Georg Mosbacher Riesling Spatlese Forster Elster 2007, List Price $34.99, Sale $29.99 – Pfalz, Germany – 100% Riesling  – 10% abv – Organic - Plenty of tangy grapefruit, clove and white pepper notes match a bright structure, making this harmonious and tasty. It could use a little time to integrate more fully. Best from 2010 through 2020. 30 cases imported. – Rated 90 Points, Wine Spectator

Buchegger Gruner Veltliner Pfarrweingarten 2007, List Price $29.99, Sale $24.99 – Kremstal, Austria – 100% Gruner Veltliner – 13.5% abv – Sustainable - This is buttery-tasting, like a fruity hot toddy. The supple finish is very ripe, with touches of cream. Drink now through 2012. – Wine Spectator

Domaine L’Oustal Blanc Naick 7, List Price $34.99, Sale $29.99 – Minervois, France – 95% Grenache Gris, 5% Macabeu – 14% abv – Sustainable - The white Naick 7 of 2007 (this qualifying only as vin de table, no vintage date is permitted on the label) displays a richness of fruit, a body, and meaty, chewy, texture that I am sure would have led me to say “red wine,” if served from a jet-black glass. It’s as though a lot of veal bones and lobster shells had been cooked down to a demi-glace essence. Not that this wine is lacking for brightness, lift, or refreshment, though: there is a citrus streak enlivening its stock pot reduction of bones, marrow, and shells, almost as if this were Chablis. The finish won’t quit, and I imagine the wine will show stamina if cellared, too. Since this was just bottled when I tasted, and Fonquerle elected to filter for safety’s sake, it should prove yet more intensely expressive and more organized when you read this. - Rated 92+ Points, The Wine Advocate

Domaine David Clark Morey-Saint-Denis Les Porroux 2007, List Price $59.99, Sale $49.99 – Burgundy, France – 100% Pinot Noir – 13% abv – Organic - ONE BARREL ONLY of this lovely, classic Morey for the WORLD! Harvested at 22 hectoliters per hectare, and the fruit sorted bunch by bunch. Roughly translated, that means that David Clark’s 0.25-acre Morey-Saint-Denis parcel, named “Les Porroux,” produced only 60 gallons of juice! Or one barrel full! Aged for 18 months in a one-year-old Damy barrel. Malolactic fermentation finished on September 2008, then bottled on March 28, 2009, direct from the barrel. All of the vineyards at Domaine David Clark are farmed organically: All vineyard work is done by hand with the exception of ploughing which is done by tractor or by horse. Low yields; ploughing and mowing to control weeds – never any herbicides; extreme rigour in all aspects of hand-tending the vines; hand de-leafing to promote grape ripeness and color; organic certified spray program to control diseases and pests; minimal use of heavy machinery in order to reduce soic compaction and thus respect the native flora dn fauna. “…builds nicely towards the more harmonious finish with smooth raspberry and cherry. Very fine.” - Neal Martin “…cool yet moderately earthy red berry fruit aromas that complement well the rich, full and detailed middle weight plus flavors that possess solid depth and punch on the energetic, tangy and sappy finish that is impeccably well balanced.” - Allen Meadows

Clos Marie L’Olivette Pic Saint Loup 2009, List Price $21.99, Sale $18.69 – Languedoc, France – 40% Grenache, 40% Syrah, 20% Mourvèdre and Cinsault (from vines 15 to 50 years of age) – 13.5% abv – Biodynamic - The vines are worked according to the principles of the biodynamy and the grape harvest is always by hand. The aging is carried out out of barrels. Tasting notes of winemaker Christophe Peyrus: ‘The bottling was carried out three weeks ago. 2009 made rich and concentrated wines. A vintage for aging, even on Olivette, which one will need to wait 3 or 4 years for the wine to reach it’s peak. Olivette is a wine very ‘charged’ right now, but it will gain purity and smoothness with time. It has a discrete nose right now, but an a more generous palate, and decanting will be needed absolutely because I always leave carbonic gas (as a way of protecting the wine). The tannins are thick with beautiful spices and sweetness in the finish.”

Clos de l’Origine Les Quilles Libres Cotes-du-Roussillon 2007, List Price $28.99, Sale $23.99 – Roussillon, France – 80% Grenache, 10% Syrah, 10% Carignan – Organic - 14.5% abv – Barriot’s 2007 Cotes du Roussillon Villages Latour de France Les Quilles Libres is according to his own account overwhelmingly Grenache (including some white grapes), so how it qualified for its appellation is a mystery to me. Wood smoke, tobacco, brown spices, soy, peanuts, and ripe red fruits mingle in the nose. On a sappy, palpably extract-rich palate, lightly cooked red raspberry and strawberry are dusted with cardamom, cinnamon, and white pepper, and underlain with toasted praline and peanuts, and there is no hint of finishing heat or roughness from the wine’s nearly 15% alcohol, but rather a sense of exuberant brightness that brings you back for the next sip. I can imagine this evolving fascinatingly for at least 3-5 years, but only in a proper cellar. - Rated 91 Points, The Wine Advocate

Sale prices last through Saturday, June 4th. No further discounts may apply.

Domaine Remi Jobard Meursault “Les Chevalieres” 2007, List Price $64.99, Sale Price $43.99 – Rated 91 Points, Stephen Tanzer’s International Wine Cellar; 91 Points, The Wine Advocate; 90 Points, Wine Spectator; 90 Points, Burghound
Domaine Remi Jobard Meursault 1er Cru “Genevrieres” 2007, List Price $89.99, Sale Price $59.99 – Rated 93 Points, Stephen Tanzer’s International Wine Cellar;  92 Points, The Wine Advocate; 92 Points, Burghound; 90 Points, Wine Spectator
Domaine Remi Jobard Meursault “En Luraule” 2007, List Price $68.99, Sale Price $42.99 – Rated 90 Points, Stephen Tanzer’s International Wine Cellar; 90 Points, The Wine Advocate
Domaine Remi Jobard Meursault 1er Cru “Poruzot-Dessus” 2007, List Price $74.99, Sale Price $49.99 – Rated 91 Points, Wine Spectator; 91 Points, Burghound; 90 Points, Stephen Tanzer’s International Wine Cellar; 90 Points, The Wine Advocate
Domaine Remi Jobard Meursault “Sous La Velle” 2007, List Price $64.99, Sale Price $41.99

Maison Jobard-Chabloz Puligny-Montrachet “Les Nosroyes” 2007, List Price $54.99, Sale Price $38.99 – Rated 90 Points, The Wine Advocate
Maison Jobard-Chabloz Auxey-Duresses 2007, List Price $38.99, Sale Price $25.99 – Rated 87 Points, Wine Spectator; 87 Points, Burghound
Maison Jobard-Chabloz Meursault “Le Limozin” 2007, List Price $49.99, Sale Price $32.99 – Rated 91 Points, The Wine Advocate; 91 Points, Burghound; 90 Points, Wine Spectator
Maison Jobard-Chabloz Meursault “Clos du Cromin” 2007, List Price $46.99, Sale Price $29.99 – Rated 91 Points, Wine Spectator; Rated 90 Points, Burghound
Maison Jobard-Chabloz Meursault 1er Cru “Les Charmes” 2006, List Price $91.99, Sale Price $59.99 – Rated 89-92 points, Burghound
Maison Jobard-Chabloz Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru “Morgeot” 2007, List Price $69.99, Sale Price $46.99 – Rated 91 Points, Burghound
Maison Jobard-Chabloz Grand Cru Corton-Charlemagne 2007, List Price $129.99, Sale Price $79.99 – Rated 92 Points, The Wine Advocate; Rated 92 Points, Burghound

Tement Sauvignon Blanc Grassnitzberg 2007, List Price $39.99, Sale Price $25.99 – Rated 90 Points, Stephen Tanzer’s International Wine Cellar
Tement Sauvignon Blanc Zieregg 2005, List Price $49.99, Sale Price $32.99 – Rated 90 Points, Stephen Tanzer’s International Wine Cellar

Henri et Philippe Gallet Cote-Rotie 2006, List Price $59.99, Sale Price $39.99 – Rated 92 Points, Wine Spectator

Domaine Gauby Vieilles Vignes VdP des Cotes Catalanes Blanc 2005, List Price $44.99, Sale Price $29.99 – Rated 92 Points, The Wine Advocate

Domaine La Bastide Blanche Bandol Blanc 2007, List Price $26.99, Sale Price $16.99

Domaine Gardies La Torre Cotes du Roussillon Villages 2006, List Price $49.99, Sale Price $32.99 – Rated 93 Points, Wine Spectator; 90 Points, The Wine Advocate

Schiavenza Barolo Prapo 2001, List Price $54.99, Sale Price $37.99
Schiavenza Barolo Bricco Cerretta 2001, List Price $59.99, Sale Price $49.99
Schiavenza Barolo Riserva 1999, List Price $79.99, Sale Price $49.99 – Rated 92 Points, The Wine Advocate
Schiavenza Barolo Bricco Cerretta 2004, List Price $58.99, Sale Price $34.99 – Rated 92 Points, The Wine Advocate
Schiavenza Barolo DOC 2004, List Price $63.99, Sale Price $54.99
Schiavenza Barbera d’Alba 2004, List Price $24.99, Sale Price $15.99

In addition, we will pour a selection of wines that will be included in the Winter Clearance Sale. The Lineup:

Domaine du Vissoux Beaujolais Blanc Cepage Chardonnay, List Price $19.99, Sale Price $12.99 – Beaujolais, France – 100% Chardonnay – 12.5% abv – Organic - High-toned, ester-rich citrus and distilled pit fruit aromas; piquant nuttiness; and a soft, oily texture characterize Chermette’s 2008 Beaujolais Blanc. An overly lactic note jars with the juiciness of citrus in the finish, but there is a satisfying underlying chalkiness as well as excellent sheer length.

Clos de L’Origine Vin de Pays des Côtes Catalanes Les Quilles Libres Blanc 2007, List Price $23.99, Sale Price $15.99 – Roussillon, France – 80% Grenache Gris, 10% Grenache Blanc, 10% Macabeo – 13% abv – Organic - An overlay of barrel-engendered lanolin and coconut in the nose segues into toasted nuts and grain and musky, narcissus-like scents. Firm and refreshing on the palate, it displays toasted nut, coconut, lanolin, lemon zest and brine, finishing long on piquant nuttiness, and invigorating zest.

Domaine Gardies Cotes du Roussillon Les Glaciaires 2007, List Price $19.99, Sale Price $13.99 – Roussillon, France – 40% Grenache Blanc, 40% Roussanne, 20% Macabeo – 13.5% abv – Organic - This rich, exotic white shows ripe tropical fruit flavors of mango and pineapple, with notes of baked peach. The finish is spicy, with plenty of firm acidity and a juicy freshness. Roussanne, Grenache Blanc and Macabeo. Drink now through 2012. 50 cases imported.

Domaine Piron-Lameloise Chenas Quartz 2008, List Price $22.99, Sale Price $15.99 – Beaujolais, France – 100% Gamay – 12.5% abv – Sustainable - Based on a small parcel that the estate holds dear, hail reduced its crop to the point where no assembly will be needed – there is but one small tank (although a portion of its contents briefly sojourned in older barriques). Sour cherry; musky, pungent floral perfume; and salinity inform this bright, lithe wine, which should merit following from at least 4-5 years.

Domaine Piron-Lameloise Moulin A Vent Vieilles Vignes 2008, List Price $21.99, Sale Price $14.99 – Beaujolais, France – 100% Gamay – 12.5% abv – Sustainable - There’s a suppleness to this spiced red, mixing lightly chewy tannins and understated acidity with the dark blackberry, damson plum, dried cranberry, sandalwood and cedar notes. Drink now through 2012. 50 cases imported.

Clos de L’Origine Cotes du Roussillon Villages Latour de France Les Quilles Libres Rouge 2007, List Price $28.99, Sale Price $19.99 – Roussillon, France – 80% Grenache Noir, 10% Syrah, 10% Carignan – 14.5% abv – Organic - Barriot’s 2007 Cotes du Roussillon Villages Latour de France Les Quilles Libres is according to his own account overwhelmingly Grenache (including some white grapes), so how it qualified for its appellation is a mystery to me. Wood smoke, tobacco, brown spices, soy, peanuts, and ripe red fruits mingle in the nose. On a sappy, palpably extract-rich palate, lightly cooked red raspberry and strawberry are dusted with cardamom, cinnamon, and white pepper, and underlain with toasted praline and peanuts, and there is no hint of finishing heat or roughness from the wine’s nearly 15% alcohol, but rather a sense of exuberant brightness that brings you back for the next sip. I can imagine this evolving fascinatingly for at least 3-5 years, but only in a proper cellar. – Rated 91 points, The Wine Advocate

Please join us this Saturday, November 20th, from 12PM to 4PM for a tasting of staff picks and new arrivals (below), and the outstanding Pierre Chermette Beaujolais Primeur 2010! The Lineup:

Domaine de l’Aigle a Deux Tetes, En Griffez Vieilles Vignes Chardonnay (Cotes du Jura) 2007, List Price $23.99, Sale Price $19.99 – The name of this wine is a mouthful (it translates to Eagle with Two Heads), and the wine itself is too! From old, high-density plantings of Chardonnay, this wine is reminiscent of great Chablis. 

Domaine Gauby Vieilles Vignes Blanc (Vin de pays des Cotes Catalanes) 2005, List Price $44.99, Sale Price $37.99 – “A blend of Macabeo, Grenache Blanc, Chardonnay, Grenache Gris and Carignan Blanc. Pale lemon yellow colour. Toasted almonds, creamy oatmeal, warm peaches, golden delicious apple and white pepper on the nose. Great backbone of crisp acidity and a nice silky texture. Tons of minerals. Medium to full body and a very long finish. Drink now to 2015.” Rated 92 Points, The Wine Advocate

Domaine Raymond Usseglio Chateauneuf du Pape Blanc 2007, List Price $44.99, Sale Price $37.99 – “Crisp, fresh, and medium-bodied with notes of flowers and white currants.” Rated 88 Points, The Wine Advocate

Domaine Henri Gallet Cote-Rotie 2006, List Price $59.99, Sale Price $49.99 – “Shows a pungent macerated olive aroma, before giving way to a core of coffee, sweet tapenade, roasted plum, smoked bacon and mesquite. The long, dark finish is filled with fig and iron. An old-school style. Best from 2009 through 2018. 60 cases imported.” Rated 92 Points, Wine Spectator

Domaine Jean-Michel Gerin Cote-Rotie Champin le Seigneur 2006, List Price $59.99, Sale Price $49.99 – “Vibrant and racy, with good drive to the red licorice, red currant and damson plum notes, backed by hints of fruitcake, roasted vanilla and iron. The long, silky finish is finely tuned. Drink now through 2016.” Rated 91 Points, Wine Spectator

And don’t forget our special pricing: 15% off our entire selection of Alsatian and German wines lasts through Saturday, November 24th, 2010, In-Store Only. (Closed Thanksgiving Day)

And on Saturday, June 12, from 1-4 pm, please join our importer, Peter Weygandt, in the shop to taste some of the perfect hot weather wines. All of these wines will be discounted 15% off their regular retail price for a single bottle and 20% off a mixed or matched case. In addition to the sale on the bottles that we are pouring tastes of, we are extending the special pricing to any of the wines of the producers that we are featuring. The entire portfolios of Bonnet-Huteau, Marof, Birgit Eichinger, Clos de l’Origine and Pascal et Nicolas Reverdy will be on sale. So stop by and taste some great summer sippers with Peter Weygandt! The Lineup:

Bonnet-Huteau Muscadet de Sevre et Maine Sur Lie La Levaudiere 2009, Regular Price $12.99, Sale Price $11.04 – Loire, France – 100% Muscadet – 12% abv – Biodynamic - Light, bright straw. Dusty minerals, quince and lemon zest on the nose, with a hint of white flowers adding complexity. Dry, sharply focused citrus and mineral flavors show a weightier aspect in the mid-palate and pick up a hint of musky herbs with air. Finishes clean and brisk. – Stephen Tanzer, International Wine Cellar

Marof Renski Rizling, Regular Price $18.99, Sale Price $16.14 – Mackovci, Slovenia – 100% Riesling – 12% abv – Sustainable - Marof’s 2007 Renski Riesling is simply one of the ten or dozen finest Riesling wines I can recall tasting from outside of the greater Rhine basin or Austria. A gorgeous aromatic display of smoke-tinged apricot, Meyer lemon, apple blossom, and rowan leads to a silken-textured, infectiously juicy palate that makes a virtue of its relative looseness by conveying an airy elegance. Apricot kernel, lime zest, and an amazingly savory underlying sense of meat broth add complexity, and the interchange of flavors with which this wine finishes is positively vibratory. I suspect it will be best relished over the next 12-18 months, but there’s really no way of knowing absent any track record. – Rated 91 points, David Schildknecht, The Wine Advocate

Birgit Eichinger Grüner Veltliner Qualitätswein Trocken Kamptal Wechselberg 2008, Regular Price $22.99, Sale Price $19.54 – Kamptal, Austria – 100% Gruner Veltliner – 12.5% abv – Organic - Powerful, with concentrated grapefruit, Asian pear and gooseberry flavors that are supported by plenty of crisp acidity. Very vibrant and rich on the buttercream- and spice-filled finish. Drink now through 2015. 50 cases imported. – Rated 90 points, Kim Marcus, Wine Spectator

Clos de l’Origine Les Quilles Libres Vin de Pays des Cotes Catalanes Blanc 2007, Regular Price $23.99, Sale Price $20.39 – Roussillon, France – 80% Grenache Gris, 20% Grenache Blanc – 13% abv – Organic - The l’Origine 2007 Les Quilles Libres white is from Grenache Gris in both schist and chalk-clay terroirs of Maury (plus whatever bit of Grenache blanc may have been unavoidably harvested along with it), and was fermented for two months and aged in used barriques. An overlay of barrel-engendered lanolin and coconut in the nose segues into toasted nuts and grain and musky, narcissus-like scents. Firm and refreshing on the palate, it displays toasted nut, coconut, lanolin, lemon zest and brine, finishing long on piquant nuttiness, invigorating zest, but without the clarity or depth of the l’Original cuvee, and with an aura of oxidative evolution that some tasters may find slightly off-putting. This will demand careful pairing and I would advise exploring the options within the coming year. Inexperienced as I am with this estate I could easily end up being fooled by this wine’s potential. But given its low sulfur, it definitely requires vigilant, cool care. – Rated 88 points, David Schildknecht, The Wine Advocate

Pascal et Nicolas Reverdy Sancerre Terre de Maimbray Rose 2009, Regular Price $24.99, Sale Price $21.24 – Burgundy, France – 100% Pinot Noir – 13% abv – Organic - Medium red color. Mineral-driven aromas of redcurrant, strawberry and rose, with notes of orange peel and herbs adding complexity. Dry, focused and pure, with tangy red fruit flavors and good mineral bite. Impressive for its elegance and understatement; the finish is brisk and focused but just a touch dry. – Stephen Tanzer, International Wine Cellar

Claude and Isabel Fonquerle began farming Minervois La Liviniere in 2002, in partnership with oenologist Philippe Cambie of Chateauneuf du Pape. (They also have a sliver of acreage near one of their two facilities, in the St. Chinian appellation.) Nearly all of their vines are old and head pruned. Fruit is rigorously selected at picking, chilled overnight, and then sorted twice more by bunch and berry before crushing, and fermentative skin contact can run for one or two months! “While Chateauneuf remains the source of my orientation,” says Claude, “Burgundy is my inspiration. The purity of fruit and the minerality in those wines is something magical. Think of Henri Jayer!” I’ve heard that Burgundy line the world over, and I’m not sure to what extent I’d call these wines “Burgundian.” But purity of fruit and elements one can only describe as “mineral,” they surely display in abundance. It would be less misleading – and no exaggeration – to say that this team has already redefined the potential of Minervois, and bottled what are almost certainly the finest and most exciting wines ever grown in that appellation, not to mention their representing extraordinary values. This is not the same as saying “of that appellation,” incidentally, because not all L’Oustal Blanc wines follow the blends permitted or the protocol prescribed for Minervois. The Fonquerle’s mutual inspiration and admiration with horn player Jacques Adnet of the Paris Opera has resulted in the re-christening of their upper-level cuvees with names inspired by music. – David Schildknecht, The Wine Advocate

On Friday, March12, between 4 and 7 pm, and Saturday, March 13, between noon and 4 pm, we will open four very special bottles from Minervois, a small appellation bordering Carcassonne to the west, within the Languedoc region of France. Domaine L’Oustal Blanc consistently crafts 90+ point wines according to all of the top reviewers and we offer to you a sampling of their outstanding wines. As a young man, Claude Fonquerle worked on wines in Chateauneuf-du-Pape and the importance of the varietals from that legendary appellation remain the same in Minervois. In this equation, the combination of great terroir and a great winemaker equals great and unique wines. The Lineup:

Domaine L’Oustal Blanc Naick 6 Blanc 2006, SALE $29.74/btl, Regularly $34.99 – Minervois, France – 95% Grenache Gris, 5% Macabeo – 14% abv – This is pungently floral and zesty in the nose, like a mingling of oranges with some mysterious orchid. Peach kernel, toasted hickory, and wet stone add a faintly bitter and austere side to the palate, and a saline savor, fresh peach, chalk dust, and citrus make for a piquant, almost endlessly lip-smacking and thought-provoking finish no less remarkable, but far more refined and classically white wine-like than that of the 2007. These L’Oustal whites simply have to be tasted to be believed, and I suspect this will be worth following for at least half a dozen years. Along with Roland Velich’s (Moric) ancient vines Gruner Veltliner – and perhaps not coincidently given their striking similarities in terroir and method – Naick white counts as my greatest white wine revelation of the past couple of years. – WA 94 points

Domaine L’Oustal Blanc Minervois Giocoso 2006, SALE $25.49/btl, Regularly $29.99 – Minervois, France – 65% Grenache, 20% Syrah, 15% Carignan – 15% abv – The 2007 Minervois Giocoso – which I tasted assembled from tank – is 65% Grenache (raised in tank), with a balance of Syrah and Carignan (raised in barrique, half new), and incorporates fruit from outside of the La Liviniere sub-appellation. Black raspberry, blackberry, carob, gingerbread, and nutmeg in the nose set the theme for a richly ripe yet berry-tart palate of seductive spiciness and underlain by what it is hard not to imagine as something analogous to the schistic stone (rare for Minervois) and chalk on which these grapes grew. This shows a rare purity, lift, refinement, and vivacity you will seek virtually in vain anywhere in this appellation, and the finish is invigorating to the point of exhilaration. I expect it will reward at least 6-8 years of cellaring. – WA (92-93) points

Domaine L’Oustal Blanc Minervois La Liviniere Maestoso 2005, SALE $39.09/btl, Regularly $45.99 – Minervois, France – 34% Grenache, 33% Syrah, 33% Carignan – 14% abv – Very lush and spicy, with gobs of kirsch, dark plum and dark cherry flavors that are accented by concentrated chocolate mousse notes. The long finish features lots of creamy notes and plenty of silky tannins. Drink now through 2014. – WS 93 points

Domaine L’Oustal Blanc Minervois La Liviniere Prima Donna 2006, SALE $42.49/btl, Regularly $49.99 – Minervois, France – 50% Grenache, 40% Syrah, 10% Carignan – 15% abv – By now, predictably this is more restrained than its 2007 counterpart. But there are stony, humus-like, and meaty dimensions here worth pondering, along with rich black raspberry and cherry fruit that will pamper your palate. Certainly the remarkable polish and refinement of tannins that Fonquerle and Cambie have figured out how to achieve are every bit as evident as in the 2007, and, given the character of the ripening season, even more remarkable. – WA 92 points