Featured New Arrivals: Il Marroneto; New Week – New Arrivals; May Sale Highlights; Beat the Heat With Our Trendiest White & Rosé Wines; Cordero di Montezemolo; Domaine de l’Edre; Molitor Madness: Arriving June 7th; Faiveley GC & Roulot Arriving June 7th & Late June; Rosenthal Goodies Arriving Late June; May Sale Recap
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Featured New Arrivals
Il Marroneto Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Tuscany 2012 750ML ($74.95) $64 special
Wine Advocate 96 points “Made strictly according to the Sangiovese playbook, the Il Marroneto 2012 Brunello di Montalcino shows that exacting Sangiovese precision and personality. This is Alessandro Mori’s greatest talent. He takes this workhorse grape and gives it a platform to articulate its most hidden and intricate inner feelings and sentiments. This is a bright and very tight red wine that will benefit from more years to flesh out further. All those budding aromas of wild berry, licorice, cola, and blue flower are strategically in place and ready to explode in time. The wine opens to a luminous dark ruby color and a compact mouthfeel that is spicy and fresh on the close. This is an impressive annata wine that shows the personal evolution of a man and his estate.”
Il Marroneto Madonna delle Grazie, Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2012 750ML ($219.95) $189 special
Wine Advocate 99 points “Alessandro Mori is the Sangiovese whisperer: l’uomo che sussurrava il Sangiovese. I need to say it in Italian, too, because it sounds so beautiful. The 2012 Brunello di Montalcino Madonna Delle Grazie is a phenomenal wine that speaks so highly of the potential of the mighty Tuscan grape, Sangiovese. This wine mirrors all the greatest attributes of the 100-point 2010 edition. Most significantly, it delivers profound purity and a most authentic varietal voice that sings both the high notes and the bass-baritone. First you have the wine’s dark ruby appearance that is brilliant and vibrant but beautifully concentrated. Then you have the multilayered bouquet that skillfully presents ethereal notes of wild berry and grilled herb on first nose. Those lighter tones lift gracefully to reveal substantial aromas of dark fruit, spice, tobacco and white truffle that form the wine’s lasting aromatic core. The mouthfeel is feather light in texture, but don’t underestimate its power or persistence. This is a true gem of Italian enology and sadly only 6,200 bottles were made.”
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New Week – New Arrivals
Oregon
Elk Cove Vineyards Pinot Gris, Willamette Valley 2016 750ML ($19.95) $16 special
Winery note “Golden straw in color, this fresh white wine approaches with aromas of Asian pear, honeydew melon and hints of lemon thyme and ginger. The palate bursts with star fruit, tangerine and apple pie mingling with notes of pithy lemon-peel and white tea.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $18.99
Cristom Paul Vineyard Rosé of Pinot Noir, Eola-Amity Hills 2016 750ML ($21.95) $18 special
Winery note “The 2016 Cristom Rosé of Pinot Noir is a single vineyard wine from Paul Vineyard, our newest planting and the vineyard named after my father. We began planting Paul Vineyard in 2014, and in 2016 we harvested the very first fruit. Young vine fruit is often in near-perfect balance, as the root structure, while still small, is in healthy correspondence with the small canopy above. The first fruit to come from young vines can be very bright and fruit forward, with fresh flavors like you’re eating at a fruit stand, and we sought to capture that bright fruit in the bottle with this intentional Rosé. When we say intentional, we mean that from the time of harvest and immediately in to the press, this Rosé was thoughtfully crafted from the beginning. It has an almost watermelon fruit profile, with really delicate aromatics and refreshing acidity. Just 156 cases of this wine was produced, and we are proud to share it with you first!”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $20
Cristom Marjorie Vineyard Pinot Noir, Eola-Amity Hills 2014 375ML ($37.95) $33 special
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 94 points “Vivid red. Sexy, intensely perfumed cherry, boysenberry and floral pastille scents are complemented by hints of cola, rhubarb and Asian spices. Palate-staining red and blue fruit and spicecake flavors convey power as well as vivacity thanks to a core of juicy acidity. The floral quality comes back strong on a strikingly long, sappy and focused finish that’s shaped by smooth tannins.”
James Suckling 93 points “Lovely richness and decadence to this on the nose with plum, chocolate and violet character plus hints of violets. Medium to full body, silky tannins and a savory finish. Hints of hazelnuts. Drink or hold.”
This is the only listing in the USA today for the 375ML!
California
We discovered these gems tucked away in our distributor’s book. They agreed to let us take these off their hands, so to speak, at an incredible value. They’ve just reached their peak drinking window, so go ahead and pop one open!
La Follette North Coast Pinot Noir, California 2010 750ML ($24.95) $14 special
Winery note “Winemaker Greg La Follette has spent years exploring Pinot Noir vineyards in the outer reaches of California’s North Coast wine region. This inaugural release captures the essence of Pinot Noir grown here: great acidity wrapped around vibrant red fruit tones of berry, cherry and cranberry. North Coast Pinot Noir offers great persistence on the palate without being aggressive or flabby. We get lovely balance and harmony from this fruit without any overripe or astringent tones.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
The average price for all other vintages is $19
La Follette Manchester Ridge Vineyard Pinot Noir, Mendocino Ridge 2009 750ML ($49.95) $24 special
Wine Spectator 92 points “Offers an impressive mix of ripe dark berry fruit, gingerbread and flowers, with a measure of elegance, finesse and dimension, gaining depth, range of flavor, detail and length. Drink now through 2019. 494 cases made.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today for any vintage!
La Follette Van der Kamp Vineyard Pinot Noir, Sonoma Mountain 2009 750ML ($49.95) $24 special
Wine Advocate 92+ points “The 2009 Pinot Noir Van Der Kamp Vineyard shows the deeper, wilder side of Pinot. Sweet herbs, tobacco, licorice and mint add complexity to the fruit in this highly expressive, singular wine. The Van Der Kamp stands out for its structured personality. There is less early appeal here, but no shortage of potential. Anticipated maturity: 2013-2019.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today for any vintage!
France – Champagne
Nicolas Maillart Brut Rose Grand Cru, Champagne NV 750ML ($71.95) $44 special
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 92 points “Pale orange. Deeply pitched scents of redcurrant, orange pith, musky rhubarb and buttered toast. Densely packed red berry flavors are underscored by a chalky mineral note and pick up a hint of white pepper as the wine opens up. This lithe rosé packs a serious punch, finishing with excellent cut and length and repeating minerality.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $55
France – Rosé
Pierre-Marie Chermette Domaine du Vissoux Les Griottes Rose, Beaujolais 2016 750ML ($17.95) $14 special
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 90 points “This Gamay offers bright aromatics along with ripe tangerine, strawberry, candied rose and succulent herb flavors. Fleshy and dry on the palate, the 2016 finishes long, smooth and broad, with a bracing jolt of juicy acidity extending the finish.”
Chateau Beaubois Costieres de Nimes Cuvee Expression Rose, Rhone 2016 750ML ($14.95) $11.90 special
60% Syrah, 30% Grenache, 10% Cinsault
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
France – Burgundy
Domaine Henri Naudin-Ferrand Bourgogne Hautes Cotes de Nuits 2013 750ML ($27.95) $18 special
Case-6 Domaine Henri Naudin-Ferrand Bourgogne Hautes Cotes de Nuits 2013 750ML ($119.95) $99 special (that’s only $16.50/bottle!)
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $28.99
Domaine Henri Naudin-Ferrand Les Damodes, Nuits-Saint-Georges Premier Cru 2013 750ML ($69.95) $39 special
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $59
Domaine Fourrier Gevrey-Chambertin Vieilles Vignes 2009 750ML ($199.95) $179 special
Antonio Galloni 92 points “The 2009 Gevrey-Chambertin floats on the palate in its finessed, well-articulated fruit. Subtle and ethereal through to the finish, the wine captures the essence and nobility of Gevrey. With time in the glass the fruit turns darker and the wine puts on weight, showing tons of pedigree and dazzling overall harmony.”
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 91 points “Good deep red. Musky aroma of raspberry, blueberry, smoke, crushed rock and game. At once sweet and taut, with an impression of lift and energy rare for the vintage. Really lovely fruit here. Fourrier told me he liked the effect of elevage in mostly older casks in 2009. “More new oak would have speeded up the evolution of the wines,” he explained. “That would have required using more sulfur dioxide but we still would have lost fruit.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
France – Bordeaux
Chateau Fleur Cardinale, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru 2008 750ML ($39.95) $29 special
Robert Parker 91 points “A sleeper of the vintage, this evolved, soft/silky, dark ruby/purple/plum-colored 2008 offers up scents of blue and red fruits, earth and flowers. Medium to full-bodied as well as round, generous and seductive, it is a pure, impeccably made, wonderfully concentrated, endearing wine to enjoy now and over the next 7-10 years.”
France – Beaujolais
Domaine de Charron – Quentin Harel Morgon Les Charmes 2015 750ML ($21.95) $19 special
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 91 points “Vivid purple. High-pitched red and blue fruit, violet and peppery spice scents show very good clarity and pick up a minerally nuance with air. Juicy, focused and light on its feet, offering zesty raspberry and boysenberry flavors that deepen steadily on the back half. Blends richness and vivacity with a deft hand and finishes very long and smooth, with subtle tannins framing lingering blue fruit and floral pastille notes.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Italy – Piedmont
Vietti Cascinetta, Moscato d’Asti DOCG 2016 750ML ($17.95) $14 special
Winery note “Pale sunshine yellow color and slight frizzante, this Moscato d’Asti has intense aromas of peaches, rose petals and ginger. On the palate it is delicately sweet and sparkling with modest acidity, good balance, good complexity and a finish of fresh apricots.”
Vietti Tre Vigne, Barbera d’Asti DOCG 2015 750ML ($21.95) $16 special
Winery note “Ruby purple color with ripe red cherry aromas with hints of mineral and vanilla. A dry, medium bodied red wine with refreshing acidity (making it perfect to pair with food) and soft tannins, the Barbera d’Asti Tre Vigne is well balanced with good integration of oak, good complexity and a finish of more red cherries.”
Cappellano Barolo Chinato, Piedmont NV 750ML ($89.95) $69 special
Antonio Galloni 93 points “Cappellano’s Barolo Chinato, which is more on the savory side of things, is a personal favorite.”
Importer note “Giovanni [grandfather to the current owner]’s brother, Giuseppe, was a pharmacist who created the family formula for their famous (then and again now) Barolo Chinato, the Barolo infused with a variety of “medicines”. The Barolo Chinato is produced by following the family recipe handed down generation to generation. The “medicinal” herbs and spices are ground using a stone mortar and pestle. Both the recipe and the process are family secrets.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Austria
Pichler-Krutzler Trum Riesling, Wachau 2013 750ML ($27.95) $16 special
Wine Advocate 91 points “From a slightly south-facing gravel/alluvium site with 10- to 20-year-old vines, the 2013 Riesling Smaragd Trum opens with a very clear and well-concentrated stone-fruit aroma underlined by cool, stone flavors. This medium-bodied, densely woven and lovely mineral Riesling is intense, well balanced, very elegant and extremely stimulating, lovely, pure and concentrated. The finish is aromatic and indicates a still young wine with an aging potential of more than ten years.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $20
Pichler-Krutzler Wunderburg Riesling, Wachau 2012 750ML ($59.95) $38 special
Wine Advocate 93 points “Harvested in early November and subject to very slow fermentation that finished with 13% alcohol and from which a lot of CO2 was left behind even in January of 2013, the Pichler- Krutzler 2012 Riesling Wunderburg offers satiny texture and surprising fullness yet at the same time the transparency to nuance characteristic of all of the best wines in the present collection. Szechuan pepper, crushed stone, bittersweet flowers and peach kernel are perceived through a clear, juicy, luscious matrix of lime and white peach, leading to a finish not only refreshing and invigorating but almost fiery in its incisive intensity even as it remains rich in ripe fruit. Look for this beauty to yet grow in stature and to prove worth following through at least 2022. In Pichler and Krutzler’s conscientious and talented hands, this little-known site is starting to live up to its name (“miracle castle”)!”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Malat Silberbichl Riesling Reserve Erste OTW Lage, Kremstal 2010 750ML ($79.95) $69 special
Weingut Malat Captures Europe’s Best Riesling Prize–Triumph at the Largest Riesling Competition in the World
Sensational success for winemaker Michael Malat from Furth-Palt in Austria’s Kremstal region: At the world’s largest Riesling competition, Best of Riesling 2016 in Germany, his Riesling Ried Silberbichl 1ÖTW Erste Lage Kremstal Reserve 2010 was named Europe’s best Riesling.
Falstaff Magazine “Light yellow-green. Aromas of fresh peaches and ground herbs with nuances of pineapple, orange zest, and wildflower honey. Firm texture on the palate with notes of apple preserves. It has a crisp acid structure that is vibrant and mineral. Aromas of apricot on the finish. Will benefit from some cellaring.”
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Three, Count ‘em, Three Days Left
May Sale Highlights
Toast the Sale
Dehu ‘La Rue des Noyers’, Champagne NV (2012) 750ML ($119.95) Was $99, Now $89
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 93+ points “Benoît Déhu’s NV Extra Brut La Rue des Noyers is a 100% Meunier from a biodynamically farmed 1.7 hectare plot in Fossoy with dark limestone soils. Fermented and aged for ten months in used 228 liter barrels but with “no malolactic, no racking, no filtering, no cold stabilization and no fining,” says Benoît Déhu, when he presented me his wine at the presentation of the Origines Champagne group in Château de Pierry earlier this year. “We produce our wines like our colleagues in Burgundy.” It had two different Cuvées of this wine. Their first was entirely based on the 2011 vintage and was disgorged in June 2014 with a minimal dosage of one gram per liter. It is an impressively deep, intense and full-bodied Champagne that displays ripe fruit and slightly smoky flavors on the nose; it is very pure, complex and well structured on the palate. This stunningly powerful and persistent Champagne is surely made for a long distance run. The second wine is the successor and based on vintage 2012, but disgorged with no dosage. This is a very delicate and elegant release with a superbly refined mousse. However, it is also straight, firm and perhaps even finer than the 2011.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Perseval-Farge C. de Pinots Premier Cru Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($49.95) Was $37, Now $33
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 90 points “(55% Pinot Noir and 45% Pinot Meunier; 7 g/l dosage): Light yellow. Ripe pear and nectarine on the musky, floral nose and palate. In a fleshy, ample style, showing a sweet touch of vanilla on the back half. Closes smooth and broad, with building spiciness and a hint of smokiness.”
This was the lowest listed price in the USA today,
Now it’s even lower!
The next best price is $43.89
The average price is $46
Perseval-Farge ‘La Pucelle’ Premier Cru Brut Nature, Champagne NV 750ML ($69.95) Was $59, Now $49
Winery Note “Solely made of Pinot Noir grapes and exclusively coming from the location named “La Pucelle” on the Charmery Land.”
This was the lowest listed price in the USA today,
Now it’s even lower!
The next best price is $62.01
Perrier-Jouet Belle Epoque Brut Millesime, Champagne 2008 750ML ($119.95) $99 special
Decanter 93 points “Shimmering pale gold with green lights, radiant clarity; persistent tiny bubbles: riot of white flowers scents, hawthorn, then more stone-fruit than citrus, reine claude (greengage) and elderflower. Vibrant mouthfeel, invigorating, expansive – perfect with saline fruits de mer. Perrier Jouët Belle Epoque 2008 reminds me somewhat of the grace of the exceptional 1995, Cellarmaster Hervé Deschamps’ first solo vintage and still one of his best. Though the two vintages 13 years apart share the same grace and class, the 2008 is more mineral, reflecting a quite sunless summer season. Only the return of warmer weather at the start of September imbued the vintage with a freshness of great Chardonnay in tune with the subtly restrained power of Pinot Noir and a soupçon of rounded Meunier – that final little touch making the wine more pleasurable to drink soon, unlike other wines from the Champagne 2008 vintage, which need a lot more time. Chardonnay is from Cramant, Avize, and Mesnil, Pinot Noir from Ay and Ambonnay in the Montagne de Reims, and Pinot Meunier from Dizy.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $124.99
The average price is $142
With 38 wines on sale now, you’re certain to find a winner. See the full list at the bottom of this newsletter!
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Beat the Heat
With Our Trendiest White & Rosé Wines
Back in Stock!
Chateau la Mascaronne Cotes de Provence Quat’Saisons Rose, Provence 2016 750ML ($21.95) $18 special
VinopolNote: La Mascaronne is the true Miraval. Yes Miraval, that delightful $18 Provence Rose that tasted like $30; until the winery was acquired by a certain Hollywood couple and the new management proceeded to stick the wine in a bulbous bottle and hike the price to $30+. But we have a secret to share with you. The original owner of Miraval kept his best vineyard, and that is La Mascarrone.
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Back in Stock!
Weingut Willi Schaefer Graacher Domprobst Riesling Spatlese #10, Mosel 2015 750ML ($44.95) $37 special
Mosel Fine Wines 93 points “Scents of flowers and spontaneous fermentation quickly give way to riper and creamy fruits such as yellow peach, apricot and mango. The wine proves succulently light and fresh on the palate. This feeling of lightness carries nicely over into the juicy and smooth finish. One is left with a delicately creamy feel of herbs in the long after-taste. This proves plain gorgeous. 2025-2035.”
Back in Stock!
Weingut Willi Schaefer Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Spatlese, Mosel 2015 750ML ($41.95) $37 special
Mosel Fine Wines 93 points “Shy on the nose (where it only hints at more than exhibits fresh fruity scents of grapefruit, tangerine and a touch of mango as well as mint) this Spätlese proves surprisingly open on the palate as smooth and ripe flavors of juicy fruits play havoc with one’s senses. The finish has great intensity and presence with more fresh ripe fruits. This is a superb Spätlese in the making. 2025-2040.”
Peter Lauer Senior Fass 6 Riesling, Mosel 2015 750ML ($27.95) $21.90 special
David Schildknecht – Vinous 91 points “Sourced from old vines at the western end of the Ayler Kupp, the “Senior” comes closer in 2015 than in other recent vintages to this bottling’s original inspiration, namely the sort of decidedly dry-tasting Riesling that appealed to the generation of Florian Lauer’s grandfather. Despite only narrowly breaching the 10-gram limit of legal Trockenheit, this bottling weighs in at a mere 11.5 percent alcohol, an alcoholic levity entirely compatible with textural richness and decidedly ripe fruit flavors. Brightly juicy, zesty lime and tangerine – pungently signaled on the nose – mingle with crunchy apple and succulent, piquantly pit-inflected cherry on a subtly oily palate, leading to a vibrantly sustained, consummately refreshing and stone-inflected finish.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $28
Jean-Claude Dagueneau Domaine des Berthiers Pouilly-Fume, Loire 2015 750ML ($24.95) $20.90 special
Case-12 Jean-Claude Dagueneau Domaine des Berthiers Pouilly-Fume, Loire 2015 750ML ($299.95) $219 special (that’s only $18.25/bottle and the lowest listed price in the USA today!)
Winery note “100% Sauvignon blanc from 20 to 30 year old vines grown in Silex and calcaire soils. Golden green reflections. Discreet aromas on the nose with a hint of ripe orange. A taste of fruit drops and lemon peel on the palate.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
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!)
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. 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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Cordero di Montezemolo
Cordero di Montezemolo, in Barolo, was founded in 1340. We’ll let that sink in for a second. That’s a long time, by any measure, and when you have one family, in the same place, farming the same land, generation after generation, they are bound to become really good at it. That’s very true here. Aside from a detour into and out of modernism in the 90’s, the Montezemolo wines have been really wonderful, classic examples of Piedmontese wines in their respective categories.
They’re best known for their Baroli, but don’t sleep on the Dolcetto and Barbera as well. Those wines are delicious—well-made and extremely affordable, especially given the quality and pedigree of the wines produced. The Barolo deserves the special attention it gets. Super long lived and extremely complex (their wines from the 60’s and 70’s are stunning today), it nevertheless is extremely well price. That’s something we can all be happy about.
Cordero di Montezemolo Dolcetto d’Alba 2015 750ML ($21.95) $16.60 special
Wine Spectator 89 points “A well of cherry jam and boysenberry fruit is accented by black pepper in this boisterous red. Dusty tannins line the finish. Drink now.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Cordero di Montezemolo Barbera d’Alba 2015 750ML ($24.95) $20.90 special
Wine Spectator 90 points “This rich, dark red exudes violet, blackberry, plum and leafy flavors, with light tannins and vivid acidity. Finishes with freshness and spice. Drink now through 2020.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Cordero di Montezemolo Monfalletto, Barolo DOCG 2012 750ML ($49.95) $39 special
James Suckling 94 points “Muscular and buff for the vintage with plenty of plum, terra-cotta and dry soil aromas and flavors. Full body, flavorful finish. Drink in 2018.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
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Domaine de l’Edre
Roussillon Delight!
It seems France’s Roussillon region was made to grow fine wine. Proximity to the vine’s favorite sea, the Mediterranean, and planted in classic limestone-clay soil, winemaking talent thrives in this area. Founded by Jacques Castany and Pascal Dieunidou in 2002 from inherited vines, Domaine de l’Edre produces ripe yet balanced and stylish wines of terrific character and terroir definition. Here’s the perfect match to a leg of lamb or even a pot au feu, to veggie dishes rich in grilled peppers and eggplant, and of course to charcuterie and cheese. Celebrate the French way of good living by uncorking a bottle of L’Edre Roussillon!
Domaine de L’Edre Cotes du Roussillon Villages 2013 750ML ($49.95) $41.90 special
Case-6 Domaine de L’Edre Cotes du Roussillon Villages 2013 750ML ($299.95) $239 special (That’s only $39.83 per bottle!)
Wine Advocate 95 points “One of the wines of the vintage is the 2013 Cotes du Roussillon Villages Domaine de l’Edre. While this cuvee had a rustic edge in the past, today it’s incredibly polished and pure, with brilliant aromatics of cassis, black raspberries, licorice, crushed flowers and chalky minerality. Medium to full-bodied, ripe, yet elegant and balanced, it’s a classic Roussillon that can be enjoyed today or cellared for a decade.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
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Molitor Madness:
Arriving June 7th
Situated at the center of Wehlener Klosterberg, the Markus Molitor estate cultivates a total of 15 vineyard sites, highlighting the diversity and brilliance of the Mosel. Holdings include parcels some of the region’s highest-regarded vineyards. Molitor took over the vineyard from his father in 1984 – at the ripe age of 20! Many of the vineyards are poised along extraordinarily steep slopes of 80% or greater inclines, necessitating work done carefully and manually. Vines and soils are worked organically, with dense leaf cover over the vines and relative few grapes per vine in order to maximize nutrient supply and extract yield.
If you haven’t heard the exciting news about the 2015 vintage in the Mosel, you are missing out. Stephan Reinhardt recently weighted in on these wines and found them profound. We’ve highlighted some of his thoughts below. Don’t miss our offerings that scored 95 points or higher, including several that reached 98 and 99!
From Stephan Reinhardt: “Although the vintage occasionally brought less yields than initially expected, the wine qualities were often terrific across the board, especially in the medium-sweet and sweet predicate categories of Kabinett, Spätlese and Auslese. There are many great dry and medium-dry single-vineyard Rieslings, too… October was the harvest month for all the producers, with just a few extending the harvest into November; it was cool, dry and very sunny, and provided excellent harvest conditions. The acidity levels were high and the ripeness was just perfect… These outstanding qualities, perhaps the best since 1990, culminate in an incredible series of 26 top Auslese Rieslings at Weingut Markus Molitor…”
This outstanding collection of 2015 Molitor Rieslings are arriving June 7th:
Markus Molitor Alte Reben Riesling Trocken WK, Mosel 2015 750ML ($31.95) $28 pre-arrival special
Markus Molitor Alte Reben Riesling Trocken WK, Mosel 2015 1.5L ($69.95) $51.90 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2015 Riesling Alte Reben (formerly known as Alte Reben Mosel) is an old vine selection from crus in Zeltingen, Wehlen and Erden. The wine combines ripe and concentrated Riesling flavors with the typical slate aroma of the Mosel. Highly elegant, with perfectly ripe and balanced fruit and a juicy-piquant, finesse-full finish, this is a picture book dry Mosel Riesling with a lingering salty finish.”
This is the only listing in the USA today for the magnum!
Markus Molitor Alte Reben Saar Riesling Trocken WK, Mosel 2015 750ML ($31.95) $28 pre-arrival special
Markus Molitor Alte Reben Saar Riesling Trocken WK, Mosel 2015 1.5L ($79.95) $59 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 93+ points “Sourced entirely from the Ockefen Bockstrein, the 2015 Riesling Alte Reben Saar has a clear, bright, intense and spicy Saar Riesling bouquet with great concentration and attractive flinty slate aromas. On the palate, this dry Riesling is concentrated, rich and powerful but tightly woven, very precise and provided with piquant acidity and very finessed minerality. The finish is intense and compact, indicating great aging potential. This Riesling from approximately 80-year-old vines in the Bockstein grand cru should be cellared for five to seven years at minimum.”
This is the only listing in the USA today for the magnum!
Markus Molitor Kinheimer Hubertuslay Riesling Auslese *** GK, Mosel 2015 750ML ($99.95) $86 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 99 points “The 2015 Riesling Kinheimer Hubertuslay Auslese *** (Golden Capsule) is clear, deep and complex on the nose and opens with ripe but fresh fruit aromas intermixed with herbal notes. Highly elegant, precise and finessed but also rich and lush on the palate, this is a well textured Auslese with super finesse and present acidity but also some fine tannins. This wine is partly fermented in a small barrel, which gives it greater development and a silky textured complexity. It is more dense and concentrated than the Rosenberg, but it also has great finesse and precision. Highly digestible even today, but I wouldn’t waste its greatest talents before the wine is fully developed.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $105.99
Markus Molitor Urziger Wurzgarten Riesling Auslese *** GK, Mosel 2015 750ML ($119.95) $99 pre-arrival special
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 98+ points “The 2015 Riesling Ürziger Würzgarten Auslese *** (Golden Capsule) offers a very clear, deep, intense and complex stone fruit aroma with some very discreet toast and crushed stone flavors. Full-bodied, rich and powerful but enormously racy-piquant and mineral so that you don’t taste its sweetness, this is a great, expressive terroir wine with a huge inner concentration that comes from the soils rather than dried berries. It is based on grapes with dry raisins due to perfect botrytis combined with healthy berries that deliver the tremendous freshness in this gorgeous Auslese that also reveals some fine tannins from the aging partly in small oak.”
Markus Molitor Urziger Wurzgarten Riesling Kabinett GK, Mosel 2015 750ML ($31.95) $28 pre-arrival special
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 93 points “The (medium-) sweet 2015 Riesling Ürziger Würzgarten Kabinett (Golden Capsule) displays a clear, intense and remarkably fine nose of perfectly ripe and healthy small Riesling berries. This is a lush, piquant and salty Riesling of great finesse and aromatic intensity. The finish is super long and aromatic, with a very fine mineral grip and a fascinating combination of perfectly ripe, lush fruit and a weightless elegance.”
Markus Molitor Urziger Wurzgarten Riesling Spatlese GK, Mosel 2015 750ML ($41.95) $36 pre-arrival special
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 95 points “The 2015 Riesling Ürziger Würzgarten Spätlese (Golden Capsule) opens with a very clear and aromatic white stone fruit aroma intermixed with clear and smoky aromas. Sweet, lush and intense, this is a concentrated, already densely textured Spätlese with a firm mineral grip and tension that gives this 2015 unreal aging potential and great complexity. Readers should cellar this wine for at least 15- 20 years since there are so many more delicate Rieslings to buy in the category. Molitor’s Würzgarten, though, will still be young in 30 or 40 years, and that’s not due to very generous sulfur doses but thanks to the old, ungrafted vines and the well-elaborated selection for the Spätlese category. Keep in mind, you are already on a top Grand Cru level here, and this wine is in fact a top Auslese.”
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Markus Molitor Wehlener Klosterberg Riesling Auslese ** GK, Mosel 2015 750ML ($69.95) $59 pre-arrival special
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 96+ points “The 2015 Riesling Wehlener Klosterberg Auslese *** (Golden Capsule) is very clear, intense and concentrated yet stunningly precise and fresh on the nose. Concentrated, very fine and elegant on the palate, this Auslese has enormously racy yet fine acidity with a very long, crystalline and stimulatingly salty finish. Despite its concentration and sweetness, this wine shows remarkable finesse and elegance, revealing a lean and crystalline style.”
Mosel Fine Wines 93 points “This delivers a beautiful nose of yellow peach, almond cream, pineapple and poached pear. The wine proves juicy and quite ripe on the palate with honeyed flavors of yellow fruits coming through in the long and smooth finish. There is a touch of acidity coming through in the after-taste which lifts up the aromatic. This needs a decade to fully shine. 2025-2045.”
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Markus Molitor Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese *** GK, Mosel 2015 750ML ($119.95) $99 pre-arrival special
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 99 points “The 2015 Riesling Wehlener Sonnenuhr Auslese *** (Golden Capsule) shows a perfectly ripe, concentrated but fresh and elegant fruit aroma intertwined with mineral and refreshing grapefruit flavors of crushed stones, perfect botrytis and still fresh, healthy berries. Rich, round, dense and piquant, this is a highly finessed and very elegant, sweet, lush and intense Wehlener Sonnenuhr with a super clear, precise and salty, stimulatingly pure and piquant finish with a lot of grip and tension. This is a skyrocketing Auslese that will fly over your palate over decades if only you give it the time it deserves. Its acidity is finer than that of the Zeltinger Sonnenuhr, which makes the Wehelner more sweet, lush and round. It is the nearest to perfection of the sweet Ausleses at this early moment, and it will surely never step back from this level.”
Mosel Fine Wines 95-97 points “This stunner of a wine offers a ravishingly airy and silky nose of yellow fruits, grapefruit, pear and spices. The wine is delicately oily yet aromatically incredibly precise as raisin, date and spices emerge on the palate. The finish, far from being cloying, proves airy, elegant and hugely persistent. This is a great slightly powerful BA-styled wine in the making! 2030-2055+.”
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Markus Molitor Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Kabinett GK, Mosel 2015 750ML ($27.95) $24 pre-arrival special
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 94 points “The 2015 Riesling Wehlener Sonnenuhr Kabinett (Golden Capsule) opens with beautifully clear, super ripe, aromatic and mouth-watering tropical fruit on the nose. On the palate, this is a lush but highly finessed and delicate Sonnenuhr with super fine and ripe acidity and a crystalline texture. This is a gorgeously sensual and exotic Kabinett in perfect balance. Probably there has been no Sonnenuhr Kabinett produced in 2015 that is more attractive than this.”
Markus Molitor Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Spatlese, Mosel GK 2015 750ML ($39.95) $33 pre-arrival special
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 96 points “The 2015 Riesling Wehlener Sonnenuhr Spätlese (Golden Capsule) opens with a clear, crazy deep, intense and complex bouquet of tropical flavors but most of all smoky aromas of a rocky mountain massive. On the palate, this is a rich, complex, highly finessed, piquant and refreshing Spätlese with concentrated fruit and a tight, persistent structure. The finish is dangerously attractive, but this Sonnenuhr will always be ticking; it should have spectacular aging potential!”
Mosel Fine Wines 93 points “This wine is still very much reduced but already hints at gorgeous scents of white mint, pear, yellow peach and minerals on the nose. It proves rather creamy on the palate (by Spätlese standards) as exotic pineapple and coconut give the finish an almost Auslese GK style. As such, it is a truly remarkable effort but wine lovers expecting a light Spätlese should stay clear of this. 2025-2045.”
Markus Molitor Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese ** GK, Mosel 2015 750ML ($69.95) $59 pre-arrival special
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 97 points “The 2015 Riesling Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Auslese ** (Golden Capsule) is entirely based on healthy, botrytis-free grapes and opens with intensely herbal flavors in the first moments before very fine Riesling, slate and lemon aromas take over. This Auslese is intense, rich and round, perfectly ripe and concentrated but also super precise, highly elegant and finessed. The finish is super fine, endlessly salty and stimulatingly piquant. This is a mouth-watering sweet Riesling with great tension and finesse!”
Markus Molitor Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese *** GK, Mosel 2015 750ML ($119.95) $99 pre-arrival special
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 99 points “The 2015 Riesling Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Auslese *** (Golden Capsule) is clear, fresh and concentrated on the nose nose where deep and smoky flavors of crushed stones are displayed, giving just a hint of the true potential of this wine. Round and seamless on the palate, with perfectly ripe but vital and fresh fruit, this has a gorgeous mineral raciness and tension. There is also a quiet stream of perfectly balanced and concentrated melting stones and very fine salts that flows over the palate. This is an exiting, very well structured and tightly woven Riesling legend that will still fascinate wine lovers in 50, 60, maybe 70 years. This is a laser beam of great Riesling, tight and concentrated but still not that open like the corresponding Wehlener.”
Mosel Fine Wines 94-97 points “This offers a beautiful nose driven by baked pineapple, apricot, herbs and spices. The wine is beautifully elegant and, despite being creamy and oily on the palate, retains great vibrancy with zesty acidity wrapping passion fruit and other exotic fruits. This beautiful “Auslese lange GK”-styled wine proves superbly well-made as it leaves an ethereally long feel in the intense finish. 2030-2055+.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Markus Molitor Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Riesling Kabinett GK, Mosel 2015 750ML ($27.95) $21.90 pre-arrival special
Mosel Fine Wines 92 points “This delivers a gorgeous nose of cassis, minty herbs and spices. The wine delivers the rich creaminess of a Spätlese if not Auslese on the palate but leaves a stunningly floral and fruit-infused feel in the long and intense finish. This may not be a light Kabinett but proves an utterly delicious light Auslese. 2025-2045.”
Markus Molitor Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Riesling Spatlese GK, Mosel 2015 750ML ($39.95) $33 pre-arrival special
Markus Molitor Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Riesling Spatlese GK, Mosel 2015 1.5L ($79.95) $69 pre-arrival special
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 96-97 points “The 2015 Riesling Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Spätlese (Golden Capsule) displays the herbal bouquet of the Kabinett but is certainly more deep, concentrated and complex. The wine has great finesse on the palate, and its crystalline acidity and lingering salinity carry the perfectly ripe and lush fruit to a long, vibrating and mouth-watering finish. This Spätlese is highly finessed and complex and—along with the 2015 Scharzhofberger—probably the finest Spätlese I have tasted from the vintage.”
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Burgundy Superstars
Arriving June 7th
Domaine Faiveley Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru 2014 750ML ($279.95) $229 pre-arrival special
Wine Spectator 96 points “A fresh white, exuding lemon tart, apple, peach and toasted spice flavors. Elegant and racy, firming up on the stony finish and echoing notes of citrus and spice. Shows terrific focus and precision on the long aftertaste. Best from 2019 through 2032.”
Domaine Roulot Les Boucheres, Meursault Premier Cru 2013 750ML ($349.95) $319 pre-arrival special
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 92 points “Pungent minerality on the nose and palate gives this wine an exhilarating light touch. Supple and refined, this lovely Meursault gained in sweetness as it opened in the glass, showing a honeyed quality to go with its saline minerality. Finishes very smooth and long, with noteworthy lift.”
Burghound 91-93 points “A more elegant, airy and slightly cooler nose displays notes of citrus, rose petal, essence of almost and a hint of jasmine tea. There is an equally good sense of refinement to the ultra-pure and more obviously mineral-inflected flavors that culminate in an understated, clean and beautifully focused and balanced finish that is positively Zen-like in its sense of harmony. This and the Porusot beautifully demonstrate the two extremes of the Meursault 1ers as they contrast power and punch with elegance and finesse. Note that while these are qualitative equals they could hardly be more different.”
Arriving Late June
Domaine Faiveley Latricieres-Chambertin Grand Cru 2010 750ML ($219.95) $189 pre-arrival special
Stephen Tanzer 93-96 points “Good bright red. Noble, airy aromas of piquant pomegranate, smoky minerality, white pepper and leather. Densely packed and folded in on itself; like a black hole in the mouth. Great verve and energy to the saline and crushed stone flavors. Uncoils slowly with aeration, with the finish displaying almost painful intensity and terrific mounting floral length. A great soil-driven Latricieres in the making.”ST
Burghound 93-95 points -Don’t Miss- “This offers up a completely different aromatic profile than that of the Mazis with its extremely cool, restrained and ultra-elegant nose of a broad range of wild red berry fruits, stone, floral notes and spice hints. There is exceptionally good purity and transparency to the intensely mineral-inflected middle weight flavors that evidence ample power on the impeccably well-balanced and linear finish. This is a really lovely effort that embodies that ineffable quality of power without weight.”
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The next best price is $211.75
The average price is $215
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More Rosenthal Goodies
ETA Late June
We’re going deep on the wines of Neal Rosenthal. We highlighted a few wines in our last newsletter (that arrive this week) and we’ve got a few more things on the way. In case you missed the last issue, so to speak, let us quote ourselves about why we’re excited for the new Rosenthal stuff:
“Neal Rosenthal may have the best selected portfolio of wines that are nationally distributed. While Kermit Lynch gets a lot of the hype, the Rosenthal book is meticulously selected and without any filler. While many importers rationalize bringing in substandard estates because “they’ll sell,” Neal Rosenthal has for a long time believed that if the wines aren’t good, he doesn’t want his name on them. The result is a long-running relationship with a select number of estates that he believes represent the apogee of traditional wines in their regions.”
We don’t lavish that sort of praise on just anybody. The wines he brings in are delicious and well-chosen and we have another clump of them arriving later in the month. Buy freely with the knowledge that you’re getting a great bottle no matter where it’s coming from!
Wines Arriving Late June
Domaine Cheveau Pouilly-Fuisse Trois Terroirs, Maconnais 2015 750ML ($34.95) $29 pre-arrival special
Importer note “This Fuissé is sourced from three separate parcels, two of which are in Pouilly with the third situated in Fuissé. The vines are between 25 and 40 years of age and produce a wine with the typical richness and power of this appellation. After fermentation, the elevage is done in a mix of barrel and foudre for one year. This is the classic cuvée of Pouilly-Fuissé from this domaine.”
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Chateau Soucherie Anjou Rouge ‘Reliefs,’ Loire 2015 750ML ($21.95) $18 pre-arrival special
Importer note “This lively, fruity red retains a strong minerality to its finish that lends class and balance to this simple and reasonably priced wine. Cabernet Franc forms the backbone of this wine (90%) but is blended with a touch of Grolleau (10%). The vines are planted to gravel and schist soils. The elevage is in cuve on the fine lies for approximately eight months.”
Chateau Soucherie Coteaux du Layon, Loire 2015 750ML ($29.95) $26 pre-arrival special
Chateau La Rame Rouge, Bordeaux 2015 750ML ($19.95) $16 pre-arrival special
Importer note “The vineyards for this lovely red are at the base of the hillside vineyards of the estate in the village of Sainte Croix du Mont and are composed of sand, limestone and clay. The grape varieties are Merlot (60%) and Cabernet Sauvignon (40%) and the average age of the vines is thirty (30) years. The wine is fermented and aged in temperature-controlled vats and is bottled usually one year after harvest.”
Peyrassol ‘La Croix Peyrassol’ Rouge, IGP Mediterranee 2016 750ML ($19.95) $16 pre-arrival special
Importer note “This cuvée is crafted specifically for presentation in the United States and is the result of a close collaboration between RWM and the team at Peyrassol (Alban Cacaret, Wladimir Holobinka [vineyard manager], Pierre Guérin [consulting oenologue] and Francoise Rigord [who maintains an active interest in the estate]). The blend varies depending on the particular conditions of the vintage but normally is composed of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah in varying proportions. It highlights the fresh wild berry fruits of the region married to a firm minerality that provides structure and discipline to the wine.”
Cave Yves Cuilleron Condrieu Les Chaillets, Rhone 2014 750ML ($79.95) $66 pre-arrival special
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 94 points “(aged in oak, 33% of it new): Pale gold. Penetrating aromas of fresh citrus and orchard fruits and violet are joined by hints of chalky minerals, fennel and ginger. Juicy and deeply concentrated on the palate, offering pear nectar and Meyer lemon flavors that show superb clarity and drive. The mineral and floral notes come back strong on the incisive finish, which hangs on with outstanding focus and tenacity.”
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Monsecco Gattinara DOCG, Piedmont 2011 750ML ($41.95) $36 pre-arrival special
Importer note “After a manual harvest, the grapes undergo an extensive cuvaison and then are racked into a combination of large “botte” and second year French barrique for at least three years of aging prior to being bottled.”
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Monsecco Ghemme DOCG, Piedmont 2011 750ML ($39.95) $33 pre-arrival special
Importer note “An extraordinarily age-worthy wine that will mature nicely over 20 years or more in the cellar, in its youth this medium to full bodied wine shows a lovely mélange of red and dark berry fruits, with hints of tobacco and spice and a very long finish. 85% Nebbiolo with 15% Vespolina and Uva Rara of an average age of 30 years, the wine macerates for 12 days before fermentation in stainless steel. The wine is then transferred to a combination of old Slovenian botte, and second year French barrique for an additional 3 years, and to put the finishing touches on its élèvage: a year in bottle before release. A wine such as this is a testament to the glory and longevity of mountain Nebbiolo. Decant for best results!”
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Domaine de Montbourgeau Vins Blancs de L’Etoile, Jura 2013 750ML ($34.95) $28 pre-arrival special
Importer note “This cuvée is the classic white wine of Montbourgeau. It is usually bottled after 24 to 30 months of elevage in barrel. Chardonnay is the dominant grape but an occasional Savagnin vine is found within the Chardonnay plantings, an addition which adds a touch of complexity to the ultimate blend. The fermentation occurs in stainless steel but, after malolactic, the wine is racked into small barrel and demi-muids for two years. At that point, the entire production is assembled and left for several months in cuve before being bottled.”
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Domaine Maurice Schoech Cotes d’Ammeschwihr, Alsace 2015 750ML ($19.95) $16.60 pre-arrival special
Importer note “Cotes d’Ammerschwihr: is harvested from hillside vineyards situated at the beginning of the valley that leads to the village of Les Trois Epis. This wine is primarily Pinot Blanc with a touch of Muscat … a fine, elegant wine of great value.”–Importer notes
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Domaine Maurice Schoech Riesling Sonnenberg, Alsace 2015 750ML ($29.95) $24 pre-arrival special
Importer note “Riesling Sonnenberg: is sourced from a group of old-vine ‘selection massale’ parcels on a south-facing granite slope in the Sonnenberg lieu-dit.”–Importer note
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May Sale Recap
The Countdown to June Continues… Three Days Left!
See the complete list of wines on sale now below and visit our web store to shop the sale!
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Thank you for reading!