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In This Newsletter:
Featured New Arrivals: New Sake Selections New and Re-Arrivals Just Announced: New Cru Produttori Provencial Pink from Louis Roederer’s Domaine Ott Featured Re-Arrival Royally Delicious Sparkling from Sforza Producer Spotlight: Mellen Meyer  We’re Open for In-Store Shopping! 10AM – 6PM Daily We also offer Curbside Pickup Order Online / By Phone / By Email Featured New Arrivals: New Sake Selections For those unfamiliar with Saké let us provide some context. Fundamentally different in production and classification than the wines that we carry, Saké is produced from milled rice that is then fermented with yeasts and fungi (Known as kōji). This process leads to higher levels of residual sugar on average, with lactic acid providing movement on the palate and lessening the perception of sweetness. The higher alcohol content of 16-20% also creates a dryer perception, making the majority of Saké taste off-dry. Kōji is ubiquitous in East Asian food production and plays a role in everything from soy sauce to miso production due to the fungi’s ability to convert starch and other carbohydrates into sugars. Because rice doesn’t contain juice like winegrapes water is also added, oftentimes from mountain runoff or underground spring water. The primary variables that lend to the difference of flavors, aromas and sugar range from the constitution of the water used, yeast cultivar, rice varietal and most importantly: the polishing ratio or amount of milling that occurs prior to fermentation. Our newest arrivals all feature highly polished rice that falls under the Junmai Daiginjo standard, due to the only 45% of the original rice husk remaining prior to fermentation. These styles represent less than 3% of total production, making them perfect introductions to Saké as well as something new for the aficionado’s palate. We’ve also secured an allocation of one of the rarest styles of sake; a naturally salmon pink sake made from the heritage varietal Murasaki that produces deep red rice. The Mukai features a variety of flavors ranging from Tahitian Vanilla, Pomegranate juice and Cherry syrup, making it the perfect accompaniment to desserts and cheese courses but also onion tarts, Spanakopita, terrines and sweetbreads. New Sake in stock now: Kanbara Bride of the Fox Junmai Ginjo Sake Japan 720ML ($39.95) $33 special, 5 bottles in stock now Asahi Shuzo Dassai ’45’ Junmai Daiginjo Sake Japan 720ML ($39.95) $33 special, 12 bottles in stock now Vinpol Note: A Junmai Daiginjo exhibiting the classic profile of Yamada Nishiki rice with it’s rounded texture and fruit profile reminiscent of Muscat Grapes, Honeydew Melon and Cantaloupe. Mukai Shuzo Inemankai Sake Japan 720ML ($59.95) $49 special, only 3 bottles in stock now A unique, rose colored sake made from red rice. This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Re-Arrived Sake Senjo Jumai Daiginjo Sake 720ML ($49.95) $37.50 special, 7 bottles in stock now Producer note “Juicy and refreshing. Floral nose, round and smooth mouthfeel. Full of fruity flavors [that] are pleasantly balanced with clean sweetness. Jhitogokochi sake rice locally developed and grown in Nagano, is polished to 40% of the original size for brewing with soft water sourced from Mt. Senjo of the Southern Alps of Japan. SMV: -15. Acidity: 1.8. 16% ABV.” This is the only listing in the USA today!
Yuki Otoko – Yeti Junmai Sake Japan 720ML ($39.95) $28 special, 7 bottles in stock now Distributor note “Producer: Aoki Shuzo. Rice: Miyama Nishiki milled to 60%. Water: On-site well water from an underground current originating at Makihata-yama. Soft water. SMV +12. Acidity 1.2.” This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
New and Re-Arrivals
Italy – Alto Adige Cantina Terlano-Kellerei Terlan ‘Vorberg’ Riserva Pinot Bianco Alto Adige Trentino-Alto Adige 2019 750ML ($59.95) $41.90 special No reviews for the 2019 vintage. 2018 vintage provided for reference. Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 95 points “If I were stranded on a deserted island with just one bottle of wine of my choosing, it very well might be Cantina Terlano’s Vorberg. The 2018 Alto Adige Terlano Pinot Bianco Riserva Vorberg is a case study in creaminess and texture, although the bouquet holds back just a tad, with a bit of stone fruit. That subtle shyness is a known characteristic of the grape. The wine is as steady and clear-minded as one of those high-wire daredevils, navigating a tightrope between two Dolomite mountain peaks. This expression is salty and firm and with so much energy, and yet it is also relaxed with a touch of softness to the finish. Thankfully, an ample 55,000 bottles were made.” Cantina Terlano-Kellerei Terlan Tradition Pinot Bianco Alto Adige Trentino-Alto Adige 2020 750ML ($29.95) $24 special Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 93 points “This is lovely in its streamlined purity and simplicity. The entry-level 2020 Alto Adige Pinot Bianco Tradition is redolent of citrus, crushed stone and tangy grapefruit. Fresh and lively, this Pinot Bianco shows lots of life and energy. It’s very pretty. Drink it young with a buttery linguine and shrimp scampi.” James Suckling 92 points “A very striking pinot bianco that combines concentration and elegance with stony minerality. Hints of exotic fruit, flowers and spices make this a fascinating expression of this still underrated grape. Drink or hold.” California- Ridge Vineyards Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Santa Cruz Mountains 2019 750ML ($79.95) $69 special, 12 bottles in stock now Ridge Vineyards Geyserville Alexander Valley 2020 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 6 bottles in stock now Ridge Vineyards East Bench Zinfandel Dry Creek Valley, 2020 750ML ($49.95) $39 special, 12 bottles in stock now Featured New Arrival: Conde Valdemar’s Tempranillo Blanco Discovered on a single cane in a vineyard due to be uprooted in 1988, the vine was saved and propagated. After extensive quarantine, genetic testing and test planting, the varietal is now approved for cultivation in Rioja. Conde Valdemar was among the first to introduce the new grape to their vineyards both in Rioja and in their new estate in Walla Walla, Washington. The hope for Tempranillo Blanco is that it will exhibit the same drought and heat tolerance of their Noir sibling, with the same potential for age and effusive aromatics. As you’d expect with a close genetic relative of Tempranillo the Blanco is medium bodied with green apple and Anjou pear making up the primary fruits with green pineapple, banana peel and pastry cream making up the tertiary flavors and aromas. As you can expect with such a newcomer to Rioja, quantities of this wine are highly limited! In the world of viticulture and enology there are few things as prized as old vines. The vine weathers climactic curveballs that occur throughout the season, yields are naturally lower and produce more intensely flavored fruit, and require less handholding in general than younger plantings. Every so often in these vineyards something truly magical occurs; the mutating of red grapes into white or gris varietals. Historically this is how the varietals Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, Carignan Blanc, Grenache Blanc, and Grenache Gris were created, with Tempranillo being the latest to join their siblings. In stock now: Bodegas Valdemar ‘Conde de Valdemar’ Tempranillo Blanco Rioja DOCa 2020 750ML ($29.95) $26 special, 11 bottles in stock now
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
 Just Announced: New Cru Produttori “Aldo Vacca and his team at the Produttori del Barbaresco cooperative continue to turn out gorgeous wines that deliver a remarkable combination of quality and value…” –Antonio Galloni, Vinous
“[Produttori del Barbaresco is] one of the most important and quality-minded co-operatives in the world…” –Jeb Dunnuck “I’ve written this many times before, but it bears repeating: Produttori del Barbaresco is one of Italy’s ultimate values for your money.” –Monica Larner, Wine Advocate Produttori del Barbaresco is revered for producing classically-styled Barbaresco and Riservas of uncompromising quality and transparency. It’s a miracle that these wines are still affordable and available, especially when compared to the skyrocketing prices of Barolo. You’d be hard-pressed to find such consistent quality and complexity out of such an extensive range of single-vineyard Nebbiolos anywhere else. We’ve just confirmed our single vineyard magnum allocation featuring some of the best regarded crus in the appellation. 2017 Cru Produttori Arriving June 10th: Produttori del Barbaresco Montestefano Barbaresco Riserva DOCG 2017 1.5L ($189.95) $169 pre-arrival special
“The 2017 Barbaresco Riserva Montestefano is a potent, savory wine. Today, the fruit is very much in the background. A brooding, backward Barbaresco, the Montestefano clearly needs time, it is a somber, imposing Barbaresco. Dark plum, earthiness, cloves, menthol and licorice infuse the finish with notable gravitas. There’s plenty of Montestefano breadth and resonance.”Antonio Galloni 93+ points This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Produttori del Barbaresco Ovello Barbaresco Riserva DOCG 2017 1.5L ($199.95) $179 pre-arrival special Antonio Galloni 94 points “The 2017 Barbaresco Riserva Ovello is a heady, explosive wine. I don’t think I have ever tasted an Ovello from the Produttori with this much heft. The strong mineral and saline accents typical of this site are present, but they are matched pound for pound by notable mid-palate richness and intensity in its fruit. The 2017 is a brooding powerhouse that needs time to unwind.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Produttori del Barbaresco Rabaja Barbaresco Riserva DOCG 2017 1.5L ($219.95) $189 pre-arrival special
Antonio Galloni 94 points “The 2017 Barbaresco Riserva Rabajà is a potent, searingly tannic wine that will need a few years to come together. Brooding and backward, even for young Rabajà, the 2017 is painfully young today. It will be interesting to see what time brings. Today, the 2017 is a real powerhouse. Black fruit, menthol, licorice, melted road tar, game and menthol develop in the glass, but only with great reluctance.” This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Provencial Pink from Louis Roederer’s Domaine Ott
European wine circles, they are considered to the finest producers of rosé out there—better even than Tempier. Here in the U.S., we tend to view things the other way around, but when you taste Ott’s top rosés, you understand the argument. Ott is an estate that’s focused on excellence above all else. They own multiple estates across Provence, all producing unique wines that are top of their class under the Louis Roederer banner. Domaines Ott is one of the two flagship producers of rosé in Provence and a true icon for top-tier, luxury rosé. Within Domaine Ott wines arriving June 10th:
Domaines Ott Cotes de Provence ‘By.Ott’ Rose France 2021 750ML ($27.95) $24 pre-arrival special Domaines Ott Chateau de Selle Cotes de Provence Coeur de Grain Rose France 2021 ($69.95) $54.50 pre-arrival special Domaines Ott Chateau Romassan Bandol Rose Provence 2021 750ML ($69.95) $54.50 pre-arrival special
Wine & Spirits 96 points “Chateau Romassan sits at the foot of the hilltop village Le Castellet, a few miles north of the Bay of Bandol. The Otts rely on mourvedre for the bulk of their rose, this one includes 30 percent cinsault and 15 percent grenache), and, thought 2021 was another hot summer here, Romassan’s poor limestone and sandstone soils produced a deeply savory wine. This pale Bandol seems to have inhaled the local scrubland and seaside breezes, presenting that savory edge alongside husk cherry, grapefruit and pale melon flavors. Firm and versatile, it would pair nicely with anything from bouillabaisse to a Nicoise salad; or take it abroad alongside chicken yakitori.” This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Domaines Ott ‘Etoile’ Vin de France 2021 750ML ($189.95) $169 pre-arrival special
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Featured Re-Arrival Royally Delicious Sparkling from Sforza Cesarini Sforza is no beginner operation either, having been founded in 1974 by Count Lamberto Cesarini Sforza of the Duchy of Milan. Working almost entirely with Chardonnay, all of their grapes are grown organically on the traditional pergola trellis. The combination of high altitude and multi-layered soils contribute a crisp and clean minerality in addition to alpine-esque aromatics. Aged for over 2 years on the lees prior to disgorgement you also get some autolytic notes of brioche and sweetbread dough that bring to mind Key lime pie. The rose presents additional flavors of orange peel, oregano, and cinnamon against green strawberry and white peach. Do the current prices and shortages of Champagne have you looking for alternatives? Consider the sparkling wines from Trento! We recently acquired another allotment of wines from Cesarini Sforza, a producer based in the Val di Cembra sub-region of the Trento DOC. Precipitously located a stone’s throw down the mountains from Alto-Adige yet at over 2,000 feet above sea level, the region has been growing winegrapes since Antiquity. Cesarini Sforza wines in stock now:
 24 bottles in stock nowDecanter 94 points “Impressive biscuity notes intertwined with lush ripe peaches and apples; smoky and toasty with a mouthwatering freshness and perfect acidity. Drinking Window 2020 – 2024.”
Eric Guido-Vinous 90 points “The NV Brut Metodo Classico wafts up with intensity, as savory spices and incense give way to dried flowers and apricot. This is round and soothing in feel, balancing a pretty inner sweetness with acidic tension. Mineral-tinged apples give way to enriching hints of hazelnut. It leaves the palate completely refreshed, tapering off with medium length. This non-vintage Trentodoc is a value in its category and a pleasure to taste.”
100% Chardonnay
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Cesarini Sforza Spumante Rose Brut Trentino-Alto Adige NV 750ML (24.95) $19 special, 24 bottles in stock now Eric Guido-Vinous 91 points “The NV Brut Rosé Metodo Classico is a pretty and vibrant shade of pink, with a bouquet of smoke and crushed stone that gives way to young peach and a spritz of lime. This fills the palate with silken bubbles and savory minerals which nicely contrast its mix of ripe strawberry and baked apple. It tapers off persistent, with a salty flourish and red inner florals that linger on. Nicely done.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Producer Spotlight: Mellen Meyer Mellen Meyer is one of the brightest stars in the “New School” of Oregon winemakers. Sourcing fruit primarily from the legendary Johan and Whistling Ridge Vineyards, these present a completely different interpretation of the fruit as compared to their still counterparts from the same vineyards. If the still wines were neoclassical paintings, then Mellen Meyer would be Rococo.
Mellen Meyer works with an entire palette of iterations with a house style that is clearly evident across his portfolio. Featuring minimal dosage allowing for the full character of the varietals to make themselves known, there is a whole spectrum of fruit, spice, and tertiary character at play with a pervasive finish. The choice to source from non-irrigated vines delivers a fruit intensity and nuance rarely seen even in champagne, and speaks to the house’s commitment to quality. These are drinking beautifully now, and the Blanc de Noir and Blanc de Blanc promise plenty of aging potential given the kismet of the vintage and vineyard.
Mellen Meyer in stock now:
Mellen Meyer Brut Sparkling Willamette Valley NV 750ML ($39.95) $31.90 special, 11 bottles in stock now Winery note: 60% Pinot Noir & 40% Charodonnay. Disgorged March 20, 2021. Aged 30 months on the lees. Produced from non-irrigated vines.
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!!
Mellen Meyer Whistling Ridge North Blanc Noir, Willamette Valley 2017 750ML ($69.95) $53.50 special, 12 bottles in stock now Winery note: 100% Pinot Noir from Whistling Ridge North Vineyard, Ribbon Ridge. Aged 34 months on the lees. Disgorged November 18th, 2020. Produced from non-irrigated vines. This is the only listing in the USA today!
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Vinopolis Wine Shop
