Hermitage: Crown Jewel of the Northern Rhone 3-27-24

On Sale Now!
 
Completing our tour of the Northern Rhone, we have saved the Greatest for last: Hermitage. This small appellation, sometimes called Ermitage, is responsible for some of France’s most prestigious wines. The reds are typically 100% Syrah, while the whites from the region are typically Marsanne. Both are rich and robust, full-bodied wines that can age for decades.
 
The Hermitage is a granite hill with shallow soils of limestone or sandy gravel. Vines are grown along the southern slope facing the Rhone River where they can soak up the sun during the long summer days. At the top of the slope is a chapel, which gives its name to Jaboulet’s top vineyard, La Chapelle. The vineyard of Les Bessards lies on the western side of the hill, the source of one of Delas Freres’ top bottlings.    
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Paitin: A Best in Barbaresco and Benchmark in Neive 3-26-24

On Sale Now!
 
More so than in neighboring Barolo, the vineyards of Barbaresco are packed with under-the-radar yet magnificent producers—and none represents better buying opportunity than Paitin. Starting with a great set of vineyards that the family has since 1796, Secondo Pasquero-Elia enlisted enologist Dante Scaglione (of Bruno Giacosa fame) as the enologist to take these wines to the next level.
 
The winemaking here is all traditional. Despite a brief trial with modern techniques in the 90’s, the wines undergo gentle pump over and cap submersion during the weeks-long maceration. The wines then undergo an extended aging in neutral barrels and botti from Slavonia and Austria for up to three years.
 
The results offer a glimpse into the future of the winery and the wines to come.
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Mount Etna & Terre Nere 3-25-24

All In-Stock Wines from Sicily’s Famous Mountain
 
Are On Sale Now!

 
For lovers of volcanic-influenced wines, Sicily’s Mount Etna is a cherished place. Home to the Burgundy-esque varieties of Nerello Mascalese and Carricante, these are gorgeous, terroir-driven wines. The two grapes offer layers of spice and high acidity, partly due to being grown on the highest vineyards in all of Europe.
 
Calabretta is one of our favorite, if most overlooked, producers of Sicilian wine. Their commitment to chemical free farming, stewarding old vines, and meticulous winemaking is evident in every bottle of wine they craft from grapes grown along the slopes of Mount Etna. The wines have a rustic and savory feel that evokes a perfectly-cellared Pinot Noir. The high elevation, intense sunshine and marginal soils create incredible wines filled to the brim with flavor.
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Palacio & Palacios Sale 3-24-24


Palacio Quemado - Bodegas Alvear
Vineyards in Extremadura

5% off any 6-11 in-stock Palacio/Palacios wines
10% off any 12 or more in-stock Palacio/Palacio wines
Sale ends Wednesday March 27th at 9AM PST

 
Discount will not display online or in your cart,
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before processing your charge.
The wines featured below are all wines included in the sale.

 
Last Sunday we did a spotlight sale on the grape of Mencia and featured several wineries that are helping to reinvent the identity of Spain. The party will continue this week for many of those bottles as we continue to discount the wines of Alvaro Palacios. Alongside him we’d like to introduce another Spanish wine label we’re impressed with: Bodegas Alvear Palacio. We’ve got a Tale of Two Palacio(s) on our hands.
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French Magnum Sale 3-23-24

It’s Big.

It’s Bold.

It’s Beautiful.

And It’s On Sale Now!

 
5% off any 3-5 in-stock French magnums (and larger)
10% off any 6 or more in-stock French magnums (and larger)

 
Discount will not display online or in your cart,
We will adjust your invoice before processing your charge.

 
Sale ends Tuesday, March 26th at 9 am Pacific.
 
We have 63 options to choose from, including these gems from:
 
Champagne:
 
Andre Clouet Silver Grand Cru Blanc de Noirs Brut Nature NV 1.5L Displayed Price: $89, that’s $84.55 at 5% off and $80.10 at 10% off, 3 magnums in stock now
Andre Clouet Silver Grand Cru Blanc de Noirs Brut Nature NV 3L Displayed Price: $279, that’s $265.05 at 5% off and $251.10 at 10% off, 15 double-magnums in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 92+ points
“[Reviewed Apr 2021] Clouet’s NV Silver Brut Nature Grand Cru is a pure Bouzy Pinot Noir that was disgorged without any dosage.
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