Saturday, April 30th, 2016
Robert Parker 100 points “The extraordinary Harlan Estate, which I awarded 100 points seven years ago, offers no justifiable reason to doubt its perfect score. It is still a baby, with an inky purple color and notes of smoky camphor intermixed with creme de cassis, Asian soy and a hint of cedar beginning to emerge as well as some espresso and subtle damp forest floor notes. The wine has awesome intensity, a full-bodied mouthfeel, a skyscraper-like texture, and a finish that goes on for close to a minute. This is a perfect wine, still youthful and young, and not even in full adolescence as of 2012. It has 40 or more years ahead of it, but should hit its plateau of full maturity in another 5-10 years. It is certainly one of the most showy , flamboyant and remarkable Harlan Estates made to date. (More recently, the 2007 tends to resemble this wine more than any other vintage I can think of.) Kudos to Bill Harlan!” RP
The next best price is $859
The average price is $1,085
Wine Spectator 93 points “This is a beautiful young Cabernet blend, ripe and floral, dark-hued and rich yet elegant in its mouthfeel, with pure, fleshy currant, cassis, blackberry and toasty vanilla scents from oak. Impeccably balanced, complex and concentrated, the finish keeps pumping out subtle flavor nuances that have remarkable staying power.”
The average price is $218
Robert Parker 99 points “The practically perfect 2001 Sloan (only the second effort released by Stuart Sloan) is aging magnificently. Made from very young vines planted on the steep hillsides above the Auberge du Soleil in Central Napa Valley, it exhibits a dense purple color with only a slight lightening at the edge as well as a phenomenal nose of burning embers, white chocolate, espresso roast, black currants and graphite. Full-bodied with an expansive, broad, creamy texture as well as a voluptuous finish, the wine has shed a lot of its tannin and is just beginning to hit its plateau of full maturity where it should stay for another 15-25+ years. This is a great terroir and at age ten, the 2001 confirms the accolades I bestowed upon it eight years ago.”
The average price is $428
Sloan Proprietary Red, Napa Valley 2002 750ML ($699.95) $579 special, 5 bottles available
Robert Parker 100 points “The perfect score does not surprise me since I had given this wine a three-digit rating after bottling. However, I was surprised by how evolved and complex the 2002 has become. Compared to some of the other high scoring 2002s, Sloan’s offering seems to be on a faster evolutionary track. There is nothing wrong with that, but based on this one bottle, this blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Merlot and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot can be drunk now or cellared for another 10-12 years. I do not think it will be one of the blockbuster, extremely long-lived wines of the vintage, but I could be wrong, because everything is in perfect balance. It offers a dense plum/garnet/purple color, a sweet nose of roasted espresso, chocolate, spring flowers, blackberries, black currants and new saddle leather, an opulent, voluptuous texture, gorgeous, layered flavors, lots of glycerin, sweet, silky tannin and a phenomenal finish. If you own any of this beauty, don’t hesitate to drink it.”
The average price is $727
The next best price is $625
Wine Enthusiast 100 points “A perfect score has to be considered in the context of its region. Shafer’s 2004 Hillside Select is tremendous as a Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon that competes with its peers at the highest levels. It’s always a fabulous wine, but in warm 2004, Shafer’s amphitheater vineyard sheltered the grapes, ripening them to perfection yet protecting the “iron fist in a velvet glove” structure that André Tchelistcheff defined as Stags Leap. This 100% Cabernet is tremendous in cassis, black currant and mocha flavors, and the 100% new French oak provides perfect additions of smoke and caramel. It’s soft and gorgeous enough to drink now, and should age well in a cool cellar for the next 20 years.”
Robert Parker 99 points “This vintage shocked me when I did my retrospective earlier this year, and the 2004 Shafer Cabernet Sauvignon Hillside Select acquitted itself brilliantly in the vertical of Hillside Selects. It was a hot year, a relatively early harvest and there were worries that the heat had stressed the grapes, and there would be a lack of physiological ripeness and nuance. Those worries have not manifested themselves in this great Cabernet Sauvignon. Inky/purple-colored with notes of blueberry, blackberry, cassis, spring flowers, and a touch of toast, the wine is opulent, voluptuous and full-bodied with sweet tannin, just enough acidity to provide freshness, vibrancy and delineation, and a spectacular finish that goes on 40+ seconds. This is a killer, a showy and flamboyant style of Hillside Select that’s already drinking beautifully and should continue to do so for another 15-20 years.”
James Suckling 95 points “Bay leaf, dark fruits, and almonds on the nose. This wine is powerful, with a full body, and with flavors of mineral, mint, and lead pencil. I’m thinking Pauillac but tasting California. A very long finish, but needs some time. Be patient with this and wait until 2014.”
Hundred Acre Kayli Morgan Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2004 750ML ($359.95) $269 special, 6 bottles available
Antonio Galloni 95+ points “Pure sensuality in the glass, the 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Kayli Morgan Vineyard is going to be nearly impossible to resist in its youth. At the same time, the Kayli Morgan has a track record of developing beautifully in bottle, and I imagine that is exactly what will happen here. Cedar, spice box, cassis and plums burst from the glass in this impressive, layered wine. A hint of mocha develops later, but it is pretty clear the 2009 is playing its cards close to the vest. There is enough inner tension to make me think the 2009 has a very bright future. Jayson Woodbridge describes 2009 as a year with a tiny crop and equally small berries. It is also the year Woodbridge brought in a helicopter to dry out the fruit after the mid-October typhoon dropped a huge amount of rain on Napa Valley.”
Robert Parker 98 points “The wild man of Napa Valley, Jayson Woodbridge, has turned out one of the superstars of 2004, with the 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon Kayli Morgan. His wines always tend to be gorgeous young, offering up an impression that they’re not going to last. But his first vintage, 2000, seems to get better and better, even though it was spectacular when released. The 2004, which was harvested in September, shows an almost Pomerol-like sweet mocha, kirsch, black currant and deeply fruited mouthfeel. It is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, but the clay soils of his vineyard seem to give a sweetness of tannin and a voluptuous character to the texture. This wine oozes rich, concentrated fruit, is light on its feet and has gorgeous purity, a multidimensional mouthfeel and a stunning finish. Silky black currant, kirsch, licorice, mocha and caramelized fruit make for a stunningly full-throttle, brilliant 2004 to enjoy over the next 15 or more years.” RP
The average price is $343
Antonio Galloni 93 points “The 2011 Red Wine is bright, focused and beautifully layered. Hints of rose petal, mint, sweet herb and red berries lift from the glass, all supported by lovely veins of underlying salinity. Because of the challenging growing season the 2011 is naturally a bit lithe and medium in body, especially when compared to the norm here, but it is quite pretty just the same.”
The next best price is $189
Verite Red Blend 1998 750ML ($149.95) $99 special, 1 bottle available
Sonoma County 62%, Napa County 38%
The next best price is $120
Robert Parker 97 points “A blend of 89% Merlot and 11% Cabernet Sauvignon (84% of the fruit from Sonoma and 16% from Napa), the 1999 is soft enough to be considered fully mature. Sweet aromas of espresso roast, plum sauce, black currants and forest floor are followed by a delicious, chewy, complex wine that should drink well for another 12-14 years.”
Verite Le Desir, Sonoma County 2001 ($199.95) $149 special, 1 bottle available
Robert Parker 97 points “The 2001 Le Desir (50% Cabernet Franc, 39% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Malbec) came from Alexander Valley Mountain Estate fruit (two-thirds), 30% from Chalk Hill and a tiny dollop from Knight’s Valley. The most evolved of these three wines, it exhibits complex notes of spring flowers, underbrush, truffles, forest floor, camphor and red as well as black fruits. It possesses an opulent, full-bodied mouthfeel, fabulous purity and density and a long finish. The finish for all three of these wines lasts for close to a minute. Each represents extraordinary craftsmanship and, essentially, vinous confirmation of the vision of the late Jess Jackson. Those who think too many California wines are over the top may be surprised to know that the 2001 La Muse has a pH of 3.63 and a “real” natural alcohol of 14.1%. La Joie’s pH is 3.65 and its alcohol is 14.2%, and Le Desir’s pH is 3.68 and its true alcohol level is 14.1%.”
Robert Parker 99 points “A blend of 93% Merlot / 7% Cabernet Franc (92% from the Alexander Mountain Estate, 6% from Bennett Valley and 2% from Knight’s Valley), the 2002 La Muse is a ‘kissing cousinâ?? of the 2001, only softer and more flamboyant. Classically Californian in its exuberant, flamboyant, super-rich, unctuously textured style, the tannins are softer than in the 2001, but the wine unquestionably has the potential to last for another quarter of a century. It exhibits an opaque plum/purple color along with abundant notes of cassis, licorice, graphite, coffee cake and spice box. More approachable than the 2001, the 2002 will offer phenomenal drinking over the next 25 years. “RP
The average price is $269
Mid-West, East & South
Summer Shipping Saver
Beginning now, for the summer season we are offering
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Free service upgrade only applies on single orders shipped during the promotional period.
Additional fees will apply to orders held for any reason until after the promotional period
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Antonio Galloni 95 points “The 2011 Barbaresco Currà is fabulous. Rich, deep and expressive, the 2011 impresses for its nearly seamless personality and exceptional balance. Here, the warm vintage has softened some of the more angular contours that are often present. Sweet floral and spice notes resonate on the finish, but above all else, the Currà is a wine of texture. Over the last few years, the Currà is the most improved wine at Sottimano, so it’s hardly a surprise it is often the last Barbaresco poured at the estate. I tasted the 2011 twice from bottle; it was compelling on both occasions. Readers should not miss the 2011, as it is fabulous!”
Sottimano Cotta, Barbaresco DOCG 2012 750ML ($59.95) $49 special
Wine Enthusiast 93 points “Aromas of red berry, tilled earth, menthol and dark cooking spice unfold in the glass. The structured, elegant palate doles out ripe wild cherry, mint, licorice, blood orange and chopped herb alongside firm, fine-grained tannins. It’s still tight so let it unwind for a few more years.”
Antonio Galloni 92 points “The 2012 Barbaresco Cottà shows its typical profile of round, ample fruit and generosity, but with a touch less richness than is the norm. Broad, ample textures fill out the wine’s frame nicely. Pine, menthol and dark spices wrap around a core of super-expressive dark red stone fruits. All of the typical Cottà signatures are in place, but in miniature, which is to say this is a highly representative wine for the year.”
Wine Advocate 91 points “The 2012 Barbaresco Cottá shows a slightly subdued personality and a timid approach. The wine is bright, buoyant and brilliant across the board but it delivers its best assets with less intensity compared to the other single-vineyard expressions of Barbaresco produced by Sottimano. Pretty tones of white cherry and forest berry form a smooth union with light spice, mint and cola. This wine should flesh out further with more time in the cellar.” ML
Sottimano Fausoni, Barbaresco DOCG 2012 750ML ($59.95) $49 special
Wine Advocate 94 points “Sottimano’s 2012 Barbaresco Fausoni shows highly impressive results with a smooth entry to the palate followed by bright fruit flavors that are fused with floral accents, spice and licorice. Fausoni reveals pretty transparency with brilliant garnet accents. The aromas are tonic, vibrant and fresh. There’s plenty of menthol and cardamon-infused lift on the finish. This is a very satisfying wine that promises a long life ahead.”
Antonio Galloni 92 points “The 2012 Barbaresco Fausoni is a very pretty, up-front wine with lovely fruit and precision. Crushed raspberries, flowers and sweet spices grace the palate as the wine opens up in the glass. The flavors are nicely layered in a soft, delicate Barbaresco that shows the more perfumed, aromatic side of Nebbiolo. In 2012, the Fausoni is all about immediacy.”
Sottimano Pajore, Barbaresco DOCG 2012 750ML ($59.95) $49 special
Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2012 Barbaresco Pajoré is a wine that exudes balance and harmony. The wine is absolutely intact in all its elements and there’s a sense of continuity here that sets it apart. As it warms in the glass, this beautiful Barbaresco takes on greater aromatic intensity with its floral tones that blossom brighter and the fruity tones that emerge steadily from the bouquet. Spice, leather and grilled herb linger delicately at the back. The Barbaresco Pajoré is a beautiful wine.” ML
Antonio Galloni 93 points “The 2012 Barbaresco Pajoré shows the pedigree of this great site in its balance of fruit, acidity and tannin. Like all the wines in this vintage, the Pajoré is a mid-weight Barbaresco, but here it is the wine’s textural finesse that impresses above all else. Chalky tannins underpin flowers, spices, tangerine peel and star anise on the expressive, floral finish.”
Sottimano Barbaresco Riserva DOCG 2010 750ML ($179.95) $149 special
Antonio Galloni 96 points “The 2010 Barbaresco Riserva emerges from old vines in both Currà and Pajoré. Deep, dense and exquisitely layered in the glass, the 2010 offers a magnificent interplay of dark fruit, seamless contours and dazzling textural richness. Scents of rose petal, mint, dried herbs and lavender add nuance to the super-expressive Nebbiolo fruit. The finish boasts considerable power married to exquisite finish. This is a wonderfully complete, captivating Barbaresco from Sottimano. All the elements are in the right place. The Riserva spent a total of two and half years in oak with no racking until racking, when the blend was put together.”
Wine Enthusiast–Cellar Selection 96 points “This dazzling red is still in its infancy but promises to bloom into a stunning beauty. It opens with delicate aromas of red rose, perfumed berry, forest floor, exotic spice, aromatic herb and a light balsamic note. Energy abounds on the full-bodied, elegant palate, which delivers bright red cherry, strawberry, white pepper and licorice alongside a backbone of vibrant acidity and firm, refined tannins.”
The next best price is $169.99
Evesham Wood
Out With the Old Sale…
Winery note “Each and every spring, we set out to taste our Eola Amity Hills barrels with the idea of selecting and reserving the best offerings within. Once chosen, they are racked in to caves to rest for an additional ten months. Consistently one of our favorite bottlings, the 2013 Eola Amity blend will greet the front end of the palate with a rich, dense profile that marries pure black and red cherry with hints of cinnamon. The cherry follows through to the lively mid-palate where fresh herbs and plum flavors join and are followed by a silky finish.”
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 90 points “Deep red. Aromas of fresh red berries, smoky minerals and white pepper, with a subtle floral note in the background. Tangy and focused on entry, then fleshier in the middle, offering slow-to-unwind flavors of juicy raspberry and bitter cherry. Shows very good energy and a note of cherry pit on the long, spice-tinged finish.”
The next best price is $24.99
Winery note “As he has for years, our good friend Ken Cancilla continues to grow exceptional organic, dry-farmed grapes for us. Cool, late-ripening fruit from this low-yield vineyard contributes to the structure of Haden Fig’s signature Willamette Valley Pinot Noir blend as well as our Cancilla Vineyard designate Pinot. Very fruit driven with dense dark cherry, creamy raspberry, a bright red cherry finish and perfect acidity.”
The average price is $28
…Stay tuned next week for new releases!
Picotious Pattes Loup Sale
Thomas Pico Domaine Pattes Loup Chablis, Burgundy 2013 750ML ($31.95) Was $28, Now $24, 2 bottles available
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
The average price is $35
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
Now it’s even lower!
The average price is $57
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
Arriving Next Week:
Domaine du Pegau Premiers Next Week
Domaine du Pegau Chateauneuf-du-Pape Cuvee Reservee 2013 1.5L ($149.95) $128 pre-arrival special
Case-12 Domaine du Pegau Chateauneuf-du-Pape Cuvee Reservee 2013 750ML ($719.95) $588 pre-arrival special (that’s only $49/bottle!)
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 93 points “Deep ruby. Potent aromas of ripe dark berries, licorice pastille, woodsmoke, game and garrigue, plus a peppery nuance that adds spiciness and lift. Round and fleshy on the palate, offering intense blackberry and bitter cherry flavors that become livelier and sweeter with air. The very long, energetic, sharply focused finish features fine-grained tannins and subtle, lingering notes of dark berries and smoked meat.”
Domaine du Pegau Chateauneuf-du-Pape Cuvee Laurence 2011 750ML ($119.95) $89 pre-arrival special
Wine Spectator 95 points “A solidly grippy, old-school version, with lots of brick dust, roasted chestnut and fresh tobacco leaf notes coating the core of steeped plum, raspberry and black cherry fruit. Offers a broad and woodsy feel through the finish, with singed cedar and juniper details pumping throughout, delivering ample flesh and fruit for balance. This has grip to burn and should cruise in the cellar. Best from 2018 through 2030.”
Domaine du Pegau Selection Laurence Feraud Cotes du Rhone 2013 750ML ($17.95) $14 pre-arrival special
Importer’s note: “In addition to running the legendary Châteauneuf-du-Pape estate Domaine du Pegau with her father Paul, Laurence Féraud manages a successful negociant wine business under the “Sélection Laurence Féraud” label.”
Chateau Pegau ‘Pink Pegau’ Rose, Vin de France 2015 750ML ($21.95) $18 pre-arrival special
Importer’s note: “A delicious new rosé from Laurence Féraud of Domaine du Pegau, Pink Pegau was crafted at Château Pegau, a recently purchased estate of more than 100 acres located less than 4 miles from Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Tasting Notes: Pale pink/salmon in color, with peach, floral and red fruit aromas. Bone dry, with a crisp, mouth-watering acidity leading to a long, spicy, mineral finish.”
Champagne Super Stars
Arriving Next Week
James Suckling 94 points “An subtle nose with plenty of fine autolysis aromas of fresh bread and sweetly fragrant yeasty notes, plus some gentle spice and chalky notes. The palate unleashes beautiful wild strawberry fruit flavors, super fresh, fleshy and pure. Great balance and depth. Drink now.” JS
Billecart-Salmon Cuvee Nicolas Francois Billecart Millesime 2002 750ML ($219.95) $189 pre-arrival special
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 97 points “A mesmerizing, thrilling Champagne, the 2002 Cuvée Nicolas François Billecart is a great example of the vintage at its best. Silky and racy on the palate, yet a bit more restrained than many wines of the year, the Nicolas François Billecart remains vivid and remarkably nuanced. Brioche. apricot jam, wild flowers and honey are some of the many notes that blossom as the Cuvée Nicolas François Billecart shows off its voluptuous personality.”
Philipponnat Clos des Goisses Brut 1996 750ML ($399.95) $348 pre-arrival special
Antonio Galloni 97 points (December 2015); Antonio Galloni 96 points (March 2015) “One of the all time greats from Philipponnat, the 1996 Clos des Goisses captures the essence of a vintage in which both sugars and acidities were elevated. Tension, energy and salinity are the signatures. Readers who can wait on the 1996 will be rewarded with a stunning bottle of Champagne that will likely still be profound at age fifty.”
Jacques Selosse Initial Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Brut NV 750ML ($219.95) $199 pre-arrival special
Antonio Galloni 94 points “The NV Initial is especially open in this release, with notable texture, richness and resonance. Lemon peel, white flowers and almonds all open up in the glass, followed by honey and slight elements of Burgundian-like reduction. Initial is always Selosse’s most vibrant wine, as it is once again this year. The pure breadth and verticality of these Chardonnays from Avize, Cramant Oger is compelling. Readers who want to explore Anselme Selosse’s wines should start here…” AG
Jacques Selosse Extra-Brut Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Version Originale NV 750ML ($279.95) $249 pre-arrival special
Antonio Galloni 95 points “Tasted after the Initial, the NV V.O. (Version Originale) presents slightly darker, more burnished tonalities of Chardonnay. Almond, marzipan, dried rose petals, spices and anise blossom in an ample, generous Champagne built on volume, but supported by insistent veins of minerality. Hints of trademark Selosse oxidation make the V.O. a bit more eccentric, especially for readers who might not be familiar with these Champagnes. V.O. emerges from parcels in Avize, Cramant and Oger, all Grand Cru villages. The vintages are 2006, 2005 and 2004. This bottle was disgorged on October 15, 2013 and bottled with no dosage.” AG
Benoit Dehu ‘La Rue des Noyer’ Brut NV (2012) 750ML ($119.95) $99 pre-arrival special
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 93+ points “Benoît Déhu’s NV Extra Brut La Rue des Noyers is a 100% Meunier from a biodynamically farmed 1.7 hectare plot in Fossoy with dark limestone soils. Fermented and aged for ten months in used 228 liter barrels but with “no malolactic, no racking, no filtering, no cold stabilization and no fining,” says Benoît Déhu, when he presented me his wine at the presentation of the Origines Champagne group in Château de Pierry earlier this year. “We produce our wines like our colleagues in Burgundy.” It had two different Cuvées of this wine. Their first was entirely based on the 2011 vintage and was disgorged in June 2014 with a minimal dosage of one gram per liter. It is an impressively deep, intense and full-bodied Champagne that displays ripe fruit and slightly smoky flavors on the nose; it is very pure, complex and well structured on the palate. This stunningly powerful and persistent Champagne is surely made for a long distance run. The second wine is the successor and based on vintage 2012, but disgorged with no dosage. This is a very delicate and elegant release with a superbly refined mousse. However, it is also straight, firm and perhaps even finer than the 2011.”
Burgundy Super Stars
Arriving Next Week
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 87-89 points “Bright, pale yellow. Ripe aromas of pear and lemon. Fat and sweet but nicely framed by lively acidity and underlying minerality. Finishes fruity and firm, with good length.”
“The 2014 Saint Aubin le Banc has quite a generous bouquet with flakes of almond and coconut, a hint of lime flower in the background. The palate is rounded and sensual on the entry, perhaps slightly lower acidity than its peers, although this simply just makes it more irresistible in its youth. The kind of wine you just want to “neck”.” Neal Martin – Wine Advocate
Domaine Hubert Lamy Derriere Chez Edouard Blanc, Saint-Aubin Premier Cru 2013 750ML ($69.95) $59 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 91-93 points “The 2013 Saint Aubin 1er Cru Derrière Chez Edouard has a marvelous, mineral-driven bouquet that soars from the glass with hints of wilted white flowers in the background. The palate is very well balanced, very harmonious, a wine where you can taste the vineyard’s white marn soils. It gradually builds to a very poised slightly peachy finish. Superb.”
Domaine Georges Mugneret-Gibourg Vosne-Romanee 1998 750ML ($179.95) $149 pre-arrival special
Stephen Tanzer “Bright deep red. Raspberry and licorice nose lifted by a floral perfume. Supple and strong, with bright red berry and herbal flavors. Finishes firmly tannic and slightly dry.”
Mugneret-Gibourg Nuits St Georges Vieille Vignes 2013 750ML ($169.95) $133 pre-arrival special
Domaine Georges Mugneret-Gibourg Ruchottes-Chambertin Grand Cru 2013 750ML ($499.95) $389 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 94-96 points “The 2013 Ruchottes Chambertin Grand Cru, which is aged in 70-75% new oak, has a very precise bouquet with pastille-like poise and freshness: wild strawberry and dark cherries, a touch of violet petal in the background. The palate is medium-bodied with quite a succulent entry, nicely judged acidity, becoming denser toward the finish with a gentle but insistent grip. There is a spicy note on the tip of the tongue that lingers long afterwards. This is a very fine follow-up to the stupendous 2012 Ruchottes.”
One Special Magnum Arrives Mid-May
Domaine Leflaive Bienvenues-Batard-Montrachet Grand Cru 2008 1.5L ($1,195.95) $999 pre-arrival special, only ONE magnum available!
Wine Spectator 95 points “Seems fluid, yet there’s plenty of substance in this racy white. Lime blossom, blood orange, citronella and hazelnut flavors are at the core, while spice and stone elements emerge on the finish. Finishes with a cascade of citrus and spice notes. This is still very youthful, showing excellent potential.”
Italian Favorites
New Vintages of Old Friends, Arriving Next Week
Antonio Galloni 91 points “The 2013 Chianti Classico Berardenga is one of the richest, darkest versions of this wine I can remember tasting. Black cherries, game, smoke, tar, leather and soy are some of the notes that take shape in the glass. The 2013 is wild, savory and surprisingly dense, raw and unformed for an entry-level wine. Accordingly, the 2013 is going to require more patience than is the norm, but it also has the potential to overachieve over the near and medium term. All the house signatures are very much alive here.”
Ca’ del Baio Asili, Barbaresco DOCG 2012 750ML ($39.95) $30.90 pre-arrival special
James Suckling 92 points “Aromas of cherry, dried apple and hints of cedar. Full body, firm tannins and a fresh finish. Hints of walnut skin and wet earth. Solid and attractive. Drink or hold.”
Antonio Galloni 92 points “The 2012 Barbaresco Marcarini shows a much darker expression of Treiso, along with greater depth, ripeness and textural richness than the Vallegrande. Black cherry, plum, cloves, leather and smoke all open up in a Barbaresco endowed with considerable mid-palate sweetness and distinctly baritone-inflected nuances. Here the expression of Nebbiolo is broad and ample.”
The next best price is $47.99
Antonio Galloni 92 points “The 2012 Barbaresco Vallegrande is a forward, supple wine to drink now and over the next few years. Spice, sweet tobacco, black cherry, menthol, pine and a host of balsamic-inflected nuances give the fruit much of its aromatic lift, while firm tannins add energy and a sense of drive. The overall profile is very typical of Vallegrande and Treiso more broadly. I would prefer to drink the 2012 sooner rather than later, while the flavors retain their brightness. The 2012 finishes with a lovely sense of understated precision that adds nuance.”
The next best price is $29.99
The average price is $31
Bonus Tuscan Pre-Arrival!
Arrives in September
Felsina Berardenga ‘Colonia’, Chianti Classico Gran Selezione DOCG 2010 750ML ($149.95) $123 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 95+ points “When you hear the story of the effort that went into making the Colonia vineyard, you have to wonder if the fine folks at Fèlsina are absolutely mad. It took them two years of dynamite blasting to clear the imposing rock that had forced previous generations of the Poggiali family to virtually abandon this site. But an ambitious Giovanni Poggiali takes credit for making this spectacular vineyard what it is today. The wine produced here is quickly becoming the second flagship product after Fontalloro. The 2010 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Colonia is a wine of enormous beauty and depth. This is Sangiovese at its highest expression and any doubt I had about the previous vintage (which was the first time this wine appeared as a Gran Selezione) have been washed away by this current release. What really stands out are the wine’s precise mineral and graphite aromas that lend an incredible sense of focus and balance. The oak element is also beautifully integrated.”
Muga Rosato – Arrives May 5th!
Bodegas Muga Rosado, Rioja DOCa 2015 750ML ($17.95) $14 pre-arrival special
Case-12 Bodegas Muga Rosado, Rioja DOCa 2015 750ML ($179.95) $149 pre-arrival special (that’s only $12.42/bottle!)
Winery Notes “A very light, bright colour – mainly pale orange-tinged salmon pink. In this harvest very fresh, tart fruit aromas return, dominating the whole sensorial profile of the wine. On the nose you mainly find the citrus and green apple aromas which are present throughout the wine’s passage through the mouth; in the aftertaste, the olfactory nuances are transformed into something finer and more complex, where you can discover, along with those noted previously, hints of apricot and faint reminders of pastries. On the palate it is really attractive since, although the sharp fruit still dominates, the overall taste is sweetened by elegant, well-integrated fine lees. This is a wine with a long finish, combining sweetness, freshness and acidity.”
Time to Say Good Buy
Super Discount Ends May 1st
Good ’til it’s gone… the very best of Brunello di Montalcino from Biondi Santi.
Biondi Santi Tenuta Greppo Riserva, Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2006 750ML ($699.95) Buy It Now For $319
The average price is $608!
Wine Advocate 95 points “The 2006 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva comes across as a bit reticent. It reveals lovely detail and nuance, but without the firmness of many other young vintages. Today the 2006 is quite accessible. I will be surprised if it doesn’t start shutting down at some point. Regardless, the 2006 appears to be built more on finesse rather than power. Freshly cut flowers, hard candy and licorice are layered into the finish. Anticipated maturity: 2016-2046.”
Domaine de la Grange des Peres, IGP Pays de l’Herault 2011 750ML ($119.95) Was $89, Now $79 – Wine Spectator 91 points
Was already the lowest listed price in the USA today – now even lower!
The next best price is $90
The average price is $122
Philippe Foreau Domaine du Clos Naudin Vouvray Reserve Moelleux, Loire 2003 750ML ($89.95) Was $69, Now $59 – Wine Spectator 94 points
Was already the lowest listed price in the USA today – now even lower!
The next best price is $73.84
The average price is $76
Philippe Foreau Domaine du Clos Naudin Vouvray Reserve Moelleux, Loire 2009 750ML ($119.95) Was $79, Now $69 – Wine Advocate 97 points
Was already the lowest listed price in the USA today – now even lower!
The next best price is $79.99
The average price is $91
West Coast Wines by the Case
Below is a selection of 11 of the 22 West Coast wines we offer at discounted case pricing:
30Case-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, 23 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
The average price is $30
Bootleg Red Blend, Napa Valley 2012 750ML ($39.95) $29 special, 36+ bottles available
Robert Parker 90 points “An intriguing offering from the Jackson family, the 2012 Proprietary Red this innovative blend of 36% Merlot, 20% Petite Sirah, 21% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest Syrah and Zinfandel is outstanding. The wine comes from multiple vineyards in Northern California in Napa Valley and is a reasonably good-sized cuvée of 5,000 cases. The wine shows plenty of peppery, meaty, blackcurrant fruit, sweet cherries, loamy soil undertones, plenty of licorice and spice box. This is a very Mediterranean styled, deep, fleshy red wine to drink over the next 2-3 years.” RP
The average price is $33
Fortress Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma County 2012 750ML ($24.95) $18 special, 33 bottles available
Wine Spectator – “Well-structured, with a frame of firm tannins and cedary oak overshadowing the modest core of graphite-laced dark berry.”
The average price is $25
Round Pond Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Rutherford 2013 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 21 bottles available
Robert Parker 92 points “The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Rutherford, a blend of 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Petit Verdot and 4% Malbec, is a beauty. It’s also realistically priced by Napa standards. The wine reveals toasty oak, blackberry and cassis fruit, beautiful texture, purity and length. This is a big-time winner and should drink well for 12-15 years.”
Antonio Galloni 92 points “Round Pond’s 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate is fabulous. Aromatic, pliant and expressive, the 2013 is incredibly nuanced for such a young wine. Sweet red plum, wild flowers, mint and cinnamon meld together in a medium-bodied, gracious Cabernet that will drink well with minimal cellaring.”
Case-6 Byron Nielson Vineyard Pinot Noir, Santa Maria Valley 2013 750ML ($219.95) $139 special, 3 six-packs available (that’s only $23.17/bottle!)
Byron Nielson Vineyard Pinot Noir, Santa Maria Valley 2013 750ML ($39.95) $29 special, 18 bottles available
Wine Advocate 92+ points “Another terrific wine is the 2013 Pinot Noir Nielson Vineyard, which was completely destemmed and aged 16 months in 40% new French oak. Still showing its oak elevage, with lots of caramelized cherry, black raspberry, sweet oak and spice, it hits the palate with a seamless, silky, gorgeously pure texture that carries plenty of fruit and finishes clean and dry, with notable tannic grip. Give it a year or two in the cellar to integrate its oak and drink bottles through 2021.”
Case-6 Franciscan Estate Cuvee Sauvage Chardonnay, Carneros 2012 750ML ($159.95) $99 special, 5 half-cases available (that’s only $16.50/bottle!)
Franciscan Estate Cuvee Sauvage Chardonnay, Carneros 2012 750ML ($37.95) $19 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.”
The next best price is $29.99
Mullan Road Cellars Red, Columbia Valley 2013 750ML ($44.95) $36 special, 17 bottles available
Wine Advocate 92-94 points “Tasted out of barrel and a perfumed, floral, lively blend of 57% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Franc and a splash of Malbec, the 2013 Columbia Valley Red Wine offers ample black raspberry, sweet cassis, spring flowers and sappy herb-like aromas and flavors. Coming from a mix of Stillwater Creek, Seven Hills and Lawrence vineyards, this rock-star barrel sample has medium to full-bodied richness, fabulous purity and fine tannin that frame the finish. It should be relatively civilized on release, yet evolve gracefully for 15 years.”
Case-6 Tyrus Evan Ciel du Cheval Vineyard Claret, Columbia Valley 2010 750ML ($199.95) $99 special, 2 six-pack available (that’s only $16.50/bottle and the lowest listed price in the USA today!)
Tyrus Evan Ciel du Cheval Vineyard Claret, Columbia Valley 2010 750ML ($39.95) $18 special, 22 bottles available
Winery note: The vineyard Ciel du Cheval lies in the heart of the tiny Red Mountain American Viticultural Area (AVA) in southeast Washington. Initially planted to just three acres in 1975, the vineyard now encompasses 120 acres and provides outstanding fruit to 26 wineries in the northwest. As owner Jim Holmes puts it, “This is a hobby that has gone crazy.” 27% Merlot, 43% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Cabernet Franc, 12% Petit Verdot
Case-12 Januik Klipsun Vineyard Merlot, Red Mountain 2012 750ML ($359.95) $319 special, 1 case available (that’s only $26.58/bottle!)
Januik Klipsun Vineyard Merlot, Red Mountain 2012 750ML ($34.95) $31.90 special, 9 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 93+ points “(100% Merlot): Bright, dark red. Dark fruits, graphite, mocha, menthol and musky oak on the compelling nose, along with a hint of caraway seed. Alluring pliant, elegant wine with beautifully integrated acidity framing the dark plum and cassis flavors. Conveys a rare combination of intensity and finesse of texture. Finishes with fine-grained tannins–especially for a wine from Klipsun vineyard–and outstanding length. This stunning Merlot spent just seven days on its skins, according to Januik.”
Case-12 Matello Deux Vert Vineyard Viognier, Yamhill-Carlton District 2012 750ML ($149.95) $119 special, 1 case available (that’s only $9.92/bottle!)
Matello Deux Vert Vineyard Viognier, Yamhill-Carlton District 2012 750ML ($17.95) $11.90 special, 13 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.”
Doubleback Cabernet Sauvignon, Walla Walla Valley 2013 750ML ($119.95) $99 pre-arrival special
Stephen Tanzer 93 points “Bright, medium ruby-red. Sexy nutty oak complements ripe cassis, minerals, licorice and herbs on the nose. Wonderfully silky and refined, but with sexy herbal lift to the seamless berry and spice flavors. Very suave, youthful, classy Cabernet with sneaky depth of flavor and noble tannins. Sappy, subtle and long on the aftertaste. I find this wine much easier to taste today than the more backward 2012. Will it go into a shell or will it remain harmonious?” ST
Have a wonderful weekend!