Saturday, July 23rd, 2016
Featured New Arrivals; Staff Picks; Auslese Sale; Trending; Exploring Gevrey Chambertin; Elevee 2014 – Arriving Next Week; Servin; Carl von Schubert/Maximin Grünhaus – Arriving Next Week; J Christoffel Jr. – New Offers (Dating to 1976!); 95 Point Portuguese Wine; Rose Sale Ends Sunday
Featured New Arrivals
Wine of the year?
Casanova di Neri Cerretalto, Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2010 750ML ($379.95) $319 special, only 12 bottles available!
Wine Advocate 99+ points “This is a towering achievement. It is delightful on every level. The 2010 Brunello di Montalcino Cerretalto is an expressive, exuberant and stunning wine that opens to a dark ruby color and rich consistency. The bouquet is never-ending with immediate intensity that is followed closely by finely-tuned aromas of black cherry, spice, grilled herb, clove, tobacco, wet earth and white truffle. A gorgeous display of elegant mineral tones rises from the bouquet with time. Later, those aromas turn to cola, licorice and tar. This wine showed an impressive evolution over the 24 hours I tasted it and delivered solid improvements each time. The mouthfeel is silky and smooth, and there’s enough power here to move the wine over the palate in seamless fashion. This is a bottle for the back of your cellar.”
Or is it time for Oregon to grab the glory?
Beaux Freres ‘The Beaux Freres Vineyard’ Pinot Noir, Ribbon Ridge 2014 750ML ($89.95) $79 special
Wine Spectator 95 points “Supple, expressive and multilayered, with plum, currant, pomegranate and violet flavors coming together harmoniously, persisting into a long and exceptionally well-balanced finish. Drink now through 2024.”HS
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Or tried and true Napa Cab?
Spottswoode Family Estate Grown Cabernet Sauvignon, St. Helena 2012 750ML ($179.95) $149 special
James Suckling 98 points “Incredible blueberry, blackberry, black walnut, mineral, black licorice and flowers. Full-bodied, very tight and structured with hints of hazelnut, fine chocolate, mineral and spice. Layered and very fine. A solid and classic-styled Napa Valley cab.”
Robert Parker 96+ points “The opaque purple-hued 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon exhibits a glorious bouquet of crème de cassis, spring flowers, a Pauillac-like lead pencil note, and background new oak. The overall impression is one of restraint combined with richness. This full-bodied effort possesses good acidity and ripe tannin. It has been crafted for the long-term. The hallmarks of great Spottswoode wines are their purity and elegance combined with serious power. The 2012 has that in abundance. This youthful, reserved Cabernet will benefit from 3-5 years of cellaring, and will keep for two decades or more.” RP
Staff Picks
Tyler:
Scarpa ‘RossoScarpa’ Monferrato Rosso, Piedmont 2010 750ML ($19.95) $16 special, 27 bottles available
The Scarpa estate has existed since 1854 and, across the ensuing 162 years, has been owned by five different families who have each helped shape the label’s destiny. Through the 60’s and 70’s, Mario Pesce worked hard to establish the name as a world-class winery; time spent studying in Alsace and Burgundy brought about an experimental approach to winemaking which he retrofitted onto the existing Italian traditions at home in Monferrato. Across Piedmont, Scarpa became a known and respected name, earning the respect of such legends as Bruno Giacosa and Angelo Gaja.
This 90-10 blend of Dolcetto and Ruche is rendered in stainless steel and left to age in bottle. All comes from Scarpa’s estate vineyard, ‘Poderi Bricchi’ of Castel Rocchero, in the heart of the Monferrato. Upon opening, the wine is bright and fresh, if a little jittery. After decanting, the cranberry and red flower elements fused into a more complex, earthy, almost savory palate. The wine flirts between that hyper-dry, round and lightly-tannic signature with something deeper, layered, and untamed. With six years of age already built it, this wine will continue to grow and please as the seasons change. Such a lovely, dynamic bottle of wine. Really enjoyable.
Daniel:
Domaine de Montille Beaune Premier Crus
The Côte de Beaune hardly hosts a better-known name than de Montille. It’s as if the family of archetypical Burgundian vignerons arose from the earth of Volnay centuries ago. The late Hubert de Montille helped make the domaine famous for its classic style of age-worthy Burgundy, but now his son and daughter make the wines. Low yields and partial whole-cluster fermentation remain the norm, but the modern de Montille reds have softer tannins, are more aromatic, and they don’t require as much cellar time as before. Few other wines from Beaune, Pommard, and Volnay speak of their terroir and of Burgundian culture like de Montille wines do. The 2007 Greves will drink nicely now, while the 2009’s could be decanted today or kept in cellar another handful of years. This is very fine, hard to find, Burgundy.
Domaine de Montille Les Greves, Beaune Premier Cru 2007 750ML ($99.95) $79 special
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 90+ points “Medium red. Spicy redcurrant, raspberry, minerals and subtle earth tones on the inviting nose. Then rather reticent and firmly built, with good energy and lift to frame the red berry and spice flavors. Precise, juicy wine with very good aging potential. This is a modest 12.5% alcohol with a rather low 3.4 pH, according to Etienne de Montille.”
Domaine de Montille Les Greves, Beaune Premier Cru 2009 750ML ($99.95) $79 special
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 90+ points “The 2009 Beaune Les Grèves is a weighty, powerful wine graced with a solid core of fruit. Hints of smoke, tar and ash add complexity to the dark fruit. This has more than enough energy and sheer heft to develop nicely for at least a few years in bottle. Crushed rocks frame the intense finish.”
Domaine de Montille Les Pezerolles, Pommard Premier Cru 2009 750ML ($179.95) $149 special
Antonio Galloni 93 points “The 2009 Pommard Les Pezerolles is rich, round and seductive. Layers of fruit caress the palate in this enveloping, textured Burgundy. There is plenty of intensity in the glass. Hints of hard candy and licorice wrap around the finish. The Pezerolles was made with 100% destemmed fruit. Although I like the wine’s frank immediacy, I also think it will age gracefully.”
Rieslinger Alert: Auslese Sale
Subscriber-Only German & Austrian Auslese Sale
Take 10% off on all in-stock Auslese wines
We offer 39 Auslese wines in-stock and available here now to choose from.
Auslesen: Exquisite wines, crafted by hand and nature, from noble grapes grown in storied vineyards.
Plenty of astounding wines below $50
Some as low as $19
If these sites were Burgundy, they’d be $100-500
Sale ends Tuesday at midnight
Does not apply to pre-arrival offers or case specials
Discount will not appear in online shopping cart
We will apply it here before charging
Explore the full list below. For complete reviews and descriptions, visit our web store at www.vinopoliswineshop.com
Subscribers Sale: We take 10% off your cost on all in-stock German Auslese wines
Sale ends Tuesday at midnight
(Your final price will be 10% lower than the displayed price above or online.)
Trending
Chalk Hill Estate Red Proprietary Blend, Chalk Hill 2013 750ML ($69.95) $54.50 special, 15 bottles available
Robert Parker 96 points “The 2013 Proprietary Red Estate is a blend of 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Malbec, 12% Petit Verdot and the rest Carignane, Syrah and Merlot. This is another titanic effort from proprietor Foley. A spectacular dense-purple color and sweet toasty oak intermixed with licorice, blackberry, cassis and graphite are all present in this profound first-growth quality blend that should age effortlessly for 25-30 or more years. This is a stunner and a revelation.”
Cameron Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills 2014 750ML ($31.95) $24 special, 36+ bottles available
VinopolNote: This is all declassified Abbey Ridge and Clos Electrique Pinot Noir that shows its pedigree: there are classic notes of dusty Dundee spice with fresh thyme and black raspberry. It’s elegant. It’s age-worthy. And it’s simply the best value we’ve tasted from the 2014 vintage. Only 400 cases made.
Ruffino Modus Toscana IGT, Tuscany 2012 750ML ($27.95) $18 special, 36+ bottles available
James Suckling 94 points “A silky and refined red with currant, berry, mineral and dried flower aromas and flavors. Full-bodied, flavorful and delicious. A blend of sangiovese, cabernet sauvignon and merlot. Drinkable now but better in 2017.” JS
Maison Joseph Drouhin – Domaine des Hospices De Belleville Morgon 2014 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 special, 36+ bottles available
Burghound 92 points “There is a hint of Maraschino cherry to the cool, airy and elegant red berry fruit suffused nose that exhibits an excellent range of spice elements. There is once again excellent punch and detail to the slightly bigger and richer medium-bodied flavors that deliver beautiful depth and length on the impeccably well-balanced finale. I very much like the overall sense of harmony and this offers incredible value for money.”
“The Morgon is a beauty: rounded and rich, with firm acid-and-tannin structure, and an exuberance of red fruits that is the wine’s salient characteristic. The texture is silky, the finish is long and savory, and the overall taste is harmonious and complete.” –Mary Ewing-Mulligan WineReviewOnline.com
Felsina Berardenga Rancia, Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG 2012 750ML ($49.95) $39 special, 36+ bottles available
Felsina Berardenga Rancia, Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG 2012 1.5L ($99.95) $89 special, 6 magnums 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.”
Exploring Gevrey-Chambertin
Gevrey-Chambertin made a name for itself early. The annals first record the name of its most celebrated vineyard, Chambertin, in AD 640. Over a millennium later the wine became Napoleon’s favorite. And during the centuries in between, monks scrutinized the chalky brown, Bajocian limestone and clay soil, devotedly tasting the dirt, fruit, and wines from every square meter of hillside (here and throughout the Côte d’Or) until demarcations could be made. Gevrey-Chambertin today possesses nine Grand Crus, more than any other Burgundian village, and its Clos St. Jacques should count as another. The wines rank amongst Burgundy’s, and the world’s, best, even as village-level or Premier Crus. Rich, powerful, and structured, with velvety-smooth tannins, the Pinot acquires in Gevrey-Chambertin a bouquet of violet, strawberry, raspberry, rose, earthiness, game, and, with age, leather and licorice: decidedly masculine reds. Year after year, Gevrey-Chambertin tends to offer the most achieved wines of the Côte d’Or vintage. They demand age, but repay with enough complexity and refinement to leave you eternally contemplating the ineffable.
We offer 35 Gevrey Chambertin wines, at Village, Premier Cru and Grand Cru levels. We’ve listed a selection from each category below. You can browse the entire list online at www.vinopoliswineshop.com
Village
Serafin Pere & Fils Gevrey-Chambertin 2012 750ML ($99.95) $59 special, 31 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!
Domaine Hubert Lignier Gevrey-Chambertin 2012 750ML ($99.95) $79 special, 13 bottles available
Antonio Galloni “Moderately saturated pale red. Diffuse red fruits, earth and white truffle on the nose. Then spicy, supple and sweet in the mouth; easygoing and rather slight, with round, accessible flavors of strawberry and raspberry dominating. Finishes with sweeter tannins than the Gevrey La Justice.”
Domaine de la Vougeraie Gevrey-Chambertin La Justice 2012 750ML ($99.95) $69 special, 9 bottles available
Wine Spectator 93 points “Well-marked by new oak, this leads off with vanilla and toast aromas, followed by cherry and black currant flavors lurking underneath, marshaled by vivid acidity and embedded, chalky tannins. Hangs together through the lingering aftertaste of fruit and spice. Best from 2020 through 2035.” WS
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Domaine Philippe Charlopin-Parizot Gevrey-Chambertin Morceaux Vieilles Vignes 2012 750ML ($99.95) $66 special, 33 bottles available
Wine Spectator 93 points “Exhibits fine purity to the cherry, berry and floral aromas and flavors. Elements of tobacco and earth add depth and the silky texture is backed by harmonious acidity and tannins. Excellent length. Best from 2017 through 2028.” B.S.
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Premier Crus
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
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Domaine Dupont-Tisserandot Les Cazetieres, Gevrey-Chambertin Premier Cru 2008 750ML ($99.95) $79 special, 9 bottles available
Wine Spectator 92 points “A dark, almost brooding red, whose plum, black cherry and black currant fruit is sweet and permeating. Rich and supple, this picks up spice and mineral notes as it glides to the long finish. Best from 2012 through 2024.” WS
Maison Remoissenet Pere & Fils Le Trio, Gevrey-Chambertin Premier Cru 2011 750ML ($119.95) $79 special, 25 bottles available
Antonio Galloni 93 points “The 2011 Gevrey-Chambertin Le Trio is one of the most direct and focused of the 2011s here. Crushed rocks, graphite, mint and dark red berries are all laced together in a wine that impresses for its sense of harmony. Sweet floral notes add the final layers of nuance.” AG
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Domaine Arlaud Aux Combottes, Gevrey-Chambertin Premier Cru 2013 750ML ($119.95) $89 special, 9 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 93 points “Good dark red. Knockout Gevrey aromas of blueberry, boysenberry, cassis, musky minerals and licorice, with nuances of game and earth. A suave, silky midweight with lovely refinement and grain to its berry, spice and earth flavors. No easy sweetness here but pliant from the outset. The very long, slowly building finish features a broad dusting of tannins and sneaky energy. This has turned out beautifully.”
Wine Advocate 92-94 points “The 2013 Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Combottes has an entrancing bouquet that perhaps expresses the essence of Pinot Noir better than any of Arlaud’s premier crus at this nascent stage. It just soars from the glass with vivacious red berry fruits. The palate is medium-bodied with very fine tannin and perfectly judged acidity. There is impressive body and presence to this Gevrey Combottes that fully exploits one of the best premier crus after Clos Saint Jacques. This is an outstanding wine.” NM
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Domaine Faiveley La Combe aux Moines, Gevrey-Chambertin Premier Cru 2011 750ML ($89.95) $69 special, 11 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 89-92 points “Bright medium red. Lively aromas of redcurrant, red cherry and pepper, plus a whiff of game. Shows strong graphite and pepper notes in the mouth, but the wine’s fruit is currently suppressed by sulfur. Finishes saline, dense and chewy, with more obvious tannins than the Chambolle cuvees. This needs the sweetening influence of a racking.” ST
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Grand Crus
Claude Dugat Charmes-Chambertin Grand Cru 2011 750ML ($349.95) $319 special, 5 bottles available
Antonio Galloni 95 points “The 2011 Charmes-Chambertin is pure pleasure. Black cherries, plums, cloves, violets and new leather are all woven together in a fabric of notable class. Here it is the wine’s extraordinary textural finesse and overall harmony that take over all of the senses. There is so much to like here, including the wine’s generous, inviting personality. The Charmes has really come on strong over the last year.” AG
Domaine Dugat-Py Mazis-Chambertin Grand Cru 2008 750ML ($599.95) $499 special, 9 bottles available
Antonio Galloni 95+ points “The estate’s 2008 Mazis-Chambertin is drop-dead gorgeous from start to finish. A dazzling, captivating bouquet melds into dark fruit, mint, flowers and sweet spices as this powerful, complex wine grows in the glass. All of the elements continue to build towards the undeniable, explosive finish. This is a hugely impressive, towering wine from Dugat-Py.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Louis Jadot Chapelle-Chambertin Grand Cru 2010 750ML ($299.95) $249 special, 5 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 95 points “Good full, medium red. Expressive, nuanced aromas of strawberry, raspberry, crushed stone, smoke and flowers. Glyceral yet light on its feet, with a suave, silky texture to its vibrant, savory red fruit, floral and mineral flavors. Not at all a superripe style: really perks up the palate and leaves the mouth refreshed on the very long, sweet/savory finish. This classy grand cru finishes with captivating perfumed lift.” ST
Domaine Faiveley Chambertin Clos de Beze Grand Cru 2011 750ML ($349.95) $279 special, 29 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 94 (+?) points “Medium red. Highly nuanced yet quite primary on the nose, offering scents of raspberry, underbrush, dried rose, ginger and smoky oak. Juicy, saline and quite dry, with dark berry and strawberry flavors complicated by an earthy perfume. Finishes with substantial dusty tannins and excellent length. With 24 hours in the recorked bottle, this beauty showed a silkier texture and chewy, deep flavors of raspberry and spices that saturate the palate without leaving any impression of weight. A great effort for the vintage.” ST
Domaine Jacques Prieur Chambertin Grand Cru 2008 750ML ($399.95) $299 special, 2 bottles available
Burghound 92-94 points “This cool and equally fresh and restrained nose offers notably denser and much more complex aromas of red and blue pinot fruit, violets, earth and pungent minerality that is very much in keeping with the backward and ultra primary flavors that are firm, intense and precise, all wrapped in an austere, driving and powerful finish. This has everything it needs to amply reward long-term cellaring and it will need it.”BH
Domaine Armand Rousseau Pere et Fils Ruchottes-Chambertin Grand Cru ‘Clos des Ruchottes’ Monopole 2010 750ML ($799.95) $599 special, 1 bottle available
Wine Advocate 95-97 points “The 2010 Ruchottes-Chambertin is an intensely cool, reticent wine. The bouquet recalls the Mazis, but then the firm Ruchottes tannins set in. Ultimately the Ruchottes is built on purity, definition and nuance. The chiseled aromas and flavors possess stunning detail, but it will be some time before the 2010 is ready to drink. Still, I very much like the energy and drive. Bright, floral notes add lift and vibrancy on the finish. Anticipated maturity: 2025-2045.”WA
Arriving Next Week
From Elevee Winegrowers
Elevee Vineyards Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills 2014 750ML ($47.95) $39 pre-arrival special
Winery note “This wine reveals cherries, raspberries, sweet tobacco, cedar cigar box, violets, and powdered perfume, with hints of baking spice, around a mineral core. This is a medium body wine, with lively acidity, and borad, fine, velvety tannin. The long finish lingers with a chorus of raspberries, fading violet petals, and Dundee dust. The 2014 wine growing season began very early, with budbreak on April 14th and bloom on June 5th. Warm and dry conditions continued though August. The early, warm year shifted the ripening period to the warmest part of the year. Early action in the vineyard, combined with the density of our site, tempered these conditions allowing us to produce this elegant and graceful wine.”
Vinopolnote: as with the 2013 vintage that introduced us to Elevee, our favorite Dundee Pinot Noir that doesn’t cost $50+; and Elevee doesn’t yet cost $40.
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Mid-West, East & South
Summer Shipping Saver
For the summer season we are offering
UPS Three Day Select Service for the price of UPS Ground
for shipments normally travelling 4 or more business days.
Free service upgrade only applies on single orders 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 pre-arrival items that arrive after the promotional period.
Don’t forget about our other current shipping promos:
We offer flat rate shipping on any size single order / single shipment
-to Oregon for $17,
-Washington & Idaho for $20,
-and California for $25
These rates do not apply to orders held in storage here for any reason.
Multiple orders consolidated into one shipment
do not qualify for flat rate shipping.
Arriving July 29th
Domaine Servin Chablis
Domaine Servin is one of the oldest and largest estates in the region, with 32 hectares of vines spread throughout Chablis and much of it in top vineyards. The Servin family has been in the Chablis region since 1654 and involved in the wine industry for much of that time. Today, Francois Servin runs the domaine with the assistance of his Australian brother-in-law, Mark Cameron.
François, while appreciating the great traditions that are very important to the Servin family, strives to modernize and improve the estate. He has resumed hand harvesting of grapes over most of the Premier Cru and all of the Grand Cru vineyards. Where necessary, he has replanted with improved Chardonnay vines. The wines are aged in a mix of stainless steel and wooden barrel, depending on the cuvee, and bottled without filtration.
With a long history in Chablis, Domaine Servin owns some great parcels through the area, including Grand and Premier Crus. Remarkably approachable in their youth, Servin’s wines are enjoyed for their well-balanced minerality and fresh fruit, outstanding values from Chablis!
Domaine Servin Wines Arriving July 29th
Domaine Servin Chablis, Burgundy 2015 750ML ($27.95) $21.90 pre-arrival special
Case-12 Domaine Servin Chablis, Burgundy 2015 750ML ($279.95) $239 pre-arrival special (that’s only $19.92/bottle!)
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Domaine Servin Butteaux, Chablis Premier Cru 2015 750ML ($37.95) $28 pre-arrival special
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Domaine Servin Mont de Milieu, Chablis Premier Cru 2014 750ML ($37.95) $28 pre-arrival special
Burghound 92 points “Notably ripe and mildly exotic yet wonderfully fresh aromas of yellow orchard fruit and white flowers are followed by rich, concentrated and relatively robust flavors that possess good mid-palate extract, all wrapped in a long and sappy finish that is almost painfully intense. This is a big and powerful wine that will require a few years to harmonize and develop depth but the underlying material is certainly present to allow this to happen.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Domaine Servin Blanchot, Chablis Grand Cru 2014 750ML ($69.95) $59 pre-arrival special
Burghound 92-94 points “The refined and admirably pure nose is comprised by white flower, tidal pool and subtle spice aromas that are followed by citrus and mineral-infused flavors that are attractively textured, precise and explosive on the hugely long and very dry finish. This beauty is a lovely combination of power and finesse while delivering buckets of Chablis character. In a word, lovely.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Domaine Servin Bougros, Chablis Grand Cru 2014 750ML ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 91-93 points “Marc Cameron described his 2014 Chablis Grand Cru Bougros as the “big bad boy of the group.” It has a glorious bouquet, perhaps partly because unlike other vintages there is some new oak in the blend. But it works well. The palate is clean and fresh with bright citrus peel and orange zest notes, the wood element more expressive toward the finish. It perhaps lacks Chablis typicité, but you’ll still polish off a bottle without a murmur of complaint.”
Burghound 90-93 points “Ample but not dominating oak influence surrounds the ripe green fruit and floral aromas that also exhibit plenty of Chablis typicity. The big-bodied, muscular and overtly powerful flavors possess good concentration and impressive amounts of dry extract, all wrapped in an explosively long finish where the wood reappears. This is not really my style but it is clearly a Bougros of quality.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Domaine Servin Les Clos, Chablis Grand Cru 2014 750ML ($79.95) $69 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 92-94 points “The 2014 Chablis Grand Cru Les Clos, which like the Bougros was extracted from a new barrel, has a potent mineral/wet pavement bouquet that gains vigor in the glass. The palate is fresh and crisp with a fine line of acidity, brushing off the new oak with ease and fanning out wonderfully on the poised finish. This is a more sophisticated proposition than the Bougros at the moment – harmonious, intense and with great breeding.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Carl von Schubert/Maximin Grünhaus
Arriving Next Week
Facing south and overlooking the Ruwer River just before it meets the Mosel, Weingut Maximin Grünhaus has produced extraordinary Rieslings since Medieval times. Roman ruins underlie today’s estate, but it was the Saint Maximin Abbey that made this area famous for wine. The Abtsberg vineyard, known for its concentrated yet supple and perfectly balanced wines, once supplied the Abbott himself, while the equally long-lived Herrenberg vineyard wines satisfied the Abbey’s choirmasters. Weingut Maximin Grünhaus continues the tradition of crafting wines fit for the elite. They farm the vineyards following organic principles, keep yields low, and harvest by hand. Large Fuder casks, made from oaks on the estate, help the wines achieve their greatness. Tasting a Riesling from Weingut Maximin Grünhaus means tasting a lineage of German winemaking history.
Carl von Schubert/Maximin Grünhauser Wines Arriving Late July
Carl von Schubert Maximin Grünhäuser Herrenberg Riesling Alte Reben Trocken, Mosel 2014 750ML ($34.95) $27 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 91+ points “The 2014 Maximin Grünhäuser Herrenberg Riesling Trocken Alte Reben displays a very clear, subtle and elegant plum-brandy and white nectarine aroma. Full-bodied and very elegant on the palate, with intensity and minerality, this is a more concentrated, richer and round Riesling from the Herrenberg with a good mineral length. At this early stage, the juicy Alte Reben shows more of a GG-style than the Grünhaus character, though I wonder if not the ‘regular’ Herrenberg trocken is more drinking fun in the next five or 15 years. 11.5% alcohol is pretty Grünhaus though.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Carl von Schubert Maximin Grünhäuser Abtsberg Superior Riesling, Mosel 2014 750ML ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 94 points “Very clear and smoky on the still discreet and yeasty-flavored, dense nose, the 2014 Maximin Grünhäuser Abtsberg Riesling Superior is a very elegant and round, finesse-full and persistent Riesling; it has a long and salty, very complex but beautifully fine, yet firmly structured and great finish. Impressive Riesling for the next 25 or 30 or more years.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Carl von Schubert Maximin Grünhäuser Abtsberg Riesling Kabinett, Mosel 2014 750ML ($34.95) $27 pre-arrival 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!”
Carl von Schubert Maximin Grünhäuser Abtsberg Riesling Spatlese, Mosel 2014 750ML ($39.95) $33 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 95 points “The 2014 Maximin Grünhäuser Abtsberg Riesling Spätlese (AP #12) opens very clear and smoky on the deep and aromatic nose. It is piquant and intense on the palate, very juicy and concentrated, firm and potent, and far away from being ready to drink. It is lush and piquant, very mineral and racy, and needs at least 15 years to reveal its true talents. This is a great Spätlese in Grand Cru format. Bottled with 68 grams of residual sugar.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $34.25
Carl von Schubert Maximin Grünhäuser Herrenberg Riesling Spatlese, Mosel 2014 750ML ($37.95) $29 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 94 points “The 2014 Maximin Grünhäuser Herrenberg Riesling Spätlese (AP #7) offers a super clear and stony flavored bouquet with some yeasty flavors, which you can also find in the Kabinett. Sweet and filigreed on the weightless and highly elegant palate, this is a gorgeously fine and stimulating Spätlese with a beautiful salinity. Bottled with 72 grams of residual sugar per liter, you taste nothing but fruit. This is very precise and well articulated Riesling of great finesse and elegance, and probably the finest Herrenberg of the 2014 vintage. Lightness and goodness as character.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $34
Weingut Jos. Christoffel Jr. aka Christoffel-Prum
2015 Rieslings and Winery-Cellared Releases
These are all the only listings in the USA today!
Arriving Fall 2016
Weingut Jos. Christoffel Jr. Christoffel-Prum Urziger Wurzgarten Riesling Spatlese Feinherb 2015 750ML ($34.95) $26 pre-arrival special
Mosel Fine Wines 92 points “This off-dry Riesling was fermented to “only” 8.5% of alcohol and exhibits 29 g/l of residual sugar. The first nose is quite captivating as it offers fresh and zesty flavors of citrus, white peach, flowers, mint and herbs all wrapped up in some spicy fermentation notes and reduction. The wine is light as fresh water and dances on the palate. The whole structure is light and airy. At the moment, the finish is rather smooth and delicate but will gain in precision and depth in a few years’ time. 2020-2035.”
Weingut Jos. Christoffel Jr. Christoffel-Prum Urziger Wurzgarten Riesling Spatlese Trocken 2015 750ML ($34.95) $26 pre-arrival special
Mosel Fine Wines 89 points “This offers a very fine and nicely perfumed bouquet driven by flowers, vineyard peach, orange blossom and citrus. The palate is full of finesse and smoke with a mouth-coating mid-palate fruity structure. The finish is at first smooth before some refined smoky and herbal flavors come through in the dry after-taste. 2017-2023”
Weingut Jos. Christoffel Jr. Christoffel-Prum Urziger Wurzgarten Riesling Spatlese 2015 ($39.95) $29 pre-arrival special
Mosel Fine Wines 92+ points “A rather restrained nose hints at more than exhibits some delicate flowers, smoke and a touch of toffee at first. The wine develops more presence and intensity on the juicy palate as juicy yellow peach comes through. The finish proves juicy as grapefruit acidity brings focus and adds depth and freshness in the after-taste. There is plenty of upside potential in this Auslese in disguise. 2025-2045”
Weingut Jos. Christoffel Jr. Christoffel-Prum Erdener Pralat Riesling Auslese *** Goldkapsel, Mosel 2015 750ML ($79.95) $69 pre-arrival special
Mosel Fine Wines 96 points “A Slightly reduced nose of grilled pineapple, citrus and grapefruit gives way to fresh flavors of anise, flowers and coconut. The wine starts off on the compact side of things as ripe and exotic fruits greet one on the palate. The finish proves deliciously creamy and gains in presence and energy as a joyful touch of acidity come through. This is a very delicate and hugely complex Prälat in the making, which only needs to be left alone for more than a decade in order to blossom. 2030-2065.”
Weingut Jos. Christoffel Jr. Christoffel-Prum Urziger Wurzgarten Riesling Auslese *** Goldkapsel, Mosel 2015 750ML ($79.95) $59 pre-arrival special
Mosel Fine Wines 94 points “This proves very delicate and rather restrained on the nose as scents of anise, yellow peach, smoke (bacon) and bergamot emerge from the glass. The wine only really reveals its intensity and complexity on the palate after some airing. Yet the finish is airy, light and pure. This terrify effort should develop into a great subtle Auslese in a decade or two. 2025-2050.”
From the Estate Cellar
Auslese *** Wines:
Weingut Jos. Christoffel Jr. Christoffel-Prum Erdener Pralat Riesling Auslese *** Goldkapsel, Mosel 2003 750ML ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival special
Weingut Jos. Christoffel Jr. Christoffel-Prum Erdener Pralat Riesling Auslese *** Goldkapsel, Mosel 2009 750ML ($49.95) $39 pre-arrival special
Joel B. Payne-Vinous 92 points “Golden yellow. Rich bouquet of mango, pineapple and nut oil, with a hint of honeyed botrytis. Unctuous apricot flavor shows a flattering creaminess, with elegant minerality providing shape. Deceptively suave finish shows a nice touch of brown spice.”
Weingut Jos. Christoffel Jr. Christoffel-Prum Erdener Treppchen Riesling Auslese ***, Mosel 2003 750ML ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival special
Weingut Jos. Christoffel Jr. Christoffel-Prum Erdener Treppchen Riesling Auslese ***, Mosel 2007 750ML ($49.95) $39 pre-arrival special
Weingut Jos. Christoffel Jr. Christoffel-Prum Urziger Wurzgarten Riesling Auslese ***, Mosel 2001 750ML ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival special
Mosel Fine Wines 93 points “The wine shows a light golden color. It needs a few minutes in the glass to develop a subtle aromatic profile made of peaches, grape fruit, mint, spices and exotic fruit. The bouquet is still very primary and restrained. There is a striking botrytis purity which adds hints of honey, especially on the palate. The residual sugar is still quite present and gives a rather creamy and soft texture. However the finish is crystal clear and very long. This should age effortlessly. 2011-2031.”
Weingut Jos. Christoffel Jr. Christoffel-Prum Urziger Wurzgarten Riesling Auslese ***, Mosel 2003 750ML ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival special
“This Auslese was picked with a significant portion of fine, “clean” botrytis. Vanilla cream, nut oils and crushed stone on the palate, with a polished mouth feel. There is more than enough acidity to keep the finish aloft here, even if it does not quite (yet?) show the striking complexity or penetration of the best wines here today.” –David Schildknecht [reviewed Jan 2005]
Weingut Jos. Christoffel Jr. Christoffel-Prum Urziger Wurzgarten Riesling Auslese ***, Mosel 2005 750ML ($49.95) $39 pre-arrival special
Joel B. Payne-Vinous 93 points “Pale golden yellow. Rich aromas of strawberry, pear nectar and nut oil, with a generous splash of brown spice botrytis. Tropical fruit essences and wet stone salts melt together on the creamy palate. Sweeter and more concentrated than the other auslese, with a distinct honey and spice personality. Incredibly rich and long on the finish.Perhaps I am underrating this.”
Weingut Jos. Christoffel Jr. Christoffel-Prum Urziger Wurzgarten Riesling Auslese ***, Mosel 2007 750ML ($49.95) $39 pre-arrival special
Joel B. Payne-Vinous 93 points “Pale golden yellow. Rich aromas of pear nectar, mint and sassafras waft over a hint of honeyed botrytis. The decidedly creamy yet delicate palate is marked by apricot, brown spices and mineral salts. Nut oils join the slate on the long finish.”
Weingut Jos. Christoffel Jr. Christoffel-Prum Urziger Wurzgarten Riesling Auslese ***, Mosel 2009 750ML ($49.95) $39 pre-arrival special
Joel B. Payne-Vinous 92 points “Pale golden yellow. Exalted aromas of papaya, passion fruit and clove. The rich, creamy papaya fruit is laced with a fine saline minerality. Elegant in spite of its depth. But this wine is still quite closed, even austere.”
Beerenauslese Wines:
Weingut Jos. Christoffel Jr. Christoffel-Prum Graacher Domprobst Riesling Beerenauslese, Mosel 1976 700ML ($219.95) $179 pre-arrival special
Weingut Jos. Christoffel Jr. Christoffel-Prum Urziger Wurzgarten Riesling Beerenauslese, Mosel 1976 700ML ($219.95) $179 pre-arrival special
Weingut Jos. Christoffel Jr. Christoffel-Prum Urziger Wurzgarten Riesling Beerenauslese, Mosel 2005 375ML ($89.95) $69 pre-arrival special
Weingut Jos. Christoffel Jr. Christoffel-Prum Urziger Wurzgarten Riesling Beerenauslese, Mosel 2005 750ML ($179.95) $133 pre-arrival special
Trockenbeerenauslese Wine:
Weingut Jos. Christoffel Jr. Christoffel-Prum Urziger Wurzgarten Riesling Trockenbeerenauslese, Mosel 2003 375ML ($399.95) $249 pre-arrival special
“Although harvested at a stratospheric 240 degrees Oechsle, this has already fermented to (legal) wine. Apricot and pear nectar inform a thick yet ethereally light, Eszencia-like palate. While enormously sweet, the finish is not cloying.” –David Schildknecht [reviewed Jan 2005]
Available here now from this estate:
Weingut Jos. Christoffel Jr. Christoffel-Prum Urziger Wurzgarten Riesling Spatlese 2012 750ML ($29.95) $24 special, 13 bottles available
Weingut Jos. Christoffel Jr. Christoffel-Prum Erdener Pralat Riesling Auslese ***, Mosel 2004 750ML ($49.95) $39 special, 3 bottles available
Mosel Fine Wines 90+ points “This is a nicely made wine with great balance and freshness. The remarkable thing is that a very subtle touch of botrytis smoke kicks in on the mid-palate and finish. This should develop remarkable well even if the wine may remain somewhat on the austere and structured side. 2012-2024.”
Weingut Jos. Christoffel Jr. Christoffel-Prum Erdener Pralat Riesling Auslese ***, Mosel 2007 750ML ($54.95) $33 special, 11 bottles available
Weingut Jos. Christoffel Jr. Christoffel-Prum Erdener Treppchen Riesling Auslese ***, Mosel 2004 750ML ($44.95) $39 special, 2 bottles available
Weingut Jos. Christoffel Jr. Christoffel-Prum Urziger Wurzgarten Riesling Auslese ***, Mosel 2004 750ML ($44.95) $39 special, 9 bottles available
Weingut Jos. Christoffel Jr. Christoffel-Prum Urziger Wurzgarten Riesling Auslese ***, Mosel 2012 750ML ($49.95) $39 special, 10 bottles available
Mosel Fine Wines 92 points “Harvested at a cool 100 Oechsle in a prime sector near the Urziger Sonnenuhr, this offer a great nose of cassis and strawberry. A touch of acidity comes through on the palate, which adds depth and presence. The finish is pure and fruity, and leaves a superb sense of creamy yet electrifying sense of silkiness on the finish. Everything is nicely balanced in this beautifully racy Auslese. 2022-2042.” MFW
Weingut Jos. Christoffel Jr. Christoffel-Prum Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Beerenauslese, Mosel 1995 750ML ($179.95) $149 special, 4 bottles available
Portugal is not all Port!
Quinta da Falorca
Arriving in December 2016
For over five generations, the Costa Barros de Figueiredo family has grown grapes at their estate in the Dao region of Portugal. It was not until 1999 that the family began producing wine at their estate from their four vineyards, Vale das Escadinhas, Barreiro, Esmoitada and Falorca. Before, the grapes were brought to the local cooperative where until 1963 the grapes were crushed by stone mills. The estate is home to 13 hectares of grape vines that grow in the hardy, granite-flecked soils overlooking the Dao River among groves of olive, hazelnut and pine trees. The region is relatively cooler than the corresponding Spanish side of the river: the Douro. It is not unusual to see lush pine forests on the steep banks of the river on the Portuguese side. The more temperate climate leads to longer maturation periods, allowing the low-yielding local grape variety, Touriga Nacional, to shine.
Quinta do Vale das Escadinhas ‘Quinta da Falorca’ Touriga Nacional, Dao, Portugal 2011 750ML ($59.95) $39 pre-arrival special, ETA December 2016
Wine Advocate 95 points “The 2011 Touriga Nacional Quinta Da Falorca is a blend of Touriga grapes from three plots, two with 40 years of age and the third at ten. It was aged in new French oak for 18 months. The combination of power, finesse and seduction here make this more than a little enticing. To be sure, it is rather unevolved and it needs to pull in a little oak. Even now, though, it is slowly gathering itself. The crisp, flavorful finish, balance and good structure will support this for a couple of decades in all likelihood. It finishes with controlled power and persistent flavor. It is always a wine that leans a bit to the Burgundian and this year is no different. I liked last year’s version a lot. That may in fact be a bit lusher. This has a bit more lift, focus and penetration, granting that they are not now side-by-side. It is a very nice duo. In the long run, this will win out. It was far superior the next day, its combination of finesse and precision winning out. It has an Old-World feel (forgive the stereotype).”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Rose Sale Ends Sunday
Subscriber-Only Mid-Summer Rosés Sale
Take 10% off on all in-stock Rosés
We offer 75 rosés in-stock and available here now to choose from.
Wines like these:
Chateau Margui Coteaux Varois Rose, Provence 2015 750ML ($21.95) Was $18, Now $16.20 with the 10% off discount!
Chateau Margui Coteaux Varois Rose, Provence 2015 1.5L ($59.95) Was $49, Now $44.10 with the 10% off discount!
Wine Enthusiast 90 points “Organically grown grapes have produced a clear, crisp wine with freshness and lively acidity. These blend effortlessly into the red fruits and light squeeze of lemon juice. The wine is bright and ready to drink.”
40% Cinsault, 40% Grenache, 10% Syrah, 10% Rolle.
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Domaine du Dragon Cotes de Provence Grande Cuvee Rosé, Provence 2015 750ML ($19.95) Was $16, Now $14.40 with the 10% off discount!
Importer Notes -“While much of Provence is a patchwork of different terroirs, the estate’s high-altitude vineyards, located in the hills up above the Côte d’Azur, are singular in that the soils are almost exclusively limestone, as in Burgundy. ‘Grande Cuvée’ brings together Syrah, Grenache, Cinsault and Rolle, a southern white grape. Grapes are pressed (rosé de pressurage) then fermented on indigenous yeasts in temperature-controlled, stainless steel tanks; the wine also undergoes malolactic fermentation.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Chateau Henri Bonnaud Cotes de Provence Sainte-Victoire Terre Promise Rosé 2014 750ML ($21.95) Was $18, Now $16.20 with the 10% off discount!
Wine Enthusiast 90 points “This is a pretty wine with its elegant pale color and delicious fruit. Made from organically grown Grenache (85%) and Cinsault (15%), it is crisp, full of fresh red currant fruit and has a nervy, very fresh aftertaste.”
Winery note “The texture is smooth, rich, and silky. The wine has a long finish with notes of red fruits and spices. A structured rosé, as is ideal for a Côtes de Provence Rose.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Domaine de Mattes Sabran Duc de Narbonne Rose, IGP Pays d’Oc 2015 750ML ($17.95) Was $14, Now $12.60 with the 10% off discount!
“The size of Mattes-Sabran’s vineyards in the region of Corbières in the Languedoc is a legacy of the estate’s ancient role as the seat of the duke of Narbonne. Yet vine-growing and winemaking here truly stretches back centuries; parts of the ancient Roman “Via Domitia” run through the estate. This full-flavored, pure Syrah wine is hand-harvested and pressed directly (rosé de pressurage). Juice is fermented on indigenous yeasts in temperature-controlled, stainless steel tanks.”–Importer Notes
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Clos Cibonne Cotes de Provence Tentations Rose, Provence 2015 750ML ($24.95) Was $18, Now $16.20 with the 10% off discount!
Grapelive 91 points “Clos Cibonne’s entry level Rose, the Tentations Cotes de Provence, is a beautiful pink wine that is meant and is easy to drink young and fresh with bight fruit, mineral and dry crispness. Made mostly from Grenache and Cinsualt, it also has some of the rare Tibouren, Provence’s ancient native varietal that graces the estate’s upper level Clos Cibonne bottlings and that can age decades as both Rose and as a pale red wine. The 2015 Cibonne Tentations Rose Coptes de Provence starts with lively red citrus, tart cherry and cool watermelon along with a hint of lavender, wet shale, strawberry and mineral spice. This is very steely and refreshing stuff with good acidity giving a balanced play of sweet, sour and savory elements making it a wonderful summer pink to enjoy over the next year or so. If you want really sexy and thought provoking pink, be sure to check out the lees aged Clos Cibonne Tibouren Rose Tradition, usually a year behind in release, these wines make you rethink your approach to Rose! But for now and lots of fun, don’t miss the 2015 Tentations Rose, it is one of the best vintages I can remember from Cibonne!”
Lucien Crochet Sancerre Pinot Rose, Loire 2015 750ML ($34.95) Was $28, Now $25.20 with the 10% off discount!
Lucien Crochet Sancerre Pinot Rose, Loire 2015 1.5L ($34.95) Was $59, Now $53.10 with the 10% off discount!
Importer note “Gilles Crochet’s series of Sancerres are a defining element of our portfolio and stand at the pinnacle of this appellation. Likewise his Sancerre Pinot Rosé deservedly has its fanatical followers. This wine shows pristine balance, an artist’s “pink” to its tint and a discrete strawberry fruitiness that shows the charm of fine Pinot Noir. A wine that simply should not be missed!”
Sale ends Sunday at midnight
Does not apply to pre-arrival offers, case specials or sparkling wines
Discount will not appear in online shopping cart
We will apply it here before charging
For a complete list including reviews and descriptions, visit our web store at www.vinopoliswineshop.com
Have a lovely weekend!