In This Newsletter:
Decanter Top Wines of the Year
Tuscan Treasures: 2013
New Week – New Arrivals
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Italy – Tuscany
Caiarossa ‘Aria di Caiarossa’ Toscana IGT 2015 750ML ($49.95) $39 special, 36 bottles in stock now
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 92 points “The selection of grapes in this blend has changed a bit, with much younger vines of Syrah, older Alicante vines, filled out by Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. The 2015 Aria di Caiarossa goes through 20% new oak and shows a nice richness and velvety mouthfeel. It is immediate and exuberant and a bit sweeter than past vintages.”
Wine Enthusiast 90 points “This blend of Syrah, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot and Alicante opens with aromas evoking mature dark-skinned fruit, underbrush and cooking spice. The firm palate delivers ripe black plum, clove and star anise alongside polished tannins. -Kerin O’Keefe”
Wine Spectator 90 points “This red leans toward the fruity side, offering cherry and plum flavors, accented by wild thyme, rosemary, iron and tobacco notes. Solidly built, with a line of dry, dusty tannins on the finish. Syrah, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Alicante Bouschet. Drink now through 2025. 7,600 cases made, 1,500 cases imported. — BS”
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Italy – Sparkling
Cesarini Sforza Spumante Metodo Classico Brut, Trentino-Alto Adige NV 750ML ($27.95) $21.90 special, 24 bottles in stock now
Decanter 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.”
100% Chardonnay
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Cesarini Sforza Spumante Rose Brut, Trentino-Alto Adige NV 750ML ($27.95) $21.90 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.”
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Elio Perrone Bigaro Rosé, Piedmont 2020 750ML ($21.95) $18 special, 6 bottles in stock now
Importer note “‘Bigaro’ a softly sweet, gently effervescent salmon-colored sparkler… An innovative blend of Brachetto and Moscato. Similar to Moscato, it substitutes red fruits for Moscato’s typical tropicals fruits.”
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Elio Perrone Sourgal, Moscato d’Asti DOCG 2020 750ML ($19.95) $17 special, 6 bottles in stock now
Winery note “Our Muscat takes its name from a beautiful vineyard that covers the tip of quite an elevated hill. Muscat is pure, naked in its essentials. You can perceive all the perfumes just by pressing a single grape. Muscat has taught me that less is more. I just need to stand by it to it to obtain, every year, its typical cloud of fragrance. You can drink it in whatever part of the world you wish, but it will always bring you back to our vineyards in Castiglione Tinella.”
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Italy – Piedmont
Poderi Aldo Conterno Conca Tre Pile Barbera d’Alba, Piedmont 2018 750ML ($34.95) $29 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-12 Poderi Aldo Conterno Conca Tre Pile Barbera d’Alba, Piedmont 2018 750ML ($419.95) $319 special (that’s only $26.58/bottle!)
No reviews available for the 2018 vintage. 2017 review provided for reference.
Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2017 Barbera d’Alba Conca Tre Pile is piled high with dark fruit intensity, soft tannins and a pinch of fresh acidity that breaks apart the wine’s rich fruit flavors. The hot vintage has taken well to the Barbera grape, accentuating its volume, richness and generosity. The bouquet offers black fruit, dried plum, spice, truffle-infused earth and toasted hazelnut. Some 20,000 bottles were made.”
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Vincent Paris is one of the top winemakers in the Northern Rhone. Working primarily in Cornas, the wines have everything we love about Northern Rhone Syrah packaged in a clean, direct style. He has the benefit of incredible vineyard material, too, as he now works the vineyards his uncle, Robert Michel, made famous. Stylistically, there’s definitely some of that old-school Michel rusticity, but overall, his wines are far more polished and in line with what we think of as good modern Cornas. Don’t look for new oak here, though there is an elegance about them that has always impressed us.
Newly Reviewed:
“Vincent Paris… is a native of Cornas and one of the new superstars in the region, joining legends and cult heroes like Clape, Allemand and one of my other favorites Domaine Lionnet to name a few… I highly recommend checking out these terroir driven and soulful Paris wines, in particular his Granit 30 Cornas, which is one of the great values in the collection, and this highly quaffable Vin de Pays des Collines Rhodaniennes Syrah, which was 100% de-stemmed and aged in vat for nine months, there’s a lot to admire here.” –Kerry Winslow, Grapelive
Domaine Vincent Paris Selection Syrah, IGP Collines Rhodaniennes 2020 750ML ($24.95) $18 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
“The basic 2020 Vin de Pays des Collines Rhodaniennes Syrah from Vincent Paris is a bright and fresh wine that is round and earthy with a salty and stony core with vibrant blue fruits, spice and a soft easy texture, making it a wine to just enjoy young. The 2020 is less elevated and serious as some of the other recent vintages, especially the string from 2016 to 2019 which were much closer to being a true baby Cornas or like his Crozes-Hermitage, but still very nice and a great value. This all tank raised Syrah comes exclusively from young organic Crozes Hermitage vines and set on alluvial soils with a lot of galets roulés scattered the vines, which absorb heat and that restore the soils in the evening. This electric ruby hued vintage, which gets more entertaining with air, opens up with boysenberry, fresh currant, juicy plum and tart cherry fruits, along with a mix of spices and wild herbs, all lifted by zesty acidity, mineral notes and subtle floral tones in a wine with a lighter frame, velvety tannins and a medium body.” -Grapelive
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Highlights In Stock Now from Vincent Paris
Domaine Vincent Paris Cornas Granit 60, Rhone 2016 750ML ($69.95) Was $55, Now $49 special, 16 bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 95+ points “The 2016 Cornas Granit 60 is more backward and reticent, with smoky dark fruits, earthy minerality, pepper, and bouquet garni aromas and flavors. Deep, pure, and concentrated, it’s a big, rich wine, yet it stays polished and elegant on the palate, with a straight, focused style that builds with time in the glass. Just a brilliant wine, it can be drunk today with incredible pleasure or cellared for 10-15 years. Bravo!”
Wine Advocate 94-96 points “Tasted from tank prior to bottling, the 2016 Cornas Granit 60 has the potential to eclipse the 2015. The nose is an exciting blend of flowers, minerals and fruit, while the palate is full-bodied and generous without the hardness or austerity of the 2015. This standout 2016 finishes long, plush and bright. With only about 5,000 bottles made, shrewd buyers will snap it up on release.”
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 93-95 points “(no new oak) Inky ruby. Smoke-accented black and blue fruits, licorice and olive on the intensely perfumed nose. Plush, sweet and broad on the palate, offering sweet blackberry, cassis and spicecake flavors that are energized by a vein of juicy acidity. Shows excellent depth as well as energy and finishes extremely long and smooth; rounded tannins build steadily and add shape and gentle grip to the lush, creamy dark fruit.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Domaine Vincent Paris Cornas Granit 60, Rhone 2017 750ML ($69.95) Was $55, Now $49 special, 32 bottles in stock now
Josh Raynolds – Vinous 93 points “Inky ruby. Smoke-accented dark berries and cherry liqueur on the highly perfumed nose. Juicy and seamless in texture, offering appealingly sweet blackberry and boysenberry flavors underscored by a smoky mineral quality. Fine-grained tannins build steadily on a long, floral-tinged finish that leaves a salty olive note behind.”
Jeb Dunnuck 93-95+ points “Similar colored, the 2017 Cornas Granit 60 comes from further up the slope and older vines. It offers a deeper, richer bouquet of black and blue fruits, smoked earth, violets, and ground pepper. Deep, full-bodied, thrillingly pure and elegant, yet still with classic Cornas density, power, and length, it’s another gem of a wine from this incredibly talented winemaker.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Domaine Vincent Paris Cornas La Geynale, Rhone 2018 750ML ($79.95) $69 special, 11 bottles in stock now
Josh Raynolds 95 points “Opaque ruby. Highly aromatic aromas of ripe black and blue fruits, incense, exotic spices, violet and a hint of olive. Densely packed and lively on the palate, offering intense dark berry liqueur, floral pastille and salty olive flavors, a hint of smoky minerality and building spiciness. Finishes chewy, focused and extremely long, with mounting tannins lending shape and grip to vivid dark fruit and floral notes.”
Jeb Dunnuck 94-96+ points “The 2018 Cornas La Geynale is largely in the same style as the Granit 60, only with the gamey, bloody and meaty character (as well as tannins) turned up a notch. Black and blue fruits, rare meat, ground pepper, and wild herbs all give way to a structured, tannic wine that has beautiful purity and elegance. It’s not for those looking for instant gratification, however. This cuvée comes from a single parcel, is not destemmed, and will see 16 months in 2- to 8-year-old barrels.”
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Shop our complete selection of Vincent Paris wines on our web store now or explore all 204 of our red Rhone offerings!
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Brick House Vineyards ‘Les Dijonnais’ Pinot Noir, Ribbon Ridge 2019 750ML ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival special
Erin Brooks-Wine Advocate 95 points “The 2019 Pinot Noir Les Dijonnais has a medium ruby-purple color and perfumed red cherries, cranberry sauce, lavender and tangerine with spicy accents. The medium-bodied palate is silky with crunchy, fragrant fruit and has refreshing acidity that highlights all those pretty perfumed notes on the long finish.”
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“Labeled as ‘House Red Non Vintage’ in 2020 because of the fire-impacted vintage which led founder Doug Tunnell to declassify all the fruit and create this blend, including a significant portion of 2019 juice.” –Wine-Searcher.com
Brick House Vineyards “House Red” Pinot Noir, Ribbon Ridge MV 750ML ($34.95) $29 pre-arrival special
Erin Brooks-Wine Advocate 90 points “The NV House Red Pinot Noir has a medium ruby color and savory aromas of red and black berries, smoked meats, cranberry sauce and dark spices. The palate has concentrated, earthy fruits with decent length and a touch of chew.”
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In Stock Now
Brick House Vineyards Chardonnay, Ribbon Ridge 2020 750ML ($31.95) $26 special
Erin Brooks-Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2020 Chardonnay Ribbon Ridge overdelivers for the price. The nose is alluringly savory, with a lush core of white peaches and jasmine, and accents of roasted almonds, saline and cured meats. Soft and silky, the palate begins linear and citrusy, then unfolds to those savory, nutty undertones and finishes uplifted. It’s designed to work as a by-the-glass selection in restaurants, but it offers so much more!”
Brick House Vineyards Intentional Rose of Pinot Noir Ribbon Ridge 2020 750ML ($39.95) $28 special
Erin Brooks-Wine Advocate 91 points “This is the first iteration of an “intentional” rosé from Brick House. Harvested before the smoke hit, the 2020 Intentional Rosé of Pinot Noir has a pale onion skin color and a soft melon, red berries and garrigue perfume with touches of lemon peel. The palate offers pleasing fruit concentration and refreshing acidity, finishing long and textural.”
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Explore our offerings from Arterberry Maresh & Tan Fruit, Goodfellow Family Cellars, Cameron Winery, Zena Crown, Bergstrom, Crowley & more on our web store.
Trending
Decanter Top Wines of the Year
Tuscan Treasures: 2013
New Week – New Arrivals
Vincent Paris:
New Grapelive Review
Exploring Oregon Terroir:
Brick House
Vincent Paris:
New Grapelive Review
Exploring Oregon Terroir:
Brick House
Trending
Decanter released their top picks of 2021. Check out our selections below!
Re-Arriving Tuesday, January 11th
“The 2017 [Produttori del Barbaresco] Barbaresco shows just how appealing this vintage can be” -Antonio Galloni, Vinous
Produttori del Barbaresco ‘Barbaresco DOCG’ Piedmont 2017 750ML ($49.95) $41.90 pre-arrival special
Case-6 Produttori del Barbaresco ‘Barbaresco DOCG’ Piedmont 2017 750ML ($299.95) $239 pre-arrival special (that’s only $39.83/bottle!)
Case-12 Produttori del Barbaresco ‘Barbaresco DOCG’ Piedmont 2017 750ML ($599.95) $459 pre-arrival special (that’s only $38.25/bottle!)
Decanter 96 points “Aromatic notes of dried sage and rosemary combined with juicy, ripe red cherries, tar and red roses. Silky, ripe, approachable, with a great fine-grained tannic structure. Nominated by Justin Knock MW. Wines of the Year 2021: the top Classic wines. Drinking Window 2022 – 2040.”
Arriving Late January
“The 2011 Rioja Gran Reserva 904 has been one of my go-to cuvées since my earliest days as a wine lover.” -Neal Martin, Vinous
La Rioja Alta S.A. Gran Reserva 904, Rioja DOCa 2011 750ML ($69.95) $59 pre-arrival special, only 21 bottles available!
Decanter 97 points “Lovely intensity on the nose – smoked meat, thyme and rosemary, and classic red fruit. Smooth tannins. Graceful and elegant. Nominated by Laura Bianco. Wines of the Year 2021: the top Classic wines. Drinking Window 2022 – 2040.”
Tuscan Treasures: 2013 Vintage
2013 was one of the greatest vintages in much of Italy, and produced exalted wines in Tuscany. We offer a handful of the most prized gems from the land, including Casanova di Neri’s Cerretalto, Il Poggione’s profound Brunello (at profoundly discounted pricing!), and more!
The Cerretalto is an event of a wine. Produced only in the best years, with extra aging before release, it’s one of the true landmark wines of Italy. We’re just approaching the drinking window of these beauties, so don’t sleep any longer!
“A brooding giant that is extremely elegant and refined” –Ian D’Agata, Vinous
Casanova di Neri Cerretalto, Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2013 750ML ($359.95) $289 special, 7 bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 98 points “This intense version is concentrated, with black cherry, blackberry, graphite, tobacco and spice flavors, yet remains light-footed due to the racy profile. Structured, yet beautifully balanced and youthful. Shows purity and length on the aftertaste, which introduces a floral component. Best from 2022 through 2045. 814 cases made, 150 cases imported. — BS”
Decanter 96 points “Cerretalto is a 4ha vineyard on red sandy clay at the very eastern edge of Montalcino. It’s a cool site that’s very slow and late ripening, with significant temperature differences between day and night. In 2013 the grapes were harvested during the second week of October, and though not designated as a Riserva, it’s aged like one. It’s a wine that takes time to come around, and the 2013 is characteristically closed, rigid and austere in its youth. It hints at dusty black cherry and wild plums wrapped up in a graphite and iron fist. Bracing acidity cuts through the intense, concentrated core. The oak is polished but needs to integrate, while stiff, sticky tannins demand a few years to soften. This is all about patience. Drinking Window 2023 – 2039.”
Ian D’Agata-Vinous 95 points “Deep luminous ruby-red. Spicy red cherry and mineral nuances on the nose and in the mouth. Enters fresh and juicy with noteworthy flesh and size to the red and blue fruit flavors, then suave and refined all the way onto the long refined finish. Closes with youthfully chewy tannins and a tactile mouthfeel offering hints of flinty minerals and raspberry. A brooding giant that is extremely elegant and refined. Very well done.”
A seamless blend of Tuscan old & new school
Castellare di Castellina ‘I Sodi di San Niccolo’ Toscana IGT, Tuscany 2013 750ML ($89.95) $66 special, 10 bottles in stock now
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 96 points “The 2013 I Sodi di S. Niccolò is 85% Sangioveto (a more antique name for Sangiovese) and 15% Malvasia Nera from a single vineyard. This wine opens to a darkly saturated appearance and shows ruby, garnet and purple highlights. The bouquet is powerful but seamless at the same time with smooth transitions between dark cherry, spice, tobacco and moist clay. In the mouth, this wine shows dense extraction, but it never feels too weighed down by that mass. Instead, the freshness of the fruit and the natural acidity give the wine a bright and buoyant personality. Aged in barrique for 30 months, this is a delightful Tuscan red.”
Antonio Galloni 95+ points “The flagship 2013 I Sodi di San Niccolò is classy and polished to the core. In many vintages, the I Sodi di San Niccolò can be more overt and extroverted, but in 2003 it is a wine of cool sophistication and polish. A rush of dark red and purplish-hued stone fruits, wild flowers, mint and licorice rounds out things out. The 2013 is a stylish, captivating Sodi. All it needs is time in bottle. For my money, Sodi remains one of the world’s most pedigreed under-the-radar wines. 2023-2043.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $87
For those unfamiliar with the wines of Il Poggione, let’s catch you up quickly. They’re a classic Brunello producer working with very traditional methods in the subzone of Sant’Angelo in Colle, a region that tends to produce wines with big, bold personalities. The results are both crowd pleasing (rich fruit, up front aromatics) and intellectually stimulating (age-worthy, not obstructed by new oak) in way that’s unique in Brunello –outside of names that trade for significantly more money per bottle. Il Poggione’s Brunello is contradictory in all the best ways. It’s an age-worthy wine that doesn’t necessarily require aging. And in a half-bottle of one of the finest vintages of the century, there’s no excuse not to pop one now!
The 750ml bottle starts at $75 on Wine-Searcher!
Il Poggione Brunello di Montalcino DOCG Tuscany 2013 375ML ($39.95) $28 special, 36+ half-bottles in stock now
Case-12 Il Poggione Brunello di Montalcino DOCG Tuscany 2013 375ML ($479.95) $299 special (that’s only $24.92/half-bottle!)
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 96 points “The 2013 Brunello di Montalcino lives up to the impeccable reputation garnered by this estate over the years. This is a profound and beautifully rendered Sangiovese that delivers bold and luscious fruit quality with black cherry and spicy plum at the start. The bouquet follows through with mild oak notes of smoke, tar and toasted nut. There is another aromatic component that includes crushed stone and dried herb or mint. This Brunello shows elegant evolution in the glass and promises a very long aging future ahead. Some 200,000 bottles were made, so it should be easy to locate this excellent wine.”
Decanter 96 points “The harvest date returned once more to that of tradition, commencing on 23 September – whereas these days it usually begins around 3 September. This could therefore be considered a fresh if not cool vintage, yet the long growing season helped the extraction of velvety tannins, concentrated on the mid-palate. The structure, combined with bright cassis notes, a core of cherry and crystallised violet, and savoury minerality on the finish, will keep the wine in good shape for the long haul. Drinking Window 2019 – 2043.”
Ian D’Agata – Vinous 95 points “Bright red. Pure, refined red cherry and wild strawberry aromas and flavors complicated by sweet spices and aromatic herbs. Deep and multilayered, the wine boasts polished tannins and a harmonious acid spine that lifts and extends the red fruit on the long, suave finish. An essence of Sant’Angelo in Colle with bigger body and palate weight than, for example, the Brunellos of Montosoli, but still sleek and refined as the best wines of Sant’Angelo in Colle can be. The cool-climate-styled 2013 vintage is precisely the type of year in which Il Poggione excels: this lovely, focused wine is the best classico Brunello from Il Poggione in years. Superb.”
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No winery symbolizes the modern quality of Tuscany like Isole e Olena. Since the arrival of Paolo de Marchi in 1976, Isole e Olena has been a quality leader in the region. Stylistically, Isole e Olena occupies a place that is at once traditional and modern. Their flagship Cepparello is firmly rooted in the primacy of Sangiovese and the idea of Tuscan typicity. Elegance wedded to power, this shows the nuance and bright fruit you’d expect from a classic wine of the region combined with the density and complexity of top tier, noble wines.
Isole e Olena Chianti Classico Gran Selezione DOCG, Tuscany 2013 750ML ($249.95) Was $219, Now $199 special, 26 bottles in stock now
Isole e Olena Chianti Classico Gran Selezione DOCG, Tuscany 2013 1.5L ($699.95) Was $449, Now $399 special, 4 magnums in stock now
Antonio Galloni 98+ points “The 2013 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione is breathtaking. Beautifully ripe, deep and expressive, the 2013 has it all: deep fruit, stunning aromatic presence and tremendous structure. Black cherry, pomegranate, rose petal, mint and lavender all meld together in this super-expressive, resonant Chianti Classico. An absolutely killer wine, the Gran Selezione is a fabulous, contemporary expression of Chianti Classico at its very finest. Drops of Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah round out the blend. Paolo De Marchi gave the 2013 a year in barrique and second year in cask.”
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 95 points “Dark, saturated and rich, the 2013 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione delivers savory tones of spice and smoke that are folded into dark fruit, prune and dried blackberry. Despite the darkness of the bouquet, this wine shows tartness and freshness in terms of its flavor profile. There is a lot of Sangiovese typicity here, thanks to the delineated character of those wild berry aromas and the crispness of the wine’s natural acidity. In fact, the wine is mostly composed of Sangiovese, although very small percentages of Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot are added to the blend. A mere 2,400 bottles were produced.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $257
La Fortuna Brunello di Montalcino Riserva DOCG, Tuscany 2013 750ML ($119.95) $88 special, 24+ bottles in stock now
Case-6 La Fortuna Brunello di Montalcino Riserva DOCG, Tuscany 2013 750ML ($619.95) $499 special (that’s only $83.17/bottle!)
Wine Spectator 95 points “Fluid and fruity, supported by a matrix of dense tannins, this features a fine texture and structure, offsetting the saturated flavors of cherry, red berry, leather, iron and tar. Stays focused while cruising to a lingering finish. Really youthful, intense and long. Best from 2022 through 2045. 330 cases made, 200 cases imported.”
James Suckling 95 points “Very attractive and intense aromas of ripe black cherries and plums, leading to a palate that has a quite firm tannin core and finishes with a convincing serving of rich, ripe darker plums and berries. Drink or hold.”
Shop our 205 Tuscan wines on our web store now!
Decanter Top Wines of the Year
Decanter released their top picks of 2021. Check out our selections below!
Re-Arriving Tuesday, January 11th
“The 2017 [Produttori del Barbaresco] Barbaresco shows just how appealing this vintage can be” -Antonio Galloni, Vinous
Produttori del Barbaresco ‘Barbaresco DOCG’ Piedmont 2017 750ML ($49.95) $41.90 pre-arrival special
Case-6 Produttori del Barbaresco ‘Barbaresco DOCG’ Piedmont 2017 750ML ($299.95) $239 pre-arrival special (that’s only $39.83/bottle!)
Case-12 Produttori del Barbaresco ‘Barbaresco DOCG’ Piedmont 2017 750ML ($599.95) $459 pre-arrival special (that’s only $38.25/bottle!)
Decanter 96 points “Aromatic notes of dried sage and rosemary combined with juicy, ripe red cherries, tar and red roses. Silky, ripe, approachable, with a great fine-grained tannic structure. Nominated by Justin Knock MW. Wines of the Year 2021: the top Classic wines. Drinking Window 2022 – 2040.”
Arriving Late January
“The 2011 Rioja Gran Reserva 904 has been one of my go-to cuvées since my earliest days as a wine lover.” -Neal Martin, Vinous
La Rioja Alta S.A. Gran Reserva 904, Rioja DOCa 2011 750ML ($69.95) $59 pre-arrival special, only 21 bottles available!
Decanter 97 points “Lovely intensity on the nose – smoked meat, thyme and rosemary, and classic red fruit. Smooth tannins. Graceful and elegant. Nominated by Laura Bianco. Wines of the Year 2021: the top Classic wines. Drinking Window 2022 – 2040.”
Tuscan Treasures: 2013 Vintage
2013 was one of the greatest vintages in much of Italy, and produced exalted wines in Tuscany. We offer a handful of the most prized gems from the land, including Casanova di Neri’s Cerretalto, Il Poggione’s profound Brunello (at profoundly discounted pricing!), and more!
The Cerretalto is an event of a wine. Produced only in the best years, with extra aging before release, it’s one of the true landmark wines of Italy. We’re just approaching the drinking window of these beauties, so don’t sleep any longer!
“A brooding giant that is extremely elegant and refined” –Ian D’Agata, Vinous
Casanova di Neri Cerretalto, Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2013 750ML ($359.95) $289 special, 7 bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 98 points “This intense version is concentrated, with black cherry, blackberry, graphite, tobacco and spice flavors, yet remains light-footed due to the racy profile. Structured, yet beautifully balanced and youthful. Shows purity and length on the aftertaste, which introduces a floral component. Best from 2022 through 2045. 814 cases made, 150 cases imported. — BS”
Decanter 96 points “Cerretalto is a 4ha vineyard on red sandy clay at the very eastern edge of Montalcino. It’s a cool site that’s very slow and late ripening, with significant temperature differences between day and night. In 2013 the grapes were harvested during the second week of October, and though not designated as a Riserva, it’s aged like one. It’s a wine that takes time to come around, and the 2013 is characteristically closed, rigid and austere in its youth. It hints at dusty black cherry and wild plums wrapped up in a graphite and iron fist. Bracing acidity cuts through the intense, concentrated core. The oak is polished but needs to integrate, while stiff, sticky tannins demand a few years to soften. This is all about patience. Drinking Window 2023 – 2039.”
Ian D’Agata-Vinous 95 points “Deep luminous ruby-red. Spicy red cherry and mineral nuances on the nose and in the mouth. Enters fresh and juicy with noteworthy flesh and size to the red and blue fruit flavors, then suave and refined all the way onto the long refined finish. Closes with youthfully chewy tannins and a tactile mouthfeel offering hints of flinty minerals and raspberry. A brooding giant that is extremely elegant and refined. Very well done.”
A seamless blend of Tuscan old & new school
Castellare di Castellina ‘I Sodi di San Niccolo’ Toscana IGT, Tuscany 2013 750ML ($89.95) $66 special, 10 bottles in stock now
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 96 points “The 2013 I Sodi di S. Niccolò is 85% Sangioveto (a more antique name for Sangiovese) and 15% Malvasia Nera from a single vineyard. This wine opens to a darkly saturated appearance and shows ruby, garnet and purple highlights. The bouquet is powerful but seamless at the same time with smooth transitions between dark cherry, spice, tobacco and moist clay. In the mouth, this wine shows dense extraction, but it never feels too weighed down by that mass. Instead, the freshness of the fruit and the natural acidity give the wine a bright and buoyant personality. Aged in barrique for 30 months, this is a delightful Tuscan red.”
Antonio Galloni 95+ points “The flagship 2013 I Sodi di San Niccolò is classy and polished to the core. In many vintages, the I Sodi di San Niccolò can be more overt and extroverted, but in 2003 it is a wine of cool sophistication and polish. A rush of dark red and purplish-hued stone fruits, wild flowers, mint and licorice rounds out things out. The 2013 is a stylish, captivating Sodi. All it needs is time in bottle. For my money, Sodi remains one of the world’s most pedigreed under-the-radar wines. 2023-2043.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $87
For those unfamiliar with the wines of Il Poggione, let’s catch you up quickly. They’re a classic Brunello producer working with very traditional methods in the subzone of Sant’Angelo in Colle, a region that tends to produce wines with big, bold personalities. The results are both crowd pleasing (rich fruit, up front aromatics) and intellectually stimulating (age-worthy, not obstructed by new oak) in way that’s unique in Brunello –outside of names that trade for significantly more money per bottle. Il Poggione’s Brunello is contradictory in all the best ways. It’s an age-worthy wine that doesn’t necessarily require aging. And in a half-bottle of one of the finest vintages of the century, there’s no excuse not to pop one now!
The 750ml bottle starts at $75 on Wine-Searcher!
Il Poggione Brunello di Montalcino DOCG Tuscany 2013 375ML ($39.95) $28 special, 36+ half-bottles in stock now
Case-12 Il Poggione Brunello di Montalcino DOCG Tuscany 2013 375ML ($479.95) $299 special (that’s only $24.92/half-bottle!)
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 96 points “The 2013 Brunello di Montalcino lives up to the impeccable reputation garnered by this estate over the years. This is a profound and beautifully rendered Sangiovese that delivers bold and luscious fruit quality with black cherry and spicy plum at the start. The bouquet follows through with mild oak notes of smoke, tar and toasted nut. There is another aromatic component that includes crushed stone and dried herb or mint. This Brunello shows elegant evolution in the glass and promises a very long aging future ahead. Some 200,000 bottles were made, so it should be easy to locate this excellent wine.”
Decanter 96 points “The harvest date returned once more to that of tradition, commencing on 23 September – whereas these days it usually begins around 3 September. This could therefore be considered a fresh if not cool vintage, yet the long growing season helped the extraction of velvety tannins, concentrated on the mid-palate. The structure, combined with bright cassis notes, a core of cherry and crystallised violet, and savoury minerality on the finish, will keep the wine in good shape for the long haul. Drinking Window 2019 – 2043.”
Ian D’Agata – Vinous 95 points “Bright red. Pure, refined red cherry and wild strawberry aromas and flavors complicated by sweet spices and aromatic herbs. Deep and multilayered, the wine boasts polished tannins and a harmonious acid spine that lifts and extends the red fruit on the long, suave finish. An essence of Sant’Angelo in Colle with bigger body and palate weight than, for example, the Brunellos of Montosoli, but still sleek and refined as the best wines of Sant’Angelo in Colle can be. The cool-climate-styled 2013 vintage is precisely the type of year in which Il Poggione excels: this lovely, focused wine is the best classico Brunello from Il Poggione in years. Superb.”
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No winery symbolizes the modern quality of Tuscany like Isole e Olena. Since the arrival of Paolo de Marchi in 1976, Isole e Olena has been a quality leader in the region. Stylistically, Isole e Olena occupies a place that is at once traditional and modern. Their flagship Cepparello is firmly rooted in the primacy of Sangiovese and the idea of Tuscan typicity. Elegance wedded to power, this shows the nuance and bright fruit you’d expect from a classic wine of the region combined with the density and complexity of top tier, noble wines.
Isole e Olena Chianti Classico Gran Selezione DOCG, Tuscany 2013 750ML ($249.95) Was $219, Now $199 special, 26 bottles in stock now
Isole e Olena Chianti Classico Gran Selezione DOCG, Tuscany 2013 1.5L ($699.95) Was $449, Now $399 special, 4 magnums in stock now
Antonio Galloni 98+ points “The 2013 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione is breathtaking. Beautifully ripe, deep and expressive, the 2013 has it all: deep fruit, stunning aromatic presence and tremendous structure. Black cherry, pomegranate, rose petal, mint and lavender all meld together in this super-expressive, resonant Chianti Classico. An absolutely killer wine, the Gran Selezione is a fabulous, contemporary expression of Chianti Classico at its very finest. Drops of Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah round out the blend. Paolo De Marchi gave the 2013 a year in barrique and second year in cask.”
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 95 points “Dark, saturated and rich, the 2013 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione delivers savory tones of spice and smoke that are folded into dark fruit, prune and dried blackberry. Despite the darkness of the bouquet, this wine shows tartness and freshness in terms of its flavor profile. There is a lot of Sangiovese typicity here, thanks to the delineated character of those wild berry aromas and the crispness of the wine’s natural acidity. In fact, the wine is mostly composed of Sangiovese, although very small percentages of Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot are added to the blend. A mere 2,400 bottles were produced.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $257
La Fortuna Brunello di Montalcino Riserva DOCG, Tuscany 2013 750ML ($119.95) $88 special, 24+ bottles in stock now
Case-6 La Fortuna Brunello di Montalcino Riserva DOCG, Tuscany 2013 750ML ($619.95) $499 special (that’s only $83.17/bottle!)
Wine Spectator 95 points “Fluid and fruity, supported by a matrix of dense tannins, this features a fine texture and structure, offsetting the saturated flavors of cherry, red berry, leather, iron and tar. Stays focused while cruising to a lingering finish. Really youthful, intense and long. Best from 2022 through 2045. 330 cases made, 200 cases imported.”
James Suckling 95 points “Very attractive and intense aromas of ripe black cherries and plums, leading to a palate that has a quite firm tannin core and finishes with a convincing serving of rich, ripe darker plums and berries. Drink or hold.”
Shop our 205 Tuscan wines on our web store now!
New Week – New Arrivals
Oregon
Ayres Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 2020 750ML ($24.95) $19.75 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Winery note “Estate grown Pinot Noir grapes situated on Ribbon Ridge’s southeastern slope join fruit from Yamhill-Carlton to create this Willamette Valley blend. The beauty is in the balance.”
Ayres Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 2020 750ML ($24.95) $19.75 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Winery note “Estate grown Pinot Noir grapes situated on Ribbon Ridge’s southeastern slope join fruit from Yamhill-Carlton to create this Willamette Valley blend. The beauty is in the balance.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Italy – Tuscany
Caiarossa ‘Aria di Caiarossa’ Toscana IGT 2015 750ML ($49.95) $39 special, 36 bottles in stock now
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 92 points “The selection of grapes in this blend has changed a bit, with much younger vines of Syrah, older Alicante vines, filled out by Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. The 2015 Aria di Caiarossa goes through 20% new oak and shows a nice richness and velvety mouthfeel. It is immediate and exuberant and a bit sweeter than past vintages.”
Wine Enthusiast 90 points “This blend of Syrah, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot and Alicante opens with aromas evoking mature dark-skinned fruit, underbrush and cooking spice. The firm palate delivers ripe black plum, clove and star anise alongside polished tannins. -Kerin O’Keefe”
Wine Spectator 90 points “This red leans toward the fruity side, offering cherry and plum flavors, accented by wild thyme, rosemary, iron and tobacco notes. Solidly built, with a line of dry, dusty tannins on the finish. Syrah, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Alicante Bouschet. Drink now through 2025. 7,600 cases made, 1,500 cases imported. — BS”
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Italy – Sparkling
Cesarini Sforza Spumante Metodo Classico Brut, Trentino-Alto Adige NV 750ML ($27.95) $21.90 special, 24 bottles in stock now
Decanter 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.”
100% Chardonnay
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Cesarini Sforza Spumante Rose Brut, Trentino-Alto Adige NV 750ML ($27.95) $21.90 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.”
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Elio Perrone Bigaro Rosé, Piedmont 2020 750ML ($21.95) $18 special, 6 bottles in stock now
Importer note “‘Bigaro’ a softly sweet, gently effervescent salmon-colored sparkler… An innovative blend of Brachetto and Moscato. Similar to Moscato, it substitutes red fruits for Moscato’s typical tropicals fruits.”
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Elio Perrone Sourgal, Moscato d’Asti DOCG 2020 750ML ($19.95) $17 special, 6 bottles in stock now
Winery note “Our Muscat takes its name from a beautiful vineyard that covers the tip of quite an elevated hill. Muscat is pure, naked in its essentials. You can perceive all the perfumes just by pressing a single grape. Muscat has taught me that less is more. I just need to stand by it to it to obtain, every year, its typical cloud of fragrance. You can drink it in whatever part of the world you wish, but it will always bring you back to our vineyards in Castiglione Tinella.”
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Italy – Piedmont
Poderi Aldo Conterno Conca Tre Pile Barbera d’Alba, Piedmont 2018 750ML ($34.95) $29 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-12 Poderi Aldo Conterno Conca Tre Pile Barbera d’Alba, Piedmont 2018 750ML ($419.95) $319 special (that’s only $26.58/bottle!)
No reviews available for the 2018 vintage. 2017 review provided for reference.
Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2017 Barbera d’Alba Conca Tre Pile is piled high with dark fruit intensity, soft tannins and a pinch of fresh acidity that breaks apart the wine’s rich fruit flavors. The hot vintage has taken well to the Barbera grape, accentuating its volume, richness and generosity. The bouquet offers black fruit, dried plum, spice, truffle-infused earth and toasted hazelnut. Some 20,000 bottles were made.”
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Vincent Paris:
New Grapelive Review
New Grapelive Review
Vincent Paris is one of the top winemakers in the Northern Rhone. Working primarily in Cornas, the wines have everything we love about Northern Rhone Syrah packaged in a clean, direct style. He has the benefit of incredible vineyard material, too, as he now works the vineyards his uncle, Robert Michel, made famous. Stylistically, there’s definitely some of that old-school Michel rusticity, but overall, his wines are far more polished and in line with what we think of as good modern Cornas. Don’t look for new oak here, though there is an elegance about them that has always impressed us.
Newly Reviewed:
“Vincent Paris… is a native of Cornas and one of the new superstars in the region, joining legends and cult heroes like Clape, Allemand and one of my other favorites Domaine Lionnet to name a few… I highly recommend checking out these terroir driven and soulful Paris wines, in particular his Granit 30 Cornas, which is one of the great values in the collection, and this highly quaffable Vin de Pays des Collines Rhodaniennes Syrah, which was 100% de-stemmed and aged in vat for nine months, there’s a lot to admire here.” –Kerry Winslow, Grapelive
Domaine Vincent Paris Selection Syrah, IGP Collines Rhodaniennes 2020 750ML ($24.95) $18 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
“The basic 2020 Vin de Pays des Collines Rhodaniennes Syrah from Vincent Paris is a bright and fresh wine that is round and earthy with a salty and stony core with vibrant blue fruits, spice and a soft easy texture, making it a wine to just enjoy young. The 2020 is less elevated and serious as some of the other recent vintages, especially the string from 2016 to 2019 which were much closer to being a true baby Cornas or like his Crozes-Hermitage, but still very nice and a great value. This all tank raised Syrah comes exclusively from young organic Crozes Hermitage vines and set on alluvial soils with a lot of galets roulés scattered the vines, which absorb heat and that restore the soils in the evening. This electric ruby hued vintage, which gets more entertaining with air, opens up with boysenberry, fresh currant, juicy plum and tart cherry fruits, along with a mix of spices and wild herbs, all lifted by zesty acidity, mineral notes and subtle floral tones in a wine with a lighter frame, velvety tannins and a medium body.” -Grapelive
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Highlights In Stock Now from Vincent Paris
Domaine Vincent Paris Cornas Granit 60, Rhone 2016 750ML ($69.95) Was $55, Now $49 special, 16 bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 95+ points “The 2016 Cornas Granit 60 is more backward and reticent, with smoky dark fruits, earthy minerality, pepper, and bouquet garni aromas and flavors. Deep, pure, and concentrated, it’s a big, rich wine, yet it stays polished and elegant on the palate, with a straight, focused style that builds with time in the glass. Just a brilliant wine, it can be drunk today with incredible pleasure or cellared for 10-15 years. Bravo!”
Wine Advocate 94-96 points “Tasted from tank prior to bottling, the 2016 Cornas Granit 60 has the potential to eclipse the 2015. The nose is an exciting blend of flowers, minerals and fruit, while the palate is full-bodied and generous without the hardness or austerity of the 2015. This standout 2016 finishes long, plush and bright. With only about 5,000 bottles made, shrewd buyers will snap it up on release.”
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 93-95 points “(no new oak) Inky ruby. Smoke-accented black and blue fruits, licorice and olive on the intensely perfumed nose. Plush, sweet and broad on the palate, offering sweet blackberry, cassis and spicecake flavors that are energized by a vein of juicy acidity. Shows excellent depth as well as energy and finishes extremely long and smooth; rounded tannins build steadily and add shape and gentle grip to the lush, creamy dark fruit.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Domaine Vincent Paris Cornas Granit 60, Rhone 2017 750ML ($69.95) Was $55, Now $49 special, 32 bottles in stock now
Josh Raynolds – Vinous 93 points “Inky ruby. Smoke-accented dark berries and cherry liqueur on the highly perfumed nose. Juicy and seamless in texture, offering appealingly sweet blackberry and boysenberry flavors underscored by a smoky mineral quality. Fine-grained tannins build steadily on a long, floral-tinged finish that leaves a salty olive note behind.”
Jeb Dunnuck 93-95+ points “Similar colored, the 2017 Cornas Granit 60 comes from further up the slope and older vines. It offers a deeper, richer bouquet of black and blue fruits, smoked earth, violets, and ground pepper. Deep, full-bodied, thrillingly pure and elegant, yet still with classic Cornas density, power, and length, it’s another gem of a wine from this incredibly talented winemaker.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Domaine Vincent Paris Cornas La Geynale, Rhone 2018 750ML ($79.95) $69 special, 11 bottles in stock now
Josh Raynolds 95 points “Opaque ruby. Highly aromatic aromas of ripe black and blue fruits, incense, exotic spices, violet and a hint of olive. Densely packed and lively on the palate, offering intense dark berry liqueur, floral pastille and salty olive flavors, a hint of smoky minerality and building spiciness. Finishes chewy, focused and extremely long, with mounting tannins lending shape and grip to vivid dark fruit and floral notes.”
Jeb Dunnuck 94-96+ points “The 2018 Cornas La Geynale is largely in the same style as the Granit 60, only with the gamey, bloody and meaty character (as well as tannins) turned up a notch. Black and blue fruits, rare meat, ground pepper, and wild herbs all give way to a structured, tannic wine that has beautiful purity and elegance. It’s not for those looking for instant gratification, however. This cuvée comes from a single parcel, is not destemmed, and will see 16 months in 2- to 8-year-old barrels.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Shop our complete selection of Vincent Paris wines on our web store now or explore all 204 of our red Rhone offerings!
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10 AM – 6 PM Daily
Local mandates require properly worn masks for all regardless of vaccination status.
We also offer Curbside Pickup & Shipping
Order Online / By Phone / By Email
Exploring Oregon Terroir:
Brick House
Brick House
Doug Tunnell founded Brick House in the early 90s and quickly shot to the top echelons of Oregon winemaking (quality-wise, but never in price). Originally a CBS reporter who traveled the world, he was inspired to buy vineyard land in the Ribbon Ridge when he heard Domaine Drouhin had bought land in the Dundee Hills. Friends Steve Doerner of Cristom and Michael Etzel of Beaux Freres / Sequitur advised him from the start. He strove to certify the vineyard as biodynamic, which he accomplished in 2005, making him a leader in the Valley. The wines are thoughtfully handled (and raised with the accompaniment of classical music played in the cellar) with partial whole-cluster fermentation and a light touch of new oak. The results are deeply moving and age worthy.
“One of the Willamette Valley’s iconic winemakers, Doug Tunnel was one of America’s earliest adopters of fully organic farming, achieving the certification in 1990 followed by Demeter Biodynamic certification in 2005. Tunnel’s wines are made in a distinctively and consciously Old World, low-octane style, favoring structure and detail with a discreet use of new oak. Like a steadily increasing number of his Oregon colleagues, Tunnel’s elegant, understated but eminently age-worthy wines, whites as well as reds, smack one inside the head rather than upside it.” – Josh Raynolds, Vinous
“…these are very refined and natural wines with minimal intervention, not surfeit with fruit, but surfeit with personality, freshness and nuance… Brick House comes recommended, but hey, I’ve said that before.” – Neal Martin, Wine Advocate
Re-Arriving Friday, January 14th
Brick House Vineyards ‘Cascadia’ Chardonnay Ribbon Ridge 2018 750ML ($49.95) $35.50 pre-arrival special
Erin Brooks-Wine Advocate 95 points “After some time in the glass, the 2018 Chardonnay Cascadia opens to dried chamomile and apple slices with notes of hay, candle smoke, roasted almonds and beeswax. The palate is broad and creamy with expansive, honeyed layers, finishing with great length and powerful flavor. It’s pure pleasure!”
“One of the Willamette Valley’s iconic winemakers, Doug Tunnel was one of America’s earliest adopters of fully organic farming, achieving the certification in 1990 followed by Demeter Biodynamic certification in 2005. Tunnel’s wines are made in a distinctively and consciously Old World, low-octane style, favoring structure and detail with a discreet use of new oak. Like a steadily increasing number of his Oregon colleagues, Tunnel’s elegant, understated but eminently age-worthy wines, whites as well as reds, smack one inside the head rather than upside it.” – Josh Raynolds, Vinous
“…these are very refined and natural wines with minimal intervention, not surfeit with fruit, but surfeit with personality, freshness and nuance… Brick House comes recommended, but hey, I’ve said that before.” – Neal Martin, Wine Advocate
Re-Arriving Friday, January 14th
Brick House Vineyards ‘Cascadia’ Chardonnay Ribbon Ridge 2018 750ML ($49.95) $35.50 pre-arrival special
Erin Brooks-Wine Advocate 95 points “After some time in the glass, the 2018 Chardonnay Cascadia opens to dried chamomile and apple slices with notes of hay, candle smoke, roasted almonds and beeswax. The palate is broad and creamy with expansive, honeyed layers, finishing with great length and powerful flavor. It’s pure pleasure!”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Brick House Vineyards ‘Les Dijonnais’ Pinot Noir, Ribbon Ridge 2019 750ML ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival special
Erin Brooks-Wine Advocate 95 points “The 2019 Pinot Noir Les Dijonnais has a medium ruby-purple color and perfumed red cherries, cranberry sauce, lavender and tangerine with spicy accents. The medium-bodied palate is silky with crunchy, fragrant fruit and has refreshing acidity that highlights all those pretty perfumed notes on the long finish.”
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“Labeled as ‘House Red Non Vintage’ in 2020 because of the fire-impacted vintage which led founder Doug Tunnell to declassify all the fruit and create this blend, including a significant portion of 2019 juice.” –Wine-Searcher.com
Brick House Vineyards “House Red” Pinot Noir, Ribbon Ridge MV 750ML ($34.95) $29 pre-arrival special
Erin Brooks-Wine Advocate 90 points “The NV House Red Pinot Noir has a medium ruby color and savory aromas of red and black berries, smoked meats, cranberry sauce and dark spices. The palate has concentrated, earthy fruits with decent length and a touch of chew.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
In Stock Now
Brick House Vineyards Chardonnay, Ribbon Ridge 2020 750ML ($31.95) $26 special
Erin Brooks-Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2020 Chardonnay Ribbon Ridge overdelivers for the price. The nose is alluringly savory, with a lush core of white peaches and jasmine, and accents of roasted almonds, saline and cured meats. Soft and silky, the palate begins linear and citrusy, then unfolds to those savory, nutty undertones and finishes uplifted. It’s designed to work as a by-the-glass selection in restaurants, but it offers so much more!”
Brick House Vineyards Intentional Rose of Pinot Noir Ribbon Ridge 2020 750ML ($39.95) $28 special
Erin Brooks-Wine Advocate 91 points “This is the first iteration of an “intentional” rosé from Brick House. Harvested before the smoke hit, the 2020 Intentional Rosé of Pinot Noir has a pale onion skin color and a soft melon, red berries and garrigue perfume with touches of lemon peel. The palate offers pleasing fruit concentration and refreshing acidity, finishing long and textural.”
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Explore our offerings from Arterberry Maresh & Tan Fruit, Goodfellow Family Cellars, Cameron Winery, Zena Crown, Bergstrom, Crowley & more on our web store.
Trending
Cordero di Montezemolo, in Barolo, was founded in 1340. We’ll let that sink in for a second. That’s a long time, by any measure, and when you have one family, in the same place, farming the same land, generation after generation, they are bound to become really good at it. That’s very true here. The Montezemolo wines have always been really wonderful, classic examples of Piedmontese wines in their respective categories. With reviews off the charts for the 2017, now’s the time to stock up, especially since our pricing beats the competition out of the park!
Cordero di Montezemolo Enrico VI, Barolo DOCG 2017 750ML ($119.95) $89 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-6 Cordero di Montezemolo Enrico VI, Barolo DOCG 2017 750ML ($579.95) $512 special (that’s only $85.33/bottle!)
Case-12 Cordero di Montezemolo Enrico VI, Barolo DOCG 2017 750ML ($1489.95) $969 special (that’s only $80.75/bottle!)
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 94+ points “Made with certified organic grapes, the 2017 Barolo Enrico VI represents a selection of fruit from a two-hectare parcel in Villero (Castiglione Falletto). Enrico VI steps down with power and an especially robust footprint in this hot and dry vintage that produced thickly concentrated fruit. The power overlaps and maybe masks some of the complexity of the fruit, especially at this young age. The wine presents aromas of dark plum and spice that are slightly soft and sweet and do not repeat the extremest focus that we saw in the previous 2016 vintage. It needs a little extra time.”
Antonio Galloni 94 points “The 2017 Barolo Enrico VI, from the Villero cru, is striking. In 2017, the Villero shows a level of translucence I don’t remember seeing in this wine for as long as I have followed the domaine. Whether that is a reflection of the year or a move towards organic farming will only become evident in future vintages. Dark cherry, spice, new leather, menthol and licorice all run through this wonderfully transparent Barolo from Cordero di Montezemolo.”
James Suckling 96 points “Aromas of ripe berries with dark mushrooms, wet earth and some tar. It’s full-bodied with creamy and chewy tannins that are polished and rather bold, but still held back. The finish is very long and caressing, if a little austere. From organically grown grapes. Needs four or five years to soften. Try in 2025.”
You know Maresh for its stunning examples of old-vine Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. In the spirit of experimentation Jim decided to launch a separate label, Tan Fruit, in order to craft Oregon Chardonnay completely untethered. These Chardonnays exhibit a complete and unique showing of Oregon’s terror as well as the varietals reputation for being a “winemaker’s grape”. Regardless of vineyard location, vine age and élevage these are both delightfully accessible now and yet demand further bottle age.
Tan Fruit Dux Vineyard Chardonnay, Dundee Hills 2019 750ML ($79.95) $59 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Erin Brooks-Wine Advocate 98 points “The aromas of the 2019 Chardonnay Dux Vineyard are alluring and savory, with ripe peach layers, beeswax, roasted almonds and pastry. The palate has a singular satiny texture and impressive concentration, enlivened by tangy acidity and streaks of graphite and finishing with tremendous length and energy. Wow!”
Forbes placed the estate’s Carte d’Or, as the #3 “Best Champagne You’ve Never Heard Of” for good reason. Drappier makes big, flamboyantly rich Champagne that is always a crowd pleaser—at prices that mean you can actually pour it for crowds.
Drappier Carte d’Or Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($49.95) $38 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-6 Drappier Carte d’Or Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($299.95) $219 special (that’s only $36.50/bottle!)
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 91 points “Disgorged in April 2021, Drappier’s new NV Brut Carte d’Or delivers attractive aromas of golden orchard fruit, stone fruit, honeycomb and white flowers. Medium to full-bodied, fleshy and enveloping, it’s charming and elegantly vinous, with a flavorful core of fruit, lively acids and a chalky finish.”
Wine Spectator 90 points “Racy acidity enlivens this crisp and lacy Champagne. Well-knit, with the delicate mix of ripe white cherry, blanched almond, yellow plum and grated ginger flavors. Drink now. 3,000 cases imported. — AN”
Floral and spice notes give the 2017 lovely aromatics to play off a core of sweet red berry fruit.
Snowden Vineyards The Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2017 750ML ($54.95) $41.90 special, 26 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni 90 points “The 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon The Ranch is an attractive, mid-weight wine that shows the more gracious, understated side of the year. Floral and spice notes give the 2017 lovely aromatics to play off a core of sweet red berry fruit. This is a very pretty wine.”
Founded by Pablo Calatayud in 1995, Cellar Del Roure has made a name for itself by bucking tradition. This is no better illustrated than by Safra, made with the indigenous varietal Mando, using traditional lagar and amphorae during fermentation to preserve the natural structure and earthy flavors. Mando is described as being similar to Pinot Noir or Mencia and is largely extinct even within Valencia. This is largely due to Valencia’s history as breadbasket for Spanish agriculture, producing massive quantities of wine, olive oil and most famously oranges. This led to massive plantings of grapevines meant for bulk wine production, at the cost of historically premium sites and varietals.
Celler del Roure ‘Safra’, Valencia 2019 750ML ($29.95) $24 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Luis Gutierrez-Wine Advocate 94 points “The 2019 Safrà was produced with a base of Mandó, but it’s a different Mandó from Parotet, livelier and more fluid. They say it’s a red with the soul of a white. In any case, both wines change in 2019 with the addition of Arcos. They harvest the grapes early and use some 30% stems for the vinification in stainless steel with indigenous yeasts. This 2019 is a blend with 30% Arcos, an almost forgotten grape they are recovering and to which they are paying very much attention. Like many of the other wines, it matured in ancient buried 2,600-liter tinajas in their impressive 17th-century cellar. I’ve always liked the floral and aromatic expression of this wine, which has nice aromas and complexity, developing beautiful notes of sour cherries; and in the palate, it’s more serious than you expect, longer, deeper and very tasty. This is more ethereal than Vermell and less spicy that Parotet. I think it has gained in freshness and complexity with the addition of Arcos, which is part of the blend for the first time in 2019. In fact, this is better than ever! 20,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in June 2020.”
Decanter 93 points “Mainly Mandó grapes with Arcos (rather than Garnacha Tintorera as in previous blends) – a change that brings greater finesse to this aromatic wine. Bright, mid-weight, juicy, with sour cherries and cranberries and the faintest rasp of tannin. Fermented in stainless steel and matured in buried clay amphorae in the remarkable cellar. Organic. Drinking Window 2021 – 2024. -Sarah Jane Evans MW.”
“The champagnes of Vouette et Sorbée are uncompromisingly original, possessing deep, vinous aromas and assertive personalities, and their intensity of character makes them more suitable to contemplative drinking or to accompanying food than to casual sipping. They are clearly the products of a natural philosophy of viticulture, with all that that implies in the French wine world, and while this may put some tasters off, those wine aficionados who enjoy the wines of other natural growers in France such as Emmanuel Houillon, Marcel Lapierre or Claude Courtois will find an affinity here. These are not champagnes that will please everyone, but there is not enough quantity to go around anyway, and those of us who do appreciate Gautherot’s wines will seek them out wherever and whenever possible.” –Peter Liem, Champagne Guide
Vouette et Sorbee Cuvee Blanc d’Argile Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut, Champagne (2017) NV 750ML ($99.95) $89 special, 10 bottles in stock now
No reviews available for the 2017-base (R17). Recent review provided for reference.
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 93 points “From a rather young vineyard (less than ten years old) planted with nothing but Chardonnay, the NV Brut Nature Blanc d’Argile—here, the “R14,” which is entirely based on the 2014 harvest—is an intensely citrus colored, white-golden shimmering beauty. Intense yet fine and floral on the nose, this oak-fermented (you don’t really get that aromatically!) Blanc de Blancs shows an iodine and almost floral (think of broom!), intense and vinous nose like a fine Chablis. The palate is round yet dry, firm and mineral until the long, tensioned, well-structured and very salty finish. This is a great mix of ripe, lush fruit, elegance, finesse and iodine flavors—so, where are the oysters?”
Thank you from the team at Vinopolis!
Be well & drink well.