Wednesday Newsletter 11/2/2022

“Baron’s wines are among the best of the best.”—Tim Fish, Wine Spectator

Newly Reviewed and In Stock Now:

Horsepower Vineyards ‘The Tribe Vineyard’ Syrah, Walla Walla Valley 2019 750ml $179 special, 11 bottles in stock now
Anthony Mueller-Wine Advocate 97 points “The 2019 Syrah The Tribe Vineyard starts with a stemmy, fresh and savory nose with a delightful meaty aroma and dusty florals before wafting with a succulent raspberry skin essence. Medium to full-bodied, the Syrah displays a vibrant mineral tension and spicy mouthfeel before subtle flavors of dried herbs sway with a firm tannic structure. The wine continues to evolve and unpack over the long, lingering finish with a pleasing smoky nuance and persistent peppery note. Give it a few more years in the bottle before opening. Bravo!”

Horsepower Vineyards Fiddleneck Vineyard, Walla Walla Valley 2019 750ml $199 special, 5 bottles in stock now
Anthony Mueller-Wine Advocate 98 points “Planted initially on the pristine soil from a fallow apple orchard that was pulled out in 1993, the stunningly beautiful 2019 Grenache Fiddleneck Vineyard displays a dark ruby core and offers a nose that is both floral and seductive. Aromas of dusty flowers, wild raspberries and savory herbs meld with notions of turned earth and redcurrants. Medium-bodied, the wine is focused, layered and fresh with a brilliantly complex mouthfeel before showcasing precision and finesse with flavors of cherry blossom, strawberry skin and fruit leather with an umami essence. The wine offers a floral focus and sways with the freshness of the New World before compacting slightly, revealing a spicy finish that unwinds and unfurls for moments after the wine has left the palate. It’s a fantastic wine that saw no new oak.”

Horsepower Vineyards ‘Sur Echalas Vineyard’ Grenache, Walla Walla Valley 2019 750ml $189 special, 1 bottle in stock now
Anthony Mueller-Wine Advocate 96 points “Planted as a high-density vineyard with a three-foot by three-foot spacing, the 2019 Grenache Sur Echalas Vineyard is red-fruited, savory, dusty and floral with an expressive, bright sanguine note and showcases hints of white peppercorn and iodine on the nose. Medium to full-bodied, the palate offers flavors of dusty cherry skin with wild raspberries before notions of umami and worn leather sway with delightful hints of smoked herbs and dried earth. The impressive wine glides to a fantastically juicy and balanced finish that has me smitten and coming back for more.”

Cayuse Vineyards Camaspelo, Walla Walla Valley 2019 750ml $128 special, 3 bottles in stock now
Anthony Mueller-Wine Advocate 92+ points “The 2019 Camaspelo is mostly Cabernet with some Merlot splashed in. The nose begins with a generous and dark fruited frame that is open and expressive with notes of spiced black plum and a soft earthy sensation. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is savory with an umami profile that leads to a soft essence of worn leather and river rock. The wine is generously layered and offers fine-grained tannins that drive the delightfully complex and lingering finish. Only 396 cases were made.”

Cayuse Vineyards Impulsivo Tempranillo, Walla Walla Valley 2019 750ml $149 special, 12+ bottles in stock now
Case-3 Cayuse Vineyards Impulsivo Tempranillo, Walla Walla Valley 2019 750ml $419 special (that’s only $139.67/bottle!)
Anthony Mueller-Wine Advocate 96 points “Rocketing out of the glass with a generous, robust and concentrated inky core, the 2019 Impulsivo is juicy and broad-shouldered as it displays exotic spices with notions of plum jus. Full-bodied and fresh, this gorgeous Tempranillo somersaults across the mid-palate, offering a balanced structure with fine-grained tannins and succulent acidity before concluding with a generous and long-lingering finish. Give it one more year in the bottle, and enjoy it over the next 15 years. Bravo! I’m not spitting this out.”

Cayuse Vineyards ‘Widowmaker’ En Chamberlin Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Walla Walla Valley 2019 750ml $149 special, 3 bottles in stock now
Anthony Mueller-Wine Advocate 96 points “Generously layered in the glass with aromas of turned earth, blackberry jus and dusty purple flowers, the 2019 The Widowmaker en Chamberlin Vineyard is delightfully rustic yet also possesses a new-world shine. Medium to full-bodied, the 14.1% alcohol wine saddles the line between earthy and fruity flavors before showing a balanced structure with succulent acidity and fine-grained tannins. The wine concludes with a long-lingering and spicy finish that will remain food-friendly until its 20th birthday. Bravo!”



As Christophe Baron approaches a quarter century making wine in Walla Walla Valley, his restless nature has spawned a number of different projects, each with their own ambition. Best known as the winemaker and founder of Cayuse, in Walla Walla, it’s not well known that he hails from Champagne. Only a true insider knows Monsieur Baron has a deep passion for Pinot Meunier Champagnes.  Just recently, he began producing profoundly mineral and expressive wines Champagnes from his family’s vines. In stock now!

Christophe Baron Charly-Sur-Marne Les Alouettes Vignes Brut Nature, Champagne 2016 1.5L $259 special, 5 magnums in stock now
Antonio Galloni 94 points “The 2016 Brut Nature Les Alouettes (Magnum) is ample and broad, with a real sense of volume that grows over time. Layered and beautifully resonant, the Alouttes is also the most sensual and immediate of these wines. Even with all of its intensity, the Alouttes is translucent and so expressive, even in the early going. Spice, dried pear, flowers and nutty accents linger. Disgorged: March, 2020.”
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 93+ points “The most reserved wine in the range is the 2016 Brut Nature Les Alouettes, from a southeast-facing site in Charly-sur-Marne. Unwinding in the glass with scents of citrus zest, apricot, orange oil and pear, framed by hints of wet stones and struck match, it’s medium to full-bodied, tightly wound and chalky, with racy acids and an elegant pinpoint mousse. Interestingly, a magnum tasted in November 2020 was rather more open and expressive than this one, tasted in early 2021.”

Christophe Baron Crouttes-Sur-Marne ‘Le Dessus du Bois Marie’ Brut Nature, Champagne 2016 1.5L $279 special, 2 magnums in stock now
Antonio Galloni 96 points “The 2016 Brut Nature Le Dessus Du Bois Marie (Magnum) is a wine of cut and precision. Lemon confit, spice, baked apple tart and pear notes abound. Here the expression is all about energy, tension and delineation. Tangerine oil, spice, crushed rocks and white flowers add the closing shades of complexity. Disgorged: March, 2020.”
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 95 points “Disgorged in March 2020 without dosage, Baron’s 2016 Brut Nature Le Dessus du Bois Marie is showing nicely, wafting from the glass with delicately exotic aromas of mandarin orange, pear, musky peach, clear honey and white flowers. Medium to full-bodied, satiny and vinous, it’s fleshy and saline, with an enveloping core of fruit, lively acids and a long, mouthwatering finish.”

Shop our web store for the complete collection of wines from Christophe Baron or our massive selection of over 150 Champagnes!

 

“I consider these wines [the 2016 and 2017 vintage Ports] to be among the best that I have known during my time at Quinta do Noval… The decision to declare them was a very easy one.” -Christian Seely of Quinta do Noval, quoted in Vinous
    
In Stock Now!

Quinta do Noval Vintage Port, Portugal 2017 750ml $99 special, 25 bottles in stock now
Neal Martin-Vinous 97 points “The last time I tasted the 2017 Vintage Port, I posed the question of whether it was the best ever? Perhaps. Picked from 21 August to 28 September, it is beautifully-defined on the nose with layers of black cherries, allspice, violet and cassis, becoming more floral with time in the glass. Returning after 10 minutes and juxtaposed against the 2016, there is just a little more VA. The palate is well-balanced, very structured with wonderful tension. I love the texture of this Noval, which is slightly granular towards the finish and brims with life. Outstanding. Tasted at the Quinta do Noval tasting at Spring restaurant in London.”

Quinta do Noval Vintage Port, Portugal 2016 750ml $119 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Neal Martin-Vinous 97 points “The 2016 Vintage Port was picked mainly from 19 September in ideal conditions. It is more broody than the 2017 at the moment and demands a little more encouragement from the glass. I have been prudent with my reviews in the past, but this 2016 seems to have considerably improved in the four years since I last encountered it. More earthy in style, it offers lovely dusky black fruit, sage, a touch of menthol and star anis, unfolding in the glass with each swirl. The palate is medium-bodied with a velvety entry. Superb tension here, the acidity cuts through the richness of this Port with effortless ease. Linear, poised and mineral-driven, Vintage Port gets little better than this. Tasted at the Quinta do Noval tasting at Spring restaurant in London.”

Shop our complete selection of Port wines on our webstore now!

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