New to the February Sale
We can’t stop adding great wines to our February Sale! We hit the ground running with bargain pricing on Grand Cru Burgundy, top tier Brunello, collectible sweet wine and more. Now we’re adding these three beauties, freshly discounted for the rest of the month (or when we run out).
Cristia makes delicious, profound Chateaunuef du Pape (the ’16’s were also recently lauded by the New York Times) that delivers great value. Tua Rita’s Redigaffi would be $700 if it came from Pomerol—especially in a landmark vintage like 2015. These are hard to beat deals, so don’t blink and miss them!
New Additions to our February Sale:
Domaine de Cristia Chateauneuf-du-Pape Vieilles Vignes, Rhone 2015 750ML ($99.95) Was $79, Now $71.90 February Sale Special
Wine Spectator 97 points “This delivers a lush, enticing blast of cassis and raspberry and boysenberry preserve flavors, carried by a silky structure that lets the fruit play out at length, giving adequate time for black tea, singed apple wood, dried anise and fruitcake notes to fill in throughout. Dreamy. Grenache. Best from 2020 through 2040.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $86
Domaine de Cristia Chateauneuf-du-Pape Cuvee Renaissance, Rhone 2015 750ML ($69.95) Was $59, Now $55 February Sale Special
Wine Spectator 96 points “This has an intense core of crushed plum, raspberry and boysenberry fruit flavors, draped with melted licorice notes and backed by a wave of warm fruitcake. Hedonistic for sure, but accents of anise, violet and singed apple wood dart around, adding extra facets of intrigue to hold your attention. Grenache and Mourvèdre. Best from 2020 through 2040.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
The average price nationally is $67
Tua Rita Redigaffi Toscana IGT, Tuscany 2015 750ML ($299.95) Was $228, Now $219 February Sale Special
James Suckling 100 points “This is an extraordinary merlot with such purity and focus. Flowers such as violets and hints of orange peel. It is full-bodied yet incredibly energetic and structured. The finish goes on for minutes. Seamless texture. Fresh yet dense. Contrasty. Best Redigaffi ever. Hard not to drink now but a wine for decades.”
Wine Spectator 95 points “Lush and polished, featuring a cashmere texture caressing vanilla, chocolate, black cherry and plum flavors. Well-balanced, with a persistent finish. The harmony hides a solid structure. Decant now. Merlot. Best from 2020 through 2032.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $259
See the complete list of wines on our February Sale at the bottom of the newsletter or click here to shop!
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What’s the hottest sale of the week?
Subscriber-Only Larkmead Sale
Ends This Friday!
Prices So Good, They Can’t be on Our Website
We’re not allowed to publish these massively discounted prices online and that’s fine with us because we will just offer it to you! All of the Larkmead wines we carry are at the lowest prices in the country on this sale—some as much as $47/btl below our closest competitor. We’ll take the discounts off manually before we finalize the order on our end (it won’t show in your cart), so don’t worry when checking out. The only thing you should worry about is timing: once these wines sell out, they’re gone for good.
Subscriber Only Larkmead Sale
Discounted Prices Will Not Display Online
We Will Adjust Pricing Manually Before Finalizing Your Order
Sale Prices Limited to Stock on Hand
Larkmead Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2014 750ML ($149.95) Was $119, Now $89 Subscriber-Only Special
Robert Parker 93 points “The 2014 “White Label” red wines include the 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa, which is a beauty. An elegant, Pauillac-style wine with notes of chocolate, cedar wood, fruitcake, unsmoked cigar tobacco and underbrush, it is dense, full-bodied and rich. It is a blend of 93% Cabernet Sauvignon and 7% Petit Verdot aged 19 months in 75% new French oak. There are 2,705 cases of this wine, which finished at 14.7% natural alcohol. It should drink well for 20-25 years, but there’s no reason to defer your gratification.”
Antonio Galloni 92 points “Larkmead’s 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon is a very pretty, understated wine. Bright red stone fruit, floral notes and spice give the 2014 its refreshing, vibrant personality. The fruit is nicely pushed forward, but the 2014 is light on its feet and gracious, especially for a Calistoga Cabernet. Even so, this is a relatively laid-back style built on finesse more than power.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $126
Larkmead Vineyards Dr. Olmo, Napa Valley 2014 750ML ($199.95) Was $169, Now $119 Subscriber-Only Special
Wine Advocate 95+ points “The “Black Label” wines include the 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Dr. Olmo, which is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from the clone of Cabernet that is also called Eisele. This wine spent 20 months in 62% new French oak. A magnificent wine by any standard of measurement, with notes of scorched earth, lead pencil shavings, charcoal embers, and blackberry and cassis fruit, this dense purple wine has undeniable minerality, a beautiful, full-bodied texture and a voluptuous finish. Drink it over the next 25 years.”
Antonio Galloni 92-95 points “The 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Dr. Olmo is holding back quite a bit of its potential. Dark cherry, smoke, licorice, tar and menthol give the Dr. Olmo much of its brooding personality. The tannins are quite firm, but that should be less of an issue as the wine won’t be released for about a year.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $183
The next best price is $146.25
That’s a difference of over $27/bottle!
Larkmead Vineyards Firebelle Red, Napa Valley 2014 750ML ($179.95) Was $149, Now $99 Subscriber-Only Special
Robert Parker 94 points “A blend of 72% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon and 3% Petit Verdot, the 2014 Firebelle finished at 14.9% alcohol. It is a beautifully rich, chocolaty wine with notes of savory spices, black cherries and mulberries, some fudge and coffee bean. It has medium to full body, outstanding purity, concentration and length. It was aged in 66% new French oak for 19 months prior to bottling. Drink it over the next 15-20 years.”
Antonio Galloni 94 points “The 2014 Firebelle, Larkmead’s Merlot-based wine, is terrific. Succulent black cherry, lavender, mint and dark spices infuse this pliant, creamy wine. Expressive savory and mineral-infused notes punctuate the finish. The tannins need time to soften, but there is plenty to like and look forward to.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $156
The next best price is $145
That’s a difference of $46/bottle!
Subscriber Only Larkmead Sale
Discounted Prices Will Not Display Online
We Will Adjust Pricing Manually Before Finalizing Your Order
Sale Prices Limited to Stock on Hand
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Scott Paul Wines
An extensive collection of winery-cellared library wines at incredible discounts!
Our hottest offer of Willamette Valley wines are those from Scott Paul– we’ve sold through around 2,000 bottles over the past two months but still have plenty of options in stock (for now!) Don’t wait too long, these are your last chance at many of these bottlings!
Top values for the money:
Scott Paul La Paulee Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2013 750ML ($39.95) $18 special
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 91 points “Deep red. Bright and energetic on the nose, displaying intense red berry and blood orange scents, along with candied rose and allspice highlights. Silky, sweet and incisive on the palate, offering juicy strawberry and floral pastille flavors and a spicy kick of white pepper. Closes very long and nervy; fine-grained tannins lend shape and closing grip.”
Wine Enthusiast 91 points “Sophisticated and subtle, this lovely wine expresses varietal elegance, with a bouquet of roses and raspberries to begin. The jumble of pretty fruits is framed with citrus peel and a dusting of chocolate.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Scott Paul La Paulee Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2014 750ML ($39.95) $18 special, 29 bottles in stock now
Grapelive 90 points “Originally made for a special La Paulee celebration, this Scott Paul is now available at $18. [This] is less than half price through multiple outlets; the original winery price was $39. This Kelley Fox-made 2014 version is a steal with a generous and elegant focus and easy to love personality…The 2014 La Paulee is very silky and flows seamlessly across the medium bodied palate with loads of red cherry, plum and cranberry fruits, light spices, cola bean, subtle toasty oak and a nice streak of mineral, ripe tannin and sweet floral tones which is a rose petal array in the nose. The dark crimson and ruby hue is very pretty in the glass and this Pinot Noir never puts a foot wrong. It’s very lovely from start to finish and with lots of admirable quality in the glass. As the winery puts it, [La Paulee] is a bottling that was selection of superior lots from our blocks of Maresh and Nysa Vineyards in the Dundee Hills and Ribbon Ridge and Azana Vineyards on the Chehalem Mountains that was aged in all neutral French oak barrels. Still fresh and focused, it will drink very nicely for another 3 to 5 years with graceful ease, and at this price it is more than worth it. Stocking up is not a bad idea.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $31
Check out our entire inventory below or visit our web store to shop.
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Francois Plouzeau – La Garreliere
Francois Plouzeau has emerged as one of the top natural producers in the Loire, synthesizing properly ripe, rich fruit with bright tangy acidity and a vibrancy that only comes from wines that are minimally “made.” These are wines made in an old-school Loire fashion, with low yields from cool sites and biodynamically farmed vineyards.
In both red and white, then manage to combine a surprising seriousness with a purity and deliciousness that marks them as truly top class Loire wines. The best comparison might be the wines that Damien Delecheneau makes at Grange Tiphane—they’re natural, sure, but are cleanly made and classically proportioned. We’re excited to get our allocation in on Friday and to share these for the first time here at Vinopolis.
Arriving Friday:
Domaine de la Garreliere Milliard d’Etoiles, Loire NV 750ML ($31.95) $28 pre-arrival special
Cabernet Franc & Chenin Blanc. Methode ancestrale
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Domaine de la Garreliere Touraine ‘Le Blanc de la Mariee’, Loire 2017 750ML ($21.95) $18 pre-arrival special
100% Sauvignon Blanc.
Importer Note “Absolutely not the run of the mill high-yield, machine-harvested, green and acid Touraine Sauvignon. And that can be a problem–because many people are so used to the hyper brisk norm that they don’t know what to do with a textured wine like this. La Mariée is the right stuff.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Domaine de la Garreliere Touraine Cendrillon, Loire 2017 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 pre-arrival special
Importer Note “This wine is made from the best Sauvignon Blanc grapes from the old biodynamic vineyards that surround the cellar on the hill outside the village of Richelieu. It is made from 100% Sauvignon Blanc. Just 30% of the Sauvignon Blanc spent some time in old oak barrels to provide additional complexity. This is a fascinating wine for us. The first couple of sips mark it as an interesting wine but, gradually, it opens up in the glass to reveal citrus notes and a fine line of minerality as well as a complexity that belies its price.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Domaine de la Garreliere Touraine Gamay Le Cinabre, Loire 2016 750ML ($29.95) $24 pre-arrival special
Winery Note “Plot: Vine from 30 – 40 years old. Terroir: Aeolian sand and flint clay on limestone. Manual harvest at the beginning of October, destemmed – Yield 25 hl / ha. Indigenous yeasts – fermentation in concrete vats; Cuvaison over 3 weeks with a gentle extraction. Then the Malolactic Fermentation was made in barrels; Aging in barrels of 500L new 1/3, a wine 1/3 and two wines 1/3, for more than 12 months. Then, put in mass for 2 months. Unfiltered wine.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Domaine de la Garreliere Touraine Gamay Sans Tra-lala, Loire 2017 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 pre-arrival special
Importer Note “Gamay without bullshit!”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $27.30
Domaine de la Garreliere Touraine Le Rouge Des Cornus, Loire 2017 750ML ($21.95) $18 pre-arrival special
Importer Note “Classic, delicious Loire Cabernet Franc that goes down so easy in the summer with a slight chill on it.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
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Staff Pick
A Serious Passetoutgrain
Saul
Let’s get this out of the way first—I’m aware that Jeanniard’s Coteaux Bourguignon isn’t technically a PTG. On the other hand, I’m also aware that it’s 50/50 Pinot and Gamay and for every ounce of me I can’t figure out why Jeanniard uses the less well known AOC for his bottling. That’s a bit like the man himself, though—nothing’s done the easy way. From the farming of the grapes (all Royat method, which creates lower yields and harder-to-farm vineyards) to vinification (lots and lots of whole cluster), the man seems to march to the beat of his own drum.
That’s cool with me, though, because the wines he makes are fantastic. They’re rustic and old school. If you’ve ever wondered how Burgundy could be described as “hearty,” try his higher tier wines. This wine, with its wallop of Gamay, is bright, fresh and drinkable, though more serious than you’d expect given the price point and the blend. I’d love to slip this into a tasting of top end cru Beaujolais and see what people thought, but frankly it’s hard to hold off drinking them long enough to do something fun like that.
Staff Pick
Domaine Alain Jeanniard Coteaux Bourguignons, Burgundy 2015 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 special
VinopolNote: 50%Pinot Noir, 50% Gamay from the hillsides of Burgundy. This represents the entry level wine from the domaine and is a delicious vin de soif that drinks especially well in 2015.
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
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Trending Weekend Wines
Beautiful Rosso, perfect for drinking tonight with whatever you’re having.
Fuligni Ginestreto Rosso di Montalcino, Tuscany 2014 750ML ($36.95) $24 special
Wine Spectator 90 points “Cherry, strawberry and cedar aromas and flavors abound, while the silky texture and finely grained tannins complement the fruit. Tobacco and earth notes grace the long finish. Drink now through 2019. 800 cases made.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $29.97
95 point Rioja under $20? This is a steal.
Bodegas Vina Herminia Rioja Crianza DOCa, Rioja 2013 750ML ($24.95) $18 special
Decanter 95 points –Platinum-Best Red Rioja–“An elegant and intense nose comprising black fruit, blackberry and herbs, with a real medicinal edge is followed deliciously by a well-structured palate of licorice, plums, tobacco and black fruit notes, which also has round meaty tannins, a lovely texture and a beautiful long finish.”
Just arrived, flying out the door and absolutely classic Chablis.
La Chablisienne Cote de Lechet, Chablis Premier Cru 2014 750ML ($31.95) $26 special
Case-6 La Chablisienne Cote de Lechet, Chablis Premier Cru 2014 750ML ($189.95) $144 special (that’s only $24/bottle and the lowest listed price in the USA today!)
Decanter 95 points “Flowers with a bit of lemon curd on the nose, giving way to a lively palate with white flowers, herbs and a fine-grained mineral seam running through to the racy, spicy finish.”
Wine Enthusiast 92 points “This wine comes from one of the coolest Premier Cru vineyards, giving it an initial austerity that then fills out as the wine breathes. It’s crisp and bright with white fruit and intense, lemony acidity. Age it for a few more months and drink from 2018.”
Burghound 91 points “Outstanding. A spicy and super-fresh array of citrus, pear and tidal pool serves as an elegant introduction to the impressively intense and precise middle weight flavors that exude a fine bead of minerality on the lingering and complex finale where a hint of austerity surfaces. Lovely.”
One of the last, best old-school producers in Gigondas. Energetic and garrigue-y.
Domaine du Gour de Chaule Gigondas Tradition, Rhone 2015 750ML ($39.95) $29 special
Grapelive 93 points “Vigneron Stéphanie Bonfils, following her mom’s absolute love of Grenache, continues to craft Domaine de Gour de Chaule’s Gigondas with that focus. 85% of the vineyards [are] planted to Grenache, with about 10% dedicated to Syrah and Mourvedre, along with a tiny amount to Cinsault…. Similar to the more famous Chateauneuf du Pape, Gigondas is blessed with the sunny Mediterranean climate and clay and limestones soils, but they can be fresher and certainly less costly, with some having higher elevation vines that give a vibrant intensity to these heady full flavored Rhone reds. The average age of the Grenache vines planted within the Domaine de Gour de Chaule plots is 55 years old. Stéphanie uses whole cluster fermentations with cement cuves employed for both primary and malo (secondary) before being racked to used large foudres (oak cask) to rest, for about 18 months prior to bottling unfixed and unfiltered. This 2015 is brilliantly detailed, full bodied and shows the vintage’s depth and concentration perfectly. It delivers a warm rush of Grenache purity and character with sweet strawberry, boysenberry, kirsch and plum along with dusty stones (chalky), light floral notes, peppery spices, classic lavender (garrigue) and anise. This feels rich and textured in the mouth gaining earthy elements and while deeply fruit driven there is a spine of fine ripe tannins that gives a sense of structure that holds the weight in check. It never feels too heavy or dull. It’s a beautiful old school Gigondas that really impresses the palate…. This 2015 [is] an absolute must for Rhone fans. Enjoy it for its youth now or put a few away for exceptional mid-term drinking, as it will reward some patience. Best from 2018 to 2026.”
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 92-94 points “Brilliant ruby. A heady bouquet evokes ripe red and blue fruits, Indian spices and smoky minerals, along with a hint of candied lavender in the background. Deeply concentrated yet energetic black raspberry, boysenberry and spicecake flavors unfold slowly, picking up a licorice quality that expands on the back half. Shows excellent clarity and mineral cut on a sweet, seamless finish shaped by smooth tannins.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
The average price nationally is $33
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First Offer
2017 Von Winning GGs
Von Winning makes some of our favorite dry Riesling on the planet. The combination of incredible vineyard sites, meticulous winemaking and a commitment to producing only the finest wines yields exactly what you’d hope: Riesling of depth and profundity, with grace and mineral power. These wines are dry, as the top producers of the Pfalz are wont to focus on, and unlike some of their neighbors, powerful fruit isn’t the goal here. No, the Von Winning wines speak the language of the floral and mineral flavors that are both intense and furtive and also seemingly unable to be coaxed out of these vineyards by anyone else. They demand your attention, even when they speak under their breath.
We just received our (smaller than hoped for) allocations of the top-end 2017 wines from the estate. Across the board, the Von Winning Grosses Gewächs (ie: Grand Cru, if you’re unfamiliar with the classification) are going to be stunning. ’17 is a year for powerful, intense wines across Germany and Von Winning’s late released offerings are everything you could ask for (and more). They arrive in May and deserve to be in your cellar for years to come.
Arriving ETA May:
Von Winning Deidesheim Grainhubel Riesling Grosses Gewachs Trocken, Pfalz 2017 750ML ($69.95) $53.50 pre-arrival special
Terry Theise [++] “is insane! A great vintage.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Von Winning Kirchenstuck Riesling Grosses Gewachs, Pfalz 2017 750ML ($149.95) $119 pre-arrival special
Terry Theise [+++] “(Forst) After being overtaken by Pechstein in 2016, this supernal vineyard reasserts itself, and creates a sublime dry riesling that stands with the greatest I’ve ever encountered. Sublime, the only word that suffices. Seizes you gently but doesn’t let go. Visits every cell in your mouth and leaves you coated with flowers and stones. Great wines take you into the ground, but you don’t have subterranean eyes, and so you are blind and blissful and still and surrounded, and all the world below is present for you.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Von Winning Deidesheimer Langenmorgen Riesling Grosses Gewachs, Pfalz 2017 750ML ($89.95) $69 pre-arrival special
Terry Theise [++(+)] ” is breathtaking, full of grip and this kind of salty rye-crust on a blistery pizza; no fruit or flower but everything else, every herb and every leaf and a precise peppery power”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Von Winning Pechstein Riesling Grosses Gewachs, Pfalz 2017 750ML ($119.95) $99 pre-arrival special
Terry Theise [++] “is the most beloved perhaps of all Pfalz vineyards, and ’17 is…well…stonier and spicier than 2016s masterpiece; more zing, with a voice that could shatter a glass.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Von Winning Ungeheuer Riesling Grosses Gewachs Trocken, Pfalz 2017 750ML ($79.95) $59 pre-arrival special
Terry Theise [+] “is beautifully untamed, like a big man whose belly is all muscle”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
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Sweet Wines for Your Sweetie
This is the best time of year to enjoy a dessert wine—the big meals, long nights and cold weather seem to call for something a bit fortified and nectared. When you factor in Valentine’s Day, a little liquid dessert seems like an even better idea. While Port is the biggest name that comes to mind (with Sauternes a close second) we have a stellar selection of excellent dessert wines from less well known regions. These wines often offer great values as well as unique styles and flavors.
In Stock Now:
One of the most profound, intense sweet wines this side of Y’Quem
Domaine des Baumard Quarts de Chaume, Loire 2015 375ML ($59.95) $49 special
Domaine des Baumard Quarts de Chaume, Loire 2015 750ML ($99.95) $89 special
#52 Wine of the Year – Wine Spectator Top 100 in 2018
Wine Spectator 98 points “Highly Recommended. Waves of creamed Jonagold apple, Cavaillon melon, mirabelle plum, mango and white peach flavors provide thrilling range, while flashes of honeysuckle and verbena add detail and focus throughout. Unctuous yet pure, sweet yet invigorating, with an inner brightness that matches the outward hedonism. Best from 2020 through 2045. 100 cases imported.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Made in a classic passito style, this would be an incredible Sauternes substitute.
Francesco Intorcia Heritage Malvasia Liquoroso Sicilia IGT, Sicily NV 500ML ($24.95) $19 special
Importer notes: “The Intorcia family traditionally uses three grape varieties to produced its liqueur wines. Delicate, moderately sweet, various taste strands typical of these grapes emerge: citrus, honey, apricot jam, dried figs, raisins, caramelised almonds”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
This will go toe-to-toe with any nobly sweet wine in the world. Any of them.
Domaine Huet Vouvray Le Mont Premiere Trie Moelleux, Loire 2016 750ML ($89.95) $79 special
Case-6 Domaine Huet Vouvray Le Mont Premiere Trie Moelleux, Loire 2016 750ML ($499.95) $419 special (that’s only $69.83/bottle!)
Wine Advocate 97 points “The 2016 Vouvray Le Mont Moelleux Première Trie opens with a very clear, deep and flinty/herbal bouquet of ripe concentrated stone fruits intermixed with chalky/smoky aromas, very complex and truly exciting! Light, fresh and tensioned on the palate, that is very pure and salty but also tight and concentrated. The 2016 Le Mont reveals crystalline acidity, delicate but serious tannin grip and a long, complex, stimulating finish. This is Chenin Blanc full of energy and aging potential, provided with concentration, lingering salinity and vibrancy. This is a fascinating Le Mont, surely the top wine of Huet’s excellent 2016 series. Bottled with 92 grams of residual sugar, it tastes less sweet than the corresponding Clos du Bourg. Tasted February 2018.”
Wine Spectator 96 points “Juicy in feel, with an intense beam of glazed peach, dried apricot, fresh ginger and heather honey notes, backed by baked mirabelle plum accents and a flash of almond cream on the long, rich finish. A wonderful balancing act, keeping the exotic fruit and sweetness fresh and delineated. Best from 2020 through 2035.”One of the best values in Vin Santo. Profound wines at a more than fair price.
Isole e Olena Vin Santo del Chianti Classico, Tuscany 2007 375ML ($59.95) $48 special
Antonio Galloni 94 points “A wine of grace and stature, the 2007 Vin Santo is gorgeous. There is plenty of texture and plushness that is typical of the year, and yet the wine has more than enough acidity to play off the caramel, burnt sugar, dried cherry and floral notes. The wine’s midweight, understated style belies the 217 grams of residual sugar.”
Wine Advocate 94 points “The 2007 Vin Santo del Chianti Classico (375-milliliters) aims high in terms of residual sugar (at 215 grams per liter), but you’d hardly know. This dessert wine shows great integration with sweet notes of candied fruit, honey, caramel and almond marzipan. There are floral notes as well with jasmine and honeysuckle, but you also get dusty mineral tones and some herbal notes tucked in at the back. This is a medium-bodied wine with enough balanced acidity to keep it light, tonic and refreshing. As always, Isole e Olena produces one of the most elegant and ethereal Vin Santos in Chianti Classico.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
25+ year old PX makes for an intense experience.
Bodegas Perez Barquero La Canada Pedro Ximenez, Montilla-Moriles NV 750ML ($59.95) $39 special
Wine Advocate 94 points “The NV La Canada PX is sourced from a vineyard in the Moriles Mountains called Cerro de La Canada, ‘the canyon hill’ and undergoes oxidative aging in solera and is bottled at an average of 25 years old. It boasts the characteristics of a very old PX, incense, licorice, roasted coffee and the sweetness is nicely compensated by a bitter chocolate touch. What is surprising in such an old wine is the overall sensation of freshness and elegance of fruit, with balsamic flavors of dried herbs, flowers and camphor. A truly elegant sticky. Drink 2013-2025.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Stunning, profound, contemplative.
Bodegas Toro Albala Don PX Convento Seleccion, Montilla-Moriles 1931 750ML ($399.95) $279 special
Wine Advocate 98 points “If someone told you they kept a wine for 84 years in barrel before bottling, you’d think they are nuts, right? Well, that’s what the folks at Toro Albalá in Aguilar de la Frontera – in the province of Cordoba, part of the Montilla Moriles appellation – did with their 1931 Don PX Convento Selección. This is part of what they call ‘vinos olvidados,’ which means ‘forgotten wines.’ The border is amber, with green tints that denote very old age. Such old age provides an array of unusual aromas and flavors, including iodine and salt that compensate the sweetness (403 grams) and even the alcohol (18%). It’s terribly balsamic, with notes of dry herbs and spices, cigar ash, carob beans (algarrobas), incense and noble woods. The palate is very, very sweet and concentrated, unctuous, dense, with a chewy texture. This goes beyond a glass of wine, a drop of it is like having a piece of cake. I don’t think this reaches the complexity and depth of the 1946, which remains the benchmark for these old sweet PX, but it’s truly terrific!… bottles were filled in June 2015.”
On the subject of Sauternes, here’s a few of our top picks in stock now:
Chateau Raymond Lafon, Sauternes 2006 375ML ($29.95) $19 special
Neal Martin 92 points “Tasted at the Chateau. This is a superb Sauternes from Pierre Meslier. It has a fragrant bouquet with touches of Seville orange marmalade, green lemon and orange-blossom, all very well-defined. The palate is medium-bodied with a good level of botrytis, tangy tangerine and citrus fruits. This ’06 is fizzing with energy: great tension and vibrancy on the finish with just a hint of lemon curd on the aftertaste. Moderate length. Well-made 2006 that should offer splendid drinking over the decade. Drink now-2020. Tasted April 2009.”
Neal Martin 92 points “Tasted blind at Southwold ’06 Bordeaux tasting. It is adorned with a straightforward, no frills Sauternes nose, good definition, barley sugar, lemon curd and honey, gaining in intensity in the glass. The palate is well-balanced, good freshness here with notes of honey, marmalade, a touch of ginger; nice cohesion and very good weight towards the finish. It needs another couple of years to tuck its shirt in, but I admire its focus and breeding. Very fine, though it is marred by just a touch of volatility on the finish. Tasted January 2010.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price for the half-bottle is $25
#3 Wine of the Year – Wine Spectator Top 100 in 2017
Chateau Coutet, Barsac 2014 750ML ($69.95) $59 special
Chateau Coutet, Barsac 2014 375ML ($49.95) $39 special
Wine Spectator 96 points “This shows the vivid, racy side of Barsac, with streaming flavors of pineapple, yellow apple, green plum and white ginger, displaying lovely energy from start to finish. Ends with enough honeysuckle and orange blossom notes to balance the richness. Best from 2020 through 2035. 4,000 cases made.”
“Truly, this is a legendary vintage for d’Yquem.” – Lisa Perroti-Brown, Wine Advocate
“simply an astonishing Yquem” – Neal Martin, Wine Advocate
“without question one of the wines of the vintage” – Antonio Galloni, Vinous
“This wine is ethereal.” – Roger Voss, Wine Enthusiast
Chateau d’Yquem, Sauternes 2015 750ML ($499.95) $449 special
Chateau d’Yquem, Sauternes 2015 375ML ($259.95) $219 special
Chateau d’Yquem, Sauternes 2015 1.5L ($1099.95) $979 special
Lisa Perrotti-Brown – Wine Advocate 100 points “Following a very long harvest stretching nearly two months, the 2015 Château d’Yquem came in at 13.9% alcohol and 144 grams per liter of residual sugar, sporting a pH of 3.65 and six grams per liter of tartaric acid. None of these numbers, however, even remotely begin to tell you how profound this wine is. The nose opens with electric notes of ripe pineapples, green mango, orange blossoms and lemon tart with hints of fungi, lime zest, crushed rocks and jasmine. The freshness on the palate is just astonishing, permeating and lifting layer upon layer of tropical fruits and earthy notions, all encased in a sumptuous texture and culminating in a very, very long, mineral-tinged finish. Truly, this is a legendary vintage for d’Yquem. I’ve been conservative with my drinking window here, and I would not be at all surprised if our descendants are drinking this vintage well into the next century.”
James Suckling 99-100 points “This is an incredible young Yquem that is so vinous like a great vintage of Montrachet but then on the palate it turns to Yquem with spice, dried fruit and mushroom as well as sweet fruit. Last for minutes. Acidity is all there giving it a dynamic vibrance that jolts your senses. Special wine. It has a little more than than 140 grams of residual sugar, less than the legendary of 2001. But is very close in greatness. Let’s wait and see.”
Antonio Galloni 98 points “The 2015 d’Yquem is without question one of the wines of the vintage. Just as alluring from bottle as it was from barrel, the 2015 is a wine that engages all of the senses, from the intellectual to the more hedonistic. Lilting notes of pineapple, mint, orange peel and white flowers grace the palate, but it is the wine’s sense of balance and total harmony that impress most. In 2015, Yquem had its earliest start to the harvest since 1893. Even so, the winemaking team did a magnificent job of preserving freshness. The 2015 was fermented in 100% new oak, and residual sugar is 145 grams per liter, but great wine is never about numbers. Above all else, the 2015 Yquem is a wine of energy and class. Don’t miss it!”
Wine Enthusiast 96-98 points “Barrel Sample. This wine is ethereal. It certainly offers attractive honey and bitter orange flavors but also a fresh character that gives the wine lift and crispness. It is, of course, going to age magnificently, although it is so delicious and refreshing now.”
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February Sale Recap
We’ve slashed prices on Tuscan icons, great red Burgundy and classic Cote Rotie. It’s an amazing way to begin the month (provided you like excellent deals on outstanding wines) and we’re excited to bring you more in the days/weeks ahead. As with all of our Sale Wines—these prices are limited to stock on hand, so once we sell out, the sale pricing is gone forever. View the complete list below, and shop our web store.