Garagiste

• By Jon Rimmerman
  1/25/2008 (link)

  (DESSILANI COLLINE NOVARESI Riserva) Friday Specials Dear Friends, A few Friday send-offs at crazy prices - lots to mull over, including three different magnums, but you can pretty much throw darts at the list below and come up with an amazing deal - you can’t go wrong with any of these... Have a good weekend everyone! All wines are directly from the source with perfect provenance -Jon Rimmerman *************** 2005 Chateau Marquis d'Alesme Becker (Margaux) STRICT LIMIT 12/person If I recall, this wine was $30-40 on pre-arrival two years ago (if you bought it at that price, you can halve your price by buying at this price) which means it should retail for around $40-$50 when it lands in the US - now it’s much less. Think Parker doesn’t control the Bordeaux market? Guess again. Nothing like a WA84-86 to put a winery out of business. The wine is far better than the WA review but at this price for a 2005 Margaux, who cares about reviews? Bob did not have a representative barrel sample of this - sorry. I think you will see the final bottle rating read very differently than his barrel review. I tasted this wine several times from cask and it was nothing like his description. 92-94pts? I would have said closer to 89-91 but it was very well made with all the trappings of 2005 firmly in tow. Take advantage on a crazy deal that will probably go back to $40-50 when the final bottle reviews come out in a few months: 2004 Dessilani Colline Novaresi Riserva 1.5lt EXTREMELY LIMITED This would have been a major offer but we don’t have enough to go around so I’ve tucked it into a Friday Special list to defray some of the interest. To be brief, I haven’t seen a magnum of Nebbiolo Riserva this cheap since the late 1980s. In addition, it’s 2004. Let’s be serious, a magnum of Riserva quality wine for this price? This wine has been on many of our customers best-deal list in the past and now we have the 2004 in large format - not much left to say. Oenophile party wine? 1998 Contratto Punta Rei Barbera d’Asti 1.5lt EXTREMELY LIMITED This wine is something of an enigma and a testament to how Barbera can age - especially in large format. For a decade-old example that has been perfectly stored and is ready to drink, this seems like a ridiculous price. Tough to choose between the wine above (the Novaresi) and this - both are worth owning. Oenophile party wine #2? 2005 Prunotto Mompertone (Syrah) 1.5lt EXTREMELY LIMITED Ok, it didn’t get 90pts from Antonio but it’s still under $35 for an estate grown wine and the description is pretty darn enticing for a dinner party where you can just crack and pour a magnum. These are all hand bottled and they didn't make very many. Oenophile party wine #3? ************************ Thank you, Jon Rimmerman Garagiste Seattle, WA Bord7790 Italy4810 Italy4820 Italy4830