Wednesday, April 12th, 2023
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Dear Artisans,
Our allocation of the epic El Nido CLIO is finally landing today, but it's only 24 bottles. This wine pioneered the modern Spanish style, and remains as one of their most sought-after wines for more than a decade.
Cult Aussie winemaker Chris Ringland (with four 100-pointers and two 99-ers to his name) perfected this wine and knocked it out of the park:
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The same 'bloke' made 22 vintages (and counting) of another insane value you all know: Juan Gil's Silver Label Mourvedre stunner—which is already on the last call: |
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He's not just a Shiraz and Mourvedre master—Mr. Ringland made 15 vintages (and counting) of this household favorite Garnacha. Seeing the pattern here?
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The fruit is harvested by hand in small baskets, picked very ripe, given a severe triage, and fermented in open top, three to four ton vats. After a meticulous selection process, the grapes are basket pressed and fermented in oak. The wines are aged in 100% new French and American oak for malolactic fermentation and for 26 months prior to being bottled.
Robert Parker on Chris Ringland:
"Chris Ringland is a relatively modest bloke who gives most of the credit for his extraordinary wines to his nearly 100 year old vineyard. He now has 21 vintages under his belt the results of which place him with Marcel Guigal, Gerard Chave, Christophe Baron, Manfred Krankl, and Michel Chapoutier as the international grandmasters of Syrah/Shiraz." -Robert Parker
While this vintage has not yet been reviewed, here's what Josh Raynolds from Vinous Media had to say in his most recent annual report on Spanish wines from this region: "For red wines that deliver extreme bang for the buck Murcia is tough to beat. I’ll go far as to say that this is the best area in the world to find over-delivering red wines...Relying mostly on the native Monastrell (sometimes referred to as Mataro, which is related directly to Mourvèdre), an increasing number of producers in the region are making wines that deliver uncanny complexity and sheer fruit impact for the money...Jumilla is by far the best known and the largest DO here, comprising almost 19,000 hectares. Monastrell rules the vineyards and most of the wines. Garnacha is also a player, producing some stunning bottlings as well. In the region Cabernet Sauvignon is also planted playing a role in some blends and occasionally bottled as a single varietal wine. While the most highly regarded wines have been experiencing price increase, the vast majority of Jumillas can still be had for a song..."
The 24 bottles of Nido Clio will be gone by the end of lunch so please move quick!
Salud,
—James Tran
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2020 El Nido"Clio" Monastrell-Cabernet
Jumilla, Spain
93 Points - Robert Parker's WA (2019 vintage):
"Next to the 2018, I also tasted the 2019 Clio, a similar blend of 70% Monastrell and 30% Cabernet Sauvignon from a vintage marked by torrential rains caused by the DANA storm in September that delivered 200+liters of rain. It fermented in stainless steel with neutral yeasts and matured in French and American oak barrels for 23 months. It's slightly lower in alcohol than the 2018, 15.5%. I think the Cabernet was more noticeable here and it added a certain freshness to the wine, which, coupled with a little less alcohol, made the wine come through as a little cooler and more continental. All within the Chris Ringland style, of course... 50,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in September 2020." - Luis Gutierrez (Apr 2022)
93 Points - Wine Spectator:
"A bold, expressive red, loaded with toast and smoke aromas and flavors alongside raspberry tart, black plum reduction, rich earth and ground coffee. Full-bodied and creamy, with layered, sculpted tannins and hints of dried mint and citrus on the finish. Monastrell and Cabernet Sauvignon. Drink now through 2029. 4,200 cases made, 2,100 cases imported." -AN (10/22)
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24 bottles left
Online Average: $48.00 btl
Lowest NorCal: $43.00 btl
Our Prices:
$42.97 btl (1-11)
$39.97 btl (12+)
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2019 Bodegas Juan Gil "Silver Label" Monastrell
Jumilla, Spain
93 Points - Robert Parker's WA:
"The 2019 Juan Gil (silver label) was produced with Monastrell grapes from their own old, non-irrigated vines fermented in stainless steel and matured in French oak barrels for around 12 months. It has 15% alcohol and a pH of 3.67, but somehow the wine does not come through as overripe; they eliminate all the raisins with their new optical sorting machine and that makes very clean wines and has increased the precision. They also reduced the toast of their barrels and that increases the integration of the oak with the fruit. Varietal, juicy, soft and very drinkable." - LG (4/22)
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Revelation #1: We actually got to taste the 2002 vintage of this wine last week. The wine was mature, smooth, and shockingly far from fading/tired.
I asked, "What are other $13 reds that can cellar 20+ years?"
Revelation #2: I put away an open bottle of this current vintage in our tasting bar and forgot all about it. My team found it a week and a half later and tasted it, thinking I had just opened the bottle, and commented how lovely it was.
I wouldn't believe either story myself, but here we are.
Salud!
—James Tran
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Our Prices:
$13.97 btl (1-11)
$12.97 btl (12+)
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2018 Alto Moncayo Veraton Garnacha
Campo de Borja, Spain
93 Points - Vinous:
"Brilliant purple. Intensely perfumed, spice-tinged black and blue fruits, vanilla, candied flowers and cola on the nose, along with a smoky element that builds with air. Broad and fleshy on entry, offering juicy cherry cola, blueberry and mocha flavors sharpened by a jolt of spicy white pepper. Strongly echoes the blue fruit and spice notes on the very long, focused finish, which features lingering floral and mineral flourishes." - Josh Raynolds (Feb 2021)
92 Points - James Suckling:
"A 100% garnacha with aromas of dark cherries, plums, raisins, sweet spices and cigar box. It’s full-bodied with chewy tannins. Rich, ripe and velvety with a flavorful, spicy finish. Drink now or hold." (24 Aug, 2021)
Our Sale:
$31.97 btl (1-5 )
$29.97 btl (6-11)
$26.97 btl (12+ )
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Get in touch!
Text → 650-880-3553
Call → 650-917-8080
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