The richness and delicacy of the following wines of Value Bordeaux are made for Minnesota summers! Forget the Cabernet Get these values before there gone!! 2009 & 2010 are incredible vintages so you can enjoy these not only this summer but 5-10 summers to come! Amazing Values! When the wines from Margaux are on, they are Dense, silky and layered and explode with the flavors of cassis! This ones spot on!! Tastes $50-$60 not $30!! An amazing value for a top-flight Margaux. 2010 Chateau Haut-Tayac Cuvee l’Imperatrice (Margaux) Reg $39.99 Sale $29.97 (20 cases only in stock) 2010 was a great vintage right across Bordeaux and the wines of the famous commune of Margaux shine with their trademark finesse and purity. This parcel of older vines of Haut-Tayac is one not to be missed. This wine reveals plenty of tobacco and leather with ripe plummy fruit. The palate is complex and savoury with subtle tannins and a well balanced mouth feel. Dark colour with purple-blue highlights. Ripe nose with suggestions of red and black berry fruits. On the palate, wonderful stuffing and silky, melted tannins. Freshness imparts pleasant balance. An extremely successful effort.! 92/100 Roughly 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Merlot, this medium bodied red exhibits black cherry, licorice and dark chocolate along with moderate tannins. Drink now or cellar. We originally purchased 120 cases of this incredible value Bordeaux!! It is among the greatest values we've ever tasted from the Medoc! The combination of it's proximaty to Pauillac and the fleshiness of the 2009 vintage has created incredible combination of flavor very similar to the upper classified wines of Pauillac! We have about 30 cases left and its in wood cases even! I can't think of a better summer red than this one! Incredible Value! Load up and enjoy for the next 10 years! Brad! Chateau Blaignan Medoc 2009 Reg $25.99 Sale $19.97 (IN WOOD CASES) A superb, moderately priced, Medoc. 55% Cabernet and 45% Merlot built to age although with a nice decant it can be thoroughly enjoyed right now or 5 years from now ! Nice ruby dark color with violin hints. Fresh very soft and sweet ripe nose of black currant followed by spicy notes of white pepper, fresh tobacco and cedar wood. This medium to full-bodied wine shows elegant tannins. Wine Advocate: This vineyard just outside Pauillac has produced a seductive, sexy wine with an elegant combination of black cherry and black currant fruit. Some dusty, loamy soil notes also make an appearance as well as some high-quality unsmoked cigar tobacco. Drink it over the next 5-6 years. Score: 88. —Robert Parker, February 2012. Wine Spectator: Chocolate and herbal notes frame cherry and plum flavors in this plump red, which has just enough tannins for grip, with fresh acidity on the anise-scented finish. Drink now through 2017. 31,665 cases made. Score: 87. —Thomas Matthews, March 31, 2012. Consumers From Cellar Tracker 2/26/2013 89-90 Points: Nice nose of blackberry and cassis with a note of blueberry; silky entry, wet earth, and a note of truffles; good balance, ample fruit, earthy minerality, approachable and medium finish. Excellent Bordeaux at this price. 89-90 11/26/2012 88 Points: Opened a bit early but this is still really nice. Deep berry and cherry aromas with a bit of a green streak; very tannic with tart cherry and earth flavors. Its always nice to sort out a good pairing. This wasn't paired with food but this dark and brooding wine went perfectly with this foggy night and my melancholy mood. Here comes the Sun!! Some great Spring/Summer Wines from Bordeaux Limited to stock on hand! 2011 Domaine D'Arton Vin de Pays des Côtes de Gascogne Blanc Reg $11.99 Sale $7.97 30 cases in stock! A blend of Colombard, Sauvignon and Gros Mansang, the Domaine d’Arton drinks more like a White Bordeaux with its intense grapefruit and dill on the nose and palate. Fuller-flavored than many Gascogne whites, while still maintaining the refreshing acidity and light mouthfeel for which these wines are famous. Excellent with grilled chicken and asparagus Consumers from Cellar Tracker on the 2010 vintage on 11/24/2011 & rated 90 points: on 11/19/2011 & rated 88 points: According to the back label, 70% Colombard, 20% Sauvignon (Blanc?), and 10% Gros Manseng. 12.5% alcohol. To my nose and palate, reminiscent of a New Zealand Blanc with notions of lemon/lime, grapefruit, green grass, and hints of pineapple and gooseberry with a linear, racy, zesty, refreshing, and somewhat bracing personality. Attractively priced at around $11 Patrick and Victoire de Montal took over this ancient wine domaine 25 years ago, located in Gascony, in the Southwest of France, where they were both born and raised. In 2001, a modern and very functional winery was opened and today almost 35 hectares of vines give life to this historic landscape. This dry white wine combines the Colombard, Sauvignon and Gros Mansang varieties of grapes. Produced in the traditional Gascon method, it benefits from the latest technical developments. Ideal either as an aperitif, or to accompany grilled fish, and all shellfish Two Exhuberant, fresh Bordeaux whites with loads of spicy citrus and fresh herb notes. Delicious blends of Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon (Stock on hand only!) 2011 Château du Barail Blanc Reserve Reg $15.99 Sale $9.97 (20 cs only) There’s citrus, pear, and floral, with peach on the finish. There’s also some butter or cream on the palate. It is smooth and well-balanced with good acidity. This wine gets an “Excellent” rating This very old estate has a unique combination of soils and exposure to the sun. Lying on the southern flank of the hills of Bordeaux overlooking the Gironde estuary. Made from Sauvignon and Semillon grapes, the white wines are aromatic, with flowery scents while young; their power and finesse are fully expressed when barrel aged. Winemaker Denis LaFon comes from a long line of winegrowers in the Prèmier Côtes de Blaye area. He uses traditional know-how to make the limestone clay soils produce some of the best wines in this appellation Vintage year: 2011 Grape variety: Sauvignon, Sémillon Packaging: Bottle with cork Ageing: 2-3 years An intense aroma of mature yellow fruit (peach, pineapple, apricot). A round and full-bodied wine, which leaves an atypical and expressive taste of exotic fruit (mango) on the palette. Serve with scallops in cream and fish. Ideal accompaniment to roast chicken and veal Product on a clay and limestone from Sémillion (70%) and Sauvignon, this wine has a beautiful straw color. The mouth is fleshy, with a final cool on menthol. It will go nicely seafood, fish, but it may also be associated with white meat (stew) and roast chicken. 2011 Haussmann Baron d”Empire Blanc Reg $15.99 Sale $9.97 (Sauvignon Blanc/Sauvignon Gris/ Semillon) Presentation : from wine of a clay loam soil, under serious and rocky soils. The vinification is traditional. Tasting : Robe pale yellow with green reflections. Elegant nose with floral notes to a distinct sauvignonne aroma. In the mouth, beautiful fresh attack and aromatic (citrus, lemon) ending on the fleshy. Agreement food/wine : this wine will perfectly accompany aperitifs, savoury pies, shells, fish in sauce, charcuterie, meat white sauce, cheese and fruit mousses   Last Call! Half Price Offer! Great Buy! An importer close out, we were able to secure an allocation of the 2008 Castano Hecula Monastrell at a knock out price. 8 of the last 9 vintages have scored 90 to 91 points by the Wine Advocate. In Stock! 2008 Bodegas Castano Hecula Reg $13.99 Sale $6.97 A perennial "Best Buy" from both the Wine Advocate and International Wine Cellar just got a whole lot cheaper. This wine was already a big mover at its normal price but at 50% off we figure it will fly out the door within a day. Stephen Tanzer of International Wine Cellar had this to say about the wine: "This could be a Bandol. Is the average buyer at this price point ready for this? Another amazing value." The wine is 100% Monastrell (aka Mourvèdre). The vineyards are old vine and the farming is both organic and sustainable. Robert Parker of the Wine Advocate once called it "possibly the world's greatest single wine bargain." This price break is a onetime deal. Secure your bottles while quantities last Bodegas Castano as it is known today for its entrepreneurial spirit, focus and vision, really begun in the early 80's when it slowly and carefully started to experiment with bottling and its state of the art winery facility. The family's commitment to both quality and the Monastrell variety is unparalleled. Today, Daniel Castano, one of Ramon's sons, runs the winery with the help of other members of the family." The 2008 Hecula is 100% Monastrell sourced from 35- to 60-year-old vines and aged 50% in tank and 50% in French oak. Purple-colored, it offers up a compelling nose of underbrush, pepper, and blueberry. Ripe, sweetly-fruited, and forward, this crowd-pleaser can be enjoyed now and over the next 4 years." 89 points - Jay Miller - Wine Advocate WINE: "From the ancient Roman name for the region (Yecla) - 'Hecula'. This wine is 100% Monastrell. The fruit is sourced from the non-irrigated 'Las Gruesas' vineyard. The vines are an average of 35-60 year old vines. The vineyard's soils are limestone and the altitude is 800 meters. Half of the wine is aged in tank and 50% in French oak barrels." -Importer WINERY: "Created by Ramon Castano Santa and his 3 sons, Bodegas Castano is not nearly as old as the vines it owns. Starting quite small, the family has nurtured old plantings and re-planted other parcels and now owns about 400 hectares (10% of the D.O.) in four prime vineyard estates." THE WORD IS GETTING OUT & THIS VODKA IS FLYING OUT THE DOOR! AN AMAZING VODKA DEAL: STOCK UP FOR THE SUMMER MONTHS! SAVE OVER $20.00 BTL & GET TOP RATED VODKA FOR THE PRICE OF AN AVERAGE! PURUS VODKA REG $35.00 SALE $14.99 EA $79.99/6PK 750ML AIRPLANE BOTTLES!! REG $4.00 SALE $1.49 EA $29.99/30PK 50ML The Best Vodka I Ever Tasted Larry Olmstad Forbes Magazine 11/02/2011 The title above is 100% accurate, but in the interest of personal integrity, I have an admission: I do not like vodka, nor do I respect it. It is a wino’s drink, basically grain alcohol cut with water, and it is the only product in the entire realm of food and drink that I know of whose historic goal has been to be as tasteless and odorless as possible. The more times vodka is distilled, the less it tastes like anything but alcohol, which is not my opinion but rather the science of distillation. So it is ironic that the market for so-called super-premium vodkas has evolved by bragging of more distillations, triple, quadruple, quintuple, etc., as if that were a good thing. Anyway, my feelings on vodka don’t matter, because there are lots of people out there who disagree with me. After all, vodka is far and away the most popular sprit in this country. People love vodka. Then again, McDonalds is far and away the most popular restaurant in this country. On a more philosophical level, I love the traditions of spirit distillation, and the fact that there are usually rules, like that Scotch can only be made from barley, and rum from sugarcane, whereas vodka can be made from any ingredient in which starch can be converted to sugar, be it potatoes, wheat, rye, grass, corn, soy beans or whatever the distiller finds laying around. After all, whether like vodka or not, there is a reason why the most expensive vodkas in the world cost about the same as an entry level bottle of Scotch or a cheap bottle of champagne. All that being said, some vodkas are better than others, and this is especially important if, like the Russians, you drink yours unadulterated. Purus is on the higher end, with an MSRP of $36 a bottle, though you can find it in the low to mid $20s. It is not readily available by walking into liquor stores, but can be easily found on the internet and at bigger, better spirits merchants. If you do like vodka, and a lot of you do, you should make the effort to try some. 90-95 points Wine Enthusiast: No aromas other than traces of wet stone. Palate entry is surprisingly (after the undemonstrative bouquet) sweet, mellow and buttery in texture; midpalate continues the mild breakfast cereal sweetness in style and elegance; firm, oily texture is a real bonus on my scoring chart. Concludes delicately sweet, buttery and with loads of layered character. Made from the finest 100% organic wheat and crystal clear water from the Italian Alps, Purus has been a preference in the high-end spirits market since its launch in 2007. Pure Holdings LLC, a St. Louis-based firm, has purchased the brand and has begun offering the refined vodka to top-quality restaurants, lounges, specialty grocery and liquor stores in Missouri and other selected markets. Known for its clear bottle reminiscent of a droplet of water from the Italian Alps and its strong legacy as an eco-friendly product. PURUS once again provides an affordable luxury spirit with incomparably smooth taste. Purus, with its light body and velvety sweetness, is distilled five times in the breath-taking Piemonte region of Italy. Crafted for three generations by the Sacchetto family in Lagnasco, Italy, PURUS has a handmade tradition unwavering for decades. The 100% Organic wheat is grown from a dedicated group of artisan farmers. It is the organic wheat that makes the spirit so unique. The wheat is cultivated without pesticides or commercial fertilizers. “Purus has always been a superior brand for adults looking for a ‘mellow and buttery texture with a cereal sweetness in style and elegance with loads of layered character’ as described by Wine Enthusiast Magazine,” said John Giarrante, president. “It’s perfect for a vodka on the rocks, a classic martini or a special cocktail mixed with the fruit and ingredients of your choice.” Giarrante said “Purus is just that—a spirit for the vodka purist.” Whether at the latest trendy nightclub or simply in the relaxed atmosphere of home, Purus has an unmatched taste that sets it apart from the “vodka flavor of the day” crowd. Purus has received Highest Recommendation from Wine Enthusiast magazine’s Top 50 Spirits of 2010, and has been named “Best in Category” and received the Gold Medal among spirits at the Los Angeles International Wine & Spirits Competition. It has also earned a Silver Medal in the vodka category at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, among its growing collection of accolades. Devoted to authenticity, Purus has an ongoing commitment to our environmentally conscious world. Its elegant bottle is 100% recyclable with a tree-free label and soy inks, water-based adhesives and a sustainable cork closure. Balvenie DoubleWood 12 Year Old New Reg Price $49.99 Sale $39.97 Aged in ex-bourbon casks before being finished in sherry casks, Double Wood is an excellent example of what the Balvenie distillery can craft, even at 12 years. The Balvenie DoubleWood is a 12 year old single malt which gains its distinctive character from being matured in two woods. Over its period of maturation it is transferred from a traditional oak whisky cask to a first fill European oak sherry cask. Each stage lends different qualities to the resulting single malt ~ the traditional casks soften and add character, whilst the sherry wood brings depth and fullness of flavour Nose: Sweet fruit and Oloroso sherry notes, layered with honey and vanilla Taste: Smooth and mellow with beautifully combined flavours ~ nutty sweetness, cinnamon spiciness and a delicately proportioned layer of sherry Finish: Long and warming Wine Enthusiast Score: 90-95. November 15, 2008. First nosing exposes dry scents of walnuts, grass and dark toffee. Entry is malty and vanilla—extract bittersweet; midpalate is silky, creamy, Sherry sweet, pruny and black raisin-like. Ends on a dark chocolate note that’s chewy, medium-sweet and satisfying. Smarterita RTD Margarita 1.75 Reg $24.99 Sale $21.99 750ml Reg $15.99 Sale $11.99 Voted best tasting margarita by the Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America! A new ready to drink Margarita brand is launching this winter under the name SmarteRita. SmarteRita is the brainchild of Kelly Shuman, an entrepreneur in Dallas, TX who recognized that there was an opportunity for a premixed Margarita that not only delivered on the low calorie front, but more importantly, tastes great. Skinny Girl did a fabulous job of creating a new category targeting female consumers. We thought there was an opportunity to reach a broader market – including men who were looking for the simplicity of a Ready-to-Drink Margarita – but that didn’t compromise on taste. And we don’t compromise on taste; SmarteRita is made with premium silver tequila, triple sec, agave syrup, and all natural flavors and colors, winning a silver medal at the WSWA tasting competition.” In blind comparison tastings the 25 proof product (12.5% ABV) SmarteRita consistently outperforms competitive products, “and we’re often told by consumers that it tastes like a freshly made Margarita you might get at a cocktail bar,” Shuman added. “We think the combination of premium and all natural ingredients, as well as the relatively higher proof level, make the product appealing to a broad audience of men and women.” About SmarteRita: SmarteRita is the award winning, great tasting, 100 calorie, ready-to-drink Margarita made with silver tequila, triple sec, all natural flavors & colors, and sweetened with agave. SmarteRita is available in 750 ml and 1.75 Liter bottles. SmarteRita is the perfect cocktail whenever you want a great tasting Margarita… just open the bottle and pour over ice. Try it, your going to love em! Welcome back Liberty School: Great Job! In our never ending quest for the best wines we can find under $15 we tasted the two new releases from this "Caymus Built" value wine. Sold a few years back to the Hope family, yet run by Chuck Wagners son, so it is still kind of in the family. In the past the brand has been driven by the always a value Cabernet while the Chardonnay got swallowed up in the sea of $15 Chardonnay and never really stood out. The Hope family wants this brand to become a real "quality" player in the market and has recently invested a ton of money in the quality of the fruit, new packaging and image. Wow have they succeeded! The new Chardonnay is breathtaking and a definate buy at it's price point! The cabernet is great as usual, but the packaging twice as good! Along with all this good stuff also came a price increase, but after tasting it we asked the rep how to get the old price back. He said buy a lot! So we did!!!! If your looking for great value Cabernet & Chardonnay for the summer months, here's the one!
Liberty School Chardonnay 2011 Reg $17.99 Sale $11.97 Please do not write this off as "Just another chardonnay"; because it most definitely is not!!!!!!!!!!! Consisting of 90% Chardonnay, 5% Viognier, and for the first time 5% Marsanne. Crisp orchard fruit, pear and earth aromas. Full bodied and dry with a creamy mouthfeel and oily texture. Very nice flavours of apple, pear, butter and sweet vanillan. Quite well-balanced with lively acidity. Finish is medium-length. Liberty School 2011 Chardonnay ($16) These grapes came from the Central Coast wine grape-growing district of California and were specially tended for this specific wine. The wine is mostly chardonnay, with 5 percent viognier and 5 percent marsanne blended in to soften the wine. Again, some age-old techniques were used to produce this wine, and the finished results do show it. Liberty School Chardonnay has a brilliant pale-lemon color and soft aromas of citrus fruit and freshly sliced Granny Smith apples. A full and rich mouth feel lends to excellent structure and culminates with a long and clean finish This is full-bodied, ripe and classically Californian chardonnay, with smooth toffee and caramel caressing the tropical fruit – as in a pineapple sundae. Crisp acidity provides lift on the finish. Try it with rich fish After harvesting, fruit for the Liberty School Chardonnay is whole-cluster pressed. 80% of the 2011 Chardonnay is barrel fermented in both American and French oak barrels – 10% of which are new. The other 20% of the wine is aged in stainless steel. This balance preserves the bright, crisp fruit qualities of this wine. Small amounts of Marsanne and Viognier enhance the body and aromatics of the wine. Primary blending takes place after six months after harvest and the wine then rests in tank for three months prior to bottling.	Liberty School Cabernet 2010 Reg $17.99 Sale $11.97 The November 2012 issue of Wine Enthusiast, on newsstands now, recognizes Liberty School Cabernet Sauvignon as the number three (out of 100) “Best Buy” values of the year. It was also recently highlighted by Forbes.com as a “Best Value,” and noted wine personality and retailer Gary Vaynerchuk called it “one of the best Cabs in America.” The 2010 Liberty School Cabernet Sauvignon opens with aromas of black cherry, plum and violets, followed by subtle flavors of strawberry and allspice on the mid-palate. Firm yet supple tannins finish off this approachable, fruit-driven Cabernet Sauvignon, making it ideal for a variety of food pairings. The grapes for this wine were chosen from selected Paso Robles Vineyards and reflect the region's full fruit flavor famously. This wine is not only a beautiful California cabernet sauvignon, but also a contradiction of itself. While it does glorify the typical cabernet sauvignon flavor of cranberries and big, dark blackberries, it does so by presenting these flavors in huge amounts. This wine can best be called “jammy” because of its almost obscene display of flavors. There is enough tannin in this wine to assure its continued improvement during the next decade. The Liberty School 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon can accompany any of traditional meat dishes that are normally reserved for the variety, but it also will fit with beef dishes prepared with sweet sauces and, contrary to its aloof ancestral heritage, backyard barbecues.
New! Bonita Platinum Tequila Reg $99.99 Sale Intro Price $69.97 Wow! The purest smoothest, cleanest Tequila I've ever had! Brad! 42 bottles Only!!! Bonita Platinum Tequila is 100% Agave and produced at La Cofradia in Jalisco, Mexico. Bonita Platinum is the world’s only five-times distilled tequila, but the true secrets behind our exceptionalism are held close to the chest. Indeed, only those who are themselves exceptional have had the pleasure of tasting the true refinement and elegance of our craft. Bonita Platinum Tequila is enclosed in a stunning bottle and stopper made of pure crystal housed in a velvet-lined box and tied with a satin black tie. Bonita Tequila was founded based on a simple idea; that by combining modern technology with centuries-old tradition, we could create an ultra-premium tequila unlike anything the world has ever known. Distilled 5 times, bottled in pure crystal and wrapped in satin, our tequila is an experience of luxury for hip, urban-savvy people who appreciate the finer things in life. Bonita is more than tequila; it is the highlight of an evening with friends, the crown jewel of bottle service at the finest clubs, the exclusive drink of the modern sophisticate Celebrity Affiliation: Hip-hop star / Rapper "Xzibit" became a partner in Bonita Spirits, November 2012, after owner Chris Brown sent him one of the first bottles of Tequila produced to try. Bonita Spirits was founded in 2010.	"The fact that wines such as this can be purchased is unbelievable." R Parker 2011 Domaine Lafage Bastide Miraflors Vieilles Vignes Cotes Catalanes Sale $13.97 btl $159.99 cs 12 This is one of the most delicious Syrah we've tasted over the past year at any price point. But that shouldn't come as a huge surprise as it is made by Jean-Marc Lafage, one of the hottest winemakers on the planet. He is making outstanding wine in Spain and South America but his best is from his own vineyards in France. This wine is made from organically farmed 100% old-vines Syrah and Grenache and it was rated 93 points by Robert Parker, calling it "brilliantly pure with a stunning nose" and that he is "honored to share my excitement about this amazing wine". We totally agree! Enjoy... "Brilliantly pure with a stunning nose" - Wine Advocate!!! The Lafage Milaflors Vieilles Vignes (old vines) Syrah blend is a gorgeous red wine gem from the Roussillon wine region of southwestern France. The wine's official appellation is Cotes Catalanes IGP. It is located deep in the Catalan region of southwestern France. The Lafage Estate covers 200 hectares with spectacular views of the Mediterranean and the Pyrenees separating France and Spain. Domaine Lafage blends juicy, aromatic wines that deliver the rare combination of distinctiveness and affordability. We have featured several of the Lafage wines in the last few months and can't rave about them enough. Distinctive and pure with an unparalleled elegance at this price. There is simply nothing that can touch this syrah at double the price! Hurry - while supplies last! Robert Parker, Jr. – 93: $15.00 Languedoc Roussillon, France There are only 3,000 cases of the naked, virginal, unoaked 2011 Bastide Miraflors Vieilles Vignes made from 70% Syrah and 30% Grenache aged in concrete. The difficult economic situation in the Languedoc-Roussillon corridor is being exploited to the maximum by importer Eric Solomon. The fact that wines such as this can be purchased is unbelievable. Largely an artisanal wine, it is brilliantly pure with a stunning nose of spring flowers, blackberries, cassis and earth. It is almost incomprehensible that something of this quality, complexity and richness can be purchased for $25 to $50, much less $12 (well $13.33 anyway). The 3,000 cases should be gobbled up as quickly as they hit retailers’ shelves. I am honored to share my excitement about this amazing wine with readers..

GREAT WINE FROM SPAIN
MOVE 'EM OUT!

We originally ordered these for a customer but it took us almost 9 months to get em!
Buy the time they finally arrived the customer moved and we kind of forgot about it!
We just didn't pay enough attention to these!!
Great and very rare Spanish Gold! 1/2 price!
About 8/6pks of each in stock!

New! Vila Viniteca Paisajes:In Stock

Earth-moving wine. Powerful, rich and loaded with juicy fruit, restrained vanilla oakiness and an elegance rarely achieved in Rioja. Sweetness=1. $40- $50. 5 stars and worth every penny

One standout winery creating riffs in the Rioja establishment is Vila Viniteca Paisajes—a partnership between Barcelona's top wine merchant Quim Vila and Rioja producer Miguel Angel de Gregorio of Finca Allende. They produce a group of pricey, limited, single-vineyard Riojas that cast off conventional practices, using modern techniques to craft intensely fruity, softly tannic and complex wines that drink like heaven. Delicious stuff.

At the tasting, I was most impressed with a pricey trio of Riojas from Vila Viniteca Paisajes. This winery operates much like négociants in France, who buy juice or fruit or finished wine from a grower and create their own blend. Then, they bottle and label it as their own (done all the time in places like Burgundy). At Paisajes (translation: "scenery"), Barcelona's top wine merchant Quim Vila partners with Rioja producer Miguel Á de Gregorio of Finca Allende to craft a series of single-vineyard Riojas. Powerful, incredible wine, loaded with juicy fruit, restrained vanilla oakiness (I noticed some Rioja producers are getting freaky with the oak these days – not these guys) and a rich elegance not tasted in others at the Rioja show.

2008 Paisajes “Vasalado Vineyard” Reg $40. Sale $19.97
(Tempranillo and Grenache/Garnacha blend),
Less than 400 cases produced 50/6pks to United States!

2008 Paisajes “Cecias Vineyard” Reg $50 Sale $24.97
(100 percent Garnacha)
Less than 400 cases produced 50/6pks to United States!

2008 Paisajes VIII from the La Pasada Vineyard Reg $55 Sale $27.47
(100 percent Tempranillo)
Blew me away. Less than 200 cases produced 30/6pks to United States!

An absolutely incredible 2007 Super "Super Tuscan"

We confirmed this order in October of 2012 and it was supposed to be here in November.
We were informed it had arrived the week after New Years!
We told them we would take it the first week of February and thats exactly what we will do!

I Sodi di San Niccolò Toscana IGT 2007 Reg $79.99 Sale $59.97 95+ points "
First week of February 2013 arrival! Limited!
Castellare’s I Sodi Di San Niccolo reveals one of those magical spots in the world where climate, soil and grapes combine to give us a wine like no other. Specifically this wine comes from a natural south west facing amphitheater that darkens its fruit character down into a black cherry, black truffles, anice, and roasted chestnuts. To drink this is to find a wine of immense depth, yet also transparent – there is massive concentration here, but that is really not the issue. The issue is flavor – lingering, lively, harmonious and unique. There isn’t another spot in the world that could create this wine, and this is exactly what great Tuscan wine is all about. You can drink this now yet many anticipate it will live for twenty more years in your cellar. "The masterpiece of Castellare. Twice named in the Wine Spectator Top 100, again and again three glasses and five bunches, pride of our Farm to have shown the grandeur of Sangioveto and Malvasia nera, reaching the fifth place in the world. Nowadays the Tuscan wine, made from native vines, with the highest score." -winemaker

95+ points "The 2007 I Sodi di San Niccolo saturates the palate with masses of rich, dark fruit. The 2007 is very much a product of the year. Warm, open and resonant, the 2007 is one of the bigger wines made at Castellare over the last three decades. There is an immediacy that is quite appealing, but the wine’s bombastic personality needs some time to settle down. Although delicious today, the 2007 should also age quite well based on its sheer opulence. It is best cellared for at least a few years. Anticipated maturity: 2017-2032." -Antonio Galloni, The Wine Advocate

2007 Castellare I Sodi di San Niccolo – 94+ points Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate: “The 2007 I Sodi di San Niccolo is a massive yet seamless wine loaded with dark fruit. It possesses striking energy and textural richness, but those qualities will require some time to emerge. At times the 2007 shows signs of opening, but the underlying tannic material is quite substantial and dominant right now. A final blast of dark red fruit teases on the finish. The 2007 I Sodi is 85% Sangioveto and 15% Malvasia Nera aged in French oak barrels. It remains arguably the most under-the-radar of Tuscany’s truly great wines. Anticipated maturity: 2017-2027.”

Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar, Sep 12: 94 points Medium ruby-red. Deep, complex aromas of ripe red cherry, raspberry jam, roasted herbs and mint. Fat and lush but sappy and delineated, with pliant, creamy ripe red fruit flavors accented by aromatic herbs. Finishes with big, broad, ripe tannins and a note of sweet pipe tobacco. Obviously the product of a hot vintage, but this doesn't come across as heavy or phenolically unripe. A very luscious style of Sodi: those who like big, creamy wines will probably rate this even higher.

94 points "Beautiful aromas of Christmas cake and dark fruits. Full body, with velvety tannins and dark chocolate and fruits as well. Chewy finish. Give a year or two to open and soften. A classic Tuscan red. Made from Sangiovese and Malvasia Nera." -James Suckling

93 points "I Sodi di San Niccolò is a gorgeous and opulent blend of 85% Sangioveto and 15% Malvasia Nera with amazing intensity and beautifully crafted aromas of black fruit, rum cake, leather, spice and moist tobacco. It’s very smooth and silky, with long-lasting berry flavors on the close." -Monica Larner, Wine Enthusiast

Wine Description
I Sodi di San Niccolò was created in the early 1980s with the goal of demonstrating that the native grapes could produce a wine with all the power and grace of a Super Tuscan—without the use of international varietals. The name "I Sodi" refers to land that is difficult to till (grapes must be hand-harvested), and "San Niccolò" is an abandoned church on the Castellare property. This wine captures the enormous potential of the Sangioveto grape.

Tasting Notes
Full-bodied, with firm yet fine-grained tannins, I Sodi di San Niccolò is an austere, rich and elegant wine that offers supple notes of wild berries, blackberry, currants and cedar, which are elegantly complemented by hints of vanilla and leather. Food Pairing: Pair with tomato sauce and meaty pastas, fine cuts of steak or roast rack of lamb. Vineyard name: Chianti Classico/The I Sodi di San Niccolò vineyard, Vineyard size: 11 acres, Soil composition: Calcareous Training method: Guyot, Elevation: 1,452 feet, Vines/acre: 1,800, Yield/acre: 2 tons, Exposure: Southeastern, Harvest time: October, First vintage of this wine: 1980, Bottles produced of this wine: 25,000, Varietal composition: 85% Sangioveto and 15% Malvasia Nera Fermentation container: Stainless Steel Tanks, Length of alcoholic fermentation: 14 days, Fermentation temperature: 79 °F Maceration technique: Pumpovers and delestage, Length of maceration: 14 days, Type of aging container: Barriques, Size of aging container: 225 L, Age of aging container: 50% new and 50% second passage, Type of oak: French oak, Length of aging before bottling: 24 months Length of bottle aging: 30 month, Alcohol: 13.8 %, pH level: 3.6, Residual sugar: 1 g/L, Acidity: 5.9 g/L, Dry extract: 33 g/  

Two of the best Non-Vintage Champagnes available!

We have again been notified of substantial price increases
on these 2 great value Champagnes!

Get em while we have em!

Duval Leroy N.V. Brut
or
Nicolas Feuillette N.V. Brut

Reg $45 Sale $29.97 btl!

Duval Leroy N.V. Brut
Our best-selling Champagne from France two years in a row! This is both elegant and intense with a vibrant structure and long finish. #77, TOP 100 WINES, 91 PTS, WINE SPECTATOR 2008. The rich, sumptuous Duval-Leroy Non-Vintage Brut is marked by clover honey, candied citrus and hints of malt and mineral; beautifully integrated. 75% Pinot Noir, 25% Chardonnay Color: Gold, straw gold, light bubbles Aroma: Dried biscuits, chocolate aromas Taste: Soft in the mouth, rich, well-structured.

Nicolas Feuillette N.V. Brut
Critical acclaim: "Flavors of poached pear, kumquat, white raspberry, biscuit, ginger and licorice mix in this lively, open-knit version. Features a modest, lightly smoky finish." 90 Points Wine Spectator

Baby Rombauer! #1 Chard of 2012!

* Over the last 6 months this Chardonnay has quickly become by a vast margin our #1 Selling Chardonnay!
This “Perfectly” in the middle has satisfied the palates of the connoisseurs and novices alike at a price point that makes both smile!
Our ability to sell it at this price “potentially” stops at year end, so we brought in 30 cases for on last Hurrah! Chardonnay of the year!

2011 Wente Vineyards Chardonnay Riva Ranch
Reg $19.99 Sale $13.97

This wine is a rich, golden color, viscous with honey graham cracker and citrus aromas that give way to a buttery, slightly floral palate with a hint of honeyed spice (small amounts of Pinot Blanc and Gewurztraminer give mid-palate lift). Beautifully balanced by subtle oak, butter and vanilla from barrel aging. It has a round mothfeel and a long fruity finish. Wente Vineyards is California oldest family owned and continuously operated winery. Founded in 1883 by C. H. Wente, the winery is now managed by the fourth and fifth generations of the Wente family. The winery farms nearly 3,000 acres of estate vineyards in the Livermore Valley, San Francisco Bay, and Arroyo Seco, Monterey appellations, two premier Central Coast winegrowing regions. “Estate Grown” vintages allow fifth generation winegrower Karl Wente the ability to ensure quality at every step of the winemaking process, from the vine to the bottle. Each wine in the Estate Grown series has a distinctive style based on the vineyards and region where it was grown, as well as the subtle influences of the winemaker

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)

Comfort Wine! Chateau St. Jean On Sale! Wow!!

2008 Chateau St. Jean Cabernet Sauvignon “Sonoma County”
Reg $27.99 Sale $19.97 $199.99 cs

Black cherries, chocolate, ripe plums, violets and sweet vanilla oak notes jump from the nose of this Cabernet. On the palate, layers of ripe blackberries, roasty tobacco, cedar, mint and spice surround richly textured supple tannins that lead into a coffee and smoky oak finish. Vineyards Sonoma County`s coastal climate, soils and complex terrain of small valleys, benchlands and hillsides interact to create prime conditions for growing grapes. This diversity of growing conditions enables several grape varieties to excel in the region, including Cabernet Sauvignon. For this bottling, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc grapes were selected from vineyards in the Alexander Valley, Knights Valley, Sonoma Valley and Dry Creek appellations of Sonoma County to craft this superior Cabernet Sauvignon. Winemaking This wine consists of Cabernet Sauvignon blended with Merlot (3%) and Cabernet Franc (2%). Each component was aged separately for 18 months in French and American oak before blending. Once the barrel selection was made, the wine was assembled and bottled.

“Sonoma County” Cabernet $14.97! Save $13.00 Bottle
Chardonnay& Fume Blanc $9.97! Best for the Money!

As the holidays quickly approach there is no need to fret over what wines to select for your Holiday gatherings. Any time you can get county appellation wines from Sonoma or Napa at the price of most California appellation wines the choice becomes easy! Make your holidays less stressful and take advantage of this incredible offer!Chateau St. Jean, with its gracious style, elegant architecture and inviting gardens and tasting rooms, is the quintessential Sonoma winery. The winemaking estate is located at the foot of Sugarloaf Ridge in the Sonoma Valley near Kenwood, California. Founded in 1973, Chateau St. Jean has long been recognized as a leader in Vineyard Designated wines. Winemaker Margo Van Staaveren uses her 30 years of vineyard and winemaking expertise with Chateau St. Jean to highlight the best of each vineyard in the wines

2010 Chateau St. Jean Chardonnay “Sonoma County” Reg $15.99 Sale $9.97

Domaine Faiveley 2010
1825, Pierre Faiveley founded the firm that now bears the name Domaine Faiveley. At that time, the firm was classic negociant, buying and selling wine. But from generation to generation, with a firm commitment to the quality of Burgundy’s patrimony, the Faiveley family has purchased vineyard and is today among the largest owners of classified vineyards in the Cote de Nuits, Cote de Beaune and Cotes Chalonnaise. All together the firm owns some 120 hectare of vineyards among which 10 hectares are grands crus and 25, premiers crus.

The objective of the family today, led by Erwan Faiveley, is to increase the firm’s holdings of great vineyards so that there can be complete control from vine to bottle across the entire range of wines. Along with this focus, Erwan Faiveley and General Manager Bernard Hervet have renovated the cellars which now boast state of the art barrel presses, custom designed wooden vats and among the finest, air cured oak casks available in the world.

Unlike many wine growers, Domaine Faiveley has united the management of its vineyards and its cellar under the direction of one technical director, Jerome Flous. The result is seamless integration of vineyard and cellar practices with great results in the quality of the wines. Today, the wines of Domaine Faiveley are widely recognized for being among the finest produced in Burgundy and Domaine Faiveley among the finest wine producers in the world.

2010 Domaine Faiveley
CEO/adviser Bernard Hervet describes 2010 as a moderately ripe year, but the aromatic complexity, precision and energy of the best 2010s here, in many instances reinforced by some whole-cluster vinification, make a strong argument that coolish growing seasons can make splendid and complete red Burgundies. The malos here were on the early side (the chardonnay malos were generally later), with most of the wines finishing in March and April of 2011, but the wines will nonetheless be bottled a bit later than usual.

4: 2010 Beaune Clos De L'Ecu  $320.00/6
Good bright red. Reticent aromas of dark cherry and crushed stone show a building spice character with air; less exuberant than the Champs Fulliot. Lovely definition and lift to the youthfully closed flavors of pomegranate, cherry and orange zest. Finishes firmly tannic and closed, but with excellent energy and subtle lingering perfume. These south-facing vines were picked at the beginning of the harvest. 89-92
Cask sample - medium cherry red color with pale meniscus; baked cherry, ripe cherry, berry nose; lovely, ripe cherry, ripe raspberry palate with grip and sweet tannins; medium-plus finish 91-93 points (91 pts.)
88-91 BUrghound Tasting note: Classic ruby. This is very pinot with a highly expressive nose of ripe cherry and raspberry that is cut with notes of wet stone and earth. The medium-bodied flavors are attractively rich and very supple on the mid-palate yet tighten up significantly on the firmer, serious and persistent finish where a touch of wood influence arrives just at the end.

4: 2010 Volnay Santenots $462.00/6
Bright, full, deep red. Crushed cherry, raspberry, minerals, cocoa powder and coriander on the vibrant nose. Sweet, fine-grained and subtly powerful, with terrific inner-mouth perfume and lift. Wonderfully classy Volnay, finishing bright, suavely tannic and very long. Consultant Bernard Hervet did a light extraction here, and believes that this cuvee got a bit too much pigeage in 2008. 92-94
90-93 Burghound Tasting note: Very deep ruby. An explosive and highly complex nose offers up aromas of raspberry and cherry liqueur along with hints of lavender and violets. The medium-bodied flavors possess outstanding richness and volume with excellent levels of dry extract that render the tannins almost invisible at present though the finish is sufficiently firm to suggest that they will require 12 to 15 years to fully resolve. I very much like the balance and sense of harmony here.

4: 2010 Pommard Les Rugiens $550.00/6
Good full, bright red. Subtle, high-pitched aromas of cherry, tobacco, leather and dried rose. Sweet, creamy and deep, with some CO2 adding to the impression of freshness. Wonderfully perfumed, very long wine, finishing with outstanding finesse of tannins, complex saline soil tones, and terrific energy and lift. Pommard without a whisper of rusticity. 92-95
91-93 Burghound Tasting note: A fresh, cool and restrained nose of surpassing elegance displays airy red berry fruit, in particular raspberry and currant. Interestingly for a Rugiens, this is almost delicate on the mid-palate but there is excellent power and plenty of underlying tension to the very firmly structured, linear and somewhat strict if wonderfully persistent and impeccably well-balanced finish. I wouldn't buy this unless you expressly intend to cellar it for at least a decade.

4: 2010 Gevrey Chambertin Cazetiers $515.00/6
Good deep red. Lovely lift to the aromas of cherry and rose petal. Sweet, suave and juicy, with terrific definition and class to the bright flavors of cherry, minerals, flowers and spices. Silky and stylish. Mounts impressively on the very long finish, which features suave tannins and captivating lingering perfume. 92-95
92-94 Burghound Tasting note: A brilliantly layered nose of impressive depth and breadth speaks of similar aromas as the Combe Aux Moines though this is more Gevrey in character. This is a powerful wine with plenty of mid-palate concentration to the amazingly rich, intense and tautly muscular flavors that culminate in a mouth coating, balanced and astonishingly long finish. A classic Cazetiers with everything that it needs to reward 15+ years of cellar time
Cask sample - light-medium cherry red color; lovely, focused, floral, tart cherry, framboise nose; rich, elegant, complex, tart cherry, ripe raspberry, mineral palate; needs 4-plus years; medium-plus finish 92-94 points (92 pts.)

2: 2010 Clos De Vougeot $1049.00/6
(just 20 hectoliters per hectare produced): Good deep red. Very pure, complex nose melds black cherry, minerals, black pepper, wild herbs and an earthy nuance. Large-scaled, sweet and rich, with a strong mineral underpinning to the flavors of black cherry and spices. A very powerful and impressive Clos Vougeot with outstanding persistence. The crop-limiting effect of the December frost has produced a wine with stunning concentration. 93-96
92-95 Burghound Tasting note: This is unusually elegant in 2010 with its refined nose of raspberry and earth though there are background notes of grilled meat and smoke. The supple, mouth coating and utterly delicious broad-shouldered flavors possess a silky texture yet there is plenty of power and punch to the very firmly structured finish. While there is a certain delicacy present, this will still need all of 15 years to realize its full potential

2: 2010 Latricieres-Chambertin $1169.00/6
Good bright red. Noble, airy aromas of piquant pomegranate, smoky minerality, white pepper and leather. Densely packed and folded in on itself; like a black hole in the mouth. Great verve and energy to the saline and crushed stone flavors. Uncoils slowly with aeration, with the finish displaying almost painful intensity and terrific mounting floral length. A great soil-driven Latricieres in the making. 93-96
93-95 Burghound Tasting note: This offers up a completely different aromatic profile than that of the Mazis with its extremely cool, restrained and ultra-elegant nose of a broad range of wild red berry fruits, stone, floral notes and spice hints. There is exceptionally good purity and transparency to the intensely mineral-inflected middle weight flavors that evidence ample power on the impeccably well-balanced and linear finish. This is a really lovely effort that embodies that ineffable quality of power without weight.

2: 2010 Chambertin-Clos De Beze $1799.99/6
Good bright full red. Sensational nose features all the Burgundy food groups: raspberry, minerals, flowers, game, spices. Pure silk on the palate, with a wonderfully fine-grained texture given lift and razor-sharp definition by sappy acidity and a piquant element of white pepper. Offers a rare combination of density and delineation and finishes with outstanding building length and great finesse. 94-97
Cask sample - light medium cherry red color; appealing, baked cherry, ripe cherry, vanilla, baked berry nose; tasty, rich, ripe, tart cherry, raspberry, baked cherry palate with delicacy; long finish 94-97 points (94 pts.)
94-97 Burghound Tasting note: A highly spiced nose features notes of cool red currant, plum, violets and wet stone along with ample amounts of pungent Gevrey style earth. There is impressive richness and size to the powerful and well-concentrated large-scaled flavors that are underpinned by buried tannins before culminating in a huge finish that is also monumentally proportioned. This built-to-age beauty will also require a considerable amount of patience as it should see its 50th birthday without undue effort.

 4: 2010 Corton-Clos Des Cortons Faiveley $999.99/6
Deep red with ruby tones. Sappy, perfumed nose offers cherry, white pepper, crushed stone, mint and menthol. Wonderfully velvety in the mouth, but with superb energy and definition to the pungent mineral and fresh raspberry flavors. Boasts a three-dimensional texture and great sweetness. Peppery acidity and uncanny soil complexity stain the palate on the finish, which features outstanding finesse of tannins. A worthy successor to the great 2009. 94-97
94-96 Burghound Tasting note: A brooding, deep and introverted nose grudgingly gives up notes of cassis, earth, wood and a hint of animale. The intense, brawny and imposingly structured flavors possess superb volume and almost breathtaking power on the explosive and mouth coating finish that is of monumental proportions. This is a classic Corton yet consistent with the style of the 2010 vintage, this is not unduly rustic, indeed the tannins, while firm, are actually relatively refined. A knock out by any standard but at the same time, a wine for the genuinely patient.
on 2/13/2012 & rated 95 points Cask sample - medium cherry red color; gorgeous, ripe cherry, roses, wild berry nose; wonderful, very appealing, cherry, baked cherry, ripe raspberry palate with balance; long finish 95-98 points