Newsletter
December 15, 2023 – January 17, 2024
Able Barolo
2019 Barolo ‘Albe’ (Vajra)
Regular Price $41.99 –
Sale Price $33.99 NET
Seafaring Saint-Julien
2019 Saint-Julien (Amiral de Beychevelle)
Regular Price $49.99 –
Sale Price $39.99 NET
Amiral de Beychevelle is the second label of the Cru Classé Saint-Julien Château Beychevelle. In 2019 they produced a saturated, dark red with deep fruit, ripe tannins, and admirable structure. A great bottle to open now with a rib roast.
Le Buster Shot
2022 Sancerre ‘Les Monts Damnés/Cuvée Buster’ (Thomas-Labaille)
Regular Price $44.99 –
Sale Price $35.99 NET
Thomas–Labaille’s Sancerre from the imposingly steep Monts Damnés vineyard in the village of Chavignol is always a treat. In a very good year the proprietor will bottle a single vineyard, old vine selection labeled Cuvée Buster and we buy as much as we can. The 2022 is a ripe, rounded Sauvignon Blanc with pear fruit and an earthy undertow of minerality.
Le Mesnil
NV Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs (Le Mesnil)
Regular Price $49.99 –
Sale Price $39.99 NET
The village of Le Mesnil is a Grand Cru site for Champagne made from Chardonnay. Producers like Krug, Salon, and Delamotte make examples with triple-digit prices. Then there is the Cave Cooperative that ensures that this great village has a Grand Cru for the masses. The current release is a bit fuller and richer but retains its racy Blanc de Blancs character. Terrific with smoked fish.
Doubly Drouhin
2020 Puligny-Montrachet Ier Cru ‘Folatières’ (Drouhin)
Regular Price $159.99 –
Sale Price $124.99 NET
2017 Beaune Rouge Ier Cru ‘Grèves’ (Drouhin)
Regular Price $124.99 –
Sale Price $99.99 NET
Drouhin operates both as a négociant and a vineyard owner. Their Puligny Premier Cru Folatières comes mostly from grapes purchased from the legendary Paul Pernot and it is nearly as good as Pernot’s own rendition. The 2020 is a gorgeous white with a deep earthy flavor along with gentle oak and subtle fruit. 
Drouhin’s Beaunes are some of the best reds in their portfolio. Clos des Mouches is their signature Beaune, but right behind it is their lovely Premier Cru Grèves. The 2017 is a mature red with incredible depth of fruit and a long minerally finish. A wine of tremendous finesse.
Les Olivets du Sabon
2021 Châteauneuf-du-Pape ‘Les Olivets’ (Roger Sabon)
Regular Price $44.99 –
Sale Price $35.99 NET
The Sabon family name is legend in Châteauneuf-du-Pape. We just tasted the newly arrived 2021 Les Olivets and found it delicious. It has a lively herbal aroma, fresh fig fruit, and finishes with olives, minerals, and more herbs. Great for a roasted leg of lamb.
Illahe
2022 Willamette Valley Pinot Noir (Illahe)
Regular Price $31.99 –
Sale Price $24.99 NET
Illahe’s small lot Pinot Noir is excellent in the 2022 vintage. They adhere to strict vineyard principles such as using horses instead of tractors, hand picking the grapes, and employing native yeast fermentation. The result is an earthy and graceful Pinot Noir that is a fine match with salmon.
He’s a Rebholz
2021 Pfalz Weisser Burgunder (Weingut Ökonomierat Rebholz)
Regular Price $29.99 –
Sale Price $23.99 NET
Listed prices are honored through January 17th, 2024. We will not honor mistyped prices. Vol. 48, No. 1
The first wineries of Rioja were located near the train station in Haro. These producers were busy shipping their wines to France, where phylloxera had laid waste to the vineyards. Muga’s new Crianza refers to this important part of Rioja history. This 2019 Crianza has a lovely spicy plum aroma along with generous oak and a complex, dry finish. Another excellent traditional Rioja from Muga.
In Ian D’Agata’s impressive book Italy’s Native Wine Grape Terroirs, he emphatically states that “Chianti Classico is where you’ll find some of Italy’s greatest red wines.”
Is it Zinfandel or is it Primitivo? How about Tribidrag? DNA profiling has now established that Zinfandel/Primitivo was growing in Croatian vineyards in the 1500s before its journey to Italy and then California. Nonetheless, you’re now much more likely to find good, full-bodied red from Puglia or Sonoma. This month we have Castello Monaci’s delicious Pilùna. The 2021 is dark and fruity with a peppery spice. Great for pizza and BBQ. 
Not all occasions call for Champagne, in fact sometimes a simpler sparkling wine can be a fine choice to carry through a multi-course dinner with varied dishes. Our choice this season is the Crémant de Bourgogne from Dampt. Their current release is a blend of Pinot Noir (80%) and Chardonnay, which make a toasty and dry bubbly with zesty lemon and strawberry fruit.
Long before the Médoc was dredged and drained, wines from the historic Graves region were being shipped abroad. As the city of Bordeaux grew, the production of Graves shrank. Then in 1987 Graves was split into two. The northern part became Pessac-Léognan and claimed many superior properties including Haut-Brion and Domaine de Chevalier. There are several other fine Pessac-Léognan properties where value can be found. Here we have Domaine de la Grâce d’Ornon, the second label of Pontac-Monplaisir. Their 2016 is a smooth, mature, rich red with a classic earthy and dry finish.
Cantina del Pino is a cornerstone Barbaresco estate. Fortunately they also make delicious and affordable Dolcetto and Barbera. The house style is one of restraint and lightness. The 2020 Barbera Superiore is juicy and crisp with berry fruit and a lively dry finish. A great food-matching wine with braised stews and polenta.
There is little doubt that 
Even though we intend to find a red port to feature during this time of year, we somehow find ourselves gravitating back to the Carvalho family and their delicious white ports. Their 10-year possesses a charming combination of honey, flowers, candied nuts, and golden raisins. With a slight chill, it’s a perfect companion to fruit tarts, rich pâtés, and cheeses such as Comté. We also brought in a limited amount of their 20-year white Port which reveals the kaleidoscopic depth an extra decade of time can create. This is one to enjoy on its own. 
The industrious winegrowers of the Cave de Lugny once again deliver a wonderful Mâcon value. Their 2022 unoaked Chardonnay is solidly concentrated and fully dry.
2021 Bordeaux Rouge (Château Grand Billard)