Jump Start Sale: Clos des Lambrays; New Week – New Arrivals; New Arrival Special Feature: Saint Cosme; Muscadet Assertion; Chateau du Retout; Delas: Sleeping Star in the Northern Rhone; Montevertine; Arriving Friday: 2014 Burgundies; Amazing Washington Wines – Still Available
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Jump Start Sale
Domaine des Lambrays
Domaine des Lambrays Clos des Lambrays Grand Cru 2014 750ML ($219.95) Was $199, Now $179, 22 bottles available
Wine Enthusiast 96 points “This is such a perfumed wine with deceptively soft tannins and great fruit. The acidity is classic for the vintage, with raspberries and intense freshness at the end. It has a fine line of tannins and a life that will go far.”
John Gilman 95 points “The 2014 Clos des Lambrays is a great wine in the making. The stunning bouquet delivers a pure and sappy constellation of sweet dark berries, black cherries, woodsmoke, currant leaf, dark chocolate, a very complex base of soil, fresh herbs and just a whisper of new wood. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied, pure and rock solid at the core, with great mineral drive, refined tannins and impeccable focus and balance on the long, ripely tannic and seamless finish. 2025-2075. (Nov/Dec 2015)”
Burghound 94 points “A notably spicy, fresh, cool and floral nose displays mostly red berry fruit scents that are trimmed in discreet earth notes. There is excellent cut and definition to the nicely rich and attractively textured flavors that culminate in a presently austere finale though I doubt that austerity will persist. This is a relatively fine and forward vintage for Clos des Lambrays and one that should be approachable after only 7 to 8 years of bottle age. In a word, marvelous.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $184.95
The average price is $214
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Summer Shipping Special:
Midwest, East, & South
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 by ground.
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 items purchased before the promotional period or on pre-arrival items that arrive after the promotional period ends.
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New Week – New Arrivals
Oregon
Cameron Winery Pinot Gris Ramato, Dundee Hills 2016 750ML ($27.95) $24 special
Winery note “Rame: Italian for copper, ramato: copper-colored. Ramato is a copper-colored Pinot grigio made in the tradition of north-eastern Italy. A very tricky wine to pull off. Very limited production.”
France – Burgundy
Joseph Drouhin Bourgogne Laforet Pinot Noir, Burgundy 2014 750ML ($17.95) $14 special
Case-12 Joseph Drouhin Bourgogne Laforet Pinot Noir, Burgundy 2014 750ML ($199.95) $149 special (that’s only $12.42/bottle and the lowest listed price in the USA today!)
Winery note “A wine full of charm: bright ruby colour and a nose rich with aromas of red fruit (raspberry, red currants, wild strawberry). On the palate, the wine is pleasant, fruity and refreshing, with light tannins and great elegance.”
France – Rhone
See our special feature on new arrivals from Chateau Saint Cosme below!
France – Beaujolais
Dominique Piron Morgon Cote du Py, Beaujolais 2014 750ML ($24.95) $18 special
Case-12 Dominique Piron Morgon Cote du Py, Beaujolais 2014 750ML ($299.95) $199 special (that’s only $16.58/bottle!)
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 92 points “Brilliant ruby-red. Powerful, deep-pitched cherry and dark berry aromas are lifted and sharpened by mineral and spice accents that gain strength as the wine opens up. Juicy and energetic in style, offering sweet cherry liqueur and blackberry flavors and a touch of candied violet. Musky herb and allspice notes appear on the subtly tannic finish, which hangs on with outstanding, floral-driven tenacity.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Italy – Tuscany
Avignonesi Grandi Annate, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG 2012 750ML ($99.95) $79 special
Wine Advocate 93 points “You’ll notice that this wine is no longer labeled “Riserva.” Avignonesi wanted to reduce the time it spends in oak and made the name adjustment accordingly. This seems like a good idea to me. The 2012 Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Grandi Annate gives new life to one of Tuscany’s most historic wines. There is more elegance and finesse here. I must say that past vintages have been a disappointment, but this expression seems to break all ties with the past. Fruit is sourced primarily from the Banditella vineyard that tends to produce more austere and concentrated Sangiovese. Indeed, this wine is highly redolent of black fruit, tar, licorice and even a touch of white mushroom. Everyone loves a comeback story and that’s what you get here.”
James Suckling 93 points “A chewy and silky wine with just ripe fruit, chocolate and hazelnut character. Fresh earth undertone too. Medium body, fresh finish. Drink now or hold.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $99.93
Germany – Mosel
Ewald Moseler Erdener Treppchen Riesling Kabinett 2016 750ML ($19.95) $16 special
Case-12 Ewald Moseler Erdener Treppchen Riesling Kabinett 2016 750ML ($219.95) $169 special (that’s only $14.08/bottle!)
VinopolNote: A barrel selection from the iron-rich slatey soils of the Erdener Treppchen Vineyard in the Mosel.
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Spain – Catalonia
Autocton Celler ‘Autocton’ Negre, Catalonia 2015 750ML ($19.95) $16 special
Winery note “Autocton negre is a red wine made from indigenous, native very old vines of 80% Sumoll and 20% Ull de Llebre. Harvested and selected by hand, the wine is aged for 10 months in 300 and 400 liter French oak barrels.”
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Saint Cosme
New Releases
The much praised new 2015 Saint Cosme wines have hit our shelves, with more stock arriving soon. We’re offering great deals on six-packs of many of the reds, so stock up & save!
2015 will be remembered as the year of glory in winemaking around the world. Burgundy was Great. Beaujolais was Great. The Mosel was Great. Champagne is looking promising. Even our local winemakers are embracing the vintage.
So it should not come as much of a surprise to those lucky lovers of the rich and expressive wines of the Southern Rhone: it too was a Great and Glorious vintage. We’ve only just begun to see offers, so we’re excited to announce this offer from one of our favorite Southern Rhone estates: Chateau de Saint Cosme.
Saint Cosme is one of our “core wineries.” They remain a reference point producer in the Rhone, producing incredible wines from both the Southern and Northern Rhone.
Newly arrived releases from Saint Cosme:
Saint Cosme Cotes du Rhone Les Deux Albion Blanc, Rhone 2016 750ML ($21.95) $16 special
33% Viognier (limestone clay), 33% Marsanne (limestone sand), 33% Picpoul de Pinet (limestone sand).
25% fermented in ‘demi muids’ or 600-litre casks and 75% in small casks. Ageing on the lees.
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $18.99
Saint Cosme Cotes du Rhone 2016 1.5L ($29.95) $24 special
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $32.08
Chateau de Saint Cosme Le Poste Blanc, Cotes du Rhone 2015 750ML ($49.95) $39 special
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 91-92 points “(sourced from vines planted in 1963 in the heart of Gigondas): Green-tinged yellow. Vibrant, mineral-accented citrus and orchard fruit aromas are complemented by suggestions of white flowers and ginger. Juicy, focused and pure, offering vibrant orange, pear skin and white peach flavors underscored by a chalky mineral element. Becomes deeper and fleshier with air white maintaining vivacity, and finishes with excellent clarity, power and persistence.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Saint Cosme Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Rhone 2013 750ML ($49.95) $39 special
Case-6 Saint Cosme Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Rhone 2013 750ML ($279.95) $219 pre-arrival special (that’s only $36.50/bottle!) – re-arriving next week!
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 92-93 points “Deep ruby. An expressive bouquet evokes red fruit liqueur, incense and spicecake and a smoky mineral element adds energy. Silky, concentrated and energetic, offering intense, spice-laced raspberry and cola flavors firmed by a spine of juicy acidity. Concentrated but graceful wine that finishes very long, spicy and gently tannic. Note that this wine was not in bottle when I visited Barruol in February.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $42.99
The average price is $49
Saint Cosme Cote Rotie, Rhone 2015 750ML ($69.95) $53.50 special
Case-6 Saint Cosme Cote Rotie, Rhone 2015 750ML ($359.95) $299 pre-arrival special (that’s only $49.83/bottle!) – re-arriving next week!
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 92-94 points “(50% new oak): Glass-staining ruby. Heady, exotically perfumed red and dark berry scents are complicated by suggestions of star anise, violet and cola. Sweet, seamless and penetrating in the mouth, offering intense boysenberry and black raspberry flavors that deepen steadily on the back half. Rich yet lithe, with strong closing thrust and silky, even tannins lending framework and gentle grip.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $59.99
Saint Cosme Saint-Joseph, Rhone 2015 750ML ($34.95) $28 special
Case-6 Saint Cosme Saint-Joseph, Rhone 2015 750ML ($179.95) $149 pre-arrival special (that’s only $24.83/bottle!) – re-arriving next week!
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 91-93 points “Inky ruby. Powerful aromas of blackberry, violet and woodsmoke, plus a hint of cola that emerges with aeration. Sweet, densely packed and full-bodied, offering ripe cassis, blackberry, violet pastille and licorice flavors given lift and spine by juicy acidity. Spreads out and becomes spicier on the impressively long finish, which features chewy tannins and a sexy floral nuance.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
We’ve sold out of our initial delivery of the wines below. But rejoice, there are more arriving this week. Act fast before all are gone for good! Arriving July 14th:
Saint Cosme Crozes-Hermitage, Rhone 2015 750ML ($29.95) $26 pre-arrival special
Case-6 Saint Cosme Crozes-Hermitage, Rhone 2015 750ML ($169.95) $139 pre-arrival special (that’s only $23.17/bottle!)
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 91-93 points “Bright violet. Vibrant dark berry, violet and licorice aromas are complemented by suggestions of olive and woodsmoke. Palate-staining blackberry and bitter cherry flavors are joined by peppery spice and mineral qualities that build on the back half. Manages to be at once rich and energetic, carrying no excess fat. The very long, juicy finish is framed by harmonious tannins and leaves behind a sappy dark berry note.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Chateau de Saint Cosme Gigondas, Rhone 2015 750ML ($41.95) $33 pre-arrival special
Chateau de Saint Cosme Gigondas, Rhone 2015 1.5L ($79.95) $66 pre-arrival special
Case-6 Chateau de Saint Cosme Gigondas, Rhone 2015 750ML ($239.95) $179 pre-arrival special (that’s only $29.83/bottle!)
Wine Advocate 91-93 points “Starting with the 2015 Gigondas Classique from Barruol, this blend of 70% Grenache, 15% Mourvèdre and the rest Syrah and Cinsault will be a wine that readers will want to stockpile. Full-bodied, rich, beautifully textured and layered, with killer notes of crème de cassis, white pepper, spice and garrigue, it’s a classic Gigondas that will drink well for 15+ years.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $32.89
Chateau de Saint Cosme Gigondas Hominis Fides, Rhone 2015 750ML ($119.95) $99 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 97-99 points “A wine that might rival the 2007, the 2015 Gigondas Hominis Fides (100% Grenache from sandy soils located just down from the estate) offers full-bodied, massive and unctuous notes of currants, crushed rocks, smoked meats and licorice. Fermented with 100% whole clusters and aged mostly in older barrels, this sensational Gigondas might end up being the wine of the vintage, from the entire Southern Rhone valley! It has masses of tannin, so it’s going to require patience.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Chateau de Saint Cosme Gigondas Le Claux, Rhone 2015 750ML ($119.95) $99 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 97-99 points “Another wine that might flirt with perfection is the 2015 Gigondas le Claux. It’s also 100% Grenache and comes from a site just across the road from the Hominis Fides cuvee. The soils here are slightly more limestone-based, and like all of the wine here, it’s fermented with no destemming and aged mostly in old barrels (20% is new). Camphor, currants, incense, graphite, crushed rocks and licorice all soar from this thriller and it has full-bodied richness, an incredible texture and a blockbuster finish. It will have 2-3 decades of overall longevity.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Chateau de Saint Cosme Gigondas Le Poste, Rhone 2015 750ML ($99.95) $79 pre-arrival special
Case-6 Chateau de Saint Cosme Gigondas Le Poste, Rhone 2015 750ML ($479.95) $419 pre-arrival special (that’s only $69.83/bottle!)
Wine Advocate 94-96 points “The 2015 Gigondas le Poste is a classic expression of this vineyard and shows the more elegant, perfumed style that always comes from this site. Violets, flowers, raspberries, blueberries and green herbs all emerge from this full-bodied, lengthy and impeccably balanced Gigondas that has ultra-fine tannin and perfectly integrated acidity. Brought up just like the other two single vineyard releases, this beauty will be more accessible in its youth, yet I suspect it will age just as long.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Chateau de Saint Cosme Gigondas Valbelle, Rhone 2015 750ML ($69.95) $59 pre-arrival special
Case-6 Chateau de Saint Cosme Gigondas Valbelle, Rhone 2015 750ML ($359.95) $319 pre-arrival special (that’s only $53.17/bottle!)
Wine Advocate 94-96 points “Incorporating 10% Syrah, the Grenache-dominated 2015 Gigondas Cuvee Valbelle is another heavenly wine from Louis Barruol. Full-bodied, seamless and elegant, with lots of crème de cassis, crushed flowers, incense and white pepper, it has a touch less mid-palate depth than the single vineyards, but is impeccably balanced and will have two decades of longevity.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
We offer 113 different red wines from the Rhone in-stock now – see our complete listings on our web store!
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Muscadet
Luneau-Papin & Pepiere, $18-$24. These wines should cost more. Period.
Newly Arrived & Newly Re-stocked:
Domaine Pierre Luneau-Papin Muscadet Sevre-et-Maine Sur Lie ‘Terre de Pierre’, Loire 2015 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 special
David Schildknecht – Vinous 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.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Domaine Pierre Luneau-Papin Muscadet Sevre et Maine Sur Lie Le L d’Or 2015 750ML ($29.95) $24 special
David Schildknecht – Vinous 93 points “Lemon, grapefruit, white currant and white peach backed by tinglingly bright acidity and wreathed in floral perfume and greenery put me unexpectedly in mind of Riesling aromatics and flavors. A firm, dense but buoyant palate is saturated with maritime salts and alkali, as well as harboring a mouthwateringly and intriguingly sardine-like animal-mineral savor. The finish practically detonates, leaving your salivary glands milked and your mouth shaken but consummately refreshed and invigorated. This beauty combines the fruity generosity typical of 2015 with brightness and decisive mineral impressions more familiar from 2014, and is almost certain to stand as a high point for its vintage.”
Domaine de la Pepiere Muscadet Sevre-et-Maine Clisson, Loire 2014 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 special
David Schildknecht – Vinous 92 points “Scents of flowers and foliage mingle with saline, alkaline intimations of sea breeze. A surprisingly rich, silken-textured midpalate offers pear and lemon liberally laced with saliva-liberating salinity and crushed stone, leading to a long finish loaded with intrigue as well as refreshment.”
Domaine de la Pepiere Muscadet Sevre-et-Maine Sur Lie ‘Les Gras Moutons’, Loire 2015 750ML ($21.95) $18 special
David Schildknecht – Vinous 90 points “Scents of lime, grapefruit and apple signal a generosity of fruit unusual for Muscadet and confirmed on the silken-textured, expansive, yet exuberantly juicy palate. Subtle but efficacious salinity and crystalline “mineral” tactile tingle conspire to create a mouthwatering, fascinating finish. (With the migration of some fruit from this site to the estate’s Monnières-Saint Fiacre, this bottling now reflects vines averaging around 40 years of age, which Branger characterizes as “relatively young.” Reprehensibly, I neglected to taste the 2014.)”
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Chateau du Retout
Chateau du Retout has always been a boundary pushing estate, which is why we love it. Not content to be a “mere” Haut-Medoc wine, the estate continues to make changes to viticulture and winemaking to ensure the highest possible quality wine (even declassifying their white so they could include the varieties they wanted to work with). On the red side, they’ve found success in increasing the percentage of Petit Verdot, a grape that excels in the warm vintages that France has had over the last decade. The resulting red is everything we could ask of a sub-$30 Bordeaux, and the fact that it’s almost half that in price makes it even better.
Chateau du Retout ‘Le Retout Blanc’, Bordeaux 2014 750ML ($29.95) $21.90 special
Wine Spectator 91 points “Alluring, with lemon curd, citrus oil, white peach and candied grapefruit peel notes streaking along together, backed by a twinge of quinine that beautifully offsets the rich feel. Gros Manseng, Sauvignon Gris, Savagnin and Mondeuse Blanche. Drink now through 2017.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $25
Chateau du Retout, Haut-Medoc 2014 750ML ($21.95) $17 special
Wine Spectator 90 points “Delightfully ripe, with an inviting core of plum and blackberry preserves, picking up an anise edge on the finish. A solid alder spine runs throughout, adding length and definition. Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot and Merlot.”
Wine Enthusiast 90 points “With an unusually high proportion (nearly 17%) of Petit Verdot in the blend, this is both darkly structured and dark in color. It is weight, intense youthful acidity and black-currant fruits. It’s also rich, full of tannins and in need of several years.”
James Suckling 90 points “A leafy cabernet nose leads into quite a poweful and tannic palate with the sleek body of a marathon runner. Better in 2018.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
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Delas:
Sleeping Star in the Northern Rhone
Delas is one of the most notable landholders in the Northern Rhone, with holdings in some of the best vineyards in every major AOC, yet they still manage to be overlooked when people put together collections of wine from the region. We’d like to remedy that, so permit us a few seconds to sing their praises.
Delas makes wines that are a) delicious and well-made and b) more than reasonably priced. This combination means that it’s possible to drink your way up and down the Northern Rhone, trying fantastic wines from fabled appellations, and you can still afford your next car payment. Sure, the wines aren’t collectible, but if you’re buying to drink, rather than to resell, give these a look. We’re proud to present a broad assortment of their wines here for your future enjoyment and winery-cellared vintages for now:
Delas Freres Cote Rotie Seigneur de Maugiron, Rhone 2010 750ML ($89.95) $69 special, 15 bottles available
Wine Spectator 94 points “Packed with lots of dark ganache, tapenade, tobacco, blackberry compote and freshly sliced plum fruit flavors, this really courses along with noticeable energy, while bramble, singed bay leaf and charcoal stud the finish dramatically. Best from 2015 through 2027.” WS
Robert Parker 91 points “The 2010 Cote Rotie Seigneur de Maugiron has fleshed out since last year offering notes of black olives, garrigue, licorice, forest floor, bacon fat, raspberries and black currants. This medium-bodied Cote Rotie veers more toward a Burgundy-styled wine than its Syrah-based peers in the Northern Rhone. Two extraordinary wines are the offerings Jacques Grange has fashioned from the Delas Freres holdings in the Cote Brune, the 2011 and 2010 Cote Rotie La Landonne.” RP
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Delas Freres Crozes-Hermitage Le Clos, Rhone 2004 750ML ($59.95) $39 special, 7 bottles available
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 89 points “Medium red. Strong mineral notes accent fresh cherry and earthier tobacco and floral aromas. Solid and firmly structured, with a racy quality to the bright cherry and rhubarb flavors. This should age very well.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Delas Freres Crozes-Hermitage Le Clos, Rhone 2013 750ML ($69.95) $59 special, 18 bottles available
Wine Advocate 93+ points “Similar to the Domaine des Grands Chemins, yet with additional structure, the inky purple/ruby colored 2013 Crozes Hermitage le Clos has lots of minerality in its smoky, meaty, dark fruited profile. Medium to full-bodied, nicely concentrated, structured yet balanced, give it 2-4 years of cellaring and enjoy over the following decade or more.”
Delas Freres Hermitage Les Bessards, Rhone 2004 750ML ($199.95) $149 special, 29 bottles available
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 94 points “Ruby-red. Very pungent, deep aromas of tobacco- and underbrush-laced red and blackcurrant. Powerful and rich, showing impressive sweetness to its potent cassis and blackberry flavors. Really stains the palate, finishing with exceptional purity and mineral tones. Whatever tannins are here (and you know there are plenty) are completely absorbed by the sheer fruit mass.”
Delas Freres Hermitage Les Bessards, Rhone 2013 750ML ($249.95) $199 special, 9 bottles available
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 95 points “(aged in 70% new oak for 18 months): Inky ruby. Sexy, highly perfumed aromas of ripe dark berries, cherry liqueur, peppery spices and fresh flowers, backed by a hint of olive. Supple and appealingly sweet, offering intense, deeply concentrated blackberry and violet pastille flavors and a suggestion of star anise. Finishes pure, sweet and energetic on the penetrating finish, showing outstanding focus and slow-building tannins.”
Wine Advocate 94+ points “Closed, tight and backwards, the 2013 Hermitage les Bessards is a big, full-bodied, burly wine that offers first rate purity in its black raspberry, ozone, liquid rock, and creosote-like bouquet. It has plenty of material and density, but will need 7-8 years of bottle age to become approachable. As normal, it comes all from the “Bas de Coteau” portion of the Bessards lieu-dit, was completely destemmed and saw 18 months in 30% new French oak.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Delas Freres Hermitage Domaine des Tourettes-Marquise de la Tourette, Rhone 2013 750ML ($119.95) Was $69 special, Now $59, 11 bottles available
Case-6 Delas Freres Hermitage Domaine des Tourettes-Marquise de la Tourette, Rhone 2013 750ML ($549.95) Was $359 special, Now $319 (that’s only $53.17/bottle!), 6 six-packs available
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.”
Delas Freres Saint-Joseph Francois de Tournon, Rhone 2013 750ML ($44.95) $28 special, 25 bottles available
Case-6 Delas Freres Saint-Joseph Francois de Tournon, Rhone 2013 750ML ($199.95) $149 special (that’s only $24.83/bottle!), 1 six-pack available
Wine Advocate 92 points “Similar to the Saint Epine release quality-wise, the 2013 St Joseph Cuvee Francois de Tournon offers more richness, breadth and layer compared to the tighter, more focused, granite-influenced Saint Epine. Plum, black raspberry, licorice, cracked pepper and graphite flows to a medium to full-bodied, concentrated, structured 2013 that needs 3-4 years of cellaring; it will have two decades of longevity. Coming mostly from vineyards around Tournon and Mauves, it spent 12 months in 30% new French oak.”
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 92 points “Vivid ruby. Highly perfumed, exotic scents of black raspberry and blueberry preserves, incense and smoky minerals carry a spicy topnote. At once ripe and lively on the palate, offering palate-staining red and dark berry and cherry cola flavors and subtle floral character. Finishes spicy and very long, displaying harmonious tannins and a lingering violet note.”
Wine Spectator 92 points “Ripe and concentrated without sacrificing cut, this lets a pure beam of raspberry and blackberry coulis rush forth, backed by mouthwatering anise, black tea and iron notes. Latent grip allows the finish to linger. Best from 2016 through 2022.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
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Italian Renaissance:
Montevertine
Classic Before It Was Cool
“2013 is shaping up to be a magnificent, perhaps even epic, vintage at Montevrtine. The 2013s are sublime. Warm days and cool nights were ideal for the graedual ripening of Sangiovese that can produce truly magical wines at this small property in Radda…” –Antonio Galloni
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 three back-to-back stellar vintages, available here now including one of the highest rated Italian wines of the 2013 vintage:
Montevertine Le Pergole Torte Toscana IGT 2013 750ML ($149.95) $119 special, 21 bottles available
Monica Larner – Wine Advocate 98 points “Perhaps no Tuscan wine is a better vintage ambassador than the Montevertine 2013 Le Pergole Torte. This gorgeous wine seems to have captured the energy, the freshness, the spirt and the edginess of this classic vintage. It really speaks to my palate thanks to its silky consistency, its steady aromatic momentum and its understated elegance. The wine shows an uncanny level of the proverbial Tuscan nobility. The bouquet offers a delicate embroidery of wild berry and underbrush, with lingering tones of dark fruit and spice that appear on second nose. The mouthfeel is ethereal and polished with tannins that already show a superior level of integration despite the wine’s young age. The aging future looks very bright for the 2013 Le Pergole Torte.”
Antonio Galloni 95-97+ points “The 2013 Le Pergole Torte is shaping up to be magnificent. Powerful yet weightless, the 2013 displays compelling, crystalline purity, with chiseled, beautifully articulated flavors, beams of supporting acidity and captivating overall balance. All the elements are in place for the 2013 to challenge for a spot among the great Pergole Tortes of all time.”
Montevertine Le Pergole Torte Toscana IGT 2011 750ML ($149.95) $119 special, 24+ bottles available
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
Monica Larner – Wine Advocate 95 points “The 2011 Le Pergole Torte is a stunning expression from the heart of Tuscany and a worldwide ambassador for the Sangiovese (called Sangioveto on the label) grape. Brilliant in ruby color and buoyant in aromatic intensity, the wine is brimming with inner energy and verve. It speaks in high decibels with pristine cherry, anise seed, cola, balsam herb and almond paste. There’s a touch of softness buried within what is otherwise a tightly textured tapestry of flavors. In terms of texture, the wine is infinitely silky and long. Be patient for five years more at least.”
Montevertine Le Pergole Torte Toscana IGT 2012 750ML ($149.95) $119 special, 24+ bottles available
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.”
Monica Larner – Wine Advocate 93 points “Uneven ripening resulted in lower yields in this vintage. Usually 24,000 bottles of Le Pergole Torte are produced, but the 2012 Le Pergole Torte totaled a mere 16,000 bottles. Martino Manetti estimates that he had to throw away 30% of his grapes. That painful sacrifice yielded very good results in terms of the overall quality of this wine. This is a fluid and complex wine that is already showing signs of a slow and steady evolution. The bouquet is dark and penetrating with dark cherry, spice and red rose petal. It’s not the best edition of this celebrated wine, but Le Pergole Torte remains one of the best wines made in this difficult vintage.”
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Arriving Friday
2014 Burgundies
“the 2014 vintage in Burgundy appears to be one of those rare breeds in the region—a year in which both the reds and whites are potentially excellent.” – Bruce Sanderson, Wine Spectator
“2014 is the school of terroir. There is no strong vintage character.” – Mounir Saouma, co-owner of Lucien Le Moine
Serafin Pere & Fils Les Cazetiers, Gevrey-Chambertin Premier Cru 2014 750ML ($219.95) $149 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2014 Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Les Cazetiers has a lifted bouquet, very well defined with blackcurrant, black cherry, undergrowth and cold black tea aromas that gain intensity on the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins, fine acidity, the oak neatly integrated here and allowing the terroir to show through on the clean, precise, minerally finish. This is just a lovely Gevrey-Chambertin from Serafin.”
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 92 points “(this fruit is always picked at the end, noted winemaker Frédérique Bachotet): Bright, dark red-ruby. Very ripe cherry and chocolate scents. Wonderfully rich, deep wine with a restrained sweetness and noteworthy density to its flavors of redcurrant, spices and saline minerality. The terroir really speaks here. The long finish features lingering earth tones.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Domaine Philippe Charlopin-Parizot Marsannay Les Echezots 2014 750ML ($49.95) $33 pre-arrival special
Wine Spectator 92 points “A rich, concentrated red, with earth and animal aromas leading off, followed by black cherry, black currant and spice flavors. Verges on a thick texture, featuring well-integrated tannins and a long, fruity aftertaste. Best from 2019 through 2029.”
Domaine Philippe Charlopin-Parizot Gevrey-Chambertin Morceaux Vieilles Vignes 2014 750ML ($89.95) $59 pre-arrival special
Wine Spectator 93 points “There’s fine intensity to the cherry, currant and spice flavors here, along with a chewy structure and texture. All the elements hang together, with a dense matrix underlying the fruit, spice and mineral notes that grace the long finish. Best from 2022 through 2035.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Domaine Philippe Charlopin-Parizot Marsannay En Montchevenoy 2014 750ML ($49.95) $33 pre-arrival special
Wine Spectator 91 points “A feral note in the aroma gives way to rich black cherry, vanilla and sandalwood flavors in this lush, firmly structured red. Harmonious and long, but needs time. Decant if you must drink this now. Best from 2019 through 2028.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
The average price for all vintages is $45
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Amazing Washington Wines
Still Available
Quilceda Creek Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley 2014 750ML ($219.95) $199 special, 12 bottles available
Wine Advocate 100 points “The 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon is another tour de force from this estate that’s reminiscent of first growth Bordeaux from a vintage like 2009. Made from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon and aged in new barrels, it offers incredible notes of blackcurrants, graphite, lead pencil shavings and crushed rocks in a full-bodied, decadent, insanely layered and seamless style. This beauty possesses ultra-fine tannin, no hard edges and a forward, already hard to resist style, yet it’s going to keep for more than two decades.”
Quilceda Creek Galitzine Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Red Mountain 2013 750ML ($219.95) $179 special, 15 bottles available
Wine Advocate 98 points “An utterly prodigious effort that would most likely be the wine of the vintage if not for its big brother, the 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Galitzine Vineyard comes all from Red Mountain and was raised in 100% new French oak. Revealing a healthy ruby/purple color and classic notes of sage brush, graphite, black cherries, currants and chocolate, it hits the palate with full-bodied richness; building, present, yet ripe and polished tannin; perfect integration of its fruit, alcohol and oak; and awesome length. This is a powerhouse Cabernet Sauvignon that still holds onto a sense of elegance and finesse. Forget it for 4-5 years and drink bottles over the following two decades.”
Charles Smith K Vintners ‘M.C.K. Motor City Kitty’ Syrah 2014 750ML ($39.95) $36 special, 19 bottles available
Case-12 Charles Smith K Vintners ‘M.C.K. Motor City Kitty’ Syrah 2014 750ML ($479.95) $399 special (that’s only $33.25/bottle!), 3 cases available
Wine Advocate 95 points “Named after a cat owned by Charles when he was living in Walla Walla, the 2014 M C K Syrah sports a deep purple color as well as ripe, decadent notes of black fruits, plums, graphite, crushed rock and licorice. Big, sexy, seamless and pure, with present, yet ripe tannin, drink it through 2024. It’s worth noting that this comes completely from the River Rock vineyard in this vintage. As usual, it’s a crazy value.”
Wine Enthusiast 93 points –Editors’ Choice–“This aromatically brooding wine brings aromas of brown stems, scorched earth, smoked meat, iron, violets, orange peel and blue and black fruit. The flavors coat the palate from end to end with silky soft, unabashedly appealing fruit and savory notes. It hits the delicious gong hard, with an enduring finish.”
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Thank you for reading!