In This Newsletter:
2018 La Grosse Pierre Beaujolais
New Week – New Arrivals
Trending
Staff Pick
Schaller Chablis, Adriano Barbaresco & Hugues Godme
Collector’s Corner:
Regal Roumier
2018 La Grosse Pierre Beaujolais
Arriving Late September
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Domaine de la Grosse Pierre Chiroubles Aux Craz, Beaujolais 2018 750ML ($29.95) $24 pre-arrival special
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 93 points “Offering up aromas of ripe cherries and raspberries as well as hints of rose petal and peony, the 2018 Chiroubles Aux Craz is medium to full-bodied, supple and enveloping, its deep core of succulent fruit framed by satiny tannins. This bottling derives from 70-year-old vines in the domaine’s highest-altitude holdings in lieu-dit Grosse Pierre.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Domaine de la Grosse Pierre Chiroubles ‘Claudius,’ Beaujolais 2018 750ML ($29.95) $24 pre-arrival special
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 92+ points “Bursting with aromas of cherries, blackberries, licorice and violets, the 2018 Chiroubles Claudius is medium to full-bodied, deep and concentrated, with a muscular chassis of powdery tannin largely concealed by a rich core of fruit. This is a terrific Chiroubles with the stuffing (and a high-quality Trescases cork) to evolve with grace in the cellar.”
VinopolNote: From 90-100 year old vines.
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Domaine de la Grosse Pierre Morgon Douby, Beaujolais 2018 750ML ($29.95) $24 pre-arrival special
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 92 points “Unfurling in the glass with aromas of blackberries, violets, licorice and cracked pepper, the 2018 Morgon Douby is medium to full-bodied, velvety and succulent, with a fleshy core of fruit underpinned by powdery tannins that mark this out as one of Passot’s more structured wines this year.”
VinopolNote: From 70 year old vines.
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Domaine de La Grosse Pierre Fleurie Bel Air, Beaujolais 2018 750ML ($29.95) $24 pre-arrival special
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 91 points “Bursting from the glass with inviting aromas of cherries, berries and plums, the 2018 Fleurie Bel-Air is showing even better than when I reviewed it last year. Medium to full-bodied, supple and succulent, it’s elegantly fleshy, built around lively acids and melting tannins. Seamless and impeccably balanced, this is an immensely drinkable young Beaujolais.”
VinopolNote: From 50 year old vines.
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
We offer 34 Beaujolais wines in stock now. Shop the selection on our webstore!
New Week – New Arrivals
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Arterberry Maresh Maresh Vineyard Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills 2017 750ML ($74.95) $61.90 special
Josh Raynolds – Vinous 96 points “Translucent magenta. Heady, mineral- and spice-accented red and blue fruit and potpourri aromas are complemented by exotic incense and Asian spice flourishes. Vibrant, palate-staining raspberry, red currant, boysenberry, candied rose and spicecake flavors suavely blend power and delicacy. Sneaky, polished tannins add subtle grip to a strikingly long, incisive finish that leaves resonating floral and spice notes behind.”
Erin Brooks – Wine Advocate 95 points “”I’m really happy with this wine,” Jim Maresh says. “It’s one of the earliest-drinking vintages of the Maresh vineyard I’ve ever made. I like it better than the 2016, although the 2016 will age longer without a doubt. The 2017 is a bit more tender and succulent.” The 2017 Pinot Noir Maresh Vineyard is a delicate wine without losing any intensity, scented of fresh tobacco leaves, underbrush, potpourri, peppercorn, citrus peel and saline with a core of cranberries and wild blackberries plus touches of dusty earth and crushed stone. It blossoms unexpectedly in the mouth, medium-bodied, concentrated, spicy and fresh, softly framed with a long, layered finish. A lovely wine.”
Arterberry Maresh Old Vines Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills 2017 750ML ($49.95) $44 special
Josh Raynolds 96 points “Glistening scarlet. A highly complex bouquet evokes red berry and cherry preserves, along with building Asian spice, rose oil and smoky mineral flourishes. Shows fine delineation and seamless texture, offering concentrated, spice-tinged Chambord, cherry, cola and spicecake flavors that pick up a strong rose pastille nuance with air. Finishes extremely long and pure, with fine-grained tannins providing framework and gentle grip to lingering red fruit, five-spice powder and savory herb notes. 70% of this fruit comes from the estate Maresh vineyard and the other 30% is from the neighboring Weber vineyard; the vast majority of the vines were planted in the late 1970s.”
France
Vilmart & Cie Les Blanches Voies Premier Cru Blanc de Blancs Brut, Champagne 2009 750ML ($419.95) $389 special, only 2 bottles available!
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 96+ points “A thrilling new cuvée from Vilmart launches with the 2009 Extra Brut Blanc de Blancs, a special bottling produced from lieu-dit Les Blanches Voies that was fermented and matured in 228-liter barrels from Damy for ten months before spending fully 48 months sur lattes. It was disgorged in March 2017 with four grams per liter dosage. In other words, this derives from the same source as the Coeur du Cuvée and sees an additional year on yeasts and a touch less dosage. Opening in the glass with notes of lemon oil, wet stones, warm biscuits and English walnuts, it’s full-bodied, racy and searingly concentrated, with a tight-knit, chiseled core, terrific acidity and a long, chalky finish. Only 2,900 bottles were produced, and it’s worth every effort to secure one or two.”
Antonio Galloni 96 points “Here in its first release, the 2009 Blanc de Blancs Les Blanches Voies is positively stellar. Old vines confer remarkable power, gravitas and explosive energy, and yet the 2009 preserves remarkable freshness to play off the resonant, deeply layered fruit. Intense graphite, mineral, citrus and floral notes add myriad shades of nuance to an expansive, powerful Blanc de Blancs that hits all the right notes. The purity and vibrancy of the flavors here is simply striking. The Blanches Voies gets one more year on the lees than the flagship Coeur de Cuvée and also a dosage of just 4 grams per liter, the lowest ever in the history of Vilmart. The 2009 is positively stellar. Don’t miss it! Production is just 2,400 bottles. Disgorged March 17.”
Terry Theise Note “Way back in the day, Vilmart made a BdB and it was excellent. I missed it when it was discontinued, but this new and spectacular wine more than makes up for it. Deg 3/2017, and drier than the rest of the range, it has great richness (pheasant stock, applewood smoke) and a tangelo-citrus lift, a pixilated chalky-dusty minerality, all conspire in a rumble of interplay that stops you cold and leaves you warm. Entirely original, and a new vibrancy of mineral for Vilmart.”
Andre Clouet Un Jour de 1911… Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($99.95) $79 special
Antoni Galloni 93+ points “[Review is for a prior disgorgement] The NV Grand Cru Cuvee 1911 emerges from the glass with the most haunting of perfumes. Sweet rose petal and jasmine are some of the nuances that emerge over time. Despite recent disgorgement, the purity of the fruit and the extraordinary elegance of the mousse are hard to miss. This is an exceptional, elegant version of the 1911 that should drink beautifully for years to come. The bottle I tasted needed quite a bit of air to open up, so readers should be patient with the wine at this stage.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Pierre Paillard ‘La Grande Recolte’ Bouzy Grand Cru Extra Brut, Champagne 2008 750ML ($79.95) $69 special
Winery note “La Grande Récolte represents the quintessence of the Paillards vineyards. Crafted by blending only the first press of old vine Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. 55% Pinot Noir, 45% Chardonnay. 1.8 g/L dosage. Hard chalk bedrock with clay topsoil. La Grande Récolte benefits from extended aging “sur lie”: 10 years in our 19th century cellars at a depth of 53 feet/16 meters and at a constant 50°F/10°C temperature.”
Peter Liem note “Paillard’s vintage brut, now called La Grande Récolte, is blended from equal parts pinot noir and chardonnay, which is unusual for a Bouzy champagne, but which also reflects the estate’s commitment to chardonnay. It’s aged for up to ten years on its lees before release.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Domaine Weinbach Gewurztraminer Furstentum, Alsace Grand Cru 2018 750ML ($79.95) $69 special
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Domaine Weinbach Pinot Gris Clos des Capucins, Alsace 2018 750ML ($41.95) $36 special
Domaine Weinbach Pinot Gris Cuvee Sainte Catherine, Alsace 2018 750ML ($59.95) $49 special
James Suckling 97 points “Wow. This has such attractively pure fruit with flinty nuances, across ripe peaches, nectarines and grapefruit. The off-dry palate has a flinty and gently smoky edge with a very fresh, concentrated core of ripe white peaches. So powerful and long. Drink or hold.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Domaine Weinbach Sylvaner, Alsace 2018 750ML ($29.95) $21.90 special
Wine Enthusiast 92 points “Wet earth, straw and white asparagus make for a subtle nose on this wine. The palate amplifies them and adds gentle apple fruit to these textural, earthy but intriguing notes. A body-dry finish shines with lemony freshness.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Italy
Isole e Olena Collezione Privata Syrah, Tuscany 2016 750ML ($79.95) $59 special
Case-6 Isole e Olena Collezione Privata Syrah, Tuscany 2016 750ML ($479.95) $324 special (that’s only $54/bottle and the lowest listed price in the USA today!)
Antonio Galloni 98 points “The 2016 Syrah is a fascinating contrast to the 2015. The cooler vintage (vis-à-vis) 2015 yielded a perfumed, silky wine that dazzled with finesse. Silky tannins wrap around a core of dark blue/purplish fruit, lavender, spice, menthol and licorice. Vivid and finely sculpted, with tremendous nuance, the 2016 has it all. Paolo De Marchi did five vinifications and used a touch of whole clusters in all the lots, which really seems to bring out an extra dimension of aromatic complexity.”
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 96 points “I absolutely love this profound and beautiful Syrah from Tuscany. The 2016 Syrah Collezione Privata offers a unique interpretation of the grape that delivers much of the heft, power, smokiness and textural richness of the French grape, however it also shows purely Italian flares of grilled herb, blue flower, moist earth and Toscano cigar. Bold cherry fruit fills the core of this wine, and there is plenty of padding and extra richness at the edges. The wine is rich, velvety and long in terms of mouthfeel. It ages in oak for 18 months. Some 5,000 bottles were made.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Germany
Weingut Donnhoff Krotenpfuhl Riesling Grosses Gewachs, Nahe 2018 750ML ($79.95) $59 special
John Gilman 93 points “The 2018 Krötenpfuhl GG is absolutely superb this year. The wine is very pure on the both the nose and palate, with the bouquet delivering a lovely mix of pink grapefruit, tart orange, salty minerality, a touch of wild yeasts and a topnote of citrus blossoms. On the palate the wine is pure, full-bodied and very well-balanced, with a lovely core, ripe, vibrant acids and great focus and grip on the long, nascently complex and very elegant finish. Superb juice. 2026-2060. 93.”
Wine Advocate 92 points “The 2018 Kreuznacher Krötenpfuhl Riesling trocken –GG– is super clear, pure, fresh and flinty on the nose. Intense and powerful on the palate, this is a linear, salty-piquant and lingering Riesling with grip and tension but also purity and finesse. Still young but very elegant. Tasted in July 2019.”
David Schildknecht-Vinous 91 points “The nose pungently and enticingly combines oregano, mustard seed, lemon zest and sea breeze. The palate is firm, tangy and bright, at 13% alcohol coming off as full and forceful. The mustard seed suggestion adds stimulating cut to a finish whose lemony brightness and animation are surprising for the vintage, and which is admirably transparent to stony, alkaline and saline nuances. (For background on this bottling – as well as information about the site – consult my lengthy review of the inaugural vintage 2017 installment.)”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
The average price nationally is $67
Weingut Willi Schaefer Graacher Domprobst Riesling Spatlese #5, Mosel 2018 750ML ($89.95) $69 special
John Gilman 94+ points “The 2018 Domprobst Spätlese AP #5 is far more reserved out of the blocks than the AP #10 version, and this wine will demand some extended bottle age before it really starts to hit on all cylinders. However, the potential here is outstanding and all that is needed is some patience to outwait the inherent structural reserves of the Domprobst. The bouquet is a fine mix of pear, apple, salty slate minerality, bee pollen, petrol and spring flowers. On the palate the wine is deep, fullish and very, very precise, with superb cut, a great core and a veritable slate bath of minerality on the long, tightly-knit and focused finish. This is going to be stellar. 2028-2075+. 94+.”
Grapelive 94 points “This 2018 Domprobst #5 Spatlese is dense, more than out right sweet on the palate with plenty of brooding complexity and balanced detailing, it shows tightness at first, but unfolds with beautiful and brilliant fruit with crisp green apple, lime, apricot and a mix of subtle tropical fruit along with smoky shale, wet stones, spearmint and chamomile tea and delicious lingering tangerine sorbet, peach flesh and rosewater, that comes from the must weight and residual sugar. This wine will get much more interesting as its baby fat and its deep inner spice comes through, as there is only a hint of crystalized ginger and tangy notes, but the youthful acidity keeps it from feeling heavy adding a sense of lightness to this serious Spatlese, this is going to reward those lucky enough to have it for decades to come. This chiseled and crystalline Riesling has clarity and it delights the palate with a tease of rich fruitiness and a cooler sense of being and restraint keeping a nice impression of tension, this all the reason these wines are so sought after and coveted, not only by Riesling junkies, but by Schaefer’s peers and friendly rivals, such is the respect and quality here….The Schaefer Graacher Domprobst lot #5 is a special small batch that was picked and fermented separate from the main bottlings and is a fabulous unique edition that was hand harvested on a later pass through the vines and where only perfect clusters were chosen prior to the Auslese pick and without any botrytis, from what I understand, making for a more concentrated expression that still shines with brilliant freshness and mineral tones. While the 2017s were ultra luxurious and dense, these 2018s are slightly more lacy and show a finer delicacy without being less sensual or impactful, and clearly as per normal Schaefer has made a fantastic set of wines, with this one really standing out. Terry Theise, Riesling guru and the importer of Schafer’s wines, says without hesitation or without any doubt that Willi Schaefer is one of the greatest estates in Germany, and I am and most critics will never question that, this address is the gold standard for quality with two main parcels in Domprobst and Himmelreich all on pure Devonian slate….This #5 is a collector gem and while imported, it will take some searching to get, though worth it! If you get some, cherish them and if you can’t wait to open it, do so with high end Asian, like Thai cuisine, slightly hot/spicy that has fresh ingredients that highlights simplicity ($70 Est.)”
Austria
Schloss Gobelsburg Lamm Gruner Veltliner, Kamptal DAC 2018 750ML ($69.95) $59 special
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2018 Kammern Ried Lamm 1ÖTW displays an intense golden-yellow color and opens with a deep, clear and complex, remarkably refined and elegant, crystalline and flinty bouquet of crushed stones, herbs and ripe Veltliner fruit. Full-bodied, lush and intense but fine and elegant on the silky-textured and well-balanced palate, this is a perfectly round and sweet, lush and ripe, pretty generous Lamm with a long and elegant, beautifully balanced but tensioned and stimulating salty finish. Tasted at Schloss Grafenegg and Schloss Gobelsburg in September 2019.”
Terry Theise note “Lamm as a rule is buckwheat-y, rusky, savory but not thick, like a vegetable-veal stock with barley, yet oddly also like lamb itself. (“Lamm” doesn’t mean lamb, but is rather a dialect word for “loam.”) It is a great wine though virtually without fruit per se. Its poise of gloss and power, intensity and outline, mass and transparency are emblems of the paradox without which no wine is truly great. If Renner commences the birds to sing, Lamm commences the wolves to howl. This `18 has its customary virtues though it also suggests alcohol could be an issue. Is it eucalyptus spice or jalapeño heat? I liked it better in a moderate-sized tulip, unusually, where it was almost elegant and certainly showed more fruit.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $69.99
Schloss Gobelsburg Heiligenstein Riesling Reserve Erste OTW Lage, Kamptal 2018 750ML ($69.95) $59 special
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 93 points “Gobelsburg’s 2018 Ried Heiligenstein 1ÖTW opens with a very clear, bright, fresh and flinty, very elegant and almost coolish bouquet, like almost no other Heiligenstein of this vintage except for Bründlmayer’s selections. Round and elegant on the palate, this is a bright and refined, highly elegant and crystalline Heiligenstein with an intense, piquant and mineral finish. Tasted at Schloss Grafenegg and Schloss Gobelsburg in September 2019.”
Terry Theise note “Right now this is vivid on its lime and smoke sides, with the tropical fruits and spices still in bud; lots of fir and balsam and the sweet kelp of (an Oolong tea called) Fu Shou Shan. Already superb, it needs just one more note in the chord to be truly great.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Weingut Bernhard Ott Fass 4 Gruner Veltliner, Wagram 2018 750ML ($31.95) $28 special
VinopolNote: Labeled ’30 Jahre’ (30 Year) in honor of the 30th vintage of this wine.
Wine Enthusiast 92 points “Subtle citrus pith mixes with salty yeast on the shy nose. The palate then presents a mix of bright lemon peel and pith, salt, yeast and crushed arugula in a surprisingly slender but concentrated package. The finish is savory and dry.”
James Suckling 92 points “Aromas of dried white flowers, lime blossom and sliced apples make a fresh impression on the nose. The palate delivers white-pepper, apple and mirabelle flavors with a fresh, green-pear finish. Drink or hold. Screw cap.”
Terry Theise note “The first of the `18 surprises; whereas this wine usually indicates a tangible leap ahead of Am Berg, in `18 this is less overt; the wine is saltier but not so much richer as denser, like the stock after an extra few hours on the stove; fennel, legume, collagen— an inferential GV.”
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We offer 57 Austrian wines in stock now. Shop the selection on our webstore!
Spain
Well priced and delicious. It’s a smooth and fresh-tasting unoaked red that’s even delicious with a slight chill.
Celler del Roure ‘Safra’, Valencia 2017 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 special
Luis Gutierrez-Wine Advocate 93 points “The third vintage of my favorite red, the 2017 Safrà is from an early and low-yielding year when they got larger grapes that delivered fresher and more fluid wines than a normal warm year. It fermented with 30% full clusters in stainless steel vats, and like all of these wines, it didn’t see any oak; it matured exclusively in 2,600-liter clay “tinaja” for six months. It’s floral and subtle, super elegant, without any excess, expressive and perfumed. The palate is equally elegant, with very fine tannins, good freshness and very tasty, almost salty flavors. This has to be the finest vintage for this wine. Even if 2017 can be similar to 2015, this feels more balanced and complete. Most of the wines are a bargain, and this is a steal. 16,500 bottles were filled in July 2018.”
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Nanclares y Prieto ‘A Senda Vermella’ Tinto, Rias Baixas NV 750ML ($39.95) $33 special
Luis Gutierrez-Wine Advocate 92 points “Their first red from Rías Baixas is the NV A Senda Vermella, an unusual blend of 80% wine from 2018 and 20% from 2017 (the cork reads 17/18), which is 60% Caíño and 40% Mencía from different parts of the Salnés, but it’s sold without appellation of origin. There’s only 10.9% alcohol, and it has a very clear green strike and pungent herbal flavors that somehow give it a strong umami sensation. It’s definitely green in the best possible sense, and light to medium-bodied with very fine tannins. It fermented with 100% foot-trodden clusters for some 20 days, mostly in used barrels but with 20% of the volume in stainless steel. The 2017 part was in stainless steel and oak for 22 months, and the 2018 part aged exclusively in tank for 10 months. Very unusual, a red of strong character. It’s a red that grows on you, better the second and third time, and always better with food. 3,883 bottles were filled in August 2019.”
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Trending
This was the lowest listed price in the USA today,
Now it’s even lower!
The next best price is $89
Le Pauillac de Chateau Latour 2014 750ML ($119.95) Was $99, Now $69, 26 bottles in stock now
James Suckling 92 points “The purity of fruit is bright and focused with strawberries and spices. Medium body, firm and silky tannins and a fresh finish. Crisp and pretty. Drink or hold.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $79.94
The average listed price is $96
A rich, robust blend that kicks Sangiovese up to 11.
Tenuta del Cerro ‘Colpetrone’ Montefalco Rosso, Umbria 2015 750ML ($18.95) $16 special
Case-12 Tenuta del Cerro ‘Colpetrone’ Montefalco Rosso, Umbria 2015 750ML ($219.95) $169 special (that’s only $14.08/bottle!)
Eric Guido – Vinous 92 points “The 2015 Colpetrone Rosso di Montefalco is much more refined and perfumed than I would have expected from this warm vintage, showing peppery herbs and dusty florals, plus crushed red wild berries and a hint of dusty earth. On the palate, silky textures envelop all that they touch in ripe cherry fruit and sweet spices, made juicy through vibrant acidity and minerals, as round tannins slowly settle in. The finish is medium in length, leaning more toward the tart black fruit spectrum, yet with a salty twang that makes the mouth water. The 2017 is really quite stunning today. A blend of 70% Sangiovese with equal parts Merlot and Sagrantino.”
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Felsina Berardenga Rancia Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG 2016 750ML ($69.95) $49 special
Felsina Berardenga Rancia Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG 2016 1.5L ($119.95) $99 special
Felsina Berardenga Rancia Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG 2016 375ML ($34.95) $28 special
Decanter Magazine 97 points “The south-facing Rancia vineyard reaches altitudes of 420 metres, overlooking the lower-lying vineyards of Colli Senesi. It boasts complex soils of calcareous clay layered with the chalky white limestone-like alberese and schistose galestro. This 2016 vintage is simply stunning. It’s stately yet gracious, with personality for days, leading with a sumptuous nose of smoke, exotic spice and iron-rich earth. Ripe fruit coats the mouth yet it remains buoyant and tangy as chalky tannins charge in to frame the palate. A seductive wine with an appetising, savoury edge and a long, long life ahead. Drinking Window 2023 – 2041.”
Antonio Galloni 96+ points “The 2016 Chianti Classico Riserva Rancia is powerful, rich and explosive, with tremendous drive. Even so, several bottles have been quite closed. That is probably a very good sign for the long-term, but readers should not plan on touching a bottle anytime soon. A wine of vertical drive and aromatic nuance, the 2016 Rancia is super-complexed. Only with a few hours of air does it show the nuances and layers that were so evident from barrel. The 2016 is a painfully stubborn wine in the early going, but it will offer superb drinking pleasure for those who can wait.”
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 96 points “The 2016 Chianti Classico Riserva Rancia knocks it out of the park. Like the other new releases from Fèlsina, this pure expression of Sangiovese needs more time to evolve and improve with bottle age. But even at this young stage, you are made fully aware of the beautiful intensity and complexity of the quality fruit at its core. There is so much energy and tension here, further reinforced by the fresh acidity of the vintage. There are vibrant tones of wild cherry, raspberry and spice, followed up by white truffle and tilled earth.”
Castello di Camigliano Poderuccio Toscana IGT, Tuscany 2018 750ML ($21.95) $18 special
Case-12 Castello di Camigliano Poderuccio Toscana IGT, Tuscany 2018 750ML ($249.95) $189 special (that’s only $15.75/bottle!)
James Suckling 90 points “Lots of blackberries and tar, together with black-olive character on the nose and palate. Full-bodied and structured. A little raw, but should come around nicely with bottle age. Drink from 2020.”
Trending Pre-Arrival Landing ETA Late September:
Opus One Proprietary Red, Napa Valley 2017 750ML ($399.95) $349 pre-arrival special
Antonio Galloni 95+ points “A remarkable wine for the year, the 2017 Opus One is a dense, full-throttle beauty. Plush fruit and soft, silky contours give the 2017 its racy personality. Exotic, beautifully perfumed and impeccable in its balance, Opus One is one of the most complete wines of the vintage. In 2017, Opus One has a distinctly red-toned fruit profile that distinguishes it from the surrounding vintages.”
Wine Advocate 95 points “Opus One had picked 91% of their fruit before the fires started in 2017, and only two lots were eliminated from consideration. The 2017 Opus One, bottled in July 2019, is a blend of 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8.5% Petit Verdot, 5% Cabernet Franc, 4.5% Merlot and 1% Malbec. Medium to deep garnet-purple colored, it slowly grows on the nose, revealing compelling notes of baked black cherries, mulberries, black raspberries, warm cassis and blackberry pie with nuances of spice cake, yeast extract, tapenade, licorice and dusty soil with a waft of wild sage. Medium-bodied, the palate has a lively skip in its step, featuring bags of juicy raspberry and cassis-laced fruit and a refreshing line, supported by ripe, plush tannins, finishing long and graceful.-LPB”
James Suckling 95 points “Lots of currant and floral notes on the nose. Hints of mint and spice. Medium-to full-bodied, round and savory with creamy, juicy tannins. Hints of citrus underneath. Bright, fresh and delicious. Drink or hold.”
Staff Pick
Gour de Chaulé
2018 La Grosse Pierre Beaujolais
New Week – New Arrivals
Trending
Staff Pick
Schaller Chablis, Adriano Barbaresco & Hugues Godme
Collector’s Corner:
Regal Roumier
2018 La Grosse Pierre Beaujolais
Arriving Late September
Pauline Passot took advantage of her family’s long history growing grapes in Chiroubles to found a small winery in 2016. Their parcels are ancient, with nothing younger than 40 years-old and some vines are 70, 90, or even 100 years old. With such quality material, she crafts classically-styled Beaujolais. Of course in Burgundy proper, the juice of similarly ancient Pinot Noir vines would set you back $100-$500/bottle. Fortunately, some fool in the 14th century decreed the grape as ‘disloyal’ and 600 years later, Passot’s gems are under $25/bottle. This is a producer to watch.
Arriving Late September from La Grosse Pierre:
Domaine de la Grosse Pierre Chiroubles ‘La Grosse Pierre,’ Beaujolais 2018 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 pre-arrival special
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 90 points “I underestimated the 2018 Chiroubles La Grosse Pierre when I tasted it not long after it had been bottled, and six months later, it’s performing very well. Mingling aromas of black cherries and blackberries with hints of cracked pepper and herbs, the wine is medium to full-bodied, supple and elegantly fleshy, with succulent acids, melting tannins and a seamless profile.”
VinopolNote: From 45 year old vines.
Arriving Late September from La Grosse Pierre:
Domaine de la Grosse Pierre Chiroubles ‘La Grosse Pierre,’ Beaujolais 2018 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 pre-arrival special
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 90 points “I underestimated the 2018 Chiroubles La Grosse Pierre when I tasted it not long after it had been bottled, and six months later, it’s performing very well. Mingling aromas of black cherries and blackberries with hints of cracked pepper and herbs, the wine is medium to full-bodied, supple and elegantly fleshy, with succulent acids, melting tannins and a seamless profile.”
VinopolNote: From 45 year old vines.
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Domaine de la Grosse Pierre Chiroubles Aux Craz, Beaujolais 2018 750ML ($29.95) $24 pre-arrival special
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 93 points “Offering up aromas of ripe cherries and raspberries as well as hints of rose petal and peony, the 2018 Chiroubles Aux Craz is medium to full-bodied, supple and enveloping, its deep core of succulent fruit framed by satiny tannins. This bottling derives from 70-year-old vines in the domaine’s highest-altitude holdings in lieu-dit Grosse Pierre.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Domaine de la Grosse Pierre Chiroubles ‘Claudius,’ Beaujolais 2018 750ML ($29.95) $24 pre-arrival special
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 92+ points “Bursting with aromas of cherries, blackberries, licorice and violets, the 2018 Chiroubles Claudius is medium to full-bodied, deep and concentrated, with a muscular chassis of powdery tannin largely concealed by a rich core of fruit. This is a terrific Chiroubles with the stuffing (and a high-quality Trescases cork) to evolve with grace in the cellar.”
VinopolNote: From 90-100 year old vines.
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Domaine de la Grosse Pierre Morgon Douby, Beaujolais 2018 750ML ($29.95) $24 pre-arrival special
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 92 points “Unfurling in the glass with aromas of blackberries, violets, licorice and cracked pepper, the 2018 Morgon Douby is medium to full-bodied, velvety and succulent, with a fleshy core of fruit underpinned by powdery tannins that mark this out as one of Passot’s more structured wines this year.”
VinopolNote: From 70 year old vines.
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Domaine de La Grosse Pierre Fleurie Bel Air, Beaujolais 2018 750ML ($29.95) $24 pre-arrival special
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 91 points “Bursting from the glass with inviting aromas of cherries, berries and plums, the 2018 Fleurie Bel-Air is showing even better than when I reviewed it last year. Medium to full-bodied, supple and succulent, it’s elegantly fleshy, built around lively acids and melting tannins. Seamless and impeccably balanced, this is an immensely drinkable young Beaujolais.”
VinopolNote: From 50 year old vines.
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We offer 34 Beaujolais wines in stock now. Shop the selection on our webstore!
New Week – New Arrivals
Oregon
Arterberry Maresh Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills 2018 750ML ($29.95) $26 special
Josh Raynolds 92 points “Bright magenta. Ripe red and blue fruit, licorice, potpourri and exotic spice aromas pick up succulent herb and cola nuances with air. Sappy and broad on the palate, offering juicy boysenberry, cherry compote and spicecake flavors that firm up slowly on the back half. The spicy note repeats on a long, seamless finish framed by supple, late-arriving tannins.”
Arterberry Maresh Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills 2018 750ML ($29.95) $26 special
Josh Raynolds 92 points “Bright magenta. Ripe red and blue fruit, licorice, potpourri and exotic spice aromas pick up succulent herb and cola nuances with air. Sappy and broad on the palate, offering juicy boysenberry, cherry compote and spicecake flavors that firm up slowly on the back half. The spicy note repeats on a long, seamless finish framed by supple, late-arriving tannins.”
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Arterberry Maresh Maresh Vineyard Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills 2017 750ML ($74.95) $61.90 special
Josh Raynolds – Vinous 96 points “Translucent magenta. Heady, mineral- and spice-accented red and blue fruit and potpourri aromas are complemented by exotic incense and Asian spice flourishes. Vibrant, palate-staining raspberry, red currant, boysenberry, candied rose and spicecake flavors suavely blend power and delicacy. Sneaky, polished tannins add subtle grip to a strikingly long, incisive finish that leaves resonating floral and spice notes behind.”
Erin Brooks – Wine Advocate 95 points “”I’m really happy with this wine,” Jim Maresh says. “It’s one of the earliest-drinking vintages of the Maresh vineyard I’ve ever made. I like it better than the 2016, although the 2016 will age longer without a doubt. The 2017 is a bit more tender and succulent.” The 2017 Pinot Noir Maresh Vineyard is a delicate wine without losing any intensity, scented of fresh tobacco leaves, underbrush, potpourri, peppercorn, citrus peel and saline with a core of cranberries and wild blackberries plus touches of dusty earth and crushed stone. It blossoms unexpectedly in the mouth, medium-bodied, concentrated, spicy and fresh, softly framed with a long, layered finish. A lovely wine.”
Arterberry Maresh Old Vines Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills 2017 750ML ($49.95) $44 special
Josh Raynolds 96 points “Glistening scarlet. A highly complex bouquet evokes red berry and cherry preserves, along with building Asian spice, rose oil and smoky mineral flourishes. Shows fine delineation and seamless texture, offering concentrated, spice-tinged Chambord, cherry, cola and spicecake flavors that pick up a strong rose pastille nuance with air. Finishes extremely long and pure, with fine-grained tannins providing framework and gentle grip to lingering red fruit, five-spice powder and savory herb notes. 70% of this fruit comes from the estate Maresh vineyard and the other 30% is from the neighboring Weber vineyard; the vast majority of the vines were planted in the late 1970s.”
We offer 132 Oregon Pinots wines in stock now. Shop the selection on our webstore!
France
Vilmart & Cie Les Blanches Voies Premier Cru Blanc de Blancs Brut, Champagne 2009 750ML ($419.95) $389 special, only 2 bottles available!
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 96+ points “A thrilling new cuvée from Vilmart launches with the 2009 Extra Brut Blanc de Blancs, a special bottling produced from lieu-dit Les Blanches Voies that was fermented and matured in 228-liter barrels from Damy for ten months before spending fully 48 months sur lattes. It was disgorged in March 2017 with four grams per liter dosage. In other words, this derives from the same source as the Coeur du Cuvée and sees an additional year on yeasts and a touch less dosage. Opening in the glass with notes of lemon oil, wet stones, warm biscuits and English walnuts, it’s full-bodied, racy and searingly concentrated, with a tight-knit, chiseled core, terrific acidity and a long, chalky finish. Only 2,900 bottles were produced, and it’s worth every effort to secure one or two.”
Antonio Galloni 96 points “Here in its first release, the 2009 Blanc de Blancs Les Blanches Voies is positively stellar. Old vines confer remarkable power, gravitas and explosive energy, and yet the 2009 preserves remarkable freshness to play off the resonant, deeply layered fruit. Intense graphite, mineral, citrus and floral notes add myriad shades of nuance to an expansive, powerful Blanc de Blancs that hits all the right notes. The purity and vibrancy of the flavors here is simply striking. The Blanches Voies gets one more year on the lees than the flagship Coeur de Cuvée and also a dosage of just 4 grams per liter, the lowest ever in the history of Vilmart. The 2009 is positively stellar. Don’t miss it! Production is just 2,400 bottles. Disgorged March 17.”
Terry Theise Note “Way back in the day, Vilmart made a BdB and it was excellent. I missed it when it was discontinued, but this new and spectacular wine more than makes up for it. Deg 3/2017, and drier than the rest of the range, it has great richness (pheasant stock, applewood smoke) and a tangelo-citrus lift, a pixilated chalky-dusty minerality, all conspire in a rumble of interplay that stops you cold and leaves you warm. Entirely original, and a new vibrancy of mineral for Vilmart.”
Andre Clouet Un Jour de 1911… Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($99.95) $79 special
Antoni Galloni 93+ points “[Review is for a prior disgorgement] The NV Grand Cru Cuvee 1911 emerges from the glass with the most haunting of perfumes. Sweet rose petal and jasmine are some of the nuances that emerge over time. Despite recent disgorgement, the purity of the fruit and the extraordinary elegance of the mousse are hard to miss. This is an exceptional, elegant version of the 1911 that should drink beautifully for years to come. The bottle I tasted needed quite a bit of air to open up, so readers should be patient with the wine at this stage.”
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Pierre Paillard ‘La Grande Recolte’ Bouzy Grand Cru Extra Brut, Champagne 2008 750ML ($79.95) $69 special
Winery note “La Grande Récolte represents the quintessence of the Paillards vineyards. Crafted by blending only the first press of old vine Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. 55% Pinot Noir, 45% Chardonnay. 1.8 g/L dosage. Hard chalk bedrock with clay topsoil. La Grande Récolte benefits from extended aging “sur lie”: 10 years in our 19th century cellars at a depth of 53 feet/16 meters and at a constant 50°F/10°C temperature.”
Peter Liem note “Paillard’s vintage brut, now called La Grande Récolte, is blended from equal parts pinot noir and chardonnay, which is unusual for a Bouzy champagne, but which also reflects the estate’s commitment to chardonnay. It’s aged for up to ten years on its lees before release.”
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We offer 110 Champagnes in stock now. Shop the selection on our webstore!
Domaine Weinbach Gewurztraminer Furstentum, Alsace Grand Cru 2018 750ML ($79.95) $69 special
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Domaine Weinbach Pinot Gris Clos des Capucins, Alsace 2018 750ML ($41.95) $36 special
Domaine Weinbach Pinot Gris Cuvee Sainte Catherine, Alsace 2018 750ML ($59.95) $49 special
James Suckling 97 points “Wow. This has such attractively pure fruit with flinty nuances, across ripe peaches, nectarines and grapefruit. The off-dry palate has a flinty and gently smoky edge with a very fresh, concentrated core of ripe white peaches. So powerful and long. Drink or hold.”
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Domaine Weinbach Sylvaner, Alsace 2018 750ML ($29.95) $21.90 special
Wine Enthusiast 92 points “Wet earth, straw and white asparagus make for a subtle nose on this wine. The palate amplifies them and adds gentle apple fruit to these textural, earthy but intriguing notes. A body-dry finish shines with lemony freshness.”
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Don’t miss the other 2018 releases from Weinbach. Shop them on our webstore!
Italy
Isole e Olena Collezione Privata Syrah, Tuscany 2016 750ML ($79.95) $59 special
Case-6 Isole e Olena Collezione Privata Syrah, Tuscany 2016 750ML ($479.95) $324 special (that’s only $54/bottle and the lowest listed price in the USA today!)
Antonio Galloni 98 points “The 2016 Syrah is a fascinating contrast to the 2015. The cooler vintage (vis-à-vis) 2015 yielded a perfumed, silky wine that dazzled with finesse. Silky tannins wrap around a core of dark blue/purplish fruit, lavender, spice, menthol and licorice. Vivid and finely sculpted, with tremendous nuance, the 2016 has it all. Paolo De Marchi did five vinifications and used a touch of whole clusters in all the lots, which really seems to bring out an extra dimension of aromatic complexity.”
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 96 points “I absolutely love this profound and beautiful Syrah from Tuscany. The 2016 Syrah Collezione Privata offers a unique interpretation of the grape that delivers much of the heft, power, smokiness and textural richness of the French grape, however it also shows purely Italian flares of grilled herb, blue flower, moist earth and Toscano cigar. Bold cherry fruit fills the core of this wine, and there is plenty of padding and extra richness at the edges. The wine is rich, velvety and long in terms of mouthfeel. It ages in oak for 18 months. Some 5,000 bottles were made.”
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Germany
Weingut Donnhoff Krotenpfuhl Riesling Grosses Gewachs, Nahe 2018 750ML ($79.95) $59 special
John Gilman 93 points “The 2018 Krötenpfuhl GG is absolutely superb this year. The wine is very pure on the both the nose and palate, with the bouquet delivering a lovely mix of pink grapefruit, tart orange, salty minerality, a touch of wild yeasts and a topnote of citrus blossoms. On the palate the wine is pure, full-bodied and very well-balanced, with a lovely core, ripe, vibrant acids and great focus and grip on the long, nascently complex and very elegant finish. Superb juice. 2026-2060. 93.”
Wine Advocate 92 points “The 2018 Kreuznacher Krötenpfuhl Riesling trocken –GG– is super clear, pure, fresh and flinty on the nose. Intense and powerful on the palate, this is a linear, salty-piquant and lingering Riesling with grip and tension but also purity and finesse. Still young but very elegant. Tasted in July 2019.”
David Schildknecht-Vinous 91 points “The nose pungently and enticingly combines oregano, mustard seed, lemon zest and sea breeze. The palate is firm, tangy and bright, at 13% alcohol coming off as full and forceful. The mustard seed suggestion adds stimulating cut to a finish whose lemony brightness and animation are surprising for the vintage, and which is admirably transparent to stony, alkaline and saline nuances. (For background on this bottling – as well as information about the site – consult my lengthy review of the inaugural vintage 2017 installment.)”
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The average price nationally is $67
Weingut Willi Schaefer Graacher Domprobst Riesling Spatlese #5, Mosel 2018 750ML ($89.95) $69 special
John Gilman 94+ points “The 2018 Domprobst Spätlese AP #5 is far more reserved out of the blocks than the AP #10 version, and this wine will demand some extended bottle age before it really starts to hit on all cylinders. However, the potential here is outstanding and all that is needed is some patience to outwait the inherent structural reserves of the Domprobst. The bouquet is a fine mix of pear, apple, salty slate minerality, bee pollen, petrol and spring flowers. On the palate the wine is deep, fullish and very, very precise, with superb cut, a great core and a veritable slate bath of minerality on the long, tightly-knit and focused finish. This is going to be stellar. 2028-2075+. 94+.”
Grapelive 94 points “This 2018 Domprobst #5 Spatlese is dense, more than out right sweet on the palate with plenty of brooding complexity and balanced detailing, it shows tightness at first, but unfolds with beautiful and brilliant fruit with crisp green apple, lime, apricot and a mix of subtle tropical fruit along with smoky shale, wet stones, spearmint and chamomile tea and delicious lingering tangerine sorbet, peach flesh and rosewater, that comes from the must weight and residual sugar. This wine will get much more interesting as its baby fat and its deep inner spice comes through, as there is only a hint of crystalized ginger and tangy notes, but the youthful acidity keeps it from feeling heavy adding a sense of lightness to this serious Spatlese, this is going to reward those lucky enough to have it for decades to come. This chiseled and crystalline Riesling has clarity and it delights the palate with a tease of rich fruitiness and a cooler sense of being and restraint keeping a nice impression of tension, this all the reason these wines are so sought after and coveted, not only by Riesling junkies, but by Schaefer’s peers and friendly rivals, such is the respect and quality here….The Schaefer Graacher Domprobst lot #5 is a special small batch that was picked and fermented separate from the main bottlings and is a fabulous unique edition that was hand harvested on a later pass through the vines and where only perfect clusters were chosen prior to the Auslese pick and without any botrytis, from what I understand, making for a more concentrated expression that still shines with brilliant freshness and mineral tones. While the 2017s were ultra luxurious and dense, these 2018s are slightly more lacy and show a finer delicacy without being less sensual or impactful, and clearly as per normal Schaefer has made a fantastic set of wines, with this one really standing out. Terry Theise, Riesling guru and the importer of Schafer’s wines, says without hesitation or without any doubt that Willi Schaefer is one of the greatest estates in Germany, and I am and most critics will never question that, this address is the gold standard for quality with two main parcels in Domprobst and Himmelreich all on pure Devonian slate….This #5 is a collector gem and while imported, it will take some searching to get, though worth it! If you get some, cherish them and if you can’t wait to open it, do so with high end Asian, like Thai cuisine, slightly hot/spicy that has fresh ingredients that highlights simplicity ($70 Est.)”
We offer 328 German Rieslings in stock now. Shop the selection on our webstore!
Austria
Schloss Gobelsburg Lamm Gruner Veltliner, Kamptal DAC 2018 750ML ($69.95) $59 special
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2018 Kammern Ried Lamm 1ÖTW displays an intense golden-yellow color and opens with a deep, clear and complex, remarkably refined and elegant, crystalline and flinty bouquet of crushed stones, herbs and ripe Veltliner fruit. Full-bodied, lush and intense but fine and elegant on the silky-textured and well-balanced palate, this is a perfectly round and sweet, lush and ripe, pretty generous Lamm with a long and elegant, beautifully balanced but tensioned and stimulating salty finish. Tasted at Schloss Grafenegg and Schloss Gobelsburg in September 2019.”
Terry Theise note “Lamm as a rule is buckwheat-y, rusky, savory but not thick, like a vegetable-veal stock with barley, yet oddly also like lamb itself. (“Lamm” doesn’t mean lamb, but is rather a dialect word for “loam.”) It is a great wine though virtually without fruit per se. Its poise of gloss and power, intensity and outline, mass and transparency are emblems of the paradox without which no wine is truly great. If Renner commences the birds to sing, Lamm commences the wolves to howl. This `18 has its customary virtues though it also suggests alcohol could be an issue. Is it eucalyptus spice or jalapeño heat? I liked it better in a moderate-sized tulip, unusually, where it was almost elegant and certainly showed more fruit.”
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Schloss Gobelsburg Heiligenstein Riesling Reserve Erste OTW Lage, Kamptal 2018 750ML ($69.95) $59 special
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 93 points “Gobelsburg’s 2018 Ried Heiligenstein 1ÖTW opens with a very clear, bright, fresh and flinty, very elegant and almost coolish bouquet, like almost no other Heiligenstein of this vintage except for Bründlmayer’s selections. Round and elegant on the palate, this is a bright and refined, highly elegant and crystalline Heiligenstein with an intense, piquant and mineral finish. Tasted at Schloss Grafenegg and Schloss Gobelsburg in September 2019.”
Terry Theise note “Right now this is vivid on its lime and smoke sides, with the tropical fruits and spices still in bud; lots of fir and balsam and the sweet kelp of (an Oolong tea called) Fu Shou Shan. Already superb, it needs just one more note in the chord to be truly great.”
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Weingut Bernhard Ott Fass 4 Gruner Veltliner, Wagram 2018 750ML ($31.95) $28 special
VinopolNote: Labeled ’30 Jahre’ (30 Year) in honor of the 30th vintage of this wine.
Wine Enthusiast 92 points “Subtle citrus pith mixes with salty yeast on the shy nose. The palate then presents a mix of bright lemon peel and pith, salt, yeast and crushed arugula in a surprisingly slender but concentrated package. The finish is savory and dry.”
James Suckling 92 points “Aromas of dried white flowers, lime blossom and sliced apples make a fresh impression on the nose. The palate delivers white-pepper, apple and mirabelle flavors with a fresh, green-pear finish. Drink or hold. Screw cap.”
Terry Theise note “The first of the `18 surprises; whereas this wine usually indicates a tangible leap ahead of Am Berg, in `18 this is less overt; the wine is saltier but not so much richer as denser, like the stock after an extra few hours on the stove; fennel, legume, collagen— an inferential GV.”
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We offer 57 Austrian wines in stock now. Shop the selection on our webstore!
Spain
Well priced and delicious. It’s a smooth and fresh-tasting unoaked red that’s even delicious with a slight chill.
Celler del Roure ‘Safra’, Valencia 2017 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 special
Luis Gutierrez-Wine Advocate 93 points “The third vintage of my favorite red, the 2017 Safrà is from an early and low-yielding year when they got larger grapes that delivered fresher and more fluid wines than a normal warm year. It fermented with 30% full clusters in stainless steel vats, and like all of these wines, it didn’t see any oak; it matured exclusively in 2,600-liter clay “tinaja” for six months. It’s floral and subtle, super elegant, without any excess, expressive and perfumed. The palate is equally elegant, with very fine tannins, good freshness and very tasty, almost salty flavors. This has to be the finest vintage for this wine. Even if 2017 can be similar to 2015, this feels more balanced and complete. Most of the wines are a bargain, and this is a steal. 16,500 bottles were filled in July 2018.”
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Nanclares y Prieto ‘A Senda Vermella’ Tinto, Rias Baixas NV 750ML ($39.95) $33 special
Luis Gutierrez-Wine Advocate 92 points “Their first red from Rías Baixas is the NV A Senda Vermella, an unusual blend of 80% wine from 2018 and 20% from 2017 (the cork reads 17/18), which is 60% Caíño and 40% Mencía from different parts of the Salnés, but it’s sold without appellation of origin. There’s only 10.9% alcohol, and it has a very clear green strike and pungent herbal flavors that somehow give it a strong umami sensation. It’s definitely green in the best possible sense, and light to medium-bodied with very fine tannins. It fermented with 100% foot-trodden clusters for some 20 days, mostly in used barrels but with 20% of the volume in stainless steel. The 2017 part was in stainless steel and oak for 22 months, and the 2018 part aged exclusively in tank for 10 months. Very unusual, a red of strong character. It’s a red that grows on you, better the second and third time, and always better with food. 3,883 bottles were filled in August 2019.”
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Trending
Classic California Chardonnay at an exceptional price.
Mount Eden Edna Valley Chardonnay 2017 750ML ($27.95) $21.90 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-12 Mount Eden Edna Valley Chardonnay 2017 750ML ($299.95) $219 special (that’s only $18.25/bottle and the lowest listed price in the USA today!)
Erin Brooks-Wine Advocate 93 points “This comes mostly from the Wolf vineyard with some fruit from the Middle Ranch vineyard. The 2017 Edna Valley Chardonnay opens with wonderful aromas of honeycomb, orange blossoms, saline, crushed shell and loads of baked apple and quince with an earthy undercurrent. The palate is medium-bodied, satiny and intense, with seamless freshness on the finish, which lingers with honeyed notions.”
Guiborat ‘Prisme’ 14 Grand Cru, Champagne NV 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 11 bottles in stock now
James Suckling 95 points “A very cleverly pitched cuvée from this grower in Cramant that delivers a complete sense of ripe chardonnay fruit in a tightly curated palate. Aromas of white peaches, lemons, grilled bread and chalky, flinty notes lead to a palate that has smooth, lemon-curd, pear and white-peach flavor. Dry-cut finish and a gently nutty fade. So complete with beautifully articulated acidity.So layered and so balanced. December 2018 disgorgement. An assemblage of four Grand Cru parcels in the Cote des Blancs. Drink or hold.”
An incredible deal on this younger vine-bottling from a Bordeaux First Growth.
Le Pauillac de Chateau Latour 2013 750ML ($99.95) Was $79, Now $69, 36+ bottles in stock now
James Suckling 90 points “A firm and silky red with currant, plum and berry character. Medium body, fresh finish. Stone and dark fruit. Drink now.”
Mount Eden Edna Valley Chardonnay 2017 750ML ($27.95) $21.90 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-12 Mount Eden Edna Valley Chardonnay 2017 750ML ($299.95) $219 special (that’s only $18.25/bottle and the lowest listed price in the USA today!)
Erin Brooks-Wine Advocate 93 points “This comes mostly from the Wolf vineyard with some fruit from the Middle Ranch vineyard. The 2017 Edna Valley Chardonnay opens with wonderful aromas of honeycomb, orange blossoms, saline, crushed shell and loads of baked apple and quince with an earthy undercurrent. The palate is medium-bodied, satiny and intense, with seamless freshness on the finish, which lingers with honeyed notions.”
Guiborat ‘Prisme’ 14 Grand Cru, Champagne NV 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 11 bottles in stock now
James Suckling 95 points “A very cleverly pitched cuvée from this grower in Cramant that delivers a complete sense of ripe chardonnay fruit in a tightly curated palate. Aromas of white peaches, lemons, grilled bread and chalky, flinty notes lead to a palate that has smooth, lemon-curd, pear and white-peach flavor. Dry-cut finish and a gently nutty fade. So complete with beautifully articulated acidity.So layered and so balanced. December 2018 disgorgement. An assemblage of four Grand Cru parcels in the Cote des Blancs. Drink or hold.”
An incredible deal on this younger vine-bottling from a Bordeaux First Growth.
Le Pauillac de Chateau Latour 2013 750ML ($99.95) Was $79, Now $69, 36+ bottles in stock now
James Suckling 90 points “A firm and silky red with currant, plum and berry character. Medium body, fresh finish. Stone and dark fruit. Drink now.”
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Now it’s even lower!
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Le Pauillac de Chateau Latour 2014 750ML ($119.95) Was $99, Now $69, 26 bottles in stock now
James Suckling 92 points “The purity of fruit is bright and focused with strawberries and spices. Medium body, firm and silky tannins and a fresh finish. Crisp and pretty. Drink or hold.”
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The average listed price is $96
A rich, robust blend that kicks Sangiovese up to 11.
Tenuta del Cerro ‘Colpetrone’ Montefalco Rosso, Umbria 2015 750ML ($18.95) $16 special
Case-12 Tenuta del Cerro ‘Colpetrone’ Montefalco Rosso, Umbria 2015 750ML ($219.95) $169 special (that’s only $14.08/bottle!)
Eric Guido – Vinous 92 points “The 2015 Colpetrone Rosso di Montefalco is much more refined and perfumed than I would have expected from this warm vintage, showing peppery herbs and dusty florals, plus crushed red wild berries and a hint of dusty earth. On the palate, silky textures envelop all that they touch in ripe cherry fruit and sweet spices, made juicy through vibrant acidity and minerals, as round tannins slowly settle in. The finish is medium in length, leaning more toward the tart black fruit spectrum, yet with a salty twang that makes the mouth water. The 2017 is really quite stunning today. A blend of 70% Sangiovese with equal parts Merlot and Sagrantino.”
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Felsina Berardenga Rancia Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG 2016 750ML ($69.95) $49 special
Felsina Berardenga Rancia Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG 2016 1.5L ($119.95) $99 special
Felsina Berardenga Rancia Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG 2016 375ML ($34.95) $28 special
Decanter Magazine 97 points “The south-facing Rancia vineyard reaches altitudes of 420 metres, overlooking the lower-lying vineyards of Colli Senesi. It boasts complex soils of calcareous clay layered with the chalky white limestone-like alberese and schistose galestro. This 2016 vintage is simply stunning. It’s stately yet gracious, with personality for days, leading with a sumptuous nose of smoke, exotic spice and iron-rich earth. Ripe fruit coats the mouth yet it remains buoyant and tangy as chalky tannins charge in to frame the palate. A seductive wine with an appetising, savoury edge and a long, long life ahead. Drinking Window 2023 – 2041.”
Antonio Galloni 96+ points “The 2016 Chianti Classico Riserva Rancia is powerful, rich and explosive, with tremendous drive. Even so, several bottles have been quite closed. That is probably a very good sign for the long-term, but readers should not plan on touching a bottle anytime soon. A wine of vertical drive and aromatic nuance, the 2016 Rancia is super-complexed. Only with a few hours of air does it show the nuances and layers that were so evident from barrel. The 2016 is a painfully stubborn wine in the early going, but it will offer superb drinking pleasure for those who can wait.”
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 96 points “The 2016 Chianti Classico Riserva Rancia knocks it out of the park. Like the other new releases from Fèlsina, this pure expression of Sangiovese needs more time to evolve and improve with bottle age. But even at this young stage, you are made fully aware of the beautiful intensity and complexity of the quality fruit at its core. There is so much energy and tension here, further reinforced by the fresh acidity of the vintage. There are vibrant tones of wild cherry, raspberry and spice, followed up by white truffle and tilled earth.”
Castello di Camigliano Poderuccio Toscana IGT, Tuscany 2018 750ML ($21.95) $18 special
Case-12 Castello di Camigliano Poderuccio Toscana IGT, Tuscany 2018 750ML ($249.95) $189 special (that’s only $15.75/bottle!)
James Suckling 90 points “Lots of blackberries and tar, together with black-olive character on the nose and palate. Full-bodied and structured. A little raw, but should come around nicely with bottle age. Drink from 2020.”
Trending Pre-Arrival Landing ETA Late September:
Opus One Proprietary Red, Napa Valley 2017 750ML ($399.95) $349 pre-arrival special
Antonio Galloni 95+ points “A remarkable wine for the year, the 2017 Opus One is a dense, full-throttle beauty. Plush fruit and soft, silky contours give the 2017 its racy personality. Exotic, beautifully perfumed and impeccable in its balance, Opus One is one of the most complete wines of the vintage. In 2017, Opus One has a distinctly red-toned fruit profile that distinguishes it from the surrounding vintages.”
Wine Advocate 95 points “Opus One had picked 91% of their fruit before the fires started in 2017, and only two lots were eliminated from consideration. The 2017 Opus One, bottled in July 2019, is a blend of 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8.5% Petit Verdot, 5% Cabernet Franc, 4.5% Merlot and 1% Malbec. Medium to deep garnet-purple colored, it slowly grows on the nose, revealing compelling notes of baked black cherries, mulberries, black raspberries, warm cassis and blackberry pie with nuances of spice cake, yeast extract, tapenade, licorice and dusty soil with a waft of wild sage. Medium-bodied, the palate has a lively skip in its step, featuring bags of juicy raspberry and cassis-laced fruit and a refreshing line, supported by ripe, plush tannins, finishing long and graceful.-LPB”
James Suckling 95 points “Lots of currant and floral notes on the nose. Hints of mint and spice. Medium-to full-bodied, round and savory with creamy, juicy tannins. Hints of citrus underneath. Bright, fresh and delicious. Drink or hold.”
Staff Pick
Gour de Chaulé
Saul:
While the modern conception of the Southern Rhone is all 15%+ alcohol monsters with lots of new wood, there are still a few holdouts who value an old school style. Gour de Chaule is a top example, in the heart of the Southern Rhone but with drinkability in their hearts. These are powerful wines, but with a soulful edge and a freshness that makes them immensely appealing. When you factor in their pricing, they become can’t miss offerings for anyone who longs for older style wines from the Rhone.
I had a chance to try both the 2015 and 2005 Gour de Chaule Gigondas and was stunned by the depth, complexity and freshness of the older version as well as the promise that the younger version clearly showed. On a night with a ton of expensive world class wines open, this under-$35 bottle was one of the highlights. The 2016 is a superior version of the wine I tried and I couldn’t be more excited. I’ll be grabbing a few to open in 10+ years, confident that it’ll be suitable for any occasion.
In Stock Now from Gour de Chaulé:
Domaine du Gour de Chaule Gigondas Tradition, Rhone 2016 750ML ($49.95) $33 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-12 Domaine du Gour de Chaule Gigondas Tradition, Rhone 2016 750ML ($399.95) $359 special (that’s only $29.92/bottle and the lowest listed price in the USA today!)
Josh Raynolds – Vinous 95 points “Vivid ruby. An exotically perfumed bouquet evokes ripe red and pit fruits, potpourri and garrigue, and an exotic spice note emerges in the glass. Stains the palate with sweet raspberry, cherry and lavender pastille flavors that steadily put on weight with air. Conveys a suave blend of power and finesse and finishes extremely long and floral, with fine-grained tannins lending discreet grip.”
While the modern conception of the Southern Rhone is all 15%+ alcohol monsters with lots of new wood, there are still a few holdouts who value an old school style. Gour de Chaule is a top example, in the heart of the Southern Rhone but with drinkability in their hearts. These are powerful wines, but with a soulful edge and a freshness that makes them immensely appealing. When you factor in their pricing, they become can’t miss offerings for anyone who longs for older style wines from the Rhone.
I had a chance to try both the 2015 and 2005 Gour de Chaule Gigondas and was stunned by the depth, complexity and freshness of the older version as well as the promise that the younger version clearly showed. On a night with a ton of expensive world class wines open, this under-$35 bottle was one of the highlights. The 2016 is a superior version of the wine I tried and I couldn’t be more excited. I’ll be grabbing a few to open in 10+ years, confident that it’ll be suitable for any occasion.
In Stock Now from Gour de Chaulé:
Domaine du Gour de Chaule Gigondas Tradition, Rhone 2016 750ML ($49.95) $33 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-12 Domaine du Gour de Chaule Gigondas Tradition, Rhone 2016 750ML ($399.95) $359 special (that’s only $29.92/bottle and the lowest listed price in the USA today!)
Josh Raynolds – Vinous 95 points “Vivid ruby. An exotically perfumed bouquet evokes ripe red and pit fruits, potpourri and garrigue, and an exotic spice note emerges in the glass. Stains the palate with sweet raspberry, cherry and lavender pastille flavors that steadily put on weight with air. Conveys a suave blend of power and finesse and finishes extremely long and floral, with fine-grained tannins lending discreet grip.”
The average price is $35
Schaller Chablis, Adriano Barbaresco & Hugues Godme
Arriving September 18th
Camille and Laurent Schaller are bright, young and talented and committed to making a name for themselves in the world of Chablis. The Schaller family has grown grapes in Chablis for generations, but it wasn’t until Camille went through enology school that they started bottling any on their own. Initially they only made one wine (an AOC Chablis) but as grape contracts to negociants have ended they have increased the number of bottlings produced under their own label. The results are stunning—bright, mineral and with that Chablisienne quality. Snap up your supply before they’re discovered…
Camille & Laurent Schaller Cremant de Bourgogne NV 750ML ($29.95) $24 pre-arrival special
12% chardonnay, 33% aligoté, 55% pinot noir
Camille & Laurent Schaller Cremant de Bourgogne NV 750ML ($29.95) $24 pre-arrival special
12% chardonnay, 33% aligoté, 55% pinot noir
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Camille & Laurent Schaller Chablis 2019 750ML ($29.95) $24 pre-arrival special
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Camille & Laurent Schaller Chablis Vieilles Vignes 2018 750ML ($34.95) $29.50 pre-arrival special
40+ year old vines, barrel-aged
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Restock by popular demand!
At under $30/btl by the case, this is a wine you’ll want to own in volume. Traditionally made, it’s surprisingly approachable right now with several hours of air, but has the bones to age into something even more profound. Lovers of Piedmontese wines shouldn’t pass this up—at some point the secret is going to get out and we’ll look back on this wine as a glorious buying opportunity. When that day comes, you’ll want to have plenty in your cellar.
Adriano Marco e Vittorio Basarin, Barbaresco DOCG 2016 750ML ($39.95) $33 pre-arrival special
#6 Wine Enthusiast Top 100 of 2019
Wine Enthusiast 96 points “Spearmint, black-skinned berry, blue flower and new leather aromas lead the way along with a whiff of menthol. Tight and taut, the elegant, structured palate delivers juicy black cherry, crushed raspberry, wild herbs and white pepper alongside assertive, close-grained tannins. Bright acidity provides balance. Best 2024–2036”
Wine Spectator 94 points “Aromas of rose, cherry, strawberry and white pepper draw you in, while vibrant acidity and a lacy texture carry the fruit flavors, adding tobacco and earth details. A solid base of tannins provides support. This should come together nicely. Best from 2022 through 2038.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Hugues Godme Blanc de Noirs Grand Cru, Champagne NV 750ML ($69.95) $55 pre-arrival special
VinopolNote: Poised and balanced with a bright pop of fruit.
Peter Liem note “…the Blanc de Noirs, comes entirely from the grand cru villages of Verzenay, Verzy and Beaumont-sur-Vesle, and like the Blanc de Blancs, it always contains a high percentage of reserve wine. A slightly larger percent of this is aged in wood, but even then, it’s a blanc de noirs that focuses on subtlety and finesse rather than power.”
Disgorged January 2018, 4.5 years en tirage.
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Hugues Godme Grand Cru Millesime, Champagne 2008 750ML ($79.95) $66 pre-arrival special
Peter Liem note “Godmé’s vintage brut varies in composition according to the vintage, but it’s often made with a majority of chardonnay, even though it comes exclusively from Verzenay and Verzy. About half of it is aged in wood, and it’s a highly terroir-expressive wine, demonstrating the intensely vinous personalities of these renowned grand cru sites.”
Disgorged January 2018. 7.5 years en tirage.
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Collector’s Corner
Regal Roumier
Roumier is a legendary Chambolle producer and perpetually one of the toughest producers in Burgundy to source. We are exceptionally pleased to offer these wines, with excellent provenance and pricing, to you today.
In Stock Now from Domaine Roumier:
Domaine Roumier Bonnes-Mares Grand Cru 2009 750ML ($2,499.95) $2,199 special, only 2 bottles available
Antonio Galloni 98 points “Roumier’s 2009 Bonnes-Mares is without question one of the wines of the vintage. Firm yet beautifully integrated tannins provide the backdrop for the highly nuanced, expressive aromas and flavors that emerge from the glass. All the elements are in the right place in this extraordinary, moving wine. At times the Bonnes-Mares comes across as very powerful, at other times it is quite sensual. In other words, it is pure magic in the glass. Burgundy fans will flock to the Musigny because of its rarity but there is a very real possibility that the Bonnes-Mares will outshine it over time.”
Burghound 96 points “This is also remarkably fresh with very ripe but not over ripe aromas of cassis, spice, stone and raspberry liqueur. There is a palpable sense of energy running through the rich, powerful and brooding broad-shouldered flavors that benefit from a huge dollop of dry extract that pushes the very firm tannic spine to the background on the explosive and youthfully austere finish that possesses genuinely outstanding length. I very much like the balance here and this should age effortlessly for decades.”
Domaine Roumier Bonnes-Mares Grand Cru 2013 750ML ($1,199.95) $999 special, only 1 bottle available
Burghound 95 points “This is quite floral with plenty of earth and assorted spice elements adding interest to the very fresh mix of green tea and red and dark berry fruit scents. There is outstanding power and concentration to the broad-shouldered flavors that possess a robust mouth feel and ample minerality, all wrapped in a moderately austere and hugely long finish. This is a big, indeed even opulent but balanced wine that is clearly built for longer-term cellaring.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $1,139
Domaine Roumier Ruchottes-Chambertin Grand Cru 2010 750ML ($1,199.95) $999 special, only 1 bottle available
Stephen Tanzer-Vinous 94+ points “Medium red. Subtle perfume of raspberry, underbrush and musky flowers. Silky on entry, then chewy, salty and deep in the middle, with a captivating savory quality and terrific nerve to the tactile red berry and earth flavors. This compellingly juicy, chewy, soil-inflected wine spreads out on the back to saturate the entire palate. Splendid long-term potential here, as the tannins are solid yet noble.”
Burghound 93 points “A distinctly floral nose is quite cool and restrained and only aggressive swirling grudgingly liberates nuances of ripe red currants that evidence subtle hints of truffle and stone. There is a velvety, indeed even silky mouth feel to the pure and highly energetic flavors that terminate in a moderately austere, clean, linear and explosive finish. This superbly complex and mineral-driven effort possesses a highly sophisticated mouth feel and should age very well for years to come.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Domaine Roumier Ruchottes-Chambertin Grand Cru 2011 750ML ($599.95) $499 special, only 3 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer-Vinous 93 points “Bright red. Sexy aromas of cherry, raspberry, menthol and truffley underbrush. Sappy and energetic, with good mineral energy to the flavors of red berries, spices and pepper. Lovely silky wine with a light touch and a firm spine of acids and tannins. A superb 2011 with a long finish.”
Burghound 93 points “A highly complex mélange exhibits notes of plum, violets, truffle, earth and plenty of sauvage character. The intensely mineral-driven flavors are shaped by relatively fine-grained tannins as well as plenty of energy on the pure, balanced and linear finish. This is presently highly-restrained and youthfully austere and will require some time to flesh out; as such it is one of the Roumier 2011s that is not likely to be especially accessible young.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Plus, don’t miss our recent offers on Armand Rousseau or Hudelot-Noellat!
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Stay safe, be well & drink well.