In This Newsletter:
Vinopolis Super Subscriber Sales Continue
New Week – New Arrivals
Louis Latour & Frederic Magnien Super Subscriber Specials
Even More Super Subscriber Sales
Trending
This is the only listing in the USA today!
California
One of our most popular Cali Chards is back at a ridiculously low price!
Stonestreet Estate Vineyards Chardonnay, Alexander Valley 2016 750ML ($34.95) $21.90 special
Case-6 Stonestreet Estate Vineyards Chardonnay, Alexander Valley 2016 750ML ($179.95) $123 special (that’s only $20.50/bottle!)
Antonio Galloni 93 points “The 2016 Chardonnay Estate is a terrific introduction to the Stonestreet Chardonnays. Citrus, apricot, mint and a dash of new oak add nuance to this finely cut mountain Chardonnay. The Estate Chardonnay is another wine that delivers serious quality for the money. Silky and textured, the 2016 hits all the right notes. What a gorgeous wine it is.”
Lisa Perrottt-Brown, Wine Advocate 92 points “Fermented in barrel and aged 11 months in 36% new French oak, the 2016 Chardonnay Estate has a ripe apple, peach blossom, poached pears and nutmeg-scented nose with a waft of beeswax. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is satisfyingly savory with plenty of citrus and mineral accents and a long spicy finish. 6,440 cases produced.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $33
France – Bordeaux
Chateau Branaire-Ducru, Saint-Julien 2016 750ML ($99.95) $88 special
Wine Spectator 96 points “The core of this red is loaded with pure plum, blueberry and black currant fruit flavors. The polished structure is integrated, with alluring ganache, anise and sweet tobacco notes throughout, all in a polished and balanced frame. A very classy red that isn’t shy about its power but pushes its purity to the fore. Best from 2024 through 2039. 15,000 cases made. — JM”
Wine Enthusiast 95 points “Cellar Selection. The estate, at the southern end of Saint-Julien, has produced a wine that is both structured and stylish. This bold, ripe wine shows opulent black fruits and generous tannins. Juicy and structured, it has good aging potential. Drink from 2025. -Roger Voss”
James Suckling 95 points “The best vintage of this wine since 2009! Effusive, fresh redcurrant and cassis aromas give this St.-Julien terrific drive and energy, the elegant, dry tannins beautifully married to the medium body, right through the long, agile finish. Drink or hold.”
Chateau de Pez, Saint-Estephe 2016 750ML ($59.95) $44.50 special
Decanter 94 points “Another bargain alert! At this price level, perhaps the most subtle and elegant of all wines tasted. Not as expressive as Ormes de Pez, but top marks for delicate refinement and indeed a noticeably floral aromatic profile that accentuates the palate. As wine consultant Kevin Gagnon noted at a tasting: ‘Finesse and great length.’ Do not hesitate.”
Roger Voss-Wine Enthusiast 93 points “One of the many estates on the Pez plateau in Saint-Estèphe, this property is at the top of its game. Owned by the same proprietors as Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande, the wine has structure, big tannins as well as dense black fruits. Drink from 2024.”
James Suckling 93 points “St.-Estèphe is supposed to be a robust and hard wine, but this is elegant and sophisticated with fine, cassis and lemon-peel aromas, polished tannins and a long, rather delicate finish. Drink or hold.”
Neal Martin-Wine Advocate 92-94 points “The 2016 de Pez appears to be benefitting from a long-term replanting program at the estate. This is a blend of 53% Merlot, 42% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3.5% Petit Verdot and 1.5% Cabernet Franc. The IPT is quite high at 80, and there is 13.9% alcohol. It has a pure and comely bouquet with black cherries and blackcurrant pastilles, just a touch of crushed violets that emerge with time. The palate is really quite lovely: very well balanced with a fine line of acidity, quite saline in the mouth, perhaps the finest tannic structure that I have encountered during many years of tasting this Saint Estèphe, with a long persistent finish. Maybe this is the ‘dark horse’ of the appellation this year.”
France – Burgundy
Domaine Louis Michel & Fils Montee de Tonnerre, Chablis Premier Cru 2018 750ML ($44.95) $39 special
Neal Martin-Vinous 93 points “The 2018 Chablis Montée de Tonnerre is clean and precise on the nose, perhaps more in the vein of a traditional Chablis than, say, the Butteaux. The palate is fresh and lively with crisp acidity, impressive tension and a twist of sour lemon toward the finish that keeps this Chablis alert and alive. Excellent.”
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 92+ points “The 2018 Chablis 1er Cru Montée de Tonnerre is another success this year, delivering inviting aromas of citrus zest, crisp green apple, white flowers and oyster shell. Medium to full-bodied, with good depth and tension, it’s one of the more tightly wound, structured wines in the cellar.”
Wine Enthusiast 92 points “A touch of reduction gives a welcome whiff of farmyard before pear juiciness takes over. That same generous, fresh fruitiness gets full rein on the palate of this wine. A midpalate texture of white citrus pith and chalk sets a counterpoint and lends structure. The finish is long and dry.”
Burghound 90-92 points “Sweet Spot Outstanding. This too is markedly floral in character with its airy and cool nose of citrus, seashore and shellfish hints. The mouth feel of the intense medium weight flavors is also quite sleek and even more mineral-driven on the classy, long and slightly more complex and structured finale.”
Italy – Tuscany
Felsina Berardenga Chianti Classico DOCG, Tuscany 2018 750ML ($29.95) $24 special
Case-6 Felsina Berardenga Chianti Classico DOCG, Tuscany 2018 750ML ($199.95) $136 special (that’s only $22.67/bottle!)
James Suckling 93 points “Perfumed and fresh with cherries, cedar and hints of dried flowers. It’s medium-bodied with fine tannins and a long, direct finish. Really lively and fresh. Very typical for a top Chianti Classico. Drink now.”
Antonio Galloni 92 points “The 2018 Chianti Classico Berardenga is endowed with so much class. In 2018, the Classico is a bit more restrained than it can be. That mid-weight sense of structure, though, gives the wine quite a bit of early appeal. Even so, I would cellar the 2018 for a few years, as all the elements haven’t fully come together just yet. Dark cherry, game, smoke, licorice and earthy notes are a reminder we are in Castelnuovo Berardenga, even if the 2018 has less weight and overt power than Fèlsina fans are used to seeing.”
Kerin O’Keefe-Wine Enthusiast 92 points “New leather, camphor and blue flower are some of the aromas you’ll find on this bright, fragrant red. On the medium-bodied palate, vibrant acidity and taut tannins surround cassis, Marasca cherry and tobacco notes. Drink 2022–2028.”
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 91 points “The Fèlsina 2018 Chianti Classico Berardenga is a toned and delicate expression of 100% Sangiovese from a vintage that produced beautifully subtle and understated wines. It shows good momentum driven by dark fruit, blackberry and summer cherry. The intensity of these aromas is downplayed and rendered less pronounced, adding elegance and fragility. Pretty background notes of spice and balsam herb add an extra layer of complexity. An ample 280,000 bottles were produced.”
Isole e Olena Cepparello Toscana IGT, Tuscany 2017 3L ($419.95) $379 special
Antonio Galloni 97 points “The 2017 Cepparello is another in a series of stunningly beautiful Cepparellos from Paolo de Marchi. Bright and beautifully focused in the glass, with tremendous depth, the 2017 is positively stellar from the very first taste. Succulent dark cherry, plum, licorice, spice, menthol and coffee all open up with a bit of air. Here, too, Paolo De Marchi has done a tremendous job in preserving freshness in the wine. Readers who can muster the patience will be rewarded with a spectacular wine.”
James Suckling 95 points “A beautifully linear and refined sangiovese with polished tannins and super tight fruit. Yet, it shows subtle complexity of blackberries, black cherries and dark chocolate. Some hazelnuts. Intense, vibrant finish with a creamy texture. Extremely well done for this hot, dry vintage. Drink after 2023.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Germany
Von Winning ‘II’ Sauvignon Blanc Trocken, Pfalz 2019 750ML ($21.95) $19.50 special
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 90 points “Tasted for the second time in May this year, von Winning’s 2019 Sauvignon Blanc II offers a clear and refreshing Sancerre-like bouquet of white and green fruits along with herbaceous and flinty aromas. Round and fruity on the palate, with good freshness and a silky texture, this is a medium-bodied, very elegant, stimulatingly salty and grippy Sauvignon Blanc with a mouthwatering finish. It is much better this time than when tasted soon after the bottling half a year ago.”
Weingut Donnhoff Oberhauser Leistenberg Riesling Kabinett, Nahe 2019 750ML ($39.95) $27 special
James Suckling 94 points “Super sleek and super minerally with lovely, lemony freshness. Yet, this is neither sweet nor tart, rather elegant and very filigree. From organically grown grapes with Fair’n Green certification. Drink or hold.”
John Gilman 93 points “As I mentioned last year, the Leistenberg vineyard has the oldest vines of all the Dönnhoff parcels and these old vines seem to really be handling the new realities of global warming beautifully. The 2019 Kabinett comes in at nine percent alcohol and delivers a superb aromatic constellation of apple, white cherry, a bit of wild yeasts, spring flowers, bee pollen and a lovely base of slate. On the palate the wine is bright, fullish and filigreed, with lovely intensity and bounce, zesty acids, lovely focus and grip and a long, complex and perfectly balanced finish. As always, this is a first class example of Kabinett. 2020-2050+.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
The average price nationally is $29
Austria
Schloss Gobelsburg Gobesburger Gruner Veltliner, Kamptal DAC 2019 750ML ($18.95) $16 special
Wine Enthusiast #29 Top 100 Best Buy in 2020
Anne Krebiehl MW-Wine Enthusiast 91 points “Moss, crushed sage and yarrow play alongside green pear in this fresh, vivid wine. The slender, crisp palate adds a note of salty yeast and boosts the flavors with lemony freshness. This is quintessential Grüner—gorgeous, slender and refreshing.”
Louis Latour & Frederic Magnien Super Subscriber Specials
This was the lowest listed price in the USA today,
Now it’s even lower!
The average price is $326
Louis Latour Corton Clos du Roi Grand Cru, Cote de Beaune 2009 750ML ($149.95) Was $119, Now $99 Super Subscriber Sale, 10 bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 93 points “An expressive red, whose floral, raspberry and cherry flavors match the elegant profile. Though silky and detailed, this is also tightly wound, evidenced on the long finish. A civilized, stylish Corton. Better than previously reviewed. Best from 2015 through 2033.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Louis Latour Chateau Corton Grancey Grand Cru, Cote de Beaune 2009 750ML ($149.95) Was $119, Now $99 Super Subscriber Sale, 8 bottles in stock now
James Suckling 94 points “A tangy red with sliced apple, citrus, plum, chocolate, and fresh herb. Full to medium body, beautiful core of fruit and a bright finish. Chewy and polished. Tight now. Give this time. Drink or hold.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Louis Latour Romanee-Saint-Vivant Grand Cru Les Quatre Journaux, Cote de Nuits 2015 750ML ($599.95) Was $499, Now $449 Super Subscriber Sale, 2 bottles in stock now
James Suckling 98 points “So perfumed and aromatic with fabulous character of flowers, dark berries and chalk. Full-bodied and voluptuous. Ripe and velvety tannins and a long and flavorful finish. A wine with great potential and depth. Flamboyant. Drink in 2022.”
Wine Advocate 94 points “The 2015 Romanee St Vivant les Quatre Journaux Grand Cru is a lovely wine, and one which is likely to surprise in blind tastings in a few years’ time. A pretty nose of rose petal, ripe red cherry, dark chocolate, anise and incipient smoked duck introduces a full-bodied, supple wine with a lavish, expansive attack, good depth, and an ample chassis of fine-grained tannins. The finish is deceptively long. This wine seems likely to be one of the more approachable 2015 grand crus and should give pleasure throughout a broad window.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $563
Louis Latour Romanee-Saint-Vivant Grand Cru Les Quatre Journaux, Cote de Nuits 2016 750ML ($699.95) Was $599, Now $519 Super Subscriber Sale, 6 bottles in stock now
James Suckling 100 points “This is a grand cru that shows its intensity and complexity and greatness from the beginning. Blackberry, licorice and stone aromas. Full body and a center palate that shows ripe fruit and full richness. Then the tannins kick in. Great wine. Drink in 2024.”
Andy:
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.
Frederic Magnien Chambertin-Clos de Beze Grand Cru 2013 750ML ($319.95) Was $249, Now $199 Super Subscriber Sale, 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 is the only listing in the USA today!
Frederic Magnien Chambertin-Clos de Beze Grand Cru 2012 750ML ($319.95) Was $219, Now $199 Super Subscriber Sale, 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 is the only listing in the USA today!
Frederic Magnien Chambertin-Clos de Beze Grand Cru 2011 750ML ($319.95) Was $219, Now $189 Super Subscriber Sale, 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 average price is $229
Vinopolis Super Subscriber Sales Continue
New Week – New Arrivals
Louis Latour & Frederic Magnien Super Subscriber Specials
Even More Super Subscriber Sales
Trending
Vinopolis Super Subscriber Sales Continue
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $59
Heymann-Loewenstein ‘von blauem Schiefer,’ Mosel 2015 750ML ($44.95) Was $33, Now $26 Super Subscriber Special, 6 bottles in stock now
Wine Advocate 91 points “The 2015 Riesling Von Blauem Schiefer opens with a beautifully clear and slatey bouquet of perfectly ripe Riesling flavors. The wine is round, piquant and salty on the palate, reveals picture book finesse and transparency and is extremely stimulating in its dry but perfectly balanced finish. The aftertaste is pretty long and already complex. If you are looking for a picture book wine of the terraced Lower Mosel, this is the one you have to taste. Thirteen percent of alcohol can hardly taste lighter and more stimulating.”
David Schildknecht – Vinous 90 points “Scents of fennel and basil along with intimations of crushed stone set the stage for a relatively cool, restrained set of flavors. Yet the palate is richly textured, lush and expansive. Piquant and incisive notes of lemon peel and mustard seed offer invigoration on a soothingly yet stimulatingly sustained finish suffused with cooling green herbs and vividly underlain with wet stone. The primary sources for this “blue slate” bottling are nowadays the Weisenberg and Fahrberg, immediately upstream from the Uhlen (which is divided between the communes of Winningen and Kobern), along with vineyards in Klotten, a good 20 miles upstream from Kobern, that are farmed by the family of a former Heymann-Löwenstein stagiaire.”
VinopolNote: Soil is blue slate, brownish clay with iron oxide
This was the lowest listed price in the USA today,
Now it’s even lower!
The next best price is $36.98
Heymann-Lowenstein Kirchberg Riesling, Mosel 2015 750ML ($44.95) Was $39, Now $33 Super Subscriber Special, 2 bottles in stock now
Wine Advocate 92 points “The 2015 Riesling Kirchberg ‘VDP Grosse Lage’ opens with a generous and warm, ripe Riesling aroma intertwined with some herbal and iron lemon flavors on the clear and elegant nose. This is a full-bodied, charming, finessed and elegant wine with fine tannin structure and a dry and persistent finish. Still young, the Kirchberg will benefit from further bottle aging.”
Mosel Fine Wines 92+ points “This wine is rather reduced but offers a gorgeously flowery nose of pear and Provence herbs. It proves superbly elegant on the palate where grip and saltiness define the aromatics. Great multi-layered complexity already comes through in the long and airy finish. This is still very primary and in need of bottle age to balance out but this beauty will easily turn into the most complete and elegant expression of Kirchberg we have taste to date. This is hugely impressive and has even some upside potential. 2018-2025.”
VinopolNote: Soil is Reddish slate, sandy-quarzite rich in iron
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Heymann-Lowenstein Kirchberg Riesling, Mosel 2016 750ML ($44.95) Was $39, Now $33 Super Subscriber Special, 4 bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 91 points “The 2016 Riesling Kirchberg ‘VDP Grosse Lage’ is super ripe and flinty on the nose, with caramelly aromas. Pure, fresh and mineral, with a fine, mineral structure and lingering salinity, this is a tensioned Riesling with good phenolic structure.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Heymann-Lowenstein Rottgen Riesling Grosse Lage, Mosel 2016 750ML ($59.95) Was $49, Now $39 Super Subscriber Special, 5 bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2016 Riesling Röttgen ‘VDP Grosse Lage’ is pure and flinty on the nose, with bright fruit and mineral aromas on the nose. On the palate, this is a piquant, fresh and well structured as well as intense and persistent Riesling with cacao flavors in the finish. Terribly fresh and piquant, this is a remarkable Riesling. Tasted February 2018.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Heymann-Lowenstein Uhlen B Blaufusser Lay Riesling, Mosel 2016 750ML ($69.95) Was $57, Now $49 Super Subscriber Special, 16 bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 93+ points “The 2016 Riesling Uhlen B ‘VDP Grosse Lage’ is pure, fresh and rich at the same time, with flinty aromas on the nose. Full-bodied, precise and piquant on the palate, this is an elegant, fresh and salty Riesling with a lot of tension and length. Powerful. Long.”
Mosel Fine Wines 92 points “This offers a gorgeous nose of candied grapefruit zest, some star fruit, ripe pear and apple, all wrapped into the telltale classy touch of fine spices and herbs so typical of the Estate. The wine is medium-bodied on the palate and leaves a beautifully pure, spicy and mineral-loaded feel in the long and delicately powerful finish. This is a gorgeous wine in the making with a hint of power and nice saltiness in the after-taste.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Heymann-Lowenstein Uhlen Laubach Riesling, Mosel 2016 750ML ($69.95) Was $59, Now $49 Super Subscriber Special, 17 bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 93 points “From a slate soil with 10% chalk, the 2016 Riesling Uhlen L ‘VDP Grosse Lage’ shows licorice, flinty and bright fruit aromas on the nose. Juicy, piquant and tensioned on the palate, this is an intense and complex Riesling with lush and intense fruit. The finish is long and promising. Tasted February 2018.”
Mosel Fine Wines 92+ points “This offers a stunning even if still rather reduced nose of pear, grapefruit, start fruit, ginger and smoky elements. The wine is beautifully balanced on the palate, where creamy fruits are nicely wrapped into a hint of acidity and some superb mineral and herby elements. The delicately powerful after-taste oozes refinement, under-toned freshness and multi-layered complexity. This is a gorgeous Uhlen L in the making and one with great upside potential as the wine gains in elegance at maturity.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $128.83 (ouch!)
Heymann-Lowenstein ‘R’ Winninger Uhlen Roth Lay Auslese Goldkapsel, Mosel 2007 375ML ($99.95) Was $59, Now $49 Super Subscriber Special, 22 half-bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 96 points “Candied citrus, jujube, sweet spice and quince paste aromas and flavors mark this sweet, bracing Riesling, which is light on its feet and resonates on the finish with a mouthwatering feel and echoes of citrus. Best from 2012 through 2045.”
Wine Advocate 95 points “Lowenstein’s 2007 Winninger Uhlen Riesling Auslese Gold Capsule Roth Lay (as in the corresponding dry wines, the letter “R” is prominent on the label of this A.P.#9) benefits from counterpoint and collaboration among bright citrus, rich pit fruit essences, and the honey of botrytis. For all of its enormous sheer ripeness and concentration, this retains a striking sense of delicacy. A snappy, spicy, pungent streak – taken together with vivid, diverse pit fruits and citrus – serves for exhilaration in a finish of memorable length and energy, with a vivid impression of crushed stone one hardly expects in a wine of such sweetness and prominent botrytization. There seems to be something of a personality role reversal at work this year, because the corresponding Rottgen Auslese is cool and refined whereas this Uhlen displays more of the piquancy and (as French growers might say) nervosite that I associate with Rottgen. But then, botrytis is always something of a wild card, so that a wine like this is profoundly and unpredictably influenced by the precise microclimatic conditions for and differences in the nature of that fungus. No doubt this too will be worth following for two or more decades.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Heymann-Lowenstein ‘R’ Winninger Uhlen Roth Lay Auslese Goldkapsel, Mosel 2010 750ML ($199.95) Was $99, Now $89 Super Subscriber Special, 36 bottles in stock now
New special case pricing!
Lisini Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Tuscany 2015 750ML ($59.95) $49 special
Case-6 Lisini Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Tuscany 2015 750ML ($299.95) $279 special (that’s only $46.50/bottle!)
Case-12 Lisini Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Tuscany 2015 750ML ($579.95) $539 special (that’s only $44.92/bottle!)
Decanter 96 points “With vineyards between Sant’Angelo in Colle and Castelnuovo dell’Abate on the inner edge of the Sesta district, Lisini’s vineyards are cleansed by constant breezes from the Tuscan Coast. Stony soils with an important underpinning of limestone as well as elevations over 300 metres help preserve freshness in their wines. The 2015 is beautifully fragrant, almost exotic in character. Plump red fruit and sweet summer herbs fill the mouth but rather than being heavy, this is poised and transparent. Ample powdery tannins are fine and lead to a tangy marine finish.”
Wine Spectator 94 points “A serious, brooding red, with ripe cherry and strawberry flavors offsetting the beefy tannins. Loam, iron and almond notes chime in. Balanced and long overall. Best from 2023 through 2042. 2,500 cases made, 700 cases imported.”
Eric Guido-Vinous 94 points “The 2015 Brunello di Montalcino dark and rich, showing ripe black cherries and plum, with layers of haunting florals, exotic brown spice and smoky mineral tones. On the palate, a wave of polished textures wash across the senses, ushering in juicy black cherry with sweet herbal and floral undertones, with zesty spices and vibrant acidity adding a refreshing quality. The finish is long and remarkably fresh, an example of how the warmth of Sant’Angelo in Colle can be tempered by a deft hand, as fine tannins come forward, balanced by mouthwatering acidity and punctuated by residual pure red berry fruit. It’s a wine that’s very easy to love, with near term appeal and potential for the cellar.”
Lisini Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Tuscany 2015 750ML ($59.95) $49 special
Case-6 Lisini Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Tuscany 2015 750ML ($299.95) $279 special (that’s only $46.50/bottle!)
Case-12 Lisini Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Tuscany 2015 750ML ($579.95) $539 special (that’s only $44.92/bottle!)
Decanter 96 points “With vineyards between Sant’Angelo in Colle and Castelnuovo dell’Abate on the inner edge of the Sesta district, Lisini’s vineyards are cleansed by constant breezes from the Tuscan Coast. Stony soils with an important underpinning of limestone as well as elevations over 300 metres help preserve freshness in their wines. The 2015 is beautifully fragrant, almost exotic in character. Plump red fruit and sweet summer herbs fill the mouth but rather than being heavy, this is poised and transparent. Ample powdery tannins are fine and lead to a tangy marine finish.”
Wine Spectator 94 points “A serious, brooding red, with ripe cherry and strawberry flavors offsetting the beefy tannins. Loam, iron and almond notes chime in. Balanced and long overall. Best from 2023 through 2042. 2,500 cases made, 700 cases imported.”
Eric Guido-Vinous 94 points “The 2015 Brunello di Montalcino dark and rich, showing ripe black cherries and plum, with layers of haunting florals, exotic brown spice and smoky mineral tones. On the palate, a wave of polished textures wash across the senses, ushering in juicy black cherry with sweet herbal and floral undertones, with zesty spices and vibrant acidity adding a refreshing quality. The finish is long and remarkably fresh, an example of how the warmth of Sant’Angelo in Colle can be tempered by a deft hand, as fine tannins come forward, balanced by mouthwatering acidity and punctuated by residual pure red berry fruit. It’s a wine that’s very easy to love, with near term appeal and potential for the cellar.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $59
Heymann-Loewenstein ‘von blauem Schiefer,’ Mosel 2015 750ML ($44.95) Was $33, Now $26 Super Subscriber Special, 6 bottles in stock now
Wine Advocate 91 points “The 2015 Riesling Von Blauem Schiefer opens with a beautifully clear and slatey bouquet of perfectly ripe Riesling flavors. The wine is round, piquant and salty on the palate, reveals picture book finesse and transparency and is extremely stimulating in its dry but perfectly balanced finish. The aftertaste is pretty long and already complex. If you are looking for a picture book wine of the terraced Lower Mosel, this is the one you have to taste. Thirteen percent of alcohol can hardly taste lighter and more stimulating.”
David Schildknecht – Vinous 90 points “Scents of fennel and basil along with intimations of crushed stone set the stage for a relatively cool, restrained set of flavors. Yet the palate is richly textured, lush and expansive. Piquant and incisive notes of lemon peel and mustard seed offer invigoration on a soothingly yet stimulatingly sustained finish suffused with cooling green herbs and vividly underlain with wet stone. The primary sources for this “blue slate” bottling are nowadays the Weisenberg and Fahrberg, immediately upstream from the Uhlen (which is divided between the communes of Winningen and Kobern), along with vineyards in Klotten, a good 20 miles upstream from Kobern, that are farmed by the family of a former Heymann-Löwenstein stagiaire.”
VinopolNote: Soil is blue slate, brownish clay with iron oxide
This was the lowest listed price in the USA today,
Now it’s even lower!
The next best price is $36.98
Heymann-Lowenstein Kirchberg Riesling, Mosel 2015 750ML ($44.95) Was $39, Now $33 Super Subscriber Special, 2 bottles in stock now
Wine Advocate 92 points “The 2015 Riesling Kirchberg ‘VDP Grosse Lage’ opens with a generous and warm, ripe Riesling aroma intertwined with some herbal and iron lemon flavors on the clear and elegant nose. This is a full-bodied, charming, finessed and elegant wine with fine tannin structure and a dry and persistent finish. Still young, the Kirchberg will benefit from further bottle aging.”
Mosel Fine Wines 92+ points “This wine is rather reduced but offers a gorgeously flowery nose of pear and Provence herbs. It proves superbly elegant on the palate where grip and saltiness define the aromatics. Great multi-layered complexity already comes through in the long and airy finish. This is still very primary and in need of bottle age to balance out but this beauty will easily turn into the most complete and elegant expression of Kirchberg we have taste to date. This is hugely impressive and has even some upside potential. 2018-2025.”
VinopolNote: Soil is Reddish slate, sandy-quarzite rich in iron
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Heymann-Lowenstein Kirchberg Riesling, Mosel 2016 750ML ($44.95) Was $39, Now $33 Super Subscriber Special, 4 bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 91 points “The 2016 Riesling Kirchberg ‘VDP Grosse Lage’ is super ripe and flinty on the nose, with caramelly aromas. Pure, fresh and mineral, with a fine, mineral structure and lingering salinity, this is a tensioned Riesling with good phenolic structure.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Heymann-Lowenstein Rottgen Riesling Grosse Lage, Mosel 2016 750ML ($59.95) Was $49, Now $39 Super Subscriber Special, 5 bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2016 Riesling Röttgen ‘VDP Grosse Lage’ is pure and flinty on the nose, with bright fruit and mineral aromas on the nose. On the palate, this is a piquant, fresh and well structured as well as intense and persistent Riesling with cacao flavors in the finish. Terribly fresh and piquant, this is a remarkable Riesling. Tasted February 2018.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Heymann-Lowenstein Uhlen B Blaufusser Lay Riesling, Mosel 2016 750ML ($69.95) Was $57, Now $49 Super Subscriber Special, 16 bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 93+ points “The 2016 Riesling Uhlen B ‘VDP Grosse Lage’ is pure, fresh and rich at the same time, with flinty aromas on the nose. Full-bodied, precise and piquant on the palate, this is an elegant, fresh and salty Riesling with a lot of tension and length. Powerful. Long.”
Mosel Fine Wines 92 points “This offers a gorgeous nose of candied grapefruit zest, some star fruit, ripe pear and apple, all wrapped into the telltale classy touch of fine spices and herbs so typical of the Estate. The wine is medium-bodied on the palate and leaves a beautifully pure, spicy and mineral-loaded feel in the long and delicately powerful finish. This is a gorgeous wine in the making with a hint of power and nice saltiness in the after-taste.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Heymann-Lowenstein Uhlen Laubach Riesling, Mosel 2016 750ML ($69.95) Was $59, Now $49 Super Subscriber Special, 17 bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 93 points “From a slate soil with 10% chalk, the 2016 Riesling Uhlen L ‘VDP Grosse Lage’ shows licorice, flinty and bright fruit aromas on the nose. Juicy, piquant and tensioned on the palate, this is an intense and complex Riesling with lush and intense fruit. The finish is long and promising. Tasted February 2018.”
Mosel Fine Wines 92+ points “This offers a stunning even if still rather reduced nose of pear, grapefruit, start fruit, ginger and smoky elements. The wine is beautifully balanced on the palate, where creamy fruits are nicely wrapped into a hint of acidity and some superb mineral and herby elements. The delicately powerful after-taste oozes refinement, under-toned freshness and multi-layered complexity. This is a gorgeous Uhlen L in the making and one with great upside potential as the wine gains in elegance at maturity.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $128.83 (ouch!)
Heymann-Lowenstein ‘R’ Winninger Uhlen Roth Lay Auslese Goldkapsel, Mosel 2007 375ML ($99.95) Was $59, Now $49 Super Subscriber Special, 22 half-bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 96 points “Candied citrus, jujube, sweet spice and quince paste aromas and flavors mark this sweet, bracing Riesling, which is light on its feet and resonates on the finish with a mouthwatering feel and echoes of citrus. Best from 2012 through 2045.”
Wine Advocate 95 points “Lowenstein’s 2007 Winninger Uhlen Riesling Auslese Gold Capsule Roth Lay (as in the corresponding dry wines, the letter “R” is prominent on the label of this A.P.#9) benefits from counterpoint and collaboration among bright citrus, rich pit fruit essences, and the honey of botrytis. For all of its enormous sheer ripeness and concentration, this retains a striking sense of delicacy. A snappy, spicy, pungent streak – taken together with vivid, diverse pit fruits and citrus – serves for exhilaration in a finish of memorable length and energy, with a vivid impression of crushed stone one hardly expects in a wine of such sweetness and prominent botrytization. There seems to be something of a personality role reversal at work this year, because the corresponding Rottgen Auslese is cool and refined whereas this Uhlen displays more of the piquancy and (as French growers might say) nervosite that I associate with Rottgen. But then, botrytis is always something of a wild card, so that a wine like this is profoundly and unpredictably influenced by the precise microclimatic conditions for and differences in the nature of that fungus. No doubt this too will be worth following for two or more decades.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Heymann-Lowenstein ‘R’ Winninger Uhlen Roth Lay Auslese Goldkapsel, Mosel 2010 750ML ($199.95) Was $99, Now $89 Super Subscriber Special, 36 bottles in stock now
New Week – New Arrivals
Oregon
Winery-cellared release!
Biggio Hamina ‘Caroline’ Zenith Vineyard Pinot Noir, Eola-Amity Hills 2012 750ML ($79.95) $59 special
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 92 points “Brilliant red. A sexy, highly perfumed bouquet displays ripe red fruit and incense aromas, along with a suave floral nuance and a mineral overtone. Juicy and concentrated on the palate, with a jolty of tangy acidity giving spine to the sweet raspberry liqueur and spicecake flavors. Plays power off of finesse smoothly and finishes spicy and long, with subtle tannins contributing grip.”
Patricia Green Cellars Reserve Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2019 750ML ($29.95) $24 special
Washington
Dragon’s Head Cider was started in 2010 by Wes and Laura Cherry on Vashon Island in Washington. They focus on growing classic cider apple and pear varieties for their traditional method ciders and perries. Dragon’s Head grows much of its own fruit as well as buying fruit from other small orchards in Washington and Oregon. This gives them an advantage over other producers given the overall lack of true cider varieties available.
Dragon’s Head Russet Cider, Washington NV 750ML ($19.95) $17 special
Cidery note “Our Russet Cider is a blend of Russet apples, all grown here on Vashon. Russets are a category of apple that appear with a certain characteristic russeted skin (like a russet potato). They tend to be aromatic, create richly flavored juice, and have high levels of fermentable sugars. The Russets in the blend are: Roxbury Russet, Golden Russet, Ashmead’s Kernel, Egremont Russet, and Ribston Pippin. It’s a complex, aromatic, bold, semi-dry cider with hints of dried orange peel with a bright lingering finish.”
Winery-cellared release!
Biggio Hamina ‘Caroline’ Zenith Vineyard Pinot Noir, Eola-Amity Hills 2012 750ML ($79.95) $59 special
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 92 points “Brilliant red. A sexy, highly perfumed bouquet displays ripe red fruit and incense aromas, along with a suave floral nuance and a mineral overtone. Juicy and concentrated on the palate, with a jolty of tangy acidity giving spine to the sweet raspberry liqueur and spicecake flavors. Plays power off of finesse smoothly and finishes spicy and long, with subtle tannins contributing grip.”
Patricia Green Cellars Reserve Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2019 750ML ($29.95) $24 special
Washington
Dragon’s Head Cider was started in 2010 by Wes and Laura Cherry on Vashon Island in Washington. They focus on growing classic cider apple and pear varieties for their traditional method ciders and perries. Dragon’s Head grows much of its own fruit as well as buying fruit from other small orchards in Washington and Oregon. This gives them an advantage over other producers given the overall lack of true cider varieties available.
Dragon’s Head Russet Cider, Washington NV 750ML ($19.95) $17 special
Cidery note “Our Russet Cider is a blend of Russet apples, all grown here on Vashon. Russets are a category of apple that appear with a certain characteristic russeted skin (like a russet potato). They tend to be aromatic, create richly flavored juice, and have high levels of fermentable sugars. The Russets in the blend are: Roxbury Russet, Golden Russet, Ashmead’s Kernel, Egremont Russet, and Ribston Pippin. It’s a complex, aromatic, bold, semi-dry cider with hints of dried orange peel with a bright lingering finish.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
California
One of our most popular Cali Chards is back at a ridiculously low price!
Stonestreet Estate Vineyards Chardonnay, Alexander Valley 2016 750ML ($34.95) $21.90 special
Case-6 Stonestreet Estate Vineyards Chardonnay, Alexander Valley 2016 750ML ($179.95) $123 special (that’s only $20.50/bottle!)
Antonio Galloni 93 points “The 2016 Chardonnay Estate is a terrific introduction to the Stonestreet Chardonnays. Citrus, apricot, mint and a dash of new oak add nuance to this finely cut mountain Chardonnay. The Estate Chardonnay is another wine that delivers serious quality for the money. Silky and textured, the 2016 hits all the right notes. What a gorgeous wine it is.”
Lisa Perrottt-Brown, Wine Advocate 92 points “Fermented in barrel and aged 11 months in 36% new French oak, the 2016 Chardonnay Estate has a ripe apple, peach blossom, poached pears and nutmeg-scented nose with a waft of beeswax. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is satisfyingly savory with plenty of citrus and mineral accents and a long spicy finish. 6,440 cases produced.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $33
France – Bordeaux
Chateau Branaire-Ducru, Saint-Julien 2016 750ML ($99.95) $88 special
Wine Spectator 96 points “The core of this red is loaded with pure plum, blueberry and black currant fruit flavors. The polished structure is integrated, with alluring ganache, anise and sweet tobacco notes throughout, all in a polished and balanced frame. A very classy red that isn’t shy about its power but pushes its purity to the fore. Best from 2024 through 2039. 15,000 cases made. — JM”
Wine Enthusiast 95 points “Cellar Selection. The estate, at the southern end of Saint-Julien, has produced a wine that is both structured and stylish. This bold, ripe wine shows opulent black fruits and generous tannins. Juicy and structured, it has good aging potential. Drink from 2025. -Roger Voss”
James Suckling 95 points “The best vintage of this wine since 2009! Effusive, fresh redcurrant and cassis aromas give this St.-Julien terrific drive and energy, the elegant, dry tannins beautifully married to the medium body, right through the long, agile finish. Drink or hold.”
Chateau de Pez, Saint-Estephe 2016 750ML ($59.95) $44.50 special
Decanter 94 points “Another bargain alert! At this price level, perhaps the most subtle and elegant of all wines tasted. Not as expressive as Ormes de Pez, but top marks for delicate refinement and indeed a noticeably floral aromatic profile that accentuates the palate. As wine consultant Kevin Gagnon noted at a tasting: ‘Finesse and great length.’ Do not hesitate.”
Roger Voss-Wine Enthusiast 93 points “One of the many estates on the Pez plateau in Saint-Estèphe, this property is at the top of its game. Owned by the same proprietors as Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande, the wine has structure, big tannins as well as dense black fruits. Drink from 2024.”
James Suckling 93 points “St.-Estèphe is supposed to be a robust and hard wine, but this is elegant and sophisticated with fine, cassis and lemon-peel aromas, polished tannins and a long, rather delicate finish. Drink or hold.”
Neal Martin-Wine Advocate 92-94 points “The 2016 de Pez appears to be benefitting from a long-term replanting program at the estate. This is a blend of 53% Merlot, 42% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3.5% Petit Verdot and 1.5% Cabernet Franc. The IPT is quite high at 80, and there is 13.9% alcohol. It has a pure and comely bouquet with black cherries and blackcurrant pastilles, just a touch of crushed violets that emerge with time. The palate is really quite lovely: very well balanced with a fine line of acidity, quite saline in the mouth, perhaps the finest tannic structure that I have encountered during many years of tasting this Saint Estèphe, with a long persistent finish. Maybe this is the ‘dark horse’ of the appellation this year.”
France – Burgundy
Domaine Louis Michel & Fils Montee de Tonnerre, Chablis Premier Cru 2018 750ML ($44.95) $39 special
Neal Martin-Vinous 93 points “The 2018 Chablis Montée de Tonnerre is clean and precise on the nose, perhaps more in the vein of a traditional Chablis than, say, the Butteaux. The palate is fresh and lively with crisp acidity, impressive tension and a twist of sour lemon toward the finish that keeps this Chablis alert and alive. Excellent.”
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 92+ points “The 2018 Chablis 1er Cru Montée de Tonnerre is another success this year, delivering inviting aromas of citrus zest, crisp green apple, white flowers and oyster shell. Medium to full-bodied, with good depth and tension, it’s one of the more tightly wound, structured wines in the cellar.”
Wine Enthusiast 92 points “A touch of reduction gives a welcome whiff of farmyard before pear juiciness takes over. That same generous, fresh fruitiness gets full rein on the palate of this wine. A midpalate texture of white citrus pith and chalk sets a counterpoint and lends structure. The finish is long and dry.”
Burghound 90-92 points “Sweet Spot Outstanding. This too is markedly floral in character with its airy and cool nose of citrus, seashore and shellfish hints. The mouth feel of the intense medium weight flavors is also quite sleek and even more mineral-driven on the classy, long and slightly more complex and structured finale.”
Italy – Tuscany
Felsina Berardenga Chianti Classico DOCG, Tuscany 2018 750ML ($29.95) $24 special
Case-6 Felsina Berardenga Chianti Classico DOCG, Tuscany 2018 750ML ($199.95) $136 special (that’s only $22.67/bottle!)
James Suckling 93 points “Perfumed and fresh with cherries, cedar and hints of dried flowers. It’s medium-bodied with fine tannins and a long, direct finish. Really lively and fresh. Very typical for a top Chianti Classico. Drink now.”
Antonio Galloni 92 points “The 2018 Chianti Classico Berardenga is endowed with so much class. In 2018, the Classico is a bit more restrained than it can be. That mid-weight sense of structure, though, gives the wine quite a bit of early appeal. Even so, I would cellar the 2018 for a few years, as all the elements haven’t fully come together just yet. Dark cherry, game, smoke, licorice and earthy notes are a reminder we are in Castelnuovo Berardenga, even if the 2018 has less weight and overt power than Fèlsina fans are used to seeing.”
Kerin O’Keefe-Wine Enthusiast 92 points “New leather, camphor and blue flower are some of the aromas you’ll find on this bright, fragrant red. On the medium-bodied palate, vibrant acidity and taut tannins surround cassis, Marasca cherry and tobacco notes. Drink 2022–2028.”
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 91 points “The Fèlsina 2018 Chianti Classico Berardenga is a toned and delicate expression of 100% Sangiovese from a vintage that produced beautifully subtle and understated wines. It shows good momentum driven by dark fruit, blackberry and summer cherry. The intensity of these aromas is downplayed and rendered less pronounced, adding elegance and fragility. Pretty background notes of spice and balsam herb add an extra layer of complexity. An ample 280,000 bottles were produced.”
Isole e Olena Cepparello Toscana IGT, Tuscany 2017 3L ($419.95) $379 special
Antonio Galloni 97 points “The 2017 Cepparello is another in a series of stunningly beautiful Cepparellos from Paolo de Marchi. Bright and beautifully focused in the glass, with tremendous depth, the 2017 is positively stellar from the very first taste. Succulent dark cherry, plum, licorice, spice, menthol and coffee all open up with a bit of air. Here, too, Paolo De Marchi has done a tremendous job in preserving freshness in the wine. Readers who can muster the patience will be rewarded with a spectacular wine.”
James Suckling 95 points “A beautifully linear and refined sangiovese with polished tannins and super tight fruit. Yet, it shows subtle complexity of blackberries, black cherries and dark chocolate. Some hazelnuts. Intense, vibrant finish with a creamy texture. Extremely well done for this hot, dry vintage. Drink after 2023.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Germany
Von Winning ‘II’ Sauvignon Blanc Trocken, Pfalz 2019 750ML ($21.95) $19.50 special
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 90 points “Tasted for the second time in May this year, von Winning’s 2019 Sauvignon Blanc II offers a clear and refreshing Sancerre-like bouquet of white and green fruits along with herbaceous and flinty aromas. Round and fruity on the palate, with good freshness and a silky texture, this is a medium-bodied, very elegant, stimulatingly salty and grippy Sauvignon Blanc with a mouthwatering finish. It is much better this time than when tasted soon after the bottling half a year ago.”
Weingut Donnhoff Oberhauser Leistenberg Riesling Kabinett, Nahe 2019 750ML ($39.95) $27 special
James Suckling 94 points “Super sleek and super minerally with lovely, lemony freshness. Yet, this is neither sweet nor tart, rather elegant and very filigree. From organically grown grapes with Fair’n Green certification. Drink or hold.”
John Gilman 93 points “As I mentioned last year, the Leistenberg vineyard has the oldest vines of all the Dönnhoff parcels and these old vines seem to really be handling the new realities of global warming beautifully. The 2019 Kabinett comes in at nine percent alcohol and delivers a superb aromatic constellation of apple, white cherry, a bit of wild yeasts, spring flowers, bee pollen and a lovely base of slate. On the palate the wine is bright, fullish and filigreed, with lovely intensity and bounce, zesty acids, lovely focus and grip and a long, complex and perfectly balanced finish. As always, this is a first class example of Kabinett. 2020-2050+.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
The average price nationally is $29
Austria
Schloss Gobelsburg Gobesburger Gruner Veltliner, Kamptal DAC 2019 750ML ($18.95) $16 special
Wine Enthusiast #29 Top 100 Best Buy in 2020
Anne Krebiehl MW-Wine Enthusiast 91 points “Moss, crushed sage and yarrow play alongside green pear in this fresh, vivid wine. The slender, crisp palate adds a note of salty yeast and boosts the flavors with lemony freshness. This is quintessential Grüner—gorgeous, slender and refreshing.”
Louis Latour & Frederic Magnien Super Subscriber Specials
Latour’s reds always represent incredible value, even their bottles that are $300+ (compare how much any other Romanée-Saint-Vivant is, much less one this highly rated). As with most top of the line Burgundy (especially from 2015), quantities are painfully small, so call, email or hop on our website if you want to secure some of these gems for your cellar.
Louis Latour Cuvee Heritiers Latour Chambertin Grand Cru, Cote de Nuits 2015 750ML ($279.95) Was $249, Now $219 Super Subscriber Sale, 5 bottles in stock now
James Suckling 97 points “So much dried-flower character on the nose with dark fruit and zest of orange peel. Full body, soft and velvety tannins and a long and flavorful finish. So sexy and delicious already. A little more than 100 cases made. Drink or hold.”
Louis Latour Cuvee Heritiers Latour Chambertin Grand Cru, Cote de Nuits 2015 750ML ($279.95) Was $249, Now $219 Super Subscriber Sale, 5 bottles in stock now
James Suckling 97 points “So much dried-flower character on the nose with dark fruit and zest of orange peel. Full body, soft and velvety tannins and a long and flavorful finish. So sexy and delicious already. A little more than 100 cases made. Drink or hold.”
This was the lowest listed price in the USA today,
Now it’s even lower!
The average price is $326
Louis Latour Corton Clos du Roi Grand Cru, Cote de Beaune 2009 750ML ($149.95) Was $119, Now $99 Super Subscriber Sale, 10 bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 93 points “An expressive red, whose floral, raspberry and cherry flavors match the elegant profile. Though silky and detailed, this is also tightly wound, evidenced on the long finish. A civilized, stylish Corton. Better than previously reviewed. Best from 2015 through 2033.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Louis Latour Chateau Corton Grancey Grand Cru, Cote de Beaune 2009 750ML ($149.95) Was $119, Now $99 Super Subscriber Sale, 8 bottles in stock now
James Suckling 94 points “A tangy red with sliced apple, citrus, plum, chocolate, and fresh herb. Full to medium body, beautiful core of fruit and a bright finish. Chewy and polished. Tight now. Give this time. Drink or hold.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Louis Latour Romanee-Saint-Vivant Grand Cru Les Quatre Journaux, Cote de Nuits 2015 750ML ($599.95) Was $499, Now $449 Super Subscriber Sale, 2 bottles in stock now
James Suckling 98 points “So perfumed and aromatic with fabulous character of flowers, dark berries and chalk. Full-bodied and voluptuous. Ripe and velvety tannins and a long and flavorful finish. A wine with great potential and depth. Flamboyant. Drink in 2022.”
Wine Advocate 94 points “The 2015 Romanee St Vivant les Quatre Journaux Grand Cru is a lovely wine, and one which is likely to surprise in blind tastings in a few years’ time. A pretty nose of rose petal, ripe red cherry, dark chocolate, anise and incipient smoked duck introduces a full-bodied, supple wine with a lavish, expansive attack, good depth, and an ample chassis of fine-grained tannins. The finish is deceptively long. This wine seems likely to be one of the more approachable 2015 grand crus and should give pleasure throughout a broad window.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $563
Louis Latour Romanee-Saint-Vivant Grand Cru Les Quatre Journaux, Cote de Nuits 2016 750ML ($699.95) Was $599, Now $519 Super Subscriber Sale, 6 bottles in stock now
James Suckling 100 points “This is a grand cru that shows its intensity and complexity and greatness from the beginning. Blackberry, licorice and stone aromas. Full body and a center palate that shows ripe fruit and full richness. Then the tannins kick in. Great wine. Drink in 2024.”
Andy:
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.
Frederic Magnien Chambertin-Clos de Beze Grand Cru 2013 750ML ($319.95) Was $249, Now $199 Super Subscriber Sale, 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 is the only listing in the USA today!
Frederic Magnien Chambertin-Clos de Beze Grand Cru 2012 750ML ($319.95) Was $219, Now $199 Super Subscriber Sale, 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 is the only listing in the USA today!
Frederic Magnien Chambertin-Clos de Beze Grand Cru 2011 750ML ($319.95) Was $219, Now $189 Super Subscriber Sale, 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 average price is $229
Even More Super Subscriber Sales
The second wine of Luce, the ‘Lucente’ is a delicious and approachable. We’re offering the 2016 vintage, a complete knockout year in Tuscany, and even more delicious at the lowest price in the USA…
Luce della Vite ‘Lucente’ Toscana IGT, Tuscany 2016 750ML ($29.95) Was $24, Now $21.90 Super Subscriber Sale, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-12 Luce della Vite ‘Lucente’ Toscana IGT, Tuscany 2016 750ML ($359.95) Was $249, Now $226 Super Subscriber Sale (that’s only $18.83/bottle!)
James Suckling 92 points “Ripeness and intensity here with dark berries, dark chocolate, walnuts and sage on the nose, following through to a full body, round and chewy tannins and a ripe-fruit finish. Better in 2020.”
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 91 points “The 2016 Lucente is a blend of Sangiovese and Merlot and represents the estate’s second wine. This is an attractive and accessible mid-weight wine to pair with grilled meats or aged cheese. The primary fruit is bright and vibrant with layers of fresh cherry, plum and blackberry. Those fruit tones are tied together by lighter tones of spice and leather.”
Wine Spectator 90 points “Light-bodied and elegant yet intense, displaying cherry, black currant, violet, graphite and spice aromas and flavors. Firm and fresh on the long finish. Drink now through 2028. 7,500 cases imported.”
Kerin O’Keefe-Wine Enthusiast 90 points “This blend of Merlot and Sangiovese opens with aromas of dark-skinned berry, violet, mocha and Mediterranean brush. The savory palate offers juicy Marasca cherry, star anise and a hint of espresso alongside velvety polished tannins.”
Luce della Vite ‘Lucente’ Toscana IGT, Tuscany 2016 750ML ($29.95) Was $24, Now $21.90 Super Subscriber Sale, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-12 Luce della Vite ‘Lucente’ Toscana IGT, Tuscany 2016 750ML ($359.95) Was $249, Now $226 Super Subscriber Sale (that’s only $18.83/bottle!)
James Suckling 92 points “Ripeness and intensity here with dark berries, dark chocolate, walnuts and sage on the nose, following through to a full body, round and chewy tannins and a ripe-fruit finish. Better in 2020.”
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 91 points “The 2016 Lucente is a blend of Sangiovese and Merlot and represents the estate’s second wine. This is an attractive and accessible mid-weight wine to pair with grilled meats or aged cheese. The primary fruit is bright and vibrant with layers of fresh cherry, plum and blackberry. Those fruit tones are tied together by lighter tones of spice and leather.”
Wine Spectator 90 points “Light-bodied and elegant yet intense, displaying cherry, black currant, violet, graphite and spice aromas and flavors. Firm and fresh on the long finish. Drink now through 2028. 7,500 cases imported.”
Kerin O’Keefe-Wine Enthusiast 90 points “This blend of Merlot and Sangiovese opens with aromas of dark-skinned berry, violet, mocha and Mediterranean brush. The savory palate offers juicy Marasca cherry, star anise and a hint of espresso alongside velvety polished tannins.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
This is rich, textured and powerful while remaining resolutely dry. One for the table or for the cellar, it’s always a favorite.
Chateau de Manissy Tavel Cuvee des Lys Rose, Rhone 2019 750ML ($21.95) Was $18, Now $16 Super Subscriber Sale, 36+ bottles in stock now
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 91 points “Brilliant orange color. Mineral-accented red berry and citrus fruit aromas are complemented by a sexy floral nuance. Concentrated and energetic in the mouth, offering juicy redcurrant, cherry and candied rose flavors that slowly turn sweeter on the mid-palate. The mineral and floral notes echo on a penetrating finish that hangs on with very good tenacity.”
Importer note “Grenache, Clairette & Syrah from clay, river rock and sandy soils. Biodynamic. Juicy raspberry, watermelon, crushed minerals and burnt sugar. Full body with a long finish… Entirely hand-harvested. Maceration of 12-24 hours to extract primary aromas. Fermentation with only indigenous yeasts at a very low temperatures over 2 days, then increased in temperature to 25°C for 7 days in order to increase the fruity taste. Aged in concrete tanks and stainless steel. Natural balanced acidity of about 3.6hg/L and PH of 3.5mg/L with less than 1gr/L residual sugar. This cuvée comes from a plot of 10 hectares that is enclosed by a forest.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
After studying under Rene Rostaing, Francois Merlin planted his first vineyard in the late 1980s. Since then, he’s been meticulously caring for his tiny acreage and making exquisite if under-the-radar Rhone wines. Preferring to let the grapes speak for themselves, he ages the wines in mostly neutral oak and steel. These are fresh and vibrant wines that, coming from the warm 2018 vintage, are beautiful now with grippy tannins and balanced acids indicating a long life ahead of them, particularly the Cote Rotie and the Saint Joseph. The IGP Syrah is a winner and a staff pick for winter meals.
Domaine Francois Merlin Cote Rotie, Rhone 2018 750ML ($79.95) Was $54.50, Now $49 Super Subscriber Special, 33 bottles in stock now
Case-6 Domaine Francois Merlin Cote Rotie, Rhone 2018 750ML ($479.95) Was $299, Now $279 Super Subscriber Special (that’s only $46.50/bottle!)
Decanter 93 points “A very soft style, very ripe and juicy. Fairly tannic, but they’re ripe and yielding with flavours of black fruit coulis and touch of liquorice. It has fairly high alcohol with a saline finish – there’s freshness despite the very ripe fruit. This is a palate-coating, fairly opulent style but will be good when it’s ready – has length.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Domaine Francois Merlin Saint-Joseph, Rhone 2018 750ML ($39.95) Was $29, Now $26 Super Subscriber Special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-12 Domaine Francois Merlin Saint-Joseph, Rhone 2018 750ML ($479.95) Was $299, Now $279 Super Subscriber Special (that’s only $23.25/bottle!)
Decanter 91 points “An approachable wine that has lifted cedar and incense on the nose. Very plush with soft fruits, slightly lacking in acidity perhaps, but it’s an authentic representation of the vintage, not overly corrected. Good natural sense to the fruit, it’s expressive, unrestrained. Not overly marked by oak spice. South-facing granite terroir, 70% of vines are 45-years-old, the rest are 15-years-old. All destemmed, 12 months in barriques and demi-muids, from 1 to 4 years-old.”
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Domaine Francois Merlin Syrah Broceliande, IGP Collines Rhodaniennes 2018 750ML ($79.95) Was $19, Now $17 Super Subscriber Special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-12 Domaine Francois Merlin Syrah Broceliande, IGP Collines Rhodaniennes 2018 750ML ($479.95) Was $199, Now $179 Super Subscriber Special (that’s only $14.92/bottle!)
Staff pick! Shows dark fruit, spice, and warm iron on the nose. Leather and black cherries leads into gingerbread and dried cherries with air. On the palate, the wine is impactful with flavors of spice and black berries. The light astringency of the tannins and solid acidity keep everything in check. There’s an aroma of black tea, plum and dark chocolate on the finish. A fantastic wine to pair with roast meats, game, or ratatouille.
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A little ray of sunshine to brighten up chilly February weather.
Mirabeau ‘Classic’ Cotes de Provence Rose 2019 750ML ($27.95) Was $21.90, Now $14.40 Super Subscriber Special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Josh Raynolds – Vinous 90 points “Light, brilliant orange. Raspberry, white peach and succulent flowers on the mineral-tinged nose. Sappy red berry, pit fruit and citrus zest flavors deepen slowly and take on a spicy aspect with air. Hangs on with very good tenacity, leaving pit fruit and red berry notes behind.”
Decanter 90 points “An expressive nose of berry notes that, on the palate, transforms into succulent and juicy red cherries, raspberries and strawberries. The palate offers a light creaminess and silky texture with a round, crisp finish. Made from 60% Grenache, 25% Syrah and 15% Cinsault, it has complexity and drive, delivering great quality and value.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
The average price nationally is $16
Montevetrano di Silvia Imparato Colli di Salerno IGT, Campania 2013 750ML ($89.95) Was $59, Now $49 Super Subscriber Special, 10 bottles in stock now
50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Aglianico, 20% Merlot
James Suckling 96 points “This is a famous red that delivers depth and finesse. Full body, ultra-fine tannins and a wonderful finish of blackberry, cocoa and spices including black peppercorns. One of the best Montevetranos in years. A blend of aglianico and merlot. Drink or hold.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $66
Mount Eden Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon, Santa Cruz Mountains 2015 750ML ($99.95) Was $89, Now $79 Super Subscriber Special, 12 bottles in stock now
Decanter 95 points “The rocky minerality of the region shows from first sniff through to the lengthy finish. The earthiness is beautifully offset by fleshy red and black fruit, with spice-infused cherry, bittersweet chocolate, espresso and vanilla notes. For all its youthful intensity, the palate is remarkably fresh and bright.”
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Muller-Catoir Haardter Mandelring Scheurebe Trocken, Pfalz 2017 750ML ($59.95) Was $49, Now $39 Super Subscriber Special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Stuart Pigott – Jamessuckling 95 points “Why drink a dry white called scheurebe? Here’s the answer. An enormously complex nose of grapefruit, cassis and pineapple, then breathtaking purity and elegance on the palate and a totally uplifting and super-long finish. From organically grown grapes. Drink or hold.”
Grapelive 93 points “I love Scheurebe and this Mueller-Catoir is one of, if not the, best dry version, with this ripe and expressive 2017 showing everything the grape has to offer, it delivers intensity and aromatic quality. It’s a thrilling German white wine from one of the most admired wineries in the Pfalz. This vintage is bursting from the glass with jasmine, liquid roses and spearmint lifting to the nose while the light to medium bodied palate delivers tangy grapefruit, white peach, quince, sour apple and pineapple fruits along with chalky mineral, saline, clove spice, wild fennel and the crisp, lip smacking finish keeps things severe and refreshing.… Scheurebe grows best in Calcareous soils, with Muller-Catoir’s Pfalz version regarded as maybe the greatest expression of this grape, in particular their Trocken single Cru Haardter Mandelring example. The full range of wines at this property are amazing from the thrilling dry wines to the finely balanced sweet wines, everything at Mueller-Catoir is class, when it comes to the Pfalz, this and Von Winning are must try wines….Müller-Catoir has gone holistic in recent years and farm mostly organic, but remain very practical with absolute quality demanded of the grapes here, there is no compromise at this place, they focus on purity and terroir. The vineyards in Haardt, where this wine comes from, are composed of primary rock (urgestein) and sandstone, with an increasing proportion of gravel lower on the slopes. This estate and the region has a long history of winegrowing with the Burgergarten site being first planted close to 700 years ago, and, as the winery notes. Mueller-Catoir which has a tradition of reductive winemaking implementing a gentle crush, a long skin contact, slow gentle pressing, and then ferments at warmer, according to the winery again, than customary fermentation temperatures in stainless steel to promote transparency, which this lovely Scheurebe shows, drink it over the next 3 to 5 years.”
Terry Theise note “Over 50-year vines now, and this is outsized Scheu, dense and grand, spiciness to the intersection of space and time; salty and regal, and in its delightfully gnarly way gorgeous, erecting a megalith on your palate. Forget spitting; you can’t get rid of it.”
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Trending
The follow up to the 2016 is no slouch, but certainly shows a cooler-vintage vibe.
Biggio Hamina Claygate Vineyard Pinot Noir, Ribbon Ridge 2017 ($49.95) $28 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 93 points “Shimmering magenta. Displays perfumed red fruit preserve aromas, along with suggestions of licorice, cola, earth and candied flowers. Seamless and focused on the palate the Claygate Vineyard offers concentrated raspberry, boysenberry and cherry flavors that slowly unfurl and become spicier through the mid-palate. Round, even tannins build slowly on a very long, floral-tinged finish that leaves cherry and baking spice notes behind. All de-stemmed fruit.”
Biggio Hamina Claygate Vineyard Pinot Noir, Ribbon Ridge 2017 ($49.95) $28 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 93 points “Shimmering magenta. Displays perfumed red fruit preserve aromas, along with suggestions of licorice, cola, earth and candied flowers. Seamless and focused on the palate the Claygate Vineyard offers concentrated raspberry, boysenberry and cherry flavors that slowly unfurl and become spicier through the mid-palate. Round, even tannins build slowly on a very long, floral-tinged finish that leaves cherry and baking spice notes behind. All de-stemmed fruit.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Deep and concentrated. It’s no surprise that John Paul announced to us that it is his favorite wine of the vintage. He referred to it as basically the Julia bottling, but with some Clos Electrique added. Just as this site shares the vineyard material with the estate vineyard, it also includes a barrel of Clos Electrique this year…
Cameron Winery ‘Arley’s Leap’ Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2018 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-6 Cameron Winery ‘Arley’s Leap’ Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2018 750ML ($319.95) $275 special (that’s only $44.83/bottle and the lowest listed price in the USA today!)
Winery Note “Arley’s leap harkens from a block of Pinot noir planted in 1990 at Abbey Ridge Vineyard. The eponymous hero was Bill and Julia Wayne’s old dog Arley, who survived a jump from a second story balcony when startled by a cat.”
Marie Courtin Resonance Blanc de Noirs Extra Brut, Champagne 2015 750ML ($59.95) $49 special
Case-6 Marie Courtin Resonance Blanc de Noirs Extra Brut, Champagne 2015 750ML ($359.95) $279 special (that’s only $46.50/bottle!)
Importer note “Sourced from massale selection vines 35-40 years in age from a single parcel located in Polisot (Cote des Bar). The fruit for Resonance comes from the top of the slope where there is little topsoil. Clay and Kimmerdigian Limestone bands similar to those found in Chablis. The Cotes des Bar is closer in proximity to Chablis than to Epernay. Aged in stainless steel and bottled with no dosage. Fresh and nervy with a rounder character than in past years. Classic Marie Courtin cut with a bit more meat on the bone.”
Delas makes some of the most powerful, intense wines in the Northern Rhône at prices that make them one of the superior values in the region. Density and richness are a hallmark—there are no shrinking violets in the lineup. Star Champagne house Louis Roederer owns Delas and has been pushing the quality upwards each year. For whatever reason, the market has yet to catch up to the quality coming out of Delas’ cellar. The Northern Rhône has turned into one of the hottest markets in the wine world, with many wineries getting expensive overnight. That hasn’t happened to Delas—yet.
Delas Frères Saint-Joseph Francois de Tournon, Rhône 2015 750ML ($44.95) Was $36, Now $28 Super Subscriber Special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-6 Delas Frères Saint-Joseph Francois de Tournon, Rhône 2015 750ML ($279.95) Was $199, Now $156 Super Subscriber Special (that’s only $26/bottle!)
Wine Advocate 93 points “Inky and concentrated, the 2015 Saint-Joseph Francois de Tournon is no easy-drinking Saint-Joseph. It’s smoky, herbal and ashy all at once, yet it’s buoyed by ample black cherry fruit and vibrant acidity. This medium to full-bodied Syrah has plenty of tannins, but they’re ultimately silky and most apparent on the long, licorice-tinged finish. This is approachable now but should be even better in 3 years and should drink well for at least another 10 after that.”
Jeb Dunnuck 93 points “Both Saint Joseph releases are brilliant in 2015. The 2015 Saint Joseph François De Tournon comes vines around Tournon, Mauves, Saint-Jean-de-Muzols, and Vion, and is always destemmed and aged in 30% new barrels. This full-bodied, rounded, sexy beauty shows the power and fruit of the vintage. With classic notes of black and blue fruits, violets, incense and pepper, drink this textured, expansive, terrific Saint Joseph over the coming 10-15 years.”
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Wine Spectator’s Top 100 Value Wines & Top 100 Wines of 2020
Caiarossa ‘Pergolaia’ Toscana IGT, Tuscany 2016 750ML ($29.95) $26 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 94 points “Flavors of black cherry and blackberry stand up to the dense tannins in this fresh, deep and intense red, but this is equally about the vibrant acidity driving the fruit, wild herb nuances and spice-infused aftertaste. Sangiovese with Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Best from 2022 through 2040. 4,700 cases made, 1,200 cases imported.”
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 92 points “Mostly Sangiovese with the other 30% composed of Merlot and Cabernet Franc, the 2016 Pergolaia is all about matching grapes to soils, a tribute to Tuscany from a French-owned estate better known for its international approach. This vintage has slightly less Sangiovese than usual in order to create a more accessible wine, with more freshness and juiciness. It’s almost crunchy in texture, a full-bodied red that covers the whole mouth. The aging is spread out evenly between botte and tonneaux, as they reserved the big wood for the more delicate Sangiovese grape. The fruit here shows perfect ripeness with lots of primary intensity and freshness. It’s a versatile red to match with all kinds of pastas and meats. It’s ready to open now or to age for just a few more years.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Thank you from the team at Vinopolis!
Be well & drink well.