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Donnhoff Oberhauser Brucke Riesling Eiswein 2011
New low price! Regular Vin Chicago retail - $149.99!
Winemaker's Notes
92
Wine Advocate
(2/2013) "'You with your (expletive) Eiswein!' Gabi told me when we left these grapes hanging," relates Donnhoff, and in fact his 2011 Oberhauser Brucke Riesling Eiswein was another of those that threatened to disrupt the Christmas holidays, and when that didn't happen threatened yet worse. Helmut and Gabi Donnhoff left for Singapore and Cornelius for the U.S. "My daughter Christina was at home," Donnhoff continues, "academically astute, loves wine, but has no idea about viticulture. On January 17, the telephone rings. 'Mama, it's going to get cold tonight. And not just a little: minus 10 (14o F.). What should I do?!' So we set-up a three-way Skype connection, helped organized everything with the pickers, monitored the situation hour-by-hour, and walked Christina through the entire cellar process." I wish I could after all that say we have here 250 liters of truly great Donnhoff Eiswein, but the 2011 vintage itself is surely responsible for any weaknesses, not the unorthodox process by which picking and pressing were managed, let alone Christina, thanks to whom the world is enriched by an amazing if slightly awkward young wine. Musk and leather; prickly radish and lemon rind; caramel apple and honey; passion fruit and mango inform an intense aromatic as well as ultra-concentrated palate performance. Unlike with so many other 2011s rendered from frozen grapes in early 2012, one can't complain here about a lack of Eiswein-like acidity - but it takes-on a somewhat detached, slightly metallic and strident edge. Perhaps this extreme wine's caramelized and animal aspects will reconcile themselves in time with its sharp citricity and radish-like sizzle, but the ways of Eiswein in the bottle are capricious."
(2/2013) "'You with your (expletive) Eiswein!' Gabi told me when we left these grapes hanging," relates Donnhoff, and in fact his 2011 Oberhauser Brucke Riesling Eiswein was another of those that threatened to disrupt the Christmas holidays, and when that didn't happen threatened yet worse. Helmut and Gabi Donnhoff left for Singapore and Cornelius for the U.S. "My daughter Christina was at home," Donnhoff continues, "academically astute, loves wine, but has no idea about viticulture. On January 17, the telephone rings. 'Mama, it's going to get cold tonight. And not just a little: minus 10 (14o F.). What should I do?!' So we set-up a three-way Skype connection, helped organized everything with the pickers, monitored the situation hour-by-hour, and walked Christina through the entire cellar process." I wish I could after all that say we have here 250 liters of truly great Donnhoff Eiswein, but the 2011 vintage itself is surely responsible for any weaknesses, not the unorthodox process by which picking and pressing were managed, let alone Christina, thanks to whom the world is enriched by an amazing if slightly awkward young wine. Musk and leather; prickly radish and lemon rind; caramel apple and honey; passion fruit and mango inform an intense aromatic as well as ultra-concentrated palate performance. Unlike with so many other 2011s rendered from frozen grapes in early 2012, one can't complain here about a lack of Eiswein-like acidity - but it takes-on a somewhat detached, slightly metallic and strident edge. Perhaps this extreme wine's caramelized and animal aspects will reconcile themselves in time with its sharp citricity and radish-like sizzle, but the ways of Eiswein in the bottle are capricious."
$
9999
Discount:
375 ML
L'Aventure "Cote a Cote" Paso Robles Red Blend 2016
98
Jeb Dunnuck
(11/29/2018) "The 2016 Cote a Cote is blockbuster and one of the wines of the vintage. A blend of 55% Grenache, 25% Mourvedre, and the rest Syrah, brought up in a mix of 30% new French oak, 28% once used barrels, and the rest in amphora and concrete tanks, it offers a heavenly perfume of blueberries, blackberries, crushed violets, wild strawberries, ground pepper, and spring flowers. About as pure and seamless as it gets, this beauty hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a multi-dimensional texture, no hard edges, and a huge finish. I finished my note on this wine with "Killer stuff!" You can drink this today or cellar it for 10-15 years."
(11/29/2018) "The 2016 Cote a Cote is blockbuster and one of the wines of the vintage. A blend of 55% Grenache, 25% Mourvedre, and the rest Syrah, brought up in a mix of 30% new French oak, 28% once used barrels, and the rest in amphora and concrete tanks, it offers a heavenly perfume of blueberries, blackberries, crushed violets, wild strawberries, ground pepper, and spring flowers. About as pure and seamless as it gets, this beauty hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a multi-dimensional texture, no hard edges, and a huge finish. I finished my note on this wine with "Killer stuff!" You can drink this today or cellar it for 10-15 years."
$
9799
Discount:
750 ML
Kosta Browne Russian River Valley Pinot Noir 2016
92
Wine Spectator
93
James Suckling
(5/23/2018) "Some dried fruit and dried flowers on the nose with hints of spices and strawberries. Full body and round, soft tannins. Yet, it shows brightness and vivid undertones, giving it vigor. Drink now."
(5/23/2018) "Some dried fruit and dried flowers on the nose with hints of spices and strawberries. Full body and round, soft tannins. Yet, it shows brightness and vivid undertones, giving it vigor. Drink now."
$
9599
Discount:
750 ML
Kosta Browne Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir 2016
94
James Suckling
94
Jeb Dunnuck
(6/5/2018) "A step up over the Russian River blend, the 2016 Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast offers more red fruits, raspberries, flowers, and rose petal notes, with a pinewood/forest floor character developing with time in the glass. This medium-bodied, silky, elegant Pinot Noir has a terrific sense of minerality, integrated acidity, and a complex, nuanced style that's going to evolve nicely for 7-8 years."
(6/5/2018) "A step up over the Russian River blend, the 2016 Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast offers more red fruits, raspberries, flowers, and rose petal notes, with a pinewood/forest floor character developing with time in the glass. This medium-bodied, silky, elegant Pinot Noir has a terrific sense of minerality, integrated acidity, and a complex, nuanced style that's going to evolve nicely for 7-8 years."
$
9599
Discount:
750 ML
Kosta Browne Russian River Valley Pinot Noir 2015
92
Wine Spectator
94
James Suckling
95
Jeb Dunnuck
(10/31/2017) "There are 5500 cases of the 2015 Pinot Noir Russian River Valley and it's a deeply colored, ripe, sexy, beast of an appellation wine that's as good, or better, then several of the single vineyards. Black raspberries, cassis, roasted herbs, violets, and loads of toasted spice give way to a full-bodied, beautifully textured 2015 that has sweet tannin and a great finish. It's already drinking beautifully but should keep nicely on its balance and purity."
(10/31/2017) "There are 5500 cases of the 2015 Pinot Noir Russian River Valley and it's a deeply colored, ripe, sexy, beast of an appellation wine that's as good, or better, then several of the single vineyards. Black raspberries, cassis, roasted herbs, violets, and loads of toasted spice give way to a full-bodied, beautifully textured 2015 that has sweet tannin and a great finish. It's already drinking beautifully but should keep nicely on its balance and purity."
$
9599
Discount:
750 ML
Morlet Family Vineyards "Ma Princesse" Russian River Valley Chardonnay 2015
97
Wine Advocate
(10/31/2017) "The 2015 Chardonnay Ma Princesse is opulent and sexy, revealing alluring honeyed white peach, apple pie and guava notes with touches of allspice, brioche, praline and crushed stones. Full-bodied, with a gorgeous creaminess to the texture, it fills the mouth with tropical and savory flavors with seamless freshness, finishing with lingering savory nuances. 425 cases made. Drink Date 2017 - 2027."
(10/31/2017) "The 2015 Chardonnay Ma Princesse is opulent and sexy, revealing alluring honeyed white peach, apple pie and guava notes with touches of allspice, brioche, praline and crushed stones. Full-bodied, with a gorgeous creaminess to the texture, it fills the mouth with tropical and savory flavors with seamless freshness, finishing with lingering savory nuances. 425 cases made. Drink Date 2017 - 2027."
$
9499
Discount:
750 ML
Caprili "AdAlberto" Brunello di Montalcino Riserva 2012
94
Wine Enthusiast
95
Wine Spectator
95+
Vinous, Ian D'Agata
(4/2018) "Good full ruby-red. Smoky black cherry, violet and herbs on the nose, along with strong licorice and tobacco notes. Dense, plush and concentrated, but showing excellent cut and vinosity to the savory dark fruit, herb and tobacco flavors. Not especially blessed with easygoing sweetness of fruit, this fine-grained wine communicates a strong impression of extract and serious but polished tannins for real aging potential. This Riserva could not be any more different from owner Giacomo Bartolommei's also beautiful 2013 Brunello (for comparison's sake, the 2012 Riserva is both deeper and broader, but less juicy and fruity), and both wines will have hordes of fans. Drinking Window: 2024 - 2035."
(4/2018) "Good full ruby-red. Smoky black cherry, violet and herbs on the nose, along with strong licorice and tobacco notes. Dense, plush and concentrated, but showing excellent cut and vinosity to the savory dark fruit, herb and tobacco flavors. Not especially blessed with easygoing sweetness of fruit, this fine-grained wine communicates a strong impression of extract and serious but polished tannins for real aging potential. This Riserva could not be any more different from owner Giacomo Bartolommei's also beautiful 2013 Brunello (for comparison's sake, the 2012 Riserva is both deeper and broader, but less juicy and fruity), and both wines will have hordes of fans. Drinking Window: 2024 - 2035."
$
9499
Discount:
750 ML
Egly Ouriet "V.P." Grand Cru Champagne NV 2
95
Vinous, Antonio Galloni
(8/2016) "One of the many highlights in this range, the NV Extra Brut Grand Cru V.P. (Vieillissement Prolongé) bristles with energy from start to finish. Two important vintages (2008 and 2006) come together in this release. Lemon oil, chamomile, pear, hazelnut, acacia and wild flowers open up in the glass, but it is the wine's interplay of power and freshness that is totally beguiling. There is so much to like. The current release is 70% Pinot Noir and 30% Chardonnay, 60% 2008 and 40% 2006. Disgorged November, 2015. Dosage is 2 grams per liter."
(8/2016) "One of the many highlights in this range, the NV Extra Brut Grand Cru V.P. (Vieillissement Prolongé) bristles with energy from start to finish. Two important vintages (2008 and 2006) come together in this release. Lemon oil, chamomile, pear, hazelnut, acacia and wild flowers open up in the glass, but it is the wine's interplay of power and freshness that is totally beguiling. There is so much to like. The current release is 70% Pinot Noir and 30% Chardonnay, 60% 2008 and 40% 2006. Disgorged November, 2015. Dosage is 2 grams per liter."
$
9499
Discount:
750 ML
Concha y Toro "Don Melchor" Puente Alto Cabernet Sauvignon 2014
96
Wine Spectator
98
James Suckling
94
Wine Advocate
(4/28/2017) "The current vintage is the 2014 Don Melchor, one of the icons of Maipo. The wine has been produced since 1987 from the best lots from their 127 hectares of vineyards in the Puente Alto appellation on alluvial terraces of the Maipo River at 650 meters altitude. In 2014 the bottled wine comes from 20 lots of free-run wine and 35 lots of press wine and contains some 8% Cabernet Franc. It matured in French oak barrels, 65% of them new, for some 15 months. The oak is perfectly integrated, and seeing how the wines from this terroir age, I wouldn't worry at all. This was a low yielding year, a balanced vintage not a lot warmer than 2013, which has resulted in a classical Don Melchor combining power with elegance, with those refined tannins and superb balance. There is a mixture of red and black fruit and even some fresh orange peel notes. Seeing how the older vintages age in bottle, it would be a shame to drink this now; and even if it's drinkable, I prefer them some ten years after the vintage. This is produced from virtually the same vineyards as Almaviva, yet the wines are so different."
(4/28/2017) "The current vintage is the 2014 Don Melchor, one of the icons of Maipo. The wine has been produced since 1987 from the best lots from their 127 hectares of vineyards in the Puente Alto appellation on alluvial terraces of the Maipo River at 650 meters altitude. In 2014 the bottled wine comes from 20 lots of free-run wine and 35 lots of press wine and contains some 8% Cabernet Franc. It matured in French oak barrels, 65% of them new, for some 15 months. The oak is perfectly integrated, and seeing how the wines from this terroir age, I wouldn't worry at all. This was a low yielding year, a balanced vintage not a lot warmer than 2013, which has resulted in a classical Don Melchor combining power with elegance, with those refined tannins and superb balance. There is a mixture of red and black fruit and even some fresh orange peel notes. Seeing how the older vintages age in bottle, it would be a shame to drink this now; and even if it's drinkable, I prefer them some ten years after the vintage. This is produced from virtually the same vineyards as Almaviva, yet the wines are so different."
$
9479
Discount:
750 ML
Paolo Scavino Barolo 2014
#88 - Wine Spectator's Top 100 Wines of 2018!
93
James Suckling
93
Wine Enthusiast
93
Wine Spectator
(12/31/2018) "This starts out with plenty of cherry, plum and orange peel flavors, offset by iron, eucalyptus and tobacco accents. The finish is rustic, with the tannins flexing their muscles, yet this comes together in the end. A wine for the long haul. Best from 2023 through 2040. 2,500 cases made."
(12/31/2018) "This starts out with plenty of cherry, plum and orange peel flavors, offset by iron, eucalyptus and tobacco accents. The finish is rustic, with the tannins flexing their muscles, yet this comes together in the end. A wine for the long haul. Best from 2023 through 2040. 2,500 cases made."
$
9399
Discount:
1.5 LT
