In This Newsletter:
Arrivals
Cameron Winery, Raul Perez, and Badia Coltibuono
Wine Spectator’s #9 Top Wine of 2024
Available Now
Wineries We Love
Historic Greatness: Feudi di San Gregorio
Arrivals
Cameron Winery, Raul Perez, and Badia Coltibuono
Wine Spectator’s #9 Top Wine of 2024
Available Now
Wineries We Love
Historic Greatness: Feudi di San Gregorio
Special Arrival Friday
Oregon
Cameron Winery
Cameron Winery ‘Arley’s Leap’ Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley, USA 2022 750ml $64.50 special, 24 bottles available
Winery Note “Sourced from the highest elevation plot of Pinot Noir at Abbey Ridge, Arley’s Leap is comprised of the famous Martin Ray Clones. These vines yield small, variable clusters and regularly produce some of our most complex wines. The plot is named after Bill and Julia Wayne’s old dog Arley, who survived a jump from a second story balcony when started by a cat. The nose has a compelling balance of savory and fruit aromas — black olive and plum, cherry and leather, bergamot, violet and salumi. a bright, mouthwatering finish.”
Winery Note “Sourced from the highest elevation plot of Pinot Noir at Abbey Ridge, Arley’s Leap is comprised of the famous Martin Ray Clones. These vines yield small, variable clusters and regularly produce some of our most complex wines. The plot is named after Bill and Julia Wayne’s old dog Arley, who survived a jump from a second story balcony when started by a cat. The nose has a compelling balance of savory and fruit aromas — black olive and plum, cherry and leather, bergamot, violet and salumi. a bright, mouthwatering finish.”
Lowest Listed Price in the United States
Arriving Friday
Spain
Bodegas y Viñedos Raúl Pérez
As one of the most important and influential winemakers in the New Spain movement and recipient of numerous awards from European wine magazines, Raul Perez is equal parts scientist and artist. He is, according to Pedro Ballesteros Torres of Decanter Magazine, “the archetype of the intuitive winemaking genius” and who are we to disagree? Raul Perez has revealed an unparalleled level of quality from his home region, bringing a Burgundian level of sophistication and to the Mencias of Bierzo.
The wines are stunning.
These are the lowest listed prices in the USA:
Raul Perez Ultreia de Paluezas, Bierzo, Spain 2021 750ml $75 special, 8 bottles available
Luis Gutiérrez-Wine Advocate 97 Points “The Ultreia bottling that called my attention from the moment the wines were poured is the 2021 Ultreia Paluezas. I’ve only tasted a couple of vintages of this before, but Raúl Pérez remembers that it has called my attention every time. The distinct feature here is that the plot has limestone soils, which are very rare in Bierzo, and the majority of the place is on slate soils. So, this has the special finesse and elegance of the limestone, and it’s perfumed and elegant and has a velvety palate with very fine, chalky tannins. from only 0.4 hectares or so, and it even has a small part with Palomino; he produces one 225-liter barrel and a 500-liter one.”
Raul Perez Ultreia Rapolao Mencia, Bierzo, Spain 2020 750ml $59 special, 5 bottles available
Luis Gutiérrez-Wine Advocate 96 Points “There is a creamy touch in the 2020 Ultreia El Rapolao, perhaps because one of the three barrels used was a little newer. Mencía is so delicate and finicky that a small detail like that is noticeable in the finished wine. The grape is also very sensitive to the picking date. The texture is finely tannic and with an herbal touch, with exactly the same mouthfeel as the 2019. It ends with a bitter touch in the finish.”
Raul Perez ‘Ultreia de Valtuille’, Bierzo, Spain 2021 750ml $69 special, 36 bottles available
Luis Gutiérrez-Wine Advocate 97 Points “The 2021 Ultreia Valtuille was produced with the clay part of their Villegas plot, as the sandy part was used for the new Ultreia Villegas bottling but introduced the lower part of the vineyard with more soil and more clay. They produced more or less the same amount as in previous years, some 18 barrels but in 2021, they introduced barrels for part of the wine, and in this first year, the lightning was new (they used it to ferment a white before). They also started renewing their barrels, so the wines show a little more oak than usual It has moderate alcohol and mellow acidity, and it seems like. the longer cycle and the slow ripening burned some acidity.”
…also Available from Raul Perez:
Raul Perez Ultreia Saint Jacques, Bierzo, Spain 2021 750ml $21.90 special, 25 bottles available
Luis Gutierrez-Wine Advocate 93 Points“The biggest volume of the winery is the 2021 Ultreia Saint Jacques, which represents some 170,000 bottles, and according to Raúl Pérez, it’s the most difficult wine to make here. They now work a lot to produce this wine, a blend of 11 wines selected from the 17 they made. It’s a wine that represents Bierzo and is from a year when they used more grapes from sandy soils. It has 13.16% alcohol and a pH of 3.66; percent of the wine matured in barrel and the rest in truncated oak vats.”
Raul Perez ‘Ultreia de Valtuille’, Bierzo, Spain 2016 750ml $89 special, 4 bottles available
Luis Gutierrez-Wine Advocate 96+ Points “There are only 1,000 bottles of the 2016 Ultreia Valtuille (the new name, as all labels have been simplified and cleaned up, and some of the names have even been shortened). 24 months in barrel. Despite its concentration and power, it has great freshness and perfume. You don’t find excessive tannin, and it seems like the time in barrel has really polished the edges.
New Arrivals
Italy
Badia a Coltibuono
“[2021] is a truly magical vintage where everything comes together. In a world in which so many wines have become either hard to find or very expensive, Chianti Classico remains one of the very best values in the world. Readers looking for wines to buy by the case that can be opened with minimal fanfare but that also deliver exceptional complexity and pedigree will find so much to admire in the 2021s.” -Antonio Galloni, “Chianti Classico: The Brilliant 2021s & Variable 2020s,” Vinous Media
You might already be familiar with Coltibuono’s exquisitely lithe and fresh Chianti Classicos, but this bottle is something different. What distinguishes their RS bottling from the standard release? Well, this wine represents what winemaker Roberto Stucchi considers his signature wine: a 100% Sangiovese blend of Coltibuono’s very best vineyards. This is an immensely drinkable wine that features more structure than their standard classico, making it pretty for your upcoming dinner parties.
Badia a Coltibuono ‘Roberto Stucchi RS’ Cultusboni, Chianti Classico DOCG, Italy 2021 750ml $16.50 special, 36 bottles available
Antonio Galloni-Vinous-91 Points “The 2021 Chianti Classico RS Cultusboni is rich, boisterous and quite appealing. I would open it in advance to allow some of the youthful brawn to soften. A burst of red-toned fruit, pipe tobacco, cedar and sweet spice makes a strong first impression.
…and arriving Friday:
Case-12 Coltibuono Chianti Classico Rs 2021 750ml $179 special, 3 cases available
That’s just about $14.91 a bottle… save 20 dollars and buy a case!
Wine Spectator’s #9 Top Wine of 2024!
Available Now
Available Now
Old Telegraph Estate
Since 1898, the Brunier family has cultivated the rugged La Crau plateau, crafting wines that capture the soul of Châteauneuf-du-Pape. The harsh, sun-drenched environment and the influence of the Mistral wind have forged a distinctive character in their wines. Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe is a testament to the family’s unwavering commitment to producing exceptional wines that reflect the true nature of their terroir.
Domaine du Vieux Telegraphe Chateauneuf-du-Pape La Crau, Rhone, France 2020 3L $489 special, 1 Jeroboam available
Domaine du Vieux Telegraphe Chateauneuf-du-Pape La Crau, Rhone, France 2020 6L $899 special, 1 Methuselah available
Wine Spectator #7 Wine of 2024 “In Châteauneuf-du-Pape, there’s one vineyard that stands above the rest: the plateau of La Crau, covered in round stones (rolled pebbles) is the largest landowner in this coveted lieu-dit. century to telegraph messages, Vieux Télé (as it’s affectionately known) has been run by the Brunier family for six generations. savory. Sourced from 60- to 110-year-old vines, the flagship 2020 red offers charming, old-school appeal, impressive depth and a long life ahead.”
***As these bottles are humongous, we are offering this wine for in store pickup only. Shipping not available.***
…also available from Vieux Telegraphe:
close-out Domaine du Vieux Telegraphe Chateauneuf-du-Pape La Crau, Rhone, France 2018 1.5LWAS $199 NOW: $179 special, 11 Magnums available
Joe Czerwinski-Wine Advocate 94-96 Points“The final blend of the 2018 Chateauneuf du Pape La Crau will include 60% to 65% Grenache, 15% each Mourvèdre and Syrah, with the remainder Boasting complex scents of roses, black tea, raspberries and cherries on the nose, it follows that up. with a full-bodied palate that’s silky and airy in texture yet flavorful and tremendously long on the finish. It fits perfectly with the Brunier’s stated goal of pursuing elegance.”
Wine Spectator 95 Points“A nice throwback style, with a range of dried lavender and rosemary notes peeking out from a cedar-framed core of mulled cherry, blood orange and plum fruit. Features warm stone, licorice root and tobacco leaf accents that fill in
theenergetic finish. A wine that’s very confident in its terroir. clarity and pick up a hint of incense with air. Gently chewy and extremely energetic on the palate, offering alluringly sweet cherry, black raspberry and spicecake flavors that flesh out continuously on the back half. spicy, with building tannins adding final grip.”
close-out Telegramme Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Rhone, France 2019 750mlWAS $49 NOW: $45 special, 16 bottles available
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 93 Points “Deep violet. Ripe, spice-accented dark berry and cherry preserved scents show strong garrigue and floral accents. Pliant in texture and broad in the mouth, offering sappy boysenberry, bitter cherry and floral pastille flavors and a peppery topnote. Finishes long and gently chewy, with the floral and spice notes repeating.”
Joe Czerwinski-Wine Advocate 92 Points “Full-bodied, rich and highly textural, the 2019 Chateauneuf du Pape Telegramme is atypically concentrated and dense, reflecting the addition of more old-vine Grenache to the cuvée. Black cherries, salted licorice and dark chocolate all make appearances, and the wine finishes long and velvety.”
Jeb Dunnuck 92 Points “Bottled early in May, the 2019 Châteauneuf Du Pape Télégramme offers a big, up-front, impressive style with classic red and blue fruits as well as licorice, peppery herbs, and crushed stone-like minerality. It has medium to full body, ripe, polished tannins, and a terrific level of class and elegance.”
Lowest Price in the USA
Average Price is #63
Average Price is #63
Wineries We Love
Historic Greatness: The Wines of Feudi di San Gregorio
Historic Greatness: The Wines of Feudi di San Gregorio
Campania. It was one of history’s greatest wine regions but now it is all but forgotten.
The wines from Campania were praised by poets of antiquity and collected by Kings. Falernum in particular was so highly regarded it has been described as the first cult wine, comparable in its stature and price to Domaine Romanee Conti today. The wine was made from grape varieties that still grow in Campania to this day like Aglianico, Falanghina, and Greco de Tuffo. It was strong stuff, said to light at the touch of a flame, a property that Pliny the Elder noted “you shall not see in any other wine.”
Enter Feudi di San Gregorio. No other winemaker has done as much to restore the region to its former glory as Antonio Capaldo of Feudi di San Gregorio. His wines balance their wild rusticity with enough finesse and sophistication to satisfy any modern wine drinker’s palette.
Feudi di San Gregorio Serpico Rosso Irpinia, Campania, Italy 2015 750ml $69 special, 35 bottles available
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 94 Points “There are darker tones of purple and black fruit and some savory chocolate flavors as well in the 2015 Irpinia Aglianico Serpico. This is an ambitious and deeply layered wine that peels back to reveal more spice, tar and volcanic ash hidden deep within its core. I would suggest some more bottle age with this wine, however, as the mouthfeel is sharp and etched in its youth. 18-month aging regime in medium-toast French oak.
Falstaff 94 Points “Bright, rich ruby red with a slightly brightening edge. On the nose ripe sour cherries and plums, then liquorice and coffee. Very concentrated on the palate, with strong tannins, juicy, well balanced, with a long finish.”
Lowest Listed Price in the United States
Feudi di San Gregorio Falanghina del Sannio, Campania, Italy 2022 750ml $16 special, 30 bottles available
James Suckling 90 Points “Textbook. Falanghina 101. Bitter lemon, tonic, strewn fennel seed, pistachio and a pithy stone fruit pucker at the seams. Dutifully fresh, impeccably poised, far from profound, but dangerously easy to drink.
Lowest Listed Price on the West Coast
Feudi di San Gregorio Falanghina del Sannio, Campania, Italy 2021 750ml $19 special, 8 bottles available
James Suckling 90 Points “Lime blossom, peaches, herbs, olives and salted lemons. Tangy and zesty, with a medium body and a pithy, waxy finish .”
Lowest Listed Price on the West Coast
Feudi di San Gregorio Falanghina del Sannio, Campania, Italy 2019 750ml $19 special, 5 bottles available
Wine Enthusiast 88 Points “Spring wild-flower and exotic fruit aromas are front and center. It’s crisp and refreshing, offering yellow apple, pineapple and green melon before an almond close.”
Lowest Listed Price on the West Coast
Feudi di San Gregorio Cutizzi, Greco di Tufo DOCG, Italy 2022 750ml $21.90 special, 33 bottles available
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 92 Points “Packaged in a ribbed glass bottle, this is a delightful wine that offers both elegance and accessibility. The Feudi di San Gregorio 2022 Greco di Tufo Cutizzi is just the ticket for a plate of raw fish with spicy wasabi sauce or tuna tartare Made only in stainless steel, it has the subtle power and firmness to support generous aromas of pear, quince and honeydew melon. The wine’s mineral signature is very developed.”
Lowest Listed Price in the United States