January 30, 2010

"Great Scotch!" - Collectible Rarities

"Great Scotch!" - Collectible Rarities
A Must-See List for the Serious Scotch Collector
Bowmore - Caol Ila - Balvenie - Glenrothes - and more

Today, we take an unprecedented look at some seriously *cult* bottles of Scotch.

Ardent followers of Crush's spirits program will remember an offer during the peak of the holiday season - a collection of rare Scotchs from some of the biggest and best-known distilleries in Scotland.

That offer sold out before that snowy Saturday was spent.

| Read More

Posted by Daniel Stenson at 12:03 PM | TrackBack

January 29, 2010

Back-Vintage Chave Hermitage: Impeccable Provenance

J.L. Chave Hermitage Blanc: 1995-2000
Ideal Provenance - Unreal Prices - Surreal Wines

Luxurious, dizzying, quixotic, kaleidoscopic, even mysterious. Chave's great Hermitage Blancs need so much more time than you think, but when they finally reveal themselves...

...whoa.

We've confirmed this once again this week, popping corks on a pristine collection of back-vintage Chave as if it were the Fourth of July, corks from half-bottles, full bottles and magnums flying through the air instead of fireworks.

This email goes out today because if it didn't the parcel would disappear, through our own indulgence. (Seriously.)

Everyone who thinks they understand Rhône whites, think again. And think again seriously, because these are not just any Rhône Blancs; these are the flower-inspired monuments of the appellation, masterpieces from none other than Jean-Louis Chave.

| Read More

Posted by Bob Schagrin at 12:01 PM | TrackBack

January 28, 2010

Roland Velich and the wines of Moric

For the most scholarly, enlightening essay on Moric, written by David Schildknecht for The World of Fine Wine, click here.

Austria's Burgenland is southeast of Vienna, pushing up against the border with Hungary. This is the home of Austria's reds, with Blaufränkisch ("Lemberger" in Germany and the U.S., "Kekfrankos" in Hungary) gaining more and more acclaim. Speaking with Velich it is obvious he has thought long and deep about Blaufränkisch, about Burgenland and about how to make wine.

The foundation of Moric is, as it should be, the vineyards. Velich focuses on parcels in the villages of Neckenmarkt and Lutzmannsberg. These vineyards have very high densities, old clonal selections and very old vines - up to and beyond 100 years. Yields are extremely low, vinifications take place in open-topped fermenters with natural yeasts and are allowed to progress at their own rate.

"Blaufrankisch" is not a word that drips elegantly off the tongue. (Most often, the wines made from the Blaufrankisch grape don't exactly glide across the palate either.) That said, this is arguably the most important red wine varietal in Austria. Its favorite spot in Austria is just south and east of Vienna, in a region known as the Burgenland. Known as Lemberger in Germany, and in the few places in the U.S. that it is grown, Blaufrankisch produces a wine of a dark, midnight blue hue and the wines can have immense depth and power to them with dark fruit, pepper and bramble notes.

 

Posted by Stephen Bitterolf at 11:41 AM | TrackBack

Burgenland or Burgundy? Moric: Austria with Elegance

Burgundy or Burgenland?
2007 Moric Blaufränkisch Elegance of Burgundy - Soul of Austria

"Wines in a style you will not encounter anywhere else in Austria: Blaufränkisch vinified as if it were Grand Cru Burgundy."
- David Schildknecht, Wine Advocate

Heed Schildknecht's words above: This is an offer for the Burgundy lover, for those who appreciate a seductive, balanced expression of fruit, mineral, flower, earth.

This is elegant Blaufränkisch. In most cases, that's a rather jarring phrase; if Blaufränkisch has a reputation at all for the American consumer, it'd likely be reduced to "juicy, rustic and rugged."

Roland Velich and his Moric project, however, are leading something like a revolution in Austria's Burgenland - going back to the fundamentals and in the process finding a pure, authentic expression of Blaufränkisch.

| Read More

Posted by Stephen Bitterolf at 10:38 AM | TrackBack

January 22, 2010

Burgundy 1989-2002: Roumier, Ponsot, Angerville, Lafarge...

Burgundy 1989-2002
Angerville, de Montille, Drouhin, Gouges, Lafarge, Mommesin, Ponsot, Potel, Roumier and more...
Special Pricing on Sweet Spot Burgundy

This is the holy grail and we all know it.

Burgundy, approaching its apogee and well beyond inexpressive, precocious youth.

This is what we like to call the "sweet spot" and it's a fine place to be with great Burgundy.

| Read More

Posted by Ian McFadden at 12:02 PM | TrackBack

January 21, 2010

Lowest Price in the World: Numanthia Termes

Back Up the Truck: 2007 Numanthia Termes
Bask in the Spanish Sun at the
LOWEST PRICE IN THE WORLD
Special Case-Pricing as Low as $18.99!

Straight from the mouth of an unrepentant Burgundy fanatic: THIS IS GOOD!

I'm talking about the 2007 Numanthia Termes, a wine with enough warm, blanketing richness to comfort you all winter long, yet with enough glide to charm even the Burgundy lover.

I have to say, this wine genuinely shocked me.

Numanthia is most famous for their flagship Termanthia bottling, an epic wine with a "200% new oak treatment" that renders it larger than life and darker than night. The Termanthia soars in the $150+ range with the "perfect" 2004 checking in well above the $300 mark.

| Read More

Posted by Bob Schagrin at 12:07 PM | TrackBack

January 20, 2010

Mascarello Barolo Monprivato 1.5L

2005 G. Mascarello Barolo Monprivato 1.5L
A Rich Monprivato Echoing the Powerful 1999
Special Pricing on Rare Magnums!

Today a targeted offering featuring just about the coolest thing for a Monprivato fan: MAGNUMS

Giuseppe Mascarello's Barolo Monprivato is consistently one of our favorite traditional Barolos.

It is without a doubt one of the greatest expressions of Piedmont red; few achieve the Burgundy-like finesse that Mauro Mascarello coaxes from this prime real estate.

We offered regular 750ml bottles of the 2005 Monprivato in early December, writing: "While the 2005 is a powerful Monprivato, a wine that reminds Antonio Galloni of the 1999, it is also one of the greatest 'new release' deals to come around in a long time."

| Read More

Posted by Bob Schagrin at 11:12 AM | TrackBack

January 19, 2010

Ambition in the Saar: Van Volxem 2008

2008 Van Volxem: Ambition in the Saar
Special Pre-Arrival Pricing on the 2008 Collection
See Below for Details on "2008 Van Volxem Primer"

There is no denying that Van Volxem is one of the most important estates in Germany's historic Saar Valley

The fact is, Roman Niewodniczanski, the heir to the Bitburger Beer fortune, has been on a buying spree the last 10 years or so, securing some of the grandest, oldest-vine sites in the Saar.

For example, Roman's parcel in the famed Gottesfuss includes ungrafted, pre-phylloxera vines that are between 100 and 150 years old, though he also owns top parcels in the legendary Scharzhofberger (think Egon Müller), Altenberg and Braunfels, among others.

| Read More

Posted by Stephen Bitterolf at 3:32 PM | TrackBack

January 18, 2010

2001 Chateauneuf Deal: Solitude "Barberini"

Chateauneuf in Top Form
2001 Solitude Chateauneuf-du-Pape "Barberini"
Luscious, Back-Vintage CDP Score
30% Below the Lowest Price in the World

"Over the last ten years, these wines have gone from strength to strength, and are now some of the finest of the appellation." - Robert Parker, Wine Advocate

With the young 2007 Chateauneufs falling deep into sleep, today we offer a luscious 2001 Chateauneuf in its prime, exuding all the sweet-cassis, smoke and flower-riddled perfumes of the sun-bathed Rhône.

Given the arctic temperatures we've been having and the daunting stretch of winter months ahead, we thought that something hedonistic, with a little belly-warming depth might be appropriate.

This is a targeted offering *only* for those of you who have supported our Rhône program. Still, with a mere 10 cases and a price 30% below the lowest price in the world, this will be gone quickly. (48 hours max!)

| Read More

Posted by Ian McFadden at 11:19 AM | TrackBack

January 15, 2010

FX Pichler Kellerberg: "A True Austrian Classic"

"A True Austrian Classic"
2008 F.X. Pichler Riesling Kellerberg Smaragd
"Few vintages are able to showcase the unique terroir of the Wachau with such impressive precision as 2008."
- Stephen Tanzer's IWC

This, we think, is the dry Riesling lover's holy trilogy:
- Trimbach's Clos St. Hune
- Keller's Abtserde GG
- F.X. Pichler's Kellerberg Smaragd

These are the flagship bottlings, the collectible "Grand Crus" that are as noble, as sophisticated and as ageworthy as dry Riesling ever gets.

In Austria, there is certainly no more dazzling, flashy, glossy, sleek (and slick) dry Rieslings than those fashioned at the estate of F.X. Pichler. No single producer in Austria has quite captured the attention of the American public as F.X Pichler has.

Yet for all this celebrity, this style, they also speak honestly of their terroir and THIS is what brings the collectors, wine geeks and scholars back year after year after year.

| Read More

Posted by Joe Salamone at 5:19 PM | TrackBack

January 14, 2010

Cazin Does it Better: Top Vintage Romo Mini-Vertical

Genius Loire Valley Esoterica
Rocking "Romo" from the Master
A Mini-Vertical of Top Vintages: 2007, 2002, 1996
Francois Cazin Cour-Cheverny

The "secret" of a GREAT quality-to-price ratio is simple, really.

You have to take a chance.

Find a grape variety that's not well known, a region that remains out of the spotlight - the more obscure, the better. Add a largely unknown producer and a wine that is, frankly, off the wall and you have yourself a pretty solid recipe for a memorable (unforgettable!?) experience.

Today we capitalize on all of the above, in a big way. This email presents a mini-vertical of a past "Wine of the Year" winner from three exceptional vintages: 1996, 2002 and 2007.

| Read More

Posted by Tom Stephenson at 5:19 PM | TrackBack

January 13, 2010

2007 Coche-Dury: RARE

2007 J.F. Coche-Dury
The Standard by Which All Others are Measured
From the Classic 2007 Vintage

Jean-Françoise Coche sometimes seems more like a cult figure than a real-life winemaker.

He is a legend in Burgundy and arguably one of the greatest producers of Chardonnay on planet earth. Coche-Dury is to Chardonnay what DRC is to Pinot Noir; his wines command a respect, and a price, that dwarf nearly all others.

Burgundy is rarely available in large quantity; rarity, in other words, is the norm. Still, the wines of Coche-Dury are ghosts - talked about all the time, but rarely seen.

| Read More

Posted by Ian McFadden at 2:15 PM | TrackBack

January 12, 2010

2004 Bartolo Mascarello Barolo: Rebel Yell!

Barolo's Rebel Yell!
2004 Bartolo Mascarello Barolo
The Greatest Bartolo Barolo since (gulp!) the 1978?
Lowest Price in the Nation

"This is the best young Barolo I have tasted here in many years. Fans of traditional Barolo won’t want to miss this superb effort." - Antonio Galloni, Wine Advocate

The short story is that in this glorious, powerful vintage, Mascarello has come up with something special.

The 2004 Bartolo Mascarello Barolo is, in turns, explosive, concentrated and provocatively mouth-watering with juicy cherry and raspberry, shrieking flowers and spices dashed with minerals, yet for all this muscle, the wine is also nimble, agile...even soaring.

| Read More

Posted by Joe Salamone at 9:38 AM | TrackBack

January 7, 2010

2008 Sancerre Super-Cuvee: Boulay Comtesse

2008 Boulay Sancerre La Comtesse
A Hedonist's Vatan or Cotat?
The 4th Vintage of this Sancerre Super-Cuvée

Limited - Special Offer for Loire Supporters Only!

Boulay's Sancerre super-cuvée "Comtesse" is a simply outrageous expression of Sauvignon Blanc.

This bottle is a Loire legend in the making - based on the fact that we've sold out of this wine in less than 24 hours for each of the last three vintages we've offered, many of you seem to agree.

| Read More

Posted by Tom Stephenson at 4:27 PM | TrackBack

Gerard Boulay & Chavignol

The Boulay family has held land in Sancerre for about 600 years (give or take a few). Today, of the 9 hectares the estate owns, 8 of them are in the sloped vineyards of Chavignol.

Indeed, if you taste a similarity among the wines of Gérard Boulay, Edmond Vatan, the Cotats and Thomas-Labaille, it is because they're all neighbors - joined together by the superlative Chablis-like Kimmeridgean soil that gives the wines of Chavignol their distinct mineral-inflected clarity and precision.

Gérard Boulay works the soils manually - within vineyards like Monts Damnés there really isn't any other option, and the inclines can be fairly severe. Everything, including the harvesting, is done by hand. The youngest vines here were planted by Mr. Boulay himself back in 1972 - the older vines, many of them used to create the Comtesse bottling, were planted back in 1958.

Posted by Tom Stephenson at 11:51 AM | TrackBack

2007 Raveneau Butteaux Special Focused Offer

2007 Raveneau Chablis 1er Butteaux
Old-Vine Elegance from Raveneau
Special offer *only* for MdT Supporters

Just not enough Raveneau to go around.

With only a few cases en route, there's just not enough of today's "ultra elegant" Raveneau to send to the full list.

So today we say thank you to those of you who supported Raveneau's 2007 Montée de Tonnerre, with a follow-up offer on Raveneau's 1er Cru Butteaux at only $109.95.

| Read More

Posted by Ian McFadden at 11:07 AM | TrackBack

January 6, 2010

1999 Ar Pe Pe Valtellina: Nebbiolo on the Mountain

Nebbiolo on the Mountain Top
1999 Ar Pe Pe Sasella Riserva Vigna Regina
One of Italy's Great Traditional Estates

Barolos and Barbarescos often seem to steal all the limelight, with their power and brawn.

What a shame.

After all, Nebbiolo (like all noble grapes) is incredibly sensitive to where it’s planted and can display an enormous range of flavors.

Today we take Nebbiolo up the mountain, to 1,200-1,800 feet above sea level. Here, in Valtellina, an alpine region bordering Switzerland, Nebbiolo shows its lighter, more nervous, delicate and finessed side (you might even say Burgundian).

For us, this expression of Nebbiolo reaches its greatest heights in the resolutely traditional wines of Ar Pe Pe. Have no doubt, the late Arturo Pelizzatti Perego (who sadly passed away in 2004) deserves to be held among the ranks of Italy’s great traditional winemakers, right there with Bartolo Mascarello, Paolo Bea, Edoardo Valentini and others.

| Read More

Posted by Joe Salamone at 10:07 AM | TrackBack

January 5, 2010

2007 Raveneau: Simply Epic

Grand Cru in Spirit, Size and Severity
2007 Raveneau Chablis 1er Montée de Tonnerre
Do you enjoy aggressively classic, old school Chablis?

The word "epic" comes to mind.

"Profound" works too.

Raveneau's 2007s are ruthless, chiseled, unapologetic, thundering Chablis.

This is simply a superb vintage - the best 2007 Chablis uniquely combine the dramatic cut and precision of the 2004s with the concentration and power of the 2005s.

| Read More

Posted by Ian McFadden at 10:27 AM | TrackBack

January 4, 2010

Pristine Huet Moelleux from Exceptional Vintage

Huët Moelleux 1989 and 1976
Majestic Chenin Blanc
with Impeccable Provenance
A short (and sweet) offer to ring in the New Year

Huët is a name that resides on the shortlist of the great winemaking families of the world. Though Vouvray has been famously under-appreciated in the U.S., Huët’s Vouvrays have always been recognized as some of the greatest, most complex and ageable white wines in the world.

While new vintages are sought after; older vintages are exceedingly rare, and prices continue to rise, especially recently, when the Domaine increased "cellar door" prices on all back vintages considerably.

| Read More

Posted by Ian McFadden at 1:02 PM | TrackBack