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Saturday, February 15, 2014

2010 Gundlach Bundschu




2010 Vintage Reserve
2010 Gundlach Bundschu Vintage Reserve....$84.99
On the other hand, the 2010 Proprietary Red Vintage Reserve is among the finest wines I have tasted from this estate. A blend of Bordeaux varietals (I assume, but the exact grapes and percentages are not revealed), it reveals a rich, dense purple color in addition to lots of creme de cassis and licorice notes in a full-bodied, opulent, tasty format. Enjoy it over the next 10-15+ years.
Rated 94+/100 Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate


2010 Gundlach Bundschu Cabernet Sauvignon Sonoma Valley...$37.99
Generous aromas of blackberry, currants, dried lavendar and anise. Opulent flavors of juicy blackberries, dark chocolate and espresso are lush and polished, with smooth ripe tannins and balancing acidity giving the wine excellent weight and exceptional length. This is a dark beauty, with a lot of finesse, elegance and serious power. Delicious upon release; optimal cellaring time 5 to 15 years from vintage.

A few new ones from Free State





Oatmeal Stout media
Free State Oatmeal Stout..$7.99 / 6pk
Up and at 'em.
If you ask us, there’s no better way to start your day than with a nice, hot bowl of oatmeal. Not only does it have everything you need to power through the day, but it’s also delicious and filling in a way that no other breakfast food can match.

And while we don’t recommend trying it before noon, the same can be said for our Oatmeal Stout. This rich, tasty brew goes down smoothly, and on a chilly evening in the Free State, it simply can’t be beat.


Brinkley’s Maibock media
Free State Brinkley's Maibock...$7.99/ 6pk
Kick into Spring.
A Midwest legend for his off-the-wall practices using goat, erm, parts to increase virility in humans, Doc Brinkley was a decidedly unique individual. So who better to inspire our fresh spring seasonal with its one-of-a-kind flavors?

Wine Education: Beaujolais

Wine Tasting at all FOUR locations


February 15  from 11am-4pm.
(each store will also have other wines out to taste)
A little more education: We are going to try to feature either a grape or a wine region each week at our stores. We will give you some background information on the grape or region and feature a wine that highlights what we are featuring. We will taste that wine on Saturday at all four of our locations. We will post it here in our blog and send it out in our emails - click here to sign up for our emails
On our blog, click on the  label "Education" and you can read all of the education articles (see the right column under the heading "labels"
Area: Beaujolais

Beaujolais is an important wine region of eastern France, famous for its vibrant, fruity red wines made from Gamay. It is located immediately south of Burgundy, of which it is sometimes considered to be a part, despite being within the Rhone Valley administrative region.

There are several forms of red Beaujolais wines: standard Beaujolais (including Beaujolais Superieur), Beaujolais Villages, and the characterful, youthful Beaujolais Nouveau. The region's highest-quality wines are those of the ten Beaujolais 'crus' – ten vineyard areas long recognized as the finest in the area. Each of these ten (Brouilly, Chenas, Chiroubles, Cote de Brouilly, Fleurie, Julienas, Morgon, Moulin-a-Vent, Regnie and Saint-Amour) has its own appellation title.

Come taste some our favorite Beaujolais this weekend.   Each of our four stores will have out their favorite Beaujolais.

Recipe of the Week

With it being Valentine's weekend, we thought we would bring this recipe back...

Drunken S'more Cake
Michael DiBianca
Adapted from The James Beard Foundation
A riff on the composition of a s’more, this dessert was the finale of Michael DiBianca’s playful and flavorful Beard House dinner. His version calls for the nutty Nocello and Frangelico, but we think that fruity liqueurs, like Grand Marnier or Chambord, would work nicely, too.



Ingredients:
Crust:

  • 1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs  (for extra chocolate mix in some  crushed up Ashers Chocolate smothered Graham Crackers, if you don't eat the whole package before you start ***)
  • 1/2 cup melted butter
  • 1/4 cup sugar
Filling:
  • 8 egg yolks (farm fresh Dry Dock Eggs)   *** 
  • 1 1/3 cup confectioner’s sugar
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt    ***
  • 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract   ***
  • 2 teaspoons KahlĂșa    ***
  • 2 teaspoons Nocello   ***
  • 2 teaspoons Frangelico   ***
  • 1 cup butter
  • 2 tablespoons cocoa powder    ***
  • 8 ounces  bittersweet chocolate ***
  • 3/4 cup whipped cream
*** Available at The Wine and Cheese Place
Yield: 8 servings
Method:
To make the crust, combine the graham cracker crumbs, melted butter, and sugar. Pack mixture into a springform pan, completely covering the bottom and sides. Chill for 2 hours.

To make the filling, combine the egg yolks and the confectioner’s sugar and whisk until pale yellow. Add the salt, vanilla, KahlĂșa, Nocello, and Frangelico and whisk together. Melt the butter in a saucepan over low heat, then add the cocoa powder and chocolate. Stir occasionally until the chocolate melts and the mixture is smooth. Add the yolk mixture to the chocolate mixture and whisk together. Fold in the cream. Pour the mixture into the crust-lined springform pan and chill for 6 hours.

Friday, February 14, 2014

Bombay new EAST Gin!




NEW
Bombay Sapphire EAST...$21.99 / 750ml
"For a unique gin with a subtly exotidc taste our Master of Botanicals journeyed east to Asia.
Bombay Sapphire East is crafted and infused with two additional botanicals, fragrant Thai Lemongrass for crispness, and a subtle bite from Vietnamese Black Peppercorns."

Wolpertinger 2014



Very limited, we only have 24 bottles.


 



Urban Chestnut Wolpertinger 2012....$9.99 / pint
"Never heard of the rarely seen, Bavarian indigenous mammal the Wolpertinger?  Well much like the actual Wolpertinger, our "Wolpie" is a little Bavarian in nature, scarely seen (brewed once a year to celebrate UCBC's anniversary) and definitely difficult to define...toxonomically speaking.    This year's "Wolpie" was aged in Sonoma wine barrels.  The result Wolpie 2014 is a dry, fruity, flemish style brown  (although less tart). Prost!" - label

Beer for 105.7 the Point!

Happy Birthday Riz! and The Point!

In stock now and online for shipping




Six Row The Point Birthday Brew...$6.49 / 22oz
Special label for the 21st Birthday of 105.7 the Point
"What better way to celebrate a 21st than with a craft brew!  This dark, sultry, wheat beer was made specifically for the occasion.  Brewed with an ample amount of wheat and Munich Malt with a touch of hops to balance, it finishes clean while still packed with flavor.  So whether you started listening back in 1993 or just started this year.  lets all raise a glass to 105.7 the Point  Happy Birthday

Alpha Brewing Beer Tasting!

Special Valentine's day release
Only 20 cases being bottled.  
Available only at The Wine and Cheese Place and the brewery.  

Alpha Brewing Beer Tasting!
The Wine and Cheese Plsace
7435 Forsyth Blvd, Clayton, MO 63105

Friday, February 14th from 4-6pm
Meet Derrick Langeneckert, CEO/Head Brewer, of Alpha Brewing Company

We will taste....
Alpha Brewing I Do Brew Tripel with Blood Orange Zest and Coriander 
plus these two..

Alpha Brewing Kofe Storter

Alpha Brewing Bruery Barleywine



Plus the release of the very limited I Do Brew.

In stock now at Forsyth!



Alpha Brewing I Do Brew....$9.99 / 22oz
Belgian Style Tripel with Blood Orange Zest and Coriander
"She said, "I do".  To celebrate our head brewers recent nuptial, his new wife snuck into the brewery and collaborated with the rest of the brew team in secret to make this delicious beer.   The Belgian house strain of yeast gives this beer a fruity kick along with the blood orange zest and coriander.  Enjoy!" - label

Sante Fe Brewing

Our first beers from New Mexico arrive at The Wine and Cheese Place tomorrow.

In stock now ! Taste them tonight at Forsyth!



SAISON '88
Santa Fe Saison 88....$9.49 / 6pk CANS

To commemorate our 25th anniversary, Santa Fe Brewing has created Saison 88, a Belgian-style, farmhouse ale. Brewed with German pilsner malt and American wheat, it pours a pale, unfiltered straw color with a snowy white head. Saison 88 is generously hopped with traditional Czech noble hops and a splash of citrusy American originals, Simcoe and Cascade. With our own Galisteo farmhouse origins in mind, we fermented it with a fruity Belgian yeast balancing black pepper notes and a citrus finish. Saison 88 is a bright, crisp, easy-drinking ale, true to our rustic origin and perfect to quench the thirst of a hot day.



IRISH RED ALE
Santa Fe Irish Red Ale....$9.49 / 6pk CANS

Just in time for spring, this Irish Red Ale will bring out the malt-lover in all of us. Using a subtle blend of American and Noble hops, this beer is a harmonious anthem to malty goodness. Brewed with the highest quality heritage barley and succulent golden oats, this Maris Otter based brew, bursts with smooth caramel and chocolaty notes with a clear garnet hue. Its delicate sweetness compliments the full-body flavor of this session brew trailed by perhaps this beer’s most intriguing characteristic—its dry finish. To the beer-lover who appreciates a true session beer, this Irish Red offers an excellent balance of malt’s two signature attributes—sweetness and roasty dryness. Slainte!







Great 2010 Jadot!


In stock at Forsyth!  Intro price

2010 Jadot Chateau des Jacques Clos du Grand Carquelin Moulin a Vent...$27.99
The high quartzite content that geologically links Chateau des Jacques’s 2010 Moulin-a-Vent Clos du Grand Carquelin with their Chenas En Papolet seems evident also in a prominent, mouthwatering salinity and a sense of lift and sappy brightness of red currant and red raspberry. Those looking for geological signs might associate the iron- and manganese-rich characteristic for Moulin-a-Vent in general with the deep beef marrow, meat-stock richness that underlies this Carquelin and supplies a dynamic, yet somehow by no means discordant, counterpoint to the wine’s sharply-focused red fruits. As with the corresponding Champs de Cour, tannin is very fine and in the background, and the texture is almost silken. Hints of lanolin and brown spices from barrel are discreet and well-integrated. This should be worth following for half a dozen or more years. (The 2009 performed this June at the upper end of my issue 190 projection, displaying an even more striking, shimmering mineral savor.)
Rated 91-92/100 The Wine Advocate


2010 Jadot Chateau des Jacques Cote du Py Morgon...$28.99
The Chateau des Jacques 2010 Morgon Cote de Py is yet another of its vintage collection to well outperform my Issue 196 projections and thus merit a newly minted tasting note. Salty, smoky and stony accents to ripe, tart-edged purple plum inform a performance combining richness with levity, animation, refreshment, and above all a refinement of tannin not evidenced when I tasted it from cask. This long-finishing beauty should be savored through 2017.
Rated 92/100 The Wine Advocate

Coravin Wine System

We are very excited to introduce the Coravin to St. Louis....

Perfect gift for Valentine's Day, Mother's Day, and Father's Day....for any day!




Coravin

Coravin Wine System...$299.99

If you would like to reserve one or have questions, call Aaron 314.727.8788 or email aaron@wineandcheeseplace.com


Corarvin wine extractor and preserver.  A revolutionary device that every wine drinker needs.    A medical grade needle is inserted through the foil and the cork and you are able to pour out a glass of wine while the inert gas, argon, is added to displace the wine.  Oxygen never hits the wine as the needle is pulled out, the cork reseals itself.  

Some uses:  Perfect gift for that wine lover that already has everything!

  • You want to see how a wine is is ageing and if it is time to start drinking it, but you do not want to open a full bottle just in case it is not ready.
  • Do wine pairings, a different glass of wine with each course.
  • You want a glass of good red wine and your spouse wants white you can each pour a glass of a different wine without opening full bottles.
  • It is a Tuesday night and you do not want to drink a full bottle.
  • Buy a magnum of a great bottle and have a glass each year on your anniversary or birthday out of that same bottle.
  • Have a vertical of your favorite wine, taste multiple vintages of a wine without opening 6 different bottles.
  • Great for restaurants to pour wines by the glass of more expensive wines.


This video helps explain it better....





Or if you have an online account for Robert Paker's The Wine Advocate, check out these videos, it is very impressive.

Robert Parker Coravin Video #1
Robert Parker Coravin Video #2

"In my 35 years, I think the only other non-wine product I have written and article about extensively was the Riedel Glasses when they first came out." -- 
-- Robert Parker
"I could not believe the results of this...." -- -- Robert Parker
"I cannot tell you how impressed I am with this new technology" -- Robert Parker
"It is so simple, it is an amazingly easy thing to do.." -- Robert Parker
"The use of this is infinite..." -- Robert Parker
"I mean, this blows my mind...you just can't believe this." - Robert Parker
"I am not investing in this company...I just want to share this incredible discovery with Wine Advocate viewers." -- Robert Parker
"It is going to revolutionize drinking older wines." - Robert Parker
"Coravin is the most transformational and exciting new product for wine lovers that has been developed/invented in the last 30+ years, this is a killer device.“ -- Robert M. Parker




Smart technology made beautifully simple.

For centuries, the cork had to be removed in order to enjoy a glass of wine—that era is over. The Coravin System keeps the cork in the bottle, where it's been since it was ïŹrst sealed in the winery. Now you can explore your ïŹnest wines by the glass whenever you like, and feel conïŹdent that instead of oxidizing, the wine remaining in the bottle will continue to evolve naturally.

Access

When the Coravin System is put in place, a thin, hollow needle is inserted through the cork to extract the wine. You don't need to remove the foil, or the cork, to access the wine.
Pressurize & Pour
The bottle is then pressurized with argon, an inert gas that's in the air we breathe. Once the bottle has been pressurized, the wine flows through the needle and pours into your glass.
Remove
When the Coravin System and its needle are removed, the cork reseals itself. The remaining wine never comes in contact with oxygen, and continues to evolve naturally.

The Coravin™ System was inspired by my love for wine and the never-ending discovery in taste and aroma that it provides.

The initial concept began out of necessity. My wife became pregnant and stopped drinking. I still wanted to enjoy great glasses of wine, but didn’t want to commit to whole bottles. I tried preservation systems, but found I still wasn’t able to drink what I wanted, when I wanted, without sacrifice. Each time, once the cork was pulled, oxidation started and I was locked into that bottle.

My dream was to magically pour wine from bottles without ever pulling the cork. The remaining wine could then go back in my cellar, so that I could enjoy it again, whenever I desired. What followed was a decade of development and testing until I had a system that delivered great glasses of wine, indistinguishable from untouched bottles, while never pulling the cork.

Your Coravin™ System will change the way you enjoy wine. It expands your opportunity to explore wines of any vintage, variety, winemaker, or wine growing region you desire, all by the glass. You now have the freedom to access any wine, any time, in any quantity you desire without ever pulling the cork. And you can go back to your favorites again and again, weeks or months later.
Cheers!

Greg Lambrecht, Founder, Coravin™ LLC

Thursday, February 13, 2014

Three Olives Vodka with a speaker


How about this one....
Three Olives Vodka with Speaker....$14.99 / 750ml bottle

Includes a plain vodka plus
Neoprene sleeve with Speaker and battery pack, batteries, plus a cord that connects to a device that plays music - MP3, iPhone, iPad.....


Play music on your vodka bottle!

Valentine's Day is tomorrow!


We have a lot of great candy and Champagne.  

We can gift wrap them for free.



Plus we are rolling in fresh IPAs.....

All of these are less than 2 weeks old...

Founders Centennial IPA (new batch just arrived yesterday)
Bells Two Hearted Ale
Firestone Walker Union Jack
Urban Chestnut STLIPA


Plus fresh Founders Porter bottled February 4th.

Wednesday, February 12, 2014

New Tyler wines with great scores...


2011 Tyler Pinot Noir Bien Nacido Old Vine Santa Maria ...$66.99
The 2011 Pinot Noir Bien Nacido Old Vines is a floral, perfumed and pure Pinot Noir that has a grippy, tactile richness that comes through on the palate. Offering up notions of black cherry, flower garden, rose petal, underbrush and crushed stone-like minerality, it possess gorgeous purity and definition, as well as serious length. It should hit prime drinking in another 3-4 years and drink nicely through 2025. Drink 2015-2025.
Rated 94/100 The Wine Advocate

2011 Tyler Chardonnay Sanford and Benedict St. Rita hills...$56.99
The first vintage for this cuvee, the 2011 Chardonnay Sanford & Benedict comes from vines planted in 1971. It shows the house style with its lithe, racy feel, clean, classic aromatics and edgy underlying minerality. Lime, citrus, sappy underbrush and crushed stone all flow from this medium-bodied, rich and layered beauty; it too should benefit from another year in bottle. Drink 2014-2019.
Rated 93/100 The Wine Advocate

Paul Hobbs Beckstoffer Las Piedras






2010 Paul Hobbs Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Las Piedras....$174.99
From one of the great sites in Oakville, the 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard bristles on the palate with considerable energy and focus. Freshly cut flowers, red berries and crushed rocks all come to life in the glass. In 2010 Las Piedras stands out for its bright, intense salinity, which is the essential characteristic of this site. The 2010 needs at least a few years in bottle to settled down, but it is drop-dead gorgeous, even today. Anticipated maturity: 2020-2030.
Rated 95+/100 The Wine Advocate


3 bottles left
2010 Paul Hobbs Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To-Kalon...$269.99
A much darker and more virile wine, the 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard opens with beguiling aromatics that meld into a core of blue and black fruit, exotic spices, tar, smoke and violets. The 2010 boasts superb depth, power and richness in a weighty, brooding style that is the essence of To Kalon. A huge, intense finish rounds things out in style. Anticipated maturity: 2020-2032.
Rated 97/100 The Wine Advocate


2010 Paul Hobbs Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Dr. Crane...$179.99
The 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vineyard is rich, sumptuous and totally striking. It brings together all of the classic Dr. Crane qualities – expressive aromatics, silky tannins and voluptuous fruit, all with the crystalline purity of 2010. Juicy dark cherries, roses, sweet spices and crushed rocks are layered into the expressive finish. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2025.
Rated 96/100 The Wine Advocate

Rock Hill Beer


New beers on the shelves at Rock Hill

Tuesday, February 11, 2014

Charbay Whiskey made from Bear Republic Beer

Whiskey made from Bear Republic's Big Bear Stout....


  • Charbay S Whiskey Lot211A - In stock at Rock Hill and Forsyth
  • Charbay R5 Aged Whiskey - in stock at Rock Hill and Forsyth
  • Charbay R5 Clear Whiskey - in stock at Forsyth




S Whiskey Lot 211A
Charbay S Whiskey Lot 211A...$119.99
In February 2011, Marko became intrigued by Bear Republic's Big Bear Stout - a beer that you can really sink your teeth into. The bold, roasty, caramel malt flavor is balanced by Centennial and Cascade hops.

"It's extremely complex. Single malts only use a single malt—this Stout has over five different malts, as well as adjuncts and several different hop varieties. All of these qualities come through into an extremely complex whiskey," explains Marko.

Charbay 'S' Whiskey was double-distilled in the family's copper Alambic Charentais Pot Still. Working 24 hours a day for 10 days straight, Marko distilled 6,000 gallons of beer distills into 590 gallons of whiskey (almost 10:1 ratio) to create roughly 650 cases altogether (10 barrels).

Flavor profile: dried apricot, honeysuckle, vanilla, roasted coffee, orange zest, hints of cardamom, chocolate malt, rich and chewy, brown spice

Aged in for 29 months in used French Oak

Lot 211A was distilled in February 2011 (the “A” stands for “aged”)

Tasting Notes: From Cigar Aficionado: "Fruity and herbal aromas; Palate: Hard candy, lemons and honey burst onto the palate and are followed by the advertised hoppy flavor. A definite taste of the stout comes through. Develops an orange-peel note." Jack Bettridge
Serving Suggestions: Enjoy room temperature neat, with a splash of spring water or a spring water ice cube.

The Goose Island Version.....



Very limited release.
Goose Island / Deschutes Class of '88 Belgian Style Ale...$17.99  / 765ml
The Class of ‘88 Belgian Style Ale was brewed in collaboration with Deschutes Brewery to celebrate both of our silver anniversary this year. Our Class of ‘88 beer is brewed with whole flower Mt Hood hops, which were first introduced in 1988, then transferred to Muscat casks and aged with Michigan Riesling Grape juice and Oregon Pinot Noir grape must. The result is a golden belgian strong ale with a pleasant aroma of semi-sweet Riesling grapes and fresh green hops, complemented by a touch of tartness that is quickly cut by a bright, dry finish reminiscent of a refreshing white wine. Enjoy this tribute to the Class of 88.
Recipe Information:

Style: Belgian Style Strong Ale
Alcohol by Volume: 11.2%
International Bitterness Units: 7
Color: Golden
Hops: Whole Flower Mt. Hood
Malt: Best Pilsner

Cellaring Notes: Develops for up to 5 years

2012 Oregon Pinots continue to impress






2012 Archery Summit Willamette Pinot Noir Premier Cuvee...$41.99 / 750ml
An expansive array of fragrances arise from the glass of this aromatically complex Pinot Noir. This bottling beautifully expresses the superior quality of the Willamette Valley’s stellar 2012 vintage. A mixture of blackberries, star anise, cinnamon stick and rose petals on the nose suggest a wine that’s ripe, lush and layered. Upon entry, the palate supports this impression with plush, dark fruit flavors and a fine, silky dusting of milk chocolate. The wine finishes elegantly with a real sense of opulence and finesse.

Premier CuvĂ©e, our proprietary blend, is a combination of fruit from our six distinctive vineyard estates: Arcus Estate, Red Hills Estate, Renegade Ridge Estate, Archer’s Edge Estate and Archery Summit Estate in the Dundee Hills AVA, and Looney Vineyard located in the Ribbon Ridge AVA
Info from Archery Summit

Monday, February 10, 2014

Rated 94 by Robert Parker and only $13.99


We have 56 cases arriving today at all 4 locations, but it should go fast with this score from Robert Parker




On sale!
2011 Chapoutier Domaine Tournon Mathilda Shiraz, Victoria Australia....$13.99
net, no additional discount

Owned by superstar winemaker Michel Chapoutier. Domaine Tournon is making some of the most distinctive Shiraz in world today. We are very excited to offer what we consider to be one of the word's greatest wine values.
"Winemaker Michel Chapoutier is the seventh generation to lead Maison Chapoutier, first established in France in 1808.  Michel has selected Victorian vineyards for their superior characteristics.   Mathilda Shiraz is named both after an Australian icon and Michel's daughter Mathilde" - label
Rated 94/100 Robert Parker The Wine Advocate

Sunday, February 9, 2014

Domaine Tempier - limited release




2010 Domaine Tempier Bandol la Migoua...$59.99
Packed but racy, with a gorgeous note of cassis-soaked rosemary adding lift to the core of steeped plum, black currant and roasted alder notes. The long, taut finish has drive, revealing an echo of freshly seared meat that should meld beautifully with age. MourvĂšdre, Grenache, Cinsault and Syrah. Best from 2017 through 2027. –JM
Rated 93/100 The Wine Spectator

Great value in Brunello









2007 Talenti Brunello di Montalcino....$53.99
The 2007 Brunello di Montalcino graces the palate with layers of expressive fruit. This is a surprisingly large-scaled, intense Brunello from Talenti. Sweet red berries, flowers, mint and tobacco flesh out in this pliant, deeply expressive wine. The 2007 turns more layered, floral and finessed on the finish. Talenti gave the 2007 30 months in oak, 60% French oak tonneaux and 40% Slavonian oak casks. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2027.
Rated 94/100 The Wine Advocate

Great price on this Achaval ferrer






2010 Achaval Ferrer Mirador....$79.99
The vines in Finca Mirador were planted half in 1928 and half in 1942, the latter pruned double-Guyot. The 2010 Finca Mirador is from the Medrano sub-region, originating from heavier, clayey soils and aged in new French barrels for 16 months. The nose is more expressive than the Finca Bella Vista with cassis and blueberry aromas imbued with a sorbet like freshness and vivacity. After 20 minutes, there is an estuarine, oyster shell scent emerging. The palate is medium-bodied with very fine tannins and a surprising sense of reserve and sophistication that could probably show Bordeaux a few lessons in restraint! It draws you in to its complexity and its precise, delineated finish of black currant pastille, sea salt and crushed stone that lingers long in the mouth. This is an outstanding Argentinean Malbec. Drink 2016-2035.
Rated 95/100 The Wine Advocate
Rated 94/100 The Wine Advocate

Flor de Pingus

Rare release....


2011 Flor de PIngus Ribera del Duero...$89.99
The 2011 Flor de Pingus demonstrates wonderful purity on the nose, perhaps more feminine and wily than the 2010 with luscious raspberry, blackberry and forest floor notes. The palate is full-bodied with filigree tannins and a little more volume than the 2010. It seems generous and very supple at this early juncture with a caressing, peppery finish that is extremely well focused. There 2011 has awesome potential and I cannot wait to taste this after two or three years in bottle.
Rated 93-95/100 The Wine Advocate

Limited Chapoutier releases...

Order Chapoutier online now. Very limited





2011 Chapoutier Les Granits Saint Joseph Rouge...$69.99
Another stunner is the 2011 St.-Joseph Les Granits. It’s made in a forward, accessible style and offers up gorgeous blackberry, crushed flowers, toasted bread, licorice and background meatiness to go with full-bodied richness and depth on the palate. Already approachable, with knockout complexity and loads of fruit, it should drink nicely over the coming 10-12 years.
Rated 95/100 The Wine Advocate

2011 Chapoutier Les Granits Saint Joseph Blanc....$81.99
A gorgeous white that savvy consumers should snatch up, the 2011 St.-Joseph Les Granits Blanc is a smoking Marsanne that, as Northern Rhone whites go, represents an incredible value. Loaded with tropical fruits, melon, buttered citrus and bitter orange rind, this full-bodied beauty has knockout texture and richness, great acidity and blockbuster length
Rated 95/100 The Wine Advocate


2011 Chapoutier Ermitage De L'Oree Blanc...$249.99
Even better and always one of the top whites in any given vintage, the 2011 Ermitage Cuvee de l’Oree (first produced in 1991) comes from 80+-year-old Marsanne vines planted in the Les Murets lieu-dit. Gorgeously full-bodied and impeccably put together on the palate, with awesome texture and richness that’s framed by vibrant acidity, it boasts off the hook aromas and flavors of flower oil, buttered citrus, dried pineapple and powdered rock. It will be even better in another year, and age pretty much forever. As I’ve said before though, there is no harm in drinking these beauties in their youth.
Rated 99/100 The Wine Advocate
Rated 96/100 The Wine Spectator



2011 Chapoutier Crozes Hermitage Les Varonniers...$69.99
The 2011 Crozes-Hermitage Les Varonnieres (which is a significant step up over the 2012) got a big “Wow” in my notes and is a brilliant Crozes-Hermitage. Cote Rotie-like with its perfumed floral, bacon fat, spice and olive-driven bouquet, this full-bodied, supple and downright sexy Syrah makes the most of the vintage. Enjoy it over the coming decade or so.
Rated 95/100 The Wine Advocate
2011 Chapoutier Cote Rotie La Mordoree...$157.99
The 2011 Cote Rotie La Mordoree is an undeniable success in the vintage. Medium to full-bodied, concentrated and with solid mid-palate concentration, this forward, plump and straight up delicious Cote Rotie offers plenty of floral, bacon, dried herbs and raspberry-styled aromas and flavors. Enjoy it over the coming decade.
Rated 94/100 The Wine Advocate

Rated 95/100 The Wine Spectator
(only 40 cases imported)



2007 Chapoutier Saint Joseph Les Granits Rouge...$139.99 / 1.5ltr
The full-bodied 2007 St.-Joseph Les Granits exhibits sweet black currant fruit, camphor, rock, and exotic Asian spice characteristics. With slightly less density and weight than the 2006, it should drink nicely for 10-15 years.
Rated 92-95/100 The Wine Advocate

Atalon Pauline's Cuvee in stock now!




2010 Atalon Napa Valley Pauline's Cuvee Red....$25.99
This Merlot-based blend is a huge success. It’s a big, tannic, tight wine, packed to bursting with black cherry liqueur, cola and spice flavors. Yet it maintains an exciting balance, with the tension between acids, tannins and oak in equilibrium. Seems like it wants 5–6 years in the cellar to let it throw some tannins and mellow. — S.H.
Rated 93/100 The Wine Enthusiast


2010 J. Davies Cabernet Sauvignon

From the makes of Schramsberg Sparkling wines comes this amazing Cabernet....






2010 J. Davies Cabernet Sauvignon Diamond Mountain....$79.99
The J. Davies 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon brings together a juicy, generous expression of fruit allied to the underlying structure of the vintage. A beautifully balanced, totally harmonious wine, the 2010 stands out for its impeccable balance. All the elements are simply in the right place. Wild flowers, mint and sweet herbs ring out on the vibrant, beautifully delineated finish. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2025.
Rated 94/100 The Wine Advocate