Bottle Shop of Spring Lake

Burgundy

Domaine Hudelot-Baillet Bourgogne Rouge 2017

Domaine Hudelot-Baillet Bourgogne Rouge 2017

This is an incredible value offering from a small domaine in Chambolle-Musigny. Hudelot-Baillet's Bourgogne rouge is essentially de-classified Chambolle-Musigny augmented by parcels in Gilly. The domaine was created in 1981 with cellars and holdings in Chambolle, by Joël Hudelot (inherited largely from his father Paul) and his wife Chantal Baillet. Joël retired in 2004 and passed along the reins to his son-in-law Dominique Leguen, who had been working with him at the domaine since 1998. The viticultural philosophy is organic though the domaine is not technically certified. There are no insecticides used and sexual confusion is employed instead to combat problematic bugs. The harvest is performed manually with sorting work done in the vineyards and again at the cuverie if necessary. The fruit is 100% destemmed, and the new oak program averages 30% for the villages wines, 40% for the 1ers and 50% for the Bonnes Mares. The wines are given 12 to 18 months of élevage before being bottled, generally without fining or filtration. Hudelot describes his intended style as one of finesse, succinctly explaining that "all of my appellations are in Chambolle and finesse is what we do best."

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$36.99 $33.29

Domaine Hudelot-Baillet Chambolle Musigny Vieilles Vignes 2015

Domaine Hudelot-Baillet Chambolle Musigny Vieilles Vignes 2015

Domaine Hudelot-Baillet is a true Chambolle-Musigny producer with cellars in the town as well as holdings entirely within the appellation. The domaine was created in 1981 by Joël Hudelot (inherited largely from his father Paul) and his wife Chantal Baillet. Joël retired in 2004 and passed along the reins to his son-in-law Dominique Leguen, who had been working with him at the domaine since 1998. The viticultural philosophy is organic though the domaine is not technically certified. There are no insecticides used and sexual confusion is employed instead to combat problematic bugs. The harvest is performed manually with sorting work done in the vineyards and again at the cuverie if necessary. The fruit is 100% destemmed, and the new oak program averages 30% for the villages wines , 40% for the 1ers and 50% for the Bonnes Mares. The wines are given 12 to 18 months of élevage before being bottled, generally without fining or filtration. Hudelot describes his intended style as one of finesse, succinctly explaining that "all of my appellations are in Chambolle and finesse is what we do best."

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$75.00 $67.50

Domaine Arlaud Cyprien Arlaud Vosne Romanée 2015

Domaine Arlaud Cyprien Arlaud Vosne Romanée 2015

Domaine Arlaud was born from the marriage of Joseph Arlaud from the Ardèche, and Renée Amiot of Burgundy. Her family owned a few choice parcels of land in the Côtes de Nuits, including within Clos St. Denis and Bonnes Mares. Part of the couple’s wedding gifts included these parcels and so was born Domaine Arlaud. Joseph’s son Hervé Arlaud took over the estate in 1982 and expanded the domaine with purchases of prime vineyards, mostly in their home village of Morey St. Denis. Today, the star of the show is Hevré’s son Cyprien, who in the last ten years, has come into his own as one of the most exciting growers in all of France. Cyprien Arlaud took the reins of the domaine in 1997 with the simple and unwavering vision of making pure, benchmark Burgundy. He knew the only way to achieve this goal was to be forward thinking in the cellar, and most importantly in the vineyards. The same year he was put in charge, he began the conversion of the estate to biodynamics (certified in 2014). He also began using horses to plow domaine vineyards in order to keep the soils as healthy and alive as possible. He has top holdings in Morey St. Denis, Chambolle-Musigny, Gevrey-Chambertin, and Vosne-Romanée and his sister Bertille handles the horse plowing. This beautiful Vosne-Romanee is from the lieu-dit of ‘Aux Communes’, considered to be one of Vosne’s finest. Located a stone’s throw from the prestigious Clos des Réas, this extraordinary wine was aged in barrel (20% new) so as not to be too oaky. From a winemaking perspective, Cyprien is what we call non-interventionist. Under Cyprien’s stewardship, elegance has been the focus with lower levels of extraction and the reduction of new wood to zero on the Bourgogne and 15-30% on the rest of the lineup. Partial whole cluster is used on the upper level wines (maximum 30%), purely on the nature of the vintage and if the stems are perfectly ripe. The cellar in Morey St. Denis is one of the coldest in the Côtes de Nuits, helping Cyprien pursue a slow, non-interventionist vinification, with minimal use of SO2. All of his wines are also bottled unfined and unfiltered.

$89.99 $80.99

Domaine Confuron-Cotetidot Vosne-Romanée 2015

Domaine Confuron-Cotetidot Vosne-Romanée 2015

The Confuron's have been vignerons since the seventeenth century during the reign of Louis XIV. Their specialty was and continues to be vine selection and propagation. They have led the way in identifying top selections massales and even have a clone of the noble Pinot Noir in their name: Pinot Confuron. The family crafts village level wines from four villages in the Cotes de Nuits – Nuits-Saint-Georges, Vosne-Romanee, Chambolly-Musigny and Gevrey-Chambertin (as well as Pommard) – and they have an impressive array of premier cru and grand cru sites, including the famed Vosne Suchots (they are one of the largest holders), Echezeaux, Clos Vougeot, and tiny plots of Charmes Chambertin and Mazis Chambertin. Today, Yves Confuron holds the reins at the estate with the help of his oenologist brother Jack in the cellar. Their parents Jacky and Bernadette work the vines as they dutifully have for over fifty years. The vineyards, averaging 65 years of age, have never been treated with synthetic herbicides or pesticides and great attention is taken to minimize yields through regular plowing, short pruning and green harvesting in the spring. At harvest, triage is done both in the vineyard and in the cellar. Grapes are consistently harvested late to ensure ripe stems. Yves follows his family tradition of 100% whole-cluster fermentation, followed by long cuvaisons of two to three weeks and extended barrel ageing of up to two years. The villages wines tend to see 10-20% new oak, only a tad more for the 1er Crus, and up to a maximum of 50% for the Grand Crus. The wines are bottled unfined and unfiltered, and they show remarkable aromatic intensity, spice, purity of fruit, and striking minerality from their fantastic terroirs.

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$79.99 $71.99

Domaine Dominique Gallois Gevrey Chambertin 2015

Domaine Dominique Gallois Gevrey Chambertin 2015

Located in the historic village of Gevrey-Chambertin, Domaine Gallois is run by the ever humble and quality-driven Dominique Gallois. His great-grandfather built the family's wine cellar and home in 1901 among the family's vines in Gevrey. Today, this 12 acre estate has holdings in Bourgogne, village Gevrey, premier cru Gevrey and grand cru Charmes-Chambertin. Dominique believes that 'nature is boss' and he is known to have one of the coldest, oldest cellars in the region for long, slow fermentations and great aging potential for his wines. He also produces the wines with vegan methods (so no egg whites for fining). We tasted and loved this Gevrey, the quality is simply stunning. Ultra smooth and caressing, with red fruits abounding, this is Pinot Noir as it should be. A great wine to introduce the American Pinot Noir drinker.

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$69.99 $62.99

Domaine Faiveley Gevrey Chambertin les Cazetiers 2015

Domaine Faiveley Gevrey Chambertin les Cazetiers 2015

Founded in 1825, today Domaine Faiveley combines the principles of modern winemaking methods with the time-honored traditions of France's noble Burgundy region. Domaine Faiveley owns a single 5.06 acre parcel of the total 25 acre Les Cazatiers vineyard. The vineyard is located high on the hillside in the northern part of the appellation bordering the equally famous 1er Cru of Clos St-Jacques. Exposure is due east with soils made up primarily of white marl (clay) and limestone gravel. They only produce about 1200 six packs of this great wine in any given vintage.

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$149.99 $134.99

Best Buys

Château-Roc-de-Minvielle Bordeaux 2015

Château-Roc-de-Minvielle Bordeaux 2015

This is such a terrific value in red Bordeaux, featuring a darling label with hearts and roses, perfect for celebrating Valentine's Day. Growing grapes since before the French Revolution, this estate has been owned by the Gadras family since the 1800’s. Today it is Pierre Gadras taking care of the vines, thinning leaves for maximum sunshine on the grapes and pruning back for fruit concentration. Planted to mostly Merlot with Cabernet Franc, this is exactly what we look for in a lovely petit château Bordeaux. Look for ripe, plump aromas of blueberry, cassis, licorice, plum and bing cherry. Fresh and alluring, this exudes grace versus power and has wonderful flesh and charm.

$13.99 $12.59

Famiglia Castellani Sangiovese Toscana 2014

Famiglia Castellani Sangiovese Toscana 2014

The historic Tuscany region of Italy has been making wines since the 13th century. This little red from the Castellani family, of Chianti Classico fame, is a great value and tasty crowd-pleaser. Made of 100% Sangiovese, this will be perfect toair with dried salumi, assorted cheeses, oven roasted tomatoes and olives, or bring a couple to your favorite local Italian BYO and Buon Appetito!

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$12.99 $11.69

Galardi Terra di Lavoro 2013

Galardi Terra di Lavoro 2013

Originally built in 1850, the Galardi farm was restored in 1991, by five cousins aiming to bring the estate to all of its glory. Located in Campania, Galardi is composed of 25 acres planted to local varieties on the Tyrrhenian Sea. Campania is famous for its capital city of Naples, and for the invention of pizza. The Galardi winery and surrounding hillside vineyards are located at approximately 1300 feet above sea level and benefit from ideal growing conditions, including climate and exposure. The name of their praised icon wine, Terra di Lavoro, which translates to Land of Work, reflects the challenge of cultivating the area’s extremely rocky volcanic soil. Yields and overall volume are very low (only 2 tons per acre are procured), only a few thousand bottles are produced each year. By focusing on the native varietals Aglianico and Piedirosso, the owners and famed winemaker Riccardo Cotarella are able to take advantage of the low yields, which enhance the flavor profile and structure of their wines. Today Galardi is owned and managed by run by four cousins : Maria Luisa Murena, Arturo and Dora Celentano, and Francesco Catello. They strive to maximize the intrinsic characteristics of native grapes Aglianico and Piedirosso through attentive and careful vineyard management.

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~~$79.99~~$39.99

Caro Aruma 2017

Caro Aruma 2017

Made by Caro's new winemaker Philippe Rolet from hand harvested grapes in the Uco Valley, Aruma celebrates the 10th anniversary of Bodega Caro, a joint venture of the respective ‘royal’ families of Argentina and France: Catena and Rothschild. Rolet is from a family from Jura that worked for Alta Vista and later in Patagonia, where they are developing a new project. Originally from France, Malbec (Cahors) was introduced to Argentina by a Frenchman, Jean Pouget, in 1868, which coincidentally was the same year James de Rothschild purchased Château Lafite. A very fruity, exuberant, powerful grape, Malbec has adapted wonderfully to the Mendoza region where the sunshine and cool nights soften its tannins and reveal its velvety-smoothness. “ARUMA” means the “night” in the language of the Quechua, the native Indians of the Mendoza region. Bodegas Caro chose this name because it is the intense darkness of the nights in the Andes and the pure mountain air that give the wines the rich, authentic character of their terroir. ARUMA - the wine of the mountain nights. Serve with grilled meats, empanadas, baked beans with bacon or hard aged cheeses in particular.

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$15.99 $14.39

Old Forester Single Barrel 90 Proof Bottle Shop Barrel

Old Forester Single Barrel 90 Proof Bottle Shop Barrel

Our very own Old Forester barrel was bottled at 90 proof and gives the Bourbon lover a classic high quality whiskey at an incredible price. For the last few years we have been seeking and choosing singular barrels of whiskey from the best distillers in the USA. These barrels give our clients 'Bottle Shop Exclusive' whiskies tasted and chosen by our staff for both sipping and creating inventive cockOld Forester was created in 1870 and is the only bourbon continuously distilled and marketed by the founding family... before, during and after Prohibition. Taste profile: Summer fruits and banana gently greet you as they mingle with classic bourbon notes of light vanilla, oak, and caramel on the nose. The palate delivers a deep experience with heavy hints of oak, leather, and chocolate with hints of dark cherry and vanilla. The overall finish is rich and flavorful and most whiskey drinkers will appreciate this beauty for its classic nature.

~~$49.99~~$39.99

Umani Ronchi Montepulciano d'Abruzzo Podere 2017

Umani Ronchi Montepulciano d'Abruzzo Podere 2017

Montepulciano d'Abruzzo is a red wine made of the Montepulciano grape in the region of Abruzzo. As a rustic area of both mountains and coastline, Abruzzo is known for rich mountain dishes as well as seafood specialities (the latter which is often paired with Trebbiano d'Abruzzo). The Podere by Umani Ronchi Montepulciano d'Abruzzo may be paired with bean dishes, such as rich bean soups flavored with hot chili pepper, or with pasta, which is the preferred Abruzzese first course. Polenta is usually enjoyed with a spicy sausage ragù or hearty meat sauce which is also perfect with Montepulciano. In the mountains, sheepherding remains a common way to make a living, so lamb, kid, sheep, mountain goat and sheep's milk cheeses are mainstays of the diet; wine, garlic, olive oil, and rosemary are favorite flavorings, especially when the source of heat is a lively wood fire. Many families still raise their own pigs, and free-roaming pigs yield flavorful, lean meat and tasty salumi (cured meats). Umani Ronchi is a quality-driven wine estate which has been owned by the Bianchi-Bernetti family since 1959. Specializing in Montepulciano for red and Verdicchio for white, they have found the finest expression of these varieties in the Marche and Abruzzo regions. Made of hand-picked grapes, this Montepulciano d'Abruzzo is smooth and silky with red fruit, licorice and gently spicy flavors.

$9.99 $8.99

Neirano Barolo 2015

Neirano Barolo 2015

Tenute Neirano is a small DOCG estate, and part of the company founded in 1911 by Antonio Sperone beginning with fortified wines and vermouth in a small cellar just outside of Turin. Sperone wanted to focus on high end wines in Piemonte in the 1980's so the family purchased a 25 hectare property in the heart of Monforte d'Alba, a region famous for its compressed sandstone soils, crafting intense, structured wines with great power and longevity. It is there, in an ancient 17th century villa, that this fine Barolo is produced. It spent 3 years in large Slovenian oak barrels and 1 year in bottle before leaving the winery for export. The 4th generation of the family is now making the wine.

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~~$24.99~~$19.99

James Cabernet Sauvignon 2017

James Cabernet Sauvignon 2017

Tasted and loved by our staff, this is from the same region, Paso Robl as the ever popular J.LOHR Cab. It has a similar style, with supple, smooth, ripe fruit flavors but JAMES is made with less sugar added. JAMES is an ‘Indie Cuvée’ wine from a quality-driven importer who specializes in European and South American wines with natural, organic methods.

$14.99 $13.49

Cellier des Dauphins Cotes du Rhone Reserve 2018

Cellier des Dauphins Cotes du Rhone Reserve 2018

The Cellier des Dauphins vineyards lie in the Rhône Valley, with the foothills of the southern Alps rising in the distance. In these terroirs, sun-drenched vines swaying in the southern breeze, grow the renowned grape varieties that have made the Côtes du Rhône famous: Syrah, Grenache, Viognier and other local grapes. Such diversity enables the winemakers at Dauphins to produce aromatic blended wines of great complexity. This Côtes du Rhône Reserve is made from grapes g rown on sunny slopes and harvested at the peak of ripeness from the villages of Richerenches, Vinsobres, Puyméras, Tulette and Saint Maurice. Made of Syrah and Grenache, look for a deep ruby red color and a rich mix of sun-baked black fruits on the palate and soft ripe tannins on the long finish. *** DECANTER MAGAZINE GAVE THE DAUPHINS 2018 CÔTES-DU-RHÔNE RÉSERVE 97 POINTS AND A PLATINUM MEDAL AT THE 2019 DECANTER WORLD WINE AWARDS *** This is an elegant French café style red wine…easy-to-drink yet full of flavor. Côtes-du-Rhône is typically made of mostly Grenache, a red fruit-driven grape which picks up hints of thyme, pepper and purple flowers from the soils of the beautiful sun drenched vineyards in the south of France. Serve with chicken with Provencale herbs, Mediterranean fare, spicy bean soups, cheeses, olives, rosemary flatbreads and more.

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~~$16.99~~$13.99

Julia James Pinot Noir 2018

Julia James Pinot Noir 2018

Sourced from a few of California’s best Pinot Noir regions: Russian River, Santa Lucia Highlands and Monterey, Julia James is crafted by a veteran winemaker using sustainable farming methods in the vineyards. ‘How is it possible to make a California Pinot this good at this price? This baby looks like a Pinot, smells like a Pinot and tastes like a Pinot – there’s bright acidity fresh cherries, darker fruits, a light footprint and no oak overkill. My guess in a blind tasting would be that this is a $40 Willamette or Anderson Valley Pinot.’ forbes.com ‘20 best reds under $20’

$13.99 $12.59

Luigi Voghera Barbera d'Alba 2017

Luigi Voghera Barbera d'Alba 2017

The Voghera family have been farmers in Neive in Barbaresco for many, many generations. They grew grapes for a modest production of family wine, but also cultivated grain and fruit trees. The estate as we know it today was born in 1974, when Luigi Voghera, the father of the current owner, dedicated his farm entirely to the production of grapes and started to vinify and bottle his own production. Luigi’s son Livio adheres to his father’s old-school and time-tested methods of production: longer maceration on the skins, and aging in large oak cask. All of Livio’s offerings are estate bottled, and across the board tremendous values. Made of 100% Barbera from vines up to 30 years of age, this is sourced from three hectares in the Cotta cru of Neive and grown at an elevation of 200-250 meters above sea level. Cotta is one of our favorite vineyards for Barbaresco, always very pretty and fresh, so we love this expression of the Barbera from this great site. Fermentation and maturation occur in stainless steel tanks. 1,600-2,000 cases produced annually.

~~$16.99~~$14.99

Eisacktaler Kellerei Cantina Valle Isarco Sauvignon Alto Adige 2018

Eisacktaler Kellerei Cantina Valle Isarco Sauvignon Alto Adige 2018

Tasted and loved by our staff, this is clean, fresh, dry, aromatic and thirst quenching, filled with mineral, lemon/lime citrus and herb flavors. Made by Cantina Produttori Valle Isarco, which is high quality co-operative founded in 1961. Located in the Isarco Valley of Alto Adige in northern Italy, this Cantina has 130 members from 11 municipalities of Alto Adige: Varna, Bressanone, Funes/Tiso, Velturno, Chiusa, Laion, Castelrotto, Villandro, Barbiano, Fié and Renon. The grapes for each bottling are blended to express the classic nature of the wines of this region, known for its exceptional white wines. Originally from France, the Sauvignon Blanc grape variety was brought to Alto Adige about 100 years ago but only much more recently to the Valle Isarco. The porphyry-rich, warm, frost-protected soils of the lower Valle Isarco with their SE exposure are perfect for this variety, and express its noble character. Serve with asparagus, snails, poached or grilled fish, or as the perfect aperitif. Substitute your Friday night Sancerre with this, you will be very happy.

$17.99 $16.19

Caparzo Rosso di Montalcino 2018

Caparzo Rosso di Montalcino 2018

Caparzo was established towards the end of the 1960’s. The vineyards of the Caparzo Estate include about. 90 hectares (210 acres) in Montalcino. The estate is located on a hillside area 220 metres above sea level, facing south and south-east. They grow Sangiovese, Sangiovese Grosso, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Bland and Traminer. The company has grown and adapted with the times all while maintaining and respecting the traditions of the terroir. The rustic and elegant Caparzo villa, La Casa, located at the bottom of Montalcino is available for rent for those who want to fully experience the beauty and tranquillity of the Tuscan countryside. This is Rosso di Montalcino is from the acclaimed 2018 vintage. Rosso di Montalcino is typically made from the younger vines of the Sangiovese Grosso, which also make each estate's Brunello wines. Therefore, Rosso di Montalcino has earned the nickname of 'baby Brunello.' Also, Rosso di Montalcino wines spend less time in wood compared to Brunello di Montalcino, and are perfect for more simple meals of classic Tuscan fare.

~~$24.99~~$18.99

Bodega Norton Reserva Malbec 2018

Bodega Norton Reserva Malbec 2018

Specially reserved due to its exceptional features, the Norton Reserva wines are characterized by their elegance and complexity. The Malbec Reserva is made from carefully selected grapes from vineyards aged between 30 and 50 years old. The wine is then aged in French oak barrels and then additionally in bottles before release. The harmonious coexistence of fruit and wood over time has made this a great wine, characterized by elegance and complexity. Look for an intense red color with purplish hues. In the nose, it is an expressive wine with ripe black fruits, violets, spices and tobacco. In the mouth, it is wide and fleshy with a lingering finish.

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~~$15.99~~$13.99

Château-Siaurac Lalande de Pomerol 2015

Château-Siaurac Lalande de Pomerol 2015

Our family has had a long-time love affair with Ch â teau Siaurac in Lalande-de-Pomerol. The estate has been producing beautiful wines for 200 years, in the 'satellite' appellation of Lalande-de-Pomerol. Long associated and marketed with Château Pétrus in Pomerol, we always considered Siaurac such an incredible value for an authentic, velvety, delicious red Bordeaux. As a 'satellite' of the esteemed Pomerol area, Lalande-de-Pomerol has a similar climate and similar soils to its famous, luxurious neighbor. The owners of Siaurac are oriented toward quality, not quantity, and strive to express the unique typicity of the soils and climate (which we call the terroir ) . The Ch â teau has also been certified organic since January 2009. The average age of the vineyard is between 25 and 30 years. Today, Siaurac is owned by the owner of Château Latour, Francois Pinault and the Artemis group. It i s therefore made by an exceptional, world class team : the technical director from Chateau Latour, Penelope Godefroy, has worked with Jean-Claude Berrouet, the winemaker at Pétrus for 40 years. The 2015 Siaurac is a blend of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc. It tastes rich, velvety and pure with notes of cherry, mocha, licorice and rose petals. We have enjoyed many bottles at home over the last 25 years of this under-the-radar, classic Bordeaux red. Pair with filet mignon, lamb chops, roasted pork, Comté Gruyere cheese, Petit Basque sheep's milk cheese, meat pâté and/or cured meats.

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$27.99 $25.19

Melville Estate Pinot Noir 2015

Melville Estate Pinot Noir 2015

Owned by father and son Ron and Chad Melville, Melville is an estate driven winery, which focuses upon Burgundy and Northern Rhone style wines. Located in the heart of Santa Rita Hills, in Santa Barbara County, the estate has 85 acres planted to vineyards. Winemaker Greg Brewer makes Pinot Noir, Syrah, Chardonnay, and Viognier for the family. After having owned vineyards in Napa, Ron Melville came to Santa Rita and never looked back. Calculated composting, complex cover cropping practice and deficit irrigation, matched with a tremendous amount of crop reduction and canopy management are the critical components to Melville’s strength as wine growers. This is 100% Melville fruit from Melville's Sta. Rita Hills estate, and is a collection of 16 pinot noir clones. 40% of the fruit was fermented as whole-clusters with 60% gently de-stemmed in small (1.5 ton) open-top fermenters. Total skin and stem contact averaged 30 days (7 day cold soak, 2 + weeks of fermentation and 1 + week extended maceration). From the press, the wine was transferred directly into neutral barrel (old French oak), where it remained sur lie without sulfur until June, when it was gently racked for the first time and prepared for bottling in August. Yields were 3.6 lbs/vine (3.3 tons/acre).

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$35.99 $32.39

Raymond Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Red Velvet Label 2017

Raymond Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Red Velvet Label 2017

The Raymond family arrived in Napa Valley in 1933 and became connected to the Beringer family via marriage in 1936. Roy worked as winemaker for Beringer from 1933-1970, when in 1970, he and his two sons set out on their own with the 90-acre estate property in Rutherford where the winery is located. They released their first commercial wine under the Raymond Vineyards label in 1974 and never looked back. Today, the Raymond winery is owned by Boisset Family Estates. Jean-Charles Boisset serves as president of Boisset, one of the world’s leading family-owned wine companies, with wineries in Burgundy, Beaujolais, the Rhone Valley, the South of France, and expertise in French sparkling wines. Boisset’s August 2009 purchase of Raymond Vineyards expanded the company’s footprint in the New World, which already included properties in Canada and California’s Russian River Valley, making it one of the top twenty-five producers in the US.

~~$49.99~~$39.99

Marques de Murrieta Rioja Reserva 2015

Marques de Murrieta Rioja Reserva 2015

Tasted and loved by our staff, Marques de Murrieta has a long, meaningful history at the Bottle Shop. When we were first learning about wines, it was very important to our dad for us to know the best, most classic wines of every great winemaking region in the world. In Spain, Marques de Murrieta was at the top of his list. We had the opportunity to taste old wines from Murrieta from vintages such as 1968 and 1959 with him while we were still in the infancy of our wine training. The estate is very much a traditional estate in style. While rich and deep in flavor, the fruit is multi-layered but not 'New World jammy'. Red and black fruits, cedar, leather, hints of spices, even hints of tar are revealed. We would pair this with Spanish-inspired cuisine, especially pork or lamb dishes. WINE ADVOCATE reports: 'Yes, this is one of the oldest wineries in Rioja, created back in the 19th century, and they keep their traditions, but now but each wine is selected from specific plots, something that they have done since the year 2000, a year that marked a big change in the winery. I feel more balance and better integration of the oak with the wine in recent vintages. I really liked the wines I tasted and was very excited to be shown a tank sample of the 1986 Castillo de Ygay Gran Reserva Blanco. Yes, you have read it correctly, it was a tank sample which is waiting to be bottled after almost 21 years in wood and 6 years in tank that will be released sometime in the future. I simply loved it.'

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$29.99 $26.99

Montes Classic Series Cabernet Sauvignon 2016

Montes Classic Series Cabernet Sauvignon 2016

This Cabernet has been a huge success at the Bottle Shop. Made of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Merlot, this was aged for 6 months in French oak, and has good body with cassis, black cherry, mint and spice complexities. Made from grapes grown in Chile's Colchagua Valley, which has become famous for good Cabernet's, this is one of the greatest value in Cabernet in the market. Winemaker/Owner Aurelio Montes was named "Winemaker of the Year" by Wine Spectator in the years 2002 and 2006. Montes and his partners run a great, quality-driven operation in both Chile and in Argentina at Kaiken.

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$11.99 $10.79

Caymus Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2017

Caymus Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2017

In 1971 Charlie and Lorna Wagner asked their young son Chuck if he would be interested in joining them in starting up a winery and he leapt at the opportunity. They produced their first vintage in 1972, consisting of 240 cases of Cabernet Sauvignon and they continue to focus their efforts on top quality Cabernet Sauvignon to this day. Caymus Vineyards remains 100% family-owned by the Wagners. Charlie, Lorna Belle, and Chuck worked together as a remarkable team for over 30 years building Caymus Cabernet. Today, Chuck, his two sons, Charlie and Joe, and one daughter, Jenny, have joined the family team. Farming grapes remain the priority with the family farming about 350 acres of prime Napa Valley land. The Wagners took the name Caymus from the Mexican land grant known as Rancho Caymus, given to George Yount in 1836, which encompassed what eventually became the town of Rutherford and much of the surrounding area. Caymus Vineyards produces two Cabernets Sauvignons - a "Napa Valley" and the venerable "Special Selection". Both Cabernet bottlings have aromas and flavors which can only be achieved through "hang time" - a technique which chances the loss of crop if early winter sets in. Leaving the fruit to "hang" on the vine unusually long develops suppleness, increases color, and matures the tannins of the grapes. The wines are abundant in textural tannins yet soft as velvet. Crop thinning, allowing measured sunlight to reach the vine's fruit zone, and waiting for increased ripeness are all part of our viticultural practices. Caymus Cabernets offer a wide array of aromas and flavors including cocoa, cassis and vanilla.

~~$124.99~~$99.99

Chateau Tour Saint Christophe Saint-Emilion Grand Cru 2015

Chateau Tour Saint Christophe Saint-Emilion Grand Cru 2015

The Tour Saint-Christophe estate in Saint Emilion boasts a beautiful terraced vineyard which looks upon Barde-Haut from the other side of the valley. Owned by Peter Kwok, one of the first Asian investors in Bordeaux in 1997 with the purchase of Haut-Brisson, Tour St.-Christophe is typically made of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc (although this vintage is 85/15). Kwok, who lives in Hong Kong but was born in Vietnam, owns 40 hectares of vines with Chateaux Tour Saint Christophe, Haut-Brisson and Tourans in St Emilion, plus Enclos Tourmaline and La Patache in Pomerol, and Enclos de Viaud in Lalande de Pomerol.

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~~$49.99~~$39.99

Our Favorite Picks

Lucien Albrecht Cremant d'Alsace Brut Rosé

Lucien Albrecht Cremant d'Alsace Brut Rosé

Having a party this New Year's Eve??? This is such a delightful, elegant, crowd-pleasing sparkling wine for serving 4 - 400 people! Made of 100% Pinot Noir using the classic methode champenoise , this has strawberry red raspberry and vanilla suggestions that are enhanced by the wine's wonderful ripeness and freshness, with saline and toast notes on the creamy, lush finish. The history of the Albrecht family as winegrowers can be traced back to 1425 with Romanu Albrecht, who lived in the town of Thann in the Haut-Rhin department of Alsace. During this time in the fifteenth century, Alsace experience a golden era. The Winegrowers Guild of Alsace was founded and each year, the most deserving wine grower was elected by the guild as Bangard, a highly respected position. Between 1520 and 1698, it was held by 8 generations of Albrecht's. Domaine Albrecht experienced a major development under the guidance of Lucien Albrecht, the father of Jean, to become one of the most important in Alsace with holdings in 9 villages surrounding Orschwihr. In 1972 Lucien Albrecht was also a pioneer of Cremant d'Alsace. Today the Cremant is one of the house's specialties. The cellar dates back to 1772 and houses large oak barrels, some of which are over 100 years of age…

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$19.99 $18.99

Casa Dragones Tequila Blanco

Casa Dragones Tequila Blanco

Named the “Best Blanco Tequila” by Epicurious, Casa Dragones Blanco is a small batch, 100% Pure Blue Agave silver tequila, crafted to deliver the true essence of agave through an innovative process that focuses on purity, for a crisp, smooth taste that is perfect to enjoy on the rocks or in signature craft cocktails. As the spiritual home of Casa Dragones, San Miguel embodies the sophistication of this uniquely smooth tequila. The name, Casa Dragones, is inspired by the legendary Dragones from San Miguel de Allende, who led one of the movements that sparked the Mexican Independence. Like the Dragones, this company is breaking new ground, creating sipping tequilas with a clean, extra soft taste.

$79.99

J.J. Vincent Pouilly Fuissé Marie Antoinette 2017

J.J. Vincent Pouilly Fuissé Marie Antoinette 2017

If you like flavorful, elegant, dry whites with a touch of wood, this Pouilly-Fuissé is the perfect wine for you! This 2017 is outstanding, exhibiting real terroir coupled with fresh, pure fruit flavors. It is our favorite vintage in 10+ years! Made of 100% Chardonnay, 'Marie Antoinette' Pouilly Fuissé is made from grapes grown in several parcels belonging to owner Jean-Jacques Vincent's two sisters, and the wine is named after his mother, Marie Antoinette Vincent. The soils of the different vineyards impart their own special characteristics into the wine. The stony soils of the Vergisson Vineyards provide the beautiful acidity, elegance and minerality, while the clay soils in the Fuisse vineyard give the wine its full-bodied structure and generous fruit character. The wine is vinified separately in small oak barrels by Jean-Jacques' son Antoine, and then blended to achieve a well-balanced Pouilly Fuissé, combining all the wonderful characteristics of the different 'terroirs'. Serena Sutcliffe, MW, has referred to Jean Jacques Vincent as "one of the most brilliant makers of white Burgundy". He is also the owner/winemaker at the celebrated Chateau Fuisse, and also produces an outstanding line of special selections under his own name with his talented son Antoine Vincent now firmly by his side. The 'Marie Antoinette' is one of the wines under the 'JJ' label. I sold this wine to restaurants in NYC for many years while working for Frederick Wildman and Sons, and my clients loved it for the quality and the price! Also a New York Times favorite, who called it 'deliciously focused and refreshing...the Marie-Antoinette was weighty yet focused with smoky fruit and mineral flavors. 3 Stars.'

$29.99 $26.99

Chateau Prieure-Lichine Margaux 2016

Chateau Prieure-Lichine Margaux 2016

The history of Châteaux Prieure Lichine is long and interesting. It started out as a priory for Benedictine monks. The monks produced Bordeaux wine for dinner and various religious ceremonies. Like many estates during the French Revolution, Prieure Lichine was seized, split up and sold at auction. In 1789 parts of Prieure Lichine were bought by numerous surrounding Châteaux in the Margaux appellation. Since that time, the vineyard has sold wine under several different names including La Prieure and Prieure-Cantenac. By the time the noted author and merchant Alexis Lichine arrived in the Medoc to buy Château Prieure, the vineyard was down to only 11 planted hectares. Because the estate was no longer in the best condition, Château Prieure-Lichine was sold for a song. Rumors are, the estate was bought for the ridiculous sum of only 8,000 British Pounds! In 1951, Alexis Lichine put together a group to purchase the chateau along with several other chateaux in Margaux at the time, including Château Lascombes.After the estate was purchased, it was renamed Château Prieure Lichine, to honor the previous name and history of the property they retained the first part of the name, Prieure, and next they added the last name of the new owner. Thus Château Prieure Lichine was born.

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~~$59.99~~$49.99

Faustini Money Road Chardonnay 2016

Faustini Money Road Chardonnay 2016

The 2016 Faustini Money Road is a luxurious small batch Napa Chardonnay, with only about 300 cases produced. Made of 98% Chardonnay 2% Roussanne , it was aged for 20 months in neutral French oak. This is a concentrated and youthful wine, on the nose, with classic notes of pear and apples, subtle tropical and peach aromas. On the palate, the integrated oak compliments the lifted acidity beautifully, with a layered and full bodied palate profile, all leading to a refreshing, vibrant and balanced finish. Faustini is the Napa Valley passion project of our dear friends Anthony and Michelle Faustini. After much research during the summer of 2005, this enthusiastic couple started their first Cabernet project with fruit sourced from the illustrious Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vineyard in St. Helena, and never looked back. Their winemaker Kian Tavakoli worked at both Opus One and Clos du Val, and is a graduate of UC Davis. With Faustini wines, it's all about using prime vineyard sites and crafting rich, balanced, elegant wines. In addition to sourcing Beckstoffer Dr. Crane, they use fruit from Galleron Road Vineyard in Rutherford, Howell Mountain and Coombsville Vineyard in Napa Valley.

$49.99 $44.99

Old Forester Single Barrel 90 Proof Bottle Shop Barrel

Old Forester Single Barrel 90 Proof Bottle Shop Barrel

Our very own Old Forester barrel was bottled at 90 proof and gives the Bourbon lover a classic high quality whiskey at an incredible price. For the last few years we have been seeking and choosing singular barrels of whiskey from the best distillers in the USA. These barrels give our clients 'Bottle Shop Exclusive' whiskies tasted and chosen by our staff for both sipping and creating inventive cockOld Forester was created in 1870 and is the only bourbon continuously distilled and marketed by the founding family... before, during and after Prohibition. Taste profile: Summer fruits and banana gently greet you as they mingle with classic bourbon notes of light vanilla, oak, and caramel on the nose. The palate delivers a deep experience with heavy hints of oak, leather, and chocolate with hints of dark cherry and vanilla. The overall finish is rich and flavorful and most whiskey drinkers will appreciate this beauty for its classic nature.

~~$49.99~~$39.99

Matias Riccitelli Hey Malbec! 2018

Matias Riccitelli Hey Malbec! 2018

Hey Malbec! is SUCH a fun and delicious wine from Mendoza. Winemaker Matías Riccitelli is the son of legendary Argentine winemaker, Jorge Riccitelli, who made the wines at Catena for many decades. A breakout star from a young age, Matías was born in Cafayate, Salta, a small village in northern Argentina where winemaking is an omnipresent trade and way of life. He grew up between Cafayate and Mendoza, studying and working with his dad, who was his winemaking mentor. From there, he went on to travel much of the wine world, learning along the way, and returned to Mendoza to serve as chief winemaker for two of Argentina’s top wineries, Fabre Montmayou and Bodega Norton. Matías Riccitelli started his boutique winery in 2009, located in Las Compuertas at 1100 meters above sea level. It is the highest area of Lujan de Cuyo, and here he tends 20 hectares of ungrafted old vineyards. Matías also works with small, independent growers that own their lands at the bottom of the Andes halfway between 1000 and 1700 meters above sea level - in Gualtallary, Chacayes, Altamira and La Carrera. All harvests are conducted by hand and fermentation takes place in small concrete vats and concrete eggs. Purity and delicacy in winemaking are prized by Matías and great care is taken in preserving the fruit’s singularity in order to obtain vibrant wines. Hey Malbec! is made of 100% Malbec from Compuertas and Uco, harvested manually in small cases around 20 kg to ensure the integrity of each bunch. Whole-bunch fermentation takes place in open tanks, crushed by foot twice a day and then aged in concrete vats for 8 months.

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$19.99 $17.99

Durant & Booth Cabernet Sauvignon 2017

Durant & Booth Cabernet Sauvignon 2017

Established in 1877, Durant & Booth was originally a popular grocery store located at the Oakville crossroads, which is the gateway for Napa wine country. Harvested in the cool morning hours from vines in Calistoga, St. Helena and Rutherford, the grapes were handsorted, macerated, then aged for 20 months in 30% new French oak. Red fruit aromas of strawberry and cherry lead to raspberry and blueberry flavors mingling with dark chocolate and spices. This is a structured and elegant Cabernet Sauvignon with great depth. The wine is textured and has a long-lasting finish. Made of 95% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Petit Verdot and 1% Merlot.

$27.99 $25.19

Iuli Barbera del Monferrato Umberta 2018

Iuli Barbera del Monferrato Umberta 2018

Fabrizio Iuli calls himself a barberista , for his love, focus and dedication to the Barbera grape. Located in the small town of Montaldo in Monferrato, which is the home of many of Piedmont's top Barbera's, the Iuli estate is organically farmed by Fabrizio, and his old vine vineyards have a strong core of limestone which adds a distinctive terroir . We had the incredible opportunity to visit Iuli, hike around the vineyards and taste wine out of barrel and bottle with Fabrizio. His wines clearly have a purity, honesty and joyfulness to them that we just love. They are also seriously complex at the same time. This 'Umberta' is the first wine of the estate; the name comes from the fact that 'Umberto' is one of the most common names in Piedmont. 'King Umberto' who was born in Torino was the son of the first King of unified Italy in 1861. The 'Umberta' is made of 100% certified organic Barbera and aged in stainless steel. Unfined and unfiltered, Fabrizio only makes about 1000 cases per year. Rich, ripe and zesty red and black fruit aromas lead to plush black raspberry, licorice and plum flavors on the palate. This is one of my house reds to serve with just about anything calling for a red. I have officially become obsessed with Barbera, naturally from Piedmont, and I hope the world will discover its virtues! Quick note on the label: Fabrizio decided in the 2013 vintage to finally stop the exhausting process ( aka madness !) of proving to the Italian government that his wine was 'real Monferrato'. Maybe his tiny hometown of Montaldo is too small for even fellow Italiano's to know about! But we were there, and we walked his vineyards, and this wine is indeed made of 100% Barbera in Monferrato, regardless of the VdT designation versus the DOC. Iuli is set among the last band of dramatic hills and valleys before descending into the rich flatlands of the Po river valley, with the Alps as a backdrop on a clear day. If you're headed to Montaldo, chances are it is to see Fabrizio Iuli. His family figures prominently and colorfully in the town's history. In the 1920s, his grandfather, Gioacchino Natale Iuli, like many young men from the countryside, was courted by a factory job in Lombardia. In a twist of fate, Gioacchino heard that a burgeoning marching band had been formed in Montaldo, so he packed his bags and headed back to become its clarinetist and to start a family. The first vines were planted around 1930. Fabrizio's grandmother, Ernestina, established a little osteria in their living room, a place with warm food and warm hospitality that became a gathering point for the village. There was much conviviality and Iuli Barbera flowing. Though no longer an official restaurant, the feeling continues to this day with Fabrizio and his wife, Summer Wolff, cooking up a storm and popping bottles. It is a place that sucks you in, where time seems to stand still, if only temporarily. Today, Fabrizio is the only winegrower in the town. His first commerical vintage was 1998, with his Barbera called Rossore. The grapes found in his vineyards are Baratuciat (a nearly-extinct white variety from the Val di Susa), Slarina (a red Monferrato variety also almost lost), Grignolino, Nebbiolo, Pinot Nero, and, of course, Barbera. There are 35 contiguous hectares of land in one valley, with 16 hectares planted to vine. Certified organic, the land has never seen any chemicals. Despite being ridiculed by neighbors, Fabrizio's grandfather and father never succumbed to pressure to buy products they felt were meant to fix something that wasn't broken. The isolation of the place suits Fabrizio's desire to instigate and protect biodiversity. The thick surrounding woods keep the prospect of a monoculture at bay. They contain many white truffles in the season; they also house many wild boar, who can and do devour a crop of grapes. Some end up at Cascina Iuli in the form of 'Barbera Pig' stew. The wines are Piedmontese to the core, ultra-reflective of the poor, but limestone-rich soils and northernly climate with cool nights. Each wine has a reason for being; each wine has extreme drinkability without losing seriousness or intrigue. They are concentrated in their fruit, but also have a lightness and florality that feel very "Iuli." In the cellar, Iuli's trajectory over the years has become increasingly non-interventionist. Fermentations are carried out spontaneously, with a little so2 added after malolactic fermentations. The tradition in the area is to use concrete tank and large oak cask. Fabrizio wouldn't dream of deviating from that lineage. He adores, collects, and restores small concrete vessels. There's a room in the cellar in which they're lined up like little misfit robots waiting to be deployed. The wines are aged slowly and statically, bottled unfined and unfiltered, when taste and an auspicious moon deem they're ready. *** DON'T MISS THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET THE WINEMAKER -- FABRIZIO IULI --- VIP EVENT FRIDAY MARCH 27, 2020 FROM 4 - 6 PM ***

~~$19.99~~$17.99

Iuli Barbera del Monferrato Superiore Rossore 2016

Iuli Barbera del Monferrato Superiore Rossore 2016

This Barbera from Monferrato in Piedmont is an extraordinary, high quality Barbera made by winemaker Fabrizio Iuli. Rossore, named after the color Barbera puts in your cheeks, was in reality the first wine Fabrizio ever produced in 1998, and the predecessor to his Barabba label. He blends 100% organic estate fruit into the Rossore, including fruit from Barabba, his ancient plot of Barbera. The result is a wine with a ripe, chocolately nose followed by a palate packed with flavor, ripeness and underlying acidity and tannin. The Barabba vineyard is his oldest plot of Barbera, with vines planted in 1930 and 1960, located on a steep, rocky hill with a limestone core. The core of the blend is from vines planted between 1980-1998 from south-facing parcels. Rossore is aged in concrete and large French oak casks of 1700-2500L for 25 months, followed by 6 months in bottle. 11,000 bottles made. Fabrizio Iuli calls himself a barberista , for his love, focus and dedication to the Barbera grape. Located in the small town of Montaldo in Monferrato, which is the home of many of Piedmont's top Barbera wines . We had the incredible opportunity to visit Iuli, hike around the vineyards and taste wine out of barrel and bottle with Fabrizio. His wines clearly have a purity, honesty and joyfulness to them that we just love. They are also seriously complex at the same time. Rossore Barbera will be a flavorful crowd-pleaser with many types of foods. Grilled or roasted meats, oven roasted tomatoes, baby back ribs, pasta dishes with meat sauces, aged cheeses and salumi, a thick-cut bacon lettuce and tomato sandwich and more will pair amazingly. Iuli is set among the last band of dramatic hills and valleys before descending into the rich flatlands of the Po river valley, with the Alps as a backdrop on a clear day. If you're headed to Montaldo, chances are it is to see Fabrizio Iuli. His family figures prominently and colorfully in the town's history. In the 1920s, his grandfather, Gioacchino Natale Iuli, like many young men from the countryside, was courted by a factory job in Lombardia. In a twist of fate, Gioacchino heard that a burgeoning marching band had been formed in Montaldo, so he packed his bags and headed back to become its clarinetist and to start a family. The first vines were planted around 1930. Fabrizio's grandmother, Ernestina, established a little osteria in their living room, a place with warm food and warm hospitality that became a gathering point for the village. There was much conviviality and Iuli Barbera flowing. Though no longer an official restaurant, the feeling continues to this day with Fabrizio and his wife, Summer Wolff, cooking up a storm and popping bottles. It is a place that sucks you in, where time seems to stand still, if only temporarily. Today, Fabrizio is the only winegrower in the town. His first commerical vintage was 1998, with his Barbera called Rossore. The grapes found in his vineyards are Baratuciat (a nearly-extinct white variety from the Val di Susa), Slarina (a red Monferrato variety also almost lost), Grignolino, Nebbiolo, Pinot Nero, and, of course, Barbera. There are 35 contiguous hectares of land in one valley, with 16 hectares planted to vine. Certified organic, the land has never seen any chemicals. Despite being ridiculed by neighbors, Fabrizio's grandfather and father never succumbed to pressure to buy products they felt were meant to fix something that wasn't broken. The isolation of the place suits Fabrizio's desire to instigate and protect biodiversity. The thick surrounding woods keep the prospect of a monoculture at bay. They contain many white truffles in the season; they also house many wild boar, who can and do devour a crop of grapes. Some end up at Cascina Iuli in the form of 'Barbera Pig' stew. The wines are Piedmontese to the core, ultra-reflective of the poor, but limestone-rich soils and northernly climate with cool nights. Each wine has a reason for being; each wine has extreme drinkability without losing seriousness or intrigue. They are concentrated in their fruit, but also have a lightness and florality that feel very "Iuli." In the cellar, Iuli's trajectory over the years has become increasingly non-interventionist. Fermentations are carried out spontaneously, with a little so2 added after malolactic fermentations. The tradition in the area is to use concrete tank and large oak cask. Fabrizio wouldn't dream of deviating from that lineage. He adores, collects, and restores small concrete vessels. There's a room in the cellar in which they're lined up like little misfit robots waiting to be deployed. The wines are aged slowly and statically, bottled unfined and unfiltered, when taste and an auspicious moon deem they're ready. *** DON'T MISS THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET THE WINEMAKER -- FABRIZIO IULI --- VIP EVENT FRIDAY MARCH 27, 2020 FROM 4 - 6 PM ***

~~$26.99~~$22.99

Iuli Malidea Vino Rosso 2017

Iuli Malidea Vino Rosso 2017

Located in the town of Montaldo in the far north of Monferrato, Iuli is an organic farm and winery, owned by Fabrizio Iuli. Today only 92 people live in his little hometown, a charming, soulful place where we had the good fortune of visiting on one of our European wine buying trips. Monferrato is the home of many of Piedmont's top Barbera wines, which Fabrizio crafts from his old vine organic vineyards, but he also makes this gem made of 100% Nebbiolo. Named Malidea, which translates to 'Bad Idea', since who would wish to make Nebbiolo in the 'Land of Barbera'? But Fabrizio wanted the challenge so in 1999 he planted these vines. The south-facing vineyard was harvested in mid-September in 2017, nearly a month earlier than usual due to the drought conditions of the vintage. Vinified in concrete with 21 days of maceration, aged 16 months in large French oak 2500 L casks, then aged in bottle for 6 months before release. Only 4200 bottles made. The Iuli estate is organically farmed by Fabrizio, and his old vine vineyards have a strong core of limestone which adds a distinctive terroir. We had the incredible opportunity to visit Iuli, hike around the vineyards and taste wine out of barrel and bottle with Fabrizio. His wines clearly have a purity, honesty and joyfulness to them that we just love. They are also seriously complex at the same time. Iuli is set among the last band of dramatic hills and valleys before descending into the rich flatlands of the Po river valley, with the Alps as a backdrop on a clear day. If you're headed to Montaldo, chances are it is to see Fabrizio Iuli. His family figures prominently and colorfully in the town's history. In the 1920s, his grandfather, Gioacchino Natale Iuli, like many young men from the countryside, was courted by a factory job in Lombardia. In a twist of fate, Gioacchino heard that a burgeoning marching band had been formed in Montaldo, so he packed his bags and headed back to become its clarinetist and to start a family. The first vines were planted around 1930. Fabrizio's grandmother, Ernestina, established a little osteria in their living room, a place with warm food and warm hospitality that became a gathering point for the village. There was much conviviality and Iuli Barbera flowing. Though no longer an official restaurant, the feeling continues to this day with Fabrizio and his wife, Summer Wolff, cooking up a storm and popping bottles. It is a place that sucks you in, where time seems to stand still, if only temporarily. Today, Fabrizio is the only winegrower in the town. His first commerical vintage was 1998, with his Barbera called Rossore. The grapes found in his vineyards are Baratuciat (a nearly-extinct white variety from the Val di Susa), Slarina (a red Monferrato variety also almost lost), Grignolino, Nebbiolo, Pinot Nero, and, of course, Barbera. There are 35 contiguous hectares of land in one valley, with 16 hectares planted to vine. Certified organic, the land has never seen any chemicals. Despite being ridiculed by neighbors, Fabrizio's grandfather and father never succumbed to pressure to buy products they felt were meant to fix something that wasn't broken. The isolation of the place suits Fabrizio's desire to instigate and protect biodiversity. The thick surrounding woods keep the prospect of a monoculture at bay. They contain many white truffles in the season; they also house many wild boar, who can and do devour a crop of grapes. Some end up at Cascina Iuli in the form of 'Barbera Pig' stew. The wines are Piedmontese to the core, ultra-reflective of the poor, but limestone-rich soils and northernly climate with cool nights. Each wine has a reason for being; each wine has extreme drinkability without losing seriousness or intrigue. They are concentrated in their fruit, but also have a lightness and florality that feel very "Iuli." In the cellar, Iuli's trajectory over the years has become increasingly non-interventionist. Fermentations are carried out spontaneously, with a little so2 added after malolactic fermentations. The tradition in the area is to use concrete tank and large oak cask. Fabrizio wouldn't dream of deviating from that lineage. He adores, collects, and restores small concrete vessels. There's a room in the cellar in which they're lined up like little misfit robots waiting to be deployed. The wines are aged slowly and statically, bottled unfined and unfiltered, when taste and an auspicious moon deem they're ready. *** DON'T MISS THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET THE WINEMAKER -- FABRIZIO IULI --- VIP EVENT FRIDAY MARCH 27, 2020 FROM 4 - 6 PM ***

~~$34.99~~$29.99

Mongarda Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore Brut 2018

Mongarda Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore Brut 2018

This small, family-owned, nature-oriented producer of Prosecco absolutely blew us away at the beginning of 2020 when we were on the hunt for new Prosecco. The Mongarda story began in 1978, when Bruno Tormena decided to dedicate himself full-time to the career of vignaiolo. As a youngster he learned the art of vine cultivation while working with his grandfather in family vineyards in the locality of Mongarda, from which the estate takes its name. Bruno transmitted his passion to his son, Martino, who has run the estate since 2011. Martino is a recent graduate of the enology school in Conegliano and he has intensified his family’s commitment to their land and the quality of their wines. Today, Mongarda has 3 hectares of woods and 10 hectares of vines, spread between the villages of Col San Martino, Farra di Soligo, Miane, and Valdobbiadene. This is the heart of the Valdobbiadene-Conegliano Prosecco Superiore zone, and Mongarda’s vineyards are on extreme slopes with old vines and poor, rocky soils, a situation which forces them to be worked manually. The main varietal is, of course, Glera, but the Tormena family has also kept the local heirlooms of Perera, Verdiso, Bianchetta, and Boschera, which are interspersed through the parcels and co-harvested and co-fermented with the Glera. The vines, some dating back to 1950, are pampered: no weedkillers (undesired plants are mowed or removed by hand) and no synthetic fertilizers (instead, a biodynamic compost of grape skins, vine cuttings, and manure from grass-fed cows is made in-house). In 2015, only copper and sulfur were used to combat disease pressure, and though Martino has set organic certification as a goal, he is also concerned with elevated use of copper, whose toxicity is perhaps the ‘elephant’ in the organic viticulture room, especially in wet, cool, climates. In the cellar, the objective is to let the vintage and vineyards speak for themselves. Grapes are pressed whole cluster, softly enough to avoid extracting bitterness. All primary fermentations are spontaneous. The use of dosage is not formulaic, but is adjusted according to each vintage and disgorgement. So consumers can be assured that this Prosecco is a low sugar option, especially this Brut, which is always more dry than an Extra Dry (contrary to the terminology confusion!). Made of 90% Glera and 10% Verdiso and Bianchetta, 100% harvested by hand, this is from a vineyard named Farra di Soligo in the lieu-dit of San Gallo, about 2 hectares in size at 350-370 meters above sea level, planted in 1950 with southern Exposure and Suolo marcuola soils (calcareous marl and composite rocks). Winemaking: Whole-cluster pressed; primary fermentation with indigenous yeasts in 30HL stainless steel vats, secondary fermentation in autoclave according to the Charmat method. Light filtration before bottling. Dosage: 4 g/l. Production: 8,000 bottles.

bot92

$17.99 $17.09

Luigi Voghera Dolcetto D'alba Basarin 2017

Luigi Voghera Dolcetto D'alba Basarin 2017

This is literally one of the greatest values in all of Italy at this very moment. Made of 100% Dolcetto sourced from two hectares of 30-year-old vines in the illustrious Basarin cru of Neive, the vines grow at 250-300 meters above sea level at a southeastern exposure. After pressing, the must macerates on the skins for 4 to 5 days in stainless steel, then is racked off and aged in steel for 7 to 8 months. Only about 400 cases are produced each year. The Voghera family have been farmers in Neive in Barbaresco for many, many generations. They grew grapes for a modest production of family wine, but also cultivated grain and fruit trees. The estate as we know it today was born in 1974, when Luigi Voghera, the father of the current owner, dedicated his farm entirely to the production of grapes and started to vinify and bottle his own production. Luigi’s son Livio adheres to his father’s old-school and time-tested methods of production: longer maceration on the skins, and aging in large oak cask. All of Livio’s offerings are estate bottled, and across the board tremendous values. His Dolcetto is a faithful companion to any ragù, or with savory pasta dishes, roasted meats, cheeses and salumi, pizza and Italian sandwiches.

~~$19.99~~$16.99

Francois Baur Sang du Dragon Pinot Noir 2017

Francois Baur Sang du Dragon Pinot Noir 2017

This Pinot Noir from the Alsace region is an absolute beauty and a wonderful example from northern France. With its perfumed aromas of red and black fruits, mocha, vanilla, forest and stones., Sang du Dragon Pinot is smooth, silky and pure, with a perfect balance of fruit, acidity and gentle tannin. Pair at home with salmon in dried cherry sauce, roasted chicken or fine cheeses and charcuterie. Continuous vine growing in Alsace dates back to Roman times; viticulture in the Brand area was recorded in 1328 from documents of Paris and the abbeys of Munster. Red wines have been traditionally rare in Alsace because of the region's cool growing season and northerly location, but today we are seeing more and more reds produced with changing climates and organic winemaking methods. The name for this Pinot, 'Sang du Dragon' comes from an old legend...when the valley of the Rhine was still underwater, a dragon emerged from the waves to rest on the protruding Brand hilltop. The sun was too fierce, however, and its rays eventually pierced the dragon's scales, drawing blood. Gravely wounded, the dragon dragged itself to a cave where it then died. Many centuries later, wine growers came to plant vines in this area. Still fertile with the dragon's blood, legend has it that the vines even today produce a wine of fire. Today, Baur's wines carry the dragon's image. In an email we received from Virginie Baur, she told us : "Sang du Dragon means dragon's blood. There is a legend that a dragon was slain in this vineyard (the Brand vineyard), and the blood of the dragon made the vines strong. 'Brand' means "land of fire" in German and is a Grand Cru Vineyard but only Muscat, Pinot Gris, Gewurztraminer and Riesling can have the Grand Cru Appellation according to the AC laws, so we named the wine 'Sang du Dragon'." The story is fun for sure, but the wine itself is amazing. We drink it at home often, it is a wonderfully terroir -driven treat! Over the past several years, Baur has converted his vineyards to fully biodynamic production--a totally natural approach to the cultivation of vines that makes every attempt to respect the plants, the soil and the environment. No weed killers or insecticides are used; instead, certain types of grasses are encouraged to grow between the vines which actually strengthen the soil. To provide aeration, the earth is plowed manually a few times a year. Only natural products are used on the leaves of the vine itself: Work is scheduled according to the phases of the moon, often at night while the vines are resting and not fatigued by the sun. Studying in the same biodynamics class as Jean-Michel Deiss, one notes the fervor with which Pierre Baur (Virginie's father) now addresses his work; it has become a religion to him and, he trusts nature explicitly in his vineyards.

$39.99 $35.99

Domaine Hudelot-Baillet Bourgogne Rouge 2017

Domaine Hudelot-Baillet Bourgogne Rouge 2017

This is an incredible value offering from a small domaine in Chambolle-Musigny. Hudelot-Baillet's Bourgogne rouge is essentially de-classified Chambolle-Musigny augmented by parcels in Gilly. The domaine was created in 1981 with cellars and holdings in Chambolle, by Joël Hudelot (inherited largely from his father Paul) and his wife Chantal Baillet. Joël retired in 2004 and passed along the reins to his son-in-law Dominique Leguen, who had been working with him at the domaine since 1998. The viticultural philosophy is organic though the domaine is not technically certified. There are no insecticides used and sexual confusion is employed instead to combat problematic bugs. The harvest is performed manually with sorting work done in the vineyards and again at the cuverie if necessary. The fruit is 100% destemmed, and the new oak program averages 30% for the villages wines, 40% for the 1ers and 50% for the Bonnes Mares. The wines are given 12 to 18 months of élevage before being bottled, generally without fining or filtration. Hudelot describes his intended style as one of finesse, succinctly explaining that "all of my appellations are in Chambolle and finesse is what we do best."

wa87

$36.99 $33.29

Ciacci Piccolomini d'Aragona Rosso di Montalcino 2017

Ciacci Piccolomini d'Aragona Rosso di Montalcino 2017

Ciacci Piccolmini is one of the most sought-after producers in Montalcino. This ancient estate has 35 hectares of superior holdings in the prized Castelnuovo dell'Abate zone, including the 'Pianrosso' vineyard (from which the best grapes are selected for the Brunello di Montalcino) and the 'Fonte' vineyard, which produces grapes for the Rosso di Montalcino. This Rosso is made of 100% Sangiovese Grosso, with bright and rich red fruit, earth, dried citrus zest and gentle spices. The vineyard is organically farmed and the wine is fermented in stainless steel and concrete vats before being transferred to large Slovenian oak where it rests for 12 months. Only 1000 cases are typically produced in each vintage.

we92

$22.99 $20.69

Château-Siaurac Lalande de Pomerol 2015

Château-Siaurac Lalande de Pomerol 2015

Our family has had a long-time love affair with Ch â teau Siaurac in Lalande-de-Pomerol. The estate has been producing beautiful wines for 200 years, in the 'satellite' appellation of Lalande-de-Pomerol. Long associated and marketed with Château Pétrus in Pomerol, we always considered Siaurac such an incredible value for an authentic, velvety, delicious red Bordeaux. As a 'satellite' of the esteemed Pomerol area, Lalande-de-Pomerol has a similar climate and similar soils to its famous, luxurious neighbor. The owners of Siaurac are oriented toward quality, not quantity, and strive to express the unique typicity of the soils and climate (which we call the terroir ) . The Ch â teau has also been certified organic since January 2009. The average age of the vineyard is between 25 and 30 years. Today, Siaurac is owned by the owner of Château Latour, Francois Pinault and the Artemis group. It i s therefore made by an exceptional, world class team : the technical director from Chateau Latour, Penelope Godefroy, has worked with Jean-Claude Berrouet, the winemaker at Pétrus for 40 years. The 2015 Siaurac is a blend of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc. It tastes rich, velvety and pure with notes of cherry, mocha, licorice and rose petals. We have enjoyed many bottles at home over the last 25 years of this under-the-radar, classic Bordeaux red. Pair with filet mignon, lamb chops, roasted pork, Comté Gruyere cheese, Petit Basque sheep's milk cheese, meat pâté and/or cured meats.

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bot90

$27.99 $25.19

Robert Moncuit Extra Brut Blanc De Blanc

Robert Moncuit Extra Brut Blanc De Blanc

A family-run estate with organic vineyards, Champagne Robert Moncuit has a five generation history. Alex Moncuit started the vineyard in 1889, and in 1928 his grandson Robert created his first cuvée and Champagne Robert Moncuit was born. Robert continued to produce this exceptional Champagne until his death in 1987. His daughter Francoise took over the estate, and her son Pierre has been winemaker since 2000. Until 2000 all the wine was sold in France. The estate has 8 hectares under vine in Le Mesnil-sur-Oger which is the same renowned village where Krug's famous 'Clos du Mesnil' vineyard designate is made, and the Le Mesnil-sur-Oger is where the Salon family first realized and then convinced the world that this area was beautifully suited for Champagne made from 100% Chardonnay. The Moncuit family produces all 'Blanc de Blancs' Champagne, meaning 100% Chardonnay. Their vines are tended without the use of pesticides and herbicides. The fruit is hand-harvested and sorted, with each parcel vinified separately to optimize the outcome of blending. All of the wines are fermented and raised in tank, the goal being contact with the lees. The malos happen naturally, they don't filter or chapitalize. The base wine for this Brut is 2010 with about 20% reserve from 2009. Approximately 30% of the cuvée is aged in oak. This is the only wine in his range that sees any oak so as not to mask the beautiful chalkiness of the Mesnil soils. Made with 8g dosage.

wa93

$49.99 $47.49

Melville Estate Pinot Noir 2015

Melville Estate Pinot Noir 2015

Owned by father and son Ron and Chad Melville, Melville is an estate driven winery, which focuses upon Burgundy and Northern Rhone style wines. Located in the heart of Santa Rita Hills, in Santa Barbara County, the estate has 85 acres planted to vineyards. Winemaker Greg Brewer makes Pinot Noir, Syrah, Chardonnay, and Viognier for the family. After having owned vineyards in Napa, Ron Melville came to Santa Rita and never looked back. Calculated composting, complex cover cropping practice and deficit irrigation, matched with a tremendous amount of crop reduction and canopy management are the critical components to Melville’s strength as wine growers. This is 100% Melville fruit from Melville's Sta. Rita Hills estate, and is a collection of 16 pinot noir clones. 40% of the fruit was fermented as whole-clusters with 60% gently de-stemmed in small (1.5 ton) open-top fermenters. Total skin and stem contact averaged 30 days (7 day cold soak, 2 + weeks of fermentation and 1 + week extended maceration). From the press, the wine was transferred directly into neutral barrel (old French oak), where it remained sur lie without sulfur until June, when it was gently racked for the first time and prepared for bottling in August. Yields were 3.6 lbs/vine (3.3 tons/acre).

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wa90

$35.99 $32.39

Loveblock Sauvignon Blanc 2019

Loveblock Sauvignon Blanc 2019

Loveblock is the project of husband and wife team, Kim and Erica Crawford. After selling their enormously popular brand Kim Crawford, they forged ahead with this organic vineyard in Marlborough, believing deeply in embracing a natural life and protecting the environment. Kim is the winemaker and has fashioned a deliciously pure and balanced Sauvignon with white peach, fig and herb notes in the nose and mouth. This will pair particularly well with sushi and sashimi, lemon grass-accented Asian fare, green salads and crispy asparagus dishes.

$22.99 $20.69

Sottimano Barbera d'Alba Pairolero 2017

Sottimano Barbera d'Alba Pairolero 2017

This is an exceptional Barbera from the Sottimano family who is well-known for high quality Barbaresco wines. While Nebbiolo may be 'king' in Piedmont (Nebbiolo is the grape used in Barbaresco and Barolo), the other two main red grapes of the region, Dolcetto and Barbera, are becoming more exciting due to the commitment of high quality growers such as Sottimano, Sandrone and Clerico. The 'Pairolero' Barbera is a blend of two different vineyards of Barbera in Neive; Curra' and Basarin. Winemaker Andrea Sottimano uses only natural, indigenous yeasts in the winemaking and the malolactic fermentation is completed in French barrels, where the wine remains for approximately 15-16 months. 25% of the barrels used for aging are new, the remaining 75% have previously been used for up to 4 times. There is no filtering and no fining prior to bottling. Barbera has become one of our favorite 'everyday' reds with a full range of foods. Serve with white meats, light red meat dishes, bright tomato-based sauces, cheeses, olives, cured meats and more.

$24.99 $22.49