In Today’s Newsletter:
Weekend Subscriber Sale!
Produttori del Barbaresco 2014s
Trending Subscriber Special
Il Poggione at Insane Prices
2017 Domaine Leflaive
New Brunello Reviews from Wine Spectator’s Insider
A New 95 Point Malbec – Under $200 per Case!
Two New 2015 Brunellos
(Plus a Bonus Star Chianti)
Collector’s Corner
Faiveley’s Top 2016’s
Weekend Subscriber Sale!
Produttori del Barbaresco 2014s
Produttori del Barbaresco ‘Muncagota’, Barbaresco Riserva DOCG 2014 750ML ($79.95) Was $59, Now $54.50 Subscriber Special, 31 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni 94 points “The 2014 Barbaresco Riserva Muncagota is another of the overachievers in this range. White pepper, bright red cherry, floral notes and mint cut through the fruit in this beautifully vivid, crystalline Barbaresco. There is a level of energy, drive and overall nuance in the 2014 I don’t recall having seen in the past. The 2014 is a terrific Muncagota.”
Monica Larner – Wine Advocate 94 points “The 2014 Barbaresco Riserva Muncagota is beautifully polished and bright, with dark berry fruit, ripe cherry, crushed stone and pressed flowers. The wine is compact and firm, and you feel the tannins and power in the mouth. The Muncagota remains slightly more closed in terms of the bouquet, but this will open up with some time.”
Wine Spectator 93 points “Lean and taut, this reveals mint, menthol, licorice, orange peel and subtle cherry flavors, all underscored by assertive tannins and lively acidity. An austere style, this will need time to come around. Best from 2023 through 2042.—B.S.”
Produttori del Barbaresco Ovello, Barbaresco Riserva DOCG 2014 750ML ($89.95) Was $65, Now $58 Subscriber Special, 25 bottles in stock now
Produttori del Barbaresco Ovello, Barbaresco Riserva DOCG 2014 1.5L ($189.95) Was $139, Now $133 Subscriber Special, 16 magnums in stock now
Antonio Galloni 95 points “The 2014 Barbaresco Riserva Ovello is bright and piercing, as it so often is, and yet it also has more than enough fruit to fill out its mid-weight, energetic frame. Pine, mint, crushed rocks and sweet red plum build into the huge, piercing finish. The Ovello is another wine in this range that demands patience. Even in the early going it is super impressive. The 2014 s an unusually dense, packed Ovello. It should be terrific in another few years’ time.”
Monica Larner – Wine Advocate 95 points “Always one of my favorite wines from Produttori del Barbaresco, the 2014 Barbaresco Riserva Ovello lays out a broad and soft mouthfeel, with tannins that have already been polished and integrated thanks to ample time in the bottle already. It’s safe to say that this Ovello cru loyally demonstrates the level of richness and textural softness that this site is known for. The bouquet is redolent of bright berry fruit with cherry, blackberry and plum. Also, the 2014 vintage was a warm one at the end of the growing season, and you taste a little bit of that ripeness here too.”
Wine Spectator 93 points “Balsamic aromas of menthol, wild thyme and juniper complement the black cherry core of this muscular red, with dense tannins lending support. Though a bit more severe now than its peers, this is balanced overall and will age well. Best from 2022 through 2042.—B.S”
Produttori del Barbaresco Pora, Barbaresco Riserva DOCG 2014 750ML ($79.95) Was $59, Now $49 Subscriber Special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni 94 points “The 2014 Barbaresco Riserva Pora is a dark, sensual beauty. Deeply spiced and balsamic, with tremendous textural richness, the Pora is utterly beguiling. I can’t remember a Pora with this much depth, textural resonance and brooding intensity. The 2014 needs at least a few years to be at its best, but it is superb even in the early going. I won’t be surprised if the 2014 turns out to be better than this note suggests.”
Wine Spectator 93 points “Round and supple, exuding cherry, berry, licorice, eucalyptus and tar flavors. Harmonious and well-built, with a long aftertaste of menthol. Best from 2021 through 2038.—B.S.”
Produttori del Barbaresco Rio Sordo, Barbaresco Riserva DOCG 2014 750ML ($79.95) Was $65, Now $59 Subscriber Special, 28 bottles in stock now
Monica Larner – Wine Advocate 96 points “The 2014 Barbaresco Riserva Rio Sordo represents a jump forward in structure compared to the other three vineyards (Pora, Pajè and Ovello) that were tasted before this wine. The Riserva Rio Sordo shows a dark and solid personality, with a tight core of black fruit that will relax and unwind with more bottle aging in the cellar. It is also slightly sharper and more focused in terms of mouthfeel, with the kind of tannic tightness you always get with young Nebbiolo in the cooler vintages such as 2014. Barbaresco lovers should jot this one down.”
Wine Spectator 94 points “This red combines a rich, fleshy texture that verges on chewy with a firm structure and cherry, menthol, licorice, spice and mineral flavors. Dense, revealing tension and dusty tannins on the long finish. Shows terrific energy. Best from 2022 through 2042.—B.S.”
Antonio Galloni 93 points “The 2014 Barbaresco Riserva Rio Sordo is the most open-knit and easygoing of these Riservas. Creamy and giving, the Rio Sordo is one of the more available of the Riservas in the early going, an impression that is reinforced by its mid-weight structure. Perfumed floral notes add lift to the dark, red-toned fruit.”
Trending Subscriber Special
Il Poggione at Insane Prices
“This is one of the year’s best Brunellos”
Il Poggione Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Tuscany 2012 750ML ($89.95) Was $59, Now $55 Subscriber Special
Wine Advocate 95+ points “Il Poggione is a Brunello superstar and a vintage like this reveals every reason why that affirmation is true. From the second the 2012 Brunello di Montalcino pours into the glass, you know you are in for something special. The wine is darkly saturated and rich in appearance. Absent are those slightly amber or browning hues you often get with Sangiovese in a hot vintage. Nor does the wine show flat or tired characteristics. Instead, the quality of fruit is vibrant and rich. This is a healthy, generous and exuberant Brunello with dark density and succulent fruit flavors that are followed by integrated spice and tobacco. The balance is impressive and one thing you get here is fresh acidity. This is not to be underestimated, because the acidity quota in the 2012 vintage across the appellation is not as high or evident as usual. This is one of the year’s best Brunellos.”
2017 Domaine Leflaive
Weekend Subscriber Sale!
Produttori del Barbaresco 2014s
Trending Subscriber Special
Il Poggione at Insane Prices
2017 Domaine Leflaive
New Brunello Reviews from Wine Spectator’s Insider
A New 95 Point Malbec – Under $200 per Case!
Two New 2015 Brunellos
(Plus a Bonus Star Chianti)
Collector’s Corner
Faiveley’s Top 2016’s
Weekend Subscriber Sale!
Produttori del Barbaresco 2014s
“The Most Consistently Outstanding Set of Riservas I Can Remember Tasting”
The Produttori del Barbaresco is revered for producing classically-styled Barbaresco and Riservas of uncompromising quality and transparency. It’s a miracle that these wines are still affordable and available, especially when compared to the skyrocketing prices of Barolo. You’d be hard-pressed to find such consistent quality and complexity out of such an extensive range of single-vineyard Nebbiolos anywhere else.
We’re offering exclusive discounts to you, our email subscribers, on a number of the outstanding 2014 Riservas—some of the best wines the Produttori has ever made. These already outstanding values are even better through the end of the weekend (or we sell out). Piedmont fans: stock up!
“The 2014 Riservas are dark, potent and built for aging… In many years, this range includes one or two slight underperformers, but in 2014, the wines are superb across the board. Some will drink well earlier than others, of course, but this is one of the most consistently outstanding set of Riservas I can remember tasting here.” –Antonio Galloni
Ends Monday, April 13th at 6 PM Pacific
Produttori del Barbaresco Montestefano, Barbaresco Riserva DOCG 2014 1.5L ($199.95) Was $149, Now $125 Subscriber Special, 9 magnums in stock now
Antonio Galloni 95+ points “One of the many highlights in this range, the Barbaresco Riserva Montestefano is superb. A big enrobing wine, the Montestefano wraps around the palate with stunning depth. Today, the Montestefano is utterly embryonic, and yet it exudes depth, resonance and pure class. The Montestefano is one of the more complete wines in the range because of the way it deftly balances fruit intensity and structure. Readers will have to be patient, though.”
Wine Spectator 94 points “Pure cherry flavors permeate the rich flesh of this red, backed by vibrant acidity and fine tannins. Eucalyptus, earth and tar elements add depth as this cruises to a lingering finish. Fine intensity. Best from 2021 through 2040.—B.S.”
The Produttori del Barbaresco is revered for producing classically-styled Barbaresco and Riservas of uncompromising quality and transparency. It’s a miracle that these wines are still affordable and available, especially when compared to the skyrocketing prices of Barolo. You’d be hard-pressed to find such consistent quality and complexity out of such an extensive range of single-vineyard Nebbiolos anywhere else.
We’re offering exclusive discounts to you, our email subscribers, on a number of the outstanding 2014 Riservas—some of the best wines the Produttori has ever made. These already outstanding values are even better through the end of the weekend (or we sell out). Piedmont fans: stock up!
“The 2014 Riservas are dark, potent and built for aging… In many years, this range includes one or two slight underperformers, but in 2014, the wines are superb across the board. Some will drink well earlier than others, of course, but this is one of the most consistently outstanding set of Riservas I can remember tasting here.” –Antonio Galloni
Ends Monday, April 13th at 6 PM Pacific
Produttori del Barbaresco Montestefano, Barbaresco Riserva DOCG 2014 1.5L ($199.95) Was $149, Now $125 Subscriber Special, 9 magnums in stock now
Antonio Galloni 95+ points “One of the many highlights in this range, the Barbaresco Riserva Montestefano is superb. A big enrobing wine, the Montestefano wraps around the palate with stunning depth. Today, the Montestefano is utterly embryonic, and yet it exudes depth, resonance and pure class. The Montestefano is one of the more complete wines in the range because of the way it deftly balances fruit intensity and structure. Readers will have to be patient, though.”
Wine Spectator 94 points “Pure cherry flavors permeate the rich flesh of this red, backed by vibrant acidity and fine tannins. Eucalyptus, earth and tar elements add depth as this cruises to a lingering finish. Fine intensity. Best from 2021 through 2040.—B.S.”
This is the lowest listed price for a magnum in the USA today!
Produttori del Barbaresco ‘Muncagota’, Barbaresco Riserva DOCG 2014 750ML ($79.95) Was $59, Now $54.50 Subscriber Special, 31 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni 94 points “The 2014 Barbaresco Riserva Muncagota is another of the overachievers in this range. White pepper, bright red cherry, floral notes and mint cut through the fruit in this beautifully vivid, crystalline Barbaresco. There is a level of energy, drive and overall nuance in the 2014 I don’t recall having seen in the past. The 2014 is a terrific Muncagota.”
Monica Larner – Wine Advocate 94 points “The 2014 Barbaresco Riserva Muncagota is beautifully polished and bright, with dark berry fruit, ripe cherry, crushed stone and pressed flowers. The wine is compact and firm, and you feel the tannins and power in the mouth. The Muncagota remains slightly more closed in terms of the bouquet, but this will open up with some time.”
Wine Spectator 93 points “Lean and taut, this reveals mint, menthol, licorice, orange peel and subtle cherry flavors, all underscored by assertive tannins and lively acidity. An austere style, this will need time to come around. Best from 2023 through 2042.—B.S.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average listed price is $66
The average listed price is $66
Produttori del Barbaresco Ovello, Barbaresco Riserva DOCG 2014 750ML ($89.95) Was $65, Now $58 Subscriber Special, 25 bottles in stock now
Produttori del Barbaresco Ovello, Barbaresco Riserva DOCG 2014 1.5L ($189.95) Was $139, Now $133 Subscriber Special, 16 magnums in stock now
Antonio Galloni 95 points “The 2014 Barbaresco Riserva Ovello is bright and piercing, as it so often is, and yet it also has more than enough fruit to fill out its mid-weight, energetic frame. Pine, mint, crushed rocks and sweet red plum build into the huge, piercing finish. The Ovello is another wine in this range that demands patience. Even in the early going it is super impressive. The 2014 s an unusually dense, packed Ovello. It should be terrific in another few years’ time.”
Monica Larner – Wine Advocate 95 points “Always one of my favorite wines from Produttori del Barbaresco, the 2014 Barbaresco Riserva Ovello lays out a broad and soft mouthfeel, with tannins that have already been polished and integrated thanks to ample time in the bottle already. It’s safe to say that this Ovello cru loyally demonstrates the level of richness and textural softness that this site is known for. The bouquet is redolent of bright berry fruit with cherry, blackberry and plum. Also, the 2014 vintage was a warm one at the end of the growing season, and you taste a little bit of that ripeness here too.”
Wine Spectator 93 points “Balsamic aromas of menthol, wild thyme and juniper complement the black cherry core of this muscular red, with dense tannins lending support. Though a bit more severe now than its peers, this is balanced overall and will age well. Best from 2022 through 2042.—B.S”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
This is the lowest listed price for a magnum in the USA today!
The average listed price is $66
This is the lowest listed price for a magnum in the USA today!
The average listed price is $66
Produttori del Barbaresco Pora, Barbaresco Riserva DOCG 2014 750ML ($79.95) Was $59, Now $49 Subscriber Special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni 94 points “The 2014 Barbaresco Riserva Pora is a dark, sensual beauty. Deeply spiced and balsamic, with tremendous textural richness, the Pora is utterly beguiling. I can’t remember a Pora with this much depth, textural resonance and brooding intensity. The 2014 needs at least a few years to be at its best, but it is superb even in the early going. I won’t be surprised if the 2014 turns out to be better than this note suggests.”
Wine Spectator 93 points “Round and supple, exuding cherry, berry, licorice, eucalyptus and tar flavors. Harmonious and well-built, with a long aftertaste of menthol. Best from 2021 through 2038.—B.S.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average listed price is $66
The average listed price is $66
Produttori del Barbaresco Rio Sordo, Barbaresco Riserva DOCG 2014 750ML ($79.95) Was $65, Now $59 Subscriber Special, 28 bottles in stock now
Monica Larner – Wine Advocate 96 points “The 2014 Barbaresco Riserva Rio Sordo represents a jump forward in structure compared to the other three vineyards (Pora, Pajè and Ovello) that were tasted before this wine. The Riserva Rio Sordo shows a dark and solid personality, with a tight core of black fruit that will relax and unwind with more bottle aging in the cellar. It is also slightly sharper and more focused in terms of mouthfeel, with the kind of tannic tightness you always get with young Nebbiolo in the cooler vintages such as 2014. Barbaresco lovers should jot this one down.”
Wine Spectator 94 points “This red combines a rich, fleshy texture that verges on chewy with a firm structure and cherry, menthol, licorice, spice and mineral flavors. Dense, revealing tension and dusty tannins on the long finish. Shows terrific energy. Best from 2022 through 2042.—B.S.”
Antonio Galloni 93 points “The 2014 Barbaresco Riserva Rio Sordo is the most open-knit and easygoing of these Riservas. Creamy and giving, the Rio Sordo is one of the more available of the Riservas in the early going, an impression that is reinforced by its mid-weight structure. Perfumed floral notes add lift to the dark, red-toned fruit.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Trending Subscriber Special
Il Poggione at Insane Prices
Any lover of Brunello—no, any lover of Italian wine—should have a case of Il Poggione’s Brunello in their cellar if they can afford it. The combination of classical proportions and attention grabbing power and complexity is extremely rare in a wine, especially at these sorts of prices. They are truly Great Brunello, along with names like Biondi-Santi, Soldera, Saliciutti, etc. except at half (or less) the price of its peer group. Il Poggione made some of the wines of the vintage in both 2013 and 2012 (both excellent years) and we’re dropping the prices on both of them for you, our email subscribers.
In Stock and On Sale Now:
“precisely the type of year in which Il Poggione excels”
Il Poggione Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Tuscany 2013 750ML ($89.95) Was $61.90, Now $55 Subscriber Special
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 96 points “The 2013 Brunello di Montalcino lives up to the impeccable reputation garnered by this estate over the years. This is a profound and beautifully rendered Sangiovese that delivers bold and luscious fruit quality with black cherry and spicy plum at the start. The bouquet follows through with mild oak notes of smoke, tar and toasted nut. There is another aromatic component that includes crushed stone and dried herb or mint. This Brunello shows elegant evolution in the glass and promises a very long aging future ahead. Some 200,000 bottles were made, so it should be easy to locate this excellent wine.”
Ian D’agata – Vinous 95 points “Bright red. Pure, refined red cherry and wild strawberry aromas and flavors complicated by sweet spices and aromatic herbs. Deep and multilayered, the wine boasts polished tannins and a harmonious acid spine that lifts and extends the red fruit on the long, suave finish. An essence of Sant’Angelo in Colle with bigger body and palate weight than, for example, the Brunellos of Montosoli, but still sleek and refined as the best wines of Sant’Angelo in Colle can be. The cool-climate-styled 2013 vintage is precisely the type of year in which Il Poggione excels: this lovely, focused wine is the best classico Brunello from Il Poggione in years. Superb.”
In Stock and On Sale Now:
“precisely the type of year in which Il Poggione excels”
Il Poggione Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Tuscany 2013 750ML ($89.95) Was $61.90, Now $55 Subscriber Special
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 96 points “The 2013 Brunello di Montalcino lives up to the impeccable reputation garnered by this estate over the years. This is a profound and beautifully rendered Sangiovese that delivers bold and luscious fruit quality with black cherry and spicy plum at the start. The bouquet follows through with mild oak notes of smoke, tar and toasted nut. There is another aromatic component that includes crushed stone and dried herb or mint. This Brunello shows elegant evolution in the glass and promises a very long aging future ahead. Some 200,000 bottles were made, so it should be easy to locate this excellent wine.”
Ian D’agata – Vinous 95 points “Bright red. Pure, refined red cherry and wild strawberry aromas and flavors complicated by sweet spices and aromatic herbs. Deep and multilayered, the wine boasts polished tannins and a harmonious acid spine that lifts and extends the red fruit on the long, suave finish. An essence of Sant’Angelo in Colle with bigger body and palate weight than, for example, the Brunellos of Montosoli, but still sleek and refined as the best wines of Sant’Angelo in Colle can be. The cool-climate-styled 2013 vintage is precisely the type of year in which Il Poggione excels: this lovely, focused wine is the best classico Brunello from Il Poggione in years. Superb.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average listed price is $77
The average listed price is $77
“This is one of the year’s best Brunellos”
Il Poggione Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Tuscany 2012 750ML ($89.95) Was $59, Now $55 Subscriber Special
Wine Advocate 95+ points “Il Poggione is a Brunello superstar and a vintage like this reveals every reason why that affirmation is true. From the second the 2012 Brunello di Montalcino pours into the glass, you know you are in for something special. The wine is darkly saturated and rich in appearance. Absent are those slightly amber or browning hues you often get with Sangiovese in a hot vintage. Nor does the wine show flat or tired characteristics. Instead, the quality of fruit is vibrant and rich. This is a healthy, generous and exuberant Brunello with dark density and succulent fruit flavors that are followed by integrated spice and tobacco. The balance is impressive and one thing you get here is fresh acidity. This is not to be underestimated, because the acidity quota in the 2012 vintage across the appellation is not as high or evident as usual. This is one of the year’s best Brunellos.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average listed price is $80
The average listed price is $80
2017 Domaine Leflaive
Domaine Leflaive is the white Burgundy domaine against which all others are judged. Moreso than names like Coche or PYCM (who are great, but sui generis), the whites of Leflaive are immaculate in their quality but very much what we all think of when we hear the words “white Burgundy.” The wines are an experience and a master class in terroir. The vineyard team has had direct lineage for 3 generations and the late Anne-Claude Leflaive took their care in farming to a new level as one of the earliest adopters of biodynamics in the Cote d’Or.
There are few names more permanently identified with a village than Domaine Leflaive and Puligny-Montrachet. The estate goes back to the end of the 19th century, when Joseph Leflaive laid the groundwork of rehabilitating the vineyards and eventually selling wine under his own label instead of selling to negociants. The soil of Puligny seems to run in the veins of the Leflaives and that comes through in an excellent vintage like 2017.
Intensity, concentration and volume are hallmarks, especially with a tremendous vintage like ‘17, but beyond the power come the finesse and beauty that reveal themselves more every year that you can keep your hands off of them. With wines like these, scents of apple become apple tartine, citrus becomes lemon oil or toasted zest; superlative becomes the norm. These are, quite simply, the best wines you’ll find in Puligny-Montrachet, and you’ll be hard pressed to find a more pure expression of Chardonnay anywhere on the planet.
Arriving ETA Late April
Only one bottle available
Domaine Leflaive Chevalier-Montrachet Grand Cru 2017 750ML ($1,199.95) $999 pre-arrival special
Decanter 97 points “Leflaive owns a comparatively large 1.8ha in Chevalier, running from the bottom to the top of the grand cru, so it’s normally made in two separate lots. The oak needs a little more time to integrate, but this is another stellar performance by the legendary domaine. It’s saline and elegant yet with understated richness and concentration – a world-class wine from a world-class vineyard.”
Dr William Kelley-Wine Advocate 95 -97 points “The 2017 Chevalier-Montrachet Grand Cru delivers a vibrant but reserved bouquet of lemon zest, white flowers and crushed chalk that is still some distance from displaying all its breadth of expression. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied, deep and tensile, with a tight-knit core, searingly intense chalky extract and an electric sense of energy, concluding with a long finish. This is the most linear Chevaliers I tasted in the 2017 vintage, which was typically somewhat more open at the same stage in Anne-Claude’s day, so it will be interesting to see how much plenitude it displays in bottle.”
Josh Raynolds 93-96 points “Precise, high-pitched scents of lemon and lime ice and crushed rock. The palate communicates outstanding stony, limey intensity that’s accentuated by an impression of strong acidity. But despite its penetrating cut and low pH (3.15, according to Pierre Vincent), the wine’s spine is covered by adequate flesh, even in the early going. Flavors of pineapple and liquid stone are complicated by bracing citricity and a salty element on the slowly rising, palate-staining, utterly gripping finish.”
Burghound 93-96 points “An all-but mute if cool and elegant nose only grudgingly reveals its aromas of wet stone, white flowers, tangerine peel and jasmine tea. There is almost painful intensity to the larger-scaled yet refined flavors that brim with both dry extract and a driving minerality before concluding in an equally long finish. This too is very clearly built-to-age and is a superb Chevalier that is going to require extended patience.”
Only one bottle available
Domaine Leflaive Bienvenues-Batard-Montrachet Grand Cru 2017 750ML ($899.95) $799 pre-arrival special
Decanter 97 points “Bienvenues is generally less powerful than Bâtard at Leflaive, and that’s certainly the case here. But what this impressive grand cru lacks in terms of weight, it more than makes up for with precision. Tangerine and pink grapefruit flavours segue into a fresh, textured finish embellished by oak.”
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 93-95+ points “Like the Pucelles, the 2017 Bienvenues-Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru is quite tensile and reserved, unfurling in the glass with aromas of green orchard fruit, iodine, orange rind and creamy new wood. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied, textural and fleshy, but taut—even firm—at the core, with good concentration, tangy acid and a bright, chalky finish. Like all these releases, I’m looking forward to seeing it from bottle.”
Burghound 92-95 points “As is often the case chez Leflaive, the nose is quite similar to that of the Pucelles with the only difference being that it’s a touch riper. The highly succulent medium-bodied flavors possess equally good mid-palate sap while delivering excellent depth and persistence on the focused, balanced and wonderfully long finish. This is class in a glass and very BBM in character.”
Only three bottles available
Domaine Leflaive Les Pucelles, Puligny-Montrachet Premier Cru 2017 750ML ($449.95) $399 pre-arrival special
Burghound 92-95 points “Outstanding. A discreet, even shy nose offers up attractively fresh and ultra-pure notes of citrus, honeysuckle, white peach and a hint of acacia blossom. There is excellent delineation to the intense, equally pure and seductive middle weight flavors that possess good verve and plenty of minerality on the solidly persistent finish that delivers outstanding depth. This elegant beauty is a refined mix of punch and finesse.”
Dr William Kelley-Wine Advocate 92-94+ points “The 2017 Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Pucelles wafts from the glass with aromas of spring flowers, white peach, lemon, pastry cream and blanched almonds. On the palate, it’s medium to full-bodied, elegantly textural but tangy, with a pure, fine-boned profile. It was quite reserved when I tasted it, so I suspect it only needs time to take on the breadth and dimension that characterize a great Pucelles, but for now, the wine is quite tensile and linear.”
Josh Raynolds 92-94 points “(this wine was aging in the grand cru room of the cellar): Aromas of nectarine and minerals convey an almost oily impression as well as a note of reduction. Then almost shockingly penetrating in the mouth for such a dense wine, with its nectarine, yellow plum and anise flavors enlivened by scintillating lemony acidity. Finishes extremely long and perfumed. This wonderfully juicy, tactile wine offers a rare combination of thickness and inner-mouth tension.”
Only four bottles available
Domaine Leflaive Clavoillon, Puligny-Montrachet Premier Cru 2017 750ML ($279.95) $219 pre-arrival special
Decanter 95 points “Domaine Leflaive was among the earlier pickers in Puligny in 2017 and it shows in the tautness and balance of wines like this one. Tight and chiselled, with well-integrated 20% new wood, this is all citrus fruit and lemongrass with a racy, tapering finish.
Only one bottle available
Domaine Leflaive Sous le Dos d’Ane, Meursault Premier Cru 2017 750ML ($279.95) $219 pre-arrival special
Dr William Kelley-Wine Advocate 90-92 points “The 2017 Meursault 1er Cru Sous le Dos d’Ane offers up aromas of green apples, tart Anjou pear, spring flowers and mint. On the palate, it’s medium to full-bodied, with good concentration and chewy extract—Leflaive performed a green harvest on this young vines this year—underpinned by juicy acids and concluding with a pure finish. This is a promising Meursault in the making.”
Burghound 90-92 points “There is ample sulfur present but not so much as to completely mask the apple and various white floral scents. More interesting are the vibrant, plump and seductively textured medium-bodied flavors that possess both fine mid-palate concentration as well as plenty of salinity on the sneaky long finish.”
Domaine Leflaive Puligny-Montrachet, Cote de Beaune 2017 750ML ($179.95) $149 pre-arrival special
Decanter 93 points “Leflaive’s village Puligny is back as a reference point for the village under new cellarmaster, Pierre Vincent. Aged in 15% new wood, this comes from five different parcels and is tangy, focussed and appealingly stony, with good freshness and palate length.”
Wine Spectator 93 points “This sleek white exhibits fine intensity, with a honey note adding interest to the peach, lemon tart and mineral flavors. Balanced, verging on creamy in texture, offering a long, mouthwatering finish. Drink now through 2024.”
Dr William Kelley-Wine Advocate 90-92 points “The 2017 Puligny-Montrachet Village wafts from the glass with notes of lemon rind, pastry cream, white flowers and a light framing of smoky reduction. On the palate, it’s medium to full-bodied, satiny and vibrant, with tangy acids, lovely purity and an elegant, precise profile. I suspect it will further gain in depth and dimension with additional élevage.”
Only twelve bottles available
Domaine Leflaive Bourgogne Blanc 2017 750ML ($89.95) $79 pre-arrival special
Case-6 Domaine Leflaive Bourgogne Blanc ($549.95) $449 pre-arrival special (that’s only $74.83/bottle —the lowest listed price in the country!)
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 88-90 points “Aromas of waxy citrus rind, green apples and light reduction introduce the 2017 Bourgogne Blanc, a medium to full-bodied wine and elegantly glossy attack, a succulent core of fruit, and excellent cut and intensity for its level, concluding with a long finish. This is routinely one of the best generic bottlings to be found, and this year’s rendition is no exception.”
There are few names more permanently identified with a village than Domaine Leflaive and Puligny-Montrachet. The estate goes back to the end of the 19th century, when Joseph Leflaive laid the groundwork of rehabilitating the vineyards and eventually selling wine under his own label instead of selling to negociants. The soil of Puligny seems to run in the veins of the Leflaives and that comes through in an excellent vintage like 2017.
Intensity, concentration and volume are hallmarks, especially with a tremendous vintage like ‘17, but beyond the power come the finesse and beauty that reveal themselves more every year that you can keep your hands off of them. With wines like these, scents of apple become apple tartine, citrus becomes lemon oil or toasted zest; superlative becomes the norm. These are, quite simply, the best wines you’ll find in Puligny-Montrachet, and you’ll be hard pressed to find a more pure expression of Chardonnay anywhere on the planet.
Arriving ETA Late April
Only one bottle available
Domaine Leflaive Chevalier-Montrachet Grand Cru 2017 750ML ($1,199.95) $999 pre-arrival special
Decanter 97 points “Leflaive owns a comparatively large 1.8ha in Chevalier, running from the bottom to the top of the grand cru, so it’s normally made in two separate lots. The oak needs a little more time to integrate, but this is another stellar performance by the legendary domaine. It’s saline and elegant yet with understated richness and concentration – a world-class wine from a world-class vineyard.”
Dr William Kelley-Wine Advocate 95 -97 points “The 2017 Chevalier-Montrachet Grand Cru delivers a vibrant but reserved bouquet of lemon zest, white flowers and crushed chalk that is still some distance from displaying all its breadth of expression. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied, deep and tensile, with a tight-knit core, searingly intense chalky extract and an electric sense of energy, concluding with a long finish. This is the most linear Chevaliers I tasted in the 2017 vintage, which was typically somewhat more open at the same stage in Anne-Claude’s day, so it will be interesting to see how much plenitude it displays in bottle.”
Josh Raynolds 93-96 points “Precise, high-pitched scents of lemon and lime ice and crushed rock. The palate communicates outstanding stony, limey intensity that’s accentuated by an impression of strong acidity. But despite its penetrating cut and low pH (3.15, according to Pierre Vincent), the wine’s spine is covered by adequate flesh, even in the early going. Flavors of pineapple and liquid stone are complicated by bracing citricity and a salty element on the slowly rising, palate-staining, utterly gripping finish.”
Burghound 93-96 points “An all-but mute if cool and elegant nose only grudgingly reveals its aromas of wet stone, white flowers, tangerine peel and jasmine tea. There is almost painful intensity to the larger-scaled yet refined flavors that brim with both dry extract and a driving minerality before concluding in an equally long finish. This too is very clearly built-to-age and is a superb Chevalier that is going to require extended patience.”
Only one bottle available
Domaine Leflaive Bienvenues-Batard-Montrachet Grand Cru 2017 750ML ($899.95) $799 pre-arrival special
Decanter 97 points “Bienvenues is generally less powerful than Bâtard at Leflaive, and that’s certainly the case here. But what this impressive grand cru lacks in terms of weight, it more than makes up for with precision. Tangerine and pink grapefruit flavours segue into a fresh, textured finish embellished by oak.”
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 93-95+ points “Like the Pucelles, the 2017 Bienvenues-Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru is quite tensile and reserved, unfurling in the glass with aromas of green orchard fruit, iodine, orange rind and creamy new wood. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied, textural and fleshy, but taut—even firm—at the core, with good concentration, tangy acid and a bright, chalky finish. Like all these releases, I’m looking forward to seeing it from bottle.”
Burghound 92-95 points “As is often the case chez Leflaive, the nose is quite similar to that of the Pucelles with the only difference being that it’s a touch riper. The highly succulent medium-bodied flavors possess equally good mid-palate sap while delivering excellent depth and persistence on the focused, balanced and wonderfully long finish. This is class in a glass and very BBM in character.”
Only three bottles available
Domaine Leflaive Les Pucelles, Puligny-Montrachet Premier Cru 2017 750ML ($449.95) $399 pre-arrival special
Burghound 92-95 points “Outstanding. A discreet, even shy nose offers up attractively fresh and ultra-pure notes of citrus, honeysuckle, white peach and a hint of acacia blossom. There is excellent delineation to the intense, equally pure and seductive middle weight flavors that possess good verve and plenty of minerality on the solidly persistent finish that delivers outstanding depth. This elegant beauty is a refined mix of punch and finesse.”
Dr William Kelley-Wine Advocate 92-94+ points “The 2017 Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Pucelles wafts from the glass with aromas of spring flowers, white peach, lemon, pastry cream and blanched almonds. On the palate, it’s medium to full-bodied, elegantly textural but tangy, with a pure, fine-boned profile. It was quite reserved when I tasted it, so I suspect it only needs time to take on the breadth and dimension that characterize a great Pucelles, but for now, the wine is quite tensile and linear.”
Josh Raynolds 92-94 points “(this wine was aging in the grand cru room of the cellar): Aromas of nectarine and minerals convey an almost oily impression as well as a note of reduction. Then almost shockingly penetrating in the mouth for such a dense wine, with its nectarine, yellow plum and anise flavors enlivened by scintillating lemony acidity. Finishes extremely long and perfumed. This wonderfully juicy, tactile wine offers a rare combination of thickness and inner-mouth tension.”
Only four bottles available
Domaine Leflaive Clavoillon, Puligny-Montrachet Premier Cru 2017 750ML ($279.95) $219 pre-arrival special
Decanter 95 points “Domaine Leflaive was among the earlier pickers in Puligny in 2017 and it shows in the tautness and balance of wines like this one. Tight and chiselled, with well-integrated 20% new wood, this is all citrus fruit and lemongrass with a racy, tapering finish.
Only one bottle available
Domaine Leflaive Sous le Dos d’Ane, Meursault Premier Cru 2017 750ML ($279.95) $219 pre-arrival special
Dr William Kelley-Wine Advocate 90-92 points “The 2017 Meursault 1er Cru Sous le Dos d’Ane offers up aromas of green apples, tart Anjou pear, spring flowers and mint. On the palate, it’s medium to full-bodied, with good concentration and chewy extract—Leflaive performed a green harvest on this young vines this year—underpinned by juicy acids and concluding with a pure finish. This is a promising Meursault in the making.”
Burghound 90-92 points “There is ample sulfur present but not so much as to completely mask the apple and various white floral scents. More interesting are the vibrant, plump and seductively textured medium-bodied flavors that possess both fine mid-palate concentration as well as plenty of salinity on the sneaky long finish.”
Domaine Leflaive Puligny-Montrachet, Cote de Beaune 2017 750ML ($179.95) $149 pre-arrival special
Decanter 93 points “Leflaive’s village Puligny is back as a reference point for the village under new cellarmaster, Pierre Vincent. Aged in 15% new wood, this comes from five different parcels and is tangy, focussed and appealingly stony, with good freshness and palate length.”
Wine Spectator 93 points “This sleek white exhibits fine intensity, with a honey note adding interest to the peach, lemon tart and mineral flavors. Balanced, verging on creamy in texture, offering a long, mouthwatering finish. Drink now through 2024.”
Dr William Kelley-Wine Advocate 90-92 points “The 2017 Puligny-Montrachet Village wafts from the glass with notes of lemon rind, pastry cream, white flowers and a light framing of smoky reduction. On the palate, it’s medium to full-bodied, satiny and vibrant, with tangy acids, lovely purity and an elegant, precise profile. I suspect it will further gain in depth and dimension with additional élevage.”
Only twelve bottles available
Domaine Leflaive Bourgogne Blanc 2017 750ML ($89.95) $79 pre-arrival special
Case-6 Domaine Leflaive Bourgogne Blanc ($549.95) $449 pre-arrival special (that’s only $74.83/bottle —the lowest listed price in the country!)
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 88-90 points “Aromas of waxy citrus rind, green apples and light reduction introduce the 2017 Bourgogne Blanc, a medium to full-bodied wine and elegantly glossy attack, a succulent core of fruit, and excellent cut and intensity for its level, concluding with a long finish. This is routinely one of the best generic bottlings to be found, and this year’s rendition is no exception.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Domaine Leflaive Pouilly-Fuisse 2017 750ML ($99.95) $85 pre-arrival special
Case-6 Domaine Leflaive Pouilly-Fuisse 2017 750ML ($599.95) $479 pre-arrival special (that’s only $79.83/bottle!)
Wine Advocate 91 points “The 2017 Pouilly-Fuissé derives from multiple parcels in Soultré and which now sees the same élevage as the domaine’s wines from Puligny. It’s showing well, exhibiting aromas of ripe lemons, beeswax, dried white flowers and blanched almonds, followed by a medium to full-bodied, satiny-textured palate with more flesh, concentration and length than any of the Mâcon-Verzé bottlings.”
Domaine Leflaive Macon-Verze Les Chenes 2017 750ML ($79.95) $66 pre-arrival special
Case-6 Domaine Leflaive Macon-Verze Les Chenes 2017 750ML ($479.95) $359 pre-arrival special (that’s only $59.83/bottle!)
Wine Advocate 90 points “A new lieu-dit bottling from Leflaive that derives from two southeast-facing parcels, the 2017 Mâcon-Verzé Les Chênes offers up aromas of white peach, Meyer lemon and crisp orchard fruit, followed by a medium-bodied, satiny palate, with racy acids, good concentration and more texture and amplitude than the regular Mâcon-Verzé.”
Domaine Leflaive Macon-Verze 2017 750ML ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival special
Case-6 Domaine Leflaive Macon-Verze 2017 750ML ($359.95) $269 pre-arrival special (that’s only $44.83/bottle!)
Only twelve bottles available
Leflaive & Associes Rully Premier Cru, Cote Chalonnaise 2017 750ML ($99.95) $89 pre-arrival special
Vinopolis Wine Shop Curbside Pick Up
Don’t want to stop in?
Order Online / By Phone / By Email
When you’re ready to pick up, just park in our lot,
give us a call, & we’ll bring your order to your car.
(If another adult is picking up for you, please let us know
their name when placing your order.)
#503-223-6002
New Brunello Reviews from Wine Spectator’s Insider
In Stock Now:
La Fortuna Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Tuscany 2015 750ML ($59.95) $45 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 94 points “This is round and full of sweet, ripe cherry, strawberry, graphite and earth flavors. Firms up as the finish plays out, echoing an essence of fruit. Best from 2022 through 2039. —B.S.”
La Gerla Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Tuscany 2015 750ML ($69.95) $55 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
La Gerla Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Tuscany 2015 1.5L ($149.95) $119 special, 6 bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 94 points “Black cherry and black currant fruit is accented by tobacco, earth and mineral flavors in this sleek yet dense red. Balsamic elements of juniper, thyme and olive add depth as this cruises to a long finish. The potential lies in the excellent length. Best from 2023 through 2042. —B.S.”
La Fortuna Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Tuscany 2015 750ML ($59.95) $45 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 94 points “This is round and full of sweet, ripe cherry, strawberry, graphite and earth flavors. Firms up as the finish plays out, echoing an essence of fruit. Best from 2022 through 2039. —B.S.”
La Gerla Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Tuscany 2015 750ML ($69.95) $55 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
La Gerla Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Tuscany 2015 1.5L ($149.95) $119 special, 6 bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 94 points “Black cherry and black currant fruit is accented by tobacco, earth and mineral flavors in this sleek yet dense red. Balsamic elements of juniper, thyme and olive add depth as this cruises to a long finish. The potential lies in the excellent length. Best from 2023 through 2042. —B.S.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
A New 95 Point Malbec
Under $200 per Case!
We’ve always looked to Argentina for excellent values, but this might take the cake. Vaglio’s “Aggie” bottling scored an impressive 95 points from James Suckling and is available for just $18 per bottle or $199 per case (that’s only $16.58/bottle!). It’s arriving later this month, perfect for late spring and summer grilling.
Arriving ETA Late April:
Vaglio Wines Aggie Malbec, Uco Valley 2018 750ML ($21.95) $18 pre-arrival special
Case-12 Vaglio Wines Aggie Malbec, Uco Valley 2018 ($249.95) $199 pre-arrival special (that’s only $16.58/bottle —the lowest listed price in the country!)
James Suckling 95 points “Wonderful intensity of crushed berries, pink pepper and volcanic salt. Full-bodied, yet fresh and vivid with energy and focus. Extremely long and flavorful. Drink or hold.”
Arriving ETA Late April:
Vaglio Wines Aggie Malbec, Uco Valley 2018 750ML ($21.95) $18 pre-arrival special
Case-12 Vaglio Wines Aggie Malbec, Uco Valley 2018 ($249.95) $199 pre-arrival special (that’s only $16.58/bottle —the lowest listed price in the country!)
James Suckling 95 points “Wonderful intensity of crushed berries, pink pepper and volcanic salt. Full-bodied, yet fresh and vivid with energy and focus. Extremely long and flavorful. Drink or hold.”
Two New 2015 Brunellos
The enthusiasm for the 2015 Brunello vintage continues to intensify and we’re bringing in new wines every month to sate those desires. Up next? Two absolute classics: Camigliano and La Poderina.
Both of these wines are some of our favorites in any vintage (the ’06 Poderina remains one of the best selling wines in our history) but they’re at another level in 2015. These are stunning wines that show remarkable poise now but should age effortlessly.
ETA Mid-May:
La Poderina Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Tuscany 2015 750ML ($69.95) $45 pre-arrival special
James Suckling 94 points “This has a lifted, toffee quality to it with hearty Christmas spices, spearmint tea, dried boysenberries and strawberry jam. The full-bodied palate has stocky, robust tannins that coat the mouth in layers of nearly overripe fruit and sweeping alcohol. But a dash of acidity on the finish reins in this powerful Brunello. Drink from 2023.”
Eric Guido-Vinous 92 points “Peppery overtones, cranberry and tart cherries define the bouquet of the 2015 Brunello di Montalcino from La Poderina, as notes of olive, leather, pine resin, cumin and crushed stone develop in the glass. On the palate, notes of herbal-tinged black cherry and crushed violets, along with cooling acids and minerals keep things lively. The finish is remarkably long, resonating on the same peppery top notes found on the bouquet, yet with the added kick of zesty spices, brisk acids, and a hint of youthful tannin that lingers on. This is a singular expression of Brunello, which is hard to place within the region or its terroir, but there’s an attractive quality to its unique profile that I enjoy quite a bit.”
Both of these wines are some of our favorites in any vintage (the ’06 Poderina remains one of the best selling wines in our history) but they’re at another level in 2015. These are stunning wines that show remarkable poise now but should age effortlessly.
ETA Mid-May:
La Poderina Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Tuscany 2015 750ML ($69.95) $45 pre-arrival special
James Suckling 94 points “This has a lifted, toffee quality to it with hearty Christmas spices, spearmint tea, dried boysenberries and strawberry jam. The full-bodied palate has stocky, robust tannins that coat the mouth in layers of nearly overripe fruit and sweeping alcohol. But a dash of acidity on the finish reins in this powerful Brunello. Drink from 2023.”
Eric Guido-Vinous 92 points “Peppery overtones, cranberry and tart cherries define the bouquet of the 2015 Brunello di Montalcino from La Poderina, as notes of olive, leather, pine resin, cumin and crushed stone develop in the glass. On the palate, notes of herbal-tinged black cherry and crushed violets, along with cooling acids and minerals keep things lively. The finish is remarkably long, resonating on the same peppery top notes found on the bouquet, yet with the added kick of zesty spices, brisk acids, and a hint of youthful tannin that lingers on. This is a singular expression of Brunello, which is hard to place within the region or its terroir, but there’s an attractive quality to its unique profile that I enjoy quite a bit.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Castello di Camigliano Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Tuscany 2015 750ML ($49.95) $38 pre-arrival special
Case-6 Castello di Camigliano Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Tuscany 2015 750 ($299.95) $219 pre-arrival special (that’s only $36.50/bottle!)
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 94 points “The Camigliano 2015 Brunello di Montalcino sees fruit from a 50-hectare vineyard planted 300 to 350 meters above sea level. The soils show lots of variation with clay, sand, rock and marine fossils. The wine’s bouquet reveals classic Brunello characteristics of wild berry, forest floor, pressed rose petal, crushed stone and spice. You also get those typical balsam and herbal tones that are so specific to Montalcino. In fact, I argue that they come across with even more intensity in a beautifully balanced and sunny vintage such as 2015. This wine ages in 60-hectoliter botti for 24 months, making for a firm yet surprisingly streamlined mouthfeel. With 160,000 bottles made, the wine was released in January 2020.”
James Suckling 94 points “A bright and elegant Brunello that suggests sliced oranges, tulips and rose petals. Medium-to full-bodied and finely structured, drawing on silky layers of tannins and a vibrant edge of acidity. Drink now or hold.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Bonus Tuscan Wine Arriving Friday, April 17th:
Castello dei Rampolla Chianti Classico DOCG, Tuscany 2017 750ML ($37.95) $37.95) $29 pre-arrival special
Case-12 Castello dei Rampolla Chianti Classico DOCG, Tuscany 2017 750ML ($449.95) $315 pre-arrival special (that’s only $26.25/bottle!)
Wine Enthusiast 94 points “Plum, fragrant blue flower, leather and ripe berry are just some of the aromas you’ll find on this fragrant, delicious wine. It’s chewy and enveloping but also boasts a weightless elegance, delivering juicy Marasca cherry, cranberry compote, licorice and tobacco while velvety fine-grained tannins offer polished support. Drink through 2023.”
James Suckling 93 points “The nose of this Chianti Classico is unique, with abundant fresh rose petals, orange zest and lemon peel. Medium-bodied and very lithe yet firm on the palate. Elegant and very taut and tangy on the finish. So well done in a challenging vintage. Drink now.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Collector’s Corner
Faiveley’s Top 2016’s
Faiveley’s Top 2016’s
Les Ouvrées Rodin
Most producers are lucky to own any land in Chambertin Clos de Beze. It’s hallowed ground in Burgundy—one of the most prestigious vineyards in a region that is known for famous plots. Faiveley takes it to a new level, though, and produces two bottlings: a “normal” Clos de Beze and their top end cuvee the Clos de Beze “Les Ouvrées Rodin.”
Produced from some of the Domaine’s oldest vines in a parcel on the Chambertin side of the Clos de Beze, this is a wine that commemorates the family’s relationship with the sculptor Rodin in awe-inspiring fashion. This is up there with any wine from Burgundy—you name it, Faiveley’s top bottling competes with it. Compared to any of its peers (see: Rousseau, DRC, etc) it remains excellently priced. We’re expecting that to change over the next few years, so the 2016 may be one of the last chances to buy this at under $2k per bottle.
In Stock Now:
Only three bottles remaining
Domaine Faiveley Chambertin-Clos de Beze “Les Ouvrees Rodin” Grand Cru, Burgundy 2016 750ML ($1,499.95) $1,199 special
William Kelley – Wine Advocate 97 points “The 2016 Chambertin Clos de Bèze Grand Cru Les Ouvrées Rodin is showing brilliantly from bottle, unfurling in the glass with a rich bouquet of cassis, cherries, red berries, grilled game, licorice, spices and smoky new oak. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied, ample and expansive, with a deep and intense core of sapid fruit that cloaks its satiny but abundant structuring tannins, underpinned by succulent acids and concluding with a seriously long, penetrating finish. This special cuvée hails from a parcel of vines planted in 1966 on the Chambertin side of Clos de Bèze, and its name commemorates a Faiveley family connection with the sculptor Rodin.”
Stephen Tanzer 95-98 points “(like the “regular” Clos de Bèze, this special cuvée from 60+-year-old vines on the Chambertin side of the cru was totally destemmed): Dark red-ruby. Less expressive but slightly riper aromas of purple and black fruits and pungent spices. Then utterly seamless and suave on the palate, offering a lacy, feminine texture with great energy and sophistication. The penetrating red berry and white pepper flavors are amplified by the wine’s mineral underpinning. The endless rising finish combines serious power and refined tannins. Ultimately a bit less expressive and tight-grained than the classic Clos de Bèze but this is even deeper.”
Burghound 94-97 points “(a selection of the oldest vines in one of their 3 parcels). This is aromatically similar to the regular cuvée save for being even spicier and displaying a bit more wood influence. There is almost painful intensity to the super-sleek big-bodied flavors that possess a positively gorgeous mouthfeel due to a mid-palate that brims with sappy dry extract that coats the mouth on the hugely long and impeccably well-balanced finale. While this may change given that these are barrel samples but based on the two that I tasted, this is actually slightly less structured though I emphasize slightly. Either way, this is a seriously impressive effort that should age effortlessly. (94-97)/2034+.”
Other Faiveley Grand Crus, In Stock Now:
2016 was a very good year for Faiveley. It was an excellent year across Burgundy, but for the venerable Burgundy producer it was exceptional, as Erwan Faiveley continues to transform the estate into one of the best producers in Burgundy by any measure. Historically (under Erwan’s father) Faiveley was known for stern wines that took a long time to come around. These days, the wines have more fruit and are approachable young, but still have the bones to age for a long time.
Erwan is moving the estate towards becoming a true Domaine and is shifting all the farming to organics. These changes, combined with more care in the cellar, mean that the jump in quality for 2016 has been huge—and critics have noticed, as well. Stock up while you can find these (especially these Grand Crus), because Faiveley is a house that’s going places.
Only eleven bottles available
Domaine Faiveley Charmes-Chambertin Grand Cru, Cote de Nuits 2016 750ML ($249.95) $219 special
Burghound 92-94 points “(from Charmes proper; from yields of only 18 hl/ha). Much more subtle though by no means invisible oak sets off beautifully layered aromas of plum, spice, earth and a whiff of underbrush character. There is terrific richness and density to the velvet-textured and voluminous flavors that possess a real sense of mid-palate density thanks to the abundant level of dry extract that also buffers the moderately firm tannic spine. This is at once a relatively elegant version of the appellation yet it is also altogether serious. (92-94)/2028+
Stephen Tanzer 91-93 points “(partly from purchased grapes and the rest from a 60-year-old massale selection in both Charmes and Mazoyères–the same “Magnien selection” as the Lavaux Saint-Jacques; 100% destemmed; aging in 60% new oak and 40% once-used barrels): Dark red. Ripe, slightly high-toned aromas of almost liqueur-like dark fruit salad. Juicy on entry, then dense, sappy and dry, displaying lovely definition and cut. Very firm but with an element of perfume that makes it approachable now. Finishes complex and long, with supple tannins. Technical directly Jérôme Flous says that this is “the closest in style among our wines to Rousseau’s.” There’s certainly an element of softness to it.”
Most producers are lucky to own any land in Chambertin Clos de Beze. It’s hallowed ground in Burgundy—one of the most prestigious vineyards in a region that is known for famous plots. Faiveley takes it to a new level, though, and produces two bottlings: a “normal” Clos de Beze and their top end cuvee the Clos de Beze “Les Ouvrées Rodin.”
Produced from some of the Domaine’s oldest vines in a parcel on the Chambertin side of the Clos de Beze, this is a wine that commemorates the family’s relationship with the sculptor Rodin in awe-inspiring fashion. This is up there with any wine from Burgundy—you name it, Faiveley’s top bottling competes with it. Compared to any of its peers (see: Rousseau, DRC, etc) it remains excellently priced. We’re expecting that to change over the next few years, so the 2016 may be one of the last chances to buy this at under $2k per bottle.
In Stock Now:
Only three bottles remaining
Domaine Faiveley Chambertin-Clos de Beze “Les Ouvrees Rodin” Grand Cru, Burgundy 2016 750ML ($1,499.95) $1,199 special
William Kelley – Wine Advocate 97 points “The 2016 Chambertin Clos de Bèze Grand Cru Les Ouvrées Rodin is showing brilliantly from bottle, unfurling in the glass with a rich bouquet of cassis, cherries, red berries, grilled game, licorice, spices and smoky new oak. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied, ample and expansive, with a deep and intense core of sapid fruit that cloaks its satiny but abundant structuring tannins, underpinned by succulent acids and concluding with a seriously long, penetrating finish. This special cuvée hails from a parcel of vines planted in 1966 on the Chambertin side of Clos de Bèze, and its name commemorates a Faiveley family connection with the sculptor Rodin.”
Stephen Tanzer 95-98 points “(like the “regular” Clos de Bèze, this special cuvée from 60+-year-old vines on the Chambertin side of the cru was totally destemmed): Dark red-ruby. Less expressive but slightly riper aromas of purple and black fruits and pungent spices. Then utterly seamless and suave on the palate, offering a lacy, feminine texture with great energy and sophistication. The penetrating red berry and white pepper flavors are amplified by the wine’s mineral underpinning. The endless rising finish combines serious power and refined tannins. Ultimately a bit less expressive and tight-grained than the classic Clos de Bèze but this is even deeper.”
Burghound 94-97 points “(a selection of the oldest vines in one of their 3 parcels). This is aromatically similar to the regular cuvée save for being even spicier and displaying a bit more wood influence. There is almost painful intensity to the super-sleek big-bodied flavors that possess a positively gorgeous mouthfeel due to a mid-palate that brims with sappy dry extract that coats the mouth on the hugely long and impeccably well-balanced finale. While this may change given that these are barrel samples but based on the two that I tasted, this is actually slightly less structured though I emphasize slightly. Either way, this is a seriously impressive effort that should age effortlessly. (94-97)/2034+.”
Other Faiveley Grand Crus, In Stock Now:
2016 was a very good year for Faiveley. It was an excellent year across Burgundy, but for the venerable Burgundy producer it was exceptional, as Erwan Faiveley continues to transform the estate into one of the best producers in Burgundy by any measure. Historically (under Erwan’s father) Faiveley was known for stern wines that took a long time to come around. These days, the wines have more fruit and are approachable young, but still have the bones to age for a long time.
Erwan is moving the estate towards becoming a true Domaine and is shifting all the farming to organics. These changes, combined with more care in the cellar, mean that the jump in quality for 2016 has been huge—and critics have noticed, as well. Stock up while you can find these (especially these Grand Crus), because Faiveley is a house that’s going places.
Only eleven bottles available
Domaine Faiveley Charmes-Chambertin Grand Cru, Cote de Nuits 2016 750ML ($249.95) $219 special
Burghound 92-94 points “(from Charmes proper; from yields of only 18 hl/ha). Much more subtle though by no means invisible oak sets off beautifully layered aromas of plum, spice, earth and a whiff of underbrush character. There is terrific richness and density to the velvet-textured and voluminous flavors that possess a real sense of mid-palate density thanks to the abundant level of dry extract that also buffers the moderately firm tannic spine. This is at once a relatively elegant version of the appellation yet it is also altogether serious. (92-94)/2028+
Stephen Tanzer 91-93 points “(partly from purchased grapes and the rest from a 60-year-old massale selection in both Charmes and Mazoyères–the same “Magnien selection” as the Lavaux Saint-Jacques; 100% destemmed; aging in 60% new oak and 40% once-used barrels): Dark red. Ripe, slightly high-toned aromas of almost liqueur-like dark fruit salad. Juicy on entry, then dense, sappy and dry, displaying lovely definition and cut. Very firm but with an element of perfume that makes it approachable now. Finishes complex and long, with supple tannins. Technical directly Jérôme Flous says that this is “the closest in style among our wines to Rousseau’s.” There’s certainly an element of softness to it.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $240
The average price is $240
Only five bottles available
Domaine Faiveley Chambertin Clos de Beze Grand Cru, Cote de Nuits 2016 750ML ($449.95) $379 special
Wine Spectator 98 points “A rich, powerful version, backed by flashy oak and beefy tannins that sandwich the flavors of black cherry, blackberry, licorice, iron and tobacco. Concentrated, yet vibrant and long. Best from 2024 through 2050. 500 cases made.—B.S.”
William Kelley – Wine Advocate 95 points “The 2016 Chambertin-Clos de Bèze Grand Cru is also showing superbly, offering up aromas of cassis, grilled meats, pungent spices and a savory bass-note reminiscent of oyster sauce. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied, rich and fleshy, with velvety structuring tannins, succulent acids and a long, expansive finish. It isn’t quite as multidimensional or complete as this year’s spectacular Ouvrées Rodin bottling, but it’s a very fine Clos de Bèze.”
Stephen Tanzer 94-97 points “Bright, dark red-ruby. Knockout sappy nose combines black raspberry, crushed rock and white pepper. Boasts remarkable intensity and clarity–not to mention class–to its flavors of raspberry, spices and pungent minerals. Wonderfully sappy and dense but almost magically light on its feet. This sharply delineated wine finishes with ineffable rising perfume and outstanding length. This wine manages to combine the best traits of Faiveley’s other Gevrey grand crus–not to mention the finest qualities of the 2016 vintage–in an utterly weightless package.”
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Domaine Faiveley Corton ‘Clos des Cortons’ Faiveley Monopole Grand Cru, Cote de Beaune 2016 750ML ($249.95) $219 special
Stephen Tanzer 95-98 points “Bright ruby. Fruit-driven aromas of crushed black cherry and dark raspberry convey outstanding pungent lift. Incredibly concentrated, sappy and primary, conveying outstanding juicy purity and compelling thickness to its dark fruit and violet flavors. At once hugely powerful and utterly seamless, this wine finishes with great spicy length and lift. A real essence of Burgundy–and likely to evolve gracefully for 25 years or more.”
William Kelley – Wine Advocate 95 points “The 2016 Corton Grand Cru Clos des Cortons Faiveley is another cuvée that is showing superbly from bottle, revealing an attractive bouquet of ripe red berry fruit, orange rind, wood smoke, espresso roast and dark chocolate that’s framed by a deft touch of classy new oak. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied, satiny and lavish, with a deep and layered core, excellent concentration, vibrant acids and a long, beautifully defined finish. This is one of the finest rendition of the Clos des Cortons Faiveley produced under the new regime.”
Only eight bottles available
Domaine Faiveley Latricieres-Chambertin Grand Cru, Cote de Nuits 2016 750ML ($299.95) $249 special
William Kelley – Wine Advocate 95 points “One of the more reserved wines in the range, the 2016 Latricières-Chambertin Grand Cru unfurls in the glass with a youthfully reticent bouquet of dark wild berry fruit, licorice, coniferous forest floor, grilled meats and spices. On the palate, the wine is medium to full-bodied, with an elegantly satiny attack and a deep, immensely concentrated mid-palate that’s framed by ripe tannins and brisk acids, concluding with a long and expansive finish. This is an understated but profound Latricières which numbers among Faiveley’s best in 2016.”
Burghound 93-95 points “(from a very large 1.21 ha parcel). Here too the wood treatment is subtle yet just prominent enough to warrant pointing out on the cool, pure and notably more sauvage nose of both red and dark wild berry and earth scents. There is a really lovely sense of underlying tension suffusing the much more mineral-driven middle weight flavors that are not quite as rich but notably more precise on the chiseled and wonderfully refined finish. Textbook. (93-95)/2031+.”
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