In This Newsletter:ArrivalsGaja, La Fortuna, Bereche, and more!
Late Spring FeatureOur 2022 Rosé Arrivals so far…
Staff Pick
Robert Perroud “Terres Blanches” Chardonnay
Close Out SalesWeinbach, A.J. Adam, and more!
June Sale- Spanish Wines
All About Priorat
Collector’s Corner
One For The Bordeaux Fans
New Arrivals
Arriving Friday, June 9th
Washington
No Girls Syrah La Paciencia Vineyard 2015 750ml $135 special, 3 bottles availableJames Suckling 98 Points “This offers attractive complexity and interest, plenty of savory spices and fresh meaty appeal. Lots of pepper and red plum fruit here. The palate has a smooth-honed, silky feel with bright, spice-wrapped red plum fruit. Long and silky, beautifully rendered syrah with lots of interest. Really focused, this is a benchmark. Drink or hold.”
Champagne
Bereche Brut Reserve NV (2020 base) 750ml $64.50 special, 36+ bottles availableNo reviews available for the 2020. 2019 review provided for reference.Jeb Dunnuck 92 Points “The current release of the NV Champagne Brut Reserve is based on the 2019 vintage. It is roughly equal parts Chardonnay, Meunier, and Pinot Noir, with 35% reserve wine blended in. Fruity, floral, and open, with notes of fresh citrus blossoms, orchard fruits, and fresh bread, the palate is generous and approachable, with apricot, berries, and a lightly savory broth. This is consistently one of the best entry wines that versatile enough to drink alone or to accompany a meal. Drink 2022-2030.”
Italy
“Gaja”
“La Fortuna”
La Fortuna Brunello Di Montalcino 2017 750ml $59 special, 36 bottles availableWine Advocate 93 Points “The mid-weight 2017 Brunello di Montalcino shows a smooth approach with cherry fruit and cassis. No part of this wine is overblown, and in fact, this Brunello maintains a silky personality overall. The alcohol is high at 15% in this hot vintage, although it feels relatively well tucked into the subtle fiber of this accessible Brunello. Production is 30,000 bottles.” La Fortuna Brunello Di Montalcino 2018 750ml $59 special, 36 bottles availableWine Advocate 93 Points “This wine opens to dark and savory aromas that complement its mid-weight appearance. The La Fortuna 2018 Brunello di Montalcino shows blackberry and wild plum, and it also delivers lots of spice, toast and campfire ash. Five years of aging brings out oak nuances and the complexity of the aged fruit. There is some oak bitterness that should soften with time, but I wouldn’t wait too long because you also want to catch this wine while the fruit is still fresh. I suggest a moderate 10-year drinking window for this 33,000-bottle release.” La Fortuna Brunello Di Montalcino Riserva 2013 750ml $99 special, 24 bottles availableWine Spectator 95 Points “Fluid and fruity, supported by a matrix of dense tannins, this features a fine texture and structure, offsetting the saturated flavors of cherry, red berry, leather, iron and tar. Stays focused while cruising to a lingering finish. Really youthful, intense and long. Best from 2022 through 2045. 330 cases made, 200 cases imported.” James Suckling 95 Points “Very attractive and intense aromas of ripe black cherries and plums, leading to a palate that has a quite firm tannin core and finishes with a convincing serving of rich, ripe darker plums and berries. Drink or hold.” La Fortuna Brunello Di Montalcino Riserva 2016 750ml $99 special, 36 bottles availableWine Advocate 95 Points “The La Fortuna 2016 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is a wine of pretty Sangiovese purity. This Riserva (with 9,000 bottles produced) shows a darkly saturated color with plump and intense aromas of wild cherry, crushed flowers, fresh plums, spice and ferrous earth. Balsam herb and rosemary-like aromas round off the finish. There is great freshness, some oak tannins, a drying finish and lots of rich fruit fiber. This is a terrific wine from La Fortuna (although I need to point out the high 15.5% alcohol).”
“Biondi Santi”
Biondi Santi Rosso Di Montalcino 2019 750ml $109 special, 11 bottles availableWine Advocate 95 Points “This flight of three Biondi-Santi wines starts off on the right foot thanks to the pristine bouquet and lively fruit of the 2019 Rosso di Montalcino. This is the entry-level wine (although the price point certainly suggests otherwise). It shows very detailed and chiseled aromas of wild cherry, cassis, dried violet, rust and orange skin. The wine carries a strong structural frame; however, the mouthfeel is ethereal and light notwithstanding.”
Re-Arrival
Gasparini Prosecco Superiore NV $16 special, 36 bottles available
James Suckling 92 Points “Lots of initial froth here, which takes a while to subside and allow the lovely lemon and lemon blossom aromas to rise out of the glass. There are hints of licoricy chalk here, too. On the rather dense palate, the chalk turns to fresh cream and the lemon is absorbed into the creamy mineral texture with enough fizz to keep the sparkle up. Lovely, enduring and creamy yet biting finish. This is very fine Prosecco. Drink now.”
 Late Spring FeatureOur 2022 Roses So Far…  Domaine Collotte Marsannay Rose 2022 750ml $21.90 special, 36 bottles availableVinopolnote “Amazing Burgundian Rosé wine… from vines between 30 and 60 years of age.” Grands Bois Cotes Du Rhone Rose 2022 750ml $14 special, 36 bottles availableVinopolnote “50% Grenache, 50% Mourvèdre. 13% alc. Certified Organic. The epitome of quality & value in the Côtes-du-Rhône, Marc Besnardeau’s wines are ripe, vibrant & delicious! Direct press only, 20 days low temperature fermentation in stainless steel tank. Lychee color and peach/lychee bouquet. Very fresh on the pallet with peach and fruit drop flavors.” Domaine La Bastide Blanche Bandol Rose 2022 750ml $26 special, 36+ bottles availableVinopolnote “78% Mourvedre, 18% Grenache, 4% Cinsault. Limestone soil, hand-harvested. Certified Organic. Bottled exclusively for Weygandt-Metzler Importing & the American market. The 2022 is fresh, typical Bandol with more spices this year than in previous years. A lot of character, less dark – classic. Lower yields than last 2 vintages, so more substance but great acidity. Partial malo and maceration of the Cinsault and Mourvèdre.” Manissy IGP La Belle Etoile Rose 2022 750ml $11.90 special, 36 bottles availableImporter’s Note Rosé wine. Southern Rhône, France. Organic. 50% Cinsault, 25% Syrah, 25% Grenache. Covering an area of 1.5ha, this site is bathed by the sun and swept by the mistral on a flat plain that rich in limestone with a clay subsoil. Entirely hand-harvested organic grapes that have a cold maceration before being pressed. Low temperature fermentation with indigenous yeasts, which allow the yeast to develop its fruit flavors. Aged in stainless steel tank. Given the name “beautiful star” by the Manissy Brotherhood’s missionary preist, the grapes originate from organically certified vineyards owned by wine-maker Florian André’s mother. Manissy Tavel Cuvee Des Lys Rose 2022 750ml $17 special, 36 bottles availableImporter’s Note “50% Grenache , 25% Syrah, 25% Clairette Rose, Direct Pressing. 13.5%. Certified Organic. Young Florian Andre manages Château Manissy, a property of an ancient religious order of Monks in Tavel. These full-bodied Grenache-Clairette rosés fill the bistros & fine restaurants of Paris each summer. Quintessentially ‘Tavel’ in character, the 2022 is crammed with juicy red berries (strawberries and raspberries) lifted by a touch of grapefruit and citrus zest.” Manissy Tavel Tete De Cuvee Rose 2021 750ml $26 special, 24 bottles availableImporter’s Note “Grenache , Clairette, Cinsault. 13.5% alc. Certified Organic. Over 100 years old, the Tête de Cuvée was the first wine to be made by the Château starting in 1915 by the Brothers of the Holy Family and is still made in the traditional way; Grapes are destemmed, crushed and cold-soaked for 24-48 hours before pressing, native yeast fermentation for 15 days. Aged in 225-litre barrels for 12 months. Rich and complex, this unusual cuvee develops flavours of candied fruit and spices. Delicious flavours, excellent length.” Plouzeau Chinon Rose Rive Gauche 2022 750ml $16 special, 36 bottles availableImporter Note “Rosé wine. Chinon, Loire Valley, France. 100% Cabernet Franc. Organic. Cherry pit, red currant, pungent flowers and a suggestion of succulent herbs on the nose. Sappy and focused in the mouth, offering bitter cherry and orange flavors and a zesty hint of white pepper that adds back-end spiciness. Closes supple and long, featuring lingering florality and a sweet raspberry flourish. This wine has the heft to work with full-flavored food, but there’s also a raciness that makes it extremely easy to drink by itself.” Chateau Pradeaux Provence Rose 2022 750ml $22.50 special, 36 bottles availableWinemaker’s Note “Made from 45% Cinsault and 40% Mourvedre, with the balance split among Grenache and Carignan, the pale-iron-colored Côtes de Provence Rose is closer to Bandol-level complexity and concentration than we have yet seen from this wine” Chateau Pradeaux Bandol Rose 2022 750ml $29.50 special, 36 bottles availableChateau Pradeaux Bandol Rose 2022 1.5L $69 special, 6 bottles availableWinemaker’s Note “Robust, rich, and complex with an ability to age gracefully, this wine is based on Cinsault (50%) and Mourvèdre (50%), taking its slight orange tint from the latter cépage. The younger vines of the domaine (average age: 25 years) are utilized to produce a rare rosé with staying power and exceptional complexity. The Rosé is vinified by a direct pressing for 24 hours followed by fermentation in cement tanks at a controlled temperature of 18 degrees Celsius for about 15 days.” Reverdy Sancerre Rose Terre De Maimbray 2022 750ml $26 special, 36 bottles availableVinopolnote 100% Pinot Noir, Hand harvested, Direct Press. Aged in stainless-steel. Sustainable. A classic: light pink, long and superb mineral acidity.
Staff Pick
Beaujolais
Robert Perroud Terres Blanches Chardonnay Beaujolais 2019 750ml $19 special, 10 bottles availableThis is a rarity. Chardonnay accounts for only about 3% of production in Beaujolais. Grown in white clay soils (Kaolin) near the village of Brouilly, this wine is round on the palette with great minerality. I love white Burgundy best, but drinking Beaujolais Blanc is like meeting a good friend’s cousin and recognizing many of their best qualities and even mannerisms filtered through a different upbringing. -Tracy
Close Out Sales
Save on Select Wines
Weinbach Pinot Gris Clos De Capucins 2019 750ml WAS $39 Now $33 special, 22 bottles availableWine Spectator 90 Points “A light-bodied version, with snappy acidity creating a lively frame for the flavors of nectarine, Asian pear, rose petal and spicy mineral. A hint of almond shows on the juicy finish. Drink now. 300 cases imported.” Weinbach Sylvaner 2019 750ml WAS $36 Now $26 special, 18 bottles availableJames Suckling 93 Points “Although this was made from the least “popular” of the Alsace grape varieties, this is a beauty, with a wide spectrum of white and yellow fruit, the kind of concentration you expect from old vines and quite some power at the long, fresh finish. From biodynamically grown grapes. Drink or hold.” A.J. Adam Riesling Feinherb In Der Sangerei 2019 750ml WAS $49 Now $39 special, 15 bottles availableMosel Fine Wines 96 Points “The 2019er in der Sängerei, as it is referred to on the consumer label, is an off-dry wine fermented in Fuder from vines still raised on single pole in the Sängerei sector situated high up in the main hill of the Dhroner Hofberg. It offers a deeply complex, pure, and flinty nose of grilled grapefruit, Conference pear, aniseed herbs, smoke, and greengage. The wine is superbly well-balanced and structured on the palate. A juicy feel of residual sugar is wrapped into ripe and zesty acidity, which lifts up the aromatics and gives a stunningly lively side to this joyful and complex off-dry Riesling. The finish is very pure, focused, and hugely long, and makes one salivate and want to go for more. The after-taste is all about spices and salty elements. This is a major success in this so-often forgotten category called “off-dry Riesling.” 2022-2034+.” Barr-Eden Estate Dreams Of Gold Shiraz 2020 750ml WAS $39 Now $33 special, 36+ bottles availableWine Advocate 90 Points “A new addition to the lineup, the 2020 Dreams of Gold Shiraz comes from relatively young vines, planted in 1997 and 2013. Aged in older French oak, it boasts scents of “Eden Valley garrigue”—notes that suggest eucalyptus, bay leaf and wild thyme—set against a backdrop of blueberries. Less intense and concentrated than the other bottlings, it’s still medium to full-bodied, suave and silky in feel, with a clean, mouthwatering finish and a soft dusting of tannins. Barr-Eden Estate is the new name for the Love Over Gold partnership between Tim Howser, Joel Mattschoss, Pierre-Henri Morel and Michael Twelftree. Morel is the general manager of Two Hands and Howser and Twelftree are owners of Two Hands, while Mattschoss is a grape grower, with vines on Mengler’s Hill.” Bedrock Alta Vista Gewurztraminer 2019 750ml WAS $36 Now $29 special, 20 bottles availableVinous 93 Points “The 2019 Gewürztraminer Alta Vista Vineyard Old Vine is another compelling wine in this range. Readers will find a dry Gewürztraminer that emphasizes a whole range of savory and floral notes. Even so, the 2019 exudes richness and the layers open with time in the glass, bringing out the wine’s creaminess.”
June Sale- All Spanish Wines
All about Priorat!
Buy 6-11 bottles for a 5% discount
Buy 12+ bottles for a 10% discount
Ends June 30th at 6pm… the best selection is NOW!
This is first come / first served and limited to stock on hand.Discount does not apply to pre-arrival wines or case discounts.
Discount will not display online, we will adjust your invoice before charging your card.Alvaro Palacios Les Terrasses VV 2019 750ml $34.50 special, 19 bottles availableWine Advocate 94 Points “The regional 2019 Les Terrasses Velles Vinyes was produced with a blend of grapes from 80 plots in eight villages from Priorat, 82% Garnacha with 17% Cariñena and 1% white grapes, a year unusually high in Garnacha and unusually low in Cariñena that suffered a lot from the heat. The destemmed and lightly crushed grapes fermented in concrete and oak vats with indigenous yeasts, and the wine matured in French oak barrels for 12 months. What happened here is that Cariñena was burned by a heat spike of 43 degrees Celsius on the 28th of June, and there was a wildfire in Montsant that perhaps could have warmed things up even more. I think there might be a change toward more Garnacha and elegance in the wines from Álvaro Palacios in Priorat, as this is brighter and less rustic than this wine used to be, more polished, perfumed and fine. The year of heat and drought. 101,600 bottles produced.” Clos Erasmus Priorat 2019 750ml $228 special, 15 bottles availableWine Advocate 98+ Points “The serious and powerful 2019 Clos Erasmus feels quite classical Priorat, with notes of graphite, black fruit and licorice; it’s a solid Priorat with weight, concentration and clout. There are still some smoke, toast and spice notes from the élevage—100% in barrel, some 40% of them new, for around 18 months—and the wine always needs a little bit of time in bottle. Despite the 15.5% alcohol, the wine comes through as balanced and with freshness, there is no heat or sensation of alcohol; you need the tannins and acidity to counterbalance the alcohol, and they are doing that here. This is more balsamic, aromatic and exuberant. It’s showy, hedonistic and rich, a solid Erasmus. The tannins are still quite present and need some more time to be resolved. 3,300 bottles were filled in May 2020.” Clos Erasmus Priorat 2020 750ml $289 special, 9 bottles availableClos Erasmus Priorat 2020 1.5L $599 special, 1 bottle availableWine Advocate 100 Points “The still young and primary 2020 Clos Erasmus feels very floral and ethereal (within Priorat and Clos Erasmus); it’s a fresher and lighter expression but without being weak. It’s still a baby that needs to burn the baby fat (there are still some lactic notes from the malolactic in barrel). The wine is always around 3.2 or 3.3 pH and has some 15% to 15.5% alcohol, but the sensation this year is of a much fresher, more balanced and elegant wine. This should make an elegant bottle of mature Priorat with a decade in bottle, and I guess it will be long lived. Glorian mentioned that a small lot that normally goes to Laurel was added to the blend of Erasmus, resulting in a lot of added freshness and a note of orange blossom, which makes sense to me with the floral character of the wines and the extra freshness I perceived. This is really beautiful. It’s a very special vintage of Erasmus that unfurls incredible complexity and tantalizing aromas with time in the glass—blood orange (talk about freshness!), curry and cassis. It has great purity, complexity, elegance and finesse… A very different Clos Erasmus. Bravo! There are some 3,600 bottles. It was bottled in May 2022.” Clos Erasmus Laurel 2018 750ml $59 special, 36 bottles availableClos Erasmus Laurel Priorat 2018 1.5L $149 special, 3 bottles availableWine Advocate 96 Points “The second wine here and one that is easier to drink, the 2018 Laurel was produced with fruit from the younger vines, a couple of barrels that are declassified from Clos Erasmus and the Cabernet Sauvignon, more or less 70% Garnacha and 15% each Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon. It has good ripeness and still a pH of 3.3. It fermented mostly in oak vats and 2,000-liter concrete vats with indigenous yeasts and matured for 18 months in 20,000-liter oak and concrete vats, second use barriques and some clay amphorae. It’s a bright translucent ruby color and has a perfumed and delicate nose with notes of orange peel and flowers; this is the most elegant and ethereal vintage of Laurel as far as I can remember, with red rather than black fruit and a kind of cranberry quality. The palate is medium-bodied, textured and fluid, with subtleness, balance and very fine tannins. The oak is perfectly integrated, and the wine is easy to drink, approachable and very pleasurable right now. It’s a fresh vintage with energy and finesse, quite different from previous vintages. I love it. 22,825 bottles and 515 magnums produced. It was bottled in May 2020.” Clos Erasmus Laurel Priorat 2020 750ml $51.90 special, 18 bottles availableWine Advocate 96 Points “2020 was a challenging year that gave them a lot of work in the vineyard, but it it paid off. The 2020 Laurel feels very elegant, balanced and fresh, a little lighter perhaps, with perfectly ripe tannins, a little in line with 2016 or 2013. It might be a little unusual for the house style or perhaps a slight change, as they are gradually going for softer vinifications; you don’t really need to extract in Priorat, because the wines are powerful enough on their own. It’s still extremely young and has a lactic touch (that blows off with a bit of time in the glass); it was only bottled at the end of May 2022, three months before I tasted it. Even if it’s the second wine here, it’s a wine that needs a little bit of time and improves in the bottle. Having said that, the 2020s feel more open, expressive and approachable than the 2019s, which are more tannic and powerful while the 2020s feel a little more Burgundian if you like. This has to be one of the finest vintages of Laurel so far. After some time in the glass, the aromatics of the Syrah (which was perhaps a little more this year, some 12% versus 8% in 2019) made an appearance—violets, smoked bacon. Daphne Glorian told me that everything was easy, that the wine was expressive and open from day one and that the fermentations were smooth. There are some 19,000 bottles of this.” Ferrer Bobet Priorat 2016 750ml $49 special, 5 bottles availableJames Suckling 97 Points “Such purity of ripe blackberries and dark cherries, as well as redder, cherry notes, really makes a striking impression on the nose. The fresh florals and leafy nuances are followed by such pure berries and red plums. The tannins are stunning, so polished and perfectly formed, holding super long and fresh. Wow. Drink or hold.” Mas Alta Vilella Alta Black Slate Priorat 2019 750ml $24 special, 16 bottles availableImporter Note “Eric Solomon, Bixente Oçafrain, and Philippe Cambie collaborate to create Black Slate La Vilella Alta by selecting Garnacha and Carinyena grown on both licorella and clay-limestone soils. A blend of old and young-vine fruit and small additions of Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah, La Vilella Alta is a dense and intensively flavored wine fermented in tank and aged in French oak barrels, of which 30% are new.” Nin-Ortiz Planetes Classic 2017 750ml $49 special, 15 bottles availableWine Advocate 95 Points “The 2017 Planetes de Nin comes from the four hectares of 20-year-old Garnacha and 11-year-old Cariñena in the Planetes vineyard in Porrera at 450 meters in altitude. It’s 60% Garnacha (some of it Peluda) and the rest Cariñena, harvested early. It fermented with indigenous yeasts and matured in 3,200-liter oak vats and one 1,000-liter amphora for 17 months. It has depth and harmony, and the vines are getting older and seem to be better and better balanced. This is not that different from the 2016; it feels quite stable and has its style and character, especially since the 2015 vintage. 9,704 bottles were filled in April 2019.” Nit De Nin La Coma D’en Romeu Priorat 2017 750ml $149 special, 2 bottles availableWine Advocate 98+ Points “The 2017 Nit de Nin La Coma d’en Romeu is from an extremely dry and early harvest that delivered just five hectoliters per hectare! That means they only produced 1,330 bottles from the 1.5 hectares of Garnacha on those slate terraces at 350 meters in altitude. It was bottled in April 2019. It has a beautiful and subtle nose that’s very spicy (cloves and cumin, curry and pink pepper) and floral, with a palate that feels light but has great depth and inner power, with pungent flavors and subtle minerality.” Nit De Nin Mas D’en Cacador Priorat 2017 750ml $99 special, 36+ bottles availableWine Advocate 97+ Points “The 2017 Nit de Nin Mas d’en Caçador is a vintage they talk about like this: “We will remember this vintage as one of the most extreme of the decade, along with that of 2012. It is in years like these that the work we do in the field is rewarded. In spite of the climatic exceptionality, we have acidity and pH that seem like a miracle to us. Our vines did not suffer the severe frosts of this 2017.” The wine has lower alcohol than the 2016 but the same pH of 3.3; insultingly young and tender, it doesn’t feel like the wine had a long élevage in oak. It has kept very good freshness and great balance. It’s tasty, pungent and long, with power and elegance and all the components to develop nicely in bottle. 1,440 bottles were filled in April 2019.” Scala Dei Priorat Escaladei Black Slate 2019 750ml $24 special, 10 bottles availableImporter Note “Black Slate Escaladei, a blend of Garnatxa with 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, and/or Carinyena sourced from the foothills of the Montsant mountains. It stands out among its Black Slate siblings as the most elegant of the lineup, inclined more towards red fruit than black, with a high-toned minerality and spiciness. It is selected from fruit aged in foudre and French oak demi-muids.”
Collector’s Corner
One For The Bordeaux Collector
Angelus Saint Emilion 2016 1.5L $899 special, 12+ bottles availableWine Enthusiast 100 Points “Top 100 cellar selection in 2019. This is a rich, perfumed wine, with dense tannins and intense layers of black plum and spice. The palate is firmly built yet broadened out by plump dark-fruit tones and honed by a solid, dry core. Drink from 2025.” Wine Advocate 98+ Points “Sporting a deep garnet-purple color, the 2016 Angélus erupts from the glass with powerful notes of blackberry pie, ripe black cherries and juicy black plums with an undercurrent of star anise, rose petals, chocolate mint, pencil shavings and woodsmoke plus a waft of allspice. The palate is pure decadence. Medium to full-bodied, rich and generously fruited, this wine is by no means heavy—it positively glimmers with freshness and vivacity, lending an ethereal nature to all that richness and power, beautifully framed by velvety tannins and finishing with epic length. The generosity, layers and plushness make for an absolutely DELICIOUS drink right now, but I’d suggest waiting 3-5 more years for the fireworks to really begin.” Beausejour Duffau-Lagarrosse Saint-Emilion 2017 750ml $149 special, 9 bottles availableWine Advocate 97 Points “Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2017 Beausejour (Duffau Lagarrosse) prances out of the glass with energetic notes of crushed black and red plums, black cherries and black raspberries plus wafts of potpourri, oolong tea and lavender. The medium-bodied palate is oh-so-pretty with bags of fragrant fruit and a firm, plush frame, finishing long and perfumed.” Chateau Belair Monange Saint-Emilion 2018 750ml $249 special, 11 bottles availableJames Suckling 99 Points “Very intense blackberries, black olives, blueberries and dried flowers. Stony minerality. Even some pine. Full-bodied with superb depth of fruit and ultra fine tannins that are intense and polished. The finish is so long and delivers so much flavor, from wet earth to blackberry again. Seamless palate. Try after 2026.” Chateau Canon St. Emilion 2015 750ml $349 special, 12+ bottles availableJames Suckling #1 Wine of the YearVinous 100 Points “From the very beginning, the 2015 Canon has made an eloquent case for itself as one of the wines of the vintage. Multiple tastings from bottle only confirm what several early tastings hinted at: the 2015 Canon is simply extraordinary in every way. Sumptuous and exotic, with no hard edges and exceptional balance, the 2015 grabs hold of all the senses and never lets up. A rush of red fruit intermingled with floral notes, spice and smoke notes effortlessly runs up the wine’s vertical structure as the 2015 thrills with every twist and turn. The 2015 Canon is a rare wine that is both hedonistic and intellectual – well, maybe it is a bit more hedonistic-leaning. It doesn’t matter. Don’t miss it. This 2015 is masterpiece from General Manager Nicolas Auderbert and his team at Canon.” Chapelle D’ausone St Emilion 2009 750ml $249 special, 1 bottle availableJames Suckling 96 Points “This is always made with the young vines. Full-bodied, with super velvety tannins and gorgeous mineral, dark berry and spice character. Lovely velvet texture. Amazing quality for a second wine.” Clinet Pomerol 2010 750ml $189 special, 12+ bottles availableDecanter 97 Points “The definition of poised and confident, this has pretty much consistently delivered since the very first taste during En Primeur. Deeply layered, textured, confident and powerful, both very Pomerol and very 2010. Coffee beans and bitter chocolate are the dominant flavours alongside cassis and blackberry autumnal berry fruits. Both gourmet and restrained. Just about ready to go but will hugely benefit from three to four hours in carafe first, and will further improve over the next few years, and indeed over the decades to come” Cos D’estournel Saint Estephe 2016 750ml $299 special, 5 bottle availableWine Advocate 100 Points “The 2016 Cos d’Estournel is blended of 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Merlot and 1% Cabernet Franc aged in 65% new and 35% two-year-old French oak for 15 months. Bottled in July 2018, it is deep garnet-purple colored and starts off a little closed and reticent, opening out slowly and seductively to reveal beautiful lilacs, rose hip tea, crushed stones and camphor nuances over a core of crème de cassis, kirsch, wild blueberries and mocha plus wafts of incense and wood smoke. The palate is simply electric, charged with an energy and depth of flavors that seem to defy the elegance and ethereal nature of its medium-bodied weight, featuring super ripe, densely pixelated tannins that firmly frame the myriad of fruit and floral sparks, finishing with epic length. Just. Magic.” Vinous 100 Points “The 2016 Cos d’Estournel was a bona fide showstopper out of barrel, the best that I had encountered in over 20 years of visiting the estate during en primeur, so my expectations were piled high when I returned to find out how it performs in bottle. Deep, almost opaque in color, it sports a very intense but broody bouquet with fathomless deep black fruit tinged with blueberry and violet. The aromas almost seem to envelop the senses. The palate is medium-bodied with ultra-fine tannin that I have never witnessed in any other vintage of Cos d’Estournel. There is a beguiling symmetry to this Saint-Estèphe, as well as unerring mineralité. The persistent, tobacco-tinged finish can be felt 60 second after the wine has departed. This is a monumental, benchmark Cos d’Estournel that will give not years but decades of pleasure, though I suspect it will close down for a period in its youth, hence my drinking window. 13.07% alcohol.” Ducru Beaucaillou Saint-Julien 2018 750ml $269 special, 4 bottles availableWine Enthusiast 100 Points, #6 Top 100 Cellar Selections in 2021 “Vintage 2018 was generous to the style of Ducru-Beaucaillou. The rich character of this wine is enhanced by the ripeness and concentration of the vintage, yet at the same time it keeps an amazing freshness. This will go down in the annals of this historic estate. It is not likely to approach drinkability before 2028. -Roger Voss” Jeb Dunnuck 98+ Points “The Grand Vin 2018 Château Ducru-Beaucaillou checks in as 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Merlot that was harvested at the end of September through October 10 and brought up all in new French oak. This is a gorgeous, incredibly complete, classic expression of this terroir, offering a heavenly nose of crème de cassis, cedarwood, unsmoked tobacco, new leather, spring flowers, chocolate, and a touch of chalky minerality. With full-bodied richness, a monster of a mid-palate, remarkable purity, and a great, great finish, it’s one of the most concentrated, impressive wines of the vintage, and might also be one of the longest lived. It actually reminds me of an improved version of the 1996 or a hypothetical mix of the 2010 and 2016. For the tech geeks out there, the IPT checks in at a massive 95 and the pH is 3.7.” Malescot St Exupery Margaux 2015 750ml $119 special, 12 bottles availableJames Suckling 97 Points “Some very rich and ripe red and dark berries here make for an impressive, engaging nose that has charming violet undertones. The palate is velvety and supple, while super smooth tannins deliver a long and plush, plum-soaked finish. Great wine and already drinking well. Try from 2023.” La Mondotte St Emilion 2012 750ml $189 special, 10 bottles availableWine Advocate 95 Points “From the luxury, 12-acre boutique outpost of the Neipperg family, the 2012 La Mondotte (generally 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Franc) has an inky/purple color, sweet mulberry, black cherry and cassis note, stunning purity and full-bodied texture. The wine’s opulence and voluptuous character compare to its greatest vintages, such as 1998, 2000, 2005, 2009 and 2010. Its great terroir (clay and limestone soils) shines through with a stunning effort in the vintage. Drink it over the next 10-15 years.” Chateau Mouton Rothschild Pauillac 2010 750ml $1199 special, 1 bottle availableDecanter 100 Points “Smoked grilled tar on the nose, it feels both very 2010 and supremely Mouton – accomplished and confident. A more glamorous, enticing edge than the other Pauillac Firsts at this 10 year window. There are plentiful tannins but they are lined with air, and the overall feel is of plush, plumped fruits, like being rolled-up in luxurious sheets. It is very different in character to the other two Pauillac Firsts, but no less enjoyable. It feels higher in alcohol, more Cos than Lafite in terms of personality, in the way that Pichon Baron is more Latour than Comtesse, but it is nuanced and clever and surprising. Drinking Window 2025 – 2050.” Wine Spectator 99 Points “This remains the stunner, a battleship of a wine, brimming with cassis, blackberry and fig fruit that has melded together now, with the backdrop of alder, bay leaf and menthol starting to emerge a bit more. The long finish is loaded with grip, pulling the fruit and other components together. And then there’s that flash of iron at the very end. Awesome wine. Best from 2025 through 2060.” Chateau L’eglise-Clinet Pomerol 2014 750ml $239 special, 6 bottles availableVinous 94-97 Points “The 2014 L’Eglise Clinet is a real head-turner. Gorgeous, super-expressive aromatics meld into a core of dark, sumptuous fruit. Lavender, mint, violets, graphite and crème de cassis notes abound in a powerful, structured wine endowed with magnificent purity and a skyscraper-like sense of lift. Finesse and power collide in a crystalline Pomerol of exceptional beauty. Powerful and dense to the core, the 2014 is shaping up to be one of the wines of the vintage. The blend is 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc.” Chateau Leoville Barton St Julien 2018 750ml $135 special, 12+ bottles availableWine Spectator 97 Points “Cassis, crushed plum and steeped blackberry fruit is all packed into this wine, along with tar, violet and roasted apple wood notes, plus a terrific tug of warm earth. Shows lots of energy in reserve, with a tightly knit finish pulling everything together. Cellaring required. Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Best from 2026 through 2040. 11,600 cases made.” Leoville Las Cases St Julien 2012 750ml $219 special, 3 bottles availableRobert Parker 93+ Points “The bigger sister or brother of Le Petit Lion, depending on your point of view, the 2012 Leoville Las Cases has gorgeous minerality, plenty of blueberry and blackcurrant fruit that is super-pure, an opaque ruby/purple color, medium body and firm structured, slightly austere personality. This wine is built for the long-term. A blend of 74% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot and 11% Cabernet Franc, it attained 13.5% alcohol, which is substantial for a 2012 Médoc. It has depth and richness, but also a boatload of tannin. Forget it for 8-10 years and drink over the following 15-20.” Pichon Baron Pauillac 2016 750ml $199 special, 12 bottles availableJeb Dunnuck 97 Points “The 2016 Château Pichon-Longueville Baron is beauty and is a blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Merlot that was brought up in 80% new French oak. Tasting like a hypothetical mix of the 2009 and 2010, its deep purple color is followed by a powerful yet sensationally pure bouquet of crème de cassis, blackberries, lead pencil shavings, and graphite, and is just about as quintessentially Pauillac as it gets. Full-bodied, fleshy and even a touch flamboyant, it has sweet tannins and a monster texture that coats the palate. Count me in as a huge fan. This fabulous wine will be relatively approachable in just 3-5 years but will age for 30 years or more.” Pichon Baron Pauillac 2019 750ml $199 special, 10 bottles availableWine Advocate 97-100 Points “The 2019 Pichon-Longueville Baron is a blend of 87% Cabernet Sauvignon and 13% Merlot, harvested from the 18th of September to the 11th of October. It is being aged in French oak barrels, 80% new, for 18 months. This grand vin represents 49% of the harvest. Very deep purple-black in color, the nose skyrockets from the glass with vibrant scents of freshly crushed blackberries, black raspberries and blackcurrant pastilles followed by perfumed sparks of fragrant earth, clove oil, lilacs, crushed rocks, molten chocolate and cinnamon toast. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is packed with layer upon layer of black fruit, mineral and exotic spices, framed by beautifully ripe, finely-grained tannins and tons of freshness, finishing with a lingering soft-spoken whisper of floral and earth notions. This is an absolutely beguiling expression that is classic Pauillac, and yet it is Pauillac like no other.” Pichon Lalande Pauillac 2016 750ml $319 special, 4 bottles availableJeb Dunnuck 100 Points “Outer quote mark Coming from the genius winemaking talent of Nicolas Glumineau, the 2016 Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande matches the 1982 and is a perfect, legendary wine in the making. A blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Merlot, and 4% Cabernet Franc brought up in 60% new oak, it’s not the most powerful Left Bank but offers perfect balance and thrilling intensity as well as heavenly aromatics of crème de cassis, leafy herbs, jammy blackberries, tobacco leaf, and freshly sharpened lead pencils as well as more violets and minerality with time in the glass. Possessing a deep, full-bodied, singular character, the purity of fruit that’s the hallmark of the vintage, building tannins, and a sense of class and elegance that’s hard to describe, it’s a 50-year-wine. While this cuvée has included a fair chunk of Merlot in the past that gave it more upfront appeal, it’s important for readers to know it’s much more Cabernet Sauvignon-dominated today, and while it is slightly more approachable than some of its neighbors, it shuts down rather quickly with time in the glass. (I followed this wine for multiple days.) I suspect a solid decade of cellaring is warranted.” Pichon Lalande Pauillac 2018 750ml $279 special, 12+ bottles available#2 Wine Spectator – Wine Of The Year In 2021Jeb Dunnuck 98+ Points “The 2018 Château Pichon-Longueville Comtesse De Lalande is a monster of a wine with an almost Château Latour-like stature and structure, offering deep, backward, slightly reductive notes of blackcurrants, crushed stone, scorched earth, lead pencil shavings, and tobacco leaf. Based largely on Cabernet Sauvignon mixed with 23% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Petit Verdot, it’s full-bodied, concentrated, and powerful on the palate, with masses of tannins, beautiful mid-palate density, and a great finish. As I’ve commented previously, the up-front, sexy style of the past (due to the larger Merlot content, I believe) has been replaced by a more regal, at times austere profile. Nevertheless, it’s still its own wine and very Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande in style. This 2018 is going to need 5-7 years of bottle age and will evolve for 40+ years.” Pichon Lalande Pauillac 2019 750ml $249 special, 5 bottles availableJeb Dunnuck 99 Points “Pure class, the 2019 Château Pichon-Longueville Comtesse De Lalande is another brilliant wine from director Nicolas Glumineau that checks in at the top of the vintage. A blend of 71% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Merlot, and 6% Cabernet Franc that was harvested from mid-September through October 8th. Brought up in roughly 60% new French oak, it hit 14.1% natural alcohol with a pH of 3.7. More elegant and poised from bottle than barrel, it offers a brilliant perfume of crème de cassis, lead pencil shavings, tobacco leaf, damp earth, and graphite. Deep, full-bodied, and pure perfection on the palate, it has this incredible marriage of Latour-like stature and regalness buffered by wonderful, sexy, seamless fruit, which no doubt comes from the higher Merlot content and makes Comtesse de Lalande so singular and unique. It builds slowly with time in the glass and has remarkable purity of fruit, ultra-fine tannins, perfect balance, and a finish that just begs you to pour another glass. It has a seductive, seamless profile that offers pleasure even today (although it needs lots of air to show at its best) yet needs 7-8 years of bottle age to hit the early stages of its prime drink window and will evolve for another 40-50 years if stored properly.” Trotanoy Pomerol 2018 750ml $399 special, 4 bottles availableJeb Dunnuck 100 Points “Another heavenly Pomerol in the vintage, the 2018 Château Trotanoy checks in as 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc brought up in (I suspect) lots of new French oak (although it’s certainly not apparent). Revealing a dense purple hue as well as a smorgasbord-like bouquet of blackcurrants, dried flowers, cured meats, violets, tobacco, and chocolate, it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a sexy, seductive texture, building yet sweet tannins, and just a rich, concentrated, yet flawless profile on the palate that’s already impossible to resist. Nevertheless, a good 7-8 years of bottle age are warranted, and this magical elixir is going to evolve for 40 years or more.”
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