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Inventory updated: Mon, Mar 08, 2021 04:02 PM cst
All Under $50
We have a fantastic selection of wines in this offer ALL under $50. We selected those in our inventory from Bordeaux, Burgundy, Southern France, Champagne, Beaujolais, Rhone and Italy. Something in here for every palate and occasion.
The following are the wines remaining from the offer sent on Tuesday, February 16, 2021. Please enter your desired quantities and click the 'Add' button.
| Producer |
Vint. |
Wine |
Price |
Qty |
Order |
| | Bordeaux Red |
| Arbo |
2016 |
Cotes de Bordeaux Malbec |
$15.99 |
36 |
|
| |
|
| Blason d' Issan |
2012 |
Margaux  |
$39.95 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 90 (4/2015): A gorgeous second wine, the 2012 Blason d'Issan is beautifully sexy, soft, and creamy textured, with a dense purple color and attractive blueberry and blackberry fruit intermixed with some licorice and camphor. It is stunning, lush, sexy and very, very forward, an ideal second wine that reflects its appellation of origin but delivers gorgeous, even luxurious fruit levels. Drink it over the next decade. |
|
| Ch. Les Cruzelles |
2017 |
Lalande de Pomerol 2017 en Primeur Release |
$29.99 |
30 |
|
| |
VM 90-92 (5/2018): The 2017 Lés Cruzelles comes from clay soils, the Merlot picked from 13 to 22 September, the Cabernet Franc on 22 September, matured in 40% new oak. I found that this has a little more cohesion and focus than the La Chenade at this early stage, blackberry mixed with raspberry and loamy scents, fresh and full of vim. The palate is medium-bodied with fine grain tannin. This is very nicely focused with crisp acidity, saline and persistent on the finish. Excellent – this is as good a Lalande de Pomerol as you will find in 2017. Neal Martin.
JS 90-91 (4/2018): This shows a pretty center palate of dark fruit and hints of salt. Medium-bodied, firm and silky.
WA 89-91 (4/2018): Blended of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc, the deep garnet-purple colored 2017 Les Cruzelles opens with crushed blackcurrants and blackberry compote notions with underlying menthol, pencil lead, anise and tobacco notes plus a waft of black pepper. Medium-bodied and quite minerally in the mouth, it has a firm frame of grainy tannins and plenty of freshness, finishing with persistent earthy nuances.
WS 87-90 (4/2018): Gently steeped black currant and blackberry fruit glides through, infused with a mix of tea, savory and incense notes. Reveals a light sanguine echo at the end. |
|
| Ch. Ormes de Pez |
2008 |
St. Estephe ex-Negociant |
$41.99 |
36 |
|
| |
| JD 91 (2/2019): Notes of leafy herbs, graphite, damp earth, and assorted darker fruits emerge from the 2008 Ormes de Pez, and it’s a mature, yet incredibly satisfying, complex, classic Saint-Estèphe. Playing in the medium-bodied end of the spectrum, with nicely integrated acidity and a classic, elegant, balanced feel, drink it any time over the coming decade or so. |
|
| Ch. Tour St. Bonnet |
2009 |
Medoc |
$35 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 88 (12/2011): A sleeper of the vintage, this consistently over-achieving Medoc has a character unlike a low-level Pauillac. Black currants galore intermixed with some crushed rock, licorice, tobacco leaf and spice box are all present in this deep ruby/purple-colored, medium to full-bodied wine. The tannins are sweet and extra fleshy, and the wine ideal for drinking over the next decade. |
|
| Dom. de Cambes |
2015 |
Bordeaux Superieur ex-Negociant |
$39.99 |
36 |
|
| |
JD 91+ (2/2019): From the team at Tertre Rôteboeuf and based on 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc brought up in new barrels, the 2015 Domaine de Cambes is a serious, age-worthy wine from the Côtes de Bourg appellation, which is located on the right bank, north of Fronsac and along the river. Possessing more depth of fruit compared to the 2015, with loads of darker fruits, toasted bread, and graphite, it hits the palate with medium-bodied richness, good concentration, and a firm, structured, focused style. It just needs 2-4 years of bottle age.
VM 91 (2/2018): Super-ripe black cherry, plum, mocha, new leather and spice notes abound in the 2015 Domaine des Cambes. Plush on the palate, with silky tannins and no hard edges, the 2015 will drink well with minimal cellaring. This is another heady, exotically rich 2015 from François Mitjavile. Domaine des Cambes is predominantly Merlot and Cabernet Franc from clay/limestone soils on the lower slopes of the property. Antonio Galloni.
WA 90 (4/2018): The medium to deep garnet-purple colored 2015 Domaine de Cambes opens with lovely red and black currants, spicy plums and blueberries with touches of pencil lead, tobacco and Indian spices. The palate is medium-bodied, firm and chewy with plenty of spicy fruit and a long, earthy finish. |
|
| Fleur de Pedesclaux |
2016 |
Pauillac ex-Negociant |
$36.99 |
14 |
|
| |
WS 92 (3/2019): An extroverted style, with bold plum and blackberry compote aromas and flavors, infused with anise accents and backed by an alluring finish of toasted vanilla, violet and mocha. On the showy side, but has enough latent drive to keep it honest. Drink now through 2030. 15,167 cases made.
JS 92 (1/2019): Sweet tobacco, currant and dark-berry aromas follow through to a full body, soft and juicy tannins and a flavorful finish. Second wine of Pédesclaux. Drink in 2023.
VM 90 (1/2019): The 2016 Fleur de Pédesclaux has a generous, rounded bouquet of wild strawberry and blackberry fruit mixed with briar and tobacco aromas. The palate is medium-bodied with a pastille-like purity on the entry, displaying fine tannin and light grip but offering ebullient red berry fruit on the detailed finish. This is impressive for a second wine and will probably drink well after a couple of years. Neal Martin. |
|
| Les Pagodes des Cos |
2014 |
St. Estephe ex-Negociant |
$49.90 |
6 |
|
| |
JS 93 (2/2017): The intensity of plums, spices, mushrooms and black truffles is very impressive. Full body, firm and silky tannins and a savory finish. Delicious second wine already. Better in 2020.
VM 92 (2/2017): The 2014 Les Pagodes de Cos is racy and voluptuous from the outset. Dark stone fruit, chocolate, menthol, licorice and dark spices run through this succulent, textured Saint-Estèphe. The interplay of dense flavors from the dehydration of fruit by warm days and anticyclonic winds resulted in an unusually opulent second wine, made in a flamboyant, exotic style that is found in some wines of the northern Médoc in 2014. Antonio Galloni.
WS 90 (3/2017): Shows good flesh, with a core of plum, raspberry and blackberry paste flavors, underscored by racier pebble and savory notes. Delivers briary energy throughout. Best from 2018 through 2028.
WA 90 (3/2017): The 2014 Les Pagodes de Cos, now in bottle, seems to be wasting no time in appeasing those who like to drink their Bordeaux young. (And why not? This is a deuxième vin after all.) The nose is open and generous with blackberry fruit tinged with dark chocolate and a touch of mint, the graphite element not evident here as it was in barrel. The palate is medium-bodied with crisp tannin, very well-judged acidity and very fine focus. Like the Grand Vin, this is not an exotic or flamboyant Cos d'Estournel, but no way would you describe it as lean. There is an easy-drinking approachable nature to this Les Pagodes de Cos, without precluding it of precision and length, whilst the graphite note pops up right at the finish and on the aftertaste. This delightful wine should be drinking from 2018 and over the next decade. Tasted February 2017. |
|
| Roc des Cambes |
2017 |
Cotes de Bourg 2017 en Primeur Release |
$49.99 |
30 |
|
| |
JD 94 (2/2020): A hidden gem that emerges from the cellar of Tertre Roteboeuf, the 2017 Roc De Cambes comes from a vineyard in the Cotes de Bourg region of Bordeaux, which is located north of Fronsac. It’s a superstar effort that boasts a deep purple hue as well as sumptuous notes of creme de cassis, white flowers, candle wax, and graphite. A powerful, full-bodied 2017 with plenty of background oak, a seamless texture, and a rare mix of power and elegance, count me impressed. It’s going to evolve for 10-15 years or more. Don’t miss a chance to grab a bottle if you can.
VM 93 (2/2020): The 2017 Roc de Cambes has a vivid bouquet with ebullient redcurrant and cranberry fruit that "jump" out of the glass, yet the aromatics remain tender and graceful, to use two words uttered by François Mitjavile in describing the vintage. The palate is very well balanced with filigree tannins, dark berry fruit laced with clove and bay leaf, just a hint of tobacco on the aftertaste. Very fine and very classy. Neal Martin.
WA 90-92 (4/2018): The 2017 Roc de Cambes is deep garnet-purple in color with a slightly reticent nose of blackberries, cassis and tar with nuances of pencil shavings, damp soil and dried herbs. The palate is medium-bodied, firm and grainy with great freshness and a long, lively finish. |
|
| Ronan by Clinet |
2016 |
Bordeaux ex-Negociant |
$12.95 |
36 |
|
| |
| JD 91 (2/2019): The Merlot-dominated 2016 By Clinet (there's 5% Cabernet Franc) is a charming, already delicious effort that gives up elegant notes of chocolate-laced plums and dark fruits, notes of leafy herbs and truffle, medium to full body, and a layered, charming mouthfeel. It's a terrific Bordeaux to drink over the coming 7-8 years or so. |
|
| | Bordeaux White |
| Ch. Caillou |
2001 |
Sauternes |
$50 |
3 |
|
| |
| VM 88 (7/2004): Bright yellow. At once cool and exotic on the nose, with notes of mirabelle, fruit salad and licorice. Fat, generous and sweet, but ultimately more broad than complex. Brightened by a flavor of orange juice. A layered, rich wine with very good material. Stephen Tanzer. |
|
| Ch. Doisy Vedrines |
1996 |
Sauternes |
$39 |
6 |
|
| |
| WS 89 (9/2008): Tasted at the Doisy-Védrines vertical at the château, the 1996 Château Doisy-Védrines is very closed at first. Returning after 20 minutes, it becomes quite floral on the bouquet with ripe Satsumas, burnt honey and caramelized pear. There is satisfying rather than exemplary definition, not quite the focus of more recent vintages. It is very smooth and unctuous on the entry and perhaps lacks a little acidity. There is certainly a lot of botrytis, but it is missing precision on the apricot and orange liqueur-tinged finish. |
|
| Ch. Lafaurie Peyraguey |
2006 |
Sauternes |
$45 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 92 (4/2016): Tasted at the Sauternes 2006 ten-year on horizontal in Bordeaux. The 2006 Lafaurie Peyraguey has a complex bouquet: honey, white chocolate, quince and dried pineapple scents that billow from the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with marmalade and bitter orange on the entry, a fine line of acidity with a harmonious mandarin and grapefruit finish that carries ample botrytis with it. This appears to have improved over the last couple of years, suggesting an upward trajectory in bottle? Worth checking out. |
|
| Ch. Puyanche |
2016 |
Cotes de Bordeaux Blanc ex-Negociant |
$16.99 |
36 |
|
| |
| WS 88 (4/2019): Fresh, with a floral hint and a light chalky spine adding lift to the mix of red currant and damson plum fruit flavors. Not big, but balanced and subtly persistent on the finish. Drink now through 2022. 6,000 cases made, 2,000 cases imported. |
|
| | Burgundy Red |
| Dom. Albert Morot |
2018 |
Beaune 1er Cru Les Cent Vignes |
$48.99 |
11 |
|
| |
| BH 91 (4/2020): A slightly cooler though still notably ripe nose features notes of black raspberry, dark cherry, violet and soft spice wisps. There is excellent richness and volume for the appellation as the succulent and round flavors possess a caressing mid-palate that contrasts somewhat with the mildly austere and well-balanced if decidedly firm finish where a touch of wood gradually emerges. This too is quite good. Drink 2028+. Outstanding! |
|
| Dom. Michele and Patrice Rion |
2018 |
Bourgogne Hautes Cotes de Nuits Rouge Les Dames Huguettes ex-Domaine |
$26.99 |
36 |
|
| |
| BH 87-90 (1/2020): (planted at a density of 10,000 vines/ha, which is very rare in the Hautes Côtes.) A more restrained if more elegant nose reluctantly offers up an array of red and dark berry fruit aromas that are cut with top notes of violet and spice. There is a bracing salinity to the attractively textured middle weight flavors that deliver unusually good depth and length for what this is. Highly recommended for value. Drink 2023+. Outstanding! |
|
| Dom. Tollot-Beaut |
1999 |
Chorey Les Beaune |
$50 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 86-87 (6/2001): The medium to dark ruby-colored 1999 Chorey-Cote de Beaune is sold in every market except the United States as Chorey-Les-Beaune. It is medium to dark ruby-colored and has a sweet, lush, red fruit-scented nose. It offers a good depth of plush cherry fruit, a satiny texture, and a flavorful, structured character. Drink it over the next 3-4 years. |
|
| | Burgundy White |
| A. & P. de Villaine |
2018 |
Bouzeron Aligote |
$33.99 |
18 |
|
| |
| WA 90 (6/2020): Aromas of green apple, pear, white flowers and beeswax introduce the 2018 Bouzeron, a medium-bodied, racy wine with an elegantly satiny attack, bright acids and a long, precise finish. This is a touch more demonstrative out of the gates than the 2017 rendition, but it retains plenty of cut in this warm year and should age well. |
|
| Dom. des Malandes |
2018 |
Chablis ex-Domaine |
$21.95 |
28 |
|
| |
VM 88 (1/2020): The 2018 Chablis is wonderfully silky and perfumed. Light on its feet and inviting, the 2018 has plenty to offer. Soft contours nicely coax out the lemon peel, grapefruit and white flower notes. The domaine's Chablis villages is a blend of eight parcels, all on the Left Bank. Antonio Galloni.
BH 88 (10/2019): (from a remarkable total holding of 16 ha.) There is a residual touch of post-bottling sulfur that renders the nose difficult to assess today. Otherwise there is better mid-palate concentration to the nicely vibrant middle weight flavors that possess notably better complexity on the very dry, focused and lingering finish. Drink 2021+.
JS 88 (7/2019): A vibrant, white-peach and fresh white-melon nose with a very open, fleshy palate. Plenty of fruit here. Drink now. |
|
|
2018 |
Chablis 1er Cru Cote de Lechet ex-Domaine |
$29.95 |
14 |
|
| |
JS 91 (7/2019): A very impressive array of fresh white peaches and melon here with oyster shell and wet pebbles. The palate has quite a taut core of melon with some chalky cut, to close out a dry, assertive finish. Drink now.
VM 89+ (1/2020): The 2018 Chablis Côte de Léchet 1er Cru is laced with notes of exotic white flowers and pear. Soft and understated, this hushed Chablis offers terrific purity even if it comes across as a bit compact and lacking in depth. It is nevertheless a very pretty, nuanced Chablis. Perhaps more time in bottle will allow it flesh out more fully. Antonio Galloni.
BH 89 (10/2019): (from parcels totaling 1.43 ha.) The hallmark ripe citrus aromas are laced with hints of petrol, spiced apple and a floral whiff where again there is just enough typicity to be persuasive. The very rich, sappy and caressing medium-bodied flavors possess an attractive mid-palate mouth feel that contrasts somewhat with the linear, short and mildly edgy finish. This had just been bottled and I suspect that this may well harmonize once it's had a chance to absorb its sulfur. Drink 2023+. |
|
|
2018 |
Chablis 1er Cru Fourchaume Vieilles Vignes ex-Domaine |
$32.95 |
36 |
|
| |
VM 92 (1/2020): The 2018 Chablis Fourchaume 1er Cru emerges from the family's historic holdings planted in 1953 and 1972. Creamy and enveloping the Fourchaume shows the Malandes style at its best. Pear, spice and ginger all meld together in this expressive yet understated Chablis. The 2018 finishes with striking nuance. This is really very nicely done. Antonio Galloni.
JS 91 (7/2019): This is very bright and perfumed with aromas of spiced peach custard with white flowers. The palate has a keen sense of balance with good acidity, crisp fruit and a flinty finish. Needs a year or two. Try in 2021. |
|
|
2018 |
Chablis 1er Cru Mont de Milieu ex-Domaine |
$33.95 |
21 |
|
| |
VM 92 (1/2020): The 2018 Chablis Mont de Milieu 1er Cru is another very pretty wine in this range. It is bright, racy and lifted, with terrific energy, persistence and cut. White flowers, mint and chamomile all run through this exotic, nuanced Chablis from Domaine des Malandes. Antonio Galloni.
JS 91 (7/2019): Aromas of fresh pears and chalk with banana and spiced-biscuit notes, too. The palate has a very succulent and focused feel with an assertive, peach and melon core. Drink or hold.
BH 90 (10/2019): (from a parcel of .26 ha.)A moderately exotic nose of both white and yellow orchard fruit and reasonably good Chablis typicity is trimmed in just enough wood to notice. The rich, luscious and sappy medium-bodied flavors possess very good volume and punch on the nicely dry if mildly warm finale. Note that this will be approachable young. Drink 2023+. |
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|
2018 |
Chablis 1er Cru Montmains ex-Domaine |
$31.95 |
2 |
|
| |
JS 92 (7/2019): Very pure and fresh yellow citrus fruit with wet stones and a lemon-rind edge. The palate has a very composed and smooth-honed feel; the oak slides into play nicely and the wine holds long on the finish. Drink over the next six years.
VM 89 (1/2020): The 2018 Chablis Montmains 1er Cru offers lovely depth. Lemon confit, white flowers, citrus peel and spice are nicely delineated. This wine emerges from two parcels in Montmains proper, one of which borders Fore^ts. As pretty as the 2018 is, it feels just a bit compact. Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2018 |
Saint-Bris ex-Domaine |
$16.95 |
36 |
|
| |
|
| Dom. Guillot-Broux |
2018 |
Macon Cruzille Les Genievrieres Blanc |
$24.99 |
16 |
|
| |
|
| Dom. Robert Denogent |
2016 |
Macon-Fuisse Les Taches |
$33.99 |
17 |
|
| |
| BH 90 (10/2018): There is just enough reduction present to shave the top notes from the menthol and petrol-suffused aromas. Otherwise there is more size, weight and mid-palate concentration to the medium-bodied flavors that evidence notably more power on the sappy and palate drenching finish that also possesses outstanding complexity and length. Terrific for its level plus it will age if you desire. Drink 2022+. Outstanding! |
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|
2016 |
Pouilly Fuisse Vieilles Vignes La Croix |
$38.99 |
18 |
|
| |
BH 93 (10/2018): (from 80+ year old vines planted in soils with a high proportion of schist; this wine has several different bottling time frames so be aware of this when purchasing it; this particular version saw 34 months of élevage which is noted on the back label.) Moderate reduction masks everything except a whiff of exotic fruit so I would strongly advise decanting this for 15 to 30 minutes first. There is excellent volume to the concentrated, intense and muscular large-scaled flavors that possess impressive drive on the austere and built-to-age finale. This is definitely going to require extended patience. Drink 2028+. Outstanding!
WA 94 (6/2020): The 2016 Pouilly-Fuissé La Croix Vieilles Vignes is back, this time after fully 35 months on the lees (readers will not that I reviewed the 30-month version last year). Unwinding in the glass with aromas of golden orchard fruit, toasted nuts, marzipan and iodine, it's full-bodied, satiny and enveloping, with a deep and intensely sapid core, concluding with a long and savory finish. This umami-bomb of a wine invites thrilling food pairings. |
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2016 |
St. Veran Vieilles Vignes Les Pommards |
$33.99 |
26 |
|
| |
WA 93 (8/2018): The 2016 Saint-Véran Les Pommards Vieilles Vignes is superb, wafting from the glass with notes of almond paste, white flowers, honeyed peaches and yellow orchard fruit. On the palate, it's full-bodied, layered and complete, with excellent concentration and purity, concluding with a long, precise and chalky finish. It's well worth seeking out.
BH 90 (10/2018): This is quite firmly reduced so I would suggest a thorough aeration if you're going to pop a bottle in the next year or so. Otherwise there is a wonderfully appealing mouth feel to the caressing and overtly stony flavors where the lingering and markedly dry finish is shaped by citrus-tinged acidity. Lovely stuff with very fine potential though this is a wine that will need at least a couple of years to harmonize. Drink 2021+. Outstanding! |
|
| | Rhone Red |
| Alain Voge |
2018 |
Cornas Les Chailles |
$46.99 |
5 |
|
| |
VM 94 (4/2020): Bright purple. Smoke- and spice-accented aromas of ripe dark berries, licorice and pungent flowers pick up a floral nuance as the wine opens up. Plush cassis and blackberry flavors are braced by a spine of juicy acidity, and a cracked pepper flourish adds spicy cut to the back half. Becomes sweeter with air and features a hint of cola on the long, smoky finish, which features harmonious tannins and lingering florality. Josh Raynolds.
JD 93-95 (12/2019): More violets, lavender, pen ink, and minty herb notes, as well as gorgeous gamey Cornas fruit all, emerge from the 2018 Cornas Les Chailles. Medium to full-bodied, concentrated, and beautifully textured, it's another brilliant wine from this estate. This cuvée comes from a mix of lieux-dits (Combe, Les Saveaux, Cayret, Les Mazards, Chaillot, and Chapuzes), was completely destemmed and was brought up all in used barrels. |
|
| Clos du Mont Olivet |
2017 |
Lirac |
$17.79 |
33 |
|
| |
| WS 89 (11/2019): Red currant and plum puree notes glide through, lined with subtle anise and tea accents. A light apple wood frame holds the finish. Drink now through 2021. 1,000 cases made, 500 cases imported. |
|
| Clos Saint Jean |
2016 |
Chateauneuf du Pape |
$35.99 |
36 |
|
| |
JD 93 (8/2018): Moving to the reds and 85% Grenache and the rest Syrah and Mourvèdre, the base 2016 Châteauneuf-du-Pape is a beauty and boasts appealing notes of spiced red and black fruits, cedar, and garrigue. Full-bodied, ripe and undeniably sexy, it’s going to benefit from a year or three in the cellar and drink nicely for over a decade.
WA 92 (8/2018): The lush, fruit-forward 2016 Chateauneuf du Pape is a good introduction to the domaine's Grenache-dominated style, boasting copious amounts of cherry and apricot fruit. It's full-bodied and velvety in texture, with attractive hints of licorice emerging on the long finish. With its slightly more prominent acidity, it should drink well for longer than the 2015 or 2017 versions.
VM 91 (7/2018): Bright ruby-red. Pungent raspberry, cherry and garrigue scents are complemented by smoky mineral and licorice accents. Silky and concentrated, offering juicy red berry, bitter cherry and spicecake flavors and a touch of candied lavender. Shows very good depth, focus and solid thrust on a youthfully tannic finish that features a lingering cracked pepper note. Josh Raynolds. |
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| Dom. Coursodon |
2017 |
St. Joseph Rouge lOlivaie |
$33.99 |
36 |
|
| |
JD 94 (12/2019): The 2017 Saint Joseph Olivaie is a slightly smaller production release compared to the Silice and is brought up in 15% new French oak. It offers a beautiful bouquet of cassis, crushed violets, and graphite, with a kiss of background oak. It's a more rounded, polished, and textured Saint Joseph that has a touch of modern character, yet never loses its Northern Rhône soul. Drink it over the coming decade.
JS 93 (7/2019): The fruit rises to the lead here with attractive blackberries and blackcurrants, as well as ripe plums, earth, wet slate and woody spices. The palate builds such attractively fleshy fruit with a very smooth, succulent delivery of vibrant tannins and a sleek, pepper-dusted, fine-tannin finish. Drink or hold.
VM 92 (9/2019): Opaque ruby. Bright and energetic on the perfumed nose, displaying intense dark berry and floral scents that pick up spicy character as the wine opens up. In a juicy, fruit-driven style, offering appealingly sweet blueberry and cherry flavors and suggestions of licorice and candied violet. Finishes very long and smooth, with just a trace of velvety tannins and resonating spiciness. Josh Raynolds. |
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|
2018 |
St. Joseph Rouge lOlivaie ex-Domaine |
$39.99 |
36 |
|
| |
JD 95 (11/2020): The 2018 Saint Joseph L'Olivaie is a more serious, concentrated wine offering a touch of background oak as well as impressive cassis and blackberry fruits, full-bodied richness, notes of pepper and Asian spice, building tannins, and a great finish. It shows more minerality and an almost gunflint-like character with time in the glass. It needs a solid 3-5 years of bottle age, but it should see its 20th birthday in fine form.
VM 93 (4/2020): Glass-staining ruby. Highly perfumed aromas of ripe black and blue fruits, vanilla and smoky minerals, plus a sexy floral note in the background. Gently sweet and expansive on the palate, offering supple blackberry and cherry compote flavors that show sharp clarity and very good depth. Seamless and focused on the persistent, smoke-tinged finish, with velvety tannins providing framework. 20% new oak. Josh Raynolds. |
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|
2016 |
St. Joseph Rouge Silice ex-Domaine |
$24.99 |
36 |
|
| |
JD 91 (12/2018): Readers looking to understand the style of this estate should snatch up the 2016 Saint Joseph Silice, as it's a classic Syrah that shows both the vintage character as well as the style of the estate. Blackberries, pepper herbs, and plenty of earthy minerality all emerge from this medium-bodied, charming, supple, fleshy Syrah that has sweet tannins and loads of upfront charm. It's ideal for drinking over the coming 4-6 years. This cuvée comes from 30-year-old vines outside of Mauves (which is where the estate is located), was all destemmed, and spent 12 months in barrel.
VM 91 (4/2018): Brilliant violet color. Lively, mineral-tinged aromas of fresh cherry and dark berries, smoky minerals and violet. Smooth, sappy and energetic in the mouth, offering gently sweet black raspberry, floral pastille and allspice flavors and a zesty touch of cracked pepper. Shows very good clarity and spicy cut on the floral-tinged finish, which is framed by gentle, harmonious tannins. Josh Raynolds. |
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|
2017 |
St. Joseph Rouge Silice ex-Domaine |
$24.99 |
36 |
|
| |
JD 92 (12/2019): The entry-level release, the 2017 Saint Joseph Silice is from a mix of terroirs and is aged a year in a variety of oak barrels. It’s always a good value, and the 2017 is no exception, offering classy notes of black fruits, ground pepper, leafy herbs, and damp earth. It's rich, medium to full-bodied, beautifully balanced, and has the class to evolve for over a decade.
JS 92 (7/2019): An impressive syrah with such rich, pure dark plums and cherries, as well as chocolate, black pepper, dark stones, toasted baking spice and licorice. The palate is so silky, really plush, fleshy and open with a very appealing, fresh-fruit finish. Drink or hold. |
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|
2018 |
St. Joseph Rouge Silice ex-Domaine |
$29.99 |
36 |
|
| |
JD 93 (11/2020): The 2018 Saint Joseph Silice showed beautifully, with lots of black cherry, currants, peppery herbs, and violet-like aromas and flavors. It's a rich, medium to full-bodied, expansive, spicy Saint Joseph with more fruit and texture than most. I like it today, but it's going to keep nicely for 10-12 years or more.
VM 92 (4/2020): Deep, brilliant magenta. An expressive bouquet displays mineral-accented red and blue fruits, along with subtle white pepper, peony and allspice flourishes. Juicy and penetrating in the mouth, offering lively cherry, boysenberry and spicecake flavors that turn sweeter with air. Closes with subtle tannins and persistent red berry and mineral notes. Raised in large, neutral oak barrels. Josh Raynolds. |
|
| Dom. de Mourchon |
2016 |
Cotes du Rhone Villages Seguret Family Reserve Grenache ex-Domaine |
$39.99 |
36 |
|
| |
| JD 94 (6/2020): The 2016 Family Grenache (as I’ve written in the past, these labels are ridiculously confusing) showed beautifully, with a deep purple hue followed by an incredibly complex bouquet of mulled black cherry and blueberry fruits interwoven with notes of licorice, lavender, peppery garrigue, and violets. A big, rich, full-bodied Grenache with good freshness, ripe tannins, a great, mineral-laced finish, it would easily stand in a blind lineup of top Châteauneuf du Pape. Drink it any time over the coming decade. |
|
|
2016 |
Cotes du Rhone Villages Seguret Family Reserve Syrah ex-Domaine |
$39.99 |
36 |
|
| |
| JD 94+ (6/2020): The 2016 Family Syrah is a big, rich, powerful Syrah that needs bottle age but is loaded with potential. A smoky, reductive, meaty bouquet of assorted dark fruits, peppery garrigue, smoked game, and a touch of black olive gives way to a full-bodied, concentrated 2016 with beautiful purity of fruit, a rounded, opulent mouthfeel, solid acidity, and a great finish. It’s a stunning effort. Hide bottles for 2-4 years, and it’s going to keep for over a decade. |
|
|
2016 |
Cotes du Rhone Villages Seguret Tradition ex-Domaine |
$17.99 |
36 |
|
| |
| JD 91 (12/2018): The 2016 Côtes du Rhône Villages Séguret Tradition is a step up over the 2015 and offers more depth and richness. Rocking levels of black cherries, blackberries, mulberries, garrigue, pepper, and olive tapenade all give way to a medium to full-bodied 2016 that has a fleshy, flamboyant texture, sweet tannins, and obvious minerality on the finish. It’s a beautiful southern Rhône to drink over the coming 7-8 years. |
|
| Dom. Henri Bonneau |
NV |
Vin de Table du Vaucluse Les Rouliers 2013/2014 blend |
$48.95 |
15 |
|
| |
|
| Dom. la Barroche |
2014 |
Chateauneuf du Pape Signature ex-Domaine |
$29.99 |
36 |
|
| |
WS 91 (10/2016): Juicy, with plum paste and raspberry pâte de fruit flavors that race along, bolstered by a bright anise note. Stays juicy through the finish, showing hints of plum skin, fruitcake and lightly singed alder. Best from 2017 through 2025. 1,800 cases made.
WA 90 (10/2016): The 2014 Châteauneuf du Pape checks in as a blend of 62% Grenache, 18% Mourvèdre, 13% Syrah and the rest Cinsault, Clairette Rose and Vaccarèse, all of which was raised mostly in older foudre, with smaller amounts in demi-muids and stainless steel. Medium-bodied, focused and lively, with good concentration and a vibrant, Burgundian-like tension and focus, it offers classic Southern Rhône notes of garrigue, Provençal spice, sappy herbs, and black raspberry and cherry fruit characteristics. Drink it anytime over the coming 7-8 years.
VM 91-93 (4/2016): (fermented in concrete and aged in used foudres and demi-muids): Vivid ruby. Deep, smoke-accented dark berry and floral pastille scents are sharpened by a note of peppery spice. Smoky and sweet in the mouth, offering concentrated boysenberry and cherry flavors and a hint of candied violet. Shows very good power and energy and finishes with excellent focus and length; velvety, late-arriving tannins add shape. Quite serious for an entry-level bottling; I'd bet on this making a solid cellar candidate. Josh Raynolds.
JLL **** (10/2015): Dark, full red robe. Pepper-licorice feature in a live, open nose that is full of life, has streamlined black cherry fruit at its heart, and a kind air of flowers such as violets. The palate presents live, pepped up black fruit with salted moments, so it drinks well. There is a small knot of late tannin-tar. This is pacy wine with brio and w.o.w. potential, offering direct, good, coursing fruit . It is 15°, but you wouldn’t know it. It can gain fat as it ages. From mid-2017. “The skins, pips, sugars and tannins all ripened together, which is rare, in 2014. It has expanded since the spring of 2015, has a lot of salinity,” Julien Barrot. |
|
| Dom. Ogier |
2010 |
Syrah de Seyssuel LAme Soeur |
$46 |
2 |
|
| |
| VM 94 (3/2013): Bright violet color. Sexy, floral-accented aromas of dark berries and cherry, with an intense floral topnote. Offers lively, mineral-accented black raspberry and cherry-cola flavors and hints of cracked pepper and candied flowers. Shows a suave blend of power and vivacity, finishing with outstanding clarity and persistence. Josh Raynolds. |
|
| Dom. Palon |
2015 |
Vacqueyras |
$25 |
6 |
|
| |
|
| Dom. Vincent Paris |
2018 |
Cornas Granit 30 |
$34.99 |
31 |
|
| |
| JD 92-94 (12/2019): Moving to the Cornas releases, the 2018 Cornas Granit 30 comes from slightly younger vines and vineyards further down on the slope, closer to the village. Completely destemmed and brought up in used barrels, it offers a complex bouquet of blue fruits, lavender, violets, and sweet incense as well as a medium to full-bodied, rounded, sexy style on the palate that carries lots of sweet fruit that almost hides sound underlying structure. |
|
| Domaine les Goubert |
2017 |
Cotes du Rhone Villages Beaumes de Venise Rouge ex-Domaine |
$19.99 |
12 |
|
| |
|
| Eric Texier |
2000 |
Chateaneuf du Pape Vieilles Vignes Wrinkled Label |
$49 |
1 |
|
| |
| WS 92 (8/2002): So sleek and clean, this full-bodied red combines beautifully spicy fruit, black currant, licorice and a touch of eucalyptus. Light-footed, it glides on the palate to a long and elegant finish. Seductive. Drink now through 2007. 1,220 cases made. |
|
| Mourchon |
2018 |
Chateauneuf du Pape ex-Domaine |
$39.99 |
36 |
|
| |
| JD 91 (6/2020): Lots of spice, garrigue, black pepper, licorice, and kirsch and blackberry fruit notes emerge from the 2018 Châteauneuf du Pape. This plush, medium to full-bodied effort has a soft, forward texture, ripe tannins, and a great finish. It shows the approachable, sexy style of the 2018 vintage and is already hard to resist. Drink it over the coming 5-7 years. |
|
| Pierre Gaillard |
2016 |
Cote Rotie |
$49.99 |
30 |
|
| |
| VM 91 (9/2019): Brilliant violet. Smoke-accented aromas of fresh dark berries and pungent flowers. Smooth and spicy on the palate, offering bitter cherry, cassis and bitter chocolate flavors that show very good depth and building sweetness. Chewy tannins frame the mineral-tinged finish, which lingers with strong, blue-fruit-driven persistence. Josh Raynolds. |
|
| | Rhone White |
| Alain Voge |
2018 |
St. Peray Harmonie |
$35.99 |
2 |
|
| |
| VM 92 (5/2020): Translucent straw-yellow. Aromas of ripe orchard and pit fruits are complemented by subtle mineral and floral overtones. Broad and seamless on the palate, offering juicy pear, peach nectar and tangerine flavors and a touch of candied ginger. In a pliant, fruit-driven style, displaying subtle closing cut and repeating florality. Josh Raynolds. |
|
| Delas |
2014 |
Condrieu La Galopine |
$49 |
8 |
|
| |
|
| | Southern France |
| Dom. de Baron'arques |
2014 |
Limoux ex-Negociant |
$39.99 |
7 |
|
| |
| WA 90-92 (4/2016): Leading off the reds, the 2014 Limoux Domaine de Baron'Arques is a blend of 46% Merlot, 28% Cabernet Franc, 13% Syrah, 9% Malbec and the rest Cabernet Sauvignon. Aged in 25% new French oak (the balance was in one- to three-year-old barrels), it offers a ripe, full-bodied array of black raspberries, blackberries, currants, licorice and smoked earth, as well as a terrific texture, Outstanding concentration and a big finish. This is one classy red that has the fruit and texture to drink nicely on release, yet the balance, structure and class to evolve for over a decade. |
|
|
2015 |
Limoux ex-Negociant |
$29.95 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 91 (5/2018): Smelling like a classy Right Bank Bordeaux, the 2015 Grand Vin is a blend of 57% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc, 13% Syrah, 11% Malbec and 4% Cabernet Sauvignon. Cigar box and cassis notes lead the way, followed by hints of pencil shavings, charred barrel and dark chocolate. It's medium to full-bodied, with a fine, long and slightly dusty finish that suggests around a decade of ageability. |
|
| Dom. Le Roc des Anges |
2016 |
Vin de Pays des Cotes Catalanes Asterolide |
$29.99 |
30 |
|
| |
|
| Ermitage du Pic Saint Loup |
2006 |
Cuvee Sainte Agnes Pic St. Loup Rouge |
$15 |
10 |
|
| |
| WA 89 (6/2009): The Ravailles’ 2006 Coteaux du Languedoc Pic Saint-Loup Cuvee Sainte Agnes – Syrah with a touch of Grenache and Mourvedre – displays a nose of ripe, almost jam-like red raspberry, sloe berry, juniper, arbor vitae, and marjoram. Firmer in feel but far finer-grained in tannin than their regular cuvee, this displays energetic brightness and a sappy bitter-sweetness that carries in to a tenaciously mouth-coating finish with suggestions of tar and resin. It will be versatile with boldly-flavored foods over the next 2-3 years at least. The Ravailles’ most ambitious and by far most expensive cuvee, Guilhem Gaucelm, which I tasted in the 2005 vintage, was formidably concentrated, but a bit dried by its tannins and (admittedly, not quantitatively exceptional) 14.8% alcohol. |
|
| Puech Noble |
2016 |
Coteaux du Languedoc |
$24.99 |
36 |
|
| |
|
|
2017 |
Coteaux du Languedoc Carignan |
$39.99 |
36 |
|
| |
|
| Roc d' Anglade |
2014 |
Languedoc Roussillon Blanc |
$47.99 |
15 |
|
| |
|
|
2015 |
Languedoc Roussillon Blanc |
$46.99 |
15 |
|
| |
|
|
2016 |
Languedoc Roussillon Blanc |
$45.99 |
4 |
|
| |
|
|
2013 |
Languedoc Roussillon Rouge |
$49.99 |
22 |
|
| |
|
|
2014 |
Languedoc Roussillon Rouge |
$47.99 |
8 |
|
| |
|
|
2016 |
Languedoc Roussillon Rouge |
$45.99 |
7 |
|
| |
|
| | Champagne |
| Canard-Duchene |
2009 |
Authentic Brut Champagne |
$46.99 |
20 |
|
| |
|
|
NV |
Authentic Brut Champagne |
$33.99 |
36 |
|
| |
|
| J. M. Labruyere |
NV |
Prologue Brut Champagne ex-Negociant |
$34.95 |
36 |
|
| |
JS 92 (10/2017): A more savory style with pinot noir leading the blend (70%) ahead of chardonnay. This has an array of woody spices, red fruits and spice on the nose. The palate delivers forest berries and woody notes. Grapefruit and a spicy edge to finish. Drink now.
WS 92 (10/2017): Poached pear, candied lemon zest and biscuit notes ride the lacy mousse of this well-cut, aperitif-style Champagne. Hints of honey and spice linger on the finish. Disgorged May 2016. Drink now. 1,500 cases made. |
|
| Lombard & Cie |
NV |
Extra Brut Premier Cru Blanc de Noirs Champagne ex-Domaine; Disgorgement Date January 8, 2019 |
$42.99 |
36 |
|
| |
| JG 90 (7/2017): The current release of Lombard “Blanc de Noirs” Extra Brut is from the base year of 2012 and is composed entirely of pinot noir. The wine spent more than three years aging sur latte and was finished with a dosage of four grams per liter. The wine offers up an excellent bouquet of white peach, patissière, a fine base of soil tones, dried flowers and a hint of upper register smokiness. On the palate the wine is crisp, full-bodied and nascently complex, with a good core, slightly coarse mousse, brisk acids and fine focus and grip on the long and complex finish. This needs just a bit more bottle age to round into prime drinking mode, but it has depth and dimension on both the nose and palate and will be very tasty when it fully blossoms. 2018-2030. |
|
|
NV |
Extra Brut Premier Cru Champagne ex-Domaine; Disgorgement Date January 8, 2019 |
$29.99 |
36 |
|
| |
JS 91 (5/2019): Fruity and intense on the nose with dried red currants but with some real complexity below including bread dough. Full-bodied and flavorful on the palate but with the acidity really lifting this through. Drink now.
JG 90+ (7/2017): The new release of Champagne Lombard’s non-vintage Extra Brut is from the base year of 2009 and is a blend of forty percent chardonnay and a sixty percent combination of pinot noir and pinot meunier. The wine was finished with a dosage of four grams per liter and offers up an excellent bouquet of apple, a touch of nectarine, lovely soil tones, fresh-baked bread and a topnote of dried flowers. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied, crisp and complex, with a fine core, very good soil signature, pinpoint bubbles and a long, focused and well-balanced finish. The extended aging sur latte has given this wine a lovely layer of secondary complexity and the wine is drinking very well today. 2017-2030. |
|
| Pierre Moncuit |
NV |
Cuvee Pierre Moncuit-Delos Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Champagne |
$39.99 |
36 |
|
| |
| VM 90 (12/2019): The NV (2016) Brut Blanc de Blancs Delos Grand Cru is the same wine as the Extra Brut, but with dosage of 7 grams per liter. Pear, brioche, spice and orchard fruit overtones all race out of the glass. The higher dosage gives the Brut a bit more immediacy, but also results in the impression of some loss of persistence through the mid-palate and into the finish. Even so, the Delos offers plenty of appeal. Dosage: 7 gr/L. Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Thienot |
NV |
Brut Champagne |
$39.99 |
36 |
|
| |
|
| | Loire |
| Brendan Stater-West |
2015 |
Saumur Les Chapaudaises |
$32.95 |
23 |
|
| |
|
| Dom. de l' Ecu |
NV |
Red Noz Cabernet Sauvignon |
$24.99 |
6 |
|
| |
|
| Dom. Guiberteau |
2018 |
Saumur Les Moulins Rouge |
$25.99 |
21 |
|
| |
|
|
2018 |
Saumur Rouge |
$26.99 |
16 |
|
| |
|
| Dom. Pascal Cotat |
NV |
Vin de Table Chavignol Rose Lot 2018 |
$44.99 |
22 |
|
| |
|
| Francois Le Saint |
2015 |
Sancerre Resonance |
$39.95 |
36 |
|
| |
|
| | Other France |
| Ch. de la Perriere (Duboeuf) |
2005 |
Brouilly |
$20 |
3 |
|
| |
| WA 91 (6/2006): Revealing delicate black cherry aromas, the recently bottled 2005 Brouilly Domaine de la Perriere is a muscular wine armed with impressive quantities of black fruits. Medium to full-bodied and concentrated, this structured effort is big, broad, and filled with satiny layers of blackberries. Drink it between 2008 and 2014. |
|
| Dom. Laurent Gauthier |
2019 |
Chiroubles Chatenay Vieilles Vignes ex-Domaine |
$18.99 |
36 |
|
| |
|
|
2017 |
Morgon Cote du Py ex-Domaine |
$19.95 |
36 |
|
| |
|
|
2018 |
Morgon Cote du Py ex-Domaine |
$19.99 |
36 |
|
| |
|
| Dom. Richard Rottiers |
2019 |
Beaujolais Villages La Sambinerie ex-Domaine |
$17.95 |
36 |
|
| |
| WA 91 (5/2020): Exuberant aromas of raspberries, strawberries and licorice introduce the 2019 Beaujolais-Villages La Sambinerie, a medium to full-bodied, lively and nicely concentrated wine with a pretty core of vibrant fruit framed by powdery tannins. As readers will remember, this cuvée hails from vines behind Rottiers' house that touch the Moulin-à-Vent appellation boundary. |
|
|
2016 |
Moulin a Vent ex-Domaine |
$21.99 |
4 |
|
| |
VM 92 (3/2018): Lurid ruby. Intensely perfumed, mineral-tinged aromas of dark berry liqueur, peppery spices and potpourri. Sweet and chewy on the palate, offering deeply concentrated black currant and blueberry flavors and suggestions of candied violet and star anise. Picks up a smoky nuance on the impressively long, penetrating finish, which features a suave floral note and building tannins. Josh Raynolds.
WA 89 (8/2017): The 2016 Moulin a Vent is a blend of all Rottiers vineyards in a single tank due to the hail. The fruit had to be de-stemmed this year as a consequence. It has a precise bouquet, not powerful, with blackberry, wild hedgerow and light cold stone aromas. The palate is well structured with a gentle grip on the entry and more red fruit here than the "Foudres" cuvée, with a brisk, quite mineral-driven finish. This is a very respectable Moulin-à-Vent considering the circumstances. |
|
|
2019 |
Moulin a Vent ex-Domaine |
$22.95 |
36 |
|
| |
| WA 93 (8/2019): The 2018 Moulin-à-Vent is Rottiers's assemblage of a variety of sites, and it's also showing well. Offering up aromas of dark cherries, spices, chocolate and truffles, it's medium to full-bodied, velvety and layered, with succulent acids, powdery tannins and a long, precise finish. |
|
|
2018 |
Moulin a Vent Champ de Cour ex-Domaine |
$29.95 |
36 |
|
| |
| WA 93+ (5/2020): Aromas of red plums, strawberries, orange rind and spices introduce the 2018 Moulin-à-Vent Champ de Cour, a medium to full-bodied, deep and layered wine that's tightly wound and structured, built around tangy acids and abundant but powdery tannins. This will round out to compelling effect with a few years in bottle. |
|
|
2018 |
Moulin a Vent Dernier Souffle ex-Domaine |
$24.95 |
36 |
|
| |
| WA 94 (5/2020): The 2018 Moulin-à-Vent Dernier Souffle is showing beautifully, bursting with aromas of orange rind, blackberries, cherries and spices. Medium to full-bodied, velvety and layered, it's deep and concentrated, with notable mid-palate volume, tangy acids and powdery tannins. Long and penetrating, this is a fabulous wine from Richard Rottiers that's well worth seeking out. |
|
|
2017 |
Moulin a Vent Foudres ex-Domaine |
$16.95 |
36 |
|
| |
JS 93 (1/2019): A beautifully rendered expression of this quite intense terroir. The spicy, fragrant lift is entrancing and there’s a very suave, supple, red-cherry core that is framed in some seriously regal tannins. From organically grown grapes. Drink or hold.
WA 92 (8/2019): Rottiers opted to entirely destem the 2017 Moulin-à-Vent Foudres because it was impacted by hail, and the wine has turned out well, offering up aromas of dark berry fruit, smoky cherries, potpourri and spices. On the palate, it's medium to full-bodied, with impressively refined tannins and an ample core of fruit that's complemented by savory, carnal nuances. |
|
|
2019 |
Moulin a Vent Mortperay ex-Domaine |
$24.95 |
36 |
|
| |
| WA 94 (8/2019): From a lieu-dit that touches Fleurie, next to Alain Coudert's Clos de la Roilette, the 2018 Moulin-à-Vent Montperay from Richard Rottiers is showing superbly, wafting from the glass with aromas of cherries, rose petals, violets and spices. On the palate, it's medium to full-bodied, velvety and layered, with lively acids and superb concentration, conveying an impression of completeness and balance that ranks it—for my palate—as one of Rottiers's finest wines in the last handful of years. |
|
| Georges Duboeuf |
2003 |
Domaine des Rosiers Moulin a Vent |
$20 |
2 |
|
| |
| WA 90-92 (6/2004): Candied red fruits can be detected in the aromatic profile of the fresh, lush 2003 Moulin-a-Vent Domaine des Rosiers. This sensual effort displays loads of red cherries, raspberries, and strawberries in its sultry, deep personality. Well-balanced and concentrated, this spicy wine is a candidate for drinking over the next 6 years. |
|
|
2003 |
Domaine des Rosiers Moulin a Vent No Label |
$20 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 90-92 (6/2004): Candied red fruits can be detected in the aromatic profile of the fresh, lush 2003 Moulin-a-Vent Domaine des Rosiers. This sensual effort displays loads of red cherries, raspberries, and strawberries in its sultry, deep personality. Well-balanced and concentrated, this spicy wine is a candidate for drinking over the next 6 years. |
|
|
2003 |
Domaine des Rosiers Moulin a Vent Torn Label |
$20 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 90-92 (6/2004): Candied red fruits can be detected in the aromatic profile of the fresh, lush 2003 Moulin-a-Vent Domaine des Rosiers. This sensual effort displays loads of red cherries, raspberries, and strawberries in its sultry, deep personality. Well-balanced and concentrated, this spicy wine is a candidate for drinking over the next 6 years. |
|
| Le Clos d'un Jour |
2005 |
Cahors Un Jour sur Terre |
$20 |
3 |
|
| |
|
| Lucien Lardy |
2018 |
Fleurie Les Roches ex-Domaine |
$20.99 |
36 |
|
| |
| VM 93 (10/2019): Translucent ruby color. Displays deeply perfumed red and blue fruits, candied violet and a hint of exotic spives on the expressive nose. In a weighty nut still energetic style, offering sweet boysenberry, black raspberry, floral pastille and spicecake flavors that tighten up steadily on the back half. Finishes with serious intensity, sharp detail and discreet tannins that come on late. Josh Raynolds. |
|
| Maison Alex Gambal |
2016 |
Cote de Brouilly ex-Domaine |
$29.99 |
21 |
|
| |
| BH 89-92 (4/2018): (100% whole clusters.) A peppery, game and earthy dark berry-suffused fruit nose slides gracefully into sleeker middle weight flavors that possess slightly better precision on the firm, youthfully austere and built-to-age finale. Unlike the prior examples, this will need at least a few years of bottle age to soften and round out. Drink 2023+. Outstanding Top Value! |
|
| Nicolas Boudeau |
2018 |
Brouilly Pierreux ex-Domaine |
$24.99 |
36 |
|
| |
| VM 92 (10/2019): Brilliant magenta. Assertive, sharply delineated aromas of mineral- and spice-tinged red berries, cherry and candied flowers, along with an exotic, emerging suggestion of blood orange. Bright, focused and nervy in style, offering palate-staining raspberry, bitter cherry and lavender pastille flavors and a building mineral quality. Finishes sweet, silky and impressively long, leaving floral, spice and smoky mineral notes behind. Josh Raynolds. |
|
| Pascal Aufranc |
2018 |
Chenas en Remont Vignes de 1939 ex-Domaine |
$17.99 |
36 |
|
| |
| VM 92 (10/2019): Deep, bright-rimmed violet color. Dark berries, cherry liqueur and candied licorice on the powerful, spice-accented nose. Open-knit and fleshy in style, offering spice-laced bitter cherry and cassis flavors and a smoky mineral nuance that expands with air. A subtle floral pastille note comes in on the gentle tannic finish, which lingers with resonating dark berry and floral character and strong, mineral-driven tenacity. Josh Raynolds. |
|
|
2018 |
Julienas Les Cerisiers ex-Domaine |
$19.99 |
36 |
|
| |
|
|
2017 |
Julienas Probus ex-Domaine |
$21.99 |
36 |
|
| |
| VM 92 (10/2019): Lurid magenta. Ripe red/blue fruit and floral scents on the deeply perfumed, smoke-tinged nose. Pliant, spicy and surprisingly lively for the year, displaying intense black raspberry and blueberry flavors that deepen and stretch out slowly with air. Shows sappy, seamless character on the gently tannic finish, which lingers with strong persistence and repeating florality. Josh Raynolds. |
|
| Patrick Tranchand |
2018 |
Saint-Amour Coeur de Gamay ex-Domaine |
$22.99 |
36 |
|
| |
| VM 91 (10/2019): Glistening purple. Smoke- and spice-accented aromas of boysenberry, cherry and candied flowers are energized by a building mineral quality. Vibrant red and blue fruit preserve, violet pastille and allspice flavors show very good focus and a hint of succulent herbs emerges on the back half. Finishes pliant, appealingly sweet and very long, displaying repeating florality, harmonious tannins and lingering mineral character. Josh Raynolds. |
|
| Richard Rottiers |
2016 |
Brouilly ex-Domaine |
$23.99 |
16 |
|
| |
VM 91 (3/2018): Brilliant ruby-red. Vibrant red currant, cherry and lavender aromas are complicated by hints of peppery spices and minerals. Lively and sharply focused on the palate, offering juicy raspberry and bitter cherry flavors and a spicy touch of cinnamon. Clings with very good intensity and focus on the sappy, youthfully tannic finish, which leaves a sweet red berry note behind. Josh Raynolds.
WA 91 (9/2018): The 2016 Brouilly isn’t quite as fruit-driven and gourmand as the 2017. Instead, it’s crunchier and more elegant, exhibiting notes of cassis, pencil lead and plums, followed by a velvety, succulent, medium-bodied palate. The choice between the two is largely a matter of taste. |
|
|
2019 |
Brouilly ex-Domaine |
$18.95 |
34 |
|
| |
| WA 92 (5/2020): The 2019 Brouilly offers up pretty aromas of raspberries, orange rind and rose petals, followed by a medium to full-bodied, ample and elegantly fleshy palate that's bright and lively, with fine depth at the core and a long, energetic finish. Once again, this cuvée has turned out very nicely. |
|
| | Italy |
| Antonio Vallana & Figlio |
2016 |
Colline Novaresi Spanna |
$16.95 |
15 |
|
| |
|
|
2009 |
Gattinara |
$35.99 |
3 |
|
| |
|
| Az. Agr. Il Carpino |
2015 |
Exordium Venezia Giulia IGT |
$39.99 |
9 |
|
| |
| WA 93 (8/2019): This is an extremely interesting off-gold wine from northeast Italy that drinks with the power and intensity of a red wine. The 2015 Exordium is a pure expression of Friulano. The wine puts special attention on mouthfeel, richness and persistence. Like the other wines in this portfolio, this expression sees up to 14 days of skin maceration. The finished wine then ages in large oak casks for 12 months. Friulano is already remarkable in its naked state thanks to its special richness and texture. However, this wine is even more elaborate. I would recommend putting it aside for a few more years. Some 5,000 bottles were produced. |
|
| Azelia |
2018 |
Langhe Nebbiolo |
$19.99 |
36 |
|
| |
| WA 89 (7/2020): Unlike many of its peers, the Azelia 2018 Langhe Nebbiolo is aged only in steel, resulting in a soft, fresh and slightly downplayed expression of the grape. The wine is characterized by its simplicity and a bouquet that hits all the basics but doesn't attempt to offer any special intensity or precision. It's just Nebbiolo, the kind of bright and cheerful wine to pair with a cheese platter and crackers. About 15,200 bottles were produced. |
|
| Benevelli Piero |
2011 |
Barolo Ravera |
$45 |
2 |
|
| |
| VM 88 (12/2015): Benevelli's 2011 Barolo Ravera is powerful and intense, although the forward aromas and flavors suggest it is on a relatively fast aging curve. Cedar, tobacco, worn-in leather, herbs and smoke wrap around a core of dark fruit with roasted overtones. My impression is that the fruit will fade before the tannins have a chance to soften. Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Casaloste |
1994 |
Chianti Classico Riserva Lightly Water/Wetness-Stained Label |
$35 |
2 |
|
| |
| VM 88 (1/1999): Good deep red. Cherry, tobacco, chocolate and a hint of tea on the nose. Rich, sweet and generous, with moderately concentrated cherry fruit and good density for the vintage. Has enough mid-palate material to support the substantial dusty tannins. Stephen Tanzer. |
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| Col d' Orcia |
1990 |
Olmaia Cabernet Sauvignon |
$50 |
5 |
|
| |
|
| Conti Brandolini d'Adda |
2003 |
Friuli Grave Merlot Vistorta |
$25 |
5 |
|
| |
|
| Drei Dona (Tenuta la Palazza) |
1995 |
Magnificat Cabernet Sauvignon |
$40 |
6 |
|
| |
| VM 92+ (1/2000): Deep ruby. Extremely backward nose hints at raw crushed dark berries and minerals. Very concentrated, primal, sweet flavors of crushed berries. Impressive density and depth for Italian cabernet. Finishes very long, with huge but sweet palate-saturating tannins. Stephen Tanzer. |
|
| Ettore Fontana |
1999 |
Barolo |
$50 |
23 |
|
| |
|
| Fattoria Cinciano |
2016 |
Chianti Classico Riserva |
$27.99 |
7 |
|
| |
|
| Feudi di San Gregorio |
2003 |
Serpico |
$45 |
15 |
|
| |
| WS 90 (7/2006): A sturdy, chewy Aglianico, with bright berry fruit, mingled with floral, mineral and sweet tobacco notes. Medium- to full-bodied, with an intense bead of fruit, firm young tannins and a long, ultraclean mineral finish. Slightly less opulent than years past but excellent. Needs time. Best after 2008. 7,000 cases made. |
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| Franco Molino |
2015 |
Barolo |
$24.50 |
21 |
|
| |
|
|
2013 |
Barolo Rocche dell Annunziata Riserva |
$39.99 |
16 |
|
| |
|
| Girolamo Russo |
2018 |
Etna Bianco Nerina |
$34.99 |
19 |
|
| |
| WA 91 (10/2019): The 2018 Etna Bianca Nerina is subdued at first, but then it leads to a linear and sharp bouquet that features lemon zest, pear, white peach and crushed stone. A blend of mostly Carricante with Catarratto, Minnella, Inzolia, Grecanico and Coda di Volpe, the wine offers all the components necessary to peg it to the volcanic soils of Etna, and this is something Beppe Russo achieves with pinpoint precision. This vintage shows slightly, just a hair, less depth than some of its predecessors, but a near to medium-term drinking cycle and a grilled filet of striped bass will do it justice. |
|
| Ilatium Morini |
2018 |
Soave Campo le Calle |
$12.99 |
24 |
|
| |
|
| Le Piane |
2013 |
Mimmo Vino Rosso |
$27.99 |
17 |
|
| |
|
|
2012 |
Piane Vino Rosso |
$44.99 |
2 |
|
| |
| VM 90-92 (4/2016): The 2012 Piane Vino Rosso (formerly Colline Novaresi) is deep, powerful and intense, almost unusually so for a Croatina-based wine. Plum, black stone fruit, licorice and smoke meld together in a pliant, resonant red full of personality. Hints of sweet herb and tobacco emerge on the finish, but this is a distinctly deep wine that will require time in bottle to develop its full range of aromatics. Tasted from barrel. |
|
| Maison Anselmet |
2004 |
Torrette Henri Syrah |
$39 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Marchesi di Barolo |
2010 |
Barbaresco |
$49.99 |
2 |
|
| |
| WA 92 (6/2013): The 2010 Barbaresco offers a classic portrait of a beautiful wine in a celebrated vintage. There’s not much to criticize here: The fruit is fleshy and lively, the aromas are intense and well-defined, and the finish is long and juicy. There’s a playful dusting of white pepper that works exceptionally well to add focus and overall sharpness. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2025. |
|
| Montalbera |
2009 |
Monferrato LAccento Ruche di Castagnole Slightly Depressed Cork |
$29 |
2 |
|
| |
|
|
2012 |
Monferrato LAccento Ruche di Castagnole |
$20 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Orma |
2005 |
Orma Toscana IGT Slightly Raised Cork; Bin-Soiled Label |
$49 |
1 |
|
| |
| WS 91 (12/2007): Dark in color, with intense aromas of blackberry and black licorice, with hints of oak and an earthy undertone. Full-bodied, with velvety tannins, a long finish and a round, caressing texture. The debut wine for Sette Ponti from Bolgheri. Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. Not imported into the U.S. Best after 2009. 1,000 cases made. |
|
| Pievalta |
2014 |
Verdicchio Castelli Jesi |
$17.99 |
5 |
|
| |
|
| Pio Cesare |
2007 |
Langhe Oltre |
$25 |
2 |
|
| |
|
| Poggio Maestrino e Spiaggiole |
2017 |
Morellino di Scansano Spiaggiole |
$19.99 |
7 |
|
| |
|
|
2018 |
Morellino di Scansano Spiaggiole |
$14.99 |
17 |
|
| |
|
| Renieri |
2013 |
Re di Renieri Toscana IGT |
$30 |
4 |
|
| |
| WS 88 (12/2016): The plum, black cherry, menthol, thyme and spice flavors are backed by firm tannins. The finish leans toward the rustic camp, with moderate length. Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Drink now through 2020. 2,000 cases made. |
|
| Rocca di Castagnoli |
2015 |
Chianti Classico Riserva Poggio aFrati |
$24.99 |
36 |
|
| |
| JS 94 (7/2018): A Chianti Classico with serious density and richness. Yet, this remains fresh and energetic. Medium to full body, a solid core of fruit and a long, flavorful finish. Drink or hold. |
|
| Rocche Costamagna |
2016 |
Barolo |
$38.99 |
7 |
|
| |
| JS 93 (7/2020): Complex aromas of cedar, tea, tile and plums follow through to a medium body with round, creamy tannins and a savory finish. Really balanced already. Lovely young Barolo. Why wait? Drink or hold. |
|
| Sottimano |
2018 |
Barbera dAlba Pairolero ex-Domaine |
$19.99 |
36 |
|
| |
| WA 93 (7/2020): The Sottimano 2018 Barbera d'Alba Superiore Pairolero offers more richness and concentration, painting a dark and sultry portrait of this popular grape from Piedmont. Fruit is drawn from old vines planted in the Basarin vineyard. Sottimano pushes for longer maceration times on all its wines, building the slow-release intensity and depth that characterizes this collection. Wild cherry and plum are backed by light spice and potting soil. The aromatic ensemble is elegant and lasting. There is hint of sweet berry on the fresh close. |
|
|
2018 |
Langhe Nebbiolo (1.5 L) ex-Domaine |
$46.99 |
13 |
|
| |
| WA 90+ (6/2019): They did not make this wine in 2017 because of hail damage, but the 2018 Langhe Nebbiolo turned out quite elegant and fine. The vines are about 15 years old here, and yet you pick up very refined notes. Again, we're dealing with an ample 30 days of maceration and ten days of submerged cap, similar to every Barbaresco they make, but the difference here is you don't need perfect skins like you do with the other expressions. It's one of those wines that leaves a few unanswered questions, and even Andrea Sottimano is left a little perplexed when trying to come up with a comparison for this wine, surmising only that the elegant nature is due to the long maceration times. At any rate, the 2016 vintage is definitely more classic in its approach and has more power than this, but the 2018 is its own mysterious thing. Some 22,000 bottles were made. |
|
|
2019 |
Langhe Nebbiolo ex-Domaine |
$22.99 |
36 |
|
| |
| WA 92 (7/2020): Here's a terrific wine to serve at informal dinners, like a meal served outdoors under patio lights on a warm summer night. The Sottimano 2019 Langhe Nebbiolo delivers chiseled and focused aromas with a leading mineral component of crushed limestone or calcium, backed by delicate forest berry, tar and fresh licorice root. Don't underestimate the wine's simplicity. It comes off as slender and streamlined, but those fluid aromas grow and shift with time in the glass. |
|
|
2019 |
Mate Brachetto ex-Domaine |
$17.99 |
17 |
|
| |
| WA 91 (7/2020): After I sampled the previous vintage of this wine last year, the memory of that tasting returned to me various times throughout the course of the year. I am excited to find myself in front of the Sottimano 2019 Maté. I am enchanted by this still version of old-vine Brachetto, a grape often used to make sweet, semi-sparkling wines. This special wine is made from a lost clone of the variety. The bouquet is vivid and sharp with wild rose, cassis, fragoline di bosco and bitter almond. I can't claim that this is an important wine, because it is not in terms of structure or complexity, but it is a fascinating wine with lots of authentic, charming and food-friendly personality. |
|
| Spiaggole |
2014 |
Morellino di Scansano Spiaggiole |
$14.99 |
2 |
|
| |
|
| Tenuta del Barone |
2007 |
Toscana IGT Old Signs of Seepage; Very Lightly Bin-Soiled Label |
$49 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 88 (6/2012): The 2007 Tenuta del Barone is a plump, juicy wine bursting with dark red cherries, French oak, plums and espresso. It is a typical Maremma wine in its generous, enveloping personality, but it is also quite forward and not built for the long haul. The blend is 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc that spends 24 months in barrique. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2014. |
|
| Tenuta di Ghizzano |
1999 |
Nambrot Toscana IGT |
$45 |
11 |
|
| |
| WS 86 (7/2001): Plenty of berry and vanilla aromas in this young wine. Medium-bodied, with velvety tannins and a coconut and berry character. Slightly too much new wood, but pleasant. Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. Best after 2003. 700 cases made. |
|
|
1999 |
Nambrot Toscana IGT Lightly Nicked Label |
$45 |
1 |
|
| |
| WS 86 (7/2001): Plenty of berry and vanilla aromas in this young wine. Medium-bodied, with velvety tannins and a coconut and berry character. Slightly too much new wood, but pleasant. Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. Best after 2003. 700 cases made. |
|
| Tenuta San Guido |
2018 |
Guidalberto |
$39.95 |
4 |
|
| |
JS 91 (5/2020): Easy and layered with cherry and chocolate aromas and flavors. Medium body, soft tannins and a savory finish. Drink now.
WS 90 (10/2020): This red combines cherry and blackberry fruit with hints of earth and wild herbs, framed by a light oaky undertone. Firm and linear, with fine balance and a lingering finish. Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Drink now through 2024. 17,200 cases made, 4,000 cases imported. |
|
| Tenuta Santa Maria alla Pieve |
2001 |
Decima Aurea IGT |
$35 |
2 |
|
| |
|
|
2001 |
Decima Aurea IGT Lightly Bin-Soiled Label |
$35 |
2 |
|
| |
|
| Tenuta Santome |
NV |
Prosecco Extra Dry |
$10.99 |
36 |
|
| |
|
| | Bordeaux Red |
| Ch. Bellefont Belcier |
2015 |
St. Emilion ex-Negociant |
$43.99 |
|
Sold Out
|
| |
|
|
2017 |
St. Emilion 2017 en Primeur Release |
$45 |
|
Sold Out
|
| |
|
| Ch. Dauzac |
2017 |
Margaux 2017 en Primeur Release |
$49.99 |
|
Sold Out
|
| |
|
| Ch. Latour Martillac |
2017 |
Pessac-Leognan 2017 en Primeur Release |
$39.99 |
|
Sold Out
|
| |
|
| Connetable Talbot |
2016 |
St. Julien ex-Negociant |
$31.45 |
|
Sold Out
|
| |
|
| | Burgundy Red |
| Dom. Ponsot |
2006 |
Bourgogne Pinot Noir Cuvee du Pinson |
$45 |
|
Sold Out
|
| |
|
| Lionel Dufour |
2000 |
Gevrey-Chambertin |
$50 |
|
Sold Out
|
| |
|
| | Rhone Red |
| Dom. de Mourchon |
2019 |
Cotes du Rhone Villages Seguret Loubie Rose ex-Domaine |
$14.99 |
|
Sold Out
|
| |
|
| Paul Jaboulet Aine |
2018 |
Crozes Hermitage Dom. de Thalabert ex-Domaine |
$29.99 |
|
Sold Out
|
| |
|
| Xavier Vins |
2007 |
Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Anonyme Bin-Soiled Label |
$45 |
|
Sold Out
|
| |
|
|
2010 |
Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Anonyme |
$50 |
|
Sold Out
|
| |
|
| | Rhone White |
| Mourchon |
2019 |
Cotes du Rhone Blanc La Source ex-Domaine |
$16.99 |
|
Sold Out
|
| |
|
| | Champagne |
| Lilbert-Fils |
NV |
Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Cramant Champagne |
$44 |
|
Sold Out
|
| |
|
| | Loire |
| Dom. Bourillon-Dorleans |
1989 |
Vouvray La Coulee dOr Tris de Noble Grains Moelleux |
$45 |
|
Sold Out
|
| |
|
| Dom. Francois Cotat |
2019 |
Sancerre Les Caillottes |
$38.95 |
|
Sold Out
|
| |
|
| | Other France |
| Clos de la Roilette |
2019 |
Fleurie |
$20.99 |
|
Sold Out
|
| |
|
| | Italy |
| Caprili |
2016 |
Brunello di Montalcino |
$39.89 |
|
Sold Out
|
| |
|
| Goretti |
2007 |
Sagrantino di Montefalco |
$30 |
|
Sold Out
|
| |
|
| La Spinetta |
2000 |
Barbera dAlba Gallina |
$49 |
|
Sold Out
|
| |
|
| Podere Poggio Scalette |
2016 |
Il Carbonaione |
$39.99 |
|
Sold Out
|
| |
|
| Sottimano |
2016 |
Barbera dAlba Pairolero (1.5 L) ex-Domaine |
$41.99 |
|
Sold Out
|
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