New Year, New Sales:
Remoissenet: Quality+ Value in Burgundy
JJ Prum’s Charming 2016’s
The Pinnacle of Wine: Legendary Bottles
New Reviews for Cameron Classics
Cantalupo’s Ghemme: The Future of Piedmont
Looking Forward to Spring (Incoming Gems)
New Year, New Sales
Remoissenet
High Quality & Exceptional Value in Burgundy
Remoissenet Pere & Fils Le Trio, Gevrey-Chambertin Premier Cru 2011 750ML ($119.95) Was $89, Now $69 January Sale Special, 8 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni 93 points “The 2011 Gevrey-Chambertin Le Trio is one of the most direct and focused of the 2011s here. Crushed rocks, graphite, mint and dark red berries are all laced together in a wine that impresses for its sense of harmony. Sweet floral notes add the final layers of nuance.” AG
Antonio Galloni 93+ points “The 2011 Chapelle-Chambertin is not lacking in personality, that much is obvious. A savory, almost wild Burgundy, the 2011 Chapelle is laced with dried herbs, tobacco, black cherries and cured meats are some of the notes that blossom in the glass. It will be interesting to see where the 2011 goes; will it always remain a bit gamy, or will it find a bit more finesse in bottle?”
Now it’s even lower!
The next best price is $199.99
Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2011 Chambertin Clos-de-Beze Grand Cru is less flamboyant than the Charmes-Chambertin ‘11 tasted alongside. The fruit here is darker, a touch more tertiary but still very well-defined. The palate is medium-bodied with fine definition, a masculine Clos-de-Beze that will need two or three more years in the cellar. Personally, I prefer the harmony and plushness of the Charmes-Chambertin, although this will repay bottle age thanks to its substance and structure. Drink 2018-2030.”
Antonio Galloni 93 points “The 2011 Chambertin Clos de Bèze isn’t ready to show all its cards just yet. This is a relatively delicate style for Bèze, with expressive floral notes that convey more finesse than power. The 2011 isn’t fully formed yet, but today my impression is that it will remain quite restrained in style.”
Antonio Galloni 93 points “The 2011 Clos de Vougeot is dense, compact and structured. Firm, chalky tannins support a core of bright red berries, mint, wild flowers and minerals. The 2011 possesses gorgeous clarity and focus, with more than enough underlying minerality to drink well for a number of years.” AG
Now it’s even lower!
The next best price is $254.97
Antonio Galloni 94 points “The 2011 Ruchottes-Chambertin presents a classical expression of lifted, fragrant fruit to match its weightless personality. Today, the 2011 is incredibly expressive, with impeccable balance and a total sense of harmony that is hugely appealing.” AG
JJ Prum’s Wonderful 2016’s
We’re adding a number of these great wines, from the excellent 2016 vintage, to our January sale. 2016 is a fantastic vintage to stock up on. We’ve bought a bunch and you should, too—it’s a perfect counterpoint to the ageworthy 2015’s and the somewhat inconsistent (and expensive) 2017’s that are in the pipeline. We’re dropping the prices and offering you great deals on wines across the Prum range and trust us, these are wines you’re going to want to own.
In Stock and On Sale Now:
Joh. Jos. Prum Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Kabinett, Mosel 2016 750ML ($37.95) Was $30.90, Now $27 January Sale Special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Joh. Jos. Prum Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Kabinett, Mosel 2016 1.5L ($79.95) Was $69, Now $59 January Sale Special, 19 magnums in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2016 Graacher Himmelreich Kabinett (AP 21 17) is deep, cool and flinty on the nose, pretty mineral though still a bit reductive. Round, intense and juicy, this is a densely woven Kabinett with ripe nectarine and plummy flavors as well as a tightly woven and refreshing mineral structure. The finish is pretty persistent and extremely stimulating. Compared to the Badstube, the Himmelreich is more aromatic and expressive. Tasted in March 2017.”
Stuart Pigott – JamesSuckling.com 93 points “Very youthful, but brimming with white fruits and minerals. This is easy to enjoy right now. However, in the background of this sleek beauty, there’s a note of wet stones that grows through the long and cool finish. Drink or hold.”
The average price nationally is $32
Joh. Jos. Prum Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Spatlese, Mosel 2016 750ML ($49.95) Was $39, Now $36 January Sale Special, 34 bottles in stock now
Joh. Jos. Prum Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Spatlese, Mosel 2016 1.5L ($119.95) Was $89, Now $79 January Sale Special, 11 magnums in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 95 points “The 2016 Graacher Himmelreich Spätlese (AP 08 17) is discreet and smoky on the deep, well-defined nose. Juicy-piquant and salty on the well-structured and refreshingly mineral palate, the Himmelreich is tight and expressive, with the sweetness superbly balanced by the spicy, grippy phenols/minerals. This is a really complex Spätlese that is highly stimulating today and will still be so in 20 or 30 years.”
David Schildknecht – Vinous 94 points “This is another Prüm 2016 seductively loaded with floral perfume, but here it’s bittersweet, suggesting gentian and iris as well as honeysuckle. The palate and superbly sustained finish deliver delicacy allied to silken richness and gloss, featuring intense pear, pineapple, quince and almond paste flavors together with striking transparency to stony and maritime mineral nuances.”
The average price nationally is $39
Joh. Jos. Prum Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Auslese, Mosel 2016 750ML ($59.95) Was $49, Now $44 January Sale Special, 34 bottles in stock now
Joh. Jos. Prum Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Auslese, Mosel 2016 375ML ($37.95) Was $29, Now $26 January Sale Special, 21 half-bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 95 points “The 2016 Graacher Himmelreich Auslese (AP 09 17) shows very fine botrytis and orange tea character on the delicate and nicely concentrated nose. Very elegant, piquant and lush on the palate, with mineral expression, refreshment and persistent structure, this is a serious and complex Auslese of great class. Highly recommended.”
Wine Spectator 93 points “Well-crafted, showing a bright and suave character, displaying ripe peach, mango and mineral nuances, this auslese sings harmoniously on the palate. Silky and full of energy, with a lingering aftertaste of lime and honey. Very delicious now, but will also age for years. Drink now through 2034.”
The average price is $51
Joh. Jos. Prum Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Kabinett, Mosel 2016 750ML ($39.95) Was $31.90, Now $28 January Sale Special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Joh. Jos. Prum Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Kabinett, Mosel 2016 1.5L ($89.95) Was $77, Now $69 January Sale Special, 11 magnums in stock now
Stuart Pigott – JamesSuckling.com 94 points “Still a little funky from the wild ferment, but there are also beautiful notes of floras and ripe white peaches. Very elegant and polished with a super vibrant finish that makes you reach out for the glass again. Drink or hold.”
Mosel Fine Wines 92 points “This delivers a beautiful nose of flowers, whipped cream, herbs, smoke, vineyard peach, and apricot blossom. The wine is delicate, light weighted and has good presence with ripe fruits including peach, pear and a touch of toffee on the palate. It develops quite some Spätlese presence and intensity in the hugely long finish.”
The average price is $36
Joh. Jos. Prum Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Spatlese, Mosel 2016 750ML ($49.95) Was $41.90, Now $36.60 January Sale Special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Joh. Jos. Prum Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Spatlese, Mosel 2016 1.5L ($119.95) Was $96, Now $89 January Sale Special, 6 magnums in stock now
Stuart Pigott – JamesSuckling.com 95 points “Welcome to the heart of the Mosel! A great floral beauty with an extremely precise balance of delicate fruit sweetness and filigree acidity. Drink or hold.”
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 94 points “The 2016 Wehlener Sonnenuhr Spätlese (AP 23 17) is still discreet, floral and finely mineral rather than fruity on the nose compared to the other 2016 Spätlesen. Lush, piquant and juicy on the palate, this is a firm but sensual Sonnenuhr with remarkable finesse, lightness and lingering salinity. Tasted March 2018.”
The average price is $44
Joh. Jos. Prum Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese Goldkapsel, Mosel 2016 750ML ($129.95) Was $119, Now $99 January Sale Special, 23 bottles in stock now
Joh. Jos. Prum Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese Goldkapsel, Mosel 2016 375ML ($79.95) Was $66, Now $59 January Sale Special, 22 half-bottles in stock now
Joh. Jos. Prum Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese Goldkapsel, Mosel 2016 1.5L ($279.95) Was $249, Now $219 January Sale Special, 2 magnums in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 96 points “The 2016 Wehlener Sonnenuhr Auslese (Gold Capsule) is clear, fine and subtle yet concentrated, with vegetal and ripe fruit aromas. Rich, round and piquant, this is an intense and densely woven Auslese (AP 14 17) with a long, tensioned and refreshing mineral finish that lifts the sweet fruit. Gorgeous but made for another decade.”
Stuart Pigott – JamesSuckling.com 96 points “Super elegant and filigree with a delicacy that you don’t find in many other high-end white wines regardless of grape variety and region of origin. A very long and clean finish. Drink or hold.”
Wine Spectator 95 points “Lush and thick in texture, combining power and grace, with a firm backbone of acidity and mineral details. Stunning on the palate, featuring different nuances that keep emerging with each sip. Slate, apricot jam, flan, honeysuckle and kumquat fruit notes are the most prominent, leading to a long, mineral-laced finish. Drink now through 2040.”
Joh. Jos. Prum Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Riesling Spatlese, Mosel 2016 750ML ($41.95) Was $36, Now $33 January Sale Special, 36+ bottles in stock now
David Schildknecht – Vinous 93 points “Fresh apple garlanded in honeysuckle and heliotrope sets the tone for a generously juicy, subtly creamy palate seductively loaded with inner-mouth floral perfume and leading to an inhalative, delicate but seriously sustained finish vividly underlain with wet stone and tinged with bittersweet, smoky nut oils and mouthwatering salinity.”
Stuart Pigott – JamesSuckling.com 93 points “There are delicate spices and very attractive succulence to this Spätlese. The acidity is very much in the background until the finish lifts off. Drink or hold.”
New to the January Sale
The Pinnacle of Wine
Top End, Collectible Burgundy, Barolo and Champagne
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.”
Now it’s even lower!
The next best price is $2,750
The 2004 vintage was bottled exclusively in magnum. Only 300 magnums were bottled. 100% Chardonnay from two parcels in the Grand Cru of Avise. Disgorged 26 April 2017.
Burghound 98 points “This ripe effort really has not changed much since I last reviewed it from bottle in 2012 save for the fact that it is perhaps a bit less imposing than many vintages of La Tâche at the same very early stage. But overall I simply repeat my original review as it is still accurate: A discreet but incredibly complex nose features notes of spicy, pure and relatively high-toned fruit that is laced with plenty of rose petal and violet hints. There is excellent energy and freshness to the lacy and stunningly precise broad-scaled flavors that build in intensity from the densely concentrated mid-palate to the explosive and mouth coating finish that seemingly goes on without end. This is a big LT with ample muscle and very firm but not aggressive structure along with superb depth of underlying material and positively mind-blowing length. But the real genius of this wine is the Zen-like harmony and poise though note that it is very tightly wound and will need many years of cellaring before it will be completely ready. In a word, magnificent.”
Antonio Galloni 97 points “The 2009 La Tâche is a very subtle wine. It boasts incredible richness and depth, yet remains elusive. Silky, impossibly refined tannins frame the seamless, resonant finish. Nothing in particular stands out. Everything is simply in the right place.”
Wine Spectator 97 points “Noticeably oaky and darker than its siblings, evoking black cherry, licorice and spice. On the palate, there’s depth and concentration, with a menthol note that persists through the long finish. The mouthcoating tannins will require some time to integrate.–Non-blind 2009 DRC tasting (February 2012). Best from 2016 through 2042.”
The average price is $4,843
Wine Spectator 95 points “The most forward of the ’02s in both barrel and bottle, this floral- and cherry-scented red verges on opulent, yet remains fresh, pure and succulent. There’s a more decadent feel to this Richebourg.–Non-blind 2002 DRC tasting (February 2005). Best from 2014 through 2032.”
Burghound 95 points “(fashioned with <70% whole clusters). I had not tried the ’02 Riche in several years so it was interesting to see how it’s progressing. The expressive though very cool nose is finally beginning to display the initial hints of maturity with the classic dried rose petal and spice nuances adding both elegance and breadth to the pretty mix of red fruit and plum scents. There is a beguiling mouth feel to the intensely mineral-driven broad-shouldered flavors that are at once powerful but sleek, all wrapped in a muscular and palate staining finish. The refined palate impression is considerably enhanced by the dense but extremely fine tannins, in fact so much so that while this is still very clearly on the way up it could actually be drunk now with pleasure. That said I would still strongly advise holding this strikingly pretty effort for another 6 to 10 years first. I should note that while I have had relatively consistent notes over the years, occasionally I land on a bottle that seems herbaceous and almost vegetal; why this variation occurs isn’t clear but nonetheless it does happen.”
Antonio Galloni 96 points “Dark cherries, plums, cloves, violets, incense, orange rind and tobacco meld together in the 2009 Barolo Brunate-Le Coste. A massive, powerful Barolo, the 2009 boasts stunning depth, power and richness, all in a relatively open style for this estate. I imagine the 2009 will drink well relatively early for top-flight Barolo, but it has fabulous class and intensity.”
Now it’s even lower!
Antonio Galloni 95 points “The 2009 Barolo Cannubi San Lorenzo/Ravera emerges from the glass with sweet red berries, leather, licorice, menthol and sweet spices, all supported by fine, silky tannins. I very much like the sense of energy and vibrancy Rinaldi was able to achieve in 2009, no small feat. The Cannubi San Lorenzo/Ravera has excellent color, freshness, vibrancy, and above all else superb balance. It is easily one of the highlights of the year.”
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 94 points “The 2009 Cannubi S. Lorenzo – Ravera shows similar tones of dark tobacco leaf and herb. But this expression also delivers a dusty mineral note that beautifully frames and delineates the overall bouquet. The big surprise is due to the crisp freshness of this wine. Thanks to that acidity, you can count on the wine’s aging potential. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2030.”
Just click here to shop them in our webstore, or view the list below:
Grapelive 94 points “John Paul, legendary Pinot Noir winemaker at Oregon’s famed Cameron Winery in Dundee, is a northern Italy junkie and loves the wines of Piedmont and the Friuli, which has inspired him to craft wines influenced by these regions they include a skin contact “orange wine” made from Pinot Gris, a Barolo like Nebbiolo and this wonderful and complex Friuli like white blend called Giuliano that is made from estate grown Auxerrois, Friuliano, Muscat (Moscato), Pinot Blanc and Pinot Gris. This thrilling aromatic white is brisk, sultry, and has a saline rich vitality with a dry/crisp body, but with a glorious array of flavors, glycerin and expansion, especially when it warms slightly and with air. The Giuliano Bianco comes from Cameron’s two estate vineyards, Clos Electrique and Abbey Ridge that also has mineral rich volcanic soils that add a vibrant savory/spicy tone to the profile making for a very interesting wine that is perfect for briny sea foods, creamy pasta dishes and lighter cuisine choices. Those that have been following my articles with know that in the last few years I have really dug deep into the Cameron wines and I have a great admiration for John Paul’s extended lineup of offerings and while his Pinots and Chards are his most famous, I am impressed with this Italian style wines, and this wine is extremely lovely and serious with studied details, texture, mineral and exciting energy! This vintage has a ton of personality and zippy freshness showing flowing layers of bright citrus, lemon/lime, orchard white fruits, nectarine and unripe apple fruits as well as zesty mint sprigs, a touch of wax, chamomile, verbena, spicy wet stones and jasmine all in a tight frame and with a lighter body that has surprising mouth feel, expressive palate impact and presence in the glass. There are a lot of great white blends in the new world, but I must say this one by Cameron is one of the better ones, and most unique, it takes the best qualities of each of the grapes and allows them to shine in a way that they cannot to do on their own in most cases, I highly recommend this Giuliano Bianco, it tastes great now and just might be even more interesting with some age too.”
The next best price is $29.99
The average price is $33
Cameron Winery ‘Abbey Ridge’ Chardonnay, Dundee Hills 2016 750ML ($79.95) $59 special
VinopolNote: Abbey Ridge sits high atop the Dundee Hills; a collection of vines planted on their own roots in the mid-70’s. It’s unquestionably one of the most special sites in the Willamette Valley and though it’s better known for Pinot Noir, the Abbey Chard is fantastic. This is the most limited of the Chardonnay bottlings from Cameron and isn’t produced every year (there was no 2014 version).
The next best price is $77.99
Cameron Winery Clos Electrique Blanc, Dundee Hills 2016 1.5L ($189.95) $159 special
VinopolNote: The Clos Electrique is Cameron’s estate vineyard, named after the electric deer fence that surrounds it. This is planted to a mix of clones and is vinified traditionally—no racking and all in older barrels. This is crisp and coiled, with distinct minerality and a lot of power in a lithe frame. Like most vintages of the Electrique Blanc, this is quite good now but will be stellar in a few years.
This is the lowest listed price for a magnum in the USA today!
VinopolNote: Abbey Ridge is one of the most hallowed sites in the Willamette Valley. Planted in 1975, the Pinot Noir here is own rooted and at one of the highest elevations in the Dundee Hills. The elevation and classic Jory soils give the wine an intense personality—high toned, elegant and tensile, with good power and a strong voice. This bottling has been one of the defining Oregon Pinots since John Paul started making it.
Cameron Winery Clos Electrique Rouge, Dundee Hills 2016 750ML ($79.95) $59 special
VinopolNote: Named after the electrified deer fence surrounding the vineyard, the Clos Electrique is the estate vineyard surrounding Cameron’s winery. Located just up the road from Maresh vineyard, on Worden Hill Road, it’s in the promised land of the Dundee Hills and the wines deliver. This is always the meatiest, most primal Pinot of the Cameron lineup. We love it for its intense savoriness and quiet power—every year this is an absolute treat to drink.
The next best price is $69
Grapelive 93 points “The smoky and slightly reduced Cameron Nebbiolo starts out very much like a Nuits-Saint-George Burgundy, but once it blows off and opens up a real Nebbiolo nature comes through with plum, poached cherry, raspberry and tangy currant fruits as well as a mix of red spices, dried herbs, flowers and anise, at once becoming exotic and classic, making it one of Oregon’s most intriguing reds. John Paul, Cameron’s winemaker, known for his famous Pinot Noirs, is also an Italian wine freak, especially Barolo, and he is a pioneer of Italian varietals and styles here in the Willamette Valley and his tricycle label Nebbiolo is a blend of his Jory soils (volcanic) Dundee Hills estate Clos Electrique Vineyard and the White Oak Vineyard. The 2014 Cameron Nebbiolo adds a dusty layer of tannins and brisk orange peel that balances out the warm fruit core, but the wine remains generous and textured throughout and it has a plenty of stuffing, it lingers on and on, making for a glorious and unique wine to geek out on over a long meal, as it certainly gains pleasure and complexity when paired with robust cuisine and given time in the glass to reveal all of its details. This wine really changes wonderfully with time and air, highlighting the youthfulness of it’s nature at this point, gaining zingy berry notes, damp earth and sweet flowers, it is great with food, I mean best with robust cuisine certainly and I would love to re-visit this unique and intriguing wine in another 3 to 5 years. I love this new set of Cameron wines, especially his Pinot Noirs of course, but his Italian inspired offerings are really sexy too, do not miss anything from John Paul!”
The Future of Piemonte
The best part? The prices. Most Cantalupo’s wines are between $30-60, with most of them in the lower part of that price range, but no matter where you’re buying, you’re probably saving 30-50% vs. a wine of comparable quality that has the Barolo tag (and the branding behind it). Sure you don’t get to brag about the Barolo you bought, but if you’re in it for the wines themselves, this is where you want to be.
Arriving this Month:
Antichi Vigneti di Cantalupo ‘Mia Ida’ Spumante Brut Rose, Piedmont NV 750ML ($21.95) $18 pre-arrival special
Ian D’agata-Vinous 92 points “Pale pink. Very floral, red cherry and yellow peach aromas and flavors. Nicely rich, pliant and fruit-driven, with a touch of sweetness and a glyceral presence that gives this a creamy mouthfeel. This smooth pink bubbly boasts sneaky concentration and complexity, finishing persistent with echoes of vanilla and fresh flowers. First made in the 2009 vintage, this Nebbiolo sparkler’s name refers to Ida Rosa Arlunno, mother of Alberto, who runs the winery today.”
Winery note “Light cherry, crystalline color, with fine and tenacious pearl. Fragrances of fruits, such as red apple, and violet flowers. Ready to drink, supple, fresh and with a good sapidity.”
Antonio Galloni 92+ points “The 2007 Ghemme Collis Breclamae shows the deeper, slightly wilder side of Ghemme. Game, smoke, licorice, cedar and tobacco are expressed with elements of burliness and rusticity. There is more than enough depth to fill out the wine’s broad shoulders. Still, what comes through most is the wine’s virile, imposing personality.”
Antonio Galloni 92 points “The 2009 Cantalupo Anno Primo is a gorgeous, super-classic Ghemme. Rosewater, bright red cherry, geranium, tobacco, pine and mint are beautifully delineated throughout. Aromatically intense and focused, the 2009 shows exactly what makes Nebbiolo from Ghemme so delicious. This is an absolutely gorgeous wine that won’t break the bank. At times, the aromatic signatures are quite reminiscent of Mascarello’s Barolo Monprivato, although the tannic and acid signatures are very much those of Ghemme.”
Antichi Vigneti di Cantalupo ‘Cantalupo Anno Primo’, Ghemme DOCG 2011 1.5L ($99.95) $79 pre-arrival special
This is the only listing for a magnum in the USA today!
Antichi Vigneti di Cantalupo Collis Breclemae, Ghemme DOCG 2011 1.5L ($149.95) $119 pre-arrival special, only 6 magnums available!
Incoming Gems
Arriving ETA February:
R. Lopez de Heredia Vina Tondonia ‘Vina Cubillo’ Crianza, Rioja DOCa 2009 750ML ($29.95) $24 special
Case-6 R. Lopez de Heredia Vina Tondonia ‘Vina Cubillo’ Crianza, Rioja DOCa 2009 750ML ($179.95) $133 special (that’s only $22.17/bottle!)
Wine Advocate 92 points “The red they say was born to go with tapas and sold in local restaurants is the 2009 Viña Cubillo Tinto Crianza. 2009 was a warm and ripe year, and this blend of Tempranillo, 20% Garnacha (or the masculine Garnacho they like to use) plus 5% each Graciano and Mazuelo from limestone soils with quite a lot of clay, feels juicy and soft. It fermented with natural yeasts in large oak vats and matured in used barriques for three years. This is a bottling that has grown and improved a lot since 2004-2005. It shows very good balance between fruit and more developed aromas, with hints of leather and cherries, spices and smoke, very clean and with good volume in the palate. It’s usually a little riper and with higher alcohol than Tondonia or Bosconia, with the character, finesse and elegance of a classical Reserva. 93,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in April 2013.”
Case-6 R. Lopez de Heredia Vina Tondonia Reserva, Rioja DOCa 2006 750ML ($249.95) $199 special (that’s only $33.17/bottle—the lowest listed price in the country!)
Wine Advocate 95 points “The red flagship 2006 Viña Tondonia Reserva was inspired by the vineyards of the Médoc but produced with local grapes, 70% Tempranillo, 20% Garnacho, 5% Graciano and 5% Mazuelo, which achieved 13% alcohol in 2006. It always matures in used American oak barriques for some six years. The oldest of all the reds I tasted, it was also the one with more freshness, which speaks to the quality of the vineyard. This takes the lion’s share of the 400,000 bottles the winery produces, with some 220,000 bottles filled over a period of 12 consecutive days in May 2014.”
James Suckling 94 points “This is a remarkably lively wine for a 12-year-old Rioja with notes of licorice and dried cherries and a very elegant tannin structure that runs through the medium to full body of this red like a silk thread. The dry finish is long and polished. Drink or hold.”
Arriving ETA April:
Domaine Eric et Joel Durand Cornas Empreintes, Rhone 2016 750ML ($49.95) $39 special
Wine Spectator 95 points “Ripe and focused, with mouthwatering acidity driving the core of steeped red currant, raspberry and blackberry fruit along. A bright iron note zings through the finish, pulling in light anise, savory and sanguine hints. Best from 2020 through 2035.”
Josh Raynolds 93 points “Bright purple. Ripe berries, cherry preserves, licorice, woodsmoke and vanilla on the deeply perfumed nose. Concentrated and powerful but energetic as well; juicy acidity sharpens the densely packed blackberry, bitter cherry and olive paste flavors. The impressively long, velvety finish features harmonious tannins, a touch of candied violet and lingering smokiness.”
Wine Advocate 92-95 points “I tasted from three tanks that will be blended to create the 2016 Cornas Empreintes. (It appears there will be no 2016 Cornas Confidence, with those barrels being blended into this cuvée.) This should prove to be an outstanding wine, as all tank samples brought ample weight, ripeness and detail to the glass. I can’t wait to try the finished wine next year. Pencil shavings, crushed stone, black olive and plum notes give just a hint of the flavors that await.”
Case-6 Domaine Eric et Joel Durand Cornas Premices, Rhone 2016 750ML ($219.95) $179 special
Wine Advocate 94 points “Warm fig, blackberry and black currant fruit gives this a decidedly dark profile, while licorice root, dark olive and bay leaf notes score the finish. A tarry edge adds grip and length. Shows range and depth, and begs for cellaring. Best from 2021 through 2035.”