Featured Newly Reviewed Wine: 2014 Cristom Single-Vyd Chardonnay; New Week – New Arrivals; Domaine Desaunay-Bissey; Domaine Remi Jobard; Cordero di Montezemolo; New Reviews for Oregon Wines – The No-Pinot Edition; Staff Pick Producer: Alzinger
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Featured Newly Reviewed Wine
A Vinopolis Exclusive
Arriving January 13th
Cristom Germaine Vineyard Chardonnay, Eola-Amity Hills 2014 750ML ($41.95) $37 pre-arrival special, ETA January 13th
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 92 points “(aged in one-third new oak) Pale yellow-gold. Potent, mineral-laced citrus and orchard fruit aromas show very good clarity and a sexy floral overtone. Taut, minerally and delineated on the palate, which displays juicy pear, tangerine and honeysuckle flavors that turn fleshier with air. Concentrated yet lithe, carrying no excess fat. Closes smoky and very long, leaving dusty mineral and citrus marmalade notes behind.” 79 cases produced
This is the only listing in the USA today!
For more new reviews of in-stock and pre-arrival Oregon wines, keep reading!
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New Week – New Arrivals
Oregon
Cristom Mt. Jefferson Cuvee Pinot Noir, Eola-Amity Hills 2014 375ML ($19.95) $16 special
Wine Advocate 90 points “The 2014 Mt Jefferson Cuvee Pinot Noir, which contains around 50% whole cluster fruit, has a lively, wild strawberry and candied orange peel scented bouquet, a touch of freshly sliced tangerine in the background. This is a vivacious bouquet with more intensity than the 2013. The palate is medium-bodied with fresh, lithe tannin. This is nicely balanced with good grip in the mouth, the 15% new oak nicely integrated with a subtle saline note towards the earthy finish. For thirty bucks, this is a great value.”
We stock 116 Oregon Pinots – available here now – see the full list on our web store!
California
Rodney Strong Symmetry Meritage, Alexander Valley 2012 750ML ($59.95) $37 special
Wine Spectator 89 points “Dense and extracted, this serves up a complex range of flavors, from black cherry to wild berry to currant, all shaded with light oak and a touch of espresso. Shows a measure of finesse and refinement overall. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Drink now through 2026.”
Wine Advocate 89 points “The 2012 Proprietary Red Symmetry, a blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Merlot and the rest Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot, exhibits chocolaty, blackberry and black cherry fruit intermixed with earth and spice characteristics, medium body and a supple, round, seductive mouthfeel. Elegant and mid-weight, it is best drunk over the next 7-8 years.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $52
We stock 92 California Red Wines – available here now – see the full list on our web store!
France – Champagne
Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin Brut Rose, Champagne 2004 750ML ($89.95) $69 special
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 92 points “(67% pinot noir, 26% chardonnay and 7% pinot meunier): Bright orange-pink. Smoke- and mineral-tinged aromas of raspberry, poached pear, rose oil and sweet butter. Toasty and broad but spry, offering vibrant red fruit and blood orange flavors that pick up a refreshingly bitter edge with aeration. Closes on a spicy note, with excellent focus and slow-building minerality. The fruit for this Champagne is sourced from up to 20 different premier and grand cru villages, including Ay and Verzenay for the pinot noir and Mesnil-sur-Oger for the chardonnay.”
Ulysse Collin ‘Les Pierrieres’ Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut, Champagne NV (2012) 750ML ($119.95) $89 special
John Gilman 92 points “The Ulysse Collin Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut all hails from the single parcel of Les Perrières, which is planted with thirty-five year-old vines. Like all of Olivier’s Collin’s wines these days, the vins clairs are barrel-fermented and aged for an extended period in older casks prior to bottling, after which the wine spends two to three years aging sur latte. The new release of Les Perrières, which is marked on the back label as Lot 12 (meaning it hails from the base year of 2012) offers up a lovely bouquet that shows just a touch of buttery oak influence in its blend of pear, delicious apple, pastry cream, a fine base of soil, buttery oak and a distinctly smoky topnote. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied, crisp and quite dry, with lovely mousse, a fine core and lovely backend mineral drive on the long, balanced and nascently complex finish. The dosage on this bottling is between one and two grams and the balance is impeccable, making the wine eminently accessible right out of the blocks. Fine juice, where the gentle oak influence is very nicely done. 2016-2030.”
You can find additional new reviews from John Gilman in our next newsletter!
To see our complete list of 97 in-stock Champagnes, visit our web store!
France – Burgundy
Domaine Leflaive Batard-Montrachet Grand Cru 2014 750ML ($699.95) $599 special, 1 bottle available
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 93+ points “Pale yellow with green highlights. Deeper and leesier on the nose than the Bienvenues, with ripe peach and hazelnut aromas complicated by sexy reduction. Large-scaled and powerful but not heavy, and totally different in style from the Bienvenues. Thick, plump and adamantly dry, with harmonious acidity giving shape to the wine’s very ripe stone fruit and pineapple flavors. In a rather masculine style and not yet explosive, rather like a barrel sample. The phenolic, firmly structured finish leaves behind citrus and mineral notes.”
Domaine Leflaive Bienvenues-Batard-Montrachet Grand Cru 2014 750ML ($599.95) $569 special, 2 bottles available
Wine Advocate 93-95 points “The 2014 Bienvenue Bâtard Montrachet Grand Cru has a come-hither bouquet that is very immediate: passion fruit, apricot blossom, cold stone and even a faint touch of strawberry winegums. The palate is well balanced with a keen line of acidity, good weight in the mouth with a touch of citrus lemon and lime, but perhaps just needing more complexity and terroir expression to come through on the finish. This is one of the best 2014 Bienvenues that I have come across — an absolute delight.”
Domaine des Lambrays Les Folatieres, Puligny-Montrachet Premier Cru 2013 750ML ($149.95) $119 special
Burghound 91 points “As is often the case immediately after wines have been bottled there is a trace of reduction so I would suggest decanting this if the wine is less than 2 years of age. By contrast there is lovely freshness and vibrancy present on the very rich and round medium weight flavors that culminate in a clean, saline and well-balanced finish. This should be accessible young but reward 5 to 7 years or so of aging.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Domaine des Lambrays Clos du Cailleret, Puligny-Montrachet Premier Cru 2014 750ML ($149.95) $119 special
Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2014 Puligny Montrachet 1er Cru Clos du Caillerets, from vines planted in 1947, has a very different nose to the Folatières with apple blossom, white peach and apricot scents. The palate is underpinned by a keen salinity, very structured with more mineral/limestone towards the finish. This is another superb white from Thierry, perhaps even more bewitching than the Folatières.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Domaine des Lambrays Clos des Lambrays Grand Cru 2014 750ML ($249.95) $199 special
Wine Enthusiast 96 points “This is such a perfumed wine with deceptively soft tannins and great fruit. The acidity is classic for the vintage, with raspberries and intense freshness at the end. It has a fine line of tannins and a life that will go far.”
John Gilman 95 points “The 2014 Clos des Lambrays is a great wine in the making. The stunning bouquet delivers a pure and sappy constellation of sweet dark berries, black cherries, woodsmoke, currant leaf, dark chocolate, a very complex base of soil, fresh herbs and just a whisper of new wood. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied, pure and rock solid at the core, with great mineral drive, refined tannins and impeccable focus and balance on the long, ripely tannic and seamless finish. 2025-2075. (Nov/Dec 2015)”
Louis Jadot Echezaux Grand Cru 2012 750ML ($249.95) $169 special
Wine Enthusiast 96 points “Hugely dense, packed with ripe and generous black fruits, this is already showing its serious side with complex tannins and a dark, brooding texture that also brings out the wood aging. The fruit, a gorgeous array of perfumed black plums and damsons, is developing well, just hinting at future greatness.”
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 93+ points “Bright, dark red. Captivating high-toned aromas of raspberry, cherry liqueur, spices, crushed stone and musky minerals. Juicy, sappy and sharply delineated, conveying exhilarating lift to its tactile flavors of red berries, menthol and spices. Strong acidity shuts down the wine’s fruit on the back, but the firmly tannic, backward finish shows soil-driven salinity and wonderfully vibrant lingering notes of dark cherry and licorice.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $215
Louis Jadot Corton Clos du Roi Grand Cru 2012 750ML ($119.95) $89 special
Wine Advocate 89-91 points “The 2012 Corton Clos de Roi Grand Cru has a straightforward, tightly knit bouquet with seaweed-tinged red berry fruit that lift nicely from the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with a succulent entry. There is plenty of fruite here that probably belies the structure on the finish. This is a ‘solid’, dependable Clos du Roi.” WA
Domaine Arlaud Charmes-Chambertin Grand Cru 2014 750ML ($179.95) $149 special
Wine Spectator 95 points “A powerful, dense version, evoking cherry, currant and spice flavors, with underlying accents of mineral and tobacco. Tight and chalky on the finish, but showing promise. Best from 2020 through 2040.”
For our special features on the newly arrived wines from Bruno Desauney-Bissey and Domaine Remi Jobard, keep reading!
We have 460 Burgundies in stock now – see the full list on our web store!
France – Beaujolais
Domaine Marcel Lapierre Morgon 2015 750ML ($34.95) $28 special
VinopolNote: Gamay from 60 year old vines grown in granitic gravel.
Importer note “The Lapierres age their wines on fine lees for at least nine months in oak foudres and fûts ranging from three to thirteen years old. These wines are the essence of Morgon: bright, fleshy fruit with a palatable joie de vivre that was undoubtedly inherited from their creator. In the words of KLWM salesperson Sam Imel, ‘They are meant to be devoured.’”
Coudert Pere ‘Clos de la Roilette’ Fleurie Griffe du Marquis 2014 750ML ($37.95) $33 special
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 93 points “Deep ruby. Potent, mineral-accented dark berry, licorice and floral aromas are complemented by a hint of spicecake. Fleshy and appealingly sweet, offering concentrated black raspberry and violet pastille flavors underscored by an energizing mineral nuance. Shows excellent focus and lift on the long, sappy finish, which is framed by harmonious tannins. My instinct says that this will be more than worthy cellar candidate.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $37.99
We have 38 Beaujolais wines available here now – see the full list on our web store!
France – Loire
Domaine de la Pepiere Muscadet Sevre-et-Maine Sur Lie Clos des Briords Vieilles Vignes 2015 750ML ($21.95) $18 special
Domaine de la Pepiere Muscadet Sevre-et-Maine Sur Lie Clos des Briords Vieilles Vignes 2015 1.5L ($49.95) $39 special
Vinopolnote: From some of Marc Olivier’s oldest vines, planted in 1930, comes this lovely stunner of a Muscadet. “Clos des Briord”comes from a single plot of vines planted in schist soils; a very mineral-rich and surprising example of Melon which is built to age beautifully but also provides freshness and fun when drunk in youth.
We have 70 Loire Valley wines available here now – read reviews or order online on our web store!
France – Southern France/ Languedoc-Roussillon
Domaine Isle Saint Pierre Rouge, IGP Bouches-du-Rhone 2015 750ML ($14.95) $9.90 special
“Deep ruby. Aromatic nose with very spicy hints of curry, pepper, nutmeg and green pepper. Delicate and fresh but aromatic in-mouth texture with lingering taste of black fruit and liquorice. Cabernet franc, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Arinarnoa.”–Winery Notes
Domaine Leon Barral Faugeres, Languedoc-Roussillon 2013 750ML ($37.95) $33 special
Importer Note: “50% Carignan, 30% Grenache, 20% Cinsault, from 40 to 70 year old vines grown on schist soils. Grapes are biodynamically farmed and all grapes are harvested by hand and then sorted. Depending on the variety, grapes are de-stemmed (in general, grapes from the youngest vines), however whole clusters are also used. No SO2 is added. Wine is vinified in gravity-fed, cement cuves with native yeasts.”
Domaine Leon Barral Faugeres Jadis, Languedoc-Roussillon 2013 750ML ($54.95) $49 special
Importer Note: “50% Carignan, 30% Syrah 20% Grenache from 30 to 60 year old vines grown on schist soils. Grapes are biodynamically farmed and all grapes are harvested by hand and then sorted. Depending on the variety, grapes are de-stemmed (in general, grapes from the youngest vines), however whole clusters are also used. No SO2 is added. Wine is vinified in gravity-fed, cement cuves with native yeasts.”
Domaine Leon Barral Faugeres Valiniere, Languedoc-Roussillon 2013 750ML ($79.95) $69 special
Importer Note: “80% Mouvedre 20% Syrah from 15 to 30 year old vines grown on schist soils. Grapes are biodynamically farmed and all grapes are harvested by hand and then sorted. Depending on the variety, grapes are de-stemmed (in general, grapes from the youngest vines), however whole clusters are also used. No SO2 is added. Wine is vinified in gravity-fed, cement cuves with native yeasts.”
We have 42 white and red Southern French wines available here now – you can see the complete list on our web store!
Italy – Sparkling
Sorelle Bronca Spumante Brut Prosecco di Conegliano Valdobbiadene DOCG, Veneto NV 750ML ($21.95) $18 special
Wine Enthusiast 91 points “Editors’ Choice. Fresh and fragrant, this delivers aromas of ripe orchard fruits and nuts, with a whiff of yellow wild flowers. The linear palate offers crisp pear, apple and lightly toasted almond alongside brisk acidity and a firm, refined perlage. It closes on a note of fresh peach and chopped herbs.”
Italy – Tuscany
Pian dell’Orino Piandorino Toscana IGT 2014 750ML ($34.95) $29 special
Winery note “Since 2004 Piandorino is composed only of Sangiovese. The grapes are harvested in the most growy parts of our vineyards. The higher content of natural nitrogen normally gives grapes with a fruitier taste. The spontaneous fermentation and the short maceration of the must of 7 – 10 days contribute to maintain the fruity character of the grapes. During fermentation the temperature is limited 28 C. After fermentation the young wine is transferred to used oak barrels of 500 lt, where the malolactic fermentation takes place. Sensory evaluations decide how long the wine will be left in the barrels. After 12 to 18 month the different parts of the wine are blended and bottled. The wine is allowed to mature for an additional 4 months in the bottle before it is ready to be tasted.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Pian dell’Orino Rosso di Montalcino 2013 750ML ($49.95) $39 special
Antonio Galloni 93 points “Pian dell’Orino takes Rosso di Montalcino to another level with their sublime 2013. Bright, focused and wonderfully articulated, the Rosso literally bristles with energy. Sweet red cherry, raspberry, rose petals and blood orange are all beautifully delineated in the glass. What a striking, gorgeous wine this is.”
Wine Advocate 91 points “Showing great depth and a clean, tonic style, the 2013 Rosso di Montalcino is streamlined and tight with bright berry fruit that emerges high and tall from the bouquet. The wine’s intensity is very evident especially when tasted next to Pian dell’Orino’s IGT Sangiovese. The quality of fruit is fresh and pronounced and like all of the wines from this estate, this expression is characterized by an extremely polished and silky approach. It reaches seamless integration.”
Pian dell’Orino Bassolino di Sopra, Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2007 1.5L ($349.95) $289 special
Antonio Galloni 93 points “The estate’s 2007 Brunello di Montalcino Bassolino di Sopra 1500 emerges from the glass with endless layers of fruit. A pure, voluptuous 2007, the Bassolino di Sopra 1500 is rich, round and seamless. Deeply spiced notes develop in the glass as the wine shows off its striking personality. I am not a huge fan of extended time in oak for wines of such purity, but the 2007 handles its 48 months in barrel quite nicely, although it is naturally shaped by its aging regime, especially from a textural perspective. The 2007 is made exclusively from the estate’s holdings in Pian Bossolino, but that site has also been trademarked by another winery, hence the slight name variation here.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $399.99
Piancornello Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2011 750ML ($49.95) $39 special
James Suckling 93 points “This is a soft, delicate and succulent red with dried strawberry, walnut and light cream aromas and flavors. Full body, polished tannins and a long and flavorful finish. Subtle and gorgeous. Drink or hold.” (15-Feb-2016)
Antonio Galloni 92 points “The 2011 Brunello di Montalcino is one of the more successful wines of the vintage. Sage, lavender, iron, smoke and dark red cherry notes flesh out in a supple, inviting Brunello. A kick of Mediterranean warmth gives the 2011 its generous texture, with all of the elements very much in the right place. I would prefer to drink the 2011 over the next handful of years or so. This is a strong showing from Piancornello.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $47.95
Felsina Berardenga Fontalloro Toscana IGT 2012 750ML ($59.95) $46 special
Wine Advocate 94 points “The 2012 Fontalloro (100% Sangiovese) is a stunning expression and delivers the high quality we have come to expect of this celebrated IGT Toscana wine in a less important vintage. Careful work has been done here to ensure the high quality of fruit. The Fontalloro vineyard is located on the border of the Chianti Classico and the Chianti Colli Senesi appellations. Many have called upon Fèlsina to change the wine’s status to Chianti Classico Gran Selezione, but technically it can’t be because of much of the vineyard is located outside the denomination limits. The bouquet is soft and rich with dark fruit and spice. In the mouth, Fontalloro reveals integrated tannins and acidity.”
Antonio Galloni 94 points “Dark red cherry, plum, cinnamon and crushed rock nuances flesh out in the 2012 Fontalloro. Next to most of the other wines in the lineup, the 2012 Fontalloro is floral, perfumed, fresh and vibrant, with gorgeous aromatic lift, silky tannins and lovely overall balance. Fontalloro often opens up before Rancia, as is the case today, but the 2012 also possesses more than enough depth to drink well for a number of years. Still, the sexy, radiant finish makes me think most bottles won’t be around to make old bones. Put simply, the 2012 Fontalloro is an arrestingly beautiful, showy wine built to please. And please it does.”
We have 106 Tuscan red wines in stock now – you can see the complete list on our web store!
Italy – Piedmont
Cantina del Pino Ovello, Barbaresco DOCG 2012 750ML ($59.95) $49 special
Wine Advocate 94 points “No one farms the Ovello cru like Renato Vacca. The 2012 Barbaresco Ovello is elegant and poised, unlike some of other expressions from this vineyard that taste very ripe in this vintage. His interpretation brings out the subtle nuances and the evident power of Nebbiolo from this sun-drenched hillside facing the Barbaresco church steeple. Dark fruit segues to spice, balsam herb and polished mineral.”
Scarpa Tettimora, Barolo DOCG 2001 750ML ($179.95) $149 special
Scarpa Tettimora, Barolo DOCG 2004 750ML ($149.95) $119 special
Scarpa Tettimora, Barolo DOCG 2010 750ML ($89.95) $79 special
Importer note “Tettimorra comes from a 1.0 hectare vineyard near the village of La Morra, between the crus of Bricco San Biagio and Roggeri (i.e., near Arborina). The elevation is about 300 meters. The name means “the roofs of La Morra” and follows the name of Scarpa’s Barbaresco vineyard, Tettineive. Traditional fermentation in large, old truncated conical wooden vats for about 28 days. Aging for over four years in large casks (2,000-10,000 liters) and then at least several more years in bottle before release. This is Barolo the way it used to be made — where structure, spices, and minerals are at least as important as fruit. The extra aging in cask and in bottle results in a wine that is released when it’s at least beginning to show the qualities that make a Barolo worth drinking: secondary aromas and flavors and the complexity that comes with age. In most vintages, the wine will continue to improve for years, if not decades, but if you drink it upon release, at least you won’t be committing infanticide. Maria Piera Zola and her family carry on [Mario Pesce’s] tradition of aging all the wines for years and sometimes decades before release. Traditional sometimes means ‘rustic’, but that’s not the case here. A very present gusto della casa (house style) produces elegant wines with arrow-like acidity and well-aged tannins. Bottle evolution and vintage characteristics emerge instead of pointillist fruit and minerals.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today for the 2010!
This is the only listing in the USA today for the 2004!
For our mini feature on the newly arrived wines from Cordero di Montezemolo, keep reading!
See our list of all 176 in-stock Piedmont red wines on our web store!
Italy – Sardinia
Cantine Sardus Pater Is Solus Carignano del Sulcis, Sardinia 2015 750ML ($17.95) $14 special
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Germany
Merkelbach Urziger Wurzgarten Riesling Auslese #9 “Urgluck” 2015 750ML ($39.95) $33 special
Mosel Fine Wines 94 points “Harvested at 105° Oechsle, this wine clearly shows botrytis influence as it delivers plenty of ripe yet fresh notes of apricot, pineapple, yellow peach, mango, grapefruit and tangerine on the nose. This all leads to a juicy experience loaded with intense exotic fruits on the palate. Fresher scents of herbs, spices, zest and smoke make for a fascinating and elegantly long finish. This is a gorgeous success! 2025-2050.”
Terry Theise: “This is a single parcel under its cadaster name. One wonders how Mosel wine ever improves on this. Ore, ginger, quince, garrigue, with the para-slate force that feels almost druidic; it’s adamant, spicy, it’s Bach really, mystic. It’s a taser of slate.”
Weingut Donnhoff Niederhauser Hermannshohle Riesling Beerenauslese, Nahe 2015 375ML ($179.95) $138 special
John Gilman 95 points “The 2015 Hermannshöhle BA is still a baby and was in its primary stage of development, but this will clearly be a great wine as well. The bouquet offers up scents of baked apple, tangerine, a touch of papaya, gentle smokiness, orange oil and honey. On the palate the wine is pure, full-bodied, bright and very, very deep, with great focus and grip, a very long, perfectly balanced and nascently complex finish. This will of course be approachable from the moment that it is released, but I would strongly suggest giving it at least four or five years in the cellar to allow it to start to really blossom and show some of the secondary layers of complexity that will come with bottle age. 2016-2075+.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Weingut Jos. Christoffel Jr. Christoffel-Prum Urziger Wurzgarten Riesling Spatlese Trocken, Mosel 2015 750ML ($34.95) $26 special
Mosel Fine Wines 89 points “This offers a very fine and nicely perfumed bouquet driven by flowers, vineyard peach, orange blossom and citrus. The palate is full of finesse and smoke with a mouth-coating mid-palate fruity structure. The finish is at first smooth before some refined smoky and herbal flavors come through in the dry after-taste. 2017-2023”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Weingut Jos. Christoffel Jr. Christoffel-Prum Urziger Wurzgarten Riesling Spatlese Feinherb, Mosel 2015 750ML ($34.95) $26 special
Mosel Fine Wines 92 points “This off-dry Riesling was fermented to “only” 8.5% of alcohol and exhibits 29 g/l of residual sugar. The first nose is quite captivating as it offers fresh and zesty flavors of citrus, white peach, flowers, mint and herbs all wrapped up in some spicy fermentation notes and reduction. The wine is light as fresh water and dances on the palate. The whole structure is light and airy. At the moment, the finish is rather smooth and delicate but will gain in precision and depth in a few years’ time. 2020-2035”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Weingut Jos. Christoffel Jr. Christoffel-Prum Urziger Wurzgarten Riesling Spatlese, Mosel 2015 750ML ($39.95) $29 special
Mosel Fine Wines 92+ points “A rather restrained nose hints at more than exhibits some delicate flowers, smoke and a touch of toffee at first. The wine develops more presence and intensity on the juicy palate as juicy yellow peach comes through. The finish proves juicy as grapefruit acidity brings focus and adds depth and freshness in the after-taste. There is plenty of upside potential in this Auslese in disguise. 2025-2045”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Weingut Jos. Christoffel Jr. Christoffel-Prum Urziger Wurzgarten Riesling Beerenauslese, Mosel 1976 700ML ($219.95) $179 special
Weingut Jos. Christoffel Jr. Christoffel-Prum Graacher Domprobst Riesling Beerenauslese 1976 700ML ($219.95) $179 special
1976 Vintage: Wine Spectator 96 points “Ripe, powerful; plenty of botrytis.”
These are the only listings in the USA today!
Where else can you find 234 different German wines in-stock (that’s over 6,000 bottles!)? See the complete list, along with the additional 102 pre-arrival German wines on our web store!
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Newly Arrived
Domaine Desaunay-Bissey
The only way to get superior wine from Burgundy without paying an arm and a leg is to have better information than everyone else buying wines. The quantities made are too small, and so the key is to find good producers that are overlooked, for whatever reason, and buy as much as possible before the rest of the world finds out. The prototypical example for us is the wines of Desaunay-Bissey.
Bruno Desaunay, with his father-in-law Daniel Bissey, makes some of the most wonderful under the radar wines in Burgundy today. The key to this is Bruno’s experience working with Dominique Laurent combined with some of the oldest vines (60-80 years old, depending) in each of the vineyards he works. Vinification is light handed, with no more than 1/3rd new wood on these wines, and they also farm sustainably and use native yeasts for fermentation.
Newly Arrived Wines from Bruno Desaunay-Bissey
Bruno Desaunay-Bissey Chambolle Musigny La Combe d’Orveaux 2014 750ML ($79.95) $59 special
VinopolNote: “From 90+ year old vines, farmed sustainably in the Combe d’Orveaux vineyard. This vineyard is partially premier cru and partially village level, and the Desaunay-Bissey bottling is from the village section, which explains the pricing, but this wine always drinks like its nobler bretheren.”
Bruno Desaunay-Bissey Nuits-Saint-Georges Les Belles Croix Vieilles Vignes 2014 750ML ($69.95) $49 special
VinopolNote: “From 60+ year old vines, farmed sustainably from the Belle Croix lieu-dit. Rich, vibrant and classically Nuits.”
Bruno Desaunay-Bissey Les Beaux Monts Vieilles Vignes, Vosne-Romanee Premier Cru 2014 750ML ($119.95) $89 special
VinopolNote: “From 80+ year old vines, farmed sustainably. Les Beaux-Monts is a premier cru vineyard that is just north of Richbourg and above Suchots and Echezeaux. The Desaunay-Bissey vines are some of the oldest in the vineyard and represent an outstanding value for Vosne premier cru”
Bruno Desaunay-Bissey Vosne-Romanee 2014 750ML ($79.95) $59 special
VinopolNote: “From 80+ year old vines, farmed sustainably. The bulk of the holdings of the estate are in the village of Vosne and the wines show the touch of someone who has lots of experience with these wines. A really superb villages level Vosne.”
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We offer gift certificates in any amount with no taxes, fees or expiration date.
Gift certificates are not available through our web store. To order, please stop in, call or email. We are happy to mail gift certificates to any domestic address at no charge.
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Newly Arrived from Domaine Rémi Jobard
The Jobard family works with some of the finest parcels in all of Meursault. As powerful as they are graceful, the estate’s wines see the longest fermentation in the region – topping out at two months. Rémi bottles the wines, unfiltered, sixteen months after vintage after aging in large Austrian barrels. Many of the vines are over 50 years old, and the wines are known for their mineral-laden, opulently concentrated style. It’d be a bit unfair to dub the Jobard estate as “up and coming”, as they’ve enjoyed high praise (and scores!) for some time now. Still, they’re one to look out for:
Domaine Rémi Jobard Meursault Les Chevaliers 2013 750ML ($89.95) $69 special
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 91+ points “(from vines more than 60 years of age): Medium yellow. Fresh apricot, stone and menthol on the inviting nose. Rich and broad but energetic too, with harmonious acidity giving punch to the ripe fruit salad flavors. Tactile and saline but not austere. A superb village wine with good echoing grip.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Domaine Rémi Jobard Meursault Sous la Velle 2014 750ML ($69.95) $49 special
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 90 points “Pale lemon-yellow. Fresh scent of lemon zest. Firm and clean in the mouth, with its ripe flavors of white peach, citrus fruits and white flowers showing a lovely balance of sweetness and acidity. Almost creamy for 2014 but finishes with excellent grip. (Jobard’s two Bourgogne Blanc bottlings are both well worth buying, with the one simply labeled Bourgogne Blanc–the more expensive of the two–showing strong yellow fruit, spice and hazelnut aromas and flavors with excellent intensity and lift.)”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Domaine Rémi Jobard Meursault Les Narvaux 2014 750ML ($89.95) $69 special
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 91 points “Pale color. Aromas of crystallized lemon peel and peach show a candied aspect in a positive, fresh way. Juicy, elegant and gripping, showing the thickness of the vintage’s better examples but also solid balancing acidity. Its flavors of citrus fruits and acacia flower are enlivened by underlying minerality. Finishes generous, dry and long. Incidentally, Jobard told me that his 2014s finished drier than his 2015s.”
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Domaine Rémi Jobard Les Genevrieres, Meursault Premier Cru 2013 750ML ($119.95) $89 special
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 93 points “Pale-medium yellow. Bright aromas of lemon, lime, peach skin and nut oil. Densely packed and tactile but with lovely minty lift and energy to its lightly saline fruit salad flavors. Tactile and slightly phenolic but still shows a lovely light touch. Finishes with resounding minerality. Half of this wine is from vines between 25 and 30 years of age, the other half from 85-year-old vines.”
Domaine Rémi Jobard Les Genevrieres, Meursault Premier Cru 2014 750ML ($119.95) $89 special
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 93 points “(this fruit was picked at 12.2% potential alcohol and was chaptalized to 13%): Pale lemon-yellow color. Complex, refined aromas of white peach, citrus fruits, nut oil and white flowers. Dense, tactile and saline, boasting terrific purity and precision to its piquant fruit and rocky mineral flavors. This very classy wine finishes with succulent salinity and terrific juicy length. The yield here was around 40 hectoliters per hectare, the highest among these Meursault bottlings, but this wine displays lovely balance and an exhilarating light touch.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $99.99
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Newly Arrived
Cordero di Montezemolo
Cordero di Montezemolo, in Barolo, was founded in 1340. We’ll let that sink in for a second. That’s a long time, by any measure, and when you have one family, in the same place, farming the same land, generation after generation, they are bound to become really good at it. That’s very true here. Aside from a detour into and out of modernism in the 90’s, the Montezemolo wines have been really wonderful, classic examples of Piedmontese wines in their respective categories.
They’re best known for their Baroli, but don’t sleep on the Dolcetto and Barbera as well. Those wines are delicious—well-made and extremely affordable, especially given the quality and pedigree of the wines produced. The Barolo deserves the special attention it gets. Super long lived and extremely complex (their wines from the 60’s and 70’s are stunning today), it nevertheless is extremely well price. That’s something we can all be happy about.
Cordero di Montezemolo Dolcetto d’Alba 2015 750ML ($21.95) $16.60 special
Wine Spectator 89 points “A well of cherry jam and boysenberry fruit is accented by black pepper in this boisterous red. Dusty tannins line the finish. Drink now.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Cordero di Montezemolo Barbera d’Alba 2015 750ML ($24.95) $20.90 special
Wine Spectator 90 points “This rich, dark red exudes violet, blackberry, plum and leafy flavors, with light tannins and vivid acidity. Finishes with freshness and spice. Drink now through 2020.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Cordero di Montezemolo Monfalletto, Barolo DOCG 2012 750ML ($49.95) $39 special
James Suckling 94 points “Muscular and buff for the vintage with plenty of plum, terra-cotta and dry soil aromas and flavors. Full body, flavorful finish. Drink in 2018.”
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New Reviews for Oregon Wines
From Josh Raynolds of Vinous Media
(The No-Pinot Edition)
Love & Squalor Riesling, Willamette Valley 2014 750ML ($19.95) $16.60 special, 6 bottles available
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 90 points “Pale gold. Mineral-driven aromas of lime pith jasmine and smoky minerals take on a kerosene note in the glass. Dry and nervy in style offering bitter citrus zest and quince flavors and a touch of ginger on the back half. Closes firm focused and dry featuring very good clarity a touch of florality and lingering stoniness.”
Love & Squalor Antsy Pants Riesling, Willamette Valley 2012 750ML ($31.95) $26 special, 3 bottles available
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 90 points “Brilliant green-tinged straw. Incisive lime green apple and quinine scents along with subtle kerosene and mineral notes in the background. Dry and sharply focused offering refreshingly bitter pear skin and citrus pith flavors that fan out on the back half picking up a suggestion of honeysuckle. Closes firm and nervy displaying very good persistence and repeating florality.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Bow & Arrow Melon Johan Vineyard, Oregon 2015 750ML ($24.95) $18 special, 3 bottles available
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 90 points “Bright straw. Aromas of lemon zest, green apple and quinine, along with subtle floral and herb nuances in the background. Juicy orchard and citrus fruit flavors unfurl slowly with air and show good delineation and lift. Finishes on a zesty lemon note, showing good cling and lingering florality.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $22
Johan Vineyards Estate Gruner Veltliner, Willamette Valley 2014 750ML ($29.95) $26 special, 20 bottles available
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 90 points “Light bright gold. Pungent scents of orange, peach skin and succulent flowers on the nose, plus a hint of candied ginger in the background. Silky, dry and seamless in texture, offering juicy citrus and pit fruit flavors and suave floral and toasty lees undertones. Clings with very good intensity on the finish, which leaves notes of honeysuckle and bitter orange pith behind. There’s only 11.8 percent alcohol but I would have guessed higher given the wine’s depth and texture.”
Arterberry Maresh Chardonnay Maresh Vineyard, Dundee Hills 2014 750ML ($79.95) $69 special, 1 bottle available
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 94 points “(aged entirely in six- and seven-year-old barrels) Green-hued gold. Fresh, mineral-accented aromas of pear nectar and Meyer lemon; hints of smoky lees, iodine and anise emerge with air. Sappy, concentrated and seamless in texture, offering palate-staining orchard and pit fruit and brioche flavors sharpened by an intense mineral nuance. Finishes sappy, minerally and impressively long, with echoes of citrus zest and dusty minerals adding bite and focus.”
Cameron Winery Chardonnay, Dundee Hills 2015 750ML ($21.95) $19 special, 18 bottles available
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 89 points “Light bright yellow. Musky pear skin and peach pit scents, along with hints of lemon rind and ginger. Supple and smoky on entry and then tighter in the middle, offering juicy orchard fruit and melon flavors and a touch of bitter citrus fruit. The smoky note repeats on the finish, which hangs on with good, gently spicy persistence.”
Morgen Long Yamhill Vineyards Chardonnay, Yamhill-Carlton District 2014 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 1 bottle available
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 92 points “Pale green-tinged yellow. Fresh pear, fig and Meyer lemon aromas are complicated by subtle hints of jasmine and iodine. Chewy and focused on the palate, offering mineral-laced pear nectar, white peach and bitter citrus pith flavors that deepen slowly with air. Shows very good concentration but comes off lithe, with no excess fat. Mineral, ginger and toasty lees notes come up on the nervy, impressively persistent finish, which leaves subtle anise and floral notes behind. This is quite an impressive maiden effort for this small producer.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Crowley Four Winds Vineyard Chardonnay, Willamette Valley 2014 750ML ($44.95) $39 special, 6 bottles available
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 91 points “Pale yellow. Assertive, mineral-tinged pear and quince scents; lemon zest and floral nuances add complexity and lift. Sappy and penetrating on the palate, offering refreshingly bitter citrus zest and pear skin flavors that deepen and turn sweeter on the back half. Suggestions of sweet butter and tarragon come up on the very long, sappy finish, which leaves behind notes of Meyer lemon and pear nectar. I really like the blend of depth and vivacity here.”
Bergstrom Wines Old Stones Chardonnay, Willamette Valley 2013 750ML ($37.95) $33 special, 15 bottles available
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 91 points “Pale yellow. Pear skin, honey, tarragon and pungent flowers on the perfumed nose. Silky and concentrated, offering juicy, mineral-accented pear and tangerine flavors that become spicier with air. Finishes with firm grip and strong, floral-driven persistence, leaving a vibrant Meyer lemon note behind.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Belle Pente Gamay Noir, Willamette Valley 2014 750ML ($27.95) $24 special, 12 bottles available
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 90 points “Vivid magenta. Bright and energetic on the nose, which displays intense dark berry, cherry pit and violet scents and a suggestion of white pepper. Sappy and penetrating on the palate, offering bitter cherry and boysenberry flavors and a touch of spicecake. Fleshes out with air and finishes long and nervy; zesty acidity adds lift and bite.”
Matello Fool’s Journey Syrah Deux Vert Vineyard, Willamette Valley 2012 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 special, 28 bottles available
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 92 points “Bright ruby-red. Sexy, highly perfumed red berry liqueur, five-spice powder and floral pastille scents show very good clarity and a hint of smokiness. Silky, sweet and focused, offering fresh raspberry and spicecake flavors that deepen slowly with aeration. Shows real northern Rhône aromatic and flavor character, with Pinot-like weight and texture. Suggestions of menthol and white pepper build steadily on the very long, gently tannic finish, which leaves a note of clove behind.”
Newly Reviewed Oregon Wines Arriving January 13th:
Cristom Estate Viognier, Eola-Amity Hills 2014 750ML ($31.95) $26 pre-arrival special, ETA January 13th
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 92 points “Light green-tinged yellow. Ripe citrus and orchard fruits and violet on the highly fragrant, mineral-accented nose. Shows impressive energy and heft to the juicy pear, white peach and honey flavors; a touch of candied ginger adds back-end lift. I really like the blend of heft and vivacity that’s happening here. Closes with powerful thrust, building spiciness and excellent fruit-driven tenacity.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Cristom Estate Syrah, Eola-Amity Hills 2014 750ML ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival special, ETA January 13th
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 93 points “Highly perfumed scents of black and blue fruits, Indian spices, pungent flowers and cola, joined by a smoky nuance that builds in the glass. Palate-staining blackberry and boysenberry flavors show very good depth, and exotic violet pastille and black pepper nuances add complexity. Finishes smooth, spicy and warm, displaying lingering notes of sweet dark berry liqueur and gentle tannins.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
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Our Current
Shipping Promos:
Welcome to the club, Colorado!
Along with Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and California,
we now offer flat rate shipping to Colorado. Here’s the scoop:
Single orders of any quantity of wines qualify for the flat rate;
this does not apply to orders held in storage for any reason
or multiple orders consolidated into one shipment.
The flat reach for each state is, as follows:
-to Oregon for $17,
-Washington & Idaho for $20,
-and California & Colorado for $25
Take Advantage of the Flat Rate!
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Staff Pick Producer
Alzinger: A Producer We’d Prefer Not to Talk About
Wines Are In Stock or Arriving January 20th
With most of these winery write ups, I’m more than happy to go on at length about all of the different reasons to buy the wines, about the history of the estate and how distinguished the various cuvees are. With Alzinger, though, I feel conflicted. These are special wines, which we don’t get a ton of, from a producer that is possibly my favorite in Austria (and certainly in the Wachau). It would be nice to have them sit here in the shop for a few months so I can slowly buy more, but for obvious reasons that’s not a good idea.
The Alzinger style is one of restraint and balance, which yields wines that are impressively aromatic and reward focus and contemplation. Unlike the wines from some other producers (say Pichler) they aren’t so bombastic that they take up all of your attention, so they’re incredible wines to pair with food. Both Gruner and Riesling are excellent, up and down the ripeness scale (they make my favorite Federspiel wines) and they age beautifully. If you like old-school, old world wines (white Burgundy, or Alsatian wines before the planet turned into an oven), you should buy these. They’re really something. -Saul
Below is a list of our in stock wines from Alzinger and those arriving January 20th. To read reviews or to order, visit our web store!
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Thank you for reading!