In This Newsletter:ArrivalsYgay Gran Reserva, Siro Pacenti, Dal Forno, and more!
CAYUSE!
New reviews from Jeb Dunnuck
Staff Pick
Clos Du Caillou Chateauneuf Tradition
FeatureChardonnays of the Willamette
Close Out Sales
Quench Your Thirst With Discounted Rose
3 Day SaleThe Wines of Simon Beze
June Sale- Spanish Wines
“These riojas will put you on cloud wine”Special Collector’s ArrivalClassified: Cru Burgundies
Special Arrival
Marques Murrieta Ygay Gran Reserva Especial 2011 $189 special, 12 bottles availableJames Suckling 98 Points “Extremely well-mannered, traditional character to this, showing layer upon layer of savory complexity on the nose, with iron, dried meat, tobacco, balsamic fruit, dried red berries, orange peel, leather and dried mushrooms. A medium-to full-bodied, linear, and zesty Rioja that’s full of nuanced flavors that linger through the very long, savory finish. Floral, too. Yet, it remains bright and precise. Tempranillo with 16% mazuelo.” Wine Advocate 97 Points “The 2011 Castillo Ygay Gran Reserva Especial was produced with a blend of 84% Tempranillo and 16% Mazuelo (Cariñena) from a plot called La Plana that was planted in 1950 at 485 meters in altitude, the highest in the Ygay property. The grapes were picked between September 17 and 22, and the Mazuelo was later, on September 28. The bunches were destemmed and lightly crushed and put to ferment in stainless steel for 11 days with constant pump-overs and punch-downs. The Tempranillo matured for 28 months in American oak barrels and the Mazuelo for 28 months in French barriques. It’s 14% alcohol and has a pH of 3.65 with 5.6 grams of acidity (measured in tartaric acid per liter). It’s very tough to follow a vintage like 2010, and 2011 was not an easy year; the wine is possibly more powerful and concentrated but keeping the freshness, with a longer élevage but very young and lively, with an elegant texture and mouthfeel, great balance and elegance. The wine feels lively, and it seems impossible that it has been in bottle for over six years. It has the classical profile with the effect of the American oak barrels, cigar box, cedar wood, sweet spices—aromatic, intoxicating, complex. This should age very slowly and for a very long time. 131,668 bottles produced. It was bottled in February 2016. No 2013, 2014 or 2015 will be produced. They have a 2012, and they will jump from that to 2016. The 2012 will be released in late 2023 or early 2024 and the 2016 in 2027 or 2028. Fingers crossed.” Wine Enthusiast 97 Points “Deep violet-red to the eye, this wine has a nose of raspberry, white chocolate and juniper berry. Still youthful on the palate, it offers ever-present tannins supporting flavors of dark plum, black cherry, caramel and violet that slowly fade into a soft cherry-pie finish. Drink through 2042.” Vinous 95 Points “Deep garnet. A highly perfumed, complex bouquet evokes red and blue fruits, incense, pipe tobacco, vanilla and mocha, along with smoky mineral and spice nuances that build in the glass. Sappy, palate-staining black raspberry, cherry compote, succulent herb, candied rose and vanilla flavors show excellent depth and clarity, while a spine of juicy acidity contributes cut and structure. Shows excellent energy and detail, finishing with strong persistence, repeating florality and velvety tannins that come in late.”
This coveted wine is guaranteed to sell out quickly!
Don’t miss out!
 New ArrivalsOregon Bergstrom Cumberland Reserve Pinot Noir 2021 750ml $39.50 special, 36 bottlesWine Advocate 95 Points “Medium ruby-purple, the 2021 Pinot Noir Cumberland Reserve offers generous aromas of cranberry sauce, floral potpourri, blood orange and wafts of dried herbs. The medium-bodied palate is youthfully gregarious and focused on generous allspice flavors, although its chalky, tensile frame and long, latent finish suggest this has more to give with additional time in bottle.”
Best Price In The United States!
Benton Lane Estate Grown Pinot Noir WV 2021 $21.90 special, 36 bottles availableWinery note: “Vibrant ripe cherry, cranberry, and raspberry nose unfold into dried blueberries, plum, and lively summer herbs. Full, plush, and balanced textures with fine grained tannins and a gentle, bright acidity. This wine is complex and layered, with ripe, fresh flavors and elegance.”
Italy
Vinous 95 Points “Taking in the 2017 Valpolicella Superiore Monte Lodoletta reminds me of all of the desserts spices and confections experienced on Christmas day. An array of medicinal cherries plum sauce ginger cookies cloves cinnamon and dried roses captivate. There’s tremendous depth here but it maintains fantastic freshness. This is wildly spicy and intense yet deep with brilliant acidity adding energy seldom found in Valpolicella which enlivens the crunchy red fruits and pretty inner florals within. The 2017 finishes dramatically long and perfumed resonating on sour blackberries currants and a bitter hint of cocoa. This goes far beyond the expectation of Valpolicella with the power and aromatics of an Amarone but with a liveliness that will allow it to excel at the dinner table.” Jeb Dunnuck 95 Points “Taking in the 2017 Valpolicella Superiore Monte Lodoletta reminds me of all of the desserts, spices and confections experienced on Christmas day. An array of medicinal cherries, plum sauce, ginger cookies, cloves, cinnamon and dried roses captivate. There’s tremendous depth here, but it maintains fantastic freshness. This is wildly spicy and intense, yet deep, with brilliant acidity adding energy seldom found in Valpolicella, which enlivens the crunchy red fruits and pretty inner florals within. The 2017 finishes dramatically long and perfumed, resonating on sour blackberries, currants and a bitter hint of cocoa. This goes far beyond the expectation of Valpolicella, with the power and aromatics of an Amarone but with a liveliness that will allow it to excel at the dinner table.” Dal Forno Romano Amarone Valpolicella 2017 750ml $449 special, 6 bottles availableVinous 97 Points “This is dark, sultry and almost animalistic in nature, as crushed fall leaves and earth tones open the experience, giving way to masses of macerated black cherries, cedar shavings, spiced cookies, and a lifting hint of camphor. It floods the palate with velvety textures while maintaining fantastic energy, as stimulating acidity adds unexpected vibrancy, and tart wild berries slowly saturate. While structured, the tannins are sweet, and the wine remains remarkably fresh, almost crunchy, as an air of inner rose and balsam herbs slowly fades.” Wine Enthusiast 95 Points “A dark, brooding red that effortlessly marries a lively range of kirsch, blackberry paste, dried mint, and Eucalyptus fkavirs with fine, sculpted tannins and a rich streak of minerality – lots of smoke, fresh Earth and Iron. Shows concentration and power, revealing even greater detail and expression as this opens in the glass, but at the same time this is an exercise in balance and restraint. Corvina, Rondinella, Oseleta, and Croatina. Drink now through 2035.”
France
“Domaine Leflaive”
Domaines Leflaive Macon-Verze 2021 750ml $79 special, 4 bottles availableDomaines Leflaive Macon-Verze Les Chenes 2022 750ml $99 special, 4 bottles available
“Siro Pacenti”
Siro Pacenti Rosso Di Montalcino 2021 750ml $36 special, 36 bottles availableWine Advocate 92 Points “The 2021 Rosso di Montalcino drinks more like a Brunello than it does a Rosso. The wine shows dark but vibrant fruit with blackberry and blackcurrant. There is earthy spice, cola and smoke. The wine is powerful and full throttle (with a 15% alcohol content that you can’t overlook) with a rich, medium-weight mouthfeel. It also shows good structure and young tannins. Production is 15,000 bottles.” Siro Pacenti Brunello Pelagrilli 2018 750ml $59 special, 36 bottles availableWine Advocate 94 Points “In an elegantly designed bottle, the Siro Pacenti 2018 Brunello di Montalcino Pelagrilli delivers lots of dark fruit and blackberry, and the quality of the fruit is bold, fresh and still very much alive. The house style prizes concentration and oak spice, but the detailed-minded winemaking is impeccable. The wine is structured and firm and stands apart in a crowd, but alas, it does show an unfortunate 15% alcohol content. This is a 23,000-bottle release.” Siro Pacenti Brunello Vecche Vigne 2018 750ml $99 special, 12 bottles availableVinous 94 Points “The 2018 Brunello di Montalcino Vecchie Vigne opens with hauntingly dark florals and balsamic tones, as swirling bring about hints of black currant and crushed stone. This is supremely soft-textured, yet lifted by cooling minerality and bright acidity that guides its crunchy wild berry fruits across the palate. It tapers off with amazing length and potency, drenching the senses with primary concentration, as a framework of fine tannins gently tug at the cheeks. The 2018 Vecchie Vigne is a radiant Brunello in need of cellaring to fully blossom. That said, I don’t remember ever tasting a VV from Siro Pacenti with this much energy. I’m very eager to taste this again with some bottle age.”
“Must Have 2022 Rosés”
Berangeraie Tu Bois Coa Malbec Rose 2022 750ml $14 special, 24 bottles availableImporter Note: “Rosé wine. Cahors, France. Organic. 100% Malbec. Lurid pink. Ripe cherry and raspberry aromas and flavors are sharpened by a suggestion of white pepper. Broad and fleshy in style, but lively as well, thanks to a core of juicy acidity. Finishes smooth and broad, featuring repeating red berry character and good cling. 10g/l residual sugar so it’s a touch sweet!” Aphillanthes Cotes Du Rhone Rose Nymphea 2022 750ml $14 special, 24 bottles availableDomaine Charvin Cotes Du Rhone Rose 2022 750ml $19.50 special, 24 bottles available St Damien Gigondas Rose 2022 750ml $26 special, 36 bottles available
Arriving Late July
Louis Roederer Brut Premier NV 6L $599 special, just 1 6L bottle left!
Vinopolnote “These giant bottles are referred to as either Methuselahs or Imperials. A blend of around 40% Pinot noir, 40% Chardonnay, and 20% Pinot Meunier, Brut Premier is aged for 3 years in Louis Roederer’s cellars and left for a minimum of 6 months after dégorgement (disgorging).”
Only available for In-store pick-up!
CAYUSENew Reviews From Jeb Dunnuck
“As to their style, the top 2020s are concentrated, dense wines that tend to stay focused and elegant on the palate, with the lack of sunshine in September imparting a more restrained style. Given the small berries and tiny yields, these are concentrated, powerful wines with quality tannins that I think will be age-worthy.”
Cayuse Camaspelo Cabernet Sauvignon 2020 750ml $119 special, 16 bottles availableJeb Dunnuck 94 Points “Leafy herbs, red and blue fruits, tobacco, cedarwood, and iron notes all emerge from the 2020 Camaspelo, another up-front, charming, soft, surprisingly supple red from this team. Medium to full-bodied on the palate, it has fine grained tannins, a layered, silky mouthfeel, and outstanding length. It’s approachable today yet should have 15 years of overall longevity.” Cayuse Flying Pig 2020 $149 special, just 1 bottle availableJeb Dunnuck 93 Points “Based on 46% Cabernet Franc, 37% Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2020 Flying Pig has a wild, exotic perfume of ripe black cherries, fresh earth, iron, leafy herbs, and wild strawberries. This carries to a medium to full-bodied, nicely concentrated, juicy, elegant 2020 with fine tannins, nicely integrated acidity, and a clean finish. It’s a more up-front, fruit-forward, approachable expression of this cuvée to enjoy over the coming 15 years or more.” Cayuse Impulsivo Tempranillo 2020 750ml $133 special, 28 bottles availableJeb Dunnick 94+ Points Tight and closed, with notions of bloody blue fruits, iodine, rose petals, and cedarwood, the 2020 Impulsivo hits the palate with medium to full-bodied richness, a nicely balanced, layered mouthfeel, and ripe tannins that emerge on the finish. I like its concentration, and its tannins are polished and beautifully integrated, but this is in need of a solid 4-5 years of bottle age to show its full potential. It should have 20-25 years of overall longevity when all is said and done. Cayuse Syrah Cailloux Vineyard 2020 750ml $128 special, 6 bottles availableJeb Dunnuck 95 Points “The only Syrah from this great estate that’s co-fermented with Viognier, the 2020 Syrah Cailloux Vineyard reveals a translucent ruby hue as well as classic Rocks (or as Christophe likes to call the region, the Stones) aromatics of red and black cherries, sous bois, smoked earth, rose petals, and ground pepper. It’s another more medium to full-bodied, very pretty, graceful, balanced release from this team offering fine tannins, beautiful overall balance, and a great finish. As with many 2020s here, it doesn’t have the density of the great vintages but shines for its beautiful balance and purity.” Cayuse Syrah En Chamberlin Vineyard 2020 750ml $125 special, 19 bottles availableJeb Dunnuck 95 Points “Ripe black raspberries, iodine, spring flowers, gamey meats, and pepper all emerge from the 2020 Syrah En Chamberlin Vineyard, a deeper, broader, medium to full-bodied Syrah with ripe, rounded tannins, a great mid-palate, and outstanding length. This meaty, gamey, complex, classic Cayuse Syrah is already approachable today but will benefit from 2-3 years of bottle age and keep for 15+.” Cayuse Syrah En Cerise Vineyard 2020 750ml $125 special, 12 bottles availableJeb Dunnuck 93 Points “Bright black cherries, peppery herbs, black tea, and wildflower notes, as well as some classic Rocks scorched earth, emerge from the 2020 Syrah En Cerise Vineyard, a medium to full-bodied, elegant Syrah with wonderful purity, fine-grained tannins, and outstanding length. It doesn’t have the density or concentration of a truly great vintage here, but it shines for its elegance and finesse. It’s going to evolve for 10-15 years.”
Staff Pick Southern Rhone
Clos Du Caillou Chateauneuf Tradition 2017 750ml $39 special, 36+ bottles available“This is drinking mighty fine. Deep red, with nicely maturing red fruit and crispy baked earth. A little smokey. Focused. This wine is a steal at this price. Pair with Grilled or seared meats.” -Tracy
Feature
White Gold: Willamette Chardonnay
Tan Fruit “Petite Tan Fruit” Chardonnay 2022 750ml $19.50 special, 36+ bottles availableVinopolnote “100% steel tank fermented. Made in a “Chablisienne” style with notes of citrus and bright green apple. This is perfect for the ice bucket on a Sunny day, paired with oyster, fish, and crudites. Jimmy Maresh has never released a wine in this price category before, better snap this one up!” Cameron Dundee Hills Chardonnay 2021 750ml $24 special, 33 bottles availableWinery Note “Predominantly vinified from 42 year-old Abbey Ridge chardonnay with a smattering of Clos Electrique grapes, deeming it worthy of the Dundee Hills appellation as well as a google synonym search. It displays aromas of meyer lemon, lime leaf and lemon crème brûlée and has a rich and a velvety mouth with moderate acidity. Perfect for sipping while you prepare dinner and a splendid accompaniment for almost any dish. Consider it a gateway drug for our single vineyard chardonnays! Crowley Willamette Valley Chardonnay 2020 750ml $24 special, 23 bottles availableWinery Note “Lemon-lime aromatics burst from the glass, laced with a touch of floral wood. Quenching salinity on the palate stretches long, eventually giving way to chalk and balanced acidity. Vineyard info: Four Winds was planted in 1993 to Wente clone Chardonnay (1.5 acres) and Dijon clone Chardonnay (.75 acres), and beginning in 2017 (2.5 acres) of Draper clone. Elevation is 825 feet and south facing. Own rooted and dry farmed.” Championship Bottle Gravity’s Pull Chardonnay 2020 750ml $31.90 special, 16 bottles availableWinery Notes “The 2020 Gravity’s Pull Chardonnay is very much in keeping with our other 2020 whites—bracing, mineral, and sharp, with a sheen of reduction that delivers a flinty nose and nervy palate. This hails from Dion Vineyard and its ungrafted, 30+ year-old Chardonnay vines, planted in windblown loess soils. It’s telling that across Europe, producers who are lucky enough to have ungrafted vineyards prize them supremely for the je ne sais quoi they seem to provide. Every time we taste Gravity’s Pull, we think that must be happening here, as well, and are grateful to get to work with the vineyard.” Tan Fruit Tank Fruit Chardonnay 2021 750ml $59 special, 55 bottles available Wine Advocate 97 Points “The 2021 Chardonnay Tank Fruit is composed of fruit from the White Walnut Vineyard, a relatively new vineyard comprising eight acres planted around 2015 in the Dundee Hills. “The genetics that produced this is rare,” winemaker Jim Maresh explains, noting that the diverse clonal material in this vineyard includes 10 different heritage selections. The White Walnut Vineyard cuvée was fermented in oak and finished in stainless steel—the opposite of this 2021 Chardonnay Tank Fruit, which also comes from the White Walnut Vineyard but is fermented in stainless steel and finished in oak—although both wines offer singular exoticism. The Tank Fruit is bursting with intense aromas of peaches, fruit cocktail, lemongrass and orange oil with streaks of spice and herbs. The medium-bodied palate is satiny and seamless, gaining amplitude in the mouth as it releases wave after wave of concentrated fruit. It has a soft frame of flinty accents, and its fresh acidity calls you in for another sip on the long finish.” Cameron Clos Electrique Blanc Chardonnay 2020 750ml $69 special, 24 bottles availableVinopolnote Light yellow in color, this is savory and reserved, with a lingering floral and pear note. Arterberry Maresh Chardonnay Maresh VYD 2021 750ml $72 special, 34 bottles availableWine Advocate 96 Points “The 2021 Chardonnay Maresh Vineyard comes from Wente vines planted in 1983 and was matured in 20% Damy barrels for nine months before finishing in stainless steel. The nose is alluringly spicy, opening from flint and roasted almonds to an intense core of savory yellow peach and beeswax. The palate is satiny and unctuous with ripe fruit, floral perfume and flinty streaks. Despite its luxurious texture and flavor, it maintains its shimmery acidity and boasts a long, dynamic finish. It’s a special expression that offers pleasurable generosity and precision.” Composition Chardonnay Willamette Valley 2021 750ml $89 special, 3 bottles availableVinopolnote “The Composition Wines are now a project of Bertrand de Villaine. Yes, the de Villaine family that brought us the famed Domaine de Romanee-Conti. The vineyard sits on a south-facing ridge in the southern Eola-Amity Hills AVA. The terroir evokes volcanic soils, cooler temperatures, and an ideal elevation range Dry farmed and biodynamique.”
Close Out Sales
Discounted Rose Wines!
Bastide Du Claux Poudiere Luberon Rosé 2021 750ml WAS $21.90 NOW $19 special, 15 bottles available Domaines Ott By Ott Cotes Provence Rose 2021 750ml WAS $24 NOW $21.90 special, 36+ bottles availableWine Advocate 91 Points “Call it a down year if you must, but the 2021 Cotes de Provence Rose Chateau de Selle remains one of the region’s top wines. Scents of tangerine, peach, crushed stone and lime zest mark the nose, while the medium-bodied palate is plump and juicy, finishing long and layered. The assemblage this year is 55% Grenache, 30% Cinsault, 10% Mourvèdre and 5% Syrah.” Chateau Peyrassol Provence Rose 2020 750ml WAS $33 NOW $29 special, 36+ availableVinous 92 Points “Light, brilliant orange-pink. Highly perfumed, mineral-accented red berry and pit fruit aromas are complemented by a floral note that builds in the glass. Juicy and sharply focused in the mouth, offering vibrant strawberry, blood orange and white peach flavors and a suave touch of honeysuckle. Concentrated yet lithe in style, finishing with intense mineral- and floral-driven thrust.” Bastide Blanche Bandol Rose 2020 1.5L WAS $59 NOW $49 special, 5 bottles availableVinous 92 Points “Limpid orange-pink. Expressive red berry, blood orange and pit fruit aromas are accompanied by building mineral and floral nuances. Taut and energetic in the mouth, offering sappy strawberry, orange zest and lavender flavors braced by a spine of chalky minerality. Finishes silky and impressively long, with repeating mineral and floral notes.” Wine Advocate 91 Points “A blend of Mourvèdre, Grenache, Cinsault, Clairette and Ugni Blanc, La Bastide Blanche’s 2020 Bandol Rose bursts with scents of sun-warmed peaches, passion fruit and strawberries. It’s medium to full-bodied, mouthfilling and concentrated, yet finishes spry and refreshing, with a burst of salinity and citrus.”
We’ve marked down select wines from top brands like
Borgogno, Conterno, Caiarosso, Guy Charlegmagne, Vajra
Want To See All 41 Of Our Deeply Discounted Close-Out Wines? Click here!Or go to our website and search for “Close-out.”
In store look for our yellow close-out price tags or ask a sales associate
3 Day SaleThe Wines of Simon Bize
Beginning with Simon Beze in 1880, this domaine has been producing diverse and refined Burgundy in the Beaune for generations. Passed from father to son for three generations, the Domaine is now managed by the late Patrick Beze’s Wife Chesa and sister Marielle. A top quality wine that’s increasingly focused on organic and sustainable viticulture to ensure many generations to come.
Buy 6-11 bottles and receive a 5% discountBuy 12+ bottles and receive a 10% discount
Ends Saturday the 24th at 6pm
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.
New Arrivals
Past Arrivals
June Sale- All Spanish Wines
“Our Riojas Will Put You on Cloud Wine”
Buy 6-11 bottles for a 5% discount
Buy 12+ bottles for a 10% discount
FINAL WEEK!
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.Vega Sicila-Rothschild Macan Rioja Clasico 2019 750ml $59 special, 24 bottles availableWine Advocate 93+ Points “The second wine in the Bordeaux sense is the 2019 Macán Clásico, a more concentrated and powerful wine cropped from a warmer and drier year that was saved by the 80 liters of rain in the first half of September. It fermented in stainless steel with 10% of their own yeasts, and the élevage was 22% in stainless steel and the rest in new and used oak barrels, mostly French but with around 5% of them American, and lasted 12 months.” Vinedos Paganos El Puntido Rioja Gran Reserva 2008 750ml $69 special, 19 bottles availableWine Advocate 97 Points “I was greatly impressed by the 2008 El Puntido Gran Reserva, a wine with a more traditional profile than the majority of wines from the Eguren family. At age 14, the wine is glorious, still young and with a mixture of primary and more developed notes. It goes more in the direction of the old wines, with balsamic notes of incense and cedarwood, mushrooms and some berries and herbs. It’s complex and elegant, with fully resolved tannins. This was bottled back in May 2011, so it’s been in bottle for over a decade, and the texture shows it. It has 14% alcohol and a pH of 3.55. This matured in brand-new French oak barrels for 28 months, and the wine has absorbed the oak completely.” Vinedos Paganos El Puntido Rioja Gran Reserva 2008 750ml $69 special, 16 bottles availableWine Advocate 97 Points “I was greatly impressed by the 2008 El Puntido Gran Reserva, a wine with a more traditional profile than the majority of wines from the Eguren family. At age 14, the wine is glorious, still young and with a mixture of primary and more developed notes. It goes more in the direction of the old wines, with balsamic notes of incense and cedarwood, mushrooms and some berries and herbs. It’s complex and elegant, with fully resolved tannins. This was bottled back in May 2011, so it’s been in bottle for over a decade, and the texture shows it. It has 14% alcohol and a pH of 3.55. This matured in brand-new French oak barrels for 28 months, and the wine has absorbed the oak completely.” Bodegas Muga Rioja Torre Muga 2019 750ml $108.50 special, 23 bottles availableJeb Dunnuck 98 Points “The 2019 Torre Muga is always a more powerful, ripe expression of Rioja that never loses its sense of place. Deep ruby/purple, with a glorious bouquet of cassis, graphite, tobacco leaf, chocolate, and crushed stone, it hits the palate with medium to full-bodied richness, a deep, pure, multi-dimensional texture, building tannins, and good acidity. It’s young, unevolved, yet oh, so promising. Hide bottles for 7-8 years if you can, and it will cruise for 20-30 years. The blend is 80% Tempranillo and the balance Mazuelo and Graciano, aged 18 months in French oak.” Sierra Cantabria Finca El Bosque Rioja 2019 750ml $139 special, 12 bottles availableJeb Dunnuck 98 Points “The 2019 Finca el Bosque is another single vineyard and comes from a site on a deep, gravelly escarpment overlooking the Ebro River. It offers more ripe blue fruits and cassis as well as sappy herbs, flowers, violets, graphite, and chalky minerality. It shows a more elegant, flawlessly balanced, incredibly pure style on the palate, with ultra-fine tannins, wonderful overall balance, and no hard edges. This is pure class. Give bottles 3-4 years in the cellar and enjoy over the following two decades of more. Bodegas Muga Aro 2019 750ml $349 special, 3 bottles availableJeb Dunnuck 100 points “Pure magic, the 2019 Aro is 70% Tempranillo and 30% Graciano from a plant by plant selection of the Muga family’s oldest vines of Tempranillo, blended with a substantial portion of Graciano. This dense purple behemoth has a primordial bouquet of pure cassis, graphite, crushed stone, lead pencil, new leather, and hints of spring flowers. Building incrementally on the palate, with full-bodied richness, a huge mid-palate, and ripe, velvety tannins, this is one heavenly Rioja that deserves 7-8 years of bottle age and will age like a First Growth from Bordeaux. Hats off to the team at Muga for another incredible wine.”
Collector’s Corner
Cru Burgundies
Olivier Bernstein Clos De La Roche Grand Cru 2016 750ml $619 special, just 1 bottle availableWine Spectator 96 Points ($725) Boysenberry, plum, black cherry, earth and underbrush flavors are allied to an opulent texture and muscular structure in this beefy red. Impressive, but will need time for all the components to fall into place. Offers big tannic grip on the finish. Best from 2023 through 2047. From France.” Vinous 93-95 Points “(the fruit Bernstein buys comes from lower down in this grand cru, where vine yields are always around 30 hectoliters per hectare, and thus he didn’t notice “a clear reduction in production” in 2016): Bright, dark red. Musky raspberry, spicy underbrush and flowers on the expressive, terroir-driven nose. At once thick and sappy, conveying outstanding subtle intensity to its flavors of bitter cherry, spices and minerals. Finishes with very fine-grained tannins. This elegant young Clos de la Roche really dances on the palate. It should evolve positively in bottle for a long time.” Olivier Bernstein Gevrey Chambertin Cazetiers 1er Cru 2016 750ml $259 special, 1 bottle availableWine Spectator 95 Points “Pure aromas and flavors of currant, cherry and violet are shaded by the sweet smoke of burning vine cuttings and graphite in this intense red. Shows tension and a solid structure that remains long, while earth, tobacco and mineral elements linger. Best from 2023 through 2042.” Olivier Bernstein Gevrey Chambertin Champeaux 1er Cru 2016 750ml $279 special, 4 bottles availableVinous 92-94 Points “(the crop level here was 35 hectoliters per hectare): Medium red. Complex, alluring scents of raspberry, animal fur and pepper. A step up in finesse of texture from the village Gevrey, but still with terrific nuance and inner-mouth lift to its youthfully tight flavors of raspberry, crushed rock and flowers. The energetic yet edge-free finish is juicy, palate-cleansing and very subtle.” Philippe Charlopin Bonnes Mares Grand Cru 2013 750ml $199 special, 6 bottles availableWine Spectator 94 Points “There’s a lot of oak here, lending char, vanilla and whisky elements to the core of black cherry and black currant flavors. Fresh and firm, though the finish absorbs the oak better than the initial attack. Vibrant and long, this just needs time to integrate. Best from 2020 through 2036.” Philippe Charlopin Charmes Chambertin Grand Cru 2013 750ml $199 special, 5 bottles availableWine Spectator 94 Points “Bright and focused, exhibiting spicy black cherry, raspberry, earth, smoke, vanilla and toast aromas and flavors. Bracing acidity offsets the lush texture, driving this to a long, expansive finish. Best from 2019 through 2030.” Faiveley Chambertin Clos Beze Ouvrees Rodin 2019 750ml $1699 special, 6 bottles availableWinery Tasting Notes: “Deep ruby red hue with purplish glimmers. The complex nose offers a combination of fruit, spice and floral notes. The lively palate displays exceptional tension, elegant tannins, a hint of white pepper and menthol notes. Les Ouvrées Rodin is an intense, deep, smooth, elegant and subtle wine and a perfect reflection the character of its historical terroir.” Faiveley “Clos De La Roche” Grand Cru 2016 750ml $299 special, 6 bottles available Jadot Corton Charlemagne “Heretiers” Grand Cru 2016 750ml $249 special, 17 bottles availableWine Enthusiast 96 Points “From vineyards owned by the inheritors of the Louis Jadot estate, this wine has all the power expected from this vineyard. Its density and richness are palpable, even when crispened by a fresh citrus edge. Wood aging adds spice and enhances the aging potential. Drink from 2024.” Vinous 94+ Points ” (Jadot bottled 35 barrels, representing a normal yield; the harvest lasted into the beginning of October): Very pale, bright yellow. Knockout nose combines lemon, ginger, botanical herbs, shiso leaf and crushed-rock minerality. Seriously concentrated wine, showing the juicy side of the 2016 vintage and the impeccable balance that was possible when yields were normal. The sharply delineated citrus, spice and mineral flavors are framed and intensified by harmonious acidity (“which was easy to control because we had so many barrels,” according to Barnier). Conveys an impression of outstanding density without weight and finishes with great palate-staining length, herbal lift and salty grip.” Louis Jadot Vosne-Romanee “Beaux Monts” 1er Cru 2010 750ml $179 special, 3 bottles availableStephen Tanzer 91-93 Points “Good medium red. Sexy, slightly high-toned aromas of black raspberry liqueur, coffee, dark chocolate, licorice and minerals. Sweet, silky and densely packed, conveying a strong impression of saline concentration. Peppery acidity gives definition and punch to the middle palate. Finishes firmly tannic, savory and very long, with enticing lingering perfume.” Burghound 91-94 Points “This is also notably ripe with a pungent and highly expressive nose of cassis, menthol and wood toast where additional breadth is present in the form of wet stone and spices. The detailed and highly energetic middle weight flavors possess excellent definition and seem built on a base of firm minerality while terminating in a tension-filled, harmonious and highly persistent finish. Text book Beaux Monts.” Jean-Marc Millot Clos Vougeot “Grand Maupertuis” Grand Cru 2015 750ml $249 special, 2 bottles availableJean-Marc Millot Clos Vougeot “Grand Maupertuis” Grand Cru 2016 750ml $249 special, 2 bottles available Remoissenet Chapelle Chambertin 2011 750ml $219 special, 7 bottles availableVionus 93+ Points “The 2011 Chapelle-Chambertin is not lacking in personality, that much is obvious. A savory, almost wild Burgundy, the 2011 Chapelle is laced with dried herbs, tobacco, black cherries and cured meats are some of the notes that blossom in the glass. It will be interesting to see where the 2011 goes; will it always remain a bit gamy, or will it find a bit more finesse in bottle?” Remoissenet Clos Vougeot 2011 750ml $249 special, 9 bottles availableVinous 93 Points “The 2011 Clos de Vougeot is dense, compact and structured. Firm, chalky tannins support a core of bright red berries, mint, wild flowers and minerals. The 2011 possesses gorgeous clarity and focus, with more than enough underlying minerality to drink well for a number if years.” Remoissenet Clos De Beze 2011 750ml $249 special, 5 bottles availableWine Advocate 93 Points “The 2011 Chambertin Clos-de-Beze Grand Cru is less flamboyant than the Charmes-Chambertin ‘11 tasted alongside. The fruit here is darker, a touch more tertiary but still very well-defined. The palate is medium-bodied with fine definition, a masculine Clos-de-Beze that will need two or three more years in the cellar. Personally, I prefer the harmony and plushness of the Charmes-Chambertin, although this will repay bottle age thanks to its substance and structure. Drink 2018-2030.” Vinous 93 Points “The 2011 Chambertin Clos de Bèze isn’t ready to show all its cards just yet. This is a relatively delicate style for Bèze, with expressive floral notes that convey more finesse than power. The 2011 isn’t fully formed yet, but today my impression is that it will remain quite restrained in style.”
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