Jump Start Sale: Colgin 2013; California Dreaming: Spottswoode, Quintessa & Kapcsandy; New Week – New Arrivals (including Dujac, Huet Moelleux, and more); Arriving Friday: CVNE; New October Sales; On Trend – Burgundy; Eugen Muller: Kirchenstuck Vineyard (Super Exclusive German Auslese); Akutain: The Nouveau Spanish Traditionalist; Spanish Bargains for under $15/bottle!; October Sales Recap – These Deals Expire on October 31st
Jump Start Sale
Colgin Cellars IX Estate Red, Napa Valley 2013 750ML ($699.95) $619 pre-arrival special, arriving late October
Robert Parker 100 points “Another perfect wine from Ann Colgin and her winemaking team is the 2013 IX Proprietary Red Estate, a blend of 68% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc and 8% Petit Verdot. An absolutely compelling wine, with notes of lead pencil shavings, spring flowers, blueberry, blackberry and cassis, it has the full smorgasbord of black and blue fruits, wonderfully integrated, toasty oak, acidity and tannin, a floral note that is unmistakable, and great richness, density and purity. It is an utterly exceptional wine and a tribute to not only a great vineyard, but impeccable winemaking and upbringing. It should drink well for 30+ years as well.”
The next best price is $750
That’s $131 more per bottle!!
More California Dreaming
Spottswoode Family Estate Grown Cabernet Sauvignon, St. Helena 2013 750ML ($219.95) $179 special, 20 bottles available
Robert Parker 99+ points “Yields continued to increase in 2013, with just over 4,000 cases of wine from a blend of 88% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Cabernet Franc and 4% Petit Verdot. This is another killer effort from Spottswoode. Inky bluish purple to the rim, it has hints of violets intermixed with sweet foresty notes, blackcurrants, chocolate and a touch of subtle smoke and earth. It is dense, with higher acidity and more noticeable structure than the 2012, but is as concentrated, dense and promising. Some patience is warranted in 2013, and I would suggest waiting another 5-6 years before pulling the cork on one. It is a 50-year wine at the very minimum and a great classic.”
Quintessa Proprietary Red Wine, Rutherford 2013 750ML ($189.95) Was $169, Now $138 pre-arrival special, arriving October 7th
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.”
The next best price is $149.99
The average price is $185
Shipping Season Has Arrived
Don’t miss out!
If you have wine being held for cooler weather
please contact us to arrange shipping at this time.
Email or call today!
NEW ARRIVALS – Oregon
A blend of Pinot Noir and Gamay from the Wasson Vineyard aged in amphora.
NEW ARRIVALS – France/Champagne
Charles Heidsieck Brut Reserve, Champagne NV 750ML ($59.95) $49 special
Case-6 Charles Heidsieck Brut Reserve, Champagne NV 750ML ($319.95) $269 special (that’s only $44.83/bottle!)
Wine Spectator 93 points “Rich and creamy, this harmonious Champagne is expressive, with brioche, crystallized honey, black currant and toasted marshmallow flavors, accented by hints of verbena, baked peach and chopped nut. Vibrant and focused through to the lasting, saline-tinged finish. Drink now through 2022.”
NEW ARRIVALS – France/Burgundy
Wine Advocate “The 2014 Morey-Saint-Denis Blanc has a refined bouquet with almond and white peach scents. The palate is well balanced, quite rich in the mouth with a brush of clear honey and almond towards the rounded finish. This is a commendable white Morey.”Catherine et Claude Marechal Savigny-les-Beaune Vieilles Vignes 2012 750ML ($59.95) $49 special
Importer note “Sourced from a 1.78 hectare plot of old-vine Pinot Noir (the oldest having been planted in 1955) planted to clay/silt/limestone soils from the lieu-dits of Les Peuillets, les Pimentiers, and les Liards. The grapes are destemmed and fermentation proceeds naturally with the solid materiel being punched down twice a day until fermentation completes. The wine is aged for 10 months in barrel, 10% of which is new.”
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 92+ points “Good bright, deep red. Powerful, expressive yet cool nose offers scents of blackberry, boysenberry and violet. Penetrating, very intense and quite primary on the palate, showing terrific energy and texture to the dark berry fruit. Finishes chewy and long, with a strong dusting of tannins but no dryness. The crop level was generous here, at a bit under 40 hectoliters per hectare, according to Magnien.”
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 92 points “Bright red-ruby. Superripe aromas of blackberry, crushed cassis, bitter chocolate, violet and licorice. Densely packed but energetic and light on its feet, with its fruit-driven flavors of blackberry and blueberry communicating an impression of medicinal reserve. Very well-judged extraction here, showing little in the way of dryness. Has the stuffing to support its serious tannins. Finishes with excellent length.”
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 89-91 points “Healthy dark red. Lovely lift to the aromas of blackberry, blackberry and spicy underbrush. Densely packed, broad and sweet; spreads out horizontally on the palate but retains a juicy quality to its dark berry and spice flavors. Finishes with substantial ripe tannins and very good length.”
Domaine Dujac Les Beaumonts, Vosne-Romanee Premier Cru 2014 750ML ($349.95) $319 special
Wine Advocate 92-94 points “The 2014 Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru les Beaux Monts has a very attractive bouquet, pure and sensual with black cherries, boysenberry and a touch of blueberry. Understated but quite compelling. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin, silky in texture, beautifully balanced with very well judged acidity with a touch of salinity towards the finish. This is a very well crafted Beaumonts that deserves several years in bottle.”
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 91-94 points “Bright red-ruby. Very pure aromas of raspberry, red licorice and smoky minerals, plus a hint of animal fur. Plush, rich and fine-grained, offering a silky, spherical texture to its expressive flavors of raspberry, smoke, minerals, game and mocha. Finishes with broad, building tannins and terrific persistence.”
John Gilman 96 points “In contrast to the Charmes, the 2014 Dujac Clos de la Roche was in fine spirits and showing enormous potential. The brilliant bouquet offers up scents of cherries, red plums, pomegranate, gamebirds, superb soil tones, woodsmoke, raw cocoa and vanillin oak. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied and very suave on the attack, with a sappy core, fine transparency and a very, very long, fine-grained and elegant finish. A great vintage of Clos de la Roche from the Seysses family this year!”
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 92-95 points “Bright, dark red. Pure, vibrant, perfumed aromas of raspberry, red licorice, rose petal and spices. Silky, seamless and pristine, with terrific mineral energy to the raspberry, saline and earth flavors. Conveys an impression of sucrosité but this youthfully imploded wine is classically dry. Diana Snowden ventured the opinion that 2014 is a great year for Clos de la Roche.”Dujac Fils & Pere Chambolle-Musigny 2014 750ML ($99.95) $77 special
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 87-89 points “(vinified with 70% whole clusters): Bright, dark red. Musky black raspberry and mineral aromas and flavors are lifted by herbs and spices. Nicely energized by the stem component. Finishes with substantial dusty tannins and a hint of salty minerality.”
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 87-90 points “Bright, medium ruby-red. Aromas of black raspberry and smoke show attractive perfumed lift. Nicely concentrated and sweet, with a chocolatey ripeness and a rather pliant texture that should give this wine earlier drinkability than the village Gevrey.”
Domaine Dujac Clos Saint-Denis Grand Cru 2014 750ML ($599.95) $479 special
John Gilman 97 points “The style of the 2014 vintage perfectly dovetails with the great elegance inherent in this terroir, so it is not surprising that the Domaine Dujac version is utterly stunning this year. The wine soars from the glass in a blaze of cherries, red plums, cocoa powder, fresh nutmeg, a fabulous base of soil tones, woodsmoke, lovely spice tones and vanillin oak. On the palate the wine is pure, full-bodied and utterly seamless, with a velvety attack, a sappy core of red fruit, stunning transparency and a supremely elegant, fine-grained and tangy finish. Hauntingly beautiful Clos St. Denis in 2014!”
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 93-95 points “Bright ruby-red. Subtle perfume of raspberry, red cherry, rose petal and flinty minerality. Silky on entry, then less sweet and more soil-driven in the mid-palate than the Clos de la Roche. But this impeccably balanced wine boasts an insidiously tactile mouth feel and opens out spectacularly on the back end. Finishes wonderfully juicy and suave, with noble tannins and a sneaky whiplash of flavor. I’d love to try this wine next to the Clos de la Roche again in ten years.”
NEW ARRIVALS – France/Beaujolais
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 91 points “Bright ruby-red. Fresh blackberry and cherry pit scents are lifted by a spicy elemen. Juicy and broad on entry, then tighter in the middle, offering intense dark berry and lavender pastille flavors that become more lively (in the style of the vintage) with air. Finishes on a tangy note, with very good persistence and silky, slowly building tannins.”
NEW ARRIVALS – France/Loire
Wine Enthusiast 95 points “Named in honor of the Romans who first planted vines in Sancerre, this wine has its feet firmly in the chalk soil that gives it richness as well as minerality. Ripe with touches of yellow fruits as well as lime and other citrus flavors, it is structured, dense and likely to age well. Drink from 2018.”
The next best price is $59.99
Francois Pinon Vouvray Demi-Sec Les Trois Argiles 2015 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 special
VinopolNote: A certified organic, demi-sec Vouvray fermented over 2-3 months with indigenous yeast. The wine is cooled to stop fermentation and is aged in barrel on the fine lees for 4-5 months. Francois Pinon took over the family estate in 1987. The vineyards are on clay, silica, limestone and flint soils and include some of the top sites in the appellation. From vineyard to winery, production is hands-off. There is no chemical fertilizers or pesticides, harvest is done by hand, and fermentation takes place with only naturally present yeasts. All the new plantings are selection massale (propagated from cuttings from the vineyards) and vines average 25 years old.Domaine Huet Vouvray Moelleux Clos du Bourg Premiere Trie 2015 750ML ($79.95) $69 special
Wine Spectator 97 points “Concentrated, with a core of intense Jonagold apple, glazed Bosc pear, ginger cream and dried quince flavors, carried by filigreed acidity and backed by green tea, verbena, chamomile and persimmon notes. The finish is extremely long. Best from 2018 through 2040.”
Domaine Huet Vouvray Moelleux Le Haut Lieu 2015 750ML ($49.95) $41.90 special
Wine Spectator 95 points “Offers a big, broad feel, with layers of glazed pear, apple and peach falling over each other, backed by fresh ginger, honeysuckle and quince notes. Everything pulls together through the finish, with green tea accents and racy minerality providing the foil. Drink now through 2035.”
Domaine Huet Vouvray Moelleux Le Mont 2015 750ML ($51.95) $44 special
Wine Spectator 94 points “Offers ginger- and hibiscus-infused creamed yellow apple, quince and pear notes, gilded with a whiff of piecrust. All the elements meld through the long, rippling finish. Drink now through 2035.”
NEW ARRIVALS – Germany
Wine Advocate 94 points “The 2014 Riesling Auslese Fahrlay is a very juicy and fruity, piquant and delicate Riesling with fine acidity and sensual sweetness. The wine is extremely sappy and its sweetness is countered by the piquant and racy acidity. This is a gorgeous Auslese with great aging potential.”
Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2014 Riesling Auslese Rothenpfad displays a lovely, clear and slate-like bouquet, with herbal and tropical fruit flavors. Sweet and piquant on the palate, this is a rich and very elegant, well balanced Riesling with a great delicacy, and fruit-intense and piquant finish. Very stimulating. The residual sugar of 135 grams per liter is almost blown away by the acidity and minerality.”
Wine Advocate 95+ points “This is my second rating of the 2013 Riesling Raffes, almost one year after I tasted it for the first time. The wine shows a good fruit intensity and ripeness today (oranges), along with nice and pure slate-like flavors. Rich, pure and juicy on the palate, this is a full-bodied Riesling with a juicy texture and a very sensual sweetness, but only 12.5% alcohol. The acidity is really piquant here and you might think it’s like a dry Auslese with a higher degree of sweetness. The finish is enormous and very promising. Don’t drink this wine too soon.”
Weingut Clemens Busch Pundericher Marienburg Fahrlay-Terrassen Riesling Grosses Gewachs, Mosel 2014 750ML ($79.95) $66 special
Wine Advocate 95 points “From almost 100-year-old vines in a 1,600 square meter plot (small grapes, loose berries, thicker skins), the 2014 Riesling GG Fahrlay Terrassen opens with a deep, concentrated, very complex, stony/dusty bouquet of almonds and ripe, healthy Riesling berries. Full-bodied, round and complex, with fully ripe and juicy, well concentrated, yellow-fleshed fruit and a great purity, this is a very complex and persistent Riesling of great expression. A cultural monument rolling over the palate. Very long. Memorable.”
NEW ARRIVALS – Portugal
Wine Spectator 88 points “Ripe and juicy, with plenty of Asian spice notes to the dark plum and cherry pie flavors, followed by hints of ginger and dark chocolate on the lush finish. Drink now through 2019.”
(Compania Vinicola del Norte de Espana)
Wine Spectator 90 points “This white is fresh and bright, but also dense, with a firm backbone of crisp acidity that carries pear, McIntosh apple and verbena flavors. The juicy, floral finish brings you back for another sip. Drink now through 2020.”
CVNE Cune Crianza, Rioja DOCa 2012 750ML ($14.95) $11.90 pre-arrival special
Wine Spectator 91 points “Cherry and vanilla flavors mingle with leafy and spicy accents in this round red. Orange peel acidity, cedar and tobacco notes give this a traditional accent. Stays fresh and balanced through the finish. Drink now through 2025.”
CVNE ‘Imperial’ Reserva, Rioja DOCa 2010 750ML ($49.95) $39 pre-arrival special
Wine Spectator 93 points “Smoky and tarry notes give this rich red an austere character, but plum, licorice, soy and mineral notes promise an expressive future. The tannins and acidity are balanced and unobtrusive. Best from 2016 through 2030.”
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 93 points “Saturated ruby. Spicy, intensely perfumed cherry and dark berry aromas are complemented by vanilla, potpourri and an exotic Indian spice quality. Smooth, round and concentrated, offering sweet, focused red and dark berry compote flavors lifted by juicy acidity. Appealingly sweet and broad on the impressively long, youthfully tannic back end, showing finishing notes of allspice, raspberry and bitter chocolate.”
Our low prices have just gotten lower… we’ve cut prices on an additional eight wines from around the world. New sales are below. You can find the full recap of October sale wines at the bottom!
FRANCE
Albert Bichot Savigny-les-Beaune 2012 750ML ($29.95) Was $21.90, Now $18, 31 bottles available
Winery note “Tasting notes: This Savigny les Beaune has a deep ruby red robe. Fruity aromas of red and black woodland berries, enhanced by aromas of mild spices. With an initial pleasant ampleness , this harmonious wine leads on to a subtle and fruity finish.”
Wine Spectator 91 points “A rich and refined white, with concentrated flavors of dried pear, white peach, apricot and guava that are supported by ample acidity. Well-structured, featuring loads of minerality and a lingering, pure-tasting finish. Vermentino. Drink now through 2018.”
The next best price is $54.99
ITALY
Altesino Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Tuscany 2011 750ML ($59.95) Was $49, Now $44, 36+ bottles available
Antonio Galloni 92 points “Altesino’s 2011 Brunello di Montalcino opens with beguiling aromatics. Sage, licorice, menthol and sweet tobacco flesh out nicely as the wine shows off its ample, broad personality. The tannins could use another year or two to soften, but all the elements are very nicely balanced throughout. This gracious, silky Brunello will drink well for the next decade-plus.”
James Suckling 92 points “This is long and delicious with lovely cherry, chocolate and fresh walnut flavors. Linear yet open with persistence and joy. Drink now.”
Altesino Montosoli, Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2011 750ML ($99.95) Was $77, Now $69, 22 bottles available
James Suckling 94 points “A very ripe style with prune, berry and salted-nut aromas and flavors. Full body, savory intensity and a long, flavorful finish. Lots of juicy, fabulous fruit. Shows the greatness of the vineyard. Drink or hold.”
The next best price is $74.98
Wine Spectator 90 points “This red is vibrant and pure, displaying cherry, raspberry, tobacco and earth aromas and flavors. Displays major grip on the finish, yet seems well-proportioned for a mid- to long-term evolution. Best from 2015 through 2028.” WS
Now it’s even lower!
The next best price is $39.99
GERMANY
Weingut A.J. Adam Dhroner Hofberg Riesling Kabinett, Mosel 2011 750ML ($39.95) Was $33, Now $29, 17 bottles available
Wine Advocate 92 points “Talcum and orange blossom fetchingly scent Adam’s 2011 Dhronhofberger Riesling Kabinett, then join white peach on a luscious, delicate, subtly creamy palate, with a sense of wafting inner-mouth perfume as well as nut cream and wet stone undertones lasting into a refreshing finish, where the effects of a small lot of wine with unusually high acidity are noticeable and engender a certain largely productive tension. As this opened to the air, a sense of interactive dynamic between its fruit and flowers on the one hand and emerging stony, alkaline, and saline notes on the other served to heighten an already high level of stimulation. This should be a delight to follow for the next 10 years or so and will probably gain in nuanced complexity.” WA
SPAIN
Bodegas Muga Reserva, Rioja DOCa 2011 750ML ($24.95) Was $21.90, Now $19, 36+ bottles available
Wine Advocate 91+ points “The 2011 Reserva is mostly Tempranillo complemented with some 20% Garnacha, 10% Graciano and 5% Mazuelo. There are no stainless-steel vats at Muga, so everything is fermented in oak vats and this wine is then aged for one year in new French oak barrels and a further year in used ones (three to six years old), fined with egg white and bottled. It is a Rioja that mixes the traditional and modern character with ripe fruit and contains oak aromas that are quite spicy and have some toast and smoke that should integrate with a bit of time in bottle. The palate is medium-bodied, has clean flavors that are balanced with sweet tannins. This is easy to drink, pleasant but not banal, and delivers a lot for its price. An impressive half-million bottles are produced of this wine, which is sold as Crianza in Spain and as Reserva in the rest of the world. Year after year, one of the most reliable and affordable Reservas.” LG
ARGENTINA
Achaval Ferrer Finca Mirador Malbec, Maipu 2011 750ML ($119.95) Was $79, Now $64, 7 bottles available
Wine Spectator 96 points “This pure, racy red exhibits a dark side, with layers of spice, graphite and maduro tobacco to the crushed raspberry, blackberry and concentrated cassis fruit. Needs time in the cellar. Best from 2015 through 2022.” WS
The average price is $116
Shipping Promos:
Welcome to the club, Colorado!
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!
On Trend…
…Burgundy
Case-12 Camille Giroud Santenay Rouge 2012 750ML ($499.95) $419 special, 2 cases available (that’s only $34.92/bottle!)
Antonio Galloni 89-90 points “Giroud’s 2012 Santenay is striking. Here the flavors are savory and quite powerful. Iron, graphite and minerals add complexity in a dark, muscular Santenay loaded with personality. The 2012 finishes with fabulous length, energy and perfume. About 20% of the Santenay is declassified 1er Cru fruit.” AG
Domaine Gachot-Monot Cote de Nuits-Villages 2012 750ML ($37.95) $21.90 special, 20 bottles available
Case-12 Domaine Gachot-Monot Cote de Nuits-Villages 2012 750ML ($349.95) $219 special, 3 cases available (that’s only $18.25/bottle!)
“The 2012 Cote de Nuits Village comes from 40- to 45-year-old vines. It has a deep, almost broody bouquet with brambly black fruit, hints of wet tobacco and damp soil. The palate is well-balanced with pleasant, quite rounded tannins. The acidity is well judged here, lending this Cote de Nuits Village a natural, refined finish. This is a delicious Burgundy wine, a perfect introduction to the delights of region. Drink now-2017.”–Wine Advocate
The next best price is $29.99
“Earth and smoke notes play around the edges in this cherry-flavored red. Vibrant, finishing with a hint of stone. Drink now through 2018.”–Wine Spectator
The next best price is $26.20
The average price is $29
Domaine Jean-Noel Gagnard Chassagne-Montrachet Cuvee l’Estimee 2011 750ML ($37.95) $29 special, 36+ bottles available
Burghound 88 points “A very fresh and expressive nose of red and blue pinot fruit with pepper and earth hints leads to rich, delicious and nicely complex middle weight flavors that offer good persistence and only a mild touch of rusticity on the sappy finish. This should be approachable, and enjoyable, young if desired”BH
The next best price is $34.99
Wine & Spirits 91 points
Terry Theise note “Savagely fine vineyard fragrance, a city made of cherry blossom. The palate is literally stunning in the ferocity of its terroir, endlessly salty and flowery, already expressive and integrated, and lashing and electric… Every year for the last fifteen or more, this wine has been a masterpiece, and I can think of few if any parallels in the wine world—or in my wine world—of such sustained stellar performance year after year.”
Terry Theise note “Every year for the last fifteen or more, this wine has been a masterpiece, and I can think of few if any parallels in the wine world- or in my wine world- of such sustained stellar performance year after year. 2011 is and remains a masterpiece of the exotic flowery style, “a city made of cherry blossom” as I wrote last year. Bearing in mind that these wines are never very sweet, this one is more typical for the “Auslese” idiom. The 2012, though, is a swollen subterranean wave of mineral. You start at OMG and end with WTF, because even in the context of so many great years this is singular and amazing. Fantastically salty and cherry-blossomy, with obdurate length and deeply embedded mineral.”
The next best price is $39.99
Akutain
The Nouveau Spanish Traditionalist
Over forty years ago, Juan Peñagaricano Akutain was an engineer working alongside some of the Rioja’s great names in traditional winemaking such as CVNE (don’t miss our feature on CVNE above!) In 1975, he built on his experience and planted his first vineyard just west of the town of Haro. He created a small, under the radar bodega which fully embraces the traditionalist style at a small-grower size. Today his son, Jon, manages the winery and works full time in the vineyard. The wines are fine Spanish examples of the traditional and hands-off approach. These wines are limited in production, so don’t miss your chance to discover these treasures…
Bodega Akutain Crianza, Rioja DOCa 2012 750ML ($29.95) $24 special
John Gilman 90 points “Bodegas Akutain is a new producer to me. The family farms just over six hectares of vineyards in the Rioja Alta region, with their cellars based just outside of Haro. The estate is old school in the best sense, picking by hand, fermenting everything with wild yeasts and raising the wine exclusively in old, American oak casks and bottled unfiltered in the great traditions of the region. Their 2012 Crianza is outstanding, wafting from the glass in a complex blend of red and black cherries, toasted coconut, woodsmoke, a touch of sweet nuttiness and a topnote Rioja spice tones. On the palate the wine is full-bodied, pure and wide open, with a velvety attack, a sappy core, lovely soil signature and a long, refined and meltingly tannic finish. Utterly classic and flat out delicious. 2016-2030+.”
Bodega Akutain Reserva, Rioja DOCa 2006 750ML ($49.95) $39 special
John Gilman 92+ points “The 2006 Rioja Reserva from Bodegas Akutain includes a bit of garnacha in the blend and was aged three years in old American oak barrels prior to bottling. The wine offers up an outstanding bouquet of red and black cherries, cigar ash, excellent soil tones, a bit of bay leaf and a discreet base of coconutty American oak. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied, complex and beautifully balanced with a fine core, still a bit of backend tannin and excellent grip and focus on the very long and classy finish. This is bottled unfiltered and unlike most ten year-old bottles of Rioja, this is best decanted off of its sediment. An excellent bottle from this very exciting classical Rioja estate! 2016-2030+.”
John Gilman 94 points “The 2004 Rioja Gran Reserva from Bodegas Akutain is a lovely the elegant side of Rioja Alta fruit, as it offers up a complex and utterly classic bouquet of plums, raspberries, cigar smoke, an impressively complex base of soil tones, cloves and toasted coconut. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied, pure and vibrant, with a great core of fruit, impeccable balance, lovely complexity and a very long, bright and classy finish. Just a great bottle of old school Rioja! 2016-2035+”
Spanish Bargains
for under $15/bottle!
We offer 88 red wines from Spain – a great region for bargains – below are seven of the several we offer for under $15/bottle… browse the full list at www.vinopoliswineshop.com
Teso La Monja Romanico, Toro 2014 750ML ($17.95) $14 special, 36+ bottles available
Robert Parker 92 points “The 2014 Romanico is the better value of the two, with fabulous, dense blackberry and cassis fruit, with licorice, camphor and forest floor. It is dense, full-bodied, opulent, and a dazzling example of a wine made from modest yields of 31 hectoliters per hectare from their younger and middle-aged vineyards. It is 100% Tinto de Toro and their largest production cuvée. It is a sensational buy at $17.00, tasting more like a wine that costs three times that price.”
Bodegas Volver Tarima Hill Monastrell, Alicante 2013 750ML ($17.95) $11.90 special, 36+ bottles available
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 91 points “(made from vines that were planted between 1935 and 1970): Bright purple. An exotically perfumed bouquet displays scents of fresh black and blue fruits, licorice, vanilla and peppery spices. Juicy and incisive on the palate, offering sweet boysenberry and cassis flavors that flesh out on the back half. Sappy and concentrated, yet quite lively, finishing with smooth, shaping tannins and a strong punch. This sexy wine went through malolactic fermentation and was aged in French oak barrels for 20 months.”
The average price is $14
Josh Raynolds 90 points “Brilliant violet color. Intensely perfumed dark berry and floral pastille scents, along with suggestions of anise, violet and pipe tobacco. Sweet and expansive on the palate, offering sappy black and blue fruit flavors that put on weight with air. Shows very good energy and power on the long, gently tannic finish, leaving behind notes of blueberry and peppery spices.”
Casa Castillo Monastrell, Jumilla 2014 750ML ($17.95) $14 special, 16 bottles available
Case-12 – Casa Castillo Monastrell, Jumilla 2014 750ML ($179.95) $149 special, 1 case available (that’s only $12.42/bottle!)
Wine Advocate 91 points “The entry level wine here is the 2014 Monastrell, a wine that mixes grapes from different valley vineyards within the estate where you find more sand and clay and the age of the vines varies between 35 and five-years-old. Starting with this vintage, which was nothing short of challenging, the wine is not a pure Monastrell, but a blend with some 10% Syrah (from the Valtosca vineyards, which was not produced in this vintage) and some 5% Garnacha from new plantings coming into production. In future years the percentage of other grapes — mainly Garnacha — will be increased, and the wine will not be called Monastrell anymore, but simply Casa Castillo. It fermented with indigenous yeasts and matured in used barrels for some eight months before bottling. This feels like a superb vintage for the cuvée, very complete, aromatic, subtler than in the past, more elegant. The palate also feels very complete, nicely balanced, with great acidity and a very fine thread which makes it nicely textured. It’s remarkable how the wines seem to be fine tuned each vintage, irrespective of how hard the climate conditions are. This is always a great value and represents the zone and vintage quite faithfully. It’s thought out to be enjoyed young, but I’ve drunk incredible bottles at age 20! Some 220,000 bottles produced.”
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 90 points “Lurid ruby color. Fragrant ripe cherry and red plum. Sappy and incisive, the palate offers bitter cherry and berry skin flavors, showing very good lift and energy. Fat-free, focused and brisk, with strong closing cut, fine-grained tannins and lingering berry skin and cherry pit notes.”
Bodegas Emilio Moro Finca Resalso, Ribera del Duero 2014 750ML ($17.95) $11.90 special, 36+ bottles available
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 90 points “Bright violet color. Spicy dark berries on the nose, with a suave floral quality building in the glass. Round and seamless in texture, offering sweet black and blue fruit flavors and a touch of smokiness. Shows more red fruit character on the finish, with silky tannins coming in late to add grip. This fruit-driven Ribera is pretty delicious right now.”
Bodegas Olivares Altos de la Hoya Monastrell, Jumilla 2013 750ML ($14.95) $10.90 special, 21 bottles available
Case-12 Bodegas Olivares Altos de la Hoya Monastrell, Jumilla 2013 750ML ($149.95) $109 special, 1 case available (that’s only $9.08/bottle!)
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 91 points “Glass-staining ruby. Deep pitched, seductive aromas of black and blue fruits, cola and candied violet are complicated by smoky mineral and licorice nuances. Smooth, sweet and focused in the mouth, offering sappy blackberry and cherry compote flavors and a hint of spicecake. The penetrating finish shows excellent focus, a floral-inflected persistence and an echoing mineral note.”
Bodegas Allegro con Spirito Monte Hiniesta, Toro 2010 750ML ($17.95) $14 special, 13 bottles available
Case-12 Bodegas Allegro con Spirito Monte Hiniesta, Toro 2010 750ML ($179.95) $149 special, 1 case available (that’s only $12.42/bottle!)
Wine Advocate 92 points “The palate is medium-bodied with ripe, succulent, fleshy tannins that are caressing in the mouth. There is plump, ripe red berry fruit, red currant, raspberry and a touch of balsamic at the finish. This is just as good as the succeeding vintage. Drink 2014-2019.” WA