Monday Newsletter 8-3-20

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $49.50

 

Gaja is one of the most respected names in the world of wine.  Unlike many other ultra-premium Barolos, Gaja’s 2014 Sperss is already drinking beautifully, even in its relative youth. Transcending the modernist versus traditionalist categories, Gaja is truly in a class of its own—and the 2014 Sperss is the perfect example.  Immediate yet complex, structured yet elegant, beautiful today yet undeniably cellar-able, this wine is deserving of your attention.

Gaja Sperss Barolo, Piedmont 2014 750ML ($319.95) $179 special, 32 bottles in stock now
James Suckling 95 points “More forward and in a more earthly realm than the dizzying heights of the Conteisa this vintage, but it’s so endearing and immediately delights. The aromas range from elderberries and black cherries to brambleberries and Chinese spices. Full-bodied and structured with powerful tannins that encase bright and forthright blue fruit, which is polished over by a sheen of glimmering acidity. Long finish. Delicious now, but better in 2022.”
Wine Enthusiast 95 points “Underbrush, tobacco, toasted hazelnut, menthol and grilled herb aromas slowly take shape on this focused red. On the structured elegant palate, taut refined tannins and fresh acidity provide an ageworthy framework for raspberry compote, juicy Marasca cherry, orange zest, white pepper and star anise. It already has layers of depth and loads of finesse, but hold for even more complexity. Drink 2022–2030.”
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 94 points “This is a slightly more subdued vintage of this legendary wine, albeit just as sophisticated as past editions. The 2014 Barolo Sperss opens to gorgeous aromas of dark fruit, wet earth and white truffle. The vineyards in Serralunga d’Alba produced much less fruit than average and suffered from bouts of downy mildew during the rainy seasons. But Serralunga d’Alba fruit is also harvested late, and that extra time was important for achieving grape ripeness targets. The wine presents depth and complexity within the context of a thinner vintage. Having said that, the bouquet is spectacular.”
Decanter 94 points “Sperss comes from two crus in Serralunga, and like Gaja’s Barbarescos it’s aged in a combination of barriques and large barrels. As so often is the case, it’s a wine that combines power and finesse. It has a subdued cherry nose with a touch of oak, leading to a palate which is rich, powerful and tannic, but not too assertive. It’s well balanced and fleshy, with lots of velvety texture and grain, and there’s still an underlying freshness and finesse. Very long finish.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $205
The average price is $290

 
Also In Stock Now from Gaja

We’re almost half the price of the next best listing…
Gaja Alteni di Brassica Langhe, Piedmont 2015 750ML ($149.95) $79 special, 15 bottles in stock now
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 91 points “The delightful 2015 Langhe Alteni di Brassica is a pure expression of Sauvignon Blanc. This is the only white wine in Angelo Gaja’s line that does not complete malolactic fermentation. The bouquet is exuberant and bright with green notes of salvia, wild oregano and white pepper. Those sharper tones are followed by bright layers of tropical fruit and zesty citrus. Drying mineral notes give sharp contours to the overall effect.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $132.68

Lowest listed price for direct from the national importer
Gaja Costa Russi Barbaresco, Piedmont 2014 750ML ($499.95) $349 special, 2 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni 96 points “Soft contours, silky tannins and sweet, perfumed fruit are some of the signatures in the 2014 Costa Russi. As always, Costa Russi is the most polished and open-knit of these wines in its youth. Succulent fruit, hard candy and lifted, perfumed aromatics give the 2014 considerable early appeal, but I expect time in bottle will work its usual magic. Today, the 2014 is showing only the barest hint of its potential. Even in the early going, though, the Costa Russi is a totally sexy wine.”
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 94 points “The 2014 Barbaresco Costa Russi is a beautiful wine that delivers profound color saturation with deep ruby highlights and blackish intensity. I would describe the nose as being more horizontal rather than vertical, if that makes sense. In other words, the bouquet makes its approach with wide intensity and large-scale aromas of black fruit, spice, tar, leather and licorice. It offers fewer of the sudden high notes or moments of sharpness that you get in 2013. Despite the common perception that this was a very cool vintage, the fruit here actually tastes riper and rounder than you might expect. That’s because the vintage heat all came toward the end of the growing season, and the Gaja family left fruit on the vines to the end. In the mouth, the wine shows depth and finesse with some stubborn firmness at this young stage. It needs to flesh out further with more bottle aging.”
Wine Spectator 94 points “Tight and focused, this red features a beam of cherry, strawberry, leather, tobacco, tar and iron wrapped in the grip of dense, refined tannins. Fresh and balanced, showing plenty of energy on the resonant finish. Best from 2023 through 2040. 170 cases imported.”

Gaja Sori San Lorenzo Barbaresco, Piedmont 2014 750ML ($499.95) $319 special, 13 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni 97+ points “The 2014 Barbaresco Sorì San Lorenzo is the most virile and explosive of Gaja’s Barbarescos. Dark, brooding and powerful, with a huge spine of tannin, the San Lorenzo is utterly regal in the glass. Gravel, smoke, menthol, tar, licorice and a host of sepia-toned fruits build into a crescendo of aromas and flavors that is truly compelling. What a gorgeous wine this is.”
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 95 points “Gaja’s 2014 Barbaresco Sorì San Lorenzo is clearly at the beginning of a long and promising aging trajectory. At its core, it shows a pinch of nervous energy and inner tightness that will surely unravel and soften as this beautiful wine continues along its magical journey in time. Angelo Gaja and his family present spectacular results in this controversial 2014 vintage. They have risen far above most of their peers and have shown a keen ability to understand their site and the versatility of their cherished Nebbiolo grape. The variety sings with a loud and exuberant voice, first offering plenty of primary fruit like blackberry and dried cherry. It then follows up with savory earth and spice. This is a bright and youthful wine that is set steady for a long aging future. “
Wine Spectator 95 points “Earthy notes lead off, followed by cherry, plum, graphite and tobacco flavors. Starts out broad and muscular, with a thick layer of tannins for support, yet gains elegance with aeration. A tad austere on the finish, but stays vibrant and long. Best from 2021 through 2036. 170 cases imported.”

 

We’re offering you discounts on magnums on top of our already outstanding pricing.  Buy 3-5 mags, get 5% off those wines.  Want to buy more than 5?  Take 10% off 6+ magnums purchased—at least until Tuesday morning at 10 AM (when we open). From rare wines like Montille’s Malconsorts and Cappellano’s Pie Rupestris to humble magnums of rosé—you’ve got dozens of options.

We have 172 different magnums available for purchase in our web store. Shop our selections from Rhone, Burgundy, Champagne, California, Germany & more on our web store!

Ayoub Estate Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills 2013 1.5L ($179.95) Displayed price $149, that’s $141.55 at 5% off or $134.10 at 10% off, 1 magnum in stock now
Wine Enthusiast 92 points “Six clones are blended into this wine, an elegant and aromatic style of Pinot Noir. With breathing time it adds volume, showing more heft and complexity. The pretty red fruits are set in a frame that shows more minerality than tannin.”

This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!

Domaine de Montille Les Pezerolles, Pommard Premier Cru 2016 1.5L ($349.95) Displayed price $289, that’s $274.55 at 5% off or $260.10 at 10% off, 3 magnums in stock now
Stephen Tanzer 91-93 points “(from the north side of Pommard above Les Grands Epenots on active limestone soil; vinified with one-third whole clusters and aged in one-third new oak): Good dark red. Tight aromas of black cherry, redcurrant and rust (there’s a bit of iron in the soil here as well), lifted by a floral quality. Savory and fine-grained, with red berry flavors enlivened by saline minerality. Not a big wine but offers an attractive blend of sweet, savory and acidic elements. This minerally, salty wine finishes with big, mouth-dusting tannins.”
Burghound 90-92 points “Today there is enough reduction to push the underlying fruit to the background. Otherwise the middle weight flavors possess a similar mouth feel to the Taillepieds with fine delineation and more subtle minerality on the mildly austere finish that flashes a hint of dryness though I doubt that it will last.”
Neal Martin 90-92 points “The 2016 Pommard 1er Cru Les Pezerolles is one-third whole cluster fruit. Around half the vineyard suffered frost damage in this year. There is more red fruit here than other cuvées from de Montille: raspberry, wild strawberry and a touch of Bing cherry. The palate is well balanced with fine and slightly chalky tannin. There’s also a fine line of acidity, then the finish clams up for now and says, “Revenez plus tard.” Give this 4 to 5 years in bottle.”

This is the only listing in the USA today for the magnum!

Chateau Larose Trintaudon, Haut-Medoc 2016 1.5L ($59.95) Displayed price $49, that’s $46.55 at 5% off or $44.10 at 10% off, 11 magnums in stock now
James Suckling 92 points “A solid red with currant, chocolate and walnut character. Medium body, round yet firm tannins and a delicious finish. Typical Bordeaux from this excellent vintage. A blend of 60 per cent cabernet sauvignon and 40 per cent merlot. Needs two to three years to soften. Drink in 2022.”
Wine Enthusiast 91 points “At 380 acres, this is one of the largest Médoc estates just the wrong side of the tracks from Pauillac. This generously structured wine is full of juicy black-currant flavors that come from the 60% Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend. It is likely to develop relatively quickly and will certainly be ready from 2021.”

This was the lowest listed price in the USA today, 
Now it’s even lower!

Louis Roederer Brut Rose Millesime, Champagne 2010 1.5L ($219.95) Displayed price $159, that’s $151.05 at 5% off or $143.10 at 10% off, 11 magnums in stock now
Wine & Spirits 96 points “Roederer invested in a separate winery to produce its rose, the facility completed in 2007, taking its classic saignee method wines to a new level. An estate-grown blend of pinot noir from the clay soils of Cumieres with chardonnay from the Cote des Blancs, this is an extraordinary vintage of Roederer Rose. It’s a lithe wine, compelling for its precision rather than for any stylized complexity. In fact, it feels simple, naked, capturing the freshness of the grapes in pale pink energy. The transparent cherry and Honeycrisp apple flavors are inherently balanced and hard to resist.”
James Suckling 95 points “The viticulture here takes its cues from Burgundy with lower yields (40hl/ha), leaf removal, ripe picking and cooling overnight and some cold soaking and skin contact. The chardonnay juice is added to bring the acidity and balance into play, but this also has attractive rose-like florals that really speak of pinot noir. There’s orange zest and some pink grapefruit and even handy nutty elements that creep in. This is every bit as terrific as the 2008. The palate has roundness, flesh and smoothly arranged phenolics. An almost saline chardonnay influence provides a vinous attraction here. Super silky, and the chardonnay finishes it fresh but with a punch. Drink now.”

This was the lowest listed price in the USA today, 
Now it’s even lower!

Felsina Berardenga Rancia, Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG 2015 1.5L ($139.95) Displayed price $115, that’s $109.25 at 5% off or $103.50 at 10% off, 8 magnums in stock now 
James Suckling 95 points “Plenty of dark plums, black cherries, blackberry pie, cedar, tobacco and a hint of orange rind. There’s a real vitality to the palate, which is so well carved out by firm, savory tannins and seriously bright acidity. A chewy finish. Drink in 2022.”
Wine Spectator 94 points “The fine cherry, plum, leather and spice flavors pick up accents of chocolate, earth and mineral as this red gathers steam. Builds to a firmly structured finish, where sweet fruit and dusty tannins linger. Drink now through 2028.”
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 94-97 points “The 2015 Chianti Classico Riserva Rancia is one of the most finessed young Rancias I have ever tasted. Silky, aromatically precise and nuanced to the core, the 2015 is shaping up to be a jewel of a wine. This is an impressive showing.”

Giacomo Conterno Monfortino, Barolo Riserva DOCG 2013 1.5L ($2999.95) Displayed price $2,399, that’s $2,279.05 at 5% off or $2,159.10 at 10% off, 1 magnum in stock now
Antonio Galloni 99 points “The 2013 Barolo Riserva Monfortino is brilliant, precise, focused and nuanced, with the classic sense of austerity it has always shown from barrel. In the 2013, readers will find a biting, vibrant Monfortino built along super-classic lines that includes vintages like 1996 and 1999, but the 2013 has more finesse that is the result of a the slight refinements and evolution that have taken place here over the last decade. In 2013, Roberto Conterno bottled the entirety of his Barolo production from Francia as Monfortino.”
Wine Spectator 99 points “Subtle aromas of cherry, wild herb and tobacco introduce this sleek, complex red. Cherry, strawberry, loam, iron and tobacco flavors build in intensity to an extended finish, but the texture and harmony are what define this superb Barolo. Silky, with a fine weave to the dense tannins. All the components come together on the lingering aftertaste. Best from 2022 through 2050.”
Wine Advocate 98 points “I have been tasting this wine from barrel for the past two years and now finally, abracadabra, the 2013 Barolo Riserva Monfortino is safely housed in bottle. The wine was bottled in June of last year and will hit the market this upcoming October. The Barolo Francia was not produced in 2013 because Roberto Conterno diverted all fruit from that vineyard to this wine. Monfortino was not produced in 2011 or 2012, meaning that this 2013 edition follows directly after the absolutely stunning 2010 vintage (which earned a perfect 100-point score). The two vintages (2010 and 2013) are very similar, strikingly so, but the 2013 vintage registers at a slightly lower structural threshold. The tannins are slightly looser, or softer in the case of this wine. With up to six years in botte, the 2010 vintage is still crunchy and super sharp, while this wine is slightly more succulent and earthy. Some 20,000 bottles, 2,500 magnums and 400 three-liter bottles were made.-ML”
James Suckling 99 points “Warm aromas of plums, rose petals and spices with hints of sandalwood. Some tar. Full body, dense center palate with glorious fruit and a fantastic finish. Very, very polished and fine tannins. Vertical and deep. A great Monfortino. Try in 2023.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!