Saturday, September 17th, 2016
Giacosa 2005 Falletto: Incredible Barolo Entering its Drinking Window; Dugat-Py: Amazing Mazis; New Scores from Wine Spectator: Fab French Finds from Bereche & Faiveley; Spanish Cellar Raiding: New Lopez de Heredia Arrivals; Domaine Pegau: Traditional. Chateauneuf.; Brovia: Brea Vigna Ca’ Mia; Borgogno; Equipo Navazos: Manzanilla; Ayoub: Arriving Next Friday; Closeout Madness: French, Italian & German Wines Arriving Next Week; Arnoux-Lachaux: Benchmark Romanee; 2014 Beaujolais – New Offers/ New Scores; Chateau du Retout; 2011 Burgundy Sale; Domaine & Maison Dujac – New Lower Prices/2013 & 2014 Arriving This Month; Late Breaking News: Crowley 2014 Single Vineyards Arrive Thursday; Late Breaking News: Clos Rougeard & Domaine Guiberteau
Giacosa’s Incredible 2005 Barolo Falletto
Now Entering Its Prime Drinking Window
A Barolo legend to enjoy now, or in the years to come…
“In my opinion, the 2005 Barolos are the best balanced of the last decade.” – Sergio Germano, winemaker, Ettore Germano estate, Serralunga d’Alba
“Many [2005 Barolos] show dark tonalities of fruit and generally virile, masculine personalities. I initially thought the 2005s would age on the faster side (in relative terms for Barolo), and while that will likely be the case compared with the recent highly tannic, structured vintages (2006 and 2010 come to mind), firm tannins and high acidities will almost certainly give the 2005s plenty of ageworthiness. I have been following Giacosa’s 2005 Barolos for several years and I have been fond of these wines for some time, as they have always demonstrated exceptional balance. Now that the wines are in bottle they are every bit as delicious as they were from barrel. Giacosa fans will want to give these 2005 Barolos (and the Barbarescos, too) careful consideration. The wines seem to have been helped quite a bit by the southern exposure of the Falletto vineyard.” – Antonio Galloni, Vinous Media
The perfect marriage of Bruno Giacosa and his winemaker Dante Scaglioni came full circle with the classic 2005 vintage. Just a few years shy of Scaglioni’s resignation in order to pursue his own label, this bottling presents the absolute best of their 16-year partnership. As we revisit tasting notes and scores, it comes to our attention that this cuvee from Signore Giacosa is just beginning to enter the early stages of a drinking window which will extend, most likely, across many years. We raise our glass to that!
Falletto di Bruno Giacosa ‘Falletto’, Barolo DOCG 2005 750ML ($249.95) $169 special, 36+ bottles available
Antonio Galloni 94 points “The 2005 Barolo Falletto offers up a gorgeous bouquet of red cherries, flowers, spices and menthol. This is a relatively delicate, elegant Barolo Falletto yet it offers gorgeous balance, tons of inner perfume and a long, refined finish. It is one of the overachievers in 2005. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2025.”WA
Stephen Tanzer 94 points “Medium red. Backward yet precise aromas of red cherry, blood orange, dried flowers and spices; there’s something almost Chambolle-like about this. Then suave and silky in the mouth, but with superb density and energy to the savory red fruit and spice flavors. Finishes very long and chewy, with a broad dusting of tannins and sneaky length.”
Dugat-Py
and the
Amazing Mazis
Only in an ancient place like Burgundy will you find a twelfth-generation winemaker. Bernard Dugat issues from a long tradition of winemaking in Gevrey-Chambertin, and his son Loîc, the thirteenth generation, takes the family into the future. Knowledge and instinct, both inherited and earned, help make Dugat-Py wines some of the best on the Côte d’Or. It doesn’t hurt to have the vaulted, 1000-year-old cellars of an old abbey in Gevrey, either, and then there exist vineyards like Mazis. Many experts, like Clive Coates, rank Mazis-Chambertin third in Gevrey, behind Le Chambertin and Clos de Bèze.
Bernard Dugat farms half an acre of Mazis, and his vines, like the family’s Gevrey heritage, are old, seventy years on average. A horse ploughs the rows and the viticulture embraces biodynamics (while being certified organic). After vinification, the Mazis wine ages 16-18 months in 100% new oak, and remains unfiltered. Dugat-Py makes only 800-1100 bottles of Mazis per year, leaving little hesitation for connoisseurs of Burgundy’s finest. The 2008 vintage on the Côte de Nuits produced wines of great energy, with wonderfully clear terroir definition and fabulous aromatic quality. The 2008 Dugat-Py Mazis-Chambertin has few equals, and may well be the best red Burgundy you’ve tasted in a long while, perhaps ever.
Domaine Dugat-Py Mazis-Chambertin Grand Cru 2008 750ML ($599.95) $499 special
Antonio Galloni 95+ points “The estate’s 2008 Mazis-Chambertin is drop-dead gorgeous from start to finish. A dazzling, captivating bouquet melds into dark fruit, mint, flowers and sweet spices as this powerful, complex wine grows in the glass. All of the elements continue to build towards the undeniable, explosive finish. This is a hugely impressive, towering wine from Dugat-Py.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Fab French Finds
New Scores from Wine Spectator for Bereche & Faiveley
Bereche et Fils Le Cran Premier Cru Brut Nature Millesime, Champagne 2008 750ML ($119.95) $89 special, 5 bottles available
Bereche et Fils Le Cran Premier Cru Brut Nature Millesime, Champagne 2008 1.5L ($249.95) $199 special, 2 magnums available
Wine Spectator 94 points “This bright and mouthwatering Champagne is finely knit, with a pleasingly plush texture to the palate’s layers of blackberry, smoked almond, spun honey, ground ginger and candied kumquat. Long and racy on the finish, with an echoing note of salinity. Drink now through 2028.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price for the 750ML is $99.99
The next best price for the magnum is $264.99
Domaine Faiveley Bienvenues-Batard-Montrachet Grand Cru 2014 750ML ($379.95) $319 pre-arrival special, ETA February 2017
Wine Spectator 97 points “Offers power and grace, showcasing lemon oil, peach, apple and white flower aromas and flavors. Harmonious, lulling you with elegance and a gossamer texture until the afterburners kick in on the superb finish. Latent mineral notes should emerge with time. Best from 2019 through 2034.”
West Coast Shipping Promos:
We offer flat rate shipping on any size single order / single shipment
-to Oregon for $17,
-Washington & Idaho for $20,
-and California for $25
These rates do not apply to orders held in storage here for any reason.
Multiple orders consolidated into one shipment
do not qualify for flat rate shipping.
Spanish Cellar Raiding
New Lopez de Heredia Arrivals
R. Lopez de Heredia Vina Tondonia Gran Reserva Blanco, Rioja DOCa 1991 750ML ($119.95) $99 special, 3 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 94 points “Light gold. Explosively perfumed nose offers an array of citrus and orchard fruits, with exotic nuances of mace, chamomile and honey. Rich and deeply pitched but almost shockingly vibrant, offering spicy pear, nectarine and lemon pith flavors. Suavely blends richness and vivacity, finishing with excellent clarity and length. This should age at a snail’s pace.”ST
Wine Advocate 93 points “The 1991 Vina Tondonia Blanco Gran Reserva offers shaved almond, lemon rind, honeysuckle and dandelion on the well-defined nose that demands coaxing. The palate is crisp on the entry with dried honey, dried mango and citrus peel on the entry, fanning out towards a complex, resinous finish with a hint of rosewater on the aftertaste. Drink now-2020+ ”
R. Lopez de Heredia Vina Bosconia Gran Reserva, Rioja DOCa 1981 750ML ($249.95) $199 special, 3 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 94 points “Faded red. Gorgeous, multidimensional aromas of dried red fruits, white flowers, spicecake, leather, underbrush, graphite and lavender sachet. Silky and seemingly weightless, with a haunting crystalline purity to the sweet strawberry and redcurrant flavors. Sweetly insinuating on the finish, with lingering mineral and strawberry flavors. A remarkable wine that’s completely out of step with today’s styles: this is the stuff that gets die-hard Rioja traditionalists all weepy.”ST
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $226
R. Lopez de Heredia Vina Bosconia Gran Reserva, Rioja DOCa 1995 750ML ($179.95) $149 special, 3 bottles available
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 95 points “(80% tempranillo, 15% garnacha, 3% graciano and 2% mazuelo): Dark red. A kaleidoscopic bouquet evokes candied red fruits, incense, pipe tobacco and potpourri, with hints of woodsmoke, leather and Asian spices gaining strength in the glass. Silky and sweet, with intense raspberry liqueur and bitter cherry flavors that take a darker turn with air. Tangy acidity adds lift and focus to a strikingly long, sappy finish. This wine belies its age with its vivacity.”
Wine Advocate 94 points “The 1995 Vina Bosconia Gran Reserva has an alluring leather, dried orange peel and strawberry leaf scented bouquet that blossoms beautifully in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with very fine, elegant tannins. It is both precise and exquisitely defined with hints of cured meat and leather towards the graceful finish. Drink now-2018+”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Domaine du Pegau
Traditional Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Domaine du Pegau was formally founded in 1987 by father-daughter team Paul and Laurence Feraud; the family formerly bottled the wine under the name Domaine Feraud and farmed the area since the 17th century. Chez Pegau, vines average sixty-plus years in age.
Their Cuvée Réservée is hand-picked blend of 80% Grenache, 6% Syrah, 4 % Mourvedre and 10% other permitted varieties. The grapes are grown in stony soils with a mix of clay, chalk and sand. Whole cluster, lightly crushed and then fermented on wild yeasts for 5-7 days in traditional cement vessels. There is no temperature control, and prolonged maceration takes place for 1-2 weeks following, with one or two pump-overs per day. Press and free-run juice is aged in 5,000 liter oak foudre for 1.5 years before being blended and bottled unfiltered.
Domaine du Pegau Chateauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Réservée 2013 750ML ($69.95) $53.50 special, 36+ bottles available
Domaine du Pegau Chateauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Réservée 2013 750ML ($149.95) $128 special, 5 magnums available
Case-12 Domaine du Pegau Chateauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Réservée 2013 750ML ($719.95) $588 special, 5 cases available (that’s only $49/bottle!)
Josh Raynolds – Vinous 93 points “Deep ruby. Potent aromas of ripe dark berries, licorice pastille, woodsmoke, game and garrigue, plus a peppery nuance that adds spiciness and lift. Round and fleshy on the palate, offering intense blackberry and bitter cherry flavors that become livelier and sweeter with air. The very long, energetic, sharply focused finish features fine-grained tannins and subtle, lingering notes of dark berries and smoked meat.”
Domaine du Pegau Chateauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Réservée 2012 750ML ($89.95) $69 special, 16 bottles available
Wine Advocate 94 points “One of my favorite wines, the 2012 Châteauneuf du Pape Cuvee Réservée is a classic. Beautiful on the nose, with notions of ground pepper, wild herbs, minerality and smoked plum and dark fruit, it’s medium to full-bodied, nicely concentrated and has plenty of tannin that comes through on the finish. Similar in style to a lighter-weight 2010, drink this beauty anytime over the coming 12-15 years.” JD
Brovia’s Brea
A hidden gem from within Barolo
limited & the lowest listed!
“Brovia remains one of the most impressive estates in Piedmont. Even after a string of impressive recent vintages, the wines remain less well known than quality would suggest. The 2011s will give Brovia fans plenty to enjoy while the epic 2010s rest in the cellar. The Brovia Barolos remain quite classic in style.” — Antonio Galloni, Vinous Media
Giacinto Brovia found the Brovia estate in 1863 in the village of Castiglione Falletto. In 1953, the grandchildren of Giacinto, brothers Giacinto and Raffaele, took over the winery and brought it back up the full production after the trials of phylloxera, war and economic difficulties that rocked Italy.
Giacinto studied as an oenologist and oversees the production of the wine. Raffaele, an agronomist, oversaw the vineyards until his passing in 2011. His daughters, Cristina and Elena, have stepped into his role and assist generally with the estate. The estate’s vineyards are located in the village and the neighboring village of Serralunga d’Alba and include holdings in the Rocche, Villero, Garblet Sue and Brea vineyards. They farm organically without certification and use techniques to limit yields such as pruning and thinning excess grapes during the summer. The wines are lightly crushed before fermentations that can last up to a month or more depending upon grape variety. The wines are aged in barrel for an average of two years before being bottled unfiltered. The wines are aged in bottle for 18-24 months before release.
Discover Brea for yourself:
Brovia ‘Brea Vigna Ca’ Mia’, Barolo DOCG 2011 ($89.95) $69 special, 28 bottles available
Antonio Galloni 94 points “Lavender, mint, sage, smoke, tobacco and plums are all laced together in the 2011 Barolo Brea Vigna Ca’Mia. As always, the Ca’Mia is a decidedly vertical Barolo built on a spine of persistent tannin, but in 2011 there is a little bit of added polish that serves to soften the contours. Tucked off the main road, Brea remains one of the least well-known vineyards in Serralunga. The 2011 is a great wine to start exploring some of the nuances of this site. A huge finish that brings together power and voluptuousness captures the pure radiance of the year.” AG
From the Importer’s Desk: “We often call this cru “Il Ruffiano” for its rustic, raffish nature. This is a boisterous, friendly Barolo from the heart of Serralunga d’Alba with all that zone’s lush fruit and generous body. Here the wine thrusts us into the dense ambience of the forest: the dark berry-like fruit, the moss and underbrush, the truffles and mushrooms of the Langhe. It’s all there with bravado and confidence. Warm, rich, dense … one of our best friends at the table. This is a one-hectare vineyard planted to Nebbiolo in 1955. The exposure is southeast and the altitude is 350 meters. Like the other “cru” Barolo, the “Ca’Mia” experiences a cuvaison of at least 3 weeks before being racked into large French “botti” for two years or more of aging. Annual production is on the order of 3500 bottles of which 1200 (plus 60 magnums) are destined for distribution in the USA.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Get To Know Borgogno Barolo
You’d think the Borgogno family would have changed their name to Barolo. Intertwined with that region and its wines since 1761, Borgogno Barolos have ridden alongside Italian history: they were served, for example, at the official celebration of Italian unification in 1861. With 50 acres of vineyard, including prized holdings in five of the Barolo crus, Borgogno wines reflect a sense of terroir and deep tradition. Meanwhile, the No Name cuvee, from declassified Barolo, makes an understated point against the red tape that plagues Italy’s wine regions. No chemical fertilizers or artificial yeasts for these wines, though Slavonian oak remains an integral part of the recipe. New owners in 2008 brought fresh dynamism to Borgogno, and the following year they renovated the wine cellar. Expect more magic to come from Borgogno.
Giacomo Borgogno & Figli Cannubi, Barolo DOCG 2008 750ML ($179.95) $119 special
James Suckling 96 points “A dense, chewy wine with plum and dried fruit character. Lots of mineral, sandy and balsamic character. Full body, ripe tannins and a flavourful finish. Structured and rich. Serious Cannubi. Needs at least three or four years of bottle age.” JS
Antonio Galloni 94 points “Violets, tar, smoke, rose petals, spices and dark fruit are some of the many notes that emerge from the 2008 Barolo Cannubi. An intense, dramatic wine for the year, the 2008 boasts layered fruit and equally thrilling structure, even if at times it is a bit rustic. This is a decidedly burly wine from Cannubi, a vineyard mostly associated with finesse. It will be interesting to see how things come together in bottle. Today, it is the wine’s striking inner perfume that makes me most hopeful for the future.” AG
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Giacomo Borgogno & Figli Fossati, Barolo DOCG 2008 750ML ($119.95) $66 special
Antonio Galloni 93 points “A mesmerizing wine, the 2008 Barolo Fossati opens with hints of plum, black cherry, menthol, violets and licorice. There is an elusiveness to the Fossati that is marvelous to behold, as the wine seems to constantly change in the glass. Now that it is in bottle, the wine has shut down a bit, but its inner sweetness and perfume are still very much in evidence.” AG
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Giacomo Borgogno & Figli Liste, Barolo DOCG 2008 750ML ($119.95) $79 special
Antonio Galloni 93+ points “Cool veins of bracing minerality form the backbone in Borgogno’s 2008 Barolo Liste. Today, the 2008 is virtually impenetrable, as the vintage and the site have combined to produce a big, powerful Barolo that will require considerable cellaring before it is ready to show all its cards. Still, there is a lot to like here, especially for those who can be patient. Tar, smoke, incense and scorched earth all add gravitas on the close, but with more time in the glass some of the sweeter notes begin to emerge. The 2008 Liste is shaping up to be magnificent.” AG
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Giacomo Borgogno & Figli No Name, Piedmont 2011 750ML ($49.95) $41.90 special
Antonio Galloni 90 points “The 2011 Langhe Nebbiolo No Name is a pretty wine to drink now and over the next handful of years. Delicate and medium in body, the 2011 is laced with expressive violets, rose petals, mint and sweet red cherries. Dusty tannins complement the otherwise supple finish.” AG
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Vega Sicilia
Founded in 1864, over a century before creation of the Ribera del Duero DOC, Vega Sicilia can hardly be compared to other Spanish wines. For one thing, the grape varieties originally planted and still grown by Vega Sicilia include Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Malbec, though eighty percent of the vines are Tempranillo. Vega Sicilia bottles its Unico only in quality years. It is a dense and sumptuous wine, intense but full of finesse, complex and long-lingering on the palate, with the individuality of a monarch.
Vega Sicilia Unico Gran Reserva, Ribera del Duero 2007 750ML ($379.95) $249 special, 16 bottles available
Wine Advocate 95 points “They have kept 2005 and 2006 for now, and they are releasing the 2007 Único from a lighter vintage that is accessible already; they will even sell 2008 before 2005 and 2006. 2007 was a cold vintage in Ribera and it produced lighter, fresher wines (perhaps not as problematic as 2008, but there was also frost in 2007). The wine might be a tad lighter than other vintages, but it’s more structured than 2008; it combines elegance and power, is nicely balanced and should be able to develop in bottle for many years, although the quick evolution of the bottle once opened made me hesitate about its drinking window. Let’s hope I’m wrong. 80,000 bottles produced.” WA
Wine Spectator 94 points “This harmonious red is balanced and deep, offering ripe plum and currant flavors, with black pepper, tobacco, licorice and mineral accents. Delivers plenty of structure, with well-integrated tannins and lively acidity. The wine remains graceful through the long, spicy finish. Drink now through 2027”
Equipo Navazos Manzanilla
Sea breeze in a glass
The sea is never more than a glass of Manzanilla away. Produced exclusively in Sanlúcar de Barrameda, which lies on the coast a dozen miles northwest of landlocked Jeréz, the Manzanilla type of Fino sherry actually tastes of the ocean: iodine, seaspray, kelp and minus tides. Thank higher humidity and cooler temperatures (than Jeréz) for that, and thus a thicker flor. Manzanilla Pasada, bottled after the subsiding flor has allowed the wine to develop some amontillado characteristics (like a fino-amontillado), remains a specialty of Equipo Navazos. Never turn your back on a Manzanilla from Navazos.
Equipo Navazos La Bota de Manzanilla Pasada No. 60 ‘Bota Punta’ Sherry, Andalucia, Spain 500ML ($119.95) $88 special
Wine Advocate 97 points “The so-called NV La Bota de Manzanilla Pasada 60 Bota Punta is sourced from a special cask “Bota Punta” that was already bottled as numbers 20, 40 and 50. This particular cask from the Manzanilla Pasada ‘solera’ from the Calle Misericordia winery from La Guita was isolated, because it has a very marked biological character – a very old Manzanilla that keeps more ‘flor’ than the other butts in the ‘solera’ and shows less oxidative. The other particularity is that this cask is always refilled with wine from the other 14 casks from the ‘solera’, and therefore keeps an average age a couple of years older, around 17 years, while keeping a younger/fresher profile. They all have the iodine and saline character, the seaweed, low tide and the vertical palate. This is the most special -and scarce and expensive – of all the manzanillas pasadas from Navazos. Really world class. This is the one with depth and sharpness beyond belief, a step up in complexity, elegance and balance. It’s funny how the wine seems to overcome oxidation and starts getting sharper and sharper again. This is truly outstanding.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Ayoub
World class Pinot from iron-rich Dundee Hills soils
Arriving September 23rd
Ayoub Estate Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills 2014 750ML ($69.95) $55 pre-arrival special
Wine Enthusiast 95 points– Cellar Selection “Bright raspberry and strawberry flavors kick off this well-balanced effort. It’s buoyed by ample natural acidity and adorned with highlights of pastry and baking spices. It expands gracefully as it breathes, adding volume and density. Give this extra cellar time. It should drink best from 2018–2030.”
Winery note “Perfumy and seductive nose with dried rose petals, wild strawberry, red cherry compote, candied orange peel and nutmeg. Satiny and complex on the palate, with generous bright red cherry, pomegranate, savory notes and lots of tension. The layered finish evolves endlessly on the palate. This is a beautiful wine, another great expression of the Estate vineyard. It needs time to reveal its full beauty; best from 2018 to 2028.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $57
Ayoub Overlook Vineyard Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills 2014 750ML ($59.95) $51.90 pre-arrival special
Wine Enthusiast 93 points “Made for the first time in this vintage, this young wine is tight and brambly, with tart, peppery berry fruit. Chewy tannins denote its youth, and the finish delivers outstanding depth. If it follows the path of other Ayoub Pinots, this will benefit greatly from further bottle age.”
Winery note “This is my first release from this vineyard, which is a great site located ¼ mile from the Estate Vineyard. Very aromatic with crushed blackberry, raspberry, tobacco and nutmeg. The palate gushing with a medley of red and black berries, subtle hazelnut, white pepper and licorice. The long, silky and juicy finish envelops your palate. Gorgeous wine! Best from 2017 to 2024.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Ayoub Vineyard Memoirs Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2014 750ML ($39.95) $36 pre-arrival special
Wine Enthusiast 93 points– Editor’s Choice “The entry-level Pinot in the Ayoub lineup would be the top cuvée for any number of wineries. Full and fruity, with rich cherry flavors backed with defining minerality, it’s powerful, deep and immaculately clear.”
Winery note “Memoirs is my fond personal tribute to my family. The picture on the 2014 label was taken with my father and siblings in 1964 on the beach in Beirut, Lebanon. The 2014 Memoirs is a blend of Pinot Noir crafted from six select vineyards in the Dundee Hills & McMinnville AVAs. The diversity of the vineyards gives this wine a wide array of layered flavors & complexity. A smoky, spicy, sultry wine. Wraps the nose with sassafras and spiced cherry pie, then builds to fever pitch with ripe, rich, muscular structure loaded with an array of black and red fruit laced with exotic spices. The mouth-coating finish is balanced and persistent. Best from 2016 to 2022.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Ayoub Thistle Vineyard Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills 2013 750ML ($49.95) $47 pre-arrival special
Wine Enthusiast 91 points “Bright, tart fruit conjures up fresh raspberries and cranberries, with potent acids and light hints of metal shavings and dried leaves. A lovely wisp of cinnamon toast elevates the finish.”
Winery note “The 2013 Thistle Pinot Noir has a beautiful nose of baked cherry pie, candied orange peel and sweet oak spice. The palate welcomes you with a medley of red fruit, orange, toasted hazelnut and a hint of nutmeg. It’s a pretty wine with a broad, uplifting and lingering finish. Best from 2016 to 2021.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Closeout Madness
Arriving Next Week
FRANCE
Domaine Tollot-Beaut Chorey-les-Beaune 2012 750ML ($47.95) $33 pre-arrival special
Antonio Galloni 90 points “Tollot-Beaut’s 2012 Chorey-lès-Beaune is intensely perfumed and juicy, with dark red cherry, hard candy and spice notes that are pushed forward. Firm, slightly coarse tannins give the wine its slightly rustic personality, but I say that in the best sense. The 2012 is an ideal wine for the dinner table, where it will offer much pleasure. The style is frank, direct and super-expressive.”
Wine Spectator 90 points “Bright and laced with cherry and berry flavors on a balanced frame. Approachable now, but this should develop over the next five or so years. Drink now through 2020.”
Domaine Aurelien Verdet Nuits-Saint-Georges 2009 750ML ($59.95) $44 pre-arrival special
Wine Spectator 90 points “Though well-endowed with cherry and strawberry flavors and sufficient volume, this red comes off as elegant. Tightly grained structure drives the finish, where spice and floral notes reign. Best from 2014 through 2024.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Domaine Pierre Gelin Clos Napoleon Monopole, Fixin Premier Cru 2012 750ML ($69.95) $49 pre-arrival special
Burghound 90 points “A more deeply pitched and slightly riper nose reflects intensely earthy and sauvage aromas of underbrush and dark currant. There is good richness to the round yet attractively detailed medium weight flavors that possess plenty of minerality that adds a touch of lift to the more powerful and ever-so-mildly rustic finale. This well-balanced effort should also drink well young if desired.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $59.98
Domaine Bruno Colin Morgeot, Chassagne-Montrachet Premier Cru 2011 750ML ($69.95) $49 pre-arrival special
Antonio Galloni 91+ points “The 2011 Chassagne-Montrachet Morgeot is one of the most closed and reticent wines in this range from Bruno Colin. Saline infused mineral notes provide the framework for the 2011 as it opens up in the glass. Today the 2011 doesn’t seem ready to show the full breadth of its potential. The style is a bit burly and muscular. It will be interesting to see how things develop here.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $58.49
Pierre Matrot Perrieres Meursault Premier Cru 2012 750ML ($119.95) $79 pre-arrival special
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 93+ points “Pale, bright yellow. Citrus peel, clove and subtle minerality on the nose. Sweet, rich and highly concentrated, with mineral-driven gunflint and iodine notes intensifying the brisk, chewy lemon and pineapple flavors. Still youthfully strict and stony but the underlying pliancy and sweetness of the vintage are clear to see. There’s plenty more ahead for this outstanding Perrieres.”
ITALY
Montepeloso Eneo Toscana IGT 2011 750ML ($49.95) $39 special, 36+ bottles available
Wine Spectator 93 points “A fresh red, boasting plum, black cherry, spice and leather flavors. The harmony and intensity make this enjoyable now, but the wine should continue to develop over the next five years. Montepulciano, Sangiovese, Alicante and Marselan. Drink now through 2022. 1,500 cases made.”
Antonio Galloni 92 points “Black cherries, raspberry jam, cloves lavender and violets are some of the many notes that take hold of the senses in the 2011 Eneo. This dark, brooding beauty possesses fabulous depth and intensity all the way through to the voluptuous finish. The Eneo is very ripe – in the style of the year – but all the elements are in the right place. The blend is 45% Sangiovese, 35% Montepulciano, 15% Alicante and 5% Marselan.” AG
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $45
Giacomo Conterno Francia Barolo DOCG, Piedmont 2009 750ML ($179.95) $128 special, 9 bottles available
Wine Advocate 96 points “Because Monfortino was not produced this vintage, the 2009 Barolo Cascina Francia benefits from the extra fruit that would have otherwise gone toward the world’s most celebrated Barolo Riserva. I tasted the 2009 Barolo Cascina Francia in barrel two years ago and am delighted by its steady evolution. This is a wine of sophisticated intensity and persuasion. The bouquet peels back to reveal dark fruit, licorice, tar and dried rose. The vintage was warm, resulting in extra plumpness and roundness in terms of mouthfeel. The style is slightly more immediate, but this is a great aging wine nonetheless.”
Antonio Galloni 95 points “Conterno’s 2009 Barolo Cascina Francia wraps around the palate with gorgeous depth. A wine of volume and breadth, the 2009 fleshes out beautifully on the palate with layers of harmonious, silky fruit. Sweet tobacco, mint, flowers, spices and the most beautiful pure fruit all flesh out on the voluptuous, inviting finish. All the elements are in place for the 2009 to develop into a superb Barolo, but readers will have to be patient as the wine was just bottled. I remember what happened the last time Conterno bottled a Cascina Francia, but no Monfortino. The vintage was 2007, and I deeply regretted not having purchased that wine.”
James Suckling 95 points “This has a wonderful long and beautiful style with super fine and persistent tannins. It’s full yet so elegant. The perfumes are of roses and dark fruits while it’s quite savory on the palate. Roberto Conterno made no Monfortino this vintage so declassified the entire production into this wine as he did in 2007. Drink or hold.”
Stephen Tanzer 94 points “Good bright medium red. Deep, expressive nose offers strawberry, camphor, marzipan and earthy minerality. Like liquid silk on entry, then very rich, ripe and sweet in the middle, offering complex notes of red berries, roasted herbs, leather and smoked meat. Finishes sappy and very long, with lush tannins and serious breadth. The tannins are more than supported by the wine’s strong mid-palate material. This wine includes the fruit that would normally go into the Monfortino bottling.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $158
GERMANY
A.J. Adam Piesporter Goldtropfchen Riesling GG, Mosel 2014 750ML ($89.95) $69 special, 6 bottles available
Wine Advocate 93+ points “From one of the rare ungrafted plots in the grand cru (which was reconstructed in the late 1980s and 1990s) the 2014 Goldtröpfchen Riesling trocken displays a super fine and highly complex bouquet with flinty and herbal aromas intermixed with ripe, elegant Riesling and red cassis flavors; there are also notes of coffee beans, nuts and fruit pips. Full-bodied, highly complex and elegant, this is great and straight terroir Riesling from the Mosel. It is really dry and mineral, nicely piquant and salty, as well as very pure, thanks to the old vines and small but intensely flavored grapes. The finish is enormously long and reveals the great structure, intensity and aging potential of this stunning Goldtröpfchen.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $77.80
The average price is $80
Arnoux-Lachaux
Benchmark Romanee Jeroboam
Domaine Arnoux-Lachaux Romanee-Saint-Vivant Grand Cru 2005 3L ($4,199.95) $3,599 pre-arrival special
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 95+ points “Medium red-ruby. Sexy, distinctly wild aromas of raspberry, minerals, coffee and smoke. Wonderfully ripe and dense but classically dry; thicker and more powerful than the Suchots but not showing that wine’s finesse today. The finish is broad and palate-staining, revealing more iron-like minerality than primary fruit. This is less sexy today than the Suchots and much more closed. Even in 2005, Lachaux chaptalized this wine about a half-degree (it’s 13.5% in bottle) to prolong the fermentation.”
This is the only listing in the USA today for the 3L!
2014 Beaujolais
New offers / New scores
The hits keep rolling in / these wines will arrive in October
Daniel Bouland Cote de Brouilly Cuvee Melanie 2014 750ML ($31.95) $24 pre-arrival special
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 93 points “Youthful violet. Intense, highly perfumed boysenberry, cherry liqueur and floral pastille aromas show excellent clarity, and a smoky mineral overtone builds in the glass. Sappy and sharply focused, offering concentrated red and blue fruit flavors that show impressive vivacity given their heft. Juicy, pure and precise, finishing with outstanding focus and persistence and silky, even tannins that add gentle grip.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Pierre-Marie Chermette Domaine du Vissoux Coeur de Vendanges 2014 750ML ($22.95) $17.70 pre-arrival special
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 91 points “Lurid ruby-red. Pungent raspberry and cherry pit on the fragrant nose, with hints of white pepper and smoky minerals adding lift and complexity. Spicy and sharply focused, offering vibrant red berry and blood orange flavors that put on weight with air. Closes taut and gently sweet, with strong spicy lift and silky tannins coming in late.”
Wine Enthusiast 90 points “This “heart of the harvest” Gamay is produced from 100-year-old vines, a rarity in any appellation. With less than five acres to work with, this ripe and structured wine shows the potential even of “simple” Beaujolais-appellation wines. It has weight, spice and warm red fruits that are laced with acidity. Drink this wine from 2016. — R.V. (12/1/2015)
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $23
Pierre-Marie Chermette Domaine du Vissoux Moulin-a-Vent Les Trois Roches 2014 750ML ($29.95) $24 pre-arrival special
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 92 points “Vivid ruby. Assertive dark berry and floral pastille aromas show very good energy, with a spicy nuance adding complexity. Juicy and pliant, offering sweet, nicely concentrated blackberry and cherry flavors and a of touch of spicecake. Dusty tannins build slowly on a long, smooth and impressively persistent finish, with the dark fruit and spice notes echoing.”
Wine Advocate 90 points “The 2014 Moulin-à-Vent les Trois Roches was matured in 1- to 5-year-old half-tuns. Some attractive undergrowth/woodland scents permeate the dark berry fruit, a touch of cold black tea in the background. The palate is medium-bodied with supple, ripe tannin. There is appreciable depth and roundness here, with a soft and fleshy, but quite complex finish. This is an excellent Moulin-à-Vent from Pierre-Marie Chermette.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $27.99
Chateau du Retout
Arriving Late September
Chateau du Retout ‘Le Retout Blanc’, Vin de France (Bordeaux) 2014 750ML ($29.95) $21.90 pre-arrival special (will be $24 after arrival)
Wine Spectator 91 points “Alluring, with lemon curd, citrus oil, white peach and candied grapefruit peel notes streaking along together, backed by a twinge of quinine that beautifully offsets the rich feel. Gros Manseng, Sauvignon Gris, Savagnin and Mondeuse Blanche. Drink now through 2017. 650 cases made.”
Importer note “A very atypical white from the Medoc, this is a blend of Gros Manseng, Sauvignon Gris, Savagnin and Mondeuse Blanche. James Molesworth recently referred to it as “one of the most interesting wines I’d ever tasted,” and the 2014 delivers on that promise and more, with superb structure and balance. Because of the unusual blend, it is technically a Vin de France but drinks like a top level Bordeaux Blanc.”
Winery note “We decided to grow the vines in our only plot located in the commune of Lamarque, in a place named Le Retou. Originally planted with Merlot in 1970, we grafted unusual white wine varieties (some from far-away regions) on this 1.8 hectare plot in 2009. Sauvignon Gris, which we are alone in growing in the region, is also quite rare elsewhere in Bordeaux. The Gros Manseng, a variety from the Gers department and the Pyrénées, is most known for producing dry and sweet Jurançon. The Savagnin is responsible for vins jaunes in the Jura. However, this variety can also be aged without the influence of oxidation to produce excellent, fresh, white wines. The fourth variety, Mondeuse Blanche, is the most rare, and there are only 4 hectares of this variety in Savoie. We now know that Mondeuse Blanche is the ancestor of the famous Syrah grape.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $24.98
2011 Burgundy Sale
9 Bargains – Many Reduced Prices!
Domaine Matrot Monthelie 2011 750ML ($49.95) $29 special, 24 bottles available
Burghound – “This is less refined but a bit more complex with an earthy and mildly rustic nose of dark berries and pungent earth aromas. The same touch of rusticity can be found on the delicious, round and already approachable medium-bodied flavors that possess good depth and reasonably good length. This should drink well almost immediately yet reward a few years of cellar time as well.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $29.99
The average price is $35
Domaine Jean-Noel Gagnard Chassagne-Montrachet Cuvee l’Estimee 2011 750ML ($37.95) $29 special, 36+ bottles available
Burghound 88 points “A very fresh and expressive nose of red and blue pinot fruit with pepper and earth hints leads to rich, delicious and nicely complex middle weight flavors that offer good persistence and only a mild touch of rusticity on the sappy finish. This should be approachable, and enjoyable, young if desired” BH
Domaine Faiveley Chambertin Clos de Beze Grand Cru 2011 750ML ($349.95) Was $279, Now $219, 29 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 94 (+?) points “Medium red. Highly nuanced yet quite primary on the nose, offering scents of raspberry, underbrush, dried rose, ginger and smoky oak. Juicy, saline and quite dry, with dark berry and strawberry flavors complicated by an earthy perfume. Finishes with substantial dusty tannins and excellent length. With 24 hours in the recorked bottle, this beauty showed a silkier texture and chewy, deep flavors of raspberry and spices that saturate the palate without leaving any impression of weight. A great effort for the vintage.” ST
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $319
Domaine Faiveley Corton ‘Clos des Cortons’ Faiveley Monopole Grand Cru 2011 750ML ($199.95) Was $149, Now $119, 36+ bottles available
Antonio Galloni 95 points “Faiveley’s 2011 Corton Clos des Corton is a fitting conclusion to this great night of wine and food. Intensely saline and pointed, the 2011 impresses for its pure energy and tension. The flavors are vibrant and impeccably delineated in a Burgundy that is all about finesse. This is a great showing from the Clos des Corton.” AG
Stephen Tanzer 94 points “Medium red. Ineffable nose and palate offer red fruits, minerals, spices and flowers, complicated by game, earth and leather. Sweet, concentrated and very intense, boasting outstanding density and a fine-grained texture, with salty minerality giving the wine a weightless impression that’s remarkable considering its density. A strong tannic spine and brisk acidity energize and draw out the finish of this sharply delineated, pristine grand cru.” ST
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $125
The average price is $181
Domaine Bitouzet-Prieur Les Caillerets, Volnay Premier Cru 2011 750ML ($79.95) $59 special, 36+ bottles available
Domaine Bitouzet-Prieur Les Caillerets, Volnay Premier Cru 2011 1.5L ($179.95) $119 special, 7 magnums available
Antonio Galloni–Vinous 93 points “The 2011 Volnay Caillerets is one of the most explosive wines in this range. Black cherries, plums, licorice, smoke and tar literally jump from the glass. The 2011 is round and voluptuous on the palate, yet also backed up by considerable structure. Hints of cloves, new leather and sweet tobacco add the final layers of nuance. In 2011 there are just three barrels of Caillerets, one of which is new, a slightly higher ratio than is typically the case.” AG
This is the only listing for the 750ML in the USA today!
Domaine Henri Boillot Les Lavieres, Savigny-les-Beaune Premier Cru 2011 750ML ($69.95) $49 special, 35 bottles available
Burghound 89 points “A pungently earthy nose of lightly spiced plum and various dark pinot fruit aromas leads to energetic and well-detailed flavors that exude a fine minerality on the delicious and solidly persistent finish. I like the mouth feel as it’s relatively fine and about the only nit is a bit of gas so I would suggest decanting this if you’re going to try a bottle young.”BH
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Domaine Henri Boillot Les Fremiets, Volnay Premier Cru 2011 750ML ($99.95) $77 special, 14 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 91-93 points “Deep red-ruby. Highly perfumed, musky aromas of black raspberry and smoky minerality. Large-scaled, round and rich but not yet complex; less creamy and fine-grained than the Chevrets, showing a youthful toughness from the calcaire-rich soil. Despite the fact that this was the first pinot parcel Boillot picked in 2011, this wine relies more on its big, ripe tannins than on its acids for balance. Really saturates the palate on the aftertaste.” ST
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Domaine Jean-Marc Boillot Les Epenottes, Beaune Premier Cru 2011 750ML ($89.95) Was $59, Now $49, 12 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 88-90 points “Good full red. Aromatic nose offers black cherry, licorice, violet and chocolate, plus complicating hints of leather and smoke. Not fleshy but juicy and intense, with the black fruit, violet and chocolate notes carrying through on the palate. Finishes with supple, fine-grained tannins.” ST
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $57.97
The average price is $60
Domaine Jean-Marc Boillot Carelle Sous La Chapelle, Volnay Premier Cru 2011 750ML ($89.95) $69 special, 11 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 90 points “Good bright red. Red berries, musky minerals and soil tones on the nose and palate. Supple, sweet and moderately rich; less suave than the village wine but stylish nonetheless. Finishes with good length and slightly drying tannins that hit the palate late.” ST
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Domaine Dujac
Bonus Burgundy Sale!
Masion & Domaine Dujac Available Here Now:
Maison Dujac Fils et Pere Les Damodes, Nuits-Saint-Georges Premier Cru 2011 750ML ($119.95) $99 special, 12 bottles available
Antonio Galloni–“Dried cherries, tobacco and crushed flowers meld together in the 2011 Nuits St. Georges Les Damodes. The 2011 is soft, juicy and approachable, with plenty of near-term appeal, but less of the structure typical of Damodes.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Domaine Dujac Aux Combottes, Gevrey-Chambertin Premier Cru 2011 750ML ($249.95) $199 special, 2 bottles available
Burghound 92 points “Here the fruit is more deeply pitched with excellent nuance to the well-layered blue and black pinot fruit that also evidences hints of violets, earth and wet stone. There is a clean and polished mouth feel (in the best sense) to the energetic and saline-infused flavors that are shaped by ripe tannins on the mouth coating, dusty and balanced finish. As it often is, this is a wine of finesse yet it doesn’t lack for character and depth.”
Masion & Domaine Dujac Arriving This Month:
Domaine Dujac Clos de la Roche Grand Cru 2013 1.5L ($1,499.95) $1,249 pre-arrival special, 3 magnums available
Antonio Galloni 94-97 points “Another superb, multidimensional wine, the 2013 Clos de La Roche boasts remarkable complexity, starting with exquisite aromatics, finely-sculpted fruit and firm yet polished tannins. Layers of flavor flesh out in all directions in a resonant, expansive Burgundy endowed with pure pedigree. There is a lot going on in the glass, although it is the wine’s totally sublime sense of harmony that is most captivating at this early stage. I can’t wait to taste the 2013 from bottle.” AG
Domaine Dujac Morey-Saint-Denis Blanc 2014 750ML ($119.95) Was $99, Now $89 pre-arrival special, 6 bottles available
Wine Advocate 86-88 points “The 2014 Morey-Saint-Denis Blanc has a refined bouquet with almond and white peach scents. The palate is well balanced, quite rich in the mouth with a brush of clear honey and almond towards the rounded finish. This is a commendable white Morey.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Domaine Dujac Charmes-Chambertin Grand Cru 2014 750ML ($499.95) Was $399, Now $299 pre-arrival special, 3 bottles available
John Gilman 93-94+ points “The 2014 Charmes-Chambertin was also late finishing up its malo, and unlike the Eche´zeaux, it was not all that happy about being tasted. This wine had not yet absorbed all its new wood and was showing a bit chewy, but all the constituent components are in place for this wine to snap into place with a bit more elevage. The nose is a promising blend of black cherries, cassis, grilled meat, espresso, dark soil tones and spicy new oak. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied, long and rock solid at the core, with fine focus and soil signature, ripe tannins and a long, chewy and adolescent finish.”
Wine Advocate 92-94 points “The 2014 Charmes-Chambertin Grand Cru has an exquisite bouquet with blackberry, bilberry and cassis fruit. This is very elegant and linear, great precision here. The palate is very well balanced, structured with citrus-infused blackcurrant fruit. There is that titillating prickle of salinity on the finish, a Mazoyères-like Charmes that should age well over the next 15-20 years.”
Domaine Dujac Clos de la Roche Grand Cru 2014 750ML ($799.95) $599 pre-arrival special, 6 bottles available
John Gilman 96 points “In contrast to the Charmes, the 2014 Dujac Clos de la Roche was in fine spirits and showing enormous potential. The brilliant bouquet offers up scents of cherries, red plums, pomegranate, gamebirds, superb soil tones, woodsmoke, raw cocoa and vanillin oak. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied and very suave on the attack, with a sappy core, fine transparency and a very, very long, fine-grained and elegant finish. A great vintage of Clos de la Roche from the Seysses family this year!”
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 92-95 points “Bright, dark red. Pure, vibrant, perfumed aromas of raspberry, red licorice, rose petal and spices. Silky, seamless and pristine, with terrific mineral energy to the raspberry, saline and earth flavors. Conveys an impression of sucrosité but this youthfully imploded wine is classically dry. Diana Snowden ventured the opinion that 2014 is a great year for Clos de la Roche.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $987.99
Domaine Dujac Clos Saint-Denis Grand Cru 2014 750ML ($599.95) $479 pre-arrival special, 4 bottles available
John Gilman 97 points “The style of the 2014 vintage perfectly dovetails with the great elegance inherent in this terroir, so it is not surprising that the Domaine Dujac version is utterly stunning this year. The wine soars from the glass in a blaze of cherries, red plums, cocoa powder, fresh nutmeg, a fabulous base of soil tones, woodsmoke, lovely spice tones and vanillin oak. On the palate the wine is pure, full-bodied and utterly seamless, with a velvety attack, a sappy core of red fruit, stunning transparency and a supremely elegant, fine-grained and tangy finish. Hauntingly beautiful Clos St. Denis in 2014!”
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 93-95 points “Bright ruby-red. Subtle perfume of raspberry, red cherry, rose petal and flinty minerality. Silky on entry, then less sweet and more soil-driven in the mid-palate than the Clos de la Roche. But this impeccably balanced wine boasts an insidiously tactile mouth feel and opens out spectacularly on the back end. Finishes wonderfully juicy and suave, with noble tannins and a sneaky whiplash of flavor. I’d love to try this wine next to the Clos de la Roche again in ten years.”
Dujac Fils & Pere Chambolle-Musigny 2014 750ML ($99.95) Was $89, Now $77 pre-arrival special, 6 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 87-89 points “(vinified with 70% whole clusters): Bright, dark red. Musky black raspberry and mineral aromas and flavors are lifted by herbs and spices. Nicely energized by the stem component. Finishes with substantial dusty tannins and a hint of salty minerality.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Dujac Fils & Pere Morey-Saint-Denis 2014 750ML ($99.95) Was $89, Now $77 pre-arrival special, 3 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 87-90 points “Bright, medium ruby-red. Aromas of black raspberry and smoke show attractive perfumed lift. Nicely concentrated and sweet, with a chocolatey ripeness and a rather pliant texture that should give this wine earlier drinkability than the village Gevrey.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $91
Domaine Dujac Morey-Saint-Denis Premier Cru 2014 750ML ($219.95) Was $199, Now $159 pre-arrival special, 3 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 89-91 points “Healthy dark red. Lovely lift to the aromas of blackberry, blackberry and spicy underbrush. Densely packed, broad and sweet; spreads out horizontally on the palate but retains a juicy quality to its dark berry and spice flavors. Finishes with substantial ripe tannins and very good length.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Domaine Dujac Les Beaumonts, Vosne-Romanee Premier Cru 2014 750ML ($349.95) $319 pre-arrival special, 6 bottles available
Wine Advocate 92-94 points “The 2014 Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru les Beaux Monts has a very attractive bouquet, pure and sensual with black cherries, boysenberry and a touch of blueberry. Understated but quite compelling. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin, silky in texture, beautifully balanced with very well judged acidity with a touch of salinity towards the finish. This is a very well crafted Beaumonts that deserves several years in bottle.”
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 91-94 points “Bright red-ruby. Very pure aromas of raspberry, red licorice and smoky minerals, plus a hint of animal fur. Plush, rich and fine-grained, offering a silky, spherical texture to its expressive flavors of raspberry, smoke, minerals, game and mocha. Finishes with broad, building tannins and terrific persistence.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Late Breaking News
Arriving Thursday from Crowley
To add texture and body to a relatively warmer vintage, the folks at Crowley increased their whole cluster usage to 65%. The wines spent 20 months in barrel and are 100% Pommard clone from their respective single vineyards. La Colina vineyard lies on the iron rich Jory soils that made Dundee Hills famous. The Four Winds vineyard offers a more mineral expression of Oregon Pinot Noir.
Crowley La Colina Vineyard Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills 2014 750ML ($49.95) $44 pre-arrival special
Crowley Four Winds Vineyard Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2014 750ML ($49.95) $44 pre-arrival special
The Masters and the Disciple
Clos Rougeard
Arriving in October
Clos Rougeard Saumur-Champigny Les Poyeaux 2010 750ML ($319.95) $289 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 95 points “Only recently released, the purple-colored 2010 Saumur-Champigny Les Poyeux attracts with a delicate and very elegant, though not over-concentrated, bouquet of floral and fruity aromas exhibiting Mediterranean herbs and very clear and coolish cherry and wild berry aromas along with cedar wood flour. Full-bodied, smooth, and intense, this absolutely delicate and elegant red is structured by the finest tannins and a delicious acidity that let this persistent wine sing on your palate. It combines finesse with intensity in a very remarkable manner and is divinely balanced. A great wine to drink now or in the next 20-25 years.” (10/2014)
Clos Rougeard Saumur-Champigny 2010 750ML ($219.95) $199 pre-arrival special
Domaine Guiberteau:
Arriving Next Week
Romain Guiberteau bears one of the most esteemed names in all of the Loire; the Guilberteaus have grown grapes in the region for over the past 100 years. His great-grandfather began purchasing sites in the area prior to the First World War, slowly giving way to a familial tradition and an enviable roster of vineyard sites. Romain’s grandfather, one-time mayor and head of the local growers’ cooperative, was a beloved member of Saumur’s winemaking community. He and his wife built upon the family’s land holdings until their son took over. It was he who converted the domaine to organic viticulture, slowly pulling back land from the co-op for the family’s private use. Soon after, Romain left a career in law and joined his father. Today, Romain carries on family’s traditions while forging the domaine onward.
Worth mentioning is that Romain was mentored by the Foucault brothers over at the inimitable Clos Rougeard. It’d be equally unwise to depend upon the relationship as it would be to downplay it, however. Search online for Guiberteau and you’re sure to come across the proxy-sales and comparisons – “the new Rougeard”, “the Disciple”, and so forth.
Clos Rougeard being the most famed and important domaine of the region makes this a rather impressive – and daunting – comparison. The Guiberteaus and Foucaults share some vineyard sources and, above all, a determination to craft the very best wines possible from their land. These are stand-out wines with true pedigree; whatever it may have been that the Foucaults told Romain, it seems to be working… Domaine Guiberteau itself is now one of the most sought-after producers in the Loire.
The “Domaine” wines from Guiberteau are rendered in all stainless steel with the vision to showcase purity of fruit and freshness. Vineyard-designate wines are raised in both new and used oak with extended lees contact. We’re thrilled to offer an array of the domaine’s wines, all viewable below.
Domaine Guiberteau Wines Arriving Next Week:
Domaine Guiberteau Saumur Blanc Le Clos de Guichaux, Loire 2013 750ML ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival special
Vinopolnote: From younger vines planted to chalk and clay soils. Whole clusters are gently pressed by pneumatic press; native yeast fermentations with light filtration in order to discourage secondary fermentations. Low yields and an all-manual harvest and sorting, with organic viticulture and wines never chapitalized.
Domaine Guiberteau Saumur Blanc Le Clos de Guichaux, Loire 2014 750ML ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival special
Vinopolnote: From younger vines planted to chalk and clay soils. Whole clusters are gently pressed by pneumatic press; native yeast fermentations with light filtration in order to discourage secondary fermentations. Low yields and an all-manual harvest and sorting, with organic viticulture and wines never chapitalized.
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Domaine Guiberteau Saumur Blanc Les Moulins 2014 1.5L ($89.95) $79 pre-arrival special
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Domaine Guiberteau Saumur Blanc Les Moulins 2015 750ML ($39.95) $33 pre-arrival special
Vinopolnote: All stainless-steel fermentation with the intent to present freshness and complexity of fruit; native yeast fermentations with hand-harvesting and no chapitalization.
Domaine Guiberteau Saumur Blanc Brézé, Loire 2013 750ML ($99.95) $79 pre-arrival special
VinopolNote: From the legendary Brézé climat that rests at a high elevation among soils of chalky limestone (tuffeaux) with clay and sand.
Domaine Guiberteau Saumur Rouge Cuvee Les Motelles, Loire 2014 750ML ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival special
VinopolNote: 100% Cabernet Franc from the 1.4 hectare Les Motelles Vineyard. The soils are composed of minimal limestone, but are rich in clay and gravel. Vines planted in 1955.
Have a lovely weekend!