Featured Review: 2013 Produttori Asili; Thanksgiving Day Sale: Consortium & Markham Cab; Staff Pick; #Trending; Rivesaltes: Southern France’s Fine Dessert Wines; Jean-Claude Lapalu Arriving Tomorrow; Exciting New Reviews for Napa Valley; Elegance & Power New Reviews for 2015 & 2016 Southern Rhone & Chateauneuf du Pape Wines; Chapelle de Blagny; 2013 Produttori Reviews
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Featured Review:
2013 Produttori del Barbaresco Asili
The reviews are out! Antonio Galloni has (finally) released his reviews of the 2013 Produttori del Barbaresco Cru wines and they’re even better than expected. Read the featured review on the Asili Cru below and read on for the complete list!
Arriving in April 2018
Produttori del Barbaresco Asili, Barbaresco Riserva DOCG 2013 750ML ($99.95) $69 pre-arrival special
Antonio Galloni 97 points “Absolutely stunning in every way, the 2013 Barbaresco Riserva Asili is also the most complete wine in the lineup at this stage. Floral, lifted and exquisitely beautiful, the 2013 speaks to regal elegance and finesse above all else. Silky tannins add to an impression of total sensuality. At this stage, there is almost no impression of tannin, as the wine is so impeccably balanced. The 2013 shuts down quickly in the glass, which may suggest it is headed for a long period of dormancy. Readers who can find the Asili should not miss it, as it is truly sublime.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Read on for the new reviews on all of the 2013 Produttori Riservas. Greatness abounds!
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Thanksgiving Sale
Cabernets, Consortium & Markham:
There are two main schools of thought for wines at Thanksgiving dinner—One is to try and steal the show with an extravagant, soul-stopping wine; the other is to provide a wine that propels the night along.
We’re fans of the latter approach; we want a wine at a meal like Thanksgiving to be like the perfect dance partner. It stays in step, matching the meal as it goes, but the focus is always allowed to be on the food and (more importantly) the company. We wanted to highlight two Napa Cabs today that do just that—provide richness with a quiet enthusiasm. These will pair brilliantly with your meal, with enough oomph to satisfy Cabernet lovers and enough restraint to be a fantastic companion to conversation.
Band of Vintners ‘Consortium’ Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2015 750ML ($39.95) $33 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
VinopolNote: This is a delightful wine for anyone who likes Napa Cabernet, but with a relatively lighter touch (both in style and on the pocket book). The wine opens with a rich nose of plum and blackberry with hints of dried herbs in the background. On the palate are notes of graphite, red cherries and ripe plums that are held together with just enough tannin and acidity to keep everything in balance before the finish adds notes of spices and dried herbs. This is a wine that pairs nicely with good friends and good food.
Winery notes: “Band of Vintners is the outcome of seven wine industry friends who regularly get together to taste wine and talk shop. The collective “insider” knowledge of where the best fruit can be sourced, where the deals can be found, and where favors can be called in when needed, was contagious, and surprised even us. The outcome, is a wine we believe makes a strong case for one of the best QPRs in the Napa Valley, and something we’re proud to share with our friends, family, and neighbors.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Markham Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2013 750ML ($37.95) $28 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Wine Enthusiast 91 points “Chocolate-covered raspberry forms the luscious core of this fairly priced wine that’s medium-bodied, moderately naked in its oak use and soft in its approachability. Rich, dense and luxurious, it will pair well with any grilled meats.”
See the complete list of all Thanksgiving Day Sale Wines below!
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Staff Pick
Saul:
For anyone who knows me and what I drink, this might seem out of left field, but if there’s a Bordeaux to excite me in the store, this is it. I confess that much of modern Bordeaux tastes, to me, well…modern. There should be more of a line between California and Bordeaux, taste wise, in my book and unfortunately it seems as though many current releases from France remind me too much of their golden state cousins. Not so for the Le Puy, though—it’s old school to the core. Chewy and rustic, with a little herbaceousness and a touch of earth, this is for everyone who wishes they made Bordeaux “like they did back them.” If you don’t like a touch of greenness in your Cab/Merlot blends, stay away, but if you want throwback, join me in buying this guy up.
Chateau le Puy Cuvee Emilien, Cotes de Francs2012 750ML ($49.95) $39 special, 14 bottles in stock now
Case-12 Chateau le Puy Cuvee Emilien, Cotes de Francs 2012 750ML ($519.95) $419 special, 1 case in stock now (that’s only $34.92/bottle!)
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $44
Chateau le Puy Cuvee Emilien, Cotes de Francs 2013 750ML ($49.95) $39 special, 28 bottles in stock now
Case-12 Chateau le Puy Cuvee Emilien, Cotes de Francs 2013 750ML ($519.95) $419 special, 1 case in stock now (that’s only $34.92/bottle!)
Winery Notes “The fruit of a plot of vines planted with 85% Merlot, 14% Cabernet Sauvignon et 1% Carménère, Emilien is matured in oak barrels and casks for 24 months. An attractive bold garnet red colour. The aromas open with very fresh dominant red berries. It will surprise you with its strong opening in the mouth, with heaps of freshness. The final notes are particularly well balanced with supple tannins, revealing remarkable complexity. This is an extremely harmonious and delicious wine that is sure to delight.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $45
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#Trending
Matello Pinot Gris, Willamette Valley 2015 750ML ($17.95) $14 special, 22 bottles in stock now
Case-12 Matello Pinot Gris, Willamette Valley 2015 750ML ($179.95) $138 special, 2 cases in stock now (that’s only $11.50/bottle!)
Winery note “Never more than a few hundred cases, this micro-production showcases the beautiful mineral nature of the shallow sedimentary soils of the Whistling Ridge and Bishop creek vineyards. Bright, fresh, pear, lime blossom, hints of hazelnut, and a saline note.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Terrazas de Los Andes ‘Cheval des Andes’, Mendoza 2012 750ML ($89.95) $59 special, 26 bottles in stock now
James Suckling 97 points “Fabulous aromas of blackberry, spice and flower. Perfumed. Lavender, rose and lilac too. A wine that grows on the palate with extreme finesse and complexity that shows ultra-fine tannins, currants, and flowers. Super length. Mostly mablec with cabernet sauvignon and petit verdot. Best Cheval des Andes ever? Drink or hold.”
Wine Advocate 94 points “2012 was a warmer vintage but they harvested earlier to preserve freshness. The 2012 Cheval des Andes has more floral notes (that they attribute to the early picking) violets and lilies. While the blackberries and blackcurrants are there, they do not overpower the nose. In this vintage the final blend (which changes every year, they have no rules) was 64% Malbec, 28% Cabernet Sauvignon (a higher percentage to provide freshness in this warmer vintage) and then 8% Petit Verdot. This is a hedonistic Cheval showing the character of the vintage but with better balance and more integrated oak than in the earlier releases. They reduced the percentage of new oak to 30% and also started experimenting with some 500-liter barrels that were widely used in 2014, and the aging was longer at 14 months. The palate is powerful, and to drink at around 15 C. It gets more depth and nuanced with time in the glass. Even if young, this is polished and can be drunk starting now.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Bow & Arrow Vitae Springs Vineyard Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2015 750ML ($37.95) $28 special, 31 bottles in stock now
Case-12 Bow & Arrow Vitae Springs Vineyard Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2015 750ML ($419.95) $299 special, 2 cases in stock now (that’s only $24.92/bottle!)
VinopolNote: The selection for the Vitae Springs bottling comes from the highest block in the vineyard at an elevation of 800 feet. It was planted to the Pommard clone in 1999. The wine is fresh and inviting, showing a spicy nose with notes of violets, red roses and oolong tea. It has a refreshingly sappy persistence to the finish.
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $38.99
Peter Lauer Fass 8 Ayler Kupp Kabinett, Mosel 2014 750ML ($37.95) $31.90 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
John Gilman 91-92 points ‘The 2014 Ayler Kupp Kabinett from Florian Lauer is really a lovely and quite classic example of this Prädikat, with lovely acidity and minerality providing a fine filigree to the wine and a nice sense of reserve out of the blocks as well. The very classy nose wafts from the glass in a mix of green apple, tart orange, slate, lovely smokiness and a touch of dried flowers in the upper register. On the palate the wine is medium-bodied, pure and focused, with a good core, bright acids, a nice touch of sweetness on the attack and lovely length and grip on the elegant and nascently complex finish. This is quite approachable now, but still a touch primary, and I would be inclined to give it at least a few years in the cellar to develop its secondary layers of complexity. 2019-2035+.” JG
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
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Rivesaltes
Southern France’s Fine Dessert Wines
Arriving Tomorrow
Since the 14th century, the region of Rivesaltes has been prized for producing some of the world’s finest examples of vins doux naturels. A vin doux naturel wine is produced by adding grape spirits to the must (stopping fermentation) while a large portion of the natural sugars remain. Rivesaltes are produced with mostly Grenache (Noir, Gris and/or Blanc). The upper end wines are aged oxidatively for at least two or five years before release.
Recently, Domaine Cazes’ manager Lionel Lavail discovered several ancient barrels tucked away in their cellar, untouched for decades. He has released these precious vintages to much fanfare with the critics. Check in on these historic wines dating back to the 1930s!
Chateau Las Collas Rivesaltes, Languedoc-Roussillon 1961 750ML ($119.95) $89 pre-arrival special
Wine & Spirits 93 points
Chateau Las Collas Rivesaltes, Languedoc-Roussillon 1970 750ML ($119.95) $99 pre-arrival special
Wine & Spirits 94 points
Domaine Cazes Rivesaltes, Languedoc-Roussillon 1932 750ML ($279.95) $249 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 97 points “The creme of the lineup, the 1932 VDN Rivesaltes Old Collection Ambre (100% Grenache Blanc aged 30 years in cask) is a monumental effort that makes your eyes roll back in your head and has you wondering why you don’t drink more of these. A borderline perfect dessert wine, it thrills on all accounts with fabulous aromas and flavors (toffee, cigar, cedar, sweet spice), full-bodied depth and richness, and yet no weight or heaviness whatsoever. It has serious acidity (and sugar) if you hunt for it, but everything is perfectly balanced, and it hangs on the palate until you either take another sip or do something to physically remove it. Find it if you can.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Domaine Cazes Rivesaltes Collections, Languedoc-Roussillon 1933 750ML ($219.95) $189 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 96 points “The white grape-based Cazes 1933 Rivesaltes smells gorgeously of creme brulee infused with iris, violet and orange blossom; then comes to the palate at once creamy, texturally caressing and expansive, yet also gushing with juicy and zesty evocations of grapefruit and blood orange that took me by delighted surprise. Toasted nuts and haunting, smoke-tinged liquid floral essences help balance and compliment the sweetness in a profound, protracted, and impeccably balanced finish.”
Domaine Cazes Rivesaltes Collections, Languedoc-Roussillon 1945 750ML ($179.95) $149 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 93 points “The white grape-based Cazes 1945 Rivesaltes, smells of smoke-infused dried figs as well as saline, alkaline sea breeze. Dried fig and complexly floral honey engage with smoky, saline mineral nuances in a sustained finishing dialogue.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Domaine Cazes Rivesaltes Collections, Languedoc-Roussillon 1949 750ML ($179.95) $149 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 95 points “The white grape-based Cazes 1949 Rivesaltes displays spiciness, verve, and remarkable sheer juiciness at the same time as a complex array of dark and decadent elements. Peat, tobacco, black tea, and decadent forest floor confront spiced oranges, mouthwatering salinity, and an almost crystalline sense of shimmering mineral elements such as I would rarely associate with fortified wines. There isn’t one bit of superfluous sweetness in the penetratingly and dynamically persistent finish of this incandescent beauty. What’s more, as the glass stood open, this elixir’s performance become even more impressive.”
Domaine Cazes Rivesaltes Collections, Languedoc-Roussillon 1962 750ML ($119.95) $99 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 94 points “The black grape-based Cazes 1962 Rivesaltes is pungently scented with candied grapefruit rind, cocoa, cinnamon, and quinine, its palate performance correspondingly mingling the rich torrefactionwith the citric and offering subtly satisfying integration of bitterness to balance its sweetness. Zesty and piquantly nutty, it finishes with impressive grip and simultaneous projection of bright high-tones and toasty low notes as well as alkaline cut and mouthwatering salinity.”
Domaine Cazes Rivesaltes Aime Cazes, Languedoc-Roussillon 1978 750ML ($119.95) $99 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 94 points “The 1978 VDN Rivesaltes Aime Cazes is comprised of 80% Grenache Blanc and Grenache Gris, and 20% black Grenache, that spent 22 years in cask. Sporting a fabulous light gold color, it burst from the glass with notions of dried plums, fig, toffee and creme brulee. Full-bodied, seamless and incredibly layered and silky, with vibrant acidity keeping it light and downright gulpable, it’s a brilliant Rivesaltes that will probably age forever.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
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Jean-Claude Lapalu
Arriving Tomorrow
Jean-Claude Lapalu has done something remarkable—made Brouilly as cool as its neighbor up the “Cote”. Since founding his domaine in 1996, he’s become a leader in the natural wine movement in Beajolais–no sulfur is added until bottling and his vineyards are farmed biodynamically. His Brouilly combines the generosity that you usually find in the AOC with a bit more pizazz and spine. The results are spectacular and this, one of the last 2015’s we’re getting, is proof of his winemaking talent.
Domaine Jean-Claude Lapalu Brouilly Cuvee des Fous, Beaujolais 2015 750ML ($41.95) $36 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 92-94 points “The 2015 Brouilly Cuvée des Fous had been racked the day before my visit to the domaine and I tasted this directly from vat. It has an intense dark cherry, cassis and iodine-scented bouquet with gorgeous raspberry ripple scents lurking just underneath. The palate is very well balanced with fine, very lithe tannin. The acidity here is perfectly judged, as it sashays towards a composed and very pure and long finish. Wow – this is going to turn into one sensual and compelling Beaujolais.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
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Exciting New Reviews
For Top End Napa Valley Wines
From Lisa Perrotti-Brown of the Wine Advocate
“The best 2014 Cabernets are pretty and graceful, with finesse and delineation, while showing a bit more of the red fruit spectrum than is typical for Napa. This is a very consistent vintage, with the majority of the wines revealing lovely harmony and soft-spoken, earthy/savory, understated personalities. Some of the greatest wines possess an incredible “mineral” character, contributing an exciting and somewhat unexpected layer.” –Lisa Perrotti-Brown, The Wine Advocate
Diamond Creek Gravelly Meadow Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2014 750ML ($249.95) $189 special, 2 bottles in stock now
Lisa Perrotti-Brown – Wine Advocate 97+ points “The 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Gravelly Meadow offers up an opaque purple-black color and is profoundly scented of crème de cassis, plum preserves and mocha with hints of tar, black pepper, Indian spices and balsamic. Full-bodied, rich and decadent in the mouth, it delivers an incredible depth of fruit and earthy flavors, with a solid backbone of fine-grained tannins and great freshness, finishing long and earthy.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $216
Opus One Proprietary Red Blend, Napa Valley 2014 750ML ($349.95) $319 special, 5 bottles in stock now
Lisa Perrotti-Brown – Wine Advocate 96 points “Blended of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Cabernet Franc, 6% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot and 2% Malbec, the Opus One 2014 Proprietary Red Wine sports an inky purple color and nose of crushed black and red currants, black cherries and mulberries with touches of underbrush, sautéed herbs and pencil shavings plus a waft of spice box. Medium-bodied, finely crafted and with an energetic line lifting the red and black fruits, it has a bold frame of grainy tannins and a very long, earth and spice-layered finish.”
Arriving Early November:
Paul Hobbs Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, St Helena, Napa Valley 2014 750ML ($349.95) $269 pre-arrival special
Lisa Perrotti-Brown – Wine Advocate 95+ points “Made from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon and displaying a deep garnet-purple color, the 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard opens with pronounced crème de cassis, mocha, black forest cake and cloves over lavender, bay leaf and menthol nuances. Full-bodied, concentrated and seductive, it has a gorgeous velvety texture and plenty of freshness lifting the opulent flavors, finishing with a spices and herbs kick.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Paul Hobbs Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Oakville 2014 750ML ($519.95) $449 pre-arrival special
Lisa Perrotti-Brown – Wine Advocate 98+ points “Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard reveals notes of blackberry preserves and blueberry compote with chocolate box, star anise, sandalwood, dried meat and black loam nuances. The full-bodied palate is earthy and muscular, with a solid frame of ripe, grainy tannins and just enough freshness to support the taut earthy and savory flavors, finishing on a lingering spicy note. 840 cases were made.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
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Elegance & Power
New Rhone Reviews for 2015 and 2016 Wines
From Joe Czerwinski of the Wine Advocate
“After a couple of mixed vintages in 2013 and 2014, fine weather returned to the Southern Rhône in 2015. In places, it may have been too sunny and dry, but Châteauneuf-du-Pape was spared the worst of it, and overall, the red wines from 2015 marry ripe fruit with perfume and elegance… [of] the 2016 reds, it appears that the early hype is justified. These are wines that combine immense power (and sometimes alcohol levels) with elegance, perhaps most similar to the reds from 2010 or 1990.” – Joe Czerwinski, The Wine Advocate
Chateau de Montfaucon Cotes du Rhone Comtesse Madeleine Blanc, Rhone 2015 750ML ($19.95) $16 special, 10 bottles in stock now
Wine Advocate 91 points “The 2015 Cotes du Rhone Vin de Mme la Comtesse Blanc is a barrel-fermented and aged wine sourced from a small parcel of 140-year-old Clairette vines. It’s medium to full in body but not particularly fruity. Instead, it’s intense and briny, spiced up by hints of white pepper and herbal notes of fennel on the long finish. It should prove to be long-lived relative to most Southern Rhône white wines; drink now to 2022.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Chateau de Manissy Tavel Cuvee des Lys Rose, Rhone 2016 750ML ($17.95) $14 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Wine Advocate 92 points “The 2016 Tavel Cuvee des Lys takes sappy herbal notes of lavender and bay leaf and marries them seamlessly to cherry fruit and ground cinnamon and clove. On top of that complexity, it’s full-bodied and richly textured, with delicate tannins and a peppery edge to the finish.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $17
Henri Bonneau Chateauneuf-du-Pape Reserve des Celestins, Rhone 2011 750ML ($399.95) $379 special, 3 bottles in stock now
Wine Advocate 92-94 points “The 2011 Chateauneuf du Pape Reserve des Celestins (still in barrel) is rich, deep and concentrated. It’s also noticeably fresher tasting than the Cuvee Marie Beurrier from the same vintage, with ample cherry fruit and a touch of chocolate on the long, silky finish.”
Newly Reviewed Wines Arriving Later This Winter:
Chateau de Beaucastel Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Rhone 2015 750ML ($99.95) $79 pre-arrival special, ETA November
Chateau de Beaucastel Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Rhone 2015 1.5L ($219.95) $149 pre-arrival special, ETA November
Wine Advocate 96 points “Bottled in late July, the 2015 Chateauneuf du Pape is an amazing effort, especially when one considers the production volume. Loaded with black cherry fruit and cola-like spice, this full-bodied, richly textured wine never seems heavy or warm, while exotic Indian spice notes linger on the finish. It should drink well for at least 20 years.”
Clos des Papes Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Rhone 2015 750ML ($139.95) $119 pre-arrival special, ETA December
Wine Advocate 97 points “Bottled in May, the 2015 Chateauneuf du Pape is a floral, elegant, unbelievably complex wine. Roses and violets, cherries and stone fruit, cinnamon and allspice and more are carried across the full-bodied yet almost weightless palate, finishing in a swirl of silky tannins and lingering spice. Drink it over the next two decades.”
Domaine du Pegau Chateauneuf-du-Pape Cuvee Reservee, Rhone 2015 750M L ($89.95) $75 pre-arrival special, ETA February 2018
Wine Advocate 93-95 points “The 2015 Châteauneuf du Pape Cuvée Réservée is beauty, and about as classic an expression of this estate as I can recall. Blackcurrants, peppery herbs, roasted meats and garrigue all emerge from this medium to full-bodied, balanced, nicely concentrated 2015 that has ripe tannin and a great finish. It’s not on par with the 2010, 2009 or 2003, but it should surpass the 2012 and have two decades or more of longevity.”
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Chapelle de Blagny
Historic Estate Straddling Puligny & Meursault
Arriving in January
The distance from Dijon to Blagny is about 38 miles, give or take. The amount of history covered in that short distance is nearly immeasurable. There have been Gauls, Romans, Nobility, and Revolutionaries – and through all of it, those who tended the vines. The Domaine de Blagny has its roots in Blagny which covers parcels in both Puligny and Meursault.
The history of the Domaine centers around the Cistercian chapel, and the monks that were the owners and tenders of the vineyards, a history that extended through to 1793, when the entire estate was seized as government property and auctioned off to the family that continues to own it to this day. The wines show the depth of this history, too, with stunning parcels of Les Ravelles and Sous les Bois that border those belonging to Jobard, Louis Latour, LeMoines and Bouzerau.
The commune of Blagny overlaps both Meursault and Puligny-Montrachet, with its most famous wines coming from (and hyphenated with) Meursault. They tend to bring some of the crisp linearity of Puligny to pair with Meursault’s richness—a brilliant combination that produces long-lived wines that are still undervalued in the marketplace. This, in combination with the revitalization of the winemaking of the domaine, ensures that we’re able to offer top flight premier cru Meursault at a price that typically accompanies village wines.
Arriving ETA January:
Chapelle de Blagny Meursault-Blagny 1er Cru 2015 750ML ($89.95) $69 pre-arrival special
Winery note “The Meursault-Blagny includes four climats classified as 1er Cru: La Jeunelotto, La Piece-Sous-Le-Bois, Sous-Le-Dos-d’Ane and Sous-Blagny. Our Meursault-Blagny comes from the Sous-Le-Dos-d’Ane and Sous-Blagny climats. This wine is characterized by a beautiful minerality and a great length. The rich aromas evolve on the palate from notes of citrus and white flowers toward those of honey, buttered toasted bread and hazelnut with age. This wine will keep 8-10 years in proper storage.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Chapelle de Blagny Meursault Les Ravelles 1er Cru 2015 750ML ($89.95) $69 pre-arrival special
VinopolNote: This vineyard lies high up the slope, abutting the Puligny 1er vineyard “Sous le Puis” and remains one of the best kept secrets in Meursault. This is partially because of the size of the vineyard (barely larger than 1ha) and partially because most of the wine from here has traditionally either gone to the UK or stayed in France.
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $79.99
Chapelle de Blagny La Piece Sous Le Bois, Meursault-Blagny 1er Cru 2015 750ML ($89.95) $69 pre-arrival special
VinopolNote: This is the smallest plot owned by the domaine and the most limited in production. The wine is the richest and most powerful of the bunch. This is from further down the slope and shows the increased warmth and richness that that brings.
This is the only listing in the USA today!
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2013 Produttori Reviews
We knew this would be an exciting vintage and now we have the reviews to back it up!
Arriving in April 2018
Produttori del Barbaresco Montefico, Barbaresco Riserva 2013 750ML ($79.95) $59 pre-arrival special
Antonio Galloni 96+ points “The Barbaresco Riserva Montefico shows all the energy and focus that is typical of this great site, but there is so much depth to the fruit that some of the more angular contours have been softened. Bright saline-infused notes lead to wild flowers and an exotic melange of red fruits in this beautifully delineated, vivid Barbaresco. All the elements are simply in the right place.”
Produttori del Barbaresco Ovello, Barbaresco Riserva 2013 750ML ($79.95) $59 pre-arrival special
Produttori del Barbaresco Ovello, Barbaresco Riserva 2013 1.5L ($149.95) $119 pre-arrival special
Antonio Galloni 96 points “The Produttori’s 2013 Barbaresco Riserva Ovello is all power, tension and nerve. Even so, the 2013 is remarkably civilized and much less austere than young Ovello Barbarescos usually are. Scents of cranberry, white pepper and mint give the wine its signature high-toned aromatics. The Ovello has a Volnay-like purity to its fruit, with Nebbiolo tannins and structure, of course. If that sounds appealing, well, it is. Vivid, sculpted and impossibly beautiful, the Ovello is simply magnificent.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Produttori del Barbaresco Paje, Barbaresco Riserva 2013 750ML ($79.95) $59 pre-arrival special
Antonio Galloni 96 points “The 2013 Barbaresco Riserva Pajé is simply fabulous. Sweet floral notes soar from the glass as this deep, beautifully resonant Barbaresco shows off its compelling inner sweetness and total sense of poise. The flavors are deep yet fresh, with wonderful fragrance and impeccable balance throughout. A wine of total harmony, the 2013 is going to be nearly impossible to resist young. The 2013 is one of the best versions of the Pajé I can remember tasting.”
Produttori del Barbaresco Rabaja, Barbaresco Riserva 2013 750ML ($89.95) $66 pre-arrival special
Antonio Galloni 96 points “The 2013 Barbaresco Riserva Rabajà is shockingly seamless in this tasting. Deep layers of fruit virtually bury the tannins, something that is so unusual for a young Rabajà. A host of dark blue-tone fruits, lavender, mint, violet and spice race across the palate in an utterly vivid, compelling Barbaresco of the highest level. Perhaps I caught the Rabajà on an unusually open day, but it is terrific and also quite refined for such a young wine.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Produttori del Barbaresco Rio Sordo, Barbaresco Riserva 2013 750ML ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival special
Antonio Galloni 93 points “The 2013 Barbaresco Riserva Rio Sordo is one of the more gracious, approachable wines in this range. Medium in body, yet deep and beautifully resonant, the 2013 has so much to offer. It should open up a bit earlier than most of the other 2013s in the range. Succulent dark cherry, plum, tobacco, mint, licorice and lavender grace the effortless finish.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Produttori del Barbaresco Montestefano, Barbaresco Riserva 2013 750ML ($79.95) $59 pre-arrival special
Produttori del Barbaresco Montestefano, Barbaresco Riserva 2013 1.5L ($149.95) $119 pre-arrival special
Antonio Galloni 95+ points “A dark, brooding wine, the 2013 Barbaresco Riserva Montestefano comes across as quite virile today, with huge tannins and equally imposing dark fruit. Smoke, leather, licorice and game add to an impression of raw, almost unrestrained, power. There is not a whole lot of finesse here at least not now. The Montestefano is a wine painted in broad brush strokes that emphasize power over elegance. Then again, that is Montestefano. Readers should be in no rush to open the 2013.”
This is the only listing in the USA today for the magnum!
Produttori del Barbaresco Muncagota, Barbaresco Riserva 2013 750ML ($79.95) $56 pre-arrival special
Antonio Galloni 94 points “Like most of the wines in this lineup, the 2013 Barbaresco Riserva Muncagota is quite potent. A rush of raspberry jam, wild flowers, white pepper and mint make a strong opening statement. Succulent and yet also structured, the Muncagota has so much to offer. It should be one of the first wines in this range to start opening up, although when that will happen exactly is hard to say.”
Produttori del Barbaresco Pora, Barbaresco Riserva 2013 750ML ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival special
Antonio Galloni 94 points “The 2013 Barbaresco Riserva Pora is soft, pliant and enveloping. In many vintages, the Pora can be a bit light. Not in 2013. The wine is rich and deeply textured, with layers of fruit that continue to build with time in the glass. The tannins are present, but they are nearly buried by the sheer intensity of the fruit. This is an especially powerful, brooding edition of the Pora. Although impressive today, the 2013 will drink well for decades to come.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
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