Monday Newsletter 2-3-2020

Donald Hess was a pioneer in Napa, one of the earliest proponents of Mount Veeder as a prime location for Cabernet in Napa Valley in the ’70’s.  The Hess Collection’s current lineup more than pays homage to that initial spirit, making some of the best Cabernet on Mt. Veeder at under-market prices.

This is a winery that’s been slowly adding top tier vineyards to their aptly named Collection for the better part of fifty years, many of them purchased before the modern explosion in Napa real estate pricing.  When you pair those fantastic fruit sources with star consultant winemaker Celia Welch (Scarecrow, Corra, etc), you have a recipe for truly standout wines at prices that seem practically quaint.

We have an assortment of their wines arriving this Friday, all of which represent exceptional value in impeccably crafted Napa wine.  The Mount Veeder Cabernet and Lion Tamer are especially noteworthy—bottles under $50 that are everything we look for in a drink-now big red.  “The Lion” is their top wine—only produced in the best vintages.  The 2013, on offer today, is the first one they made in five years and it more than merits that wait. 

We’re so excited for the wines that we’re offering these for a limited time at an incredible discount for you – from now until Tuesday midnight, take 15% off our already lowest-in-the-country pricing!

Arriving Friday, February 7th:

Only 48 bottles available!
The Hess Collection Estate Grown Cabernet Sauvignon, Mount Veeder 2012 750ML ($59.95) Listed price: $44, Subscriber-only two day pre-arrival special: $37.50
Robert Parker 93 points “The 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Mount Veeder (80% Cabernet Sauvignon and 20% Malbec) was one of the top wines presented to me. This wine needs another 4-5 years of cellaring and could keep 30 years. A beautiful nose of white flowers, graphite, blueberry and blackberry liqueur, along with the telltale cassis and tobacco leaf are all present in this wine, which offers great intensity and full-bodied power in a well-delineated and moderately structured style. Give the wine some time and watch it unfold. Anticipated maturity: 2020-2025+. For the quality, it is a reasonably priced wine, and there are 7,480 cases.”
Wine Enthusiast 93 points “With 20% Malbec, this wine is layered in refined complexity, swaying from juicy blueberry to herbaceous cherry and currant. Restrained in oak, with the slightest notion of vanilla on the palate, it finishes in mouthwatering dark chocolate—the tannins firm and structured.”

This is already the lowest listed price in the USA today,
Now it’s even lower!
The average price is $58

Only 12 bottles available!
The Hess Collection The Lion, Mount Veeder 2013 750ML ($199.95) Listed price: $119, Subscriber-only two day pre-arrival special: $101.15
Robert Parker 96 points “The last bottled wine I tasted is also spectacular, and rivals the finest wines ever made at Hess – the 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate The Lion. It is 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Malbec and 2% Petit Verdot and obviously a cuvée meant to be the best Cabernet Sauvignon-dominated wine they produce. They didn’t make it in 2009, 2010, 2011 or 2012, so this is the first vintage in some time. Inky purple in color it offers notes of lead pencil shavings, white flowers, blueberries and blackberries. The Mt. Veeder hallmark of blue fruits and white flowers definitely comes through in this supple, opaque purple wine that is full-bodied, built like a skyscraper and super-impressive. If this is what we can continue to expect from Hess Collection, they are on a quick, express elevator to the top. There are 431 cases of this gorgeous wine.”

This is already the lowest listed price in the USA today,
Now it’s even lower!
The next best price is $134.09
The average price is $181

Only 42 bottles available!
The Hess Collection Lion Tamer Red, Napa Valley 2016 750ML ($44.95) Listed price: $29, Subscriber-only two day pre-arrival special: $24.65
Wine Enthusiast 93 points “This is a blend of 40% Malbec, 27% Zinfandel, 21% Petite Sirah, 8% Cabernet Sauvignon and smaller amounts of Mourvèdre, Petit Verdot and Merlot. Together, they work to offer inviting elements of baking spice, cherry vanilla and a creamy palate of integrated tannins and toasted oak. The fleshy, lush feel benefits from a fresh backbone of acidity.”

This is already the lowest listed price in the USA today,
Now it’s even lower!
The average price is $40

Only 6 bottles available!
The Hess Collection ‘The Lioness’ Chardonnay, Napa Valley 2015 750ML ($59.95) Listed price: $44, Subscriber-only two day pre-arrival special: $37.50
Wine Advocate 93 points “This is the inaugural vintage of this new flagship Chardonnay for The Hess Collection. The 2015 Chardonnay The Lioness Estate is 100% barrel-fermented in French oak, employing 50% new oak. It opens with intense grapefruit, white peach and pineapple notes with suggestions of nutmeg, honeyed toast and orange blossoms plus a hint of beeswax. Full-bodied, rich, satiny-textured and delivering tons of tropical and stone fruit flavors, it has lovely freshness to balance and great length. 464 cases were made.”
Jeb Dunnuck 93 points “The 2015 Chardonnay The Lioness is a beauty. Brought up in 50% new French oak and bottled unfiltered, it offers a rich yet also fresh bouquet of orchard fruits, melon, allspice, and brioche. With medium to full body, a rounded, opulent texture, and moderate acidity, it’s a powerful, balanced 2015 to drink over the coming 4-5 years.”

This is already the lowest listed price in the USA today,
Now it’s even lower!
The next best price is $49.88
The average price is $54

 

 

The 2018 German wines are arriving in the shop now and soon! Check out the new reviews from Stephen Reinhardt on the 2018 and 2017 releases, including Vinopolis-exclusives from Muller-Catoir.

“… Martin Franzen showed me a great lineup of Müller-Catoir’s 2017s and 2018s, which demonstrated why Müller-Catoir is one of the outstanding wine producers along the Mittelhardt. The resulting wines are bone dry (at least much drier than in the earlier days): cool and fresh yet intense and elegant. The GG “Im “Breumel” has a deep, dense, very complex and powerful performance with lingering salinity and very fine tannins.” –Stephen Reinhardt, Wine Advocate

In Stock Now:

Muller-Catoir Haardter Burgergarten ‘Im Breumel’ Riesling Grosses Gewachs, Pfalz 2017 750ML ($79.95) $59 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-6 Muller-Catoir Haardter Burgergarten ‘Im Breumel’ Riesling Grosses Gewachs, Pfalz 2017 750ML ($449.95) $333 special (that’s only $55.50/bottle!)
Stephen Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 94+ points “From a 2.8 hectare clos that is the highest, coolest and stoniest (sandstone/gravel) plot of the Bürgergarten, the 2017 Riesling Bürgergarten “Im Breumel” GG offers a deep, ripe, lush and intense bouquet with fascinating flavors of crushed stones and ripe fruits. Lush and intense on the palate, this is a deep, dense, very complex and powerful dry Riesling with lingering salinity and very fine tannins. Great but way too young. Tasted in Haardt, December 2019.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $69.98

Muller-Catoir Haardter Burgergarten Riesling Trocken, Pfalz 2017 750ML ($49.95) $36 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Stephen Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 92+ points “From yellow-colored sandstone soils, the 2017 Riesling Bürgergarten “VDP. Erste Lage” is intense yet fine and pure on the slightly salty/stony, very elegant nose with its ripe and concentrated yellow-fleshed fruit aromas. The palate is pure and salty, very long and intertwines weathered terroir aromas with an airiness and lingering, very stimulating salinity. The wine is less textured than the Haardter but even more pure, deep, finessed and salty. Bone dry, with less than three grams of residual sugar, this is a concentrated yet still young Riesling that will shine in five years. Tasted in Haardt, December 2019.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Muller-Catoir Haardter Riesling Trocken, Pfalz 2017 750ML $29.95) $24 special, 30 bottles in stock now
Stephen Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 90 points “From younger vines and partly from sandier soils than the regular, yellow-colored Buntsandstein, the 2017 Riesling Haardt is deep, fine and ripe on the elegant and balanced nose. Full-bodied, lush and intense on the palate, this is a deep, dry, well-balanced and textured Riesling with a ripe but salty-mineral acidity and a long, well-structured and slightly salty finish with nice bitters and citrus flavors. This is an excellent vin de terroir that slowly opens up. It’s an impressive wine in the lower/medium price range. Tasted in December 2019.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $27.94

Muller-Catoir Haardter Herrenletten Weissburgunder, Pfalz 2017 750ML ($39.95) $33 special, 14 bottles in stock now
Stephen Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 92+ points “From low-yielding vines, partly fermented in 500-liter oak and partly in stainless steel, the 2017 Weissburgunder Herrenletten “VDP. Erste Lage” opens with a clear, intense and yeasty-scented (brioche) bouquet of ripe white fruits and crushed salts but asks for a bigger glass. Lush and intense on the palate, this is a rich and powerful yet also pure, refined and sustainably salty Pinot that combines the purity, finesse and elegance of Riesling with the texture, power and fine phenolic bitterness of Pinot. Very delicate tannins here. An extraordinary Pinot Blanc that will shine in three to five years from now. Tasted in Haardt, December 2019.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Newly Reviewed Muller-Catoir Wines Arriving in February 

Muller-Catoir Mandelgarten Riesling Trocken, Pfalz 2018 750ML ($39.95) $33 pre-arrival special
Stephen Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 91+ points “The 2018 Riesling (Gimmeldinger) Mandelgarten “VDP. Erste Lage” is pure, fresh and fine but also ripe and aromatic on the nose. The palate is pure, fresh and straight, less juicy now than the 2017 but nuanced and stimulating due to an earlier harvest. Stimulatingly salty and piquant on the finish. Tasted in Haardt, December 2019.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Muller-Catoir Haardter Burgergarten ‘Im Breumel’ Riesling Grosses Gewachs, Pfalz 2018 750ML ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival special
Stephen Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 93+ points “White-golden in color, pure, fine, deep and intense on the palate, the 2018 Riesling Bürgergarten “Im Breumel” GG is intense, concentrated  and generous on the nose. The palate is pure, very intense and ripe as well as powerful but refined and concentrated. Very elegant and salty, with grip and tension. Tasted in Haardt, December 2019.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $55.94

Muller-Catoir Haardter Burgergarten Riesling Trocken, Pfalz 2018 750ML ($39.95) $33 pre-arrival special
Stephen Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 90+ points “The 2018 Riesling Bürgergarten “VDP. Erste Lage” needed three bottles to convince me until it opened clear, pure and intense, with crushed stones and fresh ginger aromas on the nose. Pure, fresh and bright on the palate, this is a lithe, lush and salty dry Riesling with refreshing mineral grip and tension on the finish. Tasted in Haardt, December 2019.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Muller-Catoir Haardter Riesling Trocken, Pfalz 2018 750ML ($29.95) $24 pre-arrival special
Stephen Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 89 points “The 2018 Riesling Haardt opens with an attractive intense and flinty bouquet of ripe white/pink peaches and orange peels. Concentrated and with stewed fruit flavors on the palate, this is a very fresh, pure and salty Riesling with stimulating mineral grip on the finish. Tasted in Haardt, December 2019.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $31.99

Muller-Catoir Haardter Herrenletten Weissburgunder, Pfalz 2018 750ML ($37.95) $29 pre-arrival special
Stephen Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 92 points “Entirely fermented in oak (500-liter barrels), the 2018 Weissburgunder Herrenletten “VDP. Erste Lage” is intense and fruity on the bright and elegant yet deep nose that displays some ginger and hazelnut blossom notes. Intense and round on the palate, this is a dense, structured and still extremely young Pinot Blanc with lush fruit, good freshness and mineral grip. Very elegant, persistently salty and very long and promising. Tasted in Haardt, December 2019.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Newly Reviewed Von Winning Wines Arriving in February 

We’re enamored with Von Winning wines. These are serious, dry wines with a sense of presence and precision reminiscent of Vilmart’s Champagnes. They offer incredible complexity from entry level to the top wines, including their rare Sauvignon Blanc bottlings. 

Von Winning Estate Riesling Trocken, Pfalz 2018 750ML ($21.95) $18 pre-arrival special
Stephen Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 89-90 points “The 2018 Deidesheim Riesling Trocken is clear and floral as well as herbal on the nose. Pure, fresh and salty on the palate, this is a filigreed Riesling with herbal seed notes on the finish. Very fresh and lean but lovely. Tasted rather quickly at the VDP Weinbörse in Mainz, April 2019. Provisional score.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Von Winning Deidesheimer Paradiesgarten Riesling Trocken, Pfalz 2018 750ML ($37.95) $29 pre-arrival special
Stephen Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 90 points “The 2018 Riesling Deidesheimer Paradiesgarten “VDP. Erste Lage” opens with a clear and fragrant bouquet of white and yellow-fleshed fruits and floral and delicate fresh oak aromas. On the palate, this is a medium-bodied, tight, fresh and lush dry Riesling with edges and a grippy character. Green apples on the aftertaste. Tasted in Deidesheim, December 2019.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Von Winning ‘500’ Sauvignon Blanc, Pfalz 2018 750ML ($89.95) $69 pre-arrival special
Stephen Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 91 points “Stephan Attmann’s 2018 Sauvignon Blanc 500 is clear, bright, fresh and stimulatingly pure on the slightly flinty, attractively smoky and coolish, stony/vegetal nose with its somewhat artificial mango and stone fruit aromas. Lush and round on the well-structured and persistently grippy palate, this is a serious, still-too-young-to-enjoy Sauvignon with intensity, power and aging potential. Vinified in 500-liter oak vats. Tasted in December 2019.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

 

Suzanne:
Von Winning estate crafts one of my favorite budget-friendly dry Rieslings, the Paradiesgarten, alongside a range of noble GGs (dry, single-vineyard wines from the best vineyard sites in the Pfalz). Given how good their entry level wines are, I was thrilled to see they released an equally budget-friendly sparkling wine. Despite my love of Champagne and German Riesling, I rarely find a German sparkler that really peaks my interest. When I saw the Von Winning sparkling Riesling on a restaurant menu a couple nights ago, I knew I couldn’t pass up the opportunity. The wine opened with a surprising aroma of fresh cream and baked bread that I associate with lees aging not always seen in sparkling wines under $25. It was fun and fresh, but hinting at lovely green herbal and citrus aromas: think lemon verbena, lime zest and white flowers. It was an excellent aperitif, dry without being austere and elegantly understated. It’s superb for the money. I’ll be grabbing a couple bottles for sipping this summer, but I’ll leave a few for you, too.

Newly Arrived:

Von Winning Riesling Sekt Extra Brut, Pfalz, Deidesheim NV 750ML ($27.95) $21.90 special, 17 bottles in stock now
Terry Theise note “A pre-disgorgement sample based on 2017, to be disgorged “when we need it,” yet this feels quite complete and stylish; a super-pretty Pfalz Riesling aroma, angular and herbal but creamy and warm like sunny flowering meadows; this is actually outstanding and I hope it persists after disgorging.”

“The quality that this domaine consistently achieves is nothing short of remarkable… I have said this before but I would go so far as to say that Domaine Henri Prudhon is one of, and perhaps even the most under rated producer in all of Burgundy. The style is ultra-pure and completely classic. Moreover, the wines sell for very reasonable prices so if you don’t need a famous name on a label to be happy, try a bottle from Prudhon and in either color.” – Allen Meadows, Burghound

Most of the time when the phrase “cult wine” is used we think of small production, pricy wines with lots of points. But every now and then we see a wine that breaks that mold. The wines from Domain Henri Prudhon are prime examples. They aren’t expensive, but they are hard for us to source because they occupy a unique place in the Burgundy world.  For one, they’re incredibly fairly priced, which seems to be rarer than ever before in Burgundy. Most of all, though, they’re mineral driven wines, built on stone and not fruit.

The Prudhon wines seem to hold the essence of their stony terroirs inside of them. Both red and white have a minerality and precision that’s very old-school and completely captivating.  This set of 2017 whites is really something, but we’ve probably said more than we should already, but here’s your first chance at them—and we can’t promise they’ll be available for long.  

Arriving ETA March:

Henri Prudhon & Fils Les Chenevottes, Chassagne-Montrachet Premier Cru 2017 750ML ($79.95) $69 pre-arrival special
Burghound 91 points “Pungent aromas are composed by notes of resin, petrol and various white orchard fruit scents. The sleek and utterly delicious medium weight flavors also possess both good body and a succulent palate impression before concluding in a lightly stony and sneaky long finish. This isn’t especially complex at present but more depth should reasonably develop if this is allowed 5-ish years or so of cellaring.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Henri Prudhon & Fils Puligny-Montrachet Les Enseignieres 2017 750ML ($99.95) $79 pre-arrival special
Burghound 88-91 points “Moderate wood influence surrounds the essence of pear, apple and acacia blossom-suffused nose. The sappy, citrusy and vibrant middle weight flavors that are round and quite generously proportioned, contrast somewhat with the sappy if bone dry, indeed almost strict, finish. I suspect that this will unwind and flesh out on the finish with a few years of bottle age.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Henri Prudhon & Fils Les Castets, Saint-Aubin Premier Cru 2017 750ML ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival special
Burghound 91 points – Outstanding Top Value “Once again there is a deft application of wood present on the citrusy green apple and acacia blossom aromas. The palate impression of the medium weight flavors is both racier and more refined while the intensely stony and saline-infused finish is clean, dry, focused and much more complex. This markedly dry but not really austere effort is really very good and worth checking out.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Henri Prudhon & Fils Sur Gamay, Saint-Aubin Premier Cru 2017 750ML ($69.95) $49 pre-arrival special
Burghound 91 points – Outstanding Top Value “An even cooler and more restrained nose grudgingly reveals its combination of essence of green apple, pear, grapefruit and soft spice nuances. The caressing and more concentrated medium-bodied flavors possess the same fine volume and mid-palate density as the best in the range, all wrapped in a lightly stony, bitter lemon and well-balanced finale. This is excellent and worth checking out.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Henri Prudhon & Fils En Remilly, Saint-Aubin Premier Cru 2017 750ML ($69.95) $59 pre-arrival special
Burghound 92 points – Outstanding Top Value “It’s easy to sense that this comes from a warmer terroir as there is a softly exotic character to the aromas of lychee, citrus, white peach, passion fruit and pretty spice nuances. The succulent and seductively textured middle weight flavors possess good acid support that renders the clean and agreeably dry finish quite refreshing. While this should age well over the mid-term, it should also drink reasonably well after only 2 to 3 years.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Henri Prudhon & Fils La Chateniere, Saint-Aubin Premier Cru 2017 750ML ($69.95) $59 pre-arrival special
Burghound 92 points – Outstanding Top Value “A beautifully well-layered and more expressive nose displays smoky and spicy aromas of ripe pear, white flowers, orange peel and an all but invisible hint of wood. There is excellent volume to the solidly concentrated and surprisingly powerful medium weight flavors that exude evident minerality on the very dry but not really austere finale. This balanced effort will require at least some patience as it’s relatively tightly wound at present.”
Henri Prudhon & Fils Bourgogne Blanc En Jorcul 2017 750ML ($34.95) $28 pre-arrival special
Burghound – Outstanding Top Value “This isn’t as spicy but it’s a bit more complex aromatically with its array of freshly sliced apple, pear, lemon zest and soft floral nuances. There is both good volume and vibrancy to the utterly delicious middle weight flavors that possess a caressing mouth feel before concluding in a slightly more complex and sneaky long finale. This is really quite good for its level and worth considering.”
Henri Prudhon & Fils Bourgogne Aligote 2017 750ML ($27.95) $24 pre-arrival special
“A wonderfully fresh nose speaks of spice, citrus, including an interesting hint of tangerine and a whiff of petrol. The racy, plum and round flavors exude a subtle minerality on the agreeably dry, refreshing and nicely lingering finish. To enjoy young.”-Burghound

 

There are a number of new sparkling wines from the Willamette Valley to get excited about.  This is one of the best we’ve tried recently.
Flaneur Wines Extra Brut Willamette Valley 2016 750ML ($69.95) $59 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Méthode Champenoise. Grapes exclusively from dry farmed vineyards.
Winery note “Barrel fermented and made in the traditional method, this blend is constructed of Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier, and Chardonnay.  After two years aging on lees, this wine was disgorged in July 2019.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Wow! Big, bold and powerfully rich, this single-vineyard bottling from top Napa producer Bevan cellars is deserving of all 98 points.
Bevan Cellars Wildfoote Vineyard Vixen Block Cabernet Sauvignon, Stags Leap District 2015 750ML ($279.95) $199 special, 6 bottles in stock now
Wine Advocate 98 points “Very deep garnet-purple colored, the 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Vixen Block Wildfoote Vineyard offers up a very serious nose of cassis, blackberry pie and blueberry compote with hints of dried lavender, underbrush, Chinese five spice and cigar box, plus a waft of dark chocolate. Full-bodied and densely packed with black fruit preserves and earthy layers, it has a firm frame of finely grained tannins and just enough freshness, finishing with epically long exotic spice nuances. Only 125 cases were produced.”
Jeb Dunnuck 96 points “The 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Wildfoote Vineyard Vixen Block is one of the more refined, elegant wines in the lineup and reveals a perfumed bouquet of white flowers, blue fruits, violets, and spice. It’s seamless and silky on the palate, yet has building underlying tannin and is beautifully balanced. It’s one of those wines that carry loads of intensity and texture yet just glides over the palate. Drink it anytime over the coming two decades.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $219

Ken Wright’s wines have a very deserved following and they excelled in 2016.
Ken Wright Cellars Carter Vineyard Pinot Noir, Eola-Amity Hills 2016 750ML ($69.95) $59 special, 5 bottles in stock now
Wine Enthusiast 95 points “Editor’s Choice. Richly fruity, this fills out a jammy core with blueberry, blackberry and marionberry flavors. The vineyard’s native minerality shows here as a seam of graphite, while the finishing tannins come cloaked in delicious mocha. All in all, a sensational year for this cuvée.”

Flaneur’s one of the hottest, up-and-coming Pinot producers out there.  This previously sold out wine is back in stock.
Flaneur Wines Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2017 750ML ($31.95) $27 special, 36 bottles in stock now
Grapelive 93 points “The expressive and dynamic Flaneur Willamette Valley Pinot has that crunchy, semi carbonic like fruit intensity and exotic spices with layers of racy red cherry, briar laced raspberry, pomegranate, plum and strawberry fruits along with cinnamon, cola bean, tea and peppery herbs, plus a juicy Moro orange note, along with a faint wood shading. Flaneur hasn’t been on the scene very long, but if they continue with wines like this they are heading in the right direction and should pick up a serious following within a short time….This 2017 Willamette Valley cuvee by Flaneur is youthfully flamboyant and vibrant, but there’s a lot to come here, and for the price I highly recommend getting a few to enjoy now and some to age. One of the under the radar, but great values in Willamette Valley Pinot Noir, Flaneur Wines, made by Grant Coulter, who recently moved on from being winemaker at the famous Beaux Freres Vineyard, and maker of his own label Hundred Suns, his overseeing the vineyards and hand crafting these wines for Flaneur gives them instant street cred…. he looks to work organic and biodynamic where he can as well as using natural methods with native yeast fermentations and less new oak, with this Flaneur seeing only about 11% new French oak, all to preserve clarity, purity and freshness. This year saw 68% of the grapes sourced from La Belle Promenade and 32% from the Flanerie vineyard and ended up being about 36% whole cluster, the finished alcohol came it at 13.7%, though it feels less and it is a wonderfully balanced wine. I love it as is, but it will be a wine to follow for the next 3 to 5 years when it hits its sweet spot.”
Wine Spectator 91 points “Polished and sleek yet elegantly structured with appealing cherry, bramble and savory spice flavors that build toward refined tannins. Drink now through 2025. 2,059 cases made.—T.F.”
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 91 points “Glistening red. Displays vibrant, spice- and mineral-accented red fruit and floral aromas and an exotic suggestion of blood orange. Shows very good energy and sharp delineation on the palate, offering gently sweet redcurrant, raspberry and spicecake flavors that deepen steadily on the back half. Shows a lot of character for an entry-level wine and finishes very long and subtly tannic, leaving repeating red fruit and floral notes behind. (68% sourced from La Belle Promenade and 32% from the Flanerie vineyard; 36% whole clusters and 11% new French oak).”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Oregon, meet Burgundy.  This beautiful bottling from Marcus Goodfellow is just entering a nice drinking window.
Goodfellow Family Cellars Bishop Creek Vineyard Pinot Noir, Yamhill-Carlton 2013 750ML ($39.95) $29 special, 9 bottles in stock now (more arriving next week, as well)
“Twenty five year old un-grafted Wadensville vines, dry farmed in the Yamhill-Carlton AVA are handpicked for this wine. From 3 acres, each clone is fermented separately with native yeasts in small lots, typically with 50-60% whole-clusters. The wine is aged in 0%-40% new French oak barrels for 18-21 months and bottled unfined and unfiltered. There is intensity at Bishop Creek, with deep, dark toned fruit, a spicy floral edge and savory tones with acidity and length.”–Winery Notes

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Pepper and spice for days.  This is a Rhone lovers delight.
Matello Fool’s Journey Deux Vert Vineyard, Willamette Valley 2013 750ML ($24.95) $18 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Josh Raynolds – Vinous 90 points “Bright violet. Smoke-tinged dark berries and pungent flowers on the nose. Juicy and focused on the palate, offering bitter cherry and cassis flavors that take a sweeter turn on the back half. Dusty tannins make a late appearance and add gentle grip to the smooth, energetic finish.”
Winery note “From the Willamette Valley’s first planting of Syrah, this cool climate, low alcohol wine will redefine your idea of the possibilities of new-world Syrah. If you like your Syrah French, here is a kindred but one of a kind wine from Oregon.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Evesham Wood Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2018 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Winery note “Concentrated, powerful, yet beautifully balanced, welcome to the 2018 vintage.  Black and red fruits, slight creaminess with bright acid and some chewy tannins. This is always one of our favorite wines to produce as the techniques are all old-school and the wines are very representative of our region and winemaking.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

What does it take to achieve 94 points from Ian D’Agata? A lot. He’s a tough critic to impress. What does it take to achieve 94 points from Ian D’Agata for Moscato d’Asti? Next. Level. Elixir. If you think Moscato is just a wine cooler in disguise, this Saracco will blow your mind. This is the highest rated Moscato d’Asti in Vinous/Wine Advocate/Wine Spectator/James Suckling/Jeb Dunnuck history. 
Paolo Saracco Moscato d’Asti DOCG, Piedmont 2018 750ML ($17.95) $14.90 special, 24 bottles in stock now
Ian D’Agata-Vinous 94 points “Luminous pale straw-green with golden tinges. Captivating aromas of orange blossom, lemon verbena, vanilla, sage and ripe grapefruit nectar. Dense, juicy and suave, presenting a multilayered, complex set of flavors similar to the aromas. The finish is very long, resonating with a floral topnote and delightful vibrancy. Outstanding, concentrated, complex and very pure Moscato d’Asti.”

Extremely northern Italy is a great source for surprisingly complex, delicate bubbly
Cave Mont Blanc de Morgex et de la Salle ‘1187’ Spumante, Aosta Valley 2016 750ML ($31.95) $29 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Ian D’Agata-Vinous 93 points “Light, bright golden straw-green. Beautifully scented, nuanced, mineral-laced aromas of orange peel, lime, honeysuckle and green almond; notes of mint and minerals gain strength with aeration. Deeper and more powerful than I remember other vintages of this wine at a similar stage of development, it offers precise, energetic citrus and orchard fruit flavors complicated by white flower and stony qualities. The lingering finish is broad, steely and very pure. Lots going on here; I liked this wine’s delicate yet assertive nature. Another great sparkler this year from the Cave du Mont Blanc.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

See above, but for still wines.
Cave Mont Blanc de Morgex et de la Salle ‘Blanc de Morgex et de la Salle’, Aosta Valley 2018 750ML ($31.95) $26 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Ian D’Agata-Vinous 92 points “Green-hued yellow. Piercing, precise, subtle aromas of stone fruits, minerals and peony. Extremely complex on the palate, offering a wild array of fresh orchard fruit, minerals and herb flavors, a fine-grained, vibrant texture and remarkable energy. Leaves behind an inviting note of chamomile and thyme on the long, sappy finish. Outstanding aperitif wine.“

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Bruno de Conciliis is a madman who makes some of the most interesting wines in Campania.
Viticoltori de Conciliis Donnaluna Cilento Fiano, Campania 2018 750ML ($29.95) $19.90 special, 8 bottles in stock now
Importer note “A redolent nose of pear, chamomile, and delicate flowers. Full-bodied yet fresh on the palate, with cleansing acidity in the finish. Recommended Pairings: Fish, all first courses, white meat. This highly regarded, dry white wine is made from the ancient Fiano grape. Fiano, meaning vine “beloved of bees”, is a grape indigenous to Campania and is one of the most interesting white grapes of southern Italy. Bruno capitalizes on his vineyard’s southern exposure, ancient soils and ripe climate to produce a full bodied, fruit driven wine redolent of pears and hazelnut with balanced acidity and a creamy, rich finish. “Fiano di Paestum” on the label indicates that the wine was made from grapes grown in the Cilento area just south-west of the region.”

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This is Falanghina in a more savory vein than most producers.  Delicious.
Viticoltori de Conciliis Falanghina del Beneventano IGT, Campania 2018 750ML ($27.95) $18 special, 9 bottles in stock now
Importer note “Bright straw color with green highlights. The bouquet is fruity, floral and lightly ethereal to the nose. The fruit and floral notes confirmed on the palate, and there is good acidity and persistence.”

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A follow up to the best-selling Chianti, Monsanto’s Monrosso blend is a perfect pizza-night pick.
Castello di Monsanto Monrosso, Toscana IGT 2016 750ML ($17.95) $15.50 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-12 Castello di Monsanto Monrosso, Toscana IGT 2016 750ML ($199.95) $169 special (that’s only $14.08/bottle and the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!)
Wine Spectator 92 points “Bursts with ripe cherry, blackberry and floral aromas and flavors, driven by lively acidity and an elegant frame. Balanced, yet firmly supported by dense tannins. Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Sangiovese.-BS”

Beringer Vineyards Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2009 750ML ($159.95) $99 special, 21 bottles in stock now
Stephen Tanzer – Vinous 93 points “Full, bright ruby. Pungent scents of blackberry, cassis, licorice and bitter chocolate are complemented by a note of crystallized berries. Juicy, savory and intense, conveying a strong impression of spine without any obvious dryness. The wine’s dark berry and licorice flavors show a sexy subtle sweetness, along with salty minerality and an element of peppery lift. This classically dry, sharply delineated, penetrating wine finishes with firm but refined tannins and lovely rising violet perfume. Youthful and gripping, it displays the energy of the vintage’s better examples and should go on in a cool cellar for another two decades. (14.4% alcohol) [Reviewed July ’19]”
Antonio Galloni 93 points “The 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Private Reserve is a beautifully balanced wine. Firm yet well-integrated tannins frame a core of dark red berries, flowers, mint, spices and licorice. The Reserve shows lovely inner perfume and mid-palate juiciness. It should drink well with a minimum of cellaring. The main vineyards in the 2009 are Home (37%), Lampyridae (23%), Vogt (14%), Chabot (11%) and Rancho del Oso (9%). Each lot was aged separately for about two years before the final blend was assembled.”

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The average price nationally is $133

Mayacamas Vineyards Chardonnay, Mount Veeder 2016 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 18 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni 95 points “The 2016 Chardonnay is fabulous. A vivid, textured wine, the 2016 possesses remarkable finesse and intensity in all of its dimensions. Lemon oil and white flowers are amped up by the natural intensity of these old vines. The 2016 was fermented and aged in neutral oak, with no malolactic fermentation. Mayacamas is setting a new standard for what California Chardonnay can be. Don’t miss it.”
Wine Enthusiast 95 points “Editor’s Choice. From the mighty dry-farmed site within the secluded appellation, this incredible wine is expressive in tones of flint, fig, pear and lemon peel, with lasting acidity that brightens and freshens the palate. Medium bodied, it’s soft in feel yet structured, balanced and complex.”

CVNE Cune Reserva, Rioja DOCa 2013 750ML ($27.95) $21.90 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-12 CVNE Cune Reserva, Rioja DOCa 2013 750ML ($279.95) $219 special (that’s only $18.25/bottle and the lowest listed price in the USA today!)
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 90 points “Brilliant ruby. Energetic, mineral-accented raspberry and cherry aromas reveal hints of rose, vanilla and woodsmoke. Silky and expansive on entry, offering nicely concentrated red fruit flavors that gain energy and a smoky mineral quality with air. Floral pastille and cracked pepper notes linger on the juicy, focused finish, which shows very good clarity and sneaky, fine-grained tannins. Much of the juice that would normally go into the high-end Imperial bottlings wound up in here this vintage.”

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The average price nationally is $28

Rocca di Montegrossi Geremia Toscana IGT, Tuscany 2015 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni 96 points “The Geremia, Rocca di Montegrossi’s Merlot/Cabernet Sauvignon blend, is outrageously beautiful in 2015. Racy and pliant, with soft curves, Geremia captures all of the radiant beauty of the vintage. Sweet red cherry, plum, mint, mocha and sweet spice are all fused together. At the moment, there is a touch of new oak that still needs to integrate, but a few more years in bottle should do the trick. Time in the glass brings out attractive floral notes and red-toned fruit character that lend freshness and lift to play off the wine’s more extroverted leanings. The 2015 is a gorgeous Geremia.”

Elvio Tintero Langhe Arneis, Piedmont 2017 750ML ($14.95) $11.90 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Importer note “From 10 year old vines grown on rocky clay and limestone soils. A fresh, easy, and fun wine to drink with friends.”

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Chateau de Rouanne Cotes du Rhone Villages Vinsobres 2018 750ML ($34.95) $28 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-12 Chateau de Rouanne Cotes du Rhone Villages Vinsobres 2018 750ML ($399.95) $299 special (that’s only $24.92/bottle and the lowest listed price in the USA today)
Decanter 90 points “There’s some interest here – it’s just a touch rustic perhaps from the ample use of stems, the tannins are a little fibrous and grainy. A good intensity of fruit however, bright, juicy and fresh. Tannins are pretty fierce, so give it a year or two to settle. There’s a whiff of Provençale herbs and oregano with a saline finish. Alcohol is high, but overall the effect is balanced. A solid start. In organic conversion, old vines on limestone marls. The first vintage since this estate was bought by Louis Barruol of Château de Saint-Cosme.”
Importer note “Château de Rouanne is a historic estate with a 12th century medieval castle, situated on a classified Roman site located in the southern Rhône Valley.  The name of the estate comes from “Rugius”, which is said to be the name of the original Roman owner. The estate totals 177 acres (72 hectares), including 153 acres (62 hectares) of vines. Château de Rouanne was purchased by Louis Barruol, owner and winemaker of Château de Saint Cosme, in May of 2019. Barruol sees enormous potential in Château de Rouanne, having worked with the previous owners for years as a source for some of his négociant wines. ‘It reminds me a lot of Saint Cosme when I took it over in 1992. It’s an unknown sleeping beauty waiting for a vigneron to truly love it.’ The vineyard of Château de Rouanne is a unique one-block monopole, planted entirely with 50+ year old vines, which are a selection massale of Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre. The ancient terroir is comprised of limestone and sandy marl soils dating back to the Pliocene epoch. Barruol uses whole bunches during fermentation, as the stems absorb alcohol and help retain acidity and tannin. Indigenous yeasts are used to impart the character and the purity of the terroir into the wine. The wine is aged for 16 months in concrete vats and is bottled unfined and unfiltered in order to deliver a “straight to the ground” interpretation of this unique vineyard. Raspberry, violet, licorice, peony, black pepper and gingerbread. Greatly textured with prominent saltiness and length in the finish.”

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Domaine Fourrier makes some of the most captivating wines in Burgundy. To Burgophiles, this isn’t much of a claim—the wines that Jean-Marie has produced since taking over from his father have become hot tickets in the Burgundy world. If you aren’t familiar, though, these are wines to put on your radar. Fourrier’s style is heavily influenced by his time working under Henri Jayer and the wines show this.

When young they’re among the most impressive in Burgundy, combining succulent fruit with minerality and a complexity that’s nearly unmatched in newly released wines. They improve with age, as well, though we’ve always had a hard time keeping our hands off of the lower-tier wines in the first five years after the vintage. Fourrier works exclusively with old massale vineyards (anything from vines younger than 30 years is sold off) and that sort of soul really makes it into the bottle.

We’ve secured an astounding array of back-vintage Fourrier, all arriving this month.  It’s far too many to feature, so today we want to focus on two village Gevrey-Chambertin bottlings.

The wines that most people know Fourrier for are his Gevrey-Chambertin “Aux Echezeaux” and his Gevrey-Chambertin Vielle Vigne. Although the wines are priced like premier crus, they still manage to over-deliver for the money.  The VV bottling is sourced from some of his oldest vines, while the Aux Echezeaux comes from a prestigious parcel bordering the Grand Cru Mazoyeres-Chambertin. Shop our highlights below!

Highlight Fourrier Wine In Stock Now:

Domaine Fourrier Gevrey-Chambertin Vieilles Vignes 2017 750ML ($119.95) $99 special, 11 bottles in stock now
Decanter 92 points “Vieille Vigne (always singular at Fourrier) is sourced from 12 different parcels, most of them on the better, western side of the route nationale. This is always a pleasure to drink, and the 2017 is no exception, with supple, scented, alluring red berry notes, some vanilla oak and a zesty finish.”

Highlight Fourrier Wines Arriving This Month:

Domaine Fourrier Gevrey-Chambertin Vieilles Vignes 2005 750ML ($199.95) $179 pre-arrival special, only 1 bottle available
Stephen Tanzer 88-91 points “Good bright, deep red. Wilder, musky nose hints at roast coffee. Sweet on entry, then sappy and imploded in the middle, showing less fat than the Echezeaux and a more muscular texture. Ultimately much less sweet than the south-side example. Finishes with substantial building tannins.”
Burghound 88-91 points – Outstanding Top Value “There is no reduction here however as the very fresh, bright and exuberant nose features briar, red and blue fruit and iron-infused earth aromas that complement to perfection the round, rich and sweet flavors that are unusually well-detailed and finish with punch and power. This too is recommended.”

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Domaine Fourrier Gevrey-Chambertin Vieilles Vignes 2010 750ML ($199.95) $179 pre-arrival special, only 10 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 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.“
Antonio Galloni 90-92 points “The 2010 Gevrey-Chambertin Vieilles Vignes is striking. Attractive floral aromatics meld into expressive fruit in this sweet, perfumed wine. Dark red cherries, freshly cut flowers, mint and hard candy wrap around the sensual, fragrant finish. This is a very classy showing. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2025.”
Burghound 89-91 points – Outstanding “This is also exceptionally fresh and complex and the composition of the aromas is much the same as the Aux Echézeaux except perhaps here they are ever-so-slightly more elegant. The textured, intense and solidly well-concentrated medium weight flavors possess real verve on the delineated, balanced and focused finish. This also is an excellent villages that is built to age and is also worthy of your consideration.”

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Domaine Fourrier Gevrey-Chambertin Aux Echezeaux Vieilles Vignes 2008 750ML ($149.95) $119 pre-arrival special, only 4 bottles available
David Schildknecht-Wine Advocate 89 points “Fourrier’s 2008 Gevrey-Chambertin Aux Echezeaux (from nearly 90 year-old vines) is intensely scented with kirsch, herbs, and sea spray, which adumbrate its bright, saline, firm but not hard or angular palate impression. Strong cherry pit, stone, and charred meat notes lend this energetic but athletically lean and bright Gevrey a hint of austerity, but it has me salivating uncontrollably. For those who like the style and pair the wine creatively, this should give plenty of pleasure over at least the next 6-8 years, though as Fourrier is eager to concur with me, following the course of 2008s in bottle is bound to mean venturing into relatively uncharted territory.”
Burghound 87-90 points “An intensely, even pungently earthy nose of red and dark berry fruit is very much in keeping with the firm, precise and layered flavors that possess a lovely sense of relief and tension on the solidly long finish. This is very Gevrey in character and offers fine quality for a villages.”

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Domaine Fourrier Gevrey-Chambertin Aux Echezeaux Vieilles Vignes 2013 750ML ($149.95) $119 pre-arrival special, only 6 bottles available
Burghound 89-91 points – Outstanding Top Value “An expressive nose of relatively high-toned red currant, floral and warm earth scents precedes the equally refined and delineated middle weight flavors that culminate in a balanced, complex and beautifully persistent finish. This is notably finer than the old vines cuvée if not quite a long or concentrated. Still this is lovely and also worth your consideration as it should drink reasonably well young.”