New Ayoub Releases
Burlotto’s “Other” Bottlings
Stellar Tuscan Values from 2015
Staff Pick: All the Sumoll
#Trending Wines for Our Times
Collotte’s Outstanding Value Burgundy
February Clearance Sale – Old World Roundup
From Mo Ayoub
The 2016’s from Mo Ayoub have landed here at Vinopolis—an exciting event for one of the new-benchmark wineries in the Willamette Valley. Ayoub has established itself as a go-to for customers looking for big, rich, silky Pinot Noir. These are full throttle wines, as Oregon Pinot goes, and their small quantities mean that they have become coveted bottles to have in the cellar. Mo is very excited about the 2016’s—a vintage that is deservedly gaining a lot of buzz here in Oregon. We’re excited to present the 2016 Chardonnay and the full lineup of Pinot, including the new “Anonimo” vineyard, which Ayoub planted several years ago and farms for the winery.
Ayoub Chardonnay, Dundee Hills 2016 750ML ($59.95) $49 special
Wine Spectator 94 points “Vibrant and refined, with floral tangerine and quince aromas and polished, elegantly layered pear and wet stone flavors that glide along the finish. Drink now through 2020.”
Ayoub “??? Vineyard” Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills 2016 750ML ($69.95) $56 special
Winery Note “The nose boasts of nutmeg, pepper and medley of red, black and blue fruits. On the palate, this wine focuses on the combination of red fruit, lingering tannin and acidity to create this perfectly textured wine. This portrays finesse and precision in which wines made from volcanic soil to which my vineyard is planted. This is a beautiful yet powerful wine and it needs time to reveal its full beauty. Another great Estate! Best from 2019 to 2030.”
Burlotto’s “Other” Wines
Burlotto is best known for their trio of Barolo crus (Acclivi, Cannubi and Monvigliaro), but some of their most delicious wines are made on a much more humble scale. It’s uncommon to see such prestigious wineries do great work and keep the prices down on their less expensive bottlings, but Burlotto manages the tricky task of both. We’ve got three wines coming in this Friday: the unique Sauvignon Blanc they produce as well as the Barbera and Langhe Nebbiolo. All three show both the quality and grace that the estate is known for and come in at prices that are more than reasonable. These remain staff favorites and we think you’ll love them, too.
G. B. Burlotto Sauvignon Blanc, Piedmont 2016 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 special
Casa Emma and Piancornello
Bring 2015’s Heat
The old adage is that warm years raise the floor more than the ceiling for wine quality in a region. 2015 is a classic warm vintage across Europe. In Tuscany specifically it was a bit of a dream year for winemakers—Sangiovese loves warmth. Based on what we’ve tasted, 2015 is a great year to stock up on the “basic” wines from top producers. (The top wines from top producers are a year or two out, but we’re hearing great things there as well!) A common complaint about entry level wines from Tuscany is that they can lack some of the depth and richness, but there’s no worry about that here. We’re highlighting the Rosso from Piancornello, one of our favorite Brunello producers, and the entry level Chianti from Casa Emma, a stalwart producer in Classico
Arriving Tomorrow:
Piancornello Rosso di Montalcino, Tuscany 2015 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 pre-arrival special
Importer note “The younger brother of Brunello di Montalcino, the Rosso di Montepulciano from Piancornello is a versatile, medium bodied Sangiovese with lots of varietal fruit, including cherries and fresh plums.”
Casa Emma Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG, Tuscany 2015 750ML ($24.95) $18 pre-arrival special
Wine Spectator 91 points “This is pure and expressive, offering black cherry, raspberry, leather and mineral flavors. Shows balance and depth, suggesting a fine evolution ahead. Excellent length. Best from 2019 through 2029. 5,000 cases made.”
Catalonia Forever
def: indigenous rather than descended from migrants or colonists
Saul:
Great Cabernet/Syrah/Chardonnay/etc. seems to be easy to find and it all tastes, to one degree or another, like other wines made from the same grape more than something intrinsically of the place it’s from. So called “International” grapes make delicious wine, but for me, the chance to taste something uniquely of a place is really something exciting. Autocton, a small winery in Catalonia, is working to preserve traditional grapes and wine which is uniquely Catalan. The wine that I’m highlighting today is mostly made from a grape called Sumol, with a little bit of Ull de Llebre (which, tellingly, is the Catalan—not Spanish—word for Tempranillo). The wine itself is both dark fruited and also lively on the palate—with dusty flavors and a good spine of acidity and tannin. This is something that seems to speak to the food of fall and winter, but would be delicious with a steak or chicken off the grill, as well.
Autocton Celler ‘’ Negre, Catalonia 2015 750ML ($19.95) $16 special, 29 bottles in stock now
Winery note “Autocton negre is a red wine made from indigenous, native very old vines of 80% Sumoll and 20% Ull de Llebre. Harvested and selected by hand, the wine is aged for 10 months in 300 and 400 liter French oak barrels.”
The next best price is $19.95
Wine O’ the Times
Dominio de Pingus ‘Flor de Pingus’, Ribera del Duero 2014 750ML ($99.95) $69 special, 18 bottles in stock nowWine Advocate 94 points “The 2014 Flor de Pingus could very well be the finest vintage of this cuvée ever. It could be considered their ‘village’ wine, as all the grapes come from La Horra, from four different quarters (El Pino, Fuentearriba, Fuentenarro and Castillo); they are mostly old vines, as they have some 25 hectares of those in the village, mostly from the 1950s. In the future it will also have some grapes from younger vineyards they planted ‘à l’ancien’, with a massale selection of Amelia, riparia rootstocks, etc. The wine is very aromatic and expressive, floral and spicy, with the oak nicely folded into the fruit, which is ripe without excess, and the alcohol is also nicely disguised, as it’s high but does not show. It’s a powerful and full-bodied vintage for this cuvée, but keeping its approachability and appeal. The tannins are very fine and the finish quite remarkable. A mini-Pingus at a very different price. 92,000 bottles were filled in July 2016.”
Josh Raynolds – Vinous 93-95 points “Bright violet color. Explosively perfumed aromas of fresh boysenberry, floral oils and incense, with suave vanilla and woodsmoke nuances building in the glass. Sweet and plush on the palate, offering intense, smooth dark fruit liqueur and spicecake flavors. Really stains the palate, finishing with superb thrust and clarity; velvety tannins add gentle grip.”
The next best price is $79.99
The average price is $87
Wine Advocate 93 points “The outstanding 2001 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Barberini (a blend of 40% Grenache, 40% Syrah, and 20% Mourvedre aged 24 months in 40% small barrels and 60% neutral wood foudres) boasts an inky/ruby/purple color in addition to a big, sweet nose of creme de cassis, melted licorice, graphite, smoke, and truffles. Full-bodied, lush, and expansively flavored, with tremendous purity as well as density, this brilliant 2001 is already starting to strut its stuff.”
Thierry Triolet Carte Noire Brut, Champagne 750ML ($31.95) $28 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 90 points “(90% Chardonnay and 10% Pinot Noir; 10 g/l dosage): Light yellow. Vibrant, mineral-accented aromas of fresh citrus and orchard fruits, with suave floral and candied ginger notes adding complexity. Fleshy and broad on entry, then tighter in the mid-palate, offering juicy green apple and orange zest flavors and a touch of white pepper. Closes silky and smoky, with good clarity and length.”
VinopolNote: Pure delight & delightfully pure. Each sip promotes another.
Grapelive 93 points “Scott Frank’s Bow & Arrow Gamay is one of the best new world versions I’ve tried and I love the Loire inspiration of his wines in general. These are lively and energy filled offerings that include Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir(s), Cabernet Franc, Melon (de Bourgogne), this Gamay and the Rhinestones, a wonderful blend of Gamay and Pinot Noir, most from Oregon’s Willamette Valley. Frank’s Portland-based winery is without a question is a must try Oregon label, and especially try his Gamay stuff. With this 2016 he has hit a new level of quality and detail. It would be easy to believe this was a Cru Beaujolais with its Brouilly-like intensity and earthy layered fruit and acidity that kicks in on the palate. Even though he is more Loire influenced, this catches your attention and puts in a stellar performance when put in a lineup that included Dutraive’s old vine Fleurie! For the price, the quality is remarkable. With some of the other Oregon Gamay Noir(s) being almost twice the price, its pretty, electric-magenta/purple color thrills in the glass along with its earthy tones and floral/fruity essences filling the bouquet before a sharply focused palate of blackberry, blueberry, tart plum and subtle jolly rancher blue raspberry, along with hints of leather, anise, peppery cinnamon and walnut. The body is lithe and the Bow & Arrow Gamay feels taught and crisp, but ripe tannins and texture come out with air making for impressive impact. This is a joyous, semi-carbonic (traditional method) example and holds its own in mineral driven varietal purity. Plus it rocks with food, pulling extra depth, earthy charm and complexity when it counts. I love this vintage!”
Josh Raynolds – Vinous 90 points “Bright magenta. Fresh red and blue fruit scents, along with subtle herb and mineral overtones. Nervy and light on its feet, offering bitter cherry and boysenberry flavors underscored by a peppery spice quality. Closes with solid grip and strong persistence, leaving behind cherry pit and violet pastille notes.”
Wine Spectator 93 points “Exhibits fine purity to the cherry, berry and floral aromas and flavors. Elements of tobacco and earth add depth and the silky texture is backed by harmonious acidity and tannins. Excellent length. Best from 2017 through 2028.” B.S.
(Shining Bright in 2015)
We’ve carried the wines from Phillipe Collotte for a few years now and each release reminds us of both what a star he is and how good the wines from Marsannay and Fixin can be. These are stunning values from Burgundy, made from “humble” terroir, but old vines, and with a steadied hand. Additionally, the newly released 2015’s show why this is the exact sort of vintage to buy.
Capital “G” Great Vintages, like 2015, are wonderful times to go exploring the less famous villages of Burgundy. Historically, the vineyard (and village) classificiations have been based on consistent ripeness and power, as well as complexity, so in a warm year the “lesser” sites often show much more dramatic improvement over their baseline quality than a “great” vineyard will. The wines that arrive tomorrow are perfect examples of this—much better than you’d expect any from the cru’s involved.
We don’t mean to suggest that Phillippe Collotte is some hack winemaker who got lucky in 2015, either. He’s a serious talent with old vines and a very attentive touch in the cellar. These are wines that over deliver in every vintage (witness his string of 92 point scores for the 2014’s…) but are on another plane this year. We’ve got a bit (ok, more than a bit) of everything coming in and while these wines have yet to be reviewed, we expect stocks to be quite low by the time they’re scored—the wines are delicious and won’t be a secret for long.
Domaine Collotte Fixin, Cote de Nuits 2015 750ML ($34.95) $28 special
Importer Note “The Fixin is from two parcels of Village Fixin both both with eastern exposition on calcareous clay soil. Aged in oak, 25% new, to round the tannins.”
Importer Note “The [Fixin] Crais de Chene is from 40+ year old vines on clay-limestone soil. The vines face east to gather the sweet morning sun. Due to the old age of the vines, the grapes are very small and concentrated with flavor. Completely destemmed, the wine is aged in barrel, 30% new, for 12 months.”
Importer Note “The Marsannay Cuvée Vieilles Vignes is assembled from five different terroirs of the appellation: “Combereau”, “Favières”, ” Grasses Têtes “, ” Boivin “and “Récilles” on vines of about 50 years old. Completely destemmed, the wine is fermented and aged in tank.”
Importer Note “The Marsannay Combereau is from the village of Couchey. The 50+ year old vines and shallow soil of crinoidal limestone on bedrock produces very ripe and healthy grapes. Aged in oak, 25% new, to round the tannins. The Combereau Marsannay is a wine with strong and complex aromatics with well-balanced tannin potential.”
Importer Note “The Marsannay Champsalomon is from the village of Couchey. The 40+ year old vines are on the marl soil of the Ostrea Acuminata.”
Importer Note “The Marsannay Boivins is lieu-dit in Marsannay Villages, on vines over 40 years and varying limestone soil. Aged in oak, 25% new, to round the tannins.”
New Values from the Old World
French Clearance Sale Wines:
Domaine Faiveley Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru, Cote de Nuits 2010 750ML ($219.95) Was $189, Now $159 special
Case-6 Domaine Faiveley Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru, Cote de Nuits 2010 750ML ($1199.95) Was $999, Now $899 special (that’s only $149.83/bottle!-the lowest listed price in the USA today!)
Stephen Tanzer-Vinous 93-96 points “(just 20 hectoliters per hectare produced): Good deep red. Very pure, complex nose melds black cherry, minerals, black pepper, wild herbs and an earthy nuance. Large-scaled, sweet and rich, with a strong mineral underpinning to the flavors of black cherry and spices. A very powerful and impressive Clos Vougeot with outstanding persistence. The crop-limiting effect of the December frost has produced a wine with stunning concentration.”
Burghound 92-95 points “This is unusually elegant in 2010 with its refined nose of raspberry and earth though there are background notes of grilled meat and smoke. The supple, mouth coating and utterly delicious broad-shouldered flavors possess a silky texture yet there is plenty of power and punch to the very firmly structured finish. While there is a certain delicacy present, this will still need all of 15 years to realize its full potential. Drink 2025+.”
Domaine des Lambrays Clos des Lambrays Grand Cru, Cote de Nuits 2011 750ML ($199.95) Was $179, Now $159 special
Stephen Tanzer 92-94 points “Bright, deep red. Showy nose melds cherry, raspberry, white pepper, coffee, spices and smoky underbrush. Utterly suave, silky and fine-grained, but with firm tannins giving the fairly full mid-palate plenty of support for two decades or more of positive development in bottle. Most impressive today on the very long, subtle, rising finish, which leaves the mouth feeling refreshed.”
Burghound 93 points “This offers a further step up in aromatic complexity with its ripe and expressive nose of red berry fruit liqueur, cassis, plum and violets. There is a very suave and seductive texture to the medium weight plus flavors that possess an abundance of mouth coating extract, all wrapped in a long, balanced and delicious finish where a touch of wood is in evidence. This is certainly very good but somewhat curiously it does not seem to separate itself as much as usual from the Les Loups though it is clearly more structured.”
Burghound 91 points “As is often the case immediately after wines have been bottled there is a trace of reduction so I would suggest decanting this if the wine is less than 2 years of age. By contrast there is lovely freshness and vibrancy present on the very rich and round medium weight flavors that culminate in a clean, saline and well-balanced finish. This should be accessible young but reward 5 to 7 years or so of aging.”
Dupeuble Pere et Fils Beaujolais Nouveau, Beaujolais 2017 1.5L ($41.95) Was $35, Now $26 special
Importer note “Tradition runs deep in the family, but each generation has also managed to add something new, including increasing the property. Today it is comprised of one hundred hectares, about forty percent of which is consecrated to vineyards. Strong advocates of the lutte raisonnée approach to vineyard work, they tend their vines without the use of any chemicals or synthetic fertilizers. The vineyards, planted primarily to Gamay, face Southeast, South, and Southwest, and about two thirds of the property is on granite-based soil. The grapes are harvested manually and vinified completely without SO2. The wines are not chaptalized, filtered, or degassed and only natural yeasts are used for the fermentation. The wines of Dupeuble represent some of the best values in the Beaujolais today and are widely regarded for their very high quality and eminently reasonable price.
Importer note “The Moelleux cuvées are made in vintages when at least a portion of the vineyards produce grapes that carry significant levels of natural sugar. Botrytis sometimes occurs but it is not necessary in order to declare a Moelleux. Conditions of “passerillage”, that is extended exposure of the grapes to sun and high luminosity, create the impetus to release wines as Moelleux. Wines so declared can carry formidable leves of residual sugar: 25 grams is perhaps the minimum but more often the Moelleux at the Foreau domaine has 35 or 50 or sometimes even 80 or 90 grams of sugar left in the wine. The goal is to create a wine that is in perfect balance, maintaining a proper level of acidity while keeping the ultimate alcohol level under control.”Wine Spectator 94 points “Jaw-dropping fruit—guava, quince, mango and persimmon—is extremely concentrated and lushly layered. That’s followed by ginger, cream, green almond and smoke notes on a superlong finish, which has a nice bit of earthy grip as well.” WS
Wine Advocate 97 points “What there was in this vintage of botrytis, Foreau reports, essentially went into his 2009 Vouvray Moelleux Reserve. Brown-spiced pear liqueur and quince preserves dominate the proceedings – wreathed in perfume of freesia and lily – and there are buoyancy and elegance, despite viscosity, enormous richness of texture and residual sweetness, that indeed point to the magic nobility rot can convey. Its sense of lift – when combined with luscious, still juicy suggestions of grapefruit and blood orange familiar from the corresponding demi-sec – wards off any risk of palate fatigue. Mysterious botrytis manifestations of stale bread, truffle, and white raisin emerge from the empty glass. This extraordinary achievement will stand with such past great Foreau moelleux reserves as 2005, 2003, and 1989-90 and is likely to merit 30 or more years of consideration. In direct comparison, what strikes one about the 2005 today is its more obvious sense of botrytis and its slightly diminished sense of acidity and lift. But it maintains the edge in sheer complexity.” WA
The next best price is $84.99
Importer note “When Foreau issues a “Sec” (and the decision to do so relates entirely to the vintage conditions and the composition of the grapes at harvest), the wine can carry from 1 to 2 grams of residual sugar but never more than 6 grams. Because of the vibrant acidity that accompanies these wines, the sensation one experiences is of drinking a scintillatingly dry wine, although one with considerable body and a honeyed texture. We tend to have several vintages available at all times so that our clients can have the option of enjoying the Vouvray Sec in its youth but also with several years of bottle age.”
Antonio Galloni 93+ points “The 2011 Chapelle-Chambertin is not lacking in personality, that much is obvious. A savory, almost wild Burgundy, the 2011 Chapelle is laced with dried herbs, tobacco, black cherries and cured meats are some of the notes that blossom in the glass. It will be interesting to see where the 2011 goes; will it always remain a bit gamy, or will it find a bit more finesse in bottle?” AG
Antonio Galloni 94 points “The 2011 Ruchottes-Chambertin presents a classical expression of lifted, fragrant fruit to match its weightless personality. Today, the 2011 is incredibly expressive, with impeccable balance and a total sense of harmony that is hugely appealing.” AG
Wine Advocate 92 points “The 2011 Languedoc Origine checks in as a blend of Syrah and Grenache that spent 18 months in foudre. Slightly fresher, with bright berry and purple fruits, licorice, roasted herbs and ample background meatiness, this beauty hits the palate with medium to full-bodied richness, impressive purity of fruit and loads of texture. It should impress over the coming 5-7 years or so, and certainly, there’s no harm in drinking now.” JD
Austrian Clearance Sale Wines:
F.X. Pichler Durnsteiner Liebenberg Gruner Veltliner Smaragd, Wachau 2015 750ML ($69.95) Was $59, Now $48 special
Wine Advocate 93-94 points “The 2015 Grüner Veltliner Smaragd Dürnsteiner Liebenberg comes from 70- to 80-year-old vines on a rare calcareous slate soil. The wine displays a very clear and pure, pretty open and lovely spicy, crystalline and flinty bouquet with ripe pip fruit aromas. Very distinguished and rather coolish in its expression. Full-bodied, round and elegant, with tension, salt and grip in the finish, this is a charmingly ripe and juicy but also challenging mineral and piquant Veltliner from one of the most exciting terroirs. The finish is powerful and complex but also fresh and stimulatingly piquant. Pichler has bottled this wine since 2010.”
Wine Spectator 92 points “Crafted with precision, this white features notes of white pepper and chamomile accenting apricot and wet stone flavors, showing good harmony between the savory and fruity elements.”
Wine Advocate 94 points “Like the Liebenberg from weathered granite and gneiss soils, but in a higher and cooler spot, the 2015 Grüner Veltliner Smaragd Dürnsteiner Kellerberg opens with an intense and herbal-flavored, rather spicy and stony bouquet of ripe and concentrated bright fruits. Full-bodied, ripe and piquant on the palate, this is a rich and powerful, well-concentrated and elegant Kellerberg with a rich extract and a long and persistent finish. The 2015 should be cellared for at least another 3-5 years.”
David Schildknecht–Vinous 95-96 points “A pungently smoky, incisive, savory mélange of sage, dark tobacco and black pepper is allied to ripe peach and garlanded with heliotrope in a head-turningly intense nose. That full range of elements reprises on a polished palate, whose textural caress and sweet sense of ripeness are combined with welcome, tangy, chewy counterpoint of peach skin and a refreshingly juicy squirt of fresh lime. The finish offers a mouthwateringly prolonged, kaleidoscopic interaction of fruity, savory and smoky elements – plenty rich, yet with rare cut and animation for its vintage.”
Wine Spectator 93 points “Peach, apple and brown spice flavors mingle in this opulent yet structured Riesling, whose vivid acidity offsets the flesh. Underlying citrus and stone elements emerge on the finish. Drink now through 2023.”
David Schildknecht–Vinous 92 points “A site-typical meld of apricot and lime is garlanded with iris on the nose and reprises with wonderful purity and vivid freshness on a silken-textured, expansive palate. Piquant apricot kernel and a lick of wet stone lend counterpoint on a lusciously lingering finish that irresistibly calls forth the next sip.”
Wine Spectator 92 points “Lush, displaying apricot, peach, grapefruit and mineral flavors backed by a vibrant structure, this stays true to its core of orchard fruit, adding accents of elderflower and citrus on the long aftertaste. Drink now through 2023.”
David Schildknecht–Vinous 90-91 points “From old vines on a site near the Schablau, and featuring a similarly complex mix of sand, gravel, conglomerate and marl, this first-time Groiss offering was raised in older 500-liter Austrian oak barrels, with nearly one-third of the fruit having been destemmed by hand and its berries incorporated intact in the fermentation. When I tasted in June, the wine had only just been racked off its gross lees and berry remnants. Lime, rhubarb, white peach and fresh apple project a sense of brightness and primary juiciness that belie the effects of lees and skin contact, though there is also an impressive sense of midpalate density and finishing phenolic grip. Alkaline and chalky notes lend a certain austerity, but a succulent abundance of fresh fruit nicely complements that.”
David Schildknecht–Vinous 92-93 points “Last tasted from tank soon after its June 2016 assemblage, and still on its fine lees, this was due to have been bottled in late summer. Pear, persimmon and green bean dominate the nose as well as a glycerol-rich and expansive midpalate that showcases the wine’s generous ripeness while preserving a crunch of green bean and introducing cooling inflections of mint and basil. Incisive white pepper, chalk, stone and savory blond tobacco add to the saliva-inducing complexity of a superbly sustained finish as mouth-cleansing and refreshing as it is succulently fruity.”
David Schildknecht–Vinous 90-91 points “From a geologically diverse site, more of which Groiss has recently planted, this was raised in Austrian oak demi-muids and due to have been bottled at the end of summer 2016. At 13.5 percent, it’s the highest-alcohol among her 2015s, and a trace of warmth accompanies its textural richness and sumptuous meld of pear and mirabelle with caramelized parsnip and rutabaga. The resonant, low-toned finish is convincingly persistent and subtly underlain with wet stone.”
Giacomo Conterno ‘Cerretta’, Barolo DOCG 2012 750ML ($249.95) Was $199, Now $169 special
Wine Spectator 96 points “A wealth of cherry flavor is surrounded by cut grass, tar, tobacco and iron notes in this complex, intense red. There is plenty of tension and a long aftertaste of licorice, tar and mineral. Balanced yet austere, this needs time to integrate fully. Best from 2023 through 2042.”
Antonio Galloni 94+ points “The 2012 Barolo Cerretta is intriguing to taste next to the Francia, as it is much more shut down and affected by its recent bottling. Today the tannins are searing and large-grained, a characteristic this wine did not show from barrel. The clay-rich soils in Cerretta tend to give a broader style of Barolo compared to Francia, where limestone is prevalent, and that is very much what comes through today. Hints of dark red cherry, plum, smoke, leather, tobacco and licorice struggle to emerge from a wall of tannin. Today, the Cerretta is a brute, with little of the perfume and finesse it showed in cask. Readers will have to be patient. The only question is how much.
Wine Advocate 94 points “To be released in October 2016, the 2012 Barolo Cerretta opens to a profound and buoyant bouquet that is particularly driven by menthol freshness, as well as pretty nuances of balsam herb and forest fruit with licorice, tilled earth and truffle. The wine is balanced and ethereal. It’s so difficult to achieve this level of aromatic definition (especially in a warm year like 2012), but Roberto Conterno has done so with a deft hand. This is a complete expression of Barolo with aromatic intensity that is matched by an enduring sense of structure and medium-weight appeal.”
Antonio Galloni 94 points “The 2003 Barolo Cascina Francia is soft, silky and very nicely balanced, especially in its tannins, where the wine really stands out next to so many peers. Readers should open the 2003 at least an hour in advance to allow the aromatics to open up. This is a very sexy and open young Barolo from Conterno with very little signs of the challenging growing season.”
Now it’s even lower!
Wine Spectator 96 points “A wealth of cherry flavor is surrounded by cut grass, tar, tobacco and iron notes in this complex, intense red. There is plenty of tension and a long aftertaste of licorice, tar and mineral. Balanced yet austere, this needs time to integrate fully. Best from 2023 through 2042.”
Antonio Galloni 94+ points “The 2012 Barolo Cerretta is intriguing to taste next to the Francia, as it is much more shut down and affected by its recent bottling. Today the tannins are searing and large-grained, a characteristic this wine did not show from barrel. The clay-rich soils in Cerretta tend to give a broader style of Barolo compared to Francia, where limestone is prevalent, and that is very much what comes through today. Hints of dark red cherry, plum, smoke, leather, tobacco and licorice struggle to emerge from a wall of tannin. Today, the Cerretta is a brute, with little of the perfume and finesse it showed in cask. Readers will have to be patient. The only question is how much.
Wine Advocate 94 points “To be released in October 2016, the 2012 Barolo Cerretta opens to a profound and buoyant bouquet that is particularly driven by menthol freshness, as well as pretty nuances of balsam herb and forest fruit with licorice, tilled earth and truffle. The wine is balanced and ethereal. It’s so difficult to achieve this level of aromatic definition (especially in a warm year like 2012), but Roberto Conterno has done so with a deft hand. This is a complete expression of Barolo with aromatic intensity that is matched by an enduring sense of structure and medium-weight appeal.”
Wine Advocate 94 points “The 2011 Barolo Falletto is a beautifully balanced and determined wine. It spends 30 months in oak and this warm vintage is already showing a quick bottle evolution. This was an early vintage: Fruit was harvested on September 23, which is ten days before average. It shows soft, luscious lines and ripe fruit flavors that are both generous and opulent. Yet, there is a healthy crunchiness and crackle in the mouth that makes for a long aging future ahead. Barolo Falletto closes with pretty aromas of dark fruit, spice and shaved truffle.”
Now it’s even lower!
The next best price is $164.99
The average price is $203
Don’t forget you can see all 47 of the February Clearance Wines on our website just by clicking here!
Thanks for reading!