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In Today’s Newsletter:
Emmanuel Darnaud: New Arrivals
May Sale Ends This Week:
Top Picks for the Final Four Days!
New to Our June Sale
Corison: New Praise for the Stunning 2014
Staff Pick
Philippe Pacalet
#Trending
Andre Clouet: Go-To Bubbles
Update: 2013 Produttori Crus
May Sale Special Focus:
Cavallotto
Burlotto 2014
William Fevre Chablis
Featured New Arrivals
Emmanuel Darnaud
A passionate advocate for terroir-specific wines, Emmanuel Darnaud has been crafting robust reds from individual parcels in the northern Rhone since 2001. His six parcels are spread over 15 hectares, where the grapes are hand harvested. Each is vinified separately with differing oak aging and maturation practices depending upon the wine. No matter which bottling, though, he manages to bring the best of the site to the wine.
Last year, Emanuel Darnaud’s wines were one of the best surprises. This small producer made spectacular Crozes-Hermitage wines, which were some of the best deals in red while they were in stock. From top to bottom, the Darnaud wines over performed, with density, power and drinkability. They are Syrah with soul and immediate appeal.
New Arrivals from Emmanuel Darnaud:
Emmanuel Darnaud Saint Joseph La Dardouille, Rhone 2016 750ML ($49.95) $39 special
Emmanuel Darnaud Saint Joseph La Dardouille, Rhone 2016 1.5L ($99.95) $89 special
15-16/20 La Revue du Vin de France “[Translated] The 80-year-old vines offer a wine with some bite. The nose gives an impression of granite and pencil lead. The grippy tannins are reminiscent of Nebbiolo.”
Emmanuel Darnaud Crozes-Hermitage Au Fil du Temps, Rhone 2016 1.5L ($99.95) $89 special
Winery note “Nose: Delicate and subtle. Aromas of blackberry and licorice stick. An impression of wet stones. Mouth: The entry shows a great freshness. The tannins are velvety and offer a voluminous and racy mid-palate. This wine offers great harmony and will need a few years to reveal its full potential.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Jeb Dunnuck 95+ points “Slightly fresher than the La Roquete release (I always taste this cuvee after the la Roquete which is also made by the Brunier family), the 2016 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc gives up lots of lemon and grapefruit characteristics as well as a terrific, salty minerality that makes you salivate. Medium to full-bodied, tight, fresh and clean, it needs 2-3 years of bottle age and will singe for 2 decades or more. As with the 2015, it’s a candidate for the finest white made at this estate.”
Wine Spectator 95 points “Ripe and rich, but focused, with verbena, bitter almond and wet stone notes threading through the core of creamed yellow apple, pear and melon flavors. Very long, with a gorgeous salted butter echo. Drink now through 2020.”JM
The average price is $70
Wine Advocate 98+ points “The star of the show in 2013 is the 2013 Ermitage le Pavillon. Coming from the west and eastern edges of the Bessards lieu-dit and aged in 30% new French oak, its sensational black/blue color is followed by the awesome bouquet of cassis, smoked earth, graphite and caramelized meats that could come from no other terroir in the world. Full-bodied, massive, dense, sexy and with a liquid rock-like character that comes out with time in the glass, it has sweet tannin and a blockbuster finish that keeps you coming back to the glass. It needs 5-6 years of cellaring and will have 30-40 years of more of ultimate longevity.”
The next best price is 10% higher at $209
The average price is over 50% higher at $330!!Want to see more options?
Check out our special focus on Cavallotto at the bottom of this newsletter!
New to Our June Sale
Burghound 94-97 points “A dazzlingly complex, perfumed and pure nose reveals a bit of wood influence yet remains strikingly elegant with its superb scope of spicy red berry fruit aromas that are followed by ripe, seductive and beautifully intense flavors that display marvelous depth and perfect balance on the sappy and naturally sweet finish of monumental length. This is a wine of indisputable class and a model of grace and understatement that should age effortlessly for 20 to 30 years.”
The next best price is $2,450
Antonio Galloni – Vinous 93+ points “The 2013 Barolo Castiglione is rich, powerful and intense, especially for what is the estate’s entry-level Barolo. Dark cherry, plum, spice, new leather and menthol are all used together. Intense and voluptuous, the Castiglione shows the richer, more intense side of the vintage. Time in the glass helps release the aromatics and the brighter side of Nebbiolo. Quite simply, the 2013 is a super Barolo Castiglione that is starting to close the qualitative gap with the single vineyard Barolos.”
Monica Larner – Wine Advocate 93+ points “The 2013 Barolo Castiglione is a terrific success story. This is the estate’s bread and butter Barolo. Fruit is sourced throughout the Castiglione Falletto township. The wine is consistent and steady, offering amazing value and quality with each new release. The nose is generous and full. It imparts fresh fruit and dark cherry aromas with tar, smoke and licorice at the back. Evident structure gives the wine a firm backbone and will carry it through the next decade of cellar aging.”
The average price is $51
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.”
The average price is $249
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.”
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.”
Corison Cabernet
New Praise for the Stunning 2014
“…it’s a thrilling Cabernet Sauvignon. This [is] a wine that expresses the true greatness of Napa Valley. It’s honest and delivers a world class performance…”
Corison Cabernet Sauvignon St Helena, Napa Valley 2014 750ML ($119.95) $95 special, 11 bottles in stock now
Grapelive 97 points “Cathy Corison’s historic run continues with her 2014 Cabernets, and while the 2012 and 2013 versions were absolutely amazing wines, I must admit this 2014 St. Helena Napa Valley might be my all-time favorite. It is a stunning wine without a single flaw I can detect. Winegrower Cathy Corison, the first woman winemaker/winery owner in Napa Valley, produces an artisan crafted, age-worthy Cabernet Sauvignon that is terroir driven in the same way you’d think of the top Pauillac Bordeaux(s). [She is sourcing from] great benchland vineyards between Rutherford and St. Helena, as well as growing her estate grapes for her Kronos and Sunbasket with organic practices. These are wines of depth and energy that have very few rivals. It’s been a top producer since 1987, with the Corison Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon being sourced continuously from three benchland vineyards near the winery set on classic Bale gravelly loam with plenty of Rutherford dust, gravel and cobbles that allows for good drainage and aiding in ripening of grapes. Cathy works hard to achieve full ripeness without high sugars to promote lower natural alcohols and more life in these deeply flavored wines. Cathy’s winemaking is largely non-interventionist in style. She has always leaned toward the natural and her wines always show each vintage individually. She handles the grapes with extreme care and this Napa Cabernet saw a full 20 months of barrique aging, impressive for its purity and freshness. This 2014 is just awakening in the bottle, but is remarkably balanced and joyful in its youth, though don’t be fooled this is a wine for the ages and is built to go 25 years at least with deep powerful fruit, solid tannins and vibrant acidity that explodes every detail on the palate. Layers of blackberry, marionberry, cassis/currant, plum and kirsch fruit core elements on the full bodied palate along with a surprising mineral note, sweet tobacco leaf, acacia/violet floral tones, a touch of smoky vanilla, sage, cedar and minty anise. Certainly less opulent and juicy than the 2013, I think this 2014 (which is like 1992 meets 2001) is even more captivating, complex and serious. It’s a thrilling Cabernet Sauvignon. This [is] a wine that expresses the true greatness of Napa Valley. It’s honest and delivers a world class performance. It’s one of my top five Cabs of the vintage, maybe even in the top two so far with Ridge’s Monte Bello! This gorgeous black/purple and garnet stuff feels built and dense with an underlying grace. Drink between 2021 to 2030, though it will be so hard to keep from opening it sooner. If you do, be sure to decant and have with robust simple cuisine.”
I first encountered the Barbarescos from Punset at a mass tasting of Piedmont wines. Of the hundred or so on hand, her ’06 Reserva stood out for its unapologetic classicism. Tightly wound tannins enveloped a core of red cherries, dark minerality and dried orange peel. No notes of new oak or over-extraction to hide behind. I was excited to try a release with more age to it. Though still quite young, the ’04 Campo Quadro from the San Cristoforo vineyard had a similar rustic feel with a greater depth and complexity. 13 years after the vintage, this is beginning to show wisps of old leather and wild mushrooms (Black Trumpets, perhaps?). It opens with aromas of crushed black raspberries, allspice and autumn leaves. The mature notes of leather and mushrooms show on the palate beneath a bright acidity and fine, grippy tannins alongside a charming note of violets and loam. The wine paired beautifully with lightly spiced lamb stew after sitting in my decanter for an hour or two. Drink now with a hearty meal or cellar another 5-10 years.Punset Campo Quadro, Barbaresco DOCG 2004 750ML ($69.95) $59 special
Case-6 Punset Campo Quadro, Barbaresco DOCG 2004 750ML ($399.95) $339 special (that’s only $56.50/bottle!)
Monica Larner – Wine Advocate 95 points “Going back one more year, the 2004 Barbaresco Campo Quadro opens with a lean, garnet color and pretty aromas of old spice and dried berry fruit. The wine is streamlined and thin in texture, but the tannins are still very present at the back. Aging-wise, the wine is on its way. But it’s not quite there yet. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2025. In the 1980s, after graduating from high school, Marina Marcarino bet her father that she could run the family winery in Barbaresco at a profit. He gave her one year to try. If she won, she could take over management. If she lost, she’d enroll in civil engineering classes at the local university. After a grueling 12 months, she closed her accounting books with a profit of less than 100 Euros, or 100,000 Lira at the time. But she won the wager and became the first female vintner in the Langhe. [Tasted Jun 2013]”
Philippe Pacalet
Philippe Pacalet makes transcendent wines. They’re wines that are made naturally but are so good that they appeal to any and all lovers of Burgundy with their purity, grace and intensity. The nephew of Marcel Lapierre, one of the fathers of the Natural Wine Movement, he’s taken everything he learned from his uncle in Beaujolais and applied it to the hallowed vineyards of Burgundy, producing wines that are expressive, terroir driven masterpieces.
Pacalet makes wine from vineyards up and down Burgundy (and now even down to the Northern Rhone) all farmed to his exacting organic specifications. When the beautifully farmed grapes arrive at the winery, he handles them as you’d hope—minimally. The reds ferment whole-cluster, and both red and white wines are unfiltered, unfined, unsulfured, and not racked during elevage.
The result is a set of wines that every Burgundy lover needs to try. As with most top producers, prices are high and quantities are small, but the product in the bottle always represents excellent value for the appellations represented. These are vinous treasures that deserve to be in every oenophile’s cellar.
In Stock Now from Philippe Pacalet:
Philippe Pacalet Moulin-a-Vent, Beaujolais 2015 750ML ($69.95) $59 special, 21 bottles in stock now
Burghound 92 points “A distinctly earthy and peppery nose combines ripe purple fruit and black cherry aromas. There is excellent volume and richness to the concentrated middle weight flavors that possess first-rate complexity on the firmly structured and impressively persistent finish. This fine effort is built-to-age and will certainly need at least a few years first.”
The average price is $63
Philippe Pacalet Chassagne-Montrachet, Cote de Beaune 2014 750ML ($89.95) $79 special, 6 bottles in stock now
Burghound 89 points “Outstanding. A restrained nose displays notes of rosemary resin, petrol and mostly white orchard fruit aromas that are cut with subtle lemon rind nuances. There is again fine richness and volume to the seductively textured medium-bodied flavors that also culminate in a clean, dry and lightly saline finale. This is worth a look.”
The next best price is $99.99
Philippe Pacalet Puligny-Montrachet, Cote de Beaune 2014 750ML ($119.95) $99 special, 4 bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 94 points “This is sappy, evoking nut oil, white flowers, lemon oil, peach and sweet spices. Harmonious and long, with a terrific aftertaste of citrus oil, spice and mineral. Delivers amazing texture and length. Drink now through 2027.”
The average price is $113
Philippe Pacalet Gevrey-Chambertin, Cote de Nuits 2015 750ML ($99.95) $79 special, 4 bottles in stock now
Burghound 89-92 points “This is also exuberantly fresh with its assortment of red currant, plum, and violet aromas that are liberally interwoven with notes of forest floor and earth. While there is more volume and concentration to the medium-bodied flavors it remains wonderfully vibrant with ample minerality to the mouth coating, powerful and moderately firm finish. This is an excellent Gevrey villages and highly recommended.”
Wine Spectator 91 points “A smoky, toasty layer of oak covers cherry, earth and tobacco flavors in this dense red. Both fluid and firmly structured, with an extended, mouthwatering finish. Not showing a lot of flesh now, but should repay after a few years in the cellar. Best from 2021 through 2033. 950 cases made.”
The average price is $92
Philippe Pacalet Pernand-Vergelesses Les Belles Filles, Cote de Beaune 2015 750ML ($59.95) $52.50 special, 21 bottles in stock now
Philippe Pacalet Aux Argillas, Nuits-Saint-Georges Premier Cru 2015 750ML ($149.95) $119 special, 5 bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 94 points “This is spicy, sporting cinnamon, clove and cardamom aromas over rose, cherry and toasty oak notes. Features a light vegetal element in the best sense. Supple, yet vibrant and firm, with a long, spicy finish. Best from 2022 through 2035. 160 cases made.”
Philippe Pacalet Ruchottes-Chambertin Grand Cru, Cote de Nuits 2015 750ML ($419.95) $369 special, 2 bottles in stock now
Burghound 92-95 points “A conspicuously spicy, floral and sauvage-inflected nose displays a notably ripe yet wonderfully fresh combination of red currant and dark raspberries. The rich, intense, sleekly muscular and overtly mineral-driven flavors culminate in a youthfully austere, backward and hugely long finish. This is very Gevrey in style and be aware that this will need extended cellaring as it’s definitely very firmly structured.”
The next best price is $389
Philippe Pacalet Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru, Cotes de Nuits 2014 750ML ($319.95) $279 special, 3 bottles in stock now
“The Clos de Vougeot is another new terroir in the Pacalet lineup. The bouquet offer a quite classic expression of the weighty terroir – combined with the organic style of Maison Pacalet. The weighty red and dark fruit in the nose integrates well with the expressive and spicy style offering cinnamon, violets and allspice. On the palate same story … the lightfooted and energetic style really presents the virtues of Clos de Vougeot. The rather dense fruit of the terroir becomes almost energetic in the hands of Pacalet … and unfolds into a vibrant version of this famous wine. While this is a quite forward wine … the tannins suggest that it’s build for cellaring .. so best to keep for a decade or so.”–Steen Ohman, winehog.org
The next best price is $329
Philippe Pacalet Echezeaux Grand Cru, Cote de Nuits 2014 750ML ($319.95) $279 special, 4 bottles in stock now
“The Echezeaux 2014 from Pacalet is very forward compared with the same wine in the previous vintages.. The bouquet offer expressive organic red berry fruit – with lovely spicy notes of violets and peony rose. On the palate layers of airy red berry fruit – forward and quite openly knit. It’s not a powerful wine, but it has a lovely energy and intensity from the juicy fruit and the expression of terroir. A fine Echezeaux in the making.”–Steen Ohman, winehog.org
The next best price is $399.99
#Trending
Quinta do Ameal Loureiro, Vinho Verde 2015 750ML ($24.95) $18 special
Case-12 Quinta do Ameal Loureiro, Vinho Verde 2015 750ML ($279.95) $199 special (that’s only $16.58/bottle!)
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.”
Vieux Chateau Mazerat, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru 2010 750ML ($119.95) $75 special
Robert Parker 95+ points “This is one of the tightest, most backward wines in the Jonathan Malthus portfolio. The grapes come from an old-vine parcel near Angelus and Beausejour-Duffau, and the final product is a blend of 65% Merlot and 35% Cabernet Franc. Again displaying plenty of minerality, which seems to be a prevailing theme throughout the 2010s from Malthus, the 2010 Vieux Chateau Mazerat is full-bodied, with an abundance of floral notes as well as black currant and blackberry fruit. Impressively endowed and built like a skyscraper, this full-bodied wine needs a good 7-8 years of cellaring and should keep for 25-30 years. Interestingly, the vines were planted in 1947.”
The average price is $89
Caparzo Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Tuscany 2013 750ML ($44.95) $36 special
Wine Spectator 95 points “This cuts more of a broad swath than its peers, yet remains graveful, evoking strawberry, cherry, tobacco and stony mineral flavors. Long and dense in structure, with a tobacco- and under-brush-tinged finish. Best from 2021 through 2033.”
Celler Cecilio Black Slate Gratallops, Priorat DOCa 2015 750ML ($21.95) $18 special
Wine Advocate 90 points “The Black Slate series wines are produced by different producers from different villages of Priorat for US importer Eric Solomon, as is the case of the 2015 Black Slate Gratallops from Celler Cecilio. They want to show the character of the Priorat grapes in the different villages. It’s a blend of Cariñena, Garnacha and Syrah from (guess what?) slate soils that fermented separately with indigenous yeasts and with 20% of the volume being raised in oak barrels for some eight or nine months. I noticed the Syrah here, combined with classical Gratallops sweet Garnacha and a pinch of spices. The palate is medium-bodied, with the fine slate texture, generous, warm and showy, but without excess, with the graphite holding it together. This is a Gratallops Vi de Villa.”
Andre Clouet
Go-To
Budget-Friendly
Crowd-Pleasing
Bubbles
Andre Clouet is a Champagne house known for many things, chief among them being some of the best values in the appellation. The wines they’re making are fantastic, from their base non-vintage blend all the way through the prestige cuvee.
In Stock Now from Andre Clouet
Andre Clouet Grande Reserve Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($47.95) $33 special, 23 bottles in stock now
Andre Clouet Grande Reserve Brut, Champagne NV 3L ($319.95) $269 special, 6 jeroboams in stock now
Antonio Galloni 90 points “The NV Brut Grande Reserve emerges from the glass with layers of hazelnut, pear, spice and dried flower aromas. This rich, creamy wine impresses for its balance and sheer richness. I loved it.” AG
Andre Clouet Silver Grand Cru Blanc de Noirs Brut Nature, Champagne NV 750ML ($47.95) $33 special, 28 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni 91 points “The NV Brut Nature Silver is naturally a very focused, driven wine given the no-dosage style. This shows wonderful nuance and depth all the way through to the long finish, with bright aromas and flavors but less of the toastiness than some of the house’s other wines. The mousse and finish are both utterly impeccable in their elegance.” AG
Andre Clouet Brut Millesime, Champagne 2008 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 29 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni 92 points “Clouet’s 2008 Brut Millesime shows quite a bit more tension and focus than the 2007, hardly a surprise given then personality of the vintage. Bright, saline notes frame expressive red fruits, flowers and sweet spices. The 2008 Brut is a gorgeous wine with plenty of appeal today, but it will also develop beautifully in bottle. Stylistically it is less overt than the 2007 but places more emphasis on length. Brut Millesime is mostly Pinot, with 30-40% Chardonnay.” AG
Andre Clouet Dream Vintage Brut, Champagne 2002 750ML ($79.95) $69 special, 8 bottles in stock now
100% Chardonnay, bottled one year after harvest. Disgorged on order.
Update: 2013 Produttori Crus
In Stock Now
Produttori del Barbaresco Montestefano, Barbaresco Riserva DOCG 2013 1.5L ($179.95) $149 special, 17 bottles in stock now
Case-12 Produttori del Barbaresco Montestefano, Barbaresco Riserva DOCG 2013 750ML ($799.95) $699 special, 2 cases in stock now (that’s only $58.25/bottle!)
Wine Spectator 96 points “This is full-bodied, displaying cherry, licorice, wild herb, iron and tobacco notes. The dense tannins take over and dominate the finish now, despite this remaining fresh and long. Full-bodied and minerally. Best from 2025 through 2040.”Produttori del Barbaresco Muncagota, Barbaresco Riserva DOCG 2013 750ML ($79.95) $59 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-12 Produttori del Barbaresco Muncagota, Barbaresco Riserva 2013 750ML ($669.95) $599 special, 5 cases in stock now (that’s only $49.91/bottle!)
Wine Spectator 94 points “Powerful yet underlined by racy acidity, driving the black cherry, black currant and mineral flavors. Menthol and tobacco notes add depth, keeping this intense. All the components are here, yet this will need time to really sing. Best from 2024 through 2040.”
Produttori del Barbaresco Ovello, Barbaresco Riserva DOCG 2013 1.5L ($179.95) $149 special, 18 magnums in stock now
Wine Spectator 95 points “This red starts out with bright cherry, strawberry, rose and mineral flavors, allied to a refined, linear frame. Harmonious now and should be ready soon, but the vivid structure will serve it well into the future. Best from 2023 through 2037.”
Produttori del Barbaresco Paje, Barbaresco Riserva DOCG 2013 750ML ($79.95) $69 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 94 points “Cherry, floral and wild herb aromas and flavors are the hallmarks of this elegant, tensile red. Silky, yet with plenty of tannins underneath, giving overall balance and length. Shows lovely freshness. Best from 2023 through 2036.”
Produttori del Barbaresco Pora, Barbaresco Riserva DOCG 2013 750ML ($79.95) $59 special, 34 bottles in stock now
Case-12 Produttori del Barbaresco Pora, Barbaresco Riserva DOCG 2013 750ML ($699.95) $599 special, 4 cases in stock now (that’s only $49.91/bottle!)
Wine Spectator 95 points “A rich, cherry- and floral-scented red, effusive in aroma, with the core of cherry prevailing on the palate. Though fleshy, this gives way to firm tannins that line the lingering aftertaste. Inviting and full of energy, so decant now or wait. Best from 2023 through 2035.”
Produttori del Barbaresco Rabaja, Barbaresco Riserva DOCG 2013 1.5L ($199.95) $179 special, 8 magnums in stock now
Wine Spectator 96 points “Fruity, featuring floral, cherry and plum flavors, along with savory leather, licorice and tobacco notes. A chewy texture and lively acidity keep this well-defined through the long finish. Complex and classy. Best from 2023 through 2038.”
Produttori del Barbaresco Rio Sordo, Barbaresco Riserva DOCG 2013 750ML ($79.95) $59 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 94 points “This is supple and full of cherry and berry flavors, focused by vibrant acidity. Firm tannins follow up, yet this remains elegant and really stretches out on the long aftertaste. Best from 2023 through 2036.”
Arriving Tomorrow:
Produttori del Barbaresco Montefico, Barbaresco Riserva DOCG 2013 750ML ($99.95) $79 pre-arrival special
Wine Enthusiast – Cellar Selection 97 points “Still young but already boasting extraordinary pedigree, this fantastic wine opens with hallmark scents of wild berry, new leather, chopped herb, tilled soil and a whiff of violet. The polished, full-bodied palate delivers juicy wild cherry, crushed raspberry, white pepper and licorice while youthfully assertive, noble tannins and bright acidity provide age-worthy structure. A pipe tobacco note lingers on the finish. Drink 2023–2038.”
Antonio Galloni 96+ points “The Barbaresco Riserva Montefico shows all the energy and focus that is typical of this great site, but there is so much depth to the fruit that some of the more angular contours have been softened. Bright saline-infused notes lead to wild flowers and an exotic melange of red fruits in this beautifully delineated, vivid Barbaresco. All the elements are simply in the right place.”
Wine Spectator 95 points “This beefy red evokes cherry, licorice, herb, mineral and tobacco aromas and flavors. Rich and densely structured, with iron, tobacco and cherry notes lingering on the long finish. Best from 2023 through 2035.”
May Sale Special Focus:
“Cavallotto may very well be the greatest Barolo producer few people have ever heard of, something that continues to mystify me. Truth is, it isn’t just the Barolos here that are impressive, the entry-level wines are every bit as delicious and well-priced…Readers who appreciate a firm, classic style of Barolo will want to spend some time getting to know Cavallotto.” – Antonio Galloni
Cavallotto is a top tier, old school producer of Barolo. They make wines that are impressively ageworthy and every bit as good as producers whose wines go for 50%-100% more per bottle than the top wines from Cavallotto, but somehow manage to stay at the edges of the mainstream Barolo drinker. We notice that our customers who buy Cavallotto buy a lot of Piemontese wines—they’re very in the know drinkers.
These are incredibly expressive wines and are very true to their vineyard terroirs. Antoni Galloni describes them as “made in a style that offers the fruit density of contemporary Barolos with the structural underpinnings that are found in more traditionally made wines.”
We agree—these are special wines and deserve a (major) place in your cellar.
But act quickly because the May Sale ends in four days!
Cavallotto Bricco Boschis, Barolo DOCG 2013 750ML ($89.95) Was $66, Now $59 Clearance Price
Monica Larner – Wine Advocate 96+ points “Cavallotto is on a roll with some very impressive new releases. The 2013 Barolo Bricco Boschis is a tremendous effort that has an edge on the excellent 2010 vintage in my view. The wine shows a beautifully exuberant but elegant bouquet with the ethereal and undertone fruit and spice aromas you get with Nebbiolo. Although the wine is never overdone, it does show silky persistence and a long finish that comes from the noble nature of the tannins and the wine’s textural finesse. Yet, it is playfully deceiving in a way because behind that polished grace, it delivers impressive depth and power.”
Wine Spectator 94 points “This is packed with sweet cherry, currant, floral and spice flavors. The vivid acidity drives the intensity, while dense tannins lend support. This will take some time to harmonize, but should be well worth the wait. Best from 2022 through 2040.”
Antonio Galloni 92 points “The 2013 Barolo Bricco Boschis is terrific. Dense and powerful in the glass, the 2013 offers notable energy and muscle in its dark-toned Nebbiolo flavors. Smoke, graphite, rose petal, licorice and menthol develop in what is a decidedly brooding, inward Bricco Boschis. There is real staying power and persistence to the 2013. I wouldn’t plan on touching a bottle anytime soon.”
The average price nationally is $72
Monica Larner – Wine Advocate 95 points “The Cavallotto 2011 Barolo Riserva Bricco Boschis Vigna San Giuseppe is an exceptional wine that really shows the best of Castiglione Falletto, home to some of Barolo’s most consistent and age-worthy wines. This bottle offers enormous complexity coupled by power and linear, classic lines. Maceration stopped at 20 days, otherwise the winemaking team feared the results would be overdone and too bold. The bouquet opens quickly to reveal dark fruit, spice, anise seed and licorice. The effect is ethereal and lasting. It would be hard to pin this wine down as being from the warm 2011 vintage in a blind tasting. The acidity is fresh and nicely folded into the background.”
Wine Spectator 94 points “Balanced and expressive, this Barolo features maturing aromas and flavors of cherry, licorice, tobacco and mineral. Builds to a long, detailed aftertaste. Altogether savory and fresh. Best from 2020 through 2033.”
Antonio Galloni 92 points “Cavallotto’s 2011 Barolo Riserva Bricco Boschis Vigna San Giuseppe is powerful and dense. The more roasted, ripe side of the year is very much in evidence. There is no shortage of richness to the black cherry, smoke, tobacco, menthol and licorice flavors. At times, though, the 2011 comes across as a bit heavy. I would have liked to see a little more freshness, although, admittedly, that was hard to come by in 2011.”
The average price is $104
Antonio Galloni 94 points “A dark, powerful wine, the 2011 Barolo Riserva Vignolo has nevertheless preserved good freshness for the year. The breadth and amplitude of the vintage comes through, and yet all the elements are impeccably balanced. Readers can look forward to another 20 years of fine drinking. This is very nicely done.”
Wine Spectator 94 points “There are plenty of bass notes in this ripe, broad red, from deep plum and black cherry flavors to licorice and tar notes. An undercurrent of freshness propels the underbrush elements on the finish. Complex and long. Best from 2021 through 2035.”
Monica Larner – Wine Advocate 93 points “2011 Barolo Riserva Vignolo is a dark and succulent expression that showcases the characteristics of the warm vintage. The bouquet puts forth a compelling set of dark fruit characteristics with Morello cherry, dried blackberry, mocha and delicate accents of sweet spice. The vineyard team was careful to keep the clusters under the shade of the canopy for as long as possible during the summer months to prevent the grapes from ripening too fast or bleaching their color pigments. The results are very nice indeed.”
The average price is $101Want to see all the May Clearance Sale wines?
G. B. Burlotto Barolo DOCG, Piedmont 2014 375ML ($34.95) $28 pre-arrival special
Antonio Galloni 91 points “Burlotto’s 2014 Barolo is delicate, gracious and very pretty. Floral and supremely inviting, it is a fabulous wine for the year, and the midweight, perfumed style of the vintage comes through loud and clear. In 2014, Burlotto did not make their Barolo Acclivi. Instead, all of the wine that would have gone into that blend went into this, the entry-level bottling, which is a testament to Fabio Alessandria’s commitment to delivering not just quality but also value among his more affordable wines.”
This is the only listing in the USA today for the half-bottle!
William Fevre Chablis
Modern Classics
The Domaine William Fevre was born of a force of will in 1959, when William declared his first vintage; this, in a region where winemaking families stretch for centuries, not just decades. The purchase of land seemed to be first and foremost in their mission, acquiring a whopping 78 hectares over 90 separate parcels. The access to this much fruit, in one of the priciest AOC in France, gives Fevre a leg up in making some of the most iconic Chablis available today.
The wines, from Petit Chablis up to Grand Cru, are marked by their chalky, smoky intensity. A character branded into the vineyards by Kimmeridgian soil, clay and sea floor sediment; a strata that reaches from Chablis, through Champagne and out to the Loire. The acidity is preserved by a growing zone at the edge of being too cool, yet this has been challenged with warmer vintages creeping in more recently. How does a winery that rests its very brand upon a hallmark style change with the climate? Diversify and reinvent Chablis, bien sur. Play with ripeness and judiciously incorporate more oak regime into the mix, but make certain that the heart of Chablis is preserved. Some purists cry foul; Fevre just keeps on its course.
Domaine William Fevre Wines Arriving in July:
William Fevre Chablis, Burgundy 2016 750ML ($31.95) $26 pre-arrival special
Stephen Tanzer 88-90 points “(just 18 hectoliters per hectare produced): Hazy medium yellow. At once more fruity and more exotic than the Champs Royaux, offering scents of orange zest, lemon, mango and lichee. Fat, round, rather large-scaled wine with serious volume for a village offering, but kept fresh by a streak of limey acidity. Finishes with noteworthy persistence. This will be good in six months but needs time to knit.”
Burghound 88-90 points “A ripe and fresh nose offers up notes of iodine, oyster shell, mineral reduction, pear and plenty of citrus influence. There is fine density to the concentrated and sappy flavors that possess fine volume while delivering very good length and solid depth. Good stuff and worth a look.”
Stephen Tanzer 92-94 points “(50% fermented in oak; from a yield of 35 hectoliters per hectare): Pale green-tinged yellow. Wonderfully expressive, pungent, classic Kimmeridgian nose offers scents of lime, grilled almond and iodiney minerality. Round, plush and seamless on the palate, with its juicy citrus fruit and ginger flavors lifted by minerality. This silky, sedate, rich wine has no corners and seems almost too easy and expressive today for grand cru. But it also has the stuffing and balance to age, and a finishing element of brown spices provides lift.”
The next best price is $105
Burghound 96 points “Once again, based on the nose alone, this could be nothing else but Chablis with its mélange of tidal pool, mineral reduction, citrus blossom and discreet spice nuances. There is fantastic detail to the focused, mineral-driven and powerful middle weight plus flavors that do a slow build from the mid-palate all the way back to the explosively long, balanced and bone dry finish. This appears to be drawn directly from liquid Kimmeridgian and should also amply reward longer-term cellaring. In a word, brilliant.”
Stephen Tanzer 95 points “Very pale yellow. Very ripe but vibrant nose combines lime, spices, white pepper, crushed rock and liquid minerals. Delivers a saline, sappy combination of rich peachy fruit and floral/mineral lift, with a remarkably weightless quality. The chewy, saline, bone-dry finish reinforced by minerality conveys a powerful impression of dry extract and Kimmeridgian soil. Really inexorable on the back end.”Domaine William Fevre Chablis Grand Cru Bougros Cotes Bouguerots 2016 750ML ($149.95) $128 pre-arrival special
Stephen Tanzer 93-95 points “Very pale green-tinged yellow. Classic Chablis scents and flavors of white peach, ginger, oyster shell, iodine and flint. Highly concentrated, tactile wine offering an impression of strong dry extract and a compelling combination of pliancy and energy. A very powerful, structured Chablis with a long, chewy, saline finish. Really saturates the palate without leaving any impression of weightiness. Offers splendid potential.”
Burghound 92-94 points “A super-fresh, cool and admirably pure nose exhibits notes of iodine, citrus, white rose petal, sea breeze and mineral reduction scents. Like several wines in the range I very much like the lovely texture of the energetic medium weight flavors that also possess fine concentration before terminating in an intensely saline-infused, balanced and wonderfully long finale.”
Domaine William Fevre Chablis Grand Cru Les Clos 2016 750ML ($179.95) $149 pre-arrival special
Stephen Tanzer 93-95 points (just 18 hectoliters per hectare produced owing to frost and mildew): Pale yellow. Lovely brisk citrus and apple aromas complicated by gingery spices, white pepper and iodiney minerality. Large-scaled, dense and quite powerful but not yet filled in, with its very concentrated peach and citrus flavors accented by ginger and white pepper. More glyceral in the early going than the Preuses but showing less personality today. This fruit was picked very ripe, with nearly 13% potential alcohol, according to Didier Séguier.
Burghound 92-95 points “An even more complex nose displays excellent Chablis typicity with its combination of citrus, white orchard fruit, sea breeze, mineral reduction and soft oyster shell nuances. The broad-shouldered flavors are rich and concentrated to the point of opulence while managing to retain reasonably good precision on the citrus and solidly dry finale that really fans out as it sits on the palate. This is one of the few 2016s that may need most of a decade to arrive at its peak. In a word, impressive.”
William Fevre Les Lys, Chablis Premier Cru 2015 750ML ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival special
Stephen Tanzer 91 points “Pale, green-tinged yellow. Fresh but reticent scents of lime peel and minerals. Pliant and dense, with intense flavors of lemon, lime zest and underripe pineapple currently dominated by salty, almost metallic minerality. This energetic wine is really stuffed with fruit and it maintains its density through a long finish.”
Stephen Tanzer 92-94 points “(23 hectoliters per hectare): Pale, slightly cloudy yellow. Strong mineral notes of shrimp shell and sea breeze currently dominate citrus and white peach on the nose. Densely packed, concentrated and energetic; wonderfully fresh and balanced for the year. Clamps down impressively on the superb, sappy, slowly rising finish, leaving behind piquant notes of grapefruit, lemon zest and minerals. Classically dry, crystalline and taut but not austere. This beauty really spreads out to saturate the palate on the back end.”Domaine William Fevre Chablis Grand Cru Preuses 2015 1.5L ($249.95) $219 pre-arrival special
Stephen Tanzer 94 points “Pale, bright yellow. More feminine on the nose than the Valmur, offering aromas of citrus fruits, pear and white flowers plus a soupçon of oak spice. Very silky, seamless and refined but also shows terrific intensity and floral lift. Harmonious acidity leavens the density of this wine, giving it an almost weightless impression in the mouth. Perfectly integrated and balanced from the start. The impressively long, rising finish features piquant notes of citrus peel, minerals and flowers. I’d give this fine-grained beauty a good five years in the cellar before pulling the cork.”
Burghound 93 points “Once again there is a subtle but not invisible application of wood setting off the more elegant aromas of green fruit, almond, citrus, floral, spice and quinine. The super-intense, delineated and vibrant middle weight plus flavors possess both good richness but also the hallmark refinement of a fine Preuses, all wrapped in a more complex and sneaky long finish. Lovely.”
Domaine William Fevre Chablis Grand Cru Preuses 2016 750ML ($149.95) $128 pre-arrival special
Stephen Tanzer 93-95 points “(22 hectoliters per hectare): Pungent but reticent nose hints at pineapple, peach, ginger, menthol and subtle crushed-stone minerality. Rich, spicy and sweet, with its ripe orchard fruit flavors leavened by a floral topnote. Very subtle, elegant yet extract-rich wine with terrific dusty length and lift. Ultimately dry and classic, this wine reverberates on the palate for a minute or more. Vincent Dauvissat’s Preuses is frequently the finest and most complete example of this grand cru but the William Fèvre version is often my #2 choice.”
Burghound 92-94 points “A pungent nose consists of a potent mix of fennel, oak, menthol, mineral reduction and essence of pear. There is excellent density and power to the medium weight plus flavors that still manage to come across as quite refined thanks to hugely long, balanced and sappy finish. This classy effort needs a few years to develop more depth but the material is present for that to happen.”
William Fevre Vaulorent, Chablis Premier Cru 2016 750ML ($89.95) $79 pre-arrival special
Stephen Tanzer 92-94 points “(all of William Fèvre’s vines in Fourchaume are situated in Vaulorent, where they’re the largest land owner; there’s usually a separate estate bottling labeled as Fourchaume but not in 2016): Pale green-tinged yellow. Musky, complex aromas of citrus fruits, spices, minerals and pepper. Ripe fruit notes are joined by a hint of exotic lichee, but the wine’s pliant texture is nicely supported by pepper, spices and minerals. This fairly large-scaled, savory wine boasts an exhilarating balance of sweetness and acidity. Finishes with explosive length and a strong impression of terroir. The crop level here was just 18 hectoliters per hectare and my notes say that this wine is at the same high level of quality as the Montée de Tonnerre.”
Burghound 91-93 points “Sweet Spot Outstanding! This could be from nowhere else but Chablis with its nose of oyster shell, iodine and strong mineral reduction aromas. The concentrated, mouth coating and serious flavors are at once muscular yet refined, all wrapped in an explosively long and well-balanced finish. As good as the Montée de Tonnerre is, and it’s very good, there is just a bit more overall depth present here.”
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