Featured New Review for Mount Eden Estate Cab
Superb Tuscans: Piaggia Carmignanos
New to Our June Sale
Affordable Piedmont Gems – New Reviews
Beajoulais Extravaganza!
New Wine Advocate Reviews
Rosé of the Day!
#Trending
Petrolo Galatrona
Magnificent Mosel Estates
The Summer of Brunello:
Argiano & I Sodi di San Niccolo
Succulent Sardinian
William Fevre Chablis
Featured New Review
Mount Eden Estate Hits it Out of the Park!
Wine Advocate 96 points “The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate is developing beautifully, unfurling in the glass with aromas of cassis, tobacco, bay laurel, dark chocolate and rich soil. On the palate, it’s medium to full-bodied, multidimensional and concentrated, with wonderful savory depth, fine grained but firm tannins and a long, taut and tangy finish. While this is firmly shut down today, its potential for the future is fully evident: expect it to begin to come into its own around its tenth birthday.”
Piaggia
Superb Tuscans
What is Carmingano? One of the greatest regions in Tuscany that no one’s ever heard of. This classic appellation was growing international varieties such as Cab Sauv way back before the signing of the Declaration of Independence. In modern times, it was lumped into the Chianti region for decades until local wine-makers successfully petitioned the government to create a separate DOC. In 1990, it was elevated to DOCG. The wines are a minimum of 50% Sangiovese, with Canaiolo Nero, Cab Sauv and Cab Franc allowed, too. It produces intense, rich reds with an Italian soul and the Piaggia estate produces some of the finest examples of the region.
Piaggia Il Sasso, Carmignano DOCG 2015 750ML ($37.95) $31.90 special
Case-12 Piaggia Il Sasso, Carmignano DOCG 2015 750ML ($419.95) $339 special (that’s only $28.25/bottle!)
Antonio Galloni 95 points “Piaggia’s 2015 Carmignano Il Sasso is rich, ample and voluptuous in what is a very representative expression of the year. Black cherry, plum, lavender, spice, tobacco and dried herbs develop in the glass, but the 2015 is all about fruit intensity and texture. There is not much subtlety here, but wow, is the 2015 gorgeous.”
Antonio Galloni 94 points “A wine of explosive energy and power, the 2014 Carmignano Riserva Piaggia possesses an unreal level of concentration for the year. A rush of red cherry, pomeranate, orange peel and exotic spice makes a strong statement. Quite simply, the 2014 is a total knock-out. Don’t miss it.”
Piaggia Poggio de Colli Cabernet Franc Toscana IGT, Tuscany 2014 750ML ($59.95) $38 special
Wine Advocate 92+ points “A pure expression of Cabernet Franc (aged in barrique for 18 months), the 2014 Poggio de’ Colli shows fine texture and bold intensity. The bouquet is beautifully polished and integrated with black fruit, spice, leather, smoke and balsam herb. This wine stands apart for the very nuanced and fine personality it shows in the mouth. It covers the palate with silky intensity but it delivers power and momentum at the same time. This is a terrific wine in an underrated vintage.”
The next best price is $44.99
Arriving in September
Antonio Galloni 95 points “The 2015 Cabernet Franc Poggio de’ Colli is another compelling wine from Piaggia. Silky, aromatically precise and wonderfully nuanced, the 2015 has it all. Lavender, blueberry jam and spice are some of the many notes that develop with time in the glass. This powerful, resonant Franc from Piaggia is deeply satisfying from the very first taste.”
June Sale
New Additions!
Domaine Bernard & Thierry Glantenay Les Santenots, Volnay Premier Cru 2015 750ML ($99.95) Was $79, Now $69 Clearance Price
Neal Martin – Wine Advocate 90-92 points “The 2015 Volnay 1er Cru Santenots was completely de-stemmed and apparently some of the berries showed some fig-like characteristics just before harvest, therefore Thierry wanted to avoid any sur-maturité. It has a perfumed and floral bouquet with a light marine/seaweed scent lending complexity. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannin, well-measured acidity and a gentle but insistent grip in the mouth. There is good depth here, a Santenots with substance, though it needs a tad more complexity and nuance to develop on the velvety, rich and generous finish. One to watch.”
Domaine de Triennes Rose, IGP Var 2017 1.5L ($39.95) $26 pre-arrival Clearance Price
VinopolNote: A long-time customer favorite at the shop that is the side project of some certain big names of some certain cult Burgundy producers (Jacques Seysses of Domaine Dujac and Aubert de Villaine of DRC). The sunny slopes of Mediterranean have been the home of this winery and vineyard since 1990 where the friends found the perfect terroir to craft these limestone-influenced, refreshing wines. The rosé is light, bright and refreshing, with notes of red berries and white flowers.
Winemakers’ note “We make our wines the way we like to drink them. For the whites and the rosé, this means a constant search for freshness and aromas. Triennes rosé is the perfect accompaniment to a sunny summer afternoon.”
The next best price is $29.99
Browse the full list of June Clearance Sale wines below or click here to shop on our web store!
New Reviews for
Affordable Piedmont Gems
From Antonio Galloni
Cantina del Pino Barbera D’Alba, Piedmont 2015 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 special, 20 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni 92 points “The 2015 Barbera d’Alba is gorgeous. Intense and flamboyantly ripe, the 2015 nevertheless retains good freshness and energy to play off the succulent fruit. The 2015 spent a year in neutral French oak barrels. What a joyous bottle of wine this is.”
The next best price is $23.95
Francesco Rinaldi & Figli Barbera d’Alba, Piedmont 2015 750ML ($27.95) $24 special, 21 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni 92 points “Rinaldi’s 2015 Barbera d’Alba is a winner. Deep, uncutuous and radiant, the 2015 captures all of the richness of the year in its resonant, layered fruit. Red cherry jam, wild flowers and sweet spices are pushed forward in a wine that melds together super-ripe fruit with the bright acidity of Barbera and the structure the Rinaldi wines are known for. Don’t miss it!”
Only Two Remaining:
New Wine Advocate Reviews
Chateau Thivin Cote de Brouilly, Beaujolais 2016 3L ($189.95) $159 special
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 92 points “The 2016 Cote de Brouilly from Château Thivin is lovely, wafting from the glass with notes of creamy black plums, cassis, pomegranate and incipient notes of rich soil. On the palate, it’s medium-bodied, supple and velvety, with succulent acids, fine-grained tannins and lovely mid-palate depth and concentration. After the additional power and amplitude of the 2015 rendition, the 2016 marks a return to more classical proportions.”
Pierre-Marie Chermette Domaine du Vissoux Fleurie Poncie, Beaujolais 2016 750ML ($29.95) $26 special
Case-12 Pierre-Marie Chermette Domaine du Vissoux Fleurie Poncie, Beaujolais 2016 750ML ($339.95) $279 special (that’s only $23.25/bottle and the lowest listed price in the USA today!)
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 93 points “Chermette’s 2016 Fleurie Poncié is beautiful, wafting from the glass with a bright bouquet of raspberries, rose petal and red cherries. On the palate, the wine is medium-bodied, satiny and transparent, with melting tannins and a suppleness and purity that belie its quiet intensity and concentration. As in all his 2016s, the balance is pitch-perfect, and while this can be drunk now with unabashed pleasure, it can easily evolve for a decade or more. Anyone who has experienced the glories of “méthode ancienne” Beaujolais from the 1950s and 1960s will find more than an echo of those wines here. The vines in Poncié are 35 years old and grow in a sloping vineyard of degraded pink granite, exposed to the southeast.”
Pierre-Marie Chermette Domaine du Vissoux Moulin-a-Vent Les Trois Roches, Beaujolais 2016 750ML ($29.95) $26 special
Case-12 Pierre-Marie Chermette Domaine du Vissoux Moulin-a-Vent Les Trois Roches, Beaujolais 2016 750ML ($339.95) $279 special (that’s only $23.25/bottle and the lowest listed price in the USA today!)
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 94 points “The 2016 Moulin à Vent Les Trois Roches is extremely elegant this year, opening in the glass with a pretty nose of cherries, pomegranate and sweet spices. On the palate, it’s medium to full-bodied, supple and perfectly balanced, with considerable understated amplitude, melting tannins and tangy underlying acids. Right now, it isn’t the most demonstrative of Chermette’s cuvées, but those who’ve experienced his reliably superb wines will recognize in its unerring harmoniousness a benchmark rendition of this cuvée. Cellar it for 2 or 3 years and watch it unfurl.”
Killer Carignan
Jeb Dunnuck 94 points “Much more aromatic and complex, the 2013 Faugères Jadis (Carignan, Grenache and Syrah) is a sensational 2013 that boasts killer notes of ripe blackcurrants, lavender, garrigue and cured meats. Layered, sexy, and concentrated, with sweet tannin, it has more depth and richness than most in the vintage, and while it’s already hard to resist, it will keep through 2023, easily. Bravo!”
Revisiting a Superstar
Re-Reviewed and Still as Perfect as Ever!
Arriving in September
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 98 points “Tasted again in May 2018 along with the corresponding Graacher Himmelreich Auslese *** the 2016 Riesling Kinheimer Hubertuslay Auslese *** (Golden Capsule) opens with a very clear and floral flavored bouquet intertwined with finest flinty aromas and a generous ripeness but also precision. Fascinating! The palate is generously sweet but elegant, highly finessed and almost weightless in its perfect balance. This fruit is irresistible! Perfectly ripe and healthy raisins, finest Riesling berries from a fastidious selection process. The finish is so incredibly delicious that it is almost impossible to share a bottle: You will most probably have emptied the bottle on your own before you will have realised that your counterpart likes second glass as well. This is so filigreed and utterly balanced that it’s nothing but a gorgeous drinking experience. Ripe pears in the aftertaste.”
Rosé of the Day!
Classic Provence, Classic Calavon
Provence is ground zero for the classical modern style of rosé, and among our selection of Provencal rosé, Calavon is a perennial favorite. Pale, crisp and bright, it’s resoundingly dry and fresh with good peachy fruit. In short it’s what a lot of us think of when we think of rosé, and its year-over-year sales are very much a testament to that. This is a classic.
Chateau de Calavon Coteaux d’Aix-en-Provence Rose, Provence 2017 750ML ($21.95) $18 special
Case-12 Chateau de Calavon Coteaux d’Aix-en-Provence Rose, Provence 2017 750ML ($249.95) $179 special (that’s only $14.92/bottle!)
Winery note “This is the unique cuvée of rosé from Calavon. It comes from a rigorous selection from the best parcels of Calavon. The vintage 2017, issued from a majority of Grenache, black and gray, offers the originality of a blend with Syrah and Rolle. Both round and fresh, it is the perfect rosé for summer lunches by the sea: grilled red mullet in garlic cream, bouillabaisse or lamb tajine with candied lemon.”
The next best price is $21.99
#Trending
The Hottest Wines of the Weekend
Said to be the top selling glass pour in the Portland market. You could pay $10-$12 per glass, but we’re selling it at $4/glass at the case-6 price and even less on the case-12 price:
Elouan Pinot Noir, Oregon 2016 750ML ($21.95) $18 Clearance Price
Case-6 Elouan Pinot Noir, Oregon 2016 750ML ($129.95) $99 Clearance Price (that’s only $16.50/bottle!)
Case-12 Elouan Pinot Noir, Oregon 2016 750ML ($249.95) $179 Clearance Price (that’s only $14.92/bottle!)
Wine Spectator 88 points “Well-knit and approachable, with delicate raspberry and spice flavors. Drink now through 2022.”
Reynvaan Family Vineyards ‘The Classic’ Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Walla Walla Valley 2015 750ML ($89.95) $69 special
Jeb Dunnuck 94 points “The 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from the estate, the 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon The Classic has a touch of Pauillac like lead pencil and graphite to go with plenty of ripe black currant fruit, tobacco leaf, and underbrush aromas and flavors. This medium to full-bodied, ripe, seamless Cabernet has sweet tannin, moderate acidity, and an already impossible to resist character. Drink it anytime over the coming decade.”
Produttori del Barbaresco Montefico, Barbaresco Riserva DOCG 2013 750ML ($99.95) $79 special
Wine Enthusiast 97 points– Cellar Selection “Still young but already boasting extraordinary pedigree, this fantastic wine opens with hallmark scents of wild berry, new leather, chopped herb, tilled soil and a whiff of violet. The polished, full-bodied palate delivers juicy wild cherry, crushed raspberry, white pepper and licorice while youthfully assertive, noble tannins and bright acidity provide age-worthy structure. A pipe tobacco note lingers on the finish. Drink 2023–2038.”
Antonio Galloni 96+ points “The Barbaresco Riserva Montefico shows all the energy and focus that is typical of this great site, but there is so much depth to the fruit that some of the more angular contours have been softened. Bright saline-infused notes lead to wild flowers and an exotic melange of red fruits in this beautifully delineated, vivid Barbaresco. All the elements are simply in the right place.”
Wine Spectator 95 points “This beefy red evokes cherry, licorice, herb, mineral and tobacco aromas and flavors. Rich and densely structured, with iron, tobacco and cherry notes lingering on the long finish. Best from 2023 through 2035.”
Tranche Cellars Celilo Vineyard Chardonnay, Columbia Gorge 2011 750ML ($39.95) $16.60 special
Case- Tranche Cellars Celilo Vineyard Chardonnay, Columbia Gorge 2011 750ML ($399.95) $179 special (that’s only $14.92/bottle!)
Wine Advocate 94 points “Another new wine that doesn’t fit into the above categories, the 2011 Chardonnay comes from a dry farmed vineyard located on the Washington/Oregon border, in the Columbia Gorge AVA. Spending 12 months in 40% new French oak and with Montrachet-like richness and depth, it’s loaded with ripe apple, citrus, mineral, toasted nut and brioche aromas on the nose. This flows to a medium to full-bodied Chardonnay that has gorgeous mid-palate depth, awesome precision and purity, and a blockbuster finish. A total gem, it should shine for 4-5 years. Drink now-2018.”
Bear Flag Wines Zinfandel, Sonoma County 2015 750ML ($21.95) $18 special
Wine Spectator 92 points “Plump and piquant, with expressive blackberry and orange zest aromas and lots of personality, accenting smoky cracked pepper and black olive flavors that build toward zesty tannins. Drink now through 2022. 11,000 cases made.”
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. This historic estate was started in 1900, but was not selling their own wine until the early 1970’s and not a serious domaine until Bonfils the elder got things rolling in the 1980’s. Since then [the estate] has made a significant impact joining the greats of the region with traditional and authentic wines, joining the classic likes of Saint-Damien, Saint-Cosme, du Cayron, Grapillon d’Or, Montirius, Montmirail, Château du Trignon and La Bouissiere, as well as the new guys on the block L’Ourea and Kermit Lynch’s Les Pallieres. 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. Imported by Rosenthal Wine Merchant, Domaine de Gour de Chaule Gigondas “Cuvee Tradition” is always a treat and a bell weather for the year. 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.”
The average price is $32
Plouzeau Chinon Rive Gauche Rose, Loire 2017 750ML ($17.95) $14 special
Case-12 Plouzeau Chinon Rive Gauche Rose, Loire 2017 750ML ($189.95) $149 special (that’s only $12.42/bottle!)
Direct press Cab Franc, hand-harvested, natural yeasts only. Organic.
Domaine de Triennes Sainte Fleur Viognier, IGP Var 2016 750ML ($21.95) $14 special
Case-12 Domaine de Triennes Sainte Fleur Viognier, IGP Var 2016 750ML ($239.95) $149 special (that’s only $12.42/bottle and the lowest listed price in the USA today!)
Importer Note “From 25- to 30-year-old vines sourced from the clay, limestone soils of Provence. The wine is fermented in temperature-controlled tanks. Some of the wine undergoes malolactic fermentation, while the remainder is blocked at an earlier stage to retain its freshness. Élevage occurs in 100% stainless steel tanks for 6 months to preserve freshness. The lots are subsequently blended.”
Petrolo Galatrona
The Pomerol Slayer at Incredible Prices
This is one for the Massetto or Pomerol fans. It’s rich with chocolate, black fruit and dusty leather and mushroom; Galatrona is a wine of serious nature, but isn’t brooding or heavy. Even the 2010, which has years to tell its entire story, isn’t beyond enjoyability even now. For those who love Super-Tuscans or Right-Bank Bordeaux, this is a bargain of the highest order.
Petrolo Galatrona Valdarno di Sopra, Tuscany 2009 750ML ($99.95) $79 special
James Suckling 97 points “Amazing aromas of black truffles, crushed blackberries and dark chocolate. Dried flowers too. Full-bodied, with wonderful fruit that is layered and gorgeous. The finish is fruity, long and stylish. Give it three years to come together. Best after 2013.”
Antonio Galloni 94 points “The 2009 Galatrona is a beautifully centered wine. It shows terrific energy, freshness and vibrancy from start to finish. Cassis, blackberries, mint, spices and new leather are all woven together nicely in the 2009. Firm yet well-integrated tannins support the finish. Although quite overt today, the 2009 appears to have the structure to age well for a number of years. The 2009 is a serious wine with a bright future. Both bottles I tasted were immensely pleasing. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2024.”
The next best price is $104.89
That’s over $25/bottle less than the next best price!
Wine Advocate 96 points “A massive expression of Merlot, the 2010 Galatrona is heaven-sent. The layers are infinite here spanning dark fruit, spice and chocolate. I fall in love with this wine year after year. The mouth is caressed with stirring complexity and fine tannins that feel silky and smooth. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2030.”
James Suckling 95 points “Aromas of black olives, violets and fresh fruit follow through to a full body, with a dense palate of dark fruits and olives. Long and polished. Handmade wine. You sense it. Pure Merlot sensation.”
James Suckling 96-97 points “The depth of fruit and intensity of tannins that set this Galatrona aside are some of the most impressive in years. Full body, velvety tannins and a long finish. A new 2004?”
Arriving This Friday & Next!
Heymann-Loewenstein
Reinhard Löwenstein fits in with this region, then, as an absolute perfectionist who will do any and everything possible to make sure that his wines are as profound as possible. His yields and selection in the vineyards are made solely with quality in mind and he holds his wines back longer before release than most German producers—cash flow be damned.
In terms of style, the word that comes to mind when tasting these wines is ‘mineral.’ Not minerality paired with fruitiness, like with much Mosel Riesling, but sheer rockiness in liquid form. The wines are lean, racy and benefit from air or a few years in bottle, but are incredibly rewarding in the way that only the great wines of the world can be.
New Releases Arriving This Friday, June 8th
Heymann-Loewenstein Uhlen ‘R’ Roth Lay Riesling, Mosel 2015 750ML ($89.95) $79 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 95-97 points “Tasted from the barrel and still dusty in its ripe golden color, the 2015 Riesling Uhlen R ‘VDP Grosse Lage’ (which is always bottled late) combines super ripe, rich and intense tropical fruit aromas (pineapples) with the spicy flavors of red (iron-rich) slate. The palate, however, is stunningly pure and finessed, highly elegant and almost light whereas the finish is very long, full of salt, grip and tension. A great promise!”
Mosel Fine Wines 94 points “This delivers an stunning nose with great depth, cool aromatics and finesse as notes of spices, mint, dried herbs, white peach, citrus peel and smoke and flowery elements emerge from the glass. The wine starts on the cool and fresh side on the palate, and only gradually develops its structure and intensity as it unfolds. It offers great length and intensity without ever being overpowering. The after-taste is just subtly and delicately tart. This dry Riesling is quite a tour de force and amply confirms our initial high expectations from cask (see Issue No 32 for the initial tasting note). 2022-2035.”
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2016 Riesling Röttgen ‘VDP Grosse Lage’ is pure and flinty on the nose, with bright fruit and mineral aromas on the nose. On the palate, this is a piquant, fresh and well structured as well as intense and persistent Riesling with cacao flavors in the finish. Terribly fresh and piquant, this is a remarkable Riesling. Tasted February 2018.”
Heymann-Loewenstein Schieferterrassen Riesling, Mosel 2016 750ML ($37.95) $29 pre-arrival special
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 89 points “The 2016 Riesling “Schieferterrassen” is ripe and flinty on the nose, spicy and piquant, with lingering salinity and intense fruit on the palate. Tensioned and stimulating, with good ripeness, but a lush and elegant wine.”
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 91 points “The 2016 Riesling Kirchberg ‘VDP Grosse Lage’ is super ripe and flinty on the nose, with caramelly aromas. Pure, fresh and mineral, with a fine, mineral structure and lingering salinity, this is a tensioned Riesling with good phenolic structure.”
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 92 points “The 2016 Riesling Stolzenberg ‘VDP Grosse Lage’ is super clear, deep and flinty on the nose. Medium to full-bodied, this is a a seriously complex and piquant Riesling with intensity and piquant, mineral acidity. The finish is long, tensioned and salty, with grip and a persistent finish. Tasted February 2018.”
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 93+ points “The 2016 Riesling Uhlen B ‘VDP Grosse Lage’ is pure, fresh and rich at the same time, with flinty aromas on the nose. Full-bodied, precise and piquant on the palate, this is an elegant, fresh and salty Riesling with a lot of tension and length. Powerful. Long.”
Mosel Fine Wines 92 points “This offers a gorgeous nose of candied grapefruit zest, some star fruit, ripe pear and apple, all wrapped into the telltale classy touch of fine spices and herbs so typical of the Estate. The wine is medium-bodied on the palate and leaves a beautifully pure, spicy and mineral-loaded feel in the long and delicately powerful finish. This is a gorgeous wine in the making with a hint of power and nice saltiness in the after-taste.”
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 93 points “From a slate soil with 10% chalk, the 2016 Riesling Uhlen L ‘VDP Grosse Lage’ shows licorice, flinty and bright fruit aromas on the nose. Juicy, piquant and tensioned on the palate, this is an intense and complex Riesling with lush and intense fruit. The finish is long and promising. Tasted February 2018.”
Mosel Fine Wines 92+ points “This offers a stunning even if still rather reduced nose of pear, grapefruit, start fruit, ginger and smoky elements. The wine is beautifully balanced on the palate, where creamy fruits are nicely wrapped into a hint of acidity and some superb mineral and herby elements. The delicately powerful after-taste oozes refinement, under-toned freshness and multi-layered complexity. This is a gorgeous Uhlen L in the making and one with great upside potential as the wine gains in elegance at maturity.”
Willi Haag 2016s Arriving Friday, June 15th
Weingut Willi Haag Brauneberger Juffer Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese, Mosel 2016 750ML ($49.95) $39 pre-arrival special
David Schildknecht – Vinous 90 points “Picked from October 17 to 19, this bottling reflects the characteristic ripeness of Juffer-Sonnenuhr as well as relatively early noble rot. Muskmelon, peach and mango are laced with rowan and almond extract on an impressively heady nose. The extremely ripe fruits reconvene on a sumptuously creamy, glycerol-rich palate, with peach kernel piquancy adding welcome counterpoint and pushback to the wine’s prominent sweetness. While lusciously long, this finishes less brightly than the corresponding Juffer and without its mineral savor.”
Weingut Willi Haag Brauneberger Juffer Riesling Auslese, Mosel 2016 750ML ($37.95) $33 pre-arrival special
David Schildknecht – Vinous 91 points “Originating in the Haags’ prime parcel of Bürgerslay, this delivers a headily ripe, tropical nose of mango, muskmelon and peach. Hints of almond turn into suggestions of marzipan on a creamy and lusciously fruited palate, whose tropicality is nicely cut by tangy and piquant suggestions of peach near the pit. Fresh lime adds welcome brightness and a pinch of salt lends saliva-inducement to a lingering finish. Picking here was relatively early – October 18. Markus Haag said that these vines being trained to wires, rather than in the old single-post style still prevalent in his vineyards, is one reason their fruit tends to ripen more rapidly than elsewhere in the Juffer.”
Weingut Willi Haag Brauneberger Juffer Riesling Kabinett, Mosel 2016 750ML ($27.95) $21.90 pre-arrival special
David Schildknecht – Vinous “Fresh lime, white peach and apple are incisively tinged with fresh ginger on the nose and on a silken, glycerol-rich palate, displaying textural allure that is regrettably rare among the Willi Haag 2016s. But that sense of richness has not come at the expense of refreshing primary juiciness. Peach kernel and almond lend bittersweet counterpoint, fresh ginger invigoration and a touch of salinity saliva-inducement to a lingering finish. There is a faintly dank, earthy note hiding out there, but it is, for now at least, not upsetting. “If there was any botrytis here, it was minimal,” noted Markus Haag, a remark by implication revealing of how widespread it was for him in 2016, depriving some wines of edge, clarity and brightness that they might otherwise have possessed.”
Weingut Willi Haag Piesporter Goldtropfchen Riesling Kabinett, Mosel 2016 750ML ($27.95) $21.90 pre-arrival special
David Schildknecht – Vinous “Penetrating scents of lemon and grapefruit laced with woodruff and wintergreen usher in a palate unusually citric and coolingly herbal when compared with the Willi Haag 2016s from Brauneberg or Veldenz. But given that midpalate citricity, I’m surprised at a finish that proves rather sedate and only modest in length. Still, it offers admirable refreshment and a hint of counterpoint by way of stony impingement. Last year’s more exciting inaugural bottling from this famous site was also a Kabinett. Hopefully we’ll soon get to experience a Willi Haag Goldtröpfchen Spätlese.”
David Schildknecht – Vinous 91 points “A gorgeous nose offers rowan, almond extract, ripe white peach, honeydew melon and quince. The glycerol-slicked palate offers a similarly colorful array of flavors. And for a wine obviously marked by botrytis, this finishes with unexpected clarity and abundance of fresh fruit juiciness (aided by an influx of grapefruit) to accompany its honeyed undertone and heady inner-mouth perfume. The overall effect is irresistibly luscious. This fermented until February, long by estate standards, which seems to have been all to the good.”
David Schildknecht – Vinous “Mirabelle, muskmelon and pineapple inform the nose and a juicy yet creamy, subtly glossy palate, on which an appealing slick of quince jelly points to the influence of botrytis. The finish here is lusciously sustained albeit rather sedate, lacking in non-fruit nuances and dominantly sweet.”
The Summer of Brunello
Top Producers
Arriving in August
James Suckling 96 points “Fantastic aromas of orange peel and dark berry with plenty of plum and cherry. Sweet tobacco and mushrooms. Full body, juicy and fruity with firm tannins and a fresh finish. Complex and gorgeous. Fine and very long. Drink now.”
Castellare di Castellina ‘I Sodi di San Niccolo’ Toscana IGT, Tuscany 2013 750ML ($89.95) $66 pre-arrival special
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 96 points “The 2013 I Sodi di S. Niccolò is 85% Sangioveto (a more antique name for Sangiovese) and 15% Malvasia Nera from a single vineyard. This wine opens to a darkly saturated appearance and shows ruby, garnet and purple highlights. The bouquet is powerful but seamless at the same time with smooth transitions between dark cherry, spice, tobacco and moist clay. In the mouth, this wine shows dense extraction, but it never feels too weighed down by that mass. Instead, the freshness of the fruit and the natural acidity give the wine a bright and buoyant personality. Aged in barrique for 30 months, this is a delightful Tuscan red.”
A succulent red from the island of Sardinia
Case-6 Ferruccio Deiana Sileno Cannonau di Sardegna Riserva, Sardinia 2014 750ML ($179.95) $146 pre-arrival special (that’s only $24.33/bottle!)
Decanter 97 points “A lovely juicy fresh nose of sour cherry and red plum, the palate has a really plush feel with layers of rich concentrated red and black fruit, with herbal savoury hints and lovely gentle tannin.”
