Category Archives: Newsletter Archive

Kopke 1-6-24

Kopke &

Legendary Colheita Ports

Some of the world’s oldest wineries are still quietly making some of the most profound wines for their region. These estates have been loved and sought-after for generations. Think of Saint Cosme in Gigondas, Schloss Gobelsburg in the Kamptal region of Austria, Karthäuserhof in the Mosel, Ricasoli and Antinori in Tuscany, and Kopke, the oldest Port House in the Douro or the world.

Kopke, founded in 1638, makes what might be the most vibrant and long-lived port wines available. They have been through adverse times in their nearly 400-year history, seeing dramatic shifts in the climate, swings in the popularity of their product, and the rise and fall of populist dictators. Through all of this, they’ve been consistent in their commitment to making the greatest Tawny and Colheita (vintage Tawny) Port available.

We’re fortunate to have a tremendous lineup available with additional stock that just landed, including Colheita vintages dating back to 1957, and a 30-year and 40-year Tawny. The unbelievably youthful 1957, 1966, and 1967 Colheitas are perfect examples of how age adds concentration and depth, with the traditional Kopke freshness that keeps these so vibrant. All of our selections will continue to show their highlights and develop rich spice and dried fruit characteristics for years to come.

Although the main focus of Kopke has always been its Colheita and Tawnies, they also craft exceptional Vintage Port. In 1922, the Port House acquired the Quinta de São Luiz, recognized as one of the most important estates in the Douro due to the quality of its vineyards and its history. You can experience two Vintage Ports from this estate, the 2015 and 2019.

Explore our fourteen in-stock options from Kopke on our webstore now or browse highlights below:

Kopke 20 Year Fine White Port 375ml $49 special, 3 half-bottles in stock now
Roger Voss-Wine Enthusiast 93 points “This wood-aged Port has a fine point of balance between fruit and old wood flavors. Its richness comes from the concentration and the acidity working in harmony. Drink the wine now.”
Importer note “A Malvasia Fina-based blend of traditional Douro white varieties, grown on schist-sandstone soils at 600 meters of elevation.”

Kopke 30 Year Old Tawny Port 750ml $119 special, 11 bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 94 points “A very inviting, open style, with butterscotch and caramel notes framing the core of glazed pear, caramelized peach, golden raisin and warm fig flavors. The lush finish lets crème brûlée and ginger cream details hang, showing a flash of honeysuckle for lift. Drink now. 200 cases imported.”
Mark Squires-Wine Advocate 93 points “The NV 30 Year Old Tawny Port was bottled in 2017 with a bar-top cork and 130 grams per liter of residual sugar. The last release I saw of this was pretty fine. So, too, here. This adds a layer of depth and more complexity to the Burmester, although it lacks the Burmester’s elegance and sex appeal. While the finish here is bigger and more gripping, it is no more flavorful (actually, less so). Still, as this rolls around the mouth, it is impressive, not necessarily more exciting than the Burmester, but definitely different stylistically. They are good examples of the diversity you can get in one portfolio. As always, these last indefinitely, barring cork failures, but they are not really meant to be held.”
Importer note “A Touriga Nacional-based blend of traditional Douro red varieties, grown on schist-sandstone soils at 600 meters of elevation.”

Kopke 40 Year Old Tawny Port 750ml $199 special, 6 bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 95 points “This offers a dreamy mix of caramelized pear, fig and peach flavors at the core, while caramel, sesame oil and date notes fill in through the expansive finish. At first glance this is quite lush, but the finish lingers with cut and drive. Drink now. 200 cases imported.”
Mark Squires-Wine Advocate 93 points “The NV 40 Year Old Tawny Port was bottled in 2016 with a bar top cork and 145 grams per liter of residual sugar. This adds a bit more brandy as a nuance on the finish to the 30, reviewed this issue, but it still seems much like the 30 Year Old, surprisingly fresh and easy, beautifully balanced and on the lighter side in terms of mid-palate concentration. It is a lovely tawny on its own terms–I’m just not sure it delivers enough of an uptick to justify the price spike from the 30 (or, perhaps even the 20). On its own, though, it won’t disappoint. The price references a 750 milliliter bottle.”
Importer note “A Touriga Nacional-based blend of traditional Douro red varieties, grown on schist-sandstone soils at 600 meters of elevation.”

Kopke Colheita Tawny Port 1957 750ml $489 special, 3 bottles in stock now
Harriet Kininmonth-IWSC 98 points “Still showing elegance and incredible complexity when considering the age. Soft and mellow, loaded with ripe soft stone fruit. Harmonious yet still has austere delights to savour. Still has development to come.”
Mark Squires-Wine Advocate 95 points “The 1957 Colheita Tawny Port was seen before, but it’s worth revisiting in the USA, since it’s a great wine. This is also the new 2015 bottling. It has 127 grams per liter of residual sugar. It is stunning how youthful this is. Lush and rich on opening, it has mature flavors that emerge, easily demonstrating the complexity and concentrated aromatics one expects. Gripping on the finish, this delivers fruit flavor and seems to linger indefinitely. When I first saw this, it was tasted next to even more brilliant Colheitas and a bit overshadowed. On its own, it is even more stunning. It was pretty fine next to some other greats here as well.”
Roger Voss-Wine Enthusiast 95 points “There is a great balance between acidity and impressively fresh fruit considering the age of this venerable Port. Of course there are many flavors from the wood aging, but they are combined with orange marmalade, fig and raisin flavors in a riot of complex flavors that have created a very great wine. It comes from a year that was not generally declared as a vintage.”
Wine Spectator 95 points “Baked pear, dried apricot and roasted apple flavors dominate in this mature yet fresh-tasting version. White pepper and lightly smoky notes show on the fresh finish. Rich and complex. Drink now. 200 cases imported. — KM”

Kopke Colheita Tawny Port 1966 750ml $249 special, 6 bottles in stock now
Mark Squires-Wine Advocate 96 points “The 1966 Colheita Tawny Port was bottled in 2015 with 126.3 grams per liter of residual sugar, and comes with a bar top cork (as is typical here). As we start getting seriously old in the lineup from Sogevinus this issue, this shows what you get with increasing age: the superb concentration of flavor, the long, intense finishes and the complex medley of flavors that old Tawnies deliver effortlessly. That, to me, is what makes them worth the extra bucks. If some of the youngsters lean more to caramel, this adds more molasses with a touch of Brandy in the background. The concentrated flavors linger more or less endlessly, driven into the palate by the wine’s power and acidity. You can smell and taste this for a long time. The graceful mid-palate is deceptively friendly at first. It sure does grip the palate at the end, though, finishing with juicy bursts of fruit and sugar. Over several days, it acquired a bit more harmony and shed a touch of aggression. The alcohol, speaking relatively, is not as well integrated here as with the 1965, also reviewed, but that is relative. I tended to like this just slightly better anyway for its complexity and concentration on several fronts. The freshness on the 1965 is quite enticing, though. It tastes younger. It depends on what you want: that old-wine complexity and depth or a livelier feel. They both have plenty of power on the finish. You can’t go wrong, really.”

Kopke Colheita Tawny Port 1967 750ml $249 special, 6 bottles in stock now
Mark Squires-Wine Advocate 95 points “The 1967 Colheita Tawny Port comes in with 142 grams per liter of residual sugar. This is a nice step up compared to the younger parts of the lineup, elegant and focused, with a precise finish, a fresh feel, little discernible brandy and a long, long finish. The classic old tawny flavors of molasses and caramel wash over the palate. This isn’t big and thick, but some may very well prefer its elegant and brighter feel. In many ways, it is fresher than the 1981 or 1999 reviewed this issue, and it is better balanced than the 1937. It is very pretty.”

Kopke Colheita Tawny Port 1978 750ml $119 special, 8 bottles in stock now
Nick Room-IWSC 97 points “Excellent in all aspects. Caramel and molasses on the nose, palate abundant with deeper toffee, vanilla and ripe prune. Cedar spices combine with fine citrus fruit around a red fruit core. Balanced and with further evolution still to come. Seriously good.”
Mark Squires-Wine Advocate 94 points “The 1978 Colheita Tawny Port was bottled in 2015 with 119 grams per liter of residual sugar and a bar top cork (typical for the house). It is very graceful for its age, finishing with a wave of sweetness, fruit and sugar. Emphasizing the caramel more than the molasses, this is irresistibly delicious, but it becomes more complex and puts on weight as it airs and warms. The wine shows off its power and hints of Brandy on the rather tense finish, too. Overall, this is a beauty that becomes more impressive the longer you sit with it. Then, you realize that its balance is simply perfect, yet it stands out in most every category. This is very fine and the price is pretty nice for the age and the quality.”
Roger Voss-Wine Enthusiast 94 points “Not one of the generally declared vintages for Port, this year produced some ripe, sweet single quinta vintages. It also was a good year for rich, sweet tawnies. This is ripe, toffee-like in character packed with ripe raisin and sultana flavors. It is a luxurious wine, of course ready to drink.”

Kopke Colheita Tawny Port 1985 750ml $99 special, 4 bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 91 points “Plum and blackberry aromas, with hints of chocolate and nut follow through to a full body, medium sweetness and a long caressing finish. Youthful, round and rich”

Kopke Colheita Tawny Port 1999 750ml $59 special, 3 bottles in stock now
Jamie Goode-Wine Anorak 94 points “Complex, spicy and raising with an appealing saline edge. Some lovely savoury notes developing here. Has warmth and complexity.”

Kopke Colheita Tawny Port 2005 750ml $49 special, 1 bottle in stock now
Wine & Spirits 93 points “Cool and refined upfront, this is polished and posh with sweet plum and vanilla scents in the middle. Then it gets a sunny lift in the end, lasting on honeycomb and notes of dried apricots. A gracious and refined way to end a holiday meal.”

Kopke Colheita Tawny Port 2007 750ml $41.90 special, 1 bottle in stock now
Wine Spectator 91 points “Warm toffee, cinnamon and ginger notes glide through, enhanced by a light streak of juniper. Ends with accents of dark tea and a flash of bitter almond. Drink now.”
Mark Squires-Wine Advocate 90 points “The 2007 Colheita Tawny Port comes in with 112 grams per liter of residual sugar. This is a friendly and easy ten-year Tawny, with a bright feel and an elegant mid-palate. It finishes well, tasty and fresh. There’s nothing overly complicated here, but it is impossible to dislike.”

Kopke Vintage Port Quinta de São Luiz 2015 750ml $59 special, 10 bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 92 points “A flattering style, with a generous feel to the mix of raspberry, boysenberry and blackberry puree flavors that glide through. Light fruitcake and red licorice accents infuse the finish, which has a nice kick of freshness. Best from 2028 through 2045. 200 cases imported. — JM”
Mark Squires-Wine Advocate 90-92 points “The 2015 Vintage Port Quinta S. Luiz is a single-quinta Porto that is a 50/50 blend of Touriga Nacional and a field blend from old vines (over 50 years old). It comes in at 102 grams per liter of residual sugar. This is elegant and shows excellent finesse. There’s not a lot of concentration, perhaps, but this delicious Kopke does have fine structure. It finishes with tension and increasingly assertive tannins as it airs out. Nicely done overall, this shows the potential to age well and improve in the cellar. This single-quinta Porto is more or less as good as its declared vintage sibling (the Cálem, this issue, also from Sogevinus). This is a bit pricier, though, and the styles are rather different, that Cálem feeling fuller in the mouth, while this feels harder edged. This was a tank sample, out of barrel and the final blend, when tasted.”

Kopke Vintage Port Quinta de São Luiz 2019 750ml $79 special, 3 bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 94 points “This has some flash, with bright cassis, plum and boysenberry purée flavors that have a nice, caressing feel. Loads of anise, red tea, fruitcake and melted licorice notes entwine themselves to the fruit, leading to a seductive finish. Best from 2040 through 2060. 350 cases made, 10 cases imported. — JM”

Kopke Vintage Port 2016 750ml $89 special, 6 bottles in stock now
Roger Voss-Wine Enthusiast 96 points “This is a luscious wine, with tannins that are cushioned by the ripe plum and prune fruits. That doesn’t mean it is likely to develop too quickly, but is ready to take its time, bringing out the opulent character of the wine as well as its structure. Drink from 2028.”

We offer 29 Port wines in stock now. Shop them here!

Vinopolis Newsletter – Friday 1/5/2024

In This Newsletter:

New Arrivals
Andre Clouet V6, Champagne Gosset, Chateau des Jacques, and more!
New Accolades
JL Chave ‘Mon Coeur’
Better Know A Wine Region
Sierra de Gredos
The Great Vinopolis Rose Sale!
Ends Tomorrow at 9am
Close-Out Sales
High-end close-outs: Leflaive, Meleto, and Planetes
Collector’s Corner
Lynch Bages

New Arrivals

CHAMPAGNE

Champagne Andre Clouet

The Holidays are over… let the real celebrations begin!

As the Clouet winery itself says, “Pinot Noir does not mature directly, in linear fashion. Upon reaching its 6th year, it passes into a phase known as “The Whirlwind”. Propelled by an unseen force it reaches outward, taking on another dimension. The wine becomes charged with energy and vibrations. It glows… and becomes transcendent! Deep, bright, effervescent… taking off and on approach to Celestial Harmony.”
Andre Clouet V6 Champagne NV 750ml $51.90 special, 36 bottles available
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 93+ Points “Aged for six years on the second lees, the yellow-golden NV Brut The V6 Experience is a Bouzy Pinot Noir that displays great purity and intensity but also reduction on the mineral-scented nose. This is deep and complex, but it needs all our patience and perhaps even a decanter or at least a big glass and lots of aeration. The palate is rich and powerful, firmly structured, very tight and still astringent on the finish, but there is so much finesse paired with power, concentration and fruit, which give the V6 a promising future. The wine just starts a bit slowly (like a rocket, which is pictured on the label), but it will most probably go very steep in a couple of years. I have ever had this cuvée before, so I can only guess, though.”

Champagne Gosset

With a bottle of Gosset we are looking at the oldest Champagne house in the world. Founded in Aÿ in 1584, this winery even predates the famed monk and cellar master Dom Perignon. For over four centuries and 17 generations Gosset has focused on quality and elegance, sourcing the majority of their grapes from premier cru and grand cru vineyards and creating a house style that features no malolactic fermentation and uses extended lees aging. These are wonderfully terroir-focused, dynamic, age-worthy wines.

Fresh, bright, zesty – this aperitif style Champagne is perfect for seafood of all kinds
Gosset Grand Blanc de Blancs Brut, Champagne NV 750ml $89 special, 6 bottles available
Wine Advocate 92 Points “The latest rendition of Gosset’s NV Brut Grand Blanc de Blancs reveals youthful aromas of citrus zest, white flowers and almond paste. Medium to full-bodied, bright and fleshy, with tangy acids and a pillowy mousse, it concludes with chalky grip. This Champagne’s structure suggests that it should develop gracefully in the cellar.”
The color is bright and golden, the nose open and expressive, and the palate is dominated by a refreshing mineral tension.
Winery’s Note “Gosset Grande Reserve is a truly faithful expression of the Gosset style. To achieve a cuvee of this quality, the cellar-master has blended the best of the various champagne crus at the grape- harvest with wines specially chosen from our reserve stocks for their richness and maturity. 45% Chardonnay, 45% Pinot Noir, 10% Pinot Meunier.”

Gorgeous, silky, fresh
Gosset Grande Reserve Brut, Champagne NV 750ml $54.50 special, 11 bottles available
Decanter 94 Points “The nose opens with the fresh ripeness of yellow apple and highlights of Granny Smith. It has beautifully subtle autolysis on the palate, deepening into notes of creamy apple crumble, Golden Delicious and Mirabelle plum, while remaining utterly strait-laced. Elegance, length and absolute freshness are inherent and quietly convincing.”
Winery’s Note “Pale golden yellow; the fine, steady bubbles rise gracefully. The nose is both mineral and floral, revealing aromas of flowers, white fruits, apricots, Mirabelle plum and light notes of lemon, citrus fruit, quince jelly and honey. White flowers mingle with a hint of toastiness. There is a silky and harmonious sensation for this crisp, structured champagne.”

Reviews may not reflect most recent disgorgements.

FRANCE

Louis Jadot- Chateau des Jacques

An iconic chateau that dates back to the 18th century, this Moulin-a-Vent based winery is currently owned and operated by top Burgundy house Louis Jadot, whose influence has brought these wines to their highest level of quality yet!

A few steps away from the windmill itself, and separated from the la Roche vineyard by a small road, the Clos du grand Carquelin faces a little bit more towards the south and offers a different personality. Here the soil is made of granitic sands and is deeper (60m) and more clayish.
Louis Jadot Chateau des Jacques Moulin-a-Vent Clos du Grand Carquelin, Beaujolais, France 2021 750ml $49 special, 11 bottles available
James Suckling 94 Points “Stunning nose of violets and amarena cherry! Ripe and concentrated with plenty of fine tannins and an acidity that’s extremely elegant for the 2021 vintage. Very long finish with stacks of wet stone and licorice character, plus a touch of vanilla. Excellent aging potential. Drink or hold.”

Best price in the United States

This vineyard shows a high point of 361 metres above sea level. (Au Mont is the effective name of this place). Some blocks of “gray rocks” are emerging in the middle of our vine rows. On these steep slopes, facing South-East, the soils, made of shallow pink granite sand, with some quartz, are very draining These conditions, combined with the winds, altitude and optimal orientation offer very concentrated wines, but with always a bit of freshness and elegance.
Louis Jadot Chateau des Jacques Moulin-a-Vent Clos de Rochegres, Beaujolais, France 2021 750ml $41.90 special, 12 bottles available
Not Reviewed yet, 2020 review supplied for reference
James Suckling 93 Points “The deep blueberry nose pulls you into this remarkably ripe and beautifully balanced 2021 Moulin-a-Vent that has what we look for in single-vineyard wines from this appellation. Gentle entry, then plenty of fine tannins at the long, velvety finish where there’s some crushed stone minerality. Drink or hold.”

Best Price on the West Coast

New Accolades

JL Chave Selection, Côtes-du-Rhône ‘Mon Coeur’ Rhône Valley, France 2021 750ml $19.90 special, 11 bottles available
GrapeLive 91 Points The dark and complex 2020 J.L. Chave Sélection Côtes-du- Rhône “Mon Coeur” is crafted from a mix of varietals, with usually close to 60% Grenache, 30% Syrah, and 10% of Mourvèdre and Cinsault, all from a unique areas in the Vaucluse, including Visan, Vinsobres, Cairanne, and Rasteau, all historic Rhône terroirs, with vines between 20 and 60 years old on mostly clay and limestone soils. This vintage is ultra-deep and luxurious on the palate, with the Syrah clearly in evidence with loads of blueberry, violets and cassis on the full bodied palate, making for a wine that way over delivers for the price, as you’d expect from one the world’s great vignerons. As it opened in the glass and accompanying the meal, there was more thick Grenache fruit, plum, boysenberry and cherry and the tannin melted away nicely and allowed fabulous concentration and pleasure to flow, as well as a subtle lift of acidity, savory notes, grilled herbs de Provence, licorice and peppery spices. Definitely a serious vintage for the Chave Mon Coeur, making it a savvy buy as always, it will appeal to those that are bargain hunters and those that typically grab Gigondas and Vacqueyras reds. I have been drinking Mon Coeur since the early 2000s, so it’s weird I hardly mention it, when it is such an excellent choice, my bad.

One of France’s most celebrated and respected winemakers, Jean-Louis Chave, famous for his iconic Hermitage Rouge and Hermitage Blanc masterpieces, took his family’s domaine in 1993 and rose to international fame in very short order and continues to be one of the Rhône’s leading lights. Chave, whose family date back to 1481 in the Rhône is mostly known for his Hermitage offerings, does an estate Saint-Joseph and the J. L. Chave Selection series of négociant wines, as seen here, but all are organic and small yielding parcels used. The first of the Jean-Louis Chave Selection wines was from the 1995 vintage and it was from St. Joseph grapes, purchased from small growers there, starting a highly successful run of value packed offerings that now include this Côtes-du-Rhône Mon Coeur, the equally delicious Offerus from the mentioned Saint-Joseph, a Saint-Joseph Blanc, a Crozes-Hermitage Rouge, a Crozes Blanc, a Hermitage Blanc (purchased grapes) and the Farconnet Hermitage Rouge, as well as the single cru Clos Florentin Saint-Joseph, a really stunning pure Syrah that flies under the radar. The Mon Coeur Côtes-du-Rhône is fermented exclusively in stainless steel using de-stemmed grapes and then aged in a combination of wood, with old and new demi-muids and large foudres mostly, at Chave’s restored cellar at Le Clos in in Mauves, Saint-Joseph. What’s not to love here?”

Better Know A Wine Region

SIERRA DE GREDOS

We who love wine know that there is no such thing as a “next Burgundy,” that such proclamations are marketing pure and simple. Many regions are calling themselves the next Burgundy. But if you want to partake in a wine region whose approach reflects a Burgundian focus on terroir and cultivation I highly encourage a trip to Sierra de Gredos ASAP.

The Sierra de Gredos is a mountain range west of Madrid with a climate equal parts Mediterranean and Alpine, the Sierra de Gredos spans three viticultural regions (Méntrida, Vinos de Madrid, and Castilla y León) but represents a terroir all their own. For this reason, the area has become a hotspot of new activity despite not having a legal appellation of its own.

It may be a complicated affair, but the best things in life often are. Like a speak-easy or private dining club, these wines feel like a well-kept secret. It is our pleasure to share them with you.

Daniel Landi

“They seem to go from strength to strength and are getting closer to their goal with some of their wines achieving world-class status! One of the most exciting new projects not only in Gredos, but in the whole of Spain!”– Luis Gutierrez

Biodynamic, high-altitude Garnacha with an almost Burgundian focus on terroir? Sign us up! Daniel Landi’s namesake winery is a top notch representations of what Sierra de Gredos has to offer.

Daniel Landi ‘Cantos del Diablo’, Mentrida, Spain 2017 750ml $79 special, 8 bottles available
Luis Gutierrez-Wine Advocate 94+ Points “The single-vineyard 2017 Cantos del Diablo was produced with the grapes from 0.35 hectares in the village of El Real de San Vicente (Toledo), the highest vineyard in the Méntrida appellation. It’s a north-facing plot at 900 meters in altitude that was planted some 70 years ago on sandy granite soils rich in silt and is worked biodynamically. The grapes, with all the stems, fermented with indigenous yeasts in oak vats, and the wine matured in a 1,200-liter oak foudre for 12 months. This was one of the few villages from Gredos that escaped the hail and frost, and it was a dry year, so harvesting was early (10 to 15 days earlier compared with a “normal” vintage!). It’s aromatic and floral but has the austerity of the wines from El Real de San Vicente as well as a texture like liquid chalk and very fine, powdery tannins. It’s clean and ripe without excess, with a nice combination of fruit and minerality, really balanced, with intensity and finesse. Excellent 2017! 1,362 bottles were filled in March 2019.”

Daniel Landi Las Uvas de La Ira Garnacha, Mentrida, Spain 2018 750ml $31.90 special, 26 bottles available
Luis Gutierrez-Wine Advocate 93 Points “The red 2018 Las Uvas de la Ira has been produced with Garnacha from the same five vineyards since the initial vintage (2012) in the village of El Real de San Vicente, which is one of the villages from Méntrida (Toledo) that are part of the Gredos Mountains. The vines range between 40 and 65 years of age, and they are located at around 750 meters in altitude on sandy granite soils with lots of silt. The different vineyards are fermented separately in oak vats with indigenous yeasts and a very gentle vinification, one-third with very long macerations to provide structure and depth, one-third with a very short maceration to provide fragrance, and the remaining third finished the fermentation without skins (like a white) to add juiciness. The élevage is in oak foudres of different sizes, from 1,500 to 4,000 liters. This is a little less aromatic and more austere but very focused and bright, from a village where the wines are serious and have a chalky texture, less floral but more citrus, a bit more backward. It has a compact palate, with very fine tannins and a more chalky finish. It’s interesting to taste it next to wines from other villages, as you clearly see the difference. 18,700 bottles produced. It was bottled in August 2019.”

These are the best prices in the United States for these wines!

Daniel Landi ‘Cantos del Diablo’, Mentrida, Spain 2018 750ml $119 special, 8 bottles available
Luis Gutierrez-Wine Advocate 95 Points “The single-vineyard 2018 Cantos del Diablo was produced with the grapes from 0.35 hectares of 70-year-old Garnacha in the village of El Real de San Vicente (Toledo) at 900 meters in altitude, the highest vineyard in the Méntrida appellation. It’s a north-facing plot on sandy granite soils with lots of silt that deliver chalky tannins and a citrus freshness in the wine. The whole clusters fermented with indigenous yeasts in oak vats with a long maceration followed by an élevage in a 1,400-liter oak foudre for 12 months. This was extremely closed, even after a long time in the glass. It’s a vineyard that delivers more reductive wines (matchstick) with a strict palate and a strong mineral sensation. 1,620 bottles were filled in March 2020.”

4 Monos

Have you ever gone on vacation to a wonderful, beautiful place and then spent a good chunk of your precious time there thinking up ways to stay there permanently? Well, the friends behind the fabulous Spanish winery “4 Monos Viticultores” managed to do just that on a hiking trip through Sierra de Gredos.

As winemakers they employ a minimalist approach to ensure that the terroir they fell in love with speaks for itself. Their bottlings are pulled from villages that belong to the Sierra de Gredos and their “GR10” wines (presented below) are a blend of wines pulled from multiple villages across different appellations within the region.

This Village level white from Cadalso de los Vidrios and San Martín de Valdeiglesias features cold-macerated whole cluster pressing, producing a fresh white wine with lovely aromatics and drinkability.
4 Monos Viticultores ‘GR10’ Vino Blanco de la Sierra de Gredos, Spain 2021 750ml $26.50 special, 3 bottles available
Wine Advocate 91+ Points “The regional white 2021 GR-10 Blanco was produced with 60% Albillo Real and 15% Viura, with the remaining 25% composed of a mixture of varieties including Moscatel and Chelva Rosa from different vineyards in Cadalso de los Vidrios and San Martín de Valdeiglesias. It’s a little lighter than the wines produced with pure Albillo, with 13.5% alcohol. It’s a refreshing white with good balance and acidity. This fermented in a mixture of barrels and stainless steel and matured in used barrels for six months. The varietal mix changes here quite a lot, and so does the character of the wine. This feels fresher (it does have less alcohol), but the effect of the skin contact is also more noticeable; it’s a little cloudier and feels a bit wilder, and the chalky sensation is also stronger (it did have more skin contact than the 2020). It also comes through as a little funkier (but I like it!). 2,997 bottles were filled in August 2022.”

Best price on the West Coast

This Village level red from Cadalso de los Vidrios, San Martín de Valdeiglesias & Cenicientos features 50% whole cluster and 50% de-stemmed grapes ensuring a lively, fresh, and focused expression of the region’s granitic soils and high elevation vineyards.
4 Monos Viticultores ‘GR10’ Vino Tinto de la Sierra de Gredos, Spain 2020 750ml $24.50 special, 6 bottles available
Wine Advocate 92 Points “The 2020 GR-10 Tinto was produced with 92% Garnacha and 8% Cariñena from different vineyards in the villages of San Martin de Valdeiglesias, Cenicientos and Cadalso de los Vidrios. It fermented with full clusters and matured for nine months in barrels of different sizes and one 4,200-liter oak vat. It has 13.5% alcohol and very good freshness, but it’s a little darker than the 2021 I tasted next to it. It also comes through as riper, as it was a slow-ripening year that allowed them to wait for rounder tannins. They did a little longer maceration, and the wine is more structured and should be long lived. 13,950 bottles produced. It was bottled in September 20221.”

Best price in the United States

There is plenty more to peruse on our website. Click here to peruse all 149 of our Spanish wine offerings

The Great Vinopolis Rosé Sale!

ENDS TOMORROW AT 9am

5% off any 1-6 bottles of in-stock rosé wine
10% off any 7-23 bottles of in-stock rosé wine
15% off any 24+ bottles of in-stock rosé wine

Offer does not apply to sparkling rosé,
to case discounts (case-3, case-6, or case-12), or to pre-arrival wines.
Discount will not display online or in your cart,
We will adjust your invoice before processing your card.

“Romane” Côtes de Provence Rosé From 20 year-old vines at the base of the hill overlooking the estate, the Romane is made up of 70% Grenache, along with Cinsault and Mourvedre, the latter of which provides a point of amertume (a fresh, bitter note) and a salinity that quickly draws one back to the wine.
Chateau Les Mesclances Cotes de Provence Cuvee Romane Rose, France 2020 750ml $19 special, 18 bottles available
Joe Czerwinski-Wine Advocate 88 Points

Pierre-Marie Chermette Domaine du Vissoux Les Griottes Rose, Beaujolais, France 2020 750ml $14 special, 5 bottles available
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 90 Points “Translucent orange-pink. Lively and sharply focused on the nose, presenting ripe red berry and floral scents and a hint of botanical herbs. Smooth and broad on the palate, offering bitter cherry, red currant and candied rose flavors that firm up and become spicier with air. Closes long and silky, with resonating floral and spice notes and strong cling.”

Best price in the United States!

Clos Sainte Magdeleine ‘Marie de Magdala’ Rose, Bouches-du-Rhone, France 2021 750ml $33 special, 6 bottles available
No review for the 2021 vintage. Recent review provided for reference.
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 93 Points “Shimmering salmon skin. Displays vibrant, mineral-accented red berry and blood orange scents, along with a sexy floral overtone that gains strength with air. Juicy and sharply focused on the palate, offering intense red currant, strawberry, orange peel and lavender flavors that deftly combine power and delicacy. Finishes with sharp delineation and superb, mineral-driven persistence, leaving a sexy floral note behind.”

Best price in the United States!

More Rose Wines Available From VWS:

Chateau Margilliere Coteaux Varois en Provence Bastide Rose, France 2021 750ml $14 special, 12 bottles available

Clos Griotte Pinot Noir Rose, Willamette Valley, USA 2019 750ml $19 special, 4 bottles available

Clos Sainte Magdeleine ‘Marie de Magdala’ Rose, IGP Bouches-du-Rhone, France 2020 750ml $41.90 special, 2 bottles available

Domaine des Cassagnoles Rose, IGP Cotes de Gascogne, France 2021 750ml $11.90 special, 11 bottles available

Domaine du Bagnol Cassis Rose, Provence, France 2021 750ml $29 special, 6 bottles available

Falkenstein Niedermennig Herrenberg Rose Trocken, Mosel, Germany 2021 750ml $29 special, 8 bottles available

Mourat Collection Rose, Fiefs Vendeens Mareuil, France 2021 750ml $14 special, 6 bottles available

Peyrassol Cotes de Provence ‘Chateau Peyrassol’ Rose, France 2020 750ml $29 special, 30 bottles available

Close-Out Sales

NEW ACCOLADES FOR DOMAINE LEFLAIVE

Domaine Leflaive Batard Montrachet Grand Cru 2021 750ml WAS $2199 NOW $1999 special, 2
bottles available
NEW REVIEW Wine Spectator 96 Points “Round and vibrant, this white leans into the citrusy spectrum of flavors, offering lemon, orange peel and yuzu notes accented by apple and stone. Linear and intense on the superlong finish, where the flavors expand and linger. Best from 2025 through 2035.”

Domaine Leflaive Bienvenues Batard Montrachet 2021 750ml WAS $1999 NOW $1799, 2 bottles available
NEW REVIEW Wine Spectator 95 Points “Opulent and smoky, this white evokes butterscotch, apricot, peach, citronella and hazelnut cream flavors. Balanced, turning delineated and intense on the tangy finish. Shows superb length. Best from 2025 through 2035”

ALSO AVAILABLE FROM LEFLAIVE:

Domaine Leflaive Batard Montrachet 2020 750ml $1,899 special, 1 bottle available

EVEN MORE CLOSE-OUT WINES:

Chianti

Meleto Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Poggiarso 2018 750ml WAS $51.90 NOW $44.50 special, 10 bottles available
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 93 Points “Once a Riserva and now moved up to the top appellation designation, the Castello di Meleto 2018 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Poggiarso sees fruit selected from across a 1.6-hectare vineyard site. Made with 100% Sangiovese and aged in oak for 27 months, the wine offers some tertiary definition with spice and smoke at the back of purple fruits. The oak spice is integrated (50-hectoliter barrels are used), and the wine concludes with elegant minerality. Some 6,600 bottles were made.”

Meleto Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Trebbio 2018 WAS $51.90 NOW $44.50 special, 17 bottles available
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 94 Points “Here’s a new submission from the stunning Castello di Meleto, which has stone walls and towers in Gaiole in Chianti. The 2018 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Trebbio is a terrific discovery. Made with all Sangiovese from a single vineyard, this wine offers fruit brightness, balance and evident mineral definition. These results are linear and sharp, and the fruit is slightly more vibrant here compared to the Poggiarso. Only 3,300 bottles were produced.”

Priorat

Nin-Ortiz Planetes de Nin Priorat 2017 750ml WAS $49 NOW $44.50 special, 36+ bottles available
Luis Gutierrez-Wine Advocate 95 Points “The 2017 Planetes de Nin comes from the four hectares of 20-year-old Garnacha and 11-year-old Cariñena in the Planetes vineyard in Porrera at 450 meters in altitude. It’s 60% Garnacha (some of it Peluda) and the rest Cariñena, harvested early. It fermented with indigenous yeasts and matured in 3,200-liter oak vats and one 1,000-liter amphora for 17 months. It has depth and harmony, and the vines are getting older and seem to be better and better balanced. This is not that different from the 2016; it feels quite stable and has its style and character, especially since the 2015 vintage. 9,704 bottles were filled in April 2019.”

Nit de Nin Mas d’en Cacador Priorat 2017 750ml WAS $99 NOW $89 special, 36+ bottles available
Luis Gutierrez-Wine Advocate 97+ Points “The 2017 Nit de Nin Mas d’en Caçador is a vintage they talk about like this: “We will remember this vintage as one of the most extreme of the decade, along with that of 2012. It is in years like these that the work we do in the field is rewarded. In spite of the climatic exceptionality, we have acidity and pH that seem like a miracle to us. Our vines did not suffer the severe frosts of this 2017.” The wine has lower alcohol than the 2016 but the same pH of 3.3; insultingly young and tender, it doesn’t feel like the wine had a long élevage in oak. It has kept very good freshness and great balance. It’s tasty, pungent and long, with power and elegance and all the components to develop nicely in bottle. 1,440 bottles were filled in April 2019.”

Collector’s Corner

This classic Bordeaux estate (founded by an Irish immigrant in the 18th century… a very unusual beginning for a French winery) is officially classified as a Fifth Growth (Cinquièmes Crus) Lynch-Bages is still better reviewed and regarded than many 3rd or 4th Growths.

Chateau Lynch-Bages, Pauillac, France 2018 750ml $189 special, 9 bottles available $189 special, 9 bottles available
Jeb Dunnuck 98 Points “One of the finest vintages I’ve ever tasted from this address, the 2018 Château Lynch-Bages has everything you look for in a great wine: incredible aromatics, richness without weight, perfect balance, and a purity of fruit that’s just about off the charts. Dense purple, it reveals a glorious perfume of blackcurrants and blackberry fruits, a deep, unctuous mouthfeel, building tannins, and a complex array of cedar pencil, tobacco, wood smoke, and chocolate. A true blockbuster in every sense, with masses of fruit and tannins as well as moderate acidity, it will probably merit a triple-digit score in a decade and is a 50+-year wine from this team. Drink: 2028-2078. (3/11/21)”
Wine Spectator 97 Points “Vibrant, with a violet and cassis lead-in that then expands to include steeped black cherry and plum fruit as well as extra savory, iron and licorice root notes. Nice latent grip too, with a mouthwatering tug of earth at the very end. The fruit is so vibrant, it’s a tease now, but there’s structure here for the long haul, so be patient. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Best from 2025 through 2040. (3/31/21)”
James Suckling 97 Points “Aromas of blackberries, cloves, licorice, dried leaves, graphite and black olives. It’s full-bodied with firm, tight tannins. Structured and tannic with beautiful austerity and a long, mineral and layered finish. The tannins grow on the palate. Try from 2026. (1/15/21)”

Chateau Lynch-Bages Blanc de Lynch-Bages, Bordeaux, France 750ml $69 special, 14 bottles available
Decanter 94 Points “A balanced, juicy, slate-filled mineral edge here, with a crisp shot of mint. Has a lovely balance of rich texture and acidity, with lime blossom and citrus. Drinking Window 2020 – 2028.”

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Thank you from the team at Vinopolis!
Be well & drink well.

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The Great Vinopolis Rosé Sale! 1-4-24

5% off any 1-6 bottles of in-stock rosé wine
10% off any 7-23 bottles of in-stock rosé wine
15% off any 24+ bottles of in-stock rosé wine

Offer does not apply to sparkling rosé,
to case discounts (case-3, case-6, or case-12), or to pre-arrival wines.
Discount will not display online or in your cart,
We will adjust your invoice before processing your card.
Sale ends Saturday at 9 am Pacific

Shop the sale here or browse our highlights below by region!

Oregon

Crafted by the Drouhin family of Domaine Drouhin Oregon!
Cloudline Cellars Rosé of Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2021 750ml Displayed Price: $11.90, 31 bottles in stock now
Winemaker’s notes “The 2021 Cloudline Rosé of Pinot Noir expresses a floral nose of strawberry blossom and hawthorns. A beautiful salmon color, the wine has the lively texture of classic rosé and a flavor palate that includes strawberry, kiwi and a touch of lemongrass. Consider this a summer dream for any time of the year!”

Close-Out Sale Wine: Was $29!
Beckham Estate Vineyard Olivia’s Pinot Noir Rosé, Chehalem Mountains 2021 750ml Displayed Price: $24, 5 bottles in stock now
VinopolNote: Fruit from the Beckham’s dry-farmed estate vineyard in the Chehalem Mountains; fermented in amphora and aged in neutral barrel.
Winery note “The 2021 Olivia’s Rosé is a pale blush color with a light body, strawberry and cherry blossoms on the nose and a racy acidity to complement your menu year round.”

Dry-farmed and always charming, this is more a white wine from Pinot Noir grapes than a rosé
J.K. Carriere Glass White Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2021 750ml Displayed Price: $24, 11 bottles in stock now
Winery note “Think summer patio and a turn-of-the-century dry rosé Champagne with no bubbles.”
Dry farmed.

California

Marietta is a beloved California producer known for impeccable wines at unreasonably affordable prices!
Marietta Cellars OVR Old Vine Rosé, California 2022 750ml Displayed Price: $14.50, 36+ bottles in stock now
Wine Advocate 92 points “A blend of 50% Syrah, 25% Grenache Noir and 25% Grenache Gris, the 2022 Old Vine Rosé has a medium cherry-pink color and pretty scents of peach, dried herbs and charcuterie. The light-bodied palate is bright and refreshing with a deep core of fruit, a touch of anchoring texture and a long, spicy finish. It drinks well on its own, although it will pair widely at the table.”

A cult rosé from one of wine-insider’s favorites
2022 Bedrock Wine Co. ‘Ode to Lulu’ Rosé of Mourvedre, California 2022 750ml Displayed Price: $21.90, 13 bottles in stock now
Winery note “The 2022 Ode to Lulu Rose features a blend 60% Mourvedre, 35% Grenache, and 5% Syrah. Ode to Lulu is Bedrock’s love letter to Lulu Peynaud from the great Bandol estate Domaine Tempier they love so much. Sourced from vines averaging 60 years old. As always, the winemakers aim for a balance between ethereal lightness combined with straight-up delicious fruit qualities.”

France – Rhone

One of the top growers in Gigondas, rivaled only by Saint Cosme
Domaine Saint Damien Gigondas Rosé 2022 750ml Displayed Price: $26, 29 bottles in stock now
Importer note “Organic. 80% Cinsault, 20% Syrah. From the ‘La Moutte’ lieu dit.”

France – Loire

A favorite of the Rosenthal portfolio, but shamefully under-the-radar, this is zippy, minerally with spicy cherry flavors.
Château Soucherie Rosé de Loire Cuvee L’Astree 2021 750ml Displayed Price: $26, 16 bottles in stock now
Rosenthal Wine Merchant importer note “This dry, mineral-driven Rosé is produced from Grolleau (70%) and Gamay (30%). The vines are planted to clay, sandstone and schist soils. The wine is a product of the direct press method of vinification and the elevage is in cuve with bottling occurring usually in April of the spring following harvest. We purchase approximately 7800 bottles for the US market.”

France – Provence

Domaines Ott ‘By.Ott’ Rosé, Cotes de Provence 2022 750ml Displayed Price: $24, 36+ bottles in stock now
“Shows nice harmony and integration on the palate, with a juicy mix of nectarine, meadow blossoms and citrus. Tasty and refreshing. Grenache, Cinsault, Syrah and Mourvèdre. Drink now.” -Wine Spectator

Peyrassol ‘Le Clos’ Rosé, Cotes de Provence 2021 750ml Displayed Price: $69, 19 bottles in stock now
Peyrassol ‘Le Clos’ Rosé, Cotes de Provence 2021 1.5L Displayed Price: $119, 14 magnums in stock now
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 94 points “Vivid onion skin color. A highly perfumed and complex bouquet evokes fresh citrus and pit fruits, strawberry and pungent flowers, along with building mineral and succulent herb elements. Shows excellent clarity and depth to its juicy red fruit, nectarine and mango flavors, which are sweetened by a background of vanilla note. Finishes impressively long and silky, with the mineral and floral note resonating. “
Wine & Spirits 93 points “In 2021, Peyrassol credits the micro climate at their estate for the late budbreak that evaded late-April frosts, also escaping a fire (merci, le mistral), a hailstorm in nearby Pignan *blocked by hills) and flooding. More than a vintage survivor, this wine is chewy and immediately pleasurable; it captured our panel’s attention in the sweetness of its fruit. Its substantial weight would work well with a range of dishes, or stand as a meal on its own, letting it saturate your mouth, cherry-blossom accents peeking out around the edges of the finish. Its complexity is subtle but present, like a carefully-measured craft cocktail.”

Nerd alert!
Clos Cibonne Tibouren Cuvée Spéciale des Vignettes Rosé, Cotes de Provence 2021 750ml Displayed Price: $51.90, 27 bottles in stock now
Wine Advocate 94 points “The 2021 Cotes de Provence Rose Cuvee Speciale des Vignettes was produced with the oldest Tibouren vines of Clos Cibonne and matured in old barrels. It has a delicate, refined bouquet with aromas of spring flowers, garrigue, red berries, tonca bean and iodine as well as delicate oaky hints. Medium to full-bodied, lively and delicate, it has a lively, fine acidity structure and perfectly well-integrated oaky notes. Perfectly ripe, it will offer a broad drinking window.”

Château Pradeaux Bandol Rosé 2021 750ml Displayed Price: $36.50, 16 bottles in stock now
Joe Czerwinski-Wine Advocate 91 – 93 points “Not bottled yet at the time of my spring visit to the region, the 2021 Bandol Rose nevertheless showed exceptional promise in my blind tasting. A blend of 80% Mourvèdre and 20% Cinsault, it’s a coppery flamingo-pink in color, with more extraction and tannin than your typical Bandol rosé. It’s round and ripe on the palate, medium to full-bodied, with cherry and lime notes and a long, softly dusty finish. The 2020 version, tried at the estate, is still going strong and might be even a little bit better. Don’t skip it just because it’s not called out on this list.”
Rosenthal Wine Merchant importer note “The Bandol Rosé from Pradeaux is perhaps the most serious wine in this category. Robust, rich, and complex with an ability to age gracefully, Etienne Portalis insists that the Domaine’s rosé is a gastronomic experience, not just an easy-drinking wine. We could not agree more, and tastings at Château Pradeaux have repeatedly demonstrated the graceful, profound future this wine encounters if not swallowed in its infancy.”

Italy

A perennial staff favorite, we love it for it’s bold, easy-drinking style with surprising layers of complexity.
Torre dei Beati ‘Rosa-ae’ Cerasuolo d’Abruzzo 2022 750ml Displayed Price: $19.50, 36+ bottles in stock now
Vinous 92 points “The 2022 Cerasuolo d’abruzzo Rosa-Ae blows off a whiff of reduction to reveal a profoundly satisfying bouquet of rose petals, wild strawberries, and wet stone. This sizzles on the Patale, blending tantalizing acidity with minerals and ripe white cherry fruits. The 2022 finishes with marvelous freshness and potency. It ends with a pleasantly chewy sensation and wild berry hints. This is beautifully done and wonderfully balanced at just .2 grams of residual sugar per liter.”

Spain

Put a little sparkle in your glass with this Spanish refresher.
Ameztoi Rubentis Rosado, Getariako Txakolina 2021 750ml Displayed Price: $19, 36+ bottles in stock now
Close-Out Sale Wine: Was $24!
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 91 points “Pale orange. Finely etched red berry, citrus zest and floral aromas, along with building herb and mineral flourishes. Taut and nervy in the mouth, offering sappy strawberry, cherry and tangerine flavors that show fine delineation and spicy lift. Closes firm and right, with persistent red fruit notes and a refreshingly bitter edge.”
De Maison importer note “The iconic Ameztoi Rubentis rosé is a field blend of the local, indigenous hondarrabi zuri and hondarrabi beltza varieties, grown on traditional trellises high on the slopes rising above Getaria, an ancient Basque fishing village on Spain’s rugged northern coast. In the 2000s, when almost all of the other local wineries gave up on the indigenous red hondarrabi beltza vines, the Ameztoi family retained their old vines, in turn, lending their rosé such exceptional vibrancy and complexity. Rubentis, the region’s first pink wine, was inspired by the historic claret style wines which were once produced in the area long before the current global craze made rosé famous. The backbone of the blend comes from an old hondarrabi beltza vineyard planted in 1840, preserved by the Ameztoi family for generations. Ameztoi Rubentis is an authentic original, a wine that is often imitated but never replicated.”

Close-Out Sale Wine: Was $26!
Gramona ‘Mart’ Xarel-lo Vermell Rosat, Penedes 2020 750ml Displayed Price: $24, 13 bottles in stock now
Eric Solomon Imports note “Xarel-lo, Vermell Certified organic CCPAE and biodynamic DEMETER. The pale color of this rosé comes from a 48-hour maceration before pressing. With this additional skin contact, combined with the already high levels of antioxidants present in the juice of this variety, Mart cannot only be enjoyed in its youth (peaches and strawberries) but it has the capacity to develop for several years in the bottle as more pink peppercorn nuances emerge.”

Germany

“drinks like biodynamic Gatorade” – when you’re right, you’re right, Vom Boden!
Beurer Rose Trocken, Wurttemberg 2021 750ml Displayed Price: $19, 34 bottles in stock now
Vom Boden importer note “Beurer makes a rosé that drinks like biodynamic Gatorade – this wine zings: it is pure energy. It is fresh like a spring garden around 6am just as the overeager sun pokes its gonzo eye above the horizon, pushing away the wet dew. This rosé is a saignée of Trollinger, Portugieser, Zweigelt and Spätburgunder, all farmed biodynamically and fermented with native yeast.”

We offer over 1,500 bottles of rosé to choose from across over 80 different wines.

Shop all of our selections on our webstore now!

Sale ends Saturday, January 6^th at 9 am Pacific!

We’re open 10 AM – 6 PM daily

Order Online / By Phone / By Email
Thank you from the team at Vinopolis!
Be well & drink well.

Vinopolis Newsletter – Wednesday 1/3/2024

In This Newsletter:

Special Arrivals
Pingus and Remelluri
New Arrivals
Champagne Vilmart, Sanford Winery, Kruger-Rumpf, and more!
Recently Reviewed
True value from Vinsobres
Staff Pick
A red wine to pair with Szechuan food?!
Close-Out Sales
Deals from France, Germany, and Argentina
Collector’s Corner
Join the Vinopolis Hundred Point club

Special Arrivals

“We are well-stocked and ready to rock with tasty, affordable Spanish Wines!”

Pingus

Founded in 1993 by Peter Sisseck, Pingus has grown into one of the biggest cult wineries on the planet. Sisseck, a Danish born winemaker had fallen in love with the Ribera Del Duero and its native clone of Tempranillo, Tinto Fino. His work elevated the region to an unprecedented level of international acclaim and interest.

This wine project, Pingus PSI, came from a cooperative effort at the behest of Sisseck by nearby grape growers to restore the soil and vineyard practices of many old vine plantings in the surrounding Duero region.
Pingus ‘PSI’, Ribera del Duero 2021 750ml $33 special, 36+ bottles available
CASE of 12 750ml Pingus Psi Ribera Del Duero 2021 750ml $359 special, 8 cases available (that’s just $29 per bottle!!!)
Vinous 96 Points “The 2021 PSI is 90% Tempranillo and 10% Garnacha sourced from old vines planted in calcareous soils and was aged for up to 16 months in mostly sizeable French oak barrels. In the glass, it’s garnet-red with a light purple sheen. The nose offers blood notes along with sour cherry and blackberry, intertwined with violets and dried flowers, resulting in a layered, complex profile. On the palate, it’s dry and velvety. Chalky tannins define a compact mouthfeel and longlasting fruit and floral flavors. The 2021 is a distinctive Ribera del Duero with excellent nuance and agility.”

Average national price is $35!

Remelluri

“Telmo Rodriguez, one of the most iconic and best winemakers of his generation…. has accomplished himself as a champion of terroir over varietal and employs artisan craftsmanship in the cellar, with his wines hardly ever showing overt oak or aggressive alcohol, they always show distinctive purity and a sense of place.” -Kerry Winslow, Grapelive

These iconic wines from Telmo and Amaia Rodríguez show unrivaled finesse and terroir, and offer some of the most profound expressions in all of Rioja:

Remelluri Lindes de Remelluri Viñedos de Ábalos 2020 750ml $39 special, 25 bottles available
Luis Gutiérrez-Wine Advocate 93+ points “The serious and austere new 2020 Lindes de Remelluri Viñedos de Ábalos was produced with grapes on marl and limestone from the Marqués de Legarda, who is mentioned on the label. It’s a blend of 73% Tempranillo, 17% Graciano, 6% Garnacha and 4% other varieties, presented in a straight Bordeaux bottle. It reflects more the character of Haro than the Rioja Alavesa, wines with more Graciano. It’s medium to full-bodied with 14.17% alcohol and has fine-grained, chalky tannins. 13,205 bottles were filled in May 2022.”

Remelluri Lindes de Remelluri Viñedos de Peciña, Rioja DOCa 2020 750ml $39 special, 25 bottles available
Luis Gutiérrez-Wine Advocate 94 points “The perfumed and floral 2020 Lindes de Remelluri Viñedos de Peciña is the smallest cuvée from a narrow amphitheater in the parish of San Vicente de la Sonsierra. It’s a blend of Tempranillo with 25% Garnacha and therefore presented in a Burgundian bottle, reflecting the high percentage of Garnacha. It has notes of Mediterranean herbs, some coolness from the high altitude of the vineyards and some austerity in the tannins. 7,149 bottles produced. It was bottled in May 2022.”

Remelluri Lindes de Remelluri Viñedos de Rivas de Tereso 2020 750ml $39 special, 25 bottles available
Luis Gutiérrez-Wine Advocate 93+ points “Rivas de Tereso are parishes of San Vicente de la Sonsierra, but the difference with the 2020 Lindes de Remelluri Viñedos de Rivas de Tereso is that the vineyards are at higher altitude and the percentage of Garnacha is much higher here (38%), so there’s more mountain character and more herbal notes in the wine. It has 57% Tempranillo and some 5% other varieties. Despite a moderate 13.95% alcohol, the nose shows good ripeness, and there is some wilderness here, perhaps a little more rusticity too. The soils are very stony and rich in limestone, and the altitude gives the wine an austere twist. 19,742 bottles produced. It was bottled in May 2022.”

Remelluri Lindes de Remelluri Viñedos de Salinillas de Buradón 2020 750ml $46.50 special, 36 bottles available
Luis Gutiérrez-Wine Advocate 95 points “The 2020 Lindes de Remelluri Viñedos de Salinillas de Buradón, a parish of Labastida, was produced with a blend of 91% Tempranillo, 4% Garnacha and 5% other varieties from south-facing vineyards behind the Sierra de la Cantabria, the last vineyards that they recovered on quartz salt, gypsum and red clay soils. These are the last grapes to be picked, and the wine has 14.22% alcohol but doesn’t show any heat. It comes through as serious, shy and austere, a little closed at first. The tannins are a little rustic, but the wine has a strong mineral streak that made it my favorite from the lot. 20,114 bottles produced. It was bottled in May 2022.”

These are the only listings for these wines in the USA!

ALSO AVAILABLE FROM REMELLURI:

Remelluri Lindes de Remelluri Mixed Village Six-Pack 2020 750ml $249 special, 5 six-packs in stock now
Six pack contains a limited-edition booklet and one 750ml bottle of each of the following, no substitutions
1 x Vinedos de Salinillas de Buradon 2020
1 x Vinedos de Pecina 2020
1 x Vinedos de Labastida 2020
1 x Vinedos de Abalos 2020
1 x Vinedos de Rivas de Teres, 2020
1 x Vinedos de San Vicente de la Sonsierra 2020

Shop our complete selection of Spanish wines on our webstore now!

New Arrivals

CHAMPAGNE

Champagne Vilmart

Vilmart & Cie ‘Coeur de Cuvee’ Premier Cru Brut, Champagne 2015 750ml $159 special, 6 bottles available
Wine Spectator 94 Points “Fragrant, with wafts of lime blossoms and exotic cardamom, anise and saffron spices, this weaves a firm streak of racy acidity with a satiny texture and finely detailed notes of crushed blackberry, ripe yellow peach, blanched almond and a crackle of fleur de sel, which lingers on the lively, lasting finish. Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Disgorged March 2022. Best from 2025 through 2033. 150 cases imported.”

Vilmart & Cie Grand Cellier d’Or Premier Cru Brut, Champagne 2018 750ml $99 special, 12 bottles available
Vinous 93 Points “The 2018 Brut Grand Cellier d’Or is surprisingly vibrant for the year. Light hints of tropical fruit are the only clue this is a warm vintage. Otherwise, the 2018 retains terrific freshness. Lemon confit, mint, white flowers, salt and crushed rocks all run through the 2018. I would prefer to cellar this for a few years. Dosage is 7 grams per liter. Disgorged: July 2022.”

CALIFORNIA

HOT DEAL! Sanford Pinot Noir, Sta. Rita Hills 2020 750ml $33 special, 24 bottles available
Jeb Dunnuck 94 Points “The entry level 2020 Pinot Noir Sta. Rita Hills comes from a mix of the Rinconada and Sanford & Benedict vineyards and spent 11 months in 27% new French oak. This ruby-hued effort gives up a gorgeous perfume of ripe raspberry and strawberry fruits as well as white flowers, spice, and a touch of chalky, mineral-like nuances. Medium-bodied, seamless, and balanced on the palate, it’s just a flat-out beautiful expression of Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir. Drink bottles over the coming 7-8 years.”
Wine Spectator 93 Points “Stunning, with a glistening core of mulberry and boysenberry coulis flavors, inlaid with a tangy mineral streak and backed by subtle black tea and mulling spice hints. Should age nicely. Drink now through 2029. 270 cases made.”
Wine Advocate 93 Points “Pale ruby, the 2020 Pinot Noir Sta. Rita Hills is scented of tar, cranberries, bergamot and garrigue with earthy touches. The medium-bodied palate is dusty in texture and very refreshing, featuring crunchy red fruits streaked with spices. This is easy to drink!”

Best price in the USA today!

ITALY

Kellerei Kurtatsch Pinot Grigio, Trentino-Alto Adige 2022 750ml $16 special, 36+ bottles available
Winery Notes “The large temperature differences between day and night in these vineyards is the magic that lends the wine its distinctive aroma of white peaches, fresh flowers and citrus fruits. In the mouth, the wine is juicy and round. The creamy texture is complemented by fresh, animating acidity. This is mainly thanks to the higher-elevation Pinot grigio vines. An expressive wine with a mineral, salty finish.”

GD Vajra Barbera d’Alba Superiore, Piedmont 2021 750ml $29 special, 36+ bottles available
Vinous 93+ Points “Just bottled, the 2021 Barbera d’Alba Superiore is fabulous. Rich and inky, with tremendous depth, the 2021 is so vibrant in the glass. Red/purplish fruit, lavender, sweet spice and mocha are all dialed up, with a kiss of French oak that adds raciness.”
Wine Advocate 93 Points “I’m told that this is probably the last vintage in which the 2021 Barbera d’Alba Superiore Viola delle Viole will carry the name Viola delle Viole. In yet another unfortunate nod to climate change, Barbera vines suffer from the floral disease Flavescence dorée that causes the plants to shut down and the fruit to remain unripened. Barbera, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc are the most hard-hit by the sickness. Freisa and Nebbiolo are resistant, and those varieties are planted around the rims of vineyards today as a protective barrier. As a result, Barbera vines in Bricco delle Viole (one of two sites present in this blend, the other being Bricco Bertone outside the Barolo area) were taken out. Barbera tends to produce wines with high alcohol, but the Vajra team prefers to reach optimal fruit maturity and is less concerned about alcohol. The grape always has high acidity, but that is “a problem that is going away on its own,” says Isidoro Vaira. Bricco delle Viole gives the wine its floral aromas and Bricco Bertone adds a sweet almond-like flavor. There is a seven- to eight-day harvest difference between the two sites. This wine ages in large oak casks for 16 months.”

Best Price in the United States

GERMANY

Kruger-Rumpf Rose Brut, Nahe NV 750ml $29 special, 4 bottles available
Importer Note “Grapes: 90% Pinot Noir, 10% Riesling. Region: Nahe. Vineyard: Mostly from Kappelenberg. Soil: Slate, gravel, and clay. Production: 100% whole cluster pressed. 50% fermented entirely in old Hösch stuckfass (1200L) and 50% in stainless steel where the wine is left for 9 months. After secondary fermentation in the bottle, the wine is left on the lees for 18 months. Dosage: 4 grams (cane sugar liqueur). Mainly from Kapellenberg (slate) with one vineyard site on a plateau above the hillside of Kapellenberg where there is more gravel and clay. Not only is the vin clair for the Pinot Brut Rose sourced from different vineyards than the still rose, it’s vinified in a different manner as well. Harvested in the middle of September, without any chemical fertilizers or herbicides, the grapes are 100% whole cluster pressed in a bladder press with a short maceration of a few hours, giving just a hint or rose color.”

Only listing in the USA!

AUSTRIA

Based in the village of Unterloiben, the Alzinger house farms some of the steepest vineyards in Austria. If you traded the granite for slate, you’d think you were in a Mosel village like the Saar or Terrassenmosel. Converging with the relatively high elevation of the site, Alzinger creates some of the most powerful expressions of Riesling in the country. Leo Alzinger took over his family’s estate after apprenticing in Marlborough, New Zealand and the Pfalz, Germany where he crafted his house style. This technical knowledge is evident in his wines, which he vinifies whole cluster with a touch of skin contact and extended lees aging.

Weingut Leo Alzinger Loibner Steinertal Gruner Veltliner Smaragd, Wachau 2022 750ml $73 special, 3 bottles available
James Suckling 94 Points “Cool and elegant gruner with apricot stones, pineapples, thyme and crushed stones here, plus some white pepper and flint. It’s medium-bodied and so fresh and mineral. Chalky and refined. Drink or hold.”

Only Listing in the USA

Weingut Leo Alzinger Durnsteiner Riesling Federspiel, Wachau 2021 750ml $29 special, 2 bottles available
Not reviewed yet, 2020 review provided for reference
James Suckling 92 Points “This crisp and rather elegant dry Wachau riesling has so much delicate fruit! Bright white-cherry and white-peach aromas with a floral touch. Sleek body with precisely judged harmony, the acidity lively, but not at all strident. Drink or hold. Screw cap.”

Weingut Leo Alzinger Hollerin Riesling Smaragd, Wachau 2022 750ml $61.90 special, 6 bottles available
James Suckling 93 Points “A peachy and creamy riesling showing open aromas of apricots, peach pits, orange curd and meadow herbs. It’s medium- to full-bodied, fleshy and juicy, with a fresh and zesty finish. Drink now or hold.”

Recently Reviewed

Chateau de Rouanne, Vinsobres AOC Rouge, Rhone Valley, 2019 750ml $24 special, 36+ bottles available
Grapelive 94 Points “The very dark fruited and deeply hued Vinsobres Rouge by the sister property of Saint Cosme, Chateau de Rouanne, was crafted in this vintage from 50% Grenache, 40% Syrah and 10% Mourvedre grown on sandy, iron rich soils set on a limestone marl base with some clay and was, as noted above, all co-fermented mostly with whole cluster and all indigenous yeasts in concrete tanks, where it was also aged. The wine rested in the cement vat for 18 months, which allows the wine to show absolute purity in its final form and gave it time to fill out before bottling. The 2019 echos the 2018, I last tried, with a full bodied palate of black raspberry, damson plum, boysenberry compote, anise/licorice, creme de cassis and cherry fruit along with whole bunches influences highlighted with peppercorns, violets, earthiness and herbs de provence, along with a nice tannic structure, but beautiful textural quality. Anyone who’s had Louis Barruol’s wines will find the level of quality and comfort or pleasure here on par with the more famous Saint Cosme lineup, especially the Gigondas and Chateauneuf du Pape bottlings and I’m sure this Chateau de Rouanne Vinsobres will aged at least another 5 to 7 years if not 10! This deep purple/gsarnet wine definitely wants some protein rich cuisine to go with it, with lamb roast a natural pairing, but BBQ ribs, grilled steak, and or a winter meaty stew being good choices too.

The Chateau de Rouanne is another awesome project by Louis Barruol, owner of the famed Chateau de Saint Cosme in Gigondas, in Vinsobres, making a wine that is a classic Rhone red that is a co-fermentation of Barruol’s old vine Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre. Louis Barruol has long used fruit from this remote area far to the northwest of Chateauneuf du Pape and has recently added this estate to his lineup as a separate label within the Saint Cosme family, which makes sense as Vinsobres has been recognized as its own appellation, and an upgrade from a generic Cotes du Rhone. I would argue was long over due, to make this area its own AOC since this a cooler climate and high quality terroir that is unique and deserves to be more widely known, as this wine certainly proves. Louis Barruol has coveted this site for years, he notes that, like his famous Chateau de Saint Cosme, Chateau de Rouanne was first founded during Gallo-Roman times, probably dating back to the 1400s. Barruol adds that, most of Rouanne’s vineyards date from the 1960s and are massale selections (special old clones) that offer substantial genetic diversity and low yields that shows in the wine, giving it concentration and depth, while the elevation and soils allow for natural acidity and heightened aromatics. Bargain hunters should chase the Chateau de Rouanne Vinsobres 2018 and 2019 vintages down, as they can be found at exceptionally good prices, about 25 bucks, but I look forward to seeing the new vintages, and even at a few dollars more a bottle, they will certainly be worth it!”

Staff Pick

Szechuan Pairing Edition

I never ever thought I would find a red wine to quaff while eating classic Szechuan dishes like Dan Dan Noodles, Mapo, and “Ants Climbing A Tree.” I had all but given up.

You see, for years now the traditional New Year’s Day feast for my family has been a dozen or so cartons of spicy Szechuan from the best local spot that happens to be taking orders for the holiday. An off-dry Kabinett or Spatlese Riesling is the standard for spicy foods for good reason, but there’s always a few people at our table who refuses to drink anything but red wine. With ripe fruit, no oak, good acidity, and almost no discernable tannin, this is great at overcoming the heat of Chili oil and the numbing of Mala pepper. – Tracy

Maitia ‘Aupa Pipeno’, Maule Valley 2022 750ml $14 special, 36+ bottles available
Wine Advocate 92+ Points “I tasted a bottle of the 2022 Aupa Pipeño that had been in bottle for only one week. In 2022, David Marcel achieved a little less ripeness and alcohol (again 13%) and achieved a primary wine with very tender aromas with hints of tangerine peel, herbs and a serious mouthfeel with fine-grained tannins. It has 80% País and 20% Carignan that is expressive and easy to drink. 2022 was a small crop, but he produced around 70,000 bottles of this wine. Great value.”

Best Price on the West Coast

Close-Out Sales

FRANCE

Domaine Du Tunnel Cornas, Rhone 2018 750ml WAS $79 NOW $69 special, 29 bottles available
Jeb Dunnuck 95-97 Points “Readers looking for the essence of Cornas would do well to pick up a case of the 2018 Cornas. Deep purple, with a heavenly bouquet of blueberries, raspberries, crushed violets, olives, ground pepper, and gamey meats, this beauty hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a balanced, classy texture, building yet polished tannins, and a great finish. It’s a winner.”

Duclaux Cote Rotie Maison Rouge, Rhone 2018 750ml WAS $79 NOW $69 special, 36+ bottles available
Joe Czerwinski-Wine Advocate 96 Points “From arguably the most famous lieu-dit in the southern portion of the appellation, the Duclaux brothers’ 2018 Cote Rotie Maison Rouge is a showstopper. Scents of violets, stone fruit, anise-like spice and mixed berries combine to create a complex nose, while the medium to full-bodied palate is concentrated yet supremely silky, smooth and charming, ending long and elegant. It’s a superb example of the generally softer, more elegant style found around Tupin et Semons.”

Monteillet Condrieu Chanson, Rhone 2018 750ml WAS $69 NOW $59 special, 10 bottles available
Decanter 96 Points “Fresh, keen and tense, with lime marmalade and touches of bubblegum. There’s delicious richness and real depth to the fruit, delivering great concentration and lovely acidity. From lieu-dit Chanson and aged for 22 months in oak on the lees, Stéphane Montez explains that a long élevage like this helps to decrease alcohol levels, is better for ageing, stimulates complex tertiary flavours and means you can decrease sulfite levels as the wine is protected from oxidation by the lees.”

Remoissenet Chapelle Chambertin, Burgundy 2011 750ml WAS $249 NOW $219 special, 6 bottles available
Antonio Galloni 93+ Points

Vieux Telegraphe CDP La Crau Rouge, Rhone 2018 1.5L WAS $199 NOW $179, 12 bottles available
James Suckling 96 Points “Traditionally dominated by clairette (45%) and grenache blanc (30%), then roussanne and bourboulenc. The vines average 50+ years and there’s a very restrained nose with dialed-back white-pear and chalk aromas with dried flowers, too. The palate has a super fresh, zippy feel and a long, juicy and attractive core of fresh, salty minerals. The balance is innate and very fluid.”

GERMANY

Emrich-Schonleber Fruhtau Riesling Trocken 2020, Mosel 750ml WAS $41.90 NOW $33 special, 36+ bottles available
Wine Advocate 93 Points “The 2020 Monzingen Riesling trocken Frühtau comes from younger vines in the Frühlingsplätzchen and opens with a clear, fine and reductive bouquet with coolish stony and herbal notes. Crystalline and very elegant on the palate, this is a tight, straight and still challenging, very mineral dry Riesling that will benefit from longer bottle aging. The finish is long and enormously salty. A wine to keep.”

Emrich-Schonleber Halenberg TBA Riesling 2018, Mosel 375ml WAS $299 NOW $249 special, 21 Bottles Available
Wine Advocate 98+ Points “The 2018 Halenberg Riesling Trockenbeerenauslese is incredibly pure and aromatic on the nose where super ripe but clear peach aromas are displayed. Extremely rich and refined on the palate, this is a ripe, terribly sweet but refined, fresh and salty-piquant TBA with a stimulating finish. A fabulous wine.”

Karlsmuhle Kaseler Nies’ Chen Auslese LGC 2017, Mosel 750ml WAS $41.90 NOW $33 special, 22 bottles available
James Suckling 93 Points “Stand back as this riesling fireball arrives! Full of energy with a dynamic interplay of citrusy acidity and aromatic sweetness, which ranges from peaches and blackcurrants to mint. With more length, this would have been rated even higher. Drink or hold.”

Molitor Ockfener Bockstein Spatlese, Mosel WK 2018 750ml WAS $31.90 NOW $28 special, 32 bottles available
93 Points Decanter “Here we jump to an iconic Saar site, defined by Devonian slate, greywacke, some quartzitic sandstone and steepness. Wet stone, white currant, yellow apple and some lemon combine in a lovely vision of freshness. This is bright but even in this iconic Saar vineyard the warmth of 2018 is apparent. Yet the stoniness cuts through and leaves us with that lovely, racy zestiness we all crave from Riesling. These citrus notions linger and will you to take another sip. Wonderful.”

Molitor Urziger Wurzgarten Auslese** Trocken, Mosel 2017 750ml WAS $69 NOW $49 special, 36+ bottles available
Wine Advocate 96+ Points “Bottled with moderate 11% alcohol, the 2017 Riesling Ürziger Würzgarten Auslese ** (White Capsule) is crystalline and super precise on the clear and flinty nose that exhibits crunchy, iron-rich stone and lime zest aromas. It is lean and fresh but dense and intense on the palate, with ripe, round and concentrated Riesling fruit, some sweetness and refined acidity. This is an elegant, highly finessed and stimulating Würzgarten with a lingering, salty-piquant finish. This wine pairs its moderate alcohol level with great complexity and mineral tension.”

ARGENTINA

Vaglio Blanco, Tupungato 2020 750ml WAS $16 NOW $14 special, 36 bottles available
Vaglio Blanco, Tupungato 2020 Case of 12 750ml WAS $169 NOW $149 special, 4 cases available
Brazos Wine Importer Note “This is a blend of 90% Chardonnay and 10% Semillon from El Peral in the Uco Valley, Mendoza. The nose is lively and bright with notes of green apple, pear, whites flowers, and a little green pea. The palate is well balanced with dense fruit and crisp acid.”

Vaglio Chacra Malbec, Agrelo 2018 750ml WAS $16 NOW $14 special, 36+ bottles available
Vaglio Chacra Malbec, Agrelo 2018 Case of 12 750ml bottles WAS $169 NOW $149 special, 2 cases available
James Suckling 93 Points “A dense, compact malbec with intense, blackberry and wet-earth character. Full body. Creamy texture. Tangy and delicious on the finish. Ends with green tobacco and tar. Excellent.”

Vaglio Temple Malbec, Anchoris 2018 750ml WAS $16 NOW $14 special, 36+ bottles available
James Suckling 93 Points “This is always a delicious red with lots of crushed-berry and walnut character. Full-bodied, dense and juicy. Lots of old-vine character. Succulent.”

Collector’s Corner

The One-Hundred Point Club

Have you ever had a Perfect scoring, 100 Point wine? If not, you owe it to yourself at least once. Take a gander at our selections, you’re bound to find something in your style and your price range.

It’s the New Year. Treat yourself.

FEATURING:

Chateau Canon, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru 2015 750ml $349 special, 12+ bottles available
#1 Wine of the Year – James Suckling
Antonio Galloni 100 Points “From the very beginning, the 2015 Canon has made an eloquent case for itself as one of the wines of the vintage. Multiple tastings from bottle only confirm what several early tastings hinted at: the 2015 Canon is simply extraordinary in every way. Sumptuous and exotic, with no hard edges and exceptional balance, the 2015 grabs hold of all the senses and never lets up. A rush of red fruit intermingled with floral notes, spice and smoke notes effortlessly runs up the wine’s vertical structure as the 2015 thrills with every twist and turn. The 2015 Canon is a rare wine that is both hedonistic and intellectual – well, maybe it is a bit more hedonistic-leaning. It doesn’t matter. Don’t miss it. This 2015 is masterpiece from General Manager Nicolas Auderbert and his team at Canon.”
Neal Martin 100 Points “The 2015 Canon was a benchmark wine that seemed to revitalize this historic estate. I was crossing my fingers that it would not disappoint in bottle and I am glad to say that it delivers the goods. It has a very intense bouquet (just as it showed out of barrel) with laser-like precision offering wild strawberry, raspberry preserve, wet limestone and hints of truffle. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannin, clean and fresh with pure black and red fruit whose every atom appears infused with minerals. The mouth is tingling long after the wine has exited and your brain is thinking…when is the next sip coming? It is frankly heads and shoulders above almost every Saint Émilion this vintage, to reaffirm, a benchmark for this historic estate that will give pleasure to many over the coming years. Astonishing.”
James Suckling 100 Points “Seductive. The nose draws you in deep: It’s like staring into a well of pristine dark cherries, dark plums, blackberries and mulberries. All the oak is perfectly subsumed. The palate’s flawless with immense depth and power and it’s so balanced as to appear to float. Immaculate fresh dark-berry and plum flavors. Silky and deep, ribbon-like finish. Perfect. Best from 2022.”

AUSTRALIA

Bond Estates St. Eden, Napa Valley 2015 750ml $699 special, only 1 bottle available
Jeb Dunnuck 100 Points “Moving to the 2015s tasted from bottle, this is an incredible vintage for this estate and there are two perfect wines in the lineup. First up, the 2015 St. Eden, from a hillside of red volcanic soils near Oakville, boasts a saturated purple color and heavenly notes of blackcurrants, scorched earth, lead pencil shavings, and huge crushed rock-like minerality. It’s full-bodied, deep, and layered on the palate, with incredible concentration, yet it stays seamless, pure, and perfectly balanced. It’s a magical wine to drink over the coming 2-3 decades.”
Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Wine Advocate 99 Points “Bottled in early 2018, the deep garnet-purple colored 2015 St. Eden springs from the glass with exuberant blueberry pie, potpourri and spice cake scents followed by a black raspberry, cassis and preserved plums core plus a touch of wild sage. Full-bodied, plush and decadently fruited, it completely packs the palate with layer upon layer of black fruit preserves, finishing very long with those spices coming through.”

Standish The Standish Shiraz, Barossa Valley 2018 750ml $149 special, 6 bottles available
Joe Czerwinski-Wine Advocate 98-100 Points “The 2018 The Standish Shiraz (a sample blend from barrel) is a bit stalky (it’s about 50% whole cluster), but it’s gorgeously perfumed, with hints of herbal tea, raspberries, blackberries and licorice. It just exudes complexity, while also being full-bodied, plush and creamy, with a long, elegant finish. This seamless beauty is a candidate for perfection.”

CHILE

Clos Apalta, Colchagua Valley 2017 750ml $149 special, 5 bottles available $46.50 special,
James Suckling 100 Points “What a stunning nose of crushed berries, fresh flowers, sandalwood and light vineyard dust. Black olives, too. Very complex. Full-bodied with a beautiful, dense palate of blackberries, chocolate, walnuts and cigar box. Fantastic length and composure. The tannin just rolls over the palate. Very structured. The most classically structured wine ever from here. Goes on for minutes. Outrageous and so polished. A blend of 48% carmenere, 26% cabernet sauvignon, 25% merlot and 1% petit verdot. Try after 2025.”

SPAIN

Bodegas Muga Aro, Rioja DOCa, Spain 2019 750ml $349 special, only 3 bottles available!
Jeb Dunnuck 100 Points “Pure magic, the 2019 Aro is 70% Tempranillo and 30% Graciano from a plant by plant selection of the Muga family’s oldest vines of Tempranillo, blended with a substantial portion of Graciano. This dense purple behemoth has a primordial bouquet of pure cassis, graphite, crushed stone, lead pencil, new leather, and hints of spring flowers. Building incrementally on the palate, with full-bodied richness, a huge mid-palate, and ripe, velvety tannins, this is one heavenly Rioja that deserves 7-8 years of bottle age and will age like a First Growth from Bordeaux. Hats off to the team at Muga for another incredible wine. Drink 2029-2059. (06/13/22).”

FRANCE

Jaboulet Hermitage La Chapelle, Rhone 2019 750ml $199 special, 17 bottles available
Joe Czerwinski-Wine Advocate 98-100 Points “Might this be the next vintage of La Chapelle to crack triple digits? Knockout aromas of crushed stone, violets, blueberries, and cassis mark the nose of the 2019 Hermitage La Chapelle, while the full-bodied palate is undeniably more intense and powerful than the more elegant 2018. Rich and velvety, it coats the mouth with dark fruit and creamy-textured espresso, yet retains remarkable length and licorice-derived peppery freshness on the finish. Wow!”

ITALY

Casanova di Neri Cerretalto, Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, 2016 750ml $399 special, 7 bottles available
James Suckling 100 Points “Wow. Incredible purity and transparency with cherries, bark, mushroom, flower and slate/stone on the nose. Full-bodied yet agile and fresh with a fine tannin structure that runs the length of the wine and goes on forever. The polish, elegance and grace is breathtaking. Power with agility. A revelation for the 2016 vintage in Brunello. Drink in 2024 and onwards but wonderful to taste now.”
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 98 Points “Here’s an important keepsake from a classic vintage. The Casanova di Neri 2016 Brunello di Montalcino Cerretalto needs time to open, especially if you plan to drink the wine earlier than is recommended (you’re best off waiting five years or more). This powerful wine is packed tight with black fruit, plum and summer ripe cherry. Those dark fruit tones segue to spice, baked clay, balsam herb and gardening soil. The oak is always more apparent in the Cerretalto (which is released one year later, as if it were a Riserva) compared to the Tenuta Nuova. The vineyard used makes a big difference, giving this wine more textural weight and thicker fiber. It’s all a question of taste, but if you want power (with 15% alcohol), richness, sensuality and voluptuousness in your Brunello, Cerretalto is the bottle at the end of the rainbow.”

ARRIVING IN MARCH:

Marques de Murrieta Castillo Ygay Gran Reserva Especial, Rioja DOCa 2012 750ml $289 special, 18 bottles available
Decanter 100 Points “Brooding dark fruits on the nose, super-ripe without any jamminess or overt oakiness. Splendid attack, with power and tension. The firm tannins are much more pronounced than in Chambertin, and provide a lot of grip. Truly adolescent and shouldn’t be broached for years. The fruit is currently submerged beneath the assertive structure – this has 13.7% alcohol without any chaptalisation, hence the power. It may well overtake the more elegant Chambertin in 20 years, but who knows?”

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Older and Bolder: Arterberry-Maresh & Tan Fruit Sale 1-2-24

In This Newsletter:

Arterberry Maresh & Tan Fruit Sale

Older and Bolder

Arterberry-Maresh & Tan Fruit Sale

5% off any 1-11 in-stock Arterberry-Maresh & Tan Fruit wines
10% off any 12 or more in-stock Arterberry-Maresh & Tan Fruit wines

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Discount ends Thursday, January 4^th at 9 am Pacific

Arterberry Maresh

As the third-generation in his family to make wine, Jim Maresh knows a thing or two about crafting Grand Cru-level Willamette Valley Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. From the winery’s prized position in the Dundee Hills, he releases what critics praise as “are some of the most impressive wines I’ve tried anywhere—not just in the US”, per Erin Brooks of the Wine Advocate.

These are benchmark wines for the region that somehow capture Jim’s easy-going yet seriously-nerdy-under-the-skin personality. If you haven’t reserved a shelf or two in your cellar for these wines, well, that’s your business, but if you’ve been dragging your feet, are a first-time buyer, or need to round out your selections, now is the time to buy. We’re offering these stalwart beauties at insider-only pricing now through Thursday. So, stock up and be amazed for years to come.

Arterberry Maresh Wines In Stock Now:

Arterberry Maresh ‘Maresh Vineyard’ Chardonnay, Dundee Hills 2021 750ml Displayed price: $72, that’s $68.40 at 5% off and $64.80 at 10% off, 20 bottles in stock now
Erin Brooks – Wine Advocate 96 points “The 2021 Chardonnay Maresh Vineyard comes from Wente vines planted in 1983 and was matured in 20% Damy barrels for nine months before finishing in stainless steel. The nose is alluringly spicy, opening from flint and roasted almonds to an intense core of savory yellow peach and beeswax. The palate is satiny and unctuous with ripe fruit, floral perfume and flinty streaks. Despite its luxurious texture and flavor, it maintains its shimmery acidity and boasts a long, dynamic finish. It’s a special expression that offers pleasurable generosity and precision.”

Arterberry Maresh Old Vines Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills 2021 750ml Displayed price: $56.50, that’s $53.68 at 5% off and $50.85 at 10% off, 4 bottles in stock now
Erin Brooks – Wine Advocate 98 points “The 2021 Pinot Noir Old Vines comes from the Maresh Vineyard, from vines that were planted in 1970, and has a singular expression with detailed, spicy accents reminiscent of bitters or amaro. “You only get those high-toned essences if you pick al dente,” winemaker Jim Maresh explains. “It’s easy to volatilize all that away.” The Old Vines has a medium ruby color and arresting aromas of orange bitters, mossy bark and tobacco leaves complementing a deep core of pomegranate, rhubarb and cranberry. The light-bodied palate offers remarkably pure, detailed flavors. It has velvety tannins, seamless freshness and a very long finish with a flourish of spicy accents.”
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 94 points “Deep crimson. Highly perfumed aromas of red and blue fruit preserves, cola, candied flowers and baking spices, along with a smoky mineral overtone. Concentrated yet lively on the palate, offering mineral-accented black raspberry, cherry liqueur, violet pastille and spicecake flavors that spread out slowly with air. Conveys a deft blend of power and finesse and finishes with steadily building tannins and strong, spicy persistence.”

Winery library release!
Arterberry Maresh ‘Weber Vineyard’ Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills 2018 750ml Displayed price: $69, that’s $65.55 at 5% off and $62.10 at 10% off, 26 bottles in stock now
Erin Brooks – Wine Advocate 97 points “The 2018 Pinot Noir Weber Vineyard comes from Pommard clone vines planted in 1983. It features pure aromas of cranberry and black raspberry with botanical and floral layers. The palate is seamless and complex, with powerful flavors, a silty texture and bright acidity, finishing with layer after layer of sweet berry fruit.”

Arterberry Maresh ‘Weber Vineyard’ Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills 2021 750ml Displayed price: $72, that’s $68.40 at 5% off and $64.80 at 10% off, 12 bottles in stock now
Erin Brooks – 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

Sometimes, winemakers just want to have some fun. Tan Fruit is Jim’s experimental Chardonnay side project. Now, you could assume that the wines are throwaway gags not meant to see the light of day, but leave it to Jim to make his side project a points-sweeping EVENT. Wine Advocate gushed over the first releases from 2019, granting the wines top marks for Oregon whites in the vintage. The second set of releases from the 2021 vintage were just as breathlessly adored.

These are stunning releases offer even more exploration of Oregon, sourcing from a mixture of vineyards, including new sites with each release. Stock up and make sure to watch this space!

In Stock Now from Tan Fruit:

Tan Fruit ‘Petite Tan Fruit’ Chardonnay, Oregon 2022 750ml Displayed Price: $19.50, that’s $18.53 at 5% off and $17.55 at 10% off, 36+ bottles in stock now
Winery Notes “Jim Maresh says that the “Petite” represents the Chablisienne character of this wine.”

Tan Fruit Fairview Vineyard Chardonnay, Dundee Hills 2021 750ml Displayed Price: $66, that’s $62.70 at 5% off and $59.40 at 10% off, 12 bottles in stock now
Erin Brooks-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 2021 750ml Displayed Price: $59, that’s $56.05 at 5% off and $53.10 at 10% off, 19 bottles in stock now
Erin Brooks-Wine Advocate 97 points “The 2021 Chardonnay Maresh Vineyard has pure aromas of red apples, pie crust, almonds and jasmine blossoms with top notes of salty lemon. The medium-bodied palate is generous yet balanced, with a concentrated core of savory fruit tempered by streaks of matchstick and spice. It has seamless, energetic acidity and a long, nuanced finish and will benefit from 3-5 more years in bottle.”

Tan Fruit Oak Grove Vineyard Chardonnay, Eola-Amity Hills 2021 750ml Displayed Price: $$59, that’s $56.05 at 5% off and $53.10 at 10% off, 19 bottles in stock now
Erin Brooks-Wine Advocate 97 points “The 2021 Chardonnay Oak Grove Vineyard, from vines situated on sedimentary soil, is energetic and mineral-driven this vintage. Barrel fermented and finished in stainless steel, it opens with streaks of matchstick that give way to a core of red apples, yogurt, pie spice and lemon peel. The light-bodied palate has a silky texture and is buzzing with bright acidity and flinty nuance. It has a concentrated core of ripe citrus and a very long, mineral-driven finish. The Oak Grove’s salty, tangy character, reminiscent of Chablis, makes it impossible to put down!”

Tan Fruit Sophie’s Vineyard Chardonnay, Umpqua Valley 2021 750ml Displayed Price: $59, that’s $56.05 at 5% off and $53.10 at 10% off, 36+ bottles in stock now
Erin Brooks-Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2021 Chardonnay Sophie’s Vineyard comes from an isolated vineyard near the town of Yoncalla in the Umpqua Valley, planted in the late 1970s with Draper and Wente selections. Matured in oak and finished with four months in stainless steel, it has fresh scents of green pear, quince and citrus blossom with undertones of almonds, flint and honey. The light-bodied palate is creamy and plush with gently nutty fruits and a long, refreshing finish.”

Tan Fruit ‘Tank Fruit’ Chardonnay, Eola-Amity Hills 2021 750ml Displayed Price: $59, that’s $56.05 at 5% off and $53.10 at 10% off, 27 bottles in stock now
Erin Brooks-Wine Advocate 97 points “The 2021 Chardonnay Tank Fruit is composed of fruit from the White Walnut Vineyard, a relatively new vineyard comprising eight acres planted around 2015 in the Dundee Hills. “The genetics that produced this is rare,” winemaker Jim Maresh explains, noting that the diverse clonal material in this vineyard includes 10 different heritage selections. The White Walnut Vineyard cuvée was fermented in oak and finished in stainless steel—the opposite of this 2021 Chardonnay Tank Fruit, which also comes from the White Walnut Vineyard but is fermented in stainless steel and finished in oak—although both wines offer singular exoticism. The Tank Fruit is bursting with intense aromas of peaches, fruit cocktail, lemongrass and orange oil with streaks of spice and herbs. The medium-bodied palate is satiny and seamless, gaining amplitude in the mouth as it releases wave after wave of concentrated fruit. It has a soft frame of flinty accents, and its fresh acidity calls you in for another sip on the long finish.”

Tan Fruit Vojtilla Vineyard Chardonnay, Chehalem Mountains 2019 750ml Displayed Price: $56.50, that’s $53.68 at 5% off and $50.85 at 10% off, 12 bottles in stock now
Erin Brooks-Wine Advocate 97 points “Vojtilla is a small, four-acre vineyard in the Chehalem Mountains that sits at around 500 to 600 feet in elevation and, says Jim Maresh, is influenced by the nearby Willamette River. Harvested in October this vintage, the 2019 Chardonnay Vojtilla Vineyard comes from Dijon clone vines planted in 1991, and it was matured in about 25% new Damy barrels. It has a stunning perfume of quince paste and mushrooms, pastry and flowers, and the palate is satiny, plush and pure, with a seamless tangy streak and long, powerful finish.”

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