Thursday Night Newsletter 6-30-22

Oregon

Averaen Flood Line Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2018 750ML ($39.95) Was $24, Now $20.90 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-12 Averaen Flood Line Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2018 750ML ($479.95) $228 special (that’s only $19/bottle!)
Wine & Spirits 93 points “This is the new Oregon venture from the California team at Banshee wines. Tasted over three days, this wine changed dramatically. Everything was on display when first poured, with dark oak and sanguine notes, plum and minerals. But it takes time for those elements to harmonize, the wine coming into balance and focus, with a tender mineral give to the tannins that feels flexible and expressive. —P.J.C.”

This was the lowest listed price in the USA today, 
Now it’s even lower!
The average price is $27

Lingua Franca Tongue’n Cheek Pinot Noir, Eola-Amity Hills 2018 750ML ($69.95) Was $49, Now $41.90 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Wine & Spirits 94 points “Tongue ’n Cheek is blended from two blocks with shallow soil at the estate’s hilltop, on a soil series known as Gelderman (drawn from Jory with additional basalt gravels). Of the four Lingua Franca pinots in 2018, this might be the tightest, with the most bound tension and reserved intensity. While it’s still years from peak expression, there is a propulsive energy and power that opens the dark fruit to a hint of red-tinged, cranberry brightness. Give it time. —P.J.C.”
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 93 points “Deep garnet. Expansive cherry and red currant scents, along with hints of botanical herbs and candied flowers. Juicy and penetrating in the mouth, offering black raspberry and bitter cherry flavors that take a sweeter turn through the back half. Finishes very long and subtly chewy, with repeating florality and sneaky, framing tannins. All destemmed fruit; 20% new French oak.”
Wine Enthusiast 93 points “A mix of Pommard and Calera clones, this is a blend that attempts to forge a common ground between sweetly spicy pie-cherry fruit and the more herbal, tannic, austere nature of the Calera fruit. All the parts are there to build a complete and interesting wine. Just add some bottle age—another two or three years at least. -Paul Gregutt”

This was the lowest listed price in the USA today, 
Now it’s even lower!
The next best price is $66

This was the lowest listed price in the USA today, 
Now it’s even lower!
The next best price is $25.99

Sequitur Chardonnay, Ribbon Ridge 2016 750ML ($89.95) Was $66, Now $59 special, 22 bottles in stock now
Josh Raynolds – Vinous 94 points “Pale yellow-gold. Fresh and incisive on the nose, displaying intense citrus and orchard fruit scents complemented by suggestions of toasty lees, iodine and sweet butter. Sappy, penetrating and seamless in texture, offering concentrated pear nectar, peach, tangerine and honeysuckle flavors that deepen slowly on the back half while maintaining energy. Finishes with repeating pear and floral notes, with a late jolt of dusty minerality pulling things together.”
Wine Advocate 93+ points “The 2016 Sequitur Chardonnay has a gregarious nose of spiced, baked yellow apples and warm pineapple with notes of toast, honey, hazelnut and hay. Medium to full-bodied, it fills the mouth with warm orchard and tropical fruits accented by nuances of baking spice, nuts and honey, with a touch of creaminess to the texture, juicy acidity and a long, mineral-laced finish. 85 cases produced.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Washington

Avennia Sestina Red, Columbia Valley 2018 750ML ($79.95) Was $69, Now $59 special, 20 bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 96+ points “A blend of 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Franc, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Sestina comes from the Red Willow, Dionysus, and Bacchus vineyards and spent 20 months in 48% new French oak barrels. A beautiful, Saint-Julien-like bouquet of blackcurrants, cassis, violets, tobacco, and cedar gives way to a medium to full-bodied, concentrated, structured wine that builds incrementally on the palate, with ripe, velvety tannins, a stunning mid-palate, and a blockbuster of a finish. It’s beautifully done, and while it drinks well today given its balance, purity, and texture, it’s going to develop additional complexity with 3-5 years of bottle age and will have 20-25 years of overall longevity.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Avennia Arnaut Boushey Vineyard Syrah, Yakima Valley 2018 750ML ($69.95) Was $59, Now $49 special, 13 bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 97 points “The 2018 Syrah Arnaut Boushey Vineyard is all varietal and was 85% destemmed and aged 16 months in 15% new French oak. Offering an Hermitage-like meatiness as well as lots of black and blue fruits, full-bodied richness, a round, expansive texture, and beautiful violet, floral, and gamey aromas and flavors, it’s brilliant, concentrated red delivering notable ripeness as well as a plenty of underlying structure and tannins. Again, a comparison to a top Hermitage comes closest in comparison. Give bottles 2-4 years and enjoy over the following 10-15 years.”
Wine Enthusiast 96 points “Coming from one of the state’s top Syrah vineyards, the aromas explode from the glass, with notes of iron, bacon, earth and whiffs of orange peel along with blue and black fruit. Dense, intense rich fruit and savory flavors follow, showing weight and volume. But it’s the exquisite balance that most impresses on this standout wine. Best after 2024. -Sean P. Sullivan”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

California

Mount Eden Vineyards Wolff Vineyard Chardonnay, Edna Valley 2017 750ML ($27.95) Was $21.90, Now $19 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Erin Brooks-Wine Advocate 93 points “This comes mostly from the Wolff vineyard with some fruit from the Middle Ranch vineyard. The 2017 Edna Valley Chardonnay opens with wonderful aromas of honeycomb, orange blossoms, saline, crushed shell and loads of baked apple and quince with an earthy undercurrent. The palate is medium-bodied, satiny and intense, with seamless freshness on the finish, which lingers with honeyed notions.”

This was the lowest listed price in the USA today, 
Now it’s even lower!
The next best price is $24.99

Sandhi Zuni Chardonnay, Santa Barbara County 2019 750ML ($34.95) Was $21.90, Now $19 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-12 Sandhi Zuni Chardonnay, Santa Barbara County 2019 750ML ($399.95) Was $239, Now $219 special (that’s only $18.25/bottle!)
Winery note “If you’ve ever sat at San Francisco’s iconic Zuni Café with a plate of oysters in front of you while you wait for the iconic whole roast chicken, you may have had a glass or two of this collaboration between longtime friends Rajat Parr of Sandhi and Zuni wine director Thierry Lovato.  The wine is a barrel selection from some of Sandhi’s iconic Sta. Rita Hills sites, (think Mt. Carmel, Sanford & Benedict) with enough own-rooted, 1973 Wente selection Bien Nacido Chardonnay blended in to warrant a Santa Barbara County designation.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Patz & Hall Chenoweth Ranch Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley 2013 750ML ($69.95) Was $39, Now $29 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Wine Enthusiast 94 points “This lush, voluptuous and tenderly textured wine is still grippy in its youth. Dark cherry, cranberry and pomegranate round out the layers of juicy fruit, buoyed by rocky minerality, measured oak and firm tannins. Medium bodied, it can be enjoyed with or without a meal. -Virginie Boone”
Antonio Galloni 92 points “(15% alcohol, but this was the first of these vineyards to be picked in 2013): Pure aromas of cherry, dark berries, mulled spices and rooty underbrush. Fat, thick and sweet but suave, showing sexy, savory soil tones and a rather opulent texture. Finishes with sweet, fine-grained tannins and sneaky length. (ST)”
Decanter 92 points “This is plush and polished, with fine French oak (about two-thirds new) lending an almost floral overtone of peony to the black and red cherry fruit on the nose. The palate is full and juicy, with ripe but fresh cherry, rich yet toned. Beautifully balanced. Drinking Window 2018 – 2028.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Daniel Cohn Bellacosa Cabernet Sauvignon, North Coast 2016 750ML ($24.95) Was $16, Now $14 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
“Beef and smoke aromas and brown sugar and spice flavors give this full-bodied wine more of an oaky than a fruity personality. It has a good firm structure of light tannins and firm acidity, so it’s appetizing and fresh on the palate. Jim Gordon” -Wine Enthusiast

This was the lowest listed price in the USA today, 
Now it’s even lower!
The next best price is $19.99

Fornacina Brunello di Montalcino DOCG Tuscany 2016 750ML ($54.95) $39 special
Case-6 Fornacina Brunello di Montalcino DOCG Tuscany 2016 750ML ($319.95) $219 special (that’s only $36.50/bottle and the lowest listed price in the USA today!)
James Suckling 96 points “This is a ripe and full red with complex aromas of cedar, cloves, tobacco and dried mushrooms. Distinct, earthy quality underneath ripe plums and licorice. Layers of chocolatey tannins. Black truffles, too. From organically grown grapes. Better after 2024.”
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 93 points “The Fornacina 2016 Brunello di Montalcino opens to a darkly saturated appearance and toasted aromas of roasted nut backed by dark blackberry fruit. Made with organic fruit, this Brunello is fermented in stainless steel and aged in large oak casks in a traditional and straightforward manner. Production in this vintage is 10,000 bottles. There is lot of intensity here, and the wine draws its power not only from the fruit, but also in large part from the oak aging. Indeed, its fruit-driven aromas share equal billing with campfire ash and smoked cedar or mahogany.”

Beautiful now but promises to become a work of art after more time in the cellar.   
Ferrer Bobet Priorat DOCa 2016 750ML ($59.95) $49 special
Case-6 Ferrer Bobet Priorat DOCa 2016 750ML ($359.95) $279 special (that’s only $46.50/bottle!) 
James Suckling 97 points “Such purity of ripe blackberries and dark cherries, as well as redder, cherry notes, really makes a striking impression on the nose. The fresh florals and leafy nuances are followed by such pure berries and red plums. The tannins are stunning, so polished and perfectly formed, holding super long and fresh. Wow. Drink or hold.” 

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $65

 
Iconic and avant-garde, these are unabashedly modern
Parusso Armando ‘Perarmando’ Barolo DOCG 2017 750ML ($64.95) $54.50 special
Case-12 Parusso Armando ‘Perarmando’ Barolo DOCG 2017 750ML ($699.95) $599 special (that’s only $49.92/bottle and the lowest listed price in the USA today!)
Antonio Galloni 96 points “The 2017 Barolo Perarmando is a wine Marco and Tiziana Parusso made to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the first vintage bottled by their father, Armando. It is a blend of the estate’s vineyards, approximately 50% Bussia, 30% Mosconi and 20% Mariondino. Absolutely stellar from the very first taste, the Perarmando is compelling. Sweet rose petal, mint, sage and red berry nuances lift from the glass. A touch of whole clusters add character without overpowering the wine’s balance, which is magnificent. This is such a glorious Barolo and one of the wines of the vintage.”
James Suckling 96 points “Very exotic Parusso Barolo as always, with dried fruit, strawberries and tangerines. Full-bodied with chewy tannins and a powerful, intense finish. This is really structured. Needs four or five years to soften. Try in 2025.”

“Giovanna Neri, daughter of Giovanni Neri, founder of Casanova di Neri, is fast becoming a rising star in her own right, producing an outstanding Brunello and worthy successor to the great wines of her father’s at Casanova di Neri.” –Importer note

Col di Lamo Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Tuscany 2016 750ML ($59.95) $44 special
James Suckling 95 points “A complex nose of dried mushrooms, crushed shells and bark. Hints of dried rosemary and thyme give this mouth-watering savoriness. Juicy dark berries and mushrooms on the palate. It’s full-bodied with firm tannins. Chewy. Drink after 2024.”
Jeb Dunnuck 91 points “The 2016 Brunello has baked aromas of fig, tar and turned earth. The palate is savory with tea leaf, cherry pit, and pine resin. It is full-bodied and rich with ripe tannin and warming spice. Col di Lamo is an organic estate. Drink 2021-2028.”

Cavalli Tenuta Degli Dei Toscana IGT 2016 750ML ($59.95) $46 special
James Suckling 97 points “What an amazing nose with pure herbs coming to the fore, soon to be joined by fresh brambleberries, blueberries, violets, heather, lavender, pine needles and forest floor. Full body, chewy but incredibly fine tannins, and tons of floral undertones. Elegant and resoundingly beautiful. Delicious now, but better in 2023.”
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 96 points “The 2016 Tenuta Degli Dei is gorgeous. Power, structure and finesse come together in a wine that impresses for its superb balance and sheer class. Medium in body, but with tremendous fruit density and persistence, the 2016 has so much to offer. Sweet floral notes develop on the finish, adding perfume, lift and sensuality. I would cellar it for at least a few years to allow its full aromatic presence to emerge.”

1990 was billed as the “Vintage of the Century” in Bordeaux, they are just entering their prime drinking window. 
Chateau Lagrange Pomerol 1990 750ML ($99.95) $79 special
Case-6 Chateau Lagrange, Pomerol 1990 750ML ($599.95) $449 special (that’s only $74.83/bottle!) 
Case-12 Chateau Lagrange, Pomerol 1990 750ML ($1199.95) $869 special (that’s only $72.42/bottle!) 
Wine Spectator 94 points “Big, rustic and chewy red. Dark garnet color. Aromas of berries, leaves and wet earth. Full-bodied, with big, velvety tannins and a long coffee, ripe fruit aftertaste.–1990 Bordeaux retrospective.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $94.99

If you’re a fan of opulent Italian reds that are perfect for the table today but also worthy of cellaring.
Santa Barbara Stefano Antonucci ‘Pathos’ Marche Rosso IGT 2017 750ML ($69.95) $49 special
James Suckling 96 points “A dense and rich red with crushed-berry and chocolate character and hints of cedar and sandalwood. Medium to full body. Firm tannins. Extremely polished and opulent. One for the cellar but hard not to drink now.”

 

Nicolas Maillart Platine Premier Cru Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($49.95) $38.50 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Nicolas Maillart Platine Premier Cru Brut, Champagne NV 375ML ($29.95) $24 special, 23 half-bottles in stock now
Grapelive 93 points “I was recently introduced to the exciting Champagne of Nicolas Maillart with his lovely Brut Rosé, but this extremely precise and exceptional Platine Extra Brut really hit my sweet spot and went gloriously with a selection of briny fresh cool water oysters, making a perfect way to end a warm summer celebration. I am in particular fond of Extra Brut… and this Maillart has wonderful balance with plenty of depth and richness on the palate to with the crisp and mineral detail. It also has a luxurious mousse and multidimensional mouth feel. There are hints of white blossoms, racy lemony citrus, leesy/yeasty roundness, clove spice, salty chalk and lingering stone and apple fruit. Everything is alive and brisk without being severe or austere, but there is a fine Pinot Noir based structure here in Maillart’s Extra Brut that delivers the goods. Again this is exactly what I was hoping for in a Champagne, stylish and with real substance, this is well worth searching out and very much priced right. I’ll be enjoying this label and this wine more often in the future. This wine comes from vines in Villers Allerand 1er Cru, Ecueil 1er Cru and Bouzy Grand Cru, all are set on ancient calcareous soils with a vine age over 30 years on average, giving concentration and plenty of terroir influence!”

Also In Stock Now from Nicolas Maillart:

Nicolas Maillart Premier Cru Extra Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($54.95) $45 special, 8 bottles in stock now
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 90 points “A blend of equal parts Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, the NV Extra-Brut Premier Cru was disgorged in February 2019 with three grams per liter dosage. Offering up aromas of crisp green orchard fruit, dried white flowers and citrus oil, it’s medium to full-bodied, racy and incisive, with a perceptibly drier, tangier profile than Maillart’s more enveloping Brut Platine.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

 

Biondi Santi Arriving Friday 

In the beginning there was Biondi Santi….  

Yes, Biondi Santi created the genesis of modern Brunello: the combination of bottling 100% Sangiovese wine from Montalcino, propagating the Sangiovese Grosso clone, and finally (in 1966) helping draft the regulations for the Brunello DOC. The foundational work did not stop there however, with Biondi Santi undertaking some of the first massale or heritage selections on their estate to identify the best clones for winemaking. These results paid off in spades, with Biondi Santi’s genetic material being some of the most sought after clones of Sangiovese in the world. 

Biondi Santi makes Brunello that all other estates are judged against.  Their estate, Il Greppo, occupies some of the most hallowed ground in the Brunello appellation, in the heart of Montalcino.  Their standards are high (they rarely release riservas) and their style defines classic. The wines are powerful, but not overwrought, elegant but emphatic. With the oldest vines on their estate now approaching 90 years old, there’s a level of depth and power in Biondi Santi that’s unprecedented anywhere else in Montalcino. The Rosso Di Montalcino made from their younger plantings and declassified barrels from their other bottlings.

Arriving Friday from Biondi Santi:

Biondi Santi Tenuta Greppo Annata, Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2016 750ML ($269.95) $235 pre-arrival special
Case-6 Biondi Santi Tenuta Greppo Annata, Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2016 750ML ($1,619.95) $1,319 pre-arrival special (that’s only $219.83/bottle!)
Wine Enthusiast 98 points “Cellar Selection. Aromas of rose petal, dark spice, woodland berries and camphor form the nose on this fragrant, elegant wine. Loaded with finesse, the linear, savory palate features red cherry, orange zest, star anise and black tea alongside tightly wound, fine-grained tannins. Bright acidity keeps it impeccably balanced. It’s still youthfully austere, with fantastic aging potential. Drink 2026–2041. -Kerin O’Keefe”
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 97+ points “From a benchmark vintage, the Biondi-Santi 2016 Brunello di Montalcino reveals a gorgeous appearance with medium concentration highlighted by shiny hues of garnet and dark ruby. The first thing you notice is the compact dark fruit and rather robust textural fiber and power presented here. You almost bite into this wine, and you taste some fine grain linked to the young tannins. That, with the fresh acidity that is the hallmark signature of this estate, guarantees long cellar aging, and I would put my money on this vintage for long-long-term longevity. The fruit is compact and supple with dried cherry, blue flower, iron ore and candied orange peel. There is tobacco, balsam herb and gardening soil in a supporting role, and the wine is beautifully fleshed out but also rich in this balanced growing season. It surely needs more time to come together with pinpoint precision, but the wine’s elegance is a certainty.”
Wine Spectator 97 points “This features a well of blackberry and black cherry flavors, along with iron, licorice and fresh herb aromas and flavors. The dense tannins are easily matched by the concentrated flavors, and this shows fine potential, despite the compact finish now. Best from 2025 through 2045. 550 cases imported. — BS”
Eric Guido-Vinous 97 points “The 2016 Brunello di Montalcino is a dark stallion of a wine that showcases both the depth and radiance of the vintage. At first, its bouquet is dark and earthy, yet quickly blossoms into an enthralling mix of musky red currants, wild peppery herbs, dusty rose and worn leather. While satiny in feel, it’s also sleek and lively, with a vibrant burst of sweet and sour citrus that enlivens its notes of tart cranberry and pomegranate, all wound tightly in a web of saline-minerals. Violet and lavender tones arch across the palate over a core of silky tannins that nicely frame the experience, as a hint of balsamic spice slowly tapers off. The 2016 is one of the most deep and balanced Brunellos that I’ve ever experienced from Biondi Santi. If this is the Annata, then I can only imagine what the Riserva might bring to the table. Something of note is that in 2016, production was down by 15% following the abundant 2015 vintage and the dry conditions in the early part of the season.”
Decanter 97 points “Comparing 2015 with 2016, technical director Federico Radi says that the latter is more balanced and aromatic owing to overall cooler temperatures in July and August. It is certainly more in line with Biondi Santi’s angular, austere style and unmistakable in its class and potential. With the utmost restraint, flinty mineral notes make way for scents of dried leaves, forest wildflowers and fresh mint. Perfectly poised on the palate, this is midweight yet plumbs great depths, expressing pomegranate, fennel and orange peel. While its tannins have a certain rigidity and are decidedly linear in direction, they are not massive. It is a rather sneaky wine that needs a few more years in the cellar. Brilliantly succulent finish. Drinking Window 2025 – 2045.”

In Stock Now from Biondi Santi:

Biondi Santi Tenuta Greppo Rosso di Montalcino Tuscany 2018 750ML ($119.95) $99 special, 24 bottles in stock now
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 94 points “Elegant, graceful and fine, the Biondi-Santi 2018 Rosso di Montalcino offers a delicate approach to the senses and it spreads over the palate with polished and silky intensity. The acidity is elevated in this vintage. A handful of historic producers in Montalcino are bringing the Rosso category up to the next level, and the venerable house of Biondi-Santi is one of them. This was a somewhat unusual vintage with prolonged cool spells alternating with moments of intense heat. However, this wine shows even ripening and is quite vibrant and tangy in terms of its acidity. In spectacular Sangiovese style, the wine ends with lingering tones of wild cherry, sweet earth, potting soil and perfumed violet.”

Biondi Santi Tenuta Greppo Annata, Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2012 750ML ($199.95) $169 special, 22 bottles in stock now
Kerin O’Keefe- Wine Enthusiast 96 points “Underbrush, ripe berry, new leather and Mediterranean herb aromas slowly take shape in the glass. Showing youthful tension, the vibrant palate delivers red cherry, pomegranate, white pepper and pipe tobacco notes framed by bright acidity and taut, refined tannins. It already shows great balance and finesse but is still young and tight. Drink 2022-2035.”
James Suckling 95 points “Love the dried lemon rind, florals and red fruits. Medium to full body and a solid core of fruit and spices. Long and flavorful finish. Just a hint of sweet tobacco. Better in 2020.”
 
Biondi Santi Tenuta Greppo Riserva Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2011 750ML ($579.95) $459 special, 14 bottles in stock now
Ian D’Agata-Vinous 94+ points “Dark red. Musky nuances give way to brighter red fruit, licorice and herbal aromas. Rich and dense, with flavors of red cherry and minerals lifted by hints of orange peel and bergamot, not to mention noteworthy but harmonious acidity. Finishes long with youthfully chewy tannins and lingering hints of violet. This strikes me as a slightly readier to drink version of Brunello Riserva from Biondi-Santi, but as always, it improves greatly with aeration so decant at least six hours ahead for maximum enjoyment.”
Wine & Spirits 94 points “A warm summer yielded this rich and opulent 2011 Riserva. Only fruit from the estate’s oldest vines (some up to 80 years of age) makes it into this bottling, and that old-vine concentration shows in the wine’s dense flavors: notes of black cherry and umeboshi plum layered with iodine, basil and smoke. The tightly packed flavors need time to unfold, so it’s best to decant this several hours before serving.”

Biondi Santi Tenuta Greppo Riserva Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 1983 750ML ($1,499.95) $1,199 special, 1 bottle in stock now
***Winery Cellared Release***
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 96 points “[Reviewed July 2021] This precious bottle is part of Biondi-Santi’s late-release program for collectors (I tasted bottle number 10,723). The 1983 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is showing beautifully on its aging timeline, although this bottle is slightly more evolved since I last tasted this vintage in 2019 before the pandemic. With slow and measured determination, the bouquet embraces dried fig, cured bresaola, burnt caramel, wet campfire, dried oregano and a familiar aroma that reminds me of the Florence leather market. However, there is a lot of life and vertical lift in this Riserva, thanks in great part to the beautiful freshness that keeps the tannins alive and adds a pop of pretty acidity to the close. The wine shows its age with pride and grace, and the final results are quite spectacular. In fact, I’m opening the drinking window up by an additional five years thanks to the latitude and depth shown here.”

Shop the complete list of Biondi Santi wines in stock now or shop our Brunello selections!