In Today’s Newsletter:
New Arrivals From Cantalupo – Mother Nature’s Nebbiolo
Burgundy – By the Vintage / Buy the Vintage
February Clearance Sale: Incredible New Offers for the Final Week!
Also, new Diamond Creek Sale!
Hot Ticket: 2015 Hermitage from Dom. Colombier
2009 Cuvee Constance
Michael Etzel Presents: Sequitur 2014 & 2015
New Arrivals
Mother Nature’s Nebbiolo
From The Star of Piemonte Value
Cantalupo (in Ghemme)
Antichi Vigneti di Cantalupo ‘Cantalupo Anno Primo’ Colline Novaresi, Piedmont 2010 1.5L ($89.95) $77 special
Importer note “Made entirely of Nebbiolo, normally picked in the middle of October. About ten days on the skins, aged in Slavonian oak casks of 1,500 and 3,000L capacity for 24 months before bottling. If you love Barolo and Barbaresco you owe it to yourself to try this wine; chewy but refined tannins, beautiful texture, very flavorful and aromatic, showing many of the same notes as Barolo and Barbaresco would, but with a mineral overlay that is very attractive. Completely traditional and also completely clean winemaking, my favorite. Drinkable now but will age beautifully for 20 years or more.”
Antichi Vigneti di Cantalupo Signore di Bayard, Ghemme DOCG 2008 750ML ($49.95) $39 specialVinopolNote: A special bottling of 100% Nebbiolo produced by the winery only in the best years, the Signore di Bayard is a tribute to the 16th Century Knight of Bayard, Peter Terrail, the “Good Knight without fear and without reproach,” who died at the foot of the hill of Breclema. It is a block selection of the oldest vines from the estate. These vines are growing in gravel moraine soil at 280-310m (306-340’) in elevation. The grapes are hand-picked and sorted before undergoing a cold soak. Fermentation takes place naturally with the stems. The wine is aged for 18 to 24 months in 100% new French oak barrels before being bottled unfiltered. It is a dense and tannic wine with an excellent aging potential.
Antichi Vigneti di Cantalupo Collis Breclemae, Ghemme DOCG 2010 1.5L ($119.95) $99 special
Winery note “Made entirely of Nebbiolo grown in the hillside vineyard called ‘Collis Breclemae,’ picked in the second half of October. About two weeks of maceration with the skins, then the wine is aged for 36 months in used barrels ranging between 900 and 2800L. Very rocky soil, which presumably explains the very distinctive mineral character the wine shows. Very round tannins that remind me of 70% dark chocolate, not at all bitter, just savory; this will age brilliantly, but if I’m eating ribeye now I would drink this with it in a second. Really big wine with excellent balance.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Importer note “Carella is one of the historic cru of Ghemme. The name Carella is a very ancient geographical name of Celtic origin, “Carellaedunum” which means “Rise of Carella”. Among its vineyards were discovered Neolithic finds, dating back to the 4th millennium B.C.”
Other (Selected) Excellent Cantalupo Wines in Stock:
Case-12 Antichi Vigneti di Cantalupo ‘Cantalupo Anno Primo’ Colline Novaresi, Piedmont 2009 750ML ($479.95) $399 special (that’s only $33.25/bottle!)
Antonio Galloni 92 points “The 2009 Cantalupo Anno Primo is a gorgeous, super-classic Ghemme. Rosewater, bright red cherry, geranium, tobacco, pine and mint are beautifully delineated throughout. Aromatically intense and focused, the 2009 shows exactly what makes Nebbiolo from Ghemme so delicious. This is an absolutely gorgeous wine that won’t break the bank. At times, the aromatic signatures are quite reminiscent of Mascarello’s Barolo Monprivato, although the tannic and acid signatures are very much those of Ghemme.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
$49 special
Antichi Vigneti di Cantalupo Collis Breclemae, Ghemme DOCG 2007 1.5L ($119.95) $89 special
Antonio Galloni 92+ points “The 2007 Ghemme Collis Breclamae shows the deeper, slightly wilder side of Ghemme. Game, smoke, licorice, cedar and tobacco are expressed with elements of burliness and rusticity. There is more than enough depth to fill out the wine’s broad shoulders. Still, what comes through most is the wine’s virile, imposing personality.” AG
Antichi Vigneti di Cantalupo Collis Breclemae, Ghemme DOCG 2006 1.5L ($119.95) $89 special
Importer note “Made entirely of Nebbiolo grown in the hillside vineyard called ‘Collis Breclemae,’ picked in the second half of October. About two weeks of maceration with the skins, then the wine is aged for 36 months in used barrels ranging between 900 and 2800L. Very rocky soil, which presumably explains the very distinctive mineral character the wine shows. Very round tannins that remind me of 70% dark chocolate, not at all bitter, just savory; this will age brilliantly, but if I’m eating ribeye now I would drink this with it in a second. Really big wine with excellent balance.”
BurgundyBy the Vintage / Buy the Vintage!
The Glory of 2009 & 2010
Welcome to the beginning of a series where we take a look at Burgundy through the prism of some recent vintages
2009 and 2010 might be the best back-to-back vintages in Burgundy since 1990/91—a set of vintages that this combo resembles. Much like that famed duo, the personalities of ‘09/10 tend to be richer/riper and brighter/cooler, though ‘09 is turning out to have more elegance that many expected and ’10 doesn’t lack for fruit or power. The 2009’s, especially, are starting to enter a really nice drinking window and have shed some of the baby fat they displayed in their youth. 2010 looks to be an incredible year for the long haul (ala 1991) but the fact that you have a few years head start aging them (and that the prices look like deals compared to 14/15/16) makes them a very strong buy even now.
Highlights from 2009 and 2010 Burgundy, in stock now:
2009:
Wine Advocate 91-93 points “The 2009 Gevrey-Chambertin Coeur du Roi is a dark, inward wine. It shows serious weight and density in its dark fruit and sensual personality. A blast of smoke, licorice and menthol informs the long, beautifully delineated finish. Anticipated maturity: 2024-2039.”WA
Burghound 88-91 points “A cool, airy, pure and restrained nose that is very Gevrey in character offers up attractively fresh aromas of red and dark berry fruit plus a hint of the sauvage that precede the rich and complex middle weight flavors that culminate in a mildly austere but long finish. This is really quite good and worth a look.”Domaine Fourrier Gevrey-Chambertin Vieilles Vignes 2009 750ML ($199.95) $179 special, 10 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni 92 points “The 2009 Gevrey-Chambertin floats on the palate in its finessed, well-articulated fruit. Subtle and ethereal through to the finish, the wine captures the essence and nobility of Gevrey. With time in the glass the fruit turns darker and the wine puts on weight, showing tons of pedigree and dazzling overall harmony.”
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 91 points “Good deep red. Musky aroma of raspberry, blueberry, smoke, crushed rock and game. At once sweet and taut, with an impression of lift and energy rare for the vintage. Really lovely fruit here. Fourrier told me he liked the effect of elevage in mostly older casks in 2009. “More new oak would have speeded up the evolution of the wines,” he explained. “That would have required using more sulfur dioxide but we still would have lost fruit.””Domaine Jean Grivot Ronciere, Nuits-Saint-Georges Premier Cru 2009 750ML ($149.95) $119 special, 7 bottles in stock now
Wine Advocate 92 points “Smoke, incense and spices are some of the nuances that emerge from the 2009 Nuits St. Georges Roncieres. This is a powerful incisive wine loaded with dark fruit and minerals. All of the elements meld together gracefully, showing tremendous energy and vibrancy, especially on the finish. Anticipated maturity: 2019-2029.”WA
Antonio Galloni 93 points “The 2009 Pommard Les Pezerolles is rich, round and seductive. Layers of fruit caress the palate in this enveloping, textured Burgundy. There is plenty of intensity in the glass. Hints of hard candy and licorice wrap around the finish. The Pezerolles was made with 100% destemmed fruit. Although I like the wine’s frank immediacy, I also think it will age gracefully.”
Wine Advocate 92-95 points “The 2009 Clos de la Roche comes across as big, powerful and a touch heavy-handed. This shows tons of richness and depth but lacks the sheer excitement of the estate’s finest wines. The Clos de la Roche is made from purchased wine. Anticipated maturity: 2019-2034.”WA
The average price is $210
Burghound 91-94 points “(from 90+ year old vines that are worked by horse). A ripe and notably somber but attractively spicy nose blends both red and blue berry fruit with earth nuances that can also be found on the rich, round, supple and refined medium-bodied flavors that possess moderately good, if not truly special, depth and length. However, like the Clos de Vougeot, it just feels as though there is more here than is presently being reflected and again, my score reflects this optimism that it will surface in time.”BH
The average price nationally is $2342010:
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 91 points “Good bright, full red. High-pitched aromas of tangy red and darker berries and rose petal, complemented by lower-toned earth and smoke notes. Boasts terrific volume for village wine: dense, salty and soil-driven, with raspberry fruit complicated by earth and minerals. Really stimulates the taste buds on the smooth, long, lightly saline finish. Terrific village wine.”
Domaine Rene Leclerc Griotte-Chambertin Grand Cru 2010 750ML ($199.95) $159 special, 17 bottles in stock nowVinopolNote: Domaine Rene Leclerc was founded in 1962 and is owned and run by Rene and his son, Francois. Their passion is for wine of purity and balance, a hands-off style that allows the fruit to fully express the magnificent terroir of the region. The wines undergo cold soaks before a light and short pressing to extract only the best juice. What follows is a long, traditional fermentation in stainless steel tanks with natural yeasts. The Griotte Chambertin, their only Grand Cru bottling, is aged in vat for six months and then for 1 year in 50% new French oak. It is an excellent candidate for long term cellaring, a serious wine that expresses notes of red and black berries, chocolate, game and spice as it opens in the glass. The Domaine owns 9.5 hectares of vines and works the Griottes vineyard portion (the portion being owned by Domaine des Chezeaux) and leased to R. Leclerc long term or ‘en fermage’).
As well as making this wine under his own label, Leclerc bottles some to be sold under the label of the vineyard owner, Domain des Chezeaux. Here is a review of the Chezeaux bottling from Burgundy Report: “Medium, medium-plus colour. The nose is a fine advertisement for ‘Griotte’ with a very pretty core of shiny red fruit – more cranberry/redcurrant than cherry – relatively simple in its youthfulness, but lovely. A hint of cushioning to the texture and an understated lick of tannin too. The acidity, like the tannin, seems rather understated but bubbles through as the mid-palate intensity grows, and becomes more mouth-watering. Subtly long. This is a very pretty wine that is also very ‘young Griotte’ in terms of its beauty yet lack of complexity – a perfectly balanced wine to wait for.”
Wine Spectator 92 points “Shows some reduction on the nose, but otherwise features rich cherry, pomegranate and mineral flavors. Firm and juicy, with a long finish of berries and mineral. Best from 2015 through 2032. 75 cases imported.”
The average price nationally is $81
Case-6 Domaine Faiveley Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru 2010 750ML ($1119.95) $899 special (that’s only $149.83/bottle and the lowest listed price in the USA today!)
Stephen Tanzer-Vinous 93-96 points “(just 20 hectoliters per hectare produced): Good deep red. Very pure, complex nose melds black cherry, minerals, black pepper, wild herbs and an earthy nuance. Large-scaled, sweet and rich, with a strong mineral underpinning to the flavors of black cherry and spices. A very powerful and impressive Clos Vougeot with outstanding persistence. The crop-limiting effect of the December frost has produced a wine with stunning concentration.”
Burghound 92-95 points “This is unusually elegant in 2010 with its refined nose of raspberry and earth though there are background notes of grilled meat and smoke. The supple, mouth coating and utterly delicious broad-shouldered flavors possess a silky texture yet there is plenty of power and punch to the very firmly structured finish. While there is a certain delicacy present, this will still need all of 15 years to realize its full potential. Drink 2025+.”
Burghound 92 points “This is also quite somber and restrained with an intensely earthy character to the otherwise pretty red currant and wild berry aromas. There is equally good intensity to the supple medium weight plus flavors that display good power and fine concentration on the balanced, long and moderately austere finish. This is very much a typical Clos de Vougeot that will need time to flesh out.” BH
Antonio Galloni 91-93 points “The 2010 Vosne-Romanée Les Beaux Monts is deep, dark and sensual. It currently comes across as young, but there is gorgeous fleshiness and mid-palate pliancy that makes the Beaux Monts totally irresistible.”Louis Jadot Chapelle Chambertin Grand Cru 2010 750ML ($299.95) $279 special, 5 bottles in stock now
Stephen Tanzer 95 points “Good full, medium red. Expressive, nuanced aromas of strawberry, raspberry, crushed stone, smoke and flowers. Glyceral yet light on its feet, with a suave, silky texture to its vibrant, savory red fruit, floral and mineral flavors. Not at all a superripe style: really perks up the palate and leaves the mouth refreshed on the very long, sweet/savory finish. This classy grand cru finishes with captivating perfumed lift.” ST
February Clearance Sale
Incredible Additions As We Enter the Final Week
(We’re Talking Spottswoode, Forman and More Ramey)
We’re down to the final week of February, which means that the all our incredible Clearance Sale deals expire soon. Just to raise the stakes a little bit, we’ve added some incredible wines to the Sale. The notable additions this week include three legendary Napa Cabs.
Spottswoode needs no introduction—the St. Helena estate has been one of the most collectable, age-worthy wines in Napa since the 80’s and the wines easily compete with cult bottlings twice their price.
Forman is made by Ric Forman, a Napa legend whose career has spanned five decades. He’s made some of the most iconic wines in the valley, but the last few releases from his winery have been some of the greatest wines in his career.
Finally, we’ve lowered the price on Ramey’s Pedregal Vineyard Cabernet. Pedregal is pure Oakville—rich, dark fruit and a hint of spice and vanilla. David Ramey is another Napa legend (and for good reason) and his flagship Cabernet shows you why!
New to the February Clearance Sale:
Now $89 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni 95+ points “A weightless, translucent wine, the 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon exudes class. Vibrant and finely sculpted, the 2014 possesses striking nuance from start to finish. Scents of lavender, rose petal, mint and sweet spice notes give the 2014 its brightness and sense of energy. Today, the 2014 is a bit compact relative to how it showed from barrel. I expect the wine will put on a bit more weight during its aging. Readers should plan on cellaring the 2014 at least a few years. Even today, though, the 2014 is a very pretty and pure wine.”
Now it’s even lower!
The average price is $112
Ramey Pedregal Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Oakville 2013 750ML ($199.95) Was $159, Now $138 special, 14 bottles in stock now
Wine Advocate 95+ points “A blend of 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Petit Verdot and 5% Cabernet Franc, the 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Pedregal Vineyard has a deep garnet-purple color and nose of ripe black berries, crushed black currants, pencil lead and dried herbs with hints of dark chocolate and menthol. Medium to full-bodied with a great intensity and harmony, it has a solid backbone of firm grainy tannins and great length. Still very youthful and primary, give it another 2-3 years in bottle and drink it over the next 20+ years.”
Antonio Galloni 95 points “The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Pedregal Vineyard has turned out beautifully. It is also much more accessible young than I expected, despite its considerable size. Bright red stone fruit and pomegranate notes are pushed forward. There is plenty of tannin, but it is nearly buried by the sheer intensity of the fruit. There is plenty of stuffing and potential here.”
The average price is $183
Now $159 special, 13 bottles in stock now
Robert Parker 96+ points “This first-growth estate in St. Helena has produced a 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon that is a blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Cabernet Franc and 5% Petit Verdot. It is certainly one of the wines of the vintage. Gorgeously opaque purple, it offers up notes of spring flowers, blueberries, blackcurrants, some baking spice and graphite. It is full-bodied, concentrated and rich, with layers of fruit. The wine builds and builds on the palate, with a great finish of 45+ seconds. This is a sensational 2014 to drink over the next 20+ years.”
Antonio Galloni 96 points “Spottswoode 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon is striking. Black cherry, plum, graphite, spice and menthol are some of the signatures. Intensely mineral and savory, the 2014 comes across as a slightly restrained version of the 2013. The flavor and tannin profiles are both quite similar, but the 2014 is a bit smaller-scaled in all of its dimensions. That is not a bad thing, as the 2014 will be ready to drink sooner. This is an impressive showing.”
James Suckling 96 points “Amazing burnt-orange and currant aromas with tar and lead pencil. Blackberries, too. Changes all the time. Mesmerizing. Full-bodied and powerful with super-polished tannins and a long and intense finish. The polished and fine tannins coat your mouth. Glorious. Needs three to four years to soften.”
The next best price is $167.98
The average price is $189
Colgin Cellars IX Estate Red, Napa Valley 2014 750ML ($699.95) Was $499, Now $459 special, 18 bottles in stock now
Robert Parker 98+ points “From their steep hillside vineyards on Pritchard Hill, the 2014 Proprietary Red IX Estate is an old-fashioned Médoc blend dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon, but with some Cabernet Franc (rarely seen in the Médoc these years) as well as Merlot and Petit Verdot. Striking aromatics of violets, forest floor, loamy soil nuances, blueberry, black raspberry and blackberry soar from the glass of this spectacular 2014. The acidity seems reasonable but on the lower side, the texture is magnificent, and the overall purity and equilibrium flawless. This is a wine pushing, even demanding, a three-digit score once again, but I’m holding back – at least for now. This magnificent effort from Colgin should drink beautifully for 25-30 years.”
The next best price is $468.99
The average price is $556
Don’t miss these four additional super-trending February Clearance wines:
Falletto di Bruno Giacosa ‘Falletto’, Barolo DOCG 2011 750ML ($219.95) Was $149, Now $139 special, 24+ bottles in stock now
Wine Advocate 94 points “The 2011 Barolo Falletto is a beautifully balanced and determined wine. It spends 30 months in oak and this warm vintage is already showing a quick bottle evolution. This was an early vintage: Fruit was harvested on September 23, which is ten days before average. It shows soft, luscious lines and ripe fruit flavors that are both generous and opulent. Yet, there is a healthy crunchiness and crackle in the mouth that makes for a long aging future ahead. Barolo Falletto closes with pretty aromas of dark fruit, spice and shaved truffle.”
Now it’s even lower!
The next best price is $164.99
The average price is $203
Betz Family Winery La Cote Rousse Syrah, Red Mountain 2015 750ML ($79.95) Was $69, Now $59 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Wine Advocate 96 points “The 2015 Syrah la Cote Rousse is a blockbuster Syrah from Red Mountain that’s from the Ranch at the End of The Road and Ciel du Cheval vineyards. It’s a mix of four different clones and is brought up in barrel. This deep, inky, seriously black Syrah gives up Hermitage-like notes of scorched earth, charred meats, graphite and licorice. It’s a big, concentrated effort that’s going to benefit from short-term cellaring and keep through 2035.”
Ramey Platt Vineyard Chardonnay, Sonoma Coast 2014 750ML ($69.95) Was $59, Now $49 special, 19 bottles in stock now
Wine Advocate 95 points “The 2014 Chardonnay Platt Vineyard has expressive pink grapefruit, warm peaches and brioche notes with hints of praline and ginger. Medium-bodied with great richness and depth in the mouth, it has a lovely creamy texture offset by a wicked backbone of freshness, finishing long with mineral and savory/yeasty layers.”
The average price is $59
Ramey Ritchie Vineyard Chardonnay, Russian River Valley 2014 750ML ($69.95) Was $59, Now $49 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni 95 points “The 2014 Chardonnay Ritchie Vineyard is the most exuberant and layered of David Ramey’s Chardonnays. It is also stylistically the wine that is closest in style to past. Rich, sumptuous and layered, the Ritchie expresses intensity in all of its dimensions. Even with all of its richness, the 2014 confers aromatic intensity and freshness. This, too, is very nicely done.”
Wine Advocate 95 points “Youthfully mute at this primary stage, the 2014 Chardonnay Ritchie Vineyard offers suggestions of lemon curd, white peaches and white grapefruit with underlying notes of honeyed toast and butterscotch. The palate is full-on seduction with an appealingly oily texture and tons of peaches and cream flavors, finishing long with a lively lift.”
The average price is $59
Ramey Woolsey Road Vineyard Chardonnay, Russian River Valley 2014 750ML ($69.95) Was $59, Now $49 special, 29 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni 94 points “The 2014 Chardonnay Woolsey Road Vineyard is a powerful, intense wine with real phenolic intensity. This is an especially rich, deep and layered wine with exquisite finesse and pedigree. Readers should be prepared to cellar the 2014 for at least a few years. This is a special Chardonnay in the making.”
Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2014 Chardonnay Woolsey Road Vineyard has exotic jasmine, pineapple and guava notes with hints of crème brulee and croissant. Medium-bodied with plenty of finesse in the mouth, it gives a nice balance between the fruit and savory flavors, with a silken texture and finishing long and toasty.”
The average price is $59
Diamond Creek
Classic Wines, New Sale Prices
Diamond Creek more or less invented the single vineyard, mailing list only model for California Cabernet. The pioneering winery was founded by Al Brounstein in 1968 and has enjoyed a reputation for being one of the most consistently excellent producers in the country ever since. The winery is located in the heart of Diamond Mountain, in Napa, and the wines display the powerful character that you’d expect as a result. These are some of the most stunning wines in Napa and they’re now at stunning prices, as well.
Diamond Creek Gravelly Meadow Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2015 750ML ($249.95) Was $225, Now $199 special, 24 bottles in stock now
Winery notes: “Our second coolest micro-climate is our five-acre Gravelly Meadow vineyard. Originally a pre-historic river bed, this stony, gravelly soil drains rapidly and the vines struggle for moisture. Gravelly Meadow is our lowest yielding vineyard. The wines are described as “earthy, cedary, jammy and ripe blackberry with a spicy expansive finish.”
The average price nationally is $207
Diamond Creek Red Rock Terrace Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2015 750ML ($249.95) Was $225, Now $199 special, 24 bottles in stock nowWinery notes: “Red Rock Terrace, a warm microclimate, is 7 acres of north facing vineyard. The red tinted soil is high in iron content. The wine from Red Rock Terrace is the most accessible and earliest drinkable of all our wines. Our winemaker describes Red Rock Terrace as “having velvety tannins, rich and well balanced, medium dark ruby color with cherry, mint and black currant flavors.”
The average price nationally is $216
Diamond Creek Volcanic Hill Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2015 375ML ($249.95) Was $119, Now $99 special, 12 half-bottles in stock now
Winery notes: “Volcanic Hill is comprised of 8 acres of south facing hillside vineyard. It is the warmest of all our micro-climates. The color of the soil is gray, and the consistency is that of fluffy, volcanic ash, originally deposited from the eruption of Mt. Konocti 8 million years ago. Volcanic Hill is the longest lived of our wines. Our winemaker describes these wines as “full bodied, loaded with intense ripe berry fruit, cassis, violets and a smoky richness, finishing with good length and firm tannins. The Volcanic Hill bottling includes a small amount of the extra-ordinary Petit Verdot grape.”
The average price nationally is $207
This is the only listing in the USA for the half-bottle!
Hot Ticket
2015 will go down as one of the greatest vintages nearly world-wide. In Rhone, there is no exception: 2015 offers concentrated wines of class and longevity. We are pleased to announce our offer of Domaine du Colombier arriving in September.
Domaine du Colombier Hermitage Rouge, Rhone 2015 750ML ($99.95) $79 pre-arrival special
Jeb Dunnuck 97 points “The 2015 Hermitage comes from the Les Doignières and Les Beaumes lieux-dits which are more clay and limestone soils. It’s another sensational Hermitage from this magical hillside that I wish every reader could taste. Cassis, damp earth, liquid violets and a liqueur of rocks-like profile emerge from this full-bodied, concentrated and powerful Hermitage, which has no shortage of extract or tannin. It’s for consumers with cold cellars and plenty of patience as it’s going to require at least 4-5 years of cellaring.”
I’m Constantly Devoted to You
Cuvee Constance
Arriving in September
Wine Spectator 98 points “This stunning wine is fresh, pure and driven at first, with seamless ginger, creamed fig and glazed pear fruit, before showing its density and power via the honeycomb-, quince- and heather-filled core. Then the minerality cuts in, turning the finish back to racy despite the range of exotic fruit. A jaw-dropping display of richness balanced by precision. Drink now through 2040. 400 cases made.”
David Schildknecht 96 points “At 11% alcohol and 150 grams of residual sugar, the Huet 2009 Vouvray Cuvee Constance – fourth in the past decade, incidentally – offers a striking nose of honey, white raisin, and concentrated herbal and floral essences. Salted caramel, hazelnut cream, marzipan, white raisin, liquid floral perfume, and honey are all leavened with fresh lime, white peach, and grapefruit. Like a refined cocktail of essence-of-Chenin mingled with fresh fruit juices with dashes of salt and chalk, this finishes with ravishing and invigorating persistence and should be worth following for 3 or more decades.”
Wine Spectator 99 points “Stunning from the start, with a silky and refined feel despite the panoply of dried quince, fig, pear and apricot flavors that are exotic in nature. Lovely green tea, orange blossom and persimmon notes fill in the background. Obviously sweet, but with persistent dry almond and orange extract details that lend latent tension through the seamless and nearly endless finish. The first Cuvee Constance bottling since the 2009 vintage. Drink now through 2060.”
Michael Etzel Presents:Sequitur
Arriving February 23rd
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 94 points “Limpid ruby-red. Smoky, mineral-accented aromas of black raspberry, cherry cola and incense carry a strong spicecake overtone. Stains the palate with sappy red berry liqueur, spicecake and floral pastille flavors that are lifted and given definition and tension by juicy acidity. At once rich and nervy, with no excess fat but showing excellent depth and intensity of flavor. Finishes with sexy notes of candied violet and smoky Indian spices and superb, gently tannic persistence. This wine’s Beaux Freres bloodline is very clear to see.”
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 95 points “Deep brilliant red. A strikingly complex bouquet evokes ripe, mineral-accented red berries, cherry cola, vanilla, five-spice powder and sandalwood. Alluringly sweet, seamless and expansive on the palate, offering concentrated black raspberry, cherry liqueur, spicecake and lavender pastille flavors that are given spine and lift by a core of juicy acidity. Delivers a compelling blend of power and delicacy and finishes extremely long and smooth; rounded tannins frame the lingering red fruit preserve notes.”
Winery note “Sequitur 2015 Pinot Noir “Two fold,” a collaboration between our Mother, the earth, those of us who “play” in the vineyard and winery, and you, the wine lover.”
Thank you for reading!