Featured New Arrivals:
K Vintners & Iconic NZ Syrah
Top September Clearance Deals
Condrieu in Review: New Spectator Insider Picks
#Trending
Oregon Grand Cru: Beaux Freres
Sequitur Subscriber Sale
The Broadest Selection of Produttori ’13 Crus
Olivier Bernstein’s Rare Burgundy:
Subscriber-Only Special Offer
New Cayuse Offer
The First Growth of Hochheim
September Clearance Sale
Final Week!
Aldo ConternoToday: The Greatest Deal in Piedmont Wines
Arriving Friday, October 5th
Aldo Conterno is a top modern Barolo producer and his split from his family’s winery is a defining moment in the history of the region. Ever since 1969, Aldo Conterno has been one of the names to know and collect. This is a powerful, full-throttle expression of Barolo, with deep luscious fruit and all the power you could hope for from the famed Bussia Cru. 2008 was an outstanding Barolo vintage, described by some as “Burgundian.” We’re excited to stock up on the vintage to offer the best prices to you. Wines will be here Friday!
Aldo Conterno 2008 Barolos Arriving Friday, October 5th
A killer AOC Barolo, good now or cellar for another 15 years!
Aldo Conterno Barolo DOCG, Piedmont 2008 750ML ($119.95) $79 pre-arrival special
Case-12 Aldo Conterno Barolo DOCG, Piedmont 2008 750ML ($1199.95) $819 pre-arrival special (that’s only $68.25/bottle!)
Wine Spectator 94 points “Beautiful raspberry, cherry and black currant flavors are backed by firm, dusty tannins in this harmonious, fresh red. Floral and tobacco notes add dimension as this cruises to a long, lingering finish. Best from 2016 through 2033. 600 cases imported.”
Antonio Galloni 93 points “The 2008 Barolo is a beautiful wine. Super expressive, knock-out aromatics lead to expressive layers of fruit. The 2008 shows gorgeous richness and depth within the context of the year. Tar, smoke, licorice and crushed rocks wrap around the finish. This is a striking, elegant Barolo from Aldo Conterno.”
The next best price is $96
Aldo Conterno Bussia Cicala, Barolo DOCG 2008 750ML ($179.95) $119 pre-arrival special
Antonio Galloni 95 points “The 2008 Barolo Cicala is beautifully focused and vibrant from start to finish. It boasts fabulous energy and sheer tension in its ripe red berries, spices, crushed flowers and mint. All the elements come together beautifully in the pure, delineated Barolo. Huge, powerful tannins provide the backdrop for layers of cool, mineral-infused fruit. There is a pulsating energy to the Cicala that is absolutely irresistible. This is another fabulous showing.”
Wine Spectator 95 points “There’s fine depth to this red, like a grand cru red Burgundy, with a silky texture framing black cherry, black currant and tar flavors. Solidly built, this features a deceptively charming exterior that conceals firm tannins. The finish evokes violet and black cherry notes. Best from 2016 through 2035. 250 cases imported.”
The next best price is $156
Aldo Conterno Colonnello, Barolo DOCG 2008 750ML ($149.95) $119 pre-arrival specialWine Spectator 96 points “Round and supple, with a fleshy profile enveloping pure cherry, raspberry and spice flavors. Ripe and harmonious, with no shortage of structure. A mineral element emerges on the tight finish. Best from 2016 through 2035. 200 cases imported.”
Antonio Galloni 95 points “The 2008 Barolo Colonnello is super impressive. It shows gorgeous richness and depth in its focused, energetic fruit. Sweet red berries, flowers and spices are woven together beautifully in the 2008 Colonnello. The elegant side of Barolo comes through, but with an extra degree of muscle. The oak, sometimes noticeable in this bottling, is very well integrated. Floral notes are woven throughout the finish. The Colonnello often gives the impression of being early to mature relative to the estate’s other Baroli, but the 2008 is surprisingly powerful and structured.”
The next best price is $134.99
Aldo Conterno Romirasco Bussia, Barolo DOCG 2008 750ML ($249.95) $169 pre-arrival special
Wine Spectator 96 points “Round and supple, with a fleshy profile enveloping pure cherry, raspberry and spice flavors. Ripe and harmonious, with no shortage of structure. A mineral element emerges on the tight finish. Best from 2016 through 2035. 200 cases imported.”
Antonio Galloni 96 points “The 2008 Barolo Romirasco is striking. It possesses a cool, mineral-drenched personality similar to the Cicala, but with an extra dimension of textural finesse. Sweet red berries, flowers, mint and crushed rocks are woven together in this exquisite, gorgeous Barolo. Powerful and authoritative, the Romirasco impresses for its depth and unmistakable pedigree. Today the 2008 is an infant, but great things are in store for those who can wait.”
Stephen Tanzer-Vinous 94+ points “Bright red-ruby. Cassis, blackberry, violet and sweet oak on the nose. Sweet, juicy and imploded, with terrific verve to the urgent flavors of dark berries and bitter chocolate. Elegant, penetrating and strong, with the cut and verve to support a long and graceful evolution in bottle. Finishes with oustanding lift. “For us, the best time to drink wines is between 10 and 15 years after the vintage, whether Barolo, Burgundy or even Champagne,” noted Giacomo Conterno. “At that stage they have all the elements: fruit, acidity, tertiary character, all the characteristics of the soil. After 20 years, nearly all wines are dominated by their tertiary character.””
The next best price is $189
Aldo Conterno Bussia, Barolo DOCG 2010 750ML ($79.95) $66 special, 36+ bottles available
Antonio Galloni 93+ points “The 2010 Barolo Bussia is gorgeous and super-classic in every way. Dark red cherry, plum, spice, new leather and tobacco are some of the many notes that take shape in the glass. The 2010 is a beautiful version of the Bussia, with less of the approachability of some previous vintages, but tons of potential for the future. There is a lot to look forward to here. This is one of the best versions of the Bussia I can remember tasting. The 2010 stands out for its precision and crystalline purity. Readers looking for a great 2010 Barolo that won’t kill the budget should check out the 2010 Bussia.’”
Wine Advocate 95 points “The 2010 Barolo Bussia is a gorgeous expression that hits all the high notes, both in terms of bouquet and mouthfeel. The nose is redolent of pressed cherries, tar, licorice, crushed granite and chopped mint. It offers the special characteristics that are so forth coming with the Nebbiolo grape. The wine caresses the palate with a fine and enduring sense of freshness and structure. The 2010 vintage is a stunner. Drink: 2016-2028.”
The next best price is $86.80
Wine Spectator 98 points “A beautifully crafted Barolo, with ripe cherry, plum, leather, spice, mineral and smoke elements. Starts off supple and approachable, but the gripping tannins soon move in, securing the lengthy, spice-filled finish. An underlying mineral vein adds depth. Best from 2018 through 2036. 200 cases imported.”
The next best price is $159.98
James Suckling 100 points “Incredible aromas of blackberries, blueberries, dark chocolate and hints of cream. Roses, rose petals and leaves. Speechless. Full-bodied, tight and concentrated. The finish is endless. Perfect harmony. Made from a selection of the best grapes from the oldest vines: 70% romirasco, 15% cicala and 15% colonnello. All co-fermented and macerated for one month in wood. Aged in a 25-hectoliter cask for 33 months. Five years in bottle. Only 3,000 bottles. Perfect now and it will improve with age for decades ahead.”
Wine Advocate 96 points “The 2008 Barolo Riserva Granbussia is an unexpected wine and is perhaps the least characteristic of the three Granbussia vintages presented in this mini vertical. The wine opens to a deeply ruby red color and bright aromas that show some very distant touches of jam or marmalade. This is a big surprise given the generally cooler conditions of the vintage. Franco Conterno tells me fruit was harvested very late —at great risk—during the first week of November. The Nebbiolo grape loves a long growing season. The aromas are dense and dark with blackberry, plum and black fruit. Those super charged tones continue with leather, spice and tar.”
Wine Spectator 96 points “This is beginning to open, with fragrant cherry, rose, leather and sweet spice aromas and flavors. Vibrant and intense, with a terrific finish of sweet fruit, spice, tar and mineral notes. Shows fine presence and harmony, yet this should only improve over the next decade. Best from 2018 through 2030. 250 cases made.”
The next best price is $525!!!
Aldo Conterno Romirasco Bussia, Barolo DOCG 2013 750ML ($219.95) $159 special, 6 bottles available
James Suckling 98 points “Beautiful dark fruits of crushed raspberries and blueberries plus hints of champignon mushrooms and black truffles. Lavender undertones. Full and chewy with lots of tannins. Old vines give this a mossy, bark-like undertone. Needs five to six years to come around.”
Wine Advocate 97 points “The stunning 2013 Barolo Bussia Romirasco represents a stylistic blend between the elegance of Monforte d’Alba and the brooding power of Serralunga d’Alba. These are magnesium-rich soils mixed with limestone and clay. Romirasco is also home to some of the estate’s oldest vines at 55-years-old on average. This beautiful wine opens to a dark and rich garnet color that comes from the concentrated fruit produced by these old plants. The bouquet is laced with mineral and iodine-like nuances with rust and iron. It comes across as rich and intense and the mouthfeel is slightly softer, but denser overall. The wine ends with long balsam tones of rosemary and dried ginger.”
Wine Spectator 95 points “This packs some vanilla- and Bourbon-scented oak aromas, with a core of cherry, leather, tar, iron and tobacco flavors. Solidly built, with dusty tannins clinging to the long finish. A powerful example, this should gain finesse with age. Best from 2022 through 2040. 400 cases made.”
The next best price is $187.99
The average price is $200
Featured New Arrivals
K Vintners
Charles Smith K Vintners The Beautiful Syrah, Walla Walla Valley 2015 750ML ($79.95) $59 special, 36+ bottles in stock nowWine Advocate 98 points “Co-fermented with 3% Viognier, the 2015 Syrah The Beautiful is fabulous, bursting from the glass with exotic aromas of violets, blackberries, panforte, black olives and lychee nuts (fanciful though that mélange sounds). On the palate, it’s full-bodied, velvety and lavishly textural, cutting a broad swath across the palate, with a deep core of dark fruit and pungent savory nuance, concluding with a fine-grained, mouthwateringly sapid finish. It’s a compelling Syrah that brooks no argument.”
Jeb Dunnuck 97 points “Co-fermented with 4% Viognier, the 2015 Syrah The Beautiful Powerline Vineyard was fermented with plenty of stems and brought up mostly in neutral oak. Candied violets, game, blackcurrants, and incense notes all emerge from this beautiful, seamless beauty. It has a rich, full-bodied profile on the palate as well as a great mid-palate, fine tannin, and nicely integrated acidity. This is another singular, layered, silky beauty from this team. Keep in mind, this comes from very young vines, so I suspect the best is yet to come here, which is saying something at this quality level.”
Charles Smith K Vintners Powerline Estate Syrah, Walla Walla Valley 2015 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 7 bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 98 points “Made from 100% Syrah, the 2015 Syrah Powerline Vineyard is much more backward, brooding, and mineral-laced, with sensational notes of blackcurrants, cassis, crushed rock, and tapenade. A true powerhouse on the palate, with terrific concentration, building tannin, and a great, great finish, it’s a singular, incredible wine that does everything right. Give bottles 2-3 years and enjoy over the following decade.”
Charles Smith K Vintners Klein Syrah, Walla Walla Valley 2015 750ML ($89.95) $79 special, 6 bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 98 points “Almost always one of my favorite releases at this address, the 2015 Syrah Klein Vineyard is up with the crème de la crème in the vintage. Plums, candied cherries, violets, lavender, chocolate, and tons of dusty, earthy minerality all emerge from this exotic, singular, full-bodied, effort that has building tannin and a vibrant, rich, textured style. With incredible purity, notable structure, and a lifted, perfumed style, it’s flat-out gorgeous.”
Charles Smith K Vintners Charlotte Red Blend, Walla Walla Valley 2015 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 17 bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 95 points “The 2015 Charlotte Rhône Blend Rock Garden Vineyard checks in as a co-fermented blend of 43% Grenache, 24% Mourvèdre, 20% Syrah, and 13% Roussanne vinified in concrete aged in neutral puncheons and demi-muids. Its saturated ruby/plum color is followed by a rocking bouquet of smoked meats, dried herbs, spice-box and blackcurrant fruit. It’s medium to full-bodied, seamless, and silky on the palate, yet has savory tannin that’s going to keep it drinking beautifully for a decade.”
Featured New Arrival #2
An Icon of New Zealand
Trinity Hill Homage
Perhaps the best wines to come out of the tiny nation of New Zealand are Syrahs from the Gimblett Gravels region of Hawkes Bay. Deep, powerful and rich, they nonetheless possess stunning cool-climate aromatics that give them a combination of grace and power that’s truly special.
Trinity Hill is the top winery in Hawkes bay and their top Syrah, called Homage, is a landmark New Zealand wine. It’s incredibly hard to source anywhere in the world, much less the Northern Hemisphere, and it’s hard to find a “traditional” reviewer with a take on the wine, but those that specialize in Australia and New Zealand know it’s something worth obsessing about. And our price is barely above what you’d pay in New Zealand and far below other offers in the USA.
Newly Arrived:
“a wine of exceptional elegance and extraordinary poise”
Trinity Hill Homage Syrah, Gimblett Gravels, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand 2013 750ML ($119.95) $89 special, 25 bottles in stock now
Raymond Chan 100 points “Very dark, near saturated black-hued purple-red colour. The nose is very intense, but elegantly proportioned with a tightly bound and concentrated core of aromatic black berried fruits interwoven with an array of black and violet florals, and entwined with exotic herbs, Asian and Middle Eastern spices, liquorice and nutty elements. This is complex, detailed and absolutely refined with its depth and penetration. Medium-full bodied, the palate has elegance and concentration alongside intensity and depth. The flavours of ripe black berried fruits are seamlessly interwoven with an amazing spread of aromatics, showing waves of black and violet florals, spices, liquorice and complexing minerals. The fruit is supported by extremely refined, flowery tannins, the extraction and structure guiding the velvety flow. This has linearity, energy, drive and finesse, and the wine flows effortlessly to a concentrated, supple, refined and extended finish of black fruits, liquorice, spices and florals. This is a beautifully complex, refined, elegant and concentrated Syrah with black fruits, complexing detail and an amazing array of aromatics. Match with lamb, beef, venison and game meat, and semi-hard cheeses over the next 10-15+ years. 98.7% Syrah, predominantly MS clone from 18 y.o. vines and 1.3% Viognier, the fruit 85% from the Gimblett Gravels and 15% from ‘The Hillside’ vineyard behind the winery on Roys Hill.”
Sam Kim 98 points “This is a wine of exceptional elegance and extraordinary poise… An exquisitely composed and styled, the wine shows scintillating clarity as well as fine layers of delicate complexity… The palate is fine, concentrated and flowing, and shows superb harmony and balance, beautifully framed by abundance of polished tannins. So silky… At its best: 2020 to 2033. ”
Bob Campbell 97 points “Deep, ruby-tinted Syrah with plum, dark berry, vanilla, chocolate, new leather and black pepper flavours supported by a firm backbone of fine, ripe tannins. Big, complex red that has obviously been built for the long haul… A truly long-distance runner. ”
James Suckling 97 points ” A super-polished wine that has a broad array of fruits: raspberry, blackberry and cassis, with white pepper, graphite and a clear whole-bunch lift. The palate has a powerful, focused core of concentrated dark plum and cassis, boldly spicy, then dark chocolate to close. Best from 2019.”
September Clearance SaleTop Deals In Stock Now:
Eisele Vineyard ‘Altagracia’ Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2015 750ML ($149.95) Was $133, Now $121.90 Clearance Price
James Suckling 95 points “This is a dense and juicy red with characters of blackberries, chocolate and pine needles. Sweet tobacco, too. Full body and round, polished tannins. A more dialed-in, terroir character than in past vintages. 88% cabernet sauvignon, 7% cabernet franc and 5% petit verdot. (5/2018)”
Wine Advocate 94 points “Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Altagracia has slightly muted black cherries, crushed black plums and cassis with hints of licorice, black soil and cracked pepper plus a waft of tapenade. Medium to full-bodied, rich and expressive in the mouth, it delivers a lot of layers and wonderfully fine tannins, finishing long and earthy.”
The average price is $144
Santa Ema Reserve Merlot, Maipo Valley, Chile 2013 750ML ($17.95) $11.90 Clearance Price
Case-12 Santa Ema Reserve Merlot, Maipo Valley, Chile 2013 750ML ($179.95) $119 Clearance Price (that’s only $9.92/bottle- the lowest listed price in the USA today!)
Wine Spectator 90 points “This lush and spicy red offers concentrated flavors of dark cherry, plum and dried raspberry that are creamy and rich-tasting. Milk chocolate and loads of Asian spice details fill in on the finish, revealing some savory touches. Drink now through 2019.”
Want to see every wine on our September Clearance Sale?Head to the end of the newsletter for a full list!
Condrieu in ReviewNew Reviews from the Wine Spectator Insider!
Wine Spectator’s inside look at Condrieu the “expressive, hedonistic white from the Northern Rhone”
The best deal in Rhone whites!
Saint Cosme Condrieu, Rhone 2016 750ML ($69.95) $59 special, 36+ bottles available
Wine Spectator 95 points “This delivers a textbook display of peach, apricot, star fruit and anise notes, but in a package that is livelier than other versions from Condrieu, as racy honeysuckle, quinine and verbena hints add layers of energy through the finish. Drink now through 2022.”
The next best price is $70.29
The average price is $76
Delas Freres Condrieu Clos Boucher, Rhone 2016 750ML ($89.95) $69 special, 36+ bottles available
Wine Spectator 93 points “Plump in feel, with rich, tropical flavors of ripe melon and pear, glazed peach and anise. The broad finish offers a whiff of almond cream. Drink now through 2020.”
Yves Cuilleron Condrieu Les Chaillets, Rhone 2016 750ML ($79.95) $69 special, 10 bottles available
Wine Spectator 95 points “Plump and forward in feel, with a piecrust note around a core of creamed pear, peach and apricot flavors. A light honeyed echo on the finish completes the hedonistic feel. Drink now through 2020.”
The average price nationally is $75
Yves Cuilleron Condrieu Ayguets, Rhone 2016 500ML ($99.95) $69 special, 7-500ml bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 95 points “This dessert-style version drips with frankly sweet nectarine, peach, mango and persimmon flavors that form the core, framed by a quince paste note and backed by a singed orange peel accent on the finish. Not shy on headiness. Drink now through 2022.”
#Trending
What the Neighbors are Drinking…
Domaine Lafage Bastide Miraflors, IGP Cotes Catalanes 2015 750ML ($17.95) $16 special
Case-12 Domaine Lafage Bastide Miraflors, IGP Cotes Catalanes 2015 750ML ($199.95) $169 special (that’s only $14.08/bottle!)
Jeb Dunnuck – Wine Advocate 94 points “This wine is almost too good to be true. A blend of 70% Syrah and 30% Grenache that was brought up in concrete tanks (Grenache) and demi-muids (Syrah), the 2015 Bastide Miraflors Vieilles Vignes reminded me of a mini Syrah from California’s Manfred Krankl (yes I just compared a $14 Syrah to Sine Qua Non). It’s a ripe, sexy, heady beauty that exhibits a deep, purple color as well as killer notes of smoked meats, chocolate, blackberry and black raspberries. Deep, unctuous, open knit and layered, it continues to change in the glass, has a seamless and silky profile, and not a hard edge to be found. It’s a sensational value that needs to be tasted to be believed. Drink it anytime over the coming 2-4 years.”A southern Rhone of remarkable grace
Chateau Valcombe Les Hauts de Valcombe Ventoux, Rhone 2015 750ML ($15.95) $14 special
Case-12 Chateau Valcombe Les Hauts de Valcombe Ventoux, Rhone2015 750ML ($179.95) $142 special (that’s only $11.83/bottle and the lowest listed price in the USA today!)
Grapelive 92 points “Sometimes you just need the warm comfort of a nice Grenache based Southern Rhone, with its full flavored and smooth tannin charm washing over your palate and light spicy character holding on the mouth coating finish adding complexity to its sweet fruits and earthy seduction. Yup, that is what was needed and this Valcombe Ventoux Rouge delivered! The “Les Hauts de Valcombe” is a cuvee cepage/blend of 60% Grenache and 40% Syrah from exclusively north-facing vineyards, allowing for less sun to give an extra burst of freshness, even in a ripe year. Even with that much Syrah this wine feels remarkably graceful and Grenache(y) on the palate with a playful and fruity core. Valcombe, near the town of St. Pierre de Vassols, is all organic and this cuvee is all cement vat fermented and raised. It’s an old school traditional wine that displays a wonderful transparency and is terroir driven with the chalky marl soils showing through. With air some of the Syrah savoriness comes through, but the dense fruit always keeps the pleasure levels high. It’s an easy Rhone to love with racy raspberry, plum, boysenberry, sweet cherry and strawberry fruits along with hints of dusty stones, pepper, anise, leather and wild lavender. Chateau Valcombe’s owners Luc and Cendrine Guénard trained under Paul Jeune, former winemaking legend at Chateauneuf-du-Pape’s famed Domaine Monpertuis. [Jeune] transformed this property, with vineyards on the lower slopes of Mont Ventoux, from its humble origins into a serious estate [and the Guénards] have continued in his footsteps, and, in fact, in recent vintages even risen the quality here. This is a winery that almost always over delivers in the price to quality ratio, especially this bottling, which I adore. Drink this dark garnet hued medium/full bodied and textural 2015 “Les Hauts de Valcombe” over the next 3 to 5 years, but there’s no need to wait as it is drinking beautiful and fresh right now. It’s a steal.”Jean Masson is the name to know in Apremont (which is the appellation to know for food- and budget-friendly French whites)
Domaine Jean Masson & Fils Savoie Apremont La Dechiree 2017 750ML ($29.95) Was $24, Now $21.90 September Clearance Sale Special
Importer note “Shows high acidity with a long finish. The interesting minerality intertwines with notes of tarragon, verbena and orange.”
Winery note “[Translated] A very atypical wine, the Dechiree comes from a hill at the highest point in Apremont. The vineyard is surrounded by brambles (mulberry and raspberry), and the vines offer a powerful wine with a cascade of complex and pronounced aromas. This wine has a nice minerality highlighted by a rich texture. It pairs well with fish in a cream sauce, roasted poultry and lobster.”
Tua Rita Giusto di Notri Toscana IGT, Tuscany 2008 750ML ($79.95) $59 special
Wine Enthusiast 95 points “This fabulous blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot delivers loads of plush softness and succulent richness. Aromas of chocolate, ripe fruit and spice are distinct and clear, and the wine shows compelling complexity and intensity overall.”
Antonio Galloni 94 points “The 2008 Giusto di Notri is wonderfully alive in the glass. Dark red berries, flowers, spices, grilled herbs, licorice and leather are some of the notes that flesh out in this dazzling, vibrant Giusto di Notri. Polished tannins provide the backdrop for the silky, expressive finish. A final blast of red fruit adds freshness and brightness on the close. Giusto di Notri is 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc.”
The average price is $63
Weingut Donnhoff Niederhauser Hermannshohle Riesling Spatlese, Nahe 2016 750ML ($59.95) $49 specialStuart Pigott – JamesSuckling.com 96 points “Another 2016 Spätlese from Dönnhoff that’s still a bit shy on the nose, but on the palate it’s like a huge glittering diamond with more facets flashing many colors. An extremely long super-mineral finish that is impeccably clean in spite of the generous grape sweetness in this masterpiece of elegance. Better from 2018 with decades of ageing potential. Made from organic grapes and Fair’n Green certified.”
David Schildknecht-Vinous 94 points “A fascinatingly multifaceted nose incorporates wet stone, leather and almond extract with more familiar white peach, quince and lime. A seductive aura of lily-like perfume hangs over this entire performance. The palate is palpably dense despite alcoholic levity, and subtly creamy while retaining animating primary juiciness. In common with its Brücke sibling, this leans more toward quince as it launches into a finish of honeyed richness – a function of nearly overripe but also nearly botrytis-free berries – yet retaining freshness as well as transparency to crystalline stony mineral nuances. “Under the right conditions,” observed Dönnhoff, “Hermannshöhle delivers something extra in the realm of sweetness, and for that you need cool nights that preserve slightly harder acidity” – which 2016 delivered in spades. Look for significantly more from this bottling after it’s had a decade or so in bottle.”
Wine Advocate 94 points “The 2016 Nahe Riesling Niederhäuser Hermannshöhle Spätlese is bright, fresh and coolish-piquant on the nose, with flinty and slightly reductive aromas. Lush and piquant on the palate, this is a generous, mouth-filling Spätlese with a long, piquant and spicy-mineral finish. The Hermannshöhle is more dense and rich on the palate, the Brücke more light, delicate and finessed.”
Oregon Grand Cru: Beaux FreresBack in Stock
Beaux Freres ‘The Beaux Freres Vineyard’ Pinot Noir, Ribbon Ridge 2016 750ML ($109.95) $99 special, only 6 bottles available!
Wine Spectator 95 points “Remarkably and seamlessly complex, with a polished and refined core wrapped in silky raspberry and blueberry flavors, accented by savory spice and orange zest hints. The long finish builds toward polished tannins. Drink now through 2025. 2,686 cases made.”Beaux Freres Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 2016 750ML ($69.95) $59 special, only 6 bottles available!
Wine Spectator 94 points “Seamlessly complex and silky, with vivid raspberry and blueberry flavors accented by black tea and savory spice notes that dance elegantly toward refined tannins. Drink now through 2024. 2,481 cases made.”Also In Stock Now:Beaux Freres Les Cousins Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2016 750ML ($37.95) $29 special, 15 bottles available
We can not list these on our web store. To order, please reply to this email, call or stop by!
Special Sequitur Subscriber Sale
Weekend-Only Special
Sale Ends Sunday at 11:59 PM!
A Mini-Vertical of Mike Etzel’s New Project!
Etzel (of Beaux Freres) planted, farmed and vinified this site just up the hill from the Beaux Freres estate vineyard. Like the BF wines, it’s big and rich, with lots of Ribbon Ridge character.
Mike Etzel’s Sequitur Pinot Noir, Ribbon Ridge 2014 750ML ($119.95) Weekend Special Price $79, 4 bottles available
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 94 points “Limpid ruby-red. Smoky, mineral-accented aromas of black raspberry, cherry cola and incense carry a strong spicecake overtone. Stains the palate with sappy red berry liqueur, spicecake and floral pastille flavors that are lifted and given definition and tension by juicy acidity. At once rich and nervy, with no excess fat but showing excellent depth and intensity of flavor. Finishes with sexy notes of candied violet and smoky Indian spices and superb, gently tannic persistence. This wine’s Beaux Freres bloodline is very clear to see.”
Mike Etzel’s Sequitur Pinot Noir, Ribbon Ridge 2015 750ML ($119.95) Weekend Special Price $79, 1 bottle available
Josh Raynolds – Vinous 95 points “Deep brilliant red. A strikingly complex bouquet evokes ripe, mineral-accented red berries, cherry cola, vanilla, five-spice powder and sandalwood. Alluringly sweet, seamless and expansive on the palate, offering concentrated black raspberry, cherry liqueur, spicecake and lavender pastille flavors that are given spine and lift by a core of juicy acidity. Delivers a compelling blend of power and delicacy and finishes extremely long and smooth; rounded tannins frame the lingering red fruit preserve notes.”
Mike Etzel’s Sequitur Pinot Noir, Ribbon Ridge 2016 750ML ($119.95) Weekend Special Price $79, 4 bottles available
Wine Advocate 94+ points “Pale to medium ruby-purple in color, the 2016 Sequitur Pinot Noir has a lovely, open nose of black and red cherries and blackberries with notions of wood smoke, turned earth, autumn leaves, cardamom and potpourri. Medium-bodied, it floods the mouth with ripe black and red fruits with wonderful earthy/spicy accents, very fine, grainy tannins and mouthwatering acidity, finishing long with spice and floral layers. 480 cases produced.”
Subscriber-only special pricing ends Sunday at 11:59 pm.
Vinopolis: Your SourceFor the 2013 Produttori Riservas
The Biggest & Broadest Selection in the USA!
“Two thousand thirteen …is shaping up to be an epic vintage of classic proportions and superb pedigree… No one knows every nook and cranny of Barbaresco better than Aldo Vacca, but Vacca has also proven to be incredibly wise in making choices that have positioned the Produttori for much continued success in the future.”–Antonio Galloni
2013 is the greatest vintage in Barbaresco since…2007? 2001? 1996? 1990? Further back? Regardless of where you put 2013 in that esteemed set, it’s time to stock up—this is an all caps GREAT VINTAGE which should be bought as heavily as you can afford. The wines show incredible amounts of promise and beautiful definition. They’re going to be seen as legends in a decade or two.
We just received more stock on the 2013 Produttori Riservas—the benchmark wines of the appellation. More importantly, we have some of each and every cru available for sale and in stock, with the exception of the recently sold out Asili (we have four bottles arriving in November and expect to sell out again before it arrives!). No matter if you’re looking for the lean and elegant Ovello, the soft and delicious Pora or the regal Rabaja (or anything in between), there’s something in stock for you now.
Arriving in OctoberThe Next Leroy
Olivier Bernstein’s Rare and Collectible Burgundy
Subscriber-Only Special Offer:
Buy any 2 or more bottles of Olivier Bernstein
Receive 10% off your Olivier Bernstein!
Rarity and quality drive Burgundy. There’s no other way around it—high quality, scarce wines appreciate and become scarcer and more expensive. A prime example: Olivier Bernstein’s high flying Grand Crus.
Olivier Bernstein founded his micro-negociant in 2007, choosing to buy grapes from only the best vineyards he could find. As a result, the only wines to bear his name are grand and premier crus, from old vines (40+ years, at a minimum). They’ve become incredibly hot items, reference points, really, in the Burgundy world, due both to that magic touch and the tiny, tiny amounts they’re produced and imported in. (Less than 30 six-packs of many of these wines make it to the US.)
These are wines for serious collectors looking for the pinnacle of Burgundy (or for excellent arbitrage opportunities). The 2016’s are stunning wines (the vintage is as good as 2015 and more expressive of terroir) and although we were able to negotiate a large allocation of these wines, quantities for each individual bottling does not exceed 6 bottles. Many shops might not let these hit the open market, but we’d like to think that anyone interested should have a shot. Act quickly, though, it’s first come, first served.
Arriving in October:
“Boasts terrific precision and inner-mouth mineral grip”
Olivier Bernstein Bonnes-Mares Grand Cru, Cote de Nuits 2016 750ML ($869.95) $779 pre-arrival special, only 6 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer-Vinous 93-96 points “(Bernstein works with two strips of vines that extend from the bottom to the top of the cru on the Chambolle side, thus giving him both red and white soil influences): Healthy dark red with ruby suggestions. Reticent, pure aromas of musky raspberry, spices and rocky minerality, lifted by a floral topnote. Boasts terrific precision and inner-mouth mineral grip but this is youthfully imploded today and less accessible than the Clos de la Roche, with a touch of peppery stems contributing to the impression of tension. The very long, building finish stimulates the salivary glands, leaving behind notes of black and white pepper in the empty glass. This wine, too, should be long-lived. Bernstein vinified in 2016 with an average of 50% whole clusters but this one was more like two-thirds.”
Olivier Bernstein Chambertin Grand Cru, Cote de Nuits 2016 750ML ($1299.95) $1199 pre-arrival special, only 3 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer-Vinous 95-98 points “Full dark red; more saturated than the Clos de Bèze. Shows a brooding, dark character on the nose, with aromas of blackberry and licorice complicated by a subtle animal quality. Incredibly concentrated but youthfully imploded, with its sappy dark berry, spice and earth flavors intensified by underlying saline minerality. Despite the impression of pent-up power, there’s nothing hard about this beauty. The extraordinary slow-mounting finish goes on and on with uncanny subtle persistence, leaving the taste buds quivering.”
Importer note “The story has been told that the great reputation of Clos-de-Beze inspired a neighbor to become a vigneron: a certain Mr. Bertin whose name of Germanic origin denotes the son of Bert, the brilliant. He planted vines in his field in place of cereals, using cuttings from his neighbor’s plants and adopted the same work methods. Success was not long in coming and in due course the field was named the champ de Mr. Bertin, hence Chambertin.”
Olivier Bernstein Chambertin Clos-de-Beze Grand Cru, Cote de Nuits 2016 750ML ($1299.95) $1199 pre-arrival special, only 3 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer-Vinous 94-97 points “Dark red-ruby. Knockout nose combines raspberry, cherry, game and saline underbrush, plus a whiff of torrefaction. At once fully ripe and delicate; in a distinctly more feminine style than the Mazis. The plush, rich yet elegant flavors of medicinal dark fruits, spices and exotic flowers are complicated by salty minerality. Less sweet in the early going than the Mazis, finishing precise, classic and extremely long, with serious but fully buffered tannins that melt into the palate.”
Olivier Bernstein Charmes-Chambertin Grand Cru, Cote de Nuits 2016 750ML ($579.95) $519 pre-arrival special, only 6 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer-Vinous 92-95 points “Bright, dark red. Wild yet precise nose combines aromas of musky small red berries, dried flowers and game. Dense, sappy and thick but gentle too, offering outstanding intensity to its fine-grained flavors of purple fruits, flowers and animal fur. There’s a juicy delicacy here in the style of the vintage’s best examples. Spreads out to dust the palate on the very pure, rising finish, leaving behind a distinctly dark impression of blackberry and boysenberry.”
The next best price is $525
Olivier Bernstein Clos de la Roche Grand Cru, Cote de Nuits 2016 750ML ($729.95) $649 pre-arrival special, only 6 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer-Vinous 93-95 points “(the fruit Bernstein buys comes from lower down in this grand cru, where vine yields are always around 30 hectoliters per hectare, and thus he didn’t notice “a clear reduction in production” in 2016): Bright, dark red. Musky raspberry, spicy underbrush and flowers on the expressive, terroir-driven nose. At once thick and sappy, conveying outstanding subtle intensity to its flavors of bitter cherry, spices and minerals. Finishes with very fine-grained tannins. This elegant young Clos de la Roche really dances on the palate. It should evolve positively in bottle for a long time.”“wonderfully rich… expands impressively on the back half”
Olivier Bernstein Mazis-Chambertin Grand Cru, Cote de Nuits 2016 750ML ($869.95) $779 pre-arrival special, only 6 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer-Vinous 94-96 points “Dark red-ruby. Wild but reticent nose offers scents of black raspberry, spices, game, coffee and mint. Then wonderfully rich and surprisingly sweet in the mouth, with a deep core of dark berry, Asian spice and licorice flavors accented by a tangy peppery quality. Expands impressively on the back half, finishing with suave, fine-grained tannins, a captivating blend of sweetness and spiciness, and lingering perfume that goes on and on.”
Olivier Bernstein Clos Vougeot Grand Cru, Vougeot 2016 750ML ($579.95) $519 pre-arrival special, only 6 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer-Vinous 92-95 points “Healthy dark red. Quite tight and youthfully unforthcoming on the nose, hinting at black cherry and licorice. Then juicy and imploded in the mouth, but showing atypical energy for young Clos Vougeot, with its dark fruit flavors sharpened by violet and stony minerality. Finishes firmly tannic, precise and very long, with a subtle coffee nuance. Should make a worthy follow-up to the superb 2015.”
The next best price is $525
Stephen Tanzer-Vinous 91-94 points “Dark red. Highly perfumed nose combines purple fruits, animal fur, spices and musky coffee. Enters the mouth broader and sweeter than the Champeaux, then tightens up in the middle palate, showing terrific mineral spine to its flavors of medicinal red cherry, spicy oak and flowers. This seriously sappy premier cru is tough going today, with its tannins more obvious than those of the Champeaux. The yield here was just 30 hectoliters per hectare, as these vines are in the Combe Lavaux and were thus touched by the frost.”
The next best price is $315
Stephen Tanzer-Vinous 91-93 points “(no frost here): Healthy dark red. Aromas of raspberry, rose petal and musky espresso convey a noble reduction. Then pure, juicy and penetrating on the palate, boasting terrific inner-mouth floral precision and lift. Finishes firmly tannic but not at all dry, with a piquant hint of black pepper.”
Olivier Bernstein Les Champeaux, Gevrey-Chambertin Premier Cru 2016 750ML ($319.95) $299 pre-arrival special, only 6 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer-Vinous 92-94 points “(the crop level here was 35 hectoliters per hectare): Medium red. Complex, alluring scents of raspberry, animal fur and pepper. A step up in finesse of texture from the village Gevrey, but still with terrific nuance and inner-mouth lift to its youthfully tight flavors of raspberry, crushed rock and flowers. The energetic yet edge-free finish is juicy, palate-cleansing and very subtle.”“terrific finesse for village wine”
Olivier Bernstein Gevrey-Chambertin ‘Villages’, Cote de Nuits 2016 750ML ($169.95) $149 pre-arrival special, only 5 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer-Vinous 90-92 points “(aging in 70% new oak, vs. 100% for the rest of these ’16s): Good full red. Alluring aromas of dark raspberry, smoked meat and mocha torrefaction. Then surprisingly subtle and precise on the palate, offering complex flavors of black raspberry, coffee and game lifted by a floral element. Finishes juicy and pure, with a restrained sweetness, resounding length and terrific finesse for village wine.”
Arriving Friday, October 5thNew Offers:
Wine Advocate 95 points “Offering up notes of cracked black pepper, black truffles, smoked duck, plums, blackberry and violet, the 2013 Syrah Armada Vineyard isn’t as powerful or texturally lavish as the 2014, but at this early stage it appears to be longer and more intense. At 13.4%, it’s also slightly lower in alcohol. It’s full-bodied, sapid and layered, displaying excellent cut and energy, and I’d expect it to drink well for the next two decades.”“beautifully elegant and nuanced”
Cayuse Vineyards Armada Vineyard Syrah, Walla Walla Valley 2014 750ML ($179.95) $149 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 97 points “Complex and mouthwateringly savory aromas of grilled meat, black tea, bacon fat and cocoa nib mingle with fruit tones of red plum and cassis in an enticing mélange on the opening of the 2014 Syrah Armada Vineyard. It is a full-bodied, layered and satiny red with an expansive, textural attack that gives way to a deep, intense and masterfully controlled mid-palate and finish. Despite being the product of a warm vintage, the 2014 is beautifully elegant and nuanced.”Also Arriving Friday, October 5th:“I think the best of the Syrahs is the 2013 Syrah Bionic Frog”
Cayuse Vineyards Bionic Frog Syrah, Walla Walla Valley 2013 750ML ($349.95) $319 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 97-99 points “I think the best of the Syrahs is the 2013 Syrah Bionic Frog, and while I’ve liked other single vineyards more than this cuvee in the past, it seems a solid step up in both 2012 and 2013. The 2013 offers incredible notes of roasted herbs, beef blood, mushrooms, scorched earth and sweet black fruits in a full-bodied, gorgeously concentrated, structured, serious style. Short-term cellaring should be the name of the game here, and while it should offer plenty of pleasure around age 5-6, I’d put money on it still singing at age 20.” JD“phenomenal stuff”
Cayuse Vineyards Bionic Frog Syrah, Walla Walla Valley 2014 750ML ($399.95) $349 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 100 points “Always one of the most unique in the lineup, the 2014 Syrah Bionic Frog is phenomenal stuff any way you look at it. Cold fireplace, charred meat, tapenade, shiitake and loads of dark, earthy fruit all emerge from this full-bodied, tight, backward and beautifully concentrated Syrah that readers just need to taste. Incredibly long, elegant, building and heavenly juicy, don’t miss a chance to get some of this! It needs 3-5 years of cellaring and is going to blow you away over the following two decades.”“a tour de force in Syrah I wish I could pour for every reader”
Christophe Baron Hors Categorie Syrah, Walla Walla Valley 2014 750ML ($349.95) $319 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 99 points “The first vintage for this new vineyard (they made a 2013 but kept it all in magnum… if you get a bottle, call me), the inky colored 2014 Syrah is a huge, unctuous effort the exhibits crazy notes of Asian spice, soy, shiitake mushroom, blackcurrants and tar. Tasking like a young Hermitage la Chappelle from Jaboulet (from a great vintage), with lots of tannin, blood, minerality and smoke, a huge mid-palate, and tons of tannin, it’s a tour de force in Syrah I wish I could pour for every reader. Forget bottles for 4-5 years and drink over the following two decades or more.”
Arriving in March 2019The First Growth of Hochheim
2016 was a glorious year for dry German Riesling, and the Grosses Gewächs (the Grand Crus of dry wines) sung with an unrivaled degree of harmony and purity. It was a year Terry Theise described as without “a dark side. At least where I tasted, it is almost never not delicious, almost never ungainly, unbalanced or unappealing… It is calmly and serenely delicious. Actually, totally fucking delicious.”
Kunstler makes fabulous Rheingau Riesling of grace and openness, that “are very pure, clean and precise, without tasting as though they’ve been sanitized and had the character stripped out of them. They are detailed and meticulous, but also delicious and satisfying,” to borrow more from Theise. Kunstler’s best wines reminds us of the days when ‘hock’ wine was prized above Bordeaux.
It comes as no surprise to us that Kunstler has picked up an emphatically enthusiastic review from Stuart Pigott. The Holle GG expresses the purity of the vintage coupled with the body, complexity and length inherent in the finest first growth Rieslings.
Arriving in March 2019:
Weingut Kunstler Hochheimer Holle Riesling Grosses Gewachs Trocken, Rheingau 2016 750ML ($79.95) $59 pre-arrival special
Stuart Pigott – JamesSuckling.com 98 points “All ripe yellow fruit, but without the slightest hint of exaggeration. Great concentration, combined with power and brilliance. Gigantic finish that doesn’t want to stop, but somehow it remains totally refined. From organically grown grapes. Fair’n Green certification. Drink or hold.”
Terry Theise note “This Hochheim “GG” seems always to show best in cooler years, when its savory generosity isn’t overbearing. Like now! A first impression of cask is quickly overwhelmed by a seductive palate, a savory malty wine, maple and candy-cap mushrooms; mineral embedded in the sweetest doughiest swoon of charm and loveliness.”
September Clearance Sale
Entering the Final Week!
Chateau Simone Palette Rose, Provence 2016 750ML ($64.95) Was $51.90, Now $41.90 September Clearance Price, 30 bottles in stock now
Chateau Simone Palette Rose, Provence 2016 1.5L ($139.95) Was $119, Now $99 September Clearance Price, 10 magnums in stock now
Neal Rosenthal note “The Château Simone Rosé is a wine that belies the notion that rosés are simple wines to be drunk up young. We have indulged ourselves with 10-year old Château Simone Rosé and have marveled at the tenacity, vibrancy and complexity of this very serious wine. The blend is identical to the rouge: 45% Grenache, 30% Mourvèdre, 5% Cinsault, 20% Syrah, Castet, Manosquin, Carignan, Muscat Noir & Blanc. Aged in barrel, it is powerful and age-worthy with a steely character and a grey-tinted aura to the faded rose-petal robe.”
The average price is $60Want to see all the wines in the September Clearance Sale?
Just click here for all the wines in our web store or view the full list below:
