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Some of our Most Compelling Recent Wines
Wines We Loved
June 5, 2022
Some wines stand out from the many we taste. They can strike us for purity, expression, balance, complexity, individuality, and/or power. Often they are small production and handcrafted. Not all are expensive, although most are among their winemakers’ best efforts.
We’ll send an occasional email with an eclectic set that especially struck us. They are individual and will not necessarily appeal to everyone. But they are intriguing and invite, even demand a second, a third taste.
Most are in short supply. Some are in the store; some arrive this week.
Classic Ageworthy Willamette Chardonnay
Jean-Nicolas Meo is famous for his reds but has a sure hand with white. Tasted with only two months in the bottle, this showed much stuffing, depth, and poise. Give it an hour in a decanter or a couple of years in the cellar for full effect. - Len
2020 Nicolas Jay Chardonnay Affinites; Aroma: fine acid, reserved; Mouth: young, very bright, clean acid, very long, very firm, very young, palatable but young, pure but marked by lees; Excellent 53; Mixed Case, 47.7; Case, 45.05
Extraordinary Rich and Airy Sauvignon Blanc
Understatement says a lot here. Pure and direct, this is cool climate sauvignon in weight with nicely ripe complexity and interest. From a single high-altitude vineyard above the fog line on the Sonoma -Mendocino border. - Len
2018 Capture Sauvignon Blanc; Aroma: a touch of smoke and earth, mellows with air; later ripe and complex; Mouth: deep low acid, with a bright kick at the finish, long lean and airy; Excellent 79; Mixed Case, 71; Case, 66.99
Expressive High Altitude Argentine Pinot Noir
A single vineyard from the folks at Catena. World spice with an overlay of Old World maturity; This had had it all. It is the wine of parts, with amazing fruit forward articulation for its price. - Len
2018 Domaine Nico Pinot Noir Grand Pere; Color: light red-black, light brown; Aroma: fresh, bright and spicy, a melange of plummy fruit and secondary notes; Mouth: clean mineral, the beginnings of age, bright acid, Burgundian, long tight acid finish; Very Good - Excellent 32; Mixed Case, 28.8; Case, 27
A Nebbiolo from Alpine Piedmont
Barbacan is a small artisan estate in Valtellina where Angelo Sega and his sons Luca and Matteo grow and bottle Nebbiolo on impossibly steep slopes. They do everything by hand. We call this heroic winemaking, and these guys have a cult following. Peter
2019 Barbacan Valgella Sol Valtellina Superiore: Dark cherries, balsam, spices and flowers. Terrific concentration and balance in a medium-bodied, full-flavored format. Outstanding 53/bottle
Cooler Napa Bordeaux Blend
A St. Emilion-like blend of Merlot and Cabernet Franc, this had all the breadth and smooth composure that cooler Carneros grapes can give. Not over-extracted, it has just the right richness to please but not overwhelm. - Len
2018 Hudson Phoenix Bordeaux Blend; Aroma: deep chocolate, oak inflected plum, brightened by Franc on the tail; Mouth: smooth, bright herbal, fleshy in the middle, bright acid, with very good breadth, long and herbal on the finish, solid; Excellent 75; Mixed Case, 67.5; Case, 63.75
An American First Growth Cabernet
Washington’s Quilceda Creek is an American classic. The 2019 is a first growth in the making. A complete American classic. Mature vintages tasted at the same time hint that this might well merit a Superb rating when mature in 10 years. - Len
2019 Quilceda Creek Cabernet Sauvignon; Mouth: smooth, elegant reserved clean, fine acid, elegant really well composed, well-powered with extraordinary finesse very very long; Outstanding 195; Mixed Case, 175.5; Case, 165.75
Till the end of this week only:
Assort any six or more of these wines at the full case discount.
All would assort with any wine in the store at the mixed case discount
Limited quantity. Wines offered subject to prior sale
New to Our Fine and Rare List
Arriving this week – Bottles only
All prices Net – they count to a case but do not discount
2005 Ch. Batailley 256
2005 Ch. Canon 397
2005 Ch. Latour a Pomerol 320
2010 Ch Grand Puy lacoste 195
1992 Chopin Groffier Clos Vougeot low fill 384
1995 Phelps Insignia 449
2009 Clerico Barolo Ciabot Mentin 192
2000 Scavino Barolo Bric del Fiasc 235
2001 Scavino Barolo Bric del Fiasc 235
2001 Ciacci Piccolomini Brunello Pianrosso 179
A complete list is HERE
Order by phone at 617.367.8605, or reserve here: order@federalwine.com
- Len Rothenberg
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downtown on orders more than $75;
in Greater Boston on orders more than $199
