Antonio Galloni 94 points “The 2008 Giusto di Notri is wonderfully alive in the glass. Dark red berries, flowers, spices, grilled herbs, licorice and leather are some of the notes that flesh out in this dazzling, vibrant Giusto di Notri. Polished tannins provide the backdrop for the silky, expressive finish. A final blast of red fruit adds freshness and brightness on the close. Giusto di Notri is 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $65
Arriving Wednesday, January 24th
Vina Almaviva
This Franco-Chilean project continues to impress since its inception in 1998. The collaboration celebrates the elegance and winemaking skill of the Rothschilds and the Chilean thumbprint that only the most singular terroir could provide. This is a truly harmonious wine that will belong in your cellar for a very long time. This will certainly be a touchstone wine amongst collectors for decades to come.
Vina Almaviva, Puente Alto, Chile 2015 750ML ($149.95) $119 pre-arrival special
James Suckling 100 points “A glorious and complex nose of tobacco, blackberries and hints of stones and flowers. Hints of bitter chocolate. Full-bodied, very tight and compacted. Linear backbone gives this form and tension. It has the same character on the palate as well as cayenne and other spice. Loved the 2014 but this shows more fine-grained tannins. So balanced and harmonious. A blend of 69% cabernet sauvignon, 24% carmenere, 5% cabernet franc and 2% petit verdot. Needs four or five years in bottle but a joy to taste now.”
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Arriving Friday
John Paul’s bargain of the single-vineyard lineup is the Arley’s Leap. It’s from the “young” vine planting at Abbey Ridge Vineyard (which turns 28 years old with the New Year) and is an absolute show stopper this vintage. With descriptors that read like a singles ad (deep, dark, sexy, spicy & wild fun) it offers a profound insight into the ’15 vintage. Take one home when it arrives on Friday and you’ll commit for a lifetime.
Cameron Winery ‘Arley’s Leap’ Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2015 750ML ($59.95) $46 pre-arrival special
From vines planted in 1990 in the Abbey Ridge Vineyard.
When is a white grape not really a white grape? When is a red wine not really a red wine? This crazy-good red of Pinot Gris (see picture for further explanation) defies what you know about the color wheel of wine. It certainly ain’t white and it sure as heck ain’t rosé or orange. The best way to describe is just to drink it (and get another for the cellar). You’ll see.
Cameron Winery Dundee Hills Rouge de Gris, Willamette Valley 2015 750ML ($39.95) $33 pre-arrival special
Winery note on the previous 2014 vintage: “This wine is dedicated to the late Stanko Radikon and his son, Saša of Radikon Oslavia, who made us realize the potential locked up in the Pinot gris grape. Its nose is resplendent with juicy strawberries, bing cherries, violets and a touch of straw. The crisp palate with flavors of umami and ripe and supple fruit tannins make this a truly quaffable red wine. The label honors the Italian plums that were planted on the site by early Oregon settlers prior to its current status as a Pinot gris vineyard at Abbey Ridge. We wish that David Lett were here to see what is possible with Pinot gris!”
Arrowood Winery Knights Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma County 2014 750ML ($34.95) $27 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 92 points “Very deep garnet-purple in color, the 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon, composed of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% Merlot and 4% Malbec, is scented of red currants, blackberries and wild blueberries with touches of olives and underbrush. Medium-bodied, tightly wound and packed with tense red and black fruits, it has a fine-grained texture and savory finish. 9,600 cases were produced.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $31
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On the subject of Jaboulet…
Arriving in February
Paul Jaboulet Aine Hermitage La Chapelle, Rhone 2015 750ML ($319.95) $236 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 97-100 points “A wine that might surpass the 2009 and 2010 is the 2015 Hermitage La Chapelle, which has more than a passing resemblance to the 1990. This inky black/blue-colored Hermitage offers an off-the-charts array of blackberries, blueberries, crushed rocks, wood smoke and charred meats. Thick, unctuous, full-bodied and incredibly layered, with sweet tannin, it’s a tour de force that’s going to have three to four decades of longevity.”
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 96-98 points “(20% new oak): Dark purple. Explosive, mineral-accented scents of ripe dark berries, licorice, incense, vanilla and exotic spices, with a smoky nuance in the background. Deeply concentrated yet strikingly lively and precise on the palate, offering intense, finely detailed black and blue fruit, bitter cherry and floral pastille flavors that are complemented by hints of olive, allspice and star anise. Offers an uncanny blend of richness and finesse, with no rough edges. Shows remarkable energy and thrust on the endless finish which features supple tannins that add shape and gentle grip. This is one of the finest examples of young La Chapelle that I have ever tasted from barrel, and that includes the legendary 1989, 1990 and 1991 trio. If you love northern Rhône wines this one really shouldn’t be missed.”
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Top of the Line 2013 Sangiovese from Tuscany?
Yes, please!
Arriving in August
Argiano Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Tuscany 2013 750ML ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival special
James Suckling 96 points “Fantastic aromas of orange peel and dark berry with plenty of plum and cherry. Sweet tobacco and mushrooms. Full body, juicy and fruity with firm tannins and a fresh finish. Complex and gorgeous. Fine and very long. Drink now.”
Castellare di Castellina ‘I Sodi di San Niccolo’ Toscana IGT, Tuscany 2013 750ML ($89.95) $66 pre-arrival special
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 96 points “The 2013 I Sodi di S. Niccolò is 85% Sangioveto (a more antique name for Sangiovese) and 15% Malvasia Nera from a single vineyard. This wine opens to a darkly saturated appearance and shows ruby, garnet and purple highlights. The bouquet is powerful but seamless at the same time with smooth transitions between dark cherry, spice, tobacco and moist clay. In the mouth, this wine shows dense extraction, but it never feels too weighed down by that mass. Instead, the freshness of the fruit and the natural acidity give the wine a bright and buoyant personality. Aged in barrique for 30 months, this is a delightful Tuscan red.”
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