Description

Featured in This Issue

Notebook:

• Cautious Consumers & Moderating Sales
• Eight Tools & Practices to Add Value to Your Wine Programto Add Value to Your Wine
  Program

Recommended Wines:

A Range of Top Quality-Great Value Wines from 13 Countries

Focus on California wines:

– Outstanding wines from Russian River Valley, including 100+ top bottlings (Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Syrah, Zinfandel) from Benovia, Chev, Cirq, Domaine Della, Dutton Estate, Maritana, Papapietro Perry, Patz & Hall, Ramey, Tongue Dancer, and Williams Selyem.

– Many other exceptional California wines (Dry Rose, Pinot Noir, Syrah, Petite Sirah, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc) are recommended from Blue Farm, Bouchaine, Corison, J. Bucher, Knights Bridge, Lineage, Monticello, Moshin, Patz & Hall, Ramey, St. Supery, Terminim, Tongue Dancer, Vinum, and Williams Selyem, among others.

Focus on German wines:

Nearly 300 German wines recommended (sparkling, white, rose, and red wines), with a focus upon Riesling from recent vintages.

German wine highlights include:

Classic method sparkling wines from Reichsrat von Buhl, Reichsgraf von Kesselstatt, and Schloss Vaux.

Dry Rieslings from Ansgar Clusserath, Bassermann-Jordan, Domdechant Werner, Dr. Loosen, Emrich-Schonleber, Forstmeister Geltz Zilliken, Hermann Donnhoff, Fritz Haag, Johannishof, Karl Haidle, Kloster Eberbach, Kruger-Rumpf, Muller-Catoir, Pfeffingen, Prinz Salm, Reichsgraf von Kesselstatt, Reichsrat von Buhl, S.A. Prum, Schloss Johannisberg, Von Hovel, Wagner-Stempel, Willi Schaefer, and Wittmann.

Fruity to Noble Sweet Rieslings from Ansgar Clusserath, Bassermann-Jordan, Domdechant Werner, Dr. Loosen, Emrich-Schonleber, Forstmeister Geltz Zilliken, Fritz Haag, Hermann Donnhoff, Johannishof, Kruger-Rumpf, Reichsgraf von Kesselstatt, Robert Weil, S.A. Prum, Schloss Johannisberg, Von Hovel, and Willi Schaefer.

Other Dry White Wines—Silvaner from Furst Castell, Muskateller from Graf Neipperg, Muskateller from Muller-Catoir, Scheurebe from Pfeffingen, Chardonny and Pinot Gris from Dr. Heger, and Chasselas from Blankenhour.

German Red Wines—Fine Spatburgunder (Pinot Noir) from Furst Castell, Graf Neipperg, and Muller-Catoir; outstanding Lemberger (Blaufrankisch) from Graf Neipperg and Karl Haidle; and top Merlot from Graf Neipperg.

Focus on Chianti Classico:

More than 250 wines recommended from recent vintages, including these:

Annata. 2020s from Cacchiano, I Sodi, La Leccia, Panzanello, San Vincenti, Torselli, Verrazzano, and Villa Calcinaia stood out. And from the great 2021 vintage, these Annatas outperform (many approach Riserva quality levels): Badia a Coltibuono, Brolio, Borgo Scopeto, Casa Emma, Clement VII, Lilliano, Meleto, Poggerino, Nittardi, Pensieri di Cavatina, Poggio Scalette, Riecine, Rocco di Castagnoli, Rocca di Montegrossi, San Fabiano Calcinaia, Tenuta di Arceno, Tenuta di Bibbiano, and Vicchiomaggio.

Riserva. From the wonderful 2019 vintage, Riservas from these producers are outstanding—and several are of Gran Selezione quality): Aiola, Badia a Coltibuono, Capannelle, Casa Emma, Cacchiano, La Lecchia, Le Cinciole, Le Fonti di Panzano, Rocca di Castagnoli, San Vincenti,Tenuta Perano, and Villa Calcinaia (several). From the excellent 2020 vintage, these Riservas stand out for price and quality: Clement VII, Dievole, L’Erta di Radda, Monsanto, Poggerino, Riecine, Selvolini, and Volpaia.

Gran Selezione. From 2018, highlights include those from: Aiola, Capannelle, Rocca di Castagnoli, Rocca di Montegrossi, and Tenuta di Vignole. From 2019, wines from these producers are outstanding: Casa Emma, Le Cinciole, Le Corti, Rocca di Montegrossi, Ruffino, San Fabiano Calcinaia, Valiano,Vicchiomaggio, and Villa a Sesta. Many remarkable Gran Seleziones were produced in 2020; some of the finest include Barone Ricasoli Brolio), Castello di Brolio, Cacchiano, Il Colombaio di Cenci, Nittardi, and Riecine. The 2020 Gran Seleziones are some of the finest Chianti Classicos we have tasted.

Other Tuscan Reds. Selvapiana’s 2022 Chianti Rufina (95% Sangiovese) is a superb wine at a remarkable price… Nittardi’s Maremma vineyards are yielding top vallue reds, such as the 2021 Ad Adastra (50% Sangiovese, 50% Cabernet family varieties) and the 2020 Nectar Dei, a ‘super-Tuscan’ Cabernet family blend. Both are stunning wines… In the same vein (top quality, great value), seek out Rocca di Montegrossi’s splendid Merlot blend, Geremia (both the 2018 and 2019 are available—and both are outstanding, cellar-worthy bottlings)… Incidentally, Montegrossi also produces one of Tuscany’s best IGT reds, Ridolfo. Available only in magnums (1.5 liter), it is a small production blend of the rare Tuscan grape Pugnitello, and Cabernet Sauvignon—produced at the highest quality level… Both current vintages, 2017 and 2018, are exceptional wines… Two last Tuscan reds to take note of, both from the outstanding 2021 vintage: Conti Costanti’s Vermiglio, a 70/30 blend of Merlot and Sangiovese, and the delicious Villa di Bagnolo Pinot Nero from Marchesi Pancrazi—both terrific wines.

Other highlights

• Top values from Australia, Austria, Chile, France, Portugal, Spain, and Uruguay.
• Introducing the wines of Crama La Salina, one of Romania’s best producers.