New Connoisseurs Connection Available  Updated March 12, 2014

Did you get yours! Stunning and in stock! 2008 Pertimali (Livio Sassetti) Brunello di Montalcino Reg $59.99 Sale $44.97 [#24 Wine Spectator Top 100 --- 94 pts Wine Spectator] For soulful, age-worthy reds that over-deliver in, well, practically every way, you absolutely MUST be drinking Brunello. The 2008 Pertimali, which earned a 94-point score and a spot on Wine Spectator's Top 100 of 2013, should be the poster child for why these wines are so dang impressive: •The combination of power and elegance, ripe fruit and nervy energy. Match the 2008 Pertimali with hearty Italian fare for a "wow" pairing. •History! For example, the Sassetti family has owned the Pertimali estate for over a century. Their command of their Montalcino cru - known for wines of balance and finesse - shines through in each bottle. •Let's not overlook price. Pertimali is one of Brunello's greatest bargains at its regular retail price, but for under $50, it's an absolute steal. Convinced? Those who know these wines will jump at today's great price on an in-demand collectible. If you haven't had the pleasure of a top-flight Brunello, it's a great time to join the party! Consumer Cellar Tracker & We agree! 94 pts 2008 Pertimali (Livio Sassetti) Brunello di Montalcino Literally dances on the palate – prunes and a tinge of raisin, driven home by a sharp acidity (that needs taming), with a truly delightful sense of age for a Brunello that is only 5 years old. It has well calibrated tannins and length that simply doesn’t stop – a gorgeous hint of leathery liquorice, and a sublime yet subtle sourness accompanied by a faintly metallic turn on the end – there is a complexity that teases here, real mystery that you won’t be able to get enough of. This wine has everything: minerality, stoniness, spice notes, straw, and I am convinced that it will only get better over the next 6-15 years. It is an immense value and should be collected and stored in serious quantities if at all possible. [tasted 3/2/2014] "Aromatic, suave and silky, boasting aromas and flavors of flowers, cherry, strawberry and leather, all boosted by bright acidity and firm, well-integrated tannins. Refined and long, with a lingering finish of mineral and spice." ----- "94 Points!! Rated 93 James Suckling “A wine with a lovely richness and roundness with ripe berries and chocolate, hints of nuts. Full body, with silky tannins and a fresh finish. Drink or hold. JS” “If I had only one Brunello to drink, it would be Pertimali. This producer has been making spectacular wines since 1982.” – Robert Parker The Wine Advocate is a dark ruby with crimson like reflections. The aroma of the wine is redolent of dark cherries, leather, cured meat and tobacco. It's reflective of the earthier side of Brunello. On the palate, the wine is medium to full bodied with a solid core of ripe black cherry fruit. Worn leather and salume are present as well. Some may find this "funky" but to me, it represents the more meaty side of Brunello. It's rustic and less "fresh" but do not read that as a negative quality. The wine is well structured and balanced and will reward cellaring for 5-8 years. This may not be everyone's cup of tea, but I really like it as a change of pace. It's rather different than many of the wines in this report. 92 points SRP ~ $55.

We have just seen the pricing on 2012 Burgundy: Ouch! Not even a great vintage! Our advice!!! Get these classics at great prices from 2 great vintages while you can! in stock & limited! 2009 Domaine Vincent Girardin Corton Renardes Reg $99.99 Sale $89.99 Sale $69.97 (2cs Only) 93 Points James Suckling!! 96 points, Tim Atkin.Vincent Girardin reduced the amout of new oak here in 2009 to allow the fruit to sing. It's got good structure, with smoky oak, aromatic plum and black cherry fruit and fine tannins. 4/2013 2010 Domaine Vinc Girardin CharmesChambertin Reg $199.99 Sale $149.97 (3cs Only) 94 points Wine Enthusiast #82/100 in Enthusiast Top 100 2012: Big and concentrated, this is packed with tannins and solid dark fruits. It’s powerful with a dark plum flavor and an impressive density of texture. Give it at least 7–10 years. Wine Enthusiast #82/100 in Enthusiast Top 100 2012 — (11/1/2012) — 94 Very aromatic with blackberry dried baking spice, and perfume notes; voluptuous, fine tannins, great concentration yet still elegant. Super. 92-93 2010 Henri Gouges Nuits St Georges 1er Cru Clos des Porrets St Georges 750’s Reg $99.99 Sale $89.99 Sale $69.97 (2cs Only) Arguably the most famous domaine in the Nuits St. Georges appellation, Domaine Henri Gouges has been in production since 1919. Most notably, Henri Gouges fought alongside the Marquis d’Angerville in the “war against fraud” in Burgundy in the 1920’s and 1930’s, leading to the delineation of crus. Today, Henri’s two grandsons, Christian and Pierre, own and manage the domaine, paying close attention to ecological preservation of their land for future generations of Gouges to come. Today the estate is run by Pierre and Christian Gouges and consists of just over 14.5 hectares, mostly in Nuits-Saint-Georges. The premier cru vineyard “Clos des Porrets St-Georges” is unique within Burgundy in that it’s a monopole vineyard, owned entirely by one domaine that gets to keep all the grapes for their bottling. Dense and with plenty of muscle yet at the same time bursting with juicy, sumptuous fruit flavours of plum, sloe, bullace and forest berry. This is structured, yet fleshy and sweet, with a complex, earthy, almost gravelly quality, set in a gripping but refined tannic structure. A 3.7-hectare monopole of Domaine Gouges; always one of the more classic muscular style Nuits of the region. 93 points, John Gilman, View From The Cellar, December 2011: The 2010 Clos des Porrets is a stunning wine in the making, soaring from the glass in a complex and sappy blend of red and black cherries, stony minerality, espresso, gamebirds, woodsmoke and a lovely topnote of violets. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied and sappy at the core, with brilliant soil inflection, firm, well-integrated tannins, excellent focus and balance and tangy acids perking up the very long, pure and properly reserved finish. A great vintage of Clos des Porrets. 2022-2065. 93+.90 -92 points, Burghound, January 2012: Reduction dominates the nose. By contrast to the funky nose, there is a lovely inner mouth perfume to the precise, intense and vibrant middle weight plus flavors that possess good volume. There is admirable persistence on the quite firm finish that is at once pure and actually rather refined, which is not always the case with this wine. Worth a look 91 -93 points, Stephen Tanzer's IWC, January 2012: Good full red. Redcurrant, raspberry, crushed stone and smoky minerality on the rather serious nose. At once silky and tangy in the mouth, with raspberry and stone flavors dominating. A step up in breadth and dimension from the foregoing wines, offering lovely inner-mouth perfume. Very representative of the south side of the village: "never with explosive fruit early," notes Gouges. Has the firm tannin/acid structure to age. This large Clos comprises 3.8 hectares of vines. 2010 Henri Gouges Nuits St Georges 1er Cru Les Pruliers Reg $109.99 Sale $89.99 Sale $69.97 (2cs Only) 93 points John Gilman, View From The Cellar, December 2011 While Pruliers is one of the great terroirs of Nuits St. Georges, it is often not one of my favorites, as it can be a bit sauvage out of the blocks. Enter, the elegance of the 2010 vintage, which can transform the more sulky young wines of most vintages into charming wines of breed and pedigree! The 2010 Gouges Pruliers is indeed a stunning wine in the making, offering up a very complex, transparent and suave nose of cassis, black cherries, a touch of blood orange, bitter chocolate, gamebirds, superb minerality and a touch of woodsmoke in the upper register. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied and very pure on the attack, great length and grip on the ripely tannic and tangy finish. Another dynamite wine in the making. 2020-2065. 93+. 91 -93 points, Burghound, January 2012: Mild reduction again renders the nose difficult to read but here it seems certain that the underlying fruit is quite ripe. This sense of elevated ripeness extends as well to the rich, supple and solidly well-concentrated flavors that possess excellent depth before culminating in a spicy, tension-filled and wonderfully long finish. A classic Pruliers that offers a very pretty mix of power and finesse. - Comments: Outstanding 90 -93 points, Stephen Tanzer's IWC, January 2012 Good bright, deep red. Aromas of boysenberry, licorice and spicy oak, plus an element of animal reduction. In a sweeter, fruity style but at the same time a bit more aggressive and less pliant than the Porrets St.-Georges. Big, ripe, dusty tannins give the savory, spicy, long finish an impression of power. Boasts excellent carry-through on the back. 90 -92 points, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, February 2012: The 2010 Nuits St. Georges Les Pruliers boasts good fleshiness and juiciness. This is an up-front, decidedly overt style loaded with blue and black fruit. Firm tannins add support, while expressive floral notes give the finish an attractive lift. Here, too, the wine is surprisingly approachable. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2025. -Antonio Galloni The best fine wine values in the business! 2011 Vintage Ports are here!! 2011 Quinta do Noval Vintage Port $89.97 $549.99/6pk (2 only left!) 97 pts WS 94-96 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: The 2011 Quinta do Noval has wonderful precision on the nose with blackberry, cassis, intriguing flinty notes and a whiff of smoke. It might not possess the power of the Naçional but it has freshness to spare. That comes through on the beautifully composed palate, which is underpinned by fine tannins that lend it a silky smooth mouthfeel. There is real intensity here, but it is very controlled with superb minerality on the finish. Excellent. Tasted May 2013. (5/ 2013) 96 points Wine Enthusiast: A powerful, concentrated wine, full of dark tannins, ripe fruit and rich texture. This is a wine based on a solid structure—very firm in character while still allowing the gorgeous fruits to express themselves. It’s obviously destined for long-term aging. (9/ 2013) 93 points James Suckling: Blueberry and wet earth aromas. Full body, medium sweet and a long finish. Balanced and refined. 2,000 cases produced of this foot-trodden wine. Try in 2022. (5/ 2013) One Consumer note from Cellar Tracker 9/25/2013 94 Points Loved it. Closed off and muted but thats because it's a 2010 Dunn. Great wines with a great nose. Beautiful case.

5 great wines one low price! VALUES TO $25.00 BTL first come first serve: no more available at wholesale! SALE $12.97 MIX & MATCH 12/$149.99 (12.50) Limited hurry!!!!!!! 2012 Chateau Pesquie Terrasses Ventoux Reg $15.99 Sale $12.97 2008 Fattoria di Fèlsina Berardenga Chianti Classico Reg $29.99 Sale $12.97 ($149.99cs) 2009 Henry Fessy Morgon Reg $19.99 Sale $12.97 ($149.99cs) 2012 Domaine Lafage Cuvee Centenaire Reg $15.99 Sale $12.97 ($149.99cs) 2010 Domaine Lafage Cuvee Nicolas (Cote Grenache) Reg $15.99 Sale $12.97 Buy this thrill ride of a Cotes du Ventoux by the case! “Wine Advocate” 2012 Chateau Pesquie Terrasses Ventoux Reg $14.99 Sale $12.97 Special Case Price $149.99 (12=$12.50btl) *92 Points Robert Parker Wine Advocate! Tremendous Value Rhone Blend : In the same mold and an awesome value year in and year out, the 2012 Cotes du Ventoux Cuvee des Terrasses is a blend of 70% Grenache (60-year-old vines) and 30% Syrah (30+-year-old vines) that was aged two-thirds in concrete (and some in stainless steel) and one-third in older oak. Made from a blend of different terroirs on the estate (and basically declassified Quintessence) and coming from hillside vineyards lying between 840-930 feet in elevation, it offers up a gorgeously pure, supple and seamless profile with kirsch and berry-styled fruit, licorice and spring flower-like qualities all emerging from the glass. Elegant, forward and delicious, it gains in stature in the glass, is ridiculously textured from such an inexpensive wine, and has sweet tannin emerging on the finish. Buy this thrill ride of a Cotes du Ventoux by the case and enjoy bottles over the coming 3-5 years. Everyone knows that Felsina is a giant in Chianti Classico. The vineyard, the estate, and the wines are impeccable. 2008 Fattoria di Fèlsina Berardenga Chianti Classico Reg $29.99 Sale $12.97 ($149.99cs) Tony Aspler 4 stars Excellent: A classic Chianti in both senses. Deep ruby colour, cedar and cherry nose with a spicy liquorice note, well-extracted fruit, dry and stylish with soft tannins and a fine, lingering finish. Approx 5400 vines per ha, Cordon spur VSP and some Guyot simple with 5-8 buds per vine, Barrel aged for 12 months. Deep ruby, paling at the rim, wild strawberry and earthy nose and not much trace of oak on the nose. Strawberry, raspberry and fresh ripe fruit, Good medium acidity with alcohol 13%. Spicy notes and smooth tannin, Well balanced with long length very good. "A fruity red, offering berry and cherry character on a medium body, with a delicate finish. A little lighter than in past vintages. Drink now. 20,000 cases made." 88 Points Wine Spectator Consumer Notes from Cellar Tracker 90 pts 5/28/13 Nose was all earth, balsamic vinegar, and some black fruits. A heavier bodied chianti that had the earth, leather, light vanilla, black fruits (plum, fig, cassis), some light bitterness and good acidity. Tannins were integrated. Nice long black fruit finish. This is "my style" of chianti. 90 points 3/31/13 This wine has full character of Chianti. Powder on the nose with full fruit. Full broad texture with hints of pepper and powder. Well done 88 points 3/13/2013 More earthy than typical chianti. Missing some of the bold fruit. More tar and licorice than expected 88 points 3/13/2013 raspberry and herbs, soft tannin and clean finnish 2009 cru beaujolais stunningly rich: great value! 2009 Henry Fessy Morgon Reg $19.99 Sale $12.97 ($149.99cs) AC Morgon – 50 year old vines "A really ripe wine, rich and with a generous feel to it. The sweet cherry fruit is powered with plum juice, dense tannins and structure. A wine for aging. Cellar Selection." 91 Points Wine Enthusiast Deep cherry colour. Spicy red fruit compote nose. The palate was quite acidic and so very fresh and clean and lively with ripe red fruit – raspberry, strawberry, cherry and even some cassis – and some floral notes. Clean raspberry fruit really dominates the supple finish. Lovely, harmonious wine – 89/100 points. Robert Parker “reminds me of the great Blanc's of Hermitage” 2012 Domaine Lafage Cuvee Centenaire Reg $15.99 Sale $12.97 ($149.99cs) 92pts WA The 2011 vintage of Cuvée Centenaire was a huge hit. This 2012 is probably even more complex, offering a nervier structure than the more sappy 2011. "The same blend and e´levage as the '11, the 2012 Domaine Lafage Co^tes du Roussillon Cuve´e Centenaire is just as good. Dried pineapple, toast, mineral, and honeysuckle all emerge from the glass and as with the '11, it has thrilling purity, balance, and freshness on the palate, as well as medium to full- bodied richness and depth. This knockout effort will drink nicely for 3-5 years." - 92 Points, Rhone Report (Wine Advoocate) The Rhone Reports Jeb Dunnick Now writes for the Wine Advocate! Robert Parker “100 % grenache 92 points” 2010 Domaine Lafage Cuvee Nicolas Reg $15.99 Sale $12.97 ($149.99cs) 92pts WA A Grenache Dry Red Table wine from Roussillon, France Review by Robert Parker Wine Advocate # 201 (Jun 2012) Rating: 92 Drink 2012 – 2015 Proprietor and winemaker Jean-Marc Lafage has fashioned a knock-out red wine that sells for a ridiculously low price. Made from 100% Grenache aged six months on its lees in older barrels, the 2010 Cuvee Nicolas Vieilles Vignes reveals serious glycerin along with a sexy, open-knit, fruit-forward style with oodles of raspberry, black currant, cherry and kirsch liqueur characteristics. Medium-bodied, round, supple, heady and succulent, this is a big, lusty red for true hedonists. It is one of the finest 100% Grenache cuvees currently on the market at this price point and quality level. Enjoy it over the next 2-3 years. Trust me. I have not lost my mind or my palate even though I have given a $15 wine (which often can be found for even less) a 92 point score! More 1 time only purchases! incredible value pinot grigio from the hillside slopes of valdadigue (same as santa margarita!) buy! 2012 Barone fini valdidigue pinot grigio REG $12.99 Sale $6.97 (25 only) Soft and round with ripe juicy flavors, Barone Fini Pinot Grigio is a refreshing and expressive wine. The family wine making history goes back six centuries and today is done in the most modern style. All of their wines are entirely grown and produced in the Trentino-Alto Adige region of Northern Italy and their hillside Pinot Grigio vineyards average 25 to 30 years of age. Following all the strict guidelines of the Italian DOC, grapes are all hand picked and sorted manually before fermentation. Crushing and fermentation take place in a state-of-the-art winery under careful temperature controlled conditions. This is quality DOC Pinot Grigio at the the price of IGT. Great value. great buy on spring summer red! great light bodied red for burgers etc. springs right around the corner! buy! 2011 george dubouef beaujolais village REG $12.99 Sale $6.97 (25 only) Aromas of lots of sweet berry fruit (blueberry, raspberry and blackberry). So much so, in fact, that the bouquet reminded me a bit of Sweet Tarts candy. Tasting the wine revealed more juicy sweet berry fruit (mostly strawberry this time) plus a good dose of banana. The tannins are very soft contributing to a nice smooth, silky texture on this light-bodied wine. This wine is very easy to drink and it gets even easier as you go. It ends dry with a medium-short finish. A great pairing for a burger or other everyday food. A really nice, fun, everyday wine!

2010 Lillian Winery Syrah: Terribly limited! As Clos to “Sine Qua Non” as we’ll probably ever get!! After eight years of training in the cellar at Sine Qua Non, Maggie made the first vintage of Lillian in 2004. Elaine and Manfred’s own vineyard was beginning to produce fruit and the opportunity presented itself for Maggie to make wine from a small portion of the sandy hillside they had been working with at White Hawk. She bottled 150 cases in the inaugural vintage. White Hawk is a 60-acre vineyard in Los Alamos, CA in the central coast’s Santa Ynez Valley. The ten acres at the top is a sand dune, literally pure sand, and Maggie farms just under seven acres of vines on that hill. It is a warmer site, but because of its elevation, retains precision and finesse. This is the darkest and most deeply fruited of the three sites. Complexity comes as floral and iodine (ocean) related perfumes rather than a more typical bacon fat, and pepper oriented profile. This fruit represents 37% of the 2010 Syrah. Each year Stolpman allows Maggie to select one-acre of their very best fruit. The site is Ballard Canyon. It’s not very far from White Hawk and the sites are not dissimilar, but the calcareous soils at Stolpman mean the fruit profile is slightly brighter and more tannic. The fruit from this vineyard represents 27% of the blend in 2010. On the receiving end of the east-west transverse mountain range, Bien Nacido Vineyards is a maritime-influenced desert. The morning fog cover and the cool afternoon breezes from the Pacific Ocean make this a much cooler and later-ripening site than the others and it is evident in the wines. This is more Northern Rhone-esque in its flavors; it’s all about bacon fat, smoke, olives, lavender and crazy salt-inflected oceanic aromas. This is always the lowest in sugars, highest in acidity and tannin and most vin-de-garde. Bien Nacido fruit makes up 36% of the 2010 Syrah. 2010 Lillian winery Syrah, Central Coast Reg $85 Sale $69.97 94 Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar, Nov/Dec 13 (made from fruit grown in the White Hawk, Stolpman and Bien Nacido vineyards): Inky purple. Assertive aromas of black and blue fruits, spicecake, olive and smoky minerals. Picks up a sexy floral nuance with air, which carries onto the palate, joining vibrant boysenberry and blackcurrant flavors. The spicy quality comes back strong on the finish, which clings with superb focus and persistence. I get no trace of heat here despite the fact that the wine is carrying 15.3% alcohol, but I've come to expect that from Maggie Harrison's wines. Speaking of which, I had the chance to revisit the outstanding 2009 Lillian syrah this fall and while its flamboyant fruit is still on full display its tannins are making their presence felt more than at this time last year. The wine is delicious after a few hours of decanting but my inclination would be to keep it buried in the cellar for at least another five years. 94 points Lillian is not particularly Syrah-like. It doesn’t scream out the usual cocktail of blackberries, bacon fat, and lavender. The wines are lavish, but there is refined rocky quality in them that defies description. The 2010 vintage is no exception to this, but it is a vintage that emphasizes the lace-like structure and perfume of the wine now in stock!! 2012 is a vintage we have been waiting for! Roar Pinot extremely allocated do not miss! sold out at winery in a day or so! 2012 Roar Pinot Noir Santa Lucia Highlands Reg $45.00 Sale $39.97 $449.99 cs 12 From select blocks of Rosella’s, Garys’ and Sierra Mar comes the pretty and easy to fall in love with Roar SLH cuvee, which is a fantastic wine and has be considered one of the best values in the region. The blend of vineyards is a plus, and of course coming from some of the most prized sites in California, let alone in the Santa Lucia Highlands, this is no ordinary entry level wine! In the past this wine has even included some Pisoni fruit and it still might, but even without it, this is great stuff. This is one of the last Roar releases that was fashioned by Ed Kurtzman, he led Roar, after Adam Lee of Siduri, from 2007 to 2012 and will be missed, though the transition to new winemaker Scott Shapley looks to have gone very smoothly and all parties are moving happily ahead. The 2012 is more plush than 2011 or 2010, but the style is very consistent with the past with beautiful silky texture, unfiltered transparency and round full flavors. The nose is graced with red fruits, mocha and spicy elements leading to a palate of raspberry, cherry and plum fruits with hints of vanilla, peppercorns, briar and anise with hints of smoke, mineral and earth. This wine is vivacious and will drink nicely for next 4 or so years 92+ Points, grapelive 3/2014 2012 Roar SLH, $45: young, zesty, packed with lively raspberry and strawberry fruit; great promise and a bargain, to boot. Roar is owned by Gary and Rosella Franscioni, who also own the nearby Garys' (with Gary Pisoni) and Rosella's (planted in 1996) vineyards. ROAR was launched in 2001 to feature Pinot Noir and Syrah from Garys', Rosella's, and Pisoni Vineyards. The label was later expanded to include Soberanes and Sierra Mar vineyards (owned by the Franscionis and Pisonis), as well as Chardonnay from both vineyards. The name "ROAR" is derived from the sound of the ocean winds that characterize the Santa Lucia Highlands. Adam and Diana Lee collaborate on the winemaking with Ed Kurtzman and Gary Franscioni. The wines are sold primarily through a mailing list. The style is big, bold, fruit-driven, statement wines. Roar is proud to be a family winery specializing in small lots of Santa Lucia Highland’s Pinot Noir. Their roots in the Santa Lucia Highlands are quite deep. Both Gary and Rosella grew up in California’s agricultural heartland and Gary, and his family before him has, farmed their vineyard property for over 100 years. After graduating from Cal Poly with a degree in agribusiness, Gary took over the running of the family farm business, which owned and managed over 200 acres of row crops in the Salinas Valley. Recognizing the region’s potential for premium wine grapes, they planted Rosella’s Vineyard in 1996. The couple also co-owns and manages the Garys’ Vineyard with Gary Pisoni of Pisoni Vineyard. Both vineyards have developed a reputation among high-end wineries for low yields of intensely flavored grapes. After working with several wineries to develop the pedigree of the vineyards and the region, they decided in 2001 to make their own wine. They were delighted that their good friends and longtime customers Adam & Dianna Lee of Siduri Wines agreed to collaborate with them on the making of Roar Wines. Their goal and Roar Wines to make small lots that are a pure reflection of the Santa Lucia Highlands and in particular the signature flavors of their vines. The name Roar comes from the sound of the Coastal winds that define the region and the roar of the mountain creeks that bisect the rocky, well-drained soils of these very special vineyards Winery: Grapes for our 2012 Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir were harvested between September 24th and October 12th at 27.6-29.7 brix. The juice spent 24-31 days on the skins before being pressed to French oak barrels for 11 months aging. The wine was racked once and bottled unfiltered and unfined on August 22, 2013. The 2012 Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir is a remarkably generous wine that evolves on the palate from darker brooding notes on entry to brighter, lifted fruit on the finish. The nose opens with dark fruit, cola, and blackberry with hints of sandalwood and sweet florals. The palate shows deep, rich fruit and good structure, with the mid-palate brightening to a mixed finish of strawberry, blackberry, and pine forest. Cases produced: 2,044 Price: $40/Bottle Alcohol: 14.9% pH: 3.84 TA: 0.56 g/100ml Clones: Swan, Pisoni, 828, Pommard and 777 Cooperage: 100% French, 66% new, 34% one-year old Francois Freres, Latour, Ermitage, Remond and Cadus

WineStreet Spirits "Wine of the Year" 2012

40 CASES GONE APPROXIMATELY 60 CASES OF THIS INCREDIBLE BORDEAUX VALUE LEFT IN STOCK! *

Last May I tasted through 50 or so 2009/10 Bordeaux ranging from $15-$40/btl retail.

Both great vintages, however, there is something very special about the flashy oppulence of the 2009 vintage.

A texture that seems very "New World" in style yet retaining the "Classic" bordeaux combination of delicacy and minerality.
Of the 50 wines I tasted I immediately tried to confirm 100 cases,
while I did order a few of the others, none approached the sheer oppulence and quality of the Reignac.
With the price of the "Classifides" in the stratosphere it was pure joy to latch on to a wine that can be enjoyed seemlessly now or 10 years from now!
100 cases Ordered! Load the cellar/basement and enjoy!

2009 Château de Reignac Bordeaux Superieur
Reg $24.99 Sale $19.97

Don’t Miss wine of the month is the Château de Reignac Bordeaux Superieur 2009, 75% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon. Weighing in at 14% abv, high for a Bordeaux, this new comer to the club wowed us with its tremendous QPR. At $25 per bottle, , it really can’t be beat. We put it up in three separate blind tastings against all-time favourite QPR Bordeaux, the Côtes de Castillon Château d’Aiguilhe, the Reignac trumped the d’Aiguilhe. On the nose we have red cherry and white chocolate, plus earth. leather, anise, coffee, mocha, spice box, cinnamon, and some floral notes. Quite tannic and well structured, in the mouth it shows dark fruits and tight dry tannins, with a surprising lengthy complex finish for its breed. It definitely will benefit from more time to knit together, yet very enjoyable now! For QPR, if you enjoy yourself Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon done Bordeaux right, this is a no-brainer. This wine nails it definitely a 90 pointer. Château Reignac is one of the most impeccably run estates by proprietors Stephanie and Yves Vatelot (who is now assisting Alain Raynaud in making Lascombes). The famous Michel Roland is their consulting winemaker, which has helped make Reignac the most consistently well-made Bordeaux Superieur over the last 10 years. Reignac's gentle slopes and gravely soils facilitate natural drainage. The gravel reflects and stores the sun's heat which promotes early ripening of the estate's grapes. Great terroir is the key to the wines of Reignac. It is this splendid terroir, recommended by Michel Rolland that gives Reignac its edge. Château de Reignac sits atop the highest point in the parish of Saint Loubes, overlooking a 135-hectare clay and gravel rise that includes a single 80-hectare block of vines. The original château was built by Seigneur Baude de Peyron in the 16th century. It was remodeled in the 18th and 19th centuries. In the late 1800s, a central courtyard was added that features his signature wrought iron railings and in 1868, a remarkable greenhouse was designed by Gustave Eiffel. The present owners, Yves and Stephanie Vatelot, purchased Reignac in 1990 and have worked continuously ever since to restore the estate to its former glory while introducing numerous innovations. The world-renowned Michel Rolland is their consulting oenologist. "Reignac is the standard bearer for what can be achieved by a passionate proprietor who cuts yields to a minimum, and does everything right in the cellar. Reignac is the leading candidate for the finest generic Bordeaux produced year in and year out. It can compete favorably with classified growths..." - Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate In order to classify as a Bordeaux Supérieur a wine's permitted alcoholic strength must be half a percent higher than Bordeaux AC wines. The classification is used for predominately red wines and occasionally sweet and white. Quality is uneven yet one property stands head and shoulders above the rest. Château Reignac has become the reference point for what can be achieved with zealous commitment to quality. It is the Bordeaux Supérieur by which all others are measured, and over recent vintages it has been as good as a classified growth. Proprietors Stephanie and Yves Vatelot (who is now assisting Alain Raynaud in making Lascombes) are at the top of their game and excelled themselves in 2000, producing a remarkable wine. The wines are typically a blend of Merlot (75%) and Cabernet Sauvignon (25%) and offer amazing value for money. Robert Parker describes Reignac as "the leading candidate for the finest generic Bordeaux produced year in and year out." If there's one thing to be wary of when it comes to wine, it's tradition for tradition's sake. That's but one reason why we love Château Reignac. Another is that the wine is superb, and you needn't sell the car to afford it. When Yves and Stephanie Vatelot acquired the estate in 1990, old-fashioned ways of thinking immediately went out the window. The estate wasn't listed in Bordeaux's venerable Classification of 1855, so why play by the same, stuffy old rules? Where's it written, a century and a half later, that a winery must be situated alongside classified growths, such as Château Latour or Château Gruaud-Larose, to be a considered a producer of world-class wines? So in addition to bringing world-renowned consultant winemaker Michel Rolland to Reignac, the Vatelots purchased multiple parcels of old-vine Merlot. They also embarked on a years-long agronomical and geological study of Reignac’s vineyards (engineers dug 80 trenches for analysis). The findings were that "Reignac offers a unique peculiarity, that of reuniting the best types of terroir of both the Right and the Left Banks in a single estate, which explains the qualitative consistency of its wines, vintage in and vintage out." In simpler terms, this is a special place that – for more than a century – was making special wines that were overlooked and underappreciated for all the wrong reasons. Reignac is precisely the type of wine we love to bring to Lot18. Add to this the fact that the wine comes from Bordeaux's incredible 2009 vintage, and you can rest assured that you'll only be delighted by this wine’s power, balance and ability to age, just as we were. And we can't help but love that the wine costs a fraction of a classified growth's cuvée, and tastes every bit as good. Tasting Note: The intense ruby-red color and glass-coating viscosity promise a full-bodied wine. The aromas are ripe and fruit-driven, with lots of fresh, black plums and cassis, as well as a perfumed note of sage. The acidity is balanced and the wine’s supple tannins express the 2009 vintage’s character beautifully. This is a modern expression of Bordeaux in the best sense of the word. Decant this wine, and serve it in large-bowled glasses if you can't wait for the wine to age, and pour it alongside roasted filet mignon that’s been basted with butter and thyme. If you are able to hold the wine for five to eight years, you will enjoy a greater range of flavors. (14% ABV)

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