Summer Shipping Special; Stonestreet Round Two; Paetra’s Oregon Prowess; #Trending; Domaine de Montille; Joseph Swan: Historic Brilliance; Liquid Slate: Heymann-Loewenstein’s Mosel Masterpieces; Saint Cosme’s Majestic 2015’s
~~~~~~~~~~~
Summer Shipping Special:
Midwest, East, & South
For the summer season we are offering UPS Three Day Select Service for the price of UPS Ground for shipments normally traveling 4 or more business days by ground.
Free service upgrade only applies on single orders purchased and shipped during the promotional period. Additional fees will apply to orders held for any reason until after the promotional period and shipped by Three Day Select. Offer not valid on items purchased before the promotional period or on pre-arrival items that arrive after the promotional period ends.
~~~~~~~~~~~
Stonestreet Super Special Round Two
Newly Arrived!
Stonestreet Alexander Mountain Estate Cuvee Cabernet Sauvignon, Alexander Valley 2014 750ML ($44.95) $29 special
Case-6 Stonestreet Alexander Mountain Estate Cuvee Cabernet Sauvignon, Alexander Valley 2014 750ML ($239.95) $149 special (that’s only $24.83/bottle and the lowest listed price in the USA today!)
“Stonestreet’s 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate is a soft, immediate wine best suited for drinking over the next few years given its light to medium-bodied structure.”–Antonio Galloni
~~~~~~~~~~~
Newly Arrived!
Weinbau Paetra
Our curiosity led to quite a few open bottles and even more opinions!
Weinbau Paetra Nicholas Vineyard Riesling, Willamette Valley 2014 750ML ($34.95) $19 special
Winery Note “This single vineyard Nicholas Riesling was produced by hand-sorting in the vineyard only the ripest and healthiest bunches. The silt-over-basalt soils bring thick skins an enormous concentration of tropical fruit flavors and aromas. The wine was fermented without the addition of cultured yeasts in neutral oak barrels. It will reward many years of cellaring. 45 cases produced.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $23.99
Weinbau Paetra ‘K’ (Kabinett) Riesling, Willamette Valley 2015 750ML ($21.95) $14 special
VinopolNote “This is a delicious Oregon rendition of an old-school style Kabinett. When we say old-school we mean that the wine is basically dry, with just a whisper of sweetness-derived fruit and lots and lots of crunchy minerality. At this price, drink it by the bucket on your patio.”
Winery Note “2015 was an outsanding vintage for Riesling in the Willamette Valley. Paetra Riesling “K” is light-bodied, ever so slightly-off dry and intensly mineral. IT was harvested in several passes to ensure tha only the healthiest grapes were picked. There were no sugar, acid or chemical additieves and fermentation was carried out spontaneously without commercial yeast additions. It was crafted to be fresh and vibrant, but will certainly reward years of cellaring. 270 cases produced”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $17.99
Winery price for the 2016 vintage: $20
Weinbau Paetra Riesling Yamhill-Carlton 2015 750ML ($24.95) $16 special
VinopolNote “This wine reminds us of a well-made wine from the Pfalz, in that it shows mostly non-fruit (ie mineral) flavor but on a broad-shouldered frame. The nose is a little reticent at first but opens up to a mélange of herb and stone notes, with a touch of pear and discreet citrus-oily scents. This has good richness for the style and should age well but will drink nicely now. A really serious wine.”
Winery Note “This drier Riesling was made from a cooler site in the Yamhill-Carlton AVA. It was one of the last picks of the year, but retained excellent acidity. It was fermented in neutral oak barrels without cultured yeast or chemical additions for over five months. The flavors run cooler as well with a lot of apple, pear and basil. 97 cases produced.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $21.99
Weinbau Paetra Riesling, Eola-Amity Hills 2014 750ML ($21.95) $14 special
Winery Note “2014 provided the ideal growing season for Riesling in the Willamette Valley. Rigourous hand labor and three different harvest passes in the vineyard allowed us to produce a drieer Riesling from extremely healthy and ripe grapes. Fermentation was started spontaneously and lasted over 6 months at cool temperatures. This resulted in a complex and elegant Riesling displaying a lot of texture and concentration that will reward cellaring. 325 cases produced”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $21.99
Weinbau Paetra Riesling, Eola-Amity Hills 2015 750ML ($27.95) $16 special
Winery Note “This dry Riesling was made from a second-harvest pass of only the ripest and healthiest grapes. It fermented at very cool temperatures in neutral oak barrels without cultured yeasts or chemical additions for over four months. There are a lot of exotic N90 [a Riesling clone] spiced-peach flavors and yellow plum aromas with substantial acidity. 144 cases produced”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $21.99
Winery price: $25
Weinbau Paetra ‘O’ (Orange) Riesling, Eola-Amity Hills 2015 750ML ($34.95) $19 special
VinopolNote “Most orange wine (skin-fermented white) is funky and oxidative, even cidery. This wine is none of those things—instead it is fresh and fruity, with intense Riesling character and a unique waxy texture from the skin contact (think Riesling meets Roussane). This is an incredibly user-friendly Orange wine but doesn’t lack for complexity or intellectual interest.”
Winery Note “This limited release Riesling was fermented on the grape-skins before pressing and settling. This ancient method brings a wider spectrum of aromas, complexity tannin for structure and an orange hue to a normally white wine. The result is a dry Riesling showing orange zest, tangerine and floral aromas with a nice interplay between tannin and acidity. 60 cases produced.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $28.99
The average price is $31
Weinbau Paetra ‘S’ (Spatlese) Riesling, Eola-Amity Hills 2015 750ML ($27.95) $16 special
Winery Note “This limited production late-harvest Paetra Riesling “S” was selectively picked by hand for ripe and healthy bunches. It is sweet but balance so as to be useful at table with a variety of cuisines. It was fermented spontaneously at cool temperatures without sugar, acid or chemical additions. Delicious in youth, though crafted to reward long-term cellaring. 70 cases produced.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $21.99
Winery price for the 2016 vintage: $25
~~~~~~~~~~~
#Trending
Bow & Arrow Melon Johan Vineyard, Oregon 2015 750ML ($24.95) $18 special
Grapelive 91 points “Inspired by the Loire Valley’s Muscadet Sevre et Maine, the natural and stylish biodynamic Melon de Bourgogne by Bow & Arrow delivers brisk and bright salty flavors with a touch of New World richness, but remains faithful to the French version with driving acidity and steeliness making for a vibrant example of this varietal. Scott Frank’s Portland based micro winery has gained a great reputation for unique and interesting wines taking Bow & Arrow in its own direction, away from the only Burgundy influenced path that most of the Willamette Valley follows. The winery is enjoying success by paying homage to France’s Loire Valley (and especially the Touraine and Muscadet regions) with some stellar Gamay, Pinot Noir and Sauvignon Blanc wines as well as this pretty, very dry and slightly raw Melon de Bourgogne. Bow & Arrow’s Johan Vineyard Melon starts with an austere nose of saline, ether, crushed earthy stones, straw bale and zesty citrus leading to a pithy palate of lemon/lime, unripe melon and a core of stone fruit, making it a superb seafood companion. Frank’s touch is brilliant here, as with Johan’s fruit giving loads of energy and character. It opens to fleshy peach and kiwi along with some bitter herb and spice offering a fruity vs savory balance. The hint of brioche/lees offers mouth feel and substance. This white impresses for its zip and restraint while still giving texture and layers. The vintage shines through in all of the Bow & Arrow wines. These are wonderful efforts. Don’t miss them, in particular the Gamay/Pinot Rhinestones blend, the Gamay and the straight Pinot Noirs, all of which are standouts. Bow & Arrow’s Melon is a fun and refreshing white that will compliment oysters, clams, mussels as well as raw milk cheeses. It is a great alternative to the sea of less exciting whites out there.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $21
The average price is $23
Tranche Cellars Blue Mountain Vineyard Syrah, Walla Walla Valley 2010 750ML ($39.95) $21.90 special, 36+ bottles available
Case-12 Tranche Cellars Blue Mountain Vineyard Syrah, Walla Walla Valley 2010 750ML ($419.95) $219 special, 2 cases available (that’s only $18.25/bottle!)
Wine Advocate 93 points “A gorgeous effort, the 2010 Syrah Blue Mountain Estate Vineyard offers up ripe, full throttle aromas of smoked black fruits, hints of chocolate, toast and spice to go with a full-bodied, rich and layered profile on the palate that has no hard edges, a great mid-palate and ripe tannin that emerges on the finish. A superb value, it will dish out loads of pleasure over the coming decade. Made by the team at Corliss, these Tranche Cellars releases are not only superb, they represent excellent value as well.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $29.75!!
Siro Pacenti PS Pelagrilli, Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2012 750ML ($49.95) $38 special, 36+ bottles available
Ian D’Agata–Vinous 92 points “Deep red with ruby tinges. Delicately flinty and herbal notes complicate sour red cherry, redcurrant and underbrush aromas. Fresh and juicy but with an almost austere quality to the crisp red berry and minty plum flavors. Finishes long and clean with a mineral nuance. The herbal note disapperars with aeration, so it’s of paramount importance to give this wine plenty of air. Pacenti makes 20,000 bottles a year of this Brunello from 25 to 35 year old vines with roughly 75-80% of the grapes grown in the northern Pellagrilli estate vineyards and the rest from the Piancornello vineyards in the southern reaches Montalcino.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $44
Tenute del Cerro ‘La Poderina’ Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Tuscany 2006 750ML ($74.95) $49 special, 36+ bottles available
James Suckling 95 points “Blueberries, flowers and raspberries. Love the nose, like so many others. Full body, with fine tannins and a silky textured finish. So much going on here. Class”JS
Podere Poggio Scalette Il Carbonaione Alta Valle della Greve IGT, Tuscany 2013 750ML ($69.95) $41.90 special, 36+ bottles available
Antonio Galloni 95+ points “The 2013 Il Carbonaione is compelling. That’s the good news. The bad news, if you can call it that, is that the 2013 is going to take the better part of the next decade to be at its best. Black cherry, plum, licorice and menthol are all fused together. Today, the 2013 is rich, deep and unctuous, with superb depth and striking balance. Opening a bottle anytime soon, though, is likely to be a mostly academic exercise, as the Carbonaione is so primary, it almost tastes like a barrel sample!”
Wine Advocate 94+ points “Vittorio Fiore’s 2013 Il Carbonaione is a softly integrated and well-composed expression of Sangiovese. It shows enormous richness and makes a lasting impression on all the senses, from eyes to nose to palate. The appearance is inky dark, and the bouquet offers a balanced medley of ripe fruit, backing spice, leather, chocolate and tart berry aromas. It needs a few more years to unwind and lose some of its nervous energy. This is a beautiful and unique expression of the grape that will show its best in about five years.”
R. Lopez de Heredia Vina Cubillo Crianza, Rioja DOCa 2008 750ML ($27.95) $21.90 special, 29 bottles available
Wine Advocate 92 points “The first of the reds here is the 2008 Viña Cubillo Tinto Crianza from a cooler vintage that produced some austere and serious wines–a year with higher acidity and lively fruit. It feels effervescent and it makes you salivate. This is usually a blend of 70% Tempranillo, 20% Garnacha, 5% Graciano and 5% Mazuelo from 50-year-old vines that ferments in ancient oak vats, and ages in barrel for three years. This cuvée has increased its quality tremendously since the 1990s. These cooler years provide citric freshness, and a very fine texture and vibrant acidity. This is so easy to drink that it can be dangerous.This was the Rioja clarete fino–the everyday red. It’s both elegant and powerful. Very good value, too.”
~~~~~~~~~~~
Domaine de Montille
“Believe in the future of the bottle” – Hubert de Montille
With their deep history and some of the most sought after terroir in Burgundy, Domaine de Montille would seem to be one of the venerable producers that sprang from the soil and never need worry about changing. In fact, the de Montille family had lost such a sizeable chunk of their original holdings that by the time Hubert de Montille was handed the reins only 3 hectares of original vineyards remained. In addition, the winery was spending more time selling wine off to negociants than they were making their own wine. His first vintage in 1947 left a lasting impression, and a desire to see the Domaine regain its stature. Granted, as a lawyer first, the winery and the ability to work with such amazing fruit was a gift, but one that he took very seriously with the belief that it was also his responsibility to be able to pass it along to another generation.
He believed that moving away from negociants and offering the wines themselves would mark a sea-change in Burgundy. Domaines could reestablish the mark of terroir of the tiny little climats dotting the hillsides. The wines took a sharp turn, focusing on single vineyards and expression that reflected Hubert’s personal preference for wines to unfold and reveal themselves over time, often over decades. The family started clawing back parcels, adding a few rows here and there, growing their holdings and their ability to offer collectors some of the most sought after wines in the market.
Hubert’s foresight allowed him to hand the reins to his son, Etienne, and daughter, Alix. Their influence on the Domaine has been substantial. Etienne and Alix have brought their influence to the winemaking: Alix guiding the whites and Etienne following in his father’s footsteps. His reds have been softened somewhat, but he stays true to Hubert’s style: “My father imbued me with a passion for authentic wines – pure, balanced, elegant and with an ability to improve with age. I have added some fruit succulence and a velvet texture. The tannins are rounder and leave the charm of certain appellations to open up. I do this never forgetting to respect the terroir and our tradition.”
We’ve highlighted five of the sixteen Domaine de Montille wines available here now. See the complete list of all 433 different Burgundy options in stock now online at www.vinopoliswineshop.com
Domaine de Montille Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru 2014 750ML ($219.95) $189 special, 3 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 92-94 points “Pale, green-tinged yellow. Exhilarating aromas of apple, spearmint, nutmeg and five-spice powder; less reduced on the nose than the Cailleret. Very suave and fine-grained, with soil-driven flavors of fleur de sel, mint and lavender. At once stuffed with material and weightless, finishing very long and dry. About 40% of this wine is from young vines in de Montille’s recently replanted Pougets, from which he formerly made red wine.”
Burghound 92-94 points “An ultra-pure and fresh nose of green apple, spiced pear and citrus blossom gracefully slides into overtly stony and powerful broad-shouldered flavors that despite their significant size and weight, are crystalline in their transparency on the superbly long and well-balanced finale. This is most impressive and very clearly built-to-age so note well that this is definitely going to require some patience.”
Domaine de Montille Bourgogne Rouge 2014 750ML ($44.95) $38 special, 11 bottles available
Grapelive 92 points “Etienne de Montille’s stylish and open-knit base red Burgundy really delivers in quality and class for an entry level wine and is hard to resist even now. The 2014 Domaine de Montille Pinot Noir shows pretty detail and a light to medium bodied with satiny red fruits, sweet/succulent floral tones and has plenty of mineral and spice. Like most of the Domaine wines this one comes from select plots in the Cote de Beaune and farmed in most cases all organic. Etienne and his sister Alix craft each wine with extreme care and passion. They focus on making a wine that can age. Most vintages, you’d want to hold many years before enjoying them, but lucky for us the 2014’s are bursting with round and open flavors allowing youthful drinking pleasures. Less patience is required, even though it will certainly gain with another 3 to 5 years in the cellar. Bright and focused the 2014 de Montille Bourgogne Rouge leads with a hint of smoke, flinty/graphite, wilted roses and dusty plum with a very appealing ruby and light catching garnet hue in the glass, leading to a sweet palate of silken red cherries along with tangy currant, cranberry, strawberry and raspberry fruits as well as chalky stones, minty herb, fresh earth and peppery spices. This is a Pinot Noir that gives what is expected and a little bit more with a serious and sensual sense of poise and polish, but not completely tame with subtle tannins and vigor, impressive to be sure, enjoy over the next 3 to 10 years.”
Domaine de Montille Nuits-Saint-Georges Aux Saints Juliens 2013 750ML ($79.95) $49 special, 10 bottles available
Burghound 88-91 points “A subtle application of wood frames the attractively floral suffused nose of earth, sauvage and plum aromas. There is fine mid-palate concentration to the delicious and robust middle weight flavors where the supporting tannins are mildly rustic, all wrapped in a long, serious and balanced finish. This is a relatively big Nuits villages that should amply reward up to a decade of cellaring.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Domaine de Montille Les Pezerolles, Pommard Premier Cru 2009 750ML ($179.95) $149 special, 16 bottles available
Antonio Galloni 93 points “The 2009 Pommard Les Pezerolles is rich, round and seductive. Layers of fruit caress the palate in this enveloping, textured Burgundy. There is plenty of intensity in the glass. Hints of hard candy and licorice wrap around the finish. The Pezerolles was made with 100% destemmed fruit. Although I like the wine’s frank immediacy, I also think it will age gracefully.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Domaine de Montille Les Malconsorts Cuvee Christiane, Vosne-Romanee Premier Cru 2013 750ML ($599.95) $499 special, 3 bottles available
Neal Martin-Wine Advocate 94-96 points “The 2013 Vosne-Romanee 1er Cru les Malconsorts “Christianne,” which I asked to taste directly alongside the regular Malconsorts, has more delineation and precision, more mineralité coming through on the nose, veins of wet limestone and sea spray emerging with time. The palate is also noticeably different with greater tension and focus, a sense if coiled-up energy that is uncommon in this vintage. This surely illustrates the profound effects of terroir: a serious 2013 that should age with style.”
Stephen Tanzer-Vinous 92-95 points “Bright, deep red. More discreet on the nose than the “regular” Malconsorts, showing ineffable floral lift. A step up in fruit intensity and pungency, but with powerful crushed-stone minerality keeping the wine under wraps today. Conveys a very strong impression of extract and stuffing but very closed in on itself today. Brisk acidity contributes to the impression of energy. The wine’s sophisticated tannins spread out horizontally to saturate the palate on the sappy, very firm finish. Great incipient complexity here but this will require serious patience.”
~~~~~~~~~~~
Joseph Swan Vineyards
A California Icon Still Going Strong
Joseph Swan Vineyards remains one of the most notable names in California wines. Joe Swan was a trailblazer and legendary figure in the California’s viticultural history, and his son-in-law Rod Berglund is a talented winemaker of equal skill. That said it sometimes seems like this winery doesn’t get mentioned as often as it should when we talk about California’s great wineries, which is a shame.
The Swan wines aren’t trendy and never have been—they epitomize the idea of classicism and have been made in the same style no matter whether the winds of fashion favored the huge and ripe or the light and lean. The one constant for Swan has been the idea that the vineyard speaks for itself. Over the course of many decades, they’ve collected an incredible set of vineyards to work from, especially in Zinfandel, where Rod Berglund does some of his best work.
The Joseph Swan Zinfandels are many things, but easy to pin down and describe they aren’t. Depending on the growing conditions and the vineyard, they can be lighter, spicier wines or bigger, powerful and fruit driven. They’re never marked by new oak, though, so they always seem to be flexible and comfortable at the table.
Joseph Swan Wines Available Here Now:
Joseph Swan Vineyards Bastoni Vineyards Zinfandel, Sonoma County 2012 750ML ($34.95) $29 special, 32 bottles available
“Located in what I refer to as the Riebli Valley, just a few miles east of Hwy 101, this site has been farmed by the Bastoni family since 1906…. Although the old vines are gone, the replants are going strong and are meticulously cared for….It exhibits what I have come to view as a classic Bastoni nose of deep blue tinged fruit, like a cross between boysenberries and blueberries. There is also a slight hint of cooking spice, perhaps cardamom, and much less pepper than we see in the lower Russian River Valley zins. Good but not overwhelming tannin and acidity and medium to full body.”–Winery Notes
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Joseph Swan Vineyards Mancini Ranch Zinfandel, Russian River Valley 2012 750ML ($34.95) $29 special, 25 bottles available
Wine Advocate 90 points “The 2012 Zinfandel Mancini Ranch has a medium garnet color and nose of raspberry preserves, cherry pie and baking spices, plus a waft of anise. Light to medium-bodied, soft, fresh and spicy on the palate, it has lovely poise and expression.”
“Planted in the early 1920’s to Zinfandel and a host of other grapes. This will be the final vintage for this vineyard as a few years after Frank Mancini’s passing, the vineyard was sold. Blackberry, white pepper floral hints, bit of lushness. Complex balanced, elegant. A classic old style zinfandel made with new age sensibilities. And, it is under 13% alcohol!”–Winery Notes
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Joseph Swan Vineyards Ziegler Vineyard Zinfandel, Russian River Valley 2011 750ML ($31.95) $28 special, 35 bottles available
“My first impression upon smelling this wine was of a day walking home from grade school with my best friend. They had just repaved a street on the way and there little balls of tar (yes, tar, not what they use today). We gathered some and proceeded to chew them like gum. When we arrived at his house, his mother, who happened to be Italian, was rather amused. Rather than berate us she offered us cookies. We preferred the tar balls! I had forgotten that moment until I put my nose in the glass of this wine! It was a glorious moment but sadly with air it took on aromas of boysenberry/blackberry cobbler. Still a great smell but that initial earthy/tarry note was a wonderful memory. But I digress. This is a wonderful example of wine from this old vineyard. Blackberries, boysenberries, black pepper and other spice. Good acid, soft tannin and lower than usual alcohol (less than 14%!)”-Winery Notes
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Joseph Swan Vineyards Ziegler Vineyard Zinfandel, Russian River Valley 2012 750ML ($34.95) $29 special, 24 bottles available
“Like its neighbor across the road, Mancini Ranch, Zeigler Vineyard was planted in the early 1920’s. However, for no explainable reason, it starts its spring growth and ripens about two weeks earlier than its neighbor. Boysenberry and the usual black pepper aromas are there but there is also cardamom, a bit of allspice and dried rose petal. It is super complex. At only 13% alcohol, almost as low as Mancini, it is not lacking at all for body. Our favorite Zeigler in a long while.”–Winery Notes
~~~~~~~~~~~
Heymann-Löwenstein:
A Master of the Lower Mosel
The Terrassenmosel (A part of the lower Mosel steep enough that terraces are required to farm it) is a spectacular place to behold. Steep and daunting, it makes sense that singular wines would emerge from here. In that sense, then, the wines of Reinhard Löwenstein are perfectly in sync with expectations, provided your expectations are lofty enough.
These are some of the most sought after wines in Germany—monuments of mineral, most dry, aged for a full year longer than most of his peers before bottling and release because, cash-flow be damned, it’s about making the most impressive wines possible. If you haven’t had them and have any interest in dry Mosel Riesling, you should change that. If you have, you’ll notice how sharp our pricing is!
In Stock Now from Heymann-Loewenstein
Heymann-Loewenstein ‘von Blauem Schiefer’ Riesling, Mosel 2015 750ML ($44.95) $33 special, 32 bottles available
Wine Advocate 91 points “The 2015 Riesling Vom Blauen Schiefer opens with a beautifully clear and slatey bouquet of perfectly ripe Riesling flavors. The wine is round, piquant and salty on the palate, reveals picture book finesse and transparency and is extremely stimulating in its dry but perfectly balanced finish. The aftertaste is pretty long and already complex. If you are looking for a picture book wine of the terraced Lower Mosel, this is the one you have to taste. Thirteen percent of alcohol can hardly taste lighter and more stimulating.”
VinopolNote: Soil is blue slate, brownish clay with iron oxide
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Heymann-Loewenstein Kirchberg Riesling, Mosel 2015 750ML ($49.95) $39 special, 18 bottles available
Mosel Fine Wines 92+ points “This wine is rather reduced but offers a gorgeously flowery nose of pear and Provence herbs. It proves superbly elegant on the palate where grip and saltiness define the aromatics. Great multi-layered complexity already comes through in the long and airy finish. This is still very primary and in need of bottle age to balance out but this beauty will easily turn into the most complete and elegant expression of Kirchberg we have taste to date. This is hugely impressive and has even some upside potential. 2018-2025.”
Wine Advocate 92 points “The 2015 Riesling Kirchberg ‘VDP Grosse Lage’ opens with a generous and warm, ripe Riesling aroma intertwined with some herbal and iron lemon flavors on the clear and elegant nose. This is a full-bodied, charming, finessed and elegant wine with fine tannin structure and a dry and persistent finish. Still young, the Kirchberg will benefit from further bottle aging.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Heymann-Loewenstein Schieferterrassen Riesling, Mosel 2015 750ML ($39.95) $29 special, 36+ bottles available
“The 2015er Trocken Schieferterrassen is made from the Estate’s holdings in Winningen (Domgarten, Brückstück and Hamm) and Kobern (Fahrberg and Weissenberg) as well as from declassified fruit from its “cru” vineyards. It offers a gorgeous nose of marzipan, herbs and spices. The wine is delicately baroque and full of character on the palate as ripe yellow fruits are nicely complemented by spicy herbs and a hint of tartness in the finish. 2018-2025” –Mosel Fine Wines
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Heymann-Loewenstein Stolzenberg Riesling, Mosel 2015 750ML ($49.95) $39 special, 19 bottles available
Wine Advocate 91+ points “Some lactic flavors of ripe yellow fruits open to the 2015 Riesling Stolzenberg ‘VDP Grosse Lage’, a full-bodied, intense and well concentrated wine with piquant acidity and a serious, age-worthy structure. Like in the Kirchberg, the tannins are more dominant here than in former years but structure the power of this wine very well. I am curious to see where it will go from here. The wine seems a bit closed at the moment but is elegant and finessed. A bit demure and drying at this early stage.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Heymann-Loewenstein Uhlen B Blaufusser Lay Riesling, Mosel 2015 750ML ($69.95) $59 special, 9 bottles available
Wine Advocate 94 points “The 2015 Riesling Uhlen B ‘VDP Grosse Lage’ from the Blaufüsser Lay offers the purity and perfume of the Vom blauen Schiefer but with more intensity, ripeness and complexity. This is perfectly ripe Riesling fruit on milled blue slate. Lovely flinty flavors here. On the palate, this is Riesling as a melting rock! Finessed purity and elegance with a great, very clear and salty finish. This Uhlen B is tightly woven but nevertheless transparent, finessed and elegant.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Heymann-Loewenstein Uhlen Laubach Lay Riesling 2015 750ML ($69.95) $59 special, 17 bottles available
Wine Advocate 96 points “From the Laubach formation of the grand cru, the 2015 Riesling Uhlen L ‘VDP Grosse Lage’ is super flinty, refined and elegant on the nose where perfectly ripe Riesling and white truffle aromas are displayed. On the palate, this is an intense, dense and finessed Riesling with great tension, salinity and complexity. The finish is aromatic, pure and very long, really what Reinhard Löwenstein was aiming for: to serve the intellectuals as well as the hedonists. A great and age-worthy Riesling.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Heymann-Loewenstein Winninger Uhlen ‘R’ Roth Lay Riesling Auslese Goldkapsel, Mosel 2007 375ML ($99.95) $69 special, 24+ half-bottles available
Wine Spectator 96 points “Candied citrus, jujube, sweet spice and quince paste aromas and flavors mark this sweet, bracing Riesling, which is light on its feet and resonates on the finish with a mouthwatering feel and echoes of citrus. Best from 2012 through 2045.”
Wine Advocate 95 points “Lowenstein’s 2007 Winninger Uhlen Riesling Auslese Gold Capsule Roth Lay (as in the corresponding dry wines, the letter “R” is prominent on the label of this A.P.#9) benefits from counterpoint and collaboration among bright citrus, rich pit fruit essences, and the honey of botrytis. For all of its enormous sheer ripeness and concentration, this retains a striking sense of delicacy. A snappy, spicy, pungent streak – taken together with vivid, diverse pit fruits and citrus – serves for exhilaration in a finish of memorable length and energy, with a vivid impression of crushed stone one hardly expects in a wine of such sweetness and prominent botrytization. There seems to be something of a personality role reversal at work this year, because the corresponding Rottgen Auslese is cool and refined whereas this Uhlen displays more of the piquancy and (as French growers might say) nervosite that I associate with Rottgen. But then, botrytis is always something of a wild card, so that a wine like this is profoundly and unpredictably influenced by the precise microclimatic conditions for and differences in the nature of that fungus. No doubt this too will be worth following for two or more decades.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $74.99
Heymann-Loewenstein Winninger Uhlen ‘R’ Roth Lay Riesling Auslese Goldkapsel, Mosel 2010 750ML ($199.95) $149 special, 36 bottles available
Wine Advocate 93 points “Lowenstein’s 2010 Winninger Uhlen Riesling Auslese Gold Capsule Roth Lay – destined for auction – displays an almost sweaty aromatic alliance of salinity and musky pungency, along with nose-prickling lemon rind such as one might expect from an Eiswein. Suggestions of marigold and narcissus add to the exotic, pungent muskiness on display here. Fig and peach preserves; pear drops; marzipan and salted caramel intensely mark the palate, while zesty, musky, and saline mineral impingement serve for strikingly persistent stimulation. Despite its lower (7.5%) alcohol, though, this comes off not only as more viscous but also less buoyant (let alone “uncannily” so) than its Rottgen counterpart. That wine is an example of botrytis performing its magic and leaving nary a fingerprint behind, whereas here, prints are quite evident, even if fascinatingly smudge-free. This compellingly complex concentrate will not be everybody’s cup of nobly rotten Riesling, but ought to merit at least the better part of two decades attention.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Arriving in June
Heymann-Loewenstein Uhlen ‘R’ Roth Lay Riesling, Mosel 2015 750ML ($89.95) $79 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 95-97 points “Tasted from the barrel and still dusty in its ripe golden color, the 2015 Riesling Uhlen R ‘VDP Grosse Lage’ (which is always bottled late) combines super ripe, rich and intense tropical fruit aromas (pineapples) with the spicy flavors of red (iron-rich) slate. The palate, however, is stunningly pure and finessed, highly elegant and almost light whereas the finish is very long, full of salt, grip and tension. A great promise!”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
~~~~~~~~~~~
Saint Cosme 2015’s:
Still the Best (Prices, too!)
ETA June
2015 will be remembered as the year of glory in winemaking around the world. Burgundy was Great. Beaujolais was Great. The Mosel was Great. Champagne is looking promising. Even our local winemakers are embracing the vintage.
So it should not come as much of a surprise to those lucky lovers of the rich and expressive wines of the Southern Rhone: it too was a Great and Glorious vintage. We’ve only just begun to see offers, so we’re excited to announce this offer from one of our favorite Southern Rhone estates: Chateau de Saint Cosme.
Saint Cosme is one of our “core wineries.” They remain a reference point producer in the Rhone, producing incredible wines from both the Southern and Northern Rhone.
New releases from Saint Cosme arriving this month:
Chateau de Saint Cosme Le Poste Blanc, Cotes du Rhone 2015 750ML ($49.95) $39 pre-arrival special
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 91-92 points “(sourced from vines planted in 1963 in the heart of Gigondas): Green-tinged yellow. Vibrant, mineral-accented citrus and orchard fruit aromas are complemented by suggestions of white flowers and ginger. Juicy, focused and pure, offering vibrant orange, pear skin and white peach flavors underscored by a chalky mineral element. Becomes deeper and fleshier with air white maintaining vivacity, and finishes with excellent clarity, power and persistence.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Saint Cosme Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Rhone 2013 750ML ($49.95) $39 pre-arrival special
Case-6 Saint Cosme Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Rhone 2013 750ML ($279.95) $219 pre-arrival special (that’s only $36.50/bottle!)
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 92-93 points “Deep ruby. An expressive bouquet evokes red fruit liqueur, incense and spicecake and a smoky mineral element adds energy. Silky, concentrated and energetic, offering intense, spice-laced raspberry and cola flavors firmed by a spine of juicy acidity. Concentrated but graceful wine that finishes very long, spicy and gently tannic. Note that this wine was not in bottle when I visited Barruol in February.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $48
Saint Cosme Cote Rotie, Rhone 2015 750ML ($69.95) $53.50 pre-arrival special
Case-6 Saint Cosme Cote Rotie, Rhone 2015 750ML ($359.95) $299 pre-arrival special (that’s only $49.83/bottle and the lowest listed price in the USA today!)
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 92-94 points “(50% new oak): Glass-staining ruby. Heady, exotically perfumed red and dark berry scents are complicated by suggestions of star anise, violet and cola. Sweet, seamless and penetrating in the mouth, offering intense boysenberry and black raspberry flavors that deepen steadily on the back half. Rich yet lithe, with strong closing thrust and silky, even tannins lending framework and gentle grip.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Saint Cosme Crozes-Hermitage, Rhone 2015 750ML ($29.95) $26 pre-arrival special
Case-6 Saint Cosme Crozes-Hermitage, Rhone 2015 750ML ($169.95) $139 pre-arrival special (that’s only $23.17/bottle and the lowest listed price in the USA today!)
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 91-93 points “Bright violet. Vibrant dark berry, violet and licorice aromas are complemented by suggestions of olive and woodsmoke. Palate-staining blackberry and bitter cherry flavors are joined by peppery spice and mineral qualities that build on the back half. Manages to be at once rich and energetic, carrying no excess fat. The very long, juicy finish is framed by harmonious tannins and leaves behind a sappy dark berry note.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Saint Cosme Saint-Joseph, Rhone 2015 750ML ($34.95) $28 pre-arrival special
Case-6 Saint Cosme Saint-Joseph, Rhone 2015 750ML ($179.95) $149 pre-arrival special (that’s only $24.83/bottle!)
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 91-93 points “Inky ruby. Powerful aromas of blackberry, violet and woodsmoke, plus a hint of cola that emerges with aeration. Sweet, densely packed and full-bodied, offering ripe cassis, blackberry, violet pastille and licorice flavors given lift and spine by juicy acidity. Spreads out and becomes spicier on the impressively long finish, which features chewy tannins and a sexy floral nuance.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Chateau de Saint Cosme Gigondas, Rhone 2015 750ML ($41.95) $33 pre-arrival special
Chateau de Saint Cosme Gigondas, Rhone 2015 1.5L ($79.95) $66 pre-arrival special
Case-6 Chateau de Saint Cosme Gigondas, Rhone 2015 750ML ($239.95) $179 pre-arrival special (that’s only $29.83/bottle and the lowest listed price in the USA today!)
Wine Advocate 91-93 points “Starting with the 2015 Gigondas Classique from Barruol, this blend of 70% Grenache, 15% Mourvèdre and the rest Syrah and Cinsault will be a wine that readers will want to stockpile. Full-bodied, rich, beautifully textured and layered, with killer notes of crème de cassis, white pepper, spice and garrigue, it’s a classic Gigondas that will drink well for 15+ years.”
This is the only listing in the USA today for the magnum!
Chateau de Saint Cosme Gigondas Hominis Fides, Rhone 2015 750ML ($119.95) $99 pre-arrival special
Case-6 Chateau de Saint Cosme Gigondas Hominis Fides, Rhone 2015 750ML ($599.95) $569 pre-arrival special (that’s only $94.83/bottle!)
Wine Advocate 97-99 points “A wine that might rival the 2007, the 2015 Gigondas Hominis Fides (100% Grenache from sandy soils located just down from the estate) offers full-bodied, massive and unctuous notes of currants, crushed rocks, smoked meats and licorice. Fermented with 100% whole clusters and aged mostly in older barrels, this sensational Gigondas might end up being the wine of the vintage, from the entire Southern Rhone valley! It has masses of tannin, so it’s going to require patience.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $119.99
Chateau de Saint Cosme Gigondas Le Claux, Rhone 2015 750ML ($119.95) $99 pre-arrival special
Case-6 Chateau de Saint Cosme Gigondas Le Claux, Rhone 2015 750ML ($599.95) $569 pre-arrival special (that’s only $94.83/bottle!)
Wine Advocate 97-99 points “Another wine that might flirt with perfection is the 2015 Gigondas le Claux. It’s also 100% Grenache and comes from a site just across the road from the Hominis Fides cuvee. The soils here are slightly more limestone-based, and like all of the wine here, it’s fermented with no destemming and aged mostly in old barrels (20% is new). Camphor, currants, incense, graphite, crushed rocks and licorice all soar from this thriller and it has full-bodied richness, an incredible texture and a blockbuster finish. It will have 2-3 decades of overall longevity.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $119.99
Chateau de Saint Cosme Gigondas Le Poste, Rhone 2015 750ML ($99.95) $79 pre-arrival special
Case-6 Chateau de Saint Cosme Gigondas Le Poste, Rhone 2015 750ML ($479.95) $419 pre-arrival special (that’s only $69.83/bottle!)
Wine Advocate 94-96 points “The 2015 Gigondas le Poste is a classic expression of this vineyard and shows the more elegant, perfumed style that always comes from this site. Violets, flowers, raspberries, blueberries and green herbs all emerge from this full-bodied, lengthy and impeccably balanced Gigondas that has ultra-fine tannin and perfectly integrated acidity. Brought up just like the other two single vineyard releases, this beauty will be more accessible in its youth, yet I suspect it will age just as long.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Chateau de Saint Cosme Gigondas Valbelle, Rhone 2015 750ML ($69.95) $59 pre-arrival special
Case-6 Chateau de Saint Cosme Gigondas Valbelle, Rhone 2015 750ML ($359.95) $319 pre-arrival special (that’s only $53.17/bottle!)
Wine Advocate 94-96 points “Incorporating 10% Syrah, the Grenache-dominated 2015 Gigondas Cuvee Valbelle is another heavenly wine from Louis Barruol. Full-bodied, seamless and elegant, with lots of crème de cassis, crushed flowers, incense and white pepper, it has a touch less mid-palate depth than the single vineyards, but is impeccably balanced and will have two decades of longevity.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $74.99