Jaboulet Ermitage Rouge 2018
$117.99
Philippe Jaboulet and his son, Vincent, carry on long-established family winemaking traditions at Domaine Philippe & Vincent Jaboulet in Crozes-Hermitage. Located in the northern Rhône Valley about one mile south of Tain l’Hermitage, the domaine was founded in 2006 following the sale of Maison Paul Jaboulet Ainé, where Philippe managed the family’s vineyards and handled all grape purchasing. After the sale, Philippe and Vincent retained about 32 acres of the family’s vineyards, including most notably a parcel of the original Thalabert vineyard, which is situated in the Crozes-Hermitage appellation. (Philippe and Vincent Jaboulet acquired another 37 acres to add to the newly formed domaine, including a small plot in Cornas-1.7 acres.) The parcel from the Thalabert vineyard that belonged to Paul Jaboulet Ainé was renamed Nouvelère, commemorating the ‘new era’. The domaine’s Nouvelère wine is produced from the vineyard’s oldest vines, up to 80 years old.
The domaine owns other vineyard holdings in Crozes-Hermitage, where relatively younger vines yield full-bodied reds from the Syrah variety. These wines are aged in tanks and both small and large oak barrels; no new wood barrels are employed.) These reds are released two years after the vintage. The domaine’s Crozes Hermitage white wine comes from the Marsanne grape.
In Hermitage, the Syrah wines are sourced from 30-year-old vines in the Les Dionnières lieu-dit; the grapes are raised carefully: organic fertilizer and no chemical insecticides. The family also produces limited quantities of Hermitage white wines, made from 100% Roussanne grapes; in Cornas, a small amount of red wine is produced.
The entire domaine has received the High Environmental Value certification from the French Ministry of Agriculture, recognition of the domaine’s efforts to implement environmentally respectful practices, according to Vincent Jaboulet.
Sandhi Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir
$71.99
From an average of 40-year-old vines. Brimming with high-toned, youthful aromatics, Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir leads with crunchy red fruits of pomegranate, wild strawberry, and sun-warmed raspberry. The exuberantly fruity nose is undergirded with orange zest, black tea, tea rose, and faint hints of clove and spice. The bright, vivacious palate carries a taut mineral streak through to a lengthy finish lifting the red fruit notes with a whisper of anise.
Kleinood Tamboerskloof Syrah
$56.99
Kleinood is a small farm with just twelve hectares of arable land. Of these, ten hectares are devoted to vines, with the remaining two under olive trees. The rest of the farm is left wild or planted with fynbos, roses and vegetables. In the year 2000 the small farm, that was to become Kleinood, was very different from what it is now. Although its inherent natural beauty and charm was always there, it was, sadly, just a run-down and neglected little fruit farm in a beautiful valley against a backdrop of majestic mountains and a river running through it. Over time it has become a personal and highly individual project where no effort was spared in striving to produce a thing of excellence and beauty underpinned with a simple and holistic philosophy dedicated to exploring, and developing while using the full potential of the farm and human skills to produce the best Kleinood is capable of.
Sylvain Martel Julienas 3L
$324.99
Sylvain Martel completed his winemaking training in the Southern Rhone and spent ten years running a small organic estate in the Ardeche. He relocated to Beaujolais, after the Graillot family of Crozes-Hermitage brought him on board to help establish and manage Domaine de Fa. As fate would have it, Sylvain met Anne-Sophie Dubois (we carry her wines as well) in 2016 and settled down in Fleurie. By 2018 he was ready to start his own project and purchased a 1.3ha plot of 45 year old Gamay vines on a dramatic steep slope at 450m altitude in the lieu-dit of Bessay in the western part of Julienas. A terroir of blue stones, the tree-lined vineyard is planted to a high density, cultivation is organic and the yields are kept low (25hl/ha).
Muga Prado Enea
$117.99
The Muga family keeps buying vineyards and already has 475 hectares of vineyards (owned and some 90 hectares of those rented) and are even planting some new ones. They have bought the facilities of the Labastida cooperative (only the buildings) because they have grown to some two million bottles, especially with the new brand, El Andén de la Estación, which is close to 200,000 bottles, but also in whites and sparkling wine.
Luis Gutiérrez - Wine Advocate - 97+ Points Drink between 2024 - 2040 The expressive, complex and nuanced 2016 Prado Enea Gran Reserva is a textbook traditional Rioja in the making. 2016 was a very elegant year, with aging potential, volume and very good acidity and freshness. It's full-bodied but fine-boned, has 14.5% alcohol, a pH of 3.6 and 5.25 grams per liter acidity. It has terrific balance, with all the components in the right proportion to age superbly in bottle. They have also been working on the selection of wood used. This wine matured in French and American oak barrels for three years, and the oak is super integrated. 127,808 bottles produced. It was bottled in January 2020. It was an exceptional year with volume and quality.
Finca de Ganuza Rioja Reserva
$92.99
Founded in 1989 and located in the centre of Samaniego, Álava, Remírez de Ganuza makes contemporary Rioja wines, from 80 hectares of estate owned vineyards. There are 70 individual vineyards made up of more than 200 plots across 9 municipalities in the foothills of Sierra Cantabria: Labastida, San Vicente de la Sonsierra, Ábalos, Samaniego, Leza, Elciego, Navaridas, Laguardia and Elvillar.
The've long been known as a winery that revolutionized some traditional methods in the area, introducing improvements both in the vineyard and in winemaking. Notably, this includes a system of separating the bunches of Tempranillo into two parts. The shoulders, with perfect phenolic ripeness, are used for wines with more ageing and aging potential, the Remírez de Ganuza Reserva and Gran Reserva.
Pinea 17 Ribera del Duero
$97.59
Vicente Pliego and Hugo Del Pozzo, two childhood friends, turned their passion for wine culture into their life, with the firm intention of making a definitive wine. A wine called to be on a par with the greatest in the world and capable of reflecting thethe most authentic and elegant expression of Ribera del Duero. The vineyards grow in the northern part of Ribera del Duero. Located at an average altitude of 900 metres above sea level, our vines represent the perfect confluence of elements: unique soil, a demanding environment and an adverse climate. The vineyards are biodynamic, and sustainable viticulture practices are applied to mature vineyards (30 to 90+ years) planted in slightly varying soil types, with chalky sand and abundant limestone. Deeply structured rooting systems allow for vines to thrive under extreme temperatures without artificial irrigation. The result? A 100-percent Tempranillo wine aged in French and American oak that is said to rival the legendary Vega Sicilia.
Domaine Clavel Copa Santa
$49.99
For Estelle and Pierre Clavel, the estate has been a strong and active commitment - no doubt personal - that has resulted in a desire for sharing, not only with family, staff, friends, clients and visitors, but also with everything that surrounds, that inhabits and that sets the scene around them: the olive groves, the areas dedicated to animal farming and the natural grasslands.
The famous Copa Santa! A Pierre Clavel wine… A bottled icon! Ever since the first vintage in 1992, this wine has never lost its recognition among aficionados. A high-end cuvée crafted in enough bottles to appease everyone. Up until 2016, Copa Santa was made with the grapes from La Méjanelle. As of 2017, the grapes have been coming from Montpeyroux. It is a syrah/grenache blend.
Terredora Pago Dei Fusi 2015
$86.99
This revered winery's story begins with a tale of two brothers - Walter and Antonio Mastroberardino -who parted ways, with Antonio acquiring the winery and Walter acquiring the vineyards (renamed as Terredora). The Terredora di Paolo estate is located on the hills of Irpinia, surrounding the valleys of the Sabato and Calore rivers. With about 180 hectares of vineyards, they rank among the most prestigious producers in Southern Italy. The South of Italy is one of the most interesting wine areas in the country, and Campania, and especially the Irpinia region, produces wines from native grape varieties such as aglianico, fiano, greco, piedirosso and falanghina, all of which are brimming with personality. Aglianico has been called the Barolo of the south for its power and its ability to age for many years. Today it is Walter's daughter, Daniela Mastroberardino, who oversees the winemaking duties and serves as the president of the Le Donne del Vino association- an organization supporting women in the wine industry in Italy.