Category Archives: Newsletter Archive

German & Austrian Magnum Sale 7-18-24

German and Austrian Magnums & Double-Magnums:
 

Your Three-Day Discount Starts Now
 
German and Austrian magnums in VinopolisShow up with a statement accessory at your next party: a magnum of German or Austrian wine! These bottles look stunning on the table, but hold some of the best values in the shop. With over a dozen options, we have plenty to choose from, ranging from fun to fancy.
 
5% off any 3-5 in-stock large format wines from Germany and/or Austria
10% off any 6 or more in-stock large format wines from Germany and/or Austria
 

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Sale ends Sunday, July 21st at 9 am Pacific.
 
We offer sixteen large format options from German and Austrian on sale now, including:
 
“There is no wine on this planet that is similar in style.” -Stephan Reinhardt, Wine Advocate
 
Schloss Gobelsburg Tradition Heritage Cuvee 50 Year, Niederosterreich NV 1.5L Displayed Price: $449, that’s $426.55 at 5% off and $404.10 at 10% off, 1 magnum in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 98 points
“Intensely golden-yellow in color, the NV Tradition Heritage Cuvée 50 Years Edition 850 blends several grape varieties and a wide range of vintages from the last 50 years, starting with the 1970 vintage. The nose opens precise, lean and fresh, with bright and spicy fruit and flinty notes. On the palate, this treasure is crystalline, tight, reductive and very elegant, with a long and tensioned finish. This Jubilee edition reveals remarkable finesse and grip and represents the historical spirit and substance of the castle. Due to the matured wines from the 1970s and 1980s, this is a leaner, more filigreed style than the newer assemblages that contain only barrel-stored reserve wines from the Michael Moosbrugger era. The wine is doubtlessly very impressive. To create the blend, many bottles of the wine library were opened, tasted and decanted into small vessels that were then, little by little, blended into a cuvée. ‘It demands a clarity of vision and long years of experience with the wines of the Danube River region to compose a cuvée of this style,’ says Moosbrugger. ‘The different soils and the various grape varieties demand an understanding of their nature and their functionality in a blend, in order to create a wine like this’…”
 
Nikolaihof is a giant of Austrian wine—a producer whose history and quality are unrivaled even in a country full of great producers. As Austria’s oldest operating winery, that history dates back to Roman times. Records first note winemaking occurring at the estate in 470, and the Saahs family has run the property for well over a century.
 
Much like how estates operated in previous centuries, Nikolaihof is farmed under polyculture, producing everything from honey to cut flowers in addition to wine. It was the first winery in the world to fully convert to farming biodynamically, having done so in the 1970s, a surprisingly easy task as no modern farming chemicals have touched the estate’s vines.
 
To taste a wine from Nikolaihof is to taste the history of wine. These wines transcend vintages and varieties to offer a rare glimpse of time itself. These are the heights of Austrian wine from a producer that will outlive us all.
 
Familie Saahs Nikolaihof Riesling vom Stein Smaragd, Wachau 2017 1.5L Displayed Price: $169, that’s $160.55 at 5% off and $152.10 at 10% off, 3 magnums in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 94 points
“The Mautern 2017 Riesling Ried Vom Stein Smaragd offers a pure, refined and finely oxidative bouquet of bright, ripe fruits intermingled with smoky and saline terroir notes as well as some delicate oak. Round and intense on the palate, with fine, playful and persistently saline acidity, this is a full-bodied, dense and very elegant Riesling with striking intensity and finesse. 12.5% stated alcohol. Natural cork. Tasted in October 2022.”
 
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
 
Familie Saahs Nikolaihof Vinothek “Fass Severin” Riesling, Wachau 1997 1.5L Displayed Price: $569, that’s $540.55 at 5% off and $512.10 at 10% off, 1 magnum in stock now
Stuart Pigott (Suckling) 98 points
“Welcome to the wine time machine! Although there are deep, mature aromas that range from an old library to quince paste and beeswax, after a little aeration some remarkably fresh citrus character emerges. Great concentration and restrained power on the wonderfully harmonious palate. Very long, bone-dry finish. Bottled in early 2022 after 25 years maturing in a large barrel of neutral oak. The barrel name, Fass Severin, is on the label. From biodynamically grown grapes with Demeter certification.”
 
This is the only listing in the USA today!
 
Korrell is a rising star Nahe producer. The winery dates back to 1832, but it’s only with young Martin taking over the cellar that the family has attained their current standing.
 
The best vineyard that Korrell owns (and the backbone for all their Rieslings) is a monopole site called, appropriately, “Paradis.” Paradis is a limestone-heavy site (a rarity, much like Keller’s Kirschspiel GG), with shallow soils and privileged exposition—in short, everything you could ask of a Riesling vineyard, especially to produce dry wines.
 
The revitalization of the site, combined with Martin’s work in the cellar, has vaulted Korrell into the top tier of producers both in the Nahe and across Germany. We’re proud to be the first and only shop in the USA to offer these wines.
 
Weingut Korrell Paradies Riesling Trocken, Nahe 2017 3L Was $179, Displayed Price: $149, that’s $141.55 at 5% off and $134.10 at 10% off, 3 double-magnums in stock now
Weingut Korrell Paradies Riesling Trocken, Nahe 2017 1.5L Displayed Price: $79, that’s $75.05 at 5% off and $71.10 at 10% off, 7 magnums in stock now
Grapelive 94 points
“The radiant and graceful Korrell Paradies Trocken leads with expressive pure apple tones. [It] impresses for its elegance and subtle character. It’s a wine of great poise and delicacy, especially admirable for such a young Riesling. The monopole estate vineyard, Paradies, is the oldest single site Korrell has and is the flagship wine from winemaker Martin Korrell. It comes from his family’s vines that are set on limestone and clay soils in Bad Kreuznach area of the Nahe region. The Paradies Riesling Trocken is a gorgeous white of depth and precise winemaking that takes advantage of this unique site in the Nahe. This wine is the heart and soul of Korrell and it is product of its unique climat,or terroir… This is a winery that about to break out and join some elite company, in fact they are riding high after winning, as mentioned, the famous Riesling Cup award with their unique multi (Grand) cru Von den Grossen Lagen Trocken Riesling. This wine is just extra proof there is real quality here! The lightly golden hued and generously textured Paradies will age well. It’s full of charm, class and potential. Best to let this one have another 3 to 5 years, though it certainly is delicious right now.”
 
This is the only listing in the USA today!
 
Dönnhoff is one of our favorite German producers, and one we stock by the pallet-load. They excel with both dry and off-dry wines, producing some of the highest rated and most enthusiastically praised Rieslings in nearly every vintage. Their privileged location in the Nahe, includes some of the finest and most geologically diverse vineyards in all of Germany. All this is backed by a father and son duo who will stop at nothing to produce the best wines in Germany.
 
Weingut Donnhoff Norheimer Dellchen Riesling Grosses Gewachs, Nahe 2022 1.5L Displayed Price: $219, that’s $208.05 at 5% off and $197.10 at 10% off, 3 magnums in stock now
Stuart Pigott (Suckling) 98 points
“What an exquisite stone fruit nose this super-fine and filigree dry riesling has! Yes, it is also very concentrated, but this and the power are completely underplayed. The result is an almost weightless palate that hangs like a white cloud in the still air. Extraordinary purity and precision at the almost endless finish. From organically grown grapes with Fair’n Green certification. Drink or hold.”
 
Weingut Donnhoff Niederhauser Hermannshohle Riesling Grosses Gewachs, Nahe 2022 1.5L Displayed Price: $228, that’s $216.60 at 5% off and $205.20 at 10% off, 2 magnums in stock now
Stuart Pigott (Suckling) 99 points
“The restrained beauty of the peachiness in the nose is hard to describe, but easy to be overwhelmed by! On the compact palate this has staggering concentration yet still manages to be very light on its feet. The finish is blade-runner sharp, but the blade also flashes in the sun. Breathtaking drive and energy for the very warm and dry vintage. Then comes the remarkable wet-stone minerality and you can’t wait for the next sip. From organically grown grapes with Fair’n Green certification. Drink or hold.”
 
Weingut Donnhoff Hollenpfad Im Muhlenberg Riesling Grosses Gewachs, Nahe 2022 1.5L Displayed Price: $199, that’s $189.05 at 5% off and $179.10 at 10% off, 3 magnums in stock now
Stuart Pigott (Suckling) 97 points
“What a dramatic wine this is, at once ripe and austere, super-stony and super-herbal with a touch of peppermint. Compact core in spite of the sleek and very focused body. Electric freshness at the vibrant finish although the acidity is anything but dominant. From organically grown grapes with Fair’n Green certification. Drink or hold.”
 
Weingut Donnhoff Felsenberg Riesling Grosses Gewachs, Nahe 2022 1.5L Displayed Price: $199, that’s $189.05 at 5% off and $179.10 at 10% off, 3 magnums in stock now
Stuart Pigott (Suckling) 95 points
“Ripe and concentrated, but also quite austere with stacks of spice and grapefruit character; everything from the juice to the pith and zest! A seriously dry riesling, but with moderate acidity. Long crushed rock finish. From organically grown grapes with Fair’n Green certification. Drink or hold.”
 
Weingut Donnhoff Estate Riesling, Nahe 2021 1.5L Was $59, Displayed Price: $49, that’s $46.55 at 5% off and $44.10 at 10% off, 1 magnum in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 88 points
“The 2021 Riesling is pure, clear and refined yet also intense on the nose that is immediately attractive. Lush on the palate, this is a round and charming yet also stimulating, piquant and grippy Riesling. 10% stated alcohol. Screw cap. Tasted in July 2022.”
 
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
 
Despite the fame and renown of the estate inside Germany, Emrich-Schonleber flies under the radar in the USA. These are spectacular wines—every bit the equal of Dönnhoff, their main competition in the Nahe. This is the producer that inspired Stephan Bitterolf to open Vom Boden, the mostly-German wine importer best known for bringing Keller to the States.
 
Weingut Emrich-Schonleber Monzinger Fruhlingsplatzchen Riesling Grosses Gewachs, Nahe 2022 1.5L Displayed Price: $189, that’s $179.55 at 5% off and $170.10 at 10% off, 2 magnums in stock now
Stuart Pigott (Suckling) 98 points
“One of the stars of the vintage in the Nahe! Cool and uplifting with a wealth of fresh and dried herbs and the whole spectrum of citrus. Powerful and compact on the palate which has breathtaking herbal and mineral intensity. Expands and expands at the super-long finish. Excellent aging potential, but you can drink it from release.”
 
Weingut Emrich-Schonleber Monzinger Halenberg Riesling Grosses Gewachs, Nahe 2022 1.5L Displayed Price: $199, that’s $189.05 at 5% off and $179.10 at 10% off, 2 magnums in stock now
Stuart Pigott (Suckling) 95 points
“Very attractive nose of peach and spice with just a touch of exotic fruits. Rich and ripe with a touch of mid-palate creaminess as it rolls gently over you, the power very understated. Delicate slatey minerality at the long silky finish. Drink from release.”
 
Schafer-Frohlich is a star in the Nahe, making some of the most coveted dry Riesling in Germany. Family owned and growing winegrapes for over 200 years, this is an essential estate with limited availability in the USA.
 
Powerful, mineral-drenched and resolutely bright, these are some of the finest white wines in the world, at a fraction of the price of their peers in Burgundy or Alsace. As a result, allocations are tiny: Michelin-starred restaurants fight over them and European collectors stash as many in their cellars as possible. The estate was brought to the attention of the American importer Rudi Wiest by none other than Helmut Dönnhoff.
 
Schafer-Frohlich Bockenauer Stromberg Grosses Gewachs Riesling, Nahe 2021 1.5L Displayed Price: $259, that’s $246.05 at 5% off and $233.10 at 10% off, 4 magnums in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 98-99 points
“The 2021 Stromberg GG offers a bright and pure, enormously radiant and earthy/herbal bouquet of crushed porphyry rocks and concentrated Riesling berry aromas intermingled with iodine notes. Great purity mixed with intensity and complexity. Full-bodied, refined and enormously salty on the palate, this is a compact, fresh and challenging dry Riesling with elegant and rich fruit, great density and no makeup at all. This is a bone dry but juicy wine that represents a long-distance runner with salty grip and tension. Tasted as a sample at the domaine in July 2022.”
 
At 650 years old, Reichsgraf von Kesselstatt is historic and one of the Mosel’s most traditionally-minded estates. Take a walk back in time with a magnum from one of the final vintages crafted by Annagret Reh-Gartner, owner and winemaker for nearly 40 years.
 
Reichsgraf von Kesselstatt Scharzhofberger Riesling Auslese, Mosel 2015 1.5L Displayed Price: $149, that’s $141.55 at 5% off and $134.10 at 10% off, 3 magnums in stock now
Mosel Fine Wines 94 points
“This Auslese harvested at 102° Oechsle is still marked by some residual notes from spontaneous fermentation at first. However, these quickly give way to exotic scents of mango and papaya as well as mint, candied grapefruit and pineapple. The wine proves juicy and creamy even if still on the sweet side on the palate at this early stage. However, the finish already hints at greatness to come as grapefruit zest brings freshness in the long finish of this superb Auslese from the Scharzhofberg.”
 
This is the only listing in the USA today!
 
Manfred and Katarina Prüm make some of the finest and most sought-after wines of the middle-Mosel. These reference-point Mosel Rieslings are some of the most profound and age-worthy white wines in the world. No other producer in the middle Mosel is as respected or collectible. These are always some of the finest and longest-lived wines in Germany. These white wines have near-unparalleled consistency in aging worldwide.
 
Joh. Jos. Prum Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese Goldkapsel, Mosel 2012 1.5L Displayed Price: $279, that’s $265.05 at 5% off and $251.10 at 10% off, 1 magnum in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 96+ points
“More reductive on the nose than the Himmelreich Auslese Gold Capsule, the 2012 Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese Gold Capsule (AP #19 13) combines its deeper mineral character with a perfect expression of highly noble botrytis. The finish is piquant and firm and also more grippy and stringent due to the reductive style. The wine lacks the finesse and elegance of the Himmelreich at the moment, but is provided with the density and complexity for a long flight over the years.”
 
This is the only listing in the USA today!
 
Shop our sixteen German and Austrian magnum and double-magnum selections on sale now on our webstore!
 

 
Don’t miss our additional sales going on now:
 
Molitor in Wehlen
 
5% off any 4-8 in-stock Molitor selections from Wehlen
10% off any 9 or more in-stock Molitor selections from Wehlen
 
Brovia
 
5% off any 3-5 in-stock wines from Brovia
10% off any 6 or more in-stock wines from Brovia

 
Discount will not display online or in your cart,
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Molitor in Wehlen sale ends Friday, July 19th at 9 am Pacific. Brovia sale ends Saturday, July 20th at 9 am Pacific.

VInopolis Newsletter 7-17-24 PM

 In This Newsletter:

Special Arrivals
Arterberry Maresh and Tan Fruit

New Arrivals
Domenico Clerico, Bethel Heights, Graham Beck, and more!
 
 
Special Arrival
 
The Wines of Jim Maresh

 

“Tasting with third-generation grower and winemaker Jim Maresh gives me faith in the future of Oregon Pinot Noir.” –Erin Kelley, The Wine Advocate
 
Jimmy Maresh is leading a quiet revolution out in the Willamette. Call it The New Oregon Wine if you want to be punchy and memorable, but honestly, the key is patience and observation. There is great power in these wines, but also sensitivity.
 
He started Tan Fruit to “experiment and play around with technique” and maintains a patient, minimalist approach. He prefers picking the grapes early (“al dente” he calls it), aging in a combination of steel and oak, and to ferment bone dry. As he says in his most recent Wine Advocate profile, his philosophy in the winery is “Just get the Hell out of the way.”
 
Sourcing from vineyards throughout the Willamette Valley, these represent dry-farmed artistry at its finest. These Chardonnays exhibit a complete and unique showing of Oregon’s terroir. Regardless of vineyard location, vine age and elevation these are both delightfully accessible now and will only get better with age.
 
These wines represent a kind of terroir transparency rarely seen before in Oregon. The critics are already hip to these matchless wines, which means prices and scarcity only go up from here. If you haven’t encountered these wines yet, now is the perfect time to do so!
 
Arterberry Maresh

 hot deal!  Arterberry Maresh Dundee Hills Rose 2023 750ml $14.50 special, 36 bottles available
Winery Note “About half Pinot and half Chardonnay picked early for Rose. Fermented bone dry and aged in 100% stainless steel. Made to drink cold in the sun.”
 
This is the lowest price in the United States!

Arterberry Maresh Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills, USA 2022 750ml $31.90 special, 36+ bottles available
Vinous 91 Points “A deep magenta, the 2022 Pinot Noir Dundee Hills is lifted and floral, with fruit verging more toward raspberry than strawberry, with dusty rose and hints of spice. It’s sleek and racy, with supple textures and crisp wild berries cascading across a core of juicy acidity. This finishes long and staining yet remarkably fresh, leaving a lingering whisper of licorice and a gentle tension.”
 
Arterberry Maresh Old Vines Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills, USA 2022 750ml $59 special, 24 bottles available
Winery Note “A blend of Weber and Maresh. Darker red fruit, silky and floral from a long hang time in October.”
 
 staff pick  Arterberry Maresh ‘Maresh Vineyard’ Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills, USA 2018 750ml $64.50 special, 24 bottles available
Erin Brooks- The Wine Advocate 95+ Points “The 2018 Pinot Noir Maresh Vineyard is an incredible wine. It opens slowly to an arresting perfume of dusty earth, dried rose petals, tea leaves, licorice and amaro with a wealth of bright red berry fruit at the core. The palate is elegant, supple and juicy, with an expansive fan of layered, spicy flavors and a very long finish. It’s hard to resist now, but it will have more to offer with time in bottle.”
 
Arterberry Maresh ‘Maresh Vineyard’ Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills, USA 2022 750ml $69 special, 12 bottles available
Winery Note “From 50+ year old vines, rose petal, red plum, rhubarb. Harmonious, complete and in the groove right under 13%.”
 
Arterberry Maresh ‘Weber Vineyard’ Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills, USA 2021 750ml $74.50 special, 24 bottles available
Wine Advocate 97+ Points “Out of curiosity, winemaker Jim Maresh and I re-tasted the 2019 Pinot Noir Weber Vineyard to compare to the recently bottled 2021s. (Weber Vineyard was previously owned by Jim’s grandfather and part of the Maresh Vineyard.) It’s beginning to curl inward, taking plenty of time to blossom from touches of iodine and flint to wild blackberries, tea leaves, lavender, salted licorice and candied orange peel. The medium-bodied palate is powerful and refreshing, with youthfully latent fruit and a long, spicy finish. Purchasers can look forward to an exciting evolution as this matures over the next 10-15 years.”
 
Tan Fruit
 
Tan Fruit ‘Petite Tan Fruit’ Chardonnay, USA 2022 750ml $19 special, 36+ bottles available
Eric Guido – Vinous Media 90 Points “The 2022 Chardonnay Petite Tan Fruit is perfumed with notes of young peach, crushed stones and savory herbs. It’s silky-smooth with hints of citrus and white pit fruits, decidedly savory, with a saline mineral tinge that forms toward the close. It finishes crisply refreshing yet long and potent, leaving a spicy touch.”
 
 staff pick  Tan Fruit White Walnut Vineyard Chardonnay, Dundee Hills, USA 2022 750ml $59 special, 24 bottles available
James Suckling 97 Points “Perfumed nose expressing notes of baked pears, almond powder, cream, baked lemons, chamomile and some white flowers. Medium-bodied with bright acidity and character. Vertical with so much tension. Vibrant and intense but remains in control. Plenty of verve and brightness. There is a purity to it. Textural and well-composed. A brilliant white with a long, mineral finish. Drink or hold.”
Erin Brooks- Wine Advocate 96 Points “Last year’s debut of Tan Fruit’s 2021 White Walnut Chardonnay was extraordinarily singular and expressive, and this 2022 Chardonnay White Walnut Vineyard is just as arresting. Matured for 12 months in barrel, plus six months in stainless steel, it explodes from the glass with a kaleidoscopic perfume of lychee and peach preserves streaked with accents of honey, hazelnut and green herbs. The medium-bodied palate is satiny and mouth coating and echoes the exoticism of the nose as it unfolds layer after layer of honeyed, spicy, floral fruit. Its focused spine of acidity expertly balances its natural opulence, and it has a hauntingly long finish.”
 
Lowest price in the United States
 
Tan Fruit Anela Vineyard Chardonnay, Chehalem Mountains, USA 2022 750ml $59 special, 24 bottles available
Erin Brooks – The Wine Advocate 96 Points “The 2022 Chardonnay Anela is singular and savory. Candied peaches and manuka honey mingle with dried sage, roasted hazelnuts and struck flint on the nose, and it teases you with slowly blossoming, spicy undertones. The palate is luxurious and satiny with kaleidoscopic, mouth-coating flavors, and its modest 30% new French oak is already well integrated. It has a foil of laser-like acidity, and its juiciness and hauntingly long finish draw you back to the glass again and again.”
James Suckling 96 Points “Very delicate and pristine fruit character, with salted lemons, pineapple, lemon curd and subtle notes of pastry and almonds. Medium- to full-bodied, firm and structured, with a lot of layers and a lot of potential. Voluptuous texture with precision and agility. Mineral backbone with crushed stones and chalk. Focused, succulent finish with length. Better after a year or two.”
 
Tan Fruit ‘Cuvee Tan’ Chardonnay, Willamette Valley, USA 2021 750ml $39 special, 36+ bottles available
Erin Brooks – The Wine Advocate 96 Points “…a core of peachy fruit is streaked with touches of candle smoke, matchstick, pie crust and floral tones.”
 
Tan Fruit Dupee Vineyard Chardonnay, McMinnville, USA 2022 750ml $59 special, 24 bottles available
Erin Brooks – The Wine Advocate 94 Points “The Dupee Chardonnay was barrel fermented and matured for 10 months in 25% new French oak. It opens with youthful flinty character that gives way to alluring scents of white peach, brioche and meringue. The light-bodied palate features dynamic flavors of ripe citrus and saline, honey and nuts. Its satiny texture is structured by tense, linear acidity, and it has a long, mineral-driven finish. It will be long lived in the cellar.”
 
Lowest price in the United States

Tan Fruit Fairview Vineyard Chardonnay, Dundee Hills, USA 2021 750ml $66 special, 7 bottles available
Wine Advocate 95 Points “The 2021 Chardonnay Fairview Vineyard is scented of red apples and quince with nuances of mushroom, matchstick, hay and acacia flowers. The light-bodied palate is energetic and focused with a youthfully coiled core of savory fruit and a long, mineral-driven finish. Offer it 3-5 years or more in bottle to unwind.”
 
Tan Fruit Maresh Vineyard Chardonnay, Dundee Hills, USA 2022 750ml $59 special, 24 bottles available
Erin Brooks – The Wine Advocate 95 Points “The 2022 Chardonnay Maresh Vineyard comes from a block of Dijon clone vines planted in 1991 in the Dundee Hills on a steep, south-facing slope at 675 feet of elevation. Barrel fermented and matured for 10 months in 15% new French oak, plus four months in stainless steel, it’s reminiscent of Chablis and boasts exceptionally pure aromas. It opens with flint and petrichor before blossoming to apricot, elderflower liqueur, lime peel and hazelnuts. The palate is vibrant and silky with understated layers of creamy, peachy fruit, and its linear acidity and flinty tones come together for a shimmery finish. For several days after it’s opened, the Maresh Vineyard becomes more and more expressive, pointing to a long life in the cellar.”
 
New Arrivals
 
 
Italy
 
Azienda Agricola Domenico Clerico
 

“My only goal as a winemaker must be to highlight the potential of our land. Here each vineyard has its own particular characteristic. I want to express this as best as I can in my wines.” –Domenico Clerico

Among a wave of modernist Piedmont winemakers who brought Barolo to higher accolades, reviews, and (to be honest) prices in the 1980’s. Bucking tradition with long maceration times in small French oak barrels, he produced a more international style of Barolo to Americans. However, as he grew older, Domenico eventually returned to his region’s traditions and embraced large format Slavonian oak casks. What’s old is new again with Domenico Clerico and the wines are tasting better than ever.
 
Domenico Clerico Barolo del Comune di Monforte d’Alba DOCG, Piedmont, Italy 2020 750ml $49 special, 12 bottles available
Wine Advocate 93 Points “Spiced cranberry and blood orange peel off the top of the Domenico Clerico 2020 Barolo del Comune di Monforte d’Alba. This vintage is open and front-loaded overall; however, it does touch on all the main elements atop the Nebbiolo playlist. The wine is lean with young tannins. All said and done, the oak is graciously underplayed, and all the wine needs is another year or two in bottle to allow the fruit to flesh out. It ages in large oak casks with about 10% in barrique.”
 
Domenico Clerico Aeroplan Servaj, Barolo DOCG, Italy 2020 750ml $125 special, 6 bottles available
Wine Advocate 97+ Points “The 2020 Barolo Aeroplan Servaj offers a bright and elegant fruit profile with tart fruit, blackcurrant, spice, cola, licorice and candied orange peel. It feels ironed out and smooth, folding softly over the palate initially yet ending with firm structure and framing. This wine normally represents a selection of fruit from Baudana in Serralunga d’Alba (planted in 1994), but the big change this year is that Aeroplan Servaj only sees fruit picked in the coolest parts of the vineyard.”
 
Domenico Clerico Barolo Bricotto, Barolo DOCG, Italy 2020 750ml $149 special, 3 bottles available
Wine Advocate 97+ Points “This wine stands out for its elegance and ephemeral personality. The Domenico Clerico 2020 Barolo Bussia Bricotto has a pretty fruit profile with cherry cola, dried strawberry and a fragrant floral character of rose or hibiscus. The fruit takes center stage, and there is some light spice with shadings of cinnamon stick and nutmeg. The wine has good acidity and structure. This was the first vineyard purchased by the late Domenico Clerico in 1976, and this is the new, restyled version.”
 
Domenico Clerico Ciabot Mentin Ginestra, Barolo DOCG, Italy 2020 750ml $119 special, 6 bottles available
Wine Advocate 97 Points “The Domenico Clerico 2020 Barolo Ginestra Ciabot Mentin shows really great balance in terms of the oak integration. For the first time, the estate has decided to use large oak casks (removing the barrique entirely), and the results are extraordinary. There is a lot of dark fruit, like cranberry and currant, that holds tight and defines the wine throughout. There is black tea and spice, but these tones work with the fruit not against it. It finishes smooth, with glossy tannins, pretty acidity and a much brighter and lighter overall personality.”
 
Domenico Clerico Ciabot Mentin Ginestra, Barolo DOCG, Italy 2020 750ml $108 special, 6 bottles available
Wine Advocate 96 Points “The Domenico Clerico 2020 Barolo Ginestra Pajana shows great balance between dark fruit and integrated spice from increasingly hands-off oak aging. The results are impeccably smooth, and the fruit remains bright, very vibrant. It closes dry with smoky tar and licorice. However, the Pajana holds a big fruit profile, and it carries throughout. The combination of fruit and tannins roll over the palate, making this an important, age-worthy Barolo. These vineyards were planted in 1971 with about half re-planted in 1991. This vintage represents the first time that the Clerico team has worked exclusively with 5,000-liter oak botti, and this important tweak brings beautiful results.”


Oregon

Ayres Vineyard Willamette Valley Pinot Noir, Oregon, USA 2023 750ml $24 special, 12 bottles available
Winemaker Notes “The Ayres Willamette Valley Pinot is sourced from the Ayres Estate in Ribbon Ridge at 474 feet elevation, and the Oliver Vineyard in Yamhill Carlton at 600 feet elevation. Wines are fermented in open top, 2 ton fermenters using all indigenous yeasts for both primary and secondary fermentations. A small amount of whole clusters were used.”
 
Bethel Heights Vineyard Estate Grown Pinot Noir, Eola-Amity Hills, USA 2022 750ml $35.50 special, 12 bottles available
James Suckling 93 Points “Bright cherries, raspberries, orange peel and rose hips on the nose. Some walnuts. Racy and vibrant on the palate with a medium body and vivid, electrifying acidity. Refreshing, minty undertones at the end.”
Wine Spectator 92 Points “Taut and vibrant, with a steely core of acidity and tannins that drives the flavors of raspberry, cranberry and dusky spices toward the firm finish.”
 
 
South Africa
 
Graham Beck

“An iconic sparkling wine that has carved out a niche in the history books – affectionately dubbed the “President’s Choice”, the Brut NV was served at both Nelson Mandela’s inauguration and to celebrate Barack Obama’s presidential nomination. With its light yeasty aromas, limey fresh fruit on the nose and rich creamy complexity on the palate, the Brut NV is intended to cleanse the palate, stimulate the taste buds and entice you to progress to the ‘next level’ in your tasting journey.”
Graham Beck Brut MCC – Methode Cap Classique, Robertson, South Africa NV 750ml $19 special, 6 bottles available
Tim Atkin 90 Points “Light yeasty aromas, limey fresh fruit on the nose and rich creamy complexity on the palate. The exceptionally fine mousse contributes the freshness and finesse.”

“Chardonnay 100%. The Blanc de Blancs remains one of our stalwart favorites, a darling amongst our legion of  bubbly fans and testimony to the outstanding Cap Classique terroir characteristics of our Robertson estate. Only the highest quality juice (tête de cuvée) was selected for fermentation.”
Graham Beck Vintage Blanc de Blancs Brut MCC – Methode Cap Classique, Robertson, South Africa 2018 750ml $33 special, 12 bottles available
Tim Atkin 94 Points “Bright lime green colour with rich aromas of fresh limes, green apples, pears and lemon zest on the nose. Delicately balanced flavors of succulent citrus, brioche and spice combines with yeasty complexity, broadening the palate with layered textures and leading to a long finish.”
 
“Chardonnay 52%, Pinot Noir 48%. Exuberance, flair and elegance in abundance are all hallmarks of this charming and exhilarating Rosé Cap Classique. A lengthy lees time resulted in subtle yeasty characters with a burst of fruit flavour. The fine, lively mousse is brisk on the palate, showing hints of oyster shell, fresh lavender and subtle hints of berry and cherry. Fun and versatile, yet simultaneously satisfyingly complex, the Brut Rosé is an anywhere, anytime Cap Classique.”
Graham Beck Brut Rose NV 750ml $19 special, 6 bottles available
Tim Atkin 91 Points “This wine has a unique pale silver-pink hue. Aromas of raspberries, cherries and a few secondary whiffs of minerality. A lively mousse, but fine in the mouth, with subtle red berry flavours enlivened by bright acidity. Brisk, yet delicate on the palate, bursting with flavours of freshly crushed berries and hints of oyster shell. Flirtatious and fun, yet elegant and structured, it’s perfect for all seasons and settings”
 
“Chardonnay 67%, Pinot Noir 33%. Ultra Brut is pure and honest – a true testimony of extraordinary fundamental excellence. The Graham Beck Cap Classique craftsmen always maintain that making a sparkling wine with no sugar is like walking a tightrope, there are no room for errors. This unique style of wine can only be crafted in exceptional vintages and from only the highest quality cuvée juice that can sustain extended time on the lees (five to six years). It joins the ranks of very few zero dosage sparkling wines, a category gaining in popularity amongst chefs, sommeliers, fashionistas, food enthusiasts and the health conscious.”
Graham Beck Ultra Brut 2017 750ml $33 special, 6 bottles available
Tim Atkin 93 Points “Ultra Brut is the quintessence of the Graham Beck style. With a viridescent hue, this Cap Classique opens up with a lively bouquet of lemon zest and brioche notes. The rich, complex palate is perfectly balanced by fresh acidity and an exceptionally refined mousse – a benchmark of the 2017 vintage. Endowed with a deliciously creamy texture and a rewarding finish, this ultra-dry sparkling wine is ideal to drink now or in the next 5 or 8 years”
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Be well & drink well.

Brovia Sale @ Vinopolis 7-17-24

Brovia
 
Your Three-Day Discount Starts Now

 
Brovia sits at the cusp of cult: traditionally farmed and crafted expressive Barolos that insiders have praised and purchased for decades. Until recently, these flew under the radar. With a string of vintages awash in well-deserved praise, a broader category of wine buyers has begun to take notice. So, snap up what you can now: the 2019s may be some of the final vintages that can still claim to be affordable for their region.
 
Ever since the 2015 vintage, we’ve been writing about how surprised we are that these wines don’t fly off the shelf. They seem to have it all: perfectionist vineyard management (organic without certification, careful pruning, and hand harvesting), superb and distinctive holdings (such as Villero in the Serralunga), unapologetically old-school winemaking (long and slow fermentation and long aging in large barrels and, subsequently, in bottle), consistently excellent releases, and enthusiastic purchasing by our staff.  
 
So, given their traditional stance and indifference to change for fame’s sake, what could be bringing the limelight to this small producer? Climate change. Their normal style is lean and coiled, so the extra warmth of recent vintages, beginning in force with 2015, pushed the wines to be a little grander than usual. And collectors have started to notice.
 
These are all wines that are shaping up to be epics. One day, you’ll look back on and wish you had bought more. There’s no going down from here, in price, points, or popularity. Don’t miss your last best chance. We can’t say we haven’t warned you…
 
5% off any 3-5 in-stock wines from Brovia
10% off any 6 or more in-stock wines from Brovia

 
Discount will not display online or in your cart,
We will adjust your invoice before processing your charge.

 
Sale ends Saturday, July 20th at 9 am Pacific.
 
We offer eleven options from Brovia on sale now, including:
 
Brovia Barolo DOCG 2018 750ml Displayed Price: $54.50, that’s $51.78 at 5% off and $49.05 at 10% off, 18 bottles in stock now
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 93 points
“The Brovia 2018 Barolo is a classic wine with a smooth and silky mouthfeel that is brightened by cassis, dried cherry, tar, licorice and campfire ash. The firm tannins give ample support and contribute to the wine’s considerable length.”
 
Brovia Barolo DOCG 2019 750ml Displayed Price: $69, that’s $65.55 at 5% off and $62.10 at 10% off, 25 bottles in stock now
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 95 points
“On a shortlist of “annata” wines to buy from Piedmont this year is the Brovia 2019 Barolo. Made from a blend of fruit from Castiglione Falletto and Serralunga d’Alba, this wine delivers a very sharp and chiseled performance that puts a priority on directness, freshness and length. This pretty wine has a pronounced fruity side and a mineral side, and these two parts converge beautifully. There are hints of dried mint and licorice on the close of this must-have wine. 25,000 bottles were produced.”
 
Brovia Garblet Sue Barolo DOCG 2015 1.5L Displayed Price: $189, that’s $179.55 at 5% off and $170.10 at 10% off, 3 magnums in stock now
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 94 points
“The 2015 Barolo Garblèt Sue’ is dense and powerful in the glass. A rush of black cherry, plum, lavender, iron and sage literally burst from the glass. Ample, full-bodied and intense, the Garblèt Sue’ is another stellar wine in this range. The typically incisive Garblèt Sue’ tannins are nearly buried by the sheer richness of the fruit. Today, the Garblèt Sue’ is distinguished by its wild, feral profile and huge core of fruit. In this vintage, the Garblèt is the overachiever in the range relative to how it shows in most vintages.”
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 94 points “Showing some immediate softness, the 2015 Barolo Garblèt Sue’ is beautifully approachable and generously accommodating, even at this early stage in the wine’s drinking window. Bring it out with a selection of goat cheeses. It’s interesting to note that, at 40 years old, the vines of this cru in Castiglione Falletto actually rank as some of the youngest held by the Brovia estate, founded in 1863, before the unification of Italy.”
 
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast for the magnum!
 
Brovia Villero bottle at VinopolisBrovia Villero, Barolo DOCG 2015 750ml Displayed Price: $88, that’s $83.60 at 5% off and $79.20 at 10% off, 4 bottles in stock now
Brovia Villero, Barolo DOCG 2015 1.5L Displayed Price: $199, that’s $189.05 at 5% off and $179.10 at 10% off, 5 magnums in stock now
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 94 points
“The 2015 Barolo Villero offers richness and darkness with fruit from Castiglione Falletto, and it’s one of the more intense wines I tasted within this selection. The Villero is a balanced and polished Barolo that opens to nicely integrated fruit and spice tones, expertly interwoven and united. The wine has a beautiful entry to the palate. Indeed, this pretty wine presented a united front, with seamless and graceful integration.”
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 93+ points “The 2015 Barolo Villero is a very pretty, mid-weight wine. Silky tannins and beautifully expressive aromatics give the Villero considerable finesse. On the palate, though, the 2015 is far less expressive. That is not entirely surprising, as the Villero often needs a few years to truly blossom. Sweet floral and spice notes start to open with time in the glass, but the Villero is not an especially forthcoming 2015 Barolo.”
 
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Brovia Villero, Barolo DOCG 2018 750ml Displayed Price: $99, that’s $94.05 at 5% off and $89.10 at 10% off, 15 bottles in stock now
Kerin O’Keefe-Wine Enthusiast 97 points
“Aromas of forest berry, new leather, dark spice and camphor come to the forefront on this gorgeous red. Full-bodied and delicious, the elegantly structured palate doles out crushed raspberry, licorice, orange zest and mint while bright acidity lends youthful, nervous tension. Taut, refined tannins provide structure and impeccable balance. Drink 2026-2038.”

Brovia Villero, Barolo DOCG 2019 750ml Displayed Price: $135, that’s $128.25 at 5% off and $121.50 at 10% off, 3 bottles in stock now
Brovia Villero, Barolo DOCG 2019 1.5L Displayed Price: $289, that’s $274.55 at 5% off and $260.10 at 10% off, 1 magnum in stock now
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 96 points
“With fruit from one of the top growing sites in Castiglione Falletto, the 2019 Barolo Villero shows a slightly ripe and soft side with cherry and dried raspberry followed by licorice, tar and rusty metal. This is an elegant expression, with a terrific sense of focus, that delivers complexity and depth, especially in this excellent vintage. Only 5,000 bottles were released.”
 
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
 
Shop our eleven Brovia selections on sale now on our webstore!


 
Don’t miss our additional sales going on now:
 
Dessert Wines from South Africa, Sauternes, Vin Santo, Madeira & Tokaji
 
Including wines from Klein, Royal Tokaji, Felsina & more! Click the above link for a complete list.
 
5% off any 3-5 in-stock bottles of selected dessert wines
10% off any 6 or more in-stock bottles of selected dessert wines
 
Molitor in Wehlen
 
5% off any 4-8 in-stock Molitor selections from Wehlen
10% off any 9 or more in-stock Molitor selections from Wehlen

 
Discount will not display online or in your cart,
We will adjust your invoice before processing your charge.

 
Selected dessert wines sale ends Thursday, July 18th at 9 am Pacific. Molitor in Wehlen
sale ends Friday, July 19th at 9 am Pacific.

Molitor’s Wehlener Wines Sale 7-16-24

Molitor’s Wehlener Wines
 
Your Three-Day Discount Starts Now

 
After 35 years at the helm of the family business, Markus Molitor remains one of the most respected winemakers in the world. With broad holdings, Molitor crafts dozens of wines each vintage. He believes that every single sub-parcel and selective pick should be vinified to its utmost potential. What results is a deeply rewarding if sprawling portfolio.
 
Whether white capsule (dry), green capsule (off-dry), or gold capsule (fruity to nobly sweet), Markus’ wines represent some of the Mosel’s best. And thanks to his extensive holdings, Molitor offers German Riesling lovers with a passport to explore many of the region’s most important vineyards. How to choose? Let us guide you through the wines in our village-by-village tour on our three-day sale!
 
Wehlen & Wehlener Sonnenuhr:
 
Wehlen and its most famous vineyard, Wehlener Sonnenuhr, are arguably the most important and beloved portion of the entire Mosel. It is also the home of Markus Molitor’s winery.
 
The soils in Sonnenuhr (which translates to “sundial” in German, in reference to the bold sundial in the vineyard) are Devonian slate. The vineyard itself is one of the country’s rockiest: laden with large, slate stones. This type of soil imparts the classic deep minerality and vibrancy to the grapes. The slate captures the heat of the day, radiating it to the grapes to aid ripening, and its poor ability to retain water encourages the vines to dig their roots deep into the soil, drawing up nutrients held far below the surface.
 
Devonian slate is considered one of the finest soil types for Riesling. Classic tasting notes from these soils include fresh herbs, florals, spices, and smoke. Molitor describes the wines as “elegant, succulent, finely scented, with ripe acidity and a silky mineral finish.”
 
We’re offering all of our Molitor wines from the village of Wehlen on our three-day sale. Stock up and explore the terroir-driven wines from one of German’s most famous winemakers!
 
5% off any 4-8 in-stock Molitor selections from Wehlen
10% off any 9 or more in-stock Molitor selections from Wehlen

 
Discount will not display online or in your cart,
We will adjust your invoice before processing your charge.

 
Sale ends Friday, July 19th at 9 am Pacific.
 
We offer nine Molitor wines from Wehlen, including:
 
Markus Molitor Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Spätlese Trocken (White Capsule) 2020 750ml Displayed Price: $34.50, that’s $32.78 at 5% off and $31.05 at 10% off, 22 bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 95 points
“The 2020 Riesling Wehlener Sonnenuhr Spätlese (White Capsule) is clear, pure, intense and refined, spicy and flinty on the nose that shows fully ripe, yellow-golden Riesling fruit combined with flinty/savory slate aromas. Lush and dense yet crystalline and refined on the palate, this is an elegant, very intense and saline, concentrated and substantial Sonnenuhr Spätlese that is, analytically and also sensorially, certainly an Auslese that reveals a concentrated, lemon-fresh, savory and stimulating bitter finish with great substance and class. This 2020 is remarkably complex and tensioned, but it has stimulating, zesty salinity and serious tannin structure. This impressive dry (or dry styled?) Spätlese will need another five to 10 years to open up and unfold its finesse and layers that it will easily keep for 50+ years, if cellared properly. 11.5% stated alcohol. Natural cork. Tasted at the domaine from AP 72 21 in July 2022.”
 
This is the only listing in the USA today!
 
Markus Molitor Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese ** Trocken (White Capsule) 2019 750ml Displayed Price: $54.50, that’s $51.78 at 5% off and $49.05 at 10% off, 15 bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 96 points
“Molitor’s lemon-golden colored 2019 Wehlener Sonnenuhr Auslese ** (White Capsule) opens with a spectacular dense and intense tropical fruit aroma that becomes finer and finer and more detailed and slatey with air. This is a fascinating beauty in the making. Lively and frisky on the palate despite its richness and with a lemon flavor and firm and sustainably salty mineral grip for structure, this full-bodied WSU is a highly refined and elegant dry Auslese with an extremely stimulating finish. Although the 2019 already tastes very well, I wouldn’t drink it before it’s 20 or even 30 years old, simply because the wine will become even more complex.”
 
This is the only listing in the USA today!
 
Markus Molitor Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese *** Trocken (White Capsule) 2019 750ml Displayed Price: $119, that’s $113.05 at 5% off and $107.10 at 10% off, 15 bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 98+ points
“The 2019 Wehlener Sonnenuhr Auslese *** (White Capsule) offers a deep, ripe and highly intense yet refined and noble bouquet of ripe (tropical) stone fruits such as mango, golden passion fruit and persimmon, finely crushed and flinty slate as well as iodine notes. Rich and intense yet highly refined and crystalline on the palate, with vibrant yet finessed acidity and lots of elegant or even subversive power, grip and tension, this is a highly elegant, multilayered and endlessly salty as well as frisky Sonnenuhr that delivers all the charm and complexity we may expect from this praised grand cru but rarely had in our glasses as perfectly as it comes here. This is a sustainable Sonnenuhr that I have rarely tasted with such a firm and serious structure and initial austerity. The wine has salt and tannic grip on the finish, but it has to be aged for another 8-10 years at least. One day this might be another giant from the Molitor category of “physical drinking.” Tasted from AP 52 20 in May 2021.”
 
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $159
 
Markus Molitor Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Kabinett (Gold Capsule) 2018 750ml Displayed Price: $27, that’s $25.65 at 5% off and $24.30 at 10% off, 16 bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 94 points
“The 2018 Riesling Wehlener Sonnenuhr Kabinett (Golden Capsule) is clear, very fine and discreet on the precise and detailed nose. Dense and compact on the palate, with a tight mineral structure, this is a light and filigreed yet quite substantial Kabinett with a long and intense as well as piquant and salty finish. Crystalline and with intense fruit and very good length. Tasted at the domain in September 2020.”
 
This is the only listing in the USA today!
 
Markus Molitor Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Spätlese (Gold Capsule) 2019 750ml Displayed Price: $33, that’s $31.35 at 5% off and $29.70 at 10% off, 12 bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 95 points
“The 2019 Wehlener Sonnenuhr Spätlese (Golden Capsule) is highly refined and delicate on the lovely crunchy and slatey bouquet that exhibits flinty notes and this fascinating and refreshing Sonnenuhr Riesling fruit that has made this vineyard world famous. Round and lush yet highly finessed and weightless on the palate, this is a fabulous Spätlese with perfect ripeness, filigreed freshness and this irresistible lush and mouth-salivating finish. Tasted in May 2021.”
 
This is the only listing in the USA today!
 
Markus Molitor Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese *** (Gold Capsule) 2016 750ml Displayed Price: $99, that’s $94.05 at 5% off and $89.10 at 10% off, 11 bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 99 points
“The 2016 Riesling Wehlener Sonnenuhr Auslese *** (Golden Capsule) indicates gorgeously ripe and lush Riesling fruit with very fine flinty slate aromas that add freshness, finesse and complexity. This nose is incredibly pure and precise and doesn’t indicate any botrytis. The palate is highly elegant and fine but, at the same time, lush and salty with a highly delicate but persistent structure. Molitor Wehlener Sonnenuhr Auselse bottle in VinopolisThe finish is mouthwatering and enormously stimulating. This Wehlener Sonnenuhr is another extremely digestible yet complex Auslese that you can drink in large amounts without getting bored or tired. The acidity is so delicate and fine here and lets this gold-capsuled Auslese dance over your palate. I just love it. Bottled September 2017; tasted March 2018.”
 
Markus Molitor Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese *** (Gold Capsule) 2017 750ml Displayed Price: $128, that’s $121.60 at 5% off and $115.20 at 10% off, 12 bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 99 points
“The 2017 Riesling Wehlener Sonnenuhr Auslese *** (Golden Capsule) is subtle and discreet yet concentrated and deep on the delicate nose, with clear (white) peach, spicy lemon chutney and crystalline slate notes. Lush, piquant and silky, with very clear, elegant fruit and great finesse, this is a rich but lean and precise Wehlener Sonnenuhr whose acidity is terribly fine but defined and merciless as a laser beam. This is a gorgeous and already stimulating Wehlener Sonnenuhr Auslese of great class and style. Tasted at the domain in April 2019.”
 
This is the only listing in the USA today!
 
Markus Molitor Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese *** (Gold Capsule) 2019 750ml Displayed Price: $125, that’s $118.75 at 5% off and $112.50 at 10% off, 17 bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 99 points
“The 2019 Wehlener Sonnenuhr Auslese *** (Golden Capsule) opens with an immediately attractive bouquet, with perfectly ripe peach aromas intermingled with very fine crunchy and flinty slate notes. Lush and intense yet weightless, with an enormously salty, finessed and elegant but also generously fruity palate lifted by crystalline and mouth-salivating acidity, this is a filigreed, transparent and immaculate Auslese of mind-blowing finesse and elegance and the sexiest expression of complexity. Tasted in May 2021.”
 
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $135.99
 
Shop our nine Molitor wines from Wehlen on sale now on our webstore!


 
Don’t miss our additional sales going on now:
 
Fontodi Sale
 
5% off any 3-5 bottles of in-stock Fontodi wines
10% off any 6 or more bottles of in-stock Fontodi wines
 
Dessert Wines from South Africa, Sauternes, Vin Santo, Madeira & Tokaji

 
Including wines from Klein, Royal Tokaji, Felsina & more! Click the above link for a complete list.
 
5% off any 3-5 in-stock bottles of selected dessert wines
10% off any 6 or more in-stock bottles of selected dessert wines
 

Discount will not display online or in your cart,
We will adjust your invoice before processing your charge.
 

Fontodi discount ends Wednesday, July 17th at 9 am Pacific. Selected dessert wines sale ends Thursday, July 18th at 9 am Pacific.

Dessert Discount Days – 7-15-24

Your Three-Day Discount On
 

Dessert Wines from South Africa,
Sauternes, Vin Santo, Madeira & Tokaji

 
Starts Now

 
Could there be a more satisfying conclusion to a good meal than pouring a small glass of stickie to pair with dessert? Discover the simple and classic pleasure of a sip of Sauternes with a crumb of Roquefort cheese, poached local pears or biscotti served alongside a glass of vin santo. Try a slice of quince paste or dab of honey on aged gouda with your Tokaji (or perhaps just sip it alone on its crystal spoon). Try spice cookies or carrot cake with Madeira to bring out the nutty flavors, try candied orange peel enrobed in chocolate, sticky toffee puddings with Tokaji, dried stone fruits and goat cheese with Klein, poached apricots or candied citrus-studded ice cream with Sauternes.
 
Grilling? Throw on some honey-glazed pineapple or peach slices and serve alongside fresh whipped cream and any of the above. Prefer the savory side? Pair caramelized onion tart with Tokaji, foie gras with Sauternes, or sweet and spicy Szechuan dishes with either. How about brunch? Marmalade on toast points with Klein. Looking towards the fall? Evoke autumn with pumpkin bread or pie and Madeira.
 
These wines are surprisingly flexible in their ability to offer complex and unique pairings with a wide range of dishes and courses. Elevate an average Tuesday night meal or make a celebratory feast an experience. Stock up now while our sale is on and revel in their magic for years to come.
 
5% off any 3-5 in-stock bottles of selected dessert wines
10% off any 6 or more in-stock bottles of selected dessert wines

 
Discount will not display online or in your cart,
We will adjust your invoice before processing your charge.

 
Sale ends Thursday, July 18th at 9 am Pacific.
 
We offer 21 options on sale now, including:
 
Vin Santo:
 
Badia a Coltibuono Vin Santo del Chianti Classico Occhio di Pernice, Tuscany 2006 375ml Displayed Price: $69, that’s $65.55 at 5% off and $62.10 at 10% off, 6 half-bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 95 points
“The 2006 Vin Santo del Chianti Classico Occhio di Pernice is one of the best wines I have tasted from Badia a Coltibuono in some time. Sweet, dark and voluptuous, the 2006 shows all of the richness of a 100% Sangiovese Vin Santo, yet also possesses remarkable restraint for such a big wine, with plenty of intensity but no excess weight. A bevy of leather, licorice and clove notes round out the silky, mid-weight finish.”
 
This is the only listing in the USA today!
 
Dessert vin santo wine from Avignonesi in VinopolisAvignonesi Vin Santo di Montepulciano, Tuscany 2001 375ml Was $179, Displayed Price: $169, that’s $160.55 at 5% off and $152.10 at 10% off, 6 half-bottles in stock now
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 98 points
“The 2001 Vin Santo di Montepulciano (375 milliliters) is a divine and superbly delicious sweet blend of Trebbiano, Malvasia and Grechetto. The results are super concentrated and simmered down to a virtual reduction sauce of deliciousness. There are so many aromas to name, but some of the most evident highlights include candied orange peel, almond marzipan, caramel, toasted coffee bean, vanilla stick, mocha, dark honey and fragrant yellow rose. The mouthfeel is creamy, rich and deeply layered. I’m suggesting a slightly shorter drinking window here compared to the Occhio di Pernice. But, the truth is: I have no idea. I’m pretty sure these wines will outlive anyone of legal drinking age.”
 
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $229.90
 
Felsina Berardenga Vin Santo Chianti Classico, Tuscany 2015 375ml Displayed Price: $49, that’s $46.55 at 5% off and $44.10 at 10% off, 6 half-bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 97 points
“An exquisite Vin Santo, with aromas and flavors of brown butter, caramel, molasses, gingerbread and roasted walnut riding the vibrant structure. Impeccably balanced, with fine complexity and a long, resonant aftertaste. Malvasia, Trebbiano and Sangiovese. Drink now through 2040. 1,000 cases made, 600 cases imported.”
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 96 points “The 2015 Vin Santo del Chianti Classico is such a classy wine. Scents of orange peel, hazelnut, dried flowers, chamomile and lightly burnt sugar all grace this exquisite Vin Santo from Fèlsina. It is one of the most refined Vin Santos readers will come across and a true archetype.”
 
Rocca di Montegrossi Vin Santo del Chianti Classico, Tuscany 2009 375ml Was $89, Displayed Price: $79, that’s $75.05 at 5% off and $71.10 at 10% off, 22 half-bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 94 points
“The 2009 Vin Santo is a rich, exotic wine, as it always is. Readers will find one of the richest most intense Vin Santos being made today. Plush, tropical and ample in feel, Rocca di Montegrossi’s Vin Santo is bold and racy to the core. The 350 grams of residual sugar leave the wine with tremendous textural plushness.”
 
This is the only listing in the USA today!
 
Castello di Volpaia Vin Santo del Chianti Classico, Tuscany 2015 375ml Displayed Price: $59, that’s $56.05 at 5% off and $53.10 at 10% off, 6 half-bottles in stock now
Wine Enthusiast 93 points
“Made of 60% Trebbiano and 40% Malvasia, this opens with aromas of maple syrup, ripe apricot and vanilla. The aromas carry over to the rich palate along with marzipan and acacia honey notes. It’s well-balanced and has a long finish. -Kerin O’Keefe”
Wilson Daniels tasting note “Scintillating amber. It is a full, balanced wine with intense flavors of cane sugar, apricot jam and sultan grapes. Warm and luscious with an almond finish.”
 
Madeira:
 
D’Olivieras Tinta Negra, Madeira 1995 750ml Displayed Price: $219, that’s $208.05 at 5% off and $197.10 at 10% off, 4 bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 96 points
“A rich, robust style, with smoky notes to the flavors of dried tropical fruits and apple, enlivened by accents of citrus zest. Cedar and dried ginger details fill the powerfully structured finish. Still an adolescent, with a long future ahead. Very pure.”
 
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Barbeito Faja dos Padres Malvasia Candida Reserva Especial, Madeira NV 500ml Displayed Price: $119, that’s $113.05 at 5% off and $107.10 at 10% off, 4 500ml-bottles in stock now
James Suckling 97 points
“Don’t be deceived by the fact that this is a non-vintage wine, because this great medium-sweet Madeira is rippling with mature nutty notes, toffee and dried fig character. However, what makes it stand out is the wonderful elegance and subtle nuancing of the flavors. At the vibrant finish it glides off and out towards the distant horizon. Drink or hold.”
 
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
 
Sauternes and Barsac:
 
Chateau Coutet, Barsac 2015 750ml Displayed Price: $59, that’s $56.05 at 5% off and $53.10 at 10% off, 9 bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 96 points
“A heavenly dessert wine, the 2015 Château Coutet boasts a huge nose of caramelized citrus, crème brûlée, tangerine, and honeysuckle. With huge richness and sweetness, moderate acidity, a thick, fat mouthfeel and a blockbuster finish, it’s borderline over the top yet holds it together. It will be interesting to see how this evolves, but it’s undeniably gorgeous today.”
Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Wine Advocate 95 points “The 2015 Coutet is pale lemon colored with intense grapefruit, lemon pie and pineapple notes with touches of crushed rocks, honeycomb and lime zest plus a waft of orange blossoms. Rich, opulent and layered with loads of tropical and citrus notes, it has wonderful freshness, finishing long.”
Wine Spectator 95 points “Flattering, with a mix of pineapple, peach, pear and yellow apple flavors that give this both treble and bass. Gilded with heather and lemon curd on the finish, with a flash of piecrust that should blossom as this matures.”
 
Chateau Coutet, Barsac 2016 750ml Displayed Price: $51.90, that’s $49.31 at 5% off and $46.71 at 10% off, 2 bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 97 points
“One of the top sweet wines in this report is the 2016 Château Coutet, which has the vintage’s plush, opulent style as well as thrilling purity and good acids. Pineapple, white flowers, sugared peach, and honeyed notes all emerge from this full-bodied, layered, balanced Barsac that’s already impossible to resist yet will evolve gracefully 2+ decades.”
Decanter 96 points “Oh that’s lovely. Ginger and sumac spice, and a gorgeous richness with the perfect balance of minerality. Rich but pure botrytis character and gently curling smoky notes leap out of the glass. Amazing persistency, easily one of the best wines in the tasting. This is excellent; succulent and mouthwatering.”
 
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
 
Chateau de Fargues, Sauternes 1996 750ml Displayed Price: $119, that’s $113.05 at 5% off and $107.10 at 10% off, 6 bottles in stock now
Chateau de Fargues, Sauternes 1998 750ml Displayed Price: $136, that’s $129.20 at 5% off and $122.40 at 10% off, 3 bottles in stock now
VinopolNote:
Produced by the same family who also owned and operated Chateau d’Yquem until 1996, this is a classic Sauterne. Rich and racy with notes of apricot, orange, and caramel with a long, long finish. Over 400 years of tradition goes into every bottle. Don’t miss out on this fantastic vintage from a legendary producer!
 
Klein Constantia, The One and Only:
 
Klein Constantia Vin de Constance Natural Sweet Wine, Constantia 2018 500ml Displayed Price: $79, that’s $75.05 at 5% off and $71.10 at 10% off, 18 500ml bottles in stock now
Anthony Mueller-Wine Advocate 97 points
“Classic and expressive with seductive aromas of marmalade and honeysuckle, the 2020 Vin de Constance Natural Sweet Wine is fresh, balanced and complex, offering a delightful lift from 60% new oak. Clocking in at 13.5% alcohol, the palate displays a harmonious balance between fruit sweetness and energetic acidity. It has layers of complexity with impeccable breadth and depth. It may be one of the finest expressions of Vin de Constance to date, and it ends with succulent flavors of apricots, saffron, quince paste and sweet candied citrus tones over the long, ever-evolving finish. Aged for a year and a half in 50% new Hungarian and French oak barrels, followed by an additional year and a half of large format wooden foudre, only the best lots end up being selected for the final blend. Bravo! Run, don’t walk to buy this world-class sweet wine to put in your cellar!”
 
Tokaji:
 
Royal Tokaji Essencia, Tokaj 2009 375ml Displayed Price: $999, that’s $949.05 at 5% off and $899.10 at 10% off, 6 half-bottles in stock now
Neal Martin-Vinous 99 points
“The 2009 Tokaji Essencia comes in 1,386 individual red lacquer hand-crafted boxes containing a 375ml bottle and an obligatory hand-blown glass spoon, which is not there for decorative purposes. It does enhance imbibement, allowing that enormous hit of sucrosity to land straight on the tongue instead of clinging to the sides of your mouth or gums. It has a surprisingly bashful nose for the first 12 hours. Whereas some burst from the glass, this chooses to unfurl and only as if toying with you, gradually reveals scents of fresh fig, Medjool dates, Seville orange marmalade and Clementines. I notice that the aromatics blossom on the second day as it deftly slips into fifth gear. The palate also meliorates, obviously unctuous and yet paradoxically weightless thanks to that acidity. Again, fig features prominently allied with marmalade, demerara and quince, more desiccated orange peel and syrup towards the harmonious finish. Wonderful precision throughout, this magnificent Essencia that will outlast you and I.”
James Suckling 99 points “Wine does not get more concentrated, dense and viscous than this Tokaji Essencia, but alongside the unctuous sweetness, it also has extraordinary freshness. The fruit aromas range from blood to quince jelly, but there’s also a slew of spices and notes of flowers and forest honey. Although it barely has 2% alcohol, it is much more vinous than that figure suggests. Titanic brulee character at the huge finish. Just 1,386 half-bottles were made. Should live longer than any of us! Drink or hold.”
Decanter 96 points “… Amber in colour, it has an intoxicating bouquet of orange rind, dried apricot and mango, citrus blossom, figs, acacia honey and marmalade with a touch of herbal freshness. With sugar levels reaching as high as 581.3 g/l, the Essencia 2009 is by no means heavy and cloying on the palate. With bright citrus acidity at 11.8 g/l leading the way, lemon zest, maple syrup, more dried yellow and red fruits unravel and linger on. A rare treat that still has decades ahead.”
 
Royal Tokaji Betsek Single Vineyard Aszu 6 Puttonyos, Tokaj 2017 500ml Displayed Price: $119, that’s $113.05 at 5% off and $107.10 at 10% off, 1 bottle in stock now
Neal Martin-Vinous 96 points
“The 2017 Tokaji Betsek 6-Puttonyos comes from Royal Tokaji’s largest vineyard site, a crescent-shaped parcel on black volcanic soils. This has a very harmonious, Sauternes-like bouquet with orange blossom and wild peach aromas percolating through with time. The palate is poised and focused, delivering vibrant energy, a touch of spiciness on the back palate and outstanding length. This could turn out to be their finest single-vineyard release. Brilliant. 4,606 bottles produced.”
 
Royal Tokaji Nyulászó First Growth Aszú 6 Puttonyos, Tokaj 2016 500ml Displayed Price: $119, that’s $113.05 at 5% off and $107.10 at 10% off, 1 500ml bottle in stock now
Neal Martin-Vinous 95 points
“The 2016 Nyulászó First Growth Tokaji Aszú 6 Puttonyos, which delivers 180g/L residual sugar, has a deep, honeyed, slightly more introverted bouquet compared to the Ste. Tamás. It gradually reveals scents of manuka honey, orange pith and quince jus, yet it clearly deserves several years to really open. The palate is very well balanced, harmonious and brimming with tension. Pears, Seville orange marmalade, hints of mandarin and fresh figs vie for attention. This is a powerful, intense Tokaji, but razor-sharp, delivering real precision and “bite” toward the finish. Outstanding.”
Wine & Spirits 91 points “[Wine & Spirits Winery of the Year in 2021 Featured Wine] This feels youthful and lean, the peach and lemon flavors pinned to the wine’s broad texture by sharp acidity. While it’s succulent and almost refreshing now, this is sure to build in complexity with time in bottle.”
 
Royal Tokaji Szt. Tamás Aszú 6 Puttonyos, Tokaj 2017 500ml Displayed Price: $112, that’s $106.40 at 5% off and $100.80 at 10% off, 8 500ml bottles in stock now
Neal Martin-Vinous 95 points
“The 2017 Tokaji Szt. Tamás 6-Puttonyos comes from red-clay topsoils in the commune of Mád. This is more backward compared to the Mézes Mály, and very much more citrus-driven, featuring lemon peel, orange zest and crushed stone aromas; the Aszú element is more discreet. The fresh, vibrant palate is well balanced and harmonious, offering a fine bead of acidity and candied orange peel toward the finish. Edgier than Royal Tokaji’s other 2017s, and perhaps spicier on the finish, this will be fascinating to observe mature in bottle. 3,635 bottles produced.”
 
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
 
Royal Tokaji Aszú 5 Puttonyos, Tokaj 2017 500ml Displayed Price: $59, that’s $56.05 at 5% off and $53.10 at 10% off, 13 bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 93 points
“A waft of beeswax on the nose transitions on the palate to a pure and lovely beam of poached apricot fruit, accented by dried raspberry, candied ginger, hazelnut biscotti and honeysuckle notes. Fine and creamy on the palate, with a long, lightly mouthwatering finish. Drink now through 2030.”
Wine Enthusiast 93 points “Dark amber in the glass, this Tokaj Aszú has aromas of honeycomb, jasmine and freesia. In the mouth are intense flavors of ripe yellow peach and dried apricot.”
 
Royal Tokaji Furmint Aszú 6 Puttonyos, Tokaj 2013 375ml Displayed Price: $99, that’s $94.05 at 5% off and $89.10 at 10% off, 10 half-bottles in stock now
Winery note
“Rich intense nose with hints of orange and spice.  Full flavoured with citrus, pear and quince fruit, outstanding structure and a long, crisp finish. A perfect vintage with miraculous weather, perfect conditions during autumn for the development of Aszú – misty mornings, warm drying winds blowing across the Great Plain of Hungary and sweeping the mists up into the vineyards. Harvested from Royal Tokaji exclusively owned vineyards, excellent quality Furmint Aszú berries with good structure and perfect botrytis were macerated in fermenting Furmint must for two days. After pressing, the wine was filled into three 300 litre old Hungarian oak casks and transferred down into Royal Tokaji’s extensive, deep underground cellars to mature for 23 months. The final blend was made during early spring in 2016 and bottled in May. Enjoy at this young age or cellar for future enjoyment as the wine matures. Sip on its own as an aperitif, serve with fruit-based desserts or hard cheeses or enjoy this mouth-watering wine on its own instead of a dessert.”
 
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
 
Royal Tokaji “By Appointment Only Issue No.11” Kabar Aszú 6 Puttonyos, Tokaj 2018 500ml Displayed Price: $79, that’s $75.05 at 5% off and $71.10 at 10% off, 11 500ml bottles in stock now
Winery Note
“Rich intense nose with hints of tropical fruits and spice. Very fine and elegant wine, full-flavoured with vibrant acidity, citrus and peach on the palate with a long, balanced finish. Enjoy at this young age or cellar for future enjoyment as the wine matures. Sip on its own as an aperitif, serve with fruit based desserts or hard cheeses or enjoy this mouth watering wine on its own instead of a dessert.”
 
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
 
Royal Tokaji Late Harvest, Tokaj 2018 500ml Displayed Price: $20.90, that’s $19.86 at 5% off and $18.81 at 10% off, 8 500ml-bottles in stock now
Wine Enthusiast 92 points
“This amber-colored late-harvest wine from Tokaj has aromas of honeycomb and white flowers, especially jasmine and freesia. In the mouth, it has nice fruit sweetness and flavors of clover honey, ripe apricot and yellow peach.”
 
Royal Tokaji “By Appointment Only” Szt. Tamás Late Harvest Furmint, Tokaj 2016 375ml Displayed Price: $39, that’s $37.05 at 5% off and $35.10 at 10% off, 17 half-bottles in stock now
Wine Enthusiast 94 points
“This late harvest wine from Hungary is comprised of Furmint, Hárslevelu and Muscat. It has aromas of acacia flower and pear, with flavors of apricot, pear juice and dried rosemary. The finish is pleasantly sweet without being too cloying.”
Winemaker’s Note “Pale gold color with delicate aromas of exotic fruits and spice. Light and fresh on the palate with hints of white peach, the wine is medium sweet with an excellent acid balance, a silky texture and a clean, long, crisp finish. Blend: 47% Furmint, 26% Harslevelu, 20% Yellow Muscat, 7% other native varietals.”
 
Shop our 21 dessert selections on sale now on our webstore!
 

 
Don’t miss our additional sales going on now:
 
Bastille Day Champagne Sale
 
5% off any 3-5 in-stock bottles of Champagne
10% off any 6 or more in-stock bottles of Champagne
 
Fontodi Sale
 
5% off any 3-5 bottles of in-stock Fontodi wines
10% off any 6 or more bottles of in-stock Fontodi wines

 
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Champagne sale ends Tuesday, July 16th at 9 am Pacific. Fontodi discount ends Wednesday, July 17th at 9 am Pacific