In Today’s Newsletter:
Domaine Henri Gouges:
Burgundy Worth Saving
New Wine Spectator Insider Reviews
For 2015 Produttori Crus
Don’t Forget!
Our Opus One Subscriber Special
Trending Wines
Ending Soon:
Kruger-Rumpf Subscriber Special
Nahe Riesling Sleepers
Save $20 per Bottle!
Library Owen Roe Single Vineyard Syrah
A Dual 94-Point Priorat, 45% Off
Collector’s Corner
2015 Chateau d’Yquem
Domaine Henri Gouges
Burgundy Worth Saving
Andy:
While working in auction houses and assessing collectors cellars, I was fortunate to share some amazing wines; Rousseau, DRC, all of the First Growth Bordeaux from many different vintages. There was one outlier that collectors would hesitate before opening, saying something along the lines of, “It’s just not ready yet… I’m saving it for a last meal situation.” Despite the relatively humble prices these wines wore, I found that the wines of Domaine Henri Gouges were viewed as the hidden stash not to be touched until a secret message had been communicated from the universe that the wines were finally ready. The very few times that I was lucky enough to enjoy a properly aged bottle were instructive and very enjoyable. The most memorable was a 1990 Les St Georges whose progression of forest floor earthiness to perfumed, ruby-jeweled fruits was profound and truly inspirational. It still had a vibrancy and density that made it seem as though there may have been a mistake in opening this too soon, but this collector had one more unopened case of these, so…
Tasting through the recent vintages, I am reminded of how gorgeous the wines can be, but the changes within the house are noticeable. While the fingerprints of the past are all over the current releases, perhaps it is the warmth of the past decade, or the grandson’s influence in the winemaking, but the wines are not as backwards as in the past. One should still expect a good hour or so before the wines open up, they’re not quite as backwards in their youth. The density which is still a marked characteristic is tempered by a little warmth and softening of the edges. I’m still inclined to say that throughout the line up, you will be rewarded by stashing these out of sight, but opening the 17 NSG Villages wouldn’t be a crime. I think that the 17 Les St Georges might be one of the undervalued wines of the entire vintage, but the next decade or two can be the judge of that.
If you’ve decided you’re not ready or willing to sit on these wines over the next decade or two, dip into the older vintages that are available now. The ’11 Clos des Porrets and either the ’11 or ’12 Chaignots are unfolding quite nicely. These could still be cellared for another decade, but the vintages produced some lovely gems that are accessible for those who are willing to give them a crack. The ’08 Pruliers and ’10 Chenes Carteaux that we’re expecting should be well on their way to greatness, but I would carve out a niche to hide them away for another 5 years if possible.
Overall, these are wonderful wines to buy and hold. Drinking them over the next twenty years is not out of the realm of possibility. Compared to other NSG producers, there is a different level of polish that will always be rewarded with patience. Sometimes I wish I had friends who were more willing to open their own bottles, but it’s nice knowing that I will have a couple stashed away that I won’t open for anybody else.
We have 28 different bottlings available from Gouges. We have some highlights below, but you can also view the entire list on our webstore!
Gouges highlights, in stock now:
Domaine Henri Gouges Nuits-Saint-Georges 2016 750ML ($99.95) $79 special
John Gilman 91 points “The 2016 Nuits AC had just been racked the day before my visit and had its SO2 adjusted a touch as well, and yet the wine was in good form and easy to taste! The bouquet is deep and quite sappy this year (perhaps from the addition of some Chaignots?), jumping from the glass in a lovely mix of black cherries, sweet dark berries, woodsmoke, venison, dark soil tones and raw cocoa. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied and sappy at the core, with fine focus and grip, ripe, seamless tannins and a long, vibrant and tangy finish. Fine, fine AC. 2024-2060+.”
Domaine Henri Gouges NSG Les Saint-Georges Premier Cru 2014 750ML ($179.95) $149 special
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 93+ points “Medium red. Reticent but complex nose offers high-pitched scents of raspberry, licorice, bitter chocolate and minerals. At once dense and juicy, displaying a distinctly sappy character but also a refined texture to its intense raspberry, spice, mineral and soil flavors. This very classy wine mounts slowly on the suavely tannic, vibrant finish. Beautifully balanced already but there’s more to come with bottle age. From a crop level of just 26 hectoliters per hectare, according to Gregory Gouges, who noted that these 50-year-old vines always produce a light load of grapes. I’d love to taste this wine next to its 2015 sibling in about ten years.”
Burghound 92-94 points “Once again there is subtle wood present on the spicy, cool and beautifully well-layered nose of ripe dark currant, plum, violet and humus scents. There is a sleek mouth feel to the solidly concentrated and mineral-driven middle weight plus flavors that exhibit outstanding length on the markedly firm finale that is also impeccably well-balanced. Ample patience absolutely required.”
Neal Martin-Wine Advocate 91-93 points “The 2014 Nuits Saint-Georges 1er Cru Les Saint Georges has a perfumed nose with blackberry and bilberry fruit, tangible mineral scents, very fine delineation, cold flint and limestone emerging with time. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin, impressive structure, cool, calm and collected, building towards a crisp, tensile tobacco-tinged finish that is deceptively powerful. This will have a lot more to give after bottling, seems resentful that someone would awaken it from its barrel slumber.”
Domaine Henri Gouges NSG Les Saint-Georges Premier Cru 2017 750ML ($219.95) $199 special
Decanter 95 points “There will be less Les St-Georges in 2018, as 20% of the vineyard has been replanted – if you’re a fan of this wine, now is the time to stock up. It’s appealingly aromatic and not as dense and brooding as this wine can be, but it’s a stylish, spicy, savoury premier cru red with good focus and a backdrop of blood and iron.”
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 93+ points “The 2017 Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er Cru Les Saint Georges is showing well, wafting from the glass with aromas of smoky berry fruit, licorice, candied peel, nori and rich soil tones, having already almost entirely integrated its framing of new wood. On the palate, the wine is medium to full-bodied, ample and nicely layered at the core, with good concentration, fine-grained but firm tannins and a precise, stony finish.”
Domaine Henri Gouges NSG Clos des Porrets Monopole Premier Cru 2016 750ML ($119.95) $89 special
Wine Spectator 95 points “Earthy reduction in the aroma gives way to pure cherry, raspberry and stone flavors, revealing flashes of spice and dark, meaty elements. Dense and lush, with black fruit, spice and toast notes on the long finish. Powerful. Best from 2023 through 2042. 200 cases imported.”
Neal Martin – Vinous 92 points “The 2016 Nuits Saint-Georges Clos des Porrets St-Georges 1er Cru has an open and expressive bouquet with raspberry coulis, wild strawberry, orange pith and light rose petal aromas. I would just like a little more cohesion. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins and well-judged acidity, slightly confit in style with suggestions of brown sugar sweetening the finish. But harmonious and quite persistent, this is a promising Nuits Saint-Georges. Tasted blind at the 2016 Burgfest tasting.”
Domaine Henri Gouges NSG Les Pruliers Premier Cru 2015 750ML ($119.95) $99 special
Neal Martin – Wine Advocate 93-95 points “The 2015 Nuits Saint Georges 1er Cru Les Pruliers has a more feminine, more fruit-driven bouquet than the NSG Clos des Porrets, very pure crushed strawberry, red cherry and cranberry aromas that gain intensity all the time in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with blood orange on the entry, plenty of lively red berry fruit with admirable mineralité and tension on the finish. This is a superb les Pruliers from Domaine Gouges and it should give a couple decades worth of drinking pleasure.”
Wine Spectator 93 points “A chunky block of cherry, raspberry, sweet smoke and stone flavors, locked in a grip of tannins, with plenty of rich, ripe fruit to match. Best from 2022 through 2035. 125 cases imported.”
Domaine Henri Gouges NSG Les Vaucrains Premier Cru 2014 750ML ($149.95) $119 special
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 91-94 points “Dark red-ruby. Tight, medicinal aromas of black cherry, bitter chocolate and menthol. Very rich and deep, with captivating sweetness cut by medicinal menthol and minerals. Highly concentrated, dense and broad but uncompromisingly dry. Finishes very long and perfumed, with serious saline tension. This very impressive premier cru has a big tannic structure and may well close down after the bottling.”
Burghound 91-94 points “Here too there is a subtle application of wood setting off the intensely spicy and overtly sauvage aromas of mostly cassis and black raspberry aromas that are also liberally laced with warm earth nuances. The muscular big-bodied flavors possess real power and punch along with ample minerality before terminating in a hugely long, complex and well-balanced finale. As it always is this is distinctly old school in style and will definitely require extended cellaring.”
While working in auction houses and assessing collectors cellars, I was fortunate to share some amazing wines; Rousseau, DRC, all of the First Growth Bordeaux from many different vintages. There was one outlier that collectors would hesitate before opening, saying something along the lines of, “It’s just not ready yet… I’m saving it for a last meal situation.” Despite the relatively humble prices these wines wore, I found that the wines of Domaine Henri Gouges were viewed as the hidden stash not to be touched until a secret message had been communicated from the universe that the wines were finally ready. The very few times that I was lucky enough to enjoy a properly aged bottle were instructive and very enjoyable. The most memorable was a 1990 Les St Georges whose progression of forest floor earthiness to perfumed, ruby-jeweled fruits was profound and truly inspirational. It still had a vibrancy and density that made it seem as though there may have been a mistake in opening this too soon, but this collector had one more unopened case of these, so…
Tasting through the recent vintages, I am reminded of how gorgeous the wines can be, but the changes within the house are noticeable. While the fingerprints of the past are all over the current releases, perhaps it is the warmth of the past decade, or the grandson’s influence in the winemaking, but the wines are not as backwards as in the past. One should still expect a good hour or so before the wines open up, they’re not quite as backwards in their youth. The density which is still a marked characteristic is tempered by a little warmth and softening of the edges. I’m still inclined to say that throughout the line up, you will be rewarded by stashing these out of sight, but opening the 17 NSG Villages wouldn’t be a crime. I think that the 17 Les St Georges might be one of the undervalued wines of the entire vintage, but the next decade or two can be the judge of that.
If you’ve decided you’re not ready or willing to sit on these wines over the next decade or two, dip into the older vintages that are available now. The ’11 Clos des Porrets and either the ’11 or ’12 Chaignots are unfolding quite nicely. These could still be cellared for another decade, but the vintages produced some lovely gems that are accessible for those who are willing to give them a crack. The ’08 Pruliers and ’10 Chenes Carteaux that we’re expecting should be well on their way to greatness, but I would carve out a niche to hide them away for another 5 years if possible.
Overall, these are wonderful wines to buy and hold. Drinking them over the next twenty years is not out of the realm of possibility. Compared to other NSG producers, there is a different level of polish that will always be rewarded with patience. Sometimes I wish I had friends who were more willing to open their own bottles, but it’s nice knowing that I will have a couple stashed away that I won’t open for anybody else.
We have 28 different bottlings available from Gouges. We have some highlights below, but you can also view the entire list on our webstore!
Gouges highlights, in stock now:
Domaine Henri Gouges Nuits-Saint-Georges 2016 750ML ($99.95) $79 special
John Gilman 91 points “The 2016 Nuits AC had just been racked the day before my visit and had its SO2 adjusted a touch as well, and yet the wine was in good form and easy to taste! The bouquet is deep and quite sappy this year (perhaps from the addition of some Chaignots?), jumping from the glass in a lovely mix of black cherries, sweet dark berries, woodsmoke, venison, dark soil tones and raw cocoa. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied and sappy at the core, with fine focus and grip, ripe, seamless tannins and a long, vibrant and tangy finish. Fine, fine AC. 2024-2060+.”
Domaine Henri Gouges NSG Les Saint-Georges Premier Cru 2014 750ML ($179.95) $149 special
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 93+ points “Medium red. Reticent but complex nose offers high-pitched scents of raspberry, licorice, bitter chocolate and minerals. At once dense and juicy, displaying a distinctly sappy character but also a refined texture to its intense raspberry, spice, mineral and soil flavors. This very classy wine mounts slowly on the suavely tannic, vibrant finish. Beautifully balanced already but there’s more to come with bottle age. From a crop level of just 26 hectoliters per hectare, according to Gregory Gouges, who noted that these 50-year-old vines always produce a light load of grapes. I’d love to taste this wine next to its 2015 sibling in about ten years.”
Burghound 92-94 points “Once again there is subtle wood present on the spicy, cool and beautifully well-layered nose of ripe dark currant, plum, violet and humus scents. There is a sleek mouth feel to the solidly concentrated and mineral-driven middle weight plus flavors that exhibit outstanding length on the markedly firm finale that is also impeccably well-balanced. Ample patience absolutely required.”
Neal Martin-Wine Advocate 91-93 points “The 2014 Nuits Saint-Georges 1er Cru Les Saint Georges has a perfumed nose with blackberry and bilberry fruit, tangible mineral scents, very fine delineation, cold flint and limestone emerging with time. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin, impressive structure, cool, calm and collected, building towards a crisp, tensile tobacco-tinged finish that is deceptively powerful. This will have a lot more to give after bottling, seems resentful that someone would awaken it from its barrel slumber.”
Domaine Henri Gouges NSG Les Saint-Georges Premier Cru 2017 750ML ($219.95) $199 special
Decanter 95 points “There will be less Les St-Georges in 2018, as 20% of the vineyard has been replanted – if you’re a fan of this wine, now is the time to stock up. It’s appealingly aromatic and not as dense and brooding as this wine can be, but it’s a stylish, spicy, savoury premier cru red with good focus and a backdrop of blood and iron.”
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 93+ points “The 2017 Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er Cru Les Saint Georges is showing well, wafting from the glass with aromas of smoky berry fruit, licorice, candied peel, nori and rich soil tones, having already almost entirely integrated its framing of new wood. On the palate, the wine is medium to full-bodied, ample and nicely layered at the core, with good concentration, fine-grained but firm tannins and a precise, stony finish.”
Domaine Henri Gouges NSG Clos des Porrets Monopole Premier Cru 2016 750ML ($119.95) $89 special
Wine Spectator 95 points “Earthy reduction in the aroma gives way to pure cherry, raspberry and stone flavors, revealing flashes of spice and dark, meaty elements. Dense and lush, with black fruit, spice and toast notes on the long finish. Powerful. Best from 2023 through 2042. 200 cases imported.”
Neal Martin – Vinous 92 points “The 2016 Nuits Saint-Georges Clos des Porrets St-Georges 1er Cru has an open and expressive bouquet with raspberry coulis, wild strawberry, orange pith and light rose petal aromas. I would just like a little more cohesion. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins and well-judged acidity, slightly confit in style with suggestions of brown sugar sweetening the finish. But harmonious and quite persistent, this is a promising Nuits Saint-Georges. Tasted blind at the 2016 Burgfest tasting.”
Domaine Henri Gouges NSG Les Pruliers Premier Cru 2015 750ML ($119.95) $99 special
Neal Martin – Wine Advocate 93-95 points “The 2015 Nuits Saint Georges 1er Cru Les Pruliers has a more feminine, more fruit-driven bouquet than the NSG Clos des Porrets, very pure crushed strawberry, red cherry and cranberry aromas that gain intensity all the time in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with blood orange on the entry, plenty of lively red berry fruit with admirable mineralité and tension on the finish. This is a superb les Pruliers from Domaine Gouges and it should give a couple decades worth of drinking pleasure.”
Wine Spectator 93 points “A chunky block of cherry, raspberry, sweet smoke and stone flavors, locked in a grip of tannins, with plenty of rich, ripe fruit to match. Best from 2022 through 2035. 125 cases imported.”
Domaine Henri Gouges NSG Les Vaucrains Premier Cru 2014 750ML ($149.95) $119 special
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 91-94 points “Dark red-ruby. Tight, medicinal aromas of black cherry, bitter chocolate and menthol. Very rich and deep, with captivating sweetness cut by medicinal menthol and minerals. Highly concentrated, dense and broad but uncompromisingly dry. Finishes very long and perfumed, with serious saline tension. This very impressive premier cru has a big tannic structure and may well close down after the bottling.”
Burghound 91-94 points “Here too there is a subtle application of wood setting off the intensely spicy and overtly sauvage aromas of mostly cassis and black raspberry aromas that are also liberally laced with warm earth nuances. The muscular big-bodied flavors possess real power and punch along with ample minerality before terminating in a hugely long, complex and well-balanced finale. As it always is this is distinctly old school in style and will definitely require extended cellaring.”
We have 28 different bottlings from Gouges in-stock and arriving soon!
See the full list in our online store.
See the full list in our online store.
New Wine Spectator Insider Reviews
For 2015 Produttori Crus
“The Produttori del Barbaresco cooperative, founded in 1958, produces some of the top Barbarescos in the region, made in a traditional style… [A] factor in Produttori del Barbaresco’s success is its focus on Nebbiolo. The best grapes go into the single-vineyard riservas, only in top vintages. Nebbiolo grapes that don’t make the cut for the crus go into the Barbaresco, an excellent wine on its own, or may be declassified into the Nebbiolo Langhe.
“The nine vineyards all lie within the Barbaresco commune. The Produttori’s 64 farmer members are paid based on quality… ‘Every little effort to improve quality is rewarded,’ explains Vacca.
“The 2015 harvest delivered quality and distinctive characters from each vineyard.… The wines need three to five years to really hit their stride, but they have the tannins to age two decades or longer.” – Bruce Sanderson, Wine Spectator Insider
Produttori del Barbaresco Ovello Barbaresco Riserva DOCG 2015 750ML ($89.95) $62.50 special, 18 bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 96 points “An opulent and complex version, boasting cherry, strawberry, cut hay, iron and tobacco aromas and flavors. Firms up nicely on the finish, with terrific balance and length. Shows both a fruity and a savory side, with fine potential to age. Best from 2023 through 2045. —B.S.”
Produttori del Barbaresco Montefico Barbaresco Riserva DOCG 2015 750ML ($99.95) $59 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 94 points “Savory notes of salty licorice and eucalyptus combine with cherry, plum and tar flavors in this beefy red, which is broad, maintaining a sense of freshness, with ripe tannins that are well-integrated and balanced. The savory note echoes on the finish. Best from 2023 through 2045. —B.S.”
Produttori del Barbaresco Pora Barbaresco Riserva DOCG 2015 750ML ($79.95) $59 special, 34 bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 94 points “A mix of black cherry, mint, eucalyptus and tar flavors highlight this firmly structured Barbaresco, which nonetheless remains fresh and focused, with a line of dense tannins lifting the long finish. Best from 2023 through 2043. —B.S.”
Produttori del Barbaresco ‘Muncagota’ Barbaresco Riserva DOCG 2015 750ML ($79.95) $59 special, 18 bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 93 points “On the lean side for 2015, with wild herb accents to the core of cherry and plum flavors, this is fluid and bright, with a line of tannins building on the finish. This expands nicely, filling out and lingering. Best from 2023 through 2038. —B.S.”
Produttori del Barbaresco ‘Paje’ Barbaresco Riserva DOCG 2015 750ML ($89.95) $79 special, 5 bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 93 points “A beam of fresh cherry and plum plays out over a line of earth, tar and licorice in this round and open red, with well-integrated tannins for support. Shows excellent balance and length and should be approachable soon. Best from 2023 through 2040. —B.S.”
Produttori del Barbaresco Rabaja Barbaresco Riserva DOCG 2015 750ML ($99.95) $65 special, 9 bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 97 points “Though rich, this red offers bright acidity and dense tannins that lend a sense of tightness, with pure cherry, strawberry and floral flavors that are persistent from start to lingering finish, where distinct spice and mineral elements play out. Best from 2023 through 2045. From Italy. —B.S.”
“The nine vineyards all lie within the Barbaresco commune. The Produttori’s 64 farmer members are paid based on quality… ‘Every little effort to improve quality is rewarded,’ explains Vacca.
“The 2015 harvest delivered quality and distinctive characters from each vineyard.… The wines need three to five years to really hit their stride, but they have the tannins to age two decades or longer.” – Bruce Sanderson, Wine Spectator Insider
Produttori del Barbaresco Ovello Barbaresco Riserva DOCG 2015 750ML ($89.95) $62.50 special, 18 bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 96 points “An opulent and complex version, boasting cherry, strawberry, cut hay, iron and tobacco aromas and flavors. Firms up nicely on the finish, with terrific balance and length. Shows both a fruity and a savory side, with fine potential to age. Best from 2023 through 2045. —B.S.”
Produttori del Barbaresco Montefico Barbaresco Riserva DOCG 2015 750ML ($99.95) $59 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 94 points “Savory notes of salty licorice and eucalyptus combine with cherry, plum and tar flavors in this beefy red, which is broad, maintaining a sense of freshness, with ripe tannins that are well-integrated and balanced. The savory note echoes on the finish. Best from 2023 through 2045. —B.S.”
Produttori del Barbaresco Pora Barbaresco Riserva DOCG 2015 750ML ($79.95) $59 special, 34 bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 94 points “A mix of black cherry, mint, eucalyptus and tar flavors highlight this firmly structured Barbaresco, which nonetheless remains fresh and focused, with a line of dense tannins lifting the long finish. Best from 2023 through 2043. —B.S.”
Produttori del Barbaresco ‘Muncagota’ Barbaresco Riserva DOCG 2015 750ML ($79.95) $59 special, 18 bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 93 points “On the lean side for 2015, with wild herb accents to the core of cherry and plum flavors, this is fluid and bright, with a line of tannins building on the finish. This expands nicely, filling out and lingering. Best from 2023 through 2038. —B.S.”
Produttori del Barbaresco ‘Paje’ Barbaresco Riserva DOCG 2015 750ML ($89.95) $79 special, 5 bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 93 points “A beam of fresh cherry and plum plays out over a line of earth, tar and licorice in this round and open red, with well-integrated tannins for support. Shows excellent balance and length and should be approachable soon. Best from 2023 through 2040. —B.S.”
Produttori del Barbaresco Rabaja Barbaresco Riserva DOCG 2015 750ML ($99.95) $65 special, 9 bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 97 points “Though rich, this red offers bright acidity and dense tannins that lend a sense of tightness, with pure cherry, strawberry and floral flavors that are persistent from start to lingering finish, where distinct spice and mineral elements play out. Best from 2023 through 2045. From Italy. —B.S.”
Don’t Forget!
Opus One Subscriber Special
Little introduction is needed for Opus One—one of the world’s most recognizable, iconic bottlings. We’ve just locked up our allocation of the impressive 2017, which arrive in late September. Although the wine is getting harder and harder to source (there’s a lot of demand outside of the US now), we’re offering you some pretty impressive pricing on it—with the catch that it’s so good that we can’t list it online. The winery is very strict about online pricing, so we’ll apply these after we download your order and before we run your credit card. The Subscriber Special runs until we open our doors on Friday morning, so stock up now!
Opus One Subscriber Special
Buy 2-5 bottles of 2017 Opus One, pay just $319 per bottle.
Buy a six-pack of 2017 Opus One, pay just $1,799 (that’s only $299.83/bottle!)
OWC’s available for six-pack purchases (additional shipping may apply for OWC)
Opus One Subscriber Special Expires Friday, September 4th at 10AM
Arriving ETA Late September:
Opus One Proprietary Red, Napa Valley 2017 750ML ($399.95) $349 Displayed Price
Antonio Galloni 95+ points “A remarkable wine for the year, the 2017 Opus One is a dense, full-throttle beauty. Plush fruit and soft, silky contours give the 2017 its racy personality. Exotic, beautifully perfumed and impeccable in its balance, Opus One is one of the most complete wines of the vintage. In 2017, Opus One has a distinctly red-toned fruit profile that distinguishes it from the surrounding vintages.”
Wine Advocate 95 points “Opus One had picked 91% of their fruit before the fires started in 2017, and only two lots were eliminated from consideration. The 2017 Opus One, bottled in July 2019, is a blend of 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8.5% Petit Verdot, 5% Cabernet Franc, 4.5% Merlot and 1% Malbec. Medium to deep garnet-purple colored, it slowly grows on the nose, revealing compelling notes of baked black cherries, mulberries, black raspberries, warm cassis and blackberry pie with nuances of spice cake, yeast extract, tapenade, licorice and dusty soil with a waft of wild sage. Medium-bodied, the palate has a lively skip in its step, featuring bags of juicy raspberry and cassis-laced fruit and a refreshing line, supported by ripe, plush tannins, finishing long and graceful.-LPB”
James Suckling 95 points “Lots of currant and floral notes on the nose. Hints of mint and spice. Medium-to full-bodied, round and savory with creamy, juicy tannins. Hints of citrus underneath. Bright, fresh and delicious. Drink or hold.”
Opus One Subscriber Special
Buy 2-5 bottles of 2017 Opus One, pay just $319 per bottle.
Buy a six-pack of 2017 Opus One, pay just $1,799 (that’s only $299.83/bottle!)
OWC’s available for six-pack purchases (additional shipping may apply for OWC)
Opus One Subscriber Special Expires Friday, September 4th at 10AM
Arriving ETA Late September:
Opus One Proprietary Red, Napa Valley 2017 750ML ($399.95) $349 Displayed Price
Antonio Galloni 95+ points “A remarkable wine for the year, the 2017 Opus One is a dense, full-throttle beauty. Plush fruit and soft, silky contours give the 2017 its racy personality. Exotic, beautifully perfumed and impeccable in its balance, Opus One is one of the most complete wines of the vintage. In 2017, Opus One has a distinctly red-toned fruit profile that distinguishes it from the surrounding vintages.”
Wine Advocate 95 points “Opus One had picked 91% of their fruit before the fires started in 2017, and only two lots were eliminated from consideration. The 2017 Opus One, bottled in July 2019, is a blend of 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8.5% Petit Verdot, 5% Cabernet Franc, 4.5% Merlot and 1% Malbec. Medium to deep garnet-purple colored, it slowly grows on the nose, revealing compelling notes of baked black cherries, mulberries, black raspberries, warm cassis and blackberry pie with nuances of spice cake, yeast extract, tapenade, licorice and dusty soil with a waft of wild sage. Medium-bodied, the palate has a lively skip in its step, featuring bags of juicy raspberry and cassis-laced fruit and a refreshing line, supported by ripe, plush tannins, finishing long and graceful.-LPB”
James Suckling 95 points “Lots of currant and floral notes on the nose. Hints of mint and spice. Medium-to full-bodied, round and savory with creamy, juicy tannins. Hints of citrus underneath. Bright, fresh and delicious. Drink or hold.”
Our Subscriber Special is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average listed price is $350
The average listed price is $350
Opus One Subscriber Special
Buy 2-5 bottles of 2017 Opus One, pay just $319 per bottle.
Buy a six-pack of 2017 Opus One, pay just $1,799 (that’s only $299.83/bottle!)
OWC’s available for six-pack purchases (additional shipping may apply for OWC)
Opus One Subscriber Special Expires Friday, September 4th at 10AM
Vinopolis Wine Shop Curbside Pick Up
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.)
www.vinopoliswineshop.com
info@vinopoliswineshop.com
503-223-6002
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.)
www.vinopoliswineshop.com
info@vinopoliswineshop.com
503-223-6002
Trending Wines
Staff pick: is there a better value in French whites? You’d think this was premier cru Chablis
Bruno Cormerais Muscadet Sevre-et-Maine ‘Clisson’ 2013 750ML ($34.95) $27 special
VinopolNote: 51 months sur lie in tank before bottling, from the Clisson AOC–one of the most prestigious sub regions of Muscadet. This is from the estate’s best vineyards on the special decomposed granite soils of Clisson.
A powerful, towering Barolo from a legend.
Elvio Cogno Barolo Bricco Pernice, Barolo DOCG 2015 750ML ($149.95) $119 special, 10 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni 95 points “The 2015 Barolo Bricco Pernice is an exotic, beguiling wine. Blood orange, mint, sweet red cherry, star anise and a range of spice notes give the Bricco Pernice striking aromatic and flavor complexity. Medium in body, refined and super-expressive, the 2015 has so much to offer. Best of all, it will drink well with just a few years in bottle. It is such an effortless, gracious wine. Very polished, nuanced and elegant, this silky Barolo has a ton of structure but is also impeccable in its balance.”
Importer Note “Bricco Pernice is named for the rock on which courting partridges build their nest. “Pernice” translates as “rock ptarmigan” or “partridge,” “Bricco” is a hill. This is the very latest wine from Elvio Cogno. Until a few years ago this was part of the Ravera Barolo cru; in recent years it has been expanded to incorporate the neighboring hills. The fruit of years of hard work, this wine is a dream come true, made from the finest vineyard in Novello in the most historic part of the Ravera cru. The label is designed by Elena, Elvio’s granddaughter.”
Bruno Cormerais Muscadet Sevre-et-Maine ‘Clisson’ 2013 750ML ($34.95) $27 special
VinopolNote: 51 months sur lie in tank before bottling, from the Clisson AOC–one of the most prestigious sub regions of Muscadet. This is from the estate’s best vineyards on the special decomposed granite soils of Clisson.
A powerful, towering Barolo from a legend.
Elvio Cogno Barolo Bricco Pernice, Barolo DOCG 2015 750ML ($149.95) $119 special, 10 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni 95 points “The 2015 Barolo Bricco Pernice is an exotic, beguiling wine. Blood orange, mint, sweet red cherry, star anise and a range of spice notes give the Bricco Pernice striking aromatic and flavor complexity. Medium in body, refined and super-expressive, the 2015 has so much to offer. Best of all, it will drink well with just a few years in bottle. It is such an effortless, gracious wine. Very polished, nuanced and elegant, this silky Barolo has a ton of structure but is also impeccable in its balance.”
Importer Note “Bricco Pernice is named for the rock on which courting partridges build their nest. “Pernice” translates as “rock ptarmigan” or “partridge,” “Bricco” is a hill. This is the very latest wine from Elvio Cogno. Until a few years ago this was part of the Ravera Barolo cru; in recent years it has been expanded to incorporate the neighboring hills. The fruit of years of hard work, this wine is a dream come true, made from the finest vineyard in Novello in the most historic part of the Ravera cru. The label is designed by Elena, Elvio’s granddaughter.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
There’s a reason that the Comando G wines are some of the hottest in the world.
Comando G ‘Rozas Premier-Primer Cru,’ Sierra de Gredos 2018 750ML ($59.95) $49 special
Luis Gutierrez-Wine Advocate 95 points “The 2018 Rozas 1er Cru is from a much better year that produced perfect ripeness of the grapes and therefore much better parameters (alcohol, pH and acidity). Within the freshness and seriousness of 2018, this is very open, expressive and spicy, like an upgrade from the La Bruja de Rozas, though not quite reaching the finesse of Las Umbrías. It’s tasty and long and has something herbal (fennel, celery), a salty touch, a little rust and a very mineral texture, with the grainy granite and finer chalk. It improves tremendously in the glass, which gives me an idea that the wine is going to improve in bottle. 2018 is a great vintage that is going to require a little more time to express its full potential. This is often the best value of the winery. 15,238 bottles and 150 magnums produced. It was bottled in January 2020.”
The perfect pizza wine?
Castello di Verduno Basadone Pelaverga, Piedmont 2018 750ML ($27.95) $24 special
Importer Note “Pelaverga is indigenous to the village of Verduno, it produces red wines that are light in color but savory and distinctive on the palate. Reminds me a lot of Grignolino, another geeky Piedmontese variety. This one is aged in stainless steel before bottling without filtration. The winery’s website cannot be improved on for a description: ‘Soft, though bright ruby red. Intense fragrant nose, showing clear spicy overtones of black pepper and nutmeg, as well as fruity sensations reminiscent of cherries in spirit and strawberries. Nicely-balanced, lingering dry flavour.’ Great with salumi. I would drink this at cellar temperature.”
Looking for a more powerful version of Willamette Pinot? This is a top value in the category.
Averaen Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 2018 750ML ($24.95) $19 special
Case-12 Averaen Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 2018 750ML ($249.95) $199 special (that’s only $16.58/bottle!)
Josh Raynolds 90 points “Glistening ruby-red. Ripe red and dark berries, cherry-cola and a hint of allspice on the perfumed nose. Pliant cherry and black raspberry flavors show good energy and pick up a hint of smokiness on the back half. Plush and seamless in texture, with lingering floral and spice notes on the long, subtly tannic finish.”
Wine Enthusiast 90 points “Editor’s Choice. Fruit sourced from six Willamette Valley AVAs and well over a dozen vineyards combines in this sweetly fruity wine. Pretty plum and marionberry flavors are enhanced with a light touch of herbs, putting a frame around the finish.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Ending Soon:
Subscriber Special
Kruger-Rumpf: Nahe Riesling Sleepers
Save 5% on any mix of 6-11 bottles of Kruger-Rumpf wines
10% on any mix of 12+ bottles of Kruger-Rumpf wines
Subscriber Special Discount Will Not Display Online
We Will Manually Adjust Your Order Before Finalizing It
Discount Valid Until Friday, September 4th at 10AM
“It always feels somewhat miasmic to taste here, as though someone has strewn a thousand musical notes on the floor and now we have to pick them up and make them into music.” –Terry Theise
Kruger-Rumpf is a storied estate in the Nahe, the region in Germany that Donnhoff hails from, which lies between the Mosel and the Rhine rivers—sort of a halfway point between both geographic and stylistic. Kruger-Rumpf sits close to the Rhine, geographically, than some of the other big names in the area and their wines have more intrinsic power to them as a result. These are some seriously good Rieslings, at prices considerably lower than what you’d pay from other name producers.
The top wine from the estate comes from the awkwardly named “Dautenpflanzer” from near the town of Munster, which means that the label reads “Munsterer Dautenpflanzer”—a stereotype of a German name if we ever saw one. In house, we often call it the “MD” if you aren’t feeling up to testing your pronunciation skills. The Dautenpflanzer is a premier Grand Cru site of the lower Nahe, a place that yields wine s of power and resonance, and Kruger-Rumpf is the primary (and best) landholder.
These are fantastic wines that are only getting better with each subsequent vintage. Hope on board the 2018 train and you’ll be glad you did. We’re offering you Subscriber Special pricing on purchases of 6+ bottles of these German gems, arriving this Friday. Once the wines arrive, our special prices do, as well—so stock up and save!
Arriving Friday:
Kruger-Rumpf Abtei Riesling Trocken 2017 750ML ($34.95) $28 Displayed Price: that’s $26.60 at 5% off and $25.20 at 10% off!
David Schildknecht – Vinous 92 points “Apple wood, char-like smokiness, along with scents of lichen and moss make for an aromatic display every bit as striking but surprisingly different from that of the corresponding 2016. The palate is pithily-concentrated yet polished, and delivers plenty of juicy apple and fresh lime to complement those elements that carry-over from the nose. The finish lays down a long, stimulatingly undulating carpet of woodsy flavors, and a mouthwatering suffusion of mineral salts.”
Grapelive 92 points “The bright and precise Abtei Trocken shines with a delicate and generous nature. It shows a crystalline mineral-driven character and peachy fruits, vibrant crisp detail and a lingering charm in the glass. Very pale greenish gold in the glass and full of energy the 2017 Abtei bursts to life on the palate with that peach, key lime, green apple and tangerine fruits along with flinty wet stones, minty zest, citron/verbena and a saline mouthwatering note. This is a wine of refined form and dry extract, making for a Riesling that can be drunk young and one that should age nicely. I always appreciate the class and lacy style of Georg’s wines, especially in his drier wines. They are easy to love and have subtle power and underlying vigor, while his sweeter wines always show impeccable balance. This is a winery that doesn’t always get the credit it deserves and always gives exceptional value for the quality in the bottle. The Abtei Erstes Gewachs was all spontaneous fermentation (native yeast) fermented and aged in over 30 years old Stückfässern (German oak large cask) on the lees for close to 9 months before bottling, coming in at 12.5% natural alcohol. The vines here, all hand tended, are between 50 and 80 years old, which shows in this Riesling’s concentration and vitality. Ever since I walked this vineyard with Georg, in 2016, I have been a huge fan. Georg Rumpf’s latest set of wines are some of the best yet from this estate near the confluence of the Nahe and Rhein Rivers and the town of Bingen, which sits across the Rhein from the historic Rudesheim. The 2017 Abtei maybe the best kept secret in Rumpf’s portfolio. [It] comes from the closest parcel of vines to the winery, and a site that is extremely difficult to work, especially to their organic leaning practices. It always shows amazing energy and terroir elements that are similar to the famous Schlossberg Grand Cru on the other side of the Rhein as it shares the same soils and exposures. The Kruger-Rumpf estate is located in Münster-Sarmsheim, a small village (close to Bingen) on the western side of the Nahe River in the most northern section of this region. [It] has a bit more warmth than the southern middle zone of the Nahe, which gives the Kruger-Rumpf’s wines their concentration and sunny warmth.”
10% on any mix of 12+ bottles of Kruger-Rumpf wines
Subscriber Special Discount Will Not Display Online
We Will Manually Adjust Your Order Before Finalizing It
Discount Valid Until Friday, September 4th at 10AM
“It always feels somewhat miasmic to taste here, as though someone has strewn a thousand musical notes on the floor and now we have to pick them up and make them into music.” –Terry Theise
Kruger-Rumpf is a storied estate in the Nahe, the region in Germany that Donnhoff hails from, which lies between the Mosel and the Rhine rivers—sort of a halfway point between both geographic and stylistic. Kruger-Rumpf sits close to the Rhine, geographically, than some of the other big names in the area and their wines have more intrinsic power to them as a result. These are some seriously good Rieslings, at prices considerably lower than what you’d pay from other name producers.
The top wine from the estate comes from the awkwardly named “Dautenpflanzer” from near the town of Munster, which means that the label reads “Munsterer Dautenpflanzer”—a stereotype of a German name if we ever saw one. In house, we often call it the “MD” if you aren’t feeling up to testing your pronunciation skills. The Dautenpflanzer is a premier Grand Cru site of the lower Nahe, a place that yields wine s of power and resonance, and Kruger-Rumpf is the primary (and best) landholder.
These are fantastic wines that are only getting better with each subsequent vintage. Hope on board the 2018 train and you’ll be glad you did. We’re offering you Subscriber Special pricing on purchases of 6+ bottles of these German gems, arriving this Friday. Once the wines arrive, our special prices do, as well—so stock up and save!
Arriving Friday:
Kruger-Rumpf Abtei Riesling Trocken 2017 750ML ($34.95) $28 Displayed Price: that’s $26.60 at 5% off and $25.20 at 10% off!
David Schildknecht – Vinous 92 points “Apple wood, char-like smokiness, along with scents of lichen and moss make for an aromatic display every bit as striking but surprisingly different from that of the corresponding 2016. The palate is pithily-concentrated yet polished, and delivers plenty of juicy apple and fresh lime to complement those elements that carry-over from the nose. The finish lays down a long, stimulatingly undulating carpet of woodsy flavors, and a mouthwatering suffusion of mineral salts.”
Grapelive 92 points “The bright and precise Abtei Trocken shines with a delicate and generous nature. It shows a crystalline mineral-driven character and peachy fruits, vibrant crisp detail and a lingering charm in the glass. Very pale greenish gold in the glass and full of energy the 2017 Abtei bursts to life on the palate with that peach, key lime, green apple and tangerine fruits along with flinty wet stones, minty zest, citron/verbena and a saline mouthwatering note. This is a wine of refined form and dry extract, making for a Riesling that can be drunk young and one that should age nicely. I always appreciate the class and lacy style of Georg’s wines, especially in his drier wines. They are easy to love and have subtle power and underlying vigor, while his sweeter wines always show impeccable balance. This is a winery that doesn’t always get the credit it deserves and always gives exceptional value for the quality in the bottle. The Abtei Erstes Gewachs was all spontaneous fermentation (native yeast) fermented and aged in over 30 years old Stückfässern (German oak large cask) on the lees for close to 9 months before bottling, coming in at 12.5% natural alcohol. The vines here, all hand tended, are between 50 and 80 years old, which shows in this Riesling’s concentration and vitality. Ever since I walked this vineyard with Georg, in 2016, I have been a huge fan. Georg Rumpf’s latest set of wines are some of the best yet from this estate near the confluence of the Nahe and Rhein Rivers and the town of Bingen, which sits across the Rhein from the historic Rudesheim. The 2017 Abtei maybe the best kept secret in Rumpf’s portfolio. [It] comes from the closest parcel of vines to the winery, and a site that is extremely difficult to work, especially to their organic leaning practices. It always shows amazing energy and terroir elements that are similar to the famous Schlossberg Grand Cru on the other side of the Rhein as it shares the same soils and exposures. The Kruger-Rumpf estate is located in Münster-Sarmsheim, a small village (close to Bingen) on the western side of the Nahe River in the most northern section of this region. [It] has a bit more warmth than the southern middle zone of the Nahe, which gives the Kruger-Rumpf’s wines their concentration and sunny warmth.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Kruger-Rumpf Dorsheimer Burgberg Riesling Grosses Gewachs 2018 750ML ($59.95) $49 Displayed Price: that’s $46.55 at 5% off and $44.10 at 10% off!
Grapelive 94+ points “Coming from a tiny incredibly steep Grand Cru site, the Burgberg Vineyard, that is set on volcanic and quartz soils near Munster in the village of Dorsheim. The Kruger Rumpf Burgberg GG is one of the most exciting wines of vintage at this small winery… It is fantastically mineral-driven dry Riesling. This latest set of wines, especially the Rieslings, from Georg Rumpf and his family are some of the best yet from this estate. The GG’s and the Premier Cru Trockens are gorgeous wines. No one is going to want to miss these 2018 Nahe offerings, especially the Pitterberg GG, the Abtei Erste Lage 1937 old vine, one of my secret favorites and this beautifully detailed Burgberg GG. Rumpf has turned to mostly all organic practices, and the Burgberg parcel is farmed organic. [He] prefers to do natural fermentations, or Sponti, with his Cru wines with the GG’s getting less aging in large cask, Stuckfass, to allow less reduction and enhance generosity, while retraining freshness and vitality in the wines. [It] shows here in this barrel sample of Burgberg… These Kruger-Rumpf GG’s are some of the best values out there, they really deserve much more attention, as do the lesser bottlings and their wildly tasty Scheurebe, which is one of the best examples in Germany…Terry Theise, their importer, who considers Kruger-Rumpf one of best under the radar estates in the region. [Theise] notes that Kruger-Rumpf is innovative and is always striving to reach new levels of quality….the iron rich volcanic and quartz influenced 2018 Burgberg GG starts with white flowers, stone fruits and vibrant citrus before expansion on the medium full palate with layers of lime/tangerine, apricot, green apple, papaya, bitter pit white peach and white cherry fruits along with steely form, spearmint, verbena, mouthwatering saline, exotic spices and subtle leesy elements. This is going to be a legendary wine and is already showing Georg’s signature finesse and vinous personality. It has masses of potential and its delicacy is utterly delicious! There’s a lot to admire at Kruger-Rumpf these days and this crisp 2018 Burgberg is a stunning effort that gains with air in the glass and will more so with a few years in bottle.”
Wine Advocate 93+ points “From low-yielding vines planted in the 1950’s and 1960’s, the 2018 Burgberg Riesling GG is absolutely great on the pure, clear and refreshing, super flinty and mineral nose. On the palate, this is an intense, highly complex and elegant dry Riesling with crystalline acidity and a long and refreshing, crystalline and salty finish. Bottled and tasted in July 2019.”
This was the lowest listed price in the USA today,
Now it’s even lower!
Now it’s even lower!
Kruger-Rumpf Munsterer Pittersberg Riesling Spatlese GK 2018 750ML ($49.95) $39 Displayed Price: that’s $37.05 at 5% off and $35.10 at 10% off!
David Schildknecht-Vinous 95 points “Picked at the end of October but with minimal botrytis, this certainly stands in magnificent contradiction to my vintage generalization that picking past the middle of that month was not advantageous. Unlike its counterpart form the Dautenpflänzer, this was raised in cask, and was allowed to ferment to a lower level of residual sugar. It comes off as a riper, richer sibling of the corresponding Im Pitterberg Riesling Kabinett, its gloss merging with creaminess, yet with fresh white peach and lime juiciness complementing ripe quince and serving for animation and refreshment. The finish is unexpectedly electrifying in its vibrancy and mouthwateringly saline, and gains stimulating counterpoint from peach kernel piquancy, peach fuzz prickle and a crystalline sense of stone-showering mineral impingement. (If there is a second, “regular” Im Pitterberg Spätlese from this vintage, I am not aware of it.)”
David Schildknecht-Vinous 95 points “Picked at the end of October but with minimal botrytis, this certainly stands in magnificent contradiction to my vintage generalization that picking past the middle of that month was not advantageous. Unlike its counterpart form the Dautenpflänzer, this was raised in cask, and was allowed to ferment to a lower level of residual sugar. It comes off as a riper, richer sibling of the corresponding Im Pitterberg Riesling Kabinett, its gloss merging with creaminess, yet with fresh white peach and lime juiciness complementing ripe quince and serving for animation and refreshment. The finish is unexpectedly electrifying in its vibrancy and mouthwateringly saline, and gains stimulating counterpoint from peach kernel piquancy, peach fuzz prickle and a crystalline sense of stone-showering mineral impingement. (If there is a second, “regular” Im Pitterberg Spätlese from this vintage, I am not aware of it.)”
This was the lowest listed price in the USA today,
Now it’s even lower!
Now it’s even lower!
Kruger-Rumpf Munsterer Im Pittersberg Riesling Kabinett 2018 750ml ($27.95) $21.90 Displayed Price: that’s $20.81 at 5% off and $19.71 at 10% off!
David Schildknecht-Vinous 93 points “While marginally lower in alcohol – at 9% – than its Rheinberg counterpart, this was picked early at a significantly lower 82 Oechsle, so its sense of sweetness is nicely restrained. Luscious and invigoratingly tart-edged white peach, apple and lime are wreathed in honeysuckle, while a billowing sense of levity and inner-mouth perfume perfectly complements a subtly creamy texture that owes something to lees exposure in cask. (In fact, Georg Rumpf performed a bit of lees stirring and an extra racking, yet the wine retains an invigorating hint of CO2 spritz.) The sustained finish delivers a superb sense of vibrancy, clarity and focus, its intense fruitiness matched by a salinity that tugs at the salivary glands. (For background on the origination and style of this Kabinett, consult my reviews of its vintage 2015 and vintage 2016 predecessors.)”
Wine Advocate 91 points “Picked early around September 10th and vinified in large oak until April this year, the 2018 Im Pitterberg Riesling Kabinett offers a clear, ripe and spicy, beautifully elegant bouquet of bright fruits and crushed nuts. Very clear and fresh on the palate, this is a filigreed, elegant and persistently light, salty-piquant and crystalline Riesling with mineral tension and stimulating grip. This is a picture-book Kabinett that is a great pleasure to drink even today and certainly with food. 9% alcohol. Tasted from AP 21 19 in August 2019.”
Terry Theise note “Another forward-into-the-past bottling—in this case Georg wanted to make the kind of Kabinett his father made in the 80s, decidedly on the dry side, not very ripe (this has just 82º Oechsle), gentle and tertiary, and even on the dry side it shows Cox’s orange pippins and balsam and its genial Buddhist repose. Cask fermentations help to highlight the tertiary flavors.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
We’ve got even more arriving from Kruger-Rumpf.
Want to see it all? View the entire list in our online store.
Save $20 per Bottle!
Library Owen Roe Single Vineyard Syrah
Whenever we have the chance to buy properly aged, single-vineyard Washington Syrah from top producers, we jump on it. When we can offer it to you at a huge discount? Well, these sorts of opportunities are rare and we act accordingly. Today’s offer of the 2013 Owen Roe Chapel Block is a stunner in that regard; it’s seven-years old Syrah at up to $20 off what we originally offered it at four years ago.
We first sold the 2013 Owen Roe Chapel Block Syrah four years ago for $49 per bottle—and Suzanne wrote this note:
“This new vintage of the Chapel Block Syrah from the Red Willow vineyard shows poise and balance. There are overtones of dark chocolate and dark roast coffee layered with sweet spices and a hint of new leather on the finish. Unabashedly New World, the palate offers ripe berry and floral notes with a lingering chocolate taste. It has an excellent grippy texture to keep the rich body in check. I would cellar for at least 2-3 years before opening, though ideally this baby could go for 7-10.”
Well, here we are—nicely four years after that tasting note and with a price that would have been unthinkable then. The 2013 Owen Roe Chapel Block is just $33 per bottle—or $29.92 on a case purchase. This is a fantastic wine in a great point in its development and you’d do well to stick a case in your drinking queue.
In Stock Now:
Owen Roe Red Willow Vineyard Chapel Block Syrah, Yakima Valley 2013 750ML ($59.95) $33 special
Case-12 Owen Roe Red Willow Vineyard Chapel Block Syrah, Yakima Valley 2013 750ML ($719.95) $359 special (that’s only $29.92/bottle!)
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 92 points “Bright medium ruby. Musky, earthy aromas of raspberry, roasted strawberry, smoked meat and charred oak. Fat, sweet and deep, with good spicy lift to the very ripe flavors of plum, blueberry, dark chocolate and spices. A very rich, tactile Syrah with sexy sweetness but plenty of ripe, dusty tannins to support a graceful evolution in bottle. Ultimately richer than the Union Gap Syrah but also more tannic.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price in any vintage is $49.50
The average listed price across all vintages is $55
The next best price in any vintage is $49.50
The average listed price across all vintages is $55
A Dual 94-Point Priorat, 45% Off
Ferrer Bobet is one of the hottest names in Priorat, producing some of the most impactful wines in the region. They’re known for marrying stylishness and elegance to the raw power that Priorat always delivers, making them some of the most coveted wines in Barcelona’s cutting edge culinary scene. We’ve offered their entry-level bottling before (and indeed, have the 2016 arriving later this month) but just secured a stellar price for their next tier up—the intense Vinyes Velles (old vines) bottling.
How stellar a price? Well, we’re able to offer you the 2015 Ferrer Bobet Priorat VV at $36 per bottle or (even better) just $389 per case (which works out to just $32.42/bottle)! By comparison, the entry level bottling is going to set you back an average of $40—and that’s for an inferior wine. That we can offer you the Vinyes Velles for over $26 off its average price on wine-searcher (across all vintages) is nearly unbelievable—and yet here we are.
We could go on about the perfumed fruit, the intensity of the flavor and how long the finish is (and the two 94 point scores this wine received certainly do) but even with our recent restock, we don’t have that much of this to sell. This is a wine that’s going to move and if you don’t get on the train before it leaves the station, it’ll be gone.
Freshly restocked, in stock now:
Ferrer Bobet Vinyes Velles, Priorat DOCa 2015 750ML ($74.95) $36 special
Case-12 Ferrer Bobet Vinyes Velles, Priorat DOCa 2015 750ML ($699.95) $389 special (that’s only $32.42/bottle!)
Jeb Dunnuck 94 points “The old vine 2015 Vinyes Velles checks in as a Carignan-dominated blend from vines just outside the village of Porrera that includes one-third Grenache, all of which spent over a year in French oak. It’s a bigger, riper, sexier wine than the Ferrer Bobet cuvée and boasts a deep purple color as well as rocking notes of black plums, black licorice, ground pepper, violets, and new leather. Ripe and full-bodied, with moderate acidity and terrific balance, it’s a seamless Priorat to enjoy over the coming 7-8 years or so.”
James Suckling 94 points “This really captures the freshness of the carignan grape with its bright cherry character. Medium-to full-bodied with spice from the grenache and excellent vitality on the long, crisp finish. Drink or hold.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
The average listed price for all vintages is $59
The average listed price for all vintages is $59
Collector’s Corner
2015 Chateau d’Yquem
2015 Chateau d’Yquem
“Chateau d’Yquem is arguably the most prestigious sweet wine in the world” – James Molesworth, Wine Spectator
“What Nature bestowed in 2015 is everything you could possibly desire in a Sauternes” – Neal Martin, Wine Advocate
“Readers who can find the 2015 should not hesitate, as it is truly magnificent!” – Antonio Galloni
2015 Chateau d’Yquem is looking like one of the two best wines the estate has produced this century (trailing, perhaps by a hair, the 2001). In other words, it’s a monumental wine—a true collector’s icon and one of the most complex wines produced anywhere in the world in 2015. We sold out of half-bottles but pulled off a vinous coup—750’s and (more impressively) magnums of this legend. Only a very tiny percentage of d’Yquem is bottled in large formats, so securing any of this liquid gold in a rare opportunity that we couldn’t pass up. Neither should you.
In Stock Now:
Chateau d’Yquem, Sauternes 2015 750ML ($499.95) $379 special
Chateau d’Yquem, Sauternes 2015 1.5L ($1099.95) $879 special
Wine Advocate 100 points “Following a very long harvest stretching nearly two months, the 2015 Château d’Yquem came in at 13.9% alcohol and 144 grams per liter of residual sugar, sporting a pH of 3.65 and six grams per liter of tartaric acid. None of these numbers, however, even remotely begin to tell you how profound this wine is. The nose opens with electric notes of ripe pineapples, green mango, orange blossoms and lemon tart with hints of fungi, lime zest, crushed rocks and jasmine. The freshness on the palate is just astonishing, permeating and lifting layer upon layer of tropical fruits and earthy notions, all encased in a sumptuous texture and culminating in a very, very long, mineral-tinged finish. Truly, this is a legendary vintage for d’Yquem. I’ve been conservative with my drinking window here, and I would not be at all surprised if our descendants are drinking this vintage well into the next century.”-LPB
James Suckling 99-100 points “This is an incredible young Yquem that is so vinous like a great vintage of Montrachet but then on the palate it turns to Yquem with spice, dried fruit and mushroom as well as sweet fruit. Last for minutes. Acidity is all there giving it a dynamic vibrance that jolts your senses. Special wine. It has a little more than than 140 grams of residual sugar, less than the legendary of 2001. But is very close in greatness. Let’s wait and see.”
Antonio Galloni 98 points “The 2015 d’Yquem is without question one of the wines of the vintage. Just as alluring from bottle as it was from barrel, the 2015 is a wine that engages all of the senses, from the intellectual to the more hedonistic. Lilting notes of pineapple, mint, orange peel and white flowers grace the palate, but it is the wine’s sense of balance and total harmony that impress most. In 2015, Yquem had its earliest start to the harvest since 1893. Even so, the winemaking team did a magnificent job of preserving freshness. The 2015 was fermented in 100% new oak, and residual sugar is 145 grams per liter, but great wine is never about numbers. Above all else, the 2015 Yquem is a wine of energy and class. Don’t miss it!”
Vinopolis is an independent wine shop in Portland that opened in 2004. Our goal has always been to offer the finest, broadest, and largest selection of wines at the best prices to our customers in Portland, in Oregon, across the West Coast, and throughout the United States. Thank you for reading and for continuing to support our team.
Stay safe, be well, & drink well.
Stay safe, be well, & drink well.