K Vintners Spring Release
New Jeb Dunnuck Reviews for Top Northern Rhones
New Releases From K Vintners’ Winemaker B. Leighton
A Rosé Steal from a Chateauneuf Master
Trending Wines
Staff Pick: The Other Side of Sauvignon
Arnot-Roberts’ Visionary California Wines
Thörle isn’t the Next Keller, They’re the First Thörle
Just Arrived
K Vintners Spring Release
At this point, Charles Smith is one of the defining wine makers for what might be the modern Washington style. His wines are big, rich, and ripe but polished. They show distinct differences between the vineyards and always have a hint of that savory, bacon-y quality that Syrah can bring to the table like nothing else. The only thing we can complain about is that we can’t carry them more often.
The spring release just arrived today and will receive high scores and move briskly, if past is precedent. Stock up before these wines get their usual 93-99 point praise and the wines sell out!
Just Arrived, In Stock Now:
K Vintners The Creator Cabernet – Syrah, Walla Walla Valley 2016 750ML ($59.95) $49 special
Winery note “This is the Creator. Dense, dark, deep. It opens with black plum, olive, tobacco and expansive palate. Blackberry cool ash, gunpowder, graphite that soar forever on a long and satisfying finish. 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Syrah / Whole berry (Cab) and whole cluster (Syrah) fermentation / Native yeast / 39 days on skins / 50% new, 50% neutral French oak barriques + puncheons / 21 mo. barrel-aged on lees.”
Winery note “This wine smells really good. It is really good! Energy galore, a focused palate. Aroma of undergrowth, raspberry, plum, sandalwood, anise, marjoram and cured meat. All culminating in a lush, taunt delivery and an unending finish. Yes, really good! 100% Syrah / 100% whole cluster pressed / Native yeast / 40 days on skins / 40% new French oak puncheons / 20 mo. barrel-aged on lees.”
Winery note “Purity speaks! A creature of its vineyard. Stone, Asian five spice, game, cocoa, dried herbs and cold riverbed aromas that waft up from the glass and fill your senses with the most amazing perfume. WOW. 100% Syrah / 100% whole cluster pressed / Native yeast / 35 days on skins / 21 mo. barrel-aged on lees.”
Winery note “Not shy to say, super expressive! Classic in approach which abounds with plum, black cherry, sandalwood, layered along with cured meat, white pepper and minerals. Voluminous, velvet and pure. Another milestone in the history that is M.C.K. 100% Syrah / 100% whole cluster pressed / Native yeast / 47 days on skins / 25% new French oak puncheons / 20 mo. barrel-aged on lees.”
Also In Stock from K Vintners:
K Vintners The Boy Grenache, Walla Walla Valley 2015 750ML ($59.95) $49 special
Wine Advocate 96 points “Translucent ruby in hue, the 2015 The Boy is superb, wafting from the glass with aromas of Griotte cherry, rose hip, licorice and kirsch. On the palate, it’s full-bodied, satiny and expansive, with beautifully refined tannins, superb concentration and a long, lingeringly fragrant finish. Reminiscent of a top vintage of Emmanuel Reynaud’s Château des Tours, this belongs on any short list of the best Grenache being produced in North America.”
K Vintners The Deal Sundance Vineyard Syrah, Columbia Valley 2015 750ML ($49.95) $39 special
Jeb Dunnuck 95 points “All from the Sundance Vineyard on the Wahluke Slope, the 2015 Syrah The Deal (100% Syrah, not destemmed and aged in 30% new puncheons) offers smoking notes of red and black fruits, black olive, smoked earth and a huge meatiness. Full-bodied, silky and seamless, with a rock, mineral, backward style.”
K Vintners ‘Ovide’ Jack’s Vineyard Cabernet – Syrah, Walla Walla Valley 2015 750ML ($59.95) $49 special
Jeb Dunnuck 95 points “The 2015 Cabernet / Syrah Ovide Jack’s Vineyard is named after Charles’ father and comes from a site next to River Rock, both in the Rocks region of the Walla Walla Valley. A blend of 70/30 Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah, its deep ruby color is followed by a terrific bouquet of blackcurrants, tapenade, dried earth and dried herbs. It’s rich, full-bodied, and concentrated, with beautiful depth.”
New Jeb Dunnuck Reviews
For Top Northern Rhone Estates
“This is another estate that’s slowly passing to the next generation, with sons Kevin and Fabien taking more of a lead role these days. Winemaking is largely traditional, with small amounts of destemming, a long maceration, roughly 18 months in 20-25% new oak (which is both shorter and less new oak than in the past), and bottling occurring with no fining or filtration. While both vintages reviewed here are incredibly strong, the 2017s are the finest wines I’ve tasted from the domaine.”-JD
Domaine Garon Condrieu La Vieille Maison 2017 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 23 bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 94 points “The 2017 Condrieu La Vieille Maison from Garon shows the richer style of the estate nicely. Buttered peach, tropical fruits, white flowers, and honeysuckle notes all flow to a rich, beautifully textured 2017 that has plenty of richness and depth, notable purity of fruit, and a rounded, textured, rich and full-bodied style on the palate. Drink it over the coming couple of years.”
Domaine Garon Cote Rotie Lancement 2016 750ML ($179.95) $138 special, 5 bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 94 points “The terroir always seems to yield a complex, aromatic style of Côte Rôtie, and the 2016 Côte Rôtie Lancement is just that. Fabulous notes of black raspberries, blackberries, rose petals, decayed flowers, and cured meats all flow to a medium to full-bodied, seamless 2016 that’s all about grace and elegance. It has fine tannins but is beautifully balanced and already approachable.”
Domaine Garon Cote Rotie Les Rochins 2016 750ML ($119.95) $89 special, 6 bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 95 points “Lastly, the 2016 Côte Rôtie Les Rochins sports a deep, inky color and a huge nose of crème de cassis, black raspberries, beef blood, bacon fat, and Asian spices. This total thriller of a wine is medium to full-bodied, has ultra-fine tannins, a stacked mid-palate, and a great finish. Drink it any time over the coming 15+ years.”
Domaine Garon Cote Rotie Les Triotes 2016 750ML ($69.95) $59 special, 36 bottles in stock now
Domaine Garon Cote Rotie Les Triotes 2016 1.5L ($149.95) $119 special, 5 magnums in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 92 points “The 2016 Côte Rôtie Les Triotes offers a darker, smokier style with meaty notes of red and black fruits, crushed rocks, spice box, and violets. Medium-bodied, rounded, and nicely textured on the palate, it lacks the seamless texture of the other two wines here but is still one seriously impressive wine.”
Domaine Garon Cote Rotie Sybarine 2017 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 24 bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 93-95 points “The 2017 Côte Rôtie Sybarine is in the same ballpark, with complex notes of black raspberry and cassis fruits intermixed with lots of dried flowers, violets, spice, and licorice. It’s medium to full-bodied, has silky tannins, and is another awesome looking barrel sample from this estate, which seems to have hit another level with these new releases.”
Also Newly Reviewed by Jeb Dunnuck:
Rene Rostaing Cote Rotie Ampodium 2016 750ML ($99.95) $89 special, 3 bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 93 points “Moving to the 2016s and starting with the 2016 Côte Rôtie Ampodium, this beautiful, silky, incredibly elegant wine has classic notes of red and black fruits, spring flowers, hints of bacon fat as well as green olive. Medium-bodied, about as graceful and elegant as they come, with sweet tannins and a great finish, it’s a no-brainer purchase to drink over the coming 10-15 years. I followed this bottle for two days and it does best with a decant if drinking any time soon.”
Rene Rostaing Cote Rotie Cote Blonde 2016 750ML ($249.95) $199 special, 1 bottle in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 96 points “Lastly, the 2016 Côte Rôtie Côte Blonde is more seamless and elegant, with a more perfumed, pretty style in its red and black raspberry fruits, crushed flowers, game, violets, and crushed rocks. Medium to full-bodied, ethereal, seamless, and incredibly polished, it has building tannins, no hard edges, and a great, great finish. Where the La Landonne is all meat and smoke, this is floral and red fruit-driven. Hide bottles for 2-4 years and enjoy over the following 15-20.”
Guigal Saint Joseph Lieu Dit Saint Joseph Blanc 2016 750ML ($69.95) $69 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 94 points “I was blown away by the 2016 Saint Joseph Lieu Dit Saint Joseph Blanc, which is up with some of the top vintages of this cuvée. Terrific notes of sautéed white peach, caramelized citrus, brioche and crème brûlée all give way to a medium to full-bodied, seamless, impressively balanced white. Coming from the namesake vineyard of the appellation, a south facing, granite hillside south of Tournon, this beauty will keep for over a decade.”
On Vincent Paris:
“It’s important to understand the three Cornas cuvées from the young Vincent Paris. The Granite 30 is a younger vine cuvée from less steep hillside parcels (roughly 30 degrees), and it’s mostly destemmed and brought up in a mix of mostly used barrels. There are about 1,000 cases produced. The Granite 60 comes from older vines in the Patou, Les Mazards and Sauman lieux-dits, and steep slopes (60 degrees, which is where the cuvée gets its name). This cuvée sees some stem inclusion and a similar time in mostly used barrels. This cuvée is normally a solid step up in depth and quality over the Granite 30. Roughly 400 cases is a normal production level for this release. Lastly, the La Geynale comes from the oldest vines of the estate, which were planted in 1910 and are located in the Geynale and Reynard lieux-dit. This cuvée sees very little destemming and is aged in, again, mostly neutral barrels. This is always the most backward, classically styled release in the lineup and takes a few years to integrate its stems. Nevertheless, it’s an incredible Cornas.”-JD
In Stock Now:
Vincent Paris Cornas Granit 30 2016 750ML ($39.95) $33 special, 36 bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 91 points “The 2016 Cornas Granit 30 is another winner from this estate. Ultra-pure notes of cassis, blackberries, leafy herbs, liquid violets and pepper all emerge from the glass. It’s balanced, medium to full-bodied, and textured on the palate, with the balance and purity that this estate has become known for front and center.”
Vincent Paris Cornas Granit 60 2016 750ML ($69.95) $55 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 95+ points “The 2016 Cornas Granit 60 is more backward and reticent, with smoky dark fruits, earthy minerality, pepper, and bouquet garni aromas and flavors. Deep, pure, and concentrated, it’s a big, rich wine, yet it stays polished and elegant on the palate, with a straight, focused style that builds with time in the glass. Just a brilliant wine, it can be drunk today with incredible pleasure or cellared for 10-15 years. Bravo!”
Vincent Paris Cornas La Geynale 2016 750ML ($89.95) $69 special, 16 bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 95 points “The 2016 Cornas Geynale comes all from a single vineyard (the Geynale lieu-dit) and is never destemmed. It has rockingly old school notes of currants, cedarwood, ground pepper, and cured meats. Deep, rich, layered, beautifully textured on the palate, it’s just loaded with charm, has terrific balance, no hard edges, and a big finish. It’s surprisingly accessible (this cuvée almost always requires short-term cellaring) but is going to cruise for two decades on its balance.”
Arriving Later this Spring:
Vincent Paris Cornas Granit 30 2017 750ML ($49.95) $39 pre-arrival special
Jeb Dunnuck 91-93 points “The 2017 Cornas Granit 30 shows a fresher, elegant, polished style as well as perfumed notes of black raspberries, crème de cassis, crushed violets, and hints of bouquet garni. Floral, elegant, and medium-bodied, it’s just a pretty, elegant, juicy wine that’s going to benefit from short-term cellaring and drink nicely for a decade.”
Vincent Paris Cornas Granit 60 2017 750ML ($69.95) $59 pre-arrival special
Jeb Dunnuck 93-95+ points “Similar colored, the 2017 Cornas Granit 60 comes from further up the slope and older vines. It offers a deeper, richer bouquet of black and blue fruits, smoked earth, violets, and ground pepper. Deep, full-bodied, thrillingly pure and elegant, yet still with classic Cornas density, power, and length, it’s another gem of a wine from this incredibly talented winemaker.”
Vincent Paris Cornas Geynale 2017 750ML ($79.95) $69 pre-arrival special
Jeb Dunnuck 94-96 points “The 2017 Cornas Geynale is the only wine in the lineup to not be destemmed and it comes all from the La Geynale lieu-dit. Deep saturated purple-colored, with beautiful notes of blackcurrants, smoked herbs, earth, pepper, and tons of meatiness, it’s certainly the most classic in style, as well as structured and tannic. Give this full-bodied beauty 2-4 years of bottle age and it’s going to drink nicely for 10-15 years or more. It’s an awesome wine for the true Cornas lovers out there.”
On Courbis:
“These 2016s and 2017s from the Courbis brothers are terrific follow-ons to their brilliant 2015s. The 2016 Cornas are some of the finest in the vintage and have sexy, ripe profiles that offer more pleasure than most. The 2017s are in the same ballpark, with slightly more upfront charm and approachability. In addition to the Cornas releases, this team is turning out some heavenly Saint Josephs!” -JD
Arriving ETA April:
Domaine Courbis Cornas Les Eygats 2016 750ML ($89.95) $69 pre-arrival special
Jeb Dunnuck 96 points “The 2016 Cornas Les Eygats is the gem in 2016 and has a fresh, focused, backward style that carries notes of crème de cassis, spring flowers, pepper, and crushed rocks. With full-bodied richness, good acidity, and impeccable balance, it’s a brilliant wine, but it’s going to need 2-3 years of bottle age to show its full potential.”
New Releases From K Vintners’ Winemaker B. Leighton
These are do-not-miss wines for anyone who loves the K wines and old school, Rhone inflected Washington State reds. Full of generous fruit and beautiful earthy and floral tones, these are wines that are powerful and delicious on release, but have the track record and pedigree to age. These arrive in small quantities in a few weeks and we couldn’t be more excited.
Just Arrived, In Stock Now:
B. Leighton Olsen’s Brothers Vineyard Syrah, Yakima Valley 2016 750ML ($59.95) $45 special
Case-12 B. Leighton Olsen’s Brothers Vineyard Syrah, Yakima Valley 2016 750ML ($599.95) $479 pre-arrival special (that’s only $39.92/bottle!)
Stephen Tanzer 93 points “(from the Phelps clone of Syrah, which was brought up to Red Willow vineyard by David Lake in 1986): Bright, dark red. Sexy scents of raspberry, brown spices, black pepper and flowers are Côte-Rôtie-like in their soil-driven wildness. Tight and savory on the palate, with juicy dark berry and spice flavors showing terrific inner-mouth definition and energy. The firmly tannic finish features a note of roasted nuts and excellent rising length. Just 10% new oak here. Superb.”
Charles Smith / K Vintners Winery Note “Deep, dark, and brooding. Dare I say seductive? Black plum, exotic owers, grilled meats, sage, and wet earth. Finishes bold and lovely with purity. This wine is dynamic!100% Syrah / 100% whole cluster pressed / Native yeast / 39 days on skins / 20% new, 80% once-used French oak puncheons / 19 mo. barrel-aged on lees.”
Stephen Tanzer 93 points “(a field blend from vines planted in 2009 on volcanic soil at an altitude of 1,200 feet; winemaker Brennon Leighton originally created this wine for his wife, who loves Domaine Tempier; aged in neutral demi-muid and 500-liter puncheons): Medium red with a palish rim. Subtly scented aromas of strawberry, cranberry, spices, red licorice, tree bark and rose petal. Supple, savory and fine-grained, with an essentially gentle texture enlivened by spice and tree bark notes and nicely integrated acidity. This is really quite complex and suave, with its restrained sweetness countered by salinity and a light touch. If this blend doesn’t possess quite the body of the 2015, it has every bit as much energy and spicy persistence, not to mention excellent retention of fresh fruit. Finishes with a firm spine of ripe tannins. Another singular wine from the multi-talented Leighton. (14.5% alcohol)”
Charles Smith / K Vintners Winery Note “Another year, another beauty to be thankful for. Very expressive and vibrant with currants, cherries, fresh tobacco and star anise. This wine twists and turns broadly, but with focus, continuing with cured meats to a warm gravel finish.70% Mourvedre, 25% Grenache, 5% Syrah / 100% co-fermented and whole cluster pressed / Native yeast / 33 days on skins / 100% neutral French oak puncheons / 19 mo. barrel-aged on lees.”
A Rosé Steal from a Chateauneuf Master
Arriving Late This Month:
Pegau ‘Pink Pegau’ Rose, Vin de France 2017 750ML ($21.95) $14 pre-arrival special
Case-12 Pegau ‘Pink Pegau’ Rose, Vin de France 2017 750ML ($249.95) $149 pre-arrival special (that’s only $12.42/bottle!)
Wine Advocate 91 points “The plump, medium-bodied 2017 Vin de France Rose is a bit darker and richer than normal, but that’s just fine with me. Raspberry and watermelon flavors pack in more spice than usual as well, giving it more complexity and flavor interest than in the past, including a savory edge to the finish. It should drink well for at least a year.”
Josh Raynolds 90 points “Light, bright orange. Musky cherry, red berry and orange zest aromas show very good clarity and pick up a minerally nuance with air. Chewy, focused and light on its feet, offering biter cherry and redcurrant flavors that take a sweeter turn and deepen on the back half. The mineral note repeats on a long, incisive finish that leaves a hint of juicy raspberry behind.”
Looking for the best selection of rosé around? We’ve got it. 75 different bottlings in stock and arriving weekly—just click here to view all of them in our web store.
Chateau Gassier Cotes de Provence ‘Esprit Gassier’ Rose, 2018 750ML ($21.95) $18 special
Case-12 Chateau Gassier Cotes de Provence ‘Esprit Gassier’ Rose, 2018 750ML ($249.95) $196 special
Importer Note “‘Esprit Gassier’ is the ‘Gassier Spirit’ that combines the exceptional terroir of the Sainte-Victoire region with Côtes de Provence varietals to produce a wine that expresses the family’s passion, expertise and creativity. The beautiful label, designed by a local artist, is silk-screened on the bottle to create a striking package. A very clear rosé with shades of peach. Intense nose with delicate aromas of white flowers and white fruit (peach). A second nose unveils spicy notes as well as scents of clementine. The mouth is round with notes of citrus fruits and a slight and healthy final acidity.”
Johan Vineyards Estate Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2015 750ML ($31.95) $28 special
John Gilman 93+ points “The 2015 Estate Vineyard pinot noir from Johan Vineyards comes in at a cool 12.5 percent octane, was fermented with a bit more than forty percent whole clusters and was raised in thirty percent new oak in this vintage. The wine offers up a beautifully youthful bouquet of cherries, red berries, beet root, a fair bit of youthful sweet stem tones, a complex base of soil, a touch of mustard seed and a discreet framing of cedary oak. On the palate the wine is pure, tangy and full-bodied, with a lovely core of fruit, excellent mineral drive, moderate tannins and a very long, complex and youthful finish. This needs four or five years of bottle age to allow its stems to morph into the spice spectrum (unless one is not deterred by the more savory side of whole clusters), but it is going to be flat out stunning when it really starts to settle into its plateau of maturity. 2024-2055+”
Quinta da Falorca Reserva Lagar, Dao 2011 750ML ($59.95) $39 special
Wine Advocate 95 points “The 2011 Reserva Quinta Da Falorca Lagar is a blend of Touriga Nacional (70%), Alfrocheiro (15%) and Tinta Roriz (15)%, aged for 18 months in new French oak. On opening, this didn’t seem anywhere near as silky as the Touriga Nacional, also reviewed. On the second day, if anything, it was more so, very Burgundian and very graceful, but also more powerful, with a bit more astringency on the finish. There are expressive fruit flavors around the edges, but, as with the Touriga, this is unevolved and needs time despite its late release.”
Domaine des Bosquets Gigondas Le Lieu Dit, Rhone 2016 750ML ($79.95) $59 special
Jeb Dunnuck 97 points “From a cooler terroir of sandy soils just beside the domaine, the 2016 Gigondas Le Lieu Dit is another tour de force from this brilliant estate. It sports a medium ruby color as well as a rocking bouquet of kirsch, blackberry liqueur, rose petals, damp earth, incense, and spice. Ultra-fine, seamless, elegant, and pure, it’s nevertheless powerful and rich, with awesome intensity. Readers need to snatch up this blockbuster.”
Jeb Dunnuck 96-98 points “The 2016 Gigondas Le Lieu-Dit is also 100% Grenache and comes from a parcel just beside the winery. This is a cooler, sandy terroir and the style of this cuvée is dramatically different than the La Colline cuvée, showing a much more finesse-driven, elegant, ethereal style. Nevertheless, the 2016 is one of the larger, richer example of the cuvée and sports a deep, inky color as well as to die for notes of black raspberries, crème de cassis, crushed pepper, and ground herbs. With full-bodied richness, polished, sweet tannin, no hard edges and a fabulous length, it’s another best to date cuvée from this estate.”
Wine Spectator 95 points “Deliciously ripe, featuring a bright and lively display of red currant, raspberry and blackberry coulis flavors that race along, underscored by fine but persistent chalky tannins and backed by lilac, violet, rooibos tea and savory notes along the way. The long finish ripples with fresh acidity. Best from 2020 through 2036.”
Fizzay! Bright! Crushable!
Ameztoi Rubentis Rosado, Getariako Txakolina 2018 750ML ($24.95) $19.90 special
VinopolNote: The long-awaited and lightly fizzy pink from the Basque region in Spain! A staff favorite. Always light, bright, fresh, salty and fun. The perfect aperitif wine for spring and summer.
Chateau Bel-Air, Pomerol 2010 750ML ($37.95) $28 special
Case-12 Chateau Bel-Air, Pomerol 2010 750ML ($419.95) $299 special (that’s only $24.92/bottle!)
Grapelive 92 points “The vintage shows through here without question, a great year makes this lovely Pomerol a terrific value and wonderfully textured wine from Chateau Bel-Air. This dark and full bodied Pomerol hits all the right notes and does so with class, vitality and verve. It shows beautiful detail and complexity in a forceful, but elegantly pure Merlot. This is really seductive stuff in the glass, holding its own against far more expensive labels with ease and poise. The rich layers of fruit, mineral tones and sweet tannin give decadence and refined structure, highlighting Merlot’s promise in a world that sometimes lacks the respect of this often maligned varietal. Chateau Bel-Air has captured in the bottle the right bank’s charm and beauty in this 2010, it shows terroir, with subtle loamy/earth, plummy dense mouth feel and stylish silken length with a wine that has the potential to age another 10 to 15 years, but is pretty darn good right now too. The lead off here is dark floral tones a hint of smoky cedar and black cherry fruit with blackberry, plum, dark kirsch liqueur along with a touch of mint, dried clay, a touch of cigar wrapper and vanilla. This fine Bordeaux delivers well beyond its price and is wonderful with food choices that range from duck breast, lamb, roast pork, wild mushroom dishes to prime rib, and or any comforting winter fare really, and it can also be enjoyed with cheeses or on its own. This is the kind of wine that brings you back to Bordeaux, and certainly makes you wonder why you don’t drink more Merlot. Drink this Chateau Bel-Air Pomerol from 2016 to 2028.”
The next best price is $39.99
Weingut Willi Schaefer Graacher Domprobst Riesling Spatlese #10, Mosel 2016 750ML ($44.95) $39 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.”
The Other Side of Sauvignon
Sauvignon Blanc is one of the most misunderstood grapes out there, which is a shame. In the right hands, the grape can deliver complexity, nuance and a strong sense of place. Granted, those wines seem to be the exception and most bottlings out there are monochromatically grape-fruity, herbal or worse. That’s all the more reason to love the Sauvignons from Francois Plouzeau—these are quite exceptional wines.
Plouzeau harvests his Sauvignon Blanc on the riper side, meaning that they display richer textures and fruit that moves beyond citrus, all while retaining minerality and levity that you’d expect from a naturally high-acid grape. We carry two cuvees from the star winemaker. The first is his “Blanc de la Mariee” which is made entirely in concrete tanks and displays a taut structure and palpable energy. It’s really good (especially for the price) but his “Cendrillon” is even better. Raised mostly in larger, older barrels, the wine takes on a texture and profile that’s beguiling, with some exotic fruit notes mingling with the classic Sancerre-type Sauvignon flavors. This is a wine that makes a lot of industrial $30 Sancerre taste positively boring. Both are in stock now in limited quantities, but shouldn’t be for too much longer if they got the attention they merit.
Domaine de la Garreliere Touraine ‘Le Blanc de la Mariee’, Loire 2017 750ML ($21.95) $18 special
100% Sauvignon Blanc.
Importer Note “Absolutely not the run of the mill high-yield, machine-harvested, green and acid Touraine Sauvignon. And that can be a problem–because many people are so used to the hyper brisk norm that they don’t know what to do with a textured wine like this. La Mariée is the right stuff.”
Importer Note “This wine is made from the best Sauvignon Blanc grapes from the old biodynamic vineyards that surround the cellar on the hill outside the village of Richelieu. It is made from 100% Sauvignon Blanc, aged in used 500L barrels of various ages. This is a fascinating wine for us. The first couple of sips mark it as an interesting wine but, gradually, it opens up in the glass to reveal citrus notes and a fine line of minerality as well as a complexity that belies its price.”
Arnot-Roberts’ Visionary California Wines
If you’ve never had the wines before, don’t expect soft fruity wines. Everything they touch has a backbone to it—a spine of acid and tannin that makes you think of the great wines of France far quicker than their California neighbors. These are serious wines with serious structures, built to age. Due to an agreement with our distributor, we can’t list all of the wines on the website (we’ll note which ones don’t have a link) so please give us a call (503-223-6002) or reply to this email (always an option for all the wines) if you’d like to order.
Just Arrived, In Stock Now:
Arnot-Roberts Sonoma Coast Syrah, California 2017 750ML ($49.95) $39 special
Antonio Galloni 93 points “The 2017 Syrah (Sonoma Coast) is a gorgeous wine and a huge overachiever in its peer group. Bright red cherry and plum fruit, rose petal, lavender and spice abound in this super-expressive, pliant Syrah. The purity of the flavors is simply remarkable. Medium in body, gracious and beautifully perfumed, the 2017 is a rock-star wine.”
Arnot-Roberts Watson Ranch Chardonnay, Napa Valley 2017 750ML ($44.95) $39 special
Antonio Galloni 93 points “The 2017 Chardonnay Watson Ranch is a gorgeous wine. Apricot, chamomile, dried flowers, sage and dried pear are all laced together in this super-expressive, inviting Chardonnay. Readers should be prepared to cellar the 2017, as it is quite closed today. Bright saline notes add freshness and zip to this super-expressive Chardonnay.”
The average price nationally is $43
Arnot-Roberts Fellom Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon, Santa Cruz Mountains 2017 750ML ($119.95) $99 special
Antonio Galloni 96 points “The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Fellom Ranch is sensual and nuanced, with tremendous textural finesse. Over the last few years, Duncan Arnot and Nathan Roberts seem to have given this wine an extra degree of elegance – especially in the tannins – that other vintages did not always show. Time in the glass brings out a range of floral, earthy, spiced and cedary notes that are typical of Santa Cruz Mountains Cabernets, along with layers of dimension that flesh out effortlessly.”
Cannot be listed on website, please call/email to order:
Arnot-Roberts Coastlands Vineyard Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast 2017 750ML ($89.95) $69 special
Antonio Galloni 95 points “The 2017 Pinot Noir Coastlands Vineyard is another gorgeous wine in this range. Silky, radiant and supple, the 2017 offers a striking combination of fruit richness and the more floral/savory qualities that make this site so distinctive. Dark red cherry, rose petal, sage, mint and lavender meld together in a mid-weight yet rich Pinot loaded with personality. It’s always interesting to taste wines from this Sonoma Coast vineyard that is best known for wines made by Williams-Selyem and proprietor Ross Cobb himself. I loved it.”
The next best price is $74.99
The average listed price is $81
Antonio Galloni 92 points “The 2016 Syrah (Sonoma Coast) is dazzling. Inky and dark in its fruit profile, but also light on its feet, the 2016 is all class. Hints of lavender, black pepper, mint and cloves grace the palate in an exquisite, mid-weight Syrah that emphasizes freshness and nuance. Deceptively medium in body, the 2016 has enough underpinnings of structure to drink well for many years. This is a fabulous appellation-level Syrah.”
They’re the First Thörle
The big difference is that while Pinot Noir from Keller is coveted but scarce, it’s a major part of the Thörle portfolio, coming from a number of different grand cru terroirs and doing one of the best Cote d’Or impressions you’ll see. Thörle’s top wines would be at home in a tasting of top Premier and Grand Cru red Burgundies—except that they’re priced $50+ below their peers in France. Likewise, the top Riesling, from the Hölle vineyard, is every bit the equal of the top GG’s from Dönnhoff, Wittmann, and other top producers in Germany, but is still less than $37 by the six-pack. These wines are currently not listed for sale anywhere else in the US and arrive this summer, so if you want a chance at them, act quickly—in a few years these prices are going to seem ridiculously low.
Arriving ETA June:
Whites:
Thörle Saulheimer Holle Riesling, Rheinhessen 2017 750ML ($44.95) $39 pre-arrival special
Case-6 Thörle Saulheimer Holle Riesling, Rheinhessen 2017 750ML ($259.95) $219 pre-arrival special
Stuart Pigott – jamessuckling.com 96 points “Still youthful, but this has a complex stone-fruit nose. Concentrated and racy with great energy at the very long, chalky finish. Great aging potential. Drink or hold.”
Stuart Pigott – jamessuckling.com 94 points “Still quite yeasty from long maturation on lees, but that accentuates the smoky and herbal complexity of this remarkable dry silvaner. Just a hint of oak in support of the creamy, mid-weight body and long, silky finish. Drink or hold.”
Pinot Noirs:
Thörle Saulheimer Holle Spatburgunder, Rheinhessen 2016 750ML ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival special
Stuart Pigott – jamessuckling.com 96 points “More root and sous-bois character than the other 2016 Thörle pinot noirs. This is so fine and so deep, so cool and so elegant that you might easily assume it comes from the Côte d’Or! Great tannins build like a giant wave and sweep you through the super- long finish. Drink or hold.”
Stuart Pigott – jamessuckling.com 95 points Still quite closed on the nose, because this has just been bottled. However, on the palate there’s a sensational harmony of fine-grained tannins and perfectly ripe fruit, yet the wine has just 12.5 per cent alcohol. Great, chalky dry finish.”
Stuart Pigott – jamessuckling.com 94 points “This has a ravishing black cherry note with hints of leather and smoke. For a pinot noir in this price category, there’s great concentration, polished tannins and a long, complex finish. Drink or hold.”