Graileys Fine Wines Blog

*Attention*

Important info regarding our site!

Here at Graileys we have been building a new and improved website to bring you a great online shopping experience, and it’s almost launch time! For the next couple of weeks we will have to halt web orders while we tie the loose ends to bring the new website live!  We are ready to hear what you think when the site launches and ask that you give us just a brief moment as we transition into the new website. 

If you are in need of a wine however, do not hesitate to reach out to us via phone 214-741-1855 or email wine@graileys.com and we will get you taken care of.

Thank you,

Graileys Team

The team at Graileys has been searching for our next favorite everyday Bordeaux; we were looking for a wine that brought flavor, structure and balance in addition to value. Well, last week we found our answer in Chateau Fombrauge!

The oldest estate in St. Emilion, is also the largest. At almost 60 hectares, it is the exceptional surface area that gives the wine it’s unique character; numerous slopes, exposures, and soil types all lead to the style that sets Chateau Fombrauge apart. The modern age of Chateau Fombrauge is really kicked off in 1999 when Bernard Magrez (owner of Pape Clement) purchased the estate. He immediately hired the ubiquitous Michel Rolland as their winery consultant resulting in a huge ascent in quality in the vineyards and the winery. Wine is in town and comes in a very nice six pack wood case. Please let me know if I can set some aside for you.

“While there are some initial bitter chocolate extraction flavors, the main thrust of this wine shows rich plums and opulent fruitiness. It is a concentrated wine with a streak of acidity that gives it a delicious final lift. Intense aromas of blueberries, blackberries and flowers follow through to a full to medium body, tight and chewy tannins and a long and flavorful finish. Tight and linear. Pretty polish to this. “

Domaine Francois Mikulski was first established in 1992, when Francois inherited the property from his father-in-law. Francois is proud to call himself a simple man of the earth but the quality of his wine, belie that notion quite forcefully.

The distinctive black and white labels that adorn the bottles are inspired by the chalk marks used to differentiate the wines in the cellars. While the Domaine focuses primarily on Chardonnay from Meursault, they also produce a miniscule amount of Bourgogne Rouge, sourced from plots in Pommard and Volnay. Today, we are pleased to offer this delicious wine from the incredible and rare 2015 vintage.

The Pinot Noir for this bottling is destemmed and fermented for about 15 days, before it ages in partial new French oak for a minimum of 14 months. The result is a balanced and bright red, brimming with ripe cherries and earthy mushrooms, and Burgundy’s trademark structure and acidity. The fact that it’s just under $30 makes it all the more appealing; really it’s a screaming bargain.

What better way to end the week than drinking a spectacular lineup with the producer himself, Bob Foley. A great time was had by all who attended our Friday night tasting and had some of these fantastic wines from Mr. Foley himself.

If we’re talking iconic Napa Valley, the producer that always pops into mind first is Shafer. The benchmark for quality in Stags Leap since its founding in 1978, few producers are more widely recognized and admired.

We have a smattering of Shafer available for you today, the perfect wines to fill up any holes in your wine fridge or cellar. From Shafer’s steely Red Shoulder Carneros Chardonnay, to their incredibly structured Proprietary TD9 Bordeaux-styled blend, to their lusciously famous Merlot, Shafer never, and we mean never, lets you down.

Chateau de Beaucastel makes some of the most famous wines in the Rhone, the flagship being their iconic Chateauneuf du Pape.  Since the 16th century the Beaucastel name has been associated with outstanding quality, and owned by the Perrin family today, it continues that epic legacy.

All 13 varieties permitted in Chateauneuf du Pape are planted on Beaucastel’s 250-acre property, with vines averaging around 50 years in age.  Planted on the region’s trademark galets soils, the vines struggle throughout the growing season, creating a low yield of perfectly concentrated berries.  With a minimum use of oak in aging, the fruit and earth shine in this Chateauneuf du Pape, and it seems to age effortlessly.

A full-bodied wine seems to be in order during this dreary time of year – we can hardly think of something more fitting than Beaucastel.

“A stunner from the get-go, with waves of thoroughly seductive boysenberry, plum, blueberry and raspberry reduction forming the core, while roasted apple wood, rooibos tea, bergamot, and anise notes flash throughout. Has plenty of bass, with a Turkish coffee accent and a hint of alder driving underneath. Everything moves in lockstep through the seriously long finish.”
– Wine Spectator: 97 points 

One of our hottest sellers is back!

2013 Beringer Private Reserve
Cabernet Sauvignon

Get one our favorites while it’s in, they never last! Here’s what Robert Parker had to say about this fine bottle.

One of the great efforts of recent years, and not surprisingly so, is the 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Private Reserve, a blend of 81% from Howell Mountain, 11% from St. Helena and the rest Calistoga and Mount Veeder. It is a blend of 96% Cabernet Sauvignon 3% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot aged 20 months in 84% new French oak. At 15.2% natural alcohol, this is a big boy, but also classic Napa Cabernet Sauvignon with crème de cassis, graphite, licorice, and a touch of spicy oak. Winemaker Laurie Hook really hit a home run with this beauty. The wine could benefit from 7-10 years cellaring and probably last 30 to 40. When all is said and done, this is an instant classic, the wine is full-bodied with oodles of crème de cassis, pen ink, graphite and baking spices. It is multi-dimensional, layered, and one of the all-time great Beringer Private Reserves – and there have been many.

Robert Parker: 97 Points

Check out these killer Bordeaux’s opened last night here at Graileys!

We were lucky enough to host a tasting last night with Raj himself, and were particularly wowed by the new releases of his Chardonnays. Big thanks to all who were able to attend!