Caprili at the Best Price in the Country
Caprili has become one of the most notable names when talking about Brunello producers whose star is on the rise. Founded relatively recently for a Tuscan estate, in 1965, the small family producer has continued to turn out some of the most exciting, traditionally styled wines from the Brunello appellation, though only recently has their name become a buzzword in industry circles.
Stylistically, these are powerful wines, with rich full textures and intense aromatics. Fermentations here are long and in stainless, with grapes spending 25+ days on the skins before going into large format, old Slavonian oak barrels for a full three years before botting. We have the best price in the country on the soon-to-be-classic 2012 Caprili Brunello, arriving in a couple of weeks, and wanted to give you the first shot at them before they hit the shelves.
Arriving ETA February 2nd:
Caprili Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Tuscany 2012 750ML ($59.95) $33.50 pre-arrival special
Case-6 Caprili Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Tuscany 2012 750ML ($319.95) $189 pre-arrival special (that’s only $31.50/bottle!)
Wine Spectator 94 points “Appealing aromas and flavors of cherry, almond, leather, iron and earth are the hallmarks of this muscular red. Remains fresh and persists on the aftertaste, with echoes of iron and tobacco. Best from 2021 through 2035. 3,500 cases made.”
Ian D’agata – Vinous 93 points “Bright deep red. Very perfumed, pure aromas of raspberry, red cherry, flint and violet. Juicy but dense, with vibrant acidity lifting the floral berry and cherry flavors on the long mineral finish, characterized by an especially silky mouthfeel. Knockout Brunello.”
Wine Enthusiast 93 points “Truffle, leather, mature black-skinned fruit and carob aromas emerge from this powerful red. The full-bodied palate delivers succulent wild cherry, black raspberry, licorice, pipe tobacco and grilled herb flavors with big, chewy tannins. Drink 2019–2027.”
The average price is $46
New Wines for our January Clearance Sale
Michel Gahier is one of the undisputed stars of the Jura, known for his intense mineral-drenched Chardonnay and funky, elegant Trousseau from Arbois. More specifically, Gahier (and neighbor Jacques Puffeney) are located in Montigny-les-Arsures, right in the heart of the appellation and the original home of the Trousseau grape in the Jura. The wines he makes are incredibly traditional—sous voile (oxidized and “under the veil”) for most of the whites and in old neutral oak for the reds.
More importantly, all of the wines are parcel specific and show wonderful personality. The Puffeney influence shows, but these wines are more elegant and less rustic than his mentor and neighbor. We only have a few of each left, but we’re adding them to our January Closeout Sale. These are brilliant examples of the Jura and deserve to be in your cellar today.
Michel Gahier Arbois Les Crets Chardonnay, Jura 2012 750ML ($34.95) Was $29, Now $24 special, 3 bottles in stock now
Importer (Neal Rosenthal) Note “The grapes for this cuvée are sourced from a hilltop vineyard (Les Crets meaning “crest of the hill”) where the Chardonnay has been grafted onto the rootstock of the local grape variety known as “Melon Queue Rouge”. The wine is aged for about fifteen months in large foudre and is then racked into the smaller format (600 liter) demi-muid for another year of elevage.”
Importer’s Note: This cuvée, again from a single vineyard in Montigny, is aged for one year in large foudres at which point it is then racked into smaller barrel for an additional three years “sous voile”. Called Chardonnay, the vines are of the local variety known as “Melon Queue Rouge”, a white grape the skin color of which bleeds towards red as it approaches the stem.
Importer note “This vineyard in Montigny has a northeast exposure which requires a harvest later than the other “cru” reds. The vines are forty years old (as of 2011). Gahier likes this cuvée with about four or five years of age to it.”
Importer note “10% PN, 90% Trousseau. 15% of a 2.0 ha parcel (the rest is planted to Chard).”
Domaine Huet Vouvray ‘Le Mont’ Demi-Sec, Loire 2015 750ML ($59.95) Was $49, Now $36 special
Wine Advocate 96 points “The 2015 Vouvray Le Mont Demi-Sec is deep, rich and flinty on the nose, with caramel and vegetable flavors indicating a great complexity. Full-bodied, dense and powerful, this is highly complex and persistent, yet refreshing and transparent Chenin with a juicy fruit and lots of grip, energy and tension. Rather demure at the moment, this enormously structured wine has a great aging potential and I recommend to store it for 6-10 years, at least.”
John Gilman 95 points “The 2015 Le Mont Demi-Sec from Domaine Huët is an outstanding young wine, with even more depth and potential than the superb Le Haut Lieu Demi. The bouquet is bottomless, delivering scents of pineapple, sweet quince, incipient notes of honey, chalky minerality, a touch of lanolin, floral tones redolent of buttercups and lovely, esthery citrus elements in the upper register. On the palate the wine is pure, full-bodied, beautifully balanced and displays stunning depth at the core, with lovely acidity (particularly for the vintage!), great focus and grip and a very, very long, primary and exceptional finish. This does not have the backend cut or grip of a vintage such as 2007 or 2008, but it is going to be a great example of Domaine Huët Demi-Sec. It is deceptively easy to drink today, but its true apogee is at least a decade or more out from the vintage! 2016-2075. 95.”
Wine Spectator 94 points “Quite ripe, with tropical mango and papaya notes mixed with peach, apple and quince flavors. Pretty ginger and heather details fill in the background, while the finish shows a well-embedded mineral edge, imparting tension to match the opulence. Best from 2017 through 2030.”John Gilman 95 points “The 2015 Demi-Sec from the Clos du Bourg is the lowest level of sweetness from this vineyard in the Domaine Huët stable in 2015 and the wine has magical potential. The bouquet shows a bit more botrytis influence than is the case in the superb Le Mont Demi-Sec, soaring from the glass in a gently glazed constellation of pineapple, a hint of guava, candied quince, lanolin, a touch of honeycomb, beautiful underlying minerality and a topnote of citrus peel. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied, complex and rock solid at the core, with a lovely sense of vinosity already in evidence, despite the wine’s still youthful profile. The acids are bright and beautifully buried in the fruit, with excellent soil signature, lovely focus and grip and a very long, beautifully balanced finish. This is more overtly exotic in personality than the Le Mont Demi-Sec in this vintage, but it is hard to say that it will ultimately be superior- perhaps just different. Another great wine. 2016-2075. 95.”
Importer note “This ancient, walled vineyard has the estate’s shallowest, stoniest soils. The wines are rich and intense. Many consider this to be Vouvray’s finest single vineyard site. Size: 6 hectares Orientation: South-facing Soil: Limestone-rich clay soils — the stoniest of the three crus. Viticulture: The vines are farmed using biodynamic methods and harvested by hand.
Wine Spectator 95 points “Offers a big, broad feel, with layers of glazed pear, apple and peach falling over each other, backed by fresh ginger, honeysuckle and quince notes. Everything pulls together through the finish, with green tea accents and racy minerality providing the foil. Drink now through 2035.”
John Gilman 94 points “The 2015 Le Haut Lieu Moelleux from Domaine Huët is a superb wine in the making, with its glaze of botrytis beautifully managed and the wine showing excellent potential on both the nose and palate. The bouquet offers up a pure and complex mélange of sweet quince, orange, honey, just a whisper of lanolin, beautiful chalky soil tones, a whisper of the leather to come, citrus zest and a topnote of dried flowers. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied, complex and beautifully balanced, with bright acids, a lovely core and outstanding focus and grip on the very long, refined and nicely glazed finish. This will be all apricot, honey and tea leaves in the future, but it is so good to drink out of the blocks, that it is going to be hard not to open bottles in its more exotic youthful period. 2016-2085. 94.”
Wine Advocate 92+ points “The 2015 Vouvray Le Haut-Lieu Moelleux displays open and elegant ripe fruit (pineapples, oranges) with some dusty flavors of crushed rocks. Powerful but full of finesse and elegance, this is a piquant and stimulating sweet wine with grip and tension. However, I find it rather less complex than the Sec and the Demi-Sec.”
Wine Spectator 96 points “Gorgeous from the get-go, featuring creamed melon, yellow apple and persimmon notes that glide effortlessly, inlaid with hints of green tea, verbena, heather and quince. The long finish has beautiful flow, with a buried mineral edge imparting freshness while the fruit plays out. Best from 2018 through 2040.”
John Gilman 95+ points “Domaine Huët’s 2015 Première Trie from the Le Haut Lieu vineyard is more primary and reserved in personality than the straight Moelleux bottling, but deeper, more pristine and ever more promising. The bouquet shows a beautiful glaze of clean botrytis in its aromatic blend of pineapple, sweet quince, tangerine, honey, a lovely cornerstone of soil, orange peel, dried flowers and a bit of smokiness in the upper register. On the palate the wine is pure, focused and full-bodied, with marvelous depth and balance, bright acids, great complexity to come and stunning length and bounce on the superbly energetic and seamless finish. This has a bit of that early vinosity that was found in the Clos du Bourg Demi-Sec and augurs very, very well for its future development! 2020-2085. 95+.”
Wine Advocate 96 points “The apricot/golden colored 2015 Vouvray Le Mont Moelleux shows a very intense, elegant and also subtle bouquet of ripe fruit intermixed with flinty aromas. Dense, piquant and concentrated on the palate, this is a great and tension-filled Chenin with grip and persistence, but also great finesse and elegance. This is a highly complex and energetic, but also light-footed and stimulating wine with lots of mouthwatering salinity. A fascinating Chenin with great aging potential.”
John Gilman 95 points “The 2015 Vouvray “Le Mont” Moelleux from Domaine Huët is yet another brilliant wine from the estate in this vintage, soaring from the glass in a nicely botrytized blend of apple, quince, honeycomb, dried flowers, a touch of dusty chalkiness, orange peel and an exotic topnote of sweet corn in the upper register. On the palate the wine is pure, full-bodied, focused and more primary in personality than the Le Haut Lieu Moelleux, with a rock solid core, great focus and grip, lovely framing acids and impeccable balance on the very, very long and stunning finish. This is less developed than the 2015 Le Haut Lieu Moelleux, but it seems to have even superior potential for the long haul! Great juice. 2020-2085. 95.”
Wine Spectator 94 points “Offers ginger- and hibiscus-infused creamed yellow apple, quince and pear notes, gilded with a whiff of piecrust. All the elements meld through the long, rippling finish. Drink now through 2035.”
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 92-94 points “Brilliant ruby. A powerfully scented bouquet evokes ripe red and dark berries, incense and pungent flowers, and a smoky Indian spice nuance builds in the glass. Fleshy and broad on entry and then tighter in the middle, offering juicy, concentrated black raspberry and boysenberry flavors given spine by juicy acidity. Rich yet energetic, finishing with outstanding clarity and sweet persistence and shaped by smooth tannins.”
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 94 points “Ruby-red. Very pungent, deep aromas of tobacco- and underbrush-laced red and blackcurrant. Powerful and rich, showing impressive sweetness to its potent cassis and blackberry flavors. Really stains the palate, finishing with exceptional purity and mineral tones. Whatever tannins are here (and you know there are plenty) are completely absorbed by the sheer fruit mass.”
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.”
Wine Advocate 96 points “Up in the top handful of wines in the vintage (which should come as no surprise to anyone who follows this estate), the 2012 Châteauneuf du Pape Vieilles Vignes is a full-bodied, beautifully concentrated, rich and layered Châteauneuf that doesn’t put a foot wrong. Made from 85% Grenache, 10% Mourvedre and the rest Syrah, it offers blockbuster notes of blackberry, liquid-violets, spice and serious minerality to go with awesome mid-palate depth and layers of sweet tannin. Like the Cuvee Chaupin, it will be better in another handful of years and thrill through 2027”
Limited Availability, Unlimited Potential
The nature of Long Shadows has always been promotional, to some extent—and that’s a good thing. When Allen Shoup created the collection of wineries, the goal was never to make money, just to showcase how incredible the wines of Washington could be. He brought in the highest profile winemakers from around the world, gave them each a stake in their personal winery label and sat back while they did their magic.
The results have been astounding—these are some of the most magical wines produced in the state, which is exactly what you’d expect from some of the best winemakers of the world with an army of resources at their disposal. We’ve got special pricing on these wines, but only six bottles of each—the result of breaking down the holiday gift boxes. Additionally, if you’re picking up the wines and get six bottles, we’ll package them up in a handsome wooden box.
Pedestal:
Michel Rolland selects the Merlot from the Conner Lee, Dionysus and Benches Vineyards to produce an unusually complex Merlot. Tapteil Vineyards Cabernet gives it its strength and extra richness. The wine shows intense, fruit-forward notes, bursting with fresh blueberries, ripe plum, cedar and spice. Good concentration in the wine adds to its pleasing mouth feel; balanced acidity enhances its appeal. Supple tannins are well-integrated on the entry, across the mid-palate and throughout a long, layered finish.
Long Shadows Pedestal Merlot, Columbia Valley 2014 750ML ($69.95) $59 special, 6 bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck – Wine Advocate 95 points “I loved the 2014 Pedestal Merlot and it’s 81% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Malbec and 2% Petit Verdot. It offers a downright voluptuous and incredibly sexy style in its ripe blackcurrants, toasted spice, chocolate and licorice aromas and flavors. Broad, expansive, layered and pleasure bent, with ripe tannin, it’s a knockout Merlot that’s going to have 10-15 years of drinkability.”
Saggi:
Saggi is a blend from father and son team Ambrogio and Giovanni Folonari of Cabernet Sauvignon, Sangiovese (from a 1993 planting) and Syrah. Dark cherry aromas and raspberry flavors combine with a hint of nutmeg and smoky earthiness. An elegant entry in the front of the mouth reveals refined tannins with focused concentration, enhanced by the wine’s rich and supple mouth feel.
Long Shadows Saggi, Columbia Valley 2015 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 6 bottles in stock now
Winery Note “Among Tuscany’s oldest and most prestigious wine families, Ambrogio and Giovanni Folonari teamed with Allen Shoup to produce a wine that showcases Washington state’s terroir with plenty of Italian character. Saggi (meaning “wisdom”) is a blend of Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Syrah.”
Chester-Kidder:
The back bone of this wine is Cabernet from Walla Walla and nearby Candy Mountain. Its deepness and darkness is Syrah from the estate’s Benches Vineyards with a touch of Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc. Aromas of dried figs and cocoa powder, along with hints of tamarind and toasty oak are followed by intense violent and blueberry jam flavors beautifully integrated around a spicy core.
Long Shadows Chester Kidder Red, Columbia Valley 2014 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 6 bottles in stock now
Stephen Tanzer – Vinous 93 points “(15.3% alcohol): Bright red-ruby. Musky, slightly high-toned aromas of dark raspberry, black olive, licorice and smoked meat are lifted by a violet topnote. Wonderfully sweet, densely packed wine with terrific fruit intensity and substantial baby fat. This creamy, horizontal blend finishes plush and long, with serious, broad palate- and tooth-coating tannins, a distinct spiciness and no rough edges. A very harmonious 2014.”
Randy Dunn selects the Cabernet Sauvignon the Feather from a diversity of sites: the estate Benches Vineyards for dark fruit and earthiness, the Wahluke Slope for structure and ripe tannins, and two of Washington State’s oldest vineyards, Weinbau and Dionysus, for complexity. The wine is concentrated and beautifully balanced, offering an array of fresh berry aromas, complimented by spicy, dark cherry and dried current flavors that persist on the palate.
Long Shadows ‘Feather’, Columbia Valley 2014 750ML ($69.95) $51.90 special, 6 bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck – Wine Advocate 93+ points “Made by Napa Valley’s Randy Dunn, the 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Feather is going to reward those with patience. Clean and pure, with a straight, focused style, it has classic crème de cassis, crushed violets and graphite aromatics, medium to full-bodied richness and fine, polished tannin. It needs 2-3 years of bottle age and will shine over the following decade or more.”
Stephen Tanzer – Vinous 93 points “(14.7% alcohol): Bright red-ruby. Inviting, fully ripe aromas of red- and blackcurrant, menthol, licorice and minerals. A juicy, shapely wine with dark berry and graphite flavors complicated by a captivating herbal quality. I love the combination of sweetness and floral lift. Finishes with firm but suave tannins, a strong mineral impression lifting the wine’s intense fruit. In a rather Napa Valley style.”
John Duval, formerly of the iconic Penfolds Grange, uses grapes from the Benches Vineyard for its dark flavored fruit, the Red Mountain Vineyard adds structure, and Boushey Vineyards add elegance. A generous and concentrated wine of great character. Almond, dark chocolate and cherry notes fill the glass, complemented by hints of black licorice, blackberry, cocoa powder and a touch of smoke.
Long Shadows Sequel Syrah, Columbia Vallley 2015 750ML ($69.95) $59 special, 6 bottles in stock now
Winery Note “John Duval, formerly of Australia’s iconic Penfolds Grange, chose the Columbia Valley as his “Sequel” for the continuation of his life’s work with Syrah.”
Pirouette:
A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot and Merlot, made by the incomparable Phillipe Melka of Napa Valley fame. Richly layered and complex, with a generous spectrum of aromas and flavors including black cherry, sweet spices and a hint of earth. The wine’s refined texture provides a seductive mouth feel and lengthy finish
Long Shadows Pirouette, Columbia Valley 2014 750ML ($69.95) $49 special, 6 bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck – Wine Advocate 94+ points “Made by Philippe Mekla, the 2014 Pirouette checks in as a blend of 57% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Petit Verdot, 17% Merlot, 7% Cab Franc and a splash of Malbec. This inky colored beauty gives up tons of graphite, toasted spice, dried herbs and chocolatey dark fruit, full-bodied richness, building, ripe tannin and a great finish. It’s another killer wine from this estate, and possibly the best to date.”
Stephen Tanzer – Vinous 93 points “(15% alcohol): Bright red-ruby. Clean aromas and flavors of cassis, raspberry, licorice and milk chocolate. Fat, velvety and sweet but also conveys an impression of youthful energy and a medicinal reserve. This very harmonious blend finishes with a serious dose of broad, dusty tannins and palate-saturating length. Very sexy use of oak here.”
Untamed Cote Rotie
Bernard Levet has moved from an unsung hero of the Northern Rhone to a genuine star. The Cote Rotie he bottles is unlike anyone else’s. Feral, tannic and uncompromising, his wines need time to blossom, but when they do, there’s nothing in the world of Syrah (or wine, in general) quite like them. These should disappear very quickly, so if you’re interested, now’s the time to act—these are only going to become more scarce and hard to find.
Arriving Friday:
Vignobles Bernard Levet Cote Rotie La Chavaroche, Rhone 2014 750ML ($69.95) $59 pre-arrival special
Josh Raynolds – Vinous 94 points “Bright purple. A deeply perfumed, complex bouquet evokes ripe cherry and blueberry, along with complicating notes of candied flowers, incense, bacon fat and smoky Indian spices. Sappy and expressive, offering palate-staining, smoke-tinged black and blue fruit liqueur and floral pastille flavors underscored by a vein of juicy acidity. Shows superb clarity and lift on the youthfully tannic, floral-accented finish, which lingers with outstanding tenacity.”
Josh Raynolds – Vinous 94 points “(Aged in all older foudres). Dark purple. Powerful, strongly perfumed blackberry and cherry liqueur scents pick up sexy floral and spicecake nuances and a hint of smokiness with aeration. Rich, seamless and broad on the palate, offering concentrated yet lively black and blue fruit and violet pastille flavors energized by juicy acidity and an intense mineral quality. Finishes smooth, sweet and extremely long, with velvety tannins and a strong echo of peppery spices and smoky minerals.”
Rhone Cote of Many (Two) Colors
Yves Cuilleron may make the most successful and diverse set of wines in the Northern Rhone. While he’s best known for his Condrieu and Cote Rotie, he also makes a stunning set of wines from St. Joseph and St. Peray, as well as Cornas and Crozes-Hermitage. Unlike a large negociant, he owns his vines, most of them old massale selections that his family assembled through the three generations since the domaine was founded.
These are wines that are decidedly classic representations of their appellation—they lean toward the modern in their polish and their lack of brett-induced funk, but never to the point of being manipulated. These are just pure, exciting examples of their various appellations. Cuilleron trained as an engineer before taking over the family domaine and it shows in the wines—they seem measured and precise in their fruit and their balance.
One other thing that makes Yves’ wines stand out is how excellent both the reds and the whites are. Often, especially for producers in the Rhone, we see a genuine talent on one side or the other but Cuilleron manages to make compelling wines in both colors. The whites, from both Marsanne and Viognier (depending on the appellation) are less oaked and showy than the wines from Guigal or Chapoutier, for example, and show extremely precise flavors that work brilliantly at the table. The reds, too, are excellent with food, but with rich textures and a brightness that’s unusual for wines of that sort of power.
We’re excited to get in the range of wines in from two fantastic vintages—2015 for red and 2016 for white, and these are wines that should not be missed. 2015 is about a perfect a red Northern Rhone vintage as you’d hope for, as you may have discovered (Yves believes it to the best red vintage he’s ever made, and his first year was 1987). 2016 is equally brilliant on the white side, with bright fruit and intense minerality. The whole lineup is exciting and we can’t pick favorites, so we’d just buy as much (and what) the budget allows. To buy all of these exciting bottles (and anything else we have in stock) just head to our website, www.vinopoliswineshop.com, call the store or reply to this email!
Arriving ETA February:
Whites:
Cave Yves Cuilleron Condrieu Les Chaillets, Rhone 2016 750ML ($79.95) $69 pre-arrival special
Importer (Neal Rosenthal) Note “This cuvée is sourced from the best exposed and the oldest Viognier vines of the domaine (south-southeast exposure, planted on terraces in the commune of Chavanay). Barrel-fermented and barrel-aged with regular batonnage during the nine-month elevage.”
Importer (Neal Rosenthal) Note “The vineyards of Viognier are planted on terraces with a south-southeast exposure in the commune of Chavanay. The wine is barrel-fermented and barrel-aged; the elevage is nine months with regular batonnage occurring.”
Importer (Neal Rosenthal) Note ““Vernon” is a legendary vineyard of biotite-rich granite and due-south exposition—the jewel of the Cote de Vernon, and the greatest and most age-worthy of Cuilleron’s Condrieu. As befits its concentration and pedigree, “Vernon” spends eighteen months in wood barrels, one-third of which are new, with regular batonnages and no racking.”
Importer (Neal Rosenthal) Note “Located in the commune of Saint-Pierre de Boeuf “Digue” is a highly granitic lieu-dit with due-south exposition from which Cuilleron produces this impressive pure-Roussanne Saint-Joseph. Alcoholic and malolactic fermentations occur in barrel with natural yeasts, and are aged for roughly nine months before bottling.”
Importer (Neal Rosenthal) Note “The vineyards for this wine are situated in the village of Chavanay with an east-southeast exposure. The soil is a mix of sand and granite. Both Marsanne and Roussanne are in this blend. The wine is barrel-fermented and barrel-aged; the elevage is nine months.”
Importer (Neal Rosenthal) Note ““Biousse” is on a hillside lieu-dit just south of the village itself where the soil is made up of Pliocene red clays and granite scree. The wine is 100% Marsanne, aged in a higher proportion of small barrels than “Potiers”; elevage is approximately nine months on the lees without racking , but with regular batonage before bottling.”
Importer (Neal Rosenthal) Note “Sourced from several parcels that sit on a gentle slope with southwest exposure in the commune of Saint Péray. The wine is a blend of marsanne and roussanne and is barrel-fermented and barrel-aged for nine months. The wine rests on the lees and batonnage is practiced.”
Cave Yves Cuilleron Cornas Le Village, Rhone 2015 750ML ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival special
Josh Raynolds – Vinous 91-93 points “(aged in new and used barriques for 18 months) Dark ruby. Sexy dark berry, violet pastille and incense aromas are sharpened by black pepper and mineral notes. Displays very good focus and intensity on the palate, offering sweet boysenberry, violet pastille and allspice flavors that show no rough edges. Supple tannins build slowly through a very long, floral-accented finish, where the floral note echoes emphatically.”
Cave Yves Cuilleron Cote Rotie Madiniere, 2015 1.5L ($169.95) $139 pre-arrival special
Josh Raynolds – Vinous 92-94 points “(raised in new and used barriques for 18 months) Brilliant violet. Heady, assertively perfumed aromas of ripe black and blue fruits, incense, vanilla and woodsmoke acquire a suave floral topnote in the glass. Spice-laced blackberry, boysenberry and fruitcake flavors unfold slowly, picking up mineral and cola nuances on the back half. The sweet, supple, extremely long finish is framed by velvety tannins that sneak in late to add gentle grip.”
This is the only listing for a magnum in the USA today!
Josh Raynolds – Vinous 90-92 points “Vivid ruby. Intensely perfumed, spice-accented dark berry and cherry aromas, along with a subtle floral quality. Silky and open-knit, offering expansive black raspberry and candied cherry flavors complemented by notes of cracked pepper, violet and allspice. This is quite elegant for the vintage. Finishes sweet and long, with smooth tannins adding shape.”
Josh Raynolds – Vinous 90-92 points “(raised in used barriques for 18 months) Deep ruby. Smoke- and spice-tinged blackberry and dried cherry aromas are enlivened by a suave floral topnote. Nicely concentrated cassis, bitter cherry and spicecake flavors are complemented by a touch of succulent herbs and a building floral pastille note. Finishes chewy and long, with dusty tannins coming in late to add shape and grip.”
Josh Raynolds – Vinous 92-94 points “(raised in new and used barriques for 18 months) Dark purple. Smoke- and pepper-accented black and blue fruit aromas pick up suggestions of candied licorice, violet and star anise with aeration. Sweet and expansive on the palate, offering intense, mineral-laced cassis, bitter cherry and floral pastille flavors that smoothly combine richness and vivacity. Shows excellent clarity and floral lift on the finish, which features building tannins and an emphatic echo of smoky minerals and peppery spices.”
Cave Yves Cuilleron Condrieu Ayguets, Rhone 2016 500ML ($99.95) $69 pre-arrival special
Importer (Neal Rosenthal) Note “The Viognier for this cuvée is from terraced vineyards in Chavanay with a full south exposure. This site is ideal for providing an extended growing season that permits the development of botrytis and “surmaturité”. The harvest is done with several passes through the vineyards from mid-October through mid –November. The wine is fermented in barrel and the elevage in barrel as well extends for eight months. In general, the “Ayguets” is bottled at about 14% alcohol with 100 or more grams of residual sugar. Only about 2,000 bottles (of 500ml size) are bottled per year.”
Importer (Neal Rosenthal) Note “From granite-infused soils in the village of Chavanay, Cuilleron harvests a mix of Viognier, Marsanne and Roussanne in “surmaturité”, often graced by botrytis. The alcoholic fermentation is long and extends into winter and occurs in a mix of cuve and small barrel. The fermentation stops naturally by the cold of winter and the wine is bottled in the spring with an alcohol level at or near 11% with somewhere around 120 grams of residual sugar (each vintage will reflect slightly different parameters). Production is very limited … approximately 3600 bottles of 500ml size per year.”
The Legendary 2013 Casanova Tenuta Nuova
2013 is about as perfect a vintage as you could ask for in Tuscany, so the Casanova Tenuta Nuova is looking as good as you’d expect. We’ve got some secured, arriving in the fall, and fresh off a hot, 98 point James Suckling review.
Casanova di Neri Tenuta Nuova, Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2013 750ML ($134.95) $99 pre-arrival special
James Suckling 98 points “This is a red that has such depth on the nose with red fruits, mushroom, rose petal and bark. Extremely complex. Full body, powerful and layered. Superb length. Exceptional wine. So much energy. Better in 2022.”
Thanks for reading!