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Crystal Head Has Arrived (12/23)

This "Pure Spirit", vodka triple filtered through polished crystals known as Herkimer diamonds, free of additives, is exquisite any time of the year but perhaps ideal for October... Brought to us by Dan Aykroyd, known for his fascination with the invisible world, Crystal Head Vodka ties in with the story of the 13 Crystal Heads that have been unearthed at various times on our planet... from the Yucatan to Tibet. The Heads are believed to emit positive energy, good will and prosperity. Crystal Head Vodka is perfect as a lone shot, chilled or served in signature cocktails.

$44.98 750ml [167173] 

Save $100 On Taittinger's Finest (12/23)

Given its exotic, almost decadent, style it is understandable that “Comtes de Champagne” has always bee one of our top selling tete de cuvees.  This 1998 is one of Taittinger's best ever as the Wine Spectator notes below attest.  The big downside to this fabulous Champagne is its high cost.  In fact the current wholesale price for this flagship Champagne is just shy of two hundred dollars a bottle.   The good news its that with a little guile and foresight we were able to make a special purchase which enables us sell this jewel way below its current $270.00 suggested retail price.  Please note that this Special Pricing is good only for stock on hand.

Wine Spectator 95 Points - In the November, 30^th Edition of The Wine Spectator, Editor, Bruce Sanderson, raves:  “Impressive and seamless from the get go, featuring lemon, apricot, smoke and spice aromas and flavors that build to the long conclusion. This is creamy, yet firm and fresh, with all its elements integrated for an alluring profile overall. There's wonderful finesse and length. Drink now through 2028.  95 Points.”  “Comte de Champagne”, which was first produced in 1952, is a masterful blend of Chardonnay wines from the villages of Avize, Chouilly, Cramant, Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, Oger, and Pierry.  The base wines always undergo malolactic fermentation and a small percentage of this wine is matured for three months in new and nearly new oak barrels.  Though one most precocious and accessible tete de cuvees, we have found that this top-of-the-line Taittinger gains additional complexity for at least a decade aging on the cork.  Truly a classic in the making!

$149.95 750ml [305294] 

Stocking Stuffers (12/22)

Click here to see our stocking stuffers

Slam Dunk California Reds (12/19)

Justin's 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon is dark red with a crimson hue. Aromas of raspberry, bing cherry, mushroom, and an assortment of spice, vanilla and leather make up the nose. A soft, fruit forward entry is accented by a touch of vanilla. The mid palate balances acidity and structure to produce a velvety moth feel found commonly in Justin wines. The finish contains soft, yet prevalent tannins with hints of caramel, cedar and toasted oak.

$19.95 750ml [235540] 

This wine exhibits all the classic characteristics of a Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley with full, forward, mouth-filling black cherry fruit with cassis and cocoa. The big, ripe, sweet fruit in the front of the mouth moves right across the palate and into a smooth and lingering finish – a nicely balanced wine with oak undertones.

$24.95 750ml [221760] 

Here's a rarity - made entirely from Estate grapes of the Miner Family Vineyard, you get their high-quality Meritage at nearly half their going rate for the Oracle. 44% Cabernet Sauvignon, 39% Cabernet Franc and 17% Merlot its got complexity and early drinkability.

$24.95 750ml [200220] 

A blend of Merlot (49%), Cabernet (41%), Franc (9%) and Petit Verdot (1%). Fruit was sourced from vineyards in Rutherford, Oakville, Yountville, Spring Mountain and Atlas Peak.

$29.95 750ml [207100] 

A combination of Merlot (18%), Cabernet Franc (2%), Petit Verdot (4%), and Cabernet Sauvignon (76%) creates well-integrated flavors, deep color, and balance. The bouquet offers distinct notes of cassis, black cherry, and cocoa. The aromatic qualities of the Petit Verdot marry well with the soft, alluring flavors of Merlot and complement the masculine tannins of the Cabernet Sauvignon.

Jordan 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon has a rich texture and opulent flavors, complemented by a restrained framework of oak that leads to a lingering finish of violet, earth, smoke, and cola.

$42.99 750ml [232850] 

The 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon is big and lush with huge gobs of fruit in the aroma and flavor. The texture of the wine is soft and supple, typical of Cabernet Sauvignons grown in Groth's area of the Oakville AVA. Patience during bottle aging will reward the "steward" with an outstanding bottle over the next 10 to 15 years.

$44.99 750ml [227340] 

This is a refined and complex Silver Oak that combines subtlety and depth. It has a dark ruby color with a deep red edge and displays aromas of fresh blackberries, violets, cola, nutmeg and licorice. In the mouth, the wine has a juicy attack and offers great expression of fruit and spice on the mid-palate. Its fruit-driven finish is long and elegant. Properly cellared, this wine should give drinking pleasure through 2023.

$62.95 750ml [260365]     Limit 12 Bottles

Silver Oak 2003 Napa Valley is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot. It was blended in early 2004 and transferred to 100% new American oak barrels for aging. Silver Oak blends prior to barreling to achieve a balance of the wine's natural elements, such as fruit and tannin, before they are influenced by oak. The wine is then aged in barrel for approximately 25 months and another 20 months in bottle to harmonize its components before release.

The 2003 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is a complex and concentrated wine that deftly balances intensity and finesse. The wine has a dark garnet color with a deep purple edge, and displays aromas of blackberry jam, dark chocolate, rose petal, black pepper and cedar. In the mouth, the attack is quite rich, expressing notes of brown sugar and nutmeg, and the flavors proceed seamlessly to a long finish of fruit and ripe tannins. Properly cellared, this wine should give drinking pleasure until 2027.

$109.95 750ml [260355] 

WINE SPECTATOR 94 POINTS - "Complex, riveting aromas of spice, cola and sassafras join wild berry, spice, black cherry and sage notes in this full-bodied, intensely flavored, tightly focused and very persistent display of fruit that's long and lingering. Drink now through 2017. 11,900 cases produced."

$149.95 750ml [209200] 

Opus One tends to be remarkably expressive in its early youth, and the 2005 vintage is no exception. A voluptuous garnet, the wine offers concentrated aromas of blueberry, rose petals, white truffle, licorice and nutmeg. A silky entry combines with a moderately soft mid-palette to express supple texture and a fine balance of fruit and acidity. Flavors of cassis, black olives, raspberry and dark chocolate culminate in a long and luscious finish.

WINE SPECTATOR 90 POINTS - "A tightly knit youngster, with hints of earthy cedar, tar and tobacco which join ripe currant, red cherry, anise, leather, sage and spice, ending with a strong, structured tannic finish. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Malbec. Best from 2010 through 2016."

$159.99 750ml [248200]    Limit 12 Bottles

The 12 Champagnes of Christmas (12/18)

Click here to see the 12 Champagnes of Christmas

A Slam Dunk For The Holidays (12/17)

Stephan Tanzer 92 Points - Inky ruby. Powerfully scented bouquet of dark berries, smoky minerals and fresh flowers; this is really fragrant. Spicy black raspberry and cassis flavors stain the palate and are enlivened by zesty minerality. A strong iron note carries into the impressively broad, long finish.

The 2005 Flinders Run Shiraz scored 95 points from Wine Spectator so do not wait for the score or you may miss out on this exceptional wine!

$27.98 750ml [378706] 

Library Port Sale (12/17)

GOULD CAMPBELL 1983

Wine Spectator 90 Points - One of the true sleepers of this excellent Port vintage, and one that still has further cellar development ahead.   The Wine Spectator notes upon its release ran:  “This is right up with the major-league '83s. It is extremely full and concentrated, with a massive fruit structure. Inky color, very concentrated black currant nose, full-bodied, with tons of tannin, velvety fruit flavors and a closed finish. Truly excellent. 90 Points.” Sourced straight from the producer.

$65.99 750ml [330882]  Regular Price $71.98 

DOW'S 1985

One the great values from this outstanding vintage.  Chris Kissack writes: "A great color, and a gentle nose of maturity. An elegantly composed palate although it still shows quite a little extract, tannin and even a little spirit. Nevertheless it has a very admirable structure, and a supple style that makes it easy to drink now if one appreciates impact and substance in Port. But it should be good for a few years yet, and will evolve but not change much in terms of the pleasure it gives I think. 18+/20 Points.” -November 2007. Sourced straight from the producer.

$75.98 750ml [325560]  Regular Price $79.98 

GRAHAM'S 1980

1980 is a fine Port year (on a par with 1966) that has long stood in the shadow of the monumental 1977 vintage.  This fully evolved effort from Graham’s is definitely our favorite from this under-rated and drastically under-priced year.  In the glass, this shows a deep red center with bricking on the rim, while the effusive nose parades black currant, caramel, and sandalwood aromas.  The flavors echo the bouquet and are glossy and beautifully integrated from stem to stern.  There are bigger Ports to be sure, but few that drink better than this jewel.  These bottles came straight from Graham’s and are in mint condition.

$89.99 750ml [325405]  Regular Price $99.98 

WARRE'S 1970

In November 2006, noted British Port maven, Chris Kissack (a.k.a. The Winedoctor) raves:  “An old favorite for me, Warre's tercentenary vintage is not only a birth-year wine but was also a favorite during my student days. I haven't had a bottle for years though. This has an evocative nose, and a fine, silky texture on the palate, still with plenty of substance and matured fruit. A lovely, integrating structure beneath it all, good grip and a firm backbone, but still very approachable now. This is very stylish. I am perhaps rather biased by my memories of the wine though. Excellent. 19+/20 Points.”  Stored the past two decades at our Orange Avenue Cellar.

$109.95 750ml [325421]  Regular Price $139.98 

GRAHAM'S 1970

The Winedoctor writes:  “A delightfully maturing mahogany hue. Roasted raspberry fruit on the nose, even a little blueberry can be coaxed out, but there are rich complexities that mark this out as mature Graham's; notes of tobacco, freshly rolled cigars, with caramel and chocolate seduction. On the palate it offers a full, sweet, creamy attack, maintaining a lovely broad, expansive texture through the midpalate. Beautifully poised, through to the finish, which is lengthy. Still developing, although great now and immensely impressive for 35 years of age, but should see out another ten or twenty years with ease. A 18.5+/20 Points.” -December 2005.  Stored the past two decades at our Orange Avenue Cellar.

$159.98 750ml [331240]  Regular Price $179.98 

DOW'S 1966

Rated five out of five stars by Michael Broadbent in 2002. The firm’s own current tasting notes are right on the mark: “With its 43 years, this wine has reached full maturity but still has plenty of structure and balance for extended aging for many years to come. For the first 20 years of its life, this 1966 showed great depth of fruit, supporting the fruit were strong tannins and good acidity.  The fruit is still present but balanced with long almond and caramel flavors, the result of 35 long years gently maturing in bottle. The color has faded to a soft red/golden hue. The nose is complex, rich and long. The powerful nature of this year has suited the Dow style admirably. Dow’s tends to be a shade drier than other Vintage Ports, this slightly ‘austere’ style fits well with the years when there is an abundance of ripe fruit flavors in the wine.”  Stored the past two decades at our Orange Avenue Cellar.

$199.95 750ml [325450]  Regular Price $249.00