In This Newsletter:
Frederic Magnien:
Final Close Out
New Offer of Newly Arrived Cayuse Wines!
Restocked Special Feature:
Biggio Hamina
New Week – New Arrivals
Magnien
Final Close Out
This was the lowest listed price in the USA today,
Now it’s even lower!
The next best price is $230
Frederic Magnien Chambertin-Clos de Beze Grand Cru 2012 750ML ($319.95) Was $219, Now $199 close out special, 4 bottles in stock now
Stephen Tanzer 94 points “Medium red. Alluring perfume of raspberry, rose petal and high-toned cardamom spice. Broad, rich, dense and fine-grained yet somehow weightless, displaying powerful mineral support to its red berry and exotic spice flavors. The bracing, resounding finish features pronounced soil-driven salinity and a hint of youthful bitterness. Magnien predicts that this will be the last of his 2012 négociant wines to reach full maturity. Superb Burgundy.”
This was the lowest listed price in the USA today,
Now it’s even lower!
The next best price is $243.75
Frederic Magnien Chambertin-Clos de Beze Grand Cru 2013 750ML ($319.95) Was $249, Now $219 close out special, 6 bottles in stock now
Stephen Tanzer 92-95 points “Bright, full red. Sexy high-pitched perfume combines red cherry, blood orange, lavender, red rose and spearmint. Juicy but youthfully imploded, showing more aromatic complexity than pliancy of texture today. Crunchy flavors of crushed red fruits, spices and licorice are lifted by fresh rose. A very long, scented wine of great finesse, but in need of a decade of patience to fully express itself.”
This was the lowest listed price in the USA today,
Now it’s even lower!
The next best price is $279.97
Frederic Magnien Charmes-Chambertin Grand Cru 2012 750ML ($319.95) Was $189, Now $159 close out special, 3 bottles in stock now
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 92-95 points “Good bright red. Complex nose melds cherry, rose petal, leather, game and minerals, plus a whiff of sexy new oak. Tightly wound but with lovely sweetness to its red fruit and rose petal flavors. A silky texture is given cut and energy by harmonious ripe acidity. Finishes saline and long, with very suave tannins. A lovely Charmes, from the lieu-dit Aux Charmes in Charmes and the upper part of Mazoyeres just below Latricieres, according to Magnien.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
New Cayuse Wines
We loaded up on even more new stock from our favorite Walla Walla winery!
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $264
Cayuse Vineyards Cailloux Vineyard Syrah, Walla Walla Valley 2017 750ML ($149.95) $119 special, 3 bottles in stock now
James Suckling 97 points “Lots of blackberry, tar and blueberry aromas with hints of dried earth. Full bodied, tight and focused with intensity and savoriness in the center palate. Plush and attractive at the end, but not overpowering. Drink or hold.”
Jeb Dunnuck 97 points “The only Syrah that includes some Viognier, the 2017 Syrah Cailloux Vineyard (this is the same site used for the Viognier) is always a great representation of the vintage as well as the wines of Christophe Baron. Ruby/purple-hued, with a rocking bouquet of black raspberries, smoked game, black pepper, and spring flowers, it has plenty of classic Rocks funkiness and meaty notes, medium to full body, a core of sweet fruit, and a great, great finish. It ranks with the top two to three wines in this vintage. It opens up nicely with time in the glass and shows well today, and it’s certainly going to cruise for 15+ years or more.”
Wine Spectator 94 points “Structured and impeccably layered, with rich and expressive blueberry and raspberry flavors, laced with licorice, bacon fat and crushed stone notes that pick up speed toward refined tannins. Drink now through 2030.”
Cayuse Vineyards Cailloux Vineyard Syrah, Walla Walla Valley 2018 750ML ($149.95) $119 special, 3 bottles in stock now
Winery Note “Cailloux Vineyard—Christophe’s first Walla Walla Valley vineyard, this 10-acre plot was our first vineyard planted in the stones of Milton Freewater in 1997, and produces the flagship Cailloux Syrah.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $142
Cayuse Vineyards Armada Vineyard Syrah, Walla Walla Valley 2016 750ML ($179.95) $149 special, 3 bottles in stock now
Wine Advocate 98 points “From the moment you stick your nose in the glass, you are immediately struck with something special. The 2016 Syrah Armada Vineyard has fantastic focus on the nose, with black fruits and a grippy core of minerality, revealing some soft truffle tones and black spices along the way. Full-bodied on the palate, the wine shows an impressive weight and continues to gain in breadth and depth, expanding and unfolding on the mid-palate. Beautifully structured flavors of cured meats and peppercorn evolve with incredible mineral tension and dusty red fruits, and the wine ends with a long, thought-provoking finish. The Armada Syrah is collector-worthy. The 472-case production leaves me speechless.”
We offer 16 Cayuse wines in stock now.
Shop the full selection on our web store!
Restocked Special Feature
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $34.50
You’d be hard-pressed to find a better Oregon Pinot at this price. This wine leans toward the savory-side with delicate notes of raspberries, wet leaves and herbs. Perfumed and light-bodied. A knockout at the table.
Biggio Hamina ‘Biha’ Chehalem Mountains Pinot Noir 2017 750ML ($29.95) $14 special
Case-6 Biggio Hamina ‘Biha’ Chehalem Mountains Pinot Noir 2017 750ML ($119.95) $75 special (that’s only $12.50/bottle!)
Case-12 Biggio Hamina ‘Biha’ Chehalem Mountains Pinot Noir 2017 750ML (199.95) $139 special (that’s only $11.58/bottle!)
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Frederic Magnien:
Final Close Out
New Offer of Newly Arrived Cayuse Wines!
Restocked Special Feature:
Biggio Hamina
New Week – New Arrivals
Magnien
Final Close Out
Andy:
I adore the wines from Frederic Magnien. All of his wines are fantastic, but we’re down to two perfect examples left. The three available vintages of Clos de Beze, 11, 12, and 13 show the dramatic range of vintages in one tight package. All three show the brightness and lift that is possible with Clos de Beze, but will continue to age, drawing the silky tannins into the fold, and allowing the full fruit to explode out of the glass. These usually need a decade to reach maturity, so they’re well on their way. Ponsot also makes an amazing Clos de Beze, but at an astronomical price and you simply must not open them before twenty years. The Magnien is simply a tastier wine, perhaps less cerebral, but it is less punishing to your palate if you’re not terribly patient.
The Magnien Charmes Chambertin vines are located just outside of Mazoyeres and are very old, reaching deep into the cracked subsoil. It is simply one of my favorite wines, year in year out, though the backstory on how I developed my fondness for it is a funny one. While working for an auction house in Chicago, I was considered the ringer fan for Oregon Pinots and so I was asked to attend an old world/new world blind tasting knowing I would want to enthusiastically sell off our inventory of New World wines. 2002 Magnien Charmes Chambertin was put up against one of the most highly regarded ’02 Oregon pinots from the Ribbon Ridge AVA. Oregon was shown first, and while it was incredibly tasty (I remember deep flavors and aromas but an incredibly elegant feel), one of the best Oregon wines I’d had from the vintage, the Magnien was astonishing. It was like travelling through the stratosphere of aroma and flavor. From the stones and iron rich soil, through the treetops laden with bright red fruit, clear up to the clouds and dazzling light. The room turned to me as my old boss asked my opinion on the two, and my nose was so far into the glass of Magnien that I almost snorted it up. I tried my best to be diplomatic, but couldn’t hide how much I loved the Magnien.
There are not many of the Magnien left, so grab them soon. The Charmes is ready, but will continue to hold if you prefer, and the Clos de Beze trio of vintages will continue to develop nicely for the next decade. If you can’t hold off, drink the ’12 last. Hopefully we’ll have the new vintages available soon, but these are great wines to grab while you can.
In Stock and On Sale Now:
Frederic Magnien Chambertin-Clos de Beze Grand Cru 2011 750ML ($319.95) Was $219, Now $189 close out special, 5 bottles in stock now
Stephen Tanzer 92-94 points “(the parcel Magnien works with stretches from the bottom to the top of the cru; a substantial percentage of millerandage resulted in a very low yield and low pH in 2011, according to Magnien): Good bright, full red. Aromas of black cherry, raspberry, licorice, menthol and flowers. Highly concentrated and well delineated, with superb energy and lift to the flavors of red berries, spices and dark chocolate. Very rocky and precise on the finish, with firm tannins currently shutting down the fruit. Still an infant but shows outstanding potential.”
I adore the wines from Frederic Magnien. All of his wines are fantastic, but we’re down to two perfect examples left. The three available vintages of Clos de Beze, 11, 12, and 13 show the dramatic range of vintages in one tight package. All three show the brightness and lift that is possible with Clos de Beze, but will continue to age, drawing the silky tannins into the fold, and allowing the full fruit to explode out of the glass. These usually need a decade to reach maturity, so they’re well on their way. Ponsot also makes an amazing Clos de Beze, but at an astronomical price and you simply must not open them before twenty years. The Magnien is simply a tastier wine, perhaps less cerebral, but it is less punishing to your palate if you’re not terribly patient. The Magnien Charmes Chambertin vines are located just outside of Mazoyeres and are very old, reaching deep into the cracked subsoil. It is simply one of my favorite wines, year in year out, though the backstory on how I developed my fondness for it is a funny one. While working for an auction house in Chicago, I was considered the ringer fan for Oregon Pinots and so I was asked to attend an old world/new world blind tasting knowing I would want to enthusiastically sell off our inventory of New World wines. 2002 Magnien Charmes Chambertin was put up against one of the most highly regarded ’02 Oregon pinots from the Ribbon Ridge AVA. Oregon was shown first, and while it was incredibly tasty (I remember deep flavors and aromas but an incredibly elegant feel), one of the best Oregon wines I’d had from the vintage, the Magnien was astonishing. It was like travelling through the stratosphere of aroma and flavor. From the stones and iron rich soil, through the treetops laden with bright red fruit, clear up to the clouds and dazzling light. The room turned to me as my old boss asked my opinion on the two, and my nose was so far into the glass of Magnien that I almost snorted it up. I tried my best to be diplomatic, but couldn’t hide how much I loved the Magnien.
There are not many of the Magnien left, so grab them soon. The Charmes is ready, but will continue to hold if you prefer, and the Clos de Beze trio of vintages will continue to develop nicely for the next decade. If you can’t hold off, drink the ’12 last. Hopefully we’ll have the new vintages available soon, but these are great wines to grab while you can.
In Stock and On Sale Now:
Frederic Magnien Chambertin-Clos de Beze Grand Cru 2011 750ML ($319.95) Was $219, Now $189 close out special, 5 bottles in stock now
Stephen Tanzer 92-94 points “(the parcel Magnien works with stretches from the bottom to the top of the cru; a substantial percentage of millerandage resulted in a very low yield and low pH in 2011, according to Magnien): Good bright, full red. Aromas of black cherry, raspberry, licorice, menthol and flowers. Highly concentrated and well delineated, with superb energy and lift to the flavors of red berries, spices and dark chocolate. Very rocky and precise on the finish, with firm tannins currently shutting down the fruit. Still an infant but shows outstanding potential.”
This was the lowest listed price in the USA today,
Now it’s even lower!
The next best price is $230
Frederic Magnien Chambertin-Clos de Beze Grand Cru 2012 750ML ($319.95) Was $219, Now $199 close out special, 4 bottles in stock now
Stephen Tanzer 94 points “Medium red. Alluring perfume of raspberry, rose petal and high-toned cardamom spice. Broad, rich, dense and fine-grained yet somehow weightless, displaying powerful mineral support to its red berry and exotic spice flavors. The bracing, resounding finish features pronounced soil-driven salinity and a hint of youthful bitterness. Magnien predicts that this will be the last of his 2012 négociant wines to reach full maturity. Superb Burgundy.”
This was the lowest listed price in the USA today,
Now it’s even lower!
The next best price is $243.75
Frederic Magnien Chambertin-Clos de Beze Grand Cru 2013 750ML ($319.95) Was $249, Now $219 close out special, 6 bottles in stock now
Stephen Tanzer 92-95 points “Bright, full red. Sexy high-pitched perfume combines red cherry, blood orange, lavender, red rose and spearmint. Juicy but youthfully imploded, showing more aromatic complexity than pliancy of texture today. Crunchy flavors of crushed red fruits, spices and licorice are lifted by fresh rose. A very long, scented wine of great finesse, but in need of a decade of patience to fully express itself.”
This was the lowest listed price in the USA today,
Now it’s even lower!
The next best price is $279.97
Frederic Magnien Charmes-Chambertin Grand Cru 2012 750ML ($319.95) Was $189, Now $159 close out special, 3 bottles in stock now
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 92-95 points “Good bright red. Complex nose melds cherry, rose petal, leather, game and minerals, plus a whiff of sexy new oak. Tightly wound but with lovely sweetness to its red fruit and rose petal flavors. A silky texture is given cut and energy by harmonious ripe acidity. Finishes saline and long, with very suave tannins. A lovely Charmes, from the lieu-dit Aux Charmes in Charmes and the upper part of Mazoyeres just below Latricieres, according to Magnien.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
New Cayuse Wines
We loaded up on even more new stock from our favorite Walla Walla winery!
Cayuse Vineyards Bionic Frog Syrah, Walla Walla Valley 2017 750ML ($349.95) $279 special, 3 bottles in stock now
Wine Advocate 98 points “Part of the magic that happens with the 2017 Syrah Bionic Frog is that it is opaque with neon purple edges without being inky and massive. With classic Syrah tones of smoked meat, leather, lavender, lilac and black pepper, the wine is rich with aromas of blackberry, black raspberry and smoked plum. Medium to full-bodied, the wine explodes with intention and precision on the palate, with an immaculate balance and crystal-clear focus. Brilliantly structured, the wine continues to evolve with subtle and seamlessly integrated spice tones compounded by a mineral tension and a floral lift to make this wine float across the mid-palate. The wine glides effortlessly to a long, winding finish with persistence and the elegance of silk. The vibrancy of flavor remains in the mouth long after the wine has left. For a wine this dark and this full-flavored, yet as graceful and agile on the palate as it is, you’ll be hard-pressed to put down the glass; I certainly can’t keep my hands off of it. This is stunningly beautiful, and with only 516 cases made, it should be sought after by top collectors from around the world.”
James Suckling 98 points “Fantastic decadence and richness to this, but not overdone, offering intense dried fruit, tar, roasted walnuts and smoked almonds. It’s full-bodied, but remains fresh. The aromas follow through to a flavorful. round and juicy palate. Drink or hold.”
Jeb Dunnuck 98 points “The 2017 Syrah Bionic Frog is in the running for the wine of the vintage. An incredibly elegant expression of this cuvée, it reveals an almost opaque purple hue to go with stunning, Jamet Cote Rotie-like notes of black raspberries, spring flowers, bacon fat, green olives, and sweet mulch. More cured meats and salted pork notes develop with time in the glass, and it’s a wonderfully complex, layered, nuanced Syrah. Boasting medium to full-bodied richness on the palate, flawless balance, and a great, great finish, it’s the polish, elegance, and silky feel to the tannins that set this beauty above just about every other wine out there. It’s unquestionably gorgeous today (give it an hour or more in a decanter) yet has a solid 15-20 years of prime drinking ahead of it.”
Wine Enthusiast 95 points “Editor’s Choice. The aromas start off reserved and then ramp up intensity, with notes of peat, black pepper, crushed flower, soot and charcuterie. The flavors are intense but far from full throttle, showing a mesmerizing sense of restraint to the savory and potpourri notes. A lingering finish caps it off.”
Cayuse Vineyards Bionic Frog Syrah, Walla Walla Valley 2018 750ML ($299.95) $249 special, 3 bottles in stock now
Wine Advocate 98 points “Part of the magic that happens with the 2017 Syrah Bionic Frog is that it is opaque with neon purple edges without being inky and massive. With classic Syrah tones of smoked meat, leather, lavender, lilac and black pepper, the wine is rich with aromas of blackberry, black raspberry and smoked plum. Medium to full-bodied, the wine explodes with intention and precision on the palate, with an immaculate balance and crystal-clear focus. Brilliantly structured, the wine continues to evolve with subtle and seamlessly integrated spice tones compounded by a mineral tension and a floral lift to make this wine float across the mid-palate. The wine glides effortlessly to a long, winding finish with persistence and the elegance of silk. The vibrancy of flavor remains in the mouth long after the wine has left. For a wine this dark and this full-flavored, yet as graceful and agile on the palate as it is, you’ll be hard-pressed to put down the glass; I certainly can’t keep my hands off of it. This is stunningly beautiful, and with only 516 cases made, it should be sought after by top collectors from around the world.”
James Suckling 98 points “Fantastic decadence and richness to this, but not overdone, offering intense dried fruit, tar, roasted walnuts and smoked almonds. It’s full-bodied, but remains fresh. The aromas follow through to a flavorful. round and juicy palate. Drink or hold.”
Jeb Dunnuck 98 points “The 2017 Syrah Bionic Frog is in the running for the wine of the vintage. An incredibly elegant expression of this cuvée, it reveals an almost opaque purple hue to go with stunning, Jamet Cote Rotie-like notes of black raspberries, spring flowers, bacon fat, green olives, and sweet mulch. More cured meats and salted pork notes develop with time in the glass, and it’s a wonderfully complex, layered, nuanced Syrah. Boasting medium to full-bodied richness on the palate, flawless balance, and a great, great finish, it’s the polish, elegance, and silky feel to the tannins that set this beauty above just about every other wine out there. It’s unquestionably gorgeous today (give it an hour or more in a decanter) yet has a solid 15-20 years of prime drinking ahead of it.”
Wine Enthusiast 95 points “Editor’s Choice. The aromas start off reserved and then ramp up intensity, with notes of peat, black pepper, crushed flower, soot and charcuterie. The flavors are intense but far from full throttle, showing a mesmerizing sense of restraint to the savory and potpourri notes. A lingering finish caps it off.”
Cayuse Vineyards Bionic Frog Syrah, Walla Walla Valley 2018 750ML ($299.95) $249 special, 3 bottles in stock now
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $264
Cayuse Vineyards Cailloux Vineyard Syrah, Walla Walla Valley 2017 750ML ($149.95) $119 special, 3 bottles in stock now
James Suckling 97 points “Lots of blackberry, tar and blueberry aromas with hints of dried earth. Full bodied, tight and focused with intensity and savoriness in the center palate. Plush and attractive at the end, but not overpowering. Drink or hold.”
Jeb Dunnuck 97 points “The only Syrah that includes some Viognier, the 2017 Syrah Cailloux Vineyard (this is the same site used for the Viognier) is always a great representation of the vintage as well as the wines of Christophe Baron. Ruby/purple-hued, with a rocking bouquet of black raspberries, smoked game, black pepper, and spring flowers, it has plenty of classic Rocks funkiness and meaty notes, medium to full body, a core of sweet fruit, and a great, great finish. It ranks with the top two to three wines in this vintage. It opens up nicely with time in the glass and shows well today, and it’s certainly going to cruise for 15+ years or more.”
Wine Spectator 94 points “Structured and impeccably layered, with rich and expressive blueberry and raspberry flavors, laced with licorice, bacon fat and crushed stone notes that pick up speed toward refined tannins. Drink now through 2030.”
Cayuse Vineyards Cailloux Vineyard Syrah, Walla Walla Valley 2018 750ML ($149.95) $119 special, 3 bottles in stock now
Winery Note “Cailloux Vineyard—Christophe’s first Walla Walla Valley vineyard, this 10-acre plot was our first vineyard planted in the stones of Milton Freewater in 1997, and produces the flagship Cailloux Syrah.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $142
Cayuse Vineyards Armada Vineyard Syrah, Walla Walla Valley 2016 750ML ($179.95) $149 special, 3 bottles in stock now
Wine Advocate 98 points “From the moment you stick your nose in the glass, you are immediately struck with something special. The 2016 Syrah Armada Vineyard has fantastic focus on the nose, with black fruits and a grippy core of minerality, revealing some soft truffle tones and black spices along the way. Full-bodied on the palate, the wine shows an impressive weight and continues to gain in breadth and depth, expanding and unfolding on the mid-palate. Beautifully structured flavors of cured meats and peppercorn evolve with incredible mineral tension and dusty red fruits, and the wine ends with a long, thought-provoking finish. The Armada Syrah is collector-worthy. The 472-case production leaves me speechless.”
We offer 16 Cayuse wines in stock now.
Shop the full selection on our web store!
Restocked Special Feature
“Owner/winemaker Todd Hamina has an admirable track record for producing ageworthy Pinot Noir and his 2016s are no exception.” –Josh Raynolds
Biggio Hamina Claygate Vineyard Pinot Noir, Ribbon Ridge 2016 750ML ($39.95) $28 special
Case-6 Biggio Hamina Claygate Vineyard Pinot Noir, Ribbon Ridge 2016 750ML ($199.95) $159 special (that’s only $26.50/bottle!)
Case-12 Biggio Hamina Claygate Vineyard Pinot Noir, Ribbon Ridge 2016 750ML ($399.95) $299 special (that’s only $24.92/bottle!)
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 94 points “Bright red. An exotically perfumed bouquet displays intense red fruit, potpourri and incense qualities. Spice and savory herb nuances build as the wine opens up. Bright and energetic in the mouth, offering densely packed and appealingly sweet raspberry liqueur, cherry and spicecake flavors that pick up a smoky mineral note on the back half. Plays power off of finesse deftly and finishes extremely long and floral, with sneaky, fine-grained tannins and a touch of exotic spices.”
Biggio Hamina Claygate Vineyard Pinot Noir, Ribbon Ridge 2016 750ML ($39.95) $28 specialCase-6 Biggio Hamina Claygate Vineyard Pinot Noir, Ribbon Ridge 2016 750ML ($199.95) $159 special (that’s only $26.50/bottle!)
Case-12 Biggio Hamina Claygate Vineyard Pinot Noir, Ribbon Ridge 2016 750ML ($399.95) $299 special (that’s only $24.92/bottle!)
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 94 points “Bright red. An exotically perfumed bouquet displays intense red fruit, potpourri and incense qualities. Spice and savory herb nuances build as the wine opens up. Bright and energetic in the mouth, offering densely packed and appealingly sweet raspberry liqueur, cherry and spicecake flavors that pick up a smoky mineral note on the back half. Plays power off of finesse deftly and finishes extremely long and floral, with sneaky, fine-grained tannins and a touch of exotic spices.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $34.50
You’d be hard-pressed to find a better Oregon Pinot at this price. This wine leans toward the savory-side with delicate notes of raspberries, wet leaves and herbs. Perfumed and light-bodied. A knockout at the table.
Biggio Hamina ‘Biha’ Chehalem Mountains Pinot Noir 2017 750ML ($29.95) $14 special
Case-6 Biggio Hamina ‘Biha’ Chehalem Mountains Pinot Noir 2017 750ML ($119.95) $75 special (that’s only $12.50/bottle!)
Case-12 Biggio Hamina ‘Biha’ Chehalem Mountains Pinot Noir 2017 750ML (199.95) $139 special (that’s only $11.58/bottle!)
This is the only listing in the USA today!
New Week – New Arrivals
Oregon
We love, love, love what Bobby Rowett is doing. These are some of the most beautiful Champagne-style sparklers in the Valley.
Mellen Meyer Brut Nature Sparkling, Willamette Valley NV 750ML ($34.95) $28 special
VinopolNote: Based on the 2017 vintage, this is a leaner style of Champagne-method sparkling wine. Disgorged February 2020.
We love, love, love what Bobby Rowett is doing. These are some of the most beautiful Champagne-style sparklers in the Valley.
Mellen Meyer Brut Nature Sparkling, Willamette Valley NV 750ML ($34.95) $28 special
VinopolNote: Based on the 2017 vintage, this is a leaner style of Champagne-method sparkling wine. Disgorged February 2020.
This is the only listing in the USA today!
A single-vineyard Gewurz from roughly 50 year old vines!
Ovum ‘Love Your Loving Ways’ Gewurztraminer, Rogue Valley Oregon 2019 750ML ($29.95) $19.90 special
Winery note “2019 Love your Loving Ways Gewurz is not what you’ve come to expect from Gewurz, but you probably already knew that about OVUM. Our Gewurz is not about sweet canned fruit or rose extract – Love your Lovin Ways is about restraint, elegance and purity of place. The 2019 offering is particularly unusual for it’s dominant blood orange aromatics, and length of minerality on the palate. Yes, somehow this Gewurz shows gobs of minerality. Unfined, Unfiltered (for the first time), native yeast, nothing added except sulfur…this is a magical mystery wine for the ages.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $24.65
Patricia Green Cellars Durant Vineyard Bishop Block Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills 2018 750ML ($49.95) $45 specialJosh Raynolds-Vinous 94 points “Deep, shimmering garnet. Expressive aromas of fresh red berries, cherry, blood orange and exotic spices, energized by a touch of minerality. Sweet and seamless in the mouth, offering vibrant raspberry and bitter cherry flavors that put on weight and turn sweeter with air. Displays very good breadth and seamless texture, and finishes with impressive clarity, harmonious tannins and a resonating red fruit preserve quality. Roughly 80% whole clusters and 25% new oak.”
Wine Enthusiast 92 points “Smooth and fruity, the flavors run to strawberry and pomegranate rather than darker fruits. It’s an elegant, medium-bodied wine, all Pommard clone, balanced and good for near-term drinking.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $49
Patricia Green Cellars Freedom Hill Vineyard Pommard Clone Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2018 750ML ($59.95) $47 special
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 94 points “Deep, vivid ruby-red. A highly complex, expressive bouquet evokes red berry and cherry preserves, along with baking spice, rose oil and smoky mineral nuances. Shows fine delineation and energetic lift on the palate, offering concentrated, spice-laced red fruit liqueur, cola and floral pastille flavors that deepen with air. Finishes impressively long and precise, with polished tannins providing framework and closing grip to lingering raspberry and spicecake notes. 30% new oak.”
Wine Enthusiast 94 points “Editor’s Choice. This bursts open with lovely blackberry and black-cherry fruit, along with generous streaks of mocha and cola. It’s balanced and well integrated already, with a long, clean, textured finish: a very fine value.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $52
Patricia Green Cellars Estate Old Vine Pinot Noir, Ribbon Ridge 2018 750ML ($44.95) $33 special
Josh Raynolds 94 points “Dark scarlet. Expressive aromas of red and dark berry liqueur, exotic spices and incense take on vanilla and cola nuances as the wine opens up. Fleshy and broad in the mouth but surprisingly animated as well, offering intense, gently oak-spiced black raspberry, cherry and boysenberry flavors and a hint of candied flowers. Finishes subtly chewy and very long, with an echo of juicy blue fruit and slowly mounting tannins.”
Wine Spectator 93 points “Compelling and graceful, this offers pretty aromas of raspberry and fresh violet, with elegantly layered cherry, mineral and black tea flavors that take on tension toward refined tannins. Drink now through 2029. 898 cases made.”
Wine Enthusiast 93 points “Editor’s Choice. Happily this old vine selection is among the winery’s biggest production Pinots. The texture and detail that often accompany old vine wines are here in abundance. Flavors deftly mix black cherry, coffee and sandalwood, with toasted walnut highlights. The fruit-acid-tannin balance is textbook perfect.”
Patricia Green Cellars Volcanic Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills 2018 750ML ($41.95) $33 special
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 93 points “Bright ruby. Expansive cherry and black raspberry scents are complemented by suggestions of pungent flowers, candied licorice and a hint of allspice. Fleshy, appealingly sweet and pliant in the mouth, offering intense dark berry, cherry compote, candied rose and sassafras flavors that slowly firm up on the back half. Picks up allspice and licorice nuances with air and finishes impressively long, with well-integrated tannins and lingering florality. All neutral oak.”
Wine Enthusiast 92 points “This is a blend designed to showcase the volcanic Jory soils of the Dundee Hills, an interesting companion to the winery’s Marine Sedimentary bottling. In this vintage the Volcanic is the more fruit-driven and broadly open of the two, with tart cherry fruit highlighted with citrusy acidity. The herbal side of the grape is also on full display, though the overall balance keeps everything in proportion.”
Wine Spectator 91 points “Brooding and densely layered, with simmering cherry, blueberry and stony mineral accents that build tension along the way to firm tannins. Hands off for now. Best from 2021 through 2028. 489 cases made.”
California
The quality of Snowden’s fruit has been an open secret within the Napa for decades, and many of the Valley’s most respected names have purchased fruit over the years, including Silver Oak and Caymus. However, we’re here to publically out Snowden for the greater good. These prices do not reflect the quality on offer, and the wines deserve a place on your dinner table.
Snowden Vineyards ‘Brothers Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2017 750ML ($89.95) $75 special
Antonio Galloni 93+ points “The 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Brothers Vineyard is gorgeous. In this vintage, the Brothers has a bit more tannin and overall structure than normal, but in 2017 a power outage resulted in the wine staying in tank for an extra ten days. In the end, that looks to have been a help, as the 2017 offers a terrific combination of fruit density and structure, within the mid-weight style of the year at Snowden. This is a beguiling wine that may very well turn out to be a surprise in time. Super classic, old-school, medium-bodied wine with good depth and resonance alongside notes of black cherry, leather, tobacco, licorice and gravel.”
Wine Spectator 92 points “Succulent and open in feel, with friendly plum and raspberry puree notes set on a silky structure, backed by light rooibos tea and anise hints. A stylish Cabernet, offering an alluring mouthfeel. Drink now through 2029. 636 cases made.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
The average price nationally is $82
Snowden Vineyards Lost Vineyard Merlot, Napa Valley 2018 750ML ($39.95) $33 special
Antonio Galloni 90-92 points “The 2018 Merlot Lost Vineyard is deep, rich and flavorful, with super-expressive savory, earthy, cedary notes from the 5% Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend. The 2018 is wonderfully deep and resonant, yet very much in the Snowden style. This is a very nice wine.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $39
France – Champagne
Jean-François Clouet is a figure from a fever dream of acid and chalk – he is enigmatic, hilarious and dedicated to making some amazing wines. The newest disgorgements have just landed, and we’re as excited as ever.
Andre Clouet Grande Reserve Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($39.95) $33 special
Andre Clouet Grande Reserve Brut, Champagne NV 1.5L ($99.95) $79 special
Andre Clouet Grande Reserve Brut, Champagne NV 3L ($319.95) $279 special
Andre Clouet Grande Reserve Brut, Champagne NV 6L ($599.95) $519 special (in-store pick up only on the 6L)
Case-6 Andre Clouet Grande Reserve Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($249.95) $189 special (that’s only $31.50/bottle and the lowest listed price in the USA today!)
Case-12 Andre Clouet Grande Reserve Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($479.95) $359 special (that’s only $29.92/bottle and the lowest listed price in the USA today!)
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 90 points “The latest release of André Clouet’s NV Brut Grand Réserve Grand Cru is showing well, exhibiting a nicely integrated bouquet of red apple, ripe citrus fruit, honeycomb and blanched almonds, followed by a medium to full-bodied, enveloping palate with a fine mousse, ripe but racy acids and an elegant, understated profile, concluding with a well-defined finish. This is a stylish, harmonious wine that makes for a fine introduction to the Clouet portfolio.” [Reviewed April 2019]
The average price is $43
Andre Clouet Silver Grand Cru Blanc de Noirs Brut Nature, Champagne NV 750ML ($39.95) $33 special
Andre Clouet Silver Grand Cru Blanc de Noirs Brut Nature, Champagne NV 3L ($349.95) $279 special
John Gilman 90 points “I believe that this bottle of André Clouet “Silver” Blanc de Noirs non-vintage Brut Nature is from the base year of 2013, as it has a small code printed on the back of the neck label that says “LS13”. In any case, the wine is quite good, showing that lovely structural rounding from a bit of additional aging in the cellars. The bouquet offers up scents of apple, nectarine, bread dough, a good base of soil and a smoky topnote. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied, complex and nicely balanced, with refined mousse, bright, nicely-integrated acids and a long, complex finish. This is a quite good bottle of Brut Nature. 2019-2030+.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $46
Marguet Pere & Fils Avize & Cramant Grand Cru, Champagne 2015 750ML ($119.95) $99 special
Importer note “Demeter certified. 100% Chardonnay.”
Peter Liem note “[Writing on the 2011 release] This comes from two chardonnay vineyards, both farmed organically: Les Chantereines in Avize and Les Fourches du Levant in Cramant. It combines breadth and finesse in the inimitable style of the northern Côte des Blancs, with a pinpoint texture and a racy, elongated structure.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Marguet Pere & Fils Ay Grand Cru, Champagne 2015 750ML ($149.95) $99 special
Importer note “Demeter certified. 62% Pinot Noir & 38% Chardonnay.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Marguet Pere & Fils Cramant Grand Cru, Champagne 2015 750ML ($119.95) $99 special
Importer note “Demeter certified. 100% Chardonnay.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
We were impressed by the value and supreme drinkability of these Champagnes. Champagne Piollot is produced in partnership by Roland Piollot (from his father’s lovingly tended old massale selection vines) and Dominique Moreau (owner and winemaker of Marie-Courtin). These are forward drinking and super easy to approach, showing style and flair.
Piollot Pere et Fils Colas Robin Pinot Blanc Extra Brut, Champagne (2014) NV 750ML ($59.95) $49 special
Importer note “From the Val Colas Robin vineyard in Polisot. Organic farming. The first vintage produced from grapes harvested in 2010. A fuller bodied, unique expression of Champagne. Production: 4,000 bottles/year.”
Winery note “100% Pinot Blanc – Zéro dosage – Tank aging and 20% of oak – Malolactic fermentation – Sur lattes : 5 years.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $57.99
The average price is $62
Piollot Pere et Fils Come des Tallants Pinot NoirZero Dosage, Champagne (2016) NV 750ML ($54.95) $45 special
Importer note “Grown from a parcel of less than a hectare on a hill with direct southern exposure. Organic farming. Production: 5,000 bottles/year.”
Winery note “100% Pinot Noir – Zéro dosage – Tank aging – Malolactic fermentation – Sur lattes : 4 years.”
We occasionally look to friends in NYC for tips on impressive wines that aren’t seen much on the West Coast. When those wines are single vintage, single parcel Champagnes, we take note.
Hubert Soreau Le Clos l’Abbe Brut, Champagne 2010 750ML ($119.95) $95 special
Importer note “From a parcel of old chardonnay vines located on the border of Epernay and the Côtes des Blancs, the fruit is picked by hand and vinified and aged in neutral 300L barrels harvested from the nearby Hautvillers forest. After 6 years of aging sur-latte, it was disgorged and bottled with minimal dosage. Aromatically, the wine resonates with white fruits, citrus, and a clear, stony, mineral edge. On the palate, the wine is taught, balancing rich texture with electric acidity which gives the wine a feeling of power and weightlessness.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $102
Richly expressive Champagnes of superb balance
Varnier Fanniere Cuvee Jean Fanniere Origine Grand Cru Extra Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($89.95) Was $71.90, Now $59 special
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 94 points “(Reviewed Apr 2019) Aromas of warm biscuits, crisp peach, yellow citrus fruits and hazelnuts introduce the latest release of Varnier-Fannière’s NV Extra Brut Cuvée Jean Fannière Origine… On the palate, it’s full-bodied, broad-shouldered and vinous, with ripe but racy acids, considerable depth and concentration, an elegant, pinpoint mousse and a lingering, expansive finish. This is a layered, powerful Champagne with the lowest dosage in the range.” [Review is for July 2017 disgorgement]
Varnier Fanniere Grand Cru Rose Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($79.95) Was $61.90, Now $56 special
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 93 points “(Reviewed Apr 2019)…the NV Brut Grand Cru Rosé wafts from the glass with aromas of warm bread, waxy citrus rind and crisp green apple, with the wine’s 90% Chardonnay from Avize and Cramant seemingly gaining the upper hand over its 10% Ambonnay Pinot Noir as the wine matures on cork. On the palate, it’s full-bodied, broad and vinous, with a delicate, pinpoint mousse, a fleshy core of fruit and a nicely defined, saline finish. This is the broadest-shouldered of Varnier-Fannière’s rosé releases reviewed in this report, but in its more powerful register, it shares the elegance that distinguishes them.” [Review is for April 2016 disgorgement]
Varnier Fanniere Cuvee Saint Denis Grand Cru Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($89.95) Was $71.90, Now $59 special
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 94 points “(Reviewed April 2019)…derived from a parcel of old Chardonnay vines in Avize, the latest rendition of Varnier-Fannière’s NV Brut Grand Cru Cuvée St-Denis opens in the glass with notions of waxy lemon rind, confit citrus, fresh peach, white flowers and warm biscuits. On the palate, it’s full-bodied, broad and concentrated, with chewy extract, a tight-knit core and brisk acids, revealing a youthfully frothy mousse and a long, chalky finish. This has a very promising future ahead of it.” [Review is for June 2017 disgorgment]
R.H. Coutier Cuvee Tradition Grand Cru Brut, Champagne NV 3L ($299.95) $249 special
Disgorged 2018
Antonio Galloni 92 points “The NV Brut Grand Cru Tradition is a terrific introduction to this range. Pliant and ample, with plenty of Ambonnay resonance, the Tradition has so much to offer. The blend is 80% Pinot Noir and 20% Chardonnay, but in tasting, this release tastes quite Chardonnay-driven, with the Pinot mostly felt in the wine’s weight and overall texture. Coutier’s Brut Tradition remains one of the finest wines in its peer group and price range. This release is based on 2013, with the addition of reserve wines. Dosage is 7 grams per liter. Disgorged: May 2018.”
This is the only listing in the USA today for the 3L!
France – Beaujolais
Anne-Sophie Dubois Fleurie Les Cocottes, Beaujolais 2019 750ML ($33.95) $27 special
Anne-Sophie Dubois Fleurie Les Cocottes, Beaujolais 2019 1.5L ($89.95) $66 special
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Clos de la Roilette Fleurie, Beaujolais 2019 750ML ($34.95) $24 special
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 94 points “Bottled only a week before I tasted it, Alain Coudert’s 2019 Fleurie from the Clos de la Roilette is showing beautifully, wafting from the glass with aromas of rose petals, red cherries, raspberries, spices and orange rind. Medium to full-bodied, deep and velvety, it’s elegant and fine-boned, with lively acids, refined structuring tannins and a long, perfumed finish. Readers who gravitate toward classical styles of Beaujolais will prefer the 2019 to the richer, more gourmand 2018, but both are lovely vintages for this reference-point address.”
“Fragrant and beautifully balanced” 2019s
Clos de la Roilette Fleurie Cuvee Tardive, Beaujolais 2019 750ML ($39.95) $29 special
Clos de la Roilette Fleurie Cuvee Tardive, Beaujolais 2019 1.5L ($69.95) $59 special
These are the lowest listed prices on the West Coast!
Clos de la Roilette Fleurie Griffe du Marquis, Beaujolais 2018 750ML ($49.95) $39 special
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Italy – Piedmont
Aldo Conterno is one of Piedmont’s defining modern producers. Based in the Bussia hamlet in Monforte, Aldo Conterno’s wines have always been powerful yet polished, with dark rich fruit. But despite their evident density and power, they maintain a remarkable level of nuance and complexity. Needless to say these wines are epic, and if you like a more modern interpretation of Nebbiolo, you simply won’t find a smarter buy than these modern classics.
Poderi Aldo Conterno Colonnello, Barolo DOCG 2016 750ML ($219.95) $179 special
James Suckling 96 points “Very fine-grained with pretty berry, spice, roasted-nut and cedar aromas and flavors. It’s full-bodied and chewy, yet polished and intense. Very, very long. Try after 2022.”
Wine Advocate 95+ points “The Poderi Aldo Conterno 2016 Barolo Bussia Colonnello shows dark fruit intensity, dried cherry, spice, licorice and tilled earth. The wine delivers its aromas in a direct and immediate manner, with menthol and balsam herb fitting into oaky aromas of sweet spice. For whatever reason, I notice the oak more in Colonnello, but this will relax with time. The wine will be ready to drink after the 10-year mark. Approximately 6,000 bottles were made.”
Poderi Aldo Conterno Bussia Cicala, Barolo DOCG 2016 750ML ($199.95) $169 special
James Suckling 98 points “A really exotic red, showing burnt orange-peel to the dried-strawberry, chocolate-powder and light toasted-oak character. It’s full-bodied and chewy, yet ever so polished. A wild wine. Drink after 2022 and onwards.”
Wine Advocate 96 points “The Poderi Aldo Conterno 2016 Barolo Bussia Cicala offers a ripe fruit profile with layers of menthol and medicinal herb. The finish is beautiful, long and chalky, and you don’t get as much alcohol in the Cicala (compared to Romirasco). The fruit is dried and streamlined, and this wine does show good promise for aging. The tannins are beautiful, coating your teeth and palate with no bitter edge. About 6,000 bottles were made.”
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