Week in Review - This Week's Wines and Special Offers Cheers to another week of fantastic wine in the books! We thank you for your continued support! Here is the full list of everything we've offered this week including some very special offers you might have missed. Cheers! - The Plucky Team López de Heredia - Rioja "Viña Cubillo", Spain 2013 93 Point Single Vineyard Tempranillo Blend Aged to Perfection from the Undisputed Icon of Rioja, Lopez de Heredia! Viña Cubillo wines come from the vineyard called Viña Cubillas, only 2 miles away from the winery. The 'Cubillas' vineyard is famous for its combination of ancient soil of clay and limestone, high altitude (1,348ft above sea level), and vine age of at least 40 years. The vineyard covers 24 ha, of which 16 ha are under Tempranillo, 4 ha Garnacha, 2 ha Mazuelo and 2 ha Graciano. It is important to note, even though this exceptional wines sold as Crianza, these wines could be easily be marketed as Gran Reservas due to their extensive aging program. This is one of the finest vintages of Cubillo I've tasted in years, a true classic vintage. The wine has tremendous energy and poise - expect elevated classic notes of black cherry cola, vanilla, coconut, savory dill, and earthy tobacco. This is a gorgeous wine in its youth with nearly endless aging potential, and a 'must-have' classic vintage from the regions most iconic producer. Newsletter Special - $23.99
Upper Loire Valley, France 2019 Exceptional Quality and Value Pinot Noir/Gamay Blend from the Loire Valley's Hidden Gem Cheveryny is one of France's most recent appellation additions (1991). Though the area, located in the south of the Loire, has produced wines since the early 6th century. The soils consist of various combinations of clay, limestone and silica, perfect for cool climate Pinot Noir and Gamay to flourish. The quality here is paramount, as sommeliers we're always looking for the best quality wines at the best price, and these 'under the radar' hidden gems are always a favorite to explore. I love the freshness of this Pinot Noir/Gamay blend, produced in the style similar to 'Passetoutgrains' (Burgundy's affordable best kept secret), the wine shows excellent finesse - flavors of ripe strawberry, macerated blueberry, fresh roses, clean minerals, and a spice filled finish balanced nicely with a crunchy texture and crisp minerality. This is an excellent addition to any lovers of Burgundian Pinot Noir's portfolio, and a unique example of Cheverny style and terroir. Newsletter Special - $17.99
Sandy Cove - Sauvignon Blanc , Marlborough, New Zealand 2021 Cool Climate, Coastal New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc with the Grace and Elegance of Sancerre Made by the Renowned NZ winemaker, Allan Scott. The quality of this New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc for the price is just stunning, this is not your typical NZ style - expect balance and grace similar to that of Sancerre. Sandy Cove Sauvignon Blanc is made by the famed Allan Scott (Winemaker of the Wine Spectator 2021 value wine of the year) the wine shows exceptional elegance with aromas of blood orange, cantaloupe, chamomile, gooseberry, and clean stony minerals. There is a wonderful freshness to the wine, on the palate the wine is finessed and quite intriguing with subtle tropical fruit, white flowers, bright acidity, and a delightful lingering salinity begging for your favorite light seafood dishes. A stunning wine at an excellent value. Newsletter Special - $11.99
Montesecondo - "Loupé" IGT Toscana Rosso, 2020 Declassified "One-off" Chianti Classico from one of the Regions Top Producers! 90% Sangiovese/10% Colorino/Canaiolo . The true one-off "Loupé" 2020 bottling is the result of an administrative error at the winery: it comes from a single tank destined to be Chianti Classico but overlooked during the DOCG certification process, hence "loupé" or "missed/skipped" in French. As for all Montesecondo wines, the fruit was biodynamically farmed; harvested by hand; mostly destemmed; and fermented spontaneously with indigenous yeasts and without sulfur in concrete tank. Also as is Montesecondo's usual way, Loupé was bottled with a small amount of sulfur and without fining or filtering. Only 50 cases produced! I love the freshness and balance of this wine, and the fruit is bright and clean offering immediate pleasure. Rich in red raspberry, crushed violets, red cherry, tomato leaf, and refreshing minerals. There is so much to enjoy with this delicious wine, would be perfect with your favorite hearty Italian dishes or the simple pleasures of pizza night. Newsletter Special - $23.99
Jean-Paul Brun - Terres Dorées - Bourgogne Pinot Noir, 2019 Made Exclusively with 30+ Year Old Pinot Noir Vines from Just 3 Hectars of Terres Dorees Estate Vineyards in Charnay Brun is clearly best known for his Gamay, but in 1991 he planted Pinot Noir on the clay-limestone soils of his estate vineyard in Charnay in the southern Beaujolais; there are now a total of 3 hectares. As for all Terres Dorées reds, the vinification is traditional Burgundian. The grapes are rigorously sorted and destemmed, crushed and fermented with indigenous yeasts in concrete vats and aged in used French oak barrels. The juice in this bottle is essentially single vineyard estate Pinot Noir with 30+ years of vine age, deeply rooted in premium terroir, and made by one of Beaujolais's finest winemakers - at a Bourgogne level price-point! This is not to be missed. Much like Brun's Gamay, there is significant depth to this Pinot while maintaining a classic terroir driven style. Expect flavors of macerated strawberries, blood orange, red flower petals, subtle spice from the 30% French oak, and a clean mineral rich finish. There is a delicate 12% ABV placing this is a high quality, charming, everyday red. Newsletter Special - $21.99
Paul Jaboulet Aine - Ventoux "Les Traverses", Southern Rhone 2018 Incredible Value Southern Rhone Blend from the Iconic Paul Jaboulet! Jaboulet's Ventoux Les Traverses is classic southern Rhône blend of Grenache (80%) and Syrah (20%), from 35 year old vines grown on clay and limestone soils at the foot of Mont Ventoux in the South East part of Rhône Valley - the very heart of the Ventoux appellation. The wine opens up with aromas of raspberry tea, cinnamon, black cherry, violets, and herbs de provence. The palate is medium bodied with warm red fruit followed by a depth of spice and savory herbs. Fantastic little wine from one of the masters of the region. Warm up with this delicious case-worthy red all winter long. Special pricing available only through this newsletter! Newsletter Special - $11.99 Special Offers Domaine Nicolas-Jay - Pinot Noir Bishop Creek 2018 Vinous: 95 Points - Bright violet. Powerful, oak-spiced cherry and blackberry scents, along with suggestions of incense, star anise, vanilla and musky sassafras. Alluringly sweet and expansive in the mouth, offering intense red and dark berry preserve, cherry cola and spicecake flavors and building smokiness. In a pretty primary state right now. Closes impressively long and gently chewy, with slowly building tannins and repeating spice and dark fruit notes. 50% new French oak. Special Offer - $89.99
Drinkward Peschon - Cabernet Sauvignon Entre Deux Mères 2018 Vinous 94 - "The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Entre Deux Mères is fabulous. Bright and beautifully perfumed, the 2018 is so expressive today. In 2018, the Entre Deux Mères is not quite as juicy as it often is, instead it is built on energy and persistence, with all the energy of the vintage on display. Crushed raspberry, pomegranate, mint, rose petal and cinnamon are all beautifully layered. The fruit is distinctly red-tone in 2018. Grippy tannins could use another year or two to soften. This is another stellar effort from Lisa Drinkward and Françoise Peschon." Special Offer - $74.99
Cain Vineyard & Winery - Cain Five 2016 James Suckling - 97 - Exotic aromas of dried fruit, flowers, bark, sandalwood and dried flowers. Pine cone, too. Full-bodied with wonderful, refined tannins with riper tannins that show softness and pretty length. Harmonious. Just a hint of chocolate. A beautiful 1970s vibe to this. 57% cabernet sauvignon, 15% merlot, 14% cabernet franc, 9% malbec and 5% petit verdot. Drinkable now, but even better in a few years. Decanter 95 -A beautifully balanced wine from a beautifully balanced vintage. The nose is succulent and rich in blackberry fruit. It's concentrated, of course, but also svelte and elegant, with bold but ripe tannins. Although dense, it's very polished, with solidity but not heaviness. Very long. Special Offer - $124.99
Giacomo Borgogno - Barolo Cannubi 2016 James Suckling 97 - "Extremely perfumed with cedar, light mushroom, toffee and plum, following through to a medium to full body with firm, dusty tannins and a long, compact and linear finish. Builds at the end. Real Cannubi magic. Drink after 2026." Special Offer - $149.99
Cheers! -Alex Alexander Knechel - Certified Sommelier Wine Sales Manager - Plucky Wines alexanderknechel@pluckywines.com
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