Vinopolis Thanksgiving Sale!

Statti Gaglioppo Calabria IGT 2013 750ML ($21.95) $11.90 special (was $16)
Case-6 Statti Gaglioppo Calabria IGT 2013 750ML ($119.95) $69 special (was $89)
Case-12 Statti Gaglioppo Calabria IGT 2013 750ML ($219.95) $119 special (was $159)
Winery note: “100% Gaglioppo;  the respect of the original and typical fruit produces a wine of a rare elegance and pleasantness. The right witness of a land hidden into its own richness.”

Statti Lamezia Rosso 2013 750ML ($17.95) $11.90 special (was $14)
Case-6 Statti Lamezia Rosso 2013 750ML ($99.95) $69 special (was $71.90)
Case-12 Statti Lamezia Rosso 2013 750ML ($219.95) $119 special (was $149)
Winery note: “Gaglioppo 40% Greco Nero 40% Nerello cappuccio 20%; Deep, young, brilliant colours. Typical taste and smell characteristics in a wine whose vinification process introduces the cultural versatility of such a precious terroir.”

Bodegas Avante ‘Tineta’, Ribera del Duero 2012 750ML ($17.95) $11.90 special (was $14)
Case-12 Bodegas Avante ‘Tineta’, Ribera del Duero 2012 750ML ($179.95) $119 special (was $138)
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 91 points “(fermented in stainless steel tanks, with malo in small oak barrels, followed by 22 months of aging in French and American oak casks): Deep ruby. Sexy, perfumed aromas of cherry, blueberry and potpourri, with subtle licorice and dark chocolate qualities emerging with air. At once plush and lively, showing very good depth–and juicy acidity–to its black and blue fruit flavors. Supple tannins arrive late, adding shape to the sweet, spice-tinged finish.”

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Domaine Jean-Louis Chave Hermitage Blanc 2012 750ML ($319.95) $199 special (was $219)
Wine Spectator 97 points “A stunner from the start, showing distinctive depth to the creamed mango, white peach and heather flavors, this maintains superior precision and definition as the singed almond, chamomile, salted butter and ginger notes fill in. Glazed pear, elderflower honey and beeswax details chime in on the extremely long finish. Enjoyable now, but needs serious cellaring to show its full potential. Best from 2016 through 2037”
Wine Advocate 96 points “Much more open, fleshy and sexy, the 2012 Hermitage Blanc was just bottled a month prior to this tasting. Coming from l’Ermite, Les Rocoules, Maison Blanche and Peleat lieux-dits, it’s always a rough blend of 80% Marsanne and 20% Roussanne that’s aged in barrel. Loaded with notions of honeysuckle, orange marmalade, powered rock, buttered citrus and green almond, it’s full-bodied, rich, upfront and fruit loaded. While I think it will be a relatively accessible early in its life, it has the concentration to hold for two decades.” WA
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 94-96 points “Tasted in single-site components from tanks as the wine awaited blending: #1, from Peleat: Ripe pear and honey aromas, with a suave floral accent and a hint of smoky minerals. At once rich and lively, showing excellent back-end power. #2, from Rocoules: Intense, mineral-accented citrus and orchard fruit aromas, with a sexy floral nuance building with air. Bright, focused and mineral-driven, with a strong Meyer lemon quality lingering on the tangy finish. #3, also from Rocoules: Showing more emphasis on orchard fruit than the first Rocoules tank, with powerful quince and pear flavors and a touch of bitter quinine. Dusty minerals sharpen the long, sappy finish. #4, from l’Ermite: Spicy citrus zest and ginger scents along with a chalky mineral note and a hint of anise. Smoky and penetrating, with superb finishing clarity and lingering spiciness. #5, also from l’Ermite: More floral and masculine than the previous l’Ermite, with strong jasmine and orchard fruit character and a touch of bitter quinine. Bright and nervy on the finish, which doesn’t want to let up.” JR

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Domaine Jean-Louis Chave Hermitage Blanc 2011 1.5L ($549.95) $399 special (was $499)
Wine Spectator 97 points “Still a bit reserved aromatically, with hints of orange blossom and crème anglaise peeking out, this features a captivating display of racy quinine, honeysuckle and white peach flavors inlaid into a rich core of brioche, Cavaillon melon, white truffle, smoked almond and heather honey. Incredibly long. Hard to resist now, but ideal for when your toddler graduates college. Best from 2019 through 2030.” WS
Wine Advocate 96 points “Just bottled, the 2011 Hermitage Blanc also shows the richer side of Hermitage with its full-bodied, voluptuously textured and up-front profile. Honeysuckle, licorice, toast, citrus oil and liquid mineral-like qualities all emerge from this beauty, and it stays beautifully fresh and focused on the palate. A blend of mostly Marsanne, yet with roughly 20% Roussanne, from the l’Ermite, Les Rocoules, Maison Blanche and Peleat lieux-dits, this substantial white should be consumed over the coming 2-4 years, or forgotten for a decade or more. It will have over two decades of longevity.” WA

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Paul Jaboulet Aine Domaine de Roure Crozes-Hermitage 2012 750ML ($59.95) $41.90 special (was $49)
Wine Advocate 94 points “Coming from a small three-hectare plot of granite soils in the northern part of the appellation (which is the prime terroir), the blockbuster 2012 Crozes Hermitage Domaine Raymond Roure exhibits incredible minerality in its black raspberry, olive tapenade, spring flower, and subtle chocolate-laced aromatics. Tasting like it was filtered through a bed of rocks, it’s full-bodied, thrillingly concentrated and has superb underlying structure. In short, it’s a smoking Crozes Hermitage to drink anytime over the coming 15+ years. Unfortunately, there’s only 500 cases made.” WA

Paul Jaboulet Aine Saint-Joseph Domaine de la Croix des Vignes 2012 750ML ($69.95) $49 special (was $59)
Wine Advocate 95 points “The only Saint Joseph produced, the 2012 St Joseph Domaine de la Croix des Vignes is another incredible effort from this team. Coming from steep, granite soils and a vineyard located just beside the famed Vignes de Hospice, this beauty knocks it out of the park with its massive minerality, currants, rare beef and tapenade-like aromas and flavors. Ripe, medium to full-bodied, beautifully textured and still lively and elegant, it too will knock your socks off over the coming 15-20 years.” WA

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Marcel Deiss

Domaine Marcel Deiss Altenberg de Bergheim, Alsace Grand Cru 2010 750ML ($119.95) $89 special (was $99)
Wine Advocate & Stephen Tanzer 95 points “Like its 2011 counterpart, the Deiss 2010 Altenberg de Bergheim is strikingly floral, but tends toward bitter-sweet and elusive perfume of iris and lily-of-the-valley. The influence of quinine and black tea as well as a welcome suggestion of fresh peach and citrus juiciness serve as more effective counterpoint and push-back to the wine’s prominent sweetness than is the case with the 2011. A gorgeous sense of openness and levity prevails here, with quince and nut pastes subtly complimenting the prominent impression of liquid floral perfume on a silken and expansive palate, leading to a prodigious finish at once caressing as well as stimulating in its dynamic interaction of flower, fruit, and mouthwatering mineral salts…” WA

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Domaine Marcel Deiss Grasberg 2010 750ML ($59.95) $41.90 special (was $49)
Wine Advocate 93 points “Striking, high-toned aromas of maraschino, pistachio and mirabelle distillate in the Deiss 2010 Grasberg put me in mind of previous renditions from this site and field-blend that favors Riesling, Pinot Gris and Traminer variants. Tingling pineapple informs its firm yet lusciously juicy palate, leading to a long, supportively sweet finish featuring the invigorating interaction of chalk, white pepper, orange and lemon zests, and nut extracts with peach and pineapple. Look for this beauty to perform impressively through at least 2025.” WA

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Domaine Marcel Deiss Huebuhl 2008 750ML ($59.95) $41.90 special (was $49)
Wine Advocate & Stephen Tanzer 92 points “(pinot gris and muscat) Full orange-gold. Pungent, high-toned aromas of orange, spices and medicinal herbs; conveys a strong botrytis character. A very sweet, energetic fruit bomb in the mouth, with brisk acidity giving grip to the rather exotic flavors of tangerine, apricot, yellow peach, botanical herbs and spices. Big and broad but not heavy. Finishes long, tactile and slightly phenolic, showing its pinot gris side today.” ST

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Domaine Marcel Deiss Riesling 2012 750ML ($29.95) $21.90 special (was $24)
Ian D’agata — Vinous 89 points “Bright straw with a gold tinge. Peach, tea and spice on the forward nose. Rich, ripe and suave, with lovely tropical fruit flavors that persist nicely at the back, with a touch of alcoholic heat becoming apparent with aeration. The grapes for this wine are sourced from three main areas: Saint Hippolyte (on soils rich in granite and clay that yield wines with less acidity), Bergheim (slightly bigger, richer wines), and a few small plots between Riquewihr and Béblenheim. Mathieu Deiss told me that “when I first came to work at the estate, I thought why not join these grapes together rather than make single bottlings of each? It’s not as if we don’t have enough single-site wines, and besides, I didn’t think our clients were die-hard fans of the Saint Hippolyte or Bergheim wines themselves.””

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Domaine Marcel Deiss Schoenenbourg, Alsace Grand Cru 2010 750ML ($119.95) $79 special (was $99)
Wine Advocate & Stephen Tanzer 94 points “Fresh peach and citrus lusciously inform the Deiss 2010 Schoenenbourg, whose creamy texture and honeyed richness, are matched by vivacious juiciness. White pepper, chalk, quinine, and shimmering mineral matter offer invigoration and counterpoint in a sustained and dynamically complex finish. The sweetness here is supportive without remotely getting the upper hand, so that I can well imagine over the 20-25 years during which this beauty will deserve to be admired, its versatility at table will vary inversely with a diminishing sense of sweetness.” WADomaine Marcel Deiss Pinot Gris 2012 750ML ($29.95) $21.90 special (was $24)
Ian D’agata — Vinous 90 points “Straw-yellow with gold highlights. Bright tropical fruit aromas complicated by strawberry and honeyed almond paste. Juicy and focused, showing a lovely sugar/acid balance and outstanding length to the red berry and orchard fruit flavors. Finishes vibrant and clean.”

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Domaine Marcel Deiss Gewurztraminer 2012 750ML ($31.95) $21.90 special (was $24)
Ian D’Agata — Vinous “Dark golden yellow. Ripe but fresh, focused aromas and flavors of tropical fruits, sweet spices and vanilla. Not the last word in complexity but plump and juicy, offering plenty of early appeal. Finishes suave and long, with welcome floral lift. Made from grapes grown near Bergheim on calcaire soils and in Saint Hippolyte on granite and clay.”

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A Red Wine Available from M. Deiss:Domaine Marcel Deiss Burlenberg 2009 750ML ($49.95) $36 special (Was $41.90)
Stephen Tanzer 92+ points “Bright ruby-red. Red cherry, raspberry syrup and fresh herbs on the perfumed nose. Creamy and tactile in the mouth, with pure, rich flavors of ripe red berries and cherry supported by fine-grained tannins. Turns slightly tighter, even a bit austere, on the very long finish, which features lingering smoke and iron notes. (Deiss told me he finds a taste of blood in this wine.) All this very impressive, mostly pinot noir red wine needs is a little time.” ID

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Osterreich
F.X. Pichler

F.X. Pichler Durnsteiner Kellerberg Gruner Veltliner Smaragd, Wachau 2012 750ML ($89.95) $69 special (was $79)
Joel Payne-Vinous 94 points “Unctuous aromas of tropical fruit, spicy tobacco and white pepper. Opulent, juicy apricot extract emerges on the palate, where it’s joined by strong minerality. This rich wine offers a delicate interplay of sweetness and acidity interwoven with a wet stone character. Excellent potential.”
David Schildknecht 94 points “The Pichlers’ 2012 Gruner Veltliner Smaragd Kellerberg boasts a luscious pear and apple fruit fundament backed by a lush, glycerol-rich texture, with complementary overtones of honeysuckle and lily of the valley perfume. Yet for all of the richness my aforementioned description implies, this also boasts a remarkable sense of primary juiciness as well as lift, leading to a finish of refined, polished, succulent length, stimulatingly suffused with crushed stone and pungent Szechuan pepper. As another demonstration of how important is the character of an individual vineyard in ways that can’t be captured analytically, this wine is well over 14% in alcohol despite its buoyancy, whereas the corresponding Liebenberg at 13.5% reminds you of its alcohol and lacks levity. “One factor,” observes Lucas Pichler “is that Kellerberg is in the shadow after mid-afternoon while Liebenberg gets sun well into the evening.” Plan to follow this Kellerberg through at least 2025.”

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F.X. Pichler Loibner Klostersatz Gruner Veltliner Federspiel, Wachau 2012 750ML ($39.95) $24 special (was $29)
David Schildknecht 91 points “Though harvested around the end of September and in the context of a concerted effort to achieve moderate alcohol, at 12.5% the Pichler 2012 Gruner Veltliner Federspiel Klostersatz is on the border of what would when that name was introduced in1987 have qualified – just – as Smaragd, and made a vintner happy he could announce that on the label. Pungent notes of herbs and lentil sprout translate into a sappy, nutty-vegetal palate presence combining palpable density with considerable buoyancy on a soothingly silken palate. Smoky black tea, crushed stone, and saliva-liberating salinity add to the interest, invigoration and mouthwatering savor of a sustained finish. Lucas Pichler attributes both the surprising degree of levity and the extra measure of depth here vis-a-vis the corresponding Frauenweingarten bottling to the advantages of gravel versus sand. That having been noted and credited, I’m bound to say that the “sandy” Frauenweingarten displays levity, exuberance and charm of its own when one returns to it from a tasting of its ostensible betters. Plan to enjoy this Klostersatz through 2017.”
Joel Payne – Vinous 88 points “Fragrant aromas of yellow apple, tobacco and dill. Juicy and appealing, with crisp acidity providing a crunchy underpinning to the ripe melon, white pepper and wet stone flavors. Fun to drink!”

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F.X. Pichler M Gruner Veltliner Smaragd, Wachau 2012 750ML ($109.95) $79 special (was $89)
F.X. Pichler M Gruner Veltliner Smaragd, Wachau 2012 375ML ($59.95) $41.90 special (was $49) this is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
David Schildknecht 95 points “Pichlers’ 2012 Gruner Veltliner Smaragd M – mainly from Loibenberg, plus bits of Kellerberg, Liebenberg, Kollmutz and Muhlpoint – definitely shows the effect of Lucas Pichler’s decision to harvest earlier in recent years than his father usually did, particularly for this bottling. “I think the result is a bit more elegant,” he suggests, and I agree, however conceptually slippery or overused that word is. “I want something similar in style and quality to the Kellerberg,” he adds, “only not showcasing the character of an individual site but instead the grape variety,” and arguably, I’d add – albeit rather obviously – the synergy possible among various vineyards. Diverse floral perfumes – which then reprise inner-mouth; distilled pit fruits; and intimations of ripe pear and musk melon, all anticipate the silken-textured, lush yet remarkably buoyant and vibrantly interactive palate impression, brown spice-tinged and mingled with crushed stone, piquant fruit pit and white pepper. This misses quite the sheer length and penetration of the Kellerberg, but projects a superbly colorful and dynamic, near-kaleidoscopic complexity seldom equaled among Gruner Veltliners. (If memory serves, this is the first time I’ve rated an “M” Gruner Veltliner superior to the corresponding Kellerberg.) Plan to follow this “M” through at least 2022.”
Joel Payne-Vinous 93 points “Expressive bouquet fascinates with papaya, nougat, woodsmoke, white chocolate and orange zest. A sweet, leesy core of plum is wrapped in layers of green peppercorn, cardamom and orange. Unctuously rich and almost Burgundian in its creaminess, and carrying considerable alcoholic clout, this has the depth and intensity of flavor to carry the style, but I prefer both the Kellerberg and Liebenberg.”F.X. Pichler Loibner Steinertal Gruner Veltliner Smaragd, Wachau 2012 750ML ($59.95) $39 special (was $49)
David Schildknecht 92 points “With his 2012 Gruner Veltliner Smaragd Steinertal, says Lucas Pichler, “the aim is to showcase the vineyard, which is a cool site, whereas in Loiben, really, things are (generally) a bit too warm.” Prior to this solo debut – spurred by the acquisition of a second parcel – the Pichlers’ Gruner Veltliner from this site went into their Loibenberg (and “M”). This solo Steinertal projects delightfully luscious and exuberant pear and melon fruit along with saliva-inducing, metaphorically cooling suggestions of stalk celery. A sweet-smoky bite of Szechuan pepper lends invigoration and cut to a juicily protracted finish. A model of elegance and lift allied to fundamentally rich ripeness, it should perform beautifully through at least 2022.”
Joel Payne-Vinous 92 points “Mineral aromas of fresh apricot, mint and citrus zest. Mouthfilling muskmelon flavor is enlivened by a refreshing acid structure, making this appear lighter than it actually is. With mineral salts and wild spices on the back of the palate, this stylish wine is the coolest and most invigorating of the veltliners here.”

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F.X. Pichler Durnsteiner Liebenberg Gruner Veltliner Smaragd, Wachau 2012 750ML ($69.95) $49 special (was $59)
Joel Payne-Vinous 93 points “Ripe pear, snap pea and soft herbal spices on the beautifully nuanced nose. Steely and aristocratic on the palate, showing darker fruits and more acidity than the Loibenberg, with concentrated green mango, yellow plum and celery flavors over a layer of flinty slate. Despite its impressive opulence, this is subtle, precise and pure, probably due to the extreme age of the vineyard.”
David Schildknecht 90 points “A sweetly ripe tropical fruitiness of pineapple and pink grapefruit marks the F. X. Pichler 2012 Gruner Veltliner Smaragd Liebenberg, to which a positively sizzling impingement of citrus zest, pineapple core and white pepper lends counterpoint. There is a faintly soapy texture, and the aforementioned sizzle is reinforced in the finish by slightly noticeable (even though analytically only 13.5%) alcohol. Some terroirists (like myself) might anticipate a cooling and dynamic influence from the active lime in this vineyard’s soil, but it isn’t forthcoming. My explanation is that the tendency toward slight shriveling of berries in this site – also, of course, arguably a terroir factor – counteracts any such chalk influence, as well as resulting in a diminished sense of juiciness. All in all, this rich, rather static wine is likely to appeal most before 2017.”

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F.X. Pichler Loibner Burgstall Riesling Federspiel, Wachau 2012 750ML ($39.95) $26 special (was $33)
David Schildknecht 92 points “The Pichlers’ 2012 Riesling Federspiel Burgstall – for more about whose site, consult my issue 197 report – succeeds brilliantly in their attempt to capture levity and refreshment along with interactive complexity. Lemon and white peach tinged with orange rind, crushed stone, almond and peach kernel inform a glossy yet refreshingly juicy not to mention buoyant palate, leading to an entertainingly oscillating finishing exchange of mineral and fruit elements. The combinations of lusciousness with levity; stimulation and soothing; rich ripeness with transparency to nuance, are memorably delicious, and I would not be surprised to find this worth following through at least 2020.”
Joel Payne-Vinous 88 points “Passion fruit, peach and lime make for an enticing bouquet. Bright, clean and crisp, with a refreshing balance and taut structure highlighting its stone and citrus fruit flavors. One more glass, please!”

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F.X. Pichler Loibner Steinertal Riesling Smaragd, Wachau 2012 750ML ($69.95) $49 special (was $59)
David Schildknecht 93 points “Pichlers’2012 Riesling Smaragd Steinertal suggests chili as well as Szechuan pepper bite and pungency, allied to rhubarb-like tartness and mouthwatering savor, all enrobed in lusciously ripe, white peach and apple on a plush palate. “This site has an effect a lot like Schutt,” explains Lucas Pichler, “because the eroded stone that form its basis followed the creases and crevices in the hillside that are precisely what conduct cool air down from the woods above the vineyards.” Wafting hints of chamomile and suffusion of crushed stone add to the interest and allure of this refined, long-finishing Riesling that should prove worth following through at least 2022.”
Joel Payne-Vinous 91 points “Cool mango, passion fruit and vineyard peach aromas are laced with flint. Immensely juicy but by no means lacking in finesse, as abundant minerality flows like a mountain stream. Crisp pineapple and mango flavors linger with wet rocks on the long, complex finish. Excellent potential.”

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F.X. Pichler Durnsteiner Kellerberg Riesling Smaragd, Wachau 2012 750ML ($109.95) $79 special (was $89)
David Schildknecht 95 points “The Pichlers’ 2012 Riesling Smaragd Kellerberg delivers an enormous concentration of lusciously rich, sweetly ripe white peach, Persian melon, grapefruit and pineapple, mingled with almond cream, blond tobacco and Szechuan pepper. Bittersweet iris perfume wafts throughout this magnificent performance, while the superbly sustained finish introduces a cyanic intensity of fruit pit whose bitterness is tamed and stimulatingly integrated thanks to sheer generosity of fruit and inner-mouth perfume. There were some shriveled berries here, notes Lucas Pichler, which no doubt contribute to the sense of opulence not to mention of sheer ripeness; yet there is only 13.5% alcohol. Plan to follow this beauty through at least 2025.”
Joel Payne-Vinous 93 points “Complex aromas of white peach, lime zest, mandarin orange and apple blossom are still a bit leesy. Tightly knit thanks to vibrant acidity, the rich yellow stone fruit flavors ooze with sweet complexity. Lingers impressively on the back of the palate. Still closed, this riesling has barely begun to sketch its future.”

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Great Estates: Henri Gouges
New Cuvees Arriving Soon

“It is whilst still on the vine that a fine wine matures…” –Gouges family maximProducing wines from some of the most famous vineyard sites in the Nuits-Saint-Georges, this eighty-year old family estate is widely considered the top producer in the area.  The Domaine was founded by Henri Gouges, who was known for being a leader against fraud and one of the individuals in charge of delineating Burgundy crus.  Today, the domaine is headed by his grandsons Christian and Pierre.  The vineyards are all low-yielding, with average vine age of between 30-40 years old.  The vineyards are planted with grass between rows to help force the vines to dig deep roots.  Production averages around 3,000 cases per year.  The wines call for cellaring.  The house style has moved from dense and long-lived in the 40s and 50s, to light in the 70s and 80s, and back toward a more powerful and structured style today.  The grapes are completely destemmed and see only a tiny amount of new oak during aging.

Vintage 2013 Gouges Wines Arriving Mid-December:

Domaine Henri Gouges Bourgogne Rouge 2013 750ML ($34.95) $29 pre-arrival special

Domaine Henri Gouges Nuits-Saint-Georges 2013 750ML ($69.95) $59 pre-arrival special
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 86-88 points “Healthy bright red. Slightly reduced aromas of bitter cherry and lees. Sweet but reduced, with cranberry and raspberry fruit flavors complicated by earthy and saline traces. Boasts good lift but finishes with slightly tart-edged acidity.” ST

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Domaine Henri Gouges Les Chaignots, Nuits-Saint-Georges Premier Cru 2013 750ML ($79.95) $69 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 89-91 points “The 2013 Nuits Saint Georges 1er Cru les Chaignots has a clean, pure and understated bouquet, with touches of orange rind developing in the glass. The palate is quite vivacious on the entry with crisp edgy tannins, a keen thread of acidity, and plenty of nervosité toward the finish. This should offer pleasure over 8-10 years, possibly more.” NM

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Domaine Henri Gouges Les Chenes Carteaux, Nuits-Saint-Georges Premier Cru 2013 750ML ($79.95) $66 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 90-92 points “The 2013 Nuits St Georges 1er Cru les Chenes Carteaux has a bit of reduction on the nose. The palate is fleshy and supple in the mouth, with nicely judged acidity. It is missing just a little complexity toward the finish, although there is fine balance and poise. It lends this Nuits Saint Georges a slight brittleness in the mouth, but it seems to possess plenty of tension and persistence.”Domaine Henri Gouges Clos des Porrets Monopole, Nuits-Saint-Georges Premier Cru 2013 750ML ($89.95) $79 pre-arrival special
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 90-92 points “Bright, deep red. Very ripe, chocolatey nose. Rich, sappy and densely packed, conveying a broad-shouldered solidity to its flavors of liqueur-like dark fruits, licorice and dark chocolate. Very solidly built wine with serious but nicely enrobed tannins spreading out and lingering on the chewy back end.” ST

Domaine Henri Gouges Les Pruliers, Nuits-Saint-Georges Premier Cru 2013 750ML ($139.95) $119 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 92-94 points “The 2013 Nuits St Georges 1er Cru les Pruliers might well be the pick of the wines from Domaine Henri Gouges this year. It has a tightly wound, undergrowth-tinged bouquet with mulberry and briary aromas. The palate is underpinned by fine, taut tannins and a taut thread of acidity. This is very “streamlined” at the moment – all about the focus and energy rather than flamboyance. It has a lovely shimmering finish, with a long saline aftertaste. Excellent.” NM

Domaine Henri Gouges Les Vaucrains, Nuits-Saint-Georges Premier Cru 2013 750ML ($159.95) $133 pre-arrival special
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 91-94 points “(18 hectoliters per hectare produced): Full medium red. Very pure aromas of black cherry, black raspberry, mocha and chocolate mint, complicated by truffley underbrush. Sweet, sappy and deep; rich and tactile, combining lovely finesse of texture with obvious force. This highly concentrated, youthfully austere Vaucrains finishes with substantial dusty tannins and excellent persistence.” ST

Domaine Henri Gouges Les Saint-Georges, Nuits-Saint-Georges Premier Cru 2013 750ML ($219.95) $189 pre-arrival special
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 92-94 points “Bright red. Ripe, musky aromas of red berries, minerals and rust. Suave and creamy-sweet in the mouth, with an almost jammy ripeness but also very good framing acidity to the crunchy red berry flavors. Perhaps a bit youthfully disassociated at present, not to mention firmly tannic on the back end, yet this is easier to taste today than the Vaucrains owing to its sheer sex appeal. Offers superb potential.” ST

Other Selections Currently Available From Gouges:

Domaine Henri Gouges Les Chaignots, Nuits-Saint-Georges Premier Cru 2010 750ML ($99.95) $79 special, 21 bottles available
John Gilman 92 points “I did not have a chance to really taste the 2010 Chaignots out of barrel in November of 2011, as the wine was quite reduced and in need of a racking at the time of my visit. A year later, I was very happy to revisit the wine out of bottle and see that it was very promising, offering up a youthful and classy bouquet of black cherries, gamebirds, woodsmoke, a beautiful base of soil and a fine topnote of fresh herbs. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied and very pure, with laser-like focus, a sappy core of fruit, tangy acids and a very long, suavely tannic and still very closed finish. This will want most of the decade to blossom in bottle, but it is destined to be a great vintage of Chaignots from the Gouges family. 2020-2070.”
Stephen Tanzer 91+ points “Palish red. Redcurrant, cherry, spices, minerals and a whiff of game on the nose. Sweet, silky and fairly deep, offering a fine-grained texture and very good energy and intensity to its red fruit flavors. This juicy, bright premier cru relies as much on its acids as on its tannins for balance and structure. Finishes subtle and long. Half of these vines were replanted in 1986 following the 1985 frost, and so this wine has been getting better and better in recent vintages, noted Gregory Gouges.” ST

Domaine Henri Gouges Les Chaignots, Nuits-Saint-Georges Premier Cru 2011 750ML ($99.95) $79 special, 1 bottle available
Stephen Tanzer 89-91 points “Bright medium red.  Precise aromas and flavors of blackberry, violet, licorice, minerals and musky chocolate.  Juicy and sharply delineated, with noteworthy intensity of flavor.  Spreads out nicely and vibrates on the long, firm finish.” ST

Domaine Henri Gouges Les Chaignots, Nuits-Saint-Georges Premier Cru 2012 750ML ($89.95) $79 special, 12 bottles available
Antonio Galloni 89-91 points “Beams of bright acidity and minerality run through the 2012 Nuits St. Georges Les Chaignots. Freshly cut flowers, mint, dark raspberries and chalk flow effortlessly. This is a decidedly vertical Nuits built on energy. The style is a bit compact, but pretty all the same.” AG

Domaine Henri Gouges Nuits-Saint-Georges 2011 750ML ($69.95) $39 special, 12 bottles available
Domaine Henri Gouges Nuits-Saint-Georges 2011 375ML ($39.95) $33 special, 6 half-bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 87-89 points “Good bright, deep red.  Strong animal reduction along with black and red fruits on the nose.  Silky and supple for a Nuits villages owing to ripe acidity, with a lovely restrained sweetness to its dark fruit flavors.  Finishes with suave tannins and good breadth and length.  Very nicely balanced.” ST

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Domaine Henri Gouges Nuits-Saint-Georges 2012 750ML ($69.95) $59 special, 12 bottles available
Antonio Galloni 89-91 points “The 2012 Nuits St. Georges is utterly exquisite. Sweet floral and spice notes lift out of the glass, followed by a host of blue/black fruits, spices, mint and licorice. The flavors are classic Nuits but the villages is surprisingly weightless, aromatic and polished. I especially like the freshness of the finish.” AGDomaine Henri Gouges Les Chenes Carteaux 2010 750ML ($89.95) $79 special, 18 bottles available
John Gilman 92 points “The 2010 Chênes Carteaux from the Gouges family is a beautiful example of this underrated terroir and the 2010 version should prove to be one of the finest ever produced here by the domaine. The nascently complex bouquet is still youthful, but all the inherent elegance of the vintage are very much in evidence here, as the wine delivers a lovely, vibrant mélange of black cherries, pomegranate, saddle leather, a touch of stems, venison, nutskin, a beautiful base of soil tones and a smoky topnote. On the palate the wine is pure, full-bodied and sappy at the core, with very suave, ripe tannins, great focus and grip, blossoming complexity and a very long, classy finish. This will be a very elegant vintage of Chênes Carteaux in the fullness of time, but this wine still needs at least another eight to ten years of bottle age to really start to hit on all cylinders. 2023-2060.” JG

Domaine Henri Gouges Les Chenes Carteaux 2011 750ML ($79.95) $59 special, 25 bottles available
Burghound 89-92 points “A discreet touch of wood surround the ripe and well-layered mix of red berry fruit scents that are liberally laced with earth and underbrush nuances. There is good ripeness to the suave, even seductive middle weight flavors that possess really lovely depth on the persistent, balanced and harmonious finish. This is really quite good and worth considering.” BH

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Domaine Henri Gouges Les Chenes Carteaux 2012 750ML ($89.95) $69 special, 4 bottles available
Antonio Galloni 90-92 points “Blue and purple fruit, smoke, licorice, violets and cloves flesh out in the 2012 Nuits St. Georges Les Chênes Carteaux. This is an especially round, supple Chênes Carteaux with tons of near and medium-term appeal. The round, silky finish is polished and beautifully resonant, all of which suggest the 2012 will drink better earlier than some of the other wines in this range.” AG
Stephen Tanzer 90-92 points “Bright, full red.  Red cherry and smoke on the nose.  Juicy, vinous and fine-grained but also with good volume to the sweet red fruit flavors.  Lovely peppery acidity gives lift to the wine.  Finishes with pliant tannins and excellent saline persistence.  Nicely concentrated wine from the south side of the village.” STDomaine Henri Gouges Les Saint-Georges 2012 750ML ($219.95) $199 special, 4 bottles available
Antonio Galloni 95-97+ points “A dark, brooding wine, the 2012 Nuits St. Georges Les Saint-Georges boasts stunning depth, power and richness. Smoke, black fruit, tar, tobacco, licorice and menthol all take shape in the glass. The 2012 is classic Saint Georges; explosive, tannic and built for the long haul. Cloves, menthol, licorice and plums reappear on the huge, enveloping finish. Readers who can find the 2012 should not hesitate. It is a gem of a wine.” AG
John Gilman 96 points “The 2012 Les St. Georges from the Gouges family is a great, great wine in the making and is likely to vie with the stellar 2010 version as one of the finest recent vintages of this wine in many decades. The deep, pure and youthfully complex nose soars from the glass in a blaze of black cherries, cassis, dark and complex soil tones, incipient notes of the pigeon to come, woodsmoke, espresso and a touch of violet in the upper register. On the palate the wine is pure, full-bodied and rock solid at the core, with stellar soil signature, laser-like focus, suave, ripe tannins and a very long, primary and oh, so promising finish. This is simply a perfectly balanced young vintage of Les St. Georges and will be a legend in the fullness of time! 2024-2075.” JG

Domaine Henri Gouges Clos des Porrets Monopole 2011 750ML ($89.95) $55 special, 28 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 90 points “Bright medium red.  Liqueur-like aromas of cherry and raspberry.  Sweet red fruit and spice flavors are lifted by notes of rose petal, herbs and pepper.  Has the freshness and balance to give early pleasure. Finishes with lingering pepper-and-spice perfume and very good length.” ST

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Domaine Henri Gouges Clos des Porrets Monopole 2012 750ML ($99.95) $89 special, 4 bottles available
Antonio Galloni 92-94+ points “The 2012 Nuits St. Georges Clos des Porrets Saint-Georges is beautifully round and supple. Here the fruit is distinctly red-toned, with hints of iron, earthiness, smoke and tobacco that add complexity. The 2012 will be highly appealing young because of its pure density, but it also appears to have the stuffing to age well for a number of years. This is a great showing from Gouges.” AGDomaine Henri Gouges Les Pruliers 2011 750ML ($99.95) $69 special, 19 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 91 points “Bright medium red.  Reticent high-toned aromas of slightly jammy red fruits and earth.  Sweet and ripe; richer and deeper than the Porrets Saint-Georges, with silky red cherry, currant and spice flavors enlivened by pungent peppery acidity.  Nicely balanced, round wine with good buffering extract.” ST

Domaine Henri Gouges Les Pruliers 2012 750ML ($119.95) $99 special, 5 bottles available
Antonio Galloni 93-96 points “Gouge’s 2012 Nuits St. Georges Les Pruliers is less immediate than some of the other wines in the range. Here it is the crystalline purity of the aromas and flavors that stands out most. Violets, plums, licorice, sweet spices and tar are all woven together in a wine that shows the finesse Nuits can at times achieve. The tannins are firm yet also impeccable in their silkiness. Structurally quite classic, the 2012 will reward cellaring.” AG
John Gilman 94 points “Out of bottle, the 2012 les Pruliers is even more beautiful than it was out of cask and is clearly destined to be one of the finest vintages of this cuvée chez Gouges in the last quarter century. The nose is currently quite reserved, but deep and extremely promising in its mélange of cassis, black cherries, dark soil tones, French roast, venison and woodsmoke. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied and rock solid at the core, with excellent focus and balance, impressive, nascent complexity, ripe, seamless tannins and a very, very long, soil-driven and quite refined (particularly for young Pruliers!) finish. All this outstanding wine needs is time in the cellar. 2012-2060+.” JG

Domaine Henri Gouges Les Vaucrains 2005 750ML ($199.95) $179 special, 8 bottles available
Burghound–Outstanding 93 points —“Extremely primary yet multi-dimensional black fruit and earthy aromas introduce rich, full and massive flavors that are powerful, robust and muscled with so much mid-palate sap that the extremely firm tannic spine is almost, if not completely masked. However, as it always does, the tannins will come out with time and I expect that this will always have a certain chewy quality and will require more than a decade of time in bottle to really begin to round out. Wonderful potential but for the very patient.” BH

Domaine Henri Gouges Les Vaucrains 2012 750ML ($169.95) $149 special, 6 bottles available
Antonio Galloni 95-97 points “The 2012 Nuits St. Georges Les Vaucrains explodes onto the palate with a heady melange of dark red berries, freshly cut roses, cinnamon and new leather. The tannins are there, but they are nearly buried by the intensity of the fruit. The sheer luxuriousness of the fruit will tempt readers early, but those who can wait will be rewarded with an extraordinary Burgundy. This is a great showing.” AG

White Burgundy Available from Gouges:

Domaine Henri Gouges Clos des Porrets Monopole Blanc 2012 750ML ($119.95) $89 special, 5 bottles available
VinopolNote: This white wine is produced from a white mutation of Pinot Noir discovered and propagated by the Domaine, known as Pinot Gouges.

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Burgundy Bliss

Domaine Remi Jobard Le Poruzot Dessus, Meursault Premier Cru 2011 750ML ($99.95) $69 special (was $79)
Antonio Galloni 92+ points “A deep, earthy wine, the 2011 Meursault 1er Cru Poruzots-Dessus hits the palate with tons of muscle and power. The style is bold and direct. There isn’t a whole lot of complexity here, but there is plenty of pure stuffing. It will be interesting to see where the 2011 goes over the coming year. Today structural elements dominate over fruit.” AG

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Domaine Leroy Aux Allots, Nuits-Saint-Georges 2011 750ML ($599.95) $419 special (was $499)
Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2011 Nuits St.Georges Les Allots has a striking bouquet, more immediate than the Pommard with lifted mineralite, beautifully defined and focused. The palate is medium-bodied with filigree tannins, waves of black currant and raspberry fruit underlined by superb tension and poise. Everything is reined in toward the finish that is very composed with a long aftertaste and spicy coda. Excllent.” WA

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Domaine Leroy Nuits-Saint-Georges Aux Lavieres 2011 750ML ($599.95) $479 special (was $499)
Wine Advocate 95 points “The 2011 Nuits-St-Georges Aux Lavieres has a nose born of the sky more than the earth: airy, lifted and feminine. Touches of cold limestone emerge with time that are entrancing. The palate is vibrant and vital on the entry with a silver thread of acidity, a gradual build in the mouth with shimmering dark cherry and bergamot, then a gentle grip on the tense and teasing Vosne-like finish. Superb.” WA

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Domaine Leroy Pommard Les Vignots 2011 750ML ($599.95) $399 special (was $499)
Burghound 89 points “There is a soft touch of wood to the notably ripe yet cool and airy aromas of plum, cassis and wet stone. There is excellent volume and mid-palate concentration to the medium-bodied flavors that brim with dry extract on the detailed finish that exudes a fine minerality. This balanced effort delivers fine depth and length for its level.” BH

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Domaine Leroy Les Narbantons, Savigny-les-Beaune Premier Cru 2011 750ML ($799.95) $669 special (was $699)
Burghound 92 points “Subtle reduction masks the subtle points of the nose though there appears to be good ripeness to the mostly dark berry fruit and earth aromas. There is excellent volume to the delicious, complex and solidly well-concentrated medium-bodied flavors that terminate in a relatively powerful, balanced and mouth coating finish. It’s rare to see a Savigny with this kind of muscle yet have it delivered with grace.” BHDomaine Leroy Clos de la Roche Grand Cru, Cote de Nuits 2007 750ML ($1,799.95) $1199 special (was $1599)
Wine Advocate 96 points “Kirsch, rose hip, and soy intensely scent the Leroy 2007 Clos De La Roche, which reveals brightness and finesse as well as a saline savor unusual for its appellation. To be sure, notes of leather and crushed stone as well as smoked and roasted meats contribute further and perhaps more site-typical complexity. But it’s the sheer finesse, buoyancy, and vibratory energy on display that most amaze, leaving your tongue and gums a quiver and your salivary glands pumping helplessly. There is also a faint hint of heat, but its effect is negligible given what’s going on around you when you swallow (or, in my case, spit). Look for 20 or more years of excitement.” WA

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Joseph Drouhin Musigny Grand Cru, Cote de Nuits 2011 750ML ($799.95) $549 special (was $589)
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 92-95 points “Good deep red. Captivating aromas of blueberry, violet, coffee bean, white pepper and crushed stone. Juicy on entry, then tight and imploded in the middle, with an energetic core of fruit currently dominated by the wine’s structure. Most impressive today on the rising, expanding back end, which saturates the mouth with dusty minerality. This will need eight to ten years of cellaring.” ST
Burghound ” 93-95 points Don’t miss! A highly spiced, cool and reserved nose features superb breadth with a wonderfully appealing array of plum, violets, wet stone and essence of red berry fruit. The exceptionally rich, focused and intensely mineral-inflected broad-shouldered flavors evidence focused power and a sleek muscularity before terminating in an explosive and palate saturating finish of genuinely stunning length. This is a knockout in every respect.” BH

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Joseph Drouhin Musigny Grand Cru, Cote de Nuits 2012 750ML ($999.95) $649 special (was $799)
Burghound 96 points “Here the expressive nose is even more complex and spicier than the Amoureuses with its fresh and impressively pure notes of black cherry, plum, violets and cassis that are trimmed by a backdrop of softly toasty oak. There is good power and excellent size, weight and muscle on the big-bodied flavors that exude plenty of mouth coating dry extract that also serves to buffer the very firm tannins on the strikingly persistent and almost painfully intense finish. There is a beguiling contrast between the silky mid-palate and the powerful finish that just goes on and on. This should be stunning in time but this is definitely not a wine for early consumption.” BH

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Domaine Trapet Père et Fils Latricières-Chambertin Grand Cru 2012 750ML ($259.95) $208 special (was $225)
Antonio Galloni – Vinous 94-96 points “The 2012 Latricières-Chambertin possesses a super-classic sense of cut and energy. Black fruit, smoke, autumn leaves and new leather form the backdrop as this intense, saline-infused Burgundy shows off its vibrant, layered personality. Here, too, readers need to be prepared to be patient. The Latricières is a wine for the cellar. Trapet used 65% whole clusters. This is a great Burgundy in the making. (AG)   (1/2014).”
Burghound 95 points “A somber yet elegant nose presents aromas of various dark berries, floral tones and wet stone nuances that are trimmed in subtle wood nuances. This is markedly mineral-driven with superb delineation and terrific tension on middle weight plus flavors that deliver outstanding length on the driving, youthfully austere and beautifully well-balanced finale. This is a strikingly persistent and entirely classic Latricières that is built on its minerality though note well that plenty of patience will be required. (1/2015)”AM
Wine Advocate 93-95 points “The 2012 Latricieres-Chambertin Grand Cru comes from a single 0.75-hectare parcel whose oldest members were planted in 1938. It has another very crisp and focused bouquet with fine delineation and tension – quite similar to the Chapelle-Chambertin in style but with slightly blacker fruit. The palate is tannic and structure, here with a subtle marine influence, leading to a masculine, swarthy finish. This has great persistency in the mouth. Superb. (NM)    (12/2013)”
Stephen Tanzer – Vinous 94 points “Good medium red. Slightly sauvage nose and palate combine black cherry, underbrush and espresso elements, with complicating notes of pepper and truffle. Lush, seamless and filled in, offering lovely balance from the outset. Less floral and fruity than the Chapelle but even denser. Most impressive right now on the building, unflagging finish, which features noble, broad tannins and the structure to support a long and graceful evolution in bottle.    (3/2015)”

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Domaine Trapet Père et Fils Chambertin Grand Cru 2012 750ML ($379.95) $299 special (was $325)
Burghound 96 points “This is ultra-cool and restrained aromatically with its airy and even elegant aromas of intensely floral, spicy and stony wild dark berry scents that are also trimmed in just enough wood to warrant commenting on. There is a gorgeous texture to the equally mineral-inflected and muscular broad-shouldered and impressively concentrated flavors that possess a Zen-like harmony on the impeccably well-balanced, moderately austere and hugely long finish. This should be genuinely wonderful if given at least a decade’s snooze in a cool cellar. I should also note that by the standards of this wine the 2012 version is not super-powerful but I very much like the sense of harmony.    (1/2015)”AM
Wine Advocate 94-96 points “The 2012 Chambertin Grand Cru comes from three parcels that total a sizeable 1.9-hectares scattered on different soils and this blend includes 90% whole cluster fruit. It has an intense bouquet: blackcurrant, raspberry leaf, forest floor, minerals and orange rind that is very delineated and focused. The palate is animated and tense on the entry. This Chambertin can barely contain its energy and it just shimmers in the mouth, gradually building to a precocious red cherry and citrus peel finish, the mineralite defining the aftertaste. This is a sophisticated, cerebral Chambertin for the studious, rather than the hedonists. (NM)   (12/2013).”
Stephen Tanzer – Vinous 96 points “Good medium red, a bit less dark than the Latricières. Musky aromas of redcurrant, flint, red licorice and rocky minerality lifted by a floral topnote. Enters the mouth with great breadth, then tightens up dramatically in the middle, conveying an almost 2010-like tautness to its raspberry and crushed stone flavors. Actually comes across today as less thick and sweet than the Latricières, and utterly weightless. Builds inexorably to a crescendo on the explosive, gripping back end, which leaves the palate vibrating with licorice and peppery herbs. I love the stem influence here. Should make a classic, monumental Chambertin.”

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