Monday Newsletter 11-14-16

Colgin Estate: Jump Start Sale; Cameron Single Vineyards Arrive Friday; Highlight November Sale: Giacomo Borgogno; New Week – New Arrivals; Magnum Madness; Special Preview: Arriving Tomorrow: Toro Albala, Pierre Usseglio & Matthieu Barret; Pahlmeyer; K Vintners New Fall Releases Here Now & Arriving Friday; Andre Clouet Champagne; Miani: The Star of Fruili; Champagne Sneak Preview; New Isole e Olena Releases; 100 Points Wine: Final Offer on Opus One 2013

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Jump Start Subscriber-Only Sale!

For Them $579 / For You $549

Wine Arrives Late-November

Colgin Cellars IX Estate Red, Napa Valley 2013 750ML ($699.95) Was $619, Now $549 subscriber-only sale!
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.”

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We will apply it here before charging

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Cameron Single Vineyards

New Reviews

Arriving November 18th

As always, these are extremely limited quantities!

Cameron Winery Clos Electrique Blanc, Dundee Hills 2014 750ML ($79.95) $66 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2014 Chardonnay Clos Electrique was tasted from barrel, although the final selection was still to be made. It has a stunning, tensile bouquet that ranks alongside many a white Burgundy that I have tasted – wonderful mineralité and tension here, one of the best you will encounter in Oregon. The palate is medium-bodied with fine definition, crisp acidity, hints of brioche tincturing the citrus fruit, a little nutmeg surfacing towards the long and sustained finish. This is a killer Chardonnay that should present many years of pleasure to those savvy enough to grab a few bottles.”
VinopolNote: A beauty. Riper than the 2013 but with all the classic elegance. Exotic spice notes of sandalwood underneath the citrus and floral notes. Lengthy finish.

Cameron Winery Clos Electrique Rouge, Dundee Hills 2014 750ML ($79.95) $66 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 92-94 points “The 2014 Pinot Noir Clos Electrique has the most Burgundian bouquet from barrel with gorgeous, detailed brambly red fruit that blossoms from the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannin, finely judged acidity, plenty of redcurrant and raspberry fruit with a harmonious and quite effortless finish that leaves a minerally residue in the mouth. Not powerful, but it does not need to be. This is exquisite Pinot Noir.”

Cameron Winery Abbey Ridge Vineyard Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills 2014 750ML ($79.95) $66 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 91-93 points “The 2014 Pinot Noir Abbey Ridge Unfiltered has a crisp and minerally bouquet. Apparently they have decided not to use any Pommard clone here, as it was not providing the density that it usually imparts. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin, blackberry and boysenberry fruit, good backbone here, a fine bead of acidity with a very focused, elegant finish that lingers in the mouth. Very fine, very classy.”

(Note: there was no 2014 Cameron Abbey Ridge Chardonnay produced.)

Arriving December 8th from Cameron:

Cameron Winery ‘Arley’s Leap’ Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2014 750ML ($59.95) $46 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 91-93 points “The 2014 Pinot Noir Arley’s Leap has a fresh, vibrant bouquet with blackberry and briary fruit, a little darker than I was expecting, but still extremely well defined and “natural.” The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin, well-integrated oak, smooth in texture with blackberry, raspberry and hints of vanilla pod towards the well-defined finish. Great potential.”

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Highlight November Sale

Giacomo Borgogno & Figli Langhe Nebbiolo No Name, Piedmont 2011 750ML ($49.95) Was $41.90, Now $29, 19 bottles available
Antonio Galloni 90 points “The 2011 Langhe Nebbiolo No Name is a pretty wine to drink now and over the next handful of years. Delicate and medium in body, the 2011 is laced with expressive violets, rose petals, mint and sweet red cherries. Dusty tannins complement the otherwise supple finish.” AG
We’re up to 56 wines on sale through the month of November. To read reviews or to see the full list, visit our web store and search for “November Sale”

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Holiday Shipping Guide

Plan Ahead Now

Toast Your Forethought Later

No UPS Shipping service on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 24th

For delivery by Thanksgiving, UPS Ground packages must be shipped by November 16th

*Packages shipped to the East Coast by UPS Ground on Thursday, November 17th or Friday, November 18th will not reach their destination until the week of Monday, November 28th. Please note due to increased shipping volume during this time of year, UPS cannot guarantee on-time delivery for Ground shipments.

No UPS shipping services on December 24th, 25th and 26th.

No UPS shipping services on December 31st, January 1st and January 2nd.

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New Week – New Arrivals

Oregon

Domaine Serene ‘Evenstad Reserve’ Chardonnay, Dundee Hills 2014 750ML ($59.95) $46 special
Wine Spectator 95 points “Focused and expressive, this is layered with wet stone, tangy citrus, pear and green guava flavors that swirl through an expansive finish, gaining momentum and extra dimension with each sip. Drink now through 2024.”

Belle Pente Gamay Noir, Willamette Valley 2014 750ML ($27.95) $24 special
Vinopolnote: Floral aromas and red-violet fruits leapt from the glass; the wine registers as a little on the light-to-medium side of the spectrum. Think of the structure of a Moulin-a-Vent with the fruit n’ flower attributes of Juliénas – broad on the palate, with ample spice, wild flowers, and red fruit on offer. A nice acid kick on the finish – all in great harmony.

Belle Pente Pinot Noir, Yamhill-Carlton District 2014 750ML ($27.95) $24 special
Vinopolnote: Belle Pente’s newest release shows a note of smoke under the charming core of black cherries and spice. Produced from mostly declassified estate fruit.

Crowley Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills 2014 750ML ($41.95) $36 special
Winery note “Farewell, Gehrts Vineyard! Gehrts Vineyard was sold in 2015 to Jadot…the Burgundy producer which has now become a player in Oregon. If I have to choose a buyer to lose fruit to I respect the tradition of Jadot enough to not be too bent out of shape. Only downside is that the vines were just getting old enough to have some great personality. Darn it! 2014 is our last vintage with the Gehrts sight, but it’s a great way to go out. It’s driving the supple fruit and generous Dundee Hills spice and the amazing front end attack. The angularity is the tannin the sight delivers as the top soils have eroded to force the vines to struggle. La Colina balances all that out with Pommard’s elegance and length. This wine is really unique and fun which is great way to say so long to a vineyard. (bright side, we now have Oracle Vineyard, also Dundee Hills!)”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Crowley Four Winds Vineyard Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2012 750ML ($69.95) $51.90 special
John Gilman 92+ points “(Reviewed 10/2016) The 2012 vintage was the first that Crowley Vineyards produced a pinot noir bottling from the Four Winds Vineyard, after having purchased chardonnay here for a couple of years previous. The wine is 13.7 percent octane, included twenty percent whole clusters in the fermentation and offers up a lovely bouquet of bing cherries, pomegranate, fresh herb tones, a fine base of soil, a touch of raw cocoa and a very discreet framing of new wood. On the palate the wine is pure, fullish and nicely transparent, with a fine sappy core, moderate tannins, tangy acids and lovely focus and grip on the bouncy finish that closes with a nice note of beetroot. This is lovely pinot that is approachable today, but will be even better with a bit of bottle age. 2016- 2035+.”
Winery note “Four Winds Vineyard. 100% Pommard clone.  Well, we couldn’t let Four Winds Chardonnay have ALL the fun! After receiving two exceptional vintages of the Chardonnay from this vineyard, we jumped at the opportunity to make wine from the Four Winds Pommard clone pinot noir in 2012, making this our first release! As it is for the Chardonnay, this 22-year-old high-elevation vineyard is ideal for fresh, acid-driven and austere Pinot Noir. Classic Pinot in nature, this wine displays a beautiful ruby color indicative of the high-elevation sedimentary soils, and delivers balanced fruit with texture and acidity. 15-20% whole cluster in the fermentation gives the wine additional aromatic layers and texture. 125 cases made.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $55

Domaine Drouhin Arthur Chardonnay, Dundee Hills 2014 750ML ($37.95) $31.90 special
Case-6 Domaine Drouhin Arthur Chardonnay, Dundee Hills 2014 750ML ($219.95) $179 special (that’s only $29.83/bottle!)
James Suckling 93 points “This is such a lively white with ripe fruit, mangoes and limes. Then it turns to a salt character. Medium-to full-bodied, racy and intense. Fresh, citrusy finish. Drink now.”

Domaine Drouhin Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills 2014 750ML ($47.95) $39 special
Case-6 Domaine Drouhin Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills 2014 750ML ($299.95) $209 special (that’s only $34.83/bottle and the lowest listed price in the USA today!)
James Suckling 94 points “There’s a focus and precision to this pinot with refined tannins and beautiful fruit. A medium to full body characterised a firm, polished and tight center palate of fruit and tannins. Drink now.”

Domaine Drouhin Roserock Pinot Noir, Eola-Amity Hills 2014 750ML ($34.95) $28 special
Domaine Drouhin Roserock Pinot Noir, Eola-Amity Hills 2014 1.5L ($79.95) $66 special
James Suckling 94 points “This is the first vintage of this wine. Shows intensity and balanced and beautiful fruit. Medium-to full-bodied, silky and beautiful. A really velvety and round texture to this. Drink or hold.”

Omero Cellars Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 2014 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 special
John Gilman 92 points “The 2014 Pinot Noir “Willamette Valley” from Omero Cellars is excellent, coming in at a very civilized thirteen percent octane and reveling in its purity of fruit and soil expression. Tis bottling includes some purchased grapes, to go along with fruit from the estate vineyard on Ribbon Ridge. The bouquet wafts from the glass in a classy blend of black cherries, pomegranate, raw cocoa, a lovely base of soil tones, hints of the cola to come, a touch of cedar and a fine topnote of fresh thyme. On the palate the wine is pure, full-bodied and sappy at the core, with marvelous transparency, fine-grained tannins, good acids and great backend focus and grip on the pure and nascently complex finish. This wine is so beautifully balanced that it is all too easy to drink it out of the blocks, but there are some great constituent components here and I really want to see what it is going to do with a bit of bottle age!”
Washington

Matthews Estate Reserve Red 2013 750ML ($59.95) $51.90 special
Wine Advocate 95 points “Another sensational wine is the 2013 Reserve, which is largely Cabernet Sauvignon blended with 28% Merlot and 4% Cabernet Franc, aged 21 months in new French oak. It reveals fabulous purity of fruit and full-bodied richness, as well as textbook Bordeaux-like notes of black currants, cassis, lead pencil shaving and leafy herbs. It shows more and more tannin with time in the glass, but it never loses its overall sense of elegance and purity.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Cadence Winery Bel Canto Cara Mia Vineyard Red, Columbia Valley 2013 750ML ($59.95) $49 special
Wine Advocate 93+ points “One of the reserve wines from Ben Smith, the 2013 Bel Canto is a fabulous blend of 75% Cabernet Franc and 25% Merlot that saw just under two years in 50% new French oak. It shows the lengthy elevage on the bouquet with a spicy, ripe, incense, dried flowers and currants driven style that shows a hint of evolution at first, yet continues to gain freshness and purity with time in the glass. This gives way to a complex, layered red that has fabulous mid-palate depth, building, ripe tannin and a big finish. Even with the slightly evolved style, this beauty will age gracefully. Give bottles 3-4 years and plan on drinking through 2030.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Cadence Winery Camerata Cara Mia Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Red Mountain 2013 750ML ($59.95) $49 special
Wine Advocate 94 points “A significantly different blend from the 2012, which was over 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2013 Camerata checks in as 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Cabernet Franc, 20% Merlot and 10% Petit Verdot, which like the Bel Canto spent 23 months in 50% new French oak. Possessing a fabulous bouquet of black currants, toasted spice, licorice and wild herbs, this full-bodied 2013 is concentrated, incredibly elegant and textured, with ripe tannin and a balanced, layered style that will evolve gracefully. It should be at its best from 2020-2033.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $57.99

Charles Smith K Vintners The Boy Grenache – Syrah, Walla Walla Valley 2014 750ML ($59.95) $49 special
Wine Advocate 95-97 points “There’s 300 cases of the potentially profound 2014 The Boy, which is mostly Grenache from the Powerline Vineyard in Walla Walla. Fermented with 100% whole clusters and aged in neutral oak, it offers sensational ripeness and depth in its meaty, olive, pepper, currant and kirsch scented bouquet. This gives way to a massive, concentrated and voluptuously textured Grenache that has a great mid-palate, ripe tannin and a finish that just won’t quit.”
France – Champagne

Christophe Mignon Brut Nature Pur Meunier, Champagne NV 750ML ($59.95) $49 special
Importer note “This zero dosage 100% Pinot Meunier cuvée is a stunner. Beautiful, expressive nose of red fruits and faint floral aromas. Rich on the palate with balanced acidity, taut minerality and a super dry finish. Soil: Clay-limestone with traces of chalk. 60 cm of topsoil with layers of Tuffe underneath. Viticulture: Blend of biodynamics, phytotherapy, homeopathy and geobiology. One person cares for one hectare-extremely high ratio by Champagne standards. All fruit is hand-harvested.”

Christophe Mignon Brut Rose, Champagne NV 750ML ($59.95) $49 special
Importer note “Limited production. This 100% Pinot Meunier Rose is fresh and lively with very fine bubbles. Citrus and hints of caramel dominate the palate of this layered and extremely elegant rose. Soil: Clay-limestone with traces of chalk. 60 cm of topsoil with layers of Tuffe underneath. Viticulture: Blend of biodynamics, phytotherapy, homeopathy and geobiology. One person cares for one hectare-extremely high ratio by Champagne standards. All fruit is hand-harvested.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $54

Christophe Mignon Brut Nature Pur Meunier, Champagne 2010 750ML ($79.95) $59 special
Antonio Galloni 95 points “Mignon’s 2010 Brut Nature Blanc de Noirs Pur Meunier is fabulous. Bright, focused and energetic, the 2010 Pur Meunier is endowed with real class. The flavors are bright and focused, but it is the wine’s multi-dimensional personality that truly stands out. There is a sense of verticality supported by beams of minerality that is simply compelling. This is the single finest Champagne I have tasted from Christophe Mignon so far. The 2010 emerges from parcels in Festigny and Le Breuil planted in 1976. Bottled with no dosage.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!
France – Burgundy

Domaine Joseph Voillot Les Champans, Volnay Premier Cru 2014 750ML ($99.95) $89 special
Wine Advocate 92-94 points “The 2014 Volnay 1er Cru les Champans is more closed than its Volnay cousins at the moment, although there is certainly plenty of tensile fruit here, more black than red, with hints of orange rind and fig coming through with aeration. The palate is very refined, wonderfully poised with a keen line of acidity, adorned with wonderful symmetry towards the finish. This is just superb – a sophisticated Champans for long-term ageing.”

Domaine de Montille Les Champans, Volnay Premier Cru 2013 750ML ($149.95) $89 special
Burghound 89-92 points “A ripe, spicy and elegant nose presents notes of plum, cassis and warm earth. There is both good volume along with fine detail to the delicious and nicely concentrated medium-bodied flavors that also exude a fine bead of minerality before culminating in a dusty, cool and refined finale. Though there is some youthful austerity present there is no dryness and thus the overall sense of balance is more complete.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Domaine de Montille Les Taillepieds, Volnay Premier Cru 2013 750ML ($149.95) $99 special
Stephen Tanzer-Vinous 91 points “Bright, dark red. Much riper on the nose than the Beaune Grèves but still with a medicinal aspect to the complex aromas of black cherry, crushed rock and flint. Plush, dense, savory wine with excellent purity and lift, conveying strong mineral cut to the raspberry and redcurrant flavors. There’s something Vosne-like in this wine’s salinity. The slatey finish features suave, well-integrated tannins; really glistens and rises on the aftertaste. This has turned out very well.”
Wine Advocate 90-92 points “The 2013 Volnay 1er Cru les Taillepieds, which is one-third whole cluster and raised in 30% new oak, has the most elegant bouquet of de Montille’s Volnays with mineral rich red and black fruit. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins, a keen thread of acidity and superb salinity toward the marine-influenced finish. Probably the pick of the Volnay wines from the domaine in 2013, and possibly the most complete, even if it cuts off a little abruptly.”
Italy – Tuscany

Montepeloso Eneo Toscana IGT 2011 750ML ($49.95) $33 special
Wine Spectator 93 points “A fresh red, boasting plum, black cherry, spice and leather flavors. The harmony and intensity make this enjoyable now, but the wine should continue to develop over the next five years. Montepulciano, Sangiovese, Alicante and Marselan. Drink now through 2022. 1,500 cases made.”
Antonio Galloni 92 points “Black cherries, raspberry jam, cloves lavender and violets are some of the many notes that take hold of the senses in the 2011 Eneo. This dark, brooding beauty possesses fabulous depth and intensity all the way through to the voluptuous finish. The Eneo is very ripe – in the style of the year – but all the elements are in the right place. The blend is 45% Sangiovese, 35% Montepulciano, 15% Alicante and 5% Marselan.” AG

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $40.47
Italy – Piedmont

Giacomo Conterno Cascina Francia Barolo DOCG 2009 750ML ($179.95) $149 special, 1 bottle available
Giacomo Conterno Cascina Francia Barolo DOCG 2009 1.5L ($399.95) $299 special, 1 magnum available
Wine Advocate 96 points “Because Monfortino was not produced this vintage, the 2009 Barolo Cascina Francia benefits from the extra fruit that would have otherwise gone toward the world’s most celebrated Barolo Riserva. I tasted the 2009 Barolo Cascina Francia in barrel two years ago and am delighted by its steady evolution. This is a wine of sophisticated intensity and persuasion. The bouquet peels back to reveal dark fruit, licorice, tar and dried rose. The vintage was warm, resulting in extra plumpness and roundness in terms of mouthfeel. The style is slightly more immediate, but this is a great aging wine nonetheless.”
Antonio Galloni 95 points “Conterno’s 2009 Barolo Cascina Francia wraps around the palate with gorgeous depth. A wine of volume and breadth, the 2009 fleshes out beautifully on the palate with layers of harmonious, silky fruit. Sweet tobacco, mint, flowers, spices and the most beautiful pure fruit all flesh out on the voluptuous, inviting finish. All the elements are in place for the 2009 to develop into a superb Barolo, but readers will have to be patient as the wine was just bottled. I remember what happened the last time Conterno bottled a Cascina Francia, but no Monfortino. The vintage was 2007, and I deeply regretted not having purchased that wine.”
James Suckling 95 points “This has a wonderful long and beautiful style with super fine and persistent tannins. It’s full yet so elegant. The perfumes are of roses and dark fruits while it’s quite savory on the palate. Roberto Conterno made no Monfortino this vintage so declassified the entire production into this wine as he did in 2007. Drink or hold.”

Produttori del Barbaresco, Barbaresco DOCG 2012 3L ($179.95) $159 special
Wine Spectator 93 points “A pretty red, boasting floral, strawberry and raspberry flavors, accented by tobacco and underbrush notes. The tannins are firm yet well-integrated, creating a balanced impression. Best from 2017 through 2027.”
Antonio Galloni 92 points “A big, powerful wine, the 2012 Barbaresco hits the palate with surprising depth allied to nervous tannins that are going to need time to soften. Tobacco, smoke, licorice, menthol, game and a host of dark, ferrous notes give the wine much of its virile personality. The 2012 is not as finessed as some recent vintages, yet it offers considerable potential for the future. Most importantly, it is a terrific value at a time when well-priced Barbaresco is increasingly hard to find. In 2012, the Produttori did not bottle their Riservas. When that happens, the straight Barbaresco is often an overachiever. That is certainly the case here, as the 2012 offers outstanding quality for the money, with plenty of potential for the future. I can’t think of too many wines that deliver this much pleasure and value.”
Germany

Adam & Haart Piesporter Goldtropfchen Riesling Trocken (Grosses Gewächs), Mosel 2014 750ML ($89.95) $69 special
Wine Advocate 93+ points “From one of the rare ungrafted plots in the grand cru (which was reconstructed in the late 1980s and 1990s) the 2014 Goldtröpfchen Riesling trocken displays a super fine and highly complex bouquet with flinty and herbal aromas intermixed with ripe, elegant Riesling and red cassis flavors; there are also notes of coffee beans, nuts and fruit pips. Full-bodied, highly complex and elegant, this is great and straight terroir Riesling from the Mosel. It is really dry and mineral, nicely piquant and salty, as well as very pure, thanks to the old vines and small but intensely flavored grapes. The finish is enormously long and reveals the great structure, intensity and aging potential of this stunning Goldtröpfchen.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Spain

Bodegas La Horra Corimbo, Ribera del Duero 2012 750ML ($31.95) $27 special
Wine Advocate 92+ points “The 2012 Corimbo is pure Tempranillo from the Burgos part of Ribera del Duero (La Horra, Roa, Sotillo, Gumiel); it was fermented in stainless steel tanks, went through malo in French oak vats and matured in some 10-20% new oak barrels, mostly French but with some 20% American. After some 14 months, the wines are transferred from barriques to oak vats where they stay for a further six months. The color is bright ruby with a nose that shows red fruit and nicely integrated oak, with a spiciness that shows not only the usual vanilla and cinnamon, but also some more exotic aromas reminiscent of curry, plus plenty of wild flowers and Mediterranean herbs. 2012 was extremely dry, but there was around 20 liters of rain in each of the months of July, August and September, which clearly provided the much needed water to balance the grapes and provide fresher wines. This Corimbo clearly shows the profile of the growing season, and the wine is more floral and a little lighter with good freshness; it’s a more approachable wine. The oak is very nicely integrated and the wine is balanced, fresh and with medium body. A lighter, approachable style of Ribera del Duero.”
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 92 points “(aged for a year in new and used French and American oak) Deep ruby. A complex, highly perfumed bouquet evokes ripe dark berries, incense and vanilla, with a sexy floral overtone. Sweet, seamless and penetrating on the palate, offering intense blackberry and cherry-vanilla flavors that are given spine and sharpened by juicy acidity. Rich yet vibrant, with excellent closing thrust and harmonious tannins building slowly and lending structure.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Bodegas La Horra Corimbo I, Ribera del Duero 2010 750ML ($69.95) $56 special
Decanter 95 points–‘Platinum – Best in Show Award’
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 93 points “(aged for 16 months in 80% French and 20% American oak): Glass-staining ruby. Explosive aromas of black and blue fruits, Indian spices, potpourri and smoky minerals, with a mocha quality in the background. Fleshy, expansive and smooth, with excellent clarity and spicy lift to its cassis and boysenberry flavors. The blue fruit and spice notes carry through on the very long, sweet, sharply focused finish, which is framed by velvety tannins.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $67.98

Diez-Caballero Tempranillo Crianza, Rioja DOCa 2012 750ML ($17.95) $14 special
Wine Advocate 90 points “The 2012 Crianza is pure Tempranillo fermented in concrete vats and aged in French and American oak barrels for 15 months. It has a nose of smoky bacon and terse, ripe black fruit with spices and floral notes. The palate is fresh, supple and tasty with good tension, good acidity and balance. A great example of modern traditional (or traditional modern) Rioja. Very good value.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

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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!

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Magnum Madness

Here’s a sample of the 110 magnums we offer in-stock and available here now!

Bodegas Muga Rosado, Rioja DOCa 2014 1.5L ($34.95) $28 special, 5 magnums available
Wine Advocate 88 points “The rosé from Muga called simply 2014 Rosado is a classical “clarete” from the Rioja Alta, produced with Garnacha and Viura and in 2014, exceptionally, a pinch of Mazuelo (Cariñena) all harvested at the same time. The full clusters are pressed directly and the different musts are blended and then put to ferment in well-seasoned oak vats where it matures in contact with the lees for some four months. It’s a pale, salmon-colored wine with a clean, focused nose and a light palate, that is pleasant, fresh and easy to drink. Bring out those lamb chops!” WA

Domaine de la Bongran Vire-Clesse ‘Cuvee Tradition E.J. Thevenet’, Maconnais 2005 1.5L ($119.95) $89 special, 5 magnums available
Wine Spectator 93 points “Fully mature, this white features caramel, honey, spiced apple and bacon fat flavors. Sinks into the palate, unfolding into a long, expansive aftertaste of spiced apple and caramel. Charming.” 9/2013

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Domaine Drouhin Roserock Pinot Noir, Eola-Amity Hills 2014 1.5L ($79.95) $66 special, 5 magnums available
Wine Advocate 91 points “The 2014 Roserock Pinot Noir offers blackberry and briary scents on the nose with a touch of earthiness – well defined and quite vivacious in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with dusky blackberry and blueberry fruit. It exerts a gentle grip in the mouth and delivers white pepper sprinkled over the finish that is nicely detailed. This should drink well over the next 8-10 years and at this price, I would be loading up.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $69.99

F.X. Pichler ‘Unendlich’ Riesling Smaragd, Wachau 2013 1.5L ($499.95) $419 special, 2 magnums available
David Schildknecht–Vinous 96 points “From 60% Kellerberg and 40% Loibenberg fruit, this installment of the periodically rendered Pichler Riesling essence leads with high-toned scents of lemon oil and lemon blossom as well as intimations of the white peach and pink grapefruit that then lusciously inform a glycerol-rich, subtly creamy, enveloping palate. Billowing inner-mouth perfume of gentian and iris add bittersweet allure, and there is smoky, peppery counterpoint, especially in the finish, such as one usually expects to encounter in Pichler Riesling primarily with Steinertal- and Kellerberg-dedicated bottlings. A dark, deeply savory, resonant finish certainly makes a serious effort at living up to the name “Endless,” adding a welcome touch of saliva-stimulating salinity. Incidentally, this finished at 13.9% alcohol, modest by historical standards set by “Unendlich” bottlings, and amazing considering that, as Lucas Pichler explained, this installment derived from pickings done just ahead of the main harvest of certain parcels where subtly desiccated berries could be found, the latest of which was in mid-November. I’ve often referred to installments of Unendlich as “liqueurs of Riesling,” but that would almost be to do a disservice to the clarity and dynamic complexity of this one.”
Wine Advocate 95+ points “Pichler’s late harvested 2013 Riesling Smaragd Unendlich (German for unending, infinite, endless) opens with a clear, pure, precise and cool, mineral-fresh and aromatic white peach and fully ripe Riesling bouquet of great, yet not exaggerated, concentration. The wine is full-bodied, thrillingly mineral, tension-filled and elegant on the palate. This powerful, intense, highly complex and concentrated yet still fresh, precise and long-finishing Riesling elixir has a remarkable yet variety-typical racy acidity that structures and inspires. This is a great and potent Austrian Riesling tycoon. The wine is still extremely young and needs time to open up (better years than hours). However, its aging potential should be terrific.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $449.95

La Gerla Riserva gli Angeli, Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2010 1.5L ($179.95) $149 special, 3 magnums available
Wine Spectator 95 points “Pure cherry, rose and raspberry aromas and flavors are expressive in this complex, ripe Brunello. Hints of leather, tobacco, mineral and spice lay in wait, but this is all about the fresh fruit at this stage. Very harmonious, yet with plenty of structure. Long on the finish. Best from 2017 through 2032.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $179.98

Domaine Les Pallieres Gigondas Terrasses du Diable, Rhone 2012 1.5L ($89.95) $69 special, 3 magnums available
Wine Advocate 91 points “The 2012 Gigondas les Terraces de Diable is outstanding. Made from roughly 85% Grenache and the balance Mourvedre and Clairette (which also makes its way into the Racines) and coming all from the upper, cooler terraces of the appellation, it exhibits ample garrigue, dried spices, dried soil and toast to go with medium to full-bodied richness, beautiful depth and richness and building, fine tannin. It picks up a salty minerality with air, and while already drinking nicely, will benefit from short-term cellaring and drink well through 2024.” WA

This is the only listing in the USA today!

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Arriving Tomorrow

There were many notable events in 1931: Al Capone was convicted, the Empire State building was finished, and grapes for this wine were harvested. Now, 85 years later, you can enjoy one of the oldest wine experiences on the market, just bottled in 2015:

Bodegas Toro Albala Don PX Convento, Montilla-Moriles 1931 750ML ($399.95) $279 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 98 points “If someone told you they kept a wine for 84 years in barrel before bottling, you’d think they are nuts, right? Well, that’s what the folks at Toro Albalá in Aguilar de la Frontera – in the province of Cordoba, part of the Montilla Moriles appellation – did with their 1931 Don PX Convento Selección. This is part of what they call ‘vinos olvidados,’ which means ‘forgotten wines.’ The border is amber, with green tints that denote very old age. Such old age provides an array of unusual aromas and flavors, including iodine and salt that compensate the sweetness (403 grams) and even the alcohol (18%). It’s terribly balsamic, with notes of dry herbs and spices, cigar ash, carob beans (algarrobas), incense and noble woods. The palate is very, very sweet and concentrated, unctuous, dense, with a chewy texture. This goes beyond a glass of wine, a drop of it is like having a piece of cake. I don’t think this reaches the complexity and depth of the 1946, which remains the benchmark for these old sweet PX, but it’s truly terrific!… bottles were filled in June 2015.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!
A 100% Grenache Chateauneuf-du-Pape from select vineyard parcels:

Domaine Pierre Usseglio et Fils Chateauneuf-du-Pape Cuvee de Mon Aieul, Rhone 2012 750ML ($119.95) $79 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 95 points “Similar in style to the 2006, the 2012 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee de Mon Aieul is rounded and textured, with tons of charm in its blackberry, black raspberry, violets, garrigue and spice aromas and flavors. Full-bodied, supple and textured, it shows the vintage’s upfront and forward character, yet has beautiful purity of fruit and enough density to drink nicely through 2027. Most 2012s are already showing nicely, and this is no exception.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $101

Arriving tomorrow from Matthieu Barret:

It seems so basic, yet too many winemakers forget: good wine is made in the vineyard. With old Syrah vines growing in granitic soil on select slopes in Cornas, Matthieu Barret knows to let nature take her course. His wisdom is a gift. In charge at Domaine du Coulet since 1998, Barret has farmed his 27 acres of low-yield Cornas (and 12 of Cotes du Rhone red and white) biodynamically. The vineyard ecosystem here has found a healthy balance, which reduces the need for chemical treatments, which retains the purity of grape and wine. In the cellar, Barret avoids new oak altogether, and adds as little sulfur as possible. The results amplify the expression of Cornas – the deep, dark, ripe Rhone fruit, the minerality of granite, the mélange of raspberry and chocolate – into wines whose natural essence has caught more than our attention.

Matthieu Barret Domaine du Coulet Cornas Billes Noires 2011 750ML ($99.95) $79 pre-arrival special
Matthieu Barret Domaine du Coulet Cornas Billes Noires 2011 1.5L ($199.95) $159 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 95 points “Even better, the 2011 Cornas Billes Noires, which spends one year in old wood followed by one year in concrete tank, offers blockbuster levels of black raspberry, smoked earth, chocolate, licorice and crushed rock on the nose and palate. Medium to full-bodied, long, elegant and with laser-like focus, it nevertheless does not lack for fruit or texture, and has fine-grained tannin framing the finish beautifully. With a scant 600 cases to go around, there’s not much of it, but don’t miss a chance to grab a couple of bottles if you can. It too will drink well for 10-15 years.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Matthieu Barret Domaine du Coulet Cornas Brise Cailloux 2011 750ML ($69.95) $41.90 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 94 points “Starting out, the 2011 Cornas Brise Cailloux offers up textbook Cornas wildness with its gamy, herbal-styled bouquet delivering brilliant fruit (black cherry, raspberry, blueberry), loads of meatiness, spring flowers and searing minerality. Seeing 18 months all in old wood, this medium to full-bodied beauty has incredibly purity of fruit, great acidity and a knockout finish. Enjoy it over the coming 10-15 years.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $50

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Arriving Friday

From Pahlmeyer

Pahlmeyer Jayson Chardonnay, North Coast 2013 750ML ($51.95) $39 pre-arrival special
Wine Spectator 92 points “Clean and pure nectarine, tangerine, citrus blossom and white peach notes mingle amid the core of pithy flavors, touching on fruit skin textures and tannins. Mounts a strong finish, turning to a chalky limestone aftertaste. Drink now. 2,600 cases made.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

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Our Current
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!

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New Fall Releases from K Vintners

The Rock Star of Washington Wine

Two New Fall Releases are In-Stock Now/

Ten New Fall Releases are Arriving Friday, November 18th

k-vintner-wines

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Arriving Friday from Andre Clouet

Our top Thanksgiving Champagne pick for flexibility, value & pairing potential!

Andre Clouet Brut Millesime, Champagne 2008 750ML ($69.95) $49 pre-arrival special
Antonio Galloni 92 points “Clouet’s 2008 Brut Millesime shows quite a bit more tension and focus than the 2007, hardly a surprise given then personality of the vintage. Bright, saline notes frame expressive red fruits, flowers and sweet spices. The 2008 Brut is a gorgeous wine with plenty of appeal today, but it will also develop beautifully in bottle. Stylistically it is less overt than the 2007 but places more emphasis on length. Brut Millesime is mostly Pinot, with 30-40% Chardonnay.” AG

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $54.98
The average price is $63

Andre Clouet Grande Reserve Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($49.95) $33 pre-arrival special
Case-12 Andre Clouet Grande Reserve Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($479.95) $359 pre-arrival special (that’s only $29.92/bottle and the lowest listed price in the USA today!)
Antonio Galloni 90 points “The NV Brut Grande Reserve emerges from the glass with layers of hazelnut, pear, spice and dried flower aromas. This rich, creamy wine impresses for its balance and sheer richness. I loved it.” AG

Andre Clouet Silver Grand Cru Blanc de Noirs Brut Nature, Champagne NV 750ML ($49.95) $33 pre-arrival special
Case-12 Andre Clouet Silver Grand Cru Blanc de Noirs Brut Nature, Champagne NV 750ML ($479.95) $359 pre-arrival special (that’s only $29.92/bottle!)
100% Grand Cru, 100% Pinot Noir, no dosage
Antonio Galloni 91 points “The NV Brut Nature Silver is naturally a very focused, driven wine given the no-dosage style. This shows wonderful nuance and depth all the way through to the long finish, with bright aromas and flavors but less of the toastiness than some of the house’s other wines. The mousse and finish are both utterly impeccable in their elegance.” AG

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $35.98
The average price is $45

Andre Clouet Grand Cru Brut Rose, Champagne NV 750ML ($49.95) $39 pre-arrival special
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 92 points “Vivid orange-pink. Aromas and flavors of ripe red berries, candied rose and toasty lees. Fleshy but nervy and focused, with strong mineral cut and hints of bitter herbs on the very long, energetic finish. Smoothly blends richness and vivacity, making it extremely flexible with food or without.” JR

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $54

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Orientali di Fruili

The Giant Talent of Fruili

Arriving Friday

Enzo Pontoni, winegrower/maker at Miani, is a man of great stature. The man, who grew up beside his father in the vines and cellar, stands at almost seven feet tall. Some have called him “arguably Italy’s finest white winemaker” for the Friuli wines he creates. Enzo focuses his yields down to 20 hl/ha, in pursuit of glorious concentration, which has the result of producing amazingly rich wines that are also very hard to find: production hovers around 700 cases per vintage. He organically farms his family’s handful of acres and the vineyard land he rents, some 25 acres in total; ferments with a good amount of French oak; and lets only the Chardonnay go through malo (no temperature control here). Like Radikon, these bottles merit their price. Miani translates to some of the best Friuli ever made. Disagree? Go talk to towering Enzo.

Miani Colli Orientali del Friuli Bianco, Friuli-Venezia Giulia 2014 750ML ($89.95) $79 pre-arrival special

Miani Chardonnay Colli Orientali del Friuli, Friuli-Venezia Giulia 2014 750ML ($89.95) $79 pre-arrival special

Miani Tocai Friulano Colli Orientali del Friuli, Friuli-Venezia Giulia 2014 750ML ($99.95) $89 pre-arrival special

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Champagne Sneak Preview

‘Tis the most wonderful time of the year:

it’s Champagne season and we’re stocking up!

Arriving Week of November 21st:

R. Dumont & Fils Solera Reserve Blanc de Blancs, Champagne NV 750ML ($49.95) $39 pre-arrival special
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 92 points “(made from a blend of 20 vintages, with 1991 as its base; roughly 80% Pinot Noir and 20% Chardonnay; 6 g/l dosage): Pale yellow. A wild, assertively perfumed bouquet displays scents of mineral-accented poached pear, honey, toasted nuts and smoky lees, with a suave floral element building in the glass. Stains the palate with ripe orchard and pit fruit flavors, along with suggestions of buttered toast, marzipan and bitter lemon pith. Shows excellent clarity and power on the finish, which clings with strong fruity persistence. This complex, concentrated Champagne would be fantastic with aged or blue cheeses.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Thierry Triolet Cuvee Grande Reserve Blanc de Blancs Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($39.95) $29 pre-arrival special
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 91 points “(11 g/l dosage): Pale gold. Intense citrus and orchard fruit aromas are complicated by notes of honeysuckle, tarragon and iodine. Chewy tangerine and pear skin flavors become silkier and spicier with aeration. Shows a seductive floral quality on the clinging finish, which features a dusty mineral nuance and a touch of buttered toast.” JR

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $34.98
The average price is $39

Jose Michel & Fils Blanc de Blancs Brut, Champagne 2007 750ML ($49.95) $39 pre-arrival special
VinopolNote: The vintage Blanc de Blancs is produced only in the best years from the winery’s best parcels in and around Moussy. It is aged for five years in bottle before disgorgement.

Aubry Premier Cru Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($49.95) $36 pre-arrival special
Case-12 Aubry Premier Cru Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($479.95) $399 pre-arrival special (that’s only $33.25/bottle!)
Wine & Spirits 92 points “This tastes of pure, pale white limestone transformed into crisp yellow apple. It’s appetite inducing in its zesty freshness, bright white floral notes and clean, lively length of flavor, especially if there are oysters nearby. The Aubry brothers maintain a reserve wine blend composed of vintages going back to 1998; that blend provides 50 percent of this Brut, with the other half from 2013. The varietal composition is also distinctive: pinot Meunier makes up 45 percent, with chardonnay and pinot noir each providing 25 percent and the remaining five percent made up of traditional local varieties including arbanne, petit meslier and fromenteau.”

R.H. Coutier Tradition Grand Cru Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($39.95) $33 pre-arrival special
R.H. Coutier Tradition Grand Cru Brut, Champagne NV 375ML ($27.95) $21.90 pre-arrival special
Wine & Spirits 93 points “[$50 Best Buy] This takes the early, red-fruit richness of an Ambonnay Champagne and charges it with energy. It has stamina that seems to drive right along with the bubbles, the flavors firm and juicy, broadened by clay soils, cut by chalky soil acidity. Finely integrated and lasting.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

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Arriving December 2nd

Isole e Olena

“Proprietor Paolo De Marchi has left an indelible and highly personal stamp on Isole e Olena, and all of Chianti Classico for that matter… De Marchi stands apart from many of his colleagues for his vocal opinions and intense dedication to the vineyard above all else. Since taking over his family’s estate… De Marchi has transformed Isole e Olena into a powerhouse.” – Antonio Galloni (Wine Advocate, June 2012)

Isole e Olena was created in the 1950s when the De Marchi family purchased and joined together two hilltop estates “Isole” and “Olena” in the Chianti region. The original Isole portion of the estate was founded in the 1700s as a farm growing a range of goods including grapes and olives. The 50 hectares of top-quality vineyards are on hillsides in Chianti, about 450 meters above sea level. The estate is led by oenologist Paolo de Marchi who took over in 1976. He introduced several French grape varietals including Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah. He uses the non-Tuscan varietals as a spice to add refinement and complexity to his wines without trying to overpower the Tuscan character of the wines.

Scoop up our ever-popular Tuscan estate now – these wines will arrive December 2nd:

Isole e Olena Collezione Privata Cabernet Sauvignon Toscana IGT 2013 750ML ($79.95) $69 pre-arrival special

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Isole e Olena Cepparello Toscana IGT 2013 750ML ($79.95) $69 pre-arrival special
Isole e Olena Cepparello Toscana IGT 2013 1.5L ($179.95) $149 pre-arrival special
Isole e Olena Cepparello Toscana IGT 2013 3L ($399.95) $333 pre-arrival special
Antonio Galloni 96 points “The 2013 Cepparello is superb. Polished, silky nuanced and exceptionally beautiful, the 2013 exudes freshness and energy from start to finish. Succulent red cherry, plum, lavender and rose petal are some of the signatures. Aging in French oak shapes the wine nicely without marking it excessively. The purity of the flavors is striking. This is an especially cool, savory Cepparello built on finesse and persistence rather than power. Rain during harvest robbed the wine of some of its breadth. Otherwise, this is a striking Cepparello. I can’t wait to see how it ages.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today for the magnum and double-magnum!

Isole e Olena Chianti Classico Gran Selezione DOCG 2010 750ML ($219.95) $199 pre-arrival special
Isole e Olena Chianti Classico Gran Selezione DOCG 2010 1.5L ($499.95) $399 pre-arrival special
Antonio Galloni 98+ points “The 2010 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione is extraordinary. A wine of pedigree and class, the 2010 boasts magnificent intensity and depth yet never comes across as heavy. The flavors are layered, nuanced and beautifully delineated in the glass. Plum, black cherry, spice, menthol and sweet spices are laced into the exquisite finish. The 2010 is a stunner today, but also has plenty of upside for the future. A reduction of time in barrel vis-a-vis the 2006 has paid off handsomely. The 2010 is going to be expensive, but it is worth every penny. Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot round out the blend.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $225

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Opus One

Round Two

Arriving Early December

This is the best-selling vintage in our memory.

Don’t look for supplies on this 100 point wine to last much longer…

Opus One Proprietary Red Napa 2013 ($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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Thank you for reading!