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100 Point Bordeaux Blend: New Vintage Almaviva- Pre Arrival;
Many of you are familiar with Almaviva, it is the collaboration between Chateau Mouton Rotheschild and Concha Y Toro, The vineyards are just below the snow cap of the Andes Mountains. The vines are from original Bordeaux plantings, pre-phyloxera and never touched by that disease which that never made it over the Andes. You will notice below that the 2017 Almaviva contains 23% Carmanere which was the 6th Bordeaux varietal. Carmanere was subsequently destroyed in Bordeaux by the pheloxera blight. Vintage after vintage these wines are amazing with a level of quality which rivals First Growth Bordeaux. We have been allocated 42 bottles ( 7 six pack cases) at the Pre Arrival pricing. Of $139 per bottle. That should match the low on the net which currently goes up to $170 Pre Arrival. Second time 100 points (2015)!! The Review is below.
P.S. Arrival is scheduled for mid January. If you would like to give the 2017 Almaviva as a gift, we will send the review with a gift card telling the recipients what to expect in a few weeks. R&M
2017 Viña Almaviva "Almaviva" Puente Alto Bordeaux Blend (Pre-Arrival) $139 PER
65% Cabernet sauvignon, 23% Carmanere55 Cabernet Franc 5% Petite Verdot, 2% Merlot
100 points James Suckling
"The aromas of blackberry leaves and iodine are wild and exotic here with mussel shells and earth underneath. Full-bodied, tight and chewy with powerful tannins that show muscle. It's structured and powerful. Dense and very, very deep. "
NEW RELEASE: HALL Napa CABERNET;
The
2016 Hall Cabernet Napa
has been released and as usual we have tapped into BTG pricing.
This offer $41.50
matching the lowest on the net. The norm is $54 and it goes to a high of $69 on the net. The reviews are below.
94 POINTS Jeb Dunnuck
A smoking value, the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley offers classic notes of blackcurrant and blackberry fruits intermixed with more earthy, tapenade, and olive-like aromas and flavors. It too is full-bodied, has remarkable purity, a seamless texture, and a beautiful finish. It tastes like it cost 2-3 times the price.
93 POINTS Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
COMMENTARY: Hall Wines have produced the quintessential Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon for more than a decade. The 2016 vintage is an excellent effort. TASTING NOTES: This wine is classic as it defines the Napa Valley red wine profile. Its aromas and flavors of pomegranate and blackberries should pair its superbly with grilled lamb chops. (Tasted: August 28, 2019, San Francisco, CA)
92 POINTS Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon delivers open-knit notions of Black Forest cake, crème de cassis and black raspberries with hints of tar, smoked meats and menthol plus a hint of tree bark. Full-bodied, the palate has a firm frame of grainy tannins and soft acidity supporting the savory black fruits, finishing earthy.
90 POINTS Wine Enthusiast
Spicy and earthy in plum, black currant and blackberry, this is a soft, supple and rounded wine, in balance despite a hearty ripeness and bold texture of underlying tannic grip. It sources across the appellation to showcase an approachable, robust memorable experience of powerful concentration.
White Burgundy;
2014 Domaine Roux Saint Aubin Premier Cru Les Cortons
275 Cases produced $59
We have now tasted this white Burg twice. The layering is delineated, showing bits of butter and nuts mixed with fresh components of bright peach, lemon drop, tangerine and honey crisp apple. Great structure, great acidity, very focused from its White flower and honeysuckle nose to its long succulent finish. Saint Aubin is on the cusp of Puligny Montrachet and this bottle shows like Premiere Cru Puligny at less than half the price.
MORE BTG CAB PRICING
2014 Burgess Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
$43.00
(matching the low on the net) listings go to $65.00
Burgess Cabs are still traditionally made with focused fruit and complex terroire. Even at regular pricing Burgess is one of the best values in the Cab Market.
Vinous 92 points
The 2014 Burgess Cabernet Sauvignon is deep, powerful and intense. Wild cherry, underbrush, gravel, savory herbs, smoke and earthy notes give the 2014 much of its potent, virile profile. There is plenty to look forward to as the 2014 develops in bottle. This is a lovely wine with classically inspired proportions and plenty of structure.
CHAMPAGNE - Cristal & Thienot;
2009 Roderer Crista
l,
NEW VINTAGE, sold out of 2006
AVERAGE PRICE ON INTERNET IS $257,
our price $179 per
97 points Wine Enthusiast
The latest incarnation of this famous Champagne now comes from Roederer's own vineyards, a good portion of which are run on biodynamic lines. This still-young wine has great depth and richness, a beautiful balance between ripe fruit and crisp texture that make it alive, crisp and bright. As it matures, it will deepen and become even more intense. Drink now if you must, but preferably wait until 2019.
97 points James Suckling
A very rich and full-bodied Cristal that harks back to 2006 or 1989 in style. It's round and rich, which underlies the ripeness of the vintage. Lots of dried-apple and pineapple character with bread dough and flan flavors. The bubbles are so fine you almost don't notice them. Very vinous style.
97 points Decanter
Translusent, shimmering gold indicates a wine of poised ripeness; beautiful scents of orange blossom merge with sense of great chalky terroir. The purity and sublime texture of the mouthfeel owes a lot to non-malolactic winemaking which maintains freshness after the uninterrupted warmth of summer to harvest end. Also it also shows the essential true fruit now and for 20 years to come. Long lingering finish. A great supremely elegant Champagne.
96 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2009 Cristal literally shimmers on the palate, showing great depth and purity in its sumptuous layers of fruit. It is a magnificent wine endowed with superb length and exceptional overall balance. The 2009 Cristal is 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay. The percentage of wine aged in oak is 15%, which is down slightly from previous vintages. Range: 94-96
96 points Wine & Spirits
Cristal 2009 is supple and lovely, the vintage adding richness to the clarity and precision of its fruit, heightening the sense of purity from a wine exclusively made from chalk terroirs. It's a straight line of flavor widened by fruit notes of just-ripe white peach and deeper tones of red currant. What ornate charm this offers may be clarified by the details (60 percent pinot noir, 40 percent chardonnay, from seven grand cru villages, plus Mareuil-sur-Aÿ, where Roederer owns exceptional parcels of pinot noir, a portion of the lots fermented in barrel, none of it allowed to undergo malolactic fermentation). But this is not the kind of symphonic blend that other houses strive to produce. Young Cristal offers resonance rather than complexity, a long, gentle reverberation that lasts. Its future lies in its perfect shape, something time will address with a patina on the surface and in layers below.
95 points Wine Spectator
White peach and acacia blossom aromas accent the flavors of poached apple, gingersnap biscuit, pastry cream and spun honey in this harmonious Champagne. The satinlike mousse caresses the palate, while firm, focusing acidity drives the lasting finish. Drink now through 2030.
N.V. Thienot Brut Rose Champagne, Riems
92 James Suckling, 92 Wine & Spirits, 91 Wine Spectator
$59.00
The new blend of Thienot Brut Rose just arrived. This Champagne is so very fresh and crisp with flavors that pop. The bubbles are tight and flowing. The nose is strawberry and rose petal. The flavor profile consists of crisp strawberry, wild cherry and nectarine, all lingering then finishing with infused lemon and orange peel. The Thienot is so very fresh that it makes a fine aperitif but you can easily take it to the table, This Champagne is perfect to compliment roasted poultry or pork ( smoked would be incredible ) great with game , and we just enjoyed the Thienot with rich beef soup topped off with spicy habanero. That was a slam dunk.
Thienot is a "growers Champagne, Estate produced", 5000 cases.
THIS Champagne is currently $59.000 (The low on the net) . Normal is $69.00 and it is listed in the mid $80's.
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