Thanksgiving Sales; Huet Demi Sec Shines in ’15 and ’16; New Arrivals from Schrader, Diamond Creek, Gaja and More!; Bollinger’s 2006 Vintage Rose
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Thanksgiving Sales!
Thanksgiving is a wine holiday if we ever saw one—lots of people, lots of different foods and a lot of time to hang out and drink. We tend not to sweat having “perfect” pairings, but instead focus on versatile wines that you can drink with everything on the table—and in quantity.
The last part is probably the most important wine rule for Thankgiving: Don’t run out of wine! No matter if the company is boorish, the turkey burnt or dinner three hours later than expected, if you have enough wine then all sins are forgiven.
The store has never been more full of wine—we’re bursting We’re highlighting some of our favorite Thanksgiving Sale wines right here. These are perfect with the food and company at your table, at prices that mean you can buy a few extra bottles.
Case-12 Goodfellow Family Cellars Bishop Creek Vineyard Pinot Noir, Oregon 2014 750ML ($419.95) $299 special, 6 cases in stock now (that’s only $24.92/bottle!)
Case-6 Goodfellow Family Cellars Bishop Creek Vineyard Pinot Noir, Oregon 2014 750ML ($219.95) $166 special, 3 six-packs in stock now (that’s only $27.67/bottle!)
Goodfellow Family Cellars Bishop Creek Vineyard Pinot Noir, Oregon 2014 750ML ($41.95) Was $37, Now $29, 36+ bottles in stock now
Grapelive 91 points “Delicately layered and spicy, the 2014 Bishop Creek is a pretty effort, especially for a richer vintage in Oregon. Made by Marcus Goodfellow, the ex-Evesham Wood and Westerly man, [he] is coming into his own as a talent, inspired by Doerner of Cristom and John Paul of Cameron. You can see the style showing through here. Bishop Creek, planted to Pommard and Wadenswil (old Swiss clone), [is] now owned by Nicolas Meo of the famed Burgundy Domaine Meo-Camuzet. [The vineyard] ([which is] not far from Shea Vineyards) formed this wine with its distinct strawberry and racy red cherry core along with the mixed spice, mineral tones and light wood influence. Its southern exposure and Willakenzie soils (dark rocky marine sediment) give warmth and grace. Planted in 1988, the vines ripen without flamboyant extraction, allowing more finesse to show through. At 13.9% this medium weight wine offers fine detail, opulence and restrained, almost earthy, soulfulness. Hints of bitter herb, cedar and candied citrus rind add a tangy note to the whole and the finish echoes the red fruits in subtle fashion with a touch of wilted roses lingering on. It shines right now, though best to enjoy it with cuisine to match as it is a tad shier than other 2014 Oregon Pinots (I’ve tried) and needs time and coaxing to reach its beautiful peak. Best from 2018 to 2022.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
The next best price for any vintage is $36
Maitia ‘Aupa Pipeno’, Maule Valley, Chile 2016 750ML ($14.95) $11.90 special
Case-12 Maitia ‘Aupa Pipeno’, Maule Valley, Chile 2016 750ML ($149.95) $128 special (that’s only $10.66/bottle!)
Wine Advocate 92 points “The super-tasty and gulpable 2016 Aupa Pipeño is a blend of País with some 30% Carignan (and whatever is found in the old vineyards) from a slightly cooler year. It keeps the style of previous vintages with the bright red fruit and the freshness of short macerations. In the dry-farming part of Maule they only saw 30 to 50 millimeters of rain when in the central valley they got 200! These grapes were harvested before the rain anyway, but the wine retains the freshness of a cooler year, fresher than 2015, more in line with the 2014 and 2013” –LG
Wine and Spirits 92 points “David Marcel, from France’s Basque country, was working in Maule as a bulk wine broker while building his own project, Maitía, back in 2012. That’s when he fell in love with the refreshing pipeños, the traditional wines of Chile’s south, usually made from país… The result is a lovely, refreshing and red-fruited pipeño, with vivid, shining acidity. It’s the kind of wine you won’t stop drinking.”
Domaine de la Janasse Cotes du Rhone Rose, Rhone 2015 750ML ($19.95) Was $16, Now $11.90 special
Importer notes: “The Côtes-du-Rhône Rosé from Domaine de la Janasse is made by bleeding the tanks and vats of the Côtes-du-Rhône Rouge. It is a blend of mainly Grenache, with Cinsault, Syrah and Counoise. After the wine is bled, it finished fermentation and aging in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Castello di Ama Rosato Toscana IGT, Tuscany 2016 750ML ($19.95) Was $14, Now $11.90 special
Ian D’agata–Vinous 90 points “Pale red. Pungent floral aromas and flavors of red berries, apple and spicy underbrush. Vibrant acidity leaves a very clean and fresh mouthfeel which features hints of earth tones and red orchard fruit. Sangiovese and Merlot.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $16.49
Arlaux Grande Cuvee Premier Cru Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($39.95) $33 special
Case-6 Arlaux Grande Cuvee Premier Cru Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($239.95) $189 special (that’s only $31.50/bottle!)
Wine Advocate 92 points “The nose of this wine seduces you straight away with a great balance of autolytic and fruit aromas: toasted hazelnuts, warm apple tart and kaya (coconut and egg) jam. The palate is equally well balanced providing plenty of evolved fruit and toasty / yeasty flavors. Small, fine bubbles, seamless use of dosage and a long nutty finish. This fine if relatively unknown Brut NV takes first place in the derby – a shocker even for me!”
Importer notes: “Arlaux is a small family-run champagne house producing only 5,000 cases a year located in a small village on the Petit Montagne de Reims called Vrigny. Arlaux has been producing champagne since 1826 but the Arlaux-Marchal family have lived in Vrigny since the 13th century. Exclusively 1er Cru Champagne with a minimum of 4 years aging. They only use their own grapes from 20 to 100 year old vines which are hand-picked in order to select only the very best. All Arlaux cuvées are 100% Premier Cru and 100% Tête de Cuvée (meaning that they only use the juice of the 1st press).”
Agathe Bursin Gewurztraminer Zinnkoepfle, Alsace Grand Cru 2016 750ML ($44.95) $36 special
VinopolNote: The Zinnkoepflé vineyard has been recognized as a top site since the beginning of vine cultivation in Alsace. Known especially for Gewürztraminer and Riesling, the vineyard sits in a protected area that allows for exceptional sun exposure while limiting risk of botrytis and other problems. The shelly-limestone soils provide for great acidity, so wines from here are always both rich and racy—a rare and impressive combination.
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Agathe Bursin Pinot Gris Dirstelberg, Alsace 2016 750ML ($27.95) $24 special
VinopolNote: The Disrstelberg vineyard is mostly composed of pink sandstone and is known as a high quality vineyard for a variety of grapes. The wines from the site tend to be linear and crisp, with good varietal character. Unlike many Alsatian producers, Bursin errs on the side of delicacy and raciness rather than pick too late and allow the wines to become rich and flabby for the sake of power.
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Markham Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2013 750ML ($37.95) $28 special
Wine Enthusiast 91 points “Chocolate-covered raspberry forms the luscious core of this fairly priced wine that’s medium-bodied, moderately naked in its oak use and soft in its approachability. Rich, dense and luxurious, it will pair well with any grilled meats.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Case-12 Matello Pinot Gris, Willamette Valley 2015 750ML ($179.95) $138 special (that’s only $11.50/bottle!)
Matello Pinot Gris, Willamette Valley 2015 750ML ($17.95) $14 special
Winery note “Never more than a few hundred cases, this micro-production showcases the beautiful mineral nature of the shallow sedimentary soils of the Whistling Ridge and Bishop creek vineyards. Bright, fresh, pear, lime blossom, hints of hazelnut, and a saline note.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
See the complete list of Thanksgiving Day Sale Wines below – great bargains and great pairings for the holiday!
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Huet
Demi Sec Shines in 2015 and 2016
Domaine Huet, star of Vouvray, makes outstanding wines in a variety of styles. From the steely, sometimes austere Sec to the nobly sweet Moelleux, the wines are always worth of your attention, but some years seem to favor a particular style or level of sweetness more than others. Both 2015 and 2016, which are excellent vintages, are extremely strong in the Demi-Sec category.
Demi-Sec is a magical level of sweetness for Vouvray. With as much acidity as Chenin Blanc has, a touch of RS takes a wine that can be surly and awkward and gives it generosity and fruit. These are wines that are electric at the table, with richness to match nearly anything on the table and enough acidity to cut through fat. They’re a perfect porcine pairing but also elegant enough to serve with almost any fish preparation or even less spicy versions of Thai or Vietnamese cuisine.
The 2016 Demi from the Le Mont vineyard was recently named as the #6 wine on Wine Spectator’s Top 100 list this year; however the 2015 version is also spectacular. You also should pay attention the Le Haut Lieu and Clos du Bourg offerings—although they may not have the points and prestige that the Le Mont does, they have richer fruit and more intense minerality, respectively, than their goldilocks cousin.
In Stock Now:
2015:
Domaine Huet Vouvray ‘Le Mont’ Demi-Sec, Loire 2015 750ML ($59.95) $49 special
Wine Advocate 96 points “The 2015 Vouvray Le Mont Demi-Sec is deep, rich and flinty on the nose, with caramel and vegetable flavors indicating a great complexity. Full-bodied, dense and powerful, this is highly complex and persistent, yet refreshing and transparent Chenin with a juicy fruit and lots of grip, energy and tension. Rather demure at the moment, this enormously structured wine has a great aging potential and I recommend to store it for 6-10 years, at least.”
John Gilman 95 points “The 2015 Le Mont Demi-Sec from Domaine Huët is an outstanding young wine, with even more depth and potential than the superb Le Haut Lieu Demi. The bouquet is bottomless, delivering scents of pineapple, sweet quince, incipient notes of honey, chalky minerality, a touch of lanolin, floral tones redolent of buttercups and lovely, esthery citrus elements in the upper register. On the palate the wine is pure, full-bodied, beautifully balanced and displays stunning depth at the core, with lovely acidity (particularly for the vintage!), great focus and grip and a very, very long, primary and exceptional finish. This does not have the backend cut or grip of a vintage such as 2007 or 2008, but it is going to be a great example of Domaine Huët Demi-Sec. It is deceptively easy to drink today, but its true apogee is at least a decade or more out from the vintage! 2016-2075. 95.”
Domaine Huet Vouvray ‘Clos du Bourg’ Demi-Sec, Loire 2015 750ML ($59.95) $49 special
Wine Spectator 94 points “Quite ripe, with tropical mango and papaya notes mixed with peach, apple and quince flavors. Pretty ginger and heather details fill in the background, while the finish shows a well-embedded mineral edge, imparting tension to match the opulence. Best from 2017 through 2030.”
John Gilman 95 points “The 2015 Demi-Sec from the Clos du Bourg is the lowest level of sweetness from this vineyard in the Domaine Huët stable in 2015 and the wine has magical potential. The bouquet shows a bit more botrytis influence than is the case in the superb Le Mont Demi-Sec, soaring from the glass in a gently glazed constellation of pineapple, a hint of guava, candied quince, lanolin, a touch of honeycomb, beautiful underlying minerality and a topnote of citrus peel. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied, complex and rock solid at the core, with a lovely sense of vinosity already in evidence, despite the wine’s still youthful profile. The acids are bright and beautifully buried in the fruit, with excellent soil signature, lovely focus and grip and a very long, beautifully balanced finish. This is more overtly exotic in personality than the Le Mont Demi-Sec in this vintage, but it is hard to say that it will ultimately be superior- perhaps just different. Another great wine. 2016-2075. 95.”
Domaine Huet Vouvray ‘Le Haut Lieu’ Demi-Sec, Loire 2015 750ML ($47.95) $39 special
Wine Advocate 94+ points “The 2015 Vouvray Le Haut-Lieu Demi-Sec has a creamy, intense and elegant bouquet of ripe and concentrated fruits, along with delicate earthy and lemony flavors. Full-bodied, intense and powerful, with a dense texture and firm tannins, this is a very complex and firmly structured Chenin for the next decade. The sweetness is perfectly integrated and the acidity rather mild in the first moment. The finish though is enormously vital and mineral.”
Wine Spectator 94 points “Features a wide range of apple, green melon, ginger and green plum notes gliding throughout, with the off-dry edge imparting a flattering feel. Latent minerality lengthens the finish. Best from 2017 through 2030.”
John Gilman 93+ points “The 2015 Le Haut Lieu Demi-Sec is outstanding from Domaine Huët, as the touch of botrytis here gives the wine impressive concentration and aromatic lift. The bouquet jumps from the glass in a nascently complex blend of pineapple, quince, a touch of tangerine, bee pollen, chalky soil tones, lanolin and orange peel. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied, bright and beautifully balanced, with great concentration at the core, lovely focus and grip and a very long, still primary, but very promising finish. Again, the acids are not overly snappy here, but the concentrating effect of a bit of noble rot has elevated them a touch and they are more than adequate to carry this wine far, far into the future. This has great depth without undue weight. 2016-2065. 93+.”
2016:
Domaine Huet Vouvray ‘Le Mont’ Demi-Sec, Loire 2016 750ML ($59.95) $49 special
Case-6 Domaine Huet Vouvray ‘Le Mont’ Demi-Sec, Loire 2016 ($299.95) $249 special (that’s only $41.50/bottle!)
#6 – Wine Spectator Top 100 Wines of 2017
Wine Spectator 95 points “This tilts toward the flattering side of off-dry, showing a plump feel to the core of creamed pear, white peach and yellow apple fruit. Lovely verbena, honeysuckle and mineral accents keep this balanced and driven, with a long finish that lets the fruit echo. Drink now through 2032.”
Domaine Huet Vouvray ‘Le Haut Lieu’ Demi-Sec, Loire 2016 750ML ($59.95) $49 special
Case-6 Domaine Huet Vouvray ‘Le Haut Lieu’ Demi-Sec, Loire 2016 750ML ($299.95) $249 special (that’s only $41.50/bottle!)
Wine Spectator 96 points “This delivers a beautiful display of purity and grace, with creamed Jonagold apple, star fruit, white peach and chamomile notes flowing seamlessly, backed by wet stone and fresh verbena accents. Subtle but persistent energy ripples through the very long finish. Drink now through 2035.”
Arriving Later This Month:
Domaine Huet Vouvray ‘Clos du Bourg’ Demi-Sec, Loire 2016 750ML ($59.95) $46 pre-arrival special
Case-6 Domaine Huet Vouvray ‘Clos du Bourg’ Demi-Sec, Loire 2016 750 ($299.95) $249 pre-arrival special (that’s only $41.50/bottle!)
Wine Spectator 95 points “Gorgeous, with creamy-edged nectarine, yellow and green apple, pear and quince flavors that are brightly defined from start to finish, flecked with verbena and honeysuckle hints and backed by a off-dry edge on the finish. Stays fresh and pure throughout. Tempting now but there’s no rush. Drink now through 2032.”
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New Arrivals
Oregon
Analemma Atavus Vineyard Blanc de Noir, Columbia Gorge 2013 750ML ($69.95) $59 special
Stephen Tanzer – Vinous 90 points “(aged on its lees for 42 months): Very pale copper-pink color. Displays the high-pitched floral perfume of a perfectly ripe raspberry, complicated by notes of cranberry, apple and ginger. Wonderfully high-pitched and delicate on the palate, delivering subtle intensity and a lightly saline character to its Pinot Noir red berry fruit. This very dry sparkling wine shows a captivating light touch and finishes brisk, subtle and impressively long. There’s nothing easy about this wine yet it’s hard to put the glass down owing to its sheer refreshment value. I have no idea how this wine will age but I’d love to try it again in three years.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Resonance Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 2015 750ML ($47.95) $39 special
Wine Spectator 93 points “Supple and elegantly structured, with expressive raspberry and orange zest aromas and polished flavors that pick up depth and momentum toward a spicy finish framed by refined tannins. Drink now through 2023. Tasted twice, with consistent notes. 4,000 cases made.”
California
Schrader Cellars CCS Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2015 750ML ($449.95) $389 special
Robert Parker 96-99 points “All of the 2015s will be reviewed from bottle next year, but basically the yields were not off as much at Schrader as some other estates, the alcohol levels were relatively modest ranging between 14.3% and 14.5%. Characteristic of this vintage, there is magnificent fat, sucrosity and thickness on display in all of these wines. They are inky black/purple and seemingly low in acidity, but according to Thomas Rivers Brown the acids were quite sound and healthy. The tannins are present, but so well-disguised by the high levels of glycerin and sucrosity that they are not that noticeable. Several of these wines, including the Schrader, CCS, T6 and LPV have the potential for perfect scores. These will be thrilling to taste next year and will continue the incredible legacy that Schrader Cellars has developed over the years.”
Schrader Cellars GIII Beckstoffer Georges III Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2015 750ML ($419.95) $369 special
Robert Parker 95-97 points “All of the 2015s will be reviewed from bottle next year, but basically the yields were not off as much at Schrader as some other estates, the alcohol levels were relatively modest ranging between 14.3% and 14.5%. Characteristic of this vintage, there is magnificent fat, sucrosity and thickness on display in all of these wines. They are inky black/purple and seemingly low in acidity, but according to Thomas Rivers Brown the acids were quite sound and healthy. The tannins are present, but so well-disguised by the high levels of glycerin and sucrosity that they are not that noticeable. Several of these wines, including the Schrader, CCS, T6 and LPV have the potential for perfect scores. These will be thrilling to taste next year and will continue the incredible legacy that Schrader Cellars has developed over the years.”
Schrader Cellars RBS Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2015 750ML ($419.95) $369 special
Robert Parker 95-97 points “All of the 2015s will be reviewed from bottle next year, but basically the yields were not off as much at Schrader as some other estates, the alcohol levels were relatively modest ranging between 14.3% and 14.5%. Characteristic of this vintage, there is magnificent fat, sucrosity and thickness on display in all of these wines. They are inky black/purple and seemingly low in acidity, but according to Thomas Rivers Brown the acids were quite sound and healthy. The tannins are present, but so well-disguised by the high levels of glycerin and sucrosity that they are not that noticeable. Several of these wines, including the Schrader, CCS, T6 and LPV have the potential for perfect scores. These will be thrilling to taste next year and will continue the incredible legacy that Schrader Cellars has developed over the years.”
Diamond Creek Gravelly Meadow Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2015 750ML ($249.95) $225 special
Winery notes: “Our second coolest micro-climate is our five-acre Gravelly Meadow vineyard. Originally a pre-historic river bed, this stony, gravelly soil drains rapidly and the vines struggle for moisture. Gravelly Meadow is our lowest yielding vineyard. The wines are described as “earthy, cedary, jammy and ripe blackberry with a spicy expansive finish.”
Diamond Creek Red Rock Terrace Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2015 750ML ($249.95) $225 special
Winery notes: “Red Rock Terrace, a warm microclimate, is 7 acres of north facing vineyard. The red tinted soil is high in iron content. The wine from Red Rock Terrace is the most accessible and earliest drinkable of all our wines. Our winemaker describes Red Rock Terrace as “having velvety tannins, rich and well balanced, medium dark ruby color with cherry, mint and black currant flavors.”
Italy – Tuscany
Gaja Pieve Santa Restituta Rennina, Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2008 750ML ($179.95) $99 special
Antonio Galloni 93 points “In a vintage where so many wines already appear tired, Gaja’s 2008 Brunello di Montalcino Rennina jumps from the glass with vibrant aromas and flavors. Violets, black cherries, tobacco, licorice and menthol all appear later, adding further shades of complexity. The tannins are firm yet beautifully integrated. Pieve Santa Restituta fans know than Rennina can be deceptively medium in body, yet it has a great track record for aging. Today, the wine is simply gorgeous. This is one of the few 2008s I would buy to cellar. There is little doubt the Rennina is one of the standouts in 2008.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $114.99
The average price is $153
Gaja Pieve Santa Restituta Rennina, Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2011 750ML ($149.95) $99 special
Wine Advocate 94 points “The 2011 Brunello di Montalcino Rennina is made from a blend of fruit from three different vineyard parcels. The sites total 25 hectares, with 15 located next to the church, or the Pieve, after which this estate is named. The sites have southwest exposures and different soil types. That flexibility explains the smooth and seamless bouquet offered by this wine. Compared to the single vineyard Sugarille expression, Rennina is more open and immediate. The wine presents fleshy and beautifully plump aromas of red cherry, dried blackberry and exotic spice with tobacco and chocolate at the back.”
Antonio Galloni – Vinous 93 points “The 2011 Brunello di Montalcino Rennina is strikingly beautiful. Rich, open-knit and alluring, the Rennina captures all the best qualities of the year. Sweet red cherry, plum, tobacco and spice notes are all supported by ripe, silky tannins that give the wine much of its sensual personality. The intensity of the year is very much in evidence, yet the Rennina also retains striking freshness. Historically, the Rennina has aged quite well, but it will be hard to resist, as it is already quite delicious.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $119.95
The average price is $149
Gaja Ca’Marcanda ‘Camarcanda’ Bolgheri, Tuscany 2011 750ML ($179.95) $79 special
Wine Advocate 94 points “The 2011 Bolgheri Camarcanda opens to plump berry notes with apparent ripeness in the form of sun-drenched blackberry and plum. The fruit element in this Merlot-Cabernet Sauvignon-Cabernet Franc blend is dark and compelling, and the mouthfeel follows suit with soft tannins and dark concentration. The 2011 vintage is also characterized by a more evident tannic bite that should soften with time.”
James Suckling 94 points “Very attractive raspberry, currant and chocolate character with hints of nuts. Full body, silky tannins and a juicy finish. This needs time to soften. So gorgeous now, but better in 2016.”
Falstaff Magazine 95 points “Rich, deep dark ruby with a lot of purple. Exciting and dark nose with lots of ripe plums, cassis, blackberry leading into licorice and spice in the background. Wonderfully juicy fruit (blackberry and blackcurrant) on the compact palate that opens with a powerful, velvety core of tannins. Very long, reverberating finish.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $102.74
The average price is $147
Italy – Piedmont
Gaja Sori San Lorenzo Langhe-Barbaresco, Piedmont 2009 750ML ($449.95) $249 special
Wine Advocate 96 points “Gaja’s 2009 Sori San Lorenzo, on the other hand, is much more typical in its expression. Layers of juicy dark cherries, menthol, spices, tar, licorice and graphite flow across the palate as this powerful, masculine wine opens up in the glass. Balsamic infused aromas and flavors develop in the glass, adding considerable complexity and the signature of this great terroir, indisputably one of Piemonte’s very finest. Anticipated maturity: 2019-2039.”
Antonio Galloni – Vinous 95 points “Silky and gracious on the palate, the 2009 Sorì San Lorenzo looks to be a wine that will drink well with just a few years of cellaring. This is a decidedly floral, lifted yet radiant wine with terrific balance and plenty of the sexiness that defines the very best wines of the year.”
Stephen Tanzer – Vinous 95 points “Good full red. Pungent aromas of maraschino cherry, minerals, smoke and camphor; the most Barolo-like of Gaja’s 2009s from the Barbaresco zone. The thickest and most concentrated too, sweet and mouthfilling but very backward. The combination of sheer stuffing and medicinal reserve along with fine-grained, dusty tannins and outstanding persistence suggests that this plump but youthful wine will age slowly and well.”
Falstaff Magazine 97 points “[Translated] Deeply colored, sparkling ruby with a light garnet border. Precise and tight nose showing adundant ripe wild black raspberries, some plum, truffles and spice in the background. Earth and substantial tannin unfolds.”
Wine Enthusiast 96 points “There’s always something magical about Gaja’s Sorì San Lorenzo. It’s the intensity and fullness of the wine that penetrates to the back of the palate and offers many long minutes of persistency on the finish. The bouquet is redolent of black fruit, leather, spice, tar, licorice and dried herb.”
VinopolNote: Depending upon the vintage, this wine is classified either as a Langhe Rosso or as a Barbaresco. From 1996-2012, Gaja decided to blend in a small portion of Barbera into the wines, deliberately eschewing the Barbaresco DOCG. Beginning in 2013, however, the winery is returning to producing the wine from 100% Nebbiolo.
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $349
The average price is $424
Gaja Sori Tildin Langhe-Barbaresco, Piedmont 2008 750ML ($499.95) $249 special
Antonio Galloni 96 points “The 2008 Sori Tildin is impressive. I confess I wasn’t quite prepared for the assault of fruit and tannins here. Sori Tildin is so often a graceful, elegant wine, but that is not the case in 2008. That’s not to say elegance is missing, but this is a big, big wine with tons of intensity and richness, all woven together beautifully. It’s tough to find a comparison with a previous vintage, as this is a singular Tildin. The flavors are familiar if a touch on the dark side, but the structure is closer than that of Sori San Lorenzo. Flowers, tar, leather and licorice wrap around the palate. This is a fabulous showing and a great wine in the making. Anticipated maturity: 2018-2033.”
Falstaff Magazine 97 points “[Translated] Bright, intense ruby-garnet. A playful and multi-layered nose shows notes of ripe cherries, some orange peel, cardamom and fresh plums. Presents on the palate as a unified whole showing lots of tightly packed tannins and a rich depth. Builds in many layers. Has plenty of elegance and suppleness on the finish.”
VinopolNote: Depending upon the vintage, this wine is classified either as a Langhe Rosso or as a Barbaresco. From 1996-2012, Gaja decided to blend in a small portion of Barbera into the wines, deliberately eschewing the Barbaresco DOCG. Beginning in 2013, however, the winery is returning to producing the wine from 100% Nebbiolo.
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $396
Italy – Veneto
Dal Forno Romano Vigneto Monte Lodoletta Valpolicella Superiore, Veneto 2009 750ML ($99.95) $79 special
Wine Advocate 94+ points “Built like a tank, the 2009 Valpolicella Superiore Monte Lodoletta is a masterful achievement. This wine shows so beautifully, especially in a warm but balanced vintage like 2009. The fruit is expressive and articulate with deep layers of blackberry preserves, dried cherry, dark chocolate, espresso bean, mesquite smoke and soy sauce. The mouthfeel is super rich and concentrated as the Dal Forno signature style would dictate. The tannic bite is still strong and this wine needs a few more years to stretch out its muscular build. I’d suggest drinking it after 2018.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $98
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Bollinger Vintage Rose
Bollinger’s “Grande Anee” is a legendary Champagne, no matter the year it’s produced. Aging and developing for decades, it reflects the pinnacle of Bollinger and is released only in the best, most structured years.
The wine we’re offering today is not Grande Anee. It’s still vintage Bolli—aged under cork in tirage and fermented in barrel, but it’s from 2006, a year that was deemed too good not to release on its own, but not long-lived enough for a GA release. The result? A wine that’s $60+ less expensive than it would be if it carried the fancier price tag but is absolutely delicious to drink right now. Full, expansive and rich , this is going to be the highlight of any dinner you pour it at.
Arriving Friday:
Bollinger Rose, Champagne 2006 750ML ($149.95) $119 pre-arrival special
Decanter 94 points “The excellent 2006 vintage encouraged Bollinger to create a vintage rose to reflect the quality of the grapes, especially the Pinot Noir. The fruit comes from 84% grand cru vineyards and 16% premiers cru vineyards. The wine was barrel fermented before spending over 10 years maturing in the bottle. It has a delicious Pinot character, with mulchy red fruits, accompanied by a soft Chardonnay note of delicate bruised apple and some woody breadth. It has a delicious streak of raspberry acidity, and comes across as a finessed and structured champagne that is only at the start of its life. Drinking window: 2017-2032.”
Champagnist 93-95 points “I had the privilege to taste this wine on a Bollinger – life can be perfect – party and once more with the assistant cellar master Denis Bunner at Bollinger. My conclusion remains the same: what a marvelous rosé it is! It spends 10 years on the lees. Lovely copper-rose color with a very delicate, refined effervescence. The nose is very perfumated with Turkish rose oil, rose petals, bergamot, dried mandarin orange, lots of fresh raspberry, violin rosin, a hint of musk, nutmeg and an overtone of old Port (quite oxidative indeed), toast and slate. After warming up in the glass it became smoky, nutty with walnuts, I got a hint of sandalwood, patchouli and that lovely smell of old red currant comfiture and quince jelly. When you give it time in the glass you get cured parma ham and an impression of leather and lots of Alsatian patisserie. In the mouth this is elegant, sexy, dynamic but also compact. On the palate you get raspberry, goji berry, dried redcurrant, bramble, a hint of Fino sherry (Bolly goût Anglaise is back!) and dry toast with lovely acidity of kumquat, mandarin orange, redcurrant and a rather dark – going towards graphite – minerality topped of with rose pepper corns. Perfectly balanced with a fabulous acidity of red berries. Excellent to drink now but this could be a serious competitor for the Grande Année 1996 Rosé after some more time in the cellar.”
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