NEW ARRIVALS: BURGUNDY
RED BURGUNDY from ROSENTHAL
Rosenthal Imports has championed traditional, family-run domains in Burgundy and beyond for more than 30 years. These are wines and producers to follow vintage after vintage.

2006 DOM. ROLLIN “Haut Cote de Beaune” Rouge $25 Vibrant, fresh, elegant with beautiful garnet color. Tremendous value in delicious-drinking burgundy. “Each vintage has a character and that character is not only worth expressing, it’s essential.” –Remi Rollin

2001 DOM. BITOUZET-PRIEUR Beaune 1er cru Rouge “Les Cent Vignes” $40
Classic Burgundian vinification is practiced at this traditional domaine with a unique style of wine. Vincent Bitouzet’s ancestral roots in Burgundy cover at least the last two centuries. They were one of the first of the family domaines in this region to bottle their wines.

2006 DOM. FOURRIER Chambolle-Musigny Villages Vielles Vignes $72 “Raspberry, flowers and crushed stone on the perfumed nose. The palate shows an almost liqueur-like raspberry character while retaining sap and freshness. Finishes with dusty tannins and good length.” — IWA
“The Fourrier ’06s are very impressive and worth a close look … they are ultra pure wines fashioned in an elegant and understated style.”– Burghound

NEW ARRIVAL:
2008 CHAT. MASSIAC Minervois “Sentinelle de Massiac” $12.99
Dom. Massiac is owned by Bernard & France Boudovresques in the heart of Minervois. Powerful blend of 75% Syrah and 25% Carignan. Earthy, spicy and intense with aromas of clay and bacon. The vines are grown in rocky clay-limestone soil, a geologic composition common to the estate. Deep color & rich fruit with dominant flavors of black currant.

WINE DOG DEAL: Liguria
2006 COLLE dei BARDELLINI Vermentino “U Munte” $17.99
Travel to the lovely Ligurian coast with this fresh, sea-breeze vermentino from the gentle slopes of the Ponente.
2006 COLLE dei BARDELLINI Vermentino “Vigna U Munte” Reg. $25; Spec. $17.99 (15% off six pack = $15.29/bottle. Lots of freshness with cedar and citrus aromas, med.-full-bodied, a perfect companion to anything from the ocean, and much else!

TUSCAN SPECIAL:
2003 ARGIANO Brunello “Duemilatre” $40 (declassifed Brunello) 91 pts.
Special 15% off 6-pak

Il “Duemilatre di Argiano” is the declassified version of Argiano’s 2003 Brunello di Montalcino. Instead of its $75 price tag, this wine from Argiano’s top vineyards is now $40! With the purchase of a six-pak, the price is a blistering $34! 

“Argiano’s medium-bodied 2003 Brunello di Montalcino offers outstanding clarity and definition in its dark cherries, tobacco, earthiness and underbrush. The tannins of the vintage are there, but the wine is beautifully balanced and is just plain delicious. The Brunello spent a year in used French oak barrels followed by a year in cask. Anticipated maturity: 2008-2018. 91 pts. –Wine Advocate

WINE DOG DEAL: Veneto
Angiolino Maule “Masieri” $10.99
Biodynamic Bargain

2005 La Biancara di ANGIOLINO MAULE “I Masieri” Bianco $10.99
Angiolino’s estate, in the hamlet of Biancara, now covers about 9 ha planted principally to Garganega. For more than 16 years now, he has used biodynamic viticulture, as well as non-interventionist vinification using natural yeasts, and without temperature control or fining/filtration. “I Masieri Bianco” is 100% Garganega from the Masieri vineyard aged in stainless steel tanks — a fresh, crsip, authentic expression of grape and place. It’s why we love wine!

Fresh & Local: WEST COUNTY CIDER
Preserving our local heritage

WEST COUNTY CIDER Reine de Pomme $12

2004 ALTESINO Brunello di Montalcino “MONTOSOLI” 95 pts. EXCLUSIVE

Eric Broege visited the Montalcino region and the Altesino estate in April to taste the vaunted 2004 Brunellos. He had a long visit and dinner with Guido Orzalesi, and tasted 2004’s as well as barrel samples from recent vintages. The verdict? A resounding “BRAVO!”

“Montosoli” is a five-hectare vineyard  northeast of Montalcino at an altitude of 350-400m. The grapes from this vineyard have been fermented and aged separately since the 1975 harvest.

2004 ALTESINO Brunello di Montalcino “Montosoli” $120 95 pts.  “The estate’s 2004 Brunello di Montalcino Montosoli is a big, strapping wine loaded with dark fruit, smoke, new leather and minerals. The Montosoli, from one of Montalcino’s top sites, shows considerable density and richness. The tannins build on the finish, rounding out a gorgeous Brunello that achieves a brilliant combination of power and elegance. Drink: 2009-2022.”–Wine Advocate

“Shows meat and blackberry on the nose, with hints of rose perfume. Full-bodied, with silky tannins and a long, rich and flavorful finish. Love the cocoa, berry and light vanilla bean aftertaste. This is always classic in an outstanding year. Best from 2010 through 2015. 1,500 cases made. 95 pts.”–WS

2007 DOM. de VIEUX TELEGRAPHE Chateauneuf-du-Pape 96pts. $75
“Throughout the southern Rhône, 2007 is the greatest vintage I have tasted in my thirty years working in that region. This venerable estate, long run by the Brunier family, is a consistent source for fabulous wines.” –Robert Parker

“The 2007 Vieux Telegraphe Chateauneuf du Pape should ultimately eclipse the 2005 and 1998. It appears to be one of the finest wines made by Daniel Brunier and his brother. Its deep ruby color is accompanied by a superb nose of nori seaweed wrappers, licorice, pepper, tobacco leaf, and gobs of sweet black cherry and black currant fruit. Full-bodied with a fabulous texture, purity, and freshness (a consistent hallmark of this vintage), a juicy, rich, layered mouthfeel, and a finish that lasts for 45+ seconds. Although young, the tannin, acidity, and alcohol are all well-integrated. Typically, this wine tends to be dormant for 3-5 years after bottling, then emerge brilliantly. Therefore, I would wait until 2012 before pulling a cork on this one. Drink it over the following 20-25 years. 94-96+ pts.” — Robert Parker, Wine Advocate

2004 GIUSEPPE MASCARELLO Barolo “Monprivato” $100  96 pts.
VINTAGES EXCLUSIVE
“Mascarello’s 2004 Barolo Monprivato is an explosive wine with an almost Pinot-like expression of purity in its fruit. This round, sweet Barolo is extremely primary at this stage, with tons of dense fruit that almost cover the wine’s tannins completely. Subtle overtones of roses and tar develop in the glass, rounding out this majestic wine. Monprivato is one of the world’s very finest values in collectible, age-worthy wine, and the 2004 is another classic in the making. I was blown away by this wine’s sheer balance and harmony, both of which are remarkable considering the wine’s age. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2034. 96 pts.” 

Continue Reading »

WINE DOG DEAL: Burgundy Chardonnay from Jean Rijkaert
2006 JEAN RIJKAERT St. Veran “En Avonne” Vieilles Vignes $19.99
Vibrant citrus and quince aromas are highlighted with honeysuckle. Peach & pear flavors combine depth and energy, picking up a pleasantly bitter lime pith quality on the finish. Wonderful supple texture and clarity of flavor.