Saturday, September 19th, 2015
Hartford Zinfandel Jump Start Sale; New Arrival Featured Producers: Felsina and Pattes Loup; Quick Flip Sale; FX Pichler – Steller Scores for an Iconic Austrian Estate; Domaine Ostertag; 2007 Burgundy – Vintage Report; Case Deals
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Jump Start Sale
Autumn Beckons, So Do These:
Hartford Family Winery ‘Hartford’ Zinfandel, Russian River Valley 2013 750ML ($37.95) $27.50 special, 36+ bottles available
Case-12 Hartford Family Winery ‘Hartford’ Zinfandel, Russian River Valley 2013 750ML ($349.95) $299 special, 6 cases available (that’s only $24.92/bottle!)
Antonio Galloni 93 points “The 2013 Zinfandel Russian River Valley is an attractive, boisterous wine to drink now and over the next few years. Dark red cherry, raspberry, spice, and mint inform the juicy finish. The 2013 is gracious, inviting and pretty much impossible to resist.” AG
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $37
Hartford Family Winery ‘Hartford’ Dina’s Vineyard Zinfandel, Russian River Valley 2011 750ML ($59.95) $39 special, 19 bottles available
Antonio Galloni 93 points “The 2011 Zinfandel Dina’s Vineyard is another of the more polished wines in this lineup. Juicy dark cherries, plums, menthol, violets and new leather all take shape in this sensual, layered Zinfandel. This Dina’s is arguably the most complete wine in the range of 2011 Zinfandels. It should drink well pretty much right out of the gate, but also clearly has the potential to improve in bottle.” AG
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $55
Hartford Family Winery ‘Hartford’ Highwire Vineyard Zinfandel, Russian River Valley 2012 750ML ($59.95) Was $49, Now $46, 30 bottles available
Case-12 Hartford Family Winery ‘Hartford’ Highwire Vineyard Zinfandel, Russian River Valley 2012 750ML ($599.95) $499 special, 3 cases available (that’s only $41.58/bottle!)
Robert Parker 95 points “The 2012 Zinfandel Highwire Vineyard, a site that is half head-pruned and half on a high wire trellising system, sees more new French oak (52%). A dense ruby/purple color is followed by a rich, full-bodied wine displaying lots of boysenberry, black raspberry and cherry fruit intermixed with hints of incense and Asian spice. Supple tannins and a big, pedal-to-the-metal, juicy, succulent style suggest it will drink well for 5-6 years.” RP
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $55
Subscriber Special – Ends Monday
Buy any assorted 12+ bottles of Hartford Zins and we’ll discount 10% off the bottle pricing
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Fattoria di Felsina
New Arrivals from our most popular Tuscan estate
Felsina Berardenga I Sistri Chardonnay Toscana IGT 2011 750ML ($27.95) $21.90 special
James Suckling 91 points “This white shows lovely apple, cream and honey character. Full body with good fruit and a clean finish. Burgundy meets Tuscany. Drink now.” JS
Felsina Berardenga Chianti Classico DOCG 2012 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 special
Case-12 Felsina Berardenga Chianti Classico DOCG 2012 750ML ($299.95) $249 special
James Suckling 93 points “There are mushrooms on the nose of this Chianti Classico, but these soon give way to subtle, deep aromas of blackberry crumble with hints of mint and ivy. It soon fills up the mouth with beautifully dense fruit and fine tannins, nutty, woody undertones and long finish. Gorgeous now, but better in 2016.”
Antonio Galloni 89+ points “The 2012 Chianti Classico is a great introduction to the wines of Felsina. Deeply varietal and expressive to the core, the 2012 graces the palate with the essence of Sangiovese from the southern part of the Chianti Classico zone. Sweet tobacco, underbrush, menthol, licorice and black cherries flow through to the finish, but it is the wine’s sheer balance that impresses most of all. This is a gorgeous mid-weight Chianti Classico to drink over the next decade plus.” AG
Felsina Berardenga Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG 2010 750ML ($34.95) $26 special
Case-12 Felsina Berardenga Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG 2010 750ML ($349.95) $279 special
Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2010 Chianti Classico Riserva is host to a beautiful mix of black mineral, fruit, dried mint and eucalyptus. The wine shows elegant evolution in the glass and backs it up with dry, polished tannins. This is a stunning effort available at a reasonable price. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2028. This is one of the nicest collections of new releases by Giuseppe Mazzocolin’s Felsina. At the edge of the Chianti Classico and Chianti Colli Senesi denominations, the estate counts 475 hectares, of which 61 are planted with vineyard.” WA
Antonio Galloni 92+ points “Classicists, on the other hand, will flip out over the 2010 Chianti Classico Riserva. Black cherry, plum, smoke and menthol notes all jump out of the glass. The 2010 is translucent yet also rich, powerful and impeccably balanced. Ideally readers should cellar the 2010 for at least a few years, but that is going to be difficult considering how beautiful the wine is today.” AG
Felsina Berardenga Rancia, Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG 2009 750ML ($59.95) $41.90 special
Wine Advocate 94 points “The 2009 Chianti Classico Riserva Rancia emerges from the glass with freshly cut roses, sweet red berries, licorice, spices and tar. This is a mid-weight, silky Rancia that impresses for its textural beauty and finesse. The Rancia emerges from a high-altitude site planted from 1958 through1982 with Sangiovese. The wine is aged in French oak barrels, but the oak is never noticeable, even when the wine is young. Anticipated maturity: 2017-2029.” WA
Felsina Berardenga Rancia, Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG 2010 750ML ($59.95) $49 special
Antonio Galloni 95+ points “The 2010 Chianti Classico Riserva Rancia is cool, inward and reserved at this stage. Much less expressive than it was from barrel, today the 2010 appears to be in a closed phase. There is so much tension in the glass, though, and I can hardly wait to see where the 2010 goes over the coming years. A burst of mineral and floral infused fruit lingers on the polished, nuanced finish. Today, the 2010 seems to bring together the finesse of 2004 with the structure and power of the 2010. A pretty magical combination, if you ask me.” AG
Felsina Berardenga Vin Santo Chianti Classico 2005 375ML ($47.95) $39 special
Wine Advocate 92 points “Made with Trebbiano, Malvasia and Sangiovese, the 2005 Vin Santo del Chianti Classico opens to a brilliant amber color and thick viscosity that hugs to the rim of the glass. Oak-driven tones of vanilla and caramel are immediately apparent, but quickly followed by candied fruit, butterscotch and orange peel. Clusters undergo a natural drying process on mats until February of the following year. The must is transferred to sealed oak casks containing the “mother,” or gelatinous remains from previous vintages.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
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Thomas Pico
Domaine Patte Loup
Thomas Pico Domaine Pattes Loup Chablis 2013 750ML ($31.95) $28 special
Wine Advocate 88 points “The 2013 Chablis Villages is a blend of vines up to 60 years old, 90% in vat and 10% in barrel. This came from the latest of three bottling that Thomas Pico makes. It has a clean and precise bouquet with citrus fruit and just a faint touch of white chocolate. The palate is well balanced with a crisp, light opening, simple at first, but offering a light spicy note toward the finish to lend a bit of personality. Returning after 10 minutes, it develops a light marine element on the nose and a touch more weight on the finish.” WA
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $32.85
Thomas Pico Domaine Pattes Loup Cote de Jouans, Chablis Premier Cru 2013 750ML ($59.95) $49 special
Wine Advocate 90 points “The 2013 Chablis Côte de Jouan is matured in barrel for one year (alcoholic and malolactic) and then six months in vat. It has a precise and quite understated bouquet with hints of white truffle filtering through the citric fruit. The palate is well balanced with light pear and citrus notes on the entry, immediately followed by a well-judged citric seam that lends a sense of tension to the finish. For me, this is a distinct level up from the village cru and is well worth hunting down.” NM
Stephen Tanzer – Vinous 89 points “Bright pale yellow. Rather austere aromas and flavors of apple skin, menthol, caraway seed and crushed stone. Juicy and nicely delineated, showing firm dusty minerality for the vintage. The apple note carries through on the tactile, brisk finish. Not as rich as the superb 2012 version but quite supple and light on its feet.” ST
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Thomas Pico Domaine Pattes Loup Les Beauregards, Chablis Premier Cru 2013 750ML ($59.95) $49 special
Wine Advocate 92 points “The 2013 Chablis 1er Cru Beauregard is similar to the Vaillon in that it demands coaxing from the glass. It eventually repays your patience with granite, almond and light hazelnut scents that are very focused. The palate is a little more rounded and fruit-driven than the Vaillon, with subtle hints of orange zest and white pepper, satisfying weight on the back palate with a long saline finish. This is another very fine 2013 from winemaker Thomas Pico.” NM
Stephen Tanzer – Vinous 90 points “Pale straw-yellow. A bit more exotic on the nose than the Côtes de Jouan, offering scents of orange oil, yellow peach and spices. Sweeter and fruitier on the palate, with a flavor of orange zest complemented by a trace of honey. More typically 2013 in style than the Côtes de Jouan and richer on the aftertaste.” ST
Thomas Pico Domaine Pattes Loup Les Butteaux, Chablis Premier Cru 2013 750ML ($59.95) $49 special
Wine Advocate 92 points “The 2013 Chablis 1er Cru Butteaux is more reserved, earthier on the nose compared directly with the Beauregard and the Vaillons. Touches of chalk and granite begin to emerge with a hint of orange rind in the background. The palate is well balanced with a keen line of acidity, more orange zest and dried apricot notes with just a hint of honey toward the finish. There is a fine grip in the mouth with a long and spicy finish. This is all about the steady build to the finish and it constitutes another excellent wine from the finest drummer in Courgis.” NM
Stephen Tanzer – Vinous 91 points “Bright, light straw-yellow. Subtle spice and mineral aromas on the lively nose. Rich, saline and dry on the palate, offering a distinctly saline, tactile quality to the flavors of citrus fruits, spices and stone. Lovely texture and mineral-driven persistence here. At once concentrated and energetic, and tightly coiled for the vintage, this wine shows more vineyard than vintage character and should evolve nicely.” ST
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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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Quick Flip
New Lower Price; New Case Pricing!
Stonestreet Alexander Mountain Estate Aurora Point Sauvignon Blanc, Alexander Valley 2011 750ML ($49.95) Was $29, Now $27.50, 18 bottles available
Case-12 Stonestreet Alexander Mountain Estate Aurora Point Sauvignon Blanc, Alexander Valley 2011 750ML ($359.95) $299 special, 2 cases available (that’s only $24.92/bottle!)
Robert Parker 92 points “Another drop-dead gorgeous wine, the 2011 Sauvignon Blanc Aurora Point is laced with sweet apricots, white flowers, ginger, passion fruit and crushed rocks. Soft, perfumed and beautifully layered, the 2011 impresses for its soft, enveloping personality. Pure class, thats all there is to it. The Aurora Point is 100% Sauvignon Blanc from high-altitude vineyards. Anticipated maturity: 2013-2016.” RP
Already the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Now even lower!
The average price is $33
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FX Pichler
Steller Scores for an Iconic Austrian Estate
The estate of F.X. Pichler has been in the family for 5 generations. They produce white wines from vineyards along the Danube in the Wachau Valley of Austria. The region is known for its dry Gruner Veltliner and Riesling wines, and it is no exaggeration to say that F.X. Pichler is one of the most esteemed and sought-after estates from the area. The wines show character and reflect the lands from which they were raised. Since 1999, Lucas Pichler has been the winemaker while his father cares for the vineyards. We are pleased to offer a large range of styles and vineyard bottlings from the estate, all available here now:
F.X. Pichler Durnsteiner Kellerberg Gruner Veltliner Smaragd, Wachau 2012 750ML ($89.95) $79 special, 12 bottles available
Joel Payne-Vinous 94 points “Unctuous aromas of tropical fruit, spicy tobacco and white pepper. Opulent, juicy apricot extract emerges on the palate, where it’s joined by strong minerality. This rich wine offers a delicate interplay of sweetness and acidity interwoven with a wet stone character. Excellent potential.”
David Schildknecht 94 points “The Pichlers’ 2012 Gruner Veltliner Smaragd Kellerberg boasts a luscious pear and apple fruit fundament backed by a lush, glycerol-rich texture, with complementary overtones of honeysuckle and lily of the valley perfume. Yet for all of the richness my aforementioned description implies, this also boasts a remarkable sense of primary juiciness as well as lift, leading to a finish of refined, polished, succulent length, stimulatingly suffused with crushed stone and pungent Szechuan pepper. As another demonstration of how important is the character of an individual vineyard in ways that can’t be captured analytically, this wine is well over 14% in alcohol despite its buoyancy, whereas the corresponding Liebenberg at 13.5% reminds you of its alcohol and lacks levity. “One factor,” observes Lucas Pichler “is that Kellerberg is in the shadow after mid-afternoon while Liebenberg gets sun well into the evening.” Plan to follow this Kellerberg through at least 2025.”
F.X. Pichler Loibner Klostersatz Gruner Veltliner Federspiel, Wachau 2012 750ML ($39.95) $29 special, 3 bottles available
David Schildknecht 91 points “Though harvested around the end of September and in the context of a concerted effort to achieve moderate alcohol, at 12.5% the Pichler 2012 Gruner Veltliner Federspiel Klostersatz is on the border of what would when that name was introduced in1987 have qualified – just – as Smaragd, and made a vintner happy he could announce that on the label. Pungent notes of herbs and lentil sprout translate into a sappy, nutty-vegetal palate presence combining palpable density with considerable buoyancy on a soothingly silken palate. Smoky black tea, crushed stone, and saliva-liberating salinity add to the interest, invigoration and mouthwatering savor of a sustained finish. Lucas Pichler attributes both the surprising degree of levity and the extra measure of depth here vis-a-vis the corresponding Frauenweingarten bottling to the advantages of gravel versus sand. That having been noted and credited, I’m bound to say that the “sandy” Frauenweingarten displays levity, exuberance and charm of its own when one returns to it from a tasting of its ostensible betters. Plan to enjoy this Klostersatz through 2017.”
Joel Payne – Vinous 88 points “Fragrant aromas of yellow apple, tobacco and dill. Juicy and appealing, with crisp acidity providing a crunchy underpinning to the ripe melon, white pepper and wet stone flavors. Fun to drink!”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $40
F.X. Pichler M Gruner Veltliner Smaragd, Wachau 2012 750ML ($109.95) $89 special, 5 bottles available
F.X. Pichler M Gruner Veltliner Smaragd, Wachau 2012 375ML ($59.95) $49 special, 5 half-bottles available
David Schildknecht 95 points “Pichlers’ 2012 Gruner Veltliner Smaragd M – mainly from Loibenberg, plus bits of Kellerberg, Liebenberg, Kollmutz and Muhlpoint – definitely shows the effect of Lucas Pichler’s decision to harvest earlier in recent years than his father usually did, particularly for this bottling. “I think the result is a bit more elegant,” he suggests, and I agree, however conceptually slippery or overused that word is. “I want something similar in style and quality to the Kellerberg,” he adds, “only not showcasing the character of an individual site but instead the grape variety,” and arguably, I’d add – albeit rather obviously – the synergy possible among various vineyards. Diverse floral perfumes – which then reprise inner-mouth; distilled pit fruits; and intimations of ripe pear and musk melon, all anticipate the silken-textured, lush yet remarkably buoyant and vibrantly interactive palate impression, brown spice-tinged and mingled with crushed stone, piquant fruit pit and white pepper. This misses quite the sheer length and penetration of the Kellerberg, but projects a superbly colorful and dynamic, near-kaleidoscopic complexity seldom equaled among Gruner Veltliners. (If memory serves, this is the first time I’ve rated an “M” Gruner Veltliner superior to the corresponding Kellerberg.) Plan to follow this “M” through at least 2022.”
Joel Payne-Vinous 93 points “Expressive bouquet fascinates with papaya, nougat, woodsmoke, white chocolate and orange zest. A sweet, leesy core of plum is wrapped in layers of green peppercorn, cardamom and orange. Unctuously rich and almost Burgundian in its creaminess, and carrying considerable alcoholic clout, this has the depth and intensity of flavor to carry the style, but I prefer both the Kellerberg and Liebenberg.”
F.X. Pichler Loibner Steinertal Gruner Veltliner Smaragd, Wachau 2012 750ML ($59.95) $41.90 special, 8 bottles available
David Schildknecht 92 points “With his 2012 Gruner Veltliner Smaragd Steinertal, says Lucas Pichler, “the aim is to showcase the vineyard, which is a cool site, whereas in Loiben, really, things are (generally) a bit too warm.” Prior to this solo debut – spurred by the acquisition of a second parcel – the Pichlers’ Gruner Veltliner from this site went into their Loibenberg (and “M”). This solo Steinertal projects delightfully luscious and exuberant pear and melon fruit along with saliva-inducing, metaphorically cooling suggestions of stalk celery. A sweet-smoky bite of Szechuan pepper lends invigoration and cut to a juicily protracted finish. A model of elegance and lift allied to fundamentally rich ripeness, it should perform beautifully through at least 2022.”
Joel Payne-Vinous 92 points “Mineral aromas of fresh apricot, mint and citrus zest. Mouthfilling muskmelon flavor is enlivened by a refreshing acid structure, making this appear lighter than it actually is. With mineral salts and wild spices on the back of the palate, this stylish wine is the coolest and most invigorating of the veltliners here.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
F.X. Pichler Durnsteiner Liebenberg Gruner Veltliner Smaragd, Wachau 2012 750ML ($69.95) $55 special, 21 bottles available
Joel Payne-Vinous 93 points “Ripe pear, snap pea and soft herbal spices on the beautifully nuanced nose. Steely and aristocratic on the palate, showing darker fruits and more acidity than the Loibenberg, with concentrated green mango, yellow plum and celery flavors over a layer of flinty slate. Despite its impressive opulence, this is subtle, precise and pure, probably due to the extreme age of the vineyard.”
David Schildknecht 90 points “A sweetly ripe tropical fruitiness of pineapple and pink grapefruit marks the F. X. Pichler 2012 Gruner Veltliner Smaragd Liebenberg, to which a positively sizzling impingement of citrus zest, pineapple core and white pepper lends counterpoint. There is a faintly soapy texture, and the aforementioned sizzle is reinforced in the finish by slightly noticeable (even though analytically only 13.5%) alcohol. Some terroirists (like myself) might anticipate a cooling and dynamic influence from the active lime in this vineyard’s soil, but it isn’t forthcoming. My explanation is that the tendency toward slight shriveling of berries in this site – also, of course, arguably a terroir factor – counteracts any such chalk influence, as well as resulting in a diminished sense of juiciness. All in all, this rich, rather static wine is likely to appeal most before 2017.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $67
F.X. Pichler Loibner Burgstall Riesling Federspiel, Wachau 2012 750ML ($39.95) $33 special, 9 bottles available
David Schildknecht 92 points “The Pichlers’ 2012 Riesling Federspiel Burgstall – for more about whose site, consult my issue 197 report – succeeds brilliantly in their attempt to capture levity and refreshment along with interactive complexity. Lemon and white peach tinged with orange rind, crushed stone, almond and peach kernel inform a glossy yet refreshingly juicy not to mention buoyant palate, leading to an entertainingly oscillating finishing exchange of mineral and fruit elements. The combinations of lusciousness with levity; stimulation and soothing; rich ripeness with transparency to nuance, are memorably delicious, and I would not be surprised to find this worth following through at least 2020.”
Joel Payne-Vinous 88 points “Passion fruit, peach and lime make for an enticing bouquet. Bright, clean and crisp, with a refreshing balance and taut structure highlighting its stone and citrus fruit flavors. One more glass, please!”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
F.X. Pichler Loibner Steinertal Riesling Smaragd, Wachau 2012 750ML ($69.95) $59 special, 9 bottles available
David Schildknecht 93 points “Pichlers’2012 Riesling Smaragd Steinertal suggests chili as well as Szechuan pepper bite and pungency, allied to rhubarb-like tartness and mouthwatering savor, all enrobed in lusciously ripe, white peach and apple on a plush palate. “This site has an effect a lot like Schutt,” explains Lucas Pichler, “because the eroded stone that form its basis followed the creases and crevices in the hillside that are precisely what conduct cool air down from the woods above the vineyards.” Wafting hints of chamomile and suffusion of crushed stone add to the interest and allure of this refined, long-finishing Riesling that should prove worth following through at least 2022.”
Joel Payne-Vinous 91 points “Cool mango, passion fruit and vineyard peach aromas are laced with flint. Immensely juicy but by no means lacking in finesse, as abundant minerality flows like a mountain stream. Crisp pineapple and mango flavors linger with wet rocks on the long, complex finish. Excellent potential.”
F.X. Pichler Durnsteiner Kellerberg Riesling Smaragd, Wachau 2012 750ML ($109.95) $89 special, 6 bottles available
David Schildknecht 95 points “The Pichlers’ 2012 Riesling Smaragd Kellerberg delivers an enormous concentration of lusciously rich, sweetly ripe white peach, Persian melon, grapefruit and pineapple, mingled with almond cream, blond tobacco and Szechuan pepper. Bittersweet iris perfume wafts throughout this magnificent performance, while the superbly sustained finish introduces a cyanic intensity of fruit pit whose bitterness is tamed and stimulatingly integrated thanks to sheer generosity of fruit and inner-mouth perfume. There were some shriveled berries here, notes Lucas Pichler, which no doubt contribute to the sense of opulence not to mention of sheer ripeness; yet there is only 13.5% alcohol. Plan to follow this beauty through at least 2025.”
Joel Payne-Vinous 93 points “Complex aromas of white peach, lime zest, mandarin orange and apple blossom are still a bit leesy. Tightly knit thanks to vibrant acidity, the rich yellow stone fruit flavors ooze with sweet complexity. Lingers impressively on the back of the palate. Still closed, this riesling has barely begun to sketch its future.”
Browse our 91 other Austrian wines online by clicking the red button that says “Click Here to Shop Now”
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Domaine Ostertag
The young Andre Ostertag returned from training in Burgundy to the family estate in Alsace with a clear set of ideas. For one, he lowered yields and converted to biodynamics. He rejected chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and fungicides while embracing the use of indigenous yeasts.
At Domaine Ostertag, all vineyard work and harvest is performed by hand, and all cuvees are vinified dry save for their Gewurztraminer. In the spirit of Burgundy, Andre ferments and ages Pinot blanc and Pinot gris in oak barrels (and on the less) – the wood originates in the Vosges mountains not far from the Domaine. The other whites are fermented and aged in stainless steel, with designations of “Vins de Fruit, Vins de Pierre, and Vins de Temps” distinguishing between different harvest times and the ideal time for drinking each respective wine.
Altogether, the wines of Domaine Ostertag are a refreshing taste of Alsace with great purity and, quite often, age worthiness. We carry a nice range of the cuvees, all listed below.
Domaine Ostertag Riesling Vignoble d’E 2012 750ML ($29.95) $24 special, 5 bottles available
Domaine Ostertag Muscat Fronholz 2012 750ML ($39.95) $29 special, 1 bottle available
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Domaine Ostertag Pinot Gris Fronholz 2012 750ML ($59.95) $44 special, 6 bottles available
Ian D’Agata–Vinous 90 points “Pale straw-green. Captivating aromas and flavors fresh apple, pear compote and smoke. Juicy and rather sweet, but with lively acidity giving it a light touch. This long wine was aged for 15 months in new oak” ID
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Domaine Ostertag Fronholz Riesling 2012 750ML ($49.95) $39 special, 9 bottles available
Ian D’Agata–Vinous 91 points “Bright pale yellow. Ripe but vibrant aromas of white peach and jasmine. Silky on entry, then round and ripe in the mid-palate, energized by lovely lemony cut. The sweet spice, resin and strawberry flavors show a tactile texture and an almost meaty quality and leave the taste buds vibrating. Displays the lift and verve of this vintage in spades. A great Fronholz.” ID
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Domaine Ostertag Riesling Muenchberg, Alsace Grand Cru 2011 750ML ($69.95) $49 special, 23 bottles available
Wine Advocate 94 points “Ostertag’s 2011 Riesling Muenchberg mingles fresh, very ripe apple and pear with candied grapefruit and kumquat rinds, caramelized parsnip, caraway, and fresh ginger, all wreathed in peat-like and charred smokiness, and putting me in mind of a Riesling dosed with Gewurztraminer. There is an uncanny combination of body and high glycerol with brightness here, leading to a finish of exuberant juiciness, zesty cut, interactive complexity and formidable sheer grip. I would anticipate this meriting return visits though at least 2025.” WA
Domaine Ostertag Riesling Muenchberg, Alsace Grand Cru 2012 750ML ($69.95) $49 special, 3 bottles available
Ian D’Agata–Vinous 92 points “Gold-tinged straw. Deep, very pure nose hints at white peach, minerals and flowers. A noticeable step up in depth and complexity over the preceding Riesling samples, boasting impressive flavor intensity for such a refined wine. Finishes multilayered, deep and long. This should prove to be especially ageworthy. The Muenchberg features especially complex soil made up of a blend of sandstone and volcanic elements. According to Ostertag, this is an ideal amalgamation. “Wines made only on sandstone can be a little obvious, and those on volcanic soils a little austere,” he told me, “so the combination of the two usually makes for some really amazing wines.”” ID
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Domaine Ostertag Pinot Noir Rouge ‘E 2013 750ML ($29.95) $27 special, 7 bottles available
Domaine Ostertag Pinot Noir Fronholz 2010 750ML ($49.95) $33 special, 9 bottles available
Importer note: Fronholz vineyard. Vines average 40+ years old, soil is White Sand, Quartz, Clay, Marl
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Domaine Ostertag Pinot Noir Fronholz 2012 750ML ($59.95) $44 special, 12 bottles available
Ian D’Agata—Vinous 90 points “Good medium red. Musky soil tones and raspberry on the nose. Supple, spicy and sweet, with sound underlying acidity contributing to much-needed lift to the somewhat syrupy red berry and red cherry flavors. Finishes bright and long. This is a really outstanding Alsace Pinot Noir, fresh and crisp despite its obvious ripeness of fruit. The yield was just 30 hectoliters per hectare, according to Ostertag.” ID
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $52.20
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Burgundy Vintage Report: 2007
7 Wines From ‘07
The 07’s have been tasting lovely recently, but that’s not to suggest it was a breezy vintage altogether. Reading the annual reports, you see a lot of “stressful” and “precocious” sprinkled about; Jancis Robinson capitalized the vintage in a suitably ambiguous manner: “surprising.”
In brief, 2007 was a formidable vintage which saw a lot of weather-centric ups and downs. A few warm months in late spring and early summer led into drizzly, dismal weeks in July and August. A saving grace came in the form of swathes of wind coming in from the north in late August which dried out the grapes and prevented rot and mold. Things seemed to equal out, with an early harvest which allowed for a rather nitpicky sort – the mix of climates seemed to translate to a mix of good and poor yields come the time to pick fruit.
By and large, the wines of 2007 aren’t brawny and massive – the vintage is marked by balance, softness, and precision. Again, Jancis Robinson: “…if 2007 was a nightmare in the vineyard, then at least in the cellar those who had worked hard in the vineyard found it delightfully easy to vinify.”
Coincidentally, we have seven selections from 2007 available, all listed below.
William Fevre Vaillons, Chablis Premier Cru 2007 750ML ($69.95) $59 special, 9 bottles available
Burghound 89-92 points –Outstanding–“This is almost as ripe as the Mont de Milieu with a fruit compote nose that displays a hint of exoticism that merges into extremely rich, full, frank and overtly powerful flavors that possess excellent volume, punch and vivacity on the exceptionally pure and driving finish. The acid backbone is firm and despite the ripeness of the fruit, this finishes quite dry and with a seductive texture.” BH
Domaine Chandon de Briailles Les Valozieres, Aloxe-Corton Premier Cru 2007 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 7 bottles available
Burghound 87-89 points “Not surprisingly, this offers a completely different expression with fresh and overtly rustic earthy dark berry fruit aromas that introduce big, rich, full and serious flavors that possess plenty of volume and a robust muscularity if limited elegance on the solidly persistent finish. A wine of powerful but not nuance.” BH
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Domaine Robert Chevillon Les Vaucrains, Nuits-Saint-Georges Premier Cru 2007 750ML ($109.95) $89 special, 6 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 91-93 points “Good dark red. Wilder on the nose than the Saint-Georges, offering black cherry, dark chocolate, smoke and a whiff of game. Wonderfully sweet in the mouth but youthfully closed, with a medicinal menthol note supporting the impression of power. Can’t quite match the Saint-Georges today for complexity or personality, but this is also very convincing on the back end. And this too calls for six or seven years of cellaring.”ST
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Domaine Maume Lavaux Saint-Jacques, Gevrey-Chambertin Premier Cru 2007 750ML ($119.95) $99 special, 1 bottle available
Burghound 89 points “Here the elegant, floral and slightly herbal fresh and pure red and blue fruit nose introduces intensely mineral, vibrant and supple medium-bodied flavors that possess plenty of verve on the complex, balanced and harmonious finish. A Lavaut of finesse and refinement.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Claude Dugat Gevrey-Chambertin Premier Cru 2007 750ML ($179.95) $119 special, 2 bottles available
Burghound 89-91 points “This offers a big step up in aromatic elegance with very fresh dark berry fruit and warm earth notes that carry over to the underbrush and mineral suffused medium weight flavors that possess a suave and less obviously structured mouth feel as the buried tannins are relegated to the background on the persistent and intense finish. Lovely.”BH
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Serafin Pere & Fils Les Cazetiers, Gevrey-Chambertin Premier Cru 2007 750ML ($159.95) $136 special, 7 bottles available
Burghound 92 points “This is a classic Cazetiers with a distinct animale element to the ripe red berry, violet and underbrush tones that continue on the earth-inflected, sappy, precise and moderately concentrated flavors that possess real character and excellent power on the impressively long, balanced and textured finish. This has another dimension relative to all of the prior wines.”BH
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Domaine Leroy Clos de la Roche Grand Cru 2007 750ML ($1,799.95) $1,599 special, 2 bottles available
Wine Advocate 96 points “Kirsch, rose hip, and soy intensely scent the Leroy 2007 Clos De La Roche, which reveals brightness and finesse as well as a saline savor unusual for its appellation. To be sure, notes of leather and crushed stone as well as smoked and roasted meats contribute further and perhaps more site-typical complexity. But it’s the sheer finesse, buoyancy, and vibratory energy on display that most amaze, leaving your tongue and gums a quiver and your salivary glands pumping helplessly. There is also a faint hint of heat, but its effect is negligible given what’s going on around you when you swallow (or, in my case, spit). Look for 20 or more years of excitement.” WA
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $1,999.99
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A Case, Of Course
Our case deals are listed on our website under “DozenDeals” or by searching for the name of the wine
We offer over 160 diverse, deeply discounted case prices, such as:
CALIFORNIA
Case-12 Atalon Pauline’s Cuvee, Napa Valley 2010 750ML ($359.95) $199 special, 9 cases available (that’s only $16.58/bottle!)
Atalon Pauline’s Cuvee, Napa Valley 2010 750ML ($29.95) $21.90 special, 36+ bottles available
Wine Enthusiast 93 points “This Merlot-based blend is a huge success. It’s a big, tannic, tight wine, packed to bursting with black cherry liqueur, cola and spice flavors. Yet it maintains an exciting balance, with the tension between acids, tannins and oak in equilibrium. Seems like it wants 5-6 years in the cellar to let it throw some tannins and mellow.” WE
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Case-6 Signorello Vineyards Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2012 750ML ($549.95) $428 special, 1 six-pack available (that’s only $71.33/bottle and the lowest listed price in the USA today!)
Signorello Vineyards Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2012 750ML ($99.95) $79 special, 5 bottles available
Robert Parker 91+ points “The 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate is a blend of 93.5% Cabernet Sauvignon and 6.5% Cabernet Franc from the estate vineyards on the Silverado Trail, south of Stags Leap. Made in a good structural style with plenty of barrique in the background as well as lots of blackcurrant, licorice, new saddle leather and spice characteristics, this tastes like a Cabernet Sauvignon made by someone of Italian origin. I say that because of its tannic structure and spice. This serious, full-bodied, concentrated 2012 will benefit from 2-3 years of bottle age, and should drink well for two decades.” RP
FRANCE-BURGUNDY
Case-12 Joseph Drouhin Chorey-les-Beaune 2012 750ML ($299.95) $249 special, 2 cases available (that’s only $20.75/bottle)
Joseph Drouhin Chorey-les-Beaune 2012 750ML ($27.95) $22.70 special, 36+ bottles available
Antonio Galloni 88 points “A tasty, entry-level offering, the 2012 Chorey-les-Beaune stands out for its beautiful bright red fruit, expressive floral overtones and vibrant saline notes. Delineation, tension and energy are the hallmarks. This is a beautifully balanced wine in its class.” AG
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Case-12 Camille Giroud Santenay Rouge 2012 750ML ($499.95) $419 special, 2 cases available (that’s only $34.92/bottle!)
Camille Giroud Santenay Rouge 2012 750ML ($49.95) $39 special, 20 bottles available
Antonio Galloni 89-90 points “Giroud’s 2012 Santenay is striking. Here the flavors are savory and quite powerful. Iron, graphite and minerals add complexity in a dark, muscular Santenay loaded with personality. The 2012 finishes with fabulous length, energy and perfume. About 20% of the Santenay is declassified 1er Cru fruit.” AG
FRANCE-OTHER
Case-12 Le Loup Blanc Regal Minervois Rouge 2012 750ML ($199.95) $149 special, 2 cases available (that’s only $12.42/bottle!)
Le Loup Blanc “Le Regal” Minervois Rouge 2012 750ML ($17.95) $14 special, 5 bottles available
VinopolNote: Grenache 50%, Carignan 40%, Syrah 10%. Soil: Clay and limestone. Age of vines: 25 to 50 years. Ageing: 12 months in concrete tank
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $17.99!
ITALY
Case-12 Mazzoni Vermentino-Chardonnay Tuscany 2012 ($179.95) $89 special, 2 cases available (that’s only $7.42/bottle!)
Mazzoni Vermentino-Chardonnay Tuscany 2012 ($17.95) $8.50 special, 36+ bottles available
Vinopolnotes- Two of the world’s greatest wine-making families are behind the wines from Mazzoni – wines that offer true Italian style for great value. Mazzoni represents a historic collaboration between the Franceschi family from Tuscany and Terlato family from Napa. Blending Italy’s old world hand-crafted approach with California’s innovative wine-making technology results in some truly elegant and still affordable wines. Mazzoni Vermentino-Chardonnay wine is blend of two white varieties: Vermentino (75%) a classic Tuscan variety, gives the wine a crisp, refreshing flavors, Chardonnay (25%) provides acidity a body, making this wine an ideal pairing with light fish and Mediterranean flavors.
Importer Note “Color: Straw yellow. Aroma: Ripened pears and apples, with a mineral component and a spicy note. Taste: On the palate it is fine, elegant, savory, harmonious, with the right acidity and the structure that recalls its Tuscan origin.”
Case-12 Paitin di Pasquero-Elia ‘Serra’, Barbaresco DOCG 2011 750ML ($419.95) $399 special, 9 cases available (that’s only $33.25/bottle!)
Paitin di Pasquero-Elia ‘Serra’, Barbaresco DOCG 2011 750ML ($41.95) $36 special, 36+ bottles available
Wine Spectator 94 points “Rich and velvety, yet also vibrant and complex, this red boasts floral, berry, anise, leather and mineral flavors. Harmonious, this turns slightly chewy in texture on the lingering finish. Best from 2017 through 2027. 1,000 cases made.” WS
Antonio Galloni 93 points “Crushed flowers, sweet red berries, spices and mint race across the palate in the 2011 Barbaresco Serra. This is one of the most intense, tannic 2011 Barbarescos readers will come across. Far from an easygoing wine, the 2011 is going to need considerable patience. Hints of sweet tobacco, mint and anise add nuance on the layered, super-expressive finish. The 2011 Serra spent two years in 50-hectoliter casks.” AG
SPAIN
Case-12 Bodegas Muga Seleccion Especial Reserva, Rioja DOCa 2010 750ML ($499.95) $439 special, 2 cases available (that’s only $36.58/bottle!)
Bodegas Muga Seleccion Especial Reserva, Rioja DOCa 2010 750ML ($59.95) $39 special, 36+ bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 93 points “(70% tempranillo, 20% garnacha, 7% mazuelo and 3% graciano; fermented in large oak vats and aged for 28 months in small French and American oak barrels of varying age): Inky purple. Flamboyant aromas of ripe berries, incense, potpourri, smoky oak and pungent minerals. Lush, fleshy and alluringly sweet, offering intense black and blue fruit flavors that coat the palate. Smooth, seamless and impressively concentrated but also lively, with sneaky tannins giving shape to the long, spice-accented finish.”
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