In This Newsletter:ArrivalsLatour, Kopke, Cloudline, and more!
3 GemsWines For Seafood PairingPre-Arrival SaleThe Newest Vintage of Chateau PeyrassolAll Week Sale
Three Foundational Oregon Wineries
Close Out Sales
Can the Good Doctor cure what ails you?
June Sale- Spanish Wines
Only Three Days Left To Save!Collector’s CornerLegends of the Loire: Dagueneau, Huet, Vastan, and more
 New ArrivalsLes Forts De Latour Paulliac 2010 750ml $379 special, 6 bottles availableRobert Parker 97 Points “Bizarre as it may sound, the 2010 Les Forts de Latour is also the finest I have ever tasted from this selection, which comes from specific vineyards, not really so much a second wine as just another wine from estate holdings. A blend of 72.5% Cabernet Sauvignon and 27.5% Merlot that represents 40% of the production, this astonishing wine hit 14.3% natural alcohol. Extremely ripe and rich, it reminds me of the 1982 on steroids (and that wine is still drinking great 30 years after the vintage). Sensational notes of graphite, crushed rocks, black fruits, camphor and damp forest notes are present in this expansive, savory, full-throttle wine, which is better than many vintages of the great Latour itself from the past. (That may be a heretical statement, but it’s the truth as I see it.) This wine needs a good 5-6 years of cellaring and should age for three decades at minimum, given the fact that the 1982 is in terrific form and wasn’t this concentrated or prodigious.”
Arriving June 30th
“Best wine value of the year?”
Cloudline (Drouhin) Rose Of Pinot Noir WV 2021 $11.90 special, 36+ bottles availableCloudline (Drouhin) Rose Of Pinot Noir WV 2021 Case of 12 750ml bottles for $119- that’s $9.92 a bottle!Winemaker (Drouhin) Notes “The 2021 Cloudline Rosé of Pinot Noir expresses a floral nose of strawberry blossom and hawthorns. A beautiful salmon color, the wine has the lively texture of classic rosé and a flavor palate that includes strawberry, kiwi and a touch of lemongrass. Consider this a summer dream for any time of the year!”
Arriving July 7th
Dom Perignon 2012 750ml $289 special, 18 bottles availableDecanter 98 Points “What a magnificent bouquet for this Dom Pérignon 2012! Pastry, a hint of smoke and autolytic notes provide a compelling counterpart to eager yet elegant aromas of citrus (lime, tangerine and kumquat) joined by those of fresh fruit, herbs, liquorice, and menthol. There is even a refreshing note of ivy. The palate is tense, vibrant, and very fresh despite its impressive density, which meets its match with an unending finish. This 2012 incarnates the very essence of Dom Pérignon with such a concentrated degree of intensity, along with a capacity for ageing, that it is surely destined for a second life in a P2 edition.” Vinous 97 Points “The 2012 Dom Pérignon is a dense, powerful wine. I am almost shocked by its vinous intensity and raw, unbridled power. The 2012 reminds me of the 2003, but with more finesse and not quite as pushed. Mildew, rain and frost were challenges and resulted in low yields, something that was further compounded by warm, dry weather that concentrated the fruit even more. Those qualities result in a dense Dom Pérignon endowed with real phenolic intensity. It is one of the most reticent young Doms I can remember tasting, I wouldn’t even think of opening a bottle for at least a few years.” Wine Advocate 96+ Points “The 2012 Dom Pérignon has turned out very well indeed, unwinding in the glass with notes of Anjou pear, smoke, toasted nuts, freshly baked bread and crisp stone fruit. Medium to full-bodied, deep and concentrated, it’s still tightly wound, its incipiently fleshy core of fruit framed by racy acids and chalky grip, complemented by a classy pinpoint mousse. A touch drier and a touch less reductive than the 2008 out of the gates, these two vintages are clearly destined to be compared for some time to come; but at this early stage, my instinct is that the 2012 will have the edge in the long term.”
Pre-Arrivals
Arriving Late October
“Kopke Colheita”
Kopke 30 Year Tawny 750ml $119 special, 12 bottles availableWine Spectator 94 Points “A very inviting, open style, with butterscotch and caramel notes framing the core of glazed pear, caramelized peach, golden raisin and warm fig flavors. The lush finish lets crème brûlée and ginger cream details hang, showing a flash of honeysuckle for lift. Drink now. 200 cases imported.” Wine Advocate 93 Points “The NV 30 Year Old Tawny Port was bottled in 2017 with a bar-top cork and 130 grams per liter of residual sugar. The last release I saw of this was pretty fine. So, too, here. This adds a layer of depth and more complexity to the Burmester, although it lacks the Burmester’s elegance and sex appeal. While the finish here is bigger and more gripping, it is no more flavorful (actually, less so). Still, as this rolls around the mouth, it is impressive, not necessarily more exciting than the Burmester, but definitely different stylistically. They are good examples of the diversity you can get in one portfolio. As always, these last indefinitely, barring cork failures, but they are not really meant to be held.” Kopke 40 Year Tawny 750ml $199 special, 6 bottles availableWine Spectator 95 Points “This offers a dreamy mix of caramelized pear, fig and peach flavors at the core, while caramel, sesame oil and date notes fill in through the expansive finish. At first glance this is quite lush, but the finish lingers with cut and drive. Drink now. 200 cases imported.” Wine Advocate 93 Points “The NV 40 Year Old Tawny Port was bottled in 2016 with a bar top cork and 145 grams per liter of residual sugar. This adds a bit more brandy as a nuance on the finish to the 30, reviewed this issue, but it still seems much like the 30 Year Old, surprisingly fresh and easy, beautifully balanced and on the lighter side in terms of mid-palate concentration. It is a lovely tawny on its own terms–I’m just not sure it delivers enough of an uptick to justify the price spike from the 30 (or, perhaps even the 20). On its own, though, it won’t disappoint. The price references a 750 milliliter bottle.” Kopke 50 Year Tawny 750ml $219 special, 6 bottles availableWine Advocate 98 Points “The NV 50 Year Old Tawny Port was bottled in May 2022 with 134 grams of residual sugar and a bar-top cork. This is an entrant in the new age-indicated category of 50; it no longer stops at 40. I thought the 50 Year white was fabulous. Its Tawny brother is as good or better. It doesn’t have the brightness of the white in terms of acidity (the fruit doesn’t taste old in terms of decay, so don’t misunderstand), but it is richer, lusher and more flavorful. There’s a touch of nuts, caramel and spice. It also has a long, long finish, which is what I would expect from an old Tawny in top form. Kopke did a great job with the blend here. This is completely delicious, smooth and balanced, juicy on the finish. Which is better? Depends on what you like, and it is worth getting some of each. For wines this old, the prices are reasonable. They are both great experiences.” Kopke Colheita Port 1966 750ml $249 special, 6 bottles availableWine Advocate 96 Points “The 1966 Colheita Tawny Port was bottled in 2015 with 126.3 grams per liter of residual sugar, and comes with a bar top cork (as is typical here). As we start getting seriously old in the lineup from Sogevinus this issue, this shows what you get with increasing age: the superb concentration of flavor, the long, intense finishes and the complex medley of flavors that old Tawnies deliver effortlessly. That, to me, is what makes them worth the extra bucks. If some of the youngsters lean more to caramel, this adds more molasses with a touch of Brandy in the background. The concentrated flavors linger more or less endlessly, driven into the palate by the wine’s power and acidity. You can smell and taste this for a long time. The graceful mid-palate is deceptively friendly at first. It sure does grip the palate at the end, though, finishing with juicy bursts of fruit and sugar. Over several days, it acquired a bit more harmony and shed a touch of aggression. The alcohol, speaking relatively, is not as well integrated here as with the 1965, also reviewed, but that is relative. I tended to like this just slightly better anyway for its complexity and concentration on several fronts. The freshness on the 1965 is quite enticing, though. It tastes younger. It depends on what you want: that old-wine complexity and depth or a livelier feel. They both have plenty of power on the finish. You can’t go wrong, really.” Kopke Colheita Tawny 1967 750ml $249 special, 6 bottles availableWine Advocate 95 Points “The 1967 Colheita Tawny Port comes in with 142 grams per liter of residual sugar. This is a nice step up compared to the younger parts of the lineup, elegant and focused, with a precise finish, a fresh feel, little discernible brandy and a long, long finish. The classic old tawny flavors of molasses and caramel wash over the palate. This isn’t big and thick, but some may very well prefer its elegant and brighter feel. In many ways, it is fresher than the 1981 or 1999 reviewed this issue, and it is better balanced than the 1937. It is very pretty.” Kopke Colheita Tawny 2005 750ml $49 special, 6 bottles availableWine & Spirits 93 Points “Cool and refined upfront, this is polished and posh with sweet plum and vanilla scents in the middle. Then it gets a sunny lift in the end, lasting on honeycomb and notes of dried apricots. A gracious and refined way to end a holiday meal.” Kopke Colheita Tawny 2007 750ml $41.90 special, 6 bottles availableWine Spectator 91 Points “Warm toffee, cinnamon and ginger notes glide through, enhanced by a light streak of juniper. Ends with accents of dark tea and a flash of bitter almond. Drink now.”
Pre-Arrival Sale
Arriving 6/30/23
Buy 6-11 bottles for a 5% discount*
Buy 12+ bottles for a 10% discount
Ends Tomorrow at 10am
Chateau Peyrassol Provence Rose 2022 750ml $41.90 special, 36+ bottles availableChateau Peyrassol Provence Rose 2022 1.5L $99 special, 6 bottles availableImporter’s Note “Very pale, lychee pink in color. The nose is fine and elegant. Complex, releasing white fleshed fruit and citrus fruits aromas, along with white floral notes. The palate is straightforward and clean. Fine and silky, it is soft, delicate and lively. The freshness of the finish is balanced with a subtle hint of saltiness.” Peyrassol Le Clos Peyrassol Rosé 2022 750ml $77 special, 12 bottles availableImporter’s Note With an extremely pale pink color, this emblematic cuvée cultivates elegance, finesse and concentration. Aromas of white cherry blossom, citrus, and white fruits such as peach and pear. The fresh and generous palate immediately delivers a complexity typical of great wines. The aromas are gradually released and intermingle to offer all the expression of the grape varieties of Provence from their favorite terroirs. Built around the acidity of the fruit, and very long on the palate, this wine is elegantly prolonged by bitterness and dosed salinity.
*Note: Magnums will require a seperate shipment from 750ml bottle
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3 GemsWines For Seafood Pairing– Oysters and Sushi
Pepiere Muscadet La Pepie 2021 750ml $18 special, 36+ bottles availableImporter Note “In 2016, Pépière’s classic, earliest-release bottling saw an addition to the label, the “La Pépie” moniker, because of the necessity of adding non-estate fruit to the production (Pépière had 85% of their own crop devastated in 2016 due to mildew). It marks the first time the estate has purchased fruit… it comes from neighboring parcels that match their terroirs and work philosophy. The wine is a combination of said purchased fruit and estate fruit, 50% of which comes from vineyards that could technically produce cru bottlings.” Imayo Tsukasa Ima Junmai Sake 720ml $39 special, 4 bottles availableVinopolnote “This is a specially crafted sake designed for pairing with oysters. Using a cultivated yeast strain that leaves the sake with a higher percentage of malic acid (think apples and crisp white wines) to pair with the brine and viscosity of oysters. A great example of how innovative and adaptable modern sake production has become. Highly recommended.” Valdespino Inocente Fino 750ml $19.50 special, 8 bottles availableValdespino Inocente Fino 375ml $11.90 special, 9 bottles availableWine & Spirits 95 Points “Best Buy. Inocente is Valdespino’s flagship, a wine from the Macharnudo Alto vineyard, where the soil is pure white albariza. It ferments in 600-liter wooden casks without added yeasts, a practice that has become increasingly rare in Jerez. The intensity of the wine’s salinity is remarkable – iodine and salt – coming together with ripe white fruit, scents of nuts and exotic spices. The structure is dry and austere, like drinking the juice of stones. This will last for a decade in the cellar, but it’s impossible to hold onto a bottle if there’s raw seafood nearby.”
All Week Sale
Get Ready for July Fourth With Three Pioneers of Oregon Wine
“Arterberry Maresh and Tan Fruit”
Arterberry Maresh Pinot Noir Maresh Vyd 2021 750ml $72 special, 27 bottles availableWine Advocate 98+ Points “The 2021 Pinot Noir Maresh Vineyard is an arresting wine that grows in bottle over several days, offering singular expression, purity and a touch of magic. Medium ruby, the nose is very complex and offers something new with each return to the glass. A deep core of pomegranate and cranberry sauce blossoms to orange peel, tea leaves, mossy bark and lilac with an array of amaro-like undertones. The palate is medium-bodied and has tremendously concentrated flavors for its harmonious, velvety frame (this sits at only 12.8% alcohol). Layered, dynamic and very long, it stands out as one of the best expressions of Willamette Valley Pinot Noir I’ve ever had the pleasure of tasting.” Arterberry Maresh Pinot Noir Old Vines 2021 750ml $56.50 special, 36+ bottles availableWine Advocate 98 Points “The 2021 Pinot Noir Old Vines comes from the Maresh Vineyard, from vines that were planted in 1970, and has a singular expression with detailed, spicy accents reminiscent of bitters or amaro. “You only get those high-toned essences if you pick al dente,” winemaker Jim Maresh explains. “It’s easy to volatilize all that away.” The Old Vines has a medium ruby color and arresting aromas of orange bitters, mossy bark and tobacco leaves complementing a deep core of pomegranate, rhubarb and cranberry. The light-bodied palate offers remarkably pure, detailed flavors. It has velvety tannins, seamless freshness and a very long finish with a flourish of spicy accents.” Tan Fruit Cuvee Tan Fruit Chardonnay 2021 750ml $39 special, 20 bottles availableWine Advocate 97 Points “The 2021 Chardonnay Cuvée Tan Fruit comes from Dijon vines in the Maresh Vineyard, planted on a south-facing slope in 1991, plus a number of other sources around Willamette Valley. Bottled a few months earlier than the other Tan Fruit Chardonnays, its savory aromas explode from the glass: a core of peachy fruit is streaked with touches of candle smoke, matchstick, pie crust and floral tones. Medium-bodied, seamless and satiny, it flows effortlessly through the mouth with both depth of flavor and freshness. It has a pleasing touch of grip to anchor the long finish and feels like it has more to give as it unwinds in bottle over the next several years. Around 1,000 cases were made.” Tan Fruit Maresh Vineyard Chardonnay 2019 750ml $59 special, 34 bottles availableWine Advocate 97 Points “The 2019 Chardonnay Maresh Vineyard comes from Dijon clones planted in 1991, and it was matured in about 35% new oak. This vintage is pure and tensile, with scents of tarragon and fragrant herbs, beeswax and almonds, with plush white peach fruit. The palate combines intense ripe fruit with a spine of tangy, tense acidity, and it finishes with tremendous length. Allow it another 3-5 years in bottle.” Tan Fruit Maresh Vineyard Chardonnay 2021 750ml $59 special, 36+ bottles availableWine Advocate 97 Points “The 2021 Chardonnay Maresh Vineyard has pure aromas of red apples, pie crust, almonds and jasmine blossoms with top notes of salty lemon. The medium-bodied palate is generous yet balanced, with a concentrated core of savory fruit tempered by streaks of matchstick and spice. It has seamless, energetic acidity and a long, nuanced finish and will benefit from 3-5 more years in bottle.” Tan Fruit Petite Tan Fruit Chardonnay 2022 750ml $19.50 special, 36+ bottles availableWinery Notes “The “Petite” in the name represents the Chablisienne character of this wine. This is a 100% steel tank fermented wine with high-toned acidity and notes of citrus and green apples. This is Arterberry’s best value in wine yet. Drink it cool and celebrate the summer!
“Eyrie Vineyards”
Eyrie Estate Chardonnay 2021 750ml $39 special, 8 bottles availableWine Advocate 96 Points “The 2021 Chardonnay Estate offers exotic aromas of ripe peaches, honey, pie crust, tangerine oil and musky floral perfume. The medium-bodied palate is satiny and expansive with an impressively concentrated core of spicy fruit. Its broad, mouth-coating texture is balanced by fireworks of fresh acidity, and it has a long, spicy finish with flavor that goes on and on.” Eyrie Pinot Noir Daphne 2018 750ml $74.50 special, 2 bottles availableWine Advocate 99 Points “You know you’ve encountered a world-class wine when you struggle to find the words to describe it, and the 2018 Pinot Noir Daphne, from vines planted in 1974, leaves me speechless! Pale ruby in the glass, it has singular aromas of wild berries, grapefruit and orange peel, aniseed, cracked pepper, tea leaves and floral potpourri. Highly concentrated and perfumed yet weightless in the mouth, the Daphne is bursting with fireworks of refreshing acidity, and it boasts a finish that goes on and on. It’s one of the very best Pinot Noirs from the 2018 vintage in the Willamette Valley.” Eyrie Trifolium Dundee Hills 2020 750ml $33 special, 13 bottles availableVinopolnote “A mixture of the three red grapes grown by Eyrie (Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier, and Trousseau) featuring red fruit flavors backed with earthy notes and leathery tannins: this limited edition wine feels like a Loire wine by way of Willamette. This is the best Oregon red blend we’ve tasted in some time.”
“Domaine Drouhin”
Domaine Drouhin Arthur Chardonnay 2021 750ml $37.50 special, 12 bottles available –Presale, Arriving June 28James Suckling 94 Points “This has a beautiful nose of lemon curd, cream, sliced green apples and cardamom buns. Some toasted hazelnuts, too. It’s medium- to full-bodied with a deliciously creamy, gently spicy palate, married with vibrant acidity. Drink or hold.” Domaine Drouhin Dundee Hills Pinot Noir 2021 750ml $45 special, 8 bottles availableJames Suckling 94 Points “Fragrant and open pinot with aromas of cherries, wild strawberries, orange zest, nutmeg and white pepper. It’s medium-bodied with silky, creamy tannins. Delicious balance of just-ripe berry fruit and subtle spice. Very long, too. Drink or hold.” Domaine Drouhin Roserock Zephirine Pinot Noir 2021 750ml $59 special, 8 bottles availableJames Suckling 97 Points “Beautifully fragrant notes of cocoa-dusted raspberries and crushed blueberries with dried rose petals, sencha tea, cherry chocolate and crushed rocks. Ground spices, too. It shows both delicacy and power, with a compact and silky feeling to the tannin structure and impressive acidity which carries the freshness and tone through to the finish. Attractive tension of crunchy blue fruit and spices. Drink or hold.”
*Sale ends Friday at 6 pm.
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Close Out Sales
Dr. H Thanisch Erben Müller-Burggraef
Long before the Bernkasteler Vineyard was purchased by Hugo Thanisch, an actual Medical Doctor, the vineyard was still known as the “Doctor Vineyard.”
Legend has it that a humble gentleman from the hills presented a glass of his family’s riesling as a sort of last chance/last wish to an ailing man- namely Boemund The Prince-Elector of Trier, one of the most powerful men in the Holy Roman Empire. When Boemund’s fever broke after imbibing the beverage, the gentleman’s only request in return for his “miracle cure” was that his precious vineyard, be given the honorary title of “Doctor,” which the prince granted. Generations later, the vineyard is still known as The “Berncastel Doctor” Vineyard.
The story might sound a little bit far-fetched to most, but not to anyone familiar with the good doctor’s wines? So long as the only malady affecting you is a mighty thirst, the burning touch of spice from your favorite thai restaurant, or an unquenchable desire for the highest quality Riesling—this is the medicine you need.Dr. H Thanisch Erben Bernkast Badstube Kabinett 2016 750ml WAS $26 NOW $21.90 special, 9 bottles availableVinous 91 Points “Ripe pear and apple dominate on the nose as well as on a silken, buoyant palate, supported by subtle sweetness. Mouthwatering salinity and transparency to crystalline stony nuances give the long, refreshingly juicy finish a fascinating and delightful sense of shimmer.” Dr. H Thanisch Erben Bernkast Badstube Spatlese 2017 750ml WAS $28 NOW $21.90 special, 33 bottles availableWine Advocate 93 Points “The 2017 Bernkasteler Badstube Riesling Spätlese is still pretty reductive but clear and elegant on the crunchy slate and floral nose. Lush and salty on the pure, refined and elegant palate, this is a concentrated, densely woven and sensual Badstube with the mineral grip and tension of this often underrated Grosse Lage.” Dr. H Thanisch Erben Bernkast Badstube Spatlese 2016 750ml WAS $30 NOW $24.50 special, 7 bottles availableWine Advocate 92+ Points “The 2016 Bernkasteler Badstube Riesling Spätlese offers a clear, elegant nose with bright fruit, green asparagus and flinty aromas. Racy and lush on the palate, this is a refreshing, elegant but still pretty sweet Spätlese with crystalline, piquant acidity and structure. The finish is long and complex, but the wine needs a decade to integrate all its components into a fine and elegant Spätlese.” Dr. H Thanisch Erben Bernkast Badstube Spatlese 2019 750ml WAS $29 NOW $24 special, 10 bottles availableWine Advocate 93 Points “Vinified in old fuder vats until May and bottled at the end of August this year, the 2019 Bernkasteler Badstube Riesling Spätlese is clear, precise and elegant on the flinty and crunchy nose. On the palate, this is a perfectly round, textured, finessed and stimulatingly salty Spätlese of great elegance and finesse. I tried to spit it three times and always failed. There is this very rare reflex that you can’t avoid, and before you even think about it, you want to swallow it. Gorgeous.” Dr. H Thanisch Erben Bernkast Doctor Auslese 2019 750ml WAS $69 NOW $59 special, 16 bottles availableMosel Fine Wines 95 Points “The 2019er Berncasteler Doctor Riesling Auslese was made from fruit harvested at approx. 100° Oechsle and was fermented down to sweet levels of residual sugar. It offers a hugely restrained, aniseed, and smoky nose of honeyed yellow peach, minty herbs, pear, melon, quince jelly, and vanilla touch. The wine coats the palate with ample juicy and exotic fruits, as well as apricot, black berry, and a hint of smoky raisin. The finish is still on the smooth and creamy side, even if the after-taste more than hints already at the depth, complexity, and freshness to come. Patience will be needed for this beautiful Auslese to come around and deliver all its nuances. But the wait will be more than worth it!” Dr. H Thanisch Erben Bernkast Doctor Spatlese 2016 750ml WAS $49 NOW $41.90, 14 bottles availableWine Advocate 93 Points “The 2016 Berncasteler Doctor Riesling Spätlese shows a complex, smoky, fresh and elegant bouquet but is still slightly reductive. Piquant and mineral on the palate, with generous fruit, this is an elegant, crystalline and complex Doctor Spätlese with a dense, salty, very expressive and persistent finish.” Dr. H Thanisch Erben Bernkastel-Kues Alte Reben 2019 750ml WAS $24 NOW $19, 6 bottles availableMosel Fine Wines 90 Points “The 2019er Bernkastel-Kues Riesling Alte Reben is a barely off-dry wine (with 12 g/l of residual sugar) made from grapes harvested from 40-year-old vines in the Kueser part of the city. It offers a superbly complex and refreshing nose of anise, pink grapefruit, orange peel, tangerine, mint, lead pencil, and smoke. The wine proves hugely enjoyable thanks its animating presence on the palate and leaves a precise and dry-tasting feel in the long finish. The wine develops more weight and presence with airing, but retains a great sense of grip and playfulness in the animating and beautifully balanced after-taste.” Dr. H Thanisch Erben Bernkasteler Graben GG 2019 750ml WAS 41.95 NOW $36 special, 20 availableWine Advocate 91+ Points “The 2019 Bernkasteler Graben Riesling GG is adjacent to Thanisch’s Doctor parcel yet a bit less warm. From 60- to 70-year-old-vines, this is a smoky, intense and elegant Riesling with very fine, precise and crunchy gray slate aromas. Medium-bodied, intense and complex on the palate, this is a tight, long and structured dry Graben Riesling with a refreshing lemon aroma on the concentrated and refreshing finish. This is complex but very promising and currently pretty closed, although the bottle was opened two days earlier.”
We’ve marked down select wines from top brands like
Borgogno, Conterno, Caiarosso, Guy Charlegmagne, Vajra
June Sale- All Spanish Wines
LAST 3 DAYS! SALE ENDS FRIDAY AT 6PM!
Buy 6-11 bottles for a 5% discount*
Buy 12+ bottles for a 10% discount
Ameztoi Txakolina Rubentis Rosado 2021 750ml $21.90 special, 36+ bottles availableVinous 91 Points “Pale orange. Finely etched red berry, citrus zest and floral aromas, along with building herb and mineral flourishes. Taut and nervy in the mouth, offering sappy strawberry, cherry and tangerine flavors that show fine delineation and spicy lift. Closes firm and right, with persistent red fruit notes and a refreshingly bitter edge.” 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.” Espectacle Del Montsant 2018 750ml $119 special, 17 bottles availableWine Spectator 98 Points “As with other wines, I also tasted the 2018 Espectacle del Montsant next to the 2017 to catch up, as I last tasted the region some 16 months ago. 2018 was a cooler year of slow ripeness, and the grapes achieved an amazing 16% alcohol. The wine is truly spectacular, true to its name. It has tons of violet notes and aromatic herbs, the palate is gentler, and the tannins are rounder, polished and elegant. It has full body but isn’t heavy. There is a lot of complexity, and the wine developed slowly in the glass, showing nuances of cereals, kirsch, orange peel and lots of spices and herbs. It’s opulent and full, deep and complex. Amazing in its style. Some 6,500 bottles produced.” Cuentavinas Cdvn Garnacha 2020 750ml $69 special, 16 bottles availableGuia Penn 94 Points “Style: taut;Colour: bright cherry;Aroma: complex, expressive, spicy, mineral, red berry notes, balsamic herbs;Flavour: elegant, full-bodied, long, great length;” 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.” Pingus Dominio De Pingus 2020 750ml $1099 special, 3 bottles availableWine Advocate 99 Points “The bottled 2020 Pingus has settled, and the strong Mediterranean accent that was quite strong early on seems to have calmed down. The wine shows more of the serious Pingus character and is harmonious, balanced and elegant, perhaps because of the time it spent in oak vat (starting this year, it is not only in barrique). It feels very complete and intense but without weight or heaviness, and the fruit shows very clean and focused.”
*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.This is a small sample of our Spanish wines. Shop for brands such as
Muga Artuke Breca Lopez Heredia Palacio Pingus Vega Sicilia
and many more on our website!
Collector’s CornerLegends of The Loire Valley
Thibaud Boudignon Savennieres Clos Fremine 2019 $89 special, 3 bottles available
Vinous 95 Points “An elegant and pure style that offers a delightful silken texture. The 2019 Clos de Fremine floats delicately, almost as if you are tasting a cloud, despite containing plenty of intensity in its focused core of fruit. There’s a burst of fresh acidity and a bristle of fine-grained texture; whether that’s the tannin or the soil, it’s there on the finish. I could tell you it tastes of apples and citrus, but this is a wine that seems to care less about fruit descriptors and more about the essence of its place.” Importer’s Note “Just across a small road from Clos de la Hutte, in the hamlet of Poissonnière, Clos Frémine is an exciting addition to Thibaud’s stunning Savennières lineup. Just like it’s famed neighbor, the vineyard sits on pure schist that is found only 20cm below the surface. There is a bit more sand at the base of this site, which provides the wine with a delicate lift and added layer of elegance.” Domaine Closiers Saumur-Champigny Les Coudraies 2020 $49 special, 36 bottles availableJohn Gilman 95 Points “The Saumur-Champigny “les Coudraies” is one of the estate’s single vineyard wines, made from a selection of the best parcels in this hillside vineyard. The wine is aged in mostly older casks for one year prior to bottling. The 2020 les Coudraies comes in at fourteen percent octane and offers up a simply gorgeous bouquet of red and black cherries, cigar wrapper, a touch of tree bark, a complex base of soil tones, juniper berry, a touch of cedar and a smoky topnote.” Dagueneau Asteroide 2019 750ml $1499 special, 2 bottles availableVinous 92 Points “Just 400 bottles of Pouilly Fumé Asteroide were made in 2019 from the same vineyard as Pur Sang, but the winemaking is different: half of the wine goes in a glass wine globe (a bit like a bonbonne), the other half in a barrel. This is a more varietal expression of the grape and the vineyard with nettle tea, dill and boxwood. Winemaker Jean-Philippe Agisson suggests this varietal character might be down to the influence of the wine globe. There’s a firm, tangy finish and a touch of savory, nuttiness on the length. The Pur Sang is a more complete wine than the Asteroide despite the latter having the rarity X factor due to being ungrafted. Certainly doesn’t represent good value!” Dagueneau Silex 2019 750ml $179 special, 1 bottle availableVinous 93 Points “The 2019 Pouilly Fumé Silex shows an initial tenderness, sitting quietly and not shouting that it’s made it into your glass. This is a wine that has its act together, feeling integrated and balanced with plentiful concentration and a savory long finish. A delicate dill note, which is a characteristic of oaked Sauvignon peeks out amid the hush.” Foreau Clos Naudin Vouvray Moelleux Reserve 2009 750ml $79 special, 11 bottles availableWine Advocate 97 Points “What there was in this vintage of botrytis, Foreau reports, essentially went into his 2009 Vouvray Moelleux Reserve. Brown-spiced pear liqueur and quince preserves dominate the proceedings – wreathed in perfume of freesia and lily – and there are buoyancy and elegance, despite viscosity, enormous richness of texture and residual sweetness, that indeed point to the magic nobility rot can convey. Its sense of lift – when combined with luscious, still juicy suggestions of grapefruit and blood orange familiar from the corresponding demi-sec – wards off any risk of palate fatigue. Mysterious botrytis manifestations of stale bread, truffle, and white raisin emerge from the empty glass. This extraordinary achievement will stand with such past great Foreau moelleux reserves as 2005, 2003, and 1989-90 and is likely to merit 30 or more years of consideration. In direct comparison, what strikes one about the 2005 today is its more obvious sense of botrytis and its slightly diminished sense of acidity and lift. But it maintains the edge in sheer complexity.” Huet Vouvray Cuvee Constance 2015 500ml $159 special, 7 bottles availableWine Spectator 99 Points “Stunning from the start, with a silky and refined feel despite the panoply of dried quince, fig, pear and apricot flavors that are exotic in nature. Lovely green tea, orange blossom and persimmon notes fill in the background. Obviously sweet, but with persistent dry almond and orange extract details that lend latent tension through the seamless and nearly endless finish. The first Cuvee Constance bottling since the 2009 vintage. Drink now through 2060.” Huet Vouvray Demi-Sec Clos Du Bourg 2016 750ml $39 special, 36+ bottles availableWine Spectator 95 Points “Gorgeous, with creamy-edged nectarine, yellow and green apple, pear and quince flavors that are brightly defined from start to finish, flecked with verbena and honeysuckle hints and backed by a off-dry edge on the finish. Stays fresh and pure throughout. Tempting now but there’s no rush. Drink now through 2032.” Huet Vouvray Demi-Sec Clos Du Bourg 2020 750ml $44 special, 36+ bottles availableVinous 97 Points “Drinking the 2020 Clos du Bourg Demi-Sec is like taking your shoes off at the end of a long day of walking and soaking them in warm water: there’s just satisfaction and relaxation. The 2020 has a sense of volume but not weight, filling the mouth with depths of pure fruit before the acid pours forth like a canal lock being opened. You can expect a hint of spice and crème caramel alongside apple and florals. I am utterly seduced.” Huet Vouvray Demi-Sec Le Haut Lieu 2016 750ml $39 special, 33 bottles availableWine Spectator 96 Points “This delivers a beautiful display of purity and grace, with creamed Jonagold apple, star fruit, white peach and chamomile notes flowing seamlessly, backed by wet stone and fresh verbena accents. Subtle but persistent energy ripples through the very long finish. Drink now through 2035.” Domaine Huet Vouvray Demi-Sec Le Mont 2016 750ml $41.90 special, 9 bottles available#6 WINE OF THE YEAR – WINE SPECTATOR TOP 100 2017Wine Spectator 95 Points “This tilts toward the flattering side of off-dry, showing a plump feel to the core of creamed pear, white peach and yellow apple fruit. Lovely verbena, honeysuckle and mineral accents keep this balanced and driven, with a long finish that lets the fruit echo. Drink now through 2032.” Joly Clos De La Coulee De Serrant 2019 750ml $135 special, 36 bottles availableWine Advocate 98 Points “Produced from seven hectares of vineyards aged from 40 to 50 years old, Joly’s 2019 Clos de la Coulée de Serrant opens with a clear, bright yet enormously dense and complex bouquet of crushed stones, herbs and fine but dense and multilayered fruit that needs air to open up, yet it shows its class immediately. On the palate, this is a rich and intense, full-bodied, tight and concentrated yet elegant and stimulating salty Chenin with firm tannins intertwined with a crystalline acidity that carries this highly complex icon wine to a long and compact yet elegant finish. There is a remarkable purity, freshness and energy in the aftertaste that you sometimes might have missed in former vintages.” Joly Coulee De Serrant Savennieres Vieux Clos 2019 750ml $69 special, 12 bottles availableWine Advocate 95+ Points “Joly’s 2019 Les Vieux Clos displays a straw-yellow color and opens with a deep, clear, elegant, concentrated and very complex bouquet of ripe yellow-fleshed fruits (mirabelles, persimmons, passion fruit), quinces and pears intertwined with schist and iodine notes of crushed stones and quartz as well as floral aromas. The exciting impression of the nose is proceeded on the palate, where this full-bodied and fiery Savennières has a seamless texture and a crystalline as well as elegant structure with ripe and concentrated fruit and lingering crystalline and salty acidity. The wine has fine and textural tannins and develops a very intense and complex finish. This is a giant in the making, and using a big glass (like Zalto’s Bordeaux) is imperative.” Marc Plouzeau Clos Maulevrier Ante Phylloxera 2016 750ml $119 special, 1 bottle available
Wine Advocate 96 Points “The 2014 Touraine Clos de Maulevrier Ante Phylloxera is very subtle and fine yet deep and terroir-driven on the nose. Silky-textured, intense and with great finesse, this is a stunning wine of great tension and complexity. It is tight, concentrated, very long and powerful but at the same time elegant, finessed and very well balanced. The tannins are super fine and the finish is almost endless. This is great wine from the Loire Valley, and its aging potential should be enormous. No fining, no filtration, no sulfites added.” Vatan Sancerre Clos Neore 2018 1.5L $799 special, 3 bottles availableVinous 96 points “Clarity is a term that accurately describes the 2018 Sancerre Clos La Neore. It has a pure and intense core of fruit. But it’s not fruity. It’s a sophisticated style with a distinctive aromatic profile- chamomile tea, lemon, honey, and almond meal and an almost tonic-like edge. While showing the ripeness of the 2018 season, it retains its shape with a corset of acidity and phenolics that guide the wine on and on.” Vatan Sancerre Clos Neore 2010 750ml $599 special, 3 bottles availableWine Advocate 95 Points “The Vatan 2010 Sancerre Clos la Neore is fascinatingly – indeed, almost mind-bendingly – complex, already in the nose. Musk, white truffle, citrus oils, bittersweet floral perfume, lime and tangerine, as well as fusil, chalky and maritime mineral notes associated with Kimmeridgian origins waft in a kaleidoscopically interactive array. Fresh citrus and a stony-chalky undertone take the lead on a silken-textured palate but with almost electrically charged vivacity of interaction emerging in the long, saliva-liberating finish, mirroring the wine’s remarkable aromatic show. This will be at least a twenty year keeper worthy of comparison with such memorable past vintages as 1988, 1990, or 1996, each of which has shown gloriously when tasted within the past couple of years.” Vatan Sancerre Clos Neore 2016 750ml $449 special, 5 bottles availableVinous 98 “Almost Riesling-like in its firm yet fine personality, its unswerving purity and its clear translation of place … It offers exceptional concentration while being light bodied and provides a steely core of acidity, keeping the wine together and powering on. “
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