Vinopolis June 16 Newsletter

Jump Start Sale

Arriving tomorrow:

Jean-Louis Chave Saint Joseph ‘Offerus’ 2010 ($34.95) $27 special
Stephen Tanzer 91 points “Deep, vivid ruby.  High-pitched, mineral-accented aromas of cherry, black raspberry and fresh flowers.  Offers an array of red and dark berry flavors that gain flesh and sweetness with air.  Packs a serious punch but comes off as energetic, with no excess weight.  Closes with resonating spiciness and sneaky, fine-grained tannins that fold smoothly into the sappy fruit.  Jean-Louis noted that there is a bigger dose of Chave domain fruit than usual in this year’s version of Offerus.”

Jean-Louis Chave Saint Joseph ‘Offerus’ 2006 ($34.95) $29 special
Wine Spectator 91 points “Very bright and racy, with mouthwatering damson plum, crushed cherry, lavender, iron and tobacco notes that race through the well-focused finish. Long and pure, with a lingering spice note.”

OREGON
Argyle Nuthouse Reserve Series Eola-Amity Hills Pinot Noir 2011 ($49.95) $39 special

WASHINGTON
Amavi Cellars Walla Walla Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2011 ($29.95) $26 special
Wine Spectator 92 points “Fresh and vibrant, this is tightly wound around fine tannins, offering a generous burst of currant and plum fruit, hinting at clove and pepper as the finish lingers harmoniously. Drink now through 2021.”

Forgeron Boushey Columbia Valley Merlot 2011($34.95) $28 special
Forgeron Columbia Valley GSM 2011 ($34.95) $28 special

CALIFORNIA
Dutton Estate Kylie’s Cuvee Russian River Valley Sauvignon Blanc 2012 ($19.95) $11.90 special

Caymus 40th Anniversary Edition Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2012 ($69.95) $59 special

FRANCE- CHAMPAGNE
Marie Courtin Champagne Extra Brut Resonance NV (2008) 375ml($29.95) $19 special

Dom Perignon Champagne Brut 2004 ($179.95) $149 special
Antonio Galloni 96 points “The 2004 Dom Pérignon continues to develop beautifully. A vibrant, focused Champagne, the 2004 clearly reflects the personality of the year. Freshly cut flowers, white peaches and pears are woven together in a Champagne that impresses for its focus and energy. Chiseled saline note support the crystalline finish. I imagine the 2004 will always remain relatively bright and linear, but at the same time, each time I have tasted it over the last two years the 2004 seems to have a little more body and broader shoulders. The 2004 will appeal most to readers who find the 2002 and 2003 too exuberant. There is a lot to like in the glass.”

Bollinger Champagne Brut Special Cuvee NV ($69.95) $47 special
Wine Spectator 94 points “A rich, smoky Champagne, with hints of marzipan and fennel seed accenting honeyed malt, bread dough, baked apple and gingersnap flavors. It’s all focused by intense acidity, which meshes beautifully into the layers of flavor and refined texture, with a lingering finish. Drink now through 2021.”

Gaston- Chiquet Champagne Carte Verte Tradition Brut NV 375ml ($27.95) $24 special
Gaston- Chiquet Champagne Carte Verte Tradition Brut NV 1.5 LITER ($99.95) $89 special
Stephen Tanzer 91 points “Light yellow.  Suave, floral aromas of poached pear, blood orange, melon and honey.  A dusty mineral quality adds lift to spicy red berry and citrus fruit flavors.  Closes nervy and long, with resonating minerality and a touch of gingerbread.”

Gaston- Chiquet Champagne Special Club 2005 ($79.95) $69 special
Stephen Tanzer 92 points “(70% chardonnay and 30% pinot noir; aged for more than six years on its lees and disgorged in September, 2012):  Light yellow.  Vibrant cherry pit, blood orange and smoky minerals on the nose.  Dry, tightly wound and focused, offering deeply pitched red fruit and citrus zest flavors that pick up smokiness and energy with air.  Closes with serious power and lift, leaving sexy floral and toasty lees notes behind.”

A. Margaine Champagne Brut Cuvee Traditionelle NV 375ml ($27.95) $24 special
Wine Spectator 92 points “Refined, with aromatic anise, almond and raisin notes that are finely layered with berry, cassis, candied lemon peel and smoke flavors. Lip-smacking acidity keeps this fresh and lively through to the mineral-tinged finish.”

A. Margaine Champagne Demi- Sec NV 375ml ($27.95) $21 special
Wine Advocate 90 points “The NV Demi-Sec offers lively richness from the additional dosage (31 grams/liter) yet never loses its essential minerality and sheer brilliance. White flowers, spices, pears and citrus notes are layered into the generous, inviting finish. This is another strong showing from Margaine. The Demi-Sec is the same blend as the Cuvee Traditionelle, which is to say 90% Chardonnay and 10% Pinot Noir, 52% 2008 juice plus reserves spanning 2007 (20%), 2005 (8%), 2004 (12%), and 2000 (8%), the only difference is the dosage.”

A. Margaine Champagne Extra Brut NV ($59.95) $49 special
Stephen Tanzer and Wine Spectator 91 points  “A sleek style, with racy acidity and flavors of crunchy white peach, persimmon, toasted brioche and lemon curd. Chalk and smoke notes hint at an underlying minerality and linger on the finish.”

A. Margaine Champagne Special Club 2008 ($79.95) $69 special
Stephen Tanzer 92 points “(aged for four years on its lees and disgorged in July of 2013):  Green-tinged yellow.  Sexy aromas of candied lemon and orange, white flowers and ginger.  Mineral and white pepper notes add lift and bite to ripe, deep citrus and orchard fruit flavors.  The mineral note drives the  delineated, long finish.”

FRANCE- RHONE
Domaine Alain Voge Cotes du Rhone Les Peyrouses 2012 ($24.95) $19 special
Wine Advocate 90 points “Already in bottle and made from 100% Syrah, the 2012 Cotes du Rhone Les Peyrouses is a fresh, lively and supple effort that gives up ample plum, black raspberry and mineral notes to go with surprising depth and richness on the palate. Showing outstanding length, this smoking value should be purchased by the case and consumed over the coming 4-5 years.”

Domaine Alain Voge Cornas Les Chailles 2011 ($54.95) $43.50 special
Wine Advocate 94 points “There were only two cuvees produced, with no Les Vieilles Fontaines. The 2011 Cornas Les Chailles is totally thrilling and offers palate saturating liquid violets, sweet blackberry, cassis, mint and underbrush qualities to go with a medium to full-bodied, pure and seamless personality. Aged 18 months in neutral oak, this beauty is still youthfully primary, so give it another 2-3 years and enjoy it over the following decade.”

Domaine Alain Voge Cornas Vieilles Vignes 2011 ($89.95) $66 special
Wine Advocate 95 points “Slightly richer and more full-bodied, the 2011 Cornas Vieilles Vignes is certainly a standout in the vintage. Offering a sweet bouquet of black raspberry, cassis, forest floor, cracked pepper and assorted background meatiness, it flows onto the palate with awesome purity of fruit, vibrant acidity and ultra-fine tannin that gives plenty of cut and length on the finish. Spending 20 months in roughly 15% new French oak, this classic Cornas should be given a handful of years in the cellar and it will have two decades or more of ultimate longevity.”

FRANCE- LOIRE VALLEY
Charles Joguet Chinon Rose 2013 ($27.95) $24 special
Domaine Pepiere La Pepie Rose 2013 ($19.95) $16 special

Domaine Pepiere Chateau Thebaud Muscadet Sevre et Maine Sur Lie  Clos des Morines 2010 750ML ($27.95) $24 special
Domaine Pepiere Chateau Thebaud Muscadet Sevre et Maine Sur Lie  Clos des Morines  2010 1.5 LITER ($69.95) $59 special

Gerard Boulay Sancerre Les Monts Damnes 2011 ($41.95) $36 special
Wine Advocate 91-92 points “High-toned, penetrating scents of mint, wormwood, white pepper, and citrus oils rise from the glass of Boulay’s 2011 Sancerre Monts Damnes, along with some yeasty notes not surprising in a wine tasted from tank. Lemon and grapefruit offer an invigoratingly bright palate with their accents of rind, pepper, and chalk; while peppermint and a sweet freesia-like suggestion of inner-mouth perfume add stimulating allure. Long on finesse and refreshment–and just plain long, this Sancerre’s evolution is going to be deliciously fascinating to follow over the next half dozen years, if not beyond.”

Olga Raffault Chinon Les Picasses 2006 ($24.95) $21.90 special

Olga Raffault Chinon Les Picasses 2002 ($34.95) $28 special
John Gilman 93 points “The 2002 vintage in Chinon is excellent and the Raffault Picasses is a perfect example of how the slightly less ripe aspects of the 2002 vintage have produced even more vivid aromatic and flavor purity in the wines. The utterly classic nose soars from the glass in a blaze of black cherries, cassis, new leather, espresso, gravelly soil tones…On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied and quite transparent, with a very good core, modest tannins, sound acids and lovely focus and complexity on the long, poised and transparent finish.”

Olga Raffault Chinon Les Picasses 1989 ($69.95) $59 special
Library release: An Old School Style Chinon. The fruit is handpicked, fermented in stainless steel and then aged in large neutral barrel. After about a year and half of aging it is bottled. Les picasses is one of the best vineyards in chinon, which also averages aproximately 50 years of age.

FRANCE- ROSE
Eugene Carrel & Fils Vin de Savoie Jongieux Rose 2013 ($14.95) $11.90 special

Chateau Peyrassol Cotes de Provence Rose 2013 ($27.95) $24 special

ITALY- PIEDMONT
Vietti Barolo Villero Riserva 2006 ($349.95) $299 special
Wine Advocate 97 points “The last wine of the flight is the outstanding 2006 Barolo Riserva Villero. It literally bursts open to full force intensity and beauty. It’s a mind-blowing interpretation of the often austere and brooding Nebbiolo grape that shows abundant life and vigor. Dark leather, cured beef, pressed rose petal, candied fruit, prune, cola, dried herbs and crushed mineral emerge from the glass like an aromatic marching band. Anticipated maturity: 2016-2035.”
Antonio Galloni 96+ points “Elegance and power come together in grand style in Vietti’s 2006 Barolo Riserva Villero. At times delicate while at other times a powerhouse, the 2006 captures all the seeming contradictions that make Nebbiolo such a great grape. Tasted alongside the other Vietti 2006s, the Villero shines. The aromas and flavors are all beautifully defined, but it is the wine’s overall sense of harmony that leaves the longest impression. Tar, pine and wild flowers are layered into the huge, balsamic-infused finish. The Villero is typically quite slow out of the gate and I will not be at all surprised if that is the case here as well. As for the rest of Vietti’s 2006s, I tasted them again, and, well, they are pretty special too.”

ITALY- VENETO
Inama Vin Soave Classico 2012 ($17.94) $14 special
Pieropan Soave 2013 ($17.94) $14 special

SPAIN / PORTUGAL
Teixeiro Vinho Verde 2012 ($11.95) $8 special

Capcanes Mas Donis Negre Montsant 2012 ($19.95) $16 special
Robert Parker 94 points “Another baby Priorato, the 2012 Mas Donis, a custom cuvee from Eric Solomon, is composed of 85% Grenache and 15% Syrah aged nine months in both new and used French and American oak. The Grenache comes from 70-year-old vines, and the Syrah from 30-year-old vines. It is difficult to find a better value than this incredibly rich effort. The bouquet offers up a smorgasbord of aromas, including crushed rocks, spring flowers, kirsch liqueur and blacker fruits. Full-bodied with a velvety, voluptuous texture, and admirable opulence, density, purity and texture, it is nearly impossible to believe that something this good could be priced at $12 a bottle. Consume it over the next year.”

AUSTRIA
Weingut Franz Hirtzberger Gruner Veltliner Rotes Tor Federspiel 2011 ($29.95) $24 special
Wine Spectator 89 points “Firm yet plush, with well-focused gooseberry, lentil and wild cherry flavors that are filled with minerally notes. Crunchy finish. Drink now through 2017.”

Weinlaubnehof Alois Kracher Cuvee Beerenauslese 2009 375ml ($34.95) $28 special
Wine Spectator 92 points “Rich and creamy, with a vibrant array of lush apricot, peach and Fuji apple flavors that show butterscotch and dried quince elements. The long finish has plenty of honeyed notes. Welschriesling and Chardonnay. Drink now through 2032.”

Weinlaubnehof Alois Kracher Cuvee Auslese 2009 375ml ($21.95) $18 special
Wine Spectator 89 points “There’s lots of honey and apricot flavors in this rich, lively sweetie. The light, creamy finish exudes a buttery essence. Drink now through 2020.”

SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE

Marquis Philips Sarah’s Blend Red 2011 ($19.95) $14 special

Ksana Malbec Mendoza, Argentina 2010 ($19.95) $14 special
Wine Advocate 90 points “The 2010 Ksana Malbec is very closed at first, but it opens with lush dark cherry, violet and cassis aromas. The palate is silky smooth, with a core of ripe black fruit laced with creamy new oak, and a satisfying, creamy finish. This is easy drinking but is well-made.”

Lamadrid Malbec Reserva Agrelo, Argentina 2011 ($21.95) $16 special
Stephen Tanzer 88 points “Bright, full ruby.  Aromas of blackberry, chocolate and fig are at once roasted and lightly medicinal.  Fat and ripe but dry in the mouth; boasts a mouthfilling texture but shows less class than the cabernet in this series.  Finishes with tongue-dusting, slightly green tannins and notes of smoke and tobacco.”

Penfolds Grange 2008 ($799.95) $579 special
Wine Spectator 100 points “An utterly majestic Shiraz, sleek and seamless, brimming with ripeness on a framework that allows for grace and expressiveness in equal measure. The intensity of fresh blueberry and plum fruit holds attention until the nuances kick in, offering glints of exotic spice, coffee, cocoa, bay leaf and mint. Shows tremendous presence without a lot of weight, the tannins present but not even close to getting in the way. A great wine now, with plenty of room to grow. Drink now through 2040.”
Wine Advocate 100 points “Deep purple-black in color, the 2008 Grange puts forward a very complex nose packed with aromas of mulberries, layers of baking spices, cloves and cinnamon with nuances of minced meat, anise, potpourri and whiffs of dried mint and chocolate. Medium to full-bodied, taut and very spicy in the mouth, it shows touches of sandalwood and Chinese five spice complementing the layers of dark fruit flavors. It is framed by firm, grainy tannins and a refreshing acid line before finishing very long with aniseed and lingering blackberry preserves notes. This is clearly a wonderfully opulent and a magic vintage for this label. Drink it from 2018 to 2035+.”

Highlight
Allemand Cornas

The epitome of Northern Rhone traditionalist winemakers, Thierry Allemand’s backstory is as compelling as his wines. While working as an electrician in the early 1980s, and studying under famed winemakers Robert Michel and Noël Verset, Thierry began to acquire vineyards that had long since been abandoned, rescuing some, buying others, and renting the rest. With vineyards in Cornas that had fallen into disrepair, Thierry spent many years clearing the over-taken vineyards of weeds and brush, reinforcing terraces, rebuilding walls, and replanting, all by hand. Taking 15 years to cultivate his parcels, Thierry had already gained notoriety with his negociant wines by the time he began to bottle under his own domaine in 1991. Today, Thierry’s unique winemaking style and hands on approach continues to impress, resulting in stunningly classic, archetype Cornas. 

Despite its underrated reputation in comparison to it’s Rhone neighbors, the slopes of Cornas are sheltered from the Mistral, allowing their vines to ripen earlier and producing wines that have a distinctive, powerful character. With winding hillsides of varying sun exposure, Cornas is a rich land of microclimates and varying terroir. The slopes are composed of both limestone and granite, though Thierry’s parcels lie predominately upon sturdy, granite subsoil with some clay. From his small 5ha estate, Thierry vinifies each parcel individually, bringing prestige and recognition back to even the smallest lieux-dits of Cornas. With training from two classic Cornas produces, Thierry continues to innovate his winemaking, using small amounts of carbonic maceration to add finesse to his wines and minimal sulphur for most of his cuvées and for some, none at all. We are pleased to offer his 2011 Cornas, listed here below.

Thierry Allemand Cornas Reynard Sans Soufre 2011 ($199.95) $179 special 3 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 93 points “Bright purple.  Dark berries, cherry, peppery spices and a whiff of violet on the highly perfumed nose.  Sappy and shapely on the palate, with zesty acidity giving juiciness and spine to the supple black and blue fruit flavors.  Fresh and sharply focused, finishing with firm, dusty tannins and excellent persistence.  This wine will very likely have to be labeled as a Vin de Table because the powers that be have apparently decided that it is atypical of the appellation.  They have a point, but I’m not sure that it’s the one they are trying to make.”

Thierry Allemand Cornas Chaillot 2011 750ML ($159.95) $135 special 6 bottles available
Thierry Allemand Cornas Chaillot 2011 1.5 LITER ($319.95) $269 special 1 magnum available
Stephen Tanzer 93 points “Inky purple.  Sexy, mineral-laced black and blue fruit aromas are complemented by notes of licorice, violet and black tea.  Juicy and precise, offering intense boysenberry and bitter cherry flavors and a touch of spicecake that gains strength with aeration.  The floral note comes back strong on the strikingly persistent finish, which is firmed by dusty, fine-grained tannins.  Plenty deep and intense but comes off as a bit more lithe than the even deeper and sappier Reynard.”

Thierry Allemand Cornas Reynard 2011 750ML ($179.95) $149 special 6 bottles available
Thierry Allemand Cornas Reynard 2011 1.5 LITER ($369.95) $319 special 1 magnum available
Stephen Tanzer 93-94 points “Opaque purple.  Spicy, highly perfumed aromas of cassis, blueberry, candied violet and smoky minerals.  Densely packed, fresh and delineated, offering energetic flavors of black and blue fruits and floral pastilles.  Shows a restrained sweetness on the finish, which features slow-building tannins and a strong echo of minerality.  This wine was scheduled to be bottled about a week after I tasted it from its holding tank.”

Domaine Chandon de Brialles has been owned and managed by the de Nicolay family since 1834. Claude de Nicolay  and her brother Francois took over the estate from their mother in 1988 and work together to craft traditionally styled wines from one of the Cote d’Or’s great terroirs, the hill of Corton and its surrounding villages.  

Located just west of the imposing hill of Corton, Chandon de Briailles owns a terrific array of the area’s best vineyards, with approximately 13 hectares of vines, split between the villages of Savigny, Pernand and Aloxe. They are the largest landholder of Iles-des-Vergelesses, and the only domaine to grow both Chardonnay and Pinot Noir there. Since 1989 they have practiced organic viticulture, with the entire domaine managed on biodynamic principles since 2005. They work hard in the vineyard, debudding and green harvesting, both of which contribute to yields that average no more than 35 hectoliters per hectare.

The winemaking is very traditional at Chandon de Briailles. No new oak is used and the average barrel age is seven years. The winemaking often includes a large percentage of whole clusters in the fermentation of reds – especially for the Corton Clos du Roi there is often 100% whole clusters used, of-course it depends on the vintage, but the other wines may average between 50 and 70% whole clusters. There is extended lees contact for the whites, and about 20% of the domaine’s production is white wine. Bottling is done by gravity without filtration. With their classic style and long standing prowess, the domaine is now producing top level wines that represent some of the best values in Burgundy. 

Chandon Briailles Savigny Beaune Forneaux 2007 ($39.95) $33 special 12 bottles available
Burghound 87-89 points “This too is quite pretty and more expressive still with better aromatic depth as well with moderately earth red pinot fruit that carries hints of smoke, underbrush and a gamey character that is also reflected by the detailed, dusty and lightly mineral suffused flavors that are ever so slightly riper and finish with solid balance.”

Chandon Briailles Pernand Ile Vergelesses 2007 ($49.95) $39 special 2+ cases available
Burghound 89-91 points “A notable step up in elegance is in evidence, particularly on the pure, complex and airy nose that offers up notes of red and blue fruit, wet stone and a touch of forest floor that continues onto the intensely minerally flavors that possess better overall ripeness as well as a tension filled, precise and driving finish. A really lovely effort that is balanced and understated.”

Chandon Briailles Aloxe Corton Valozieres 2007 ($59.95) $49 special 12 bottles available
Burghound 87-89 points “Not surprisingly, this offers a completely different expression with fresh and overtly rustic earthy dark berry fruit aromas that introduce big, rich, full and serious flavors that possess plenty of volume and a robust muscularity if limited elegance on the solidly persistent finish. A wine of powerful but not nuance.”

Chandon De Briailles Corton Bressandes 2007 ($99.95) $79 special 2+ cases available
Burghound 91 points “As is usually the case, this is the most elegant of the three Corton grands crus, displaying a beguiling, fresh, airy and layered nose of stone, red berry fruit and a subtle hint of the sauvage that continues onto the fresh, energetic and equally stone suffused medium full flavors that possess excellent detail and precision on the presently understated and restrained finish. I like the balance and the mid-palate concentration is such that this should amply reward 6 to 8 years of cellar time.”

Chandon Briailles Pernand Ile Vergelesses 2003 1.5 LITER ($119.95) $99 special 6 magnums available
From the winery “The wine is of great aromatic finesse on the nose, very intense, and develops scents of red fruits tending to liquorice and spices. Its structure is straight-line and tannic; it possesses great power and long persistence on the palate. Wait around 5 years before opening.”

Riesling of the Week
Donnhoff – Dry

The Donnhoff Estate produces some of the best examples of German Rieslings in the Nahe region.  Their dry wines which we feature below showcase the elegance and finesse in their slightly richer style of Rieslings.

In 2002, a group of top German winemakers including Donnhoff introduced the Grosses Gewachs category to identify top quality dry wines made from the best vineyard sites (Grosse Lage).  These wines are produced from the best vineyard parcels and offer breathtaking expressiveness and aging potential.  They are pure expressions of very specific vineyard sites with distinct terroir, sustainably grown with careful and strict pruning by passionate producers in Germany.  Other Trocken wines from Donnhoff offer superb complexity and focused acidity.

Cornelius Donnhoff has been the winemaker of the estate since 2007 after working under his father, Helmut, who still assists in winemaking.  The estate has over 60 acres of Erste Lage (“first class”) vineyards sites.  None of their vineyards are irrigated, all are organic, and their grapes are hand-picked over several passes.  Here we find such vineyards as Hermannshohle along a steep hill that at its peak is rich in slate and slowly becomes more volcanic towards the base.  The Roxheim Hollenpfad vineyard is red sandstone.

Donnhoff Riesling Trocken 2011 ($22.95) $15.50 special 13 bottles available
Donnhoff Riesling Trocken 2012 ($23.95) $18 special 3+ cases available

Donnhoff Roxheimer Hollenpfad Riesling Trocken 2012 ($34.95) $29 special 21 bottles available
Terry Theise: “This is a mostly steep site on sandy loam; call it a Cru but Dönnhoffs aren’t rushing to include it among the GGs. It seemed again to be on the austere side but so assertive in its terroir it blasts through with sheer flavor, an advancing brigade of tangy sandstone and lemon-eucalyptus.”

Donnhoff Norheimer Dellchen Riesling Grosses Gewachs 2012 ($79.95) $49 special 34 bottles available
Terry Theise: “I can’t give you a note here, because the wine was fiercely closed-in. Historically a late developer, it’s also historically a splendid Riesling, so I’ll defer the specifics.”

Donnhoff ‘Felsenturmchen’ Schlossbockelheimer Felsenberg Riesling Grosses Gewachs 2012 ($69.95) $49 special 15 bottles available
Terry Theise: “A big, smoky and determinedly important wine; still very early days, but this made me think of a Grand Cru Alsace with the fat removed and the mineral intact. But this isn’t just mineral; it’s a swollen dialogue of stones and smoke and exotic flowers. By the way, taste this for an exegesis of porphyry flavor.”

Donnhoff Niederhauser Hermannshohle Riesling Grosses Gewachs 2012 ($89.95) $69 special 11 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 91 points “Sumptuous aromas of dried apricot, blackberry and oyster shell, complicated by a smoky, herbal character. Dense passion fruit and finely polished minerality animate the palate. Rich, elegant and spicy on the persistent finish, this will certainly improve with bottle age.”

Donnhoff Niederhauser Hermannshohle Riesling Grosses Gewachs 2011 ($99.95) $79 special 25 bottles available
John Gilman 97+ points “Not to be outdone by the Dellchen, the 2011 Hermannshöhle Grosses Gewächs is also profound! The deep and completely kaleidoscopic nose soars from the glass in a magical blend of white cherries, pink grapefruit, crystalline minerality, citrus peel, lemongrass and a smoky topnote. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied, pure and Porsche-like in the passing lane, with stunning mid-palate depth, ripe, racy acids, brilliant focus and grip and a very, very pure and very long and elegant finish. A seamless and utterly stunning young wine! 2020-2050.”

Donnhoff Grosses Gewachs 6-PACK 2012 ($499.95) $299 special 6 packs available 
2 bottles each of the 3 grosses gewachs bottlings from 2012: Dellchen Felsenberg Hermannshohle

Late Breaking News

Re-Arriving This Week
2010 Opus One- Final 36 bottles

Opus One Proprietary Red Napa Valley 2010 ($249.95) $219 pre-arrival special
Antonio Galloni 97 points  “One of the highlights among the more recent releases, the 2010 Opus One is flat-out gorgeous. Dark cherries, plums, graphite, cassis and pencil shavings are all woven together in a fabric of notable class and elegance. The 2010 stands out for its exceptional minerality, tension and pure power. Readers will have to be patient. This is a picture perfect rendering of this great Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon vintage.”