Weekend VinopolPick – Sat March 14

Spring Arrived Friday!

Ameztoi Rose Available Here Now!

Ameztoi Rubentis Rosado, Getariako Txakolina 2014 750ML ($24.95)

$21.90 special, 24 bottles available
Case-12 Ameztoi Rubentis Rosado, Getariako Txakolina 2014 750ML ($249.95) $219 special (that’s only $18.25/bottle!), 3 cases availableNo reviews yet on this vintage, but these reviews of the prior two vintages:
Ameztoi Rubentis Rosado, Getariako Txakolina 2013
Josh Raynolds – Vinous Media 91 points “Light, lurid pink. Fresh red berries and white flowers on the mineral-driven nose, with a touch of orange zest adding interest. Nervy, focused and pure, offering vibrant, lightly bubbly red berry and citrus zest flavors sharpened by bright minerality. Finishes bright, crisp and long, with emphatic repeating notes of red berries and dusty minerals. A bottle of this wine always disappears quickly. (50% hondarribi beltza and 50% hondarribi zurri)”
Ameztoi Rubentis Rosado, Getariako Txakolina 2012
Josh Raynolds – Vinous Media 92 points “Pale pink. Potent mineral and floral aromas of raspberry, cherry pit and blood orange, with a touch of white pepper coming up with air. Dry, racy and precise, offering bitter orange zest and cherry flavors and a touch of honeysuckle. Very fresh and energetic on the finish, offering sexy floral and spicecake qualities. A double magnum seems like the ideal single-serving portion for this ridiculously delicious wine.”

Arriving March 27th

Ameztoi Txakoli di Getaria Hondarribi Zuri White, Getariako Txakolina 2014 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 pre-arrival special
Case-12 Ameztoi Txakoli di Getaria Hondarribi Zuri White, Getariako Txakolina 2014 750ML ($249.95) $219 pre-arrival special (that’s only $18.25/bottle!)

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Giovanni Neri founded Casanova di Neri in 1971 and passed it on to his son, Giacomo Neri, in 1991.  The family owns seven vineyards (155 acres).  Each vineyard has the sandy soil common throughout Montalcino.  Fiesole is their oldest holding, one of their main sources for their Brunello di Montalcino grapes.  Cerretalto, a 1986 acquisition, is home to their single vineyard release, referred to as a selezione in Italian.  These vines are careful managed to ensure low yields.  The selezione is produced only during excellent years.  Although it is not required for a selezione to be aged as a riserva, Casanova di Neri does age theirs for the additional time.

The Casanova di Neri estate grows mostly Sangiovese as well as olives and chestnuts.  Vines range in age from 18 to 50 years.  The grapes from their harvest are hand-sorted and completely de-stemmed.  Fermentation takes place in open stainless steel vats with temperature control.  Oak aging is done in Slovenian and French barrels in their underground cellar.

Their wines are hailed by industry professionals for their elegance and ageability. While some would categorize them as ‘modern’ styled, their trademark richness was in place before Giacomo Neri took over from his father in 1991. Their 2001 Brunello Tenuta Nuova was named the top wine in 2006 by Wine Spectator.  Although Brunellos are highly versatile with foods, we’d suggest to try pouring  with roasted pork with thyme, rosemary and juniper to bring out its herbal notes or rabbit and pappardelle, as the Montalcinesi do.  And, if at all possible, we’d suggest that you age some of your bottles, or access some aged bottles. While they deliver their money’s worth young, they really do have extra dimensions that reveal themselves over time.

Arriving June 2015

Casanova di Neri Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2010 750ML ($69.95) $49 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 96 points “The outstanding 2010 Brunello di Montalcino gives you everything you want to see in a great wine, a great Tuscan wine. This monumental expression of Sangiovese delivers top-notch intensity with seamless integration of aromas. They span from dark fruit and Morello cherry to chocolate, spice, licorice, balsam herb and rosemary sprig. The energy and vitality of the vintage is locked perfectly within. This Brunello exhibits especially soft, silky tannins with long persistence and momentum. There is nothing out of place and the price tag is certainly not exaggerated for this level of excellence.” WA

Casanova di Neri Cerretalto, Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2008 750ML ($279.95) $199 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 94 points “The 2008 Brunello di Montalcino Cerretalto comes from a more challenging vintage for Casanova di Neri with a cooler growing season and more moisture. In fact, the mouthfeel here is noticeably thinner compared to the stunning wines made from this vineyard in 2007 and 2006. Cerretalto is so immensely soft and luscious it is almost too much of a good thing. Rich spice, cherry, chocolate and crushed granite wrap thickly around the palate. Drink: 2017-2026.” WA

Arriving March 19th

Casanova di Neri Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2009 750ML ($59.95) $39 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2009 Brunello di Montalcino is an impressive and impeccable wine that delivers a slow and sensual progression on the palate. Along the way, it leaves a steady stream of ripe fruit, spice, tobacco, licorice and balsam herb that is both impactful and vibrant. The wine’s aromas are very well-delineated, clean and never color outside the lines. The textural fabric of the wine is velvety and rich, thanks to a long 43 months in oak. Having had the opportunity to taste many older vintages of Giacomo’s wines, I find that they possess a great capacity for cellar aging. Drink: 2016-2026” WA

Casanova di Neri Tenuta Nuova, Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2009 750ML ($89.95) $59 pre-arrival special
Stephen Tanzer 93 points “Vivid red. Multidimensional nose offers captivating aromas of raspberry, sour red cherry, redcurrant, brown sugar, cinnamon and minerals, lifted by a strong note of fresh citrus fruit. Vibrant flavors of red and black fruits, pink peppercorn and sweet spices are wonderfully pure and juicy. This sneakily concentrated yet refined wine shows a rare blend of power and delicacy and finishes extremely long, with very fine-grained tannins and truly mind-blowing purity of small red fruits and violet. Impeccable balance only adds to its star qualities. One of the best young Tenuta Nuovas I have ever tried and it’s also one of the two or three best Brunellos of the vintage.” ST

Casanova di Neri Wine Available Here Now

Casanova di Neri Cerretalto, Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2006 750ML ($279.95) $219 special, 5 bottles available
James Suckling 99 points “Aromas of ripe strawberries, sandalwood, and flowers follow though to a full body, with soft tannins and a fruity finish. This is so long and gorgeous, with intense fruit and a defined and beautiful structure. Amazing fruit at the finish. Gorgeous now, but will age beautifully. The palate builds and show such depth. So wonderful now, but better in 2015.”

Georges DuBoeuf is the most recognizable name associated with Beaujolais.  He comes from a historic wine-making family from the Macon.  In 1957, he organized a syndicate of winemakers in Beaujolais, which he eventually reformed as a negociant business.  He pioneered temperature controlled winemaking, use of stainless steel and early bottling – helping to ignite the Beaujolais Nouveau craze.  Today, his name is on 15% of Beaujolais wines bottled and he sells wine from several regions throughout France.  Duboeuf and his chief winemaker, Denis Lapalu, work closely with over 400 growers to source some of the best quality fruit from each region.  His label is known for consistency, quality and excellent value.

His premium Beaujolais appellation wines include the Flower label, single-vineyard and Domaine bottlings.  The line was launched in 1964 and today is overseen by his son, Franck.  Below, we feature two select highlighs from the Morgon cru: Domaine des Versauds and Jean-Ernest Descombes.  The Domaine des Versauds has been family owned since the 18th century.  The wine is aromatic, typically showing notes of kirsch and sherry.  The Jean-Ernest Descombes is named for the father of the current owner, Nicole.  Jean-Ernest was an avid supporter of the Morgon cru and his family estate is composed of mostly old vines.  The wine is typically dark, with notes of blackcurrant, plum and purple flowers.

Georges DuBeouf Beaujolais Available Here Now

Georges Duboeuf Domaine Jean-Ernest Descombes Morgon, Beaujolais 2011 750ML ($17.95) $9.90 special
Case-12 Georges Duboeuf Domaine Jean-Ernest Descombes Morgon, Beaujolais 2011 750ML ($179.95) $99 special (that’s only $8.25/bottle!)
Wine Spectator 91 points “Like berries freshly picked on a summer day, the raspberry and strawberry notes here are ripe and pure, mixing with hints of pekoe tea leaf, mineral, ground anise and damson preserves. An elegant and balanced version. Drink now through 2018.” WS

Georges Duboeuf Domaine des Versauds Morgon, Beaujolais 2011 750ML ($17.95) $11.90 special
Wine Advocate 91 points “Reflecting more than 40 years’ collaboration spanning three generations of the Poulard family, Duboeuf’s 2011 Morgon Domaine des Versauds combines ripe black raspberry with beet root for a sweet and earthy palate presence tinged with a bite of black pepper and hints of peat, black tea and smoked meat that contribute to a mouthwateringly savory and invigorating finish. There is a positive sense of extract or density here yet infectious juiciness and buoyancy, too. Hints of iris and wet stone in the empty glass add to the imposing complexity offered by this extraordinary value. Enjoy it through at least 2015.” WA

Delas Cotes du Ventoux 2013 750ML ($14.95) $11.90 special
Case-12 Delas Cotes du Ventoux 2013 750ML ($149.95) $119 special (that’s only $9.92/bottle!)
Wine Spectator–Best Values 88 points “A racy, juicy version, offering mouthwatering damson plum, loganberry and red licorice notes, studded with hints of pepper and tobacco. A briary hint adds range on the finish. Drink now.” WS

CALIFORNIA
Scholium Project ‘MSL – Marcher Sur la Lune’ Bokisch Ranches Vineyard Reserve Verdelho 2009 750ML ($29.95) Was $18, Now $14, 11 bottles available
(Verdelho) Barrel and Skin contact. “They crushed the majority of the fruit to press and captured the juice in a wooden fermenter. They reserved about a fifth of the harvest and destemmed but did not press it. Whole berries; no stems, but all of the skin and seeds. When they had finished pressing, they shoveled in the destemmed fruit. As the fermentation progressed, the fruit would float to the surface, and they would perform a pumpover to make sure that it integrated with the juice, and the the developing wine extracted tannins from the skins and seeds. The result is a wine no less pleasurable but in fact more so: more so for its rigor, definition, and subtle power. You do not taste skins or seeds– this is purely a white wine, but you sense their place in the structure of the wine. 285 cases produced”

Scholium Project La Severita di Bruto Farina Vineyards Sonoma County 2009 750ML ($39.95) Was $29, Now $19, 13 bottles available
“LSB is our most conventional wine, if one asks solely about means of production, technique. Most of the juice is whole cluster pressed; some is crushed to press, none is affected by maceration or skin fermentation. The fruit itself is Sauvignon Blanc, a kind of vanilla ice-cream among grape cultivars. The wine ferments in neutral oak barrels of standard size; sometimes up to half of it ferments and ages in stainless steel barrels; but that is hardly unconventional. SO2 is used liberally but not wildly to suppress malo-lactic fermentation and preserve freshness.The wine is bottled after a year, while it is still fresh, not oxidized at all nor affected by post-fermentation microbes.”

FRANCE-BURGUNDY
Jacky Truchot Les Sentiers Chambolle-Musigny Premier Cru 2005 750ML ($899.95) Was $799, Now $599, 3 bottles available
Wine Advocate 91 points “Truchot’s 2005 Chambolle-Musigny Les Sentiers smells of fresh plum, black cherry, high-toned cherry distillate, almond extract, pungent ginger, cardamom, and raw meat. In the mouth, an infectious juiciness of fresh fruit combines with subtle creaminess of texture. Notes of tar and brown spices accent the fresh black fruits, chalky minerality and persistently bloody meat in the finish. This is classic Truchot: elegance, refinement, lift and satiny texture are allied to extract and subtle yet resilient tannins. It is bound to age longer and reveal more facets than anyone not already familiar with this estate would expect.” W&S

Jacky Truchot Charmes-Chambertin Grand Cru Vieilles Vignes 2005 750ML ($899.95) Was $799, Now $699, 1 bottle available
Wine Advocate 95 points “The purity, intensity and clarity of finishing fruit is striking. From vines planted in 1920 (in Mazoyeres), the 2005 Charmes-Chambertin Vieilles Vignes is as high in alcohol – at around 13.5% – as wine from this (or for that matter any other) vintage at Truchot gets. Like this year’s Sentiers, it only finished malo in December, which surprised Truchot who is used to early malos. Meat, cedar, licorice and distilled plum aromas usher in a palate of refinement but underlying firmness, displaying blueberries, tiny purple plums and spiced meats. The finish grips with vividly fresh, spiced fruit, and salty minerality, building simultaneously with deep, rolling bass-tones of steamed stones, roasted game, and beef marrow. This seems not to be suffering from the bottling, but you can be sure it will take some years before it really displays its potential, which should encompass at least two decades of ageworthiness.” WA

Jacky Truchot Clos de la Roche Grand Cru Vieilles Vignes 2005 750ML ($1,199.95) Was $999, Now $799, 1 bottle available
Wine Advocate 94 points “Truchot’s 2005 Clos de la Roche Vieilles Vignes (his main parcel of 70-year-old vines being in the “true”original vineyard of this name) smells of lightly-cooked cherry compote, brown spices and resin. Clear, pure cherry fruit on the palate is underlain by diverse stony, dusty mineral nuances. This is smoother, creamier, more polished but less gripping than the Charmes, with suggestions of mocha and cocoa powder emerging amid the rich fruit, meat stock and stone soup in the long, soothing finish. It will drink beautifully sooner than the Charmes but as evidenced by its many illustrious predecessors will be no less long-lived.” WA

Jacky Truchot Aux Combottes Vieilles Vignes, Gevrey-Chambertin Premier Cru 2005 750ML ($899.95) Was $799, Now $599, 3 bottles available

Jacky Truchot Morey-Saint-Denis Vieilles Vignes 2005 750ML ($799.95) Was $699, Now $499, 3 bottles available
Wine Advocate 88+ points “Truchot sold off his crops of village-level Chambolle and Gevrey but bottled a 2005 Morey-St.-Denis from parcels near the route nationale that displays alluring aromas of incense, baking spices, plum, black cherry and smoked meat. In the mouth this offers satisfying smoothness and attractive sweet fruit and spiciness, and it finishes with quite silken length.” WA

Jacky Truchot Les Blanchards, Morey-Saint-Denis Premier Cru 2005 750ML ($899.95) Was $799, Now $599, 3 bottles available
Wine Advocate 91 points “There are only 150 cases of Truchot’s 2005 Morey-St.-Denis Les Blanchards, which offers pungent incense and resin along with high toned almond and pistachio and pure, sweetly ripe plum and black cherry. On the palate, this displays the anticipated creaminess and refinement of tannin, along with the most overt chalkiness of any of the wines here today. (The site is so rich in clay, Truchot says, that the horses used to get stuck plowing it.)” WA

Jacky Truchot Clos Sorbes Vieilles Vignes, Morey-Saint-Denis Premier Cru 2005 750ML ($899.95) Was $799, Now $599, 1 bottle available
Wine Avocate 90+ points “The 2005 Morey-St.-Denis Clos Sorbe Vieilles Vignes was bottled the day I tasted. The nose shows ripe plum, cassis, brown spices, black tea and resin. Sweet nuttiness and marrowy meatiness well up on the palate, perfectly complimenting this wine’s creamy, fat-rich texture. The finish is amazingly long and satisfying under the circumstances. One is never in doubt with Truchot’s wines that the tannins are sublimated, but not absent, and this will cellar nicely for at least 12-15 years.” WA

Jacky Truchot Les Ruchots, Morey-Saint-Denis Premier Cru 2005 750ML ($899.95) Was $799, Now $599, 3 bottles available

Domaine Maillard Pere et Fils Corton Renardes Grand Cru 2002 750ML ($139.95) Was $119, Now $99, 1 bottle available
Wine Spectator 90 points “Gamy and untamed, with a core of cherry and mineral backed by a firm structure. A traditional style, with little, if any, new oak. Ripe and unevolved; wait for the charms to be revealed. Best from 2007 through 2015.” WS

Domaine Maillard Pere et Fils Corton Renardes Grand Cru 2005 750ML ($199.95) Was $149, Now $119, 3 bottles available 

Domaine Maillard Pere et Fils Corton Renardes Grand Cru 1996 750ML ($199.95) Was $149, Now $119, 1 bottle available
Wine Spectator 90 points “Gorgeous fruit. Black raspberries, cherries and spice comingle in this elegant, silky ’96. Everything is there in the right proportions, including ripe, fine tannins and a lingering finish. Very forward and accessible.” WS

Louis Jadot Batard-Montrachet Grand Cru 2012 750ML ($359.95) Was $279, Now $249, 4 bottles available
Wine Advocate 90-92 points “The 2012 Batard-Montrachet Grand Cru has a richer, more tropical-scented bouquet compared to the Bienvenue. The palate is smooth and rounded, rich and mellifluous in the mouth with a long, seductive finish that needs just a little more tension and poise.” WA

Domaine des Comtes Lafon Charmes Meursault Premier Cru 2009 750ML ($259.95) Was $219, Now $199, 2 bottles available
Burghound 92-94 points “Aromatically, this is almost a hypothetical blend of the Genevrières and the Goutte d’Or but here there is even more intensity to the mineral-inflected medium-bodied flavors that evidence really lovely purity of expression on the explosive and driving finish. This is clearly a Charmes from the upper part of the vineyard as there is none of the borderline excessive generosity of the lower portion.”BH

Thibault Liger-Belair Clos Vougeot Grand Cru 2011 750ML ($199.95) Was $166, Now $149, 4 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 92-94 points “Bright, dark red-ruby.  Vibrant aromas of blackberry, licorice and wild herbs, along with a smoky carbon suggestion.  Densely packed and highly concentrated, with a firm tannic spine giving shape and definition to the fresh dark berry flavors.  Plenty of stuffing here for balance but this very closed wine will probably need up to a decade of bottle aging to blossom.” ST

Louis Latour Chateau Corton Grancey Grand Cru 2005 750ML ($119.95) Was $99, Now $89, 7 bottles available
Burghound 90-93 points “A very subtle touch of wood frames a spicy red berry fruit nose that dissolves into rich, full, well-muscled and sweet flavors that possess a good deal more volume and while the mid-palate is supple and round, the finish has the firmness that one expects from a big Corton. There is much better balance here and this should age well.” BH

Louis Latour Chateau Corton Grancey Grand Cru 2008 750ML ($119.95) Was $89, Now $79, 11 bottles available
Burghound 89-92 points “Mild wood influence does not compromise the transparency of the fresh and earthy red pinot fruit nose that exhibits a slight sauvage character that can also be found on the energetic, detailed and tautly muscled middle weight flavors that possess good richness and more refinement than usual on the serious, long and linear finish where a touch of austerity can also be seen.” BH

FRANCE-BORDEAUX
Chateau Le Gay Pomerol 2009 750ML ($199.95) Was $149, Now $119, 7 bottles available
Robert Parker 96+points “Tiny yields of 25 hectoliters per hectare and a final blend of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc have produced an enormously concentrated, black/purple-colored wine exhibiting notes of roasted meats, smoked game, blackberries, coffee, incense and forest floor. This distinctive, large-scaled, viscous, thick Pomerol may be as concentrated as some of this estate’s all-time classics (1947 and 1950). I am puzzled by why I could not see this a few years ago. In any event, this is one of the most profound Le Gay’s ever produced. Forget it for at least a decade and drink it over the following half century.” RP

Chateau Leoville-Las Cases ‘Grand Vin de Leoville du Marquis de Las Cases’, Saint-Julien 2010 750ML ($399.95) Was $379, Now $299, 2 bottles available
Wine Spectator 98 points “*Collectibles* Stunning and pure from the get-go, with intense cassis and blackberry fruit. Ultimately takes a slightly austere approach, with a wrought-iron structure driving along while pastis, black tea, licorice snap and asphalt notes course underneath. Long and loaded with grip, this remains remarkably fine-grained. A very chiseled Cabernet that is wonderfully precise and incredibly long. Best from 2020 through 2040.” WS

FRANCE-LOIRE
Domaine Pierre Luneau-Papin Muscadet Sevre-et-Maine Sur Lie ‘Le L d’Or’ 1999 750ML ($69.95) Was $59, Now $49, 11 bottles available
Wine Enthusiast 92 points “The granite soil of the vineyard is dominant in this textured, mineral wine with its kerosene aroma and its taut, almost austere acidity. While the primary fruit has gone, this is still nowhere near mature, a wine that shows considerable freshness, life, potential.” WE

ITALY
Masi Campolongo di Torbe, Amarone della Valpolicella Classico 2001 750ML ($149.95) $99 special, 19 bottles available
Wine Advocate 91 points “The 2001 Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Superiore Campolongo di Torbe reveals notable complexity in its suggestions of leather, spices, plums, prunes and roasted coffee beans. As one might rightfully expect of a wine of this age, the fruit is no longer vibrant, yet the wine possesses terrific length and finessed tannins. This could almost be mistaken for a mature Burgundy.”WA

Coelho Winery Paciencia Estate Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2011 750ML ($49.95) Was $33, Now $29 
Stephen Tanzer 89 points

Au Sommet Atlas Peak Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2009 750ML ($299.95) $129 special
Wine Enthusiast 94 points
Araujo Estate Eisele Vineyard Syrah, Napa Valley 2004 750ML ($179.95) Was $149, now $79
Wine Advocate 92 points

Chateau Climens, Barsac 2004 375ML ($59.95) Was $49, Now $29
Wine Spectator 92 points

Domaine Comte Abbatucci ‘CN’ Cuvee Collection Rouge, Corsica, Vin de France NV 750ML ($84.95) Was $71.90, Now $69
2011 Base Vintage
Wine Advocate 90 points

Domaine Marc Colin et Fils Santenay Vieilles Vignes Rouge 2011 750ML ($34.95) $27 special
Domaine Rene Leclerc Griotte-Chambertin Grand Cru, Cote de Nuits 2010 750ML ($149.95) $119 special
Domaine Blain-Gagnard Morgeot, Chassagne-Montrachet Premier Cru 2009 750ML ($79.95) Was $69, Now $49
Wine Advocate 91 points
Domaine Jean-Marc Boillot Carelle Sous La Chapelle, Volnay Premier Cru 2011 750ML ($89.95) Was $79, Now $69
Stephen Tanzer 90 points
Francois Carillon Les Referts, Puligny-Montrachet Premier Cru 2011 750ML ($89.95) $69 special
Burghound 90-93 points

Pierre-Marie Chermette Domaine du Vissoux Moulin-a-Vent Les Trois Roches, Beaujolais 2012 750ML ($29.95) $21.90 special

Azelia di Luigi Scavino ‘San Rocco’, Barolo DOCG 2010 750ML ($89.95) Was $71.90, now $66
Antonio Galloni 96 points

Marchesi Antinori Solaia Toscana IGT, Tuscany 2010 750ML ($299.95) Was $249, now $189
Antonio Galloni 97+ points, Wine Advocate 97 points
Cerbaiona di Diego Molinari Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2008 750ML ($199.95) Was $140, Now $115
Antonio Galloni 93+ points

Weingut A.J. Adam Piesporter Goldtropfchen Riesling Grosses Gewachs, Mosel 2012 750ML ($99.95) Was $69, Now $59

As Champagne ages in bottle, it develops complex aromas often described as being savory or nutty, earthy (think white truffles) or minerally.  Aged Champagne trades the bright fruitiness of youth and some of the fizziness for more complex and opulent aromas and finer bubbles.  One of the most incredible aspects of these mature wines is their ability to pair with difficult foods: foie gras, truffles, garlicky dishes and even umami-rich Asian foods.

Below is our list of Champagnes available now that are at least nine years old.  Looking for a younger Champagne option?  Visit our website to browse the 120+ offerings available here now.

Special Aged Champagne Highlight – Just Re-Arrived!

Dom Perignon P2 Plenitude Brut 1998 750ML ($399.95) $299 special, 6 bottles available
Wine Spectator 98 points “Offers precision and finely detailed form, powered by an expansive palate of flavor. The layers of ripe crushed blackberry and glazed apricot fruit complement the saline-tinged minerality and oyster shell notes, graced by hints of pastry, honeycomb and exotic spice. Mouthwatering and persistent on the zesty finish. Drink now through 2030.” WS
James Suckling 97 points “A P2 release indicating it has been matured to the 2nd Plenitude, the middle stage of Dom Perignon’s three-phase life as defined by Richard Geoffroy. This is a wine with some real tension between complexity and freshness that makes for incredibly engaging drinking. The nose offers up a little white peppery edge from the pinot; oyster shell saline freshness, red florals, sweet smelling woody spices and brioche, spiced biscuits and subtle roasted coffee notes – impressively complex. The phenolics register on the palate as a discreetly mineral, saline character, there’s sorbet-like texture through the middle before finishing with comet-like line and length.” JS

Mature Champagnes Available Here Now – By Vintage

Alfred Gratien Brut 1997 750ML ($199.95) $149 special, 7 bottles available
Wine Advocate 93 points “Gratien’s 1997 Brut Millesime impresses for its direct, frank personality and huge fruit. An infant today, the 1997 is surprising for its youth. The aromas and flavors remain quite primary in this rich, vibrant Champagne. Frankly, I am amazed the 1997 is so backward. I would never have expected it. Readers should drink the 1999 and 1998 before looking to the 1997 for pleasure. I can’t wait to see how the 1997 develops. Today it is flat-out striking. The 1997 is 66% Chardonnay, 24% Pinot Noir and 10% Pinot Meunier. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2025. ” WA

Alfred Gratien Brut 1998 750ML (199$.95) $159 special, 7 bottles available
Wine Advocate 94 points “A relatively rich, broad shouldered wine, the 1998 Brut Millesime is showing beautifully. Here the aromas and flavors have begun to develop the early hints of tertiary complexity, making the 1998 a great choice for drinking today. Suggestions of white truffles, apricot jam, hazelnuts, hard candy and dried flowers wrap around the gorgeous, striking finish. The 1998 is 60% Chardonnay, 20% Pinot Noir and 20% Pinot Meunier. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2020.” WA

Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin La Grande Dame Brut Rose 1998 750ML ($319.95) $219 special, 4 bottles available
Wine Spectator 93 points “Exotic notes of toasted coconut and rum spice accent this fresh and elegant rosé, while flavors of macerated cherry and plum, pastry and pomegranate ride the delicate texture. Graceful, with a mouthwatering finish. Drink now through 2020.” WS

Dom Perignon Brut 1999 750ML ($219.95) $189 special, 16 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer & Antonio Galloni 93 points “Green-tinted gold. Tightly wound lime and pink grapefruit aromas open slowly to reveal a gently smoky mineral and floral character, with a light kiss of green cardamom adding interest. Very fresh on the palate, with youthful citrus and green apple flavors giving way to slightly riper blood orange and pear. Finishes firm and dry, with serious grip. This only hints at its potential, and I’d advise anyone drinking it for what’s in the bottle rather than on the label to stash it away for at least another five years, minimum.” ST

Deutz Cuvee William Deutz Brut 2000 750ML ($145.95) $99 special, 28 bottles available
Wine Enthusiast 95 points “Deutz’s top cuvée is as good as ever. Bottle aging has helped it to throw off its youthful awakwardness and develop a rounded, ripe style that is now a pleasure to drink. Pear and apricot flavors are still vibrant, along with a hint of toast. Finely structured and elegant, it’s wonderful to drink now, but it will be good at least until 2018. ”

Deutz Cuvee William Deutz Rose Brut 2000 750ML ($269.95) $219 special, 5 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 93 points “Bright pink. Pungent, expansive aromas of dried red berries and cherry, with a brighter suggestion of blood orange and a hint of anise. Deeply pitched citrus and red berry flavors are complicated by notes of candied rose and white pepper and gain spiciness with air. Finishes on a refreshingly bitter citrus pith note, with excellent persistence. Seems fully mature but there’s no rush to drink this.”ST

Philipponnat Clos des Goisses Brut 2000 750ML ($219.95) $189 special, 2 bottles available
Gilbert & Gaillard 99 points “Deep gold. Intense nose deploying notes of stone fruits, dried fruits and toasted undercurrents after swirling. The palate combines abundant fullness, vinosity and magnificent freshness. Already nicely open, this 2000 is at its peak. Excellent.”

Philipponnat Clos des Goisses Brut 2001 750ML ($249.95) $149 special, 2 bottles available
Wine Advocate 93+ points “The 2001 Brut Clos des Goisses has begun to take on attractive early tertiary nuances. A big, broad-shouldered wine, the 2001 has gorgeous depth but not quite the finesse of the very best years. Even with all of the intense fruit and rich, palate-staining finish, some slightly rough edges remain. Dried apricots, spices, licorice, sweet herbs and tobacco add elements of exoticism on the finish. A spell of cold weather and rain during the harvest appears to have marked the 2001. This is going to be a fascinating wine to follow, although I don’t think it will reach the heights of the 2002. Anticipated maturity: 2016-2041.” WA

Bollinger R.D. Extra Brut 2002 750ML ($399.95) $333 special, 7 bottles available
James Suckling 99 points “Super fresh, this is striking given the 10 years in the cellars; it has a fine citrus nose – plenty of lemon, grapefruit, yellow chalky notes, some lighter floral elements too. The palate is super dry (dosage at 3-4g) and there’s a silky, sherbet-like texture, smooth, fine and long. The citrus flavours give way to the driving surging acidity, thunderous acidity, really driving and powerful. The finish twists very slowly through to light-toasted cashew fruit flavours, but lemon citrus prevails. This is thrilling Champagne.” JS

Deutz Cuvee William Deutz Brut 2002 750ML ($149.95) $119 special, 3 bottles available
Wine Spectator 93 points “Sleek and elegant, with a fine, creamy bead supporting flavors of blackberry pie, clover honey, ground cardamom and glazed apricot. A smoke-tinged, minerally underpinning echoes on the finish. Drink now through 2027.” WS

Philipponnat Clos des Goisses Brut 2002 750ML ($279.95) $249 special, 1 bottle available
John Gilman 97 points, Wine Advocate 96 points “The flagship 2002 Brut Clos des Goisses is simply stunning in this vintage. Seamless, ripe and beguiling, the 2002 is pure harmony in the glass. Dried pears, apricots, flowers, red berries and spices are some of the many notes that inform this towering, aristocratic wine. At once vertical yet endowed with serious length, the 2002 stands out for its breathtaking balance and overall sense of harmony. Layers of fruit built to the huge, creamy finish. This is a great showing from Philipponnat.” WA

Pol Roger Blanc de Blancs Brut 2002 750ML ($134.95) $99 special, 5 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 95 points “Pale gold. Intense, mineral-dominated aromas of candied citrus fruits, pear, anise, smoky lees and chamomile, plus a sexy floral nuance and a hint of sweet butter. Palate-staining orchard and citrus fruit flavors show outstanding depth and energy, picking up chalky mineral and spice notes with air. Strikingly concentrated and precise wine with strong finishing punch and noteworthy persistence. This concentrated, deftly balanced Champagne is built for a long, graceful evolution.” ST

Pol Roger Cuvee Sir Winston Churchill 2002 750ML ($279.95) $249 special, 18 bottles available
Josh Raynolds–Vinous Media 94 points “Light yellow-gold. Deeply pitched aromas of poached pear, fresh fig, orange custard and honey, with smoky mineral and buttered toast nuances adding complexity. Stains the palate with ripe citrus and orchard fruit flavors that are given spine and focus by juicy acidity. Closes taut, sappy and extremely long, with an echo of toastiness and wonderful clarity. All Grand Cru fruit.” JR

Rene Geoffroy Extra Brut 2002 1.5L ($319.95) $279 special, 3 magnums available
Josh Raynolds–Vinous Media 94 points “Light, bright gold. Peach nectar, poached pear, passion fruit, smoky lees and white flowers on the perfumed nose. Chewy orchard and pit fruit flavors are broad and palate-staining, with a late note of Meyer lemon adding lift and cut. Finishes with lingering honey, lees and vanilla notes and excellent clarity.” JR
Wine Advocate 92 points “The 2002 Extra Brut Millesime is a rich, broad shouldered wine graced with tons of fruit. Vinification in French oak barriques gives the wine considerable depth, volume and spiciness. Layers of ripe, expressive varietal fruit flow from this rich, dramatic Champagne. A caressing, multi-dimensional finish rounds things out in style. As good as this is – and it is outstanding – I prefer Geoffroy’s wines made in steel. The blend is 60% Pinot Noir, 35% Chardonnay and 5% Pinot Meunier, with 2 grams per liter of dosage”WA

Vincent Couche Brut Millesime 2002 1.5L ($119.95) $79 special, 3 magnums available
Wine Enthusiast 91 points “With vineyards in the southern vineyards of the Aube, Vincent Couche makes a rich style of Champagne. This 2002 vintage, now maturing well, is ripe “almost opulent” in character. Its peach and apricot flavors shine at the fore, extended on the palate with a brisk, nervy texture.” WE

Dom Perignon Rose Brut 2003 750ML ($349.95) $219 special, 14 bottles available
Wine Spectator 95 points “The whole is greater than the sum of the parts in this harmonious version. A delicate bead caresses the mouth, while flavors of currant pâte de fruit, dried apricot, pastry and pickled ginger expand on the palate. Subtly floral, with a fine frame of acidity driving this to the mouthwatering finish of smoky mineral and dried fruit. Drink now through 2030.”
Antonio Galloni 93 points “The 2003 Dom Pérignon Rosé is another wine that has come together quite nicely over the last few months. Given the exuberance and sheer vinosity of the 2000 and the 2002, along with the ripeness of the year, and the heft of the 2003 Blanc, I expected the 2003 Rosé to be a much bigger wine. Instead, it is surprisingly delicate and medium in body. Dried flowers, crushed raspberries and sweet herbs waft from the glass in a Rosé that is all about sensuality. With time in the glass, the richness of the fruit becomes more pronounced, while the tannin from the red grapes is also noticeable.” AG

Dom Perignon Rose Edition Jeff Koon 2003 750ML ($349.95) $299 special, 1 bottle available
Antonio Galloni 93 points “The 2003 Dom Pérignon Rosé is another wine that has come together quite nicely over the last few months. Given the exuberance and sheer vinosity of the 2000 and the 2002, along with the ripeness of the year, and the heft of the 2003 Blanc, I expected the 2003 Rosé to be a much bigger wine. Instead, it is surprisingly delicate and medium in body. Dried flowers, crushed raspberries and sweet herbs waft from the glass in a Rosé that is all about sensuality. With time in the glass, the richness of the fruit becomes more pronounced, while the tannin from the red grapes is also noticeable.”
Wine Spectator 91 points “Crisp, featuring juicy flavors of pomegranate, white raspberry, pastry dough and spice, with a lightly smoky mineral undertow. Well-meshed and balanced, with a delicate finish. Drink now through 2018. 1,500 cases made.”

Dom Perignon Metamorphosis by Iris Van Herpen Brut 2004 750ML ($219.95) $149 special, 19 bottles available
Antonio Galloni 96 points “The 2004 Dom Pérignon continues to develop beautifully. A vibrant, focused Champagne, the 2004 clearly reflects the personality of the year. Freshly cut flowers, white peaches and pears are woven together in a Champagne that impresses for its focus and energy. Chiseled saline note support the crystalline finish. I imagine the 2004 will always remain relatively bright and linear, but at the same time, each time I have tasted it over the last two years the 2004 seems to have a little more body and broader shoulders. The 2004 will appeal most to readers who find the 2002 and 2003 too exuberant. There is a lot to like in the glass.” AG

Fleury Pere et Fils ‘Cepages Blancs’ Blanc de Blancs Brut 2004 750ml ($99.95) $89 special, 26 bottles available
Wine Advocate 93 points “Another gorgeous wine, the 2004 Brut Cepages Blancs (Chardonnay) is stunningly beautiful. Rich, deep and layered, the 2004 comes alive in the glass. Lemon, dried flowers and hazelnuts wrap around the palate as this complex, utterly beguiling wine shows off its considerable personality and pedigree. Chalky notes frame the finish. This is without question one of the very best wines I have ever tasted from Fleury.”WA

Guy Charlemagne Mesnillesime Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Brut 2004 750ML ($79.95) $59 special, 36 bottles available
Wine Spectator 92 points “Firm and well-knit, with a subtle streak of minerality underscoring flavors of crunchy white peach, fresh ginger and tangy currant, showing hints of pastry and spice. Clean and racy. Drink now through 2023.” WS

Jacquesson Dizy Corne Bautray Brut 2004 750ML ($279.95) $219 special, 4 bottles available
Antonio Galloni 95 points “The 2004 Brut Dizy Corne Bautray is remarkable for many reasons. One of those is just how vivid the flavors are. An utterly seamless wine, the 2004 Corne Bautray impresses for its exceptional overall balance. Almonds, lemon oil, chalk, sage and light pastry notes develop as this utterly beguiling Champagne shows off its superb pedigree. The 2004 was bottled with no dosage, but that isn’t even evident in the least. A wine of notable vibrancy and energy, the 2004 is a wine built on focus and persistence.” AG

Moet Chandon Grand Vintage Brut 2004 750ML ($79.95) $59 special, 2 bottles available
Antonio Galloni 92 points “Pear, spices, yellow stone fruits and smoke meld together in the Brut Grand Vintage. Rich and ample on the palate, the 2004 impresses for its balance, richness and volume. This bottle is quite a bit fresher and more vibrant than the bottle I reviewed last year. Early signs of development are just now starting to appear, but the flavors remain on the bright side for a ten year-old Champagne. If anything, the 2004 needs a bit more time to fully come together. Overall. this is a terrific showing.The blend is 38% Chardonnay, 33% Pinot Noir and 29% Pinot Meunier” AG

Moet Chandon Grand Vintage Brut Rose 2004 750ML ($79.95) $59 special, 3 bottles available
Antonio Galloni 92 points “Much more typical of the year, 2004 Brut Grand Vintage Rosé is pure chalk, rhubarb, pomegranate and rose petals. The flavors possess striking delineation and nuance in a style that is all about tension. I very much like the sense of energy here. Stylistically, the Rosé is quite a bit more focused than the Blanc in 2004, with fewer oxidative overtones and plenty of drive. This is a hugely appealing Champagne from Moët Chandon. 2014 – 2024.” AG

Philipponnat Clos des Goisses Brut 2004 750ML ($279.95) $219 special, 10 bottles available
John Gilman 95+ points “The 2004 Clos des Goisses is one of the very few vintages here that has undergone malolactic fermentation, as the wine undertook this decision on its own, and the malo took place in bottle while the wine was resting on its lees and awaiting its dosage for the secondary fermentation. Given the raciness of the 2004 vintage in general, the full malo here is hardly to be noticed, and without Charles Philipponnat having told me about this, I doubt that I would have ever noticed. The wine has opened up a bit since I last tasted it at the domaine at the end of March, and this is destined to be a great vintage of Clos des Goisses in the fullness of time. The superb bouquet shows off outstanding depth and nascent complexity in its constellation of apple, tart orange, a touch of cranberry, complex, youthful minerality, plenty of smokiness and early signs of the wine’s classic nuttiness already emerging in the upper register. On the palate the wine is pure, full-bodied and rock solid at the core, with outstanding focus and grip, very refined mousse and simply superb length on the poised and perfectly balanced finish. I did not know 2004’s telltale touch of herbacité here in New York that I noted in Mareuil in March, and I now think that this element was more a function of its relatively recent disgorgement (only four months previous when I first tasted it), rather than a signature in this vintage of Clos des Goisses. This will be a great wine. 2020-2070.” JG

Pol Roger Blanc de Blancs Brut 2004 750ML ($134.95) $99 special, 3 bottles available
From the producer: “Made exclusively from the finest Chardonnays of the Cote des Blancs, this wine is the lace of Champagne. Ideally, it often requires several years of ageing in the cellar to reach full maturity and reveal superb finesse, the peak of elegance and freshness. “The brightness of its green gold colour, the liveliness of its fine, creamy bubbles, seemingly never-ending, the harmony of its pleasant, elegant nose, combining the scent of white flowers the aromas of dried fruit, the lightness of its delicate flavours (vanilla, brioche and toasted almonds)… “A talented Champagne, to be drunk as an aperitif, or as the ideal accompaniment for light hors d’oeuvre, seafood or the noblest of fish prepared with the greatest simplicity. All you need to do, whenever you choose to drink it, is to allow this wine to express its qualities!”

Alfred Gratien Cuvee Paradis Brut NV (2005) 750ML ($149.95) $119 special, 1 bottle available
Wine Spectator 94 points “A lovely thread of ginger, star anise, cardamom and clove spice unravels through flavors of toasted almond, tangy apple puree, black raspberry, pastry, coconut and candied lemon zest. Like fine silk in texture, this remains mouthwatering through to the long, lasting finish. Drink now through 2022” WS

Gaston Chiquet Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs d’Ay Brut 2005 1.5L ($179.95) $149 special, 6 magnums available
Josh Raynolds 91 points “Green-tinged gold. Exuberant pear, white peach and honey on the nose, with anise, cherry pit and mineral qualities adding complexity. Zesty mineral-accented orchard and pit fruit flavors show very good depth and clarity, picking up a smoky element with air. Finishes sappy, broad and long, with repeating minerality and a hint of smokiness. Disgorged in October, 2013 and bottled exclusively in magnums.” JR

Pierre Gimonnet et Fils Blanc de Blancs ‘Millesime de Collection Vieilles Vignes de Chardonnay’ Brut 2005 1.5L ($249.95) $168 special, 3 magnums available
Antonio Galloni, Vinous Media 94 points “The 2005 Brut Vintage Collection, tasted from magnum, is stunning. Intense, layered and drop-dead gorgeous, the 2005 covers every corner of the palate with layers of mineral-infused fruit. Smoke, slate, crushed rocks and flowers appear later, adding gorgeous dimensions of pure nuance. Still young, the 2005 appears to have a bright future. This is one of the best 2005 vintage Champagnes I have tasted. The 2005 is 100% Chardonnay from Cramant, Chouilly and Cuis. This bottle was disgorged in January 2013 after spending 84 months on its lees.”

Taittinger Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blancs Brut 2005 750ML ($179.95) $149 special, 11 bottles available
Wine Enthusiast 95 points “With just a touch of bottle age giving a toasty character, this impressive wine is already showing some maturity. That said, the apple and citrus character, the mineral tight texture and crisp acidity promise some aging. The wine conveys a sense of elegance, intensity and richness. Drink now, but the wine will also age.” WE
Wine Spectator 94 points “Shows lovely balance, with a chinalike backbone of acidity, finely meshed with a creamy mousse and rich and toasty flavors of roasted hazelnut, creamed apple, lemon parfait and spun honey. A vein of smoky minerality echoes on the finish. Drink now through 2028.” WS

Vilmart & Cie Coeur de Cuvee Premier Cru Brut 2005 750ML ($179.95) $119 special, 8 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 93 points “(made from a blend of 80% chardonnay and 20% pinot noir; aged on its less for 78 months and disgorged in December 2012): Bright yellow. Sexy, smoke-tinged aromas of ripe citrus fruits, poached pear and candied ginger. Spicy, penetrating and pure, offering intense Meyer lemon and bitter pear skin flavors plus hints of honeysuckle and chamomile. Shows impressive urgency and focus on the finish, with the floral note echoing.” ST
Wine Advocate 93 points “Named for its being derived solely from the heart of the pressing, Vilmart’s 2005 Brut Coeur de Cuvee – aged in small barrels one-third each new, once- and twice-previously used and only disgorged after 7 years – opens with an expressive bouquet of iris, gentian, and hyacinth, behind which come intimations of the noble mushrooms, oyster liquor, and nut oils that go on to inform an at once satiny and vivacious palate. White pepper and crystalline mineral impingements in the mouthwateringly mineral and umami-rich finish testify to a transparency, clarity and buoyancy seldom found in the often problematically earthy and diffuse Champagnes of this vintage. Feel free to follow this for several more years.” WA