In Today’s Newsletter:
Subscriber Special
Cool New Pricing on a Hot Rhone Wine
Featured New Arrival
2012 Cristal: Previously Sold Out, Now Back in Stock!
A New Release from the Best Value in Super Tuscans
New Zinfandel Arrivals from Ridge
Delicious, Ten Year Old Bordeaux, Under $20
Don’t Forget Our Clos de la Chappelle Subscriber Special!
Staff Pick
A Perfectly Balanced Washington Syrah
Trending
Collector’s Corner
A Delicious Vintage of Taittinger’s Comtes
Subscriber Special
Cool New Pricing on a Hot Rhone Wine
Featured New Arrival
2012 Cristal: Previously Sold Out, Now Back in Stock!
A New Release from the Best Value in Super Tuscans
Subscriber Special
Cool New Pricing on a Hot Rhone Wine
Featured New Arrival
2012 Cristal: Previously Sold Out, Now Back in Stock!
A New Release from the Best Value in Super Tuscans
New Zinfandel Arrivals from Ridge
Delicious, Ten Year Old Bordeaux, Under $20
Don’t Forget Our Clos de la Chappelle Subscriber Special!
Staff Pick
A Perfectly Balanced Washington Syrah
Trending
Collector’s Corner
A Delicious Vintage of Taittinger’s Comtes
Subscriber Special
Cool New Pricing on a Hot Rhone Wine
Chateau de Rouanne is a new project from the team at Saint Cosme, located in Vinsobres, in the northern part of the southern Rhone. While Saint Cosme had been buying grapes from Rouanne for years, they recently bought the entire property and the 2018 is the inaugural vintage under the Chateau de Rouanne label. Jeb Dunnuck just reviewed the new (first) release and concludes it’s a winner—exactly what we thought when we tasted it the first time.
Saint Cosme is probably our top selling producer, year in and out. We carry a variety of their wines, from their single vineyard, estate grown Gigondas to their excellent value negociant bottlings from the Northern Rhone. When we heard they had purchased a historic estate in Vinsobres, we had high hopes—and the wine lives up.
Chateau de Rouanne dates back to Roman times, with limestone and sandy marl soils planted to a massale selection of Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre. Vinsobres is pretty far north for the Southern Rhone and reminds us of where Gigondas was 10-15 years ago, both in terms of pricing and climate. In Saint Cosme’s hands, that’s a very, very good thing, as we think you’ll see.
We’ve featured this wine before, but we’re offering you an even better price on this fantastic bottle. At $28, this was a fantastic buy. At $24? Well, this is going to distort our perception of value in the Southern Rhone.
Chateau de Rouanne, Vinsobres 2018 750ML ($31.95) Was $28, Now $24 Subscriber Special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Decanter 90 points “There’s some interest here – it’s just a touch rustic perhaps from the ample use of stems, the tannins are a little fibrous and grainy. A good intensity of fruit however, bright, juicy and fresh. Tannins are pretty fierce, so give it a year or two to settle. There’s a whiff of Provençale herbs and oregano with a saline finish. Alcohol is high, but overall the effect is balanced. A solid start. In organic conversion, old vines on limestone marls. The first vintage since this estate was bought by Louis Barruol of Château de Saint-Cosme.”
Jeb Dunnuck 90 points “The 2018 Vinsobres comes from an estate owned by Louis Barruol (of Château Saint Cosme in Gigondas) and checks in as a blend of 50% Grenache, 40% Syrah, and 10% Mourvèdre, all from a single parcel just outside the village of Vinsobres. Revealing a deep purple, translucent hue as well as lots of mulberry and black raspberry fruit interwoven with notes of ground pepper, violets, and game, it hits the palate with medium-bodied richness, a rounded, supple, elegant texture, notable purity, and outstanding length. Seeming to have one foot in the Northern Rhône with its gamey, violet characteristics and one foot in the south with its richness and opulence on the palate, it’s a terrific, noteworthy Vinsobres to enjoy over the coming 4-6 years.”
Saint Cosme is probably our top selling producer, year in and out. We carry a variety of their wines, from their single vineyard, estate grown Gigondas to their excellent value negociant bottlings from the Northern Rhone. When we heard they had purchased a historic estate in Vinsobres, we had high hopes—and the wine lives up.
Chateau de Rouanne dates back to Roman times, with limestone and sandy marl soils planted to a massale selection of Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre. Vinsobres is pretty far north for the Southern Rhone and reminds us of where Gigondas was 10-15 years ago, both in terms of pricing and climate. In Saint Cosme’s hands, that’s a very, very good thing, as we think you’ll see.
We’ve featured this wine before, but we’re offering you an even better price on this fantastic bottle. At $28, this was a fantastic buy. At $24? Well, this is going to distort our perception of value in the Southern Rhone.
Chateau de Rouanne, Vinsobres 2018 750ML ($31.95) Was $28, Now $24 Subscriber Special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Decanter 90 points “There’s some interest here – it’s just a touch rustic perhaps from the ample use of stems, the tannins are a little fibrous and grainy. A good intensity of fruit however, bright, juicy and fresh. Tannins are pretty fierce, so give it a year or two to settle. There’s a whiff of Provençale herbs and oregano with a saline finish. Alcohol is high, but overall the effect is balanced. A solid start. In organic conversion, old vines on limestone marls. The first vintage since this estate was bought by Louis Barruol of Château de Saint-Cosme.”
Jeb Dunnuck 90 points “The 2018 Vinsobres comes from an estate owned by Louis Barruol (of Château Saint Cosme in Gigondas) and checks in as a blend of 50% Grenache, 40% Syrah, and 10% Mourvèdre, all from a single parcel just outside the village of Vinsobres. Revealing a deep purple, translucent hue as well as lots of mulberry and black raspberry fruit interwoven with notes of ground pepper, violets, and game, it hits the palate with medium-bodied richness, a rounded, supple, elegant texture, notable purity, and outstanding length. Seeming to have one foot in the Northern Rhône with its gamey, violet characteristics and one foot in the south with its richness and opulence on the palate, it’s a terrific, noteworthy Vinsobres to enjoy over the coming 4-6 years.”
Featured New Arrival
2012 Cristal: Previously Sold Out, Now Back in Stock!
One of the most magnificent Champagnes produced in history. A groundbreaking, extravagant and biodynamic release!
Cristal is a Champagne that seems to capture both sheer mineral elegance and poise with an extravagant, rewarding profile. Exquisite and profound, Cristal can capture your imagination while hitting all your pleasure buttons at the same time. We’re excited to announce the re-arrival of the 2012 —the first Cristal release exclusively from biodynamically farmed vineyards and a true landmark vintage for the famed wine.
In a recently published article in the Wine Advocate, William Kelley asks the question we’ve all been seriously considering: “Is Louis Roederer today the greatest of Champagne’s Grandes Marques?” Kelley goes on today to state that the quality of Roederer’s wines, along with their “unparalleled commitment to organic and biodynamic farming” put the venerable estate “two decades ahead of many of their rivals.” Indeed, Jean-Baptiste Lecaillon, Roederer’s chef des caves, asserts that this obsession over farming (already a hallmark for Selosse and every top producer in Burgundy) produces better wines “what he likes to call ‘the pursuit of taste.’”
That renewed commitment to farming shines through in the 2012—one of the best editions in recent memory. We sold out of our initial tranche of the ’12 Cristal, but more just landed in the shop, ready for drinking or cellaring. Like the first round, it probably won’t last very long.
Just Arrived, In Stock Now:
Only twelve bottles available
Louis Roederer Cristal Brut Millesime, Champagne 2012 750ML ($299.95) $249 special
Antonio Galloni 98 points “The 2012 Cristal is another absolutely stellar wine this flight of recent releases. Rich, vinous and beautifully textured, the 2012 has been nothing short of magnificent on the three occasions I have tasted it so far. In the glass, the 2012 is radiant and luscious, yet it possesses remarkable transparency and striking aromatic depth. Light tropical notes develop in the glass, giving the 2012 a real feeling of exotic beauty. The 2012 is the first vintage of Cristal done with 100% organically-farmed fruit, an approach introduced gradually starting with the 2007 that has profoundly changes Cristal, especially in its aromatic breadth. Two thousand twelve is the vintage where endless trials and experiments in farming and winemaking are fully realized. The 2012 is just stunning. It’s as simple as that. Dosage is just over 7 grams per liter, the lowest it has even been for Cristal.”
James Suckling 98 points “Such attractive, fresh, floral aromas here with fine bread, hints of white almonds and a lemon edge. White cherries and strong, chalky minerals, too. The palate has a very composed feel. Seamless and quite silky texture with effortless length and flow. Very fluid and composed. Very late, warming almond flavors. This is very long and smooth with a velvety finish. Super long pinot weight. Resolved and drinkable, but will age so well.”
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 97+ points “Aromas of clear honey, crisp green orchard fruit, white peach, pastry cream and dried white flowers introduce the 2012 Cristal, a full-bodied, concentrated and powerful wine that’s built for the cellar. Broader, more textural and more muscular than the 2008 Cristal, with seemingly even greater reserves of structuring dry extract, the 2012 is incisive and searingly chalky. This is the first Cristal produced exclusively from organically farmed fruit, and it marks the opening of a new chapter for Louis Roderer. The blend is 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay, vinified without malolactic fermentation and disgorged with 7.5 grams per liter dosage. Chef de Caves Jean-Baptiste Lecaillon has once again excelled himself.”
Jancis Robinson 19/20 points “To be launched December 2019 or January 2020. Not affected by the oidium problems experienced elsewhere. 60% Pinot Noir, 40% Chardonnay (the same as 2008). ‘You have to adapt and stay on the blank page. If you try to tick too many boxes, you go in the wrong direction.’ It will be the average age for Cristal launch. It was 2008 that was late. This will be the first 100% biodynamic Cristal. Rich and ripe, like 2002. Pungent nose — straight up the nose. Gorgeous and seductive. Complex and embroidered. Already lovely. 19/20 points.”
Cristal is a Champagne that seems to capture both sheer mineral elegance and poise with an extravagant, rewarding profile. Exquisite and profound, Cristal can capture your imagination while hitting all your pleasure buttons at the same time. We’re excited to announce the re-arrival of the 2012 —the first Cristal release exclusively from biodynamically farmed vineyards and a true landmark vintage for the famed wine.
In a recently published article in the Wine Advocate, William Kelley asks the question we’ve all been seriously considering: “Is Louis Roederer today the greatest of Champagne’s Grandes Marques?” Kelley goes on today to state that the quality of Roederer’s wines, along with their “unparalleled commitment to organic and biodynamic farming” put the venerable estate “two decades ahead of many of their rivals.” Indeed, Jean-Baptiste Lecaillon, Roederer’s chef des caves, asserts that this obsession over farming (already a hallmark for Selosse and every top producer in Burgundy) produces better wines “what he likes to call ‘the pursuit of taste.’”
That renewed commitment to farming shines through in the 2012—one of the best editions in recent memory. We sold out of our initial tranche of the ’12 Cristal, but more just landed in the shop, ready for drinking or cellaring. Like the first round, it probably won’t last very long.
Just Arrived, In Stock Now:
Only twelve bottles available
Louis Roederer Cristal Brut Millesime, Champagne 2012 750ML ($299.95) $249 special
Antonio Galloni 98 points “The 2012 Cristal is another absolutely stellar wine this flight of recent releases. Rich, vinous and beautifully textured, the 2012 has been nothing short of magnificent on the three occasions I have tasted it so far. In the glass, the 2012 is radiant and luscious, yet it possesses remarkable transparency and striking aromatic depth. Light tropical notes develop in the glass, giving the 2012 a real feeling of exotic beauty. The 2012 is the first vintage of Cristal done with 100% organically-farmed fruit, an approach introduced gradually starting with the 2007 that has profoundly changes Cristal, especially in its aromatic breadth. Two thousand twelve is the vintage where endless trials and experiments in farming and winemaking are fully realized. The 2012 is just stunning. It’s as simple as that. Dosage is just over 7 grams per liter, the lowest it has even been for Cristal.”
James Suckling 98 points “Such attractive, fresh, floral aromas here with fine bread, hints of white almonds and a lemon edge. White cherries and strong, chalky minerals, too. The palate has a very composed feel. Seamless and quite silky texture with effortless length and flow. Very fluid and composed. Very late, warming almond flavors. This is very long and smooth with a velvety finish. Super long pinot weight. Resolved and drinkable, but will age so well.”
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 97+ points “Aromas of clear honey, crisp green orchard fruit, white peach, pastry cream and dried white flowers introduce the 2012 Cristal, a full-bodied, concentrated and powerful wine that’s built for the cellar. Broader, more textural and more muscular than the 2008 Cristal, with seemingly even greater reserves of structuring dry extract, the 2012 is incisive and searingly chalky. This is the first Cristal produced exclusively from organically farmed fruit, and it marks the opening of a new chapter for Louis Roderer. The blend is 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay, vinified without malolactic fermentation and disgorged with 7.5 grams per liter dosage. Chef de Caves Jean-Baptiste Lecaillon has once again excelled himself.”
Jancis Robinson 19/20 points “To be launched December 2019 or January 2020. Not affected by the oidium problems experienced elsewhere. 60% Pinot Noir, 40% Chardonnay (the same as 2008). ‘You have to adapt and stay on the blank page. If you try to tick too many boxes, you go in the wrong direction.’ It will be the average age for Cristal launch. It was 2008 that was late. This will be the first 100% biodynamic Cristal. Rich and ripe, like 2002. Pungent nose — straight up the nose. Gorgeous and seductive. Complex and embroidered. Already lovely. 19/20 points.”
A New Release from the Best Value in Super Tuscans
Sette Ponti makes some of the finest Super Tuscans out there. While they’re best known for Oreno, their top-end wine, the wine of note in most years is their value-priced Crognolo. Made with every bit the same care as the flashier Oreno, Crognolo’s Sangiovese dominant blend provides a beautiful drink-now option at less than half the price of the flagship wine. The 2017 just arrived and looks to be an absolute knockout—the warm year bestowed it with more fruit and softer tannins than usual, making this value an early drinker, as well.
In Stock Now:
Tenuta Sette Ponti Crognolo Toscana IGT, Tuscany 2017 750ML ($39.95) $24 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-6 Tenuta Sette Ponti Crognolo Toscana IGT, Tuscany 2017 750ML ($249.95) $132 special (that’s only $22/bottle!)
James Suckling 94 points “A balanced and fresh red for the hot 2017 vintage with medium body, fine tannins and plenty of currants, blackberries and blueberries on the finish. Drink or hold.”
Wine Spectator 93 points “A beam of pure blackberry runs through this otherwise dense and focused red. Shows elegance, with balance and complexity, but needs time to integrate and reveal all its facets. Offers fine, minerally length. Sangiovese and Merlot. Best from 2021 through 2032. 7,500 cases made, 4,000 cases imported.”
In Stock Now:
Tenuta Sette Ponti Crognolo Toscana IGT, Tuscany 2017 750ML ($39.95) $24 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-6 Tenuta Sette Ponti Crognolo Toscana IGT, Tuscany 2017 750ML ($249.95) $132 special (that’s only $22/bottle!)
James Suckling 94 points “A balanced and fresh red for the hot 2017 vintage with medium body, fine tannins and plenty of currants, blackberries and blueberries on the finish. Drink or hold.”
Wine Spectator 93 points “A beam of pure blackberry runs through this otherwise dense and focused red. Shows elegance, with balance and complexity, but needs time to integrate and reveal all its facets. Offers fine, minerally length. Sangiovese and Merlot. Best from 2021 through 2032. 7,500 cases made, 4,000 cases imported.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average listed price is $31
The average listed price is $31
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New Zinfandel Arrivals from Ridge
Ridge is still one of the standard-bearer producers for Zinfandel (and Zinfandel based field blends) in California. We just received a set of three new Zins from them—two from Sonoma, plus their bottling from Dusi Ranch in Paso Robles. As always, these are some of the most noteworthy wines made from the Zinfandel grape.
In Stock Now:
Ridge Vineyards Geyserville, Alexander Valley 2018 750ML ($54.95) $44 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 93 points “Robust yet brooding, with multilayered black plum, licorice and Asian five-spice powder flavors that build richness toward big, briary tannins. Zinfandel, Carignane, Petite Sirah and Alicante Bouschet. Best from 2022 through 2030. 10,500 cases made.”
Ridge Vineyards East Bench Zinfandel, Dry Creek Valley 2018 750ML ($34.95) $30.90 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 92 points “Appealingly old-school and just rustic enough to highlight the vibrant, briary wild berry flavors, laced with dried sage and licorice notes, building tension toward lively tannins. Drink now through 2028. 6,250 cases made.”
Ridge Paso Robles Zinfandel 2018 ($39.95) $36 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Winery Note “Winter was unusually dry. If not for heavy rain in March, the vines would have struggled through summer. Late season heat accelerated ripening for an early September harvest. Fermentations were slow and the wines reached dryness only after being pressed and sent to barrel. Fourteen months in oak has added exotic spice and integrated tannins with its appealing fruit. It will be most enjoy- able over the next seven years. Benito Dusi’s Ranch is the only zinfandel vineyard that Ridge sources from within the Central Coast Viticultural Area. The 1967 vintage was our first wine from the Dusi Ranch. It was planted to zinfandel in 1923 which is unusual because Prohibition had started two years earlier. Purchased by Sylvester and Catarina Dusi in 1924, the property has been farmed since the 1940s by their son Benito, the owner. Benito passed away in 2019, leaving the care of the vineyard to his nephew, Mike”
In Stock Now:
Ridge Vineyards Geyserville, Alexander Valley 2018 750ML ($54.95) $44 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 93 points “Robust yet brooding, with multilayered black plum, licorice and Asian five-spice powder flavors that build richness toward big, briary tannins. Zinfandel, Carignane, Petite Sirah and Alicante Bouschet. Best from 2022 through 2030. 10,500 cases made.”
Ridge Vineyards East Bench Zinfandel, Dry Creek Valley 2018 750ML ($34.95) $30.90 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 92 points “Appealingly old-school and just rustic enough to highlight the vibrant, briary wild berry flavors, laced with dried sage and licorice notes, building tension toward lively tannins. Drink now through 2028. 6,250 cases made.”
Ridge Paso Robles Zinfandel 2018 ($39.95) $36 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Winery Note “Winter was unusually dry. If not for heavy rain in March, the vines would have struggled through summer. Late season heat accelerated ripening for an early September harvest. Fermentations were slow and the wines reached dryness only after being pressed and sent to barrel. Fourteen months in oak has added exotic spice and integrated tannins with its appealing fruit. It will be most enjoy- able over the next seven years. Benito Dusi’s Ranch is the only zinfandel vineyard that Ridge sources from within the Central Coast Viticultural Area. The 1967 vintage was our first wine from the Dusi Ranch. It was planted to zinfandel in 1923 which is unusual because Prohibition had started two years earlier. Purchased by Sylvester and Catarina Dusi in 1924, the property has been farmed since the 1940s by their son Benito, the owner. Benito passed away in 2019, leaving the care of the vineyard to his nephew, Mike”
Delicious, Ten Year Old Bordeaux, Under $20
2009 was one of those exceptional years where every wine seems to drink two to three tiers above its price point. The entry level wines drunk beautifully on release, but those who cellared wisely are now starting to really get the full value out of them—the best under $25 wines from the vintage have really benefited from a decade in the cellar.
Case in point? Chateau Marsau, in the Cotes d Francs. A wine that in its youth was described as having “medium chewy tannins” by James Suckling has mellowed out into a surprisingly complete mature bottle of Bordeaux. Surprisingly complete, by the way, because the wine is still under $20/bottle. Based on recent Cellartracker notes, this is fantastic right now, but if you stocked up you could absolutely drink it over the next half decade. It arrives next week, perfect to ease your quarantine a little bit.
Arriving ETA April 22nd:
Chateau Marsau, Cotes de Francs Bordeaux 2009 750ML ($27.95) $19 pre-arrival special
James Suckling 90 points “A wine, with pleasing blackberries and mushroom character, medium chewy tannins and a fresh clean finish. Full body. Try in 2014.”
Stephen Tanzer 89 points “Medium ruby-red. Pure aromas and flavors of black cherry, menthol and smoky tobacco lifted by a floral quality. Supple and gentle, with attractive sweetness and impressive volume for the price. Juicy and well-delineated too, without any rough edges. Finishes with dusty, tongue-coating tannins and nice length. A merlot like this in this price range would make a popular restaurant wine.”
Case in point? Chateau Marsau, in the Cotes d Francs. A wine that in its youth was described as having “medium chewy tannins” by James Suckling has mellowed out into a surprisingly complete mature bottle of Bordeaux. Surprisingly complete, by the way, because the wine is still under $20/bottle. Based on recent Cellartracker notes, this is fantastic right now, but if you stocked up you could absolutely drink it over the next half decade. It arrives next week, perfect to ease your quarantine a little bit.
Arriving ETA April 22nd:
Chateau Marsau, Cotes de Francs Bordeaux 2009 750ML ($27.95) $19 pre-arrival special
James Suckling 90 points “A wine, with pleasing blackberries and mushroom character, medium chewy tannins and a fresh clean finish. Full body. Try in 2014.”
Stephen Tanzer 89 points “Medium ruby-red. Pure aromas and flavors of black cherry, menthol and smoky tobacco lifted by a floral quality. Supple and gentle, with attractive sweetness and impressive volume for the price. Juicy and well-delineated too, without any rough edges. Finishes with dusty, tongue-coating tannins and nice length. A merlot like this in this price range would make a popular restaurant wine.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average listed price is $26
The average listed price is $26
Don’t Forget
Subscriber Special: Clos de la Chappele
Subscriber Special: Clos de la Chappele
We’ve written extensively on how great we think the Clos de la Chapelle wines are. The domaine has acquired one of the most exceptional collections of vineyards in the Cote de Beaune, with holdings in any number of truly top-class sites. These are wines that are built for the serious Burgundy drinker but are currently undervalued relative to their peers in Volnay.
This is an estate on the rise. Tasting these wines and reading about their attitudes toward winemaking makes it painfully obvious that they are driven in a fundamentally different way from their peers. It won’t be long until Clos de la Chapelle is thought of (and priced with) wines like D’Angerville, Lafon and Lafarge as some of the top bottlings in Volnay.
This is a domaine that’s only been around in its current incarnation since 2011, and yet has already been a featured winery at La Paulee and has received strong reviews from both Burghound and John Gilman. The winery now owns land in an array of the top vineyard sites in Volnay, Pommard and Corton and makes truly excellent renditions of each—with moderate whole cluster use, small amounts of new oak and brilliantly balanced ripeness.
This all screams “collectible estate in the making” but at prices that aren’t quite to that level yet. At some point, you’re going to be bragging to your friends about what a crazy deal you got on the Clos de la Chapelle wines, back in the day—but only if you take advantage of this sale.
Clos de la Chapelle Sale Prices Valid Until Sunday, April 19th at 6PM PT
In Stock Now:
This is an estate on the rise. Tasting these wines and reading about their attitudes toward winemaking makes it painfully obvious that they are driven in a fundamentally different way from their peers. It won’t be long until Clos de la Chapelle is thought of (and priced with) wines like D’Angerville, Lafon and Lafarge as some of the top bottlings in Volnay.
This is a domaine that’s only been around in its current incarnation since 2011, and yet has already been a featured winery at La Paulee and has received strong reviews from both Burghound and John Gilman. The winery now owns land in an array of the top vineyard sites in Volnay, Pommard and Corton and makes truly excellent renditions of each—with moderate whole cluster use, small amounts of new oak and brilliantly balanced ripeness.
This all screams “collectible estate in the making” but at prices that aren’t quite to that level yet. At some point, you’re going to be bragging to your friends about what a crazy deal you got on the Clos de la Chapelle wines, back in the day—but only if you take advantage of this sale.
Clos de la Chapelle Sale Prices Valid Until Sunday, April 19th at 6PM PT
In Stock Now:
Clos de la Chapelle Sale Prices Valid Until Sunday, April 19th at 6PM PT
Want to shop all the sale wines right now?
Just head to our webstore for a full list.
Just head to our webstore for a full list.
Staff Pick
A Perfectly Balanced Washington Syrah
A Perfectly Balanced Washington Syrah
Andy:
In spring I find myself torn between something savory and dark, or perhaps something light and bright: it is pretty clear which wine won this round. The Betz La Serenne is a perennial favorite of mine as it rings true to some of my preferred Northern Rhone wines. There are notes of blackberry, olive, sage, lavender, and smoky fat. Everything is balanced and built to go the distance. Even the fruit, which is fully ripe and enjoyable has a cut to it that shows great quality. I love that the wine has extreme presence in the glass but isn’t overwhelming or flabby. It is indeed quite muscular, but in the way one watches a thoroughbred running a race, not a linebacker smashing through the line. The finish is wonderful; lingering and representative of everything you’d enjoyed previously, but doesn’t add heat or anything out of character. All in all, the ’15 La Serenne might be my favorite Washington State Syrah in the past 5 years. Enjoy now or hold it for another decade – it definitely has the ability to make the distance.
In Stock Now:
Betz Family Winery La Serenne Syrah, Yakima Valley 2015 750ML ($69.95) $59 special, 20 bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 94 points “Coming from the Boushey Vineyard in the Yakima Valley, the 2015 Syrah La Serenne is full-bodied, fresh and elegant, with classic cooler climate Syrah notes of peppery herbs, darker berry fruits, lavender, spring flowers, and smoked earth. It has terrific complexity and glides over the palate, making for a sensational Syrah from Washington State. Drink it anytime over the coming decade.”
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.”
Also in stock from Betz:
Betz Family Winery La Cote Rousse Syrah, Red Mountain 2015 750ML ($79.95) $59 special, 15 bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 96 points “As usual, the 2015 Syrah La Cote Rousse offers a more masculine, structured, mineral-driven style. This cuvée comes all from the warmer Red Mountain AVA and is a power-packed 2015 loaded with notions of black, black fruits, scorched earth, graphite, and charred meats. It’s a big, rich, inky effort, yet like all the wines from this estate has awesome purity of fruit and is impeccably balanced.”
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.”
In spring I find myself torn between something savory and dark, or perhaps something light and bright: it is pretty clear which wine won this round. The Betz La Serenne is a perennial favorite of mine as it rings true to some of my preferred Northern Rhone wines. There are notes of blackberry, olive, sage, lavender, and smoky fat. Everything is balanced and built to go the distance. Even the fruit, which is fully ripe and enjoyable has a cut to it that shows great quality. I love that the wine has extreme presence in the glass but isn’t overwhelming or flabby. It is indeed quite muscular, but in the way one watches a thoroughbred running a race, not a linebacker smashing through the line. The finish is wonderful; lingering and representative of everything you’d enjoyed previously, but doesn’t add heat or anything out of character. All in all, the ’15 La Serenne might be my favorite Washington State Syrah in the past 5 years. Enjoy now or hold it for another decade – it definitely has the ability to make the distance.
In Stock Now:
Betz Family Winery La Serenne Syrah, Yakima Valley 2015 750ML ($69.95) $59 special, 20 bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 94 points “Coming from the Boushey Vineyard in the Yakima Valley, the 2015 Syrah La Serenne is full-bodied, fresh and elegant, with classic cooler climate Syrah notes of peppery herbs, darker berry fruits, lavender, spring flowers, and smoked earth. It has terrific complexity and glides over the palate, making for a sensational Syrah from Washington State. Drink it anytime over the coming decade.”
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.”
Also in stock from Betz:
Betz Family Winery La Cote Rousse Syrah, Red Mountain 2015 750ML ($79.95) $59 special, 15 bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 96 points “As usual, the 2015 Syrah La Cote Rousse offers a more masculine, structured, mineral-driven style. This cuvée comes all from the warmer Red Mountain AVA and is a power-packed 2015 loaded with notions of black, black fruits, scorched earth, graphite, and charred meats. It’s a big, rich, inky effort, yet like all the wines from this estate has awesome purity of fruit and is impeccably balanced.”
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.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
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New score, same great stellar wine.
Goodfellow Family Cellars Richard’s Cuvee Chardonnay, Oregon 2017 750ML ($49.95) $44 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
John Gilman 92+ points “The Whistling Ridge Vineyard lies in the Ribbon Ridge AVA. It was first planted in 1990 (with these chardonnay vines going in the ground in 1995) and has a southeasterly exposition and sits high up on its ridge top, with cooling breezes coming in every afternoon and evening. The 2017 Richard’s Cuvée bottling reflects this cooler microclimate, coming in at 12.5 percent octane and offering up a lovely and quite floral bouquet of white peach, pear, fresh almond, lovely soil tones, white lilies and a touch of vanillin oak. On the palate the wine is pure, fullish and very elegant in profile, with fine soil signature, a good core of fruit, bright acids and fine focus and grip on the long and complex finish. This is lovely. 2020-2040. 92+.”
Winery Note “Subtle, nuanced, beautiful, and incredibly fine; the 2017 Richard’s Cuvée was sourced from a single 820L foudre of Chardonnay from Whistling Ridge Vineyard. The wine shows extraordinary balance and layering, with lemon curd, sea air, almond blossom and delicate smoke. Forest moss, meyer lemon, summer grasses, salt stones and wild ginger. The palate has tremendous build, yet remains essentially a reflective wine.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Legendary bottling from a legendary year means magic.
Pol Roger Cuvee Sir Winston Churchill Brut, Champagne 2008 750ML ($299.95) $259 special, 12 bottles in stock now
#4 -Top 100 Wine Enthusiast Cellar Selections 2018
Wine Enthusiast 100 points “One of the great Champagnes both for its richness and its longevity, this latest incarnation is superb. The wine’s richness is linked to the ripe fruit and the dominance of Pinot Noir in the blend. It also shines in the perfect balance between the texture, the minerality and the integration of the fruit. It can be enjoyed now, but it will be better from 2020 and then for many years to come.”
Wine Advocate 97 points “Released in October of last year, Pol Roger’s 2008 Cuvée Sir Winston Churchill is showing brilliantly, unfurling in the glass with a complex bouquet of waxy citrus rind, dried white flowers, freshly baked bread, iodine and honeyed yellow apple. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied, powerful and vinous, with a deep and multidimensional core, broad structural shoulders and considerable concentration, girdled by tangy acids and displaying a youthfully frothy but incipiently fine mousse. The finish is long and intense. This is a terrific rendition of this reliably superb cuvée and well worth seeking out.(WK)”
Wine Spectator 96 points “This lovely, elegant version is more about restraint and finesse than power, caressing the palate with a silky mousse and a finely woven range of ripe Asian pear, biscuit and star fruit flavors, accented by elderflower, ground ginger and almond skin notes. Lightly mouthwatering, expanding on the chalk-tinged finish. Drink now through 2033. 700 cases imported. — AN”
Under $30 Barolo? Fuggeddaboutit. Unless it’s Veglio, in which case, it’s under $25.
Veglio Michelino & Figlio Barolo DOCG, Piedmont 2015 750ML ($39.95) $24 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
James Suckling 92 points “Some swanky, glossy oak adds toffee aromas to the ripe red cherries. Plenty of vanilla here, too. The palate delivers a fullish and round impression with plenty of oak again in the mix. Praline and ripe red cherries in abundance here. Try from 2022.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
A perfect bistro wine for when you have a roast chicken and can’t leave the house.
Domaine Charles Joguet Chinon Les Petites Roches, Loire 2016 750ML ($29.95) $21.90 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-12 Domaine Charles Joguet Chinon Les Petites Roches, Loire 2016 750ML ($359.95) $219 special (that’s only $18.25/bottle and the lowest listed price in the USA today!)
Domaine Charles Joguet Chinon Les Petites Roches, Loire 2016 1.5L ($59.95) $49 special, 3 magnums in stock now
Importer Note “When Charles Joguet took over the family vineyards in 1957, he set out to do something that was unheard of in the Loire Valley. Rather than blending all the fruit from his varied parcels, he opted for a more Burgundian approach and began vinifying each individually, highlighting Chinon’s diversity of soils and exposures and playing with the nuances of vine age to propose a gamut of different wines of unique character. It is in this spirit that the domaine’s current vigneron, Kevin Fontaine, crafts the cuvée Les Petites Roches, named for the estate’s gravelly terroirs. Given light treatment in the cellar, this wine shows off Cabernet in its most delicate, charming form, rife with aromas of roses, damp earth, and little red berries, along with a gentle tannin holding it all together. This classic representation of Cabernet Franc from Chinon can be enjoyed over the next five or so years with roast chicken, pork chops, or game.”
The average price is $23
The flagship estate of Gigondas continues to over-deliver and y’all continue to love it.
Chateau de Saint Cosme Gigondas, Rhone 2017 750ML ($49.95) $39 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-12 Chateau de Saint Cosme Gigondas, Rhone 2017 750ML ($599.95) $419 special (that’s only $34.92/bottle and the lowest listed price in the USA today!)
Grapelive 96 points “Louis Barruol’s Chateau de Saint Cosme Gigondas is one of the most iconic Rhone wines. [It’s] certainly one of the greatest in terms of quality and value and one of my absolutely favorite wines. Almost nothing comes close in terms of drinking pleasure for the money, and this 2017 is just awesome, beautifully lush and richly textured, but with fine balance, spiciness and serious palate impact. As noted in my long history of reviews, the Chateau de Saint Cosme estate is located north to the village of Gigondas and is one of the oldest wineries in the region. It stands on an ancient Gallo-Roman villa which very probably already had its own vineyards. Records show that it was founded at least as far back as 1416 with Barruol’s family buying the famous site in 1570. Set in a slightly cooler zone of the appellation, Saint Cosme’s vines are on mainly the classic limestone marl and Miocene sandy soils, all wonderfully situated to produce profound wines, which this year’s Gigondas is, no question. There’s plenty of stuffing and structure, making for a wine with instant gratification, but that can age a long time in the cellar… Cha^teau de Saint Cosme 2017 Gigondas was made using about 70% Grenache, 14% Syrah, 15% Mourve`dre and 1% Cinsault. Brilliant in detailing, this vintage has an underlying beauty and perfume, while still being dense and powerful. It’s a thrilling whole cluster version, which adds more dimension and a sultry earthiness that sets against the deep fruit perfectly… this wine blows away many Chateauneuf du Pape(s) that sell for two or three times the price. Layered with a core of vinous black fruits, this Saint Cosme Gigondas shows boysenberry, creme de cassis, dark plum, pomegranate and misson figs along with violets, cinnamon, dried lavender plus a touch of bitter chocolate, leather, cedar and black licorice. The inky purple-hued 2017 edition, pretty much as per normal was aged for twelve months, getting about 20% in new oak, which I believe are puncheons, with close to 50% of the wine resting in casks used for 1 to 4 fills and 30% in concrete vat, giving it a well-rounded mouth feel and exceptional purity. Barruol’s wines are always hedonistic and authentic in style. They and in particular this one never disappoint, especially with hearty cuisine. I suggest that you don’t miss this vintage!“
Wine Spectator 93 points “($60)This offers a mix of dark cherry, currant and blackberry compote flavors, scored liberally with singed alder, dried sage and warm earth accents through the finish. A flash of chestnut at the very end keeps this in the old-school camp. Solid for the vintage. Best from 2022 through 2035.”
Jeb Dunnuck 93 points “The 2017 Gigondas is another terrific vintage for this cuvée, and it’s a quintessential expression of Saint Cosme. Ground herbs, graphite, gunpowder, pepper, black raspberries, and cassis all emerge from this full-bodied, ripe, polished Gigondas. With solid concentration, building yet ripe tannins, and a great finish, you’ll be thrilled to have a case in the cellar.”
Collector’s Corner
A Delicious Vintage of Taittinger’s Comtes
Taittinger’s Comtes de Champagne is a benchmark bottling. It’s consistently in the top handful of Blanc de Blancs in years it’s released and few other wines have a similar track record for ageability, complexity and sheer deliciousness. It’s a bit of a value, too—this wine delivers at a level similar to the Krugs, Cristals and Sir Winston Churchills of the world but at a much better tariff. That price is especially low on what will likely be our final delivery of the delicious 2007 version. Grab it now while you can.
In Stock Now:
Taittinger Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blancs Brut, Champagne 2007 750ML ($179.95) $125 special, 10 bottles in stock now
James Suckling 98 points “This is a step up from the linear and fresh 2006. It shows subtle depth and power with a dense block of vivid fruit that’s highlighted with lemon zest, green apples and hints of white peaches. Just the right amount of praline and nuts on the nose. Fine and tight bead give the Champagne a luxurious mouthfeel. One for now or the cellar. Drink or hold.”
Antonio Galloni 96 points “Taittinger’s 2007 Comtes de Champagne will be nearly impossible to resist upon release. Soaring aromatics, mid-weight structure and soft contours give the 2007 its alluring personality. Lemon oil, white flowers, mint, chamomile and green pear add brightness and freshness throughout, with a persistent, clean finish that makes it impossible to resist a second taste. Today, the 2007 comes across as a slightly more open version of the 2004, with freshness that makes that wine so appealing, and a touch of textural richness that recalls the 2002. Although the 2007 does not have the explosive energy or verticality of the profound 2006, it will drink better earlier. The 2007 has been positively brilliant on the three occasions I have tasted it so far.”
Wine Advocate 95 points “Taittinger’s prestigious Comtes de Champagne is composed entirely of Chardonnay grapes from the Grand Cru villages of Avize, Chouilly, Cramant, Mesnil-sur-Oger and Oger (Côte des Blancs). The citrus-golden colored 2007 Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blancs is the fourth in a row after the 2004 vintage (which will be followed by 2008 whereas there will be no Comtes from 2009, 2010 and 2011) and opens with a nobly intense yet nuanced bouquet of ripe fruits, chalk, iodine and a touch of brioche. The wine indicates a coolish and precise character on the clear, flinty nose that develops lemon, pastry and floral notes. On the palate, this is Taittinger at its best: clear, fresh, lush and elegant, offering both sensuality and noble elegance. The 2007 reveals great finesse and is a perfect expression of both the Taittinger style and the Côte de Blancs. The wine (of which 5% has spent four months in oak barrels to give roundness and a touch of toast) is tightly woven, well concentrated and even juicy yet always clear, fresh, pure, fine and elegant. The finish is intense, clean, vivacious and complex, with good grip and lingering salty minerals that indicate good aging potential. Disgorged in October 2017; tasted in May 2018.”
Thanks for reading!