Wines (48 View)
Wines (48 View)
Shopping Options
62 products
Bodega Anaia Mendoza Grand Assemblage 2017
Bodegas 501 Gades Pedro Ximenex Viejo Sherry NV
Bodegas 501 Gades Pedro Ximenex Viejo Sherry NV
Regular priceYour Price: $36.99
Available: 14
Where: Sherry, Spain
Why: Because for the money this is one of the most intense PX’s we’ve ever tasted. Why? Lets start with honeyed raisins, oranges and almonds. Then there’s chocolate and coffee and figs. But that’s just the sugar talking. After those candied notes hit you they give way to salt, herbs, coffee grounds, tar and licorice. The flavor show does not stop... ever.
W07125
Spain
Sherry
.750L
Bodegas Protos Reserva Ribera del Duero 2016
Bodegas Protos Reserva Ribera del Duero 2016
Regular priceYour Price: $36.97
Available: 20
This red has focus and depth, in an austere style that remains balanced and fresh. Black cherry fruit lurks beneath espresso, licorice and black pepper flavors, supported by firm, well-integrated tannins and juicy acidity.
W04244
Spain
Ribera del Duero
Red
2016
Tempranillo
.750L
Bodegas Riojanas Monte Real Gran Reserva 2010
Bodegas Riojanas Monte Real Gran Reserva 2010
Regular price Regular Price: $44.99 Sale priceYour Price: $39.97
Save $5.02
Available: 43
All tertiary and balsamic aromas, the nose of the 2010 Monte Real Gran Reserva exploded in a mixture of cigar ash, incense, cold bonfire, used leather and forest floor. The palate was round and polished with some dusty tannins that should welcome some food.
100% Tempranillo from Cenicero. Classical vinification with destalked, crushed grapes, using new fermentation technologies and long maceration periods. Aged for 18 months in American oak barrels with the appropriate rackings and natural stabilization. Aged in the bottle for at least 6 months before release.
W10941
Spain
Rioja
Red
2010
.750L
yes
Bodegas Vatan Toro 2020
Bodegas Vatan Toro 2020
Regular price Regular Price: $41.99 Sale priceYour Price: $37.97
Save $4.02
Available: 106
94 points Vinous
The 2020 Vatan comes from exceptionally old vines in the Quemaos vineyard situated in the Villaester de Abajo area. Aged for 20 months in French oak barrels, it displays a dark purple color. The balsamic nose reveals plums, sour cherries and subtle blackberries over a cedar layer. Rich, creamy and juicy on the palate, the supple tannins and mild intensity leads to a nuanced, enduring finish. This is a vibrant interpretation of a successful year in Toro. Drinking Window: 2025-2040
W10474
Spain
Toro
Red
2020
Tina da Toro
.750L
Camus-Bruchon Savigny-les-Beaune Pimentiers Vieilles Vignes Rouge 2021
Camus-Bruchon Savigny-les-Beaune Pimentiers Vieilles Vignes Rouge 2021
Regular price Regular Price: $43.99 Sale priceYour Price: $39.97
Save $4.02
Available: 8
from 90+ year old vines). A very subtle application of wood lurks in the background of the red and dark currant, plum and floral-scented nose. The sleek, delicious and attractively delineated flavors possess better volume though not necessarily better mid-palate density as this too is on the lighter side. This easy going and mildly rustic effort should also drink well on the younger side. - Burghound
W20884
France
Red
2021
.750L
Cartuxa Tinto Reserva 2017
Cartuxa Tinto Reserva 2017
Regular price Regular Price: $44.99 Sale priceYour Price: $39.97
Save $5.02
Available: 28
70/30 blend of Alicante Bouschet and Trincadeira, aged for 15 months in new French oak. It comes in at 14.5% alcohol. Far more elegant and graceful than the regular Tinto, this is equally powerful but not as jammy, not as dense and far fresher. Here, the fruit is expressed better. There is still intensity of flavor, without the same heaviness, without the same stolid demeanor. It's tightly wound and beautifully balanced. This is nicely done.
W00279
Portugal
Evora
Red
2017
Alicante Bouschet
.750L
Charles Le Bel 1818 Inspiration Brut Champagne NV
Charles Le Bel 1818 Inspiration Brut Champagne NV
Regular priceYour Price: $31.97
Available: 59
Every year, Billecart-Salmon vinifies base wines from a greater number of parcels than it actually needs for the production of its main cuvees. The tasting committee tastes each of these base wines and selects only the ones that match the standard and the style of Billecart-Salmon. Some of the wines that are not selected are bottled to be part of a second wine from the house, Inspiration 1818.
W20387
France
Champagne
Sparkling
.750L
Chateau Carbonnieux Pessac-Leognan Blanc 2021
Chateau Carbonnieux Pessac-Leognan Blanc 2021
Regular price Regular Price: $42.99 Sale priceYour Price: $37.97
Save $5.02
Available: 11
The 2021 Carbonnieux Blanc has a relatively spicy bouquet, very slight touches of muscat filtering through the citric fruit. The palate is medium-bodied with a spicy entry and good weight. Persistent in the mouth, leaving behind a long, saline aftertaste. This is another excellent dry white Bordeaux.
W20493
France
Bordeaux
White
2021
.750L
Chateau de Camensac Haut Medoc 2020
Chateau de Camensac Haut Medoc 2020
Regular price Regular Price: $44.99 Sale priceYour Price: $36.97
Save $8.02
Available: 19
93 points Wine Enthusiast
Barrel Sample. Dense tannins and dark chocolate flavors already highlight the wine's texture. That's at the expense of some of the fruitiness that should be in the background. This suggests it will develop with a dry core that will need to soften.
92 points James Suckling
Attractive aromas of black cherries and blackberries with dark chocolate, black licorice, cedar and wet earth. Some raw mushroom, too. Medium- to full-bodied with very fine and slightly chewy tannins. Lingering finish. 53% cabernet sauvignon and 47% merlot. Drink from 2025.
PJ00031
France
Bordeaux
Red
2020
.750L
Cockburns 10 Year Old Tawny Porto NV
Cockburns 10 Year Old Tawny Porto NV
Regular priceYour Price: $31.99
Available: 29
With flavors of dried figs, apricots and crushed hazlenuts, this tawny port -- a blend of mostly old vintages with a few more recent annums blended in to liven things up a bit -- manages to purport richness on the palate, but with a fresh, fine finish that feels deliciously bright instead of weighty. We love this with a post-meal plate of salty, nutty cheeses and nuts, or served slightly chilled for a pre-dinner appetite rev. -- PJ
W19409
Portugal
Port
.750L
Domaine Carneros by Taittinger Brut Sparkling Wine 2019
Domaine Carneros by Taittinger Brut Sparkling Wine 2019
Regular price Regular Price: $36.99 Sale priceYour Price: $32.97
Save $4.02
Available: 49
93 points Wine Spectator
Alluring for its sleek polish and precision, this sparkler has tiers of Asian pear, strawberry, fresh almond and ginger flavors that unfurl slowly. Drink now
W10859
US
California
Sparkling
2019
.750L
Domaine Daniel Etienne Defaix Chablis Vieilles Vignes 2020
Domaine Daniel Etienne Defaix Chablis Vieilles Vignes 2020
Regular price Regular Price: $39.99 Sale priceYour Price: $35.97
Save $4.02
Available: 29
W21696
France
Burgundy
White
2020
Chardonnay
.750L
Domaine Saint Damien Gigondas Vieilles Vignes 2021
Domaine Saint Damien Gigondas Vieilles Vignes 2021
Regular price Regular Price: $35.99 Sale priceYour Price: $30.97
Save $5.02
Available: 30
93-95 points Vinous
Vivid ruby. A highly fragrant bouquet evokes candied red fruits, smoky minerals and lavender; a spicy nuance builds as the wine opens up. Sappy and penetrating on the palate, juicy raspberry, cherry and floral pastille flavors show good heft, seamless texture and real energy. It finishes spicy and impressively long, with sneaky tannins adding a final grip. This is shaping up to be a highly impressive entry-level bottling, which is not surprising given that this is the only Gigondas that will be bottled this year, so all the juice from the Louisiane and Souteyrades is going into this wine. Get it, lots of it, if you can. Raised in neutral, 50 hectoliter oak.
91-93 points Jeb Dunnuck
The 2021 Gigondas Vieilles Vignes is a normal blend of 80% Grenache and 20% Mourvèdre that's from older vines around the estate, on the lower plateau of Gigondas. A pure, pretty, elegant wine, its medium purple hue is followed by notions of darker berries, violets, and ground pepper. It's balanced, has fine tannins, and is just another fresher, pretty 2021 that will drink nicely in its youth.
W21275
France
Rhone
Red
2021
.750L
Domaine Vincent Paris Les Cotes Saint Joseph Rouge 2022
Domaine Vincent Paris Les Cotes Saint Joseph Rouge 2022
Regular price Regular Price: $36.99 Sale priceYour Price: $30.97
Save $6.02
Available: 117
We had fifty wines as contenders for our Wine of the Year this year, but only one can come out on top. Domaine Vincent Paris wowed us with his Les Cotes Saint Joseph and it was the clear winner. The first thing you will notice is the elegant profile in the glass, this is clearly not Syrah from southern France. This Saint Joseph is a wine of subtlety, layered nuance, and not a fruit bomb you might experience from this varietal in other parts of the world. For example, the alcohol is only 12.5% which is so integrated that you don’t even notice it. As the wine lingered in our glasses the traditional notes of northern Rhone Syrah unveiled themselves, showcasing garrigue and a savory animal fat component. On the palate, the wine builds and builds displaying pretty blackberry and cherry fruit with some white pepper intertwined. The finish is stoney and a bit rustic which adds so much charm to this very drinkable Saint Joseph.
"I like to drink this wine young, with fruit and freshness, but it can also be kept for around 10 years." - Vincent Paris
We absolutely adored this wine and we believe you will too! Domaine Vincent Paris’ wines have adorned our shelves many times over the years and we are proud to promote his 2022 Les Cotes aint Joseph. Enjoy!
Organic. 100% Syrah from 10 and 20 year old vines in Granitic soils at 300m in elevation. Prunes to only four bunches of grapes per vine (the norm is between five and seven) which concentrates the vines' growing power and cuts down on the need for green harvests. Ferments at low temps, vinfied 2/3 in barrel and 1/3 in tank. Aged in oak barrels for up to 12 months. Only 580-650 cases produced annually.
PJ00597
France
Rhone
Red
2022
Syrah
.750L
Dominio de Pingus PSI Ribera del Duero 2021
Dominio de Pingus PSI Ribera del Duero 2021
Regular price Regular Price: $34.99 Sale priceYour Price: $30.97
Save $4.02
Available: 73
The 2021 PSI is 90% Tempranillo and 10% Garnacha sourced from old vines planted in calcareous soils and was aged for up to 16 months in mostly sizeable French oak barrels. In the glass, it's garnet-red with a light purple sheen. The nose offers blood notes along with sour cherry and blackberry, intertwined with violets and dried flowers, resulting in a layered, complex profile. On the palate, it's dry and velvety. Chalky tannins define a compact mouthfeel and long-lasting fruit and floral flavors. The 2021 is a distinctive Ribera del Duero with excellent nuance and agility.
PJ00682
Spain
Red
2021
.750L
Dominio del Aguila Picaro Ribera del Duero Clarete 2020
Dominio del Aguila Picaro Ribera del Duero Clarete 2020
Regular price Regular Price: $39.99 Sale priceYour Price: $35.97
Save $4.02
Available: 16
95 points Wine Advocate
Jorge Monzon considers 2020 to be an almost prefect vintage, cool and fresh, reminiscent of the great 2016. The pink 2020 Picaro del Aguila Clarete was produced with 35% Tempranillo, 35% Albillo Mayor and the rest other local grape varieties (Garnacha, Bobal, Brunal, Monastrell, Tempranillo Gris, other Albillos, Garnacha Blanca, Pirules, Jaen, Moscatel, Malvasias...) found in the old vineyards. This is very different from your average rose, more like a serious light red or powerful white that slowly fermented during 11 months and matured in barrel for 18 months. The orange-ish/pink wine is still young and lively, with some notes of toasted sesame seeds and a faint flinty reduction a little a la Coche-Dury, reminiscent of some vintages of their superb white. This was bottled without being racked, and perhaps that's why it has this nice reduction and could be the finest vintage to date. It has a strong chalky aftertaste from the limestone-rich soils, which makes it a terroir white, but it's also very marked by the style (which they updated from the traditional wines in Aranda in the old times) of a unique wine. It's balanced and mellow but not a shy wine, with 14% alcohol and a pH of 3.26. I've tasted 15+-year-old bottles of wines of this style, and they were still lively, so this one should not be shorter lived. Unique. Given my experience with past vintages, I'd wait a little before pulling the cork here. 8,358 bottles and 151 magnums produced. It was bottled in February 2022.
"Their flagship "clarete" is produced with a blend of white and red grapes (35% Tempranillo, 35% Albillo and the rest of mixed varieties). They recovered this ancestral style of wine in the zone of Aranda de Duero, produced with grapes from very old organically farmed vineyards where there are a lot of varieties mixed in the field (Garnacha, Bobal, Bruñal, Monastrell, Tempranillo Gris, other Albillos, Garnacha Blanca, Pirulés, Jaén, Moscatel, Malvasías...), and they all fermented together with Tempranillo and the white Albillo to create what they describe as "a wine that is not a rosé and has aromas of white and the spirit of a red." The clusters are pressed directly and the must settles in concrete in their ancient caves, then it ferments slowly (over eight to nine months) in oak barrels, where the wine matured for a total of 17 months. This is a wine that ages magnificently in bottle, and together with the rosé from López de Heredia (that technically is also a "clarete"), these are the two most characterful and best pink wines produced in Spain today." - Wine Advocate
W21185
Spain
Ribera del Duero
Clarete
2020
.750L
Dominio del Aguila Ribera del Duero Picaro Tinto 2021
Felsina Berardenga Chianti Classico Riserva 2020
Felsina Berardenga Chianti Classico Riserva 2020
Regular price Regular Price: $36.99 Sale priceYour Price: $31.97
Save $5.02
Available: 20
#22. on The Wine Spectator Top 100 Wines of 2023!
94 points Wine Spectator
A solidly built red introduced by aromas of mint, lavender and wild rosemary. Shows cherry, raspberry, earth, iron, sanguine and tobacco flavors allied to an almost viscous texture as this cruises to the long finish. Impressive now, yet will be better in three to five years. Best from 2026 through 2045
PJ00640
Italy
Tuscany
Red
2020
Sangiovese
.750L
Francois Chidaine Montlouis Les Choisilles Sec 2020
Francois Chidaine Montlouis Les Choisilles Sec 2020
Regular price Regular Price: $41.99 Sale priceYour Price: $37.97
Save $4.02
Available: 20
91 points Vinous
The 2020 Les Choisilles offers a floral and pear-like aromatic character. It's round and ripe with good grip on the finish, which could be a result of the vintage having had little juice in it; the wines have excellent structure and fruit purity by Rebecca Gibb on 6/2022. Drinking window 2022-2032.
Old vines from the vineyards of Les Epinais, La Taille aux Loups and Clos au Renard. The wine is named after a type of black flint called choisille. Vinified sec in stainless steel using indigenous yeasts. Aged in a combination of tank and used demi-muids. The 2020 has 4.2 grams per liter residual sugar per liter and 3.75 grams per liter of Total Acidity.
PJ00662
France
Loire Valley
White
2020
Chenin Blanc
.750L
Frontaura Toro Reserva 2008
Frontaura Toro Reserva 2008
Regular price Regular Price: $41.99 Sale priceYour Price: $37.97
Save $4.02
Available: 12
W20410
Spain
Toro
Red
2008
.750L
yes
G.H. Mumm Cordon Rouge Brut Champagne NV
G.H. Mumm Cordon Rouge Brut Champagne NV
Regular priceYour Price: $39.97
Available: 52
"This champagne is a brightly sparkling, light golden yellow liquid with an abundance of fine and elegant bubbles. The nose reveals initial aromas of ripe fresh fruit (white and yellow peaches, apricots), tropical notes (lychee and pineapple). It then opens up with the fragrance of vanilla before developing notes of milky caramel, breadcrumbs and yeast, culminating in aromas of dried fruit and honey. An explosion of freshness in the mouth, followed by strong persistence. The complex aromas of fresh fruit and caramel perpetuate the intensity." Winemaker notes
A cuvee blended from 77 crus, every one unique. The grape variety traditionally used by Mumm, Pinot Noir (45%), endows the wine with structure and strength; Chardonnay blend (30%) that ensures both finesse and elegance. The fruity, sharp and well-rounded notes of Pinot Meunier (25%) complete the blend. A separate pressing and vinification for each grape variety and cru, to ensure a wide range of aromas and taste sensations. 25% to 30% addition of reserve wine which brings depth to the final blend. A residual sugar content of 8g/l to remain constant and true to the Maison MUMM style.
Georges Hermann Mumm is the man to whom we owe the House's iconic cuvee. In 1876, to assert the quality of its champagne, the House decided to adorn their bottles with a red silk ribbon, a reference to the Ordre de Saint Louis and to the Grand Cordon de la Legion d'Honneur. Its success was immediate: a symbol of Maison Mumm's excellence and expertise, the Cordon Rouge cuvee henceforth became a true benchmark all over the world.
W-00002005
France
Champagne
Sparkling
.750L
Grahams 10 Year Old Tawny Porto NV
Grahams 10 Year Old Tawny Porto NV
Regular priceYour Price: $33.97
Available: 18
This is rich on the nose, with candied fruit, fruitcake, toffee and maple syrup. Full-bodied and medium sweet, with a brilliant aftertaste of fruit and caramel. Lasts for minutes on your palate. - WS92
W-00002006
Portugal
Port
.750L
Guiseppe Mascarello Freisa Toetto 2020
Guiseppe Mascarello Freisa Toetto 2020
Regular price Regular Price: $43.99 Sale priceYour Price: $38.97
Save $5.02
Available: 5
The fruit comes from the Toetto vineyard in the village of Castiglione Falletto, which is very close to the famed Monprivato vineyard. This is a cheerful wine made from a grape that is little-known outside its native home but that is much loved locally. Beautiful wild cherry, flowers and hints of white pepper entice the palate. Fresh acidity equals a brightness that allows this wine to be enjoyed in it’s youth. The wine is matured in medium-sized Slavonian oak barrels for approximately 15 months. Only 425 cases were produced.
W21746
Italy
Piedmont
Red
2020
Freisa
.750L
J.B. Becker Eltviller Sonnenberg Spatlese Riesling 2021
J.B. Becker Eltviller Sonnenberg Spatlese Riesling 2021
Regular price Regular Price: $35.99 Sale priceYour Price: $30.97
Save $5.02
Available: 7
This is all pretty wild. What's really fascinating here is that these wines are a throwback to a style of wine that made the Rheingau famous in the 19th century - a style that most growers abandoned in the 20th century for any number of reasons. Yet I can't say I've tasted anything like these wines in the Rheingau, or in Germany. They are so anachronistic that the standard critical engagement feels a bit ridiculous. This is just a whole different thing. You have to taste it. The Sonnenberg is perhaps the most famous vineyard Hans Josef farms; von Simmern made some legendary wines from the site in the 1950s, 60s and 70s. The wines have undeniable elegance, including this one, yet part of the stock and trade of these wines is their textural quality matched to the brightness of Riesling, matched with the powerful acids of this vintage. Only around 20 grams residual sugar. - Importer
PJ00349
Germany
White
2021
.750L
J.B. Becker Wallufer Oberberg Spatlese Riesling 2021
J.B. Becker Wallufer Oberberg Spatlese Riesling 2021
Regular price Regular Price: $35.99 Sale priceYour Price: $30.97
Save $5.02
Available: 13
As noted in the Oberberg Auslese Trocken note, this is one of the more powerful vineyards Hans Josef farms. It also tends to have one of the higher acidities and that tracks here - compared to the Sonnenberg, the Oberberg is a bit more structured, a bit more linear and zippy.Only around 20 grams residual sugar. - Importer
PJ00350
Germany
White
2021
.750L
J.B. Becker Wallufer Walkenberg Spatlese Trocken Alte Reben Riesling 2021
J.B. Becker Wallufer Walkenberg Spatlese Trocken Alte Reben Riesling 2021
Regular price Regular Price: $37.99 Sale priceYour Price: $31.97
Save $6.02
Available: 11
Both of the dry Spätlesen - the "Spätlese Trocken" - are monuments to Becker and to his style. I've also tasted the "Alte Reben" or "old vine" Spätlese Trocken three times and this wine was even more linear and cut - you could say it was austere if it didn't have such obvious depth and texture. This is simply a great wine in its extreme youth. Decant now, or let's talk in fifteen years? Honestly who knows. I had a 1979 Kabinett Trocken from Hans Josef probably in 2020 that tasted like spring water so who knows. How about this: Drink 2025 to 2381? - Importer
PJ00347
Germany
White
2021
Riesling
.750L
Javier Revert Sensal Valencia Tinto 2020
Javier Revert Sensal Valencia Tinto 2020
Regular price Regular Price: $39.99 Sale priceYour Price: $36.97
Save $3.02
Available: 5
93+ points Wine Advocate
It was very interesting to taste the 2020 Sensal next to the 2019. The village red in this almost perfect harvest is a blend of Monastrell, Bonicaire, Arcos and Garnacha from older and younger vines fermented by plot with indigenous yeasts and a significant number of full clusters. The élevage lasted 10 months and was part in concrete, part in 300-liter oak barrels. The grapes achieved full ripeness and have plenty of aromas and flavors, with 13.59% alcohol, more Mediterranean while keeping the balance. This is what Sensal has to be, marked by the Monastrell, with that rustic touch of tree bark, with more color, concentration and power than the 2019 I tasted next to it. It has great depth and intensity, reflecting a superb Mediterranean vintage. 2,800 bottles were filled in July 2021.
Javi Revert is one of the best young winemakers from the Mediterranean zone of Spain. After years working for Celler del Roure, he started his own personal project. He also has a joint venture with a friend (also ex-Celler del Roure) and is the winemaker at Finca Sandoval. He has completed with plantings to have 10 hectares, half old vines planted by his grandfather and the other half planted by him, to have the grapes for the planned 25,000 bottles by 2026. He now makes some 12,000 bottles. He's conducting soils studies to achieve more precision in his wines. 2019 and 2020 were two very different vintages: 2019 had catastrophic torrential rains (the famous cold spell) of up to 300 liters in a few days in September in the middle of the harvest, whereas 2020 was a much better vintage, healthy and with very good quality, eminently Mediterranean.
Appellation: Valencia
Variety: Bonicaire, Garnacha, Monastrell, Arcos
Age of vines: 5-50
Farming: Practicing organic
Soil: Clay limestone, sand, gravel; altitude: 700 meters
Fermentation: Hand harvested, partially destemmed, natural yeast fermentation in amphorae and neutral French oak barrels
Aging: 10 months in neutral French oak barrels, amphorae, and glass demi-johns, bottled unfined with a light filtration, suitable for vegans
W20870
Spain
Valencia
Red
2020
.750L
Juan Gil 18 Meses Blue Label Jumilla 2020
Juan Gil 18 Meses Blue Label Jumilla 2020
Regular price Regular Price: $36.99 Sale priceYour Price: $30.97
Save $6.02
Available: 30
92+ points Wine Advocate
I also tasted the 2019 Juan Gil (blue label), the wine formerly known as 18 Months, the time it spends in barrel. They use 100% new oak that is a mixture of French and American. The wine is ripe, oaky and heady (15.5% alcohol), but I felt a change in the oak, which seemed more integrated. When I asked Miguel Gil, he told me they had changed the toast, using less toasted barrels, from medium+ to medium, and that shows in the wine. They still believe this wine should have new oak to give it aging potential. They have also introduced optical sorting of the grapes and eliminate the raisins (by shape) and the unripe grains (by color), and that adds precision and cleanliness. 30,000 bottles were produced. It was bottled in June 2021.
W19177
Spain
Jumilla
Red
2020
Blend
.750L
La Rioja Alta Vina Arana Gran Reserva Rioja 2015
La Rioja Alta Vina Arana Gran Reserva Rioja 2015
Regular price Regular Price: $45.99 Sale priceYour Price: $39.97
Save $6.02
Available: 5
Beautiful nose coconut cream, vanilla and mocha nose. Smooth and mellow on the rich and velvety palate with lots of sweet spices, dates and chocolate-covered currants. Long-lasting and utterly delicious.
95 points James Suckling
Aromas of dark plum, raspberry, mocha, mushroom, chocolate, mocha, coconut and cigar box. Full-bodied with ripe, fine tannins and bright acidity. Balanced and supple with a velvety texture. Coffee notes on the long, succulent finish. 95% tempranillo and 5% graciano. Drink or hold
94 points Vinous
Brilliant ruby. Energetic, spice- and smoke-accented black raspberry and candied cherry aromas are complemented by suggestions of rose oil, coconut and cured tobacco. Youthfully chewy and focused on entry, offering concentrated red and dark berry, cherry cola and candied licorice flavors that deepen steadily with air. Floral pastille and oak spice notes linger on the impressively long, smoke-tinged finish, which shows excellent clarity and polished tannins.
W21006
Spain
Rioja
Red
2015
.750L
La Rioja Alta Vina Ardanza Reserva Rioja 2016
La Rioja Alta Vina Ardanza Reserva Rioja 2016
Regular price Regular Price: $39.99 Sale priceYour Price: $33.97
Save $6.02
Available: 157
95 points James Suckling
Savory and complex with dried orange peel, cedar and plenty of sweet spices, walnuts, caramel, dried mushrooms and pine needles. Shows maturity here, with a medium body and superb freshness. Incredibly long finish with lots of truffle and walnut. Lasts over a minute. Very complete now, but you can still hold it.
94+ points Wine Advocate
The 2016 Viña Ardanza Reserva was produced with 80% Tempranillo and 20% Garnacha that matured in used American oak barrels for three years, where it was hand-racked from barrel to barrel six times in the case of Tempranillo and five times for the Garnacha, as it had a slightly shorter élevage of 30 months. Against all odds, I found the 2016 to be fresher than the 2015 and less developed, despite the fact that winemaker Julio Sáenz told me he considers it a warmer year. But I have found many wines I like in 2016, and the wine feels very clean and quite harmonious, younger and less developed, with more primary notes and a velvety mouthfeel. 600,000 bottles produced. The wine was bottled in June 2020.
PJ00359
Spain
Rioja
Red
2016
.750L
Lopez de Heredia Vina Bosconia Reserva Rioja 2011
Lopez de Heredia Vina Bosconia Reserva Rioja 2011
Regular price Regular Price: $39.99 Sale priceYour Price: $34.97
Save $5.02
Available: 27
A very complex, aged Rioja with savory plums, mushrooms, bark, red earth, orange peel and cedar. Quite juicy, fresh and bright on the palate with a tangy, zesty palate, full of berries and oranges. Firm, long and complex with a mouthwatering finish. Such a traditional taste! Drink now or hold.
92+ points Wine Advocate
2011 was a warmer and riper year, but there's not a huge difference between the 2011 Viña Bosconia Reserva and the 2010; this is perhaps mellower, with more integrated acidity. It's 13.5% alcohol with a pH of 3.3 and 6.7 grams of acidity measured in tartaric acid per liter, and it fermented in the 144-year-old oak vats and matured in used American oak barrels for five years. 88,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in May 2018.
W12005
Spain
Rioja
Red
2011
.750L
yes
Lopez de Heredia Vina Bosconia Reserva Rioja 2012
Lopez de Heredia Vina Bosconia Reserva Rioja 2012
Regular price Regular Price: $39.99 Sale priceYour Price: $34.97
Save $5.02
Available: 88
The 2012 Viña Bosconia Reserva is perhaps a little too young (María José López de Heredia likes more polished wines, and for her this wine was too tough), with some tannins and the chalky texture from the limestone soils. This blend of Tempranillo with 15% Garnacho and 5% between Graciano and Mazuelo matured in used American oak barrels for five years. 80,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in May 2019.
PJ00699
Spain
Rioja
Red
2012
.750L
yes
Marie Weiss Champagne Brut NV
Marie Weiss Champagne Brut NV
Regular price Regular Price: $36.99 Sale priceYour Price: $31.97
Save $5.02
Available: 73
A well-balanced Champagne, with a vibrant backbone of acidity and a creamy mousse, this offers spice and tea rose accents to the crushed white cherry, toasty and candied lemon zest flavors. Clean-cut finish.
A blend of 50% Pinot Noir, 25% Pinot Meunier and 25% Chardonnay from the Montagne de Reims and the Côte des Blancs; about half of the juice comes from 1er Cru and Grand Cru vineyards.
The Marie Weiss label is produced by the superb, small Champagne house of Ployez-Jacquemart, which is located in the small village of Ludes on the Montagne de Reims. The Marie Weiss bottling is produced entirely from purchased grapes or must, and the new release was quite a lovely bottle. The refined and complex nose wafts from the glass in a blend of apple, white peach, brioche, a nice touch of fresh nutmeg and a lovely base of chalky soil tones. On the palate the wine is full-bodied, crisp and wide open, with good mid-palate depth, lovely focus and complexity, elegant mousse and lovely balance on the long and classy finish. This is not quite as structured out of the blocks as the Ployez-Jacquemart Brut NV, which really is built to age long and gracefully, and the Marie Weiss is a lovely counterpoint from the Ployez family for those who really want to drink their bubbly right after it is purchased.
W20548
France
Champagne
Sparkling
.750L
Marques de Riscal Gran Reserva Rioja 2017
Marques de Riscal Gran Reserva Rioja 2017
Regular priceYour Price: $38.99
Available: 326
Spicy oak to the black berries, blueberries and plums. Pretty fluid despite the medium to full body with nicely chewy tannins. Fine-grained, structured and long.
W00265
Spain
Rioja
Red
2017
Tempranillo
.750L
Moet & Chandon Imperial Brut Champagne Blanc NV
Moet & Chandon Imperial Brut Champagne Blanc NV
Regular price Regular Price: $44.99 Sale priceYour Price: $39.97
Save $5.02
Available: 365
Round and fruity, like a good Macon Chardonnay. Shows apple and berry flavors in a soft yet balanced frame. Drink now. ?BS - WS87
W-00002194
France
Champagne
Sparkling
.750L
yes
Nicolas Feuillatte Champagne Brut Reserve NV
Nicolas Feuillatte Champagne Brut Reserve NV
Regular priceYour Price: $36.97
Available: 117
91 pts Wine Spectator
An aperitif-style Champagne, with flavors of creme de cassis, lemon curd and pastry riding a creamy mousse and framed by crisp, well-knit acidity. Drink now through 2020.
"It is composed of 20% of the Chardonnay grape variety, for elegance and delicacy, 40% of Pinot Noir, for roundness and structure and 40% of Pinot Meunier for fruitiness. Pale gold in color, abundance of delicate bubbles. Floral aromas of fruit with subtle predominance of white fruits: pear, apple, almonds and hazelnuts. Fresh opening, smooth, pleasant and balanced." Winemaker notes
W-00001974
France
Champagne
Sparkling
.750L