Jump Start Sale: Thevenet ’15 Best Price; 100 Point Casanova di Neri; New Week – New Arrivals; The Best $24 Barbaresco You’ve Never Had; #Trending; Riotous Restocks; Italian Renaissance: Montevertine; Arriving This Week: Hartford Family Chard & Dauvissat Chablis; Clos Puy Arnaud (Troplong-Mondot Pedigree @ Affordable Price); La Madre di Tutti Vin Santo: Perfect Vin Santo; Subscriber-Only Special: 10% Off All In-Stock Mags!; 2013 Produttori: Confirmed & Limited Release
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Welcome, welcome, welcome…..
Jump Start Sale
Arriving Friday
Jean-Paul Thevenet Morgon Vieilles Vignes, Beaujolais 2015 750ML ($34.95) $26 pre-arrival special
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 94 points “Brilliant magenta. Explosive red berry liqueur, incense and floral scents, along with hints of allspice and smoky minerals. Silky and seamless on the palate, offering deeply concentrated black raspberry, spicecake and violet and pastille flavors that put on weight and become sweeter with air. The balance of richness and vivacity here is extremely impressive. Closes with impressive, mineral-driven intensity and length; silky tannins sneak in late to add shape and grip. Thévenet is consistently one of the great producers of Beaujolais and in 2015 he produced one of the monuments of the vintage.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $35
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Featured Arrival
100 Points / Lowest Price / In Stock Now
Why Hesitate?
Casanova di Neri Cerretalto, Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2010 750ML ($379.95) $299 special, 12 bottles available
James 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.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $350
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New Week – New Arrivals
Oregon
Angela Estate Abbott Claim Pinot Noir, Yamhill-Carlton District 2012 750ML ($59.95) $36 special
Wine Enthusiast 94 points “Editors’ Choice. Here is a powerful young wine with concentrated plum and cherry fruit. It’s beautifully built around perfectly ripened tannins that provide solid support without being intrusive. Compact and well proportioned, it lingers with highlights of espresso grounds, dark chocolate and black tea.”
Wine Spectator 91 points “This earthy style plays a woodsy, coffee and spice character against a core of black cherry, lingonberry and licorice flavors. The finish lingers against firm yet unobtrusive tannins. Best from 2017 through 2022.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $40
The average price is $52
Angela Estate Pinot Noir, Yamhill-Carlton District 2013 750ML ($44.95) $28 special
Wine Enthusiast 92 points –Cellar Selection– “The label does not bear the name Angela Vineyard, but the fruit is estate grown. This is a tight, focused, young red wine, with tangy raspberry fruit that touches on black cherry. Vivid and penetrating, it needs plenty of time to breathe, and as it does it reveals subtle layers of mocha and caramel. This has the bones to age. Drink now through 2030.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $37.99
The average price is $41!
California
Robert Biale Vineyards Black Chicken Zinfandel, Napa Valley 2015 750ML ($59.95) $44 special
“Dark color, ripe aromatics and juicy acidity. The nose is full of vibrant black cherry, strawberries, crème fresh, dried flowers, brown and black spices and bread pudding. The entry is soft and weighty and gives way to supple round tannins.”–Winery Notes
Freemark Abbey Bosche Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Rutherford 2013 750ML ($149.95) $128 special
Robert Parker 98+ points “The famous Bosché Vineyard is a spot in Rutherford composed of gravelly, loamy soil and situated just at the base of the Mayacamas Mountains. A blend of 93.8% Cabernet Sauvignon and 6.2% Merlot, the 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Bosché Vineyard was aged 28 months in French oak. This vineyard has turned out many a classic wine capable of lasting 30-40 years, and this 2013 is one of the all-time great Bosché Cabernet Sauvignons. It offers an inky ruby/purple color, a gorgeous nose of graphite, black cherry, wood spice and barbecue notes, enormous body and richness, and a heady, full-bodied, long finish of 50+ seconds with moderately high tannins. This is a great classic from Napa, but not one for drinking over the near-term. Give it 7-8 years of bottle age and drink it over the following 50 years.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $150
Freemark Abbey Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, California 2013 750ML ($44.95) $34.40 special
Robert Parker 92+ points “The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon, Freemark Abbey’s generic bottling from Napa, is a brilliant example, and at $50, a heck of a value. It is also one of their larger cuvées at 24,332 cases. A blend of 75.1% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10.9% Merlot and the rest Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc and Malbec, this wine spent nearly 26 months in oak. Opaque purple in color, it exhibits beautiful blackberry and blackcurrant fruit with hints of white chocolate, allspice and tobacco leaf. It is rich, full-bodied, seriously concentrated, and has 2013’s relatively serious structure and tannic clout. Give it 3-4 years of cellaring and drink it over the following 25-30 years.”
Arrowood Winery Knights Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, California 2013 750ML ($29.95) $24 special
Antonio Galloni 91 points “The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon (Knights Valley), all Knights Valley fruit in this vintage, is superb. Raspberry jam, spice, scorched earth, rose petal, cloves and new leather are some of the signatures. Knights Valley is often noted for Graves-like sense of gravel-infused minerality, naturally allied to a California expression of fruit. That is exactly what readers will find in the 2013.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $31
Arrowood Proprietary Red Blend, Sonoma 2013 750ML ($49.95) $39 special
VinopolNote: A limited release blend of 63% Cab, 15% Cab Franc, 14% Merlot and 8% Malbec. Aged for 6 months in 38% new French oak.
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Gundlach-Bundschu Estate Vineyard Chardonnay, Sonoma Coast 2014 750ML ($24.95) $20.90 special
Wine Enthusiast 93 points “This producer continues to impress in quality and focus. Proving the point, this estate-grown white proffers inviting teases of jasmine and tropical-kissed peach and pear. Tangy acidity finds a complement of texture and body, delivering voluptuousness that remains elegant in the glass.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Gundlach-Bundschu Estate Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma Valley 2013 750ML ($44.95) $37.90 special
Case-12 Gundlach-Bundschu Estate Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma Valley 2013 ($499.95) $399 special (that’s only $33.25/bottle!)
Robert Parker 92 points “The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon from Sonoma shows juicy crème de cassis fruit, black licorice, nicely integrated toasty oak, an inky purple color and a medium to full-bodied delicious style. This is certainly a major sleeper of the vintage and one of the more attractively priced world-class Cabernet Sauvignons coming out of California’s North Coast in this miraculous vintage for Bordeaux varietals. Drink now-2030+.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
France – Champagne
J-M Seleque Brut Rose, Champagne NV 750ML ($59.95) $49 special
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 92 points “Bright orange-pink. Red berries, citrus zest, toasted brioche and smoky minerals on the deeply perfumed nose. Chewy and broad on entry, then tighter in the mid-palate, offering sharply focused strawberry and blood orange flavors braced by a jolt of chalky minerals. The mineral element adds lift and cut to the expansive finish, which clings with strong smoky tenacity. Two thousand eleven is the base vintage for this bottling and 30% of the blend is in the form of reserve Pinot Noir that was aged in oak. 45% Chardonnay, 40% Pinot Meunier and 15% Pinot Noir.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $54.99
France – Rosé
Chateau la Mascaronne Cotes de Provence Quat’Saisons Rose, Provence 2016 750ML ($21.95) $18 special
VinopolNote: La Mascaronne is the true Miraval. Yes Miraval, that delightful $18 Provence Rose that tasted like $30; until the winery was acquired by a certain Hollywood couple and the new management proceeded to stick the wine in a bulbous bottle and hike the price to $30+. But we have a secret to share with you. The original owner of Miraval kept his best vineyard, and that is La Mascarrone.
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
France – Burgundy
Domaine Jean-Marc Pillot Bourgogne Les Grands Champs 2015 750ML ($29.95) $24 special
Importer note “From a parcel on the southeastern end of Chassagne Montrachet, this wine now passes its elevage in stainless steel tank to preserve its freshness. It shares the broad shoulders and dense texture of the wines of Chassagne. Bottled twelve months after the harvest, this wine establishes the base-line for the generous, open style adopted by Jean-Marc Pillot for all of his wines. In years of normal production, we import 2400 bottles for the US market.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Domaine Jean-Marc Pillot Chassagne-Montrachet Les Chaumes 2014 750ML ($59.95) $49 special
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 92+ points “Bright lemon-yellow. Knockout nose combines musky grapefruit oil, lemon, lime, leesy baked bread and pungent crushed stone. At once penetrating and refined, conveying superb energy and precision to its bulletproof fruit. Extremely young but not hard, this premier cru reverberates and rises on the very long finish. I underestimated this wine a year ago.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Domaine Jean-Marc Pillot Les Chenevottes, Chassagne-Montrachet Premier Cru 2014 750ML ($79.95) $66 special
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 92+ points “Pale, bright yellow. Penetrating aromas of lemon, minerals and white flowers. More austere than the Chaumes, offering brisk, intense flavors of lime and crushed stone. Boasts terrific inner-mouth energy and finishes with palate-saturating minerality.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Domaine Jean-Marc Pillot Morgeot Les Fairendes, Chassagne-Montrachet Premier Cru 2014 750ML ($79.95) $69 special
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 93+ points “(30% new oak; Pillot has picked this parcel much earlier since 2012): Bright, pale yellow with green highlights. Aromas of lemon, lime and vanilla, plus a flinty note of limestone reduction. Highly concentrated and powerful, dominated in the early going by tactile, rocky minerality. A superb mineral-driven example of Morgeot with the spine for a slow and positive evolution in bottle.”
Domaine Jean-Marc Pillot Bourgogne Rouge Les Grandes Terres, Burgundy 2015 750ML ($29.95) $21.90 special
Importer note “This little red is a favorite of ours for its rustic, wild berry fruit and ebullient palate presence. The vineyard is located south of Chassagne in the town of Remigny. Some of the vines are quite old, approaching the 60-year mark (as of 2012).”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $26
Domaine Matrot Bourgogne Pinot Noir 2014 750ML ($29.95) $24 special
Domaine Matrot La Fussiere, Maranges Premier Cru 2014 750ML ($39.95) $33 special
Burghound 89 points “Outstanding. This expressive effort offers another small step up in aromatic refinement and complexity with its fresh array of red and dark cherry, earth and softly spicy scents. There is better mid-palate density and volume to the sleek and lightly mineral-laden flavors that exhibit almost no rusticity on the balanced and lingering finish.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Domaine Matrot Monthelie, Cote de Beaune 2014 750ML ($49.95) $39 special
Burghound 89 points “Top value. A riper and more complex if less complex nose features notes of dark pinot fruit, spice and plenty of earth influence. The old vines definitely are in evidence as the seductively textured middle weight flavors possess fine mid-palate concentration as well as good volume and detail on the moderately firm, balanced and long finish. This is really quite good for its level and would make another excellent choice for an all-around house red.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Domaine Matrot En Creot, Saint-Aubin Premier Cru 2014 750ML ($39.95) $33 special
Burghound 89 points “This is markedly cooler and more elegant with its pretty nose of high-toned pomegranate, cherry and cranberry scents. There is a lovely minerality to the racy, intense and beautifully delineated lighter weight though not dilute flavors that possess an attractive saline character on the clean, polished and dry-in-the-best-sense finale. This refined effort could easily be enjoyed young.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Domaine Matrot Santenots, Volnay Premier Cru 2014 750ML ($69.95) $59 special
Burghound 91 points “Here the wood treatment is no longer subtle as the menthol character fights somewhat with the clear expression of the otherwise fresh, pretty and complex mix of plum, violet, earth and discreet spice scents. There is much better mid-palate concentration to the powerful and quite serious middle weight flavors that exude a fine bead of minerality onto the mouth coating and, somewhat curiously for Santenots, notably rustic finale. This doesn’t offer its usual level of refinement but it certainly doesn’t lack for underlying material.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Domaine Matrot Auxey-Duresses, Cote de Beaune 2014 750ML ($49.95) $39 special
Burghound 88 points “Once again the nose is composed of distinctly cool yet ripe fruit that combines notes of both red and blue pinot fruit with plenty of earth and floral nuances. There is good detail and verve to the delicious and lightly mineral-laden flavors that possess an attractive velvety texture while delivering solid depth and length on the ever-so-mildly austere finale.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Domaine Matrot La Piece Sous Le Bois, Blagny Premier Cru 2014 750ML ($69.95) $59 special
Burghound 91 points “The impressively complex violet and pungently earth-infused aromas are more elegant if ever-so-slightly less ripe. The seductively textured middle weight flavors possess plenty of structure-buffering dry extract that imparts a sappy mouth feel to the firm, dusty and strikingly persistent mineral-driven finish that evidences a mild touch of austerity. While qualitatively similar to the Santenots the underlying character is completely different as this is more focused and less powerful while offering much more refinement.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
France – Beaujolais
Jean-Paul Brun Domaine des Terres Dorees Beaujolais l’Ancien Vieilles Vignes 2015 750ML ($19.95) $16 special
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 91 points “Vivid ruby-red. Sexy, high-pitched red berry and floral aromas, along with suggestions of incense and Asian spices. Suave, seamless and penetrating in the mouth, offering juicy raspberry and rose pastille flavors that smoothly combine richness and vivacity. A spine of juicy acidity adds structure and lift as well as urgency. Leaves a deeper blue fruit note behind on the very long, sappy finish, which reveals no rough edges and impressive energy. This wine delivers some serious value.”
Pierre-Marie Chermette Domaine du Vissoux Creme de Cassis NV 375ML ($24.95) $19 special
VinopolNote: Crème de Cassis from a gifted farmer & vigneron…. How could that not be good?
Italy – Piedmont
Cantina del Pino Dolcetto d’Alba 2015 750ML ($19.95) $16 special
Antonio Galloni 89 points “The 2015 Dolcetto d’Alba is fleshy, supple and inviting, all of which make it an excellent choice for drinking now and over the next few years. Sweet red cherry, plum, licorice and spice notes are front and center. This is an especially forward style, but there is good freshness as well. Cantina del Pino’s Dolcetto is once again delicious and distinctive.”
Cantina del Pino Langhe Nebbiolo 2014 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 special
Antonio Galloni 90 points “The 2014 Langhe Nebbiolo captures the brightness and energy of the year. Cranberry, strawberry, mint and white pepper are some of the signatures in this lively, refreshing Nebbiolo. The 2014 is a blend of fruit from both the eastern and western portions of Ovello, plus Starderi. Readers who like aromatic, lifted wines will find much to like in the 2014. Proprietor Renato Vacca had this fruit seven days on the skins and aged the wine in tank.”
G. B. Burlotto Barbera d’Alba 2015 750ML ($21.95) $18 special
VinopolNote: tasted last week #delicious #substantial #serious
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $21
Italy – Tuscany
Flavio Fanti La Palazzetta Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2012 750ML ($39.95) $36 special
James Suckling 93 points
Piancornello Rosso di Montalcino 2015 750ML ($21.95) $18 special
Importer note “The younger brother of Brunello di Montalcino, the Rosso di Montepulciano from Piancornello is a versatile, medium bodied Sangiovese with lots of varietal fruit, including cherries and fresh plums.”
Tenuta di Arceno Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG 2013 750ML ($27.95) $20.90 special
Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2013 Chianti Classico Riserva is a terrific wine that is offered at a very attractive price point. The bouquet is sweet and generous with bold layers of red fruit and dark berry nuances. Those are followed by balanced tones of spice, tobacco and moist earth. The blend is 90% Sangiovese and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon aged in French oak for up to 12 months. This 2013 vintage shows exceptionally well.”
James Suckling 93 points “Impressive intensity of fruit here with blueberry, blackberry and raspberry character yet a linear acidity and tannin backbone cuts through the middle of the wine. Fine and racy. Drink or hold.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $24
Fabio Gea Notu Seguiva le Gocce d’Acqua, Barbaresco DOCG 2011 750ML ($149.95) $119 special
VinopolNote: Sublime and enchanting.
Italy – Campania
Cantine Lonardo – Contrade di Taurasi ‘Grecomusc’ Campania IGT 2014 750ML ($31.95) $26 special
Ian D’agata – Vinous Media 90 points “Bright straw. Lime and botanical herbs on the fresh nose. Rich and dense but juicy, showcasing precise fresh citrus and spicy flavors that linger long on the almost creamy aftertaste. Lovely Grecomusc’ from the producer who first rediscovered this long-forgotten aromatic variety that gives wines not unlike dry white Muscat wines. (Grecomusc’ is what the grape is called in dialect; the variety’s official name is Roviello.)”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Cantine Lonardo – Contrade di Taurasi Aglianico Rosso Irpinia, Campania 2014 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 special
Ian D’Agata – Vinous Media 89 points “Medium red. Reticent nose hints at red berries, licorice and wild herbs. Then bright and juicy, with excellent spine to the flavors of red fruits, licorice and minerals. Well-balanced wine with an echoing finish, if not the greatest complexity.”
Cantine Lonardo – Contrade di Taurasi Taurasi DOCG, Campania 2011 750ML ($49.95) $39 special
Ian D’Agata – Vinous Media 94 points “Deep ruby. Ripe black cherry, flint and herbs on the profound, complex nose. Bright, dense and rich; lively acidity lifts the almost decadently ripe red cherry fruit, nicely framed by sweet, polished tannins. Finishes long and ripe with a bright, refreshing floral nuance. Outstanding Taurasi that manages the neat trick of being remarkably concentrated yet very light on its feet. Bravo!”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $44.99
Cantine Lonardo – Contrade di Taurasi Coste, Taurasi DOCG 2011 750ML ($89.95) $59 special
Ian D’agata – Vinous Media 94+ points “Deep ruby. Floral nuances complicate the red and dark berry, ink, sweet spice and flinty aromas and flavors. Dense and seamless, showing a multilayered personality and remarkable complexity of flavor. Finishes very long and with repeating, lingering hints of ink and flint.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Cantine Lonardo – Contrade di Taurasi Vigne d’Alto, Taurasi DOCG 2011 750ML ($89.95) $59 special
Ian D’agata – Vinous Media 94+ points “Deep ruby with a purple tinge. Reticent nose at first, only hinting at dark cherry, sassafras and sandalwood. Then very concentrated and dense, displaying almost opulent, sweet nuances of oaky torrefaction to the coffee, cocoa and dark cherry flavors. This outstanding Taurasi finishes extremely long, rich and seamless. It’s virtually impossible to pick between Lonardo’s two crus in 2011, and both will have many admirers.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $75
Germany
Fritz Haag Brauneberger Juffer Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese, Mosel 2014 750ML ($49.95) $39 special
Wine Advocate 95 points “The 2014 Brauneberger Juffer Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese displays a stunningly clear, precise and mineral, flinty-flavored bouquet with lemon oil flavors on pure stones. This is a weightless, bright and finesse-full Auslese that tastes as piquant and refreshing in its bright citrus flavors as a candied grapefruit. Absolutely beautiful and elegant, and so long, stimulatingly pure and salty. Great, great Riesling!”
Wine & Spirits 93 points -Top Mosel Estate in 2016- “While intense Auslese wines were a rarity in the cool, rain-plagued 2014 vintage, Haag’s Juffer Sonnenuhr Auslese is an exception, a powerful Riesling that broadcasts its flavors with bell0like clarity, notes of flowers, honey, herbs and jasmine tea swept along on silky sweetness.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Fritz Haag Brauneberger Juffer Sonnenuhr Riesling Beerenauslese Goldkapsel #16, Mosel 2015 375ML ($279.95) $249 special
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Spain
Ameztoi Txakoli di Getaria Hondarribi Zuri, Getariako Txakolina 2015 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 special
90% Hondarribi Zuri and 10% Hondarribi Beltza
VinopolNote: nobody can spell it; and many struggle to retrieve the name from memory; but this is the Txak that everybody wants.
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Give the Gift that Never Expires!
Can’t decide on the perfect gift?
Let them!
We offer gift certificates in any amount with no taxes, fees or expiration date.
Gift certificates are not available through our web store. To order, please stop in, call or email. We are happy to mail gift certificates to any domestic address at no charge.
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$24 Barbaresco
The Best You’ve Never Tried
Available Here Now
Pure & vibrant – one year in stainless steel tank, one year in large cask. Into the bottle, then into your glass!
Adriano Marco e Vittorio Basarin, Barbaresco DOCG 2012 750ML ($27.95) $24 special, 12 bottles available
Wine Spectator 93 points “Sweet strawberry, cherry and currant fruit weaves throughout this elegant, intense Barbaresco. The structure is assertive, yet this stays fresh and vibrant on the long finish. Floral and leafy underbrush notes add depth. Best from 2018 through 2030.”
Adriano Marco e Vittorio Sanadaive, Barbaresco DOCG 2013 750ML ($27.95) $24 special, 30 bottles available
Wine Enthusiast 94 points “Enticing scents of fragrant blue flower, ripe red berry, baking spice, menthol and new leather lead the way. Fresh and elegant, the palate delivers juicy red cherry, raspberry, cinnamon, white pepper and licorice while firm, polished tannins lend structure and a smooth mouthfeel. Drink 2018–2023.”
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Popular Picks!
Gobelsburg always delivers top value in dry Riesling. This is drinking incredibly well right now and is an incredible deal for under $20.
Schloss Gobelsburg Gobelsburger Riesling, Kamptal 2014 750ML ($21.95) $18 special, 20 bottles available
“Issuing, like its eponymous Grüner Veltliner counterpart, entirely from Kamptal fruit, this generic cuvée sold principally in the US market delivers its usual charm and value. Scents of lily and heliotrope mingle with intimations of apple and white peach, the latter migrating to a satin-textured and expansive yet not weighty palate. Hints of quince, tangerine oil and brown spices suggest background botrytis, thankfully only slightly detracting from the clarity and refreshment that characterize the corresponding Schlosskellerei Gobelsburg bottling of Grüner Veltliner. (The impressive generic bottlings incorporating purchased fruit that are familiar from American markets under the “Gobelsburger” label have been rechristened “Schlosskellerei Gobelsburg” because, in keeping with recent legislation, the old designation will now be reserved for anyone who chooses to name for its commune of origin a wine grown in Gobelsburg the village.)” -David Schildknecht
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Nosiola is a native grape to the Dolomite region of Italy. Foradori makes the most famous version, but this wine, in a little humbler price point, is delicious and worth trying in its own right.
Pojer e Sandri Nosiola Vigneti delle Dolomiti IGT, Trentino-Alto Adige 2015 750ML ($21.95) $18 special, 24 bottles available
Producer Notes–“The colour is straw/yellow with greenish reflections. Its bouquet is very delicate, fleeting but very characteristic, with fruity hints of golden apples. On the palate it is flavorful and fragrant, with a mildly tangy quality on the palate. There’s a subtle flavor which may remind you of hazelnuts. It pairs well both with light appetizers of fish and meat, soup, raw shellfish and it’s also good with soft cheeses. Excellent as an aperitif, too, as it sets up bigger, richer wines.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Terlato’s homage to the right bank of Bordeaux, specifically Pomerol. We scored a deep closeout deal on this one and are excited to bring it to you for an especially great price.
Terlato Family Vineyards Angel’s Peak, Napa Valley 2009 750ML ($69.95) $28 special, 36+ bottles available
Wine Spectator 90 points “Soft and fleshy on entry, showcasing fine depth, focus, purity and a range of flavors, with crushed rock, red berry, spice and mineral notes that turn elegant and silky on the finish. Drink now through 2022.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $39.17
The average price is $46!
Attention Orin Swift lovers. This has that deep rich fruit with layers of intensity that you’ve been craving, at a much more attractive price. Southern France for the win.
Domaine Lafage Cotes du Roussillon Lieu Dit Narassa 2014 750ML ($21.95) $18 special, 36+ bottles available
Wine Advocate 93 points “From one of the warmest sites in France, the 2014 Cotes du Roussillon Villages Lieu Dit La Narassa comes from 70-year-old vines planted in the black schist soils of Maury. Despite the rugged, hot terroir from where this beauty comes, the wine is pure silk and elegant, with lots of black raspberry, chocolate covered currants, pepper and olive notes giving way to a full-bodied 2014; it has polished tannin and a seamless texture. A blend of 70% Grenache and 30% Syrah that was aged mostly in concrete tank (20% in demi-muids), drink it anytime over the coming 4-5 years.”
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Our Current
Shipping Promos:
Along with Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and California,
we now offer flat rate shipping to Colorado. Here’s the scoop:
Single orders of any quantity of wines qualify for the flat rate;
this does not apply to orders held in storage for any reason
or multiple orders consolidated into one shipment.
The flat reach for each state is, as follows:
-to Oregon for $17,
-Washington & Idaho for $20,
-and California & Colorado for $25
Take Advantage of the Flat Rate!
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Riotous Restocks
You Loved ‘Em
We Got More of ‘Em!
Ameztoi Rubentis Rosado, Getariako Txakolina 2016 750ML ($21.95) $19 special
“Made from the indigenous grape varieties of Hondarribi Zuri and its red companion Hondarribi Beltza. The wines are fermented in stainless steel and bottled with residual carbonic acid that gives the wine its natural spritz. By adjusting the blend to increase the amount of Hondarribi Beltza, the red txakolina grape, Ameztoi has made this rosé txakolina that retains all the freshness of traditional white txakolina but with a slight taste of strawberries and red candied fruit. Great for sipping while sharing a warm summer evening with friends.”
Bedrock Wine Co. Old Vine Zinfandel, Sonoma Valley 2014 750ML ($27.95) $23.90 special
Antonio Galloni – Vinous 91 points “The 2014 Old Vine Zinfandel is deep, rich and luscious, with plenty of up-front fruit and tons of appeal. More of a field blend than a true Zinfandel, the 2014 is soft and forward, with expressive red-fleshed fruit, bright acidity and terrific overall balance. The Old Vine is 77% Zinfandel and a generous 23% mixed blacks. Best of all, the Old Vine Zinfandel is a fabulous value.”
Bedrock Wine Co. ‘The Bedrock Heritage’ Wine, Sonoma Valley 2015 750ML ($59.95) $49 special
Robert Parker 96 points “Possibly the flagship wine is the 2015 Proprietary Red The Bedrock Heritage. This ancient vineyard is planted with 27 different varieties, so I won’t even begin to list them, as that is a book in itself. This is Rhône Valley-like, with notes of Mediterranean herbs, blackberries, blueberries, loamy soil notes, incense, creosote, steak tartare and pepper followed by a wine of great intensity – built like a skyscraper, with layers of fruit and extraction. It is a sensational effort, super-complex, and best drunk over the next decade.”
Domaine de la Pepiere Muscadet Sevre-et-Maine Sur Lie, Loire 2015 750ML ($17.95) $14 special
“The 2015 Muscadet is a classic of the region! Pale in color and yeasty in its pure, fresh and lemony ripe apple flavors on the nose, this is a light and crisp, 11.2% alcohol Muscadet with a lovely purity and grip, but also a certain juiciness in the finish. Nice grapefruit flavors in the good aftertaste.” -Wine Advocate
Importer notes “When Marc Ollivier is on, these are the top wines of the AOC – wines that are not only delicious young, but that can also age 10, 20 or 30 years. Ollivier’s Muscadet-sur-Lie is the authentic item — it has lees contact until the time of bottling, generally in late May. This extended contact gives it the crispness that makes Muscadet so refreshing, and the classic wine match for seafood. It is the traditional way to make Muscadet, but has become the exception as growers and shippers rush to bottle “technically correct” wines by early January. Ollivier takes his time. He hand harvests (also a rarity in the region), uses natural yeasts, waits for the wine to finish and bottles with a very light filtration. The vineyards are in old vines (40 years and older) with a particularly good exposition on a plateau overlooking the river Sèvre. All the vineyards are from original stock: Ollivier is the only grower in the Muscadet who does not have a single clonal selection in his vineyards.”
Analemma Atavus Vineyard Blanc de Noir, Columbia Gorge 2012 750ML ($59.95) $49 special
John Gilman 91+ points “The 2012 Blanc de Noirs from Analemma Wines is composed entirely of pinot noir and was aged sur latte for fully three and a half years prior to disgorgement and release into the market. This parcel of pinot noir in the Atavus Vineyard is well over forty years of age and the vin clair was aged in cask for six months prior to assemblage and bottling. The bouquet of the 2012 version offers up an excellent bouquet of white peach, apple, warm biscuits, a fine base of soil and a topnote of dried flowers. On the palate the wine is pure, full-bodied, crisp and very well-balanced, with frothy mousse, lovely focus and grip, nice backend soil signature and a long, complex and zesty finish. This is still a youthful bottle and further bottle age will really allow it to blossom fully. Fine, very refined bubbly. 2018-2030+.”
Roagna Dolcetto d’Alba, Piedmont 2014 750ML ($21.95) $18 special
Eric Asimov’s Top 20 Under $20: “Nebbiolo is renowned for its complex, long-lasting, soulful Barolos and Barbarescos. Barbera is valued for its juicy, zesty reds. Which leaves dolcetto, the also-ran among the three best-known red grapes in the Piedmont region of Italy. That oversight can often make it a great value. This bottle, from a superb producer, is pure and refreshingly bitter, direct, honest and delicious.”
“A gracious, light to medium-bodied wine, the 2014 Dolcetto d’Alba shows the more delicate side of the grape. Sweet plum, blueberry, mint and sweet spices are all given an extra kick of freshness from the cool conditions of the year. The 2014 Dolcetto is a bit slender, but quite pretty, and quite reminiscent of the style of Dolcetto that was more common a generation ago. Yields are down 50% and the alcohol is in the 12% range, typical for the year.” -Antonio Galloni
Pierre-Marie Chermette Domaine du Vissoux Moulin-a-Vent Les Trois Roches, Beaujolais 2015 750ML ($31.95) $28 special
John Gilman 96 points “The 2015 Moulin-à-Vent “Les Trois Roches” from Domaine du Vissoux is another absolutely stellar example of the vintage from Pierre-Marie Chermette, coming in at 13.5 percent octane and offering up all of the depth and intensity of the vintage, without sacrificing any of the customary Vissoux precision and purity. The stunning nose is youthful, but oh, so promising, as it delivers scents of sweet cassis, black cherries, espresso, violets, dark soil tones, a touch of licorice, gamebird, woodsmoke and lead pencil. On the palate the wine is pure, full-bodied and seamlessly balanced, with ripe tannins, laser-like focus, a superb core and a very, very long, soildriven and still quite youthful finish. If one wanted a prime example of a 2015 that might replicate the longevity of the finest 1947s, this would be it, as it has stunning concentration, tied to impeccable balance and plenty of structural integrity. 2022-2075. 96.”
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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:
New Review!
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.”
Additional New Reviews & Top-Scoring Italian Wines
New Review!
Isole e Olena Cepparello Toscana IGT 2013 750ML ($79.95) $69 special, 8 bottles available
Isole e Olena Cepparello Toscana IGT 2013 1.5L ($179.95) $149 special, 6 magnums available
Isole e Olena Cepparello Toscana IGT 2013 3L ($399.95) $333 special, 2 jeroboams available
Monica Larner- Wine Advocate 97 points “Hands down beautiful, The 2013 Cepparello is a creation of stunning elegance and balance. A pure expression of Sangiovese, this wine undergoes a sophisticated oak regime that sees ageing in various barrel sizes and barrique of various ages. It lives 18 months of its life in French and 3% American oak before being released. This vintage (that is cooler compared to 2012 and 2011) delivers an exceptionally soft and mellow bouquet with slightly sweet sensations of ripe cherry and fragrant blue flower. Soft tones of spice and cinnamon bring up the rear. The wine is medium to full in terms of body weight, and the finish is driven by cool tones of balsam and menthol herb. The 2013 Cepparello is one of my favorite wines of the vintage.”
Antonio Galloni 96 points “The 2013 Cepparello is superb. Polished, silky nuanced and exceptionally beautiful, the 2013 exudes freshness and energy from start to finish. Succulent red cherry, plum, lavender and rose petal are some of the signatures. Aging in French oak shapes the wine nicely without marking it excessively. The purity of the flavors is striking. This is an especially cool, savory Cepparello built on finesse and persistence rather than power. Rain during harvest robbed the wine of some of its breadth. Otherwise, this is a striking Cepparello. I can’t wait to see how it ages.”
Felsina Berardenga ‘Colonia’, Chianti Classico Gran Selezione DOCG 2010 750ML ($199.95) $119 special, 16 bottles available
Monica Larner- Wine Advocate 95+ points “When you hear the story of the effort that went into making the Colonia vineyard, you have to wonder if the fine folks at Fèlsina are absolutely mad. It took them two years of dynamite blasting to clear the imposing rock that had forced previous generations of the Poggiali family to virtually abandon this site. But an ambitious Giovanni Poggiali takes credit for making this spectacular vineyard what it is today. The wine produced here is quickly becoming the second flagship product after Fontalloro. The 2010 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Colonia is a wine of enormous beauty and depth. This is Sangiovese at its highest expression and any doubt I had about the previous vintage (which was the first time this wine appeared as a Gran Selezione) have been washed away by this current release. What really stands out are the wine’s precise mineral and graphite aromas that lend an incredible sense of focus and balance. The oak element is also beautifully integrated.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $124.99
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Arriving Tomorrow, Tuesday 28th
Hartford Family Winery Hartford Court Russian River Valley Chardonnay, Sonoma County 2014 750ML ($29.95) $20.90 pre-arrival special
Case-12 Hartford Family Winery Hartford Court Russian River Valley Chardonnay, Sonoma County 2014 750ML ($319.95) $233 pre-arrival special (that’s only $19.42/bottle!)
California Grapevine 90 points –‘Very highly recommended’–“Medium-light golden yellow; assertive, citrussy, baked apple aroma with hints of vanilla and baking spices; medium to medium-full body; fleshy, apple and white peach flavors with spicy notes, and nicely balanced with bright acidity; lingering aftertaste. 14.5% alcohol; 100% barrel fermented; 100% malolactic fermentation.” (Jan 2016)
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $28
Arriving Friday, March 31st
Vincent Dauvissat Chablis AOC 2013 750ML ($79.95) $69 pre-arrival special
Burghound 90 points “There is a bit more Chablis character present on the nose that is comprised primarily of green fruit with top notes of sea breeze, apple and white flowers where there is also a background hint of exotic fruit components. There is good concentration to the utterly delicious medium-bodied flavors that display a fine bead of minerality on the markedly saline-inflected finish. This isn’t a classic Chablis but it’s really very good as well.”
“Lemon oil, white flowers and orchard fruit are laced together in Dauvissat’s 2013 Chablis. There is plenty of nuance in the glass, but I also can’t help noting how open the Chablis is at this very early stage. The 2013 finishes with notable freshness and vibrancy. Today my sense is that the 2013 will be a very pretty early drinker, but then again, the wines here have a proven track record of aging exceptionally well.” –Antonio Galloni
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From the Owner of Troplong-Mondot:
Clos Puy Arnaud
We look for a few things in new estates (for us) in Bordeaux, the first being fanatical ownership. Thierry Valette, who owns Troplong-Mondot in St. Emillon, is a prime example and we’re excited to offer his Clos Puy Arnaud, from the Cotes de Castillon, for the first time.
The vineyard is farmed biodynamically and hand harvested (a rarity in the Bordeaux satellites) and then moves to a top of the line winery, where the wine is only moved by gravity—no pumps are used. The resulting wine is old-school but polished, with bright red fruit and a crisp texture. We’re excited to get this in next month and wanted to offer you a chance to jump on it.
Arriving in April:
Clos Puy Arnaud, Cotes de Bordeaux Castillon 2012 750ML ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival special
Andreas Larssen—Blindtasted.com 93 points “Quite dark colour, very youthful here with blue-purple core, a slight ruby rim. Very fine nose here; elegant fruit, hints of wild berries, kind of mineral style, very good purity of fruit and very gentle oak. Very good bite here, silky fruit, juicy wild berry fruit, very grainy tannins, excellent freshness, finely tuned oak. Medium weight, a little bit more, but I think it’s really an emphasis on that juicy dark fruit. Very good persistence and purity. I really like this one. I would almost talk about a more Burgundian texture in terms of that finely spicy soft and juicy fruit, excellent purity, a mineral touch and a very long finish. Very good drinkability today, but certainly a style that will age well.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
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La Madre di Tutti Vin Santo
Arriving in May
15 Years in the Making and Now on Special Sale Pricing!
Avignonesi Occhio di Pernice Vin Santo di Montepulciano, Tuscany 2001 375ML ($319.95) Was $279, Now $259 pre-arrival special
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 100 points “This wine merits every one of these 100 points. The 2001 Vin Santo di Montepulciano Occhio di Pernice (375 milliliters) is a singular work of art and a profound expression of Tuscany. I know Avignonesi owner Virginie Saverys would like to draw attention to the other wines in her portfolio, and she has every right to do so. But I just want to cry. When you have a wine as profound and perfect as this, everything else fades fast into the background. Virginie likes to say that Occhio di Pernice (made with red grapes) is the “male” and the Vin Santo di Montepulciano (made from white grapes) is the “female.” This is a great observation. The bouquet here is smoky and savory, but brilliant and sophisticated at the same time. You get an infinite array of caramel, maple syrup, espresso bean, licorice and candied fruit aromas. There’s so much dried fig as well. The concentration and thickness is out of this world. This wine is built like a tank and I’m not sure it will ever exit its drinking prime.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Avignonesi Vin Santo di Montepulciano 2001 375ML ($219.95) Was $189, Now $179 pre-arrival special
Monica Larner -Wine Advocate 98 points “The 2001 Vin Santo di Montepulciano (375 milliliters) is a divine and superbly delicious sweet blend of Trebbiano, Malvasia and Grechetto. The results are super concentrated and simmered down to a virtual reduction sauce of deliciousness. There are so many aromas to name, but some of the most evident highlights include candied orange peel, almond marzipan, caramel, toasted coffee bean, vanilla stick, mocha, dark honey and fragrant yellow rose. The mouthfeel is creamy, rich and deeply layered. I’m suggesting a slightly shorter drinking window here compared to the Occhio di Pernice. But, the truth is: I have no idea. I’m pretty sure these wines will outlive anyone of legal drinking age.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $195
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Subscriber-Only Special
We’ll take 10% off on all in-stock Magnums
Red, white & pink!
French, German, Italian, USA & more!
Whether $28 or $1,799 our price, we’re offering all magnums at 10% off!
(Discount will not appear in online shopping cart
We will apply it here before charging)
Sale Ends Wednesday, March 29th at 11:59 PM
We offer 105 magnums in-stock
and available here now to choose from including:
Bodegas Muga Rosado, Rioja DOCa 2014 1.5L ($34.95) Displayed price: $28, Your cost: $25.20, 3 magnums available
Wine Advocate 88 points “The rosé from Muga called simply 2014 Rosado is a classical “clarete” from the Rioja Alta, produced with Garnacha and Viura and in 2014, exceptionally, a pinch of Mazuelo (Cariñena) all harvested at the same time. The full clusters are pressed directly and the different musts are blended and then put to ferment in well-seasoned oak vats where it matures in contact with the lees for some four months. It’s a pale, salmon-colored wine with a clean, focused nose and a light palate, that is pleasant, fresh and easy to drink. Bring out those lamb chops!” WA
Sine Qua Non Poker Face Syrah, Santa Barbara County 2004 1.5L ($2,199.95) Displayed price: $1,799, Your cost: $1,619.10, 1 magnum available
Wine Advocate 97 points “Starting off the Syrah-based wines, the 2004 Poker Face (Syrah) is aging beautifully. A blend of 96% Syrah, 2.5% Mourvedre and 1.5% Viognier (from the Eleven Confessions, White Hawk, Alban, Bien Nacido, and Alta Mesa vineyards) that was aged in 80% new French oak, it offers up a perfumed, fresh bouquet of sweet blackberry liqueur, creme de cassis, spring flowers and licorice that gives way to a full-bodied, seamless, gorgeously textured feel on the palate. Rich and decadent, it has notable, yet beautifully integrated acidity and stays remarkably fresh, detailed and even elegant. It still needs a lengthy decant to shine, and will continue to thrill over the coming decade or so.”
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Now it’s even lower!
The next best price is $2,175
And many in between, including these selections which are all the lowest or only listings in the USA:
Domenico Clerico Langhe Rosso Arte 2011 1.5L ($89.95) Displayed price: $66, Your cost: $59.40, 24+ magnums available
Saul: Domenico Clerico will forever be known as one of the “Barolo Boys” for good reason. A leading modernist in the 1980’s and 1990’s, Clerico has for a long time been known for his pioneering vineyard work and embrace of Burgundian-style oak barrels for aging Nebbiolo (barrique). But that’s not to say that Clerico stayed the same. Since the late 90’s, Clerico has been lengthening his maceration times and adding a touch of “old school” to his collection—with one exception, his wine called Arte, an expression of the winemaker’s art. The Domenico Clerico Langhe Rosso Arte is his last pure modernist wine, and what we wanted to highlight today, as it shows why the modernista wines made such a splash when they were new to the scene. It’s a blend of Nebbiolo with a touch of Barbera (like Gaja’s single vineyard wines) and is aged solely in barrique. This, combined with relatively short maceration times, means that it’s far more approachable and supple now than you’d expect from a wine sourced from premier vineyards in Ginestra, Pajana and Mosconi. If you missed the chance to experience the Domenico Clerico wines in the 1990’s, this bottling is your best shot—and we secured over 50 of just 500 magnums produced in the 2011 vintage.
Stephen Tanzer 91 points “(90% nebbiolo and 10% barbera; aged for 18 months in new French oak): Good medium red. Perfumed aromas and flavors of plum, redcurrant, tobacco and spices. Intense and vibrant, with lovely inner-mouth aromatic lift. Very classy, delineated wine.” ST
This is the only listing in the USA today in magnum!
Vouette et Sorbee Cuvee Blanc d’Argile Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut, Champagne 2012 1.5L ($199.95) Displayed price: $179, Your cost: $161.10, 6 magnums available
Antonio Galloni 94 points “Vouette & Sorbée NV (2012) Extra-Brut Blanc d’Argile is superb. Deep, rich and powerful, the 2012 shows just how compelling Champagnes can be. A Champagne of baritone depth and intensity, the 2012 flows effortlessly throughout the mid-palate as the flavors and textures crescendo on the expressive finish. Readers who enjoy rich, vinous Champagnes will adore the 2012.”
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Domaine Bitouzet-Prieur Meursault Charmes, Meursault Premier Cru 2012 1.5L ($179.95) Displayed price: $149, Your cost: $134.10, 6 magnums available
Importer note: “This cuvée is one of the gems of the domaine, a complete expression of this vineyard’s special character as Bitouzet’s holdings fall within two separate sites: one from the high part (“du Haut”) and another from the lower section (“du Bas”). The two parcels are vinified separately and then blended together before bottling to create the whole. The lower section provides a stony minerality and an almost tannic expression; the upper section yields explosive aromatics as well as a round, buttery mouthfeel. The two parcels make up a total of 0.55 hectare; the vines were planted in 1944 and another section in 1987. The soil is a pebbly limestone with sand and loam consistency. Two barrels are reserved for the US market and, at our request, magnums and occasionally double magnums are prepared.”
This is the only listing in the USA today in magnum!
Domaine Jean-Louis Chave Hermitage Blanc, Rhone 2011 1.5L ($549.95) Displayed price: $419, Your cost: $377.10, 1 magnum available
Wine Spectator 97 points “Still a bit reserved aromatically, with hints of orange blossom and crème anglaise peeking out, this features a captivating display of racy quinine, honeysuckle and white peach flavors inlaid into a rich core of brioche, Cavaillon melon, white truffle, smoked almond and heather honey. Incredibly long. Hard to resist now, but ideal for when your toddler graduates college. Best from 2019 through 2030.” WS
Wine Advocate 96 points “Just bottled, the 2011 Hermitage Blanc also shows the richer side of Hermitage with its full-bodied, voluptuously textured and up-front profile. Honeysuckle, licorice, toast, citrus oil and liquid mineral-like qualities all emerge from this beauty, and it stays beautifully fresh and focused on the palate. A blend of mostly Marsanne, yet with roughly 20% Roussanne, from the l’Ermite, Les Rocoules, Maison Blanche and Peleat lieux-dits, this substantial white should be consumed over the coming 2-4 years, or forgotten for a decade or more. It will have over two decades of longevity.” WA
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Gulfi Nerosanlore Sicilia IGT, Sicily 2010 1.5L ($119.95) Displayed price: $99, Your cost: $89.10, 4 magnums available
Ian D’Agata–Vinous 95 points “Fully saturated ruby. Pure, very deep aromas of black cherry, red plum, medicinal herbs and minerals. Rich, dense and suave, with complex flavors of saline red berries and dark plum complicated by repeating botanical herb and balsamic nuances. Finishes seamless an long. A wine of noteworthy purity, with an excellent balance of sweetness, acidity and tannins. This is Gulfi’s closest vineyard to the sea and almost always gives the estate’s most elegant, refined wine.”
This is the only listing in the USA today in magnum!
Pian dell’Orino Bassolino di Sopra, Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2007 1.5L ($349.95) Displayed price: $289, Your cost: $260.10, 6 magnums available
Antonio Galloni 93 points “The estate’s 2007 Brunello di Montalcino Bassolino di Sopra 1500 emerges from the glass with endless layers of fruit. A pure, voluptuous 2007, the Bassolino di Sopra 1500 is rich, round and seamless. Deeply spiced notes develop in the glass as the wine shows off its striking personality. I am not a huge fan of extended time in oak for wines of such purity, but the 2007 handles its 48 months in barrel quite nicely, although it is naturally shaped by its aging regime, especially from a textural perspective. The 2007 is made exclusively from the estate’s holdings in Pian Bossolino, but that site has also been trademarked by another winery, hence the slight name variation here.”
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Familia Nin-Ortiz ‘Nit de Nin’, Priorat DOCa 2012 1.5L ($199.95) Displayed price: $169, Your cost: $152.10, 8 magnums available
Wine Advocate 97 points “If the Planetes was impressive, wait for the 2012 Nit de Nin, which is a similar wine but at two levels of intensity, depth and elegance above. It’s also a single-vineyard wine from a very old plot in Porrera in the Mas d’en Caçador vineyard at some 500 meters altitude on an impressive slope planted with very old vines on slate soils. It’s approximately 60% Garnacha Peluda (which is a different strain producing lighter-colored wines with higher acidity than the regular Garnacha) and the rest Cariñena. The wine is pure, perfumed, intoxicating even, floral and spicy, intense and captivating. The palate is highly refined, with pure flavors, great freshness, completely focused, nothing blurry at all in there, generous but fine at the same time. It ends very tasty, with a saline minerality. I had the chance to visit the vineyard on my last night in Priorat, and when you see it you understand that it HAS to produce great wine. Simply superb. Drink or keep. 4,000 bottles were filled in March 2014.”
This is the only listing in the USA today for the magnum!
F.X. Pichler M Gruner Veltliner Smaragd, Wachau, Austria 2013 1.5L ($219.95) Displayed price: $179, Your cost: $161.10, 4 magnums available
Wine Advocate 94 points “Lucas Pichler’s monumental 2013 Grüner Veltliner Smaragd M opens with an ultra-ripe, concentrated and slightly speck-y yet still precise and even mineral-scented bouquet on the nose. Very rich and intense on the palate, this elegant, full-bodied, densely textured and powerful Veltliner from late-harvested grapes reveals an aromatic and juicy fruit core along with a stunningly vibrant acidity that gives structure, length and a lifting as well as lingering salinity and piquancy. Maracuya and other tropical fruit flavors dominate the aromatic aftertaste. Although I have no experience with matured samples of this Austrian icon Veltliner, I suspect it has an aging potential of 5-10 years and should be cellared at least for another 2 or 3 years.”
David Schildknecht–Vinous 93 points “Made with fruit from Loibenberg (a 50% share), Kellerberg, Liebenberg, with a small bit of Kollmütz, this installment of “M” enjoyed the longest pre-fermentation skin contact of any Pichler 2013, and was raised in a new large oval, then moved to tank shortly before bottling, which is when I last tasted it. Its impressive features include imposing richness of peach, melon and pineapple; an expansive and flatteringly creamy palate; high-toned inner-mouth allusions to almond extract; peach kernel piquancy; and pronounced smokiness and stoniness that suggest a mingling of Szechuan peppercorn, black tea and ash. The bright, Riesling-like juiciness characteristic of so many Grüner Veltliners from this vintage is absent here. But the finish of this static, statuesque wine (recall that “M,” after all, stands here for “monumental”) glows persistently in its evocation of peach kernel and pepper.”
This is the only listing in the USA today in magnum!
Want to see them all?
For full reviews and descriptions, visit our web store
And search ‘1.5L’
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Sale ends Wednesday, March 29th at midnight
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In Closing…
Produttori del Barbaresco 2013 Crus
No reviews yet…
But:
In 2013, overall production is down versus the 2011 vintage. No 2012 crus were made and no 2014 crus are expected. Though this speaks well for the quality of the ’13 vintage, it bodes ill for the supply!
This is the first time in our long history of offering Produttori that we were limited in the amount we could pre-order. The wines are slated for release next spring. Don’t miss your chance!
Thank you for reading!