Wine Book Q2 2024

WHOLESALE PRICE LIST

2ND Quarter

The “Drinking

Window”

The Right Wine at the Right Time

see page 112

FEATURE: HIGH NOON

THIS ISSUE Retrospective: COL D’ORCIA

April:

May:

June:

TEQUILA SELTZER

INGREDIENT FACTS

•100 Calories

•No Added Sugar

•Gluten Free QUALITY INGREDIENTS

•Real Tequila Base

•Real Fruit Juice

•Sparkling Water

•Natural Flavors

•No Artificial Flavors

•No High Fructose

Corn Syrup

DELICIOUS, ONTREND FLAVORS

•Strawberry

•Lime

•Grapefruit

•Passionfruit

•Prickly Pear (new!)

•Blood Orange (new!)

HIGHLY SESSIONABLE

•4.5% ABV

RIGHT SIZE FOR THE OCCASION

•355 mL

•700 mL Big Can available in select flavors

TASTE AND PRODUCT SUPERIORITY

•Great tasting

•Real juice

•Authentic blanco tequila sourced from Jalisco, Mexico.

FRANCE

corsica

pineau des

lazio

-Fukui

- Niigata

-Hyogo

Kubota - Niigata

Miyozakura

michigander

Sweet wines that celebrate all things Michigan! Whether it’s the acclaimed landmarks and lakes, notable cuisine and wildlife, or the Lake Michigan Shore where our grapes are grown. What makes you proud to be a Michigander?

RETROSPECTIVE COL D’ORCIA BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO POGGIO AL VENTO RISERVA

When the Brunello di Montalcino D.O.C. was established in 1968, there were eleven producers. Eleven. Fast forward to today and there are around 240 producers that are members of the Consorzio. The reason is simple: the wines are very good to stunning in quality and –excepting a few wildly expensive ‘Unicorn’ wines—they are superb values in their class.

Among the top-flight producers is the iconic Col d’Orcia estate. Col d’Orcia was once part of a large, historic estate dating back to 1890 called Fattoria Sant’Angelo. At the passing of its patriarch in the 1950’s, the two brothers that were heirs decided to split the property in half, hence Col d’Orcia—and the equally renowned Il Poggione were born (check out the very similar labels).

Today we tasted a mini-vertical of their top wine— Poggio al Vento Riserva—along with the current bottling of the Brunello normale. This single vineyard wine, whose name translates to ‘windy hill’, is downright stunning; the 2004 is one of the greatest wines we’ve ever tasted. But each vintage shows the class and complexity and quality that wines from this zone can sometimes attain. They have power and finesse, something very rarely achieved. And unlike many Brunello bottlings we see today, these showed no excessive alcohol. Any and all lovers of great wine should have these in their cellar! All of these are 100% Sangiovese Grosso (of course).

RATING SYSTEM

An extraordinary wine. Complete in every way, as well as possessing that magical, indescribable and elusive quality that makes some wines truly special.

An excellent wine, boasting varietal character, ideal balance, a high degree of complexity and some personality.

A very good wine, displaying ‘varietal integrity’ or typicity, excellent balance, and no apparent flaws.

A ‘quiet’ wine which, albeit ‘sound’, shows no real personality, complexity or typicity.

An unsound or offensive wine; one which is best avoided.

TASTING NOTES

2018 Brunello di Montalcino

Bright, medium ruby-red / elegant plum & spice nose / plump, balanced palate, showing coffee & red fruit notes / long, pretty finish. Balanced and delish.

2004 Brunello ‘Poggio al Vento’ Riserva

Deep ruby with brick edge / Seductive nose of black cherries, tobacco & spice / silky, exquisitely balanced palate showing red fruits, dark chocolate and black tea; mostly resolved tannins and with freshening acidity / long and lovely finish. Close to perfect; wine of the day!

2008 Brunello ‘Poggio al Vento’ Riserva

Same robe as the 2004 / Lovely nose of cocoa & candied orange peel / lush, sexy palate with notes of cherry & tea & orange spice / very, very long, tapered finish. Lovely.

2012 Brunello ’Poggio al Vento’ Riserva

Deep, glowing ruby-red / forthcoming nose of cedar, raspberry & forest floor / firm, vigorous, youthful palate with firm tannins, but with the requisite lush texture and with gobs of red fruits under the surface / long, firm finish. A sleeping giant.

2019

2021

2019

2018

ACCLAIM RECAP ACCLAIM RECAP

It’s the Acclaim! A brief list of some of the scores our portfolio has received over the last three months. We know some of you don’t care about scores for their own sake but they can be a good selling tool. If you like a wine but it doesn’t have a score, who cares? Sell it because you know it’s tasty but if it has a score, go ahead and use it!

2021 J Vineyard & Winery Pinot Gris

Top Value Wine

91 Points

2021 Joel Gott Sauvignon Blanc, California 91 Points

Top Value Wine

2019 Joseph Phelps, Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley

2019 Joseph Phelps ‘Insignia’, Napa Valley

2019 Juve Y Camps, Brut Nature Cava Reserva de la Familia Gran Reserva

2019 Kendall Jackson Merlot, Sonoma County Vintners Reserve

Top Value Wine

2019 L’Ecole No. 41 ‘Frenchtown’ Red, Columbia Valley

NV Moët & Chandon ‘Impérial’ Brut, Champagne

NV Moët & Chandon ‘Impérial’ Brut Rosé, Champagne

2019 Mollydooker ‘Blue-Eyed Boy’ Shiraz, South Australia

2019 Mollydooker ‘The Boxer’ Shiraz, South Australia

94 Points

98 Points

91 Points

90 Points

90 Points

90 Points

91 Points

94 Points

92 Points

2019 Mollydooker ‘The Maître D’’ Cabernet Sauvignon, McLaren Vale.....................92 Points

2019 Mollydooker ‘Two Left Feet’ Red, South Australia

2016 Newton, Cabernet Sauvignon, Spring Mountain

91 Points

95 Points

NV Nicolas Feuillatte, Brut Champagne Réserve Exclusive 91 Points

Smart Buy

2019 Paul Hobbs Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 96 Points

2020 Penfolds Bin 389 Cabernet - Shiraz 90 Points

2020 Pieropan Soave Classico

Buy

2021 Ridge Zinfandel Sonoma Valley Pagani Ranch

2019 Robert Mondavi ‘The Estates’, Cabernet Sauvignon, Oakville

2020 Rochioli Sauvignon Blanc, Russian River Valley

2022 Seaglass Sauvignon Blanc, New Zealand

100 Buy

2020 Six Eight Nine, Red Wine, California

Points

Points

Points

Points

Points

Points

2019 Soter Pinot Noir, Williamette Valley Estates....................................................94 Points

2020 Stags’ Leap ‘The Investor’, Napa Valley

Collection

NV Stel + Mar, Rosé, California

2020 Talbott Vineyards Tali Hart Chardonnay

2016 Eguren Ugarte Rioja Riserva

NV

NV

NV

Wine Spectator 90 Points

DRY CREEK

2022 Fume Blanc

Sonoma County

Intense and mouthwatering, with notes of fresh-cut lemongrass, ginger and lemon basil complementing the Meyer lemon, yuzu, Honeycrisp apple and lime flavors. Impressive for its focus and intensity through the finish.

Points

Points

Points

Points

Points

Points

Wine Spectator/James Suckling 91 Points

ARGIANO

2021 Non Confunditur Toscana IGT

Fruity notes with a touch of oak. Medium-bodied, savory mouthfeel with characteristic red fruits and underbrush notes. Quite persistent with a nice freshness that marries well with medium tannin.

•CALIFORNIA

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TheLanguageOfYesHighNoonTequilaPort

KentuckyCoffeeAllTheBitterLightHeartedVint

HamptonWaterTaittingerThreeSpiritGust

RosaRegaleBoathouseGreenbar

ZingZangLunazulImagery

RiedelAguaPlusSpring ®

UNITED STATES

UNITED STATES

UNITED STATES

UNITED STATES

UNITED STATES

UNITED STATES

UNITED STATES

UNITED STATES

UNITED STATES

hard seltzer

MODIFIERS

hand sanitizer

BIODYNAMIC ETC. BIODYNAMIC ETC.

The maze of “green” wine practices is a little overwhelming. Certified organic grapes and/or vineyards don’t necessarily mean that the wine is produced organically. The same with biodynamic grapes. Then there are wineries that follow all of the practices needed for certification but don’t actually get certified, holding out in case of dire circumstance. Add to that the variety of “green” certifications, sustainable farming practices, environmentally safe farming and certification differences from country to country and you might want to throw your hands in the air and give up.

The following is our way of making it just a little bit easier for you to navigate this strange world. As we learn more this list shall grow.

A to Z Wineworks Certified sustainable winery.

Alexander Valley Vineyards Certified sustainable

Alta Luna..................................... Sustainably farmed, renewable energy, conservation projects

Angeline...................................... Certified sustainable

Apaltagua ...............................Biodynamically farmed

Araldica ...................................... Sustainably farmed

Argiano Biodynamic, waiting on certification

Argyle ......................................... LIVE certified; “Salmon-Safe” and sustainably farmed; certified sustainable winery and estate vineyards

Beaulieu Vineyards, ................... Certified Fish Friendly Farms and SWP - estate vineyards only

Rutherford Benziger ..................................... All vineyards are certified sustainable, organic or biodynamic

Bergström .................................. All estate vineyards are certified biodynamic

Bertani........................................ Sustainably farmed, free of pesticides

Bogle .......................................... Sustainably farmed

Broglia ........................................ Sustainably farmed

Ca’ del Bosco ............................. Certified organic

Callia .......................................... Sustainably farmed, renewable energy, conservation projects

Cakebread Cellars ...................Sustainably farmed, Green Metal Award for Business

Camigliano Certified organic (2017)

Campo alle Comete .................... Sustainably farmed; converting to organic processes in winery

Cantina di Caldaro ..................... Organic and sustainable practices

Carmel Road............................... Certified sustainable

Castello dei Rampolla ................ Certified organic grapes

Cataldi Madonna ........................ Certified organic

Cerro .......................................... Sustainably farmed

Change ....................................... Certified organic grapes - Agriculture Biologique

Chateau Grand Traverse ............ MAEAP (Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program) Qualified Farmstead System

Cherries & Rainbows.................. Organic grapes; vegan

Col d’Orcia.................................. Organically farmed, biodynamic, sustainably farmed, free of pesticides, renewable energy, conservation projects

Colosi.......................................... Certified organic

Colpetrone.................................. Sustainably farmed

Dancing Vines .........................Organic grapes

Darioush ..................................... Sustainably farmed

Davis Bynum Sustainably farmed; certified “Fish Safe”; carbon neutral winery

DeLoach...................................... The Estate vineyards are certified biodynamic

Dolce Organic and sustainable, not certified

Domaine Carneros Certified organic

Domaine de la Quilla .................. Sustainably farmed

Domaine Drouhin Biodynamic, not certified; certified “Salmon-Safe”; LIVE certified; certified sustainable winery

Domaine Zind-Humbrecht .......... Certified organic, certified biodynamic

Drappier ..................................... Organically farmed

Drouhin Vaudon .......................... Biodynamically farmed

Dry Creek Vineyard .................... Certified sustainable

DuMol.......................................... Sustainably farmed

Eppa............................................ Certified organic

Etude .......................................... Napa Green Certified Winery; Certified Fish Friendly

Fanetti ........................................ Sustainable practices, uses indigenous yeast.

Far Niente Organic and sustainable, not certified

Faust........................................... Biodynamically, organically and sustainably farmed, not certified

Ferrari Organic farming, free of pesticides

Fontanafredda............................ Sustainably farmed, organic farming, free of pesticides, rewewable energy, conservation projects

Fonterutoli.................................. Sustainably farmed, free of pesticides, conservation projects

Fossacolle .................................. Sustainably farmed

Gagliole ...................................... Sustainably farmed, converting to organic

Gérard Bertrand ......................... All Estates biodynamic

Gianni Gagliardo......................... Certified organic, sustainable practices, indigenous yeast

Giovanni Rosso ........................... Sustainably farmed; Sicilian winery certified organic (2019)

Greenbar .................................... Certified organic; gluten free

Grgich Hills Estate...................... Organic, certified; Demeter certified

Grimaldi ...................................... Sustainable practices

Heitz Cellar................................. Martha’s Vineyard and Trailside Vineyard are certified organic

Illumination Biodynamically, organically, and sustainably farmed - not certified

Il Poggiolo .................................. Sustainable practices, indigenous yeast

Joseph Drouhin ........................... Organic and biodynamic viticulture techniques

Joseph Phelps Biodynamically farmed - not certified; certified Fish Friendly; sustainably farmed

Kaltern ............................................Organic and sustainable practices

Kamen

Certified organic

Kathryn Kennedy The Estate vineyard is certified organic; all sustainably farmed.

King Estate ................................. Biodynamic

Lamole di Lamole

Lemelson

Certified organic

Certified organic vineyards

Leone de Castris Sustainably farmed

Lolea 1 item - Sangria made with organic Garnacha

Loveblock Certified organic; certified sustainable

M. Chapoutier The estate wines are certified biodynamic; Belleruche wines are biodynamic - not certified

MacRostie Certified sustainable; certified Bay Area Green Business

Maison Joseph Drouhin Biodynamically farmed

Marenco Organically farmed

Martin Ray Certified sustainable

Maso Poli Sustainably farmed

Mazzei Sustainably farmed

McManis Certified sustainable winery and farming

Miami Cocktail Co. CCOF certified organic; vegan

Natura Certified organic grapes, vegan friendly

Naturalis Certified organic grapes; gluten free; vegan-friendly

Newton Vineyard Sustainably farmed

Neyers Sustainably farmed

Nickel & Nickel Organic and sustainable - not certified

Pacific Rim ................................ Wallula Vineyard is certified biodynamic (the first and only WA State); certified organic producer; offices are LEED Platinum; Salmon Safe

Palladino .................................... Sustainable practice and indigenous yeast

Pecchenino Organically farmed

Pederzana Organically farmed

Penner-Ash LIVE certified winery

Planet Oregon Certified sustainable

Planeta Sustainably farmed, renewable energy, conservation projects

Produttori del Barbaresco Sustainably farmed

Purato Certified organic wines; vegan

Quintessa Biodynamically, organically, and sustainably farmed - not certified

Castello dei Rampolla Biodynamic - not certified

Ramona Wine Spritz Certified organic

Raeburn .................................Sustainably farmed

Ridge Sustainably farmed. East Bench Zinfandel organically farmed from 2015 vintage.

Rodney Strong The estate, single vineyard and Symmetry are certified sustainable; certified “Fish Safe”; carbon neutral winery.

Rombauer ...............................Certified California Sustainable Winery

Ronchi di Pietro ......................... Organic practices, sustainable practices, indigenous yeast

Round Barn Winery MAEAP verified

RoseRock LIVE certified; sustainably farmed

SA Prum ...................................... Sustainably farmed

San Leonardo Certified organic (2018)

Santa Margherita Sustainably farmed

Santa Tresa Certified organic wines; vegan

Sella & Mosca............................. Sustainably farmed, organic farming, free of pesticides

Social Sake Cocktails Certified organic

Sokol Blosser Certified organic; certified “Salmon-Safe”

Soter Vineyards Certified sustainable winery; Mineral Springs Ranchcertified biodynamic

St. Francis Certified sustainable

Speri ......................................Certified organic

Spinelli........................................ Sustainable practices

Staglin Family Vineyard Certified organic vineyard

Statti Certified organic; sustainably farmed; vegan

Sterling Vineyards Certified Fish Friendly Farms and SWP; estate vineyards only

Tabor Hill Winery MAEAP verified

Terredora di Paolo Sustainably farmed

Thatcher’s Cocktails USDA certified organic; gluten free

Torresella Sustainably farmed

Tres Agaves Mixers Certified organic

Tribute Certified sustainable

Vie Romans Sustainably farmed

Wither Hills Certified sustainable; estate vineyards are certified organic.

ZD Estate vineyards are certified organic

The ‘Drinking Window’ The Right Wine at The Right Time

As Wine Geek ages—gracefully, like a fine wine—He has noticed many of his friends are downright old. The good news is old friends have old wines in their cellars. Add to this, most wine lovers we know like to share their wines, so good for us! But…

As referenced in the idiom above, many high-quality wines age and ‘improve’ for years—sometimes for decades. Although there are some recognized generalities as to what imbues some wines with the ability to grow in the bottle vs wines that should be drunk say, 15 minutes after one purchases it, it is not an exact science. Certain grapes (Cabernet for example), from certain vintages, produced in a certain way have more potential to age than some (most) other wines. But that aside, there are other considerations.

To Geek, the biggest factor is personal taste, meaning at what stage of a wine’s development does one like to enjoy it. Some people like their steaks rare; some like them mediumrare. Some like Brie cheese when young and firm, some like it when it is aged and stinky. And some people like their Cabernet when youthful, and vigorous, and tannic, while some like it when it has softened and become more delicate. Which brings me back to my older friends.

Of course, for ‘special bottles’ i.e., rare/expensive wines, one would want to save it for a special occasion or for special friends. Prior to some more modern winemaking practices being employed, many wines— Bordeaux/Cabernet in particular— indeed needed many years to soften and offer maximum enjoyment. But what Geek seems to be experiencing

frequently of late is many special bottles that are past their prime. Again, taste is personal, and it is up to each to determine as to the right time to drink a particular wine, but very, very few wine lovers would argue that a 40 year old Bordeaux that is brown and oxidized is ‘showing well’.

So, the moral of this story is: whether you are young or old…drink your wine now---better too early than too late!

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