Turley Hayne Petite Syrah
$169.99
Flirting with perfection, the 2012 Petite Syrah Hayne Vineyard and 2012 Petite Syrah Pesenti Vineyard both have off-the-charts richness as well as opaque black/blue colors, enormously concentrated red, blue and black fruits intermixed with camphor and creosote notes. The Petite Syrah Hayne Vineyard can be drunk for its impressive scale, richness, texture and power in their youth, but it will not exhibit much secondary development for at least a decade. This will still be offering provocative and prodigious drinking 30 to 40 years from now.
Turley Wine Cellars has long been one of the more enviable wine operations in California. Larry Turley should, and does, receive enormous credit for nearly single-handedly preserving many of the heritage old vine Zinfandel sites that exist in northern California. Most of them were threatened with being torn up with what was believed to be more popular varietals such as Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinot Noir. This estate produces nearly thirty single vineyard Zinfandels and Petite Syrahs, all from organically farmed vineyards. Natural yeast fermentations have always been the rule, and the percentage of new oak used has dropped from a high of 30% to about half that. Their Zinfandels are never shy, but tasting through the 2012s, it appears they are not as extracted as they once were, but the alcohols remain in the 15% to 16% range because Zinfandel is rarely ripe at lower sugars. It appears that Larry Turley was destined to resuscitate these old vine vineyards as he worked for a quarter of a century as an emergency room doctor. He now works full time shaping wines from nearly three dozen old vine parcels. As he says, he’s never met an old vine vineyard he didn’t like. Turley’s long-time assistant winemaker, Ehren Jordan, has left to pursue his own project (Failla Wines), but Turley has the highly competent Tegan Passalacqua as his wingman. Virtually every one of these 2012 Zinfandels will be drinkable upon release in 2014, and should last for 6-8 years. Larry Turley was one of the first to exploit some of the old vine vineyards planted in sandy soils from the backwater areas of Lodi and Contra Costa. The two Contra Costa sites include the Duarte and Salvador, both ancient vineyards with the Salvador directly planted on its own roots in 1896. The Duarte was named after a prominent grower in Contra Costa. The Petite Syrahs are different animals altogether and most of them should keep for 30-40 years – at a minimum! 96+ Points, Robert Parker
Domaine Tempier Blanc
$63.99
A blend of Clairette, Bourboulenc and Ugni Blanc; characterized by minerality, freshness, citrus fruit white blossoms. This white can be enjoyed now and up to 8 years from the vintage should you wish to experience the wine as it develops in bottle.
White wine accounts for just 3% of Domaine Tempier’s total wine production. It is made from grapes grown on the estate’s finest vineyards which benefit from limited exposure to sunshine. This results in the grapes ripening slowly which allows the wine to mature with good balance after spending 8 to 10 months in oak casks.
Jefferson Symbion Pinot
$50.99
The Symbion Pinot Noir is the quintessential Oregon Pinot Noir. It perfectly encapsulates the terroir within the Eola-Amity hills while still showcasing the beautiful character of Pinot Noir. Think crunchy summer berries, blossom and a hint of oak spice. A great wine to pair with poultry, especially duck, a Peasant Cheese cheese board, or just enjoy on its own! A truly delicious wine!
Taylor Fladgate 2016
$168.99
Deep purple-black with a narrow magenta rim. High notes of pure, intense woodland fruit with lively accents of green apple, fresh plum and raspberry. Around this core of bright, singing fruit is a heady aura of gumcistus and wild herbs. On a deeper register, exotic notes of cedarwood and jasmine provide an additional dimension of complexity. The wine has an attractive leanness and muscularity with sinewy, linear tannins that integrate seamlessly into the mid-palate and then re-emerge to hold the wine in a confident grip. Energized by a racy acidity, the intense berry flavours continue to build into the long finish. Although the keynotes are refinement and poise, the wine displays the restrained vigour and stamina that are the hallmarks of the Taylor Fladgate style.
"OMG. This is really the most amazing young Taylor Fladgate I have ever tasted. Full-bodied and lightly sweet with super power and intensity. So racy and focused. Yet this has such muscle and intensity. Needs at least eight years to show you everything it has to offer. Drink in 2025."
100 Pts, James Suckling, Wine Spectator
Il Borro IGT
$110.99
6 BOTTLE AVAILABLE!
James Suckling-Tuscany, Italy - ""This is the best Il Borro to date with fantastic blackberry, blueberry and sandalwood aromas that follow through to a full body with masses of fruit...A rich and toned wine...""
Arnot-Roberts Chardonnay Trout Gulch
$94.99
"The 2018 Chardonnay Trout Gulch is loaded with personality and class. Citrus, dried flowers, mint and sage are some of the many nuances that grace this Chardonnay from the southern reaches of the Santa Cruz Mountains. In 2018, the Trout Gulch has more overt body and less of the sizzling cut it has had in some previous editions, which means it will drink nicely with just another year or two in bottle. There is still plenty of energy, but more mid-palate depth and less austerity than in some years." Vinous - 93 points
Quintarelli Primofiore Magnum
$219.99
This is a Magnum / 1.5 bottle of the Quintarelli Primofiore.
"The late, great Maestro del Veneto, Giuseppe Quintarelli, succeeded in establishing his mythical and legendary estate during an amazing sixty-year career. All of the tradition, love, heart, and soul of crafting one of the world’s finest wines continue at the Quintarelli home and winery in the hills north of Verona," according to Kermit Lynch. Sourced from vines 30 years of age or older, Primafiore is a blend of Corvina, Corvinone, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc, with some Amarone providing additional depth and character. This wine will be complex and layered with impressive fruit and spice notes. Pair this rustic-styled red with Italian cuisine, of course."
Robert Keenan Napa Valley Cabernet Sauv
$94.99
A true Napa Cabernet! This wine is an explosion of character, with elements of wild summer berries, pepper, a touch of oak spices, and a smooth, lingering finish. It's smooth, yet bold, and is just simply an incredible bottle of wine. We would recommend ageing this wine for 5 or so years, but it's also delightful now. We would recommend serving this wine with a beef dish that been cooked low and slow (something like stew), or with a beautiful Brisket.
"The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon is deep garnet-purple colored with a plum, cassis and baked berries nose with violets, cedar, cigars and earth. The medium to full-bodied mouth is firm and grainy with decent concentration and an earthy finish”- Wine Advocate 90 points
Xavier Gerard Chatillon Condrieu
$99.99
"pale yellow; has a greengage, white plum aroma, with banana, a hint of apricot, white strawberry. It persists serenely, shows a little oak. The palate comes with the 2017 strength implicit on the attack, crushed white fruits, nectarine, ripe white peach; it has strength from within, not just on the surface. It has kind length, roundness on the close, which is successful. Decant it. “The challenge was to have an aftertaste that was more fine than droopy, to get that freshness,” X Gérard." - Drink Rhone
"Pale, green-hued yellow. Powerful aromas of ripe citrus and orchard fruits, ginger and violet are complemented by suggestions of honey and white pepper. Juicy and seamless on the palate, offering fresh pear and Meyer lemon flavors that show impressive depth and minerally drive. The citrus fruit and floral notes repeat on the pliant finish, which hangs on with strong, floral-driven tenacity." 93 points, Vinous