In Today’s Newsletter:
New Arrivals: Simone Rose, Jaboulet Crozes, Altos Las Hormigas & more!
Staff Pick: Luneau-Papin
New Grapelive Review: The Buzz in Givry
Antonio Galloni’s Rave New Review for Ramey
First Offer: Saint Cosme’s Soon-to-be-Legendary 2016’s
April Sale Wines
Arriving in May: Purely Perfect Redigaffi & Taylor ’03 Port
Chateau de la Tour: Arriving in September
New Arrivals
New Arrivals: Rosé
Winemaker’s note “Fairly pale pink with blue highlight. Quite fresh and high-toned aromatically. Sleek and electric in the mouth, plenty of fruit, yet lean and nervous with a pleasing saline aspect. Very long, clean finish. Gamay, a grape known for making fresh, juicy wines full of utterly seductive perfume, and tenderness, with refreshing acidity, and such delicious and pretty flavor—who wouldn’t want a rosé just like that?!?”
Chateau Simone Palette Rose, Provence 2016 750ML ($64.95) $51.90 special“The Château Simone Rosé is a wine that belies the notion that rosés are simple wines to be drunk up young. We have indulged ourselves with 10-year old Château Simone Rosé and have marveled at the tenacity, vibrancy and complexity of this very serious wine. The blend is identical to the rouge: 45% Grenache, 30% Mourvèdre, 5% Cinsault, 20% Syrah, Castet, Manosquin, Carignan, Muscat Noir & Blanc. Aged in barrel, it is powerful and age-worthy with a steely character and a grey-tinted aura to the faded rose-petal robe.”–Importer NotesDomaine du Gour de Chaule Gigondas Amour de Rose, Rhone 2017 750ML ($28.95) $24 special
Importer note “Run today by the searching, intelligent Stephanie Fumoso, Gour de Chaulé produces a Gigondas Rouge almost shocking in its spicy complexity and layered earthiness. Mercifully, it’s about as far from a hot-climate fruit bomb as you can find around these parts–and the “Amour de Rosé” is cut from the same cloth. Produced via direct press with no maceration, it combines Grenache and Cinsault (40% each) with a splash of Syrah, and Stephanie purposefully harvests her rosé grapes a week before those destined for the red wine in order to preserve acidity. The wine does not undergo malolactic fermentation and is bottled in the early spring of the year following harvest. This is a brilliantly colored wine with hues of pink and rose accompanied by flavors and a bouquet dominated by the impression of freshly crushed strawberries. Again, a limited amount of this wine is produced annually, only enough for us to have 1200 bottles per year for the US market.”
The next best price is $28.99New Arrivals: California
Case-12 Snowden Vineyards The Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2014 750ML ($599.95) $399 special (that’s only $33.25/bottle!)
Antonio Galloni 93 points “The 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon The Ranch is another gorgeous wine from Snowden. Dark, racy and expressive, the 2014 boasts lovely depth and polish. Dark cherry, plum, spice, mocha and leather are all pushed forward. Gracious and medium in body, with fabulous balance, the 2014 has it all. Best of all, The Ranch is one of the best values readers will find in Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. Don’t miss it!”
James Suckling 93 points “The blackberry and blueberry character is impressive with hints of walnuts too. Full body, integrated and chewy tannins and a flavorful finish. Drink in 2020.””
The average price is $48
Antonio Galloni 94+ points “The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon is wine of real pedigree and class that is going to need at least a handful of years to enter the prime of its drinking window. Blackberry jam, grilled herbs, smoke and plum all resonate on the palate. Inky, deep and plush, the 2013 remains quite primary. I will not be surprised at all if the 2013 develops into an even better wine with time. That said, the 2013 is positively striking today, with compelling inner sweetness, tons of perfume and exceptional balance.”
Collector’s Edition case of eight 750ml bottles
Wine Advocate 94+ points “Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2016 Zinfandel Blend Eight Years (a blend of Zinfandel, Petite Sirah and Syrah) comes bounding out of the glass with notes of raspberry pie, blackberry preserves and fruitcake with touches of hoisin and Chinese five spice plus and waft of underbrush. Full-bodied, rich and spicy in the mouth, it packs in the black fruit preserves, framed by chewy tannins and finishing on a savory note.”
Winemaker’s notes “Dark garnet with a lucid rim, the wine exhibits aromas of briar fruit, ripe blackberry and dark plum with a tinge of minerality and charred meat. Brawny on the entry, it has an equally big mid-palate with complex flavors of ripe brambly fruit, a touch of earth and notes of espresso bean. Still massive through to the finish with soft drying tannins, the unique varietal characteristics of the blend clearly reveal themselves over time. BLEND: 56% Zinfandel, 34% Petite Sirah, 10% Syrah”
The next best price is $999.89
Jeb Dunnuck-Rhone Report 97 points “The finest vintage to date, better even than the stellar 2010, the 2015 Crozes-Hermitage Domaine De Thalabert is a gorgeous, deep, layered, and incredibly satisfying Crozes. Blackcurrants, olive tapenade, truffles and earthy notes all emerge from this full-bodied, gorgeously textured and seamless 2015. With fine tannin and no hard edge, it can be drunk today or cellaring for 15-20 years.”
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 94 points “Inky ruby. Suave, mineral-accented scents of ripe blueberry, black currant and Indian spices, along with a slowly emerging floral component. Plush, broad and deeply concentrated, displaying black and blue fruit, licorice and mocha flavors that are energized by an intense, peppery overtone. Finishes extremely long, fleshy and sweet, delivering intense mineral thrust, a subtle cracked pepper nuance and youthful, building tannins.”
Wine Advocate 93-95 points “The 2015 reds from the Northern Rhône are truly spectacular and this vintage rivals or surpasses the 2010s and 2009s. Brought up in a mix of tronconique tanks and Burgundy barrels (20% being new), the 2015 Crozes Hermitage Domaine de Thalabert is a big, serious, full-bodied effort that’s reminiscent of a slightly softer version of the 2010. Scorched earth, black fruits, cassis, black olive and a hint of graphite all emerge from this sensational Crozes Hermitage. You’ll need to forget bottles for 4-5 years, but it will have over two decades of longevity.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
New Arrivals: Germany
Wine Advocate 92 points “From phylitte soils, the spicy-mineral 2016 Nahe Riesling Bingerbrück Abtei Rupertsberg is a pure, round and rich Riesling with intense and concentrated fruit. On the palate, this is a rich, intense, very fruity, mineral and well-structured Riesling with a lingering, well-structured finish. The first attack is pretty round and sweet but also rich and intense, with remarkable elegance and a persistent finish. This is a highly promising Riesling that was macerated between five and eight hours. The finish is super piquant and salty. Total production: four stück barrels (4,500 liters).”
Stuart Pigott 93 points– Jamessuckling.com “Quite a powerful ripe wine, but with a serious acidity that you’ll either go for or you won’t. If the first impression doesn’t decide that, then the whiplash finish will either knock you into ecstasy or knock you out of the game! Drink now and for many years beyond.”
Wine Advocate 91+ points “From quartzite soils with loess and slate and fermented in 1,200-liter oak vats, Georg Rumpf’s 2016 Nahe Riesling (Münsterer) Dautenpflänzer “GG” is round, rich and juicy on the palate but also light and well-structured by fine and grippy tannins. Very long finish.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
New Arrivals: Spain
Importer note “In the traditional style of txakolina from Getaria, this light and crisp wine is bottled with a little bit of residual carbon dioxide to give it its signature natural spritz. Tasting Notes: Bright briny sea salt combined with limey fruits. Fresh and eminently quaffable, tastes like joy and springtime. Vinification: This 100% hondarribi zuri txakolina is fermented with indigenous yeasts in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks.”
Wine Advocate 93 points “There is quite a jump in price for the 2014 Malbec Reserve. Here the grapes are grown on chalky soils with round stones in Altamira, Gualtallary and a touch of Vista Flores (that they are not using anymore) that fermented with indigenous yeasts and without any acid correction. The wine was aged in untoasted 3,500-liter oak foudres for 16 months. There is also a jump in quality, a serious wine where the minerality and freshness rule. This wine will please more advanced drinkers, with its subtle minerality, its balance and tasty, almost salty finish. This is a sleek, fine and elegant representation of the limestone soils of the Valle de Uco. To me this wine should be the one called terroir, and the previous wine should be the ‘reserve’—this feels purer. But there you go. 80,760 bottles produced.”
Staff Pick
Luneau-Papin is one of the two or three best producers of Muscadet. That’s sort of a blessing and a curse. Why a curse? Well, Luneau-Papin is one of the best couple of producers of the greatest white wine value in France. For quality, profundity and deliciousness, the wines stand toe-to-toe with wines that cost several times as much, and yet somehow, they don’t get the respect that’s accorded even middling producers of white Burgundy.That should change, and if you want a wine to help you see the light, we’ve got you covered today. Luneau-Papin’s Muscadet “Terre de Pierre” 2015 is a masterpiece of a richer styled Muscadet, made in a style that marries the minerality and freshness you’d expect from the region with a warm vintage and longer lees aging to provide power and depth that are uncommon. This wine comes from a single parcel of decomposed rocky soil, is fermented natively, and aged for 20 months before bottling. The result is a wine that is rich and powerful as well as zesty and fresh—in short, a singular wine that deserves attention.If this were Burgundy, I hesitate to speculate what it would cost (there’s a lot of mediocre white Burgundy selling for $60-$100) but because this is from a humble little corner of the Loire and is made from Melon d’Bourgogne instead of Chardonnay, it’s $21.90Domaine Pierre Luneau-Papin Muscadet Sevre-et-Maine Sur Lie ‘Terre de Pierre’, Loire ($24.95) $21.90 special, 26 bottles in stock now
David Schildknecht 91-92 points “Last tasted in late July 2016, this was due for late October bottling (after a shorter time in tank than its 2014 predecessor was given). Generously scented with apple and lemon as well as a greenhouse-like diversity of flowering and leafing things, it delectably marries a rich mouthfeel with ample primary juiciness and refreshment, and finishes with a shimmering interaction of citrus, mineral salts and stone. ”
Domaine Francois Lumpp A Vigne Rouge, Givry Premier Cru 2013 750ML ($49.95) $29 special
Case-12 Domaine Francois Lumpp A Vigne Rouge, Givry Premier Cru 2013 750ML ($399.95) $319 special (that’s only $26.58/bottle!)
Grapelive 92 points “This Domaine is getting a lot of buzz for value, and I was very excited to try this Givry by Francois Lumpp. This area is in the Cote Chalonnaise, not far from the more famous Mercurey. There are a total of 240 acres of red and just 24 acres of white in the 27 climats within the Givry AOC (appellation) that are classified as Premier Cru vineyards, with wines designated Givry Premier Cru that show a vineyard name. This Lumpp A Vignes Rouge cuvee [is] a single vineyard Premier Cru Givry. Even though it’s a lesser known place, Burgundy fans have long looked here for purity, character and especially value, and with this Francois Lumpp you can see why. Kermit Lynch now imports Lumpp, who was founded in 1991 and produce just about 4,000 cases annually. Every wine François makes is from Givry, and interestingly from vineyards that he planted and nurtured–something that is exceedingly rare in Burgundy today. His vines are a massale selection of old bud wood grown on, in this case, a mix of Oxfordian Nantoux Limestone, Fine Marl, and Clay with A Vignes Rouge coming off 15 year old vines at 850 feet above sea level. Givry’s best premier cru sites are situated on the mid to upper level slopes of the rolling hillsides. These form the base of Lumpp’s holdings (all of which are in fact Premier Cru plots, except one white Lieu-Dit). Lumpp uses stainless steel to ferment with gentle punch downs then the wine is raised in barriques, of which surprisingly are about 70% new each vintage. The Premier Crus get one year in barrel as this one did with only one racking to clarify before bottling. This 2013 is astonishingly fresh and deeply flavored with a rich dark garnet/ruby hue and a vivid grapey nose that leads to a textured palate that shines with blackberry, plum, bramble berry and cherry fruits along with a streak of mineral, earth and briar adding sweet woody notes along with hint of tobacco, tangy currant, minty herb and apple skin. The tannins are supple, but firmer than you’d expect of a wine of this vintage and there’s a lot of pop from vital acidity, while being rather lush and dense. Certainly this Burgundy has ages to go and it’s a huge bargain, best with robust cuisine, and it must be said it has resolved almost all the oak making for a real entertaining and stylish wine. Best from 2019 to 2026.”
Antonio Galloni Raves
About Ramey’s Classic Pedregal
Antonio Galloni 95 points “The 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Pedregal Vineyard is a classic wine from the Eastern Hills of Oakville. Pliant, supple and radiant in the glass, the 2014 offers superb depth and textural richness. The dark cherry, plum, espresso, licorice and floral notes all blossom in an effortless, sumptuous Cabernet endowed with personality and class. The 2014 will be easy to drink with minimal cellaring. Today, it is fabulous.”
First Offer:
Saint Cosme’s Soon-to-be-Legendary 2016’s
“Louis Barruol’s Chateau de Saint Cosme is unquestionably one of the reference point estates in Gigondas, as well as the entire southern Rhône Valley. The estate lies just to the east of the village and covers 25 hectares, with 15 of those in Gigondas. He makes a classic Gigondas as well as four single vine releases from single vineyards located around the estate. The wines are not destemmed and aged mostly in older barrels, with a small portion in new barrels.” –Jeb Dunnuck
“For the reds, Barruol sees 2016 much as the other vignerons I have visited on this trip—with bold ripeness reminiscent of vintages like 2009 and ’10, but with a level of freshness that sets it apart….The pHs are low here too. But not as obviously different from the normal as in Châteauneuf ’16,’ he says, comparing it to his own Gigondas…The quality and style of the vintage is very consistent all over though. The impression of freshness is in all the wines.” – James Molesworth, Wine Spectator
Saint Cosme is one of the notable estates of the Southern Rhone. Louis Barroul is a talented winemaker and is the 14th generation of his family to make wines in the domaine that was founded in the 1500’s. The wines he makes are rich and powerful, with undeniable terroir signatures. To highlight these varying terroirs, the estate bottles a handful of single vineyard Gigondas which are the most interesting and coveted wines in the portfolio.
They also bottle a selection of wines from up and down the Rhone from special growers whose grapes or wines would otherwise be sold to giant corporate negociants. These wines, which aren’t bottled under the ‘chateau’ label, are highlights of their appellations and generally incredible value for the quality in the bottle.
2016 looks to be an unqualified success for the estate (as with most in the Rhone). While a touch less dense than the 2015’s, the wines show a freshness and energy that’s unusual for a powerful vintage. It seems to combine nearly everything we’re looking for in Rhone wines, which reminds us of something like 2005 or 2010—a rare feat. We’re releasing our first offering on these wines, which arrive in July, so if there are bottlings that you love, jump on them now—the only downside to 2016 is lower yields and smaller allocations.
Gigondas Wines Arriving in July:
Chateau de Saint Cosme Cotes du Rhone Le Poste Blanc, Rhone 2016 750ML ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 90 points “Barrel-fermented and aged nine months in old oak, the 2016 Cotes du Rhone Le Poste is tight, linear in structure and almost Burgundian in style. It’s 100% Clairette grown in the Le Poste vineyard and features a long, briny lime-and-pineapple finish. It can be drunk now or aged up to 10 years.”
James Molesworth-Wine Spectator “The 2016 Côtes du Rhône White Le Poste, made from Clairette within the Le Poste vineyard in Gigondas (but there is no Gigondas AOC for white) is a crystalline pure wine, with beautiful verbena, chamomile and white peach notes and a long, gorgeous, mineral-edged finish.” [Not yet scored]
Case-6 Chateau de Saint Cosme Gigondas, Rhone 2016 750ML ($289.95) $219 pre-arrival special (that’s only $36.50/bottle!)
Case-12 Chateau de Saint Cosme Gigondas, Rhone 2016 750ML ($519.95) $419 pre-arrival special (that’s only $34.92/bottle!)
Wine Advocate 90-92 points “Even Saint Cosme’s 2016 Gigondas looks built to age. It’s full-bodied and firmly tannic but balanced by ripe fruit notes of cherries, peaches and chocolate.”
Jeb Dunnuck 90-92 points “Looking first at the base 2016 Gigondas, it’s certainly going to be another outstanding wine from Barruol. Based on 70% Grenache and the rest close to an even split of Syrah and Mourvèdre, it offers classic St Cosme notes of dark fruits, tapenade, pepper and smoked earth. It has plenty of tannin and will need 2-3 years of cellaring and shine for a decade or more.”
The next best price is $49.99
Jeb Dunnuck 98-100 points “Leading off the special cuvees and from the sandiest parcel of the estate, the 2016 Gigondas Hominis Fides (100% Grenache) has perfection written all over it! Just as fine, elegant and seamless as it gets, yet also with blockbuster depth and richness, it boasts incredible notes of black raspberries, loamy/sandy soils nuances, game, and camphor. Don’t miss it!”
Wine Advocate 94-96 points “Rich and velvety but undeniably tannic, the 2016 Gigondas Hominis Fides is another stunning wine from proprietor Louis Barruol. Stone fruit, cherries and chocolate notes all mingle easily on the full-bodied palate, ending in a supple flurry of tannins.”
The next best price is $149.99
Jeb Dunnuck 99-100 points “The 2016 Gigondas Le Claux has slightly more mid-palate depth compared to the Hominis Fides, yet is also more tannic and structure. Damp clay, forest floor, currants spice and huge minerality all soar from the glass and this full-bodied beauty has an unctuous texture that’s currently hiding serious amounts of tannin. Forget bottles for 4-5 years and enjoy over the following 15+.”
Wine Advocate 95-97 points “More approachable than the blockbuster Le Poste, the 2016 Gigondas le Claux looks to be another Gigondas legend in the making. Apricot and cherry fruit lead the way, backed by masses of creamy, lush tannins and savory notes of dark chocolate and black olive on the long finish.”
The next best price is $149.99
Jeb Dunnuck 97-99 points “Coming from Barruol’s favorite vineyard located on just up the hill from the domaine, the 2016 Gigondas Le Poste is another huge wine, and probably the richness, ripest example of this cuvee I’ve tasted. Possessing almost overflowing amounts of blackberry fruits, graphite, spring flowers and huge minerality, it offers awesome purity, full-bodied richness, and a great, great finish. I can’t wait to taste this from bottle.”
Wine Advocate 96-98 points “Even tasted blind, it’s immediately apparent that the 2016 Gigondas le Poste is something special. It’s a sneaky, seductive kind of special at first, sparked by subtle hints of toast and baking spices, then super ripe Grenache notes of cherries and stone fruit. It’s full-bodied, supple and creamy on the palate, things are cruising right along and then bam! There’s a wall of ripe tannins on the finish, promising so much more in the years and decades ahead. As a singular expression of grape variety, site and vintage, from a vigneron at the top of his game, this is a must for serious collectors.”
The next best price is $149.99
Other Rhone Wines Arriving in July:
Saint Cosme Condrieu, Rhone 2016 750ML ($69.95) $59 pre-arrival special
Importer Note “Saint Cosme Condrieu is produced from fully-ripened Viognier which Louis Barruol believes is essential to achieving the variety’s full potential. “But ripeness must not imply excessive alcohol,” says Barruol, “We seek balance.” The wine is matured for eight months in used 228-liter barrels, and undergoes full malolactic fermentation on fine lees for 12 months…Saint Cosme Condrieu shows classic aromas and flavors of dried apricot, peach, and orange blossom with fennel, anise, and elderflower. Twelve months of aging on its fine lees in used Burgundian pièce brings texture to the palate. This is a classic Condrieu.”
Saint Cosme Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Rhone 2015 750ML ($49.95) $39 pre-arrival specialWine Advocate 93 points “Sourced from three lieux-dits (including La Crau), Saint Cosme’s 2015 Chateauneuf du Pape is a blend of approximately 60% Grenache, 20-25% Mourvèdre and bits and pieces of other varieties. It’s full-bodied, rich and spicy, with hints of cumin, licorice, cinnamon and clove all swirling about on the long finish.”
The next best price is $59.99
Importer Note “Côte-Rôtie is produced from 100% Sérine, an ancient and local variety of Syrah that is markedly different from modern selections. It is more oval, with lots of space in the bunch, resulting in a very aromatic wine. It is sourced from the schist soils of Le Plomb, Besset, La Viallière, and Neve climats. These hillsides are among the steepest in France with an incline as much as 55 degrees. The wine is made with whole cluster fermentation from indigenous yeasts, aged for 12 months in 40% new 228-liter barrels, and bottled without fining or filtration… On the palate, it reveals a fresh attack followed by an ample, structured, long-lasting finish. The wine unfurls in successive stages and ends with top-quality tannins produced by whole cluster fermentation. It features aromas and flavors of smoked ham, violet, graphite, graphite, and licorice.”
The next best price is $69.99
Importer Note “Saint Cosme Crozes-Hermitage is produced from 100% Sérine, an ancient and local variety of Syrah …It is made from 100% destemmed grapes, fermented with indigenous yeasts, aged in 20% new 228-liter barrels, and bottled without fining or filtration…Granite slopes rather than flatlands give Saint Cosme’s Crozes-Hermitage greater structure and complexity. The wine shows classic aromas and flavors of black fruits, smoked bacon, black peppercorn, and incense.”
The next best price is $39.99
Importer Note “Saint Cosme Saint-Joseph is produced from 100% Sérine, an ancient and local variety of Syrah that is markedly different from modern selections…The wine is made from 70% destemmed with 30% whole clusters, fermented with indigenous yeasts, and aged in 20% new 228-liter barrels… Louis Barruol describes the microclimate of the vineyard Malleval as “very cold” which allows the grapes to retain acidity and showcase the floral aromas of the local Sérine variety. Aromas and flavors of blackberries and wild strawberries are accented by notes of peppercorns, tobacco, peonies, and violets.”
The next best price is $39.99Want to see all 25 wines from Saint Cosme that are in stock and on the way?Just click here to view a full list on our website!
April Sale WinesPlenty to be Excited About
The April sale is full of great deals, from crisp whites to sweet dessert wines to big rich reds of all varieties. No matter what sorts of wines you like, there’s plenty to love and get excited about. These are great wines at even more incredible prices. You can see all 49 April Sale wines on our website by clicking here, or scroll down for a selection of some of our favorites.
Domaine du Vieux Telegraphe Chateauneuf-du-Pape La Crau, Rhone 2015 750ML ($79.95) Was $69, Now $59 Clearance Price
Wine Spectator 95 points “This has a lovely, perfumy mix of savory, mint, tobacco, blood orange, cherry and bergamot notes, with finely beaded acidity and silky but ample structure. Long, mineral- and shiso leaf-infused finish. Best from 2020 through 2035.”JM
Wine Advocate 94 points “The flagship wine, the 2015 Chateauneuf du Pape, is a blend of 60% Grenache, 20% Mourvèdre, 15% Syrah and 5% other permitted varieties. It features delicate floral scents and ample cherry and licorice aromas. Somehow, it manages to be full-bodied and almost creamy in texture but without much weight, then it ends powerfully, with a flourish of rich Mexican chocolate on the long, silky finish. It should drink well for up to 20 years.”
Wine Spectator 95 points “Ripe and rich, but focused, with verbena, bitter almond and wet stone notes threading through the core of creamed yellow apple, pear and melon flavors. Very long, with a gorgeous salted butter echo. Drink now through 2020.”JM
The next best price is $168
Jeb Dunnuck 90 points “The 2016 Moscato D’Asti is about as delicious as it gets. Peach, orange peel, and juicy citrus all emerge from this beautiful, balanced, hard to resist beauty. Pour a full glass any time over the coming year.”
Winery note “Appearance: bright straw yellow, with fine and persistent perlage; it maintains limited pressure, as recommended by the tradition of this wine. Bouquet: tempting, immensely fresh and intense, it reveals decisive fruit notes, with a clear predominance of sage. Flavour: expansive and enveloping, but not too sweet; the typical aroma of Moscato grapes is naturally prevalent and it has a very long and delicious finish.”El Cep Marques de Gelida Gran Reserva Brut Cava, Catalonia 2012 750ML ($19.95) $11.90 Clearance Price
Case-12 El Cep Marques de Gelida Gran Reserva Brut Cava, Catalonia 2012 750ML ($219.95) $119 Clearance Price (that’s only $9.92/bottle!)
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 90 points “(aged on its lees for 40 months prior to disgorgement) Limpid yellow. Aromas of ripe pear, peach and honeydew melon on the nose; a subtle ginger nuance emerges with air. Supple and broad on entry, then more taut in the midpalate, offering juicy orchard and pit fruit flavors and a refreshing hint of bitter quinine. Finishes dry and spicy, delivering a touch of bitterness, strong mineral cut and very good cling.”
The next best price is $18.74
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 92 points “Darkly saturated and rich in personality, the 2012 Brunello di Montalcino offers an immediate and approachable expression of the grape. Your palate yearns for succulent bistecca alla fiorentina with roasted potatoes on the side—all of it drenched in olive oil. That’s because the wine is so upfront and soft even at this young stage in its evolution. This Brunello is soft in texture and mouthfeel, yet it offers loads of chewy fruit and enough bright acidity to pair with whatever you have on the menu tonight.”
Antonio Galloni 90 points “The 2009 Montefalco Rosso is another absolutely gorgeous entry-level offering from Giampaolo Tabarrini. Here the Sangiovese is particularly expressive. High-toned floral notes, spices and sweet red cherries all meld together gracefully. A hugely appealing wine, the Montefalco Rosso is best enjoyed over the next few years. The Rosso is predominantly Sangiovese, with some Sagrantino, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot added to the blend.”
The next best price is $30
Arriving in May
Purely Perfect
James Suckling 100 points “This is an extraordinary merlot with such purity and focus. Flowers such as violets and hints of orange peel. It is full-bodied yet incredibly energetic and structured. The finish goes on for minutes. Seamless texture. Fresh yet dense. Contrasty. Best Redigaffi ever. Hard not to drink now but a wine for decades.”
The average price is $246
Robert Parker – Hedonist’s Gazette 100 points “I noticed the Chinese love to have both a sweet wine and a vintage port at the end of a meal, which is pretty much over-kill for me. However, I was blown away by the 2003 Taylors vintage port. The Great Wall of China, Black Tie Dinner.”
Arriving in September
Chateau de la Tour
Clos Vougeot
Burghound 95 points “Here the nose is compositionally similar to that of the regular cuvée but as is usually the case it is more reserved, more complex and the wood treatment is more subtle. There is notably better concentration to the impressively rich, powerful and muscular big-bodied flavors are shaped by dense but relatively fine tannins on the wonderfully long, balanced and again youthfully austere finale. This terrific effort is really most impressive though note well that it is going to need at least 10 years of bottle age and reward 15 to 18.”
The next best price is $298.98
The average price is $319
Burghound 95 points “This is aromatically similar to the regular cuvée but there is notably more concentration, power and dry extract to the broad-shouldered flavors that pushes the very firm tannic spine to the background on the hugely long, palate coating and driving finish. This opulently full-on effort is a manifestly old school Clos de Vougeot that is not only very much built-to-age but is going to require lots of it. In a word, excellent.”
Burghound 96 points “Generous wood sets off the overtly floral-inflected aromas of herbal tea, earth and liqueur-like black raspberry that are laced with plenty of spice hints. There is superb density to the even more opulent and lavishly rich flavors that are focused, extraordinarily powerful and intense, all wrapped in a balanced and immensely persistent finish. What is so impressive about this wine is how it carries its power and weight so effortlessly and this should age for gracefully for decades though it should actually be approachable after only 10 to 12 years.”
Thank you for reading!