Special Wines

Critic Notes

Stephan Reinhardt writes:  Aged for a year in large oak foudres and for another year in the bottle, the 2020 Zweigelt offers a pure, clear, fine, aromatic, tart and slightly floral as well as flinty bouquet of dark and concentrated cherries and hollyhock. Medium-bodied, round and juicy on the palate, this is a very elegant and aromatic, polished and energetic red with fine tannins and refreshing mineral acidity with fine salinity on the finish.  Glass stopper. Tasted at the domaine in July 2022.  Drinking 2020 to 2030.  - Robert Parker Wine Advocate 90

Winemaker Notes

Pepi Umathum is one of Austria's best known producers. In the Burgenland growing district called Neusiedlersee (Lake Neusiedl), he counts as one of the great champions of the traditional Austrian grape varieties. His main holdings are Rotburger (Zweigelt), St Laurent and Blaufrankisch with a bit of Welschriesling, Roter Traminer, the extremely rare Gelber Traminer, and the unusual ancient Lindenblattriger (Harslevelu in Hungary). Pepi has embraced the intricacies and harmonies of biodynamic viticulture, and for most of his wines, which are all hand-harvested, he prefers to use large barrels of native Austrian oak, which underscores the clear fruit aromatics of the wines. Some of the high-toned single vineyard bottlings are matured in smaller oak barrels and barriques, and are first released three years after the vintage. Winemaker Description. 

Critic Notes

James Suckling writes:  What a joyful dry white for Burgenland! A wide spectrum of ripe yellow fruit with mango and papaya, but nothing loud. Generous and juicy, but with extremely invigorating acidity. A cuvee based on gruner veltliner with furmint, welchriesling, chardonnay and pinot blanc, plus some mixed planted. From vines ranging ranging from 20 to 40 years of age. Drink or hold.  James Suckling 93

Winemaker Notes

The typical grape varieties of the region, Welschriesling, Grüner Veltliner and Furmint, work together to create a tightly knit, very precise, complex wine with mouth-filling, ripe pear fruit as well as beautiful almond, spice and herbal notes.

Powerful, creamy, dry and sensual, it is wonderfully complex and opens up countless exciting combination possibilities as a sophisticated food accompaniment. 

Critic Notes

James Suckling 93 Points |  Perfumed aromas of dried roses, red berry fruit and licorice pull you in. Darker mocha notes, too. Medium-bodied yet deep, with dark minerals and spices accompanying the fresh berry fruit. Fine and tight tannins. From biodynamically grown grapes with Respekt certification. Drink or hold.

Winemaker Notes

The Blaufränkisch grapes come from vineyards characterised by limestone and slate in and around Jois am Leithagebirge. The grapes were harvested from mid to late September. After manual harvesting and sorting, the Blaufränkisch was fermented spontaneously in wooden fermentation racks and, after slow pressing in a basket press, aged in used Tonneaux.

On the palate, the wine appears juicy with lots of fresh cherry and pomegranate juice, with plums and lightly roasted herbs. At the same time, this is a Blaufränkisch with a mineral fresh and cool side, a lively acidity and a remarkable inner tension. Here, too, you find the slightly earthy and tart with a fine tannin. This is intense, transparent, clear and fresh wine that quickly builds up drinkability. 

Our Notes

A blend of 40% Pinot Gris, 35% Muscat, 25% Riesling.  This is one of my favorite Alsace whites because of its amazingly fragrant nose of flowers, that I think the Muscat and Pinot Gris brings to this wine.  It is like smelling great perfume and when it enters your mouth you taste all the complex flavors the three grape varieties bring to the wine with the acidity of the Riesling making it both lush and crisp at the same time.  There is a certain creaminess and lushness that this particular wine envelopes your mouth with that makes me just love it.  Bernie, Follow the Drinker®

Distributor Notes

"The Edelzwicker, is a rare blend (one of two produced by Boxler) and often features fruit from his grand cru parcels. Jean Boxler says, “To find the right balance for the Edelzwicker Réserve, I cannot hesitate to steal from my more prestigious cuvées.”  Think of this bottling as his musical supergroup. Its purpose is to showcase what an Alsatian white tastes like when some of the region’s best grapes—which usually shine on their own—come together and harmonize. The result is a floral, luscious, and medium-bodied masterpiece, with notes of orchard fruit and tangerine. Incredibly versatile at table, it would be a match made in heaven with Chris Lee’s soufflé or a baked fish with grilled vegetables, but it would also complement a variety of Chinese, Indian, or Thai dishes that have a little spice." - Kermit Lynch

Critic Notes

Antonio Galloni writes:  The 2022 Sangiovese Love You Bunches is 100% Sangiovese done with carbonic maceration, Chianti Classico meets Beaujolais if you will. Bright acids drive a core of red-toned fruit in a wine that offers tons of harmony, precision and sheer appeal.  Drinking 2023 to 2028.  - Vinous 90

Erin Brooks writes:  The 2022 Stolpman So Fresh Sangiovese Love you Bunches, a carbonic style meant to be served chilled, is scented of wild berries, charcuterie, dried herbs and leather. The light-bodied palate is bright and juicy, with firm, chalky tannins, somewhat dilute flavors and a simple finish. Drink it at the table over the next year or two.  Drinking 2024 to 2026.  - Robert Parker Wine Advocate

Winemaker Description

Bright red raspberry, red currant, rhubarb, and violet. Refreshing to the max but bone dry with just a kiss of fine tannin. Just enough of a riper profile behind the bright "ray of sunshine" energetic cut. Candied cherries and red jolly ranchers bring home the deliciousness quotient. A floaty, foamy layer bordering on frothed cappuccino milk marries to the zip and tang.

So Fresh wines include the Love You Bunches lineup & Crunchy Rôastie Syrah. The grapes destined for these wines are natively fermented whole, un-crushed, for a delicately high-toned profile. Harvested early for lighter mouthfeel and higher acidity, wines go to bottle early to capture purity and freshness without added sulfur.

Serve cold.

Critic Notes

Jeb Dunnuck writes:  I always love this cuvée from Beckmen, and the 2021 Cuvee Le Bec shines for its juicy, up-front, delicious style. A blend of 50% Syrah, 38% Grenache, and the rest Mourvèdre and Counoise, it offers lots of plump blackberry fruit, some peppery herbs, violet nuances, medium body, and a juicy, clean, lengthy finish. An outstanding wine, it will stand toe to toe with the finest Côtes du Rhône out there.  - Jeb Dunnuck 91

Antonio Galloni writes:  The 2021 Cuvée Le Bec is a very beautiful entry-level offering from Steve Beckmen. The cooler style of the year comes through in the wine's aromatic presence and lighter personality vis-à-vis most years. Dark red cherry, plum, wild flowers, spice and dried herbs all run through this Syrah-based blend.  - Vinous 91

Critic Notes

Anne Krebiehl MW writes:  The 2022 Pinot Blanc Auxerrois Vieilles Vignes is made from vines that are between 60 and 75 years old, harvested in Colmar. Despite the name, this is pure Auxerrois. And since this is pure Auxerrois, it is allowed to carry this designation on the label. White currant juiciness is mild but gently fruited on the nose, opening into clear Mirabelle juice and smooth, cool yeast and textured, round, mild and bone dry body with a nutty and pithy, subtle finish with much smoothness and serenity. (Bone-Dry)  Drinking 2024 to 2034.  - Vinous 90

Our Notes

This old vines Pinot Blanc Auxerrois comes from steep slopes near the town of Colmar.  It is elegant, yet complex and rich.  Delicate yellow plum and white berry fruit intermingles with stony minerality and a subtle hint of spice.  

Rand Sieger - 67 Wine Buyer

Winemaker Notes

Critic Notes

Joaquin Hidalgo writes:  The 2021 Nicolò Brunetto is a blend of 80% Sangiovese co-fermented with equal portions of Syrah and Merlot from the Uco Valley. Aged for 12 months in French barrels (one-fifth new), it's garnet-red with a cherry sheen. The nose offers faint oaky notes, mushrooms and undergrowth against a sour cherry backdrop. Tart and dry in the mouth, it establishes a delicate tension between the reactive tannins and high acidity, resulting in a layered palate in which the oak plays a supporting role. This is a long-lasting red wine that pays homage to Tuscany.  Drinking 2023 to 2033.  Vinous 93

James Suckling writes:  A fragrant nose with wild berries, currants, dried herbs, potpourri and nutmeg. It’s medium-bodied with finely grained tannins. Poised and layered with bright acidity bringing a succulent, sour cherry character to the palate. Long and developing finish. Drink or hold.  - James Suckling 93

Aaron Romano writes:  Compact and built on structure and acidity, this could benefit from time to develop. Still, the potential is there, and there's a measure of elegance underneath the muscle. With subtle dried floral and mushroom tones to the tart cherry core, this offers baking spice details that dance in. Plenty of fresh thyme and mineral notes fill out the finish. Sangiovese, Syrah and Merlot. Best from 2026 through 2038.  - Wine Spectator 92

In the Rhone Valley and Provence Monastrell is known as Mourvèdre.

Joaquin Hidalgo writes:  The 2021 Monastrell hails from Los Chacayes in the Uco Valley and was all fermented in whole bunches before spending six months in concrete eggs. Garnet-red in hue. The nose presents aromas ranging from chocolate to dried flowers and watermelon to herbs. The palate is dry and grippy. Well-balanced acidity complements the vibrant tannins, resulting in a lean, compact mouthfeel. The 2021 is a long-lasting red for aficionados.  Drinking 2023 to 2031.  - Vinous 93