11/18/15
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Wine Spectator’s
Top 100 Wines of 2015
#4 Wine Spectator Top 100 Wines of 2015 – Wine Advocate 98 points “The 2010 Brunello di Montalcino is a striking wine that shows uncompromising varietal pureness, albeit in a most concentrated and elaborate form. This is what great Sangiovese is all about. There’s so much happening on the nose and the wine brings you to cherry, spice, licorice, cured meat, pressed rose and grilled meat in equal measure. No one element overpowers the next. The mouthfeel is also tight and bright with the kind of fruit intensity that promises long cellar aging. This Brunello is only at the beginning of a long road ahead. The longer the wine stays in the glass, the more it offers in terms of complexity and intensity. This is a true standout that can be enjoyed for up to 20 years ahead.” ML
Wine Spectator 95 points“Rich, with excellent density, ripe cherry and plum fruit, and a well-integrated structure. Licorice, earth and tobacco notes add depth while this cruises to a long, tobacco- and mineral-tinged finish. Shows balance and grip. Best from 2018 through 2033.”
Clos Fourtet, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru 2012 750ML ($119.95) $99 pre-arrival special, arriving January 2016
#9 Wine Spectator Top 100 Wines of 2015 – Wines Spectator 94 points —“Gorgeous, with a pure, unadorned violet aroma giving way to very ripe and stylish plum, boysenberry and blackberry fruit. Offers a suave mouthfeel, with anise and tobacco hints filling the background. A finely stitched chalk note extends the finish. Not shy on depth, and sneakily long.”
Robert Parker 95 points “Having just had the 2003 and 2005 from my cellar, I can attest to the magnificent turnaround in quality this famous estate on the eastern side of St.-Emilion has achieved. All of it is attributable to its dynamic proprietor, Philippe Cuvelier. The 2012 Clos Fourtet (usually 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Franc) has beautiful blackberry and blueberry fruit and an inky purple color. With flawless integration of acidity, tannin, wood and alcohol, a full-bodied mouthfeel and stunning richness, this is impressive and certainly one of the vintage’s top wines. It should evolve beautifully for 15-20 years, and be drinkable in 3-4. Yields were a modest 32 hectoliters per hectare with the alcohol at 14%.” RP
Meiomi Pinot Noir 2013 750ML ($21.95) $16 special, 13 bottles available here now
#20 Wine Spectator Top 100 Wines of 2015 – Wine Spectator 92 points “Offers an exciting interplay of berry, oak, earth and spice notes. This is rich yet medium-weight, with subtle edges to the blueberry, raspberry, mocha and fresh-turned earth flavors, ending with a tasty melted black licorice aftertaste. Drink now through 2020. 317,592 cases made.” JL
Tenuta di Collosorbo Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2010 750ML ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival special, arriving Mid-December
Case-6 Tenuta di Collosorbo Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2010 750ML ($319.95) $259 pre-arrival special (that’s only $43.17/bottle!)
#43 Wine Spectator Top 100 Wines of 2015 – Wine Spectator 94 points “Coffee and chocolate aromas signal this exotic and fragrant red. The cherry and plum notes are almost afterthoughts, while spice, leather and tobacco flavors come to the fore, with vivid acidity through the lingering finish. Best from 2019 through 2035.” WS
Descendientes de J. Palacios Petalos, Bierzo 2013 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 pre-arrival special, arriving November 19th
#53 Wine Spectator Top 100 in 2015 – Wine Spectator 91 points “Expressive black cherry, currant, licorice, mineral and smoke flavors mingle in this focused red. The texture is gentle but firm, with well-integrated tannins and racy acidity providing structure. A compact wine that shows good intensity. Drink now through 2023.”TM
Rodney Strong Rockaway Single Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Alexander Valley 2012 750ML ($79.95) $69 special, 12 bottles available here now
Case-6 Rodney Strong Rockaway Single Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Alexander Valley 2012 750ML ($519.95) $379 special, 2 six-packs available here now (that’s only $63.17/bottle!)
#59 Wine Spectator Top 100 in 2015 – Wine Spectator 94 points “A remarkable wine that exhibits the power of ripe currant, blackberry and cherry flavors along with cigar box, dried herb, green olive and tea notes. Ends with firm, dusty tannins and fine length. Drink now through 2028. ” WS
Tenuta delle Terre Nere Rosso Etna, Sicily 2013 750ML ($24.95) $20.90 special, 24 bottles available here now
#87 Wine Spectator Top 100 in 2015 – Wine Spectator 90 points “Elegant and well-knit, this tangy red is rich, with a baseline of smoke and grilled herb notes layered with flavors of wild strawberry, candied violet, dried cranberry and spice box, followed by a chewy finish. Drink now through 2023.”AN
Bonus Top 100 Wines!
Newly Arrived:
Domaine Terlato & Chapoutier Shiraz – Viognier, Central Victoria 2012 750ML ($19.95) $16 special, 36+ bottles available
#98 Wine Spectator Top 100 in 2014 – Wine Spectator 90 points “Vibrant, expressive and distinctive, with citrus and mineral overtones around a core of blueberry and spice, lingering on the taut finish.”
Available Here Now:
Chateau Guiraud, Sauternes 2009 750ML ($99.95) $55 special, 36+ bottles available
Chateau Guiraud, Sauternes 2009 375ML ($59.95) $49 special, 36+ half-bottles available
#5 Wine Spectator Top 100 Wines of 2012 – Wine Spectator 96 points ‘Highly Recommended’ “This is a bird of a different feather, with an exotic, vibrant aroma of toasted coconut, followed by an almond cream note that gives way to the core of green fig, papaya, Cavaillon melon and honey. There’s stunning richness and mouthfeel, with the power to be one of the longer-lived wines of the vintage. Very impressive. Best from 2015 through 2040.”WS
The Guide to a Perfect Thanksgiving
Wines for Turkey, Family, Pies, Football, Stuffing, Debate….
Bubbles:
Domaine Overnoy-Crinquand Cremant du Jura Rose NV 750ML ($31.95) $28 special, 12 bottles available
Importer’s note: Crinquand uses fruit from the younger vines of Ploussard to make his sparkling wine. Although the vintage is not indicated on the label, Crinquand’s Crémant is vintage specific, all the juice being from a single harvest. The Crémant from this estate is bone-dry “brut zero” (no dosage). On the palate one senses a hint of tannin, a strong underlying earthiness … its “terroir” and an ebullient raspberry fruit in both flavor and on the nose.
Jacques Lassaigne ‘La Colline Inspiree’ Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut, Champagne NV 1.5L ($179.95) $149 special, 5 magnums available
Wine Advocate & Wine Spectator 92 points “Aromatic, featuring apple blossom, bread dough and sous-bois notes, this well-structured version is underscored by a hint of chalk-tinged minerality, with the mouthwatering impression enlivening refined layers of poached apple and pear, crystallized honey, lemon curd and candied ginger. Drink now through 2020.” WS
Pierre Vessigaud Pouilly-Fuisse Vieilles Vignes, Maconnais 2013 750ML (31.95) $28 special, 12 bottles available
Winemaker’s notes: Manual harvesting, pressing of whole grapes, maturation on the fine lees for 12 months in barrel. Clay and limestone soils, with 40-70 year old vines. Assembling different climates of Fuisse , lending complexity and balance. The wine is powerful and bold, with lovely mineral freshness typical burgundy.
Domaine Leroy Bourgogne Aligote, Burgundy 2009 750ML ($89.95) $59 special, 14 bottles available
VinopolNote: One of the few producers to make serious and ageworthy Aligote. A textural and weighty wine.
Winemaker’s note “The wine got a full 12 months of lees contact which gives it exceptional mouth feel. The total production came from 35 year-old vines at Abbey Ridge Vineyard so I guess we could put “Vieille Vigne” if we wanted (except we’re not that obnoxious!).”
Jochen Beurer Riesling Kieselsandstein 2013 750ML ($31.95) $28 special, 10 bottles available
Winery note “[Translated] Our Riesling Kieselsandstein comes from over 35 year old vines. The vines are rooted in barren, rocky pebbly sandstone, which lends our Riesling a fresh and pronounced minerality. Through strict yield reduction of one bunch per shoot the wine shows a pronounced aroma of ripe, yellow fruit with a long finish.”
A bright, fresh, and aromatic blend of Albanello – native to the Ragusa area near Vittoria – and Zibbibo – otherwise known as Muscat de Alexandria – one of the oldest genetically unmodified varietals still in existence.
Caves Sao Joao Poco do Lobo Arinto, Beiras 750ML ($39.95) $33 special, 6 bottles available
Winery note “100% Arinto. Vines planted in 1950 in clay and limestone soil at 164-328 feet elevation. Aged 24 months in cement tanks; bottled in 1997.”
Roses:
Tenuta delle Terre Nere Rosato Etna, Sicily 2014 750ML ($21.95) $18 special, 23 bottles available
Wine Advocate 92+ points “The beautiful 2014 Etna Rosato will surely sell out quickly. This is a delightful Rosato made primarily with Nerello Mascalese and a tiny percentage of Nerello Mantellato. It shows a pale pink color that captures the ambient light with crystalline brilliance. Those characteristics mineral aromas appear in full force and the wine finds harmony with added wild berry and cranberry. Like many of the best rosé wines from Etna, this one reveals pretty accents of dried basil and wild sage. The mouthfeel is so fresh and tonic, it almost feels crunchy on the bite.” ML
Pierre-Marie Chermette Domaine du Vissoux Les Griottes Rose, Beaujolais 2014 ($19.95) $14 special, 28 bottles available
88 points Wine Advocate “A delicious effort, the light salmon/pink colored 2014 Les Griottes Beaujolais Rose has pretty orange blossom, framboise, citrus and underbrush characteristics in its soft, forward, supple and highly quaffable profile. Dry and clean on the finish, it’s about as easy-drinking as they come and should be consumed over the coming summer months.”
Reds:
Domaine Hubert Lignier Gevrey-Chambertin, Cote de Nuits 2012 750ML ($99.95) $79 special, 15 bottles available
Antonio Galloni “Moderately saturated pale red. Diffuse red fruits, earth and white truffle on the nose. Then spicy, supple and sweet in the mouth; easygoing and rather slight, with round, accessible flavors of strawberry and raspberry dominating. Finishes with sweeter tannins than the Gevrey La Justice.”
San Fereolo Dolcetto di Dogliani Superiore DOCG, Piedmont 2007 750ML ($34.95) $28 special, 18 bottles available
Importer note “The most important wine of the estate. The Dolcetto for the top wine is sourced from parcels found in prime positions as well as the oldest vines of the estate. The seven-year wait from harvest to release reflects the important of the San Fereolo to Nicoletta, who carefully tends the wine through its three years in large barrel before a 3-4 year hibernation in the bottle cellar. Our tasting of each vintage from 2001 to 2008 revealed a consistent vein of dense, warm fruit, which spoke of the Langhe source. Fresh mineral notes, mint, licorice and savory elements permeated each expression, while a lively freshness was alive in every wine, including the 14-year old 2001 vintage. As with the Austri, the 2007 is the current release, and we are pleased to be able to source multiple back vintages.”
Day Running Bare Mae’s Vineyard Red Blend 2013 750ML ($31.95) $29 special, 6 bottles available
Winemaker’s note “I have long been interested in the concept of field blends so I was excited to find Tannat, Cabernet franc and Cot (Malbec) all growing in Mae’s Vineyard in the Applegate Valley. The fruit was grown together, picked together, and fermeneted together – so blending happened in the field. 25% of the clusters were whole – the blend is approximately 50% Cabernet franc, and 25% Tannat and Cot each. Native fermentation took 19 days and then the new wine stayed on her skins for another 5 days. The wine was pressed and put into 1 used French barrel, 1 used Hungarian barrel, and 1 new French barrel. Malo-lactic fermentation took a long time – it was completed in late June. The wine was bottled in late January 2015, unfined and unfiltered. 13% ABV.”
Slow Pinot Noir Willamette Valley 2014 750ML ($31.95) $28 special, 21 bottles available
VinopolNote: This is a special cuvee crafted by Grochau Cellars in support of Slow Food Portland. The wine is a blend of single barrels submitted by eleven WV wineries including Ayres, Evesham Wood, J Christopher, Cameron and Westrey. The wine is bright, fresh, and balanced, showing aromas of cherries and anise.
40% Carignan, 30% Pais, 20 % Cinsault, & 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, all carbonically macerated; from non-irrigated vines by a Frenchman making wines organically and with minimal intervention in Chile alongside Chilean growers.
Feudo di San Maurizio Saro Djablo Valle d’Aosta 2010 750ML ($34.95) $28 special, 21 bottles available
Blend of Barbera, Freisa, Ciliegiolo, Dolcetto, Gamay, Petit Rouge, Fumin, Premetta.
Winery note “Excellent as a combination with traditional dishes of the Aosta Valley, this wine is made by using grapes from old vines, a slow fermentation and aging in small oak barrels. Saro-Djablo is an appellation that defines the combative character of the inhabitants of Sarre.”
Jean Francois Ganevat Vieux Macvin du Jura NV 750ML ($69.95) $39 special, 7 bottles available
VinopolNote: Blend of 2/3 unfermented must of Savagnin and 1/3 Marc of Savagnin. Barrel aged for 8 years before bottling.
Stephen Tanzer 94 points “Golden yellow. Subtle aromas of bosc pear, persimmon and nut oils lifted by brown spice botrytis. Lush and velvety in texture, with ripe apricot fruit nicely framed by flinty acidity. Rich and long, with a persistently spicy finish.”ST
Producer note “Carpano Antica Formula is the Italian vermouth par excellence, made from white wine, Piedmontese muscatel and the rich wines of southern Italy. Its taste comes from carefully selected brewed mountain herbs, although its most prominent feature is its vanilla bouquet, matched by notes of spices and dried fruit such as star anise, orange peel and dates.”
Thanksgiving Dessert Pairings
…shall we save the best for last?
While we’re at it, we might as well demystify the act of accompanying drinks to the final course of the night. Feel free to switch ’em around of improvise – that being said, however, we have a real sense that these would be matches made in heaven. Cheers!
…for Pecan Pie
Cameron Pinot Gris Ramato, Dundee Hills 2014 750ML ($27.95) $24 special, 12 bottles available
Winery note “Rame: Italian for copper, ramato: copper-colored. Ramato is a copper-colored Pinot grigio made in the tradition of north-eastern Italy. A very tricky wine to pull off. Very limited production.”
VinopolNote: 100% Pinot Gris from Abbey Ridge vineyard made as an ‘orange’ wine. Grapes are harvested just as the seeds begin to brown. The grapes are crushed and the juice is left on the skins for 4-5 hours to extract color before pressing. The wine is aged for 6-8 months in neutral barrique to stabilize color and to allow the proteins to settle out without filtration.
Quinta do Noval Vintage Port, Portugal 2012 750ML ($99.95) $69 special, 16 bottles available
Wine Advocate 92 points “Lucid purple/ruby in color, the first thing to strike you is the purity on the nose. There is a surfeit of fresh fig, prune and raisin that actually brings to mind a more tempered Fonseca. It is beautifully defined, not the most complex Noval, but seemingly approachable just like the 2011. The palate is well endowed with plenty of tangy, very spicy dark plums and blackcurrant fruit, a healthy dash of cracked black pepper and a very animated, attacking finish that is determined to make an impression, if not to be overshadowed by the 2011. This is a superb addition to recent Noval releases, one that I perhaps would broach earlier than others. Just 1,000 cases for this limited release.” WA
Philippe Foreau Domaine du Clos Naudin Vouvray Reserve Moelleux 2009 750ML ($119.95) $89 special, 36+ bottles available
Wine Advocate 97 points “What there was in this vintage of botrytis, Foreau reports, essentially went into his 2009 Vouvray Moelleux Reserve. Brown-spiced pear liqueur and quince preserves dominate the proceedings – wreathed in perfume of freesia and lily – and there are buoyancy and elegance, despite viscosity, enormous richness of texture and residual sweetness, that indeed point to the magic nobility rot can convey. Its sense of lift – when combined with luscious, still juicy suggestions of grapefruit and blood orange familiar from the corresponding demi-sec – wards off any risk of palate fatigue. Mysterious botrytis manifestations of stale bread, truffle, and white raisin emerge from the empty glass. This extraordinary achievement will stand with such past great Foreau moelleux reserves as 2005, 2003, and 1989-90 and is likely to merit 30 or more years of consideration. In direct comparison, what strikes one about the 2005 today is its more obvious sense of botrytis and its slightly diminished sense of acidity and lift. But it maintains the edge in sheer complexity.” WA
for Baked Apples with Rum
Bodegas Toro Albala Don PX Convento, Montilla-Moriles 1955 750ML ($379.95) $299 special, 6 half-bottles available
Wine Advocate 98 points “One more single-harvest, old sweet wine, the 1955 Don PX Convento Selección was bottled in September 2014 and it had been aged slowly in very old American oak barrels and getting thick and concentrated through evaporation. It’s 320 grams of sugar are (partially) compensated by 6.5 grams of acidity. It has a nose and palate of chocolate-covered candied orange, spices, molasses. I’d say the dominant aromas in the nose are dark chocolate. It’s very dense, developing notes of very concentrated licorice and balsamic, mint, camphor and evolving notes of petrol with time. Complex, rare and unique.”
Leon Desfrieches et Fils Le Pere Jules Pommeau de Normandie NV 750ML ($34.95) $29 special, 14 bottles available
“This product is the result of the subtle marriage of freshly pressed apple cider and Calvados that has been aged for one year. Afterward, it is aged in oak barrels for several years, where the flavor will be transformed to result in a finished product with a smooth harmonious taste filled with aromas. It’s the “aperitif,” or before dinner drink, par excellence from Normandy.”–Producer Notes
for Cheesecake with Berries
Cleto Chiarli Vigneto Enrico Cialdini Lambrusco Grasparossa di Castelvetro Secco, Emilia-Romagna NV 750ML ($19.95) $16 special
Wine Enthusiast 89 points “Aromas suggest violet, black plum, crushed black cherry and wild strawberry. The intense fruit sensations carry over to the palate with a note of white pepper, while robust but fine tannins lend structure.” WE
for Tart Tatin
Jacques Puffeney Arbois Vin Jaune, Jura 2008 620ML ($89.95) $81.90 special, 2 bottles remaining
Wine Advocate 94-97 points“The 2007 was sold out so I didn’t get to taste it, but I’ve drunk it and it’s phenomenal and highly recommended. The 2008 Arbois Vin Jaune was still unbottled. What I tasted, it had lots of acidity. For Jacques Puffeney, 2008 was a very good vintage for whites (not as good for reds), and he feels the Vin Jaune is developing very well. The caves for the Vin Jaune are very dry, because the wine needs some evolution, and if it has humidity the development is not as good. The palate is medium to full-bodied with glycerin and volume, but the acidity cuts through the fat and makes the wine intense, full and sharp. 6,000 bottles will be produced.
Sometimes the Vin Jaune is aged for a long time. I tasted a 2003 that was still in barrel and was going to be bottled in one week after almost 12 years aging under flor, but the wine was getting evaporated and the barrel was almost half empty. The 1986 was also aged for a very long time. It has intense aromas of orange peel, tobacco, broth and smoke, with some nuts. The palate is opulent but it feels like the acidity is getting concentrated and the wine is very fresh and does not feel either old nor warm. It’s 15% alcohol and has notes of malt whiskey, with lots of iodine. This is going to be a very legendary Vin Jaune to age for 20-30 years, but there will be no more than 300 bottles of it!”I visited Jacques Puffeney in his house/winery in Montigny les Arsures (the village that calls itself the world capital of Trousseau), after his official retirement. All of the vineyards are around Montagny and Arbois, where the house is located. 2014 was his last vintage and he officially retired on January 1st 2015, but he will continue raising the wines until the 2014 Vin Jaune is released around 2020. He sold the vineyards to Marquis d’Angerville for his Domaine du Pelican project in the Jura, but Puffeney has kept a small plot and will continue doing a little bit of wine for himself, from red Trousseau grapes. All Savagnin is aged for longer or shorter under a veil of yeasts, so all wines that have Savagnin in them have the oxidative/biological character of the ‘flor’ — lighter or stronger depending on how long the élevage was. The maximum is the Vin Jaune, which often stays for much longer than required in cask. His first vintage was 1962 and the last one was 2014, after 52 harvests. It’s sad to see such an influential figure disappear. My guess is that his wines will go up in price as they’ll become more and more scarce. Buy what you can.”
for Pumpkin Pie
Pierre Paillard Coteaux Champenois Grand Cru Bouzy Rouge, Champagne 2008 750ML ($59.95) $39 special, 23 bottles available
A still red wine from Champagne! Winery notes: “Superbly bright, intense ruby red colour, deep and neat nose, it is delicate and sweet on the palate, full of finesse, the perfect image of a Pinot Noir harvested on chalky soils!”
The next best price is $49.99
VinopolNote: The 2010 harvest was complicated by a massive rain storm that wiped out much of Alexandre Chartogne’s Meunier harvest. Because of this, Alexandre blended his Meunier parcels into a one-off wine called Letter de Mon Meunier. The small harvest means an extremely limited allocation for this once in a lifetime cuvee.
Chartogne-Taillet Heurtebise Blanc de Blancs Brut NV (2008) 750ML ($79.95) $69 pre-arrival special, 6 bottles available
Chartogne-Taillet Brut Millesime 2008 750ML ($79.95) $69 pre-arrival special, 6 bottles available
Domaine Jean Collet Valmur, Chablis Grand Cru 2012 750ML ($69.95) $59 pre-arrival special
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 93 points “(began in 100% one-, two- and three-year-old barrels, then finished in cuve): Classic aromas of underripe pineapple, mint and wet stone. At once large-scaled and fine-grained, showing terrific intensity to its crunchy citrus and saline flavors. Conveys an impression of density without weight, thanks to its energy. (These vines face full west and ripen late.) At once pliant and filled in, finishing elegant, seamless and long, with a vibrating crushed-stone character.” ST
The next best price is $65.70
James Suckling 93 points “Attractive nose with dark cherries, blueberries and chocolate. Some cool stony mineral notes and raw licorice when opening. Full with intensely juicy fruit on the palate with a layered texture. Polished fine tannins and a long finish with a ripe juicy acidity and outstanding complexity. Drink from 2016.” JS
Il Marroneto Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Tuscany 2010 750ML ($79.95) $69 pre-arrival special
Wine Enthusiast 97 points “Multifaceted fragrances suggest violet, rose, red berry, baking spice, savory herb and a balsamic note. Elegant with great intensity, the radiant palate delivers juicy wild cherry, crushed berry, cinnamon and a note of star anise alongside a backbone of assertive, fine-grained tannins and bright acidity. It’s a gorgeous wine with breeding and class that needs time to bloom fully. Drink 2020–2035.” WE
Antonio Galloni 95 points “Dark red cherries, mint, sage, tobacco, licorice and new leather blossom in Il Marroneto’s 2010 Brunello di Montalcino. Savory and lifted in the glass, the 2010 possesses stunning overall balance and tons of nuance. The tannins are firm and incisive, yet also remarkably polished. Ideally, readers should cellar the 2010 for at least a few years, but it is going to be very hard to resist the temptation of drinking the 2010 young.” AG
Poderi Colla Dardi Le Rose Bussia, Barolo DOCG 2010 750ML ($99.895) $89 pre-arrival special
Antonio Galloni 92+ points “The 2010 Barolo Bussia Dardi/Le Rose from Poderi Colla emerges from the glass with dried rose petals, licorice, tobacco, mint, dried cherries, plums and coffee beans, all super-classic Nebbiolo scents. Beguiling and layered in the glass, the 2010 continues to open up beautifully over time, I can’t wait to see how it ages. At the same time, the 2010 is medium in body and surprisingly supple. Will it put on weight in bottle? Only time will tell. Today, the 2010 is young, young, young.” AG
Last Minute Closeouts
Case-12 MacRostie Chardonnay, Sonoma Coast 2013 750ML ($249.95) $179 special, 3 cases available
Wine Spectator 88 points “Pure, clean and juicy, with ripe apple, pear and melon flavors that are refreshing and lively, long and persistent, keeping the fresh fruitiness front and center. Drink now.” 7/2015
Domaine Terlato & Chapoutier Shiraz – Viognier, Central Victoria 750ML ($19.95) $16 special, 36+ bottles available
Wine Spectator-#98 Top 100 for 2014; 90 points “Vibrant, expressive and distinctive, with citrus and mineral overtones around a core of blueberry and spice, lingering on the taut finish.”
Casa Lapostolle ‘Casa’ Grand Selection Cabernet Sauvignon, Rapel Valley, Chile 2012 750ML ($11.95) $8.80 special, 24 bottles available
Case-12 Casa Lapostolle ‘Casa’ Grand Selection Cabernet Sauvignon, Rapel Valley, Chile 2012 750ML ($119.95) $79 special, 8 cases available
Wine Spectator: “A savory red, showing white pepper and green herbal accents to the dense core of dark fruit flavors. Mocha and chocolate accents emerge on the fleshy finish.”
Case-12 Casa Lapostolle ‘Casa’ Grand Selection Chardonnay, Casablanca Valley 2012 750ML ($119.95)
$79 special, 8 cases available
Importer’s note: The Lapostolle Casa tier of wines are young and expressive, bright and vivid, and made to capture the freshness of the fruit. Casa Grand Selection Chardonnay comes from the breezy, coastal Casablanca Valley, which has cool and dry summers, allowing the Chardonnay to ripen slowly and maintain its natural acidity. Hand-harvesting at night enhances the fruitiness and crispness of the grapes, and also helps reduce the use of energy at the winery. Casa Grand Selection Chardonnay is satisfying on its own, and also goes well with many seafood dishes and white meat.
Case-12 Casa Lapostolle Canto de Apalta, Rapel Valley, Chile 2010 750ML ($249.95) $179 special, 7 cases available
Wine Spectator 90 points “A rich, smoky red, sporting dark cassis, grilled fig and macerated cherry notes to the iron, smoke and dark spice flavors that linger through the mocha-tinged finish. Carmenère, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah.”
Wine Enthusiast 91 points “This is a new wine from Lapostolle, bearing a nose that’s intense and compact, with mineral and dark fruit aromas. It feels rich and muscular but not heavy, with berry, licorice, buttery oak and vanilla flavors. The finish is minty and chocolaty tasting. Carmenère, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah make up the blend.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
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Ulysse Colin Champagnes
Arriving Friday
Importer’s note: “Les Pierrières,” a vineyard near Congy, faces south/southeast. The topsoil is clay-limestone with only 10-50 cm depth. Subsoil or bedrock is composed of soft chalk and black flint carbonate (onyx). The combination of these two elements is rare in Champagne and contributes to the singularity of the Ulysse Collin champagnes. The vines are seleccion massale with an average age of 35 years. Plowing of the vineyard began in 2003 in order to encourage the growth of microbial life. AB certified organic compost is used when needed. Each row in the vineyard alternates between natural grass and tilled soil. Protection of plant life is mixed, both conventional and organic. No herbicide is applied in the vineyard. Alcoholic fermentation occurs naturally in small oak barrels over 6-8 months. The barrel aging takes on average 12 months. The wine underwent no filtration. Each year, an average of 12,000 bottles is produces from this plot. The aging on lees in the bottle has increased gradually from 24 to 36 months and contributes to the nose, and enhances the wine’s complexity and fullness of flavor.
Only Extra Brut (little or no dosage, depending on the vintage) is made from Les Pierrières in order to maintain the most accurate expression of the terroir. The mention of the vintage and the disgorgement date is shown on the label.
Importer’s note: “Collin’s NV (2008) Extra Brut Blanc de Blancs Les Roises is a new wine from a parcel that he has regained control over after a period of selling the grapes. Here the deep, clay-rich soils yield a Chardonnay of extraordinary depth, breadth and volume. Juicy apricots, dried pears, honey, spices, almonds, orange, dried flowers and savory herbs all take shape as this full-bodied, voluptuous Champagne shows off its inimitable personality. Despite its richness, the 2008 boasts stunning depth and fabulous overall balance. Power and elegance have rarely been this compelling. What a gorgeous??????wine! Dosage was just 0.85 grams per liter. This bottle was disgorged on March 5, 2012. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2018. Olivier Collin’s estate is practically in the middle of nowhere, but it is well worth a visit. Collin crafts beguiling, totally fascinating Champagnes from his tiny facility in the sleepy town of Congy. The wines are fermented and aged in barrel (with some less stirring) and bottled without fining or filtration. This year Collin has a new wine, the Chardonnay Les Roises, from fruit that was previously sold to the negoce. These remain some of the most unique and thrilling wines being made in Champagne. There is little question Collin’s wines are now on the same level as those of his mentor, Anselme Selosse.”
Ulysse Collin ‘Les Maillons’ Blanc de Noirs Extra Brut, Champagne NV (’11) 750ML ($99.95) $79 pre-arrival special
Vinified from 100% Pinot Noir grapes.
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
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