Arterberry Maresh Stars in the New Wine Advocate
Labor Day is Rosé Day!
Featured New Arrival: The Esteemed Delas Freres
New Wine Advocate Reviews for Oregon Favorites
New Arrivals, Including:
Cayuse, Bereche, Fevre, Clape and More!
Trending Wines of the Week
Starting the September Sale
2016 Torrione – High Quality, High Value Super Tuscan
Please Note!
Vinopolis Will Be Open Labor Day
Monday September 3rd
Our Usual Hours, 10AM-6PM
In New Wine Advocate Reviews
“The 2016 Pinot Noirs from Arterberry Maresh offer amazing layers of sweet, precise fruits, exotic spices and earth—everything you want from great Pinot Noir. They’re concentrated and jam-packed with flavor while still maintaining excellent grainy tannic structure and very juicy acidity, not to mention they age beautifully. Jim Maresh is also crafting some beautiful Chardonnays, some of the most exciting Chardonnays I have tasted from Oregon. Jim attributes much of his success to his fruit, which comes from old vines planted by his family in the early 1970s and are entirely dry farmed.”
In Stock Now:
Arterberry Maresh Pinot Noir ‘Maresh Vineyard’, Dundee Hills, 2016 750ML ($79.95) $69 special
Wine Advocate 96 points “This wine comes from Pinot Noir vines planted in the early 1970s. Pale to medium ruby-purple in color, the 2016 Pinot Noir Maresh Vineyard is scented of lilac, violet, pure strawberry jam, rhubarb and cranberry sauce with layers of warm earth, red and black licorice and exotic spice. Medium to full-bodied, it floods the mouth with warm red cherries, strawberry and rhubarb jam notions and wonderful accents of dried violets, earth, licorice and spice. It has very, very fine, grainy tannins and juicy mouthwatering acidity, finishing epically long with spiced warm red fruits. This just sings! 371 cases produced.”
Wine Advocate 96 points “This is the first non-vineyard designate made by Jim Maresh. Pale to medium ruby in color, the 2016 Pinot Noir Old Vines has a lovely pure nose of pink peppercorn, dried black tea leaves, red and black licorice and violets with dried cranberries, red cherries and layers and layers of spice. Medium to full-bodied, it has amazing concentration of flavor in the mouth, blossoming out to pure red fruits and spicy layers, with cinnamon and autumn leaves accents, very fine-grained tannins and juicy acidity, finishing very, very long with tons of earth-laced fruit. Wow! 1,040 cases produced.”
Look for more further down in the newsletter!
Labor Day = Rosé Day
The best bang-for-your-buck Bandol.
Domaine de la Bastide Blanche Bandol Rose, Provence 2017 750ML ($27.95) $21.90 special
Case-12 Domaine de la Bastide Blanche Bandol Rose, Provence 2017 750ML ($299.95) $238 special (that’s only $19.83/bottle!)
Josh Raynolds – Vinous 92 points “Light, brilliant orange-pink. Fresh and incisive on the nose, displaying intense raspberry, blood orange and nectarine scents and a hint of pungent flowers. Taut and focused on entry and then fleshier in the middle, offering juicy, nicely concentrated red berry and pit fruit flavors and a spicy jolt of white pepper. Shows excellent clarity and mineral cut on the finish, which lingers with strong, floral-driven persistence.”
A perpetual favorite, this is always a hit.
Plouzeau Chinon Rive Gauche Rose, Loire 2017 750ML ($17.95) $14 special
Case-12 Plouzeau Chinon Rive Gauche Rose, Loire 2017 750ML ($189.95) $149 special (that’s only $12.42/bottle!)
Josh Raynolds 90 points “Light, bright orange. Vibrant, mineral-accented aromas of fresh red berries, orange pith and rose oil on the tightly focused nose. Dry and nervy in the mouth, offering lively strawberry, cherry and citrus zest flavors that show very good clarity and minerally cut. Closes brisk and long, with resonating floral and red fruit notes and a hint of succulent herbs.”
Chateau de Manissy ‘La Belle Etoile’ Rose, Rhone 2017 750ML ($14.95) $11.90 special
Case-12 Chateau de Manissy ‘La Belle Etoile’ Rose, Rhone 2017 750ML ($159.95) $119 special (that’s only $9.92/bottle!)
Wine Advocate 90 points ” The 2017 Vin de France Rose La Belle Etoile—a blend of 50% Cinsault, 25% Grenache and 25% Syrah—is a screaming bargain. With its scents of crushed stone, pressed flowers and white cherries, its quality belies its modest price. Medium-bodied, with a silky mouthfeel and a long finish, it’s a no-brainer purchase for summertime drinking.”
Importer Note “50% Cinsault, 25% Syrah, %25 Grenache. Covering an area of 1.5ha, this site is bathed by the sun and swept by the mistral on a flat plain that rich in limestone with a clay subsoil. Entirely hand-harvested organic grapes that have a cold maceration before being pressed. Low temperature fermentation with indigenous yeasts, which allow the yeast to develop its fruit flavors. Aged in stainless steel tank. Given the name “beautiful star” by the Manissy Brotherhood’s missionary preist, the grapes originate from organically certified vineyards owned by wine-maker Florian André’s mother.”
The best Sancerre rosé? We don’t know any better.
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.”
Tenuta delle Terre Nere Rosato Etna, Sicily 2017 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 special
Ian D’agata-Vinous 91 points “Pale onion-peel pink. Delicately fruity and floral aromas of jasmine, honyesuckle, redcurrant, gooseberry and minerals. Bright and crisp, this is a paragon of balance and delicacy. Lovely stuff. 100% Nerello Mascalese.”
Cave Yves Cuilleron ‘Sybel’ Syrah Rose, IGP Collines Rhodaniennes 2017 750ML ($17.95) $14 special
VinopolNote “Cuilleron is a master in the Northern Rhone and he brings all of his white winemaking skill to bear on this bright, crisp rose. Made from Syrah, this nevertheless displays none of the grapes potential heaviness–it’s bright, fresh and slightly peppery on the finish. If you’re looking for a delicious dry rose for summer drinking, this would be perfect.”
Quintessential Provencal rosé.
Chateau de Calavon Coteaux d’Aix-en-Provence Rose, Provence 2017 750ML ($21.95) $18 special
Case-12 Chateau de Calavon Coteaux d’Aix-en-Provence Rose, Provence 2017 750ML ($249.95) $179 special (that’s only $14.92/bottle!)
Josh Raynolds – Vinous 90 points “Light bright orange. Mineral-tinged red fruit and peach aromas show very good clarity and pick up a subtle floral nuance with air. Juicy and light on its feet, offering zesty strawberry and orange pith flavors that slowly deepen as the wine stretches out. Lingers with strong persistence on the incisive finish, leaving an appealingly sweet strawberry note behind.”
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.”
Featured New Arrival
The Esteemed Delas Freres
Delas makes wines that are powerful and impressive, with density and richness a hallmark of both the reds and the whites—there are no shrinking violets in the lineup. The St. Joseph is among the more structured, ageworthy examples to come of the region and a fantastic deal for ageworthy Syrah. We’ve also just received the legend-in-the-making Hermitage Les Bessards, from Delas’ choicest parcel of the fabled hill. Jeb Dunnuck gave a 100 point score to the 2015, which caused a bit of a run on the wine, but six bottles remain for sale. These are wines that belong in your cellar, to open for occasions great and small.
In Stock Now:
A monument to greatness of Northern Rhone Syrah.
Delas Freres Hermitage Les Bessards, Rhone 2015 750ML ($249.95) $219 special
Jeb Dunnuck 100 points “The top cuvée from Delas is the 2015 Hermitage Les Bessards, and it’s always 100% Syrah from the steep, broken granite soils of the Bessards lieu-dit. Aged 18 months in 30% new barrels, its purple/plum color is followed by a huge nose of blackcurrants, graphite, toasted spice, crushed rocks and saddle leather. Powerful, massively concentrated, and tannic, it has a broad, expansive, heavenly texture, a thick mid-palate (you could almost use a fork for this beauty), and a great finish. Despite the richness level, it stays balanced and graceful on the palate, and is never over the top or heavy. It’s a perfect Hermitage that will start to shine with 4-5 years of bottle age and keep for three decades or more. Bravo!”
Wine Enthusiast 96 points “Cellar Selection! There’s a striking balance here calibrating bold, almost muscular ripeness against an invigorating granite edge. This wine is plump and full bodied, full of supple blackberry and plum flavors balanced by pert acidity and taut, penetrating tannins. It should be in peak from 2020–2035 but hold further.”
Wine Advocate 95-97 points “The top cuvée is the 2015 Hermitage les Bessards, which comes from the middle to lower portion of the steep, granite hillside known as Bessards, unquestionably one of the best terroirs for Syrah in the world. Its inky purple color is followed by a full-bodied, rich, thrillingly concentrated red that has huge tannin, bright acidity and a solid mid-palate concentration. It still tastes like it just came from the press and will need to be forgotten for a decade. As normal, it’s completely destemmed and will see 18 months in 30% new oak.”
An incredible wine at an incredible case price!
Delas Freres Saint-Joseph Francois de Tournon, Rhone 2015 750ML ($44.95) $38 special
Case-6 Delas Freres Saint-Joseph Francois de Tournon, Rhone 2015 750ML ($279.95) $199 special (that’s only $33.17/bottle!)
Wine Advocate 93 points “Inky and concentrated, the 2015 Saint-Joseph Francois de Tournon is no easy-drinking Saint-Joseph. It’s smoky, herbal and ashy all at once, yet it’s buoyed by ample black cherry fruit and vibrant acidity. This medium to full-bodied Syrah has plenty of tannins, but they’re ultimately silky and most apparent on the long, licorice-tinged finish. This is approachable now but should be even better in 3 years and should drink well for at least another 10 after that.”
Jeb Dunnuck 93 points “Both Saint Joseph releases are brilliant in 2015. The 2015 Saint Joseph François De Tournon comes vines around Tournon, Mauves, Saint-Jean-de-Muzols, and Vion, and is always destemmed and aged in 30% new barrels. This full-bodied, rounded, sexy beauty shows the power and fruit of the vintage. With classic notes of black and blue fruits, violets, incense and pepper, drink this textured, expansive, terrific Saint Joseph over the coming 10-15 years.”
For Willamette Valley Favorites
Wine Advocate 95 points “This wine comes from Pinot Noir vines planted in the early 1970s. Pale to medium ruby-purple in color, the 2015 Pinot Noir Maresh Vineyard features warm black cherries and currants on the nose with forest floor, black licorice, cardamom, mushroom and sweet wet leaves nuances. Medium to full-bodied, it’s packed full of red and black fruits with layers of sweet spice and savory mushroom, with a great frame of grainy tannins and juicy acidity, finishing very long with spice-laced sweet fruit notes. 1,200 cases produced.”
Arterberry Maresh Chardonnay ‘Maresh Vineyard’, Dundee Hills 2015 750ML ($79.95) $69 special
Wine Advocate 92 points “From own-rooted Chardonnay vines (Wente selection) planted in 1983, the 2015 Chardonnay Maresh Vineyard has a lovely open nose of crushed rock, baby’s breath flowers, fresh hay and perfectly ripe Red Delicious apples. Medium to full-bodied with rich, ripe, concentrated fruit in the mouth plus a touch of crème fraîche and honey toast, it’s got great juicy acidity and a long, mineral-tinged finish. 350 cases produced.”
Ayres “Lewis Rogers Lane” Pinot Noir, Ribbon Ridge 2016 750ML ($39.95) $33 special
Wine Advocate 93 points “Pale to medium ruby-purple, the 2016 Pinot Noir Lewis Rogers Lane is scented of crushed blackberry and blackcurrant with loads of spicy accents like lilac, cardamom, tree bark and potpourri. Light to medium-bodied, it has a great concentration of spice-laced ripe black fruits in the mouth, with a good frame of grainy tannins and juicy, mouthwatering acidity, finishing on a perfumed dusty earth note. 251 cases produced.”
Ayres “Perspective” Pinot Noir, Ribbon Ridge 2016 750ML ($31.95) $28 special
Wine Advocate 92 points “Pale to medium ruby-purple, the 2016 Pinot Noir Perspective features ripe boysenberry and black cherry notes on the nose with notions of violet, Earl Grey tea, potpourri and dried leaves. Light to medium-bodied, it gives blue and black fruits in the mouth with plenty of spicy accents, framed by soft grainy tannins and wonderful freshness, finishing long. 710 cases produced.”
Beaux Freres ‘The Beaux Freres Vineyard’ Pinot Noir, Ribbon Ridge 2016 1.5L ($219.95) $189 special
Wine Advocate 93 points “From vines planted in 1988 in the original Beaux Frères vineyard, the 2016 Pinot Noir The Beaux Frères Vineyard is pale to medium ruby-purple in color with a nose of fresh, crisp red and black cherries and cranberries with warm earth, dried black tea leaves and potpourri perfume plus notes of crushed rock. Light to medium-bodied, the palate has a wonderful concentration of juicy, ripe black berries and cherries in the mouth, with spicy accents of nutmeg, potpourri and dried autumn leaves, a wonderful frame of fine-grained tannins and juicy acidity carrying the very long, spicy finish. 2,700 cases produced.”
Wine Advocate 91 points “The 2016 Pinot Noir Shea Vineyard is pale to medium ruby-purple in color with an open, deep nose of bramble berry fruit, violet and potpourri with notes of forest floor and herbs. Medium to full-bodied, it fills the mouth with ripe black fruits, with a firm frame of grainy tannins and great freshness, herbal and earth flavors coming through on the long, energetic finish. 1,000 cases produced.”
Goodfellow Family Cellars Durant Vineyard Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills 2015 750ML ($47.95) $39 special
Wine Advocate 94 points “The 2015 Pinot Noir Durant Vineyard is pale to medium ruby in color with a very pretty nose of rose petals, violet and spice over a core of dried cherries and cranberries plus earthy notions of fresh tobacco, underbrush and autumn leaves. Light to medium-bodied, it’s packed with juicy red fruits flavors, spice and floral perfume, with a great frame of grainy tannins and freshness to lift all that flavor, finishing very, very long. 216 cases produced.”
Goodfellow Family Cellars Fir Crest Vineyard Pinot Noir, Yamhill-Carlton District 2015 750ML ($49.95) $39 special
Wine Advocate 93 points “Pale to medium ruby-purple in color, the 2015 Pinot Noir Fir Crest Vineyard is scented of black cherry and bramble berry preserves with cardamom and nutmeg spice, pretty dried red flowers, orange peel and earthy accents. Medium to full-bodied, it floods the mouth with concentrated, juicy dark fruit preserves, with wonderful grainy tannins and mouthwatering acidity, finishing very long and accented with earthy notions. Gosh, that’s good! 113 cases produced.”
Goodfellow Family Cellars Whistling Ridge Vineyard Pinot Noir, Ribbon Ridge 2015 750ML ($49.95) $39 special
Wine Advocate 93 points “From a vineyard planted in 1990, the pale to medium ruby colored 2015 Pinot Noir Whistling Ridge Vineyard has a spicy nose of coriander, warm cinnamon, potpourri and dried leaves over a core of baked cranberry and red cherry fruit with meaty/savory touches. Light to medium-bodied, it has spice-laced red fruits in the mouth, with a great frame of fine-grained tannins and wonderful freshness, finishing very long and very spicy. 270 cases produced.”
Goodfellow Family Cellars Heritage No. 4 Pinot Noir, Ribbon Ridge 2015 750ML ($69.95) $59 special
Wine Advocate 92 points “Pale to medium ruby in color, the 2015 Pinot Noir Heritage No. 4 opens with spiced blackberry, blackcurrant and black cherries on the nose with a lovely spicy core—candied citrus peel, wood smoke, fresh tobacco leaves, potpourri and cola—with earthy notions of dried leaves and underbrush. Light to medium-bodied, it fills the mouth with black fruit flavors and is just packed with spice and earthy notions, with a firm frame of grainy tannins and great freshness, finishing long. 226 cases produced.”
Goodfellow Family Cellars Durant Vineyard Chardonnay, Dundee Hills 2015 750ML ($39.95) $33 special
Wine Advocate 91+ points “The Chardonnay at Durant vineyard was planted in 1993. The 2015 Chardonnay Durant Vineyard is a bit shy on the nose, opening out to honey toast, Red Delicious apples, pears, lemon confit and clotted cream. Medium-bodied, it has wonderful concentration of flavor in the mouth—creamy citrus, honey and crème fraîche—with a wicked line of acidity, finishing long and minerally. 115 cases produced.”
Goodfellow Family Cellars Richard’s Cuvee Chardonnay, Ribbon Ridge 2015 750ML ($47.95) $39 special
Wine Advocate 91 points “From a vineyard planted in 1990, the 2015 Chardonnay Richard’s Cuvée Whistling Ridge Vineyard opens with tangy Greek yogurt aromas on the nose over a core of baked yellow apple and yellow pear with hints of toast and spice. Medium to full-bodied and creamy textured, it has wonderful concentration of warm yellow fruits over tangy crème fraîche flavors and just enough freshness, with lots of toast and spice coming through on the long finish. 153 cases produced.”
Sequitur Pinot Noir, Ribbon Ridge 2016 750ML ($119.95) $99 special
Wine Advocate 94+ points “Pale to medium ruby-purple in color, the 2016 Sequitur Pinot Noir has a lovely, open nose of black and red cherries and blackberries with notions of wood smoke, turned earth, autumn leaves, cardamom and potpourri. Medium-bodied, it floods the mouth with ripe black and red fruits with wonderful earthy/spicy accents, very fine, grainy tannins and mouthwatering acidity, finishing long with spice and floral layers. 480 cases produced.”
Washington
Cayuse Horsepower Vineyards ‘The Tribe Vineyard’ Syrah, Walla Walla Valley 2015 750ML ($199.95) $179 special
Wine Advocate 98 points “Of these three offerings from Horsepower, the 2015 Syrah The Tribe Vineyard will require the most time, as it’s the most tight-knit at this early stage, slowly unwinding in the glass with savory aromas of raw cocoa, tapenade, nori and ripe blackberries. On the palate, it’s full-bodied, deep and concentrated, with a rich chassis of satiny structuring tannins and a layered, umami-laden core of fruit. At 13.6% alcohol, it’s also beautifully balanced.”
James Suckling 98 points “This shows beautifully executed freshness and complexity with charcuterie, graphite, abundant spice and a dusting of pepper, bright berry fruits and an enchanting floral edge. The palate has light, playful tannins and is wildly charming and lacy; it offers blackberries and spiced red cherries wrapped neatly. Syrah at its ethereal best. Drink or hold.”
Bereche et Fils Les Beaux Regards Blanc de Blancs, Champagne NV (’14) 750ML ($99.95) $89 special
Antonio Galloni 96 points “Weightless, elegant and remarkably pure, the 2014 Les Beaux Regards has it all. Lemon confit, pastry, white flowers, smoke, slate and a touch of new oak infuse a regal Chardonnay endowed with pure class. The depth and nuance of the flavors recalls a great Corton Charlemagne. The 2014 needs a bit of time in bottle to fully assimilate its oak and the slight bit of reduction that comes from aging on the cork. Disgorged February 2018. Dosage is 3 grams per liter.”
Only seven bottles remaining!
Bereche et Fils Le Cran Premier Cru Brut Nature Millesime, Champagne 2010 750ML ($119.95) $99 special
Antonio Galloni 94 points “The 2010 Le Cran, a blend of equal parts Chardonnay and Pinot Noir brings together the flavor profile of the former and the textural resonance of the latter. Apricot, lemon confit and wild flowers are some of the many notes that flesh out in this creamy, super-expressive Champagne. This is one of the bigger, more dramatic wines in the range, but everything works together nicely. Disgorged December 2017. Dosage is 4 grams per liter.”
Only ten bottles remaining!
Bereche et Fils Vallee de la Marne Rive Gauche Extra Brut, Champagne NV (’14) 750ML ($99.95) $79 special
Antonio Galloni 93 points “The 2014 Rive Gauche screams with varietal Meunier character. Hazelnut, smoke, spice and dried orchard fruit are nicely pushed forward in a beautifully resonant, understated Champagne. This cool, north-facing site yields wines of notable personality and class. The 2014 is absolutely terrific. Drink it over the next few years. Disgorged November 2017. Dosage is 2.5 grams per liter.”
Marie Courtin Efflorescence Blanc de Noirs Extra Brut, Champagne 2013 750ML ($69.95) $58 special
Wine Advocate 95 points “The 2013 Extra Brut Efflorescence is from an east-facing vineyard with 40-year-old vines (sélection massale) on Kimmeridgian soils. Fermented and aged for one year in pièces and 36 months on the second lees before the disgorgement in October 2017, this golden-yellow cuvée opens with a very delicate, almost floral bouquet of great elegance. Round, intense and full on the palate, this is an extraordinarily fine, elegant, highly finessed and perfectly balanced Pinot Noir with beautiful cherry fruit on the fresh finish. This is a great wine, and just 9,000 bottles were produced. Tasted April 2018.”
Antonio Galloni 94 points “A complete and wonderfully nuanced wine, the 2013 Extra Brut Efflorescence is fabulous. Bright and sculpted to the core, the 2013 exudes energy. Chalk, mint, jasmine and orchard fruit add complexity, but it is the wine’s overall balance that is most impressive. The Efflorescence offers striking translucence and energy from start to finish. The non-dosé style is especially successful here. Disgorged in April 2017 with no dosage.”
Domaine William Fevre Chablis, Burgundy 2016 750ML ($39.95) $33 special
Stephen Tanzer 88-90 points “(just 18 hectoliters per hectare produced): Hazy medium yellow. At once more fruity and more exotic than the Champs Royaux, offering scents of orange zest, lemon, mango and lichee. Fat, round, rather large-scaled wine with serious volume for a village offering, but kept fresh by a streak of limey acidity. Finishes with noteworthy persistence. This will be good in six months but needs time to knit.”
Burghound 88-90 points “A ripe and fresh nose offers up notes of iodine, oyster shell, mineral reduction, pear and plenty of citrus influence. There is fine density to the concentrated and sappy flavors that possess fine volume while delivering very good length and solid depth. Good stuff and worth a look.”
A massive, powerful Clape that’s surprisingly approachable.
Domaine Auguste Clape Cornas, Rhone 2011 750ML ($189.95) $159 special
Wine Advocate 95 points “Starting with his 2011 Cornas, it’s a rocking wine in the vintage that’s still showing every bit as well as it did on release. Massive minerality, violets, bloody meat and sweet blackcurrant and black raspberry-like fruit all emerge here, and it’s fabulously textured and silky on the palate. It will be interesting to see if this ever shuts down, but right now, it’s a great drink. If you have multiple bottles, give one a try.”
Trending Wines of the Week
Domaine de L’Edre Cotes du Roussillon Villages 2013 750ML ($49.95) $38 special
Wine Advocate 95 points “One of the wines of the vintage is the 2013 Cotes du Roussillon Villages Domaine de l’Edre. While this cuvee had a rustic edge in the past, today it’s incredibly polished and pure, with brilliant aromatics of cassis, black raspberries, licorice, crushed flowers and chalky minerality. Medium to full-bodied, ripe, yet elegant and balanced, it’s a classic Roussillon that can be enjoyed today or cellared for a decade.”
The next best price is $47.99
Edmunds St. John Bone-Jolly Gamay Noir, El Dorado County 2016 750ML ($24.95) $19.75 special
Winemaker’s note “The color in the ’16 is on the light side; it’s a pretty red, slightly tinged with purple. The nose is very fresh, and quite energetic; there’s plenty of fruit, some pepperiness, and a mineral streak. On the palate it’s racy and juicy, sporting a fine texture, and a finish that continues to gain length as the wine ages and integrates. High-stepping stuff! 12.4% alcohol. Edmunds St John harvested its 15th successive vintage of Gamay in 2016 (and vinified its 11th vintage of rosé from Gamay)! It’s gratifying to know that the wines we’ve offered from Gamay have provided substantial pleasure to plenty of folks over those years, enough to have drawn the attention of other growers and vintners, who’ve now undertaken their own plantings, and bottled some Gamay wines of their own. Maybe it’s time for a big party!”
Chateau de Saint Cosme Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Rhone 2015 750ML ($49.95) $39 special
Wine Advocate 93 points “Sourced from three lieux-dits (including La Crau), Saint Cosme’s 2015 Chateauneuf du Pape is a blend of approximately 60% Grenache, 20-25% Mourvèdre and bits and pieces of other varieties. It’s full-bodied, rich and spicy, with hints of cumin, licorice, cinnamon and clove all swirling about on the long finish.”
Domaine Lafond Tavel Roc-Epine Rose, Rhone 2017 750ML ($21.95) $18 special
Case-12 Domaine Lafond Tavel Roc-Epine Rose, Rhone 2017 750ML ($249.95) $189 special
Wine Advocate 93 points “A dependable producer of Tavel and Lirac (and Châteauneuf-du-Pape), the Lafonds have turned out a spice-driven 2017 Tavel that’s bottled under screwcap. Hints of allspice and clove accent watermelon and red berry flavors, while the palate is medium to full-bodied and richly textured, leading into a long, silky finish. Bravo!”
Domaine Maurice Schoech Cotes d’Ammeschwihr, Alsace 2015 750ML ($19.95) $16.60 special
Importer note “Cotes d’Ammerschwihr: is harvested from hillside vineyards situated at the beginning of the valley that leads to the village of Les Trois Epis. This wine is primarily Pinot Blanc with a touch of Muscat … a fine, elegant wine of great value.”
The next best price is $22.99
Beautiful, delicious, playful Riesling.
Selbach-Oster Zeltinger Schlossberg Riesling Kabinett, Mosel 2016 750ML ($31.95) Was $26, Now $21.90 Clearance Price
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 92 points “Opening with nice reduction but precise and ripe fruit as well as crunchy slate aromas on the nose, the 2016 Zeltinger Schlossberg Riesling Kabinett is pure and flinty, well-structured and quite aristocratic (though a frivolous aristocrat), with a firm structure, lush fruit and a lovely lightness and buoyancy. Very stimulating and mouthwatering, but it’s far too young to appreciate the full complexity it will deliver in a couple of years. Salty, grippy and fruity—just a perfect Kabinett.”
Stuart Pigott 91 points– JamesSuckling.com “Super-fresh and vibrant with a cool, mineral-herbal personality and a very clean, long finish. You could drink it any time during the next decade, but why wait?”
Mosel Fine Wines 90+ points “The 2016er Zeltinger Schlossberg Kabinett was harvested at 86-87° Oechsle. It develops a slightly ripe nose of pear puree, herbs and spices. The wine is nicely playful and delicately infused with herbs on the palate and leaves a juicy feel in the direct and elegant finish. This is still reduced and will need some time to develop its full potential. 2026-2041.”
Now it’s even lower!
Cristom ‘Jessie Vineyard’ Pinot Noir, Eola-Amity Hills 2015 750ML ($69.95) Was $59, Now $49 Clearance Price
Josh Raynolds 94 points “Vivid red. Ripe red fruits, potpourri and a hint of blood orange on the assertively perfumed nose, lifted by a vibrant mineral quality. Silky and precise on the palate, offering alluringly sweet, spice-tinged cherry and raspberry liqueur flavors and a hint of five-spice powder. Becomes richer with air, with no loss of vibrancy, and finishes with powerful, spicy thrust, fine-grained tannins and an exotic floral pastille note that lingers with serious tenacity.”
Wine Advocate 94 points “Pale to medium ruby-purple, the 2015 Pinot Noir Jessie Vineyard is scented of kirsch, mulberries and raspberry tart with underlying Chinese five spice, hoisin and mossy bark hints. Medium-bodied, there’s a very seductive mid-palate of red berry and exotic spice flavors, supported by velvety tannins and just enough freshness, finishing with spicy layers.”
Diamond Creek Gravelly Meadow Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2015 750ML ($249.95) Was $225, Now $199 Clearance Price
James Suckling 96 points “The aromas of mint, blueberries and blackberries are very intense. Full-bodied, layered and softly textured; yet it delivers a firm and lightly chewy finish. Hot stones, too. This is a wine that will improve with three to four years of bottle aging.”
Winery notes: “Our second coolest micro-climate is our five-acre Gravelly Meadow vineyard. Originally a pre-historic river bed, this stony, gravelly soil drains rapidly and the vines struggle for moisture. Gravelly Meadow is our lowest yielding vineyard. The wines are described as “earthy, cedary, jammy and ripe blackberry with a spicy expansive finish.”
Diamond Creek Red Rock Terrace Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2015 750ML ($249.95) Was $225, Now $199 Clearance Price
James Suckling 97 points “This has amazing aromas of red licorice, tar, lead pencil, dark berries and blackberries. Full body, a very soft texture and fine-grained tannins. Lovely freshness and brightness. Sweet and sour underneath. A wine that gives such enjoyment already but it will improve nicely in the bottle.”
Connoisseurs Guide 97 points “One of the most consistent producers of collectable Cabernets over the years, Diamond Creek has come up big in 2015 with a brace of truly outstanding wines. At the very top of the list, the Red Rock Terrace bottling is a beautifully composed effort of extraordinary depth and focus. Its incisive, pure cassis qualities merge with perfectly fit elements of loam, stony soils, creamy oak and accents of raspberries, and never once does it trade in flamboyant ripeness. It is, in fact, a wine of remarkable polish and cohesion right down to the fine, seamlessly integrated tannins that afford it the structure to age for two decades if not more, and those fortunate few who manage to hide a few bottles away should not consider drinking even one until another six to ten years have passed”
Winery notes: “Red Rock Terrace, a warm microclimate, is 7 acres of north facing vineyard. The red tinted soil is high in iron content. The wine from Red Rock Terrace is the most accessible and earliest drinkable of all our wines. Our winemaker describes Red Rock Terrace as “having velvety tannins, rich and well balanced, medium dark ruby color with cherry, mint and black currant flavors.”
High Quality/High Value Super Tuscan
Arriving ETA March 2019:
Petrolo Torrione Valdarno di Sopra, Tuscany 2016 750ML ($31.95) $26 pre-arrival special
Case-6 Petrolo Torrione Valdarno di Sopra, Tuscany 2016 750ML ($179.95) $144 pre-arrival special (that’s only $24/bottle!)
James Suckling 95 points “Aromas of dried flowers, dried berries, cherries and hints of stones. Full-bodied, very firm and silky. An intense underlying energy of acidity and a lovely finish. 75% sangiovese, 20% merlot and 5% cabernet sauvignon. One of the best ever? Drink in 2020.”
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