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In Today’s Newsletter:
New Champagne Reviews from Wine Advocate
Staff Pick:
Absurdly Delicious Fizzy Pink
Our Best-Selling Rose
New Rhone Treasures from Bosquets and Pesquie
Chardonnay Bliss:
2017 Chablis
Trending Wines
Labor Day Sale Recap
New Champagne Reviews from Wine Advocate
Given the quality of recent releases by both growers and Grand Marques alike, it’s one of the best times to be drinking Champagne. William Kelley (the Burgundy/Champagne reviewer for the Wine Advocate) seems to agree. He just published new reviews, writing that Champagne is “one of France’s most multifaceted and rapidly evolving wine regions” while acknowledging the dialectic inherent in the region.
Kelley highlights Grandes Marques’ and growers’ top wines in his report—refusing to pick a side in the great debate. He remarks that “At their best, the Grandes Marques represent a different and long-established vision of what Champagne can be, not an inferior one. And many of the growers recognize what the Grandes Marques have done to cultivate the region’s international renown, as well as envying them their advantages—such as, in some cases, large stocks of ancient reserve wines for blending.”
He goes on, though, to note the excitement that grower producers have brought to Champagne, adding “Champagne’s finest small growers have inspired and refreshed the region. Even though grower Champagne still accounts for only a tiny fraction of the region’s exports, wines [from top growers] generate excitement in the marketplace that very few of the Grandes Marques can match. Vinous, concentrated and intensely characterful, the best grower Champagnes offer the same kind of excitement that wine lovers derive from the highly differentiated wines of the Côte d’Or.”
You can see a selection of top scoring bottlings below, or head to our web store for a list of all the Champagne we have in stock and on the way.
Newly Reviewed Champagnes In Stock Now
Dom Ruinart Rose, Champagne 2002 750ML ($349.95) $219 special, 13 bottles in stock now
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 96 points “Disgorged in June 2014 with 5.5 grams per liter dosage, the 2002 Dom Ruinart Rosé includes 20% red Pinot Noir from Sillery and Verzenay. Unfurling in the glass with aromas of brioche, mirabelle plum, dried orange rind and fresh pastry, it’s full-bodied, broad and gourmand, with a creamy mousse, delicate phenolic grip and excellent balance. This is one of the finest renditions of this cuvée that I’ve tasted.”
The average price is $333
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 93 points “The NV Brut Premier Cru Mes Favorites Vieilles Vignes is a new cuvée for Hébrart that’s well worth seeking out, derived from superior, south-facing sites in Mareuil-sur-Ay that also inform his Special Club bottling. The inaugural released, based on the 2014 vintage, is showing very well, wafting from the glass with aromas of apples, pears, tangerine, white flowers, spice and pastry cream. On the palate, it’s medium to full-bodied, concentrated and nicely structured, with good cut and dry extract, as well as all the charm that defines the house style.”
The next best price is $64.89
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 94 points “Disgorged in February 2017 with no dosage, this bottle of the NV Brut Nature Premier Cru Les Houtrants Complantés derives from the 2012 triage, and consists of a blend of reserve wines from 2008 to 2011 that were aged in magnum. Les Houtrants is a precocious lieu-dit in Cumières that Geoffroy planted with a field blend of Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier, Chardonnay, Arbanne and Petit Meslier in 2004. The wine wafts from the glass with a subtle but complex bouquet of white currants, smoke, wet stones, warm biscuits and verb, followed by a medium to full-bodied, fine-boned and tensile palate that’s exquisitely balanced, its bright spine of acidity cloaked in just enough vibrant flesh and texture to avoid any hint of asperity, concluding with a searingly chalky finish. Intellectually stimulating and compulsively drinkable in equal measure, it’s a pity that only a tiny number of bottles are produced.”
The average price nationally is $215
Case-6 Savart L’Ouverture Premier Cru Blanc de Noirs Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($299.95) $249 special (that’s only $41.50/bottle!)
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 93 points “Disgorged in October 2018 with 4.5 grams per liter dosage, the latest rendition of Savart’s NV Brut Premier Cru L’Ouverture is a blend of the 2014, 2015 and 2016 vintages, produced entirely from Pinot Noir, some 30% of which is purchased as grapes. Offering up a classy bouquet of minty yellow orchard fruit, white flowers, fresh peach and warm pastry, it’s medium to full-bodied, fine-boned and elegant, with a pinpoint mousse, ripe but racy acids and a long finish. Pristinely balanced, its understated delicacy is typical both of the site and Savart’s style.”
The average price is $55
Savart L’Accomplie Premier Cru Brut, Champagne NV 1.5L ($149.95) $119 special, 5 magnums in stock now
Case-6 Savart L’Accomplie Premier Cru Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($379.95) $309 special (that’s only $51.50/bottle!)
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 94 points “The latest release of Savart’s NV Extra Brut Premier Cru L’Accomplie is based on the 2015 and 2016 vintages, and it was disgorged in October 2018 with four gams per liter dosage. It’s a blend of 80% Pinot Noir and 20% Chardonnay that hails from the lower-lying part of Le Mont Benoit. Unfurling in the glass with notes of ripe Meyer lemons, red apples, lime zest, acacia honey and toasted almonds, it’s medium to full-bodied, racy and incisive, with a nicely concentrated and tight-knit core, terrific cut and a long, mouthwateringly chalky finish. Savart’s elegant style—and the partial malolactic that some of the base wines for this cuvée see—has proven the perfect foil for the 2015 vintage base.”
The average price is $68
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 94+ points “The 2014 Extra Brut Premier Cru Le Mont des Chrétiens is showing very well, wafting from the glass with scents of citrus oil, crisp green apples, fresh bread and crushed chalk. On the palate, it’s medium to full-bodied, racy and incisive, with a tighter-knit and more precise profile than the very nicely balanced 2015 tasted alongside, concluding with a long, mineral finish. Note that this bottling used to be named Dame de Coeur.”
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.”Savart Le Mont Benoit Premier Cru Extra Brut, Champagne 2015 750ML ($139.95) $115 pre-arrival special, only 15 bottles available
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 95 points “The 2015 Extra Brut Premier Cru Le Mont Benoit was—like Savart’s Mont de Chrétiens—disgorged with only two grams per liter dosage in lieu of the normal three. It was showing especially well during my spring visit to the domaine, bursting with aromas of orange rind, crisp green apple, white flowers and almond paste, the prelude to a medium to full-bodied, layered and racy palate that’s long, penetrating and saline on the finish.”
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 94 points “Produced exclusively from Chardonnay in an Ecueil lieu-dit better-known for Pinot Noir is the 2015 Extra-Brut Premier Cru Le Mont des Chrétiens, a small cuvée that’s vinified in 500-liter barrels, without malolactic, and it was disgorged a few months ago with only two grams per liter dosage—one gram less than Savart’s usual three for this bottling. Unwinding in the glass with aromas of lemon curd, white flowers, fresh melon, pastry cream and mandarin, it’s medium to full-bodied, deep and chalky, with a tensile profile despite the warm vintage, concluding with a mineral finish. Note that this bottling used to be named Dame de Coeur.”
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 95 points “Due to be disgorged four weeks after my visit was the 2015 Extra Brut Premier Cru Les Noues, a new bottling from a parcel of Pinot Noir vines that used to go into Savart’s l’Ouverture cuvée. Unwinding in the glass with a complex bouquet that mingles waxy citrus rind, red apples, berries and blanched almonds with hints of oyster shell and crushed chalk, it’s medium to full-bodied and ample but incisive, with excellent depth at the core, a lovely spice of acidity and a long, precise finish.”
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 95 points “The 2007 Brut Blanc de Blancs Comtes de Champagne continues to show very well, and it hasn’t evolved appreciably since I last tasted it a few months ago. Revealing a pretty bouquet of lemon oil, lily pollen, dried white flowers, blanched almonds and crushed chalk, it’s medium to full-bodied, chiseled and tensile, with excellent depth at the core, racy acids and a pure, precise and notably chalky finish. Tight-knit without being austere, it’s a very classically balanced middleweight Comtes that has a long future ahead of it.”
Staff Pick:
Absurdly Delicious Fizzy Pink
Our Best-Selling Rose
The 2018 has all you want from the wine. It’s salty, fizzy, and refreshing with a hint of red berries. It’s like drinking sparkling mineral water with a lemon twist and raspberry garnish.Now, I’m supposed to tell you that rosé has no season, but this one does: we get far too few cases a year. We talked the distributor into an increased allocation four times (there may have been some incredulous laughter involved) but it’s still going way too fast.Ameztoi Rubentis Rosado, Getariako Txakolina 2018 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 specialJosh Raynolds – Vinous 91 points “Shimmering orange-pink. High-pitched red currant, strawberry, orange zest and a bright mineral element on the incisive nose. Lithe and penetrating on the palate, offering intense red berry and citrus fruit flavors that pick up a sexy floral quality as the wine stretches out. Delivers a solid punch of flavor but comes off lithe, betraying no excess fat and finishing very long and precise, with a lingering suggestion of bitter citrus pith.”
VinopolNote: The much-loved and lightly fizzy pink from the Basque region in Spain! A staff favorite. Always light, bright, fresh, salty and fun. The perfect aperitif wine for the summer.
New Rhone Treasures
Domaine des Bosquets
Domaine des Bosquets vaulted into the stratosphere of top producers in the Southern Rhone. All it took was a generational change, as Julien Brechet’s uncompromising drive for quality has put Bosquets on the map. These are phenomenal wines for the price as top Gigondas is undervalued relative to Chateauneuf. The “basic” Bosquets Gigondas is an intense, rich wine that puts a lot of $50 CdP to shame and the high end wines…well, yes, they’re that much better.
Arriving ETA November:
Domaine des Bosquets Gigondas, Rhone 2017 750ML ($39.95) $33 pre-arrival special
Jeb Dunnuck 91-93 points “I always love the classic cuvée from this estate and the 2017 Gigondas doesn’t appear to be an exception. A blend of 40% Grenache, 35% Syrah, 20% Mourvèdre, and the rest Cinsault, aged in a mix of tank and mostly older barrels, it has a peppery, spicy bouquet of red and black fruits as well as full-bodied richness, beautiful balance, and remarkable purity. It’s a beautiful wine.”
Wine Advocate 90-92 points “Low Grenache yields make for an interesting blend in the 2017 Gigondas: 40% Grenache, 35% Syrah, 20% Mourvèdre and 5% Cinsault. It certainly shows some smoky, herbal notes from the Syrah at this stage. Full-bodied and supple, it should prove to be an excellent wine.”
Domaine des Bosquets Gigondas, Rhone 2016 750ML ($31.95) $26 specialJeb Dunnuck 92 points “Leading off the wines from bottle, the 2016 Gigondas is a classic wine from this estate, offering a deeper ruby/purple color as well as tons of garrigue, peppery spice, and earth intermixed with ample red and black fruits. Polished, rounded and sexy, with sweet tannin, it has a modern style that won’t appeal to traditionalists yet is beautifully done. The blend is 60% Grenache, 25% Syrah, 10% Mourvèdre, and the rest Cinsault.”
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 92 points “Vivid ruby-red. Lively, expansive red berry, floral pastille and white pepper scents, along with suggestions of garrigue and smoky minerals. Sweet, focused and seamless in the mouth, offering juicy raspberry, spicecake and lavender flavors that deepen steadily on the back half. Clings with very good authority on the gently tannic finish and leaves succulent floral and herb notes behind.”
Joe Czerwinski-Wine Advocate 92 points “Hints of garrigue accent raspberries and Rainier cherries in the 2016 Gigondas. This blend of 60% Grenache, 25% Syrah, 10% Mourvèdre and 5% Cinsault is full-bodied and supple, with no hard edges, just lovely fruit. Long, seamless and delicious for drinking over the next 6-7 years, it’s a terrific introduction to the fruit-forward style at this estate. Tasted twice with consistent notes.”
The average price nationally is $33
Jeb Dunnuck 97 points “From a cooler terroir of sandy soils just beside the domaine, the 2016 Gigondas Le Lieu Dit is another tour de force from this brilliant estate. It sports a medium ruby color as well as a rocking bouquet of kirsch, blackberry liqueur, rose petals, damp earth, incense, and spice. Ultra-fine, seamless, elegant, and pure, it’s nevertheless powerful and rich, with awesome intensity. Readers need to snatch up this blockbuster.”
Jeb dunnuck 96-98 points “The 2016 Gigondas Le Lieu-Dit is also 100% Grenache and comes from a parcel just beside the winery. This is a cooler, sandy terroir and the style of this cuvée is dramatically different than the La Colline cuvée, showing a much more finesse-driven, elegant, ethereal style. Nevertheless, the 2016 is one of the larger, richer example of the cuvée and sports a deep, inky color as well as to die for notes of black raspberries, crème de cassis, crushed pepper, and ground herbs. With full-bodied richness, polished, sweet tannin, no hard edges and a fabulous length, it’s another best to date cuvée from this estate.”
Wine Spectator 95 points “Deliciously ripe, featuring a bright and lively display of red currant, raspberry and blackberry coulis flavors that race along, underscored by fine but persistent chalky tannins and backed by lilac, violet, rooibos tea and savory notes along the way. The long finish ripples with fresh acidity. Best from 2020 through 2036.”
Chateau Pesquie is one of the hidden gems of the greater Rhone. Based in Ventoux, the estate is best known for the excellent value bottling Terrasses, but we would like to highlight their higher end wines, Artemia and Ascensio. These are wines that are absolutely stunning (and are deals compared to nearby Chateauneuf). These have depth, complexity and power to spare, with a balance and earthiness that’s unique to Pesque. 2016 looks like one of the most successful vintages ever at the estate and ’17 is a worthy follow up as well. These arrive in November, but you can explore our library wines in stock now.Arriving ETA November:
Chateau Pesquie Ventoux Artemia, Rhone 2016 750ML ($49.95) $39 pre-arrival special
Case-6 Chateau Pesquie Ventoux Artemia, Rhone 2016 750ML ($299.95) $219 pre-arrival special (that’s only $36.50/bottle!)
Decanter-World Wine Awards 97 points “This is stacked with the black fruits of the region, plus violets, thyme, lavender, dried herbs and tannins that are ripe and of the appropriate proportion. Still very youthful and will flourish with time in bottle. Modern and very classy indeed. Genius wine, very long and intense, its purity magnificent.”
Jeb Dunnuck 94 points “Made from equal parts Syrah and Grenache, the 2016 Ventoux Cuvee Artemia is another terrific vintage for this cuvee. Still young, backward and unevolved, it has tons of potential in its blue fruits, graphite, crushed rock and violet-tinged aromas and flavors. Medium to full-bodied, concentrated, with terrific purity of fruit, and fine, building tannin, it needs 2-3 years of bottle age and will keep for a decade or more.”
Wine Advocate 94 points “A 50-50 blend of Grenache and Syrah, aged in 50% new oak, the 2016 Ventoux Artemia is a tremendous effort. It combines blueberries and stone fruit with cedary notes and then underscores those attractive aromas and flavors with a full-bodied, velvety texture and a bright, crisp finish. Lovely stuff.”
Chateau Pesquie Ventoux Artemia, Rhone 2017 750ML ($49.95) $39 pre-arrival special
Jeb Dunnuck 94 points “A blend of 75% Syrah and 25% Grenache that saw roughly 20% stems and a year in 50% new, larger format oak, the 2017 Artemia has a Côte Brune-like perfume of dark fruits, smoked meats, black olives, and chocolate. Full-bodied, smoky, meaty, and powerful, it’s another rock star of a Syrah from the Chaudière family that has incredible character.”
Wine Advocate 92-94 points “A tank sample of the 2017 Ventoux Artemia looked promising, although a bit different in character from previous vintages. It’s 75% Syrah and only 25% Grenache, with peppery, cool-climate Syrah notes, blueberryish fruit, ample weight and a clean, crisp, lively finish.”
Jeb Dunnuck 95 points “Mostly Grenache (5% Syrah) made with 30% stems, brought up all in concrete, the 2016 Ventoux Ascensio sports an inky purple color as well as sensational notes of blackberries, plums, licorice, violets, and crushed rocks. It’s deep, full-bodied, pure, and primordial, with ample tannin and a great finish. It needs 2-3 years of bottle age but is blockbuster stuff.”
Jeb Dunnuck – Wine Advocate 96 points “[Reviewed Oct 2016] Shockingly good, the 2009 Cotes du Ventoux Cuvee Artemia is in the top handful of wines I’ve tasted from this appellation. Just insanely perfumed, with tons of incense, Provencal herbs, garrigue, smoked meats and violets, this full-bodied beauty has a stacked mid-palate, building, sweet tannin and a killer finish. Hello beautiful, why didn’t I buy more of you.”Chateau Pesquie Ventoux Artemia, Rhone 2007 750ML ($69.95) $59 special
Jeb Dunnuck – Wine Advocate 97 points “[Reviewed Oct 2016] While I questioned if the 2009 Artemia was the greatest wine I’d tasted from Ventoux in my notes, I know for a fact the 2007 Cotes du Ventoux Cuvee Artemia is the greatest wine I’ve tasted from the estate, and the appellation! A wine that would stand toe to toe with some of the greatest Chateauneuf du Papes out there, this utterly profound Ventoux offers awesome aromatics of incense, blackberries, crushed flowers, licorice and cured meats. Pure, full-bodied, silky and weightless, yet packed with character and flavor, it’s a truly sensational wine that readers shouldn’t miss!”
Wine Advocate 92 points “A seriously good 2014 that’s always a mix of equal parts Grenache and Syrah, the 2014 Cotes du Ventoux Cuvee Artemia was showing beautifully on this occasion, even though it had just been bottled a few weeks ago. Possessing a finesse-driven, elegant, moderately concentrated, yet sexy style, with tons of black raspberry, violets and spice, it’s ideal for drinking in its youth while you wait on the more structured, concentrated vintages to get some bottle age.”
The next best price is $37.80
Case-12 Chateau Pesquie Ventoux Terrasses, Rhone 2016 750ML ($199.95) $156 special (that’s only $13/bottle!)
Jeb Dunnuck 91 points “A year in, year out no-brainer is the Terrasses cuvee from this estate, and the 2016 Ventoux Terrasses is no exception. A blend of 70/30 Grenache and Syrah, it offers a terrific perfume of black cherries, wild herbs, dried flowers, and spice. This gives way to a plum, sexy, beautifully textured red that has surprising minerality, medium-bodied depth and richness and fine tannin. I finished a case of the 2005 just last year, and it was still going strong, so while there’s no need to cellar bottle, it will keep nicely for 7-8 years.”
Wine Advocate 90 points “A bit more “serious” than the Edition 1912M, the 2016 Ventoux Terrasses delivers what longtime admirers have come to expect from the estate: ample fruit, complexity, weight and charm. Peppered raspberries and hints of garrigue drive the wine from start to finish, bolstered by fine, silky tannins and balanced acids. This solid value blend of Grenache and Syrah should drink well for 4-5 years from vintage.”
Chardonnay Bliss:
2017 Chablis
It’s official: you should be excited about 2017 Chablis. William Kelley just published his annual report on the region and he declared that “there can be little argument that 2017 is the finest Chablis vintage since 2014. Readers are advised to acquire the wines while they are still available.”
Stylistically, this is a vintage that’s put on elegance over time. 2017 was a warmer vintage at the outset but as Kelley described it, “many wines are displaying more cut and tension than they did 12 months ago—a sentiment shared by some of the region’s best producers. The finest young 2017s now combine the fragrant, expressive fruit tones they displayed last year with excellent structure and precision.”
Furthermore, the quality is present across the board. Compared to 2016 (a vintage that can be very good at peak), the ’17’s are “much more homogeneous and classical”—words we like to hear. We’ve got a selection of newly reviewed wines below and more will be featured over the next few months as offers come in. One thing’s for sure, though—this is a vintage not to sleep on:
“As I wrote last year, fresh, tensile wines that are classical in style have been the watchword at the 78-hectare Domaine William Fèvre for more than a decade. The domaine’s own grapes are hand harvested… and are fermented in a mixture of stainless steel and used barrels sourced from Bouchard Père & Fils, depending on the cuvée. After five or six months, the wine that fermented in wood is also racked to stainless steel to continue its élevage on the lees.… The 2017s, revisited from bottle, go from strength to strength, and several showed so well that I was compelled to revise upward the scores that I published at the beginning of this year.” – William Kelley
Newly Reviewed 2017 Chablis In Stock Now
“This new domaine in Préhy debuted with the 2014 vintage. The Schaller family were hitherto part of La Chablisienne, but today they vinify the fruit of some eight of the fifteen hectares they own—in stainless steel, with the exception of their barrel-aged Vieilles Vignes bottling. The wines are lively and nicely balanced, suggesting that this is an address of some promise.” – William Kelley
Domaine Camille et Laurent Schaller Vau de Vey, Chablis Premier Cru 2017 750ML ($41.95) $33 special, 35 bottles in stock now
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 90 points “Unwinding in the glass with aromas of citrus blossom, Meyer lemon and wheat toast, the 2017 Chablis 1er Cru Vau de Vey is medium to full-bodied, pretty and precise, with a fragrant core of fruit, racy acids and a saline, delicately wood-inflected finish.”
Domaine Camille et Laurent Schaller Vaucoupin, Chablis Premier Cru 2017 750ML ($41.95) $33 special, 32 bottles in stock now
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 89 points “Blossoming in the glass with scents of white flowers, citrus oil, green apple and musky peach, the 2017 Chablis 1er Cru Vaucoupin is medium to full-bodied, saline and open-knit, with racy acids but a charming, expressive personality. It’s produced from seven-year-old vines, so the best is likely still to come.”
Newly Reviewed 2017 Chablis Arriving in September
William Fevre Vaulorent, Chablis Premier Cru 2017 750ML ($89.95) $69 pre-arrival special
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 94 points “The 2017 Chablis 1er Cru Vaulorent is a terrific effort that’s one of the finest premier cru bottlings from Fèvre that I’ve ever tasted. Unwinding in the glass with a lively bouquet of fresh peach, green apples, spring blossom, oyster shell and wheat toast, it’s medium to full-bodied, deep and multidimensional, with exceptional concentration, racy acids and a long, penetrating finish. Didier Séguier should be very proud of this weightless but intense Vaulorent, a wine that outshines plenty of grand cru Chablis this year.”
William Fevre Bougros, Chablis Grand Cru 2017 750ML ($99.95) $79 pre-arrival special
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 93 points “I was unduly conservative with my assessment of Fèvre’s 2017 Chablis Grand Cru Bougros, as this bottle was showing very well indeed, unfurling in the glass with aromas of white flowers, fresh peach, Meyer lemon and crushed chalk. It’s full-bodied, deep and fleshy, with excellent concentration, racy acids and chalky structuring extract, concluding with a precise finish. While this Bougros is still quite demonstrative, it is showing more complexity and tension after another six months in bottle and is well worth seeking out.”
William Fevre Les Clos, Chablis Grand Cru 2017 750ML ($149.95) $119 pre-arrival special
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 95+ points “Revisiting Fèvre’s 2017 Chablis Grand Cru Les Clos six months later, as I was completing this report, I was also inclined to upgrade my score, as the wine is bouncing back from its recent bottling with a vengeance. Its pure and charming bouquet of ripe citrus fruits, crisp yellow apples, beeswax and spring flowers is now complemented by classy nuances of oyster shell and warm bread; and on the palate, the wine remains full-bodied, ample and satiny-textured, with an enveloping core of fruit, ripe but succulent acids and a long, precise and delicately chalky finish, but its impressive structuring extract and depth of concentration are even more apparent. In short, don’t miss this superb effort.”
Jean-Paul & Benoit Droin Valmur, Chablis Grand Cru 2017 750ML ($89.95) $69 pre-arrival special
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2017 Chablis Grand Cru Valmur has come together nicely since I tasted it last year, picking up additional tension with further time on the lees. Unwinding in the glass with a reserved bouquet of green apple, iodine and citrus oil and framed by a subtle touch of wood, it’s medium to full-bodied, deep and structured, with chewy extract to burn and lively acids. This will demand some patience.”
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 89 points “The 2017 Chablis Villages is performing well from bottle, revealing pretty aromas of citrus fruit, white flowers and peaches. On the palate, it’s medium to full-bodied, elegantly textural and vibrant, with good flesh at the core and a precise finish.”
Trending Wines
VinopolNote “The 2017 Reserve is mostly composed of Abbey Ridge fruit and the bottling reflects the cooler nature of the site and the year quite beautifully. There’s a brightness and energy to the wine that couples with Abbey’s floral and black-cherry nature in a beautiful way.”Gaja Sori San Lorenzo Barbaresco, Piedmont 2014 750ML ($499.95) $399 special
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.”
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.”Like a Chianti on steroids, this is rich and ready for dinner tonight.
Arnaldo-Caprai Montefalco Rosso, Umbria 2015 750ML ($24.95) $19 special
Case-12 Arnaldo-Caprai Montefalco Rosso, Umbria 2015 750ML ($299.95) $212 special (that’s only $17.67/bottle!)
James Suckling 92 points “Ripe plums, dried lavender, basil, tar, licorice and hot stones show here on the nose. Medium to full body, fresh acidity, round yet tight tannins and a fruity finish. Drink now.”
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 90 points “I really like the 2015 Montefalco Rosso and am happy to recommend this attractive value wine. It shows dark fruit and spice with a supple and round style. There is not too much dimension here, but the wine is upfront and immediate instead. I make roasted chicken according to an old family recipe with roasted garlic and potatoes, and this is exactly the kind of wine I’d want to pair with that dish.”
Weingut Keller Limestone Riesling, Rheinhessen 2018 750ML ($31.95) $28 special
John Gilman 91 points “The Limestone Riesling QbA this year is essentially the same wine as the Riesling Trocken bottling, except this cuvée has one full gram higher acidity and finished its fermentation at twenty-one grams of sugar. The wine is superb, offering up a complex bouquet of pink grapefruit, passion fruit, pulverized limestone, apple blossoms and a delicate topnote of wild yeasts. On the palate the wine is pure, fullish, complex and beautifully balanced, with a lovely core of fruit, fine focus and grip and lovely bounce on the long, succulent and flat out delicious finish. Just a lovely wine. 2020-2045.”A singular wine from one of the hottest talents in Spain.
Laura Lorenzo Daterra Azos de Vila, Val do Bibei 2017 750ML ($49.95) $37 special
Importer Note “Azos de Vila comes from many pueblos (Seoane, Soutipedre, Langullo, San Vicenzo) that are part of Manzaneda, where there are very old mixed plantings, with the oldest vines planted on their own rootstock. This village cuvée is a field blend of red varieties [Mouraton, Mencía, Garnacha Tintorera, Merenzao, Gran Negro]. After a very warm and dry summer, the grapes were hand-harvested in early September, partially destemmed and fermented with wild yeasts in used chestnut and French oak barrels with 15 days maceration, then raised for 12 months in the same barrels. Bottling was without fining or filtration, and minimal additions of SO2. This is a fresh yet com-plex vino tinto, with a rustic streak that begs to be paired with wild game and fatty pork dishes, like you would find on the River Sil in Galicia.”
Kumeu River Village Chardonnay, Kumeu, New Zealand 2017 750ML ($24.95) $19 special
Case-12 Kumeu River Village Chardonnay, Kumeu, New Zealand 2017 750ML ($299.95) $212 special (that’s only $17.67/bottle!)
James Suckling 90 points “A generous array of ripe pears and poached peaches with a ripe and forward feel. This has a lot of flavor. Nicely resolved at the finish. Drink now. Screw cap.”
Wine Advocate 89 points “Incorporating approximately 20% Hawke’s Bay fruit from a recently acquired vineyard, the 2017 Village Chardonnay is one of the strongest I can recall, despite a challenging vintage. Mainly fermented and aged in older barrels, it’s medium-bodied and plump in the mouth, with notes of peach and pineapple. Creamy, soft and custardy in texture, it picks up a crisp, citrusy edge on the finish.”Amphora aging gives this one a depth and savoriness that’s special.
Celler del Roure ‘Safra’, Valencia 2016 750ML ($24.95) $19 special
Luis Gutierrez – Wine Advocate 92+ points “Only in its second vintage, the 2016 Safrà is already a reference for the winery—it’s more vibrant and livelier than Parotet but produced with the same grape, Mandó, which is complemented here with 10% each Garnacha Tintorera and Monastrell. It fermented in stainless steel and stone lagars with 30% full clusters and indigenous yeasts. Malolactic was in amphorae, where the wine matured for some six months. It has plenty of aromatic herbs, balsamic; in a way, it reminded me of a vermouth. At the end of the day, 2016 was a short vintage—the grapes ripened earlier, so they harvested them pretty early, keeping the freshness. The palate is light to medium-bodied but very tasty, with deep flavors and great persistence; it has more concentration than it seems. It’s not as light as the 2015 and feels more complete. They used more stems than in the initial vintage, and that also helped to keep the freshness and balance the juicier fruit. It feels like a good improvement over the previous year, a very good value and the benchmark for Mandó reds. 15,000 bottles were filled in July 2017.”
Labor Day Sale Recap
It’s unofficially the end of summer—and while that’s not a reason to celebrate, it is a perfect excuse to put some absolutely top wines on sale for a (long) weekend. We’re dropping our already-low prices on wines from five Vinopolis favorite producers—at least until the clock strikes midnight Monday evening. These are some don’t miss bottles across a bunch of different styles, so no matter what sort of wine you love, there’ll be some wines for you.
Wine Advocate 98 points “The 2016 Hartford Court Chardonnay Seascape Vineyard leaps from the glass with exuberant notes of green mangoes, yuzu, mandarin peel and pink grapefruit with touches of baker’s yeast, pie crust, beeswax and oyster shell. It’s medium-bodied with a very, very taut, intense and refreshing palate, sporting incredible tension and layers and finishing very long and very minerally. 327 cases produced.”
Jeb Dunnuck 98 points “In the same league as the 2015 and flirting with perfection, the 2016 Chardonnay Seascape Vineyard comes from a ridgetop vineyard located at 1,150 feet above sea-level, just west of the town of Occidental. It was fermented and aged 16 months in 30% new French oak. Salty sea breeze, lemon curd, white flowers, beautiful minerality, and hints of toasted bread all flow to a medium to full-bodied, rich, powerful Chardonnay that has awesome purity, building density and depth on the palate, and bright acidity that carries through the finish. It’s straight-up awesome.”
The average price is $72
Jeb Dunnuck 98 points “Leading off the Pinot Noirs, the 2016 Pinot Noir Seascape Vineyard comes from a ridgetop vineyard located west of the town of Occidental. Aged 17 months in 27% new French oak, it offers a savory, marine-influenced bouquet of wild strawberries, cranberries, rose petals, and Asian spices. With medium to full body, supple tannins, and a great, great finish as well as a singular character, this magical Pinot Noir from this team will benefit from a year in bottle and keep for over a decade.”
Wine Advocate 97+ points “The 2016 Hartford Court Pinot Noir Seascape Vineyard is pale to medium ruby-purple colored and opens with vibrant cranberries, pomegranate and Bing cherries scents with touches of underbrush, wild sage, red roses and mossy bark with a waft of tilled soil. Medium to full-bodied, the palate packs in the elegant red fruit and earthy layers, finishing on a long, lingering, provocative mineral note.”
The average price is $66
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 92-94 points “(no new oak) Opaque ruby. Potent, mineral-accented dark berry scents are complicated by floral oil and peppery spice nuances. Smooth and seamless on the palate, offering gently sweet black raspberry, blueberry and violet pastille flavors that become livelier with air. Sappy and open-knit, closing with solid thrust, silky, even tannins and strong persistence.”
Jeb Dunnuck 91 points “The 2016 Cornas Granit 30 is another winner from this estate. Ultra-pure notes of cassis, blackberries, leafy herbs, liquid violets and pepper all emerge from the glass. It’s balanced, medium to full-bodied, and textured on the palate, with the balance and purity that this estate has become known for front and center.”
Wine Advocate 90-92 points “The 2016 Cornas Granit 30 had been blended and was in tank awaiting bottling during my visit. Medium to full-bodied, it’s already almost drinkable, showing attractive and classic notes of crushed stone, blood and cherries, reasonably supple tannins and charming blueberries on the finish.”
Jeb Dunnuck 93-95+ points “Similar colored, the 2017 Cornas Granit 60 comes from further up the slope and older vines. It offers a deeper, richer bouquet of black and blue fruits, smoked earth, violets, and ground pepper. Deep, full-bodied, thrillingly pure and elegant, yet still with classic Cornas density, power, and length, it’s another gem of a wine from this incredibly talented winemaker.”
Wine Advocate 93-94 points “The 2015 Grüner Veltliner Smaragd Dürnsteiner Liebenberg comes from 70- to 80-year-old vines on a rare calcareous slate soil. The wine displays a very clear and pure, pretty open and lovely spicy, crystalline and flinty bouquet with ripe pip fruit aromas. Very distinguished and rather coolish in its expression. Full-bodied, round and elegant, with tension, salt and grip in the finish, this is a charmingly ripe and juicy but also challenging mineral and piquant Veltliner from one of the most exciting terroirs. The finish is powerful and complex but also fresh and stimulatingly piquant. Pichler has bottled this wine since 2010.”
The average price is $54
Jancis Robinson 18/20 points “Very dark purple indeed. Altogether broader and less focused than the Côte Rôties on the nose. Peppery and subtle. Very glossy, layered, complex and magnificent. I would reproach this only very slightly on the finish but it’s a pretty magnificent wine.”
Wine Advocate 94 points “One of the gems in the vintage is the 2013 Hermitage Domaine des Tourettes, which comes from both the Bessards and Grandes Vignes lieux-dits on Hermitage Hill. Completely destemmed, then vinified in stainless steel and concrete tanks, the wine is aged 18 months in 30% new French oak; it offers terrific notes of dark fruits, graphite and ample minerality in a full-bodied, layered, ripe profile. It’s more approachable than the Les Bessards, yet will still have three decades of longevity.”
Now it’s even lower!
The next best price is $79.97
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 94+ points “Renato Vacca’s 2013 Barbaresco Gallina shows a bright and luminous personality. This is a sharp and focused expression of Nebbiolo with linear aromas of wild berry, blue flower and licorice. The wine ages in oak for two years and sees another 18 months in bottle. I loved the silky and enduring nature of the finish.”
Antonio Galloni 94 points “A generous, powerful wine, the 2013 Barbaresco Gallina exudes power and volume. Dark cherry, plum, spice, leather, smoke and licorice run through this decidedly ample Barbaresco. Gallina, a south-facing site in Neive, tends to naturally produce rich, generous wines. That is exactly what comes through here. The rich, unctuous style will appeal most to readers who appreciate bold, flamboyant wines. Ripeness feels like it is pushed to the limit.”
The average price is $57Labor Day Sale prices expire Monday, September 2nd at 11:59 PMCheck out the complete list of Labor Day Sale Wines on our web store!
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