High Scoring Rhone Whites; Fattoria Le Pupille – Maremma’s Top Estate; Pointacular Spanish New Arrivals; New Arrival: Chateau Puech-Haut Rose (92 Points!); Staff Pick; #Trending #HereNow; Vieux Chateau Mazerat 2010; Karthauserhof in 2014: Lean Mean Riesling Machines; Chateau de Montfaucon; 2013 Produttori del Barbaresco Crus
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New Arrival – In Stock Now
White Rhone
E. Guigal Condrieu La Doriane, Rhone 2015 750ML ($119.95) $99 special
Wine Advocate 99 points “Easily one of the greatest Condrieu I’ve ever tasted is the 2015 Condrieu La Doriane. A wine that needs to be tasted to be believed, it possesses a huge nose of toasted brioche, liquid rocks, apricot, flower oil and salty minerality. Unctuous, full-bodied, massively rich, yet also elegant and graceful, with beautiful freshness, enjoy this tour de force over the coming 5-6 years.”
Josh Raynolds – Vinous 95 points “Brilliant yellow-gold. Powerful orange, nectarine and honeydew aromas are complemented by suave floral, vanilla and chalky mineral accents. Supple and expansive in the mouth, offering deeply concentrated, smoke-tinged poached pear and peach nectar flavors that pick up honey and iodine qualities as the wine opens up. Lush and seamless but surprisingly energetic in style, showing superb closing thrust and lingering suggestions of buttery brioche and candied pit fruits.”
Wine Spectator 95 points “Lush, with papaya, mango and ginger notes layered seamlessly, while hints of heather honey, anise and piecrust hang in the background. The long and rich finish has no choice but to let the fruit power on. All hedonism and thoroughly delicious. Drink now through 2022.”
M. Chapoutier Hermitage Chante-Alouette, Rhone 2015 750ML ($89.95) $69 special
Wine Advocate 95 points “The finest vintage for this cuvée I’ve ever tasted, the sensational 2015 Hermitage Chante Alouette boasts awesome notes of white peach, orange marmalade and white flowers in a rich, full-bodied, concentrated style. Coming from three different terroirs on Hermitage Hill (Méal, Les Murets and Chante Alouette), don’t miss it!”
Also Available Here Now
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M. Chapoutier Ermitage Le Meal Blanc, Rhone 2011 750ML ($219.95) $159 special, 11 bottles available
Wine Advocate 99 points “Surprisingly, I preferred the 2011 Ermitage le Meal Blanc over the 2012 on this occasion and it showed a more flamboyant, sexy style in its caramelized pineapple, tropical, honeyed and floral personality. Big, rich and decadent, with fabulous fruit intensity and length, this rock star flirts with perfection and will keep for another 3-4 decades.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Domaine Jean-Louis Chave Hermitage Blanc, Rhone 2012 750ML ($249.95) $199 special, 11 bottles available
Wine Spectator 97 points “A stunner from the start, with distinct depth to the creamed mango, white peach and heather flavors, this maintains superior precision and definition as the singed almond, chamomile, salted butter and ginger notes fill in. Glazed pear, elderflower honey and beeswax details chime in on the extremely long finish. Enjoyable now, but needs serious cellaring to show its full potential. Best from 2016 through 2037. 500 cases made.” JM
Wine Advocate 96 points “Much more open, fleshy and sexy, the 2012 Hermitage Blanc was just bottled a month prior to this tasting. Coming from l’Ermite, Les Rocoules, Maison Blanche and Peleat lieux-dits, it’s always a rough blend of 80% Marsanne and 20% Roussanne that’s aged in barrel. Loaded with notions of honeysuckle, orange marmalade, powered rock, buttered citrus and green almond, it’s full-bodied, rich, upfront and fruit loaded. While I think it will be a relatively accessible early in its life, it has the concentration to hold for two decades.” WA
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 94-96 points “Tasted in single-site components from tanks as the wine awaited blending: #1, from Peleat: Ripe pear and honey aromas, with a suave floral accent and a hint of smoky minerals. At once rich and lively, showing excellent back-end power. #2, from Rocoules: Intense, mineral-accented citrus and orchard fruit aromas, with a sexy floral nuance building with air. Bright, focused and mineral-driven, with a strong Meyer lemon quality lingering on the tangy finish. #3, also from Rocoules: Showing more emphasis on orchard fruit than the first Rocoules tank, with powerful quince and pear flavors and a touch of bitter quinine. Dusty minerals sharpen the long, sappy finish. #4, from l’Ermite: Spicy citrus zest and ginger scents along with a chalky mineral note and a hint of anise. Smoky and penetrating, with superb finishing clarity and lingering spiciness. #5, also from l’Ermite: More floral and masculine than the previous l’Ermite, with strong jasmine and orchard fruit character and a touch of bitter quinine. Bright and nervy on the finish, which doesn’t want to let up.” JR
Saint Cosme Condrieu, Rhone 2014 750ML ($69.95) $59 special, 13 bottles available
Wine Spectator 95 points “Gorgeous, with papaya, white peach, mango, persimmon and Cavaillon melon notes seamlessly stitched together, lined with light honeysuckle and jasmine accents and backed by a twinge of bitter citrus oil and well-buried minerality. An exemplary display of large-scale fruit and precision. Drink now through 2019. 416 cases made”
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Arriving in October
E. Guigal Saint-Joseph ‘Cuvee Lieu-Dit Saint-Joseph’ Blanc, Rhone 2015 750ML ($69.95) $49 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 96 points “The second year where they’ve moved away from 100% new oak, the 2015 St Joseph Lieu Dit St Joseph Blanc is all Marsanne and offers an utterly profound bouquet of orange blossom, white flowers, crushed rocks, licorice, white peach and honeysuckle. Full-bodied, rich and layered, yet with incredible purity, it’s the finest example of this cuvée I’ve tasted. Bravo!”
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New Arrival – In Stock Now
Fattoria Le Pupille
Top estate from the coastal Maremma region of Tuscany
Fattoria Le Pupille Elisabetta Geppetti ‘Poggio Valente’, Morellino di Scansano Riserva DOCG 2011 750ML ($31.95) $28 special
James Suckling 94 points “This is a selection of the best sangiovese on the property. The owner says the goal is to make something to compete with the best Brunello. And so it is. Full-bodied, firm and lively. Wonderful texture and length. Ripe and delicious. Superb. Drink or hold.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Arriving in September
The ‘Lafite of Tuscany’
Fattoria Le Pupille Elisabetta Geppetti ‘Saffredi’ Maremma Toscana, Tuscany 2014 750ML ($79.95) $59 pre-arrival special
James Suckling 96 points “Sexy blueberry, spice and black pepper. Mushroom. Full body and ultra-fine tannins. Extremely long and just starting to come around now. Needs a little more time in bottle. Splendid finish. Try in 2019 but already amazing.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $78
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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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New Arrival – In Stock Now
Pointacular Spanish New Arrivals
Bodegas Arrayan Estela De Arrayan, Mentrida 2010 750ML ($39.95) $33 special
James Suckling 95 points “Beautiful, layered wine showing great depth on the nose. Ripe strawberries, cacao, roasted coffee beans, iodine and salt undertones. Full-bodied and round-textured red with soft tannins following through to a mouth-watering and juicy finish. Blend of syrah, merlot, cabernet sauvignon and petit verdot. Drink now.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Finca La Emperatriz Cepas Viejas Garnacha, Rioja DOCa 2014 750ML ($39.95) $33 special
James Suckling 95 points “An intensely herbal and floral nose displaying raspberries, cherries and hints of cloves. Mint, too. Medium body, ripe and juicy tannins and a very long, citrusy and savory finish. Made from vines over 65 years old. A wine that boasts superb finesse and style. Drink or hold.”
Wine Advocate 93 points “The wine that won my heart this time was without a doubt the 2014 Finca la Emperatriz Garnacha Cepas Viejas. This wine is sourced from the Rioja Alta subzone, not quite the classical Garnacha place, from the only old-vine Garnacha plot they have in the estate. It displays a captivating nose of sweet Garnacha fruit akin to cherries in liqueur, but keeping the freshness in a coolish vintage like 2014. The uncrushed grapes fermented in open-top stainless steel vats and 500-liter oak barrels with indigenous yeasts after five days of pre-fermentative maceration, and it matured in 500-liter oak barrels for ten months. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins, delicious fresh flavors and very good length, ending with a tasty, almost salty note.”
La Rioja Alta Gran Reserva 904, Rioja DOCa 2005 750ML ($69.95) $57.50 special
Case-12 La Rioja Alta Gran Reserva 904, Rioja DOCa 2005 750ML ($799.95) $619 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. At this quality level this is a bargain.”
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New Arrival – In Stock Now
Prestigious Rosé
Chateau Puech-Haut Saint-Drezery Prestige Rose, Languedoc-Roussillon 2016 750ML ($19.95) $16 special
Chateau Puech-Haut Saint-Drezery Prestige Rose, Languedoc-Roussillon 2016 1.5L ($49.95) $39 special
Wine Advocate 92 points “Beautiful as always, the 2016 Saint Drezery Prestige Rose offers clean, crisp notes of white peach, strawberries and hints of flowers. It’s a terrific, medium-bodied, elegant beauty to buy by the case.”
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In Stock Now:
Staff Pick
Andy:
Holding onto Beaujolais is a tough exercise, especially when so much of it is so delicious in its youth. If you are like me and can’t keep out of the cellar, here is a great chance to drink some perfectly aged Gamay from a terrific vintage and it is a sneak peek into what the classic 2015 vintage Beaujolais will morph into with patience!
Liger-Belair makes wine that tends to drink above its punching weight. I can only imagine that this wine was pretty lush upon release, but it has come into a beautiful phase with five years in bottle. Bright cherries and raspberries underpinned with baking spices and fresh earth notes. The tannins are incredibly smooth and well integrated at this point and the acidity is still as fresh as can be. It is elegant in its structure, but big in flavor. This is a charcuterie dream wine and also would be enjoyable with fall harvest dinners.
We have a quickly diminishing stock of these, so don’t miss your opportunity!
Here Now:
Thibault Liger-Belair Moulin-a-Vent La Roche, Beaujolais 2010 750ML ($44.95) $33 special, 32 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 92 points “Deep, bright ruby. Candied red and dark berries on the nose, with notes of violet and star anise adding complexity. Juicy and gently sweet, offering plush black raspberry and bitter cherry flavors and a broad, velvety texture. A weighty but energetic Beaujolais that finishes with intense spiciness and a lingering note of floral pastilles.”ST
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In Stock Now:
#Trending
#HereNow
R. Lopez de Heredia Vina Tondonia ‘Vina Gravonia’ Crianza Blanco, Rioja DOCa 2007 750ML ($34.95) $29 special
Wine Advocate 93 points “The cooler 2007 produced a superb 2007 Viña Gravonia Blanco from very old Viura vines on gravel soils; the wine fermented in ancient oak vats where they have never added any yeasts, and matured in oak barrels for four years, fined with egg whites and bottled in September 2012. The nose is unique, showing aromas of chamomile, beeswax, honey, mushroom and spices, with reminiscences of a white Graves or an aged white Hermitage, quite developed, showing it all and ready. The palate shows great acidity with some oaky hints, with a chalky sensation, deep flavors with persistence and superb length. This has to be one of the greatest bargains in white Rioja. It feels lively, approachable, but with enough of everything to provide pleasure for a long time.”
Olivier Larochette Bourgogne Rouge Vieille Vignes 2009 750ML ($19.95) $14 special
Case-12 Olivier Larochette Bourgogne Rouge Vieille Vignes 2009 750ML ($199.95) $138 special (that’s only $11.50/bottle!)
VinopolNote: It’s an old vine bottling from a small nego Olivier Larochette. Ruby red in color. Intense aromas of crushed black raspberry, fresh plums and violets with a light herbal note underneath that’s akin to Sencha tea. The rich aromas translate into rich initial flavors at the first sip with a lingering, zippy acidity and very fine tannins. The note of fresh red plums continues on the palate accented by toasted almonds and red raspberries. This would make a great pairing with roast chicken or caramelized onions.
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Daniel Bouland Cote de Brouilly Cuvee Melanie, Beaujolais 2015 750ML ($29.95) $24 special
John Gilman 92 points “Daniel Bouland’s 2015 Côte de Brouilly “Cuvée Mélanie” is a bit riper than his beautiful Chiroubles, coming in at 14.5 percent alcohol on the label this year. However, the wine shows no signs of sur maturité on the nose, jumping from the glass in a sappy mélange of black cherries, pomegranate, a touch of grilled meats, woodsmoke, dark chocolate, a dollop of fresh herbs, a good base of soil, just a hint of the autumn leaves to come and a bit of cedar in the upper register (this is barrel-fermented). On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied and flamboyantly sappy at the core, with firm, ripe tannins, tangy acids and outstanding length and grip on the moderately heady finish. This seems higher than 14.5 percent to my palate, as there is a bit of overt heat poking out on the backend right now, but at the same time, the acids are bright and the wine is impressively pure for its octane level and really does not seem overripe. This has the chassis to age for decades and decades, and if it can carry its octane over the long haul, then it will be a magical wine. I have no experience with aging Cru Beaujolais at this level of alcohol for the very long haul, but I am inclined to be that this wine will age like a ’47! 2016-2040+. 92.”
Josh Raynolds 92 points “Vivid magenta. Ripe cherry and dark berry aromas are complemented by suave floral and Asian spice flourishes. Plush and seamless in texture, offering sappy blackberry and bitter cherry flavors that become sweeter as the wine opens up. Closes smooth, very long and emphatically fruity, leaving notes of red and dark berry liqueur behind.”
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Domaine Bechtold Cremant d’Alsace Brut 2014 750ML ($27.95) $21.90 special
“The soul of raciness and finesse, this wine is equal parts Chardonnay and Auxerrois from the 2013 vintage, bottled with no dosage, and disgorged in May of 2015. Electric and citrusy, with the earthy depth of the Auxerrois grape coming through on the palate, and firm limestone-y minerality on the finish.”–Importer note
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F.X. Pichler Urgestein Terrassen Gruner Veltliner Smaragd, Wachau 2015 750ML ($41.95) $36 special
David Schildknecht–Vinous 92 points “This blend from numerous sites (not rendered in vintage 2014 due to paucity of fruit) brims with luscious, juicy white peach and grapefruit, and its combination of citricity, green herbal pungency and stony underpinnings puts me as much in mind of Riesling as of Grüner Veltliner. Silken and enveloping on the palate, it retains its sense of energy and brightness through an invigoratingly peach-kernel-inflected, tinglingly stone-infused and mouthwateringly salt-tinged finish. Despite harboring 13.5 percent alcohol, the wine also conveys a subtle and attractive sense of lift.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Cantine del Notaio Il Repertorio Aglianico del Vulture, Basilicata 2013 750ML ($27.95) $21.90 special
Wine Advocate 93 points “The Cantine del Notaio 2013 Aglianico del Vulture Il Repertorio is a fabulous wine that possesses the depth and noble sophistication that you should expect from this small, quality wine denomination in the deep south of Italy. The bouquet is beautifully embellished with blackberry preserves, tobacco, bitter chocolate and smoky granite. The presentation is tight and seamless with a firm tannic nature that pulls the wine together in terms of substance and length. This excellent wine should flesh out further with more aging.”
Raul Perez Ultreia Saint Jacques, Bierzo 2015 750ML ($21.95) $17.80 special
Grapelive 93 points “It was a great honor to meet and taste with Raul Perez, one of Spain’s most heroic and influential winemakers (also known as the godfather of Mencia). Perez has mentored many rising stars, including Pedro Rodriguez and Veronica Ortega, whose wines I recently discovered and who is still working with him. Raul Perez’s lineup was mind-blowing and lived up to my huge expectations in every way. I was wildly thrilled with each and every one of these offerings, especially this new Ultra Saint Jacques Bierzo Tinto that delivers wonderful depth and complexity at a price that makes it a bargain by any standards. [It is] made from mainly from Mencia, but with some inter planted Bastardo (thought to be Trousseau) and Garnacha Tintorera (Alicante Bouschet) coming off vines that average about 75 years old. This dark and ripe vintage shows an almost Northern Rhone-like character and has an earthy/savory/spicy edge like a lighter Cornas. This was fermented with native yeasts, about 80% whole cluster in large oak cask with long macerations lasting between 2 and 5 months and then aged in mixed vessels including some cement, as well as 225L and 500L oak. [It was bottled] unfined and unfiltered. It’s pretty in detail with violet/floral tones, peppercorn and a medium body that flows with sweet tannins. It shows vibrant but smooth acidity, and flinty mineral elements as well as a core of loganberry, plum, candied cherry and tart currant fruits as well as salted black licorice, lavender, pipe tobacco, shale stones, earthy charms and a hint of cinnamon. This 2015 is lovely stuff that drinks very well right now and should prove pleasing for 3 to 5 years. For this price you’ll want a case!”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $20
Carl von Schubert Maximin Grunhauser Abtsberg Riesling Spatlese, Mosel 2015 750ML ($37.95) $29 special
David Schildknecht – Vinous 94 points “A gorgeous nose features ripe white peach and Persian melon garlanded in heliotrope and honeysuckle. Aromatic intimations of fresh lime point to the amazing degree of brightness and zest exhibited on a palate that is at the same time lush, creamy and expansive. Inner-mouth perfume billows toward an almost explosively fruity finish, in which hints of caramel offset peach kernel piquancy, and salinity prompts helpless salivation. Nor does the sheer richness of this Spätlese preclude a sense of transparency to stony underlying nuances. I no longer find myself pining for “the Grünhaus Riesling of old” when I taste the likes of this! (And back in the 1980s or early ‘90s, it would have been an Auslese, and priced accordingly.)”
Wine Spectator 94 points “Lots of crème brûlée and pastry notes in this languid style, which offers accents of roasted almond and coconut meat. The finish has a pear tart flavor that lingers. Drink now through 2040.”
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Vieux Chateau Mazerat 2010
The collection of expatriate Chateau owners in Bordeaux must seem like the best thing to happen to the tonnellerie industry since Napolean planted those stands of oak so long ago. Looking at wines like Vieux Chateau Mazerat, it becomes clear what added dimension of quality barrels can do for a vineyard that was annually lagging behind illustrious right-bank neighbors. VCM is surrounded by Chateau Canon and Angelus, in solid Cru Classe real estate. The new owner, Jonathan Maltus says it best: “David Peppercorn, in his eighties book BORDEAUX, stated that if the then proprietor was to buy some oak barrels there would be no reason why Vieux Chateau Mazerat shouldn’t be a cru classe like all of its neighbors. We bought the oak barrels.”
The wine shows a new decadence that should earn fans around the globe, particularly fans of New World wine looking for that gateway wine to the world of Bordeaux. This is a collectors dream. Affordable Saint-Emilion silk: the wine is balanced between the red fruit and minerals of the limestone parcel of the vineyard, with the distinctive Crasse de Fer iron rich soil notes of mushroom and Indian spice. The 2010 should also allow those with the cellar space to stash a case away for a long time, but reward those with little patience. The Merlot and Cab Franc are singing already, and will continue to evolve. Vieux Chateau Mazerat could eventually start to find its place among its neighbors more frequently on wine lists and in cellars, but thankfully is still currently available for less than half the price. This 2010 should be a first look among those who want to see why the right bank bottlings are in such high demand again.
In Stock Now:
Vieux Chateau Mazerat, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru 2010 750ML ($119.95) $89 special, 36+ bottles available
Case-12 Vieux Chateau Mazerat, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru 2010 750ML ($1199.95) $999 special, 2 cases available (that’s only $83.25/bottle!)
Robert Parker 95+ points “This is one of the tightest, most backward wines in the Jonathan Malthus portfolio. The grapes come from an old-vine parcel near Angelus and Beausejour-Duffau, and the final product is a blend of 65% Merlot and 35% Cabernet Franc. Again displaying plenty of minerality, which seems to be a prevailing theme throughout the 2010s from Malthus, the 2010 Vieux Chateau Mazerat is full-bodied, with an abundance of floral notes as well as black currant and blackberry fruit. Impressively endowed and built like a skyscraper, this full-bodied wine needs a good 7-8 years of cellaring and should keep for 25-30 years. Interestingly, the vines were planted in 1947.”
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Karthauserhof in 2014:
Lean Mean Riesling Machines
The thing that we key on with recent German Riesling vintages is acidity—Germany’s had no shortage of sun in the last 15+ years and so when we argue over what our favorite years have been, acidity is key. In that regard, 2014 is a sleeper—it’s got less fruit than 2015, but if you like bright and fresh wines from the Mosel (or Ruwer), then you should be buying as much 2014 as you can.
One winery that seemed to do exceptionally well in the 2014 vintage was Karthauserhof, in the Ruwer. They’re known for wines that are steely and firm, so a vintage like 2014 played right into their style. The dry wines are just on the right side of austere and the off-dry wines are incredible—there’s a mountain of tension between the fruit and the tanginess of the vintage’s acid. These are incredible wines made by a supremely talented winemaker that you need to check out.
2014 Karthauserhof In Stock Now:
Weingut Karthauserhof Alte Reben Eitelsbacher Karthauserhofberg Riesling Spatlese Trocken, Mosel 2014 750ML ($39.95) $33 special, 17 bottles available
John Gilman 92 points “The 2014 Alte Reben Riesling Trocken from Weingut Karthäuserhof is an outstanding example of the vintage. This excellent wine delivers a fine bouquet bread fruit, pink grapefruit, wild yeasts, lovely smokiness, a fine base of slate minerality and a topnote of citrus peel. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied and rock solid at the core, with outstanding focus and grip, a fairly primary personality and superb length and balance on the young, but very promising finish.”
Wine Advocate 90 points “The 2014 Riesling Trocken Alte Reben (officially Eitelsbacher Karthäuserhofberg Riesling Spätlese trocken, AP #8) offers a deep and ripe, as well as very fine and elegant bouquet. Intense and mineral on the palate, this is a stunningly complex and persistent Riesling with power, structure, finesse and a lingering salinity and complexity. Good aging potential.”
John Gilman, View From The Cellar #56: ” The 2014 Alte Reben Riesling Trocken from Weingut Karthäuserhof is an outstanding example of the vintage. This excellent wine delivers a fine bouquet bread fruit, pink grapefruit, wild yeasts, lovely smokiness, a fine base of slate minerality and a topnote of citrus peel. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied and rock solid at the core, with outstanding focus and grip, a fairly primary personality and superb length and balance on the young, but very promising finish.
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Weingut Karthauserhof ‘Ruwer’ Riesling Trocken, Mosel 2014 750ML ($34.95) $21.90 special, 22 bottles available
Jean Fisch & David Rayer, Mosel Fine Wines #28: “This delivers a clean feel of grapefruit, herbs, spices and fresh fruits. The wine is still on the sharp and reduced side on the palate and is best left alone until next year to give it a chance to flesh out and gain in aromatic zest and fruity presence. 2016-2018”
John Gilman 89 points “The basic estate Riesling Trocken from Karthäuserhof is really an excellent basic bottling from the 2014 vintage, as it offers up impressive focus and cut in its medium-bodied, dry and quite complex format. The lovely nose is still on the young side, but deep and pure, as it wafts from the glass in a mix of grapefruit, wild yeasts, lemongrass, petrol, slate and dried flowers. On the palate the wine is medium-bodied, crisp and still fairly primary in personality, with an impressive core of fruit, excellent cut and grip for the vintage and a long, youthful and beautifully balanced finish. 2015-2035.”
Weingut Karthauserhof Tyrells Edition Riesling Trocken, Mosel 2014 750ML ($49.95) $39 special, 23 bottles available
Mosel Fine Wines 90 points “Already at this early stage, this gorgeously light wine (with only 11.5% of alcohol) delivers beautiful scents of cassis, white flowers and minerals on the nose and a superbly playful feel on the palate. The finish is long and deliciously tart. Despite the hint of fruits, this is still only at the beginning of its life and lovers of racy Riesling will really enjoy this most in a few years’ time. 2019-2029”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Weingut Karthauserhof Schieferkristall Riesling Feinherb, Mosel 2014 750ML ($31.95) $26 special, 19 bottles available
John Gilman 91 points “Schieferkristall Riesling Trocken- Weingut Karthäuserhof The 2014 Schieferkristall Riesling Trocken from Weingut Karthäuserhof is quite a pretty wine, with just a touch of residual sweetness on the attack to buffer the fine acidity and minerality, but a good, long and quite dry finish. The lovely nose wafts from the glass in a blend of white cherries, lemon, a touch of sea salts, dried flowers, a touch of wild yeasts and quite a complex base of slate. On the palate the wine is medium-full, crisp and quite mineral-driven, with excellent focus and grip, impressive cut for the vintage and lovely nascent complexity perking up the long and vibrant finish. This is really a very well-made wine and a terrific value. 2015-2035.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Weingut Karthauserhof Eitelsbacher Karthauserhofberg Riesling Kabinett, Mosel 2014 750ML ($34.95) $29 special, 30 bottles available
Weingut Karthauserhof Eitelsbacher Karthauserhofberg Riesling Kabinett, Mosel 2014 1.5L ($89.95) $69 special, 3 magnums available
John Gilman 93+ points “The 2014 Eitelsbacher Karthäuserhofberg Kabinett is a terrific young Kabinett in this vintage that has produced some many excellent examples of this Prädikat level. The wine wafts from the glass in a very impressively complex and utterly classic constellation of green apple, a touch of white cherry, complex minerality, a touch of petrol, white flowers, a bit of wild yeasts, lemon zest and a whiff of ocean breeze in the upper register. On the palate the wine is medium- bodied, mineral and beautifully filigreed, with a nice core of fruit, bright, ripe acids, excellent focus and grip and a very long, dancing and youthful finish of excellent potential. A paradigm of its Prädikat level. 2015-2035+”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $32.99
Weingut Karthauserhof Eitelsbacher Karthauserhofberg Riesling Spatlese, Mosel 2014 750ML ($49.95) $33 special, 32 bottles available
Weingut Karthauserhof Eitelsbacher Karthauserhofberg Riesling Spatlese, Mosel 2014 1.5L ($99.95) $69 special, 2 magnums available
John Gilman 94 points “The 2014 Spätlese from the Karthäuserhofberg has a bit more residual sugar in evidence on the nose than I would have expected, but when one tastes the blaze of mineral and snappy backbone of acidity on the palate, one realizes why this is so, as the three elements are in perfect harmony in the mouth. The bouquet is bright, primary and very promising, as it wafts from the glass in a blend of pear, white cherry, beautiful slate minerality, bee pollen, just a touch of sea salts and a topnote of spring flowers. On the palate the wine is medium-full, rock solid at the core and beautifully balanced, with brisk acids, great mineral drive, laser-like focus and a very long, filigreed and still quite youthful finish. Despite the nose suggesting a more generous style of Spätlese on first impression, this is actually a very classically proportioned, mineral and racy bottle that needs some time in the cellar to really blossom, but should prove to be one of the top Spätlesen of the vintage. Great juice. 2018-2040+.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Weingut Karthauserhof Eitelsbacher Karthauserhofberg Riesling Auslese, Mosel 2014 750ML ($59.95) $39 special, 9 bottles available
Weingut Karthauserhof Eitelsbacher Karthauserhofberg Riesling Auslese, Mosel 2014 375ML ($39.95) $24 special, 20 half-bottles available
Weingut Karthauserhof Eitelsbacher Karthauserhofberg Riesling Auslese, Mosel 2014 1.5L ($119.95) $79 special, 6 magnums available
John Gilman 94 points “I did not have a chance to taste the 2014 Auslese AP #12 on my trip last March and was very happy to have a chance to visit it prior to launching into the excellent vertical of Grosses Gewächs generously prepared by the estate. This is an absolutely superb bottle of young Auslese, wafting from the glass in a gently glazed blend of pear, white cherry, honeycomb, salty slate, orange zest and a pungent floral topnote redolent of cherry blossoms. On the palate the wine is fullish, racy and very long, with excellent focus and cut, excellent complexity and a long, vibrant and very poised finish. Classy juice. 2018-2050. 94.
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Arriving in September
History runs deep at Chateau de Montfaucon
Chateau de Montfaucon Chateauneuf-du-Pape Baron de Montfaucon, Rhone 2015 750ML ($49.95) $39 pre-arrival special
Winery note “The spirit I search for in Montfaucon wines is elegance and finesse. I like wines that are complex, but also enjoyable and easy to drink; like the wines of Burgundy, but working with the Southern Rhône varietals and climate. All my work is to find harmony and balance in the wine.”
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In Stock Now from Chateau Montfaucon
Chateau de Montfaucon Lirac Blanc Comtesse Madeleine, Rhone 2015 750ML ($19.95) $16 special, 13 bottles available
Wine Advocate 90 points “I loved both of the whites from this terrific estate, and their 2015 Lirac Comtesse Madeleine Blanc (50% Marsanne, 20% Grenache Blanc and the rest Clairette and Picpoul) is a salty, medium-bodied, nicely concentrated white that makes you salivate. Pineapple, apple blossom, brioche and plenty of minerality emerge from the glass and it will shine on the dinner table over the coming year or two (or more).”
Wine Spectator 90 points “Offers a juicy, plump feel, with melon, green fig and apple notes bouncing off the ginger and heather accents. Macadamia nut notes caress the finish and echo pleasantly.”
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Chateau de Montfaucon Les Gardettes, IGP Gard 2012 750ML ($14.95) $11.90 special, 9 bottles available
Winemaker Notes “Les Gardettes are the two towers that guard the entrance to the castle. In accordance with the ’Montfaucon’ spirit and quality, these wines are very convivial, easy drinking and easy to match with all types of food. With an attractive price, Les Gardettes has become a success among the restaurants trade as house wine. Les Gardettes red is a seducing blend of Syrah, Mourvedre and Cinsault with a touch of Grenache yielding a wine full of intense red fruit notes and spice. This is definitely a wine for pleasure.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Chateau de Montfaucon Chateauneuf-du-Pape Baron de Montfaucon, Rhone 2014 750ML ($39.95) $33 special, 24 bottles available
Wine Spectator 89 points “This has a lovely, silky feel along the edges, while the core of dark plum and boysenberry fruit notes stretches out through the anise- and shiso leaf-tinged finish. Drink now through 2022.”
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Arriving in April 2018
2013 Produttori del Barbaresco Crus
“Two thousand thirteen …is shaping up to be an epic vintage of classic proportions and superb pedigree. The growing season was much more stable than 2012, but it is the last month of the year, a perfect September with warm days and cool nights, that yielded Barbarescos endowed with regal intensity. The 2013s remind me of the 2010s, but with more inner sweetness and mid-palate richness.” –Antonio Galloni
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