Best Whites in Napa? Majestic Massican
New Arrivals:
Ulysse Collin, Baudry, Patricia Green, Produttori +More!
Trending Wines of the Week
Two Classics from Spain’s Most Important Winemaker
Coolest of the Cool (Climate) – A Incredible Deal on Matello Syrah
Magical Muller Catoir
Clos des Fées – Roussillon’s Finest
Halfway Done with the August Sale
Schloss Gobelsburg makes some of the top wines in Austria. They operate in a style that promotes complexity and vivacity for some of the best values in the wine world (especially at the high end). The single vineyard wines are generally raised in a mixture of stainless and cask and are powerful, forthright expressions of some of the best terroirs in Austria. These are wines that can stand toe to toe with almost any white Burgundy and cost a fraction of the price.
We just acquired a pile of the higher end Gobelsburg wines at wonderful prices and are putting them in our August Sale. These are fantastic deals and 2016 is an especially delicious vintage to drink right now—the wines have a dewy freshness that screams to be consumed young (especially while the often monumental 2015’s age. These are just arrived and already in the August Sale, so grab them now before September comes and the coach turns back into a pumpkin.
The best Grüner in Austria?
Schloss Gobelsburg Lamm Gruner Veltliner Reserve Erste OTW Lage, Kamptal 2016 750ML ($69.95) Was $59, Now $44 special
James Suckling 96 points “This smells like being in a room full of drying herbs and flowers. Rich and creamy from the high ripeness but with a freshness that’s discrete yet ever present. At no point on this wine’s long glide across the palate does it seem the least bit fat or heavy. Drink now.”
The next best price is $58.99
The average price is $65
Schloss Gobelsburg Heiligenstein Riesling Reserve Erste OTW Lage, Kamptal 2016 750ML ($69.95) Was $59, Now $44 special
James Suckling 96 points “This is still quite yeasty, but in a rather attractive way. Behind that yeasty creaminess, which will fade somewhat with time, is a great wine that is deep, firm and complex. The finish expands like a concertina until the minerality envelops you. Drink now.”
Wine Enthusiast 94 points “An aromatic cloud of orange and lemon zest rises from the glass. With air, the citrus notions become more heady and intense. They perform the same trick on the palate, shimmering in an aromatic array of bergamot, lemon, tangerine and orange. There’s a vein of freshness, unforced concentration and the promise of a long future ahead. Drink 2020–2030.”
Now it’s even lower!
The next best price is $62.83
Schloss Gobelsburg Gaisberg Riesling Reserve Erste OTW Lage, Kamptal 2016 750ML ($44.95) Was $36, Now $28 special
James Suckling 95 points “Great lemon, white peach and spice aromas are married to a medium body with a hint of creamy richness at the front. Then comes the austere finish with a ton of mineral power. Drink now and for some years to come.”
Wine Enthusiast 94 points “The nose of this wine is still subdued. Hints of wet earth and pure lemon notes can barely be discerned. With a few swirls of the glass, tender hints of blood orange zest pervade nose and palate, alongside spiky, bright lemon notes. The body is slender and taut but brims with gorgeous citrus aromas. Lovely now but sure to last. Drink 2018–2030.”
Now it’s even lower!
The average price is $40
Schloss Gobelsburg Zobing Riesling, Kamptal 2016 750ML ($37.95) Was $28, Now $21.90 special
James Suckling 90 points “Cooked apple and lime aromas with hints of loam. Full body, layered and rich with lots of fruit. A big and fruity style. Lightly sweet. Medium finish. Drink now.”
Now it’s even lower!
The average price is $30
Schloss Gobelsburg Tradition Riesling Reserve, Kamptal 2015 750ML ($59.95) Was $49, Now $39 special
Wine Advocate 93+ points “The 2015 Riesling Tradition has a super clear, fresh, precise and mineral-scented bouquet of white stone fruits and even pineapples and mango. But all is discreet and interwoven with the overall aromatic complexity. On the palate, this is a firmly structured, pure and mineral dry Gaisberg with ripe peach aromas, racy but integrated acidity and fine tannins carrying this Riesling to a long, aromatic, dry and stimulatingly salty finish. This wine is very attractive today but will gain complexity over the years. It is still fruitier compared to the 2014 and thus more difficult to score regarding its true nature. It is a great dry, pure and crystalline Riesling in any case. Tasted in July 2917 at the domaine.”
Now it’s even lower!
The average price is $54
Featured New Arrivals
The Best Whites in Napa?
Massican’s Magic
On the white front, most people think of Napa for overwrought Chardonnay. That’s a deserved reputation, historically, but it overlooks some of the finest wines made there today. A prime case in point is Dan Petroski’s Massican label, making some electric wines that break the mold of what Napa can and should be.
Dan Petroski leads two different winemaking lives. By day, he’s the winemaker at Larkmead, a historic California winery known for high point scores and powerful Cabernet-based reds. By night (proverbially), he runs his own tiny label, called Massican, and produces white wines inspired by the majestic whites of Friuli, in northeastern Italy. Starting in 2009, he’s produced these quietly-revolutionary white blends, highlighting grapes like Friulano and Ribolla Gialla, as well as making some stunning Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay.
Stylistically, the wines he makes are finely balanced between richness and freshness. Sauvignon Blanc, Ribolla Gialla and Friulano all have steely acidity, so either by themselves or paired with Chardonnay (which is a traditional grape in Friuli), the wines always have great brightness. Napa sun gives the wines richness and the resulting blend is a wine that is able to pair with a seemingly endless variety of foods.
Historically these wines were only available from the winery’s mailing list or at select restaurants, but we’ve been working on sourcing them and are excited to offer them for the second year in a row. They’re fantastic bottles and wines we look forward to for months ahead of release.
Just Arrived:
Stunning—fresh and energetic.
Massican Annia White, Napa Valley 2017 750ML ($39.95) $33 special
Winery note “Grapes: ribolla gialla – 55%, tocai friulano – 39%, chardonnay – 6%. The 2017 vintage in napa will always be remembered because of the wildfires that began on the evening of Sunday, October 8. We are very fortunate that not only were all our grapes harvested before the fires broke out but also that our vineyards were spared from harm; however, we cannot say that for all our neighbors who have been impacted by this tragedy. Our ANNIA in this vintage shows the quiet side of her persona an opportunity to remain thoughtful and thankful for all the good graces we receive not only this year but every year.”
Textural, aromatic, beautiful.
Massican Gemina, Napa Valley 2017 750ML ($39.95) $33 special
Winery note “Grapes: pinot grigio – 77%, greco – 23%. With our hearts and minds attached to the wildfires that ravaged our community during the early part of October we often forget that the vintage was defined by another incredible weather event – the record breaking heat wave that lasted from June through Deptember. It was a relentless heat wave but we are fortunate for GEMINA to be made from two grape varieties, one of those varieties is greco which is accustom to savage climate of southern Italy and can face the intensity of one hundred degree days.”
You begin to wish all Cali Sauvignon tasted like this.
Massican Sauvignon Blanc, Napa Valley 2017 750ML ($39.95) $33 special
Winery note “Sauvignon blanc – 100%. The 2017 vintage in Napa Valley will always be remembered because of the wildfires that began in the late evening of Sunday, October 8. The fires spread with lightning speed because of the heavy winds that night and not only many homes were lost but also many lives in the area. Each day we take a step to repair the physical and emotional loss due to the fires but we will never forget how fragile our planet is and how quickly mother nature will remind us of the breadth and ferocity of her power.”
Made in Italy, by Petroski, from some of the best vineyards in Friuli
Massican Gaspare Bianco, Colli Orientali del Friulii, 2016 750ML ($37.95) $31.90 special
Winery note “Grapes: tocai friulano – 43%, ribolla gialla – 29%, chardonnay – 28%. This is a wine about friends and family. without massimo there would be no trip to Sicily. without George there would be no ribolla gialla in the United States without Christian and Serena there would be no inspiration for this wine. All my friends are my heroes and my motivation. annia is named after my American mother and our first Italian wine vintage is named after massimo’s father GASPARE. Without massimo there would be no massican he gave the support to make this dream a reality a million thanks to friends and family we could not have done it without you.”
New Arrivals
Bernard Baudry Chinon Rose, Loire 2017 750ML ($21.95) $18 special
Josh Raynolds – Vinous 90 points “Very pale orange-pink. Mineral-tinged red berry and floral scents, along with an herbal flourish that emerges with aeration. Dry and sharply focused on the palate, offering juicy strawberry, rose pastille and orange zest flavors that deepen and become spicier on the back half. Finishes on a repeating mineral note, with displaying very good clarity and floral-driven persistence.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Patricia Green Cellars ‘Notorious’ Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2015 750ML ($119.95) $79 special
Josh Raynolds 95 points “Limpid ruby-red. Explosive aromas of raspberry preserves, Asian spices and incense acquire a suave floral note as the wine opens up. Fleshy and broad in the mouth but surprisingly lithe as well, offering palate-staining Chambord, boysenberry and spicecake flavors that are complemented by blood orange and candied rose flourishes. Finishes seamless, sweet and strikingly long, featuring an echo of sappy red fruit and supple tannins that add shape.”
Wine Enthusiast 95 points “This reserve-level selection was aged in 100% new French oak and sports a green label that distinguishes it from the dozen or so other Pinots in the winery’s portfolio. It’s dense and deeply flavored, its black fruit supported by an assortment of highlights—cola, coffee and moist earth most prominent. There’s a faint hint of barnyard funk, adding yet another element to a most impressive effort. Drink now and over the next half decade.”
Ulysse Collin ‘Les Pierrieres’ Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut, Champagne NV (’14) 750ML ($149.95) $119 specialThe hardest of the Collin wines to find.
Ulysse Collin ‘Les Roises’ Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut, Champagne NV (’14) 750ML ($179.95) $149 special
Rich, vinous, gripping and serious.
Ulysse Collin ‘Les Maillons’ Blanc de Noirs Extra Brut, Champagne NV (’14) 750ML ($119.95) $99 special
A truly unique, powerful rosé
Ulysse Collin ‘Les Maillons’ Rose de Saignee Extra Brut, Champagne NV (’14) 750ML ($149.95) $119 special
An incredible deal in Loire Cab Franc.
Bernard Baudry Chinon Les Grezeaux, Loire 2016 750ML ($27.95) $24 special
Bernard Baudry Chinon Le Clos Guillot, Loire 2015 750ML ($37.95) $33 special
Produttori del Barbaresco Asili, Barbaresco Riserva DOCG 2008 750ML ($89.95) $79 special
Antonio Galloni 96 points “One of the absolute highlights in this portfolio of utterly amazing wines, the 2008 Barbaresco Riserva Asili possesses marvelous depth and richness, but also little of the early approachability and sexiness of Asili. With time in the glass, the wine’s inner perfume gradually emerges, but ultimately this is a Barbaresco to bury in the deepest corner of the cellar. Once again, the Produttori have done a fabulous job with the Asili. The 2008 has nerves of steel and a huge, never-ending finish. It is by far the most imposing and structured Asili I have ever tasted from the Produttori. Anticipated maturity: 2018-2048.” AGRegal, statuesque, proud and built to age.
Produttori del Barbaresco Rabaja, Barbaresco Riserva DOCG 2008 750ML ($99.95) $89 special
Produttori del Barbaresco Rabaja, Barbaresco Riserva DOCG 2008 1.5L ($219.95) $199 special
Antonio Galloni 96+ points “The 2008 Barbaresco Riserva Rabaja is utterly magnificent in this vintage. Usually a powerhouse, the 2008 is incredibly refined to the point it seems to literally hover on the palate. It is a wine of exquisite grace and beauty. All the elements are in place. I could describe the aromas and flavors, but that would be doing this majestic Barbaresco a huge disservice. Ultimately, the 2008 Rabaja, is all about textural finesse and pure elegance. This is another breathtaking wine from the Produttori. A king among kings. Anticipated maturity: 2018-2048”
Pierre-Marie Chermette Domaine du Vissoux Fleurie les Garants, Beaujolais 2016 750ML ($29.95) $26 special
Case-12 Pierre-Marie Chermette Domaine du Vissoux Fleurie les Garants, Beaujolais 2016 750ML ($339.95) $279 special (that’s only $23.25/bottle!)
Josh Raynolds 92 points “Vivid ruby. Aromas of fresh dark berries, candied violet and smoky minerals pick up a hint of allspice with air. Sweet and nicely concentrated, offering juicy boysenberry and blackberry flavors and a touch of licorice. Finishes sappy and smooth, showing excellent persistence, lingering spiciness and dusty tannins that sneak in slowly.”
VinopolNote: Although the recent press for the Mouin-a-Vent has pushed it to the forefront of the Vissoux collection, the two Fleuries from Pierre-Marie Chemette have traditionally been the estate’s calling card. The Garants vineyard is on what the Domaine describes as “noble granite soil” and is the more structured, age-worthy of the two Fleuries (the soil has a definite Morgon influence on the wines). This is rich and structured, with some of the classic perfume of Fleurie, but also an iron-rich depth in its core.Big, rich Chardonnay in the August Sale!
Orin Swift Mannequin, California 2015 750ML ($34.95) Was $21.90, Now $18 Clearance Price
Case-12 Orin Swift Mannequin, California 2015 750ML ($359.95) Was $279, Now $199 Clearance Price (that’s only $16.58/bottle!)
Winery Note “Bursting aromatics of honeydew, honeysuckle and ripe peach are complemented by a hint of jasmine, pineapple and cream. With lots of weight and viscosity, the full-bodied palate brims with ripe stone fruit, wet stone and a touch of sweet Meyer lemon. The fleshy, golden mid-palate evolves into a pointed, textured finish that closes with lots of minerality.”
The next best price is $24.90
Sena, Aconcagua Valley, Chile 2015 750ML ($179.95) $138 special
James Suckling 100 points “Stunning aromas of blackcurrant, stone, blueberry and licorice. Also iodine. Floral. Perfumed. Full body, fantastic density of fruit and ripe tannins. It goes on for minutes on the palate with such energy and focus. Touch of chewiness on the finish. A complex and complete wine that delivers a generosity with firmness. Drink in 2021 but already a classic to drink.”We wish all Pinot rosé tasted like this.
Lucien Crochet Sancerre Pinot Rose, Loire 2017 750ML ($34.95) $29 special
Lucien Crochet Sancerre Pinot Rose, Loire 2017 1.5L ($79.95) $61.90 special
Importer note “Always among our most coveted rosés (and for very good reason), Gilles Crochet’s 2017 Sancerre Rosé (100% direct-press Pinot Noir) is wonderfully classic in character, with tangy strawberries and punchy chalk on the nose, and a soft, mellow, pale pink color in the glass. The fruit is very cool and pure this vintage, with great drive and persistence on the acid-driven yet scrumptious palate. While Sancerre overall experienced around 15% losses due to frost in 2017, Crochet was thankfully spared completely.”
This most poundable wine made in Chile? Probably.
Maitia ‘Aupa Pipeno’, Maule Valley 2016 750ML ($14.95) $11.90 special
Case-12 Maitia ‘Aupa Pipeno’, Maule Valley 2016 750ML ($149.95) $128 special
Wine Advocate 92 points “The super-tasty and gulpable 2016 Aupa Pipeño is a blend of País with some 30% Carignan (and whatever is found in the old vineyards) from a slightly cooler year. It keeps the style of previous vintages with the bright red fruit and the freshness of short macerations. In the dry-farming part of Maule they only saw 30 to 50 millimeters of rain when in the central valley they got 200! These grapes were harvested before the rain anyway, but the wine retains the freshness of a cooler year, fresher than 2015, more in line with the 2014 and 2013.”
Poderi Aldo Conterno Bussia, Barolo DOCG 2010 750ML ($89.95) $59 special
Wine Advocate 95 points “The 2010 Barolo Bussia is a gorgeous expression that hits all the high notes, both in terms of bouquet and mouthfeel. The nose is redolent of pressed cherries, tar, licorice, crushed granite and chopped mint. It offers the special characteristics that are so forth coming with the Nebbiolo grape. The wine caresses the palate with a fine and enduring sense of freshness and structure. The 2010 vintage is a stunner. Drink: 2016-2028.”
Antonio Galloni 93+ points “The 2010 Barolo Bussia is gorgeous and super-classic in every way. Dark red cherry, plum, spice, new leather and tobacco are some of the many notes that take shape in the glass. The 2010 is a beautiful version of the Bussia, with less of the approachability of some previous vintages, but tons of potential for the future. There is a lot to look forward to here. This is one of the best versions of the Bussia I can remember tasting. The 2010 stands out for its precision and crystalline purity. Readers looking for a great 2010 Barolo that won’t kill the budget should check out the 2010 Bussia.’
The next best price is $86.80
The average price is $90
Wine Advocate 95 points “Ricardo Pérez Palacios told me his favorite overall vintages for Bierzo are 2001, 2012 and possibly 2015, because he sees them as very complete years, even if 2015 didn’t have as perfect conditions as 2001 and 2012; the 2015 Corullón is a perfect example of that, a really pretty wine, open, where I see the similarities with 2012. They use many of the vineyards year after year, all of them around the village of Corullón, all planted with a field blend of varieties, and they have been increasing the percentage of white grapes from those vines that they include in the cuvée. In 2015, it can be almost 9%, mostly Palomino, and they feel it polishes that slight bitterness in the finish of the Mencía, reminiscent of green almonds. Of course, there are also other red grapes, like Alicante Bouschet, Gran Negro, Pan y Carne and Negreda, that might contribute to some 2% of the volume. 19,572 bottles, 720 half bottles, 450 magnums, 45 double magnums and 30 Jeroboams were filled between May 11th and 17th of 2017.”
Coolest of the Cool (Climate)
An Exceptional Deal on a Matello Syrah
There are wines that are universalist, appealing to seemingly everyone who takes a sip and then there are wines that are very specific in their appeal. We’re starting our September sale off with a wine that very much falls under the second category and a deal that’s almost too good to believe.
The Syrah that Marcus Goodfellow made under the Matello label is certainly a wine for old-world palates, lean and peppery with pretty aromatics. We’re offering a deal on the 2013 at the beginning of this month (and that wine is beautiful and pretty) so when we found out that there was some of the 2011 to be had, we jumped all over the opportunity and negotiated a pretty outrageous price to take it all off of Marcus’ hands.
Before we get to the pricing, a quick word about the vintage—2011 was cold. Not “cool for Oregon,” but rather “the coolest ever in Oregon.” Luckily it was dry as well, but wines from the vintage were picked much, much later than normal and at much lower alcohols and ripeness. The 2011 Matello Syrah was harvested in the beginning of November and displays everything that’s lovely about the vintage—cool lean fruit and beautiful floral tones, balanced by racy acidity. If you want your Syrah to be big fruit and thick textures, no worries—there are other deals out there.
However, if all of that sounds as good to you as it does to us, you’re going to flip out over the price. If you love lean, savory, bright and juicy wines with delicate textures and food-friendly acidity, just head to the website now and grab a case. You’ll thank us later. We’d love this wine at full freight for what it represents and how it tastes, but at the pricing we negotiated this is outrageous. (The staff will be stocking up, judging by the in-house chatter.) It arrives next week and is going to fly.
Arriving Wednesday:
Matello Fool’s Journey Deux Vert Vineyard, Willamette Valley 2011 750ML ($24.95) Was $18, Now $11.90 pre-arrival Clearance Price
Case-12 Matello Fool’s Journey Deux Vert Vineyard, Willamette Valley 2011 750ML ($249.95) $119 pre-arrival Clearance Price (that’s only $9.92/bottle!)
VinopolNote: 90% Syrah, 10% Viognier from the Deux Vert vineyard (planted 1994) in Yamhill-Carlton. Deeply colored, with fountains of dark fruit and spice, and smooth tannins. Only 130 cases were produced from these non-irrigated vines. Bottled at 12.7% alcohol, at Matello’s winery in McMinnville.
Every wine region in the world has one or two estates that immediately come to mind when you hear the name of the region. Chateau Margaux in Margaux, Romanee-Conti in Vosne-Romanee, and Donnhoff in the Nahe and Muller-Catoir occupies that space in the Pfalz in Germany. A historic name that continues to make excellent wines, these are some of the finest in Germany and from a vintage that’s produced some stellar, serious wines.
The Pfalz is a unique region in Germany in that wineries there focused on powerful dry wines long before it was fashionable to do so in the rest of the country. Most of the wines we’re highlighting today are dry and are some of the best values in the world for breathtakingly mineral wines. Muller-Catoir owns some of the best vineyards in the region and has a special touch with them.
Arriving ETA December
Muller-Catoir Haardter Burgergarten ‘Breumel in den Mauern’ Riesling Grosses Gewachs, Pfalz 2017 750ML ($59.95) $45 pre-arrival special
Terry Theise note “A eucalyptus angularity and a chile-thread bite-not heat, as it only has 13% abv, but simply expressiveness. It’s rather a wild ride, not (at least now) ‘elegant’ but splashy and energetic; not quite ‘mineral’ but rocky, a clamber up a rocky chute in a bearclaw scratch landscape. It’s a departure for this wine, which has always been more comme il faut.”
Terry Theise note “‘Haardt’ is the village wine. And quite the wine it is; dense and salty, an excellent Pfalz Riesling and an atypical Catoir wine, more suede than silk, but generous and solid and pineappley.”
Terry Theise note “I’ve often said you have to go to the Grand Cru Goldert from ZH to fins a Muscat equal to Catoir’s, but lately the Alsace wine’s been flirting with overripeness, while the Catoir never does. Clearly I adore Muscat, but if it has a claim to stake on greatness, this is where. The ’17 is clean, brisk, shimmering, salty and gigglesome. Forget the sleek salty substance; just suck on the Thai-basil leaf while you wiggle your toes….”
Terry Theise note “A gooseberry note feints towards Sauvignon Blanc but pink grapefruit pulls it back; finely angular, with a sort of woodruff-like charred-leaf thing; obdurate length; the finish is like the embers of a campfire in your mouth.”
Terry Theise note “Over 50-year vines now, and this is outsized Scheu, dense and grand, spiciness to the intersection of space and time; salty and regal, and in its delightfully gnarly way gorgeous, erecting a megalith on your palate. Forget spitting; you can’t get rid of it.”
“Lost in a desert of garrigues, bordered by walls of dry stones, Le Clos des Fées looks like a picture perfect postcard. The vines were planted with pickaxes, barely touching the layers of parent-limestone, in pockets of pure clay, zigzagging along impressive green oak trees. The stones were taken out of the vineyards one by one, by hand or pulled by a horse, then patiently and skilfully stacked by generations of wine growers from another era. They worked hard and long hours.
“The village elders claim that as far back as they can remember, the tortured looking vines were always considered ‘old’.
“In the distance, the blue cliffs of Vingrau, almost shooting up vertically, have been around for far longer, whipped almost constantly by the winds from the Tramontane. At the foot of the Pyrenees the nearby Mediterranean Sea glistens. And if the fairies still gather and dance during the solstice, they do it here in this unique, different and mysterious place.
“Without taking time to think, but just following my instinct, I chose this place to live fully my passion for wine. After starting as a young sommelier, then owner of a humble restaurant, an apprentice writer on wine and fine food, it was clear to me that when I reached a turning point in my life, I needed to cross over to the «producing» side to finally be able to learn – for lack of understanding – about all the stages a piece of dark wood goes through to give birth, years later, to an unforgettable nectar.
“A few plots of old vines, a pair of secateurs, a weeding hoe and a second-hand back-pack sprayer; the only tools used by many growers in this region, far from the useless profusion of massive means and technology. That’s how I started, on a bright morning in 1997, without any money, or anything at stake, or great ambitions, but full of great dreams. ” – Hervé Bizeul, Winemaker
Arriving ETA October:
Domaine Le Clos des Fees Cotes du Roussillon Villages 2015 750ML ($79.95) $54.50 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 96 points “Eighteen months in new French oak barrels has given the 2015 Côtes du Roussillon Villages le Clos des Fées a certain tightness and discipline lacking in the Vieilles Vignes bottling. There’s still massive fruit and buried complexity, full body and rich tannins, but there’s also firmness of structure that shows the serious, age-worthy side of Bizeul’s winemaking. Vanilla and baking spices accent deep, dark cherries and plums, ending in a long, velvety finish.”
August Sale Recap
Top deals abound in the August Sale!
The month is more than halfway over and the deals keep coming! Keep reading for a few more highlights and then a complete list of everything on the August Sale!
One of the finest dry whites of ’16.
Domaine Huet Vouvray Clos du Bourg Sec, Loire 2016 750ML ($47.95) Was $39, Now $36 August Clearance Price
Wine Spectator 93 points “Bright and pure, with delightful pear, green almond and green plum notes laced with a fennel streak, ending with finely beaded acidity and a mineral echo through the finish. Very refined. Drink now through 2027.”
The average price is $42
Domaine Huet Vouvray Le Haut Lieu Sec, Loire 2016 750ML ($39.95) Was $33, Now $29 August Clearance Price
Wine Advocate 90 points “From the nine-hectare original vineyard of the Huet family, the 2016 Vouvray Le Haut-Lieu Sec shows a citrus color followed by an intense, fresh and chalky-mineral bouquet with lemon and some blossom aromas. Aged in demi-muids and bottled in April 2017, this is a medium-bodied, round, elegant, remarkably lush and delicate Chenin Blanc from calcareous clay soils. The residual sugar of seven grams per liter gives a beautiful exotic fruitiness and balance, the fine tannins a good structure. The 2016 is truly a pleasant Vouvray that already drinks perfectly. Tasted February 2018.”
The average price is $36
Wine Spectator 94 points “Green plum and verbena notes lead the way for now, with a flash of quinine on the finish. This is juicy, but still a bit compact overall, with the core of ample pear, quince and ginger flavors in reserve. Just wait for everything to knit together and stretch out, as the purity and length are there. Best from 2018 through 2028.”
The average price is $42
Meulenhof Erdener Pralat Riesling Spatlese, Mosel 2015 750ML ($49.95) Was $33, Now $29 August Clearance Price
Terry Theise note “2015 is, at last, the vintage this honorable decent vintner has waited for. In fact he compares it with 2010, and one sees why, though it’s not as bombastic as ’10, and it was more backward on the day I tasted. Young customers haven’t seen what this laudable grower can do at his best. The wines are analogue, with an inferential richness, and they age forever. Old-timers will have learned to treasure Meulenhof as a source of excellent values for true-blue Mosel that really fills the mouth.”
Mosel Fine Wines 89+ points “This offers a slightly sharp nose of brown sugar, mirabelle, herbs and spices. The wine is on the sweet and delicately rich side on the palate, where minerals, delicate yellow fruits and apricot come through. The finish is sweet and more of Auslese presence. This needs time to develop its full potential. We would not be surprised if this exceeds our initial expectations. 2025-2040.”
Meulenhof Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese, Mosel 2010 750ML ($39.95) Was $28, Now $24 August Clearance Price
Terry Theise note “In general Justen’s wines are more lush and peachy than, say, Merkelbach; not as stern as, say, Christoffel. They are comparatively straightforward and “easy” to understand because the fruit is overt and in-your-face. Even a cursory glance into that fruit, though, will reveal the proverbial Coat of Many Colors: interplays of flavor and texture that can be absorbing and rewarding. And the wines both keep and age.”
Want to see all the wines in the August Sale?
Just head to our website or check out the full list below
Thanks for reading!