Featured Arrival: Belle Glos; New Weekend – New Arrivals; The Big, Bold & Trendy; New Grapelive Reviews; July Sale – Ending Monday!; Case of Vinsanity; Arriving in August; Domain Leflaive; 2016 Donnhoff; Domaine Huet; Stella di Campalto
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Featured New Arrival
& Subscriber-Only Sale!
Belle Glos Dairyman Vineyard Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley 2015 750ML ($44.95) $39 special
Wine Spectator 92 points “Delightfully rich and expressive, with tiers of dark blackberry, mocha, licorice and cherry. Broad and lingering on the deep and persistent finish. Drink now.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $51
Subscriber Only Special: Buy 6 bottles for $198 ($33/bottle)
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New Weekend – New Arrivals
Affordable DRC? It’s nearly as rare:
Domaine A. & P. De Villaine Bourgogne Cote Chalonnaise Les Clous Aime Blanc, Burgundy 2015 750ML ($37.95) $31.90 special
“Incredible purity and class on the nose— discreet, complex, a hint of vanilla and white flower blossoms. The palate is dry and round without a hint of sucrosity. Organic.”–Importer note
Domaine A. & P. de Villaine Bouzeron, Cote Chalonnaise 2015 750ML ($34.95) $26 special
Wine Spectator 90 points “This bright, balanced white offers an appealing mix of apple and white peach flavors, with accents of straw and earth. Fresh, with lingering notes of lemon. Drink now through 2020.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Domaine A. & P. de Villaine Bourgogne Cote Chalonnaise La Fortune, Burgundy 2015 750ML ($41.95) $33 special
“What a jewel. Finesse, a spicy vein, a delicate tannin just right for the rest of the wine. Organic.”–Importer note
Guy Breton Morgon Vieilles Vignes, Beaujolais 2015 750ML ($34.95) $29 special
Case-12 Guy Breton Morgon Vieilles Vignes, Beaujolais 2015 75ML ($419.95) $319 special (that’s only $26.58/bottle and the loewst listed price in the USA today!)
Guy Breton Morgon Vieilles Vignes, Beaujolais 2015 1.5L ($79.95) $69 special
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 94 points “Limpid violet. A seductively perfumed bouquet evokes fresh red berries, Asian spices and potpourri, and subtle cola and licorice nuances emerge with aeration. Juicy and pure on the palate, offering intense raspberry, lavender pastille and spicecake flavors and a refreshingly bitter touch of blood orange. Delivers a serious payload of vibrant berry and spice character without excess weight, and finishes extremely long and nervy, displaying no rough edges and lingering florality.”
The average price is $33
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Summer Shipping Special:
Midwest, East, & South
For the summer season we are offering UPS Three Day Select Service for the price of UPS Ground for shipments normally traveling 4 or more business days by ground.
Free service upgrade only applies on single orders purchased and shipped during the promotional period. Additional fees will apply to orders held for any reason until after the promotional period and shipped by Three Day Select. Offer not valid on items purchased before the promotional period or on pre-arrival items that arrive after the promotional period ends.
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The Big, Bold & Trendy
Charles Smith K Vintners ‘M.C.K. Motor City Kitty’ Syrah, Washington 2014 750ML ($39.95) $36 special, 36+ bottles available
Case-12 Charles Smith K Vintners ‘M.C.K. Motor City Kitty’ Syrah, Washington 2014 750ML ($479.95) $399 special, 5 cases available (that’s only $33.25/bottle!)
Wine Advocate 95 points “Named after a cat owned by Charles when he was living in Walla Walla, the 2014 M C K Syrah sports a deep purple color as well as ripe, decadent notes of black fruits, plums, graphite, crushed rock and licorice. Big, sexy, seamless and pure, with present, yet ripe tannin, drink it through 2024. It’s worth noting that this comes completely from the River Rock vineyard in this vintage. As usual, it’s a crazy value.”
Wine Enthusiast 93 points –Editors’ Choice–“This aromatically brooding wine brings aromas of brown stems, scorched earth, smoked meat, iron, violets, orange peel and blue and black fruit. The flavors coat the palate from end to end with silky soft, unabashedly appealing fruit and savory notes. It hits the delicious gong hard, with an enduring finish.”
Orin Swift Palermo Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2014 750ML ($44.95) $38 special, 24 bottles available
Robert Parker 91 points “I tasted three Cabernet Sauvignon-based wines from Orin Swift. The 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Palermo, all Napa Valley fruit and a blend dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon with a little Merlot and Malbec, was aged only 10 months in 35% new French oak. Bottled early to accentuate its fruit, this wine has soft, low-acid flavors, plenty of crème de cassis, chocolate and tobacco leaf, a medium to full-bodied mouthfeel and a long finish. It should drink well for the next 10-15 years, perhaps longer.”
Opus One Proprietary Red Napa Valley 2013 750ML ($299.95) $269 special, 9 bottles available
James Suckling 100 points “The greatest Opus ever. Terrific aromas of crushed black currants, blueberries and flowers with hints of sweet tobacco. Roses continue to exude opulence and class. Full body, superb balance of ultra-fine tannins and vibrant acidity. Complex aftertaste of black fruits and citrus fruit. Extremely persistent. So approachable now and enjoyable. But will be even better in 2019 and beyond. 79% cabernet sauvignon, 7% cabernet franc, 6% merlot, 6% petit verdot, 2% malbec. This will always be beautiful to drink.” (01/2016)
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Chateau Lilian Ladouys, Saint-Estephe 2010 750ML ($39.95) $33 special, 13 bottles available
Wine Enthusiast 94 points “Obviously wood-aged, with a smoky toast flavor, this is a wine that shows the power of Saint-Estèphe tannins in full force. At the same time, there is a blackberry character that adds richness and juiciness, which cuts through the dry core.”
“A blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Merlot, this wine displays deep black currant fruit along with some damp earth and forest notes intermixed with roasted herbs, licorice, and a touch of oak. The 2010 could well turn out to be the best this estate has made in nearly a generation. Drink it over the next 20-15 years.”–Robert Parker Jr.
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Domaine Les Pallieres Gigondas Terrasses du Diable, Rhone 2013 750ML ($49.95) $33 special, 36+ bottles available
Case-12 Domaine Les Pallieres Gigondas Terrasses du Diable, Rhone 2013 750ML ($539.95) $359 special, 5 cases available (that’s only $29.92/bottle!)
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 92 points “Dark ruby. Candied red berries, cherry compote and potpourri on the highly pungent nose; a mineral element adds vivacity. Energetic black raspberry and bitter cherry flavors show excellent clarity and a hint of licorice pastille that builds as the wine opens up. The energetic finish repeats the floral and mineral notes, while supple tannins lend shape and grip.”
Wine Spectator 90 points “Offers a taut, slightly sinewy feel, with cedar-laced grip cutting through the core of dried cherry, red currant and raspberry flavors. Displays a lightly chalky spine on the finish, with an ample tobacco note.”
Vignobles Brunier Piedlong Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Rhone 2012 750ML ($59.95) $39 special
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 93 points “Deep ruby. Assertive aromas of fresh black and blue fruits, potpourri and garrigue, along with hints of cola and anise. Sappy and seamless on the palate, with juicy boysenberry, cassis and floral pastille flavors that flesh out with air. Fine-grained tannins build on the finish, which lingers with excellent tenacity and resonating spiciness.”
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New Grapelive Reviews
For Terry Theise Selections
Here & Near (& Dear)
Von Winning Ungeheuer Riesling Grosses Gewachs Trocken, Pfalz 2013 750ML ($79.95) $59 special, 5 bottles available
Grapelive 97 points “I think Stefan Attmann might be the greatest winemaker you’ve never heard of. His von Winning wines are some of the best in the world, period, that’s it, especially his Grosses Gewachs Rieslings, which on are on par with the top Grand Cru Burgundy producers, like Laflaive, Lafon, William Fevre or California producers like Marcassin, Aubert and Kistler. Recently I tasted through von Winning’s cask samples of 2013 wines with Andreas Hutwohl, who was lengthy and patient with me in explaining the vineyards and techniques used by the estate to make such amazing and mind-blowing wines. The 2013 wines were thrilling expressions of dry, intense Riesling and while the Grand Cru Pechstein may end up being 100 Point perfection, certainly the 2011 and 2012 were close. I adored the Ungeheuer best at this stage and maybe that is because, like Terry Theise suggested, it might be feeling a tad riper in style. Regardless, this wine is pure sex in a bottle and ultra-classy from start to finish. I have mentioned before, von Winning is inspired by the Burgundians. There is long lees contact and the Grosses Gewachs spend time in French barrique, but they remain as German as German can be, think of the German world cup soccer team: power, poise, control, playing the world game and winning it all, that is how you can relate to this majestic wine. The 2013 Ungeheuer Grosses Gewachs starts with stony mineral, brioche, citrus flower and tropical notes leading to a layered and lush palate of lemon, minty lime, apricot, peach and almost a cherry taste along with clove, salted caramel, grapefruit, green banana and mango all wrapped in cedary wood, brisk acidity and Chablis-like steely mouth feel. This is totally gorgeous rich Riesling Trocken: seductive, exotic and haunting. Again this wine is as good as any Puligny or Corton-Charlemagne, and I must point out that the price reflects that, while not cheap, it is a top value in this class of wine, the quality level is insane, von Winning is a winery to be on your bucket list, and you can’t go wrong with this 2013 Ungeheuer Grand Cru which should be available this coming winter. Without question, this glorious Riesling will be better on release than this cask sample, and it will continue to gain over the coming years, drink anytime, but you should know it will age fantastic with a 15 to 20 year drinking window!”
Weingut Willi Schaefer Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Spatlese, Mosel 2015 750ML ($41.95) $37 special, 18 bottles available
Weingut Willi Schaefer Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Spatlese, Mosel 2015 1.5L ($149.95) $119 pre-arrival special, ETA August 4th
Grapelive 94-96 points “There is something everyone in the wine world agrees upon, and that is Willi Schaefer Riesling, and especially the Gaacher wines, are some of the greatest wines on earth! From famed Riesling/German importer Terry Theise to Robert Parker, there is no question Shaefer is one of the top estates in the world. These wines have a cult, or religious like following. It is almost impossible to find them on the shelves of a wine merchant, in fact it is almost a rule of life if you ever see a bottle, you buy it, regardless of why you entered the shop in the first place. You never even look at the price, and walk away with a cat like grin on your face. These wines are treasures, no matter the vintage or vineyard, no matter the sweetness level. The 2015 is a vintage to cherish and covet, so being able to preview a Willi Schaefer Spatlese Gaacher Himmelreich was a prized treat and a rare gift, huge gratitude to Terry Theise and Wine Wise for having a sample of this glorious nectar. It is always a thrill to taste these wines and this Graacher Himmelrich did not disappoint! One of my most cherished wine moments is drinking a Shaefer Auslese: it was so amazingly poised it didn’t feel heavy and its silky complexity so divine you can’t imagine the joy. It almost brought tears to my eyes. This 2015 Spatlese has that kind of wow factor! From the steep slate of the Mosel this fine and delicate example hides its extract and power behind layers of lacy acidity, flinty mineral and heavenly creamy textures. This is a case where the must weight and sugar doesn’t translate into overt sweetness or density on the palate as such. This wine is purity and refinement with subtle richness and graceful lines. It is truly feminine and feline with exotic charms and velvet muscles supporting everything in sleek and beautiful fashion. The highlights are balanced savory notes against hedonistic and pleasing layers of rose petals, tangerine sorbet, fresh orchard picked apple and apricot, lime and delightful tropical array to contrast against cool wet shale/stones, minty herb, saline and tangy ginger. This wine seduces completely with youthful raw sexy appeal, but certainly she will age with glorious rewards. When something is this gorgeous it will be insanely difficult to wait, that is why patience is a virtue! There is much more to come in this stunning wine, no doubt it will become legendary, it is well advised to lock a few bottles up, I can imagine a window of 12 to 30 years of age to peak enjoyment for this traditional Mosel classic, best from 2025 to 2040!”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today for the magnum!
The next best price for the magnum is $134
Von Winning ‘II’ Sauvignon Blanc Trocken, Pfalz 2015 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 pre-arrival special
Grapelive 93 points “Even the entry level 2015 Sauvignon Blanc from Von Winning is beyond expectations, and those were high. This mostly stainless steel version truly makes you wonder why you’d drink Sauvignon Blanc from anywhere else! Honestly, I’d rather have this 2015 Von Winning Sauvignon Blanc II Trocken than almost any New Zealand or California wine, especially in this price class. Nothing comes close, not Cloudy Bay, and certainly not Duckhorn or Cakebread! It getting tougher when you get to the Loire Valley or even Alto Adige, but again at this price, the Von Winning prevails, it’s just that much more interesting and complex, it’s simply much more the compelling wine. Grown following biodynamic (organic) principles in high density vines on the sandstone, limestone and clay in the Pfalz, the Von Winning Sauvignon Blanc II shows bright floral tone s, a pale sunrise in the glass and intense gooseberry and a burst of lemon/lime to start with a fleshy and forward palate adding white peach and subtle tropical notes with striking mineral, wet stones and a crisp dusty chalky character. A hint of herb, pink grapefruit and tangy marmalade add to the complexity, and while brisk with juicy acidity this light bodied white gains texture and has wonderful and detailed mouth feel and heavenly delicacy. Von Winning is on a roll and 2015 takes things to the next level, you’ll want to get any and every Riesling they make in this glorious vintage, but do not overlook the Sauvignon Blancs. These are mind blowing wines, they might have made me fall in love with this varietal all over again, and in particular this 2015 Sauvignon Blanc II. In my book it’s the best Sauvignon Blanc for the money you can buy, period, end of story! Drink this vibrant beauty over the next 3 to 5 years, drink it alone as a pure summer sipper or really get the best out of it with cuisine, be that cheeses or white fish as well as lemon chicken or sushi even, just don’t miss this wine!”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $25
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Ending Monday
July Sale!
These prices end Monday, July 31st at 11:59 PM
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Case of Vinsanity
We’ve redesigned how our case specials display to make further discounts easier to find. Check out these great picks below or click here to see all case-6 or all case-12 specials!
Case-6 Altesino Montosoli, Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2011 750ML ($499.95) $449 special, 4 six-packs available (that’s only $74.83/bottle!)
Altesino Montosoli, Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2011 750ML ($99.95) $79 special, 11 bottles available
James Suckling 94 points “A very ripe style with prune, berry and salted-nut aromas and flavors. Full body, savory intensity and a long, flavorful finish. Lots of juicy, fabulous fruit. Shows the greatness of the vineyard. Drink or hold.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Case-6 Delas Freres Hermitage Domaine des Tourettes-Marquise de la Tourette, Rhone 2013 750ML ($549.95) $319 special, 6 six-packs available (that’s only $53.17/bottle!)
Delas Freres Hermitage Domaine des Tourettes-Marquise de la Tourette, Rhone 2013 750ML ($119.95) $59 special, 11 bottles available
Jancis Robinson 18/20 points “Very dark purple indeed. Altogether broader and less focused than the Côte Rôties on the nose. Peppery and subtle. Very glossy, layered, complex and magnificent. I would reproach this only very slightly on the finish but it’s a pretty magnificent wine”
Wine Advocate 94 points “One of the gems in the vintage is the 2013 Hermitage Domaine des Tourettes, which comes from both the Bessards and Grandes Vignes lieux-dits on Hermitage Hill. Completely destemmed, then vinified in stainless steel and concrete tanks, the wine is aged 18 months in 30% new French oak; it offers terrific notes of dark fruits, graphite and ample minerality in a full-bodied, layered, ripe profile. It’s more approachable than the Les Bessards, yet will still have three decades of longevity.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $86
Case-6 Domaine de L’Edre Cotes du Roussillon Villages 2013 750ML ($299.95) $239 special, 5 cases available (that’s only $39.83/bottle!)
Domaine de L’Edre Cotes du Roussillon Villages 2013 750ML ($49.95) $41.90 special, 36+ bottles available
Wine Advocate 95 points “One of the wines of the vintage is the 2013 Cotes du Roussillon Villages Domaine de l’Edre. While this cuvee had a rustic edge in the past, today it’s incredibly polished and pure, with brilliant aromatics of cassis, black raspberries, licorice, crushed flowers and chalky minerality. Medium to full-bodied, ripe, yet elegant and balanced, it’s a classic Roussillon that can be enjoyed today or cellared for a decade.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Case-12 Bodegas Ilurce Rio Madre Graciano, Rioja DOCa 2014 750ML ($149.95) $99 special, 4 cases available (that’s only $8.25/bottle!)
Bodegas Ilurce Rio Madre Graciano, Rioja DOCa 2014 750ML ($14.95) $9.90 special, 36+ bottles available
Josh Raynolds 90 points “Brilliant violet color. Intensely perfumed dark berry and floral pastille scents, along with suggestions of anise, violet and pipe tobacco. Sweet and expansive on the palate, offering sappy black and blue fruit flavors that put on weight with air. Shows very good energy and power on the long, gently tannic finish, leaving behind notes of blueberry and peppery spices.”
Case-12 Petrolo ‘Inarno’ Rosso Valdarno di Sopra 2012 750ML ($219.95) $149 special, 6 cases available (that’s only $12.42/bottle!)
Petrolo ‘Inarno’ Rosso Valdarno di Sopra 2012 750ML ($19.95) $14 special, 20 bottles available
Ian D’Agata–Vinous 89 points “(100% sangiovese): Good deep red. Expressive aromas of candied raspberry, licorice, tobacco and underbrush. Dense and sweet on the palate, with lovely depth to its raspberry and superripe red cherry flavors lifted by bright acidity. Finishes smooth, long and light on its feet.”
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Arriving in August
Julie Balagny ‘Sex Appeal’ Fleurie 2015 750ML ($69.95) $59 pre-arrival special
“She embraces the challenges of natural viticulture and natural vinification with an ardor one rarely finds among the region’s more established natural winemakers, whose seniority and generational experience have instilled a plodding realism that borders on pessimism at times… Where and when one manages to find Balagny’s work, it’s often extraordinary. The best bottles combine the electric acid-focus of Max Breton’s wines with some of the suppleness and depth of Métras’ Fleurie. If she hasn’t yet attained the consistency of either winemaker’s production, it only endows her bottles with an excitement all their own. Hers is long, rosey, iron-boned gamay, out there on the edge, like its maker.”–Aaron Ayscough, Not Drinking Poison in Paris
Frank Cornelissen ‘Rosso del Contadino’ Sicilia IGT, Sicily 2015 750ML ($39.95) $33 pre-arrival special
“The mad scientist of Etna offers the world a field blend of biodynamic 50+ year old Nerello Mascalese with small amounts of Nerello Capuccio, Minella Nera, Allicante Bouschet, Minella Bianco from clay/limestone soils. ZERO added SO2, aged in amphora.”–Importer note
La Rioja Alta Gran Reserva 904, Rioja DOCa 2005 750ML ($69.95) $57.50 pre-arrival special
Case-12 La Rioja Alta Gran Reserva 904, Rioja DOCa 2005 750ML ($799.95) $619 pre-arrival special (that’s only $51.58/bottle!)
Wine Advocate 96 points “The 2005 Gran Reserva 904 is a superb blend of Tempranillo from the villages of Briñas, Labastida and Villalba with 10% Graciano from Briones and Rodezno. The grapes were destemmed and crushed and fermented in stainless steel for 18 days at 25 C. Malolactic fermentation was spontaneous and lasted 38 days. These wines are marked by a long aging in used American oak barrels following the most strict Riojan tradition; four years during which time the wine was manually racked eight times. This is usually my favorite wine from La Rioja Alta and 2005 is one of its best showings, going back to the quality of the vintages of the 1950s and 60s. The nose is very balsamic with notes of camphor, hints of mint, leather and hung game wrapped around a core of cherries in liqueur. Together it is balanced, subtle, truly elegant and classical. The palate is only medium-bodied but with great concentration of flavors that are very tasty, mineral, almost salty and framed by ultra-fine tannins and smashing balance. A great classic. This wine will be released in October 2015, a full ten years after the vintage. At this quality level this is a bargain.” 4/2015
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Domain Leflaive
The Roots of Puligny-Montrachet
There are few names more connected and permanently identified with a village than Domaine Leflaive and Puligny-Montrachet. Following the phylloxera tragedy of the last years of the 19th century, and recovering after the Great War, Joseph Leflaive laid the groundwork of rehabilitating the vineyards and eventually selling wine under his own label instead of selling to negociants. The quality of the wines has been a trajectory nearly unmatched by any producer in the Cote d’Or. His descendants have thrown themselves into the Domaine, stepping into their roles with pride and renewed vigor. The family has committed themselves for five generations to improving vineyard health and the quality of their wines with every vintage.
The wines are an experience and a master class in terroir. The vineyard team has had direct lineage for 3 generations. They have dug into the clay and limestone, isolating individual mineral traces showing up in narrow bands throughout the individual vineyards. This allows Leflaive to further narrow the profile they want to achieve with every vineyard, every vintage. Intensity, concentration and volume are hallmarks, especially with a tremendous vintage like ‘15, but beyond the power come the finesse and beauty that reveal themselves more every year that you can keep your hands off of them. With wines like these, scents of apple become apple tartine, citrus becomes lemon oil or toasted zest; superlative becomes the norm. These are, quite simply, the best wines you’ll find in Puligny-Montrachet, and you’ll be hard pressed to find a more pure expression of Chardonnay anywhere on the planet.
In-Stock Now from Domaine Leflaive
Domaine Leflaive Bourgogne Blanc, Burgundy 2013 750ML ($69.95) $59 special, 3 bottles available
“The 2013 Bourgogne Blanc has plenty of light citrus fruit and orange blossom scents on the nose. The palate is fresh and clean with crisp lime and green apple notes, leading to a light, easy-drinking finish….” –Wine Advocate
Domaine Leflaive Sous le Dos d’Ane, Meursault Premier Cru 2014 750ML ($199.95) $179 special, 3 bottles available
Wine Advocate 90-92 points “The 2014 Meursault 1er Cru Sous le Dos d’Ane has a stony, slate-scented bouquet, perhaps more Puligny-like than Meursault. The palate is crisp and fresh with a fine line of acidity. This is a pretty Meursault with a detailed, citrus peel finish that is poised and pure. I appreciate the Zen-like personality of this Meursault that dovetails nicely with its Puligny “cousins.””
Domaine Leflaive Bienvenues-Batard-Montrachet Grand Cru 2014 750ML ($599.95) $569 special, 2 bottles available
Wine Advocate 93-95 points “The 2014 Bienvenue Bâtard Montrachet Grand Cru has a come-hither bouquet that is very immediate: passion fruit, apricot blossom, cold stone and even a faint touch of strawberry winegums. The palate is well balanced with a keen line of acidity, good weight in the mouth with a touch of citrus lemon and lime, but perhaps just needing more complexity and terroir expression to come through on the finish. This is one of the best 2014 Bienvenues that I have come across — an absolute delight.”
Arriving in September
Domaine Leflaive Bourgogne Blanc, Burgundy 2015 750ML ($79.95) $69 pre-arrival special, only 18 bottles available
“This too is agreeably cool with its fresh array of pear, apple and kiwi fruit aromas. There is once again fine volume to the solidly concentrated flavors where the mid-palate is supple to the point of being almost easy yet the finish tightens up enough to maintain the balance.”–Burghound
Domaine Leflaive Puligny-Montrachet 2015 750ML ($149.95) $119 pre-arrival special, only 9 bottles available
Burghound 89-91 points “Outstanding. A pretty and airy nose offers up notes of apple, pear, acacia blossom and both lemon and orange peel scents. There is once again fine volume and intensity to the medium-bodied flavors that possess markedly better complexity on the notably tighter finish that is shaped by moderately firm citrus-tinged acidity.”
Domaine Leflaive Clavoillon, Puligny-Montrachet Premier Cru 2015 750ML ($199.95) $169 pre-arrival special, only 12 bottles available
Burghound 90-93 points “Outstanding. Here too there is a trace of matchstick character on the slightly riper aromas that feature notes of apple compote, lavender and hints of the exotic and citrus elements. The rich, generously proportioned and fleshy medium weight flavors possess more size and weight than is usual for this wine thanks to the copious level of dry extract that confers a sappy texture to the moderately structured and notably dry finish in the context of the vintage.”
Domaine Leflaive Les Pucelles, Puligny-Montrachet Premier Cru 2015 750ML ($359.95) $319 pre-arrival special, only 1 bottle available
Burghound 92-94 points “In contrast to the relative expressiveness of most of the prior wines, this is much more reserved and only grudgingly reveals its aromas of honeysuckle, essence of pear and soft oak nuances. The caressing and very refined middle weight flavors possess a highly seductive mouth feel that also brims with dry extract while delivering excellent length on the beautifully complex and persistent finale that, like the Combettes, is unusually dry relative to what is common for the vintage. Class in a glass.”
Domaine Leflaive Batard-Montrachet Grand Cru 2015 750ML ($799.95) $699 pre-arrival special, only 2 bottles available
Burghound 93-95 points “Don’t Miss! A pungent and more expressive nose offers up a broad assortment of aromas that include notes of matchstick, white orchard fruit and in particular white peach, exotic tea and plenty of citrus nuances. The mouth feel of the big-bodied flavors is notably more refined than usual yet the underlying power of a fine Bâtard is certainly present and especially so on the hugely long, firm and built-to-age finish. In a word, impressive.”
Domaine Leflaive Bienvenues-Batard-Montrachet Grand Cru 2015 750ML ($699.95) $599 pre-arrival special, only 2 bottles available
Burghound 92-95 points “Don’t Miss! As is often the case this evidences a similar aromatic profile to that of the Pucelles and in particular with respect to the honeysuckle character. While there is a bit more size, density and mid-palate volume to the middle weight plus flavors they manage to retain the same heightened sense of refinement and particularly so on the sneaky long and focused finish. This is potentially really fine juice.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Domaine Leflaive Chevalier-Montrachet Grand Cru 2015 750ML ($899.95) $799 pre-arrival special, only 2 bottles available
Burghound 93-95 points “This offers the most elegant nose in the range with its cool, pure and airy array that is composed by notes of essence of pear, white flowers, spice, jasmine tea and citrus zest nuances. There is outstanding volume, power and concentration to the focused, intense and palate coating broad-shouldered flavors that despite the imposing scale remain highly refined and particularly so on the markedly mineral-driven and explosively long finish. This won’t be the finest Chevalier that Leflaive has ever produced but it is a terrific effort for the vintage.”
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2016 Donnhoff
Arriving in October
Otherworldly Riesling from the King of the Nahe. Many 2015s sold through before landing last year, so don’t miss your opportunity to secure your bottles today!
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Domaine Huet
Arriving in November
Majestic Vouvray from the profound 2016 vintage
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Arriving Spring 2018
Stella Got Groove
Stella di Campalto Podere San Guiseppe Rosso di Montalcino, Tuscany 2013 750ML ($69.95) $59 pre-arrival special
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Stella di Campalto Podere San Giuseppe Brunello di Montalcino Riserva DOCG, Tuscany 2011 750ML ($149.95) $119 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 94 points “To be released in early 2018, the 2011 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is a gorgeous expression with a slightly warm vein of plump cherry fruit that gives weight and volume to the overall effect. The bouquet offers dark fruit aromas with tones of blue flower, spice and balsam herb that are characteristic of Sangiovese, especially in a warm vintage like this. This is a mid-weight effort with balanced fruitiness and freshness on the close. The wine finishes with Stella’s trademark elegance and silkiness.”
Ian D’Agata-Vinous 93+ points “Bright pale red with an amber nuance. Candied red cherry, sweet spices, rose petal and minerals on the expressive, almost flamboyant nose. Then surprisingly linear, fresh and juicy; noteworthy floral lift and woodsy sweet spices complement the vibrant red cherry and red berry flavors. Tremendously precise and very complex, delivering a long mineral finish that lasts and lasts. Picks up considerable volume with aeration as well as noteworthy sweet spice elements.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Stella di Campalto Podere San Giuseppe Brunello di Montalcino DOCG ‘Benedetta,’ Tuscany 2011 750ML ($149.95) $119 pre-arrival special
Ian D’Agata-Vinous 92-93 points “Bright pale red. More mineral and minty than the 2012 Beatrice Brunello di Montalcino by this estate, displaying a lovely purity to its medicinal red cherry and cough-drop aromas and flavors. The finish is bright, long and airy. Ever the perfectionist, Stella di Campalto hasn’t yet decided if this will be sold as a Brunello or a top-of-the-line Rosso, but I think the wine is a potentially outstanding Brunello. It spent an unbelievable 54 months in 17 hL used oak barrels — unbelievable in the sense that this marvelous wine shows no hint of wood or of tiring fruit whatsoever. It’s made mainly from the Il Leccio vineyard, characterized by alberese soil that gives vibrant, more fragrant wines. Benedetta is the name of one of Stella’s daughters.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Stella di Campalto Podere San Giuseppe Brunello di Montalcino DOCG ‘Beatrice,’ Tuscany 2011 750ML ($149.95) $119 pre-arrival special
Ian D’Agata-Vinous 90-91+ points “Pale red with an amber tinge. Candied red cherry, tobacco and musky herbs on the deep nose. Then urgent flavors of red fruits, botanical herbs and ink show very good cut and thrust. A spicy nuance lingers on the juicy finish. Much more closed and brooding than the 2011 Benedetta Brunello, in keeping with the fact that the Beatrice (unlike the Benedetta) contains roughly 10 percent Brunello from the 2010 vintage, added because di Campalto believed the wine needed more backbone. Stella di Campalto’s 2010 Brunello is especially deep, dark, and musky, and those elements are obvious in the Beatrice as well (this is the first time she has bottled a wine not entirely made with the vintage indicated on the label). Stella di Campalto is not especially fond of this wine right now, so she’s considering declassifying to Rosso status, but this has yet to be decided and things may change depending on the wine’s evolution. Should she decide to turn this into a Rosso, it’s going to be one heck of a Rosso di Montalcino; that said, I find the Benedetta Brunello to be much superior and more typical of Stella di Campalto’s production.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
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