Heralded Burgundy Vineyard of the Week:
Romanée Saint-Vivant
Of the great Grand Cru’s in Vosne-Romanée, Romanée Saint-Vivant sits well above Echezeaux , but below La Tâche or Romanée-Conti itself. In other words, it’s probably the best vineyard in Burgundy that actually hits the marketplace. (The consensus among Burgundy élites seems to be that among the top producers, Romanée Saint-Vivant has eclipsed Richebourg in terms of prestige and wine quality). The vineyard itself borders Romanée Conti, Richebourg, La Grande Rue and Suchots—the most expensive set of vineyards (bar La Tâche) in the world.
Stylistically, Romanée Saint-Vivant displays far more grace than Richebourg—this is a wine that manages to feature near-weightless intensity when done well. The aromatics are soaring—with all of the spice and excitement you’d expect from one of the top vineyards in the world—and also a collection of the world top winemakers working with it. In fact, this variation in winemaking style might be the most fun thing about Romanée Saint-Vivant: there’s more than just DRC to choose from, so it’s possible to see the vineyard character distinctly apart from style. (Who are we kidding—the sheer jaw-dropping beauty of the wines is the best thing, but the variety is fun, too.)
Featured Romanée St-Vivant:
Arriving Tomorrow:
Sylvain Cathiard Romanee-Saint-Vivant Grand Cru, Cote de Nuits 2009 750ML ($2799.95) $2499 pre-arrival special
Burghound 94-97 points “A dazzlingly complex, perfumed and pure nose reveals a bit of wood influence yet remains strikingly elegant with its superb scope of spicy red berry fruit aromas that are followed by ripe, seductive and beautifully intense flavors that display marvelous depth and perfect balance on the sappy and naturally sweet finish of monumental length. This is a wine of indisputable class and a model of grace and understatement that should age effortlessly for 20 to 30 years.”
The next best price is $2916.00
Alain Hudelot-Noellat Romanee-Saint-Vivant Grand Cru, Cote de Nuits 2011 750ML ($599.95) $499 special, 1 bottle in stock now
Burghound 93-95 points “As one would reasonably expect this is quite different and much more elegant with its broad-based combination of spice elements that include hoisin and soy that liberally laced throughout the red currant, plum and violet scents. There is a fleshy yet precise character to the brilliantly detailed flavors that are akin to pure silk on the palate, all wrapped in a gorgeously persistent finish. This is very classy and though it is not necessarily more complex than the Clos de Vougeot, it is even longer.” BH
Burghound 92-94 points “A ripe and exuberantly spicy nose also features an expansive range of fruit aromas that include red, blue and black berries plus plum nuances. The rich, seductive and mouth coating flavors are underpinned by phenolically mature tannins and excellent length where a touch of menthol surfaces. If there is a nit, it seems that this does not have the same level of energy of the best in the range but at this stage of development, this could easily change.”BH
Arriving in December:
Louis Latour Romanee-Saint-Vivant Grand Cru Les Quatre Journaux, Cote de Nuits 2015 750ml ($499.95) $399 pre-arrival special
James Suckling 98 points “So perfumed and aromatic with fabulous character of flowers, dark berries and chalk. Full-bodied and voluptuous. Ripe and velvety tannins and a long and flavorful finish. A wine with great potential and depth. Flamboyant. Drink in 2022.”
Petrolo: Galatrona and More
Rare Wines From Tuscan Royalty
The legacy for wine at Petrolo is certainly older than most; there are examples of Etruscan names associated with the area dating back 3000 years. The pedigree on the wines goes back to 1715 when a Medici Duke decreed that the Val d’Arno di Sopra was one of only four specific areas in which grape growing was recommended especially for wine production. The fact that the mention of “French Grapes” having been cultivated alongside Sangiovese as early as 1815 makes it seem only natural that the most famous wine of Petrolo is their Galatrona; a hands-down stunner comprised of 100% Merlot. This is one for the Massetto or Pomerol fans. It’s rich with chocolate, black fruit and dusty leather and mushroom; Galatrona is a wine of serious nature, but isn’t brooding or heavy. Even the 2010, which has years to tell its entire story, isn’t beyond enjoyability even now. For those who love Super-Tuscans, this is a bargain of the highest order.
The other featured wine from Petrolo is the Inaro, the entry level, but certainly drinkable rosso from Petrolo. Formerly known as the Toscano IGT, the rebranded Inaro is the tribute to the local wines being made in the hills around Petrolo. The wine is not complicated, and this is a good thing. It is juicy, deep and lightly spiced; not a shy wine, but not one to overwhelm your palate. Inaro is clearly riding the coattails of the rest of the Petrolo lineup, and the trickle down of fruit, oak and skill makes it possible to enjoy a wine that is clearly reflecting a luxury pedigree, at an affordable price. The boldness will surprise and please you.
In Stock Now:
Petrolo Torrione Valdarno di Sopra, Tuscany 2009 750ML ($34.95) $28 special, 17 bottles available
James Suckling 94 points “Aromas of lightly stewed fruit, with hints of fresh herbs and spices. Full bodied, with soft tannins and a fruity finish. This is balanced and long, with a caressing finish. Best ever. Mostly Sangiovese, with a hint of Merlot. Better after 2013” JS
Petrolo Torrione Valdarno di Sopra, Tuscany 2010 1.5L ($69.95) $59 special, 6 magnums available
Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2010 Torrione is exception and a very reasonable value. It opens with elegant richness and soft tones of black cherry, licorice, spice and dark leather. The style is opulent and confident for this mostly Sangiovese-based wine. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2024.”
Case-12 Petrolo ‘Inarno’ Rosso Valdarno di Sopra 2012 750ML ($219.95) $149 special (that’s only $12.42/bottle!)
Ian D’Agata–Vinous 89 points “(100% sangiovese): Good deep red. Expressive aromas of candied raspberry, licorice, tobacco and underbrush. Dense and sweet on the palate, with lovely depth to its raspberry and superripe red cherry flavors lifted by bright acidity. Finishes smooth, long and light on its feet.”
Petrolo Galatrona Valdarno di Sopra, Tuscany 2009 750ML ($99.95) $79 pre-arrival special
James Suckling 97 points “Amazing aromas of black truffles, crushed blackberries and dark chocolate. Dried flowers too. Full-bodied, with wonderful fruit that is layered and gorgeous. The finish is fruity, long and stylish. Give it three years to come together. Best after 2013.”
Antonio Galloni 94 points “The 2009 Galatrona is a beautifully centered wine. It shows terrific energy, freshness and vibrancy from start to finish. Cassis, blackberries, mint, spices and new leather are all woven together nicely in the 2009. Firm yet well-integrated tannins support the finish. Although quite overt today, the 2009 appears to have the structure to age well for a number of years. The 2009 is a serious wine with a bright future. Both bottles I tasted were immensely pleasing. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2024.”
Petrolo Galatrona Valdarno di Sopra, Tuscany 2010 750ML ($99.95) $79 pre-arrival special
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.”
Party Packs
Crowd Pleasers To Start Your Party
‘Tis the season for gathering. Whether for Festivus, New Years’, or the generic Holiday—parties are around the corner. Parties mean lots of people and lots of booze, as well. We’re here to help. Here are a few crowd pleasing wine picks, at delicious case prices, that are going to make your next part the hit of the winter.
Case-12 Agusti Torello Mata Brut Reserva Cava, Catalonia 2013 750ML ($239.95) $199 special (that’s only $16.58/bottle!)
Agusti Torello Mata Brut Reserva Cava, Catalonia 2013 750ML ($19.95) $18 special
Macabeu 45%, Xarel·lo 21% and Parellada 34%. From vines in the Penedès region.
Matello Pinot Gris, Willamette Valley 2015 750ML ($17.95) $14 special
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.”
Descendientes de J. Palacios ‘Petalos’, Bierzo 2014 750ML ($24.95) $18 special
Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2014 Pétalos del Bierzo was already up for tasting as they sell the wine quite quickly even if the volumes are not small, but the wine had only been in bottle for one week and it might have been a little closed, especially when compared with the aromatic 2013. However, the aromas, if subtle, are phenomenal, very complete and balanced, with an extra degree of complexity when compared with the 2013. The harvest was a little healthier without being easy (or dry). There is great volume in the palate, fleshy, juicy and rich without being heavy, medium-bodied, somehow similar to the 2012 even if it still needs to develop further complexity. There’s always a subdued minerality, a texture and mouthfeel difficult to find in wines of this price level. This is approachable now, but it will be better in one year and should develop nicely in bottle. Drink: 2016-2022.”
James Suckling 92 points “A pure mencía with wild strawberries, black pepper and underbrush. Balanced and pretty red showing subtle berry character throughout. Silky tannins. The entry-level red of the famous Bierzo estate. Drink now.”
Vilmart is perhaps the most grand grower Champagne we offer—the most powerful, intense expression of their terroir. The Krug comparison is almost always bandied about, but although we love both Krug and Vilmart (and totally see the parallels) we think that it sells Vilmart a bit short.
These are wines that are vinified to be both lithe and powerful—a sinewy bolt to the palate of intense Champagne terroir. They age beautifully, holding onto their acidity and freshness and developing an almond-creamy brioche quality that’s so prized. We recommend holding onto all of the wines—down to the “basic” NV—for at least a few years and are excited to offer them to you today.
Arriving Mid-December:
Vilmart & Cie Grand Cellier Premier Cru Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($69.95) $59 pre-arrival special
Wine Spectator 93 points “[Reviewed Fall 2017] A mouthwatering, seamless Champagne that caresses the palate like raw silk, with vibrant acidity framing rich and finely meshed flavors of nectarine, chopped almond, fleur de sel and honey. Offers a long, chalky finish of lime blossom and spice. Drink now through 2022. 450 cases imported.”
The average price nationally is $72
Wine Spectator 92 points “[Reviewed Fall 2017] This vivacious rosé sparkler is bright and creamy on the palate, showing a well-meshed mix, with rich nectarine, tea rose and blood orange sorbet flavors. A chalky undertow drives the sleek finish. Drink now through 2022.”
Vilmart & Cie Grand Cellier d’Or Premier Cru Brut, Champagne 2012 750ML ($89.95) $79 pre-arrival special
Antonio Galloni 91+ points “Vilmart’s 2012 Grand Cellier d’Or is bold, racy and seductive, with all of the radiance of the vintage very much in evidence. Lemon confit, jasmine, vanillin, herbs and dried flowers are all pushed forward. Expressive and inviting, the 2012 will drink well with minimal cellaring. Even so, my impression is that the 2012 will be a bit more giving with further time in bottle. Dosage is 8 grams per liter.”
The average price is $89
Antonio Galloni 94 points “A racy, exuberant wine, the 2009 Coeur de Cuvée offers up a super-appealing mélange of apricot, butter, baked apple tart and vanillin. The combination of the ripe, warm vintage along with fermentation and aging in small French oak barrels yielded an especially opulent Coeur de Cuvée with plenty of exotic and tropical overtones. The 2009 will be ready to drink with minimal cellaring.”
Chartogne-Taillet Cuvee Sainte Anne Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($49.95) $39 pre-arrival special
#87 Wine Of The Year – Wine Spectator Top 100 2017
Wine Spectator 92 points “[Reviewed November 2017] A bright, finely meshed version that shows beautiful harmony throughout, offering flavors of Gala apple, spring forest, almond pastry and lemon curd riding the creamy mousse. Lasting, spiced finish. Drink now through 2022. 1,300 cases imported.”
(Plus, Other Exciting Champagne!)
Delamotte is probably best known as the house that produces Salon, the ür-Blanc de Blancs from Mesnil. We’ve got some of that arriving soon, too, but wanted to highlight the “normal” wines the house produces. Made with the same stylistic starched collar that Salon is famous for, these wines are more open and delicious on release, just sacrificing a little profundity for early drinkability. They’re fantastic deals and a way to try the famed house style at a bit more affordable price-point.
Arriving ETA December:
Delamotte Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($44.95) $36 pre-arrival special
Delamotte Brut, Champagne NV 375ML ($27.95) $21.90 pre-arrival special
Wine Spectator 91 points “[Reviewed Nov 2017] This mineral-driven version offers a smoky overtone to the flavors of poached pear and Meyer lemon zest, with hints of toasted brioche and almond. Subtle, offering a finely detailed bead and a spiced finish. Drink now through 2022.”
Delamotte Blanc de Blancs Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival special
Delamotte Blanc de Blancs Brut, Champagne NV 375ML ($34.95) $28 pre-arrival special
Wine Spectator 90 points “[Reviewed Nov 2017 Rich hints of toasted brioche and pastry cream accent the flavors of baked quince and mandarin orange peel in this firm, focused Champagne, which ends with a lithe and lively finish. Drink now through 2020. 2,700 cases imported.”
Delamotte Blanc de Blancs Brut, Champagne 2007 750ML ($99.95) $79 pre-arrival special
Antonio Galloni 92 points “Delamotte’s 2007 Blanc de Blancs is an excellent choice for drinking now and over a handful of years because of its immediacy and welcoming, open-knit personality. Yellow orchard fruit, brioche, vanilla and spices flesh out, along with pretty tropical-inflected notes that appear later. The rich, creamy finish only adds to the wine’s considerable allure today. The Delamotte vintage Champagne is a blend of fruit from four villages: Le Mesnil, Oger, Avize and Cramant, as is rendered with full malolactic fermentation, which gives the wine its soft contours and overall resonance.”
Stephan Reinhardt – Wine Advocate 91 points “Sourced from grands crus, the 2007 Blanc de Blancs offers a clear and chalky flavored bouquet of lemons and limes on chalk. Full-bodied, very fresh and elegant on the palate, this is a pure and mineral, tension-filled Champagne. It has purity, freshness and a lot of salt in the finish. This shows stunning freshness and mineral expression for a 2007. What a stunning 2007!”
Wine Spectator 91 points “A firm Champagne, softened by the creamy mousse that carries floral and fresh herb notes lacing tightly knit flavors of pippin apple, kumquat and smoke-tinged minerality. Drink now through 2020. 10,000 cases made.”
The average price nationally is $88
Wine Spectator 91 points “[Reviewed 2017] Well-cut and minerally, this harmonious rosé offers a satiny mousse and a smoky underpinning layered with subtle notes of white cherry, lemon curd and toast. Drink now through 2021. 400 cases imported.”
The average price nationally is $77
Antonio Galloni 97+ points “The 2004 Salon has been superb each time I have tasted it over the last year or so. Bright, tense and crystalline, with all of the energy that is typical of both Salon and the vintage in the Côte des Blancs, the 2004 bristles with superb precision and cool, pulsating minerality. The 2004 spent a dozen years on its lees. Over the last six months or so, it has gradually begun to open up, but it is very much a wine for the cellar. Two thousand four is remembered as a vintage with record high yields. Salon (and Delamotte) did a terrific job in keeping the vines well balanced. Production was just 46,000 bottles, as opposed to the 60,000 or so that is more typical. Chef de Caves Michel Fauconnet opted for a low dosage of just 4 grams per liter. This is a tremendous showing.”
Wine Spectator 94 points “Elegant, featuring up-front, ripe aromas and flavors of dried apricot, crystallized honey and candied kumquat, giving way on the creamy palate to more subtle notes of raw almond, fleur de sel and star anise. Mouthwatering, with a chalky underpinning and a lovely, satiny finish. Drink now through 2026.”AN
Some other exciting Champagne, arriving soon:
Suenen Cramant + Chouilly Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival special
Suenen Oiry Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($59.95) $46 pre-arrival special
Other Great Champagne:
Pierre Paillard ‘Les Terres Roses’ Bouzy Grand Cru Brut Rose, Champagne NV 750ML ($59.95) $46 pre-arrival special
Wine Spectator 91 points “[Reviewed Nov 2017] This mouthwatering rosé is firm and toasty, with a spiced thread of flavor unraveling through notes of wild cherry, candied ginger, graphite and citrus. Lively, offering a creamy, lingering finish. Disgorged September 2016. Drink now through 2022. 700 cases made.”
The average price is $52
“A vintage-dated pinor noir champagne aged in oak barrels… typically released without dosage.” –Peter Liem
The average price is $61
“Perhaps the most expressive of all of Moreau’s wines is Eloquence, a blanc de blancs made from her tiny parcel of chardonnay. Contrary to the usual roundness and generosity of Cote des Bar champagne, this is rigid and taut, driven by its fierce backbone of minerality. Nevertheless, it’s multifaceted and complete, and at its best, it’s one of the most exciting champagnes being made in the Aube today.” –Peter Liem
Thank you for reading!