New Arrival & Subscriber-Only Sale on New Release of Michael Etzel’s Sequitur; New Spectacular Additions to our April Sale: 2011 Casanova di Neri & Altesino – Final Week!; New Week – New Arrivals; Trending Wines; April Sale Highlights – Final Week!; Arriving Tomorrow from Gallo Signature & Louis Martini; The Glory of 2013 Barolo; April Sale Recap
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Jump Start New Arrival
Sequitur, the new project from Michael Etzel of Beaux Freres
Inaugural 2014 vintage:
Sequitur Single Vineyard Ribbon Ridge Pinot Noir 2014 750ML ($119.95) $99 special
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 94 points “Limpid ruby-red. Smoky, mineral-accented aromas of black raspberry, cherry cola and incense carry a strong spicecake overtone. Stains the palate with sappy red berry liqueur, spicecake and floral pastille flavors that are lifted and given definition and tension by juicy acidity. At once rich and nervy, with no excess fat but showing excellent depth and intensity of flavor. Finishes with sexy notes of candied violet and smoky Indian spices and superb, gently tannic persistence. This wine’s Beaux Freres bloodline is very clear to see.”
Subscriber-Only Sale
Just Released 2015 Sequitor:
Any 1-2 bottles of 2015 Sequitur, your price will be $89/bottle
Any 3+ bottles of 2015 Sequitur, your price will be $85/bottle
Sequitur Single Vineyard Ribbon Ridge Pinot Noir 2015 750ML ($119.95) Displayed price: $99, Your price for 1-2 bottles $89/bottle, Your price for 3+ bottles $85/bottle
Winery note “Sequitur 2015 Pinot Noir “Two fold,” a collaboration between our Mother, the earth, those of us who “play” in the vineyard and winery, and you, the wine lover.”
VinopolNote: From a 12 acre vineyard planted by Michael Etzel adjacent to his Upper Terrance Vineyard.
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Discount will not appear online
We will adjust your price before running your order
Subscriber-only discount ends Tuesday, April 25th at 11:59 PM
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New Spectacular Additions to our April Sale
Final Week!
Casanova di Neri Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2011 750ML ($59.95) Was $49, Now $39!!!
Antonio Galloni 92 points “Casanova di Neri’s 2011 Brunello di Montalcino is a very pretty and expressive wine. Sweet red cherry, menthol, rose petal and mint open up first, followed by a touch of blood orange that adds lovely aromatic lift and brightness throughout. Although not especially complex, the 2011 should drink beautifully for at least a handful of years. Today, it is quite pretty and expressive.”
Wine Advocate 92 points “Giacomo Neri has produced a very approachable wine in this warm vintage. The 2011 Brunello di Montalcino is plump and juicy with loads of dark fruit and mild spice at the back. It doesn’t have the depth or complexity of the gorgeous 2010 vintage, but the wine does a very good job presenting the main traits you look for in Brunello. The fruit is lively and the acidity gives the wine a sense of buoyancy and brightness. The tannins are very well integrated. It doesn’t reach Brunello greatness, but it is a good Brunello.”
Grapelive 93+ points “It was a pleasure to meet Giavanni Neri and taste through the latest Casanova di Neri wines. Casanova di Neri is one of Italy’s great wineries and a blue chip standard Brunello year after year. The new set of Casanova di Neri is an amazing lineup from the humble Rosso di Neri to the mind-blowing perfection of the 2010 Cerretalto Brunello! Of course, I was most interested in the soon to be released 2011 Brunello offerings, and how they’d compare to the 2010’s. Similar to 2011 Barolo, these wines gained from the warmer summer heat, these are more generous wines with sweeter tannins and will be easy to please in their youth. Casanova di Neri really did a great job here as these Sangiovese Grosso Brunello di Montalcino 2011’s both have balance, depth and vitality. The 2011 Casanova di Neri White Label, the Brunello Normale, is full of flavor, extract and energy with ripe fruit, structure to match and pleasing mouth feel. [It] starts with a touch of graphite/flint, red raspberry, sweet minty herbs, light floral tones and cigar wrapper leading to a full and round palate of blackberry, cherry, spiced plum and wild strawberry fruits along with cedar, black fig, anise and warm stones. The body is lavishly textured, but there is lift and vigor with just enough acidity and fine tannin to frame this spot on Brunello. This will be a sleeper, while most people will chase the top end wines and or keep tracking down 2010’s this looks set to be a great wine that might get overlooked. That will be a mistake: this is one to have and drink over the next decade. It’s very nice stuff.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $54
Altesino Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2011 750ML ($59.95) Was $49, Now $39!!!
Antonio Galloni 92 points “Altesino’s 2011 Brunello di Montalcino opens with beguiling aromatics. Sage, licorice, menthol and sweet tobacco flesh out nicely as the wine shows off its ample, broad personality. The tannins could use another year or two to soften, but all the elements are very nicely balanced throughout. This gracious, silky Brunello will drink well for the next decade-plus.”
James Suckling 92 points “This is long and delicious with lovely cherry, chocolate and fresh walnut flavors. Linear yet open with persistence and joy. Drink now.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
The average price nationally is $58
See the complete list of all 53 wines on sale through the month of April at the bottom of this newsletter!
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New Week – New Arrivals
California
Louis M. Martini Lot No. 1 Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2012 750ML ($119.95) $99 special
Robert Parker 96+ points “The 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Lot 1 was aged 21 months in 96% new French oak and is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, with nearly half of the fruit source coming from Atlas Peak and the rest from various sites in Napa Valley – primarily Stags Leap. This is typical of the vintage: it was abundant (784 cases produced), dramatic and flamboyant in terms of the style of wine produced. As I have told many readers in other reviews, 2012 is somewhat reminiscent of 2002 Napa Cabernets in their lushness, forwardness and drama. This is a big wine (15.5% alcohol) with great intensity and plenty of crème de cassis, giving it a rather classic aromatic and flavor profile, a full-bodied, unctuous mouthfeel, terrific purity and a long finish with no evidence of any new oak, which tells you how the fruit has absorbed all of the wood. To reiterate, it was a big crop, with 784 cases produced, making it the fourth largest cuvée of any of these Lot 1s in the vertical. Drink it over the next 25-30 years.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $119.99
Louis M. Martini Monte Rosso Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma Valley 2012 750ML ($69.95) $59 special
James Suckling 95 points “I am always a fan of this wine with its dusty, red-tile and rust character, which underlines the fruit and ripe tannins. Full-bodied, powerful and tannic, all the way up to the flavorful finish. Give it three or four years to soften.”
Robert Parker 93+ points “A 15- to 20-year wine in terms of its aging potential is the 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Monte Rosso Vineyard. A blend of 93% Cabernet Sauvignon and 7% Petit Verdot, aged 27 months in a combination of French and American oak, the wine is dense, full-bodied, with notes of dusty, loamy soil interwoven with crème de cassis, blackberry, toasty oak and hints of chocolate and espresso. This is another full-throttle effort (15.2% natural alcohol), richly layered, with moderate tannin. It is accessible now but capable of lasting 25 or more years.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $64
France – Rose
Domaine Saint Damien Gigondas Rose, Rhone 2016 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 special
80% Cinsault (planted in 1970), 20% Grenache. Soil is red clay and broken stones. Vineyard plot located on the lower terraced lands of the Gigondas appellation, at a spot called la Moutte.
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $24.99
Domaine Chevreau ‘Les Terres Blanches’ Sancerre Rose 2016 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 special
100% Pinot Noir. Sustainably farmed estate. Soils are Marneaux lime and clay. A full-bodied, dry rosé with rich fruit aromas.
This is the only listing in the USA today!
M. Plouzeau Chinon Rive Gauche Rose, Loire 2016 750ML ($17.95) $14 special
100% Cabernet Franc from 35 year old vines grown on river gravel and pebbly soil. Sustainably farmed.
France – Burgundy
Henri Prudhon & Fils Les Perrieres, Saint-Aubin Premier Cru 2014 750ML ($49.95) $41.90 special
Burghound 90 points “Reduction presently dominates the fruit though it probably won’t last. On the positive side there is excellent vibrancy and intensity to the well-defined yet rich medium-bodied flavors that exude plenty of minerality on the more complex and focused finale. I like the balance between the mid-palate fat and moderately firm acid spine that should enable this to drink well young but age well over the mid-term.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Henri Prudhon & Fils Sur le Sentier du Clou Blanc, Saint-Aubin Premier Cru 2014 750ML ($49.95) $39 special
Burghound 89 points “There is better layering to the pure, elegant and fresh aromas of white orchard fruit, acacia blossom and lemongrass. Once again there is better volume and intensity to the rich and more refined middle weight flavors that deliver a lovely and refreshing salinity on the dry, clean and focused finish.”’
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Henri Prudhon & Fils Bourgogne Blanc En Jorcul 2014 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 special
“Pear, citrus and once again white floral scents serve as a fresh and cool introduction to the sleek, delicious and appealingly vibrant flavors that possess a rounded and textured palate impression while offering reasonably good depth and persistence on the citrus-tinged finale.”—Burghound
Importer note “‘En Jorcul’ is a well-situated lieu-dit which abuts the appellation of Saint-Aubin on its western edge, just past “Le Ban” (see below), where the Prudhons own 0.8 hectares of vines. The wine is fermented and aged in barrel, but no new oak is employed, thereby allowing the minerality to take center stage. This 2014 offers real value, with a vivid, limestone-drenched nose, and a beautifully harmonious mouthfeel—driven but not dominated by vigorous acidity, and with a saliva-inducing interplay of fruit and mineral.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Henri Prudhon & Fils Les Castets, Saint-Aubin Premier Cru 2014 750ML ($49.95) $39 special
“An overtly floral nose displays nuances of citrus and apple along with a hint of pear. Here too there is good volume to the vibrant flavors that possess a caressing mouth feel and a subtle minerality before terminating in a persistent if mildly austere finale. This understated effort should drink well young if desired.”—Burghound
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Domaine Matrot Charmes, Meursault Premier Cru 2014 750ML ($99.95) $89 special
Wine Spectator 94 points “Lime blossom, lemon candy, mineral and toasted spice aromas and flavors mark this lithe, vivid white. Remains pretty compact on the finish, with terrific energy, light tannins and a chalky feel. Best from 2018 through 2024.”
Domaine Matrot Perrieres, Meursault Premier Cru 2014 750ML ($119.95) $99 special
Wine Spectator 94 points “This starts out shy, and needs about an hour to reveal the tightly wound apple, lemon oil, stone and chalk flavors. All the elements are fused together by a laserlike backbone of acidity. Terrific length. Best from 2019 through 2028.”
Henri Prudhon & Fils Les Rouges Gorges, Saint-Aubin Premier Cru 2013 750ML ($37.95) $33 special
“A discreet hint of wood serves as an all-but-neutral backdrop for the ultra-fresh, bright and cool aromas of rose petal, red raspberry, cherry and wet stone nuances that can also be found on the slightly bigger and richer middle weight flavors that deliver fine persistence on the saline-inflected finish. This will need a few years to flesh out.”—Burghound
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Henri Prudhon & Fils Les Frionnes, Saint-Aubin Premier Cru 2013 750ML ($37.95) $33 special
“Light ruby. The pretty nose displays aromas of rose petal, cherry and exotic tea. There is fine detail to the more overtly mineral-inflected flavors that possess both fine intensity and excellent persistence though the balance isn’t perfect as once again there is a hint of asperity.”—Burghound
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Henri Prudhon & Fils Sur le Sentier du Clou Vieilles Vignes, Saint-Aubin Premier Cru 2013 750ML ($37.95) $33 special
Burghound 89 points “A strikingly pure nose is comprised of essence of red and dark pinot fruit aromas that are liberally laced with floral and discreet earth nuances. There is good volume to the very round, intense and detailed medium-bodied flavors that exude both hints of salinity and minerality on the punchy and mildly austere finale. This relatively powerful effort is the most complete wine among the St. Aubin offerings.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
France – Beaujolais
Guy Breton Morgon Vieilles Vignes 2014 750ML ($34.95) $24 special
Josh Raynolds 93 points “Vivid ruby. Urgent aromas of fresh dark berries, licorice and incense are accompanied by a suggestion of smoked meat in the background. Sappy and broad on entry, then more taut in the midpalate, offering concentrated boysenberry, bitter cherry and violet pastille flavors and a hint of spicecake. A vibrant mineral flourish adds lift and cut to the finish, which lingers with excellent floral-tinged persistence.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $29
France – Bordeaux
Clos Puy Arnaud, Cotes de Bordeaux Castillon 2012 750ML ($59.95) $49 special
Andreas Larssen–Blindtasted 93 points “Quite dark colour, very youthful here with blue-purple core, a slight ruby rim. Very fine nose here; elegant fruit, hints of wild berries, kind of mineral style, very good purity of fruit and very gentle oak. Very good bite here, silky fruit, juicy wild berry fruit, very grainy tannins, excellent freshness, finely tuned oak. Medium weight, a little bit more, but I think it’s really an emphasis on that juicy dark fruit. Very good persistence and purity. I really like this one. I would almost talk about a more Burgundian texture in terms of that finely spicy soft and juicy fruit, excellent purity, a mineral touch and a very long finish. Very good drinkability today, but certainly a style that will age well.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
France – Rhone
Domaine Auguste Clape Cornas 2014 750ML ($149.95) $119 special
Wine Spectator 95 points “Solidly packed, with a bramble-edged core of dark plum, bitter cherry and black currant fruit, inlaid with bay leaf and savory notes. The serious chalky grip through the finish will need some time to stretch out. Shows terrific interplay between the grip and fruit.”
Josh Raynolds – Vinous 93-95 points “Brilliant purple. Powerful, mineral-tinged cherry and blackberry scents, along with notes of bacon fat, licorice, potpourri and pungent flowers. Pure, concentrated and energetic on the palate, offering deeply concentrated black and blue fruit flavors that gain weight and become sweeter with air. Closes extremely long, sappy and sweet, juicy acidity adding lift and cut to the blue-fruit-dominated, youthfully tannic finish.”
Jean Luc Jamet Cote Rotie Terrasses 2013 750ML ($119.95) $99 special
VinopolNote: “Made from vineyards originally belonging to Domaine Jamet (and kept in his split from the domaine). The 2013 is the first vintage for Jean-Luc Jamet and a promising start that shows the class of the terroir he’s working with.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Jean Luc Jamet Syrah VDP Valine 2014 750ML ($39.95) $28 special
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Italy – Tuscany
Brancaia Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG 2012 750ML ($39.95) $29 special
James Suckling 92 points “The flower and blueberry character on the nose and palate are impressive. Full body, silky tannins and a fresh finish. Drink or hold.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $37
Brancaia Tre Toscana IGT 2013 750ML ($21.95) $16.60 special
James Suckling 92 points “Lots of vivid spice, meat and dark berry fruit. Full body, fine tannins and bright acidity. Better than the 2012. Drink now.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Italy – Valtellina
Ar.Pe.Pe Rocce Rosse Riserva, Valtellina Superiore Sassella DOCG 2002 750ML ($99.95) $89 special
Antonio Galloni 96 points “The 2002 Valtellina Superiore Sassella Riserva Rocce Rosse will give readers a very good idea of how top-notch Valtellina Nebbiolo develops with age. Primary flavors are now faded into the background, replaced with a striking array of dried rose petal, lavender, mint and sweet pipe tobacco. A wine for lovers of classic, traditionally made Nebbiolo, the 2002 Rocce Rosse delivers the goods, and then some. The 2002 spent 35 days on the skins in cement, followed by 4 years in cask and cement. Don’t miss it.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Spain
Bodegas Cepa 21 Hito, Ribera del Duero 2013 750ML ($17.95) $14 special
Wine & Spirits 91 points “A young and intense Ribera del Duero with strong notes of graphite and black cherries, this wine’s tannins are rustic and wild, balanced by ripe blackberry flavors and detailed oak spice. Hito is Cepa 21’s basic red and one of the best values in the region.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Portugal
Quinta do Ameal Loureiro, Vinho Verde 2015 750ML ($21.95) $18 special
Case-12 Quinta do Ameal Loureiro, Vinho Verde 2015 750ML ($249.95) $199 special (that’s only $16.58/bottle and the lowest listed price in the USA today!)
Wine Advocate 94 points “The 2015 Loureiro (bottled January 19, 2016) is unoaked, dry and comes in at 11.5% alcohol. I’ve been talking a lot about the great 2015s and also about how well this estate has performed over the years. (Check out the reviews of library wines this issue.) If it seems that the fates are pointing in this direction–you bet. The category, perhaps, also deserves some reevaluation upwards, but right here, right now, this has to go down as one of the best moments for the “regular” Loureiro in this fine estate’s history. (Admittedly, as I see some older ones continue to age and notably improve with age, the competition is increasingly stiff. They’ve exceeded expectations.) In any event, this 2015 is astonishingly wonderful, gloriously fresh and alive. It is one of the more aromatic wines I’ve had from Ameal. It is fun to just smell in its youth, very floral and almost exotic. It is also remarkably powerful. If it seemed quite nice on the first day, then on the second day the big acidic core took over, a hint of herbs popped up and it became even more powerful. The fine tension on the finish allows the fruit to linger and grip the palate. The juicy finish can make you drool. Reasonable in body for the grape, which in some years is more on the ethereal side, it seems multilayered, transparent and bursting with controlled flavor. As good as it was on the first two days, it seemed like the essence of Loureiro on the third day. As much as I preferred the library versions this issue for drinking now, here is an example of how delicious and exciting they can be when young, too. In that regard, this is built to age and we might have to wait a few years to be sure how truly great it is. If you don’t know top-end Vinho Verde and Ameal, you may be shocked at that. This will become more complex and (I suspect) flesh out over the next few years. It is, if anything, a bit too aggressive just now. You get this amazing value only because owner Pedro Araújo labors in Vinho Verde, where the top wines are undervalued. Take advantage. This is something you can buy a case (or two) of and likely drink happily over the next 15+ years. It will be something different and wonderful every time you come back to it.”
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Trending
Sold out the day it arrived, more’s coming Friday, but act fast before someone else does!
Valdicava Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2010 750ML ($149.95) $89 re-arrival special
James Suckling 99 points “Absolutely stunning aromas of nectarine, orange peel, sweet black cherry, plum, flower, licorice and mushroom. Full body with layers of ultra-fine tannins and hints of tangy acidity. Such beautiful length and beauty to this wine. It’s powerful and structured but shows a gorgeous finesse and length. Truly wondrous. So long and refined. The texture is phenomenal. Better in 2016.”
Wine Spectator 96 points “Effusive aromas of incense, green olive, sweet strawberry and cherry, licorice and leather mark this structured version. The tannins are on the beefy side, but this finishes long, with enough fruit and spice for balance. Best from 2018 through 2032.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Marchesi Antinori Tignanello Toscana IGT 2013 750ML ($119.95) $99 special
Wine Spectator 94 points –#8 Top 100 of 2016–“Aromas of graphite, smoke and tobacco introduce the cherry flavor in this expressive, focused red. Firm tannins and lively acidity balance the fruit and purity, while herbal, spice and mineral elements all gather steam as this plays out on the long finish. Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2017 through 2027.”
James Suckling 97 points “This is amazing on the nose with blackberry, black truffle, dried cherry and hints of tobacco. So complex on the nose. Almost no need to taste it. Full body, soft and velvety tannins, and a persistent, fabulous finish. The mouthfeel is magic. 80% sangiovese and 20% cabernet sauvignon. Drink or hold.”
Wine Advocate 96 points “The 2013 Tignanello represents the beginning of a new chapter for Italy’s ultimate game-changer wine. The blend remains 80% Sangiovese with 15% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Cabernet Franc but Renzo Cotarella tells me “stylistically-speaking, this is what we wanted to achieve.” The winemaking formula remains the same, but one of the major differences and benefits to this wine is vineyard age. The celebrated Tignanello single vineyard is now reaching 15 years old. In other words, it is in its production prime. This is a harmonious and beautifully integrated wine that reveals black fruit and baking spice.”
Beaux Freres The Upper Terrace Pinot Noir, Ribbon Ridge 2014 750ML ($99.95) $89 special
Josh Raynolds 95 points “Limpid ruby-red. Explosive, mineral-accented aromas of red berry liqueur, cherry cola, vanilla and potpourri, accompanied by a sexy floral overtone that gains strength as the wine opens up. Juicy, concentrated and expansive on the palate, offering intense black raspberry, cherry compote and floral pastille flavors and a touch of cola. Displays an extremely impressive interplay of power and finesse, showing a seamless texture and a firm mineral spine. A strikingly long, sappy finish features smooth, sneaky tannins, resonating florality and a lingering suggestion of five-spice powder.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
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April Sale Highlights
Final Week!
Domaine Remi Jobard Le Poruzot Dessus, Meursault Premier Cru 2011 750ML ($99.95) Was $69, Now $59, 23 bottles available
Antonio Galloni 92+ points “A deep, earthy wine, the 2011 Meursault 1er Cru Poruzots-Dessus hits the palate with tons of muscle and power. The style is bold and direct. There isn’t a whole lot of complexity here, but there is plenty of pure stuffing. It will be interesting to see where the 2011 goes over the coming year. Today structural elements dominate over fruit.” AG
This was the lowest listed price in the USA today,
Now it’s even lower!
The next best price is $74.94
PM Chermette Dom. Vissoux Moulin-a-Vent Trois Roches, Beaujolais 2014 750ML ($27.95) Was $24, Now $21.90, 33 bottles available
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 93 points “Deep ruby. Intense black raspberry, cherry and floral pastille aromas are complemented by suggestions of licorice and smoky minerals. Juicy and penetrating, offering sappy red and blue fruit flavors that effortlessly marry power to finesse. The mineral and floral notes linger impressively on the finish, which is given shape by fine-grained, sneaky tannins.”
This was the lowest listed price in the USA today,
Now it’s even lower!
The next best price is $27.99
Giacomo Conterno Francia Barolo DOCG 2012 750ML ($219.95) Was $189, Now $175, 17 bottles available
Antonio Galloni 94-97 points “The 2012 Barolo Francia is dark, virile and intense, with a huge center of fruit to match its distinctly brooding personality. Today, the 2012 also comes across as quite closed in on itself, but there is a level of pure depth here that is absolutely compelling. Conterno has decided not to bottle a Monfortino, so there is good reason to think the bottled Francia has the potential to be stellar.”
Wine Advocate 95 points “Since the 2010 vintage, this wine is named Francia (not Cascina Francia) to keep with the new Menzioni Geografiche Aggiuntive (or official cru naming) in Barolo and Barbaresco. The 2012 Barolo Francia is a seductive and silky expression that flows gracefully over the palate with power and determination. The nose is expressive, and decidedly more articulate than many of the more muted wines made by neighboring estates in this warm vintage. The quality of the mouthfeel is of special interest. This beautiful Barolo already shows stunning texture, richness and integrity, despite this very early preview tasting. I tasted this wine in barrel shortly before bottling.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $224
Zorzal Eggo Franco Cabernet Franc, Tupungato, Argentina 2015 750ML ($34.95) Was $21.90, Now $19, 36+ bottles available
Wine Advocate 93 points “The second vintage I tasted from this Cabernet Franc, the 2015 Eggo Franco is produced, like many of their wines, with grapes from Tupungato Winelands in Gualtallary. It fermented in cement eggs with some stems and with 50% of the wine kept in contact with skins for some three to four months, then pressed and put back in the eggs to complete its élevage, which lasted some nine months. It shows a mixture of herbal and candied berry aromas, hints of beef blood and iron. The absence of oak shows the naked tannins and provides an earthy side, which to me is very much the wild character of Gualtallary. 6,000 bottles were filled in December 2015 (it was harvested in March).”
This was the lowest listed price in the USA today,
Now it’s even lower!
See more super deals on sale now through the end of April at the bottom of this newsletter!
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Arriving Tomorrow
Gallo Winery Winemaker’s Signature Series Chardonnay, Russian River Valley 2012 750ML ($29.95) $24 pre-arrival special
Robert Parker 93 points “The Signature Series 2012 Chardonnay Russian River comes across like a French Bâtard-Montrachet. This was aged 14 months in French oak, of which 70% was new, the wine underwent 100% malolactic, and has much higher alcohol at 14.6%. Notes of hazlenut, buttery popcorn, caramelized citrus, honeysuckle, peach and a touch of pineapple are followed by a full-bodied, pure, impressive wine to drink over the next 5-7 years.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $28
Louis M. Martini Lot No. 1 Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2013 750ML ($299.95) $269 pre-arrival special
Robert Parker 100 points “A perfect wine, that seems to have gone from one strength to another since I first tasted it, the 100% Cabernet Sauvignon 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Lot 1 is absolutely amazing wine. It was aged 21 months in 87% new French oak, finished at 15.3% alcohol and was another abundant vintage, as this lot produced 850 cases, which is even more than 2012 and slightly less than 2003 and 2014. The wine has an inky purple color, a gorgeous nose of graphite, blueberry liqueur intermixed with cassis, blackberry, espresso roast, chocolate and graphite. Dense and incredibly intense with good acidity (slightly lower pH than the 2012, reflected in the character of the wine), fabulous purity and a finish that goes on for close to 50+ seconds. This could well turn out to be the greatest wine ever made at the Louis Martini Winery and that is saying something. It has at least 30-50+ years of aging potential and is clearly a compelling effort from this historic and iconic winery in Napa.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $295.95
Louis M. Martini Monte Rosso Vineyard Gnarly Vine Zinfandel, Sonoma Valley 2014 750ML ($54.95) $41.90 pre-arrival special
Robert Parker 95 points “Another fabulous wine, although there’s not much of it, is the 2014 Zinfandel Gnarly Vine Monte Rosso Vineyard from this fabulous first-growth vineyard in Sonoma. This is a blend of 97% Zinfandel and 3% Petite Sirah aged in 66% new French oak, 16% new American oak and the rest used. Only 500 cases were made of this whopper, which is full-bodied, has great intensity with a stunning nose of black fruits, pepper, Mediterranean herbs and spice. Good natural acidity gives focus and vibrancy to this wine that comes from vines as old as 120 years. This is a full-bodied classic Zinfandel at its very best, from one of the great vineyards in California. Finished alcohol is 16.2%, so this is a heck of a mouthful.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $51
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The Glory of 2013 Barolo
Offers are trickling in from Piedmont for the out-of-this world vintage – and the wines are selling out! Below are just a few of many more to come.
Here’s your quick recap on arrivals, visit our web store to read full reviews & shop online!
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April Sales Recap
Thank you for reading!