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$59.95
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United States
In stock,
4
available
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List $85.00
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Robb Report: "[$85/375ml list] Outside of Tokaj or Bordeaux, no producer has produced late-harvest wine with greater consistency than Dolce. This lavishly textured, dense wine remains surprisingly light on the tongue, despite its rich flavors of lemon meringue, coconut custard, and torrone."
Wine Enthusiast: "The key to the sweet wine of Dolce, a subsidiary of Oakville-based Far Niente Winery, is its bounty of botrytis. Winemaker Greg Allen explains that Sémillon's thin skin and low acidity make it susceptible to the so-called 'noble rot' and account for Dolce's sweetness. 'We Encourage botrytis development by growing these huge canopies to trap humidity and to protect the fruit from sunlight,' he says. (Feb 2013)"
Producer notes: "Dolce is grown in the cool foggy Coombsville area to the east of the city of Napa. It is here that the fruit can get to full ripeness before getting concentrated by the actions of botrytis cenerea, a mold long associated with the world's greatest dessert wines. We only harvest the best clusters or parts of clusters. Of course, this means that most of the grapes we grow never make it to the winery. The resulting juice is so concentrated that yeast have a hard time fermenting. Greg, our winemaker, often is following fermentations well into March or April of the next year. He then oversees their slow development as the wine ages for 30 months before he determines the final blend and bottles the wine. Part of the magic of Dolce, beyond its ability to give hedonistic pleasure, is its ability to age and improve for many many years."
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$22.95
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United States
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Sauvignon Blanc & Aromatic Whites
In stock, 12+ available
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Producer notes: "Nectar of the Gods! True Ice Wines are rare in our corner of the world; our unique climate is excellent for capturing the intense sweetness and crisp acidity necessary for top-notch dessert wines. We pick these Red Mountain Chenin Blanc grapes during a deep freeze in order to coax the concentrated juice needed for a dessert wine of this caliber. This involves monitoring vineyard temperatures deep into the night and picking at the right time to ensure optimal flavor and sugar extraction. Tasting Notes: Aromas of honeysuckle and tropical pineapple practically leap out of the glass. The intense sweetness is framed by generous acidity, elegant herbaceous grasses, and ripe apricot. Residual sugar: 27.1%."
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$14.95
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W&S 92
TP 91
United States
-
Other
In stock,
11
available
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List $20.00
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92 points Wine & Spirits: "[$20 list] Ripened to tropical flavors of pineapple, this wine holds its freshness with tighter nectarine fruitiness. It has the sweet scent of lilies of the valley, and the flavors are sweet as well. Then the balance on the finish leaves a clean impression. A fine moscato to serve with fresh fruit. (Dec 2012)"
91 points The Tasting Panel: "Fresh, tangy and crisp with spice, lovely peach and slight spritz; racy and sweet with great acidity and structure."
Producer notes: "Intensely fruity and floral, yet light as air on the palate, the sweetness of the Moscato d’Oro is impeccably balanced by crisp, mouthwatering acidity. This elegant expression of orange blossom, white peach, fresh apricot and rose petal is interwoven with an unmistakable touch of honey. The clean, citrusy finish is enlivened by a soft, subtle tingle of effervescence. Alcohol 8.0%."
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$109.95
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RP 94
United States
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Other
In stock,
1
available
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94 points Robert Parker: "The 2002 Mr. K The Nobleman (321 grams per liter of residual sugar and 10.25 grams per liter of acidity) is made from 100% botrytised Chardonnay. Its medium gold color is followed by a wine with honeyed complexity, and huge body, sweetness, and thickness. This effort is never as complex or focused as its siblings, but it is still a phenomenal sweet wine that can stand on its own merits against any great sweet wine made in the world. (Jun 2005)"
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$450.00
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RP 96–99
United States
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Rhone Varietals
In stock,
1
available
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2 x 375ml bottles Mr. K The Nobleman (Viognier)
1 x 375ml bottle Mr. K The Strawman (Semillon)
Sine Qua Non Mr. K The Nobleman (Viognier) California 2000
96 points Robert Parker: "This is an absolutely amazing wine, and must be tasted to be believed. The 2000 The Noble Man botrytis wine is 12.2% alcohol, 22.7% residual sugar, and 100% Viognier from the Alban Vineyard. It was harvested at 42o brix. (Aug 2003)"
Sine Qua Non Mr. K The Strawman Vin de Paille Santa Ynez Valley 2000 (Semillon)
99 points Robert Parker: "This is an absolutely amazing wine, and must be tasted to be believed. The 2000 The Straw Man Vin de Paille is 7% alcohol with 44.9% residual sugar. The grapes were air-dried for two months, and pressed at an amazing 56% sugar. It is 100% Semillon from the Brander Vineyard. A remarkable elixir, it competes favorably with the world’s greatest nectars. (Aug 2003)"
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$450.00
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RP 97
United States
-
Rhone Varietals
In stock,
1
available
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2 x 375ml bottles Mr. K The Nobleman (Chardonnay)
1 x 375ml bottle Mr. K The Strawman (Semillon)
Sine Qua Non Mr. K The Nobleman (Chardonnay) California 2001
97 points Robert Parker: "While richer, sweeter, and more unctuous than the Iceman, 2001 Mr. K The Noble Man (Chardonnay), a Trockenbeerenauslese look-alike, possesses nervy, vibrant acidity that is hard to imagine in a wine of this mass and richness. The residual sugar is 255 grams per liter, with an amazing 11.1 grams per liter of acidity, and 11.7% finished alcohol. (Aug 2004)"
Sine Qua Non Mr. K The Strawman Vin de Paille Santa Ynez Valley 2001 (Semillon)
97 points Robert Parker: "The 2001 Mr. K The Straw Man is a 100% Semillon made in the style of a vin de paille. There is an astonishing 371 grams per liter of residual sugar, with 8.63 grams per liter of total acidity, and a finished alcohol of 10%. It is a wine of extraordinary richness, honeyed complexity, and a finish that lasts over 60 seconds. (Aug 2004)"
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$450.00
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RP 94–98
IWC 96–98
United States
-
Rhone Varietals
In stock,
2
available
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2 x 375ml bottles Mr. K The Nobleman (Chardonnay)
1 x 375ml bottle Mr. K The Strawman (Semillon)
Sine Qua Non Mr. K The Nobleman (Chardonnay) California 2002
94 points Robert Parker: "The 2002 Mr. K The Noble Man (321 grams per liter of residual sugar and 10.25 grams per liter of acidity) is made from 100% botrytised Chardonnay. Its medium gold color is followed by a wine with honeyed complexity, and huge body, sweetness, and thickness. This effort is never as complex or focused as its siblings, but it is still a phenomenal sweet wine that can stand on its own merits against any great sweet wine made in the world. (Jun 2005)"
Sine Qua Non Mr. K The Strawman Vin de Paille Santa Ynez Valley 2002 (Semillon)
98 points Robert Parker: "The virtually perfect 2002 Mr. K. The Straw Man boasts astounding statistics. Aged 30 months in barrel, with only 7.2% alcohol, it carries 482 grams per liter of residual sugar (half the wine), and 7.8 grams per liter of acidity. It is simply off the charts. Sexy, eye-popping, palate-staining stuff, it is like liquefied honey with extraordinary complexity, aromatics yet freshness and delineation. I simply do not understand how this wine was made given the technical numbers and its amazing sugar. It is neither heavy nor cloying, and is a remarkable tour de force created by two Austrian geniuses. (Jun 2005)"
96-98 points Stephen Tanzzer (International Wine Cellar): "(from semillon that was air-dried for 57 days) Deep yellow-gold. Initially extremely closed, then hinted at high-toned pineapple, maple syrup, lime and vanillin oak; gives up its perfume like a tree yields its sap. This pours, and tastes, more like a solid than a liquid. Incredibly thick, honeyed, clinging wine that's virtually impossible to spit. This elixir is not especially aromatic and yet it's not particularly heavy either. In fact, this is amazingly wine-like for a semi-liquid that's nearly 50% sugar (482 grams per liter). Find a loved one and get out the rubber sheets: maybe this one should have been called Inamorata. (Jul/Aug 2005)"
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$450.00
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RP 94–97
IWC 95–96
United States
-
Rhone Varietals
In stock,
1
available
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2 x 375ml bottles Mr. K The Nobleman (Chardonnay)
1 x 375ml bottle Mr. K The Strawman (Semillon)
Sine Qua Non Mr. K The Nobleman (Chardonnay) California 2003
94 points Robert Parker: "The 2003 Mr. K. The Noble Man, a 100% Chardonnay made from botrytised fruit, possesses 278 grams of residual sugar per liter and 9.9 grams of acid per liter. There are a whopping 537 cases of half bottles. While deep golden-hued and honeyed, with brilliant unctuosity, thickness, and richness, it takes third place when ranked against its two sweet siblings. Readers should think of it as a Chardonnay Trockenbeerenauslese. (Aug 2006)"
95-96 points Stephen Tanzer (International Wine Cellar): "(from Alban Vineyard) Medium gold. Knockout nose offers pure botrytis aromas oforange oil, apricot, clove, marzipan, chocolate and mocha. Extraordinarily thick and honeyed but with bracing acids leavening the flavors of marzipan, coconut, brown sugar andorange rind. Higher-toned than the gewurztraminer, with a spirity suggestion of Gran Marnier. Krankl was about to bottle this. I have rarely tasted such thoroughly botrytized chardonnay. This was picked in three passes in late November. Check out these numbers: 321 grams per liter of sugar, 10.25 grams of acidity, and 10.1% alcohol. (Jul/Aug 2005)"
Sine Qua Non Mr. K The Strawman Vin de Paille Santa Ynez Valley 2003 (Semillon)
97 points Robert Parker: "The 2003 Mr. K. The Straw Man, a 100% Semillon vin de pays, boasts ... get this ... 435 grams of residual sugar per liter and 9.2 grams of acidity per liter. The grapes were picked in mid-September and then air-dried until early November (approximately 50 days) before fermentation began. A monumental wine of great intensity, richness, aromatic complexity, and a honeyed sweetness and balance that are almost beyond belief. Frankly, I don’t know how elixirs such as this can be made, but they demand unreal patience as well as meticulous attention to detail in both the vineyard and the winery. Like all SQN wines, what one confronts is brilliant singularity and individuality that provide us - mere mortals - the opportunity to watch and experience a genius play with our senses of pleasure and intellect. Whether we ever fully comprehend them is irrelevant - it is the challenge and fun of the quest that is damn fun! (Aug 2006)"
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$185.00
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RP 98
United States
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Other
In stock,
3
available
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98 points Robert Parker: "Made from 100% Chardonnay from the Alban Vineyard, the 2005 Mr. K. The Nobleman possesses 235 grams of residual sugar per liter as well as exceptional acid levels. This incredibly rich, sweet white is almost like the Quintessence bottlings from Alsace’s Domaine Weinbach. Its mind-boggling purity, balance, intensity, and sweetness are balanced by the wine’s zesty acidity. An amazing achievement fashioned from 100% botrytised fruit, it will keep for 20 or more years. (Jun 2008)"
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$134.95
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RP 96
United States
-
Rhone Varietals
In stock,
4
available
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96 points Robert Parker: "The days of the Mr. K wines are gone forever with the tragically premature death of Austrian Alois Kracher, who had partnered with Manfred Krankl in this intriguing homage to sweet nectars. Krankl continues on his own, and in Spring, 2011, he will release the 2008 Jinete Bajo Roussanne Vin de Paille, which is named after his wife's favorite horse. Made from 100% estate fruit, with a finished alcohol level of 11.8%, a whopping 240 grams per liter of residual sugar, and 8.7 grams of acidity, this is a pure nectar of honeyed marmalade, waxy, syrupy honeysuckle, exotic creme brulee, and citrus. The remarkable acidity cuts through the extraordinary sweetness, so the impression is fresh and vibrant. Krankl has pulled off a marvelous balancing act with this cuvee. How long will it last? I have no idea - maybe 50-100 years, but given the fact there are only 235 cases of half bottles, most of it will be consumed before 2020. (Aug 2010)"
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$49.95
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United States
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Zinfandel
In stock,
4
available
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List $75.00
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Producer notes: "[$75 list] The 2008 Zinfandel Port benefited greatly from late summer heat. Dark and brooding, this rich and luscious wine is reminiscent of old World Portuguese Ruby ports, but with the zesty, spicy, ruby red fruit of Berry-bright Zinfandel. The rich mouth feel is powerful and sweet, but not cloying. Perfect sugar and acid balance make this wonderful wine truly collectable. Alcohol 19.5%. Residual sugar 12.9% 150 cases produced."
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