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Another day... another 100 pt wine... reply if interested... supply is extremely limited. Gaja Barolo Sperss 2016
Sale $299.99
100 pts Wine Advocate - “The golden touch, that proverbial Gaja magic, is taken to a whole new level in the 2016 Barolo Sperss. Angelo Gaja has taught his children to follow their own path, and now that the generational switch is well underway at the family estate, we can see that Gaia, Rossana and Giovanni have done him proud. Very proud. This stunning expression from the 2016 vintage (with 16,000 bottles released) represents quite a few celebratory milestones. We are now in the fifth generation to protect the Gaja legacy in an unbroken family chain that has endured since 1859. This wine is 100% Nebbiolo, and since the 2013 vintage, it is part of the Barolo DOCG appellation. Winemaking has been tweaked to embrace a more elegant, ethereal and streamlined personality, instead of the bigger extraction we saw in the past. This upgraded identity is distinctly evident in this newest release of Sperss. Starting with appearance, the wine is luminous and bright with shiny ruby and garnet gemstone. Its aromatic reach is three-dimensional with width, height and depth. Delicate berry tones cede to pressed lilac, anise, sandalwood and cardamom spice. I double decanted and left the bottle open for a few hours before my tasting. The results are tight and gentle, and the wine shows beautiful vertical lift and intensity. To achieve this much power without the excess fruit weight is really quite an accomplishment. This is the magic of Nebbiolo, and the magic of Gaja.”
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Catena Zapata White Bones Chardonnay 2018
Sale $109.99
100 pts James Suckling / 97+ pts Wine Advocate
“Adrianna Vineyard is located at 4,757’ elevation in the Tupungato region. Extreme high altitude and cool climate impart a distinctive minerality to this wine. The White Bone rows are located over a patch of sandy soil layered with calcareous deposits and limestone. Fossilized animal bones can be found among the limestone, remnants of ancient rivers that passed through the region. This wine can be enjoyed young or aged for decades. The White Bones Chardonnay has a bright lemon yellow color in the glass. The nose shows an enticing mélange of apples and pears interwoven with stone fruit notes and vanilla. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied with a rich and concentrated mouthfeel and flavors of ripe Anjou pears, apples, quince, and apricot flavors with hints of vanilla and nuttiness. The overall impression of the wine is one of balance with a bright, clean acidity and lingering finish. The is a rich, full-bodied Chardonnay that nonetheless possesses a crisp acidity making it the perfect foil for meatier fish like tuna and swordfish as well as seafood dishes prepared with butter and cream. Try this wine with a dish like Roasted Monkfish with Cardinal Sauce for an unforgettable meal.” Winery note
“ This is really exuberant at this stage with fantastic aromas of honeysuckle, salt, chalk and dried apples and pears. Full body. Dense, vivid fruit with a linear frame of wonderful, energetic acidity. The energy and length just goes on for minutes. Soulful white. Argentina’s answer to Montrachet. Stares you straight in the eyes.” JS
“this bottling is always a little more aromatic and forward than the more backward White Stones; there are flowers, pollen, herbs and white pepper. But both whites are more about the place and vintage, more about the chalky soils that give them a very specific mouthfeel, with a dry, austere personality.” WA
Valdicava Brunello di Montalcino Madonna del Piano Riserva 2015
Sale $289.99 (magnum $599.99 net)
100 pts James Suckling / 96 Wine Advocate
“Spectacular aromas of crushed fruit, plums, sous bois, porcini and black truffles. Decadent year, but fresh. Full bodied, dense and linear on the palate, yet so much in balance and refined with incredible depth and consistency. The savory and juicy finish, with vivid acidity and fruit, is eye-opening. GREATEST EVER. Best after 2025, but can’t wait to try it again.”
Valdicava Brunello di Montalcino Madonna del Piano Riserva 2010
Sale $309.99 (3 liter $1,499 net)
100 pts James Suckling / 97 pts Wine Spectator / 95 pts Wine Advocate
“A wine with superb finesse and depth. So subtle and understated yet, powerful and long. The tannin intensity is amazing. It just builds like a massive wave. Superb. Give this time in the bottle. The length is endless. Better in 2018.” Domaine Giraud Chateauneuf du Pape "Gallimardes" Rouge 2016
Sale $98.99 – Beats Best US Price Online
100 pts Jeb Dunnuck / 97 pts Wine Spectator
“Bigger and richer, the 2016 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Les Gallimardes is mostly Grenache (there’s 10% Syrah) all from incredibly old vines in the Les Gallimardes lieu-dit located in the southern part of the appellation. This estate owns a tiny parcel here, and this cuvée is incredibly limited, with just 250 cases made. Possessing a huge, incredible nose of blackberries, black raspberries, crushed rocks, garrigue, melted licorice, and cured meats, this full-bodied 2016 has a wealth of fruit and richness, no hard edges, building tannins, and awesome purity of fruit. It’s the finest example of this cuvée ever made and a perfect wine. Don’t miss it! 2020 - 2040” JD
“This drips with steeped raspberry, plum and boysenberry fruit, making for a decidedly fruit-driven personality. Shows ample spine, with a deeply buried bolt of graphite and hints of Turkish coffee and ganache skittering through. Offers a long echo of smoldering tobacco. A stunner. Best from 2020 through 2045.” WS |