Vinopolis Mid-Week Newsletter – August 31, 2016

Just Arrived: Marco Abella

Priorat Wines of BalanceAll Best Prices

Since the 15^th century, the Marco Abella family has made wines in the Priorat. Such a long history with the place translates to a connection with the slate-soil vineyards that speaks through Marco Abella’s wines. Biodynamically-farmed, and raised in French oak, these Priorat reds enchant with their fruit, balance, and elegance. The 2009 vintage is ripe, rich, and ready to drink. Take note: we’ve got the best priced Marco Abella this side of Catalunya.

Bodegas Marco Abella ‘Clos Abella’, Priorat DOCa 2009 750ML ($99.95) $49 special, 19 bottles available
Case-6 Bodegas Marco Abella ‘Clos Abella’, Priorat DOCa 2009 750ML ($599.95) $266 special, 3 half-cases available
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 93 points “(50% carinena, 39% garnacha and 11% cabernet sauvignon; aged for two years in French oak): Saturated ruby. Heady aromas of cherry, cassis, mocha, Indian spices and underbrush are sharpened by a smoky mineral quality. Juicy, sappy and concentrated, showing excellent density to its smoke-tinged flavors of blueberry, cherry-vanilla and candied flowers. A fleshy, expansive, sexy wine that shows the warmth of the vintage to good effect, finishing with strong mineral cut, smooth tannins and lingering smokiness.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $79.99
The average price is $84

Bodegas Marco Abella Mas Mallola, Priorat DOCa  2008 750ML ($49.95) $26 special, 14 bottles available
Wine Enthusiast 92 points “Dry, schisty aromas of cherry and spice are reserved and elevated. This is a bright wine with juicy acidity and complexity. Flavors of baked berry fruits are minerally at the core, while the finish is smooth, mature and steady, with lasting purity. Drink through 2019.”
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 91 points “(63% garnacha, 20% carinena, 11% cabernet sauvignon and 6% merlot; aged for 20 months in French oak): Deep ruby. Lively aromas of fresh red berries, potpourri, vanilla and pipe tobacco, with a hint of incense gaining strength with air. Fresh and lively on the palate, offering intense raspberry and cherry-vanilla flavors and a zesty blood orange note. Juicy, appealingly sweet and seamless, boasting very good energy and thrust to its smooth, gently tannic finish.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $45

Bodegas Marco Abella Loidana, Priorat DOCa 2009 750ML ($37.95) $19 special, 16 bottles available
Winery note: Loidana is an assembly of the two grapes native of Priorat , Grenache and Carignan. This wine has notes of red berries and blackberries, with delicate notes of spices. Loidana is the ideal wine for people new to the wines of Priorat.

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

On the topic, here are three Spanish classics arriving October 2016 and available now as pre-arrivals:

Bodegas Hermanos Sastre ‘Vina Sastre’ Pago De Santa Cruz Gran Reserva, Ribera del Duero 2009 750ML ($119.95) $89 pre-arrival special, ETA October 2016
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 94 points “Opaque ruby. Explosively perfumed bouquet of fresh black and blue fruits and incense, along with suave potpourri and exotic spice nuances. Full-bodied and velvety but energetic as well, offering palate-staining dark berry and lavender pastille flavors enlivened by juicy acidity. This deep, palate-staining wine shows uncanny finesse for the vintage. Finishes extremely long and sappy, with a persistent blue fruit note and harmonious tannins. This wine was aged for 30 months in used American and French oak barrels.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Bodegas Hermanos Sastre ‘Vina Sastre’ Pago De Santa Cruz Gran Reserva, Ribera del Duero 2010 750ML ($119.95) $89 pre-arrival special, ETA October 2016
[No rating yet] Winery note: The vines are grown in La Horra, within Ribera del Duero. The Santa Cruz plot, beside the Duero River, is 814 meters above sea level. Vines are 100% goblet of Tempranillo vines varying from 65-100 years in age. Vines are cultivated without chemical fertilizers, herbicides, or insecticides. The wine rests in French oak for no less than twenty months.

Remelluri Granja Nuestra Senora de Remulleri Blanco, Rioja DOCa 2013 750ML ($99.95) $79 pre-arrival special, ETA October 2016
Winery note: An exceptional white wine, nowadays considered one of the most unusual wines of our country. The Remelluri white wine plots reflect the complexity of orientations and soils of the estate. Different varieties are blended and subjected to a variety of preparations, but the outstanding feature of this wine is its place of origin. Without doubt, this wine best explains the character of the Granja Nuestra Señora de Remelluri vineyard.

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Jean Thevenet Domaine de la Bongran Vire-Clesse 2010 750ML ($49.95) $39 special, 20 bottles available
Jean Thevenet Domaine de la Bongran Vire-Clesse 2010 1.5L ($99.95) $79 special – $71.10 with our magnum discount!; 6 magnums available
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 92 points “Paler in color than the 2011: light yellow with gold highlights. Sexy aromas of orange, stone fruits and truffle lifted by tangy botrytis tones. Sweet, silky and voluptuous (14.2% alcohol), boasting outstanding concentration and saline minerality. Slowly saturates the palate on the very long, wonderfully harmonious back end. Possesses healthy acidity (4.3 grams per liter) but shows a texture of liquid velvet. This is already accessible but will last for a long time in bottle.”

Paitin di Pasquero-Elia ‘Serra’, Barbaresco DOCG 2011 750ML ($41.95) $31.90 special, 36+ bottles available
Case-12 Paitin di Pasquero-Elia ‘Serra’, Barbaresco DOCG 2011 750ML ($419.95) $359 special, 7 cases available (that’s only $29.92/bottle!)
Wine Spectator 94 points “Rich and velvety, yet also vibrant and complex, this red boasts floral, berry, anise, leather and mineral flavors. Harmonious, this turns slightly chewy in texture on the lingering finish. Best from 2017 through 2027. 1,000 cases made.” WS
Antonio Galloni 93 points “Crushed flowers, sweet red berries, spices and mint race across the palate in the 2011 Barbaresco Serra. This is one of the most intense, tannic 2011 Barbarescos readers will come across. Far from an easygoing wine, the 2011 is going to need considerable patience. Hints of sweet tobacco, mint and anise add nuance on the layered, super-expressive finish. The 2011 Serra spent two years in 50-hectoliter casks.” AGR. Lopez de Heredia ‘Vina Bosconia’ Reserva, Rioja DOCa 2004 750ML ($39.95) $33 special, 36+ bottles available
Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2004 Vina Bosconia Reserva is a blend of 80% Tempranillo, 15% Garnacho and the remaining 5% Mazuelo and Graciano aged for five years in used barrels, racked twice per year and fined with egg whites before being bottled unfiltered. Dark ruby-colored, with notes of beef blood, iron, antique shop, incense, blood orange and a touch of volatile acidity, the palate is very fresh, with good concentration, clear flavors and enough grip and fruit to age gracefully. A perfumed and feminine great Rioja. The Bosconia vineyard wines are the only ones from Lopez de Heredia bottled in Burgundy bottles. Drink now-2024.” WAFelsina Berardenga Rancia, Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG 2012 750ML ($49.95) $39 special, 36+ bottles availableFelsina Berardenga Rancia, Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG 2012 1.5L ($99.95) $89 special – $80.10 with our magnum discount!
Antonio Galloni 94+ points “A ripe, powerful wine, the 2012 Chianti Classico Riserva Rancia offers a level of finesse that balances some of the more overt intensity of the year. Dark cherry, plum, spice, tobacco, menthol and licorice add shades of nuance as this beautifully delineated Rancia opens up in the glass. Because of its mid-weight structure, I expect the 2012 will give up its charms relatively early by Rancia standards, which means around age 15-20. The 2012 is not an obvious or explosive Rancia, rather is a wine built on compelling overall harmony.”Isole e Olena Cepparello Toscana IGT, Tuscany 2011 750ML ($89.95) $55 special, 28 bottles available
Isole e Olena Cepparello Toscana IGT, Tuscany 2011 1.5L ($159.95) $119 special – $107.10 with our magnum discount!
James Suckling 95 points “Aromas of currant, bark and orange peel. Nutmeg powder. Full body and chewy tannins. Savory, with balsamic and nuts. I love the juicy, decadent character to this. Drink or hold.” JS
Antonio Galloni 94+ points “Isole e Olena’s 2011 Cepparello is remarkably silky, polished and refined, especially considering the challenges of the vintage. Dark red stone fruits, wild flowers, menthol and sweet spices all meld together gracefully in the glass. Voluptuous and racy but also an impeccably balanced wine with phenomenal length and a super-expressive finish. The 2011 will offer a wide window of drinking pleasure pretty much upon release. Drink: 2017-2026.” AG

Just a reminder about our current shipping specials during this season:

For the summer season we are offering UPS Three Day Select Service for the price of UPS Ground for shipments normally traveling 4 or more business days.
Free service upgrade only applies on single orders purchased and shipped during the promotional period.  Additional fees will apply to orders held for any reason until after the promotional period and shipped by Three Day Select.  Offer not valid on pre-arrival items that arrive after the promotional period.We offer flat rate shipping on any size single order / single shipment

Domaine Huber-Verdereau Volnay, Cote de Beaune 2010 750ML ($49.95) $39 special
Volnay as it should be. Soft, perfumed, and elegant, especially on the finish. Refined, not rustic. Pinot Noir character defined. Thibault Huber-Verdereau’s 2010 Volnay represents this style of Volnay. Biodynamics and old-vine family holdings account for some of the wine’s beauty. A ripe vintage and Thibault’s dedicated passion explain the rest. Production is very limited, and the wines are made just down the road from Thibault’s friends Michel Lafarge et famille, in the heart of little Volnay. A wine to enjoy now or keep a bit longer, and a producer to add to your list. – Daniel

Familie Saahs Nikolaihof Neuburger, Wachau 2011 750ML ($39.95) $28 special
I’d been reading an interview with Nikolaus Saahs, known for making intensely beautiful Riesling and Gruner at the legendary Nikolaihof estate. Tucked between anecdotes about harvest and the minutiae of the winemaking life, Saahs conceded that his favorite varietal to drink was neither which made his family’s centuries-old estate famous. Instead, it was Neuberger.…Neuberger?Neuburger. Native to Austria, the grape is a cross between Roter Veltliner and Sylvaner. Aromatically, it conjures up thoughts of off-dry Riesling, perhaps a chilly bottle of Gruner smuggled into a park on the first or last warm day of the year. On the palate, however, comparison is put to rest. The 2011 Neuburger is fleshy and generous, with a hint of spice and lots of savory bookends. The finish is insistent, remaining on your taste buds as the next whiff of honey, melon, and fresh herbs comes to be.You’d be wisest to decant and play around with the wine a little. It’s the sort of bottle which could patch together a lot of otherwise-disparate flavors well, like at a potluck dinner or with that stubborn family recipe which evades perfect pairings. With an open mind, this could truly delight. – Tyler

The Hit of the Summer
Vinopolis Feature: Zorzal“Fruit before oak, austerity before exuberance.” – Zorzal motto

From Washington, to Australia, to South America, the discovery of new producers and growing regions unfolds like a map. Less than ten years ago, a new winery called Zorzal appeared in Argentina’s emergent Valle de Uco. Zorzal’s trio of Michelini brothers blended the freedom of New World winemaking with an appreciation for Old World style and varieties. Their inaugural release garnered 94 points from Robert Parker and their 2012 Tinto de Tiza was listed in Wine & Spirits Magazine’s best 100 wines of 2014. The name Zorzal had earned its place in the world atlas of fine wine.

The wines of Zorzal combine tradition with progress, Old World with New, structure and fruit with acidity and minerality, and debuted with fame. Vinopolis stands behind Zorzal’s universally-appealing, terroir-driven wines, and is proud to support them in the USA. Think of them as avant-garde Loire wines that remain uniquely Argentine. Pop open a few bottles and see what we and the Wine Advocate are talking about. Get some cases now before this boutique winery becomes exclusive: Zorzal, the Valle de Uco, and Argentina are definitely on the map.

Zorzal Eggo Blanc de Cal, Tupungato, Argentina 2014 750ML ($29.95) Was $24, Now $20.90, 36+ bottles available
Wine Advocate 92 points “The 2014 Eggo Blanc de Cal is pure Sauvignon Blanc from two different vineyards in Gualtallary. The full clusters are pressed and the must was fermented and aged in contact with the lees for nine to ten months in their famous egg-shaped cement vats. This is more subtle and earthy, less Sauvignon, with the fruit expressing itself in a lower-pitched voice, more of a baritone. It’s also has a little wider, pungent and powerful character in the mouth. This is only around 13% alcohol, and even though in 2014 it didn’t go through malolactic fermentation, it’s still a very light and fresh wine. Groundbreaking Sauvignon. 4,800 bottles were produced, fruit of two eggs.” LG

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Zorzal Eggo Franco Cabernet Franc, Tupungato, Argentina 2015 750ML ($34.95) Was $27, Now $21.90, 36+ bottles available
No reviews yet on the 2015. Here is the Wine Advocate on the 2014: 94 points “There is a Cabernet Franc in the Eggo range, and I tasted the 2014 Eggo Franco, produced with grapes from Tupungato Winelands in Gualtallary, a place that defines itself as a wine country club that touts a combination of real estate, vineyards and sport facilities, including golf and polo! The vines were only planted in 2008 (everything in Gualtallary is really new). There are some 300 hectares of vines there, in one of the best parts of Gualtallary. They have three-hectare plots owned by mostly foreign investors and most of the highly sought after grapes are sold. Zorzal has agreements to buy grapes (and control the viticulture) of 20 of these plots. Incredibly perfumed for a Cabernet Franc, as the nose is very floral and made me think of a Malbec rather than a Cabernet Franc. The spiciness of all these Eggo wines comes from the grapes and the fermentation and aging in cement, as none of the wines see any oak. And I tell you one thing, you do not miss the oak or the complexity or anything, it’s all here. This is the first year for this vertical, fresh, tremendous Cabernet Franc. Well done, bravo! 2,200 bottles produced. The Michelini brothers keep producing fresh, elegant and terroir-driven wines from their base in Gualtallary. The range seems to be growing almost infinitely, as their creativity also seem to have no limits”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Zorzal Eggo Filoso Pinot, Tupungato, Argentina 2014 750ML ($29.95) Was $24, Now $20.90, 36+ bottles available
Wine Advocate 92 points “The 2014 Eggo Filoso Pinot Noir is produced with fruit from Gualtallary. It fermented after carbonic maceration in cement vats and like the whole Eggo line, it matured in cement eggs for some nine months and never saw any oak. Pale-colored, floral and showing a lactic touch, it is earthier than the Gran Terroir. The palate is medium-bodied, with floral flavors, very good acidity and a fine texture.”

This was already the lowest listed price in the USA today…
Now it’s even lower!

Zorzal Eggo Tinto de Tiza, Tupungato, Argentina 2014 750ML ($39.95) Was $29, Now $26, 36+ bottles available
Wine Advocate 94 points “The 2014 Eggo Tinto de Tiza is a blend from three different vineyards in Tupungato Winelands in Gualtallary. It’s a blend of mostly Malbec with some Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. As is the case with the whole Eggo range, the wine didn’t see any oak, and in this case it was matured in egg-shaped cement vats for one year. There are violets, plums, dark cherries and something earthy. This is slightly riper than the 2013. The medium-bodied palate has is fresh with a silky texture, pure flavors and a mineral-driven finish. At this price I’d buy it by the case. Super!”

Zorzal Terroir Unico Pinot Noir, Tupungato, Argentina 2013 750ML ($17.95) Was $14, Now $11.90, 36+ bottles available
Wine Advocate 91 points “The 2013 Terroir Unico Pinot Noir follows the idea of the Terroir Unico range, to show the pure expression of the grape and the place in a line of unoaked wines. This was 20-30% whole-cluster fermented and is very pale colored, almost a rose, very perfumed, with aromas of red fruit and flowers opening to a light to medium-bodied palate, high acidity (blood orange), and a pure, fresh finish. Highly drinkable. Can the price be real?”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

…And, for those curious to taste the full array of these wines:

Case-12 Zorzal Eggo Mixed Case ($319.95) $279 special, 4 mixed-cases available
A mixed case containing 3 bottles each of the following Zorzal wines:
Zorzal Eggo Blanc de Cal Sauvignon Blanc 2014
Zorzal Eggo Cabernet Franc 2015
Zorzal Eggo Pinot Noir 2014
Zorzal Eggo Tinto de Tiza Malbec 2014

New German Arrivals

Dr. Loosen, Fritz Haag, Maximin GrünhäuserDr. Loosen

Two centuries of experience look good on a resume. So do 50 acres of Riesling vines planted in some of the Mosel Valley’s best vineyards. Such is the pedigree of the Dr. Loosen winery. Better than this, however, is having a fellow like Ernst Loosen at the helm of said estate. After taking over the family business in 1989, Ernst focused operations on making pure, terroir-expressive, concentrated Rieslings. Praise from reviewers and customers followed, and Ernst is something like a German wine superstar today.

To accomplish his vision for making distinguished wine, Ernst began in the vineyard, where organic viticulture let nature back into the game. He cut yields to concentrate flavors, and made sure harvesters selected only healthy, mature fruit. In the winery, Ernst kept technology at bay, preferring to let the wines develop naturally, without too much human intervention. Such was Ernst’s love for his family’s vineyards that he wanted their steep, blue slate soils to sing through the wines as loudly and clearly as possible, which they do, out of mutual respect.

Dr. Loosen Urziger Wurzgarten Riesling Alte Reben Grosses Gewachs, Mosel 2014 750ML ($49.95) $39 special, 24 bottles available
Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2014 Ürziger Würzgarten Riesling trocken GG Alte Reben shows a lovely purity and flintiness on the deep nose, which displays notes of crushed stones, lemon juice and also ripe fruit pips. Rich, ripe and piquant on the palate, this full-bodied Würzgarten is very mineral, but also has a certain sweetness and juiciness that is almost rounder than round, and results in a big and more opulent Riesling.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Dr. Loosen Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Alte Reben Grosses Gewachs, Mosel 2014 750ML ($49.95) $39 special, 24 bottles available
Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2014 Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling trocken GG Alte Reben offers a noble, very clear, elegant, intense and subtle slate bouquet. Highly elegant and expressive on the palate this is a beautiful dry Riesling with perfect sweetness and balance. This wine is full-bodied, piquant and mineral, very complex and persistent. A great Mosel Riesling that would benefit from further bottle aging.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Dr. Loosen Erdener Pralat Riesling Auslese Goldkapsel, Mosel 2014 750ML ($119.95) $89 special, 6 bottles available
Wine Advocate 95 points “Spicy flavors (cumin, fennel seeds) underline the perfectly ripe peach and Riesling aroma on the highly elegant nose of the gold-capsuled 2014 Erdener Prälat Riesling Auslese GK that was – like all the 2014 Auslese Rieslings – picked before the rain and rot. Generous and highly elegant on the palate, this is a sweet but also very salty and finesse-full Riesling, with a rich and creamy texture and some nutty aromas, but also a stunning purity in the background, with a long and stimulating finish. This is a spectacular Auslese that needs another 10-15 years and will still be great even in 30 years. “

This is the only listing in the USA today!Fritz Haag

The Fritz Haag estate and vineyards reach like vines into the annals of Mosel history. The municipality of Brauneberg, famous for its single-vineyard and Grand Cru Sonnenuhr wines, caught the attention of the Romans and Napoleon alike, and records of Fritz Haag exist since 1605. This is the middle Mosel, and Brauneberg’s vertiginous, south-facing slopes of brown slate soil drain well, producing wines of powerful character. Wines from the celebrated Sonnenuhr vineyard, surrounding the well-known sundial, abound with slate-like minerality, sweetness, and refreshing acidity, and they age for decades. The Brauneberger Juffer wines, by contrast, are lighter and more delicate, while the Brauneberger Kabinett comes from early-picked grapes from both the Juffer and Sonnenuhr vineyards. All of these wines exhibit the finesse and fruit-acidity balance that has kept Fritz Haag famous to this day.

Fritz Haag Brauneberger Riesling Kabinett, Mosel 2014 750ML ($29.95) $24 special, 36+ bottles available
Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2014 Brauneberger Riesling Kabinett offers the lovely, clear and delicate slate aroma intermixed with smoky and herbal aromas, but also lovely stone fruit as well. Pure, salty and piquant on the palate, this is a nicely concentrated, round and fruity Riesling with lightness, intensity and finesse, as well as a long and persistent finish. This is great terroir Riesling with salt and minerals. Extremely stimulating. Great, great Mosel Riesling from the grand cru terroirs of Brauneberg!”Fritz Haag Brauneberger Juffer Riesling Trocken Grosses Gewachs, Mosel 2014 750ML ($79.95) $59 special, 12 bottles available
Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2014 Brauneberg Juffer Sonnenuhr Riesling trocken GG displays a lovey, pure and refreshing stony bouquet with lemon and bright fruit flavors, as well as very delicate slate aromas. This is a beautiful dry Riesling of great finesse and elegance that is light but intense in its mineral complexity. Very pure, salty and provided with a lovely intensity. The wine is bottled with 13% alcohol, but you don’t taste it. Very promising.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!Carl von Schubert/Maximin Grünhauser

Facing south and overlooking the Ruwer River just before it meets the Mosel, Weingut Maximin Grünhaus has produced extraordinary Rieslings since Medieval times. Roman ruins underlie today’s estate, but it was the Saint Maximin Abbey that made this area famous for wine. The Abtsberg vineyard, known for its concentrated yet supple and perfectly balanced wines, once supplied the Abbott himself, while the equally long-lived Herrenberg vineyard wines satisfied the Abbey’s choirmasters. Weingut Maximin Grünhaus continues the tradition of crafting wines fit for the elite. They farm the vineyards following organic principles, keep yields low, and harvest by hand. Large Fuder casks, made from oaks on the estate, help the wines achieve their greatness. Tasting a Riesling from Weingut Maximin Grünhaus means tasting a lineage of German winemaking history.

Carl von Schubert Maximin Grunhauser Abtsberg Riesling Kabinett, Mosel 2015 750ML ($34.95) $27 special, 24 bottles available
Mosel Fine Wines 92 points “Harvested at 86° Oechsle, this offers a rather smooth Spätlese-styled nose of pear, cassis, ginger, star anise, flowers and flinty slate. The wine is on the rich and round side on the palate (by Kabinett standards of this Estate) but already hints at the elegance and finesse to come. This offers a long and beautifully refined nose of herbs and spices. The overall structure is still rather reduced and backward and we expect this beauty to only truly shine at maturity. So patience is required! 2025-2040.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Carl von Schubert Maximin Grünhäuser Abtsberg Riesling Spatlese, Mosel 2014 750ML ($39.95) $33 special, 36 bottles available
Wine Advocate 95 points “The 2014 Maximin Grünhäuser Abtsberg Riesling Spätlese (AP #12) opens very clear and smoky on the deep and aromatic nose. It is piquant and intense on the palate, very juicy and concentrated, firm and potent, and far away from being ready to drink. It is lush and piquant, very mineral and racy, and needs at least 15 years to reveal its true talents. This is a great Spätlese in Grand Cru format. Bottled with 68 grams of residual sugar.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Carl von Schubert Maximin Grünhäuser Abtsberg Superior Riesling, Mosel 2014 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 24 bottles available
Wine Advocate 94 points “Very clear and smoky on the still discreet and yeasty-flavored, dense nose, the 2014 Maximin Grünhäuser Abtsberg Riesling Superior is a very elegant and round, finesse-full and persistent Riesling; it has a long and salty, very complex but beautifully fine, yet firmly structured and great finish. Impressive Riesling for the next 25 or 30 or more years.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Carl von Schubert Maximin Grünhäuser Herrenberg Riesling Spatlese, Mosel 2014 750ML ($37.95) $29 special, 10 bottles available
Wine Advocate 94 points “The 2014 Maximin Grünhäuser Herrenberg Riesling Spätlese (AP #7) offers a super clear and stony flavored bouquet with some yeasty flavors, which you can also find in the Kabinett. Sweet and filigreed on the weightless and highly elegant palate, this is a gorgeously fine and stimulating Spätlese with a beautiful salinity. Bottled with 72 grams of residual sugar per liter, you taste nothing but fruit. This is very precise and well articulated Riesling of great finesse and elegance, and probably the finest Herrenberg of the 2014 vintage. Lightness and goodness as character.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Carl von Schubert Maximin Grünhäuser Herrenberg Riesling Alte Reben Trocken, Mosel 2014 750ML ($34.95) $27 special, 24 bottles available
Wine Advocate 91+ points “The 2014 Maximin Grünhäuser Herrenberg Riesling Trocken Alte Reben displays a very clear, subtle and elegant plum-brandy and white nectarine aroma. Full-bodied and very elegant on the palate, with intensity and minerality, this is a more concentrated, richer and round Riesling from the Herrenberg with a good mineral length. At this early stage, the juicy Alte Reben shows more of a GG-style than the Grünhaus character, though I wonder if not the ‘regular’ Herrenberg trocken is more drinking fun in the next five or 15 years. 11.5% alcohol is pretty Grünhaus though.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

The Kruger-Rumpf family has been making fine wine in the Nahe and Rhinehessen since 1708. Within their 55-acre holdings are parcels in the prestigious Grosses Gewächs Münsterer Pittersberg and Dautenpflänzer vineyards, where Kruger-Rumpf tends 50-plus year-old vines planted on steep slopes. Kruger-Rumpf hand picks its fruit in order to edit out botrytis-affected clusters. Fermentations are kept short to preserve the fruity, fresh nature of these grand Rieslings.

Kruger-Rumpf Munsterer Dautenpflanzer Riesling Spatlese, Nahe 2004 750ML ($49.95) $39 special, 36+ bottles available
[Reviewed 2015] Terry Theise notes “Dautenpflänzer is one the leading Grand Crus of the lower Nahe, with a typical mélange of soil types within its borders. Rumpf claims some of it is slatey and some of it is “sandy loam,” which agrees more with the standard references. It is in any case singular and immediately significant, giving a sometimes damnably complex set of aromas and flavors including coconut, violet, soursop, leaf-smoke—it is a very long list even if you’re sober. In any case it belongs with the vamping exotics of the Nahe.”
[Reviewed 2006]  Wine Spectator 89 points “Very firmly structured, but this is dense and offers spice and mineral shadings to complement the apple and white peach notes. Still leaning toward the structure on the finish, but this shows promise. Best from 2007 through 2020. 250 cases made.” WS
[Reviewed 2005] “Rumpf’s 2004 Munsterer Dautenpflanzer Riesling Spatlese smells of pineapple, pear and white peach, following with a delicate and refined palate impression saturated with a sense of liquid slate and pure pear, peach and pineapple fruit. The finish is smooth and long with generous fruit augmented by subtle spice and crushed stone. Classic 2004 virtues are on display.” -David Schildknecht

Quintessa Red, Rutherford, USA 2013 750ML ($189.95) $169 pre-arrival special
Robert Parker 96 points “The 2013 Proprietary Red Wine has always been good, but I think they have re-positioned themselves at a much higher pinnacle with the 2013. This is a Cabernet Sauvignon-dominated blend but has important component parts such as Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Petit Verdot from their gorgeous vineyards just off the Silverado Trail in Rutherford. The wine has a dense bluish/purple color and a beautiful nose of black raspberries, blueberries, lead pencil shavings, and touches of oak and spring flowers. The complexity of the fragrance is followed by a wine with terrific body, stunning purity, wonderful balance, and great depth and richness. This is certainly the most profound Quintessa made to date and should evolve gracefully for at least 20-25 years.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

New Wines from Reynvaan
2014 Vintage Arriving September 9^th

Reynvaan Family Vineyards ‘The Contender’ Syrah – Marsanne, Walla Walla Valley 2014 750ML ($99.95) $89 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 94-96 points “Checking in as a mix of 94% Syrah and 6% Marsanne, the 2014 Syrah The Contender is another elegant, medium to full-bodied, layered wine from this estate that offers plenty of texture and length. Blackberries, violets, plums, pepper and hints of iron all emerge from this beauty, which can be enjoyed on release or cellared for a decade or more.”

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Reynvaan Family Vineyards ‘Foothills in the Sun’ Reserve Syrah, Walla Walla Valley 2014 750ML ($89.95) $79 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 95 points “An early bottled effort that’s made from 100% Syrah, the sensational 2014 Syrah Foothills Reserve is a notch darker in color than the 2013 and offers layers of ripe Syrah dark fruits, olive tapenade, pepper and crushed rock like minerality. Coming from a cool site on the eastern edge of the Walla Walla Valley, where the Syrah is just on the edge of where it can get ripe, this medium to full-bodied, seamless, elegant beauty will stand toe to toe with the top wines of the northern Rhone. It will drink well for 10-15 years.”

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Reynvaan Family Vineyards In The Hills Syrah, Walla Walla Valley  2014 750ML ($79.95) $69 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 94 points “Another beauty is the 2014 Syrah In the Hills, which is this estate’s take on a Cote Rotie and incorporates 5% co-fermented Viognier. Raspberries, bacon fat, violets and olive all emerge from this medium-bodied, elegant, ethereally textured beauty. It too will drink beautifully for 10-15 years.”

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Reynvaan Family Vineyards In The Rocks Syrah, Walla Walla Valley 2014 750ML ($99.95) $88 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 95-97 points “From a warmer terroir and the estate’s vineyard in The Rocks region of Walla Walla, the 2014 In the Rocks Syrah (5% Viognier) sports an inky purple color to go with flat out gorgeous notes of liquid blackberries, violets, earth and spice. Concentrated, ripe and sexy, it should knock your socks off right out of the gate, yet cruise for 15 years in the cellar.”

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Reynvaan Family Vineyards Stonessence Syrah, Walla Walla Valley2014 750ML ($119.95) $99 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 95-97 points “Reminiscent of a top Cornas with its iron, beef blood, floral and seriously mineral character, the 2014 Syrah Stonessence is the burliest, most structured and concentrated of the Syrahs releases. I love its balance, and its purity of fruit and ripe tannic spine all suggest short-term cellaring will be the name of the game.”

Reynvaan Family Vineyards The Unnamed Syrah, Walla Walla Valley 2014 750ML ($79.95) $66 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 92-94 points “Incorporating 8% Grenache Blanc and from the Rocks region of Walla Walla, the 2014 The Unnamed Syrah offers a unique profile with pretty notes of white peach (from the Grenache Blanc no doubt), dried violets, plums and bouquet garni. Medium to full-bodied, supple, layered and beautifully balanced, it should shine right out of the gate, yet also evolve gracefully.”

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Gosset Champagne
Arriving in September

Gosset Cuvee Celebris Extra Brut Millesime, Champagne 2002 750ML ($149.95) $119 pre-arrival special, ETA September 2016
Antonio Galloni 96 points “Magnificent in its complexity and pure breeding, the 2002 Extra Brut Celebris has it all. The Extra Brut style confers the signature Gosset drive, while extended time on the lees has given the wine just enough texture and body to fill out nicely. In the meantime, the aromas and flavors have mellowed into those that are typical of Champagne entering the first plateau of its maturity. The 2002 is vinous, fleshy and super-expressive, yet retains striking freshness throughout. Candied lemon peel, apricot jam, honey, mint, spices and sage form a compelling fabric of flavors and textures in a knock-out Champagne that is peaking today. The 2002 is 52% Chardonnay, 48% Pinot Noir from vineyards in Aÿ, Bouzy, Verzy, Chouilly and Cramant.”
Wine Advocate 95 points “The 2002 Celebris Vintage Extra Brut displays a noble, clear, fresh and subtle bouquet with white fruit and brioche flavors intertwined with mineral aromas. Silky textured and highly elegant, this full-bodied yet delicate blend of 48% Pinot Noir and 52% Chardonnay is clear and straight on the palate, revealing a ripe and intense, yet refined fruit. It has a persistent and complex, firmly structured, stimulatingly pure and salty finish. Great finesse and ethereal lightness here, with great purity and mineral tension. It also has the intensity of perfect fruit in the long and persistent finish. A great Champagne for the next ten and probably many more years.”

Chateau Malescot-St-Exupery ‘09
Arriving in October

Chateau Malescot-St-Exupery, Margaux 2009 750ML ($179.95) $149 pre-arrival special, ETA October 2016
James Suckling 98 points “A wine with intense spice and berry character with hints of sweet tobacco. It changes all the time from flowers to fruit and wet earth. Full-bodied with super fine tannins and ripe fruit. It’s long and juicy with lovely fruit. Super long and beautiful with fine tannins that last for minutes. Tight now but juicy and gorgeous. Best ever from here.”

Philippe Pacalet, nephew of Marcel Lapierre, the legendary natural winemaker, represents the diversity of Burgundian wine. His organic vineyard sources lie from Chablis, through the Cȏte de Nuits and Cȏte de Beaune, and down to the Beaujolais and even Cornas. He makes the wines in Beaune, all in the same hands-off style, and in a way that most others do not follow: whole-cluster fermentations for the reds, while the whites are vinified in oak on the lees. No racking, filtering, or sulfuring of the wines takes place. The terroir is thus left to express itself without any make-up or contrivances. Pure, honest red and white Burgundy, from a man passionate about his region’s wine.

 
Philippe Pacalet Chassagne-Montrachet 2014 750ML ($89.95) $79 pre-arrival special

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Philippe Pacalet Pommard Premier Cru 2009 750ML ($119.95) $99 pre-arrival special
Antonio Galloni 89-92 points “The 2009 Pommard 1er Cru offers up sweet red berries, dried rose petals and mint. It offers a round, harmonious expression of fruit supported by firm tannins that add grip on the finish. This is a pretty, attractive wine from Pacalet.”

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Philippe Pacalet Pommard 2010 750ML ($89.95) $69 pre-arrival special
Grapelive 95 points “I may have mentioned Pacalet a few times, may even have reviewed his wines a few times, maybe this wine too, but WOW this beautiful 2010 Pommard is now stunning and has really blossomed into a fantastic Pinot Noir and merits extra attention now. Philippe Pacalet is one of the new darlings of the natural wine movement and certainly a rising star in Burgundy, his careful artisan technique and minimalist winemaking is turning more than a few heads, these wines are clear, bright, fresh and transparent, not in the least bit old school barnyard funky, and while people argue the whole gambit of ideas about so called natural wine, Pacalet is quietly crafting elegant and glorious Burgundy. I tasted some of his first imported efforts and was very impressed, especially with his Chambolle-Musigny, and when recently sampled his whites I was blown away, his Meursault and Puligny wines are off the charts, but a few days ago I got a chance to taste this Pommard and I can tell you it was a magic moment, this is a delicate and gorgeous red Burgundy that seduces and charms in a way that only a Cote d’ Or can, in majestic fashion and spiritually emotional in experience. The nose is perfumed with fresh rose petals, red tea, hints of pepper, violets and raspberry leading to a dreamy palate of silky cherry, plum and currant fruits with a lift of acidity, a gentle spine of refined tannin, a touch of oak, mineral and earth adding mystery and a long finish that lingers with hints of red peach, cinnamon stick, kirsch, lavender essence and truffle. This soulful effort is a medium bodied Pinot Noir that reveals everything with a light touch, but has sultry powers that will drive you crazy for more, sometimes a wonderful Burgundy can touch your soul, this is that kind of wine, drink from 2014 to 2020.”

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The average price is $85

Philippe Pacalet Les Arvelets, Pommard Premier Cru 2010 750ML ($119.95) $99 pre-arrival special
Antonio Galloni 90-92 points “The 2010 Pommard Clos des Arvelets blossoms on the palate with sweet red cherries, crushed flowers, mint and spices. The Arvelets impresses for its caressing texture and fine overall balance. There is plenty of underlying minerality to give the wine its energy, but I also see this drinking well upon release.”

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Philippe Pacalet Cornas, Rhone 2014 750ML ($99.95) $79 special, 17 bottles available
VinopolNote: A new addition to the Pacalet line-up, Cornas is by law 100% Syrah. Rich and intense, it yields to bottle ageing. Ripe dark fruit and a powerful finish are a few of the pleasures offered by this wine.Philippe Pacalet Moulin a Vent 2014 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 17 bottles available
Vinopolnote: A new Cru Beaujolais cuvee from the star Burgundian; Pacalet is a natural winemaker and negociant who carefully chooses his vineyard sources on a yearly basis, rejects industrial winemaking techniques, and takes close consideration of individual terroirs.

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The next best price is $59Selbach-Oster
Fall Arrivals2015s & Winery Cellared Selections

As the Mosel heads out of Brauneberg it makes a tight turn at Bernkastel, and here rise the Badstube vineyards. Acre per acre, the Badstube represents some of Germany’s finest terroir. After the river quickly straightens out again it flows past Zeltingen and the famous, sheer Sonnenuhr blue slate vineyards: you can almost sense the bouquet of stone fruits, lemon, and vanilla. With a mere four centuries under its winemaker’s belt, the Selbach family honors tradition, nature, and the benefits of unmechanized vineyard work. Selbach-Oster wines respond to such care by delivering minerality, sweetness, and crisp acidity in harmonious balance, vintage after vintage.

Time to Say Good Buy

Marchesi di Barolo Barbaresco DOCG, Piedmont 2010 750ML ($39.95) $28 special, 36+ bottles available
Wine Advocate 92 points “The 2010 Barbaresco offers a classic portrait of a beautiful wine in a celebrated vintage. There’s not much to criticize here: The fruit is fleshy and lively, the aromas are intense and well-defined, and the finish is long and juicy. There’s a playful dusting of white pepper that works exceptionally well to add focus and overall sharpness. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2025.”

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The average price is $42

Mas Cal Demoura Terrasses du Larzac L’Infidele, Languedoc-Roussillon 2010 750ML ($31.95) $27 special, 36+ bottles available
Importer note: “The historic cuvée of Jean-Pierre Jullien, L’Infidèle is a blend of all the regional grapes – Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre, Cinsault and Carignan. The Goumards make choices in the vineyard and in the cellar that will emphasize finesse and freshness in this bottling, allowing for full expression of the fruit. The grapes are partially destemmed. Temperature is rigorously controlled. The cuvaison can extend for as long as six weeks with frequent remontage. Aging takes place mostly in older demi-muids and each grape variety undergoes the primary stages of the elevage separately.  Based upon a series of ongoing tastings, the Goumards determine the final blend and then the five varieties are assembled in cuve and aged for an additional six to eight months prior to bottling. The wine is bottled without filtration.”

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Weingut Donnhoff Kreuznacher Kahlenberg Riesling Trocken, Nahe 2014 750ML ($39.95) $29 special, 28 bottles available
John Gilman 91 points “The 2014 Kahlenberg Trocken hails from grapes with Spätlese must weights this year and is a notable step up from the first two, very good wines. The bouquet wafts from the glass in a classy blend of white cherries, apple, spring flowers, a lovely base of soil and a youthful topnote of orange peel. On the palate the wine is medium-full, bright and nicely reserved on the attack, with a fine core, bright acids and superb backend energy and cut on the long finish. This is really high class juice that would age long and happily under cork, though I cannot remember which closure it was destined to receive. 2017-2035.” JG

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The average price is $39