Domaine des Bosquets
Staff Pick:
Absurdly Delicious Mark of Spring
#Trending
The Subtle Perfection of Remelluri
Vina Mein:
Coastal Spanish Wine
Avennia
What’s The Best Value in Mencia?
“In 2016 [Domaine des Bosquets] produced not only some of the best wines of the appellation but of the entire Southern Rhone… [these are] among the best values of the region at the high end, where they are comfortably ensconced.”
–Josh Raynolds, Vinous
Just Arrived:
Domaine des Bosquets
The Heights of Gigondas
“The 2016s have everything you could want in wine. You can’t go wrong with any of these.” – Jeb Dunnuck
“Julien Bréchet has turned this Gigondas estate into a contender.”
– James Molesworth, Wine Spectator
Domaine des Bosquets has quickly vaulted into the stratosphere of top producers in the Southern Rhone. All it took was a generational change, as Julien Brechet’s uncompromising drive for quality has put Bosquets on the map.
On the subject of pricing, ours is fantastic—and when you combine our prices with the fact that the top Gigondas is undervalued relative to Chateauneuf, you get some of the best deals in the world of top Rhone wines. The “basic” Gigondas is an intense, rich wine that puts a lot of $50 bottles to shame and the high end wines…well, yes, they’re that much better. The last of the 2016 prestige cuvees just arrived and we’re happy to highlight the lineup another time now that everything is in stock. These are wines to pay attention to and buy deeply.
Just Arrived:
Famille Brechet Domaine des Bosquets Gigondas Le Plateau, Rhone 2016 750ML ($79.95) $59 special
Wine Spectator 95 points “Bright and juicy, with lovely plum, anise, boysenberry and black cherry compote flavors. Racy acidity and a fine chalky spine give this an elegant profile overall, with a silky texture and refinement in the end. Best from 2019 through 2035.”
Joe Czerwinski-Wine Advocate 95 points “Virtually all Mourvèdre (there are a few Grenache and Syrah vines mixed in), the 2016 Gigondas Le Plateau was fermented as whole bunches and developed an exotic nose, ranging from hints of flowers and herbs to fraises des bois, cherries, plums and pineapple. It’s full-bodied and rich, with a supple mid-palate and firm tannins on the finish. Tasted twice, with consistent notes.”
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 94 points “Bright violet. Expressive blackberry, cassis, incense and spicecake scents show impressive clarity and pick up a smoky mineral nuance with air. Sweet and seamless in the mouth, offering deeply concentrated red and dark fruit preserve, star anise and violet pastille flavors that are given focus and spine by a core of juicy acidity. Deftly blends richness and finesse and finishes extremely long and sappy; pliant tannins add shape and grip.”
Also In Stock Now:
“a terrific introduction to the fruit-forward style at this estate”
Domaine des Bosquets Gigondas, Rhone 2016 750ML ($31.95) $26 special
Jeb Dunnuck 92 points “Leading off the wines from bottle, the 2016 Gigondas is a classic wine from this estate, offering a deeper ruby/purple color as well as tons of garrigue, peppery spice, and earth intermixed with ample red and black fruits. Polished, rounded and sexy, with sweet tannin, it has a modern style that won’t appeal to traditionalists yet is beautifully done. The blend is 60% Grenache, 25% Syrah, 10% Mourvèdre, and the rest Cinsault.”
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 92 points “Vivid ruby-red. Lively, expansive red berry, floral pastille and white pepper scents, along with suggestions of garrigue and smoky minerals. Sweet, focused and seamless in the mouth, offering juicy raspberry, spicecake and lavender flavors that deepen steadily on the back half. Clings with very good authority on the gently tannic finish and leaves succulent floral and herb notes behind.”
Joe Czerwinski-Wine Advocate 92 points “Hints of garrigue accent raspberries and Rainier cherries in the 2016 Gigondas. This blend of 60% Grenache, 25% Syrah, 10% Mourvèdre and 5% Cinsault is full-bodied and supple, with no hard edges, just lovely fruit. Long, seamless and delicious for drinking over the next 6-7 years, it’s a terrific introduction to the fruit-forward style at this estate. Tasted twice with consistent notes.”
The average listed price is $31
Domaine des Bosquets Gigondas La Colline, Rhone 2016 750ML ($89.95) $69 special
Jeb Dunnuck 97+ points “The 2016 Gigondas La Colline (100% Grenache from a tiny corner of the La Colline vineyard) gives a big blast of blackberry and kirsch fruit to go with complex garrigue, toasted spice, and dried earth. This full-bodied beauty packs an incredible amount of richness and depth into a seamless, silky, elegant, thrilling package. It’s going to benefit from 1-2 years of bottle age and knock your socks off over the following decade or more.”
Jeb Dunnuck 96-100 points “Utterly sensational, and unquestionably one of the top 2-3 wines in the vintage, the 2016 Gigondas La Colline is 100% Grenache that’s from the La Colline lieu-dit which is close to the domain, at an elevation of 350 meters above sea-level. It was mostly destemmed (there are 20% stems), fermented in concrete tanks and aging all in 2-4-year-old demi-muids. Notes of Camphor, black raspberries, strawberries, crushed rocks, garrigue and ground pepper all flow to an incredibly layered, concentrated 2016 that has sweet tannin, and an opulent, decadent profile that never seems heavy or over the top. It’s a tour de force in winemaking and hats off to the young Julien Brechet for this incredible wine. There are only 250 cases for the world, so don’t miss a chance to latch onto a few bottles.”
Wine Spectator 96 points “This delivers a gorgeous display of fruit, with raspberry, boysenberry and blackberry notes in lockstep as they race through, infused with light anise, bergamot and rooibos tea accents along the way. The racy, chalky structure holds the finish, giving this sleek tension. Best from 2020 through 2036.”
Josh Raynolds – Vinous 95 points “Lurid ruby-red. An expansive, highly perfumed bouquet evokes ripe red fruits, incense, candied flowers and smoky minerals, and a sexy Asian spice nuance builds in the glass. Sweet and penetrating, offering lucid raspberry liqueur, cherry and spicecake flavors that show outstanding depth as well as energy. Refuses to let go of the palate on the subtly tannic finish, which hangs on with superb focus, building sweetness and noteworthy tenacity.”
Domaine des Bosquets Gigondas Le Lieu Dit, Rhone 2016 750ML ($79.95) $59 special
Jeb Dunnuck 97 points “From a cooler terroir of sandy soils just beside the domaine, the 2016 Gigondas Le Lieu Dit is another tour de force from this brilliant estate. It sports a medium ruby color as well as a rocking bouquet of kirsch, blackberry liqueur, rose petals, damp earth, incense, and spice. Ultra-fine, seamless, elegant, and pure, it’s nevertheless powerful and rich, with awesome intensity. Readers need to snatch up this blockbuster.”
Jeb Dunnuck 96-98 points “The 2016 Gigondas Le Lieu-Dit is also 100% Grenache and comes from a parcel just beside the winery. This is a cooler, sandy terroir and the style of this cuvée is dramatically different than the La Colline cuvée, showing a much more finesse-driven, elegant, ethereal style. Nevertheless, the 2016 is one of the larger, richer example of the cuvée and sports a deep, inky color as well as to die for notes of black raspberries, crème de cassis, crushed pepper, and ground herbs. With full-bodied richness, polished, sweet tannin, no hard edges and a fabulous length, it’s another best to date cuvée from this estate.”
Wine Spectator 95 points “Deliciously ripe, featuring a bright and lively display of red currant, raspberry and blackberry coulis flavors that race along, underscored by fine but persistent chalky tannins and backed by lilac, violet, rooibos tea and savory notes along the way. The long finish ripples with fresh acidity. Best from 2020 through 2036.”
Staff Pick:
Absurdly Delicious Mark of Spring
Around the time the Portland winter rains give way to our first glimpse of the sun, the Ameztoi Rubentis makes its way into town. This is always a must-buy in my book, so I was overjoyed to take my first bottle home on Friday. The 2018 has all you want from the wine. It’s salty, fizzy, and refreshing with a hint of red berries. It’s like drinking sparkling mineral water with a lemon twist and raspberry garnish.
Yes, yes, I’m supposed to tell you that rosé has no season, but this one does: we get far too few cases a year and it always sells out well before my thermostat reaches 90. We talked the distributor into an increased allocation, but it’s still going way too fast.
Ameztoi Rubentis Rosado, Getariako Txakolina 2018 750ML ($24.95) $19 special
VinopolNote: The long-awaited and lightly fizzy pink from the Basque region in Spain! A staff favorite. Always light, bright, fresh, salty and fun. The perfect aperitif wine for spring and summer.
The average listed price is $22
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#3 Wine of the Year – Wine Spectator Top 100 in 2018
Castello di Volpaia Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG, Tuscany 2015 750ML ($69.95) $59 pre-arrival special
Wine Spectator 96 points “Though saturated with black currant and blackberry fruit and backed by opaque tannins, this red is pure and balanced. Thyme, iron, leather and tar notes give this complexity, while the finish goes into overtime. Best from 2023 through 2040. 2,500 cases imported.”
Jeb Dunnuck-Rhone Report 97 points “The finest vintage to date, better even than the stellar 2010, the 2015 Crozes-Hermitage Domaine De Thalabert is a gorgeous, deep, layered, and incredibly satisfying Crozes. Blackcurrants, olive tapenade, truffles and earthy notes all emerge from this full-bodied, gorgeously textured and seamless 2015. With fine tannin and no hard edge, it can be drunk today or cellaring for 15-20 years.”
Grapelive 94-96 points “This Jaboulet Crozes-HermitagevDomaine de Thalabert 2015 with its concentration, ripe flavors and refined tannins is a lovely and impressive effort, not without grip or intensity, displays a meaty soul and terroir driven personality with layers of boysenberry, damson plum, blueberry compote, creme de cassis, fig paste, light cedar notes, mocha and earthy/tar like elements with hints of black licorice, leather, bacon fat and embers. Caroline Frey and team have done a masterful job, making a purple/garnet hued wine that gathers itself with air adding a hint of sweet toasty oak, with about 20% new barrels were used and crushed violets and candied black cherry in a sultry, seductive and a full bodied effort. Still in throws of youth, this Domaine de Thalabert will need plenty of cellar time to fully evolve, but the potential is clear as day to see in the bottle, curiosity got the best of me, rather than common sense, as I should have cellared this beauty another decade at least….The Domaine de Thalabert Crozes-Hermitage site was the first vineyard purchased by Jaboulet and is considered one of the benchmark vineyard sites in the Appellation as well as being the oldest, it now sports 60 to 80 year old vines, biodynamically grown on pebbly terraces that are glacial in origin, with the bedrock close to the topsoil….Jaboulet is one of the iconic estates in the Northern Rhone, most famous for their La Chappelle Hermitage Rouge from the spiritual home high up on Hermitage Hill overlooking the Rhone River….this label is as popular as ever with her top wines being as highly praised and sought after as any in France. For those that cannot afford the La Chapelle, like me, it is great to be able to drink Frey’s wines, and this Crozes-Hermitage “Domaine de Thalabert” is a great one to invest in without too much guilt, so be sure to look for it and be as patient as possible”
A fantastic springtime white with beautiful fruit and marvelous texture.
Domaine Eric et Joel Durand Saint-Peray, Rhone 2016 750ML ($29.95) $24 special
Case-12 Domaine Eric et Joel Durand Saint-Peray, Rhone 2016 750ML ($289.95) $259 special (that’s only $21.58/bottle!)
Jeb Dunnuck 94 points “This team has made a terrific 2016 Saint-Péray, (50/50 Marsanne and Roussanne aged in 15% new oak) from an appellation that continues to produce more and more outstanding wines. Honeysuckle, white flowers, caramelized peach and white currant notes give way to a pure, elegant, layered white that has terrific purity and length. It’s going to drink beautifully for 3-4 years or more.”
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 91 points “Pale yellow-gold. Fresh and incisive on the nose, displaying vibrant citrus and orchard fruit scents complemented by hints of honeysuckle and chalky minerals. Shows very good depth of flavor but comes off lithe, offering juicy Meyer lemon and bitter pear skin flavors that pick up a spicy ginger note on the back half. Closes very long and precise, delivering a firm snap of minerality and lingering floral character.”
Gulfi Nerojbleo Nero d’Avola Sicilia IGT, Sicily 2015 750ML ($21.95) $18 special
James Suckling 93 points “The balance and juiciness to this wine is beautiful. Dried cherries and berries with hints of fresh herbs and flower petals follow through to a medium to full body, silky tannins and a delicious finish. From organically grown grapes. Drink now.”
Wine Advocate 90 points “The 2015 Nerojbleo (an IGT Terre Siciliane wine) shows a fruit-forward approach with plump cherry and summer plum that rise to the top of the bouquet with a direct and immediate personality. The quality of the fruit is ripe, dense, dark and very black in character. This is a mid-weight Sicilian wine to pair with fried chicken or spicy pork. This wine is perhaps easier in style, but I like the fresh transparency you get here. Some 80,000 bottles were made.”-ML
Lisini Rosso di Montalcino, Tuscany 2016 750ML ($31.95) $26 special
Wine Spectator 90 points “Black cherry, blackberry, iron and wild herb flavors mark this ripe, fruity red, which is well-integrated, with dusty tannins on the finish. Drink now through 2024.”
Rosé from St. Tropez makes you feel glamourous.
Les Maitres Vignerons de la Presqu’ile de Saint-Tropez ‘Fleur de Mer’ Rose, Provence 2017 750ML ($19.95) $16 special
Winery Note “A brilliant coral pink color, Fleur de Mer evokes aromas and flavors of fresh watermelon, cherry, subtle citrus, lavender and Mediterranean herbs. It is medium-bodied, fresh and elegant with a soft texture and mineral finish. Balanced and refreshing acidity. Fleur de Mer is crafted by winemaker Florian Lacroux of the 50-year-old cooperative, Les Maîtres Vignerons de Saint-Tropez.”
The average price nationally is $18
Chateau de Saint Cosme Saint-Joseph, Rhone 2016 750ML ($29.95) $26 specialJames Suckling 94 points “A wild array of fragrant, savory spices and white pepper with a bright array of mixed berries. The palate is suave, succulent and focused. This has elegance and poise. Subtly powerful and beautifully balanced. Drink or hold.”
Wine Advocate 92 points “Sourced from granitic soils at the northern end of the appellation, the 2016 Saint Joseph boasts sexy aromas of hickory smoked bacon and cassis. Medium to full-bodied, it’s silky and suave on the palate, picking up hints of espresso on the long, fine-grained finish. Approachable now, it should drink well for at least another 6-7 years.”-JC
Jeb Dunnuck 92 points “From the northern part of the appellation (closer to Côte-Rôtie), the 2016 St. Joseph offers fresh, perfumed notes of black and blue fruits, pepper, and ample minerality. It’s more focused and chiseled than the Crozes Hermitage, with slightly less density, but is beautifully balanced, elegant and seamless. It’s another classic Northern Rhône from this estate.”
Importer Note “Saint Cosme Saint-Joseph is produced from 100% Sérine, an ancient and local variety of Syrah that is markedly different from modern selections…The wine is made from 70% destemmed with 30% whole clusters, fermented with indigenous yeasts, and aged in 20% new 228-liter barrels… Louis Barruol describes the microclimate of the vineyard Malleval as “very cold” which allows the grapes to retain acidity and showcase the floral aromas of the local Sérine variety. Aromas and flavors of blackberries and wild strawberries are accented by notes of peppercorns, tobacco, peonies, and violets.”
The next best price is $29.99
The average listed price is $37
The Subtle Perfection of Remelluri
Remelluri eschews American oak, finding it too overblown, and instead works with only the highest quality French cooperage. No expense is spared, up and down the line, and these wines are special as a result of that. We will receive our allocation in May of this fantastic 2012 Rioja Reserva—a wine that somehow manages the magic trick of being delicious today and capable of aging for decades. This is one of the landmark wines of Spain and deserves a prominent place in any cellar.
Arriving ETA May:
Remelluri Granja Nuestra Senora de Remelluri Reserva, Rioja DOCa 2012 750ML ($44.95) $33 pre-arrival special
Case-12 Remelluri Granja Nuestra Senora de Remelluri Reserva, Rioja DOCa 2012 750ML ($479.95) $359 pre-arrival special (that’s only $29.92/bottle!)
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 93 points “Deep ruby. Ripe red berries, dried flowers, illicit herb and smoky minerals on the exotically perfumed nose. The palate offers spicy, penetrating, concentrated flavors of black raspberry, cherry compote and floral pastilles, with a zesty mineral quality building in the glass. Shows excellent clarity and intensity on the very long, floral, gently tannic finish.”
Wine Advocate 93 points “The flagship 2012 Reserva was cropped from a year when they started seeing the results of improvements made to the work in the vineyards that started in 2010. 2012 was not as warm and ripe as 2011, and the wine comes through as a nice balance between power and elegance, with some earthiness, good fruit and a fine palate. It has a personality between the Labastida and San Vicente bottlings of the Lindes bottlings. It matured in barrique for 18 months, but the wood feels very well integrated. 2012 was a shorter crop, and they produced some 281,000 bottles. It was bottled in April 2015.”
Arriving in April:
Remelluri ‘Lindes de Remelluri Vinedos de San Vicente’, Rioja DOCa 2014 750ML ($27.95) $24 pre-arrival special
Case-6 Remelluri ‘Lindes de Remelluri Vinedos de San Vicente’, Rioja DOCa 2014 750ML ($179.95) $128 pre-arrival special (that’s only $21.33/bottle!)
James Suckling 96 points “Some richer, darker and deeper fruit character with plums, blackberries and a dark, earthy streak. The tannins are more upright, more elevated, and the fruit is richer and darker than in the Labastida. This has real presence, grip and energy. Try from 2021.”
Coastal Spanish Wine
Vina Mein is a perfect example of this revitalization—working in the Ribeiro DO, they produce a range of mineral whites and perfumed reds that are all stunning, especially for the prices involved. We generally carry their excellent entry level white, but have secured a few cases of their allocated, higher tier wines. These two wines, based on the Treixadura grape, are wines that white Burgundy lovers need to pay attention to. These will arrive in the early summer and although they’d be fantastic drinking wines this year, probably deserved to be laid down for a year or three.
Arriving ETA June:
Vina Mein ‘Tega do Sal’, Ribeiro 2016 750ML ($49.95) $41.90 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 93 points “The single-vineyard 2016 Tega do Sal is 90% Treixadura and 10% Albariño from the Vilerma zone, from 25-year-old plants on granite soils that have more clay and some laminar, schist-like texture, soils that give a little more volume. There’s also a high percentage of Treixadura and an east-facing exposition that provides good ripeness. They try to tame that natural power, as they are looking for tension in a place that would naturally deliver more volume, so they decided to ferment the Treixadura in stainless steel. It has great finesse and elegance; it’s floral and has a fresh palate with very good acidity. 2,745 bottles produced.”
Wine Advocate 93+ points “The lemony and citrusy 2016 Eiras Altas comes from the vineyard that surrounds the winery, a place that was mentioned in old books linked to the San Clodio Monastery, where the Ribeiro wine was born. They used a blend of 70% Treixadura, 20% Loureiro and 10% Albariño from three hectares planted in 1987 on soils of white granite sand. The full clusters were pressed and the juice fermented in oak foudre, stainless steel and egg-shaped concrete vats with indigenous yeasts and then matured in those vessels for ten months with lees but without bâtonnage. This has great freshness and purity, great tension and length, it feels very young and undeveloped. There are some balsamic notes, possibly from the Loureiro, which they try not to pick early. It has tingling acidity that gives an electric sensation. This should develop nicely in bottle, and even if it’s drinkable now, I’d wait a little more before pulling the cork. 5,544 bottles were filled in September 2017.”
In Stock Now:
Vina Mein Blanco, Ribeiro 2016 750ML ($27.95) $21.90 special
Luis Gutierrez-Wine Advocate 91+ points “I tasted the 2016 Viña Mein, which is from different vineyards in the Avia Valley, mostly Treixadura, Godello and small percentages of the other white varieties. This fermented with indigenous yeasts, and the vineyards have been stripped of chemicals and herbicides, each plot fermented separately. There are some notes of white fruit, and it feels quite primary and undeveloped, with balsamic aromas (bay leaf, fennel and aniseed) and something lanolin-like that I associate with the baby fat of such a young white. The tropical aromas from yesteryear have disappeared; it’s a lot more serious with a touch of moss, river stones, more austere. The palate is medium-bodied with still some white fruit flavors and balanced acidity but with the texture and nerve provided by the granite soils. This is the finest regular Viña Mein I remember tasting ever. 72,000 bottles were produced in 2016.”
From Star Winemaker Chris Peterson
2017 Washington Winemaker of the Year
“When Peterson left DeLille to start Woodinville-based Avennia (founded in 2010 in partnership with Microsoft marketing veteran Marty Taucher), he garnered immediate praise for a fully formed house style that emphasized elegant, restrained reds and whites, with a balance of fruit and non-fruit elements, and a firm embrace of the earthy side of wine… More than 15 years into his winemaking adventure, Peterson is bullish on Washington’s prospects. ‘We are in a golden age,’ he enthuses, ‘and I think it’s only the beginning.’“ – Seattle Magazine
In Stock Now:
Avennia Arnaut Boushey Vineyard Syrah, Yakima Valley 2016 750ML ($69.95) $59 special
Jeb Dunnuck 94-97+ points “Also deeply colored, the 2016 Syrah Arnaut Boushey Vineyard is a sensational, meaty, savory, complex beauty. Full-bodied, with sweet tannin, no hard edges and beautiful purity, it has fine, fine tannin, a bloody, salty character, and a great finish. It’s rocking stuff.”
Arriving ETA April 8th:
Avennia Gravura Red, Columbia Valley 2016 750ML ($41.95) $36 pre-arrival special
Case-6 Avennia Gravura Red, Columbia Valley 2016 750ML ($239.95) $199 pre-arrival special (that’s only $33.17/bottle!)
Josh Raynolds 92 points “(about 60% new oak; bottled in June): Bright dark red. Aromas of dark berries, licorice and hot rocks. Plush, smooth and concentrated, with something distinctly old-fashioned about its flavors of black fruits and spices complicated by leather, minerals and warm stones. A good portion of these vines date back to the early 1970s, says winemaker Peterson. Conveys a captivating sweetness owing to its glyceral character and slower wild-yeast fermentation but this is classically dry at less than one gram per liter of residual sugar. (14.6% alcohol)”
The average listed price is $42
Case-6 Avennia Justine Red, Yakima Valley 2016 750ML ($239.95) $199 pre-arrival special (that’s only $33.17/bottle!)
Jeb Dunnuck 92-94 points “A blend of 56% Grenache, 31% Mourvèdre, 13% Syrah brought up all in older oak, the 2016 Justine offers a great core of black fruits as well as lots of peppery herbs, earth, and classic meatiness. It looks to be a great vintage for this cuvée.”
The average listed price is $42
Case-6 Avennia Sestina Red, Columbia Valley 2016 750ML ($449.95) $369 pre-arrival special (that’s only $61.50/bottle!)
Jeb Dunnuck 93-95 points “The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Sestina checks in as 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Merlot, and 6% Cabernet Franc that will spend 20 months in 60% new French oak. This is the first year this will cuvée be labeled as a Cabernet Sauvignon. Blackcurrants, tobacco leaf, iodine, and hints of olive all give way to a rich, medium to full-bodied, concentrated, yet elegant wine that’s going to age for 20+ years.”
Josh Raynolds 93+ points “(includes a good percentage of vines from the 1970s; aged in about 45% new oak): Bright dark red. Alluring violet and rose petal lift to the aromas of dark berries, licorice and black olive. Penetrating, savory wine with terrific saline minerality and lift to its wild berry and licorice flavors. This very concentrated, backward wine finishes with serious tannins but no rough edges. A bit more sharply focused than its 2015 sibling but this wine will need longer for its tannic spine to unclench. Even the Merlot yields were moderate in 2016, noted winemaker Chris Peterson. Following a bit of acidification, this wine finished with a pH of 3.8.”
The next best price is $79.99
Casar de Burbia is guided by talented winemaker Isidro Fernandez, who aims to make wines that show true to the terroir of Bierzo while providing rich, plush textures and serious, age-worthy depths. From what we’ve tasted, he manages to accomplish both, at exceptional pricing. These aren’t shy wines, with lots of rich, black fruit and some bittersweet chocolate flavors. These are wines that are serious and will leave an impression, but at prices that definitely won’t.
In Stock Now:
An astounding value.
Casar de Burbia ‘Casar’ Tinto, Bierzo 2013 750ML ($19.95) $11.90 special
Case-12 Casar de Burbia ‘Casar’ Tinto, Bierzo 2013 750ML ($219.95) $119 special (that’s only $9.92/bottle!)
James Suckling 93 points “Super-fresh blacks fruits and a hint of wild strawberry. Enormous freshness and brightness. The finish is almost crystalline in its purity. Bierzo takes off! Drink now.”
Casar de Burbia Hombros, Bierzo 2012 750ML ($27.95) $16 special
Case-12 Casar de Burbia Hombros, Bierzo 2012 750ML ($299.95) $169 special (that’s only $14.08/bottle!)
James Suckling 92 points “Intense herbal liquer character and soy sauce on the nose. Medium-bodied with a very savory character and plenty of herbs. Crisp and quite mineral. Drink now.”
Staff pick – Suzanne: This is a beautifully aromatic blend of indigenous white varieties from GOTA Winery in the Dao region of Portugal. Bright and fresh, use this at table as you would an Alsatian blend (edelzwicker) or a light-bodied dry Riesling.
Gota Wines Prunus Private Selection White, Dao 2017 750ML ($19.95) $14 special
Winery note “Well-rounded and harmonious with concentrated fruit flavours of peaches yellow plums, apricots and floral notes while mineral on the palate with long mouth-watering finish. Serve chilled with seafood, fresh fish and creamy pasta. In the valley of Dão river lays Silgueiros region which dates back to 4000 years. Traces left by the Romans and Moors show that the wine was produced here long before the Christ. The Latin word “Silicarios” means a rocky region and indeed soils here are poor. This is the place where on small plots of land on 400m of altitude the growers take care of vines. Prunus is an expression of that work. Hand-picked grapes by families and neighbors, blended by us, give enchanting wine.”
Gota Wines Prunus Private Selection Red, Dao 2017 750ML ($19.95) $14 special
Winery note “Elegance on a grand scale. Lightly oaked and perfectly balanced, with a silky texture and crisp edge. The nose is crampacked with plums, mulberries, blackberries and anise. On the palate, black cherry and raspberry fruit tones with creamy and chocolaty oak flavours. Delicious with poultry and pork dishes. Well-rounded and harmonious with concentrated fruit flavours of peaches yellow plums, apricots and floral notes while mineral on the palate with long mouth-watering finish. Serve chilled with seafood, fresh fish and creamy pasta. In the valley of Dão river lays Silgueiros region which dates back to 4000 years. Traces left by the Romans and Moors show that the wine was produced here long before the Christ. The Latin word “Silicarios” means a rocky region and indeed soils here are poor. This is the place where on small plots of land on 400m of altitude the growers take care of vines. Prunus is an expression of that work. Hand-picked grapes by families and neighbors, blended by us, give enchanting wine.”
Thank you for reading!