48 Hour Sale: The Top of the Top of the Top (Xmas 2024)
Pricing available as supply lasts.
SALE CLOSES SUNDAY DECEMBER 15th 2024 at 10pm.
ALL WINES AVAILABLE FOR PICKUP starting Monday December 16th at 5pm.
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Hi everyone –
This is a special offer on truly incredible and legendary wines, perfect for gift giving (including gifts to yourself). These are, in my opinion, some of the best wines currently available to Minnesota consumers.
These wines are not for everyone, but they are for someone. They are not cheap. Some are very expensive. But all are rare (some have only one or two bottles available), all are top level, and all represent something magical in the world of wine. This list is heavy on Burgundy because, well, Burgundy. You’ll also find Champagne, Alsace, Willamette Valley, and California all represented.
Even if you’re not searching for wines of this caliber, it’s still a fun read. Here we go!
The Eyrie Vineyards “South Block” Pinot Noir 2016
Regular price: $299.99
The single best and most historically significant Pinot Noir made outside of Burgundy. Period. End of story.
This wine is not only from the original and first block of Pinot ever planted in Willamette Valley, by David and Diana Lett in 1966, but it’s a chosen particular part of that vineyard that has always made the best wine. Once the vines were a few years old and David Lett was starting to get a feel for them, the quality of this block became obvious and he immediately stopped adding it into his regular wine, instead fermenting it separately, bottling it separately, and holding the bottles back. His son Jason Lett continues the ethos of Eyrie and makes a tiny bit of this wine every vintage. It’s rarely available to the public.
Bouchard Pere & Fils Chevalier-Montrachet Grand Cru 2016
Regular price: $499.99
In the world of wine, Chevalier-Montrachet is regarded by many as the pinnacle of White Burgundy. The particular terroir of this spot was recognized hundreds of years ago by the Benedictine Monks, and it has be cherished and protected ever since. A bottle of Chevalier-Montrachet is a once-in-a-lifetime experience for many, and it showcases the tightrope walk of acids, minerality, ripe fruits, complex herbs, and dynamic precise flavors that are from the wine gods themselves.
Bouchard Pere & Fils Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru 2019
Regular price: $299.99
Corton-Charlemagne, just around the corner and over the hill from Chevalier-Montrachet, brings a whole different personality to this White Burgundy. It’s rounder and richer (don’t you dare say ‘buttery’ … save that slur for Napa Valley). It has more weight and presence. It’s a ballet dancing football player, like Lynn Swan during the heyday of the Steelers. Corton-Charlemagne is a favorite of ours because of the layers of flavor and complexity that emerge over the course of two or three hours of slowly sipping this wine. Once you have this wine, you understand why the Grand Crus of Burgundy are truly something special.
Ridge Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2021
Regular price: $116.99
Compared to what was offered above, this is a bargain! (Isn’t it interesting how that happens?)
The Monte Bello property of Ridge Vineyards, as many of you know, is a holy site for me. It’s one of the most impressive, historic, and stunning sites in North America. The top of the hill, from the oldest vines, produces the legendary Monte Bello (which I consider the best wine made in California, year after year). But on the hill they also produce this wine, the Estate Cabernet Sauvignon.
Make no mistake: this is NOT a ‘second label’ or made with the ‘Monte Bello leftovers.’ No, no, no. The Estate Cabernet Sauvignon is made with intention to bring another personality and style into the mix based on the personality (not quality, which is always top-level) of the fruit coming in from the vineyard. The result is a SHOW STOPPING Cabernet. Age this one for another 5-25 years, or if drinking young (which is totally okay) decant a solid five hours ahead.
Domaine Weinbach Alsace Grand Cru ‘Schlossberg’ Riesling 2020
Regular price: $99.99
This past September we finally got our butts to Alsace (staying in Colmar, highly recommended … just don’t stay right next to the church for it’s one of those old cities that ring the church bells to announce the time 24 hours a day). We already loved the wines of the region, of course, but having boots on the ground shapes things in such important ways. Oh my those wines are incredible.
The best of Alsace are of course the Grand Cru vineyards, and Schlossberg is one of the best known. It’s a south-facing granite outcrop that makes wines that are on one hand ethereal, and the other powerful. It’s this back and forth dance that boggles the mind, and makes this vineyard stand out.
Aromas of tangerine, orange rind, red apples, ginger, and wet stone. Persistent, almost aggressive, flavors that make you know it’s there. Dry.
Of all the wines on this list, this is the most exotic and possibly the most adaptable with a wide range of foods.
Champagne H. Goutorbe Special Club 2012
Regular price: $169.99
The Special Club is indeed special. It’s a collection of a few dozen grower-producers in Champagne that offer their best-of-the-best wines (i.e. the Tete de Cuvee) to the Special Club for blind tasting and vetting. If all the members taste the wine and approve it as truly extraordinary, then it can go into the Special Club bottle and packaging to designate its worthiness of its title.
This system was developed by the small grower-producers as a way to counter the mega money of the big brands. How to compete against Dom Perignon? Here you go. Make something better, something special, and something that has the support of dozens of small grower-producers.
Goutorbe is one of our current favs. 70% Pinot Noir and 30% Chardonnay, all from the village of Ay. 2012 is one of the top Champagne vintages of the last two decades. Vinous: “Goutorbe’s 2012 Brut Special Club is a wonderful, open-knit Champagne to drink now and over the next handful of years. Dried pear, spice, marzipan, hazelnut and chamomile show the gentle touches of age in an understated fashion that is undeniably appealing.”
Domaine Anne Gros Clos-Vougeot Grand Cru 2020
Regular price: $469.99
It’s always controversial to put a Clos-Vougeot on a list like this, for it’s the Grand Cru vineyards that snobby sommeliers love to hate. “It’s too big!” is the common complaint, and it’s undeniable that they have a point. But that implies that Clos Vougeot does not have a personality, which is wrong for personality is dependent on the site within the vineyard, and (I’d argue more importantly regarding this particular Grand Cru) the winemaker.
Anne Gros has been a favorite under-the-radar Burgundy producer of ours for over twenty years. For many years, her wines were not available in Minnesota but recently they have returned.
The vines that this wine come from were planted in 1904. That’s crazy, and represents some of the oldest vines in all of Burgundy. Think about everything those vines have experienced, including the occupation of the Nazis during World War II. Seamless and sensual, with more pronounced red and black fruits than most from this vineyard (credit the site and age of the vines).
This wine is dense and multi-layered, and will benefit from another ten years of aging. It’s a great wine to set aside for a special birthday or anniversary. Drink before 2060 or so. (How’s that for a window of opportunity?)
Domaine William Fevre Chablis Grand Cru ‘Les Clos’ 2021
Regular price: $259.99
There are three top names when it comes to Chablis: Raveneau, Dauvissat, and William Fevre. Of those three, Fevre is the only one that makes the style that most people would associate closely with being “Chablisean,” meaning sharp, lively, acid-driven, low oak, etc. (The other two make outstanding wines, don’t get me wrong, but they can take a wine drinker aback at how “non-Chablis” they can occasionally taste in terms of oak, richness, etc.)
William Fevre also owns more Grand Cru land in Chablis than anyone else. This is very important, for the Grand Crus of Chablis are all on one contiguous hillside facing due south on the river.
When it comes to Grand Cru Chablis, Les Clos is the one you’ll find the most often, for it’s the largest vineyard and is owned by most number of families. It’s also DAMN GOOD and makes what many consider the pinnacle Chardonnay of the Chablis region. The wines of Les Clos are well known for being powerful, detailed, and (traditionally) age-worthy. Don’t hestiate to lay this down for a bit. I’d suggest not touching until at least 2031. Grand Cru Chablis starts to find its footing after a decade or so.
96 points from John Gilman:
Given all of the fireworks in this tasting from the Montée de Tonnerre upwards, I was wondering if the 2021 les Clos could somehow acquit itself impeccably, given how stunning the lineup had been up until this point. It does not disappoint! The aromatic constellation here is complex and precise, offering up scents of green apple, lime, grapefruit, flinty minerality, citrus peel, dried flowers and gentle smokiness in the upper register. On the palate the wine is beautifully complex, well balanced and poised, with a full-bodied format, great depth at the core, brisk acids and laser-like focus on the long and stunning finish.
Domaine William Fevre Chablis Grand Cru ‘Les Preuses’ 2020
Regular price: $219.99
I’ll let John Gilman’s 97 point review do the talking on this one!
The 2020 les Preuses from Domaine Fèvre was one of the finest white wines I tasted from the entire vintage during my trip in November and December. The perfect ripeness of the vintage, coupled to such great acidity are the hallmarks of the best wines of 2020 and these attributes are on full display in this stunning young wine. The nose soars from the glass in a mineral bath of les Preuses Kimmeridgian limestone terroir, carrying notes of apple, pear, fresh lime, straw, oyster shell, white flowers and a topnote of beeswax. On the palate the wine is pure, precise, snappy and very, very complex, with great depth at the core, stunning mineral definition, laser-like focus and stunning length and grip on the simply beautiful young finish. All this great wine needs is time in the cellar to blossom. (Drink between 2031-2080)
Thibault Liger-Belair Grand Cru ‘Richebourg’ 2019
Regular price: $999.99
“Richebourg? She has a Richebourg? Holy Mackerel! I completely underestimated Stephanie.”
– Miles, in the movie Sideways.
https://clip.cafe/sideways-2004/she-a-richebourg/
This is one of the best wines made in the world. Drop the mic.
The Liger-Belair family has owned a parcel of Richebourg since 1855. You can read the details on the history and the ownership of the vineyard here: https://winehog.org/richebourg-history-plots-and-owners-10692/.
So why is Richebourg so legendary, so important, and so expensive?
Richebourg wines are expensive primarily because of their extremely limited production, high quality due to the exceptional terroir of the Richebourg vineyard, and the reputation of the producers, particularly Domaine de la Romanée-Conti (DRC), which owns a significant portion of the land, making them highly sought-after by collectors and wine enthusiasts; essentially, a combination of limited supply and high demand drives the price up significantly.
98 points from Decanter:
Liger-Belair owns 0.5ha, planted in 1936 just above DRC in the lower part of Les Richebourg. Initially somewhat reserved, this wine opened in the glass to reveal lush, plummy fruit and a savoury, smoky element and mineral notes. It is only with time that one realises the depth and strength of the tannins, so richly are they enrobed. An immense finish lingers long after you have finished. Superb. Drinking Window 2029 – 2049.
Vietti Barolo ‘Ravera’ 2017
Regular price: $239.99
In my opinion, three of the best wines made in Barolo today are the single MGA’s (vineyards) from Vietti. And of the three, my favorite is Ravera.
The Cru of Ravera covers two towns: Novello and Barolo, and the vineyard is controlled by 29 winemakers over its 320 acres. (Most vintages you can find about 17 wines labelled Barolo Ravera.) One characteristic of the vineyard is that it retains water better than most, resulting in a particular plot that can withstand the hotter and hotter summers.
It’s a special place that lends itself to the Vietti style of wine, where one foot is in the traditional style, and one in the modern. It makes for a masterpiece of a wine which is happy to age for another 10-50 years. Anything special happen to you in 2017? This is a great wine to tuck away for the future.
96 points from Vinous:
The 2017 Barolo Ravera is a powerhouse. My impression is that the 2017 is going to develop into something truly special. It has all the energy that makes this site so distinctive, but with an extra kick of fruit density and a whole range of exotic aromatics that make for a truly drop dead gorgeous wine. Bright red/purplish fruit, rose petal, chalk and white pepper build into a finish laced with searing intensity. This is such an impressive wine.
Ulysses Cabernet Sauvignon (by Christian Moueix), Napa Valley, 2019
Regular price: $229.99
A brand new wine to the world, and a wine that is getting a TON of buzz in the sommelier community.
Christian Moueix, the owner of Dominus, has always been curious about what southern Oakville’s vineyards could offer. So, when he found out that the Schmidt Ranch was for sale back in 2008, he couldn’t pass it up. He decided to rename it Ulysses. The place sits on an alluvial fan and has pretty similar soil to the drier west part of Dominus’ Napanook vineyard. But the climate is a whole different story. With the San Pablo Bay nearby, the Yountville hills kind of block some of that cooling effect, making summer temps at Ulysses about four degrees Fahrenheit warmer. Right after he bought it, Christian kicked off a big replanting project, drawing on over 30 years of his experience at Dominus.
The results are stunning to say the least. Anyone into Napa Cabernet should grab a bottle of this not only as a great wine but a piece of history. Look at what has happened to Dominus in the past 30 years, stepping up to be truly one of the premier Grand Crus of Napa. Will Ulysses be the next Dominus?
More info at The Wine Cellar Insider
97 points Jeb Dunnuck:
The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon is mostly Cabernet Sauvignon (90%) with the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Incredible aromatics of red and black currants, spring flowers, graphite, camphor, and cedar define the aromatics, and it’s incredibly polished and elegant on the palate, with medium to full body, gorgeous tannins, and a great finish. This is another awesome 2019 that matches ample richness and depth with a terrific sense of finesse. Drink bottles over the coming two decades.
In conclusion / buying advice
As I mentioned earlier, these wines are not for everyone. But they are for someone. If you’re looking to give a special gift to a special someone, I can guarantee you these are some of the best wines you’ll find. They have been stored properly in a temperature controlled warehouse and will arrive for you in pristine condition.
If you have any further questions on them, shoot me an email.
Due to the super limited nature of these wines, this offer and these prices are only available through Sunday, December 15th, 2024.
Thanks, everyone!
Jason Kallsen
Sommelier and founder/owner of Twin Cities Wine Education
Offer and special pricing are available as inventory lasts