Futures/Pre-Arrivals

Vineyard Gate is pleased to offer our customers Pre-Arrival and Future wines. This is a great opportunity to secure the wine in advance of delivery before supplies run out or prices go up. We always sift through the best deals so we could pass on the savings to you.

Any of these offerings are without engagement and subject to our confirmation.

Note that confirmed orders may still be canceled by us, in the VERY UNLIKELY EVENT that our suppliers fail to deliver the wines to us. We certainly do not expect this to happen, but events beyond our control (such as wines being lost in transit from abroad, breakage, etc.) could occur. These events rarely happen, but sometimes they do. In such a case, we will immediately notify you and credit back your credit card for the amount charged.

From great vintages like 2005 to underrated vintages like 1999, 2001, etc., our selection represents the best buys of the vintage.

Terms: Estimated arrival is from a few weeks to a year or more depending on the specific wine. Contact us for specifics. Full payment upon order. Limited to stock on hand. We reserve the right to allocate quantities. All orders subject to confirmation.

Pauillac, par la SNCE du Château Pichon-Longueville (Pre-Order) 2005
This is the third wine of Pichon-Baron from the highly touted 2005 vintage. The grand vin costs almost ten times as much! The flavors show the sweetness of the 2005 vintage with very good concentration and endowed with structure and tannins for elegance. Very Pauillac Cabernet Sauvignon in character suffused with black fruits and tannins and blackberry aromas. Terrific buy! Order 3 or more bottles and get additional 15% off! ($35.00 regular) $30.00

Saint-Emilion Grand Cru, Château Petit Gravet Ainé (Pre-Order) 1999
Many are just starting to realize how underrated 1999 Bordeaux were. Take this outstanding Saint-Emilion Grand Cru, what a deal. Grand Cru classified wine that's got nearly a decade age on it for less than thirty bucks! Even in Europe, you'll pay more. Alluring bouquet that's Graves-like, with smoke and roasted scents. The unusually high proportion of Cabernet Franc (about 80%) in the blend contributes to this nose and to a muscular fruit that's well-extracted and juicy, with delicious currant and chocolatey flavors. Pleasurable to drink now, but still years from peak. The tiny property lies next to Canon-La-Gafffeliere. It is aged in new oak for eighteen months. Less than 200 cases produced! Order 3 or more bottles and get additional 15% off! ($39.00 regular) $24.00

2006 is another terrific vintage in Châteauneuf du Pape. Say wine critic Robert Parker: "This vintage turned out a lot better than I expected... the red wines, they are full of charm, fruit, with relatively low acidity and ripe tannin? they have something that should be priced by true wine lovers--terrific balance, immediate accessibility, purity, and superb aromatic profiles."

Terms: Expected arrival is Fall-Winter 2008. Full payment upon order. Limited to stock on hand. We reserve the right to allocate quantities. All orders subject to confirmation.

Châteauneuf du Pape Blanc, Château de Beaucastel (Pre-Arrival) 2006
This is one of the best vintages ever for this white Chateauneuf. Very small production of less than 2,000 cases, hence this is very limited in availability.

"The 2006 Chateauneuf du Pape blanc (80% Roussanne and the rest Marsanne, Picpoul, and Bourboulenc) possesses classic notes of orange marmalade, honeysuckle, and rose petals, a full-bodied, unctuous texture, gorgeous purity and richness, and a stunningly long finish. It can compete with the finest full-throttle, dry whites of France as well as the world. It is difficult to find a better white Chateauneuf du Pape than Beaucastel. Much like their reds, their whites are made in a style that is atypical for the appellation. It is put through full malolactic, and one-third is barrel fermented, then blended with the two-thirds that is aged in tank. Extraordinarily rich and honeyed, it is ideal for drinking with intensely flavored culinary dishes." 94/100 Robert M. Parker, Jr., The Wine Advocate

"Densely layered, showing peach cobbler, graham, heather, chamomile, almond and brioche flavors that glide along the creamy-textured palate, with a long, smoke-tinged finish. Still youthfully raw, so drink the 2005 while you wait for this to come together. Best from 2010 through 2021. 1,850 cases made." 94/100 Wine Spectator
$95.00

Châteauneuf du Pape Rouge, Château de Beaucastel (Pre-Arrival) 2006
Beaucastel poured all its efforts into just one Chateauneuf in 2006 and produced a stunning wine!

"As I stated last year, there is no Hommage a Jacques Perrin in 2006, but Beaucastel's 2006 Chateauneuf du Pape is performing even better from bottle than it did last year. Its dense plum/ruby/purple color is followed by a big, sweet perfume of black truffles, camphor, earth, incense, new saddle leather, and loads of peppery, blackberry, and herb-infused, meaty, black cherry fruit. Deep, full-bodied, and dense, with sweet tannin, this explosively rich Chateauneuf is a stronger effort than the 2005, 2004, or 2003. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2028." 95/100 Robert M. Parker, Jr., The Wine Advocate

"(approx final assemblage) ****(*) very intense, dark red robe, the colour all the way up; dense nose with reduction in it, there is black berry here, some oily notes, and a sappy richness evident. Bristling red berry fruits on the palate, with a mulled nature. From half way lengthens and extends well. Is abroad wine, laced with light pepper and cinnamon, even coffee notes. Ripe, almost gourmand, this is a texture wine. Length is good, shows late smokiness. 2026-28 Nov 2007" 5 Stars/6 Stars John Livingstone-Learmonth, Drinkrhone.com $98.00

A surprisingly good vintage with very good consistency across the board. Very good terroir expression. A grower's vintage for sure.

Terms: Expected arrival is Fall 2008-Spring 2009. Full payment upon order. Limited to stock on hand. We reserve the right to allocate quantities. All orders subject to confirmation.

Bourgogne Rouge "Cuvée de Noble Souche", Domaine Denis Mortet (Pre-Arrival) 2006
Probably the best Bourgogne Rouge of all. Always overachieves in any vintage.
$43.00

Gevrey-Chambertin "Vieilles Vignes", Domaine Denis Mortet (Pre-Arrival) 2006
"from vines between 50 and 100 years old, with yields generally held down by millerandage Good deep red with ruby highlights. Brooding, darker, more medicinal nose suggests a more serious wine. Very ripe but structured, precise and quite tight, with lovely energy and impressive persistence. Finishes with a note of espresso. The malo was very late here, notes Mortet, which helps to explain why this potentially strong village wine is so unevolved." 88-91/100 Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

"This is finer and more elegant if also notably reserved with reticent, ripe and earthy red pinot fruit that displays a touch of forest floor that slides into delicious, rich and full-bodied flavors that possess good dry extract levels and a mouth coating finish that possesses better phenolic maturity. A serious villages built to age that is recommended. Outstanding!" 87-90/100 Allen Meadows, Burghound $114.00

Gevrey-Chambertin Premier Cru Lavaux-St.-Jacques, Domaine Denis Mortet (Pre-Arrival) 2006
"Good red-ruby. Currant, black raspberry, iron and coffee on the nose. Supple, sweet and lightly gamey. Shows less thrust in the mid-palate than the Champeaux but broadens out nicely on the back end, finishing with excellent length and a lingering note of torrefaction." 89-92/100 Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

"A moderately high-pitched nose of blue and red berry notes, earth and hints of spice and game combine with a hint of wood spice on the rich, full and supple flavors that are delicious, sweet and detailed, all wrapped in a finish that displays ample minerality but also a trace of the same dry tannins but here it appears that they may very well round out." 88-91/100 Allen Meadows, Burghound $220.00

Corton Clos des Cortons Grand Cru, Domaine Faiveley (Pre-Arrival) 2006
From a 2.9-hectare parcel right at the top of the hill. This plot has been with the family before 1930, prior to the creation of France's appellation system. Along with their Clos de Beze, the Clos des Cortons is one of Faiveley's flagship wines. This 2006 is again great and rivals the efforts in 2005, albeit at a price as much as one-third less! Very limited.

"Good deep red-ruby. Explosive, exotic nose offers red cherry, red licorice and mint. Huge and sweet, but with outstanding verve and lift for a wine of this dimension. Powerful red fruit flavors are punched up by pungent iodiney minerality, giving this wine outstanding energy. A great sappy essence of pinot noir in the making, and very long on the aftertaste, with tannins that are amazingly suave for Corton." 93-96/100 Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

"Discreet if not invisible wood frames earthy red pinot fruit that leads to serious, vibrant and wonderfully intense flavors that possess impressive size and weight and a bit less rusticity than usual, all wrapped in a gorgeously long and deep finish. I find it interesting that this is a bit less structured than a number of the grands crus in the range as this is normally among the most age worthy wines here, not that this is exactly a shrinking violet. 2018+." 91-93/100 Allen Meadows, Burghound
$150.00

Chambertin Clos de Beze Grand Cru, Domaine Faiveley (Pre-Arrival) 2006
At about half the price of the 2005 vintage, this 2006 may potentially surpass the 2005 in quality and longevity! One of the great wines of the vintage. Very limited.

"Deep red-ruby. Pure but reticent nose hints at wild berries, crushed stone and dried flowers. Pure, pungent, sappy and almost painfully young today, with terrific intensity to its tight core of berry, mineral, floral and spice flavors. Finishes with outstanding palate-saturating length. This is likely to be one of the longer-lived wines of this vintage. At this point in our tasting, Hervet compared 2005 and 2006 to the 1961/1962 pair, noting that the '62s were balanced for long aging." 93-96/100 Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

"A completely backward but superbly complex nose displays layered aromas that run to game and underbrush as well as ripe red and dark berry fruit trimmed in a bit of wood toast that give way to rich, sweet and mouth coating big-bodied flavors that possess plenty of muscle and real volume on the explosive, textured and sappy finish that is impressively concentrated and wonderfully long. There is ample structure here as well though it's largely buffered by all of the mid-palate extract and I particularly like the depth. A serious wine that will live for decades. 2021+" 92-95/100 Allen Meadows, Burghound
$265.00

2004 Barolo is an irresistible vintage for Piemonte fans. It combines classic Barolo character with full ripeness and supple tannins. Notwithstanding their obvious youth, the wines are not shut and offer fresh, ripe fruit flavors that would tempt Barolo lovers.

Terms: Estimated arrival is Fall 2008. Full payment upon order. Limited to stock on hand. We reserve the right to allocate quantities. All orders subject to confirmation.

Barolo DOCG, Bartolo Mascarello (Pre-Arrival) 2004
Outstanding classic vintage from this most venerable traditional Barolo producer. A solid track record for producing long-lived Barolos that is second to none.

"'2004 is the first normal vintage I can remember in a while,' says Maria Theresa Mascarello. 'We were finished with our Nebbiolo harvest on the 12th of October.' Her pure, finessed 2004 Barolo offers a compelling array of perfumed violets, dark cherries and baking spices with superb clarity and delineation. A weightless, ethereal Barolo, it reveals notable freshness and supple tannins on the long, finessed finish. Although I have tasted this wine many times from cask, I first encountered it from bottle at a blind tasting where it was immediately recognizable for its style, purity and class. This is the best young Barolo I have tasted here in many a year. Fans of traditional Barolo won't want to miss this superb effort. The 2004 Barolo was fermented for 20-30 days in cement. The malos progressed at an unusually slow pace and weren?t finished until the following summer. The wine was aged in medium-sized casks. Readers can also look forward to promising wines in 2005, 2006 and 2007. I also had a chance to re-taste the 2003, which is a lovely Barolo for nearer-term consumption. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2029." 95/100 Antonio Galloni, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate $120.00

Barolo DOCG Ciabot Mentin Ginestra, Domenico Clerico (Pre-Arrival) 2004
A superstar Barolo in this vintage. Clerico's efforts to employ a more traditional approach in winemaking has paid off big time. Aside from the richness and concentration, there is excellent precision and layering of flavors.

"The 2004 Barolo Ciabot Mentin Ginestra sweeps across the palate with stunning depth and expansiveness in its dark cherries, menthol, spices, chocolate and sweet toasted oak. It offers exceptional length and delineation, with a note of freshness that provides lift on the close. It is a profound effort from Domenico Clerico. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2024." 97/100 Antonio Galloni, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate $120.00

Barolo DOCG Brunate, Cantina Vietti (Pre-Arrival) 2004
From very low-yielding vines over 45 years-old. Vinified for about two weeks in stainless steel vats and aged initially in barrique for 12 months and then in Slovenian oak casks for 24 months. A great vintage for this classic Brunate. No more than 300 cases produced.

"The 2004 Barolo Brunate is almost as impressive as the Rocche. An enveloping, seamless wine, it perfectly captures the sepia-toned nuances of the Brunate vineyard. Smoke, tar, licorice, plums, prunes and chocolate emerge from this powerful, weighty Barolo. Balsamic overtones develop in the glass, adding further complexity and elegance as this sweet, perfumed wine continues to open. It is another gorgeous offering from Vietti. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2024." 95/100 Antonio Galloni, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate $110.00

Barolo DOCG Rocche, Cantina Vietti (Pre-Arrival) 2004
Vinified in stainless steel tanks and aged in Slovenian oak cask for over two years and then transferred to stainless steel tanks for six months to rest before bottling unfiltered. One of the greatest vintages for this famous Barolo from Vietti. No more than 600 cases produced.

"In many ways the best was saved for last. As much as I loved the 1982, 1989, 1996 and other vintages, the 2004 was on another level entirely. I was somewhat surprised by how much the wine had begun to close down since I last tasted it in bottle a few months prior, but all the ingredients for a classic, superb Barolo Rocche were there, from the signature aromatics, to the ripe dark fruit and the finessed tannins. Yet the 2004 revealed an additional level of ripeness and concentration which should allow it to take its rightful place as one of the finest, if not the finest, Barolo Rocche Vietti has ever produced." 96/100 Antonio Galloni, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate $110.00

Barolo DOCG "Garblet Sue", Fratelli Brovia (Pre-Arrival) 2004
This comes from the upper part of the hill in the Garbelletto area of Castiglione Falleto. Over 35-year-old vines. Very fragrant, rose-scented. Very upfront, richness, as it should be in this vintage, coating the fine, long tannins underneath. A very seductive, powerful Barolo!

"The estate's 2004 Barolo Garblet Sue- is made from the Bricco Fiasco vineyard, also in Castiglione Falletto. Once again, this is a picture perfect expression of site in a glass. The wine shows the muscular side of Castiglione. The Garblet Sue- literally explodes from the glass with masses of fruit on a structured, imposing frame. Notes of spices, tobacco and licorice appear, adding further complexity. As in the Rocche, the red fruits are quite spiced and floral, but there is an additional layer of power and sheer muscle to back it up. This is an awesome, youthful Barolo that will require considerable patience. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2026." 95/100 Antonio Galloni, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate $67.00

Barolo DOCG "Rocche", Fratelli Brovia (Pre-Arrival) 2004
From 42-year-old vines planted in 1966 in the Rocche vineyard of Castiglione Falletto. The southeast exposure that gets the morning sun combined with the sandy, light soils produced this powerful Barolo with finesse and elegance. Still tight and brooding, but already expressive. Very refined palate that offers little resistance; showing ripe cherries, minerals, and spice in generous quantity. As in all the crus, this was vinified in cement and aged in 3,000 liter casks for four years before bottling. Excellent class. The other crus are all about power, but of all the crus this is the most refined.

"Brovia's 2004 Barolo Rocche reveals considerable depth in its aromas and flavors. The wine offers a typical expression of Castiglione Falletto in its perfumed ripe red berries, fresh flowers and spices, all supported by tannins that are finessed and firm at the same time. This is a poised, feminine Barolo of notable elegance. A touch of sweetness from the French oak lingers on the long finish. The Rocche is typically the most accessible of the Brovia single-vineyard Barolos, as it is again in 2004, yet today it is holding back quite a bit of its potential. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2024." 93/100 Antonio Galloni, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate $74.00

Barolo DOCG "Villero", Fratelli Brovia (Pre-Arrival) 2004
Here's the most powerful cru in Brovia's lineup. The vineyard, planted with 47-year-old vines, is situated next to Rocche but with a southwest exposure that gets the warm afternoon sun. Thus, this is powerful and potent, clearly evident in the fragrant exotic, fruity, intense nose. Very ripe, sweet fruit, and mouthcoating on the attack. Lush, very powerful, but graceful and not overpowering. This is like a wild, powerful animal that needs patience to be tamed. The Brovia family regards this as the riserva out of all the crus.

"From a 1.5 hectare parcel on a steep southwest facing slope at 340 meters height; the vines are nearly 50 years old; the Villero is, in our opinion, the most distinguished and most classic of these Barolos; yet, it can be intimidating at the outset for its restraint and rigor; structured, profound, a perfect blend of dark fruits and minerals; a regal wine that requires patience and respect." Neal Rosenthal, importer $74.00

Barolo DOCG, Fratelli Brovia (Pre-Arrival) 2004
This is made from mid-aged vines of all four crus (Garblet Sue, Rocche, Ca' Mia, and Villero), plus juice left over from each of those crus. What a blend! A terrific value in this vintage. Complex mineral, fruit scents. Very much evokes the vintage's ripe, powerful character. Lovely richness and firm structure. Very pure. Vinified in cement vats like the crus, but aged in larger 10,000-liter casks. Outstanding quality!

"The 2004 Barolo opens with a spiced, floral nose followed by sensations of small red fruits. This medium-bodied wine offers excellent length and tons of style in a fairly approachable package for this bottling. The tannins are unusually refined here as well. The Barolo is made from a combination of the estate's vineyards (typically younger vines averaging 15-25 years of age) plus the wine that is leftover after the French oak casks used for the single-vineyard wines are filled. The juice is approximately equal parts Castiglione Falletto and Serralunga, and is aged in Slavonian oak. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2022.""89/100 Antonio Galloni, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
$47.00

Life is too short not to experience and enjoy the wines of Paolo Bea. This is the quintessential Italian wine estate. The Bea family has been working the lands of Umbria since the 1500s. To this day, the family raises and produces much of what they consume on a daily basis. Paolo Bea, now in his 70s, is assisted by his two sons, Giuseppe and Giampiero. They defy standards to produce wines that are pure and timeless.

Terms: Expected arrival is December 2008. Full payment upon order. Limited to stock on hand. We reserve the right to allocate quantities. All orders subject to confirmation.

Umbria Bianco "Santa Chiara Pagliaro", Paolo Bea (Pre-Arrival) 2007
"Why bother to call this a white wine? Bea broke the color barrier years ago when the original Santa Chiara was made with long skin maceration and extensive lees contact. In the following years, he has only pushed the envelop further open. As Giampiero Bea writes on this year's label: 2007 was a year of bizarre weather patterns that produced revelatory results. The Pagliaro vineyard is planted with both eastern and western exposures. Santa Chiara, as always, is an almost equal blend of Grecchetto, Malvasia, Sauvignon, Garganega and Chardonnay. In this vintage, harvest occurred on September 15 and the juice sat in contact with the skins for 15 days. Elevage was done without temperature control and with lees contact until the bottling, unfiltered, which was accomplished in late September 2008. The wine has an amber color; it is intensely aromatic and savory with herbal and pineapple-like fruit. It is full-bodied (13.5% alcohol) but backed by a lively acidity. It is not for everyone!" Neal Rosenthal, importer $44.00

Umbria Bianco "Arboreus", Paolo Bea (Pre-Arrival) 2004
"Have you ever had a wine from the Trebbiano Spoletino grape? Even if you have, it will be nothing like the 'Arboreus' from Bea. This version of Trebbiano is found in and around the famous Umbrian hill town of Spoleto, not far from Montefalco. The vine is trained high off the ground, making it appear as if it were a small tree. Thus, the name 'Arboreus' (albero is the word for tree in Italian). This habit of lifting the vine was done to conserve space, leaving the ground around the vine to be used to plant other vegetables. Now, to the wine: it carries a bright golden color and leaves a complex sweetness on the palate, although it is a dry wine with striking minerality to the finish. At harvest, the juice was left for seven days in contact with the skins and the subsequent wine was aged on the lees for 454 days; elevage totaled four years in stainless steel. Yes, that is not a mistake: years, not days, weeks or months! No temperature control was implemented; no yeast was added; no sulfur was used. The wine was bottled in September 2008. Note: 1,066 bottles were produced." Neal Rosenthal, importer $70.00

Montefalco Rosso "San Valentino", Paolo Bea (Pre-Arrival) 2004
"As described by Giampiero Bea, this vintage was challenging but ultimately intriguing. There was significant hail damage during the growing season which resulted in reduced crop-size and made for extensive vineyard work and a rigorous triage during harvest. The result is a wine of scintillating concentration and character. The Montefalco Rosso is a blend of 70% Sangiovese, 15% Montepulciano d'Abruzzo and 15% Sagrantino, all from the San Valentino site situated on a high-altitude slope in Montefalco. This is a rich wine of deep purple-blue tint; it tastes of sweet fruit (plums and wild black cherry). It is slightly nutty as well with chicory and vanilla flavors. As every Bea wine is, the Montefalco Rosso 'San Valentino' 2004 is intense, expressive, expansive, and joyous. Slightly over 6,000 bottles were produced; bottling took place, unfiltered, in September 2008, four years after harvest, having spent that time finding its identity in both stainless steel cuve and large oak barrels." Neal Rosenthal, importer $57.00