Weekend Newsletter February 7th

February 7, 2015

Join Vinopolis February 12th from 4-6:30 at French Quarter Linens for your one-stop Valentine’s Day shopping.Flowers from Spellbound Flowers.
Chocolates from Verdun Fine Chocolates.
Lingerie from Jane’s Vanity.
Jewelry from Studio Bea.
And…
in partnership with the Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessey group, Vinopolis will be offering these special Rose Champagnes, the perfect accompaniment to any romantic occasion:

Veuve Cliquot, Moet & Chandon, Dom Perignon

Moet & Chandon Brut Imperial Rose NV 750ML ($59.95) $49 special
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 91 points “(roughly 45% pinot noir, 35% pinot meunier and 20% chardonnay): Bright orange-pink. Spicy cherry, red berries, blood orange and five-spice powder on the perfumed nose. Fleshy but dry, boasting excellent energy to its bitter cherry, redcurrant and floral pastille flavors. Finishes smooth and fleshy, with very good breadth and cling. The turnaround over the last few years at this house, now under the guidance of chef de cave Benoit Gouez, has been remarkable.”Moet & Chandon Grand Vintage Brut Rose 2004 750ML ($79.95) $59 special
Antonio Galloni 92 points “Much more typical of the year, 2004 Brut Grand Vintage Rosé is pure chalk, rhubarb, pomegranate and rose petals. The flavors possess striking delineation and nuance in a style that is all about tension. I very much like the sense of energy here. Stylistically, the Rosé is quite a bit more focused than the Blanc in 2004, with fewer oxidative overtones and plenty of drive. This is a hugely appealing Champagne from Moët Chandon. 2014 – 2024.”

Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin La Grande Dame Brut Rose 2004 750ML ($319.95) $219 special
Wine Spectator 94 points “Broad on the palate, though well-knit and svelte overall, with seamless integration of the firm acidity, structuring flavors of smoke, poached plum, creamed almond, piecrust and lemon curd. Features a graceful, mineral-tinged finish. Drink now through 2025”

Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin La Grande Dame Brut Rose 1998 750ML ($319.95) $219 special
Wine Spectator 93 points “Exotic notes of toasted coconut and rum spice accent this fresh and elegant rosé, while flavors of macerated cherry and plum, pastry and pomegranate ride the delicate texture. Graceful, with a mouthwatering finish. Drink now through 2020.” WS

Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin Brut Rose with Couture Bag NV 750ML ($69.95) $49 special
Wine Spectator 91 points “Bright and expressive, with mouthwatering acidity and refined texture, layered with black cherry, spiced plum, almond skin, honey and candied ginger notes. Shows lovely balance, offering a lasting finish of smoky mineral. Drink now through 2020.” WS

Dom Perignon Rose Brut 2003 750ML ($349.95) $219 special
Wine Spectator 95 points “The whole is greater than the sum of the parts in this harmonious version. A delicate bead caresses the mouth, while flavors of currant pâte de fruit, dried apricot, pastry and pickled ginger expand on the palate. Subtly floral, with a fine frame of acidity driving this to the mouthwatering finish of smoky mineral and dried fruit. Drink now through 2030.”
Antonio Galloni 93 points “The 2003 Dom Pérignon Rosé is another wine that has come together quite nicely over the last few months. Given the exuberance and sheer vinosity of the 2000 and the 2002, along with the ripeness of the year, and the heft of the 2003 Blanc, I expected the 2003 Rosé to be a much bigger wine. Instead, it is surprisingly delicate and medium in body. Dried flowers, crushed raspberries and sweet herbs waft from the glass in a Rosé that is all about sensuality. With time in the glass, the richness of the fruit becomes more pronounced, while the tannin from the red grapes is also noticeable.”

Terre Nere’s wines “all possessed unbelievable freshness and complexity as well as huge perfumes that suggested Pinot Noir…These wines are astonishingly complex and ethereal efforts from the hillsides of Mt. Etna in Sicily.” -Robert Parker

Owner and winemaker Marco de Grazia (pictured below) has revolutionized winemaking on Sicily’s Mount Etna.  The high altitude and dark volcanic soils help yield distinctive wines from the indigenous grape varieties grown organically.  Grazia was the first to bottle single-parcel wines from the indigenous variety Nerello and brought international focus and admiration to this once-overlooked region.Grazia began his career as an importer from lesser-known Italian regions.  In 2002, he started the Terre Nere winery from 30 hectares of vineyards divided in 10 parcels over four crus.  The vines are between 50 to 100 years old except for 6 hectares of recently planted vines and several self-rooted plots over 130 years old that are famous for
surviving phylloxera.  The red wines are 100% Nerello Mascalese, a variety known for producing wines of great elegance.  The soil in the Calderara Sottana cru is covered in large black volcanic pumice and is the stoniest cru.  The wine offers floral, spice and leather aromas.  The two vineyards composing the Guardiola cru stand at the highest elevation on Mount Etna, and are quite possibly the highest in Europe.  It has poor soil composed of volcanic sand, basalt and ash.  The vineyard is steeply terraced, necessitating manual labor and harvest.  The wine is lean and elegant.  Santo Spirito is adjacent to Guardiola but with black volcanic ash soil.  The Etna Rosso Prephylloxera “La Vigna di Don Pepino” is named for the grape grower who worked the parcel for over 70 years.  Grazia believes the vineyard survived and thrived only through Don Pepino’s meticulous care.  The Bianco is 100% old vine Carricante from small plots of vines on Mount Etna.  Carricante matures slowly and is particularly suited to the long growing season and drastic diurnal temperature swings on Mount Etna.  The wine is aged partly in botti and partly in stainless.

Tenuta delle Terre Nere Rosso Etna 2013 750ML ($24.95) $16 special (was $20.90), 48 bottles available
Importer note ” At Terre Nere vinification is simple, classic, and Burgundian in technique. Alcoholic fermentation and maceration on the skins last from 10 to 15 days; malolactic fermentation and maturation are carried out in oak (25% new).  After 18 months the wine is bottled without filtering.” Ian D’Agata- Vinus 89 points  “(a blend of 95% nerello mascalese and 5% nerello cappuccio): Good bright red. Wild nose shows red cherry, quinine, aromatic herbs and balsamic vinegar. Big, rich and backward, with a distinctly medicinal quality to the balsamic red fruit flavors. Finishes with major mouth-clenching tannins that will need at least three years in bottle to smooth out. A much more tannic, massive Etna Rosso than usual from this estate.”Tenuta delle Terre Nere ‘Le Vigne Niche’ Bianco Etna 2012 750ML ($39.95) $28 special (was $33), 34 bottles available
Importer’s note ” 100% Carricante from less than .5 hectares of small vineyards (niche means small in sicilian dialect). This ages partly in 10HL botti and part in stainless steel. All of the vineyards are on the north side of Etna from 700 to 1000 meters above sea level. Intense minerality, structured brilliant white. 200 cs produced.”

Tenuta delle Terre Nere Rosato Etna 2013 750ML ($27.95) $24 special, 2 bottles available
Josh Raynolds 89 points (100% nerello mascalese): “Light orange-pink. Spice- and mineral-laced citrus fruit and red berry aromas show good clarity and a subtle floral nuance. Dry and sharply focused, displaying good heft to its bitter cherry and blood orange flavors. Finishes clean and tangy, with lingering pepper and spice notes” -JRTenuta delle Terre Nere Guardiola Rosso Etna 2011 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 2 bottles available
Wine Advocate 96 points “The 2011 Etna Rosso Guardiola is among my favorite expressions from this estate. Guardiola is one of Marco-s highest and steepest vineyards and fruit harvested here picks up beautiful balsam and floral overtones. The wine also sports a darker, thicker consistency and a slightly softer management of the tannins. Licorice and anise seed flood over the palate”

Tenuta delle Terre Nere Guardiola Rosso Etna 2012 750ML ($47.95) $39 special, 24 bottles available
Importer’s note “At 800-900 meters above sea level on the north side of Mount Etna, the Guardiola vineyard is the highest red-wine producing vineyard in all of Europe. (Just to give you an idea of the relative altitude, the highest vineyard sites in Montalcino only reach 500 meters above sea level!) It gets bright hot sun during the day and gentle breezes off the Gulf of Catania cool things off at night, adding to the aromatic complexity of the wine and protecting the fruit from mold and mildew during the later stages of its ripening (since it is harvested at the end of October, the weather almost always breaks before the fruit is ripe).”

Tenuta delle Terre Nere Calderara Sottana Rosso Etna 2011 750ML ($49.95) $39 special, 13 bottles available
Wine Advocate 94 points “The 2011 Etna Rosso Calderara Sottana is light in color but masculine in personality. It-s a tight, nervous wine that needs more time to evolve in the cellar. Pretty fruit tones of wild berry and cassis set the stage, leaving ample room for nuanced mineral expressions. The tannins are tight, but polished and should become finer with age.”

Tenuta delle Terre Nere Calderara Sottana Rosso Etna 2012 750ML ($47.95) $39 special, 24 bottles available
Importer note “The ‘Calderara Sottana,’ made from the indigenous Nerello Mascalese and Nerello Cappuccio, is unbelievably fresh and complex, with a wonderfully pronounced nose.  Robert Parker calls it “a terrific, elegant, savory, fresh, perfumed wine offering notes of sweet smoked herbs intermingled with cherries, earth and a hint of truffles.”  It is delightfully balanced and layered, and is without a doubt ready to drink.”

Tenuta delle Terre Nere ‘Feudo di Mezzo’ Etna Rosso 2011 750ML ($49.95) $39 special, 1 bottle available
Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2011 Etna Rosso Feudo di Mezzo Il Quadro delle Rose is among the more feminine and graceful of Marco-s single-vineyard expressions. It opens to a slightly lighter garnet hue (but not by much) and offers a steady progression of red flower, wild berry and wet earth aromas. The quality of the fruit is immensely pure and focused. Feudo di Mezzo is better suited to long-term consumption. The tannins are still youthful and nervous”
Wine Spectator 92 points “A pretty version, with expressive floral, wild strawberry, crushed raspberry and red licorice notes, wrapped in juicy acidity and tightly knit yet integrated tannins. A tar-tinged streak of minerality underscores the palate, while accents of underbrush and spice box build on the finish. Drink now through 2026. 500 cases made”

Tenuta delle Terre Nere ‘Feudo di Mezzo’ Etna Rosso 2012 750ML ($47.95) $39 special, 23 bottles available
Importer note “Feudo di Mezzo is the largest cru in the appellation, a homogenous character, but with clear qualitative variations – much like one could say of Clos Veugeot in Burgundy. From the best parcels – such as our “Quadro delle Rose” – it betrays a dusky character, autumnal tones in its cedary-spicy bouquet. Always the first to be harvested, Feudo di Mezzo is also always the one readiest to open up and generously deliver itself. Of all crus it is supremely silky, its tannins suave, its bouquet darkly debonair. I love it as it ages effortlessly, its crepuscular nature picking up light as it ripens. Poultry, pork, game, lasagne, braised meats.  500 cases produced.”

Tenuta delle Terre Nere Santo Spirito Rosso Etna 2012 750ML ($47.95) $39 special, 23 bottles available
Importer note “Exposure: Vineyards located on the north slope of Mt. Etna.  Ageing: Aged in Stainless Steel for 6 months, then aged in equal proportions in French barriques, tonneau and cask.”

Tenuta delle Terre Nere Prephylloxera La Vigna di Don Peppino Rosso Etna 2012 750ML ($109.95) $89 special, 17 bottles available
Importer note “In front and to the right of our cellar in Calderara Sottana there are two parcels, in the midst of a larger vineyard that have survived phylloxera. They, therefore, are over 130 years old and stand on their original rootstock. In 2006 I decided to vinify the grapes from those parcels separately. 2006 was a splendid vintage, rather on the monumental side. These parcels yielded a wine of such unearthly finesse that, although the wine from the neighboring old vines was a real beauty, the Prephylloxera, displaying a very similar character, seemed to feed from heavenly pastures: the quintessence of Calderara. It is a bit shier and will need more time than its younger sibling. I rarely advice decanting a wine, but in this case I do. Its elegance is measured, its authority understated, its sophistication effortless. A grand wine. I suggest many savoury fine courses in very moderate quantities. Allow the wine to grow as the dinner does.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Delas Freres Wines

Delas Frères has a long and rich history in the heart of the Northern Côtes du Rhône. Founded over 160 years ago, its original owners and heirs ran the estate until it was purchased by the Lallier-Deutz family in 1977, which was then acquired by Champagne House Louis Roederer in 1993. In 1996 Fabrice Rosset, a 20-year executive with Roederer, took over the helm at both Delas and Deutz. Winemaker Jacques Grange (pictured above at the Delas estate) joined Delas Frères in 1997 with extensive experience, including a 4 year stint with renowned Rhône producer Michel Chapoutier. Jacques’ recent  Delas Frères vintages from the vineyards of Hermitage, Crozes-Hermitage, Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Côte Rôtie, Condrieu, Côtes-du-Rhône and Côtes-du-Ventoux have won renewed praise for their intensity of flavor and excellent value.Delas Frères’ vineyards are located on the steep granite slopes of the northern Rhône, in some of the region’s most sought after appellations. Additional grapes are supplied through long-term agreements with southern Rhône growers dedicated to providing only top quality grapes. Each wine is vinified separately, plot by plot and grower by grower, to insure the best quality, including prestigious sites like Les Bessards and a tiny parcel of La Landonne in Côte Rôtie. The Domaine des Tourettes bottling is a blend of 3 vineyards (l’Ermite, le Sabot and the famous Les Bessards) whereas the Seigneur de Maugiron is a blend of two famous vineyards in Cote Rotie, Cote Blonde and Cote Brune; both wines perfectly blended to create deep reds of style and substance. With exceptional and well cared for vineyards, and the best of traditional winemaking at their estate, it is easy to understand why Delas Freres makes it to the top of many wine writer’s rankings year after year.

 One wine 48 hour super sale ends midnight Sunday
 Available here now

Delas Freres Cote Rotie Seigneur de Maugiron 2010 750ML ($89.95) $59 special (was $69) 3+ cases available
Wine Spectator 94 points “Packed with lots of dark ganache, tapenade, tobacco, blackberry compote and freshly sliced plum fruit flavors, this really courses along with noticeable energy, while bramble, singed bay leaf and charcoal stud the finish dramatically. Best from 2015 through 2027.”

Delas Freres Cote-Rotie La Landonne 2010 750ML ($269.95) $219 special, 4 bottles available
Robert Parker 98+ points “Flirting with perfection, the 2010 Cote Rotie La Landonne offers up scents of black truffles, incense, smoked game, creosote, spring flowers and black fruits. Full-bodied with mouth-staining tannin as well as mouth-saturating extract and richness, this powerful, strikingly intense 2010 is young and unevolved, but it is filled with potential. Interestingly, Jacques Grange told me this cuvee was made from 100% destemmed fruit. Forget this wine for 4-5 years, and drink it over the following three decades.”Delas Freres Hermitage Domaine des Tourettes-Marquise de la Tourette 2009 750ML (149$.95) $99 special 20 bottles available
Delas Freres Hermitage Domaine des Tourettes-Marquise de la Tourette 2009 1.5L ($279.95) $219 special 8 magnums available
Robert Parker 98 points “The magnificent 2009 Hermitage Domaine des Tourettes boasts a black/purple color as well as a wonderful nose of creosote, incense, charcoal, blackberry jam, acacia flowers, white chocolate and a hint of espresso roast. Full-bodied and unctuously textured with low acidity and magnificent density, this 2009 can be drunk in 5-6 years or cellared for 30-50 years.”

Delas Freres Hermitage Domaine des Tourettes-Marquise de la Tourette 2010 750ML ($119.95) $79 special 3+ cases available
Robert Parker 96 points “One of the finest Hermitage Domaine des Tourettes I have ever tasted is the 2010, which comes close to rivaling their prodigious 2009. A wine of great intensity, it possesses an inky/purple color, plenty of creme de cassis, licorice, lead pencil shavings, camphor, flint and barbecue smoke characteristics, and a thickness and viscosity that eclipse that of the 2009. Full-bodied and powerful with sweet tannins, a striking floral/mineral component in the mid-palate, and a huge, massive finish, this brilliant Hermitage should be consumed between 2018-2035.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Araujo Estate
Now Chateau Latour’s Sibling in Napa!

The estate’s mission is “To develop and operate a world-class winegrowing estate. To produce organically grown fruit and with this fruit make a singular wine of the highest caliber and distinction. The style of the wine should be at once classic and contemporary… it should express the uniqueness of the precious resource that is Eisele Vineyard.” –Araujo Winery

1971 was the first release of a single-vineyard bottling from the Eisele Vineyard, located in the north east of Napa Valley just east of Calistoga.  Milton and Barbara Eisele purchased the 137 acres in 1969 and renamed it to Eisele Vineyard.  The land was originally planted by Jackson G. Randall and Charles Nathan Pickett in the 1880s to Zinfandel and Riesling.  The Eiseles replanted it to Cabernet Sauvignon and spent the over twenty year tenure converting it into one of the most respected Cabernet vineyards in Napa.  The Eiseles offered their grapes to Paul Draper, the winemaker of Ridge Vineyards.  He crafted the 1971 release, which is one of the first single-vineyard bottlings produced in California.In 1990, Daphne and Bart Araujo (pictured right) purchased the property.  They upgraded the vineyard by converting it to certified organic and biodynamic and planting small sections of Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Merlot.  They use cover crops to control erosion and encourage beneficial insects and keep chickens which eat harmful pests.  They discovered some Syrah vines among the 1978 Cabernet Sauvignon plantings, isolated the vines and began bottling the wine separately.  The couple also built the winery and temperature-controlled caves on the property and expanded the vineyard to 162 acres.  The vineyard is in a fan of cobbly, well-draining alluvial soil distributed over the centuries from the mountain streams.  The land is shielded by the Palisades to the north and cooled by westerly breezes from the Chalk Hill Gap.

The winery is gravity-fed.  The grapes are fermented in stainless steel and concrete, and the wine is aged in French oak.  The Cabernet Sauvignon sees small additions of Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Merlot.  The wine is noted for its complexity, concentration, elegance and ageability.    The Altagracia blend is named for Bart’s paternal grandmother.  It is a Bordeaux-style blend made from estate fruit and other Napa Valley vineyards with which they have long-term grape contracts and who farm to their specifications.

In 2013 in an exciting development, the vineyard was purchased by Groupe Artemis, the parent company of the
esteemed Bordeaux estate, Chateau Latour.  Their initial offer came as a surprise to the Araujo family.  Frederic Engerer, the CEO of Chateau Latour, contacted the family with the initial offer, stating that the Araujo Cabernet Sauvignon was his favorite from Napa Valley.  During their discussions, the Araujo family was impressed by how in tune Engerer’s attitudes were with theirs towards winemaking and respect for the land.  The Araujos noted when speaking to the Napa Valley Register that “The rich heritage of Château Latour and its other wine properties, combined with the (Pinault) family’s passion for the wine business, absolute commitment to excellence, and extraordinary track record of success, assures that the stewardship of Araujo Estate and the Eisele Vineyard will continue with the best of care and intentions… they were the perfect buyers of this amazing vineyard we have called home for 23 years.”

Araujo Estate Eisele Vineyard Syrah, Napa Valley 2010 750ML ($249.95) $169 special (was $189), 10 bottles available
Robert Parker 96 points “Another standout, the 2010 Syrah Eisele Vineyard is drop-dead gorgeous. A bevy of black olives and plums burst from the glass in an explosive wine loaded with varietal nuance and sheer power. The cooler vintage brought out the best. This is a marvelous, totally compelling wine endowed with massive concentration and depth. The addition of 3% Viognier and a small amount of stems add complexity. Black fruit, tobacco, savory herbs, licorice and menthol are layered into the brooding finish.” RP

Araujo Estate Altagracia Red, Napa Valley 2011 750ML ($149.95) $119 special, 17 bottles available
Wine Advocate 92 points “The 2011 Altagracia is round, sexy, supple and beautiful, especially within the context of the year. Sweet red berries, mint, tobacco, savory herbs and anise meld together in a distinctive wine long on personality. With time in the glass the wine fleshes out nicely, as the flavors become darker, richer and layered. Altagracia is a blend of mostly Eisele fruit, plus a bit of Vine Hill Ranch, a well-draining site in Oakville that is among Napa Valley’s very best. The blend is 82% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Petit Verdot, 3% Cabernet Franc and 2% Malbec.” WAAraujo Estate Eisele Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2010 750ML ($449.95) $369 special, 15 bottles available
Robert Parker 98 points “Araujo’s 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon Eisele Vineyard is a picture perfect example of the year. Vibrant, precise and beautifully chiseled, the 2010 boasts serious depth and concentration. The aromas and flavors are incredibly vivid in this textured, dazzling Cabernet Sauvignon. Hints of dark blue and black fruit, mocha, espresso and grilled herbs flesh out on the huge finish. Today the 2010 is unusually open, but it is almost certain to shut down in bottle over the next 6-12 months. The 2010 is a super-classic Eisele Cabernet Sauvignon from Araujo. Anticipated maturity: 2018-2035” RP

Araujo Estate Eisele Vineyard Syrah, Napa Valley 2004 750ML ($179.95) $149 special, 3 bottles available
Wine Advocate 92 points “Syrah has done well in this climate, and the 2004 Syrah Eisele Vineyard is a more elegant, lighter-styled wine than I thought from tasting it last year. It is still well-delineated with a dark ruby/purple color, floral and blackberry notes, a subtle peppery touch and a hint of meat. The wine is pretty and does include a small percentage of Viognier in the blend (usually around 3-4%). Unfortunately, the production of this wine is only around 300-400 cases.” RP

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Alzinger Gruner Veltliners and Rieslings
Here Now and Arriving Soon

“These are powerfully expressive yet mostly gentle wines, the kind that you might believe can release oxytocin into your body, they deliver such affirming calm.”“LOIBENBERG is as mighty in the glass as it looks on the huge terraced hillside… The wines, whether Riesling or GrüVe, are tropical and exotic, yet they manage an uncanny lightfootedness and refinement. STEINERTAL is the coolest among the Loiben Crus, both actually and metaphorically… Steinertal makes mark-ed wine, “green” flavors, as estoteric as Loibenberg but in another register of nuances; green teas, herbs, limes, heirloom apples, often a naked minerality.”
-Terry Theise

Through a combination of hard work and lots of know-how, the Alzinger wine estate, located in Unterloiben, has secured a top place among wine growers in the Wachau region. The superstar status is well deserved, yet this remains a small family business, run by the two Leo Alzingers, father and son, each embodying individuality and an unceasing quest for quality. Leo junior was educated at the HBLA Klosterneuburg with vineyard training in Austria, Germany, and New Zealand. Officially taking over the winery completely from his father in the year 2000, Leo has integrated his own ideas while staying true to his fathers’ philosophy, “All or nothing!”The estate totals about 8 hectares, and production is very small at just 5000 cases per year. Leo owns parcels in two of the great vineyards in this part of the river valley: Loibenberg and Steinertal. Loibenberg is a towering, terraced hillside, while Steinertal is hidden and maintains a cooler micro-climate. On the terraced vineyards of both sites, riesling is cultivated on the higher, more rocky parcels while grüner veltliner is cultivated on the lower, silty, loess based parcels. Until recently, Alzinger wines had a reputation for remaining closed for quite some time after bottling, and requiring time to open up. While a properly matured Alzinger is a joy to come by, the winery has made a number of innovations that have made recent vintages more approachable in their youth. If you are a fan of ethereal and well balanced Riesling and Gruner Veltliners, the wines from Alzinger should be on your list to try next.

Weingut Leo Alzinger Loibner Steinertal Gruner Veltliner Smaragd 2012 750ML ($69.95) $55 special, 15 bottles available
Joel Payne 91 points “Intense ripe aromas of pineapple, cantaloupe and white pepper. Quite concentrated, warmly rich and powerful, yet cool, austere and focused. Mineral spices and a nearly salty impression linger on the long finish.”

Weingut Leo Alzinger Loibner Steinertal Gruner Veltliner Smaragd 2011 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 11 bottles available
Falstaff Report 95 points “(translated) Bright Green Yellow. Fine yellow peach fruit, delicate orange flavor, mineral touch, multi-faceted bouquet, succulent, very elegant texture, fine stone fruit touch, balanced, underlaid with a finesse acid structure remains very good stick, mineral finish, very good from an inspiring transparency, aging potential.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA!
The next best listed price is $74.99 / bottleAlzinger Wines Arriving Here Mid-February

Weingut Leo Alzinger Durnsteiner Riesling Federspiel 2013 750ML ($39.95) $29 pre-arrival special 33 bottles available
Terry Theise notes: “A soft-voiced murmur draws you into its cool green poetry; every sweet green leaf, like mid-winter spinach when it’s frost-bitten and the leaves are incredibly sweet; grows more expressive and determined as it sits in the glass; an exegesis of chlorophyll. If you’re evaluating or “scoring” this wine, humor me a second. Pour it, taste it and score it, and leave the rest in the glass. Ten minutes later taste it and score it again. If you’re a 100-pointer I guarantee you’ll have five points more with that second sip.”

Weingut Leo Alzinger Hollerin Riesling Smaragd 2013 750ML ($59.95) $47 pre-arrival special 4 bottles available
Terry Theise notes: “Elderflower, malt, peach, talc; an insanely and wrenchingly beautiful palate with everything, green leaves and herbs, balsam, stone-fruits and that mineral meringue; perfectly poised and blissfully synchronized in a wordless gliding dance, euphoric and quivering. Best vintage ever of this wine, an articulate divinity both glowing and thoughtful.”

Weingut Leo Alzinger Liebenberg Riesling Smaragd 2013 750ML ($59.95) $47 pre-arrival special 36 bottles available
Terry Theise notes: “This is the best vintage ever bottled of this wine. Above the radish spring-onion aromas there’s a foam of buttermilk and quince; look, this is a dry Riesling Ideal, not to mention a paradigm of pure fascination; white tea, chalk, water chestnut, soursop, in a digital mille-feuille of mineral.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA!~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

More 48 Hour Super Sales
 Ends Sunday, February 8^th, at Midnight 

Louis Jadot Nuits Saint Georges 2011 750ML ($52.95) $33 special (Was $41.90) 24 bottles available
Burghound 87-89 points “An earthy and quite somber nose of dark berries, underbrush and cassis aromas slides into attractively round and supple flavors that possess good volume before culminating in a delicious if mildly rustic finish. The tannins are ripe and well-integrated and this is a classic Nuits villages in character and style.”

Domaine Faiveley Echezeaux Cote de Nuits Grand Cru 2010 750ML ($199.95) $125 special (Was $133) 24 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 92-95 points

“Good full red.  Pungent aromas of raspberry, crushed stone and white pepper.  Enters with intense raspberry and spices, then turns firm and floral in the middle, showing superb energy and sappiness to the primary red fruit and mineral flavors.  With its saline impression of extract and strong tannic spine, this should evolve in bottle for couple of decades.”

Domaine Leroy Clos De La Roche Grand Cru 2007 750ML ($1799.95) $1399 special (Was $1499) 3 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.”