In Today’s Newsletter:
Subscriber Only Larkmead Sale
Featured New Arrival: “A Dream Wine”
Trending Wines of the Week
Staff Pick: Mid-Week, Pairs With Anything
Three New Grand Crus from Faiveley
New Vinous Reviews for Agathe Bursin
New Arrivals
Including Dönnhoff, Schaefer, Altesino,
Cuilleron, Von Winning, Arnoux,
Rinaldi, Henri Boillot and More!
Subscriber-Only Larkmead SalePrices So Good, They Can’t be on Our Website
It’s our pleasure to offer you some pricing on Larkmead that’s too good for the website. As you might expect, this top Napa estate is rather sensitive about “brand image” and so doesn’t want massive discounts to its wines made public. That’s fine with us—this is between us and you, our newsletter subscribers, but pay attention because we’re talking massive, massive price reductions. All of the Larkmead wines we carry are at the lowest prices in the country on this sale—some as much as $47/btl cheaper than our closest competitor. We’ll take the discounts off manually before we finalize the order on our end (it won’t show up in your cart), so don’t worry when checking out. The only thing you should worry about is timing: once these wines sell out, they’re gone for good.
Subscriber Only Larkmead Sale
Prices Will Not Display Online
We Will Adjust Pricing Manually Before Finalizing Your Order
Sale Prices Limited to Stock on Hand
Prices Will Not Display Online
We Will Adjust Pricing Manually Before Finalizing Your Order
Sale Prices Limited to Stock on Hand
Larkmead Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2014 750ML ($149.95) Was $119, Now $89 Subscriber-Only Special
Robert Parker 93 points “The 2014 “White Label” red wines include the 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa, which is a beauty. An elegant, Pauillac-style wine with notes of chocolate, cedar wood, fruitcake, unsmoked cigar tobacco and underbrush, it is dense, full-bodied and rich. It is a blend of 93% Cabernet Sauvignon and 7% Petit Verdot aged 19 months in 75% new French oak. There are 2,705 cases of this wine, which finished at 14.7% natural alcohol. It should drink well for 20-25 years, but there’s no reason to defer your gratification.”
Antonio Galloni 92 points “Larkmead’s 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon is a very pretty, understated wine. Bright red stone fruit, floral notes and spice give the 2014 its refreshing, vibrant personality. The fruit is nicely pushed forward, but the 2014 is light on its feet and gracious, especially for a Calistoga Cabernet. Even so, this is a relatively laid-back style built on finesse more than power.”
Robert Parker 93 points “The 2014 “White Label” red wines include the 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa, which is a beauty. An elegant, Pauillac-style wine with notes of chocolate, cedar wood, fruitcake, unsmoked cigar tobacco and underbrush, it is dense, full-bodied and rich. It is a blend of 93% Cabernet Sauvignon and 7% Petit Verdot aged 19 months in 75% new French oak. There are 2,705 cases of this wine, which finished at 14.7% natural alcohol. It should drink well for 20-25 years, but there’s no reason to defer your gratification.”
Antonio Galloni 92 points “Larkmead’s 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon is a very pretty, understated wine. Bright red stone fruit, floral notes and spice give the 2014 its refreshing, vibrant personality. The fruit is nicely pushed forward, but the 2014 is light on its feet and gracious, especially for a Calistoga Cabernet. Even so, this is a relatively laid-back style built on finesse more than power.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $126
The average price is $126
Larkmead Vineyards Dr. Olmo, Napa Valley 2014 750ML ($199.95) Was $169, Now $119 Subscriber-Only Special
Wine Advocate 95+ points “The “Black Label” wines include the 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Dr. Olmo, which is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from the clone of Cabernet that is also called Eisele. This wine spent 20 months in 62% new French oak. A magnificent wine by any standard of measurement, with notes of scorched earth, lead pencil shavings, charcoal embers, and blackberry and cassis fruit, this dense purple wine has undeniable minerality, a beautiful, full-bodied texture and a voluptuous finish. Drink it over the next 25 years.”
Antonio Galloni 92-95 points “The 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Dr. Olmo is holding back quite a bit of its potential. Dark cherry, smoke, licorice, tar and menthol give the Dr. Olmo much of its brooding personality. The tannins are quite firm, but that should be less of an issue as the wine won’t be released for about a year.”
Wine Advocate 95+ points “The “Black Label” wines include the 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Dr. Olmo, which is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from the clone of Cabernet that is also called Eisele. This wine spent 20 months in 62% new French oak. A magnificent wine by any standard of measurement, with notes of scorched earth, lead pencil shavings, charcoal embers, and blackberry and cassis fruit, this dense purple wine has undeniable minerality, a beautiful, full-bodied texture and a voluptuous finish. Drink it over the next 25 years.”
Antonio Galloni 92-95 points “The 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Dr. Olmo is holding back quite a bit of its potential. Dark cherry, smoke, licorice, tar and menthol give the Dr. Olmo much of its brooding personality. The tannins are quite firm, but that should be less of an issue as the wine won’t be released for about a year.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $183
The next best price is $146.25
That’s a difference of over $27/bottle!
The average price is $183
The next best price is $146.25
That’s a difference of over $27/bottle!
Larkmead Vineyards Firebelle Red, Napa Valley 2014 750ML ($179.95) Was $149, Now $99 Subscriber-Only Special
Robert Parker 94 points “A blend of 72% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon and 3% Petit Verdot, the 2014 Firebelle finished at 14.9% alcohol. It is a beautifully rich, chocolaty wine with notes of savory spices, black cherries and mulberries, some fudge and coffee bean. It has medium to full body, outstanding purity, concentration and length. It was aged in 66% new French oak for 19 months prior to bottling. Drink it over the next 15-20 years.”
Antonio Galloni 94 points “The 2014 Firebelle, Larkmead’s Merlot-based wine, is terrific. Succulent black cherry, lavender, mint and dark spices infuse this pliant, creamy wine. Expressive savory and mineral-infused notes punctuate the finish. The tannins need time to soften, but there is plenty to like and look forward to.”
Robert Parker 94 points “A blend of 72% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon and 3% Petit Verdot, the 2014 Firebelle finished at 14.9% alcohol. It is a beautifully rich, chocolaty wine with notes of savory spices, black cherries and mulberries, some fudge and coffee bean. It has medium to full body, outstanding purity, concentration and length. It was aged in 66% new French oak for 19 months prior to bottling. Drink it over the next 15-20 years.”
Antonio Galloni 94 points “The 2014 Firebelle, Larkmead’s Merlot-based wine, is terrific. Succulent black cherry, lavender, mint and dark spices infuse this pliant, creamy wine. Expressive savory and mineral-infused notes punctuate the finish. The tannins need time to soften, but there is plenty to like and look forward to.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $156
The next best price is $145
That’s a difference of $46/bottle!
The average price is $156
The next best price is $145
That’s a difference of $46/bottle!
Subscriber Only Larkmead Sale
Prices Will Not Display Online
We Will Adjust Pricing Manually Before Finalizing Your Order
Sale Prices Limited to Stock on Hand
Prices Will Not Display Online
We Will Adjust Pricing Manually Before Finalizing Your Order
Sale Prices Limited to Stock on Hand
“A Dream Wine”
Featured New Arrival:
2015 Ornellaia
Ornellaia Bolgheri Superiore, Tuscany 2015 750ML ($279.95) $219 special
Antonio Galloni 98 points “The 2015 Ornellaia is a dream wine with magnificent balance. All the elements are in the right place. In most vintages, Ornellaia needs time to fully come together, but the 2015 is just impeccable, even in the early going. The warm vintage notwithstanding, winemaker Axel Heinz crafted and Ornellaia is more about finesse and power. The potent, bruising tannins Ornellaia can show as a young wine are nowhere to be found. Bright raspberry jam, mint, white flowers and pomegranate are some of the many notes that punctuate the finish in a memorable Ornellaia that will go down among the great vintages produced at this reference-point estate.”
James Suckling 98 points “The blackberry and blueberry aromas with fresh sage and bay-leaf character are impressive. Stone, graphite and mineral undertones. Full-bodied and silky and refined tannins. Dusty. Elegance and polish. Shows greatness in strength and refinement. A dialed-in, dialed-back Ornellaia. Drink in 2022.”
Wine Spectator 97 points “A big, brooding red, packed with blackberry, plum and earth flavors, all wrapped in spicy oak. Monolithic now, finishing with saline mineral elements, a leafy tobacco edge and dense, mouthcoating tannins. Terrific potential. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Best from 2023 through 2038.”
Antonio Galloni 98 points “The 2015 Ornellaia is a dream wine with magnificent balance. All the elements are in the right place. In most vintages, Ornellaia needs time to fully come together, but the 2015 is just impeccable, even in the early going. The warm vintage notwithstanding, winemaker Axel Heinz crafted and Ornellaia is more about finesse and power. The potent, bruising tannins Ornellaia can show as a young wine are nowhere to be found. Bright raspberry jam, mint, white flowers and pomegranate are some of the many notes that punctuate the finish in a memorable Ornellaia that will go down among the great vintages produced at this reference-point estate.”
James Suckling 98 points “The blackberry and blueberry aromas with fresh sage and bay-leaf character are impressive. Stone, graphite and mineral undertones. Full-bodied and silky and refined tannins. Dusty. Elegance and polish. Shows greatness in strength and refinement. A dialed-in, dialed-back Ornellaia. Drink in 2022.”
Wine Spectator 97 points “A big, brooding red, packed with blackberry, plum and earth flavors, all wrapped in spicy oak. Monolithic now, finishing with saline mineral elements, a leafy tobacco edge and dense, mouthcoating tannins. Terrific potential. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Best from 2023 through 2038.”
Trending Wines of the Week
A beautiful expression of Etna. As the WA says, “a wine of unique beauty and character.”
Alta Mora ‘Guradiola’ Etna Rosso, Sicily 2014 750ML ($59.95) $49 special
James Suckling 96 points “The crystal-clear nose of jasmine, slate, quartz, wild strawberries, blueberries and tons of orange rind, not to mention chocolate shavings and walnuts, is stunning. The full-bodied palate is expansive and fruit-forward yet so minerally and uplifted by a fresh line of acidity that culminates in a long finish. Tight and refined in terms of tannin texture. So good now but better in 2019.”
Wine Advocate 95+ points “The 2014 Etna Rosso Guardiola is a wine of unique beauty and character. Having seen this stunning vineyard in person and climbed its steep ascent on the flank of the volcano, I am immediately reminded of the warm smells that come from these sun-scorched soils and the wild herbal notes that come off the scrub brush that grows in this harsh, otherworldly environment. This wine offers an immediate sense of place. The bouquet is elegant, almost ephemeral at first. It grows exponentially in intensity and complexity as the wine takes on more air in the glass. Give it the time it merits. Tangy acidity and sour cherry keep the palate very much alive. Congratulations to Cusumano of Alta Mora for this authentic taste of Etna inspiration. Only 5,310 bottles were made. Fruit comes from a three-hectare vineyard with 120-year-old vines.”-ML
Alta Mora ‘Guradiola’ Etna Rosso, Sicily 2014 750ML ($59.95) $49 special
James Suckling 96 points “The crystal-clear nose of jasmine, slate, quartz, wild strawberries, blueberries and tons of orange rind, not to mention chocolate shavings and walnuts, is stunning. The full-bodied palate is expansive and fruit-forward yet so minerally and uplifted by a fresh line of acidity that culminates in a long finish. Tight and refined in terms of tannin texture. So good now but better in 2019.”
Wine Advocate 95+ points “The 2014 Etna Rosso Guardiola is a wine of unique beauty and character. Having seen this stunning vineyard in person and climbed its steep ascent on the flank of the volcano, I am immediately reminded of the warm smells that come from these sun-scorched soils and the wild herbal notes that come off the scrub brush that grows in this harsh, otherworldly environment. This wine offers an immediate sense of place. The bouquet is elegant, almost ephemeral at first. It grows exponentially in intensity and complexity as the wine takes on more air in the glass. Give it the time it merits. Tangy acidity and sour cherry keep the palate very much alive. Congratulations to Cusumano of Alta Mora for this authentic taste of Etna inspiration. Only 5,310 bottles were made. Fruit comes from a three-hectare vineyard with 120-year-old vines.”-ML
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
A paradigmatic wine of the Mosel. Pure brilliance and class.
Weingut Willi Schaefer Graacher Domprobst Riesling Spatlese 10, Mosel 2016 750ML ($44.95) $37 special
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 94 points “The 2016 Graacher Domprobst Riesling Spätlese (AP #10) is one of three Spätlesen that were selected in 2016. The wine has a very clear and smoky bouquet of perfectly ripe, healthy Riesling berries and yellow-fleshed stone fruits. Round, lush and piquant, this is a very elegant and stimulating Spätlese with lingering, mouthwatering salinity. The wine is complex but not all too intellectual. It has a ripe but coolish-elegant character with a long, well-structured finish.”Scott Paul La Paulee Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2013 750ML ($39.95) $18 special
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 91 points “Deep red. Bright and energetic on the nose, displaying intense red berry and blood orange scents, along with candied rose and allspice highlights. Silky, sweet and incisive on the palate, offering juicy strawberry and floral pastille flavors and a spicy kick of white pepper. Closes very long and nervy; fine-grained tannins lend shape and closing grip.”
Wine Enthusiast 91 points “Sophisticated and subtle, this lovely wine expresses varietal elegance, with a bouquet of roses and raspberries to begin. The jumble of pretty fruits is framed with citrus peel and a dusting of chocolate.”
Weingut Willi Schaefer Graacher Domprobst Riesling Spatlese 10, Mosel 2016 750ML ($44.95) $37 special
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 94 points “The 2016 Graacher Domprobst Riesling Spätlese (AP #10) is one of three Spätlesen that were selected in 2016. The wine has a very clear and smoky bouquet of perfectly ripe, healthy Riesling berries and yellow-fleshed stone fruits. Round, lush and piquant, this is a very elegant and stimulating Spätlese with lingering, mouthwatering salinity. The wine is complex but not all too intellectual. It has a ripe but coolish-elegant character with a long, well-structured finish.”Scott Paul La Paulee Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2013 750ML ($39.95) $18 special
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 91 points “Deep red. Bright and energetic on the nose, displaying intense red berry and blood orange scents, along with candied rose and allspice highlights. Silky, sweet and incisive on the palate, offering juicy strawberry and floral pastille flavors and a spicy kick of white pepper. Closes very long and nervy; fine-grained tannins lend shape and closing grip.”
Wine Enthusiast 91 points “Sophisticated and subtle, this lovely wine expresses varietal elegance, with a bouquet of roses and raspberries to begin. The jumble of pretty fruits is framed with citrus peel and a dusting of chocolate.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Rich, bold and sexy. It’s a crowd pleasing stunner.
Domaine des Bosquets Gigondas, Rhone 2016 750ML ($31.95) $26 special
Jeb Dunnuck 92 points “Leading off the wines from bottle, the 2016 Gigondas is a classic wine from this estate, offering a deeper ruby/purple color as well as tons of garrigue, peppery spice, and earth intermixed with ample red and black fruits. Polished, rounded and sexy, with sweet tannin, it has a modern style that won’t appeal to traditionalists yet is beautifully done. The blend is 60% Grenache, 25% Syrah, 10% Mourvèdre, and the rest Cinsault.”
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 92 points “Vivid ruby-red. Lively, expansive red berry, floral pastille and white pepper scents, along with suggestions of garrigue and smoky minerals. Sweet, focused and seamless in the mouth, offering juicy raspberry, spicecake and lavender flavors that deepen steadily on the back half. Clings with very good authority on the gently tannic finish and leaves succulent floral and herb notes behind.”
Joe Czerwinski-Wine Advocate 92 points “Hints of garrigue accent raspberries and Rainier cherries in the 2016 Gigondas. This blend of 60% Grenache, 25% Syrah, 10% Mourvèdre and 5% Cinsault is full-bodied and supple, with no hard edges, just lovely fruit. Long, seamless and delicious for drinking over the next 6-7 years, it’s a terrific introduction to the fruit-forward style at this estate. Tasted twice with consistent notes.”
Domaine des Bosquets Gigondas, Rhone 2016 750ML ($31.95) $26 special
Jeb Dunnuck 92 points “Leading off the wines from bottle, the 2016 Gigondas is a classic wine from this estate, offering a deeper ruby/purple color as well as tons of garrigue, peppery spice, and earth intermixed with ample red and black fruits. Polished, rounded and sexy, with sweet tannin, it has a modern style that won’t appeal to traditionalists yet is beautifully done. The blend is 60% Grenache, 25% Syrah, 10% Mourvèdre, and the rest Cinsault.”
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 92 points “Vivid ruby-red. Lively, expansive red berry, floral pastille and white pepper scents, along with suggestions of garrigue and smoky minerals. Sweet, focused and seamless in the mouth, offering juicy raspberry, spicecake and lavender flavors that deepen steadily on the back half. Clings with very good authority on the gently tannic finish and leaves succulent floral and herb notes behind.”
Joe Czerwinski-Wine Advocate 92 points “Hints of garrigue accent raspberries and Rainier cherries in the 2016 Gigondas. This blend of 60% Grenache, 25% Syrah, 10% Mourvèdre and 5% Cinsault is full-bodied and supple, with no hard edges, just lovely fruit. Long, seamless and delicious for drinking over the next 6-7 years, it’s a terrific introduction to the fruit-forward style at this estate. Tasted twice with consistent notes.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Dutton Ranch Chardonnay, made by Dan Goldfield—under $20? Miracles happen.
The Calling Dutton Ranch Chardonnay, Russian River Valley 2017 750ML ($29.95) $19 special
Case-12 The Calling Dutton Ranch Chardonnay, Russian River Valley 2017 750ML ($319.95) $199 special (that’s only $16.58/bottle!)
Winery Note: Fruit for this vintage was sourced from several locations within Dutton Ranch’s Russian River Valley vineyards. Plots in the warmer end of the valley contributed ripe tropical elements, while those from cooler areas lent minerality and a structural backbone. Inviting notes of honeysuckle, white rose, lemon meringue and baked brioche on the nose. Balanced yet with crisp acidity on the palate with flavors of ripe Asian pear, melon and Meyer lemon with a lingering, elegant finish.
The Calling Dutton Ranch Chardonnay, Russian River Valley 2017 750ML ($29.95) $19 special
Case-12 The Calling Dutton Ranch Chardonnay, Russian River Valley 2017 750ML ($319.95) $199 special (that’s only $16.58/bottle!)
Winery Note: Fruit for this vintage was sourced from several locations within Dutton Ranch’s Russian River Valley vineyards. Plots in the warmer end of the valley contributed ripe tropical elements, while those from cooler areas lent minerality and a structural backbone. Inviting notes of honeysuckle, white rose, lemon meringue and baked brioche on the nose. Balanced yet with crisp acidity on the palate with flavors of ripe Asian pear, melon and Meyer lemon with a lingering, elegant finish.
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $24.92
The average price is $28
The next best price is $24.92
The average price is $28
Staff Pick
A Mid-Week, Pair With Anything White
Suzanne:
The Selbach-Oster Rieslings are my go-to when I want a mid-week, pair with anything white. These are wines that are crafted for the table, not the points. (Though, that said, they do quite well in that department.) This 2016 Kabinett is hard not to love, especially at this price. It’s an unobtrusive wine that just wants to be friends: light, nearly bone-dry, refreshingly tart and minerally, with plenty of fruit undertones and a long finish to keep you coming back for more. The entire lineup of Selbach wines seem perfectly balanced, and this is no exception.Selbach-Oster Zeltinger Himmelreich Riesling Kabinett Halbtrocken 2016 750ML ($27.95) $21.90 special
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 92 points “The 2016 Zeltinger Himmelreich Riesling Kabinett Halbtrocken has a lovely clear and flinty-scented white stone fruit aroma with refreshing slate notes. Clear, lush and intense on the palate, this is a light but pretty complex and remarkably well-defined Kabinett in the off-dry style. Very digestible and with stimulating grip and salinity. 10.5% alcohol.”
The Selbach-Oster Rieslings are my go-to when I want a mid-week, pair with anything white. These are wines that are crafted for the table, not the points. (Though, that said, they do quite well in that department.) This 2016 Kabinett is hard not to love, especially at this price. It’s an unobtrusive wine that just wants to be friends: light, nearly bone-dry, refreshingly tart and minerally, with plenty of fruit undertones and a long finish to keep you coming back for more. The entire lineup of Selbach wines seem perfectly balanced, and this is no exception.Selbach-Oster Zeltinger Himmelreich Riesling Kabinett Halbtrocken 2016 750ML ($27.95) $21.90 special
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 92 points “The 2016 Zeltinger Himmelreich Riesling Kabinett Halbtrocken has a lovely clear and flinty-scented white stone fruit aroma with refreshing slate notes. Clear, lush and intense on the palate, this is a light but pretty complex and remarkably well-defined Kabinett in the off-dry style. Very digestible and with stimulating grip and salinity. 10.5% alcohol.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $24.99
The next best price is $24.99
Three New Grand Crus from Faiveley
Blink and you’ll miss the 2016 Burgundy vintage. Part of that is because of yields—down massively across the region because of frost and hail. The other reason is that the wines are epic—more classical than 2015 and superior in the minds of many big collectors and insiders, especially for the very top tier of wines. These are stunning wines, with concentration and blazingly distinct terroir signatures. As a result, these wines come in and immediately go out—and deservedly so: this vintage is a legend in the making.
We recently received Faiveley wines from three different Grand Crus. Faiveley has been on a roll in the last half decade or so and the 2016’s are undoubtedly the finest collection of wines that Faiveley has produced—some of the strongest wines of the vintage. The recently arrived 2016’s are a testament to the current quality of the winery. They represent everything we love about Burgundy and are priced exceptionally well for wines of their tier. You can click here to see all the 2016’s in stock from the venerable estate or keep reading for these new highlights.
Just Arrived:
Domaine Faiveley Chambertin Clos de Beze Grand Cru, Cote de Nuits 2016 750ML ($449.95) $379 special
Stephen Tanzer 94-97 points “Bright, dark red-ruby. Knockout sappy nose combines black raspberry, crushed rock and white pepper. Boasts remarkable intensity and clarity–not to mention class–to its flavors of raspberry, spices and pungent minerals. Wonderfully sappy and dense but almost magically light on its feet. This sharply delineated wine finishes with ineffable rising perfume and outstanding length. This wine manages to combine the best traits of Faiveley’s other Gevrey grand crus–not to mention the finest qualities of the 2016 vintage–in an utterly weightless package.”
Burghound 93-96 points “(from a 1.29 ha parcel). This is softly oaky with a wonderfully spicy array of black cherry, pungent earth and evident sauvage nuances that can be found on the impressively rich and seductively textured broad-shouldered and concentrated flavors that coat the palate with extract, all wrapped in a balanced, long and deep finish. I very much like the way this fans out on the strikingly persistent finish. Note that plenty of patience is a requisite here and it would be largely pointless to open a bottle before its 10th anniversary. (93-96)/2036+.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Domaine Faiveley Latricieres-Chambertin Grand Cru, Cote de Nuits 2016 750ML ($299.95) $249 special
Burghound 93-95 points “(from a very large 1.21 ha parcel). Here too the wood treatment is subtle yet just prominent enough to warrant pointing out on the cool, pure and notably more sauvage nose of both red and dark wild berry and earth scents. There is a really lovely sense of underlying tension suffusing the much more mineral-driven middle weight flavors that are not quite as rich but notably more precise on the chiseled and wonderfully refined finish. Textbook. (93-95)/2031+.”
Stephen Tanzer 92-95 points “(from very old vines; no frost here): Healthy dark red with ruby tones. Aromas of dark berries and coffee with cream on top. At once densely packed and perfumed in the mouth, with crushed raspberry and cranberry flavors lifted by violet. Spreads out horizontally on the back end, finishing with terrific class and ineffable rising perfume of spices and flowers. The tannins here are linear and firm but not hard. A very classy, scented grand cru in the making.”
Burghound 93-95 points “(from a very large 1.21 ha parcel). Here too the wood treatment is subtle yet just prominent enough to warrant pointing out on the cool, pure and notably more sauvage nose of both red and dark wild berry and earth scents. There is a really lovely sense of underlying tension suffusing the much more mineral-driven middle weight flavors that are not quite as rich but notably more precise on the chiseled and wonderfully refined finish. Textbook. (93-95)/2031+.”
Stephen Tanzer 92-95 points “(from very old vines; no frost here): Healthy dark red with ruby tones. Aromas of dark berries and coffee with cream on top. At once densely packed and perfumed in the mouth, with crushed raspberry and cranberry flavors lifted by violet. Spreads out horizontally on the back end, finishing with terrific class and ineffable rising perfume of spices and flowers. The tannins here are linear and firm but not hard. A very classy, scented grand cru in the making.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Domaine Faiveley Mazis-Chambertin Grand Cru, Cote de Nuits 2016 750ML ($319.95) $259 special
Stephen Tanzer 93-95 points “(60% new oak): Dark red with ruby highlights. Complex, inviting aromas of black raspberry, peony, toast, smoke and game. Compellingly rich, creamy wine with a captivating mixture of dark berries, flowers and toasty oak. Maintains its thickness and body straight through to the very ripe, long, suavely tannic finish. A beauty.”
Burghound 92-95 points “(from both Mazis Haut and Bas where the two parcels total a remarkable 1.20 ha). A pungent nose of wood and reduction renders the nose impossible to evaluate fairly. Otherwise there is a super-sleek and intense palate impression to the imposingly-scaled flavors that possess more size and weight if slightly less minerality than those of the Latricières while flashing excellent length on the moderately austere finish. This is also textbook. (92-95)/2036+.”
Stephen Tanzer 93-95 points “(60% new oak): Dark red with ruby highlights. Complex, inviting aromas of black raspberry, peony, toast, smoke and game. Compellingly rich, creamy wine with a captivating mixture of dark berries, flowers and toasty oak. Maintains its thickness and body straight through to the very ripe, long, suavely tannic finish. A beauty.”
Burghound 92-95 points “(from both Mazis Haut and Bas where the two parcels total a remarkable 1.20 ha). A pungent nose of wood and reduction renders the nose impossible to evaluate fairly. Otherwise there is a super-sleek and intense palate impression to the imposingly-scaled flavors that possess more size and weight if slightly less minerality than those of the Latricières while flashing excellent length on the moderately austere finish. This is also textbook. (92-95)/2036+.”
New Vinous Reviews for Agathe Bursin
“The 2017 vintage was essentially saved by a cool late season (vineyard workers in many parts of Alsace needed to wear long sleeves in the vineyards at harvest). This was important, since the weather during the growth cycle was mostly hot and dry. Budbreak was early, but it was followed by the double whammy of frost at the end of April and the start of May and hail in July that combined to greatly reduce yields, making for some very concentrated wines that will likely age well. The key was the very cold autumn nights that allowed the acidity to concentrate in the grapes, a characteristic that neatly separates Alsace’s 2017 wines from those of 2015, another hot year.” – Ian d’Agata, Vinous
Agathe Bursin Riesling Bollenberg Graenwiller, Alsace 2017 750ML ($29.95) $24 special
Ian d’Agata – Vinous 91 points “Straw-green. White flowers, chamomile, and honey complement green apple nuances on the enticing nose and in the mouth. Then very juicy and lively, but delivering harmonious acidity and plenty of fruit (hints of stone fruit and citrus) that linger nicely on the classically dry finish (0 g/L r.s, 9 g/L total acidity and a pH of 3). Made from 70-year-old vines (last year, I incorrectly stated they were 60 years old) planted on mostly sandy-clay with some limestone soils (the mother rock is mostly limestone).”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Agathe Bursin Riesling Dirstelberg, Alsace 2017 750ML ($29.95) $24 special
Ian d’Agata – Vinous 91 points “Bright straw-yellow. Aromas of peach, orange oil and white pepper. Supple, dense and broad, showing attractive spicy lift to the ripe flavors of soft citrus fruits, apple and pear. Densely packed, displaying nicely persistent soft citrus high tones and a hint of creamy sweetness that is more obvious than the low 4 g/L r.s. implies. Made from 65-year-old vines that are a different massal selection of Riesling than that planted in the Bollenberg.”
Ian d’Agata – Vinous 91 points “Bright straw-yellow. Aromas of peach, orange oil and white pepper. Supple, dense and broad, showing attractive spicy lift to the ripe flavors of soft citrus fruits, apple and pear. Densely packed, displaying nicely persistent soft citrus high tones and a hint of creamy sweetness that is more obvious than the low 4 g/L r.s. implies. Made from 65-year-old vines that are a different massal selection of Riesling than that planted in the Bollenberg.”
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Agathe Bursin Sylvaner Lutzeltal, Alsace 2017 750ML ($24.95) $19 special
Ian d’Agata – Vinous 92 points “Pale golden-tinged straw-yellow. Canned pineapple, tangerine and very ripe pear on the sexy, showy nose. Then juicy, penetrating and vibrant, with sweet (11 g/L r.s.) but lively (5.6 g/L total acidity) flavors of tropical fruit and ripe pear. Finishes long, ripe and round. Outstanding Sylvaner from one of the recognized masters of the variety.”
Ian d’Agata – Vinous 92 points “Pale golden-tinged straw-yellow. Canned pineapple, tangerine and very ripe pear on the sexy, showy nose. Then juicy, penetrating and vibrant, with sweet (11 g/L r.s.) but lively (5.6 g/L total acidity) flavors of tropical fruit and ripe pear. Finishes long, ripe and round. Outstanding Sylvaner from one of the recognized masters of the variety.”
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Agathe Bursin Gewurztraminer Dirstelberg, Alsace 2017 750ML ($29.95) $24 special
“Light gold. Aromas of grapefruit, rose petal, mint, and spices, plus a light tropical fruit note. Then delicate and easygoing, displaying moderately complex floral flavors and a silky texture. Closes off-dry and accessible, with decent length, but it is not an especially opulent or showy Gewürz (18 g/L r.s. and 4.3 g/L total acidity).” – Ian d’Agata, Vinous
“Light gold. Aromas of grapefruit, rose petal, mint, and spices, plus a light tropical fruit note. Then delicate and easygoing, displaying moderately complex floral flavors and a silky texture. Closes off-dry and accessible, with decent length, but it is not an especially opulent or showy Gewürz (18 g/L r.s. and 4.3 g/L total acidity).” – Ian d’Agata, Vinous
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New Arrivals
France
Aubry ‘Ivoire et Ebene’ Premier Cru Brut, Champagne 2012 750ML ($59.95) $49 special
October 2017 Disgorgement
Antonio Galloni 95 points “The 2012 Brut Ivoire et Ebène is another fabulous wine in this range. Powerful, ample and resonant in the glass, the 2012 is superb from the moment it is first poured. Baked apple, pear, smoke and spice fill out the wine’s voluptuous frame, with a hint of French oak that add complexity without being overpowering. The combination of bright flavors and rich textures is compelling. Disgorged: June 2016. Dosage is 3 grams per liter.”
Importer Note “50% Chardonnay 25% Pinot Noir 25% Meunier from Premier Cru vineyards in Jouy-lès-Reims. Fermented and aged in Stainless Steel, it ages 48 months sur latte before disgorgement.”
October 2017 Disgorgement
Antonio Galloni 95 points “The 2012 Brut Ivoire et Ebène is another fabulous wine in this range. Powerful, ample and resonant in the glass, the 2012 is superb from the moment it is first poured. Baked apple, pear, smoke and spice fill out the wine’s voluptuous frame, with a hint of French oak that add complexity without being overpowering. The combination of bright flavors and rich textures is compelling. Disgorged: June 2016. Dosage is 3 grams per liter.”
Importer Note “50% Chardonnay 25% Pinot Noir 25% Meunier from Premier Cru vineyards in Jouy-lès-Reims. Fermented and aged in Stainless Steel, it ages 48 months sur latte before disgorgement.”
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Marie Courtin Eloquence Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut, Champagne 2014 750ML ($89.95) $69 special
Antonio Galloni 94 points “The 2014 Extra Brut Eloquence is a gorgeous wine. Bright, focused and incredibly crystalline, the 2014 needs time in bottle to relax a bit. Even so, it is extremely beautiful, even in the early going, with plenty of citrus, saline and floral character. I imagine the 2014 will always remain taut and energetic. Like all of Dominique Moreau’s best wines, the 2014 Eloquence is memorable. Zero dosage. Disgorged: April 2018.”
Importer note “While the Aube is thought of as producing rounder, fruitier wines than those of the Marne, the 100% Chardonnay Éloquence is marked by a certain austerity, driven not only by the acidity of chardonnay but by a complex and distinctive soil signature. It’s an intensely terroir-driven champagne, and at its best, it’s one of the most exciting champagnes currently being made in the Aube. 50% in barrel, 50% in enamel lined tanks. No dosage.”Domaine Henri Boillot Les Perrieres, Puligny-Montrachet Premier Cru 2015 750ML ($149.95) $128 special
Burghound 93 points “Sweet Spot Outstanding. Restrained and agreeably fresh aromas are composed by notes of smoky mineral reduction, tea and green apple. There is almost painful intensity to the cuts-like-a-knife medium weight flavors that brim with minerality before terminating in a strikingly long, dry and classy finale. This too is terrific.”
Antonio Galloni 94 points “The 2014 Extra Brut Eloquence is a gorgeous wine. Bright, focused and incredibly crystalline, the 2014 needs time in bottle to relax a bit. Even so, it is extremely beautiful, even in the early going, with plenty of citrus, saline and floral character. I imagine the 2014 will always remain taut and energetic. Like all of Dominique Moreau’s best wines, the 2014 Eloquence is memorable. Zero dosage. Disgorged: April 2018.”
Importer note “While the Aube is thought of as producing rounder, fruitier wines than those of the Marne, the 100% Chardonnay Éloquence is marked by a certain austerity, driven not only by the acidity of chardonnay but by a complex and distinctive soil signature. It’s an intensely terroir-driven champagne, and at its best, it’s one of the most exciting champagnes currently being made in the Aube. 50% in barrel, 50% in enamel lined tanks. No dosage.”Domaine Henri Boillot Les Perrieres, Puligny-Montrachet Premier Cru 2015 750ML ($149.95) $128 special
Burghound 93 points “Sweet Spot Outstanding. Restrained and agreeably fresh aromas are composed by notes of smoky mineral reduction, tea and green apple. There is almost painful intensity to the cuts-like-a-knife medium weight flavors that brim with minerality before terminating in a strikingly long, dry and classy finale. This too is terrific.”
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La Chablisienne Cote de Lechet, Chablis Premier Cru 2014 750ML ($31.95) $26 special
Case-6 La Chablisienne Cote de Lechet, Chablis Premier Cru 2014 750ML ($189.95) $144 special (that’s only $24/bottle—the lowest listed price in the country!)
Decanter 95 points “Flowers with a bit of lemon curd on the nose, giving way to a lively palate with white flowers, herbs and a fine-grained mineral seam running through to the racy, spicy finish.”
Wine Enthusiast 92 points “This wine comes from one of the coolest Premier Cru vineyards, giving it an initial austerity that then fills out as the wine breathes. It’s crisp and bright with white fruit and intense, lemony acidity. Age it for a few more months and drink from 2018.”
Burghound 91 points “Outstanding. A spicy and super-fresh array of citrus, pear and tidal pool serves as an elegant introduction to the impressively intense and precise middle weight flavors that exude a fine bead of minerality on the lingering and complex finale where a hint of austerity surfaces. Lovely.”Domaine Vincent & Sophie Morey Les Caillerets Blanc, Chassagne-Montrachet Premier Cru 2016 750ML ($79.95) $69 special
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 89-92 points “(30% lost to frost): Pale, bright yellow. Restrained, musky scents of pear, lemon and stone; the most minerally of these 2016s. The densest and chewiest wine to this point, showing very good intensity and depth to its yellow peach, pear and salty mineral flavors. This is at an altogether higher level than the foregoing wines, finishing firm and long, with floral and mineral lift. This fruit was picked at a moderate 12% potential alcohol.”
Case-6 La Chablisienne Cote de Lechet, Chablis Premier Cru 2014 750ML ($189.95) $144 special (that’s only $24/bottle—the lowest listed price in the country!)
Decanter 95 points “Flowers with a bit of lemon curd on the nose, giving way to a lively palate with white flowers, herbs and a fine-grained mineral seam running through to the racy, spicy finish.”
Wine Enthusiast 92 points “This wine comes from one of the coolest Premier Cru vineyards, giving it an initial austerity that then fills out as the wine breathes. It’s crisp and bright with white fruit and intense, lemony acidity. Age it for a few more months and drink from 2018.”
Burghound 91 points “Outstanding. A spicy and super-fresh array of citrus, pear and tidal pool serves as an elegant introduction to the impressively intense and precise middle weight flavors that exude a fine bead of minerality on the lingering and complex finale where a hint of austerity surfaces. Lovely.”Domaine Vincent & Sophie Morey Les Caillerets Blanc, Chassagne-Montrachet Premier Cru 2016 750ML ($79.95) $69 special
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 89-92 points “(30% lost to frost): Pale, bright yellow. Restrained, musky scents of pear, lemon and stone; the most minerally of these 2016s. The densest and chewiest wine to this point, showing very good intensity and depth to its yellow peach, pear and salty mineral flavors. This is at an altogether higher level than the foregoing wines, finishing firm and long, with floral and mineral lift. This fruit was picked at a moderate 12% potential alcohol.”
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Arnoux Pere & Fils Corton-Rognet Grand Cru, Cote de Beaune 2015 750ML ($119.95) $99 special
Wine Spectator 95 points “Dark and lush, this red verges on jammy, with black cherry and black currant fruit shaded by violet and spice accents. A line of tannins marks the long finish, which shows density and structure. Best from 2020 through 2038. 100 cases made.”
Wine Enthusiast 95 points “This is the Arnoux family’s top wine coming from vines on the revered hill of Corton. It is a powerful wine, properly rich and structured from the vintage. Wood and spice come through although they will soon integrate with the dense black-plum fruits and mineral texture. Drink the wine from 2025.”
Wine Spectator 95 points “Dark and lush, this red verges on jammy, with black cherry and black currant fruit shaded by violet and spice accents. A line of tannins marks the long finish, which shows density and structure. Best from 2020 through 2038. 100 cases made.”
Wine Enthusiast 95 points “This is the Arnoux family’s top wine coming from vines on the revered hill of Corton. It is a powerful wine, properly rich and structured from the vintage. Wood and spice come through although they will soon integrate with the dense black-plum fruits and mineral texture. Drink the wine from 2025.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $109.93
The next best price is $109.93
Ferraton Pere & Fils Cornas Les Grands Muriers Rouge, Rhone 2015 750ML ($69.95) $59 special
Case-6 Ferraton Pere & Fils Cornas Les Grands Muriers Rouge, Rhone 2015 750ML ($399.95) $319 special (that’s only $53.17/bottle!)
Decanter 98 points “Ferraton Père & Fils was established in 1946 by Jean Orëns Ferraton. His son, Michel, continued his work and added further to the range of wines. Today, Ferraton Père & Fils produces a huge range of Rhône wines from Hermitage to St-Péray, with added help from long-time friend Michel Chapoutier who, in 1998, introduced new appellations to the business, as well as creating a plot-selection approach and biodynamic practices. These changes have put Ferraton Père & Fils and winemaker Damien Brisset in the spotlight. Les Grands Mûriers is one of three Cornas wines produced. The vines are grown mainly on decomposed granite soils with the rest on clay and limestone. Gearoid Devaney MS: A classic Cornas that is brimming with ripe fruit and delicious spices. There is a beguiling blood-red meat and iron element here, and great energy and tension from the tannins. It needs time, but the finish is long. Simon Field MW: A traditional wine that is rigorous and magnificently unapproachable at present. It is tannic, firm and long; I am so pleased that this style still persists and flourishes – bravo! Matt Walls: Dense, herbal and oaky aromatics unfold elegantly onto a full-bodied, powerful and lush palate. It is full of plush fruit and muscular, thunderous power in an old-school style. There is a lot to enjoy here all the way to a long finish lengthened by fine tannins and piercing acidity. Drinking Window 2022 – 2034.”Domaine des Bosquets Gigondas La Colline, Rhone 2016 750ML ($89.95) $69 special
Jeb Dunnuck 97+ points “The 2016 Gigondas La Colline (100% Grenache from a tiny corner of the La Colline vineyard) gives a big blast of blackberry and kirsch fruit to go with complex garrigue, toasted spice, and dried earth. This full-bodied beauty packs an incredible amount of richness and depth into a seamless, silky, elegant, thrilling package. It’s going to benefit from 1-2 years of bottle age and knock your socks off over the following decade or more.”
Jeb Dunnuck 96-100 points “Utterly sensational, and unquestionably one of the top 2-3 wines in the vintage, the 2016 Gigondas La Colline is 100% Grenache that’s from the La Colline lieu-dit which is close to the domain, at an elevation of 350 meters above sea-level. It was mostly destemmed (there are 20% stems), fermented in concrete tanks and aging all in 2-4-year-old demi-muids. Notes of Camphor, black raspberries, strawberries, crushed rocks, garrigue and ground pepper all flow to an incredibly layered, concentrated 2016 that has sweet tannin, and an opulent, decadent profile that never seems heavy or over the top. It’s a tour de force in winemaking and hats off to the young Julien Brechet for this incredible wine. There are only 250 cases for the world, so don’t miss a chance to latch onto a few bottles.”
Wine Spectator 96 points “This delivers a gorgeous display of fruit, with raspberry, boysenberry and blackberry notes in lockstep as they race through, infused with light anise, bergamot and rooibos tea accents along the way. The racy, chalky structure holds the finish, giving this sleek tension. Best from 2020 through 2036.”
Case-6 Ferraton Pere & Fils Cornas Les Grands Muriers Rouge, Rhone 2015 750ML ($399.95) $319 special (that’s only $53.17/bottle!)
Decanter 98 points “Ferraton Père & Fils was established in 1946 by Jean Orëns Ferraton. His son, Michel, continued his work and added further to the range of wines. Today, Ferraton Père & Fils produces a huge range of Rhône wines from Hermitage to St-Péray, with added help from long-time friend Michel Chapoutier who, in 1998, introduced new appellations to the business, as well as creating a plot-selection approach and biodynamic practices. These changes have put Ferraton Père & Fils and winemaker Damien Brisset in the spotlight. Les Grands Mûriers is one of three Cornas wines produced. The vines are grown mainly on decomposed granite soils with the rest on clay and limestone. Gearoid Devaney MS: A classic Cornas that is brimming with ripe fruit and delicious spices. There is a beguiling blood-red meat and iron element here, and great energy and tension from the tannins. It needs time, but the finish is long. Simon Field MW: A traditional wine that is rigorous and magnificently unapproachable at present. It is tannic, firm and long; I am so pleased that this style still persists and flourishes – bravo! Matt Walls: Dense, herbal and oaky aromatics unfold elegantly onto a full-bodied, powerful and lush palate. It is full of plush fruit and muscular, thunderous power in an old-school style. There is a lot to enjoy here all the way to a long finish lengthened by fine tannins and piercing acidity. Drinking Window 2022 – 2034.”Domaine des Bosquets Gigondas La Colline, Rhone 2016 750ML ($89.95) $69 special
Jeb Dunnuck 97+ points “The 2016 Gigondas La Colline (100% Grenache from a tiny corner of the La Colline vineyard) gives a big blast of blackberry and kirsch fruit to go with complex garrigue, toasted spice, and dried earth. This full-bodied beauty packs an incredible amount of richness and depth into a seamless, silky, elegant, thrilling package. It’s going to benefit from 1-2 years of bottle age and knock your socks off over the following decade or more.”
Jeb Dunnuck 96-100 points “Utterly sensational, and unquestionably one of the top 2-3 wines in the vintage, the 2016 Gigondas La Colline is 100% Grenache that’s from the La Colline lieu-dit which is close to the domain, at an elevation of 350 meters above sea-level. It was mostly destemmed (there are 20% stems), fermented in concrete tanks and aging all in 2-4-year-old demi-muids. Notes of Camphor, black raspberries, strawberries, crushed rocks, garrigue and ground pepper all flow to an incredibly layered, concentrated 2016 that has sweet tannin, and an opulent, decadent profile that never seems heavy or over the top. It’s a tour de force in winemaking and hats off to the young Julien Brechet for this incredible wine. There are only 250 cases for the world, so don’t miss a chance to latch onto a few bottles.”
Wine Spectator 96 points “This delivers a gorgeous display of fruit, with raspberry, boysenberry and blackberry notes in lockstep as they race through, infused with light anise, bergamot and rooibos tea accents along the way. The racy, chalky structure holds the finish, giving this sleek tension. Best from 2020 through 2036.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Domaine Marcel Lapierre Julienas, Beaujolais 2017 750ML ($39.95) $33 specialDomaine Marcel Lapierre Morgon, Beaujolais 2017 3L ($199.95) $179 special
Cave Yves Cuilleron ‘Les Vignes d’a Cote’ Syrah, Rhone 2017 750ML ($21.95) $18 special
Grapelive 92 points “One of the Northern Rhone’s top guns, Yves Cuilleron, is making some of the best wine of his career… While his 2015 and 2016 were absolutely awesome, this 2017 looks just as good if not better!… While most known for his Condrieu and Cote-Rotie, [Yves] also makes a stellar collection of Saint-Joseph, Cornas and Crozes-Hermitage as well as a line of varietal wines including this 100% Syrah from granite and alluvial soils near his village, Chavanay, near the border with the Crozes zone, in the Collines Rhodaniennes, in a steep parcel of vines… This 2017 Les Vignes d’a Cote is striking and with exceptional varietal character. [It shows] a deep purple/garnet color in the glass with a beautiful perfume of crushed violets, primary black and blue fruits, spices and camphor notes that not only come through on the nose, but transfer to the palate as well. There is ripe blueberry, plum and black cherry fruits as well as subtle creme de cassis, black olive, fresh ground peppercorns, faint cedar and anise. The mouthfeel is richer and more substantial than you’d expect from this bottling, highlighting what looks like a great vintage in the making. The Cuilleron elegance and finesse is on full display. This is a case-worthy, if not more, wine to enjoy over the next couple of years while you cellar your Cote-Rotie, Saint-Joseph and/or Crozes-Hermitage!”
Italy
Francesco Rinaldi & Figli Gavi DOCG, Piedmont 2017 750ML ($21.95) $18 special
“Its colour is light straw-yellow. The scent is fresh and fruity. The taste is dry and delicate. It perfectly matches with hors d’oeuvres, fish and white meat.”–Winery note
“Its colour is light straw-yellow. The scent is fresh and fruity. The taste is dry and delicate. It perfectly matches with hors d’oeuvres, fish and white meat.”–Winery note
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Altesino Brunello di Montalcino Riserva DOCG, Tuscany 2012 750ML ($149.95) $119 special
Wine Spectator 98 points “($150) This delivers intense balsamic notes of juniper, wild rosemary and sage, along with rose, cherry and berry aromas and flavors. Elegant and saturated with flavor, supported by a vibrant structure. Ends with energy and refined tannins. Best from 2022 through 2040. 750 cases made.”
Ian D’agata 94+ points “Deep red. Captivating floral nuances complement red cherry, mineral and tobacco elements on the nose and on the very suave palate. Surprisingly light-bodied for a Brunello Riserva, but perfumed and very refined. This outstanding Brunello Riserva boasts a finish that lasts and lasts.”Ferruccio Deiana Sileno Cannonau di Sardegna Riserva, Sardinia 2014 750ML ($31.95) $27 special
Case-6 Ferruccio Deiana Sileno Cannonau di Sardegna Riserva, Sardinia 2014 750ML ($179.95) $146 special (that’s only $24.33/bottle!)
Decanter 97 points “A lovely juicy fresh nose of sour cherry and red plum, the palate has a really plush feel with layers of rich concentrated red and black fruit, with herbal savoury hints and lovely gentle tannin.”
Wine Spectator 98 points “($150) This delivers intense balsamic notes of juniper, wild rosemary and sage, along with rose, cherry and berry aromas and flavors. Elegant and saturated with flavor, supported by a vibrant structure. Ends with energy and refined tannins. Best from 2022 through 2040. 750 cases made.”
Ian D’agata 94+ points “Deep red. Captivating floral nuances complement red cherry, mineral and tobacco elements on the nose and on the very suave palate. Surprisingly light-bodied for a Brunello Riserva, but perfumed and very refined. This outstanding Brunello Riserva boasts a finish that lasts and lasts.”Ferruccio Deiana Sileno Cannonau di Sardegna Riserva, Sardinia 2014 750ML ($31.95) $27 special
Case-6 Ferruccio Deiana Sileno Cannonau di Sardegna Riserva, Sardinia 2014 750ML ($179.95) $146 special (that’s only $24.33/bottle!)
Decanter 97 points “A lovely juicy fresh nose of sour cherry and red plum, the palate has a really plush feel with layers of rich concentrated red and black fruit, with herbal savoury hints and lovely gentle tannin.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Francesco Rinaldi & Figli Barbera d’Alba, Piedmont 2016 750ML ($29.95) $24 special
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Francesco Rinaldi & Figli Grignolino d’Asti, Piedmont 2017 750ML ($21.95) $18 special
“Its colour is light ruby red. The smell is subtle with scent of rose. Its taste is fresh, flowery and mild to the palate. It perfectly matches with hors d’oeuvres, soups, fish and white meat. Fermentation in steel at a controlled temperature for about 8 days. Ageing in steel goes on for some months before bottling in spring.”–Winery Notes
“Its colour is light ruby red. The smell is subtle with scent of rose. Its taste is fresh, flowery and mild to the palate. It perfectly matches with hors d’oeuvres, soups, fish and white meat. Fermentation in steel at a controlled temperature for about 8 days. Ageing in steel goes on for some months before bottling in spring.”–Winery Notes
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Francesco Rinaldi & Figli Nebbiolo d’Alba, Piedmont 2016 750ML ($34.95) $28 special
Vinopolnote: A bright, savory and energetic example of Nebbiolo meant for early consumption. Great value!
Vinopolnote: A bright, savory and energetic example of Nebbiolo meant for early consumption. Great value!
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Austria
Weingut Leo Alzinger Ried Hohereck Riesling Smaragd, Wachau 2017 750ML ($59.95) $49 special
Wine Advocate 93 points “From steep, southeast-facing terraces with weathered gneiss soils, the 2017 Ried Höhereck Riesling Smaragd is concentrated, fresh and piquant on the nose, displaying ripe white fruit aromas but also some greenish fruits. Dense and piquant on the palate, this elegant, tightly woven Riesling has remarkable phenolic grip, freshness and a stimulating astringency on the salty finish. Stunningly fresh given this steep and warm terraced vineyard. Tasted in Unterloiben, Wachau, September 2018.”-SR
Terry Theise [++] “How inconvenient that my usual-favorite of Alzinger’s Rieslings is the one they barely make. It’s a tiny plot and they get “around 800 bottles” in a good year. Yes—bottles. All I can say, after all these years, is—from this tiny place comes one of the earth’s great wines, the terminus of every great facet of Wachau Riesling, the herbs from this, the peaches and plums from that, the mangoes from another, the smoke from yet another—all there. The ’17 is, typically, complete. It’s the flavor of fullness, as if nothing else could be anticipated. Herbs, rocks, roasted veggies, salts. But the overall level of Leo’s ’17 Rieslings is so high that this doesn’t soar above as it often does. It’s just marvelous.”
Wine Advocate 93 points “From steep, southeast-facing terraces with weathered gneiss soils, the 2017 Ried Höhereck Riesling Smaragd is concentrated, fresh and piquant on the nose, displaying ripe white fruit aromas but also some greenish fruits. Dense and piquant on the palate, this elegant, tightly woven Riesling has remarkable phenolic grip, freshness and a stimulating astringency on the salty finish. Stunningly fresh given this steep and warm terraced vineyard. Tasted in Unterloiben, Wachau, September 2018.”-SR
Terry Theise [++] “How inconvenient that my usual-favorite of Alzinger’s Rieslings is the one they barely make. It’s a tiny plot and they get “around 800 bottles” in a good year. Yes—bottles. All I can say, after all these years, is—from this tiny place comes one of the earth’s great wines, the terminus of every great facet of Wachau Riesling, the herbs from this, the peaches and plums from that, the mangoes from another, the smoke from yet another—all there. The ’17 is, typically, complete. It’s the flavor of fullness, as if nothing else could be anticipated. Herbs, rocks, roasted veggies, salts. But the overall level of Leo’s ’17 Rieslings is so high that this doesn’t soar above as it often does. It’s just marvelous.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $59
The average price is $59
Schloss Gobelsburg Gobesburger Gruner Veltliner, Kamptal 2017 750ML ($17.95) $14 special
Terry Theise [(+)] “The wine is, dangerously, far too good for its “echelon;” this one has lovely lift and brightness for a ’17; sweet rice and goat milk butter; animated and delicious.”
Terry Theise [(+)] “The wine is, dangerously, far too good for its “echelon;” this one has lovely lift and brightness for a ’17; sweet rice and goat milk butter; animated and delicious.”
Germany
Weingut Donnhoff Oberhauser Brucke Riesling Auslese, Nahe 2017 375ML ($49.95) $39 special
Weingut Donnhoff Oberhauser Brucke Riesling Auslese, Nahe 2017 750ML ($89.95) $79 special
Stuart Pigott-jamessuckling.com 98 points “Hold on to your hat! This is so concentrated and so filigree. Somewhere in this tightly coiled maelstrom of flavors is a bunch of sweetness. Yet, every time you think you’ve got it, it slips away. Breathtakingly long and fresh finish. From organically grown grapes. Fair’n Green certification. Drink or hold. Very limited production.”
Weingut Donnhoff Oberhauser Brucke Riesling Auslese, Nahe 2017 750ML ($89.95) $79 special
Stuart Pigott-jamessuckling.com 98 points “Hold on to your hat! This is so concentrated and so filigree. Somewhere in this tightly coiled maelstrom of flavors is a bunch of sweetness. Yet, every time you think you’ve got it, it slips away. Breathtakingly long and fresh finish. From organically grown grapes. Fair’n Green certification. Drink or hold. Very limited production.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Weingut Willi Schaefer Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Kabinett, Mosel 2017 750ML ($39.95) $33 special
Stuart Pigott – jamessuckling.com 95 points “Amazingly concentrated for a Kabinett, but it is also cool and finely nuanced with an entire spectrum of fruit and herbal notes. Hints of smoke and flint, too. The crystalline clarity of the long finish is literally breathtaking. Drink or hold.”
Mosel Fine Wines 94 points “The 2017er Graacher Himmelreich Kabinett proves still somewhat backward and only gradually reveals shy notes of smoke, white flowers, anise, yellow peach and grapefruit, all wrapped into a hint of herbs. The wine is quite intense yet playful on the palate as beautifully zesty and ripe acidity mingles with juicy yellow fruits. Despite the intensity, this Kabinett remains superbly light and develops some stunningly complex mineral and zesty fruity flavors in the finish. This is a brilliant Kabinett in the making. 2025-2037.”
Stuart Pigott – jamessuckling.com 95 points “Amazingly concentrated for a Kabinett, but it is also cool and finely nuanced with an entire spectrum of fruit and herbal notes. Hints of smoke and flint, too. The crystalline clarity of the long finish is literally breathtaking. Drink or hold.”
Mosel Fine Wines 94 points “The 2017er Graacher Himmelreich Kabinett proves still somewhat backward and only gradually reveals shy notes of smoke, white flowers, anise, yellow peach and grapefruit, all wrapped into a hint of herbs. The wine is quite intense yet playful on the palate as beautifully zesty and ripe acidity mingles with juicy yellow fruits. Despite the intensity, this Kabinett remains superbly light and develops some stunningly complex mineral and zesty fruity flavors in the finish. This is a brilliant Kabinett in the making. 2025-2037.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Von Winning Kirchenstuck Riesling Grosses Gewachs, Pfalz 2016 750ML ($119.95) $99 special
David Schildknecht-Vinous 93 points “Toasted peanut, ripe peach and black pepper – together with hints of resin from barrel – make for a forceful aromatic impression. The feel is glycerol-rich but with underlying firmness, the flavors lusciously peachy but piquantly pit-tinged, and there are site-typical inner-mouth suggestions of musky, decadent floral perfume (in this case tending toward narcissus). Pungent green herbs and zesty lime lend invigoration to a vibrant, multifaceted finish, if not one quite as dynamic, juicy or mouthwatering as that of the corresponding Pechstein. As for the future in bottle, both sites have a history of raising long-distance runners – as, for that matter, does Jesuitengarten – so it should make for quite a race. That having been said, I remain conservative in my numerical prognostications because the oldest Grosse Gewächse rendered under the new Von Winning regime are only now approaching a decade in bottle, and a couple of those that I have recently been privileged to taste (both of which happen to have been Deidesheimers) are showing so well that I wonder whether they won’t be best enjoyed over the next several years.”
David Schildknecht-Vinous 93 points “Toasted peanut, ripe peach and black pepper – together with hints of resin from barrel – make for a forceful aromatic impression. The feel is glycerol-rich but with underlying firmness, the flavors lusciously peachy but piquantly pit-tinged, and there are site-typical inner-mouth suggestions of musky, decadent floral perfume (in this case tending toward narcissus). Pungent green herbs and zesty lime lend invigoration to a vibrant, multifaceted finish, if not one quite as dynamic, juicy or mouthwatering as that of the corresponding Pechstein. As for the future in bottle, both sites have a history of raising long-distance runners – as, for that matter, does Jesuitengarten – so it should make for quite a race. That having been said, I remain conservative in my numerical prognostications because the oldest Grosse Gewächse rendered under the new Von Winning regime are only now approaching a decade in bottle, and a couple of those that I have recently been privileged to taste (both of which happen to have been Deidesheimers) are showing so well that I wonder whether they won’t be best enjoyed over the next several years.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $119.06
That’s a difference of $20/btl!
The next best price is $119.06
That’s a difference of $20/btl!
Spain
Finca La Emperatriz Cepas Viejas Garnacha, Rioja DOCa 2014 750ML ($39.95) $33 special
James Suckling 95 points “An intensely herbal and floral nose displaying raspberries, cherries and hints of cloves. Mint, too. Medium body, ripe and juicy tannins and a very long, citrusy and savory finish. Made from vines over 65 years old. A wine that boasts superb finesse and style. Drink or hold.”
Luis Gutierrez-Wine Advocate 93 points “The wine that won my heart this time was without a doubt the 2014 Finca la Emperatriz Garnacha Cepas Viejas. This wine is sourced from the Rioja Alta subzone, not quite the classical Garnacha place, from the only old-vine Garnacha plot they have in the estate. It displays a captivating nose of sweet Garnacha fruit akin to cherries in liqueur, but keeping the freshness in a coolish vintage like 2014. The uncrushed grapes fermented in open-top stainless steel vats and 500-liter oak barrels with indigenous yeasts after five days of pre-fermentative maceration, and it matured in 500-liter oak barrels for ten months. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins, delicious fresh flavors and very good length, ending with a tasty, almost salty note. 8,966 bottles and a bunch of magnums were produced and filled in November 2014.”
James Suckling 95 points “An intensely herbal and floral nose displaying raspberries, cherries and hints of cloves. Mint, too. Medium body, ripe and juicy tannins and a very long, citrusy and savory finish. Made from vines over 65 years old. A wine that boasts superb finesse and style. Drink or hold.”
Luis Gutierrez-Wine Advocate 93 points “The wine that won my heart this time was without a doubt the 2014 Finca la Emperatriz Garnacha Cepas Viejas. This wine is sourced from the Rioja Alta subzone, not quite the classical Garnacha place, from the only old-vine Garnacha plot they have in the estate. It displays a captivating nose of sweet Garnacha fruit akin to cherries in liqueur, but keeping the freshness in a coolish vintage like 2014. The uncrushed grapes fermented in open-top stainless steel vats and 500-liter oak barrels with indigenous yeasts after five days of pre-fermentative maceration, and it matured in 500-liter oak barrels for ten months. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins, delicious fresh flavors and very good length, ending with a tasty, almost salty note. 8,966 bottles and a bunch of magnums were produced and filled in November 2014.”
Argentina
Bodegas Caro ‘Caro’, Mendoza, Argentina 2012 750ML ($79.95) $59 special
James Suckling 98 points “Incredible aromas of spice, cedar, walnut and dark berry. Floral too. Spectacular nose. Full body, ultra-fine tannins and a racy and refined finish. Fresh and succulent. Made from old vines of mablec in Compuertas and cabernet sauvignon from Altamira. Such finesse. Half the normal production. The best wine ever from the Domaine Barons de Rothschild (Lafite) and Nicolas Catena winery. Drink or hold.”
James Suckling 98 points “Incredible aromas of spice, cedar, walnut and dark berry. Floral too. Spectacular nose. Full body, ultra-fine tannins and a racy and refined finish. Fresh and succulent. Made from old vines of mablec in Compuertas and cabernet sauvignon from Altamira. Such finesse. Half the normal production. The best wine ever from the Domaine Barons de Rothschild (Lafite) and Nicolas Catena winery. Drink or hold.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $66
The average price is $66
February Sale Recap
With the beginning of February upon us (and spring closer by the minute) we’re kicking off the February Sale in style. We’ve slashed prices on Tuscan icons, great red Burgundy and classic Cote Rotie. It’s an amazing way to begin the month (provided you like excellent deals on outstanding wines) and we’re excited to bring you more in the days/weeks ahead. As with all of our Sale Wines—these prices are limited to stock on hand, so once we sell out, the sale pricing is gone forever. We have all the new additions below, but you can also view the full list in our web store by clicking here.
Thanks for reading!