VVW News - September 2017

Transcription

1 VVW News - September 2017 DELECTABLE PIEDMONT RED BARGAIN 2015 Barbera d Alba Il Ciotto (Bovio) Here is a head-turning red from Piedmont. Famous for its Barolo and Barbaresco wines, Piedmont also produces reds that are far less expensive and imposing, and sometimes, like this one, just amazingly delicious. Bovio s vineyards are located in the Annunziata section of La Morra, the site of the great Barolo vineyards Arborina, Rocche, and Brunate. Their Barbera is sustainably-farmed, hand-harvested, fermented and aged in stainless steel, and bottled early to capture as much of its fresh, luscious fruit as possible. Deep ruby-purple in color, it has a vibrant, fresh aroma that will make you want to dive right in. Its medium-bodied, zesty black cherry flavors have compelling freshness, impressive depth, and a clean mouthwatering finish that is driven by acidity rather than tannin. In fact its structure, similar to that of a Burgundy or Pinot Noir, makes it eminently accessible, or slurpable if you are not the disciplined sort. Best have a second bottle on hand in case the first one empties too quickly Barbera d Alba Il Ciotto (Bovio) $22.00 HALF-CASE SPECIAL 20 Percent Off $ ($105.00/6 bottles = $17.50/bottle) HALF-CASE SAMPLER FROM A GREAT VINTAGE 2015 Grüner Veltliners If you enjoy vibrant white wines and are not yet familiar with Austria's Grüner Veltliners, here is a six bottle sampler that will put you on course for increased wine knowledge and vinous contentment. Austria's beloved home-grown white is noble and sophisticated, and would be world-famous but for the fact that most of it gets snapped up by the voracious home market. Grüner Veltliners are always dry and rarely show any oak influence, letting its attractive varietal character and minerality take center stage is the best vintage so far this century, and each of the wines in this selection is a delicious and expressive example from a renowned producer Grüner Veltliner Loess (Hiedler)... $ Grüner Veltliner Freiheit (Nigl)...$ Grüner Veltliner Kammern (Hirsch)... $ Grüner Veltliner Kamptaler Terrassen (Brundlmayer)... $ Grüner Veltliner Federspiel Frauenweingarten (Alzinger)... $ Grüner Veltliner Steinsetz (Schloss Gobelsburg)... $ GRÜNER VELTLINER SAMPLER 1 bottle of each - 15 Percent Off - $ ($142.00/6 bottles = $23.67/bottle) EARLY ARRIVALS FROM A GREAT RHONE VINTAGE 2015 Châteauneuf-du-Papes on purchases of six or more bottles of 2015 Rhone Valley reds 2015 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Tradition (Cristia)... $ $ Vivid ruby. Powerful mineral- and spice-accented red fruit liqueur aromas show impressive clarity and pick up a sexy floral nuance as the wine opens up. Gently sweet, sappy and focused, offering palate-coating raspberry and cherry compote flavors, along with hints of succulent herbs and candied flowers. Rich, in the style of the vintage, yet vibrant as well. Finishes on a juicy note, displaying subtle tannins and strong, spice-tinged persistence. (90-92/100) - Josh Raynolds, Vinousmedia.com 2015 Châteauneuf-du-Pape (Clos des Brusquieres)... $ $ I loved Clos des Brusquieres s 2015 Châteauneuf du Pape, which was tasted as a barrel sample, and this classic beauty is loaded with Provençal notes of sweet cherries, cedar, spice-box and garrigue. About as textbook and old school as they come, with medium-bodied richness, ripe tannin and a great finish, this beauty will drink well for years. The blend of the 2015 is 60% Grenache, 20% Mourvèdre and the rest Syrah and other permitted varieties. (90-92/100) - Jeb Dunnuck, The Wine Advocate

2 2 OVERSTOCK SALE - 30 PERCENT OFF 2013 & 2014 White Burgundies Regular 30% Off 2014 Rully Les Cloux (Vincent Girardin)... $ $ Saint Aubin Les Charmois (Vincent Morey)... $ $ Macon-Verzé (Leflaive)... $ $ Saint-Aubin Les Murgers des Dents de Chien (Vincent Girardin)... $ $ Beaune Blanc Les Pertuisots (Etienne Sauzet)... $ $ Chassagne-Montrachet Vieilles Vignes (Vincent Girardin)... $ $ Meursault Les Perrières (Vincent Girardin)... $ $ NOT SWEET, NOT DRY 2015 GERMAN Feinherb Rieslings Over the last few years, Germany s Feinherb category of Rieslings has blown up. Feinherb is the designation for wines that are neither sweet nor bone dry, where the level of residual sugar is just at or below the threshold where it can start to be perceived. These wines avoid the severity of the bone-dry versions, and the cloying character of the sweet ones. They are some of the most exciting Rieslings being made today. Here are seven delicious bottlings from the superb 2015 German vintage. on purchases of six or more bottles of 2015 German Rieslings 2015 Riesling Feinherb Pfalz (von Winning)... $ $ Riesling Feinherb MC (Muller-Catoir)... $ $ Riesling Feinherb Im Pfarrgarten (A.J. Adam)... $ $ The second vintage from a new (for Andreas) vineyard, 51-year old vines planted in a flat-ish site by the stream. It means The garden of the rectory, and conveys its own meditative profile. But here I need to point out, this is where Andreas is most in the zone, where he best expresses his signal Riesling genius, exactly at this level of not-sweet not-dry, and this is virtually perfect Riesling. All steel here, it s juicy and twiggy, piquant and angular; has a tap-on-the-shoulder of late-palate acidity together with a certain mustardgreen pungency. (+) - Terry Theise, Importer 2015 Riesling Nahe (Dönnhoff)... $ $ As always this is from Oberhäuser Felsenberg and Oberhäuser Kiegelburg, and so it s a mini- Grand Cru. It s another vintage in a string of beauties, barely perceptible sweetness, literally incredible class, and in my opinion the single greatest white wine value in the world. The fantastic 2015 is juicy, long, slinky, seductive and perfectly balanced. (++) - Terry Theise, Importer 2015 Riesling Feinherb Niederhäuser Kertz (Jakob Schneider)... $ $ From a tiny vineyard on a mix of slate and porphyry, it s one of those utterly unaccountable wines you can t believe came from grapes and dirt, the flavors are so complex and bewitching. This is a truly exquisite aroma! I mean, sheesh what on earth smells like this?? A masterly, gorgeous wine, crazily complex, orchids and wild-strawberries and gold raspberries in an angular mosaic that s nothing but miraculous. (++) - Terry Theise, Importer 2015 Riesling Feinherb Winkeler Jesuitengarten Alte Reben (Spreitzer)... $ $ A true masterpiece. Plays on every register; earthy, irises, capacious and vivid; a solid spicy mass, primordial depth, implacable length; the finish is monumental. Use this wine to understand the renown the Rheingau once had, and could have again if more wines like this were made. (++) - Terry Theise, Importer 2015 Riesling Feinherb In der Sangerei (A.J. Adam)... $ $ A parcel within Hofberg, this is becoming one of the greatest Rieslings I offer from the Mosel. This is fabulous; the most lavish fruit-basket face of Hofberg spirit-kin of Oberhäuser Brucke, as I see it it s lavish in all ways yet also electrically spicy like mint and tarragon, yet with this wild explosion of esoteric fruit and smoky slate and chocolate-y sponti notes. For me it s a Mosel monument. (++) - Terry Theise, Importer

3 INVENTORY REDUCTION SALE 2014 Liger-Belair Red Burgundies SEPTEMBER SPECIAL - 20 PERCENT OFF on purchases of six or more bottles of 2014 Liger-Belair Burgundies Regular 20% Off 2014 Bourgogne Rouge Les Grands Chaillots (Liger-Belair)... $ $ Hautes Cotes de Nuits Clos du Prieure (Liger-Belair)... $ $ Nuits-Saint-Georges La Charmotte (Liger-Belair)... $ $ Gevrey-Chambertin La Croix des Champs (Liger-Belair)... $ $ Aloxe-Corton La Toppe au Vert (Liger-Belair)... $ $ Vosne-Romanée Aux Réas (Liger-Belair)... $ $ Nuits-Saint-Georges Les Saint Georges (Liger-Belair)... $ $ Clos Vougeot (Liger-Belair)... $ $ BROTHER VS. BROTHER 2015 White Burgundies on purchases of six or more bottles of 2015 White Burgundies DOMAINE VINCENT MOREY CHASSAGNE-MONTRACHET 2015 Bourgogne Blanc (Vincent Morey)... $ $ Chassagne-Montrachet Les Baudines (Vincent Morey)... $ $ Pale yellow color. Reticent aromas of pear and gunflint. Big and broad on the palate, showing less saline minerality than primary fruit. (87-89/100) - Stephen Tanzer, Vinousmedia.com 2015 Chassagne-Montrachet Les Caillerets (Vincent Morey)... $ $ Fresh, inviting aromas of lemon, pear and white flowers. Intensely flavored and quite dry, with citrus peel and floral flavors complicated by menthol and crushed rock. Very laid-back today but the dry, saline, lightly phenolic finish is bright and subtly persistent. (89-92/100) - Stephen Tanzer, Vinousmedia.com 2015 Puligny-Montrachet La Truffière (Vincent Morey)... $ $ Tight nose suggests white peach and spices. Densely packed and broad but a touch warm, offering flavors of underripe pineapple and crushed stone. Finishes dry and classic if slightly bitter, with a repeating stony character and sound acidity. (89-91/100) - Stephen Tanzer, Vinousmedia.com DOMAINE THOMAS MOREY CHASSAGNE-MONTRACHET 2015 Bourgogne Blanc (Thomas Morey)... $ $ Chassagne-Montrachet Les Baudines (Thomas Morey)... $ $ Notes of citrus peel, apple, white flowers and soft spice nuances are trimmed in just enough oak to bother mentioning. The mouth feel of the middle weight flavors is notably sleek and mineral-driven with an attractively refreshing finish (90/100) 2015 Chassagne-Montrachet Les Embrazées (Thomas Morey)... $ $ A slightly riper nose evidences the barest whiff of the exotic on the white peach, pear and apple scents that also display a touch of citrus. As is usually the case there is more volume if not more minerality to the delicious medium-bodied flavors that offer noticeably better depth on the sappy and highly persistent finish. I often prefer the Baudines to the Embrazées but not in (92/100) 2015 Puligny-Montrachet La Truffière (Thomas Morey)... $ $ A ripe, cool and admirably pure nose offers up elegant aromas of various white flowers, apple, spiced pear and a hint of mineral reduction. There is both excellent volume but also fine cut and punch to the stony medium weight flavors that possess a sophisticated mouth feel, all wrapped in a saline, complex and beautifully persistent finish. Morey seems to consistently do fine things with this wine and 2015 will only add to that reputation (93/100) 3

4 4 Volnay Premier Crus If you knew nothing about Burgundy, neither producer nor vintage nor vineyard, the odds of getting a bottle worth drinking are greater in Volnay than any other commune of the Cote d'or. No other red Burgundy, except Chambolle-Musigny, can convey the perfume and finesse of Pinot Noir as well as Volnay. Few are more seductive. - Matt Kramer, Making Sense of Burgundy on purchases of six or more bottles of Volnays 2014 Volnay Les Santenots (Vincent Girardin)... $ $ Bright, full ruby. Wild, reduced aromas of crushed blackberry, black cherry and dark chocolate. Seamless and superripe, conveying superb density of material in a round, silky way. Black fruit and violet flavors are framed and lifted by tangy, peppery, ripe acidity. The finish is very long and ripely tannic. (90-93/100) - Stephen Tanzer, Vinousmedia.com 2010 Volnay Les Santenots (Thierry Matrot)... $ $ Volnay Les Champans (Vincent Girardin)... $ $ Volnay Les Pitures (Jean-Marc Boillot)... $ $ Volnay Les Pitures (Jean-Marc Boillot)... $ $ Volnay Les Caillerets-Ancienne Cuvée Carnot (Bouchard)... $ $ The generous wood treatment presently fights somewhat with the menthol, cassis, spice and essence of black cherry liqueur-suffused nose. There is a beguiling texture to the vibrant, detailed and intensely mineral-driven medium weight flavors that coat the palate with dry extract while delivering marvelous persistence on the very firmly structured finish (92-95/100) 2014 Volnay Clos des 60 Ouvrées (La Pousse d'or)... $ $ A subtle touch of wood sets off the notably ripe and highly spiced aromas of plum, violet and gentle earth scents. There is a wonderfully refined and ultra-pure mouth feel to the welldelineated and concentrated middle weight flavors that are almost pungently stony, all wrapped in an intense and focused yet lacy finale that exhibits just a hint of youthful austerity. This is positively gorgeous (93/100) 2014 White Burgundies 2014 is the best vintage since at least 2010 and probably They are classic middle weight white burgs that possess excellent freshness, solid but not high alcohols and acidities along with terrific transparency to the underlying terroir. They are also exceptionally refreshing and energetic which just makes them fun to drink as one sip invites the next. on purchases of six or more bottles of 2014 White Burgundies 2014 Saint Aubin Les Charmois (Francois Carillon)... $ $ Saint Aubin Les Castets (Marc Colin)... $ $ Meursault Vieilles Vignes (Vincent Girardin)... $ $ Pernand-Vergelesses Blanc Clos Berthet (Dubreuil-Fontaine)... $ $ Chassagne-Montrachet Le Cailleret (Vincent Girardin)... $ $ Puligny-Montrachet Les Referts (Francois Carillon)... $ $ Puligny-Montrachet Les Folatières (Francois Carillon)... $ $ The driving, even explosive medium weight flavors are borderline painfully intense with both excellent volume and richness before concluding in a sappy and mouth coating finish. This is a relatively robust effort that certainly doesn t lack for concentration, power or punch (90-92/100) 2014 Corton-Charlemagne (Dubreuil-Fontaine)... $ $ This also displays hints of mineral reduction on the cool green apple, floral, lemon zest and wet stone scents. There is terrific intensity to the relatively big-bodied yet beautifully welldefined flavors that coat the palate with dry extract on the overtly mineral-driven finale. This is a powerful CC that is very clearly built-to-age and is definitely going to need it. Quality juice (93/100)

5 FIRST ARRIVALS FROM A GREAT VINTAGE 2013 Barolo and Barbaresco In 2013, a cool growing season and late harvest produced gorgeous Barolos with striking aromatics, silky tannins, sculpted, vibrant fruit and mid-weight structures. Readers will find a number of thrilling, utterly captivating wines that speak to the pedigree and class that are the signatures of the best Barolo vintages. When the 2013s were younger, I thought they would turn out along the lines of the formidable 2010s, but over the last year in particular, many 2013s have acquired a level of textural finesse and grace that is truly remarkable. In many cases, the 2013s remind me of the 2008s, but with more depth, better balance and more consistency. If that sounds appealing, well, it is. Overall, the 2013s are Barolos that speak to finesse above all else. These are wines that will hold considerable appeal to readers who enjoy classically built wines. - Antonio Galloni, Vinousmedia.com on purchases of six or more bottles of 2013 Barolos and Barbarescos Regular Price 15% Off Price 2013 Barbaresco (Moccagatta)... $ $ The 2013 Barbaresco is absolutely delicious. Sweet red cherry, kirsch, wild flowers and spices are all pushed forward in a beautifully perfumed, sweet Barbaresco that overdelivers big time. Readers will have a hard time keeping their hands off this super-expressive, engaging Barbaresco from Moccagatta (91/100) - Antonio Galloni, Vinousmedia.com 2013 Barolo La Morra (Renato Corino)... $ $ The 2013 Barolo del Comune di La Morra is a powerful, intense wine. Succulent red cherry, plum, spice, leather, licorice and violets infuse the rich finish. Forward, open and quite giving, the 2013 will drink well with minimal cellaring, although another few months will only help the tannins soften further (88/100) - Antonio Galloni, Vinousmedia.com 2013 Barolo (Mario Marengo)... $ $ Marco Marengo's 2013 Barolo includes fruit sourced from four vineyards located in the La Morra township. These are Serradenari, Fossati, Boiolo and Roncaglie. Fruit is harvested, fermented separately and assembled later in order to preserve the subtle characteristics of each site. This vintage stands apart for the bright exuberance of the fruit and the noble qualities of the tannins. That characteristic firm silkiness that you get with fruit from La Morra is put proudly front and center. Anticipated maturity: (93/100) - Monica Larner, The Wine Advocate 2013 Barolo Arborina (Renato Corino)... $ $ The 2013 Barolo Arborina is a big, powerful wine. Ample and rich, with broad shoulders, the 2013 shows a much more intense side of Arborina than most wines from this site. The flavors are dark, heady and intense, all sensations that are enhanced by the wine's voluptuous texture and overall feel. It will be interesting to see if the 2013 closes down in bottle. Today, it is especially giving for a young wine (93/100) - Antonio Galloni, Vinousmedia.com 2013 Barolo (Elio Altare) $ $ Here's a classic expression of Nebbiolo that includes fruit sourced from four vineyard sites spanning the appellation. The 2013 Barolo is a wine of beautiful intensity and grace. The bouquet reveals a layered effect in which primary fruit aromas of cherry and blackberry segue in quick succession to spice, tar, licorice and toasted hazelnut. The wine offers strength and power, especially in terms of the full and generous way it spreads clear over the palate. There is a spot of heaviness or extra density on the finish. This wine needs a year or two to iron itself out. Anticipated maturity: (93/100) - Monica Larner, The Wine Advocate 2013 Barolo Brunate (Mario Marengo)... $ $ Barolo Rocche dell Annunziata (Renato Corino)... $ $ The 2013 Barolo Rocche dell'annunziata is fabulous. Knock-out aromatics, silky tannins and voluptuous fruit are some of the signatures. This is another young Barolo that is drinking almost too well for such a young wine. Today, the flavors are quite primary and the wine is dense, but there is certainly a lot to look forward to. The tannins are present, yet very nicely integrated for a young Barolo. This is a terrific Barolo in the making (94+/100) - Antonio Galloni, Vinousmedia.com 5

6 6 TASTING BAR SCHEDULE - SEPTEMBER 2017 For more complete information, please visit and click Tasting Bar LIGER-BELAIR RED BURGUNDIES SALE FRIDAY 9/1 & SATURDAY 9/2 I would advise carefully considering some of Liger-Belair's 2014s as the best of them are first rate. Our stocks of Liger-Belair's 2014s are getting low just as the wines, now a year after bottling, are really hitting their stride. With a bunch of 2015 Red Burgundies set for delivery this Fall, we are willing to deal on these 2014s, with 15% off on 3 bottles and 20% off on six. Enjoy your Labor Day weekend tasting some first rate Burgundies Bourgogne Rouge Les Grands Chaillots (Liger-Belair); 2014 Hautes Cotes de Nuits Clos du Prieure (Liger-Belair); 2014 Nuits-Saint-Georges La Charmotte (Liger-Belair); 2014 Gevrey-Chambertin La Croix des Champs (Liger-Belair); 2014 Aloxe-Corton La Toppe au Vert (Liger-Belair); 2014 Vosne-Romanée Aux Réas (Liger-Belair); 2014 Nuits-Saint-Georges Les Saint Georges (Liger-Belair). WHITE BURGUNDIES OVERSTOCK SALE TUESDAY 9/5 & WEDNESDAY 9/6 With so much attention being paid to the impressive 2015s, we are not seeing much action on some of our 2013 and 2014 White Burgundies. So here goes, a 30 percent off sale on selected 2013s and 2014s, all of them included in this tasting. Each one is delicious, and a steal at the sale price. Supplies are limited to stocks on hand Rully Les Cloux (Girardin); 2014 Saint Aubin Les Charmois (Vincent Morey); 2014 Macon-Verzé (Leflaive); 2013 Saint-Aubin Les Murgers des Dents de Chien (Girardin); 2014 Beaune Blanc Les Pertuisots (Etienne Sauzet); 2013 Chassagne-Montrachet Vieilles Vignes (Girardin); 2013 Meursault Les Perrières (Girardin) RED BURGUNDIES THURSDAY 9/7 The beautiful, classically styled 2012 Red Burgundies are in excellent shape, showing well with a very promising future. Here are seven delicious examples Savigny-les-Beaune Les Jarrons (Pierre Guillemot); 2012 Santenay Les Gravières (Vincent Girardin); 2012 Chassagne-Montrachet Rouge Morgeot (Vincent Girardin); 2012 Beaune Les Teurons (Bouchard); 2012 Nuits-Saint-Georges (Henri Gouges); 2012 Corton Les Perrieres (Dubreuil-Fontaine); 2012 Nuits-Saint- Georges Aux Thorey (de Montille) WHITE BURGUNDIES FRIDAY 9/8 & SATURDAY 9/9 How good 2014 ultimately turns out to be is an open question but it s the best vintage since at least 2010 and probably As to the style of the 2014s, they are classic middle weight white burgs that possess excellent freshness, solid but not high alcohols and acidities along with terrific transparency to the underlying terroir. They are also exceptionally refreshing and energetic which just makes them fun to drink as one sip invites the next. This tasting features one villages wine, six Premier Crus, and one Grand Cru Saint Aubin Les Charmois (Francois Carillon); 2014 Saint Aubin Les Castets (Marc Colin); 2014 Meursault Vieilles Vignes (Vincent Girardin); 2014 Pernand-Vergelesses Blanc Clos Berthet (Dubreuil- Fontaine); 2014 Chassagne-Montrachet Le Cailleret (Vincent Girardin); 2014 Puligny-Montrachet Les Referts (Francois Carillon); 2014 Puligny-Montrachet Les Folatières (Francois Carillon); 2014 Corton-Charlemagne (Dubreuil-Fontaine). SOUTHERN RHONE REDS TUESDAY 9/12 & WEDNESDAY 9/13 Here is a flight for fans of the southern Rhone Valley's heady, flavor-packed Grenache-based reds. Featured are three Gigondas and three Châteauneuf-du-Papes, including two very impressive, newly-arrived 2015s Gigondas Les Mourres (Notre Dame des Pallières); 2013 Cotes-du-Rhone Mon Coeur (J.L. Chave); 2014 Gigondas Deux Juliettes (Grand Montmirail); 2012 Gigondas (Chateau Redortier); 2015 Châteauneuf-du- Pape Tradition (Cristia); 2014 Vacqueyras Doucinello (Sang des Cailloux); 2015 Châteauneuf-du-Pape (Clos des Brusquieres); 2014 Châteauneuf-du-Pape La Crau (Vieux Tèlègraphe). DOMAINE HENRI GOUGES: THURSDAY 9/14 BURGUNDY DINOSAUR OR OLD-SCHOOL TREASURE? Domaine Henri Gouges produces ageworthy Burgundies, by design. All Gouges red are crafted with a tannic structure and a bottling regimen intended to launch them on a path to maturity in the distant future. It is an oldschool approach that fits the wines of Nuits-Saint-Georges very well. Visiting Gouges in the late 1990s I enjoyed a 1954 Les Saint Georges (a lousy vintage in Burgundy, but my birth year) that was sublime. This tasting showcases the Gouges style, four vintages each from two of their best Premier Cru vineyards - Clos des Porrets and Les Pruliers. During this tasting, bottles will discount 20 percent off Nuits-Saint-Georges Clos des Porrets (Gouges); 2013 Nuits-Saint-Georges Clos des Porrets (Gouges); 2012 Nuits-Saint-Georges Clos des Porrets (Gouges); 2011 Nuits-Saint-Georges Clos des Porrets (Gouges); 2014 Nuits-Saint-Georges Les Pruliers (Gouges); 2013 Nuits-Saint-Georges Les Pruliers (Gouges); 2012 Nuits-Saint-Georges Les Pruliers (Gouges); 2011 Nuits-Saint-Georges Les Pruliers (Gouges).

7 2013 BAROLO & BARBARESCO FRIDAY 9/15 & SATURDAY 9/16 Barolo entails delayed gratification. Finally, four years after the vintage, the exciting 2013s are coming in. Here is our first full-scale tasting, showcasing beautiful Barolos from Mario Marengo, Renato Corino, and Elio Altare, along with a Moccagatta Barbaresco to start it off Barbaresco (Moccagatta); 2013 Barolo La Morra (Renato Corino); 2013 Barolo (Mario Marengo); 2013 Barolo Arborina (Renato Corino); 2013 Barolo (Elio Altare); 2013 Barolo Brunate (Mario Marengo); 2013 Barolo Rocche dell Annunziata (Renato Corino) GERMAN FEINHERB (DRY) RIESLINGS TUESDAY 9/19 & WEDNESDAY 9/20 The German wine scene is far into a major transformation. Both consumers and producers are shunning sweet Rieslings in favor of dry ones. Particularly in vogue is the Feinherb category, a designation for wine with a smidge of residual sugar, but at or below the threshold of the palate to taste it. Here are seven delicious examples from the spectacular 2015 vintage Riesling Feinherb Pfalz (von Winning); 2015 Riesling Feinherb Pfalz (Muller-Catoir); 2015 Riesling Feinherb Im Pfarrgarten (A.J. Adam); 2015 Riesling Nahe (Dönnhoff); 2015 Riesling Feinherb Niederhäuser Kertz (Jakob Schneider); 2015 Riesling Feinherb Winkeler Jesuitengarten Alte Reben (Spreitzer); 2015 Riesling Feinherb In der Sangerei (A.J. Adam). CABERNET SAUVIGNON & MERLOT THURSDAY 9/21 This flight of five Cabernet Sauvignons and one Merlot pits three wines from our Santa Cruz Mountains against three wines from Napa Valley. None of them are shy in the flavor department, and all of them promise to age well Merlot Santa Cruz Mountains (Ridge); 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Mason's - Napa Valley (Lewis); 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Santa Cruz Mountains (Ridge); 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Santa Cruz Mountains (Mount Eden); 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon Saint Helena (Young Inglewood); 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley (Forman). VOLNAY PREMIER CRUS FRIDAY 9/22 & SATURDAY 9/23 If you knew nothing about Burgundy, neither producer nor vintage nor vineyard, the odds of getting a bottle worth drinking are greater in Volnay than any other commune of the Cote d'or. No other red Burgundy, except Chambolle-Musigny, can convey the perfume and finesse of Pinot Noir as well as Volnay. Few are more seductive. - Matt Kramer, Making Sense of Burgundy Here are seven excellent Volnay Premier Crus, from five different winemakers and five recent vintages Volnay Les Santenots (Vincent Girardin); 2010 Volnay Les Santenots (Thierry Matrot); 2013 Volnay Les Champans (Vincent Girardin); 2012 Volnay Les Pitures (Jean-Marc Boillot); 2010 Volnay Les Pitures (Jean-Marc Boillot); 2015 Volnay Les Caillerets - Ancienne Cuvée Carnot (Bouchard); 2014 Volnay Clos de 60 Ouvrées (La Pousse d'or). PIEDMONT REDS: BARBERA & NEBBIOLO TUESDAY 9/26 & WEDNESDAY 9/27 While Barolo and Barbaresco receive world-wide acclaim, they are but the tip of the iceberg among Piedmont reds. Equally impressive, and the focus of this tasting, are the district's extensive production of exciting, generally moderately-priced bottlings of Barbera and Nebbiolo. Here are eight tasty examples Barbera d Asti (Damilano); 2013 Roero Nebbiolo (Deltetto); 2013 Barbera d Alba Regiaveja (Bovio); 2012 Langhe Rosso Ars Vivendi (Renzo Seghesio); 2014 Langhe Nebbiolo (Sottimano); 2011 Barbera d Alba Superiore Armujan (Ruggeri Corsini); 2007 Langhe Rosso Arte (Domenico Clerico); 2005 Langhe Rosso Larigi (Elio Altare). AUSTRIAN GRÜNER VELTLINERS THURSDAY 9/28 This flight showcases eight high-end, single-vineyard Grüner Veltliners from three of Austria's superstars - Brundlmayer and Hirsch of the Kamptal and Alzinger of the Wachau. The wines range from 2015s back to Grüner Veltliner Federspiel Muhlpoint (Alzinger); 2015 Grüner Veltliner Renner (Hirsch); 2013 Grüner Veltliner Lamm (Hirsch); 2013 Grüner Veltliner Alte Reben (Brundlmayer); 2013 Grüner Veltliner Smaragd Steinertal (Alzinger); 2012 Grüner Veltliner Spiegel (Brundlmayer); 2012 Grüner Veltliner Lamm (Brundlmayer); 2008 Grüner Veltliner Lamm (Brundlmayer) WHITE BURGUNDIES: MOREY VS MOREY FRIDAY 9/29 & SATURDAY 9/ was Bernard Morey's last vintage. He retired after the harvest and the domaine was split, with half going to each son, Vincent and Thomas. Our approach - buy wines from both for a vintage or two, and see which one our clients preferred. Well, we are nearly a decade later, and no consensus has emerged. They have both sold well, so we are still buying both. Here we put them up against each other, with four superb 2015s from each Bourgogne Blanc (Vincent Morey); 2015 Bourgogne Blanc (Thomas Morey); 2015 Chassagne-Montrachet Les Baudines (Vincent Morey); 2015 Chassagne-Montrachet Les Baudines (Thomas Morey); 2015 Chassagne- Montrachet Les Embrazées (Thomas Morey); 2015 Chassagne-Montrachet Les Caillerets (Vincent Morey); 2015 Puligny-Montrachet La Truffière (Vincent Morey); 2015 Puligny-Montrachet La Truffière (Thomas Morey). 7

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