Midweek Addition 3-19-20

In Today’s Newsletter:

Weekend Subscriber Special:
Oddero’s Majesterial Riservas at National Best Pricing


Be a Friend/Tell a Friend
About Our Oregon March Shipping Special


2007 Taittinger Comtes
Previously Sold Out, Just Re-Arrived!


Don’t Forget Our Subscriber Special
On One of the Piemonte’s Best Values


Vinopolpick: March’s Shrewdest Buy?

Excellent California Value From Marietta Cellars

#Trending

Collector’s Corner
Older, Top Bottlings from Cappellano and Burlotto
 
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Weekend Subscriber Special

A Vertical of Oddero’s Majesterial Riservas

At National Best Pricing


We love hyper-traditional Barolo—there’s something about it that seems aristocratic, truly the wine of kings and the king of wines.  The combination of power and delicacy, the youthful austerity that blooms into glorious aromatics and texture with age is magic.  While it doesn’t always lead to high scores from reviewers, it does lead to absolutely stunning wines down the road.

Oddero’s wines represent some of the best, most traditional Barolo on the market today. All of the Nebbiolo vineyards of the estate are farmed organically and fermentation of the Barolos takes place in stainless steel before maturation in large casks—no barrique here.  The top two wines at Oddero are their Brunate and their Vigna Rionda Riserva, released only after ten years of aging. 

We’re offering some exceptionally sharp pricing on a vertical of Oddero’s Brunate and two bottlings of their Vigna Rionda.  This set would be quite a fun collection for any lover of Piemontese wines.  All these wines were cellared at the winery until last year and are the lowest prices in the country.  These are special wines at excellent prices—at least until we sell out or Sunday night rolls around.


Subscriber Special Pricing Valid Until Sunday, March 22nd at 6PM (PT)

In Stock Now:

Poderi Oddero Brunate, Barolo DOCG 2011 750ML ($149.95) Was $119, Now $99 Subscriber Special, 9 bottles in stock now
James Suckling 94 points
“Gorgeous dried fruits and citrus character with a dense palate, fresh acidity and a lingering finish. Another gorgeous Brunate. Drink in 2017.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $118.99
The average listed price is $128

Poderi Oddero Brunate, Barolo DOCG 2012 750ML ($149.95) Was $119, Now $99 Subscriber Special, 11 bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 92 points
“Enticing aromas of cherry, rose and spice lead off, while the flavors pick up tar and tobacco, echoing the spice. This is rich and balanced, with oak tannins adding another layer on the long sweet-fruit finish. Best from 2018 through 2032. 180 cases made.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $118.99

Poderi Oddero Brunate, Barolo DOCG 2013 750ML ($149.95) Was $119, Now $99 Subscriber Special, 12 bottles in stock now
Wine Enthusiast 93 points
“This opens with alluring red berry, menthol, new leather, star anise and crushed herb scents. It’s elegantly structured, offering sour cherry, cranberry, licorice and sage flavors set against firm, fine-grained tannins and fresh acidity. A hint of orange zest closes the finish. Drink 2023–2033.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $109.94

Poderi Oddero Vigna Rionda, Barolo Riserva DOCG 2007 1.5L ($499.95) Was $419, Now $369 Subscriber Special, 4 magnums in stock now
James Suckling
96 points “This is drinking wonderfully now with so much depth of fruit and lots of juicy character. Full body, layered and intense. Plenty of dark berry and chocolate. Fantastic. Drink or hold.”
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 95 points “This wine is released ten years after the harvest, giving consumers the opportunity to buy an older vintage of Barolo that has been stored carefully back at the winery. Older-release wines like this are becoming ever more popular in the Langhe. The 2007 Barolo Riserva Vignarionda is a powerful and exuberant expression that shows the density and the inner energy of Serralunga d’Alba. Blackberry and dark cherry lift from the bouquet to reveal pretty undertones of spice, leather and savory tobacco. Only 2,763 750-milliliter bottles, 200 magnums and 20 jeroboams were produced. This wine offers a very special taste of Nebbiolo.”
Wine Spectator 95 points “After 10 years, this is ready to enjoy. However, despite the sweet cherry fruit, leather, woodsy and mineral flavors, there are still dense tannins. This is moving in the right direction, mellowing gracefully and lingering with a long, fresh, tobacco- and mineral-tinged aftertaste. Best from 2020 through 2034. 150 cases made.”

This is the lowest listed price for a magnum in the USA today!
The next best price is $399

Poderi Oddero Vigna Rionda, Barolo Riserva DOCG 2008 750ML ($219.95) Was $169, Now $139 Subscriber Special, 6 bottles in stock now
Wine Advocate 94 points
“The 2008 Barolo Riserva Vignarionda was held back at the winery to be released commercially ten years after the harvest. The fruit is sourced from 50-year-old vines that benefit from organic farming. You feel the robust nature of the Serralunga d’Alba village, with heat, structure and power at the back. It is a classic but powerful Nebbiolo, with earthy tones, sweet spice and dark chocolate. This wine is moving beautifully along its aging trajectory. Bravi. Only 2,000 bottles are available.”
Wine Spectator 94 points “Now a decade old, this Barolo reveals hints of truffle, carob and burnished leather in the bouquet, with fading cherry and berry fruit and licorice and spice accents. Displays the tightly knit, Serralunga structure, along with a chalky, minerally sensation on the lingering finish. Drink now through 2036.”
Importer note “The name Vigna Rionda, meaning “round vineyard”, comes from the plot of land, a depression filled with rows of vines, with the whole slope in full sun. Bought by the Oddero family in 1985, the Vigna Rionda, like all the land around Serralunga, Castiglione Falletto and Monforte, is part of an unusual tertiary Langhian-Miocene geological formation, rich in calcareous deposits, marl, fine sand and sandstone, alternating with mineral residues from plant and animal organisms. Additionally the Vigna Rionda is sheltered by the Castelletto hill from northeast winds and the winter cold, and it has an excellent microclimate for vine cultivation. The prizewinning Oddero Barolo Vigna Rionda is a great, tenacious wine with a long life, with an intense, spiced bouquet, structured and complex on tasting, and very exciting.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average listed price is $171
 
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Be a Friend/Tell a Friend

About Our Oregon March Shipping Special


 
Free Oregon Ground Shipping on Orders Over $120 in March

Looking for wine but want to stay in your house? Look no further than our shipping department. We’ve always featured great shipping rates (look no further than our $25 California flat rate), but given the current epidemiological climate we’re stepping up our game for our local customers.

For the rest of March, we’re offering free shipping within Oregon on any order of $120 that ships this month.  If you’re self-quarantining, we’ve got you covered—wine to your doorstep (we wish we sold TP and canned food, frankly).  Keep your social distance and stock up!  After all, you’re going to need it now more than ever.

Looking for our great deals and shipping specials to continue? Tell a friend who’s not on our email list to take advantage of this great offer and keep us busy in these unusual times!

March 2020 Oregon Shipping Special is only valid on orders of $120 or more (not including shipping) shipped within Oregon during the month of March 2020. If your order is below $120, not including shipping, than standard Oregon shipping charges will apply. Any items, whether in stock or pre-arrival, that are not shipped before the end of March 2020 will be held for pick up or assessed shipping charges if shipped. Offer not valid on prior orders. Delivery is by UPS and is typically next business day. As with all shipments of alcohol, an adult signature is required for delivery.
 
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2007 Taittinger Comtes

Previously Sold Out, Just Re-Arrived!


Taittinger’s Comtes de Champagne is a benchmark bottling.  It’s consistently in the top handful of Blanc de Blancs in years it’s released and few other wines have a similar track record for ageability, complexity and sheer deliciousness.  It’s a bit of a value, too—this wine delivers at a level similar to the Krugs, Cristals and Sir Winston Churchills of the world but at a much better tariff.  That price is especially low  on what will likely be our final delivery of the delicious 2007 version.  Grab it now while you can.


Just Re-Arrived, In Stock Now:

Taittinger Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blancs Brut, Champagne 2007 750ML ($179.95) $125 special, 18 bottles in stock now
James Suckling 98 points
“This is a step up from the linear and fresh 2006. It shows subtle depth and power with a dense block of vivid fruit that’s highlighted with lemon zest, green apples and hints of white peaches. Just the right amount of praline and nuts on the nose. Fine and tight bead give the Champagne a luxurious mouthfeel. One for now or the cellar. Drink or hold.”
Antonio Galloni 96 points “Taittinger’s 2007 Comtes de Champagne will be nearly impossible to resist upon release. Soaring aromatics, mid-weight structure and soft contours give the 2007 its alluring personality. Lemon oil, white flowers, mint, chamomile and green pear add brightness and freshness throughout, with a persistent, clean finish that makes it impossible to resist a second taste. Today, the 2007 comes across as a slightly more open version of the 2004, with freshness that makes that wine so appealing, and a touch of textural richness that recalls the 2002. Although the 2007 does not have the explosive energy or verticality of the profound 2006, it will drink better earlier. The 2007 has been positively brilliant on the three occasions I have tasted it so far.”
Wine Advocate 95 points “Taittinger’s prestigious Comtes de Champagne is composed entirely of Chardonnay grapes from the Grand Cru villages of Avize, Chouilly, Cramant, Mesnil-sur-Oger and Oger (Côte des Blancs). The citrus-golden colored 2007 Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blancs is the fourth in a row after the 2004 vintage (which will be followed by 2008 whereas there will be no Comtes from 2009, 2010 and 2011) and opens with a nobly intense yet nuanced bouquet of ripe fruits, chalk, iodine and a touch of brioche. The wine indicates a coolish and precise character on the clear, flinty nose that develops lemon, pastry and floral notes. On the palate, this is Taittinger at its best: clear, fresh, lush and elegant, offering both sensuality and noble elegance. The 2007 reveals great finesse and is a perfect expression of both the Taittinger style and the Côte de Blancs. The wine (of which 5% has spent four months in oak barrels to give roundness and a touch of toast) is tightly woven, well concentrated and even juicy yet always clear, fresh, pure, fine and elegant. The finish is intense, clean, vivacious and complex, with good grip and lingering salty minerals that indicate good aging potential. Disgorged in October 2017; tasted in May 2018.”
 
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Vinopolis Wine Shop Curbside Pick Up

Don’t want to stop in?

Order Online / By Phone / By Email


When you’re ready to pick up, just park in our lot,
give us a call, & we’ll bring your order to your car. 

(If another adult is picking up for you, please let us know their name when placing your order.)


#503-223-6002

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March Special: Oregon Flat Rate Waived on Orders over $120!

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Don’t Forget Our Subscriber Special

On One of the Piemonte’s Best Values

Paitin: On Sale Until Friday Night


Barbaresco is the land of Great Value in Piemonte.  Moreso than in neighboring Barolo, the vineyards of Barbaresco are packed with under the radar, great producers—and none represents better buying opportunity than Paitin.  Starting with a great set of vineyards that the family has owned for generations, Secondo Pasquero-Elia enlisted enologist Dante Scaglione (of Bruno Giacosa fame) to take these wines to the next level.

The results are spectacular and offer a glimpse into the future of the winery. The wines are solid, deep, and built to last – echoing the family and their tie to their home and spectacular vineyards.  When looking for value in Piemonte, Paitin is clearly at the head of the class because of the ratio of quality to price—at least for now.  Like every other great value region, one day the world will wake up and notice how wonderful these wines are.  In the meantime, though, buy as much as you can—especially at these Subscriber Special prices.  At least until these wines sell out, these good deals are even better.

Paitin Subscriber Special Pricing Valid Until Friday, March 20th at 6PM (PT)


In Stock and On Subscriber Special Now:

Paitin di Pasquero-Elia ‘Serraboella’, Barbaresco DOCG 2014 750ML ($41.95) Was $33, Now $29 Subscriber Special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 92 points
“Currant, strawberry, cherry, floral and leafy flavors are the highlights of this racy, elegant red. Balanced on the firm side, with excellent length. Best from 2020 through 2032. 800 cases made.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $38

Paitin di Pasquero-Elia ‘Sori Paitin’, Barbaresco DOCG 2015 750ML ($69.95) Was $49, Now $44 Subscriber Special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 95 points
“Sweet cherry and strawberry fruit is framed by earth, eucalyptus, tobacco and tar notes in this rich yet firm red. The assertive tannins suggest a glacial evolution but the lasting impression of fruit shows this wine’s potential. Best from 2022 through 2040. 815 cases made.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Paitin di Pasquero-Elia ‘Sori Paitin Vecchie Vigne’, Barbaresco DOCG 2011 750ML ($99.95) Was $89, Now $79 Subscriber Special, 29 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni 95+ points
“The 2011 Barbaresco Sorì Paitin Vigne Vecchie is just as stunning as it has always been. A wine of extraordinary purity, the 2011 is laced with rose petals, spices, mint, sweet red berries. The balance of fruit, acidity and tannin is simply magnificent. At the same time, the power and breadth of Serraboella comes through in spades.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $96

Paitin Subscriber Special Pricing Valid Until Friday, March 20th at 6PM (PT)

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Vinopolpick:

March’s Shrewdest Buy?


Isopropyl Alcohol. Aromas of cheap vodka. Like really cheap vodka. Burns the palate. Lingering chemical flavor persists for several minutes after vomiting. Kills COVID-19, so 100 points. 

 
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Excellent California Value From Marietta Cellars

Chris Bilbro was one of California wine’s unsung heroes.  He founded and grew Marietta Cellars into one of the preeminent producers of excellent value, honestly made California wine.  Although his son Scot now runs the winery (Chris sadly passed away last year), the wines are as good as they’ve ever been—delicious, gutsy wines that deliver exceptional value at all prices.  These are fantastic wines from their sub-$20 Zinfandel and Cabernet bottlings all the way through their “Gibson Block” Syrah, which hails from a parcel of Syrah planted in the 1880’s and still producing (tiny quantities) of fruit today.

We have an assortment of their current releases in stock now, all of which have the high scores and critical praise you’d expect from much, much more expensive wines.


In Stock Now:

Marietta Cellars Angeli Cuvee Zinfandel, Alexander Valley 2017 750ML ($39.95) $29 special
Antonio Galloni 94 points
‘The 2017 Zinfandel Angeli, from a site in Alexander Valley, is rich, pliant and expressive. Super-ripe black cherry, hard candy, new leather, lavender and mint give the Angeli decidedly dark shades of expression. This sumptuous, flavorful Zinfandel should drink well for another decade or more.”
 
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!

Marietta Cellars ‘Game Trail’ Cabernet Sauvignon, Yorkville Highlands 2016 750ML ($39.95) $33 special
Antonio Galloni 94 points
“Marietta’s 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Game Trail is powerful, dark and quite savory. Smoke, tobacco, gravel, menthol, cedar and licorice all run through this bold, pungent mountain Cabernet. There is quite a bit of aromatic intensity to play off the blackberry fruit in this strapping young wine. Give it a few years in bottle for the tannins to soften.”

Marietta Cellars Gibson Block Syrah, McDowell Valley 2016 750ML ($39.95) $33 special
Antonio Galloni 95 points
“The 2016 Syrah Estate Gibson Block is the star of this range from Marietta. From a dry-farmed site planted in the 1880s, the Gibson Block is powerful, sumptuous and racy to the core. A whole range of complementary varieties give the Gibson Block striking inner perfume and lift to play off the intense dark fruit, while silky tannins add to the wine’s racy, inviting personality.”
 
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Marietta Cellars Arme Estate Cabernet, North Coast 2016 750ML ($24.95) $19 special
Antonio Galloni 92 points
“The 2016 Armé is another superb wine in the middle tier of the Marietta range. Fresh, savory and super-expressive, the Armé has a lot going on. Black cherry, sage, lavender, menthol and licorice give the wine striking savory nuance to play off the dark Cabernet Sauvignon fruit. More than anything else, though, the Armé is a superb value in California Cabernet.”
Wine Enthusiast 92 points “Editor’s Choice. Saturated with opulent black-fruit flavors and moderately tannic, this wine is big but polished and complex. It shows little obvious oakiness, but rather feels shaped by oak aging until it was velvety and firm. Enjoyable now with something roasted or braised, this wine will drink best after 2022.”
 
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!

Marietta Cellars ‘Christo’ Rhone Blend 2016 750ML ($21.95) $17 special
Antonio Galloni 93 points
“The 2016 Christo, Marietta’s Syrah-based blend, is terrific. Black cherry, chocolate, leather, licorice and spice give the wine much of its dark, brooding feel. Powerful and intense, but with good freshness, the 2016 is wonderfully complete and absolutely delicious.”
 
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!

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#Trending

We have the 2014, 2015 and 2017 in stock right now, as well.  All are great, but this is especially singing.
Sequitur Pinot Noir, Ribbon Ridge 2016 750ML ($119.95) $79 special, 26 bottles in stock now
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 96 points
“Glimmering red. A hugely aromatic bouquet evokes fresh red fruits, Asian spices and potpourri, along with a bright mineral overtone and a touch of smokiness. Juicy, seamless and precise on the palate, offering potent, mineral-laced raspberry preserve, rose pastille and spicecake flavors that deepen and spread out steadily on the back half. Delivers a compelling blend of power and finesse and finishes with silky tannins, outstanding clarity and floral- and mineral-driven persistence.”
Wine Advocate 94+ points “Pale to medium ruby-purple in color, the 2016 Sequitur Pinot Noir has a lovely, open nose of black and red cherries and blackberries with notions of wood smoke, turned earth, autumn leaves, cardamom and potpourri. Medium-bodied, it floods the mouth with ripe black and red fruits with wonderful earthy/spicy accents, very fine, grainy tannins and mouthwatering acidity, finishing long with spice and floral layers. 480 cases produced.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $89.95
The average listed price is $95

It’s hard to find a better value in dry Riesling.  This wine perpetually over delivers.
Von Winning Riesling Trocken, Pfalz 2018 750ML ($21.95) $18 special, 32 bottles in stock now
Stephen Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 89-90 points
“The 2018 Deidesheim Riesling Trocken is clear and floral as well as herbal on the nose. Pure, fresh and salty on the palate, this is a filigreed Riesling with herbal seed notes on the finish. Very fresh and lean but lovely. Tasted rather quickly at the VDP Weinbörse in Mainz, April 2019. Provisional score.”
Terry Theise note “Along with Künstler this is the best estate Riesling in the portfolio, and the best that could be conceived. As proud as they justly are of their lordly GGs, this is the wine that shows their true genius. An utter classic Pfalz, with euphoric fruit, classic earthiness, lip-smacking balance, enticing saltiness.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

We wish that Marcus still had access to the Bishop Creek fruit , but this is a great send-off.
Goodfellow Family Cellars Bishop Creek Vineyard Pinot Noir, Yamhill-Carlton 2013 750ML ($39.95) $29 special, 18 bottles in stock now
“Twenty five year old un-grafted Wadensville vines, dry farmed in the Yamhill-Carlton AVA are handpicked for this wine. From 3 acres, each clone is fermented separately with native yeasts in small lots, typically with 50-60% whole-clusters. The wine is aged in 0%-40% new French oak barrels for 18-21 months and bottled unfined and unfiltered. There is intensity at Bishop Creek, with deep, dark toned fruit, a spicy floral edge and savory tones with acidity and length.”–Winery Notes

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Dubois has become a hot producer—and the new wines are finally in stock!
Anne-Sophie Dubois Fleurie l’Alchimiste, Beaujolais 2018 750ML ($34.95) $28 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Anne-Sophie Dubois Fleurie l’Alchimiste, Beaujolais 2018 1.5L ($79.95) $66 special, 6 magnums in stock now
N
o reviews for the 2018 vintage. Most recent review provided for reference.
Josh Raynolds 93 points “[2016 Vintage] Deep bright-rimmed ruby. Intense, mineral-accented red/dark berry scents pick up a sexy floral quality with air. Concentrated yet lively in the mouth, offering juicy, spice-tinged black raspberry, bitter cherry and floral pastille flavors that show excellent clarity and back-end thrust. A touch of candied licorice appears on the gently tannic finish, which lingers with outstanding, mineral-driven tenacity.”

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

K Vintners always over delivers and their “The Deal” bottling perhaps the most so.
Charles Smith K Vintners The Deal Sundance Vineyard Syrah, Columbia Valley 2016 750ML ($41.95) $36 special, 35 bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 94 points
“The 2016 Syrah The Deal comes from the sandy, loamy soils of the Wahluke Slope and has classic earthy notes of spices, forest floor, dried herbs, hot stones, and a crushed rock-like sensation of minerality. Full-bodied, concentrated, and opulent on the palate, it has a beautiful balance between richness and elegance, fine tannins, and a great finish. Drink it over the coming 7-8 years.”
Stephen Tanzer – Vinous 93+ points “Bright, dark ruby-red. Scents of black cherry, tar, African violet and licorice on the dark, aromatic nose. Quite primary and concentrated but already plush, ripe and savory, with a piquant note of pink peppercorn providing definition and lift. With its palate-dusting length, this penetrating, peppery wine should offer serious aging potential. (from a gravelly site with volcanic sand; vinified entirely in concrete)”
James Suckling 94 points “This is from the Sundance Vineyard, which has volcanic, sandy soils at a higher elevation than the surrounding plots. The nose has aromas of crushed dried flowers and bright red berries that follow to the palate where a streak of sweetly spicy oak threads into the ripe, composed and elegant red-plum finish. Drink over the next decade.”

Monbousquet’s second wine is a prime drinker right now.
Angelique de Monbousquet, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru 2015 750ML ($39.95) $29 special, 18 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni 91 points
“A plush, voluptuous wine, the 2015 Angélique de Monbousquet shows quite a bit better from bottle than it did from barrel. Espresso, mocha, plum, chocolate, licorice and dried herbs emerge from this racy, opulent Saint-Émilion. The 2015 is not especially complex, but it is flat-out delicious and also a terrific choice for drinking over the next handful of years.”
James Suckling 93 points “Spices and dark fruit with decadent earth and white-truffle aromas. Full body, round and velvety tannins and a fruity finish. So velvety and delicious. Second wine of Monbousquet. Drink in 2020.”
 
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Collector’s Corner

Older, Top Bottlings from Cappellano and Burlotto


Two of the most heralded names in traditional Barolo are Cappellano and Burlotto, both known for old-school, age worthy wines that are some of the most profound bottlings in the region.  Both use long macerations and age their wines only in large botti (casks).  The result are wines that can often be austere in their youth but blossom over the decades into sensual, intellectually and hedonistically satisfying bottles.

We secured a large parcel of back vintage wines from both producers at prices that are excellent given the provenance and market conditions for these wines.  These are very hard to find on the secondary market, as well—unlike some names, collectors of these bottles tend to drink rather than re-sell.  Now is your chance to secure some rare bottlings.

Unfortunately as you’ll see below, the quantities on each individual bottling are small, so you’re going to have to act quickly.  You can view the entire list from each producer below or click here to see all of the wines from Cappellano or here to see the wines from Burlotto that are available for purchase.

Please Note: Cappellano is adamantly opposed to the idea of numeric score being attached to a wine and requests his wines not be reviewed.  As a result, these wines lack the scores and reviews we usually publish. If you’re unfamiliar with these wines, we encourage you to search the internet for more information about these bottles—we’re sure you’ll only be more excited to drink them.




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Thanks for reading!