Clos Sainte Magdeleine Rosé
Anakota Cabernet – Great Name, Big Points
Wine Spectator With New Reviews For 2015 Reynvaan
Appellations of the Northern Rhone: Cornas
#Trending March Clearance Sale Wines
2014 Charlopin: Under the Radar in Gevrey-Chambertin
Truly Super Tuscans (At Super Prices)
Lapierre’s Last Tranche
Cornas, Continued (The Pre-Arrivals)
The 94 Point Clos Sainte Magdeleine Rosé
If you’ve been to Cassis, you know the vineyard—a peninsula of vines that juts out into the bay of Cassis. It might be the most beautiful spot in the world to make wine, surrounded by the bright blue water of the Mediterranean with the Calanques all around. The wine tastes like the place—full of sunshine and brightness. It’s one of the archetypical rosés of Provence and is perfect for getting into a summer frame of mind. Plus, at this price it won’t be around for long.
Newly Reviewed & Arriving Next Friday, March 9th:
Clos Sainte Magdeleine Cassis Rose, Provence 2016 750ML ($39.95) $28 pre-arrival special
Case-12 Clos Sainte Magdeleine Cassis Rose, Provence 2016 750ML ($459.95) $299 pre-arrival special (that’s only $24.92/bottle!)
Grapelive 94 points “One of Provence’s most sought after producers, Clos Sainte Magdeleine crafts mostly Cassis Blanc (a blend of Marsanne, Ugni Blanc and Clairette mostly with a touch of Bourboulenc). In recent years they have been getting lots of attention for their Rose, which is a modern Provence blend of 40% Grenache, 40% Cinsault, 20% Mourvèdre, a rival to the more famous pinks of Bandol and Domaine Tempier. Like Tempier, Clos Sainte Magdeleine is organic and very limited. The grapes come off the regions limestone and clay soils with the red grape vines being between 10 and 40 years old. [The vines are] close to the sea, so there is the saline and cool freshness the Mediterranean brings along with a ripe warm of this sunny South of France place. The Sack-Zafiropulos family has been making wine here for four generations, with Jonathan Sack now producing the wines in the beautiful awe inspiring little coastal port village (Cassis). The wines are a huge hit with those that want authentic crisp wines of character and quality, and they pair well with the local fish based cuisine. While a hit here in the states, largely because of [importer Kermit Lynch]’s tireless promotion of the region’s wines, these wines grab the attention of well-to-do travelers that adventure to Cassis and Marseille. This 2016 is just hitting its stride now. It’s brilliant and intense with a regal sense of austerity and restraint with dust strawberry, earthy watermelon and tart sour cherry along with a peppery/flinty spice, wet stones and saline, which gets your saliva glands pumping along. This is light and brisk, but with a sense of vinous/sensual texture while remaining filled with fresh charm. It’s absolutely perfection in a dry pink. This is a terroir-driven wine of distinction and purity that will drink for a few years.”
The next best price is $30.77
The average price is $35
Rising Star Cabernet With Serious Points
Anakota Wines Helena Dakota Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Knights Valley 2014 750ML ($149.95) $119 pre-arrival special
Robert Parker 98 points “The 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Helena Dakota displays more blackberry, blueberry and graphite, with some flowers such as violets, notes of pen ink, a full-bodied, concentrated, succulent and fleshy mouthfeel, and a long, long finish. This is another 25- to 30-year wine.”
Robert Parker 93+ points “The 2014s are 30-year wines, even in such a supple, easygoing and charming vintage. The 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Helena Montana has an opaque purple color, a beautiful nose of graphite, creosote, incense, blackberry and licorice, and maybe a touch of charcoal and earth. The tannins are soft, and there is enormous fruit as well as a deep, full-bodied mouthfeel and some coffee in the finish. It should drink well for 25-30 years.”
Antonio Galloni 92 points “Anakota’s 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Helena Montana has turned out beautifully. Dark, sumptuous and beautifully resonant in the glass, the 2014 exudes richness. Red cherry jam, raspberry, mint and licorice abound. Flamboyant and opulent, with soft contours and good structure, the 2014 hits all the right notes.”
The average price is $118
2015 Reynvaan
Reynvaan Family Vineyards ‘Foothills in the Sun’ Reserve Syrah, Walla Walla Valley 2015 750ML ($79.95) $69 special, 11 bottles in stock nowWine Spectator 94 points “Impeccably polished and structured, with vivid raspberry and smoky pepper beef aromas that open to elegantly layered cherry, sweet anise and black olive flavors. Drink now through 2024.”
Wine Spectator 94 points “Shows remarkable personality, offering expressive raspberry and bacon fat aromas and deeply structured yet elegant cherry, grilled anise and cracked pepper flavors. Drink now through 2025.”
Wine Spectator 94 points “Combines polish and structure, offering expressive pomegranate and smoked meat aromas and elegantly complex cherry, grilled anise and black olive flavors. Drink now through 2025.”
Reynvaan Family Vineyards ‘The Contender’ Syrah, Walla Walla Valley 2015 750ML ($99.95) $79 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 93 points “Sleek yet impressively structured, with vibrant raspberry and bacon fat aromas and deep, polished plum, green tea and cracked pepper flavors, and refined tannins. Drink now through 2025.”
Weingut Hiedler Loess Gruner Veltliner, Kamptal 2016 750ML ($21.95) $18 special, 10 bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 92 points “A ripe style, this delivers apricot, peach and floral aromas and flavors on a creamy texture, picking up touches of lentil and celery root as citrusy acidity brings this into focus on the long finish. Drink now through 2024.”
Cornas
For sheer intensity of personality, it’s hard to top Cornas. All Syrah from the northern Rhone has its share of richness and power, but the truly special stuff speaks of a specific place and has a distinct persona. The character of Cornas is easy to identify—it’s raw, with a pronounced gaminess and a take-no-prisoners personality. While it’s possible to get Cornas into blueberry jam flavors, the natural state is intensely savory. Yet despite this predilection for rusticity and feralness, there are a stunning number of wines from the appellation that manage to harness that into something like grace and elegance.
Cornas has been a rising star in the last decade or so partly because of that personality and partially because the number of incredible producers working the region. Thierry Allemand and Auguste Clape have established themselves as true superstars in the world of wine, but a number of other producers are making the claim to the same sort of relevance. Simply put, the concentration of talent in Cornas is the highest in the Northern Rhone.
This is the region to go hunting in if you’re looking for the next star on the rise. Franck Balthazar, Vincent Paris, Matthew Barret and a host of other great producers are making spellbinding wines and have a place on our shelves. There’s too much good stuff out there to carry anything even average, but even with our culling we have 35 different bottlings available right now.
We’ve highlighted a few of our favorites below, but you can click here to head to the website and check out the full selection.
In Stock Now:
Domaine Auguste Clape Cornas, Rhone 2011 750ML ($149.95) $119 special, 8 bottles in stock now
Wine Advocate 95 points “Starting with his 2011 Cornas, it’s a rocking wine in the vintage that’s still showing every bit as well as it did on release. Massive minerality, violets, bloody meat and sweet blackcurrant and black raspberry-like fruit all emerge here, and it’s fabulously textured and silky on the palate. It will be interesting to see if this ever shuts down, but right now, it’s a great drink. If you have multiple bottles, give one a try.”
Wine Spectator 95 points “Solidly packed, with a bramble-edged core of dark plum, bitter cherry and black currant fruit, inlaid with bay leaf and savory notes. The serious chalky grip through the finish will need some time to stretch out. Shows terrific interplay between the grip and fruit.”
Josh Raynolds – Vinous 94 points “Bright purple. Powerful, smoke-accented black and blue fruit, candied flowers, licorice, olive and Indian spices on the deeply perfumed nose. Sappy, concentrated and seamless on the palate, offering alluringly sweet blackberry, cherry compote, violet pastille and spicecake flavors that show excellent clarity and mineral lift. Expressive and surprisingly lithe given its depth, finishing with building tannins and impressive, blue-fruit-dominated persistence.”
Matthieu Barret Domaine du Coulet Cornas Billes Noires, Rhone 2011 750ML ($99.95) $79 special, 13 bottles in stock now
Matthieu Barret Domaine du Coulet Cornas Billes Noires, Rhone 2011 1.5L ($199.95) $159 special, 1 magnum in stock now
Wine Advocate 95 points “Even better, the 2011 Cornas Billes Noires, which spends one year in old wood followed by one year in concrete tank, offers blockbuster levels of black raspberry, smoked earth, chocolate, licorice and crushed rock on the nose and palate. Medium to full-bodied, long, elegant and with laser-like focus, it nevertheless does not lack for fruit or texture, and has fine-grained tannin framing the finish beautifully. With a scant 600 cases to go around, there’s not much of it, but don’t miss a chance to grab a couple of bottles if you can. It too will drink well for 10-15 years.”
Wine Advocate 96 points “Coming from the upper part of Cornas and seeing 24 months in 400-500 Liter barrels (none new), the 2012 Cornas Domaine du Coulet Billes Noires is an incredible effort that’s up with the crème de la crème of the vintage. Its inky purple color is followed by an awesome bouquet of cassis, bacon fat, olive, peppered meat and iron, with additional minerality coming through with air. Classic in every way, with full-bodied richness, stunning purity and integrated acidity, it’s a big, brooding and concentrated effort that’s reasonably approachable now due to its fruit and texture, yet won’t hit prime time until 6-7 years after the vintage and will have two decades of longevity.”
Matthieu Barret Domaine du Coulet Cornas Brise Cailloux, Rhone 2011 750ML ($69.95) $41.90 special, 8 bottles in stock now
Wine Advocate 94 points “Starting out, the 2011 Cornas Brise Cailloux offers up textbook Cornas wildness with its gamy, herbal-styled bouquet delivering brilliant fruit (black cherry, raspberry, blueberry), loads of meatiness, spring flowers and searing minerality. Seeing 18 months all in old wood, this medium to full-bodied beauty has incredibly purity of fruit, great acidity and a knockout finish. Enjoy it over the coming 10-15 years.”
Domaine Eric & Joel Durand Cornas Premices, Rhone 2014 750ML ($37.95) $29 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 93 points “Offers a ripe, dark profile, with a core of steeped blackberry and plum fruit that picks up bay, white pepper and iron accents through the finish. Shows solid depth and fruit for the vintage, displaying excellent energy. Best from 2018 through 2029. 1,500 cases made.”
The average price is $31
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 92-94 points “Bright violet. Vibrant, smoke-accented dark berries, candied flowers, licorice and allspice on the highly fragrant nose. Sappy, penetrating and seamless on the palate, offering alluringly sweet black raspberry, cherry compote and spicecake flavors that show excellent clarity and mineral lift. Expressive and distinctly elegant in style; silky tannins build slowly on a very long, floral-dominated finish.”
Franck Balthazar Cornas Sans soufre ajoute, Rhone 2015 750ML ($79.95) $69 special, 22 bottles in stock now
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 92-94 points “Deep ruby. Ripe blackberry, cherry liqueur, licorice, woodsmoke and olive on the deeply perfumed nose. Concentrated and powerful but energetic as well, offering expansive black and blue fruit, bitter chocolate and spicecake flavors that are given spine by a core of juicy acidity. The impressively long, sappy finish features supple tannins, a touch of candied flowers and lingering smokiness.”
Domaine Guillaume Gilles Cornas, Rhone 2015 750ML ($99.95) $79 special, 17 bottles in stock now
Hirotake Ooka Domaine de la Grande Colline Cornas, Rhone 2015 750ML ($149.95) $119 special, 2 bottles in stock now
A new addition to the Pacalet line-up, Cornas is by law 100% Syrah. Rich and intense, it yields to bottle ageing. Ripe dark fruit and a powerful finish are a few of the pleasures offered by this wine.
Domaine Vincent Paris Cornas Granit 30, Rhone 2015 750ML ($44.95) $36 special, 6 bottles in stock nowDomaine Vincent Paris Cornas Granit 30, Rhone 2015 1.5L ($89.95) $79 special, 4 magnums in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 92 points “Moving to the bottled releases, the 2015 Cornas Granite 30 comes from the younger vines of the estate (the Patou and Saint Pierre lieux-dits) and spent 15 months in older barrels. It offers a youthful, jammy style in its blackberry, black raspberry, leafy herbs and peppery aromatics. Still tasting like a barrel sample, it has full-bodied richness, ripe, sweet tannin and solid overall freshness and purity. It needs 2-3 years of bottle age to come together, but is rock solid.”
Wine Advocate 91-94 points “Starting with his younger vine cuvée, the 2015 Cornas Granit 30 (1,500 cases) comes from the Patou and Saint Pierre lieux-dits and will see roughly 15 months in barrel. It’s a deep, sexy, fruit-loaded beauty that has a saturated purple color, awesome notes of blackberries, blueberries, violets, spring flowers and licorice, as well as full-bodied richness and sweet, yet present tannin. This puppy has tons of fruit and is relatively upfront and textured, but it has enough tannin to benefit from 2-4 years of bottle age.”
Domaine Vincent Paris Cornas Granit 60, Rhone 2015 1.5L ($119.95) $99 special, 1 magnum in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 97 points “Like the Granite 30, the 2015 Cornas Granite 60 has an incredibly unevolved, barrel sample-like feel. Inky colored, with lots of blueberry and cassis fruit intermixed with searing black pepper, liquid violets and roasted herbs, it has full-bodied richness, a rounded, opulent texture and serious tannic grip. It’s gorgeously textured, balanced and pure, and is going to knock your socks off with 2-3 years of bottle age, and keep for two decades. This cuvée comes from the Patou, Les Mazards, and Sauman lieux-dits (this includes some sandy sections as well as plenty of granite terroirs) and was 70% destemmed.”
Josh Raynolds – Vinous 93 points “Inky ruby. Vibrant, mineral-accented cherry, cassis, violet and spicecake aromas show outstanding clarity and lift. Palate-staining black and blue fruit flavors pick up subtle olive and bitter chocolate nuances as the wine opens up. Shows surprising depth for the vintage and finishes impressively long and sweet; sneaky tannins shape the lingering blue fruit.”
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.”
We also have a ton of exciting bottles of Cornas arriving later this year—to see them, just check out the end of the newsletter!
March Clearance Sale
Domaine Huet Vouvray ‘Clos du Bourg’ Sec, Loire 2016 750ML ($47.95) Was $39, Now $36 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 93 points “Bright and pure, with delightful pear, green almond and green plum notes laced with a fennel streak, ending with finely beaded acidity and a mineral echo through the finish. Very refined. Drink now through 2027.”
Jancis Robinson 17/20 “Already has the lanolin character very prominently on the nose, then fairly light-bodied fruit with a ripe, tropical citrus character, plus a bit of peach. Perhaps a little brief, but has lovely typical Chenin funkiness. Drink 2017-2022.”
John Gilman 90 points “The 2016 Le Haut Lieu Sec from Domaine Huet is a pretty wine and much less powerful than the 2015 version. The wine offers up lovely youthful aromatics of quince, tart pineapple, chalky minerality, orange peel, lanolin, a whisper of the honeycomb to come with bottle age and a gently floral top note. On the palate the wine is crisp, full-bodied and nicely detailed, with good, but not great depth at the core, sound acids and very nice length and grip on the nascently complex finish. I like the shape of this wine very much, which does not have quite as much in reserve as many recent vintages of this bottling, but which has plenty of complexity and really impeccable balance. It may well age like the 1988 vintage here. 2017-2045.”
Wine Spectator 94 points “Green plum and verbena notes lead the way for now, with a flash of quinine on the finish. This is juicy, but still a bit compact overall, with the core of ample pear, quince and ginger flavors in reserve. Just wait for everything to knit together and stretch out, as the purity and length are there. Best from 2018 through 2028.”
Antonio Galloni “Brovia’s 2012 Barolo is classy, polished and absolutely delicious. With a little bit of air, the 2012 can be enjoyed now, but it also has enough freshness and balance to drink well for at least a handful of years. I have seen Brovia’s straight Barolo age well, so I won’t be surprised if that turns out to be the case here as well. Floral and red stone fruit notes give the 2012 much of its freshness and mid-weight feel. This is an especially lifted, gracious Barolo for the vintage.”
Adriano Marco e Vittorio Basarin, Barbaresco DOCG 2014 750ML ($34.95) Was $29, Now $24 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 94 points “Elegant, leading off with perfumed aromas of rose, cherry, strawberry and white pepper. The profile is sleek, with a solid base of acidity and tannins. Shows terrific length, evoking fruit and mineral on the aftertaste. Best from 2019 through 2033.”
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 91-93 points “Dark ruby. Aromas and flavors of ripe red and blue fruits pick up floral and peppery spice nuances as the wine opens up. Smooth and expansive on the palate, showing very good depth as well as energy and spicy back-end lift. The gently gripping, very persistent finish leaves behind hints of candied flowers and licorice.”
Don’t forget that you can see all 19 wines on the March Clearance Sale on our website, just by clicking here!
Under the Radar in Gevrey
“2014 is the school of terroir. There is no strong vintage character.” –
Mounir Saouma, co-owner of Lucien Le Moine
Philippe Charlopin started his winemaking mark in Gevrey Chambertin as one of the new emerging breed of dynamic wine growers. He has developed a big following in the US with his more modern style of making wines that are ready to enjoy sooner than later. That’s not to say his farming techniques are anything but traditional, practicing organic and looking to go certified. Charlopin and his son Yann have expanded their holdings in Burgundy to 25 hectares, ranging from Chassagne-Montrachet to Chablis.
2014 Wines In-Stock Now from Domaine Philippe Charlopin-Parizot
Domaine Philippe Charlopin-Parizot Marsannay Les Echezots 2014 750ML ($49.95) $33 special, 13 bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 92 points “A rich, concentrated red, with earth and animal aromas leading off, followed by black cherry, black currant and spice flavors. Verges on a thick texture, featuring well-integrated tannins and a long, fruity aftertaste. Best from 2019 through 2029.”
Wine Spectator 93 points “There’s fine intensity to the cherry, currant and spice flavors here, along with a chewy structure and texture. All the elements hang together, with a dense matrix underlying the fruit, spice and mineral notes that grace the long finish. Best from 2022 through 2035.”
Wine Spectator 91 points “A feral note in the aroma gives way to rich black cherry, vanilla and sandalwood flavors in this lush, firmly structured red. Harmonious and long, but needs time. Decant if you must drink this now. Best from 2019 through 2028.”
Domaine Philippe Charlopin-Parizot Charmes-Chambertin Grand Cru 2013 750ML ($249.95) $219 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 94 points “Bright and focused, exhibiting spicy black cherry, raspberry, earth, smoke, vanilla and toast aromas and flavors. Bracing acidity offsets the lush texture, driving this to a long, expansive finish. Best from 2019 through 2030.”Domaine Philippe Charlopin-Parizot Bonnes-Mares Grand Cru 2013 750ML ($249.95) $219 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 94 points “There’s a lot of oak here, lending char, vanilla and whisky elements to the core of black cherry and black currant flavors. Fresh and firm, though the finish absorbs the oak better than the initial attack. Vibrant and long, this just needs time to integrate. Best from 2020 through 2036.”
(At Super Prices)
The first Super-Tuscan wine was an act of rebellion. Frustrated with the bureaucracy and overly strict regulation of the Italian wine industry, winemakers began “declassifying” wines—bottling them as simple table wine rather than under prestigious appellations like Chianti or Brunello. Granted, the prices they were charging didn’t reflect the humbleness of their legal standing, but this change in the way the Tuscan wine community viewed innovation led to the planting and blending of all sorts of classic French varieties with (and sometimes without) Sangiovese.
Now, it seems strange to see Super Tuscans as rebellious—they represent some of the pinnacles of Tuscan wine, rivaling classic Bordeaux for ageability and power. In that transition, the wines have become almost undervalued—they’re no longer the “new” thing, but for lovers of Bordeaux or California Cabernet, they represent an incredible chance to acquire age-worthy wines at (relatively) approachable prices. We’re big fans of the wines here and wanted to highlight a few that we think deserve a little more attention. No Ornellaia or Sassicaia here, but rather a few that fly a touch more under the radar (pricing-wise) and deserve a bit more love.
Gaja Ca’Marcanda ‘Camarcanda’ Bolgheri, Tuscany 2011 750ML ($179.95) $79 special, 31 bottles in stock now
Wine Advocate 94 points “The 2011 Bolgheri Camarcanda opens to plump berry notes with apparent ripeness in the form of sun-drenched blackberry and plum. The fruit element in this Merlot-Cabernet Sauvignon-Cabernet Franc blend is dark and compelling, and the mouthfeel follows suit with soft tannins and dark concentration. The 2011 vintage is also characterized by a more evident tannic bite that should soften with time.”
James Suckling 94 points “Very attractive raspberry, currant and chocolate character with hints of nuts. Full body, silky tannins and a juicy finish. This needs time to soften. So gorgeous now, but better in 2016.”
Falstaff Magazine 95 points “Rich, deep dark ruby with a lot of purple. Exciting and dark nose with lots of ripe plums, cassis, blackberry leading into licorice and spice in the background. Wonderfully juicy fruit (blackberry and blackcurrant) on the compact palate that opens with a powerful, velvety core of tannins. Very long, reverberating finish.”
The next best price is $96.44
The average price is $146
Wine Advocate 96 points “A massive expression of Merlot, the 2010 Galatrona is heaven-sent. The layers are infinite here spanning dark fruit, spice and chocolate. I fall in love with this wine year after year. The mouth is caressed with stirring complexity and fine tannins that feel silky and smooth. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2030.”
James Suckling 95 points “Aromas of black olives, violets and fresh fruit follow through to a full body, with a dense palate of dark fruits and olives. Long and polished. Handmade wine. You sense it. Pure Merlot sensation.”
Antonio Galloni 95+ points “The 2014 Maestro Raro is fabulous. Explosive, deep and full of energy, it exudes class from the very first taste. As always, Maestro Raro is a Cabernet Sauvignon that speaks as much to this terroir as it does to varietal character. Lavender, herbs, menthol and plum build into the huge, tannic finish. I can’t wait to see how the 2014 ages.”
Wine Advocate 96 points “The first word that comes to mind when describing this wine is seamless. The 2013 Bolgheri Superiore Grattamacco offers a generous and forthcoming succession of dark fruit and spice-driven flavors that fit together like a long chain of pearls on a necklace. It’s impossible to taste where one flavor starts and the next one ends. That balanced and harmonious approach is evident in the mouth where it offers a silky, smooth and long textural impression. I suggest another few years of bottle aging before popping the cork on this beautiful blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot and 15% Sangiovese. This is no doubt the best wine from Grattamacco tasted in the past decade.”
Isole e Olena Collezione Privata Cabernet Sauvignon Toscana IGT, Tuscany 2013 750ML ($79.95) $66 special, 34 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni 96 points “The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Collezione Privata is superb. A delicate, nuanced wine in this vintage, the Cabernet Sauvignon speaks in hushed tones. Silky tannins and highly expressive aromatics add to an impression of total finesse. In many vintages, the Cabernet can be quite big, but not in 2013. This is a brilliant showing from Isole and proprietor Paolo De Marchi.”
Wine Enthusiast 95 points “This fabulous blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot delivers loads of plush softness and succulent richness. Aromas of chocolate, ripe fruit and spice are distinct and clear, and the wine shows compelling complexity and intensity overall.”
Antonio Galloni 94 points “The 2008 Giusto di Notri is wonderfully alive in the glass. Dark red berries, flowers, spices, grilled herbs, licorice and leather are some of the notes that flesh out in this dazzling, vibrant Giusto di Notri. Polished tannins provide the backdrop for the silky, expressive finish. A final blast of red fruit adds freshness and brightness on the close. Giusto di Notri is 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc.”
Arriving Tomorrow:
Domaine Marcel Lapierre Morgon, Beaujolais 2016 750ML ($34.95) $28 pre-arrival specialDomaine Marcel Lapierre Morgon, Beaujolais 2016 1.5L ($69.95) $59 pre-arrival special
James Suckling 93-94 points “This barrel sample from one of the masters in Beaujolais shows such a balance and focus already. Juicy and fruity with lots of plummy fruit and spice character. Fine tannins and a crisp finish. Clear and ethereal.”
These Great Wines Arrive Later This Year
Domaine Eric et Joel Durand Cornas Empreintes, Rhone 2015 750ML ($49.95) $39 pre-arrival special
Wine Spectator 95 points “($48) Loads of chalky grip keeps this wrapped up tight, but the core of steeped plum, fig and blackberry fruit is brimming with energy, while bay leaf, licorice root and charcoal notes chomp at the bit on the finish. Cellaring will rein this in. Best from 2021 through 2035. 700 cases made.”
Wine Advocate 94 points “Produced from 30-year-old vines and aged in 20% new oak, the 2015 Cornas Empreintes features classic Cornas notes of crushed stone, bloody meat and red plums. It’s full-bodied, rich and packed with fruit and tannin but supple at the same time. It’s mouth-filling and round, then finishes long, dry and mouthwatering.”
Jeb Dunnuck 95 points “The 2015 Cornas Premices comes from a mix of granite terroirs and was mostly destemmed (75%) and aged in 20% new barrels. It offers an incredibly rich, opulent style in its plum, blackberry liqueur, lavender and peppery herb aromas and flavors. Thick, unctuous, and incredibly broad and expansive on the palate, with sweet tannin, it’s the largest production cuvée from this estate and is going to be an incredible value! Don’t miss it.”
Arriving in August:
Domaine Vincent Paris Cornas Granit 30, Rhone 2016 750ML ($39.95) $33 pre-arrival special
Case-12 Domaine Vincent Paris Cornas Granit 30, Rhone 2016 750ML ($419.95) $359 pre-arrival special (that’s only $29.92/bottle!)
Wine Advocate 90-92 points “The 2016 Cornas Granit 30 had been blended and was in tank awaiting bottling during my visit. Medium to full-bodied, it’s already almost drinkable, showing attractive and classic notes of crushed stone, blood and cherries, reasonably supple tannins and charming blueberries on the finish.”
Domaine Vincent Paris Cornas Granit 60, Rhone 2016 750ML ($69.95) $55 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 94-96 points “Tasted from tank prior to bottling, the 2016 Cornas Granit 60 has the potential to eclipse the 2015. The nose is an exciting blend of flowers, minerals and fruit, while the palate is full-bodied and generous without the hardness or austerity of the 2015. This standout 2016 finishes long, plush and bright. With only about 5,000 bottles made, shrewd buyers will snap it up on release.”
Domaine Vincent Paris Cornas La Geynale, Rhone 2016 750ML ($89.95) $69 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 95-97 points “There are only about 3,000 bottles of the stunning 2016 Cornas la Geynale. Tasted from tank prior to bottling, it looks every bit the equal of the 2015—oozing with concentrated purple fruit and crushed stone but without that vintage’s massive tannins. The 100-year-old vines Paris works with at this site face south and achieved terrific ripeness, making the wine approachable relatively young.”
Thanks for reading!