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Almaviva 2016 Proprietary Red, Puente Alto Chile
$ 139.99
97 Points
One of Chile's finest wines, the Almaviva 2016 is a delicious Cabernet blend.
Almaviva is a joint venture between Concha Y Toro and the Rothschild family, begun in 1998. Like her father before her saw in the Opus One project, Baroness Philippine de Rothschild saw the potential to create a world-class claret from these own-rooted, 37 year old vines on purely alluvial soils high in the “Puente Alto” zone of the Maipo Valley.
97 Points James Suckling: "A wine with wonderful blueberry, blackberry and hints of cedar and spice. Full body, dense and beautiful fruit. Chocolate, walnut and berry. It goes on for minutes. A fabulous wine. Better in 2020 but gorgeous now."
95 Points Robert Parker: "The 2016 harvest was complicated by rain in late April, which made them hurry up and finish two weeks earlier than normal. The year was also cooler, and the 2016 Almaviva, a blend of 66% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Carmenère, 8% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot has less alcohol at 13.9% compared to 15% in 2014. The élevage was shortened to 16 months, and they decreased the percentage of new French barrels used—down to 77% from the 82% in the previous year. The wine is fresher and less marked by the oak, a more fluid version, with fine tannins. This is a little different, a lighter and fresher year. It was a very dry winter, complicated by rains. I found very good harmony and fine tannins, balance and freshness in one of the most elegant vintages I remember from Almaviva. This has contained power, very accessible tannins and no green notes at all. It's young but accessible and should develop nicely in bottle, as it has the balance and freshness. This is an elegant and fresh vintage for Almaviva, young and tender, taking advantage of the natural conditions for it. Well done!"
Almaviva 2017 Proprietary Red, Puente Alto Chile
$ 159.99
100 Points - limited
One of Chile's finest wines, the Almaviva is a delicious Cabernet blend.
Almaviva is a joint venture between Concha Y Toro and the Rothschild family, begun in 1998. Like her father before her saw in the Opus One project, Baroness Philippine de Rothschild saw the potential to create a world-class claret from these own-rooted, 37 year old vines on purely alluvial soils high in the “Puente Alto” zone of the Maipo Valley.
100 Points James Suckling: "The aromas of blackberry leaves and iodine are wild and exotic here with mussel shells and earth underneath. Full-bodied, tight and chewy with powerful tannins that show muscle. It’s structured and powerful. Dense and very, very deep. Don’t touch this until 2025."
Altesino 2013 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva, Tuscany
$ 119.99 $ 150.00
98 points - limited
One of the top-scoring Brunello Riservas from the stellar 2012 vintage! Limited.
98 Points Wine Spectator: "This delivers intense balsamic notes of juniper, wild rosemary and sage, along with rose, cherry and berry aromas and flavors. Elegant and saturated with flavor, supported by a vibrant structure. Ends with energy and refined tannins. Best from 2022 through 2040. From Italy."
A Cellar Selection
Altesino is a reference point producer in Brunello di Montalcino, sought after in every vintage, especially in the top vintages. Brunello Riserva offers a solid, full body and excellent aging potential. Its ample and complex bouquet is reminiscent of violets, wild berries, cedar, leather, tobacco and spices. On the palate, it is austere and seductive with a perfect blend of fruit, acidity and mouth coating tannins. This is the perfect bottle for Brunello lovers. Pair with Steak au poivre, rack of lamb or beef carpaccio.
Antinori 2016 "Solaia" Toscana Proprietary Red, Italy
Sold Out
New release of the cult Super Tuscan Solaia from Antinori! One of Italy's finest.
100 Points Robert Parker: "I fussed over scoring this wine more than I'd like to admit-tasting through three samples under different conditions at various intervals and testing my impressions blind against wines in its peer group. Most importantly, I tasted this 2016 vintage against the 2015 vintage over and over again. I confess to a few nights of restless sleep as a result. Ultimately, my decision to award 100 points to the 2016 Solaia came on impulse and with the most natural sense of purpose. I had also given the 2015 vintage a perfect score, and intellectually, it seemed impossible not to pick a favorite among these two stunning expressions. I will also state, outright, that the wines are very different, principally because the 2015 vintage shows more overall opulence and sweetness that extends to the pronounced textural richness of the mouthfeel. The 2016 vintage, on the other hand, is more chiseled and sharp with mineral shadings of campfire ash and graphite at the rim of its dark fruit. The mouthfeel is more streamlined and tight at its core, suggesting that the wine will unfold and soften beautifully with time. I feel like 2015 is the Dolce & Gabbana of the situation and the 2016 is the Armani Privé. The personalities of the two wines are distinct, yet my admiration for each is identical."
99 Points Antonio Galloni (Vinous): "Like Tignanello, the 2016 Solaia is a wine of extraordinary nuance and finesse. Super-ripe blackberry, plum jam, espresso, menthol, licorice and sweet spice build as the sublime 2016 shows off its personality and breeding. The 2016 somehow manages to be incredibly deep and also light on its feet. Sweet floral and spice notes add the closing shades of nuance to an exotic, beguilingly beautiful Solaia endowed with an eternal finish and mind-blowing beauty. The 2016 is an epic Solaia. That’s all there is to it."
98 Points Wine Spectator: "This red leads off with a slight oaky edge, featuring vanilla and resin accents that meld with the black cherry and blackberry fruit flavors on the palate. This is all about purity and finesse, featuring a vibrant structure that fits harmoniously with the flavors. Cedar, iron, tobacco and fruit elements converge on the finish, which is very long, fresh and satisfying. Cabernet Sauvignon, Sangiovese and Cabernet Franc."
The Antinori family of Florence, one of the world's oldest and most distinguished wine producers, has lived in Tuscany since the 14th century and celebrated its 625th anniversary as wine makers in 2010.
Antinori 2017 "Tignanello" Toscana Proprietary Red, Italy
$ 139.99
New release of the cult Super Tuscan Tignanello! One of Italy's top wines. Limited.
98 Points Antonio Galloni (Vinous): "The 2016 Tignanello is flat out stunning. Dark, dense and resonant, the 2016 is a wonderfully complete wine that will provide readers with decades of pure drinking pleasure. The 2016 is especially dark and brooding, and yet the tannins are incredibly polished to the point of being perceptible. In the glass, the 2016 is complete and regal, perhaps because of the super-classic blend of 80% Sangiovese, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Cabernet Franc. The pedigree of the vintage comes through in the wine's extraordinary balance and total sense of finesse. I don't think there is another wine anywhere in the world made entirely from estate fruit that can match Tignanello for quality, consistency and value within its peer group of top-flight reds."
97 Points Robert Parker: "Tasted from barrel, the 2016 Tignanello will be released next year in April. This celebrated red blend is of course mostly Sangiovese with about 15% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Cabernet Franc. If 2015 is an ideal vintage for Tuscan blended reds made with the great Bordeaux varieties, the 2016 vintage is better suited to Italian grapes such as Sangiovese. This classic vintage of Tignanello has a leg up, albeit slim, over the previous vintage precisely because the protagonist here is Sangiovese. This wine shows a high caliber of fresh primary fruit that is direct and intense. In the mouth, the wine is focused and sharp. Ultimately, the 2016 Tignanello is slightly more streamlined compared to the more fleshy 2015. This adds to the firm elegance you get here."
The Antinori family of Florence, one of the world's oldest and most distinguished wine producers, has lived in Tuscany since the 14th century and celebrated its 625th anniversary as wine makers in 2010.
Bodega Faustino 2006 Gran Reserva Rioja, Spain
$ 29.99
95 points The Tasting Panel: "[$40 list] From what was considered to be a very good vintage in Rioja, this blend of 86% Tempranillo, 9% Graciano, and 5% Mazuelo aged 26 months in American oak followed by an additional three years in bottle. On the palate, teeth-coating tannins encounter red-peppered red fruit, cinnamon-spiced rose petals, and tobacco before a hint of peppermint cools the mouth. A glorious red that has flawlessly endured the passage of time. (Jun 2020)"
93 points Wine & Spirits: "This is the kind of light and fragrant Rioja that makes me smile. It stands out in a crowd of modern, concentrated wines with its delicate rose-petal scents and plump freshness. Still youthful, its 12 years of age show in a heady richness that underlies the fruit, as if the darkness of mazuelo had begun to saturate the austere structure of tempranillo, all of it energized by a touch of purple graciano in the mix. It’s easy to imagine the lamb chops coming straight off the grill as you taste this wine. (Dec 2018)"
91 points Wine Enthusiast: "Smooth, welcoming aromas of cola, black fruits and integrated oak are soft and indicate that this is ready to drink. A plump, sappy palate delivers ripe berry and chocolate flavors, while this is fleshy on a finish weighted down by berry pulp. Drink through 2021. Alcohol 13.5%. (Dec 2018)"
Breca 2016 Old Vines Garnacha Aragon, Spain
$ 15.99
Best buy
One of the best red buys from Spain we've found this year!
92 Points Wine Spectator *#29 Wine of 2018*: "Round, smooth and dense, this red shows harmony and balance. Plum and blackberry flavors mingle with black olive, toast and mineral notes, supported by well-integrated tannins and fresh acidity, leaving a lovely floral finish. Drink now through 2027."
Casa Lapostolle 2016 Clos Apalta, Chile
$ 149.99
Casa Lapostolle's 'Clos Apalta' is perhaps the finest wine ever to come out of Chile. Truly hand-crafted, Clos Apalta is hand-harvested at night, enhancing the fruit used to make wine, while also reducing energy use at the winery, since there is no need for additional cooling in the cellar. Limited.
96 Points Robert Parker: "The 2016 Clos Apalta is a blend of 64% Carménère (higher than in 2015), 19% Cabernet Sauvignon and 17% Merlot hitting the scale at 15% alcohol with a pH of 3.7. The Carménère and Cabernet were planted ungrafted in 1920, and all the vineyards are organic and biodynamic (certified) and very low yielding. The hand-destemmed grapes fermented in oak vats and barriques (17%), and the wine went through malolactic and 26 months of aging in brand new French barriques. I've seen a great improvement in Carménère in Chile in the last few years, perhaps since they stopped wanting to grow it everywhere and focused on the places where it grows well, like the Apalta region. They have also learned to tame the green aromas, fierce tannins and alcohol and to produce much more harmonious reds, like this aromatic example that reveals spice, tobacco leaves, red fruit and floral notes without noticeable alcohol or excess ripeness. The oak is surprisingly well integrated for such a young wine, and there is harmony, concentration and balance to make it age in bottle for a long time. The palate is full-bodied, and the tannins are fine-grained and in balance with the rest of the components, coming through as a compact and powerful yet elegant red. This has to be one of the finest Clos Apaltas of all time."
94 Points Wine Spectator: "Refined, with savory richness to the mineral-infused raspberry, red currant and herbal shadings. Creamy hints emerge midpalate, leading to a crisp, well-structured finish that lingers with slate and cast iron notes. Carmenère, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Drink now through 2025."
Casanova di Neri 2015 "Tenuta Nouva" Brunello di Montalcino
$ 124.99
98 Points - limited
One of the top-scoring Brunellos from the great 2015 vintage. Limited.
99 Points James Suckling: "The purity of fruit in this wine really strikes you with black cherries, combined with sage, lavender and rosemary. Extremely aromatic. Full-bodied, yet so tight and polished with incredible tannin structure that gives the wine an endless mouth feel of caressing tannins, acidity and fruit. There's a fabulous saltiness and oyster-shell undertone to the fruit. Unique. Drinkable already, but this year there's the structure to last decades."
98 Points Robert Parker: " Giacomo Neri and his family have crafted a wine that impresses from the first sip forward (especially when the wine is given ample time to open). The Casanova di Neri 2015 Brunello di Montalcino Tenuta Nuova must be treated with patience, and that patience is returned with many great rewards. Blackberry, plum and summer cherry are slowly folded into lasting flavors of spice, leather and beautiful balsam or medical herb. These are always a distinctive signature of this estate. The aromas flow with seamless transitions, and that fluid and ever-changing nature of the bouquet is what helps to build intensity and staying power. Fruit is harvested from a south- and southeast-facing slope at 250 to 300 meters above sea level. The soils are mixed loosely with crushed rock, allowing access to air and moisture. Indeed, pretty mineral accents appear as the wine takes on more air in the glass. What stands out most in this Brunello is the quality of the bouquet that is rigid and firm, yet not excessively so. You feel the structural texture of the wine as it sits firmly over the palate, yet there is mobility and softness to its many moving parts. I tasted this wine at various intervals over a 24-hour period."
96 Points Antonio Galloni (Vinous): "Bright full red. Redcurrant, red cherry, violet, sweet spices, and orange zest on the scented nose. Not in the quite sweet and fleshy style this bottling is famous for, but suave and very well delineated, with the orange peel note providing inner-palate lift. Closes very clean with excellent length.
Castello di Ama 2016 Chianti Classico San Lorenzo
$ 49.99
95 points
A fantastic new Chiantico Classico from one of Italy's best producers, and an amazing buy for the price. Limited.
95 Points Robert Parker: "The 2016 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione San Lorenzo is immediately more inky and balsamic in terms of aromas. As soon as you lift the wine to your nose, you get pretty tones of blackberry, cassis, rosemary essence, licorice and a touch of medicinal herb. I love when Sangiovese produces those elegant aromas, and for that reason, this wine stands tall among the three single-vineyard expressions from Marco Pallanti and Castello di Ama. It shows fiber, richness and lasting structure with a very well-managed quality of tannins."
95 Points James Suckling: "What first strikes you about the nose is that it offers one of the purest fruit expressions of all the Gran Seleziones. Blackcurrants, orange and lemon rind, brambleberries, heather, sage, thyme and blackberry leaves are all a feature. The tannins are steely, and the flavors are so savory. The fruit is carried through to the long, chewy finish by the highly refreshing acidity. Drink in 2020."
91 Points Wine Spectator: "Shows fine purity to the cherry, strawberry and leather notes, with a hint of licorice. Ripe, sweet fruit and a juicy texture collide as this plays out on the long finish. Drink now through 2025."
Castello Di Volpaia 2016 Chianti Classico Riserva
Sold Out
97 Points - limited
Wine Spectator’s Highest Rated Chianti Ever from Castello di Volpaia - Limited.
97 Points Wine Spectator: "Enticing aromas of black cherry, black currant and violet are allied to flavors of iron, wet earth and spice. This is loaded with fruit, vibrant acidity and well-mannered tannins. Shows terrific harmony now, yet possesses the structure to age. The long, mouthwatering finish extends the dark fruit and minerally elements. Best from 2021 through 2040." (Nov. 2019)
Castello Di Volpaia 2016 Chianti Classico Riserva
Celler de Capçanes 2017 "Mas Donis" Old Vines Red, Montsant
$ 14.99
Spain is a treasure trove of affordable, top quality wines. The Mas Donis from Capcanes if one of the best buys we've found.
91 Points Robert Parker: "The 2017 Mas Donis Old Vines is a blend of 50% Garnacha, 30% Cariñena and 20% Syrah fermented separately in stainless steel, and the Syrah and Cariñena matured in barrique until the components were blended before bottling in June 2019. It's a heady Mediterranean red blend—generous and round with a pretty floral nose and the aromatic power of the partial carbonic maceration. It has a juicy texture, clean, fruit-driven flavors and a textured mouthfeel. An incredible bargain."
From the D.O. of Montsant in Cataluña. The appellation and its 2,000 hectares of vineyard were designated in 2001 to highlight the superior quality of the region. Montsant actually wraps around the celebrated Priorat. While the soils generally contain less schist than Priorat, the measure of quality in the wines is perhaps more importantly enabled by their old vine status, highly calcareous parcels, and variety of mesoclimates, which are generally cooler than in Priorat.
Cercius 2016 Cotes du Rhone Rouge, France
$ 17.99
Simply put, the bang-for-the-buck factor on this huge Rhone wine is way off the charts. Robert Parker has called this wine "one of the greatest Cotes du Rhones I have ever tasted" and you won't need more than one sip to see why. No matter the vintage, the Cercius is always loaded to the brim with big, sexy fruit, but it is never overpowering.
93 Points Jeb Dunnuck: "Michel commented that he’d made his best wines ever in 2016, and certainly the quality of the 2016 Côtes du Rhône Cercius, as well as the entire lineup, back up that statement. A blend of 85% Grenache and 15% Syrah that sells for a song, it offers outstanding notes of blackberries, black raspberries, violets and peppery garrigue in its rounded, sweetly fruit, incredibly satisfying profile. It’s another winner more than worth checking out."
90 Points Robert Parker: "A joint venture between Michel Gassier, Philippe Cambie and American importer Eric Solomon, the 2016 Cotes du Rhone is a full-bodied, lush example that shows just how sexy Grenache can be, even on a budget. The black cherry fruit comes in waves, showing just a bit of warmth on the finish. It should be ready to drink on release (this review is based on a tank sample) and be consumed over the next couple of years....
...Michel Gassier is receiving copious press (all positive and deservedly so) from French wine journalists, and he has been favorably reviewed in The Wine Advocate for nearly a decade. In this joint project with Philippe Cambie and Eric Solomon, he produces what may be his best value."
Chapoutier 2015 Ermitage Blanc L'Ermite, Rhone Valley
$ 730.00
100 Points - limited
Extremely limited new white from Rhone Valley master Chapoutier.
100 Points Jeb Dunnuck: "One of the most singular wines I’m able to taste each year is unquestionably the l’Ermite Blanc from Chapoutier and it certainly lives up to the billing in 2015. Offering what I can only describe as a liquid rock (a liqueur of rocks?) character intermixed with notes of buttered citrus, pineapple, smoked meats, charcoal and toast, the 2015 Ermitage l’Ermite is full-bodied, decadent and locked and loaded on the palate. It needs 2-3 years of cellaring and I suspect will keep for half a century."
98 Points Wine Spectator: "Bright and pure, with a beautiful core of white peach, heather, yellow apple, star fruit and mirabelle plum notes backed by light citrus oil and verbena threads on the finish. Shows energy and tension throughout, with depth in reserve thanks to a long quinine echo at the end. Really stunning. Drink now through 2040. 204 cases made."
Chateau Cos D'Estournel 2016 St. Estephe (Bordeaux), France
$ 299.99
100 Points - top Bordeaux
A rare 100 Point Bordeaux from the heralded 2016 vintage. Extremely limited.
100 Points Robert Parker: "The 2016 Cos d'Estournel is blended of 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Merlot and 1% Cabernet Franc aged in 65% new and 35% two-year-old French oak for 15 months. Bottled in July 2018, it is deep garnet-purple colored and starts off a little closed and reticent, opening out slowly and seductively to reveal beautiful lilacs, rose hip tea, crushed stones and camphor nuances over a core of crème de cassis, kirsch, wild blueberries and mocha plus wafts of incense and wood smoke. The palate is simply electric, charged with an energy and depth of flavors that seem to defy the elegance and ethereal nature of its medium-bodied weight, featuring super ripe, densely pixelated tannins that firmly frame the myriad of fruit and floral sparks, finishing with epic length. Just. Magic."
100 Points Antonio Galloni (Vinous): "The 2016 Cos d’Estournel was a bona fide showstopper out of barrel, the best that I had encountered in over 20 years of visiting the estate during en primeur, so my expectations were piled high when I returned to find out how it performs in bottle. Deep, almost opaque in color, it sports a very intense but broody bouquet with fathomless deep black fruit tinged with blueberry and violet. The aromas almost seem to envelop the senses. The palate is medium-bodied with ultra-fine tannin that I have never witnessed in any other vintage of Cos d’Estournel. There is a beguiling symmetry to this Saint-Estèphe, as well as unerring mineralité. The persistent, tobacco-tinged finish can be felt 60 second after the wine has departed. This is a monumental, benchmark Cos d’Estournel that will give not years but decades of pleasure, though I suspect it will close down for a period in its youth, hence my drinking window. 13.07% alcohol."
Chateau de Beaucastel 2017 Chateauneuf-du-Pape Rouge
$ 99.00
One of the top-rated Chateauneufs from the vintage - limited.
95 Points Jancis Robinson: "At Beaucastel the Grenache and Cinsault are fermented in cement while the Syrah and Mourvèdre are fermented in foudre. The result features finely pixellated fruits of the forest on the nose, with a full-bodied but mightily fresh and lively palate. The Mourvèdre element is strong this year, bringing vibrancy and power. It's firmly savoury, very dry and dramatic. A very tannic year has produced a seriously structured Beaucastel for the long term."
Robert Parker: "...One of the standout tasting while I working in the southern Rhône, the Perrin family, now largely under the helm of Thomas, Marc, Pierre, and Mathieu, continues to produce some of the top wines, at numerous price points, in the southern Rhône."
Chateau de Beaucastel 2018 Chateauneuf-du-Pape Rouge
$ 99.00
One of the top-rated Chateauneufs from the vintage - limited.
97 Points Robert Parker: "Another in a string of top vintages, Beaucastel's 2018 Chateauneuf du Pape was produced from Grenache yields of only eight hectoliters per hectare ("normal" is about 28 hectoliters per hectare, according to Marc Perrin). The final blend I was shown is almost candied in its fruity intensity of raspberries and cherries, yet it has a potent underpinning of more savory elements, like tapenade, grilled meat and dried spices. Full-bodied, with fine, silky tannins, this shows tremendous length, reverberating with hints of crushed stone on the finish....One of the standout tasting while I working in the southern Rhône, the Perrin family, now largely under the helm of Thomas, Marc, Pierre, and Mathieu, continues to produce some of the top wines, at numerous price points, in the southern Rhône."
94 Points Jeb Dunnuck: "Moving to the reds, the 2018 Châteauneuf Du Pape showed nicely with a deep ruby/purple color as well as classic Beaucastel aromas and flavors of darker currents, blueberries, smoked meats, black licorice and roasted herbs. With medium to full-bodied richness, a pure, clean, elegant texture, sweet tannins, and a great finish, this seamless, elegant Beaucastel will be approachable in its youth, yet still have 20+ years of prime drinking."
Chateau de Valandraud 2016 St. Emilion Bordeaux
$ 299.99
98+ Points
Rare release of one of Bordeaux's top-scoring wines.
98+ Points Jeb Dunnuck: "Including 15% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, the Merlot-dominated 2016 Château Valandraud is a brilliant example of this cuvée that should match or exceed the incredible 2015 at maturity. Brought up all in new oak, its deep purple color is followed by a powerful bouquet of crème de cassis, graphite, smoked earth, and hints of earth. Possessing full-bodied richness, thrilling purity of fruit, ripe tannins, and just about perfect balance, it's another tour de force from the incredibly talented Jean-Luc Thunevin. It's slightly more elegant than the L'Interdit de Valandraud cuvée and will benefit from short-term cellaring and cruise for two decades or more."
97 Points Robert Parker: "The 2016 Chateau Valandraud is a blend of 10% Cabernet Franc and 90% Merlot picked between 5 October to 15 October for the last Cabernet Franc, delivering 14.5% alcohol, less than in 2015. It has a very mineral-driven bouquet thanks to the limestone soils (please refer to the January 2017 issue of Wine Advocate where I examine the terroir of Valandraud). The palate is succulent on the entry with fine tannin, crisp and focused with superb definition, a little more finesse than the 2015 last year with a slightly confit-like finish that grips the mouth. It will require five or six years to really mellow and shave off those edges, but this will be a seductive 2016 from Jean-Luc Thunevin."
Chateau de Vaudieu 2017 Chateauneuf-du-Pape Rouge
$ 54.99
94 Points
A great new discovery from Chateauneuf-du-Pape. One of the best buys of the great 2017 vintage. This is quickly becoming a winery with a cult-like following.
94 Points Jeb Dunnuck: "Moving to the 2017s and starting with the base Châteauneuf Du Pape, it's a blend of 80% Grenache and 20% Syrah that was brought up mostly in demi-muids. Revealing a ruby/purple hue as well as notes of black raspberries, kirsch, garrigue, incense, and loamy soil and earth, this beauty hits the palate with beautiful depth of fruit, a layered, rounded, sexy texture, no hard edges, remarkable purity, and just tons of charm. Drink it any time over the coming decade or more.
...The team at Château du Vaudieu, led by Laurent Bréchet as well as consultant Philippe Cambie, is firing on all cylinders and continues to produce a bevy of truly world class wines in every vintage. The estate is located not far from Rayas and the wines are rich and powerful, yet never show any signs of rusticity or coarseness. These are elegant, seamless, singular wines. Looking at the two vintages reviewed here, the 2017s showed brilliant with most rating at the upper end of their barrel reviews, which is always a good sign. These are incredibly Provençal, sexy, balanced wines that make the most of the vintage."
Robert Parker: "...Located just next to Rayas, this large, historic estate has been run with incredible precision and passion by Laurent Bréchet since 1990. Today he’s aided by superstar Rhône consultant, Philippe Cambie, and the lineup has grown to include numerous new single parcel cuvées, both in red and white. In addition, during my visit I was able to taste a bottle of the 2010 Châteauneuf du Pape Amiral G., which I rated 99 points on release. I’m happy to report it lived up to every one of those points, plus one more."
Chateau Le Pin 2009 Pomerol, Bordeaux
$ 4,999.00
The rare, 100-Point Chateau Le Pin 2009 Pomerol from Bordeaux now available - limited.
100 Points Robert Parker: "Exceptional purity and a blockbuster nose of mocha, black cherry liqueur, mulberries and plums are followed by an extravagantly rich wine that seems to have a nearly endless finish. Truly haute couture of Merlot, so to speak, this wine has a finish that goes well past a minute, with wonderfully sweet tannins and a provocative, concentrated, broad mouthfeel that is remarkably luxurious. This is amazing stuff! It should drink well for 20-25 years."
Chateau Les Tourelles de la Cree 2016 Montagny Premier Cru
$ 44.99
This exquisite white burgundy is owned by Oregon's Domaine Serene. A beautiful Premier Cru Chardonnay from the Côte Chalonnaise region of Burgundy! Limited.
Crafted by the venerable Château de la Crée estate, Les Tourelles de la Crée offers clean, pure expressions of Premier Cru Burgundian terroir. The Montagny Premier Cru comes from 100% Chardonnay fruit grown in the limestone-rich soils that make Montagny the most highly regarded region for Chardonnay in Burgundy’s Côte Chalonnaise.
The 2018 Les Tourelles de la Crée, Montagny Premier Cru Chardonnay is freshand fruit driven with floral hints of honey suckle, and delicate expressions of apple, pear, and pure stone fruit tendencies. A concentration of acidity and minerality coats the palate with a lovely weight and viscosity, as the flavors and sea salt-driven aspect linger in the mouth for a long persistent finish.
Chateau Pape Clement 2009, Pessac-Léognan
$ 299.99
99 Points
Rare release of one of Bordeaux's top-scoring wines.
99 Points Robert Parker: "Medium to deep garnet colored, the 2009 Pape Clement struts flamboyantly out of the glass, featuring beautifully opulent preserved black fruits, Morello cherries and Chinese five spice with underlying notions of truffles, iron ore and tobacco plus a waft of sandalwood. Full-bodied, the voluptuous fruit has a firm foundation of super ripe, grainy tannins and bags of freshness supporting layer upon layer of black fruit, exotic spices and earth-laced flavors, finishing very long."
Chateau Peby Faugeres 2010 St. Emilion, Bordeaux
$ 199.99
97 Points Parker
One of the top-rated 2010 Bordeaux - limited.
97 points Robert Parker: "A very limited production cuvee, the 2010 Peby Faugeres is sold in a specially designed bottle from Silvio Denz, who also owns Lalique Crystal. It comes from the oldest portion of the Faugeres vineyard, which is actually more of a completely separate entity under Denz than it was under the previous owners. The 2010 is 100% Merlot and again 15% natural alcohol. The vines were cropped at 20 hectoliters per hectare, but harvested about a week before the harvest finished for the main Faugeres vineyard. Most observers would tend to look at this wine as a modern-style, massive, intense St.-Emilion, with an opaque purple color, a floral nose shaded by notes of blueberry liqueur intermixed with black raspberries, vanillin, subtle smoke and barrique smells. It is full-bodied and built for two decades of longevity, but should be reasonably drinkable in 5-6 years because of the 100% Merlot content. This is a thrilling wine, as it has been in nearly every vintage where it has been produced...
...Acquired by Swiss native Silvio Denz a number of years ago, this property continues to overachieve in virtually every vintage. Behind the scenes, Stephan von Neipperg, the proprietor of La Mondotte, Clos de l’Oratoire, and a number of other properties, consults on viticultural matters, while harvesting, winemaking and elevage are guided by Michel Rolland." ."
Chateau Peby Faugeres 2015 St. Emilion, Bordeaux
$ 184.99
99 Points
One of the top-rated 2015 Bordeaux - limited.
99 points James Suckling: "A very intense yet playfully ripe and balanced expression of dark plums, dark stones and blackberries. Then wait for the dark, leafy notes of dark tea and charcoal as well as deeply integrated wood aromas of violets and cloves. The palate moves on a very energized and fluid bed of tannin that builds very smoothly into an ascending finish. Plush, impressive and very composed. Super long and focused finish. Try from 2022."
...Acquired by Swiss native Silvio Denz a number of years ago, this property continues to overachieve in virtually every vintage. Behind the scenes, Stephan von Neipperg, the proprietor of La Mondotte, Clos de l’Oratoire, and a number of other properties, consults on viticultural matters, while harvesting, winemaking and elevage are guided by Michel Rolland." ."
Chateau Pesquié 2018 "Les Terrasses" Cotes du Ventoux
$ 16.99
94 Points
A fantastic discovery from the South of France that is also one of the best buys of the vintage.
91 Points Jeb Dunnuck: "Longtime readers will know that I love this cuvée, which is year in, year out, one of the great value buys out there. The 2018 Ventoux Terrasses is a normal blend of 60% Grenache and 40% Syrah that was mostly destemmed and brought up in a mix of concrete and stainless steel. It offers a rocking bouquet of black cherries, ground pepper, flowers, and violets, with almost marine- like hints in its minerality. Medium to full-bodied, fresh, focused, pure, and with fine tannins, it's another winner from this domaine...I continue to sing the praises of Château Pesquié, which is one of the leading estates in the Ventoux region and is run by the talented brothers, Alexandre and Frederic Chaudiere. Don’t let the prices fool you, these wines are the real deal.
91 Points Robert Parker: "
A welcome return to form, the 2018 Ventoux Terrasses is a floral, herbal and red-fruited version of this unoaked cuvée. It's medium to full-bodied, with ample concentration, velvety tannins and lovely hints of tea and spice on the long finish. It should drink well through 2024 or so....Château Pesquié is one of the great estates of the Ventoux. For many consumers, this this be the entry point to Ventoux, so it's important that the wines represent the region well—thankfully, they do. With Frédéric recently being elected head of the appellation, expect more visibility for this underrated region. While Fred is the globetrotting marketer, his brother Alexandre handles the viticulture and winemaking at the estate, whose impressive chateau nestles in the bucolic countryside above the small village of Mormoiron.
It should come as no surprise to anyone familiar with the geography of the southern Rhône that the soils in the shadow of Mont Ventoux are rich in limestone, or that the vineyards are located at a higher elevation than in the neighboring Rhône Valley, or that older vines produce more concentrated and complex fruit. At Château Pesquié all of the conditions combine to create wines that are rich in fruit with remarkable balance and purity.
De Martino 2015 "Vigno" Old Vines Carignan, Chile
$ 44.99
96 points Parker
The name Vigno holds a special place in the hearts of Chilean winemakers. This is a dedication to old vine Carignan grapes. The De Martino Vigno was harvested from Carignan planted on granite fields with some vines dating back to 1955. We really love the texture and red berry earth notes. Super tasty and powerful. Love it!
96 Points Robert Parker: "Surprisingly enough, the 2015 Vigno Single Vineyard la Aguada was bottled at the same time as the 2014 vintage, so I also got to taste it even though the wine won't see the light for some time. Even if 2015 was a warmer year, it was also the year the dry-farmed vineyards of Maule saw more rain than in the last three years. This helped the plants to regain balance, but the ripening was heterogeneous, which they think helped this field blend to keep the acidity. In fact, the wine is only marginally higher in alcohol and also higher in acidity than the 2014. The difference here is that the élevage in second use 5,000-liter oak foudres was shortened to 21 months. This feels very austere, incredibly young and vertical, with a texture clearly influenced by the granite; they thought the wine didn't need any more time in oak, and it has kept fantastic freshness. However, this won't be sold until early 2018, so it will have time to rest in bottle. It seems like the rains of 2015, even if the year was a little warmer, helped the dry-farmed vines to produce fresher wines. The nose shows more the character of the vintage while the palate is angular and with marked acidity. I believe this is going to age superbly."
Derived from the Spanish word for wine, “vino,” with the letter “g” borrowed from Carignan, which makes up majority of the blend. Vigno is a single-vineyard Carignan produced from a 70-year-old, dry-farmed, head-trained, and non-grafted vineyard called La Aguada situated in the Maule Valley. A beautiful, perfumed nose with elegant, yet rustic touches of cured meats, tree bark, smoke, ripe cherries, and subtle sweet baking spices.
Delas Freres 2017 "Saint Esprit" Cotes du Rhone Rouge
$ 14.99
An amazing value from the South of France - hurry!
95 Points Decanter: "60% Syrah, 40% Grenache. Lovely rich opulent and floral, black berry and plum nose, the palate is big with well layered fruit, attractively firm but soft tannin and hints of oak, a big wine with a lovely finish. *Gold Medal Winner Decanter Asia Wine Awards.*
Robert Parker: "A blend of 60% Syrah and 40% Grenache, the Cotes du Rhone Saint-Esprit is a screaming value. If offers bold black cherry and blueberry fruit aromas, lively fruit flavors, silky tannins and a crisp, lengthy mocha-tinged finish. Drink this fun, bouncy little wine over the next couple of years."
Descendientes de J. Palacios 2018 Petalos de Bierzo, Spain
$ 19.99
93+ Points Parker
One of our favorite discoveries from Spain that sells for a song!
93 Points Robert Parker: "Their regional wine achieves unheard of levels of complexity and nuance with the 2018 Pétalos del Bierzo. It's a blend from over 90 hectares of vineyards in different part of Bierzo, 20% of the grapes from their own vineyards in Corullón, including some 4% white grapes. The rest is purchased from 180+ families with whom they have a long-term relationship. Some of these vineyards are not yet certified organic, but the objective is to achieve it in the next five years. It's mostly Mencía, but there are other grapes varieties in the vineyards; they estimate about 3% of other reds, Alicante Bouschet, Gran Negro, Pan y Carne, Negreda, etc. and around 4% whites, Valenciana, Jerez and Godello, half from Corullón and the other half from other villages. The grapes were partly destemmed and fermented in open-top stainless steel and oak vats with 25 days of maceration where the wine underwent a slow three-month malolactic. It matured in barrel for 12 months. This is the wine that showcases the house style and the character of the vintage, which, in this case, is delicate and very much from the zone. There is an aromatic purity and elegance that is very captivating with a faint flinty background, the cherry essence (Mediterranean) and a touch of fern (Atlantic) plus a honeyed twist that shows up after a couple of hours in the glass. It has a silky texture, soft and caressing, with very fine tannins and the faint bitter twist in the finish. In an ideal world, this should be the first wine people drink from Bierzo, and fortunately, in many cases, it is, given the availability, even if they did a more severe selection. This is approachable now but would be better in one year, and it's going to live in bottle...
...This is the best collection they have produced since they set foot in Bierzo in 1999. And to understand my excitement, let me just summarize it as the best vintage ever for the most coherent, reliable and serious wine project in Spain. Simply breathtaking. Bravo!!"
Domaine de la Janasse 2018 Chateauneuf-du-Pape Vielles Vignes
$ 99.99
98 points
Over the last quarter century, Domaine de la Janasse has become one of the most highly-regarded estates in Chateauneuf-du-Pape. Led by siblings Christophe and Isabelle Sabon, the estate combines the best of both traditional and modern techniques to craft a collection of truly riveting wines.
97 Points Jeb Dunnuck: "The 2018 Châteauneuf Du Pape Cuvée Vieilles Vignes (only 30% destemmed) is more powerful than the Chaupin cuvée and has a rocking bouquet of blackberries, cassis, scorched earth, graphite, and licorice, that develops beautifully with time in the glass. Rich, full-bodied, concentrated, and layered on the palate, it has integrated acidity, present yet ripe tannins, and a beautiful finish. Pure class, it’s going to benefit from 2-4 years of bottle age and keep for two decades."
previous vintage 97 Points Robert Parker: "The Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Vieilles Vignes derives from parcels planted on classic clay and galets roulés soils. It's 65% Grenache, 20% Mourvèdre, 10% Syrah and 5% other varieties. Tight, intense, even clenched, it's in need of several years' cellaring before it becomes truly enjoyable to drink. For now, those gorgeous black cherries are restrained behind a firm wall of tannins. Full-bodied and rich, this is ripe, it just requires patience."
Domaine de la Mordoree 2018 Tavel Reine des Bois Rosé
$ 44.99
One of the finest rosés from France! Limited.
93 Points Antonio Galloni (Vinous): "Vivid orange-pink. Deep-pitched cherry, red berry and lavender aromas, along with suggestions of blood orange and garrigue. Stains the palate with concentrated, mineral-tinged raspberry, bitter cherry and floral pastille flavors that show sharp delineation and spicy lift. In a distinctly powerful style but in no way lacking for finesse, delivering strong, red-fruit-driven thrust on an impressively long, mineral-tinged finish."
Domaine de la Mordorée is a 33-year-old domaine that was founded and run heart-and-soul by Christophe Delorme (a Lafond cousin) until his sudden death by heart attack in 2015. Delorme was known as a conscientious winemaker and biodynamic grower, one of the only left to fully hand-harvest his Tavel. He produced a string of stellar Châteauneuf-du-Pape vintages, excellent Lirac and distinctive Tavels.
Domaine des Bosquets 2016 "le Lieu Dit" Gigondas, France
$ 54.99
97 Points - Great New Discovery
A great new discovery from the Southern Rhone! One of the top wines of the vintage.
97 Points Jeb Dunnuck: "From a cooler terroir of sandy soils just beside the domaine, the 2016 Gigondas Le Lieu Dit is another tour de force from this brilliant estate. It sports a medium ruby color as well as a rocking bouquet of kirsch, blackberry liqueur, rose petals, damp earth, incense, and spice. Ultra-fine, seamless, elegant, and pure, it's nevertheless powerful and rich, with awesome intensity. Readers need to snatch up this blockbuster....
..Under the helm of the young Julien Brechet, with aid from omnipresent Philippe Cambie, Domaine des Bosquets has quickly risen into the top handful of estates in Gigondas, as well as in all of the Southern Rhône. The 2015s shine for their purity and finesse, but the 2016s have everything you could want in wine. You can’t go wrong with any of these."
95 Points Wine Spectator: 'Deliciously ripe, featuring a bright and lively display of red currant, raspberry and blackberry coulis flavors that race along, underscored by fine but persistent chalky tannins and backed by lilac, violet, rooibos tea and savory notes along the way. The long finish ripples with fresh acidity. Best from 2020 through 2036. 417 cases made, 100 cases imported."
94 Points Robert Parker: "Big, rich and full-bodied, the 2016 Gigondas le Lieu Dit is old-vine Grenache from a sandy part of the property, aged in demi-muids. It's got huge black cherry, berry and plum fruit, yet remains fresh and vibrant, showing a bit of warmth without going over the top. It should drink well for a decade...
...Owned by the Brechet family (of Chateau Vaudieu in Chateauneuf du Pape) Domaine des Bouquet covers 75 acres (65 of which are in Gigondas) and is run by the young, yet incredibly talented, Julien Brechet. Philippe Cambie also consults here, and while the style emphasizes fruit and texture, these never lose their southern Rhone style. This is an estate that needs to be on every reader’s radar!"
This 26 hectare estate is one of the top Domaines in Gigondas. The winemaker here is Laurent Brechet who displays the same attention to detail and emphasis on quality as he does for the wines he makes at Château de Vaudieu in Châteauneuf du Pape. Located at the south west of the appelation, the ‘Lieu Dit‘ lies on exceptional sandy soils which give the Grenache its fine tannins, airy flavours and wonderful acidity which balances its power so well.
Domaine Jerome Gradassi 2017 Chateauneuf -du-Pape
$ 49.95
An exclusive Chateauneuf-du-Pape that is one of our favorite discoveries from the Rhone Valley. Tiny producer, great price and delicious bottle of wine make this a real winner.
The new 2017 was rated by the Revue du Vin de France (France’s most respected wine publication) as one of the 4 best Châteauneuf du Pape of the vintage – alongside Rayas, Capo de Pegau and Clos du Mont Olivet (at a price far less than those)!
We continue to hunt in the Rhône Valley for exciting emerging talent, and in Jérôme Gradassi we have struck the jackpot. Jérôme, 50 years old, was the boss and chef of a Michelin starred restaurant, L’Isle Sonnant in Avignon, until he sold it in 2003 to take up a mere 3½ hectares of vines left to him by his grandfather. In the cellar it’s all very traditional - into old stone tanks for the vinification, then a short ageing in old barrels. 75% Grenache. Scented, perfumed - very herbal and sweet on the nose - and with well-integrated fruits with a hint of cumin and white pepper. Much more accessible than most young Châteauneufs. This has the freshness of the vintage and is really a very accessible example. No rough edges. This has come on very nicely in bottle. Well done!
Domaine Lafage 2017 "Bastide Miraflors" Cotes du Rousillon
$ 14.99
94 pts - best buy
One of the Best Buys of the year from France! A fantastic value.
93 Points Jeb Dunnuck: "A wine that almost always over-delivers, a blend of 74% Syrah and 26% Grenache that was brought in a mix of tank and used barrels, the 2017 Bastide Miraflors has a fabulous minerality as well as terrific kirsch, black raspberry, wild fennel, white pepper, and hints of black licorice aromas and flavors. Pure, medium to full-bodied, silky, and seamless on the palate, it's perfectly balanced, and way over-delivers. Drink it over the coming 2-3 years."
“A steal from Lafage is the Bastide Miraflors...This is one to buy by the case.”
-- Robert Parker
Jean-Marc Lafage has knocked it out of the park once again with this high-quality, low-cost stunner of a wine. Domaine Lafage is housed in their facility just outside the city of Perpignan. One of the most advanced wineries in the region, Jean-Marc and his wife Elaine are crafting "must buy" wines from the region of Roussillon. The Bastide Miraflors is a blend of Syrah and old-vine Grenache. The vineyards for this wine are practicing organic with an average vine age of 55 years. The last three years, this has been one of our ten best sellers of the year. We expect no less again.
Dominio de Pingus 2018 PSI Red, Ribera del Duero
$ 29.99
A fantastic value
New wine from Dominio de Pingus who make the legendary Pingus Red. A fantastic value!
94 points James Suckling: "“A rich red with chocolate, ripe fruit, walnuts and spice. Full-bodied and round with ripe tannins and a flavorful finish. Plenty of ripe fruit at the intense finish and lots of old-vine character with bark and wet-earth undertones. Real deal. Drink or hold."
94 Points Robert Parker: "I had already tasted the unbottled 2018 PSI, which saw a jump in quality after they got a new winery where they had much better working conditions. This wine is produced with purchased grapes from 200 hectares in around 750 plots and 20 different villages throughout Ribera del Duero. In 2018, they were able to use some 12% Garnacha and 2% other grapes, including whites that are found intermixed with the Tinta del País/Tempranillo in the old vineyards. Garnacha adds freshness, and the wine shows it—the character of the grape comes through in the blend. It fermented with indigenous yeasts and matured mostly in oak vats, but 20% of the volume aged in used French barriques for 18 months. The color is quite light (relatively speaking), bright and lively, the nose perfumed, floral and elegant, like no PSI before. The palate is medium-bodied, with fine tannins, and it feels terribly balanced and beautifully textured. It's elegant more than powerful but full of energy. This is without a doubt the finest PSI to date. Viva Garnacha! Drink dates 2020 to 2026.”
Having established Pingus as a new benchmark for greatness in Spanish wine, Peter Sisseck has embarked on a new quest: to produce a wine that captures the soul of Ribera del Duero. And he intends to do so by harnessing the passion of the region’s growers who have, for far too long, lacked the tools, capital, and vision to make wine that is truly “theirs.” And thus PSI was born.
It is a Utopian idea, born of Peter's passionate belief in organic and biodynamic farming as well as his gratitude to the region for giving a young Danish winemaker the opportunity to make arguably Spain's most coveted wine.
F. Thienpont 2011 Bordeaux Rouge, France
$ 19.99
From the family reponsible for some of Bordeaux's top wines like le Pin and the 100-point Vieux Chateau Certan, this is a fantastic $20 Bordeaux. A Brix26 exclusive.
The red wine from Thienpont comes from a clay and limestone plateau in the Entre-Deux-Mers The grapes are 95% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon fermented in stainless steel and aged for 7 months. This is a perfect every day red with beef and barbecue.
Finca Villacreces 2016 "Pruno" Ribera del Duero
$ 19.99
One of the best red buys from Spain we've found this year - hurry!
91 Points Robert Parker: "Always a good value in Ribera and cropped from a fresher year, the 2016 Pruno has notes of licorice, dark berries and even some fresher red fruit. It has abundant, fine-grained tannins that require powerful food. It was bottled in November 2017."
Gaja 2014 Conteisa Barolo, Italy
$ 273.00
It is nearly impossible to overstate the influence of Angelo Gaja on Italian wine and its lofty reputation among connoisseurs. New release!
98 Points James Suckling: "The nose opens with a startling play between white truffles, bark and tea leaves and then crushed violets, lavender, blueberry peel, lemon rind and sour cherries. Full body, ultra-fine tannins, acidity as sharp as a razor and a long, ethereally mineral finish. The length but sheer clarity and accuracy in the delivery is remarkable. Perhaps hard to believe that this better than the 2013, but it is. Drink in 2022."
95 Points Robert Parker: "The 2014 Barolo Conteisa is an impressive wine that defies the odds of the vintage. Although the Cerequio vineyard did not suffer hail in 2014 (it did in 2016), grape production was reduced by half anyway. The remaining grapes delivered their best with intense flavors and crisp contours. Gaia Gaja tells me that the clusters harvested were perfect in appearance. This is a perfumed wine that offers defined aromas of wild cherry that rise to the top with intensity. The wine's tonality is dark and thick, and the tannins are full and structured."
Gaja 2015 Barolo Sperss, Langhe
$ 299.99
Perfect 100 points!
Rare 100 Points score! It is nearly impossible to overstate the influence of Angelo Gaja on Italian wine and its lofty reputation among connoisseurs.
100 Points Jeb Dunnuck: "The 2015 Barolo Sperss is another smoking good 2015 that shows the sunny warmth of the vintage in its massive bouquet of blackcurrants, kirsch liqueur, red plums, Asian spices, violets, and flowery incense. It reminds me of the incredible 1997, and Barolo doesn't get any more sexy or opulent. This brilliant, full-bodied wine has ripe, velvety tannins, beautiful depth of fruit, and a great finish. It needs a solid hour in a decanter if drinking any time soon and will benefit from 5-7 years of bottle age. It should drink brilliantly over the following 25-30 years."
98 Points Antonio Galloni (Vinous): " The 2015 Barolo Sperss shows all of the darkness and muscle that are so typical of Serralunga. Black cherry, plum, licorice, incense, gravel, cured meats and scorched earth infuse this potent, backward wine with tremendous character. My impression is that the extraction and oak are all a bit more pushed here relative to the other wines in the range."
97 Points Robert Parker: "In the 2015 Barolo Sperss, you can taste the iron rust and minerality that is so specific to the soils of Serralunga d'Alba where this wine is born. It is very bold and represents the more powerful of these two wines from Barolo. Cerequio is always the more floral, while the Sperss has an immediate cherry and some lingering, bold, blackberry aromas that make a strong impact. However, this wine does not have the austerity of a classic Barolo. Instead it shows a richer texture and it casts a wider net of flavors. Serralunga d'Alba fruit is marked by stronger concentration and ripeness, with a very firm and unyielding quality of tannin that should hold the wine steady as it moves through its aging evolution. This is a truly beautiful albeit brawny Nebbiolo."
Gaja 2016 Barbaresco, Piedmont, Italy
$ 289.00
It is nearly impossible to overstate the influence of Angelo Gaja on Italian wine and its lofty reputation among connoisseurs. New release!
98 Points Wine Enthusiast "Cellar Selection": "This isn't just a great wine for what was a notoriously cool, wet vintage, it's quite simply a magnificent wine. Perfumed and loaded with finesse, it opens with scents of woodland berry, iris and baking spice while the vibrant, balanced palate doles out Marasca cherry, dark culinary spice, crushed herb and menthol. Refined tannins and fresh acidity provide the taut framework while a licorice note wraps around the finish. Gorgeous. Drink 2022-2034."
96 Points Antionio Galloni (Vinous): "Gaja's 2014 Barbaresco is rich, super-dense, and inviting, with serious underpinnings of structure and the same classicism that made the 2013 so compelling. Dense and powerful in the glass, with explosive energy and tons of tannin, the 2014 is built for extended cellaring. Expressive floral and savory notes hover out of the glass in this super-expressive Barbaresco. This is one of the most tightly wound, intense versions of Gaja's Barbaresco I can remember tasting. Don't miss it."
96 Points Wine Spectator: "This gorgeous red evokes rose, strawberry, raspberry and cherry fruit, shaded by tobacco, tar and wild thyme notes. Pure, sleek and intense, with a firm base of tannins and vibrant acidity for support. This should evolve beautifully. Be patient. Best from 2022 through 2043. From Italy."
Hacienda Monasterio 2015 Ribera del Duero
$ 49.99
95 Points - Spanish gem
One of our top picks from Spain and the Ribera del Duero - don't miss this gem from Pingus winemaker Peter Sisseck.
95 Points Jeb Dunnuck: "The 2015 Crianza from Hacienda Monasterio is a blockbuster effort that’s a blend of 75% Tinto Fino, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, and the balance Merlot, all of which spent 18 months in 30% new French oak. Its deep ruby/purple color is followed by terrific notes of blueberries, violets, graphite, and crushed rocks. Full-bodied, deep, concentrated, and elegant, with a traditional style and building tannin…. It’s no doubt beautiful today yet will keep for a decade or more. Even at $50, it’s a smoking value!”
94 Points Robvert Parker: "The flagship Crianza is now simply referred to as 2015 Hacienda Monasterio. It's mostly Tempranillo, with 10% each Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, fermented with indigenous yeasts and with long and soft macerations. It has a balanced nose, with nuance and subtleness, with the oak nicely folded into the fruit, incipient perfume, and even if young, you can almost see where it can go in bottle. The foreign varieties are not really noticed; they are very integrated. The palate has terrific balance and refined tannins. There is no heat or excess ripening whatsoever. For a moment, I thought I was tasting the 2014. This is one of the best and most widely available wines from Ribera del Duero. It should evolve nicely in bottle."
Hacienda Monasterio has a special place in our hearts and cellars. Having remained at the vanguard of the evolution of the DO of Ribera del Duero since its founding in 1991, Hacienda Monasterio continues to innovate and seek new ways to make wines that embody the region’s potential for power as well as elegance and finesse. Guiding this evolution is Peter Sisseck, who joined the estate shortly after its inception and while he has pushed the envelope in the DO with his own wine Pingus, he’s remained at the helm of Hacienda Monasterio: overseeing the purchase and planting of new vineyards, grafting over existing vines to the local Tempranillo, Tinto Fino, and incrementally improving vinifications by championing native fermentations, experimenting with whole clusters and employing larger 500L French oak barrels for aging.
Isole e Olena 2016 Cepparello, Toscana Rosso
$ 89.99
97 Points - limited Super-Tuscan
Cepparello is one of Italy's most iconic wines and a reflection of Paolo De Marchi's career. Today Cepparello, named after a small seasonal stream among the vineyards, is a selection of the estates best fruit. Soils primarily Galestro, vineyards orientated Southwest and are 400 meters above sea-level. Paolo believes that vintage is part of terrior and wines of origin reflect the vintage. Limited.
97 Points Robert Parker: "The beautiful Isole e Olena 2016 Cepparello is a gorgeous and precise expression of Sangiovese. This is one of the icon wines of the vintage that shows a naked and transparent portrait of the grape on the one hand, with the complexity of the vintage and its territory on the other. Cepparello is like a crystal ball into the heart and soul of Sangiovese, Tuscany's mighty red grape. It is fermented in conical oak casks and later aged 20 months in 95% French and 5% American oak, of which only one-third is new wood. The wine delivers ample structure and contouring, with a firm and silky consistency at its core. This wine should age over the better part of the next 20 years."
97+ Points Antonio Galloni (Vinous): "The 2016 Cepparello is dense, dark and also very closed in on itself. Those qualities bode well for the future, but readers will have to be patient, as the 2016 is going to need at least a few years to come into its own. Black cherry, plum, lavender, spice and new leather gradually open up in the glass, but the 2016 is not ready to show all of its cards. This fruit was brought in during the second week of October, which is pretty much optimal at Isole e Olena. The 2016 spent 20 months in French oak, with a bit less than 30% new oak, and a few months in cask prior to bottling. An explosion of floral and spice notes punctuates the super-refined finish. The 2016 is shaping up to be epic. Don't miss it!
Isole e Olena 2017 Chianti Classico, Italy
$ 29.99
A fantastic new Chiantico Classico from one of Italy's best producers, one of the best every vintage.
91 Points Antonio Galloni (Vinous): "The 2017 Chianti Classico is fabulous. Bright, punchy and so full of character, the 2017 is absolutely delicious. Sweet berry, cedar, tobacco, rose petal and subtle earthy notes all grace the 2017, an exquisite wine that will drink well with minimal cellaring. More than anything, I am so impressed with the wine's energy."
90 Points Decanter: 'While Isole e Olena was able to avoid frost damage in 2017, owner Paolo de Marchi estimates losing 40% of production due to drought conditions. He always picks as late as possible and vinifies gently to avoid rustic, green tannins. Aromas are restrained hinting at black currant, sage and spice with an undertow of espresso. On the palate there is a sumptuousness yet no lack of acidity and smart sophisticated tannin shore in ripe, generous fruit."
Isole e Olena Chianti is a wine of incredible finesse. Supple, elegant and perfumed, this blend of Sangiovese and Canaiolo is the result of pristine quality fruit grown in high-density, naturally farmed vineyards. Year in, year out, winemaker Paolo de Marchi sets the highest standard for the wine of the region.
Juan Gil 2016 Jumilla Red, Spain
$ 17.99
A phenomenal value
A phenomenal red from Spain that sells for a song. Big and full-bodied, California wine lovers will take to this wine easily.
91 Points Robert Parker: "The 2016 Juan Gil (silver label) is pure Monastrell from old, non-irrigated vines that was aged in French oak barrels for 12 months. They had to do a severe selection, as the year was quite challenging (but later 2018 was even a more difficult year); they discarded a lot of grapes, and they told me that they had never sold so much wine in bulk. That seems to have paid off, and the wine is quite harmonious and clean.\ The oak is very well integrated, folded into the fruit."
The Gil family from Jumilla have built a brand new winery that has 100% renewable energy, and all the waste is reused (water goes to humus, etc.). All of their vineyards are organically farmed even though they don't have a full certification in order to avoid bureaucracy. 2017 was a Mediterranean year in the style of 2015, and 2018 was cooler, more in the style of 2016, both very challenging harvests. The Juan Gil Silver Label Red is one of our favorite buys from Spain!
Las Scolca 2018 Gavi dei Gavi Black Label Bianco Secco, Italy
$ 44.99
Gavi dei Gavi, the prestige of La Scolca, is acheived through the most rigorous respoect for nature, according to the most traditional rules of cultivation, from pruning to harvest of vineyards that reach up to sixty years of age. The benchmark for quality worldwide.
Tasting Notes: "Pale straw in color with delicate greenish highlights. Intense lemon citrus fruit with floral and flinty notes on the nose, comparable to the best wines from Chablis. Medium bodied, with apple and more citrus fruit on the palate as well as notes of almonds and hazelnuts. The finish is crisp, refreshing and long.
La Scolca led the movement to establish an exciting, new quality level for dry Italian white wines when the Soldati family launched their trademarked "Gavi dei Gavi" in 1966. Gavi comes from a small growing area in northwestern Italy located north of Genoa on the steep slopes of the Ligurian Apennines. The 62-acre La Scolca estate, owned and directed by Giorgio Soldati, is situated in one of the best communes, Rovereto.
La Scolca is an artisanal winery, which pioneered modern, controlled vinification in stainless steel to preserve the subtle fruit of the Cortese grape. Yields are kept low, well below the legal maximum, through severe pruning and thinning. The oldest vines and best sites are reserved for their Gavi dei Gavi, packaged in a clear Burgundy-style bottle with a distinctive black label.
Louis Latour 2016 Corton-Grancey Burgundy Grand Cru
$ 176.00
99 points - limited
One of the top-scoring Burgundies from the 2016 vintage, the Louis Latour Corton-Grancey is a beautiful Pinot Noir. Limited.
Château Corton Grancey is Louis Latour’s blend of four different Grand Cru climats: Bressandes, Perrières, Grèves and Clos du Roi, the proportions of which vary depending on the vintage. The average age of the vines is over 40 years.
99 Points James Suckling: "Love the depth of fruit and intensity of this wine. It has dark fruit and floral undertones, as well as meat, which is very captivating. Full body, purity of fruit and nice, powerful tannins. Chewy and powerful. Focused austerity. A wine for the cellar. Try in 2022."
Luca 2016 Old Vines Malbec, Uco Valley Argentina
$ 33.00
Laura Catena, proprietor of Luca Winery, is a fourth generation vintner, who also happens to be a Harvard and Stanford educated emergency medicine physician. Following the birth of her first child, Luca, she felt compelled to create a legacy of small production Argentine wines. This Malbec is from fruit grown in the Uco Valley, and is, in typical Luca style, a big, broad shouldered, structured powerhouse of a wine.
93 Points Robert Parker: "Fom new plantings in Gualtallary, the Malbec has increased the proportion of fruit coming from this cool place to make it approximately a 50/50 blend of Malbec fruit from Gualtallary and La Consulta, both in the Valle de Uco. There is a big jump in precision and harmony along with more freshness and elegance. The expansive palate has great depth and fruit with very good freshness. This could well be the best vintage of Luca Malbec and I think the best might be yet to come, as the new vineyard matures...Luca is the personal project of Laura Catena."
93 Points James Suckling: "Beautiful aromas of blackberry, black licorice and spice follow through to a full body, with ultra-fine tannins and a blueberry, dark chocolate and light nut aftertaste. Drink or hold."
M. Chapoutier 2015 Chateauneuf-du-Pape Barbe Rac, France
$ 129.99
96 Points - limited
Rare top-rated Chateauneuf from Chapoutier. Limited.
96 Points Robert Parker: "The 2015 Chateauneuf du Pape Barbe Rac is 100% Grenache, but this parcel is located on the western edge of the appellation, in what Chapoutier describes as a hot, dry location—even in the context of the appellation. From vines planted in 1901-1902, this is a dense, plummy wine, oozing with concentrated fruit and even turning a bit fudge-like on the long, supple finish. I don't expect it to age quite as well as the Croix de Bois, but it's still a thrilling wine."
96 Points Wine Spectator: "Very silky and refined, but with ample depth and drive, as the core of kirsch, plum sauce and raspberry coulis flavors is focused and lengthy, while light tea, incense, mineral and shiso leaf notes dart throughout. The long finish has well-embedded, latent grip. Should cruise in the cellar. Best from 2020 through 2040."
Marqués de Murrieta Castillo Ygay Gran Reserva Especial Rioja 2009
$ 99.99
96 Point Rioja
One of Rioja's finest reds from Marques de Murrieta, the Castillo Ygay Grand Reserve Rioja is a beautiful wine - limited.
96 Points Robert Parker: "In 2009, the final blend was Tempranillo with 19% Mazuelo (or Cariñena), one of the highest percentages of Mazuelo ever. The grapes are now sourced from the La Plana vineyard within the Ygay estate, one of the higher-altitude plots at 485 meters. The grapes fermented and aged separately, the Tempranillo in American oak barrels and the Mazuelo in French barriques for 26 months, given its power. It has that seriousness, character and somehow rusticity of the Mazuelo, austere, harmonious and still young. It has good depth and concentration, still young and lively with fine tannins and a backbone of freshness that lifts it up. It will develop for a very long time in bottle. This is a great classical Rioja for the long haul."
95 Points Wines & Spirits: "The vines on the La Plana plateau, the highest point of the estate, at 1,600 feet in elevation, were 60 years old when faced with the heat of the 2009 vintage. The majority of this wine is tempranillo, harvested at the end of September; 19 percent of the blend is mazuelo (carignan), harvested a week later. The wine has the richness of the vintage while the fruit holds its freshness, with tart plum and strawberry notes helping to shape all the flavor concentration. It’s a fat wine with attitude, packing dense tannins that last for minutes and need a decade or more to be fully absorbed into the fruit. It’s supple, heady and delicious now, and significantly more complex with several days of air, as it will be with years of age. (Dec 2018)"
James Suckling 95 points - "TOP 100 SPANISH WINES OF 2018" #56: "A special Rioja that’s traditional, but not old-fashioned. Dusty, licorice and spice nose with red fruit. A cool and elegant wine, in spite of the concentration. Long, firm finish. Expands with aeration. From vines planted in 1945. Drink or hold. (Aug 2018)"
Only the finest vintages from the 741-acre (300-hectare) Ygay Estate are used to make Castillo Ygay. This Gran Reserva Especial is made from Tempranillo and Mazuelo from vineyards located at 500 meters above sea level. Limited in production and sought after all over the world, it is the worthy choice for our emblematic Castillo Ygay label. The Cebrian-Sagarriga family, who in 1983 acquired the Marques de Murrieta winery, established in 1852, has a distinct winemaking philosophy that is founded in the pursuit of quality and excellence through tradition and innovation.
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