3/7/16
New Arrivals; Re-Arrivals; New Italian/German Reviews from Robert Parker; Upcoming Arrivals; Phillippe Pacalet Feature; Upcoming Arrivals; Hundred Pointer Arriving this Week: Guigal Cote Rotie
New Arrivals for This Week
Cameron Clos Electrique Blanc, Dundee Hills 2012 1.5L ($199.95) $179 special, 2 magnums availableWine Advocate 90 points “The 2012 Chardonnay Clos Electrique has an intriguing bouquet: lanolin and honeysuckle scents, nicely defined, more resinous possibly than the nascent 2013 from barrel. The palate is medium-bodied with tropical tones: mandarin, melon and white peach and a smooth, waxy, almost pithy finish. This is simply full of character, although I hazard a guess that the 2013 might have the upper hand once in bottle.”
Winery note “Clean, crisp, and refreshing. Some things in life are just easy – like a perfectly chilled bottle of Pinot Blanc paired with abundant sunshine! Tasting notes: Mineral tones and citrus highlights deliver an instantly refreshing sensation to your palate!“
Cameron Winery ‘Cameroni Giovanni’ Pinot Bianco, Willamette Valley 2015 750ML ($17.95) $14 specialWinery note “Our latest release of Giovanni Pinot blanc is decidedly more complex than previous renditions due a bit of Pinot gris and Chardonnay in the blend. The nose screams “spiced pears” supported by a great herbal lineup of lemon verbena, tarragon and pineapple mint and a melange of mirabelle plums and white peach. Its vibrant acidity and notes of lemon on the palate will motivate you to pair it with oysters on the half shell or spaghetti vongole. To top it off, it is 100% Abbey Ridge fruit. An amazing value for our first release from the fabulous 2014 vintage.”
Ayres Rose Of Pinot Noir 2015 750ML ($19.95) $16 special
Winery note: “A Rose of Pinot Noir where you can actually experience the Pinot Noir! We deliberately pick this block of Pinot Noir specifically for our Rose. We find our eastern-most Pommard rows offer a nice spicy element to this Rose. Try it. You’ll like it.”
Westrey Abbey Ridge Vineyard Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills 2014 750ML ($47.95) $39 special
Winery note: In 2014 Abbey Ridge produced an extraordinary wine! Harvested on October 4th under beautiful skies, we received fruit with ripe, silky tannins, terrific acidity and huge, effusive fruit flavors. On the nose there is the signature of Abbey Ridge Vineyard: high tone crushed-raspberry, bright red current fruit with a layering of a floral lavender/lilac, and an undercurrent of earth. On the palate the wine continues to show massive fruit expression for a wine as elegant and ageworthy as this one. Raspberries and sweet-exotic spice are complemented by a subtle hint of vanilla and coffee from the oak. The balance and completeness of this wine is expressed from the very first sip through to the last drop. A wine truly distinguished by it’s terroir. After eighteen days in the fermentor, the must was pressed, and racked directly to barrel. Of the ten barrels, two were new (20% new oak) and the remainder was a blend of one-year-old and neutral wood. After an indigenous malo-lactic, the wine was lightly sulfured and racked to the bottling line after 12 months in barrel, without fining or filtration.
Westrey Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2013 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 special
Westrey Wine Company was founded in 1993 by co-winemakers Amy Wesselman and David Autrey, along with David’s father, Robert Autrey, in Oregon’s burgeoning Willamette Valley. Their WV blend is all about freshness, with dark berry fruit and well-aligned acidity.
FRANCE-CHAMPAGNE
R.H. Coutier Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Brut NV ($49.95) $39 special
Antonio Galloni 92 points “Coutier’s NV Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru, 100% Chardonnay from Ambonnay, remains one of the most compelling, under the radar wines in Champagne, not to mention a fabulous value. Round, textured and supple in the glass, the Blanc de Blancs shows the more textured, side of Chardonnay. These soils in Ambonnay confer an unusual level of richness and breadth. In my view, this is Coutier’s best Champagne. Disgorged May 2014. Dosage is 6 grams per liter.” AG
Domaine Le Sang des Cailloux Vacqueyras Cuvee Azalais 2012 750ML ($44.95) $21.90 specialJosh Raynolds–Vinous 90 points “Bright ruby. Powerful, smoke-accented aromas of cherry compote, blueberry and licorice are lifted by peppery spices and a subtle floral nuance. Sweet, smooth and expansive, conveying a velvety texture to its ripe cherry and dark berry flavors. The licorice quality comes back strong on the finish, which lingers with very good smoky persistence.”
The average price is $44
Chateau de Trinquevedel Tavel Cuvee Traditionelle Rose 2014 1.5L ($39.95) $29 specialJosh Raynolds–Vinous 91 points “Vivid orange-pink. Potent, expansive red berry, blood orange and floral pastille scents, with a bright mineral overtone. Sappy and focused on the palate, offering spice-tinged redcurrant and cherry flavors that gain in depth and sweetness with aeration. Finishes with repeating minerality, a touch of lavender and excellent persistence. This wine has a solid track record for aging.”
Jean-Paul Brun Domaine des Terres Dorees Cote de Brouilly 2013 750ML ($21.95) $18 specialJosh Raynolds 92 points “Youthful violet color. Intensely perfumed aromas of fresh red berries, potpourri, incense and smoky minerals. Sweet and seamless on the palate, offering potent red and dark berry flavors with suggestions of spicecake and candied rose. Shows superb clarity and power on the long, incisive finish, which is nicely framed by silky, harmonious tannins. This sexy wine is delicious now but will be even better in five to seven years.”
Patrick Bottex Bugey Cerdon La Cueille Sparkling Rose NV 750ML ($21.95) $14 special
Case-12 Patrick Bottex Bugey Cerdon La Cueille Sparkling Rose NV 750ML ($249.95) $149 special
Robert Parker 90 points “Dry, crisp, fresh and incredibly fragrant, this sparkling wine is a terrific bargain. The good news is there are around 4,000 cases of it, although I do not know how much is imported by Kermit Lynch. Drink it over the next year. Kermit Lynch is one of the most meticulous importers in terms of shipping wines properly, but it would be nice to see a vintage, release, or bottling date on these bottles. This cuvee may qualify as the “wine bargain of the year.” A Champagne-like sparkling rose from the largely forgotten area of Bugey (which only received appellation status in 2009), this low alcohol (8%) offering is made from 90% Gamay and 10% Poulsard (an indigenous grape of the region).”
Chateau de Lascaux Coteaux du Languedoc Rose, Languedoc-Roussillon 2014 1.5L ($39.95) $16.60 special
Case-6 Chateau de Lascaux Coteaux du Languedoc Rose, Languedoc-Roussillon 2014 1.5L ($219.95) $89 special
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 88 points “Light orange-pink. Pungent red berries and orange pith on the nose and in the mouth, with a subtle floral quality emerging as the wine opens up. Fleshy and dry, with an herbal flourish and a touch of bitterness emerging on the back half. Shows good power and cut on the finish, which leaves notes of anise and dried citrus fruits behind.” JR
Domaine Luc Lapeyre Minervois L’Amourier 2013 750ML ($17.95) $14 specialVinopolnote: A spice-tinged, easy-drinking blend of Syrah (50%) Grenache Noir (25%) and Mourvèdre (25%) with good earthiness, minerality, and bright fruit.
A light and fresh blend of Cabernet Franc (30%) Carignan noir (40%) and Grenache Noir (30%)
Domaines Ott Chateau de Selle Cotes de Provence Coeur de Grain Rose 2014 750ML ($59.95) $33 specialJosh Raynolds–Vinous 92 points “Very pale orange-pink. Incisive and minerally on the fragrant nose, displaying an array of red berry and citrus fruit aromas and a sexy floral nuance. Dry, stony and precise on the palate, offering sappy orange and redcurrant flavors that flesh out slowly with air. At once concentrated and lithe, finishing with outstanding clarity and a lingering honeysuckle note. I’d serve this wine as I would a rich white Burgundy.”
FRANCE-SOUTHWEST
Chateau La Coustarelle, Cahors 2010 750ML ($17.95) $13.30 special
Winery note: Château la Coustarelle is located in the village of Prayssac. Vines are 30-year-old planted on slopes and yields run between 45-50 hl/ha; this cuvee is a blend of 80% Malbec and 20% Merlot.
ITALY-PIEDMONT
Cappellano Barolo Chinato NV 750ML ($89.95) $71.90 special
Importer note “Giovanni [grandfather to the current owner]’s brother, Giuseppe, was a pharmacist who created the family formula for their famous (then and again now) Barolo Chinato, the Barolo infused with a variety of “medicines”. The Barolo Chinato is produced by following the family recipe handed down generation to generation. The “medicinal” herbs and spices are ground using a stone mortar and pestle. Both the recipe and the process are family secrets.”
Isole e Olena Chianti Classico DOCG 2013 750ML ($27.95) $21.90 specialAntonio Galloni 90 points “The 2013 Chianti Classico brings together the fresh aromatics of a cool year along with lovely mid-palate pliancy. The flavors are bright, high-toned and decidedly leaning towards the red-fruit end of the spectrum. Crushed flowers, herbs and anise grace the soft, aromatic finish. The overall impression is of lovely mid-palate juiciness, even if the technical stats suggest a lighter-bodied wine. That is why wine can never be measured by numbers alone.”Maria Caterina Dei Rosso di Montepulciano 2014 750ML ($21.95) $16 special
James Suckling 90 points “A crisp and flavorful Rosso di Montalcino with shaved chocolate, dried berry and lemon aromas and flavors. Full body, delicious finish. I like the flavor and intensity to this wine. Drink now.”
ITALY-LIGURIA
Punta Crena Vigneto Isasco Vermentino Riviera Ligure di Ponente, Liguria 2013 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 special
Vinopolnote: From 15-30 year old vines planted in red clay and gravel across a small, 1.5ha vineyard. The estate, beautifully situated on the Ligurian coast, has been making wine since 1500.
GERMANY
Karthauserhof Riesling Spatlese 2014 1.5L ($99.95) $79 special
Wine Advocate 90+ points “The 2014 Riesling Karthäuserhofberg Spätlese (AP #9) offers a very clear and complex, mineral-scented bouquet of ripe white fruits. Juicy and piquant on the palate, with grip, raciness and the lean and crystalline Karthäuserhofberg character, this is a pretty complex and persistent Spätlese with grip and a prominent crispiness. It should be cellared for at least another 5-10 years. Very good aging potential.”
AUSTRIA
Familie Saahs Nikolaihof Neuburger, Wachau 2011 750ML ($39.95) $33 special
David Schildknecht–Vinous 89 points “This soft and (at only 12.5% alcohol) full-feeling rendition of Neuburger emphasizes that grape’s inherent nuttiness, though the usual resemblance to white asparagus still applies. A faintly smoky piquancy adds an intriguing counterpoint to an otherwise soothing finish. (Not only is this wine still for sale, but so is the 2012. The 2013, says Nikki Saahs, was the first vintage ever to be sold out within a year of bottling and before he could even set aside stock for the family table and library, which explains why I missed out on tasting it, as well as why a decision has been made to replace with Neuburger 500 vines of Chardonnay, whose 2014 performance was as usual uninspiring.)”
The next best price is $39.99
David Schildknecht–Vinous 95 points “The nose here fascinates in a distinctively Nikolaihof manner. Elusive suggestions of moss and lichen on wet stone, mothball and salt spray, along with herbal and floral essences introduce a palate performance that adds to their presence roasted peanut, white asparagus, almond and pear for an effect at once satiny and soothing, juicy and subtly piquant. The combination of mouthwatering salinity and mineral intrigue to the nearly endless finish resembles a mouthful of oyster with its green innards and briny liquor. This remarkable libation was bottled in the spring of 2014.”
Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2010 Riesling Steiner Hund is a pure and cool, rather vegetal than fruity flavored Riesling with flinty notes along with aromas of fennel seeds and celery. Still very young, restrained and edgy on the palate, this full-bodied, very pure and mineral wine with its firm and long, tension-filled structure does not show any flesh or juiciness at the moment. However, I wouldn’t call it ascetic, just a little bit drying. This densely woven Riesling is much too rich and too electrifying in the mouth and too long and powerful in the finish to end up as a joyless wine. However, I suppose this promising, firmly structured long-distance runner will never get that round and juicy, but will remain a vital and scraggy (in a positive sense) wine for many years. I would keep it for another 7-10 years before I retaste it again.”SPAIN
Bodegas Allegro con Spirito Monte Hiniesta, Toro 2010 750ML ($17.95) $14 special
Case-12 Bodegas Allegro con Spirito Monte Hiniesta, Toro 2010 750ML ($179.95) $149 special
Wine Advocate 92 points “The palate is medium-bodied with ripe, succulent, fleshy tannins that are caressing in the mouth. There is plump, ripe red berry fruit, red currant, raspberry and a touch of balsamic at the finish. This is just as good as the succeeding vintage. Drink 2014-2019.” WA
Re-Arriving WinesVinopolis: Greatest Hits
Figgins Estate Red, Walla Walla Valley 2012 750ML ($119.95) $99 special, 6 bottles availableWine Advocate 96+ points “The Figgins 2012 Estate Red Wine is flat-out knockout stuff. Layered, gorgeously concentrated, full-bodied, and balanced, this Cabernet Sauvignon-dominated blend gives up sensational notes of cassis, black raspberry toasted bread and sweet spice on the nose. Ultra-pure, elegant and silky, it has the texture to drink nicely today, yet will age effortlessly for two decades or more. Coming from the higher elevation, eastern edge of Walla Walla (1500-1750 feet above sea level), it spent 22 months in 70% new French oak and 30% in once used barrels. This is one of the top Cabernets coming out of Washington and readers should not miss it.”FRANCE-CHAMPAGNE
Cedric Bouchard Roses de Jeanne Les Ursules Blanc de Noirs 2011 750ML ($119.95) $89 special, 6 bottles availableAntonio Galloni – Vinous – “The 2011 Blanc de Noirs Les Ursules is quite delicate and understated in this vintage. Crushed flowers, herbs, dried cherries, kirsch, mint and anise are all nicely delineated in the glass. The aromatics are lifted and decidedly high-toned, while the wine lacks its customary balance, which brings out some angularity. The 2011 offers reasonably good balance within the context of the vintage, but not more. Tasted two times with some variation. Disgorged: April 2015.
FRANCE-LANGUEDOC
Clos Canos Corbieres Rose, Languedoc-Roussillon 2014 750ML ($14.95) $11.90 special
VinopolNote: A medium bodied rose from Grenache Gris, Grenache Blanc, Grenache Noir and Syrah grapes grown in clay-limestone vineyards
Domaine Jean-Philippe Padie Cotes du Roussillon Petit Taureau 2014 750ML ($21.95) $18 specialVinopolnote: A 50/50 blend of Syrah planted in schist and Carignan planted in limestone; Padie calls it his ‘yin-yang cuvee.’ The wine is medium-bodied, with fresh red fruit, persistent-yet-playful spice, and a nice balancing act of minerality. Native yeast fermentation, elevage in concrete tanks, and only a nominal amount of sulfur added at bottling.ITALY-TUSCANY
La Gerla Riserva gli Angeli, Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2007 750ML ($99.95) $89 specialWine Spectator 97 points “Spicy oak aromas greet the nose, while concentrated flavors of cherry, currant and tobacco are buried underneath. Very vibrant, with refined tannins and a lingering finish of fruit, spice and mineral. Builds on the finish, with a long aftertaste. A combination of power and finesse. Best from 2015 through 2030.”WS
James Suckling 95 points “Intense aromas of dried fruits and Christmas pudding. Turns to plums and raspberries. Full and concentrated with an intense palate of dried fruits and vanilla. Powerful and concentrated style here.”
We offer flat rate shipping on any size single order / single shipment
–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.
New Reviews
Pian dell’Orino Brunello di Montalcino Vigenti del Versante, Tuscany 2010 750ML ($119.95) $99 specialPian dell’Orino Brunello di Montalcino Vigenti del Versante, Tuscany 2010 1.5L ($249.95) $219 special
Wine Advocate 97 points “The 2010 Brunello di Montalcino Vigenti del Versante takes us back to a classic profile for Brunello (the local name for Sangiovese). The wine is forthcoming and confident with power and heft at the back. The bouquet shows enormous complexity that starts off with bright red fruit and opens slowly to reveal more detailing with etched mineral, crushed oyster shell, balsam herb, cola, licorice and red rose petal. There’s a tight firmness of the tannins that should be very important to the future aging of this wine. The acidity is bright and balanced as well. It contributes to a very long and polished finish. This is a gorgeous Brunello.”
Weingut A.J. Adam Dhroner Hofberg Riesling Spatlese, Mosel, 2014 1.5L ($119.95) $89 specialWine Advocate 92 points “From a warmer vineyard that was planted in 1953 with ungrafted vines that deliver small, healthy berries and low yields, the 2014 Hofberg Spätlese displays an intense and ripe apple bouquet mixed with flinty and spicy/mineral aromas. Picked with 92° Oechsle, this is an elegant, round and voluptuous Riesling with a smooth palate, but also a piquant and mineral acidity that takes this lush and sensual Spätlese to a long, charming finish with a lingering and mouthwatering salinity.”Weingut Karthauserhof Eitelsbacher Karthauserhofberg Riesling Auslese, Mosel, 2014 750ML ($59.95) $49 special
Weingut Karthauserhof Eitelsbacher Karthauserhofberg Riesling Auslese, Mosel 2014 375ML ($39.95) $31.90 special
Weingut Karthauserhof Eitelsbacher Karthauserhofberg Riesling Auslese, Mosel, 2015 1.5L ($119.95) $89 speical
Wine Advocate 89+ points “Deeply yellow in color, the 2014 Riesling Karthäuserhofberg Auslese (AP #12) displays an intense yet pretty clear and piquant, yellow-fleshed fruit and botrytis on the nose (pineapples). Sweet and concentrated on the palate, with a racy acidity (10.8 grams per liter of total acidity!) and bittersweet grapefruit flavors in the finish, this is a classic Ruwer Auslese. It is dense and pretty rich – the sugar free extract of 39.9 grams per liter – but neither too sweet (67 grams per liter of residual sugar) nor too opulent (8% alcohol). You can easily drink it, but shouldn’t do so before 2020. The aftertaste detects that the botrytis could have been selected even more carefully.”
Weingut Karthauserhof Eitelsbacher Karthauserhofberg Riesling Kabinett, Mosel 2014 750ML ($34.95) $29 special
Weingut Karthauserhof Eitelsbacher Karthauserhofberg Riesling Kabinett, Mosel 2014 1.5L ($89.95) $69 special
Wine Advocate 91 points “The 2014 Riesling Karthäuserhofberg Kabinett is a very clear, bright and delicate Riesling of great finesse and lightness. Lovely juiciness. The acidity is rather smooth, respectively and perfectly integrated into the round and elegant texture. This Riesling is very clear, bright and light. with great finesse and lightness. Ruwer style. Bottled with 8% alcohol and 44 grams of residual sugar.”
Weingut Karthauserhof Eitelsbacher Karthauserhofberg Riesling Spatlese, Mosel 2014 750ML ($49.95) $39 special
Weingut Karthauserhof Eitelsbacher Karthauserhofberg Riesling Spatlese, Mosel 2014 1.5L ($99.95) $79 special
Wine Advocate 90+ points “The 2014 Riesling Karthäuserhofberg Spätlese (AP #9) offers a very clear and complex, mineral-scented bouquet of ripe white fruits. Juicy and piquant on the palate, with grip, raciness and the lean and crystalline Karthäuserhofberg character, this is a pretty complex and persistent Spätlese with grip and a prominent crispiness. It should be cellared for at least another 5-10 years. Very good aging potential.”
Weingut Karthauserhof Alte Reben Eitelsbacher Karthauserhofberg Riesling Spatlese Trocken, Mosel 2014 750ML ($39.95) $33 special
Wine Advocate 90+ points “The 2014 Riesling Trocken Alte Reben (officially Eitelsbacher Karthäuserhofberg Riesling Spätlese trocken, AP #8) offers a deep and ripe, as well as very fine and elegant bouquet. Intense and mineral on the palate, this is a stunningly complex and persistent Riesling with power, structure, finesse and a lingering salinity and complexity. Good aging potential.”
Peter Lauer Riesling Auslese Ayler Kupp Fass 10 ‘VDP Grosse Lage’, Mosel 2014 750ML ($79.95) $69 special
Wine Advocate 93+ points “The 2014 Riesling Auslese Ayler Kupp Fass 10 ‘VDP Grosse Lage’ is very clear but pretty reductive on the nose where ripe (tropical) fruits as well as crushed slate and smoky aromas are displayed. Sweet, round and lush, but also piquant and very elegant on the palate, this is a finesse-full though rich and gorgeous Auslese with a firm mineral structure and a mouth-watering grip in the compact and salty finish. Promising Riesling to be cellared for ten to 25 or more years.”
Selbach-Oster Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Kabinett, Mosel 2014 750ML ($27.95) $20.90 special
Wine Advocate 90 points “Entirely fermented and aged in a three-year-old fuder (Selbach), which gives a very distinguished style compared to the other Kabinett wines, the 2014 Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Kabinett displays ripe and intense fruit with just a hint of new oak and corresponding spices. Round and creamy, with some oak tannins and a finely mineral acidity, this Wehlener Riesling is a completely other character compared to the ones from Zeltingen; it is more smooth, more sweet and generous, and more charming–but certainly has a piquant and salty finish. This Kabinett has been bottled with 52 grams of unfermented sugar and 7.5% alcohol. I would recommend keeping this Kabinett for five or more years.”
Selbach-Oster Zeltinger Schlossberg Riesling Kabinett, Mosel 2014 750Ml ($27.95) $21.90 special
Wine Advocate 91 points “The 2014 Zeltinger Schlossberg Riesling Kabinett offers a coolish, pure and stony bouquet with herbs and bright, healthy Riesling fruits. Light and elegant on the palate, with a nice transparency and finesse, this is a lovely, pure, piquant and mineral Riesling with a finely juicy mid-palate and a stimulatingly pure, salty and stunningly persistent finish. Excellent!”
Newly Reviewed and Available as a Pre-Arrival:
Pian dell’Orino Brunello di Montalcino Bassolino di Sopra, Tuscany 2010 1.5L ($399.95) $399 pre-arrival special
Pre-Arrival ETA Fall 2016
Wine Advocate 100 points “The 2010 Brunello di Montalcino Bassolino di Sopra is the equivalent of the estate’s Riserva. Only 3,000 bottles were made and the wine was not produced in 2009 or 2008. Nor will it be made in 2011 or 2013. Future editions are 2012 and 2015. Bassolino di Sopra is silky and smooth, but it also has a fine textural fabric that gives the wine an enormous sense of tactile intensity in terms of mouthfeel. This is a magnificent achievement with an extreme sense of purity and freshness that is elegant and streamlined. The bouquet reveals slight and miniature shifts in its evolution that keep your curiosity as you contemplate the wine in the glass. Wild berry is followed by a steady stream of balsam herb, cola, crushed oyster shell and delicate floral tones. The vineyards are located between 330 and 370 meters above sea level with limestone deposits and red soils. Farming is biodynamic.”
Il Poggione Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Vigna Paganelli, Tuscany 2010 750ML ($149.95) $99 special
Il Poggione Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Vigna Paganelli, Tuscany 2010 1.5L ($249.95) $219 special
Pre-arrival ETA May 2016
Wine Advocate 98+ points “The 2010 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Vigna Paganelli is a phenomenal achievement and a wine that captures not only the spirit of this classic vintage, but the true essence of an age-worthy wine like Brunello. This single vineyard Riserva is sharp, pristine and immaculate. It starts slow and shy, but then blossoms to beautiful intensity and aromatic brilliance. It delivers a very authentic and genuine read of Sangiovese with wild berry aromas followed by pressed violets, wet earth, tobacco and lightly toasted spice. The bouquet is seamless and very long in persistence. The same holds true for the mouthfeel. The wine delivers a fine and silky texture with a good dose of power and personality at the rear.”
The Man With the Golden Touch
From the importer: “Philippe is the nephew of Marcel Lapierre, the legendary natural winemaker in Beaujolais. Like his uncle, he removes anything from the vinification process that obscures the pure expression of terroir. He does not use industrial yeasts to aid in fermentation and he uses sulfur only at bottling. Pacalet rents plots of vineyards that offer interesting and distinctive terroirs. He personally farms the vineyards and all of the plots are hand harvested. The winery is a recent addition; in 2007 he purchased a facility in Beaune from the De Montille family.”Wines Arriving March 11th:
Philippe Pacalet Les Perrieres, Beaune Premier Cru 2010 750ML ($99.95) $89 pre-arrival special
Vinopolnote: A very nuanced and attractive Beaune; aromas of red fruit and forest-like notes lead into a very layered palate of raspberry-strawberry fruit, ample amounts of spice, and a touch of earthiness. Round and very balanced, with an enduring finish.
The next best price is $97.95
Philippe Pacalet Gevrey-Chambertin, Cote de Nuits 2012 750ML ($79.95) $69 pre-arrival specialWine Advocate 88-90 points “The 2012 Gevrey-Chambertin Village is Philippe Pacalet’s main cuvee and it is a blend of several parcels. It has a lively, very natural bouquet that is already very charming with its pretty black floral fruit. The palate is medium-bodied with crisp acidity, slightly chalky tannins and fine delineation on the pert finish. This is fresh as a daisy and ready to rock and roll after bottling.”Philippe Pacalet Pommard, Cote de Beaune 2010 750ML ($79.95) $69 pre-arrival special
Antonio Galloni 88-90 points “The 2010 Pommard emerges from the glass with soft red fruit, flowers, mint and licorice. Attractive spiced notes wrap around the expressive finish. This is a delicate style of Pommard that impresses for its length and subtle personality. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2022. ”
And Philippe Pacalet Wines Available Here Now:
Philippe Pacalet Moulin A Vent 2014 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 28 bottles available
Philippe Pacalet Moulin A Vent 2014 1.5L ($119.95) $99 special, 1 magnum available
Staff Pick: “Never patient when it comes to Beaujolais, I drank Pacalet’s intrepid Moulin-a-Vent the very night it arrived at our shop. A simple salmon dish served as accompaniment, and I poured some out into a decanter in order to contrast normal and accelerated evolution of the wine as it aerated. Cherry aromas soared out of the glass, with an immediate flavor profile of goji berries, plum, Bing cherries, and a touch of leather. The fruit bears this intriguing crunchiness, with the acid mingling but never overarching beyond the wine’s overall feel. There is a playful energy this Beaujolais, which went lovely with the salmon and danced between being a little showy and a bit mellow over the course of four hours. I had fun drinking it, trying not to take it or myself too serious in the process. This cuvee, Pacalet’s first effort within Moulin-a-Vent, will evolve quite nicely; I’m eager to revisit in a few months’ time. As goes with many of my recommendations, though, don’t feel bad if you drink sooner rather than later.” – Tyler
Upcoming Arrivals
Pre-Arrival Special Pricing
Applies Until the Wines Arrive
Tyrus Evan Ciel du Cheval Vineyard Claret, Columbia Valley 2010 750ML ($39.95) $18 pre-arrival special, ETA March 8th
Case-6 Tyrus Evan Ciel du Cheval Vineyard Claret, Columbia Valley 2010 750ML ($199.95) $99 pre-arrival special (that’s only $16.50/bottle!), ETA March 8th
The vineyard Ciel du Cheval lies in the heart of the tiny Red Mountain American Viticultural Area (AVA) in southeast Washington. Initially planted to just three acres in 1975, the vineyard now encompasses 120 acres and provides outstanding fruit to 26 wineries in the northwest. As owner Jim Holmes puts it, “This is a hobby that has gone crazy.” 27% Merlot, 43% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Cabernet Franc, 12% Petit Verdot
The next best price is $32.99
Antonio Galloni 95 points “A huge, dark wine, the 2010 Gattinara Le Castelle shows the more virile, imposing side of Nebbiolo. This is a decidedly brooding, virile Gattinara built on density and pure, unbridled power. Smoke, tar, licorice and tobacco meld into a core of intense black fruit, all supported by massive tannins that ensure the 2010 will drink well for many years to come. Even with all of the palate-staining intensity and structure, the 2010 boasts superb purity and exceptional balance. The Le Castelle is not at all subtle, but it sure is beautiful.” AGAntoniolo Gattinara DOCG, Piedmont 2010 750ML ($44.95) $33 pre-arrival special, ETA mid-March
Case-12 Antoniolo Gattinara DOCG, Piedmont 2010 750ML ($479.95) $359 pre-arrival special (that’s only $29.92/bottle!), ETA mid-March
Antonio Galloni 91 points “The 2010 Gattinara is a lovely wine at this level. Energetic and chiseled, the 2010 offers plenty of brightness in its red fleshed stone fruit character. Mint, pine, crushed rocks and wild flowers all add to an the wine’s aromatic, lifted personality. This is a gorgeous entry-level Gattinara from Antoniolo.”
Antoniolo ‘Osso San Grato’, Gattinara DOCG 2010 750ML ($79.95) $66 pre-arrival special, ETA mid-March
Antonio Galloni 97 points “The 2010 Gattinara Osso San Grato is quite possibly the single greatest wine I have ever tasted from Antoniolo. A wine of exquisite beauty, the 2010 has all the qualities that make Nebbiolo such a temptress; seductive aromatics, finely sculpted fruit and a finish that lasts forever. The 2010 isn’t huge, but rather it is a wine that captivates all the senses with its extraordinary beauty. Silky, perfumed and exquisite from the very first taste, this translucent, pure Gattinara will thrill readers for several decades. It has been nothing less than superb both times I have tasted it. Hints of sage, rosemary, menthol and new leather add the final shades of nuance. Quite simply, the 2010 Osso San Grato is a reference-point wine for Nebbiolo, Gattinara, Piedmont and Italy.”
Antonio Galloni 94 points “The 2010 Gattinara San Francesco is the most accessible of the estate’s three single-vineyard Gattinaras. Another intense, powerful wine, the San Francesco occasionally also show a more tender, welcoming side of its personality. Sweet tobacco, licorice and dried herbs all add nuance to the beautifully textured. There is a level of sweetness and openness to the San Francesco that the other wines don’t offer, at least not today.”
Anne Sophie Dubois Fleurie Clepsydre, Beaujolais 2014 750ML ($29.95) $26 pre-arrival special, ETA late March
Wine Advocate 92 points “The 2014 Fleurie Clepsydre was cropped at 20 hectoliter per hectare due to poor flowering on the 60- to 80-year-old vines. It has a slightly richer and more opulent nose than the Alchemiste without losing any of its precision. The palate is medium-bodied with fleshy, ripe tannin, well-judged acidity and a gentle grip upon the structured finish. This has great potential: a very natural and refined Fleurie courtesy of Anne-Sophie Dubois.”
Anne-Sophie Dubois is part of a young generation of rising star vignerons in Beaujolais. Based in the heart of Fleurie, Anne-Sophies wines epitomize delicacy and finesse, with a style and approach aligned with the Gamay grown in the area. Having learned winemaking in Volnay, she draws from her experience there to achieve beautiful expressions of Gamay; full of depth and aromatic complexity without over-extracting and drawing out harsh tannins and phenolics. She refrains from using new oak, and prefers to utilize cement vats and larger neutral oak casks for fermentation and aging. The resulting wines are renditions of gamay abound with fruit, finesse and exquisite balance.
Orin Swift Cellars Palermo Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2014 750ML ($44.95) $39 pre-arrival special, ETA March 11th
Winery notes: “Rich aromas of seasoned oak meld effortlessly with ripe boysenberry and candied cassis. The entry of the wine is soft and delicate, but quickly evolves into a serious mid-palate replete with opulent and concentrated flavors of dark fruits. Black currant and kirsch provide background to lively raspberry and cherry notes that create a near endless finish.”
Winery notes – “A nearly opaque color sets in the glass with a hard, red complexion that is almost black. Aromas of ripe blueberries and candied plum mingle with toasted oak and charred vanilla. The entry is soft and inviting which paves the way for a lush mid-palate replete with layers of ripe boysenberry and cassis. The finish showcases ripe tannins and pronounced fruit which frames the two for nearly a minute.”
Petterino Gattinara DOCG, Piedmont 2005 750ML ($39.95) $33 pre-arrival special, ETA late March
Sourced from southwest-facing vineyards of Permolone, Castelle and Guardie in Gattinara. The soil is rich in minerals due to the presence of sediment and glacial runoff from Monte Rossa (Granites, porphyries, quartzes and numerous ferrous minerals). 15 day fermentation and maceration, with aging of 3 years in oak barrels of 25hl; afterwards stainless steel tanks and minimum 6 months in bottles.
Contrade di Taurasi Cantine Lonardo ‘Grecomusc’ Campania IGT 2013 750ML ($31.95) $26 pre-arrival special, ETA late March
Ian D’agata–Vinous 90 points “Dark yellow. Intense pear, baked apple and sweet spice notes on the aromatic nose. Bright and fresh, with tactile orchard fruit and stony flavors complicated by a savory quality. The very long finish shows a repeating lemony nuance and peppery zing. Outstanding stuff. Lonardo deserves praise from wine lovers everywhere for having resuscitated Grecomusc’, a rare aromatic white variety from Campania.”
Importer’s note: Marco Petterino is a tiny, and very much under-the-radar producer of the DOCG of Gattinara. With a mere 2½ hectares of vineyards in total, spread out among several parcels, his production is about 1300 cs per year. Petterino’s holdings are exceptional for the appellation with vineyards in three of the top cru’s in Gattinara – Permolone, Castelle and Guardie which are all are southwest-facing.
The next best price is $41.99
Wine Advocate 91-93 points “The 2013 Saint Aubin 1er Cru Derrière Chez Edouard has a marvelous, mineral-driven bouquet that soars from the glass with hints of wilted white flowers in the background. The palate is very well balanced, very harmonious, a wine where you can taste the vineyard’s white marn soils. It gradually builds to a very poised slightly peachy finish. Superb.”
Last-Minute Addition!Guigal Côte Rôtie “La Landonne”
Arriving this Week
E. Guigal Cote Rotie La Landonne, Rhone 2009 750ML ($599.95) $533 pre-arrival special, 6 bottles availableRobert Parker 100 points “The 2009 Cote Rotie La Landonne is a killer wine. An extravagant bouquet of black truffles, roasted meats, licorice, ground pepper, blackberries, scorched earth and camphor soars from this muscular, dense, over-the-top, serious, masculine La Landonne. Built like Arnold Schwarzenegger was two decades ago, this enormously concentrated bodybuilder of a wine should hit its prime in a decade, and last 40-50 years. This is no trivial boast as the debut vintage of La Landonne, the 1978, is just reaching full maturity at age 34.” RP
Wine Spectator 99 points “This delivers a stunningly ripe, pure, polished bolt of plum confiture, along with notes of anise, mocha, blueberry coulis, Black Forest cake and espresso. The finish sports admirable grip for this ripe-styled vintage, with a grounding rod of iron buried deeply. There’s fruit and muscle now, with minerality to burn while this is cellared. Best from 2015 through 2040.”
M. Chapoutier Crozes-Hermitage La Petite Ruche Blanc 2010 750ML ($29.95) $18 pre-arrival specialWine Spectator 91 points “Lush up front, but driven, with well-defined dried pineapple, white peach and melon notes racing through the chamomile-tinged finish. Very pure and long.”
The average price is $28
M. Chapoutier Hermitage Chante-Alouette 2011 750ML ($119.95) $59 pre-arrival specialRobert Parker 95 points “Possibly the finest cuvee of this wine I have ever tasted, the stunning, rich 2011 Ermitage Chante Alouette comes from three separate parcels on Hermitage Hill (Meal, Les Murets and Chante Alouette) and reveals plenty of white currant, buttered citrus, tangerine oil and honeysuckle along with hints of such exotic fruits as mango. It is a full-bodied, Montrachet-styled, dry white.”
The next best price is $79.99
The average price is $96
M. Chapoutier Chateauneuf-du-Pape La Bernardine Rouge 2011 750ML ($59.95) $33 pre-arrival specialJosh Raynolds–Vinous 91 points “(all grenache): Bright ruby. Red and dark berries, incense and lavender on the highly perfumed, spice-accented nose. Silky and open-knit, offering sappy raspberry compote and spicecake flavors that take a turn to blueberry with air. Closes long, gently tannic and sweet, with bright mineral and peppery spice notes adding lift and cut.”
The next best price is $40.99
The average price is $51
We want the finest wines available to humanity.
And we want them here, and we want them now!
– Withnail and I