Flash Sale; Ulysses Vineyard: Featured New Arrival; New Week – New Arrivals; Foradori – New Project/New Arrivals; Montevertine: Pergole Torte; Arriving Next Week; Trending; Staff Picks; Subscriber-Only Sale: Barbaresco; Time to Say Goodbuy: Casanova di Neri Sale
Flash Sale
Domaine Comte Abbatucci Barbarossa Blanc de Noir, Corsica NV (2012) 750ML ($79.95) Was $33, Now $28, 28 bottles available
Wine Advocate 91 points “Abbatucci’s 2012 br constitutes a tank-rendered blanc de noir from the Barbarossa vines his father planted in the early 1960s. Scents and flavors of apricot, pineapple and pink grapefruit are prominently reinforced by piquancy of pit, core, pip and rind, so that the mid-palate effect here – while lush and expansive – is simultaneously zesty and tactilely prickling. Accompanying candied citrus rinds and bitter-edged licorice offers a tannic sense of graininess that accentuates this wine’s invigorating persistence. I have no experience or even reliable word on how previous renditions have fared in bottle, but if fortune favors you with the opportunity and liquidity, enjoy this wine in its youth, but also explore its potential by cellaring a couple of bottles.”
Now it’s even lower!The average price is $59
Featured New Arrival
James Suckling 97 points “Subtle aromas of crushed berries and tile. Mushrooms. Almost dusty. Full to medium body, powdery tannins and mouthfeel. Bright acidity that gives the wine beautiful and enticing freshness. Gentle and ethereal red. The first vintage of the new wine from the owners of Dominus. The vineyard is located in Oakville near Vine Hill. Drink or hold. (16-Jan-2016)”
New Week – New Arrivals
OREGON
Franchere Wine Company Havlin Vineyard Gruner Veltliner, Willamette Valley 2014 750ML ($17.95) $16 special
Winery note “Partly fermented in neutral tank, partly in acacia barrel. Primary fermentation lasted 9 months and finished in July 2015. Beguiling chamomile and nutmeg aromas, with textural impact.”
Franchere Wine Company Zena Springs Vineyard Pinot Noir, Eola-Amity Hills 2014 750ML ($27.95) $24 special
Winery note “Vineyard leased and farmed by Franchere – no herbicides or systemic fungicides. Southeastern slope on marine sedimentary soils. Structured, elegant, and complex.”
Franchere Wine Company Havlin Vineyard Syrah, Willamette Valley 2014 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 special
Winery note “Sinewy, energetic, savory, ageable. Phenolic ripeness occurs at low brix thanks to the shallow marine sedimentary soil and bedrock of near-solid ironstone.”
J. Christopher ‘Appassionata’ Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2009 750ML ($89.95) $79 special
Winery note “The Appassionata bottling is a special selection of a few extraordinary barrels of Pinot Noir, aged and released only when winemakers Jay and Ernst Loosen believe it is ready to drink. This cuvée is dense and powerful, yet retains an Old World elegance and finesse, beautifully showing off the magic transformation that only comes from bottle age. The 2009 is the third release of the Appassionata, with only 96 6-packs produced from two barrels of Abbey Ridge Vineyard.”
The average price is $85
FRANCE-CHAMPAGNE
Salon Cuvee ‘S’ Le Mesnil Blanc de Blancs, Champagne 2002 750ML ($499.95) $399 special
James Suckling 99 points “The 2002 Salon is phenomenal quality… I was mesmerized. It is a subtle and intense Champagne that shows complex character of lilac, minerals, sliced lemon, apple, and white pepper. It is full body and dense yet racy and agile with a lightness and freshness. It has a gloriously long finish. It changes every moment in the glass. It has such clarity. It’s magnificent to drink now, but shows great texture and structure for aging”. JS
Salon Cuvee ‘S’ Le Mesnil Blanc de Blancs, Champagne 2004 750ML ($519.95) $399 special
Antonio Galloni 97+ points “The 2004 Salon has been superb each time I have tasted it over the last year or so. Bright, tense and crystalline, with all of the energy that is typical of both Salon and the vintage in the Côte des Blancs, the 2004 bristles with superb precision and cool, pulsating minerality. The 2004 spent a dozen years on its lees. Over the last six months or so, it has gradually begun to open up, but it is very much a wine for the cellar. Two thousand four is remembered as a vintage with record high yields. Salon (and Delamotte) did a terrific job in keeping the vines well balanced. Production was just 46,000 bottles, as opposed to the 60,000 or so that is more typical. Chef de Caves Michel Fauconnet opted for a low dosage of just 4 grams per liter. This is a tremendous showing.”
Daniel Bouland Morgon Delys, Beaujolais 2014 750ML ($31.95) $26 special
Josh Raynolds—Vinous Media 93 points “Vivid ruby. Powerful dark berry and floral pastille scents are energized by a spicy nuance and a suggestion of smoky minerals. Intense black raspberry and bitter cherry flavors show excellent clarity and become sweeter with air. Concentrated yet graceful in style, with no rough edges and a violet pastille note building slowly on the very long, focused finish.”Pierre-Marie Chermette Domaine du Vissoux Cuvee Traditionnelle Vieilles Vignes, Beaujolais 2014 750ML ($19.95) $16 special
Josh Raynolds—Vinous Media 91 points “Vivid ruby-red. Spicy and energetic on the nose, displaying zesty red berry and succulent herb qualities and a touch of vanilla. Silky and focused in the mouth, offering lively raspberry and bitter cherry flavors sweetened by the vanilla nuance. Shows good energy and lift on the finish, leaving behind oak spice and vaguely jammy red berry notes.”Pierre-Marie Chermette Domaine du Vissoux Brouilly Pierreux, Beaujolais 2014 750ML ($27.95) $24 special
Wine Advocate 90 points “From one of the ten crus in Beaujolais, the 2014 Brouilly Pierreux is lively and fresh, with lots of tart black cherry and black raspberry notes intermixed with plenty of spice, underbrush and damp earth. Medium-bodied, elegant, and structured with a tight, energetic vibe, it should drink nicely through at least 2022.” JD
Pierre-Marie Chermette Domaine du Vissoux Fleurie les Garants, Beaujolais 2014 750ML ($27.95) $24 special
Josh Raynolds—Vinous Media 93 points “Deep ruby. Intense black raspberry, cherry and floral pastille aromas are complemented by suggestions of licorice and smoky minerals. Juicy and penetrating, offering sappy red and blue fruit flavors that effortlessly marry power to finesse. The mineral and floral notes linger impressively on the finish, which is given shape by fine-grained, sneaky tannins.”
Pierre-Marie Chermette Domaine du Vissoux Fleurie Poncie, Beaujolais 2014 750ML ($27.95) $24 special
Josh Raynolds—Vinous Media 92 points “Youthful violet. Musky, mineral-laced dark berry and cherry pit aromas show good clarity and lift. Smoky and gently sweet, offering sappy cherry and raspberry flavors and a touch of white pepper that builds on the back half. Finishes with zesty mineral cut, very good length and harmonious tannins that add gentle grip.”
FRANCE-BURGUNDY
Domaine Vocoret et Fils Chablis 2014 750ML ($27.95) $19 special
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 89 points “Pale, bright yellow. Fresh, musky aromas of pink grapefruit and flinty minerality. Juicy, citrussy and penetrating, with ripe apple and lemon flavors providing immediate appeal. This energetic village wine finishes lemony, dry and persistent.”
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 90 points “Pale straw-yellow. Subdued aromas of peach, crushed stone and spices, lifted by a floral topnote. Concentrated, tactile and saline on the palate, with citrus and mineral flavors nicely accented and extended by a spicy component. Finishes tactile, saline, dry and persistent. Has the stuffing and energy to age but this is seamless from day one.”
The next best price is $35.98
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 90 points “Pale, bright yellow with a green tinge. Meaty, musky scents of lemon, lavender sea salt and pungent white flowers. Juicy and penetrating on the palate, conveying lipsmacking salinity and noteworthy inner-mouth energy to the flavors of grapefruit and flowers. Nicely dry and reticent on the youthfully tight but already very persistent finish.”
Domaine Christian Moreau Pere & Fils Chablis 2014 750ML ($29.95) $26 special
Case-12 Domaine Christian Moreau Pere & Fils Chablis 2014 750ML ($319.95) $279 special (that’s only $23.25/bottle!)
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 90 points “Classic Chablis aromas of lemon, ginger and yeasty chicken broth. Sappy, concentrated village wine with lovely lemony acidity giving it a distinctly penetrating quality. An excellent village wine with excellent inner-mouth tension and complicating salinity.”
Wine Spectator 90 points “Precision and harmony define this white, with apple, lemon and mineral flavors, defined by the vibrant acidity. Just a hint of green plum shows on the lingering finish. Drink now through 2020.”Domaine Christian Moreau Pere & Fils Vaillons, Chablis Premier Cru 2014 750ML ($47.95) $36 special
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 91 points “Sexy aromas of citrus zest, menthol and wet stone. Shows terrific lemony cut and concentration, with firm acidity giving razor-sharp delineation to the dense middle palate. Fabien Moreau believes that the estate’s 2014s are even higher in dry extract than the 2015s. Finishes with excellent citrussy cut and length.”
Wine Spectator 91 points “Smoky in aroma, this white boasts apple and lemon flavors, with a hint of citrus peel. The finish has a tactile element and quininel and white pepper accents. Best from 2017 through 2023.”FRANCE-RHONE
Saint Cosme Cotes du Rhone Blanc, Rhone 2015 750ML ($19.95) $16 special
Winery note “The 2015 whites are structured with length yet also good freshness. The aromatic spectrum is characterized by ripeness, the wine is very open and reveals itself easily. Picpoul demonstrated its significance more than ever this year. Without it, we would have been totally unable to produce a balanced white. Also, the varietal has the ability to support the other grapes, without overshadowing them – it always takes a back seat to the expressive varieties Marsanne and Viognier. Basically, Picpoul is a real gentleman – it can play the bagpipes, but does not, as one famous French comedian once said. Pineapple, apricot, peach, violet, blackcurrant bud and licorice.”
Winery note “This wine epitomizes what should always be the essence of a true wine. One of the two properties from which grapes are sourced is owned by a childhood friend and the other belongs to my cousins. The blend of Syrah from Vinsobres with Syrah from Villafranchian terraces in Gard always produces wonderful balance, fleshiness and finesse. You may get to know the 2015 vintage through this wine – the oxblood colour, the depth, sappy character and wonderful round tannins for instance. You can easily sense the intensity with which fruit was imbued in 2015, a truly superb vintage. Successfully ripened grapes combined with freshness and our Syrah vines loved a hot July in 2015. This is exemplified in the magnificent wines produced in 2015 in the northern Rhone valley. The whole point of our Côtes du Rhône is to offer an early drinking wine that also has very good ageing capacity. I recently tasted the 2007 again which was really complex and still young. Welcome to 2015, the finest vintage since 2010. Blackcurrant, camphor, truffle, rose and blueberry.”
Chateau de Saint Cosme Gigondas 2014 750ML ($39.95) $29 special
Wine Spectator 92 points “Sports solid, charcoal-edged grip, with roasted alder and savory notes forming a robust frame around the chewy currant, plum and bitter cherry paste flavors. Best from 2018 through 2024.”
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 90-92 points “Brilliant ruby. Smoky cherry, boysenberry and potpourri scents show very good clarity and pick up a spicy quality with aeration. Intense red and blue fruit flavors are complicated by a floral pastille nuance. Finishes on a gently tannic note, delivering very good energy and spicy thrust. All of the Valbelle fruit was included in this bottling in 2014.”
Wine Advocate 89-91 points “Checking in as a blend of 65% Grenache, 20% Mourvedre and 15% Syrah, the 2014 Gigondas is a rock solid effort in a difficult vintage. Offering the classic graphite, camphor, mineral and darker fruit that’s the hallmark of this estate, it’s medium to full-bodied, nicely concentrated and has a tight, backwards, age-worthy feel. Give bottles 3-4 years of cellaring and drink through 2029.”Le Vieux Donjon Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Rhone 2014 750ML ($69.95) $59 special
Case-12 Le Vieux Donjon Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Rhone 2014750ML ($719.95) $636 special (that’s only $53/bottle!)
Le Vieux Donjon Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Rhone 2014 375ML ($34.95) $29 special
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 92-94 points “Brilliant ruby-red. Smoke-accented aromas of red and dark berry preserves, star anise and candied flowers convey a subtle hint of garrigue in the background. Sweet, seamless and broad on the palate, offering concentrated black raspberry and rose pastille flavors that turn spicier with air. Rich but vibrant as well, with no excess fat. Supple tannins build steadily on a very long, incisive finish that leaves behind notes of dark berries and candied flowers.”ITALY-TUSCANY
For new arrivals from Foradori in Tuscany, see our feature below!
ITALY-VENETO
Sorelle Bronca Spumante Brut Prosecco di Conegliano Valdobbiadene DOCG NV 750ML ($21.95) $17 special
Wine Enthusiast 91 points “Editors’ Choice. Fresh and fragrant, this delivers aromas of ripe orchard fruits and nuts, with a whiff of yellow wild flowers. The linear palate offers crisp pear, apple and lightly toasted almond alongside brisk acidity and a firm, refined perlage. It closes on a note of fresh peach and chopped herbs.”
Allegrini Valpolicella, Veneto 2014 750ML ($17.95) $16 special
Case-12 Allegrini Valpolicella, Veneto 2014 750ML ($199.95) $166 special (that’s only $13.83/bottle and the lowest listed price in the USA today!)
James Suckling 91 points “A fresh, fruity red with lemon, dried-cherry and raspberry aromas and flavors. Medium body, bright acidity and a clean finish. Drink or hold.”
Allegrini La Grola Veronese IGT, Veneto 2012 750ML ($29.95) $26 special
Case-12 Allegrini La Grola Veronese IGT, Veneto 2012 750ML ($349.95) $279 special (that’s only $23.25/bottle and the lowest listed price in the USA today!)
James Suckling 93 points “A red with lots of tannin, mint and berry character. Fresh herbs. Full body, firm tannins and a fruity finish. This is very structured for La Grola. Try in 2016.”
Allegrini Palazzo della Torre Veronese IGT, Veneto 2012 750ML ($21.95) $18 special
Case-12 Allegrini Palazzo della Torre Veronese IGT, Veneto 2012 750ML ($249.95) $189 special (that’s only $15.75/bottle!)
James Suckling 92 points “Aromas of dried earth, dried raspberry and blueberry. Full body, chewy tannins and a fresh, bright finish. Lively and delicious. This is always a delicious blend of corvina and rondinella. Drink now.”
ITALY-PIEDMONT
Renato Ratti Barolo Marcenasco, Barolo DOCG 2011 750ML ($49.95) $39 special
Case-6 Renato Ratti Barolo Marcenasco, Barolo DOCG 2011 750ML ($299.95) $216 special (that’s only $36/bottle!)
James Suckling 93 points “This is very ripe with a dried berry, almost raisin character and Asian mushroom undertone. Full body, chewy tannins and a long finish. Needs time to soften. Better in 2017.”
Wine Advocate 92 points “The Ratti family has done a terrific job with its well-priced 2011 Barolo Marcenasco. The wine shows ripe fruit at the beginning, but the intensity of the bouquet quickly finds good balance with just a few swift swirls of the glass. Those aromas are painted in broad brush strokes with thick lines of black fruit, spice, rose and anise seed. It shows moderate complexity, but just enough to keep your interest as the wine continues to shift and evolve in the glass. In all, Barolo Marcenasco exhibits a plush, fruit-forward style with soft tannins and rich texture. It is best for near and medium-term drinking.”
The average price is $47
GERMANY
Dr. Loosen Urziger Wurzgarten Riesling Alte Reben Grosses Gewachs, Mosel 2014 750ML ($49.95) $39 special
Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2014 Ürziger Würzgarten Riesling trocken GG Alte Reben shows a lovely purity and flintiness on the deep nose, which displays notes of crushed stones, lemon juice and also ripe fruit pips. Rich, ripe and piquant on the palate, this full-bodied Würzgarten is very mineral, but also has a certain sweetness and juiciness that is almost rounder than round, and results in a big and more opulent Riesling.”
Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2014 Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling trocken GG Alte Reben offers a noble, very clear, elegant, intense and subtle slate bouquet. Highly elegant and expressive on the palate this is a beautiful dry Riesling with perfect sweetness and balance. This wine is full-bodied, piquant and mineral, very complex and persistent. A great Mosel Riesling that would benefit from further bottle aging.”
Wine Advocate 95 points “Spicy flavors (cumin, fennel seeds) underline the perfectly ripe peach and Riesling aroma on the highly elegant nose of the gold-capsuled 2014 Erdener Prälat Riesling Auslese GK that was – like all the 2014 Auslese Rieslings – picked before the rain and rot. Generous and highly elegant on the palate, this is a sweet but also very salty and finesse-full Riesling, with a rich and creamy texture and some nutty aromas, but also a stunning purity in the background, with a long and stimulating finish. This is a spectacular Auslese that needs another 10-15 years and will still be great even in 30 years. “
Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2014 Brauneberger Riesling Kabinett offers the lovely, clear and delicate slate aroma intermixed with smoky and herbal aromas, but also lovely stone fruit as well. Pure, salty and piquant on the palate, this is a nicely concentrated, round and fruity Riesling with lightness, intensity and finesse, as well as a long and persistent finish. This is great terroir Riesling with salt and minerals. Extremely stimulating. Great, great Mosel Riesling from the grand cru terroirs of Brauneberg!”Fritz Haag Brauneberger Juffer Riesling Trocken Grosses Gewachs, Mosel 2014 750ML ($79.95) $59 special
Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2014 Brauneberg Juffer Sonnenuhr Riesling trocken GG displays a lovey, pure and refreshing stony bouquet with lemon and bright fruit flavors, as well as very delicate slate aromas. This is a beautiful dry Riesling of great finesse and elegance that is light but intense in its mineral complexity. Very pure, salty and provided with a lovely intensity. The wine is bottled with 13% alcohol, but you don’t taste it. Very promising.”
Mosel Fine Wines 92 points “Harvested at 86° Oechsle, this offers a rather smooth Spätlese-styled nose of pear, cassis, ginger, star anise, flowers and flinty slate. The wine is on the rich and round side on the palate (by Kabinett standards of this Estate) but already hints at the elegance and finesse to come. This offers a long and beautifully refined nose of herbs and spices. The overall structure is still rather reduced and backward and we expect this beauty to only truly shine at maturity. So patience is required! 2025-2040.”
Carl von Schubert Maximin Grünhäuser Abtsberg Riesling Spatlese, Mosel 2014 750ML ($39.95) $33 special
Wine Advocate 95 points “The 2014 Maximin Grünhäuser Abtsberg Riesling Spätlese (AP #12) opens very clear and smoky on the deep and aromatic nose. It is piquant and intense on the palate, very juicy and concentrated, firm and potent, and far away from being ready to drink. It is lush and piquant, very mineral and racy, and needs at least 15 years to reveal its true talents. This is a great Spätlese in Grand Cru format. Bottled with 68 grams of residual sugar.”
Wine Advocate 94 points “Very clear and smoky on the still discreet and yeasty-flavored, dense nose, the 2014 Maximin Grünhäuser Abtsberg Riesling Superior is a very elegant and round, finesse-full and persistent Riesling; it has a long and salty, very complex but beautifully fine, yet firmly structured and great finish. Impressive Riesling for the next 25 or 30 or more years.”
Wine Advocate 94 points “The 2014 Maximin Grünhäuser Herrenberg Riesling Spätlese (AP #7) offers a super clear and stony flavored bouquet with some yeasty flavors, which you can also find in the Kabinett. Sweet and filigreed on the weightless and highly elegant palate, this is a gorgeously fine and stimulating Spätlese with a beautiful salinity. Bottled with 72 grams of residual sugar per liter, you taste nothing but fruit. This is very precise and well articulated Riesling of great finesse and elegance, and probably the finest Herrenberg of the 2014 vintage. Lightness and goodness as character.”
Wine Advocate 91+ points “The 2014 Maximin Grünhäuser Herrenberg Riesling Trocken Alte Reben displays a very clear, subtle and elegant plum-brandy and white nectarine aroma. Full-bodied and very elegant on the palate, with intensity and minerality, this is a more concentrated, richer and round Riesling from the Herrenberg with a good mineral length. At this early stage, the juicy Alte Reben shows more of a GG-style than the Grünhaus character, though I wonder if not the ‘regular’ Herrenberg trocken is more drinking fun in the next five or 15 years. 11.5% alcohol is pretty Grünhaus though.”
SPAIN
Bodega Akutain Crianza, Rioja DOCa 2012 750ML ($29.95) $24 special
John Gilman 90 points “Bodegas Akutain is a new producer to me. The family farms just over six hectares of vineyards in the Rioja Alta region, with their cellars based just outside of Haro. The estate is old school in the best sense, picking by hand, fermenting everything with wild yeasts and raising the wine exclusively in old, American oak casks and bottled unfiltered in the great traditions of the region. Their 2012 Crianza is outstanding, wafting from the glass in a complex blend of red and black cherries, toasted coconut, woodsmoke, a touch of sweet nuttiness and a topnote Rioja spice tones. On the palate the wine is full-bodied, pure and wide open, with a velvety attack, a sappy core, lovely soil signature and a long, refined and meltingly tannic finish. Utterly classic and flat out delicious. 2016-2030+.”
Bodega Akutain Reserva, Rioja DOCa 2006 750ML ($49.95) $39 special
John Gilman 92+ points “The 2006 Rioja Reserva from Bodegas Akutain includes a bit of garnacha in the blend and was aged three years in old American oak barrels prior to bottling. The wine offers up an outstanding bouquet of red and black cherries, cigar ash, excellent soil tones, a bit of bay leaf and a discreet base of coconutty American oak. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied, complex and beautifully balanced with a fine core, still a bit of backend tannin and excellent grip and focus on the very long and classy finish. This is bottled unfiltered and unlike most ten year-old bottles of Rioja, this is best decanted off of its sediment. An excellent bottle from this very exciting classical Rioja estate! 2016-2030+.”
John Gilman 94 points “The 2004 Rioja Gran Reserva from Bodegas Akutain is a lovely the elegant side of Rioja Alta fruit, as it offers up a complex and utterly classic bouquet of plums, raspberries, cigar smoke, an impressively complex base of soil tones, cloves and toasted coconut. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied, pure and vibrant, with a great core of fruit, impeccable balance, lovely complexity and a very long, bright and classy finish. Just a great bottle of old school Rioja! 2016-2035+”Casa Castillo Las Gravas, Jumilla 2012 750ML ($31.95) $28 special
Wine Advocate 94 points “A cuvée that has been changing over the years (and getting more focused and Mediterranean, I’d say) the 2012 Las Gravas is a blend of Monastrell with 15% Syrah and 15% Garnacha; the Garnacha vineyards in the state come into production so the winery has more grapes to use. This wine saw a big change with the 2008 vintage, when Cabernet Sauvignon disappeared from the blend and got more focused and true to its birthplace. 2012 could be the finest vintage to date, as there was no 2012 Pie Franco, as quantities were really short and those grapes are in this blend. It starts off with some notes of smoke, toffee, fresh fruit and orange peel in harmony with well-integrated oak and a stony profile that develops more and more notes of esparto grass with time in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied, with some polished, very fine tannins and a good mid-palate that is very balanced and fresh (I saw a note of pomegranate, is it the Garnacha?). It is a serious, very young wine with ripe flavors that make it very tasty. This is clearly riper than the 2013s and shows the character of the vintage quite transparently. The price is a dream come true. Super!”
R. Lopez de Heredia Viña Bosconia Reserva, Rioja DOCa 2004 750ML ($39.95) $33 special
Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2004 Vina Bosconia Reserva is a blend of 80% Tempranillo, 15% Garnacho and the remaining 5% Mazuelo and Graciano aged for five years in used barrels, racked twice per year and fined with egg whites before being bottled unfiltered. Dark ruby-colored, with notes of beef blood, iron, antique shop, incense, blood orange and a touch of volatile acidity, the palate is very fresh, with good concentration, clear flavors and enough grip and fruit to age gracefully. A perfumed and feminine great Rioja. The Bosconia vineyard wines are the only ones from Lopez de Heredia bottled in Burgundy bottles. Drink now-2024.” WA
R. Lopez de Heredia Viña Cubillo Crianza, Rioja DOCa 2007 750ML ($29.95) $24 special
Wine Advocate 91+ points “The 2007 Viña Cubillo Crianza is the most affordable red. It is a wine that was born to go with tapas and to be sold at local restaurants showing a combination of fruit and the earth where the vines grow. It is a blend of the usual 70% Tempranillo, 20% Garnacho, 5% Graciano and 5% Mazuelo fermented in old oak vats with natural yeasts and matured in barrel for three years. The intoxicating nose shows blood orange, bitter cherries, leather and spices in a subtle and balanced way. The palate is sinewy, polished, has good acidity and is not terribly complex nor powerful, but is built more on the subtlety and lightness.This could well be the best Cubillo of recent times.”
Equipo Navazos La Bota de Palo Cortado No. 51 ‘Bota G.F.’ Sherry, Andalucia NV 375ML ($149.95) $133 special
Wine Advocate 98 points “Equipo Navazos has recently released a handful of Palos Cortados because they jumped at the chance to buy some extremely old wines from Pedro Romero. This NV La Bota de Palo Cortado 51 Bota GF is a single cask that was bottled in February 2014 averaging some 75 years of age in a solera system. GF are the initials of Gaspar Florido, a grower from Sanlúcar who owned some of the best plots in the Armijo vineyard inside Pago Miraflores in Sanlúcar de Barrameda, where this wine was likely born. At that time the wines were cask fermented and could have had a few years under flor. The Palo Cortados 47, 48 and this one, and even the Amontillado 49 are somehow related and have a common origin, but this one is closer to the 48. Given that it’s not easy to define these wines, other than to compare them with each other, I find this one to have more Palo Cortado character with a little more sweetness and with a hint of Oloroso. Out of these beasts, this is the most approachable and drinkable. Only 1,200 half bottles were filled with the content of one single cask.”
Wine Advocate 96 points “Same as with the editions 39 and 40, 59 and 60 are also devoted to Manzanilla Pasada, both originating from an old solera belonging to La Guita, starting with The NV La Bota de Manzanilla Pasada 59 Capataz Rivas. As number 30, it has been named after Rafael Rivas, capataz for several decades at La Guita’s cellars at Sanlúcar’s Calle Misericordia until his recent retirement, who in 1986 started a small 15 cask solera with old Manzanilla. Both this 59 and 60 are taken from this solera, and while 60 is from a single cask, this 59 blends wines from the other 14. The average age of the wine is estimated to be around 15 years. Some 3,000 500-milliliter bottles were filled in June 2015.”Equipo Navazos La Bota de Manzanilla Pasada No. 60 ‘Bota Punta’ Sherry, Andalucia 500ML ($119.95) $88 special
Wine Advocate 97 points “The so-called NV La Bota de Manzanilla Pasada 60 Bota Punta is sourced from a special cask “Bota Punta” that was already bottled as numbers 20, 40 and 50. This particular cask from the Manzanilla Pasada ‘solera’ from the Calle Misericordia winery from La Guita was isolated, because it has a very marked biological character – a very old Manzanilla that keeps more ‘flor’ than the other butts in the ‘solera’ and shows less oxidative. The other particularity is that this cask is always refilled with wine from the other 14 casks from the ‘solera’, and therefore keeps an average age a couple of years older, around 17 years, while keeping a younger/fresher profile. They all have the iodine and saline character, the seaweed, low tide and the vertical palate. This is the most special -and scarce and expensive – of all the manzanillas pasadas from Navazos. Really world class. This is the one with depth and sharpness beyond belief, a step up in complexity, elegance and balance. It’s funny how the wine seems to overcome oxidation and starts getting sharper and sharper again. This is truly outstanding.”
Wine Advocate 95 points “The relatively old NV La Bota de Amontillado 61 Bota NO was offered in the past as number 31 (bottled in October 2011), aged 35- to 40-years-old. It comes from a ‘solera’ that is marked as “Manzanilla Amontillada Vieja” in the winery, Sanlúcar Viejo, belonging to Rainera P. Marín (La Guita). The wine is thought to be around 40-years-old on average and is an elegant and harmonious Amontillado, quite different from the very old and concentrated Amontillados. The style they aim for here is to age the wines with the barrels fully topped-up, so the wines age slowly and feel comparatively younger than what they are, but at the same time they are more elegant. 2,000 half-liter bottles were filled at the end of 2015.”
Elisabetta Foradori, the legendary producer from the Dolomiti region, has brought her practice of all-natural and biodynamic style to the Tuscan Coast for a project named Ampeleia along with Thomas Widmann and Giovanni Podini. The focus is on Rhone varietals that flourish in the warm sunshine: Grenache, Mourvèdre, Carignan, Alicante Bouschet and Marsellan.The estate is composed of three vineyards, Ampeleia di Spora (mostly Cabernet Franc), di Mezzo (Grenache, Carignan and Alicante Bouschet surrounded by oak and Mediterranean scrubland), and di Sotto (mostly Grenache planted close to the sea). The wines are lush with exotic spices and heady perfumes, highlighting the clay, volcanic and schist soils along the coastline.
Ampeleia ‘Kepos’ Rosso Costa Toscana IGT, Tuscany 2014 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 special
Winery note “Different Mediterranean grape varieties are fermented together and blended to produce this wine. The grapes are sourced in the vineyards closest to the sea, in Ampeleia di Sotto, where the Mediterranean scrub dominates the landscape permeating the air with its fragrances: this is Kepos. Grape Varieties: Varieties originating from the Mediterranean Basin – mainly Alicante Nero (also known as Grenache, Cannonau or Garnacha) but also Carignan and Alicante Bouschet.”
Winery note “After years of experience, we have achieved a deeper awareness of the natural world around us and of our vineyards. The character of our land emerges clearly in our wines. It is a journey that requires passion, determination and the ability to observe and to listen. It is this new awareness that inspired us to conceive a third wine sourced from the youngest vineyards. The name of the wine is ‘Unlitro’ – one litre of Ampeleia – an expression of Ampeleia’s vitality and subtly delicate nature. Grape Varieities: Varieties originating from the Mediterranean Basin – mainly Alicante (also known as Grenache, Cannonau or Garnacha) but also Carignan and Alicante Bouschet.”
Antonio Galloni 91 points “A new wine from Foradori, the 2014 Fuoripista is 100% Pinot Grigio macerated on the skins, which gives color and phenolic intensity. Dried rose petal, cranberry, mint and wild flowers lift from the glass, but it is the wine’s texture, polish and finish that I find most compelling. When all is said and done, this is a tremendous showing for the year. Readers should expect a white wine with a fair amount of acid bite and plenty of structure. This is far from an easygoing northern Italian white, to say the least.”
The next best price is $44.99
our current shipping specials:
For the summer season we are offering UPS Three Day Select Service for the price of UPS Ground for shipments normally traveling 4 or more business days.
Free service upgrade only applies on single orders purchased and shipped during the promotional period. Additional fees will apply to orders held for any reason until after the promotional period and shipped by Three Day Select. Offer not valid on pre-arrival items that arrive after the promotional period.
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Montevertine
Pergole Torte
While most wines labeled ‘Super Tuscan’ are built around international grape varieties such as Cabernet or Syrah, the Pergole Torte from Montevertine is 100% old vine Sangiovese: the grape that is the heart and soul of the Chianti Classico region. In 1981, Sergio Manetti split from the Chianti Classico Consortium to produce what he saw as (and what became) the future for the wine region’s more traditional-minded producers. His son, Martino, carries on his father’s work of crafting the Pergole Torte single-vineyard wine in only the best vintages. We’re excited to offer two back-to-back stellar vintages, available here now:
Montevertine Le Pergole Torte Toscana IGT 2011 750ML ($149.95) $119 special
Antonio Galloni 97 points “A vivid, beautiful wine, the 2011 Pergole Torte is superb. Warm, early-maturing harvests often attenuate the differences between sites, but not here. The old vines weathered the heat better, resulting in a wine that is very much in line with the past, but with more body, amplitude and resonance. Rose petals, bright red stone fruits and mint are some of the many notes that grace the super-expressive finish. The 2011 spent one year in French oak barrels and a second year in cask.” AG
Montevertine Le Pergole Torte Toscana IGT 2012 750ML ($149.95) $119 special
Antonio Galloni 94 points “The 2012 Le Pergole Torte is brilliant. In fact, this is one of the best showings of the 2012 that I can recall. The flavors are bright, focused and pulsing with energy. Because of its mid-weight structure and not overly complex personality, the 2012 looks like it will start drinking well sooner rather than later. Even today, the 2012 is extremely beautiful. This is a terrific showing for the 2012.”
Arriving This Week
Wine Advocate 95 points “Easily one of the wines of the vintage, the 2013 Gigondas La Colline is an incredible wine from a vintage that too often delivers mid-weight, austere wines. Made from almost all Grenache that spent 19 months in 25% new demi-muids (there’s a scant four barrels made), its surprisingly dark color is followed by beautifully perfumed notes of black raspberries, blackberry, licorice, limestone-like minerality and flowers. Full-bodied, layered, silky and ultra-pure, with fine tannin, it’s already hard to resist but will have an easy 10-12 years of overall longevity.”
Domaine de La Janasse Chateauneuf-du-Pape Cuvee Chaupin, Rhone 2012 750ML ($79.95) $59 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 94 points “The 2012 Châteauneuf du Pape Cuvee Chaupin, which I was able to taste (and drink) from multiple bottles, is a beautiful Grenache that comes from the cooler, northeastern edge of the appellation. Coming almost all from the Chapouin lieu-dit (it gets a small bit from La Janasse), it gives up the classic notes of black berries, spring flowers, violets, and licorice that I always seem to find in this cuvee. Building nicely on the palate, it is medium to full-bodied, beautifully textured, has tons of sweet fruit and solid, if not firm, tannin that come out on the finish. It will be better in another couple of years and have 15+ years of overall longevity.”Domaine de La Janasse Cuvee Vieilles Vignes, Chateauneuf-du-Pape 2012 750ML ($119.95) $89 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 96 points “Up in the top handful of wines in the vintage (which should come as no surprise to anyone who follows this estate), the 2012 Châteauneuf du Pape Vieilles Vignes is a full-bodied, beautifully concentrated, rich and layered Châteauneuf that doesn’t put a foot wrong. Made from 85% Grenache, 10% Mourvedre and the rest Syrah, it offers blockbuster notes of blackberry, liquid-violets, spice and serious minerality to go with awesome mid-palate depth and layers of sweet tannin. Like the Cuvee Chaupin, it will be better in another handful of years and thrill through 2027.”La Gerla Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2011 750ML ($49.95) $39 pre-arrival special
Antonio Galloni 92 points “The 2011 Brunello di Montalcino is dark, sensual and inviting. Succulent red cherry, tobacco, mint, leather, sage and licorice flesh out in a radiant, open-knit Brunello that will drink well upon release. There is a lot to like here, especially the wine’s immediacy. The 2011 is not especially complex, but it is beautifully balanced and harmonious from start to finish.”
The next best price is $43
The average price is $48
La Gerla Riserva gli Angeli, Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2010 750ML ($79.95) $69 pre-arrival special
La Gerla Riserva gli Angeli, Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2010 1.5L ($179.95) $149 pre-arrival special
La Gerla Riserva gli Angeli, Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2010 3L ($399.95) $319 pre-arrival special, 1 jeroboam available
Wine Spectator 95 points “Pure cherry, rose and raspberry aromas and flavors are expressive in this complex, ripe Brunello. Hints of leather, tobacco, mineral and spice lay in wait, but this is all about the fresh fruit at this stage. Very harmonious, yet with plenty of structure. Long on the finish. Best from 2017 through 2032.”
The next best price is $73.99
The average price is $81
James Suckling 90 points “A soft, velvety red with plummy, juicy flavors. Full body, lovely tannins and a flavorful finish.”La Fortuna ‘Giobi’ Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2010 750ML ($149.95) $119 pre-arrival special
Wine Spectator 96 points “Perfumed aromas of strawberry, cherry and rose burst from the glass, while wild berry, spice, tobacco and tea notes follow through and linger on the finish. Though tannic, there is sweet fruit to match. Shows fine equilibrium overall. Best from 2018 through 2032.”
Luis Gutierrez-Wine Advocate 95 points “My favorite wine is always the one produced from a single 0.9-hectare plot of centenary, ungrafted vineyards that are planted with Listán Negro and some 2% Listán Blanco (Palomino); the vines are situated at 480 to 520 meters’ altitude and pruned in the traditional cordón trenzado style with a northwest orientation. They used 100% full clusters that were foot trodden in raw cement vats without temperature control and some 35 days of maceration, and as with all of their wines, with indigenous yeasts. The élevage lasted 14 months and was in neutral 500-liter French oak barrels. The old vines are planted in the middle of the slope on finer soils and always give very balanced wines. The nose is superb, really complex with aromas of freshly cracked peppercorns, violets and lilies, wet stones and that impossible pumice that cries Tenerife. I see more balance in this vintage, with a medium-bodied palate that shows a velvety texture with ultra-fine tannins. This is subtle, elegant, a much more powerful wine than you might think at first sight. However, it has a mysterious and ethereal quality. Elegant, balanced, precise, fresh and complex. This is awesome! 2,650 bottles were filled in January 2016.”
From Luis Gutierrez – Wine Advocate [not reviewed] “Suertes del Marqués, from the Orotava valley in Tenerife, have together with Envínate revolutioned the Canary Island’s wine scene. After a set of phenomenal, eye-opening 2011s they have continued producing solid wines in both 2012 and 2013. They work with the grapes from 25 hectares of vineyards, nine of them owned and the rest rented and worked by them, mostly old vine Listán Negro and Listán Blanco (palomino), trained in a peculiar way, a long braid or plait which is unique to this zone. They produce a wide range of wines totaling some 80,000 bottles per year. Not all labels are exported to the US; for the quality they deliver they have very good prices.”
Trending:Our Best Selling Rose
Domaine de La Janasse Cotes du Rhone Rose, Rhone 2015 750ML ($19.95) Was $16, Now $11.90
VinopolNote: A versatile rose with savory, herbal notes from a legendary Chateauneuf producer. A blend of Grenache, Syrah and Cinsault grown in clay limestone, galets and sandy soil. Practicing organic & biodynamic.
Importer note “Hand harvested and fermentation in tank, vines are between 10 and 60 years old. Wine is aged for 4 months in tank. A fruity and generous rosé with strawberry and clay aromas. Drink within the next two years.”
Staff Pick
Daniel:
Bodegas Roda Reserva, Rioja DOCa 2010 750ML ($49.95) $39 special
Bodegas Roda ‘Roda I’ Reserva, Rioja DOCa 2008 750ML ($69.95) $49 special
Bodegas Roda Sela, Rioja DOCa 2012 750ML ($34.95) $26 special
Case-12 Bodegas Roda Sela, Rioja DOCa 2012 750ML ($399.95) $269 special (that’s only $22.42/bottle!)
Tempranillo remains a grape unmastered by anyone outside of Spain. The Ribera del Duero has become famous for its version of Iberia’s noblest grape, but the world’s finest Tempranillo still comes from La Rioja. Perfect growing conditions aside, La Rioja possesses a centuries-old tradition of Tempranillo winemaking, which usually blends in some Graciano, Mazuelo, and/or Grenache. Today, styles vary in La Rioja, and amongst the more modern wineries Bodegas Roda stands out. Absolute quality drives Roda’s vinous pursuits. Old vines abound in Roda’s estate vineyards, and the ultra-modern winery keeps the site’s 19th-century cellars at different temperatures depending on the stage of vinification. Each of the 17 vineyards ferments and ages separately in French oak until the wines are blended to create Roda’s signature wines. The Roda cuvée offers red fruit in a silky, fruit-forward fashion, while the Roda I tends toward dark fruit and a full, complex palate of chocolate and spice — both are Reservas. The Sela lends itself to earlier, easier drinking, with definite Roda character. All three of these wines are ready to drink, but could also cellar for years more. We’re delighted to have Roda on our list: it’s one of Spain’s best.
Subscriber-Only Sale: Barbaresco
Ends Wednesday, August 24th at Midnight
We’ll take 10% off of in-stock Barbaresco wines
We offer 53 Barbarescos in-stock and available here now to choose from (that’s 1,398 bottles!):
For full reviews and descriptions, visit our web store at www.vinopoliswineshop.com
Sale ends Wednesday, August 24th at Midnight
Does not apply to pre-arrival offers or case specials
Discount will not appear in online shopping cart
We will apply it here before charging
Time to Say Goodbuy
Casanova di Neri Cerretalto, Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2010 750ML ($379.95) Was $319, Now $296James Suckling 100 points “This is very tannic and powerful with loads of currants, spices and hints of wood. So much stone and mineral character to this. Violets, too. Full-bodied, tight and structured. Massively dense yet agile and bright. It goes on for minutes. Needs at least three or four years to soften. Try in 2020.”Wine Advocate 99+ points “This is a towering achievement. It is delightful on every level. The 2010 Brunello di Montalcino Cerretalto is an expressive, exuberant and stunning wine that opens to a dark ruby color and rich consistency. The bouquet is never-ending with immediate intensity that is followed closely by finely-tuned aromas of black cherry, spice, grilled herb, clove, tobacco, wet earth and white truffle. A gorgeous display of elegant mineral tones rises from the bouquet with time. Later, those aromas turn to cola, licorice and tar. This wine showed an impressive evolution over the 24 hours I tasted it and delivered solid improvements each time. The mouthfeel is silky and smooth, and there’s enough power here to move the wine over the palate in seamless fashion. This is a bottle for the back of your cellar.”
The average price is $347