Garagiste

• By Jon Rimmerman
  7/11/2008 (link)

  (AMARONE Lonardi) Friday SPECIAL Dear Friends, This week's Friday SPECIAL list is one of the best in a while - there's something for everyone and all are worth consideration, especially at the prices - about the same as at the cellar door for each (or lower). All of the items below have exemplary provenance and have been stored under ideal conditions. With the state of the Euro, most on this list took a lot of cajoling so I hope you support it. PLEASE BE PATIENT with Niki on final allocations - there could be a fairly large response due to pricing: 1999 Giuseppe Lonardi Amarone della Valpolicella 1.5lt STRICT LIMIT 2/person Yes, this is a magnum. A crazy price. 2000 Giuseppe Lonardi Amarone della Valpolicella 1.5lt STRICT LIMIT 2/person Much better than the touted 2001 - Also a magnum. Another crazy price. 2006 Pax Syrah "Cuvee Christine" STRICT LIMIT 3/person Let's see, last year's Cuvee Christine was a WA95 and Josh Raynolds already gave this a 93 in the IWC, making it one of the highest scoring of his review (Parker hasn't rated the 2006 yet). At this price, I don't think our parcel will last very long... 2006 Georges Vernay Condrieu "Coteaux du Vernon" STRICT LIMIT 2/person This one isn't about price - the wine has become so hard to obtain that I'll take what I can get. One of the grand dames of Europe, a simply surreal drinking experience on par with the world's finest white wines. Singular and captivating in the way that 1989 Laville-Haut Brion is as well. 2005 Domaine Raymond Usseglio Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Imperiale STRICT LIMIT 6/person 2005 Violot-Guillemard Pommard 1er Cru "Les Platieres" (BH88-91) STRICT LIMIT 3/person This is not the generic Pommard... One of the best prices out there for a 2005 Pommard 1er and a wine I've enjoyed since the original barrel tastings all the way to bottle. Should age beautifully. 1999 Il Ciliegio Vin Santo 500ml (Riserva) No, this is not a joke - maybe the best dessert wine deal we've ever offered on something this limited...cinnamon, candied clementine, almonds...should I go on? Can be left open for a week or more with little if any degradation - I left mine open for a month. At this price, guilt-free experimentation is easy... Thank you, Jon Rimmerman Garagiste Seattle, WA Italy7511 Italy7512 Italy7513 CA6100 Rhone5640 Rhone5650 Burg6280