Monday VinopolPick 3-6-17

Featured New Arrival: CrossBarn by Paul Hobbs; New Week – New Arrivals; New Reviews for Alsace: Agathe Bursin & Domaine Weinbach; Trending; Domaine Serafin: Rising Star of Gevrey; Von Winning: New Releases in Stock Now; Staff Pick; Arriving This Week: Quintessa 2013 Super Deal & more!

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Featured New Arrival

CrossBarn by Paul Hobbs Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, California 2013 750ML ($49.95) $39 special
Wine Advocate 93 points “Even better news is the Crossbarn 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley. There are 10,500+ cases of this wine, and while $50.00 is hardly a bargain, this is a brilliant wine from Hobbs. There is a little Merlot and Cabernet Franc in the blend, but it reflects this great vintage, revealing blueberry, blackberry and cassis as well as some licorice, incense, and forest floor. The wine has full-bodied opulence, a sumptuous mouthfeel, and is just a terrific, savory, expansive Cabernet Sauvignon that should drink well for 15 or more years.”
James Suckling 93 points “This is a fantastic example of the super 2013 vintage in Napa. Full body, currants, graphite, spice, and light chocolate. The length and balance to this is superb. Don’t miss it. Drink or hold.”

This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!

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New Week – New Arrivals

Oregon

Bergstrom Wines Gregory Ranch Pinot Noir, Yamhill-Carlton District 2015 750ML ($69.95) $61.90 special
Winery note “Gregory Ranch is our new, 26-acre estate vineyard in the rolling, sandy hills of the Yamhill-Carlton AVA. Planted by Bergström Wines club member Dr. Kenton Gregory and his family, Gregory Ranch’s viticulture and biodynamic programs have been managed by Josh Bergström and the Bergström Wines farming team since the vineyard’s inception in 2007. Perched on the top of a 580-foot sandstone hillside, Gregory Ranch Vineyard sits where the Willamette Valley climbs up into the rugged Pacific Coast Mountain Range. The vineyard property sprawls through and around oak and Douglas fir trees as well as Scotch broom, which paints the hillside bright yellow in the spring. Wines from Gregory Ranch Vineyard are soil-driven with dark fruit aromas of black cherry, blackberry and blueberry as well as wild dried mushroom, cinnamon, tobacco and meat notes. Sweet baking spices, characteristic of the Yamhill-Carlton AVA, are also present, lending sweetness and lush textures.”

Bergstrom Wines Silice Vineyard Pinot Noir, Chehalem Mountains 2015 750ML ($79.96) $69 special
Winery note “To gaze across the 21 rolling acres of the Silice Vineyard is to look back through Oregon’s rich and storied geological history. At one time, this land lay entirely under the ocean’s waves. Millions of years ago the same violent volcanic and tectonic activity that formed the Oregon Coast Range thrust these sea beds upwards and slowly carved out and created our beautiful landscape. What remains today are gentle rolling hills of sandy soils resting atop layers of sandstone and shale. Sweet baking spices such as cinnamon, clove and star anise along with fresh, savory garden herbs are the hallmark aromas and flavors of the Silice Vineyard. Natural acidity by virtue of the site’s special terroir adds brightness, while the vineyard’s unique soils bless its wines with incredibly intense fruit flavors. Marionberry, huckleberry, blueberry and dark, tart cherry are customarily found in the Pinot Noirs.”
Washington

Bedrock Wine Co. Sh’Bubbles First Cuvee Sparkling Rose, California NV 750ML ($24.95) $16 special
Vinopolnote: 90% Old vine Carignan and a dab of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. The still wine evolved on lees in tank for eight months then put through secondary fermentation and bottle using the Charmat method. Full of red fruits and fun. 6 g/l dosage.

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Charles Smith ‘Sixto’ Roza Hills Chardonnay, Washington State 2013 750ML ($59.95) $39 special
Wine Advocate 93 points “The richest, full-throttle and decadent in the lineup, the 2013 Chardonnay Roza Hills Vineyard offers lots of baked apple tart, white flowers and creaminess in a layered, balanced, classic style. Like the other wines here, it will drink well for at least 2-4 years.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $48
The average price is $53

Tyrus Evan Ciel du Cheval Vineyard Claret, Columbia Valley 2015 750ML ($21.95) $18 special
Case-6 Tyrus Evan Ciel du Cheval Vineyard Claret, Columbia Valley 2015 750ML ($119.95) $99 special (that’s only $16.50/bottle and the lowest listed price in the USA today!)
Winery note “Ken Wright, known for his highly-rated, single-vineyard Pinot Noir, introduced a new label in 2001, Tyrus Evan. The name on the vintage western label came from Ken’s two son’s middle names. The wine, all made in Carlton at Ken Wright Cellars, is from fruit sourced from Ciel du Cheval vineyard in Washington State’s Red Mountain AVA and Seven Hills vineyard which lies on the Oregon side of the Walla Walla AVA. The vineyard Ciel du Cheval lies in the heart of the tiny Red Mountain American Viticultural Area (AVA) in southeast Washington. Initially planted to just three acres in 1975, the vineyard now encompasses 120 acres and provides outstanding fruit to 26 wineries in the northwest. As owner Jim Holmes puts it, ‘This is a hobby that has gone crazy.’ 43% Merlot, 36% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Cabernet Franc, 6% Petit Verdot”

This is the final vintage of Mr. Wright’s Ciel du Cheval Claret

Blackbird Vineyards Arise, Oak Knoll District 2013 750ML ($59.95) $39 special
Wine Enthusiast 91 points “This is a Merlot-dominant blend, with 30% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Cabernet Franc blended in. It offers cooler-climate elements of dried herb, cedar and currant, with the tannins sleek and polished. The finish flirts with a taste of coconut. Drink now through 2021.”
Antonio Galloni 90 points “The Merlot-based 2013 Arise, Blackbird’s entry-level wine, is dark, voluptuous and juicy. Dark red and blue fruit , violets, lavender and spices round out the succulent, open-knit finish. Drink this delicious red over the next few years.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Blackbird Vineyards Paramour, Oak Knoll District 2013 750ML ($129.95) $89 special
Antonio Galloni 93 points “The Cabernet Franc-based 2013 Paramour has turned out beautifully. Espresso, mocha, soaring spice notes and black stone fruits are pushed forward. Aromatic, inviting and ample on the palate, the 2013 is full of Franc sensuality. Like all of the 2013s, the Paramour needs time in bottle to soften, but it is quite expressive today just the same.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $105.39!
California

Kamen Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma Valley 2012 750ML ($89.95) $79 special
Robert Parker 96 points “Another outrageous effort is the 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon (100% Cabernet Sauvignon). Its opaque purple color is followed by aromas of pen ink, graphite, blackberry and blueberry liqueur, charcoal and flowers. Dense, full-bodied, multidimensional, long, silky and opulent, this stunning Cabernet can be drunk now or cellared for 15-20 years.”

Kamen Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma Valley 2013 750ML ($89.95) $79 special
Robert Parker 96 points “Kamen’s 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, and his biggest cuvée of 1,800 cases. It’s a spectacular Cabernet, dense purple with notes of lead pencil shavings, blackberry, pen ink and cassis followed by a full-bodied, opulent, voluptuously textured wine with sweet tannins, stunning delineation, precision (a characteristic of 2013) and great length and richness. This is a stunner – a fabulous wine and, at this price point, very attractive. It should drink well for 25-30 years.”
France – Champagne

Veuve Fourny & Fils Blanc de Blancs Premier Cru Brut, Champagne NV 375ML ($29.95) $21.90 special
Wine Spectator 91 points “Toasted brioche and coffee notes accent lemon parfait and glazed apricot flavors in this creamy Champagne. Fresh, with a finely detailed bead and a spiced, minerally finish.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Francoise Bedel Cuvee Comme Autrefois Extra-Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($119.95) $79 special
Winemaker’s note: “Extra brut. This reserve is vinified completely in oak casks and bottled directly with a traditional cork in a square bottle ring, and left to age on its lees for at least 10 years. Visual impression : When served, this champagne produces a lovely, creamy mousse that is held up at the surface by tumultuous effervescence.  Nose : The first whiff is powerful and expressive, with a pleasing blend of freshness and maturity. The bouquet then evolves into dried fruits and sweet spices, finishing on mineral and lightly salty notes. Palate : Powerful and persistent. The duality of maturity and freshness scented in the bouquet is confirmed on the palate. The wine presents dried fruit aromas and a general sensation of vivacity. Biodynamic, hand-harvested. 40 % Pinot Meunier, 40 % Pinot noir, 20 % Chardonnay.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Francoise Bedel Cuvee Entre Ciel et Terre Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($79.95) $59 special
Wine Advocate 93 points “The current release of the NV Entre Ciel et Terre Extra-Brut is based on the 2006 vintage and assembles 60% Meunier with 30% Chardonnay and 10% Pinot Noir from the villages of Crouttes-sur-Marne, Nanteuil-sur-Marne and Villiers St-Denis. Fermented and aged in oak (15%) and enameled tanks, then disgorged after eight years sur lattes in April 2015, this straw-yellow colored cuvée displays a very clear, deep, fresh and elegant, well defined bouquet. It develops with every minute and every glass. Floral, vegetal and herbal flavors, hints of caramel, nuts and honey intertwine with ripe, dried and potted white and yellow-skinned fruit aromas—indicating a lovely vinous style. Clear, fresh, precise and elegant on the palate, this is a stimulatingly dry and pure, well-structured and finesse-full Champagne with a kicking grip, salinity and mineral expression in the finish. Great purity, freshness and straightforwardness. If it should be a Bedel today, then right now it should be this one. As aperitif and for dinner.”
France – Rose

Domaines Ott Cotes de Provence ‘By.Ott’ Rose, Provence 2015 750ML ($24.95) $14 special
Josh Raynolds – Vinous 89 points “Vivid peach skin color. Deeply pitched nectarine, orange and redcurrant aromas show good focus and pick up a floral element with air. Supple and dry, offering mineral-tinged citrus and pit fruit flavors and a refreshingly bitter suggestion of quinine. Closes on a stony, dry note, with a honeysuckle nuance lingering.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $21

Chateau de Trinquevedel Tavel Cuvee Traditionelle Rose 2015 750ML ($21.95) $11.90 special
Josh Raynolds – Vinous 90 points “Vivid orange. Potent cherry and red currant scents, along with hints of blood orange and pungent flowers. Sappy and focused, offering bitter cherry and berry skin flavors that unfold slowly with air. Shows very good energy and thrust on the chewy, persistent finish, which strongly echoes the cherry and orange notes.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $18

Domaine Les Pallieres Au Petit Bonheur Les Pallieres Gigondas Rose 2015 750ML ($27.95) $16 special
Josh Raynolds – Vinous 92 points “Pale salmon skin. A complex, highly perfumed bouquet evokes fresh red berries, tangerine, jasmine and iodine, and a smoky mineral nuance builds in the glass. Concentrated but impressively graceful, offering intense strawberry and orange pith flavors and an exotic suggestion of toasted grain. Lingers on the finish with real intensity and persistence, leaving floral and mineral notes behind.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $19.97

Chateau de Roquefort Cotes de Provence Corail Rose, Provence 2015 750ML ($19.95) $11.90 special
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 90 points “Extremely pale pink. Aromas of tangerine, strawberry, melon and white flowers show very good clarity and a zesty mineral element. Juicy and sharply focused, offering vibrant red berry and pit fruit flavors that put on weight and pick up an orange pith nuance with air. Fleshy, silky and focused on the finish, which hangs on with strong, stony tenacity.”

This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!

Gerard Boulay Sancerre Chavignol Rose, Loire 2015 750ML ($26.95) $18 special
Josh Raynolds – Vinous 92 points “Light, bright orange. Fresh blood orange, raspberry and jasmine on the intense, mineral-accented nose. Smooth, juicy and seamless in texture, offering intense red berry, nectarine and orange pith flavors that deepen on the back half. Shows excellent focus, thrust and mineral lift on the finish, which leaves behind hints of orange zest and chalky minerals. I really like the marriage of power and elegance here.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $22
France – Beaujolais

Georges Duboeuf Domaine Mont Chavy Morgon, Beaujolais 2014 750ML ($21.95) $14 special
Wine Advocate 90 points “The 2014 Morgon Domaine Mont Chavy was cropped at 45 hectoliters per hectare this year. It has a precise red cherry and bergamot-scented nose that unfurls in the glass. The palate is juicy and quite dense – thick tannin shrouded in lightly spiced redcurrant and blackcurrant fruit that lead to a sharp, nicely focused finish that demonstrates fine backbone. This is probably the best from Georges Duboeuf this year. Very fine.” NM

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $21.99

Jean-Louis Dutraive Domaine de la Grand’Cour Fleurie ‘Chapelle des Bois’, Beaujolais 2015 750ML ($39.95) $33 special
Importer note “Terroir: Just on the north side of the domaine, this vineyard is on a gentle slope facing north. The soil is decomposed granite that is slightly deeper than most sections of the Clos de la Coeur; in fact, it is the deepest soil in his roster of vines. It is also the coolest site, thus rendering wines with greater acidity. This combination of higher natural acidity and a cooler terroir is the reason why he chooses this site to bottle a wine completely free of Sulfur.”

This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!

Jean-Louis Dutraive Domaine de la Grand’Cour Fleurie Cuvee Vielles Vignes ‘Le Clos’, Beaujolais 2015 750ML ($41.95) $36 special
Grapelive 94+ points “The 2015 Dutraive Le Clos old vine Gamay is as close to perfection as you can get, but with a flamboyant and exotic flair that will scare the hell out of some people! This gorgeous and richly flavored Fleurie is much more like Scarlett Johansson than 60’s icon Twiggy, with amazing textures and an eye popping 14.5% alcohol. This is a blockbuster Cru Beaujolais that will seduce every inch of you! Jean-Louis Dutraive’s all natural and biodynamic Jules Chauvet-inspired Domaine de la Grand Cour is one of the great wines of the world. This 2015 Cuvee Vieilles Le Clos is like The Guigal La La Cote-Rotie of Beaujolais with sweet ripe opulence, hedonistically sexy mouth feel and with mineral/flinty spices true to its pink quartz and granite schist soils. Native yeast fermented with partial carbonic and no obvious wood, this wine is just wondrous in style and detail. [It has] delicate floral tones, densely packed pure Gamay character with creamy red raspberry, tart cherry, wild strawberry, tangy plum and guava jelly as well as basil/minty herb, shale/stony elements, saline-rich anise along with mixed spice, candied citrus, [and[ dried violet with lingering red peach and black currant. Wow, this is something wildly special and complex, but oddly comforting and easy to love. There are the dreamy textures and succulent fruit. [The] subtle savory tones, liquid mineral and juicy acidity keep things remarkably balanced and focused. While sultry and darkly beautiful now, this expressive Fleurie will be admired as a classic for years if not decades to come. Fantastic stuff from the master Jean-Louis Dutraive. Do not miss this wine if you are lucky enough to see or find it!”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Jean-Louis Dutraive Domaine de la Grand’Cour Fleurie ‘Clos de la Grand’Cour’, Beaujolais 2015 750ML ($39.95) $33 special
Importer note “Terroir: Clos de la Grand Coeur is a historic estate located on a true plateau in Fleurie. This acidic soil is nearly 100% decomposed granite. It is the largest bottling on the estate, making up more than 1/3 of the production. Even at over 40 years average age, Jean-Louis considers these his young vines and bottles them separately from some of the older vines on the estate which go into the cuvée, Le Clos Vieille Vignes. Most of these vines are on more shallow soils than the Vieilles Vigne bottling.”

Jean-Louis Dutraive Domaine de la Grand’Cour Fleurie Cuvee Vieilles Vignes ‘Champagne’, Beaujolais 2015 750ML ($69.95) $59 special
Importer note “Terroir: Outside of the “Clos de la Grand Coeur” and further down the hill about 300 meters you will find Jean-Louis’ “Champagne” vineyard. This pink granite soil is very shallow and gently sloped. The granite “roche mare” is only about 20-30 centimeters below. It is considered to be one of the finest terroirs in all of Fleurie.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
France – Burgundy

Philippe Colin Les Chenevottes, Chassagne-Montrachet Premier Cru 2011 750ML ($79.95) $59 special
Wine Advocate 92 points “Tasted blind at the Burgundy 2011 horizontal tasting in Beaune. The Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru les Chenevottes 2011 from Philippe Colin has a more floral and feminine bouquet that its peers with subtle touches of white flowers, shaved almond and popcorn that unfolds beautifully in the glass. The palate is clean and fresh with vibrant candied orange peel and citrus lemon. This is well defined and focused with a long and engaging, terroir-driven finish. This is a great Chassagne from Philippe Colin.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $99.87

Philippe Colin Les Vergers, Chassagne-Montrachet Premier Cru2011 750ML ($79.95) $59 special
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 92+ points “Bright yellow. Reticent nose dominated by crushed stone and menthol. Tightly wound but already quite nuanced, showing excellent acid/mineral cut to its flavors of lemon, hay and fresh herbs. Finishes juicy and long, with suggestions of orchard fruits. An excellent showing today, but there’s more to come.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $89.99

Domaine de Montille Le Cailleret, Puligny-Montrachet Premier Cru 2014 750ML ($199.95) $179 special
Burghound 91-93 points “Here the nose is actually quite similar to that of the Perrières save for being ever-so-slightly riper and displaying more overt white orchard fruit influence. There is the same exquisite purity to the strikingly intense and beautifully well-detailed flavors that ooze both a fine minerality and plenty of dry extract that imparts a wonderfully seductive texture to the explosive yet refined finish. The only nit, at least at present, is that the depth isn’t quite as impressive though this obviously may very well change with time.”

Domaine de Montille Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru 2014 750ML ($219.95) $189 special
Burghound 92-94 points “An ultra-pure and fresh nose of green apple, spiced pear and citrus blossom gracefully slides into overtly stony and powerful broad-shouldered flavors that despite their significant size and weight, are crystalline in their transparency on the superbly long and well-balanced finale. This is most impressive and very clearly built-to-age so note well that this is definitely going to require some patience.”

Domaine de Montille Bourgogne Rouge 2014 750ML ($44.95) $38 special
Grapelive 92 points “Etienne de Montille’s stylish and open-knit base red Burgundy really delivers in quality and class for an entry level wine and is hard to resist even now. The 2014 Domaine de Montille Pinot Noir shows pretty detail and a light to medium bodied with satiny red fruits, sweet/succulent floral tones and has plenty of mineral and spice. Like most of the Domaine wines this one comes from select plots in the Cote de Beaune and farmed in most cases all organic. Etienne and his sister Alix craft each wine with extreme care and passion. They focus on making a wine that can age. Most vintages, you’d want to hold many years before enjoying them, but lucky for us the 2014’s are bursting with round and open flavors allowing youthful drinking pleasures. Less patience is required, even though it will certainly gain with another 3 to 5 years in the cellar. Bright and focused the 2014 de Montille Bourgogne Rouge leads with a hint of smoke, flinty/graphite, wilted roses and dusty plum with a very appealing ruby and light catching garnet hue in the glass, leading to a sweet palate of silken red cherries along with tangy currant, cranberry, strawberry and raspberry fruits as well as chalky stones, minty herb, fresh earth and peppery spices. This is a Pinot Noir that gives what is expected and a little bit more with a serious and sensual sense of poise and polish, but not completely tame with subtle tannins and vigor, impressive to be sure, enjoy over the next 3 to 10 years.”
France – Rhone

Marie et Pierre Benetiere Condrieu, Rhone 2013 750ML ($79.95) $69 special
Importer note “Benetiere makes a small amount of Condrieu from the lieu-dit known as Tinal in Verin just south of the commune of Condrieu. The vines are organically grown and and benefit from ideal southern exposure. There is richness, lift and elegance to be savored in this fine bottle. Pierre Bénétière is a self-made man and staunch Northern Rhone traditionalist cut from the mold of the great icons of the region, Gentaz-Dervieux, Verset, Juge, Allemand, etc. While Pierre grew up in a wine family, his parents did not actually produce wine, but were merchants in Condrieu selling local table wines to the bars and restaurants in the area. He eventually studied Enology and started his winery in the late `80s by acquiring a small parcel of land in the southern end of Cote Rotie (in the lieu-dit of Cordeloux near Condrieu) and clearing and planting the vineyards himself. He later added two small vineyards in Condrieu itself as well as a small parcel of old vines in the heart of the Cote Rotie appellation, on the Cote Brune and right in the middle of Guigal’s famed “La Turque”!”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Marie et Pierre Benetiere Cote Rotie Cordeloux, Rhone 2013 750ML ($119.95) $89 special
Josh Raynolds 92 points “Brilliant ruby. Sexy, mineral-accented dark berry and floral pastille scents show excellent clarity and hints of olive and cola. Sweet and energetic on the palate, offering juicy black and blue fruit flavors and zesty cracked pepper and allspice nuances. Shows an impressive blend of power and finesse on a very long, youthfully tannic finish that leaves a lively blueberry note behind.”

Domaine Les Pallieres Gigondas Les Racines, Rhone 2013 750ML ($49.95) $36 special
Josh Raynolds – Vinous 92 points “Vivid ruby. Spice- and smoke-accented red berries on the highly perfumed nose, complicated by a touch of candied flowers. Palate-staining bitter cherry and black raspberry flavors gain energy and life from an undertone of juicy minerality. The floral quality repeats on the penetrating finish, which is shaped by silky, harmonious tannins.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $42
France – Loire

Domaine Guiberteau Saumur Blanc Breze, Loire 2010 1.5L ($199.95) $169 special
Joel B. Payne–Vinous 92 points “Pale greenish yellow. Herbal aroma of gooseberry, lemon and green apple. Vibrant but well-integrated racy acidity lends lift to the yellow currant and citrus fruit flavors. Boasts an unctuous depth from old vines, but still very dry, with nicely delineated spice on the finish. This chenin blanc, one of the finest of its vintage, is only beginning to show its potential.”

This is the only listing in the USA today for the magnum!

Domaine Guiberteau Saumur Blanc Breze, Loire 2011 1.5L ($219.95) $179 special
VinopolNote: From the legendary Brézé climat that rests at a high elevation among soils of chalky limestone (tuffeaux) with clay and sand.
France – Jura

Michel Gahier Arbois Trousseau Le Clousot, Jura 2015 750ML ($39.95) $33 special
VinopolNote: From the youngest estate vines (a little over 20 years old). Typically this is the lightest-bodied Trousseau in the collection.

Michel Gahier Arbois Trousseau La Vigne du Louis, Jura 2015 750ML ($44.95) $38 special
Importer note “This vineyard in Montigny has a northeast exposure which requires a harvest later than the other “cru” reds. The vines are forty years old (as of 2011). Gahier likes this cuvée with about four or five years of age to it.”

Michel Gahier Arbois Trousseau Les Grands Vergers, Jura 2015 750ML ($44.95) $38 special
Importer note “This vineyard site produces Gahier’s greatest red. The vines are sixty to seventy years of age, the soil is heavily “marl”. The vines are on a gentle slope with superb exposure to the sun. The result is a classic Trousseau.”

Michel Gahier La Vigne De Fort, Jura 2015 750ML ($31.95) $27 special
Importer note “10% PN, 90% Trousseau. 15% of a 2.0 ha parcel (the rest is planted to Chard).”
Italy – Tuscany

Montevertine Le Pergole Torte Toscana IGT, Tuscany 2013 750ML ($149.95) $119 special
Wine Advocate 98 points “Perhaps no Tuscan wine is a better vintage ambassador than the Montevertine 2013 Le Pergole Torte. This gorgeous wine seems to have captured the energy, the freshness, the spirt and the edginess of this classic vintage. It really speaks to my palate thanks to its silky consistency, its steady aromatic momentum and its understated elegance. The wine shows an uncanny level of the proverbial Tuscan nobility. The bouquet offers a delicate embroidery of wild berry and underbrush, with lingering tones of dark fruit and spice that appear on second nose. The mouthfeel is ethereal and polished with tannins that already show a superior level of integration despite the wine’s young age. The aging future looks very bright for the 2013 Le Pergole Torte.”
Italy – Piedmont

Roberto Voerzio Riserva Vecchie Viti dei Capalot e Brunate, Barolo DOCG 2004 1.5L ($699.95) $569 special
Antonio Galloni 98 points “Voerzio no longer makes his Barolo Riserva Vecchie Viti dei Capalot e delle Brunate. The 2004 is a great reminder of just how fabulous this wine was. A huge, vertical wine, the 2004 boasts magnificent depth and overall intensity. The flavors are boldly sketched in a dramatic Barolo built on pure muscle. A host of black cherry, cloves, smoke, menthol, tar and blackberry jam flow through to the intense finish. Beguiling and powerful, the 2004 will provide fascinating drinking for the next 10-15 years, perhaps longer. Of all the 2004s here, this is the wine that has had the most positive evolution in bottle.” (05/2015)

This is the only listing in the USA today!
Italy – Veneto

Giuseppe Quintarelli Valpolicella Classico Superiore, Veneto 2007 750ML ($99.95) $79 special
Wine Spectator 93 points “A lovely, elegant red, with flavors of kirsch, fig cake and dried thyme, featuring a rich underpinning of loamy earth and tarry mineral that slowly expands on the finely meshed palate. Lightly mouthwatering, with creamy tannins and a long, spiced finish. Drink now through 2027. 300 cases imported.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $90
Italy – Alto-Adige

Foradori Fontanasanta Manzoni Bianco Vigneti delle Dolomiti IGT, Trentino-Alto Adige 2015 750ML ($29.95) $26 special
Wine Spectator 92 points “Allow this time to open in your glass in order to fully enjoy the creamy palate’s dried currant, kumquat, chamomile and brine notes. Food such as fish will help highlight the sleek, sculpted frame of racy acidity and light tannins. Drink now through 2025.”
Spain

Descendientes de J. Palacios Petalos, Bierzo 2013 750ML ($24.95) Was $18, Now $14 special
#53 Wine Spectator Top 100 in 2015
Wine Advocate 92 points “Always among the best values of Spain, the 2013 Pétalos del Bierzo has an extra degree of freshness in a cool vintage, and some time in bottle always does this wine wonders. It’s aromatic, open and expressive, with floral aromas and bright fruit, wild strawberries and violets. This is always a subtle, medium-bodied wine, with fine tannins, sleek acidity and a fine minerality. Ready now.”
Wine Spectator 91 points “Expressive black cherry, currant, licorice, mineral and smoke flavors mingle in this focused red.  The texture is gentle but firm, with well-integrated tannins and racy acidity providing structure.  A compact wine that shows good intensity.  Drink now through 2023.”TM

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $21

Familia Nin-Ortiz ‘Planetes de Nin’, Priorat DOCa 2012 750ML ($59.95) $33 special
Wine Advocate 94 points “I was thoroughly impressed by the 2012 Planetes de Nin, a bright ruby-colored, fragrant Garnacha-based red with some 30% Cariñena from the Planetes vineyard in Porrera. It has a beautiful floral nose of violets and lilies, with showy aromas of blood orange peel, wild berries and oriental spices in a Vosne-Romanée way, very Burgundian overall and truly captivating. The palate is ultra-sleek, silky with very refined tannins and a subtle minerality that adds to the freshness and makes the wine very focused and precise. This is so different from previous vintages, so much more elegant and focused, pure and elegant. This should age in bottle nicely, but it will be very difficult to resist. And it’s a very good value. 9,000 bottles.” WA

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $46
Germany

Carl von Schubert Maximin Grunhauser Abtsberg Riesling Kabinett, Mosel 2014 750ML ($34.95) $27 special
Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2014 Maximin Grünhäuser Abtsberg Riesling Kabinett (AP #11) shows a super clear, deep and complex blue slate bouquet; this leads to a piquant and filigreed palate, with an ethereal lightness and transparency. It has a salty and slate-like finish, which is very stimulating, pure and long, but neither too fruity nor too intense. Divine!”

See our feature below on Von Winning for new German wine arrivals!
Austria

Schloss Gobelsburg Lamm Gruner Veltliner Reserve Erste OTW Lage, Kamptal 2013 750ML ($79.95) $59 special
David Schildknecht–Vinous 94 points “The Kamptal’s iconic Grüner Veltliner vineyard has seldom if ever had to rise to a challenge like that of the other Gobelsburg 2013s from this variety. It succeeds in part by offering scents and flavors such as make one wonder how this could come from grapes. Hyacinth and freesia in the nose are mingled with nuances of alkaline and wet stone that then, along with toasted grain and mouthwatering veal stock, dominate the palate proceedings. That’s not to suggest that this wine lacks fruit. Apple, quince and honeydew offer a luscious presence, with complete transparency to mossy forest floor and mineral intrigue. Bittersweet floral perfume adds to the wine’s creamy, glossy inner-mouth allure. Rather than the energy and dynamic so memorable in the comparable Renner, this delivers an enveloping, buoyant wave of finishing flavor.”
Terry Theise notes “It’s a high-water mark of GV perfection, and even after all these supernal vintages, this wine can still gob-smack you. It’s every possible thing to cherish about GV, brilliance and intensity, taut yet endlessly juicy, “sweet” yet steely, like taking a huge cable and stretching it to the moon.”

Schloss Gobelsburg Renner Gruner Veltliner Reserve Erste OTW Lage, Kamptal 2013 750ML ($59.95) $49 special
David Schildknecht–Vinous 95 points “From Renner’s geologically complex Urgestein mix characteristically emerges a Grüner Veltliner of comparable complexity that’s indescribable without resorting to mineral vocabulary, and that is certainly true of this 2013. But there is so much more going on that it nearly makes me dizzy. A heady nose of lilac and iris, radish and raw ginger, along with hints of citrus and roasted root vegetables, sets the tone for what follows, an explosively concentrated interaction of grippingly piquant, pungent, incisive and brightly juicy elements. Apple and lime, caramelized parsnip and golden beet are mingled with smoky nut oils and laced with ginger, radish, iris root and white pepper. The reverberating finish adds to a kaleidoscopic whirl of the aforementioned elements an otherwise ineffable ore-like depth and saliva-inducing salinity. I was holding my breath that what I first tasted would be captured in bottle with complete success, and that’s happened.”

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Gift certificates are not available through our web store. To order, please stop in, call or email. We are happy to mail gift certificates to any domestic address at no charge.

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New Reviews for Agathe Bursin & Domaine Weinbach

“Alsace continues to be one of the world’s finest but most underrated, small wine regions.”
– Stephan Reinhardt, Wine Advocate

The new Alsatian reviews from the Wine Advocate are out and they confirm what we already knew to be true—that Alsace represents some of the finest value in white wine today and that Agathe Bursin, in particular, is a name to watch.  We’ve loved her wines and have covered them before but it’s always nice to have a professional confirm what you know to be the case.

She farms in the southern part of Alsace and her wines always combine elegance (which is getting harder to find in Alsace) with power and richness.  We’ve always had a soft spot for the Rieslings, but Stephan Reinhardt correctly points out that the Pinot Gris and Gewurtztraminer are both excellent here to (and of course, in her hometown she’s known for Sylvaner, so there’s that). One way or another though, we’re excited to feature these wines and their new reviews today.

Newly Reviewed Wines In Stock Now from Agathe Bursin:

Agathe Bursin Gewurztraminer Dirstelberg, Alsace 2015 750ML ($26.95) $21.90 special
Wine Advocate 92 points “The 2015 Gewürztraminer Dirstelberg is super clear, fresh and aromatic on the nose, and reveals a great precision, complexity and subtle spiciness that even includes the ripe seeds of the Traminer berries. On the palate, this Gewurz is rich, intense and concentrated, very well structured and reveals speculoos flavors; it has an impressively firm and stimulatingly salty finish. This is an impressive, medium-sweet Dirstelberg that was bottled at 12.95% alcohol with 29 grams per liter of residual sugar, a total acidity of 4.87 (pH 3.54). Enjoy this delicious wine for the next 15+ years.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Agathe Bursin Gewurztraminer Zinnkoepfle, Alsace Grand Cru 2015 750ML ($41.95) $33 special
Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2015 Gewurztraminer Grand Cru Zinnkoepflé opens with a clear, smoky/flinty, vegetal and spicy/herbal rather than fruity bouquet with flavors of anise, licorice and peony—fascinating and unique! On the palate the wine is rich, intense and elegant, shows a creamy texture and reveals a great power, but also character. This Zinnkoepflé is more the classic style of Gewurztraminer compared to the Dirstelberg and its finish is compact, nicely bitter and very expressive. Bottled with 31 grams of residual sugar, 4.16 of total acidity and a pH of 3.59. Drink over the next 20+ years.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Agathe Bursin Pinot Gris Dirstelberg, Alsace 2015 750ML ($26.95) $21.90 special
Wine Advocate 89 points “The 2015 Pinot Gris Dirstelberg is from red sandstone soil at 300 meters altitude and opens with a clear, ripe but subtle bouquet with refreshing stony flavors. Medium-dry, this is a very elegant and aromatic Pinot Gris with a nice purity, grip and salty taste. Its sweetness of 16 grams per liter is pretty subtle and gives an elegant roundness. Thanks to the elegant mineral piquancy and a total acidity of 5.82 per liter (pH 3.32), this Dirstelberg is pretty filigreed and really stimulating. Drink over the next 8-10 years.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Agathe Bursin Pinot Gris Zinnkoepfle, Alsace Grand Cru 2015 750ML ($41.95) $33 special
Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2015 Pinot Gris Grand Cru Zinnkoepflé is from two different parcels, with the bigger one with 35-year-old vines on Muschelkalk (75%), the lower one with 27-year-old vines on red sandstone. The wine opens very clear and subtle on the nose, with white seed fruit aromas and a very elegant expression of its complex terroir. Full-bodied, deep, rich and intense, the 2015 shows a perfect ripeness, tension and vitality thanks to its firm mineral structure. The finish is lovely aromatic and indicates perfectly ripe fruits. Served from a Burgundy glass, this is a great Pinot Gris that combines body and soul with intellect and a certain severity. The 2015 fermented down to 23 grams per liter of residual sugar, 13% alcohol and an total acidity if 6.5 (pH 3.37).”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Agathe Bursin Riesling Dirstelberg, Alsace 2015 750ML ($26.95) $21.90 special
Wine Advocate 90 points “From a southeast-facing single vineyard on red sandstone soils at 400 meters altitude in Westhalten (Vallée Noble), the 2015 Riesling Dirstelberg displays a clear, fresh and very precise bouquet of crushed sandstones, white fruits and lemon flavors. Lovely pure and fresh, as if there was spring in the glass! Medium-bodied but concentrated and aromatic on the palate, this is an intensely fruity but dry and mineral Riesling, with the fiery warmth of generous 13.8% alcohol and three grams of residual sugar.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Agathe Bursin Riesling Zinnkoepfle, Alsace Grand Cru 2015 750ML ($41.95) $33 special
Wine Advocate 92 points “This wine comes from the south-east-facing part of the grand cru and grown on Muschelkalk soils at 400 meters altitude, like the Dirstelberg but picked two days later on September 18th. The 2015 Riesling Grand Cru Zinnkoepflé opens with an intense and slightly nutty bouquet of super ripe and concentrated stone fruits, intermixed with stony and herbal flavors. Full-bodied, round, rich and intense on the palate, this is a dense, mouth-filling and powerful, but also greatly structured Zinnkoepflé with a remarkable freshness and enormous aging potential. Thanks to the acidity (9.57 grams per liter of total acidity, pH 3.0) and mineral complexity, the finish is long and full of tension that lifts the 14.3% alcohol and three grams of residual sugar. I would drink this Riesling monument for another three to thirteen years.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $37.99

Agathe Bursin Sylvaner Eminence Zinnkoepfle, Alsace Grand Cru 2015 750ML ($31.95) $28 special
Wine Advocate 91 points “The 2015 Sylvaner Eminence is from a very old parcel that Agathe’s grand-grandfather planted in 1930 in the Zinnkopflé. Although not all the vines are that old, the genetics are the same due to the sélections massales. The medium-sweet wine opens with a lovely clear and stony/herbal rather than fruity nose, and reveals a great purity and subtlety. Full-bodied, rich and round, with an intense old-vines character, this is an elegant, super ripe and sensual Sylvaner with a lush character. It is a wine for meditations or special dishes that can manage the sweet richness of this unique Sylvaner. The finish is pure and fresh and there is no sensation of alcohol or bitterness. The 2015 Eminence was bottled at 13.8% alcohol and 24 grams of residual sugar. Agathe picks it “when the seeds are brown, but still have a green rim. The potential alcohol is always around 15% for this wine,” she explains.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Agathe Bursin Sylvaner Lutzeltal, Alsace 2015 750ML ($24.95) $19 special
Wine Advocate 89 points “From a southwest-facing, marl and shell limestone single vineyard, the 2015 Sylvaner Lutzeltal offers a clear though still somewhat restrained, pure and stony bouquet; it has characteristic floral aromas of fleur de moléne or bouillon blanc. Experienced wine lovers could also detect the lower sulfur here, which lets the fruit express itself in a very subtle way and is combined with flavors of wet stones, herbs and flowers. On the palate the 2015 reveals a great purity and finesse, although it is round, gentle and aromatic. The acidity is vital but delicate, the finish dry, very floral and refined; it also reveal a very good structure as well as an almost sweetish herbal flavor. This is a lovely Sylvaner from selection massales.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Newly Reviewed Wines In Stock Now from Domaine Weinbach:

Domaine Weinbach Riesling Schlossberg Cuvee Sainte Catherine, Alsace Grand Cru 2015 750ML ($69.95) $49 special
Wine Advocate 94+ points “Sourced from different plots on the mid-slope of the grand cru, the 2015 Riesling Schlossberg Cuvée Ste Catherine is the richest of the dry Rieslings that Weinbach is producing. Based on 65-year-old vines, the newest release (bottled in June) displays a very clear, deep, fresh, complex and well-defined bouquet with flinty and herbal flavors. Full-bodied, rich and very intense on the palate, this is a lush and opulent, yet still very elegant and well-structured Schlossberg; it has a very long, stunningly finessed and balanced finish with lingering salinity. The tannins are fine and the acidity is piquant, and gives this 2015 Schlossberg its elegance and precision. The aftertaste is piquant, salty, very long and aromatic, but neither alcoholic nor just fruity. A promising Schlossberg!”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $54

Domaine Weinbach Riesling Schlossberg Cuvee Sainte Catherine L’Inedit!, Alsace Grand Cru 2015 750ML ($79.95) $59 special
Wine Advocate 96 points “The 2015 Riesling Schlossberg Cuvée Ste Catherine L’Inédit! is a special selection from late harvested grapes from old vines in the very center of the Schlossberg. Made for the first time in 1998 and with a good portion of overripe and botrytis grapes, it always was on the border between medium-dry and medium-sweet, but far away from a Vendange Tardive style. Picked on September 28, the 2015 contains only a small portion of botrytis. It opens with a super clear and ripe, but also fresh and flinty flavored Riesling bouquet that displays ripe raisin, but also refreshing lemon and coolish stony/flinty flavors. Full-bodied, rich and piquant on the palate, this is a concentrated but highly elegant, finessed and seductive, silky textured and perfectly balanced Inédit (literally: unique, the one and only); it has fine tannins and a very, very long, lush and amazingly delicate, but highly complex finish. Great ageing potential!”

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Trending

Bow & Arrow Rhinestone Red, Willamette Valley 2015 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 special
Grapelive 94 points “Scott Frank’s Rhinestones 2015 maybe the best under $25 wine I’ve ever tasted from Oregon. In fact the 2015 is so good I almost prefer it to some over $50 Pinot Noir offerings. This is serious stuff that really delivers the quality and depth you’d not maybe expect from this fun blend. Sourced from organic/biodynamic vineyards, mostly Johan Vineyards, and picked a bit early, Bow & Arrow gets detailed ripeness, but with zesty freshness of acidity. The fruit is very gently handled with partial whole cluster and, in traditional Loire Valley style, low oak winemaking is employed. Like Passetoutgrains in Burgundy or Cheverny in the Loire, this blend has long been an interesting marriage of varietals with the Pinot Noir giving beauty, depth and earthy charms while the Gamay gives color, vibrancy and fruitiness. This wine goes even further with this vintage taking to a new level: this Rhinestones will change all perception on what can be achieved with this blend of grapes and it should be honored as one of the great terroir wines of its generation. It redefines Oregon’s paradigm! The 2015 starts with a nose of dark roses, spice, truffle and blue fruits leading to a vivid palate of black cherry, blueberry, plum and tart currant fruits along with walnut/cedar, peppery stones, sage/mint/anise, cinnamon and iron/mineral tones finishing long and lingering with strawberry, earthy beet root and lavender. The texture is amazing and the mouth feel is exceptional considering how alive and bright this brilliant medium weight wine is. It is a satiny stunner with glorious vitality and grace. Don’t over think the grapes or label: this wine is the new Oregon and it deserves your open mind and attention. Drink this over the next 5 to 10 years. What a truly fantastic effort! I’m a huge fan of Frank’s wines, but this is by far the best vintage of Rhinestones. Also look for their straight Gamay Noir, Melon (think bone dry, leesy Muscadet) and Sauvignon Blanc. These Loire inspired wines are lovely Oregon surprises that will thrill and seduce the senses.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Eminent Domaine ‘First Protocol’ Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2013 750ML ($34.95) $28 special
Winery note “Bright ruby color with great clarity.  Aromas of fresh rspberries and dusty blackberries immediately jump from the glass followed by some nice spice box with cinnamon, cardamom and clove.  The palate is smooth and balanced showing a nice mix of warm brown spice and lush red fruit.  Softer tannin and easy drinking in style this wine just makes you happy to be drinking Oregon Pinot Noir! Sourced entirely from our Estate vineyard in the Willamette Valley’s Ribbon Ridge AVA. 2 acres of Pommard and 3.5 acres of Dijon 777 and 115 planted on 101-14 rootstock thrive in Wellsdale and Dupee soils.”

Round Pond Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Rutherford 2013 750ML ($59.95) $49 special
Robert Parker 92 points “The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Rutherford, a blend of 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Petit Verdot and 4% Malbec, is a beauty. It’s also realistically priced by Napa standards. The wine reveals toasty oak, blackberry and cassis fruit, beautiful texture, purity and length. This is a big-time winner and should drink well for 12-15 years.”
Antonio Galloni 92 points “Round Pond’s 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate is fabulous. Aromatic, pliant and expressive, the 2013 is incredibly nuanced for such a young wine. Sweet red plum, wild flowers, mint and cinnamon meld together in a medium-bodied, gracious Cabernet that will drink well with minimal cellaring.”

Heymann-Loewenstein Riesling Röttgen VDP Grosse Lage 2015 750ML ($59.95) $49 special
Stephan Reinhardt – Wine Advocate 93+ points “The 2015 Riesling Röttgen ‘VDP Grosse Lage’ has the clear, deep, ripe, elegant and complex nose of a great wine. Crushed stone flavors along with almond cookie flavors and a thousand more flavors lead to a dense, powerful and well structured palate of great complexity and persistency. This Winninger Röttgen combines richness, power and structure with finesse, transparency and elegance. The finish is stimulatingly salty and aromatic. This is a great dry and pretty powerful Riesling that will shine in 5-10 or more years.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

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Our Current
Shipping Promos:

Along with Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and California,
we now offer flat rate shipping to Colorado. Here’s the scoop:

Single orders of any quantity of wines qualify for the flat rate;
this does not apply to orders held in storage for any reason
or multiple orders consolidated into one shipment.
The flat reach for each state is, as follows:

-to Oregon for $17,
-Washington & Idaho for $20,
-and California & Colorado for $25

Take Advantage of the Flat Rate!

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Serafin

A Rising Star in Gevrey

In an arena as competitive as Gevrey-Chambertin, where celebrity names like Rousseau and Dugat make some of the world’s finest wine, a small estate could easily be overlooked. Perhaps this provides the incentive that keeps Christian Serafin’s wines among the village’s best. Besides organic viticulture, low yields, and old vines, Serafin sticks to an idiosyncratic recipe in the cellar: total destemming, long cuvaisons, and judicious use of new oak. The wines exude terroir. Their richness and concentration beg cellaring, and the magic of the Cote de Nuits rewards such patience. This is serious Burgundy. If you can only get one, choose the Gevrey-Chambertin Vielles Vignes, a prodigy chez Serafin.

We’ve got a wide range of Serafin bottlings from Gevrey, Chambolle, and Morey, regional to village to Premier Cru, even a bottle of Charmes, and in several different vintages. Think that’s a lot? Check the depth and breadth of our Burgundy selection as a whole at www.vinopoliswineshop.com …

Serafin Pere & Fils Les Baudes, Chambolle-Musigny Premier Cru 2012 750ML ($199.95) $119 special, 15 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer-Vinous 92 points “Healthy dark red. Superripe black cherry, blueberry and menthol on the nose. Rich, creamy and sweet, in a rather powerful style for this cuvée, but with a medicinal minerality energizing the mid-plate. Finishes with substantial but suave tannins that will require patience.”ST

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Serafin Pere & Fils Les Cazetiers, Gevrey-Chambertin Premier Cru 2011 750ML ($219.95) $149 special, 10 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 93 points “Moderately saturated medium red.  Very reticent but pure aromas of redcurrant, dark cherry, earth, leather and spices.  A dense, nicely balanced midweight, with ripe acidity giving shape to the cherry, licorice and espresso flavors.  Firmly tannic but with plenty of thickness of texture to support its backbone.  Finishes chewy and long but youthfully tight, with lovely aromatic persistence.  I’d hold this until 2020.” ST

This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!

Serafin Pere & Fils Les Cazetiers, Gevrey-Chambertin Premier Cru 2012 750ML ($249.95) $149 special, 9 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 92-94 points “Good bright, deep red. Reticent aromas of black cherry, minerals, mint and menthol. Densely packed, fresh and energetic, showing a strong spice character to its black cherry and mineral flavors. Has the thickness of texture to carry its tannins. Finishes spicy and long, with a lingering note of chocolatey oak. From a crop level of 38 hectoliters per hectare: Serafin made four barrels, compared to a normal five.” ST

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Serafin Pere & Fils Gevrey-Chambertin, Cote de Nuits 2012 750ML ($99.95) $59 special, 25 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 88-90 points “Medium red. Smoky strawberry and a whiff of gibier on the nose. The palate shows an almost liqueur-like sweetness to the creamy flavors of red fruits, coffee and mocha. Sappy acidity and substantial tannins give shape to this lush village wine.” ST

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Serafin Pere & Fils Gevrey-Chambertin Vieilles Vignes, Cote de Nuits. 2012 750ML ($139.95) $99 special, 27 bottles available
Antonio Galloni 90-92 points “One of the real gems in this range, the Gevrey-Chambertin Vieilles Vignes wraps around the palate with gorgeous depth and dimension. Violets, cloves and menthol meld into a core of dark fruit. The vintage has given the Vieilles Vignes an extra bit of volume that is hugely appealing. All the elements fall into place effortlessly. This voluptuous Gevrey should offer a wide window of fabulous drinking.” AG

Serafin Pere & Fils Les Corbeaux, Gevrey-Chambertin Premier Cru 2012 750ML ($149.95) $119 special, 21 bottles available
Wine Advocate 91-93 points “The 2012 Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Corbeaux comes from 0.45-hectares of vines planted in 1968 by Christian’s father adjacent to Mazis-Chambertin. It has a precocious bouquet compared to the Vieilles Vignes, with scents of mulberry, dark plum and luscious black fruit that are tightly controlled. The palate is medium-bodied with a slightly grainy entry. This is showing the oak a little more than the Vieilles Vignes at the moment, but there is sufficient concentration to absorb that with time. The linear finish, crisp and taut, bodes well for the future.” WA

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Serafin Pere & Fils Le Fonteny, Gevrey-Chambertin Premier Cru 2012 750ML ($199.95) $119 special, 16 bottles available
Wine Advocate 91-93 points “The 2012 Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Fonteny comes from 0.33-hectares of vine planted in 1965. It has a somehow more “languid” bouquet, demonstrated a touch more fruit compared to the Corbeaux, the fruit erring more to red than black. The palate is rounded and velvety smooth on the entry with vibrant cassis and blackcurrant fruit, fine tannins and impressive presence towards the finish that continues long after the wine has departed. Excellent.” WA

Serafin Pere & Fils Les Millandes, Morey-Saint-Denis Premier Cru 2009 750ML ($159.95) $119 special, 12 bottles available
Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2009 Morey St. Denis Millandes is fabulous. It boasts a great combination of rich, dark fruit and powerful structure. Today the wine is already starting to shut down, something that bodes quite well for the future. Mint, flowers, spices and licorice stain the palate on the deep, resonant finish. This is a brilliant showing from Christian Serafin. Anticipated maturity: 2017-2029.”WA

Serafin Pere & Fils Les Millandes, Morey-Saint-Denis Premier Cru 2011 750ML ($159.95) $99 special, 11 bottles available
Burghound 90-93 points –Outstanding — “Here too there is mild reduction which renders the nose difficult to assess in depth though again the underlying fruit appears to be ripe. There is excellent volume, power and a taut muscularity to the concentrated and mineral-tinged medium weight flavors that culminate in an austere, backward and highly persistent finish. This is very old school in style and will require ample patience for it to develop, yet will be well worth the wait.” BH

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Serafin Pere & Fils Les Millandes, Morey-Saint-Denis Premier Cru 2012 750ML ($149.95) $99 special, 13 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 91-93 points “Deep, spicy aromas of black cherry, violet, menthol and espresso. Densely packed and sappy, with a liqueur-like ripeness to the flavors of black cherry and mint. A rather rectilinear wine with a serious spine of dusty tannins that will require some aging. In a more structured, masculine style in 2012, like the Gevrey Vieilles Vignes and the Cazetiers.” ST

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Von Winning

New Releases In Stock Now

The Von Winning estate dates back to 1849, and still makes some of the finest Pfalz wines. After a change in ownership in 2009, the vineyard and winery became even more focused on producing the highest quality wines possible. High-density planting and sustainable viticulture deliver excellent results in ancient vineyards like Langenmorgen and the famous Kirchenstuck of Forst. Oak barrels of various sizes hold the unracked wine on its lees until bottling, and Von Winning refuses to fine or filter, which leaves the wines and their character intact. The powerful beauties of 2015 cannot be missed. “These are simply classic forceful Pfalz wines,” writes German wine expert Terry Theise.

Sure, there are some other producers whose wines are slightly more expensive, but if you ignore cost as a “prestige” rating, the wines of Von Winning speak to us in a voice that is clearer and more interesting than anything else we’ve tried from the region.  This shouldn’t be a surprise–the wines are from the best sites in the region and made with a hands-off attitude.

New arrivals from Von Winning:

Von Winning ‘II’ Sauvignon Blanc Trocken, Pfalz 2015 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 special
Wine Advocate 88 points “The 2015 Sauvignon Blanc Trocken II is clear, precise and fresh on the nose, with tropical fruit aromas like passion fruit intertwine with flint stone notes and refreshing lemon and apple flavors. Medium-bodied and very fruity on the palate, this is an elegant and refreshing Sauvignon with lime and grapefruit flavors, grip and power in the finish. Very good.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $24.50

Von Winning Ruppertsberger Reiterpfad Riesling Trocken, Pfalz 2015 750ML ($39.95) $29 special
Wine Advocate 92 points “The von Wining 2015 Ruppertsberger Reiterpfad Riesling Trocken (classified VDP Erste Lage, so premier cru) offers a dense, pure, aromatic and mineral nose of ripe white fruits, lemons, crushed chalk and some nice vegetal or floral aromas. This is medium-bodied (in terms of alcohol), but tightly woven, very mineral, with a ripe and well-concentrated fruit on the palate. It is a very refreshing, complex and expressive Riesling that is still restrained, but full of potential. The finish is tight and very salty.”
Terry Theise note “This Ruppertsberg site could easily justify a “GG” bottling, as other estates have indeed done. It’s the juicy grande dame among the 1er Crus, very close to the “GGs” in stature and in that ineffable sense of Important Land; a warm basket of yellow fruits and a solid yet texturally complex finish. No need to work to “get” this wine; it’s overtly dee-lish!”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $36

Von Winning Kirchenstuck Riesling Grosses Gewachs, Pfalz 2015 750ML ($139.95) $99 special
Wine Advocate 93-94 points “The citrus-colored 2015 Forster Kirchenstück Riesling Trocken GG opens with the aromatically discreet, yet deep and complex nose of a great wine. There are flinty aromas of crushed rocks with lemon oil flavors and a certain refreshing greenness (lemon tree leaves). This wine is full-bodied, dense and compact on the palate, with an elegant texture, fruit flavor and a vital acidity. This is a creamy textured, very complex and powerful wine with a lot of grip and tension. It reveals the persistent finish you may expect from a Forster Kirchenstück, but is also characterized by some oak tannins. The 2015 is really firm and tight and adequately closed; it will open up slowly only next year or the year after.”
Terry Theise note “The Great One, the Clos-Ste-Hûne of the Pfalz, is an absolute blockbuster in ’15. The fragrance is strong, the wine is strong. It’s blatantly great. Wicky, mineral, licorice-y, imploding fruit and ore, nothing very mystic here, just a wickedly curvaceous writhing mélange of power with the nth degree of intricacy.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $114.99

Von Winning Deidesheimer Langenmorgen Riesling Grosses Gewachs, Pfalz 2015 750ML ($79.95) $59 special
Wine Advocate 92-94 points “The 2015 Deidesheimer Langenmorgen Riesling Trocken GG is deep and dusty, with its coolish and lemony fruit flavors; this is less fruit intense than the other 2015 von Winning Riesling crus from Deidesheim. Crushed stone flavors intermix with lemon juice and lead to a full-bodied, very intense and elegant palate. The wine has a nice mineral grip and a citrusy piquancy. The Langenmorgen has the freshness and tension you could eventually miss in many other 2015s from the Mittelhaardt. So if you prefer a rather fresh and coolish style, with a vivacious acidity and stimulating purity, the Langenmorgen is a serious candidate to satisfy your passions.”
Terry Theise note “It’s the nerd among the “GGs” of Deidesheim, and it’s my personal favorite; the stoniest and most focused, complex and digital; it pulls you in, it’s introverted and numinous and insanely flowery, sous bois, thinly stony like what you skip on the surface of a pond. Chinese 5-spice comes on. How does wine do this, refer to four different families of flavor within one perfect structure?”

Von Winning Ungeheuer Riesling Grosses Gewachs Trocken, Pfalz 2015 750ML ($59.95) $49 special
Wine Advocate 92-93 points “The citrus-colored 2015 Forster Ungeheuer Riesling trocken GG opens a bit reductive, but pure, clear and fresh with a lovely flinty aroma. Tight, fresh and grippy on the palate, this is elegant and vital, but still pretty closed. This Ungeheuer seems cooler and fresher, and more on the edge than the Deidesheim crus; it’s less luscious, but straight, firm and racy-piquant. Thoroughly promising.”
Terry Theise note “Larger production = lower price. It isn’t that hard to pronounce but you have to know how. Think Oonga-Hoyer. Now repeat after me: OONGA! HOYER! There, that’s it. In some ways the prototypical Pfalz wine, earthy, fiery and caramel-y, bone-brothy and savory….yet this one is focused and almost flowery; physio-sweet, with a finish that is monstrous indeed, a wine with a bone-breaker handshake.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $54

We offer 18 different wines available here now from Von Winning. See the complete list below or visit our web store to read reviews and order online!

von winning spreadsheet

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Staff Pick

Suzanne:

Weingut Donnhoff Niederhauser Hermannshohle Riesling Spatlese, Nahe 2015 750ML ($59.95) $47 pre-arrival special, ETA March
Slatey and subdued from the bottle. Of course it’s young, and there is so much behind the first whiff that it’s like the wine is poised to jump right out and attack. Underneath the youthfulness are aromas of freshly cut red apples and barley. There’s a savage spiciness and a refreshing saline-like quality much like ozone after a thunderstorm. It hits the palate with notes of tarragon, verbena and key limes. The acidity reminds me of Meyer lemons: tart and lemony yet sweetly floral and inviting. The sweetness lends a creamy characteristic that just camps out on your palate while the flavors slowly subside. Sure, I’m waxing poetic. But it’s just that good. If you must try it now, do yourself a favor and give it a healthy decant. This showed even better a few hours after opening at 60 degrees ambient temperature.

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $55

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Arriving This Week

Quintessa Super Deal

Quintessa Red, Rutherford 2013 750ML ($199.95) $128 pre-arrival special, ETA March 10th
Case-6 Quintessa Red, Rutherford 2013 750ML ($1,199.95) $732 pre-arrival special (that’s only $122/bottle!), ETA March 10th
James Suckling 98 points “This is really fantastic on the nose with blackberry, blueberry, lavender, and violets. Even sage. Full body plus extremely integrated tannins that are polished and refined. The balance and harmony is phenomenal. Goes on for minutes. Beautiful now but will satisfy for decades. (5/3/16)”
Robert Parker 96 points “The 2013 Proprietary Red Wine has always been good, but I think they have re-positioned themselves at a much higher pinnacle with the 2013. This is a Cabernet Sauvignon-dominated blend but has important component parts such as Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Petit Verdot from their gorgeous vineyards just off the Silverado Trail in Rutherford. The wine has a dense bluish/purple color and a beautiful nose of black raspberries, blueberries, lead pencil shavings, and touches of oak and spring flowers. The complexity of the fragrance is followed by a wine with terrific body, stunning purity, wonderful balance, and great depth and richness. This is certainly the most profound Quintessa made to date and should evolve gracefully for at least 20-25 years.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $139.95
The average price is $182

Guy Breton Morgon Vieilles Vignes, Beaujolais 2014 750ML ($34.95) $24 pre-arrival special, ETA March 10th
Josh Raynolds 93 points “Vivid ruby. Urgent aromas of fresh dark berries, licorice and incense are accompanied by a suggestion of smoked meat in the background. Sappy and broad on entry, then more taut in the midpalate, offering concentrated boysenberry, bitter cherry and violet pastille flavors and a hint of spicecake. A vibrant mineral flourish adds lift and cut to the finish, which lingers with excellent floral-tinged persistence.”

This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!

Domaine Weinbach Riesling Cuvee Colette, Alsace 2014 750ML ($44.95) $33 pre-arrival special, ETA March 10th
Wine Enthusiast 94 points “Citrus blossom is evoked on the nose, aromatic mandarin peel and the dark, crushed foliage of citrus, too. On the palate there is a purity that is both mellow and taut, generous and restrained. The body is slender and willowy, while breezes of herbs and citrus come and go. Do not smother this dry, delicate veil of Riesling with big food. Choose light, delicate fare and this will simply sing.”
Wine Spectator 91 points “Minerally and aromatic, this creamy Riesling is mouthwatering and lithe, layering racy acidity with focused flavors of poached peach, grapefruit granita, saline, spring blossom and ground ginger. Drink now through 2025. 435 cases made.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $41

Domaine Weinbach Riesling Clos des Capucins Cuvee Theo, Alsace 2014 750ML ($39.95) $28 pre-arrival special, ETA March 10th
Wine Enthusiast 93 points “Feathery, lifted notes of citrus, lemon zest and leaf announce a lightness of touch. Some topnotes of chamomile tisane swing alongside. The palate is fresh, taut, dry and light-footed. Deeper notions of fruit are still just hinted at, a core of fruit that still takes time before it is unlocked. Purity and elegance mark this one out.”
James Suckling 93 points “This is subtle and refined with grapefruit, mineral and orange peel. Full to medium body, fresh acidity and a long finish. Lovely fruitiness yet tangy and bright. As always, from old vines in the clos. Drink now.”
Wine Spectator 91 points “Aromatic, with slate and mineral accents, this sleek white is light- to medium-bodied, showing precise balance and a finely meshed palate of ripe white peach, lime blossom, fresh ginger and passion fruit flavors. Drink now through 2029.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $32.07

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