VinopolPick Weekend Edition: 3-25-17

Featured Arrivals: Freemark & Arrowood; Trendy Wines: Beaujolais; New Reviews for Alsace; Rhone Exemplars: Jaboulet & Delas Freres; 2013 Italian New Arrival: Arceno CCR; Cascina delle Rose; Brunello Special Features: Caparzo Riserva and New 2012 Offers; Tignanello 2013; Marcarini & Conterno Fantino Barolos; New Offer: Chateau Meyney; Market Watch: New 2015 Beaujolais Offers; Pre-Arrival Brunello Wines; 2015 CDP: Clos Des Papes

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Featured New Arrivals

From Freemark Abbey & Arrowood

Freemark Abbey’s modern era dates back to 1967, when the winery was purchased quickly transformed into one of the most recognized and prestigious wineries in the 70’s and 80’s.  Unfortunately, over time, quality slipped and the reputation of the once legendary winery fell into a bit of obscurity.

After a few ownership changes, the winery was sold in 2005 to Jackson Family, who have poured money and attention into it in a way that hasn’t been seen since the original heyday of the winery in the 70’s and early 80’s.  Winemaker Ted Edwards was brought in and the winery has been on a steady path upwards ever since. The single vineyard wines are especially nice and Bosché, the most famous of these vineyard designates, is from an old vineyard that been producing spectacular wines for Freemark since the winery’s early days.

Arrowood is a similar story with a shorter timeline.  Founded in Sonoma in 1986 by Dick Arrowood, the winery made a name for itself but then suffered a bit of a decline in the late 90’s.  Recently, though, Arrowood has been on a roll, making full bodied Sonoma Cabernet from the west side of the Mayacamas range that rivals any Napa wine near it in price.  We’re excited to feature both Arrowood’s wines and those of Freemark Abbey at the lowest prices in the country.

Freemark Abbey and Arrowood Wines Available Here Now:

Freemark Abbey Bosche Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Rutherford 2013 750ML ($149.95) $128 special
Robert Parker 98+ points “The famous Bosché Vineyard is a spot in Rutherford composed of gravelly, loamy soil and situated just at the base of the Mayacamas Mountains. A blend of 93.8% Cabernet Sauvignon and 6.2% Merlot, the 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Bosché Vineyard was aged 28 months in French oak. This vineyard has turned out many a classic wine capable of lasting 30-40 years, and this 2013 is one of the all-time great Bosché Cabernet Sauvignons. It offers an inky ruby/purple color, a gorgeous nose of graphite, black cherry, wood spice and barbecue notes, enormous body and richness, and a heady, full-bodied, long finish of 50+ seconds with moderately high tannins. This is a great classic from Napa, but not one for drinking over the near-term. Give it 7-8 years of bottle age and drink it over the following 50 years.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $150

Freemark Abbey Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, California 2013 750ML ($44.95) $34.40 special
Robert Parker 92+ points “The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon, Freemark Abbey’s generic bottling from Napa, is a brilliant example, and at $50, a heck of a value. It is also one of their larger cuvées at 24,332 cases. A blend of 75.1% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10.9% Merlot and the rest Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc and Malbec, this wine spent nearly 26 months in oak. Opaque purple in color, it exhibits beautiful blackberry and blackcurrant fruit with hints of white chocolate, allspice and tobacco leaf. It is rich, full-bodied, seriously concentrated, and has 2013’s relatively serious structure and tannic clout. Give it 3-4 years of cellaring and drink it over the following 25-30 years.”

Arrowood Winery Knights Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, California 2013 750ML ($29.95) $24 special
Antonio Galloni 91 points “The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon (Knights Valley), all Knights Valley fruit in this vintage, is superb. Raspberry jam, spice, scorched earth, rose petal, cloves and new leather are some of the signatures. Knights Valley is often noted for Graves-like sense of gravel-infused minerality, naturally allied to a California expression of fruit. That is exactly what readers will find in the 2013.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $31

Arrowood Proprietary Red Blend, Sonoma 2013 750ML ($49.95) $39 special
VinopolNote: A limited release blend of 63% Cab, 15% Cab Franc, 14% Merlot and 8% Malbec. Aged for 6 months in 38% new French oak.

This is the only listing in the USA today!

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Trendy Wines

From the 2017 Region of the Year??

Is March too early to name the Region of the Year for 2017? Maybe, but between the recent string of lauded vintages and the insanely-affordable price range, Beaujolais looks poised to win it already. Below is a list of seven of the top sellers in recent days. We would include the Cote de Brouilly from Thivin, but we already sold through our final five cases of this wine! Don’t miss out on the next hot wine:

Trending Beaujolais Picks:

Chateau Thivin Brouilly ‘Reverdon’, Beaujolais 2015 750ML ($27.95) $21.90 special
Wine Advocate 92 points “The 2015 Brouilly Reverdon, which had been bottled about one month prior to my visit, has a powerful but primal bouquet, clearly laden with plenty of fruit. The definition is here though. The palate is fleshy and supple on the entry but then those tannins cloak the mouth, without overwhelming, finishing in quite a sensual style. This has much more to give but it should be given 3-4 years to allow the terroir to really be expressed. What are you waiting for? This is a knockout Brouilly.”
Josh Raynolds 91 points “Bright violet. Powerful, mineral-tinged dark berries, violet and licorice on the perfumed nose. Densely packed bitter cherry and boysenberry flavors are enlivened by a jolt of juicy acidity. Fleshes out on the youthfully tannic finish, which hangs on with strong, floral-driven persistence.”

Daniel Bouland Cote de Brouilly Cuvee Melanie, Beaujolais 2015 750ML ($29.95) $24 special, 36+ bottles available
Case-12 Daniel Bouland Cote de Brouilly Cuvee Melanie, Beaujolais 2015 750M ($299.95) $259 special, 1 case avilaable (that’s only $21.58/bottle!)
John Gilman 92 points “Daniel Bouland’s 2015 Côte de Brouilly “Cuvée Mélanie” is a bit riper than his beautiful Chiroubles, coming in at 14.5 percent alcohol on the label this year. However, the wine shows no signs of sur maturité on the nose, jumping from the glass in a sappy mélange of black cherries, pomegranate, a touch of grilled meats, woodsmoke, dark chocolate, a dollop of fresh herbs, a good base of soil, just a hint of the autumn leaves to come and a bit of cedar in the upper register (this is barrel-fermented). On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied and flamboyantly sappy at the core, with firm, ripe tannins, tangy acids and outstanding length and grip on the moderately heady finish. This seems higher than 14.5 percent to my palate, as there is a bit of overt heat poking out on the backend right now, but at the same time, the acids are bright and the wine is impressively pure for its octane level and really does not seem overripe. This has the chassis to age for decades and decades, and if it can carry its octane over the long haul, then it will be a magical wine. I have no experience with aging Cru Beaujolais at this level of alcohol for the very long haul, but I am inclined to be that this wine will age like a ’47! 2016-2040+. 92.”
Josh Raynolds 92 points “Vivid magenta. Ripe cherry and dark berry aromas are complemented by suave floral and Asian spice flourishes. Plush and seamless in texture, offering sappy blackberry and bitter cherry flavors that become sweeter as the wine opens up. Closes smooth, very long and emphatically fruity, leaving notes of red and dark berry liqueur behind.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Anne-Sophie Dubois Fleurie l’Alchimiste, Beaujolais 2015 750ML ($29.95) $24 special
Anne-Sophie Dubois Fleurie l’Alchimiste, Beaujolais 2015 1.5L ($69.95) $59 special

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Pierre-Marie Chermette Domaine du Vissoux Cuvee Traditionnelle Vieilles Vignes, Beaujolais 2015 750ML ($19.95) $16 special, 22 bottles available
Case-12 Pierre-Marie Chermette Domaine du Vissoux Cuvee Traditionnelle Vieilles Vignes, Beaujolais 2015 750ML ($199.95) $169 special, 1 case available (that’s only $14.08/bottle and the lowest listed price in the USA today!)
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 91 points “Vivid ruby. Expansive, highly perfumed raspberry and floral pastille aromas are complemented by a suggestion of Asian spices. A core of minerality adds definition and spine to juicy red fruit flavors, which show impressive focus and back-end lift. Finishes gently sweet and very long, leaving behind sappy red fruit and rose pastille notes. As always, this wine delivers excellent value.”

Domaine du Pavillon de Chavannes Cote de Brouilly Cuvee des Ambassades, Beaujolais 2014 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 special, 25 bottles available
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 92 points “Pale red. A pure, expansive bouquet displays vibrant strawberry, blood orange and floral pastille scents and energetic minerality. Taut, spicy and sharply focused, offering juicy red fruit and floral pastille flavors plus a touch of five-spice powder. The mineral and floral qualities repeat on a long, gently tannic finish that leaves a sweet red berry note behind.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Domaine Richard Rottiers Moulin-a-Vent, Beaujolais 2014 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 special, 36+ bottles available
Wine Enthusiast 93 points “Produced from vines up to 80 years old, this is a powerful, wood-aged wine. Tannins are mixed with toast, spice and dark plum flavors. Acidity gives freshness and finishes the wine with very fine fruits as well as structure. Age this impressive wine and drink from 2018.”
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 92 points “Brilliant violet. Smoke-accented blackberry and cherry scents are complicated by suggestions of vanilla, violet and licorice. Sweet and seamless in texture, offering intense dark berry and floral pastille flavors that tighten up and become spicier with air. Weighty yet lithe, delivering a solid finishing punch of sappy dark fruit, smooth tannins and excellent persistence. This substantial yet energetic wine has the stuffing as well as the balance to age.”

Domaine Jean Foillard Morgon Les Charmes Eponym, Beaujolais 2013 750ML ($49.95) $39 special, 29 bottles available
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 93 points “Bright magenta. Mineral-accented aromas of ripe raspberry, cherry pit, licorice and Asian spices, complemented by a sexy floral nuance that emerges with air. Silky and focused, offering vibrant bitter cherry and red berry flavors, a hint of candied lavender and a refreshingly bitter jolt of blood orange. Finishes gently tannic, sweet and impressively long, leaving red fruit liqueur and spicecake notes behind.”

For a sneak peek at two pre-arrival Beaujolais offers arriving in September, read on!

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New Reviews from Ian D’Agata of Vinous Media

For Alsace!

Though it seems almost silly to call Alsace the hip new kid on the block, we’ve seen a massive uptick in interest in this lesser appreciated region in the past month. Alsace has loads to offer discerning drinkers especially as we move into spring and warmer weather! Aside from refreshing, lighter-bodied wines that work well on their own on a warm spring day, there are plenty of wines that are flexible nearly to a fault that would pair well with spring vegetables, salads, soups and even heartier fare like chicken and fish! Read on to see what Ian D’Agata, Vinous Media’s expert on Alsace, had to say about wines we currently stock:

Agathe Bursin L’As de B, Alsace 2015 750ML ($21.95) $16.60 special, 28 bottles available
Ian D’Agata—Vinous Media 89 points “Bright straw. Clean, crisp aromas of orchard fruit and botanical herbs. Easygoing, very smooth and possessing a hint of residual sweetness to give it a touch more body, but does not seem especially dry. This strikes me as perhaps less aromatic than past vintages. A blend of 20 percent each of Gewürztraminer, Riesling and Sylvaner, plus 15 percent Pinot Gris, 10 percent Pinot Blanc, 10 percent Auxerrois and 5 percent Muscat Ottonel, all co-planted on the Bollenberg.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Domaine Agathe Bursin Pinot Blanc Parad’Aux, Alsace 2015 750ML ($24.95) $19 special, 13 bottles available
Ian D’Agata—Vinous Media 90 points “Bright straw-green. Lovely freshness thanks to lemony acidity that lifts the nuanced aromas and flavors of white flowers and stone fruit. A touch of spicy honey (it’s the Auxerrois) gives this a creamier texture than anticipated on the nose. Finishes bright and juicy, with good length. A 50/50 blend of Pinot Blanc and Auxerrois. Bursin likes to use quite a bit of Pinot Blanc, as she believes her Auxerrois on its own is a little too rich and round, and I for one am happy she does so, as the wine gains in drinkability.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Agathe Bursin Riesling Dirstelberg, Alsace 2015 750ML ($26.95) $21.90 special, 15 bottles available
Ian D’Agata—Vinous Media 90 points “Bright straw-green. Minerals, green apple and white flowers on the nose and palate. Rich and round with a large, spherical mouthfeel as is typical with wines from this site, which always delivers size over finesse. A twinge of lemony acidity provides lift and staying power. Sports 5 g/L residual sugar and a very high 8 g/L total acidity that helps make the wine taste dry.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Agathe Bursin Gewurztraminer Dirstelberg, Alsace 2015 750ML ($26.95) $21.90 special, 15 bottles available
Ian D’Agata—Vinous Media 92 points “Bright yellow. Penetrating, fresh aromas and flavors of apple, smoked bacon and mango. Lovely, slightly off-dry and viscous with peppery cinnamon nuances on the long finish. This is everything a Gewürz lover looks for in a wine made with the variety. Very well done.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Agathe Bursin Gewurztraminer Zinnkoepfle, Alsace Grand Cru 2015 750ML ($41.95) $37 special, 20 bottles available
Ian D’Agata—Vinous Media 91+ points “Dark straw-yellow. Aromas of ripe mango, smoked beef and candied grapefruit. Big and ample, but with good acidity lifting the smooth, tactile mouthfeel and extending the rich flavors of smoky bacon, orange marmalade and cinnamon. This has 31 g/L residual sugar and 4.7 g/L total acidity, so it’s anything but a dry wine; in fact, Bursin could have been bottled it as a Vendanges Tardives as the grapes were almost completely passerillé (air-dried on the vine). Nonetheless, she believes this specific wine to be a higher-quality, richer example of a grand cru wine as opposed to an entry-level VT (she did make a true VT from Gewürz in 2015 from grapes harvested on November 12, and it is an extremely promising wine).”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Agathe Bursin Sylvaner Lutzeltal, Alsace 2015 750ML ($24.95) $19 special, 16 bottles available
Ian D’Agata—Vinous Media 91+ points “Luminous straw-yellow. White flowers, chamomile and stone fruit on the perfumed nose. Clean and fresh on entry, then more glyceral, showing sneaky concentration and size to the quince and white stone fruit flavors. This lovely wine is both rich and round and doesn’t quite taste completely dry, but in fact it has only 5 g/L residual sugar with 5.7 total acidity, and the latter masks the sugar’s presence very effectively. The finish is bright, long and creamy. Bursin is a recognized master of the Sylvaner variety; in her hands, it gives wines that are better than many Rieslings and Pinot Gris from other producers.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Agathe Bursin Pinot Gris Dirstelberg, Alsace 2015 750ML ($26.95) $21.90 special, 16 bottles available
Ian D’Agata—Vinous Media 90 points “Straw-yellow. Green apple, lemon juice, unripe pear and minerals on the complex nose. Then sweet and rather large in the typical Dirstelberg style, displaying a tactile mouthfeel and an almost chewy quality to the apple and pear flavors. Finishes off-dry and medium-long.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Agathe Bursin Sylvaner Eminence Zinnkoepfle, Alsace Grand Cru 2015 750ML ($31.95) $28 special, 19 bottles available
Ian D’Agata—Vinous Media 94+ points “Bright straw-green. Enticing aromas of apple, pear and jasmine. Then very pure quince, green apple and coriander flavors are complicated by a peppery note of crystallized ginger. Finishes long and clean, with harmonious acidity. The Sylvaner vines used to make this wine were planted in 1930 and are located in the heart of the Zinnkoepflé grand cru on calcaire soil, a site that has a long and distinguished history of giving superlative Sylvaner wines. This is never a particularly dry wine (“It’s an especially lazy yeast that doesn’t always manage to close out the fermentations,” laughed Bursin) and it tastes a little sweeter than the 2014 (24 g/L residual sugar in 2015, and only 18 g/L in 2014; the total acidity was also lower in 2015 at 5.9 g/L, compared to 6.2 g/L in 2014). This is an absolutely gorgeous wine of mind-blowing crystalline purity.”

Domaine Weinbach Riesling Schlossberg Cuvee Sainte Catherine, Alsace Grand Cru 2015 750ML ($69.95) $49 special, 11 bottles available
Ian D’Agata—Vinous Media 94 points “Good full bright yellow. Very typical nose of spicy, peppery orchard fruit and botanical herbs. Then broad and very pure in the mouth, boasting terrific tactile density to the orchard fruit, lychee and floral flavors. Really saturates the palate on the long aftertaste. As usual, this is once again far more complex and deeper than all the other Weinbach Rieslings of the same vintage, save for the l’Inedit. And so it should be, given that it’s made from 65-year-old vines planted in mid-slope, the best part of the Schlossberg­. Everything you’d expert a Riesling from granite to taste like.”

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

Domaine Weinbach Riesling Schlossberg Cuvee Sainte Catherine L’Inedit!, Alsace Grand Cru 2015 750ML ($79.95) $59 special, 2 bottles available
Ian D’Agata—Vinous Media 95 points “Bright golden-tinged yellow. Lemongrass, lemon verbena and lavender complicate lovely aromas and flavors of white stone fruit and a hint of crystallized mango. This showcases marvelous sugar-acid balance on the long finish. The first vintage of the Inedit was the 1999 (the 1998 was called the Cuvé de Centenaire); made from super-ripe grapes, this wine’s style falls in between a late harvest and a dry Riesling. And though it almost always tastes much more like a late-harvest wine, it manages the neat trick of being very rich and light on its feet at the same time. Fairly sweet on the aftertaste.”

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Two Exemplary Northern Rhone Producers

at Exemplary Prices

Jaboulet: From “La Chapelle” to Your Cellar

The hill of Hermitage was the home of a knight seeking solace from the horrors of the Crusades upon his return home.  He built a chapel to pray in and that building, the Chapel of Saint Christopher, is the defining marker of the hillside.  Jaboulet’s “La Chapelle” is likewise the defining wine of Hermitage for many.  Jaboulet purchased the chapel in 1919 and from then on began making the wine that has defined the Northern Rhone since.

Jaboulet also makes a number of other wines from the Northern Rhone, all of which hew to the quality standards that are established at the top of the line.  The Petite Chapelle is a fantastic Hermitage in its own right, capable of profundity with time.  The wines from St. Joseph and Crozes are all from prime parcels and remain exceptional bottles of Syrah.

Paul Jaboulet Aine Hermitage La Petite Chapelle, Rhone 2010 750ML ($119.95) $89 special, 6 bottles available
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 93 points “Opaque ruby. Heady aromas of black and blue fruits, Indian spices and candied flowers. Stains the palate with intense cassis and blueberry flavors, picking suave floral and spice nuances with air. Shows excellent clarity and energy on the finish, which features smoothly integrated tannins and a seductive floral quality.”
Robert Parker 92 points “The 2010 Hermitage La Petite Chapelle is a better wine than nearly every Hermitage La Chapelle made under the final years of the Jaboulet family’s ownership (for example, 1993-2005). The 2010 was aged in barrel and represents one-third of the Hermitage crop (another one-third was eliminated and the final one-third went into La Chapelle). Its deep purple color is followed by notes of camphor, tar, pepper, beef blood, black currant jam and hints of new saddle leather as well as earth. This supple, rich, full, authoritative beauty should drink well for 15-20 years.”

Paul Jaboulet Aine Saint-Joseph Domaine de la Croix des Vignes, Rhone 2012 750ML ($69.95) $59 special, 27 bottles available
Wine Advocate 95 points “The only Saint Joseph produced, the 2012 St Joseph Domaine de la Croix des Vignes is another incredible effort from this team. Coming from steep, granite soils and a vineyard located just beside the famed Vignes de Hospice, this beauty knocks it out of the park with its massive minerality, currants, rare beef and tapenade-like aromas and flavors. Ripe, medium to full-bodied, beautifully textured and still lively and elegant, it too will knock your socks off over the coming 15-20 years.” WA

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

Paul Jaboulet Aine Domaine de Roure Crozes-Hermitage, Rhone 2012 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 15 bottles available
Wine Advocate 94 points “Coming from a small three-hectare plot of granite soils in the northern part of the appellation (which is the prime terroir), the blockbuster 2012 Crozes Hermitage Domaine Raymond Roure exhibits incredible minerality in its black raspberry, olive tapenade, spring flower, and subtle chocolate-laced aromatics. Tasting like it was filtered through a bed of rocks, it’s full-bodied, thrillingly concentrated and has superb underlying structure. In short, it’s a smoking Crozes Hermitage to drink anytime over the coming 15+ years. Unfortunately, there’s only 500 cases made.” WA

Delas: Sleeping Stars in the Northern Rhone

Delas is one of the most notable landholders in the Northern Rhone, with holdings in some of the best vineyards in every major AOC, yet they still manage to be overlooked when people put together collections of wine from the region.  We’d like to remedy that, so permit us a few seconds to sing their praises.

Delas makes wines that are a) delicious and well-made and b) more than reasonably priced.  This combination means that it’s possible to drink your way up and down the Northern Rhone, trying fantastic wines from fabled appellations, and you can still afford your next car payment.  Sure, the wines aren’t collectible, but if you’re buying to drink, rather than to resell, give these a look.  We’re proud to present a broad assortment of their wines here for your future enjoyment:

Delas Freres Cote Rotie Seigneur de Maugiron, Rhone 2010 750ML ($89.95) $69 special, 18 bottles available
Wine Spectator 94 points “Packed with lots of dark ganache, tapenade, tobacco, blackberry compote and freshly sliced plum fruit flavors, this really courses along with noticeable energy, while bramble, singed bay leaf and charcoal stud the finish dramatically. Best from 2015 through 2027.” WS
Robert Parker 91 points “The 2010 Cote Rotie Seigneur de Maugiron has fleshed out since last year offering notes of black olives, garrigue, licorice, forest floor, bacon fat, raspberries and black currants. This medium-bodied Cote Rotie veers more toward a Burgundy-styled wine than its Syrah-based peers in the Northern Rhone. Two extraordinary wines are the offerings Jacques Grange has fashioned from the Delas Freres holdings in the Cote Brune, the 2011 and 2010 Cote Rotie La Landonne.” RP

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Delas Freres Crozes-Hermitage Le Clos, Rhone 2004 750ML ($59.95) $39 special, 12 bottles available
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 89 points “Medium red. Strong mineral notes accent fresh cherry and earthier tobacco and floral aromas. Solid and firmly structured, with a racy quality to the bright cherry and rhubarb flavors. This should age very well.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Delas Freres Crozes-Hermitage Le Clos, Rhone 2013 750ML ($69.95) $59 special, 20 bottles available
Wine Advocate 93+ points “Similar to the Domaine des Grands Chemins, yet with additional structure, the inky purple/ruby colored 2013 Crozes Hermitage le Clos has lots of minerality in its smoky, meaty, dark fruited profile. Medium to full-bodied, nicely concentrated, structured yet balanced, give it 2-4 years of cellaring and enjoy over the following decade or more.”

Delas Freres Hermitage Les Bessards, Rhone 2004 750ML ($199.95) $149 special, 29 bottles available
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 94 points “Ruby-red. Very pungent, deep aromas of tobacco- and underbrush-laced red and blackcurrant. Powerful and rich, showing impressive sweetness to its potent cassis and blackberry flavors. Really stains the palate, finishing with exceptional purity and mineral tones. Whatever tannins are here (and you know there are plenty) are completely absorbed by the sheer fruit mass.”

Delas Freres Hermitage Les Bessards, Rhone 2013 750ML ($249.95) $199 special, 9 bottles available
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 95 points “(aged in 70% new oak for 18 months): Inky ruby. Sexy, highly perfumed aromas of ripe dark berries, cherry liqueur, peppery spices and fresh flowers, backed by a hint of olive. Supple and appealingly sweet, offering intense, deeply concentrated blackberry and violet pastille flavors and a suggestion of star anise. Finishes pure, sweet and energetic on the penetrating finish, showing outstanding focus and slow-building tannins.”
Wine Advocate 94+ points “Closed, tight and backwards, the 2013 Hermitage les Bessards is a big, full-bodied, burly wine that offers first rate purity in its black raspberry, ozone, liquid rock, and creosote-like bouquet. It has plenty of material and density, but will need 7-8 years of bottle age to become approachable. As normal, it comes all from the “Bas de Coteau” portion of the Bessards lieu-dit, was completely destemmed and saw 18 months in 30% new French oak.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Delas Freres Hermitage Domaine des Tourettes-Marquise de la Tourette, Rhone 2013 750ML ($119.95) $69 special, 16 bottles available
Case-6 Delas Freres Hermitage Domaine des Tourettes-Marquise de la Tourette, Rhone 2013 750ML ($549.95) $359 special (that’s only $59.83/bottle!), 3+ cases available
Wine Advocate 94 points “One of the gems in the vintage is the 2013 Hermitage Domaine des Tourettes, which comes from both the Bessards and Grandes Vignes lieux-dits on Hermitage Hill. Completely destemmed, then vinified in stainless steel and concrete tanks, the wine is aged 18 months in 30% new French oak; it offers terrific notes of dark fruits, graphite and ample minerality in a full-bodied, layered, ripe profile. It’s more approachable than the Les Bessards, yet will still have three decades of longevity.”

Delas Freres Saint-Joseph Francois de Tournon, Rhone 2013 750ML ($44.95) $28 special, 36+ bottles available
Case-6 Delas Freres Saint-Joseph Francois de Tournon, Rhone 2013 750ML ($199.95) $149 special (that’s only $24.83/bottle!), 3+ cases available
Wine Advocate 92 points “Similar to the Saint Epine release quality-wise, the 2013 St Joseph Cuvee Francois de Tournon offers more richness, breadth and layer compared to the tighter, more focused, granite-influenced Saint Epine. Plum, black raspberry, licorice, cracked pepper and graphite flows to a medium to full-bodied, concentrated, structured 2013 that needs 3-4 years of cellaring; it will have two decades of longevity. Coming mostly from vineyards around Tournon and Mauves, it spent 12 months in 30% new French oak.”
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 92 points “Vivid ruby. Highly perfumed, exotic scents of black raspberry and blueberry preserves, incense and smoky minerals carry a spicy topnote. At once ripe and lively on the palate, offering palate-staining red and dark berry and cherry cola flavors and subtle floral character. Finishes spicy and very long, displaying harmonious tannins and a lingering violet note.”
Wine Spectator 92 points “Ripe and concentrated without sacrificing cut, this lets a pure beam of raspberry and blackberry coulis rush forth, backed by mouthwatering anise, black tea and iron notes. Latent grip allows the finish to linger. Best from 2016 through 2022.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

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Is 2013 Italy’s Vintage of a Century?

We’re hearing whispers of praise for this impressive vintage in Piedmont and Tuscany… could this be the vintage of the century for Italy?

Make your conclusions early by testing out the Chianti Classico Riserva from Tenuta di Arceno. Pierre Seillan, famed winemaker of Verite, purchased the estate with Jess Jackson in ’94. With Lawrence Cronin as winemaker, the team has produced a string of highly praised and well-scoring vintages culminating in the highest-scoring to date 2013 release, which just arrived in our shop:

Tenuta di Arceno Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG, Tuscany 2013 750ML ($27.95) $20.90 special
Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2013 Chianti Classico Riserva is a terrific wine that is offered at a very attractive price point. The bouquet is sweet and generous with bold layers of red fruit and dark berry nuances. Those are followed by balanced tones of spice, tobacco and moist earth. The blend is 90% Sangiovese and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon aged in French oak for up to 12 months. This 2013 vintage shows exceptionally well.”
James Suckling 93 points “Impressive intensity of fruit here with blueberry, blackberry and raspberry character yet a linear acidity and tannin backbone cuts through the middle of the wine. Fine and racy. Drink or hold.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $24

Check out additional 2013 offers from Italy below!

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Our Current
Shipping Promos:

Welcome to the club, Colorado!

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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Cascina delle Rose

Cascina delle Rose seems to have a foot in the world of family-oriented, rustic wines, what with the label showing their dog and cat playing with a swallow, but the wines definitely hold onto a more serious side. There’s an elegance to their offerings that belies the simplicity of their image.

The wines are not points darlings, and perhaps this is where there beauty comes from. To say that these are light wines is almost understatement. The wines are pressed extremely gently and Davide, the winemaker and son of the owner Giovanna, seems to want to avoid taking these wines past the minimum extraction necessary to make them recognizable as Piedmont classics. Their Tre Stella Barbaresco is the weightiest of all of the offerings, but even so, the wine is translucent and lifting, seemingly ready to knife through some braised lamb shank or fatty coppa.

Cascina delle Rose makes wines that are ready to drink, open and accessible. A touch of age won’t hurt, adding a little note of wild forest floor to the mix. These are the definition of wines that want to be a part of dinner. They’ll dance on their own, but really want to cut a rug with whatever is on the table.

Available here now from Cascina delle Rose:

Cascina delle Rose Donna Elena Barbera d’Alba Superiore, Piedmont 2013 750ML ($31.95) $28 special, 27 bottles available
Winery note “The grapes for this wine are sourced from a specific selection of old clones and the wine is aged in large Slavonian oak barrels for approximately 20 months. Intense ruby red with garnet reflections. Complex bouquet, of macerated fruits (cherry, plum, black cherry), slightly spicy (cinnamon, cloves) with a dark chocolate finish. Good tannic balance. Intense, warm, and persistent with particular elegance and deepness. It paired well with red meats, lamb, medium seasoned cheeses.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Cascina delle Rose Barbera d’Alba, Piedmont 2014 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 special, 36 bottles available
Winery note “Aged in large Slavonian oak barrels for approximately 15 months. Deep ruby red with slight garnet reflections. Show a freshness typical of Barbera with hints of cherry, blackberry, raspberry and cassis. A touch of balsamic gives finesse to the slightly spicy bouquet. Good tannins and persistence. It’s elegant and balanced. It pairs well with red meat, medium cheeses and fish.”

Cascina delle Rose A Elizabeth Dolcetto d’Alba, Piedmont 2015 750ML ($21.95) $18 special, 32 bottles available
Winery note “Bright ruby red with violet hues and crisp on the palate, with a delicate scent of wild rose and violet, cherry, red fruits and gooseberry. Elegant notes cinnamon and cloves. Good structure and acidity with silky tannins and lovely aromatic persistence.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Cascina delle Rose Nebbiolo Langhe, Piedmont 2015 750ML ($29.95) $26 special, 32 bottles available
Winery note “Bright garnet red. Floral and elegant notes of roses and violet (which is classic of the Tre Stelle); a direct, deep, and clear expression of the vineyard. Notes of fruit (maraschino cherries, berries), vanilla, leather, and tobacco. Dry, balanced and enduring, with dense texture of fine and silky tannins, great elegance and persistence. It goes well with salami, cured ham, red and white meat, and medium-aged cheeses.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Cascina delle Rose Tre Stelle, Barbaresco DOCG 2013 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 36 bottles available
Cascina delle Rose Tre Stelle, Barbaresco DOCG 2013 1.5L ($149.95) $119 special, 4 magnums available
Antonio Galloni 90 Points “The 2013 Barbaresco Tre Stelle is quite a bit deeper and richer than the Rio Sordo, with more freshness and overall structure to match. Sweet red cherry, tobacco, incense and leather flesh out as the wine fills out its frame effortlessly. Ample and generous, the 2013 Tre Stelle is an attractive Barbaresco that should provide a number years of enjoyable drinking. This is very nicely done.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price for the 750ML is $59.99
This is the only listing in the USA today for the magnum!

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Brunello

Reserve Bottling from the Outstanding 2010 Vintage:

Caparzo Riserva

Produced in only the finest years, this Riserva level Brunello offers ample body and power for a long life in the cellar. In 1998, Elisabetta Gnudi Angelini purchased the restored estate of Caparzo, seeing its potential for innovation for the sake of quality coupled with a deep appreciation of the history of the land and the traditions handed down in the region.

“Two thousand ten has turned out to be a superb vintage for Brunello di Montalcino, Italy’s most popular high-end red. The wines capture all the potential I sensed when I started tasting them from tank in the months following the harvest. At their best, the 2010 Brunellos offer gorgeous Sangiovese purity, tons of site specificity and high quality across the board, all signatures of a classic Montalcino vintage. Above all else, the 2010s speak to finesse.” – Antonio Galloni

Caparzo Brunello di Montalcino Riserva DOCG 2010 750ML ($79.95) $69 special, 33 bottles available
Antonio Galloni 96 points “The 2010 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is a big, powerful wine that is going to require at least a few years to soften. Dark and brooding, the Riserva shows the more masculine side of Sangiovese. Black cherry, plum, leather, spice and tobacco all sit on firm beams of acidity and tannin. There is a sense of explosive energy to the 2010 that I find quite appealing, but readers will have to be patient in order to experience the wine at its best.”
James Suckling 95 points “Aromas of blood oranges, blackberries, plums and mushrooms. Full body, round tannins and spices, lightly toasted oak and a cedar/berry finish. Solid Brunello. Drink or hold.”

We offer the following Brunello wines in-stock and available here now. You can see the complete list of pre-arrival Brunello wines at the bottom of this newsletter. To read reviews and shop online, visit our web store at www.vinopoliswineshop.com

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Special Announcement

New Pre-Arrival Offers on 2012 Brunello

Arriving in April

Argiano Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2012 750ML ($47.95) $36 pre-arrival special
James Suckling 96 points “Fantastically complex aromas of spices, dried flowers and plums follow through to a full body, integrated and polished tannins and a superb finish. This is a 2012 Brunello with it all. Drink in 2018.”

Caparzo Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2012 750ML ($39.95) $33 pre-arrival special
Case-6 Caparzo Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2012 750ML ($229.95) $179 pre-arrival special (that’s only $29.83/bottle and the lowest listed price in the USA today!)
Wine Advocate 91+ points “Caparzo’s 2012 Brunello di Montalcino is a mid-weight expression with bright berry aromas and a traditional approach stylistically speaking. This Brunello aged in large oak casks made from Slavonian and French oak. In fact, it shows a streamlined and compact texture with buoyant aromatic intensity. The focus is on raspberry, cherry and plum with distinct shadings of spice, licorice, tar and blue flower at the back. The overall effect is inviting and genuine. The mouthfeel is thin, but the wine offers nice freshness instead.”

Arriving in September

Tenuta di Collosorbo Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2012 750ML ($59.95) $39 pre-arrival special
James Suckling 95 points “Lots of balsamic and dried-cherry character. Full-bodied, rich and silky with beautiful fruit and intensity. Long and flavorful. Gorgeous wine. One of best from here in a long time.”

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

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Give the Gift that Never Expires!

Can’t decide on the perfect gift?

Let them!

We offer gift certificates in any amount with no taxes, fees or expiration date.

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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Breaking News!

High Praise Abounds for this Revolutionary Wine!

Arriving April 7th

Marchesi Antinori Tignanello Toscana IGT, Tuscany 2013 750ML ($119.95) $89 pre-arrival special
Marchesi Antinori Tignanello Toscana IGT, Tuscany 2013 1.5L ($299.95) $259 pre-arrival special
Marchesi Antinori Tignanello Toscana IGT, Tuscany 2013 375ML ($69.95) $59 pre-arrival special
Wine Spectator #8 Wine of the Year in 2016
James Suckling 97 points “This is amazing on the nose with blackberry, black truffle, dried cherry and hints of tobacco. So complex on the nose. Almost no need to taste it. Full body, soft and velvety tannins, and a persistent, fabulous finish. The mouthfeel is magic. 80% sangiovese and 20% cabernet sauvignon. Drink or hold.”
Wine Advocate 96 points “The 2013 Tignanello represents the beginning of a new chapter for Italy’s ultimate game-changer wine. The blend remains 80% Sangiovese with 15% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Cabernet Franc but Renzo Cotarella tells me “stylistically-speaking, this is what we wanted to achieve.” The winemaking formula remains the same, but one of the major differences and benefits to this wine is vineyard age. The celebrated Tignanello single vineyard is now reaching 15 years old. In other words, it is in its production prime. This is a harmonious and beautifully integrated wine that reveals black fruit and baking spice.”
Antonio Galloni 95+ points “The 2013 Tignanello is a real knock-out. Rich and intense, but also linear in style, the 2013 is endowed with superb energy from start to finish. In this vintage, the Cabernet Sauvignon and Franc character is especially evident, especially in the aromatics. Today, the 2013 is tightly wound and not ready to show all of its cards. Readers will have to be patient with the 2013, but the wine has plenty to say. Above all else, this is a remarkable level of quality for a wine with Bordeaux First Growth production (but not price) often in excess of 25,000 cases.”
Wine Spectator 94 points –#8 Top 100 of 2016–“Aromas of graphite, smoke and tobacco introduce the cherry flavor in this expressive, focused red. Firm tannins and lively acidity balance the fruit and purity, while herbal, spice and mineral elements all gather steam as this plays out on the long finish. Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2017 through 2027.”

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2013 Italian Wines

Pre-Arrival Offers for Marcarini and Conterno Fantino

ETA June:

Marcarini Brunate, Barolo DOCG 2013 750ML ($64.95) $50.90 pre-arrival special
Marcarini Brunate, Barolo DOCG 2013 1.5L ($149.95) $125 pre-arrival special
Marcarini Brunate, Barolo DOCG 2013 3L ($319.95) $279 pre-arrival special
Marcarini Brunate, Barolo DOCG 2013 5L ($599.95) $519 pre-arrival special
Antonio Galloni 91 points “The 2013 Barolo Brunate is laced with the essence of dark cherry, herb, licorice, sage, tobacco and menthol. The aromatic intensity, intrigue and textural depth of Brunate comes through nicely. Deep, rich and beautifully layered, the 2013 offers lovely depth and balance in the classic understated Marcarini style.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today on the 750ML!
These are the only listings in the USA today for the 1.5L, 3L and 5L!

Conterno Fantino Sori Ginestra, Barolo DOCG 2013 750ML ($89.95) $79 pre-arrival special
Antonio Galloni 95 points “The 2013 Barolo Sorì Ginestra, the estate’s flagship Barolo, hits all the classic Ginestra notes. Sweet, balsamic-inflected notes wrap around a core of intense dark blue and purplish fruit. Veins of salinity and tannin give the 2013 much of its personality. The 2013 is a bit restrained today, but it packs a serious punch. This big boy needs time to shed some of its formidable tannin, but it is impressive.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

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Chateau Meyney

Your Favorite Bordeaux

New Vintage Arriving in September

The 2009 Chateau Meyney came and went in a flash this year. Don’t miss the newest vintage arriving to our shop in September!

Chateau Meyney, Saint-Estephe 2014 750ML ($39.95) $33 pre-arrival special
Antonio Galloni 92 points “Super-ripe dark cherry, plum, smoke, chocolate, licorice and tobacco are some of the signatures in the 2014 Meyney. This is one of the more overt, flamboyant 2014s readers will come across. Although certainly not a shy wine, it is loaded with personality. The late harvest and the generally intense style favored by consulting winemaker Hubert de Boüard are very much in evidence. Tasted two times.”
James Suckling 92 points “This is one of the most immediately appealing 2014s from the appellation thanks to its very ripe black fruits, and there’s still a lot of structure behind it. Reminds me of some of Meyney’s top vintages of the 1960s.”

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Market Watch: 2015 Beaujolais

Arriving in September

Domaine Jean-Claude Lapalu Brouilly Alma Mater, Beaujolais 2015 750ML ($69.95) $59 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 90-92 points “The 2015 Brouilly Alma Mater was tightly wound on the nose when I tasted it from vat, but clearly very pure with succulent dark cherries, redcurrant, violet and a touch of tinned prune. The palate is very well balanced with supple tannin, very gourmand in style, somehow texturally reminding me of say, Tertre-Rôteboeuf on the Right Bank! Long. It manages to contain the alcohol extremely well and delivers a very composed finish and as such, I expect it will settle towards the top of my banded score.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Domaine Jean-Claude Lapalu Brouilly Cuvee des Fous, Beaujolais 2015 750ML ($41.95) $36 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 92-94 points “The 2015 Brouilly Cuvée des Fous had been racked the day before my visit to the domaine and I tasted this directly from vat. It has an intense dark cherry, cassis and iodine-scented bouquet with gorgeous raspberry ripple scents lurking just underneath. The palate is very well balanced with fine, very lithe tannin. The acidity here is perfectly judged, as it sashays towards a composed and very pure and long finish. Wow – this is going to turn into one sensual and compelling Beaujolais.”

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Pre-Arrival Brunelli

We offer the following Brunello winess on pre-arrival. To read reviews and shop online, visit our web store at www.vinopoliswineshop.com

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Breaking News Part 2!

Arriving in September

This history estate is under the leadership of the third Paul Avril of the family (the first founded the estate in 1896, the second held the helm from 1963 through the early 2000s). The current Avril embraces certain modern developments like harvesting low yields and not filtering, but maintains traditions that emphasize purity and quality: no new oak and no high end cuvee.

The 2015 vintage arrives at our shop in September:

Clos des Papes Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Rhone 2015 750ML ($99.95) $79 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 94-96 points “The 2015 Chateauneuf du Pape is reminiscent of a slightly improved 2005 and has a fresh, classic style with beautiful concentration, notable freshness, first-rate tannin quality, and the classic spice and sweet red and black fruits this cuvee is known for. I suspect this beauty will close down relatively quickly after bottling and take 5-6 years to show at its best, but it will drink well for 15+ years.”
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 94-96 points “(raised in foudres) Deep ruby. Hugely aromatic red and dark berry, potpourri and floral scents are underscored by smoky minerality and an exotic suggestion of Asian spices. Sappy, focused and impressively deep yet lively, offering alluringly sweet raspberry, cherry compote and spicecake flavors and a refreshingly bitter touch of blood orange. Puts on weight and spreads out steadily with air, acquiring a succulent herb note that carries through the strikingly long, mineral-laced, gently tannic finish. This beauty is shaping up to be among the standouts of this extremely successful vintage.”

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Thank you for reading!