Saturday, May 21st, 2016
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Featurette: Mugnier Clos de la Marèchale; Saint Cosme: New Prices; Delas Freres – Current and Winery-Cellared Releases; Big Pink: Large Format Rose Wines; Burgundy Previews: Domaine Vincent Girardin, Roulot, and Domaine Mongeard-Mugneret; Diamond Creek 2013 Super Pricing; Karthauserhof: Riesling for Finesse-Seekers; Staff Pick: Paolo Bea Sagrantino; Late Breaking News from Piedmont: Bartolo Mascarello Barolo 2011 & New Releases from Roberto Voerzio
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Jacques-Frédéric Mugnier
Clos de la Marèchale
The mere name Jacques-Frédéric Mugnier evokes pleasure for the senses: silk and velvet, seductive Côte de Nuits perfume, brilliant, rich reds. Clive Coates describes Mugnier’s wines as showing “great purity, intensity and finesse,” with no more than one-fifth new oak barrels. The 150-year-old family estate sits in Chambolle-Musigny, and most of its holdings lie in that village, including a hectare of Le Musigny, which Mugnier makes famously. But the great extent of Mugnier’s vines, roughly ten of its fourteen hectares, composes its premier cru monopole Clos de la Marèchale, in Nuits-Saint-Georges.
Clos de la Marèchale wine represents some of the village’s finest, especially in the gentle hands of Frédéric Mugnier. Not too tannic, yet demanding time in bottle, the Clos de la Marèchale treats the palate with exquisite texture, while delivering notes of raspberry, violet, humus and spice. In this wine, Mugnier offers the robustness of Nuits-Saint-Georges with a fine Chambolle touch.
Jacques-Frédéric Mugnier Clos de la Marèchale, Nuits-Saint-Georges 2011 750ML ($109.95) $89 special, 33 bottles available
Antonio Galloni 91+ points “Plums, tobacco and smoke are some of the notes that inform the 2011 Nuits-Saint-Georges Clos de La Maréchale. Underlying veins of graphite and minerals give the 2011 much of its energy. I very much like the sense of contrasts here. At times, the Clos de La Maréchale is wild, while at others it oozes with polish and sophistication. Clos de La Maréchale remains the hidden jewel in Mugnier’s range. Because of its relatively large production, it can often be found in the market at a reasonable price without too much effort.”
Stephen Tanzer –Vinous 91+? points “Good bright, dark red. Very rich, chocolatey nose. Rich and ripe but at the same time saline and classically dry; much more backward than the Fuees. Slightly disjointed today, with a candied quality juxtaposed with fresh herbs and a menthol reserve. Finishes with substantial tannins that call for patience. Less pliant than the Chambolle bottlings here.”
Burghound 90-92 points “A pure and appealingly fresh nose of relatively elegant red berry fruit is liberally laced with earth and spice hints. There is a lilting mouth feel to the energetic, intense and equally pure medium-bodied flavors that possess plenty of that beguiling sense of underlying tension that makes wines like this so refreshing. There isn’t the class of the Fuées but this is really very good plus I very much like the balance and harmony of the firm and lingering finish.” BH
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Mid-West, East & South
Summer Shipping Saver
For the summer season we are offering
UPS Three Day Select Service for the price of UPS Ground
for shipments normally travelling 4 or more business days.
Free service upgrade only applies on single orders shipped during the promotional period.
Additional fees will apply to orders held for any reason until after the promotional period
and shipped by Three Day Select.
Offer not valid on pre-arrival items that arrive after the promotional period.
Don’t forget about our other current shipping promos:
We offer flat rate shipping on any size single order / single shipment
-to Oregon for $17,
-Washington & Idaho for $20,
-and California for $25
These rates do not apply to orders held in storage here for any reason.
Multiple orders consolidated into one shipment
do not qualify for flat rate shipping.
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Saint Cosme: New Prices
Arriving Late June
Across 15 generations, the Barroul family has tended the vines of Saint Cosme, the oldest estate in all of Gigondas. Louis Barroul has been at the helm for just shy of twenty years, overseeing fifteen hectares of vines with an average vine age of sixty years.
These wines have been a hot-ticket item across past vintages and we’re thrilled to offer a wide range, all listed below and arriving in June:
Saint Cosme Cotes du Rhone 2015 1.5L ($29.95) $24 pre-arrival special
Winery note “This wine epitomizes what should always be the essence of a true wine. One of the two properties from which grapes are sourced is owned by a childhood friend and the other belongs to my cousins. The blend of Syrah from Vinsobres with Syrah from Villafranchian terraces in Gard always produces wonderful balance, fleshiness and finesse. You may get to know the 2015 vintage through this wine – the oxblood colour, the depth, sappy character and wonderful round tannins for instance. You can easily sense the intensity with which fruit was imbued in 2015, a truly superb vintage. Successfully ripened grapes combined with freshness and our Syrah vines loved a hot July in 2015. This is exemplified in the magnificent wines produced in 2015 in the northern Rhone valley. The whole point of our Côtes du Rhône is to offer an early drinking wine that also has very good ageing capacity. I recently tasted the 2007 again which was really complex and still young. Welcome to 2015, the finest vintage since 2010. Blackcurrant, camphor, truffle, rose and blueberry.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Saint Cosme Cotes du Rhone Blanc 2015 750ML ($19.95) $16 pre-arrival special
Winery note “The 2015 whites are structured with length yet also good freshness. The aromatic spectrum is characterized by ripeness, the wine is very open and reveals itself easily. Picpoul demonstrated its significance more than ever this year. Without it, we would have been totally unable to produce a balanced white. Also, the varietal has the ability to support the other grapes, without overshadowing them – it always takes a back seat to the expressive varieties Marsanne and Viognier. Basically, Picpoul is a real gentleman – it can play the bagpipes, but does not, as one famous French comedian once said. Pineapple, apricot, peach, violet, blackcurrant bud and licorice.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Chateau de Saint Cosme Cotes du Rhone Le Poste Blanc 2014 750ML ($49.95) $39 pre-arrival special
Jeb Dunnuck-Wine Advocate 90 points “Coming all from the second terrace of the le Poste vineyard in Gigondas (there’s no white wines allowed under the Gigondas AOC, so this is released as a Cotes du Rhone), the 2014 Cotes du Rhone Le Poste Blanc is 100% Clairette, from vines planted in 1963, that’s raised all in older barrels. It offers terrific notes of mulled pears, buttered citrus, lemon curd and a kiss of minerality as well as medium-bodied richness, lively acidity and outstanding length. It’s beautiful now, but this cuvee also ages gracefully and has a broad drink window.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Saint Cosme Saint-Joseph 2014 750ML ($31.95) $24 pre-arrival special
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 91-93 points “(sourced from Malleval): Inky ruby. Strongly perfumed aromas of blackberry, boysenberry and smoky minerals carry a subtle peppery overtone. Seamless, pliant and gently sweet, offering concentrated dark berry and cola flavors and a touch of star anise on the back half. Gains richness with air and finishes very long and smoky, displaying building tannins and a late suggestion of olive. There’s an intriguing umami character to this wine that should make it very flexible at the table.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Saint Cosme Cote Rotie 2014 750ML ($69.95) $49 pre-arrival special
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 92-94 points “(made, as usual, from vineyards in the Côte Brune): Opaque ruby. Vibrant, sharply focused black and blue fruits on the nose, complicated by peppery spice and mineral notes. Lithe and precise, showing strong lift to the intense blueberry, violet pastille and spicecake flavors. Picks up a smoky quality with air and finishes sweet, seamless and very long, with sneaky tannins adding shape and grip.”
Jeb Dunnuck-Wine Advocate 89-91 points “The 2014 Cote Rotie is a solid step up from the Crozes Hermitage and St Joseph releases. Fermented with 100% stems and aged in 30% new barrels, it has a crazily perfumed bouquet of rose garden, peppery, stems, black raspberries and sweet oak. This gives way to a medium-bodied, nicely concentrated Cote Rotie that has solid mid-palate depth, good freshness and a great finish. It should have 10-15 yeas. of overall longevity.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Saint Cosme Chateauneuf-du-Pape 2012 750ML ($49.95) $39 pre-arrival special
Case-6 Saint Cosme Chateauneuf-du-Pape 2012 750ML ($239.95) $219 pre-arrival special (that’s only $36.50 /bottle!)
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 92 points “Opaque ruby. Deep, smoke-accented dark berry and floral scents are lifted by a note of peppery spice. Smoky and sweet in the mouth, offering intense blueberry and cassis flavors and a hint of candied violet. Suggests the north in its fruit profile, finishing with very good punch and length and velvety, late-arriving tannins.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $54
Saint Cosme Crozes-Hermitage 2014 750ML ($29.95) $21.90 pre-arrival special
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 91-93 points “Bright violet. Lively, mineral-laced dark berry aromas are complicated by hints of floral oils and peppery spices. Silky and seamless on the palate, offering gently sweet black raspberry and violet pastille flavors that become deeper and fleshier with air. Sappy and graceful in character, closing with strong thrust and silky tannins.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Chateau de Saint Cosme Cotes du Rhone Les Deux Albion 2014 750ML ($21.95) $16.60 pre-arrival special
Jeb Dunnuck-Wine Advocate 88-90 points “The 2014 Cotes du Rhone les Deux Albions has surprising density and depth of fruit in the vintage. Blackberries, currants, licorice, garrigue and pepper all emerge from this medium-bodied, sweetly fruited, charming, forward and delicious beauty. It will drink well right out of the gate.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Chateau de Saint Cosme Gigondas 2014 750ML ($39.95) $29 pre-arrival special
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 90-92 points “Brilliant ruby. Smoky cherry, boysenberry and potpourri scents show very good clarity and pick up a spicy quality with aeration. Intense red and blue fruit flavors are complicated by a floral pastille nuance. Finishes on a gently tannic note, delivering very good energy and spicy thrust. All of the Valbelle fruit was included in this bottling in 2014.”
Jeb Dunnuck-Wine Advocate 89-91 points “Checking in as a blend of 65% Grenache, 20% Mourvedre and 15% Syrah, the 2014 Gigondas is a rock solid effort in a difficult vintage. Offering the classic graphite, camphor, mineral and darker fruit that’s the hallmark of this estate, it’s medium to full-bodied, nicely concentrated and has a tight, backwards, age-worthy feel. Give bottles 3-4 years of cellaring and drink through 2029.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Chateau de Saint Cosme Gigondas Hominis Fides 2014 750ML ($99.95) Was $79, Now $69 pre-arrival special
Jeb Dunnuck-Wine Advocate 92-94+ points “What will mostly likely end up being the wine of the vintage is the 2014 Gigondas Hominis Fides. From a single vineyard located just down the hill from the estate, fermented with 100% whole clusters and aged all in Burgundy barrels, it offers sensational notes of crushed rock, graphite, dried rose petals and licorice in a medium to full-bodied, elegant, seamless style that hides considerable tannic grip. It’s a beautiful wine that will still be drinking nicely in 2034.”
Josh Raynolds- Vinous 92-94 points “Bright ruby-red. Intense red berry preserve, incense and floral pastille scents are sharpened by suggestions of smoky minerals and white pepper. Sweet, penetrating and vibrant, offering concentrated raspberry and bitter cherry flavors and a suave spicecake nuance. Shows excellent clarity and lift on the finish, which is firmed by silky tannins and a repeating mineral note.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Chateau de Saint Cosme Gigondas Le Claux 2014 750ML ($99.95) Was $79, Now $69 pre-arrival special
Jeb Dunnuck-Wine Advocate 92-94 points “The most mineral-driven in the lineup, the 2014 Gigondas le Claux is almost 100% Grenache, and was fermented with 100% stems and aged in Burgundy barrels. Freshly crushed rocks, black currants, forest floor and truffle notes all flow beautifully to a medium to full-bodied, layered, sexy and nicely concentrated Gigondas that has enough fruit to drink well on release, yet the structure, balance and depth to evolve for 10-15 years. It’s an undeniable success in the vintage.”
Josh Raynolds- Vinous 92-94 points “Vivid ruby-red. Highly perfumed red fruit liqueur, potpourri and Asian spice scents show impressive clarity and vivacity. Sappy, tangy and precise, offering lively raspberry and floral pastille flavors and a touch of spicecake. Closes on a smoky mineral note, displaying superb focus, silky tannins and emphatic, floral-driven persistence.”
Chateau de Saint Cosme Gigondas Le Poste 2014 750ML ($99.95) Was $79, Now $69 pre-arrival special
Jeb Dunnuck-Wine Advocate 92-94 points “The most pretty, elegant and finesse-driven of the single vineyard releases, the 2014 Gigondas le Poste offers more floral notes as well as ample cassis, violets and cracked pepper. From a terraced vineyard located just beside the estate, I love its tannin quality, as well as its purity of fruit, perfect balance and clean, lengthy finish. I always find slightly less concentration and density in this cuvee, yet more purity and finesse, and this holds true in 2014 as well.”
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 91-93 points “Deep ruby. Powerful, smoke-accented aromas of dark berries and incense, complicated by suave floral pastille and woodsmoke nuances. Fleshy and deeply concentrated, showing impressive depth to the densely packed red and blue fruit flavors, which are lifted by juicy acidity. The smoky note repeats on a youthfully tannic finish that shows impressive energy, power and thrust.”
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Delas Freres
Current and Winery-Cellared Releases
The Les Bessards bottling is the top cuvee from the 160 year-old winery, Delas Freres. It is a selection of the oldest parcels in the heart of the hill of Hermitage. The wine is only produced in exceptional years exclusively from hand-harvested Syrah. Hermitage wines are known for their ability to age for decades – so it’s a rare treat to encounter a matured, winery-cellared example of such pedigree.
We are proud to offer the 2004 Les Bessards from Delas Freres:
Delas Freres Hermitage Les Bessards 2004 750ML ($199.95) $149 special
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 94 points “Ruby-red. Very pungent, deep aromas of tobacco- and underbrush-laced red and blackcurrant. Powerful and rich, showing impressive sweetness to its potent cassis and blackberry flavors. Really stains the palate, finishing with exceptional purity and mineral tones. Whatever tannins are here (and you know there are plenty) are completely absorbed by the sheer fruit mass.”
Winery Cellar Released!
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $179.99
More Winery-Cellared Bottlings and New Releases
Also Available from Delas Freres:
Delas Freres Hermitage Domaine des Tourettes-Marquise de la Tourette 2013 750ML ($119.95) $89 special
Wine Advocate 94 points “One of the gems in the vintage is the 2013 Hermitage Domaine des Tourettes, which comes from both the Bessards and Grandes Vignes lieux-dits on Hermitage Hill. Completely destemmed, then vinified in stainless steel and concrete tanks, the wine is aged 18 months in 30% new French oak; it offers terrific notes of dark fruits, graphite and ample minerality in a full-bodied, layered, ripe profile. It’s more approachable than the Les Bessards, yet will still have three decades of longevity.”
Delas Freres Hermitage Les Bessards 2013 750ML ($249.95) $199 special
Wine Advocate 94+ points “Closed, tight and backwards, the 2013 Hermitage les Bessards is a big, full-bodied, burly wine that offers first rate purity in its black raspberry, ozone, liquid rock, and creosote-like bouquet. It has plenty of material and density, but will need 7-8 years of bottle age to become approachable. As normal, it comes all from the “Bas de Coteau” portion of the Bessards lieu-dit, was completely destemmed and saw 18 months in 30% new French oak.”
Delas Freres Crozes-Hermitage Le Clos 2004 750ML ($59.95) $49 special
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 89 points “Medium red. Strong mineral notes accent fresh cherry and earthier tobacco and floral aromas. Solid and firmly structured, with a racy quality to the bright cherry and rhubarb flavors. This should age very well.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Delas Freres Crozes-Hermitage Le Clos 2006 750ML ($59.95) $49 special
Robert Parker 92 points “The stunning, dense ruby/purple-tinged 2006 Crozes-Hermitage Les Clos exhibits smoky, roasted meat, garrigue, blackberry, cassis, new saddle leather, and charcoal aromas, sweet tannins, full-bodied power, and reserves of concentration and fruit. Consume it over the next decade. This cuvee has become one of the top three or four wines of the appellation. ”
Wine Spectator 92 points “Very racy, with dark fig and black cherry fruit crushed together, while hints of iron, mesquite and tobacco fill out the finish. Shows great drive and precision, despite its ample toast.”
Delas Freres Crozes-Hermitage Le Clos 2013 750ML ($69.95) $59 special
Wine Advocate 93+ points “Similar to the Domaine des Grands Chemins, yet with additional structure, the inky purple/ruby colored 2013 Crozes Hermitage le Clos has lots of minerality in its smoky, meaty, dark fruited profile. Medium to full-bodied, nicely concentrated, structured yet balanced, give it 2-4 years of cellaring and enjoy over the following decade or more.”
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Big Pink:
Large Format Rose Wines
Bodegas Muga Rosado, Rioja DOCa 2014 1.5L ($34.95) $28 special, 12 magnums available
Case-3 Bodegas Muga Rosado, Rioja DOCa 2014 1.5L ($81.95) $75 special, 2 three-packs available
Wine Advocate 88 points “The rosé from Muga called simply 2014 Rosado is a classical “clarete” from the Rioja Alta, produced with Garnacha and Viura and in 2014, exceptionally, a pinch of Mazuelo (Cariñena) all harvested at the same time. The full clusters are pressed directly and the different musts are blended and then put to ferment in well-seasoned oak vats where it matures in contact with the lees for some four months. It’s a pale, salmon-colored wine with a clean, focused nose and a light palate, that is pleasant, fresh and easy to drink. Bring out those lamb chops!” WA
Chateau de Lascaux Coteaux du Languedoc Rose 2014 1.5L ($39.95) $16.60 special, 2 magnums available
Case-6 Chateau de Lascaux Coteaux du Languedoc Rose 2014 1.5L ($219.95) $89 special, 4 six-packs available (that’s only $14.83/magnum!)
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 88 points “Light orange-pink. Pungent red berries and orange pith on the nose and in the mouth, with a subtle floral quality emerging as the wine opens up. Fleshy and dry, with an herbal flourish and a touch of bitterness emerging on the back half. Shows good power and cut on the finish, which leaves notes of anise and dried citrus fruits behind.” JR
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $16.99 for the 750ML bottle!
Peyrassol Cotes de Provence ‘Chateau Peyrassol’ Rose, Provence 2015 1.5L ($79.95) $69 special, 11 magnums available
Importer note “An elite cuvée from the Côtes de Provence appellation known for its brilliance in this category. The Château bottling is more full-bodied, more restrained, quite dignified; an elegant wine that should be married to the finest catches of the sea. Mostly Cinsault, with Grenache, Syrah and a touch of Rolle.”
Peyrassol Cotes de Provence ‘Commanderie de Peyrassol’ Rose, Provence 2015 1.5L ($59.95) $49 special, 6 magnums available
Importer note “Our workhorse rosé. The Commanderie cuvée is always a pale rose color, fresh and lively on the palate, nicely dry with a mineral finish. It is a blend of Grenache, Syrah and Cinsault, with a touch of Ugni Blanc.”
Lucien Crochet Sancerre Pinot Rose, Loire 2015 1.5L ($79.95) $59 special, 6 magnums available
Importer note “Gilles Crochet’s series of Sancerres are a defining element of our portfolio and stand at the pinnacle of this appellation. Likewise his Sancerre Pinot Rosé deservedly has its fanatical followers. This wine shows pristine balance, an artist’s “pink” to its tint and a discrete strawberry fruitiness that shows the charm of fine Pinot Noir. A wine that simply should not be missed!”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Chateau de Roquefort Cotes de Provence Corail Rose, Provence 2014 1.5L ($39.95) $29 special, 5 magnums available
Wine Enthusiast 91 points “Both smooth and beautifully fruity, this is a balanced, delicious wine. It is full of wild strawberry flavors, the freshest acidity and a crisp finish with great acidity. It’s a good choice with food and as an apéritif.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Arriving in June 2016
Domaine de la Bastide Blanche Bandol Rose, Provence 2015 1.5L ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival special
Winery note “[Translated] This Rose is a blend of Mourvèdre, Cinsault and Grenache. It is well built, with ample structure from the Mourvèdre, and an irresistible fleshy fruit flavor.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $64.99
Chateau Pradeaux Bandol Rose, Provence 2015 1.5L ($79.95) $59 pre-arrival special
Importer note “The Bandol Rosé from Pradeaux is perhaps the most serious wine of the entire category. Robust, rich, and complex with an ability to age gracefully, this wine is composed of 70% Mourvèdre and 30% Cinsault, taking its slight orange tint from the Mourvedre cépage.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
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Domaine Vincent Girardin
Domaine Vincent Girardin speaks for Burgundy’s Cȏte de Beaune: In these wines, some of the region’s greatest terroirs find their pure expression. Corton-Charlemagne, Meursault Les Genevrières, Puligny Les Folatières and Les Perrières… Part of the Girardin secret lies in sustainable vineyard practices. Synthetic herbicides and pesticides are prohibited, while composting and deep ploughing are happily employed, and the harvesting is manual with a thorough triage.
The balance of Girardin’s terroir-driven technique takes place in the winery. The vinification process is long and unrushed, using natural yeasts and taking place in-barrel on the fine lees. Up to a third new oak allows for delicious roundness and ageing ability, the percentage depending on each climat (vineyard). The pursuit of Domaine Vincent Girardin remains decidedly Burgundian: To capture and showcase the beauty, vivacity, and individuality of the Cȏte de Beaune’s celebrated villages and crus, without getting in the way.
Below are the four whites arriving in the fall – these are all the only listings in the USA today!
Vincent Girardin Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru 2014 750ML ($149.95) $119 pre-arrival special, ETA fall 2016
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 92-94 points “(an assemblage of parcels, including 60% from the cooler, minerally Pernand side of the appellation): Bright, pale yellow-green. Vivacious aromas of white peach, lime blossom, menthol and crushed rock. Dense, tactile and adamantly dry, with excellent acidity giving a light touch and an early tightness to the lemon and lime flavors. This is actually more saline and typical of the cru than the Quintessence even if it has less material. Finishes very dry, classic and long.”
Vincent Girardin Les Genevrieres, Meursault Premier Cru 2014 750ML ($99.95) $79 pre-arrival special, ETA fall 2016
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 91-93 points “(from degenerating 60-year-old vines planted on SO4 rootstock; picked on the early side): Bright yellow-green. Vibrant aromas of yellow peach, white pepper, juniper and white flowers. Sappy and savory, but also very dry and uncompromising despite its roundness. This distinctly salty wine conveys a strong impression of soil. Enologist Germain believes that Genevières is more complex than Perrières and that it’s the only Meursault premier cru to merit grand crus status.”
Vincent Girardin Les Folatieres, Puligny-Montrachet Premier Cru 2014 750ML ($119.95) $99 pre-arrival special, ETA fall 2016
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 91-94 points “(these vines are between 40 and 45 years old; Germain notes that although they never produce a big crop, the vines are still in good health and “have force”): Bright medium yellow. Captivating nose melds scents of peach, vineyard flowers, celery and anise, plus a whiff of petrolly reduction. Very fine-grained and light on its feet, with harmonious acidity and floral lift framing and drawing out the wine’s stone fruit flavors. Finishes fresh, tactile, firm and long.”
Vincent Girardin Les Perrieres, Puligny-Montrachet Premier Cru 2014 750ML ($99.95) $79 pre-arrival special, ETA fall 2016
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 91-93 points “(from very old vines on S04 rootstock): Pale, bright yellow. Lovely floral lift to the musky peach and nectarine aromas. Fine-grained, suave and floral, with noteworthy mineral energy giving the wine a weightless impression. Finishes firm, long and vibrant, with a saline element. Really enticing peach fruit here; this wine will merit a score at the high end of my range if it develops more complexity during the final months of its élevage.”
Bonus White Burgundy Pre-Arrival
Domaine Roulot Bourgogne Aligote 2013 750ML ($44.95) $39 pre-arrival special, ETA late June
Importer note “Fermented in stainless steel and bottled after one year. From clay and limestone vineyard soils with vines between 20-80 years in age.”
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Domaine Mongeard-Mugneret
No place in Burgundy can boast as many unparalleled grand crus as Vosne-Romanée. The village is just as full of quality producers, and quite a few carry the name Mugneret. Jean Mongeard-Mugneret began making wine just after the Second World War, as a 16-year-old boy, and benefitted from the tutelage of Henri Gouges. Jean’s son Vincent has been in command of the domaine’s 25 hectares, including 22 appellations, since 1997.
On offer are Côte de Nuits icons such as Grands-Echézeaux, Clos de Vougeot, and premier cru holdings in Nuits-Saint-Georges and Vosne-Romanée. The wines exhibit a fullness of body, color, and concentration. New oak accounts for roughly 40-60 percent of the barrels. But the vines are on average fifty years old, and the terroir’s character finds a rich expression chez Mongeard-Mugneret.
Domaine Mongeard-Mugneret Wines Arriving in Fall 2016:
Domaine Mongeard-Mugneret Chambolle-Musigny 2014 750ML ($69.95) $49 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 90 points “The 2014 Chambolle-Musigny Village comes from 0.31-hectares of 35-year-old vines. It has a pretty, very pure raspberry and maraschino cherry nose, nicely detailed with good intensity. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin, the acidity well judged, rounded in the mouth with a touch of white pepper spicing up the satisfying finish. This comes recommended – a very well-crafted village cru punching above its weight.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Domaine Mongeard-Mugneret Nuits-Saint-Georges Les Plateaux 2014 750ML ($69.95) $49 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 90 points “The 2014 Nuits Saint-Georges Les Plateaux comes from 45-year-old vines located just behind the Boisset winery. It has a clean and quite precise bouquet: raspberry and strawberry fruit, hints of marmalade tucked in just behind. The palate is medium-bodied, perhaps just a little rustic on the entry, but one can appreciate the freshness and the fineness of the tannin here, with tart red cherry and white pepper intermingling towards the bright and quite vivid finish. This is a very sound, well-crafted village cru that should offer a decade of drinking pleasure.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Domaine Mongeard-Mugneret Les Boudots, Nuits-Saint-Georges Premier Cru 2014 750ML ($99.95) $69 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 92 points “The 2014 Nuits Saint-Georges 1er Cru Les Boudots comes from 0.39-hectares of 30-year-old vine. It has a timid bouquet at first, one that demands encouragement from the glass. It eventually unfurls to reveal a precise, pretty, almost Vosne-like bouquet. The palate is very refined, again quite Vosne-like (which is no surprise as it is located on the same vein of terroir as Malconsorts), filigree tannin segueing into a precise, minerally finish. This is excellent and it may merit a higher score down the line.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Domaine Mongeard-Mugneret Les Orveaux, Vosne-Romanee Premier Cru 2014 750ML ($99.95) $69 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 91 points “The 2014 Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru Les Orveaux comes from the domaine’s 1.08-hectare of vines aged between 25 to 52 years that are orientated north to south. It has impressive delineation and terroir expression on the nose, quite feminine and understated at first, but unfurling in the glass to reveal attractive redcurrant, wild strawberry and cold limestone scents. The palate is medium-bodied with fine, quite firm tannin, crisp and tensile red berry fruit, and a taut, quite saline finish. This is worth seeking out – a Vosne-Romanée endowed with confidence.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $89.97
Domaine Mongeard-Mugneret Les Cras, Vougeot Premier Cru 2014 750ML ($99.95) $69 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 92 points “The 2014 Vougeot 1er Cru Les Cras comes from the domaine’s 0.32-hectares of 35-year-old vine, which includes partial whole bunch fermentation. It has a very able bouquet with vivid raspberry coulis, wild strawberry and mineral scents; there is a hint of mint developing in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin, quite tensile in the mouth, plenty of sappy red berry fruit and a long, sustained finish. This would be one of my picks from the domaine in this vintage.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Domaine Mongeard-Mugneret Grands Echezeaux Grand Cru 2014 750ML ($219.95) $159 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 94 points “The 2014 Grands Echézeaux Grand Cru comes from 1.44-hectares of 40- to 68-year-old vine and is matured entirely in new oak. It has a clean, pure and quite intense bouquet with dark plum, raspberry and rose petals scents that are beautifully defined. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin, good depth, a slight earthiness underneath the dark berry fruit mixed with black pepper and sage, fanning out gently towards the sturdy, truffle-tinged finish. Give this several years in the cellar, because it is a very well crafted and sophisticated Grands-Echézeaux.”
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Domaine Mongeard-Mugneret Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru 2014 750ML ($179.95) $135 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 91+ points “The 2014 Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru comes from the domaine’s 0.63-hectares of 45- to 50-year-old vines located in the lieu dit “Grand Maupertui” and “Quatier des Marei Haut” close to the château. It has a punchy, redcurrant, cranberry and raspberry-scented bouquet with a touch of leather originating from the new oak that will need three or four years to fully integrate. The palate is medium-bodied with chewy tannin on the entry, good depth, quite muscular for a Clos Vougeot, but with impressive persistence on the finish. I still found myself wanting just a little more to come through, so afford this a few years in bottle.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Domaine Mongeard-Mugneret Wines Available Here Now:
Domaine Mongeard-Mugneret Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru 2012 750ML ($179.95) $149 special, 17 bottles available
John Gilman 94+ points “Like the 2012 Echézeaux, the Clos Vougeot from Mongeard-Mugneret is supremely elegant out of the blocks this year. The superb bouquet is a mix of red plums, cocoa, cherries, gamebirds, a touch of nutskin, woodsmoke, a fine base of soil and spicy new wood. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied, pure and complex with a sappy core of fruit, excellent focus and balance, velvety tannins and great style and grace on the long and youthfully complex finish. A great bottle of Clos Vougeot in the making. 2025-2075.” JG
Domaine Mongeard-Mugneret Grands Echezeaux Grand Cru 2012 750ML ($219.95) $189 special, 22 bottles available
John Gilman 96+ points “The 2012 Grands Echézeaux from Domaine Mongeard-Mugneret is a great young wine and a very impressive example of just how special this vintage is in the Côte de Nuits. The exceptional and quite classic bouquet offers up scents of red and black plums, cocoa, duck, woodsmoke, a beautifully complex base of soil tones and a very suave base of vanillin oak. On the palate the wine is pure, full-bodied and quite plush and refined on the attack, with a sappy core of fruit, great soil signature, fine-grained tannins and a very long, tangy and utterly seamless finish. A great wine. 2025-2075.” JG
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2013 Diamond Creek Super Pricing
Diamond Creek Volcanic Hill Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2013 750ML ($229.95) $188 special
James Suckling 96 points “Lots of blackberries, plums and cherries on the nose. Full body, ultra-velvety tannins and a long, long finish. A broad and layered red with refined textures. Very long. Juicy. Riper than the Red Rock and Gravelly Meadow. Better in 2019. 608 cases made.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $222
Also available in limited quantities:
Diamond Creek Gravelly Meadow Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2013 750ML ($249.95) $219 special, 6 bottles available
James Suckling 98 points “The aromas to this wine are phenomenal with blueberry and blackberry. It is so perfumed and floral with violets, lilacs and roses. Full body, firm tannins and super silky tannins. Yet cool and racy. Minerally with stone, as it should be. Classic Diamond Creek style. Better in 2020 but a joy to taste. 430 cases made.”
Diamond Creek Red Rock Terrace Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2013 750ML ($239.95) $199 special, 6 bottles available
James Suckling 97 points “Aromas of blackberry, blueberry and warm stone. Full body, very layered. Perfectly fine tannins. Round and dense texture yet perfectly balanced. A pretty and joyous young wine. 537 cases made. Enjoy tasting but better in four or five years.”
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Karthäuserhof
Riesling for Finesse-Seekers
“…Our favorite was a mouthful: the Eitelsbacher Karthäuserhofberg spätlese trocken from Karthäuserhof in the Mosel, a complex, deep and energetic wine that offered just about everything we could want in a dry riesling.” – Eric Asimov, The New York Times
The history of the Karthäuserhof Estate dates back to the year 1335, when the Holy Roman Empire gifted the vineyards to Carthusian monks. When secularism hit under Napolean’s rule, the land was auctioned off in Paris and purchased by the family who owns it to this day.
The estate resides along the Ruwer River, a small tributary to the Mosel River. A mere 200 hectares lay under vine, making the Ruwer Valley among the smallest wine regions in all of Germany. The importer of Karthäuserhof for the US describes the area quite poetically: “(the area) feels like a dense, old pine forest. Vineyards seem something of an afterthought. The Ruwer is wild, as much a home to horses and wild boars as it is to vines and vineyards. With so many forests, the valley has a unique shadow-dotted quality to it.”
Soils across the 19 hectares which Karthäuserhof occupy consist of oxidized blue and gray slate. Under head winemaker Christian Vogt, the estate bottles a handful of distinct cuvees of various levels of ripeness; surprisingly enough, almost 70% of the estate’s production is of dry wines. Vogt worked under the incredibly esteemed Ludwig Breiling for many years, and Breiling continues to consult with Vogt.
In thumbing through the tasting notes from recent Karthäuserhof vintages, one thing is clear: these are serious, empirically age-worthy wines. We’re excited to carry a wide array of the estate’s wines, as listed below.
Karthäuserhof Wines Available Here Now:
Weingut Karthauserhof Eitelsbacher Karthauserhofberg Riesling Grosses Gewachs Trocken, Mosel 2013 750ML ($69.95) $49 special
Case-6 Weingut Karthauserhof Eitelsbacher Karthauserhofberg Riesling Grosses Gewachs Trocken, Mosel 2013 750ML ($359.95) $269 special (that’s only $44.83/btl!)
Weingut Karthauserhof Eitelsbacher Karthauserhofberg Riesling Grosses Gewachs Trocken, Mosel 2013 375ML ($39.95) $28 special
Wine Advocate 93 points “Very clear, discreet and refined on the nose – where the 2013 Eitelsbacher Karthauserhofberg Riesling GG displays fine stone and fruit aromas of lemons and green apples. Lean and vital but also intense, rich and juicy on the palate, this is a lovely pure, straightforward, piquant and very salty expression of the Karthäuserhofberg terroir and the 2013 vintage. This long-distance runner has more fruit intensity than the Edition and reveals a very fine raciness and a complex finish with lingering lemon aromas.” WA
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The next best bottle price is $64.99!
Weingut Karthauserhof Alte Reben Eitelsbacher Karthauserhofberg Riesling Spatlese Trocken, Mosel 2014 750ML ($39.95) $33 special
Wine Advocate 90 points “The 2014 Riesling Trocken Alte Reben (officially Eitelsbacher Karthäuserhofberg Riesling Spätlese trocken, AP #8) offers a deep and ripe, as well as very fine and elegant bouquet. Intense and mineral on the palate, this is a stunningly complex and persistent Riesling with power, structure, finesse and a lingering salinity and complexity. Good aging potential.”
Jean Fisch & David Rayer, Mosel Fine Wines #28: “Harvested with a refreshingly low 85° Oechsle, this deliciously light wine (it only has 11.5% of alcohol) is still on the rough and abrupt side of life but it will reward one with great show of white fruits, cassis and white minerals after a few years. 2019-2027+”
John Gilman, View From The Cellar #56: “The 2014 Alte Reben Riesling Trocken from Weingut Karthäuserhof is an outstanding example of the vintage. This excellent wine delivers a fine bouquet bread fruit, pink grapefruit, wild yeasts, lovely smokiness, a fine base of slate minerality and a topnote of citrus peel. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied and rock solid at the core, with outstanding focus and grip, a fairly primary personality and superb length and balance on the young, but very promising finish.”
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Weingut Karthauserhof Eitelsbacher Karthauserhofberg Riesling Auslese, Mosel 2014 750ML ($59.95) $49 special
Weingut Karthauserhof Eitelsbacher Karthauserhofberg Riesling Auslese, Mosel 2014 375ML ($39.95) $31.90 special
Weingut Karthauserhof Eitelsbacher Karthauserhofberg Riesling Auslese, Mosel 2014 1.5L ($119.95) $89 special
Wine Advocate 89+ points “Deeply yellow in color, the 2014 Riesling Karthäuserhofberg Auslese (AP #12) displays an intense yet pretty clear and piquant, yellow-fleshed fruit and botrytis on the nose (pineapples). Sweet and concentrated on the palate, with a racy acidity (10.8 grams per liter of total acidity!) and bittersweet grapefruit flavors in the finish, this is a classic Ruwer Auslese. It is dense and pretty rich – the sugar free extract of 39.9 grams per liter – but neither too sweet (67 grams per liter of residual sugar) nor too opulent (8% alcohol). You can easily drink it, but shouldn’t do so before 2020. The aftertaste detects that the botrytis could have been selected even more carefully.”
Jean Fisch & David Rayer, Mosel Fine Wines #28: “Vineyard selections of botrytis-affected grapes only delivered 500 liters of Auslese harvested with a comparatively low 94° Oechsle. This Auslese starts off with a beautifully complex nose of fresh fruits, with pineapple, star anise and spices providing depth to the experience. The wine is superbly playful on the palate, where mouth-watering acidity adds to the aromatic precision. A riper side comes through in the finish tough, with almond, saffron and honey giving the wine a definitive Auslese GK style. 2024-2044”
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Weingut Karthauserhof Eitelsbacher Karthauserhofberg Riesling Kabinett Feinherb 2014 750ML ($31.95) $26 special
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Weingut Karthauserhof Eitelsbacher Karthauserhofberg Riesling Kabinett 2014 750ML ($34.95) $29 special
Weingut Karthauserhof Eitelsbacher Karthauserhofberg Riesling Kabinett 2014 1.5L ($89.95) $69 special
Wine Advocate 91 points “The 2014 Riesling Karthäuserhofberg Kabinett is a very clear, bright and delicate Riesling of great finesse and lightness. Lovely juiciness. The acidity is rather smooth, respectively and perfectly integrated into the round and elegant texture. This Riesling is very clear, bright and light. with great finesse and lightness. Ruwer style. Bottled with 8% alcohol and 44 grams of residual sugar.”
Jean Fisch & David Rayer, Mosel Fine Wines #28: “This Kabinett harvested with 82° Oechsle was nearly completely fermented with ambient yeasts. The wine is quite backward, but hints already at gorgeous cassis and pineapple on the palate. The comparatively low level of residual sugar (44 g/l) adds to the irresistible mouth-watering feel in the finish. This is a Ruwer classic in the making, with the telltale freshness and liveliness which made the success of the Estate over the years. 2024-2039″
John Gilman, View From The Cellar #56: “The 2014 Eitelsbacher Karthäuserhofberg Kabinett is a terrific young Kabinett in this vintage that has produced some many excellent examples of this Prädikat level. The wine wafts from the glass in a very impressively complex and utterly classic constellation of green apple, a touch of white cherry, complex minerality, a touch of petrol, white flowers, a bit of wild yeasts, lemon zest and a whiff of ocean breeze in the upper register. On the palate the wine is medium- bodied, mineral and beautifully filigreed, with a nice core of fruit, bright, ripe acids, excellent focus and grip and a very long, dancing and youthful finish of excellent potential. A paradigm of its Prädikat level. 2015-2035+”
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Weingut Karthauserhof ‘Ruwer’ Riesling Trocken, Mosel 2014 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 special
Jean Fisch & David Rayer, Mosel Fine Wines #28: “This delivers a clean feel of grapefruit, herbs, spices and fresh fruits. The wine is still on the sharp and reduced side on the palate and is best left alone until next year to give it a chance to flesh out and gain in aromatic zest and fruity presence. 2016-2018”
John Gilman, View From The Cellar #56: “The basic estate Riesling Trocken from Karthäuserhof is really an excellent basic bottling from the 2014 vintage, as it offers up impressive focus and cut in its medium-bodied, dry and quite complex format. The lovely nose is still on the young side, but deep and pure, as it wafts from the glass in a mix of grapefruit, wild yeasts, lemongrass, petrol, slate and dried flowers. On the palate the wine is medium-bodied, crisp and still fairly primary in personality, with an impressive core of fruit, excellent cut and grip for the vintage and a long, youthful and beautifully balanced finish. 2015-2035.”
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Weingut Karthauserhof Eitelsbacher Karthauserhofberg Riesling Spatlese, Mosel 2014 750ML ($49.95) $39 special
Weingut Karthauserhof Eitelsbacher Karthauserhofberg Riesling Spatlese, Mosel 2014 1.5L ($99.95) $79 special
Wine Advocate 90+ points “The 2014 Riesling Karthäuserhofberg Spätlese (AP #9) offers a very clear and complex, mineral-scented bouquet of ripe white fruits. Juicy and piquant on the palate, with grip, raciness and the lean and crystalline Karthäuserhofberg character, this is a pretty complex and persistent Spätlese with grip and a prominent crispiness. It should be cellared for at least another 5-10 years. Very good aging potential.”
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Weingut Karthauserhof Eitelsbacher Karthauserhofberg Tyrells Edition Riesling Trocken, Mosel 2014 750ML ($49.95) $39 special
Jean Fisch & David Rayer, Mosel Fine Wines #28: “Already at this early stage, this gorgeously light wine (with only 11.5% of alcohol) delivers beautiful scents of cassis, white flowers and minerals on the nose and a superbly playful feel on the palate. The finish is long and deliciously tart. Despite the hint of fruits, this is still only at the beginning of its life and lovers of racy Riesling will really enjoy this most in a few years’ time. 2019-2029”
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Weingut Karthauserhof Eitelsbacher Karthauserhofberg Schieferkristall Riesling Kabinett Feinherb, Mosel 2012 750ML ($37.95) $29 special
Mosel Fine Wines 91 points “Schieferkristall refers to the Kabinett-styled wines at the Estate (the reference to Kabinett is pushed to the back label). A whiff of wild yeasts gives quickly way to a very attractive and floral bouquet of rose-water, grapefruit and mint. The round and fruity feel from the residual sugar (20 g/l) is nicely balanced by some zesty acidity and a pure and spicy feel in the long finish. This is a deliciously fresh and lively off-dry Riesling made with a small 9.5% of alchohol. 2014-2020”
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Weingut Karthauserhof Eitelsbacher Karthauserhofberg Riesling Spatlese, Mosel 2012 750ML ($34.95) $24 special
Mosel Fine Wines 92 points “This wine is quite open and expressive at this early stage and explodes with juicy flavors of yellow peach, quince and some flowers on the palate. This offers everything one could expect from a juicy Spatlese. The fact that it does deliver the goods without too much richness (it has technically less than 60 g/l of residual sugar) makes it utterly delicious also at this early stage. 2017-2032” MFW
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The next best price is $34.99
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Staff Pick:
Paolo Bea Sagrantino
Umbria, the heartland of Italy: the only region of Italy that is in fact surrounded by Italy. Its rolling hills and intermittent plains are something of an agricultural paradise. Montefalco is said to be the balcony of Umbria; an ancient hilltop fortess village. And the nearby Montefalco hills are the center of Umbrian wine tradition, with pre-Roman origins. For all of its prized olive oils and sometimes prized wines, the greatest “export” from Umbria may well be the particular theology of the Franciscan Order, founded in 13th Century Assisi, 20 miles to the north from Montefalco.
The Bea Family in Montefalco pre-dates the 16th Century. For all the impact that Paolo Bea has had on the world of wine, the estate is tiny and not specifically devoted to wine. Of total 40 acres only one-third is vineyard. On the rest; olives, fruits, vegetables, and livestock. All undertaken with Paolo’s organicist passion for earth, nature, and sustenance. Today Paolo is looking ahead to his 80th birthday, and guiding his sons Giuseppe (agronomy) and Giampiero (winemaking) in the continuation of their family base and their unique wines. It is not hard to see shades of Saint Francis in Paolo Bea. They both restored respect for all nature and the role of humility within a world that had been institutionalized to consider man separate and supreme. Those institutions being the medieval church in the case of Francis and late 20th century ag science & corporate farming in the case of Paolo. Neither of them invented, rather they each restored a sensibility that had been cast aside.
Paolo Bea Pagliaro Secco, Sagrantino di Montefalco DOCG 2008 750ML ($89.95) $79 special, 24 bottles available
Staff note: “Sagrantino di Montefalco is a brawny, tannic wine. Bea’s interpretation of the grape entails careful winemaking with an aim to limit intervention. There’s so much structure here, with a musical balance of muscle and grace – the smoke and spice conjure thoughts of campfire and fragrant cigar boxes, while a coquettish blend of cranberry, dark chocolate, granite-tinged minerals, and freshly-tilled earth dances across the tongue.
“The surest bet is to decant the wine, taking little sips as you revisit over the course of two to three days, perhaps more for the uber-curious. Listen close to the wine and it ought to disclose some fun, surprising secrets. With patience and some great, simple food, this may very well knock your socks off.” -Tyler
Distributor note: “When the Rosenthal team visited Bea in March of this year, they were treated to the best tasting of any visits to the estate up to this point. Giampiero Bea had lined up for them all 14 of the red wines he produced in 2008, 2009 and 2010 (as well as some of his whites), he tasted them through the wines, and then they spent probably another hour afterwards going back and forth, re-tasting, discussing the wines, and making additional notes. I am quite confident in saying the Pagliaro is the clear standout of Bea’s four 2008s (his other three 08s, San Valentino, Rosso de Veo and Pipparello, have already come and gone). The Importer’s hand-scrawled tasting note included “The best 08. More stable, fresher. Spicy. Finer. Impressive. Quite nice. Savory.”
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Late Breaking News:
Bartolo Mascarello Barolo 2011
Bartolo Mascarello Barolo DOCG 2011 750ML ($149.95) $133 pre-arrival special, ETA May 27th
Wine Advocate 94 points “The 2011 Barolo is a very expressive wine with more determination and muscle than you usually get in the wines of Bartolo Mascarello. The bouquet opens to plush flavors of red fruit and cherry with grilled herb, tobacco and mineral delineation. Its structure is yielding and round and the finish is ripe with soft fruit flavors. Make no mistake, it doles out complexity and an ethereal sense of balsam herb, cola and licorice that is the hallmark of this historic estate with a tiny garage winery in the town of Barolo. The alcohol reading here is 14.5% compared to 14% in the 2010 vintage.”
Antonio Galloni 93+ points “Maria-Theresa Mascarello’s 2011 Barolo is one of the more refined wines of the year, with less size than many other 2011s, and plenty of immediacy. Racy and giving on the palate, but with good underlying structure, the 2011 impresses for its juxtaposition of the riper elements of the vintage and more classic attributes that are such signatures at this address. Bright red stone fruits, strawberries and crushed flowers are some of the notes that grace the exquisite finish. The 2011 is an excellent choice to drink while some of the more ageworthy recent vintages sleep in the cellar. I will not be surprised to see the 2011 improve from where it is today.”
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New Releases from Roberto Voerzio
Arriving in September
Roberto Voerzio Barolo Sarmassa, Barolo DOCG 2012 1.5L ($599.95) $499 pre-arrival special
James Suckling 99 points “Terrific aromas of pure strawberry and orange peel. Spanish cedar undertones. Full body, perfect balance of ripe fruit and lemon with orange peel. Hints of milk chocolate. Vibrant finish. This will be fabulous in three or four years but difficult not to drink it now.”
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Roberto Voerzio Rocche dell’Annunziata Torriglione, Barolo DOCG 2011 1.5L ($599.95) $519 pre-arrival special
Antonio Galloni 94 points “The 2011 Barolo Torriglione is bright, lifted and gracious, with plenty of expressive red-fleshed fruit underpinned by the nervous tannins that are such a signature of this site. Cinnamon, mint, white pepper, crushed rose petals and red berries are all beautifully delineated in the glass. Although quite young, the Torriglione is all class through and through. A kick of nervous, youthful tannin adds character on the finish. I very much like the precision here. The Torriglione is bottled in magnum only and replaces the Capalot in the Voerzio range.”
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Roberto Voerzio San Francesco Fontanazza Nebbiolo Langhe 2012 750ML ($49.95) $39 pre-arrival special
Antonio Galloni 91 points “The 2012 Langhe Nebbiolo S. Francesco, Fontanazza is a very serious wine, and the most intriguing of these entry-level offerings. Expressive floral notes meld into expressive fruit in an exceptionally polished wine. Over the summer, I tasted the 2012 from tank after all the Barolos and it more than held its own, which is why I can say without hesitation that Voerzio’s Langhe Nebbiolo competes favorable with the vast majority of Barolos. It is that good.”
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Roberto Voerzio Rocche dell’Annunziata Torriglione, Barolo DOCG 2012 750ML ($299.95) $249 pre-arrival special
Antonio Galloni 94 points “The 2012 Barolo Rocche dell’Annunziata is one of the riper, racier wines in this range. Sweet floral notes meld into a core of red berries, mint and sweet spices. This is a very typical 2012 Barolo that already drinks well early. Expansive and voluptuous to the core, the Rocche is probably the first of these 2012s that I would choose to open. This is a very typical Barolo from one of La Morra’s finest sites.”
James Suckling 94 points “A fresh and clean Barolo with sweet cherry, cedar and light earth aromas and flavors. Full-bodied yet vibrant and clean. Light cedar and citrus undertone. Pretty sweet with ripe fruit.”
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Roberto Voerzio Brunate, Barolo DOCG 2012 750ML ($299.95) $249 pre-arrival special
James Suckling 97 points “Vivid aromas of ripe, almost dry strawberries with fresh roses. Perfumes transform in the glass. Full body plus dusty tannins that are velvety and caressing. Tangy finish. A rich and structured red with a long future. Better in 2020.”
Antonio Galloni 94 points “The 2012 Barolo Brunate wraps around the palate with striking depth. Creamy and expansive on the palate, the 2012 captures all the signatures of this site in a voluptuous, textured personality and depth. In 2012, Voerzio’s Brunate is a bit more red-toned than is typically the case, while the darker, more balsamic inflections typical of this site aren’t fully formed yet. As is often the case, the Brunate is soft and hushed on entry, then explodes through the mid-palate and finish with considerable intensity. This is the most embryonic of Voerzio’s 2012s. Hints of sage, lavender and dried flowers add the closing shades of nuance.”
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Roberto Voerzio Cerequio, Barolo DOCG 2012 750ML ($299.95) $249 pre-arrival special
James Suckling 97 points “This is a very perfumed red with cherry, strawberry and rose petal aromas that follow through to a full body, ultra-fine tannins and a fresh finish. Pretty and energetic acidity gives focus and backbone to the wine. So delicious already but better in 2021.”
Antonio Galloni 95 points “The 2012 Barolo Cerequio is arguably the most complete of these wines, as it brings together aromatic complexity, dense fruit and fabulous balance. All the elements flesh out in a rich, sumptuous Barolo endowed with real power and depth, yet there is plenty of the nuance that distinguishes Cerequio. There are a number of terrific wines in this lineup, but the Cerequio is the wine that seems to be the most dialed in today. With time in the glass, the intensity of both fruit and tannin simply continues to blossom.”
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Roberto Voerzio Wines Available Here Now
Roberto Voerzio Riserva Vecchie Viti dei Capalot e Brunate, Barolo DOCG 1999 1.5L ($599.95) $319 special, 1 magnum available
Stephen Tanzer 95+ points “Full, deep ruby-red. Restrained but highly complex nose melds strawberry, raspberry, currant, mocha and dried flowers; less exuberant today than the Samassa. But the sweetest and lushest in the mouth of these ’99s: hugely rich, creamy and seamless but with terrific supporting vinosity giving it a lightness of touch.” ST
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The next best price is $750.99
Roberto Voerzio Riserva Vecchie Viti dei Capalot e Brunate, Barolo DOCG 2000 1.5L ($499.95) $399 special, 1 magnum available
Stephen Tanzer 94 points “Highly complex aromas of raspberry, woodsmoke, spices, pepper and Havana tobacco. At once lush and sappy in the mouth, with the creamy sweetness of a fruit liqueur complemented by notes of tobacco, chocolate and mocha. Shows a distinctly roasted character without losing its balance or verve. Explosive, seamless Barolo that saturates the palate with fruit. Finishes with slow-building tannins and outstanding persistence.”ST
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The next best 750ML BOTTLE price is $650!
Roberto Voerzio Priavino Dolcetto d’Alba 2013 750ML ($27.95) $21.90 special, 6 bottles available
Antonio Galloni 89 points “Voerzio’s 2013 Dolcetto d’Alba Priavino is dark, fleshy and opulent. Leather, smoke and licorice add nuance to the dark fruit in this polished, voluptuous Dolcetto. The 2013 has closed down a bit since it was bottled, which shows just how serious of a wine this is. Over time, hints of lavender, violet and white pepper add notes, but like all the Voerzio wines, the Dolcetto is above all else a wine of texture.”
Roberto Voerzio Cerreto Barbera d’Alba 2012 750ML ($39.95) $36 special, 24 bottles available
James Suckling 92 points “Wow. A bright and exciting red with clementine, dark berry and lemon aromas and flavors. Full body, silky tannins and a long and flavorful finish. Excellent Barbera. Drink now.”
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Have a wonderful weekend!