In This Newsletter: New ArrivalsKruger-Rumpf, Carl Loewen, Sivilli, Hexamer, and more!Staff Pick New ArrivalA Treasure of a RoseNew Close-Out Wine SaleA wine that shape-shifts and beguiles, as much it wrestles with the senses.”
New Arrivals
Germany
Kruger-Rumpf 
“Are you kidding me?” That’s what we say every time we see the price tag for the latest release of Kruger-Rumpf’s sumptuous Rieslings. The awesome value of these wines continually leaves us absolutely dumbfounded.
With a history that winds all the way back to 1708, it’s obvious that the current owners, Georg and Julia Kruger-Rumpf, don’t need an enormous marketing budget to sell these wines. They move off the shelves based on word of mouth and brand loyalty.
Known for their balance, minerality, and aging potential, Kruger-Rumpf wines showcase the unique terroir of the Nahe region. The Abtei bottlings are exceptional examples of Riesling, offering great value with an old vine pedigree, while the Grosses Gewachs (GG) offerings are a fantastic opportunity to sample the finest Riesling vineyards on the planet.
We have the lowest listed prices in the country for these wines:
Kruger-Rumpf Abtei ‘1937 Reserv’ Riesling Trocken, Nahe, Germany 2022 750ml $41.90 special, 24 bottles available(Not yet reviewed. 2021 vintage provided for reference)Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate“The 2021 Bingerbrücker Abtei Rupertsberg “1937” Riesling trocken shows a deep, clear, refined and elegant, complex and predominantly stony bouquet with notes of fresh lemon juice and some herbal nuances. Mouthfilling, round and vital on the palate, with crystalline and savory acidity, this is a silky, supple and fruit-intense but always elegant and refined dry Riesling from vines planted in 1937. The 2021 reveals a palatable phenolic structure and currently lacks some charm, but its stimulating lemon notes and saline vitality are highly promising.”
…also new from Kruger-Rumpf:
Weingut Hexamer
With a name like Harald Hexamer, you might be expecting a Death Metal guitarist or cult horror filmmaker. What you get instead is a clean-cut, sustainability and terroir obsessed winemaker from the Nahe. Harald is pulling fruit from amazing crafting some of the cleanest, purest Rieslings this side of Donnhoff. Weingut Hexamer Meddersheimer Altenberg Riesling Kabinett, Nahe, Germany 2022 750ml $24 special, 12 bottles availableStuart Pigott (JamesSuckling.com) 92 Points “Masses of fresh pineapple, passion fruit and lemon curd aromas fill out this generous and juicy riesling Kabinett. Frankly off-dry, but there’s more than enough acidity and wet stone freshness to deftly balance this delicious crowd-pleaser.” Weingut Hexamer Quarzit Riesling, Nahe, Germany 2022 750ml $21.90 special, 36 bottles availableStuart Pigott (JamesSuckling.com) 92 Points “This riesling tastes barely off-dry thanks to the brilliant lemony acidity and wet stone minerality that make it hop, skip and jump over the barely medium-bodied palate. Very long, zesty finish.”
Carl Loewen
In the 1980’s and 90’s when the German wine industry was still in terrible disarray, the Loewen family began buying up the steepest, most dilapidated, and unwanted vineyards in Mosel and rehabilitating them. In addition, many of these vineyards still retained super low-yielding, ungrafted, plantings up to 120 years old! These wines present an authenticity that simply cannot be found from younger plantings or upstart wineries still trying to find their sea-legs. Weingut Carl Loewen Estate Riesling, Mosel, Germany 2022 750ml $21.90 special, 24 bottles available
Lowest price in the United States
Weingut Jakob Schneider
“Jakob Schneider may not be one of the best-known names in the Nahe – if you live outside of Germany – but perhaps it should be… ” –Jancis Robinson Jakob Schneider Niederhauser Hermannshohle Riesling Spatlese, Nahe, Germany 2022 750ml $33 special, 36 bottles available Weingut Ziereisen
Importer’s Note “It means “grasshopper,” and is their basic Chasselas, though it’s hardly “basic” with 13 months on the fine lees. An original, nutty wine that’s as tasty as a dumpling, it should be by-the-glass everywhere!”
Ever hear the saying, “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure?” Well, that man’s name is Tom Sivilli.
As the assistant winemaker for Cameron, he is responsible for some of our very favorite (and best-selling) Willamette Valley Pinot Noirs and Chardonnay. That’s his day job.
His passion project, however, is crafting the best sparkling wines that the Willamette Valley has to offer. Yes, there is a lot of competition in that field, but if you’ve had the privilege of trying his small-production Abbey Ridge sourced Blanc de Blancs or Blanc de Noirs sparklers then you understand.
This Rosé’s name translates literally to “Trash” and it features the unused pinot noir grapes from Sivilli Wine Co.’s fantastic sparkling wines. He makes this pleasant, easy-drinking wine to off-set the bottle costs for his sparkling wines. So not only do you get a fantastically priced, excellent Rosé when you purchase this bottle, you help Tom produce the next vintage of Sivilli Sparkling wines.
Sivilli Wine Co. “Poubelle” Rosé of Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley, Oregon 2023 750ml $16 special, 24 bottles availableTracy “This is a less austere interpretation of Pinot Noir Rosé than we often see in the Willamette. There is a welcoming whiff of fresh strawberry on the nose, with a soft (but nicely balanced) mouth feel, stone-fruit notes on the palette, and tart raspberry on the finish. This is the bargain Rosé of the summer!”
New Close-Out Wines! Dal Forno
“The Dal Forno production is always an artful expression, as these are wines that can be made in no other hands. This is because of the unique qualities of the Lodoletta Vineyard, which has alluvial clay soils, and the proprietary technology used during fermentation and winemaking.” -Monica Larner, Wine Advocate
In a few wine regions throughout the world, there exists one individual or family that defines the style of the region. When it comes to Valpolicella, the Dal Forno family does just that, crafting deeply concentrated expressions for over thirty years.
Established in 1983 by Romano Dal Forno, the estate vaulted to the heights of perfection in the Venato. The family employs traditional winemaking techniques, such as extended drying of the grapes before pressing, to craft their serious and seriously concentrated wines.
First up: the Amazin’ Amarones at the absolute lowest prices in the United States:
WAS $419Dal Forno Romano Monte Lodoletta, Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG, Italy 2015 750ml $379 special, 12 bottles availableJames Suckling 100 Points “This is black as pitch in the glass and, yes, there’s a light, tarry edge to the super-concentrated prune, date and currant fruit. But even more interesting are the complex notes of bitter-orange liqueur, aged balsamic, fresh roasting herbs, cinnamon, roasted chestnuts, black tea and licorice. The more you decant in advance, the more nuances will emerge. It’s full-bodied with huge concentration and lots of chewy tannin that is managing to hold the fruit back for now. This needs plenty of time to develop in the bottle. Just superb. One of the greatest Dal Forno’s ever.”Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 97 Points “The ultimate statement wine from northern Italy is the 2015 Amarone della Valpolicella Monte Lodoletta … It will hold the line for years and decades to come and promises to age gracefully … It’s an expensive bottle for collectors, but you get lots of bang for your buck.”
Lowest listed price in the United States
WAS $379Dal Forno Romano Monte Lodoletta, Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG, Italy 2012 750ml $329 special, 12 bottles in stock nowJames Suckling 97 points “A decadent nose of treacle tart, chocolate, tar, tons of black fruit such as blackberries and mulberries and even ash and licorice. A dense, layered mouthfeel makes for a full-bodied palate that’s explosive yet somehow so refined and pretty all at the same time. The finish goes on and on. Incredible now, but better to wait for this giant to settle well into 2020.” Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 96 points “…a beautifully complete wine, even at this young stage in its life… ”
Lowest listed price in the United States
WAS $449Dal Forno Romano Vigneto Monte Lodoletta, Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG, Italy 2017 750ml $379 special, 6 bottles availableJames Sucking 98 Points ” …A tour de force, despite the sheer morass of palate-staining fruit. The malty oak is evident, yet operates as a welcome adjunct to corral and compress the swashbuckle of coffee grinds, beef bouillon, mint, leather varnish and saturated dark cherry liqueur, into a sheath of tension as much as sheer power. Grapes are dried for 70-80 days. This may seem obvious initially, but as one works it out in the glass and across the inner gums, the multitudinous layers become evident. A wine that shape-shifts and beguiles, as much it wrestles with the senses.”Eric Guido-Vinous 97 Points “This is dark, sultry and almost animalistic in nature… “
Lowest listed price on the West Coast
Next up: The Venerable Valpolicellas… WAS $179Dal Forno Romano Vigneto Monte Lodoletta Valpolicella Superiore, Veneto, Italy 2007 750ml $149 special, 2 bottles availableMonica Larner-Wine Advocate 94 Points ” ,,,The fascinating aromatic medley includes dark spice, prune, Spanish cedar, tar, black licorice, balsam herb and blackberry tart. The mouthfeel is plush and rich with super-tight tannins that grip nervously to the finish. It has only started its bottle evolution and requires more time to soften and develop.” WAS $169Dal Forno Romano Vigneto Monte Lodoletta Valpolicella Superiore, Veneto, Italy 2008 750ml $149 special, 4 bottles availableAntonio Galloni-Vinous 94 Points “A dark, super-ripe wine, the 2008 Valpolicella Superiore is fabulous in this vintage. Smoke, tar, incense, licorice and blackberry jam hit the palate in a massive, intense Valpolicella loaded with class and personality. Even with all of the concentration, the 2008 is quite a bit less tannic than some recent vintages have been, which makes it accessible even today, especially if given a little air. There is a lot to admire in this drop-dead gorgeous Valpolicella from Romano Dal Forno.” WAS $149Dal Forno Romano Vigneto Monte Lodoletta Valpolicella Superiore, Veneto, Italy 2009 750ml $125 special, 10 bottles availableMonica Larner-Wine Advocate 94+ Points “Built like a tank, the 2009 Valpolicella Superiore Monte Lodoletta is a masterful achievement … The mouthfeel is super rich and concentrated as the Dal Forno signature style would dictate. The tannic bite is still strong and this wine needs a few more years to stretch out its muscular build. I’d suggest drinking it after 2018.” WAS $135Dal Forno Romano Vigneto Monte Lodoletta Valpolicella Superiore, Veneto, Italy 2016 750ml $112 special, 8 bottles availableEric Guido-Vinous 95 Points “The 2016 Valpolicella Superiore Monte Lodoletta is intense, with a captivating bouquet that blends cedar shavings, savory herbs and balsamic spices with rum-soaked cherries, sweet lavender and dark chocolate. This sweeps across the palate with silken textures, delivering masses of tart red and black fruits along with hints of espresso bean. Crunchy mineral tones and zesty acidity add dramatic lift.” WAS $159Dal Forno Romano Vigneto Monte Lodoletta Valpolicella Superiore, Veneto, Italy 2017 750ml $119 special, 11 bottles availableEric Guido-Vinous 95 Points “Taking in the 2017 Valpolicella Superiore Monte Lodoletta reminds me of all of the desserts spices and confections experienced on Christmas day … There’s tremendous depth here but it maintains fantastic freshness … This goes far beyond the expectation of Valpolicella with the power and aromatics of an Amarone but with a liveliness that will allow it to excel at the dinner table.”
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