On Vintage/On Deal Wines from Produttori
The Produttori del Barbaresco represents one of the best deals in the world of fine wine. Impeccably made in a traditional style and with very high standards (they only release the cru wines in the best years), these are wines that can stand toe to toe with wines twice the price. With age, these are capable of being the best wine on any table—no matter what else is being poured.
We were able to acquire a small parcel of library wines from the 2011 vintage last year and there are a few wines among that group that needed a little love, from a sales perspective, so we’ve dropped the prices—these are can’t miss deals. While 2011 was a mixed bag in Barolo, it’s considered a great vintage in Barbaresco, which benefitted greatly from its cooler location in Piedmont. The 2011’s are big, powerful wines by Produttori standards and will age effortlessly for a few decades, but the nature of the vintage means they’re surprisingly delicious today, as well.
Produttori del Barbaresco Montefico, Barbaresco Riserva DOCG 2011 750ML ($69.95) Was $59, Now $49, 34 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni 95 points “The 2011 Barbaresco Riserva Montefico is another of the highlights in this range from the Produttori. Imagine the precision of Ovello, but with slightly darker fruit and more density and power through the middle. That’s the Montefico. A regal, towering Barbaresco, the Montefico should provide thrilling drinking for the next several decades. A rush of dark cherry, plum, smoke, licorice and tobacco add nuance on the powerful, structured finish.” AG
Produttori del Barbaresco Montestefano, Barbaresco Riserva DOCG 2011 750ML ($59.95) Was $49, Now $39, 36+ bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni 94 points “The 2011 Barbaresco Riserva Montestefano is one of the least expressive of these wines. Inward, powerful and explosive, the 2011 is not in a mood to show much today, that is pretty clear. Still, there is an obvious energy here that is impossible to miss. A firm spine of tannin gives the wine much of its signature power. Dark red cherry, smoke, pomegranate and scorched earth blossom on the dramatic finish. A wine of real density and gravitas, the 2011 Barbaresco Riserva Montestefano stands out for its pure, unbridled energy and overall intensity.” AG
Wine Advocate 94 points “The 2011 Barbaresco Riserva Montestefano is the biggest of the bunch. This wine delivers a lasting sense of structure and intensity that is especially apparent as this Barbaresco hits the palate. The bouquet exhibits signs of ripe fruit with soft layers of blackberry preserves and cherry liqueur. The wine’s tannic structure is solid and firmly stitched together, yet this wine is slightly softer and perhaps sweeter than the Riserva Muncagota, for example. This is yet another wine destined for long bottle-aging.”
Now it’s even lower!
The average price is $55
Antonio Galloni 94+ points “The 2011 Barbaresco Riserva Ovello, from one of the coolest zones in Barbaresco, is superb. Here it is the wine’s precision and energy – both hard to come by in 2011 – that really stand out. Pine, mint, chalk, bright red berries, blood orange and white pepper are some of the signatures in a brilliant, finely-cut Barbaresco that captures the best of both the vintage and this site. Don’t miss it!” AG
The average price is $55
Wine Spectator 95 points “Broad and brooding, this muscular Barbaresco packs in black cherry, tar, licorice and spice flavors. More about power than finesse, with a long finish. Best from 2019 through 2035.”
Antonio Galloni 92 points “The 2011 Barbaresco Riserva Pora is sweet, round and sensual. Beautifully layered in the glass, the Pora is absolutely exquisite, with plenty of sweet red cherry, plum, mint and spice notes woven throughout. The Pora is typically the most open of the Produttori’s nine Riservas, as it is once again this year. There is so much to like here.” AG
The average price is $55
Grand Pricing
Dom Perignon Brut, Champagne 2009 750ML ($179.95) $139 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-6 Dom Perignon Brut, Champagne 2009 750ML ($899.95) $799 special, 3 six-packs available (that’s only $133.17/bottle!)
James Suckling 97 points “This is a DP that shows the ripeness of the 2009 vintage yet remains full of energy. Gorgeous aromas of cream, apple, mango, honeysuckle, and chalk follow through to a full body and super fine, tight texture. Dense and agile. Vinous. It’s like a top grand cru white Burgundy. Think Batard-Montrachet. More depth than the 2006. Drink now.”
Decanter 96 points “Unbroken sun through August and early September helped to shape an idyllic harvest, on 12th September. Superb maturity of fruit in flawless health has produced a wine with wafting scents of both fresh and confit of spiced lemon and wild cherry. Despite the heat, the wine has freshness, vitality and length. Still a youngster, this will grow greatly by 2019. A more stylish son of the ’03, and cousin of the slender and charming ’06. Disgorged June 2016.”
Antonio Galloni 94+ points “The 2009 Dom Pérignon is a gorgeous, totally seductive Champagne that will drink well right out of the gate. Medium in body and unusually open-knit at this stage, the 2009 is one of the most accessible young Dom Pérignons I can remember tasting. It is an excellent choice to drink while waiting for the release of the stellar 2008 and some recent vintages that remain very young, including the 2006. Despite the warm, ripe personality of the 2009 Dom Pérignon is quite gracious, but there is plenty of depth underpinning the fruit. With each successive tasting, the 2009 seems to have gained more power and breadth, especially on the finish. Above all else, the 2009 is decidedly restrained for a warm, radiant vintage. It is not as overtly flamboyant as the 2002 nor as phenolically intense as years like 2003 and 2006. Instead, the 2009 is a beautifully balanced Champagne, with all of its elements in the right place. Tasted three times.”
The average price is $170
Decanter 93 points “Perrier Jouët Belle Epoque 2008 reminds me somewhat of the grace of the exceptional 1995, Cellarmaster Hervé Deschamps’ first solo vintage and still one of his best. Though the two vintages 13 years apart share the same grace and class, the 2008 is more mineral, reflecting a quite sunless summer season. Only the return of warmer weather at the start of September imbued the vintage with a freshness of great Chardonnay in tune with the subtly restrained power of Pinot Noir and a soupçon of rounded Meunier – that final little touch making the wine more pleasurable to drink soon, unlike other wines from the Champagne 2008 vintage, which need a lot more time. Chardonnay is from Cramant, Avize, and Mesnil, Pinot Noir from Ay and Ambonnay in the Montagne de Reims, and Pinot Meunier from Dizy. Shimmering pale gold with green lights, radiant clarity; persistent tiny bubbles: riot of white flowers scents, hawthorn, then more stone-fruit than citrus, reine claude (greengage) and elderflower. Vibrant mouthfeel, invigorating, expansive – perfect with saline fruits de mer.”
The next best price is $119.98
The average price is $146
John Gilman 94+ points “The final blending of the 2006 La Grande Dame was completed prior to Dominique Demarville joining the team at Veuve Clicquot, so we will have to wait for the release of the 2008 version to see his impact on this bottling. The 2006 Grande Dame is a blend of fifty-three percent pinot noir and forty-seven percent chardonnay and was finished with a dosage of eight grams per liter. The wine is excellent, wafting from the glass in a complex blend of apple, pear, wheat toast, fine minerality, a touch of smokiness and a nice note of caraway seed in the upper register. On the palate the wine is pure, full-bodied, deep and complex, with elegant mousse, fine focus and grip and a very long, vibrant and zesty finish. This is drinking beautifully, but has the balance to age long and gracefully as well. High class juice. 2016-2040.”Champagne Guide 96 points “(disgorged early 2014; 53% pinot noir, largely from Verzy and Verzenay, with a touch of Bouzy, Ambonnay and Ay; 47% chardonnay, predominantly from Avize, Oger and Le Mesnil-sur-Oger; 8g/L dosage). In response to the generous, rounded, supple 2006 season, Demarville’s predecessor, Jacques Peters, increased the share of chardonnay in his final La Grande Dame. Demarville confessed to some nervousness at launching the 2006 after the caliber of the linear and refined 2004. The two seasons certainly stand in contrast, with the 2006 already much more approachable and immediate. It launches confidently into generous, rich ginger, honey, toast, roast nuts and brioche, well into its phase of secondary evolution, yet in no way broad or developed. Citrus-zest liveliness defines a honed focus, while a fine chalk mineral structure keeps the finish lively and energetic.”
Wine Advocate 94 points “The prestigious 2006 La Grande Dame is made from 47% Chardonnay and 53% Pinot Noir, and assembles the fruit of eight grand cru villages. Very intense and complex on the nose, this is a full-bodied, round, rich and mouth-filling, but also refined prestige cuvée; it reveals a fascinating purity, precision and freshness. The finish is long and complex, and shows a spicy minerality. There are coffee beans, bread and toast aromas in the aftertaste. This comes highly recommended.”
Wine Spectator 94 points “A waft of spring blossom draws you into this elegant Champagne, whose subtle notes of poached quince, toasted brioche and mandarin orange gracefully ride the satiny mousse, supported by a vibrant backbone of acidity. Disgorged February 2016. Drink now through 2029.”
The average price is $154
Wine Spectator 94 points “This red offers a mouthful of lithe, supple fruit, with delicate yet expressive notes of raspberry, stony mineral and savory spice. The long, lingering finish is framed by refined tannins. Drink now through 2024.”
The average price is $53
For 2016 Mosel Rieslings!
“I have seldom enjoyed Rieslings that were so effusively floral, a characteristic that conspicuously charmed tasters during the Mosel’s first, late 19th-century triumph on an international stage. And if how often you find yourself resorting to mineral descriptors is one measure for you (as it certainly is for me) of a Riesling’s appeal as well as its profundity, then 2016 won’t disappoint. Texturally too, the 2016s often flatteringly caress without sacrificing animation or forgetting their duty to refresh.” -David Schildknecht, Vinous
The first part of David Schildknecht’s 2016 vintage report and reviews are out and we couldn’t be more excited. Following the extremely successful, showy 2015’s, it seems as though 2016 is a vintage of balance and restraint. Fresh, charming and bright, the wines are showing delightfully young, with a bevy of more restrain, lime and herb tinged flavors that stand in fun contrast to the wild ripeness of ’15. It’s a bit of a truism to say that you should drink a vintage while you wait for another, but we’re really looking forward to polishing off a ton of 2016’s while it’s older brother sits in the cellar.
2016 Weingut Alfred Merkelbach
The Merkelbach brothers, Alfred and Rolf, age 83 and 80 respectively, make classic Mosel wine from a mere five acres, without frills. They’re the estate most of us feel a painful tugging at the heart when we introduce them to you. Their wines have always known just when to push on, and more importantly, when to stop. The brothers live simply, love what they do and don’t seem to find any joy in excess, just pure satisfaction in doing what is exactly right. Additionally, it’s no secret that these two are looking at retiring soon, releasing some of their incredible vineyards and reducing the levels of production. This is why stashing away some of these tremendous last vintages makes so much sense, and yet seems so bittersweet. Enjoy them now, enjoy them years from now; these wines could well outlast us all.
Weingut Alfred Merkelbach Urziger Wurzgarten Riesling Spatlese Halbtrocken #7, Mosel 2016 750ML ($27.95) $21.90 pre-arrival special
David Schildknecht – Vinous 92 points “I harbor fond memories of halbtrocken Merkelbach Würzgartens long past, so perhaps you’ll think I was overly influenced simply by having once again seen those words on a bottle of their Riesling. But its contents certainly left me wishing that they would let this happen in their cellar more often. A classic Würzgarten nose of fresh strawberry and lime adds hints of more Erden-typical tarragon and sassafras. Subtly silken in feel, this finishes buoyant and lusciously long, with animating, bright primary juiciness and transparency to shimmering impingements of stones and mineral salts. Incidentally, it weighs in at a mere 10% alcohol, a reminder that the Merkelbachs pick for Spätlese at must weights that most of today’s top Mosel growers would deem appropriate for Kabinett. A prime example of what I call “hidden sweetness” – residual sugar playing a supportive and catalytic role while not engendering any overt sense of sweetness – this will perform brilliantly at table as well as in your cellar.”
David Schildknecht – Vinous 92 points “Pure pear, apple and quince are wreathed in honeysuckle and supported by just enough sweetness on a delicate, subtly creamy palate. The tang of pear skin and the piquancy of fruit seed lend invigoration and a squirt of fresh lime adds brightness to a lusciously lingering, at once soothing and consummately refreshing finish mouthwateringly tinged with mineral salts and vividly underlain by wet stone. Here is a brilliant demonstration of what is possible at very modest must weight (in this instance, 79 Oechsle) – an opportunity that cutting-edge young growers like Julian Haart or Kai Schätzel are rediscovering – because even though this beauty weighs in at a feather-light 7% alcohol, its residual sugar is so well-integrated you don’t even think “sweet.” Incidentally, this came from a relatively gently sloping and, as such, deceptively underwhelming-looking section of Rosenberg.”
Weingut Alfred Merkelbach Urziger Wurzgarten Riesling Spatlese #5, Mosel 2016 750ML ($29.59) $24 pre-arrival special
David Schildknecht – Vinous 92 points “This leads effusively with scents of kiwi, strawberry, honeysuckle and lily-of-the-valley. Its aromatic impression of advanced ripeness belies its having been harvested at a mere 80 degrees Oechsle (a level that most top contemporary Mosel growers would deem insufficient for Kabinett, much less Spätlese). Polished and with chiffon-like delicacy on the palate, where inner-mouth floral perfume wafts seductively, this finishes with admirable transparency to stony underpinnings, an alluringly smoky suggestion of black tea and consummate refreshment encouraged by an animating, bright influx of fresh lime.”
Weingut Alfred Merkelbach Urziger Wurzgarten Riesling Spatlese #6, Mosel 2016 750ML ($29.95) $24 pre-arrival special
David Schildknecht – Vinous 91 points “Picked at the same low must weight as its A.P. #5 sibling, this offers even more brightness of fresh lime to accompany its site-typical and lusciously ripe kiwi fruit. And like that sibling, the combination here of refreshment, levity and subtle creaminess engenders a flatteringly chiffon-like palate impression. Yet there is a soothing sense of glycerol-richness as well. A glaze of quince preserves enhances the impression of ripeness on the lusciously lingering, subtly wet stone-tinged finish. Incidentally, this comes from some of the few young Merkelbach vines, trained on wires rather than to the traditional single posts.”
Weingut Alfred Merkelbach Urziger Wurzgarten Riesling Spatlese #8, Mosel 2016 750ML ($29.95) $24 pre-arrival special
David Schildknecht – Vinous 93 points “From old vines in the so-called Pichter, this was harvested at marginally higher must weight and lower acidity than its A.P. #5 or A.P. #6 siblings. On the nose, ripe kiwi and strawberry are subtly tinged with ground ginger and garlanded in musky, bittersweet iris perfume. The palate is delicate and silky, subtly glyceral yet brimming with fresh fruit juiciness reinforced by a squirt of lime. The superbly sustained finish offers an energetic interaction of fruity, floral and stony nuances.”
Weingut Alfred Merkelbach Kinheimer Rosenberg Riesling Spatlese #2, Mosel 2016 750ML ($29.95) $24 pre-arrival special
David Schildknecht – Vinous 90 points “Picked a day after the A.P. #1 but in a sector slightly lower in must weight and higher in acidity, this evokes ripe pear and quince tinged with caramel. The feel is soothingly soft but preserves luscious fresh fruit juiciness, and the lingering finish introduces cooling notes of mint and tarragon as well as piquant pear seed counterpoint, its residual sugar more effectively (and more typically for a Merkelbach Spätlese) integrated than in that corresponding A.P. #1. This was picked with a bit of botrytis, and at yields cut by peronospora to an even greater degree than the parcel that informed A.P. #1.”
The average price nationally is $27
David Schildknecht – Vinous 93 points “Labeled for its parcel of origin, this Spätlese (A.P. #9) represents an amalgamation of two fuders picked late but at a relatively elevated must weight and reduced acidity analytically quite similar to those of this year’s Kinheimer Rosenberg A.P. #1. Here, though, there is an impeccable balance of glycerol-richness and textural creaminess with juicy fresh-fruitedness. Scents and flavors of ripe strawberry are augmented by suggestions of mossy wet stone, savory browned butter and tangy, saline sea spray. Delicate yet concentrated in flavor, this finishes with mouthwatering salinity and decisive stoniness serving as perfect foils for its richness of fruit.”
The next best price is $29
David Schildknecht – Vinous 91 points “Harvested botrytis-free at 90 Oechsle, this was stopped with a bit higher residual sugar and lower alcohol than its Spätlese counterparts, a decision based on the Merkelbachs’ assessment that it exhibited Auslese tendencies. The nose is effusively and decadently floral, suggesting heliotrope and fading lily. Along with that come scents of overripe kiwi and honeydew melon, all of which presage a luscious, expansive but buoyant palate with impressively persistent layering of inner-mouth floral perfume. A pinch of salinity and a kiss of wet stone add saliva-inducement and interest to a finish that only wants a bit for animation, clarity and juiciness when compared with the most successful wines of the present collection.”
David Schildknecht – Vinous 92 points “This is the exception to 2016’s relatively narrow range of must weights and acidity chez Merkelbach, having been harvested at 98 Oechsle and finished with only 6.3 grams of acidity. “These were really thin-skinned berries,” explained Alfred Merkelbach, “and as a result there was a lot of shriveling,” albeit without benefit of botrytis. Quince and strawberry preserves on the nose, accompanied by scents of heliotrope and lily, translate into a glycerol-slicked palate performance loaded with inner-mouth perfume. Hints of white raisin as well as a savory suggestion of browned butter add appeal to a lingering finish that compensates for its lack of animating brightness with an invigorating hint of seed-crunching bite. (Amusingly – it couldn’t happen often – the Merkelbachs ended up stopping this at precisely the same 71.4 grams of residual sugar as the A.P. #11.)”
2016 Selbach-Oster
Selbach-Oster Pinot Blanc Dry, Mosel 2016 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 pre-arrival special
David Schildknecht – Vinous 89 points “This bottling now encompasses some vines in Wehlener Klosterberg (epicenter of Markus Molitor’s memorable Pinot Blancs) as well as those long established by the Selbachs in Zeltinger Himmelreich. It’s raised largely in tank, supplemented by fuder. Apple blossom, corn shoot and smoky hints of toasted nuts combine for a pungent nose, which segues into a palate Pinot Blanc-typical in its delightful combination of textural creaminess and fresh apple juiciness. Due to hail in the parcel of Himmelreich where most of this was grown, the Selbachs ended up picking it in two tranches to compensate for late ripening of secondary buds. The upshot is 12.5% alcohol yet a welcome sense of buoyancy, and a tension of richness and tartness that is pleasantly stimulating on the seriously sustained finish.”
David Schildknecht – Vinous 91 points “From a steep, sheltered heat trap just behind and above the village, this leads with Schlossberg-typical notes of char and wet stone. Glossy and expansive but in no way heavy, and with an appealingly waxy texture, the midpalate segues into a sustained, forceful reprise of smoke and stone, accompanied by fresh apple and lightly caramelized turnip. Here is a prime example of the sort of richness combined with lift and refreshment that 2016 is especially well-suited to delivering.”
David Schildknecht – Vinous 91 points “On the nose, this displays sea breeze and sweaty salinity, anticipating the savory mineral and animal aspects that follow on a buoyant palate brimming with juicy fresh apple. Tinglingly salty, stony notes and a faintly peppery impingement enliven a buoyant, mouthwatering, refreshing finish that just barely hints at sweetness. Once again, this is a model of its type, and I wish the Selbachs raised other such halbtrocken bottlings that combine levity with efficacious yet genuinely hidden residual sugar.”
The average price nationally is $24
David Schildknecht – Vinous 90 points “This is another delicate, slightly loose 2016 but one brimming with juicy fresh pear and apple, consummately refreshing and full of charm. Apple blossom and smoky black tea share aromatic billing with intimations of the lively fruitiness to come. The subtly sweet finish gains invigoration from an incisive hint of cress, and proves admirably transparent to smoky and stony nuances.”
David Schildknecht – Vinous 90 points “The nose anticipates site-typical, mint-tinged honeydew melon, apple and dark cherry that then lusciously inform a silken, expansive palate. The combination of textural caress, looseness and sheer juiciness makes for infectious drinkability, and a sustained finish harbors stimulating hints of lime zest, wet stone and salt.”
2016 Joh. Jos. Prüm
As we start to catch our breath from the hyperbolic vintage of 2015, we turn around and keep running to tell you about the 2016 wines from JJ Prum. A slow, wet start to the ‘16 season dropped a lot of fruit in almost every vineyard, but the resulting energy in the vineyard through the long, dry harvest generated fruit of gorgeous purity and lightness. The only thing missing from ’16 were the botrytis affected sweet wines. A different experience from hot, dry 2015, but the results are to be enjoyed for years to come. The 16’s promises a lighter style, an even higher elegance than the intensity of the gorgeous 15’s.
Joh. Jos. Prum Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Kabinett 2016 750ML ($37.95) $30.90 pre-arrival special
Joh. Jos. Prum Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Kabinett 2016 1.5L ($79.95) $69 pre-arrival special
David Schildknecht – Vinous 92 points “Scents and juicy generosity of mint-tinged and honeysuckle-garlanded fresh apple and black currant are allied to a polished, glossy, buoyant palate presence, leading to a lusciously sustained, delicate finish tinged with crystalline stony inflections. The sweetness here is totally supportive and entirely discreet. This is one of those Kabinetts one seems to inhale in the finish, with floral perfume and wet stone prominent, and only sheer refreshment reminds you of its fluid nature.”
Joh. Jos. Prum Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Riesling Spatlese 2016 750ML ($41.95) $36 pre-arrival special
David Schildknecht – Vinous 93 points “Fresh apple garlanded in honeysuckle and heliotrope sets the tone for a generously juicy, subtly creamy palate seductively loaded with inner-mouth floral perfume and leading to an inhalative, delicate but seriously sustained finish vividly underlain with wet stone and tinged with bittersweet, smoky nut oils and mouthwatering salinity.”
Joh. Jos. Prum Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Auslese 2016 750ML ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival special
Joh. Jos. Prum Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Auslese 2016 375ML ($37.95) $29 pre-arrival special
Joh. Jos. Prum Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Auslese 2016 1.5L ($119.95) $99 pre-arrival special
David Schildknecht – Vinous 94 points “This is another Prüm 2016 seductively loaded with floral perfume, but here it’s bittersweet, suggesting gentian and iris as well as honeysuckle. The palate and superbly sustained finish deliver delicacy allied to silken richness and gloss, featuring intense pear, pineapple, quince and almond paste flavors together with striking transparency to stony and maritime mineral nuances.”
Joh. Jos. Prum Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Auslese Goldkapsel 2016 750ML ($119.95) $99 pre-arrival special
David Schildknecht – Vinous 92 points “Heady scents of ripe honeydew melon, muskmelon and quince betray enhanced ripeness and a hint of botrytis vis-à-vis the corresponding “regular” Auslese, as does a hint of caramel that emerges on the creamy, lusciously fruited palate. There is a trade-off here in that one misses the floral and brightly fresh-fruited dimensions that characterize most of this Prüm collection. A hint of pineapple serves for some finishing tang, but presents a syrupy impression on this bottling’s impressively persistent finish. (A Lange Goldkapsel Graacher Himmelreich Auslese, which I have not tasted, was auctioned.)”
Grapelive 94 points “The wild Fred Niger amphora raised Cabernet Franc Mephisto Rouge is a thrill ride of deep red flavors that takes your palate on journey to some dark and mysterious places. Be afraid, very afraid. There’s no undoing of the magic that happens here. I adore this amazing expression of Cab Franc. It has a tremendous presence and purity, kind of like Breton or Olga Raffault Chinon meets COS or Foradori! Wow… Geezus! This energy filled red is mind blowing, all biodynamic Loire Franc, is gripping with ripe tannic structure, vivid acidity and striking minerality to go with ultra-lengthy fruit dynamism that entrances your senses! All natural, almost no sulfur, and with native yeast ferments, macerated and aged in clay pots (okay, I mean Ampforae) Fred’s Mesphisto is one of the best so called “Natural Wines” I’ve tasted. It shows a complexity that is hard to translate in mere words, but easily understood by Loire fans. Beautiful earthy character along with heightened detail define this unique red, its deep garnet color is complimented by layers of mulberry, tangy dark currant, morello cherry, plum and black raspberry fruits, hints of bell pepper, violets, sandalwood, raw leather and warm terra-cotta (or were those imagined?) as well as forest mushrooms and granite/stony elements. The finish goes on and on, this wine gives many a Bordeaux and Burgundy wine a run for the money. Celebrate to funky weirdness and marvel at the class in the glass. Don’t forget Fred Niger’s regular line of beautiful Muscadet, they are some of the best out there. This wine is fascinating and has sensual charm. It should age with utter enthusiasm and grace. I was left spellbound!”
Beaujolais is a region that we love and buy a lot of wines for, both for the store and for our cellars. As new vintages roll in, we’ve often got bin ends—small lots of wine that are hard to feature here but we need gone (shelf space is very much at a premium right now). If you love Beaujolais, especially from 2015, this is your chance to snag some really wonderful wines at can’t-be-beat prices.Josh Raynolds–Vinous 91 points “Vivid purple. High-pitched red and blue fruit, violet and peppery spice scents show very good clarity and pick up a minerally nuance with air. Juicy, focused and light on its feet, offering zesty raspberry and boysenberry flavors that deepen steadily on the back half. Blends richness and vivacity with a deft hand and finishes very long and smooth, with subtle tannins framing lingering blue fruit and floral pastille notes.”
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The average price is $22
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 91 points “Bright ruby-red. Fresh blackberry and cherry pit scents are lifted by a spicy elemen. Juicy and broad on entry, then tighter in the middle, offering intense dark berry and lavender pastille flavors that become more lively (in the style of the vintage) with air. Finishes on a tangy note, with very good persistence and silky, slowly building tannins.”
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 91 points “Brilliant ruby. Mineral-tinged aromas of black raspberry, cherry and lavender pastille, along with a hint of white pepper in the background. Lithe and appealingly sweet, offering dark berry and spicecake flavors lifted by juicy acidity. Shows very good clarity and minerally cut on the finish, which is framed by sneaky, harmonious tannins.”
The average price is $28
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 92 points “Pale red. A pure, expansive bouquet displays vibrant strawberry, blood orange and floral pastille scents and energetic minerality. Taut, spicy and sharply focused, offering juicy red fruit and floral pastille flavors plus a touch of five-spice powder. The mineral and floral qualities repeat on a long, gently tannic finish that leaves a sweet red berry note behind.”
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The next best price is $23.99
Wine Advocate 92 points “The 2015 Brouilly Reverdon, which had been bottled about one month prior to my visit, has a powerful but primal bouquet, clearly laden with plenty of fruit. The definition is here though. The palate is fleshy and supple on the entry but then those tannins cloak the mouth, without overwhelming, finishing in quite a sensual style. This has much more to give but it should be given 3-4 years to allow the terroir to really be expressed. What are you waiting for? This is a knockout Brouilly.”
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 91 points “Bright violet. Powerful, mineral-tinged dark berries, violet and licorice on the perfumed nose. Densely packed bitter cherry and boysenberry flavors are enlivened by a jolt of juicy acidity. Fleshes out on the youthfully tannic finish, which hangs on with strong, floral-driven persistence.”
The average price is $23
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 92 points “Vivid ruby-red. Sexy, mineral-laced aromas of ripe red and dark berries, violet and licorice. Sappy and penetrating, offering bitter cherry and black raspberry flavors that become sweeter as the wine opens up. Concentrated yet lithe, delivering excellent finishing clarity and strong, mineral-driven persistence.”
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