Saturday, April 16th, 2016
Giuseppi Mascarello Monprivato and Scudetto; Castella di Ama; Quimera; One Week Sale: Betz; Continuing Sale: Antoine Arena; The Roses Have Landed; Francesco Rinaldi Arriving April 29th; J. B. Becker; Altesino Brunellos Arriving This Month; JM Pillot Arriving This Month; Rare and Classic Wines; Case Deals from Around the World; Time to Say Good Buy – Sales Expire Sunday!
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Jump Start Sale
Giuseppe Mascarello
Arrives Friday, April 22nd
Giuseppe Mascarello e Figlio Monprivato, Barolo DOCG 2011 750ML ($159.95) $115 pre-arrival special
Wine Spectator 95 points “This is expressive, with alluring cherry, strawberry, floral and mineral flavors building to a long, expansive finish. The elegant profile belies the serious structure underneath, which should allow this red to develop over the next 15 to 20 years. Offers fine berry fruit and a minerally aftertaste. Best from 2018 through 2033.”
Jancis Robinson 18/20 points “Very pale ruby. More stony and liquorice-like than Villero. Brooding concentration but holding back on the nose. Lithe and very elegant palate with amazing tactile and fine tannins. Has the wow factor.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $148
Giuseppe Mascarello e Figlio Scudetto Barbera d’Alba Superiore 2012 750ML ($39.95) $33 pre-arrival special
Winery note “Wine-Making Process: Traditional-style, floating cap fermentation for 15/20 days. The wine is then matured in French oak for approximately 18 months. Color: deep ruby red, with elegant garnet highlights on ageing. Nose: vinous, varietal, ample. Taste: powerful, with stuffing and lots of body, well-balanced, round, packed with character, slightly tannic.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $38
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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.
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Castello di Ama
New Review from James Suckling
Ama is a modern estate comprising 500 acres of land, 200 of which are vineyards. These vineyards are divided into five important parcels; San Lorenzo, Bellavista, La Casuccia, Bertinga and Montebuoni. In the 1970s, four families formed a partnership and purchased the property with the goal of producing world-class wines. Castello Di Ama is unique, employing its best Sangiovese to produce Chianti Classico, unlike many Tuscan producers who have chosen to blend their best Sangiovese into Vini da Tavola or Super Tuscans. The San Lorenzo is one of three Gran Selezione Chianti Classico wines from Castello di Ama. Gran Selezione is a new classification for Chianti Classico, representing the very pinnacle of wine production from the region.
Castello di Ama ‘San Lorenzo’, Chianti Classico Gran Selezione DOCG 2011 750ML ($57.95) $41.90 special, 24 bottles available
Case-12 Castello di Ama ‘San Lorenzo’, Chianti Classico Gran Selezione DOCG 2011 750ML ($549.95) $432 special, 12 cases available (that’s only $36/bottle and the lowest listed price in the USA today!)
Case-6 Castello di Ama ‘San Lorenzo’, Chianti Classico Gran Selezione DOCG 2011 750ML ($259.95) $233 special, 3 six-packs available (that’s only $38.83/bottle and the lowest listed price in the USA today!)
James Suckling 96 points “This has a dusty character on the nose with soil, dried fruit and blueberry. Flowers too. Full body, firm tannins and a fresh finish. Tight and structured. Shows wonderful depth of fruit and beauty. Chewy. Better in 2016.” JS
Castello di Ama Haiku Toscana IGT 2010 750ML ($69.95) $49 special, 14 bottles available
James Suckling 95 points “A very powerful red with layers of dense, ripe fruit and firm, savory tannins. This is extremely structured and superb quality. Full body. Long, intense finish. Shows the winemaking prowess of Ama. A blend of 50% sangiovese, 25% merlot and 25% cabernet franc. Better in 2017.”
Antonio Galloni 93 points “Beautifully vivid and nuanced in the glass, the 2010 Haiku impresses for its purity and clarity. Sweet tobacco, licorice, mint, cedar and dark red stone fruits are all woven together in a fabric of sensual elegance and total finesse. The 2010 is gorgeous today, but my sense is it also has enough pedigree to develop nicely in bottle. The style is built on grace and finesse.” AG
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
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Quimera
The Quimera blend was first released in 2001. It is a unique vineyard selection wine that changes year to year based on the vintage and quality of the grapes. The goal of winemakers Santiago Achaval and Roberto Cipresso is to select grapes in the vineyard that offer dark, robust flavors with earthy and herbal notes. The wine is aged for 12 months in French oak barrels and offers concentrated, robust notes of blackberries, purple flowers, chocolate and rosemary.
Achaval Ferrer Quimera, Mendoza, Argentina 2012 750ML ($39.95) $28 special, 36+ bottles available
Case-6 Achaval Ferrer Quimera, Mendoza, Argentina 2012 750ML ($199.95) $159 special, 6 six-packs available (that’s only $26.50/bottle and the lowest listed price in the USA today!)
James Suckling 93 points “There’s a minerality and intensity to this wine with limestone and salt. Full-bodied yet so refined. Sexy and beautiful. Mostly malbec with cabernet franc, merlot and a bit of petit verdot. Drink or hold.”
Stephen Tanzer-Vinous Media “(aged in French oak, 40% new, for 12 months; 50% Malbec, 24% Cabernet Franc, 16% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Sauvignon and 2% Petit Verdot): Dark red-ruby. Ripe aromas of blackberry, blueberry and bitter chocolate. Dense and fine-grained, showing attractive spicy lift to its dark berry flavors. Ripe, harmonious acidity gives this wine a seamless quality. Classy juice.”
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Our Betz Buy Sale
Ends Midnight Friday, April 22nd
Betz Family Winery Besoleil, Columbia Valley 2013 750ML ($59.95) Was $49, Now $41.90, 6 bottles available
Wine Advocate 92 points “Bottled last November, the 2013 Grenache Besoleil has slightly more Syrah, with the final blend being 49% Grenache, 20% Syrah, 16% Cinsault, 9% Mourvedre and the rest Counoise. Aged 11 months in a combination of different sized barrels, 25% being new, it’s a elegant, medium to full-bodied, Provencal-styled effort that has lots of sweet red and black fruits, garrigue and hints of cured meats. It’s a total charmer that will have 10-12 years of overall longevity.” WA
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $51
Betz Family Winery Clos de Betz, Columbia Valley 2011 750ML ($69.95) Was $47, Now $39, 38 bottles available
Betz Family Winery Clos de Betz, Columbia Valley 2011 1.5L ($129.95) Was $99, Now $89, 7 magnums available
Stephen Tanzer 93 points “(67% merlot, 28% cabernet sauvignon and 5% petit verdot; aged in 65% new oak): Good bright, deep red. Redcurrant, cocoa powder and musky tobacco on the nose. Gentle and creamy in the mouth for 2011, with harmonious ripe acidity framing the sweet red berry, cherry and cocoa powder flavors. This floral merlot-based wine is supported by firm acids and tannins but comes across as quite feminine in style. Betz notes that 2011 was a very good year for merlot.”
These are the lowest listed prices in the USA today!
The average price is $58
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Ongoing Antoine Sale
Antoine Arena: World-Class Wines of Corsica
Antoine Arena makes arguably the greatest wines of Corsica. His vineyards are dramatic, with rocky terrain and fast-rising slopes rising from the fertile island. Some of the land was once olive groves, while others were long-lost vineyards which had lain unused and unseen because of their rugged and remote situation. As operations grew, Arena blasted out rocky plots and planted new vines to supplement their 60-year-old plantings.
Working almost exclusively with Niellucciu and Vermentinu, Arena harvest by hand and vinifies only in stainless steel tanks. Native yeast fermentations have nothing added or taken away, save for small amounts of sulfur. The reds see 6-9 week long macerations, with an even longer elevage in concrete tanks. Arena could certainly be considered a natural winemaker, eschewing chemicals and farming bidynamically, though his wines are by no means funky and he chooses not to draw superficial attention to it. Instead, he farms and makes wines the way he feels they ought to be made to best present the incredible terroirs he works with.
With such depth, these wines are quite hard to describe. Thankfully, they’re really easy to drink.
Domaine Antoine Arena ‘BG’ Bianco Gentile, Corsica 2011 750ML ($49.95) $29 special
Wine Advocate 91 points “Arena’s 2011 BG – Bianco Gentile- exhibits a remarkable nose mingling roasted peanut, toasted hickory, high-toned citrus oils, and melon liquor. Pineapple and juicy Persian and honeydew melon form the matrix of a lush palate, with the zesty citrus as well as toasty legume and nut notes found in the nose serving as striking accents, accompanied by a more predictable suggestion of myriad scrubby herbs. The combination of expansiveness with vivacity and grip is impressive, and I suspect that these now 15-year-old vines are telling us that they have insinuated themselves into the chalky mother rock, as perhaps also intimated by the decidedly stony and alkaline undertone to this wine’s long finish.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Domaine Antoine Arena Patrimonio Carco Blanc, Corsica 2012 750ML ($49.95) $29 special
Wine Spectator 91 points “A rich and refined white, with concentrated flavors of dried pear, white peach, apricot and guava that are supported by ample acidity. Well-structured, featuring loads of minerality and a lingering, pure-tasting finish. Vermentino. Drink now through 2018.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $45
The average price is $52
Domaine Antoine Arena Patrimonio Grotte di Sole Rouge, Corsica 2011 750ML ($49.95) $29 special
Wine Spectator 89 points “The dark cherry and black currant fruit has an edgy feel, with lots of bramble, holly and cassis bush notes rippling underneath. Tangy anise and sanguine accents line the finish, presenting a light hint of leather in the background.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $31.20
We offer seven bottlings from Domaine Antoine Arena, all viewable online at our web store!
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The Roses have Landed;
Well, Some of Them, in 2016 we are painting Portland Pink!
Domaine Les Grands Bois Cotes du Rhone Cuvee Les Trois Soeurs Rose, Rhone 2015 750ML ($17.95) $14 special
Vinopolnote: A peppy blend of Grenache, Syrah, and Carignan from a certified organic estate.
Domaine Saint Damien Gigondas Rose, Rhone 2015 750ML ($27.95) $24 special
Vinopolnote: Minerals and red fruit dominate the elegant profile, with pleasant roundness and a long finish. A lovely ‘food rose.’
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $27.99
Pascal et Nicolas Reverdy Sancerre Terre de Maimbray Rose, Loire 2015 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 special
Vinopolnote: A focused and well-aligned rose, with floral elements and citrus fruits melding into a pleasantly tart finish.
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $24
Domaine des Cassagnoles Rose, IGP Cotes de Gascogne 2015 750ML ($14.95) $11.90 special
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $13
Chateau Simone Palette Rose, Provence 2014 750ML ($79.95) $59 special
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.”
Chateau Simone Les Grands Carmes de Simone Rose, IGP Bouches-du-Rhone 2014 750ML ($39.95) $33 special
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.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $35
Domaine de Bagnol Cassis Rose, Provence 2015 750ML ($29.95) $24 special
Domaine de Bagnol Cassis Rose, Provence 2015 1.5L ($69.95) $59 special
Importer 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.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
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Francesco Rinaldi
Arriving April 29th
Francesco Rinaldi & Figli Nebbiolo d’Alba 2013 750ML ($27.95) $21.90 pre-arrival special
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Francesco Rinaldi & Figli Barbaresco DOCG 2011 750ML ($44.95) $38 pre-arrival special
James Suckling 93 points “A red with pungent aromas of earth and ripe fruit. Orange peel, too. A red with a full body, chewy tannins and a tangy, delicious finish. Plenty of ripe, juicy fruit character. Barrel sample. Drink or hold.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $43
Francesco Rinaldi & Figli Cannubbio 2011 750ML ($79.95) $59 pre-arrival special
Antonio Galloni 93 points “Rinaldi’s 2011 Barolo Cannubi shows the richer side of this site, with all of the typical flavors amped up by the richness of the year. Sweet red cherry, pomegranate, mint, rose petal and spice notes flesh out in this decidedly ample, bold Cannubi. Sweeping in stature and proportion, the Cannubi is a terrific example of the year. It is also a touch fresher than the Brunate, which is one of the reasons I prefer it today, albeit slightly.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $75
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J. B. Becker
Arriving Friday
From the importer, vom Boden:
“Becker’s winemaking has less to do with a condemnation or critique of the noble establishment (even if it deserves either or both) and more to do with a vision that is so singular and steadfast that it feels totally irrelevant whether you or I or anyone thinks Becker’s “aesthetic” is genius or folly. It just is.
“The wines have a similar in-your-face, love-it-or-hate it sensibility. They are unfailingly honest. They present a bizarre vocabulary: dried earth and rocks, herbs, something vaguely subterranean, a savory, briny, smoky atmosphere that slowly reveals fine layers of bright citrus. For all this depth and mysteriousness, Becker’s white wines are like Becker himself: angular, tensile with awkward elbows and muscle and sinew pulled tightly over a lean frame. They flaunt a rather prominent acidity that recalls the more nervy wines of the Mosel, Saar and Ruwer, though there is a weight, a density that speaks of the Rheingau.
“The overall effect, one must say, is bewildering and inspiring. Becker seems to relish the paradox. If there is any grand system here, it is inscrutable.”
J.B. Becker Arriving April 22nd
J.B. Becker Wallufer Walkenberg Riesling Kabinett Trocken, Rheingau 2012 750ML ($27.95) $24 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 90 points “The 2012 Wallufer Walkenberg Riesling Kabinett trocken shows an intense, deep, clear and mineral as well as spicy bouquet with lovely, clear and ripe stone fruit. This is old school Riesling: fermented in old oak vats for ten months and bottled in between four weeks, this is a light to medium-bodied but very mineral and expressive Riesling, with a nicely sweet taste that comes from the sugar-free extract. The finish is dry and mineral, very piquant, salty and extremely stimulating. Don’t drink this as a Kabinett, but as a serious Rheingau classic. If you like Markus Molitor or Martin Müllen, you have to check this wine out.”
J.B. Becker Wallufer Walkenberg Riesling Spatlese Trocken, Rheingau 2002 750ML ($49.95) $39 pre-arrival special
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $49
J.B. Becker Martinsthaler Rodchen Spatlese 1990 750ML ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 89 points “The dark golden colored 1990 Martinsthaler Rödchen Riesling Spätlese trocken shows an intense, concentrated as well as matured bouquet of dried and cooked stone fruit flavors. Full-bodied, clear and concentrated though slightly bitter, this is a dry, quite austere Riesling with grip and astringency.(12/2015)”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
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Altesino Brunello Arriving This Month
Altesino Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2011 750ML ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival special
Case-12 Altesino Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2011 750ML ($599.95) $549 pre-arrival special (that’s only $45.75/bottle!)
Antonio Galloni 92 points “Altesino’s 2011 Brunello di Montalcino opens with beguiling aromatics. Sage, licorice, menthol and sweet tobacco flesh out nicely as the wine shows off its ample, broad personality. The tannins could use another year or two to soften, but all the elements are very nicely balanced throughout. This gracious, silky Brunello will drink well for the next decade-plus.”
James Suckling 92 points “This is long and delicious with lovely cherry, chocolate and fresh walnut flavors. Linear yet open with persistence and joy. Drink now.”
Altesino Montosoli, Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2011 750ML ($99.95) $77 pre-arrival special
Case-6 Altesino Montosoli, Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2011 750ML ($499.95) $449 pre-arrival special (that’s only $74.83/bottle!)
James Suckling 94 points “A very ripe style with prune, berry and salted-nut aromas and flavors. Full body, savory intensity and a long, flavorful finish. Lots of juicy, fabulous fruit. Shows the greatness of the vineyard. Drink or hold.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Altesino Brunello di Montalcino Riserva DOCG 2010 750ML ($119.95) $99 pre-arrival special
James Suckling 97 points “A sexy and silky riserva with dried fruit, blueberry and cedar character. Full body, firm tannins and long and gorgeous finish. So linear and precise. Chocolate-covered cherry center palate. Terrific young wine. Best riserva ever from here. Better in 2018.”
Antonio Galloni 93+ points “The 2010 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is going to need a few years to soften, as the tannins are imposing today. There is plenty of textural depth and richness, but readers will have to be patient. Attractive scents to tobacco, cedar, smoke, licorice, sage, violet and orange peel add myriad shades of nuance. A kick of warming alcohol accentuates the finish.”
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Domaine Jean-Marc Pillot
2013 offered winegrowers in the Chassagne Montrachet region a cool, slow growing season that allowed fruit to reach slowly maturity while retaining high acidity levels, resulting in freshness, lift and shining minerality. Rosenthal reports that “the Premier Crus are quite expressive in their youth, but have the raw material to evolve gracefully for many years while again putting in fine relief the nuances of Chassagne’s varying geology.”
We’re excited to offer the new releases from Jean-Marc Pillot. His family has farmed grapes in Chassagne for four generations, and he studied under his father before taking over the domaine in 1991. Since he took over, he has constructed a new cave for cellaring, expanded vineyards and has made minor modifications to the domaine’s winemaking and vineyard practices. Tending of the 25 to 100 year old vines is low impact, with no herbicides used, simple pruning and vine training methods employed and manual harvest. In the winery, the wines are fermented and aged in barrel (the whites see around 10 – 30% new oak). The wines are aged on the fine lees for 12 months, racked and aged for an additional six months.
Domaine Jean-Marc Pillot Wines Arriving in April
Domaine Jean-Marc Pillot Les Baudines, Chassagne-Montrachet Premier Cru 2013 750ML ($79.95) $66 pre-arrival special
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 91-93 points “(still full of gas–Pillot uses CO2 for “a natural batonnage,” but the malo has finished): Piquant aromas of grapefruit, lime and ginger are accented by a note of white pepper. Brisk and stony on entry, then almost surprisingly silky and thick in the middle but with terrific lift to its intense grapefruit and crushed rock flavors. Tactile but not phenolic or green.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $72.99
Domaine Jean-Marc Pillot Les Vergers, Chassagne-Montrachet Premier Cru 2013 750ML ($89.95) $66 pre-arrival special
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 92 points “Pale, bright yellow. Showy aromas of pear, orange zest and minerals. Fruitier and sweeter than the 2014 version, offering a fleshiness that that wine currently lacks. (“The 2014 is rigid, like the 2010,” notes Pillot.) This lovely pliant, harmonious wine finishes with excellent lemony lift.”
Domaine Jean-Marc Pillot Morgeot Les Fairendes, Chassagne-Montrachet Premier Cru 2013 750ML ($89.95) $66 pre-arrival special
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 92+ points “Pale straw-yellow. Perfumed, nuanced aromas of lime, lemon, wild herbs, white pepper, minerals and anise convey a very fresh, cool style of Morgeot. Densely packed and youthfully tight, showing very good energy and definition. But with its strong citrussy acidity, this wine is less harmonious and more austere in the early going than the Vergers. A finishing touch of lemon peel gives the aftertaste a slight bitterness but this premier cru offers terrific potential.”
Domaine Jean-Marc Pillot Bourgogne Les Grandes Terres 2014 750ML ($29.95) $24 pre-arrival special
Importer note “This little red is a favorite of ours for its rustic, wild berry fruit and ebullient palate presence. The vineyard is located south of Chassagne in the town of Remigny. Some of the vines are quite old, approaching the 60-year mark.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Domaine Jean-Marc Pillot Chassagne-Montrachet Mes Vieilles Vignes Rouge 2013 750ML ($49.95) $39 pre-arrival special
Importer note “Pillot exploits over a hectare of vineyards planted in 1960 to Pinot Noir at the village level. This is a robust, cherry-flavored wine of strength and vigor. A simple, satisfying red from a village that should be more recognized for the quality of its reds, this being a prime example.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
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Rare and Classic Wines from Burgundy
Joseph Drouhin Musigny Grand Cru 2011 750ML ($799.95) $549 special, 6 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 92-95 points “Good deep red. Captivating aromas of blueberry, violet, coffee bean, white pepper and crushed stone. Juicy on entry, then tight and imploded in the middle, with an energetic core of fruit currently dominated by the wine’s structure. Most impressive today on the rising, expanding back end, which saturates the mouth with dusty minerality. This will need eight to ten years of cellaring.” ST
Burghound 93-95 points “Don’t miss! A highly spiced, cool and reserved nose features superb breadth with a wonderfully appealing array of plum, violets, wet stone and essence of red berry fruit. The exceptionally rich, focused and intensely mineral-inflected broad-shouldered flavors evidence focused power and a sleek muscularity before terminating in an explosive and palate saturating finish of genuinely stunning length. This is a knockout in every respect.” BH
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $667
The next best price is $600
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.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Domaine Jayer-Gilles Echezeaux du Dessus Grand Cru 2005 750ML ($999.95) $799 special, 1 bottle available
Vinified by Emmanuel Rouget
Stephen Tanzer 92 points “Good deep red. Ripe, nuanced nose offers red fruits, coffee, mocha and underbrush. Suave and silky, with uncommon sweetness for this cuvee; perhaps less classic than the Cros Parantoux but rich and soil-inflected. Finishes with substantial dusty tannins and notes of iron and tobacco.” ST
Domaine Armand Rousseau Pere et Fils Chambertin Clos-de-Beze Grand Cru 2011 750ML ($1,799.95) $1,499 special, 1 bottle available
Burghound 95 points “A potently expressive nose blends both wood and natural spice together with distinctly cool, pure and ripe wild red berries, earth and underbrush. The palate impression is a gorgeous combination of power and refinement along with flat out superb complexity on the explosively long, focused and beautifully well-balanced finish. The supporting structure is dense but fine and this should prove to be a moderately long-lived example.” BH
Domaine Armand Rousseau Pere et Fils Lavaux Saint-Jacques, Gevrey-Chambertin Premier Cru 2011 750ML ($399.95) $319 special, 1 bottle available
Burghound 89-91 points “This is also reduced and here it’s enough to render the nose unreadable. There is plenty of energy and precision to the intensely mineral-tinged medium-bodied flavors that possess an elegant mouth feel on the youthfully austere finish. A classic Lavaut that should reward 8 to 10 years of cellar time.” BH
Domaine Armand Rousseau Pere et Fils Ruchottes-Chambertin Grand Cru ‘Clos des Ruchottes’ Monopole 2010 750ML ($799.95) $599 special, 1 bottle available
Wine Advocate 95-97 points “The 2010 Ruchottes-Chambertin is an intensely cool, reticent wine. The bouquet recalls the Mazis, but then the firm Ruchottes tannins set in. Ultimately the Ruchottes is built on purity, definition and nuance. The chiseled aromas and flavors possess stunning detail, but it will be some time before the 2010 is ready to drink. Still, I very much like the energy and drive. Bright, floral notes add lift and vibrancy on the finish. Anticipated maturity: 2025-2045.”WA
Domaine Rene Leclerc Griotte-Chambertin Grand Cru 2010 750ML ($199.95) $149 special, 36+ bottles available
VinopolNote: Domaine Rene Leclerc was founded in 1962 and is owned and run by Rene and his son, Francois. Their passion is for wine of purity and balance, a hands-off style that allows the fruit to fully express the magnificent terroir of the region. The wines undergo cold soaks before a light and short pressing to extract only the best juice. What follows is a long, traditional fermentation in stainless steel tanks with natural yeasts. The Griotte Chambertin, their only Grand Cru bottling, is aged in vat for six months and then for 1 year in 50% new French oak. It is an excellent candidate for long term cellaring, a serious wine that expresses notes of red and black berries, chocolate, game and spice as it opens in the glass. The Domaine owns 9.5 hectares of vines and works the Griottes vineyard portion (the portion being owned by Domaine des Chezeaux) and leased to R. Leclerc long term or ‘en fermage’).
“As well as making this wine under his own label, Leclerc bottles some to be sold under the label of the vineyard owner, Domain des Chezeaux. Here is a review of the Chezeaux bottling from Burgundy report.com: “Medium, medium-plus colour. The nose is a fine advertisement for ‘Griotte’ with a very pretty core of shiny red fruit – more cranberry/redcurrant than cherry – relatively simple in its youthfulness, but lovely. A hint of cushioning to the texture and an understated lick of tannin too. The acidity, like the tannin, seems rather understated but bubbles through as the mid-palate intensity grows, and becomes more mouth-watering. Subtly long. This is a very pretty wine that is also very ‘young Griotte’ in terms of its beauty yet lack of complexity – a perfectly balanced wine to wait for.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Louis Jadot Batard-Montrachet Grand Cru 2012 75OML ($359.95) $249 special, 2 bottles available
Wine Spectator 95 points “Vanilla and baking spice aromas lead off, with the peach and apple fruit showing on the palate. Flamboyant, yet firmly structured, this has underlying lime and stone elements that should emerge with time. Excellent length. Best from 2018 through 2032.”BS
Wine Advocate 90-92 points “The 2012 Batard-Montrachet Grand Cru has a richer, more tropical-scented bouquet compared to the Bienvenue. The palate is smooth and rounded, rich and mellifluous in the mouth with a long, seductive finish that needs just a little more tension and poise.” WA
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $295
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Case Deals from Around the World
Case-12 Arrowood Saralee’s Vineyard Syrah, Russian River Valley 2011 750ML ($319.95) $159 special, 4 cases available (that’s only $13.25/bottle!)
Arrowood Saralee’s Vineyard Syrah, Russian River Valley 2011 750ML ($34.95) $16 special, 26 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 90 points “(36% new oak): Vivid ruby. Smoky dark berry and olive tapenade scents are lifted by zesty mineral and black pepper notes, with a floral nuance adding complexity. Silky and focused on the palate, offering spice-accented blackberry and bitter cherry flavors that become sweeter with air. The floral quality recurs on the persistent, smoky finish.” ST
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $29.99
Case-12 Les Hauts de Valcombe Ventoux 2013 750ML ($179.95) $149 special, 5 cases available (that’s only $12.42/bottle!)
Les Hauts de Valcombe Ventoux 2013 750ML ($17.95) $14 special, 33 bottles available
Grapelive 91 points “The Valcombe vines are about 75 years old and sit low on the slopes of Mount Ventoux, they are farmed organic and are used to produce traditional wines of balance and finesse, they are crafted by Luc and Cendrine Guénard, a couple that want to grow the reputation here and have a great passion for their terroir. They studied under Paul Jeune of Domaine Monpertuis, famous for his gorgeous Chateauneuf du Papes, and they have Rosenthal imports firmly behind them and championing their wines here in the states, their estate in at 1,000 Feet and covers about 28 hectares of mostly old vine Grenache with Syrah, Carignan and Cinsault for reds and as well as a collection of white grapes. The 2013 Les Hauts de Valcombe is a sappy and spicy red with great detail and vitality, it is open, but brilliantly subtle and refined with loads of charm that highlight the chalky mix of soils that include blue clay and galets, the same round stones found in Chateaneuf, and the palate is easy with red spices, dried flowers, earth and light leather notes adding complexity to the black raspberry, plum and pomegranate fruit core along with cracked pepper and red spicy cinnamon. There is a stony and stylish savory side that comes through as well as a lingering blueberry and strawberry on the finish, and the whole is a pleasing and easy to love red from one of the most underrated areas of the Rhone, where you can discover real beautiful wines that offer superb value, like this one, drink the Les Hauts de Valcombe between 2015 and 2018, it’s lovely stuff.”
Case-12 Giovanni Corino Barolo Vigna Giachini, Barolo DOCG 2010 ($599.95) $479 special, 6 cases available (that’s only $39.92/bottle!)
Case-6 Giovanni Corino Barolo Vigna Giachini, Barolo DOCG 2010 750ML ($299.95) $264 special, 4 half-cases available (that’s only $44/bottle!)
Giovanni Corino Barolo Vigna Giachini, Barolo DOCG 2010 750ML ($59.95) $47 special, 13 bottles available
Wine Spectator 94 points “Focused, juicy and long, this red is packed with cherry, floral, tobacco and underbrush flavors. Still a bit tight now, but stays long. The sweet fruit returns on the finish. Best from 2018 through 2030.” WS
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $56
Case-12 R. Lopez de Heredia Vina Tondonia Reserva, Rioja DOCa 2003 750ML ($499.95) $359 special, 4 cases available (that’s only $29.92/bottle and the lowest listed price in the USA today!)
R. Lopez de Heredia Vina Tondonia Reserva, Rioja DOCa 2003 750ML ($47.95) $33 special, 36+ bottles available
Wine Spectator 91 points “Cigar box, cedar and balsamic notes frame cherry, raisin and licorice flavors in this lean, firm red. Displays grip and focus. A traditional style. Drink now through 2023.”
Case-12 Zorzal Gran Terroir Malbec, Tupungato, Argentina 2013 750ML ($299.95) Was $239, Now $196, 1 case available (that’s only $16.33/bottle!)
Zorzal Gran Terroir Malbec, Tupungato, Argentina 2013 750ML ($27.95) Was $21.90, Now $18, 18 bottles available
Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2013 Gran Terroir Malbec is a blend from different vineyards in Gualtallary, the highest part of the department of Tupungato in the Valle de Uco. The grapes fermented in cement vats and matured in used oak barrels for approximately one year. It’s very perfumed and spicy, aromatic in a way that makes you go to the glass over and over again. The palate has the 2013 electricity and the Gualtallary chalkiness making for supple, tasty and saline flavors and a very long finish. Simply superb!” LG
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
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Time to Say Good Buy
Not Too Late, But Hurry!
Sales Ending Midnight Sunday
J-L Chave
Domaine Jean-Louis Chave Hermitage Blanc 2012 750ML ($319.95) Was $219, Now $199, 22 bottles available
Wine Spectator 97 points, Wine Advocate 96 points, Josh Raynolds–Vinous 94-96 points
Listed Elsewhere for $209-$349/btl!
The average price listed is $262
Domaine Jean-Louis Chave Hermitage Blanc 2011 750ML ($549.95) Was $449, Now $419, 2 magnums available
Wine Spectator 97 points, Wine Advocate 96 points
Mark Ryan
Mark Ryan Winery Lost Soul Syrah, Yakima Valley 2013 750ML ($59.95) Was $44, Now $39
Wine Advocate 92-94 points
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $47.99
Mark Ryan Winery Dead Horse Cabernet Sauvignon, Red Mountain 2013 750ML ($59.95) Was $44, Now $39
Wine Advocate 90-92 points
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $54… $15 higher!
Sottimano
Sottimano Cotta, Barbaresco DOCG 2009 750ML ($59.95) Was $49, Now $39
Wine Advocate 92 points
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Sottimano Fausoni, Barbaresco DOCG 2009 750ML ($59.95) Was $49, Now $39
Wine Advocate 92 points
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Sottimano Pajore, Barbaresco DOCG 2009 750ML ($64.95) Was $59, Now $49
Stephen Tanzer & Wine Advocate 93 points
Sottimano Cotta, Barbaresco DOCG 2011 750ML ($69.95) Was $49, Now $39
Wine Spectator 92 points
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
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Have a wonderful weekend!