Subscriber-Only Magnum Sale
We’ll take 10% off on all in-stock Magnums
(French, German, Italian, USA & more!)
Sale Ends Wednesday, August 31st at Midnight!
We offer 101 magnums in-stock
and available here now to choose from including:
Stephen Tanzer 92 points “80% 2010 wine, 10% 2009, 4% 2008, 5% 2007 and 1% 2002; disgorged in May, 2013 after 30 months on its lees): Green-tinged yellow. Intense, mineral-accented aromas of orange zest, pear and white flowers, with an iodiney quality building in the glass. Chewy in texture and nicely concentrated, offering precise citrus and bitter quinine flavors and a strong topnote of dusty minerals. Finishes clean, bright and very long, with lingering chalkiness. This would make a superb match with fresh oysters or crab.” ST
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $134.99
Antonio Galloni 94 points “Vouette & Sorbée NV (2012) Extra-Brut Blanc d’Argile is superb. Deep, rich and powerful, the 2012 shows just how compelling Champagnes can be. A Champagne of baritone depth and intensity, the 2012 flows effortlessly throughout the mid-palate as the flavors and textures crescendo on the expressive finish. Readers who enjoy rich, vinous Champagnes will adore the 2012.”
Betz Family Winery Clos de Betz, Columbia Valley 2011 1.5L ($129.95) Displayed price: $89, Your cost: $80.10, 4 magnums available
Stephen Tanzer 93 points “(67% merlot, 28% cabernet sauvignon and 5% petit verdot; aged in 65% new oak): Good bright, deep red. Redcurrant, cocoa powder and musky tobacco on the nose. Gentle and creamy in the mouth for 2011, with harmonious ripe acidity framing the sweet red berry, cherry and cocoa powder flavors. This floral merlot-based wine is supported by firm acids and tannins but comes across as quite feminine in style. Betz notes that 2011 was a very good year for merlot.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $117.40
Importer note: This cuvée is one of the gems of the domaine, a complete expression of this vineyard’s special character as Bitouzet’s holdings fall within two separate sites: one from the high part (“du Haut”) and another from the lower section (“du Bas”). The two parcels are vinified separately and then blended together before bottling to create the whole. The lower section provides a stony minerality and an almost tannic expression; the upper section yields explosive aromatics as well as a round, buttery mouthfeel. The two parcels make up a total of 0.55 hectare; the vines were planted in 1944 and another section in 1987. The soil is a pebbly limestone with sand and loam consistency. Two barrels are reserved for the US market and, at our request, magnums and occasionally double magnums are prepared.
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $154
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 91 points ‘Pale, bright, gold-tinged yellow. Full of life yet youthfully inexpressive on the nose, hinting at dried fruits, grapefruit, menthol and toasted biscuit; this very rich wine seems to be shutting down today. (Gautier Thévenet told me he’s finishing selling this wine now but will probably wait another five years to drink it.). The palate shows very ripe fruits along with smoke and saline nuances, with a hint of marzipan suggesting some evolution. Very rich but edgy wine, perhaps passing through an awkward stage today.”
This is the only listing in the USA today for the magnum!
Wine Spectator 93 points “This smells like beef bouillon, picking up pure cherry and plum fruit on the palate, along with savory elements. Lean, with well-integrated tannins and a long, meaty finish of tobacco and earth. Best from 2018 through 2030.”
Antonio Galloni 92 points “Col d’Orcia’s 2010 Brunello di Montalcino Vendemmia is all finesse. Sweet floral and spiced notes open up in the glass, followed by veins of bright red stone fruits. Hints of orange peel and white pepper add an attractive, beguiling upper register of aromatics. The 2010 is still a bit raw and much less expressive than it was from barrel, but it is promising.”
This is the only listing in the USA today for the magnum!
Want to see them all?
For full reviews and descriptions, visit our web store
Sale ends Wednesday, August 31st at Midnight
Does not apply to pre-arrival offers or case specials
Discount will not appear in online shopping cart
We will apply it here before charging
Featured New Arrival
Wine Spectator 96 points “Beautifully aromatic, this leads with aromas of ground clove, coffee liqueur and mandarin orange peel, adding crystallized honey, dried cherry, acacia blossom and toasted brioche notes on the expansive palate. Rich in flavor and broad in structure, with verve driving this through to the long, satiny finish. Drink now through 2027.”
New Week – New Arrivals
NEW ARRIVALS: OREGON
“From an exceptional Willamette Valley Vintage, we offer our Melange Pinot, using all of our various Pinot noir clones. Only 74 cases produced.”–Winery Notes
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
NEW ARRIVALS: FRANCE-BURGUNDY
Antonio Galloni 93+ points “The 2011 Bonnes Mares needs time to fully come together. Today the whole clusters (80%) are a bit prominent. Savory herbs, tobacco, incense and orange peel all add layers of complexity to the dark fruit in a powerful, intense Burgundy that captures the essence of this site, albeit in a more medium-bodied style than is normal for this wine, but that is very much in line with the year. The 2011 is going to need at least another few years to be fully expressive. There is plenty of tannin and acidity to ensure years of fine drinking.”
Wine Advocate 93 points “Tasted blind at the Burgundy 2011 horizontal tasting in Beaune. Lighter in color, there are plenty of pretty, demure red berry fruits on the nose of the Bonnes-Mares 2011 from Domaine de la Vougeraie: very pure and translating the essence of Pinoté, albeit not the kind of aromatics for someone seeking opulence. The palate is medium-bodied with very well-judged acidity. This just glides across the palate and down the throat in effortless fashion. Bon vin.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Antonio Galloni 96+ points “Bright, full red. Musky red berries, flowers, leather and potpourri spices on the complex nose. Juicy and penetrating, conveying excellent energy and lift to the complex flavors of red fruits, smoky underbrush and saline minerality. Rich, dense and creamy but with lovely restraint. Finishes with a firm edge of tannins and excellent building length. Already quite nuanced but I’d hold this for at least three or four years.” ST
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $190
Burghound 90-93 points “Here the wood treatment is more obvious though still relatively modest as it allows the ripe, earth and appealingly spicy red currant, plum, violet and rose petal aromas to shine. I very much like the mouth feel of the distinctly mineral-tinged medium-bodied flavors that possess outstanding complexity while concluding in a tension-filled and impressively persistent finish. The balance of structural elements is perfect and this should age effortlessly for up to a decade.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $76
The average price is $110
NEW ARRIVALS: FRANCE-RHONE
Wine Advocate 95 points “Easily one of the wines of the vintage, the 2013 Gigondas La Colline is an incredible wine from a vintage that too often delivers mid-weight, austere wines. Made from almost all Grenache that spent 19 months in 25% new demi-muids (there’s a scant four barrels made), its surprisingly dark color is followed by beautifully perfumed notes of black raspberries, blackberry, licorice, limestone-like minerality and flowers. Full-bodied, layered, silky and ultra-pure, with fine tannin, it’s already hard to resist but will have an easy 10-12 years of overall longevity.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Wine Advocate 94 points “The 2012 Châteauneuf du Pape Cuvee Chaupin, which I was able to taste (and drink) from multiple bottles, is a beautiful Grenache that comes from the cooler, northeastern edge of the appellation. Coming almost all from the Chapouin lieu-dit (it gets a small bit from La Janasse), it gives up the classic notes of black berries, spring flowers, violets, and licorice that I always seem to find in this cuvee. Building nicely on the palate, it is medium to full-bodied, beautifully textured, has tons of sweet fruit and solid, if not firm, tannin that come out on the finish. It will be better in another couple of years and have 15+ years of overall longevity.”
Domaine de La Janasse Cuvee Vieilles Vignes, Chateauneuf-du-Pape 2012 750ML ($119.95) $89 special
Wine Advocate 96 points “Up in the top handful of wines in the vintage (which should come as no surprise to anyone who follows this estate), the 2012 Châteauneuf du Pape Vieilles Vignes is a full-bodied, beautifully concentrated, rich and layered Châteauneuf that doesn’t put a foot wrong. Made from 85% Grenache, 10% Mourvedre and the rest Syrah, it offers blockbuster notes of blackberry, liquid-violets, spice and serious minerality to go with awesome mid-palate depth and layers of sweet tannin. Like the Cuvee Chaupin, it will be better in another handful of years and thrill through 2027.”
Domaine de Saint-Siffrein Chateauneuf-du-Pape Blanc, Rhone 2014 750ML ($39.95) $33 special
Wine Advocate 91 points “A classic white from the region that’s made from mostly from Grenache Blanc, Clairette, Roussanne and Bourboulenc, the 2014 Châteauneuf du Pape Blanc smells of citrus, freshly picked apple and mint. Very fresh and crisp aromatically (this is the mark of the vintage), it’s more rich than you’d think on the palate and is medium-bodied, nicely textured and finishes with outstanding length. It’s very well done and if you’re looking for a classic white from the region, here you go. I’d drink it over the coming 3-4 years, but it will evolve for longer.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Domaine de Saint-Siffrein Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Rhone 2012 375ML ($27.95) $24 special
Wine Advocate 90 points “Kicking off the 2012s, Saint Siffrein’s straight Châteauneuf du Pape offers loads of kirsch, mulled spice, blackberry and garrigue in its classic, medium to full-bodied, ripe and textured style. Made from 65% Grenache, 15% each of Mourvedre and Syrah and the rest Cinsault, aged 12 moths in stainless steel and foudre, it’s an outstanding, Provencal effort to drink over the coming 8-10 years.”
These are the only listings in the USA today!
Wine Advocate 91 points “While the classic Châteauneuf can be described as traditional, the same can’t be said about the 2012 Châteauneuf du Pape Terre d’Abel. Made from a blend of 50% Mourvedre, 30% Grenache and 20% Syrah that’s aged all in small barrels, it offer loads of chocolate-laced dark fruits, roasted meats, wood spice and licorice to go with a structured, tannic and medium to full-bodied profile on the palate. Regardless of whether it’s typical or not, it’s a smoking bottle of wine that will have 15 years or more of longevity.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Case-12 Domaine de Saint-Siffrein Cotes du Rhone Villages 2014 750ML ($299.95) $246 special
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Wine Spectator 95 points “This has a succulent edge despite the vintage profile, with lovely raspberry, plum and boysenberry coulis flavors stretching out, picking up dried star anise, lightly singed alder and perfumy black tea notes. The long, fine-grained structure and lovely minerality linger through the finish. Shows remarkable refinement for the vintage. Drink now through 2024.”
Jeb Dunnuck-Wine Advocate 92-94 points “The most pretty, elegant and finesse-driven of the single vineyard releases, the 2014 Gigondas le Poste offers more floral notes as well as ample cassis, violets and cracked pepper. From a terraced vineyard located just beside the estate, I love its tannin quality, as well as its purity of fruit, perfect balance and clean, lengthy finish. I always find slightly less concentration and density in this cuvee, yet more purity and finesse, and this holds true in 2014 as well.”
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 92-94 points “Bright ruby-red. Intense red berry preserve, incense and floral pastille scents are sharpened by suggestions of smoky minerals and white pepper. Sweet, penetrating and vibrant, offering concentrated raspberry and bitter cherry flavors and a suave spicecake nuance. Shows excellent clarity and lift on the finish, which is firmed by silky tannins and a repeating mineral note.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
NEW ARRIVALS: ITALY-TUSCANY
Antonio Galloni 92 points “The 2011 Brunello di Montalcino is dark, sensual and inviting. Succulent red cherry, tobacco, mint, leather, sage and licorice flesh out in a radiant, open-knit Brunello that will drink well upon release. There is a lot to like here, especially the wine’s immediacy. The 2011 is not especially complex, but it is beautifully balanced and harmonious from start to finish.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $43
The average price is $48
La Gerla Riserva gli Angeli, Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2010 1.5L ($179.95) $149 special
La Gerla Riserva gli Angeli, Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2010 3L ($399.95) $319 special, 1 jeroboam available
Wine Spectator 95 points “Pure cherry, rose and raspberry aromas and flavors are expressive in this complex, ripe Brunello. Hints of leather, tobacco, mineral and spice lay in wait, but this is all about the fresh fruit at this stage. Very harmonious, yet with plenty of structure. Long on the finish. Best from 2017 through 2032.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $73.99
The average price is $81
NEW ARRIVALS: ITALY-PIEDMONT
Antonio Galloni 90 points “The 2014 Dolcetto d’Alba shows what a quality-obsessed grower can achieve in a tough year. The vintage may not have provided the best conditions, but that did not stop Altare from crafting a beautiful, expressive Dolcetto long on class and polish. Red plum, mint, sweet spices and lavender are layered into the exquisite, mid-weight finish. Yields were down around 30%, which is typical for the year.”
Antonio Galloni 89 points “The 2014 Barbera d’Alba is supple, juicy and immediate, with plenty of dark red/bluish fruit, sweet spices and flowers. Silky and beautifully expressive in the glass, the 2014 will deliver considerable drinking pleasure over the next few years.”
Elio Altare Barolo DOCG 2011 750ML ($69.95) $59 special
Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2011 Barolo shows elegance and poise with a meaningful feeling of purity and focus. Elio and daughter Silvia Altare added some additional fruit from the Liste cru for the first time to make this base Barolo. It sees no filtration or clarification. Pretty berry notes with licorice and toasted almond fill the palate. Wild berries and pressed cherry give the wine vertical lift and energy.”
Antonio Galloni 92 points “Altare’s 2011 Barolo is dark, sensual and super-expressive. Cherry, plum, tobacco, smoke, spice and leather meld together in an effortless, gracious Barolo built on texture and volume. The richness and breath of the vintage comes through in spades in an open, expressive Barolo that will drink well with minimal cellaring.”
Wine Advocate 95 points “Sadly, the 2011 Barolo Brunate represents the last time this wine will be released. The Altare family lost its lease on this historic vineyard. In fact, this is the only year Altare will release a full range of wines including those being phased out and those being newly introduced. Elegance and grace are the main themes here, but you also get a pretty embroidery of violets, toasted almond and balsam herb. Elio and Silvia Altare tell me they are heartbroken to see this important part of their portfolio disappear. We all are.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $140
Antonio Galloni 94 points “The 2010 Barbaresco Pajé is the most complete of Luca Roagna’s 2010 Barbarescos today. A host of dark cherry, plum, leather, savory herbs, tobacco and menthol all open up in the glass, enshrouded by the balsamic notes that are so typical of this site. The tannins are firm and incisive, yet there is a density and pure vibrancy in the fruit that balances things out. All the elements are in the right place. The straight Pajé is a bit more lifted and delicate than the Vecchie Viti.”
Antonio Galloni 95 points “The 2010 Barolo Pira is the first wine vinified in Roagna’s new cellar in Castiglione Falletto. Powerful and virile, the Barolo Pira possesses a level of density far and above that found in any of the Barbarescos of the same vintage. Then again, that’s why it is Barolo. Crushed rose petal, game, sweet red cherry, plum, , dried herbs, mint and smoke are some of the many notes that flesh out in this beautifully delineated, super-classic wine, while hints of game, smoke, licorice and tobacco add the final shades of nuance. The 2010 Barolo Pira is an old-school knockout. It’s as simple as that.”
Massolino Parussi, Barolo DOCG 2007 750ML ($89.95) $69 special
Wine Spectator 94 points “Warm and inviting, featuring macerated cherry, leather, tobacco and spice flavors. The balance leans toward the tannic side, yet this shows an extra level of ripeness and integration, with excellent length. Best from 2015 through 2032.”
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 93 points “Bright medium red. Compelling perfume of strawberry, raspberry, red cherry, flowers, minerals and wild herbs. Dense, sappy and concentrated; wonderfully silky Barolo but also much more vibrant than the 2008. The tannins are a bit youthfully aggressive but the wine’s lingering mineral and wild herb perfume suggests it will be a beauty with another four to six years in the cellar.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Wine Advocate 94 points “The 2009 Barolo Parussi sees fruit sourced from the Castiglione Falletto township and consequently shows the most ethereal and refined characteristics of these three vineyard-designate wines. Rosehip, forest berry and even a touch of stone fruit or apricot emerge at first, followed by heavier aromas of tar and black licorice. The wine shows impressive elegance, finesse, silky tannins and fresh acidity. Those overall attributes, melded so perfectly together, are rare to find in the warmer 2009 vintage. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2025.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $76
NEW ARRIVALS: ITALY-VENETO
Winery note “Calvarino is situated in the heart of the Soave Classico zone and is the ancient cornerstone of the family’s vineyards, bought in 1901. The name derives from ‘Little Calvary’ referring to the difficulties in working the land and the tortuously winding path to the bottom. The first label was released as far back as 1971 and the wine is a perfect exemple of true Soave.”
Allegrini Amarone della Valpolicella Classico DOCG, Veneto 2010 750ML ($79.95) $59 special
Wine Advocate 92 points “The 2010 Amarone della Valpolicella Classico takes a modern spin on a local classic. The blend is 90% Corvina Veronese with smaller parts Oseleta and Rondinella that add color intensity. The wine’s leading aromas revolve around Morello cherry and dark blackberry. But this New World Amarone also undergoes 18 months in new barrique. Its secondary aromas are vibrant and bold with cumin, dark spice and barbecue smoke. In the mouth, this Amarone offers velvety tannins and thick consistency.”
Allegrini La Poja Monovitigno Corvina Veronese IGT, Veneto 2010 750ML ($89.95) $69 special
Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2010 La Poja is the latest bottling of one of Italy’s most unique wines. This is a pure expression of the Corvina Veronese variety, the chief component of Amarone wines made according to the appassimento process. La Poja allows this finicky grape to sing solo with some 20 months in new barrique followed by eight months in the bottle. The results are outstanding with pristine cherry and blackberry followed by spice, leather and tar. For best results, age this wine another four or five years.”
NEW ARRIVALS: SPAIN
Luis Gutierrez-Wine Advocate 95 points “My favorite wine is always the one produced from a single 0.9-hectare plot of centenary, ungrafted vineyards that are planted with Listán Negro and some 2% Listán Blanco (Palomino); the vines are situated at 480 to 520 meters’ altitude and pruned in the traditional cordón trenzado style with a northwest orientation. They used 100% full clusters that were foot trodden in raw cement vats without temperature control and some 35 days of maceration, and as with all of their wines, with indigenous yeasts. The élevage lasted 14 months and was in neutral 500-liter French oak barrels. The old vines are planted in the middle of the slope on finer soils and always give very balanced wines. The nose is superb, really complex with aromas of freshly cracked peppercorns, violets and lilies, wet stones and that impossible pumice that cries Tenerife. I see more balance in this vintage, with a medium-bodied palate that shows a velvety texture with ultra-fine tannins. This is subtle, elegant, a much more powerful wine than you might think at first sight. However, it has a mysterious and ethereal quality. Elegant, balanced, precise, fresh and complex. This is awesome! 2,650 bottles were filled in January 2016.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
From Luis Gutierrez – Wine Advocate [not reviewed] “Suertes del Marqués, from the Orotava valley in Tenerife, have together with Envínate revolutioned the Canary Island’s wine scene. After a set of phenomenal, eye-opening 2011s they have continued producing solid wines in both 2012 and 2013. They work with the grapes from 25 hectares of vineyards, nine of them owned and the rest rented and worked by them, mostly old vine Listán Negro and Listán Blanco (palomino), trained in a peculiar way, a long braid or plait which is unique to this zone. They produce a wide range of wines totaling some 80,000 bottles per year. Not all labels are exported to the US; for the quality they deliver they have very good prices.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
NEW ARRIVALS: GERMANY
Case-12 Weingut Jos. Christoffel Jr. Christoffel-Prum Erdener Treppchen Riesling Kabinett, Mosel 2014 750ML ($299.95) Was $219, Now $199 special (that’s only $16.58/bottle!)
This is the only listing in the USA today!
VinopolNote on Urziger Wurzgarten: The Urziger Wurzgarten, or ‘spice garden’ is an intensely steep, iron-rich red slate vineyard. Though it’s located right next to the Erdener vineyards, the Ürziger wines are vastly different: the volcanic soils and favorable drainage lead to an earthy, spice-laden, tropical fruit-tinged wine.
Case-12 Weingut Jos. Christoffel Jr. Christoffel-Prum Urziger Wurzgarten Riesling Spatlese, Mosel 2014 750ML ($319.95) Was $299, Now $239 special (that’s only $19.92/bottle!)
This is the only listing in the USA today!
This is the only listing in the USA today!
In Brauneberg, in a timbered 15th century building, Marcus Haag makes pristine, modern wines in line with the Haag family’s 500 year-old tradition. The Juffer vineyard practically requires rappelling to access the vines, but the southeast-facing brown slate-soil is worth it. Richness and finesse combine like the Mosel and its flanking wall of vines to offer serious Riesling at tempting prices.
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
This is the only listing in the USA today!
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Wine Advocate 93 points “On another level, and worth the uptick in price, the 250-case 2014 Barbera Cervo (from vines planted in 1997 and tiny, tiny yields) was brought up all in barrique and is easily the finest example of this variety I’ve tasted from Washington. Elegant, layered and concentrated, with a serious feel in its black cherry, lavender, underbrush and peppery herbs bouquet, this terrific effort is a real head-turner that readers should seek out!”
Wine Advocate 95 points “The 2014 Maximin Grünhäuser Abtsberg Riesling Spätlese (AP #12) opens very clear and smoky on the deep and aromatic nose. It is piquant and intense on the palate, very juicy and concentrated, firm and potent, and far away from being ready to drink. It is lush and piquant, very mineral and racy, and needs at least 15 years to reveal its true talents. This is a great Spätlese in Grand Cru format. Bottled with 68 grams of residual sugar.”
Newly Restocked from Markus Molitor
Wine Advocate 98 points “Stunningly clear and pure on the citric-perfumed nose, the sweet 2013 Bernkasteler Lay Riesling Auslese *** is characterized by its laser-like precision and elegance, which is perfectly paired with its vibrant acidity and piquant minerality that lingers and makes this Auslese a memorable one.”
The average price is $83
Wine Advocate 98+ points “More tropical fruit aromas such as juicy pineapples and macerated ginger dominate the nose of the richer yet still pure and subtle 2013 Graacher Himmelreich Auslese ***. Quite sweet, intense and densely textured on the palate, this wine neither lacks elegance nor piquancy nor balance. It is just more generous, sweeter and lush than the Würzgarten ***-Auslese, but at the same time its is absolutely delicate and full of finesse.”
The next best price is $84.94
Wine Advocate 97 points “The 2013 Kinheimer Hubertuslay Auslese *** needs a little but of time to open up and show its finest, intense raisin aromas indicating grapefruit/lemon and pineapples on a piquant background. Rich, oily textured and extremely elegant on the palate, the wine offers a lavish tropical juiciness quoting pineapples, but is stunningly pure and piquant. The finish is beautifully balanced and highly elegant. This is perfectly made.”
The next best price is $54.99 for the 375ML
our current shipping specials:
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.
–Washington & Idaho for $20,
-to Oregon for $17, and California for $25
Multiple orders consolidated into one shipment do not qualify for flat rate shipping.
Arriving Friday
James Suckling 90 points “A soft, velvety red with plummy, juicy flavors. Full body, lovely tannins and a flavorful finish.”
La Fortuna Brunello di Montalcino Riserva DOCG, Tuscany 2010 750ML ($99.95) $69 pre-arrival special
James Suckling 97 points “Fascinating aromas of dried flowers, sandalwood, cedar and plums. Full body, ultra-fine tannins and a long, long finish. Gloriously complex and savory. Dusty texture. Just makes you want to drink it.”
La Fortuna ‘Giobi’ Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2010 750ML ($149.95) $119 pre-arrival special
Wine Spectator 96 points “Perfumed aromas of strawberry, cherry and rose burst from the glass, while wild berry, spice, tobacco and tea notes follow through and linger on the finish. Though tannic, there is sweet fruit to match. Shows fine equilibrium overall. Best from 2018 through 2032.”
The average price is $77
The Week In Wine
Currently Trending
Case-12 Domaine Christian Moreau Pere & Fils Chablis 2014 750ML ($319.95) $279 special (that’s only $23.25/bottle!)
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 90 points “Classic Chablis aromas of lemon, ginger and yeasty chicken broth. Sappy, concentrated village wine with lovely lemony acidity giving it a distinctly penetrating quality. An excellent village wine with excellent inner-mouth tension and complicating salinity.”
Wine Spectator 90 points “Precision and harmony define this white, with apple, lemon and mineral flavors, defined by the vibrant acidity. Just a hint of green plum shows on the lingering finish. Drink now through 2020.”
Chateau de Saint Cosme Cotes du Rhone 2015 750ML ($21.95) $16.60 special
Chateau de Saint Cosme Cotes du Rhone 2015 1.5L ($21.95) Displayed price: $24, Your cost $21.60 after our magnum sale discount)
Grapelive 92 points “Louis Barruol’s Chateau de Saint Cosme is one of the great wineries in the southern rhone and produce some of the most sought after Gigondas out there! His little Cotes-du-Rhone though, made of almost entirely Syrah, is one of the region’s best value wines, and this 2015 is stunningly delicious and full of flavor. It always seems odd such a major player in top Grenache based wines like Barruol uses so much Syrah in his Cotes-du-Rhone, but then again so does Chave and Clape too, somehow it all works and the wine is deep in color and character and detailed with dark fruits, a plush mid palate and spicy length. The 2015 was 100% Syrah from Vinsobres and Gard with the grapes partially de-stemmed, with fermenting and aging in tank only, this makes for a fresh style and with just enough tannin to age, though complex enough and plush enough to thrill in it’s youth, and this 2015 does just that and with style! The palate is filled with layers of black and blue fruits, blackberry, boysenberry, juicy plum, fig and a touch of cassis along with cracked peppercorns, olive, lavender oil, violets, camphor, porcini, anise and mineral/stony notes. Round and textured the Saint Cosme Cotes-du-Rhone reaches a full-bodied weight, though still poised and vibrant, this is a class act, especially in this price range, I’ve been a fan of this wine for at least 10 years, I just love it, drink in over the next 3 to 5 years, this 2015 is one of the best yet!”
The next best price is $22.99
Josh Raynolds—Vinous Media 93 points “Deep ruby. Intense black raspberry, cherry and floral pastille aromas are complemented by suggestions of licorice and smoky minerals. Juicy and penetrating, offering sappy red and blue fruit flavors that effortlessly marry power to finesse. The mineral and floral notes linger impressively on the finish, which is given shape by fine-grained, sneaky tannins.”
Atalon Pauline’s Cuvee, Napa Valley 2010 750ML ($29.95) $21.90 special
Case-12 Atalon Pauline’s Cuvee, Napa Valley 2010 750ML ($359.95) $199 special (that’s only $16.58/bottle!)
Wine Enthusiast 93 points “This Merlot-based blend is a huge success. It’s a big, tannic, tight wine, packed to bursting with black cherry liqueur, cola and spice flavors. Yet it maintains an exciting balance, with the tension between acids, tannins and oak in equilibrium. Seems like it wants 5-6 years in the cellar to let it throw some tannins and mellow.” WE
Case-12 Domaine Gachot-Monot Cote de Nuits-Villages 2012 750ML ($349.95) $219 special (that’s only $18.25/bottle and the lowest listed price in the USA today!)
Wine Advocate “The 2012 Cote de Nuits Village comes from 40- to 45-year-old vines. It has a deep, almost broody bouquet with brambly black fruit, hints of wet tobacco and damp soil. The palate is well-balanced with pleasant, quite rounded tannins. The acidity is well judged here, lending this Cote de Nuits Village a natural, refined finish. This is a delicious Burgundy wine, a perfect introduction to the delights of region. Drink now-2017.”
Freemark Abbey
Napa Reds & Whites
Arriving September 2nd
Case-12 Freemark Abbey Chardonnay, Napa Valley 2014 750ML ($299.95) $239 pre-arrival special (that’s only $19.92/bottle and the lowest listed price in the USA today!)
Robert Parker 91 points “The 2014 Chardonnay is a non-malolactic 100% Chardonnay that’s 45% barrel-fermented. The wine is sensational. There are nearly 10,000 cases of this wine, which shows loads of white peach, honeysuckle, green apple and melon notes in a distinctive, clean, steely Chablis-like style. There is some tropical fruit, such as pineapple, but the overall character is one of great acid, medium to full-bodied mouthfeel, and no real oak influence. Drink it over the next 4-5 years.”
Freemark Abbey Merlot, Napa Valley 2013 750ML ($29.95) $24 pre-arrival special
Case-12 Freemark Abbey Merlot, Napa Valley 2013 750ML ($319.95) $256 pre-arrival special (that’s only $21.33/bottle!)
Freemark Abbey Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, California 2012 750ML ($37.95) $31.90 pre-arrival special
Case-12 Freemark Abbey Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, California 2012 750ML ($399.95) $333 pre-arrival special (that’s only $27.75/bottle and the lowest listed price in the USA today!)
Robert Parker 93 points ‘An absolutely fabulous value is the 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa. This comes from multiple sources and there are 46,000+ cases of it. A stunning Cabernet Sauvignon and a classic example of Napa viticulture, this blend of 75.5% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Malbec, was aged just over two years in oak. Loads of sweet blackcurrant fruit, cocoa, a touch of toast, earth, and baking spice are all present in this wine that has terrific fruit on the attack and mid-palate, a full-bodied mouthfeel, no hard edges and a luscious, opulent, gorgeously pure style. Drink it over the next 10-15 years. Although I wouldn’t be surprised to see it last longer. For old-time reader/subscribers, this might be the modern-day equivalent of the great 1974 Souverain Vintage Selection that I recommended back in the late 1970s and is still going strong today.”
Freemark Abbey Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon, California 2012 750ML ($89.95) $69 pre-arrival special
James Suckling 93 points “The blueberry, walnut, shiitake mushroom and stone aromas are impressive. Full body, chewy tannins and a solid core of fruit. Needs two or three years to resolve the tannins but excellent. Try in 2018”
Freemark Abbey ‘Sycamore’ Cabernet Sauvignon, Rutherford 2004 750ML ($119.95) $89 pre-arrival special
Wine Enthusiast 95 points “A real success story for this hot vintage. Feels gracious and generous in the mouth, offering complex, fat flavors of blackberries, cherries, raspberries, mocha and cedar that turn spicy on the finish. The tannins are elaborately ripe and fine.”
Wine Advocate 93 points “Kudos to winemaker Ted Edwards. Lastly, the 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon Sycamore Vineyard, which is just to the south of Bosche, is 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Merlot and the rest Cabernet Franc, from the gravelly, clay and loamy soils of this area. It, too, was aged 24 months in French oak and seems dense, full-bodied, powerful and backward as well. Most of the 2004s are far more open than this cuvee and the Bosche, but there is plenty of ripe fruit, moderate tannin and a deep black currant, blackberry, smoky sweetness, with a full, voluminous mouth texture. Give this one another 2-3 years of bottle age and drink it over the following 15-20.” WA
Gran Selezione Chianti
Arriving Early September
Isole e Olena Chianti Classico Gran Selezione DOCG, Tuscany 2006 1.5L ($499.95) $389 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 97 points “The 2006 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione is a controversial wine and for good reason. Proprietor Paolo De Marchi was initially opposed to the idea of introducing the Gran Selezione category above the Chianti Classico Riserva. But more than a year ago, the Institute of Masters of Wine held a special dinner in Florence and producers were invited to pour only Gran Selezione wines. Paolo had an amazing barrel of Sangiovese put aside for a commemorative wine to celebrate his 30th anniversary as a winemaker. He hoped to dedicate that wine as a special limited release. Because he also wanted to pour something of his at the Masters of Wine dinner, he declassified the wine and re-registered it as a Gran Selezione. This also explains why it is from an older vintage. Most of his peers inaugurated this new category with the 2010 vintage. Only 1,800 bottles were made (of which 500 are put aside for the family’s personal use) and the blend consists of Sangiovese with 12% Cabernet Franc and 8% Syrah. “I love Chianti Classico and I love super Tuscans,” says Paolo De Marchi. “This wine is a crossover of the two.” The wine shows gorgeous ripeness with brooding dark fruit, depth and extreme balance. This is a wine that makes a statement upfront both in terms of the quality of the aromas and its overall integrity and persistency.”
The average price is $204
Domaine de Montille
Of the Terroir
Arriving September 9th
Domaine de Montille Aux Thorey, Nuits-Saint-Georges Premier Cru 2013 750ML ($119.95) $89 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 91-93 points
The next best price is $96.13
Burghound 87-90 points “This is earthier than the Péz and not quite as elegant with its aromas of plum, red currant, forest floor and softly oaked nose. There is a sleek, round and velvety mouth feel to the medium-bodied flavors that terminate in a moderately austere and dry finish that may round out but that is far from clear.”
Domaine de Montille Les Pezerolles, Pommard Premier Cru 2013 750ML ($149.95) $119 pre-arrival special
Burghound 88-91 points “This is the first wine to this point to exhibit any appreciable wood influence though it’s not so much as to mask the otherwise fresh, spicy and layered plum and black currant aromas. There is a really lovely mouth feel to the tension and mineral-inflected medium weight flavors that also display just a touch of backend dryness. Still, my sense is that this should mature nicely even if the balance is unlikely to be ideal.”
Stephen Tanzer 91+ points “(completely destemmed): Healthy deep, bright red. Very expressive, slightly metallic perfume of red berries and iron. Delivers a stimulating combination of sweet, almost candied fruits and penetrating acidity, with an herbal element contributing to the impression of inner-mouth lift. This very savory, intense Rugiens finishes a bit tough; in fact, it went into a shell in the glass.”
Domaine de Montille Les Taillepieds, Volnay Premier Cru 2013 750ML ($149.95) $119 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 90-92 points
Neal Martin-Wine Advocate 94-96 points “The 2013 Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru les Malconsorts “Christianne,” which I asked to taste directly alongside the regular Malconsorts, has more delineation and precision, more mineralité coming through on the nose, veins of wet limestone and sea spray emerging with time. The palate is also noticeably different with greater tension and focus, a sense if coiled-up energy that is uncommon in this vintage. This surely illustrates the profound effects of terroir: a serious 2013 that should age with style.”
Stephen Tanzer 94+ points “(vinified with two-thirds whole clusters and aged in 50% new oak): Bright, dark red. Knockout musky but backward nose combines raspberry, flinty minerality and truffley earth. Very concentrated, mineral-driven wine with a restrained sweetness and complex soil tones to its pungent flavors of red cherry and raspberry. Suave and juicy but a bit youthfully imploded, finishing with serious, noble tannins. Already quite smooth but it would be criminal not to lay this down for at least a few years.”
Great Wines Coming Soon
Vinopolis Fall Arrivals
A sneak peek at some of the many options arriving this fall:
Spanish Wines Arriving in October
Wine Advocate 95+ points “The outstanding 2010 Irpinia Aglianico Serpico is Aglianico from a pre-phylloxera vineyard that sees 18 months of medium toast oak. This vintage reveals an impressive sense of balance and inner harmony with dark fruit tones that are enhanced by bright accents of cherry and dried blueberry. Extra focus and intensity is achieved thanks to the dusty mineral shadings that give pretty contours to the plump fruit. There are distant endnotes of crushed white pepper as well. The tannins offer both firmness and texture. This is a beautiful expression of Aglianico.”
La Rioja Alta Gran Reserva 904, Rioja DOCa 2005 750ML ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 96 points “The 2005 Gran Reserva 904 is a superb blend of Tempranillo from the villages of Briñas, Labastida and Villalba with 10% Graciano from Briones and Rodezno. The grapes were destemmed and crushed and fermented in stainless steel for 18 days at 25 C. Malolactic fermentation was spontaneous and lasted 38 days. These wines are marked by a long aging in used American oak barrels following the most strict Riojan tradition; four years during which time the wine was manually racked eight times. This is usually my favorite wine from La Rioja Alta and 2005 is one of its best showings, going back to the quality of the vintages of the 1950s and 60s. The nose is very balsamic with notes of camphor, hints of mint, leather and hung game wrapped around a core of cherries in liqueur. Together it is balanced, subtle, truly elegant and classical. The palate is only medium-bodied but with great concentration of flavors that are very tasty, mineral, almost salty and framed by ultra-fine tannins and smashing balance. A great classic. This wine will be released in October 2015, a full ten years after the vintage. At this quality level this is a bargain.” 4/2015
Bodegas Toro Albala Don PX Convento, Montilla-Moriles 1931 750ML ($399.95) $319 pre-arrival 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.”
Arriving in November
Domaine Ramonet Le Charmois, Saint-Aubin Premier Cru 2014 750ML ($79.95) $69 pre-arrival special
Arriving in December
Robert Parker 95+ points “This is one of the tightest, most backward wines in the Jonathan Malthus portfolio. The grapes come from an old-vine parcel near Angelus and Beausejour-Duffau, and the final product is a blend of 65% Merlot and 35% Cabernet Franc. Again displaying plenty of minerality, which seems to be a prevailing theme throughout the 2010s from Malthus, the 2010 Vieux Chateau Mazerat is full-bodied, with an abundance of floral notes as well as black currant and blackberry fruit. Impressively endowed and built like a skyscraper, this full-bodied wine needs a good 7-8 years of cellaring and should keep for 25-30 years. Interestingly, the vines were planted in 1947.”
The average price is $85