At Bello, we are proud to
have a diverse list of well known wines
We carry famous brands such as Gaja, Caymus and Austin Hope. And we always will. But we also spend a huge amount of time scouring the globe for values. We’re a bunch of wine geeks, after all.
Bello Wine Geek Wines are wines that we feel represent exceptional value for the price and they are outstanding wines from less well known producers, regions or grapes. Most of these are curated and poured for our critically acclaimed Chef’s Table menu.
If you want to try a wine that is unique and that is spectacular in a different way, we encourage you to give these a try.
These wines are hard to keep in stock so please forgive us if we are out of one.
Sparkling
Villiera Tradition Brut South Africa NV
This is made using the Champagne method in South Africa by a winemaker who trained in Champagne. It has a lovely yeasty nose and is dry, nicely fruited, bright and very precise. It tastes like very well made Champagne.
Reds
Cadia Barolo Monvigliero
Yes, Barolo is hardly unknown. But this winery is for some reason. Cadia’s Barolo is made from the famed Monvigliero vineyard. Burlotto received 100 points for their Monvigliero a few years back and it now costs $1,000. It defies logic that a well made wine from the same vineyard is such a value. A wine geek’s paradise.
Fattoria Alois Donna Paolina Taurasi DOCG
This wine is from Sandro’s home region (Campania). It’s made from the Aglianico grape. For a wine grown so far in the south it is very elegant. There are elements of blackberry fruit and licorice. These can age for decades. It’s a delicious alternative to Brunello or Barolo.
Paradigm Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley
How could a wine from Napa be a wine geek wine? Well because it’s an “unknown” producer and made by a famous winemaker and an incredible value. This is made by Heidi Barrett, who was the winemaker at Screaming Eagle. It’s a classic dark fruited Napa Cab but very, very well made.
Ziereisen Blauer Spatburgunder
This is 100% Pinot Noir which the Germans call Spatburgunder (pronounced spate burgunder). It is made by one of the top 3 producers in Germany Zierseien (pronounced Zee rye sen). German Pinot Noirs are really the new big thing in pinot noir and have received scores comparable with top Burgundies (at much lower prices). It has classic pinot noir cherry fruit with exceptional acidic balance. We’re very excited to be introducing people to this producer.
Whites
Clemens Busch Dry Riesling Grand Cru Marienburg Rothenpfad, 95 WA
Dr. Loosen Ürziger Würzgarten, Riesling, GG, Alte Reben, 96+ WA
Dr Loosen Wehlener Sonnenuhr, Riesling, GG, Alte Reben, 96 WA
There is a little secret in the wine world. Top German Rieslings (called Grosses Gewachs/Grand Crus or GG for short) are as good as White Burgundies that cost hundreds of dollars. They have the critical scores to prove it. We brought these in for some of our favorite customers who happen to be German nationals but we love these wines so much we’d love to sell more of them. These are all from the Mosel and from top producers.
From 80- to 85+-year-old vines on red slate, the 2019 Marienburg GG Rothenpfad is pure, very fine and flinty on the crystalline and concentrated yet pure, complex and still reductive nose. Silky, round and very elegant on the palate, this is a full-bodied, crystalline, juicy, persistently salty and structured Rothenpfad with great elegance, intensity, warmth and balance. Impressive—and surely exceptional with fresh porcini. Tasted at the domain in September 2020.
95 Points, The Wine Advocate
From volcanic soils, the 2019 Ürziger Würzgarten Riesling GG Alte Reben is beautifully clear, fresh and subtle on the precise and highly finessed bouquet of slate, iodine and herbal scents. The warm and elegant Riesling fruit intertwined with very fine herbal notes represents the very best of this exceptional grand cru in its original, much smaller size. Almost entirely sourced from the Urglück, this is a lush and intense, enormously powerful yet restrained and slatey Würzgarten GG with crystalline acidity that leads to a long, intense and still slightly astringent finish with refreshing lemon features. This wine is still developing and has the potential to become another giant of the vintage. Tasted at the domain in September 2020.
96+ Points, The Wine Advocate
From vines planted in 1911 or earlier in the Laichen lieu-dit, Loosen’s 2019 Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling GG Alte Reben is sylphlike, highly delicate and fine in its multilayered, fruity, floral and crunchy/flinty bouquet that reveals very fine slate aromas and even salty notes. Absolutely fabulous! Silky textured, lush and generous yet highly finessed, this is an intense yet subtle, pure and minerally fresh Riesling from one of the Mosel’s finest vineyard. The finish is long, fresh, piquant and sustainably structured as well as salty. Irresistible. Tasted at the domain in September 2020.
96 Points, The Wine Advocate
Domaine FL Savennieres Chamboureau, 98 JS
This is a Chenin Blanc from France’s Loire Valley. Savennieres is considered to be the best AOC for Chenin. This is a ridiculous bottle of wine and a stunning value.
“Stare into the abyss and it will stare back at you! This has such an incredible depth of dried-flower and fresh-herb notes that you could get lost in the bouquet, before reaching the sleek and enormously mineral palate. So pristine and dazzling at the super long finish. Drink or hold…98 points.”
98 Points, James Suckling
Kiralyudvar Furmint Sec
This is made mostly from Furmint which is the most important grape used in Hungary’s famous dessert wine, Tokay. This is 100% dry (not sweet). The estate is owned by the owners of Huet, the most storied winery in the Loire. Spring-fresh nose, lime florals. Lime candy and greengage with a strong mineral character. Some rich Seville-orange notes and spices. A terrific find for the adventurous drinker.
Rossignol Aligote
Everyone thinks of Chardonnay when they think of white Burgundy. But Aligote is really the second white wine grape of Burgundy. It is very mineral and goes very well with food. Most of the great producers make one (Leroy’s Aligote is $200). This is from 90 year old vines and is grown in Pommard and Volnay. It had the intensity of Burgundian Chardonnay at twice the price but it’s a relative unknown so it’s a value.
Stein RG Weihwasser Feinherb
This is an off dry Riesling from the Mosel. That means that it is dry with just a little bit of sweetness like a non Brut Champagne (but not sparkling). You get classic Mosel green apples and acidity. It’s terrific with food, especially crudo.
Tiare Collio Sauvignon Blanc
This is not your ordinary sauvignon blanc that you drink at picnics. It was ranked the best sauvignon blanc in the world in 2014 and 2016. It is from Friuli which is the best region in Italy for Sauvignon Blanc. We think that it has the acidity to work well with rich dishes. It’s also delicious with terrific fruit.
Wirsching Scheurebe
Scheurebe is a relatively unknown, sort of geeky grape from the Franken region of Germany which is near Frankfurt. It is highly aromatic and has wonderful grapefruit overtones and is a lot of fun to drink with crudo.
Sparkling
Villiera Tradition Brut South Africa NV
This is made using the Champagne method in South Africa by a winemaker who trained in Champagne. It has a lovely yeasty nose and is dry, nicely fruited, bright and very precise. It tastes like very well made Champagne.
Whites
Clemens Busch Dry Riesling Grand Cru Marienburg Rothenpfad, 95 WA
Dr. Loosen Ürziger Würzgarten, Riesling, GG, Alte Reben, 96+ WA
Dr Loosen Wehlener Sonnenuhr, Riesling, GG, Alte Reben, 96 WA
There is a little secret in the wine world. Top German Rieslings (called Grosses Gewachs/Grand Crus or GG for short) are as good as White Burgundies that cost hundreds of dollars. They have the critical scores to prove it. We brought these in for some of our favorite customers who happen to be German nationals but we love these wines so much we’d love to sell more of them. These are all from the Mosel and from top producers.
From 80- to 85+-year-old vines on red slate, the 2019 Marienburg GG Rothenpfad is pure, very fine and flinty on the crystalline and concentrated yet pure, complex and still reductive nose. Silky, round and very elegant on the palate, this is a full-bodied, crystalline, juicy, persistently salty and structured Rothenpfad with great elegance, intensity, warmth and balance. Impressive—and surely exceptional with fresh porcini. Tasted at the domain in September 2020.
95 Points, The Wine Advocate
From volcanic soils, the 2019 Ürziger Würzgarten Riesling GG Alte Reben is beautifully clear, fresh and subtle on the precise and highly finessed bouquet of slate, iodine and herbal scents. The warm and elegant Riesling fruit intertwined with very fine herbal notes represents the very best of this exceptional grand cru in its original, much smaller size. Almost entirely sourced from the Urglück, this is a lush and intense, enormously powerful yet restrained and slatey Würzgarten GG with crystalline acidity that leads to a long, intense and still slightly astringent finish with refreshing lemon features. This wine is still developing and has the potential to become another giant of the vintage. Tasted at the domain in September 2020.
96+ Points, The Wine Advocate
From vines planted in 1911 or earlier in the Laichen lieu-dit, Loosen’s 2019 Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling GG Alte Reben is sylphlike, highly delicate and fine in its multilayered, fruity, floral and crunchy/flinty bouquet that reveals very fine slate aromas and even salty notes. Absolutely fabulous! Silky textured, lush and generous yet highly finessed, this is an intense yet subtle, pure and minerally fresh Riesling from one of the Mosel’s finest vineyard. The finish is long, fresh, piquant and sustainably structured as well as salty. Irresistible. Tasted at the domain in September 2020.
96 Points, The Wine Advocate
Domaine FL Savennieres Chamboureau, 98 JS
This is a Chenin Blanc from France’s Loire Valley. Savennieres is considered to be the best AOC for Chenin. This is a ridiculous bottle of wine and a stunning value.
“Stare into the abyss and it will stare back at you! This has such an incredible depth of dried-flower and fresh-herb notes that you could get lost in the bouquet, before reaching the sleek and enormously mineral palate. So pristine and dazzling at the super long finish. Drink or hold…98 points.”
98 Points, James Suckling
Kiralyudvar Furmint Sec
This is made mostly from Furmint which is the most important grape used in Hungary’s famous dessert wine, Tokay. This is 100% dry (not sweet). The estate is owned by the owners of Huet, the most storied winery in the Loire. Spring-fresh nose, lime florals. Lime candy and greengage with a strong mineral character. Some rich Seville-orange notes and spices. A terrific find for the adventurous drinker.
Rossignol Aligote
Everyone thinks of Chardonnay when they think of white Burgundy. But Aligote is really the second white wine grape of Burgundy. It is very mineral and goes very well with food. Most of the great producers make one (Leroy’s Aligote is $200). This is from 90 year old vines and is grown in Pommard and Volnay. It had the intensity of Burgundian Chardonnay at twice the price but it’s a relative unknown so it’s a value.
Stein RG Weihwasser Feinherb
This is an off dry Riesling from the Mosel. That means that it is dry with just a little bit of sweetness like a non Brut Champagne (but not sparkling). You get classic Mosel green apples and acidity. It’s terrific with food, especially crudo.
Tiare Collio Sauvignon Blanc
This is not your ordinary sauvignon blanc that you drink at picnics. It was ranked the best sauvignon blanc in the world in 2014 and 2016. It is from Friuli which is the best region in Italy for Sauvignon Blanc. We think that it has the acidity to work well with rich dishes. It’s also delicious with terrific fruit.
Wirsching Scheurebe
Scheurebe is a relatively unknown, sort of geeky grape from the Franken region of Germany which is near Frankfurt. It is highly aromatic and has wonderful grapefruit overtones and is a lot of fun to drink with crudo.
Reds
Cadia Barolo Monvigliero
Yes, Barolo is hardly unknown. But this winery is for some reason. Cadia’s Barolo is made from the famed Monvigliero vineyard. Burlotto received 100 points for their Monvigliero a few years back and it now costs $1,000. It defies logic that a well made wine from the same vineyard is such a value. A wine geek’s paradise.
Fattoria Alois Donna Paolina Taurasi DOCG
This wine is from Sandro’s home region (Campania). It’s made from the Aglianico grape. For a wine grown so far in the south it is very elegant. There are elements of blackberry fruit and licorice. These can age for decades. It’s a delicious alternative to Brunello or Barolo.
Paradigm Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley
How could a wine from Napa be a wine geek wine? Well because it’s an “unknown” producer and made by a famous winemaker and an incredible value. This is made by Heidi Barrett, who was the winemaker at Screaming Eagle. It’s a classic dark fruited Napa Cab but very, very well made.
Ziereisen Blauer Spatburgunder
This is 100% Pinot Noir which the Germans call Spatburgunder (pronounced spate burgunder). It is made by one of the top 3 producers in Germany Zierseien (pronounced Zee rye sen). German Pinot Noirs are really the new big thing in pinot noir and have received scores comparable with top Burgundies (at much lower prices). It has classic pinot noir cherry fruit with exceptional acidic balance. We’re very excited to be introducing people to this producer.