New Week – New Arrivals; Monteraponi: A Name to Watch in Chianti Classico; Washington’s Rhone Varieties; Cayuse!; New In-Depth Reviews: German Auction Wines; Domaine Clape Vin des Amis: New Grapelive Review; Sneak Peek: A Selection of Wines Arriving January-May Including: Henri Bonnaud, Arnoux-Lachaux, Domaine Huet and Bodegas Muga
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New Week – New Arrivals
Oregon
Cameron Reserve Chardonnay, Dundee Hills 2014 750ML ($39.95) $33 special
VinopolNote: The ‘Reserve’ level of Cameron Chardonnay is always an incredible deal. Made of declassified barrels of Clos Electrique and Abbey Ridge, so without the new oak that the lower level bottling sees, this wine shows facets of the grace and intensity of Abbey and the Clos without the pricetag of those higher end bottlings. In 2014, all of the Abbey Ridge was moved to this bottling, making it an even better deal than usual.
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Cristom Estate Viognier, Eola-Amity Hills 2015 750ML ($31.95) $26 special
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Cristom Estate Pinot Gris, Willamette Valley 2015 750ML ($21.95) $18 special
Wine Enthusiast 92 points “‘Editors’ Choice’ Lovely from the first sniff on, this is packed with mineral-drenched fruit flavors. Pear flesh and skin dominate, along with suggestions of cucumber and white melon. The leesy minerality is a great palate cleanser.”
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 91 points “(raised entirely in stainless steel tanks and aged on its lees for six months) Light bright straw. Zesty, mineral-tinged citrus fruits and white flowers on the nose, lifted by a spicy gingery element. Taut and nervy in style, offering tightly focused lemon and green apple flavors that slowly flesh out with air. Shows very good energy and stony cut on the finish, which hangs on with strong, spicy tenacity.”
Cristom Louise Vineyard Pinot Noir, Eola-Amity Hills 2014 375ML ($34.95) $28 special
James Suckling 93 points “Aromas of toffee, ripe fruit and chocolate follow through to a full body, soft tannins and walnut/hazelnut undertones. Soft-textured. Delicious finish. Drink or hold.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Cristom Estate Syrah, Eola-Amity Hills 2014 750ML ($59.95) $49 special
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 93 points “Highly perfumed scents of black and blue fruits, Indian spices, pungent flowers and cola, joined by a smoky nuance that builds in the glass. Palate-staining blackberry and boysenberry flavors show very good depth, and exotic violet pastille and black pepper nuances add complexity. Finishes smooth, spicy and warm, displaying lingering notes of sweet dark berry liqueur and gentle tannins.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Whistling Dog Cellars Heritage Blocks Estate Vineyard Pinot Noir, Eola-Amity Hills 2012 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 special
VinopolNote: From the Heritage Block within the estate Nuestro Sueno Vineyard in the Eola-Amity Hills appellation. Aged in 40% new oak barrels from 18 months and bottled in April 2014. 58% Pommard clone and 42% Wadenswil clone. An expressive, earthy and fruity red from one of our favorite value producers!
Italy-Tuscany
For our special feature on the newly arrived Monteraponi Chianti Classicos below!
Spain
Adega Algueira Brandan Godello, Ribeira Sacra 2015 750ML ($19.95) $16 special
Adega Algueira Mencia, Ribeira Sacra 2015 750ML ($19.95) $16 special
VinopolNote: Along the banks of the Sil River, once home to monasteries built by monks in the 12th century, is the Algueira winery. Built in a style in keeping with the regional history, the winery is tucked among old growth chestnut and oak trees. The view from the river is dramatic. Steeply terraced banks line the shores evoking thoughts of the Mosel. Yet much like the menu at the small attached restaurant, this is all Galacian: from indigenous grape varieties to the distinctive terroir in the glass. Despite the winery’s tiny production, it has received glowing international press. The white Godello and red Mencia are from younger vines. Both wines are aged in 100% stainless steel.
“Adega Algueira overlooks the River Sil from its lofty perch and uses fruit from its own vineyards: Mencia, Alvarello, Merenzao, and Caino for their reds, and Godello, Loureiro, Alvarino and Treixadura for the whites. Fernando Gonzalez Riveiro oversees a splendid portfolio that epitomizes the freshness and vitality that both the white and reds can offer.” –Neal Martin
Ritme Celler Ritme Negre, Priorat DOCa 2014 750ML ($21.95) $18 special
Wine Advocate 90 points “The entry-level red 2014 Ritme Negre is a blend of Cariñena with some 30% Garnacha from different villages of Poboleda, Porrera, Bellmunt, El Molar, El Lloar and Cornudella, all from old vines ranging from 20 to 80 years of age on slate soils at altitudes from 300 to 650 meters above sea level. The grapes fermented in stainless steel with a maceration of some 15 days and the wine had malolactic and matured in French oak barrels for eight months. This is the lightest of the reds here, with a dark ruby color and a clean and focused nose of wild berries and some spices. The palate is vibrant and lively, with a silky texture and very pleasant flavors, with good depth and length. A great introduction to Priorat.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Ritme Celler Plaer, Priorat DOCa 2014 750ML ($34.95) $29 special
Wine Advocate 92 points “The 2014 Plaer, as all reds here, is a blend of Garnacha and Cariñena selected from old vineyards in different villages of Priorat, El Molar, Bellmunt, Falset, Porrera, Poboleda, El Lloar and Torroja del Priorat. After fermentation the wine matured in new and used French oak barrels for 13 months. Even at such young age it feels very balance and subtle. There are notes of wet slate intermixed with dark berries and a sense of freshness that is remarkable for the vintage. The palate is medium to full-bodied, with elegant tannins and a nice tactile sensation, with some earthiness and final minerality.”
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Monteraponi:
A Name to Watch in Chianti Classico
We’re always up for good, classically made Chianti, so when we first heard of the wines of Monteraponi, we were intrigued. They’re based in the town of Radda, where Montevertine is located, and these wines are likewise classically made. No Cabernet, no Merlot, no micro-ox, these wines see long, native fermentations and are minimally processed in the cellar.
Antonio Galloni is also a fan, saying “Monteraponi is a terrific source for readers who appreciate the more classic side of Chianti Classico. Native fermentations, long macerations and long aging are some of the signatures of these wines, which see minimal handling in the cellar and no fining or filtration. At times the Monteraponi wines can be a bit rustic, but it is a beautiful and sincere approach that most clearly defines these handmade Chianti Classicos.” We couldn’t agree more and are excited to present these wines to you for the first time.
Newly Arrived Wines from Monteraponi:
Monteraponi Il Campitello Riserva, Chianti Classico DOCG 2012 750ML ($49.95) $41.90 special, 13 bottles available
Antonio Galloni 92 points “The 2012 Chianti Classico Riserva Il Campitello is a very pretty wine, especially for the vintage. Mid-weight and translucent in style, the 2012 captures the essence of Radda, with sweet, floral aromatics, chiseled fruit and lovely energy. Red berry, spice, tobacco, cedar and rose petal all open up in the glass. A hint of oak comes through on the finish, but otherwise this is a classic-feeling Riserva that will appeal to readers with more traditionally leaning palates. The Campitello emerges from the estate’s oldest vineyard.”
Monteraponi Il Campitello Riserva, Chianti Classico DOCG 2013 750ML ($49.95) $41.90 special, 13 bottles available
Antonio Galloni 92 points “The 2013 Chianti Classico Riserva Il Campitello is a very beautiful and expressive wine that will appeal to readers who appreciate the more traditional side of Chianti Classico. Sweet tobacco, sage, mint, dried cherry and crushed leaves give the 2013 its lifted aromatics while bright Sangiovese acidity adds the vibrancy. Aging in cask produces a style of Chianti Classico that emphasizes aromatics and savoriness, while fruit is more in the background. There is a purity and frankness to the Campitello that I find hugely appealing.”
Monteraponi Chianti Classico DOCG, Tuscany 2014 750ML ($27.95) $21.90 special, 13 bottles available
“Fermented without selected yeasts or temperature control, this bright, savory blend of 95% Sangiovese and 5% Canaiolo opens with classic varietal aromas of red berry, fragrant blue flower and a whiff of new leather. The fresh, easy drinking palate doles out juicy wild cherry, chopped herb and a hint cinnamon offset by vibrant acidity and supple tannins.”–Wine Enthusiast
Take a look at our other in-stock wines from Chianti:
We offer 111 red wines from Tuscany available here now. To see the complete list with reviews, visit our web store
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Give the Gift that Never Expires!
Can’t decide on the perfect gift?
Let them!
We offer gift certificates in any amount with no taxes, fees or expiration date.
Gift certificates are not available through our web store. To order, please stop in, call or email. We are happy to mail gift certificates to any domestic address at no charge.
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Washington’s Rhone Varieties
Washington certainly made its name for Cabernet and Merlot, the two noble grapes of Bordeaux, but if you ask us, the best stuff coming out of the state is from grapes native to the Rhone region in France. This isn’t necessarily a new or controversial opinion, we know, but we think Syrah and Grenache deserve more love.
So we’re asking you to open your hearts (and a bottle or two!). Think you only love rich, black fruited Cabernet? You really want Syrah, with its dark fruits and bacon fat aromas. More of a “full-bodied” Pinot Noir drinker? Look at Grenache, Pinot’s warmer weather cousin, which has a silky texture but plusher, richer fruit and a fuller texture.
Whichever way you lean, you won’t be disappointed, so without further ado, a selection of what we think makes Washington’s Rhone wines special, available here now:
Dunham Cellars Lewis Estate Vineyard Syrah, Columbia Valley 2011 750ML ($79.95) $69 special, 32 bottles available
Wine Advocate 94 points “Another terrific effort, and one of the strongest Syrahs in the vintage, the 2011 Syrah Lewis Vineyard is 100% Syrah that spent 30 months in 90% new French oak, which you’d never know by tasting it. Gorgeous blackberry, blueberry, wild herbs, licorice, chocolate and hints of crushed rock all emerge from this beauty, and it flows onto the palate with medium to full-bodied richness, bright acidity and a seamless, elegant profile. It’s enjoyable now, but will shine for another decade at least as well.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Gramercy Cellars Lagniappe Syrah, Columbia Valley 2013 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 6 bottles available
Wine Advocate 95 points “Slightly more fruit driven than the meaty, peppery John Lewis release, the 2013 Syrah Lagniappe is a drop dead gorgeous Syrah that does everything right. Its almost opaque purple color is followed by a complex, layered bouquet that includes ample black and blue fruits, ground pepper, lavender, olive and hints of bacon fat. This gives way to a medium to full-bodied, layered, silky 2013 that has a great mid-palate, juicy acidity and a great finish. I’d happily drink it today, but it should be at its best from 2018-2028.”
Gramercy Cellars The Third Man Grenache – Syrah – Mourvedre, Columbia Valley 2013 750ML ($59.95) $46 special, 23 bottles available
Wine Advocate 94 points “Tasted out of bottle, the 2013 The Third Man, which incorporates 19% Syrah and 5% Mourvèdre, sports a semi-translucent ruby color as well as perfumed notes of black cherry liqueur, raspberries, potpourri and dried flowers. Supple, elegant and seamless, with no hard edges, sweet, sweet tannin and medium to full-bodied richness, this fabulous Grenache would be a dead ringer for a top Chateauneuf du Pape in a blind tasting. It’s the best vintage of this cuvee to date and will have 10-15 years of overall longevity.”
Charles Smith K Vintners The Boy Grenache, Walla Walla Valley 2014 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 14 bottles available
Wine Advocate 95-97 points “There’s 300 cases of the potentially profound 2014 The Boy, which is mostly Grenache from the Powerline Vineyard in Walla Walla. Fermented with 100% whole clusters and aged in neutral oak, it offers sensational ripeness and depth in its meaty, olive, pepper, currant and kirsch scented bouquet. This gives way to a massive, concentrated and voluptuously textured Grenache that has a great mid-palate, ripe tannin and a finish that just won’t quit.”
Charles Smith K Vintners The Hustler Syrah, Walla Walla Valley 2012 750ML ($149.95) $138 special, 10 bottles available
Wine Advocate 95-97 points “Still in barrel at the time of this tasting, the 2012 Syrah The Hustler is a blockbuster-styled Syrah that’s overflowing with notions of sweet red and black fruits, toasted bread, cured meats and cedar. Only made in special vintages (it was previously made in ’03, ’07 and ’09) and aged 38 months in French oak, it’s full-bodied, decadent and layered, with a weightless, elegant, seamless feel. Coming all from the Morrison Lane Vineyard (it’s actually the Morrison Lane Syrah with extended barrel aging), it should be ready to go on release and dish out tons of pleasure over the following decade or more. The extended elevage has given this a more upfront feel, yet I suspect it will also allow it age more slowly as well.”
Reynvaan Family Vineyards ‘The Contender’ Syrah – Marsanne, Walla Walla Valley 2014 750ML (99.95) $89 special, 36+ bottles available
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.”
Reynvaan Family Vineyards In The Hills Syrah, Walla Walla Valley 2014 750ML ($79.95) $69 special, 36+ bottles available
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.”
Reynvaan Family Vineyards In The Rocks Syrah, Walla Walla Valley 2014 750ML ($99.95) $88 special, 29 bottles available
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.”
Reynvaan Family Vineyards The Unnamed Syrah, Walla Walla Valley 2014 750ML ($79.95) $59 special, 36+bottles available
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.”
We offer 73 red wines from Washington state, see the full list online
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Cayuse!
Let’s be frank, we don’t need to “sell” Cayuse. We get it in, it disappears. So consider this a notification that we got some more Cayuse in. There’s more than we have listed here, so check the website, but we figured we’d highlight five of the bottlings that we think are special and have more than a couple bottles of. Happy hunting.
Cayuse Vineyards Bionic Frog Syrah, Walla Walla Valley 2007 750ML ($299.95) $269 special, 3 bottles available
Wine Advocate 99 points “The 2007 Bionic Frog Syrah surrenders a splendid aromatic array of forest floor, herbs, olives, bacon, underbrush, blueberry, and black cherry. This is followed by a voluptuous wine with gobs of succulent fruit, impeccable balance, enough fine-grained tannin to evolve for 5-7 years, and a lengthy, seductive finish. Give it 5-7 years of additional cellaring and drink it from 2015 to 2027.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Cayuse Vineyards Camaspelo, Walla Walla Valley 2013 750ML ($149.95) $119 special, 2 bottles available
Wine Advocate 94 points “Leading off the 2013s, the 332-case 2013 Camaspelo is made from 81% Cabernet Sauvignon and 19% Merlot that was aged all in puncheons. Notes of iron, red and black currants, licorice and lead pencil characteristics emerge from this medium to full-bodied, elegant, complex Bordeaux blend that would pass undetected in a lineup of Pauillacs. Give it 3-4 years of cellaring and drink through 2033.”
Cayuse Vineyards God Only Knows Armada Vineyard Grenache, Walla Walla Valley 2012 750ML ($179.95) $149 special, 3 bottles available
Wine Advocate 96 points “Structured and backward, the 2012 Grenache God Only Knows Armada Vineyard offers lots of framboise, black cherries, bouquet garni and spice to go with a full-bodied, seamless, elegant feel on the palate. It picks up more and more tannin with time in the glass, and needs 3-4 years of cellaring, but should keep for 15 years or more.” JD
Cayuse Vineyards The Lovers, Walla Walla Valley 2012 750ML ($169.95) $159 special, 3 bottles available
Wine Advocate 96+ points “One of the more voluptuous, thick and chewy releases, the 2012 The Lovers (86% Cabernet Sauvignon and 14% Syrah) is locked and loaded with notions of black raspberries, cassis, smoked earth, tobacco and licorice. Massively built on the palate, with a full throttle, rich, tannic mouthfeel, give it 3-4 years and drink anytime over the following 15+ years.”
Cayuse Vineyards ‘Widowmaker’ En Chamberlin Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Walla Walla Valley 2010 750ML ($199.95) $169 special, 5 bottles available
Wine Advocate 97 points “A silky, supple and downright sexy 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2010 Widowmaker En Chamberlin Vineyard offers up notes of sweet red and black currants, leaf tobacco, mulled spices and cedar to go with a full-bodied, rich and gorgeously textured and polished palate. Already approachable and surprisingly civilized, with a core of sweet fruit and ripe, polished tannin, it nevertheless holds up beautifully with air and drank well for the three days I had the bottle open. Enjoy it over the coming 12-15+ years. Drink now-2025+.” WA
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
You can browse the full list of in-stock Cayuse wines below. Visit the web store to read full reviews and to order visit our web store
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German Auction Wines:
New In-Depth Reviews
From Mosel Fine Wines
Since 1910, the German association of top wine estates (VDP) has hosted wine auctions. These are not your typical wine auctions; instead they offer German wine fans and collectors a unique opportunity to experience wines that will not make it to the regular market. Each estate can submit their best wines from the best vintages (all strictly unchaptalized) exclusively to the auction directly from their cellars.
We’re thrilled to offer our first foray into the exciting world of German auction wines. These are highly exclusive wines only available to auction winners and bids must be placed by authorized wine brokers. Each wine was hand-selected by our German wine insider.
Due to the highly limited amount of production from many of these estates and the exclusivity of the auction, it’s rare to find reviews for many bottlings (let alone the wines themselves!). We’re fortunate to have the folks at Mosel Fine Wines on our side – and doing the all the hard work! You can browse the new reviews below:
Weingut Bastgen Kestener Paulinshofberg Riesling Spatlese, Mosel 2015 750ML ($49.95) $39 special, 11 bottles available
Mosel Fine Wines 90 points “This offers a rather ripe nose of grapefruit, pineapple, Limoncello, bergamot, herbs, almond and spices. The wine is nicely made and fruity on the palate and leaves a clean and fresh feel in the zesty but powerful finish. This is nicely made in a very enjoyable style! 2023-2035”
Carl Loewen Leiwener Laurentiuslay Riesling Spatlese, Mosel 2011 750ML ($49.95) $39 special, 12 bottles available
Mosel Fine Wines 90 points “This is a special selection of partially botrytis affected berries which is only being commercialized now, via the 2016 Auction. The wine offers a rather ripe nose of pear, herbs and spices. The wine is nicely ripe but also delicately playful on the palate, leaving one with a fleeting feel of almond, pear and slate in the long, rich yet comparatively airy finish. This is nicely made with good complexity and nice presence. Now-2026”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Weingut Reinhold Franzen Bremmer Calmont Riesling Kabinett 2015 750ML ($34.95) $29 special, 11 bottles available
Mosel Fine Wines 92 points “This beautiful Kabinett offers a rather reduced but elegantly floral nose of white pear, herbs and spices. The wine proves gorgeously well balanced on the palate, where some firm grip brings structure and the mineral side finesse to the experience. The finish is incredibly long and airy. This proves a gorgeous wine made in an irresistibly off-dry (rather than full fruity) style! 2020-2030+”
Kees-Kieren Erdener Treppchen Riesling Spatlese**, Mosel 2015 750ML ($34.95) $29 special, 36+ bottles available
Mosel Fine Wines 90 points “This offers a rather gorgeous nose of fresh white minerals, passion fruit, pineapple and a touch of honey. The wine is delicately powerful and rich on the palate and leaves a gorgeously long feel of passion fruit and minerals. Zesty acidity comes through in the after-taste and cleanses the palate. 2025-2040”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Weingut Kerpen Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Spatlese*, Mosel 2015 750ML ($31.95) $28 special, 28 bottles available
Mosel Fine Wines 92 points “This special bottling of Spätlese * (there is also one offered via regular channels) offers a very elegant and flowery nose of white peach, herbs and spices. The wine is gorgeously fruity and loaded with herbs on the palate. It is lively, fresh and elegant and gradually gains in presence and richness. The finish is however light, airy and incredibly long. What a beautiful wine! 2025-2040”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Meulenhof Erdener Pralat Riesling Spatlese, Mosel 2015 750ML ($49.95) $39 special, 35 bottles available
Mosel Fine Wines 89+ points “This offers a slightly sharp nose of brown sugar, mirabelle, herbs and spices. The wine is on the sweet and delicately rich side on the palate, where minerals, delicate yellow fruits and apricot come through. The finish is sweet and more of Auslese presence. This needs time to develop its full potential. We would not be surprised if this exceeds our initial expectations. 2025-2040”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Weingut Johann Peter Reinert Wiltinger Klosterberg Riesling Spatlese, Mosel 2015 750ML ($39.95) $33 special, 11 bottles available
Mosel Fine Wines 89+ points “The bright-white colored wine offers a piquant nose of lime, white minerals, aniseed seeds and herbs. The wine is fruity and focused on the palate and the finish is rather sharp. This slender expression of Spätlese will need time to develop harmony and blossom aromatically. 2025-2040”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Weingut Johann Baptist-Schafer Burg Layer Schlossberg Riesling Spatlese 2015 750ML ($69.95) $59 special, 36 bottles available
Mosel Fine Wines 92 points “Made from a 25-year-old parcel and harvested at 94° Oechsle, this delivers a nice set of fruity and juicy aromatics including yellow peach, quince star anise, rose water and grapefruit juice. The wine starts off on the light side on the palate but creamy fruits paired with rich Auslese GK styled sweetness quickly take over before some pear, pineapple and peach lead the way to a juicy and creamy long finish. This is a nicely creamy and clean Auslese GK styled Riesling. 2022-2035”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Dr. Crusius Schlossbockelheimer Felsenberg Riesling Beerenauslese Goldkapsel, Nahe 2015 375ML ($179.95) $159 special, 12 half-bottles available
Mosel Fine Wines 98 points “Harvested at a full-on 153° Oechsle (i.e. sugar levels technically qualifying for TBA), this auction BA starts off on the primary and discreet side at first before rapidly exhibiting huge finesse, complexity and depth with honeyed notes of apricot, pineapple, mango, vanilla cream and other exotic fruits. The botrytis gives the wine a great exotic, luscious and unctuous texture with plenty of juice, creamy viscosity and smoothness on the palate. The wine is, of course, still very sweet at this stage (it has no less than 229 g/l of residual sugar), but the interplay with some gorgeously playful acidity makes for a superbly clean and focused feel in the long finish. The only drawback of this little masterpiece of a BA is that it is still a good decade away from maturity. Patience is required! 2030-2085.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
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Our Current
Shipping Promos:
Welcome to the club, Colorado!
Along with Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and California,
we now offer flat rate shipping to Colorado. Here’s the scoop:
Single orders of any quantity of wines qualify for the flat rate;
this does not apply to orders held in storage for any reason
or multiple orders consolidated into one shipment.
The flat reach for each state is, as follows:
-to Oregon for $17,
-Washington & Idaho for $20,
-and California & Colorado for $25
Take Advantage of the Flat Rate!
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New Grapelive Review
Domaine Auguste Clape, Vin de France Rouge “Le Vin des Amis” Rhone 2015 750ML ($31.95) $28 special, 16 bottles available
Grapelive 92 points “The beautiful and old school 100% Syrah Clape Le Vin des Amis comes from near Cornas and is from 40+ year old vines set on galets (river stones). It doesn’t have quite the intensity of the pure granite sites, but that said, it this is a pure and deeply colored joy of a wine that is one of the great secrets in the wine world!
“Auguste the patriarch, Pierre-Marie the main man and winemaker and now Olivier the grandson at the famed and historic Domaine A. Clape, which was founded back some 250 years ago, are three generations working together to make some of the world’s most sought after wines. In fact Auguste, the former mayor of Cornas, was the first to bottle his own estate-made wine in Cornas, paving the way for the following generations. Domaine Clape does five wines, the top being their Cornas, as well as a second Cornas, the Renaissance, the all Marsanne Saint Peray Blanc, a 100% Syrah Cotes-du-Rhone and this Le Vin des Amis. This wine comes from a tiny 1 hectare site. It is a spicy, earthy and fresh red that has terroir character of the region as is a great way to start exploring the Clape lineup.
“The 2015 Clape Le Vin des Amis is ripe and round on the palate with a deep garnet and purple hue that starts with a mix of crushed violets, lavender oil, black and green olives, peppercorns and tart currants. There is a hint of game/meat, iron, leather, but in the mouth you get blueberry, boysenberry and a touch of cassis. This little Syrah was fermented in cement and raised six months in the concrete vat or cuves then another six months in old foudres (1,200L French oak casks). The grapes were native yeast fermented and mostly all whole-cluster that gives that stemmy green spice, with a touch of celery to the background and a cinnamon/baking spice note. The Le Vin des Amis is a wonderful example of Syrah and place. I love this vintage, maybe my favorite since 2010, it lingers with hints of black salted licorice, blackberry and a mineral/stony/earthy essence that is both humble and darkly sexy, drink over the next 3 to 5 years.”
Also newly arrived & available here now from Domaine Clape:
Domaine Auguste Clape Cornas, Rhone 2014 1.5L ($299.95) $249 special, 1 magnum available
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 93-95 points “Brilliant purple. Powerful, mineral-tinged cherry and blackberry scents, along with notes of bacon fat, licorice, potpourri and pungent flowers. Pure, concentrated and energetic on the palate, offering deeply concentrated black and blue fruit flavors that gain weight and become sweeter with air. Closes extremely long, sappy and sweet, juicy acidity adding lift and cut to the blue-fruit-dominated, youthfully tannic finish.”
This is the only listing for a magnum in the USA today!
Domaine Auguste Clape Cornas Renaissance, Rhone 2013 750ML ($79.95) $69 special, 1 bottle available
Wine Advocate 91-93 points “Pierre-Marie also excelled in 2013, and his Cornas Renaissance offers fleshy, ripe, full-bodied notes of powdered rock, cassis, black raspberry and ground herbs. With time in the glass, it becomes dominated by its mineral-component and it gains mid-palate depth and richness. It will drink reasonably well on release, but have 15 years or more of overall longevity.” WA
Domaine Auguste Clape Cornas Renaissance, Rhone 2014 750ML ($89.95) $79 special, 6 bottles available
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 92-94 points “Saturated ruby. Potent black and blue fruit, cola, olive and smoky Indian spice aromas are lifted by a suggestion of cracked pepper. Sappy, pliant and appealingly sweet, offering ripe blueberry and cherry compote flavors that tighten up steadily with air. Rich yet energetic, showing strong closing punch and velvety tannins that fold smoothly into sappy dark fruit on the impressively long finish.”
Domaine Auguste Clape Cotes du Rhone 2015 750ML ($44.95) $39 special, 2 bottles available
Wine Advocate 90 points “Readers on a budget looking for a taste of the style of this benchmark estate need to latch onto a few bottles of the Vin des Amis and Côtes du Rhône (although, unfortunately, some retailers gouge consumers for these cuvées). Also bottled in September, the 2015 Côtes du Rhône is another inky-colored beauty that’s packed with fruit. It’s more complex and elegant than the Vin des Amis and offers more smoked meats, garrigue, peppery herbs, and red and black fruits. This cuvée comes from more pebbly soils and is open-knit and ready to go. Both entry-level releases are loaded with character.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Domaine Auguste Clape Saint-Peray Blanc, Rhone 2015 750ML ($51.95) $46 special, 8 bottles available
Wine Advocate 91 points “Looking at the only white produced, I loved Clape’s 2015 St Péray, and this cuvée gets better and better every year. Medium-bodied, elegant and with serious length, it has the classic minerality of the appellation, as well as lots of brioche, buttered citrus and crisp orchard fruits. Drink it over the coming 4-5 years.”
Arriving in February
Domaine Clape Cornas 2014 750ML ($149.95) $119 pre-arrival special, ETA February 2017
Josh Raynolds, Vinous Media, 93-95 points “Brilliant purple. Powerful, mineral-tinged cherry and blackberry scents, along with notes of bacon fat, licorice, potpourri and pungent flowers. Pure, concentrated and energetic on the palate, offering deeply concentrated black and blue fruit flavors that gain weight and become sweeter with air. Closes extremely long, sappy and sweet, juicy acidity adding lift and cut to the blue-fruit-dominated, youthfully tannic finish.”
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Sneak Peek
Wines Arriving This Week & Next
Arriving Wednesday, January 18th
Finca la Emperatriz Reserva, Rioja DOCa 2010 750ML ($27.95) $24 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 93 points “I think the 2010 Finca la Emperatriz Reserva could summarize what a textbook Rioja Reserva should be, combining the best of the traditional and modern styles. It’s mostly Tempranillo with 3% Garnacha, 2% Viura (white) and 1% Graciano fermented in stainless steel with indigenous yeasts and matured in oak barrels (mostly American) for 23 months. It has the spicy, smoky notes with bright red fruit hinting on blood oranges and signs of developing more complexity and nuances. The medium-bodied palate features grainy tannins, good freshness and length. I see that I liked the 2008, and I think this continues the same line, perhaps fine-tuning the élevage could take this wine a step higher. Keep it up!”
Podere Poggio Scalette Il Carbonaione Alta Valle della Greve IGT, Tuscany 2012 750ML ($69.95) $49 pre-arrival special
Antonio Galloni 95 points “The 2012 Il Carbonaione comes across as quite shy and reserved today, with less of its typical exuberance. That just makes me think the wine is going to need a few years to blossom. Sweet red cherry, plum, kirsch, spice and rose petal nuances gradually emerge from the glass, but the 2012 remains reticent and not fully expressive. I would not be surprised to see the market look past the 2012, as it is not at all showy, but that will just create an opportunity for savvy consumers. There is plenty to look forward to. Readers will have to be patient, though. Over the years, Il Carbonaione has built a tremendous track record of aging very well. Next to Chianti Classico’s other 100% Sangioveses, Carbonaione is made in a sweeter, jammier style with more mid-palate opulence. Although showy in its youth, Carbonaione needs time in bottle to show at its best.”
Podere Poggio Scalette Il Carbonaione Alta Valle della Greve IGT, Tuscany 2013 750ML ($69.95) $49 pre-arrival special
Antonio Galloni 95+ points “The 2013 Il Carbonaione is compelling. That’s the good news. The bad news, if you can call it that, is that the 2013 is going to take the better part of the next decade to be at its best. Black cherry, plum, licorice and menthol are all fused together. Today, the 2013 is rich, deep and unctuous, with superb depth and striking balance. Opening a bottle anytime soon, though, is likely to be a mostly academic exercise, as the Carbonaione is so primary, it almost tastes like a barrel sample!”
Arriving Friday, January 20th
Felsina Berardenga ‘Colonia’, Chianti Classico Gran Selezione DOCG 2010 750ML ($199.95) $119 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 95+ points “When you hear the story of the effort that went into making the Colonia vineyard, you have to wonder if the fine folks at Fèlsina are absolutely mad. It took them two years of dynamite blasting to clear the imposing rock that had forced previous generations of the Poggiali family to virtually abandon this site. But an ambitious Giovanni Poggiali takes credit for making this spectacular vineyard what it is today. The wine produced here is quickly becoming the second flagship product after Fontalloro. The 2010 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Colonia is a wine of enormous beauty and depth. This is Sangiovese at its highest expression and any doubt I had about the previous vintage (which was the first time this wine appeared as a Gran Selezione) have been washed away by this current release. What really stands out are the wine’s precise mineral and graphite aromas that lend an incredible sense of focus and balance. The oak element is also beautifully integrated.”
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Felsina Berardenga Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG, Tuscany 2012 1.5L ($79.95) $59 pre-arrival special
James Suckling 95 points “Traditional style Chianti Classico with cedar, dried meat, dark chocolate and tobacco aromas. Full body, silky and polished tannins and a fantastic finish. A wine that shows depth and lots of flavor. Lively acidity too. Drink now.”
Wine Advocate 92 points “The 2012 vintage was less problematic in the Castelnuovo Berardenga sub zone compared to other parts of the Chianti Classico appellation. Fèlsina’s 2012 Chianti Classico Riserva Berardenga is full, generous and reflects the house style of this celebrated estate. Fruit is sourced from 35-year-old vines and the harvest takes place at various intervals in order to ensure optimal ripeness. Soft cherry and spice give the wine an elegant approach.”
Antonio Galloni 92 points “The 2012 Chianti Classico Riserva shows the intensity of the warm, early ripening vintage, but is also quite closed today, with little in the way of expressiveness. There is plenty of depth in the glass, which makes me think all the 2012 needs is a bit more time to fully come together. Readers will find a wine that is a bit slender in feel, but with radiant fruit that just needs time to fully emerge.”
This is the only listing in the USA today for the magnum!
Isole e Olena Chianti Classico Gran Selezione DOCG, Tuscany 2010 750ML ($219.95) $179 pre-arrival special
Isole e Olena Chianti Classico Gran Selezione DOCG, Tuscany 2010 1.5L ($499.95) $369 pre-arrival special
Antonio Galloni 98+ points “The 2010 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione is extraordinary. A wine of pedigree and class, the 2010 boasts magnificent intensity and depth yet never comes across as heavy. The flavors are layered, nuanced and beautifully delineated in the glass. Plum, black cherry, spice, menthol and sweet spices are laced into the exquisite finish. The 2010 is a stunner today, but also has plenty of upside for the future. A reduction of time in barrel vis-a-vis the 2006 has paid off handsomely. The 2010 is going to be expensive, but it is worth every penny. Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot round out the blend.”
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Giacomo Conterno Cerretta Barbera d’Alba, Piedmont 2014 750ML ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 93+ points “The 2014 Barbera d’Alba Cerretta is a magnificent expression and an unexpected surprise. The Barbera d’Alba Cerretta has often taken a back seat to the more prominent Barbera d’Alba Francia. Among the two, I found that this wine offers even more depth of expression and nuance. The vineyard site in Serralunga d’Alba has clay soils that have contributed to the sheer sense of elegance and structure offered here. The results are grand and opulent. The wine ends with a playful touch of brimstone or dark mineral that frames its fruity core.”
Giacomo Conterno (Cascina) Francia Barbera d’Alba, Piedmont 2014 750ML ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival special
Giacomo Conterno (Cascina) Francia Barbera d’Alba, Piedmont 2014 1.5L ($149.95) $119 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 92 points “The 2014 Barbera d’Alba Francia opens to beautiful fullness and sheer depth that represents the darker, softer and more generous side of this grape. I tasted the wine from barrel approximately one month before bottling. Roberto Conterno says that 2014 was a good year for both Barbera, but especially Nebbiolo that experienced a natural selection process in the vineyard due to low yields. This wine offers ripe fruit tones with bold lines and beautifully balanced concentration.”
Giacomo Conterno Cerretta, Barolo DOCG, Piedmont 2012 750ML ($249.95) $199 pre-arrival special
Antonio Galloni 94-97 points “Conterno’s 2012 Barolo Cerretta boasts superb aromatic presence, precision and overall silkiness, with seemingly endless layers of fruit that come from all directions. Freshly cut flowers, sweet red cherry/plum fruit, hard candy, spice and new leather lead to the pliant, silky finish. The 2012 might very well be the most precise, nuanced Cerretta yet.”
Wine Advocate 94 points “To be released in October 2016, the 2012 Barolo Cerretta opens to a profound and buoyant bouquet that is particularly driven by menthol freshness, as well as pretty nuances of balsam herb and forest fruit with licorice, tilled earth and truffle. The wine is balanced and ethereal. It’s so difficult to achieve this level of aromatic definition (especially in a warm year like 2012), but Roberto Conterno has done so with a deft hand. This is a complete expression of Barolo with aromatic intensity that is matched by an enduring sense of structure and medium-weight appeal.”
Giacomo Conterno (Cascina) Francia, Barolo DOCG, Piedmont 2012 750ML ($219.95) $189 pre-arrival special
Antonio Galloni 94-97 points “The 2012 Barolo Francia is dark, virile and intense, with a huge center of fruit to match its distinctly brooding personality. Today, the 2012 also comes across as quite closed in on itself, but there is a level of pure depth here that is absolutely compelling. Conterno has decided not to bottle a Monfortino, so there is good reason to think the bottled Francia has the potential to be stellar.”
Wine Advocate 95 points “Since the 2010 vintage, this wine is named Francia (not Cascina Francia) to keep with the new Menzioni Geografiche Aggiuntive (or official cru naming) in Barolo and Barbaresco. The 2012 Barolo Francia is a seductive and silky expression that flows gracefully over the palate with power and determination. The nose is expressive, and decidedly more articulate than many of the more muted wines made by neighboring estates in this warm vintage. The quality of the mouthfeel is of special interest. This beautiful Barolo already shows stunning texture, richness and integrity, despite this very early preview tasting. I tasted this wine in barrel shortly before bottling.”
Wines Arriving in February
Il Poggione Vigna Paganelli, Brunello di Montalcino Riserva DOCG 2010 750ML ($149.95) $99 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 98+ points “The 2010 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Vigna Paganelli is a phenomenal achievement and a wine that captures not only the spirit of this classic vintage, but the true essence of an age-worthy wine like Brunello. This single vineyard Riserva is sharp, pristine and immaculate. It starts slow and shy, but then blossoms to beautiful intensity and aromatic brilliance. It delivers a very authentic and genuine read of Sangiovese with wild berry aromas followed by pressed violets, wet earth, tobacco and lightly toasted spice. The bouquet is seamless and very long in persistence. The same holds true for the mouthfeel. The wine delivers a fine and silky texture with a good dose of power and personality at the rear.”
Antonio Galloni 95 points “The 2010 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Vigna Paganelli is magnificent. Huge swaths of tannin coat the palate as the 2010 shows off its power, breadth and overall intensity. Plum, black cherry, bittersweet chocolate, smoke, licorice and cloves are some of the many notes that hit the palate. The Riserva is dark, powerful and brooding. It will require at least a handful of years before it becomes approachable. These old vines, planted in 1964, confer weight, power and gravitas, all qualitites that come through loud and clear on the huge, explosive finish.” AG
Domaine Yves et Mathilde Gangloff Cote Rotie La Sereine Noire, Rhone 2009 750ML ($199.95) $169 pre-arrival special
Wine Spectator 96 points “Offers very alluring warm ganache and mesquite aromas, which meld into the core of mulled plum, fig and anise flavors. Long and silky through the finish, with incense and white pepper weaving in and out, along with lots of buried grip. There’s a very distinctive personality to this wine. Best from 2014 through 2026.”
Domaine Yves et Mathilde Gangloff Cote Rotie La Sereine Noire, Rhone 2010 750ML ($199.95) $169 pre-arrival special
Domaine Yves et Mathilde Gangloff Cote Rotie La Sereine Noire, Rhone 2010 1.5L ($399.95) $319 pre-arrival special
Wine Spectator 96 points “Stunning aromas of blueberry compote, pastis-soaked fig and plum, and well-roasted alder are backed by charcoal-coated iron and smoldering tobacco notes. There’s a great tug of earth through the finish, with the dark fruit dripping slowly. Shows terrific range and character. Best from 2015 through 2025.”
Henri Bonneau Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Rhone 2010 750ML ($219.95) $189 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 91-94 points “We won’t see his 2010 Reserve des Celestins until at least 2015 and more likely 2016 or 2017, so I asked Bonneau to taste from a few barrels that might go into the 2010 Marie Buerrier just to give me an idea what he had done, then we quickly moved to stuff that will actually be in the marketplace within the next three years – hopefully. Bonneau seems to be a big fan of 2010, but perhaps not to the extent that everyone else is in the village. His 2010 cuvees (he only showed me what he thought were the “weaker” ones, and probably Marie Buerrier) were beautiful, with sweet kirsch, roasted meats, herbs and spice – full-bodied and classic old-style wine with loads of kirsch and meat and mushroomy notes.”
Marie et Pierre Benetiere Cote Rotie Cordeloux, Rhone 2013 750ML ($119.95) $89 pre-arrival special
Josh Raynolds 92 points “Brilliant ruby. Sexy, mineral-accented dark berry and floral pastille scents show excellent clarity and hints of olive and cola. Sweet and energetic on the palate, offering juicy black and blue fruit flavors and zesty cracked pepper and allspice nuances. Shows an impressive blend of power and finesse on a very long, youthfully tannic finish that leaves a lively blueberry note behind.”
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Bodegas Muga ‘Prado Enea’ Gran Reserva, Rioja DOCa 2009 750ML ($89.95) $69 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 96 points “The most classic cuvée was not produced in 2007 or 2008, so we jumped to the phenomenal 2009 Prado Enea. It was produced with grapes from cooler vineyards that enjoyed 20 extra days of slow ripening compared with warmer zones, which provided them with perfect ripeness and deep flavors. This blend of 70% Tempranillo, 20% Garnacha and the remaining 10% between Mazuelo and Graciano had an extended élevage, in this case no less than three years (alternating newer and older barrels). This is still a baby and I know Winemaker Jorge Muga would like to keep it in bottle for longer before selling it, but the commercial pressure is tremendous, as there has been no wine since 2006. The wine has 14.1% alcohol and a surprising 3.34 pH, especially considering 2009 was generally a warm and ripe year. But somehow this cuvée seems to work very well in ripe vintages. The wine feels even younger on the palate, and it still needs to develop some further complexity and the silky texture for which this wine is famous. There is good balance here and all the elements are in place for a nice development in bottle. In fact, it feels like one of the great recent vintages of Prado Enea. There will be no Prado Enea in 2012 and 2013 either, but it’s produced in 2010, 2014 (small quantities) and 2015. At this quality level, the price seems like a real bargain.”
Bodegas Muga Seleccion Especial Reserva, Rioja DOCa 2011 750ML ($49.95) $36 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 92 points “The 2011 Reserva Selección Especial, from a warmer and drier year compared with the average (as well as the previous harvest), has a similar blend as the regular Muga Reserva; it is 65% Tempranillo with 20% Garnacha, 10% Graciano and 5% Mazuelo, and it was fermented in small vats with indigenous yeasts. The different varieties and grapes are fermented and aged separately, the first year in new oak and the second one in used barrels. 2011 is a powerful vintage for this cuvée, which now shows quite marked by toasty aromas. Warm vintages usually need longer in bottle to integrate the oak, but experience shows that it gets absorbed and in fact the evolution of this wine in bottle is very good. Even if the nose recommends to wait, the palate is very balanced, with remarkably ripe tannins for such warm year, which can sometime produce some harsh tannins. Not the case here, where the wine shows good elegance and balance. This is a very reliable cuvée, quite stable across vintages.”
Wines Arriving in May
Domaine Huet Vouvray Le Mont Sec, Loire 2015 750ML ($59.95) $41.90 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 95 points “The 2015 Vouvray le Mont Sec is pure, precise and very flinty on the nose, which reveals a concentrated and elegant fruit with lemon and crushed stone flavors. Full-bodied, pure and piquant, with a tight and mineral structure, as well as a very persistent finish, this is a highly complex yet finesse-full Chenin with a great aging potential. I’d love to drink the 2015 today, although I know it will become much more complex over the years. The finish is enormously long and reveals fine tannins.”
Wine Spectator 93 points “A light echo of baked apple leads off, followed by quince, powdered ginger and verbena notes at the core. The long, minerally finish features rippling acidity. Still tight, so let this unwind in the cellar. Best from 2017 through 2027.”
John Gilman 93 points “Domaine Huët’s 2015 Le Mont Sec is deeper and more precise that the Le Haut Lieu Sec on the nose, offering up a complex and serious aromatic blend of quince, fresh pineapple, hints of honeycomb, a superb base of soil, lanolin and a touch of white flowers in the upper register. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied, crisp and very long, with a rock solid core of fruit, excellent nascent complexity, fairly low acids for this bottling, but lovely focus and balance on the very long and classy backend. This has the lower acidity of the vintage, but also the superb structure of Le Mont and should age longer than most dry 2015 Vouvrays. 2016-2050. 93.”
Domaine Huet Vouvray Le Mont Demi-Sec, Loire 2015 750ML ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival 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 pre-arrival special
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.”
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.”
Domaine Huet Vouvray Le Mont Moelleux, Loire 2015 750ML ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 96 points “The apricot/golden colored 2015 Vouvray Le Mont Moelleux shows a very intense, elegant and also subtle bouquet of ripe fruit intermixed with flinty aromas. Dense, piquant and concentrated on the palate, this is a great and tension-filled Chenin with grip and persistence, but also great finesse and elegance. This is a highly complex and energetic, but also light-footed and stimulating wine with lots of mouthwatering salinity. A fascinating Chenin with great aging potential.”
John Gilman 95 points “The 2015 Vouvray “Le Mont” Moelleux from Domaine Huët is yet another brilliant wine from the estate in this vintage, soaring from the glass in a nicely botrytized blend of apple, quince, honeycomb, dried flowers, a touch of dusty chalkiness, orange peel and an exotic topnote of sweet corn in the upper register. On the palate the wine is pure, full-bodied, focused and more primary in personality than the Le Haut Lieu Moelleux, with a rock solid core, great focus and grip, lovely framing acids and impeccable balance on the very, very long and stunning finish. This is less developed than the 2015 Le Haut Lieu Moelleux, but it seems to have even superior potential for the long haul! Great juice. 2020-2085. 95.”
Wine Spectator 94 points “Offers ginger- and hibiscus-infused creamed yellow apple, quince and pear notes, gilded with a whiff of piecrust. All the elements meld through the long, rippling finish. Drink now through 2035.”
Domaine Huet Vouvray Moelleux Le Haut Lieu Premiere Trie, Loire 2015 750ML ($69.95) $59 pre-arrival special
Wine Spectator 96 points “Gorgeous from the get-go, featuring creamed melon, yellow apple and persimmon notes that glide effortlessly, inlaid with hints of green tea, verbena, heather and quince. The long finish has beautiful flow, with a buried mineral edge imparting freshness while the fruit plays out. Best from 2018 through 2040.”
John Gilman 95+ points “Domaine Huët’s 2015 Première Trie from the Le Haut Lieu vineyard is more primary and reserved in personality than the straight Moelleux bottling, but deeper, more pristine and ever more promising. The bouquet shows a beautiful glaze of clean botrytis in its aromatic blend of pineapple, sweet quince, tangerine, honey, a lovely cornerstone of soil, orange peel, dried flowers and a bit of smokiness in the upper register. On the palate the wine is pure, focused and full-bodied, with marvelous depth and balance, bright acids, great complexity to come and stunning length and bounce on the superbly energetic and seamless finish. This has a bit of that early vinosity that was found in the Clos du Bourg Demi-Sec and augurs very, very well for its future development! 2020-2085. 95+.”
Domaine Huet Vouvray Le Mont Moelleux Premiere Trie, Loire 2015 750ML ($99.95) $79 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 98 points “The 2015 Vouvray Le Mont Moelleux Première Trie is super clear, ripe and aromatic on the nose, highly elegant and with lovely flinty flavors. Intense and concentrated, with great finesse and vitality, this is a highly elegant and perfectly balanced wine with a persistent grip and salinity. Great balance and harmony.”
John Gilman 97 points “The 2015 Vouvray ‘Le Mont’ Moelleux Première Trie from Domaine Huët is utterly brilliant wine, which is at least fifteen years away from truly blossoming, but is so good right now that it is going to be next to impossible not to drink this wine in the blush of youth! The stunning nose shows a gorgeous glazing of botrytis in its constellation of pineapple, honeyed quince, sweet grapefruit, lovely minerality, orange blossoms, a hint of lavender, citrus oils, dried flowers and just a whisper of the new leather that will arrive with bottle age. On the palate the wine is pure, full-bodied and utterly seamless in balance, with a great core, laser-like focus, superb nascent complexity and lovely grip on the endless, vibrant and dancing finish. Magical juice. 2025-2085. (Sep/Oct 2016)”
Domaine Huet Vouvray Moelleux Clos du Bourg Premiere Trie, Loire 2015 750ML ($79.95) $69 pre-arrival special
John Gilman 98 points “The Clos du Bourg” Moelleux Première Trie from Domaine Huët is another absolutely stunning young example of the 2015 vintage. The very complex bouquet wafts from the glass in one of the most beautifully-botrytized blends I have ever had the pleasure to experience, with notes of pineapple, candied quince, incipient notes of apricot, a whisper of lanolin, honeycomb, a lovely touch of soil, a bit of orange zest, incipient notes of heather and barley sugar, dried flowers, sweet corn and just a whisper of browned butter in the upper register. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied, pure and alluring in its promise of stunning complexity to come, with a great core, bright, zesty acids, laser-like focus and stunning length and grip on the still youthful, but utterly suave finish. This does not have the spine of acidity for perfection, but that is really all that is missing here! Like the 2015 Le Mont Première Trie, this is delicious already, thought it really should not be touched for close to another decade! 2025-2085. 98.”
Wine Spectator 97 points “Concentrated, with a core of intense Jonagold apple, glazed Bosc pear, ginger cream and dried quince flavors, carried by filigreed acidity and backed by green tea, verbena, chamomile and persimmon notes. The finish is extremely long. Best from 2018 through 2040.”
Wine Advocate 96 points “The dark golden-colored 2015 Vouvray Clos du Bourg Moelleux Première Trie is super ripe and intense, yet precise and mineral on the nose where orange and dusty flavors are displayed along with some caramel flavors. Intense and juicy, with a concentrated and sweet, yet vital and elegant fruit, this Chenin has vibrant acidity. This is a full-bodied, well structured, persistent and powerful Chenin with a sweetness that is almost fully integrated. The finish is enormously vivacious and firm, and reveals a stimulating minerality.”
Domaine Arnoux-Lachaux Romanee-Saint-Vivant Grand Cru 2014 750ML ($799.95) $699 pre-arrival special
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 93-96 points “(100% vendange entier; 80% new oak): Deep red-ruby. Alluring aromas of black raspberry, licorice and minerals show a noble, deep vegetal nuance that reminded me of a young Romanée-Conti. The youthfully unevolved middle palate displays the depth, pliancy and freshness of the vintage at its best. Finishes extremely long and ripely tannic, with palate-saturating sweetness and mineral pungency. These 90-year-old vines were originally planted by the father of Robert Arnoux, according to Pascal, who added that the estate’s vines in Suchots are even older, at 94.”
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The next best price is $840
Domaine Arnoux-Lachaux Les Suchots, Vosne-Romanee Premier Cru 2014 750ML ($249.95) $219 pre-arrival special
Burghound 93-95 points “On the nose it’s as though the Reignots and Suchots have switched places as this is much, much more restrained with its intensely floral red berry and spice suffused nose that merges seamlessly into impressively rich and full-bodied middle weight flavors that possess just a hint of minerality on the hugely long and palate staining finish. This lightly austere and beautifully well-balanced effort is an obvious wine of class and grace.”
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 92-95 points “(100% vendange entier; 80% new oak; from a healthy crop of 42 hectoliters per hectare):Bright red-ruby. A touch of reduction mostly dissipated to reveal classic Suchots scents of black raspberry, Oriental spices, flowers and fresh herbs, plus an intriguing note of paprika. Wonderfully silky, plush, generous wine with sneaky inner-mouth energy. The wine’s sweet oak component will need a few years to harmonize with its fruits and flowers. Finishes with terrific length and substantial ripe tannins. This should ultimately make a wonderfully complete Burgundy.”
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E. Guigal Condrieu, Rhone 2015 750ML ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 95 points “Guigal’s 2015 Condrieu is a blockbuster that, if not for its big brother, would be one of the wines of the vintage. Aged in one-third new barrels and two-thirds in tank, it’s a rich, unctuous, thrillingly textured beauty that has plenty of orange blossom, flower oil, tangerine and peach. Fruit-loaded, with just a touch of minerality, it should be drunk over the coming 2-4 years.”
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