K Vintners—New Releases and Subscriber Special; New Arrivals from Crowley, Niellon, Arnoux, plus Value Bordeaux, Brunello and More; High Scoring Hot Deals; New Reviews and More for 2016 Donnhoff
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K Vintners: New Releases
High Scoring, Powerful Syrah
Arriving Next Friday, September 22nd:
Subscriber New Release Special
On the following four wines (Klein, Morrison Lane, Ovide and The Deal):
Buy 6-11 bottles (solid or mixed) and receive a 5% discount!
Buy 12+ bottles (solid or mixed) and receive a 10% discount!
Discount will not appear in cart online, we will manually apply before finalizing your order.
Subscriber Special valid until 10:00AM Wednesday, September 20th
Charles Smith knows a thing or two about rockstars, and he ought to—he used to manage them. Then, one day, on a motorcycle trip, he rode through Walla Wall and was struck by the majesty of the terrain and the vineyards. Within a few years, he had returned to open a winery.
His first vintage was 1999 and he produced a mere 300 cases of Syrah under his label ‘K Vintners’ and the winery has grown by leaps and bounds since then. By our count, K makes more than 15 wines, most of them single vineyard Syrah, and that doesn’t count the several side projects he’s involved in.
At this point, K Vintners is one of the defining wineries for what might be the modern Washington style. The wines are big, rich, and ripe but polished. They show distinct differences between the vineyards and always have a hint of that savory, bacony quality that Syrah can bring to the table like nothing else. The only thing we can complain about is that we can’t carry them more often.
Arriving Next Friday, September 22nd:
Charles Smith K Vintners Klein Syrah, Walla Walla Valley 2014 750ML ($89.95) $79 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 96-99 points “Another candidate for the wine of the vintage will be the 2014 Syrah Klein, which comes from the rocky soils of the Klein Vineyard in Walla Walla. Possessing a liquid rock like character as well as lots of gunpowder, graphite, savory herbs, olives and background meatiness, it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a thick, unctuous texture, sweet tannin and terrific length. While it has tons of fruit and texture, it still has a concentrated core of fruit and serious underlying structure. It should benefit from short-term cellaring and keep for 10-15 years.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Charles Smith K Vintners Morrison Lane Syrah, Walla Walla Valley 2014 750ML ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 94+ points “The 2014 Syrah Morrison Lane Vineyard from Walla Walla offers a perfumed bouquet of incense, white pepper, plum and hoisin sauce, as well as full-bodied richness, building tannin and a great finish. It needs short term cellaring to integrate those tannin, but is an impressive Syrah.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Charles Smith K Vintners ‘Ovide’ Jack’s Vineyard Cabernet – Syrah, Walla Walla Valley 2014 750M ($69.95) $59 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 95 points “A new Walla Walla release, the 2014 Ovide Jack’s Vineyard is a gorgeous black fruit, black olive, dried herbs and chocolate layered beauty that has ultra-fine tannin, a seamless profile and a great finish. It has more elegance and purity than the Roma release, and is a beauty!”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Charles Smith K Vintners The Deal Sundance Vineyard Syrah, Columbia Valley 2014 750ML ($49.95) $39 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 95 points “Coming from the Wahluke slope and 100% Syrah fermented (all native) with no destemming and aged in 30% new 500-liter or larger barrels, the 2014 Syrah The Deal Sundance Vineyard has a killer bouquet of black pepper, currants, blueberries, graphite and dried herbs. Full-bodied, seamless, pure and with no hard edges, it is indeed a screaming “deal”!”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Also, we have this beauty in stock now, if you can’t wait till next week (not included in the Subscriber Special):
Charles Smith K Vintners ‘M.C.K. Motor City Kitty’ Syrah, Washington 2014 750ML ($39.95) $36 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-12 Charles Smith K Vintners ‘M.C.K. Motor City Kitty’ Syrah, Washington 2014 750ML ($479.95) $399 special, 4 cases in stock now
Wine Advocate 95 points “Named after a cat owned by Charles when he was living in Walla Walla, the 2014 M C K Syrah sports a deep purple color as well as ripe, decadent notes of black fruits, plums, graphite, crushed rock and licorice. Big, sexy, seamless and pure, with present, yet ripe tannin, drink it through 2024. It’s worth noting that this comes completely from the River Rock vineyard in this vintage. As usual, it’s a crazy value.”
Wine Enthusiast 93 points –Editors’ Choice–“This aromatically brooding wine brings aromas of brown stems, scorched earth, smoked meat, iron, violets, orange peel and blue and black fruit. The flavors coat the palate from end to end with silky soft, unabashedly appealing fruit and savory notes. It hits the delicious gong hard, with an enduring finish.”
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New Arrivals: Crowley, Niellon, Arnoux,
Value Bordeaux, Brunello and More!
Oregon:
Crowley Four Winds Vineyard Chardonnay, Willamette Valley 2015 750ML ($49.95) $41.90 special
Winery notes: “No matter the heat this wine never slows down. Four Winds Chardonnay comes off of a block of own-rooted Wente clone Chardonnay that was planted in 1990. Every vintage, Four Winds shows low alcohol, singing acid and a citrus nature. Twenty months in neutral barrel broadens the palate and bring a touch of sweet butter and sage.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Crowley Four Winds Vineyard Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2015 750ML ($51.95) $44 special
Winery notes: “Always our fastest selling single vineyard pinot! This unique, eleven acre site is nestled in the Coast Range foothills at 800-850′ elevation. Soils are shallow and predominantly Nekia (marine sedimentary) with a little Jory (volcanic). Our Four Winds Pinot comes from a block of own-rooted Pommard clone, it always has a linear nature with a tendency towards blue fruits and a fresh saline quality. That characteristic freshness combined with a brooding, dark quality and broad shoulders gives this vintage an exciting one-two punch.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Crowley La Colina Vineyard Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2015 750ML ($51.95) $44 special
Winery notes: “The very first vineyard to join our lineup in 2005! La Colina is perched on the Southwest corner of Dundee Hills at 550-600′ elevation. Soils are made up of red, volcanic Jory and it’s plated to Pommard and Wadenswil clone Pinot. Wines off this site are generous, showing red fruits (strawberry and especially cherry), baking spice and orange peel. The 2015 doubles down on the spice element with cardamom and sarsaparilla as well as black tea leaf from the soft tannins”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
France – White Burgundy:
Domaine Michel Niellon Les Chenevottes, Chassagne-Montrachet Premier Cru 2014 750ML ($79.95) $59 special
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 90-92 points “Bright, green-tinged pale yellow. Reticent aromas of lime, kiwi, white pepper and spicy oak show a medicinal reserve today. Tactile, dusty and very dry; shows excellent framing acidity and energy but seems less fruity than usual for this cuvée. Dense and seamless in the middle, then quite dry and a bit youthfully austere on the long back end.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Domaine Michel Niellon Clos Saint-Jean, Chassagne-Montrachet Premier Cru 2014 750ML ($79.95) $66 special
Wine Spectator 93 points “This hangs together, with peach, apple and lemon fruit shaded by vanilla and pastry accents. A good structure binds this all together, ending with crisp salinity. Best from 2018 through 2025.”
Domaine Michel Niellon Les Vergers, Chassagne-Montrachet Premier Cru 2014 750ML ($89.95) $69 special
Wine Spectator 93 points “A fine, cohesive white, whose peach, apple and spice flavors converge seamlessly with the plush texture. Still firm on the finish, which bodes well for future development. A lemon note lingers on the finish. Best from 2019 through 2027.”
Domaine Michel Niellon Clos de la Maltroie, Chassagne-Montrachet Premier Cru 2014 750ML ($79.95) $69 special
Wine Spectator 94 points “A powerful, viscous white, with floral, lemon oil and mineral notes. Delivers good acidity and a chalky sensation, leaving a juicy impression on the finish. Best from 2018 through 2028.”
Domaine Henri Gouges Bourgogne Pinot Blanc, Burgundy 2014 750ML ($39.95) $29 special
Estate note “[Translated] From a 0.7 hectare plot of Pinot Blanc located about 375 meters in altitude on a plateau in the AOC Cotes des Nuits. Planted on shallow and stony soil consisting of red clay, it produces whites that are genuine and aromatic. The vines are a selection massale from the Premier Cru Vineyard “La Perriere.””
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
France – Red Burgundy:
Domaine Arnoux-Lachaux Romanee-Saint-Vivant Grand Cru, Cote de Nuits 2014 750ML ($799.95) $699 special
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 93-96 points “(100% vendange entier; 80% new oak): Deep red-ruby. Alluring aromas of black raspberry, licorice and minerals show a noble, deep vegetal nuance that reminded me of a young Romanée-Conti. The youthfully unevolved middle palate displays the depth, pliancy and freshness of the vintage at its best. Finishes extremely long and ripely tannic, with palate-saturating sweetness and mineral pungency. These 90-year-old vines were originally planted by the father of Robert Arnoux, according to Pascal, who added that the estate’s vines in Suchots are even older, at 94.”
Burghound 95 points “An even more elegant nose of spicy and floral red and black pinot fruit is nuanced by subtle traces of sandalwood, Asian-style tea, soy and anise. There is fine concentration to the relatively powerful sappy and mouth coating flavors that are shaped by wonderfully fine-grained tannins on the hugely long, balanced and moderately austere finale. This terrific and notably powerful effort is also quite silky yet it should have zero difficulty rewarding at least 15 to 20 years of cellar time.”
Domaine Mongeard-Mugneret Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru, Cote de Nuits 2014 750ML ($179.95) $149 special
Wine Advocate 91+ points “The 2014 Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru comes from the domaine’s 0.63-hectares of 45- to 50-year-old vines located in the lieu dit “Grand Maupertui” and “Quatier des Marei Haut” close to the château. It has a punchy, redcurrant, cranberry and raspberry-scented bouquet with a touch of leather originating from the new oak that will need three or four years to fully integrate. The palate is medium-bodied with chewy tannin on the entry, good depth, quite muscular for a Clos Vougeot, but with impressive persistence on the finish. I still found myself wanting just a little more to come through, so afford this a few years in bottle.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Domaine Henri Gouges Nuits-Saint-Georges, Cote de Nuits 2014 750ML ($59.95) $49 special
Burghound 88-91 points “(from 4 different parcels scattered above and below the 1ers and the blend of vines averages about 35 years of age) A markedly sauvage nose reflects notes of dark berry fruit, spicy, violet and earth. The middle weight flavors possess an unusually sleek and velvety mouth feel before culminating in a mildly rustic finale.”
Neal Martin-Wine Advocate 88-90 points “The 2014 Nuits Saint-Georges Villages had just been racked and is planned to be bottled this coming December. Now this has fresh vibrant black cherry and blueberry fruit on the nose – vivacious and nicely defined. The palate is smooth on the entry with tart red cherries and cranberry, a touch of black tea in the background. Good acidity and respectable weight considering the vintage and that this is a village cru. Recommended.”
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 87-89 points “(in cuve):Bright medium red. Floral, spicy aromas of cherry and currant, plus a hint of menthol. Juicy and fine-grained, in a rather cool style. Still a bit hardened by the sulfur treatment ten days before my visit but in an elegant style for Nuits-Saint-Georges, offering lively flavors of red fruits, flowers and mint and a firm back end.”
Domaine Vincent & Sophie Morey Santenay Les Hates, Cote de Beaune 2014 750ML ($34.95) $27 special
Winery note “Clay-limestone soils with a southern, sloped exposure. 100% oak aged with 45% new wood. Great delicacy and a fine, long finish in the mouth.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
France – White Bordeaux:
Chateau d’Yquem ‘Y’ Ygrec, Bordeaux 2014 750ML ($199.95) $169 special
Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2014 Ygrec is a blend of 75% Sauvignon Blanc and 25% Semillon with seven grams per liter of residual sugar. It has an attractive nose with scents of nettle, dandelion, gooseberry and grass clippings, the Semillon taking a back seat to the Sauvignon Blanc at the moment. The palate is very well balanced with the 20% new oak nicely integrated (the remainder is matured in two-year-old Yquem barrels). It is very refined with lovely passion fruit and kumquat notes towards the second half where finally the Semillon makes its presence felt, with touches of brioche and lemongrass developing in the glass. What a gorgeous Ygrec.”
Wine Spectator 93 points “This has a gorgeous whiff of toast, with alluring shortbread, lemon curd and white peach flavors. The long, creamy finish lets echoes of clementine and honeysuckle drift through. Rounded and creamy overall, but plenty long. A beauty. Drink now through 2020.”
France – Red Bordeaux:
Chateau Gloria, Saint-Julien 2009 750ML ($69.95) $59 special
Robert Parker 93 points “Gloria has long been one of the most popular wines in America, but I do not believe they have ever made better wines than they have over the last decade, and the 2009 is one of their finest. While this estate is not a classified growth, it certainly performs like one in 2009. A dense ruby/purple color is accompanied by an expressive, flamboyant bouquet of black fruits, Christmas spices, licorice and roasted Provencal herbs. Fuller-bodied, more concentrated and extracted than most vintages with soft tannins, its low acidity and a sumptuous, plump style remind me of a modern day version of the 1982 (which is fully mature but still in great shape). The 2009 Gloria is a very smart purchase for those looking to maximize their buying power. In fact, this may be the value of the vintage.”
Chateau La Vieille Cure, Fronsac 2014 750ML ($27.95) $24 special
Antonio Galloni 92 points “The 2014 La Vieille Cure is soft, supple and radiant throughout. Succulent red cherry, sweet tobacco, raspberry and flowers all flesh out in a deep, expressive Fronsac endowed with real class. Bright fruit-toned fruit and lively acids give the 2014 its distinctive personality. The interplay of succulent fruit and lifted aromatics is compelling.”
Wine Spectator 92 points “Ripe and structured, this sports a vivid core of cassis and plum that races along, with fine-grained structure and light anise, bay and chalk notes hanging in the background. The long finish has cut and drive, with the cassis accent pushing through with determination. Rock-solid. Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. Best from 2018 through 2026.”
Chateau de Pressac, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru 2014 750ML ($39.95) $31.90 special
Antonio Galloni 92 points “A gorgeous wine, the 2014 de Pressac is dark, bold and voluptuous. Dark cherry, plum, bittersweet chocolate, smoke, lavender, sage and licorice all run through it. Deeply expressive, pliant and succulent, the 2014 will drink well with minimal cellaring. The dark, flamboyant style works beautifully here.The blend is 69% Merlot, 18% Cabernet Franc, 9% Cabernet Sauvignon plus dollops of Malbec and Carmenère. Tasted two times.”
Austria:
Weingut Hirsch Lamm Gruner Veltliner Erste Lage OTW Reserve Trocken, Kamptal 2015 750ML ($69.95) $49 special
Grapelive 94+ points “Johannes Hirsch’s Lamm Gruner is truly majestic. It’s a dense, dry and powerful Gruner Veltliner that is comparable to a Grosses Gewächs; it’s a gorgeous single Grand Cru trocken white with tremendous class and pedigree. Lamm has to be considered one of the greatest vineyards in Austria, and this wine shows why! This 2015 Lamm is richly and heavenly textured with silky finesse and vital energy, hiding its powerful engine under a velvet cushion with stunning concentration and the purest minerality with layers of lemon/lime, minty almond oil, white anise, white plum and crushed stones. The vineyard Lamm is set on a core of loess and mica with a sandy/brown rocky top soil which in years like 2015 give weight and depth, without sweetness or high alcohols, meaning you can have a masterpiece like this one is. This wine when open, transmits joyous harmony, pleasure throughout and subtly sprinkles in earth, spice and even a sweet/meatiness. It’s beautiful detailed and nervy or cat-like in a smooth leopard kind of way. This is greatness in the glass. Drink this Gruner Cru over the next 5 to 10 years, and be sure to check out all of the Hirsch 2015’s!”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Italy – Tuscany:
Altesino Montosoli, Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2012 750ML ($99.95) $77 special
James Suckling 97 points “Fantastic aromas of blueberries, plums, bark and wet earth follow through to a full body, velvety and polished tannins and a wonderful finish. Refined and persistent on the finish. Drink in 2019 and onwards.”
Wine Enthusiast 97 points– Cellar Selection – Top 20 Brunello “Balancing power and grace, this wine delivers alluring aromas and flavors of ripe black cherry, raspberry compote, grilled herb, licorice and tar. Vibrant acidity and firm, velvety tannins provide freshness and structure, while a hint of pipe tobacco closes the lingering finish. Drink 2020–2032.”
Wine Spectator 95 points “This finds good equilibrium between the ripe berry, cherry, tobacco, iron and tea notes. Firm and chewy, with hints of leather and under-brush on the long aftertaste. Best from 2021 through 2035.”
Podere Grattamacco Bolgheri Superiore, Bolgheri 2013 750ML ($89.95) $59 special
Wine Advocate 96 points “The first word that comes to mind when describing this wine is seamless. The 2013 Bolgheri Superiore Grattamacco offers a generous and forthcoming succession of dark fruit and spice-driven flavors that fit together like a long chain of pearls on a necklace. It’s impossible to taste where one flavor starts and the next one ends. That balanced and harmonious approach is evident in the mouth where it offers a silky, smooth and long textural impression. I suggest another few years of bottle aging before popping the cork on this beautiful blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot and 15% Sangiovese. This is no doubt the best wine from Grattamacco tasted in the past decade.”
San Filippo Le Lucere, Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2012 750ML ($89.95) $79 special
James Suckling 98 points “This is an incredible 2012 with fantastic depth, richness, focus and tension. Full body, polished tannins and a long and flavorful finish. Goes on for minutes. Better in 2020 but a joy to taste now. One of the wines of the vintage.”
Italy – Sicily:
Passopisciaro ‘Passorosso’ Terre Siciliane IGT, Sicily 2014 750ML ($49.95) $39 special
Ian D’agata–Vinous 97 points “Bright red-ruby. The captivating nose combines strawberry, raspberry, minerals, violet and flint aromas. Creamy-sweet but amazingly light on its feet, offering palate-staining, perfumed flavors of soft red berries, ripe red cherry, vanilla, aromatic herbs and crushed rock. Rich, ripe and suave, but displays a penetrating, saline and energetic quality that gives this beauty a three-dimensional mouthfeel and a light-on-its-feet quality. Finishes with great length and wonderfully polished tannins. Absolute knockout wine: from a memorable vintage on Etna, this is most likely the best Passorosso ever (in earlier vintages, it used to be called simply Passopisciaro). Mainly Nerello Mascalese.”
Portugal – Port:
Taylor Fladgate Vintage Port 1994 750ML ($219.95) $199 special
Wine Spectator 100 points “In a word, superb. It’s full-bodied, moderately sweet and incredibly tannic, but there’s amazing finesse and refinement to the texture, not to mention fabulous, concentrated aromas of raspberries, violets and other flowers. Perhaps the greatest Taylor ever, it’s better than either the ’92 or the ’70, though it’s very like the ’70 in structure.”
Fonseca Vintage Port, Portugal 2009 750ML ($119.95) $89 special
Wine Spectator 95 points “This is gorgeously vibrant and grapey, with good cut to the luscious dark fruit and cedar flavors that are flanked by zesty acidity and tannins. A touch brooding midpalate, with a minerally rush and a finish of slate and iron. Best from 2016 through 2036.”
W & J Graham’s Vintage Port 2007 750ML ($99.95) $79 special
Wine Spectator 96 points “Rich and chewy, with masses of blueberry, blackberry and raisin character. Full-bodied and very sweet, with a long, powerful finish. Big and juicy, with ultraripe fruit. Racy and full of class. Like cashmere in texture. Best after 2018.”
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Arriving Next Week
Perfectly Priced Point-Packed
Powerhouse Provisions
We’re always on the hunt for high scoring wines on great deals. If it’s got points and we can get it and offer it at the best price in the country, we’re all over it. We’ve got some amazing wines coming in next week at great deals. They’re for sale now and we don’t expect them to last very long.
Arriving Wednesday, September 22nd:
Clos Saint-Jean Chateauneuf-du-Pape Vieilles Vignes, Rhone 2014 750ML ($54.95) $38 pre-arrival special
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 92-94 points “Brilliant ruby. A powerfully scented bouquet evokes ripe red and dark berries, incense and pungent flowers, and a smoky Indian spice nuance builds in the glass. Fleshy and broad on entry and then tighter in the middle, offering juicy, concentrated black raspberry and boysenberry flavors given spine by juicy acidity. Rich yet energetic, finishing with outstanding clarity and sweet persistence and shaped by smooth tannins.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $50
Super Substance ‘Cs’ Stoneridge Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley 2013 750ML ($54.95) $39 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2013 Super Substance Cabernet Sauvignon Stoneridge has a sexy profile (compared to the Merlot Stoneridge) and has amble black currants, licorice, graphite and spice to go with medium to full-bodied richness, ultra-fine tannin, solid mid-palate concentration and a great finish. Like all of the wines here, the winemaking is impeccable and while this can be enjoyed in its youth, it will have 15+ years of longevity as well.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $49.99
Clos i Terrasses Clos Erasmus, Priorat DOCa 2014 750ML ($219.95) $149 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 97 points “There is a little more Syrah in the blend of the 2014 Clos Erasmus, where it reached around 30% to complement the majority of Garnacha. As is the norm, the wine matured for some 18 months before bottling, with most of the volume in French oak barrels, 40% of which are renewed each vintage, but there are also one or two amphorae. I tasted it next to the 2013 and as the 2013 required so much attention, it took some time to get to the 2014. It showed a bit shy at first, but when I finally came back to it, I found that it had really blossomed with a mixture of violets, ground, smoky meat and black raspberries. The slight increase in Syrah was noticeable, but it somehow also seemed to increase the voice of the slate in the bottle. The palate is medium to full-bodied with terrible balance and elegance combined with inner strength. This is simply terrific. 3,000 bottles were filled at the end of May 2016.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $169.95
The average price is $198
Clos i Terrasses Clos Erasmus ‘Laurel’, Priorat DOCa 2014 750ML ($54.95) $39 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 95 points “I was really blown away by the aromatics of the 2014 Laurel. As soon as I put my nose in the glass I was transported to the vineyards of Gratallops, with a blast of wild herbs and flowers followed by a stream of smoked meat, juicy red currants and raspberries. It is mostly Garnacha but with some 10% each Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon. The grapes are cooled down during the night and in the morning some are destemmed, and some others are left with the stems on and fermented mostly with indigenous yeasts. The élevage here is one year in a combination of used oak barrels, oak vats, cement and amphorae. They have increased the volume of wine being raised in amphorae in this 2014. This might very well be the finest Laurel to date.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $51
Bernabeleva Arroyo del Tortolas, Madrid 2014 750ML ($41.95) $26 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 94 points “The single vineyard Garnacha 2014 Arroyo del Tórtolas reminded me of the outstanding 2012. This is always sourced from a north-facing slope at 800 meters altitude that always has a slower ripening. And, in 2014, it seems to have ripened to perfection as the nose is explosive, and the palate has supreme elegance, very fine tannins and focused, clean and delineated flavors with refined tannins and a very lengthy finish. This is a little headier, developing more notes of cherries in liqueur that transported me to the best wines of Châteauneuf du Pape. This is super tasty… The Château Rayas of Bernabeleva? At this price, it’s a steal!”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $33.46
The average price is $40
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2016 Donnhoff
New GrapeLive Review and More Pre-Arrivals
The 2016 vintage looks to be the perfect follow up to the heralded 2015’s. After an epic year, we’re looking for wines that show their best stuff up front and boy do the 2016’s. These are some seriously fun wines to drink now. If the 2015’s are the highbrow chef who wows you with his brilliance, the 2016’s are that friend you have that throws all the great parties. You drink these wines and feel relaxed, at home and instantly love the food or people you’re drinking them with 15% more.
Grapelive, one of our favorite reviewers, just posted this on-the-nose review of the Donnhoff Kreuznacher Krotenpfuhl Kabinett (as tempting as it is to abbreviate that one, it has, well, poor initials). The Spatlese and Auslese from Donnhoff tend to get a ton of love, but we (and Grapelive) really enjoy the quality and value that are in the lower end bottlings.
Arriving ETA October:
Weingut Donnhoff Kreuznacher Krotenpfuhl Riesling Kabinett, Nahe 2016 750ML ($27.95) $20.90 pre-arrival special
Grapelive 92 points “Grown on a mix of Loess and Quartzite, the bright and crystal clear Donnhoff Kreuznacher Krotenpfuhl 2016 Kabinett Riesling shows wonderful vibrancy and refreshing form with a crisp minerally dry feel on the palate with only the faintest hint of sweetness giving a subtle generous expansion. There is a stunning almost raw sunlight gold hue and a lovely mix of white flowers, kumquat, lime and yellow peach that unfolds with the first sip along with saline, wet stones, verbena and apple skin. Vivid acidity matches the Kabinett’s natural sugar perfectly, and at 8.5% this lighter style Riesling is easy to quaff, but still with enough complexity to you savor every moment of this classic Nahe. These German 2016’s are such great wines, especially Donnhoff’s lineup, and it will be a vintage to stock up on, in particular I have found the Kabinett and Feinherb wines to be thrilling little Rieslings that offer lots of value and charming detail, drinking drier that you’d expect at this point and can be enjoyed right away. This wine really turned on the style with food, I had it with a light Asian curry noodle dish, but it also would go well with most anything cuisine you throw at it.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
We have 13 more 2016 Donnhoff wines available for order on our website, here are a few other highlights:
Weingut Donnhoff Kreuznacher Kahlenberg Riesling Trocken, Nahe 2016 750ML ($37.95) $31.90 pre-arrival special
Terry Theise note: “This wine is oh so pretty and has such a calm tranquil demeanor that you don’t notice its complexity at first. There’s fragrances of plum and fresh ocean fish leading to a slightly singed spice note that even harkens to paprika. An endearing and interesting dry Riesling showing the clement nature of the site.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Weingut Donnhoff Niederhauser Hermannshohle Riesling Spatlese, Nahe 2016 750ML ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival special
Terry Theise note “For many people this is a ne plus ultra of Riesling, and they’ll be happy to hear that ’16 is a firm and herbal version of a classic for which the typical descriptors apply. But what you can’t describe is the moment – and there’s always a moment—when the love overcomes your resistance, your doubt or your fear, and you let yourself fall; finally someone sees you, your cells are urging toward her, and hoo boy, this could be bliss; watch out… here goes.”
Weingut Donnhoff Oberhauser Leistenberg Riesling Kabinett, Nahe 2016 750ML ($27.95) $21.90 pre-arrival special
Terry Theise note “All previously used adjectives apply! Slatey and smoky, a glory vintage of a great beauty. A 2008 we drank last Fall brought us to our knees, and Helmut’s been presenting unwary visitors with a 1990 vintage, which is a stunning wine from this “unexceptional” vineyard.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Thanks for reading!