Monday Newsletter 2-22-2021

In This Newsletter:

Champagne Arrivals

The Thrilling Wines of Francesco Rinaldi

New Week – New Arrivals

New Arrival Special Featurette:
Merkelbach 2019s


Collector’s Corner:
Don Melchor



Champagne Arrivals

Back in stock. This is Galloni’s highest score ever for this wine! 
Pierre Peters Cuvee Speciale ‘Les Chetillons’ Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Brut, Champagne 2013 750ML ($179.95) $159 special, only 12 bottles available!
Antonio Galloni 97+ points
“The 2013 Brut Cuvée Spéciale Les Chétillons is outrageously beautiful. I remember tasting it as vin clair in March, 2014. Today, as a finished Champagne from bottle, the 2013 captures all of the intense ripeness and bright acidity that make this vintage so exceptional. A wine of cut and brilliance, the 2013 will thrill readers who enjoy Blanc de Blancs. Citrus, marzipan, slate, crushed rocks and floral notes pulse with tremendous energy. Readers will have to be patient with the 2013. It is a total knock-out. Wow! Dosage is 3.5-4.5 grams per liter. Disgorged: April, 2020.”

Bereche et Fils ‘Rilly-La-Montagne’ Premier Cru Extra Brut Millesime, Champagne 2016 750ML ($149.95) Was $99, Now $89 Super Subscriber Special, only 6 bottles available!
Antonio Galloni 94 points
“The 2016 Rilly La Montagne, 100% Pinot Noir, possesses striking inner perfume and tons of sheer allure. Medium in body and gracious, the Rilly has much to offer. It is not especially vinous, as the Bérêche wines can be, but rather a Champagne that impresses with the understated finesse and persistence that come from this relatively high altitude site. Kirsch, Mirabelle plum, mint, spice and dried rose petal are some of the many aromas and flavors that emerge. The Rilly has so much to offer. Dosage is 3 grams per liter. Disgorged: January, 2020.”
Importer note “Rilly-la-Montagne [is] a pure Pinot Noir from the premier cru village of the same name, west of Ludes. From a half-hectare of 36-year-old vines in the Les Sablons lieu-dit, it is an exotically perfumed, vivid Champagne, courtesy of the limestone and sand soil and steep slope of its site. And, from 2012 on, the brothers are producing a tiny amount of Mailly grand cru.”

A. Margaine ‘Le Brut’ Premier Cru, Champagne NV 750ML ($54.95) $45 special
Disgorged 10/2019
Antonio Galloni 93 points
“The NV Brut Le Brut is another absolutely compelling wine in this range. Le Brut is 90% Chardonnay and 10% Pinot Noir, based on 2017 with 60% reserve wines from 2016-2011. What stands out most, though, is the wine’s total translucence and finesse. Citrus, floral and spice nuances seem to hover on the palate. The 8 grams of dosage is not at all evident. This is such a pretty and harmonious wine. Disgorged: October, 2019.”
Importer note “Cépage 90% Chardonnay, 10% Pinot Noir. Assemblage 40% 2017, 26% 2016, 8% 2014, 26% 2012 & 2011. Village/vyd Villers-Marmery 1er Cru; Croix de Fer, Grands Arbres, Bayons – chalk and clay. Malo 20%. Elevage Stainless steel with 16% in neutral French oak. Sur latte 24+ Months.”

A. Margaine Brut Rose, Champagne NV 750ML ($69.95) $54.50 special
Antonio Galloni 93 points
“The NV Brut Rosé is positively stellar. The blend of 80% Chardonnay and 20% Pinot Noir (including 5% still Pinot) works so well here in giving the wine a real sense of proportion that is impossible to miss. In tasting, the Brut Rosé is crisp and taut, but also has more than enough depth to balance things out. Bright red berry fruit and perfumed floral notes race out of the glass, with beams of saline intensity that lend shape through to the salivating finish. Dosage is 9 grams per liter. Disgorged: June, 2020.” [Disgorged 09/2020]
Importer note “cépage 80% Chardonnay, 15% Pinot Noir, 5% Pinot Noir vin rouge. Assemblage 2015 Base. Village/vyd Villers-Marmery 1er Cru; Chardonnay (Alouettes, Champs d’Enfer, Grands Arbres), Pinot Noir (Levoies, Cugnets) – chalk and clay. Malo 30%. Elevage 100% stainless steel. Sur latte 30 Months.”

This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
The average price nationally is $60

Hebrart Cuvee Reserve Premier Cru Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($54.95) Was $45, Now $39 Super Subscriber Special, only 18 bottles available!
John Gilman 91 points
“The Marc Hébrart “Cuvée de Réserve” non-vintage Brut now in the market is from base year 2017, though this is only forty-five percent of the blend this year. It also includes fifteen percent 2016 juice, ten percent 2015 and fully thirty percent 2014. The blend this year works out to eighty-two percent pinot noir and eighteen percent chardonnay, with the vins clairs raised entirely in stainless steel, going through full malo and aging about twenty months on its fine lees prior to disgorgement in October of 2019, with a finishing dosage of eight grams per liter. The bouquet wafts from the glass in a vibrant blend of apple, a touch of almond, fresh-baked bread, a fine base of soil tones and gentle smokiness in the upper register. On the palate the wine is bright, full-bodied and nicely balanced, with a good core and mineral undertow, pinpoint bubbles and a long, zesty and complex finish. This is very tasty, with the significant percentage of reserve wines in the blend really adding complexity. 2020-2035.”
Importer note “45% 2017, 15% 2016, 10%2015, 30% 2014.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $50

We’re offering 234 wines on our Super Subscriber Sale, including 28 Champagnes.
Visit our web store to shop the full list of sales!
 






The Thrilling Wines of Francesco Rinaldi

The estate of Francesco Rinaldi crafts wines that offer everything we’re looking for in Piedmont—traditionally made and affordable. Stylistically they are elegant and approachable, blending the inherent power of Barolo (especially in a vintage like 2015) with a softer touch in extraction. These are thrilling wines that are always priced very attractively, an amazing feat considering the history and renown of the estate. They’re best known for their two cru bottlings, Cannubi and Brunate, which are from a couple of the most storied vineyards in all of Barolo. But don’t sleep on the rest of the lineup. All of the Nebbiolo-based wines are extremely age-worthy, but the 2015s seem to show a bit more flesh and early drinkability than usual.

In Stock Now:

Francesco Rinaldi & Figli Barbera d’Alba, Piedmont 2016 750ML ($29.95) $21.90 special, 17 bottles in stock now
Winery Note
“The vineyards located in Barolo, in the flatter areas of the Cannubi hill, have a sandier soil; in La Morra, in the areas of Zonchetta and Boiolo, the soil is more clayey with calcareous components. Fermentation takes place in temperature-controlled cement or stainless steel tanks with the skins contact for at least 15 days.  After racking, the various lots from the different vineyards are blended and then aged in medium-capacity Slavonian oak barrels for at least a year.  Refinement in bottles for several months gives the wine a vibrant red ruby color with violet reflections and an ethereal and intense bouquet.  The taste is dry, robust and suitable for medium-term aging.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Francesco Rinaldi & Figli Barbera d’Alba, Piedmont 2017 750ML ($31.95) $24 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-12 Francesco Rinaldi & Figli Barbera d’Alba, Piedmont 2017 750M ($359.95) $239 special (that’s only $19.92/bottle!)
Winery Note
“The vineyards located in Barolo, in the flatter areas of the Cannubi hill, have a sandier soil; in La Morra, in the areas of Zonchetta and Boiolo, the soil is more clayey with calcareous components. Fermentation takes place in temperature-controlled cement or stainless steel tanks with the skins contact for at least 15 days.  After racking, the various lots from the different vineyards are blended and then aged in medium-capacity Slavonian oak barrels for at least a year.  Refinement in bottles for several months gives the wine a vibrant red ruby color with violet reflections and an ethereal and intense bouquet.  The taste is dry, robust and suitable for medium-term aging.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Francesco Rinaldi & Figli Barolo DOCG, Piedmont 2015 750ML ($59.95) $41.90 special, 17 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni 91 points
“The 2015 Barolo is gracious, airy and light on its feet. Sweet tobacco, cedar, dried cherry, spice and licorice are all nicely lifted in a sensual, open-knit Barolo that will drink well right out of the gate. All the elements fall into place effortlessly. Rinaldi’s straight Barolo is a terrific wine in its peer group.”
Importer Note “Francesco Rinaldi e Figli makes two non-cru denominated bottlings, one of Barbaresco and one of Barolo, made from a blend of different parcels. The Barolo is made from vineyards in the towns of Barolo, Castiglione Faletto and La Morra…the standard Barolo bottling is aged for three years in large cask before it is bottled and made available for sale. Both wines are built for aging, and typically will be at their best from six to ten years out from the vintage. Like all of the wines from Giuseppe and Paola Rinaldi, they are beautiful, classic expressions of their underlying terroirs, with well-integrated tannins, tangy acids and beautiful complexity and balance. Both improve immeasurably if decanted an hour prior to serving.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $50

Francesco Rinaldi & Figli Barolo Le Brunate, Barolo DOCG 2015 750ML ($79.95) $52.50 special, 25 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni 91 points
“Rinaldi’s 2015 Barolo Brunate is a powerful, dense wine. Hints of spice, licorice, leather, game and cherry develop with time in the glass. The power and intensity of the year are very much in evidence. But there is also a slightly roasted quality and an aggressiveness in the tannin that I am not used to seeing. Tasted three times with consistent notes.”
Importer Note “The two flagship bottlings at Francesco Rinaldi e Figli are the single cru Baroli, Brunate and Cannubi. Brunate is one of the greatest vineyards the Barolo region, lying on the border between La Morra and Barolo proper, with each village sharing the vineyard (though with the lion’s share lying within the village boundaries of La Morra). Wines from the Brunate vineyard are prized for their depth, power and brilliant balance, and the example from Francesco Rinaldi e Figli is one of the very greatest examples of Brunate made. In a great vintage it demands at least a decade to really begin to soften, and generally is not in full bloom until its twentieth birthday.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $69

Francesco Rinaldi & Figli Cannubi, Barolo DOCG 2015 750ML ($79.95) $59 special, 8 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni 93 points
“Today the 2015 Barolo Cannubi is an elegant, classy wine. The Cannubi also seems to have handled the heat of the summer more gracefully than the Brunate. Silky and sensual, the 2015 is very attractive today. The aromatics are perhaps just a touch forward, but the 2015 makes up for that with its suave, inviting personality. Crushed flowers, mint, licorice and sweet berry fruit add to the wine’s charm. I wouldn’t push my luck on aging too much, but the 2015 is undeniably appealing.”
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 93 points “Revealing an open-knit and immediately welcoming personality, the Francesco Rinaldi & Figli 2015 Barolo Cannubi offers a good taste of that inner sunshine and warmth that so beautifully defines this vintage. The Cannubi vineyard is one of the first sites to ripen, and the wines tend to show enormous elegance and Nebbiolo fruit purity. This vintage is particularly successful in its showing of wild berry fruit, rose hip and chopped mint. The tannins are silky and fine.
Decanter 93 points “The source of this very traditional wine is Rinaldi’s 2.2ha holding in Cannubi Boschis. It can be a very structured wine, but in 2015 there’s greater opulence than usual. Tasted from cask, it displays heady juicy raspberry aromas, discreet but perfumed. It’s concentrated on the palate but also fresh and silky, combining lush textures with tension and drive thanks to welcome acidity on the persistent finish. Drinking Window 2021 – 2038.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $71

Francesco Rinaldi & Figli Gavi DOCG, Piedmont 2019 750ML ($21.95) $18.50 special, 16 bottles in stock now
Winery note
“The color of the wine is pale straw-yellow; the aroma is fresh and fruity.  The taste is dry and delicate.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Francesco Rinaldi & Figli Nebbiolo d’Alba, Piedmont 2016 750ML ($34.95) $24 special, 18 bottles in stock now
Vinopolnote:
A bright, savory and energetic example of Nebbiolo meant for early consumption. Great value!

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Francesco Rinaldi & Figli Nebbiolo d’Alba, Piedmont 2017 750ML ($34.95) $26 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-12 Francesco Rinaldi & Figli Nebbiolo d’Alba, Piedmont 2017 750 ($389.95) $259 special (that’s only $21.58/bottle!)
Winery Note
“Traditional vinification is carried out in cement tanks with skin-contact fermentation for 15-20 days and automatic pump-overs.  The wine is aged for one year in medium-capacity Slavonian oak barrels.  This is followed by refinement in bottles for several months to enhance the freshness and bouquet of the wine. The color is ruby-red, not too intense, respecting the character of the Nebbiolo grape variety. The aroma is ethereal with scents of flowers and fresh fruit.  The taste is dry with a good body.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Love the wines of Piedmont?
We have over 190 different options in stock now.
Shop the entire selection, including famous names like Produttori, Elvio Cogno, Gaja, Cappellano, and more, on our web store!







New Week – New Arrivals

Oregon

Cameron Winery Spritz Rose, Willamette Valley NV 250ML Can ($9.95) $6.60 special
Case-6 Cameron Winery Spritz Rose, Willamette Valley NV 250ML Can ($59.95) $35 special (that’s only $/bottle!) ***In store pick up-only on the six-pack

What do you get when you take some of the finest dry-farmed Dundee Hills Pinot Noir fruit, add a dash of Pinot Blanc, a smidge of carbonation, and a pinch of wizardry? The best can of wine money can buy. 90% La Colina Vineyard Pinot Noir, 10% Pinot Blanc from the Coast Range. #whatthestaffisdrinking

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Ross & Bee Maloof Temperance Hill Vineyard Pinot Gris, Eola-Amity Hills 2019 750ML ($39.95) $27 special
No reviews available for the current vintage. 2017 review provided for reference.
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 90 points “Bright yellow. Lively, mineral-tinged melon, peach and tangerine scents show very good definition and pick up a subtle floral nuance as the wine stretches out. Silky and expansive on the palate, offering juicy tropical and pit fruit flavors and a refreshingly bracing jolt of bitter citrus zest. Lingers nicely on a seamless finish that leaves a sexy honeysuckle note behind.”

This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!

Arterberry Maresh Chardonnay, Dundee Hills 2017 750ML ($29.95) $26 special
Erin Brooks – Wine Advocate 93 points
“This is Jim Maresh’s entry-level Chardonnay, barrel fermented and finished in stainless steel. It comes from Dijon 76 clone vines planted in 1991 on a steep, south-facing slope. The 2017 Dundee Hills Chardonnay has a lovely, open-knit nose of honeycomb, orange blossom, apple pie, crushed hazelnuts, clotted cream, baked peaches, hay and a unique umami-like undercurrent. The palate is medium-bodied and silky, tethered by tangy acidity and a hint of phenolic texture, finishing long and nuanced with incredible tension and energy. Even this “village” level Chardonnay manages class and hedonism. This could use another couple of years in bottle at least. It’s bottled under Diam 30 and should age well.”

Arterberry Maresh Rose of Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills 2019 750ML ($24.95) $19 special
All estate fruit.

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Arterberry Maresh Maresh Vineyard Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills 2014 1.5L ($169.95) $139 special
Winery cellared release!
Wine Advocate 95 points
“The 2014 Maresh Vineyard Pinot Noir has a beautiful bouquet with wonderful precision. The vine age does show through here (44-years-old now) with crisp detailed red berry fruit that just exudes Pinoté. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin, very well-judged acidity, touches of truffle and undergrowth tincturing the red berry fruit that fans out wonderfully towards the long and satisfying finish. This is a great Pinot Noir from an estate that seems to have thrived in 2014.”
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 94 points “Dark red. Intensely perfumed, spice-accented strawberry, cherry liqueur and incense aromas show excellent clarity and a bright mineral overtone. Taut, nervy and focused in the mouth, offering alluringly sweet red fruit, blood orange and rose pastille flavors that deepen and spread out slowly with air. An impressively persistent finish is framed by subtle tannins and emphatically echoes the floral and mineral notes. This wine’s interplay of power and finesse is really impressive.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Arterberry Maresh Old Vines Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills 2018 750ML ($47.95) $39 special
Erin Brooks-Wine Advocate 94+ points
“Pale ruby-purple, the 2018 Pinot Noir Old Vines has an alluring perfume of blueberries, violets and dark cherries with accents of earth and amaro. The medium-bodied palate offers intense, broody fruits framed by muscular tannins and bright freshness, and it finishes long and full of flavor. It’s still youthfully coiled and may improve with another year or two in bottle.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Bravo to winemaker/owner Erin Nuccio for a well-deserved high score!
Evesham Wood Le Puits Sec Pinot Noir, Eola-Amity Hills 2017 750ML ($49.95) $39 special
Decanter 96 points
“An impressive wine from a dry-farmed, certified organic 1.8ha vineyard, first planted in 1986. Superbly elegant violet-tinged cherry fruit with a hint of spice, developing gracefully to take on a smoky subtlety and supple depth, showing hints of freshly turned earth. The texture is seductively silky and delicate, yet there is rewarding density and length.”

Trathen Hall Wines La Chenaie Vineyard Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2015 750ML ($47.95) $37 special
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 92 points
“Saturated red. Spice-tinged raspberry and cherry scents are complicated by hints of sassafras, pungent flowers and baking spices. Sweet and energetic on the palate, offering juicy red and blue fruit flavors; suggestions of rose pastille and allspice add complexity. Vibrant and precise in style, delivering strong finishing cut, harmonious tannins and strong, spicy persistence. 35% whole clusters and all used oak.”
Wine Enthusiast 92 points “This seems to be a late release, and the extra time in the bottle has put it in a fine drinking window. The smoothly integrated blueberry, plum and cherry fruit is cradled in a seam of milk chocolate, and runs through a lightly spicy finish with silky, seamless tannins. -Paul Gregutt”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Trathen Hall Wines Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2017 750ML ($29.95) $24 special
Winery note
“This wine is a blend of two vineyards: Momtazi Vineyard in the McMinnville AVA and La Chenaie Vineyard in the Eola-Amity Hills AVA.  Both vineyards are grown on volcanically derived soils.   Comprised of clones 115, Pommard and Wädenswil. The grapes were fermented in small lots and underwent native/spontaneous ferments with 50% whole clusters included. 10 months élevage in neutral French oak. This wine offers up a dark red fruited profile of raspberry, pomegranate, cranberry and blood orange. On the palate it displays soft and svelte tannins backed with good acidity which give the wine precision, focus and a lengthy finish.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Biggio Hamina Lia’s Vineyard Pinot Noir, Chehalem Mountains 2017 750ML ($45.95) $27 special
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 94 points
“Limpid red. Highly expressive aromas of fresh red berries, Asian spices and smoky minerals, plus a sexy floral nuance that builds quickly with air. Sharply defined bitter cherry, raspberry, blood orange, spicecake and rose pastille flavors show excellent depth but no excess weight. Gentle, well-integrated tannins frame a strikingly long, spice- and floral-driven finish that conveys a suave blend of power and delicacy. 100% whole clusters.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Decant heartily before serving, this is essentially the Heritage bottling at the Block bottling price…
Goodfellow Whistling Ridge Vineyard Beloved Block Pinot Noir, Ribbon Ridge 2018 750ML ($59.95) $46 special
Erin Brooks-Wine Advocate 93 points
“The 2018 Pinot Noir Beloved Acre Whistling Ridge, pale ruby in color, is scented of tobacco leaves, aniseed and charcuterie with spicy accents and bright red berry fruits at the core. The medium-bodied palate is lovely, with detailed, savory character, a silky texture and addicting juiciness calling you back on the long finish.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Ovum ‘Big Salt’ White Blend, Elkton 2020 750ML ($21.95) $17 special
Winery note
“2020 Big Salt is wildly aromatic, laced with Gewurz and Muscat overtones, but framed by citrusy Riesling. Salty bergamot, lemon, nectarine and white tea– exotic fruits fill out the nose. The palate is filled with the texture of Gewurz, herbal hints from Pinot Blanc, but quickly washed back with classic Riesling acidity. 2020 Big Salt pairs well with fish tacos, pesto chicken pasta, pad thai…or just chilling. Cellar: 3-8 years of optimal drinking. 45% Riesling, 35% Gewurztraminer, 11% Pinot Blanc, 9% Early Muscat, 1% others. Soils: Volcanic ash, basalt, marine sediment, alluvial, serpentine.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!


France – Bordeaux

Chateau Clos de Bouard, Montagne-Saint-Emilion 2016 750ML ($49.95) $39 special
James Suckling 94 points
“Super rich and plush with ample dark plum, cocoa and graphite nuances, as well as some blueberries and cherries. The plate has a beautifully crafted bed of fine, plush and long tannins that carry effortless length and depth. Deep and fresh cabernet kick. Really impressive. 85 per cent merlot and 11 per cent cabernet franc and four per cent cabernet sauvignon. Try from 2023.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Chateau Clos de Bouard La Dame de Bouard, Montagne-Saint-Emilion 2016 750ML ($29.95) $21.90 special
James Suckling 93 points
“This has very attractive violets, plums and purple fruit on offer with a very plush and elegant feel on the palate, as well as a polished and long aftertaste. Super long and elegant. Very polished. 60 per cent merlot and 40 per cent cabernet franc. Try from 2023.”

Chateau Fombrauge, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru 2016 750ML ($49.95) $36 special
Case-12 Chateau Fombrauge, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru 2016 750ML ($599.95) $399 special (that’s only $33.25/bottle!)
Antonio Galloni 94 points
“The 2016 Fombrauge has come together beautifully during its aging and is now a much more refined wine than it was from barrel. Sweet red berry fruit, mocha, espresso, mint and floral notes all grace this exquisite, mid-weight Saint-Émilion. The 2016 is simply impeccable, not to mention incredibly delicious. There is not much more to it than that. Tasted two times.”
James Suckling 94 points “There’s a very rich and powerful core of red-plum and mulberry aromas and flavors here, delivering an assertive and very shimmery, polished palate. Great tannin texture. Long and regal. Every bit as good as the 2015, but more lively in 2016. Try from 2023.”
Wine Enthusiast 93-95 points “Barrel Sample. This is a perfumed wine, likely thanks to a dollop (7%) of Cabernet Franc. It has ripe fruit characters, pleasant richness and a firm structure. -Roger Voss”


France – Rhone

Pierre Gonon Saint-Joseph, Rhone 2018 750ML ($149.95) $119 special
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 95 points
“Deep violet. Intensely perfumed, mineral-accented aromas of red and blue fruit preserves, licorice, exotic spices and potpourri, along with an exotic suggestion of incense. Stains the palate with concentrated black raspberry, cassis, bitter cherry and fruitcake flavors that are given spicy lift by a suggestion of white pepper. A violet pastille nuance emerges with aeration and carries through an extremely long, youthfully tannic finish that shows outstanding definition and mineral thrust.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $140

Domaine Jamet Syrah, IGP Collines Rhodaniennes 2018 750ML ($49.95) $39 special
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 92 points
“Shimmering purple. Spice-accented black and blue fruits on the perfumed nose, along with building spice and floral qualities. Alluringly sweet and expansive on the palate, offering juicy boysenberry and cherry flavors energized by a jolt of juicy acidity. Sneaky tannins add grip to a long, focused finish that leaves floral and spice notes behind. All whole clusters.”


France – Loire

Domaine des Baumard Savennieres Clos du Papillon, Loire 2014 750ML ($47.95) $41.90 special
Wine Spectator 92 points
“Bright and pure, with mirabelle plum, green almond and fig notes streaming through, inlaid with racy mineral and verbena details. This has a creamy feel and a bitter almond hint on the finish, adding range and intrigue. Drink now through 2024. 250 cases imported. — JM”

This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!

Domaine des Baumard Savennieres, Loire 2018 750ML ($41.95) $36 special
Wine Spectator 90 points
“This balanced white is clean and pure, with a refreshing profile, but also shows depth, with flavors of apple and peach, as well as hints of lanolin that linger on the minerally finish, bringing you back for another sip. Best from 2021 through 2028. 4,500 cases made, 900 cases imported. — AZ”

This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!


Italy – Venato 

A stellar deal for a quite-dry Prosecco. Try with pear tarts or fig cookies!
Loredan Gasparini Asolo Prosecco Superiore DOCG NV 750ML ($17.95) $13.50 special
Loredan Gasparini Asolo Prosecco Superiore DOCG NV 1.5L ($49.95) $31.90 special
James Suckling 90 points
“Delicious combination of pear and biscuit on the palate with medium body, bright acidity and a fresh finish. Fresh and satisfying. A different style of Prosecco that you should check out.”
Decanter 89 points “Loredan Gasparini’s Asolo Prosecco Superiore is grown on mineral soils that give the wine structure. This wine uses wild yeasts, providing a beautiful range of flavours; elderflower and peaches are supported by a lovely, soft mousse.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!


Italy – Sicily

Azienda Agricola Arianna Occhipinti Il Frappato Sicilia IGT, Sicily 2018 750ML ($49.95) $41.90 special
Azienda Agricola Arianna Occhipinti Il Frappato Sicilia IGT, Sicily 2018 1.5L ($99.95) $89 special

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today for the magnum!

Azienda Agricola Arianna Occhipinti ‘Siccagno’ Nero d’Avola Sicilia IGT, Sicily 2017 750ML ($49.95) $37.70 special
Wine Spectator 91 points
“A compact, medium-bodied red, this is well-knit and minerally, with crisp tannins married to brambly flavors of macerated raspberry, wild sage, dried fig and orange peel. This opens nicely in the glass, finishing with mouthwatering spice and stone notes. Best from 2022 through 2027. 600 cases imported. — AN”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $46


Spain

Daniel Gomez Jimenez-Landi ‘Cantos del Diablo,’ Mentrida 2018 750ML ($149.95) $119 special
Luis Gutierrez-Wine Advocate 95 points
“The single-vineyard 2018 Cantos del Diablo was produced with the grapes from 0.35 hectares of 70-year-old Garnacha in the village of El Real de San Vicente (Toledo) at 900 meters in altitude, the highest vineyard in the Méntrida appellation. It’s a north-facing plot on sandy granite soils with lots of silt that deliver chalky tannins and a citrus freshness in the wine. The whole clusters fermented with indigenous yeasts in oak vats with a long maceration followed by an élevage in a 1,400-liter oak foudre for 12 months. This was extremely closed, even after a long time in the glass. It’s a vineyard that delivers more reductive wines (matchstick) with a strict palate and a strong mineral sensation. 1,620 bottles were filled in March 2020.”

Daniel Gomez Jimenez Landi ‘Las Iruelas’ El Tiemblo, Castilla y Leon 2018 750ML ($149.95) $136 special
Luis Gutierrez-Wine Advocate 98 points
“Always a wine of incredible lightness and energy, the 2018 Las Iruelas excels in a year like 2018. It is delicate and floral and comes from a relatively large 1.1-hectare vineyard in the valley that names the wine, in the village of El Tiemblo in the province of Ávila in the Gredos wine region. It’s a very steep slope that faces east and gets the morning sun, but it is protected by the mountain from the afternoon sun. The soil is quite unique, as it contains a mixture of granite and schist, laminated and with vertical veins that allow the roots to go very deep. The soils are very shallow, barely 20 centimeters and are rich in sand, quartz and silt. The climate is also quite unique—it gets abundant rains since it’s located in a place where storms get trapped between the Tiétar and Alberche Valleys. The bunches are painstakingly cleaned, and every grape that is less than perfect is removed before they are put into oak vats to ferment with the natural yeasts, with a soft vinification and an infusion of very long macerations. The wine matured in a 1,400-liter oak vat for 12 months. This is ethereal, transparent, aromatic and nuanced, with incredible energy but with a silky mouthfeel that makes it feel light but has amazing inner power! It has to be the most elegant vintage of Iruelas. 1,785 bottles were filled in March 2020.”

Bodegas Muga Torre Muga, Rioja DOCa 2016 750ML ($119.95) $99 special
James Suckling 98 points
“The purity of fruit to this is very, very intriguing with blackberries, graphite, and charcoal. Full-bodied. It radiates intense fruit with perfectly polished tannins. Subtle asphalt and blue fruit. Very long and beautiful. Racy. Tempranillo with graciano and mazuelo. Needs two to four years of bottle age. Try after 2021.”
Luis Gutierrez-Wine Advocate 96 points “I tasted a super young 2016 Torre Muga that had only been in bottle for some four months. But even so, the year seems to be approachable and open. Even if the wine has concentration and power, it has great balance and freshness. And it’s drinkable now, even if it’s going to get polished with some more time in bottle, where it should have a long life. This was the most modern of the wines in the portfolio, but I think the modern and traditional styles have been converging over the years, and nowadays there is not a huge difference between them. And for its age, it feels quite round, and it doesn’t have edges or any harsh tannins; the oak is present but it’s neatly integrated in the wine. It has to be one of the finest vintages for Torre Muga. 36,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in early 2019.”
Wine Spectator 95 points “This bold red is assertive, yet holds power in reserve. A thick texture, supported by muscular tannins, supports ripe flavors of currant, fig, cocoa, loamy earth and tar. Concentrated, but remains harmonious. Impressive, in the modern style. Best from 2022 through 2036. 3,000 cases made, 400 cases imported.”


Germany

Don’t miss our new arrival feature on the German Rieslings from Merkelbach in the next section!

Weingut Donnhoff Kreuznacher Kahlenberg Riesling Trocken, Nahe 2019 750ML ($41.95) $36 special
James Suckling 93 points
“At once generous and crisp with plenty of pear and fresh-pineapple character, then a long chalky finish that reminds you of Chablis. From organically grown grapes with Fair’n Green certification. Drink or hold.”
John Gilman 92+ points “The Kahlenberg vineyard in Kreuznach is a due south facing slope with a soil foundation of gravelly loam, making it quite unique in terms of its soil composition in the pantheon of Dönnhoff vineyard holdings. The 2019 Kahlenberg Trocken is a svelte and utterly refined young Riesling, offering up a gorgeous bouquet of pink grapefruit, apple, orange peel, a complex base of soil tones, a touch of wild yeasts, fruit blossoms and a hint of lemongrass in the upper register. On the palate the wine is bright, fullish and laser-like, with a lovely core, fine soil signature, vibrant acids and outstanding length and grip on the nascently complex and energetic finish. This is truly outstanding juice! 2020-2060.”
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 92-93 points “The 2019 Riesling trocken Kreuznacher Kahlenberg is clear, pure and flinty on the bright yet intense, concentrated, exciting and stony-scented nose. From pebbly loess and loam soils, this is a lush, salty, very fine and stimulating dry Riesling with very attractive fruit, lingering salinity and fine grip. Really stimulating. Tasted as a sample in Bremen, April 2020.”

Weingut Donnhoff Oberhauser Brucke Riesling Spatlese, Nahe 2019 750ML ($59.95) $49 special
James Suckling 97 points
“If you dream of the great German rieslings of the 1970s and 1980s, then this is a wine for you, even though it is riper and more concentrated than those icons of the past. In spite of the abundant generosity, this has a very long, distinctly cool finish. From organically grown grapes with Fair’n Green certification. Drink or hold.”
John Gilman 94+ points “The 2019 Brücke Spätlese from the Dönnhoff family is a superb follow-up to their stellar 2018 version. The wine offers up an outstanding and very complex nose of apple, passion fruit, a hint of blood orange, gorgeous minerality, bee pollen, apple pie spices, orange blossoms and a nice touch of citrus zest in the upper register. On the palate the wine is medium-full, focused and racy, with superb mineral undertow, a lovely core of pristine fruit, lovely focus and balance and a long, zesty and utterly refined and vibrant finish. This is another gorgeous Spätlese, but it is a bit more reserved out of the blocks than the Kirschheck Spätlese and deserves some time in the cellar to reach cruising altitude. 2024-2060+.”

This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!

Weingut Donnhoff Norheimer Kirschheck Riesling Spatlese, Nahe 2019 750ML ($49.95) $39 special
James Suckling 95 points
“This is a totally charming beauty with succulence that’s hard to resist and mineral freshness that lifts the wine beautifully. Long, complex finish with multiple moments of tension. From organically grown grapes with Fair’n Green certification. Drink or hold.”
John Gilman 93 points “The 2019 Norheimer Kirschheck Spätlese from Weingut Dönnhoff is utterly classical in profile and an outstanding wine. The bouquet is so precise and pure, jumping from the glass in a blaze of apple, pear, bee pollen, spring flowers, a lovely foundation of slate minerality and lilacs. On the palate the wine is crisp, refined and medium-full, with lovely intensity of flavor and bounce, zesty acids and outstanding focus and grip on the complex and perfectly balanced, seamless finish. A beautiful wine and tout en finesse. 2020-2060.”

This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!

Kruger-Rumpf Munsterer Im Pittersberg Riesling Kabinett, Nahe 2019 750ML ($29.95) $26 special
James Suckling 93 points
“An innovative, modern Kabinett that’s genuinely medium-dry, and although this has discreet white-fruit aromas, it’s got terrific structure and textural complexity. An excellent food wine, also for very spicy dishes. Drink or hold. Screw cap.”
 




 
New Arrival Special Featurette:

Merkelbach 2019s


“Merkelbach’s wines are like the world before anyone wrote poems about it.” –Terry Theise
 
“Tastings with the brother’s is deliberate. Nothing is rushed or hurried. It is an analog experience, a respite from an increasingly digital world. There is a kind of old wisdom and deep vitality in both the people and the wines. The Merkelbach brothers represent the beating heart, the soul of the Mosel.” –Michael Skurnik imports
 
We adore the wines that Rolf and Alfred Merkelbach make, irrationally and perhaps more than any other grower in the Mosel.  These are wines that are as old-school as you can find for the region (the brothers are in their 80’s and haven’t changed styles since they started) and they capture the delicacy and etherealness of Riesling like few other wines we’ve tried.  Terry Theise, their now-retired importer, describes their wines as “like VAPING Mosel Riesling.”
 
They have a charm and an energy that’s unlike almost any other wine we’ve tasted.  In fact, their closest comparison might not be in the Mosel at all, but rather with Truchot’s wines in Burgundy—another producer who managed to create unbearably delicate, ethereal wines that seemed to trigger Stendhal Syndrome anytime you had the pleasure of drinking them.  We’d like more people to appreciate these wines while the brothers are still making them (a problem for, say, Truchot) and before the prices go crazy.
 
The 2019 vintage was to first in which Johannes Selbach and team assisted brothers Alfred and Rolf Merkelbach with vineyard maintenance, harvest, and vinification. Fans of the producer fear not, Johannes has kept the heart and soul of the brothers’ style. (Those looking to experience the final vintages produced exclusively by the brothers can stock up on our web store…)

Newly Arrived from Merkelbach:

Weingut Alfred Merkelbach Urziger Wurzgarten Riesling Kabinett #5, Mosel 2019 750ML ($34.95) $28 special
Mosel Fine Wines 93 points
“The 2019er Ürziger Würzgarten Riesling Kabinett offers a beautifully fragrant and refreshing nose made of green apple, minty and aniseed herbs, white peach, lime, and smoke. The wine proves admirably playful and refreshing on the palate, where some playful and spicy acidity leads the pace and makes for a linear but delightful and energetic experience. The finish is tight and makes one salivate, as a Mosel Kabinett should do. The after-taste is all about mint, herbs, and zest. This is a quite remarkable Kabinett in the making! 2026-2039.”

Weingut Alfred Merkelbach Urziger Wurzgarten Riesling Spatlese #7, Mosel 2019 750ML ($39.95) $31.90 special
Mosel Fine Wines 92 points
“The 2019er Ürziger Würzgarten Riesling Spätlese AP 07 comes from the Urglück part of the vineyard. It offers a beautifully refined and flowery nose of whipped almond cream, spices, grapefruit, lime, and aniseed herbs. The wine proves delicately airy and driven by a quite zesty acidity on the palate, and leaves an intense, almost forceful feel of presence and tartness (the wine does have 9% of alcohol) in the spicy and almost razor-sharp finish. The after-taste feels already more off-dry than fruity-styled. This wine will prove superb, especially with food, in a couple of years. 2025-2034+.”

This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
The average price nationally is $34

Weingut Alfred Merkelbach Urziger Wurzgarten Riesling Auslese #8, Mosel 2019 750ML ($44.95) $36 special
Mosel Fine Wines 94 points
“The 2019er Ürziger Würzgarten Riesling Auslese AP 08 was harvested in the sector next to the Sonnenuhr. It offers a hugely attractive nose of vineyard peach, whipped almond cream, minty herbs, spices, William’s pear, and candied grapefruit. The wine is still on the sweet side on the palate, but its refined fruity and creamy side are superbly appealing. Add to this a great zest and a sense of purity side in the long and animating finish, and you have all the elements for a great playful Auslese in a decade and more. 2029-2059.”

This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
 
Weingut Alfred Merkelbach ‘Urgluck’ Urziger Wurzgarten Riesling Aulese, Mosel 2019 750ML ($44.95) $36 special
Mosel Fine Wines 95 points
“The 2019er Ürziger Würzgarten Riesling Auslese Urglück was harvested in this prime part of the central part of the vineyard still planted with old un-grafted vines. It offers a gorgeously refreshing yet deep nose of grapefruit, lime, mint, spices, smoke, green apple, pear, orange blossom, and vineyard peach. The wine proves stunningly playful and delicate on the palate as its sweet richness underlined by almond cream, honeyed peach, and pineapple and magnificently wrapped into some energetic and lively acidity. The finish is hugely long and intense. This stunning Auslese is a modern-day classic in the making! 2029-2049.”

This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
The average price nationally is $41
 

Collector’s Corner
 
Don Melchor 

Arriving in June


 
Winery note “Named for the founder of Concha y Toro, Don Melchor became the first icon wine and ambassador of Chile’s finest wines. Founded upon three essential pillars: its impeccable legacy, unparalleled terroir and the deep understanding and mastery of making world class Cabernet Sauvignon. Don Melchor is set at the foot of the Andes, 2,100 feet above sea level, along the oldest terrace of the Maipo River, the vineyard at Puente Alto is one of the foundational vineyards of Chile’s wine tradition. For more than 30 years, Don Melchor has paved the way for Chile’s fine wines and established itself as one of the best Cabernet Sauvignon’s in the world.”

Concha y Toro Don Melchor Cabernet Sauvignon, Puente Alto, Chile 2018 750ML ($139.95) $108 pre-arrival special
James Suckling 100 points
“This is amazing. The vibrancy and energy in this wine is stunning. The complexity of aromas are breathtaking with flowers, blackcurrants, raspberries and peaches. Full-bodied, yet ever so refined and polished with impeccable texture and beauty. The length is marvelous. This is a testimony to balance, harmony and transparency in a great red. Drink after 2023.”


 

Thank you from the team at Vinopolis!

Be well & drink well.