48 Hour Sale: Caparzo & Opus One; New Week – New Arrivals (Soos Creek, Clos du Val, Bussola & more!); Cali Ultra-Classic Hightlight: BV Georges de Latour; New Pre-Arrival Offers: Raul Perez, Albert Mann, Champagne Nicolas Maillart & Domaine de Beaurenard
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48 Hour Sale
Ends Tuesday at Midnight
Caparzo Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Tuscany 2012 750ML ($39.95) Was $33, Now $29, 36+ bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 92 points “This is round and laced with cherry, currant, tobacco and iron flavors. Firms up quickly, with a fine matrix of tannins for support. Balanced overall, with a long finish of tobacco and iron. Best from 2020 through 2033.”
Wine Advocate 91+ points “Caparzo’s 2012 Brunello di Montalcino is a mid-weight expression with bright berry aromas and a traditional approach stylistically speaking. This Brunello aged in large oak casks made from Slavonian and French oak. In fact, it shows a streamlined and compact texture with buoyant aromatic intensity. The focus is on raspberry, cherry and plum with distinct shadings of spice, licorice, tar and blue flower at the back. The overall effect is inviting and genuine. The mouthfeel is thin, but the wine offers nice freshness instead.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $38
Caparzo Brunello di Montalcino Riserva DOCG, Tuscany 2010 750ML ($79.950 Was $69, Now $49, 30 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni 96 points “The 2010 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is a big, powerful wine that is going to require at least a few years to soften. Dark and brooding, the Riserva shows the more masculine side of Sangiovese. Black cherry, plum, leather, spice and tobacco all sit on firm beams of acidity and tannin. There is a sense of explosive energy to the 2010 that I find quite appealing, but readers will have to be patient in order to experience the wine at its best.”
James Suckling 95 points “Aromas of blood oranges, blackberries, plums and mushrooms. Full body, round tannins and spices, lightly toasted oak and a cedar/berry finish. Solid Brunello. Drink or hold.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $67
Exclusive to subscribers:
Opus One Proprietary Red Napa Valley 2014 750ML ($349.95) Displayed price: $319 – Your Price $289, only 10 bottles remaining!
James Suckling 97 points “Mesmerizing aromas of flowers, bark, currants and blackberries. So perfumed. You just want to smell it. Exquisite tension and finesse with an almost Burgundian texture, yet it’s Napa in its soul with ripe fruit, stones, spices and Chinese tea leaf flavors. Savory and delicious. Drinkable but better in 2020.”
Antonio Galloni 95+ points “The 2014 Opus One has turned out to be a gorgeous wine. Savory, tightly wound and intensely aromatic, the 2014 is going to need time to unwind, but it looks like it will develop along the more classic vintages here. The tannins are firm but also impeccably balanced. A sleeper wine for the year, the 2014 is shaping up to be a gorgeous wine that will handsomely repay several decades of cellaring. The 2014 is not an obvious Opus One, like the 2010, 2012 or 2013, but over time, I will not be surprised if it challenges or even surpasses some of those vintages. In short, the 2014 is a wine of tension, power and grace.”
The average price nationally is $301
Subscriber-only price for the Opus One will not appear online
We will adjust your invoice before charging
Sale ends Tuesday at midnight
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New Week – New Arrivals
Washington
Soos Creek Wine Cellars Soleil Red, Columbia Valley 2014 750ML ($21.95) $18 special
Wine Enthusiast 90 points “A blend of 68% Cabernet Sauvignon and 32% Merlot, this offers aromas of high-toned red fruit, French-oak spice and herbs that lead to luxurious but still in-check dark-fruit flavors. Tart black-tea accents persist on the finish.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Soos Creek Wine Cellars Terrible Beauty, Columbia Valley 2014 750ML ($31.95) $28 special
Wine Enthusiast 91 points “This wine blends fruit from top sites Champoux, Ciel du Cheval, Dineen, Elephant Mountain, Klipsun and Weinbau. Pleasing aromas of black tea, herb, dark chocolate and black fruit lead to bountiful black-fruit flavors supported by vibrant acids and firm, lightly chewy tannins that need time to unwind.”
Soos Creek Wine Cellars Palisades, Columbia Valley 2014 750ML ($31.95) $28 special
Wine Advocate 90 points “Black cherries, plums, chocolate and leafy herbs all emerge from the deliciously fruit forward, textured, total charmer that is the 2014 Palisades. A blend of 83% Merlot, 11% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest Cabernet Franc, drink it over the coming 4-5 years.”
Wine Enthusiast 90 points “Champoux, Charbonneau, Ciel du Cheval, Elephant Mountain, Klipsun, and Slide Mountain vineyards make up this wine. The aromas are lightly styled, with notes of baking spice, caramel, licorice, raspberry and dried herb. It comes off as full bodied, rich and liquorous, coating the palate from end to end with ripe red and black-fruit flavors. It’s a hedonistic delight.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Soos Creek Wine Cellars Artist Series #14 Red Blend, Columbia Valley 2014 ($31.95) $28 special
Wine Advocate 90 points “Loaded with spice, kirsch, incense and hints of currants, the 2014 Artist Series #14 (57% Cabernet Sauvignon and 43% Cabernet Franc) is medium+ bodied and nicely structured on the palate, with plenty of length. It’s another character filled red from this estate.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Soos Creek Wine Cellars Champoux Vineyard Red, Horse Heaven Hills 2014 ($41.95) $33 special
Wine Advocate 90 points “The 2014 Champoux Vineyard is rock-solid. Made from 83% Cabernet Sauvignon and 17% Cabernet Franc, it has lots of incense, dried violets and black and blue fruits, medium to full-bodied richness, and a layered, nicely textured style.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $39.99
California
Round Pond Estate Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Rutherford 2013 750ML ($119.95) $89 special
Case-6 Round Pond Estate Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Rutherford 2013 750ML ($599.95) $499 special (that’s only $83.17/bottle!)
Antonio Galloni 94 points “Dark red cherry, plum, smoke, chocolate, gravel and mineral notes are all delineated in a wine with distinct Rutherford personality. Firm, dusty tannins support the long finish. The 2013 can be enjoyed now, but it will be even better in time.”
Wine Advocate 93+ points “As for the 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve, this Rutherford cuvée is a blend of 91% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest Petit Verdot and Petite Sirah. Supple fruit, again black cherry liqueur, licorice, spice box and blacker fruits cascade over the palate in this medium to full-bodied, beautifully made, pure wine. Drink it over the next 15-20 years.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $99
Clos du Val Cabernet Sauvignon Hirondelle Vineyard Stags Leap District, Napa Valley 2014 750ML ($149.95) $119 special
Clos du Val Cabernet Sauvignon Hirondelle Vineyard Stags Leap District, Napa Valley 2014 1.5L ($299.95) $239 special
Antonio Galloni 94 points “Deep, inky and enveloping, the 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Hirondelle Estate Vineyard captures all the elements that make Stags Leaps Cabernets so compelling. A host of lavender, mint, sage, graphite and crème de cassis notes flesh out in an effortless, noble Cabernet Sauvignon endowed with notable depth and intensity.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Clos du Val Winemaker’s Signature Series Three Graces Red Blend, Napa Valley 2014 750ML ($199.95) $169 special
Antonio Galloni 95+ points “The 2014 Three Graces is a new wine from Clos du Val that replaces the former Reserve. Inky, rich and powerful, the 2014 possesses superb intensity and resonance, with plenty of dark fruit spice, lavender and French oak notes. I suspect it will be at least a few years before the 2014 starts to show its full potential.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
France – Burgundy
Bruno Desaunay Bissey Les Rouges, Vosne-Romanee Premier Cru 2014 750ML ($89.95) $69 special
This is the only listing in the USA today!
France – Loire
Domaine de la Guilloterie Saumur Blanc Elegance, Loire 2014 750ML ($21.95) $16 special
Wine Spectator: “Yellow apple skin, star fruit and honeysuckle notes give this a lively feel, with a brisk hint of blanched almond at the very end.”
Italy – Tuscany
Felsina Berardenga Chianti Classico DOCG, Tuscany 2015 750ML ($27.95) $21.90 special
Wine Spectator 92 points “Dense yet rich, this red offers black cherry, earth and graphite aromas and flavors. Needs a year or two to find balance, yet the lingering, tobacco-inflected finish and refined tannins indicate the potential here. Best from 2019 through 2028.”
Italy – Veneto
Tommaso Bussola Amarone della Valpolicella Classico DOCG, Veneto 2011 750ML ($67.95) $59 special
Ian D’agata–Vinous 95 points “Very deep ruby, almost inky in color. Multidimensional nose combines red cherry, raspberry syrup, gunflint, cinnamon, flowers and oak spices. Thick but magically light on its feet, with penetrating red fruit and very strong chocolaty flavors nicely framed by harmonious acidity. The sweet and ultra smooth finish saturates the palate with red fruits, chocolate and sweet spices. Sports a highish 17% alcohol by volume but you can hardly tell, a real neat trick for such a luscious, concentrated wine. Almost like drinking liquid chocolate with alcohol. Outstanding Amarone that will likely turn out to be one of the top three wines of the vintage.”
Italy – Friuli
Miani Friulano Colli Orientali del Friuli, Friuli-Venezia Giulia 2015 750ML ($79.95) $69 special
Miani Sauvignon “Zitelle Alto” Colli Orientali del Friuli, Friuli-Venezia Giulia 2015 750ML ($119.95) $99 special
Antonio Galloni 93 points “The 2015 Sauvignon Zitelle is a terrific introduction to the Miani house style. The Zitelle possesses lovely varietal aromatics and layers of intense fruit, but with a bit less overall intensity in all of its components than some of the bigger whites in this range. The more medium-bodied style makes for a Miani white that can be enjoyed pretty much upon release, whereas some of the other 2015 whites need time in bottle to be at their best.”
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Beaulieu Vineyard
Georges de Latour
Private Reserve
California Ultra-Classics Series
(For 1/3rd the price of Opus or Dominus)
In 1900, French natives Georges and Fernande de Latour established the Beaulieu Vineyard in what is now the Rutherford AVA. It wasn’t until nearly 40 years later that the family released the “Private Reserve” bottling at the insistence of André Tchelistcheff, one of the most influential winemakers in the years after Prohibition (during which, interestingly, the de Latours were a major supplier of sacramental wine). When Georges passed away in 1940, the wine was renamed in his honor. Within a few vintages, and with Tchelistcheff’s guiding expertise, the wine became a national success and one of the original cult wines of California.
Today, Jeffrey Stambor serves as winemaker having joined in 1989 and, since 2010, Michel Rolland, the world-renowned enologist, has served as a blending consultant. The original vineyard, now known as Beaulieu Vineyard Ranch No. 1, was replanted in the 1990s as part of an effort to modernize and improve the character and ageability of the finished wines, during which time other improvements, such as use of French oak over American, were rolled out. The wine includes fruit from BV Ranch No. 2 – the second vineyard purchased by the de Latours located just west of No. 1. Both offer some of Northern California’s longest growing seasons with warm days, cool nights and cool fog that rolls in from the San Pablo Bay.
We are excited to be able to offer these classic Napa Cabs to you. They offer some of the world’s finest examples of pedigreed Cabernet Sauvignon at a third the cost or less of most other California cult wines.
In Stock Now:
BV Georges de Latour Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2012 750ML ($119.95) $99 special
Robert Parker 94 points “The deep ruby/purple-colored 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Private Reserve Georges de Latour is BV’s flagship wine. It boasts sweet notes of charcoal, burning embers, vanillin, tar and copious quantities of blackcurrant fruit. In keeping with this generously endowed vintage, the wine is supple, full-bodied, multidimensional and opulent. It will drink beautifully young and last for 20-25 years.”
BV Georges de Latour Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2013 750ML ($119.95) $99 special
Case-6 BV Georges de Latour Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2013 750ML ($619.95) $559 special (that’s only $93.17/bottle!)
Robert Parker 95+ points “One of the two flagship cuvées, the 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Private Reserve Georges de Latour is a fabulous wine. Obviously, this is the one wine that received the most meticulous attention from their outside consultant Michel Rolland. A great effort in 2013, as one might expect in this vintage, this wine needs 5-6 years and seems capable of lasting 30-40 or more, given the history of the great BV Private Reserves. Inky purple to the rim, with an extraordinary nose of créme de cassis and kirsch, licorice, cedarwood, and a touch of underbrush, the wine hits the palate with a full-bodied, powerful, concentrated, dense style, has great acidity, moderately sweet tannin, and a long, long finish. This wine is young and still slightly unformed, but loaded with potential and upside. Forget it for 5-6 years and drink it over the following half-century.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $115
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Raul Perez
Raul Perez has emerged as one of the most exciting Spanish winemakers of the last few years. He’s done it in an interesting way: not by making over-the-top big fruit and oak bombs, but rather by honing in on the terroirs in Galicia, a relatively unromantic vinicultural region. Until the late 1990’s, when his mentor Alvaro Palacios started the Petalos/Descendientes project, most of the wines in the region were sold locally, often to pilgrims on the Camino de Santiago.
Since then, a number of new wineries have popped up, but most of them are in the Palacios mold—made from around the warm, Mediterranean-climate village of Corullon. Perez, on the other hand, has walked a different path and focuses on wines made from Atlantic-influence climates in villages like Villadecanes or Cacabelos. As a result, the wines tend to be impressive, but in an introspective, earthy way.
Winemaking plays a part in that, as well. Perez prefers indigenous yeasts, neutral vessels and a lot of whole-cluster fermentation in his wine. Citing the (unlikely) influence of Bartolo Mascarello, he performs a long post-fermentation maceration on his wines as well, which give the wines powerful, yet elegant, structures that complement food exceptionally well. When you roll all of this together, you understand why Perez is making waves—these are unique and exceptional wines that show off terroirs previously unexplored by serious winemakers.
Featured Pre-Arrival from Raul Perez, ETA November 3rd:
Raul Perez Ultreia de Paluezas, Bierzo 2014 750ML ($79.95) $66 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 97 points “The 2014 Ultreia de Paluezas is a true rarity as the vines are planted on limestone soils, which are scarce in Bierzo, and the wine is really different, with a note of wet chalk that is not present in any other wine here. It has a very elegant palate, medium-bodied with very fine tannins and a velvety texture, with an earthy, limestone touch. It ends with a very tasty finish, and an almost salty sensation. There are only 300 bottles of this, as they could only produce one barrel of it. It was bottled in January 2017.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Also Arriving November 3rd
Raul Perez Ultreia Saint Jacques, Bierzo 2015 750ML ($21.95) $17.80 re-arrival special
Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2015 Ultreia St Jacques is the entry-level red for the Ultreia range and is amazingly good for the price. Produced from old vines, this is a serious wine, with juicy fruit, a fine palate and good freshness for the conditions of the year. They have included new vineyards that they have been working for the last four or five years, so they are able to bottle a little bit more wine. This is a great value.”
Grapelive 93 points “It was a great honor to meet and taste with Raul Perez, one of Spain’s most heroic and influential winemakers (also known as the godfather of Mencia). Perez has mentored many rising stars, including Pedro Rodriguez and Veronica Ortega, whose wines I recently discovered and who is still working with him. Raul Perez’s lineup was mind-blowing and lived up to my huge expectations in every way. I was wildly thrilled with each and every one of these offerings, especially this new Ultra Saint Jacques Bierzo Tinto that delivers wonderful depth and complexity at a price that makes it a bargain by any standards. [It is] made from mainly from Mencia, but with some inter planted Bastardo (thought to be Trousseau) and Garnacha Tintorera (Alicante Bouschet) coming off vines that average about 75 years old. This dark and ripe vintage shows an almost Northern Rhone-like character and has an earthy/savory/spicy edge like a lighter Cornas. This was fermented with native yeasts, about 80% whole cluster in large oak cask with long macerations lasting between 2 and 5 months and then aged in mixed vessels including some cement, as well as 225L and 500L oak. [It was bottled] unfined and unfiltered. It’s pretty in detail with violet/floral tones, peppercorn and a medium body that flows with sweet tannins. It shows vibrant but smooth acidity, and flinty mineral elements as well as a core of loganberry, plum, candied cherry and tart currant fruits as well as salted black licorice, lavender, pipe tobacco, shale stones, earthy charms and a hint of cinnamon. This 2015 is lovely stuff that drinks very well right now and should prove pleasing for 3 to 5 years. For this price you’ll want a case!”
VinopolNote: This is the entry level wine that Perez makes and is a great introduction to wines of Bierzo without the Palacios flash. Pure fruit married to an attractive earthiness and minerality, it’s a great snapshot of the house style.
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
La Vizcaina ‘La Vitoriana’ Lomas de Valtuille, Bierzo 2014 750ML ($37.95) $33 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 95 points “My favorite red of the 2014 vintage was the 2014 La Vizcaína La Vitoriana, which was very expressive, floral and elegant, with filigree and detail. There is a lot of depth in the palate, greatly balanced with very fine tannins and a long, tasty finish. This is the oldest vineyard they have, and Raúl Pérez told me the vineyard is not an easy one: very good in some years, not so good in others. 6,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in April, the latest bottling, as it needs a long aging after a three-month maceration.”
In Stock Now from Raul Perez:
Raul Perez Prieto Picudo Vino de la Tierra de Castilla y Leon 2011 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Grapelive 96 points “The rare Prieto Picudo is an odd varietal with high acid, high tannin and slightly oval shaped with a pointy tip, it’s native and almost only found here in Tierra de Leon, the name means beaked, hence the name, Raul Perez’s is from a high elevation old vine site on sandy clay soils with river rocks, making for a unique wine that has an almost Nebbiolo or Ramisco like flavor profile. This extraordinary red, from vines planted in 1900 in the village of Pajares de los Oteros at about 900 feet above sea level, was fermented whole cluster in chestnut wood vats with a cool 60 day maceration and then raised for about 60 months in French barriques, this long elevage adding to the wine’s refinement and mature character. The 2011 Prieto Picudo, from 111 year old vines when harvested, is a brilliant ruby/dark red color with herb and floral notes on the nose with mineral tones as well as a slight earthy/spice and kirsch note before opening to a medium full palate of racy red fruits including brambly forest berry, cherry, plum and mulberry plus dried flowers, peppercorns, grilled fennel and light cedar. The texture is fantastic and mouth filling with satiny feel, this is mind-blowing stuff with great depth and layers of pleasure, but with firm tannins and glowing vibrancy making this wine really pop, lingering distilled strawberry, salty stones, sweet tobacco leaf and baking spice. This is one of the coolest wines I’ve tried this year, again it reminds me somewhat of Lessona DOC, Nebbiolo based reds that spend 4 to 5 years in cask, of the upper Piedmonte area. The fruit is ripe and polished, this is very much a classic Perez wine, it was great to taste it with the winemaker himself, you could see just how thrilled he was with this Prieto Picudo and his passion was thick in the air, and I think this wine has potential to age another decade, I hope to get a chance to see how it evolves. Wow.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Raul Perez Ultreia Mencia, Bierzo 2014 750ML ($31.95) $24.80 special, 20 bottles in stock now
Wine Advocate 92 points “The red 2014 Ultreia is Mencía from various vineyards in the environment of Ponferrada, where the soils are rich in slate, complemented by some 20% of grapes from the zone of Valtuille. It follows the same modus operandi as all the reds: fermentation with full clusters and indigenous yeasts and aging in used, well-seasoned, neutral barrels for one year. There is a mix of floral, spicy and balsamic aromas, subtle with an earthy background. The palate revealed some earthy tannins and fine, focused and subtle flavors.”
VinopolNote: This is the flagship wine of the Ultreia project and is something that any lover of cool-climate red wine should pay attention to. Mostly Mencia, with a few other grapes that accumulated in this part of the Camino de Santiago over the years discreetly blended in, this is a wine that speaks of Bierzo in urgent, though quiet, tones.
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $32
Raul Perez Ultreia El Rapolao 2014 750ML ($69.95) $59 special, 6 bottles in stock now
Wine Advocate 95+ points “There is a new Ultreia bottling, the 2014 Ultreia El Rapolao, from a vineyard that now sees five or six different bottlings, sourced from their old vineyards that used to go to the Vizcaína bottling. This is really pretty, with intense floral aromas, spices, a touch of earth and something herbal. The palate is medium-bodied with refined tannins, great balance and a tasty, long, sapid, almost salty finish. There were some 600 bottles produced. it was bottled in January 2017. Outstanding.”
Raul Perez Ultreia de Valtuille, Bierzo 2014 750ML ($69.95) $59 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Wine Advocate 96 points “The 2014 Ultreia de Valtuille was very open and expressive, impressive too, with notes of freshness, blood orange, red cherries and also flowers (violets, lilies) and an earthy touch. It’s elegant and complex, with very fine tannins and a velvety sensation. As with all the reds, the oak is unnoticeable, perfectly integrated and folded into the wine.”
La Vizcaina ‘El Rapolao’ Lomas de Valtuille, Bierzo 2014 750ML ($37.95) $29.80 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Wine Advocate 94+ points “The 2014 La Vizcaína El Rapolao had a Cabernet Franc-like character that I also found in the 2013, both cold years in the zone. It fermented in a combination of oak and chestnut vats. There are also notes of wild berries and flowers. The palate is serious, with fine-grained tannins and good length. 2014 was not an easy harvest, but somehow his vineyards delivered very balanced grapes and higher yields. Some 3,400 bottles were filled in August 2016. This is the first of the reds to be bottled.”LG
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 92 points “(aged in used barriques and demi-muids) Inky ruby. Smoke-accented blackberry and blueberry scents on the deeply perfumed nose, complicated by violet, peppery spice and game notes. This reminds me a lot of a northern Rhône wine. Densely packed dark berry preserve flavors pick up candied licorice and cola qualities with aeration, along with hints of bitter chocolate and candied flowers. Coats the palate and puts on weight with air, finishing with smoky mineral cut, excellent tenacity and building tannins.”
VinopolNote: This is from Raul’s highest altitude vineyard, with a northeastern exposure and the most influence of the Atlantic ocean. As a result the wines have long hang times and can be picked late (this is often picked last of the Vizcaina wines) with great freshness and character. Stunning stuff that we can’t say enough about.
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Arriving in November
Albert Mann
Run by brothers Maurice (the viticulturalist) and Jacky (the winemaker) Barthelmé, the Domaine Albert Mann has won praise from the Wine Advocate and Revue de Vin de France. Their wines offer precision and balance with careful efforts to achieve finesse and complexity that are grounded in biodynamic and organic practices in the vineyard through bottling.
“Albert Mann is unquestionably one of the most underrated estates in France.” –Robert Parker
In Stock Now from Domaine Albert Mann:
Albert Mann Riesling Schlossberg, Alsace Grand Cru 2011 750ML ($49.95) $33 special, 6 bottles in stock now
David Schildknecht 93 points “Finished at 13.5% alcohol and with 11 grams of residual sugar that manage to support the fruit but otherwise fade into the background, the Mann 2011 Riesling Schlossberg was picked on September 23-26 and displays an ample measure of ripe and infectiously juicy acidity as well as a surprising and delightful sense of lift. The apple, lime and orange found in the corresponding Cuvee Albert are here are joined by succulent white peach, pungently infused with green tea, and adorned with a heady garland of buddleia as well as with an even more intriguing not to mention prodigiously persistent set of mineral adjuncts, notably mouthwatering salinity and a somehow crystalline sense of impingement. The sleek, polished mouthfeel here further enhances an impression of refinement and elegance not easily achieved in this vintage. Look for this beauty to perform superbly through at least 2025. “
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Arriving in November from Domaine Albert Mann:
Albert Mann Gewurztraminer Steingrubler, Alsace Grand Cru 2015 750ML ($39.95) $33 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 93 points “Very ripe but precise and intense, with classic Gewurz flavors on the nose opens the 2015 Gewurztraminer Grand Cru Steingrubler, a powerful yet vital, precise and elegant wine full of tension and grip. Very stimulating its its purity and tension. The wine finished at 13.% alcohol and 37 grams of residual sugar, but you almost don’t taste it!”
This is the only listing in the USA today for the 2015!
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today for any vintage!
Albert Mann Pinot Gris Hengst, Alsace Grand Cru 2014 750ML ($41.95) $36 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2014 Pinot Gris Grand Cru Hengst displays a clear, deep, elegant and slightly smoky bouquet of fully ripe golden delicious apples, as well as crushed stone flavors. Full-bodied and elegant, the 2014 Hengst is rich, round and lush on the palate, but also finessed, well structured and salty in the still dry, long and persistent finish. This is probably one of the finest 2014 Pinot Gris I have tasted in the more southern part of Alsace from that vintage.”
Albert Mann Riesling Furstentum, Alsace Grand Cru 2015 750ML ($41.95) $39 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 92+ points “The 2015 Grand Cru Furstentum Riesling is very pure and spicy on the smoky, quite elegant nose. Rich, ripe and concentrated on the palate, with stewed fruit flavors and 26 grams of unfermented sugar, the finish is lingeringly salty and very stimulating.”
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Arriving in November
Champagne Nicolas Maillart
Nicolas Maillart took over his family’s domaine in 2003. His family has grown wine grapes in the Montagne de Reins since the mid-18th century and today Nicolas is based in the village of Chamery. Since taking over, Nicolas has revitalized winemaking at the estate, purchasing a press and thermos-regulated fermentation tanks, and adapted sustainable and organic methods to suit his needs (he is opposed to using copper). Though on paper he is a negociant, he purchases grapes from family vineyards that he works himself.
Arriving in November from Champagne Nicolas Maillart:
Champagne Nicolas Maillart Marie Hanze Alliance Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($41.95) $34.50 pre-arrival special
Wine Spectator 90 points “Steely acidity frames this austere style, but the spiced flavors of guava, fresh-cut apple, spring blossom and kumquat are sufficiently expressive and fleshy for balance. Tightly knit in texture and lightly creamy on the finish.”
Nicolas Maillart ‘Zero Dosage’ Premier Cru Brut Nature, Champagne NV 750ML ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival special
Wine Enthusiast 90 points “Yes, it’s dry, very dry. However, this well-made wine with its steely texture and tight character just needs some bottle age to give it the richness that is missing at the moment. It would be good with food now; give it at least a year in bottle after purchase to be even better.” WE
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Can’t wait that long?
We’ve got two budget-friendly Champagnes available here now with even lower pricing by the six pack!
Drappier Carte d’Or Brut Champagne NV 750ML ($49.95) $36 special
Case-6 Drappier Carte d’Or Brut Champagne NV 750ML ($299.95) $199 special (that’s only $33.17/bottle!)
Wine Spectator 92 points “This bright and zesty Champagne is lightly juicy and appealing, offering flavors of Honeycrisp apple, ripe white cherry, biscuit and pickled ginger. Balanced and lacy in texture, with a lingering, spiced finish. Drink now through 2022.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Arlaux Grande Cuvee Premier Cru Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($39.95) $33 special
Case-6 Arlaux Grande Cuvee Premier Cru Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($219.95) $189 special (that’s only $31.50/bottle!)
Wine Advocate 92 points “The nose of this wine seduces you straight away with a great balance of autolytic and fruit aromas: toasted hazelnuts, warm apple tart and kaya (coconut and egg) jam. The palate is equally well balanced providing plenty of evolved fruit and toasty / yeasty flavors. Small, fine bubbles, seamless use of dosage and a long nutty finish. This fine if relatively unknown Brut NV takes first place in the derby – a shocker even for me!”
Importer notes: “Arlaux is a small family-run champagne house producing only 5,000 cases a year located in a small village on the Petit Montagne de Reims called Vrigny. Arlaux has been producing champagne since 1826 but the Arlaux-Marchal family have lived in Vrigny since the 13th century. Exclusively 1er Cru Champagne with a minimum of 4 years aging. They only use their own grapes from 20 to 100 year old vines which are hand-picked in order to select only the very best. All Arlaux cuvées are 100% Premier Cru and 100% Tête de Cuvée (meaning that they only use the juice of the 1st press).”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $37
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2015 Chateauneuf du Pape
Domaine de Beaurenard
Mosel, Burgundy, Beaujolais, it’s hard to name a region that hasn’t excelled in 2015. Could 2015 Chateauneuf du Pape leave them all in the dust? You won’t have to wait too long to decide for yourself…
Arriving in April
Domaine de Beaurenard Chateauneuf-du-Pape Boisrenard 2015 750ML ($99.95) $79 pre-arrival special
Wine Spectator 97 points “This is loaded with beautifully rendered fig, blackberry and boysenberry confiture flavors that are seamlessly intertwined, while warm fruitcake, melted black licorice and black tea notes chime throughout. The finish ripples with energy, showing finely beaded acidity and a terrific graphite edge. Best from 2020 through 2040. 500 cases made.–JM ”
Arriving in May
Domaine de Beaurenard Chateauneuf-du-Pape 2015 750ML ($59.95) $39 pre-arrival special
Wine Spectator 94 points “A beautiful wine, with dark fig, warm boysenberry reduction and alluring creamed raspberry flavors streaming forth, accented by graphite, black tea and pastis. There’s a healthy dose of singed apple wood through the finish, but it’s well-embedded as everything pulls together. Best from 2020 through 2040.–JM ”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $45
See the complete list of 2015 Chateauneuf du Papes below or visit our web store to read reviews and shop online!
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