Orin Swift’s Catalan Sensation
Staff Picks
New Arrivals, Including:
Goodfellow, Bow & Arrow, Burlotto, Prum and More!
Grapelive Reviews a Vinopolis Favorite
The Glory of the July Sale
Cantine Lonardo: Terrific Taurasi
Gulfi’s Cerasuolo Returns Next Week
Why Pay $200 for Sassicaia?
July Sale Recapped
Orin Swift’s Top Catalan Sensation
At the Best Price in the Country
Orin Swift Department D 66 ‘Pharaon’, IGP Cotes Catalanes 2014 ($189.95) $136 special
Wine Advocate 95 points “The top wine is the 2014 IGP Cotes Catalanes Pharaon, and it’s a barrel selection that ended up being an even split of Grenache and Syrah that was aged in 75% new French oak. While the cooler, late vintage didn’t favor Grenache, Richard commented that Syrah excelled, hence the larger portion of Syrah in the blend than normal. About as sexy and textured as they come in the vintage, this beautiful 2014 offers lots of crème de cassis, black raspberry, chocolate and peppery nuances to go with a full-bodied, luxuriously textured, hedonistic slant on the palate. Despite the ripeness level, it stays fresh and lively, with notable underlying structure. Hats off to the team here. This beauty will cruise for another decade.”
The next best price is $160
The average price is $170
Staff Picks
A Wolf in the Summer
It often seems like, for some reason, German Rieslings remain some of the best kept secrets in the wine world. In the States it might very well be the misconception that Rieslings are always sweet—which is far from the truth. I have too often had the experience of suggesting to a customer that they try a Riesling as a great food pairing option to be met with the comment, ‘I don’t like sweet wines.’ Palm-forehead! Well hopefully most of our readers know not only that German Rieslings can be incredibly dynamic wines but that we at Vinopolis are huge proponents of these wines with quite possibly the best selection in the country.
Of course, the hot summer days now setting in on the tail of spring have many people thinking “rosé time!” While many others are saying, “when is it not rosé time?” And if you’re feeling the rosé fever, please do check out our great selection of the pinks in stock now (that 3L bottle of Tempier is still available!). But I know that there are many others out there like myself who are rather lukewarm on rosés. In this weather I always find myself looking for a crisp dynamic quaffable white. It turned out that I made just the right choice when I grabbed this Dr Burklin-Wolf Deidesheimer 2014. This is a truly dry Riesling, not a detectable note of residual sugar, zesty, energetic, bright and lean with a long finish. Pair with a Matisse painting of lemons, summer salad with plenty of fresh basil and your favorite Wim Wenders film. You can’t beat the price on this one, so grab it by the case for these scorching days.
Dr. Burklin-Wolf Deidesheimer Riesling, Pfalz 2014 750ml ($24.95) $16 special
Wine Advocate 91 points “Very clear and open, with lovely ripe peach and some flinty aromas on the nose starts the 2014 Deidesheimer Riesling trocken — announcing a more accessible wine compared to the Wachenheimer. The coolish/warm character of the nose is reflected on the palate, which is medium to full-bodied, very intense, concentrated and very expressive in the piquant and juicy finish. The wine is pure and powerful, very aromatic but not fat or big at all. It’s simply sexy in its piquant and racy richness.”
Quinault L’Enclos is the all-organic side-project of Cheval Blanc (conversion began in 2009 and was completed in 2012). The wine is a blend of Merlot and Cabernet Franc from vines that average 45 years in age. The wine opens with a hint of vanilla and savory herbs. On the palate, the flavor develops into notes of black raspberries, dark chocolate and forest floor. It is well-balanced and smooth on the finish. Excellent today or this ’09 would cellar well for 5-7 years.
Robert Parker notes: “Now owned by the proprietors of Cheval Blanc, the 2009 Quinault l’Enclos (composed of 70% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc, and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon) exhibits an opaque purple color, notes of licorice, incense, raspberries, and black cherries, medium body, elegant, stylish flavors, and no hint of oak. This is a beautifully made, pure, deep wine that continues to confirm what Dr. Alain Raynaud suspected when he bought this property in 1997. The naysayers all said this terroir was suspect, but that has been proven wrong by the wines that have been produced. This 2009 should drink well for 10-20 years.”
Chateau Quinault L’Enclos, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru 2009 750ML ($59.95) $49 special
James Suckling 93 points “A soft and fruity wine, with orange peel and berries and plums. Full body, with super fine tannins and a fruity finish. Refined and very pretty. Structured in the end. Fresh. Succulent. A style away from the over extracted one a few years ago. Try after 2018.” JS
Wine Spectator 92 points “This is very distinctive, with live-wire acidity running through the core of damson plum, linzer torte and blackberry fruit that’s framed by a mouthwatering roasted apple wood note. The long and driven finish has a piercing iron edge and a smoldering tobacco note that adds to the dramatic profile. Best from 2015 through 2025.” WA
New Arrivals
Oregon
VinopolNote “This is a field blend of Riesling, Pinot Noir, Pinot Blanc and Gewurtztraminer (all pressed off as white). Fresh, delicious and crisp, this is a perfect wine for fish and charcuterie (or by itself, if we’re being confessional).”
Bow & Arrow Time Machine Blanc, Willamette Valley NV 750ML ($19.95) $16.60 special
A blend of Chenin and Sauvignon Blanc
Alain Bailly Brut Rose, Champagne NV 750ML ($37.95) $28 special
Case-6 Alain Bailly Brut Rose, Champagne NV 750ML ($209.95) $149 special (that’s only $24.83/bottle!)
VinopolNote “Inexpensive wines in prestige categories can be tricky. We taste wines all the time from regions like Champagne whose producers are content to ride the coattails of the appellation, producing wines that are mediocre and cheap. That makes finding a diamond in the rough an extra fun. This a delicious bottle of Champagne for barely more than you’d pay for a bottle of “sparkling wine.” Rosé Champagne in particular seems to command a premium in the marketplace, so to find something dry, interesting and correct for this price is an absolute steal. This is not the most complex or serious bubbly in the world, but we all were really impressed with the quality for the price. Delicious stuff.”
Chateau Canon la Gaffeliere, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru 2014 750ML ($119.95) $99 special
#7 Wine Spectator Wine Of The Year 2017
Wine Spectator 95 points “This cuts a wide swath, with mouthwatering tobacco and warm ganache notes leading the way, followed by a wave of fig, blackberry and black currant preserves. Shows remarkable definition already, even though the structure is strident. Tempting now, but just put this in the back of the cellar. Best from 2020 through 2035. 4,083 cases made.”
Antonio Galloni 95+ points “One of the wines of the vintage, the 2014 Canon La Gaffelière is explosive, lifted and aristocratic in its breeding. Bright Cabernet Franc aromatics give the wine its signature lift and precision. Raspberry jam, rose petal, mint, blood orange, tobacco and pomegranate build slowly on the palate, leading to a super-expressive, finely knit finish. Powerful yet also impeccably refined, the 2014 has it all. The 2014 is 55 % Merlot, 37 % Cabernet Franc and 8 % Cabernet Sauvignon. Don’t miss it. Tasted two times.”
G. B. Burlotto Dives Langhe Bianco, Piedmont 2016 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 special
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 90 points “The 2016 Langhe Sauvignon Dives is a bright and luminous white wine that benefits from the complex chalky soils found in the Verduno area of Piedmont. This wine is frank and horizontal in approach. It offers immediate aromas of exotic fruit and summer peach with a lot of salty minerality at the back. In the mouth, the wine shows a broad reach and medium structure.”
Aged in acacia barrels.
Case-12 Jermann Pinot Grigio Venezia Giulia IGT, Friuli Venezia Giulia 2016 750ML ($279.95) $219 special (that’s only $18.25/bottle!)
James Suckling 91 points “The nose here is driven on yellow apples, blossom and daffodils. There is plenty of minerality and acidity with a medium body and almond-like finish. Drink now.”
Wine Spectator 90 points “A fresh Pinot Grigio, light- to medium-bodied and creamy, with a minerally underpinning and a subtle mesh of poached pear, spring forest and grated ginger flavors, showing a rich hint of pastry cream. Drink now through 2023.”
Wine Advocate 90 points “If you are looking for a Pinot Grigio that crosses all its t’s and dots all its i’s, look no further than the 2016 Pinot Grigio from Jermann. This wine offers a fresh and zesty taste profile that takes you light years away from the tired and flat expressions of this workhorse grape from yesteryear. All the aromas here are alive and bright. They include citrus, honey, white peach and Granny Smith apple.”
The 2016 vintage is another marked success for the estate, producing Riesling of beautiful charm and deliciousness. There’s no reason to think that these won’t be wines that improve for three decades, but they’re uncommonly tasty for young JJ Prum. From top to bottom, these are brilliant wines and with the stern 2017’s in the pipeline, definitely the most immediately delicious vintage in many years.
Joh. Jos. Prum Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Kabinett, Mosel 2016 1.5L ($79.95) $69 special
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2016 Graacher Himmelreich Kabinett (AP 21 17) is deep, cool and flinty on the nose, pretty mineral though still a bit reductive. Round, intense and juicy, this is a densely woven Kabinett with ripe nectarine and plummy flavors as well as a tightly woven and refreshing mineral structure. The finish is pretty persistent and extremely stimulating. Compared to the Badstube, the Himmelreich is more aromatic and expressive. Tasted in March 2017.”
David Schildknecht – Vinous 92 points “Scents and juicy generosity of mint-tinged and honeysuckle-garlanded fresh apple and black currant are allied to a polished, glossy, buoyant palate presence, leading to a lusciously sustained, delicate finish tinged with crystalline stony inflections. The sweetness here is totally supportive and entirely discreet. This is one of those Kabinetts one seems to inhale in the finish, with floral perfume and wet stone prominent, and only sheer refreshment reminds you of its fluid nature.”
The next best price is $79
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 95 points “The 2016 Graacher Himmelreich Spätlese (AP 08 17) is discreet and smoky on the deep, well-defined nose. Juicy-piquant and salty on the well-structured and refreshingly mineral palate, the Himmelreich is tight and expressive, with the sweetness superbly balanced by the spicy, grippy phenols/minerals. This is a really complex Spätlese that is highly stimulating today and will still be so in 20 or 30 years.”
David Schildknecht – Vinous 94 points “This is another Prüm 2016 seductively loaded with floral perfume, but here it’s bittersweet, suggesting gentian and iris as well as honeysuckle. The palate and superbly sustained finish deliver delicacy allied to silken richness and gloss, featuring intense pear, pineapple, quince and almond paste flavors together with striking transparency to stony and maritime mineral nuances.”
Joh. Jos. Prum Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Auslese, Mosel 2016 750ML ($59.95) $49 special
Joh. Jos. Prum Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Auslese, Mosel 2016 375ML ($37.95) $29 special
Joh. Jos. Prum Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Auslese, Mosel 2016 1.5L ($119.95) $99 special
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 95 points “The 2016 Graacher Himmelreich Auslese (AP 09 17) shows very fine botrytis and orange tea character on the delicate and nicely concentrated nose. Very elegant, piquant and lush on the palate, with mineral expression, refreshment and persistent structure, this is a serious and complex Auslese of great class. Highly recommended.”
Wine Spectator 93 points “Well-crafted, showing a bright and suave character, displaying ripe peach, mango and mineral nuances, this auslese sings harmoniously on the palate. Silky and full of energy, with a lingering aftertaste of lime and honey. Very delicious now, but will also age for years. Drink now through 2034.”
Joh. Jos. Prum Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Auslese Goldkapsel, Mosel 2016 750ML ($119.95) $99 special
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 97 points “What a fantastic bouquet! The 2016 Graacher Himmelreich Auslese Gold Capsule is super deep, intense and precise on the nose where flinty/stony notes and very fine (and slightly spicy) raisin and grapefruit aromas are displayed. Rich, lush and super sexy on the palate, with highly delicate but intense and persistent fruit and very fine salinity, this is a gorgeous Auslese from the winner of the 2016 vintage chez Prüm: Graacher Himmelreich. This gold-capsuled Auslese (AP 10 17) is rich, finessed and almost weightless in its intensity. The salty and piquant acidity is alive and kicking. You can hardly produce a better Auslese in this delicate and filigreed style. 8% alcohol.”
Wine Spectator 94 points “A bit creamy, yet elegant, showing lots of freshness and vibrancy, with juicy acidity cutting through the ripe flavors of peach and apple, combined with notes of Key lime pie and sweet spice. Features a vivid structure, showing terrific integration and a long, detailed, velvety finish. Drink now through 2038.”
Mosel Fine Wines 92 points “This delivers a beautiful nose of flowers, whipped cream, herbs, smoke, vineyard peach, and apricot blossom. The wine is delicate, light weighted and has good presence with ripe fruits including peach, pear and a touch of toffee on the palate. It develops quite some Spätlese presence and intensity in the hugely long finish.”
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 91 points “The 2016 Wehlener Sonnenuhr Kabinett (AP 22 17) is bright, deep, firm and flinty on the nose, which is still a bit reductive in early March 2018. Pure, fine and piquant on the palate, this is a light and very delicate Kabinett with a salty-piquant, lush finish that reveals ripe stone fruit and tropical fruit flavors.”
Joh. Jos. Prum Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Spatlese, Mosel 2016 750ML ($49.95) $41.90 special
Joh. Jos. Prum Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Spatlese, Mosel 2016 1.5L ($119.95) $96 pre-arrival special
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 94 points “The 2016 Wehlener Sonnenuhr Spätlese (AP 23 17) is still discreet, floral and finely mineral rather than fruity on the nose compared to the other 2016 Spätlesen. Lush, piquant and juicy on the palate, this is a firm but sensual Sonnenuhr with remarkable finesse, lightness and lingering salinity. Tasted March 2018.”
Mosel Fine Wines 92+ points “This proves quite closed at first. A hint of volatile acidity quickly gives way to beautiful flavors of canned yellow peach, apricot blossom, grapefruit and a touch of toffee on the nose. The wine develops ripe aromas on the creamy, intense and smooth palate. The finish is full of honeyed fruits, roasted pineapple and butter cream. This Auslese-styled expression of Wehlener Sonnenuhr will need quite some time to integrate its richness, but could then turn out even better than anticipated as the fresher side emerges at maturity.”
Joh. Jos. Prum Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese, Mosel 2016 1.5L ($149.95) $119 special
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 94 points “The 2016 Wehlener Sonnenuhr Auslese (AP 13 17) is clear, fresh and vegetal/floral on the pretty complex but clear and refreshingly flinty nose. Bottled with 8.5% alcohol, this is a lush, piquant and well-structured Spätlese with good grip and a perceptible sweetness. The finish is intense and complex and reveals a firm mineral structure.”
Wine Spectator 94 points “Pure, flying like a butterfly across the palate, this starts with mineral and floral notes up front, but unfolds to show multiple layers of flavor, remaining seductive throughout. The peach, glazed pear and honey flavors are perfectly balanced, with power and force seemingly reserved. Shows wonderful expression. Drink now through 2037.”
Joh. Jos. Prum Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese Goldkapsel, Mosel 2016 750ML ($129.95) $119 special
Joh. Jos. Prum Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese Goldkapsel, Mosel 2016 375ML ($79.95) $66 special
Joh. Jos. Prum Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese Goldkapsel, Mosel 2016 1.5L ($279.95) $249 special
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 96 points “The 2016 Wehlener Sonnenuhr Auslese (Gold Capsule) is clear, fine and subtle yet concentrated, with vegetal and ripe fruit aromas. Rich, round and piquant, this is an intense and densely woven Auslese (AP 14 17) with a long, tensioned and refreshing mineral finish that lifts the sweet fruit. Gorgeous but made for another decade.”
Wine Spectator 95 points “Lush and thick in texture, combining power and grace, with a firm backbone of acidity and mineral details. Stunning on the palate, featuring different nuances that keep emerging with each sip. Slate, apricot jam, flan, honeysuckle and kumquat fruit notes are the most prominent, leading to a long, mineral-laced finish. Drink now through 2040.”
Of a Perennial Vinopolis Favorite from Cameron
Grapelive 92 points “The 2016 Cameron Dundee Hills is an impressively rich and opulent Pinot Noir with a backbone of velvety tannin and dark fruit, it starts with a touch of reduction and feral (earthy/animal) notes before the fruit explodes on the almost full bodied palate with layers of sweet cherry, blackberry, plum and wild currants, but nicely this powerful array of fruit is contrasted with a mix of spices, flinty stones and well judged French oak that has hints of cedar, dried vanilla and faint coco power. The mouth is lovely and silky, but this is still a youthful and brash Pinot Noir that will gain with more bottle age, it was crafted using traditional Burgundian methods, including native ferments and over a year in barrel, without any additions or filtering.
“The Cameron Dundee Hills Pinot is a blend of the Clos Electrique and Abbey Ridge Vineyards, two that make up the best of John Paul’s main sites in the AVA (Dundee Hills) that is on the Jory (volcanic) soils and making for a full and expressive wine, as in this ripe 2016 vintage. The Abbey Ridge Vineyard site is located high up in the Dundee Hills, at about 600 plus feet. These vines were first planted here in 1976, and are some of the oldest in Oregon, they help produce some of Cameron’s finest wines, while Clos Electrique, planted by Cameron’s winemaker John Paul, is a tiny estate vineyard that consists of approximately 3 acres of Pinot Noir with each block of vines planted to multiple clones, a technique increases the complexity of flavors in the wines. Both sites are farmed without irrigation and this dry farming practice concentrates the these wines and you’ll notice the deep color and exotic mouth feel in them, especially in a warm vintage such as 2016.”
Avignonesi Vin Santo di Montepulciano, Tuscany 2001 375ML ($219.95) Was $179, Now $159 Clearance Price
Wine Advocate 98 points “The 2001 Vin Santo di Montepulciano (375 milliliters) is a divine and superbly delicious sweet blend of Trebbiano, Malvasia and Grechetto. The results are super concentrated and simmered down to a virtual reduction sauce of deliciousness. There are so many aromas to name, but some of the most evident highlights include candied orange peel, almond marzipan, caramel, toasted coffee bean, vanilla stick, mocha, dark honey and fragrant yellow rose. The mouthfeel is creamy, rich and deeply layered. I’m suggesting a slightly shorter drinking window here compared to the Occhio di Pernice. But, the truth is: I have no idea. I’m pretty sure these wines will outlive anyone of legal drinking age.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Weingut A.J. Adam Dhroner Hofberg Riesling Grosses Gewachs, Mosel 2013 1.5L ($149.95) Was $127, Now $119 Clearance Price
Robert Parker 93+ points “Selected twice (in the vineyard and at the winery to process only healthy grapes), 100% fuder-fermented and bottled in May 2014, the 2013 Dhroner Hofberg Riesling trocken has a very clear and precise nose displaying ripe peach and nectarine aromas intertwined with slate flavors. This leads to an impressively intense, filigreed and pure wine which develops power and finesse and does not have a single gram of fat. Sourced from 60-year-old and partly ungrafted vines this 12.4% natural alcohol cru is a full-bodied, elegant, precise and crystalline Riesling with an impressive purity and terroir expression. It has just begun its flight and could be even finer in half a year. “RP
Terry Theise notes: “This is the quasi-GG and of all these obstreperous ’13s it was the best behaved. In fact a lovely dry Riesling, herbal, juicy, malic and salty; long and clinging finish; amazing equipoise of ethereal delicacy and heavy density and grip. 94º Oechsle, rather little botrytis, cask-fermented and aged on the fine lees, and finely smoky; only 8.5g/l RS but extract concentration confers a kind of facsimile of “’sweetness.’”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Antichi Vigneti di Cantalupo ‘Cantalupo Anno Primo’ Colline Novaresi, Piedmont 2010 1.5L ($89.95) Was $77, Now $69 Clearance Price
Antonio Galloni 93 points “The 2010 Cantalupo Anno Primo is a deep, powerful wine. Black cherry, plum, lavender, spice, menthol and licorice meld together. Deep, pliant and full of character, the 2010 has so much to offer. The Cantalupo is dark and brooding, yet retains its mid-weight personality and overall feel. It is without question a very serious wine. I loved it.”
Antonio Galloni 94 points “Deep, inky and enveloping, the 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Hirondelle Estate Vineyard captures all the elements that make Stags Leaps Cabernets so compelling. A host of lavender, mint, sage, graphite and crème de cassis notes flesh out in an effortless, noble Cabernet Sauvignon endowed with notable depth and intensity.”
Bereche et Fils Coteaux Champenois Blanc Les Monts Fournois Ludes 1er Cru 2015 750ML ($89.95) Was $79, Now $66 Clearance Price
The next best price is $74
Bereche et Fils Reflet d’Antan Brut, Champagne NV 1.5L ($299.95) Was $249, Now $199 Clearance Price
Now it’s even lower!
The next best price is $246.99
Cantine Lonardo
Our Favorite Campanian
New Releases Arriving in October
Campania, the area around Naples, has been famous for its wines since the Greeks settled it. There are numerous references to the quality of the wines in Roman writings and if more of the wines were at the level of Cantine Lonardo, the region would be famous again.
Sandro Lonardo is a schoolteacher who also makes wines, both from vineyards he farms and from grapes he buys from local farmers. Mostly he makes wines from the Aglianico grape, which is the “Barolo of the South” according to popular wisdom. Unlike some producers, he resists the temptation to use lots of barrique or new wood and yet the wines aren’t rustic monsters. There is a freshness and approachability that surprises, given the reputation of the grape and the warm climate. Lonardo also makes a white from a nearly extinct grape called Grecomusc, which is almost like a cross between Chenin Blanc in its texture and acidity and Muscat in terms of fruit and aromatics.
In Stock Now from Cantine Lonardo:
(Contrade di Taurasi) Cantine Lonardo Taurasi DOCG, Campania 2011 750ML ($49.95) $39 special
Ian D’agata – Vinous Media 94 points “Deep ruby. Ripe black cherry, flint and herbs on the profound, complex nose. Bright, dense and rich; lively acidity lifts the almost decadently ripe red cherry fruit, nicely framed by sweet, polished tannins. Finishes long and ripe with a bright, refreshing floral nuance. Outstanding Taurasi that manages the neat trick of being remarkably concentrated yet very light on its feet. Bravo!”
Ian D’agata – Vinous Media 94+ points “Deep ruby. Floral nuances complicate the red and dark berry, ink, sweet spice and flinty aromas and flavors. Dense and seamless, showing a multilayered personality and remarkable complexity of flavor. Finishes very long and with repeating, lingering hints of ink and flint.”
The next best price is $69.95
Ian D’agata – Vinous Media 94+ points “Deep ruby with a purple tinge. Reticent nose at first, only hinting at dark cherry, sassafras and sandalwood. Then very concentrated and dense, displaying almost opulent, sweet nuances of oaky torrefaction to the coffee, cocoa and dark cherry flavors. This outstanding Taurasi finishes extremely long, rich and seamless. It’s virtually impossible to pick between Lonardo’s two crus in 2011, and both will have many admirers.”
The next best price is $72
(Contrade di Taurasi) Cantine Lonardo Grecomusc Burlesque, Campania 2015 750ML ($41.95) $33 pre-arrival special
VinopolNote “This is a reserve selection of the Grecomusc (aka Roviello) picked a touch riper and fermented and aged in barrel as well as stainless steel.”
(Contrade di Taurasi) Cantine Lonardo Aglianico Rosso Irpinia, Campania 2015 750ML ($27.95) $24 pre-arrival special
Case-12 (Contrade di Taurasi) Cantine Lonardo Aglianico Rosso Irpinia, Campania 2015 750ML ($299.95) $249 pre-arrival special (that’s only $20.75/bottle!)
VinopolNote “Perpetually one of the best values in Italian red wine, this Aglianico balances the natural tendencies of the grape towards weightiness and richness with the house’s grace. This has rich red and black fruits underpinned with an earthiness that keeps the wine grounded.”
(Contrade di Taurasi) Cantine Lonardo Taurasi DOCG, Campania 2013 750ML ($49.95) $41.90 pre-arrival special
Winery Note “(translated) The grapes come from espalier plants of about 40 years, all grafted onto American cuttings. Presents clusters of medium size and spherical grains of very intense color, pulp rich in minerals and sugars (23-25%), thin peels with high concentration of anthocyanins and tannins. Wine with an intense ruby red color with reflections still young, consistent and not very transparent. The nose is rich and persistent with hints of ripe fruit, with hints of grass that tend to balsamic. Subtle tertiary aromas, with a slight spiciness and toasting. The taste is warm, with quite austere tannins, well balanced with a strong and enveloping taste. It is definitely a wine with rich and fatty foods based on meat, game, and winter dishes typical of the mountain cuisine, it also goes well with aged cheeses.”
Winery Note “(translated) The grapes come from around 70-100 year old vines. Presents clusters of medium size and spherical grains of very intense color, pulp rich in minerals and sugars (23-25%), thin peels with high concentration of anthocyanins and tannins. Wine with an intense ruby red color with garnet reflections, consistent and not very transparent. The nose is rich and persistent with hints of ripe fruit, aromas of underbrush, balsamic and earthy. The taste is warm, with austere tannins, without excessive drying, fresh and lively wine. It is definitely a wine with rich and fatty foods based on meat, game, and winter dishes typical of the mountain cuisine, it also goes well with aged cheeses.”
One of the Best Values in Italy
Arrives Next Week
Arriving July 27th:
Gulfi Cerasuolo di Vittoria DOCG, Sicily 2016 750ML ($24.95) $18 special
The Castello di Bolgheri Delivers
Arriving ETA December:
Wine Spectator Insider Hot Wine!
Castello di Bolgheri Bolgheri Superiore,Tuscany 2015 750ML ($69.95) $59 pre-arrival special
Wine Spectator 96 points “Very tightly wound, with a dense bed of tannins providing support for the black currant, black cherry, wild herb, mineral and earth flavors. Ripe, yet lively, showing fine intensity on the fruit-, mineral- and tar-filled aftertaste. Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot. Best from 2022 through 2040.”
We have another excellent Super-Tuscan arriving this fall: the Poggio al Tesoro “Il Seggio.” It’s not quite in the same league as the Castello di Bolgheri, but it offers incredible value, especially by the six-pack.
Arriving ETA October:
Poggio al Tesoro ‘Il Seggio’ Bolgheri, Tuscany 2015 750ML ($39.95) $33 pre-arrival special
Case-6 Poggio al Tesoro ‘Il Seggio’ Bolgheri, Tuscany 2015 750ML ($219.95) $179 pre-arrival special (that’s only $29.83/bottle!)
James Suckling 93 points “A super refined and pretty red with sweet tobacco, currant and berry character. Red stone. Medium to full body, fine tannins and a fresh finish. Drink now.”
Thanks for reading!