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Saturday, September 26, 2020

2016 Dunn Napa Valley







2016 Dunn Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon...$89.99
Features solid blackberry and raspberry compote notes mixed with red and black licorice and fruitcake flavors. Youthfully packed now, this offers a well-buried juicy spine and an engaging briary edge on the finish, while the fruit easily keeps pace. Will age well. Best from 2021 through 2032. 1,350 cases made. — JM
Rated 93/100 The Wine Spectator
Dunn's 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley) is a pretty, easygoing wine that readers will be able to drink with minimal cellaring. Medium in body with good brightness, the 2016 has quite a bit to offer. Sweet red fruit and floral notes add perfume to the nicely lifted finish. The Napa Valley Cabernet was bottled recently and is a bit reticent, but it offers fine potential. Pretty savory and floral notes extend the finish nicely.
Rated 93/100 Antonio Galloni, Vinous Media

Screaming Eagle in stock!


The cult Cabernet of all cult Cabernets!




2009 Screaming Eagle Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville...$2,199.98 per bottle
(lowest price on Wine-Searcher is $2,550)
Once again, the 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon pays homage to the 2007, but the aromas and flavors seems to be just a touch brighter, which might just be a function of the wine's age. A wine of remarkable precision, the 2009 is totally dialed in from start to finish. Layers of intensely sweet, perfumed fruit are woven together with remarkable elegance and sheer polish. Today, the 2009 isn't quite as radiant as it has been in the past, and seems headed for a stubborn phase. It is still striking, though. Even if a bit less exotic than the 2007, the two wines share a silkiness and overall sense of textural finesse. A translucent, weightless finish rounds things out in style. The 2009 is 87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Cabernet Franc and 5% Merlot.
Rated 98/100 Antonio Galloni, Vinous Media
A stunningly seamless effort, rich and elegant, this delivers perfumed black currant aromas that are supple and graceful, building and gaining with subtle tannins, laced with loamy earth. A dash of black licorice marks the long finish. Drink now through 2028. 750 cases made.
Rated 97/100 The Wine Spectator
The 2009 Screaming Eagle Cabernet Sauvignon (87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Cabernet Franc and 5% Merlot) displays a slightly peppery nose, but ratchets up the level of concentration with pure black currant and black cherry fruit as well as licorice and lead pencil shavings. This beautiful, dense, full-bodied 2009 is exceptionally elegant, pure and seamless. Drink it over the next 20-25 years. Under the ownership of Stan Kroenke, this vineyard has been replanted and a new cellar has been constructed. The production of Screaming Eagle has remained between 700-1,000 cases, and a second wine, the Second Flight, includes 520-800 cases. The introduction of a second wine is an attempt to keep Screaming Eagle at its mythical level of quality. This vineyard, situated on the valley floor at the Oakville Crossroads across the road from the Rudd Estate, encompasses 60 acres, but only a small percentage is used for these two cuvees. Based on the three vintages I tasted, it appears the Second Flight wines include much less Cabernet Sauvignon and more Merlot than the flagship Screaming Eagle.
Rated 96/100 Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate



2016 Screaming Eagle The Flight.....$798.99
This is the best Flight I have ever had with so much merlot character coming through with black olives, hazelnuts, brown sugar and blackberries, as well as violets. Full-bodied yet linear and very long. Extremely refined and fresh. Needs a few years to come completely together, but already so refined.
Rated 99/100 James Suckling
The 2016 The Flight is gorgeous. Dark, brooding and closed in on itself, the 2016 is going to need a number of years to be at its very best, but it is incredibly beguiling today. Plum, black cherry, lavender, blood orange menthol, and a host of more mineral-driven notes punctuate this super-expressive wine. This is a decidedly tannic and powerful edition of The Flight. I can't wait to see how it ages. Bottled just six weeks before this tasting, the 2016 appears to have a very bright future. Time in the glass brings out some of the softer edges that will almost surely emerge with cellaring. The Flight is built on a core of older Merlot vines from the southeast corner of the estate. It is an absolutely riveting wine from Screaming Eagle.
Rated 98/100 Antonio Galloni, Vinous Media
Composed roughly of two-thirds Merlot with 5% Cabernet Franc and the rest Cabernet Sauvignon, the medium to deep colored 2016 The Flight opens with bold, expressive notions of wild blueberries, warm plums and boysenberries with touches of black raspberries, spice cake, violets, dark chocolate and potpourri with a hint of menthol. Full-bodied, rich, spicy and jam-packed with energy, it has beautifully plush tannins texturing the multilayered blue and black fruits, delivering a very long, perfumed finish.
Rated 97+/100 The Wine Advocate
The 2016 The Flight is another beauty, and it's slightly more elegant and balanced, as well as pure, than the 2015. A blend of 66% Merlot, 23% Cabernet Sauvignon, and the rest Cabernet Franc, this vibrant purple-colored effort offers a huge perfume of blue fruits, violets, and incense that develops with time in the glass. It's medium to full-bodied, seamless, and incredibly elegant, yet has depth, intensity, and length.
Rated 96/100 Jeb Dunnuck


97 Point Barolo for under $40



An amazing price for a Barolo and a huge score!
2015 Vite Colte Barolo di Barolo Essenze...$34.99
Sumptuous cherry and raspberry nose. Rich and voluptuous, with fine concentration and explosive fruit. Ripe but not jammy, with plenty of spice and vigour; forward but has sufficient structure to age. One for the hedonists!
Rated 97/100 Decanter Magazine
Platinum Award

Intense aromas of dark fruit and hints of wood, walnut and chocolate. Yet, it remains subtle and focused. Full-bodied, very dense and rich with a dusty and chewy tannin mouthfeel and a long, flavorful finish. Very attractive. Drink from 2022.
Rated 93/100 James Suckling

Crane Brewing - Missouri


Crane Brewing 1,000,000 Watts Blackberry Peach Sour IPA...$12.99 / 6pk
Sour IPA with blackberry, peach, vanilla and lactose



Crane Brewing Ocean Drive-In Gose...$12.99 / 6pk cans
Gose Style Ale with Cherry and Lime
Pull in to the shore of Crane Brewing. this cherry-limeade inspired gose brings back a favorite summer treat with waves of delicious citrus and fruity flavors. Perfect for whatever beach you are visiting.

Fat Orange Cat Write Drunk Edit Sober



Fresh Batch of this one!

Fat Orange Cat Write Drunk Edit Sober..$4.99 / pint can
New England IPA with Citra, Mosaic and El Dorado Hops
7.3% ABV

Oskar Blues Can-O-Bliss Resinous Hazy IPA




Oskar Blues Can-O-Bliss Resinous Hazy IPA...$9.99 / 6pk cans
7.2% ABV new-school take on old-school American hop flavors. Pine and grapefruit hop aromas and flavors reminiscent of the West Coast IPAs of yesteryear are delivered with the amplitude and silkiness of a modern hazy IPA, resulting in a Can-O-Bliss that tastes like something completely new (a West Coast Hazy Juicy New England IPA perhaps?).

4 Noses Brewing Caution Tape Guardrail NEIPA




4 Noses Brewing Caution Tape Guardrail NEIPA...$14.99 /4 pack 16oz cans
New England Style IPA

Tropical flavors, passion fruit aroma and a fluffy mouthfeel

Hoof Hearted Musk of the Minotaur IPA

 




Hoof Hearted Musk of the Minotaur IPA...$14.99 / 4pk 16oz cans
Double Dry Hopped IPA
7.2% ABV
Follow your nose to the most righteous party of the year. Huge orange and grapefruit aromas alongside a generous helping of some of that unmistakable dank stank. A mouthwateringly crisp and refreshing hop bitterness drives this bad Oscar home.

Stillwater Artisan Plant Based Double IPA





Stillwater Artisan Plant Based Double IPA...$16.99 / 4pk 16oz cans
Double IPA with Mango and Palm Sugar
8.4% ABV
All Natural
100% Vegan

Decadent Strawberry Orange Banana Double IPA




Decadent Strawberry Orange Banana Double IPA...$4.49 / 16oz can
Double IPA with Strawberry, Orange and Banana
8.6% ABV

Timber Ales he Who Walks Among Monsters




Timber Ales he Who Walks Among Monsters Stout...$21.99 / 4pk 16oz cans
Imperial Stout aged on maple syrup, coffee and cassia bark.
Collab with The Seed A Living Beer Project

Perennial Prism Dry Hopped Saison Loral Cryo





Perennial Prism Dry Hopped Saison Loral Cryo...$9.99 / 4pk 16oz cans
Next up in our rotating dry hopped saison series is another singular feature in Loral Cryo. This beer reminds us of dropping your Bubblicious in a hay pile, lemon pepper Triscuits, guzzling watered down frozen Lemonades, and Arnold Schwarzenegger's lair in Batman and Robin. 

Friday, September 25, 2020

Maplewood Brewing





Maplewood Festbier Lager...$10.99 / 4pk 16oz cans
Brewed with the finest German malts and noble hops; a super-drinkable lager that can be swigged or sipped during your end of summer festivities.
Our festbier is a deep golden color and bold in flavor without being too heavy. Expect elegant malt notes with a light hop character. PROST!






Maplewood Brownie Points with Vanilla...$9.99 / 4pk 16oz cans
Brownie Points English Brown Ale with Vanilla Beans
Full of malty chocolate and toffee flavors, this beer drinks easy and finishes bold yet crisp. Oats are used to lend a creamy body and mouthfeel.
Grain Bill: Pale | Munich | Biscuit | Flaked Oates | Dark Crystal Brown | Dehusked Roasted Barley
Hops: Warrior | Fuggle
Adjuncts: Whole Vanilla Beans
5.7% ALC. BY VOL.

Short Throw Brewing Green Tops

 





Short Throw Brewing Green Tops Double IPA...$15.99 / 4pk
New England Style Double IPA


Omnipollo new releases




       



Omnipollo Zelator Tropical Lollipop Triple IPA...$22.99 / 4pk cans
A continuation of a lollipop interpretation of a (triple) IPA that we brew in collaboration with parts of our Gothenburg family. Morgondagens, Dugges, and Duckpond brewing. Drink fresh.
Imperial IPA, 10 % by vol.


Omnipollo Hypnopompa Imperial Stout...$19.99 / 4pk 16oz cans
Hypnopompa is our imperial stout brewed with almost 100 kilos of marshmallows and Tahitian vanilla beans (the size of cigars).
Low carbonation and boiled a bit extra for good measure, this is a beer strictly for the stout inclined.
Drink now or age for many years.

Prairie Artisan Ales Key Lime Pie





Prairie Artisan Ales Key Lime Pie...$10.99 / 4pk cans
Sour - Fruited 
5.2% ABV
Sour ale with key lime puree and vanilla

2018 Sea Smoke

IN STOCK NOW


2018 Sea Smoke ‘Southing’ Pinot Noir...$79.98
Character: Each year, our goal for Southing is to create the ideal marriage of complexity and elegance. The ever-changing nose of the Southing exhibits Watermelon, Jasmine, Victoria plum; and subtle baking spices. The fine tannins and minerality are enhanced by our estate vineyard’s characteristic cool climate acidity.


2018 Sea Smoke ‘Ten’ Pinot Noir...$79.98
Character: A brooding and intense wine. The aromas begin with notes of Elderberry, Freesia and Fig, then a myriad of savory spices, and a hint of lavender. Firm, mature tannins—evidence of Ten’s ageability—are followed by a long, velvety finish.



More info:
Winemaking: Hand-harvested, clusters were sorted in the vineyard and then gently destemmed following an evening in our cold room. All ‘jack stems’ were removed on the sorting table. Musts were cold soaked in open-top fermenters for five days, and then inoculated with cultured yeasts to begin slow fermentation. Each tank was manually punched down two times per day, with a total maceration time of sixteen to twenty-eight days. Upon completion of primary fermentation and maceration, all free run wine was transferred to tank for settling, and then pressed at extremely low pressure (0.08 bars) to avoid extracting bitterness. After settling overnight both free-run and press wines were racked to barrels. 

Toppling Goliath Galaxy Dry Hop Pseudo Sue



Toppling Goliath Galaxy Dry Hop Pseudo Sue...$13.99 / 4pk 16oz cans
Forged from the raw elements of the universe, this beer’s hoppy flavor comes from the celestial alignment of both Galaxy and Citra hops. Galaxy dry-hopped Pseudo Sue dwarfs all other pale ales.
5.8% ABV • 45 IBU
Featured hops: galaxy and citra

Spottswoode Cabernet Sauvignon



2017 Spottswoode Cabernet Sauvignon...$199.98
Made of 89% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Cabernet Franc and 4% Petit Verdot, the 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon is deep garnet-purple in color and prances out of the glass with vivacious blackberries, crushed black cherries, warm black currants and red currant jelly scents plus exotic hints of cassia, cardamom, fenugreek and star anise with a waft of underbrush. Medium-bodied, the palate has fantastic energy and beautiful poise, with bags of bright, crunchy black and red fruit plus a firm, fine-grained texture, finishing long and spicy.
Rated 97+/100 Wine Advocate
Rated 96/100 James Suckling
Rated 96/100 Jeb Dunnuck
Rated 95/100 Wine Spectator




BV George de Latour Cabernet Sauvignon Private Reserve


2015 BV George de Latour Cabernet Sauvignon Private Reserve....$115.99
The flagship is the 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Georges de Latour Private Reserve, a blend of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Merlot, and 3% each of Petit Verdot and Malbec aged in 90% new French oak. Deep purple-colored, with a brilliant bouquet of crème de cassis, blueberries, graphite, and smoked herbs, it hits the palate with medium to full-bodied richness, terrific purity, and building tannins, which become even more apparent with extended air time (I followed this bottle for multiple days). This is the real deal and count me impressed. It's approachable today thanks to its purity and balance, but given its old-school, classic feel, I've no doubt it's going to evolve for 2-3 decades.
Rated 98/100 James Suckling
Rated 97/100 Jeb Dunnuck
Rated 96/100 The Wine Advocate

Thursday, September 24, 2020

Picpoul grape

 




2018 Domaine Delsol Picpoul de Pinet...$14.99
100% Picpoul (one of the oldest indigenous Languedoc varieties)
Domaine Delsol is a dry, light, refreshing wine. The nose is fruity and floral, with hints of rose petal and lime. In the mouth it is lively and fresh with well balanced acidity. 
FOOD PAIRING Ideal with shellfish, grilled fish and fresh cheeses.

Domaine Delsol is ideally situated along the Thau Lagoon in Montagnac in the newly formed Picpoul de Pinet AOC. The lagoon and Mediterranean breezes make the nights cooler than in other areas of the Languedoc. This and the high humidity create perfect conditions for growing Picpoul de Pinet. Domaine Delsol consistently produces a fresh, aromatic white wine with buoyant, ripe fruit and mouthwatering acidity. Apparently Hannibal and his elephants passed through what was to become the Domaine on their way to Rome, so elephants have become a kind of mascot for Delsol. You will find their likeness on the label and at the entrance gate of the Domaine pictured here.



2019 Grangette Picpoul de Pinet Blanc Poule de Pic...$14.99
Notes of lemon, green apple, mandarin and passionfruit. Great fruit and acidity give this one perfect balance.

From a 10 hectare plot of Picpoul grapes that were planted 12 years ago to clay/limestone soils and yielded 30 hectoliters per hectare. Fermented in stainless steel for one week followed by aging 4-5 months in stainless steel tanks before being bottled.
Pronounced “peek-pool de pee-nay,” Picpoul de Pinet is a designation or cru which may be used within the Languedoc appellation for white wines made exclusively from Piquepoul blanc from six communes: Pinet, Mèze, Florensac, Castelnau-de-Guers, Montagnac and Pomérols. South of Montpellier not far from the border with Spain.