Saturday, January 23rd, 2015
Newly Arrived Dugat-Py; Newly Reviewed Spanish Wines; Newly Arrived from Bitouzet-Prieur; Arriving in February: 2007 La Gerla Riserva; Terry Theise Rieslings; Region in Focus: Vouvray; Henri Gouges; Spring Arrives Early: Rosenthal Roses Sneak Preview; Crazy Case Deals: Six Packs and Twelve Packs from Around the World!
Newly Arrived:
Dugat-Py Mazis Chambertin
Domaine Dugat-Py Mazis-Chambertin Grand Cru 2008 750ML ($599.95) $499 special, 12 bottles available
Antonio Galloni 95+ points “The estate’s 2008 Mazis-Chambertin is drop-dead gorgeous from start to finish. A dazzling, captivating bouquet melds into dark fruit, mint, flowers and sweet spices as this powerful, complex wine grows in the glass. All of the elements continue to build towards the undeniable, explosive finish. This is a hugely impressive, towering wine from Dugat-Py.”
Stephen Tanzer 94+ points “Deep red-ruby. Wild, complex but youthfully reticent aromas of black fruits, chocolate and game. Large-scaled and rich on entry, then closed in the middle, even youthfully imploded, and not currently showing the sweetness of the Lavaux. Tougher to taste today than the Charmes but there’s outstanding density of material here. This too will need at least a decade in the bottle to harmonize and express itself.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
The global average price is $565
The lowest listed 2006 is $725
The lowest listed 2007 is $599
The lowest listed 2009 is $659
Just a reminder about our current shipping specials during this season:
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.
New Reviews for Spanish Wines
from Josh Raynolds of Vinous
Ameztoi Txakoli di Getaria Hondarribi Zuri, Getariako Txakolina 2014 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 special, 7 bottles available
Case-12 Ameztoi Txakoli di Getaria Hondarribi Zuri, Getariako Txakolina 2014 750Ml ($249.95) $219 special, 1 case available (that’s only $18.25/bottle!)
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 92 points “Light yellow. High-pitched aromas of lime zest, jasmine, chalky minerals and green tea, with a hint of pear in the background. Fresh and sharply focused on the palate, offering bitter citrus pith and green apple flavors that spread out slowly on the back half. Shows excellent focus and lift on a long, incisive finish that emphatically echoes the lime and floral notes. I’d love to have a few bottles of this with a bunch of raw shellfish and crab.” JR
Ameztoi Rubentis Rosado, Getariako Txakolina 2014 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 special, 28 bottles available
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 90 points “Pale orange. Lively, sharply-focused tangerine and strawberry aromas, with a zesty mineral overtone gaining strength with air. Pure and racy in style, the brisk red berry and floral flavors delivering a refreshingly bitter edge. Closes taut and stony, with very good persistence and resonating floral character.”
Buil & Gine 17-XI, Montsant 2012 750ML ($17.95) $14 special, 36+ bottles available
Case-12 Buil & Gine 17-XI, Montsant 2012 750ML ($199.95) $149 special, 3 cases available (that’s only $12.42/bottle!)
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 90 points “Brilliant ruby. Spice- and mineral-accented raspberry and cherry scents, with hints of candied flowers and anise. The juicy, precise palate offers bitter cherry and redcurrant flavors that deepen and become sweeter with air. Powerful yet lithe, finishing with strong thrust, sappy persistence and gentle, gripping tannins.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Alvaro Palacios Finca Dofi, Priorat DOCa 2013 750ML ($89.95) $69 special, 7 bottles available
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 94 points “Opaque ruby. Sexy, high-pitched aromas of red fruit liqueur, potpourri and pipe tobacco are accented by an building spiciness. Juicy and precise on the palate, offering sweet, deeply concentrated raspberry and floral pastille flavors that show outstanding vivacity and thrust. Closes with emphatic floral and red berry character and harmonious tannins that add gentle grip.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $80
Alvaro Palacios Camins del Priorat, Priorat DOCa 2014 750ML ($21.95) $18 special, 10 bottles available
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 92 points ” (fermented in stainless steel and concrete tanks and aged for eight months in French oak casks of varying size): Brilliant ruby. Intense, spice-accented, ripe black and blue fruits, violets and smoky, mineral aromas build in the glass. The sweet, expansive palate reveals concentrated blueberry and boysenberry flavors that tighten up slowly on the back half. The finish clings with excellent tenacity, providing a framework for the wine’s exuberant dark fruit.” JR
Bodegas La Cartuja, Priorat DOCa 2013 750ML ($21.95) $17 special, 9 bottles available
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 90 points “Vivid ruby. Smoky, spicy dark berries and mocha appear on the nose and in the mouth, with a subtle mineral nuance building in the glass. Tangy acidity adds lift and definition to the juicy, sharply focused palate. Finishes long and minerally with slow-building dusty tannins. Aged in used French oak barrels for six month. In the context of Priorat, this wine delivers excellent value.”
New Arrival Special Feature: Bitouzet-Prieur
Vincent Bitouzet and his son Francois hail from two centuries of deep winemaking roots in Burgundy, and one of the first family-owned domaines to bottle their wines. What you can expect is nothing short of classic age-worthy wines that are genuinely reflective of the terroir in each of their parcels.
Father and son work together to farm organically on all the holdings of their 12 hectare domaine, including 4 hectares to Chardonnay and the remaining 8 hectares to Pinot Noir plantings. Indigenous yeasts are used and all grapes are harvested manually.
2011 was a tricky growing season for Burgundy which necessitated extremely tedious and careful maintenance of the vines. But what had been revealed as the result of the hard work of the Bitouzet family for 2011 are classic wines of depth and structure.
Bitouzet-Prieur Releases Available Here Now
Domaine Bitouzet-Prieur Meursault Clos du Cromin 2011 750ML ($64.95) $49 special
Antonio Galloni–Vinous 92 points “The 2011 Meursault Clos du Cromin is all about freshness, energy and vibrancy. Lemon, white flowers, jasmine and a hint of spice are supported by clean veins of minerality that add tension and brightness. With time in the glass, the wine becomes increasingly more focused, vibrant and persistent. I very much like the sense of energy here.” AG
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Domaine Bitouzet-Prieur Les Aussy, Volnay Premier Cru 2011 750ML ($59.95) $49 special
Antonio Galloni–Vinous 91 points “Plum, red cherry pit, mint, wild flowers and anise meld together in the 2011 Volnay Les Aussy. Here it is the wine’s energy and drive that stand out most. Today, the Aussy is a bit compact, but it should soften with time. Once again, I am impressed with the sheer depth and purity of the fruit, both of which the 2011 has in spades. At the same time, the wine retains its essential, mid-weight personality. All the elements are in balance in a wine that has really come together over the last year.” AG
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Domaine Bitouzet-Prieur Les Caillerets, Volnay Premier Cru 2011 750ML ($79.95) $59 special
Domaine Bitouzet-Prieur Les Caillerets, Volnay Premier Cru 2011 1.5L ($179.95) $119 special
Antonio Galloni–Vinous 93 points “The 2011 Volnay Caillerets is one of the most explosive wines in this range. Black cherries, plums, licorice, smoke and tar literally jump from the glass. The 2011 is round and voluptuous on the palate, yet also backed up by considerable structure. Hints of cloves, new leather and sweet tobacco add the final layers of nuance. In 2011 there are just three barrels of Caillerets, one of which is new, a slightly higher ratio than is typically the case.” AG
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Domaine Bitouzet-Prieur Clos des Chenes, Volnay Premier Cru 2011 750ML ($79.95) $59 special
Antonio Galloni–Vinous 93 points “The 2011 Volnay Clos des Chênes is quite reticent today. There is plenty of depth and richness in the glass, even if all the elements aren’t fully formed just yet. Sweet tobacco, licorice, mint, spices and plums emerge over time, but only with great reluctance. The Clos des Chênes is going to require significant patience. Today, it is a bit compact.” AG
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Domaine Bitouzet-Prieur Les Mitans, Volnay Premier Cru 2011 750ML ($59.95) $49 special
Antonio Galloni–Vinous 92+ points “Black cherries, plums, cloves, menthol, licorice and tar wrap around the palate in the 2011 Volnay Mitans. A dark, imposing wine, the Mitans is the most reticent of these 2011s. The wine’s depth and broad shoulders are impressive, but today the Mitans comes across as a bit rough around the edges. The Mitans was the last of these wines to finish its malolactic fermentation and was also bottled a bit later than the other wines, both of which might explain some of its rawness today. Ideally the firm tannins need time to soften.” AG
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Domaine Bitouzet-Prieur Pitures, Volnay Premier Cru 2011 750ML ($69.95) $49 special
Antonio Galloni–Vinous 91 points “Incisive and powerful, the 2011 Volnay Pitures is bright, focused and linear in its personality. Dark red cherries, plums, graphite, smoke, licorice and new leather flesh out in a broad, powerful wine endowed with tremendous depth and pure thrust. The Pitures opens up nicely in the glass, but it, too, will require a measure of patience. Still, the 2011 is likely to remain a bit rustic.” AG
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Domaine Bitouzet-Prieur Taillepieds, Volnay Premier Cru 2011 750ML ($79.95) $59 special
Antonio Galloni–Vinous 92 points “A model of precision and balance, the 2011 Volnay Taillepieds graces the palate with tons of pure energy, cut and tension. Sweet red berries, wild flowers, mint, crushed rocks and slate flow effortlessly from a vibrant, pulsating Taillepieds bursting with class. The precocious vintage gives a measure of early accessibility, but ideally the 2011 is best left alone for a handful of years. I very much like the sense of salinity here.” AG
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Domaine Bitouzet-Prieur Les Cent Vignes, Beaune Premier Cru 2011 750ML ($49.95) $39 special
Antonio Galloni–Vinous 90 points “Sweet rose petals, rosewater, violets, mint, hard candy and crushed rocks are some of the many notes that take shape in the 2011 Beaune Cent-Vignes. Wonderfully pointed and pure, the 2011 impresses for its energy, tension and pure verve. There is plenty of potential here, but readers will need to give the 2011 a few years to soften.” AG
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $44.99
Bitouzet-Prieur Arriving Friday, January 29th
Domaine Bitouzet-Prieur Les Perrieres, Meursault Premier Cru 2011 750ML ($99.95) $79 pre-arrival special
Antonio Galloni–Vinous 92 points “The 2011 Meursault Les Perrières is surprisingly rich and viscous for Perrières. Honey, almonds, mint, dried flowers and dried pears flesh out in the glass. With air the wine’s minerality becomes more apparent. Ideally, the 2011 is best left alone for at least another year or two to allow all the elements to come together.” AG
Domaine Bitouzet-Prieur Meursault Santenots, Meursault Premier Cru 2011 750ML ($79.95) $59 pre-arrival special
Antonio Galloni–Vinous 93 points “The 2011 Meursault Les Santenots is first and foremost a wine of texture. Gracious and layered in the glass, the 2011 is endowed with considerable personality. White stone fruits, flowers anise and crushed rocks emerge over time, but the overall impression is one of pure silk. The style is rich, deep and resonant, while the balance is first-rate.” AG
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Domaine Bitouzet-Prieur Meursault Charmes, Meursault Premier Cru 2011 750ML ($89.95) $69 pre-arrival special
Domaine Bitouzet-Prieur Meursault Charmes, Meursault Premier Cru 2011 1.5L ($199.95) $149 pre-arrival special
Antonio Galloni–Vinous 91 points “The 2011 Meursault Les Charmes wraps around the palate with gorgeous depth and nuance. There is plenty of Charmes richness and depth in the glass. At the same time, the wine’s structural elements are front and center, at least today. The firm, slightly dry finish suggests the fruit may have been brought in a little early.” AG
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $74
Arriving February 19th
La Gerla Riserva gli Angeli, Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2007 750ML ($99.95) $89 pre-arrival special
La Gerla Riserva gli Angeli, Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2007 1.5L ($219.95) $179 pre-arrival special
Case-6 La Gerla Riserva gli Angeli, Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2007 750ML ($599.95) $499 pre-arrival special (that’s only $83.17/bottle!)
Wine Spectator 97 points “Spicy oak aromas greet the nose, while concentrated flavors of cherry, currant and tobacco are buried underneath. Very vibrant, with refined tannins and a lingering finish of fruit, spice and mineral. Builds on the finish, with a long aftertaste. A combination of power and finesse. Best from 2015 through 2030.”WS
James Suckling 95 points “Intense aromas of dried fruits and Christmas pudding. Turns to plums and raspberries. Full and concentrated with an intense palate of dried fruits and vanilla. Powerful and concentrated style here.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Riesling and Mr. Terry Theise
An eccentric legend
and his life between the vines
Terry Theise is an artisan importer of wines. His obsession started out with an accidental bottle of Riesling that he purchased in the 70’s at a supermarket. Having never heard of this under the radar varietal, or tasted it before, his curiosity was peaked and he never looked back. Theise started traveling to Germany and Austria in the 1980’s to source and develop relationships with small family producers whose wines he fell in love with in ways he describes through his own ‘Theisan’ poetry. He felt compelled to act as their liaison and bring their wines to the tables and restaurants in the U.S. His pledge was to captain their artisan wines into the unchartered territory that was (mostly) the pedestrian American palate.
Theise’s quixotism drove him to believe that one day the Chardonnay drinkers in the US would be able to pronounce names like “Kirchenstuck” and “Trockenbeerenauslese.” And slowly but surely, his convictions paid off. Riesling has since gained the exposure and the respect of many wine drinkers and wine experts across the country. Today, a quarter of German export wines come here.
As a result of the intuition and persistence of Terry Theise, we can enjoy the terroir, purity, and uniqueness of dozens of otherwise unknown winemakers and families. With the help of importer Michael Skurnik and some key allies in the field – among them, sommeliers and shop keeps who read the eloquent (and often hilarious) reviews and dispatches Theise authors each year – Theise has left an unavoidable, wonderful mark on the wine world.
In an upcoming edition of the newsletter, we’ll explore Terry Theise’s wonderful forays into Champagne. For this first time around, we’re kicking things off where it all began: Germany.
Below are listed 20 of the 128 German wines (including a mixed-pack from Donnhoff!) from the Terry Theise Portfolio we currently stock or will arrive early February:
Muller-Catoir Mussbach Riesling Kabinett, Pfalz 2012 750ML ($34.95) $24 special, 15 bottles available
Terry Theise notes: “Typical aromas with the lime oil notes of their `12s; incisive and detailed; the palate is charming in a verbena-chartreuse style, with notes of wild vineyard peaches (a.k.a. “pêche de vigne”); it’s certainly a wine-with-sweetness, and Philip Catoir and I talked a little about reducing the sweetness on these types of wines in general – but the wine’s not at all unbalanced. I am, but the wine is fine.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $28.94
Von Winning Ungeheuer Riesling Grosses Gewachs Trocken, Pfalz 2013 750ML ($79.95) $59 special, 16 bottles available
Terry Theise note: “And yet another entirely different way for Riesling to be great; this is like a liquefied sea-salt caramel, voluminous and muscular and stocky, yet still classy and even glossy, and so ripe and juicy as to suggest sweetness that’s actually not there, but this is overwhelmingly seductive and convincing.”
Wine Advocate 94 points “At this early stage, the citrus colored 2013 Forster Ungeheuer Riesling trocken GG (with lime green reflections) seems to be von Winning’s most impressive Riesling of the vintage. Intense, ripe and piquant fruit aromas of limes and grapefruit on the nose lead to a very juicy and salty palate where an almost perfect amalgam of minerals and fruit juice gives a very elegantly structured, medium to full-bodied wine. Then comes a delicious finish followed by a persistent and piquant length. This is a great, bright and energetic wine, whereas the Pechstein and Kirchenstück are still very closed at the moment.” WA
Von Winning Deidesheimer Kalkofen Riesling Grosses Gewachs, Pfalz 2013 750ML ($99.95) $79 special, 11 bottles available
Terry Theise note: “The Les Clos of the estate, the most power and concentration and in a sense the easiest wine to “get” as it’s big-and-bold, but far from simple. Brothy and explosive, tortilla chips and remoulade and dried apricot.”
Wine Advocate 94 points “Bright and pale green in color, the 2013 Deidesheim Kalkofen Riesling trocken GG from predominantly old vines on limestone/marl soils offers noble upfront fruit aromas of nectarines and yellow plums. Medium to full-bodied it is the mixture of purity, piquancy, juiciness of ripe fruit and the lovely salty texture that makes the tightly woven Kalkofen one of the finest Rieslings of the 2013 vintage in Germany. Fermented in 500-liter barrels, it can age for ten or more years.” WA
Weingut Donnhoff Kreuznacher Kahlenberg Riesling Trocken, Nahe 2014 750ML ($39.95) $31.90 special, 36+ bottles available
Terry Theise notes: “The Kreuznach site is a gentle slope on gravelly loam, but has long been regarded as an excellent vineyard. I’d been leaving it out of the offering in a fruitless attempt to keep it tidy, but tidiness has no place in either rock & roll or the fine wine business. So: I found this ’14 to be really deft, stern but breathy, wonderfully fragrant, mineral, hint of maize or wet cereal; a determined finish but really, only 70% of this note has any chance of being accurate six months from now.”
John Gilman 91 points “The 2014 Kahlenberg Trocken hails from grapes with Spätlese must weights this year and is a notable step up from the first two, very good wines. The bouquet wafts from the glass in a classy blend of white cherries, apple, spring flowers, a lovely base of soil and a youthful topnote of orange peel. On the palate the wine is medium-full, bright and nicely reserved on the attack, with a fine core, bright acids and superb backend energy and cut on the long finish. This is really high class juice that would age long and happily under cork, though I cannot remember which closure it was destined to receive. 2017-2035.” JG
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Weingut Donnhoff ‘Felsenturmchen’ Schlossbockelheimer Felsenberg Riesling Grosses Gewachs, Nahe 2014 750ML ($79.95) $59 special, 21 bottles available
Terry Theise notes “Felsenberg has tremendous aroma, almost fiercely smoky, with lemon and Indonesian peppers.”
John Gilman 93+ points ‘The 2014 Felsenberg Grosses Gewächs bottling form the Türmchen section of the vineyard this year has turned out beautifully, wafting from the glass in a classic constellation of white cherries, pink grapefruit, complex floral tones, a fine base of slate, wild yeasts, lemongrass and orange peel. On the palate the wine is pure, full-bodied and very refined, with a rock solid core, ripe, zesty acids, laser-like focus and a long, youthful and energetic finish. A beautiful bottle of dry Riesling in the making. 2020-2055″ JG
Weingut Donnhoff Riesling Grosses Gewachs 6-Pack 2014 ($419.95) $379 special, 3 mixed-packs available
2 bottles each of the three Grosses Gewachs bottlings from 2014: Norheimer Dellchen, Schlossbockelheimer Felsenberg, Niederhauser Hermannshohle
Terry Theise notes “All of these had remarkable aspects and potentials but none of them was ready to rock. Felsenberg has tremendous aroma, almost fiercely smoky, with lemon and Indonesian peppers. Dellchen is fleshier but also, as is its wont, more inscrutable. Hermannshöhle was still on its first lees but was already showing depth and fragrance. If my “plusses” matter to you, and if I let myself prognosticate, it’s two for Felsenberg and Hermannshöhle and one for Dellchen. The wines will surely make a fool of me.”
Weingut Hexamer Meddersheimer Rheingrafenberg Riesling Spatlese*, Nahe 2003 750ML ($39.95) $21.90 special, 23 bottles available
Terry Theise: “A few of you will despise this on principle because you heard somewhere that the hot 2003s were “flabby.” Ohhh-Kay. Just taste this almost virginal, superb Riesling and then tell me. Bottled under screwcap, there’s barely a tertiary note in sight, just a surmise of the beeswaxy signature of the best `03s. BUT, you do get something like adult vinosity instead of the baby-fat primary fruit of all these newborns.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $30
Schlossgut Diel Dorsheimer Burgberg Riesling Spatlese, Nahe 2004 750ML ($69.95) $54.90 special, 19 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 92 points “Resplendent aromas of papaya, pineapple and oyster shell. Dense but juicy, with a finely spiced acidity that seizes one’s palate. Finishes with impressive concentration and length. One of the finest spatleses of the vintage.” ST
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Weingut Josef Spreitzer Hattenheimer Wisselbrunnen Riesling Erstes Gewachs, Rheingau 2013 750ML ($49.95) $39 special, 15 bottles available
Terry Theise note: “Wisselbrunnen is almost anti-fruit, more about nut-husk and toasted grains and quinoa; it’s firm, in control and sure of itself, and shows the greater complexity (versus the Rosengarten).”
Wine Advocate 94+ points “Intense citrus-colored and almost golden, the wild-fermented 2013 Hattenheimer Wisselbrunnen Riesling trocken GG is very rich and creamy on the somewhat untamed nose showing yeast and lime flavors along with earthy/mineral notes and ripe, juicy, yellow-fleshed stone fruit aromas. Full-bodied, round and elegant, this fresh and deeply structured Riesling develops a good fruit intensity and a lingering mineral finish with ripe peach and refreshing lime flavors in the aftertaste. This is a rather warm style of Riesling and, stylistically, a distant relative of the Rieslings from Kamptal’s Ludwig Hiedler.” WA
Meulenhof Erdener Treppchen Riesling Spatlese #22, Mosel 2011 750ML ($24.95) $19 special, 23 bottles available
Terry Theise note: “These wines are analogue, and they have big fruit and a lot of warmth. They’re a little like Hiedler’s wines in that respect. Not “fat” but ample.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Meulenhof Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese, Mosel 2010 750ML ($39.95) $33 special, 22 bottles available
Terry Theise note: “In general Justen’s wines are more lush and peachy than, say, Merkelbach; not as stern as, say, Christoffel. They are comparatively straightforward and “easy” to understand because the fruit is overt and in-your-face. Even a cursory glance into that fruit, though, will reveal the proverbial Coat of Many Colors: interplays of flavor and texture that can be absorbing and rewarding. And the wines both keep and age.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Vols Ayler Kupp Riesling Kabinett, Mosel 2011 750ML ($29.95) $24 special, 10 bottles available
Terry Theise notes: “SAAR, baby! Barely sweet, fervidly slatey, sleek and crisp but long and suavely mineral. Delicious, interesting, refreshing, blue slate and green apple, honest and perfect, modest and tactful, but not humble! Too vivid to be humble.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Schmitt-Wagner Longuicher Maximiner Herrenberg Riesling Auslese 2003 750ML ($24.95) $18 special, 8 bottles available
Terry Theise on Older Vintages of Schmitt-Wagner wines: “These wines are disappearing along with the generation who gave them to us. The world will be a poorer place. More entertaining for sure, but the soul doesn’t feed on entertainment. So here are a few voices from a civilized and gentle era. As I tasted them all I kept writing was the word: perfect.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $24.99
Weingut A.J. Adam Dhroner Hofberg Riesling Kabinett, Mosel 2013 750ML ($39.95) $29 special, 12 bottles available
Terry Theise note: “Half-half cask and steel, this was typical and completely delicious; everybody’s favorite among the ’13s that day. Euphoric site fragrance, like a Nahe wine; mirabelle, quince and lemon pudding, not to mention Alishan Oolong. The considerable RS is obliterated by natural acidity that looks scary on paper but which cracks and pops in the glass.”
Wine Advocate 91+ points “From the cooler, late-ripening part of the Hofberg, the 8% alcohol 2013 Dhroner Hofberg Riesling Kabinett was fermented 80% in stainless steel and 20% in fuder. Bottled with approximately 50 grams of un-fermented sugar and 9.3 grams of acidity it opens lovely clear, pure and floral on the nose. Racy and lovely sweet on the palate this fascinating elegant and piquant Kabinett is a sort Scharzhofberger à la Scharzhof from the Mosel. Really stunning and persistently salty.”RP
Weingut A.J. Adam Riesling Trocken, Mosel 2013 750ML ($27.95) $24 special, 21 bottles available
Terry Theise notes: “A little purchased fruit this year, the crop was so small. All Dhron. Half & half sponti and cutured yeast, all done in steel.The ’13 aroma is there but the wine is more limpid and pebbly than most, balanced-dry, with cool quince-y fruit; ’13expresses as burnt-candle now, and this smells as much like (good!) Chenin as like Riesling”
Joh. Jos. Christoffel Erben Erdener Treppchen Riesling Spatlese, Mosel 2012 750ML ($39.95) $29 special, 17 bottles available
Terry Theise notes: “Now this is explosively expressive. If I say “apple and slate” yet again, it’s boring but true. It’s the combo of hi-def clarity and torque, firmness and brilliance yet many-layered density, and this goose-flesh tingle threaded through it all—that makes it uncanny”
Wine Spectator 90 points “A supple and seductive sweetie, with peach cobbler, cream and glazed apricot flavors. Red currant and ripe melon notes appear midpalate, leading to a spicy finish. Drink now through 2030.” WS
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $34.99
Joh. Jos. Christoffel Erben Riesling Estate Feinherb 2012 750ML ($24.95) $19 special, 15 bottles available
Wine Spectator 88 points “An enticing note of white chocolate runs through this lush, fruity white. Ripe tangerine flavors linger on the finish, giving this an exotic appeal. Drink now through 2016.” WS
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Kruger-Rumpf Munsterer Rheinberg Riesling Spatlese 1998 750ML ($49.95) $39 special, 8 bottles available
Terry Theise notes “(Old-school!) Just 30 g/l rs, gnarly and chewy. “Petrol.” Zingy dry finish. My colleague Sunny Brown said “crushed pretzels.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $43.99
Arriving February 2nd
Kruger-Rumpf Munsterer Dautenpflanzer Riesling Spatlese, Nahe 2004 750ML ($49.95) $39 pre-arrival special
Terry Theise notes: “Dautenpflänzer is one the leading Grand Crus of the lower Nahe, with a typical mélange of soil types within its borders. Rumpf claims some of it is slatey and some of it is “sandy loam,” which agrees more with the standard references. It is in any case singular and immediately significant, giving a sometimes damnably complex set of aromas and flavors including coconut, violet, soursop, leaf-smoke—it is a very long list even if you’re sober. In any case it belongs with the vamping exotics of the Nahe.”
Wine Spectator 89 points “Very firmly structured, but this is dense and offers spice and mineral shadings to complement the apple and white peach notes. Still leaning toward the structure on the finish, but this shows promise. Best from 2007 through 2020. 250 cases made.” WS
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $43.99
Kruger-Rumpf Munsterer Pittersberg Riesling Spatlese, Nahe 2004 750ML ($49.95) $39 pre-arrival special
Terry Theise note: “(If you’re curious—29.5 g/l dry-extract, 101º Oechsle, 8.7 g/l acidity and 80 g/l rs. Sweet-salty and full of verbena, in perfect condition)”
Wine Spectator 88 points “Off-dry, this shows plenty of pepper and mineral notes, along with peach and citrus flavors. It’s elegant and balanced, showing the Mosel style of Nahe Riesling. Moderate length. Drink now through 2018. 140 cases made.” WS
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $43.99
Region in Focus: Vouvray
Chenin in Paradise
There’s no question that white Burgundy ages with grace, and there’s no shortage of delightful back-vintage Riesling to be enjoyed. Another age-worthy and hyper-versatile grape which deserves its share of the spotlight is Chenin Blanc. Within the province of Touraine in the Loire Valley lies Vouvray, where some of the most celebrated examples of Chenin have been produced since the Middle Ages.
Catholic monasteries oversaw the earliest vineyards within Vouvray during the 9th Century; Dutch merchants planted additional vines in the 1500’s for the purpose of selling wine in international markets. “Vouvray” wine, at that time, consisted of a blend of grapes from across Touraine. Chenin Blanc plantings grew to become nearly the exclusive grape of the region, with winemakers producing sparkling ‘Méthode Champenoise’ wines from the grape in addition to still Chenins of every sweetness level.
Vouvray was granted AOC status in 1936; landmark estates as Foreau and Huet have endured since those early days, produce wonderfully, empirically age worthy wines which any wine lover should not overlook. The hallmark notes of honey, apricot, white flowers, quince and pear are noted in Vouvray with some regularity; the wines are capable of being paired with a broad range of cuisines depending on ripeness level and vintage.
Below, we list our range of incredible Vouvray wines:
Catherine et Pierre Breton Vouvray Petillant Brut La Dilettante NV 750ML ($27.95) $21.90 special, 4 bottles available
“Ginger, walnut, quince and apple flavors mingle in this plump, broad sparkler. The finish lets a ginger note linger. Drink now.” –Wine Spectator
Philippe Foreau Domaine du Clos Naudin Vouvray Brut 2010 750ML ($39.95) $33 special, 5 bottles available
Joel B. Payne–Vinous 89 points: “Bright yellow. A pure bouquet evokes candied citrus fruits, wild spices, pear skin and quinine. Juicy and penetrating on the palate, offering lively orange zest and orchard fruit flavors along with hints of anise and honeysuckle. Finishes on a chalky mineral note, with good focus and length.” JP
Domaine le Capitaine Vouvray Les Perrieres Sec 2014 750ML ($19.95) $16 special, 3 bottles available
From the winery: “Exclusively made from the chenin blanc grape, the cuvée “Les Perrières” 2012, a dry white wine was born on the northern bank of the loire within the Vouvray appellation in the Touraine district ‘the garden of France.’”
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Bernard Fouquet Domaine des Aubuisieres Vouvray Cuvee de Silex 2014 750ML ($21.95) $18 special, 11 bottles available
Case-12 Bernard Fouquet Domaine des Aubuisieres Vouvray Cuvee de Silex 2014 750ML ($219.95) $189 special, 2 cases available (that’s only $15.75/bottle and the lowest listed price in the USA today!)
Philippe Foreau Domaine du Clos Naudin Vouvray Sec 2011 750ML ($41.95) $33 special, 29 bottles available
Wine Advocate 91 points: “The 2011 Vouvray Sec is a bright-colored, rather lean and greenish flavored Vouvray with precise and very subtle aromas of lemons, green apples, white peach, mushrooms, weed, herbs (fennel blossoms) and a dusty, almost mealy terroir character. On the full-bodied palate the wine is extremely pure and vibrant and the tension and agility of this only superficially lean wine is almost electrifying and full of finesse and elegance. The finish is very long and gives an aging potential of 20 or more years. Bottled with 3.8 grams of residual sugar, this is a very digestible wine in a very personal Foreau-style.” WA
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Philippe Foreau Domaine du Clos Naudin Vouvray Sec 2012 750ML ($41.95) $33 special, 14 bottles available
Joel B. Payne–Vinous 89 points “Bright yellow. Salty aromas of yellow apple, pear skin, citrus zest and pistachio. Juicy on the palate, with herbal flavors of apricot, melon and chalky minerals exhibiting good intensity through the finish. Crisp and balanced, this would be lovely with snails.” JP
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Domaine Huet Vouvray Le Haut Lieu Sec 2014 750ML ($31.95) $24 special, 19 bottles available
Wine Advocate 93+ points: “A golden yellow color dresses the 2014 Vouvray Le Haut-Lieu Sec, which is still a baby on the nose, showing concentrated, almost tropical fruit flavors (pineapples, lemons) on the clear and fresh nose. Round and fruity on the palate, this medium to full-bodied, very elegant and persistent wine shows ripe and concentrated fruit, a delicately yeasty texture with a very fine grip, and is followed by a long, intense finish packed with minerals and stimulating dashes of lemon juice and limestone minerals. There is an excellent purity of fruit and a structure giving minerality here. Since we know how well also dry Huets can age, I would not touch it before 2020/21, although I am pretty sure the wine will be even better in 15 or 20+ years.”
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Philippe Foreau Domaine du Clos Naudin Vouvray Demi-Sec 2011 750ML ($41.95) $36 special, 11 bottles available
Importer note: “Foreau does not produce a Demi-Sec every year. All depends on the level of ripeness at time of harvest. When a Demi-Sec is released by the domaine, it can carry somewhere between 8 and sometimes as much as 20 grams or so of residual sugar but, more often than not, a Foreau Demi-Sec will be at the 8 to 12 grams RS level. Obviously, each year develops from its own unique circumstances. As indicated in the general description above, Foreau NEVER chapitalizes to achieve the Demi-Sec level and malo-lactic fermentations are never permitted to occur. All still wines at Foreau are bottled during the spring season following the harvest.”
Philippe Foreau Domaine du Clos Naudin Vouvray Moelleux 2009 750ML ($99.95) $89 special, 8 bottles available
Wine Advocate 96+ points: “The golden yellow 2009 Vouvray Moelleux offers an awesome rich bouquet of a full basket of super ripe white and yellow-fleshed fruits with pure and mineral highlighted aromas as well as colored blossoms, yellow paprika, ginger, coriander, white pepper, toasted peanuts and speck. Bottled with 80 grams of residual sugar, this is a full-bodied, complex, and very elegant almost perfect moelleux à la Foreau, a really rich, ripe, sweet and perfectly balanced wine of great finesse and a persistent freshness due to the lingering salinity and piquancy. This great Moelleux is surely made from healthy berries and for all Chenin lovers and their following generations this is a must buy.” WA
Philippe Foreau Domaine du Clos Naudin Vouvray Moelleux 2010 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 22 bottles available
Wine Advocate 93+ points: “Straw yellow the 2010 Vouvray Moelleux offers a rather pure but rich nose with aromas of tuffeau, mushrooms, yellow-fleshed plums, honeydew melon, super ripe pears, cooked peaches, ripe and succulent mangos as well as hints of caramel, honey and new oak. On the full-bodied palate this is an extremely elegant and superbly balanced Chenin of great finesse, piquancy and precision with aromas of figs, cooked peaches and pears along with a lingering salinity. To those of you who love the incomparable nature of 2010 this is a wine you should buy.” WA
Philippe Foreau Domaine du Clos Naudin Vouvray Reserve Moelleux 2003 750ML ($89.95) $69 special, 20 bottles available
Wine Spectator 94 points “Jaw-dropping fruit—guava, quince, mango and persimmon—is extremely concentrated and lushly layered. That’s followed by ginger, cream, green almond and smoke notes on a superlong finish, which has a nice bit of earthy grip as well.” WS
Philippe Foreau Domaine du Clos Naudin Vouvray Reserve Moelleux 2009 750ML ($119.95) $79 special (was $89), 36+ bottles available
Wine Advocate 97 points “What there was in this vintage of botrytis, Foreau reports, essentially went into his 2009 Vouvray Moelleux Reserve. Brown-spiced pear liqueur and quince preserves dominate the proceedings – wreathed in perfume of freesia and lily – and there are buoyancy and elegance, despite viscosity, enormous richness of texture and residual sweetness, that indeed point to the magic nobility rot can convey. Its sense of lift – when combined with luscious, still juicy suggestions of grapefruit and blood orange familiar from the corresponding demi-sec – wards off any risk of palate fatigue. Mysterious botrytis manifestations of stale bread, truffle, and white raisin emerge from the empty glass. This extraordinary achievement will stand with such past great Foreau moelleux reserves as 2005, 2003, and 1989-90 and is likely to merit 30 or more years of consideration. In direct comparison, what strikes one about the 2005 today is its more obvious sense of botrytis and its slightly diminished sense of acidity and lift. But it maintains the edge in sheer complexity.” WA
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Domaine Huet Vouvray Clos du Bourg Demi-Sec 2014 750ML ($41.95) $33 special, 20 bottles available
Wine Advocate 92+ points “Intensely yellow in color, the 2014 Vouvray Clos du Bourg Demi-Sec offers a very clear, intense and aromatic bouquet of ripe yellow fruits along with crushed stone flavors. The Demi-Sec version is even more open than the Sec, and the attack on the palate is lovely, round and fruit-intense, but also very mineral and firmly structured in the finish. This is a very elegant and mouth-filling Chenin with great finesse and a lingering salinity. It has good and grippy length. This wine is dangerously accessible already, though with an aging potential of 20-30, probably more years. The 20 grams per liter of residual sugar tastes quite sweet at the moment.”
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Domaine Huet Vouvray Moelleux Clos du Bourg Premiere Trie 2008 750ML ($79.95) $59 special, 14 bottles available
Wine Spectator 95 points “Starts with a tangy crème fraîche note before giving way to green almond, green tea, chamomile, powdered ginger and mineral notes. So precise it almost comes off as dry in feel, but the finish belies its late harvest with a showy candied citrus peel note. Drink now through 2025. 880 cases made.” WS
Domaine Huet Vouvray Le Haut Lieu Moelleux 2005 375ML ($34.95) $26 special, 29 half-bottles available
Wine Advocate 92 points “Reflecting a combination of botrytis and sheer desiccation, the 2005 Vouvray Moelleux Le Haut-Lieu smells of spiced apple and quince jelly, grapefruit zest, peony and buddleia, ethereal, honeyed secretions of botrytis and snuffed candle wick. Elegant, wafting and bright on the palate, this finishes with superb clarity and concentration, honeyed richness yet a restrained impression of sweetness (albeit at around 50 grams residual sugar) and offsetting hints of bitterness. Certainly it will in time (and then probably for well more than a decade) serve admirably with a wide array of cuisine but ought on no account be treated as “dessert wine.”
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Philippe Foreau Domaine du Clos Naudin Vouvray Moelleux ‘Goutte d’Or’ 2011 750ML ($319.95) $269 special, 2 bottles available
VinopolNote: Foreau’s rare top bottlings. Only three vintages have ever been bottled (1947, 1990 and 2011). 230g/L RS
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Domaine Henri Gouges
“It is whilst still on the vine that a fine wine matures…” –Gouges family maxim
Producing wines from some of the most famous vineyard sites in the Nuits-Saint-Georges, this eighty-year old family estate is widely considered the top producer in the area. The Domaine was founded by Henri Gouges, who was known for being a leader against fraud and one of the individuals in charge of delineating Burgundy crus. Today, the domaine is headed by his grandsons Christian and Pierre. The vineyards are all low-yielding, with average vine age of between 30-40 years old. The vineyards are planted with grass between rows to help force the vines to dig deep roots. Production averages around 3,000 cases per year. The house style has moved from dense and long-lived in the 40s and 50s, to light in the 70s and 80s, and back toward a more powerful and structured style today.
Below are five of the twenty-four bottlings we offer. These wines beg for cellaring, so we’ve focused on older vintages that have just begun to reach their prime:
Domaine Henri Gouges Les Vaucrains 2005 750ML ($199.95) $179 special, 7 bottles available
Burghound–Outstanding 93 points –“Extremely primary yet multi-dimensional black fruit and earthy aromas introduce rich, full and massive flavors that are powerful, robust and muscled with so much mid-palate sap that the extremely firm tannic spine is almost, if not completely masked. However, as it always does, the tannins will come out with time and I expect that this will always have a certain chewy quality and will require more than a decade of time in bottle to really begin to round out. Wonderful potential but for the very patient.” BH
Domaine Henri Gouges Les Chaignots, Nuits-Saint-Georges Premier Cru 2010 750ML ($99.95) $79 special, 21 bottles available
John Gilman 92 points “I did not have a chance to really taste the 2010 Chaignots out of barrel in November of 2011, as the wine was quite reduced and in need of a racking at the time of my visit. A year later, I was very happy to revisit the wine out of bottle and see that it was very promising, offering up a youthful and classy bouquet of black cherries, gamebirds, woodsmoke, a beautiful base of soil and a fine topnote of fresh herbs. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied and very pure, with laser-like focus, a sappy core of fruit, tangy acids and a very long, suavely tannic and still very closed finish. This will want most of the decade to blossom in bottle, but it is destined to be a great vintage of Chaignots from the Gouges family. 2020-2070.”
Stephen Tanzer 91+ points “Palish red. Redcurrant, cherry, spices, minerals and a whiff of game on the nose. Sweet, silky and fairly deep, offering a fine-grained texture and very good energy and intensity to its red fruit flavors. This juicy, bright premier cru relies as much on its acids as on its tannins for balance and structure. Finishes subtle and long. Half of these vines were replanted in 1986 following the 1985 frost, and so this wine has been getting better and better in recent vintages, noted Gregory Gouges.” ST
Domaine Henri Gouges Les Chenes Carteaux 2010 750ML ($89.95) $79 special, 16 bottles available
John Gilman 92 points “The 2010 Chênes Carteaux from the Gouges family is a beautiful example of this underrated terroir and the 2010 version should prove to be one of the finest ever produced here by the domaine. The nascently complex bouquet is still youthful, but all the inherent elegance of the vintage are very much in evidence here, as the wine delivers a lovely, vibrant mélange of black cherries, pomegranate, saddle leather, a touch of stems, venison, nutskin, a beautiful base of soil tones and a smoky topnote. On the palate the wine is pure, full-bodied and sappy at the core, with very suave, ripe tannins, great focus and grip, blossoming complexity and a very long, classy finish. This will be a very elegant vintage of Chênes Carteaux in the fullness of time, but this wine still needs at least another eight to ten years of bottle age to really start to hit on all cylinders. 2023-2060.” JG
Domaine Henri Gouges Clos des Porrets Monopole 2011 750ML ($89.95) $55 special, 26 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 90 points “Bright medium red. Liqueur-like aromas of cherry and raspberry. Sweet red fruit and spice flavors are lifted by notes of rose petal, herbs and pepper. Has the freshness and balance to give early pleasure. Finishes with lingering pepper-and-spice perfume and very good length.” ST
Domaine Henri Gouges Les Pruliers 2011 750ML ($99.95) $69 special, 19 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 91 points “Bright medium red. Reticent high-toned aromas of slightly jammy red fruits and earth. Sweet and ripe; richer and deeper than the Porrets Saint-Georges, with silky red cherry, currant and spice flavors enlivened by pungent peppery acidity. Nicely balanced, round wine with good buffering extract.” ST
Looking for more? We offer twenty-four different bottlings from Henri Gouges including other 2011s and 2012s available here now. The 2013s are arriving next month. You can browse all our offerings at: www.vinopoliswineshop.com
First Signs of Spring
Rosenthal Roses
These roses from the esteemed importer Rosethenal are scheduled to arrive this spring!
Rosenthal Imported Rose Wines Arriving April 2016
Peyrassol Cotes de Provence ‘Commanderie de Peyrassol’ Rose, Provence 2015 750ML ($24.95) $18 pre-arrival special, ETA April 2016
Peyrassol Cotes de Provence ‘Commanderie de Peyrassol’ Rose, Provence 2015 1.5L ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival special, ETA April 2016
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.”
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Peyrassol Cotes de Provence ‘Chateau Peyrassol’ Rose, Provence 2015 750ML ($29.95) $24 pre-arrival special, ETA April 2016
Peyrassol Cotes de Provence ‘Chateau Peyrassol’ Rose, Provence 2015 1.5L ($79.95) $69 pre-arrival special, ETA April 2016
Peyrassol Cotes de Provence ‘Chateau Peyrassol’ Rose, Provence 2015 3L ($199.95) $169 pre-arrival special, ETA April 2016
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.”
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Domaine de Bagnol Cassis Rose, Provence 2015 750ML ($29.95) $24 pre-arrival special, ETA April 2016
Domaine de Bagnol Cassis Rose, Provence 2015 1.5L ($69.95) $59 pre-arrival special, ETA April 2016
Impoter note “From the prettiest village on the Mediterranean comes one of the finest of our rosés. The Cassis Rosé gives expression to the intense minerality that comes from the white stone cliffs that provide background to these vineyards; but there is also a gracious and silky texture that makes this most satisfying and the perfect accompaniment to grilled fish freshly caught. A blend of 40% Grenache, 40% Mourvèdre and 20% Cinsault, A brilliant companion to the compelling white from this estate that also demands your attention.”
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Chateau Simone Les Grands Carmes de Simone Rose, IGP Bouches-du-Rhone 2014 750ML ($39.95) $33 pre-arrival special, ETA April 2016
Importer note “We are pleased to be able to access a larger quantity of the “Grandes Carmes de Simone” Rosé this year, which is classified as a Vin de Pays des Bouches du Rhone. From a small north-facing site just around the hill from the Chateau itself, the wine is 45% Grenache, 30% Mourvedre, 20% Merlot and 5% Cinsault. It receives the same special care as the flagship Palette, with manual harvests and extended elevage in small foudre.”
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Chateau Simone Palette Rose, Provence 2014 750ML ($79.95) $59 pre-arrival special, ETA April 2016
Importer note “This magical and ancient estate in the hills just south of Aix-en-Provence produces a Rosé from the Palette appellation that is outside of category. It is a wine that belies the notion that rosés are simple wines to be drunk up young. We have indulged ourselves with 10-year old Château Simone Rosé and have marveled at the tenacity, vibrancy and complexity of this very serious wine. Expensive yes … but a special experience. A blend identical to the rouge: 45% Grenache, 30% Mourvèdre, 5% Cinsault, 20% Syrah, Castet, Manosquin, Carignan, Muscat Noir & Blanc. The mineral backbone of this wine is augmented by the flavors and bouquets sourced from the magnificent pines that surround this estate.”
Domaine de Fenouillet Cotes du Ventoux Rose, Rhone 2015 750ML ($17.95) $14 pre-arrival special, ETA April 2016
Importer note “This Ventoux Rosé from the village of Beaumes-de-Venise is pale rose in color, quite fruity, with a brisk mineral finish. As always, the Soard brothers have provided us with one of our finest values. A blend of Cinsault and Grenache, with a touch of Syrah, this favorite quickly disappears. Certified organic.”
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Domaine du Gour de Chaule Gigondas Amour de Rose, Rhone 2015 750ML ($29.95) $24 pre-arrival special, ETA April 2016
Importer note “The Gigondas Rosé from Stéphanie Fumoso (following gracefully in the footsteps of her mother, Aline Bonfils) is a very limited production affair with a loyal following. A rose-ruby color, intense strawberry-like fruit, and a surprising density mark this fine effort crafted primarily from Grenache with a touch of Syrah. This paean to the glories of rosé is another testament to the unfailing competence and consistently high quality that marks every wine from this estate.”
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Mas Cal Demoura Coteaux du Languedoc Qu’es Aquo Rose, Languedoc-Roussillon 2015 750ML ($24.95) $18 pre-arrival special, ETA April 2016
Importer note “Vincent and Isabelle Goumard have taken over the reins of this domaine with a remarkable passion. Their Coteaux du Languedoc Rosé combines elegance and power: a lively wine with excellent presence on the palate with a properly dry and mineral finish. There is plenty of fruit and the bright rose color is a worthy subject for a fine still-life. A blend of the five classic grape varieties of the Languedoc: Cinsault, Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre & Carignan with the first two comprising the majority of the finished wine.”
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Mas Jullien Coteaux du Languedoc Rose, Languedoc-Roussillon 2015 750ML ($27.95) $24 pre-arrival special, ETA April 2016
Importer note “Olivier Jullien remains one of our most talented vignerons. His Coteaux du Languedoc Rosé is a tour de force with power and spice that makes this a truly distinctive effort. Made from a classic mix of local grapes, including Cinsault, Syrah, Mourvèdre, and Carignan. Much like the formidable Rosés of Pradeaux and Simone, this effort from Mas Jullien will stand the test of time.”
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Rosenthal Rose Wines Arriving May 2016
Chateau Pradeaux Bandol Rose, Provence 2015 750ML ($34.95) $28 pre-arrival special, ETA May 2016
Chateau Pradeaux Bandol Rose, Provence 2015 1.5L ($79.95) $59 pre-arrival special, ETA May 2016
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.”
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Chateau Pradeaux Le Cotes de Provence Rose 2015 750ML ($24.95) $18 pre-arrival special, ETA May 2016
Importer note “The Cotes de Provence Rosé is 60% Mourvedre, 30% Cinsault and 10% Grenache all sourced from declassified Bandol vineyards, and the spirit of the appellation is obvious in the wine.”
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Chateau Soucherie Rose de Loire 2015 750ML ($21.95) $18 pre-arrival special, ETA May 2016
Importer note “This beautiful property in the heart of the Coteaux-du-Layon renders an intriguing Rosé from a blend of Grolleau (40%), Gamay (35%) and Cabernet Franc (25%). The Rosé de Loire is bone dry with a marked minerality to its flavor and finish. We find this wine performs admirably at the table, particularly with spicy and piquant foods or with freshly shucked oysters. Certified organic.”
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Chateau de l’Eperonniere Rose de Loire, Loire 2015 750ML ($21.95) $18 pre-arrival special, ETA May 2016
Importer note “Mathieu Tijou, born and raised at Chateau Soucherie, now has his own estate down the road at Chateau de l’Eperonnière. He, too, produces a fine rendition of Rosé de Loire, from a blend of Grolleau (70%), with Cabernet Franc (30%). This is a lively, dry wine with a violet tint to the color, a peppery spice on the palate (certainly the effect of Grolleau!) and a raspberry-like fruitiness.”
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Domaine de la Petite Mairie Bourgueil Rose, Loire 2015 750Ml ($21.95) $18 pre-arrival special, ETA May 2016
Importer note “As we enter the Touraine, the Cabernet Franc takes center stage. The Bourgueil Rosé produced by James Petit from vineyards in Restigné and Bourgueil is a graceful and dignified wine with lots of class. This should prove to be a particularly fine reason to pay attention to an underappreciated appellation that offers stunning value, even more so in its red wines. A favorite of ours!”
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Lucien Crochet Sancerre Pinot Rose, Loire 2015 750ML ($34.95) $28 pre-arrival special, ETA May 2016
Lucien Crochet Sancerre Pinot Rose, Loire 2015 1.5L ($79.95) $59 pre-arrival special, ETA May 2016
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!”
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Bisson Ciliegiolo Rose Golfo del Tigullio, Liguria 2015 750ML ($24.95) $18 pre-arrival special, ETA May 2016
Importer note “When is a rosé not a rosé? We have struggled with whether to officially classify the Ciliegiolo varietal in this category or whether to present it as a light-colored red wine with lots and lots of character (much as we do, for example, the Poulsard from the Jura). No matter what moniker we use, the fact is that this wine is a joyous presence at the table with its bountiful berry flavor, brilliant rose-ruby color and energetic freshness. From the Italian riviera via the talented Piero Lugano.”
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Rosenthal Rose Wines Arriving June 2016
Cave Yves Cuilleron ‘Sybel’ Syrah Rose, IGP Collines Rhodaniennes 2015 750ML ($21.95) $18 pre-arrival special, ETA June 2016
Importer note “A pure northern Rhône Syrah vinified as rosé by Yves Cuilleron. This is robust and fruity with a touch of spicy strawberry that makes it a fine companion at the picnic table. Simple, straight-forward and satisfying … a fine value.”
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A Case of Vinsanity!
Six Packs and Twelve Packs from Around the World!
Two Hands Bella’s Garden Shiraz 2013 ($69.95) $47 special (was $59), 36+ bottles available
Case- 6 Two Hands Bella’s Garden Shiraz 2013 ($359.95) $249 special (that’s only $41.50/bottle!), 17 half-cases available
Wine Advocate 94+ points “Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2013 Shiraz Bella’s Garden has wonderfully pure black and blue fruit notes of crushed blackberries, wild blueberries and cassis with nuances of black pepper, star anise, tar and cumin seed. Big, rich and concentrated in the mouth, the full-bodied palate bursts with peppered blackberry flavors supported by firm, grainy tannins and lively acidity, finishing with great persistence.”
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The average listed price is $62
The next best price is $54.98
Case-6 Ruffino Modus Toscana IGT, Tuscany 2012 750ML ($149.95) $119 special, 14 six-packs available (that’s only $19.83/bottle!)
Ruffino Modus Toscana IGT, Tuscany 2012 750ML ($27.95) $21.90 special, 36+ bottles available
James Suckling 94 points “A silky and refined red with currant, berry, mineral and dried flower aromas and flavors. Full-bodied, flavorful and delicious. A blend of sangiovese, cabernet sauvignon and merlot. Drinkable now but better in 2017.” JS
Case-12 Tenuta Luisa Ribolla Gialla, Friuli-Venezia Giulia 2013 750ML ($219.95) $159 special, 3 cases available (that’s only $13.25/bottle!)
Tenuta Luisa Ribolla Gialla, Friuli-Venezia Giulia 2013 750ML ($21.95) $14 special, 36 bottles available
Wine Enthusiast 89 points “Enticing aromas of jasmine, honeysuckle and citrus blossom lead the nose on this polished wine. The sleek palate delivers juicy pear, crisp apple and nectarine zest. It’s fresh and balanced, with bright acidity.” WE
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Case-12 Jean-Paul & Benoit Droin Vaillons, Chablis Premier Cru 2013 750ML ($399.95) $333 special, 2 cases available (that’s only $27.75/bottle and the lowest listed price in the USA today!)
Jean-Paul & Benoit Droin Vaillons, Chablis Premier Cru 2013 750ML ($37.95) $30.90 special, 16 bottles available
Antonio Galloni 92-94 points “The 2013 Chablis Vaillons is striking today. Partial vinification in oak gives the Vaillons an added level of textural breadth and raciness that works beautifully here. Yellow stone fruits and spices flesh out in an utterly irresistible, striking wine.” AG
Case-12 Matello Deux Vert Vineyard Viognier, Yamhill-Carlton District 2012 750ML ($149.95) $119 special, 4 cases available (that’s only $9.92/bottle!)
Matello Deux Vert Vineyard Viognier, Yamhill-Carlton District 2012 750ML ($17.95) $11.90 special, 21 bottles available
Winery note “One finds classic aromatics of ripe peach and honey. The palate is lush and loaded with ripe peach on the attack, with overtones of apricot and brioche that are swept up in the texture. Deux Vert Vineyard is sustainably farmed and a member of LIVE. Our farming philosophy is to take the best practices from various farming approaches (organic, bio-dynamic, etc.) but not be restricted by any one of them. It is a dry farmed, non-tilled vineyard.”
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The next best price is $27.99
Case-12 Bodegas Avante ‘Tineta’, Ribera del Duero 2012 750ML ($179.95) $119 special, 2 cases available (that’s only $9.92/bottle and the lowest listed price in the USA today!)
Bodegas Avante ‘Tineta’, Ribera del Duero 2012 750ML ($17.95) $11.90 special, 18 bottles available
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 91 points “(fermented in stainless steel tanks, with malo in small oak barrels, followed by 22 months of aging in French and American oak casks): Deep ruby. Sexy, perfumed aromas of cherry, blueberry and potpourri, with subtle licorice and dark chocolate qualities emerging with air. At once plush and lively, showing very good depth–and juicy acidity–to its black and blue fruit flavors. Supple tannins arrive late, adding shape to the sweet, spice-tinged finish.” JR
Case-6 Franciscan Estate Cuvee Sauvage Chardonnay, Carneros 2012 750ML ($159.95) $119 special, 8 six-packs available (that’s only $19.83/bottle!)
Franciscan Estate Cuvee Sauvage Chardonnay, Carneros 2012 750ML ($37.95) $24 special, 36+ bottles available
Wine Enthusiast 91 points “A classic Napa Valley Chardonnay, this is smooth, rich, balanced and well composed. Flowery aromas of honeysuckle open the way for lemon curd and ripe apple to compete with a depth of crème brûlée character that provides plenty of complexity, with additional accents of honey and spice.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Case-12 Casa Lapostolle ‘Casa’ Grand Selection Chardonnay, Casablanca Valley 2012 750Ml ($119.95) $79 special, 8 cases available (that’s only $6.58/bottle!)
Casa Lapostolle ‘Casa’ Grand Selection Chardonnay, Casablanca Valley 2012 750Ml ($11.95) $8.80 special, 11 bottles available
Importer’s note: “The Lapostolle Casa tier of wines are young and expressive, bright and vivid, and made to capture the freshness of the fruit. Casa Grand Selection Chardonnay comes from the breezy, coastal Casablanca Valley, which has cool and dry summers, allowing the Chardonnay to ripen slowly and maintain its natural acidity. Hand-harvesting at night enhances the fruitiness and crispness of the grapes, and also helps reduce the use of energy at the winery. Casa Grand Selection Chardonnay is satisfying on its own, and also goes well with many seafood dishes and white meat.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Case-12 Bernabeleva Camino de Navaherreros Garnacha, Madrid 2013 750ML ($179.95) $129 special, 4 cases available (that’s only $10.75/bottle!)
Bernabeleva Camino de Navaherreros Garnacha, Madrid 2013 750M l($16.95) $11.90 special, 26 bottles available
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 90 points “(all garnacha): Bright red. Smoky, spice-accented raspberry and cherry on the perfumed nose, with a bright floral accent building with air. Brisk and racy, offering fresh red fruit and rose pastille flavors and a hint of blood orange. I might have guessed this to be pinot. Finishes taut and clean, with a lingering redcurrant note and lacy tannins sneaking in slowly.” JR
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Case-12 Louis M. Martini Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon 2013 750ML ($159.95) $149 special, 2 cases available (that’s only $12.42/bottle!)
Louis M. Martini Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon 2013 750ML ($17.95) $14 special, 20 bottles available
Wine Spectator 88 points “Offers a lot of Cabernet for the money, with a trim profile of dusty earth, dried berry and cedary oak flavors, complemented by gravelly tannins. Drink now through 2022.” WS
Case-12 Joseph Carr Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2012 750ML ($249.95) $179 special, 6 cases available (that’s only $14.92/bottle!)
Joseph Carr Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2012 750ML ($21.95) $18 special, 23 bottles available
“The solidly made 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa represents 70,000 cases of good Cabernet Sauvignon! Displaying herbaceously-tinged blackcurrant and plum fruit intermixed with a hint of licorice, this spicy, ripe, richly fruity Cabernet is not terribly complex, but it is well-made. Drink it over the next 3-4 years.”–Wine Advocate
Have a wonderful weekend!