K&L Newsletter: Rioja Cellar Gems, DI Stars, Vintage Port, & A New Cult Discovery

Remarkable depth of rewarding selections: discover your next favorite bottle... Monday Jul 18th, 2022 [View in Browser]( [KL-emailheader.gif]( [Spain & Portugal News]( [Today's Newsletter]( takes us to two of the world's most traditional yet dynamic wine countries in Spain and Portugal. K&L buyer Kirk Walker brings his trademark, indefatigable enthusiasm for these inimitable wines and producers in this highlight tutorial of his favorite current releases. Hidden gems and reference-point stalwarts lead the way in a thrilling survey of the unbeatable collectible value of the great wines of Rioja. We follow that with a double feature on two of the most popular estates in our Direct Import program making their triumphant return after a brief absence. A pair of vintage ports from a historic quinta provide cellar cornerstone longevity, and finally, we introduce you to one of our very finest recent discoveries in boutique, cult-caliber Old World wine. [Quinta do Manoella Vineyards] --------------------------------------------------------------- Unrivaled Cellar Gems of Rioja: The World's Best Collectible Values It's almost an indisputable fact that Rioja is the world's premier source for ultimate collectible value, as these classic Old World favorites routinely deliver age-worthy style and character for what are relative steals compared to wines of comparable quality from elsewhere. The 93-point 2011 Pedro Martinez Alesanco Gran Reserva is a perfect case in point of Rioja's penchant for world-class quality-for-price ratios. What's more, the region's reference-point bodegas are renowned for holding back their wines from release until they're mature, and you won't find this kind of cellar-direct, aged excellence from any other wine region at these prices. From Remelluri's 94-point 2007 Reserva for under $45 to a pair of critically acclaimed, 2009 single-vineyard stunners from the iconic López de Heredia, collectors and casual wine lovers alike will find everything they're looking for in the inimitable gems of Rioja. Vintage Item Name Score Retail Link 2011 Pedro Martinez Alesanco Gran Reserva Rioja 93 $29.99 [View]( 2011 Los Autores "El Brujo" Gran Reserva Rioja $34.99 [View]( 2007 Remelluri Reserva Rioja 94 $44.99 [View]( 2009 López de Heredia "Viña Bosconia" Reserva Rioja 96 $44.99 [View]( 2009 López de Heredia "Viña Tondonia" Reserva Rioja 97 $47.99 [View]( 2010 Hermanos Peciña "Finca Iscorta" Gran Reserva Rioja 94 $49.99 [View]( 2011 Remelluri "Granja Remelluri" Gran Reserva Rioja 97 $79.99 [View]( 2012 Remelluri "Granja Remelluri" Gran Reserva Rioja 96 $79.99 [View]( 2012 CVNE "Cuné Imperial" Gran Reserva Rioja 95 $79.99 [View]( 2001 López de Heredia "Viña Bosconia" Gran Reserva Rioja 96 $244.99 [View]( --------------------------------------------------------------- The Return of Two DI All-Stars: Casa Juan Señor de Lesmos & Puelles Our direct-import pipeline is humming again, and that brings us the return of two of our most dynamic and popular DI all-stars, both of whom have become household names among our devoted Spanish enthusiasts for their unparalleled quality and jaw-dropping prices. The Escudero family runs Casa Juan to exacting specifications, and the wines reflect that in their extreme value character. The 2018 Crianza at easy case-buy pricing could serve as your new go-to house red for many years to come, as K&L Spain buyer Kirk Walker contends in his newsletter article on the producer. Meanwhile, the sub-$30 2010 Gran Reserva is just a gangbusters collectible steal that rivals wines many times its price. Bodegas Puelles, from one of Rioja's northernmost (hence coolest) sub-regions, is another stellar standout that we're thrilled to have again, as Jésus Puelles is one of the brightest under-the-radar talents in the entire region. The sterling 2020 Blanco Rioja is an ideal candidate for stacking by the case during summer, and their cooler vineyard plots make for an absolutely thrilling set of very traditionally styled reds. If you're familiar with these two powerhouse value producers, you know what to do. If you haven't yet discovered their incredible character and value, prepare to be amazed. Vintage Item Name Retail Link 2018 Bodegas Casa Juan Señor de Lesmos Crianza Rioja $12.99 [View]( 2014 Bodegas Casa Juan Señor de Lesmos Reserva Rioja $19.99 [View]( 2010 Bodegas Casa Juan "Señor de Lesmos" Gran Reserva Rioja $29.99 [View]( 2020 Bodegas Puelles Blanco Rioja $15.99 [View]( 2016 Bodegas Puelles Crianza Rioja $17.99 [View]( 2008 Bodegas Puelles Gran Reserva Rioja $29.99 [View]( --------------------------------------------------------------- Quinta do Noval's Stellar Back-to-Back Vintage Ports There are few better bets in long-term collectibility than vintage port. As some of the longest-lived wines in the world, they're ideal cellar cornerstones that will just cruise along for decades until their moment to shine comes, typically as a birth year wine for a special someone's 21st (or even 50th) birthday. Quinta do Noval's back-to-back stunners in 2018 and 2019 both see unanimous critical acclaim, with Neal Martin calling the 2018 "a superb Quinta do Noval," while Jeb Dunnuck declares the 2019 "so balanced and pure" ... it should continue to evolve gracefully for 50+ years if you have a cold cellar (and are young). It's a gorgeous wine." From one of the most consistently excellent wine estates anywhere in the world, these two can't-miss collectible treasures can each be had for a relative steal. Vintage Item Name Score Retail Link 2018 Quinta do Noval Vintage Port 97 $94.99 [View]( 2019 Quinta do Noval Vintage Port 97 $69.99 [View]( --------------------------------------------------------------- A Cult Favorite in the Making: Douro's Wine & Soul Up the Pinhão River, a tributary to the larger Douro, sits Quinta do Manoella, where you'll find the next great cult-caliber rising star in Portugal. The estate's reputation is growing with each vintage, thanks in large part to their otherworldly, old-vine blends, Pintas and Manoella Vinhas Velhas. The flagship Pintas hails from 40-year-old vines and "is already a star," according to Wine Advocate, "The question now is how brightly it will shine." The WS95 Manoella VV is a micro-production masterpiece from 100-year-old vines that showcases the incredible terroir that this tiny estate occupies in one of the most rugged wine regions on earth. There are few wines to compare it to, and it must be tasted to be believed. For the true cognoscenti, however, perhaps the most pleasant surprise is the WA93 Guru white blend, which buyer Kirk Walker unequivocally declares "one of the great whites of the world." For those always on the hunt for the next great discovery, take a break and let us do the work for you. Your new favorite find is called Wine & Soul, they're from Portugal, and their wines are simply incredible. Vintage Item Name Score Retail Link 2018 Wine & Soul "Manoella" Douro 91 $19.99 [View]( 2020 Wine & Soul "Guru" White Douro 93 $39.99 [View]( 2018 Wine & Soul "Pintas" Douro 95 $99.99 [View]( 2018 Wine & Soul "Manoella Vinhas Velhas" Douro 95 $99.99 [View]( --------------------------------------------------------------- [New Feed]( [Auction]( [Local]( --------------------------------------------------------------- [On the Trail (K&L Blog)]( --------------------------------------------------------------- [Instagram]( [YouTube]( [Facebook]( [Twitter]( --------------------------------------------------------------- [BORDEAUX]( | [NAPA]( | [BURGUNDY]( | [CHAMPAGNE]( | [ITALY]( | [RHÔNE]( | [SPIRITS]( --------------------------------------------------------------- [My Account]( | [Wine Clubs]( | [Events]( |[Gift Cards]( | [Accessories]( | [Delivery]( --------------------------------------------------------------- Missed an offer? Check out recent opportunities at our [Email Archive]( page. 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