In Today’s Newsletter:
Domaine Fourrier Subscriber Special
Save on One of Burgundy’s Best This Weekend
Bordeaux On My Mind:
Perfectly Cellared Bordeaux for Your Table, In Stock Now
Castello di Verduno – Star Piedmont Values
Charles Heidsieck: Grand, Yet Overlooked
New Back-Vintage Burgundy Arrivals
Trending Wines
Collector’s Corner
Fontodi: Including New Flaccianello
Domaine Fourrier Subscriber Special
Save on One of Burgundy’s Best This Weekend
Domaine Fourrier Griotte-Chambertin Grand Cru Vieille Vigne 2014 750ML ($899.95) $799 special, 1 bottle in stock now
Wine Advocate 94-96 points “The 2014 Griottes Chambertin Grand Cru has a very intense bouquet with maraschino, blueberry and violets blossoming in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with succulent ripe black fruit, blueberry and a hint of balsamic, leading to a quite a structured and dense finish that just needs a touch more finesse. I think that will develop with time. Superb.”
Stephen Tanzer 94+ points “Good medium red. Strawberry and rose petal on the nose. At once dense and brisk, displaying a penetrating quality to its seamless, fine-grained flavors of red fruits and orange zest. Wonderfully taut and energetic but also fine-grained and suave. Less saline today than the Clos Saint-Jacques but boasts terrific fruit and mineral extension on the long, savory finish.”
Bordeaux On My Mind
Perfectly Cellared Bordeaux for Your Table
In Stock Now
New Arrival!
Carruades de Lafite, Pauillac 1995 750ML ($249.95) $179 special, 10 bottles in stock now
Chateau Bel-Air Lagrave, Moulis-en-Medoc 1990 750ML ($59.95) $49 special
Vinous Vintage Report on 1990 Left Bank Bordeaux “A truly great vintage, one of the 10-15 best of the last 100 years. While 1990 is undoubtedly a hot year, the wines, equally good on the Left and Right Banks, have always been characterized not just by sweet sexy flesh and ripeness, but also by considerable freshness and refinement. This is a rare vintage in which all appellations shine. The 1990s are consistently defined by velvety, smooth texture and fleshy fruit. January through March saw unusually warm temperatures, but rain in April helped the vines live through a very dry and hot May. Hot weather continued through the summer. Well-timed rains gave the vines just enough respite from the heat.”
Castello di Verduno
Star Piedmont Values
Castello di Verduno Barbera d’Alba, Piedmont 2018 750ML ($24.95) $18 special
Winery Note “A deep ruby red packed with purplish highlights opens onto a delicate nose of lovely vinous aroma sand red fruits, plums and ripe blackberries with spicy hint of liquorice. It has a smooth palate, medium body with the typical refreshing acidity. This Barbera d’Alba is our version of young and fruit Barbera. The target it is get a fresh wine both scents that picky, also thanks to characteristic of acidity that characterizes this vineyard. The grapes for this wine are selected on some small vineyards located in the village of Neive. The grapes are picked by hand, sorting only the best bunches and placing them into a 20 kilos baskets. The maceration lasted for 10days in stainless steel tanks, with regular punching down of the cap. The wine matured for3 months in big Slovenian oak casks, 6months in steel tanks and 2months in the bottle before its release.”
Castello di Verduno Langhe Nebbiolo, Piedmont 2018 750ML ($26.95) $19 special
Importer Note “The Castello di Verduno, owned by Gabriella Burlotto and Franco Bianco, is a beautiful old building at the top of the village of Verduno, on the edge of the Barolo zone. The Castello di Verduno wine label unites two cellars, one under the castle in the Barolo zone and the other near the famous ‘cru’ Rabajà, in the Barbaresco area. Wines are produced in Barbaresco and bottled and stored in Verduno. If you want a preview of Barbaresco without spending $70 or more, or if you just love good, red, lip-smacking wine, try this Nebbiolo. All of the grapes come from the Barbaresco vineyards Faset and Rabajà. The wine shows elegant notes of red fruits, sandalwood, and rose petal. Lamb chops? Roast chicken? I’m making myself hungry.”
Castello di Verduno Barolo, Barolo DOCG 2016 750ML ($59.95) $49 special
Antonio Galloni 93 points “The 2016 Barolo is a pretty and accessible mid-weight Barolo that will drink well with minimal cellaring. Sweet pipe tobacco, cedar, mint, dried flowers and crushed berries are all nicely laced together. Understated and gracious, the 2016 offers considerable appeal. Sweet floral and spice notes linger on the expansive, layered finish. This is very nicely done, especially within its peer group.”
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Charles Heidsieck
Grand, Yet Overlooked
Domaine Fourrier Subscriber Special
Save on One of Burgundy’s Best This Weekend
Bordeaux On My Mind:
Perfectly Cellared Bordeaux for Your Table, In Stock Now
Castello di Verduno – Star Piedmont Values
Charles Heidsieck: Grand, Yet Overlooked
New Back-Vintage Burgundy Arrivals
Trending Wines
Collector’s Corner
Fontodi: Including New Flaccianello
Domaine Fourrier Subscriber Special
Save on One of Burgundy’s Best This Weekend
Domaine Fourrier makes some of the most captivating wines in Burgundy. To Burgophiles, this isn’t much of a claim—the wines that Jean-Marie has produced since taking over from his father have become hot tickets in the Burgundy world. If you aren’t familiar, though, these are wines to put on your radar. Fourrier’s style is heavily influenced by his time working under Henri Jayer and the wines show this.
When young they’re among the most impressive in Burgundy, combining succulent fruit with minerality and a complexity that’s nearly unmatched in newly released wines. They improve with age, as well, though we’ve always had a hard time keeping our hands off of the lower-tier wines in the first five years after the vintage. Fourrier works exclusively with old massale vineyards (anything from vines younger than 30 years is sold off) and that sort of soul really makes it into the bottle.
We’re making it easier than ever to stock up on these magical wines, with a Subscriber Special that lasts until we close on Sunday. Save 5% on purchases of 1-5 bottles and 10% off on a purchase of six bottles or more of Fourrier.
Buy 1-5 bottles of Fourrier (mix and match), save 5% discount on them
Buy 6+ bottles of Fourrier (mix and match), save a 10% discount on them
Fourrier Subscriber Special only valid on in-stock wines
Subscriber Special Discount Will Not Display Online
We Will Manually Adjust Your Order Before Finalizing It
Subscriber Special Discounts Valid Until Sunday, August 23rd at 6PM
Newly Arrived from Fourrier:
Domaine Fourrier Clos Saint-Jacques, Gevrey-Chambertin Premier Cru 2008 750ML ($699.95) $599 Displayed Price, 3 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni 96 points “The 2008 Gevrey-Chambertin Clos St. Jacques engages all of the senses with its cool, mineral-laced fruit and expressive bouquet. This shows marvelous tension and energy, not to mention fabulous overall balance. It could not be more different in style than the 2009 tasted alongside it. Both are fabulous, though. The 2008 is one of the more backward wines of the vintage and will require considerable patience.”
Domaine Fourrier Clos Saint-Jacques, Gevrey-Chambertin Premier Cru 2009 750ML ($599.95) $519 Displayed Price, 1 bottle in stock now
Antonio Galloni 96 points “The 2009 Gevrey-Chambertin Clos St. Jacques is a seamless beauty laced with sweet hard candy, perfumed cherries, kirsch and sweet spices. The sweetest and silkiest of tannins caress the palate from start to finish as this sublime Burgundy conquers all of the senses. The laser-like, pure finish is breathtaking.”
Stephen Tanzer-Vinous 94 points “Good bright medium red. Wild, musky aromas of strawberry, raspberry, minerals and game; quite explosive on the nose. Sweet, fat and savory, with the musky quality carrying through on the palate. Not particularly high-pitched or floral but offers terrific intensity of red berry and soil flavors. Fourrier believes that following three vintages with lower levels of phenolic maturity, many growers overextracted in 2009. Incidentally, he’s now confident about his labor-intensive system for sealing his bottles with wax and believes that a wine like this Clos Saint-Jacques should have no trouble aging for 20 years.”
Burghound 93 points “This storied terroir often produces one of the most elegant and sophisticated of all the 26 Gevrey 1ers with the gorgeously refined red berry fruit and floral nose suffused by an almost pungent minerality that continues onto the supple, fresh and vibrant medium-bodied flavors that possess excellent concentration and a stunning, even explosive if firmly structured finish. This is an intense wine of harmony and drive with everything it needs for a long life.”
When young they’re among the most impressive in Burgundy, combining succulent fruit with minerality and a complexity that’s nearly unmatched in newly released wines. They improve with age, as well, though we’ve always had a hard time keeping our hands off of the lower-tier wines in the first five years after the vintage. Fourrier works exclusively with old massale vineyards (anything from vines younger than 30 years is sold off) and that sort of soul really makes it into the bottle.
We’re making it easier than ever to stock up on these magical wines, with a Subscriber Special that lasts until we close on Sunday. Save 5% on purchases of 1-5 bottles and 10% off on a purchase of six bottles or more of Fourrier.
Buy 1-5 bottles of Fourrier (mix and match), save 5% discount on them
Buy 6+ bottles of Fourrier (mix and match), save a 10% discount on them
Fourrier Subscriber Special only valid on in-stock wines
Subscriber Special Discount Will Not Display Online
We Will Manually Adjust Your Order Before Finalizing It
Subscriber Special Discounts Valid Until Sunday, August 23rd at 6PM
Newly Arrived from Fourrier:
Domaine Fourrier Clos Saint-Jacques, Gevrey-Chambertin Premier Cru 2008 750ML ($699.95) $599 Displayed Price, 3 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni 96 points “The 2008 Gevrey-Chambertin Clos St. Jacques engages all of the senses with its cool, mineral-laced fruit and expressive bouquet. This shows marvelous tension and energy, not to mention fabulous overall balance. It could not be more different in style than the 2009 tasted alongside it. Both are fabulous, though. The 2008 is one of the more backward wines of the vintage and will require considerable patience.”
Domaine Fourrier Clos Saint-Jacques, Gevrey-Chambertin Premier Cru 2009 750ML ($599.95) $519 Displayed Price, 1 bottle in stock now
Antonio Galloni 96 points “The 2009 Gevrey-Chambertin Clos St. Jacques is a seamless beauty laced with sweet hard candy, perfumed cherries, kirsch and sweet spices. The sweetest and silkiest of tannins caress the palate from start to finish as this sublime Burgundy conquers all of the senses. The laser-like, pure finish is breathtaking.”
Stephen Tanzer-Vinous 94 points “Good bright medium red. Wild, musky aromas of strawberry, raspberry, minerals and game; quite explosive on the nose. Sweet, fat and savory, with the musky quality carrying through on the palate. Not particularly high-pitched or floral but offers terrific intensity of red berry and soil flavors. Fourrier believes that following three vintages with lower levels of phenolic maturity, many growers overextracted in 2009. Incidentally, he’s now confident about his labor-intensive system for sealing his bottles with wax and believes that a wine like this Clos Saint-Jacques should have no trouble aging for 20 years.”
Burghound 93 points “This storied terroir often produces one of the most elegant and sophisticated of all the 26 Gevrey 1ers with the gorgeously refined red berry fruit and floral nose suffused by an almost pungent minerality that continues onto the supple, fresh and vibrant medium-bodied flavors that possess excellent concentration and a stunning, even explosive if firmly structured finish. This is an intense wine of harmony and drive with everything it needs for a long life.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $585
The next best price is $585
Domaine Fourrier Clos Saint-Jacques, Gevrey-Chambertin Premier Cru 2014 750ML ($669.95) $599 Displayed Price, 2 bottles in stock now
Stephen Tanzer-Vinous 94 points “Healthy medium red. Sexy, complex aromas of strawberry, crushed stone and rose petal convey a captivating combe coolness. Wonderfully concentrated and bright, combining classic 2014 salty minerality with superb fruit intensity. Boasts the kind of restrained generosity of fruit that reminds me of the ’99s in the early going. A compelling, saline vin de terroir but not a powerhouse. The long, rising finish features very suave tannins.”
Wine Advocate 93 points “Tasted blind at the Burgfest 2014 tasting, Jean-Marie Fourrier’s 2014 Gevrey Chambertin 1er Cru Clos St Jacques (labelled with “Vieilles Vignes”) has a very pure bouquet, almost coulis-like fruit, dark cherries intermingling with blueberry and light marmalade scents. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannin, a fine line of acidity, quite sensual in the mouth with good depth on the finish. Perhaps what it is missing is that peacock’s tail—it sort of ends in the wrong key. There is great potential here though not best in the (Clos Saint-Jacques) show this year. Like a television with its contrast turned up a bit too high when compared to its peers. Tasted September 2017.”
Burghound 92-94 points “Sweet Spot Outstanding. This is at once cooler and more elegant with its airy assortment of pure red and blue pinot fruit, floral, spice, earth and tea scents. There is fine intensity and excellent delineation to the pungently mineral-inflected and refined medium weight flavors where the sense of refinement is enhanced by the super fine-grained tannins, all wrapped in an explosively long and perfectly balanced finale. In a word, marvelous.”
Domaine Fourrier Griotte-Chambertin Grand Cru Vieille Vigne 2009 750ML ($1,399.95) $1,199 special, 1 bottle in stock now
Antonio Galloni 96 points “The 2009 Griotte-Chambertin is a relatively delicate, ethereal wine with expressive aromatics and understated fruit. Deceptively medium in body, the Griotte needs time to flesh out a bit, but it is a stunner. Anticipated maturity: 2019-2029.”
Stephen Tanzer 94+ points “Medium red. Slightly high-toned aromas of blackberry, black raspberry, violet and licorice. The high-toned quality carries through in the mouth, where the sappy-sweet black and blue fruit flavors are complicated by saline soil tones. Less creamy than some of Fourrier’s 2009 premier crus, this very firmly structured, long wine will demand patience. The lovely lift on the back end suggests that it has the energy for a long evolution. Fourrier now gets all his corks from a single supplier in Corsica, who simply steams them and does not use a peroxide solution.”
Burghound 94 points “This is also intensely floral as well as quite elegant with a highly attractive sense of freshness to the high-toned red berry and wet stone suffused aromas. The seductively textured, concentrated and mouth coating flavors possess a taut muscularity on the refined, intense and hugely long finish where a discreet touch of wood surfaces. This should make for a seriously fine example of the appellation in a decade or so yet thanks for the ample dry extract, it should be enjoyable young if desired.”
Stephen Tanzer-Vinous 94 points “Healthy medium red. Sexy, complex aromas of strawberry, crushed stone and rose petal convey a captivating combe coolness. Wonderfully concentrated and bright, combining classic 2014 salty minerality with superb fruit intensity. Boasts the kind of restrained generosity of fruit that reminds me of the ’99s in the early going. A compelling, saline vin de terroir but not a powerhouse. The long, rising finish features very suave tannins.”
Wine Advocate 93 points “Tasted blind at the Burgfest 2014 tasting, Jean-Marie Fourrier’s 2014 Gevrey Chambertin 1er Cru Clos St Jacques (labelled with “Vieilles Vignes”) has a very pure bouquet, almost coulis-like fruit, dark cherries intermingling with blueberry and light marmalade scents. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannin, a fine line of acidity, quite sensual in the mouth with good depth on the finish. Perhaps what it is missing is that peacock’s tail—it sort of ends in the wrong key. There is great potential here though not best in the (Clos Saint-Jacques) show this year. Like a television with its contrast turned up a bit too high when compared to its peers. Tasted September 2017.”
Burghound 92-94 points “Sweet Spot Outstanding. This is at once cooler and more elegant with its airy assortment of pure red and blue pinot fruit, floral, spice, earth and tea scents. There is fine intensity and excellent delineation to the pungently mineral-inflected and refined medium weight flavors where the sense of refinement is enhanced by the super fine-grained tannins, all wrapped in an explosively long and perfectly balanced finale. In a word, marvelous.”
Domaine Fourrier Griotte-Chambertin Grand Cru Vieille Vigne 2009 750ML ($1,399.95) $1,199 special, 1 bottle in stock now
Antonio Galloni 96 points “The 2009 Griotte-Chambertin is a relatively delicate, ethereal wine with expressive aromatics and understated fruit. Deceptively medium in body, the Griotte needs time to flesh out a bit, but it is a stunner. Anticipated maturity: 2019-2029.”
Stephen Tanzer 94+ points “Medium red. Slightly high-toned aromas of blackberry, black raspberry, violet and licorice. The high-toned quality carries through in the mouth, where the sappy-sweet black and blue fruit flavors are complicated by saline soil tones. Less creamy than some of Fourrier’s 2009 premier crus, this very firmly structured, long wine will demand patience. The lovely lift on the back end suggests that it has the energy for a long evolution. Fourrier now gets all his corks from a single supplier in Corsica, who simply steams them and does not use a peroxide solution.”
Burghound 94 points “This is also intensely floral as well as quite elegant with a highly attractive sense of freshness to the high-toned red berry and wet stone suffused aromas. The seductively textured, concentrated and mouth coating flavors possess a taut muscularity on the refined, intense and hugely long finish where a discreet touch of wood surfaces. This should make for a seriously fine example of the appellation in a decade or so yet thanks for the ample dry extract, it should be enjoyable young if desired.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Domaine Fourrier Griotte-Chambertin Grand Cru Vieille Vigne 2014 750ML ($899.95) $799 special, 1 bottle in stock now
Wine Advocate 94-96 points “The 2014 Griottes Chambertin Grand Cru has a very intense bouquet with maraschino, blueberry and violets blossoming in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with succulent ripe black fruit, blueberry and a hint of balsamic, leading to a quite a structured and dense finish that just needs a touch more finesse. I think that will develop with time. Superb.”
Stephen Tanzer 94+ points “Good medium red. Strawberry and rose petal on the nose. At once dense and brisk, displaying a penetrating quality to its seamless, fine-grained flavors of red fruits and orange zest. Wonderfully taut and energetic but also fine-grained and suave. Less saline today than the Clos Saint-Jacques but boasts terrific fruit and mineral extension on the long, savory finish.”
We offer 33 different Fourrier wines in stock now.
Visit our web site to browse our complete listings and shop our sale!
Visit our web site to browse our complete listings and shop our sale!
Buy 1-5 bottles of Fourrier (mix and match), save 5% discount on them
Buy 6+ bottles of Fourrier (mix and match), save a 10% discount on them
Fourrier Subscriber Special only valid on in-stock wines
Subscriber Special Discount Will Not Display Online
We Will Manually Adjust Your Order Before Finalizing It
Subscriber Special Discounts Valid Until Sunday, August 23rd at 6PM
Buy 6+ bottles of Fourrier (mix and match), save a 10% discount on them
Fourrier Subscriber Special only valid on in-stock wines
Subscriber Special Discount Will Not Display Online
We Will Manually Adjust Your Order Before Finalizing It
Subscriber Special Discounts Valid Until Sunday, August 23rd at 6PM
Bordeaux On My Mind
Perfectly Cellared Bordeaux for Your Table
In Stock Now
New Arrival!
Chateau Angelus, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru 2005 750ML ($599.95) $499 special, 1 bottle in stock now
Wine Advocate 100 points “Truly great stuff, this wine performed at a three-digit level both in the horizontal tasting of 2005s in Baltimore, as well as in Montreal at this mini-vertical. This sensational, opaque, bluish/purple wine offers up notes of vanillin, spring flowers, blueberry and blackberry liqueur, plus a touch of licorice. The wine hits the palate with a thunderous cascade of ripe, rich, concentrated fruit. It is full-bodied, multidimensional and layered. The tannins are beautifully integrated but still present, and the wood, acidity, alcohol, etc., are all beautifully assimilated in this magnificent, majestic vintage of Angelus. It can be drunk now, but it is still an adolescent and that suggests it has at least another 25-35 years of longevity.”
Chateau Angelus, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru 2005 750ML ($599.95) $499 special, 1 bottle in stock now
Wine Advocate 100 points “Truly great stuff, this wine performed at a three-digit level both in the horizontal tasting of 2005s in Baltimore, as well as in Montreal at this mini-vertical. This sensational, opaque, bluish/purple wine offers up notes of vanillin, spring flowers, blueberry and blackberry liqueur, plus a touch of licorice. The wine hits the palate with a thunderous cascade of ripe, rich, concentrated fruit. It is full-bodied, multidimensional and layered. The tannins are beautifully integrated but still present, and the wood, acidity, alcohol, etc., are all beautifully assimilated in this magnificent, majestic vintage of Angelus. It can be drunk now, but it is still an adolescent and that suggests it has at least another 25-35 years of longevity.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
New Arrival!
Carruades de Lafite, Pauillac 1995 750ML ($249.95) $179 special, 10 bottles in stock now
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
This is the only listing in the USA today!
New Arrival!
Chateau Saint-Pierre, Saint-Julien 2010 750ML ($149.95) $119 special, 2 bottles in stock now
Decanter 97 points “Deceptively soft on attack but punches its fruit firmly into play within seconds, and hangs on right through the mid palate. Bilberry, cassis, sweet concentrated cherry coulis. From a blend of 78% Cabernet Sauvignon and 22% Merlot, this is still a swaggeringly tannic wine, with a gorgeous display of liquorice spice. Barely opening up, one for the very long haul. Wonderful example of a Saint Julien wine that is increasingly making all the right moves.”
Lisa Perrotti-Brown Wine Advocate 95 points “Deep garnet in color, the 2010 Chateau St Pierre sings of baked black cherries, mulberries and Christmas cake with suggestions of dark chocolate, star anise and cardamom. Full-bodied and firmly textured with ripe, grainy tannins, it has tons of muscular black fruit with lovely freshness lifting the finish.”
Stephen Tanzer 94 points “Good bright ruby. Knockout nose combines blackberry, cassis, minerals, espresso and nutty oak. Dense, sweet, plush and deep, with a texture of liquid velvet and subtle floral lift. This impeccably balanced and seamless wine actually shut down in the glass and showed a serious underlying structure. A great and eminently ageworthy vintage for this Saint-Julien estate, whose wines have been on fire in recent years.”
Chateau Bel-Air Lagrave sits in Moulis, a small village northeast of Margaux. These are classically styled and restrained Cab-dominate Bordeaux wines from a tiny estate that has been in the same family for almost 150 years. These are an easy way to backfill your cellar or to explore perfectly aged Bordeaux without hurting your wallet.
Chateau Bel-Air Lagrave, Moulis-en-Medoc 1985 750ML ($49.95) $39 special
Vinous Vintage Report on 1985 Left Bank Bordeaux “The 1985s are polar opposites to the 1986s. Charming right from the start, with fleshy, sexy personalities and soft, ripe tannins, most 1985s are best drunk up, although the best wines won’t fade soon. One of the coldest winters in Bordeaux’s history (which caused considerable frost damage to the vines) was followed by a long hot summer. Flowering was even and quick, and grapes ripened fully. The harvest took place under ideal conditions in late September and early October.”
Chateau Saint-Pierre, Saint-Julien 2010 750ML ($149.95) $119 special, 2 bottles in stock now
Decanter 97 points “Deceptively soft on attack but punches its fruit firmly into play within seconds, and hangs on right through the mid palate. Bilberry, cassis, sweet concentrated cherry coulis. From a blend of 78% Cabernet Sauvignon and 22% Merlot, this is still a swaggeringly tannic wine, with a gorgeous display of liquorice spice. Barely opening up, one for the very long haul. Wonderful example of a Saint Julien wine that is increasingly making all the right moves.”
Lisa Perrotti-Brown Wine Advocate 95 points “Deep garnet in color, the 2010 Chateau St Pierre sings of baked black cherries, mulberries and Christmas cake with suggestions of dark chocolate, star anise and cardamom. Full-bodied and firmly textured with ripe, grainy tannins, it has tons of muscular black fruit with lovely freshness lifting the finish.”
Stephen Tanzer 94 points “Good bright ruby. Knockout nose combines blackberry, cassis, minerals, espresso and nutty oak. Dense, sweet, plush and deep, with a texture of liquid velvet and subtle floral lift. This impeccably balanced and seamless wine actually shut down in the glass and showed a serious underlying structure. A great and eminently ageworthy vintage for this Saint-Julien estate, whose wines have been on fire in recent years.”
Chateau Bel-Air Lagrave sits in Moulis, a small village northeast of Margaux. These are classically styled and restrained Cab-dominate Bordeaux wines from a tiny estate that has been in the same family for almost 150 years. These are an easy way to backfill your cellar or to explore perfectly aged Bordeaux without hurting your wallet.
Chateau Bel-Air Lagrave, Moulis-en-Medoc 1985 750ML ($49.95) $39 special
Vinous Vintage Report on 1985 Left Bank Bordeaux “The 1985s are polar opposites to the 1986s. Charming right from the start, with fleshy, sexy personalities and soft, ripe tannins, most 1985s are best drunk up, although the best wines won’t fade soon. One of the coldest winters in Bordeaux’s history (which caused considerable frost damage to the vines) was followed by a long hot summer. Flowering was even and quick, and grapes ripened fully. The harvest took place under ideal conditions in late September and early October.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Chateau Bel-Air Lagrave, Moulis-en-Medoc 1988 750ML ($49.95) $39 special
Vinous Vintage Report on 1988 Left Bank Bordeaux “A year of classic wines that have been somewhat unfairly judged over the years because of the 1989s and 1990s that followed. Admittedly, some wines have failed to develop complexity and have remained somewhat monolithic and austere, while others have developed atypical herbal notes. The key to success in 1988 was not to panic during a rainy September. Those estates that resisted pulling the trigger and waited until October were able to harvest in near perfect Indian summer conditions. The best wines are lovely, delicious, ageworthy Bordeaux wines.”
Vinous Vintage Report on 1988 Left Bank Bordeaux “A year of classic wines that have been somewhat unfairly judged over the years because of the 1989s and 1990s that followed. Admittedly, some wines have failed to develop complexity and have remained somewhat monolithic and austere, while others have developed atypical herbal notes. The key to success in 1988 was not to panic during a rainy September. Those estates that resisted pulling the trigger and waited until October were able to harvest in near perfect Indian summer conditions. The best wines are lovely, delicious, ageworthy Bordeaux wines.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Chateau Bel-Air Lagrave, Moulis-en-Medoc 1990 750ML ($59.95) $49 special
Vinous Vintage Report on 1990 Left Bank Bordeaux “A truly great vintage, one of the 10-15 best of the last 100 years. While 1990 is undoubtedly a hot year, the wines, equally good on the Left and Right Banks, have always been characterized not just by sweet sexy flesh and ripeness, but also by considerable freshness and refinement. This is a rare vintage in which all appellations shine. The 1990s are consistently defined by velvety, smooth texture and fleshy fruit. January through March saw unusually warm temperatures, but rain in April helped the vines live through a very dry and hot May. Hot weather continued through the summer. Well-timed rains gave the vines just enough respite from the heat.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Castello di Verduno
Star Piedmont Values
While Burlotto’s cru Barolos have skyrocketed in price and scarcity over the last two years, the other major producer in their village, the Castello di Verduno, remains a relative bargain. This is a classically styled producer making wonderful, traditional wines and for the immediate future they’re both available and exceptionally priced. To an Italian from Piemonte, the discrepancy in pricing between Burlotto and the Castello di Verduno would seem fantastical—cases are easily made for both producers as being the top dog in the town—which means that this is a prime buying opportunity for us.
The Castello di Verduno, as you might guess, is a historically important producer of Barolo, located in Verduno, but also owns a cellar and important vineyard property in Barbaresco. The estate is owned by Gabriella Burlotto and Franco Bianco, who have made it a mission to create some of the finest wines in the region. Their holdings are heavily skewed towards great vineyards—Rabaja and Faset in Barbaresco and Monvigliaro in Barolo, meaning their entry level wines show incredible class and purity as well. Everything they do (including the rare Pelaverga) is very traditionally vinified, with aging in older barrels (or stainless) and no new or small-format oak.
In Stock Now:
Castello di Verduno Basadone Pelaverga, Piedmont 2018 750ML ($27.95) $24 special
Importer Note “Pelaverga is indigenous to the village of Verduno, it produces red wines that are light in color but savory and distinctive on the palate. Reminds me a lot of Grignolino, another geeky Piedmontese variety. This one is aged in stainless steel before bottling without filtration. The winery’s website cannot be improved on for a description: ‘Soft, though bright ruby red. Intense fragrant nose, showing clear spicy overtones of black pepper and nutmeg, as well as fruity sensations reminiscent of cherries in spirit and strawberries. Nicely-balanced, lingering dry flavour.’ Great with salumi. I would drink this at cellar temperature.”
The Castello di Verduno, as you might guess, is a historically important producer of Barolo, located in Verduno, but also owns a cellar and important vineyard property in Barbaresco. The estate is owned by Gabriella Burlotto and Franco Bianco, who have made it a mission to create some of the finest wines in the region. Their holdings are heavily skewed towards great vineyards—Rabaja and Faset in Barbaresco and Monvigliaro in Barolo, meaning their entry level wines show incredible class and purity as well. Everything they do (including the rare Pelaverga) is very traditionally vinified, with aging in older barrels (or stainless) and no new or small-format oak.
In Stock Now:
Castello di Verduno Basadone Pelaverga, Piedmont 2018 750ML ($27.95) $24 special
Importer Note “Pelaverga is indigenous to the village of Verduno, it produces red wines that are light in color but savory and distinctive on the palate. Reminds me a lot of Grignolino, another geeky Piedmontese variety. This one is aged in stainless steel before bottling without filtration. The winery’s website cannot be improved on for a description: ‘Soft, though bright ruby red. Intense fragrant nose, showing clear spicy overtones of black pepper and nutmeg, as well as fruity sensations reminiscent of cherries in spirit and strawberries. Nicely-balanced, lingering dry flavour.’ Great with salumi. I would drink this at cellar temperature.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Castello di Verduno Barbera d’Alba, Piedmont 2018 750ML ($24.95) $18 special
Winery Note “A deep ruby red packed with purplish highlights opens onto a delicate nose of lovely vinous aroma sand red fruits, plums and ripe blackberries with spicy hint of liquorice. It has a smooth palate, medium body with the typical refreshing acidity. This Barbera d’Alba is our version of young and fruit Barbera. The target it is get a fresh wine both scents that picky, also thanks to characteristic of acidity that characterizes this vineyard. The grapes for this wine are selected on some small vineyards located in the village of Neive. The grapes are picked by hand, sorting only the best bunches and placing them into a 20 kilos baskets. The maceration lasted for 10days in stainless steel tanks, with regular punching down of the cap. The wine matured for3 months in big Slovenian oak casks, 6months in steel tanks and 2months in the bottle before its release.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Castello di Verduno Langhe Nebbiolo, Piedmont 2018 750ML ($26.95) $19 special
Importer Note “The Castello di Verduno, owned by Gabriella Burlotto and Franco Bianco, is a beautiful old building at the top of the village of Verduno, on the edge of the Barolo zone. The Castello di Verduno wine label unites two cellars, one under the castle in the Barolo zone and the other near the famous ‘cru’ Rabajà, in the Barbaresco area. Wines are produced in Barbaresco and bottled and stored in Verduno. If you want a preview of Barbaresco without spending $70 or more, or if you just love good, red, lip-smacking wine, try this Nebbiolo. All of the grapes come from the Barbaresco vineyards Faset and Rabajà. The wine shows elegant notes of red fruits, sandalwood, and rose petal. Lamb chops? Roast chicken? I’m making myself hungry.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Castello di Verduno Barolo, Barolo DOCG 2016 750ML ($59.95) $49 special
Antonio Galloni 93 points “The 2016 Barolo is a pretty and accessible mid-weight Barolo that will drink well with minimal cellaring. Sweet pipe tobacco, cedar, mint, dried flowers and crushed berries are all nicely laced together. Understated and gracious, the 2016 offers considerable appeal. Sweet floral and spice notes linger on the expansive, layered finish. This is very nicely done, especially within its peer group.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
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Charles Heidsieck
Grand, Yet Overlooked
Charles Heidsieck is one of the great, historic houses of Champagne, but because of their small size they tend to be overlooked. They make wines that are notable for their richness and texture, incorporating long aging on the lees and significant amounts (40+%) of older (reserve) wines in their NV blends. Based on the quality in the bottle and the age required to get there, you’d expect these wines to be 25-40% more expensive than they are. Their Brut Reserve is one of the best entry level wines from a great house in Champagne, especially if you love wines with a classic, toasty feel to them.
In Stock Now:
Charles Heidsieck Brut Reserve, Champagne NV 750ML ($59.95) $44.50 special
Case-6 Charles Heidsieck Brut Reserve, Champagne NV 750ML ($359.95) $259 special (that’s only $43.17/bottle!)
Case-12 Charles Heidsieck Brut Reserve, Champagne NV 750ML ($719.95) $479 special (that’s only $39.92/bottle and the lowest listed price in the USA today!)
William Kelley – Wine Advocate 92+ points “Based on the 2014 vintage, complemented by fully 40% old reserve wines, the new release of Charles Heidsieck’s NV Brut Réserve was disgorged earlier this year. It’s showing very well, opening up in the glass with notes of green apple, dried white flowers, pear, candied peel and walnuts. On the palate, the wine is medium to full-bodied, deep and layered, with a textural attack and a racier, tighter-knit core than either the 2012- or 2010-base renditions, displaying good concentration and underlying richness. This is a bottling that continues to punch above its weight and which both merits and rewards a few years in the cellar before opening.”
In Stock Now:
Charles Heidsieck Brut Reserve, Champagne NV 750ML ($59.95) $44.50 special
Case-6 Charles Heidsieck Brut Reserve, Champagne NV 750ML ($359.95) $259 special (that’s only $43.17/bottle!)
Case-12 Charles Heidsieck Brut Reserve, Champagne NV 750ML ($719.95) $479 special (that’s only $39.92/bottle and the lowest listed price in the USA today!)
William Kelley – Wine Advocate 92+ points “Based on the 2014 vintage, complemented by fully 40% old reserve wines, the new release of Charles Heidsieck’s NV Brut Réserve was disgorged earlier this year. It’s showing very well, opening up in the glass with notes of green apple, dried white flowers, pear, candied peel and walnuts. On the palate, the wine is medium to full-bodied, deep and layered, with a textural attack and a racier, tighter-knit core than either the 2012- or 2010-base renditions, displaying good concentration and underlying richness. This is a bottling that continues to punch above its weight and which both merits and rewards a few years in the cellar before opening.”
The average price is $59
Charles Heidsieck Blanc de Blancs, Champagne NV 750ML ($99.95) $75 special
William Kelley – Wine Advocate 92 points “Based on the 2012 vintage, the latest rendition of Heidsieck’s NV Blanc de Blancs incorporates some 20% reserve wines, derived from younger vintages to emphasize what Cyril Brun described as the “youthful” side of Chardonnay, in contrast to the mature expression of that cépage offered by the house’s Blanc de Millénaires. Unwinding in the glass with aromas of citrus oil, white flowers, green apple and walnut oil, complemented by some of the empyreumatic nuances so typical of the base vintage, it’s a medium to full-bodied, elegantly textural and incisive wine that’s lively and inviting. It was disgorged last year with nine grams per liter dosage.”
Decanter 92 points “One of the pioneers of the blanc de blancs style, Charles Heidsieck only relaunched its 100% Chardonnay NV Champagne in 2018. Round but incisive and fresh, this has lovely balance between its creamy, woody mouthfeel and its fresh, saline acidity. A lovely food wine.”
Charles Heidsieck Brut Millesime, Champagne 2006 750ML ($99.95) $89 special
Decanter 94 points “For those who like their champagne delicate, with the smile of a warm summer, this is the vintage to go for. Fine-drawn and elegant, It has a nice structure and well-defined flavours of red fruits, quince and a touch of apricot, accompanied by a subtle spiciness. The one criticism aimed at 2006 is that the wines can lack acidity – but not this one. Ready to drink now, maybe with blinis. Disgorged in 2017.”
Wine Spectator 93 points “Rich notes of pastry, crushed cherry, espresso cream, saffron and spice are well-meshed with vibrant acidity in this expressive Champagne. Fine and creamy in texture, with a racy, tightly knit finish that should unfold nicely with age. Disgorged in 2017. Drink now through 2028. Tasted twice, with consistent notes. 90 cases imported.”
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 92 points “The 2006 Brut Millésimé spent nine years on the lees and was disgorged in 2017 with ten grams per liter dosage. The wine expresses the sunny vintage, exhibiting generous aromas of mirabelle plum, crisp yellow orchard fruit, confit citrus, toasted nuts and dried white flowers. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied, ample and mouthfilling, with a youthfully boisterous but elegant mousse, a fleshy core of fruit and a rich, expansive finish. This is a gourmand vintage of Heidsieck’s vintage Brut, and it will be best enjoyed at table; it will age more on its concentration and extract than its acidity. The blend is a classic 59% Pinot Noir and 41% Chardonnay.” [Disgorgement date may vary.]
Charles Heidsieck Brut Reserve Rose, Champagne NV 750ML ($89.95) $61.50 special
William Kelley – Wine Advocate 93 points “The new release of Heidsick’s NV Rosé Réserve is based on the 2012 vintage, with the usual 20% of reserve wines and some 6% still red wine from Les Riceys in the Aube. Already exhibiting considerable complexity, it wafts from the glass with scents of orange rind, red plums, gingerbread and red berries. On the palate, the wine is medium to full-bodied, satiny textured and fleshy, with lively acids and an attractively vinous profile. It was disgorged a few months ago with 11 grams per liter dosage”
Portland is one of the greatest cities in the country for Champagne, and we offer one of the largest selections of in-stock Champagnes in the state. Shop Tete de Cuvees, Special Clubs, 100% Biodynamic, 100% Pinot blanc, back-vintages, case deals, demi-sec, cult growers, Methusalehs, and more on our web store!
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New Back-Vintage Burgundy Arrivals
Domaine Marc Roy Gevrey-Chambertin Cuvee Alexandrine, Cote de Nuits 2009 750ML ($149.95) $119 special, 1 bottle in stock now
Burghound 92 points “Outstanding Top Value. A discreet touch of wood frames ripe and cool extract of red pinot and dark berry fruit aromas that possess excellent mid-palate concentration as the level of dry extract is impressive as it renders the moderately firm tannic spine almost invisible on the explosive and driving finish. This is a terrific effort for its level and absolutely worth considering.”
Burghound 92 points “Outstanding Top Value. A discreet touch of wood frames ripe and cool extract of red pinot and dark berry fruit aromas that possess excellent mid-palate concentration as the level of dry extract is impressive as it renders the moderately firm tannic spine almost invisible on the explosive and driving finish. This is a terrific effort for its level and absolutely worth considering.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Domaine Marc Roy Clos Prieur, Gevrey-Chambertin Premier Cru 2009 750ML ($149.95) $99 special, 1 bottle in stock now
Burghound 90 points “A more elegant and also more restrained nose of cool, airy and complex dark berry fruit and pungent earth aromas complement the slightly sauvage, detailed, minerally and pure middle weight flavors that exude intensity and vibrancy, all wrapped in a balanced and solidly persistent finish. This is notably finer than the old vines cuvée and worth considering.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Hospices de Beaune Beaune Premier Cru Cuvee Nicolas Rolin, Cote de Beaune 2008 750ML ($99.95) $89 special, 3 bottles in stock now
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Hospices de Beaune Corton Grand Cru Cuvee Docteur Peste, Cote de Beaune 2003 750ML ($139.95) $119 special, 1 bottle in stock now
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Trending Wines
We just received a ton of new Cayuse, including a bunch of Horsepower. This was a big winner.
Horsepower Vineyards ‘High Contrast Vineyard’ Syrah, Walla Walla Valley 2017 750ML ($219.95) $169 special, 8 bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 95+ points “The 2017 Syrah High Contrast Vineyard is more wound up and tight, with backward notes of chocolaty black fruits, toasted spice, mulled plums, cured ham, and sweet mulch all developing with time in the glass. Full-bodied and concentrated on the palate, with plenty of tannins, this is one 2017 that’s going to reward bottle age. Do your best to hide bottles for 4-5 years if possible, and it should see its 20th birthday in fine form. This is certainly for those who like a big dose of funk in their Syrah!”
Horsepower Vineyards ‘High Contrast Vineyard’ Syrah, Walla Walla Valley 2017 750ML ($219.95) $169 special, 8 bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 95+ points “The 2017 Syrah High Contrast Vineyard is more wound up and tight, with backward notes of chocolaty black fruits, toasted spice, mulled plums, cured ham, and sweet mulch all developing with time in the glass. Full-bodied and concentrated on the palate, with plenty of tannins, this is one 2017 that’s going to reward bottle age. Do your best to hide bottles for 4-5 years if possible, and it should see its 20th birthday in fine form. This is certainly for those who like a big dose of funk in their Syrah!”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $185
The next best price is $185
One of the standouts of the standout 2015 Brunello village.
Castello di Camigliano Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2015 750ML ($49.95) $38 special
Case-6 Castello di Camigliano Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2015 750ML ($299.95) $219 special (that’s only $36.50/bottle!)
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 94 points “The Camigliano 2015 Brunello di Montalcino sees fruit from a 50-hectare vineyard planted 300 to 350 meters above sea level. The soils show lots of variation with clay, sand, rock and marine fossils. The wine’s bouquet reveals classic Brunello characteristics of wild berry, forest floor, pressed rose petal, crushed stone and spice. You also get those typical balsam and herbal tones that are so specific to Montalcino. In fact, I argue that they come across with even more intensity in a beautifully balanced and sunny vintage such as 2015. This wine ages in 60-hectoliter botti for 24 months, making for a firm yet surprisingly streamlined mouthfeel. With 160,000 bottles made, the wine was released in January 2020.”
James Suckling 94 points “A bright and elegant Brunello that suggests sliced oranges, tulips and rose petals. Medium-to full-bodied and finely structured, drawing on silky layers of tannins and a vibrant edge of acidity. Drink now or hold.”
Wine Spectator 93 points “A focused, lively red, this exhibits cherry, strawberry, earth, mineral and Mediterranean herb flavors. Dense, staying fresh as this unwinds on the lingering aftertaste. Best from 2023 through 2042.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Delas is a signature producer in a region with no shortage of legendary names. The St Joseph Francois de Tournon proves that world-class Northern Rhone wines don’t have to break the bank. Well, at least at our pricing…
Delas Freres Saint-Joseph Francois de Tournon, Rhone 2016 750ML ($44.95) $33 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-6 Delas Freres Saint-Joseph Francois de Tournon, Rhone 2016 750ML ($279.95) $179 special (that’s only $29.83/bottle!)
Jeb Dunnuck 94 points “The 2016 Saint Joseph François De Tournon comes from more schist and gneiss soils and spent 10-14 months in mostly used barrels, with a small part in tank to preserve more freshness. It’s another ruby/purple-colored effort from this estate and gives up lots of blackberry and blueberry fruits intermixed with earthy minerality, ground pepper, and hints of damp earth. Rich, layered, and textured, it will be better in a year or two and keep for 8-10, if not longer.”
Wine Spectator 93 points “Features a solid core of dark currant and blackberry fruit, inlaid with notes of tar, anise and warm tobacco leaf. Reveals a tug of iron through the fruit-laden finish. Best from 2020 through 2026. 1,033 cases made, 123 cases imported. — JM”
James Suckling 92-93 points “This has fragrant and floral character with wild raspberries and red plums. The peppery palate has a vibrant array of ripe, red and purple fruit. Good depth and drive here. Barrel sample.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $37.99
The average price is $42
The next best price is $37.99
The average price is $42
2015 produced a number of top value Bordeaux and this is one of our favorites.
Chateau Marjosse, Bordeaux 2015 750ML ($19.95) $17 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-12 Chateau Marjosse, Bordeaux 2015 750ML ($239.95) $189 special (that’s only $15.75/bottle!)
James Suckling 91 points “Aromas of spices, currants and milk chocolate with fresh-basil undertones. Full-bodied, layered and rich with lots of fruit and character on the finish. Tannins are velvety and dusty in texture. Excellent for this chateau. Needs two or three years to soften. Try in 2020.”
Antonio Galloni “Pierre Lurton’s 2015 Marjosse is a big, bold wine packed with black cherry, tobacco, chocolate, smoke, leather and licorice. This dark, brooding wine should drink nicely upon release. There is plenty going on.”
Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Wine Advocate “The medium garnet-purple colored 2015 Marjosse has a nose of crushed black raspberries and red plums with touches of blackberries and damp soil. Medium to full-bodied, it has good expression and a chewy frame with nice balance and plenty of fruit.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Collector’s Corner
Fontodi – A Tuscan Treasure
Fontodi – A Tuscan Treasure
Fontodi is one of Tuscany’s most respected estates, and for good reason. The grapes hail from a classic south-facing amphitheater replete with soils optimal for producing ripe yet balanced Sangiovese. What results are classically styled Chianti that more than earn their Classico designation. Unlike the forgettable (or worse yet disappointing) Chianti Classico that we’ve all encountered, Fontori’s wines are effortlessly delicious and harmonious, the gift of such high-quality base material.
Fontodi’s Flaccianello della Pieve is one of the best, most sought after wines made in Tuscany. Flaccianello’s obvious class seems inevitable when you consider that each year it is made with only the finest fruit from Fontodi’s vineyards in Colli della Toscana Centrale. Aged for 24 months in French oak, the 2012 bottling is every bit the rival of super-premium wines from anywhere else in Tuscany.
Rich, powerful, perhaps even bombastic, Fontodi’s 100% Sangiovese, Flaccianello, is anything but shy. The 2012—and now 2001—are in stock now, the product of a warm, dry years in Tuscany.
These are a great pair for hearty Italian dishes or a steak off a grill, but the 2012 will mellow out with a sleep in the cellar into a profound vino di meditazione. The ’01s are just entering primetime, but don’t worry if you don’t get to it for another four to eight years.
In Stock Now:
Fontodi Flaccianello della Pieve, Tuscany 2012 750ML ($119.95) $99 special, 36 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni 97 points “Tasted next to the 2012 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Vigna del Sorbo, the Flaccianello is richer, deeper and more flamboyant. Super-ripe red stone fruit, smoke, licorice and dark spices meld together in a deep, powerful wine. The 2012 is impressive, but personally I prefer the finesse and freshness of the Sorbo. The greater influence of new French oak is also felt in the wine’s texture. Still, that is splitting hairs, as the level here is high. Very high.”
Just Arrived!
Fontodi Flaccianello della Pieve, Tuscany 2001 750ML ($199.95) $179 special, 2 bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 98 points “Tasted from magnum. Now on the plateau of maturity, boasting sweet cherry, plum, sandalwood and spice bouquet. This is beautifully integrated, with fruit, spice, tobacco and tea flavors, very vigorous and long, yet with plenty to give. Kept improving with air.—Non-blind Flaccianello vertical (July 2014). Drink now through 2030. 4,000 cases made, 1,000 cases imported.”
Antonio Galloni 95 points “[Reviewed Jan 2012] The 2001 Flaccianello della Pieve marks a turning point, as it is the first Flaccianello to be made as a selection of the estate’s best fruit across a number of parcels rather than as a single-vineyard wine. Black cherries, plums, smoke, licorice and tobacco are some of the notes that burst from the glass in this virile, massive Flaccianello. A hint of sweet toasted oak reminiscent of the 1990 lingers on the finish. This is a great showing, but readers will have to be patient.”
Fontodi’s Flaccianello della Pieve is one of the best, most sought after wines made in Tuscany. Flaccianello’s obvious class seems inevitable when you consider that each year it is made with only the finest fruit from Fontodi’s vineyards in Colli della Toscana Centrale. Aged for 24 months in French oak, the 2012 bottling is every bit the rival of super-premium wines from anywhere else in Tuscany.
Rich, powerful, perhaps even bombastic, Fontodi’s 100% Sangiovese, Flaccianello, is anything but shy. The 2012—and now 2001—are in stock now, the product of a warm, dry years in Tuscany.
These are a great pair for hearty Italian dishes or a steak off a grill, but the 2012 will mellow out with a sleep in the cellar into a profound vino di meditazione. The ’01s are just entering primetime, but don’t worry if you don’t get to it for another four to eight years.
In Stock Now:
Fontodi Flaccianello della Pieve, Tuscany 2012 750ML ($119.95) $99 special, 36 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni 97 points “Tasted next to the 2012 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Vigna del Sorbo, the Flaccianello is richer, deeper and more flamboyant. Super-ripe red stone fruit, smoke, licorice and dark spices meld together in a deep, powerful wine. The 2012 is impressive, but personally I prefer the finesse and freshness of the Sorbo. The greater influence of new French oak is also felt in the wine’s texture. Still, that is splitting hairs, as the level here is high. Very high.”
Just Arrived!
Fontodi Flaccianello della Pieve, Tuscany 2001 750ML ($199.95) $179 special, 2 bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 98 points “Tasted from magnum. Now on the plateau of maturity, boasting sweet cherry, plum, sandalwood and spice bouquet. This is beautifully integrated, with fruit, spice, tobacco and tea flavors, very vigorous and long, yet with plenty to give. Kept improving with air.—Non-blind Flaccianello vertical (July 2014). Drink now through 2030. 4,000 cases made, 1,000 cases imported.”
Antonio Galloni 95 points “[Reviewed Jan 2012] The 2001 Flaccianello della Pieve marks a turning point, as it is the first Flaccianello to be made as a selection of the estate’s best fruit across a number of parcels rather than as a single-vineyard wine. Black cherries, plums, smoke, licorice and tobacco are some of the notes that burst from the glass in this virile, massive Flaccianello. A hint of sweet toasted oak reminiscent of the 1990 lingers on the finish. This is a great showing, but readers will have to be patient.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Arriving ETA September:
Fontodi Flaccianello della Pieve, Tuscany 2017 750ML ($199.95) $179 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 96 points “The Fontodi 2017 Flaccianello della Pieve is a standout wine of the dry vintage. This pure Sangiovese opens to a dark garnet color with more visible concentration and density compared to recent past editions. This is a beautiful wine with pliant tannins, dark fruit richness, balanced acidity and a fruit-forward 15% alcohol content. The wine is big and bold when weighed on the Flaccianello scale (and even more so when weighed on the Sangiovese scale) with dark cherry, plum, spice, violet, chalk and campfire ash. Despite that power and inner opulence, this wine adds that zesty Sangiovese character with fresh acidity and an energized approach. This Flaccianello is whole and complete with the natural firmness and structure to hold it steady during the aging process. A small part of amphorae-aged fruit is added to the blend. -Monica Larner”
James Suckling 95 points “Very high-toned and muscular red with crushed cherries, blackberries and walnuts. Some dried earth. It’s full-bodied and chewy with solid tannins that form the wine. Beautiful ripe fruit in the center palate. Needs time to soften. Try after 2022.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Arriving next month, we’re excited to offer both Fontodi’s 2017 Chianti Classico, as well as the single vineyard Filetta Di Lamole. The former offers classic cherry and floral character, and the latter adding additional layers of Italian herbs and spices. Both provide wonderful examples of the potential of Tuscany’s 2017 vintage. So whether Chianti Classico is a mainstay at your dinner table, or you’re in need of a reintroduction to its familiar charms, you won’t find two better examples for under $50.
Arriving ETA September
Fontodi Chianti Classico DOCG, Tuscany 2017 750ML ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival special
Case-6 Fontodi Chianti Classico DOCG, Tuscany 2017 750ML ($399.95) $279 pre-arrival special (that’s only $46.50/bottle!)
James Suckling 94 points “A rich, layered CC with intense cherry and flower character, as well as orange peel. Full-bodied with firm, velvety tannins and a flavorful finish. Drink or hold.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Fontodi ‘Filetta di Lamole’, Chianti Classico DOCG 2017 750ML ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival special
Case-6 Fontodi ‘Filetta di Lamole’, Chianti Classico DOCG 2017 750ML ($399.95) $279 pre-arrival special (that’s only $46.50/bottle!)
James Suckling 94 points “Chewy and rich with attractive cherry and dried-strawberry character, as well as intense tannins. Dried flowers, too. This is traditional and structured. Very tight. Needs time to soften. Drink in 2022.”
Case-6 Fontodi ‘Filetta di Lamole’, Chianti Classico DOCG 2017 750ML ($399.95) $279 pre-arrival special (that’s only $46.50/bottle!)
James Suckling 94 points “Chewy and rich with attractive cherry and dried-strawberry character, as well as intense tannins. Dried flowers, too. This is traditional and structured. Very tight. Needs time to soften. Drink in 2022.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Fontodi Vigna del Sorbo, Chianti Classico Gran Selezione DOCG 2017 750ML ($149.95) $119 pre-arrival special
James Suckling 95 points “Powerful, tight red with currant and plum character. Hints of new wood and bark. Full-bodied with dark berries and hints of dark chocolate, as well as other dark fruit. Flavorful finish. Solid. Needs time to open. Better after 2022.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Fontodi Dino Amphora Sangiovese, Colli della Toscana Centrale IGT 2017 750ML ($99.95) $79 pre-arrival special
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Fontodi Flaccianello della Pieve, Tuscany 2017 750ML ($199.95) $179 pre-arrival special
Case-6 Fontodi Flaccianello della Pieve, Tuscany 2017 750ML ($1,199.95) $999 pre-arrival special (that’s only $166.50/btl)
Wine Advocate 96 points “The Fontodi 2017 Flaccianello della Pieve is a standout wine of the dry vintage. This pure Sangiovese opens to a dark garnet color with more visible concentration and density compared to recent past editions. This is a beautiful wine with pliant tannins, dark fruit richness, balanced acidity and a fruit-forward 15% alcohol content. The wine is big and bold when weighed on the Flaccianello scale (and even more so when weighed on the Sangiovese scale) with dark cherry, plum, spice, violet, chalk and campfire ash. Despite that power and inner opulence, this wine adds that zesty Sangiovese character with fresh acidity and an energized approach. This Flaccianello is whole and complete with the natural firmness and structure to hold it steady during the aging process. A small part of amphorae-aged fruit is added to the blend. -Monica Larner”
James Suckling 95 points “Very high-toned and muscular red with crushed cherries, blackberries and walnuts. Some dried earth. It’s full-bodied and chewy with solid tannins that form the wine. Beautiful ripe fruit in the center palate. Needs time to soften. Try after 2022.”
Case-6 Fontodi Flaccianello della Pieve, Tuscany 2017 750ML ($1,199.95) $999 pre-arrival special (that’s only $166.50/btl)
Wine Advocate 96 points “The Fontodi 2017 Flaccianello della Pieve is a standout wine of the dry vintage. This pure Sangiovese opens to a dark garnet color with more visible concentration and density compared to recent past editions. This is a beautiful wine with pliant tannins, dark fruit richness, balanced acidity and a fruit-forward 15% alcohol content. The wine is big and bold when weighed on the Flaccianello scale (and even more so when weighed on the Sangiovese scale) with dark cherry, plum, spice, violet, chalk and campfire ash. Despite that power and inner opulence, this wine adds that zesty Sangiovese character with fresh acidity and an energized approach. This Flaccianello is whole and complete with the natural firmness and structure to hold it steady during the aging process. A small part of amphorae-aged fruit is added to the blend. -Monica Larner”
James Suckling 95 points “Very high-toned and muscular red with crushed cherries, blackberries and walnuts. Some dried earth. It’s full-bodied and chewy with solid tannins that form the wine. Beautiful ripe fruit in the center palate. Needs time to soften. Try after 2022.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Thanks for reading!