In Today’s Newsletter:
Subscriber Special Pricing Ends Friday!
A Vertical of Oddero’s Majesterial Riservas
New French Arrivals:
Beaujolais, Rhone & Loire!
Trending
New Gilman Reviews for Weingut Keller
Josef Spreitzer
Mature and Rare Champagne from de Venoge
Subscriber Special Pricing Ends Friday!
A Vertical of Oddero’s Majesterial Riservas
We love hyper-traditional Barolo—there’s something about it that seems aristocratic, truly the wine of kings and the king of wines. The combination of power and delicacy, the youthful austerity that blooms into glorious aromatics and texture with age is magic. While it doesn’t always lead to high scores from reviewers, it does lead to absolutely stunning wines down the road.
Oddero’s wines represent some of the best, most traditional Barolo on the market today. All of the Nebbiolo vineyards of the estate are farmed organically and fermentation of the Barolos takes place in stainless steel before maturation in large casks—no barrique here. The top two wines at Oddero are their Brunate and their Vigna Rionda Riserva, released only after ten years of aging.
We’re offering some exceptionally sharp pricing on a vertical of Oddero’s Brunate and two bottlings of their Vigna Rionda. This set would be quite a fun collection for any lover of Piemontese wines. All these wines were cellared at the winery until last year. These are special wines at excellent prices.
Shop now before the sale ends!
In Stock Now:
Poderi Oddero Brunate, Barolo DOCG 2012 750ML ($149.95) Was $119, Now $99 special, 11 bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 92 points “Enticing aromas of cherry, rose and spice lead off, while the flavors pick up tar and tobacco, echoing the spice. This is rich and balanced, with oak tannins adding another layer on the long sweet-fruit finish. Best from 2018 through 2032. 180 cases made.”
Oddero’s wines represent some of the best, most traditional Barolo on the market today. All of the Nebbiolo vineyards of the estate are farmed organically and fermentation of the Barolos takes place in stainless steel before maturation in large casks—no barrique here. The top two wines at Oddero are their Brunate and their Vigna Rionda Riserva, released only after ten years of aging.
We’re offering some exceptionally sharp pricing on a vertical of Oddero’s Brunate and two bottlings of their Vigna Rionda. This set would be quite a fun collection for any lover of Piemontese wines. All these wines were cellared at the winery until last year. These are special wines at excellent prices.
Shop now before the sale ends!
In Stock Now:
Poderi Oddero Brunate, Barolo DOCG 2012 750ML ($149.95) Was $119, Now $99 special, 11 bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 92 points “Enticing aromas of cherry, rose and spice lead off, while the flavors pick up tar and tobacco, echoing the spice. This is rich and balanced, with oak tannins adding another layer on the long sweet-fruit finish. Best from 2018 through 2032. 180 cases made.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $118.99
Poderi Oddero Brunate, Barolo DOCG 2013 750ML ($149.95) Was $119, Now $99 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Wine Enthusiast 93 points “This opens with alluring red berry, menthol, new leather, star anise and crushed herb scents. It’s elegantly structured, offering sour cherry, cranberry, licorice and sage flavors set against firm, fine-grained tannins and fresh acidity. A hint of orange zest closes the finish. Drink 2023–2033.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
The average price nationally is $112
Poderi Oddero Vigna Rionda, Barolo Riserva DOCG 2007 1.5L ($499.95) Was $419, Now $369 special, 3 magnums in stock now
James Suckling 96 points “This is drinking wonderfully now with so much depth of fruit and lots of juicy character. Full body, layered and intense. Plenty of dark berry and chocolate. Fantastic. Drink or hold.”
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 95 points “This wine is released ten years after the harvest, giving consumers the opportunity to buy an older vintage of Barolo that has been stored carefully back at the winery. Older-release wines like this are becoming ever more popular in the Langhe. The 2007 Barolo Riserva Vignarionda is a powerful and exuberant expression that shows the density and the inner energy of Serralunga d’Alba. Blackberry and dark cherry lift from the bouquet to reveal pretty undertones of spice, leather and savory tobacco. Only 2,763 750-milliliter bottles, 200 magnums and 20 jeroboams were produced. This wine offers a very special taste of Nebbiolo.”
Wine Spectator 95 points “After 10 years, this is ready to enjoy. However, despite the sweet cherry fruit, leather, woodsy and mineral flavors, there are still dense tannins. This is moving in the right direction, mellowing gracefully and lingering with a long, fresh, tobacco- and mineral-tinged aftertaste. Best from 2020 through 2034. 150 cases made.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today for the magnum!
The next best price is $399.98
Poderi Oddero Vigna Rionda, Barolo Riserva DOCG 2008 750ML ($219.95) Was $169, Now $139 special, 5 bottles in stock now
Wine Advocate 94 points “The 2008 Barolo Riserva Vignarionda was held back at the winery to be released commercially ten years after the harvest. The fruit is sourced from 50-year-old vines that benefit from organic farming. You feel the robust nature of the Serralunga d’Alba village, with heat, structure and power at the back. It is a classic but powerful Nebbiolo, with earthy tones, sweet spice and dark chocolate. This wine is moving beautifully along its aging trajectory. Bravi. Only 2,000 bottles are available.”
Wine Spectator 94 points “Now a decade old, this Barolo reveals hints of truffle, carob and burnished leather in the bouquet, with fading cherry and berry fruit and licorice and spice accents. Displays the tightly knit, Serralunga structure, along with a chalky, minerally sensation on the lingering finish. Drink now through 2036.”
Importer note “The name Vigna Rionda, meaning “round vineyard”, comes from the plot of land, a depression filled with rows of vines, with the whole slope in full sun. Bought by the Oddero family in 1985, the Vigna Rionda, like all the land around Serralunga, Castiglione Falletto and Monforte, is part of an unusual tertiary Langhian-Miocene geological formation, rich in calcareous deposits, marl, fine sand and sandstone, alternating with mineral residues from plant and animal organisms. Additionally the Vigna Rionda is sheltered by the Castelletto hill from northeast winds and the winter cold, and it has an excellent microclimate for vine cultivation. The prizewinning Oddero Barolo Vigna Rionda is a great, tenacious wine with a long life, with an intense, spiced bouquet, structured and complex on tasting, and very exciting.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
The average price nationally is $161
New French Arrivals
France – Beaujolais
Domaine Pascal Aufranc Chenas Vignes de 1939, Beaujolais 2018 750ML ($21.95) $19 special
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 92 points “Deep, bright-rimmed violet color. Dark berries, cherry liqueur and candied licorice on the powerful, spice-accented nose. Open-knit and fleshy in style, offering spice-laced bitter cherry and cassis flavors and a smoky mineral nuance that expands with air. A subtle floral pastille note comes in on the gentle tannic finish, which lingers with resonating dark berry and floral character and strong, mineral-driven tenacity.”
Domaine Pascal Aufranc Chenas Vignes de 1939, Beaujolais 2018 750ML ($21.95) $19 special
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 92 points “Deep, bright-rimmed violet color. Dark berries, cherry liqueur and candied licorice on the powerful, spice-accented nose. Open-knit and fleshy in style, offering spice-laced bitter cherry and cassis flavors and a smoky mineral nuance that expands with air. A subtle floral pastille note comes in on the gentle tannic finish, which lingers with resonating dark berry and floral character and strong, mineral-driven tenacity.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Domaine Lucien Lardy Fleurie Les Roches Vieilles Vignes, Beaujolais 2018 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 special
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 93 points “Translucent ruby color. Displays deeply perfumed red and blue fruits, candied violet and a hint of exotic spives on the expressive nose. In a weighty nut still energetic style, offering sweet boysenberry, black raspberry, floral pastille and spicecake flavors that tighten up steadily on the back half. Finishes with serious intensity, sharp detail and discreet tannins that come on late.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Yohan Lardy Moulin-a-Vent Les Michelons, Beaujolais 2018 750ML ($29.95) $24 special
Wine Enthusiast 89 points “With some wood aging, this wine from one of the major divisions of Moulin-à-Vent is seriously structured and also bursts with black fruits. It promises to be a rich wine. Drink from 2021.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $27
Robert Perroud Brouilly L’Enfer des Balloquets, Beaujolais 2018 750ML ($24.95) $19.50 special
Wine Enthusiast 91 points “Historically known as l’enfer, or hell, this sheltered vineyard is hand-harvested on a 40% slope. The resulting wine is ripe and smoothly textured. This vintage has spice and the potential of black fruits that will come out strongly as the wine matures. Drink from 2021.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
France – Loire
We had a run on the 2013 Clisson Muscadet when we featured it in a recent newsletter. This sparkling wine is no slouch, either, and perfect for patios, picnics, and sunshine.
Domaine Bruno Cormerais Methode Traditionnelle Brut, Loire NV 750ML ($19.95) $18 special
VinopolNote: Mostly Folle Blanche, from an assortment of terroirs in Muscadet. Aged 2-3 years on the lees in bottle before disgorgement, low dosage.
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Thibaud Boudignon is a breakout star of Loire Valley. The Savennières-based producer has rare gift of taking all of Chenin’s energetic richness and compressing it into a linear beam of mineral electricity. The 2018s are no exception.
“One of the most exciting up-and-coming producers in the Loire, Thibaud Boudignon already has a fervent following in America. A Bordeaux native and former judo champion, Boudignon began making his own wine in 2009 and now has seven hectares, farmed biodynamically, in Anjou and Savennières.” – Jason Wilson, Vinous Media
Thibaud Boudignon Anjou Blanc ‘a Francoise..’, Loire 2018 750ML ($79.95) $65 special
Importer note “Cut like a diamond with clean lines and explosive fruit. Long detailed finish that fans out with a touch of creaminess. Still evolving and will reward the one who has patience. A worthy homage to his mother and grandfather.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Thibaud Boudignon Savennieres Clos de la Hutte, Loire 2018 750ML ($119.95) $95 special
Importer note “[A new] addition to Thibaud’s range of Chenin Blanc comes from a half hectare plot within the Clos de la Hutte (1.5ha) lieu-dit. The vines are young but the wine is profound. There is a long history to this site and Thibaud is channeling every bit of it here. The volumes are miniscule – 1000 bottles released.”
Importer note “Clos de la Hutte is situated in the commune of La Poissonnière; the Clos de la Hutte is an ancient religious site of 7 hectares, of which 2.6 are planted with vines. At the heart of this ancient monastery are vines produced from a massal selection of Chenin Blanc coming from the best domaines of the Loire. 5 different varieties of Chenin were planted together so as to best express the intensity and singularity of this special place. 50% vinified in oval demi muid, 25% in 320 liter cigars, and 25% in 500 liter. The ageing last one year in wood and a minimum of 3 months in stainless steel. The Clos de la Hutte seduces with its aromatic finesse and the intense minerality in the mouth.”
France – Rhone
“largely plush, sumptuous wines, many of which are delicious already.” – Joe Czerwinski, Wine Advocate, on the 2018 vintage in the Southern Rhone
“For me, 2018 is a top vintage. The tannins are long and deep.” – Marc Perrin, Perrin Famille/Château de Beaucastel
Saint Cosme is one of the notable estates of the Southern Rhone. Louis Barroul is a talented winemaker and is the 14th generation of his family to make wines in the domaine that was founded in the 1500’s. The wines he makes are rich and powerful, with undeniable terroir signatures. To highlight these varying terroirs, the estate bottles a handful of single vineyard Gigondas which are the most interesting and coveted wines in the portfolio.
The 2018’s are some of the best wines they’ve yet made. The Valbelle cuvee is gone—blended in to the base level Gigondas. The remaining single vineyards are stunning. From the “best of everything” Hominis Fides to the more elegant Le Claux or the richer, more powerful Le Poste, these are a world-beating set of wine—at fantastic, best in country pricing. If past is precedent, these will sell out quickly, so secure your wines immediately.
Saint Cosme is most rewarded for their top tier estate Gigondas’, which are their flagship wines, but around Vinopolis they might be best known for their assortment of super-high-grade negoc bottlings. From the exceptional value Deux Albion to the high grade Cote Rotie and everything in-between, these wines deliver fantastic quality at prices that make them best sellers ever year.
Saint Cosme Condrieu, Rhone 2018 750ML ($79.95) $59 special
James Suckling 93 points “A very powerful, rich and attractively fleshy Condrieu with intense and concentrated fruit and a wealth of apricots and some baking spices on offer. The palate has such intensity and depth. Citrus and fleshy apricots abound. Drink in the next three years.”
Jeb Dunnuck 92-94 points “I was able to taste two vintages of Louis Barruol’s Condrieu, and both are terrific. The 2018 Condrieu comes from a cooler terroir near Malleval and offers lots of apricot, tangerine, and honeysuckle notes as well as classic Condrieu richness and depth on the palate. Medium to full-bodied, silky, and elegant, with plenty of granite character, it has a forward, fleshy style that’s going to shine right out of the gate.”
Importer Note “Saint Cosme Condrieu is produced from fully-ripened Viognier which Louis Barruol believes is essential to achieving the variety’s full potential. “But ripeness must not imply excessive alcohol,” says Barruol, “We seek balance.” The wine is matured for eight months in used 228-liter barrels and undergoes full malolactic fermentation on fine lees for 12 months. Saint Cosme Condrieu shows classic aromas and flavors of dried apricot, peach, and orange blossom with fennel, anise, and elderflower. Twelve months of aging on its fine lees in used Burgundian pièce brings texture to the palate. This is a classic Condrieu.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $77
Domaine de Saint Cosme Les Deux Albion Blanc, Principaute d’Orange IGP 2019 750ML ($21.95) $17.50 special
Importer Note “Domaine de Saint Cosme Les Deux Albions Blanc carries the Principauté-d’Orange IGP and comes from 10-hectares near Violès, directly across the Ouvèze River from Gigondas. “The level of limestone here is, I think, the highest in the region,” says Louis Barruol. This wine is a blend of Viognier, Picpoul, and Marsanne aged on the lees in a combination of pièce, demi-muids, and INOX tank. Les Deux Albions Blanc shows the salty minerality typical of limestone terroir with notes of dried apricots and white flowers. The plantings near Violès include Bourboulenc, Marsanne, Viognier, Picpoul, Clairette, and Ugni Blanc, and all varieties will be included in future bottlings.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Saint Cosme Cote Rotie, Rhone 2018 750ML ($89.95) $69 special
Jeb Dunnuck 92-95 points “One of the gems in the Northern Rhône lineup is the 2018 Côte Rôtie, which, as with all of Louis’ wines, wasn’t destemmed and was brought up in 30-40% new oak. Stunning aromatics of black raspberries, olive tapenade, ground pepper, violets, and assorted meat notes all flow to a medium to full-bodied, opulent, seamless Côte Rôtie that has a smoking good texture. Count me impressed.”
Importer Note “Côte-Rôtie is produced from 100% Sérine, an ancient and local variety of Syrah that is markedly different from modern selections. It is more oval, with lots of space in the bunch, resulting in a very aromatic wine. It is sourced from the schist soils of Le Plomb, Besset, La Viallière, and Neve climats. These hillsides are among the steepest in France with an incline as much as 55 degrees. On the palate, it reveals a fresh attack followed by an ample, structured, long-lasting finish. The wine unfurls in successive stages and ends with top-quality tannins produced by whole cluster fermentation. It features aromas and flavors of smoked ham, violet, graphite, graphite, and licorice.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
The average price nationally is $86
Saint Cosme Crozes-Hermitage, Rhone 2018 750ML ($34.95) $27 special
Jeb Dunnuck 90-92 points “Looking at the Northern Rhône releases from Louis, the 2018 Crozes Hermitage offers terrific depth of fruit as well as hints of violets and pepper, medium body, and fine tannins. It’s beautifully textured and just sings of Syrah.”
Importer Note “Saint Cosme Crozes-Hermitage is produced from 100% Sérine, an ancient and local variety of Syrah that is markedly different from modern selections. It is more oval, with lots of space in the bunch, resulting in a very aromatic wine. It is sourced from the hillside vineyards of Erôme, Gervans, and Larnage in the northern part of the appellation. It is made from 100% destemmed grapes, fermented with indigenous yeasts, aged in 20% new 228-liter barrels, and bottled without fining or filtration. Granite slopes rather than flatlands give Saint Cosme’s Crozes-Hermitage greater structure and complexity. The wine shows classic aromas and flavors of black fruits, smoked bacon, black peppercorn, and incense.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Jeb Dunnuck 89-91 points “The 2018 Saint Joseph comes all from the northern part of the Northern Rhône and offers more peppery stems, violets, and herbal notes as well as a medium-bodied, fresh, elegant style on the palate. With fine tannins and rock-solid overall balance, it should end up being an outstanding wine.”
Importer Note “Saint Cosme Saint-Joseph is produced from 100% Sérine, an ancient and local variety of Syrah that is markedly different from modern selections. It is more oval, with lots of space in the bunch, resulting in a very aromatic wine. It is sourced from the climat Malleval in the northern part of the appellation near Condrieu. The wine is made from 70% destemmed with 30% whole clusters, fermented with indigenous yeasts, and aged in 20% new 228-liter barrels. Louis Barruol describes the microclimate of the vineyard Malleval as “very cold” which allows the grapes to retain acidity and showcase the floral aromas of the local Sérine variety. Aromas and flavors of blackberries and wild strawberries are accented by notes of peppercorns, tobacco, peonies, and violets.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Wine Advocate 94-96 points “Still awaiting bottling during my June visit, the 2017 Chateauneuf du Pape features bold notes of black cherries, cassis and spice cake. Owner Barruol says the Christmas cake is typical of La Crau. Full-bodied and voluptuous, with a long, fine and silky finish, this great effort provides one intense ride from start to finish.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
We have 31 different bottlings from Saint Cosme available!
You can browse and shop the full list on our webstore.
Trending
Old-school, Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel from one of the masters.
Ridge Vineyards East Bench Zinfandel, Dry Creek Valley 2018 750ML ($34.95) $29 special, 17 bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 92 points “Appealingly old-school and just rustic enough to highlight the vibrant, briary wild berry flavors, laced with dried sage and licorice notes, building tension toward lively tannins. Drink now through 2028. 6,250 cases made.”
The Cote des Blancs region of Champagne is hallowed terroir where such stunning growers such as Gimonnet, Pierre Peters and Doyard are based. Lilbert has been on our radar for a long time. Drawing from Grand Cru vineyards in the Cote des Blancs, Lilbert makes blanc de blancs wines from some excellent vineyards in a finessed, minerally style. Their wines have notable brioche-y character, as well, due to the large quantities of reserve wines in their various blends. We’ve always known the wines were amazing, but it wasn’t until this release that we could offer them at the best prices in the country, so we went big.
Lilbert-Fils Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($69.95) $49 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 92 points “A fresh and elegant blanc de blancs Champagne, with juicy nectarine and mango fruit accented by hints of candied kumquat, spring blossom and salted almond. Long and creamy on the mouthwatering finish. Disgorged summer 2016. Drink now through 2022. 1,650 cases made, 100 cases imported.”
Ridge Vineyards East Bench Zinfandel, Dry Creek Valley 2018 750ML ($34.95) $29 special, 17 bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 92 points “Appealingly old-school and just rustic enough to highlight the vibrant, briary wild berry flavors, laced with dried sage and licorice notes, building tension toward lively tannins. Drink now through 2028. 6,250 cases made.”
The Cote des Blancs region of Champagne is hallowed terroir where such stunning growers such as Gimonnet, Pierre Peters and Doyard are based. Lilbert has been on our radar for a long time. Drawing from Grand Cru vineyards in the Cote des Blancs, Lilbert makes blanc de blancs wines from some excellent vineyards in a finessed, minerally style. Their wines have notable brioche-y character, as well, due to the large quantities of reserve wines in their various blends. We’ve always known the wines were amazing, but it wasn’t until this release that we could offer them at the best prices in the country, so we went big.
Lilbert-Fils Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($69.95) $49 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 92 points “A fresh and elegant blanc de blancs Champagne, with juicy nectarine and mango fruit accented by hints of candied kumquat, spring blossom and salted almond. Long and creamy on the mouthwatering finish. Disgorged summer 2016. Drink now through 2022. 1,650 cases made, 100 cases imported.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Tenuta Fanti offers a more classic touch on their wines, though recent vintages have shown more influence from daughter Elisa Fanti, incorporating a slightly more modern influence. In both the 2015 Brunello and the 2018 Rosso the floral aromatics are stunning yet they thankfully don’t overpower the exotic spice and leather notes. Juicy with fresh acidity and plenty of dusty earthness, the Brunello is packed full of flavor. Again, the vintage shows its ability to stuff more flavor than should ever be expected in a vessel of this size. It unfolded for four days, and might well have gone longer if I hadn’t finished it off. The 18 Rosso is a simple, guilty pleasure. Not as structured as the Brunello, but with plenty of character to let you know that the wines are from the same family. The Rosso cleans up nicely in the finish and doesn’t linger as long as the Brunello, but leaves you with a nice pucker from the fresh acidity – you’ll want enough dinner to keep up with this one. One plate of pasta isn’t enough. A great sub $20 value.
Tenuta Fanti Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Tuscany 2015 750ML ($49.95) $39 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
James Suckling 95 points “There’s a beautiful interplay between bright, primary florals, such as rose petals and tulips and dust, hay bale and dried raspberries. The palate suggests a ripe, powerful persona with chewy, juicy tannins and a fine line of pretty acidity. Best ever. Drink in 2022.”
Tenuta Fanti Rosso di Montalcino, Tuscany 2018 750ML ($24.95) $19 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Eric Guido-Vinous 89 points “The extroverted 2018 Fanti Rosso di Montalcino is showing masses of ripe strawberry, sweet spices and exotic florals with grounding notes of worn leather and hints of undergrowth. Silky textures meld into tart red berries with a peppery-herbal twist, in a soft and easygoing effort that’s energized by bright acids that only come forward toward the finale. A mix of red fruits resonate on the finish, along with wild herbs and florals, punctuating the experience on a Rosso that is very easy to like.”
Paolo Bea is an iconic producer—a virtual one-winery symbol of Umbrian wine and it’s potential. No one in the region produces wines as profound, interesting and delicious as the ‘first family’ of Umbrian wine.
Funky, rich, powerful and totally unique.
Paolo Bea Rosso de Veo Umbria IGT 2015 750ML ($89.95) $79 special, 17 bottles in stock now
Importer Note “Since the 2005 vintage, Bea’s “Rosso de Veo” (“Veo” is the way the family’s name is pronounced in the old Umbrian dialect) is pure Sagrantino sourced from younger vines around the property and from parcels that do not quite make Giampiero’s rigorous cut for “Pagliaro,” “Pipparello,” and “Cerrete.” This 2015 is Mike Tyson in his prime: potent, assertive, brazen, and making no concessions to polite society. Monstrous in its tannins, it nonetheless presents them in such a multifaceted way as to almost transcend their viselike grip; the tannins themselves have layers, offering classic sandalwood spice on one level, mineral-saturated depth-charge stoniness on another, and—most thrillingly—a direct, naked evocation of crunching into dripping-ripe berries. Four years of élévage did nothing to blunt this astonishing wine’s unmitigated expression of freshly plucked grapes, and this is a monumental “Rosso de Veo” that should live for a very, very long time.”
Last call!
Veglio Michelino & Figlio Barolo DOCG, Piedmont 2015 750ML ($39.95) Was $28, Now $24 Subscriber Special, 24 bottles in stock now
James Suckling 92 points “Some swanky, glossy oak adds toffee aromas to the ripe red cherries. Plenty of vanilla here, too. The palate delivers a fullish and round impression with plenty of oak again in the mix. Praline and ripe red cherries in abundance here. Try from 2022.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
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
New Gilman Reviews for Keller
In Stock Now:
Weingut Keller Gruner Silvaner Trocken, Rheinhessen 2019 750ML ($34.95) $26 special, 30 bottles in stock now
John Gilman 90+ points “The 2019 Grüner Silvaner Trocken from Weingut Keller comes in at 12.5 percent alcohol in this vintage, so this is a bit riper than the lovely 2018 version. This bottling is also now focusing more and more on old vines, so that they are now fully forty years of age going into this cuvée. The wine offers up a lovely, precise bouquet of sweet grapefruit, green apple, an almost crystalline base of chalky soil tones, lemongrass, a touch of wild yeasts and a topnote of orange blossoms. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied, complex and rock solid at the core, with racy acids, excellent focus and grip and a long, vibrant and very classy finish. This is outstanding this year! While it is approachable already (and probably, local winery customers have probably already drunk up their yearly allocation with the white asparagus crop), I would be inclined to give it a couple of years in the cellar before opening it, as this wine is coiled like a spring and will blossom beautifully with just a bit of bottle age! 2022-2040+.”
Weingut Keller Gruner Silvaner Trocken, Rheinhessen 2019 750ML ($34.95) $26 special, 30 bottles in stock now
John Gilman 90+ points “The 2019 Grüner Silvaner Trocken from Weingut Keller comes in at 12.5 percent alcohol in this vintage, so this is a bit riper than the lovely 2018 version. This bottling is also now focusing more and more on old vines, so that they are now fully forty years of age going into this cuvée. The wine offers up a lovely, precise bouquet of sweet grapefruit, green apple, an almost crystalline base of chalky soil tones, lemongrass, a touch of wild yeasts and a topnote of orange blossoms. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied, complex and rock solid at the core, with racy acids, excellent focus and grip and a long, vibrant and very classy finish. This is outstanding this year! While it is approachable already (and probably, local winery customers have probably already drunk up their yearly allocation with the white asparagus crop), I would be inclined to give it a couple of years in the cellar before opening it, as this wine is coiled like a spring and will blossom beautifully with just a bit of bottle age! 2022-2040+.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $28
Weingut Keller Feuervogel Silvaner Trocken, Rheinhessen 2019 750ML ($89.95) $69 special, 11 bottles in stock now
John Gilman 94 points “For the first time in the history of the estate, the 2019 Feuervogel Silvaner Trocken will not be the top bottling of this varietal from the Keller family, as Klaus-Peter has made a special bottling from another parcel of sixty year-old vines that will be offered at the auction in Bad Kreuznach. However, the Feuervogel bottling is also now made from sixty year-old vines. I cannot wait to taste the new special bottling of Silvaner, as the 2019 Feuervogel is flat out stunning this year, with the nose soaring from the glass in a blaze of tart orange, a touch of pink grapefruit, stony minerality, dried flowers, a touch of wild yeasts and a discreet topnote of citrus zest. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied, crisp and perfectly balanced, with a lovely core, fine mineral drive, a lovely girdle of acidity and beautiful focus on the long, complex and vibrant finish. This is gorgeous wine and it is hard to imagine that there is an even better bottling of Silvaner in the cellars this year! 2020-2050.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $80
Weingut Keller Riesling Trocken, Rheinhessen 2019 750ML ($36.95) $27 special, 26 bottles in stock now
John Gilman 91 points “The 2019 Estate Riesling Trocken from Klaus-Peter Keller is 11.5 percent octane this year and is an absolutely beautiful wine again. As readers may recall from my notes on the 2018 vintage here, Klaus-Peter has decided to increase the age of vines that go into this “entry level” bottling of dry Riesling starting in the 2018 vintage and it shows in the quality of this bottling. The 2019 offers up a bright and precise bouquet of tart orange, apple, a complex base of chalky minerality, citrus peel and a topnote of dried flowers. On the palate the wine is crisp, fullish and complex, with a superb core, lovely mineral drive and cut, ripe, snappy acids and a long, beautifully focused and balanced finish. This is an outstanding wine and will have no difficulties aging long and gracefully; I would be inclined to at least give it three or four years in the cellar and really let it open up from behind its excellent girdle of ripe acidity. 2023-2050+.”
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Weingut Keller ‘Von der Fels Riesling’ Trocken, Rheinhessen 2019 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 16 bottles in stock now
John Gilman 93 points “The 2019 vintage of Klaus-Peter Keller’s von der Fels Riesling Trocken is truly stunning this year, coming in at 12.5 percent octane and just exuding its limestone minerality on both the nose and palate. The bouquet is precise, complex and vibrant, soaring from the glass in a mix of tart orange, pink grapefruit, kaleidoscopic chalky minerality, lemongrass, citrus peel, a touch of wild yeasts and a topnote of dried flowers. On the palate the wine is deep, pure, full-bodied and racy, with a superb core of fruit, outstanding mineral drive and grip, buried, racy acids and absolutely perfect balance on the long and youthfully complex finish. As more and more old vines get consigned to the von der Fels bottling (the average here is now thirty years of age, well up from what it was a decade ago), this does not have quite the same power, but it is now approaching the quality of the Grosses Gewächs bottlings from Weingut Keller in those early years when I first started visiting here in 2005 and 2006. This is a stunning value in the 2019 vintage! 2024-2055.”
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Weingut Keller Westhofener Kirchspiel RR Riesling, Rheinhessen 2018 750ML ($79.95) $59 special, 5 bottles in stock now
John Gilman 94+ points “As readers may recall, the “RR” Reserve bottling from Klaus-Peter Keller hails from a small section of the grand cru Kirchspiel vineyard that has red soils, rather than the limestone prevalent in the rest of the vineyard. Klaus-Peter chooses to bottle this wine on its own, rather than blend it in with the terres blanches sections of the vineyard. I used to taste this every year, but as the range of great wines has expanded a bit at Weingut Keller (and choices have to be made about what is going to be tasted), I had not tasted this particular bottling since the 2015 vintage. The 2018 RR Reserve comes in at a svelte twelve percent alcohol this year and offers up a beautiful young bouquet of tart orange, sweet grapefruit, a lovely touch of fresh pineapple, a complex base of minerality, dried flowers, citrus peel and a touch of wild yeasts in the upper register. On the palate the wine is pure, full-bodied, focused and rock solid at the core, with outstanding focus and grip, zesty acids and a very long, precise and complex finish. This is clearly of Grosses Gewächs quality this year and it would be fascinating to pair it up with the 2018 Kirchspiel GG a decade down the road! 2018-2080.”
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We offer ten bottlings from Keller in stock now.
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Josef Spreitzer
Spreitzer is one of the unsung heros of German Riesling, making beautiful wines that are typical of the lyric side of the Rheingau. At a time when most of the great old names of the Rheingau have been resting on their laurels, Spreitzer has turned themselves into a truly must-buy producer. These have the classic aristocracy of the Rheingau, but with beautiful fruit and lively personalities that make them very easy to drink young.
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Weingut Josef Spreitzer Winkeler Jesuitengarten Riesling Spatlese, Rheingau 2018 750ML ($37.95) $29 special, 11 bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 90 points “Bright and succulent, featuring notes of yellow apple, peach and floral. Offers a light-bodied frame but remains very flavorful, with high acidity providing balance and support. Best from 2022 through 2032. 100 cases imported.”
Terry Theise note “There were two options. A drier one is classic, upholstered, earthy and dense with just an edge of sweetness, rural and with a fragrance of leaf-decay. The “sweeter” wine ran to the usual violet and lavender but showed a sweet finish, and yet the wine’s more playful. You guessed it; we blended them and enjoyed much of the best of both worlds, though Andi will keep at it until he gets the exact one he wants. I want this wine to be earnest and Jesuitical and also delicious. Tall order, but Andi’s a pretty tall guy.”
In Stock Now from Josef Spreizter:
Weingut Josef Spreitzer Winkeler Jesuitengarten Riesling Spatlese, Rheingau 2018 750ML ($37.95) $29 special, 11 bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 90 points “Bright and succulent, featuring notes of yellow apple, peach and floral. Offers a light-bodied frame but remains very flavorful, with high acidity providing balance and support. Best from 2022 through 2032. 100 cases imported.”
Terry Theise note “There were two options. A drier one is classic, upholstered, earthy and dense with just an edge of sweetness, rural and with a fragrance of leaf-decay. The “sweeter” wine ran to the usual violet and lavender but showed a sweet finish, and yet the wine’s more playful. You guessed it; we blended them and enjoyed much of the best of both worlds, though Andi will keep at it until he gets the exact one he wants. I want this wine to be earnest and Jesuitical and also delicious. Tall order, but Andi’s a pretty tall guy.”
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Weingut Josef Spreitzer Oestricher Lenchen Riesling Kabinett, Rheingau 2018 750ML ($27.95) $21.90 special, 10 bottles in stock now
Grapelive 92 points “This 2018 vintage is a beauty and a fabulous summer wine. One of the oldest family wineries in the Rheingau, Weingut Spreitzer…have really done an amazing job elevating this historic estate.…The Lenchen delivers a lovely concentration of flavors and the Kabinett with expressive fruity character drinks almost as impressively as a Spatlese with a serious palate impact and structure, while still feeling bright and brisk, not cloying or overtly sweet with apricot, apple, pineapple and racy citrus fruits along with touches of gingery spices, lemongrass, lime sorbet, wild mint tea and rosewater. This Kabinett has a sunny personality and makes you smile with comforting yellow fruits, but there is an underlying mineral focus and stoniness that reminds you that this terroir is very special….The vines are littered here with pebbles as well as heavy tertiary, iron-containing clay marl and quartzite that adds complexity to the profile that leans toward exotic in nature. The Spreitzer team used a combination of old fuder (German oak cask) and stainless steel tanks to ferment and age the Lench Kabinett to retain fresh detail as well as give texture, which this vintage manages to convey to near perfection, making for an ideal Kabinett Riesling that is both fun and quaffable along with having complexity to thrill the senses and goes brilliantly with food, classic German dishes and especially spicy Asian cuisines like Thai.”
Terry Theise note “We made it drier, at which point it showed more mid-palate and less elbows-and-knees, becoming a frisky balanced wine with a crisp finish; mirabelles, yellow fruits and lemon-zest, salty and salivating. This wine has come a long way from the simpler and fruitier wine it once was.”
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Weingut Josef Spreitzer ‘303’ Oestricher Lenchen Riesling Spatlese, Rheingau 2018 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 11 bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 92 points “Concentrated, with peach, orange peel and spice aromas and flavors set on a velvety texture. Nicely structured, showing complexity, focus and length due to the acidity, which will help this age gracefully. Best from 2022 through 2036. 50 cases imported.”
Terry Theise note “The cadaster is called Eiserberg (iron hill), from which a record-setting wine of 303º Oechsle was gathered back in the 1920s. The record’s since been broken but come on; this is the climate-change era. This ’18 has a blatant fragrance of iron, white flowers and pickled ginger and a mass of pulverized mineral; it’s as sleek as the 2004 and yet as rich as the 2015, and if there’s any botrytis it’s clean and discreet. The sweetness is taut and buzzing. The most exciting vintage in many years! What is this wine, though? It’s somewhat too rich and intense for a typical Spätlese and too buoyant for a typical Auslese, and so it becomes a wine that’s oblique to the notion of “utility,” how it might be used. This can drive you crazy unless you can somehow cherish the whole idea of a wine existing merely because it is beautiful. OK, yes, that’s all well and good, but at some point we decide to open it, and then what, when, why, how? My only answer would be, that we contrive the occasion for the wine to be like a painting on your wall; you look at it and are happier and richer. It doesn’t have to “perform” in any way. It simply returns your life to you as a finer and deeper matter. And if a painting can do this, why not a wine?”
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Weingut Josef Spreitzer ‘Rosengarten’ Riesling Grosses Gewachs, Rheingau 2018 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 94 points “Pure and focused, with underlying silkiness giving this a seductive texture, while flavors of guava, kiwifruit and quince blossom lend ample charm. Very open despite the high acidity, exhibiting more than enough flesh for harmony. Well-made, showing a lemon-lime mix on the finish. Best from 2021 through 2034.”
Terry Theise note “Herbs, quince, mint, pea-shoot and a curious underlying stoniness; it made me think of oolongs and Sencha and grassy green teas; a singular Riesling of leaf upon leaf.”
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Weingut Josef Spreitzer Hattenheimer Wisselbrunnen Riesling Erstes Gewachs, Rheingau 2018 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 11 bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 92+ points “The 2018 Hattenheimer Wisselbrunnen Rheingau Riesling Trocken “GG” is subtle and deep on the nose, with bright yet concentrated fruit flavors. Full-bodied, lush and mineral on the palate, this is a tensioned, stimulatingly salty Wisselbrunnen with a firm structure and very good length. Tasted at Schloss Johannisberg and in Wiesbaden in August 2019. “
Terry Theise note “I can’t recall when a young Wisselbrunnen was this present, even more than the ’17 was. There’s a fine refined aroma of hickory nuts and conifer, that leads into a serious and suavely firm and substantive palate with lots of echo and umami, and then a stoniness enters, and the finish just doesn’t quit. Reminds me of 2012 at its graceful best, and it’s a pure Rheingau Grand Cru (at least from the riverfront), self-assured but not haughty.”
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Collector’s Corner
Mature and Rare Champagne from de Venoge
De Venoge is one of the more overlooked old-school Champagne houses, a fact that means even their finest and rarest wines continue to be undervalued relative to their peers. Case in point? The two prestige cuvees, the Louis d’Or and Louis XV bottlings, which are held back on the lees for exceedingly long periods of time and are true monuments of vintage bubbly. We’ve secured a rare parcel of a few vintages of these wines, including the legendary ’96 and ’08 Louis XV.
De Venoge has a strong following in Europe for good reason—they source from some of the best vineyards in Champagne and produce prestige cuvees of immense quality, built on long lees aging. They source Pinot Noir from Grand Cru villages like Verzenay, Ambonnay and Bouzy and pair it with a murderers row of Chardonnay sources, including Avize, Mesnil, and Cramant. The resulting wines capture the essence of classical Champagne and are in high demand in Europe’s top restaurants. Despite that, they tend to be overlooked in the US, making them quite the opportunity for savvy collectors.
Their older prestige cuvees are outstanding wines for lovers of mature Champagne in all its glory, with rich, creamy textures from extended lees aging allied to surprisingly fresh, mineral personalities. There’s a reason this house has such a following in Europe—they produce stunning wines and then age them until they’re ready to go, so you don’t have to leave these in your cellar for decades. We’ve got quite the selection in stock, so now’s your chance to build a collection.
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De Venoge Louis d’Or Brut, Champagne 1996 750ML ($299.95) $249 special, 6 bottles in stock now
Wine Advocate 96 points “The 1996 Louis d’Or Brut Millésimé is a blend of 50% Pinot Noir from Verzenay, Ambonnay, Mailly and Bouzy and 50% Chardonnay from Avize, Cramant, Mesnil-sur-Oger and Chouilly. Fermented in stainless steel, with malolactic, and it was disgorged in March 2016 with a dosage of six grams per liter. This luxurious, golden colored vintage Champagne offers a beautifully complex, matured and vinous bouquet with lovely brioche, mushroom and yeasty flavors. The visual CO2 is gone quickly, but on the palate it gives this lean and steely yet enormously complex Millésime a tight structure and enormous length. It is tastes bone dry so that you can fully concentrate on the very complex and mineral character and the lovely austere finish. This is great a Champagne for purists, and the finish is enormous, reminding me of matured dry Rieslings from the good old Rheingau. Many of our readers may eventually ask for more roundness and charm here… But first: this is 1996. And second: this is Louis d’Or, and there is no Champagne like this.-SR”
De Venoge has a strong following in Europe for good reason—they source from some of the best vineyards in Champagne and produce prestige cuvees of immense quality, built on long lees aging. They source Pinot Noir from Grand Cru villages like Verzenay, Ambonnay and Bouzy and pair it with a murderers row of Chardonnay sources, including Avize, Mesnil, and Cramant. The resulting wines capture the essence of classical Champagne and are in high demand in Europe’s top restaurants. Despite that, they tend to be overlooked in the US, making them quite the opportunity for savvy collectors.
Their older prestige cuvees are outstanding wines for lovers of mature Champagne in all its glory, with rich, creamy textures from extended lees aging allied to surprisingly fresh, mineral personalities. There’s a reason this house has such a following in Europe—they produce stunning wines and then age them until they’re ready to go, so you don’t have to leave these in your cellar for decades. We’ve got quite the selection in stock, so now’s your chance to build a collection.
In Stock Now:
De Venoge Louis d’Or Brut, Champagne 1996 750ML ($299.95) $249 special, 6 bottles in stock now
Wine Advocate 96 points “The 1996 Louis d’Or Brut Millésimé is a blend of 50% Pinot Noir from Verzenay, Ambonnay, Mailly and Bouzy and 50% Chardonnay from Avize, Cramant, Mesnil-sur-Oger and Chouilly. Fermented in stainless steel, with malolactic, and it was disgorged in March 2016 with a dosage of six grams per liter. This luxurious, golden colored vintage Champagne offers a beautifully complex, matured and vinous bouquet with lovely brioche, mushroom and yeasty flavors. The visual CO2 is gone quickly, but on the palate it gives this lean and steely yet enormously complex Millésime a tight structure and enormous length. It is tastes bone dry so that you can fully concentrate on the very complex and mineral character and the lovely austere finish. This is great a Champagne for purists, and the finish is enormous, reminding me of matured dry Rieslings from the good old Rheingau. Many of our readers may eventually ask for more roundness and charm here… But first: this is 1996. And second: this is Louis d’Or, and there is no Champagne like this.-SR”
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De Venoge Louis XV de Venoge Brut Millesime, Champagne 1996 750ML ($219.95) $189 special, 21 bottles in stock now
James Suckling 96 points “This is really complex, old Champagne with puff-pastry, dried-apple, spice and salted-nut aromas and flavors. Full body. Ultra fine bubbles with an extremely fine and creamy mouth feel. Extreme edge to it. This spent 21 years on the lees. Disgorged in 2018. Every year they disgorge 3,000 bottles”
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De Venoge Louis XV de Venoge Brut Millesime, Champagne 2006 750ML ($219.95) $189 special, 21 bottles in stock now
Wine Advocate 96 points “The assemblage of the 2006 Louis XV Brut Millésimé is about the same as the 1995 and 1996—composed of 50/50 Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, all from grand cru villages. The only difference is that the Chardonnay from Le Mesnil-sur-Oger (10% of the assemblage) spent 12 months in oak barrels. Disgorged in January 2017 (dosage: six grams per liter), the 2006 has a golden color and opens with a deep, ripe, elegant and vinous bouquet with toasty and chalky lemon and fresh white fruit flavors. On the palate, this is an intense, round, fresh and complex Louis XV with great purity and finesse. The wine opens on the palate like a soufflé, coating the whole palate without any pressure or weight—gorgeous! This is a delicate and fresh yet well-structured and persistent Louis XV whose intense and long but weightless finish reveals lovely, almost juicy fruit concentration with perfectly integrated freshness and lasting minerality that seems to give additional structure. The 2006 shows a lot of Chardonnay features right now and drinks perfectly today; however, it can be kept under perfect conditions for decades. Just keep it in the box, because the bottle is white and nothing makes a Champagne age faster than exposure to daylight. (Tasted in November 2017 from Lot LL15067017BT.)-SR”
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De Venoge Louis XV de Venoge Brut Millesime, Champagne 2008 750ML ($299.95) $249 special, 22 bottles in stock now
James Suckling 95 points “This is really punchy and broad-shouldered with muscular structure and citrusy undertones. Full body. Lightly tannic and a fresh and vivid finish. This is the first vintage without malolactic fermentation ever. One for the cellar. Better in 2022.”
Wine Advocate 93+ points “The straw-yellow/white-golden colored 2008 Louis XV Brut Millésimé blends 50% Chardonnay (20 % from Avize, 15% from Oger and 15% from Mesnil) with 50% Pinot Noir (41.5% from Verzenay and 8.5% from Bouzy). Disgorged in January 2018 with a dosage of six grams per liter, the 2008 displays a clear, pure, fresh, chalky-tinged and vinous nose with lemon, white fruits, brioche, hazelnuts, white blossoms and some caramel notes. Pure, lean, fresh and elegant on the palate, with a lingering hazelnut flavor, this is a straight yet complex cuvée with grip and a long, well-structured and textured finish. This 2008 is still terribly fresh and should benefit from further bottle aging. For the moment, I am missing the mouth-filling generosity of the 2006 and 1995. Mind that this is the first vintage of de Venoge’s prestigious Louis XV where the base wines didn’t undergo malolactic fermentation! Total production: 10,326 bottles. Tasted October 2018.”
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De Venoge Louis XV de Venoge Extra Brut Rose Millesime, Champagne 2002 750ML ($219.95) $189 special, 10 bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 93 points “Harmonious, with fine intensity, offering rich notes of spice cake, toasted almond, dried cherry, grilled plum and smoky mineral. Almost velvety in texture, with juicy acidity that brings you back for another sip. Delicious. Drink now through 2022. 54 cases made.”
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