Featured New Arrivals: Castelgiocondo & Lopez de Heredia; New Week – New Arrivals; Trendy Reds; Staff Pick: Joseph Swan Zin; 2004 German Riesling; 2013 Round Pond Estate; Giacomo Conterno: An Italian Tradition; Domaine de la Janasse: Affordable Glory; Michel Gahier: Jura’s Rising Star; Late Breaking News: Domaine de Montille 2014s Arriving in March
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Featured New Arrivals
Marchesi de Frescobaldi Castelgiocondo, Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2011 750ML ($69.95) $39 special
Case-6 Marchesi de Frescobaldi Castelgiocondo, Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2011 750ML ($359.95) $219 special (that’s only $36.50/bottle!)
James Suckling 93 points “A firm, silky red with blueberry, blackberry and mineral aromas. Hints of chocolate. Full body, pretty fruit and a long, flavorful finish. Very refined. A standard-bearer.”
Wine Advocate 91 points “Boasting an elaborate style, the 2011 Brunello di Montalcino is a plump, juicy and opulent red wine from southern Tuscany. The wine is packed tight with the sunshine and the brilliant luminosity of its birthplace. The quality of fruit is quite ripe and soft. The tannins are similarly textured. This is an immediate wine that can be consumed within the next few years. Or, if you have the patience to wait, it promises a steady medium-term evolution. The bouquet is redolent of red fruit, cherry cola and grilled herb.”
Antonio Galloni 91 points “The 2011 Brunello di Montalcino is a very pretty wine. Succulent, open-knit and racy, the 2011 offers lovely purity of fruit in a racy, forward style that is best enjoyed sooner rather than later, while the flavors retain their brightness. Sweet red cherry, flowers and spices reappear on the finish, adding a closing burst of energy.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $47.99
R. Lopez de Heredia Vina Tondonia Gran Reserva Blanco, Rioja DOCa 1973 750ML ($999.95) $799 special, 4 bottles available
Winery cellar release
Wine Advocate 98 points “The 1973 Vina Tondonia Blanco Gran Reserva is so sublime, so complete and natural that it may bring tears to the eyes. It has a complex bouquet of beeswax, lanolin, lemon curd and almond that is effortlessly combined. The palate is nigh-perfectly balanced with very good weight. It has a seamless waxy texture and a peacock’s tail of almond, creme brulee, marzipan and dried apricot. There is a beguiling sense of completeness here. Heaven in a glass, and one of the finest Tondonia Blancos I have encountered. Drink now-2020+”
R. Lopez de Heredia Vina Tondonia Gran Reserva, Rioja DOCa 1961 750ML ($1499.95) $1289 special, 2 bottles available
Winery cellar release
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 94 points “Medium red. A highly perfumed bouquet displays red fruit preserves, smoked meat and potpourri. Deeply pitched redcurrant and bitter cherry flavors show a slight medicinal reserve, which makes this wine seem far younger than it is. The potpourri note builds with air and carries through a long, chewy, smoky finish. Definitely let this air out for an hour or so. Incidentally, I had the chance to drink two lithe and highly fragrant bottles of the 1961 Vina Bosconia at a restaurant in San Sebastian that had been in their cellar for at least the last 20 years. If you’re lucky enough to own that wine (like these older wines, it is still available from the winery) there’s absolutely no reason to hold off drinking it. I couldn’t hold off, twice.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today for the winery cellar release!
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New Week – New Arrivals
Oregon
Vincent Chardonnay, Willamette Valley 2015 750ML ($27.95) $21.90 special
VinopolNote: “Made in a lean, crisp style. This wine is a blend of multiple vineyards and clones, yeilding a flavor profile that reminds us of classic French Chardonnay. It’s fermented with native yeast and aged in old, neutral casks to ensure that the fruit doesn’t get out of hand while retaining freshness.
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Vincent Pinot Blanc, Willamette Valley 2015 750ML ($21.95) $18 special
VinopolNote: “Crisp, fresh and citrusy–in a lemon oil way, but with some stone fruit preventing the wine from becoming too lean. This wine reminds us in many ways of Melon de Bourgogne from the Loire. It’s a great wine as an aperitif or with seafood.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Cameron Winery ‘Giovanni’ Pinot Bianco, Willamette Valley 2016 750ML ($19.95) $16 special
VinopolNote: 80% Pinot Blanc with Chardonnay & Pinot Gris. All Abbey Ridge fruit.
Cameron Winery Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2015 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 special
VinopolNote: Mostly from Briscoe Vineyard with some declassified Abbey Ridge and Clos Electrique fruit.
Cameron Winery Saignee of Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2015 750ML ($21.95) $18 special
VinopolNote: Abbey Ridge Dijon clone Pinot with some Pinot Meunier. Aged for 12 months in neutral oak to add texture and soften fruit aromas.
France – Champagne
Dom Perignon Oenotheque Brut Millesime, Champagne 1996 750ML ($419.95) $389 special
Wine Enthusiast 99 points, Wine Advocate 97 points “The 1996 Dom Perignon OEenotheque offers up layers of pastry, lemon, smoke and toastiness. At first deceptively understated, the wine turns positively explosive and layered on the palate, showing remarkable tension, elegance and power, all wrapped around a seriously intense frame. The balance between fruit and acidity is awesome. This is a marvelous DP OEeno. The OEeno is the same juice as the regular Dom Perignon, except the OEeno is aged on the cork while the regular DP is aged in crown-sealed bottles. Once disgorged, the OEenos get a slightly lower dosage than is typical for the original release DP. This bottle was disgorged in 2008. To be released fall 2010. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2026.” WA
France – Burgundy
William Fevre Fourchaume, Chablis Premier Cru 2014 750ML ($59.95) $49 special
Wine Spectator 93 points “This white reveals richness and breadth, with a hint of spice framing the apple, melon, yellow plum and mineral flavors. The terrific finish keeps pumping out the fruit and stone notes. Drink now through 2020.”
William Fevre Les Lys, Chablis Premier Cru 2014 750ML ($59.95) $49 special
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 93 points “Very pale lemon-yellow. Alsace Riesling-like aromas of lime zest and powdered stone complicated by a touch of olive tapenade reduction. Wonderfully dense and energetic but not hard, conveying terrific breadth and a refined texture to its tactile, saline lime and pineapple flavors. This outstanding, classy wine finishes with subtle rising length and terrific grip. Didier Séguier predicts that this bottling will be at its apogee in five to ten years.”
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William Fevre Montee de Tonnerre, Chablis Premier Cru 2014 750ML ($59.95) $49 special
Burghound 93 points “An ultra-fresh, cool and admirably pure nose features notes of white flowers, shellfish, pear, mineral reduction and pungent iodine nuances. There is outstanding volume and intensity to the medium weight plus flavors that deliver beautifully focused power on the palate coating, mineral-driven and hugely persistent finale. Once again if tasted blind it would be all but impossible not to identify this as Chablis and a first-rate example at that!”
William Fevre Les Preuses, Chablis Grand Cru 2014 750ML ($119.95) $89 special
Burghound 96 points “Along with the Côte Bouguerots and Les Lys, this possesses the most elegant nose in the range with an ultra-pure mixture of green fruit, tidal pool, white flower, citrus rind and iodine hints. There is terrific intensity and delineation to the attractively textured and refined yet powerful flavors that exude a fine bead of minerality on the gorgeously long, balanced and Zen-like finale. The Vaudésir and Les Clos are both genuinely remarkable but there is another dimension present here. Once again it’s worth pointing out that this is going to need plenty of cellaring. Another ‘wow’ wine.”
William Fevre Vaillons, Chablis Premier Cru 2014 750ML ($59.95) $49 special
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 93 points “Pale, green-tinged yellow. Smells riper than the Montmains but also displays pungently fresh iodiney minerality. Densely packed and sweet, with youthful grapefruit and pineapple flavors dominated on the back end by the strong iodiney minerality. Very firm but not austere, this superb premier cru saturates the mouth without leaving any impression of excess weight. Built to age.”
William Fevre Vaudesir, Chablis Grand Cru 2014 750ML ($119.95) $89 special
Burghound 95 points “Here the wood is so subtle as to be all but invisible as it easily allows the riper and denser mix of both white and yellow orchard fruit, petrol, spice and sea breeze scents to shine. The ripeness exhibited by the nose continues onto the juicy, even succulent yet beautifully focused flavors that deliver superb complexity on the impressively lingering finale. This should age effortlessly and I would expect the minerality to develop even more with age. A ‘wow’ wine.”
William Fevre Vaulorent, Chablis Premier Cru 2014 750ML ($69.95) $59 special
Burghound 93 points “Yet again the ultra-fresh and strikingly layered white flower nose is packed with typical Chablis aromas that include cool mineral reduction, citrus and oyster shell nuances. The medium weight flavors are almost painfully intense while brimming with minerality on the chiseled and moderately austere finish that is tight to the point of being linear. This terrific effort will require at least 5 to 7 years of cellaring to reveal its full, and considerable, potential. In a word, impressive.”
France – Bordeaux
Vieux Chateau Mazerat, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru 2010 750ML ($119.95) $89 special
Case-12 Vieux Chateau Mazerat, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru 2010 750ML ($1,199.95) $999 special (that’s only $83.25/bottle!)
Robert Parker 95+ points “This is one of the tightest, most backward wines in the Jonathan Malthus portfolio. The grapes come from an old-vine parcel near Angelus and Beausejour-Duffau, and the final product is a blend of 65% Merlot and 35% Cabernet Franc. Again displaying plenty of minerality, which seems to be a prevailing theme throughout the 2010s from Malthus, the 2010 Vieux Chateau Mazerat is full-bodied, with an abundance of floral notes as well as black currant and blackberry fruit. Impressively endowed and built like a skyscraper, this full-bodied wine needs a good 7-8 years of cellaring and should keep for 25-30 years. Interestingly, the vines were planted in 1947.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
France – Rhone
Domaine Vincent Paris Selection Crozes-Hermitage 2015 750ML ($26.95) $21.90 special
“The young Vincent Paris has turned out brilliant wines in 2015 that readers to need to snatch up.”–Wine Advocate
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Domaine Vincent Paris Saint-Joseph Les Cotes 2015 750ML ($34.95) $29 special
Domaine Vincent Paris Saint-Joseph Les Cotes 2015 1.5L ($79.95) $69 special
Wine Advocate 92 points “In addition to his Cornas releases, Paris releases a terrific St Joseph. The inky black-colored 2015 Saint Joseph les Côtes was completely destemmed and aged in a mix of tank and barrels. It offers a gorgeous perfume of violets, black and blue fruits, pepper and hints of mint in a full-bodied, layered and elegant style. The tannin quality here is beautiful, it has top-notch purity and a great finish.”
Xavier Vins Chateauneuf du Pape La Reserve VII IX X NV 750ML ($69.95) $59 special
Wine Advocate 96 points “While I reviewed this NV Châteauneuf du Pape La Reserve VII IX X (a blend from the 2007, 2009 and 2010 vintages) last year, I was able to taste it again this go around, and it still blew me away. Fabulously full-bodied and decadent, with loads of lavender, incense, black raspberry and cured-meat nuances, it’s still youthful and vibrant, with notable freshness and purity. Enjoy this brilliant wine through 2028.”
Italy – Piedmont
Francesco Rinaldi & Figli Barbaresco DOCG 2013 750ML ($49.95) $39 special
“Toasted hazelnut, menthol, culinary spice and mature berry aromas lift out of the glass. The straightforward palate offers dried black cherry, licorice, clove and firm tannins.”–Wine Enthusiast
Italy – Tuscany
Podere Poggio Scalette Chianti Classico DOCG 2013 750ML ($24.95) $20.90 special
Case-6 Podere Poggio Scalette Chianti Classico DOCG 2013 750ML ($149.95) $108 special (that’s only $18/bottle!)
James Suckling 92 points “Dried flowers and dark berries come through on the nose. Full body, silky tannins and a bright and fruity finish. Crisp and very, very clean. Almost steely. Very well done this year. Drink now.”
Italy – Other
Ca Montebello di Scarani Luigi Pinot Nero Vinificato in Bianco Oltrepo Pavese, Lombardy 2015 750ML ($17.95) $14 special
Winery note “The color is like straw with greenish reflections, the bouquet is delicate and intense, and the taste is smooth and harmonic. Excellent as an aperitif, it is well suited for antipasti, soups and seafood dishes.”
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Ca Montebello di Scarani Luigi Pinot Nero Vinificato Rosato Provincia di Pavia IGT, Lombardy 2015 750ML ($17.95) $14 special
VinopolNote: Lightly sparkling, shockingly pink wine with floral and fruity notes. Excellent aperitif!
Winery note “Elegant, intense, clean-cut with pleasant scents of bramblerose on the nose.”
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Battista Cola Extra Brut, Franciacorta DOCG NV 750ML ($21.95) $18 special
Winery note “4 g/L dosage. 100% Chardonnay. Color deep golden yellow. Lively, soft mousse with a fine and persistent perlage. Bouquet complex bouquet with distinct bread crust, biscuit and yeasty notes. Taste crisp with a refined smoothness.”
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Germany
Carl von Schubert Maximin Grunhauser Abtsberg Riesling Auslese 24, Mosel 2015 750ML ($99.95) $79 special
Mosel Fine Wines 95 points “This offers gorgeous scents of peach and herbs on the nose. Star anise, ginger and coconut join the flavors on the creamy yet racy palate and leave a superbly racy, cassis and mint-infused feel in the long finish. What a beauty! 2025-2050.”
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Carl von Schubert Maximin Grunhauser Abtsberg Riesling Kabinett, Mosel 2015 750ML ($31.95) $26 special
Mosel Fine Wines 92 points “Harvested at 86° Oechsle, this offers a rather smooth Spätlese-styled nose of pear, cassis, ginger, star anise, flowers and flinty slate. The wine is on the rich and round side on the palate (by Kabinett standards of this Estate) but already hints at the elegance and finesse to come. This offers a long and beautifully refined nose of herbs and spices. The overall structure is still rather reduced and backward and we expect this beauty to only truly shine at maturity. So patience is required! 2025-2040.”
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Carl von Schubert Maximin Grunhauser Herrenberg Riesling Auslese 31, Mosel 2015 750ML ($119.95) $89 special
Mosel Fine Wines 95+ points “Harvested at approx. 110° Oechsle, this offers a gorgeous and vibrant nose of pear, grapefruit, quince, cassis and mint. The wine is gorgeously zesty and smooth on the palate, with lively scents of grassy herbs and cassis providing a superb freshness in the long and mineral finish. This is a racy expression of Auslese which should age beautifully well. We would not be surprised if it ultimately even exceeds our high expectations wen reaching maturity. 2025-2045”
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Carl von Schubert Maximin Grunhauser Herrenberg Riesling Auslese, Mosel 2015 750ML ($69.95) $49 special
Mosel Fine Wines 94 points “This offers some grapefruit, melon, pear and minty herbs on the nose. The wine has some creamy pear at first which gives way to racy cassis and spices. The finish is elegant and to die for as mouth-watering minerals play with one’s senses. This will enter its maturity window in a good decade and will then prove a great expression of “feine Auslese.” 2025-2040”
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Weingut Jos. Christoffel Jr. Christoffel-Prum Urziger Wurzgarten Riesling Beerenauslese, Mosel 2005 750ML ($179.95) $133 special
Weingut Jos. Christoffel Jr. Christoffel-Prum Urziger Wurzgarten Riesling Beerenauslese, Mosel 2005 375ML ($89.95) $69 special
2005 Vintage: Wine Spectator 98 points “Lush, ripe Rieslings at all quality levels; acidity, though low in some, balances richness in most.”
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Spain
Bodegas y Vinedos Artuke Pies Negros, Rioja DOCa 2015 750ML ($19.95) $16 special
90% Tempranillo, 10% Graciano
Winery note “The village of Ábalos, at the foot of the Sierra Cantabria mountain range is where we can find the vines used for making Pies Negros. The chalky soil and, in particular, the Atlantic climate prevalent in the district, give this wine its particular style and freshness. Traditional destemmed fermentation method. The name comes from the traditional treading of the grapes which we still do in our bare feet.”
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Hacienda Solano ‘Finca Pena Lobera’, Ribera del Duero 2012 750ML ($67.95) $51.90 special
Wine Advocate 94 points “The 2012 Hacienda Ernestina Solano Finca Peña Lobera is a noteworthy follow-up of the 2010 vintage (the wine was not produced in the warm 2011). The grapes come from a single vineyard, a small plot of very old plants with a lot of white vines and some dead ones, so the yields are very low. The soil is very poor, very stony, and shallow with a calcareous subsoil equating to fresh soils and also a fresh climate, as the vineyard is surrounded by forests. The vines only yield two or three bunches per plant. The final blend includes 5% Albillo in the bottled wine. The wine was raised exclusively in used barrels in this vintage and there are bare traces of oak-related aromas after 18 months in barrel. The wine is ripe, aromatic, expressive and showy with notes of blueberries; it’s a little heady, with aromas of decayed violets and perhaps hints of malt whisky. The palate is powerful and elegant at the same time with a very fine, silky texture, great balance and length, plus a fresh, mineral finish. Great Ribera and a good value for the quality it delivers. There was only two barriques of this wine, so only 568 bottles were produced.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Portugal
Quinta do Vale das Escadinhas ‘Quinta da Falorca’ Touriga Nacional, Dao 2011 750ML ($59.95) $39 special
Wine Advocate 95 points “The 2011 Touriga Nacional Quinta Da Falorca is a blend of Touriga grapes from three plots, two with 40 years of age and the third at ten. It was aged in new French oak for 18 months. The combination of power, finesse and seduction here make this more than a little enticing. To be sure, it is rather unevolved and it needs to pull in a little oak. Even now, though, it is slowly gathering itself. The crisp, flavorful finish, balance and good structure will support this for a couple of decades in all likelihood. It finishes with controlled power and persistent flavor. It is always a wine that leans a bit to the Burgundian and this year is no different. I liked last year’s version a lot. That may in fact be a bit lusher. This has a bit more lift, focus and penetration, granting that they are not now side-by-side. It is a very nice duo. In the long run, this will win out. It was far superior the next day, its combination of finesse and precision winning out. It has an Old-World feel (forgive the stereotype).”
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Gift certificates are not available through our web store. To order, please stop in, call or email. We are happy to mail gift certificates to any domestic address at no charge.
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Trendy Reds
Orin Swift Abstract Red, California 2015 750ML ($37.95) $29 special, 31 bottles available
No review yet for the 2015
2014 review– Robert Parker 94 points “The absurdly delicious 2014 Proprietary Red Blend Abstract comes from multiple AVAs: Napa, Sonoma, Mendocino, Amador and El Dorado and is a blend of Grenache, Petite Sirah and Syrah aged 10 months in 30% new French oak. This is a beauty and a great price for a wine of this quality. There are 26,547 cases, and the wine has an opaque ruby/purple color, gorgeous nose of creosote, kirsch liqueur and cassis with a touch of licorice, Provençal herbs and pepper. Delicious, full-bodied, unctuously textured, thick and juicy, this mouth-filling, big wine cuts a broad swath across the palate, but is never hot or awkward. Best drunk in its first 5-6 years. It finished at 15.7% natural alcohol.”
Marchesi di Barolo Barbaresco DOCG, Piedmont 2010 750ML ($39.95) $28 special, 36+ bottles available
Wine Advocate 92 points “The 2010 Barbaresco offers a classic portrait of a beautiful wine in a celebrated vintage. There’s not much to criticize here: The fruit is fleshy and lively, the aromas are intense and well-defined, and the finish is long and juicy. There’s a playful dusting of white pepper that works exceptionally well to add focus and overall sharpness. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2025.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $35.99
The average price is $46
Chateau Bel-Air, Pomerol 2009 750ML ($37.95) $29 special, 36+ bottles available
Case-12 Chateau Bel-Air, Pomerol 2009 750ML ($419.95) $299 special, 3 cases available (that’s only $24.92/bottle!)
“Owned by the Martin family (who also own Gloria), this dense ruby/plum-colored sleeper of the vintage displays oodles of fruit as well as some notes of Christmas fruitcake and roasted herbs along with loads of cassis. Tasty, round, generous, and ripe, this 2009 has a lot going for it.”–Robert Parker
Chateau Bel-Air, Pomerol 2010 750ML ($37.95) $29 special, 23 bottles available
Case-12 Chateau Bel-Air, Pomerol 2010 750ML ($419.95) $299 special, 2 cases available (that’s only $24.92/bottle!)
Grapelive 92 points “The vintage shows through here without question, a great year makes this lovely Pomerol a terrific value and wonderfully textured wine from Chateau Bel-Air. This dark and full bodied Pomerol hits all the right notes and does so with class, vitality and verve. It shows beautiful detail and complexity in a forceful, but elegantly pure Merlot. This is really seductive stuff in the glass, holding its own against far more expensive labels with ease and poise. The rich layers of fruit, mineral tones and sweet tannin give decadence and refined structure, highlighting Merlot’s promise in a world that sometimes lacks the respect of this often maligned varietal. Chateau Bel-Air has captured in the bottle the right bank’s charm and beauty in this 2010, it shows terroir, with subtle loamy/earth, plummy dense mouth feel and stylish silken length with a wine that has the potential to age another 10 to 15 years, but is pretty darn good right now too. The lead off here is dark floral tones a hint of smoky cedar and black cherry fruit with blackberry, plum, dark kirsch liqueur along with a touch of mint, dried clay, a touch of cigar wrapper and vanilla. This fine Bordeaux delivers well beyond its price and is wonderful with food choices that range from duck breast, lamb, roast pork, wild mushroom dishes to prime rib, and or any comforting winter fare really, and it can also be enjoyed with cheeses or on its own. This is the kind of wine that brings you back to Bordeaux, and certainly makes you wonder why you don’t drink more Merlot. Drink this Chateau Bel-Air Pomerol from 2016 to 2028.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
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Staff Pick:
Swan Zin For the Win
Saul:
This is a bittersweet wine, not in a literal sense, but it’s the last vintage of one my favorite Zinfandels. Mancini sits right at the corner of Olivet and Piner Roads in the heart of the Russian River Valley (not too far from Merry Edward’s famous Olivet Lane Vinyeard) and was planted in 1922. The vineyard was sold after the 2012 harvest so its future is uncertain. This wine, though, is a tribute to everything we love about RRV Zin. It manages to both have lots of fruit and also be incredibly light on its feet, with a dark fruited profile that belies its sub-13% alcohol. If you yearn for the old days of California Zinfandel, this is your wine.
Joseph Swan Vineyards Mancini Ranch Zinfandel, Russian River Valley 2012 750ML ($34.95) $29 special, 29 bottles available
“Blackberry, white pepper floral hints, bit of lushness. Complex balanced, elegant. A classic old style zinfandel made with new age sensibilities. And, it is under 13% alcohol!”–Winery Notes
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Our Current
Shipping Promos:
Along with Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and California,
we now offer flat rate shipping to Colorado. Here’s the scoop:
Single orders of any quantity of wines qualify for the flat rate;
this does not apply to orders held in storage for any reason
or multiple orders consolidated into one shipment.
The flat reach for each state is, as follows:
-to Oregon for $17,
-Washington & Idaho for $20,
-and California & Colorado for $25
Take Advantage of the Flat Rate!
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2004: A German Vintage Spotlight
Among the many things we love about Riesling is the way that it evolves and grows more interesting with age. Young wines are all about fruit—exuberant and expressive with minerality woven in. As the wines age, the fruit and sweetness fades and the mineral qualities come to the fore. Eventually, they become honeyed, nutty and smoky.
2004, as a vintage, was really excellent on release and is in a beautiful place right now. It’s a vintage with higher, but not extreme, acidity and wines that are lighter framed than some, but have a playful tone to them. The wines are also in a great place in terms of their evolution—they have moved out of the “fruit phase” and started to show the underlying structure and minerality in a really attractive way.
We’ve managed to gather a few examples, all released from the wineries’ cellars, that we’d like to highlight today at prices that remind you why German Riesling (even approaching maturity) is one of the better deals in wine.
Praise for the 2004 vintage:
Vinous 91 points “Infectious juiciness and dynamic fruit-mineral interaction characterize classic Rieslings many of which are still improving.”
Wine Spectator 91 points (Drink or Hold) “Vibrant, sleek wines from Kabinett to Auslese, but little botrytis and few late-harvest wines; fine Mosel and Nahe examples”
Wine Advocate 92 points “The best 2004 Rieslings display pure, unblemished fruit. There wasn’t much noble rot, but the trade off, in the best wines, is a transparency to nuance and a sheer crunchiness to go along with sappy palate saturation. The best 2004 Rieslings are unabashed in their expression of acidity. And for those who got it right, this is an in-our-face yet lusciously, grapefruitedly citric, juicy, spicy, ripe acidity that invigorates your palate and leaves you panting for the next sip, rather than feeling like you just did penance. The best 2004 Rieslings are adamantly yet intricately mineral. I am prepared to admit: these are the classic German Riesling virtues, and in the best 2004s, they reach an exalted level indeed.”
2004 German Rieslings Available Here Now
Schlossgut Diel Dorsheimer Burgberg Riesling Spatlese, Nahe 2004 750ML ($69.95) $54.50 special, 19 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 92 points “Resplendent aromas of papaya, pineapple and oyster shell. Dense but juicy, with a finely spiced acidity that seizes one’s palate. Finishes with impressive concentration and length. One of the finest spatleses of the vintage.” ST
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Weingut Jos. Christoffel Jr. Christoffel-Prum Erdener Treppchen Riesling Auslese ***, Mosel 2004 750ML ($44.95) $39 special, 25 bottles available
VinopolNote: Erdener Treppchen is the counterpart to the Wurtzgarten and has similar red-slate soils that provide the wine with an exotic tone. The Treppchen (little staircase, for the vineyard is so steep that steps were carved into the rock for the workers) produces wines that are typically powerful and compact and require several years of age to show their stuff. Luckily, this wine, direct from the producer’s cellar, is in that window now.
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Weingut Jos. Christoffel Jr. Christoffel-Prum Urziger Wurzgarten Riesling Auslese ***, Mosel 2004 750ML ($44.95) $39 special, 5 bottles available
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Kruger-Rumpf Munsterer Dautenpflanzer Riesling Spatlese, Nahe 2004 750ML ($49.95) $39 special, 36+ bottles available
Jancis Robinson – Top 20 German Wine Producer in 2004
Terry Theise notes “Dautenpflänzer is one the leading Grand Crus of the lower Nahe, with a typical mélange of soil types within its borders. Rumpf claims some of it is slatey and some of it is “sandy loam,” which agrees more with the standard references. It is in any case singular and immediately significant, giving a sometimes damnably complex set of aromas and flavors including coconut, violet, soursop, leaf-smoke—it is a very long list even if you’re sober. In any case it belongs with the vamping exotics of the Nahe.” [Reviewed 2015]
David Schildknecht notes “Rumpf’s 2004 Munsterer Dautenpflanzer Riesling Spatlese smells of pineapple, pear and white peach, following with a delicate and refined palate impression saturated with a sense of liquid slate and pure pear, peach and pineapple fruit. The finish is smooth and long with generous fruit augmented by subtle spice and crushed stone. Classic 2004 virtues are on display.” [Reviewed 2005]
Wine Spectator 89 points “Very firmly structured, but this is dense and offers spice and mineral shadings to complement the apple and white peach notes. Still leaning toward the structure on the finish, but this shows promise. Best from 2007 through 2020. 250 cases made.” WS [Reviewed 2006]
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $44
Kruger-Rumpf Munsterer Pittersberg Riesling Spatlese, Nahe 2004 750ML ($49.95) $39 special, 18 bottles available
Jancis Robinson – Top 20 German Wine Producer in 2004
Importer note “Pittersberg is the other of the top Crus, and this site is more classic and less mischievous than its neighbor. Stefan refers only to “slate” and very often the wine smells just like Mosel wine – in fact just like Graacher Himmelreich. “In parts dusty loam over slate,” according to the textbook. Pittersberg is related to the Rüdesheimer Berg Schlossberg, which is just over the Rhine less than two miles north, though without the Taunus-quartzite of the Rheingau site. Diel’s great Pittermännchen is also on slate; I’m sure the similar names are not coincidence. Pittersberg gives firm, nutty Rieslings.”
“Off-dry, this shows plenty of pepper and mineral notes, along with peach and citrus flavors. It’s elegant and balanced, showing the Mosel style of Nahe Riesling. Moderate length. Drink now through 2018. 140 cases made.” -Wine Spectator
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Round Pond Estate
Under the Radar,
Next to the Legends
“Round Pond remains one of the true under the radar jewels of Napa Valley.”
— Antonio Galloni
You can’t talk about Rutherford, that tiny but mighty sub-region of Napa Valley, without mentioning Round Pond. With such esteemed neighbors as Beaulieu Vineyards, Caymus, Cakebread, Honig and Frog’s Leap, the estate shares a rich culture of world-class winemaking while managing to remain family-owned and accessible to those who want a piece of Napa Valley without spending an arm and a leg.
Bob and Jan MacDonnell purchased a small parcel in the Valley in the early 80’s; after spending years selling grapes to neighboring estates, Round Pond Estate was created in 2002. The winery now includes 362 acres and is run by the brother-sister team of Ryan and Miles MacDonnell. Their wines are layered and lively, and we’re proud to currently carry three wines from their collection – all seen below.
Available Here Now from Round Pond Estate:
Round Pond Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Rutherford 2013 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 36+ bottles available
Robert Parker 92 points “The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Rutherford, a blend of 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Petit Verdot and 4% Malbec, is a beauty. It’s also realistically priced by Napa standards. The wine reveals toasty oak, blackberry and cassis fruit, beautiful texture, purity and length. This is a big-time winner and should drink well for 12-15 years.”
Antonio Galloni 92 points “Round Pond’s 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate is fabulous. Aromatic, pliant and expressive, the 2013 is incredibly nuanced for such a young wine. Sweet red plum, wild flowers, mint and cinnamon meld together in a medium-bodied, gracious Cabernet that will drink well with minimal cellaring.”
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Giacomo Conterno:
An Italian Tradition
Roberto Conterno is one of the top two or three winemakers in all of Italy. This is less of an opinion and more of a fact, given the pricing and availability of the top wines that he makes at his family’s winery, Giacomo Conterno. Not only have the wines climbed in price, but it seems like every year we get offered fewer and fewer bottles.
The wines are always powerful and traditional, but with an elegance and grace that seems to transcend the immediate impact of flavor and leave you searching for descriptors to capture what you’ve tasted. We love the wines and if you are thinking about trying them—do it sooner than later. The way these wines have become collectable, it’s going to be harder and harder to source them going forward.
Staff Pick:
Sure, this is expensive for Barbera, but it’s inexpensive for Conterno—especially when you consider that, unlike a lot of other producers, this Barbera comes from a prime Barolo vineyard. I’ve often felt as though the Barberas from top Piedmonte producers represent excellent value. It isn’t Nebbiolo (and you shouldn’t expect a Barolo flavor profile) but the craftsmanship and attention that is lavished on the Baroli is more than evident here. One to buy and cellar like the serious wine that it is. – Saul
Giacomo Conterno Vigna Francia Barbera d’Alba, Piedmont 2014 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 35 bottles available
Giacomo Conterno Vigna Francia Barbera d’Alba, Piedmont 2014 1.5L ($149.95) $119 special, 6 magnums available
Wine Advocate 92 points “The 2014 Barbera d’Alba Francia opens to beautiful fullness and sheer depth that represents the darker, softer and more generous side of this grape. I tasted the wine from barrel approximately one month before bottling. Roberto Conterno says that 2014 was a good year for both Barbera, but especially Nebbiolo that experienced a natural selection process in the vineyard due to low yields. This wine offers ripe fruit tones with bold lines and beautifully balanced concentration.”
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Giacomo Conterno Wines Available Here Now:
Giacomo Conterno Cerretta Barbera d’Alba, Piedmont 2014 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 36+ bottles available
Wine Advocate 93+ points “The 2014 Barbera d’Alba Cerretta is a magnificent expression and an unexpected surprise. The Barbera d’Alba Cerretta has often taken a back seat to the more prominent Barbera d’Alba Francia. Among the two, I found that this wine offers even more depth of expression and nuance. The vineyard site in Serralunga d’Alba has clay soils that have contributed to the sheer sense of elegance and structure offered here. The results are grand and opulent. The wine ends with a playful touch of brimstone or dark mineral that frames its fruity core.”
Giacomo Conterno ‘Cerretta’, Barolo DOCG 2012 750ML ($249.95) $199 special, 11 bottles available
Wine Spectator 96 points “A wealth of cherry flavor is surrounded by cut grass, tar, tobacco and iron notes in this complex, intense red. There is plenty of tension and a long aftertaste of licorice, tar and mineral. Balanced yet austere, this needs time to integrate fully. Best from 2023 through 2042.”
Antonio Galloni 94+ points “The 2012 Barolo Cerretta is intriguing to taste next to the Francia, as it is much more shut down and affected by its recent bottling. Today the tannins are searing and large-grained, a characteristic this wine did not show from barrel. The clay-rich soils in Cerretta tend to give a broader style of Barolo compared to Francia, where limestone is prevalent, and that is very much what comes through today. Hints of dark red cherry, plum, smoke, leather, tobacco and licorice struggle to emerge from a wall of tannin. Today, the Cerretta is a brute, with little of the perfume and finesse it showed in cask. Readers will have to be patient. The only question is how much.
Wine Advocate 94 points “To be released in October 2016, the 2012 Barolo Cerretta opens to a profound and buoyant bouquet that is particularly driven by menthol freshness, as well as pretty nuances of balsam herb and forest fruit with licorice, tilled earth and truffle. The wine is balanced and ethereal. It’s so difficult to achieve this level of aromatic definition (especially in a warm year like 2012), but Roberto Conterno has done so with a deft hand. This is a complete expression of Barolo with aromatic intensity that is matched by an enduring sense of structure and medium-weight appeal.”
Giacomo Conterno Francia Barolo DOCG, Piedmont 2003 750ML ($149.95) $128 special, 26 bottles available
Antonio Galloni 94 points “The 2003 Barolo Cascina Francia is soft, silky and very nicely balanced, especially in its tannins, where the wine really stands out next to so many peers. Readers should open the 2003 at least an hour in advance to allow the aromatics to open up. This is a very sexy and open young Barolo from Conterno with very little signs of the challenging growing season.”
Wine Spectator 95 points “This is expressive, with alluring cherry, strawberry, floral and mineral flavors building to a long, expansive finish. The elegant profile belies the serious structure underneath, which should allow this red to develop over the next 15 to 20 years. Offers fine berry fruit and a minerally aftertaste. Best from 2018 through 2033.”
Giacomo Conterno Francia Barolo DOCG, Piedmont 2012 750ML ($219.95) $189 special, 22 bottles available
Antonio Galloni 94-97 points “The 2012 Barolo Francia is dark, virile and intense, with a huge center of fruit to match its distinctly brooding personality. Today, the 2012 also comes across as quite closed in on itself, but there is a level of pure depth here that is absolutely compelling. Conterno has decided not to bottle a Monfortino, so there is good reason to think the bottled Francia has the potential to be stellar.”
Wine Advocate 95 points “Since the 2010 vintage, this wine is named Francia (not Cascina Francia) to keep with the new Menzioni Geografiche Aggiuntive (or official cru naming) in Barolo and Barbaresco. The 2012 Barolo Francia is a seductive and silky expression that flows gracefully over the palate with power and determination. The nose is expressive, and decidedly more articulate than many of the more muted wines made by neighboring estates in this warm vintage. The quality of the mouthfeel is of special interest. This beautiful Barolo already shows stunning texture, richness and integrity, despite this very early preview tasting. I tasted this wine in barrel shortly before bottling.”
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Domaine de la Janasse
We’re pleased to be able to offer two glorious examples of 2012 Chateauneuf-du-Pape from one of the most prestigious (yet still affordable) estates in the region. Family-owned and -run, Domaine de la Janasse grows and makes their wine with a sense of pride and tradition. Careful attention in the vineyard and cellar allows nature to work its magic alongside the Janasse team’s expertise. The Chaupin, a fresh and lively wine, consists of 100% Grenache including fruit from 100-year-old vines. The Vielles Vignes represents the estate’s crown jewel: Grenache, Mourvedre, and other varieties combine to make a deep, brooding red that longs for cellar time.
On the vintage: “this vintage produced rich, fruit-loaded and moderately concentrated wines that will drink well in their youth and evolve nicely on their balance and harmony…” –Jeb Dunnuck, Wine Advocate
Domaine de la Janasse Wines Available Here Now:
Domaine de la Janasse Chateauneuf-du-Pape Cuvee Chaupin 2012 750ML ($79.95) $59 special, 36+ bottles available
Wine Advocate 94 points “The 2012 Châteauneuf du Pape Cuvee Chaupin, which I was able to taste (and drink) from multiple bottles, is a beautiful Grenache that comes from the cooler, northeastern edge of the appellation. Coming almost all from the Chapouin lieu-dit (it gets a small bit from La Janasse), it gives up the classic notes of black berries, spring flowers, violets, and licorice that I always seem to find in this cuvee. Building nicely on the palate, it is medium to full-bodied, beautifully textured, has tons of sweet fruit and solid, if not firm, tannin that come out on the finish. It will be better in another couple of years and have 15+ years of overall longevity.”
Domaine de la Janasse Cuvee Vieilles Vignes, Chateauneuf-du-Pape 2012 750ML ($119.95) $89 special, 36+ bottles available
Wine Advocate 96 points “Up in the top handful of wines in the vintage (which should come as no surprise to anyone who follows this estate), the 2012 Châteauneuf du Pape Vieilles Vignes is a full-bodied, beautifully concentrated, rich and layered Châteauneuf that doesn’t put a foot wrong. Made from 85% Grenache, 10% Mourvedre and the rest Syrah, it offers blockbuster notes of blackberry, liquid-violets, spice and serious minerality to go with awesome mid-palate depth and layers of sweet tannin. Like the Cuvee Chaupin, it will be better in another handful of years and thrill through 2027.”
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Michel Gahier
The Jura is certainly the “It” region in France right now. Wines that even three years ago struggled to sell are flying off of the shelves and for good reason—the wines are great and it’s time they were given their due. Michel Gahier makes Chardonnay and Trousseau that are second to none in the Jura. We don’t get a lot of these wines (and it looks like a few of you noticed when these went live on the website) but we wanted to announce that they were here. Have fun!
Michel Gahier Wines Available Here Now:
Michel Gahier Arbois Les Crets Chardonnay, Jura 2012 750ML ($34.95) $29 special, 6 bottles available
Importer note “The grapes for this cuvée are sourced from a hilltop vineyard (Les Crets meaning “crest of the hill”) where the Chardonnay has been grafted onto the rootstock of the local grape variety known as “Melon Queue Rouge”. The wine is aged for about fifteen months in large foudre and is then racked into the smaller format (600 liter) demi-muid for another year of elevage.”
Michel Gahier Arbois La Fauquette Chardonnay, Jura 2011 750ML ($39.95) $33 special, 12 bottles available
Importer note This cuvée, again from a single vineyard in Montigny, is aged for one year in large foudres at which point it is then racked into smaller barrel for an additional three years “sous voile”. Called Chardonnay, the vines are of the local variety known as “Melon Queue Rouge”, a white grape the skin color of which bleeds towards red as it approaches the stem.
Michel Gahier Arbois Les Follasses Chardonnay, Jura 2013 750ML ($29.95) $24 special, 5 bottles available
Importer note “The soil in this single vineyard site in Montigny is typical clay – limestone mix. Gahier leaves this wine under the veil (“sous voile”) for a more extensive period of time than the “Les Crets”; thus, the wine reflects the classical hazelnut and honeyed quality of the best of the whites from the region. Typically, it is quite full-bodied but carries a significant level of acidity that makes the wine particularly age-worthy.”
Michel Gahier Arbois Trousseau Le Clousot, Jura 2014 750ML ($31.95) $28 special, 9 bottles available
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Michel Gahier Wines Arriving Friday, March 3rd
Michel Gahier Arbois Trousseau Le Clousot, Jura 2015 750ML ($39.95) $33 pre-arrival special
VinopolNote: From the youngest estate vines (a little over 20 years old). Typically this is the lightest-bodied Trousseau in the collection.
Michel Gahier Arbois Trousseau La Vigne du Louis, Jura 2015 750ML ($44.95) $38 pre-arrival special
Importer note “This vineyard in Montigny has a northeast exposure which requires a harvest later than the other “cru” reds. The vines are forty years old (as of 2011). Gahier likes this cuvée with about four or five years of age to it.”
Michel Gahier Arbois Trousseau Les Grands Vergers, Jura 2015 750ML ($44.95) $38 pre-arrival special
Importer note “This vineyard site produces Gahier’s greatest red. The vines are sixty to seventy years of age, the soil is heavily “marl”. The vines are on a gentle slope with superb exposure to the sun. The result is a classic Trousseau.”
Michel Gahier La Vigne De Fort, Jura 2015 750ML ($31.95) $27 pre-arrival special
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Late Breaking News!
Domaine de Montille
2014 Vintage Arriving in March
Domaine de Montille Le Cailleret, Puligny-Montrachet Premier Cru 2014 750ML ($199.95) $179 pre-arrival special, 1 bottle available
Burghound 91-93 points “Here the nose is actually quite similar to that of the Perrières save for being ever-so-slightly riper and displaying more overt white orchard fruit influence. There is the same exquisite purity to the strikingly intense and beautifully well-detailed flavors that ooze both a fine minerality and plenty of dry extract that imparts a wonderfully seductive texture to the explosive yet refined finish. The only nit, at least at present, is that the depth isn’t quite as impressive though this obviously may very well change with time.”
Domaine de Montille Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru 2014 750ML ($219.95) $189 pre-arrival special, 4 bottles available
Burghound 92-94 points “An ultra-pure and fresh nose of green apple, spiced pear and citrus blossom gracefully slides into overtly stony and powerful broad-shouldered flavors that despite their significant size and weight, are crystalline in their transparency on the superbly long and well-balanced finale. This is most impressive and very clearly built-to-age so note well that this is definitely going to require some patience.”
Domaine de Montille Bourgogne Rouge 2014 750ML ($44.95) $38 pre-arrival special, 18 bottles available
Grapelive 92 points “Etienne de Montille’s stylish and open-knit base red Burgundy really delivers in quality and class for an entry level wine and is hard to resist even now. The 2014 Domaine de Montille Pinot Noir shows pretty detail and a light to medium bodied with satiny red fruits, sweet/succulent floral tones and has plenty of mineral and spice. Like most of the Domaine wines this one comes from select plots in the Cote de Beaune and farmed in most cases all organic. Etienne and his sister Alix craft each wine with extreme care and passion. They focus on making a wine that can age. Most vintages, you’d want to hold many years before enjoying them, but lucky for us the 2014’s are bursting with round and open flavors allowing youthful drinking pleasures. Less patience is required, even though it will certainly gain with another 3 to 5 years in the cellar. Bright and focused the 2014 de Montille Bourgogne Rouge leads with a hint of smoke, flinty/graphite, wilted roses and dusty plum with a very appealing ruby and light catching garnet hue in the glass, leading to a sweet palate of silken red cherries along with tangy currant, cranberry, strawberry and raspberry fruits as well as chalky stones, minty herb, fresh earth and peppery spices. This is a Pinot Noir that gives what is expected and a little bit more with a serious and sensual sense of poise and polish, but not completely tame with subtle tannins and vigor, impressive to be sure, enjoy over the next 3 to 10 years.”
“A fruity and expressive nose is composed mostly of violet, plum and dark cherry scents. There is a hint of earth present on the sleek, delicious and quite supple middle weight flavors that tighten up slightly on the mildly austere finale. This could easily be enjoyed just after release yet should reward a few years of bottle age as well.”—Burghound
Domaine de Montille Les Greves, Beaune Premier Cru 2014 750ML ($119.95) $99 pre-arrival special, 3 bottles available
Wine Advocate 88-90 points “The 2014 Beaune 1er Cru Grèves was fully destemmed. It has an earthy, damp woodland-scented bouquet that infiltrates the red berry fruit, perhaps just a little rustic for a Beaune Grèves, but full of character. The palate is medium-bodied with good density and edgy red fruit with earthy tones coming through on the slightly conservative finish. I probably just prefer the Beaune Perrières this year.”
Domaine de Montille Les Perrieres, Beaune Premier Cru 2014 750ML ($89.95) $79 pre-arrival special, 3 bottles available
Burghound 88-90 points “This is unusually woody for what is typical for a de Montille wine with its menthol and toast elements that frame the slightly riper aromas of plum, dark currant, earth and violet scents. Otherwise there is a beguiling texture to the lightly stony and well-detailed flavors that possess a mouth coating finish that displays a touch of rusticity. The supporting tannins are slightly riper as there is a touch of asperity but no dryness.”
Domaine de Montille Les Sizies, Beaune Premier Cru 2014 750ML ($69.95) $59 pre-arrival special, 6 bottles available
Burghound 87-90 points “Here the cool and restrained nose offers up notes of earth-infused red currant, cherry and discreet spice nuances. There is good energy and lovely detail to the more refined middle weight flavors that exude a fine bead of minerality on the dusty and mildly austere finish that is presently ever-so-slightly edgy and it’s not clear that it will ever completely harmonize.”
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Domaine de Montille Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru 2014 750ML ($249.95) $219 pre-arrival special, 3 bottles available
Burghound 91-94 points “A brooding, restrained and cool nose consists mostly of intensely floral and earthy red and dark berry fruit aromas. There is outstanding punch and solid concentration on the dry extract-rich broad-shouldered flavors that display plenty of power and muscle on the impressively persistent if almost aggressively austere finale. This firmly tannic but balanced effort will require every bit of 12-ish years to resolve the imposing structure.”
Domaine de Montille Corton Clos du Roi Grand Cru 2014 750ML ($219.95) $189 pre-arrival special, 3 bottles available
Burghound 91-94 points “A beautifully complex and again overtly floral nose offers up notes of intensely earthy dark berries, earth and smoked game scents. There is excellent richness to the sleek and well-detailed medium weight plus flavors that possess a ripe core of firm tannins on the impressively long and markedly austere finish. This robust and muscular effort is even more firmly structured and it would be pointless to even think of opening a bottle before it has at least 10 to 12 years of bottle age. This is textbook Clos du Roi.”
Domaine de Montille Nuits-Saint-Georges Aux Saints Juliens 2014 750ML ($79.95) $69 pre-arrival special, 3 bottles available
Wine Advocate 89-91 points “The 2014 Nuits St Georges Aux St Julien includes two-thirds whole cluster fruit and comes from vines planted on ferrous soils. The nose is very focused, aloof but delineated; this is a more masculine Nuits Saint Georges. The palate is firm in the mouth and there is a good backbone here, almost rigid, with the whole cluster fruit working well and lending freshness towards the finish. More Morey than Vosne; give it a couple of years in bottle.”
Domaine de Montille Aux Thorey, Nuits-Saint-Georges Premier Cru 2014 750ML ($119.95) $99 pre-arrival special, 3 bottles available
Burghound 91-93 points “Soft wood sets off the markedly more floral and spice-infused nose of red and dark berries, earth and ever-so-mildly sauvage aromas. There is excellent volume and ample punch to the concentrated, serious and powerful middle weight plus flavors; indeed this is a big and robust wine that delivers first-rate complexity on the dusty and serious finale. Patience will definitely be required but this beauty should be well worth the wait. Worth considering.”
Domaine de Montille Les Pezerolles, Pommard Premier Cru 2014 750ML ($149.95) $139 pre-arrival special, 3 bottles available
Burghound 88-91 points “Soft wood is present on the attractively fresh nose of spice, red currant and tea aromas. There is good detail to the rich, round and refined medium weight flavors that culminate in a firm and mildly austere finish where the supporting tannins exhibit a noticeable touch of asperity. Despite the slight edge this seems to work anyway even though I doubt that the balance will ever be ideal.”
Domaine de Montille Les Rugiens-Bas, Pommard Premier Cru 2014 750ML ($219.95) $179 pre-arrival special, 2 bottles available
Burghound 88-91 points “A discreet floral element sits atop the pretty and equally fresh nose of cool and layered red and dark currant aromas. There is a bit more volume present on the mineral-inflected and tautly muscular middle weight flavors that also terminate in a firm and ever-so-mildly drying finish that is present compact and a bit clipped. This will probably mature reasonably gracefully though again I have my doubts that it will ever completely harmonize.”
Domaine de Montille Les Champans, Volnay Premier Cru 2014 750ML ($149.95) $139 pre-arrival special, 3 bottles available
Burghound 89-91 points “This too is aromatically cool, pure and elegant with its really lovely nose that is comprised by notes red currant, spice and soft earth wisps. There is outstanding delineation to the more mineral-driven and slightly more refined medium weight flavors that possess slightly better depth and persistence on the markedly better balanced finale.”
Domaine de Montille Les Mitans, Volnay Premier Cru 2014 750ML ($149.95) $139 pre-arrival special, 2 bottles available
Burghound 89-92 points “In the same fashion as the Perrières there is quite a bit of wood and menthol character surrounding the otherwise fresh and pretty aromas of plum, spice and floral-scented nose. The intense and highly energetic middle weight flavors possess a discreet minerality and really lovely detail before culminating in a firm and mildly austere finish. This is a classic Mitans of delicacy and harmony.”
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Domaine de Montille Les Taillepieds, Volnay Premier Cru 2014 750ML ($169.95) $149 pre-arrival special, 1 bottle available
Burghound 90-93 points “An overtly floral-inflected nose displays a lovely, fresh and again cool array of spice, red pinot fruit and a hint of wet stone. The stony character can also be found in abundance on the highly energetic, chiseled and saline yet attractively rich medium-bodied flavors that deliver outstanding length on the dusty and mildly austere but very well-balanced finale. This is terrific but note well that patience will be required.”
Domaine de Montille Les Malconsorts Cuvee Christiane, Vosne-Romanee Premier Cru 2014 750ML ($599.95) $419 pre-arrival special, 3 bottles available
Burghound 92-95 points “Here the expressive and elegant nose is similar but even spicier. The sleek and even more well-defined flavors possess a superb sense of underlying tension that adds a gorgeous touch of vibrancy and lift to the intensely mineral-driven finish that is slightly less austere and a bit more harmonious than the regular cuvée. To be sure this is a classic Malconsorts in that it is robust and bold but in this particular case there is a lovely element of refinement as well. Refinement or not however this too is explicitly built-to-age and it would be a shame to open this before it has at least a decade of age under its belt.”
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Domaine de Montille Les Malconsorts, Vosne-Romanee Premier Cru 2014 750ML ($349.95) $319 pre-arrival special, 3 bottles available
Burghound 92-94 points “A discreet application of oak sets off the openly floral and spicy red currant, plum, sandalwood and Asian tea scents. There is impressive mid-palate density to the muscular and notably powerful medium weight plus flavors that seem to be constructed on a firm base of minerality, all wrapped in strikingly persistent finish that is austere but well-balanced thanks to the abundant level of sappy dry extract. Like the Clos du Roi, this is explicitly built-to-age and don’t waste your precious bottles by drinking them too young.”
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Thank you for reading!