Cheval Blanc Goes South; New Arrivals from Around the World; Staff Pick from Suertes del Marques; Thanksgiving Day Sales; New Washington State Reviews; The Undersung Whites of Domaine Dujac; 94 Point Barbaresco, Under $30: Adriano Strikes Again
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Cheval Blanc Goes South
The Marvelous Cheval des Andes
At the Best Price in the Country
Cheval Blanc is a hallowed name in the world of wine—one of those bucket list estates that wine dreams are made of. Their Argentine project, Cheval des Andes, has the same ambition, but working with a very different (higher altitude) terroir. The wine is made by Nicolas Audebert, a former winemaker at Krug and Veuve Cliquot, and seems to exude both the exoticism of the best wines made from Argentina with more than a touch of Bordelaise class and structure. It’s a blend of Malbec (a grape with a Right Bank pedigree) and Cabernet, built to age but with the rich fruit we expect of a classic wine from the Southern Hemisphere.
What’s more, we’ve got two vintages coming in at outrageously low prices—plus an extra discount for newsletter subscribers. These wines arrive on Tuesday and the only complaint we have is that we can’t get any more!
Arriving Tuesday, October 31st:
Terrazas de Los Andes ‘Cheval des Andes’, Mendoza 2009 750ML ($89.95) $59 pre-arrival special
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 94 points “(60% malbec and 40% cabernet sauvignon; this wine is a joint venture between Cheval Blanc and Terrazas de los Andes): Bright, saturated medium ruby. Black fruits, tobacco, licorice, wild herbs and an intriguing balsamic note on the nose; as much Bordeaux Right Bank as Argentina in style. Plush, concentrated and sweet; full without any heaviness. Utterly seamless flavors of dark berries, herbs, flowers and earth, plus hints of dried fruits. Really urgent, dense fruit here, with terrific definition and energy. Finishes with noble tannins and outstanding rising length. A fully ripe, outstanding vintage for this consistently excellent bottling.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $69.96
The average price is $84
Terrazas de Los Andes ‘Cheval des Andes’, Mendoza 2012 750ML ($89.95) $59 pre-arrival special
James Suckling 97 points “Fabulous aromas of blackberry, spice and flower. Perfumed. Lavender, rose and lilac too. A wine that grows on the palate with extreme finesse and complexity that shows ultra-fine tannins, currants, and flowers. Super length. Mostly mablec with cabernet sauvignon and petit verdot. Best Cheval des Andes ever? Drink or hold.”
Wine Advocate 94 points “2012 was a warmer vintage but they harvested earlier to preserve freshness. The 2012 Cheval des Andes has more floral notes (that they attribute to the early picking) violets and lilies. While the blackberries and blackcurrants are there, they do not overpower the nose. In this vintage the final blend (which changes every year, they have no rules) was 64% Malbec, 28% Cabernet Sauvignon (a higher percentage to provide freshness in this warmer vintage) and then 8% Petit Verdot. This is a hedonistic Cheval showing the character of the vintage but with better balance and more integrated oak than in the earlier releases. They reduced the percentage of new oak to 30% and also started experimenting with some 500-liter barrels that were widely used in 2014, and the aging was longer at 14 months. The palate is powerful, and to drink at around 15 C. It gets more depth and nuanced with time in the glass. Even if young, this is polished and can be drunk starting now.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $88
Subscriber Special:
Buy 3-5 bottles of any Cheval des Andes wine,
your price is $55/bottle (save $4/bottle)!
Buy 6+ bottles of any Cheval des Andes wine,
your price is $50/bottle (save $9/bottle)!
Subscriber-only special will not appear online
We will adjust your invoice before charging
Special Ends Monday at Midnight!
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New Weekend – New Arrivals
Oregon
Matello Pinot Gris, Willamette Valley 2015 750ML ($17.95) $14 special
Case-12 Matello Pinot Gris, Willamette Valley 2015 750ML ($179.95) $138 special (that’s only $11.50/bottle!)
Winery note “Never more than a few hundred cases, this micro-production showcases the beautiful mineral nature of the shallow sedimentary soils of the Whistling Ridge and Bishop creek vineyards. Bright, fresh, pear, lime blossom, hints of hazelnut, and a saline note.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Goodfellow Family Cellars Bishop Creek Vineyard Pinot Noir, Oregon 2014 750ML ($41.95) Was $37, Now $29 special
Case-6 Goodfellow Family Cellars Bishop Creek Vineyard Pinot Noir, Oregon 2014 750ML ($219.95) $166 special (that’s only $27.67/bottle!)
Case-12 Goodfellow Family Cellars Bishop Creek Vineyard Pinot Noir, Oregon 2014 750ML ($419.95) $299 special (that’s only $24.92/bottle!)
Winery note “Twenty five year old un-grafted Wadensville vines, dry farmed in the Yamhill-Carlton AVA are handpicked for this wine. From 3 acres, each clone is fermented separately with native yeasts in small lots, typically with 50-60% whole-clusters. The wine is aged in 0%-40% new French oak barrels for 18-21 months and bottled unfined and unfiltered. There is intensity at Bishop Creek, with deep, dark toned fruit, a spicy floral edge and savory tones with acidity and length.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Goodfellow Family Cellars Heritage No. 6 Pinot Noir, Yamhill-Carlton 2015 750ML ($69.95) $59 special
Winery note “Beginning in 2012, Goodfellow Family Cellars began bottling our Heritage selections. Each bottling in this series originates from a single site, and typically a single block within the vineyard. The wines represent our most perfect marriage of new world site and old world soul. They are wines that will stand the test of time and improve within their years of rest. Our Heritage selections are our ambassadors forthe quality of the terroirs in Oregon’s Willamette Valley. The vineyard selection for Heritage Number 6 isthe Fir Crest Vineyard, and presents flavors of black tea, raspberry and cinnamon.”
Brick House Vineyards ‘Les Dijonnais’ Pinot Noir, Ribbon Ridge 2015 750ML ($59.95) $49 special
Wine Advocate 94+ points “Pale ruby-purple in color, the 2015 Pinot Noir les Dijonnais offers up a beautiful perfume of potpourri, rose petals, kirsch, raspberry preserves and mulberries with nuances of underbrush, sautéed herbs, anise and cloves. Light to medium-bodied, this wine gives a wonderful intensity of perfumed red berry and earth flavors, framed by firm, grainy tannins and lively acid, finishing with great persistence and depth.”
VinopolNote “It’s mighty mighty.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Goodfellow Family Cellars Noble Selection Pinot Blanc, Oregon 2013 750ML ($26.95) $21.90 special
Winery notes: “Crafted in 2013 from the fruit that would usually give us Caprice, this wine’s destiny was sealed when it arrived with kisses of botrytis. We sell it almost only out of our tasting room, but it is available upon request for those that love Alsatian style dessert wine.”
Washington
Betz Family Winery La Cote Rousse Syrah, Red Mountain 2015 750ML ($79.95) $69 special
Wine Advocate 96 points “The 2015 Syrah la Cote Rousse is a blockbuster Syrah from Red Mountain that’s from the Ranch at the End of The Road and Ciel du Cheval vineyards. It’s a mix of four different clones and is brought up in barrel. This deep, inky, seriously black Syrah gives up Hermitage-like notes of scorched earth, charred meats, graphite and licorice. It’s a big, concentrated effort that’s going to benefit from short-term cellaring and keep through 2035.”
Betz Family Winery La Serenne Syrah, Yakima Valley 2015 750ML ($69.95) $59 special
Wine Advocate 94 points “All from Dick Boushey’s vineyard in Yakima Valley, the 2015 Syrah La Serenne was also all destemmed and brought up in barrel. It’s a more elegant, complex and nuanced Syrah compared to the Cote Rousse and offers classic notes of blackberries, peppery herbs, lavender and spring flowers. Full-bodied, fresh and lively, drink it anytime over the coming 10-15 years.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Corliss Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley 2012 750ML ($119.95) $99 special
Wine Advocate 97 points “A wine that I would put up there with the crème de la crème of Washington State Cabernet is the 2012 Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon from Corliss, which is insanely good and does everything right. It is made from 97% Cabernet and 3% Petit Verdot that spent 28 months in 70% new French oak. It’s saturated ruby/purple color is followed by fabulous notes of crème de cassis, toasted spice, chocolate and tobacco leaves. These give way to a full-bodied, seamless and layered 2012 that has fabulous purity and freshness, a big, rich mid-palate and sweet tannin that emerge on the finish, all suggesting it will have a long life. Forget bottles for 4-5 years and drink over the following two decades. Bravo!”
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 95+ points “(includes 3% Petit Verdot; aged in 70% new oak for 28 months): Dark ruby-red. The nose offers stunningly primary, pure aromas of blueberry, cassis, licorice, botanical herbs and high-pitched spices. Extremely densely packed and savory; drier and more brooding in the mouth than the nose suggests, and less sweet in the early going than the red blend in spite of its almost glyceral texture. Very deep flavors of dark berries, Baker’s chocolate and clove are supported by building, ripe tannins that coat the teeth. Finishes with impressive slow-building persistence. This will need time.”
Corliss Red, Columbia Valley 2012 750ML ($89.95) $79 special
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 95+ points “(a blend of all five Bordeaux varieties; aged in 65% new for 28 months): Bright ruby-red. The nose offers a panoply or aromas without any sign of excess ripeness: huckleberry, alpine raspberry, plum and coriander, with sexy oak tones and a hint of medicinal lift. Wonderfully elegant, silky and tactile, with compellingly sweet currant and black cherry fruit perfectly balanced by harmonious acidity. A complete wine with great texture and energy. Still a bit tight on the back, but already spreads out to saturate the palate. The noble tannins should carry this wine for a long time.”
Wine Advocate 95 points “The 2012 Columbia Valley Red Wine is another rock star Bordeaux blend that’s made from 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Cabernet Franc, 13% Merlot, and the balance Petit Verdot and Malbec. It was aged 28 months in 65% new French oak. Notes of cassis, tobacco leaf, lead pencil shavings and black currants all emerge from this rich, full-bodied and concentrated effort that has a big, layered texture, no hard edges and impeccable balance. It’s slightly more approachable than the straight Cabernet, yet should nevertheless evolve for just as long.”
California
Mount Peak Winery Gravity Red Blend, Napa County 2014 750ML ($51.95) $45 special
Robert Parker 95 points “Even better is the incredible 2014 Proprietary Red Blend Gravity, which is an intriguing blend of 33% Petite Sirah, 29% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Zinfandel and the rest Syrah, Grenache and Barbera aged in 28% new French oak. Virtually all of it comes from the Monte Rosso Vineyard with tiny quantities from Frei Ranch and Snows Lake vineyards owned by Gallo. Another exuberant whopper at 15.9% alcohol, the wine is an opaque purple color, with notes of pen ink, creosote, black truffle, blackberry, blueberry, and a hint of white chocolate in a full-bodied, massive, layered, rich and concentrated style. Interesting enough, the alcohol at 15.9% is balanced by the wine’s rather zesty acidity and modest pH of 3.46. This is a killer wine at a great price for something this profound.”
Spottswoode Family Estate Grown Cabernet Sauvignon, St. Helena 2014 750ML ($219.95) $179 special
Robert Parker 96+ points “This first-growth estate in St. Helena has produced a 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon that is a blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Cabernet Franc and 5% Petit Verdot. It is certainly one of the wines of the vintage. Gorgeously opaque purple, it offers up notes of spring flowers, blueberries, blackcurrants, some baking spice and graphite. It is full-bodied, concentrated and rich, with layers of fruit. The wine builds and builds on the palate, with a great finish of 45+ seconds. This is a sensational 2014 to drink over the next 20+ years.”
Antonio Galloni 96 points “Spottswoode 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon is striking. Black cherry, plum, graphite, spice and menthol are some of the signatures. Intensely mineral and savory, the 2014 comes across as a slightly restrained version of the 2013. The flavor and tannin profiles are both quite similar, but the 2014 is a bit smaller-scaled in all of its dimensions. That is not a bad thing, as the 2014 will be ready to drink sooner. This is an impressive showing.”
James Suckling 96 points “Amazing burnt-orange and currant aromas with tar and lead pencil. Blackberries, too. Changes all the time. Mesmerizing. Full-bodied and powerful with super-polished tannins and a long and intense finish. The polished and fine tannins coat your mouth. Glorious. Needs three to four years to soften.”
France – Champagne
See our Thanksgiving Sale section for deals on the fantastic bubbly of Andre Clouet!
Italy – Piedmont
Paolo Scavino Barolo DOCG, Piedmont 2013 750ML ($49.95) $39 special
Wine Advocate 93 points “The Paolo Scavino 2013 Barolo sports the depth and elegance that famously characterizes the house style. Fruit is sourced from various points across the appellation and the specific blend changes according to the needs of the vintage. Among the various Barolo wines made by this estate, this wine is the most accessible and approachable for sure. The bouquet offers compelling aromas of black fruit and dried blackberry and there’s plenty of spice, licorice and tar at the back. The wine shows its complexity as well as its varietal purity. You’ll notice the handwritten signature of patron Enrico Scavino on the front label.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Paolo Scavino Monvigliero, Barolo DOCG 2013 750ML ($79.95) $69 special
Wine Advocate 95 points “The 2013 Barolo Monvigliero really jumps out, thanks to its larger-than-life flavor profile and its impressive intensity. The wine shows ripe fruit aromas of dark cherry and plum, but it balances those aromas very nicely against spice, dark tobacco and crushed mineral. The effect is elegant and polished, and the tannins add ample support at the back. This wine promises a slow evolution over time. Paolo Scavino raises the banner high for the Monvigliero cru.”
Antonio Galloni 93+ points “One of the highlights in this range, the 2013 Barolo Monvigliero is creamy, sweet and also unusually supple for a young Barolo. Hints of rose petal, dried herb, cedar and sweet pipe tobacco gradually open up in a wine that is more giving on the palate than it is in its aromatics. The 2013 needs time for the classic Monvigliero perfume to emerge fully. There is more than enough precision, energy and tension to make me think that will come in time.”
Australia
Penfolds Bin 389 Cabernet – Shiraz, South Australia 2014 750ML ($49.95) $39 special
James Suckling 96 points “This has some real poise and depth in the glass; it’s inky dark and deeply colored. The fruits are in the boysenberry, blackberry, plum and blueberry spectrum, and there’s plenty of black tea as well as hints of bergamot. It’s wine with a wealth of oak-derived spices and a coal, smoky, savory edge. The palate’s plush and ripe, opening out over fleshy dark-fruit flavors in a soft and charming mode. It then charges up with plenty of rich, ripe tannin and remains long and saturated through the finish. Balanced and rich, it’s really satisfying, holding succulent and on point. Best from 2020 and for more than a decade after that. This is a great 389. A 53%/47% split in 2014: sourced from Barossa Valley, Wrattonbully, McLaren Vale and Coonawarra.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
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Staff Pick:
Suertes del Marques La Solana 2014
Andy:
Harvest time is a lot of fun around here as many friends get together to try and stump one another in blinds. My ringer this year, both in rarity and deliciousness, was the 2014 Suertes del Marques La Solana. Made from 100% Listan Negro from the Canary Islands, this wine shows freshness and fruitiness that belies the age of the vines, never mind the moonscape upon which it is grown. Good ripe red fruit, volcanic, cunchy minerality, and acidity that cuts to the quick. This wine is almost like the lost love child between Pinot Noir and Grenache. It is an absolute joy to drink.
Suertes del Marques La Solana, Valle de la Orotava 2014 750ML ($29.95) $24 special, 36 bottles available
Wine Advocate 92 points “The 2014 La Solana is pure Listán Negro from a single plot of very old vines at 350 to 450 meters altitude on clay and iron soils. The grapes were destemmed, but not crushed, trying to preserve the fruit character, and was fermented in cement vats without epoxy with indigenous yeasts. The wine matured for 14 months in neutral 500-liter French oak barrels. The wine had been bottled one week before I tasted it and I found it really closed for business. La Solana tries to express the fruit, as the plot gives fruit-driven wines from slightly deeper soils lower in the slope and with a high content of iron. None of the wines show any oak and the house style is fresh with good acidity, and this showcases it perfectly. The palate is fresh, showing some herbal notes that provide a different touch. It ends dry, a little austere. 9,000 bottles were filled in March 2016.”
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Thanksgiving Day Sales
Although we’re just hitting November, we’re already thinking about what we’re pouring (and shipping) for Thanksgiving Day drinking. The highlight, for us, is the massive deal that we’re getting on the Goodfellow Bishop Creek (and also on the Matello Pinot Gris). We love to pour Oregon Pinot Noir to go with our meal and this wine is a perfect embodiment of what we love about the grape and the region (especially at this sort of pricing). We’ve also got some excellent deals on rosé of the cooler weather sort. These wines bridge the gap between red and white nicely, with richness and power to match turkey and gravy, but a brightness that will ensure you make it through to pie.
We’ve also added the just-arrived Champagne from Andre Clouet to our Thanksgiving feature sales. Andre Clouet is a Champagne house known for many things, chief among them being some of the best values in the appellation. The wines they’re making are fantastic, from their base non-vintage blend all the way through the prestige “1911” cuvee which is perpetually one of the best under $100 Champagnes out there.
We’re especially excited about the large formats that just arrived—nothing pairs better with Thanksgiving than bubbles and having a giant bottle on hand ensures that everyone will be wowed (and have enough). It’s hard to find quality Champagne in three and six-liter formats and we’re stoked that these are so affordable, as well.
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New Reviews for Newly Arrived Washington Wines
From Stephen Tanzer – Vinous Media
Betz Family Winery La Cote Rousse Syrah Red Mountain 2015 750ML ($79.95) $69 special
Stephen Tanzer—Vinous 92+ points “Full ruby-red. Deep, smoky aromas of dark raspberry, animal fur, roasted meat, chocolate and violet. More intense than the Serenne, stuffed with black fruit flavors complicated by musky earthy and saline components. A bit reduced and less about fruit than the Serenne but with no lack of sweetness–and a step up in concentration. Finishes with suave, fine-grained tannins and excellent length. Phenolic management was the most important aspect of making this wine, according to Bob Betz, who noted that the Kiona Ranch portion of this Syrah was harvested on August 26 in this very hot year. Held up very well in the recorked bottle, showing a more exotic, slightly port-like quality to its fruit while maintaining serious tannic clout without dryness.”
Betz Family Winery La Serenne Syrah Yakima Valley 2015 750ML ($69.95) $59 special
Stephen Tanzer—Vinous 91+ points “(14% alcohol; all destemmed as the stems were not completely ripe, according to Bob Betz; 40% vinified in a 3,200-liter concrete vessel): Bright ruby-red. Wild, musky scents of blackberry, smoked meat, licorice and garrigue. At once creamy and firm, with lovely harmonious acidity framing the dark berry, flint and game flavors and extending the resounding finish. Very fresh for the year; in fact, this wine held up for days in the recorked bottle.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
New Reviews for Wines Arriving October 31st:
Cadence Winery Bel Canto Cara Mia Vineyard Red 2014 750ML ($67.95) $55 pre-arrival special
Stephen Tanzer—Vinous 93+ points “(a Right Bank blend): Bright dark red. Inviting aromas of dark fruits and chocolate are lifted by a floral high note and complicated by a medicinal iodiney suggestion. Quite suave on entry, then a bit tight in the middle palate, conveying excellent energy and medicinal reserve to its dark berry and violet flavors. The dusty tannins give this wine a tighter mouth feel as well as a slightly tougher finish than the Camerata, so patience will be required.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Cadence Winery Camerata Cara Mia Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Red Mountain 2014 750ML ($67.95) $49 pre-arrival special
Stephen Tanzer—Vinous 94 points “(this wine and the Bel Canto were aged in 50% new oak, while the Tapteil and Ciel du Cheval wines got 40% and the Coda 45%): Full medium-dark red. Showing a more obvious element of sexy oak on the nose than the Tapteil, along with aromas of black raspberry, black olive and menthol. Very suave, silky wine with lovely density leavened by a surprising spine of acidity. This captivating, juicy Cabernet finishes with a slowly building whiplash of subtle fruit sweetness and tannins that are serious but not dry. A beauty in the making but lay it down for at least a few years.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Cadence Winery Ciel du Cheval Vineyard Red Columbia Valley 2014 750ML ($47.95) $39 pre-arrival special
Stephen Tanzer—Vinous 92+ points “Bright, dark red. Sexy scents of plum, black cherry, blueberry and graphite lifted by a floral topnote, with a slightly roasted quality adding complexity. Very intense if slightly medicinal flavors of dark fruits, spices and herbs are distinctly Bordeaux-like in a rather muscular style for Red Mountain. Dense, aromatic and long, finishing with broad, fine-grained tannins and lovely claret-like perfume.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Cadence Winery Tapteil Vineyard Red Columbia Valley 2014 750ML ($47.95) $39 pre-arrival special
Stephen Tanzer—Vinous 93+ points “Bright ruby-red. Sexy aromas of plum, cassis and graphite communicate a decadent hint of sweetness. Plush, fine-grained and sappy, conveying a restrained sweetness to its flavors of dark fruits, espresso and bitter chocolate; an element of dusty stone adds another dimension. This very long, structured wine finishes with broad tannins that saturate the mouth and teeth. As Smith is always an early harvester, the pH here is a moderate 3.68. (Smith also opened a bottle of the 1998 Tapteil wine, which was the first wine he and his wife Gaye McNutt made–along with a blend from Spring Valley vineyard. The wine still had a sound medium red color and its aromas of plum, currant and spices showed good energy and lift along with a hint of decadence. This plush wine boasts fine-grained flavors of plum, earth and graphite and finishes with substantial dusty, ripe tannins.)”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
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The Undersung Whites
Of Domaine Dujac
We don’t have to say too much about Dujac. They’re undisputedly one of the top handful of producers of Burgundy, and their collection of vineyards is impressive by any measure. The wines are incredible—built to last and complex as the day is long. The wines they’re best known for are their impressive collection of Grand Cru reds, but we wanted to highlight their brilliant whites today. They’re very much the cousins of the red wines from the house—nervy and tense, with an electric energy that makes them stunning companions to a meal.
Dujac is known primarily for their holdings in and around Morey-St. Denis, though recent years have seen them add new parcels to their domaine, especially in Puligny, where they’re crafting some exceptional white wines. Also, their white Morey St. Denis, both the village, are rarities that are not to be missed—not many people get to taste them and they make you wonder whether more Chardonnay should be planted north of Corton.
Domaine Dujac Morey-Saint-Denis Blanc, Cote de Nuits 2014 750ML ($119.95) $89 special, 3 bottles in stock now
“The 2014 Morey-Saint-Denis Blanc has a refined bouquet with almond and white peach scents. The palate is well balanced, quite rich in the mouth with a brush of clear honey and almond towards the rounded finish. This is a commendable white Morey.”–Wine Advocate
Burghound 87-89 points “The cool, pure and citrus-inflected nose also reflects petrol and floral nuances. The round and seductively textured flavors possess reasonably good volume and intensity if only moderate depth and persistence. Note that this should drink well early if patience is not your strong suit.”
Domaine Dujac Morey-Saint-Denis Blanc, Cote de Nuits 2015 750ML ($119.95) $99 special, 3 bottles in stock now
Wine Advocate 88-90 points “The 2015 Morey-Saint-Denis Blanc sees around 20% new oak. It has a clean, precise bouquet with hints of yellow plum and citrus fruit. The palate is fresh and vibrant, lively in the mouth with hints of nectarine and mango towards the pretty finish with just the faintest of tropical notes. Almost too good to age in bottle, this is a delight.”
Domaine Dujac Monts Luisants, Morey-Saint-Denis Premier Cru 2015 ($199.95) $149 special, 3 bottles in stock now
Wine Advocate 89-91 points “The 2015 Morey-Saint-Denis 1er Cru Mont Luisants Blanc offers very subtle hints of white chocolate and blanched almonds on the nose that opens with enthusiasm in the glass. The palate is fresh and vibrant with very fine salinity. It is pierced by a keen line of acidity that keeps the mouth tingling long after the wine has departed. I appreciate the tension and race here and it should age with style over several years.”
Domaine Dujac Les Combettes, Puligny-Montrachet Premier Cru 2015 750ML ($249.95) $219 special, 3 bottles in stock now
Wine Advocate 91-93 points “The 2015 Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Combettes has a focused bouquet, subtle and perhaps showing a greater mineral edge than the Folatières. The palate is a little richer than the aforementioned premier cru: veins of apricot and fresh mango, the older vines just imparting more race and tension towards the poised finish. This comes recommended.”
Domaine Dujac Les Folatieres, Puligny-Montrachet Premier Cru 2015 750ML ($219.95) $189 special, 3 bottles in stock now
Wine Advocate 90-92 points “The 2015 Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Folatières, which comes from two parcels of young and smaller plot of older vines, has a well-defined, austere but focused bouquet with gunflint and smoky scents reluctantly emerging. The palate is well balanced with pretty pear drop and light spicy notes, gently building to a poised finish. This is a well-crafted Puligny Folatières with nerve and focus.”
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Adriano: Our Favorite Value Barbaresco Producer
Strikes Again: 94 Points, Under $30
Arriving ETA Late November:
Adriano Marco e Vittorio Basarin, Barbaresco DOCG 2014 750ML ($34.95) $29 pre-arrival special
Case-12 Adriano Marco e Vittorio Basarin, Barbaresco DOCG 2014 750ML ($379.95) $315 pre-arrival special (that’s only $26.25/bottle!)
Wine Spectator 94 points “Elegant, leading off with perfumed aromas of rose, cherry, strawberry and white pepper. The profile is sleek, with a solid base of acidity and tannins. Shows terrific length, evoking fruit and mineral on the aftertaste. Best from 2019 through 2033.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
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Thanks for reading!