Jump Start Sale: Torii Mor Arriving Friday; New Week – New Arrivals; California Sales Recap; 2012 Barbaresco: Wines That Are What You Say You Want; Gobelsburg: Return to Forever; Arriving This Week: 2015 Donnhoffs & more German Super Stars; Arriving in February: Domaine Gouges & Domaine Mongeard-Mugneret
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Jump Start Sale
Torii Mor:
Look out for hot deals with both “I’s”
Arriving January 31st
Torii Mor is one of the established names in high quality Oregon Pinot Noir, making a splash ever since they made their first vintage in 1993. Starting off with a mere 1,000 cases that first year, they’ve grown steadily since but have always managed to make impressively high quality wines. The style here is for richer, more powerful Pinot Noir, though they make wines which are still lively and energetic. These wines today are from the acclaimed 2014 vintage, so we’re very excited to offer them to you with the lowest pricing in the country!
Torii Mor Arriving January 31st
Torii Mor ‘Dundee Hills Select’ Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2014 750ML ($49.95) $33 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 90+ points “The 2014 Pinot Noir Dundee Hills Select comes from four vineyards fermented separately and matured in 20% new oak. It has quite a lively bouquet with small red cherries, redcurrant and cranberry, although I would have liked more complexity to show through given the vintage. The palate is medium-bodied with crisp tannin. This is well balanced though toward the finish it tends to clam up a little and feel somewhat “rigid.” Give this another 12-18 months to loosen its tie.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Torii Mor ‘Olson Estate Vineyard’ Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills 2014 750ML ($59.95) $38 pre-arrival special
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 91 points “Brilliant violet. Dark berries, cola, musky herbs and a subtle floral nuance on the fragrant nose. Fleshy and expansive on the palate, offering gently sweet blackberry and spicecake flavors that tighten up steadily with air. Shows an appealing blend of power and vivacity and finishes very long and spicy, displaying repeating florality and smooth tannins.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
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New Week – New Arrivals
Oregon
Crowley Chardonnay, Willamette Valley 2015 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 special
VinopolNote: All declassified Four Winds Vineyard Chardonnay. 4 barrels of Dijon clone and 3 barrels of Wente. Picked in early October from this high elevation site. The entry is lean and salty, with a defined minerality. The acidity is zippy and balanced by the creamy mouthfeel with notes of pastry crust and key limes on the finish. Always a steal, we’ll only see five cases total from this very small release, so please don’t hesitate…
This is the only listing in the USA today!
California
Saintsbury Chardonnay, Carneros 2013 750ML ($27.95) $18 special
Case-12 Saintsbury Chardonnay, Carneros 2013 750ML ($299.95) $199 special (that’s only $16.58/bottle!)
Wine Enthusiast 91 points “An approachable screwcap wine that is made in larger numbers than many of the producer’s vineyard-designates, this is just as impressive in flavor and presence, employing less oak to provide a honeyed, tropical and fresh sensibility of drying tannin and a tangy finish.”
Quintessa Red, Rutherford 2013 750ML ($189.95) $119 special
James Suckling 98 points “This is really fantastic on the nose with blackberry, blueberry, lavender, and violets. Even sage. Full body plus extremely integrated tannins that are polished and refined. The balance and harmony is phenomenal. Goes on for minutes. Beautiful now but will satisfy for decades. (5/3/16)”
Robert Parker 96 points “The 2013 Proprietary Red Wine has always been good, but I think they have re-positioned themselves at a much higher pinnacle with the 2013. This is a Cabernet Sauvignon-dominated blend but has important component parts such as Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Petit Verdot from their gorgeous vineyards just off the Silverado Trail in Rutherford. The wine has a dense bluish/purple color and a beautiful nose of black raspberries, blueberries, lead pencil shavings, and touches of oak and spring flowers. The complexity of the fragrance is followed by a wine with terrific body, stunning purity, wonderful balance, and great depth and richness. This is certainly the most profound Quintessa made to date and should evolve gracefully for at least 20-25 years.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
France – Beaujolais
Celine et Nicolas Hirsch Julienas, Beaujolais 2015 750ML ($21.95) $18 special
VinopolNote: Sustainably crafted by two up & coming Beaujolais winemakers. Céline and Nicolas farm just less than 10 acres of old vine Gamay in steep granite and sandy soils in the Chénas, Juliénas, and Moulin à Vent crus. The results are all finesse, and less of the amped up alcohols that many other producers strive .
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Celine et Nicolas Hirsch Chenas, Beaujolais 2015 750ML ($19.95) $16 special
Importer note “The Hirsch Chénas is a tour de force, offering soft dark red fruit, chalky minerality, spices, black pepper, all on a medium fat structure that ends in a nice finish. It’s from densely-planted vines aged 40-90 years of age, on steep and high-altitude hills (250 meters). The grapes are not destemmed, and fermentation is done via wild yeasts in cement tanks, then it spends 6 months in stainless. At bottling, there’s a light filtering but no fining.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
France – Bordeaux
Chateau d’Issan, Margaux 2012 750ML ($69.95) $53.80 special
Robert Parker 95 points “The 2012 Château d’Issan, builds on the richness of the second wine and adds more body, structure and density. It has an inky purple color and a stunning nose of spring flowers, blueberry and blackberry fruit as well as touches of incense and graphite. Medium to full-bodied and stunningly concentrated, this 2012 is a great success in the vintage, one of the superstars. Moreover, its precociousness suggests it could be drunk in the next 4-5 years or cellared through 2025. I underrated this wine dramatically in my report of April, 2013.”
Chateau Bel-Air, Pomerol 2009 750ML ($37.95) $29 special
Case-12 Chateau Bel-Air, Pomerol 2009 750ML ($419.95) $299 special (that’s only $24.92/bottle and the lowest listed price in the USA today!)
“Owned by the Martin family (who also own Gloria), this dense ruby/plum-colored sleeper of the vintage displays oodles of fruit as well as some notes of Christmas fruitcake and roasted herbs along with loads of cassis. Tasty, round, generous, and ripe, this 2009 has a lot going for it.”–Robert Parker
Chateau Bel-Air, Pomerol 2010 750ML ($37.95) $29 special
Case-12 Chateau Bel-Air, Pomerol 2010 750ML ($419.95) $299 special (that’s only $24.92/bottle!)
Grapelive 92 points “The vintage shows through here without question, a great year makes this lovely Pomerol a terrific value and wonderfully textured wine from Chateau Bel-Air. This dark and full bodied Pomerol hits all the right notes and does so with class, vitality and verve showing beautiful detail and complexity in a forceful, but elegantly pure Merlot. This is really seductive stuff in the glass, holding its own against far more expensive labels with ease and poise. The rich layers of fruit, mineral tones and sweet tannin give decadence and refined structure, highlighting Merlot’s promise in a world that sometimes lacks the respect of this often maligned varietal. Chateau Bel-Air has captured in the bottle the right bank’s charm and beauty in this 2010. It shows terroir, with subtle loamy/earth, plummy dense mouth feel and stylish silken length with a wine that has the potential to age another 10 to 15 years, but is pretty darn good right now too. The lead off here is dark floral tones a hint of smoky cedar and black cherry fruit with blackberry, plum, dark kirsch liqueur along with a touch of mint, dried clay, a touch of cigar wrapper and vanilla. This fine Bordeaux delivers well beyond its price and is wonderful with food choices that range from duck breast, lamb, roast pork, wild mushroom dishes to prime rib, and or any comforting winter fare really… This is the kind of wine that brings you back to Bordeaux, and certainly makes you wonder why you don’t drink more Merlot. Drink this Chateau Bel-Air Pomerol from 2016 to 2028.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Chateau Meyney, Saint-Estephe 2009 750ML ($49.95) $39 special
Case-12 Chateau Meyney, Saint-Estephe 2009 750ML ($549.95) $438 special (that’s only $36.50/bottle!)
James Suckling 93 points “Green olives, spices and currants on the nose. Full body, with velvety tannins and a juicy finish. Lovely layers of ripe tannins and ripe fruit. Best after 2018.”
Robert Parker 92 points “I clearly underrated this wine from barrel. The finest wine made at this estate since 1982, this opaque black wine is a sleeper of the vintage, with oodles of blackberry fruit interwoven with hints of charcoal, forest floor, licorice and damp earth. Deep, rich, chewy, full-bodied and opulent, this is a fabulous Meyney that, because of its low acidity and very ripe tannin, can be drunk in 3-4 years or cellared for two decades. Bravo!”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $49
Chateau Malescot-St-Exupery, Margaux 2009 750ML ($179.95) $149 special
James Suckling 98 points “A wine with intense spice and berry character with hints of sweet tobacco. It changes all the time from flowers to fruit and wet earth. Full-bodied with super fine tannins and ripe fruit. It’s long and juicy with lovely fruit. Super long and beautiful with fine tannins that last for minutes. Tight now but juicy and gorgeous. Best ever from here.”
Chateau Rieussec, Sauternes 2011 750ML ($119.95) $99 special
James Suckling 96-97 points “This shows incredible freshness and power, with dried pineapples, mangoes and papayas. Full body, medium-sweet with electrifying acidity. Vibrates your palate. Barrel sample, still.”
Wine Advocate 95 points “Tasted blind at the Sauternes 2011 horizontal tasting. The Château Rieussec 2011 transcends its somewhat “middling” performance from barrel and delivers a knockout wine in bottle. For sure, it demonstrates a lot of vanilla from the new oak on the nose, complemented by almond, French patisserie and touches of white peach. The élevage is more expressive than the terroir at the moment, although there is clearly a lot of fruit underneath. The palate is very well balanced, with thickly textured honeyed fruits that lacquer the inside of the mouth and stay there. This is extremely well balanced but very young and primal, yet the crescendo of flavors is very impressive. Tasted blind, I hazarded a guess that this might be Yquem ’11. Enough said.”
Chateau de Myrat, Barsac 2007 750ML ($59.95) $49 special
Wine Spectator 96 points “Darker in color than most 2007 Sauternes, showing intense aromas of dried apricot, with toffee notes and an almost smoky character. Full-bodied and very sweet, with a full-blown dried fruit and raisin flavor. Long and superbly rich. Best after 2014.”
Chateau Coutet, Barsac 2003 750ML ($59.95) $49 special
Wine Spectator 95 points “Honey, apple tart and lemon rind. Full-bodied, medium-sweet and very spicy with intense flavors of mace, apple and honey. Long finish. Thick and powerful. Best after 2010.”
Chateau Climens, Barsac 2007 750ML ($249.95) $219 special
Wine Advocate 98 points “Tasted single blind against its peers. Chateau Climens always tends to go into its shell after bottling, which is probably why I was not dishing out an even higher score to this still, spellbinding Barsac. The 2007 is endowed with a lovely bouquet: very pure with honey, a touch of orange-blossom and a touch of quince. The palate is very well-balanced with great purity and a dash of spice as well as a lovely viscous, botrytis-laden finish that possesses awesome weight and persistency. This is a slice of heaven in a glass, but it definitely needs time to reveal its true potential. Tasted January 2011.”
France – Rhone
M. Chapoutier Ermitage Le Meal Rouge, Rhone 2001 750ML ($249.95) $219 special
Wine Advocate 94 points “Reminding me of the 2005 (albeit with less concentration) with its classic, straight and focused personality, the 2001 Ermitage le Meal offers lots of gamy meats, olive, bacon fat and dark fruits to go with a medium to full-bodied, seamless, silky and elegant style on the palate. Shining for its purity, elegance and freshness – all of which make it hard to resist today – it’s a great choice for readers looking for a classic, mature Hermitage that’s drinking at point. It should hold for another 10-15 years.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
France – Loire
Didier Dagueneau Blanc Fume de Pouilly, Loire 2014 750ML ($89.95) $69 special
Didier Dagueneau Pouilly-Fume Pur Sang, Loire 2014 750ML ($119.95) $99 special
Didier Dagueneau Pouilly-Fume Silex, Loi 2014 750ML ($149.95) $119 special
Didier Dagueneau Les Jardins de Babylone, Jurancon 2012 500ML ($119.95) $99 special
France – Provence
Domaine de Trevallon, IGP Alpilles 2013 750ML ($79.95) $69 special
No review yet for the 2013, here’s the review for the 2012:
Wine Spectator 91 points “A tantalizing flicker of juniper peeks in as the core of steeped plum and black currant fruit steadily builds through the finish. Leather and humus notes hang in the background. This should develop well in the cellar. Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah. Best from 2016 through 2022. 1,250 cases made.”
Italy – Tuscany
Felsina Berardenga Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG 2012 1.5L ($79.95) $59 special
James Suckling 95 points “Traditional style Chianti Classico with cedar, dried meat, dark chocolate and tobacco aromas. Full body, silky and polished tannins and a fantastic finish. A wine that shows depth and lots of flavor. Lively acidity too. Drink now.”
Wine Advocate 92 points “The 2012 vintage was less problematic in the Castelnuovo Berardenga sub zone compared to other parts of the Chianti Classico appellation. Fèlsina’s 2012 Chianti Classico Riserva Berardenga is full, generous and reflects the house style of this celebrated estate. Fruit is sourced from 35-year-old vines and the harvest takes place at various intervals in order to ensure optimal ripeness. Soft cherry and spice give the wine an elegant approach.”
Antonio Galloni 92 points “The 2012 Chianti Classico Riserva shows the intensity of the warm, early ripening vintage, but is also quite closed today, with little in the way of expressiveness. There is plenty of depth in the glass, which makes me think all the 2012 needs is a bit more time to fully come together. Readers will find a wine that is a bit slender in feel, but with radiant fruit that just needs time to fully emerge.”
This is the only listing in the USA today for the magnum!
Podere Poggio Scalette Il Carbonaione Alta Valle della Greve IGT, Tuscany 2012 750ML ($69.95) $44 special
Antonio Galloni 95 points “The 2012 Il Carbonaione comes across as quite shy and reserved today, with less of its typical exuberance. That just makes me think the wine is going to need a few years to blossom. Sweet red cherry, plum, kirsch, spice and rose petal nuances gradually emerge from the glass, but the 2012 remains reticent and not fully expressive. I would not be surprised to see the market look past the 2012, as it is not at all showy, but that will just create an opportunity for savvy consumers. There is plenty to look forward to. Readers will have to be patient, though. Over the years, Il Carbonaione has built a tremendous track record of aging very well. Next to Chianti Classico’s other 100% Sangioveses, Carbonaione is made in a sweeter, jammier style with more mid-palate opulence. Although showy in its youth, Carbonaione needs time in bottle to show at its best.”
Podere Poggio Scalette Il Carbonaione Alta Valle della Greve IGT, Tuscany 2013 750ML ($69.95) $41.90 special
Antonio Galloni 95+ points “The 2013 Il Carbonaione is compelling. That’s the good news. The bad news, if you can call it that, is that the 2013 is going to take the better part of the next decade to be at its best. Black cherry, plum, licorice and menthol are all fused together. Today, the 2013 is rich, deep and unctuous, with superb depth and striking balance. Opening a bottle anytime soon, though, is likely to be a mostly academic exercise, as the Carbonaione is so primary, it almost tastes like a barrel sample!”
Spain
Finca La Emperatriz Reserva, Rioja DOCa 2010 750ML ($27.95) $24 special
Wine Advocate 93 points “I think the 2010 Finca la Emperatriz Reserva could summarize what a textbook Rioja Reserva should be, combining the best of the traditional and modern styles. It’s mostly Tempranillo with 3% Garnacha, 2% Viura (white) and 1% Graciano fermented in stainless steel with indigenous yeasts and matured in oak barrels (mostly American) for 23 months. It has the spicy, smoky notes with bright red fruit hinting on blood oranges and signs of developing more complexity and nuances. The medium-bodied palate features grainy tannins, good freshness and length. I see that I liked the 2008, and I think this continues the same line, perhaps fine-tuning the élevage could take this wine a step higher. Keep it up!”
Germany
Weingut Willi Schaefer Graacher Domprobst Riesling Spatlese #10, Mosel 2015 750ML ($44.95) $37 special
Mosel Fine Wines 93 points “Scents of flowers and spontaneous fermentation quickly give way to riper and creamy fruits such as yellow peach, apricot and mango. The wine proves succulently light and fresh on the palate. This feeling of lightness carries nicely over into the juicy and smooth finish. One is left with a delicately creamy feel of herbs in the long after-taste. This proves plain gorgeous. 2025-2035.”
Weingut Willi Schaefer Wehlener Sonnenuhr Auslese 2015 750ML ($79.95) $69 special
Mosel Fine Wines 94 points “This “maiden wine” comes from the “new” parcel in the central part of the vineyard which was replanted after the 2011 vintage. This shows a quite smoky nose at first and only gradually reveals a fruity side driven by apricot and orange as well as mint and yellow peach. The wine is creamy and smooth on the palate, with just the right amount of acidity to keep things interesting. The unctuous feel to the finish in the finish adds to the pleasure of enjoying this deep and direct expression of Sonnenuhr Auslese. 2025-2040”
Weingut Willi Schaefer Graacher Domprobst Riesling Auslese #14, Mosel 2015 375ML ($69.95) $59 special
Mosel Fine Wines 97 points “The nose offers quite some complexity with comparatively clean flavors of apple jelly, mango, star anise, raspberry and yellow peach, all blended into more botrytized scents of apricot and honey. The wine is smooth, creamy and almost viscous on the palate yet this is superbly well lifted up by great intense flavors of fruits. The finish proves gorgeously focused, hugely long and stunningly precise. This is a terrific Auslese in the making! 2025-2065”
Weingut Willi Schaefer Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Auslese #4, Mosel 2015 750ML ($69.95) $59 special
Mosel Fine Wines 95 points “This starts off on the toffee side before fresher scents grapefruit, orange, lime, smoke, incense and tar kick in. A superb streak of acidity cuts right through the palate into the very long, fresh and focused finish, providing a gorgeous balance to a powerful and delicately creamy structure. The finish is intense and very long. While amazing now, this Auslese Eiswein styled wine should prove stunning in a decade or two. 2025-2045”
Heymann-Loewenstein Winninger Uhlen ‘R’ Roth Lay Riesling Auslese Goldkapsel, Mosel 2007 375ML ($99.95) $69 special
Wine Spectator 96 points “Candied citrus, jujube, sweet spice and quince paste aromas and flavors mark this sweet, bracing Riesling, which is light on its feet and resonates on the finish with a mouthwatering feel and echoes of citrus. Best from 2012 through 2045.”
Wine Advocate 95 points “Lowenstein’s 2007 Winninger Uhlen Riesling Auslese Gold Capsule Roth Lay (as in the corresponding dry wines, the letter “R” is prominent on the label of this A.P.#9) benefits from counterpoint and collaboration among bright citrus, rich pit fruit essences, and the honey of botrytis. For all of its enormous sheer ripeness and concentration, this retains a striking sense of delicacy. A snappy, spicy, pungent streak – taken together with vivid, diverse pit fruits and citrus – serves for exhilaration in a finish of memorable length and energy, with a vivid impression of crushed stone one hardly expects in a wine of such sweetness and prominent botrytization. There seems to be something of a personality role reversal at work this year, because the corresponding Rottgen Auslese is cool and refined whereas this Uhlen displays more of the piquancy and (as French growers might say) nervosite that I associate with Rottgen. But then, botrytis is always something of a wild card, so that a wine like this is profoundly and unpredictably influenced by the precise microclimatic conditions for and differences in the nature of that fungus. No doubt this too will be worth following for two or more decades.”
This is the only listing in the USA today for the 750ML!
Heymann-Loewenstein Winninger Uhlen ‘R’ Roth Lay Riesling Auslese Goldkapsel, Mosel 2010 750ML ($199.95) $149 special
Wine Advocate 93 points “Lowenstein’s 2010 Winninger Uhlen Riesling Auslese Gold Capsule Roth Lay – destined for auction – displays an almost sweaty aromatic alliance of salinity and musky pungency, along with nose-prickling lemon rind such as one might expect from an Eiswein. Suggestions of marigold and narcissus add to the exotic, pungent muskiness on display here. Fig and peach preserves; pear drops; marzipan and salted caramel intensely mark the palate, while zesty, musky, and saline mineral impingement serve for strikingly persistent stimulation. Despite its lower (7.5%) alcohol, though, this comes off not only as more viscous but also less buoyant (let alone “uncannily” so) than its Rottgen counterpart. That wine is an example of botrytis performing its magic and leaving nary a fingerprint behind, whereas here, prints are quite evident, even if fascinatingly smudge-free. This compellingly complex concentrate will not be everybody’s cup of nobly rotten Riesling, but ought to merit at least the better part of two decades attention.”
Heymann-Loewenstein ‘von Blauem Schiefer’ Riesling, Mosel 2015 750ML ($44.95) $33 special
Mosel Fine Wines 89 points “The 2015er Trocken vom blauen Schiefer is made from fruit out of the Koberner Weissenberg, Koberner Fahrberg and Klottener Brauneberg. It offers an inviting nose of spices and herbs as well as mirabelle and some wet slate. The wine proves nicely full-bodied but packed with glorious zesty acidity and minerals on the palate and leaves a long and powerful yet mouth-watering finish. This needs a few years in the bottle to shine. 2017-2023”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Heymann-Loewenstein Kirchberg Erste Lage, Mosel 2015 750ML ($49.95) $39 special
Mosel Fine Wines 92+ points “This wine is rather reduced but offers a gorgeously flowery nose of pear and Provence herbs. It proves superbly elegant on the palate where grip and saltiness define the aromatics. Great multi-layered complexity already comes through in the long and airy finish. This is still very primary and in need of bottle age to balance out but this beauty will easily turn into the most complete and elegant expression of Kirchberg we have taste to date. This is hugely impressive and has even some upside potential. 2018-2025.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Heymann-Loewenstein Rottgen Riesling Erste Lage, Mosel 2015 750ML ($59.95) $49 special
Mosel Fine Wines 92 points “The wine proves slightly bold at this stage as it delivers ripe scents of canned peach, mirabelle, quince, herbs and spices on the nose and a delicate baroque and toffee-infused side full of grip on the palate. These elements are nicely framed by minerals in the intense finish, leaving one with a complex and very individualistic set of flavors in the after-taste. This wine is nicely made in the richer style that has made the success of Heymann-Löwenstein and, consequently, will need some time find its inner balance. 2018-2025.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Heymann-Loewenstein Schieferterrassen Riesling, Mosel 2015 750ML ($39.95) $29 special
Mosel Fine Wines “The 2015er Trocken Schieferterrassen is made from the Estate’s holdings in Winningen (Domgarten, Brückstück and Hamm) and Kobern (Fahrberg and Weissenberg) as well as from declassified fruit from its “cru” vineyards. It offers a gorgeous nose of marzipan, herbs and spices. The wine is delicately baroque and full of character on the palate as ripe yellow fruits are nicely complemented by spicy herbs and a hint of tartness in the finish. 2018-2025”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Heymann-Loewenstein Stolzenberg Riesling Erste Lage, Mosel 2015 750ML ($49.95) $39 special
Mosel Fine Wines 90+ points “This offers a gorgeous nose of ripe peach lifted up by a hint of honey, marzipan and dried herbs. The wine is delicately rich yet balanced on the palate and leaves a nicely clean feel of spices in the finish. This delicately full-bodied expression of Stolzenberg delivers great elegance in the finish and could easily exceed our initial expectations. 2017-2025.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Heymann-Loewenstein Uhlen B Blaufusser Lay Riesling, Mosel 2015 750ML ($69.95) $59 special
Mosel Fine Wines 92+ points “A gorgeously elegant nose of greengage, almond, fresh herbs and spices as well as slate and smoke leads to rich flavors of minerals and good grip on the palate. Spicy herbs come through in the long finish, adding a gorgeously complex and multi-layered side to the wine. This is still quite backward and needs several years to develop its balance. We would not be surprised if it even exceeds our expectations once it reaches its maturity plateau. 2018-2025.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Heymann-Loewenstein Uhlen Laubach Lay Riesling 2015 750ML ($69.95) $59 special
Mosel Fine Wines 92 points “This offers a gorgeously elegant and refined nose of pear, mirabelle, ginger, fresh herbs and spices. The wine proves ostentatious yet loaded with flavors in the finish and leaves a gorgeously multi-layered feel of minerals, herbs and a slight touch of power in the finish at this early stage. The raw material is beautiful and only needs time to integrate and deliver a full-bodied wine with multi-layered complexity. 2020-2030.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Austria
For our list of new arrivals from Gobelsburg, see our special feature below!
Familie Saahs Nikolaihof Riesling vom Stein Federspiel, Wachau 2015 750ML ($44.95) $31.90 special
Terry Theise: “No one in the world could make a wine as wee and little and yet as astoundingly beautiful as this one. Breezy and cool and clinging and endless; wet-straw flavors feel loessy but the balsam and physalis say primary rock. Affectionate and richly satisfying, Nikolaihof at their utter best when they’re not in their “antique” dialect. Beautiful in every way but the intense one. Purely sapid and companionable.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
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California Sales Recap
We’ve reduced prices on these cellar gems – don’t miss your chance!
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Give the Gift that Never Expires!
Can’t decide on the perfect gift?
Let them!
We offer gift certificates in any amount with no taxes, fees or expiration date.
Gift certificates are not available through our web store. To order, please stop in, call or email. We are happy to mail gift certificates to any domestic address at no charge.
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2012 Barbaresco:
Wines That Are What You Say You Want
More often than not, when we get asked about an interesting wine, the question is “Can I drink it tonight?” rather than “How long with this age?” This makes perfect sense—we buy wines to enjoy them and generally we tend to want to open any wines we buy now rather than waiting years or decades for the wines to become approachable (or else we get impatient—self-restraint is hard!). In that case, it’s often better to avoid the “great” years in favor of the good ones, unless you like drinking walls of tannin that will take years to shed and reveal the profundity within.
If this sort of drinking pattern describes you, 2012 Barbaresco looks to be a fantastic option for you. Much softer and more approachable than the epic 2011’s (which were a league better than their Barolo counterparts), Antonio Galloni describes them as “a pretty vintage with considerable near and medium-term appeal. The wines show good, ripe fruit and mid-weight personalities…. Based on what I have tasted so far, 2012 is not a profound vintage, nor is it marked by any particularly significant challenges (as was the case in 2009), rather it is a solid year with a number of gorgeous, mid-weight wines that combine a classic sense of structure with the pliant fruit of a warm vintage, a pretty attractive combination in my book.”
We’re happy to highlight a few here (that are often priced for drinking now, as well). If you want to see all of the 52 different Barbaresco wines that we have in stock (including all of those fantastic ‘11’s), visit our web store!
Adriano Marco e Vittorio Basarin, Barbaresco DOCG 2012 750ML ($27.95) $24 special, 26 bottles available
Wine Spectator 93 points “Sweet strawberry, cherry and currant fruit weaves throughout this elegant, intense Barbaresco. The structure is assertive, yet this stays fresh and vibrant on the long finish. Floral and leafy underbrush notes add depth. Best from 2018 through 2030.”
Paitin di Pasquero-Elia ‘Sori Paitin’, Barbaresco DOCG 2012 750ML ($49.95) $35.10 special, 36+ bottles available
Antonio Galloni 93 points “Dark red cherry, plum, smoke, mint and leather are some of the notes that emerge from the 2012 Barbaresco Sorì Paitin. The Sorì Paitin is quite a bit more complex than it was from barrel, largely because the bottled wine is composed of approximately 30% wine that was originally destined for the Vecchie Vigne. As a result, this is one of the few 2012s I tasted that has real upside potential, even if it is relatively approachable today.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Socre Barbaresco DOCG 2012 750ML ($39.95) $33 special, 36+ bottles available
Antonio Galloni 92 points “The 2012 Barbaresco is dark, plummy and absolutely delicious, with plenty of up-front fruit and pure appeal. Sweet tobacco, rose petal, mint, cherries and licorice open up in the glass. The tannins retain a touch of firmness, but otherwise, this is a hugely appealing Barbaresco, especially considering it is the estate’s entry-level wine.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Sottimano Cotta, Barbaresco DOCG 2012 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 18 bottles available
Wine Enthusiast 93 points “Aromas of red berry, tilled earth, menthol and dark cooking spice unfold in the glass. The structured, elegant palate doles out ripe wild cherry, mint, licorice, blood orange and chopped herb alongside firm, fine-grained tannins. It’s still tight so let it unwind for a few more years.”
Antonio Galloni 92 points “The 2012 Barbaresco Cottà shows its typical profile of round, ample fruit and generosity, but with a touch less richness than is the norm. Broad, ample textures fill out the wine’s frame nicely. Pine, menthol and dark spices wrap around a core of super-expressive dark red stone fruits. All of the typical Cottà signatures are in place, but in miniature, which is to say this is a highly representative wine for the year.”
Wine Advocate 91 points “The 2012 Barbaresco Cottá shows a slightly subdued personality and a timid approach. The wine is bright, buoyant and brilliant across the board but it delivers its best assets with less intensity compared to the other single-vineyard expressions of Barbaresco produced by Sottimano. Pretty tones of white cherry and forest berry form a smooth union with light spice, mint and cola. This wine should flesh out further with more time in the cellar.” ML
Sottimano Fausoni, Barbaresco DOCG 2012 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 17 bottles available
Wine Advocate 94 points “Sottimano’s 2012 Barbaresco Fausoni shows highly impressive results with a smooth entry to the palate followed by bright fruit flavors that are fused with floral accents, spice and licorice. Fausoni reveals pretty transparency with brilliant garnet accents. The aromas are tonic, vibrant and fresh. There’s plenty of menthol and cardamon-infused lift on the finish. This is a very satisfying wine that promises a long life ahead.”
Antonio Galloni 92 points “The 2012 Barbaresco Fausoni is a very pretty, up-front wine with lovely fruit and precision. Crushed raspberries, flowers and sweet spices grace the palate as the wine opens up in the glass. The flavors are nicely layered in a soft, delicate Barbaresco that shows the more perfumed, aromatic side of Nebbiolo. In 2012, the Fausoni is all about immediacy.”
Sottimano Pajore, Barbaresco DOCG 2012 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 16 bottles available
Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2012 Barbaresco Pajoré is a wine that exudes balance and harmony. The wine is absolutely intact in all its elements and there’s a sense of continuity here that sets it apart. As it warms in the glass, this beautiful Barbaresco takes on greater aromatic intensity with its floral tones that blossom brighter and the fruity tones that emerge steadily from the bouquet. Spice, leather and grilled herb linger delicately at the back. The Barbaresco Pajoré is a beautiful wine.” ML
Antonio Galloni 93 points “The 2012 Barbaresco Pajoré shows the pedigree of this great site in its balance of fruit, acidity and tannin. Like all the wines in this vintage, the Pajoré is a mid-weight Barbaresco, but here it is the wine’s textural finesse that impresses above all else. Chalky tannins underpin flowers, spices, tangerine peel and star anise on the expressive, floral finish.”
You can see the full list of in-stock 2012 Barbaresco wines below. We offer 174 different in-stock red wines from Piedmont. See the full list and order online at our web store!
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Our Current
Shipping Promos:
Along with Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and California,
we now offer flat rate shipping to Colorado. Here’s the scoop:
Single orders of any quantity of wines qualify for the flat rate;
this does not apply to orders held in storage for any reason
or multiple orders consolidated into one shipment.
The flat reach for each state is, as follows:
-to Oregon for $17,
-Washington & Idaho for $20,
-and California & Colorado for $25
Take Advantage of the Flat Rate!
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Gobelsburg: Return to Forever
The Schloss Gobelsburg winery is the oldest in the Kamptal region of Austria and one of the oldest in the world. Cistercian monks from the Zwettl Monastery founded the vineyards in 1171 CE and performed the winemaking operations throughout eight centuries until 1995, when a winemaking / management contract was awarded to Michael Moosbrugger and his wife Eva.
“Michi” Moosbrugger revolutionized winemaking at Schloss Gobelsburg, updating an old and neglected cellar and has since garnered many awards, including being named Winemaker of the Year by the Austrian magazine Falstaff (the Wine Spectator of Austria). His attentive crafting leads to precise and distinct wines that reflect the essence of each site.
Gobelsburg, in part because of the age of the winery, owns parts of the best vineyards in Austria. They’re known as some of the best high-end wines in Austria and are exceptional values for their price (the wines are every bit as good, if less showy, than most of the big names in the Wachau). Austria has had a trio of excellent vintage (the monumental ’13’s and ’15’s with the still-very-very-good ‘14’s in the middle) and we wanted to highlight these wines for you today:
New Arrivals from Gobelsburg:
Schloss Gobelsburg Gobelsburger Riesling, Kamptal 2015 750ML ($19.95) $16 special, 15 bottles available
Terry Theise: “A hello! aroma, linden and woodruff at first; a fine, snappy Riesling, grainy and sweetly taut; a pitted fruit nuance dances with shade-grown Sencha; this is lively energetic tasty Riesling.”
Schloss Gobelsburg Gaisberg Riesling Reserve Erste OTW Lage, Kamptal 2015 750ML ($39.95) $33 special, 6 bottles available
Terry Theise: “Gaisberg to me is always a moonlight wine, and this one is cool, gauzy, sheer, ethereal and yet with a clearly visible dialogue (maybe even a dialectic) among minerals and blueberries; surpassingly refined and filigree, a Riesling-lover’s wine, yet for all its high frequencies it is not delicate.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $38
Schloss Gobelsburg Zobinger Heiligenstein Riesling Reserve Erste OTW Lage, Kamptal 2015 750ML ($65.95) $51.90 special, 6 bottles available
Terry Theise: “As always, smokier, saltier and with another kind of texture, less crystalline than raw-silken; this vintage seems to emphasize the top notes and mineral more than the Wicca-potion, yet the aroma is entirely erogenous, a feather-stroke of almost unbearable complexity; cicada-hiss, anise-hyssop and black cherry in an infinitely precise and limitless gesture of measured power.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $53.95
Also Available Here Now from Gobelsburg:
Schloss Gobelsburg Lamm Gruner Veltliner Reserve Erste OTW Lage, Kamptal 2013 1.5L ($119.95) $99 special, 2 magnums available
David Schildknecht–Vinous 94 points “The Kamptal’s iconic Grüner Veltliner vineyard has seldom if ever had to rise to a challenge like that of the other Gobelsburg 2013s from this variety. It succeeds in part by offering scents and flavors such as make one wonder how this could come from grapes. Hyacinth and freesia in the nose are mingled with nuances of alkaline and wet stone that then, along with toasted grain and mouthwatering veal stock, dominate the palate proceedings. That’s not to suggest that this wine lacks fruit. Apple, quince and honeydew offer a luscious presence, with complete transparency to mossy forest floor and mineral intrigue. Bittersweet floral perfume adds to the wine’s creamy, glossy inner-mouth allure. Rather than the energy and dynamic so memorable in the comparable Renner, this delivers an enveloping, buoyant wave of finishing flavor.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $120.35
Schloss Gobelsburg Lamm Gruner Veltliner Reserve Erste OTW Lage, Kamptal 2014 750ML ($69.95) $49 special, 6 bottles available
David Schildknecht–Vinous 92 points “Scents of acacia, mint, honeydew melon and earthy beet also inform the expansive palate, where the piquancy and minerality of chard is introduced, along with a cucumber-like sense of crunchy invigoration and refreshment more familiar from lighter-weight and less texturally rich examples of this grape. Smoky pungency suggests toasted buckwheat, and Madagascar peppercorn teams intriguingly with crushed stone in the long finish.”
Schloss Gobelsburg Gobelsburger Riesling, Kamptal 2014 750ML ($21.95) $18 special, 25 bottles available
“Issuing, like its eponymous Grüner Veltliner counterpart, entirely from Kamptal fruit, this generic cuvée sold principally in the US market delivers its usual charm and value. Scents of lily and heliotrope mingle with intimations of apple and white peach, the latter migrating to a satin-textured and expansive yet not weighty palate. Hints of quince, tangerine oil and brown spices suggest background botrytis, thankfully only slightly detracting from the clarity and refreshment that characterize the corresponding Schlosskellerei Gobelsburg bottling of Grüner Veltliner. (The impressive generic bottlings incorporating purchased fruit that are familiar from American markets under the “Gobelsburger” label have been rechristened “Schlosskellerei Gobelsburg” because, in keeping with recent legislation, the old designation will now be reserved for anyone who chooses to name for its commune of origin a wine grown in Gobelsburg the village.)” -David Schildknecht
Terry Theise notes “Lovely fragrance, verbena and a kind of charming herbal funk; a bit of the ambient-botrytis of ’14 is here, and the overall effect is drier and twiggier than its GV sibling.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Schloss Gobelsburg Gaisberg Riesling Reserve Erste OTW Lage, Kamptal 2012 750ML ($34.95) $29 special, 1 bottle available
Terry Theise notes: “The perfection of the cool, a moony minimalist wine, like a Miles Davis solo, or the waltz of the little dancer in the music box, or a full white moon over a black field of icy jewels.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $34.99
Schloss Gobelsburg Zobinger Heiligenstein Riesling Reserve Erste OTW Lage, Kamptal 2012 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 2 bottles available
Terry Theise notes: “Trades a little of Gaisberg’s outline and scores lovely exotic notes in return; spices, orchid-oolong and peony; not the gravitas of mineral of Gaisberg but more a semifreddo of middle-eastern spice and osmanthus.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Schloss Gobelsburg Zobinger Heiligenstein Riesling Reserve Erste OTW Lage, Kamptal 2013 750ML ($69.95) $59 special, 11 bottles available
David Schildknecht–Vinous 92 points “Scents of iris and jasmine, apple and apricot set the stage for a generously juicy, subtly interactive performance on a silken palate. Cooler in personality and in its floral/herbal shadings and more aloof than the corresponding Gaisberg, this nonetheless introduces considerable piquancy and chew of fruit pit, pip and skin in its sustained, mouthwateringly saline finish.”
Terry Theise notes “I’d tasted at Alzinger this morning, and yet I wrote “This is the most sensually extravagant of all the great Rieslings tasted today,” a day I wrote three plusses for an astonishing seven different wines. This masterpiece starts out deceptively gauzy, with notes of jasmine, white tea and cox-orange pippins, but then suddenly it is insanely intricate, almost incomprehensible; verbena and aloe vera, chartreuse, lemon zest, semolina and ginger, and an astonishing finish you want to take home with you.”
Schloss Gobelsburg Zobinger Heiligenstein Riesling Reserve Erste OTW Lage, Kamptal 2014 750ML ($69.95) $49 special, 6 bottles available
David Schildknecht–Vinous 92 points “Bittersweet, subtly musky scents of iris and peony complement hints of honey and spice borne of botrytis. Silken-textured and expansive, the palate here delivers quince and ripe white peach enveloped in billowing floral perfume and set against a background of wet stone, leading to a soothingly lingering yet tinglingly citric and crystalline finish. This doesn’t display the degree of animation, complexity, salinity or primary juiciness of the remarkable corresponding Gaisberg, but still represents a superb success, especially in the context of its vintage.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Schloss Gobelsburg Tradition Riesling Reserve, Kamptal 2014 750ML ($59.95) $44 special, 6 bottles available
Terry Theise: “Made as always from Gaisberg old-vines, and in 2014 that wine had far more botrytis than I’m comfortable with. This wine has it also. It is highly atypical, so do not expect it to taste as it “usually” does, and if you’re averse to botrytis in dry Rieslings then you won’t be happy here.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Arriving in February:
Schloss Gobelsburg Gruner Veltliner Langenlois, Kamptal 2015 750ML ($29.95) $24 pre-arrival special
Terry Theise: “I was wary. Yet another wine? Sure, I understand this is a “village” wine to lead in to the Crus coming up, and I appreciate how Michi didn’t want to jump from the negoç wine directly to Steinsetz. But whew, we got a lot of skus as it is…..The first sip demolished my concerns. It contains young-vines juice from the sites Redling, Thal, Lamm (!), Renner and Grub, which makes those wines even better. It shows superb focus in an herbal direction; hyssop and spearmint, leading into a spicy finish that leaves a tingle behind. Mid-palate is tense and vigorous, with “physio” sweetness.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Schloss Gobelsburg Zobinger Heiligenstein Riesling Reserve Erste OTW Lage, Kamptal 2010 750ML ($79.95) $59 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 92 points “Schloss Gobelsburg’s 2010 Riesling Heiligenstein presents a smokily aromatic as well as more incisive and phenolically gripping palate impression than that of the corresponding Gaisberg. At a place where intense spice; herbal pungency; and of what for want of words can only be called diverse “mineral” impingements all intersect, you have this wine’s vibratory, invigorating palate rub-down. A crunch of berry seeds and piquancy of apricot kernel add to the effect of this vinous sauna (minus the heat!) Hints of gooseberry point toward the coolness of the vintage, while lilac and elderflower perfume unmistakably point toward the face of this great site. Look for at least the better part of a decade of stimulation both mental and physical, and if at all possible have some Gaisberg on-hand for direct comparison.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Schloss Gobelsburg Riesling Zobing, Kamptal 2015 750ML ($34.95) $26 pre-arrival special
Terry Theise: “Again, a village-wine as a bridge from the negoç wine to the Crus. There’s a spring-onion sweetness; intricate and sapid green and savory; exotic saltiness and a refined minty finale.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $31.90
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Arriving This Week
Weingut Donnhoff Kreuznacher Krotenpfuhl Riesling Kabinett, Nahe 2015 750ML ($27.95) $20.90 pre-arrival special
“The 2015 Kreuznacher Krötenpfuhl Riesling Kabinett has a “cooler acidity” than the Kahlenberg, says Helmut Dönnhoff, so he considers it as the better vineyard to produce a fruity Riesling with more residual sugar. The wine has a clear and open nose of ripe apples along with some flinty aromas. On the palate, the wine is very clear and piquant, but also generous in its precise, elegant fruit. The finish has a certain intensity and minerality, and this will come out even clearer in two or more years.” Wine Advocate
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Weingut Donnhoff Oberhauser Leistenberg Riesling Kabinett, Nahe 2015 750ML ($27.95) $21.90 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 91 points “Coming from argillaceous shale soils, the 2015 Oberhäuser Leistenberg Riesling Kabinett opens with a very clear and coolish, slightly flinty bouquet with white Riesling and some refreshing lemon flavors. Full-flavored and intense on the palate, this is a lovely, light-hearted, piquant and racy Riesling with intensity and persistency. The 40+ grams of residual sugar are almost fully eaten by the minerality and piquancy of this picture book Kabinett.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Weingut Donnhoff Kreuznacher Kahlenberg Riesling Trocken, Nahe 2015 750ML ($39.95) $33 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 92 points “The 2015 (Kreuznacher) Kahlenberg Riesling Trocken is from gravelly conglomerate soils with quartzite, but not much clay, and from the wider and warmer part of the valley. It offers a warmer and denser Riesling bouquet with ripe yellow-skinned apple aromas and a delicate smokiness. The wine is full-bodied, round and piquant, showing nice finesse and grip, and it has a juicy, well-structured, dry finish with citrus flavors.”
Weingut Donnhoff Roxheimer Hollenpfad Riesling Trocken, Nahe 2015 750ML ($39.95) $33 pre-arrival special
Weingut Donnhoff Roxheimer Hollenpfad Riesling Trocken, Nahe 2015 1.5L ($99.95) $77 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 93 points “From a steep, south-facing vineyard on red sandstone soils, the 2015 (Roxheimer) Höllenpfad Riesling Trocken opens with warm and generous yellow apple fruit, but also a coolish and piquant sand stone expression with spicy and even peppery lemon flavors. “The grapes are always smaller here than in the Kahlenberg and the berries [are] very intense in their fine fruit aromas,” says Helmut Dönnhoff. The roots can go through the sandstone, which is not the case in the volcanic soils of Niederhausen and Oberhausen. As a result, drought stress is very rare and that makes the Höllenpfad a perfect origin for dry Rieslings. On the palate, this is a generously fruity, but also pure, piquant and finely racy Riesling with lingering salinity and lemony freshness. The wine is dense and generous, but precise, fresh and rather cool instead of warm. It is a gorgeous Riesling that combines the warmth of the northern Nahe, closer to the Rhine river, with the purity and salinity of the Niederhausen/Oberhausen. The finish is pretty, long and aromatic, and the ripe apples remain on the palate as do the stony flavors.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today for the magnum!
Weingut Donnhoff ‘Felsenturmchen’ Schlossbockelheimer Felsenberg Riesling Spatlese, Nahe 2015 1.5L ($119.95) $99 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 93 points “The flinty and herbal-flavored 2015 Schlossböckelheimer Felsenberg Riesling Spätlese is from grapes that were selected a few days before the ones for the Grosses Gewächs to keep the alcohol level moderate at 13%. It is a mouth-filling, yet straight and racy/piquant wine with lush fruit, piquant acidity (ten grams of total acidity!), great elegance and terroir expression. Its finish is stimulatingly salty, and the complexity of the Felsenberg terroir shines through dramatically and untamed. I would keep this wine for 5-10 years because there are other Dönnhoff Rieslings that are able to charm you in the meantime. This one has other talents. Dönnhoff remembers the 1998 as a similar Spätlese. If you so will, this is the antipode of the aristocratic Hermannshöhle.”
Weingut Donnhoff Norheimer Kirschheck Riesling Spatlese, Nahe 2015 750ML ($39.95) $30.90 pre-arrival special
Weingut Donnhoff Norheimer Kirschheck Riesling Spatlese, Nahe 2015 1.5L ($99.95) $77 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 91 points “The 2015 Norheimer Kirschheck Riesling Spätlese is clear, piquant and salty on the nose, with great purity and a lovely flintiness framing the ripe yellow apple and grapefruit aromas. On the palate, this is a pretty, complex and salty Spätlese with generous but delicate fruit and lingering mineral tension and salinity. Grown on the same soil as the Leistenberg Kabinett (grey slate) but from a fully south-facing site, this is a perfect Spätlese terroir. Although this wine has just 9% alcohol, it is intense and complex and has 65 grams of residual sugar. It is a really full-bodied Riesling.”
Weingut Donnhoff Oberhauser Brucke Riesling Spatlese, Nahe 2015 1.5L ($119.95) $99 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 92+ points “The 2015 Oberhäuser Brücke Riesling Spätlese is clear, fresh and coolish, almost reductive on the very precise nose. This is a mouth-filling Spätlese that is round and generous on the palate, with a lush fruit texture and piquant acidity. It has a creamier texture and fine, well-integrated acidity that lacks a certain sharpness in the finish though. This is a pretty, powerful and complex Spätlese with grip and tension as well.”
Weingut Donnhoff Niederhauser Hermannshohle Riesling Spatlese, Nahe 2015 750ML ($59.95) $47 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 95 points “The 2015 Niederhäuser Hermannshöhle Riesling Spätlese opens with an aristocratic bouquet of coolish, flinty slate and citrus perfume along with concentrated Riesling flavors. There is great complexity and expression here! On the palate, this wine is highly elegant and its seamless, silky texture is like that of the Dellchen GG. Very salty, full of finesse and tension on the palate–this is a great, perfectly balanced Spätlese. There is no other Riesling in the Nahe that has such nobly aristocratic attitude. It’s one of the finest Spätlese Rieslings you can buy from this vintage.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Weingut Jos. Christoffel Jr. Christoffel-Prum Urziger Urziger Wurzgarten Riesling Beerenauslese, Mosel 2005 750ML ($179.95) $133 pre-arrival special
Weingut Jos. Christoffel Jr. Christoffel-Prum Urziger Urziger Wurzgarten Riesling Beerenauslese, Mosel 2005 375ML ($89.95) $69 pre-arrival special
2005 Vintage: Wine Spectator 98 points “Lush, ripe Rieslings at all quality levels; acidity, though low in some, balances richness in most.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Selbach-Oster Zeltinger Schlossberg Riesling Beerenauslese*, Mosel 2005 375ML ($149.95) $99 pre-arrival special
Wine Spectator 98 points “Sweet and backed by a vibrant structure, this is elegant and detailed, with concentrated red berry, lime and nectarine. One of the few BAs to show a mineral component. Terrific balance and harmony, ending with a long, slate-tinged aftertaste. Drink now through 2040.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $119.99
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Re-Arriving This Week
Opus One Proprietary Red Napa Valley 2013 750ML ($279.95) $249 pre-arrival special
James Suckling 100 points “The greatest Opus ever. Terrific aromas of crushed black currants, blueberries and flowers with hints of sweet tobacco. Roses continue to exude opulence and class. Full body, superb balance of ultra-fine tannins and vibrant acidity. Complex aftertaste of black fruits and citrus fruit. Extremely persistent. So approachable now and enjoyable. But will be even better in 2019 and beyond. 79% cabernet sauvignon, 7% cabernet franc, 6% merlot, 6% petit verdot, 2% malbec. This will always be beautiful to drink.” (01/2016)
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Arriving in February
From Burgundy
Domaine Henri Gouges Bourgogne Pinot Blanc 2014 750ML ($39.95) $29 pre-arrival special
Winery note “[Translated] From a 0.7 hectare plot of Pinot Blanc located about 375 meters in altitude on a plateau in the AOC Cotes des Nuits. Planted on shallow and stony soil consisting of red clay, it produces white wines that are genuine and aromatic. The vines are a selection massale from the Premier Cru Vineyard “La Perriere.””
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Domaine Henri Gouges La Perriere Blanc, Nuits-Saint-Georges Premier Cru 2014 750ML ($149.95) $99 pre-arrival special
Neal Martin – Wine Advocate 88-90 points “The 2014 Nuits Saint Georges 1er Cru les Perrières Blanc, from white limestone populated by Pinot Blanc vines planted in 1956 after the frosts, has a lifted pineapple and pink grapefruit-scented bouquet that unwinds in the glass. The palate is well balanced with Cornice pear and white peach notes, a fine line of acidity with a touch of baked apple towards the finish. Enjoy this over the next 5-6 years.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Domaine Henri Gouges Bourgogne Rouge 2014 750ML ($39.95) $29 pre-arrival special
“From vines on the plateau, which give a more elegant wine than vines from the lower sections. Reduction masks the underlying fruit though it does not extend to the palate as there is good freshness and verve to the nicely voluminous flavors that deliver excellent depth and length. This is worth considering.” Burghound
Domaine Henri Gouges Nuits-Saint-Georges 2014 750ML ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival special
Burghound 88-91 points “(from 4 different parcels scattered above and below the 1ers and the blend of vines averages about 35 years of age) A markedly sauvage nose reflects notes of dark berry fruit, spicy, violet and earth. The middle weight flavors possess an unusually sleek and velvety mouth feel before culminating in a mildly rustic finale.”
Neal Martin-Wine Advocate 88-90 points “The 2014 Nuits Saint-Georges Villages had just been racked and is planned to be bottled this coming December. Now this has fresh vibrant black cherry and blueberry fruit on the nose – vivacious and nicely defined. The palate is smooth on the entry with tart red cherries and cranberry, a touch of black tea in the background. Good acidity and respectable weight considering the vintage and that this is a village cru. Recommended.”
Domaine Henri Gouges Clos des Porrets Monopole, Nuits-Saint-Georges Premier Cru 2014 750ML ($89.95) $69 pre-arrival special
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 90-92 points “Bright, deep red. A step up in stony pungency and aromatic lift from the Chênes Carteaux, offering perfumed scents and flavors of black cherry, violet, rose petal and spices. More rigorous in the mouth in the manner of Nuits-Saint-Georges from the south side of the village. Intense, solidly built wine with very good mouth coverage but no excess weight. Finishes with a restrained sweetness, a saline nuance and excellent length.”
Neal Martin – Wine Advocate 90-92 points “The 2014 Nuits Saint-Georges 1er Cru Clos des Porrets Saint Georges, a monopole of the domaine, has a crisp leafy bouquet with autumn leaves and touches of flint coming through with aeration. The palate is well balanced with fine tannin, a certain brightness to the fruit here – resolutely “classic” in style, a “cool” NSG but with very fine delineation on the finish. Not a long-term proposition perhaps, but a well-crafted drop of wine that will repay time in the cellar.”
Domaine Henri Gouges Les Chaignots, Nuits-Saint-Georges Premier Cru 2014 750ML ($69.95) $59 pre-arrival special
Burghound 90-92 points “(from 30+ year old vines) As is usually the case this is notably spicier with its more elegant nose of violet, plum and dark raspberry that is trimmed in a touch of earth. The supple and refined medium-bodied flavors exude a fine bead of minerality while delivering excellent length on the solidly structured and ever-so-mildly austere finale where a touch of Nuits style tannins emerge.”
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 88-90 points “Bright palish red. Medicinal cherry, raspberry and mint on the nose, lifted by a floral quality. Elegant, dry and classic if a bit lean, conveying an impression of energy to the flavors of red fruits and saline minerality. Finishes tight and salty. Like the village wine, this is in a rather delicate style.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $68
Domaine Henri Gouges Les Chenes Carteaux, Nuits-Saint-Georges Premier Cru 2014 750ML ($69.95) $59 pre-arrival special
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 89-91 points “Reduced aromas of black cherry, raspberry, mint and menthol. A step up in sweetness and suppleness from the Chaignots; at once more velvety and more facile than that wine. Gouges describes this rather suave wine as the estate’s “entry-level premier cru of Nuits-Saint-Georges.” More red fruits than black.”
Neal Martin – Wine Advocate 89-91 points “The 2014 Nuits Saint-Georges 1er Cru Clos des Porrets Saint Georges, a monopole of the domaine, has a crisp leafy bouquet with autumn leaves and touches of flint coming through with aeration. The palate is well balanced with fine tannin, a certain brightness to the fruit here – resolutely “classic” in style, a “cool” NSG but with very fine delineation on the finish. Not a long-term proposition perhaps, but a well-crafted drop of wine that will repay time in the cellar.”
Domaine Henri Gouges Les Pruliers, Nuits-Saint-Georges Premier Cru 2014 750ML ($119.95) Was $89, Now $79 pre-arrival special
Neal Martin-Wine Advocate 92-94 points “The 2014 Nuits Saint-Georges 1er Cru les Pruliers was showing more fruit intensity on the nose than the Porrets, the fruit more black, perhaps a little more oaky than others (although Gregory Gouges told me that this probably derives from the wooden vat after racking). The palate is very harmonious in the mouth. There are supple tannins and good density here with silky textured, sorbet-like freshness on the finish. This is a lovely wine from Gouges, one of their best in this vintage.”
Domaine Henri Gouges Les Vaucrains, Nuits-Saint-Georges Premier Cru 2014 750ML ($149.95) $112 pre-arrival special
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 91-94 points “Dark red-ruby. Tight, medicinal aromas of black cherry, bitter chocolate and menthol. Very rich and deep, with captivating sweetness cut by medicinal menthol and minerals. Highly concentrated, dense and broad but uncompromisingly dry. Finishes very long and perfumed, with serious saline tension. This very impressive premier cru has a big tannic structure and may well close down after the bottling.”
Burghound 91-94 points “Here too there is a subtle application of wood setting off the intensely spicy and overtly sauvage aromas of mostly cassis and black raspberry aromas that are also liberally laced with warm earth nuances. The muscular big-bodied flavors possess real power and punch along with ample minerality before terminating in a hugely long, complex and well-balanced finale. As it always is this is distinctly old school in style and will definitely require extended cellaring.”
Domaine Henri Gouges Les Saint-Georges, Nuits-Saint-Georges Premier Cru 2014 750ML ($179.95) $149 pre-arrival special
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 92-94 points “Bright dark red. Cooler, more reticent but very pure aromas of black cherry, licorice and menthol lifted by spices and flowers. Wonderfully sweet and full but weightless. More pliant and silky than the Vaucrains in the early going but still very laid-back despite its more accessible texture and breadth. The long, scented, refined finish features a sneaky whiplash of dark fruits, flowers and minerals.”
Burghound 92-94 points “Once again there is subtle wood present on the spicy, cool and beautifully well-layered nose of ripe dark currant, plum, violet and humus scents. There is a sleek mouth feel to the solidly concentrated and mineral-driven middle weight plus flavors that exhibit outstanding length on the markedly firm finale that is also impeccably well-balanced. Ample patience absolutely required.”
Neal Martin-Wine Advocate 91-93 points “The 2014 Nuits Saint-Georges 1er Cru Les Saint Georges has a perfumed nose with blackberry and bilberry fruit, tangible mineral scents, very fine delineation, cold flint and limestone emerging with time. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin, impressive structure, cool, calm and collected, building towards a crisp, tensile tobacco-tinged finish that is deceptively powerful. This will have a lot more to give after bottling, seems resentful that someone would awaken it from its barrel slumber.”
Domaine Mongeard-Mugneret Bourgogne Blanc 2014 750ML ($29.95) $24 pre-arrival special
Winery notes: “Average vine age of 25 years; Jurassic soil with broken stones on limeston-clay soils. Hand-sorted and raised in stainless steel. With a beautiful golden colour and a clean, open nose, “Bourgogne Chardonnay” has an astonishingly wide range of aromas. The Chardonnay produces a firm, full wine, elegant, supple and mellow, full-bodied, rich and lingers long on the palate.”
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Domaine Mongeard-Mugneret Nuits-Saint-Georges Les Plateaux 2014 750ML ($69.95) $49 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 90 points “The 2014 Nuits Saint-Georges Les Plateaux comes from 45-year-old vines located just behind the Boisset winery. It has a clean and quite precise bouquet: raspberry and strawberry fruit, hints of marmalade tucked in just behind. The palate is medium-bodied, perhaps just a little rustic on the entry, but one can appreciate the freshness and the fineness of the tannin here, with tart red cherry and white pepper intermingling towards the bright and quite vivid finish. This is a very sound, well-crafted village cru that should offer a decade of drinking pleasure.”
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Domaine Mongeard-Mugneret Les Boudots, Nuits-Saint-Georges Premier Cru 2014 750ML ($99.95) $69 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 92 points “The 2014 Nuits Saint-Georges 1er Cru Les Boudots comes from 0.39-hectares of 30-year-old vine. It has a timid bouquet at first, one that demands encouragement from the glass. It eventually unfurls to reveal a precise, pretty, almost Vosne-like bouquet. The palate is very refined, again quite Vosne-like (which is no surprise as it is located on the same vein of terroir as Malconsorts), filigree tannin segueing into a precise, minerally finish. This is excellent and it may merit a higher score down the line.”
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Domaine Mongeard-Mugneret Les Orveaux, Vosne-Romanee Premier Cru 2014 750ML ($99.95) $69 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 91 points “The 2014 Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru Les Orveaux comes from the domaine’s 1.08-hectare of vines aged between 25 to 52 years that are orientated north to south. It has impressive delineation and terroir expression on the nose, quite feminine and understated at first, but unfurling in the glass to reveal attractive redcurrant, wild strawberry and cold limestone scents. The palate is medium-bodied with fine, quite firm tannin, crisp and tensile red berry fruit, and a taut, quite saline finish. This is worth seeking out – a Vosne-Romanée endowed with confidence.”
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Domaine Mongeard-Mugneret Les Cras, Vougeot Premier Cru 2014 750ML ($99.95) $69 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 92 points “The 2014 Vougeot 1er Cru Les Cras comes from the domaine’s 0.32-hectares of 35-year-old vine, which includes partial whole bunch fermentation. It has a very able bouquet with vivid raspberry coulis, wild strawberry and mineral scents; there is a hint of mint developing in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin, quite tensile in the mouth, plenty of sappy red berry fruit and a long, sustained finish. This would be one of my picks from the domaine in this vintage.”
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Domaine Mongeard-Mugneret Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru 2014 750ML ($179.95) $135 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 91+ points “The 2014 Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru comes from the domaine’s 0.63-hectares of 45- to 50-year-old vines located in the lieu dit “Grand Maupertui” and “Quatier des Marei Haut” close to the château. It has a punchy, redcurrant, cranberry and raspberry-scented bouquet with a touch of leather originating from the new oak that will need three or four years to fully integrate. The palate is medium-bodied with chewy tannin on the entry, good depth, quite muscular for a Clos Vougeot, but with impressive persistence on the finish. I still found myself wanting just a little more to come through, so afford this a few years in bottle.”
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The average price is $160
Domaine Mongeard-Mugneret Echezeaux Grand Cru 2014 750ML ($119.95) $99 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 90-92 points “The 2014 Echézeaux Grand Cru comes from the domaine 1.82-hectares of 25- to 60-year-old vines that are located in the lieu-dit “Les Poullailères” (no, I can never pronounce that either). It has a very well defined, detailed bouquet with red cherries, crushed strawberry and wilted rose petal scents that display fine intensity. The palate is medium-bodied, perhaps showing a little too much new oak on the entry and as such, it will need several years in bottle to fully absorb the wood. There is just a touch of bitterness on the aftertaste that nags away, hence my parsimonious score at this point.”
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Domaine Mongeard-Mugneret Grands Echezeaux Grand Cru 2014 750ML ($219.95) $159 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 94 points “The 2014 Grands Echézeaux Grand Cru comes from 1.44-hectares of 40- to 68-year-old vine and is matured entirely in new oak. It has a clean, pure and quite intense bouquet with dark plum, raspberry and rose petals scents that are beautifully defined. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin, good depth, a slight earthiness underneath the dark berry fruit mixed with black pepper and sage, fanning out gently towards the sturdy, truffle-tinged finish. Give this several years in the cellar, because it is a very well crafted and sophisticated Grands-Echézeaux.”
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