Wine Wednesday Alert:
New Arrivals coming tomorrow, February 23rd
France- Bordeaux
Chateau Sansonnet Saint-Emilion Grand Cru 2018 750ML ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival special
Jeb Dunnuck 96+ points “This estate has been on fire of late and that doesn’t appear to have changed with the 2018 Château Sansonnet. Revealing a dense purple hue as well as a young, unevolved bouquet of pure crème de cassis, graphite, crushed violets, bouquet garni, chocolate, and distinct chalky minerality, it delivers remarkable purity, full-bodied richness, silky tannins, and flawless balance. A wine that builds slowly with time in the glass, offering a beautiful mix of richness, elegance, and length, it’s as good, if not even better than the 2016. Don’t miss it!”
Chateau Leoville Barton Saint-Julien 2015 1.5L ($319.95) $279 pre-arrival special
Antonio Galloni 96+ points “A dense, powerful wine, the 2015 Léoville-Barton is going to need quite a bit of time to come together, as it is massively tannic and structured at this stage. Drink: 2025-2055.”
France- Sauternes- Barsac
Chateau Climens Sauternes – Barsac 2004 375ML ($59.95) $44.50 pre-arrival special
Wine Enthusiast 95 points “This wine is well balanced, rich and unctuous, the sweetness and denseness so carefully blended with acidity, orange zest and dry botrytis. It is a gorgeous, ripe wine, intense but retaining its freshness. -Roger Voss”
Chateau Coutet Sauternes – Barsac 2016 750ML ($69.95) $51.90 pre-arrival special
Jeb Dunnuck 97 points “One of the top sweet wines in this report is the 2016 Château Coutet, which has the vintage’s plush, opulent style as well as thrilling purity and good acids. Pineapple, white flowers, sugared peach, and honeyed notes all emerge from this full-bodied, layered, balanced Barsac that’s already impossible to resist yet will evolve gracefully 2+ decades.”
France- Languedoc
Domaine Lafage ‘Nicolas’ Grenache Noir Vieilles Vignes IGP Cotes Catalanes 2019 750ML ($21.95) $19 pre-arrival special
Jeb Dunnuck 95 points “All Grenache brought up in demi–muids and aged on lees for 8 months, the medium ruby/purple hued color of the 2019 Cuvée Nicolas is followed by a killer bouquet of kirsch liqueur, savory spices, cured meats, and peppery garrigue. Rich, medium to full-bodied, and gorgeously textured, it has wonderful richness with no sensation of weight or heaviness. It’s another insane value from this team.”
Italy – Montalcino
Siro Pacenti PS Pelagrilli Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2006 750ML ($119.95) $99 pre-arrival special
Antonio Galloni 96 points “The 2006 Brunello di Montalcino PS captures all of the promise I sensed when I first tasted it last year. Freshly cut flowers, bright fruit, licorice and spices play off each other as this fabulous Brunello shows off its considerable pedigree. The fruit takes on darker tonalities as the wine gains weight and depth in the glass. All the elements meld together beautifully on a long finish of extraordinary beauty.”
Germany – Pfalz
Muller-Catoir Haardter Burgergarten ‘Im Breumel’ Riesling Grosses Gewächs Pfalz 2018 750ML ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival special
Stephen Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 93+ points “White-golden in color, pure, fine, deep and intense on the palate, the 2018 Riesling Bürgergarten “Im Breumel” GG is intense, concentrated and generous on the nose. The palate is pure, very intense and ripe as well as powerful but refined and concentrated. Very elegant and salty, with grip and tension. Tasted in Haardt, December 2019.”
Winery Note “The age-worthy Riesling wines from this prime section of the Haardt Bürgergarten are characterised by the optimal balance between a concentrated Riesling fruit, lingering minerality, a delicate elegance and an elaborately interwoven, long finish – Riesling to perfection.”
Germany – Nahe
Weingut Donnhoff Oberhauser Brucke Riesling Beerenauslese Nahe 2018 750ML ($449.95) $369 pre-arrival special
John Gilman 100 points “The grapes for this non-botrytized BA were harvested at the beginning of November this year. The wine is utterly brilliant, offering up a pure and complex nose of white cherries, mango, pineapple, salty minerality, apple blossoms and a topnote of honeycomb. On the palate the wine is pure, full-bodied, bottomless and amazingly vibrant and precise, with racy acids, truly stunning minerality for a BA and great length and grip on the perfectly balanced finish. This is breathtakingly beautiful! 2019-2100. 100.”
Chianti, Castello’s and Conspiracies:
Del Trebbio’s Storied Reds
In the Western outskirts of Florence lies a sleepy estate, blanketed in oak and olive trees with a castello and a story. Castello Del Trebbio, the ancestral seat of power for the Pazzi Banking family was founded in the 15th century and served as their base of operations against the legendary Medici family.
Approved but not endorsed by the current Pope at the time, the Pazzi family sought to kill Lorenzo and Giuliano D’Medici in order to depose their extensive influence in both banking and the Signoria (The merchant republic predating the unification of Italy). The Pazzi Conspiracy as it’s now known was a monumental failure, resulting in Lorenzo d’Medici erasing the entire family from public eye and confiscating their assets.
In the resulting decades the Castello was used primarily as an agricultural operation, with the current generation of owners bringing the estate in to the current millennium. Needless to say they’ve been much more successful as a winemaking operation than conspiracy startup, farming biodynamically with no synthetic inputs. Everything at the estate is done with as little disturbance to nature as possible with this philosophy also guiding the winemaking.
Castello Del Trebbio wines in stock now:
Castello del Trebbio Chianti Superiore DOCG Tuscany 2018 750ML ($24.95) $14 special, 16 bottles in stock now
Falstaff 92 points “Sparkling ruby red. Intense and appealing nose with notes of cranberries and cherries. Good consistency on the palate, opens with fine-meshed, well-integrated tannins, clear fruit in the final.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Castello del Trebbio De’ Pazzi Toscana IGT Tuscany 2014 750ML ($34.95) $21.90 special, 36+bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 92 points “This rich red has mellowed, offering black cherry, blackberry and plum fruit, accented by leather, tobacco and herb hints. The chalky tannins are integrated. Should become even more supple with time. Drink now through 2023. 1,280 cases made, 350 cases imported”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
JB Becker:
The Rheingau’s Baron of Bone-Dry Riesling
J.B. Becker Wallufer Berg Bildstock Riesling Spatlese Trocken Rheingau 2000 750ML ($69.95) $49 special, only 1 bottle left!
David Schildknecht-Vinous 91 points “Here is a chance to put the stamina of Becker Riesling and the quality of his workmanship to a hard test, because most Rheingau Rieslings of this infamously tropical and rot-challenged harvest were precariously decadent before they even got to bottle. A suggestion of stale white bread on the nose points to the influence of botrytis, but the retention of animation and downright refreshing primary juiciness on display from this Spätlese is quite remarkable. At ten grams of residual sugar the wine was almost legally dry, but nonetheless it evinces a faint and attractive hint of sweetness. Peach kernel piquancy serves for counterpoint in a sustained finish of almost ethereal delicacy and remarkable transparency to stony nuances.”
J.B. Becker Wallufer Oberberg Riesling Kabinett Halbtrocken Rheingau 1998 750ML ($79.95) $49 special, 7 bottles in stock now
J.B. Becker Wallufer Walkenberg Alte Reben Riesling Spatlese Trocken Rheingau 1998 750ML ($79.95) $55 special, 6 bottles in stock now
J.B. Becker Wallufer Walkenberg Alte Reben Riesling Spatlese Trocken Rheingau 2019 750ML ($39.95) $33 special, 4 bottles in stock now
Vertex of the Ventoux:
Domaine la Remejeanne
Domaine la Remejeanne Cotes du Rhone Un Air de Remejeanne Rhone 2019 750ML ($19.95) $15.75 special, 31 bottles in stock now
Importer note “Owned by the dynamic Oliver Klein, this certified organic domaine is located in the small high altitude village of Sabran, nestled in dramatic hills divided between forests of green oak and sun-soaked vineyards. All of the vines at the estate are found at high altitudes between 200 and 280 meters. This results in a cooler climate than most of the Southern Rhone, and endows the wines with a freshness and liveliness not often encountered in the region. Klein is an extremely conscientious winemaker, using very traditional methods to maintain the highest quality of wine. All the grapes are hand-harvested, undergoing long, slow fermentations with indigenous yeasts before being aged in concrete or older wood. This hands off approach creates wines of elegance and class.”
Winery note “A wine with a lively, light ruby color. The nose has an explosion of red fruits with notes of wild strawberries and violets. Crunchy, fresh and fine, this is a very drinkable wine.”
Domaine la Remejeanne Cotes du Rhone Les Chevrefeuilles Rhone 2018 750ML ($21.95) $16.50 special, 25 bottles in stock now
Importer note “70% Syrah, 10% Grenache, 10% Mourvèdre, 5% Carignan, 5% Marselan. Grown on loess over limestone and sandstone on southeast-facing slopes at 250m of altitude.”
Winery note “Ruby red with a nose of fresh fruit, red and black berries, and hints of minty chocolate. On the palate, it is an elegant wine with fine aromas. It is supple with velvety tannins. The freshness gives the wine a delicious and fruity balance.”
Domaine la Remejeanne Cotes du Rhone Villages Les Eglantiers France 2016 750ML ($49.95) $29 special, 9 bottles in stock now
VinopolNote: 50+ year old syrah vines grown organically at 700 ft elevation.
Winery note “Intensely purple. The nose is explosive and smoky. It evolved into aromas of Morello cherries with delicate woody notes on the finish. On the palate, the wine is fresh, suave, and full of tensions thanks to the Syrah. The very fine and subtle style of the nose is enhanced by notes of fresh cade wood. Its exceptional structure makes it a wine for long aging. It pairs well with traditional dishes, grilled red meats and cheese. It is made from a selection of old vines exclusively composed of: Syrah (100%) for color, aromas, tannins, freshness and suitability for aging. It comes from old vines (50 years and over) with a very low yield: 20hl / ha.”
Ovum: The Great Whites of Oregon Wine
Ovum Gewurztraminer Keeper Of The Flame Gerber Vineyard ’76 Old Vines Illinois Valley Rogue Valley 2020 750ML ($29.95) $19 special, 5 bottles in stock now
Winery note “2020 Keeper Of The Flame Gewurz is not what you’ve come to expect from Gewurz, but you probably already knew that about OVUM. Our Gewurz is not about sweet canned fruit or rose extract – [this] is about restraint, elegance and purity of place. The 2020 offering is particularly unusual for it’s dominant blood orange aromatics, and length of minerality on the palate. Yes, somehow this Gewurz shows gobs of minerality. Unfined, Unfiltered (for the first time), native yeast, nothing added except sulfur…this is a magical mystery wine for the ages. Aromatics: Flamed orange peel, lemon curd, flint, restrained tropical notes. Medium bodied with a wet stone/airy texture – the streak of minerality running through the wine is alluring (no doubt obtained from these older vines).”
Ovum ‘Old Love’ Oregon 2020 750ML (24.95) $18.50 special
Winery note “It’s golden hue is the first thing you’ll notice (thanks amphora), and aromats of sea spray coated limes, roasted apricot pit, petrichor and flint pop out of the glass. One of the goals of this unusual elevage is to cultivate defined layers within the wine. – lemon verbena, straw, Spring meadow. The palate shows the sensual texture of cask fighting with the rawness of amphora, and yet it finishes with bright minerality. Agave and lime linger on the finish, echoing the initial top notes of wine.
“OLD LOVE is a “method” wine inspired by early 1800’s winemaking in Austria. One might ask – what the hell were Austrian monks doing to wine in the early 1800’s that made it worth repeating!?! They harvested vineyards with varying qualities of ripeness/ acidity/ fruitiness/ minerality – fermented them together (read BIG SALT) – then they used methods during elevage to express the full potential within the wine. We’ve taken this methodology, combined it with OVUM concepts, and POOF! We have OLD LOVE. Where does OLD LOVE come from? 20 OLD LOVE comes from FIVE vineyards planted throughout Oregon: Willamette, Eola-Amity, Columbia Gorge, Southern OR. The sites are focused on sustainable farming practices – dry farming, organic and minimal additions. Some are not certified organic, but are in the process of converting. Each site is chosen for its unique qualities that it will lend to the final wine. 2020 is primarily Riesling, but OLD LOVE is not about a single grape – it is about the vineyards coming together to make a singular wine of Oregon. How is OLD LOVE produced? After a soak on skins (diff for each site), the fruit is pressed (hard) into tank where native fermentation begins. Then, apx 35% of the juice in tank is racked into: amphora, Austrian cask, cement egg and neutral barrel. Then we wait a lunar cycle… After 28 days or so, the wine in the vessels is added back to the wine in stainless steel. Once it is fully blended, we place 35% of the wine BACK into amphora, cask, egg and barrel. This process is repeated three times. But why? Each vessel helps express different potential within the wine: • Amphora brings structure and natural earthiness. • Acacia cask heighten earthiness and rich textures (new addition). • Austrian cask adds textural complexity and rounds high-tone aromatics. • Cement egg pulls out minerality at the loss of fruit aromas. • Neutral barrel helps express secondary and tertiary flavors. • 2020 OLD LOVE – is the result of how elevage is used to elevate the natural qualities of the wine.”
New Arrivals coming tomorrow, February 23rd
France – Chablis
Jean-Paul & Benoit Droin Vaulorent Chablis Premier Cru 2015 750ML ($49.95) $39 pre-arrival special
Neal Martin-Vinous 93 points “The 2015 Chablis Vaulorent 1er Cru has a very attractive bouquet of orange pith and gunflint infused with pressed yellow flowers. The poised, harmonious palate is well balanced, displaying a fine thread of acidity and just the right amount of salinity on the finish. This is a brilliant Vaulorent from Benoît Droin. Tasted blind at the annual Burgfest tasting.”
Jean-Paul & Benoit Droin Vaulorent Chablis Premier Cru 2015 750ML ($49.95) $39 pre-arrival special
Neal Martin-Vinous 93 points “The 2015 Chablis Vaulorent 1er Cru has a very attractive bouquet of orange pith and gunflint infused with pressed yellow flowers. The poised, harmonious palate is well balanced, displaying a fine thread of acidity and just the right amount of salinity on the finish. This is a brilliant Vaulorent from Benoît Droin. Tasted blind at the annual Burgfest tasting.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
France- Bordeaux
Chateau Sansonnet Saint-Emilion Grand Cru 2018 750ML ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival specialJeb Dunnuck 96+ points “This estate has been on fire of late and that doesn’t appear to have changed with the 2018 Château Sansonnet. Revealing a dense purple hue as well as a young, unevolved bouquet of pure crème de cassis, graphite, crushed violets, bouquet garni, chocolate, and distinct chalky minerality, it delivers remarkable purity, full-bodied richness, silky tannins, and flawless balance. A wine that builds slowly with time in the glass, offering a beautiful mix of richness, elegance, and length, it’s as good, if not even better than the 2016. Don’t miss it!”
Chateau Leoville Barton Saint-Julien 2015 1.5L ($319.95) $279 pre-arrival special
Antonio Galloni 96+ points “A dense, powerful wine, the 2015 Léoville-Barton is going to need quite a bit of time to come together, as it is massively tannic and structured at this stage. Drink: 2025-2055.”
France- Sauternes- Barsac
Chateau Climens Sauternes – Barsac 2004 375ML ($59.95) $44.50 pre-arrival special
Wine Enthusiast 95 points “This wine is well balanced, rich and unctuous, the sweetness and denseness so carefully blended with acidity, orange zest and dry botrytis. It is a gorgeous, ripe wine, intense but retaining its freshness. -Roger Voss”
Chateau Coutet Sauternes – Barsac 2016 750ML ($69.95) $51.90 pre-arrival special
Jeb Dunnuck 97 points “One of the top sweet wines in this report is the 2016 Château Coutet, which has the vintage’s plush, opulent style as well as thrilling purity and good acids. Pineapple, white flowers, sugared peach, and honeyed notes all emerge from this full-bodied, layered, balanced Barsac that’s already impossible to resist yet will evolve gracefully 2+ decades.”
France- Languedoc
Domaine Lafage ‘Nicolas’ Grenache Noir Vieilles Vignes IGP Cotes Catalanes 2019 750ML ($21.95) $19 pre-arrival specialJeb Dunnuck 95 points “All Grenache brought up in demi–muids and aged on lees for 8 months, the medium ruby/purple hued color of the 2019 Cuvée Nicolas is followed by a killer bouquet of kirsch liqueur, savory spices, cured meats, and peppery garrigue. Rich, medium to full-bodied, and gorgeously textured, it has wonderful richness with no sensation of weight or heaviness. It’s another insane value from this team.”
Italy – Montalcino
Siro Pacenti PS Pelagrilli Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2006 750ML ($119.95) $99 pre-arrival special
Antonio Galloni 96 points “The 2006 Brunello di Montalcino PS captures all of the promise I sensed when I first tasted it last year. Freshly cut flowers, bright fruit, licorice and spices play off each other as this fabulous Brunello shows off its considerable pedigree. The fruit takes on darker tonalities as the wine gains weight and depth in the glass. All the elements meld together beautifully on a long finish of extraordinary beauty.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Germany – Pfalz
Muller-Catoir Haardter Burgergarten ‘Im Breumel’ Riesling Grosses Gewächs Pfalz 2018 750ML ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival special
Stephen Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 93+ points “White-golden in color, pure, fine, deep and intense on the palate, the 2018 Riesling Bürgergarten “Im Breumel” GG is intense, concentrated and generous on the nose. The palate is pure, very intense and ripe as well as powerful but refined and concentrated. Very elegant and salty, with grip and tension. Tasted in Haardt, December 2019.”
Winery Note “The age-worthy Riesling wines from this prime section of the Haardt Bürgergarten are characterised by the optimal balance between a concentrated Riesling fruit, lingering minerality, a delicate elegance and an elaborately interwoven, long finish – Riesling to perfection.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Germany – Nahe
Weingut Donnhoff Oberhauser Brucke Riesling Beerenauslese Nahe 2018 750ML ($449.95) $369 pre-arrival specialJohn Gilman 100 points “The grapes for this non-botrytized BA were harvested at the beginning of November this year. The wine is utterly brilliant, offering up a pure and complex nose of white cherries, mango, pineapple, salty minerality, apple blossoms and a topnote of honeycomb. On the palate the wine is pure, full-bodied, bottomless and amazingly vibrant and precise, with racy acids, truly stunning minerality for a BA and great length and grip on the perfectly balanced finish. This is breathtakingly beautiful! 2019-2100. 100.”
Chianti, Castello’s and Conspiracies:
Del Trebbio’s Storied Reds
In the Western outskirts of Florence lies a sleepy estate, blanketed in oak and olive trees with a castello and a story. Castello Del Trebbio, the ancestral seat of power for the Pazzi Banking family was founded in the 15th century and served as their base of operations against the legendary Medici family.
Approved but not endorsed by the current Pope at the time, the Pazzi family sought to kill Lorenzo and Giuliano D’Medici in order to depose their extensive influence in both banking and the Signoria (The merchant republic predating the unification of Italy). The Pazzi Conspiracy as it’s now known was a monumental failure, resulting in Lorenzo d’Medici erasing the entire family from public eye and confiscating their assets.
In the resulting decades the Castello was used primarily as an agricultural operation, with the current generation of owners bringing the estate in to the current millennium. Needless to say they’ve been much more successful as a winemaking operation than conspiracy startup, farming biodynamically with no synthetic inputs. Everything at the estate is done with as little disturbance to nature as possible with this philosophy also guiding the winemaking.
Castello Del Trebbio wines in stock now:
Castello del Trebbio Chianti Superiore DOCG Tuscany 2018 750ML ($24.95) $14 special, 16 bottles in stock nowFalstaff 92 points “Sparkling ruby red. Intense and appealing nose with notes of cranberries and cherries. Good consistency on the palate, opens with fine-meshed, well-integrated tannins, clear fruit in the final.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Castello del Trebbio De’ Pazzi Toscana IGT Tuscany 2014 750ML ($34.95) $21.90 special, 36+bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 92 points “This rich red has mellowed, offering black cherry, blackberry and plum fruit, accented by leather, tobacco and herb hints. The chalky tannins are integrated. Should become even more supple with time. Drink now through 2023. 1,280 cases made, 350 cases imported”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
JB Becker:
The Rheingau’s Baron of Bone-Dry Riesling
The Rheingau is one of the smallest German wine regions in terms of both size and output, and yet produces some of the best Rieslings in the entire country. We were lucky enough to secure a small lot of JB Becker, one of the areas cult producers of dry Riesling. After apprenticing under a cellarmaster in his youth, Hans-Josef Becker decided to fully transition his family’s operation to Dry and Off-Dry Riesling and hasn’t looked back in 50 years. These are wines made similar in style to Prum in that fermentations are short with long elevage, or cask aging and always done with wild yeasts.
The Rheingau style of Riesling is generally medium bodied, with a fruit driven character encompassing citrus, stonefruit and pomes, delicate acidity and multifaceted minerality with a slight spiciness not unlike nutmeg or cinnamon. In spite of the climatic features, most of the production in the Rheingau is dry or dry-adjacent and remain some of the most age worthy in all of Germany.
Becker’s work captures the essence of Riesling, with emphasis on the rarely seen brawny, smokey and powerful side of the varietal that is unmistakably Rheingau. With age (Or a delayed release) his Riesling’s show a distinctive chrysanthemum, yellow tea and Pippin Apple character as a thorough line that make them absolutely fantastic with sushi, paella or Creole food.
J.B Becker wines in stock now:
J.B. Becker Wallufer Riesling Trocken Rheingau 2019 1L ($29.95) $25.50 special, only 1 bottle left
The Rheingau style of Riesling is generally medium bodied, with a fruit driven character encompassing citrus, stonefruit and pomes, delicate acidity and multifaceted minerality with a slight spiciness not unlike nutmeg or cinnamon. In spite of the climatic features, most of the production in the Rheingau is dry or dry-adjacent and remain some of the most age worthy in all of Germany.
Becker’s work captures the essence of Riesling, with emphasis on the rarely seen brawny, smokey and powerful side of the varietal that is unmistakably Rheingau. With age (Or a delayed release) his Riesling’s show a distinctive chrysanthemum, yellow tea and Pippin Apple character as a thorough line that make them absolutely fantastic with sushi, paella or Creole food.
J.B Becker wines in stock now:
J.B. Becker Wallufer Riesling Trocken Rheingau 2019 1L ($29.95) $25.50 special, only 1 bottle left
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
J.B. Becker Wallufer Berg Bildstock Riesling Spatlese Trocken Rheingau 2000 750ML ($69.95) $49 special, only 1 bottle left!David Schildknecht-Vinous 91 points “Here is a chance to put the stamina of Becker Riesling and the quality of his workmanship to a hard test, because most Rheingau Rieslings of this infamously tropical and rot-challenged harvest were precariously decadent before they even got to bottle. A suggestion of stale white bread on the nose points to the influence of botrytis, but the retention of animation and downright refreshing primary juiciness on display from this Spätlese is quite remarkable. At ten grams of residual sugar the wine was almost legally dry, but nonetheless it evinces a faint and attractive hint of sweetness. Peach kernel piquancy serves for counterpoint in a sustained finish of almost ethereal delicacy and remarkable transparency to stony nuances.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
J.B. Becker Wallufer Oberberg Riesling Kabinett Halbtrocken Rheingau 1998 750ML ($79.95) $49 special, 7 bottles in stock now
This is the only listing in the USA today!
J.B. Becker Wallufer Walkenberg Alte Reben Riesling Spatlese Trocken Rheingau 1998 750ML ($79.95) $55 special, 6 bottles in stock now
This is the only listing in the USA today!
J.B. Becker Wallufer Walkenberg Alte Reben Riesling Spatlese Trocken Rheingau 2019 750ML ($39.95) $33 special, 4 bottles in stock now
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Vertex of the Ventoux:
Domaine la Remejeanne
“This estate always punches well above its simple Côtes-du-Rhône appellation and are worth seeking out.” –Matt Walls, contributor for Decanter Magazine
What do some of the hardest to find cult Champagne producers (Prevost, Dehu & Cedric Bouchard), top names in Loire (Boudignon, Collier & Gerard Boulay), and super-scorer Vincent Paris of Cornas have in common? These are producers brokered by Thomas Calder. If you’ve tried any of the aforementioned estates (and we hope you have), you owe it to yourself to explore the estate he represents in the Southern Rhone: Domaine la Remejeanne. The domaine’s wines represent an absolute bargain (topping out at under $30/bottle) and capture all the elegance and complexity you’d expect from a Calder Selection.
Run by a father-son team Remy and Oliver Klein in the high elevation village of Sabran, they farm a visually stunning estate of 86 acres directly facing Mount Ventoux and entirely organic to boot. This proximity to the mountain puts the domaine right in the path of the Mistral wind, which cools the air and creates grapes of greater intensity while retaining freshness and acidity.
Domaine La Remejeanne wines in stock now:
Domaine la Remejeanne Cotes du Rhone Les Arbousiers Blanc Rhone 2020 750ML ($29.95) $24 special, 23 bottles in stock now
Importer note “Certified organic. 25% Roussanne, 25% Viognier, 25% Clairette, 13% Marsanne, 12% Bourbolenc. 25+ year old vines. Owned by the dynamic Oliver Klein, this certified organic domaine is located in the small high altitude village of Sabran, nestled in dramatic hills divided between forests of green oak and sun-soaked vineyards. All of the vines at the estate are found at high altitudes between 200 and 280 meters. This results in a cooler climate than most of the Southern Rhone, and endows the wines with a freshness and liveliness not often encountered in the region. Klein is an extremely conscientious winemaker, using very traditional methods to maintain the highest quality of wine. All the grapes are hand-harvested, undergoing long, slow fermentations with indigenous yeasts before being aged in concrete or older wood. This hands off approach creates wines of elegance and class.”
What do some of the hardest to find cult Champagne producers (Prevost, Dehu & Cedric Bouchard), top names in Loire (Boudignon, Collier & Gerard Boulay), and super-scorer Vincent Paris of Cornas have in common? These are producers brokered by Thomas Calder. If you’ve tried any of the aforementioned estates (and we hope you have), you owe it to yourself to explore the estate he represents in the Southern Rhone: Domaine la Remejeanne. The domaine’s wines represent an absolute bargain (topping out at under $30/bottle) and capture all the elegance and complexity you’d expect from a Calder Selection.
Run by a father-son team Remy and Oliver Klein in the high elevation village of Sabran, they farm a visually stunning estate of 86 acres directly facing Mount Ventoux and entirely organic to boot. This proximity to the mountain puts the domaine right in the path of the Mistral wind, which cools the air and creates grapes of greater intensity while retaining freshness and acidity.
Domaine La Remejeanne wines in stock now:
Domaine la Remejeanne Cotes du Rhone Les Arbousiers Blanc Rhone 2020 750ML ($29.95) $24 special, 23 bottles in stock nowImporter note “Certified organic. 25% Roussanne, 25% Viognier, 25% Clairette, 13% Marsanne, 12% Bourbolenc. 25+ year old vines. Owned by the dynamic Oliver Klein, this certified organic domaine is located in the small high altitude village of Sabran, nestled in dramatic hills divided between forests of green oak and sun-soaked vineyards. All of the vines at the estate are found at high altitudes between 200 and 280 meters. This results in a cooler climate than most of the Southern Rhone, and endows the wines with a freshness and liveliness not often encountered in the region. Klein is an extremely conscientious winemaker, using very traditional methods to maintain the highest quality of wine. All the grapes are hand-harvested, undergoing long, slow fermentations with indigenous yeasts before being aged in concrete or older wood. This hands off approach creates wines of elegance and class.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Domaine la Remejeanne Cotes du Rhone Un Air de Remejeanne Rhone 2019 750ML ($19.95) $15.75 special, 31 bottles in stock now
Importer note “Owned by the dynamic Oliver Klein, this certified organic domaine is located in the small high altitude village of Sabran, nestled in dramatic hills divided between forests of green oak and sun-soaked vineyards. All of the vines at the estate are found at high altitudes between 200 and 280 meters. This results in a cooler climate than most of the Southern Rhone, and endows the wines with a freshness and liveliness not often encountered in the region. Klein is an extremely conscientious winemaker, using very traditional methods to maintain the highest quality of wine. All the grapes are hand-harvested, undergoing long, slow fermentations with indigenous yeasts before being aged in concrete or older wood. This hands off approach creates wines of elegance and class.”
Winery note “A wine with a lively, light ruby color. The nose has an explosion of red fruits with notes of wild strawberries and violets. Crunchy, fresh and fine, this is a very drinkable wine.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Domaine la Remejeanne Cotes du Rhone Les Chevrefeuilles Rhone 2018 750ML ($21.95) $16.50 special, 25 bottles in stock now
Importer note “70% Syrah, 10% Grenache, 10% Mourvèdre, 5% Carignan, 5% Marselan. Grown on loess over limestone and sandstone on southeast-facing slopes at 250m of altitude.”
Winery note “Ruby red with a nose of fresh fruit, red and black berries, and hints of minty chocolate. On the palate, it is an elegant wine with fine aromas. It is supple with velvety tannins. The freshness gives the wine a delicious and fruity balance.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Domaine la Remejeanne Cotes du Rhone Villages Les Eglantiers France 2016 750ML ($49.95) $29 special, 9 bottles in stock now
VinopolNote: 50+ year old syrah vines grown organically at 700 ft elevation.
Winery note “Intensely purple. The nose is explosive and smoky. It evolved into aromas of Morello cherries with delicate woody notes on the finish. On the palate, the wine is fresh, suave, and full of tensions thanks to the Syrah. The very fine and subtle style of the nose is enhanced by notes of fresh cade wood. Its exceptional structure makes it a wine for long aging. It pairs well with traditional dishes, grilled red meats and cheese. It is made from a selection of old vines exclusively composed of: Syrah (100%) for color, aromas, tannins, freshness and suitability for aging. It comes from old vines (50 years and over) with a very low yield: 20hl / ha.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Ovum: The Great Whites of Oregon Wine
When discussing low intervention winemaking in Oregon, you would be hard pressed to not mention Ovum. More or less synonymous with the movement in the Willamette Valley, Ovum was founded by Ksenija and John House in 2011 and has specialized in white wine production ever since! Ever the busybodies, they’re also the assistant winemaker at Argyle and one of the owners of Les Caves here in Portland. Primarily working with Riesling, Gewurztraminer, Muscat and Pinot Blanc they are fantastic at demonstrating the versatility of the component grapes, further demonstrated by their multifaceted vinification practices. Most impressive of their practices is their absolute refusal to add anything to their wines; be that cultivated yeast, sulfur, sugar, enzymes or yeast nutrients. From a technical perspective this is what wines from Alsace, Central Europe and Northern Italy tasted like prior to the 19th century and subsequent industrialization.
This is exemplified in their flagship wine Big Salt, which is a co-fermentation of all the varietals and vineyards they work with. Encompassing 5 AVA’s across Oregon, all of which are organically farmed and in possession of old vines; this is a marvel of both the winemaking and winegrowing at play in the State. Meant to evoke a day at the beach, there is a pervasive salinity with a food friendly integration of floral and botanical characteristics. The use of concrete egg and amphora across their portfolio shows in the textural component all their wines have, evocative of Bai Mudan tea, white peach skin and mandarin orange peel.
Ovum wines in stock now:
Ovum ‘Big Salt’ Elkton 2021 750ML ($21.95) $17 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Winery note “Big Salt™ is a white wine that embodies a day at the beach. It’s bright, fresh, dry and a bit salty (although no salt is added of course!) – once it’s done you’re left wanting more. We achieve this experience by letting mother nature create complexity – that is to say we allow all of the grapes to ferment together, with native yeast..rather than making a blend in the laboratory. Finding the right vineyards throughout Oregon that share the same cool climate is what it’s all about.”
This is exemplified in their flagship wine Big Salt, which is a co-fermentation of all the varietals and vineyards they work with. Encompassing 5 AVA’s across Oregon, all of which are organically farmed and in possession of old vines; this is a marvel of both the winemaking and winegrowing at play in the State. Meant to evoke a day at the beach, there is a pervasive salinity with a food friendly integration of floral and botanical characteristics. The use of concrete egg and amphora across their portfolio shows in the textural component all their wines have, evocative of Bai Mudan tea, white peach skin and mandarin orange peel.
Ovum wines in stock now:
Ovum ‘Big Salt’ Elkton 2021 750ML ($21.95) $17 special, 36+ bottles in stock nowWinery note “Big Salt™ is a white wine that embodies a day at the beach. It’s bright, fresh, dry and a bit salty (although no salt is added of course!) – once it’s done you’re left wanting more. We achieve this experience by letting mother nature create complexity – that is to say we allow all of the grapes to ferment together, with native yeast..rather than making a blend in the laboratory. Finding the right vineyards throughout Oregon that share the same cool climate is what it’s all about.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Ovum Gewurztraminer Keeper Of The Flame Gerber Vineyard ’76 Old Vines Illinois Valley Rogue Valley 2020 750ML ($29.95) $19 special, 5 bottles in stock now
Winery note “2020 Keeper Of The Flame Gewurz is not what you’ve come to expect from Gewurz, but you probably already knew that about OVUM. Our Gewurz is not about sweet canned fruit or rose extract – [this] is about restraint, elegance and purity of place. The 2020 offering is particularly unusual for it’s dominant blood orange aromatics, and length of minerality on the palate. Yes, somehow this Gewurz shows gobs of minerality. Unfined, Unfiltered (for the first time), native yeast, nothing added except sulfur…this is a magical mystery wine for the ages. Aromatics: Flamed orange peel, lemon curd, flint, restrained tropical notes. Medium bodied with a wet stone/airy texture – the streak of minerality running through the wine is alluring (no doubt obtained from these older vines).”
Ovum ‘Old Love’ Oregon 2020 750ML (24.95) $18.50 special
Winery note “It’s golden hue is the first thing you’ll notice (thanks amphora), and aromats of sea spray coated limes, roasted apricot pit, petrichor and flint pop out of the glass. One of the goals of this unusual elevage is to cultivate defined layers within the wine. – lemon verbena, straw, Spring meadow. The palate shows the sensual texture of cask fighting with the rawness of amphora, and yet it finishes with bright minerality. Agave and lime linger on the finish, echoing the initial top notes of wine.
“OLD LOVE is a “method” wine inspired by early 1800’s winemaking in Austria. One might ask – what the hell were Austrian monks doing to wine in the early 1800’s that made it worth repeating!?! They harvested vineyards with varying qualities of ripeness/ acidity/ fruitiness/ minerality – fermented them together (read BIG SALT) – then they used methods during elevage to express the full potential within the wine. We’ve taken this methodology, combined it with OVUM concepts, and POOF! We have OLD LOVE. Where does OLD LOVE come from? 20 OLD LOVE comes from FIVE vineyards planted throughout Oregon: Willamette, Eola-Amity, Columbia Gorge, Southern OR. The sites are focused on sustainable farming practices – dry farming, organic and minimal additions. Some are not certified organic, but are in the process of converting. Each site is chosen for its unique qualities that it will lend to the final wine. 2020 is primarily Riesling, but OLD LOVE is not about a single grape – it is about the vineyards coming together to make a singular wine of Oregon. How is OLD LOVE produced? After a soak on skins (diff for each site), the fruit is pressed (hard) into tank where native fermentation begins. Then, apx 35% of the juice in tank is racked into: amphora, Austrian cask, cement egg and neutral barrel. Then we wait a lunar cycle… After 28 days or so, the wine in the vessels is added back to the wine in stainless steel. Once it is fully blended, we place 35% of the wine BACK into amphora, cask, egg and barrel. This process is repeated three times. But why? Each vessel helps express different potential within the wine: • Amphora brings structure and natural earthiness. • Acacia cask heighten earthiness and rich textures (new addition). • Austrian cask adds textural complexity and rounds high-tone aromatics. • Cement egg pulls out minerality at the loss of fruit aromas. • Neutral barrel helps express secondary and tertiary flavors. • 2020 OLD LOVE – is the result of how elevage is used to elevate the natural qualities of the wine.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
L’Aventure Adventure:
New Paso Robles wine arriving March 2022
New Paso Robles wine arriving March 2022
L’Aventure Cote a Cote Red Paso Robles 2019 750ML ($119.95) $99 pre-arrival special
Jeb Dunnuck 100 points “Another magical wine from this estate is the 2019 Côte à Côte, a blend of 34% each of Grenache and Mourvèdre, with the balance Syrah. Brought up in 29% new French oak, it boasts a dense purple color as well as incredible aromatics of blue fruits, smoked game, violets, black pepper, and spring flowers. One of those incredibly complex, nuanced wines that still brings depth and richness on the palate, it’s perfectly balanced, has ultra-fine tannins, and a gorgeous finish. It’s the finest vintage of Côte à Côte ever produced. Drink it over the coming 15+ years.”
L’Aventure Estate Cuvee Paso Robles 2019 750ML ($149.95) $119 pre-arrival special
Jeb Dunnuck 100 points “Pure perfection from Paso Robles, the 2019 Estate Cuvee checks in as 50% Syrah, 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 15% Petit Verdot that was raised in 81% new French oak. Incredible cassis and black berry fruits as well as violets, chocolate, graphite, and who knows what else emerges from the glass, and it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a concentrated yet weightless mouthfeel, building tannins, and a great finish. It’s more seamless and approachable than the more backward, structured 2018 and will have two decades of prime drinking.”
L’Aventure Optimus Paso Robles 2019 750ML ($69.95) $59 pre-arrival special
James Suckling 96 points “Extremely aromatic with ripe cherry and berry aromas, as well as flowers and citrus. Medium to full body with fine, polished tannins and a long, caressing finish. This is really well done and one of the most balanced L’Aventures I have encountered. Syrah, cabernet sauvignon and petit verdot. Drinkable now, but better in two or three years.”
Decanter 94 points ” Lovely aromatic intensity, spicy and nuanced on the nose but incredibly well defined on the palate which is crisp and precise with flavours that glide across, so linear and straight. There’s a coolness to the fruit profile and a refreshing juiciness. Concentration and structure with good tannic grip – lots on offer here. A blend of 57% Syrah, 31% Cabernet Sauvignon and 12% Petit Verdot. Wines are aged for 14 months in 89% new French oak and 11% one-year-old French oak with malolactic fermentation in barrel. No fining or filtering.”
Jeb Dunnuck 94 points “The 2019 Optimus should be snatched up by savvy readers. Based on 57% Syrah, 31% Cabernet Sauvignon, and the rest Petit Verdot, it just about jumps out of the glass with gorgeous cassis, floral, pepper, and graphite-like aromas and flavors. As seamless as they come, this full-bodied, elegant, pleasure-bent 2019 is going to evolve for a decade.”
We carry wines from the entirety of California, including Chardonnay, Cabernet and Red Blends!
Jeb Dunnuck 100 points “Another magical wine from this estate is the 2019 Côte à Côte, a blend of 34% each of Grenache and Mourvèdre, with the balance Syrah. Brought up in 29% new French oak, it boasts a dense purple color as well as incredible aromatics of blue fruits, smoked game, violets, black pepper, and spring flowers. One of those incredibly complex, nuanced wines that still brings depth and richness on the palate, it’s perfectly balanced, has ultra-fine tannins, and a gorgeous finish. It’s the finest vintage of Côte à Côte ever produced. Drink it over the coming 15+ years.”
L’Aventure Estate Cuvee Paso Robles 2019 750ML ($149.95) $119 pre-arrival special
Jeb Dunnuck 100 points “Pure perfection from Paso Robles, the 2019 Estate Cuvee checks in as 50% Syrah, 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 15% Petit Verdot that was raised in 81% new French oak. Incredible cassis and black berry fruits as well as violets, chocolate, graphite, and who knows what else emerges from the glass, and it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a concentrated yet weightless mouthfeel, building tannins, and a great finish. It’s more seamless and approachable than the more backward, structured 2018 and will have two decades of prime drinking.”
L’Aventure Optimus Paso Robles 2019 750ML ($69.95) $59 pre-arrival special
James Suckling 96 points “Extremely aromatic with ripe cherry and berry aromas, as well as flowers and citrus. Medium to full body with fine, polished tannins and a long, caressing finish. This is really well done and one of the most balanced L’Aventures I have encountered. Syrah, cabernet sauvignon and petit verdot. Drinkable now, but better in two or three years.”
Decanter 94 points ” Lovely aromatic intensity, spicy and nuanced on the nose but incredibly well defined on the palate which is crisp and precise with flavours that glide across, so linear and straight. There’s a coolness to the fruit profile and a refreshing juiciness. Concentration and structure with good tannic grip – lots on offer here. A blend of 57% Syrah, 31% Cabernet Sauvignon and 12% Petit Verdot. Wines are aged for 14 months in 89% new French oak and 11% one-year-old French oak with malolactic fermentation in barrel. No fining or filtering.”
Jeb Dunnuck 94 points “The 2019 Optimus should be snatched up by savvy readers. Based on 57% Syrah, 31% Cabernet Sauvignon, and the rest Petit Verdot, it just about jumps out of the glass with gorgeous cassis, floral, pepper, and graphite-like aromas and flavors. As seamless as they come, this full-bodied, elegant, pleasure-bent 2019 is going to evolve for a decade.”
We carry wines from the entirety of California, including Chardonnay, Cabernet and Red Blends!
Collector’s Corner:
Perfection from the Golden Bell,
James Bond’s 100 Point 2016 Angelus
Perfection from the Golden Bell,
James Bond’s 100 Point 2016 Angelus
The de Bouard family, owners and stewards of Angelus, are synonymous with Bordeaux, with family records showing a presence in the region as early as 1544. Over the centuries their reputation for producing some of the best wine on the Right Bank has ebbed and flowed but never budged from the upper echelon. This stellar reputation can be attributed to the family’s acumen for combining tradition with modern technology. If that wasn’t enough the wine is featured in the contemporary James Bond films, with Angelus being his new drink of choice.
Hubert de Bouard has especially championed this within his family’s holdings. Undertaking massive renovations to their estate and vinification practices, Angelus is now farmed organically and uses gravity-feeding during fermentation. Hubert borrowed techniques from Burgundian producers like de-stemming by hand, fermenting parcels separately and extended contact with the lees with elevage in 100% new French oak.
The 2016 vintage is legendary in Bordeaux, with Roger Voss of Wine Enthusiast entitling his vintage summary “The Perfect Bordeaux?”. The vintage is often compared to her sister 2015 in terms of being consistently warm throughout the summer but with a luxuriously wet spring allowing for ample water supplies within the soil. Combined with a long and dry summer, Angelus was able to deliver exceptional purity, elegance and freshness in spades. After seeing the critical reception, we secured an allotment of magnums. As you can expect with a top tier Bordeaux and a larger format these are wines not for today, but for the auction blocks and tables of the future.
In Stock Now:
Chateau Angelus Saint-Emilion Grand Cru 2016 1.5L ($1049.95) $899 special, 7 magnums in stock nowCase-6 Chateau Angelus Saint-Emilion Grand Cru 2016 1.5L ($5999.95) $5099 special, only 1 case available
Wine Enthusiast 100 points “TOP 100 Cellar Selection In 2019. This is a rich, perfumed wine, with dense tannins and intense layers of black plum and spice. The palate is firmly built yet broadened out by plump dark-fruit tones and honed by a solid, dry core. Drink from 2025. -Roger Voss”
Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Wine Advocate 98+ points “Sporting a deep garnet-purple color, the 2016 Angélus erupts from the glass with powerful notes of blackberry pie, ripe black cherries and juicy black plums with an undercurrent of star anise, rose petals, chocolate mint, pencil shavings and woodsmoke plus a waft of allspice. The palate is pure decadence. Medium to full-bodied, rich and generously fruited, this wine is by no means heavy—it positively glimmers with freshness and vivacity, lending an ethereal nature to all that richness and power, beautifully framed by velvety tannins and finishing with epic length. The generosity, layers and plushness make for an absolutely DELICIOUS drink right now, but I’d suggest waiting 3-5 more years for the fireworks to really begin.”
Neal Martin-Vinous 97 points “The 2016 Angélus has an intense, powerful bouquet with copious black cherries, boysenberry, orange pith and iodine scents that threaten to overwhelm the senses. The medium-bodied palate offers supple tannins, a fine bead of acidity, a dash of black pepper and impressive detail and persistence on the finish. This is an outstanding Angélus that clearly requires several years in bottle to realize its full potential. Tasted blind at the annual Southwold tasting.”
Jeb Dunnuck 97 points “The 2016 Château Angélus is incredibly elegant and finesse-driven, with a soaring perfume of crème de cassis, white flowers, crayon, forest floor, and spice. Compared to the 1996 by the Angélus team, it has a deep, layered style, its oak is beautifully integrated, there are ample tannins, and despite leaning toward the finesse-driven side of the spectrum, it has thrilling depth of fruit and length. It’s a brilliant wine from this estate that will benefit from 4-5 years of bottle age and keep for 30+ years or more. The blend of the 2016 is 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Franc, brought up all in new French oak.”
Wine Spectator 96 points “This goes for the gusto, with a deep and broad swath of well-roasted tobacco, espresso and loam out front. The core of dark currant and fig fruit will have to catch up, but this red has the energy and juicy drive to eventually do so. When it melds fully, this will be a smoky, alluring, tobacco-fueled wine. Best from 2024 through 2040. 8,333 cases made. — JM”