September 12, 2015
Ganevat Special Feature; New Weekend – New Arrivals; Tuscan Treasures; Lafarge; Remelluri; St. Cosme – New Reviews; Tuscan Treasures Round Two
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New Arrival Special Feature
Jean Francois Ganevat 2010s
Jean Francois Ganevat Cotes du Jura ‘Grusse en Billat’ 2010 750ML ($99.95) $79 special
Wine Advocate 92-93+ points “I tasted both lots that will become Ganevat’s 2010 Cotes du Jura Chardonnay Grusses En Billat, from schistic but clay-rich soils situated on a high plateau and then from the steep slopes around it in the village of Grusse immediately east of Rotalier. The former portion displays pungent aromas and bright, mouthwatering, juicy palate persistence of salt-tinged tangerine and lemon with their pips; Chablis-like chicken and herb broth; and musky rose radish. There is a smoky, dusty, crushed stone overtone one also finds in Chablis, though the illusively mineral and musky aspects to the finish also put me in mind of a great, Grenache Gris-based Roussillon white, even though the present dense, sappy elixir boasts vibrant acidity. The steep slope lot from En Billat is almost single-mindedly chalky, stony, and smoky, but also a source of even more electro-charged acidity than its betrothed, as instantly demonstrated by an impromptu trial marriage in the glass that delivered positively shimmering persistence. This will be exciting to follow for at least a half dozen years.” DS
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Jean Francois Ganevat Cotes du Jura Les Chalasses Vieilles Vignes 2010 750ML ($119.95) $89 special
Wine Advocate 91-92+ points “From vines planted in 1902, Ganevat’s 2010 Cotes du Jura Chardonnay Les Chalasses Vieilles Vignes is predictably far less exuberantly fruity than his younger vines “Marnes Bleus” bottling from the same site, but also denser and sappier. That said, plenty of tangerine, peach, and pineapple informs a palate whose subtly oily texture heightens the wine’s sense of richness, while the bitterness of pits along with overtly stony notes contribute counterpoint to a memorably luscious and lingering finish. (Ganevat’s are wines whose personalities are even harder to get out of your head than they are to get off your palate!) I’d anticipate this being best enjoyed within 3-4 years of bottling but emphasize that I thus far lack significant experience with the bottle evolution of Ganevat wines.” DS
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Jean Francois Ganevat Cotes du Jura Cuvee Julien 2010 750ML ($89.95) $79 special
Wine Advocate 89-90 points “From what he calls a “pinot fin” selection planted not long after World War II, Ganevat’s 2010 Cotes du Jura Pinot Noir Cuvee Julien – which I assessed from tank just before bottling – went into its conical wooden fermentor with its stems having been removed by hand and with scissors! “It’s not supposed to be structured grand vin,” he cautions, “but rather about minerality, droiture, and the finesse of Pinot.” Well, it certainly wouldn’t have fooled me even without that introduction! But if you approach this the way you might a really top-notch Sancerre Pinot from old vines (say, Gerard Boulay’s rose or Edmond Vatan’s “red”) it may seem faintly familiar, not to mention distinctively delicious. Fresh sour cherry, rose hip, hibiscus, and toasted almond inhabit the nose and palate of this delicate, infectiously juicy libation whose salinity, piquancy, and tart fruit skin tang make for a delightfully exhilarating as well as persistent finish…” DS
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Also Available From Ganevat
Jean Francois Ganevat ‘Sul Q’, Jura NV 375ML ($99.95) $66 special, 2 half-bottles available
Importer note “A ‘sélections des grains nobles’ of Savagnin though SGN is not officially recognized in the Jura. 250 grams RS.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Jean Francois Ganevat Vieux Macvin du Jura NV 750ML ($69.95) $39 special, 7 bottles available
VinopolNote: Blend of 2/3 unfermented must of Savagnin and 1/3 Marc of Savagnin. Barrel aged for 8 years before bottling.
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $45.99
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Weekend New Arrivals
OREGON
Elk Cove Vineyards Pinot Gris, Willamette Valley 2014 750ML ($19.95) $16 special
Wine Enthusiast 92 points “Beautifully styled, this wine brings a solid blend of citrus, cucumber, tangerine and melon flavors. The length and balance are there for further aging, but the stunningly good flavors encourage near-term drinking.”
Drouhin Oregon – Row 503 Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2014 750ML ($21.95) $18 special
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Domaine Drouhin Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills 2013 750ML ($44.95) $36 special
Wine Enthusiast 90 points “A new, lower-priced cuvée for DDO, this uses both estate and purchased grapes. Chocolaty, soft and fresh, it is a graceful wine with generous raspberry and cherry fruit. Moderate acidity leads into flavors that are elegant and bright, with a gentle, lingering finish. Let it breathe for at least an hour for best results.” WE
FRANCE-BURGUNDY
Jean-Philippe Fichet Les Referts, Puligny-Montrachet Premier Cru 2012 750ML ($149.95) $119 special
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 92 points “Bright yellow-green. Captivating nose combines stone fruits, white truffle, minerals and spicy vanillin oak. Broad, sweet and seamless, with a lush texture perfectly supported by harmonious ripe acidity. Superconcentrated wine with a dusty impression of dry extract. Most impressive today on the unflagging finish. Delivers a compelling combination of breadth and energy.” ST
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $124.99
FRANCE-LOIRE
Domaine de Pallus Chinon Les Pensees de Pallus 2011 750ML ($24.95) $14.80 special
Wine Spectator 91 points “This has good depth, with a richness to the layers of damson plum, black cherry and red currant fruit, accented by notes of bouncy pepper, savory and olive. The finish lets a briar accent hang on. Should mellow with moderate cellaring. Drink now through 2018. 3,500 cases made.” WS
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $23
Philippe Alliet Chinon Vieilles Vignes 2011 750ML ($34.95) $26 special
Wine Advocate 91 points “The 2011 Chinon Vieilles Vignes is the top wine of Alliet; no other wine of this estate has a comparable finesse, elegance and balance. You might call it unspectacular, but to unite these three merits is much rarer than often frivolously claimed. Indeed, this seems to be an unspectacular wine since its spectacle only starts after you have finished the bottle and started to think to order another one for a business lunch. This authentic, spicy, joyful, black currant flavored, unpretentious 100% Cabernet Franc has everything a wine requires. And thus is not a high scorer, but leaves an empty glass.” SR
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
SPAIN
Bodegas Muga ‘Prado Enea’ Gran Reserva, Rioja DOCa 2006 750ML ($79.95) $59 special
Wine Advocate 96 points “The 2006 Prado Enea is a phenomenal bottle of traditional Rioja at its best. A blend of 70% Tempranillo, 20% Garnacha and the remaining 10% Mazuelo and Graciano aged for a long time in oak and bottled before release. This is a practice quite common from yesteryear, but that is a true rarity today. The technical data provided talks about incredible parameters, 14% alcohol and a pH of 3.39, both extremely low for a warm vintage like 2006. The grapes are sourced from higher-altitude terraced plots where the climate is cooler and drier and the soils are rich in clay. This is a wine that is not automatically produced every year. The wine spends its elevage in oak containers of different size, origin and age for no less than three years. The nose is intoxicating with a superb mixture of tertiary and more primary aromas like old furniture, cloves, cracked pepper, incense and cigar ash plus cherries in liqueur (that Garnacha!). The palate is medium-bodied, with great freshness (Jorge Muga tells me the pH is stabilized with aging in barrel), acidity and balance, with a silky texture, ultra-fine tannins and great persistence and length. This wine feels younger than it is, and seems to be aging at a glacial pace. With the stuffing and balance it has this should make very old bones, and drink greatly throughout its life. Superb! At this quality level the price seems like a bargain. 90,000 bottles produced. The next Prado Enea will be 2009 as they didn’t get what they look for in this wine in either 2007 and 2008. Those were two cold vintages, and 2007 had 100 liters of rain during the harvest. Prado Enea is harvested in November and in 2008 there was frost at the end of October.” LG
GERMANY
J. Hofstatter Joseph Meczan Pinot Nero Alto Adige 2013 750ML ($24.95) $19 special
Wine Spectator 90 points “Delivers beautiful fruit, featuring a pure note of wild cherry layered with fresh earth accents and smoky minerality. Aromas of herbs and ground spice linger on the mouthwatering finish. Drink now through 2023. 3,000 cases imported.” WS
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
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Tuscan Treasures
The Italian wine region of Tuscany produces a diverse and exciting range of wines. Below, we’ve gathered a list of some of the top estates and wines from the region, including Brunellos, Bolgheris and Vin Santos. These gems are all available as the lowest listed price in the USA!
Biondi Santi Tenuta Greppo Annata, Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2007 750ML ($189.95) $119 special, 1 bottle available
Antonio Galloni 94 points “The 2007 Brunello di Montalcino is gorgeous. The estate’s preference for picking on the early side is one of the factors that help balance some of the fleshiness of the vintage. This is an especially silky, supple Brunello from Biondi-Santi. The overt personality of the year comes through, but not at the expense of the house’s style. Floral notes reappear to frame the elegant, expressive finish.” AG
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $189
Biondi Santi Tenuta Greppo Annata, Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2008 750ML ($189.95) $119 special, 14 bottles available
Antonio Galloni 92 points “The 2008 Brunello di Montalcino Annata is quite pretty in this vintage. It displays a classic profile of underbrush, tobacco, smoke, licorice and black cherries. The tannins are firm but nicely balanced. I expect the 2008 will drink well with minimum cellaring. It is one of the more open Brunellos I can remember tasting here. Still, there is plenty of Biondi Santi kick in the wine’s acidity and tannin profile.” AG
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $189
Cerbaiona di Diego Molinari Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2008 750ML ($199.95) $149 special, 9 bottles available
Antonio Galloni 93+ points “Succulent red cherries, dried roses, violets, tar and spices are some of the many notes that are woven together in the 2008 Brunello di Montalcino. Intensely perfumed, the 2008 shows many of the classic Cerbaiona signatures, even if it is a touch less polished than some of the recent vintages. At the same time, the 2008 has come together nicely over the last few years, so it will be interesting to watch what happens with further time in bottle. Dried rose petals and spices add complexity to the subtle, layered flavors. This is one of the stronger wines of the year.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $185
Cerbaiona di Diego Molinari Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2009 750ML ($219.95) Was $159, Now $139, 6 bottles available
Wine Advocate 93 points, Antonio Galloni 92 points “Dark cherries, plums, mocha, dark spices and leather flesh out in the 2009 Brunello di Montalcino. Layered and voluptuous in the glass, the 2009 is one of the best early drinking Brunellos I have ever tasted from Cerbaiona. Clean veins of minerality and graphite wrap around the fruit on the expressive finish. This is a strong showing from one of Montalcino’s great artisan estates.” AG
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $186
Ornellaia Bolgheri Superiore 2011 750ML ($219.95) Was $169, Now $149, 11 bottles available
Antonio Galloni 96+ points “The 2011 Ornellaia is another gorgeous wine. Mocha, plums, tobacco and licorice blossom from the glass in a rich, seamless wine endowed with stunning depth. Savory notes develop later, adding depth and resonance. The 2011 looks to have a broad drinking window that is sure to provide many stages of pleasure over the next 20+ years. The blend is approximately 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc and 7% Petit Verdot.” AG
Wine Spectator 96 points “A dark, inky red, featuring violet, black currant, cedar, sandalwood and iron aromas and flavors. Nonetheless, this comes across as elegant, even as the tannins prove formidable on the finish. A terrific young wine in the making. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Best from 2017 through 2035” WS
James Suckling 96 points “This shows incredible concentration with dark-berry, dark-chocolate, mint and rosemary character. Full body with a superb depth of fruit and polished tannins. It’s chewy but caressing. This needs at least four or five years to come around. Powerful and intense. Yet it remains fresh and bright.” JS
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $222
Le Macchiole Scrio Toscana IGT 2009 750ML ($189.95) $119 special, 8 bottles available
Wine Enthusiast 97 points “Bold and complex, this Syrah opens with intense, superrich notes of chocolate fudge, maraschino cherry, tobacco, sweet spice and rum cake. Smooth, elegant and persistent, this amazing expression boasts ripe fruit tannins. Drink after 2016” WE
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Montepeloso Gabbro Toscana IGT 2009 750ML ($179.95) $119 special, 4 bottles available
Wine Advocate 94 points “The 2009 Gabbro (Cabernet Sauvignon) is impeccable and refined from start to finish. This isn’t a vintage built on structure, as has been the case in the recent past, but rather a wine that impresses for its silky tannins, expressive aromatics, and overall finesse. The 2009 is quite feminine and gracious in style, but there is plenty of underlying tannin and fruit. In exchange, the 2009 should drink well earlier than some of the other, more important vintages that precede it. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2024.” WA
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $139
The average price is $152
Rocca di Frassinello Baffonero Maremma Rosso 2009 750ML ($219.95) $149 special, 15 bottles available
Wine Advocate 94 points “The 2009 Baffonero is superb in this vintage. It bursts onto the palate with an exotic array of plums, blackberries, French oak, spices, violets and licorice, all of which wrap around the palate with notable intensity. Baffonero keeps getting better with each passing vintage, but in 2009 it appears everything has come together. Tar, smoke, violets and licorice wrap around the muscular, jammy finish. With a little more polish, Baffonero could very well be an exceptional wine. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2024” WA
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $220
Tuscan Vin Santos
Avignonesi Occhio di Pernice Vin Santo di Montepulciano 1999 375ML ($349.95) Was $299, Now $279, 4 half-bottles available
Wine Spectator 98 points “Compelling and complete, this leads off with an aroma of mint, featuring flavors of treacle, toffee, graham cracker and brown butter. Thick and mouthcoating, with a pleasant cloying sensation on the finish. A unique dessert wine. Drink now through 2025. 10 cases imported.” WS
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $313.83
Avignonesi Vin Santo di Montepulciano 2000 375ML ($249.95) Was $199, Now $179, 7 half-bottles available
Wine Spectator 94 points “Aromas and flavors of fresh medicinal herbs, coffee, caramel and molasses highlight this intense, concentrated, yet ultimately elegant dessert white. The acidity must be off the charts to balance this level of sweetness. The finish goes on and on. Drink now through 2030.”BS
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $185.24
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Remelluri
The Remelluri estate dates to the 14th century when Hieronymite monks built a farm and sanctuary. When they left the site in the 15th century, local hermits maintained the shrine and a communal organization Real Divisa managed the farm. Ancient wine presses carved into the stone around the hills remains as one of the oldest winemaking artifacts in the Rioja. The estate was sold in 1845 during political unrest in Spain. It was resold in 1967 when Jaime Rodriguez Salis purchased the estate’s vineyards. His son, Telmo Rodriguez, was the winemaker during the 1990s. He left on good terms to work on other projects but has recently returned to take over the estate. Telmo is among the most heralded winemakers in Spain.The vineyards are on the south-facing slopes of the Sierra de Toloño Mountains overlooking the valleys of Valderemelluri, La Granja and Villaescusaat. These are some of the highest elevations in the region. The valleys help protect the vineyards from frost and wind. The soil is mostly limestone with clay and calcareous deposits dating back to the Quaternary Period.
All of the grapes are hand harvested and the grapes are hand sorted during and after harvest. The wines are fermented with naturally occurring yeasts. Each plot of land determined to have a unique microclimate is vinified separately. The estate red wines are a blend of primarily Tempranillo with Garnacha, Graciano, Viura and Malvasia. The Lindes de Remelluri (“Borders of Remelluri”) wines are made from grapes traditionally sold to the estate and sourced from village vineyards in Labastida and San Vicente de La Sonsierra surrounding the estate. Since 2009, the winery keeps the grapes from the two villages separate and create two wines. Both are blends of Tempranillo, Garnacha, Graciano and Viura that are aged in French oak for one year.
Remelluri Wines Available Here Now
Bodegas Remelluri ‘Lindes de Remelluri – Viñedos de Labastida’, Rioja DOCa 2010 750ML ($34.95) $29 special, 19 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 92 points “Saturated ruby. Blackcurrant, smoky minerals and potpourri on the highly perfumed nose. Silky and sweet on entry, then packed with juicy dark fruit complicated by floral pastilles and a hint of blood orange. Powerful but lithe, with seamless texture, fine-grained tannins and impressive energy on the finish.” ST
Bodegas Remelluri ‘Lindes de Remelluri – Viñedos de San Vicente’, Rioja DOCa 2010 750ML ($34.95) $29 special, 27 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 92 points “Glass-staining ruby. Heady aromas of boysenberry, cassis, fennel and pipe tobacco, with a sexy vanilla undertone. Lush, velvety and sweet in the mouth, with sexy flavors of black and blue fruit preserves, licorice and floral pastilles. A fleshy, powerful but shockingly energetic Rioja, with supple tannins framing a long, sweet finish.” ST
Remelluri, Rioja DOCa 2008 750ML ($39.95) $33 special, 15 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 92 points “(mostly tempranillo, with garnacha, graciano, viura and malvasia): Ruby-red. Redcurrant, cherry, rose pastille and spicecake on the highly perfumed nose and in the mouth. Silky, sweet and penetrating, with slow-building tannins and excellent finishing cut and length. A very successful wine for this difficult vintage, and it’s built to reward at least another ten years of aging.”ST
Remelluri Granja Nuestra Senora de Remelluri Reserva, Rioja DOCa 2009 750ML ($39.95) $31.90 special, 7 bottles available
Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2009 Remelluri Reserva aims at showing the character of Remelluri, as this is the first modern vintage that does not have grapes purchased from external suppliers. These grapes are now in the Lindes range of wines, but in the past they were blended with the estate grapes. The cool Remelluri vineyards behave very well in warmer years. This 2009 is very clean with predominant aromas of earthy red fruit intermixed with notes of vanilla and cinnamon, a satin texture with round, fine-grained tannins and quite classical and very well-proportioned style. This is a great vintage for Remelluri Reserva.” WA
While we’re on the subject of superb Rioja, here’s a Don’t Miss from CVNE:
CVNE Compania Vinicola del Norte de Espana ‘Imperial’ Reserva, Rioja DOCa 2008 750ML ($47.95) $29 special, 23 bottles available
Case-12 CVNE Compania Vinicola del Norte de Espana ‘Imperial’ Reserva, Rioja DOCa 2008 750ML ($499.95) $299 special, 3 cases available, (that’s only $24.92/bottle!)
Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2008 Imperial Reserva is my favorite of the three Imperial Reservas that I tasted together as it has the perfect balance between ripeness, acidity and tannins, in a wine that is eminently elegant, but will require some time in bottle to gain complexity. The fruit leans more towards the red varieties (raspberries and strawberries), it is very spicy but the wood is almost fully integrated. Very balanced palate, with high-toned flavors that make it vibrant. Drink 2015-2021.” WA
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Michel Lafarge
The influx of money into Burgundy hasn’t seemed to taint Michel Lafarge. With all the attention, the flashiness, the scrambling for the wines, it seems as though Msr. Lafarge kept his head down and did his work – good, solid work – rather than letting it all get the best of him. Vintage to vintage, the wines have displayed an incredible degree of consistency and depth; some look to him before all else to truly understand a vintage.
The Lafarge family has counted a vigneron among its ranks since the 18th century, and began bottling their efforts in the early 1900’s. Wine in barrel was sold to metropolitan restaurants as early as the 1850’s. When Burgundian began to employ chemical farming in the 1950’s, Lafarge wanted no part of it – an act, or inaction, which led like-minded vignerons to follow suit. The domaine began to utilize biodynamic farming techniques in the mid-90’s, an effort which now includes Lafarge’s son and his wife, Frédéric and Chantal.
To this day, the wines from the estate are rightfully held in the highest regard. They’re graceful and substantial, though have been known to require time. We’re proud to offer a rather wide array of the wines and vintages, all slated to arrive in next week.
Arriving September 17th
Domaine Michel Lafarge L’Exception Bourgogne Passe-tout-grains 2010 750ML ($34.95) $29 pre-arrival special
“A well-layered, ripe and fresh nose combines pepper, earth and red berry fruit aromas. There is good verve to the equally fresh and detailed flavors that display limited rusticity and very good depth in the context of the appellation.”–Burghound
Domaine Michel Lafarge L’Exception Bourgogne Passe-tout-grains 2011 750ML ($34.95) $26 pre-arrival special
“An exceptionally fresh nose of red berry fruit, earth, floral and pepper notes leads to delicious, clean, energetic and detailed flavors that possess fine intensity and persistence for what this is.”–Burghound
Domaine Michel Lafarge Bourgogne Pinot Noir 2005 750ML ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 88-89 points “In the realm of pure Pinot, the Lafarge 2005 Bourgogne also offers excellent value and unusual quality for its humble class, assisted in this instance, of course, by the character of the vintage. Concentrated, bright, bitter-edged black fruit aromas and flavors are accompanied by grilled meat and chalky minerality. This displays cut and clarity and an undeniable Volnay elegance in its mouth watering finish.” DS
Domaine Michel Lafarge Volnay 2010 750ML ($89.95) $79 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 89-91 points “The 2010 Volnay blossoms onto the palate with refined dark red berries. This is a supple, generous Volnay endowed with gorgeous inner perfume and terrific overall balance. A juicy, generous finish rounds things out in style. Anticipated maturity: 2013-2020.” WA
Domaine Michel Lafarge Meursault 2010 750ML ($89.95) $79 pre-arrival special
Burghound 89-91 points “This is also quite pretty though aromatically very different as here the nose speaks of distinct Meursault-like scents that run the gamut from classic hazelnut to yellow orchard fruit to pear to floral hints. There is excellent richness to the attractively textured, sappy and mouth coating medium-bodied flavors that possess excellent complexity for a villages level wine. Worth considering.” BH
Domaine Michel Lafarge Meursault 2012 750ML ($99.95) $89 pre-arrival special
Antonio Galloni 89-91 points “Lafarge’s 2012 Meursault is laced with expressive yellow stone fruits, slate and smoke. There is a lot to like in the 2012, most notably the wine’s pure energy and terrific balance, both commendable at this level.” AG
Domaine Michel Lafarge Clos des Chenes, Volnay Premier Cru 2012 750ML ($249.95) $219 pre-arrival special
Antonio Galloni 94-96 points “Dark shades of blue/blackish fruit grace the palate in Lafarge’s 2012 Volnay Clos des Chenes. This is an unusually supple, resonant young Clos des Chenes. Whereas the Caillerets possesses energy from its tannin and minerality, the Clos des Chenes is round and virtually seamless in texture, with all of the structural elements seemingly folded into the fruit. The 2012 is perhaps a bit atypical in its richness, but it is a real stunner just the same.” AG
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Saint Cosme New Reviews from Wine Spectator
The Saint Cosme estate is located in the heart of Gigondas in the Southern Rhone. The Chateau at the center of estate was built in the 16th century and is surrounded by 37 acres of old-vine vineyard land. It is no surprise that the vines average an impressive 60 years in age, coming from an estate that was founded in 1490 and saw 14 successive generations of the Barruol family manage it. The estate is in the middle of two geological faults, resulting in a wide variety of soil types. The microclimate is quite cool for the region; grapes are usually harvested later than other estates in the area.
In 1995, Louis Barruol took over from his father, Henri. He takes a very active role in managing the vineyards, personally overseeing pruning, ripening and harvests. From the family-owned vineyards, Barruol produces several Gigondas wines. These wines are powerful and rich with a striking elegance. The Le Poste vineyard surrounds the estate’s chapel and was replanted by Louis’ father Henri in 1963. The vineyard was one the first purchased by the family in 1490 along with the estate. The soil is limestone yellow mall with many fossils. The winemaker writes that this vineyard makes the most feminine and elegant wine of the estate. Le Claux and the Hominis Fides vineyards were first recognized in 1902. Le Claux, planted in 1870, was scheduled to be ripped out in 1914 because the vines no longer produced large yields. The War and several deaths in the family prevented its destruction. The soil is yellow limestone clay and gravel. Now Le Claux is celebrated for its old vines that produce tiny, concentrated yields. It produces the most Burgundian character, with finesse and complexity. The Hominis Fides vineyard is composed of the oldest vines in the estate. It is made of sandy limestone soil that the winemaker believes help contribute to the fine tannins in the Grenache. It is their “most deep and enigmatic wine.”
Newly Reviewed by Wine Spectator’s James Molesworth
Chateau de Saint Cosme Gigondas Le Claux 2013 750ML ($89.95) $69 special, 36 bottles available
Wine Spectator 95 points “Grippy and well-packed, with a core of macerated currant, blackberry and raspberry flavors, offering mouthwatering notes of bay, roasted alder, tar and ganache. Best from 2017 through 2027.”JM
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $91
Chateau de Saint Cosme Gigondas Hominis Fides 2013 750ML ($89.95) $79 special, 19 bottles available
Wine Spectator 96 points “Shows terrific intensity, with a bolt of respberry and boysenberry pate de fruit, framed by mouthwatering licorice root and graphite notes. Loads of sweet psice runs underneath, accented by juniper, black tea and ganache details. Impressive for the vintage. Best from 2017 through 2030.”JM
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $89
Chateau de Saint Cosme Gigondas Le Poste 2013 750ML ($89.95) $79 special, 8 bottles available
Wine Spectator 96 points “Packed yet backward, with a wall of roasted alder and juniper notes in front of the core of dense blackberry, black currant and fig compote flavors. Loads of singed bay, dark pepper and leather accents course through the finish, showing a long echo of bitter-sweet cocoa. Best from 2017 through 2027.”JM
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $89
Also Available Here Now from Saint Cosme
Saint Cosme Saint-Joseph 2012 750ML ($39.95) $33 special, 1 bottle available
Wine Spectator 92 points “Warmed pain d’epices and moch notes lead the way, followed by melted black licorice, fig paste and macerated black currant fruit. Dark and fleshy through the finish, with a lively anise element adding contrast and lift. Best from 2015 through 2022. 125 cases imported.” WS
Stephen Tanzer 91-93 points “(all serine): Dark purple. Vibrant black and blue fruit aromas are complicated by olive, violet, black tea and smoky minerals. Juicy and precise on entry, then fleshier in the mid-palate, offering intense, mouthcoating cassis and blueberry flavors given spine by tangy acidity. Shows excellent clarity on the sweet, seamless, very persistent finish.” ST
Saint Cosme Saint-Joseph 2013 750ML ($37.95) $28 special, 25 bottles available
Wine Advocate 88-90 points “A step up over the Crozes, the 2013 St Joseph is a pretty, elegant and finesse-driven effort that has lots of purple fruits, violets and spring-flower nuances, medium-bodied richness and terrific purity of fruit. It should drink well on release and have 7-8 years of longevity.” WA
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $35
Chateau de Saint Cosme Gigondas 2013 750ML ($39.95) $33 special, 36+ bottles available
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 90-92 points “Deep ruby. Smoky cherry and dark berry aromas are complemented by candied violet and cracked pepper; really shows its Syrah component. Spicy and focused on the palate, offering bitter cherry and floral pastille flavors that open slowly with air. Very northern Rhône in character, with firm tannins adding grip to a peppery, floral finish.” JR
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $43
Saint Cosme Chateauneuf-du-Pape 2011 750ML ($69.95) $51.90 special, 14 bottles available
Wine Advocate 92 points “A wine I missed getting into the first southern Rhone report (Issue 215), the 2011 Chateauneuf du Pape showed brilliantly from bottle. Loaded with Provencal character, it has tons of garrigue, licorice, ground pepper and sweet dark fruit, full-bodied richness and a sexy, seamless profile. I don’t think it will be the longest lived Chateauneuf du Pape out there, but it will dish out plenty of pleasure over the coming 7-8 years at least.” WA
Saint Cosme Cote Rotie 2012 750ML ($79.95) $69 special, 8 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 92-94 points “(made from whole-cluster serine grown in the Cote Brune and aged in a 50/50 combination of new and one-year-old barriques): Brilliant ruby. Smoke-accented cassis and cherry-cola on the nose, with suave floral and Indian spice nuances adding an exotic touch. Sweet dark berry preserve and violet pastille flavors show very good depth, with a peppery, spicy quality emerging with air. In an elegant style, finishing smooth, sweet and very long.” ST
Wine Spectator 93 points “Energetic, with white pepper and alder notes framing a core of racy red currant, blackberry and black cherry fruit. Hints of bay and iron line the back end, where everything streamlines together for a lengthy finish. Approachable now, but could expand with cellaring. Best from 2015 through 2025.”
Chateau de Saint Cosme Gigondas Hominis Fides 2012 750ML ($119.95) $89 special, 4 bottles available
Wine Spectator 95 points “Offers a dense core of black currant, fig and blackberry paste flavors, showing terrific cut and definition. A bright chalky minerality runs underneath, with pepper, charcoal and bay leaf notes on the sleek finish. Best from 2015 through 2028. 24 cases imported.”WS
Wine Advocate 93-96 points “Despite coming from sandy soils, the 2012 Gigondas Hominis Fides has a masculine, structured and almost burly profile. Underbrush, black raspberry, crushed rock, pepper and black licorice are just some of the notions here, and it hits the palate with full-bodied authority and richness. I expect it will flesh out nicely once in bottle, but it should still warrant 2-3 years in the cellar and have the capacity to keep for 20 years.” WA
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $106
Chateau de Saint Cosme Gigondas Le Claux 2012 750ML ($119.95) $89 special, 5 bottles available
Wine Advocate 96 points “Probably my favorite of the single vineyard releases (although, truthfully, I find the quality among the three almost indistinguishable), the 2012 Gigondas Le Claux has beautiful minerality to go with notions of black fruits, smoked herbs, graphite and liquid violets. A big, full-bodied Gigondas, it never puts a foot wrong, has building, polished tannin and a blockbuster finish that stays focused. Give it a couple years and enjoy bottles through 2032.” WA
Wine Spectator 95 points “This has a gorgeous beam of pomegranate, red currant and damson plum fruit, coiled tightly for now. A snap of red licorice adds lift before tangy sanguine, iron, pepper and bay leaf notes emerge on the finish. Exhibits terrific cut and length. Best from 2015 through 2025. 72 cases imported.”WS
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $111
Chateau de Saint Cosme Gigondas Valbelle 2012 750ML ($79.95) $66 special, 16 bottles available
Wine Spectator 94 points “A broad, muscular style, with red and black currant paste flavors, bolstered by a graphite underpinning. Bittersweet cocoa, bay leaf and smoldering tobacco accents lurk in the background, adding extra bass to the finish. This offers loads of grip, but needs time to settle down. Best from 2016 through 2030. 34 cases imported.” WS
Wine Advocate 94 points “One of the more limited production releases, the 2012 Gigondas Cuvee Valbelle (which comes from a blend of terroirs) exhibits fabulous cassis, cocoa dusted meat, dried herbs, soy sauce and Asian spice-box-like aromas and flavors. Medium to full-bodied, deep, concentrated and structured, it’s a powerhouse of a Gigondas that will have 15+ years of evolution.” WA
Chateau de Saint Cosme Gigondas Valbelle 2013 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 35 bottles available
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 91-93 points “Brilliant ruby. An expansive, complex bouquet evokes fresh blackberry and boysenberry, lifted by a sexy floral topnote and a hint of incense. Silky, sweet and palate-caressing, with intense black and blue fruit flavors given spine by tangy acidity. This juicy, pure wine finishes with excellent clarity and smooth, building tannins.” JR
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $66
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Tuscan Treasures Round Two
Gaja Ca’Marcanda Magari Toscana IGT 2012 750ML ($79.95) $59 special, 24 bottles available
James Suckling 93 points “Bright and firm with sliced-lemon, blueberry and almond character throughout. Full body, firm tannins and a clean finish. Clean and fresh. Better in 2016.” JS
Felsina Berardenga Fontalloro Toscana IGT 2009 750ML ($69.95) $49 special, 19 bottles available
Antonio Galloni 94 points “There is a lot to like in the 2009 Fontalloro (Sangiovese). For starters, the wine is rich, broad and ample on the palate. Hints of tobacco, savory herbs, licorice and menthol all add complexity over time. The over juiciness of the fruit is nicely balanced by clean veins of underlying acidity that give the 2009 much of its freshness. This is another wine endowed with superb balance and class.” AG
Felsina Berardenga Fontalloro Toscana IGT 2010 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 36+ bottles available
Antonio Galloni 94+ points “The 2010 Fontalloro (Sangiovese) is impeccable. A sweet, open bouquet melds into expressive red fruits. Compared to the 2010 Rancia, Fontalloro is a decidedly more delicate, feminine wine. All the elements are very nicely balanced. I expect the 2010 will enjoy a fairly broad window of drinkability. Today I give the 2010 a very slight nod over the 2009, only because I think the 2010 will age a little longer, but both are striking.” AG
Castello di Argiano Sesti Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2010 750ML ($99.95) $75 special, 36 bottles available
Case-6 Castello di Argiano Sesti Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2010 750ML ($479.95) $419 special, 3 six-packs available (that’s only $69.83/bottle!)
Wine Enthusiast 95 points “This pure expression of Sangiovese opens with aromas of rose petal, leather, game, Mediterranean herb and wild berry. The vibrant, full-bodied palate delivers layers of crushed Morello cherry, raspberry, cinnamon and grilled herb alongside firm, polished tannins and bright acidity. It boasts character and depth. Drink 2017–2030.” WE
Antonio Galloni 94 points “Sesti’s 2010 Brunello di Montalcino is a wine of real class and personality. In fact, the 2010 is one of the best wines I have tasted from this estate in Sant’Angelo in Colle. Iron, sweet red cherries, wild flowers and earthiness are some of the many notes that inform a juicy, plump Brunello that already drinks well. The 2010 is quite forward and fruit-driven, but there is good underlying complexity as well as enough acidity to ensure a decade-plus of fine drinking. My only quibble is that the aromatics could be a little more focused, but that is a relatively small critique for a wine that delivers this much pleasure.” AG
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $88