Zachy’s Makes an Extravagant Splash in DC Wine Scene

New York-based wine importer, auction house and wine behemoth, Zachy’s, opened up shop here in Washington, DC, earlier this year, and I’m happy to have them as part of this dynamic wine scene.

They’ve been hosting tastings, seminars, auctions, and other wine events for a few months now, trying to attract savvy DC-area wine-lovers, of which there are many. I’ve been to a few events and have been impressed with the wines, the staff (some friends of mine), and service. For more info on Zachy’s DC branch and their wine sales, events, and storage facility, click here.

This fall, I attended a large tasting organized by Zachy’s at DC’s Longview Gallery. It was a massive event with hundreds of wines, and unfortunately I didn’t have the time or palate ability to taste and take notes on all of them. 

But here is a good spread of some epic wines...

2016 Peter Lauer Ayler Riesling Senior Faß 6 (Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer)
$28

Complex, deep aromatics. Crazy mineral depth, pristine fruit and floral tones. Wow, this is gorgeous young but will be phenomenal in a decade. (93 points)

2016 Peter Lauer Riesling Barrel X (Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer)
$21
Incredible how complex this wine is already. Acidity is precise, texture is intriguing, pure fruit and tons of mineral depth. Wow, this will be something special in a decade but really exciting now. (91 points)

2015 Lioco Chardonnay Estero (USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley)
$30
Another data point in support of my argument that Lioco Chardonnays are most excellent. This is pretty, vibrant, complex, fascinating stuff. Balanced between lighter body and intense acidity with complex fruit flavors, mineral and oceanic notes, some honey and nougat. Love it. (92 points)

2015 Lioco Pinot Noir Laguna (USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast)
$39
Tart red fruits, bright acidity, nice grip to the dusty tannins, lots of pomegranate, crunchy cherries, some complex spice tones. This has interesting development in the years ahead but so beautiful already. (93 points)

2016 Hamilton Russell Vineyards Chardonnay (South Africa, Cape South Coast, Walker Bay, Hemel-en-Aarde Valley)
$37
Buttery nose but also bright and chalky with lots of green and yellow apples. Zesty and chalky but lots of depth and richness as well, along with plenty of rich apple and apricot fruit. I’d love to cellar this for a few years. (92 points)

2016 Hamilton Russell Vineyards Pinot Noir (South Africa, Cape South Coast, Walker Bay, Hemel-en-Aarde Valley)
$50
Lots of spice and rhubarb on the nose, with tart red fruits and pepper. Crisp, bright, but solid tannins. Bright but ripe red and black cherries, some cola, rhubarb, grilled rosemary – very pretty stuff that will improve for 5+ easily. (93 points)

2014 Hirsch Vineyards Pinot Noir San Andreas Fault (USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast)

$68
Cool, crisp but lots of bright red fruits and spices. Precise acidity, very bright and spicy but also some textural richness. (93 points)

2013 Hirsch Vineyards Pinot Noir Reserve (USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast)
$90
Wow, so much more herbs and spices and savory elements here. Also lots of structured tannins, fresh acidity, and aging potential. Beautiful, balanced, wow. (94 points)

2012 Cobb Pinot Noir Emmaline Ann (USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast)
$73
Aromatic bliss of roses and red cherries. Airy and elegant but well-built, crisp on the palate with lots of bright red fruits and spicy herbs. Lovely stuff. (93 points)

2013 Cobb Pinot Noir Coastlands Vineyard (USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast)
$86
I love the depth of herbal, spice, floral and red fruit elements in this wine. Balanced, plenty of ripeness but so fresh and lively and, despite complexity and age-worthiness, easy to drink. (93 points) 

N.V. Buena Vista Champagne La Victoire (France, Champagne)
$60
Crisp, fresh, bright style with lots of tart green apples and pears, some almonds. Leaner style but well done. (88 points)

2013 Buena Vista Cabernet Sauvignon Carneros (USA, California, Napa, Carneros)
$70
For a rich and fruit jam-packed Cab this stays lively and goes down easy with some fun non-fruit complexity. (89 points)

2008 La Rioja Alta Rioja Viña Ardanza Reserva (Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja)
$35
So fresh and herbal with love red fruits and lots of complex pepper and spice. (93 points)

2007 La Rioja Alta Rioja Gran Reserva 904 (Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja)

$55
Spicy, tangy, structured well but also accessible – my notes say “wow” like three times. I’d love to bury a few bottles of this for a decade. (94 points)

2013 Zena Crown Pinot Noir The Sum (USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Eola - Amity Hills)
$80
I’ve taken detailed notes on this wine in the past, and I stick by them – this wine is excellent. Love the briskness and depth, complex floral notes. Will only get better. (93 points)

2013 Zena Crown Pinot Noir Slope (USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Eola - Amity Hills)
$100
Crisp but not lean, full of gorgeous flavors. Wow, I’d love to see what this does in five to eight years. (94 points)

2013 Concha y Toro Cabernet Sauvignon Don Melchor (Chile, Maipo Valley, Puente Alto
$125
Wow, tobacco city! This has a lot freshness in it for such a young Melchor, but delicious stuff. (92 points)

2014 Concha y Toro Cabernet Sauvignon Don Melchor (Chile, Maipo Valley, Puente Alto)
$125
Wow, a powerful young wine but so elegant and velvety even at this early stage. The violets, graphite, earth, savory spices – gorgeous. (94 points)

2015 Bruno Giacosa Roero Arneis (Italy, Piedmont, Alba, Roero)
$32
Peachy and floral with zesty citrus fruit, fun but not simple. (88 points)

2009 Bruno Giacosa Barbaresco Santo Stefano Albesani di Neive (Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barbaresco)
$198
Fresh and lively despite youth, so much earthy, savory complexity already but structure for the long haul. Beautiful stuff. (93 points)

2011 Bruno Giacosa Barolo Riserva Falletto Vigna Le Rocche (Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo)

SRP: $425
So floral and complex and earthy on the nose with tart, deep fruit and loads of spice. Deep tannins, brisk acidity, structure for aging is amazing. Still so pure and delicious at this young age. My wine of the night. (97 points)

2015 Tenuta San Guido Guidalberto Toscana IGT (Italy, Tuscany, Toscana IGT)
$55
Earthy, dusty, rich texture, bold fruit, depth of non-fruit element. I’d love to let this sit for five to eight years. (89 points)

2014 Tenuta San Guido Bolgheri Sassicaia Sassicaia (Italy, Tuscany, Bolgheri, Bolgheri Sassicaia)
$200
Love the vibrancy and relatively early-drinking appeal of this vintage at this point in its life. I’ve tasted and taken detailed notes on this before, and this bottle was also delicious, and went down so easily. (93 points)

2015 Tenuta Sette Ponti Crognolo Toscana IGT (Italy, Tuscany, Toscana IGT)
$35
Bright and spicy but dry and structured, really pretty red fruits and lots of floral/herbal/spice complexity. So good for the money. (89 points)

2015 Tenuta Sette Ponti Oreno Toscana IGT (Italy, Tuscany, Toscana IGT)
$90
Wow, this was fantastic. Super earthy and spicy aromatics with rich cherry, cedar, tobacco. So silky and velvety texture but serious grip and freshness for the cellar. Deep, rich, vibrant, complex – a really good one to forget about for five to eight to ten years. (94 points)
2014 Le Marquis de Calon Ségur (France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Estèphe)
$33
Super fun but also impressive structure and depth for a wine of this price point. Black cherries, earth, tar, floral – could improve for at least a handful of years easily. (89 points)
2014 Château Calon-Ségur (France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Estèphe)
$105
Still very young with strong grip, medium acid, tart currants, laced with sage, earth pepper. Impressive depth and concentration for the cellar. (94 points)

2008 Château Calon-Ségur (France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Estèphe)
$155
Great depth of spicy and herbal aromas (sage, bay leaf, pepper) on top of plums and red currant. Still grippy with plums, currants, herbs, leather. Long way to go still but showing nicely, although I’d decant this bad boy if drinking now. (93 points)

2009 Château Sociando-Mallet (France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Haut-Médoc)
$60
Wow this is really showing well. Dark and rich but suave with pretty currant fruit and evolving tobacco/earth notes. (92 points)

2014 Château Malescot St. Exupéry (France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux)
$55
Nice grip, solid currant fruits, mixed with olive and graphite. Good now but lots of time ahead. (90 points)

2014 Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste (France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac)
$80
So smooth despite density and structure. Lovely tart currant fruit and lots of earth. Obviously needs time but impressive. (91 points)

N.V. Allart & Fils Champagne (France, Champagne)
$40
Lean, apples, tart, simple but fun. (87 points)

N.V. J-M Seleque Champagne Brut Solessence (France, Champagne)
$50
Good amount of depth and precision on this wine, loaded with pears and biscuits. (88 points) 

N.V. Marguet Père et Fils Champagne Grand Cru Shaman (France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru)
$53
Crisp, lemon curd, dusty minerals and chalk, fresh biscuits. Solid. (89 points)

N.V. Bollinger Champagne Special Cuvée Brut (France, Champagne)
$62
Classic, zesty, toasty, always reliable and solid stuff. (89 points)

N.V. Tattinger Cuvee Prestige Rose Champagne (France, Champagne)
$80
Fleshy, tangy, brisk strawberries and raspberries, easy and fun, lacking a bit of oomph but delicious. (88 points)