In This Newsletter:
2017 Domaine de la Romanee-Conti
The Wines Against Which All Others Are Measured
Cameron’s Giuliano:
Italian-Styled White with Flair & Verve
New Week – New Arrivals
New Arrival Special Feature:
Hundred Suns
New Grapelive Review
New Grapelive Review
Arriving Mid-July:
2017 Domaine de la Romanee-Conti
The Wines Against Which
All Others Are Measured
To say DRC is the finest example of Burgundy is an understatement. These are the finest wines produced in the world. Iconic and highly sought after, these are devoted followed and drunk in ecstasy. For the first time we are able to offer the entire range to our newsletter subscribers, arriving mid-July. These are directly from the national importer, Wilson Daniels, through our local distributor.
Wines are not listed on our webstore. Call or email to order.
“The Domaine de la Romanée-Conti’s 2017s are showing brilliantly from bottle, and this tasting with Bertrand de Villaine was one of the absolute high points of my two months of visits along the Côte d’Or… spending an hour or two with full glasses of wines such as these is not merely of immense professional interest but, I admit, a source of great personal pleasure… it is clear that this is a vintage that will give immense pleasure to anyone able to secure a few bottles. Hauntingly aromatic, structurally supple and pungently intense, this vintage will drink well younger than both its 2016 and 2015 predecessors, but it is much closer in quality to those two vintages than I perceived 12 months ago. At the end of our tasting, the group spent some time discussing possible analogies, and the comparison I found the most compelling is with the Domaine de la Romanée-Conti’s 1985 vintage. Indeed, I had drunk a superb 1985 Grands-Echézeaux from the domaine over dinner with a good friend a few days before my visit, and the similarities in overall balance between the two vintages were strikingly apparent as I tasted through the young 2017s. The domaine’s 2017 Montrachet also merits special comment, as it is a magical wine built for the ages.” William Kelley, Wine Advocate
Arriving ETA Mid-July:
Only one bottle currently available
Domaine de la Romanee-Conti Montrachet Grand Cru 2017 750ML ($6,999.95) $5,999 pre-arrival special
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 99 points “Aromas of crisp green pear, citrus oil, mandarin, fresh pastry, clear honey and oak vanillin introduce the 2017 Montrachet Grand Cru, a full-bodied, deep and textural wine that’s voluminous and powerful but incisive, with racy structuring acids and a long, chalky and elegantly honeyed finish. “If we had tried to conceive of the ideal Montrachet, we might have imagined something like this,” admits Bertrand de Villaine, and the 2017 certainly numbers among the finest renditions of this iconic bottling over the last decade and beyond.”
Allen Meadows-Burghound 97 points “A restrained nose flirts with the exotic while requiring aggressive swirling to eventually reveal aromas of essence of pear and apple compote, passion fruit, tangerine peel, spice and a subtle but not invisible touch of wood. The dense, opulent and caressing big-bodied flavors possess outstanding mid-palate concentration thanks to the copious amount of sappy dry extract that also buffers the citrus-tinged acidity shaping the hugely long, youthfully austere, dry and gorgeously complex finish. This is at once powerful and muscular yet for all of the imposing size and weight, the balance is impeccable save for a minor touch of warmth. Even so, there is a real sense of harmony that should enable this exceptionally tightly wound beauty to age gracefully for years to come. This is sublime and while 2017 is not the best young Montrachet that I have tasted from the Domaine, but among them and this has the potential to be genuinely great as it should have no problem making for very old bones.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Only two bottles currently available
Domaine de la Romanee-Conti Corton Grand Cru 2017 750ML ($1,999.95) $1,499 pre-arrival special
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2017 Corton Grand Cru is performing beautifully from bottle, bursting from the glass with a captivating bouquet of peonies, rose hips, sweet red berries, orange rind, spices and subtle soil tones. On the palate, the wine medium to full-bodied, supple and velvety, with succulent acids, good concentration and a long, exquisitely perfumed finish. Indeed, it’s only by comparison with the domaine’s utterly suave wines from Vosne-Romanée later in the tasting that this Corton’s tannins seem comparatively coarse-grained. Picked on September 4th, it is showing appreciably better than it did when I tasted it from tank before bottling last year.”
Allen Meadows-Burghound 93 points “A ripe, fresh and layered nose combines notes of plum, spice, earth and plenty of floral influences. There is fine richness to the relatively supple middle weight flavors that possess a velvety mid-palate mouthfeel along with reasonable if not special density, all wrapped in a youthfully austere, balanced and sneaky long finish where a hints of warmth and sweetness eventually emerge. This minerally effort needs to develop better depth but the potential appears to be present for that to occur.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $1,899
Only one bottle currently available
Domaine de la Romanee-Conti Echezeaux Grand Cru 2017 750ML ($1,999.95) $1,499 pre-arrival special
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 94 points “The flamboyant 2017 Échézeaux Grand Cru is especially good this year, bursting from the glass with an extravagant bouquet of wild berries, rose petals, cinnamon, smoked duck and Asian spices. On the palate, it’s full-bodied, supple and velvety, with an expansive attack and superb depth and amplitude, its fleshy core of fruit framed by fine, melting tannins. Reminiscent of a modern-day version of the Domaine’s 1985 Échézeaux, this is another 2017 that has gained appreciably with its final months of élevage. Picked on the 18th, this was where the estate’s harvest concluded.”
Allen Meadows-Burghound 93 points “A completely different nose offers up much spicier and slightly toastier aromas of red currant, pomegranate, sandalwood and an interesting hint of incense. There is excellent vibrancy to the attractively textured middle weight flavors that don’t have the minerality of the Corton but do offer slightly better depth and precision on the lingering finale that is shaped by relatively fine-grained tannins. This should be approachable a bit earlier than usual.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $1,600
The average price is $1,933
Only one bottle currently available
Domaine de la Romanee-Conti Grands Echezeaux Grand Cru 2017 750ML ($2,499.95) $1,999 pre-arrival special
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 94+ points “More brooding and reserved than the Échézeaux that preceded it in the tasting, the 2017 Grands Échézeaux Grand Cru unwinds in the glass with an enticing bouquet of cassis, blackberries, blood orange, exotic spices and musk. On the palate, it’s full-bodied, ample and fleshy, with a more introverted, structured profile than the Échézeaux, its considerable reserves of concentrated fruit framed by an abundance of powdery tannin and succulent acids. Long and penetrating, this will reward sustained bottle age. The Grands Échézeaux was picked on September 12.”
Neal Martin-Vinous 94 points “The 2017 Grands Echézeaux Grand Cru was picked at 41hl/ha on September 12 and bottled on May 21 and 23, 2019. Given 10–15 minutes to open, it is clearly richer on the nose compared to its petit frère, revealing hints of kirsch, red currant and orange pith and subtle loamy aromas. The palate is medium-bodied, with suppler tannins than the Echézeaux and hints of wild mint, freshly rolled tobacco and a touch of spice toward the harmonious finish, which fans out effortlessly; it is perhaps less grippy than the 2015. This is an open “G.E.” since it can often be difficult to read just after bottling. It will give enormous pleasure over the next two decades. 1,290 cases produced.”
Allen Meadows-Burghound 94 points “A cooler, more elegant and equally spicy nose of mostly red fruits and Asian-style tea is wonderfully fresh if notably more restrained. As is typically the case there is more size and weight to the broad-shouldered flavors that are shaped by firmer and slightly less fine-grained tannins on the impressively persistent finish. This is not as concentrated or powerful as it usually is but even so, it is going to require at least 10 years or so of patience and should amply reward 15 to 18.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $2,499.99
Only one bottle currently available
Domaine de la Romanee-Conti La Tache Grand Cru Monopole 2017 750ML ($3,999.95) $3,399 pre-arrival special
Neal Martin-Vinous 97 points “The 2017 La Tâche Grand Cru was picked on September 6 and 7 at 34hl/ha and bottled between March 25 and April 24. As Aubert de Villaine had noted earlier, this is a more introverted La Tâche that bided its time in the glass. The fruit is slightly darker than the Romanée-Saint-Vivant, with the addition of a little blueberry and violet and background scents of moorland, though they needed 10–15 minutes in the glass before they revealed themselves. The medium-bodied palate delivers lithe tannins matched with a very fine line of acidity. This displays more body and grip than the Richebourg or Romanée-Saint-Vivant, and wondrous piquancy on the loamy finish. What it does not possess, unlike the previous two vintages, is a never-ending aftertaste. This La Tâche does its job but prefers not to hang around…”
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 96+ points “The 2017 La Tâche Grand Cru soars from the glass with a captivating and beautifully integrated bouquet of exotic spices, rose petals, raspberries, cherries and blood orange mingled with notions of cinnamon and coniferous forest floor. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied, deep and multidimensional, with a deep and tightly coiled core that marks it out as the most muscular wine in the cellar, displaying considerable concentration and largely concealed structure. While this is a dramatic young La Tâche, there’s evidently plenty held in reserve, too, and it simply has appreciably more presence than any of the other wines that preceded it in this tasting.”
Allen Meadows-Burghound 96 points “Other than perhaps a great Musigny, La Tâche is the most aromatically compelling wine in Burgundy with its perfumed fireworks in a glass with a nose that is ultra-spicy, exuberantly fresh and impressively broad-ranging array of rose petal, exotic and herbal tea, lavender, plum, violet, sandalwood, soy and a whiff of hoisin. There is a beguiling sense of underlying tension to the supple and almost easy-going mid-palate of the deceptively forward medium-bodied flavors that progressively tighten up on the dusty, exceptionally stony and saline if ever-so-mildly warm finish that flashes excellent depth and superb persistence as well as plenty of youthful austerity. This is a La Tâche of contrasts as the mid-palate suggests early accessibility yet the firm core of tannins makes clear that the 2017 LT will require extended keeping if you wish to experience it at its peak.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $4,624
Only one bottle currently available
Domaine de la Romanee-Conti Richebourg Grand Cru 2017 750ML ($3,199.95) $2,699 pre-arrival special
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 95 points “The 2017 Richebourg Grand Cru offers up generous aromas of ripe strawberries, raspberries, cinnamon and coniferous forest floor, framed by a lavish application of creamy new oak that’s less immediately integrated than in the Domaine’s other wines at this early stage. On the palate, the Richebourg is full-bodied, rich and multidimensional, with a lavishly enveloping attack and supple structuring tannins that are almost entirely concealed by its deep core of fruit. Long and sapid, this is a spectacular wine in the making.”
Allen Meadows-Burghound 95 points “A discreet application of wood frames the even more complex and spicier nose of relatively high-toned, cool and airy aromas of red berries, violet, rose petal, orange pekoe tea and a hint of leather. The sleek, intense and sophisticated middle weight plus flavors brim with both minerality and dry extract that buffers the slightly firmer tannic spine shaping the hugely long, powerful and beautifully harmonious finale. It would be fair to observe that this isn’t the most concentrated Richebourg the Domaine has ever produced but it is one that should age effortlessly on its balance. In sum, this is a highly refined and elegant Riche with a positively gorgeous mouthfeel.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
The average price nationally is $3,390
Only two bottles currently available
Domaine de la Romanee-Conti Romanee-Saint-Vivant Grand Cru 2017 750ML ($2,999.95) $2,799 pre-arrival special
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 95 points “The 2017 Romanée-St-Vivant Grand Cru was also showing very well indeed, soaring from the glass with scents of cassis, violets, blood orange, cinnamon and espresso roast that are complemented by carnal nuances of smoked duck and musk. On the palate, it’s full-bodied, multidimensional and enveloping, with terrific concentration, rich and powdery structuring tannins and a long, saline finish. This is a dramatic, head-turning Romanée-St-Vivant in the making, and it is showing even better in bottle than it did from barrel.”
Neal Martin-Vinous 95 points “The 2017 Romanée-Saint-Vivant Grand Cru was picked on September 10 and 11 at 36hl/ha and bottled between April 26 and May 21. It initially has a more reticent bouquet compared to the Richebourg and requests more time in the glass. Eventually it evolves wonderful, almost pixelated scents of red berry fruit, wild hedgerow and crushed stone. Although it is less intense than the previous two vintages, I discern a touch more precision and focus than in the Richebourg. The palate is medium-bodied with lithe tannins. There is a little more body and depth than in the aforementioned Grand Cru; more energy, perhaps. A mixture of red and black fruit emerges toward the finish, the latter becoming more prominent with aeration. This is a delicious Romanée-Saint-Vivant. Beautiful. 1,693 cases produced…”
Allen Meadows-Burghound 94 points “A markedly floral and very finely nuanced nose almost timidly reflects notes of rose petal, violet, red currant, sandalwood, tangerine peel and a whisper of anise. The sleek and strikingly refined medium-bodied flavors culminate in a sneaky long if decidedly compact and quite serious finish that is presently on the youthfully austere side. This is an exercise in lace and grace though not one without plenty of punch.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
The average price nationally is $2,064
Only one bottle currently available
Domaine de la Romanee-Conti Romanee-Conti Grand Cru 2017 750ML ($14,999.95) $13,999 pre-arrival special
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 98 points “Wafting from the glass with a deep and complex bouquet of dark wild berries, cassis, wilted rose petals, blood orange, exotic spices, licorice and coniferous forest floor, the 2017 Romanée-Conti Grand Cru is full-bodied, satiny textured and multidimensional. It’s just as powerful as this year’s La Tâche but even more elegantly framed by filigree structure, concluding with an intensely sapid and penetratingly fragrant finish. Pristinely balanced, this young Romanée-Conti possesses huge reserves for the long haul despite its deceptively supple youthful appeal, and it will reward extended bottle age.”
Allen Meadows-Burghound 97 points “Once again there is evident restraint to the almost taciturn but still kaleidoscopically broad-ranging nose of wonderfully pure and fresh and spicy aromas that include plenty of floral influences on the red currant, cherry, sandalwood and rose petal. The silky and equally pure middle weight flavors possess excellent punch and a similar level of minerality on the focused, powerful, linear and impressively persistent finish that slowly fans out as it sits on the palate. In contrast to the flash of the La Tâche, this is Zen-like in its sense of harmony and focus. Like many of the DRC ’17s, this should be approachable somewhat earlier than normal yet still be capable of reward 20+ years of cellaring.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $18,999
Cameron’s Giuliano:
Italian-Styled White with Flair & Verve
Cameron remains a special winery—one of our favorite houses in Oregon and one of the capital-g Great Pinot Noir producers in the US. Owner and winemaker, John Paul, has been producing fun and flavorful Italian-inspired whites for years. One of our favorite is always the Giuliano, a white blend inspired by Northeastern Italy. It arrives Friday and is a perfectly elegant white to elevate any seafood-based feast or picnic you have in mind…
Arriving Friday
Cameron Winery Giuliano White, Dundee Hills 2019 750ML ($33.95) $27 pre-arrival special
Winery Note “This complex white wine, inspired by the field blends of Northeastern Italy, expresses notes of white peaches, marzipan, roses, quince, and a hint of earth and sea air. It has luscious, round, rich, viscous mouth filling flavors of lemon pâte de fruit, tangerine zest, and a touch of sea salt. We imagine it would be so effing good with a seafood tower of spot prawns, oysters and clams. Dream big.”
Can’t wait?
Here’s a collection of Italian-style Cameron wines in-stock now:
Cameron Winery ‘Giovanni’ Pinot Bianco, Willamette Valley 2019 750ML ($21.95) $17.70 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Winery Note “The Italian side of our clan (the Cameronis) also influences part of our white wine program. In this case the wines of Friuli and Alto Adige offer a model that works exquisitely with much of our fruit. The Pinot Bianco (given the nomer “Giovanni”) is fermented in stainless steel, typically in 3 different lots with appropriate aromatic yeasts, and bottled in its exuberant youth in the early Spring.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Cameron Winery Nebbiolo, Dundee Hills 2016 750ML ($49.95) $33 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Winery note “Our Nebbiolo is denominated “Willamette Valley” because the wine is a blend of fruit from Clos Electrique (Dundee Hills AVA) and Foster Farms (Ribbon Ridge AVA). It is garnet red, with a complex bouquet of tart cherries, rosehips, tobacco and dried orange peel. The palate has bright acidity, a long finish and firm “sand on the teeth” tannins that typify the Nebbiolo grape. Just like the “real deal” from Northern Piedmont!”
Cameron Winery Pinot Gris Ramato, Dundee Hills 2019 750ML ($31.95) $27 special, 24 bottles in stock now
Winery Note “This lovely copper-colored libation takes its name from the Italian word for copper: Rame. This year’s rendition has a complex palate of white peach juice, mint, cedar, white pepper, tangerine, jasmine and lime zest. Notes of peach follow through on the palate along with marzipan, green almonds and a refreshing acidity. There is plenty of structure to stand up to meat, but not a major earthquake.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $31
We offer 18 Cameron wines in-stock now.
Shop our selection on our web store!
Now Extended Through July!
New Week – New Arrivals
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Chateau Bel-Air Lagrave sits in Moulis, a small village northeast of Margaux. These are classically styled and restrained Cab-dominate Bordeaux wines from a tiny estate that has been in the same family for almost 150 years. These are an easy way to backfill your cellar or to explore perfectly aged Bordeaux without hurting your wallet.
Chateau Bel-Air Lagrave, Moulis-en-Medoc 1985 750ML ($49.95) $39 special
Vinous Vintage Report on 1985 Left Bank Bordeaux “The 1985s are polar opposites to the 1986s. Charming right from the start, with fleshy, sexy personalities and soft, ripe tannins, most 1985s are best drunk up, although the best wines won’t fade soon. One of the coldest winters in Bordeaux’s history (which caused considerable frost damage to the vines) was followed by a long hot summer. Flowering was even and quick, and grapes ripened fully. The harvest took place under ideal conditions in late September and early October.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Chateau Bel-Air Lagrave, Moulis-en-Medoc 1988 750ML ($49.95) $39 special
Vinous Vintage Report on 1988 Left Bank Bordeaux “A year of classic wines that have been somewhat unfairly judged over the years because of the 1989s and 1990s that followed. Admittedly, some wines have failed to develop complexity and have remained somewhat monolithic and austere, while others have developed atypical herbal notes. The key to success in 1988 was not to panic during a rainy September. Those estates that resisted pulling the trigger and waited until October were able to harvest in near perfect Indian summer conditions. The best wines are lovely, delicious, ageworthy Bordeaux wines.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Chateau Bel-Air Lagrave, Moulis-en-Medoc 1990 750ML ($59.95) $49 special
Vinous Vintage Report on 1990 Left Bank Bordeaux “A truly great vintage, one of the 10-15 best of the last 100 years. While 1990 is undoubtedly a hot year, the wines, equally good on the Left and Right Banks, have always been characterized not just by sweet sexy flesh and ripeness, but also by considerable freshness and refinement. This is a rare vintage in which all appellations shine. The 1990s are consistently defined by velvety, smooth texture and fleshy fruit. January through March saw unusually warm temperatures, but rain in April helped the vines live through a very dry and hot May. Hot weather continued through the summer. Well-timed rains gave the vines just enough respite from the heat.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Quite possibly the best value for the money in the Jaboulet 2017 lineup. It’s no wonder our first delivery sold out!
Paul Jaboulet Aine Hermitage La Maison Bleue, Rhone 2017 750ML ($69.95) $59.50 special
Wine Advocate 94-96 points “Full-bodied, creamy and supple, the 2017 Hermitage La Maison Bleue looks to be a thrilling Hermitage to drink over the next 10-15 years. It’s loaded with mixed blueberries and raspberries, adds subtle notes of mocha and baking spices and picks up a savory hint of black olives on the long, silky finish. Don’t make the mistake of thinking only the La Chapelle is worth drinking, this should be a real beauty when it’s released next year.”
Josh Raynolds 94 points “Glass-staining magenta. A complex, expansive bouquet evokes ripe dark berries, potpourri and incense. Exotic spice and mineral notes build with air. Sweet, focused and penetrating in the mouth, offering spice-tinged boysenberry, cherry preserve and violet pastille flavors that are braced by a core of juicy acidity. Blends concentration and energy smoothly and finishes with strong, gently tannic persistence.”
James Suckling 94 points “This is utterly delicious and has a very plush and sweetly fruited core of flavor with a sweepingly fleshy, rich and quite plush feel. The tannins are very fine here; sleek and assertive, they seem to suggest early drinking. It’s so balanced, too. However, this deserves to be reserved for later, as there’s a lot more to come. Try from 2024.”
Italy
Only three bottles available!
Gaja Rossj-Bass (Chardonnay) Langhe, Piedmont 2016 750ML ($129.95) $79 special
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 90+ points “Crisp and luminous, the 2016 Langhe Rossj-Bass is Chardonnay enhanced with a tiny part Sauvignon Blanc. This second grape only constitutes 5% of the blend, yet its presence is felt in a big way. The wine presents pristine and sharply delineated tones of exotic fruit, peach and white rose. Fruit is sourced in Barbaresco and in Serralunga d’Alba. This wine delivers a bright spot of acidity that was shaped by the steep diurnal temperature shifts that characterized the tail end of the growing season. Much work has been achieved in the vineyards to optimize farming and to ensure that ripening does not advance too quickly or with too much alcohol. This wine will be released at the end of July 2017 and I tasted it just before bottling.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $89.94
The average price is $115
Barone Ricasoli ‘Brolio’, Chianti Classico DOCG 2015 750ML ($29.95) $18 special
James Suckling 91 points “A ripe and juicy wine with plum and dried cherry character. Hints of lemon rind. Medium body, delicate tannins and a fruity finish. Drink now.”
Antonio Galloni 90 points “The 2015 Chianti Classico Brolio is a very pretty, gracious wine with lovely fruit purity and terrific balance. Sweet raspberry and floral notes give the wine freshness and aromatic lift. Soft, open-knit and silky, the 2015 has much to offer. I would prefer to drink it sooner rather later. Dollops of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon complement the Sangiovese nicely.”
Wine Spectator 90 points “An elegant, vibrant red, this exhibits floral, cherry and strawberry flavors that mesh nicely with the harmonious profile. The fine length echoes the fruit. Drink now through 2024. 60,900 cases made.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Spain
Telmo Rodriguez ‘Pegaso Barrancos de Pizarra’ Sierra de Gredos, Castilla y Leon 2013 750ML ($44.95) $36 special
Case-6 Telmo Rodriguez ‘Pegaso Barrancos de Pizarra’ Sierra de Gredos, Castilla y Leon 2013 750ML ($259.95) $199 special (that’s only $33.17/bottle!)
James Sucking 96 points “Exuberant red berries and cherries with a fine, rose-like edge and some coal smoke. Very juicy, fleshy, rich and ripe mid-palate with a dense, long and showy, glossy black-cherry finish. Drink or hold.”
Wine Advocate 94 points “Cropped from a cooler and late ripening vintage, the 2013 Pegaso Barrancos de Pizarra resulted in fresh wines and certainly worked well with the slate soils of these old Garnacha vines in Cebreros. This has a very good balance between ripeness and freshness, power and elegance, with the character of the soils slowly coming through in the shape of fresh meat and beef blood, with the iron-like notes still pretty shy. This should develop nicely in bottle. 8,931 bottles produced.”
#Trending
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
This is a beautiful bottle of Hermitage from a perpetually under-the-radar producer.
Domaine du Colombier Hermitage Rouge, Rhone 2015 750ML ($99.95) $79 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 97 points “The 2015 Hermitage comes from the Les Doignières and Les Beaumes lieux-dits which are more clay and limestone soils. It’s another sensational Hermitage from this magical hillside that I wish every reader could taste. Cassis, damp earth, liquid violets and a liqueur of rocks-like profile emerge from this full-bodied, concentrated and powerful Hermitage, which has no shortage of extract or tannin. It’s for consumers with cold cellars and plenty of patience as it’s going to require at least 4-5 years of cellaring.”
Tiberio Pecorino Colline Pescaresi IGT, Abruzzo 2017 750ML ($24.95) $19.50 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Ian D’Agata – Vinous 90 points “Abruzzo’s Tiberio winery has quickly risen to the top of the hierarchy not just in Abruzzo’s but in all of Italy. What the talented Cristiana Tiberio has achieved in the very hot 2017 vintage with Pecorino (a variety that does not like heat) is a testament to her talent. The 2017 Tiberio Pecorino is by no means the best Pecorino she has ever made (and frankly, it would have been very strange if it was otherwise, given the year’s weather), but it offers lovely balance with pure sage and kiwi notes that mingle with ripe orchard fruit nuances complicated by a saline edge. Both these wines made for a wonderful start to my meal, but they would have paired very well with all the other dishes I chose to eat this evening.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $26.99
Sette Ponti makes some of the finest Super Tuscans out there. While they’re best known for Oreno, their top-end wine, the wine of note in most years is their value-priced Crognolo. Made with every bit the same care as the flashier Oreno, Crognolo’s Sangiovese dominant blend provides a beautiful drink-now option at less than half the price of the flagship wine.
Tenuta Sette Ponti Crognolo Toscana IGT, Tuscany 2017 750ML ($39.95) $24 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-6 Tenuta Sette Ponti Crognolo Toscana IGT, Tuscany 2017 750ML ($249.95) $132 special (that’s only $22/bottle!)
James Suckling 94 points “A balanced and fresh red for the hot 2017 vintage with medium body, fine tannins and plenty of currants, blackberries and blueberries on the finish. Drink or hold.”
Wine Spectator 93 points “A beam of pure blackberry runs through this otherwise dense and focused red. Shows elegance, with balance and complexity, but needs time to integrate and reveal all its facets. Offers fine, minerally length. Sangiovese and Merlot. Best from 2021 through 2032. 7,500 cases made, 4,000 cases imported.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
The average price nationally is $31
New Arrival Special Feature
Hundred Suns
This is the only listing in the USA today!
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
New Grapelive Review:
Laura Lorenzo’s Daterra Viticultores Tabernario
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Daterra Viticultores ‘Camino de la Frontera’ Tinto, Arribes 2018 750ML ($39.95) $31.90 special, 24 bottles in stock now
Importer note “Camino de la Frontera Tinto comes from Angel’s ancient, northwest-facing vineyard in the Parque Natural de Los Arribes del Duero, planted to mostly Juan Garcia, Tinta Madrid (aka Tempranillo), and Rufete balanced by other indigenous varieties. After a cool, wet & humid summer, the grapes were hand-harvested on September 20-21st, 50% foot-trodden whole-cluster and 50% destemmed, wild yeast fermented in a used 4000L French oak cask and a 1000L chestnut foudre with 11 days of skin maceration, then raised in the same vessels for 11 months. This is a red wine of elegant rusticity, with a floral nose and a touch of toasty oak from the new foudre, along with soft tannins and bright acidity.”
Daterra Viticultores ‘Portela do Vento’ Tinto, Ribeira Sacra 2018 750ML $39.95) $31.90 special, 36 bottles in stock now
Importer Note “Comes from several south-facing parcels of Menci´a and Garnacha Tintorera in the Amandi and Quiroga-Bibei subzones. The grapes were harvested by hand and mostly destemmed, fermented with wild yeasts in steel vats, and raised for 9 months in used 500 liter French barrels. This is Laura’s “glou-glou” wine that she loves to share with her American friends. Fresh and easy-drinking, it is very versatile with a wide variety of foods…or straight from the porro´n! ?”
2017 Domaine de la Romanee-Conti
The Wines Against Which All Others Are Measured
Cameron’s Giuliano:
Italian-Styled White with Flair & Verve
New Week – New Arrivals
New Arrival Special Feature:
Hundred Suns
New Grapelive Review
New Grapelive Review
Arriving Mid-July:
2017 Domaine de la Romanee-Conti
The Wines Against Which
All Others Are Measured
To say DRC is the finest example of Burgundy is an understatement. These are the finest wines produced in the world. Iconic and highly sought after, these are devoted followed and drunk in ecstasy. For the first time we are able to offer the entire range to our newsletter subscribers, arriving mid-July. These are directly from the national importer, Wilson Daniels, through our local distributor. Wines are not listed on our webstore. Call or email to order.
“The Domaine de la Romanée-Conti’s 2017s are showing brilliantly from bottle, and this tasting with Bertrand de Villaine was one of the absolute high points of my two months of visits along the Côte d’Or… spending an hour or two with full glasses of wines such as these is not merely of immense professional interest but, I admit, a source of great personal pleasure… it is clear that this is a vintage that will give immense pleasure to anyone able to secure a few bottles. Hauntingly aromatic, structurally supple and pungently intense, this vintage will drink well younger than both its 2016 and 2015 predecessors, but it is much closer in quality to those two vintages than I perceived 12 months ago. At the end of our tasting, the group spent some time discussing possible analogies, and the comparison I found the most compelling is with the Domaine de la Romanée-Conti’s 1985 vintage. Indeed, I had drunk a superb 1985 Grands-Echézeaux from the domaine over dinner with a good friend a few days before my visit, and the similarities in overall balance between the two vintages were strikingly apparent as I tasted through the young 2017s. The domaine’s 2017 Montrachet also merits special comment, as it is a magical wine built for the ages.” William Kelley, Wine Advocate
Arriving ETA Mid-July:
Only one bottle currently available
Domaine de la Romanee-Conti Montrachet Grand Cru 2017 750ML ($6,999.95) $5,999 pre-arrival special
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 99 points “Aromas of crisp green pear, citrus oil, mandarin, fresh pastry, clear honey and oak vanillin introduce the 2017 Montrachet Grand Cru, a full-bodied, deep and textural wine that’s voluminous and powerful but incisive, with racy structuring acids and a long, chalky and elegantly honeyed finish. “If we had tried to conceive of the ideal Montrachet, we might have imagined something like this,” admits Bertrand de Villaine, and the 2017 certainly numbers among the finest renditions of this iconic bottling over the last decade and beyond.”
Allen Meadows-Burghound 97 points “A restrained nose flirts with the exotic while requiring aggressive swirling to eventually reveal aromas of essence of pear and apple compote, passion fruit, tangerine peel, spice and a subtle but not invisible touch of wood. The dense, opulent and caressing big-bodied flavors possess outstanding mid-palate concentration thanks to the copious amount of sappy dry extract that also buffers the citrus-tinged acidity shaping the hugely long, youthfully austere, dry and gorgeously complex finish. This is at once powerful and muscular yet for all of the imposing size and weight, the balance is impeccable save for a minor touch of warmth. Even so, there is a real sense of harmony that should enable this exceptionally tightly wound beauty to age gracefully for years to come. This is sublime and while 2017 is not the best young Montrachet that I have tasted from the Domaine, but among them and this has the potential to be genuinely great as it should have no problem making for very old bones.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Only two bottles currently available
Domaine de la Romanee-Conti Corton Grand Cru 2017 750ML ($1,999.95) $1,499 pre-arrival special
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2017 Corton Grand Cru is performing beautifully from bottle, bursting from the glass with a captivating bouquet of peonies, rose hips, sweet red berries, orange rind, spices and subtle soil tones. On the palate, the wine medium to full-bodied, supple and velvety, with succulent acids, good concentration and a long, exquisitely perfumed finish. Indeed, it’s only by comparison with the domaine’s utterly suave wines from Vosne-Romanée later in the tasting that this Corton’s tannins seem comparatively coarse-grained. Picked on September 4th, it is showing appreciably better than it did when I tasted it from tank before bottling last year.”
Allen Meadows-Burghound 93 points “A ripe, fresh and layered nose combines notes of plum, spice, earth and plenty of floral influences. There is fine richness to the relatively supple middle weight flavors that possess a velvety mid-palate mouthfeel along with reasonable if not special density, all wrapped in a youthfully austere, balanced and sneaky long finish where a hints of warmth and sweetness eventually emerge. This minerally effort needs to develop better depth but the potential appears to be present for that to occur.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $1,899
Only one bottle currently available
Domaine de la Romanee-Conti Echezeaux Grand Cru 2017 750ML ($1,999.95) $1,499 pre-arrival special
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 94 points “The flamboyant 2017 Échézeaux Grand Cru is especially good this year, bursting from the glass with an extravagant bouquet of wild berries, rose petals, cinnamon, smoked duck and Asian spices. On the palate, it’s full-bodied, supple and velvety, with an expansive attack and superb depth and amplitude, its fleshy core of fruit framed by fine, melting tannins. Reminiscent of a modern-day version of the Domaine’s 1985 Échézeaux, this is another 2017 that has gained appreciably with its final months of élevage. Picked on the 18th, this was where the estate’s harvest concluded.”
Allen Meadows-Burghound 93 points “A completely different nose offers up much spicier and slightly toastier aromas of red currant, pomegranate, sandalwood and an interesting hint of incense. There is excellent vibrancy to the attractively textured middle weight flavors that don’t have the minerality of the Corton but do offer slightly better depth and precision on the lingering finale that is shaped by relatively fine-grained tannins. This should be approachable a bit earlier than usual.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $1,600
The average price is $1,933
Only one bottle currently available
Domaine de la Romanee-Conti Grands Echezeaux Grand Cru 2017 750ML ($2,499.95) $1,999 pre-arrival special
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 94+ points “More brooding and reserved than the Échézeaux that preceded it in the tasting, the 2017 Grands Échézeaux Grand Cru unwinds in the glass with an enticing bouquet of cassis, blackberries, blood orange, exotic spices and musk. On the palate, it’s full-bodied, ample and fleshy, with a more introverted, structured profile than the Échézeaux, its considerable reserves of concentrated fruit framed by an abundance of powdery tannin and succulent acids. Long and penetrating, this will reward sustained bottle age. The Grands Échézeaux was picked on September 12.”
Neal Martin-Vinous 94 points “The 2017 Grands Echézeaux Grand Cru was picked at 41hl/ha on September 12 and bottled on May 21 and 23, 2019. Given 10–15 minutes to open, it is clearly richer on the nose compared to its petit frère, revealing hints of kirsch, red currant and orange pith and subtle loamy aromas. The palate is medium-bodied, with suppler tannins than the Echézeaux and hints of wild mint, freshly rolled tobacco and a touch of spice toward the harmonious finish, which fans out effortlessly; it is perhaps less grippy than the 2015. This is an open “G.E.” since it can often be difficult to read just after bottling. It will give enormous pleasure over the next two decades. 1,290 cases produced.”
Allen Meadows-Burghound 94 points “A cooler, more elegant and equally spicy nose of mostly red fruits and Asian-style tea is wonderfully fresh if notably more restrained. As is typically the case there is more size and weight to the broad-shouldered flavors that are shaped by firmer and slightly less fine-grained tannins on the impressively persistent finish. This is not as concentrated or powerful as it usually is but even so, it is going to require at least 10 years or so of patience and should amply reward 15 to 18.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $2,499.99
Only one bottle currently available
Domaine de la Romanee-Conti La Tache Grand Cru Monopole 2017 750ML ($3,999.95) $3,399 pre-arrival special
Neal Martin-Vinous 97 points “The 2017 La Tâche Grand Cru was picked on September 6 and 7 at 34hl/ha and bottled between March 25 and April 24. As Aubert de Villaine had noted earlier, this is a more introverted La Tâche that bided its time in the glass. The fruit is slightly darker than the Romanée-Saint-Vivant, with the addition of a little blueberry and violet and background scents of moorland, though they needed 10–15 minutes in the glass before they revealed themselves. The medium-bodied palate delivers lithe tannins matched with a very fine line of acidity. This displays more body and grip than the Richebourg or Romanée-Saint-Vivant, and wondrous piquancy on the loamy finish. What it does not possess, unlike the previous two vintages, is a never-ending aftertaste. This La Tâche does its job but prefers not to hang around…”
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 96+ points “The 2017 La Tâche Grand Cru soars from the glass with a captivating and beautifully integrated bouquet of exotic spices, rose petals, raspberries, cherries and blood orange mingled with notions of cinnamon and coniferous forest floor. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied, deep and multidimensional, with a deep and tightly coiled core that marks it out as the most muscular wine in the cellar, displaying considerable concentration and largely concealed structure. While this is a dramatic young La Tâche, there’s evidently plenty held in reserve, too, and it simply has appreciably more presence than any of the other wines that preceded it in this tasting.”
Allen Meadows-Burghound 96 points “Other than perhaps a great Musigny, La Tâche is the most aromatically compelling wine in Burgundy with its perfumed fireworks in a glass with a nose that is ultra-spicy, exuberantly fresh and impressively broad-ranging array of rose petal, exotic and herbal tea, lavender, plum, violet, sandalwood, soy and a whiff of hoisin. There is a beguiling sense of underlying tension to the supple and almost easy-going mid-palate of the deceptively forward medium-bodied flavors that progressively tighten up on the dusty, exceptionally stony and saline if ever-so-mildly warm finish that flashes excellent depth and superb persistence as well as plenty of youthful austerity. This is a La Tâche of contrasts as the mid-palate suggests early accessibility yet the firm core of tannins makes clear that the 2017 LT will require extended keeping if you wish to experience it at its peak.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $4,624
Only one bottle currently available
Domaine de la Romanee-Conti Richebourg Grand Cru 2017 750ML ($3,199.95) $2,699 pre-arrival special
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 95 points “The 2017 Richebourg Grand Cru offers up generous aromas of ripe strawberries, raspberries, cinnamon and coniferous forest floor, framed by a lavish application of creamy new oak that’s less immediately integrated than in the Domaine’s other wines at this early stage. On the palate, the Richebourg is full-bodied, rich and multidimensional, with a lavishly enveloping attack and supple structuring tannins that are almost entirely concealed by its deep core of fruit. Long and sapid, this is a spectacular wine in the making.”
Allen Meadows-Burghound 95 points “A discreet application of wood frames the even more complex and spicier nose of relatively high-toned, cool and airy aromas of red berries, violet, rose petal, orange pekoe tea and a hint of leather. The sleek, intense and sophisticated middle weight plus flavors brim with both minerality and dry extract that buffers the slightly firmer tannic spine shaping the hugely long, powerful and beautifully harmonious finale. It would be fair to observe that this isn’t the most concentrated Richebourg the Domaine has ever produced but it is one that should age effortlessly on its balance. In sum, this is a highly refined and elegant Riche with a positively gorgeous mouthfeel.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
The average price nationally is $3,390
Only two bottles currently available
Domaine de la Romanee-Conti Romanee-Saint-Vivant Grand Cru 2017 750ML ($2,999.95) $2,799 pre-arrival special
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 95 points “The 2017 Romanée-St-Vivant Grand Cru was also showing very well indeed, soaring from the glass with scents of cassis, violets, blood orange, cinnamon and espresso roast that are complemented by carnal nuances of smoked duck and musk. On the palate, it’s full-bodied, multidimensional and enveloping, with terrific concentration, rich and powdery structuring tannins and a long, saline finish. This is a dramatic, head-turning Romanée-St-Vivant in the making, and it is showing even better in bottle than it did from barrel.”
Neal Martin-Vinous 95 points “The 2017 Romanée-Saint-Vivant Grand Cru was picked on September 10 and 11 at 36hl/ha and bottled between April 26 and May 21. It initially has a more reticent bouquet compared to the Richebourg and requests more time in the glass. Eventually it evolves wonderful, almost pixelated scents of red berry fruit, wild hedgerow and crushed stone. Although it is less intense than the previous two vintages, I discern a touch more precision and focus than in the Richebourg. The palate is medium-bodied with lithe tannins. There is a little more body and depth than in the aforementioned Grand Cru; more energy, perhaps. A mixture of red and black fruit emerges toward the finish, the latter becoming more prominent with aeration. This is a delicious Romanée-Saint-Vivant. Beautiful. 1,693 cases produced…”
Allen Meadows-Burghound 94 points “A markedly floral and very finely nuanced nose almost timidly reflects notes of rose petal, violet, red currant, sandalwood, tangerine peel and a whisper of anise. The sleek and strikingly refined medium-bodied flavors culminate in a sneaky long if decidedly compact and quite serious finish that is presently on the youthfully austere side. This is an exercise in lace and grace though not one without plenty of punch.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
The average price nationally is $2,064
Only one bottle currently available
Domaine de la Romanee-Conti Romanee-Conti Grand Cru 2017 750ML ($14,999.95) $13,999 pre-arrival special
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 98 points “Wafting from the glass with a deep and complex bouquet of dark wild berries, cassis, wilted rose petals, blood orange, exotic spices, licorice and coniferous forest floor, the 2017 Romanée-Conti Grand Cru is full-bodied, satiny textured and multidimensional. It’s just as powerful as this year’s La Tâche but even more elegantly framed by filigree structure, concluding with an intensely sapid and penetratingly fragrant finish. Pristinely balanced, this young Romanée-Conti possesses huge reserves for the long haul despite its deceptively supple youthful appeal, and it will reward extended bottle age.”
Allen Meadows-Burghound 97 points “Once again there is evident restraint to the almost taciturn but still kaleidoscopically broad-ranging nose of wonderfully pure and fresh and spicy aromas that include plenty of floral influences on the red currant, cherry, sandalwood and rose petal. The silky and equally pure middle weight flavors possess excellent punch and a similar level of minerality on the focused, powerful, linear and impressively persistent finish that slowly fans out as it sits on the palate. In contrast to the flash of the La Tâche, this is Zen-like in its sense of harmony and focus. Like many of the DRC ’17s, this should be approachable somewhat earlier than normal yet still be capable of reward 20+ years of cellaring.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $18,999
Cameron’s Giuliano:
Italian-Styled White with Flair & Verve
Cameron remains a special winery—one of our favorite houses in Oregon and one of the capital-g Great Pinot Noir producers in the US. Owner and winemaker, John Paul, has been producing fun and flavorful Italian-inspired whites for years. One of our favorite is always the Giuliano, a white blend inspired by Northeastern Italy. It arrives Friday and is a perfectly elegant white to elevate any seafood-based feast or picnic you have in mind…Arriving Friday
Cameron Winery Giuliano White, Dundee Hills 2019 750ML ($33.95) $27 pre-arrival special
Winery Note “This complex white wine, inspired by the field blends of Northeastern Italy, expresses notes of white peaches, marzipan, roses, quince, and a hint of earth and sea air. It has luscious, round, rich, viscous mouth filling flavors of lemon pâte de fruit, tangerine zest, and a touch of sea salt. We imagine it would be so effing good with a seafood tower of spot prawns, oysters and clams. Dream big.”
Can’t wait?
Here’s a collection of Italian-style Cameron wines in-stock now:
Cameron Winery ‘Giovanni’ Pinot Bianco, Willamette Valley 2019 750ML ($21.95) $17.70 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Winery Note “The Italian side of our clan (the Cameronis) also influences part of our white wine program. In this case the wines of Friuli and Alto Adige offer a model that works exquisitely with much of our fruit. The Pinot Bianco (given the nomer “Giovanni”) is fermented in stainless steel, typically in 3 different lots with appropriate aromatic yeasts, and bottled in its exuberant youth in the early Spring.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Cameron Winery Nebbiolo, Dundee Hills 2016 750ML ($49.95) $33 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Winery note “Our Nebbiolo is denominated “Willamette Valley” because the wine is a blend of fruit from Clos Electrique (Dundee Hills AVA) and Foster Farms (Ribbon Ridge AVA). It is garnet red, with a complex bouquet of tart cherries, rosehips, tobacco and dried orange peel. The palate has bright acidity, a long finish and firm “sand on the teeth” tannins that typify the Nebbiolo grape. Just like the “real deal” from Northern Piedmont!”
Cameron Winery Pinot Gris Ramato, Dundee Hills 2019 750ML ($31.95) $27 special, 24 bottles in stock now
Winery Note “This lovely copper-colored libation takes its name from the Italian word for copper: Rame. This year’s rendition has a complex palate of white peach juice, mint, cedar, white pepper, tangerine, jasmine and lime zest. Notes of peach follow through on the palate along with marzipan, green almonds and a refreshing acidity. There is plenty of structure to stand up to meat, but not a major earthquake.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $31
We offer 18 Cameron wines in-stock now.
Shop our selection on our web store!
Now Extended Through July!
New Week – New Arrivals
California
Dunn Vineyards Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon, California 2014 750ML ($149.95) $125 special
Stephen Tanzer-Vinous 96+ points “Dark ruby. Captivating violet lift to the aromas and flavors of cassis, kirsch, licorice and mocha. Plush and fine-grained; extremely deep in the middle palate but this extremely rich wine impresses as much for its finesse as for its sheer density and power. Finishes with wonderfully harmonious tannins and great slow-mounting length. Owing to its sheer density and baby fat, the wine is edge-free from the start, but it’s likely to evolve at a snail’s pace and last for decades.”
Wine Advocate 95 points “Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain has an incredibly evocative nose of crème de cassis, plum preserves and fresh wild blueberries with touches of chocolate mints, tilled soil, yeast extract, chargrill and scorched earth. Medium to full-bodied, it fills the mouth with fresh, crunchy black fruit, framed by firm, grainy tannins and seamless freshness, finishing long with bags of energy.”
France
Chateau Marjosse, Bordeaux 2015 750ML ($19.95) $17 special
Case-12 Chateau Marjosse, Bordeaux 2015 750ML ($239.95) $189 special (that’s only $15.75/bottle!)
James Suckling 91 points “Aromas of spices, currants and milk chocolate with fresh-basil undertones. Full-bodied, layered and rich with lots of fruit and character on the finish. Tannins are velvety and dusty in texture. Excellent for this chateau. Needs two or three years to soften. Try in 2020.”
“Pierre Lurton’s 2015 Marjosse is a big, bold wine packed with black cherry, tobacco, chocolate, smoke, leather and licorice. This dark, brooding wine should drink nicely upon release. There is plenty going on.” -Antonio Galloni
“The medium garnet-purple colored 2015 Marjosse has a nose of crushed black raspberries and red plums with touches of blackberries and damp soil. Medium to full-bodied, it has good expression and a chewy frame with nice balance and plenty of fruit.” – Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Wine Advocate
Dunn Vineyards Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon, California 2014 750ML ($149.95) $125 specialStephen Tanzer-Vinous 96+ points “Dark ruby. Captivating violet lift to the aromas and flavors of cassis, kirsch, licorice and mocha. Plush and fine-grained; extremely deep in the middle palate but this extremely rich wine impresses as much for its finesse as for its sheer density and power. Finishes with wonderfully harmonious tannins and great slow-mounting length. Owing to its sheer density and baby fat, the wine is edge-free from the start, but it’s likely to evolve at a snail’s pace and last for decades.”
Wine Advocate 95 points “Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain has an incredibly evocative nose of crème de cassis, plum preserves and fresh wild blueberries with touches of chocolate mints, tilled soil, yeast extract, chargrill and scorched earth. Medium to full-bodied, it fills the mouth with fresh, crunchy black fruit, framed by firm, grainy tannins and seamless freshness, finishing long with bags of energy.”
France
Chateau Marjosse, Bordeaux 2015 750ML ($19.95) $17 special
Case-12 Chateau Marjosse, Bordeaux 2015 750ML ($239.95) $189 special (that’s only $15.75/bottle!)
James Suckling 91 points “Aromas of spices, currants and milk chocolate with fresh-basil undertones. Full-bodied, layered and rich with lots of fruit and character on the finish. Tannins are velvety and dusty in texture. Excellent for this chateau. Needs two or three years to soften. Try in 2020.”
“Pierre Lurton’s 2015 Marjosse is a big, bold wine packed with black cherry, tobacco, chocolate, smoke, leather and licorice. This dark, brooding wine should drink nicely upon release. There is plenty going on.” -Antonio Galloni
“The medium garnet-purple colored 2015 Marjosse has a nose of crushed black raspberries and red plums with touches of blackberries and damp soil. Medium to full-bodied, it has good expression and a chewy frame with nice balance and plenty of fruit.” – Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Wine Advocate
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Chateau Bel-Air Lagrave sits in Moulis, a small village northeast of Margaux. These are classically styled and restrained Cab-dominate Bordeaux wines from a tiny estate that has been in the same family for almost 150 years. These are an easy way to backfill your cellar or to explore perfectly aged Bordeaux without hurting your wallet.
Chateau Bel-Air Lagrave, Moulis-en-Medoc 1985 750ML ($49.95) $39 specialVinous Vintage Report on 1985 Left Bank Bordeaux “The 1985s are polar opposites to the 1986s. Charming right from the start, with fleshy, sexy personalities and soft, ripe tannins, most 1985s are best drunk up, although the best wines won’t fade soon. One of the coldest winters in Bordeaux’s history (which caused considerable frost damage to the vines) was followed by a long hot summer. Flowering was even and quick, and grapes ripened fully. The harvest took place under ideal conditions in late September and early October.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Chateau Bel-Air Lagrave, Moulis-en-Medoc 1988 750ML ($49.95) $39 special
Vinous Vintage Report on 1988 Left Bank Bordeaux “A year of classic wines that have been somewhat unfairly judged over the years because of the 1989s and 1990s that followed. Admittedly, some wines have failed to develop complexity and have remained somewhat monolithic and austere, while others have developed atypical herbal notes. The key to success in 1988 was not to panic during a rainy September. Those estates that resisted pulling the trigger and waited until October were able to harvest in near perfect Indian summer conditions. The best wines are lovely, delicious, ageworthy Bordeaux wines.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Chateau Bel-Air Lagrave, Moulis-en-Medoc 1990 750ML ($59.95) $49 special
Vinous Vintage Report on 1990 Left Bank Bordeaux “A truly great vintage, one of the 10-15 best of the last 100 years. While 1990 is undoubtedly a hot year, the wines, equally good on the Left and Right Banks, have always been characterized not just by sweet sexy flesh and ripeness, but also by considerable freshness and refinement. This is a rare vintage in which all appellations shine. The 1990s are consistently defined by velvety, smooth texture and fleshy fruit. January through March saw unusually warm temperatures, but rain in April helped the vines live through a very dry and hot May. Hot weather continued through the summer. Well-timed rains gave the vines just enough respite from the heat.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Quite possibly the best value for the money in the Jaboulet 2017 lineup. It’s no wonder our first delivery sold out!
Paul Jaboulet Aine Hermitage La Maison Bleue, Rhone 2017 750ML ($69.95) $59.50 special
Wine Advocate 94-96 points “Full-bodied, creamy and supple, the 2017 Hermitage La Maison Bleue looks to be a thrilling Hermitage to drink over the next 10-15 years. It’s loaded with mixed blueberries and raspberries, adds subtle notes of mocha and baking spices and picks up a savory hint of black olives on the long, silky finish. Don’t make the mistake of thinking only the La Chapelle is worth drinking, this should be a real beauty when it’s released next year.”
Josh Raynolds 94 points “Glass-staining magenta. A complex, expansive bouquet evokes ripe dark berries, potpourri and incense. Exotic spice and mineral notes build with air. Sweet, focused and penetrating in the mouth, offering spice-tinged boysenberry, cherry preserve and violet pastille flavors that are braced by a core of juicy acidity. Blends concentration and energy smoothly and finishes with strong, gently tannic persistence.”
James Suckling 94 points “This is utterly delicious and has a very plush and sweetly fruited core of flavor with a sweepingly fleshy, rich and quite plush feel. The tannins are very fine here; sleek and assertive, they seem to suggest early drinking. It’s so balanced, too. However, this deserves to be reserved for later, as there’s a lot more to come. Try from 2024.”
Italy
Only three bottles available!
Gaja Rossj-Bass (Chardonnay) Langhe, Piedmont 2016 750ML ($129.95) $79 special
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 90+ points “Crisp and luminous, the 2016 Langhe Rossj-Bass is Chardonnay enhanced with a tiny part Sauvignon Blanc. This second grape only constitutes 5% of the blend, yet its presence is felt in a big way. The wine presents pristine and sharply delineated tones of exotic fruit, peach and white rose. Fruit is sourced in Barbaresco and in Serralunga d’Alba. This wine delivers a bright spot of acidity that was shaped by the steep diurnal temperature shifts that characterized the tail end of the growing season. Much work has been achieved in the vineyards to optimize farming and to ensure that ripening does not advance too quickly or with too much alcohol. This wine will be released at the end of July 2017 and I tasted it just before bottling.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $89.94
The average price is $115
Barone Ricasoli ‘Brolio’, Chianti Classico DOCG 2015 750ML ($29.95) $18 special
James Suckling 91 points “A ripe and juicy wine with plum and dried cherry character. Hints of lemon rind. Medium body, delicate tannins and a fruity finish. Drink now.”
Antonio Galloni 90 points “The 2015 Chianti Classico Brolio is a very pretty, gracious wine with lovely fruit purity and terrific balance. Sweet raspberry and floral notes give the wine freshness and aromatic lift. Soft, open-knit and silky, the 2015 has much to offer. I would prefer to drink it sooner rather later. Dollops of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon complement the Sangiovese nicely.”
Wine Spectator 90 points “An elegant, vibrant red, this exhibits floral, cherry and strawberry flavors that mesh nicely with the harmonious profile. The fine length echoes the fruit. Drink now through 2024. 60,900 cases made.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Spain
Telmo Rodriguez ‘Pegaso Barrancos de Pizarra’ Sierra de Gredos, Castilla y Leon 2013 750ML ($44.95) $36 specialCase-6 Telmo Rodriguez ‘Pegaso Barrancos de Pizarra’ Sierra de Gredos, Castilla y Leon 2013 750ML ($259.95) $199 special (that’s only $33.17/bottle!)
James Sucking 96 points “Exuberant red berries and cherries with a fine, rose-like edge and some coal smoke. Very juicy, fleshy, rich and ripe mid-palate with a dense, long and showy, glossy black-cherry finish. Drink or hold.”
Wine Advocate 94 points “Cropped from a cooler and late ripening vintage, the 2013 Pegaso Barrancos de Pizarra resulted in fresh wines and certainly worked well with the slate soils of these old Garnacha vines in Cebreros. This has a very good balance between ripeness and freshness, power and elegance, with the character of the soils slowly coming through in the shape of fresh meat and beef blood, with the iron-like notes still pretty shy. This should develop nicely in bottle. 8,931 bottles produced.”
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We stocked up on the last call so you can save!
Arterberry Maresh Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills 2014 750ML ($29.95) $24 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Winery-cellared release!
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 91 points “Brilliant red. High-pitched raspberry and rose scents are complemented by hints of anise and allspice. Shows very good energy and depth to the red berry and floral pastille flavors, which are given lift by a spine of juicy acidity. Closes smooth, spicy and very long; fine-grained tannins frame the juicy, appealingly sweet red fruit. This wine delivers outstanding value and shows impressive nerve for a warm vintage.”
Neal Martin-Wine Advocate 90 points “The 2014 Pinot Noir Dundee Hills is a blend of Maresh, Juliard, Weber, Gehrts and Folie Hill vineyards. It has a fresh and vibrant bouquet with red cherry and wild strawberry fruit, touches of blood orange with fine delineation. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin – a mixture here of red and black fruit, meaty in style with a Pommard-like finish that lingers in the mouth. For $25, it’s probably the bargain of the vintage.”
Arterberry Maresh Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills 2014 750ML ($29.95) $24 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Winery-cellared release!
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 91 points “Brilliant red. High-pitched raspberry and rose scents are complemented by hints of anise and allspice. Shows very good energy and depth to the red berry and floral pastille flavors, which are given lift by a spine of juicy acidity. Closes smooth, spicy and very long; fine-grained tannins frame the juicy, appealingly sweet red fruit. This wine delivers outstanding value and shows impressive nerve for a warm vintage.”
Neal Martin-Wine Advocate 90 points “The 2014 Pinot Noir Dundee Hills is a blend of Maresh, Juliard, Weber, Gehrts and Folie Hill vineyards. It has a fresh and vibrant bouquet with red cherry and wild strawberry fruit, touches of blood orange with fine delineation. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin – a mixture here of red and black fruit, meaty in style with a Pommard-like finish that lingers in the mouth. For $25, it’s probably the bargain of the vintage.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
This is a beautiful bottle of Hermitage from a perpetually under-the-radar producer.
Domaine du Colombier Hermitage Rouge, Rhone 2015 750ML ($99.95) $79 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 97 points “The 2015 Hermitage comes from the Les Doignières and Les Beaumes lieux-dits which are more clay and limestone soils. It’s another sensational Hermitage from this magical hillside that I wish every reader could taste. Cassis, damp earth, liquid violets and a liqueur of rocks-like profile emerge from this full-bodied, concentrated and powerful Hermitage, which has no shortage of extract or tannin. It’s for consumers with cold cellars and plenty of patience as it’s going to require at least 4-5 years of cellaring.”
Tiberio Pecorino Colline Pescaresi IGT, Abruzzo 2017 750ML ($24.95) $19.50 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Ian D’Agata – Vinous 90 points “Abruzzo’s Tiberio winery has quickly risen to the top of the hierarchy not just in Abruzzo’s but in all of Italy. What the talented Cristiana Tiberio has achieved in the very hot 2017 vintage with Pecorino (a variety that does not like heat) is a testament to her talent. The 2017 Tiberio Pecorino is by no means the best Pecorino she has ever made (and frankly, it would have been very strange if it was otherwise, given the year’s weather), but it offers lovely balance with pure sage and kiwi notes that mingle with ripe orchard fruit nuances complicated by a saline edge. Both these wines made for a wonderful start to my meal, but they would have paired very well with all the other dishes I chose to eat this evening.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $26.99
Sette Ponti makes some of the finest Super Tuscans out there. While they’re best known for Oreno, their top-end wine, the wine of note in most years is their value-priced Crognolo. Made with every bit the same care as the flashier Oreno, Crognolo’s Sangiovese dominant blend provides a beautiful drink-now option at less than half the price of the flagship wine.
Tenuta Sette Ponti Crognolo Toscana IGT, Tuscany 2017 750ML ($39.95) $24 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-6 Tenuta Sette Ponti Crognolo Toscana IGT, Tuscany 2017 750ML ($249.95) $132 special (that’s only $22/bottle!)
James Suckling 94 points “A balanced and fresh red for the hot 2017 vintage with medium body, fine tannins and plenty of currants, blackberries and blueberries on the finish. Drink or hold.”
Wine Spectator 93 points “A beam of pure blackberry runs through this otherwise dense and focused red. Shows elegance, with balance and complexity, but needs time to integrate and reveal all its facets. Offers fine, minerally length. Sangiovese and Merlot. Best from 2021 through 2032. 7,500 cases made, 4,000 cases imported.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
The average price nationally is $31
New Arrival Special Feature
Hundred Suns
Grant Coulter is one of the hottest names in the Willamette Valley. The former assistant winemaker at Beaux Freres (under tutelage of the legendary Mike Etzel), Grant’s made a name for himself as the winemaker of rising star Flaneur, as well as with his own label: Hundred Suns.
Named for the number of days between flowering and harvest, the Hundred Suns Pinots drink like a love letter to the Willamette Valley. We recently tasted through the set of 2018 single-vineyard wines and were blown away. You can taste the Beaux Freres-inspired style, but these are wines that are uniquely Grant, from an assortment of some of the most interesting vineyards in the Willamette Valley.
Shea needs no introduction among Willamette aficionados—a grand cru of a vineyard in Yamhill Carlton. The Hundred Suns edition is spectacular, full of dark, plummy fruit and the spices that the site is known for. Bednarik is a vineyard that flies under the radar a bit more, but Ken Wright fans from the 90’s know the site well. This version is more compact than the Shea, with beautiful, crunchy structure allied to a beguiling mixture of black cherry fruit and savory overtones. It’s a cool vineyard and that shows in the brightness on the finish, though this wine still shows great power. Finally, there’s Breaker, their home vineyard, planted in 1972 (and own rooted!) located in the Eola-Amity Hills. Of the three wines, this combines elements of the previous two, with dark, rich fruits but plenty of structure and Eola-Hills power.
Anyone who’s loved the Beaux Freres or Flaneur wines in the past needs to be paying attention to what Grant is doing at Hundred Suns. His project represents one of the most exciting new labels in the Willamette Valley and Pinot lovers ought to buy in now, before they become hard to find.
Newly Arrived from Hundred Suns:
Hundred Suns Bednarik Vineyard Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2018 750ML ($59.95) $49 special
James Suckling 94 points “Rich aromas of crushed violets and blueberries with a deeply spicy edge, as well as cocoa powder, dark chocolate and darker cherries, berries and plums. There’s striking purity here with more red fruit on the palate. Very plush, concentrated and balanced. Drink or hold.”
Named for the number of days between flowering and harvest, the Hundred Suns Pinots drink like a love letter to the Willamette Valley. We recently tasted through the set of 2018 single-vineyard wines and were blown away. You can taste the Beaux Freres-inspired style, but these are wines that are uniquely Grant, from an assortment of some of the most interesting vineyards in the Willamette Valley.
Shea needs no introduction among Willamette aficionados—a grand cru of a vineyard in Yamhill Carlton. The Hundred Suns edition is spectacular, full of dark, plummy fruit and the spices that the site is known for. Bednarik is a vineyard that flies under the radar a bit more, but Ken Wright fans from the 90’s know the site well. This version is more compact than the Shea, with beautiful, crunchy structure allied to a beguiling mixture of black cherry fruit and savory overtones. It’s a cool vineyard and that shows in the brightness on the finish, though this wine still shows great power. Finally, there’s Breaker, their home vineyard, planted in 1972 (and own rooted!) located in the Eola-Amity Hills. Of the three wines, this combines elements of the previous two, with dark, rich fruits but plenty of structure and Eola-Hills power.
Anyone who’s loved the Beaux Freres or Flaneur wines in the past needs to be paying attention to what Grant is doing at Hundred Suns. His project represents one of the most exciting new labels in the Willamette Valley and Pinot lovers ought to buy in now, before they become hard to find.
Newly Arrived from Hundred Suns:
Hundred Suns Bednarik Vineyard Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2018 750ML ($59.95) $49 specialJames Suckling 94 points “Rich aromas of crushed violets and blueberries with a deeply spicy edge, as well as cocoa powder, dark chocolate and darker cherries, berries and plums. There’s striking purity here with more red fruit on the palate. Very plush, concentrated and balanced. Drink or hold.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Hundred Suns Shea Vineyard Pinot Noir, Yamhill-Carlton District 2018 750ML ($59.95) $49 special
James Suckling 95 points “This has a very fresh, attractive nose with roses and violets, as well as boysenberries, red cherries and a savory, stony edge. Some sappy nuances, too. The palate is very succulent and has strikingly fresh red berries and cherries, underscored with vibrant acidity and a very uplifting, dynamic finish. A richer vintage, made in a fresher style, works very well here. Drink or hold.”
James Suckling 95 points “This has a very fresh, attractive nose with roses and violets, as well as boysenberries, red cherries and a savory, stony edge. Some sappy nuances, too. The palate is very succulent and has strikingly fresh red berries and cherries, underscored with vibrant acidity and a very uplifting, dynamic finish. A richer vintage, made in a fresher style, works very well here. Drink or hold.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Hundred Suns Breaker Vineyard Pinot Noir, Eola-Amity Hills 2018 750ML ($69.95) $55 special
James Suckling 95 points “A unique wine that has a very striking, blueberry and violet nose with an iodine-like, savory edge and some darker-fruit and fresh-herb notes. The palate has such an intense, powerful feel with concentrated blueberries and an assertive frame of fluffy, succulent, fresh and long tannins. Drinkable now, but best from 2023.”
James Suckling 95 points “A unique wine that has a very striking, blueberry and violet nose with an iodine-like, savory edge and some darker-fruit and fresh-herb notes. The palate has such an intense, powerful feel with concentrated blueberries and an assertive frame of fluffy, succulent, fresh and long tannins. Drinkable now, but best from 2023.”
New Grapelive Review:
Laura Lorenzo’s Daterra Viticultores Tabernario
Laura Lorenzo made her name as the winemaker of trailblazing Ribeira Sacra producer Dominio do Bibei before striking out on her own and the wines she’s producing these days justify her inclusion in any “best winemaker in Spain” discussion. Her wines speak loudly of the places they come from—which means vineyards with old vines that have often been forgotten or abandoned when she begins to work with them.
These are wines that have a purity and elegance to them that seem remarkably effortless. Both red and white wines are made with little “done” to them and although you can easily call them Natural, they strike us as more “classic” than anything. If you like the Envinate wines, you owe it to yourself to stock up on Laura’s bottles.
Newly Reviewed and In Stock Now:
Daterra Viticultores ‘Tabernario’ Tinto, Ribeira Sacra 2018 750ML ($35.95) $31.90 special, 22 bottles in stock now
Grapelive 92 points “One of my favorites and a heroic winegrower, Laura Lorenzo is making some amazing wines and her 2018s look set to take her fame to the next level [under the label “Daterra Viticultores. The winery is] based in the remote Ribeira Sacra, which means “Sacred Banks” in Gallego, the local Galician dialect… Her latest Tabernario Tinto with its beautiful texture, bright flavors and mineral details that make it drink as fine as a Premier Cru Burgundy. [The Tinto is] made from old vine parcels of 60% Mencía, 30% Alicante Bouschet and 10% Palomino… all sourced from Lorenzo’s organic vines in Amandi and Val do Bibei, both sleep river valley locations set on primarily granite soils with a covering of sand and some loams… I was thrilled with the transparent dark fruited profile with layers of Mencia led characteristics showing black cherry, wild plum, cranberry and tart currant fruits, fresh garden herbs, star anise, crushed stones, a touch of leathery earth and light cedar as well as delicate floral tones. The Ribeira Sacra [region], a favorite of the Romans, who came to this green, northwest corner of the Iberian Peninsula more than 2,000 years ago and were the first to plant and terrace the slopes to grape vines, almost forgotten in modern times due to the harsh working conditions this place is now one of the wine world’s most exciting places. This light medium bodied Tabernario red has the charm of Cru Beaujolais, like Fleurie, especially with its pretty details and a bit of northern Rhone crunchiness and game, even though as mentioned above this vintage has a satiny feel that reminds me of a Pinot. Lorenzo is committed to holistic and natural methods in the vineyards and in her cellar, looking to capture the purest form of terroir and of the vineyard. She works with indigenous or wild yeast exclusively and mostly whole cluster with elevage in only used well-seasoned oak casks of various sizes and does no adjustments other that the absolute minimum dose of SO2, all unfined and unfiltered. The 2018 vintage was not kind to Lorenzo and she lost a huge amount of grapes to severe weather, but she persevered and crafted a beauty with this Tabernario which was harvested by hand in early September…. The Ribeira Sacra is a cool Atlantic zone with granitic, schist and slate soils predominating here in a region that looks more like Germany’s river wine growing areas than most of Spain, which helps to explain Laura’s wines that have lower alcohols, this one is just 12%, and that are highly aromatic, zesty, quaffable and elegant in style. The Daterra offerings are wildly addictive and unique. I highly recommend checking them out!”
Don’t miss the ten different Laura Lorenzo wines in stock now, including these highlights:
Daterra Viticultores ‘Camino de la Frontera’ Blanco, Arribes 2018 750ML ($49.95) $39 special, 9 bottles in stock now
Importer note “Camino de la Frontera Blanco comes from Angel’s ancient, northwest-facing vineyard in the Parque Natural de Los Arribes del Duero, from native Malvasia, Verdejo & Puesta en Cruz varieties. After a cool, wet & humid summer, the grapes were hand-harvested on September 20th, destemmed, crushed and wild yeast fermented in used 250 & 500L chestnut barrels with 10 days of skin maceration, then raised in the same vessels for 11 months. This is a “mountain white” showing bright orchard fruit, savory minerality and refreshing acidity. Pair it with grilled fish and poultry, paella and good friends.”
These are wines that have a purity and elegance to them that seem remarkably effortless. Both red and white wines are made with little “done” to them and although you can easily call them Natural, they strike us as more “classic” than anything. If you like the Envinate wines, you owe it to yourself to stock up on Laura’s bottles.
Newly Reviewed and In Stock Now:
Daterra Viticultores ‘Tabernario’ Tinto, Ribeira Sacra 2018 750ML ($35.95) $31.90 special, 22 bottles in stock now
Grapelive 92 points “One of my favorites and a heroic winegrower, Laura Lorenzo is making some amazing wines and her 2018s look set to take her fame to the next level [under the label “Daterra Viticultores. The winery is] based in the remote Ribeira Sacra, which means “Sacred Banks” in Gallego, the local Galician dialect… Her latest Tabernario Tinto with its beautiful texture, bright flavors and mineral details that make it drink as fine as a Premier Cru Burgundy. [The Tinto is] made from old vine parcels of 60% Mencía, 30% Alicante Bouschet and 10% Palomino… all sourced from Lorenzo’s organic vines in Amandi and Val do Bibei, both sleep river valley locations set on primarily granite soils with a covering of sand and some loams… I was thrilled with the transparent dark fruited profile with layers of Mencia led characteristics showing black cherry, wild plum, cranberry and tart currant fruits, fresh garden herbs, star anise, crushed stones, a touch of leathery earth and light cedar as well as delicate floral tones. The Ribeira Sacra [region], a favorite of the Romans, who came to this green, northwest corner of the Iberian Peninsula more than 2,000 years ago and were the first to plant and terrace the slopes to grape vines, almost forgotten in modern times due to the harsh working conditions this place is now one of the wine world’s most exciting places. This light medium bodied Tabernario red has the charm of Cru Beaujolais, like Fleurie, especially with its pretty details and a bit of northern Rhone crunchiness and game, even though as mentioned above this vintage has a satiny feel that reminds me of a Pinot. Lorenzo is committed to holistic and natural methods in the vineyards and in her cellar, looking to capture the purest form of terroir and of the vineyard. She works with indigenous or wild yeast exclusively and mostly whole cluster with elevage in only used well-seasoned oak casks of various sizes and does no adjustments other that the absolute minimum dose of SO2, all unfined and unfiltered. The 2018 vintage was not kind to Lorenzo and she lost a huge amount of grapes to severe weather, but she persevered and crafted a beauty with this Tabernario which was harvested by hand in early September…. The Ribeira Sacra is a cool Atlantic zone with granitic, schist and slate soils predominating here in a region that looks more like Germany’s river wine growing areas than most of Spain, which helps to explain Laura’s wines that have lower alcohols, this one is just 12%, and that are highly aromatic, zesty, quaffable and elegant in style. The Daterra offerings are wildly addictive and unique. I highly recommend checking them out!”
Don’t miss the ten different Laura Lorenzo wines in stock now, including these highlights:
Daterra Viticultores ‘Camino de la Frontera’ Blanco, Arribes 2018 750ML ($49.95) $39 special, 9 bottles in stock now
Importer note “Camino de la Frontera Blanco comes from Angel’s ancient, northwest-facing vineyard in the Parque Natural de Los Arribes del Duero, from native Malvasia, Verdejo & Puesta en Cruz varieties. After a cool, wet & humid summer, the grapes were hand-harvested on September 20th, destemmed, crushed and wild yeast fermented in used 250 & 500L chestnut barrels with 10 days of skin maceration, then raised in the same vessels for 11 months. This is a “mountain white” showing bright orchard fruit, savory minerality and refreshing acidity. Pair it with grilled fish and poultry, paella and good friends.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Daterra Viticultores ‘Camino de la Frontera’ Tinto, Arribes 2018 750ML ($39.95) $31.90 special, 24 bottles in stock now
Importer note “Camino de la Frontera Tinto comes from Angel’s ancient, northwest-facing vineyard in the Parque Natural de Los Arribes del Duero, planted to mostly Juan Garcia, Tinta Madrid (aka Tempranillo), and Rufete balanced by other indigenous varieties. After a cool, wet & humid summer, the grapes were hand-harvested on September 20-21st, 50% foot-trodden whole-cluster and 50% destemmed, wild yeast fermented in a used 4000L French oak cask and a 1000L chestnut foudre with 11 days of skin maceration, then raised in the same vessels for 11 months. This is a red wine of elegant rusticity, with a floral nose and a touch of toasty oak from the new foudre, along with soft tannins and bright acidity.”
Daterra Viticultores ‘Portela do Vento’ Tinto, Ribeira Sacra 2018 750ML $39.95) $31.90 special, 36 bottles in stock now
Importer Note “Comes from several south-facing parcels of Menci´a and Garnacha Tintorera in the Amandi and Quiroga-Bibei subzones. The grapes were harvested by hand and mostly destemmed, fermented with wild yeasts in steel vats, and raised for 9 months in used 500 liter French barrels. This is Laura’s “glou-glou” wine that she loves to share with her American friends. Fresh and easy-drinking, it is very versatile with a wide variety of foods…or straight from the porro´n! ?”
Vinopolis is an independent wine shop in Portland that opened in 2004. Our goal has always been to offer the finest, broadest, and largest selection of wines at the best prices to our customers in Portland, in Oregon, across the West Coast, and throughout the United States.
Thank you for reading and for continuing to support our team at Vinopolis!
Stay safe, be well & drink well.
Thank you for reading and for continuing to support our team at Vinopolis!
Stay safe, be well & drink well.