New Week – New Arrivals; Back in Stock from Brick House; Champagne, Burgundy & Italians Finds Arriving Friday; Arriving in August: Fidelitas, Etude, & Opus Overture; Trending; Staff Pick; Keller; Alzinger Pre-Arrivals
Eminent Domaine Estate Pinot Noir, Ribbon Ridge 2014 750ML ($49.95) $39 special
Wine Spectator 93 points “Focused, expressive and layered with currant, plum, mineral and wet earth flavors that play against fine tannins and dance through the open-frame finish. Has presence, depth and persistence. Best from 2018 through 2024.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Producer notes: “When Mother Nature offers a bountiful year, we routinely bottle this entry level Pinot Noir. As the name implies, the ‘Select’ is a selection of barrels representing all the vineyard blocks on the farm at the discretion of the winemaker. The most easy-going and approachable of all our Pinot Noirs, the ‘Select’ is a moderately priced, estate grown wine and a worthy accompaniment to a casual meal of salmon, lamb or wild game.”
Cristom Mt. Jefferson Cuvee Pinot Noir, Eola-Amity Hills 2014 750ML ($31.95) $28 special
Wine Advocate 90 points “The 2014 Mt Jefferson Cuvee Pinot Noir, which contains around 50% whole cluster fruit, has a lively, wild strawberry and candied orange peel scented bouquet, a touch of freshly sliced tangerine in the background. This is a vivacious bouquet with more intensity than the 2013. The palate is medium-bodied with fresh, lithe tannin. This is nicely balanced with good grip in the mouth, the 15% new oak nicely integrated with a subtle saline note towards the earthy finish. For thirty bucks, this is a great value.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
VinopolNote: The 2014 Willamette Valley is all first-press wine comprised mostly of Pommard clone Pinot with some Dijon and the last of the Gehrts Vineyard (now that Jadot has purchased the vineyard). The WV was aged in barrel for over 16 months before bottling. It’s a lighter styled Pinot with highly perfumed notes of cranberries, garrigue and fresh flowers. It’s medium to light bodied with very finely grained tannins that coat the palate and a refreshing acidity. The entire range of 2014s from Crowley has benefitted from the new entry-level wine, A La Votre, made from 9 barrels of press wine. Consequently, each of the 2014s is a step up in quality.
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Winery note “This wine reveals cherries, raspberries, sweet tobacco, cedar cigar box, violets, and powdered perfume, with hints of baking spice, around a mineral core. This is a medium body wine, with lively acidity, and broad, fine, velvety tannin. The long finish lingers with a chorus of raspberries, fading violet petals, and Dundee dust. The 2014 wine growing season began very early, with budbreak on April 14th and bloom on June 5th. Warm and dry conditions continued though August. The early, warm year shifted the ripening period to the warmest part of the year. Early action in the vineyard, combined with the density of our site, tempered these conditions allowing us to produce this elegant and graceful wine.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
WASHINGTON
Wine Advocate 93 points “Inspired by the wines of Domaine Tempier in Bandol, Leighton’s 2013 Gratitude checks in as a Mourvèdre dominated blend that incorporates 25% Grenache and 5% Syrah, all of which was aged in two- to three-year-old puncheons. Cured meats, spice-box, black currants and blackberry nuances all emerge from this sweetly fruited, layered, downright sexy Mourvèdre that has fine, polished tannin and a great finish. Not harvested until the last week of October, drink this rock star 2013 over the coming decade, and I certainly wouldn’t be surprised to see it evolve for longer.”B. Leighton Syrah Olsen Brothers Vineyard, Yakima Valley, Washington 2013 750ML ($49.95) $41.90 special
Wine Advocate 94 points “Lastly, and from tiny yields, the 100-case 2013 Syrah Olsen Vineyard was fermented with 100% whole clusters and aged in 20% new puncheons for 18 months. Gamey, spice and complex, with gorgeous crème de cassis fruit and a touch of graphite, this beauty is full-bodied, layered and elegant, with ripe tannin, a stacked mid-palate and a great finish. This is a serious wine that will benefit from short-term cellaring and drink well through 2028.”
CALIFORNIA
Mount Eden Vineyards Chardonnay, Santa Cruz Mountains 2013 750ML ($69.95) $59 special
Antonio Galloni 93 points “The 2013 Chardonnay is especially ripe and voluptuous in this vintage because of the drought, almost unusually so. Yellow peach, candied orange peel and pineapple are front and center. The good news with the 2013 is that it will drink well early, but the bad news – if it can be called that – is that the wine is a bit on the overt side. Voluptuous, racy and oily, the 2013 will drink well with minimal cellaring. The 2013 finishes with a real sense of weight and textural richness that only adds to its considerable appeal.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Wine Advocate 96 points “Just ever so slightly richer and more textured than the Sur Echalas Vineyard, the 2013 Syrah The Tribe Vineyard is a blockbuster effort that is up there with the crème de la crème of the vintage. Concentrated, full-bodied, sexy and layered on the palate, it has to-die-for notes of black cherries, currants, olives, steak tartare and Hermitage-like scorched earth characteristics. Like the other 2013s here, it needs 4-5 years of cellaring and will have two decades of longevity.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Wine Advocate 95 points “A Merlot-dominated blend, the 2011 Flying Pig checks in as 50% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Franc and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon that spent 12 months in 50% new French oak before being moved to large oak puncheons. Deep-ruby in color, it has beautiful cassis, plum, licorice, olive tapenade and lead pencil shaving-like aromas and flavors that give way to a full-bodied, layered and concentrated 2011 that has beautifully integrated oak, plenty of mid-palate and a terrific finish. Enjoy it anytime over the coming 10-15 years.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Wine Advocate 99 points “Another wine that flirts with perfection is the 2012 Impulsivo. Showing the heights Tempranillo can hit in Washington State, this blockbuster offers tons of purple fruits, crushed rocks, exotic spice and spring flower characteristics to go with a full-bodied, fabulously concentrated, structured feel on the palate. What really sets this apart is the purity of fruit. In addition, this cuvee ages brilliantly, and doesn’t start to really hit maturity until around age 8-10. This beauty will have 20-25 of overall longevity and is one thrilling drink!”Harlan Estate, Napa Valley 2011 750ML ($599.95) $479 special, 3 bottles available
James Suckling 97 points “Fabulous floral aromas of currants, flowers, stones and rosemary stem. Purity. Full body with a fabulous backbone of chewy tannins with a gorgeous austerity. Elegance with power. This needs at least three or four more years.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $756
Robert Parker 98+ points “The 2006 is performing even better from bottle than it did from barrel. Sloan and McClellan decided to bottle it later than usual, recognizing the rugged, tough tannins of the vintage could be sweetened up with longer barrel aging. Their strategy worked. The wine’s dense ruby/purple color is followed by notes of white chocolate, burning embers, creme de cassis, coffee, and scorched earth (think Haut-Brion or La Mission Haut-Brion). It possesses terrific structure, melted, well-integrated tannins, full body, and is already bursting with complexity. A great success, it is one of the vintage’s most thrilling wines. Drink it over the next 20-25 years.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
FRANCE-BURGUNDY
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 90+ points “Bright, pale lemon-yellow. Nose dominated by saline, iodiney oyster shell, ginger and fresh-baked bread. Thick and concentrated but penetrating as well, with its soft citrus and mineral flavors leavened by racy lemony acidity that still needs a couple years to harmonize. Delivers a superb combination of density of material, sucrosité and verve.”
FRANCE-RHONE
Winery note “Equal contributors to the assembly, Grenache and Syrah join forces to bring you Red Côtes du Rhône Vieilles Vignes by La Millière. A wine you can easily say is succulent and fruity with just the right hint of spice.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $22
Wine Advocate 90 points “The 2012 Châteauneuf du Pape Vieilles Vignes is beautiful, with textbook, slightly old-school notes of saddle leather, garrigue, incense and sweet kirsch and blackberry fruit. Made from a blend of 60% Grenache and 10% each of Syrah, Mourvedre, Cinsault and Counoise, it still has some tannin to integrate, but it has a solid, medium-bodied, classically styled palate feel with lots to like. It should drink nicely through 2021.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $47
FRANCE-JURA
Wine Spectator 89 points “Well-focused, with ginger and chamomile notes racing along in front of a core of lightly baked apple, hazelnut husk and persimmon. Shows good energy and cut on the finish, with a lingering honeysuckle detail. Drink now. 2,000 cases made.” WSBenedicte & Stephane Tissot Cremant du Jura Rose Brut NV 750ML ($27.95) $21.90 special
Wine Enthusiast 88 points “Son Stéphane is the winemaker at this leading Jura estate, also known for its Sherry-like vin jaune. This rosé is at the other end of the taste spectrum, a light, delicate wine, with fresh red currant and raspberry flavors, some almonds, and a crisp streak of acidity to finish.” WE
ITALY-TUSCANY
James Suckling 95 points “Lots currants, blueberries, vanilla and floral character on the nose and palate. Full body, fine tannins and a fresh finish. Edgy contrast of acidity, ripe fruit and wood. Stylish, savory and delicious. A blend of sangiovese and merlot. One of the best values amongst Super Tuscan reds. Drink in 2016.” (20-Oct-2015)
Antonio Galloni 96 points “The 2010 Sette Ponti is drop-dead gorgeous. Tar, licorice, incense, plums and graphite jump from the glass in a wine that impresses for its nuance, delineation and sheer class. The tannins are firm, but also beautifully balanced. Readers should give the 2010 a few years in bottle to come around, but even today, the wine’s balance is utterly impeccable. This is a great showing from Sette Ponti.”
James Suckling 96 points “Love the aromas to this red with currants, blackberries and hints of dark truffles. Full-bodied, with beautifully crafted tannins that are creamy and seamless. Fabulous refinement and length. Leave it in your cellar for at least four or five years. But impressive to taste or drink now. A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Petit Verdot. One of best Orenos ever made since its inception in 1999.”
SPAIN
Wine Advocate 91 points “The Mercat Brut Nature is the same blend but with 0.3 grams/l residual sugar. It has a wonderful peachy bouquet that blossoms in the glass with hints of dried apricot and honeysuckle. The palate is very well-balanced with crisp acidity and a fine thread of bitter lemon that lends tension and poise, leading to a very champagnois finish.”
AUSTRIA
Library six-pack containing one 750ML bottle each of the ’07, ’08, ’09, ’10, ’11, ’12
This is the only listing in the USA today!
David Schildknecht–Vinous 92 points “Bottled in April 2015, this lives up to its name with a stony, alkaline undertone. There is a faintly reductive hint of machine oil that, along with whiffs of gentian and iris, complements fresh and spirituous expressions of apple. The palate impression is fresh, juicy, and buoyant, with floral, mineral and herbal-spicy nuances. It’s a delightful example of the vintage paradox that despite high must weights and advanced flavor ripeness, the best 2012s can be elegant and light-footed. Coriander and fennel seeds add appeal to the sustained finish.”
This is the only listing of the magnum in the USA today!
Wine Advocate 95 points “The tremendously deep bouquet of Pichler’s 2013 Grüner Veltliner Smaragd Kellerberg is precise, vegetal and flinty/cool. The wine is a noble, rich, highly elegant and terroir-driven Wachauer signature wine, which reveals its overwhelming power and great expression only in its finish and long, persistent aftertaste. This is, again, an icon wine of the Wachau and the 2013 vintage. A must buy, if you can afford it.”
David Schildknecht–Vinous 94 points “This impressive offering reflects the same vines on a rocky extension of the Kellerberg that until this vintage were labeled more specifically as “Wunderburg.” But Pichler and Krutzler decided that “Kellerberg” was, after all, the?? name to conjure–and to market–with. A lush combination of pineapple, pear and Mirabelle is laced with sweet/smoky Szechuan pepper and Latakia tobacco, further tinged with mocha on a palpably high-extract, voluminous, creamy palate, yet a lovely sense of clarity is preserved to herbal, mineral and kelp-like notes in a downright reverberating finish. Raised largely in cask but with a small tank-rendered portion (and last tasted as an immediate pre-bottling assemblage), this displays the ripe effects of the season’s tiny, sparse Grüner Veltliner berries, yet without its roughly 14% alcohol engendering any heat. It became more impressive over the course of its first year in bottle.”
This is the only listing of the magnum in the USA today!
Wine Advocate 94 points “Lucas Pichler’s monumental 2013 Grüner Veltliner Smaragd M opens with an ultra-ripe, concentrated and slightly speck-y yet still precise and even mineral-scented bouquet on the nose. Very rich and intense on the palate, this elegant, full-bodied, densely textured and powerful Veltliner from late-harvested grapes reveals an aromatic and juicy fruit core along with a stunningly vibrant acidity that gives structure, length and a lifting as well as lingering salinity and piquancy. Maracuya and other tropical fruit flavors dominate the aromatic aftertaste. Although I have no experience with matured samples of this Austrian icon Veltliner, I suspect it has an aging potential of 5-10 years and should be cellared at least for another 2 or 3 years.”
David Schildknecht–Vinous 93 points “Made with fruit from Loibenberg (a 50% share), Kellerberg, Liebenberg, with a small bit of Kollmütz, this installment of “M” enjoyed the longest pre-fermentation skin contact of any Pichler 2013, and was raised in a new large oval, then moved to tank shortly before bottling, which is when I last tasted it. Its impressive features include imposing richness of peach, melon and pineapple; an expansive and flatteringly creamy palate; high-toned inner-mouth allusions to almond extract; peach kernel piquancy; and pronounced smokiness and stoniness that suggest a mingling of Szechuan peppercorn, black tea and ash. The bright, Riesling-like juiciness characteristic of so many Grüner Veltliners from this vintage is absent here. But the finish of this static, statuesque wine (recall that “M,” after all, stands here for “monumental”) glows persistently in its evocation of peach kernel and pepper.”
This is the only listing of the magnum in the USA today!
David Schildknecht–Vinous 97 points “Succulent white peach and Persian melon are tinged more subtly than usual for this bottling with Madagascar and Szechuan peppercorns, black tea and crushed stone. There is hauntingly bittersweet floral perfume wafting through this entire performance, almost as though some Achleiten or Heiligenstein got loose in the fermenter. A high-toned suggestion of almond extract adds to the sweet impression of fruitiness (despite analytical dryness); and a mandarin orange note adds aromatic as well as brightly juicy allure in perfect harmony with a seductively creamy texture. Piquancy of peach kernel lends stimulating counterpoint and engenders a glowingly persistent finish. The combination of pit fruit, citrus and floral aromatics with complex peppery notes left in the empty glass is head-turning. This is as refined a Kellerberg Riesling as it has been my pleasure to experience. What’s more, it represents the first time I can recall using the word “buoyant” to describe one–and that for a wine picked in the last week of November!”
Wine Advocate 95 points “From the estate’s parade vineyard, the 2013 Riesling Smaragd Dürnsteiner Kellerberg displays a very rich and intense aroma of super-ripe and concentrated Riesling berries. Rich and powerful, but also precise, impressively concentrated and piquant on the palate, this well-balanced and highly elegant Riesling with its lemon and orange aftertaste is another signature wine of both the Wachau and the 2013 vintage. It’s aging potential should be terrific. A serious, tension-filled Riesling of great expression, which I highly recommend.”
This is the only listing of the magnum in the USA today!
David Schildknecht–Vinous 96 points “From 60% Kellerberg and 40% Loibenberg fruit, this installment of the periodically rendered Pichler Riesling essence leads with high-toned scents of lemon oil and lemon blossom as well as intimations of the white peach and pink grapefruit that then lusciously inform a glycerol-rich, subtly creamy, enveloping palate. Billowing inner-mouth perfume of gentian and iris add bittersweet allure, and there is smoky, peppery counterpoint, especially in the finish, such as one usually expects to encounter in Pichler Riesling primarily with Steinertal- and Kellerberg-dedicated bottlings. A dark, deeply savory, resonant finish certainly makes a serious effort at living up to the name “Endless,” adding a welcome touch of saliva-stimulating salinity. Incidentally, this finished at 13.9% alcohol, modest by historical standards set by “Unendlich” bottlings, and amazing considering that, as Lucas Pichler explained, this installment derived from pickings done just ahead of the main harvest of certain parcels where subtly desiccated berries could be found, the latest of which was in mid-November. I’ve often referred to installments of Unendlich as “liqueurs of Riesling,” but that would almost be to do a disservice to the clarity and dynamic complexity of this one.”
Wine Advocate 95+ points “Pichler’s late harvested 2013 Riesling Smaragd Unendlich (German for unending, infinite, endless) opens with a clear, pure, precise and cool, mineral-fresh and aromatic white peach and fully ripe Riesling bouquet of great, yet not exaggerated, concentration. The wine is full-bodied, thrillingly mineral, tension-filled and elegant on the palate. This powerful, intense, highly complex and concentrated yet still fresh, precise and long-finishing Riesling elixir has a remarkable yet variety-typical racy acidity that structures and inspires. This is a great and potent Austrian Riesling tycoon. The wine is still extremely young and needs time to open up (better years than hours). However, its aging potential should be terrific.”
This is the only listing of the magnum in the USA today!
Brick House Re-Arrivals
Brick House Vineyards ‘Les Dijonnais’ Pinot Noir, Ribbon Ridge 2013 750ML ($59.95) $49 special
Wine Spectator 93 points “Fresh and expressive, soft in texture, this offers generous flavors of cherry, raspberry and clove that linger effortlessly against velvety tannins. Drink now through 2023.” WSBrick House Vineyards Gamay Noir, Ribbon Ridge 2014 750ML ($31.95) $26.60 special
Grapelive 93 points “The latest Gamay from Brick House rocks! Without question one of the most beautiful and complex Gamay wines in America, and it really comes close to Foillard and Lapierre level of enjoyment, this is a blockbuster vintage for this wine. The Willamette Valley with it’s maritime and volcanic soils create a special terroir for Gamay and this Brick House 2014 drinks wonderfully with silky Pinot Noir like texture and detail with delicate perfume, mineral spice and a mix of cool blue fruit and bright red fruit all coming together in a gorgeous example of this varietal. Doug Tunnell’s estate Gamay now includes a secret new Cru Beaujolais clone in the mix along with his heritage Gamay Noir old vines, which they say is giving added layers, but regardless this is sleek and stylish stuff with just enough earth tones and savory notes to balance the ripe fruit core, this is a class act from start to finish. The start is a bit flamboyant, as you’d expect from a near perfect vintage, with sweet florals and vivid fruit and a sexy ruby hue glittering in the glass leading to a lengthy and refined palate with satiny tannins, poised acidity and deep flavors including black cherry, strawberry, dusty plum and blueberry along with a hint of porcini, flinty pepper, walnut/cedar and zesty anise/fennel. This will not be an easy find, but worth the search and every penny, this is lovely and highly seductive wine, Gamay has well and truly lost any stigma and has been complete released from its chains of perception to take its place as one of the great grapes of the world, free at last, drink this gorgeous Brick House 2014 over the next 3 to 10 years!”Brick House Vineyards ‘Cuvee du Tonnelier’ Pinot Noir, Ribbon Ridge 2013 750ML ($59.95) $49 special
Wine Spectator 92 points “Vibrant, focused, open-textured and distinctive, with savory elegments weaving through the cherry and creme fraiche flavors, extending into a long finish. Best from 2017 through 2023.”HS
our current shipping specials:
For the summer season we are offering UPS Three Day Select Service for the price of UPS Ground for shipments normally traveling 4 or more business days.
Free service upgrade only applies on single orders purchased and shipped during the promotional period. Additional fees will apply to orders held for any reason until after the promotional period and shipped by Three Day Select. Offer not valid on pre-arrival items that arrive after the promotional period.
We also offer flat rate shipping on any size single order / single shipment
-and California for $25
-Washington & Idaho for $20,
-to Oregon for $17,
Multiple orders consolidated into one shipment do not qualify for flat rate shipping.
From Fougeray de Beauclair
Parceled vineyard ownership can make Burgundy’s Côte d’Or seem chaotic. But this allows small, family growers like Fougeray de Beauclair to produce twenty-one wines from the Côte de Nuits and de Beaune. Founded in 1978, Fougeray de Beauclair grows Pinot Noir and Chardonnay across 45 acres, from straight-forward villages like Marsannay and Fixin, to prestigious Bonnes Mares, to richly structured Puligny-Montrachet.Patrice Ollivier has been growing and making wine at Fougeray de Beauclair, created by his parents-in-law, for over two decades. Synthetic fertilizers were abandoned, and the sorting of grapes takes place in the vineyard and at the winery. Quality becomes a matter of pride at a domaine of this size. The wines get oak in the proportion they deserve: 15 months in 30% new for the Gevrey-Chambertin, 18 months in 100% new for the Bonnes Mares, 6 to 8 months in 50% new oak for the Puligny-Montrachet. Barrels come from the Bertrange forest, and are made by master tonnelier François Frères.
Fougeray de Beauclair makes around 90,000 bottles a year. Fourty percent of their wine sells in France, but after meeting with Patrice and tasting his wines, we’ve managed to stock a few that we’re pleased to offer. For casual dinners, for late-afternoon sippers, or for special occasions, Fougeray de Beauclair has a wine, and they’re ready to be enjoyed today.
Winery note “From 20 year old vines grown in limestone and clay soil. Wine aged and matured in vats for 6 – 8 months. Nose: Open and frank, evoking pineapple, lemon grass, pear and peach. Flavors of lime blossoms with a round and long finish.”Fougeray De Beauclair Bourgogne Rouge 2014 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 pre-arrival special
Winery note “Color: Red, intense color with soft purple when the wine is young, then, with a few years in the bottles, the color of the wine is ruby and orange red. Nose: Red fruits aromas (raspberry and cherry) with cinnamon and leather. Taste: soft and delicate with fine tannins reinforced by red fruit flavors.”
Winery note “Nose: A sumptuous bouquet, dense and complex, revealing aromas of ripe fruit (black cherry). Taste: Ripe fruits and liquorice, long-lasting taste. 10% in new oak vats, the remaining wine in barrels of 1 to 3 wines.”
Winery note “Nose: Concentrated with fruits notes. Taste: Intense flavor evoking blackcurrants, small red or black berries, some notes of musk and fur and liquorice when the wine has matured. 30% in new barrels during 15 months.”
Winery note “Nose: smells of red fruits (black currant, blackberry) and violet sustained by woody notes. Taste: Softly spiced, fruity taste, powerful and long finish. Cold maceration for 3 days, then alcoholic fermentation under temperature control of 31°C maximum, in tanks for 2 and 3 weeks. 100% in new oak vats in the cooperage François Forêt de Bertrange for 18 months. Vineyard Age: 25 to 75 years.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Real-Deal Rioja Arriving Friday
Bodegas Roda Reserva, Rioja DOCa 2010 750ML ($49.95) $39 pre-arrival special
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 92 points “Deep ruby. Deeply pitched aromas of black raspberry and cherry, with complicating notes of rose oil, pipe tobacco and vanilla. Spicy oak nuances emerge with air and carry onto the palate, which displays sappy dark fruit liqueur flavors and hints of mocha and floral pastilles. The expansive, focused, long finish leaves vanilla and spicecake notes behind. The malo occurred in large French oak casks and the wine was then aged in French oak barriques, 40% of them new, for 14 months.”
Wine Advocate 91 points “Against all odds I gave the edge to the 2009 over the 2010 Roda Reserva, A blend of Tempranillo with 10% Graciano. This serious and very spicy wine mixes red and black fruit with an aniseed touch that slowly grows in the glass, serious and concentrated, ripe and fresh and getting closer to the profile of Roda I. It is starting to develop complexity and takes a little bit longer than the 2009 to unfurl its aromas and juicy palate, with very fine tannins. This is accessible today, but it will be even better with time in bottle.”
The next best price is $49.99
Wine Advocate 93 points “Released later than many others, the 2008 Roda I Reserva is a truly Atlantic, classical Rioja, with developed aromas of leather, blackberries and spicy and toasted sesame seed notes. The weaker vintages show the effect of the oak more evidently, but it is absorbed over time, much as I saw with the 1997–a somewhat similar vintage. This Atlantic has fresh notes than might feel a little herbal when young that turn into dry roses with a good decade in bottle. I see some earthy hints (peat), a combination of red and black fruit and that spiciness coming back in the palate. The wine is a bit stiff, as these kinds of vintages often take longer to come into their own. It has good depth, very fine tannins and is very fresh. Santolaya also uncorked a bottle of the 1994, a superb wine, aging in the direction of the classical Riojas and should still live a long life, and still feels young at age 21. This will surely live a long life in bottle and it’s one to have with food. Is it possible that cooler vintages age more in a Burgundian way and the warmer/riper vintages go more Bordeaux?”
The average price is $67
Case-12 Bodegas Roda Sela, Rioja DOCa 2012 750ML ($399.95) $269 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 90 points “The 2012 Sela will be released in March 2015, and it’s a great example of Sela. It opens to bright red fruit, more shiny than 2011, and is still pretty young showing faint lactic notes and more traces of the barrel that should be absorbed with time. 2012 could be fresher and more accessible. It’s an elegant and balanced wine, with some fine-grained tannins that will be polished with bottle age. The palate is very tasty and has almost salty flavors that are quite gentle and velvety. In 2012 Sela was a blend of Tempranillo with 3% Graciano and 1% Garnacha.”
The next best price is $35Top-Tier Wines Arriving Friday
From Champagne
Louis Nicaise Reserve Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($44.95) $39 pre-arrival specialPh. Mouzon-Leroux L’Atavique Verzy Grand Cru Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($69.95) $59 pre-arrival special
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 91 points “Pale gold. Fresh pear and melon aromas are complemented by chamomile, toasty lees and honey. Fleshy and toasty on the palate, offering juicy orchard and pit fruit flavors with a touch of brioche. The toasty quality recurs on the sappy, lingering finish. Half of the Chardonnay here was raised in oak barrels.”Ph. Mouzon-Leroux L’Incandescent Verzy Grand Cru Brut Rose de Saignee, Champagne NV 750ML ($79.95) $69 pre-arrival special
Krug Grande Cuvee, Champagne NV 750ML ($199.95) $149 pre-arrival special
Wine Spectator 95 points “Rich, with smoky hints of roasted almond and toasted brioche, this crystalline Champagne offers a finely detailed mousse that carries the firm, citrusy acidity and flavors of patisserie apple, spun honey and tangy black cherry, accented by subtle, aromatic hints of ground cumin and clove, bergamot and chamomile.” (11/2015)
Salon Cuvee ‘S’ Le Mesnil Blanc de Blancs, Champagne 2002 750ML ($499.95) $399 pre-arrival special
James Suckling 99 points “The 2002 Salon is phenomenal quality… I was mesmerized. It is a subtle and intense Champagne that shows complex character of lilac, minerals, sliced lemon, apple, and white pepper. It is full body and dense yet racy and agile with a lightness and freshness. It has a gloriously long finish. It changes every moment in the glass. It has such clarity. It’s magnificent to drink now, but shows great texture and structure for aging”. JS
Salon Cuvee ‘S’ Le Mesnil Blanc de Blancs, Champagne 2004 750ML ($519.95) $399 pre-arrival special
Salon Cuvee ‘S’ Le Mesnil Blanc de Blancs, Champagne 2004 1.5L ($1,499.95) $1,190 pre-arrival special
Antonio Galloni 97+ points “The 2004 Salon has been superb each time I have tasted it over the last year or so. Bright, tense and crystalline, with all of the energy that is typical of both Salon and the vintage in the Côte des Blancs, the 2004 bristles with superb precision and cool, pulsating minerality. The 2004 spent a dozen years on its lees. Over the last six months or so, it has gradually begun to open up, but it is very much a wine for the cellar. Two thousand four is remembered as a vintage with record high yields. Salon (and Delamotte) did a terrific job in keeping the vines well balanced. Production was just 46,000 bottles, as opposed to the 60,000 or so that is more typical. Chef de Caves Michel Fauconnet opted for a low dosage of just 4 grams per liter. This is a tremendous showing.”
Jacques Selosse Les Carelles Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Extra Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($449.95) $379 pre-arrival special
VinopolNote: November 2015 disgorgement – no reviews yet but the February disgorgement was rated 97 points by Antonio Galloni… Les Carelles is a single block within the Grand Cru Les Mesnil sur Oger. The base wine is derived from a solera beginning with the 2003 vintage and the wine is aged a further 5-6 years.
Fresh Selectionts Arriving Friday
From Italy
Wine Enthusiast 91 points “Editors’ Choice. Fresh and fragrant, this delivers aromas of ripe orchard fruits and nuts, with a whiff of yellow wild flowers. The linear palate offers crisp pear, apple and lightly toasted almond alongside brisk acidity and a firm, refined perlage. It closes on a note of fresh peach and chopped herbs.”Le Fraghe ‘Redon’ Bardolino Chiaretto, Veneto 2015 750ML ($17.95) $14 pre-arrival special
Ian D’Agata–Vinous 90 points “Onion peel color. Delicate aromas of strawberry, licorice and violet. Clean, fresh and deep, offering suave ripe red berry, violet, and licorice flavors. Firmly structured and long on the aftertaste, which features repeating hints of strawberry and herbs. Lovely.”
Cantina del Pino Langhe Nebbiolo, Piedmont 2014 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 pre-arrival special
Case-12 Cantina del Pino Langhe Nebbiolo, Piedmont 2014 750ML ($299.95) $249 pre-arrival special (that’s only $20.75/bottle!)
Antonio Galloni 90 points “The 2014 Langhe Nebbiolo captures the brightness and energy of the year. Cranberry, strawberry, mint and white pepper are some of the signatures in this lively, refreshing Nebbiolo. The 2014 is a blend of fruit from both the eastern and western portions of Ovello, plus Starderi. Readers who like aromatic, lifted wines will find much to like in the 2014. Proprietor Renato Vacca had this fruit seven days on the skins and aged the wine in tank.”
Case-12 Fattoria Montellori Chianti DOCG, Tuscany 2013 750ML ($179.95) $149 pre-arrival special (that’s only $12.42/bottle!)
Winery note “The vineyards are located in Cerreto Guidi hills, around 100/150 m above sea-level with clayey soil. The wine is aging for 12 months partially in steel tanks to preserve the fruity taste and partially in cement tanks. Tasting Note: Purple color. Elegant and intriguing Sangiovese aromas, strong and persistent. Cherry and red berry fruits taste with good acidity, well balanced. It’s the real expression of Cerreto Guidi’s Terroir.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Special Arrivals:
August’s Wines To Watch
From Washington & California
Fidelitas Ciel du Cheval Cabernet Sauvignon, Red Mountain 2012 750ML ($69.95) $59 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 94 points “One of my favorite vineyards in Red Mountain is Ciel du Cheval, and this site always seems to impart a subtle floral quality, which is certainly present in the 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Ciel du Cheval Vineyard. Made from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon and aged in 47% new French, and 14% new American oak, it offers terrific notes of crushed flowers, violets, cassis and black raspberries. Full-bodied, voluptuous and layered, with a great mid-palate and building, fine tannin, this rock-star Cabernet can be drunk now or cellared for a decade.”
Etude Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2012 750ML ($79.95) $59 pre-arrival special
Robert Parker 92 points “From multiple AVAs, such as Coombsville, Rutherford and St. Helena, the 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa is a sleeper of the vintage. It offers an opaque ruby/purple color, lots of charcoal, blackcurrant, blackberry, incense and licorice notes, full body, and an opulent, sexy personality. It is ideal for drinking now as well as over the next 12+ years.”
Opus One Overture, Napa Valley 2012 750ML ($149.95) $99 pre-arrival special, ETA August 5th
VinopolNote: This wine is the 2012 vintage based multi-vintage blend; released by Opus One in October 2015
Wines in the Fast Lane
Ruinart Blanc de Blancs Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($79.95) $59 special, 20 bottles available
Wine Spectator 93 points “This deftly woven Champagne is all about finesse, offering a rich vein of smoky minerality and vivid acidity. The power is cloaked in a silky texture and notes of creamed pear, lemon confit, almond biscotti and fresh ginger. Drink now through 2021.” WS
Stephen Tanzer 92 points “Pale yellow. Complex, high-pitched aromas of orange zest, lemon pith, iodine, smoky minerals, anise and jasmine. Sappy and tactile on the palate, offering impressive volume to its ripe citrus and orchard fruit flavors accented by smoke and minerals. Finishes tangy and long, with lingering smokiness and an echo of anise.” STChateau Margui Coteaux Varois Rose, Provence 2015 750ML ($21.95) $18 special, 36+ bottles available
Chateau Margui Coteaux Varois Rose, Provence 2015 1.5L ($59.95) $49 special, 1 magnum available
Wine Enthusiast 90 points “Organically grown grapes have produced a clear, crisp wine with freshness and lively acidity. These blend effortlessly into the red fruits and light squeeze of lemon juice. The wine is bright and ready to drink.” 40% Cinsault, 40% Grenache, 10% Syrah, 10% Rolle.Zorzal Terroir Unico Pinot Noir, Tupungato, Argentina 2013 750ML ($17.95) $11.90 special, 36+ bottles available
Wine Advocate 91 points “The 2013 Terroir Unico Pinot Noir follows the idea of the Terroir Unico range, to show the pure expression of the grape and the place in a line of unoaked wines. This was 20-30% whole-cluster fermented and is very pale colored, almost a rose, very perfumed, with aromas of red fruit and flowers opening to a light to medium-bodied palate, high acidity (blood orange), and a pure, fresh finish. Highly drinkable. Can the price be real?”
Robert Parker 96 points “The 2013 Proprietary Red Estate is a blend of 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Malbec, 12% Petit Verdot and the rest Carignane, Syrah and Merlot. This is another titanic effort from proprietor Foley. A spectacular dense-purple color and sweet toasty oak intermixed with licorice, blackberry, cassis and graphite are all present in this profound first-growth quality blend that should age effortlessly for 25-30 or more years. This is a stunner and a revelation.”
91 points Stephen Tanzer “Vivid purple. Ripe boysenberry and blueberry aromas and an undercurrent of mocha on the nose, with candied licorice and vanilla qualities coming up with air. Lush, weighty and round, showing good thrust to its dark berry liqueur and cocoa flavors. Finishes creamy, round and long, with soft tannins and building notes of plum and dark chocolate.”Caparzo Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Tuscany 2011 750ML ($39.95) $33 special, 36+ bottles available
Antonio Galloni 94 points “The 2011 Brunello di Montalcino is a terrific wine for the year. Sweet red cherry, plum, tobacco, mint, sweet spices and orange peel are all front and center. This is a gorgeous 2011 Brunello that represents everything the vintage can be; open-knit, accessible and polished. I don’t expect the 2011 will be a long-term ager, but it is exceptionally beautiful and delicious today.”
James Suckling 93 points “A ripe, juicy wine with blueberry, chocolate, walnut and cherry character. Round and savory. Silky tannins. Very close quality to the fabulous 2010. Delicious now.”
Gulfi Nerosanlore Sicilia IGT, Sicily 2010 1.5L ($119.95) $99 special
“Gulfi winery is one of the few producers on the island of Sicily to bottle single-vineyard Nero d’Avola. Most Neros seem to suffer from what strangled the Chianti region for so long: the push for bulk, cheap, generic wines. Not so here. As one of the few to hold strong against ‘branding,’ Gulfi is a rare source for quality and heritage. The vineyards are densely packed with vines, requiring manual harvesting and vineyard management. The winery still practices bush style pruning, known as alberello, which is well-adapted to the extreme environment of the area.
“The San Lorenzo vineyard, from which this wine hails, is 2.5 hectares and overlooks the Mediterranean Sea. It is densely planted with 40+ year-old vines all organically grown without irrigation to encourage the older vines to dig deep into the soil to reach for water and nutrients. The resulting with is sensuous wine with soft, silky tannins and lush aromatics. It suggests its marine heritage with delicate saline flavors underneath a core of ripe black fruits, violets, tar and cherries. The winery suggests pairing with richly flavored seafood dishes: those featuring tomatoes, capers and blue fish – I say bring on the wood-fired pizza and grilled meats!” – Suzanne
In addition, Ian D’Agata from Vinous awarded the wine 95 points this vintage!This is the only listing in the USA today!
The German Elite
The wines of Keller are as smart a choice as any – nigh, smarter! – for someone who needs convincing that German wines are among the most exciting wines in the world. Thankfully, we’ve moved past the days of bulk wine and Blue Nun; the drinking public is largely aware that German wine isn’t always sweet and, still, it’s delicious even when it is. With palates primed, we’re finally deserving of what Keller has to offer.
Winemaker Klaus Peter and his wife Julia occupy a number of great vineyards within the Rheinhessen and headquartered in Flörsheim-Dalsheim. Peter deftly maneuvers between allowing the wines to speak clearly and transparently and ensuring that the winemaking process allows that. In other words, he doesn’t look to get in the way while still being hands-on.
The Peters and their team have studied their vineyards to the extent of drilling between 50,000-75,000 holes in order to better understand soil composition. Harvest is done by hand, and extremely selectively. Only native yeasts partake in fermentation, with a mixture of stainless steel and oak barrels used. The resultant wines are uncompromising in quality, with a seemingly infinite lifespan.
Available Here Now From Keller:
Weingut Keller Gruner Silvaner Trocken, Rheinhessen 2015 750ML ($27.95) $21.90 special, 1 bottle available
Vinopolnote: A concentrated and fresh Silvaner presenting white flowers, ripe peaches, and fruit rind.
Weingut Keller Westhofener Brunnenhauschen Abts Erde Riesling Grosses Gewachs, Rheinhessen 2014 750ML ($179.95) $149 special, 5 bottles available
John Gilman 97 points “The 2014 Abtserde is also brilliant utterly seamless on the palate. The magical and still quite youthful nose delivers a complex blend of apple, grapefruit, lemon zest, a very refined base of chalky minerality, a touch of wild yeasts and a topnote of dried flowers. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied and elegant, with great purity at the core, stunning transparency and brilliant length and grip on the focused and dancing finish. The acids here are ripe and the slightly lower octane found in the Keller GGs across the board in 2014 only seems to enhance the inherent elegance of this great young wine. 2025-2065+.” JG
David Schildknecht- Vinous 96 points “Marine-breeze alkaline and saline notes, black tea smokiness and a hints of framboise distillate penetrate the nostrils, and the mineral complexity that follows on the polished, expansive (even at 12.8% alcohol), remarkably buoyant palate does not disappoint the expectations aroused by the nose. At the same time, there is an infectious abundance of white peach, grapefruit and red raspberry juiciness on tap, invigoratingly accented by piquant but never outright bitter pits and pips along with tart, seed-crunching impingement. A finish of vibratory intensity and consummate refreshment left me exhilarated and panting after the next fascinating, sensuously satisfying sip. Keller calls this the butterfly among his Grosse Gewächse and attributes the jump in quality that it typically represents in tasting that line-up to the stony purity and rapid drainage of the site’s limestone soils. There’s something approaching magic here, that’s for sure!”
Weingut Keller Dalsheimer Hubacker Riesling Grosses Gewachs, Rheinhessen 2014 750ML ($99.95) $69 special, 17 bottles available
John Gilman 94+ points “The 2014 Hubacker Grosses Gewächs is also brilliantly refined this year, as the inherent elegance of the vintage in the Hügelland has dovetailed beautifully with the style of this wine. This bottling can often be a touch more “broad-shouldered” out of the blocks than the other Grosses Gewächs in the Keller portfolio, but not this year, as it shares the same great elegance of the entire range. The outstanding bouquet really shows its yellow limestone signature, as it delivers scents of apple, tangerine, gentle notes of petrol, wild yeasts, orange peel, lovely smokiness and a gorgeously complex base of limestone minerality. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied, pure and complex, with a fine core, vibrant acids and excellent focus and grip on the long, zesty and utterly seamless finish. A glorious Hubacker to celebrate its 225th anniversary! 2022-2060.” JG
Jancis Robinson 18/20 points “Klaus Peter Keller does not produce ostentatious Grosse Gewächse and the Hubacker is possibly the most restrained, with its mountain stream-like freshness and cool stony minerality. What wine critics call minerality can take a number of expressions from salty to flinty, chalky to earthy, even wet pebbles sometimes serve as a valid association. The Hubacker does not make it that easy and at the end of the day it’s that combination of fresh and cool which proves its main attraction.”
Wine Advocate 91 points “The 2014 Dalsheim Hubacker Riesling trocken Grosses Gewachs shows a clear, more open and fruity bouquet with just a hint of chalk and lemon flavors, compared to the other Grosses Gewächs wines. On the palate, this is a full-bodied, rich, very clear, elegant and quite concentrated Riesling with power, phenols and complexity; but it is less stimulating at the moment compared to the Kirchspiel. The finish is very aromatic in its grapey character, pure and salty. However, the wine should be aged for at least another 3-4 years.” SR
Weingut Keller Limestone Riesling Kabinett, Rheinhessen 2015 750ML ($31.95) $28 special, 20 bottles available
John Gilman 90 points “The Keller 2015 Limestone Kabinett is a beautiful introduction to the dancing delicacy of the remainder of the Kabinetten in the cellar in this great vintage. There is not the same precision here, but there is filigree and purity, as it offers up a lovely bouquet of peach, tangerine, chalky minerality, bee pollen, spring flowers and again, just a whisper of petrol. On the palate the wine is medium-bodied, pure and dancing, with lovely intensity of flavor, fine focus and bounce and lovely grip on the long and vibrant finish. Fine juice. 2016-2035.” (Mar/Apr 2016)”
Vinopolnote- killer Keller, but only a couple cases could be procured. This off-dry bottling is a rare find from Keller, who almost exclusively produces dry Rieslings.
Weingut Keller Westhofener Kirchspiel Riesling Grosses Gewachs, Rheinhessen 2014 750ML ($99.95) $69 special, 17 bottles available
John Gilman 94+ points “The 2014 GG from the Kirchspiel is a great wine in the making, but I would want to allow this perfectly balanced and youthful wine to rest comfortably in the cellar for at least the next seven years before I start to drink it, as it has a ton to offer behind its suave, but serious structural elements. The stunning nose offers up a constellation of grapefruit, a touch of tart orange, wild yeasts, dried flowers, lime zest and a refined base of stony limestone minerality. On the palate the wine is deep, fullish and very pure and tightly-knit, with outstanding mid-palate depth, great cut and focus, impeccable balance and a very long, elegant and laser-like finish. At 12.5 percent alcohol, this is a touch lower in octane than many other recent top vintages, but this has just added to its refinement. A beautiful vintage of Kirchspiel. 2022-2060.” JG
Jancis Robinson 19/20 points “Tasted at Justerini & Brook’s tasting in London on 9 Sep. A little more restrained on the nose than I remember some previous vintages. Rather tough and dry on the end with massive extract. This is telling the taster to back off and wait. Solid rather than expressive. (I wonder whether it is still exhibiting the post-bottling symptoms that persuaded the Kellers not to show it at the annual VDP showing of GGs in Wiesbaden this year? They bottle their Grosse Gewächse months later, in mid August, than many other producers to prolong the period of lees contact. They report that the wines often show quite well one week after bottling but start to close down over subsequent weeks.)”
Wine Advocate 92 points “From vines planted in the mid 1960s, the 2014 Westhofen Kirchspiel Riesling trocken Grosses Gewachs offers a very clear, fresh and precise bouquet of white fruits, lemon juice and chalky flavors. Intense and piquant on the palate, with a lingering juiciness and fruit intensity of old vines, this is an impressive cru with a very good, tension-filled length and stimulating salinity.” SR
Weingut Keller Westhofener Kirchspiel RR Riesling, Rheinhessen 2015 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 36+ bottles available
John Gilman 94 points “There was no 2014 RR bottling from Weingut Keller, but happily, the 2015 vintage allowed for this cuvée and what an amazingly fine wine it is! The bouquet is very pure, very precise and nascently complex, as it soars from the glass in a stunning blend of tart orange, very complex, crystalline minerality, blood orange, petrol, gentle notes of wild yeasts and a topnote of citrus zest. On the palate the wine is fullish, complex and electric in its vibrancy, with a superb core of fruit, great mineral lift on the backend and laser-like focus on the very, very long and utterly refined finish. The best RR vintage I have yet tasted from KP! 2016-2040.” (Mar/Apr 2016)
Weingut Keller Riesling Trocken, Rheinhessen 2015 750ML ($24.95) $20.90 special, 36+ bottles available
Importer note “For those that love their limestone. Keller’s signature style is on display. Make no mistake – this is Kimmeridgian wine. It’s about minerality and finesse. This is possibly the most singular domaine in all of Germany. Kellers top wines now sell for hundreds of dollars a bottle. This is the frugal Riesling lover’s backdoor.”
Weingut Keller ‘Von der Fels Riesling’ Trocken, Rheinhessen 2014 750ML ($39.95) $33 special, 31 bottles available
John Gilman 92+ points “Year in and year out, I am a huge fan of the von der Fels bottling and the 2014 vintage is another outstanding wine in the making. This is a touch fuller than the straight Riesling Trocken, coming in at twelve percent alcohol, and perhaps a bit more ageworthy as well. The excellent nose wafts from the glass in a mix of pink grapefruit, tangerine, petrol, a stunningly complex base of minerality, lemongrass and a topnote of orange peel. On the palate the wine is fullbodied, pure and very much defined by its complex soil tones, with a rock solid core, outstanding focus and grip and a very long, youthful and bouncy finish. This is still very early days for this outstanding wine, which is the same quality level of a lot of top estates Grosses Gewächs bottlings. 2019-2040.” JG
Wine Advocate 90 points “Keller’s 2014 Riesling Von Der Fels Trocken was born as a selection of younger vines, but these are more than 25 years old today. Sourced in the grands crus, this Riesling trocken shows a highly expressive shell limestone flavor with flinty/smoky aromas of crushed stones, and the typic lemon flavor of chalky soils along with white fruit flavors. Full-flavored, very delicate and finesse-full on the palate, this is an elegant, filigreed, lovely, pure and very frisky Riesling, with ripe fruit flavors and a stimulatingly salty finish. With just three grams of residual sugar, it’s the driest von der Fels so far.” WA
Austrian Royalty
Arriving Fall 2016,
Secure Yours Now!
