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Rosé of the Day – Northern Rhone Pink
Four Fantastic, Newly Arrived 2008 Champagnes
Staff Pick: Cameron Ramato
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New Rave Reviews for Oregon Favorites
Josh Raynolds at Vinous just handed out some very high scores that come as almost no surprise to anyone paying attention to Willamette wine for the last several years. We’ve been beating the drum that our local region makes Pinot Noir that is as good or better than anywhere else in the world, especially for the prices asked—and these new reviews just support that argument. These are classic wines that anyone who loves Pinot Noir (from anywhere else in the world) should be buying to cellar and drink.
Top Reviewed Wines, In Stock Now:
Sequitur Pinot Noir, Ribbon Ridge 2017 750ML ($119.95) $79 special
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 94-95 points “Lurid red. Spice-tinged blackberry and cherry aromas are complicated by suggestions of cola, incense and smoky minerals. Sweet and expansive on the palate, offering concentrated dark berry and spicecake flavors and suggestions of rose pastille and mocha that build with air. Concentrated but also vibrant and precise in style, delivering superb finishing cut, well-knit tannins and impressive, fruit-driven persistence. (30% new French oak).”
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 96 points “Glimmering red. A hugely aromatic bouquet evokes fresh red fruits, Asian spices and potpourri, along with a bright mineral overtone and a touch of smokiness. Juicy, seamless and precise on the palate, offering potent, mineral-laced raspberry preserve, rose pastille and spicecake flavors that deepen and spread out steadily on the back half. Delivers a compelling blend of power and finesse and finishes with silky tannins, outstanding clarity and floral- and mineral-driven persistence.”
The next best price is $89.95
The average listed price is $93
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 94 points “Translucent red. A highly complex bouquet evokes ripe, mineral-accented red fruit, five-spice powder and incense, with a zesty mineral note that gains strength as the wine opens up. Gently sweet, seamless and lively on the palate, offering densely packed raspberry, cherry liqueur, spicecake and rose pastille flavors that are supported by a core of juicy acidity. Delivers a suave blend of power and delicacy. Finishes extremely long and spicy, with polished tannins framing lingering red fruit preserve and floral notes. (75% whole clusters and raised in neutral French oak puncheons).”
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 94 points “Shimmering red. An assertively perfumed bouquet evokes ripe red fruits, potpourri, incense and Asian spices, and a vibrant mineral nuance builds as the wine opens up. Juicy, penetrating and focused in style, offering palate-staining raspberry, bitter cherry and rose pastille flavors that are energized by blood orange and white pepper notes. Shows superb clarity on a long, spice-laced finish shaped by smooth, harmonious tannins.”
Goodfellow Family Cellars Pinot Noir Whistling Ridge Vineyard, Ribbon Ridge 2016 750ML ($49.95) $39 special
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 94 points “Light vivid red. An incisive, mineral- and spice-accented bouquet displays an array of fresh red fruit and floral qualities, along with suggestions of fresh bay, blood orange and musky earth. Sappy and sharply delineated in the mouth, offering bitter cherry, raspberry, rose pastille and spicecake flavors that deepen and spread out as the wine opens up. Shows excellent depth while coming off graceful, with no rough edges. Fine-grained tannins lend support to an impressively long, floral-dri.”
Cristom Eileen Vineyard Pinot Noir, Eola-Amity Hills 2016 750ML ($69.95) $59 special
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 95 points “Shimmering ruby-red. Expansive dark berry, potpourri and baking spice aromas show excellent clarity and pick up smoky mineral and musky earth nuances with air. Combines power and finesse with a deft hand, offering palate-staining black raspberry, boysenberry and spicecake flavors that deepen steadily on the back half. Shows sharp delineation and a suave violet pastille quality on the strikingly persistent finish, which features fine-grained tannins and a sappy, resonating dark berry liqueur note.”
Beaux Freres The Beaux Freres Vineyard Pinot Noir, Ribbon Ridge 2016 750ML ($109.95) $99 special
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 95 points “Brilliant magenta. Mineral-accented red berries, incense and candied flowers on the expansive, seductively perfumed nose, with a spicy accent adding vivacity. Sappy, alluringly sweet and sharply delineated on the palate, offering juicy cherry, raspberry preserve and lavender pastille flavors that are sharpened by a zesty Asian spice nuance. Fine-grained and seamless in texture, finishing extremely long and precise, with resonating spiciness and smooth, well-knit tannins.”
Division ‘Deux’ Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2017 750ML ($39.95) $33 special
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 93 points “Vivid red. Spice-accented raspberry and cherry aromas, along with hints of woodsmoke, black tea and baking spices. Silky and energetic on the palate, offering sweet red and blue fruit and floral pastille flavors that deepen slowly as the wine opens up. Fine-grained tannins lend shape to a very long, spice-accented finish that shows noteworthy clarity and resonating florality.”
Crowley La Colina Vineyard Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2016 1.5L ($129.95) $109 special
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 93 points “Vivid ruby-red. Pungent, mineral-accented aromas of ripe raspberry and cherry, along with suggestions of musky earth, candied flowers and baking spices. Sweet and penetrating on the palate, offering intense red fruit preserve, floral pastille and spicecake flavors that slowly deepen as the wine opens up. Plays power off delicacy with a smooth hand and finishes very long and precise, with resonating red fruit and floral character and sneaky, framing tannins.”
This is the lowest listed price for a magnum in the USA today!
Crowley Four Winds Vineyard Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2016 1.5L ($129.95) $109 special
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 92 points “Vivid red. Bright, highly perfumed red berry and floral aromas show sharp delineation and pick up baking spice and mineral notes as the wine opens up. Nicely concentrated and lively as well, offering sappy raspberry and bitter cherry flavors that slowly deepen and turn sweeter on the back half. The mineral note comes back strong on an energetic finish that shows tenacity and supple, slowly building tannins. (all Pommard clone).”
This is the lowest listed price for a magnum in the USA today!
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 91 points “Glistening red. Displays vibrant, spice- and mineral-accented red fruit and floral aromas and an exotic suggestion of blood orange. Shows very good energy and sharp delineation on the palate, offering gently sweet redcurrant, raspberry and spicecake flavors that deepen steadily on the back half. Shows a lot of character for an entry-level wine and finishes very long and subtly tannic, leaving repeating red fruit and floral notes behind. (68% sourced from La Belle Promenade and 32% from the Flanerie vineyard; 36% whole clusters and 11% new French oak).”
Josh Raynolds 91 points “Bright red. Vibrant red berry and floral aromas are complicated by suggestions of Asian spices and smoky minerals. Taut, focused and energetic in the mouth, offering lithe raspberry, bitter blood orange and spicecake flavors that deepen and become sweeter with air. Silky and graceful in style, displaying excellent closing focus, fruity persistence and harmonious tannins.”
We’ve got way to many high scoring Oregon bottlings to list here–see our complete selection of Oregon Pinot Noir in stock now right here!
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Top Father’s Day Picks
The ne plus ultra of California vineyards at a (more) approachable price.
Eisele Vineyard Altagracia Cabernet, Napa Valley 2016 750ML ($169.95) $149 special
James Suckling 96 points “Lots of violets and dark berries with sweet underbrush and fresh mushrooms, 
following through to a medium to full body, soft and silky tannins and a succulent and refined finish. It remains supple and beautiful. Hard not to drink now. Better after 2023.”
Wine Advocate 95 points “The Altagracia is produced almost exclusively from estate fruit this year and was bottled at the end of June 2018. Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Altagracia comes bursting forth with vivacious black cherries, blackberries, wild blueberries and cassis notes with touches of cinnamon stick, cloves, forest floor, violets and dusty earth with a waft of violets. The palate is medium to full-bodied, firm and grainy with loads of iron and mineral accents, finishing long and perfumed.”
If there’s a better CdP value, we haven’t seen it.
Brunier Piedlong Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Rhone 2015 750ML ($59.95) $44 special
James Suckling 95 points “10 hectares of elevated Châteauneuf-du-Pape, this is an hommage to grenache with just a hatful of mourvèdre. Ripe raspberry and red plum pastry aromas. Super silky, plush and layered. Extremely impressive. Shows fluidity and balance, density and lightness. 50% stalks (crushed).”
Domaine Henri Boillot Les Fremiets, Volnay Premier Cru 2009 750ML ($119.95) $99 special
Antonio Galloni 93 points “The 2009 Volnay Les Fremiets shows the wilder side of Volnay in its distinct notes of game, cured meats and dark red fruit. It, too, comes across as young and full of life. This is far from an easygoing 2009 on many counts.”
Argiano Brunello di Montalcino DOCG,Tuscany 2013 750ML ($59.95) $49 special
James Suckling 96 points “Fantastic aromas of orange peel and dark berry with plenty of plum and cherry. Sweet tobacco and mushrooms. Full body, juicy and fruity with firm tannins and a fresh finish. Complex and gorgeous. Fine and very long. Drink now.”
Looking for Champagne to celebrate? Look no further.
Jacques Lassaigne Millesime Brut Nature, Champagne 2006 750ML ($119.95) $99 special
Wine Advocate 94+ points ” The 2006 Millésime Blanc de Blancs Brut Nature from Montgueux’s Le Cotet vineyard (64%) and 60-year-old vines in Les Paluets is a fascinating, absorbing Champagne. Golden in color, it offers a deep and rich yet unmasked, natural bouquet of yeasty-scented Chardonnay flavors quoting pineapples, buttercup, ripe honeydew melon, biscuits, turrón, white chocolate with pine nuts and dried apricots. Rich and full-bodied but pure and natural again on the palate, this is an intense, full-flavored and multi-layered Champagne with an alluringly salty finish. Each gram of more sugar would have reduced the purity, and by nature, the rich character of this Brut Nature that has power and complexity enough to mesmerize by its natural beauty. I tasted the wine again in November 2015 and it offered a lovely iodine and chalky bouquet, a highly elegant and balanced palate with a complex minerality and structure, and an iodine/salty aftertaste. This is great Champagne and worth a try. The wine did not see any oak, although you might feel there must have been at least a kiss of oak — none! The 2006 was disgorged in September 2013.”-SR
Avennia Sestina Red, Columbia Valley 2016 750ML ($79.95) Was $69, Now $59 June Sale Special
Jeb Dunnuck 95+ points “The 2016 Sestina checks in as 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Franc that saw 21 months in 48% new French oak before being bottled unfined and unfiltered. It shows the purity and elegance of the vintage beautifully and offers classic Cabernet notes of crème de cassis, lead pencil, crushed rocks, and tobacco leaf. With beautiful balance and that more elegant, finesse-driven style of the estate, it packs plenty of fruit and is a seamless wine that will benefit from 2-3 years of bottle age and keep for 15-20 years.”
Josh Raynolds 93+ points “(includes a good percentage of vines from the 1970s; aged in about 45% new oak): Bright dark red. Alluring violet and rose petal lift to the aromas of dark berries, licorice and black olive. Penetrating, savory wine with terrific saline minerality and lift to its wild berry and licorice flavors. This very concentrated, backward wine finishes with serious tannins but no rough edges. A bit more sharply focused than its 2015 sibling but this wine will need longer for its tannic spine to unclench. Even the Merlot yields were moderate in 2016, noted winemaker Chris Peterson. Following a bit of acidification, this wine finished with a pH of 3.8.”
The next best price is $79.99
That’s a difference of over $20/btl!
Le Domaine d’Henri Fourchaume, Chablis Premier Cru 2016 750ML ($41.95) $33 special
Winery Note “Planted half in 1964 and half in 1999, this is an elegant, refined fruit-driven wine with a good structured impression on the palate. The Kimmeridgian escarpment of Fourchaume is reputed to produce some of the best Chablis wines and the South West exposure of the vines means that they bask in the warm afternoon sun. Vinified in stainless steel tanks (89%) to preserve the minerality and freshness, and in oak barrels (11%) of 228-litres to add more complex notes, this wine will continue to improve for the next 15 years or so.”
Hartford Court Seascape Vineyard Chardonnay, Sonoma Coast 2016 750ML ($79.95) $69 special
Jeb Dunnuck 98 points
Hartford Court Seascape Vineyard Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast 2016 750ML ($79.95) $59 special
Jeb Dunnuck 98 points ” Leading off the Pinot Noirs, the 2016 Pinot Noir Seascape Vineyard comes from a ridgetop vineyard located west of the town of Occidental. Aged 17 months in 27% new French oak, it offers a savory, marine-influenced bouquet of wild strawberries, cranberries, rose petals, and Asian spices. With medium to full body, supple tannins, and a great, great finish as well as a singular character, this magical Pinot Noir from this team will benefit from a year in bottle and keep for over a decade.”
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Yves Cuilleron ‘Sybel’ Syrah Rose, IGP Collines Rhodaniennes 2018 750ML ($17.95) $14 special
Four Fantastic 2008 Champagnes
“The 2008 Champagnes that have been released so far capture all the potential I sensed when I first tasted the young vins clairs right after harvest. The 2008s are racy, energetic and tense, in the style of cool years like 1996, but with more fruit depth and less austerity. At the top end, the finest 2008 Champagnes are viscerally thrilling, chiseled wines that will soon be recognized as modern-day icons. Temperatures were never too hot during the summer and ripening was gradual. Two thousand eight is a year with high acidity, approaching 10% in some cases, and also high potential natural alcohol (because of the improved weather in September), a combination that yielded vibrant, crystalline Champagnes. Of course wine is much more complex than numbers alone, but the first 2008s I have tasted point to an exceptional, and perhaps even legendary, vintage.” –Vinous Media
“One of the best two vintages of this decade. A return to a classic, dry style in a cooler year. Powerful fruit and scintillating acidity in complete harmony. A real keeper to 2025 or later. 5/5” –Decanter
Just Arrived, In Stock Now:
Deutz Amour de Deutz Blanc de Blancs Brut Millesime, Champagne 2008 750ML ($199.95) $159 special
Decanter 97 points “Amour was created by Deutz’s long-standing managing director, Fabrice Rosset. It’s a prestige blanc de blancs which is only made in the best years, so there was little surprise when Deutz produced an Amour from the highly acclaimed 2008 vintage. This really has it all: freshness, extract, power, balance and concentration. Already, the primary nose shows chamomile and iris, while the palate is crammed with white fruits, nougat, chamomile, candied fruit and minerals. Deutz’s signature spine-tingling acidity balances out the weight and creamy texture of this generous, well structured fizz. It’s fabulous as an aperitif now but it will also develop well into old age as a gastronomic wine with delicate seafood dishes. 40,000 bottles produced.”
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 95 points “The citrus-colored 2008 Amour de Deutz Brut Millésime is still yeasty on the nose, but very clear and elegant on the palate. This is a super pure and mineral, well-balanced Millésime with a long, intense and persistent finish. This is full of tension and finesse. A great wine.”
Wine Enthusiast 95 points “[Review is for 375ml] This wine is rich and surprisingly full-bodied. It comes from a great Champagne vintage, giving it both intensity and an acidity built for longterm aging. This half-bottle version is filling out, showing almond flavors yet retaining its citrus edge. Drink from 2019.”
Antonio Galloni 94 points “The 2008 Brut Millésimé Amour de Deutz is gorgeous. Bright and focused in the glass, the 2008 is full of nuance. A hint of reduction adds complexity without overpowering the wine. Crushed rocks, lemon confit and passion fruit flavors offer an appealing interplay of brightness and more overt flavors. The Amour is one of the more open, accessible 2008s readers will come across at this stage. Today, it is particularly expressive.”
Deutz Amour de Deutz Rose Brut Millesime, Champagne 2008 750ML ($219.95) $189 special
Antonio Galloni 95 points “The 2008 Brut Rosé Millésimé Amour de Deutz is gorgeous and crystalline in the glass, as Champagnes from this vintage tend to be. Light on its feet yet also quite intense, the 2008 exudes energy in its finely sculpted red berry, floral and mineral-infused notes. The 2008 could use a bit more time in bottle to soften, but it is undeniably beautiful, even at this early stage.”
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 94 points “Deutz’ Millésime 2008 Amour de Deutz Rosé Brut shows a pale but brilliant salmon color and a clear, delicate bouquet of discreet red fruits as well as very fine spicy and floral notes. The palate is highly delicate and fresh, firmly structured and nicely dry, with good, dense, aromatic and well-structured length. However, the wine is still young and not yet perfectly round.” [Review is for lot LA112D32216]
Wine Spectator 93 points “Spring blossom and mineral notes waft through the flavors of white cherry, star fruit and marzipan in this elegant rosé Champagne, while the sleek acidity is finely meshed and carries the flavor range on the lacy finish. Drink now through 2028.”
Piper-Heidsieck Brut, Champagne 2008 750ML ($79.95) $59 special
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 94 points “The 2008 Vintage Brut offers a clear and toasty aroma on the nose. Pure, fresh, lean and delicate but complex and mineral on the palate, this is a lithe and elegant, very finessed and persistent 2008 with grip and expression. This is a complex, intense yet light and very elegant Champagne with a pure, mineral-structured and persistent finish.”
Wine Spectator 93 points “An elegant, toasty version, featuring firm, focusing acidity layered with rich hints of canelé, dried apricot, coffee liqueur and star anise. Bright and citrusy, with a long, mouthwatering finish. Drink now through 2027. 125 cases imported.”
Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin Brut, Champagne 2008 750ML ($89.95) $69 special
Decanter 96 points “It is quite something to be invited to the launch of Champagne Veuve Clicquot 2008 at Clos des Lambrays, one of the finest grands crus of Burgundy’s Côte de Nuits and acquired by LVMH in April 2014. It was rumoured to have paid close to €100m. The Veuve Clicquot 2008 is VC Chef de Caves Dominique Demarville’s first solo vintage. What fascinated him at Lambrays was winemaker Thierry Brouin’s consummate talent in capturing from the red iron-rich soil a wonderfully bright character in the wine- so fresh, rich yet elegant, density and delicacy in magical harmony. The same can be said for my two coups de coeur in Clicquot 2008. — Veuve Clicquot 2008 (Magnum) — Shimmering green-gold. Easily up several notches from the bottle. Perfect balance of freshness, ripe acidity and complex vinosity to come. Near perfect wine, patina of seasoned spice of subtle oak. — Elegant and complex Champagne with plenty of fine mousse and flavours of toast, smoke and roasted fruit notes to balance the fresh acidity. A refined and refreshing fullbodied wine in a gastronomic style with the potential to drink well for many years.”
Staff Pick
Cameron Ramato
As always, this is my go-to pick for Thanksgiving. Why would I mention Thanksgiving in June? Because of the lesson the meal offers regarding wine pairing: there are sweet, savory, salty, green, rich sauces, vegan dishes, and more all thrown together. What’s a wine drinker to do? Luckily, John Paul at Cameron makes one of the most flexible wines: a coppery-colored drink from Pinot Gris grapes that is far from boring. The Ramato pairs well with sweeter veggie dishes (squash), roasted meats, and even hard-to-pair green veggies (take that, Gruner!). But that doesn’t mean I wait until November to enjoy this. Consider this the best local wine to satisfy white and rose lovers alike, to please the natural-wine-only crowd, and to confound the most diehard red-wine-only-please in the bunch. It will pair with just about anything off the grill or garden, from appetizer to dessert.
On the opening aromas, it’s a subtle beast, no fruitiness here, but notes of iris, wild strawberry and honeydew melon. At only 13.5% alcohol, there’s a nice creamy texture together with a bright acidity and sense of levity. The finish is spicy along with a whisper of tannin that gives this wine some backbone. The spiciness is almost cedar-like, piney and resinous, but again, subtle and refreshing.
If the heatwave this week and the early release of the Cameron Ramato are any indication, summer has arrived. Toast it in welcome with a glass of not quite pink/not quite white/utterly charming wine.
Just Arrived, In Stock Now:
Cameron Winery Pinot Gris Ramato, Dundee Hills 2018 750ML ($29.95) $24 special
Winery note “Rame: Italian for copper, ramato: copper-colored. Ramato is a copper-colored Pinot Grigio made in the tradition of north-eastern Italy. A very tricky wine to pull off. Very limited production.”
Oregon
Kelley Fox Wines Maresh Vineyard Star of Bethlehem Flower Block Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills 2017 750ML ($99.95) $89 special
From an own rooted block of Maresh Vineyard planted without grafting in 1991.
Winery note “My first Maresh Star was the 2015, and now that it’s been three years, I see a pattern emerging from this beloved acre behind Jim Maresh Sr.’s house that once was where his favourite cherry tree lived. Heartbreakingly, this tree was destroyed in the Columbus Day storm in 1962 and he ended up burning the remains. Jim has told me a couple of times over the many years that the potash from that special tree in the soil there has had a special effect on these vines that were planted later. Over the years, but not every year, there are beautiful flowers that bloom between the vines in this block: Star of Bethlehem flowers. These radiant white, star-shaped flowers belong to the lily family. Only six barrels comprised this bottling. The 2017 is a transparent, brilliant light red with blue and fuschia lights and tones that catch the eye. This year, the Star is a little deeper than that of the Maresh, but that said, both remind me a bit of my 2007 or 2011 in several ways. The nose is noble and pure, with a moving, diaphanous layer of minerality over the refined strawberry character always present in my Maresh bottlings when young. This wine, my most subtle and refined 2017 Pinot, is a sleek and strong beauty. This one is like a person who sits quietly in one place and to whom others are magnetically attracted and approach on their own, perhaps not even knowing why or that they did in the first place. It is a wine of silence and will likely be spellbinding as it matures.”
Kelley Fox Wines Maresh Vineyard Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills 2017 750ML ($79.95) $69 special
Decanter 96 points “An almost perfect blend of restrained tannins, orange pekoe tea, rose, espresso and tart red Dundee Hills fruit.”
Case-6 Perrier-Jouet Belle Epoque – Fleur de Champagne Brut, Champagne 2011 750ML ($959.95) $599 special (that’s only $99.83/bottle!)
Wine Enthusiast 94 points “Always a light, ethereal style of wine, this is also very fresh and still young. It will age with its taut minerality from the Chardonnay in the blend. A softer background will become toasty over the next few years. The vintage date on this bottle is 200 years after the foundation of this producer. Drink from 2021.”
Bright, crunchy Blanc de Noirs from a great vintage.
Marie Courtin Concordance Blanc de Noirs Extra Brut, Champagne 2014 750ML ($89.95) $79 special
Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2014 Extra Brut Concordance is 100% Pinot Noir from 50-year-old vines on marl and Kimmeridgian soils that spent at least three years with the second lees. Disgorged in December 2017, the Concordance offers a deep, intense, very complex and flinty-mineral bouquet with perfectly ripe and elegant fruit aromas. On the palate, this is a pure, refined yet highly complex and elegant Pinot with great terroir expression. Fermented and aged in enameled stainless steel, this is a terribly pure and salty Blanc de Noirs with a very promising finish.”
Domaine Hubert Lignier Clos de la Roche Grand Cru, Cote de Nuits 2016 750ML ($699.95) $599 special
Domaine Hubert Lignier Clos de la Roche Grand Cru, Cote de Nuits 2016 1.5L ($1499.95) $1199 special
Neal Martin-Wine Advocate 97-99 points “The 2016 Clos de la Roche Grand Cru is matured in 30% new oak with up to 30% whole cluster fruit, two-thirds from Montluisants and one-third Fremiers. It has an intoxicating bouquet that is extraordinarily complex: shimmering red berry fruit, blood orange, incense and a touch of crushed violet. The palate is medium-bodied with fine grain tannin, wonderful depth and harmony, laser-like focus toward the finish that lingers in the mouth. Stunning mineralité here—the tongue feels as if it licked limestone 30 second after the wine has disappeared. If there is a better Clos de la Roche then I have not tasted it (yet).”
John Gilman 97 points “The 2016 Clos de la Roche from Laurent Lignier is an absolute classic in the making. The nose delivers a refined and nascently complex constellation of black plums, sweet dark berries, a touch of lavender, gamebird, a very complex base of soil, violets and nutty new oak. On the palate the wine is deep, pure and full-bodied, with a sappy core, ripe tannins, fine backend mineral drive and a very long, complex and utterly complete finish. A brilliant example of Clos de la Roche! 2030-2090.”
Domaine Hubert Lignier Griotte-Chambertin Grand Cru, Cote de Nuits 2016 750ML ($599.95) $499 special
Stephen Tanzer 91-94 points “(the Ligniers do not do the harvest here; made from 50-year-old vines; 100% destemmed): Healthy full red. Pungent aromas of purple fruits, menthol and crushed rock. Quite pliant on entry, then precise and perfumed in the middle palate, showing noteworthy energy and lift to its flavors of small wild red fruits, minerals and spices. Not a particularly tannic wine but juicy, refined and long.”
William Kelley-Decanter 92 points “This year’s Griotte is an elegant middle-weight, offering up notes of creamy red cherry and meaty soil tones, followed by a supple, reserved wine with nice detail and a chalky, mineral finish. A pretty wine but, like the Charmes, this very much plays second fiddle to the superb Clos de la Roche in 2016.”
Domaine Hubert Lignier Morey-Saint-Denis Tres Girard, Cote de Nuits 2016 750ML ($99.95) $79 special
Neal Martin-Wine Advocate 88-90 points “The 2016 Morey-Saint-Denis Très Girard comes from purchased grapes that were completely destemmed. It has quite a spicy, lively bouquet that is simple but a bundle of joy. The palate is medium-bodied with fine but firm tannin, more saline than some of the village Gevreys with fine structure on the finish that just needs a touch more flesh to develop.”
Stephen Tanzer 88-90 points “(about 25% of the fruit was lost to frost): Bright, dark red with ruby tones. Quite open and aromatic on the nose, offering scents of black cherry and flowers. Nicely concentrated, sappy wine with a subtle sweetness to its flavors of cherry and black raspberry. This fruit was entirely destemmed but the wine finishes linear and firmly tannic, with good saline persistence.”
Basically Premier Cru, at village level pricing.
Domaine Hubert Lignier Morey-Saint-Denis Trilogie, Cote de Nuits 2016 750ML ($119.95) $89 special
Neal Martin 91-93 points “The 2016 Morey Saint Denis “Trilogie” comes from three parcels that conjoin premier crus and was cropped at 25 hectoliters per hectare from Chenevery, Clos Solon and Les Porroux. Blended with one-third whole bunch fruit, it offers intense blackberry, briary and light tobacco scents that blossom in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin, pure and sorbet-fresh black fruit, a gentle grip in the mouth with superb tension on the crystalline finish. Superb, an outstanding Morey-Saint-Denis for its class.”
William Kelley-Decanter 90 points “The vines which produce the cuvée Triologie are between 60 and 80 years of age, and they routinely produce one of the best examples of Morey villages. The 2016 was cropped at 25hl/ha and was vinified with 30% whole cluster fruit. Aromas of plum, cassis, raw cocoa, rich soil, baking spice and candied peel precede a full-bodied, fine-grained wine with a supple attack, a sweet core of fruit, and nice energy and intensity.”
Domaine Hubert Lignier Pommard En Brescul, Cote de Beaune 2016 750ML ($119.95) $89 special
Bodgeas Gabriel Gomez Nevado ‘Sierra Morena’ Palido Seco Dry, Andalucia NV 375ML ($19.95) $16 special
Importer note “Gómez Nevado still use the traditional names of their wines; thus Pálido literally means “Pale”, and can be described as their “Fino-style” wine. This cuvee comes from their estate-owned certified organic vineyards (please see the last paragraph in the bio above for production methods). Made up of 60% Aris, 20% Palomino, and 20% Pedro Ximenez, this wine is unfortified, with a natural alcohol of 15%, and spends an average of 5 years in a solera. The result is a balanced wine with delicate notes of bitter almonds, flowers, mushroom, and sea salt; the palate is rich and vibrant with tobacco notes, cleansing acidity, and lingering salt and umami notes – can be treated as a serious white wine or as you would a Sherry, pairing with cured meats, rich seafood, olives, and savory braises and stews. Serve chilled in a white wine glass or a copita…Led by the patriarch Gabriel, the family work 8 hectares of certified organic vineyard. Their estate vineyards are beautiful, green, and healthy – with living soils. Vine age is on average 40 years old, practically an unheard-of age in the land of Sherry, and all planted in the traditional en vaso style. Grass grows in between the spread out, huddled-close-to-the-ground bush vines, with the family’s flock of goats grazing and trimming back the wild flora. Amazingly enough, Gómez Nevado hold the prestigious place in Spanish viticultural history as the first certified organic winegrower in the country, with certification coming in 1988! The vineyards are made up of 60% Aris –called Airén to the north- and 20% each of Palomino and Pedro Ximenez, and sit at roughly 500 meters elevation on a mix of clay and slate soils. These soils, combined with serious farming, a fairly continental-mediterranean mountain climate, and substantial vine age, lend a rich structure to Gómez Nevado wines, which is contrasted with a tight vibrancy, and a strong savory component, almost bordering on umami – a viscosity and flavor profile that we have not found elsewhere in the land of Sherry or Montilla.”
Bodgeas Gabriel Gomez Nevado Sierra Morena Dorado Seco Dry, Andalucia NV 750ML ($37.95) $33 special
Importer note “Gómez Nevado still use the traditional names of their wines; thus Dorado literally means “Golden”, and can be described as their “Amontillado-style” wine. This cuvee comes from their estate-owned certified organic vineyards (please see the last paragraph in the bio above for production methods). Made up of 60% Aris, 20% Palomino, and 20% Pedro Ximenez, this wine is unfortified with a natural alcohol of around 17%, and spends an average of 15 years in a solera. The result is a profound wine with deep notes of hazelnuts, light caramel, and sea salt; the palate is structured and elegant with a mouth-filling texture, balanced acidity, and lingering nut, salt, and deep umami notes – can be paired with all manner of nuts, cured meats, rich meat dishes, and cheeses, as well as sweeter preparations. Another great way to drink Dorado is to prepare a meat or seafood with the Dorado, and drink the wine with the preparation. Serve slightly cooler than room temperature in a wine glass… Led by the patriarch Gabriel, the family work 8 hectares of certified organic vineyard. Their estate vineyards are beautiful, green, and healthy – with living soils. Vine age is on average 40 years old, practically an unheard-of age in the land of Sherry, and all planted in the traditional en vaso style. Grass grows in between the spread out, huddled-close-to-the-ground bush vines, with the family’s flock of goats grazing and trimming back the wild flora. Amazingly enough, Gómez Nevado hold the prestigious place in Spanish viticultural history as the first certified organic winegrower in the country, with certification coming in 1988! The vineyards are made up of 60% Aris –called Airén to the north- and 20% each of Palomino and Pedro Ximenez, and sit at roughly 500 meters elevation on a mix of clay and slate soils. These soils, combined with serious farming, a fairly continental-mediterranean mountain climate, and substantial vine age, lend a rich structure to Gómez Nevado wines, which is contrasted with a tight vibrancy, and a strong savory component, almost bordering on umami – a viscosity and flavor profile that we have not found elsewhere in the land of Sherry or Montilla.”
A 98 Point Super Tuscan
Castello di Ama’s L’Apparita
Arriving June 28th:
Castello di Ama L’Apparita Toscana IGT, Tuscany 2015 750ML ($199.95) $137.50 pre-arrival special
Antonio Galloni 98 points “Ama’s 2015 L’Apparita is shaping up to be phenomenal. That is the good news. But readers are going to have to give the 2015 at least another 8-10 years before the wine starts to drink well, as today, the flavors are remarkably primary. That is hardly a surprise given how this Tuscan thoroughbred ages. A rush of blackberry jam, spice, menthol, and graphite build into a crescendo of aromas, flavors and textures. Over the years, I have had the chance to take virtually every vintage of L’Apparita. There is little doubt the 2015 will soon take its place as one of the epic editions.”
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 96 points “It’s impossible not to be completely smitten by the 2015 L’Apparita. This pure expression of Merlot from Chianti Classico is an exceedingly smooth and enriched expression with abundant tones of black cherry, spice, chocolate and barbecue smoke. The mouthfeel is gorgeous, and although this wine is not as extracted or dense as past editions, it is far more finessed and elegant. You get a clear taste not only of the grape but of the gravely soils that make up this extraordinary territory. What could be better than Merlot and Tuscany blended together in a single bottle?”
James Suckling 96 points “Aromas of black olives and violets with black fruits following through to a full body with firm and silky tannins. An intense finish. Shows linear yet strong tannins. 100% merlot. Drink in 2020.”
The next best price is $149
The average listed price is $160
In Stock Now:
Avennia Sestina Red, Columbia Valley 2016 750ML ($79.95) Was $69, Now $59 June Sale Special
Jeb Dunnuck 95+ points “The 2016 Sestina checks in as 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Franc that saw 21 months in 48% new French oak before being bottled unfined and unfiltered. It shows the purity and elegance of the vintage beautifully and offers classic Cabernet notes of crème de cassis, lead pencil, crushed rocks, and tobacco leaf. With beautiful balance and that more elegant, finesse-driven style of the estate, it packs plenty of fruit and is a seamless wine that will benefit from 2-3 years of bottle age and keep for 15-20 years.”
Josh Raynolds 93+ points “(includes a good percentage of vines from the 1970s; aged in about 45% new oak): Bright dark red. Alluring violet and rose petal lift to the aromas of dark berries, licorice and black olive. Penetrating, savory wine with terrific saline minerality and lift to its wild berry and licorice flavors. This very concentrated, backward wine finishes with serious tannins but no rough edges. A bit more sharply focused than its 2015 sibling but this wine will need longer for its tannic spine to unclench. Even the Merlot yields were moderate in 2016, noted winemaker Chris Peterson. Following a bit of acidification, this wine finished with a pH of 3.8.”
Now it’s even lower!
Wine Spectator 92 points “Currant, strawberry, cherry, floral and leafy flavors are the highlights of this racy, elegant red. Balanced on the firm side, with excellent length. Best from 2020 through 2032. 800 cases made.”
The average listed price is $38
Paitin di Pasquero-Elia ‘Sori Paitin’, Barbaresco DOCG 2015 1.5L ($149.95) $119 special
Wine Spectator 95 points “Sweet cherry and strawberry fruit is framed by earth, eucalyptus, tobacco and tar notes in this rich yet firm red. The assertive tannins suggest a glacial evolution but the lasting impression of fruit shows this wine’s potential. Best from 2022 through 2040. 815 cases made.”
KWG8 – Tasting Pour “From a small Willamette Valley producer specializing only in sparkling wine try this traditional Chardonnay and Pinot Noir blend for a dry, crisp elegant sparkling at a good price. Smells of green apples with a salty tart palate.”
Winery note “Grapes sourced from Johan Vineyard, Van Duzer Corridor and Dundee Hills. 35% Chardonnay, 65% Pinot Noir fermented in neutral French and Oregon oak. 25 months in tirage, 8 grams/ liter dosage. 350 cases produced.”
Isole e Olena Cepparello Toscana IGT, Tuscany 2015 1.5L ($179.95) Was $149, Now $138 June Sale Special
James Suckling 96 points “Shows lots of black cherries, cranberry tea, caramelized orange peel, roasted herbs and citrus peel. Full-bodied with ripe and quite round tannins that frame layers of cherries. Bright and fresh, yet rich and long at the same time. The sangiovese character really springs out of the glass. Drink in 2020.”
The average listed price for the 750ml is $79
The next best price for the magnum is $179
