Goodfellow Scores Big; California Chardonnay (for Labor Day); The Wine Advocate Train Rolls Through France and Spain; Felsina’s 2013’s Arrive; More New Arrivals from Spain, Italy and France; Clos de Papes and La Solitude—First Offer
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Congratulations to Marcus Goodfellow
New Scores For Always Delicious Chardonnays
Marcus Goodfellow’s Matello and Goodfellow Family Cellars labels have been mainstays at the shop for some time now—wines that we carry regardless of vintage, scores or overall hype. The wines are amongst the best in Oregon and consistently some of the most inspiring wines we taste. It looks like we aren’t alone in our love—the new Wine Advocate reviews for our fair state lavish (deserved) praise on Marcus’ wines, particularly two Chardonnays which we wanted to feature today. If you want to jump straight to our webstore, feel free to click here and go straight to these wines.
Goodfellow Family Cellars Richard’s Cuvee Chardonnay, Willamette Valley 2014 750ML ($39.95) $36 special
Goodfellow Family Cellars Richard’s Cuvee Chardonnay, Willamette Valley 2014 375ML ($24.95) $19.50 special
Wine Advocate 95 points “The 2014 Chardonnay Richard’s Cuvee knocks it out of the park with a nose of ripe apricots, pink grapefruit and guava underscored by fresh ginger, baking bread, beeswax and yeast extract hints with a waft of jasmine. Medium-bodied, the palate is very elegant and refined, with incredible freshness and depth wrapped in a lovely satiny texture, finishing with long lasting mineral and spices layers. Wow!”-LPB
Goodfellow Family Cellars Durant Vineyard Chardonnay, Dundee Hills 2014 750ML ($31.95) $28 special
Case-6 Goodfellow Family Cellars Durant Vineyard Chardonnay, Dundee Hills 2014 ($179.95) $156 special (that’s only $26/bottle!)
Wine Advocate 95+ points “The 2014 Chardonnay Durant Vineyard delivers an intense minerally/struck match and crushed stones nose over a core of lemon pie, orange blossoms and grapefruit plus hints of toasted almonds and brioche. Medium-bodied, very fresh and very fine, the palate reveals a gorgeous creamy texture and wonderful flavor intensity, with the citrus, savory and mineral flavors lingering long and multi-layered in the mouth.” –LPB
Also, Arriving Tuesday:
The world premier of the 2015 version of Marcus’ epic-ly good entry level Pinot:
Goodfellow Family Cellars Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 2015 750ML ($24.95) $20.90 pre-arrival special
Case-12 Goodfellow Family Cellars Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 2015 750ML ($279.95) $219 pre-arrival special (that’s only $18.25/bottle!)
Wine Advocate 92+ points “Pale ruby-purple colored, the 2015 Pinot Noir is scented of roses, wild thyme and lavender with a core of Bing cherries and warm cranberries plus an earthy/forest floor waft. Light to medium-bodied, the palate provides a wonderful intensity of perfumed red berry flavors with silken tannins and a long earthy finish.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
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Vinopolis Will Be Closed for Labor Day
On Monday, September 4th
(We are otherwise open for our regularly scheduled hours, 10 AM – 6 PM daily)
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Budget California Chardonnay That Delivers
At the Best Prices in the Country
While low-oak, high acid Chardonnay might be the hot thing in the press and in the sommelier crowd, we look at our sales every month and see that old-school Cali Chard is still king. For those of you in the silent majority, we’ve got some hot new deals on some classic Chardonnay for you. These are comin in at the best prices in the country.
Just Arrived:
Freemark Abbey Chardonnay, Napa Valley2015 750ML ($27.95) $21.90 special
Robert Parker 90 points “The 2015 Chardonnay is partially barrel-fermented and aged sur lie, but only about 15% new French oak is used. This wine is elegant, with good acidity and notes of baked apple pie intermixed with some white peach and pineapple in a crisp, medium to full-bodied style. Given its acid and concentration, this wine should age nicely for 7-8 years, possibly longer.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Pine Ridge Vineyards Dijon Clones Chardonnay, Carneros 2014 750ML ($34.95) $21.90 special
VinopolNote: This is the top of the line Chardonnay from Pine Ridge, a historic producer located in Stags Leap in Napa. This Chardonnay comes from old vines in Carneros and is aged in a little over 33% new oak. Rich, full and round, this is a Chard promises, and delivers, immense richness.
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Arriving Tuesday, September 5th:
Rodney Strong Chalk Hill Estate Chardonnay, Sonoma County 2015 750ML ($19.95) $16 pre-arrival special
Wine Spectator 88 points “Intense and vibrant, with zesty, raw-edged green apple, pear and light citrus flavors, joined by cedary oak on the finish. Clean throughout. Drink now.”
Arriving Friday, September 8th:
Cambria Estate Winery Clone 4 Chardonnay, Santa Maria Valley 2015 750ML ($21.95) $16 pre-arrival special
Wine Spectator 89 points “This shows good length and depth to the suave pear, apricot and ripe apple flavors that are accented by floral and spicy notes. The creamy finish offers toasty and buttery accents. Drink now through 2019.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Orin Swift Mannequin, California 2014 750ML ($31.95) $24 pre-arrival special
Robert Parker 92 points “One of his most popular wines is the creatively packaged 2014 Chardonnay Mannequin. The label alone would draw plenty of interest. This wine, primarily Chardonnay with a few percent of Viognier, Grenache Blanc, Marsanne, Muscat and Roussane, was aged sur lie for nine months in 40% French oak. It is no shy wine at 15.5% alcohol and there is plenty of it – 8,073 cases, which is good because it is a hot-selling wine to say the least. This wine offers notes of brioche, white peach, honeysuckle and citrus oil in a full-bodied intense style, but with terrific acidity and rather restrained oak. The wine is rich, ripe and impressive. Drink it over the next 3-4 years.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
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Summer Shipping Special:
Midwest, East, & South
For the summer season we are offering UPS Three Day Select Service for the price of UPS Ground for shipments normally traveling 4 or more business days by ground.
Free service upgrade only applies on single orders purchased and shipped during the promotional period. Additional fees will apply to orders held for any reason until after the promotional period and shipped by Three Day Select. Offer not valid on items purchased before the promotional period or on pre-arrival items that arrive after the promotional period ends.
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More New Wine Advocate Scores
For French Classics and Spanish Rebels
It’s always a blast reading through the new issue the Wine Advocate and see what was rewarded with high praise. We highlighted some wines from Oregon and Italy yesterday that were singled out and now we wanted to do the same with Beaujolais and Chablis in France and Bierzo in Spain.
France-Beaujolais:
Anne-Sophie Dubois Fleurie Clepsydre, Beaujolais 2015 750ml ($31.95) $28 special
Anne-Sophie Dubois Fleurie Clepsydre, Beaujolais 2015 1.5L ($79.95) $66 special
Wine Advocate 90 points “The 2015 Fleurie Clepsydre comes from high density planting (9,000 vines per hectare) on granite soils cropped at 30 hectoliters per hectare, and the fruit here is 100% destemmed followed by ten months in oak casks. It has a meaty nose with garrigue scents infusing the dark berry fruit. The palate is well balanced with supple ripe tannin and crisp acidity, with a well defined, fresh finish that leaves a residue of white pepper on the aftertaste. There is an uncommon sense of mystery about this Fleurie…and I like that.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast 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
Wine Advocate 91 points “The 2015 Fleurie l’Alchimiste was 50% destemmed and after a three-week maceration spent ten months in oak and cement casks. It has a relatively opulent bouquet, but that is matched by its purity and delineation, luscious blueberry and blackcurrants ahoy. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannin, ripe and quite rounded black fruit dominating towards the caressing, lightly spiced finish. This is delicious.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Daniel Bouland Cote de Brouilly Cuvee Melanie, Beaujolais 2015 750ml ($29.95) $24 special
Wine Advocate 91 points “The 2015 Cote de Brouilly Cuvée Melanie offers strawberry shortcake, almond and rose petal scents on the nose—not unlike walking into a provincial French patisserie. It has certainly become more generous in the last 12 months. The palate is well balanced with succulent ripe red cherry and blackberry notes, well-judged acidity and a juicy, opulent finish in which Bouland manages to retain control and focus. This has great potential and represents a finely-tuned, precise Côte de Brouilly.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
France-Chablis:
Rene et Vincent Dauvissat-Camus La Forest Chablis Premier Cru 2015 750ml ($99.95) $89 special
Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2015 Chablis 1er Cru la Forest has a seductive bouquet of toffee apple, quince, flint and touches of apricot blossom developing over time all with superb delineation. The palate is very well balanced with outstanding energy and tension, perhaps waxy in texture and with a slow burning build that leads to a vibrant quince, marmalade and white pepper finish that seems to lacquer the mouth. What a great Forêts, even if the 2016 is showing even greater potential.”
Spain-Bierzo:
La Vizcaina ‘El Rapolao’ Lomas de Valtuille, Bierzo 2014 750ML ($37.95) $29.80 special
Wine Advocate 94+ points “The 2014 La Vizcaína El Rapolao had a Cabernet Franc-like character that I also found in the 2013, both cold years in the zone. It fermented in a combination of oak and chestnut vats. There are also notes of wild berries and flowers. The palate is serious, with fine-grained tannins and good length. 2014 was not an easy harvest, but somehow his vineyards delivered very balanced grapes and higher yields. Some 3,400 bottles were filled in August 2016. This is the first of the reds to be bottled.”LG
Raul Perez Ultreia Mencia, Bierzo 2014 750ML ($31.95) $24.80 special
Wine Advocate 92 points “The red 2014 Ultreia is Mencía from various vineyards in the environment of Ponferrada, where the soils are rich in slate, complemented by some 20% of grapes from the zone of Valtuille. It follows the same modus operandi as all the reds: fermentation with full clusters and indigenous yeasts and aging in used, well-seasoned, neutral barrels for one year. There is a mix of floral, spicy and balsamic aromas, subtle with an earthy background. The palate revealed some earthy tannins and fine, focused and subtle flavors.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Raul Perez Ultreia Saint Jacques, Bierzo 2015 750ML ($21.95) $17.80 special
Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2015 Ultreia St Jacques is the entry-level red for the Ultreia range and is amazingly good for the price. Produced from old vines, this is a serious wine, with juicy fruit, a fine palate and good freshness for the conditions of the year. They have included new vineyards that they have been working for the last four or five years, so they are able to bottle a little bit more wine. This is a great value.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
And Arriving September 8th:
Raul Perez Ultreia de Valtuille, Bierzo 2014 750ML ($69.95) $59 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 96 points “The 2014 Ultreia de Valtuille was very open and expressive, impressive too, with notes of freshness, blood orange, red cherries and also flowers (violets, lilies) and an earthy touch. It’s elegant and complex, with very fine tannins and a velvety sensation. As with all the reds, the oak is unnoticeable, perfectly integrated and folded into the wine.”
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Just Arrived – In Stock Now
Felsina’s Amazing 2013’s
The Best Value in Tuscan Wine
“May I make a suggestion? Readers would do well to buy a case of [Felsina] Rancia upon release every year and put it away. Few wines deliver so much pleasure and pedigree at maturity for what remains a very fair price.” –Antonio Galloni
We know that Tuscan wine is crazy-popular, both from the requests we get and the sales we see here at the shop. While Brunello is still the undisputed star of the show, we think more people should be buying higher-end Chianti. Unlike Brunello, there seems to be a bit of an artificial price ceiling for Chianti and so the wines, no matter their absolute quality, cost less than comparable examples from the other famous neighborhood in Tuscany.
Felsina’s Rancia Riserva is a prime example. It costs half of what a comparable Brunello would and ages for at least as long. The wines are powerful, elegant and nuanced and wonderful at the table and we have some of the sharpest pricing in the country on the 2011 and 2012—two vintages that display all of the qualities we love in different ways. The 2012 being lighter and more nuanced and the 2011 with a bit more power and fruit. You’re going to want some cases.
The Fontalloro is the flagship wine for Felsina. Made from 100% Sangiovese (like a Brunello, yes), it’s generally considered to be the best wine that they make in any given vintage. We’ve been lucky enough to acquire several vintages so that you can have your pick (or perhaps drink a small vertical every year for a while).
Felsina Berardenga Rancia, Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG 2013 750ML ($59.95) $44 special
Felsina Berardenga Rancia, Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG 2013 1.5L ($119.95) $99 special
Antonio Galloni 96+ points “Fèlsina’s 2013 Chianti Classico Riserva Rancia bristles with energy, with veins of underlying acidity that give the wine its focus and drive. Dark red cherry, plum, rose petal, herb and licorice are some of the signatures. Most of the Fèlsina Chianti Classicos are defined by their dark fruit and savory notes, but the Rancia is also wonderfully bright and lifted from start to finish while staying very much true to the house style. Today, the Rancia gives the impression it will unwind at a glacial pace. I imagine most bottles of the 2013 will be drunk before the wine truly enters its prime.”
Wine Advocate 95 points “Here is another highlight of the vintage. The 2013 Chianti Classico Riserva Rancia is a dark, moody and sophisticated wine. It does not reveal itself immediately or in any obvious way. Instead, it doses out its intensity in careful measurements. The whole performance is seductive to say the least. That slow momentum leads to dark cherry with spice, grilled herb, wet earth and dried rose. Felsina’s Riserva Rancia is a very elegant wine, both on the nose and in the mouth.”
Felsina Berardenga Fontalloro Toscana IGT, Tuscany 2013 750ML ($69.95) $49 special
Wine Advocate 96 points “Gorgeous and soft, the 2013 Fontalloro is another landmark wine from this classic vintage. There is enormous intensity here and the wine is only at the beginning of its long aging trajectory. I suggest you put off drinking it for five to ten more years. There is evident thickness and generosity here, especially in the way those bold fruit flavors are woven between dark spice and leather. There are sour accents on the close that remind you of the wine’s youth. The tannins are fine and well integrated.”
James Suckling 95 points “Aromas of plums, clay tiles and sage follow through to a full to medium body, silky tannins and a linear and racy finish. Love the underlying freshness and brightness to this. Excellent. A little tannic now, so better in 2018”
Antonio Galloni 94 points “The 2013 Fontalloro shows the richer, creamier style of the vintage while maintaining plenty of Fèlsina character. Silky tannins wrap around a core of dark stone fruits as the 2013 shows off its personality. Fontalloro naturally doesn’t have the pure energy of Rancia, but it will drink well with just a few more years in bottle. Fontalloro is the most overt and ripe of the Fèlsina wines with the exception of the Colonia. A hint of French oak shapes the supple, inviting finish.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Also In-Stock Now:
Felsina Berardenga Fontalloro Toscana IGT 2009 750ML ($69.95) $49 special, 18 bottles in stock now
Case-12 Felsina Berardenga Fontalloro Toscana IGT 2009 750ML ($579.95) $519 special, 1 case in stock now (that’s only $43.25/bottle!)
Antonio Galloni 94 points “There is a lot to like in the 2009 Fontalloro (Sangiovese). For starters, the wine is rich, broad and ample on the palate. Hints of tobacco, savory herbs, licorice and menthol all add complexity over time. The over juiciness of the fruit is nicely balanced by clean veins of underlying acidity that give the 2009 much of its freshness. This is another wine endowed with superb balance and class.” AG
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Felsina Berardenga Fontalloro Toscana IGT 2012 750ML ($59.95) $46 special, 21 bottles available
Wine Advocate 94 points “The 2012 Fontalloro (100% Sangiovese) is a stunning expression and delivers the high quality we have come to expect of this celebrated IGT Toscana wine in a less important vintage. Careful work has been done here to ensure the high quality of fruit. The Fontalloro vineyard is located on the border of the Chianti Classico and the Chianti Colli Senesi appellations. Many have called upon Fèlsina to change the wine’s status to Chianti Classico Gran Selezione, but technically it can’t be because of much of the vineyard is located outside the denomination limits. The bouquet is soft and rich with dark fruit and spice. In the mouth, Fontalloro reveals integrated tannins and acidity.”
Antonio Galloni 94 points “Dark red cherry, plum, cinnamon and crushed rock nuances flesh out in the 2012 Fontalloro. Next to most of the other wines in the lineup, the 2012 Fontalloro is floral, perfumed, fresh and vibrant, with gorgeous aromatic lift, silky tannins and lovely overall balance. Fontalloro often opens up before Rancia, as is the case today, but the 2012 also possesses more than enough depth to drink well for a number of years. Still, the sexy, radiant finish makes me think most bottles won’t be around to make old bones. Put simply, the 2012 Fontalloro is an arrestingly beautiful, showy wine built to please. And please it does.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $53
Felsina Berardenga Rancia, Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG 2011 750ML ($59.95) $41.90 special, 9 bottles available
Case-12 Felsina Berardenga Rancia, Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG 2011 750ML ($499.95) $469 special, 1 case available (that’s only $39.08/bottle!)
Antonio Galloni 94+ points “A wine of incredible density, the 2011 Chianti Classico Riserva Rancia is virtually impenetrable, but dazzling just the same. Rose petal, mint, sage, rosemary, leather and smoke hit the palate in a voluptuous, racy Rancia. The 2011 should drink well earlier than many other recent vintages, but it should also age nicely. The fine, silky tannins are a bit uncharacteristic for a young Rancia. Over the last few years, the 2011 has really started to come together. It will be interesting to see where things go from here.”
Wine Advocate 94 points “From the 6.25-hectare Rancia vineyard, the 2011 Chianti Classico Riserva Rancia shows a more elaborate and stylized personality with ripe fruit tones, bursting cherry, perfumed violets and rose petal. Those floral notes add a feminine touch to what is in fact a wine of power and determination. It shows a beautiful evolution in the glass as well, with dusty mineral notes that add to the overall elegance of the dry, polished finish. This is one of the best Riservas of 2011.” ML
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Felsina Berardenga Rancia, Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG 2012 750ML ($49.95) $39 special, 36+ bottles available
Antonio Galloni 94+ points “A ripe, powerful wine, the 2012 Chianti Classico Riserva Rancia offers a level of finesse that balances some of the more overt intensity of the year. Dark cherry, plum, spice, tobacco, menthol and licorice add shades of nuance as this beautifully delineated Rancia opens up in the glass. Because of its mid-weight structure, I expect the 2012 will give up its charms relatively early by Rancia standards, which means around age 15-20. The 2012 is not an obvious or explosive Rancia, rather is a wine built on compelling overall harmony.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $46
Felsina Berardenga ‘Colonia’, Chianti Classico Gran Selezione DOCG 2010 750ML ($199.95) $119 special, 15 bottles available
Wine Advocate 95+ points “When you hear the story of the effort that went into making the Colonia vineyard, you have to wonder if the fine folks at Fèlsina are absolutely mad. It took them two years of dynamite blasting to clear the imposing rock that had forced previous generations of the Poggiali family to virtually abandon this site. But an ambitious Giovanni Poggiali takes credit for making this spectacular vineyard what it is today. The wine produced here is quickly becoming the second flagship product after Fontalloro. The 2010 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Colonia is a wine of enormous beauty and depth. This is Sangiovese at its highest expression and any doubt I had about the previous vintage (which was the first time this wine appeared as a Gran Selezione) have been washed away by this current release. What really stands out are the wine’s precise mineral and graphite aromas that lend an incredible sense of focus and balance. The oak element is also beautifully integrated.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
And don’t forget to visit our web store to see all 114 different Tuscan wines we have in stock right now!
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In Stock Now:
Other New Arrivals From Italy, Spain and France
Friday is a day of new arrivals here at Vinopolis and there are always more exciting things coming than we can feature at once, but here are a few highlights from around the globe
Italy:
La Valentina Spelt Montepulciano d’Abruzzo Riserva 2013 750ML ($24.95) $19 special
Ian D’agata–Vinous 94 points “Inky-purple. Very deep smoky nose hints at blackberry, blueberry, flint and violet. Then refined and juicy, with smooth deep flavors of mineral-accented blueberry and aromatic herbs. Long, multilayered and extremely elegant finish boasts real depth and complexity. This is a knockout, really grand, Montepulciano wine. Very, very well done.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Spain:
Gramona III Lustros Gran Reserva Brut Nature Cava, Catalonia 2007 750ML ($49.95) $39 special
Wine Advocate 93 points”The 2007 Gran Reserva Brut Nature III Lustros is a sparkling wine with a long history, aged for seven years in contact with the lees and kept without adding any liqueur d’expédition (Brut Nature). They like a blend of 75% Xarello and 25% Macabeo, which is a constant across the range, but the long aging provides for the telltale Penedès balsamic aromas of camphor, bay leaf and fennel, with a touch of petrol. The palate shows a compact wine, with very good integration of all the components, bright acidity and fine bubbles that provide a silky texture. It feels younger than it is, a good compromise between youth and development.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Celler del Roure ‘Vermell’, Valencia 2012 750ML ($17.95) $14 special
Wine Advocate 90 points “A new red wine, the 2012 Vermell is a blend of 40% Monastrell, 40% Garnacha Tintorera and 20% Mandó from lyre-pruned vines on sandy soils at 550 meters altitude. It was fermented in stainless-steel vats with indigenous yeasts and matured for four months in buried 2,600-liter terra-cotta amphorae. The nose is sharp, pure and elegant with great freshness, aromas of red berries, licorice, aromatic herbs and some of the telltale Monastrell notes of esparto grass. The palate is medium-bodied, precise and focused, though not terribly complex. It is really tasty with a lacy texture making it very easy to drink.”
France:
Domaine Henri Boillot Les Fremiets, Volnay Premier Cru 2009 750ML ($99.95) $89 special
Antonio Galloni 93 points “The 2009 Volnay Les Fremiets shows the wilder side of Volnay in its distinct notes of game, cured meats and dark red fruit. It, too, comes across as young and full of life. This is far from an easygoing 2009 on many counts.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Domaine des Baumard Savennieres, Loire 2015 750ML ($29.95) $24 special
Case-12 Domaine des Baumard Savennieres, Loire 2015 750ML ($319.95) $259 special (that’s only $21.58/bottle!)
Wine Spectator 94 points “Alluring, with quince, creamed pear, verbena and green almond flavors allied to a creamy texture, all offset beautifully through the finish by light quinine and mineral hints. Approachable, but this seems built for the cellar. Best from 2018 through 2030.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
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First Offering: Clos de Papes and La Solitude
Chateauneuf in Red and White
We’ve got two awesome white Chateauneuf and one library red arriving in December and wanted to give you first shot at snagging these before they arrive. Wines not to miss, for sure!
Arriving in December
Clos des Papes Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Rhone 2015 750ML ($139.95) $119 pre-arrival special
Wine Spectator 98 points “This has a drop-dead gorgeous core of cassis and raspberry pâte de fruit flavors that holds center stage but still allows notes of Lapsang souchong tea, anise, incense and shiso leaf to chime in. Very long, with a sublime feel through the mineral-tinged finish. So seductive already, but this will cruise in the cellar. Drink now through 2040.”
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.”
Clos des Papes Chateauneuf-du-Pape Blanc, Rhone 2016 750ML ($99.95) $89 pre-arrival special
Wine Spectator 96 points “A lovely acacia note leads the way here, with additional accents of honeysuckle, Key lime, white peach and mirabelle plum following quickly. The very bright, racy, mineral-fueled finish sets this apart from the pack, with a long honeysuckle echo. Should age well. Drink now through 2027.”
Domaine de la Solitude Chateauneuf-du-Pape Cuvee Barberini, Rhone 2001 750ML ($89.95) $69 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 93 points “The outstanding 2001 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Barberini (a blend of 40% Grenache, 40% Syrah, and 20% Mourvedre aged 24 months in 40% small barrels and 60% neutral wood foudres) boasts an inky/ruby/purple color in addition to a big, sweet nose of creme de cassis, melted licorice, graphite, smoke, and truffles. Full-bodied, lush, and expansively flavored, with tremendous purity as well as density, this brilliant 2001 is already starting to strut its stuff.”
Domaine de la Solitude Chateauneuf-du-Pape Tradition Blanc, Rhone 2016 750ML ($49.95) $41.90 pre-arrival special
Wine Spectator 95 points “This is dreamy, with creamed melon, pear and green fig flavors gliding along, framed by light brioche and meringue flavors. The long finish just lets the fruit hang beautifully. Offers refined opulence. Drink now through 2022.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Arriving in April 2018
2013 Produttori del Barbaresco Crus
“Two thousand thirteen …is shaping up to be an epic vintage of classic proportions and superb pedigree. The growing season was much more stable than 2012, but it is the last month of the year, a perfect September with warm days and cool nights, that yielded Barbarescos endowed with regal intensity. The 2013s remind me of the 2010s, but with more inner sweetness and mid-palate richness.” –Antonio Galloni
Thanks for reading!