Midweek VinopolPick 11-26-19

In Today’s Newsletter:

National Best Prices on Gaja!

FX Pichler Sale Extended!

Staff Pick – A Bargain of a Loire Franc

Black Friday Starts Early:
Castello di Gabbiano at $20+ off the Next Best Price
Plus, Top Notch Meursault Under $25
And Our California Pinot & Syrah Offer of the Year

Our Top Local Winery for Your Holiday Table

Trending Thanksgiving Wines

95 Point Chianti, Under $28

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Black Friday Starts Early

National Best Prices on Gaja

Gaja is a name that requires no context in discussion—like Latour or DRC, it’s understood which estate is meant and that the wines are epic, change-your-dinner-plans events.  Angelo Gaja is one of the primary reasons we care about Barbaresco today and the wines bearing his name remain the most treasured and collectible of the region.

Arriving Friday. Supplies on all are severely limited. Buy now to ensure fulfillment!

Gaja Barbaresco DOCG, Piedmont 2016 750ML ($289.95) $189 pre-arrival special
Antonio Galloni 96 points
“Gaja’s 2016 Barbaresco is positively stellar. A wine of poise and grace, the 2016 has so much to offer. Expressive spice and floral notes open up first, but what really stands out is the wine’s nuance and delineation. There is a sense of translucency to the 2016 that is impossible to miss. Sweet red cherry, mint, cinnamon and rose petal develop in the glass, adding further shades of nuance. Quite simply, the 2016 is one of the very finest Gaja Barbarescos in recent memory. This is such a gorgeous wine. Don’t miss it.”
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 96 points “I tasted this wine over two sittings, one at the winery and one at my home office a few weeks later. Although I can’t claim any extraordinary differences between the two sessions, I noticed a few minimal shifts that are essential to understanding the wine’s future aging ability. The 2016 Barbaresco starts off slow at first, showing a small margin of aromatic evolution in the glass. But come back two hours later, and you can almost hear the soft sounds of the symphony playing just below the surface. The 2016 vintage is characterized by the solid intensity and firmness of its aromas, which transcend fruit and veer toward balsamic herb, licorice, tar and smoke instead. The tannins offer a moment of sweetness and softness, before you are aware of their undeniable firmness. In all, there is a certain glossiness or satiny quality to the mouthfeel that underlines the wine’s carefully crafted integration. I would describe this as a classic and also a somewhat austere Barbaresco that fully deserves extra cellar time to stretch those tight muscles and grow in volume. This wine will award those who wait.”
Wine Spectator 96 points “This gorgeous red evokes rose, strawberry, raspberry and cherry fruit, shaded by tobacco, tar and wild thyme notes. Pure, sleek and intense, with a firm base of tannins and vibrant acidity for support. This should evolve beautifully. Be patient. Best from 2022 through 2043. 1,800 cases imported.”
James Suckling 96 points “This is all about finesse with power. Such great length here with ever so refined tannins and precise strawberry, cedar, dried-rose and mineral character. Medium body. Fresh and vivid finish. Hard not to drink now, but wait until at least 2021.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $268
Gaja Sperss Langhe – Barolo, Piedmont 2014 750ML ($319.95) $219 pre-arrival special
James Suckling 95 points
“More forward and in a more earthly realm than the dizzying heights of the Conteisa this vintage, but it’s so endearing and immediately delights. The aromas range from elderberries and black cherries to brambleberries and Chinese spices. Full-bodied and structured with powerful tannins that encase bright and forthright blue fruit, which is polished over by a sheen of glimmering acidity. Long finish. Delicious now, but better in 2022.”
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 94 points “This is a slightly more subdued vintage of this legendary wine, albeit just as sophisticated as past editions. The 2014 Barolo Sperss opens to gorgeous aromas of dark fruit, wet earth and white truffle. The vineyards in Serralunga d’Alba produced much less fruit than average and suffered from bouts of downy mildew during the rainy seasons. But Serralunga d’Alba fruit is also harvested late, and that extra time was important for achieving grape ripeness targets. The wine presents depth and complexity within the context of a thinner vintage. Having said that, the bouquet is spectacular.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $247.99
The average price is $293

Highlights In Stock Now from Gaja…

Gaja Ca’Marcanda ‘Camarcanda’ Bolgheri, Tuscany 2010 750ML ($149.95) $119 special, 8 bottles in stock now
Monica Larner – Wine Advocate 96 points
“The 2010 Bolgheri Camarcanda is an exceptional wine with a level of aromatic intensity and integrity that is impossible to exaggerate. The blend is Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc, in that order of importance. The bouquet is impeccable and refined, with deep layers of Morello cherry, cassis, dried blackberry and spice that peel back in quick succession. The oak component is beautifully integrated, imparting notes of chocolate and tobacco that complete this beautiful portrait of Tuscan winemaking. Hold this bottle for a few more years.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $147
Gaja Costa Russi Langhe-Barbaresco, Piedmont 2006 750ML ($499.95) $299 special, 2 bottles in stock now
Stephen Tanzer 93 points
“Good full red. Reticent strawberry and plum aromas are complicated by a medicinal component. Rounder and sweeter than the normale, but also showing excellent inner-mouth lift for all its fullness. This very broad, fine-grained wine finishes with a juicy quality and excellent structure. In spite of its firm tannins, this makes the young ’07 come off as a bit drier by comparison.”
Wine Advocate 92 points “The 2006 Langhe Costa Russi is a bit reticent at first, and two of the three bottles I tasted showed elements of reduction that eventually blew off. A gorgeous center of soft perfumed fruit lies behind the slightly unfocused bouquet. The wine reveals notable clarity and detail once it opens up in the glass, with dark cherries, flowers and minerals that linger on the finish. Anticipated maturity: 2016-2031.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
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FX Pichler Sale Extended!

The wines of FX Pichler are legendary for their combination of richness and electric minerality and also their often high prices, which are driven by incredible demand for the wines within Austria (and the rest of Europe).  On that latter point, we’re here to help—discounting six of our favorites through the end of the week to help with your Thanksgiving drinking.  These are wines to grab quickly—we don’t have more than three cases of any of them and they represent some of the finest bottlings in the Pichler stable.  W

Sommelier and Riesling Legend Paul Greico once said, “If F.X. was a guitarist, Jimmy Page would stand aside” and no truer hyperbole has ever been uttered in the world of wine.  F.X. Pichler stands as one of the two or three most important Austrian producers and hands down the winery crafting the most powerful, complex and bombastic dry Riesling and Gruner Veltliner on the planet.

The wines of F.X. Pichler are unique, in that no one else seems to wrangle power, freshness and complexity into a single package quite like this wizard of the Wachau.  With a combination of intensive viticulture, native fermentations and great terroir, the wines are unlike anything else in the world.  Broad and powerful, with a cut and minerality that’s unique, these are wines to drink now and to age, as well.  These are perfect wines for Thanksgiving (or any celebratory occasion) and will also age beautifully for the next decade or two.

In Stock Now:

Plus, check out these early Black Friday Sales on Ingrid Groiss’ beautiful wines, which are very different wines than FX Pichler’s.  Her style is always cool and lyrical, though the wines never lack for complexity and detail.

Weingut Ingrid Groiss ‘Braitenpuechttorff’ Riesling, Niederosterreich 2017 750ML ($35.95) Was $28, Now $24 Black Friday Special
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 90 points
“The 2017 Riesling Braitenpuechtorff is a super clear, fresh and reductive style Riesling that intermixed white peach aromas with crushed stones. Pretty spicy and somewhat German in its hard and challenging style. Medium-bodied, lush and terribly piquant, with a straight but refined and elegant character and a lingering grip and vitality, this is a remarkably elegant, lush and fruity dry Riesling with a perfect touch of sweetness. Tasted October 2018.”

This was the lowest listed price in the USA today,
Now it’s even lower!
Weingut Ingrid Groiss ‘Braitenpuechttorff’ Gemischter Satz, Niederosterreich 2017 ($29.95) Was $24, Now $19 Black Friday Special
Wine Spectator 90 points
“This is redolent of freshly sliced green apple, featuring lemon oil, tarragon and dandelion hints. Savory midpalate, with a firm, minerally structure and vibrant acidity. The finish reveals accents of anise and spice. Drink now through 2023. 1,000 cases made, 192 cases imported.”
Wine Enthusiast 90 points “The hints of sun-dried hay, russet pear and bright lemon that mark the nose of this wine combine into zesty freshness on the palate. It’s ripe and concentrated, with a dry, lemony zing that lingers until the very last echo.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
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Vinopolis Will Be Closed for Thanksgiving

Thursday, November 28th

We will resume normal business hours (10-6)
on Friday, November 29th

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Staff Pick

A Bargain of a Loire Franc

Saul:
I love Cabernet Franc from the Loire—no secret if you’ve talked to me about wine.  It’s a grape/region combo that delivers lots of the qualities I’m looking for in red wine.  They’re often bright, fresh and vibrant, with enough depth and richness to pair with a lot of different foods.  Characteristically, these wines are often a blend of savory and fruit flavors—something I really dig.  Plus, these wines are often way undervalued—which means when I say the wine I’m highlighting today is a steal, that statement practically counts double.

Yes, Guion’s Bourgueil “Cuvee Domaine” is a bargain, even by the standards of the Loire.  This wine, from one of the leaders in organic farming in the region, is fermented in tank to retain its cool, snappy freshness.  That pairs well with its mixture of black and red fruit and Franc-ish spice and savor. This is what I want to drink when I sit down at a bistro (in Portland, or Paris) and the balance of seriousness and refreshment is a difficult trick to pull off.  This would be a fantastic wine with Thanksgiving—or really any other time.

In Stock Now:

Domaine Guion Bourgueil Cuvee Domaine, Loire 2017 750ML ($21.95) $18 special
Case-12 Domaine Guion Bourgueil Cuvee Domaine, Loire 2017 750ML ($259.95) $199 special (that’s only $16.58/bottle!)
Importer Note
“There are few properties in France that can boast such a great pioneering legacy in organic farming as Domaine Guion. In the 1950’s, the Guion family established their farm in the heart of the Bourgueil appellation, a stone’s throw from the banks of the Loire Rive… By 1965, they began farming organically, with a holistic understanding of its effects far ahead of their time. Since taking the reins from his father in 1994, Stéphane Guion has a put a much greater emphasis on viticulture, managing 8 ½ hectares of land. Quiet and curious, he is a respected member of the vigneron community in Bourgueil and is often consulted by other growers eager to adopt organic farming practices. Once in the cellar, he only employs native yeasts and allows a moderate maceration of the grapes. “Cuvée Domaine” is entirely fermented and aged in tank.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
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Holiday Season Note

Need wines to arrive in time for your November & December fêtes? 

Don’t hesitate.

Purchase now and ship ASAP to ensure you’re ready for your holiday entertaining and gift giving.

For clients on the East Coast, don’t forget prime shipping temperatures won’t last much longer!

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Black Friday Starts Early

Castello di Gabbiano at $20+ off the Next Best Price

When we get a chance to offer a wine for more than $20 off the next best price, we’re very, very interested.  When that producer is an icon of their region and the bottling is one of their very best—we’re in all the way. In this case, we’re offering two vintages of Castello di Gabbiano’s top Chianti Gran Selezione (the excellent “Bellezza” bottling at prices that are stunning compared to the rest of the market.

Castello di Gabbiano is one of the most notable producers of Chianti Classico—a historic estate that’s pushed forward into the 21st century as one of the most important producers of Chianti out there.  Their top wine is the Chianti Gran Selezione “Bellezza,” a 100% Sangiovese that challenges the best in Brunello and Chianti.  These are wines that drink well young but also will reward bottle age.

We’re offering a mini-vertical of the wines from two excellent vintages at astounding pricing—up to $22 less than the next best price online.  These will run you less than $25/btl by the six-pack, and at that price are some of the best buys in the world of wine.  They arrive Friday, November 29th and you’d do well to load up on both vintages.

Arriving Tomorrow:

Castello di Gabbiano Bellezza, Chianti Classico Gran Selezione DOCG 2012 750ML ($59.95) $28 pre-arrival special
Case-6 Castello di Gabbiano Bellezza, Chianti Classico Gran Selezione DOCG 2012 750ML ($359.95) $149 pre-arrival special (that’s only $24.83/bottle!)
James Suckling 92 points
“A wine with a wonderful depth of fruit but slightly marked by the new wood. Full body, round and silky tannins and a medium finish. This needs two or three years to come together in the bottle. A solid red.”
Wine Enthusiast 91 points “Editor’s Choice. Baked plum, Asian spice, vanilla and menthol aromas carry the nose. The elegantly structured palate offers fleshy black cherry, licorice, mint and well-integrated French oak alongside fine-grained tannins that lend firm, polished support. A coffee note marks the finish.”
Antonio Galloni 90 points “The 2012 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Bellezza is plump, juicy and expressive. Succulent red cherries, plums, sweet spices, leather and smoke flesh out nicely in the glass. The aromatics are slightly forward, which leads me to believe the 2012 will not be a long-term ager. Still, today the Bellezza is attractive and immediate, both qualities that make it an excellent choice for near term drinking.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!
The average listed price across all vintages is $43
Castello di Gabbiano Bellezza, Chianti Classico Gran Selezione DOCG 2013 750ML ($59.95) $28 pre-arrival special
Case-6 Castello di Gabbiano Bellezza, Chianti Classico Gran Selezione DOCG 2013 750ML ($359.95) ($359.95) $149 pre-arrival special (that’s only $24.83/bottle!)
Wine Spectator 92 points
“This is settling into a nice groove, in a contemporary style, offering plum, black cherry, earth and tobacco flavors, framed by spicy oak. Balanced and beefy, with a long, spice-tinged aftertaste. Drink now through 2027. 2,000 cases made, 1,350 cases imported.”
James Suckling 92 points “Plenty of new wood at the moment with berry and chocolate undertones. Full body, round and juicy tannins and a flavorful finish. A little overdone but still outstanding. Drink now.”
Antonio Galloni 91 points “Gabbiano’s 2013 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Bellezza is terrific. Succulent red cherry, woodsmoke, tobacco and licorice all flesh out in this soft, open-knit Riserva. A sheen of oak does not really seem to add much and in fact masks some of the purity of the fruit. Even so, the 2013 is very nicely done in this style.”
Wine Enthusiast 91 points “Made entirely with Sangiovese, this opens with aromas of black plum, vanilla, eucalyptus and a touch of ginger. The savory, balanced palate doles out ripe black cherry, licorice, white pepper and cedar alongside fine-grained tannins.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $46.99
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Black Friday Starts Early

Top Notch Meursault Under $25

The Matrot family crafts the well-known Thierry et Pascale Matrot Burgundies. These are delicious wines, farmed with care (and organically without certification), and available for incredible prices, especially on our Black Friday sale. What’s less well known is that sometimes the domaine bottles the same exact wines under the smaller label, Pierre Matrot, for confusing legal reasons that only Burgundy wines seem to engender.

Here’s Clive Coates, Master of Wine and author of the definitive book on Burgundy: The Wines of Burgundy, on the subject: “For legal and inheritance reasons there are two domaines here, though everything is made by Thierry Matrot and his wife Pascale. Sometimes theirs is labeled as Pierre Matrot, Thierry’s father: this includes all the Blagny, red and white. The larger remainder, Joseph Matrot, is bought by Thierry and Pascale and is now sold under their label… Other wines can have either label. But it is all the same wine.”

Or Allen Meadows of Burghound on the subject: “Note that ‘Domaines Matrot’ refers to Domaine Pierre Matrot and Domaine Thierry et Pascale Matrot. Thierry Matrot is the winemaker for both and the wines are identical.”

This legalistic twisting is all in your favor. Why? Because the smaller label gets overlooked by wine buyers, retailers and importers alike. That means a savvy wine shop like us can swoop in and buy out the inventory for a song.

The “Thierry et Pascale Matrot” label is selling for $69.99 on Wine Searcher. We’re offering the Pierre Matrot label for under $25/bottle by the case. It’s the three for one offer of the season that would be absurd to pass up. Especially one proclaimed ‘outstanding’ and ‘recommended’ by Burghound.

Arriving Tomorrow:

Pierre Matrot Meursault, Cote de Beaune 2014 750ML ($59.95) $29 pre-arrival special
Case-12 Pierre Matrot Meursault, Cote de Beaune 2014 750ML ($699.95) $299 pre-arrival special (that’s only $24.92/bottle!)
Wine Spectator 90 points
“Lean, racy and savory, offering mineral-inflected apple and citrus flavors. Tightens up, with a long aftertaste echoing the fruit, mineral and oyster shell accents. Best from 2018 through 2024. 420 cases imported.”
Burghound 89 points “OUTSTANDING. An ultra-fresh and attractively well-layered nose features notes of hazelnut, pear, white peach and floral scents. There is once again good volume coupled with excellent delineation on the tension and mineral-inflected medium-bodied flavors that deliver really lovely depth and length for a villages level wine. Recommended.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $69.99 (for the identical wine labeled as Thierry et Pascale Matrot)
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Black Friday Starts Early

Our California Pinot & Syrah Offer of the Year 

Chateau St. Jean’s Top Wines for a Fraction of Other Listings

50% & 75% Off the Next Best Prices!

Chateau St. Jean is well known for their budget-friendly varietal wines, but their single vineyard collection features the terroir of Benoist Ranch, a coveted property in the Sonoma Coast where the cool maritime climate produces wines of richness, intensity and balance. It makes for fantastic juice, particularly in the 2014 vintage, which was a true winner for Pinot Noir and other reds from Sonoma.

The best part? We’re making their elite cuvee budget friendly for you. We’re offering the Syrah at over half off the next best price and the Pinot for almost 75% off the next best price!

Buy now before it’s all snapped up.

Arriving Tomorrow:

Chateau St Jean Benoist Ranch Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast 2014 750ML ($69.95) $21.90 pre-arrival special
Case-12 Chateau St Jean Benoist Ranch Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast 750ML ($799.95) $219 pre-arrival special (that’s only $18.25/bottle!)

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $70
That’s over $50 more PER BOTTLE by the case
Chateau St Jean Benoist Ranch Syrah, Sonoma County 2014 750ML ($59.95) $24 pre-arrival special
Case-12 Chateau St Jean Benoist Ranch Syrah, Sonoma County 2014 750ML ($599.95) $249 pre-arrival special (that’s only $20.75/bottle!)
James Suckling 94 points
“This is a big and rich wine with lots of dried berry and chocolate character. Full body, layered and rich. Very long and flavorful. Drink now.”
Wine Advocate 93 points “Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2014 Syrah Benoist Ranch has notes of preserved plums, blueberry pie and black forest cake with hints of Indian spices, violets and charcoal. Medium to full-bodied, the structure on the mouth is seamless and fine, defining the berry preserves flavors and finishing long and perfumed.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $50
That’s almost $30 more PER BOTTLE by the case!

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Go Local!

Our Top Local Winery for Your Holiday Table

What’s the most anticipated Willamette Valley release in our shop? Cameron Winery’s single vineyard bottlings. This is one of our favorite offers of the year, and for good reason—Cameron makes some of the most profound wines in the Willamette Valley and their single vineyard Pinot and Chardonnay are the pinnacle of their yearly releases.  These 2017s are among the best we’ve tasted ever from Cameron and winemaker/owner John Paul is (somehow) more excited than we’ve seen him in years.  The best part? We’re putting these on pre-arrival sale through the close of business on Saturday.

If you’re a longtime fan of Cameron, this is a vintage to stock up on.  It’s classical in all the best ways—more elegant and detailed than the trio of hot vintages that preceded it, but with more depth and complexity than a year like ’13.  2010 is a comparison that’s been thrown around a lot, which speaks very highly of this new set of wines—the ’10’s are among the best wines Cameron’s ever made and these show in that vein, but with a bit more fruit and softer tannins.

Newly Arrived, In Stock Now:

Cameron Winery Clos Electrique Blanc, Dundee Hills 2017 750ML ($79.95) $66 special
VinopolNote:
The Clos Electrique is Cameron’s estate vineyard, named after the electric deer fence that surrounds it.  This is planted to a mix of clones and is vinified traditionally—no racking and all in older barrels.  This is crisp and coiled, with distinct minerality and a lot of power in a lithe frame.  Like most vintages of the Electrique Blanc, this is quite good now but will be stellar in a few years.

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $71
Cameron Winery Abbey Ridge Vineyard Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills 2017 750ML ($79.95) $66 special
VinopolNote:
Abbey Ridge is one of the most hallowed sites in the Willamette Valley.  Planted in 1975, the Pinot Noir here is own rooted and at one of the highest elevations in the Dundee Hills.  The elevation and classic Jory soils give the wine an intense personality—high toned, elegant and tensile, with good power and a strong voice.  This bottling has been one of the defining Oregon Pinots since John Paul started making it.
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $70
Cameron Winery Clos Electrique Rouge, Dundee Hills 2017 750ML ($79.95) $66 special
VinopolNote
: Named after the electrified deer fence surrounding the vineyard, the Clos Electrique is the estate vineyard surrounding Cameron’s winery.  Located just up the road from Maresh vineyard, on Worden Hill Road, it’s in the promised land of the Dundee Hills and the wines deliver.  This is always the meatiest, most primal Pinot of the Cameron lineup.  We love it for its intense savoriness and quiet power—every year this is an absolute treat to drink.
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $72
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Trending Wines

Sequitur Pinot Noir, Ribbon Ridge 2016 750ML ($119.95) $79 special
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 $93
Looking for a powerfulk Southern Rhone that’s drinking great now? Look no further.
Chateau de Saint Cosme Gigondas, Rhone 2017 750ML ($49.95) $39 special
Case-12 Chateau de Saint Cosme Gigondas, Rhone 2017 750ML ($599.95) $419 special (that’s only $34.92/bottle!)
Wine Spectator 93 points
“($60) This offers a mix of dark cherry, currant and blackberry compote flavors, scored liberally with singed alder, dried sage and warm earth accents through the finish. A flash of chestnut at the very end keeps this in the old-school camp. Solid for the vintage. Best from 2022 through 2035.”
Jeb Dunnuck 93 points “The 2017 Gigondas is another terrific vintage for this cuvée, and it’s a quintessential expression of Saint Cosme. Ground herbs, graphite, gunpowder, pepper, black raspberries, and cassis all emerge from this full-bodied, ripe, polished Gigondas. With solid concentration, building yet ripe tannins, and a great finish, you’ll be thrilled to have a case in the cellar.”
Wine Advocate 92+ points “Loaded with notes of black olives and black cherries, the full-bodied 2017 Gigondas is rich and velvety in the mouth. I’m not sure it’s quite as good as the 2018, but it’s certainly no slouch, with a long, silky finish that picks up a hint of cocoa.”
Decanter 92 points “Whole-cluster fruit from limestone, marl and Miocene sand soils is fermented in concrete with indigenous yeasts. It’s then aged 70% in barrel, 20% new, with the remaining 30% in concrete. It has a very oaky aromatic profile at this early stage, but it’s joined by a lovely herbal aspect from the stems. Medium to full-bodied, the fruit has a vibrant freshness and the acidity is pretty marked, while the tannins are massy but ripe and harmonious. Long finish.”

Tiberio Pecorino Colline Pescaresi IGT, Abruzzo 2017 750ML ($24.95) $19.50 special
Ian D’Agata – Vinous 90 points
“Abruzzo’s Tiberio winery has quickly risen to the top of the hierarchy not just in Abruzzo’s but in all of Italy. What the talented Cristiana Tiberio has achieved in the very hot 2017 vintage with Pecorino (a variety that does not like heat) is a testament to her talent. The 2017 Tiberio Pecorino is by no means the best Pecorino she has ever made (and frankly, it would have been very strange if it was otherwise, given the year’s weather), but it offers lovely balance with pure sage and kiwi notes that mingle with ripe orchard fruit nuances complicated by a saline edge. Both these wines made for a wonderful start to my meal, but they would have paired very well with all the other dishes I chose to eat this evening.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $23

Vibrant, delicious Champagne at a great price means it’s a holiday favorite.
Drappier Carte d’Or Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($49.95) $36 special
Case-6 Drappier Carte d’Or Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($299.95) $205 special (that’s only $34.16/bottle!)
William Kelley – Wine Advocate 90 points
“The latest release of the NV Carte d’Or Brut was disgorged in November 2017, and it’s showing well today, wafting from the glass with notions of waxy lemon rind, hazelnuts, fresh peaches and lily pollen. On the palate, the wine is medium to full-bodied, pure and vibrant, with pinpoint bubbles, brisk acids and good length and definition on the chalky finish. Attractively balanced, it will gain depth with bottle age.”

Big, rich, bold, opulent—and really inexpensive (for the quality) by the case.
Cecilio Black Slate Gratallops, Priorat DOCa 2017 750ML ($24.95) $19.90 special
Case-12 Cecilio Black Slate Gratallops, Priorat DOCa 2017 750ML ($279.95) $212 special (that’s only $17.66/bottle and the lowest listed price on the West Coast!)
Jeb Dunnuck 95 points
“The 2017 Black Slate Gratallops Vi De La Vila comes from a warmer region in the Priorat and has a more powerful, ripe, opulent style compared to the Porrera cuvée, which comes from a cooler region. A huge nose of mulled cherries, dried earth, spice, and dusty pebble-like minerality gives way to a medium to full-bodied Priorat that has ripe tannins, an opulent, sexy texture, and a great finish. It’s another wine from Solomon that has classic Priorat character, is impeccably balanced, and drinks way above its humble price point. Don’t miss it! The blend is 58% Grenache, 32% Carignan, and 10% Syrah, aged 12 months in 20% new French oak.”

A staff pick Burgundy favorite!
Domaine Collotte Marsannay Les Champsalomon, Cote de Nuits 2015 750ML ($34.95) $28 special
Wine Spectator 91 points
“Silky, this red evokes cherry, strawberry and graphite flavors, with bright acidity keeping this fresh and focused. Harmonious and long, offering a light chalky feel on the finish. Drink now through 2023. 150 cases imported.”
Importer Note “The Marsannay Champsalomon is from the village of Couchey. The 40+ year old vines are on the marl soil of the Ostrea Acuminata.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Ripasso wines are always crowd pleasers and this vintage of Brolo Campoforin is no exception.
Masi Brolo di Campofiorin Oro Rosso Veronese IGT, Veneto 2014 750ML ($27.95) $19 special
Case-12 Masi Brolo di Campofiorin Oro Rosso Veronese IGT, Veneto 2014 750ML ($299.95) $199 special (that’s only $16.58/bottle!)
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 91 points
“This was a surprisingly seamless and tight rendition for such a difficult vintage. The 2014 Brolo Campofiorin Oro is a blend of 80% Corvina, 10% Rondinella and 10% Oseleta, and those two last grapes add broad richness and darkness to the wine. They also would explain the super tight nature of the fruit, which is surrounded by notes of smoke and tobacco. This is a great wine for a typical Veronese risotto al tastasal, a type of ground-sausage risotto. The wine ages in 600-liter casks from Verona, or fusti veronesi, for 24 months. Some 230,000 bottles were made.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $28
We’re having a hard time keeping this Zin blend on the shelf!
Seghesio Family Vineyards Defiant, Sonoma 2015 750ML ($32.95) $16 special
Case-12 Seghesio Family Vineyards Defiant, Sonoma 2015 750ML ($379.95) $168 special (that’s only $14/bottle!)
Wine Spectator 91 points
“Savory black cherry aromas lead to well-framed flavors of sage and pepper. A new blend from this winery offers the zest of Zinfandel with the focus of Cabernet Sauvignon. Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon, Alicante, Barbera and Syrah. Drink now through 2027. 5,000 cases made.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $29.94
The average listed price is $35

Excellent dry, crisp, mineral Riesling for under $20/btl. Winner.
Jean-Baptiste Adam Riesling Tradition, Alsace 2016 750ML ($24.95) $18 special
Case-12 Jean-Baptiste Adam Riesling Tradition, Alsace 2016 750ML ($279.95) $199 special (that’s only $16.58/bottle!)
Ian D’Agata-Vinous 90 points
“Bright straw. Aromas and flavors of yellow plums and white pepper are complemented by more luscious notes of lemon curd. Very fresh and clean, with a classically dry (2 g/L residual sugar) finish that is extended by laser-like acidity (7.2 g/L total acidity). Made from grapes grown in four plots located in the area of Ammerschwihr plus one plot in the Letzenberg (as the latter gives a wine that differs greatly from the other Letzenberg wines, Adam chooses to blend it in here to add a little more freshness to the finished wine). Lovely, very good entry-level wine that will also age well.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

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95 Point Chianti, Under $28

Molino di Grace’s Stunning 2016 Riserva

Il Molino di Grace makes some of the most beautiful, polished Chiantis out there.  Their wines have rich, explosive flavors allied to present but silky tannins.  Their wines are the essence of everything we love about modern Chianti.  The 2016 Riserva is one of the best wines they’ve ever produced—everything you’d expect and hope for from a top producer in a vintage like 2016. Wine Spectator recently rated this at 95 points, which we’re not surprised about at all—though it does make it harder to secure large allocations.

Arriving ETA May 2020:

Il Molino di Grace Riserva, Chianti Classico DOCG 2016 750ML ($37.95) $29 pre-arrival special
Case-6 Il Molino di Grace Riserva, Chianti Classico DOCG2016 750ML ($219.95) $166 pre-arrival special (that’s only $27.67/bottle!)
Wine Spectator 95 points
“A sheen of vanilla and toasty oak complements the lush, ripe black cherry and plum fruit in this suave Chianti Classico. Focused and well-structured, showing fine balance and a long finish that brings tobacco and orange peel hints into play. Best from 2022 through 2040. 4,500 cases made, 350 cases imported. — BS”

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