Sheridan New Arrivals; Staff Pick; Zorzal; Yvon Metras; Domaine Marc Colin; Equipo Navazos; Ar. Pe. Pe.; Cascina delle Rose; Domaine Guiberteau; German Riesling 2015 Two Hands Farewell
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Just Arrived!
Sheridan Vineyard Block One
Three Year Vertical
Sheridan Vineyard Block One Cabernet Sauvignon, Yakima Valley 2009 750ML ($199.95) $149 special, 4 bottles available
Wine Advocate 97-100 points “The 2009 Block 1 is thicker, richer, more velvety, and more pleasure-bent than the 2008. It is a candidate for perfection once it goes into bottle.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Sheridan Vineyard Block One Cabernet Sauvignon, Yakima Valley 2010 750ML ($149.95) $125 special, 4 bottles available
Wine Advocate 98 points “The incredible 2010 Block 1 comes from estate vineyards and is a 100% Cabernet Sauvignon that spent 28 months in French oak. Massively concentrated, with a slightly backwards, brooding profile, it offers up an ultra-rich, meaty bouquet of smoked black currants, sage brush, mint, dry-aged beef and brown spice that gives way to a full-bodied, muscular 2010 that has a serious amount of fruit and texture that’s cut by juicy, lively acidity and ripe tannin. Disjointed right on opening, it improved beautifully over the evening (and consecutive days) and should be decanted for an hour or more if drinking anytime soon. It’s a unique, thrilling effort that will benefit from short-term cellaring and drink well for 15-20 years. Drink 2016-2030.”
Sheridan Vineyard Block One Cabernet Sauvignon, Yakima Valley 2011 ($149.95) $119 special, 4 bottles available
Wine Advocate 96 points “A wine that was just bottled, the 2011 Block 1 is easily one of the top wines in the vintage. A blend of 100% Cabernet Sauvignon that comes from a southeast facing block in the Sheridan vineyard, it possess a seriously full-bodied, rich and structured style to go with decadent dark fruits, lead pencil, singed cedar and tobacco leaf-like romas and flavors. Give it another year or three and enjoy it over the following 10 to 15 years.”
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Staff Pick:
Azienda Agricola COS Frappato Terre Siciliane IGT, Sicily 2014 750ML ($31.95) $21.90 special, 30 bottles available
I don’t need to dress a wine like this up all that much: COS make riveting, multifaceted Sicilian wine for the masses and this is by no means an exception. Sprightly red fruit and wild herbs spread out on the palate with laser-like precision; the closing song is full of energy and persists with two encores. I absolutely adore this wine, which tastes unquestionably Sicilian yet should appear to fellow Cru Beaujolais fiends, Pinot lovers, and those who seek out wines of character and value across the nooks of northern Italy.
Not convinced? Spectator, help me out here!
Wine Spectator 90 points “A vibrant red, with light tannins framing flavors of dried marjoram and thyme, crushed currant, wild strawberry and star anise. Finely knit, offering a lasting finish. Drink now through 2021.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
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Zorzal of Argentina
Pais de Vinos
The new lineup from Zorzal offers a more refined interpretation of Argentinian wine. The wines are layered, seductive, and easy to like: it’s been hard to keep the shelves fully stocked!
“Eggo Tinto de Tiza”is a Malbec-dominant blend presenting a beautiful, balanced array of dark fruits and earth without showiness or rough edges. Their Pinot Noirs showcases the varietal through abundant freshness and floral aspects; the Cab Franc and Sauvignon Blanc are both excellent new frontiers for the grapes. Wines to please extremely well in the summer months. Below, our spread of new offerings from Zorzal of Argentina.
Zorzal Wines Available Here Now:
Zorzal Eggo Tinto de Tiza, Tupungato, Argentina 2014 750ML ($39.95) $33 special, 36+ bottles available
Wine Advocate 94 points “The 2014 Eggo Tinto de Tiza is a blend from three different vineyards in Tupungato Winelands in Gualtallary. It’s a blend of mostly Malbec with some Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. As is the case with the whole Eggo range, the wine didn’t see any oak, and in this case it was matured in egg-shaped cement vats for one year. There are violets, plums, dark cherries and something earthy. This is slightly riper than the 2013. The medium-bodied palate has is fresh with a silky texture, pure flavors and a mineral-driven finish. At this price I’d buy it by the case. Super!”
Zorzal Terroir Unico Pinot Noir, Tupungato 2013 750ML ($17.95) $11.90 special, 36+ bottles available
Wine Advocate 91 points “The 2013 Terroir Unico Pinot Noir follows the idea of the Terroir Unico range, to show the pure expression of the grape and the place in a line of unoaked wines. This was 20-30% whole-cluster fermented and is very pale colored, almost a rose, very perfumed, with aromas of red fruit and flowers opening to a light to medium-bodied palate, high acidity (blood orange), and a pure, fresh finish. Highly drinkable. Can the price be real?”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Zorzal Eggo Filoso Pinot, Tupungato 2014 750ML ($29.95) $24 special, 23 bottles available
Wine Advocate 92 points “The 2014 Eggo Filoso Pinot Noir is produced with fruit from Gualtallary. It fermented after carbonic maceration in cement vats and like the whole Eggo line, it matured in cement eggs for some nine months and never saw any oak. Pale-colored, floral and showing a lactic touch, it is earthier than the Gran Terroir. The palate is medium-bodied, with floral flavors, very good acidity and a fine texture.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $31.82
Zorzal Eggo Blanc de Cal, Tupungato, Argentina 2014 750ML ($29.95) $24 special, 36+ bottles available
Wine Advocate 92 points “The 2014 Eggo Blanc de Cal is pure Sauvignon Blanc from two different vineyards in Gualtallary. The full clusters are pressed and the must was fermented and aged in contact with the lees for nine to ten months in their famous egg-shaped cement vats. This is more subtle and earthy, less Sauvignon, with the fruit expressing itself in a lower-pitched voice, more of a baritone. It’s also has a little wider, pungent and powerful character in the mouth. This is only around 13% alcohol, and even though in 2014 it didn’t go through malolactic fermentation, it’s still a very light and fresh wine. Groundbreaking Sauvignon. 4,800 bottles were produced, fruit of two eggs.” LG
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Zorzal Eggo Franco Cabernet Franc, Tupungato, Argentina 2015 750ML ($34.95) $27 special, 30 bottles available
No Reviews Yet On The 2015 – Here Is The Wine Advocate On The 2014- 94 points “There is a Cabernet Franc in the Eggo range, and I tasted the 2014 Eggo Franco, produced with grapes from Tupungato Winelands in Gualtallary, a place that defines itself as a wine country club that touts a combination of real estate, vineyards and sport facilities, including golf and polo! The vines were only planted in 2008 (everything in Gualtallary is really new). There are some 300 hectares of vines there, in one of the best parts of Gualtallary. They have three-hectare plots owned by mostly foreign investors and most of the highly sought after grapes are sold. Zorzal has agreements to buy grapes (and control the viticulture) of 20 of these plots. Incredibly perfumed for a Cabernet Franc, as the nose is very floral and made me think of a Malbec rather than a Cabernet Franc. The spiciness of all these Eggo wines comes from the grapes and the fermentation and aging in cement, as none of the wines see any oak. And I tell you one thing, you do not miss the oak or the complexity or anything, it’s all here. This is the first year for this vertical, fresh, tremendous Cabernet Franc. Well done, bravo! 2,200 bottles produced. The Michelini brothers keep producing fresh, elegant and terroir-driven wines from their base in Gualtallary. The range seems to be growing almost infinitely, as their creativity also seem to have no limits”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
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Just a reminder about our current shipping specials during this season:
For the summer season we are offering UPS Three Day Select Service for the price of UPS Ground for shipments normally traveling 4 or more business days.
Free service upgrade only applies on single orders purchased and shipped during the promotional period. Additional fees will apply to orders held for any reason until after the promotional period and shipped by Three Day Select. Offer not valid on pre-arrival items that arrive after the promotional period.
We offer flat rate shipping on any size single order / single shipment
-to Oregon for $17,
–Washington & Idaho for $20,
-and California for $25
These rates do not apply to orders held in storage here for any reason.
Multiple orders consolidated into one shipment
do not qualify for flat rate shipping.
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Yvon Métras
Beaujolais Beyond Belief
The notoriously, face-palmingly hard-to-find wines of Yvon Metras have earned a distinct following in the United States after almost a decade of virtual obscurity. A disciple of the legendary ‘natural wine’ pioneer Jules Chauvet and peer of Marcel Lapierre, Métras is considered the honorary fifth member of ‘the Gang of Four’, Kermit Lynch’s stable of Beaujolais producers who sought a cleaner, terroir-driven, holistic approach to winemaking. While Kermit imported Yvon’s wines up until the turn of the century, he all but disappeared from the American market.
There are a handful of tractors from the 50’s and 60’s at the simple, straightforward facilities Métras keeps. He prefers them to modern models, as their light weight makes less of an impression on the vines and they can maneuver more deftly. Chez Yvon, many of the vines are 70+ years in age; he even has a few which date back to 1894. Farming his six hectare estate is done organically and by hand, only native yeasts are utilized for fermentation, and grapes are picked late and then cooled before vinification. Macerations are long, and sulfur use is judicious and is never used until fermentation stage.
His Fleurie is unceasingly aromatic with heaping minerals and considerable density, while the Moulin-a-Vent tends to present more muscle, dark berry fruits, and spice. I’m reluctant to break ‘the fourth wall’ here, yet feel compelled to confess: Métras makes some of the finest wine I’ve ever tasted. Save it for a nice meal and good company – and savor it, as there’s hardly any to go around.
Wines from Yvon Métras Arriving Friday:
Yvon Metras Fleurie, Beaujolais 2014 750ML ($69.95) $59 pre-arrival special
Yvon Metras Fleurie Le Printemps, Beaujolais 2014 750ML ($69.95) $59 pre-arrival special
Yvon Metras Moulin-a-Vent, Beaujolais 2014 750ML ($69.95) $59 pre-arrival special
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Domaine Marc Colin
A Burgundian Family’s Legacy
The Colin family has owned vineyards for over 100 years; since 1970, Domaine Marc Colin has produced fine across 15 hectares within 26 appellations. From their home base of St. Aubin, they produce a 70/30 split of white wines sourced from holdings in Chassagne, Puligny, and Santenay, and – of course – St. Aubin. Their wines have earnest respect and acclaim for their purity and elegance. Now under the direction of Marc’s children John, Damien, and Caroline, Domaine Marc Colin has reached the upper echelon of Burgundy.
Vines are worked sustainably; some parcels age over 100 years! Unlike much of St. Aubin, the Colin parcels are situated on slopes – among their finest holdings there are the En Remilly and Chatenière vineyards. Harvest is done manually and no chemical fertilizers are used. While the use of new oak increased somewhat a few years ago, it is used less frequency nowadays. More recent vintages have been stunning in their clarity and freshness; we’re proud to feature a number of releases from the 2014 vintage, all viewable below.
Domaine Marc Colin Wines Arriving Late June:
Domaine Marc Colin et Fils Bourgogne Blanc La Combe, Burgundy 2014 750ML ($27.95) $21.90 pre-arrival special
Domaine Marc Colin et Fils Chassagne-Montrachet Les Encegnieres, Cote de Beaune 2014 750ML ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 90-92 points “The 2014 Chassagne-Montrachet Encégnières has a flattering nose with tropical aromas combining nicely with the citrus fruit, touches of lemon sorbet and yellow plum emerging in the glass. The palate is fresh and poised on the entry, demonstrating fine weight in the mouth and delivering quite a powerful, complex finish of orange zest and lemongrass. There is a pizzazz about this Chassagne that delivers premier cru quality. Superb.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Domaine Marc Colin et Fils Les Combes, Saint-Aubin Premier Cru 2014 750ML ($49.95) $39 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate–“The malolactics on the 2014 Saint Aubin 1er Cru les Combes was later than its “siblings” and therefore it is the only Saint Aubin that had not been bottled when I visited the domaine in October 2015. There was a lot of sulfur on the nose that made that difficult to read. The palate is sweet and well defined on the entry with sharp citrus fruit married with dried pineapple and melon notes towards the composed finish. I will reserve judgement now because of the SO2, although I suspect it will turn out to be a fine Saint Aubin that will require 4-5 years in bottle.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Domaine Marc Colin et Fils En Montceau, Saint-Aubin Premier Cru 2014 750ML ($49.95) $39 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 91 points “The 2014 Saint Aubin 1er Cru en Montceau has a more generous nose than some of this domaine’s other 2014 Saint Aubins, a little more chutzpah here – cold stone, smoke and cold limestone reflecting the terroir. The palate is taut and precise with crisp acidity, a slightly chalky texture with a lively, spicy finish that lingers in the mouth. This is a fine Saint Aubin that is worth seeking out.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Marc Colin Wines Available Here Now:
Domaine Marc Colin et Fils Bourgogne Rouge, Burgundy 2013 750ML ($21.95) $18 special, 17 bottles available
Wine Advocate 86-88 points “The 2013 Bourgogne Rouge, which was taken from barrel, has a bright tart red cherry and cranberry-scented nose that is bright and lively. The palate is crisp with racy acidity, bright ‘n’ bouncy with a fresh tart finish that is almost clinical. Lovely.” WA
Domaine Marc Colin et Fils Santenay Vieilles Vignes, Cote de Beaune 2011 750ML ($34.95) $27 special, 18 bottles available
Burghound: “An intensely earthy but solidly complex nose of ripe and dense red pinot fruit displays fine volume on the utterly delicious middle weight flavors that are shaped by notably mature tannins on the well-balanced and persistent finish. Like the old vines Chassagne, this won’t win any awards for elegance but then again, one doesn’t buy examples of Santenay villages searching for refinement.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
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Equipo Navazos
The Perfect Edit
The sherries of Equipo Navazos enjoy a bit of a cult following, and not without justification: the company was established with the sole intent of showcasing overlooked casks from the very finest sherry makers. Their mission statement contextualizes it best:
“These wines come from soleras and individual casks that remain, relatively neglected by the market in the last few decades, in the bodegas of some of the most prestigious Andalusian producers. Some of them are unexpected but fortunate findings, testimony of the anonymous work of generations of wine men and wine women, others are the result of a long-standing collaboration (between Equipo Navazos and the winemakers)… Aware of the sleeping treasures that rested buried in the cellars of Jerez, Sanlúcar and El Puerto, as well as in and around Montilla, we decided to rescue some of these jewels.”
We’re thrilled to present four of their finest sherries, available for purchase now and arriving in August:
Equipo Navazos La Bota de Palo Cortado No. 51 ‘Bota G.F.’ Sherry, Andalucia NV 375ML ($149.95) $133 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 98 points “Equipo Navazos has recently released a handful of Palos Cortados because they jumped at the chance to buy some extremely old wines from Pedro Romero. This NV La Bota de Palo Cortado 51 Bota GF is a single cask that was bottled in February 2014 averaging some 75 years of age in a solera system. GF are the initials of Gaspar Florido, a grower from Sanlúcar who owned some of the best plots in the Armijo vineyard inside Pago Miraflores in Sanlúcar de Barrameda, where this wine was likely born. At that time the wines were cask fermented and could have had a few years under flor. The Palo Cortados 47, 48 and this one, and even the Amontillado 49 are somehow related and have a common origin, but this one is closer to the 48. Given that it’s not easy to define these wines, other than to compare them with each other, I find this one to have more Palo Cortado character with a little more sweetness and with a hint of Oloroso. Out of these beasts, this is the most approachable and drinkable. Only 1,200 half bottles were filled with the content of one single cask.”
Equipo Navazos La Bota de Manzanilla Pasada No. 59 Sherry, Andalucia 750ML ($69.95) $59 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 96 points “Same as with the editions 39 and 40, 59 and 60 are also devoted to Manzanilla Pasada, both originating from an old solera belonging to La Guita, starting with The NV La Bota de Manzanilla Pasada 59 Capataz Rivas. As number 30, it has been named after Rafael Rivas, capataz for several decades at La Guita’s cellars at Sanlúcar’s Calle Misericordia until his recent retirement, who in 1986 started a small 15 cask solera with old Manzanilla. Both this 59 and 60 are taken from this solera, and while 60 is from a single cask, this 59 blends wines from the other 14. The average age of the wine is estimated to be around 15 years. Some 3,000 500-milliliter bottles were filled in June 2015.”
Equipo Navazos La Bota de Manzanilla Pasada No. 60 Sherry, Andalucia 500ML ($119.95) $88 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 97 points “The so-called NV La Bota de Manzanilla Pasada 60 Bota Punta is sourced from a special cask “Bota Punta” that was already bottled as numbers 20, 40 and 50. This particular cask from the Manzanilla Pasada ‘solera’ from the Calle Misericordia winery from La Guita was isolated, because it has a very marked biological character – a very old Manzanilla that keeps more ‘flor’ than the other butts in the ‘solera’ and shows less oxidative. The other particularity is that this cask is always refilled with wine from the other 14 casks from the ‘solera’, and therefore keeps an average age a couple of years older, around 17 years, while keeping a younger/fresher profile. They all have the iodine and saline character, the seaweed, low tide and the vertical palate. This is the most special -and scarce and expensive – of all the manzanillas pasadas from Navazos. Really world class. This is the one with depth and sharpness beyond belief, a step up in complexity, elegance and balance. It’s funny how the wine seems to overcome oxidation and starts getting sharper and sharper again. This is truly outstanding.”
Equipo Navazos La Bota de Amontillado No. 61 Bota NO Sherry, Andalucia 500ML ($99.95) $81.90 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 95 points “The relatively old NV La Bota de Amontillado 61 Bota NO was offered in the past as number 31 (bottled in October 2011), aged 35- to 40-years-old. It comes from a ‘solera’ that is marked as “Manzanilla Amontillada Vieja” in the winery, Sanlúcar Viejo, belonging to Rainera P. Marín (La Guita). The wine is thought to be around 40-years-old on average and is an elegant and harmonious Amontillado, quite different from the very old and concentrated Amontillados. The style they aim for here is to age the wines with the barrels fully topped-up, so the wines age slowly and feel comparatively younger than what they are, but at the same time they are more elegant. 2,000 half-liter bottles were filled at the end of 2015.”
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Cascina delle Rose
Arriving in September
The small, 3 hectare Cascina delle Rose estate has been family run since 1948. From the clayey soils of the Rio Sordo Valley and the calcareous soils of the Tre Selle vineyard, the family produces elegant and perfumed wines. The steep hillside vineyards are hand harvested and the wines are aged in old large botti after a natural fermentation. We are pleased to offer their new releases arriving in September.
Cascina delle Rose Donna Elena Barbera d’Alba Superiore, Piedmont 2013 750ML ($31.95) $28 pre-arrival special
Cascina delle Rose Barbera d’Alba, Piedmont 2014 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 pre-arrival special
Cascina delle Rose Dolcetto d’Alba ‘Elizabeth’ 2015 750ML ($21.95) $18 pre-arrival special
Cascina delle Rose Nebbiolo Langhe, Piedmont 2015 750ML ($29.95) $26 pre-arrival special
Cascina delle Rose Barbaresco Rio Sordo, Barbaresco DOCG 2013 750ML ($69.95) $59 pre-arrival special
Cascina delle Rose Tre Stelle, Barbaresco DOCG 2013 750ML ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival special
Cascina delle Rose Tre Stelle, Barbaresco DOCG 2013 1.5L ($149.95) $119 pre-arrival special
Cascina delle Rose Tre Stelle, Barbaresco DOCG 2013 3L ($299.95) $249 pre-arrival special
These are all the only listings in the USA today!
2013 Barbaresco alert: While the wine by wine reviews remain unpublished, 2013 is no doubt a stellar vintage. In a preview article, Antonio Galloni at Vinous Media summed it up in two words- Regal Classicism; and went on to say “… the 2013s – from one of the latest years in recent memory – embody all the qualities that make Nebbiolo one of the world’s most noble grapes; soaring aromatics, pulsating energy, structure, and, most importantly, the rare ability to transmit the essence of site…. Two thousand thirteen…, is shaping up to be an epic vintage of classic proportions and superb pedigree. The growing season was much more stable than 2012, but it is the last month of the year, a perfect September with warm days and cool nights, that yielded Barbarescos endowed with regal intensity. The 2013s remind me of the 2010s, but with more inner sweetness and mid-palate richness. Vinous readers will recall that 2010 was an uneven vintage in Barbaresco. From what I have seen so far, 2013 does not have the austerity nor the inconsistency of 2010. The late October harvest was one of the latest on record. Some of the region’s younger producers told me they had never seen such a late-maturing vintage!”
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Ar.Pe.Pe.
Nebbiolo Seen Anew:
Fresh from Ar.Pe.Pe.
Alpine Vibes
You’d be at a loss to find a more picturesque wine locale than Valtellina. As the Alps dramatically ease their way from the north of Italy to Switzerland, the small region is nestled between snow-peaked mountains, rolling hills, and meandering rivers. With regard to northern Italian wine and Nebbiolo-at-large, Valtellina is one of those best-kept-secrets which has carefully revealed itself, glass by glass, one person at a time.
One of the region’s finest examples – and likely the best-known – comes from Ar.Pe.Pe. Established in 1984, Arturo Pelizzatti Perego (hence the name) set out to express the unique alpine terroir. In the ensuing thirty years, he has helped elevate the winery and region alike to global recognizance and appreciation. Not bad, considering that in the 90’s, most Valtellina was either consumed ‘on the spot’, so to speak, or otherwise in nearby Switzerland.
Within the cellar the winery carved out of a mountain in Grumello, the family follows the time-tested script of traditional winemaking, crafting incredibly expressive wines with poise, grace, and some serious age worthiness. The Rosso is 100% Nebbiolo, offering an easy-drinking ready-to-go style while the other wines cellar. The Grumello Rocca de Piro is sourced many from the area surrounding the Grumello de Piro castle, an elegant and rich wine with leather and tobacco notes, while the Sassella is from the zone of the same name with a brighter, fresher character. The Vigna Regina is their flagship wine, a single-vineyard bottling from within the Sassella zone. It is aged for three years in chestnut and oak barrels and at least one year in bottle before release. A magnificent offering of Nebbiolo to rival Piedmont’s finest.
We are proud to present the following from Ar.Pe.Pe., all available here now:
Ar.Pe.Pe. Rosso di Valtellina, Lombardy 2013 750ML ($39.95) $33 special, 6 bottles available
Antonio Galloni 89 points “The 2013 Rosso di Valtellina is a delicious, entry level offering. Sweet dried cherries, mint, alpine herbs, flowers and cinnamon abound in a delicate, mid-weight wine that hits all the right notes. Drink this super-expressive Rosso over the next handful of years. The 2013 is 100% Chiavennasca (Nebbiolo), given a short maceration of 8 days and a year of aging in cement and cask. Readers who want to explore the wines of Valtellina without investing in some of the region’s top wines should start here. The 2013 Rosso is absolutely delicious. It’s as simple as that.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Ar.Pe.Pe. Grumello Rocca de Piro Riserva, Valtellina Superiore Grumello DOCG 2010 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 6 bottles available
91 points Antonio Galloni “The 2010 Valtellina Superiore Grumello Riserva Rocca del Piro is an excellent choice for drinking in the near and medium-term, as it has a little more mid-palate fleshiness than some of the other wines in the range. At the same time, the 2010 is also less aromatically expressive, while the acidity feels softer and more integrated with the fruit. Sweet red cherry, cherry pit, smoke, dried herbs, tobacco and anise are some of the many notes that meld into the pliant finish. Within the context of traditionally made Valtellina Nebbiolo, the 2010 Rocca del Piro is soft and open-knit in style, both of which add to its considerable appeal. The 2010 is 100% Chiavennasca (Nebbiolo) that spent 8 days on the skins followed by two years in cask and cement.”
Ar.Pe.Pe. Stella Retica Riserva, Valtellina Superiore Sassella DOCG 2010 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 6 bottles available
Antonio Galloni 92 points “Crushed rose petals, mint, sweet tobacco, game, red cherry and cranberry lift from the glass in the 2010 Valtellina Superiore Sassella Riserva Stella Retica. Bright and salivating, with lively acidity laced throughout, the 2010 is an absolutely joyous wine to drink now and over the next decade. The 2010 is 100% Chiavennasca (Nebbiolo) that was given a relatively short ten days of maceration in oak vats followed by two years in cask and cement. Translucent and deeply expressive, with a long, sinewy finish, the 2010 is striking from the very first taste.”
Ar.Pe.Pe. Vigna Regina Riserva, Valtellina Superiore Sassella DOCG 2005 750ML ($99.95) $81.90 special, 3 bottles available
Wine Advocate 92 points “The 2005 Valtellina Superiore Sassella Riserva Vigna Regina is a beautiful and delicate wine. This is a pure expression of the Nebbiolo grape that shows some of the sharper edges and the finer contours of the Alpine environment that characterizes its birthplace. Now, one decade after the harvest, the wine delivers enormous beauty and elegance with pure aromas of honey, dried cassis berry and light touches of licorice. Dusty mineral notes appear on the edges. The mouthfeel is super light weight and polished.”ML
Antonio Galloni 92 points “The 2005 Valtellina Superiore Sassella Riserva Vigna Regina is a very pretty wine to drink today, as the tannins have softened and the flavors show a good deal of complexity. Tobacco, game, incense, iron and dark stone fruits form the backbone in an imposing, brooding Sassella. Mid-weight but slightly burly, the 2005 has enough structure and acidity to drink well for another decade plus. This is a classic Valtellina red built on an understated sense of power. Readers who enjoy firm, structured wines will find much to admire.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $87
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Domaine Guiberteau
Next-Generation Saumur
Arriving Late June
Romain Guiberteau bears one of the most esteemed names in all of the Loire; the Guilberteaus have grown grapes in the region for over the past 100 years. His great-grandfather began purchasing sites in the area prior to the First World War, slowly giving way to a familial tradition and an enviable roster of vineyard sites. Romain’s grandfather, one-time mayor and head of the local growers’ cooperative, was a beloved member of Saumur’s winemaking community. He and his wife built upon the family’s land holdings until their son took over. It was he who converted the domaine to organic viticulture, slowly pulling back land from the co-op for the family’s private use. Soon after, Romain left a career in law and joined his father. Today, Romain carries on family’s traditions while forging the domaine onward.
Worth mentioning is that Romain was mentored by the Foucault brothers over at the inimitable Clos Rougeard. It’d be equally unwise to depend upon the relationship as it would be to downplay it, however. Search online for Guiberteau and you’re sure to come across the proxy-sales and comparisons – “the new Rougeard”, “the Disciple”, and so forth.
Clos Rougeard being the most famed and important domaine of the region makes this a rather impressive – and daunting – comparison. The Guiberteaus and Foucaults share some vineyard sources and, above all, a determination to craft the very best wines possible from their land. These are stand-out wines with true pedigree; whatever it may have been that the Foucaults told Romain, it seems to be working… Domaine Guiberteau itself is now one of the most sought-after producers in the Loire.
The “Domaine” wines from Guiberteau are rendered in all stainless steel with the vision to showcase purity of fruit and freshness. Vineyard-designate wines are raised in both new and used oak with extended lees contact. We’re thrilled to offer an array of the domaine’s wines, all viewable below.
Domaine Guiberteau Wines Arriving Late June:
Domaine Guiberteau Saumur Blanc Le Clos des Carmes, Loire 2012 750ML ($99.95) $79 pre-arrival special
Vinopolnote: Chenin vines planted on clay and limestone soils along the base of Brézé. Hand-harvested and sorted, with native-yeast fermentation and no chapitalization. Aged on the lees for 18-30 months in new and used oak with the intention of aging over 15 years.
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Domaine Guiberteau Saumur Blanc Le Clos des Carmes, Loire 2013 750ML ($99.95) $79 pre-arrival special
Vinopolnote: Chenin vines planted on clay and limestone soils along the base of Brézé. Hand-harvested and sorted, with native-yeast fermentation and no chapitalization. Aged on the lees for 18-30 months in new and used oak with the intention of aging over 15 years.
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Domaine Guiberteau Saumur Blanc Le Clos de Guichaux, Loire 2013 750ML ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival special
Vinopolnote: From younger vines planted to chalk and clay soils. Whole clusters are gently pressed by pneumatic press; native yeast fermentations with light filtration in order to discourage secondary fermentations. Low yields and an all-manual harvest and sorting, with organic viticulture and wines never chapitalized.
Domaine Guiberteau Saumur Blanc Le Clos de Guichaux, Loire 2014 750ML ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival special
Vinopolnote: From younger vines planted to chalk and clay soils. Whole clusters are gently pressed by pneumatic press; native yeast fermentations with light filtration in order to discourage secondary fermentations. Low yields and an all-manual harvest and sorting, with organic viticulture and wines never chapitalized.
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Domaine Guiberteau Saumur Blanc Les Moulins 2015 750ML ($39.95) $33 pre-arrival special
Vinopolnote: All stainless-steel fermentation with the intent to present freshness and complexity of fruit; native yeast fermentations with hand-harvesting and no chapitalization.
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2015 German Rieslings
Arriving May 25th
“The 2015ers are beginning to land on our shores and there is considerable excitement. I’ll be honest, I went to Germany with some doubts (I’m a natural born skeptic of “ripe”) only to be shocked by the cut, the sharpness of the wines. As warm as the year was, in a strange way, I think the vintage is more defined by its coolness. This maybe makes little sense, but that’s how it goes. 2015 is the razor of ripe and the best wines are epic, period.” –Stephen Bitterolf – Vom Boden
After two exhausting and stressful harvests, 2015 was heartily welcomed in Germany. Not only was optimal ripeness achieved, but acidity levels were high. Contrasts are being drawn to the 2001 vintage: “They are dense, locked and loaded with saturating, penetrating fruit. They are rich in mineral and – here’s the kicker – they have a very, very serious acidity” writes the importer von Boden. The vintage offers the richness of a warm year with the balanced acidity of a cool, all with fruit to go gaga over. We’re kicking off the vintage with wines from some of our favorite producers – arriving May 25th!
Julian Haart Riesling, Moselle 2015 750ML ($24.95) $19.50 pre-arrival special
Importer note “From older vines than the 1000L. Includes fruit from the Goldtröpfchen and Ohligsberg vineyards with a touch of young vines from the famed Schubertslay. The simple truth is 2015 is a revelatory, breakthrough vintage for Julian. As good as Julian’s first four vintages were, his 2015ers are simply on another level. They are pure energy incarnate.”
Weingut Keller Gruner Silvaner Trocken, Rheinhessen 2015 750ML ($27.95) $21.90 pre-arrival special
Importer note “[Of Keller in general] The fact that Keller’s wines are awesome in an awesome vintage should surprise no one. To my palate though, the last two vintages at Keller have also been awesome. So we’re sort of in a holding pattern at level “awesome.”
Weingut Keller Riesling Trocken, Rheinhessen 2015 750ML ($24.95) $20.90 pre-arrival special
Importer note “For those that love their limestone. Keller’s signature style is on display. Make no mistake – this is Kimmeridgian wine. It’s about minerality and finesse. This is possibly the most singular domaine in all of Germany. Kellers top wines now sell for hundreds of dollars a bottle. This is the frugal Riesling lover’s backdoor.”
Peter Lauer ‘Barrel X’ Saar Riesling, Mosel 2015 750ML ($24.95) $19 pre-arrival special
Importer note “You all know by now the stratospheric work Florian is doing in the Saar. This has always been the ambassador wine from the winery but this vintage elsevates to Senior levels of complexity.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
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Not Much Left!
Two Hands Shiraz 2013
Two Hands Wines Bella’s Garden Shiraz, Barossa Valley 2013 750ML ($79.95) $47 special, 18 bottles remaining
Case-12 Two Hands Wines Bella’s Garden Shiraz, Barossa Valley 2013 750ML ($349.95) $249 special, 4 half-cases remaining
Wine Advocate 94+ points “Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2013 Shiraz Bella’s Garden has wonderfully pure black and blue fruit notes of crushed blackberries, wild blueberries and cassis with nuances of black pepper, star anise, tar and cumin seed. Big, rich and concentrated in the mouth, the full-bodied palate bursts with peppered blackberry flavors supported by firm, grainy tannins and lively acidity, finishing with great persistence.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
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