Category Archives: Newsletter Archive

Vinopolis Newsletter — Monday 10/02/2023

 In This Newsletter:

Special Arrivals
Beyond the Vale: new wines from Yangarra Estate Vineyard
New Arrivals
Brovia, Renato Ratti, Sassetti, Montille, Heritiers, Villa Crespia, and more!
Re-Arrivals– Last Chance!
Baudana, GD Vajra, and Schaller
Staff Picks
Oregon Favorites
Vintage Report: Saint Cosme
Great reviews out of Gigondas this year
Close-out Sales
Save on top wines from France, Spain, and Germany!
Collector’s Corner
Best in the West: Top Picks from California, Oregon, and Washington
Special Arrivals
 
“Yangarra Estate Vineyard”
 
For over twenty years, Yangarra has been crafting highly acclaimed, single-vineyard estate wines in Australia’s McLaren Vale. Situated on ancient sand dunes, the property has been farmed organically and biodynamically since 2008. Yangarra specializes in Rhône varieties with emphasis on the estate’s bush-vine Grenache. Now owned by the Jackson Family, the original Grenache itself dates back to 1946 and is still the source of the estate’s best regarded wines. The McClaren Vale benefits from a Mediterranean climate, which Winemaker Peter Fraser likens to Sonoma, where the Jackson Family got their start.
 
Yangarra Estate Roux Beaute Roussanne 2020 750ml $69 special, 6 bottles available
Winery Note “Our unique vineyard with its weathered sand and ironstone soil starts this Roussanne’s journey towards being an extraordinary wine. Months mellowing on grape skins in large ceramic eggs ensure a wine of luxurious texture and distinctive flavor.”
 
Yangarra Estate Vineyards High Sands Grenache 2019 750ml $249 special, 12 bottles available
Winery Note “High Sands Grenache is the pinnacle of our estate. Reaching deep within the sandy soil, our prized 1946 old vines produce wines that balance intense power and complexity with fragrance and beauty.”
 
Yangarra Estate Vineyards Ovitelli Blanc 2020 750ml $69 special, 6 bottles available
Winery Note “Grenache Blanc, Roussanne, Clairette, Piquepoul and Bourboulenc. Inspired by the textural white wines of the Southern Rhône, Ovitelli Blanc brings these traditional varieties together in blended harmony. Gently fermented and aged with skin contact in large ceramic eggs.”
 
Yangarra Estate Vineyards Ovitelli Grenache 2020 750ml $89 special, 12 bottles available
Winery Note “Ovitelli is the most perfumed and elegant Grenache from the sands at Yangarra. The vibrant fruit of those dry grown 1946 bush vines is rewarded with a long, luxurious ferment and a whole autumn on skins in big ceramic eggs.”

New Arrivals

France
 
“Les Heritiers du Comte Lafon”
Dominique Lafon took over his family estate, Domaine des Comtes Lafon in 1984 and within a few short years, his wines were some of the most prized in Burgundy and the rest is history. In 1999 he started  Héritiers as a fully biodynamic domaine. His belief and passion for the region has made Héritiers a towering beacon for fine wine in the previously overlooked Chardonnay mecca.
 
Les Heritiers Du Comte Lafon Macon-Villages 2022 750ml $33 special, 36 bottles available
Vinopolnote “Founded in 1999 by Dominique Lafon, Héritiers du Comte Lafon is his trailblazing, biodynamic Mâconnais domaine. This multi-parcel blend comes from high-altitude old vines (30+ years) and like all of Heritiers wines, is fermented with native yeasts and aged in large oak barrels.”
 
“Domaine de Montille”
Montille Bourgogne Rouge 2020 750ml $38 special, 4 bottles available
Winemaker Notes “Domaine de Montille Bourgogne Rouge benefits from the same bio-dynamic viticulture and the same attention as the most illustrious Premiers and Grands Crus. It is an introduction to Burgundy and the Domaine. This wine is accessible from its earliest youth and reflects the quality and character of the Domaine: purity, authenticity and elegance.”
 
Montille Beaune Sizies 1er Cru 2020 750ml $75 special, 8 bottles available
Decanter 93 Points “Bright pomegranate and black cherry aromas, with floral notes and a hint of spice. There is plenty of freshness and a slightly rustic, tannic edge on the palate, yet the wine is showing nicely and should age well over the mid-term. De Montille has 1.62ha in Beaune Sizies at the foot of the slope in fairly deep clay soils. Picking started early here, yet there is nothing tart or astringent about the wine. The grapes were vinified with one-third whole-cluster and aged in 15% new casks.”
 
“Arnaud Lambert”
Arnauld Lambert Clos De Midi Saumur Blanc 2022 750ml $23.50 special, 23 bottles available
Winemaker’s Note “As my first white from the hill of Brézé, Clos du Midi made quite an impression…
It comes from one of the colder sites on the Brézé hill and has nearly four hectares in production. The upper section of the vineyard, on the mid-slope of the hill, is primarily made of sand and at the bottom it’s richer in clay. Although this wine is 100% Chenin Blanc, it bears the freshness of a young Sancerre, the soft richness of Chablis, but with the unmistakable charm of Chenin Blanc from Brézé.”
 
Italy
 
Brovia Barolo 2019 750ml $69 special, 35 bottles available
Wine Advocate 95 Points “On a shortlist of “annata” wines to buy from Piedmont this year is the Brovia 2019 Barolo. Made from a blend of fruit from Castiglione Falletto and Serralunga d’Alba, this wine delivers a very sharp and chiseled performance that puts a priority on directness, freshness and length. This pretty wine has a pronounced fruity side and a mineral side, and these two parts converge beautifully. There are hints of dried mint and licorice on the close of this must-have wine.”
 
Il Poggione Brunello Di Montalcino 2016 750ml $69 special, 18 bottles available
Antonio Galloni 97 Points “I’m not sure how Il Poggione manages to remain one of the largest producers of Brunello maintaining such a high level of quality and turning out some of the best wines of the vintage year after year – but they do. The 2016 Brunello di Montalcino is yet another stunning example. Depths of mineral-encased black cherries sage allspice licorice tobacco and crushed violets lift up from the glass. It’s seamlessly silky even as the palate is peppered with tart red and black berries nervous acids and savory exotic spices. This shows the density and weight of the vintage in a youthfully monolithic stance yet with all the necessary components to maintain perfect balance. The 2016 Il Poggione seems to fold in upon itself through the finish which is dark mysterious and structured with only hints of black tea and licorice to tempt the imagination. It’s a classic in the making.”
 
“Castello di Verduno”
Castello di Verduno Barolo 2019 750ml $54.50 special, 20 bottles available
Vinous 91 Points “The 2019 Barolo is all from Boscato, in the town of Verduno. Sweet tobacco, earthiness, orange peel, cedar, dried flowers, licorice and herbs give the 2019 notable aromatic presence, while the fruit is pushed more into the background. There’s more than enough complexity to ensure a decade of fine drinking, especially once the tannins soften a touch.”
 
Castello di Verduno Barolo Riserva Monvigliero 2017 750ml $119 special, 12 bottles available
Vinous 95 Points “The 2017 Barolo Riserva Monvigliero is a big, powerful wine. Huge tannins give the 2017 its imposing personality. Red fleshed fruit, chalk, mint, white pepper, rose petal and incense all lend notable freshness and verve. There’s not much of the openness that defines so many wines in this vintage. That’s probably a good thing for its long-term prospects. There is a touch of elevated volatile acidity that readers will have to accept to fully enjoy the 2017.”
 
“Renato Ratti”
Renato Ratti Barolo Rocche Dell’annunziata 2019 750ml $149 special, 6 bottles available
Wine Enthusiast 97 Points “The stunning wine opens with a mix of tart red and blue berries, rose and sweet and savory spices that evolve into more savory and earthy notes. The palate is refined, framing the cherry-driven sip with tobacco and wild herb flavors to near unison. It’s sublime on the finish, with vibrant acidity and fine tannins that will give the wine life for years to come.”
Wine Advocate 96 Points “Pietro Ratti’s 2019 Barolo Rocche dell’Annunziata opens to a delineated bouquet with a mineral note or iodine that dovetails into purple berry fruit and lots of dried red rose and crushed flower. That evident floral imprint is something I often find in the wines that come from this side of La Morra in the south-facing ridge of vines in Rocche dell’Annunziata. With more time in the glass, the mineral note pushes to the forefront of this elegantly contoured mid-weight Barolo. The wine is powerful and tight but beautifully fragrant at the same time.”
 
Renato Ratti Barolo Serradenari 2019 750ml $149 special, 6 bottles available
Wine Enthusiast 97 Points “This wine expresses itself with aromas of wild cherries, tart red plums, dried violets and oolong tea leaves. The palate is elegant and almost dances across the mouth, leading with ripe red fruits that give way to savory flavors of fresh bay leaf, clove and balsam. Drink 2025-2040.”
Wine Advocate 95 Points “Here’s an exciting new submission from the house of Ratti. Serradenari is a large MGA and one of only a few cru sites that exist on the western slope under the village of La Morra. The 2019 Barolo Serradenari has a more botanical-smelling bouquet, and by that I mean that it has lavender bud, thyme, aniseed and the kinds of flowers and herbs that you might find in a fragrant garden. It is nuanced and delicate and framed by a light note of ash or crushed limestone. It finishes quite firm or edgy. Only 6,000 bottles were made.”
 
Portugal
 
Barbeito Faja dos Padres Malvasia Candida Reserva Especial NV 500ml $119 special, 6 bottles available
Tasting Notes “This growing area is called Faja dos Padres and up until recently it was only accessible by boat. It is a small piece of volcanic land sticking out into the ocean at the base of a cliff. Here Malvasia Candida, thought to have gone extinct was found and recovered. Ricardo Freitas has a near monopoly on this once thought to have been lost variety of Malvasia. The Faja zone was world famous 200 plus years ago as making the most incredible Malvasia on earth. Now this glorious wine is available again.”
 
Arriving Tomorrow
 
Sassetti Pertimali Brunello di Montalcino 2018 750ml $79 special, 18 bottles available
James Suckling 96 Points “Intense aromas of black cherries, lavender and spice, such as nutmeg. Some sandalwood and bark, too. Full-bodied with a solid core of fruit and tannins for the vintage. Rather chewy, suggesting that additional bottle age is needed. Try after 2026.”
Vinous 95 Points “Depths of dark, balsamic-tinged black cherry, plum sauce and autumnal spice make the 2018 Brunello di Montalcino impossible to ignore. This is velvety to the core, nearly opulent in feel, with a dense wave of ripe red fruits complemented by nuances of sweet lavender and tobacco. It leaves the palate clenched with fine tannins and primary concentration, creating a classic sensation that transcends the vintage. Nearly a minute goes by, and hints of cocoa and sweet herbs continue to resonate. Wow! Production at the pertimali estate was down by 20% due to the spring frost, and the decision was made to place all of the juice usually intended for the Riserva into the straight Brunello, the result being one of the top wines of the vintage.”
 
Marabino Rosso di Contrada Nero d’Avola 2018 750ml $16 special, 30 bottles available
Vinous “The 2018 Nero d’Avola Rosso di Contrada makes itself known with a peppery display of wild herbs, rose hips and black currants. Its silky textures flesh out across the palate of citrus-tinged blackberries and mineral notes. This is juicy to the last, lingering on fresh cherry pits, lavender and hints of mocha, all neatly framed by a coating of fine tannin.”
Lowest Price in the United States… next lowest is $24
 
“Villa Crespia Franciacorta”
Villa Crespia Franciacorta Francesco Iacono Dosaggio Zero Riserva 2008 750ml $59 special, 32 bottles available
Wine Advocate 92 Points “Villa Crespia’s 2008 Franciacorta Francesco Iacono Dosaggio Zero Riserva shows careful signs of evolution with apricot, honey, saffron and dried rose petal. The complexity is subtle at first but builds in intrigue as the wine takes shape in the glass. In the mouth, this layered sparkling wine exhibits fine perlage and medium texture that feels weighty without being heavy. This is a Pinot Nero-based sparkler that ages on the lees for eight months and is partially aged in oak.”
Lowest Price in the World! Elsewhere $120
 
Villa Crespia Franciacorta Brolese Rose Extra Brut NV $26 special, 2 bottles available
Wine Advocate 91+ Points “The Villa Crespia NV Franciacorta Brolese Rosé Extra Brut is a blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Nero, more or less in equal parts. The Pinot Nero adds backbone and structure to the wine, whereas the Chardonnay adds fragrant intensity. You will recognize aromas of wild cherry, crushed raspberry and lilac. Baked bread and croissant appear more delicately at the back. This wine offers good value, and 15,000 bottles were made.”
Lowest Price in the United States… Average price is $40
Re-Arrivals
 
Luigi Baudana Barolo Cerretta 2019 750ml $89 special, 29 bottles available
Vinous 97 Points “The 2019 Barolo Cerretta is packed with dark cherry, smoke, gravel, blood orange incense, scorched earth, licorice and mocha. This ample, full-bodied Barolo offers tremendous depth and textural intensity. Powerful and brooding, with tons of muscle and tannin, the Cerretta is incredibly promising. It is the most potent wine in this portfolio, by a pretty substantial range.”
 
GD Vajra Dolcetto D’alba Coste & Fossati 2020 750ml $21.90 special, 21 bottles available
Vinous 92 Points “The 2020 Dolcetto d’Alba Coste & Fossati offers a bit more depth than the straight Dolcetto but with the energy that runs through all the 2020s here. Dark cherry fruit, leather, spice, tobacco and dried herbs lend notable complexity. This is beautifully done.”
 
GD Vajra Barolo Ravera 2019 750ml $89 special, 18 bottles available
Wine Advocate 97 Points “The organic G.D. Vajra 2019 Barolo Ravera (with fruit from the most sought-after cru in the village of Novello) reveals gorgeous tonality and color. The wine shines bright with dark ruby and garnet gemstone. Healthy Nebbiolo colors like this can be admired across the 2019 vintage. It is softly textured but also strong in fiber, with silky sensations followed by dark fruit and concentration. Ravera has a character all its own, and the operative word here is power.”
 
Camille et Laurent Schaller Petit Chablis 2021 750ml $24 special, 23 bottles available
VinopolNote “20 year old vines, 8 months on fine lees in in oak, 100% Chardonnay.”
Staff Picks
Oregon Favorites
 
Crowley Four Winds Pinot Noir 2021 750ml $49 special, 20 bottles available
“A lot of American wineries describe their wines as “Old World” styled these days, but this wine actually does remind me of Burgundy. Expect earth, acid, and savory tomato leaf under cherry fruit notes. Can hold longer, but drinks wonderfully now with mushrooms, tomato sauces, or coq au vin.”
–Tracy
 
Tan Fruit Petite Tan Fruit Chardonnay 2022 750ml $19.50 special, 36+ bottles available
“Fall may mean a dip in temp, however there’s also a refreshing food and wine pairing that I look forward to: Oysters with a crisp mineral driven white. Jim Maresh has made this easy with his Tan Fruit project and we are fortunate enough to have these clean, focused chardonnay in a value-oriented, Chablisienne style!
–Justin

Vintage Report: Saint Cosme
Great reviews out of Gigondas this year


Saint Cosme Gigondas Rouge 2021 750ml $45 special, 36+ bottles available
Wine Spectator 94 Points “Powerful, with steeped plum and cherry coulis merging with potpourri and charred garrigue on a ripe, lush palate. Packs a wall of iron that provides a ballast for the ripe fruit, while refined tannins build in intensity. Long and complex, with a gorgeous expression of place. Grenache, Mourvèdre, Syrah and Cinsault. Drink now through 2040.
 
Saint Cosme Gigondas Le Claux Rouge 2021 750ml $125 special, 32 bottles available
Wines Spectator 95 points “Opulent and broad, with a generous cascade of ripe plum and winey cassis notes wrapped in talc-fine yet sturdy tannins. Chewy, with strappy black licorice and cast Iron moving in. A seductive, concentrated Gigondas, with impressive harmony as every element hums along toward the seemingly endless finish. Outstanding. Best from 2025 through 2040.”
 
Saint Cosme Gigondas Le Poste Rouge 2021 750ml $125 special, 25 bottles available
Wine Spectator 95 points “Densely packed and incredibly complex, with layers of sappy raspberry, dusty earth, black pepper, olive tapenade and singed rosemary. Shows tannins that are chalky-fine in feel, yet muscular enough to support a core of rich fruit, all grounded by cast-iron underpinnings. Needs time to unfurl. Best from 2025 through 2040.”
 
Saint Cosme Gigondas Hominis Fides Rouge 2021 750ml $125 special, 24 bottles available
Wine Spectator 96 points “A showstopper, this is chewy, smoky and broad-shouldered in the best possible way. Reveals layers of blackberry and plum matched by pronounced charred iron, dried thyme and black pepper. Shows serious mineral intensity and refined yet muscular tannins, which provide the framework and energy, while forest floor, tobacco and an intriguing menthol note mark the long finish. Best from 2025 through 2040.”
 
Close-out Sales

 France
 
Bagnol Cassis Rose 2021 750ml WAS $36 NOW $29 special, 20 bottles available
Rosenthal Wine Merchant Note “Cassis Rosé: The Rosé is produced from several parcels that comprise slightly less than 7 hectares of vineyards. The vineyards are clay and limestone, situated on a gentle slope with a north – northwest exposure. The blend is Grenache (55%), Mourvedre (31%) and Cinsault (14%). This Rosé is vinified by “pressurage direct, the must is chilled to 12 degrees Celsius, the wine ferments at 18 degrees Celsius until it is completely dry; then, the wine is bottled during the first three months of the following year after a light filtration. Production tops out at about 40,000 bottles per annum; approximately 6000 bottles are allocated to the US market.”
 
Commanderie Bargemone Marina Provence Rose 2022 750ml WAS $39 NOW $33 special, 12 bottles available
Vinous 93 Points “The 2022 Rosé Cuvée Marina Collection is a pale pink with orange hues. It entices with a subtle blend of white cherries, spice, orange zests and wet stone. This is texturally thrilling, silky verging on oily with vibrant acidity that adds abundant energy. Ripe orchard fruits and strawberry tones swirl across a core of tactile minerality. It finishes energetic and with tremendous length, leaving the palate completely refreshed as suggestions of lime-tinged pear slowly disappear. It’s nearly impossible to stop at one glass.”
 
Bernard Baudry Chinon Le Domaine Rouge 2019 750ml WAS $26 NOW $21.90 special, 36+ bottles available
Vinous 90 Points “The 2019 Chinon Le Domaine provides excellent concentration of fruit while remaining light on its feet. As well as bright primary fruit, it offers smoky bacon, spice and medicinal characters. There’s lovely sappy texture on the finish, which Baudry puts down to the limestone soils of the Chinon plateau that typically grip the side of the mouth. You can enjoy this in its youth, but it has an additional element of seriousness that means its future will stretch out to the medium term.”
 
Bernard Baudry Chinon Clos Guillot 2020 750ml WAS $39 NOW $33 special, 36 bottles available
Vinous 93 Points “Hailing from the limestone-clay slopes on the outskirts of Chinon town, home to other famous vineyards like Clos de l’Olive and Chêne Vert, Le Clos Guillot 2020 offers a cloud of Cabernet Franc fruit with fine refreshing acidity. Savory, silken and seductive, the wine is flooded with a stream of acidity. It is a calm wine with a mass of chalky tannins that coat the palate reassuringly. The finish is long, quiet and scented with dark raspberries and spice. There is a minor complaint of a touch of dryness at the very end of this wine.”
 
Beau Buisson Bordeaux Rouge 2020 750ml WAS $16 NOW $11.90 special, 27 bottles available
Beau Buisson Bordeaux Rouge 2020 750ml Case of 12 750ml bottles,WAS $149 NOW $119, 5 Cases available
Silver Medal Gilbert & Gaiillard International Challenge
“Located approximately 10 miles east south-east of St Emilion, an enjoyable sipper at cooking wine price. Swirl your first sip in your palate and the red berry flavors will unfold.”
 
Beaucastel Chateauneuf Du Pape Blanc 2001 750ml WAS $99 NOW $89 special, 2 bottles available
 
Beckham Estate Olivia Pinot Noir Rose 2021 750ml WAS $29 NOW $24 special, 5 bottles available
VinopolNote “Fruit from the dry farmed estate vineyard in the Chehalem Mountains fermented in amphora and aged in neutral barrel.”
 
Bigonneau Reuilly Rouge 2019 750ml WAS $17 NOW $14, 33 bottles available
Bigonneau Reuilly Rouge 2019 Case of 12 bottles available WAS $179 NOW $149 special, 3 bottles available
Vinopolnote “Red wines from Reuilly can only be produced with one grape varietal: Pinot Noir
Very approachable and varietally correct Pinot Noir, sold at a fraction of the price compared to its Burgundian neighbors to the east.”
 
Italy
 
Rocca Di Montegrossi Ridolfo 2015 1.5L WAS $179 NOW $159 special, 17 bottles available
Antonio Galloni 98+ Points “The 2015 Ridolfo is a new Cabernet Sauvignon/Pugnitello blend from Marco Ricasoli bottled only in magnum. Vibrant and finely sculpted, the 2015 impresses right out of the gate. A whole range of savory aromatics, lavender, spice, licorice and mocha open with time in the glass. Sweet rose petal and cinnamon appear later, adding brightness and lift. Cabernet Sauvignon and Pugnitello are not obvious varieties to blend, as they are, on paper, more similar than complementary. Even so, the combination works so well. I can’t wait to see how this ages. The 2015 is a total knock-out!”
 
Rocca Di Montegrossi Vin Santo 2009 375ml WAS $89 NOW $79 special, 23 bottles available
Vinous 94 Points “The 2009 Vin Santo is a rich, exotic wine, as it always is. Readers will find one of the richest most intense Vin Santos being made today. Plush, tropical and ample in feel, Rocca di Montegrossi’s Vin Santo is bold and racy to the core. The 350 grams of residual sugar leave the wine with tremendous textural plushness.”
 
Corsini Marsiliana Maremma Toscana 2015 750ml WAS $36 NOW $33 special, 36+ bottles available
Wine Advocate 95 Points “Described as the “grand vin” of this estate, the 2015 Marsiliana is remarkable for its precision and definition. This limited-release Tuscan red is a well-structured blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot. The forest and floral notes are some of the fine details mirroring the vineyards of limestone earth nestled among the Maremma pines. Black fruit is matched seamlessly to savory nuances. The vintage is still young, as this wine is built for the long haul.”

Musto Carmelitano Aglianico Vulture Maschitano 2017 750ml WAS $19 NOW $16 special, 36+ bottles available
Vinous 92+ Points “The 2017 Aglianico del Vulture Maschitano Rosso lifts from the glass with a rich and darkly alluring mix of crushed plums and blackberries complemented by nuances of lavender, violets and a dusting of exotic spice. While silky, almost creamy in feel, there’s a core of saline-minerals and bright acidity that adds riveting tension, as tart wild berries mix with a twang of sour citrus and wild herbal tones. This thrilling, young Aglianico finishes long and lightly structured, keeping the energy high with a sweet-and-sour tug of dark fruits and hints of blood orange that linger impossibly long.”
 
Germany
 
Beurer Rose Trocken Wurttemberg, Germany 2021 WAS $24  NOW $19 special, 36+ bottles available
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.”
 

Collector’s Corner
“Best in the West”
 
 

California
 
Aubert UV Vineyard Pinot Noir 2016 750ml $149 special, 2 bottles available
Jeb Dunnuck 100 Points “Leading off the Pinot Noirs, this is unquestionably the finest set of releases from the estate I’ve ever tasted, and it appears some of the magic Mark finds with his Chardonnays is finding its way over to the Pinot Noirs. The 2016 Pinot Noir UV Vineyard is 100% Calera clone (which reportedly comes from Vosne-Romanée) from a site in the Sonoma Coast and was brought up in 60-70% new French oak. It also saw around 10-20% whole clusters. Incredible ripe cherries, strawberries, exotic spices, blood orange, and floral notes all soar from this transparently colored, multi-dimensional, layered Pinot Noir that has no hard edges, ultra-fine tannin, and a finish that just won’t quit. It’s the finest Pinot Noir ever made from this address.”

Aubert Pinot Noir UV-SL Vineyard 2016 750ml $159 special, 4 bottles available
Jeb Dunnuck 99 Points “The 2016 Pinot Noir UV-SL Vineyard flirts with perfect and is another incredible effort from the Sonoma Coast. Deeply colored, with ripe cherries, underbrush, black currants, graphite, blood orange, and forest floor notes, it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, ample tannin, a big mid-palate, and a blockbuster finish. Despite being a rich, powerful wine, it shows remarkable elegance and purity, as well as a weightless, seamless texture. Brought up in 70% new French oak, drink it over the coming decade.”
 
Sine Qua Non Grenache Female 2013 750ml $319 special, 2 bottles available
Wine Advocate 98 Points “Showing similar to a previous bottle tasted in Colorado, the 2013 Grenache Female (78% Grenache, 19% Syrah and 3% Mourvedre) is more high toned and pretty than the 2014, with perfumed notes of black raspberries, licorice, herbes de Provence and violets. Similar on the palate to the 2014, yet perhaps with a touch more tannin, give this beauty a few years and drink it through 2033.”
 
Oregon

Beaux Freres The Beaux Freres Vineyard Pinot Noir 2021 750ml $124.95 special, 10 bottles available
Winery Notes “When the first few blocks were planted in 1988, no one could have predicted the consistent magic that would spring forth for decades to come. The old 1940s dairy pasture is now fully transformed to 25 acres of Pinot Noir vines whose forest perimeter creates a nearly mystical landscape. The 2021 wine is full of classic features: ripe, dark cherry skins, orange zest, and subtle white flower and miso notes.”

Bergstrom Estate Pinot Noir 2021 750ml $141.80 special, 4 bottles available
Wine Advocate 94 Points “Pale ruby-purple, the 2021 Pinot Noir Bergström Vineyard segues from gentle flinty tones to scents of raspberry, cranberry, lavender, dried herbs and touches of orange peel. The light-bodied palate is delicate and perfumed with a softly chalky texture, fireworks of fresh acidity and a long, ethereal finish with wafts of floral and citrus. Offer it another 2-3 years in bottle.”
 
Bergstrom Le Pre Du Col Pinot Noir 2021 750ml $114.50 special, 2 bottles available
Wine Advocate 94 Points “Medium ruby, the 2021 Pinot Noir Le Pré du Col Vineyard has pretty scents of raspberry, cranberry, bergamot and mushroom, revealing more aromatic detail as it spends time in the glass. The light-bodied palate is chalky and refreshing with concentrated fruit and loads of botanical and floral accents on the long, layered finish. I love this fragrant, detailed expression!”
 
Washington
  
Horsepower Syrah Tribe Vineyard 2016 750ml $169 special, 21 bottles available
Jeb Dunnuck 97+ Points “The 2016 Syrah The Tribe is largely in the same mold with a gamy, meaty, backward profile. Smoked meats, earthy dark fruits, ground pepper, and wood smoke are all present in this medium to full-bodied, concentrated Syrah that’s going to benefit from 3-5 years of bottle age and cruise for 15-20 years.”
 
Horsepower Syrah Tribe Vineyard 2017 750ml $169 special, 11 bottles available
Jeb Dunnuck 97 Points “Beautiful notes of red and black raspberries, tobacco, plum sauce, loamy earth, and loads of floral notes emerge from the 2017 Syrah The Tribe Vineyard, another tight, closed wine that’s going to benefit from bottle age. Medium to full-bodied, with notable freshness as well as plenty of underlying structure, it reminds me of Cote Rotie from the Cote Blonde lieu-dit with its incredible floral character as well as its seamless texture. Beautifully done and one of the standouts in the lineup in 2017, give bottles a healthy decant if drinking any time soon, and my money is on it benefiting from 2-3 years of bottle age and evolving for 15-20 years or more.”
 
Horsepower Syrah Tribe Vineyard 2019 750ml $179 special, 12 bottles available
Wine Advocate 97 Points “The 2019 Syrah The Tribe Vineyard starts with a stemmy, fresh and savory nose with a delightful meaty aroma and dusty florals before wafting with a succulent raspberry skin essence. Medium to full-bodied, the Syrah displays a vibrant mineral tension and spicy mouthfeel before subtle flavors of dried herbs sway with a firm tannic structure. The wine continues to evolve and unpack over the long, lingering finish with a pleasing smoky nuance and persistent peppery note. Give it a few more years in the bottle before opening. Bravo!”
 
No Girls Tempranillo La Paciencia Vineyard 2016 750ml $119 special, 11 bottles available
Jeb Dunnuck 97 Points “Similarly colored, the 2016 Tempranillo La Paciencia Vineyard offers an exotic bouquet of black cherries, violets, chocolate, tobacco, smoke, and candied orange rind. It’s deep, beautiful, savory, and full-bodied, with a thrilling texture. It’s another incredibly elegant, singular wine from this estate.”
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 In This Newsletter:

Special Arrivals
Beyond the Vale: new wines from Yangarra Estate Vineyard
New Arrivals
Brovia, Renato Ratti, Sassetti, Montille, Heritiers, Villa Crespia, and more!
Re-Arrivals– Last Chance!
Baudana, GD Vajra, and Schaller
Staff Picks
Oregon Favorites
Vintage Report: Saint Cosme
Great reviews out of Gigondas this year
Close-out Sales
Save on top wines from France, Spain, and Germany!
Collector’s Corner
Best in the West: Top Picks from California, Oregon, and Washington
Special Arrivals
 
“Yangarra Estate Vineyard”
 
For over twenty years, Yangarra has been crafting highly acclaimed, single-vineyard estate wines in Australia’s McLaren Vale. Situated on ancient sand dunes, the property has been farmed organically and biodynamically since 2008. Yangarra specializes in Rhône varieties with emphasis on the estate’s bush-vine Grenache. Now owned by the Jackson Family, the original Grenache itself dates back to 1946 and is still the source of the estate’s best regarded wines. The McClaren Vale benefits from a Mediterranean climate, which Winemaker Peter Fraser likens to Sonoma, where the Jackson Family got their start.
 
Yangarra Estate Roux Beaute Roussanne 2020 750ml $69 special, 6 bottles available
Winery Note “Our unique vineyard with its weathered sand and ironstone soil starts this Roussanne’s journey towards being an extraordinary wine. Months mellowing on grape skins in large ceramic eggs ensure a wine of luxurious texture and distinctive flavor.”
 
Yangarra Estate Vineyards High Sands Grenache 2019 750ml $249 special, 12 bottles available
Winery Note “High Sands Grenache is the pinnacle of our estate. Reaching deep within the sandy soil, our prized 1946 old vines produce wines that balance intense power and complexity with fragrance and beauty.”
 
Yangarra Estate Vineyards Ovitelli Blanc 2020 750ml $69 special, 6 bottles available
Winery Note “Grenache Blanc, Roussanne, Clairette, Piquepoul and Bourboulenc. Inspired by the textural white wines of the Southern Rhône, Ovitelli Blanc brings these traditional varieties together in blended harmony. Gently fermented and aged with skin contact in large ceramic eggs.”
 
Yangarra Estate Vineyards Ovitelli Grenache 2020 750ml $89 special, 12 bottles available
Winery Note “Ovitelli is the most perfumed and elegant Grenache from the sands at Yangarra. The vibrant fruit of those dry grown 1946 bush vines is rewarded with a long, luxurious ferment and a whole autumn on skins in big ceramic eggs.”

New Arrivals

France
 
“Les Heritiers du Comte Lafon”
Dominique Lafon took over his family estate, Domaine des Comtes Lafon in 1984 and within a few short years, his wines were some of the most prized in Burgundy and the rest is history. In 1999 he started  Héritiers as a fully biodynamic domaine. His belief and passion for the region has made Héritiers a towering beacon for fine wine in the previously overlooked Chardonnay mecca.
 
Les Heritiers Du Comte Lafon Macon-Villages 2022 750ml $33 special, 36 bottles available
Vinopolnote “Founded in 1999 by Dominique Lafon, Héritiers du Comte Lafon is his trailblazing, biodynamic Mâconnais domaine. This multi-parcel blend comes from high-altitude old vines (30+ years) and like all of Heritiers wines, is fermented with native yeasts and aged in large oak barrels.”
 
“Domaine de Montille”
Montille Bourgogne Rouge 2020 750ml $38 special, 4 bottles available
Winemaker Notes “Domaine de Montille Bourgogne Rouge benefits from the same bio-dynamic viticulture and the same attention as the most illustrious Premiers and Grands Crus. It is an introduction to Burgundy and the Domaine. This wine is accessible from its earliest youth and reflects the quality and character of the Domaine: purity, authenticity and elegance.”
 
Montille Beaune Sizies 1er Cru 2020 750ml $75 special, 8 bottles available
Decanter 93 Points “Bright pomegranate and black cherry aromas, with floral notes and a hint of spice. There is plenty of freshness and a slightly rustic, tannic edge on the palate, yet the wine is showing nicely and should age well over the mid-term. De Montille has 1.62ha in Beaune Sizies at the foot of the slope in fairly deep clay soils. Picking started early here, yet there is nothing tart or astringent about the wine. The grapes were vinified with one-third whole-cluster and aged in 15% new casks.”
 
“Arnaud Lambert”
Arnauld Lambert Clos De Midi Saumur Blanc 2022 750ml $23.50 special, 23 bottles available
Winemaker’s Note “As my first white from the hill of Brézé, Clos du Midi made quite an impression…
It comes from one of the colder sites on the Brézé hill and has nearly four hectares in production. The upper section of the vineyard, on the mid-slope of the hill, is primarily made of sand and at the bottom it’s richer in clay. Although this wine is 100% Chenin Blanc, it bears the freshness of a young Sancerre, the soft richness of Chablis, but with the unmistakable charm of Chenin Blanc from Brézé.”
 
Italy
 
Brovia Barolo 2019 750ml $69 special, 35 bottles available
Wine Advocate 95 Points “On a shortlist of “annata” wines to buy from Piedmont this year is the Brovia 2019 Barolo. Made from a blend of fruit from Castiglione Falletto and Serralunga d’Alba, this wine delivers a very sharp and chiseled performance that puts a priority on directness, freshness and length. This pretty wine has a pronounced fruity side and a mineral side, and these two parts converge beautifully. There are hints of dried mint and licorice on the close of this must-have wine.”
 
Il Poggione Brunello Di Montalcino 2016 750ml $69 special, 18 bottles available
Antonio Galloni 97 Points “I’m not sure how Il Poggione manages to remain one of the largest producers of Brunello maintaining such a high level of quality and turning out some of the best wines of the vintage year after year – but they do. The 2016 Brunello di Montalcino is yet another stunning example. Depths of mineral-encased black cherries sage allspice licorice tobacco and crushed violets lift up from the glass. It’s seamlessly silky even as the palate is peppered with tart red and black berries nervous acids and savory exotic spices. This shows the density and weight of the vintage in a youthfully monolithic stance yet with all the necessary components to maintain perfect balance. The 2016 Il Poggione seems to fold in upon itself through the finish which is dark mysterious and structured with only hints of black tea and licorice to tempt the imagination. It’s a classic in the making.”
 
“Castello di Verduno”
Castello di Verduno Barolo 2019 750ml $54.50 special, 20 bottles available
Vinous 91 Points “The 2019 Barolo is all from Boscato, in the town of Verduno. Sweet tobacco, earthiness, orange peel, cedar, dried flowers, licorice and herbs give the 2019 notable aromatic presence, while the fruit is pushed more into the background. There’s more than enough complexity to ensure a decade of fine drinking, especially once the tannins soften a touch.”
 
Castello di Verduno Barolo Riserva Monvigliero 2017 750ml $119 special, 12 bottles available
Vinous 95 Points “The 2017 Barolo Riserva Monvigliero is a big, powerful wine. Huge tannins give the 2017 its imposing personality. Red fleshed fruit, chalk, mint, white pepper, rose petal and incense all lend notable freshness and verve. There’s not much of the openness that defines so many wines in this vintage. That’s probably a good thing for its long-term prospects. There is a touch of elevated volatile acidity that readers will have to accept to fully enjoy the 2017.”
 
“Renato Ratti”
Renato Ratti Barolo Rocche Dell’annunziata 2019 750ml $149 special, 6 bottles available
Wine Enthusiast 97 Points “The stunning wine opens with a mix of tart red and blue berries, rose and sweet and savory spices that evolve into more savory and earthy notes. The palate is refined, framing the cherry-driven sip with tobacco and wild herb flavors to near unison. It’s sublime on the finish, with vibrant acidity and fine tannins that will give the wine life for years to come.”
Wine Advocate 96 Points “Pietro Ratti’s 2019 Barolo Rocche dell’Annunziata opens to a delineated bouquet with a mineral note or iodine that dovetails into purple berry fruit and lots of dried red rose and crushed flower. That evident floral imprint is something I often find in the wines that come from this side of La Morra in the south-facing ridge of vines in Rocche dell’Annunziata. With more time in the glass, the mineral note pushes to the forefront of this elegantly contoured mid-weight Barolo. The wine is powerful and tight but beautifully fragrant at the same time.”
 
Renato Ratti Barolo Serradenari 2019 750ml $149 special, 6 bottles available
Wine Enthusiast 97 Points “This wine expresses itself with aromas of wild cherries, tart red plums, dried violets and oolong tea leaves. The palate is elegant and almost dances across the mouth, leading with ripe red fruits that give way to savory flavors of fresh bay leaf, clove and balsam. Drink 2025-2040.”
Wine Advocate 95 Points “Here’s an exciting new submission from the house of Ratti. Serradenari is a large MGA and one of only a few cru sites that exist on the western slope under the village of La Morra. The 2019 Barolo Serradenari has a more botanical-smelling bouquet, and by that I mean that it has lavender bud, thyme, aniseed and the kinds of flowers and herbs that you might find in a fragrant garden. It is nuanced and delicate and framed by a light note of ash or crushed limestone. It finishes quite firm or edgy. Only 6,000 bottles were made.”
 
Portugal
 
Barbeito Faja dos Padres Malvasia Candida Reserva Especial NV 500ml $119 special, 6 bottles available
Tasting Notes “This growing area is called Faja dos Padres and up until recently it was only accessible by boat. It is a small piece of volcanic land sticking out into the ocean at the base of a cliff. Here Malvasia Candida, thought to have gone extinct was found and recovered. Ricardo Freitas has a near monopoly on this once thought to have been lost variety of Malvasia. The Faja zone was world famous 200 plus years ago as making the most incredible Malvasia on earth. Now this glorious wine is available again.”
 
Arriving Tomorrow
 
Sassetti Pertimali Brunello di Montalcino 2018 750ml $79 special, 18 bottles available
James Suckling 96 Points “Intense aromas of black cherries, lavender and spice, such as nutmeg. Some sandalwood and bark, too. Full-bodied with a solid core of fruit and tannins for the vintage. Rather chewy, suggesting that additional bottle age is needed. Try after 2026.”
Vinous 95 Points “Depths of dark, balsamic-tinged black cherry, plum sauce and autumnal spice make the 2018 Brunello di Montalcino impossible to ignore. This is velvety to the core, nearly opulent in feel, with a dense wave of ripe red fruits complemented by nuances of sweet lavender and tobacco. It leaves the palate clenched with fine tannins and primary concentration, creating a classic sensation that transcends the vintage. Nearly a minute goes by, and hints of cocoa and sweet herbs continue to resonate. Wow! Production at the pertimali estate was down by 20% due to the spring frost, and the decision was made to place all of the juice usually intended for the Riserva into the straight Brunello, the result being one of the top wines of the vintage.”
 
Marabino Rosso di Contrada Nero d’Avola 2018 750ml $16 special, 30 bottles available
Vinous “The 2018 Nero d’Avola Rosso di Contrada makes itself known with a peppery display of wild herbs, rose hips and black currants. Its silky textures flesh out across the palate of citrus-tinged blackberries and mineral notes. This is juicy to the last, lingering on fresh cherry pits, lavender and hints of mocha, all neatly framed by a coating of fine tannin.”
Lowest Price in the United States… next lowest is $24
 
“Villa Crespia Franciacorta”
Villa Crespia Franciacorta Francesco Iacono Dosaggio Zero Riserva 2008 750ml $59 special, 32 bottles available
Wine Advocate 92 Points “Villa Crespia’s 2008 Franciacorta Francesco Iacono Dosaggio Zero Riserva shows careful signs of evolution with apricot, honey, saffron and dried rose petal. The complexity is subtle at first but builds in intrigue as the wine takes shape in the glass. In the mouth, this layered sparkling wine exhibits fine perlage and medium texture that feels weighty without being heavy. This is a Pinot Nero-based sparkler that ages on the lees for eight months and is partially aged in oak.”
Lowest Price in the World! Elsewhere $120
 
Villa Crespia Franciacorta Brolese Rose Extra Brut NV $26 special, 2 bottles available
Wine Advocate 91+ Points “The Villa Crespia NV Franciacorta Brolese Rosé Extra Brut is a blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Nero, more or less in equal parts. The Pinot Nero adds backbone and structure to the wine, whereas the Chardonnay adds fragrant intensity. You will recognize aromas of wild cherry, crushed raspberry and lilac. Baked bread and croissant appear more delicately at the back. This wine offers good value, and 15,000 bottles were made.”
Lowest Price in the United States… Average price is $40
Re-Arrivals
 
Luigi Baudana Barolo Cerretta 2019 750ml $89 special, 29 bottles available
Vinous 97 Points “The 2019 Barolo Cerretta is packed with dark cherry, smoke, gravel, blood orange incense, scorched earth, licorice and mocha. This ample, full-bodied Barolo offers tremendous depth and textural intensity. Powerful and brooding, with tons of muscle and tannin, the Cerretta is incredibly promising. It is the most potent wine in this portfolio, by a pretty substantial range.”
 
GD Vajra Dolcetto D’alba Coste & Fossati 2020 750ml $21.90 special, 21 bottles available
Vinous 92 Points “The 2020 Dolcetto d’Alba Coste & Fossati offers a bit more depth than the straight Dolcetto but with the energy that runs through all the 2020s here. Dark cherry fruit, leather, spice, tobacco and dried herbs lend notable complexity. This is beautifully done.”
 
GD Vajra Barolo Ravera 2019 750ml $89 special, 18 bottles available
Wine Advocate 97 Points “The organic G.D. Vajra 2019 Barolo Ravera (with fruit from the most sought-after cru in the village of Novello) reveals gorgeous tonality and color. The wine shines bright with dark ruby and garnet gemstone. Healthy Nebbiolo colors like this can be admired across the 2019 vintage. It is softly textured but also strong in fiber, with silky sensations followed by dark fruit and concentration. Ravera has a character all its own, and the operative word here is power.”
 
Camille et Laurent Schaller Petit Chablis 2021 750ml $24 special, 23 bottles available
VinopolNote “20 year old vines, 8 months on fine lees in in oak, 100% Chardonnay.”
Staff Picks
Oregon Favorites
 
Crowley Four Winds Pinot Noir 2021 750ml $49 special, 20 bottles available
“A lot of American wineries describe their wines as “Old World” styled these days, but this wine actually does remind me of Burgundy. Expect earth, acid, and savory tomato leaf under cherry fruit notes. Can hold longer, but drinks wonderfully now with mushrooms, tomato sauces, or coq au vin.”
–Tracy
 
Tan Fruit Petite Tan Fruit Chardonnay 2022 750ml $19.50 special, 36+ bottles available
“Fall may mean a dip in temp, however there’s also a refreshing food and wine pairing that I look forward to: Oysters with a crisp mineral driven white. Jim Maresh has made this easy with his Tan Fruit project and we are fortunate enough to have these clean, focused chardonnay in a value-oriented, Chablisienne style!
–Justin

Vintage Report: Saint Cosme
Great reviews out of Gigondas this year


Saint Cosme Gigondas Rouge 2021 750ml $45 special, 36+ bottles available
Wine Spectator 94 Points “Powerful, with steeped plum and cherry coulis merging with potpourri and charred garrigue on a ripe, lush palate. Packs a wall of iron that provides a ballast for the ripe fruit, while refined tannins build in intensity. Long and complex, with a gorgeous expression of place. Grenache, Mourvèdre, Syrah and Cinsault. Drink now through 2040.
 
Saint Cosme Gigondas Le Claux Rouge 2021 750ml $125 special, 32 bottles available
Wines Spectator 95 points “Opulent and broad, with a generous cascade of ripe plum and winey cassis notes wrapped in talc-fine yet sturdy tannins. Chewy, with strappy black licorice and cast Iron moving in. A seductive, concentrated Gigondas, with impressive harmony as every element hums along toward the seemingly endless finish. Outstanding. Best from 2025 through 2040.”
 
Saint Cosme Gigondas Le Poste Rouge 2021 750ml $125 special, 25 bottles available
Wine Spectator 95 points “Densely packed and incredibly complex, with layers of sappy raspberry, dusty earth, black pepper, olive tapenade and singed rosemary. Shows tannins that are chalky-fine in feel, yet muscular enough to support a core of rich fruit, all grounded by cast-iron underpinnings. Needs time to unfurl. Best from 2025 through 2040.”
 
Saint Cosme Gigondas Hominis Fides Rouge 2021 750ml $125 special, 24 bottles available
Wine Spectator 96 points “A showstopper, this is chewy, smoky and broad-shouldered in the best possible way. Reveals layers of blackberry and plum matched by pronounced charred iron, dried thyme and black pepper. Shows serious mineral intensity and refined yet muscular tannins, which provide the framework and energy, while forest floor, tobacco and an intriguing menthol note mark the long finish. Best from 2025 through 2040.”
 
Close-out Sales

 France
 
Bagnol Cassis Rose 2021 750ml WAS $36 NOW $29 special, 20 bottles available
Rosenthal Wine Merchant Note “Cassis Rosé: The Rosé is produced from several parcels that comprise slightly less than 7 hectares of vineyards. The vineyards are clay and limestone, situated on a gentle slope with a north – northwest exposure. The blend is Grenache (55%), Mourvedre (31%) and Cinsault (14%). This Rosé is vinified by “pressurage direct, the must is chilled to 12 degrees Celsius, the wine ferments at 18 degrees Celsius until it is completely dry; then, the wine is bottled during the first three months of the following year after a light filtration. Production tops out at about 40,000 bottles per annum; approximately 6000 bottles are allocated to the US market.”
 
Commanderie Bargemone Marina Provence Rose 2022 750ml WAS $39 NOW $33 special, 12 bottles available
Vinous 93 Points “The 2022 Rosé Cuvée Marina Collection is a pale pink with orange hues. It entices with a subtle blend of white cherries, spice, orange zests and wet stone. This is texturally thrilling, silky verging on oily with vibrant acidity that adds abundant energy. Ripe orchard fruits and strawberry tones swirl across a core of tactile minerality. It finishes energetic and with tremendous length, leaving the palate completely refreshed as suggestions of lime-tinged pear slowly disappear. It’s nearly impossible to stop at one glass.”
 
Bernard Baudry Chinon Le Domaine Rouge 2019 750ml WAS $26 NOW $21.90 special, 36+ bottles available
Vinous 90 Points “The 2019 Chinon Le Domaine provides excellent concentration of fruit while remaining light on its feet. As well as bright primary fruit, it offers smoky bacon, spice and medicinal characters. There’s lovely sappy texture on the finish, which Baudry puts down to the limestone soils of the Chinon plateau that typically grip the side of the mouth. You can enjoy this in its youth, but it has an additional element of seriousness that means its future will stretch out to the medium term.”
 
Bernard Baudry Chinon Clos Guillot 2020 750ml WAS $39 NOW $33 special, 36 bottles available
Vinous 93 Points “Hailing from the limestone-clay slopes on the outskirts of Chinon town, home to other famous vineyards like Clos de l’Olive and Chêne Vert, Le Clos Guillot 2020 offers a cloud of Cabernet Franc fruit with fine refreshing acidity. Savory, silken and seductive, the wine is flooded with a stream of acidity. It is a calm wine with a mass of chalky tannins that coat the palate reassuringly. The finish is long, quiet and scented with dark raspberries and spice. There is a minor complaint of a touch of dryness at the very end of this wine.”
 
Beau Buisson Bordeaux Rouge 2020 750ml WAS $16 NOW $11.90 special, 27 bottles available
Beau Buisson Bordeaux Rouge 2020 750ml Case of 12 750ml bottles,WAS $149 NOW $119, 5 Cases available
Silver Medal Gilbert & Gaiillard International Challenge
“Located approximately 10 miles east south-east of St Emilion, an enjoyable sipper at cooking wine price. Swirl your first sip in your palate and the red berry flavors will unfold.”
 
Beaucastel Chateauneuf Du Pape Blanc 2001 750ml WAS $99 NOW $89 special, 2 bottles available
 
Beckham Estate Olivia Pinot Noir Rose 2021 750ml WAS $29 NOW $24 special, 5 bottles available
VinopolNote “Fruit from the dry farmed estate vineyard in the Chehalem Mountains fermented in amphora and aged in neutral barrel.”
 
Bigonneau Reuilly Rouge 2019 750ml WAS $17 NOW $14, 33 bottles available
Bigonneau Reuilly Rouge 2019 Case of 12 bottles available WAS $179 NOW $149 special, 3 bottles available
Vinopolnote “Red wines from Reuilly can only be produced with one grape varietal: Pinot Noir
Very approachable and varietally correct Pinot Noir, sold at a fraction of the price compared to its Burgundian neighbors to the east.”
 
Italy
 
Rocca Di Montegrossi Ridolfo 2015 1.5L WAS $179 NOW $159 special, 17 bottles available
Antonio Galloni 98+ Points “The 2015 Ridolfo is a new Cabernet Sauvignon/Pugnitello blend from Marco Ricasoli bottled only in magnum. Vibrant and finely sculpted, the 2015 impresses right out of the gate. A whole range of savory aromatics, lavender, spice, licorice and mocha open with time in the glass. Sweet rose petal and cinnamon appear later, adding brightness and lift. Cabernet Sauvignon and Pugnitello are not obvious varieties to blend, as they are, on paper, more similar than complementary. Even so, the combination works so well. I can’t wait to see how this ages. The 2015 is a total knock-out!”
 
Rocca Di Montegrossi Vin Santo 2009 375ml WAS $89 NOW $79 special, 23 bottles available
Vinous 94 Points “The 2009 Vin Santo is a rich, exotic wine, as it always is. Readers will find one of the richest most intense Vin Santos being made today. Plush, tropical and ample in feel, Rocca di Montegrossi’s Vin Santo is bold and racy to the core. The 350 grams of residual sugar leave the wine with tremendous textural plushness.”
 
Corsini Marsiliana Maremma Toscana 2015 750ml WAS $36 NOW $33 special, 36+ bottles available
Wine Advocate 95 Points “Described as the “grand vin” of this estate, the 2015 Marsiliana is remarkable for its precision and definition. This limited-release Tuscan red is a well-structured blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot. The forest and floral notes are some of the fine details mirroring the vineyards of limestone earth nestled among the Maremma pines. Black fruit is matched seamlessly to savory nuances. The vintage is still young, as this wine is built for the long haul.”

Musto Carmelitano Aglianico Vulture Maschitano 2017 750ml WAS $19 NOW $16 special, 36+ bottles available
Vinous 92+ Points “The 2017 Aglianico del Vulture Maschitano Rosso lifts from the glass with a rich and darkly alluring mix of crushed plums and blackberries complemented by nuances of lavender, violets and a dusting of exotic spice. While silky, almost creamy in feel, there’s a core of saline-minerals and bright acidity that adds riveting tension, as tart wild berries mix with a twang of sour citrus and wild herbal tones. This thrilling, young Aglianico finishes long and lightly structured, keeping the energy high with a sweet-and-sour tug of dark fruits and hints of blood orange that linger impossibly long.”
 
Germany
 
Beurer Rose Trocken Wurttemberg, Germany 2021 WAS $24  NOW $19 special, 36+ bottles available
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.”
 

Collector’s Corner
“Best in the West”
 
 

California
 
Aubert UV Vineyard Pinot Noir 2016 750ml $149 special, 2 bottles available
Jeb Dunnuck 100 Points “Leading off the Pinot Noirs, this is unquestionably the finest set of releases from the estate I’ve ever tasted, and it appears some of the magic Mark finds with his Chardonnays is finding its way over to the Pinot Noirs. The 2016 Pinot Noir UV Vineyard is 100% Calera clone (which reportedly comes from Vosne-Romanée) from a site in the Sonoma Coast and was brought up in 60-70% new French oak. It also saw around 10-20% whole clusters. Incredible ripe cherries, strawberries, exotic spices, blood orange, and floral notes all soar from this transparently colored, multi-dimensional, layered Pinot Noir that has no hard edges, ultra-fine tannin, and a finish that just won’t quit. It’s the finest Pinot Noir ever made from this address.”

Aubert Pinot Noir UV-SL Vineyard 2016 750ml $159 special, 4 bottles available
Jeb Dunnuck 99 Points “The 2016 Pinot Noir UV-SL Vineyard flirts with perfect and is another incredible effort from the Sonoma Coast. Deeply colored, with ripe cherries, underbrush, black currants, graphite, blood orange, and forest floor notes, it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, ample tannin, a big mid-palate, and a blockbuster finish. Despite being a rich, powerful wine, it shows remarkable elegance and purity, as well as a weightless, seamless texture. Brought up in 70% new French oak, drink it over the coming decade.”
 
Sine Qua Non Grenache Female 2013 750ml $319 special, 2 bottles available
Wine Advocate 98 Points “Showing similar to a previous bottle tasted in Colorado, the 2013 Grenache Female (78% Grenache, 19% Syrah and 3% Mourvedre) is more high toned and pretty than the 2014, with perfumed notes of black raspberries, licorice, herbes de Provence and violets. Similar on the palate to the 2014, yet perhaps with a touch more tannin, give this beauty a few years and drink it through 2033.”
 
Oregon

Beaux Freres The Beaux Freres Vineyard Pinot Noir 2021 750ml $124.95 special, 10 bottles available
Winery Notes “When the first few blocks were planted in 1988, no one could have predicted the consistent magic that would spring forth for decades to come. The old 1940s dairy pasture is now fully transformed to 25 acres of Pinot Noir vines whose forest perimeter creates a nearly mystical landscape. The 2021 wine is full of classic features: ripe, dark cherry skins, orange zest, and subtle white flower and miso notes.”

Bergstrom Estate Pinot Noir 2021 750ml $141.80 special, 4 bottles available
Wine Advocate 94 Points “Pale ruby-purple, the 2021 Pinot Noir Bergström Vineyard segues from gentle flinty tones to scents of raspberry, cranberry, lavender, dried herbs and touches of orange peel. The light-bodied palate is delicate and perfumed with a softly chalky texture, fireworks of fresh acidity and a long, ethereal finish with wafts of floral and citrus. Offer it another 2-3 years in bottle.”
 
Bergstrom Le Pre Du Col Pinot Noir 2021 750ml $114.50 special, 2 bottles available
Wine Advocate 94 Points “Medium ruby, the 2021 Pinot Noir Le Pré du Col Vineyard has pretty scents of raspberry, cranberry, bergamot and mushroom, revealing more aromatic detail as it spends time in the glass. The light-bodied palate is chalky and refreshing with concentrated fruit and loads of botanical and floral accents on the long, layered finish. I love this fragrant, detailed expression!”
 
Washington
  
Horsepower Syrah Tribe Vineyard 2016 750ml $169 special, 21 bottles available
Jeb Dunnuck 97+ Points “The 2016 Syrah The Tribe is largely in the same mold with a gamy, meaty, backward profile. Smoked meats, earthy dark fruits, ground pepper, and wood smoke are all present in this medium to full-bodied, concentrated Syrah that’s going to benefit from 3-5 years of bottle age and cruise for 15-20 years.”
 
Horsepower Syrah Tribe Vineyard 2017 750ml $169 special, 11 bottles available
Jeb Dunnuck 97 Points “Beautiful notes of red and black raspberries, tobacco, plum sauce, loamy earth, and loads of floral notes emerge from the 2017 Syrah The Tribe Vineyard, another tight, closed wine that’s going to benefit from bottle age. Medium to full-bodied, with notable freshness as well as plenty of underlying structure, it reminds me of Cote Rotie from the Cote Blonde lieu-dit with its incredible floral character as well as its seamless texture. Beautifully done and one of the standouts in the lineup in 2017, give bottles a healthy decant if drinking any time soon, and my money is on it benefiting from 2-3 years of bottle age and evolving for 15-20 years or more.”
 
Horsepower Syrah Tribe Vineyard 2019 750ml $179 special, 12 bottles available
Wine Advocate 97 Points “The 2019 Syrah The Tribe Vineyard starts with a stemmy, fresh and savory nose with a delightful meaty aroma and dusty florals before wafting with a succulent raspberry skin essence. Medium to full-bodied, the Syrah displays a vibrant mineral tension and spicy mouthfeel before subtle flavors of dried herbs sway with a firm tannic structure. The wine continues to evolve and unpack over the long, lingering finish with a pleasing smoky nuance and persistent peppery note. Give it a few more years in the bottle before opening. Bravo!”
 
No Girls Tempranillo La Paciencia Vineyard 2016 750ml $119 special, 11 bottles available
Jeb Dunnuck 97 Points “Similarly colored, the 2016 Tempranillo La Paciencia Vineyard offers an exotic bouquet of black cherries, violets, chocolate, tobacco, smoke, and candied orange rind. It’s deep, beautiful, savory, and full-bodied, with a thrilling texture. It’s another incredibly elegant, singular wine from this estate.”
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Vinopolis Newsletter – Wednesday 09/27/2023

 In This Newsletter:

New Arrivals
Soos Creek, The Walls, Barbeito Madeira, and Raul Perez
Special Collector’s Sale– Biondi-Santi
Bottle One Pricing on ALL things Biondi-Santi– ENDS SUNDAY
Staff Picks
Seasonal wines from our table to yours
Featured Winery
Champagne Christophe Mignon
5 Day Sale
Weingut Prinz: From Garage to Greatness– ENDS FRIDAY
Close-out Sales
Save on top wines from France, Spain, and Austria!
New Arrivals

Washington
 
“Soos Creek”
 
“I have pounded the drum for Soos Creek since I first tasted the wines 20 years ago. For those of us who want great value at stupidly great prices, Soos Creek is a treasure.”
— Paul Gregutt, Wine Enthusiast
 
Founded in 1989 by David and Cecile Larsen. David originally started making wine for friends and co-workers in the Boeing Wine Club thanks to inspiring trips to Europe and Napa Valley. These are fantastic wines and values from a region where value is getting harder and harder to come by.
 
Soos Creek Soleil Columbia Valley Red 2019 750ml $24 special, 12 bottles available
Owen Bargreen 92 Points “The really good 2019 Soos Creek ‘Soleil’ Red Wine is mainly Cabernet Sauvignon (57%) with smaller portions Merlot and Cabernet Franc blended in. Very soft on the mouth, this revels in its ripe red currant, black cherry, dried sage and cigar ash flavors. Enjoy this outstanding new red blend over the next ten to fifteen years. Drink 2022-2035.”
 
Soos Creek Sundance Columbia Valley Red 2019 750ml $24 special, 12 bottles available
Paul Gregutt 92 Points “While ‘Sundance’ might be their entry level wine, the 2019 edition is no simple red wine. This comes off very soft and inviting with layers of black currants, Arabica bean and huckleberry with creosote notes. Complex and delicious, enjoy this medium-bodied effort over the next five to seven years. Drink 2022-2029.”
 
“The Walls”
 
A project from former Microsoft executive turned restaurateur Mike Martin and winemaker Todd Alexander of Force Majure and Bryant Family. These wines feature “not your average Washington Cab Blend” blends preferring a focus on lesser known Rhône, Portuguese, and Spanish varietals. This is one of the most exciting wineries to come out of Walla Walla in quite some time!
 
The Walls Lip Stinger Yakima Grenache Blanc 2021 750ml $31.90 special, 12 bottles available
Winery Note “With Grenache Blanc behind the wheel, this classic Southern Rhone-inspired white blend, with its luscious texture and fresh acidity make it quite possibly the most perfect glass. Whiffs of apricot and honeysuckle transform, revealing an underbelly of ripe pear and apple. Grill up a meaty tuna steak or Dungeness crab, pour a glass of the Lip Stinger and enjoy a made-for-each-other pairing.”
 
The Walls Stanley Groovy Red Mountain Red 2020 750ml $31.90 special, 24 bottles available
Jeb Dunnuck 91-93 Points “The 2020 Stanley Groovy is an eclectic blend of 43% Touriga Nacional, 15% Tempranillo, 10% Souzao, 10% Tinta Cao, and the rest a mix of Syrah, Grenache, Cabernet, and Counoise. Brought up in 35-45% new oak, it has a deep ruby/purple hue as well as a ripe, sexy, complex, medium to full-bodied style offering lots of blueberries, wild strawberries, graphite, tobacco, and scorched earth. Ripe, mouth-filling, and loaded with character, it’s going to drink nicely right out of the gate.”
 
France
 
“Domaine Didier Dagueneau”
 
Dagueneau Les Intouchables 2019 750ml $279 special, 1 bottles available
Dagueneau Pur Sang 2020 750ml $149 special, 2 bottles available
Dagueneau Silex 2019 750ml $179 special, 3 bottles available
Dagueneau Silex 2020 750ml $199 special, 5 bottles available
Dagueneau Sancerre Mont Damnes 2019 750ml $249 special, 1 bottles available
 
Arriving Friday
 
Spain
 
Raul Perez Ultreia Saint Jacques Bierzo 2020 750ml $21.90 special, 18 bottles available
Wine Advocate 93-94 Points “They had not bottled the 2020 Ultreia Saint Jacques yet and were still waiting for the labels (and they label the day after they bottle), so I caught an unbottled sample that was very tender and fruit-driven, primary and quite open. He used more stems and full clusters in 2020, and since 2018, they have removed the percentage of white grapes that used to be included in the wine. It’s a little more Mediterranean, with aromatic herbs and a more powerful palate.”
 
Portugal
 
Barbeito Faja dos Padres Malvasia Candida Reserva Especial NV 500ml $119 special, 6 bottles available
Tasting Notes “This growing area is called Faja dos Padres and up until recently it was only accessible by boat. It is a small piece of volcanic land sticking out into the ocean at the base of a cliff. Here Malvasia Candida, thought to have gone extinct was found and recovered. Ricardo Freitas has a near monopoly on this once thought to have been lost variety of Malvasia. The Faja zone was world famous 200 plus years ago as making the most incredible Malvasia on earth. Now this glorious wine is available again.”

Special Collector’s Sale: Biondi-Santi
Bottle One Savings on all things Biondi Santi– 5 DAYS ONLY

 

A brief story: in 1870, a Tuscan farmer named Ferruccio Biondi-Santi discovered a particularly dark, thick-skinned variety of Sangiovese among his vines (dubbed Brunello or “brown one”) which produced very tannic and complex wines. He began aging these Brunello wines in wood, unusual for Tuscan wines at the time, and setting them aside after bottling. 150 years later, Brunello di Montalcino is one of the most heralded regions in the world with over 200 producers and the Biondi-Santi winery is still uncorking his personal reservas from the late 1800’s. The lucky few who have tasted Ferrucio’s bottlings report that they are still evolving all this time later.
 
All of this just to say that if you love fine wine, this is the gold standard for quality and longevity. Your patience and investment will be rewarded by Biondi-Santi.
 
Biondi-Santi makes a small portfolio of several wines that we represent in-depth at Vinopolis. Whether you’re seeking to bask in a classic Montalcino Rosso over dinner, or drink to history with the Brunello and Brunello Riserva while watching the fading sun, you can’t go wrong. And at these prices you can’t afford to miss out!
 
SALE ENDS SUNDAY @ 6PM

Don’t let this one slip by!
 
Biondi Santi Tenuta Greppo Rosso di Montalcino, Tuscany 2018 750ml
WAS $99, ON SALE UNTIL SUNDAY FOR $89 special, 27 bottles available
Wine Advocate 94 points “Elegant, graceful and fine, the Biondi-Santi 2018 Rosso di Montalcino offers a delicate approach to the senses and it spreads over the palate with polished and silky intensity. The acidity is elevated in this vintage. A handful of historic producers in Montalcino are bringing the Rosso category up to the next level, and the venerable house of Biondi-Santi is one of them. This was a somewhat unusual vintage with prolonged cool spells alternating with moments of intense heat. However, this wine shows even ripening and is quite vibrant and tangy in terms of its acidity. In spectacular Sangiovese style, the wine ends with lingering tones of wild cherry, sweet earth, potting soil and perfumed violet.”

Biondi Santi Tenuta Greppo Rosso di Montalcino, Tuscany 2019 750ml
WAS $109, ON SALE UNTIL SUNDAY FOR $99 special, 9 bottles available
Wine Advocate 95 points “This flight of three Biondi-Santi wines starts off on the right foot thanks to the pristine bouquet and lively fruit of the 2019 Rosso di Montalcino. This is the entry-level wine (although the price point certainly suggests otherwise). It shows very detailed and chiseled aromas of wild cherry, cassis, dried violet, rust and orange skin. The wine carries a strong structural frame; however, the mouthfeel is ethereal and light notwithstanding.”
James Suckling 94 points “Aromas of sliced citrus, cherry and flowers follow through to a medium body, with creamy tannins and crunchy fruit at the finish. Lovely combination of fruit and acidity. Very drinkable now but will age nicely. (10/5/22)”

Biondi Santi Tenuta Greppo Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Tuscany 2007 750ml
WAS $249, ON SALE UNTIL SUNDAY FOR $212 special, 1 bottles available
James Suckling 95 points “The nose is full of flowers and berries with dark cherries and ripe strawberries. Hints of flowers too. It’s full-bodied, with wonderful structure with bright acidity. Super clean and beautiful. Very pure and firm. Needs to age for a long time. Classic wine. Try in 2015.”
Wine Advocate 94 points “The 2007 Brunello di Montalcino is gorgeous. The estate’s preference for picking on the early side is one of the factors that help balance some of the fleshiness of the vintage. This is an especially silky, supple Brunello from Biondi-Santi. The overt personality of the year comes through, but not at the expense of the house’s style. Floral notes reappear to frame the elegant, expressive finish. Anticipated maturity: 2017-2037.”

Biondi Santi Tenuta Greppo Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Tuscany 2016 750ml
WAS $235, ON SALE UNTIL SUNDAY FOR $212 special, 6 bottles available
#23 Top 100 Cellar Selections 2022 – Wine Enthusiast
Wine Enthusiast 98 points “Cellar Selection. Aromas of rose petal, dark spice, woodland berries and camphor form the nose on this fragrant, elegant wine. Loaded with finesse, the linear, savory palate features red cherry, orange zest, star anise and black tea alongside tightly wound, fine-grained tannins. Bright acidity keeps it impeccably balanced. It’s still youthfully austere, with fantastic aging potential. Drink 2026–2041. -Kerin O’Keefe”
Wine Advocate 97+ points “From a benchmark vintage, the Biondi-Santi 2016 Brunello di Montalcino reveals a gorgeous appearance with medium concentration highlighted by shiny hues of garnet and dark ruby. The first thing you notice is the compact dark fruit and rather robust textural fiber and power presented here. You almost bite into this wine, and you taste some fine grain linked to the young tannins. That, with the fresh acidity that is the hallmark signature of this estate, guarantees long cellar aging, and I would put my money on this vintage for long-long-term longevity. It surely needs more time to come together with pinpoint precision, but the wine’s elegance is a certainty.”

Biondi Santi Tenuta Greppo Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Tuscany 2017 750ml
WAS $249, ON SALE UNTIL SUNDAY FOR $212 special, 12 bottles available
Wine Advocate 96 points “A delicately sweet note of fresh summer cherry is a precursor to budding complexity and a very articulate bouquet that opens quickly in the glass. Immediately pleasing fruit is a characteristic of the 2017 growing season that had above average temperatures and drought throughout the summer. The resistant 2017 Brunello di Montalcino takes on these challenges without missing a beat. The wine’s celebrated acidity and its small berry nuances remain intact. The tannins are silky and the wine’s flavors fade slowly even after you have taken your last sip.”
James Suckling 96 points “Sweet berry orange peel cedar bark and forest flower aromas follow through to a medium to full body with linear and fine tannins and a crunchy undertone. It?s very subtle and fresh for a 2017. Crisp and vivid. It’s refined and acid-driven. Needs three to four years more to soften. Try after 2026.”

Biondi Santi Tenuta Greppo Riserva, Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2008 750ml
WAS $699, ON SALE UNTIL SUNDAY FOR $649 special, 1 bottles available
Wine Advocate 94 points “The delightful 2008 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is expressive and feminine with crushed chamomile, forest fruit, bramble, tar and licorice. It renders a stirring, melodic performance that plays out slowly but with determination. Drink: 2017-2030.

Biondi Santi Tenuta Greppo Riserva, Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2011 750ml
WAS $459, ON SALE UNTIL SUNDAY FOR $419 special, 13 bottles available
Wine Enthusiast 96 points “Beautifully balanced, this opens with alluring scents of wild berry, rose, baking spice and whiffs of chopped herb. Seamlessly combining ripe fruit and the firm’s trademark finesse, the bright elegantly structured palate delivers juicy wild cherry, crushed raspberry, white pepper and a hint of black tea framed in polished tannins and fresh acidity. It’s already tempting but the best is yet to come. Drink 2021–2031.”

Biondi Santi Tenuta Greppo Riserva, Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2012 750ml
WAS $649, ON SALE UNTIL SUNDAY FOR $599 special, 1 bottles available
Wine Advocate 97 points “You will notice the dedication printed below the label of the wine label. It reads: “Dedicato a Franco Biondi Santi.” Indeed, the Biondi-Santi 2012 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is the last vintage made by the towering father figure of Brunello whom most everyone referred to as the “gentleman of Montalcino.” Il Dottore, as he was also respectfully addressed, died at age 91 in April 2013, and he was very active in the winery as this magnificent wine took shape. This Riserva is a true work of beauty. It is released one year later than usual. The wine reflects the natural heft and power of the 2012 vintage, and it also shows that distinctive open-knit and accessible personality that characterizes this warm and sunny growing season.”

Biondi Santi Tenuta Greppo Riserva, Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2013 750ml
WAS $649, ON SALE UNTIL SUNDAY FOR $599 special, 1 bottles available
Wine Advocate 98 points “The Biondi-Santi 2013 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is a stunning wine from all points of view. Seamless integration and elegant complexity are what stand out, and it’s worth dedicating a few extra lines to the aromatic depth that is put so beautifully on display as the wine slowly unfolds. The bouquet starts off with wild cherry, earth, wet ash, crème de cassis and pruny chocolate. With extra time, there are hints of dried tobacco leaf, sandalwood and mossy forest floor. These lead to a fine tail of dried herb, bay leaf and a touch of rusty nail. Fresh acidity is the glue that gives the wine buoyancy and staying power. At this young stage, this 2013 vintage could be considered a bit shy or slow to start, but this will play out to great advantage in the long term as the wine continues its bottle evolution.”

Biondi Santi Tenuta Greppo Riserva, Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2016 750ml
WAS $749, ON SALE UNTIL SUNDAY FOR $699 special, 6 bottles available
Wine Advocate 99 points “Wow, here is a vintage I’ve been anxiously waiting to try. The 2016 growing season was one of the best in recent memory in Montalcino, and if we look back in time, this vintage marks the year Biondi-Santi was sold to a French group. The prestigious 2016 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva proves a mighty collector’s bottle that will undoubtedly gain in complexity and depth with careful bottle age. The wine offers wild nuances of forest berry and tart cherry, and there are herbal side notes as well as floral tones of dried violet and lilac. The tannins are soft, powdery and feel like they melt away on the palate.”

Biondi Santi Tenuta Greppo Riserva, Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 1983 750ml
WAS $1199, ON SALE UNTIL SUNDAY FOR $1099 special, 1 bottles available
***Winery Cellared Release***
Wine Advocate 96 points “[Reviewed July 2021] This precious bottle is part of Biondi-Santi’s late-release program for collectors (I tasted bottle number 10,723). The 1983 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is showing beautifully on its aging timeline, although this bottle is slightly more evolved since I last tasted this vintage in 2019 before the pandemic. With slow and measured determination, the bouquet embraces dried fig, cured bresaola, burnt caramel, wet campfire, dried oregano and a familiar aroma that reminds me of the Florence leather market. However, there is a lot of life and vertical lift in this Riserva, thanks in great part to the beautiful freshness that keeps the tannins alive and adds a pop of pretty acidity to the close. The wine shows its age with pride and grace, and the final results are quite spectacular. In fact, I’m opening the drinking window up by an additional five years thanks to the latitude and depth shown here.”

Seasonal Treats
Staff Picks
 
It’s that time again… time to stock up on some special bottles to share with your closest friends and family… And what is the staff of Vinopolis recommending this year?
 
Paolo Scavino Barolo Bric Del Fiasc 2017 750ml $79 special, 21 bottles available
“As we move into fall weather, comfort food comes to mind. This 2017 Barolo is really starting to come around and will pair perfectly with braised meats, mushrooms, and other seasonal fare.”
-Justin
 
Paillard Parcelles Bouzy Grand Cru Extra Brut $47.50 special, 28 bottles available
“With the holidays approaching, this makes for the perfect wine. Creamy with hints of brioche, honey, and nectarine. Perfect for your Thanksgiving dinner or enjoyed on its own.”
-Joanna
 
Renardat Fache Cerdon Du Bugey 2020 750ml $24 special, 17 bottles available
“This wine is an autumnal family ritual… one of the rare wines out there that’s both geeky and approachable, as well as a fantastic seasonal pairing wine. This Ancestral Method stunner tastes like tart raspberries and sweet strawberries, with a little toast on the finish. Find me another wine that goes this well with cranberries, turkey, and sweet potatoes… you can’t!”
-Tracy

Featured Winery
Champagne Christophe Mignon
 
These bio-dynamic, primarily Pinot Meunier wines are becoming a cult favorite among Champagne enthusiasts the world over for good reason. As Christophe says, “Our primary quest is the balance between heaven and earth, roots and branches, minerals and fruit, fragrance and flavor.” Lofty ambitions, for sure, but these wines are some of the best Grower Champagnes coming out of the Marne.
 
Christophe Mignon ADN de Meunier Brut Nature NV $55 special, 12 bottles available
Vinous 92 Points “[Review for previous release] The NV Brut Nature Blanc de Noirs ADN de Meunier is powerful and deep from the very first impression. There’s real texture and resonance in the glass. The no dosage style yields a stark, minimalist Champagne, but all the elements are so well-balanced. Dried pear, spice, chamomile and ginger linger. This is such an elegant and precise Champagne. This release is a blend of equal parts 2017 and 2016. No dosage.”
 
Christophe Mignon Millesime Brut Nature 2016 750ml $99 special, 3 bottles available
Winery Note “100% Pinot Meunier. A beautiful shimmering hue, with elegant highlights, delicate and persistent ring of bubbles. Refined nose with iodine notes. Creamy, distinguished and concentrated mouth. Subtle bitterness nice gritty and mineral tension.”
 
Christophe Mignon de Foudre 3 Cepages Brut Nature (2015) 750ml $89 special, 12 bottles available
Winery Note “A proportional blend of Pinot Meunier, Pinot Noir, and Chardonnay. Very clean and delicate nose, with subtle woody notes. Unctuous and round mouth, with toasted almond flavors.”
 
Mignon ADN de Foudre Pinot Noir Brut (2016) 750ml $89 special, 3 bottles available
Winemaker Note “A beautiful shimmering hue, with elegant highlights, delicate and persistent ring of bubbles. Very clean and delicate nose, with subtle woody notes. Powerful mouth with high precision, very fresh with toasted almond flavors.”
 
Close-out Sales
 
Alpha Estate Sauvignon Blanc Greece 2021 750ml WAS $36  NOW $21.90 special, 18 bottles available
Importer Note “100% Sauvignon Blanc grown on the sandy, high-altitude (620-710m ASL) plateau of Amyndeon. Some skin contact, depending on the vintage, followed by fermentation in temperature-controlled steel tank and four months’ of sur-lie aging with regular stirring.”
 
Alzinger Gruner Smaragd Steinertal Loibner 2021 750ml WAS $66  NOW $59 special, 3 bottles available
“The 2021 Ried Steinertal Loibner Grüner Veltliner Smaragd opens with a deep, clear, intense and complex bouquet with ripe pear aromas intertwined with saline notes. Round and elegant on the palate, this is a medium to full-bodied, dense, vital and saline Veltliner from the coolish Steinertal cru that reveals fine and stimulating grippy structure as well as a ripe, intense and aromatic fruit. Impressive again.”
 
Ameztoi Txakolina Rubentis Rosado 2021 750ml WAS $24  NOW $19 special, 36+ bottles available
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.”
 
Domaine Anita Fleurie Beaujolais Les Moriers 2020 750ml WAS $26  NOW $21.90 special, 16 bottles available
James Suckling 93 Points “Stunning black-cherry fruit is married to generous, fine tannins and very lively acidity that lights up this rather bold wine. So many violets and ripe blackberries that this well-structured wine slips down very easily. Quite some allspice character at the long finish. Drink or hold.”
 
Antoniolo Gattinara Vigneto Castelle 2012 750ml WAS $59  NOW $49 special, 6 bottles available
Wine Spectator 93 Points “Balance and expressiveness are the hallmarks of this red. Cherry, tar, menthol, mushroom and mineral flavors are backed by a solid structure as this plays out on the long, tobacco- and mineral-inflected finish. Drink now through 2030. 226 cases made.”
 
Astruc d’A Malbec 2019 750ml WAS $16  NOW $11.90 special, 22 bottles available
Astruc d’A Malbec 2019 Case of 12 750ml bottles WAS $179  NOW $128 special, 5 bottles available
Vinopolnote “Malbec originated in South West France, so is very at home in this environment. A smooth and balanced Malbec from the Limoux area in South West France. Soft, ripe plummy fruit, with hints of smoke and spice. Ripe black cherries and plums come through on the nose. The palate is smooth and silky in texture, with warm layers of black fruits and waves of spice. If you like Argentinian Malbecs you will love this.”
 
Avancia Godello Nobleza VV 2020 750ml WAS $59  NOW $49 special, 14 bottles available
Vinous 94 Points “Pale gold. Intensely perfumed pear nectar and orange zest qualities on the nose; honeysuckle and mineral notes add lift. Juicy, penetrating and sharply focused on the palate, offering concentrated citrus and orchard fruit and floral flavors along with suggestions of salty minerals and bitter quinine. Deftly melds depth and vivacity and finishes extremely long and briny, with outstanding clarity and repeating florality.”
 
Avancia Mencia VV 2019 750ml WAS $31.90  NOW $29 special, 18 bottles available
James Suckling 92 Points “Dark plums, blackcurrants, grilled herbs, roasted coffee and smoked meat on the nose. Medium-to full-bodied with firm, velvety tannins. Smoky, rich and concentrated. Very smooth-textured. Drink or hold.”
 
5 Day Sale– ENDS FRIDAY
Weingut Prinz: From Garage to Greatness


Prinz was originally a “garagiste” or home winemaking operation in 1991, serving as a hobby for owner Fred Prinz. From these humble beginnings he quickly wowed the industry and received an invitation to join the legendary VDP consortium in 2005. The progress has been nothing but stellar with great reviews and 11.5 hectares of bio-dynamically farmed estate vineyards, including multiple “Estes Gewachs” (or Great Growth) vineyards.
 
With a house style that aims for “minerality, elegance, finesse and ageing ability” they reflect the Rheingau perfectly. True story: Prinz is the winery that really got me thinking of Riesling as something more than a handy wine for food pairing. Their whole range of wines has an incredible amount of concentration, with bright fruit flavors and crackling acidity. They are always pulling the palette in different directions but remain focused and harmonious. This kabinett is a fantastic wine with just enough sweetness to complement the brighter tones and deeply structured minerality.
 
Buy any 6-11 bottles for a 5% discount
Buy any 12+ bottles for a 10% discount
 
Prinz Jungfer Riesling Grosses Gewachs 2020 750ml $49 special, 36+ bottles available
Stuart Pigott 97 Points “Very cool and reserved, but with great underplayed power, this is in every sense a very serious wine. Major structure crammed into a sleek package. Stunning depth at the very long, herbal and mineral finish. From organically grown grapes. Drink or hold.”
 
Prinz Jungfer Riesling Spatlese 2019 750ml $34.50 special, 36+ bottles available
Stuart Pigott 97 Points “Give yourself a holiday and forget all your cares! This super fine Spätlese has a stunning floral-honey, white-currant and dried-herb nose. Very succulent and concentrated with super bright acidity that interlocks beautifully. At the very mineral finish it’s almost dry. From organically grown grapes. Drink or hold.”
 
Prinz Hendelberg Riesling Trocken 2020 750ml $28 special, 36+ bottles available
Stuart Pigott 94 Points “Quite funky nose that needs some air to open up, then ripe-quince, apricot and lilac notes develop. Excellent structure behind the ripeness and creaminess, the herbal and mineral notes cascading over the palate at the firm, dry finish. From organically grown grapes.”
 
Prinz Jungfer Riesling Kabinett 2020 750ml $21.90 special, 36+ bottles available
James Suckling 94 Points “A stunning Kabinett that’s brimming with red apple, white peach and pomegranate. Very tense interplay of fruit, racy acidity and mountain-stream freshness. From organically grown grapes. Drink or hold.”
 
Prinz Hallgartener Riesling Trocken 2020 750ml $19.50 special, 36+ bottles available
Stuart Pigott 93 Points “Still a bit closed, but this has serious depth and quite some weight for 12.5% alcohol. Complex mint, tarragon and candied-lime aromas, married to fine tannins and crisp acidity. Intense, but quite austere finish. From organically grown grapes. Drink or hold.”
 
Prinz Hallgartener Wurz Riesling Eiswein 2016 375ml $99 special, 22 bottles available
Mosel Fine Wines 93 Points “It develops a beautifully zesty and fresh nose of candied grapefruit, orange jelly, and spices, joined by riper notes of quince, pear puree, and almond cream after some airing. The wine is superbly balanced and refined on the palate, and leaves a rather pure and smooth feel in the very long and light finish. The sweetness still dominates the acid core in the after-taste at this stage, but this should change after a few years of cellaring. 2024-2036.”
 
Prinz Rheingau Riesling Trocken 2020 750ml $16 special, 36+ bottles available
Stuart Pigott 92 Points “Very cool herbal, reine-claude plum and green-apple nose. Firm and racy with a firm mineral core. Mountain freshness at the finish. From organically grown grapes. Drink or hold. Screw cap.”
 
Prinz Vom Bunten Schiefer Riesling Feinherb 2020 750ml $16 special, 36+ bottles available
Stuart Pigott 92 Points “Very clean, crisp and slatey, this has wonderful brightness and lightness of touch. Sleek and tight with a very dry balance for this (theoretically) medium-dry category. Firm finish that doesn’t let go. From organically grown grapes. Drink or hold. Screw cap.”
 
SALE ENDS @6PM FRIDAY
We’re open 10 AM – 6 PM daily
Thank you from the team at Vinopolis!
Be well & drink well.
 
Browse the 2,900+ wines we offer
online at www.vinopoliswineshop.com or
shop at our convenient NW Glisan and 16th location
in Portland, OR from 10 am – 6 pm daily.
Shop Our Selections By Category:
Champagne * Walla Walla * Brunellos * Oregon Pinot Noir * Rhone Reds * Rosé
And dozens more!

Vinopolis Newsletter– Monday, 9/25/23

 
 In This Newsletter:

New Arrivals
White Walnut Estate, Didier Dagueneau, Arterberry Maresh, Alta Alella, and more!
Recent Reviews
Much Love for Muga
Cab Franc Rocks
5 amazing Cabernet Francs from all over the world
Close-out Sale
Save on top wines from France, Italy, and Germany!
5 Day Sale
Weingut Prinz: From Garage to Greatness
Collector’s Corner
Only The Best Bordeaux
New Arrivals

Oregon

 
“White Walnut Estate, Dundee”

It’s all about the energy. When Chris Mazepink, former winemaker of local favorites Archery Summit, Shea Wine Cellars, and Benton Lane, first encountered the deserted, overgrown Walnut orchard that would soon become his estate, he understood it was a special place. Carefully clearing it of bracken by hand (but leaving the walnut trees untouched) he dedicated himself to biodynamic viticulture and becoming a “conduit of the energies present in the vineyard” in his clonal selections and winemaking.
 
And you will feel it upon tasting it, too! There is liveliness in these wines: the harmony of minerality and acidity plus a helping of uniquely savory and umami notes that stand them out from any line-up of Oregon wines.
 
 It’s Back!  White Walnut Estate Dundee Hills Pinot Noir 2021 750ml $44.50 special, 17 bottles available
Wine Enthusiast 93 Points “Handsome and refined, with notes of fresh violet, black raspberry and black tea that take on structure and density toward medium-grained tannins. Drink now through 2030.”
 
White Walnut Estate Worden Hill Chardonnay 2021 750ml $49 special, 36 bottles available
Wine Enthusiast 95 Points “Such a fresh, mineral-driven nose. The chalk dust, wet stone and saline notes blend effortlessly with lemon, peach and pear aromas. This wine flashes razor-sharp acidity, so be warned butter lovers. Grilled lemon, lemon balm and roasted chestnut flavors bring joy and happiness.”
 
White Walnut Estate North Blocks Chardonnay 2021 750ml $49 special, 36 bottles available
Owen Bargreen 95 Points “The 2021 White Walnut ‘North Block’ Chardonnay comes from this site high atop the Dundee Hills AVA. The nose shows off bright Bartlett pear, cardamom dusted cantaloupe, rock salt encrusted Challah bread and suggestions of stony minerals. The palate is utterly seamless and very soft, as this glides throughout the drinking experience. Deeply concentrated, with its lovely salinity and underlying finesse, this is a stunning new bottling by winemaker Chris Mazepink. Enjoy now and over the next twelve years to come. Drink 2023-2035.”
Wine Enthusiast 93 Points “I could inhale this wine’s lemon gelato and pine needle perfume all the day and all of the night. Then the wine’s Golden Delicious apple and filbert flavors kick in, along with a savory note akin to cold soba noodles with Thai basil. As always with this producer— killer acidity. Enjoy now until 2033.”

“Arterberry Maresh—Library Release”
 
Arterberry Maresh Pinot Noir Weber Vineyard 2018 750ml $69 special, 36+ bottles available
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.”

France

“Domaine Didier Dagueneau”
In an industry that loves tradition, Didier was a risk-taker and iconoclast. The same impulses that led him to fast cars and motorcycles led him to full-contact farming and playing chicken with French Wine bureaucracies. But his renegade approaches to viticulture and winemaking led his wines to cult status and eventually turned his foes to admirers. Today his children contine his legacy, never compromising on Didier’s vision.
 
Dagueneau Les Intouchables 2019 750ml $279 special, 1 bottles available
Dagueneau Pur Sang 2020 750ml $149 special, 2 bottles available
Dagueneau Silex 2019 750ml $179 special, 3 bottles available
Dagueneau Silex 2020 750ml $199 special, 6 bottles available
Dagueneau Sancerre Mont Damnes 2019 750ml $249 special, 1 bottles available

Spain
 
Alta Alella Cava Mirgin Brut Nature 2018 750ml $21.90 special, 24 bottles available
Vinopolnote “Small producer from Spain’s smallest DO, Alella. These family owned wines are also from 100% organically farmed vines.”
Wine Enthusiast “This sparkling wine features a soft smattering of bubbles in the glass. It has aromas of almond toffee, lemon zest and vanilla bean that presage flavors of lemon-lime, Bartlett pear and lavender. A note of coffee bean lingers on the finish.”
Recently Reviewed
 
Bodegas Muga Prado Enea Rioja 2015 750ml $84.80 special, 35 bottles available
Grapelive 95 Points “As a long time Rioja and Muga fan, it is always a pleasure to sample the majestic and luxurious Prado Enea Gran Reserva, which never disappoints and this 2015 with its mature and deep flavor profile easily makes for a spectacular experience, giving the same thrill as you get with a First Growth Bordeaux! The 2015 shows a dense array of fruit, wood, dried rose petal florals and subtle savory/earthy notes on the lush, smooth and opulent palate with blackberry, plum, creamy/candied dark cherry and mulberry fruits, along with mocha, vanilla, sage, cedar, anise, incense, stony loam and pipe tobacco accents. Made from sustainable and organic goblet-trained old vineyards, the Prado Enea is a traditional blend of 80% Tempranillo, plus 20% of other native varietals, including Garnacha, Mazuelo and Graciano, which adds to the complexity here, making for an age worthy and rewarding wine with velvety tannins and incredible length, all on display in this vintage.”
 
The historic vineyards used for Muga’s flagship Prado Enea are always amongst the last to be harvested by [the] winery, richly concentrated from vines set on Calcareous clay based soils at high elevation in the Rioja Alta zone, primarily located in Sajazarra and Villalba de Rioja, on the south-facing foothills of the Montes Obarenes. There is a collision of Continental with Atlantic climates here that influences and balances the structure of these Muga wines, and exceptional care is done to produce wines that are profound, but elegant by nature […] For those wanting one of the world’s great wines, this Prado Enea remains a savvy choice and one I highly recommend, in particular with a hearty and meaty meal.”
-Wine of the Day September 21, 2023
Cab Franc Rocks!
 
 NEW!  Bow & Arrow Cabernet Franc 2021 750ml $29 special, 36 bottles available
Winery Note “So, in 2010 I had an offer for fruit I couldn’t refuse and that began this wild ride. I bootstrapped it for the first few years but today, Bow & Arrow is a full-fledged, subterranean winery located in Northeast Portland. I source my fruit from a small group of reliably outstanding farmers who were willing to take a risk grafting or planting the varieties we needed and to farm them in a way that was aligned with my beliefs. While there is no one “house style,” I embrace a principal of drinkability and low-intervention; a humble word that embodies the spirit of wine drinking we celebrate.
 
Bernard Baudry Chinon Le Domaine Rouge 2019 750ml $24 special, 57 bottles available
Rebecca Gibbs MW “The 2019 Chinon Le Domaine provides excellent concentration of fruit while remaining light on its feet. As well as bright primary fruit, it offers smoky bacon, spice and medicinal characters. There’s lovely sappy texture on the finish, which Baudry puts down to the limestone soils of the Chinon plateau that typically grip the side of the mouth. You can enjoy this in its youth, but it has an additional element of seriousness that means its future will stretch out to the medium term.”
 
Mt Brave Mt Veeder Cabernet Franc 2018 750ml $79 special, 3 bottles available
Jeb Dunnuck 97 Points “Another beautiful wine in this lineup is the 2018 Cabernet Franc, which is 100% varietal and spent 22 months in 80% new French oak. Its deep purple hue is followed by a rich, full-bodied, incredibly layered 2018 offering beautiful cassis and mulberry fruit, notes of tobacco, dried flowers, and chocolate, ultra-fine tannins, no hard edges, and a great finish. This remarkable 2018 should be snatched up by readers, as it represents a smoking value!”

Proprieta Sperino L’Franc Bandit (2016 bottling) 750ml $99 special, 10 bottles available
Vinopolnote “100% Cabernet Franc. Chocolate and earthy notes on the nose, followed by cassis, tobacco and plum flavours on the palate. This elegant, medium-bodied wine is beautifully balanced with supple tannins and a long elegant finish.”
 
Woodward Canyon Cabernet Franc 2020 750ml $41.90 special, 12 bottles available
Owen Bargreen 93 Points “The 2020 ‘Estate’ Cabernet Franc is a beautiful new wine by Woodward Canyon. Black and red florals combine with green herbs, blackberry and shades of roasted plum. The palate is soft and refined with a silky texture and serious length. Showing good weight, this is beautiful Cabernet Franc that will cellar well for another ten plus years. Drink 2022-2032.”
Lowest Price in USA!
 
Close-out Sales

Selbach-Oster Zelt Schlossberg Riesling GG 2019 750ml WAS $44.50  NOW $37.50 special, 33 bottles available
James Suckling 94 Points “This has the mandarin and yeasty aromas from long fermentation, but with some aeration, mirabelle and quince notes develop. A powerful dry wine that retains the classic Mosel vitality and crispness. Long, intense mineral finish. Better from 2021.”
 
Selbach-Oster Zeltinger Schlossberg Riesling Kabinett 2019 750ml $22.50 special, WAS $29  NOW $22.50 bottles available
Wine Advocate 93 Points “The 2019 Zeltinger Schlossberg Riesling Kabinett is pure and flinty on the pure, elegant, terroir-driven nose. Piquant and crystalline on the palate, this is a crunchy and crispy, well-concentrated and nicely phenolic Schlossberg with juicy fruit but a crystalline and refined finish. Very long and stimulatingly salty. Tasted at the domain in September 2020.”
 
Selbach-Oster Zeltinger Sonnenhuhr Riesling Beerenauslese 2018 375ml WAS $79  NOW $69
special, 22 bottles available
Wine Advocate 97 Points “The 2018 Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Riesling Beerenauslese displays an intense but very clear and radiant citrus color in the glass. The nose is concentrated and fresh, with lemon chutney and broken stone aromas. Pure and fresh on the palate, this is a dense, concentrated, rich yet very precise, fresh and elegant BA with a long, crunchy, terroir-driven finish that represents the delicate slate structure of the Sonnenuhr. Still young but not really sweet due to the crystalline acidity structure. Tasted at the domain in September 2020.”
 
Selbach-Oster Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese** 2017 750ml WAS $59  NOW $49 special, 33 bottles available
Wine Advocate 96 Points “From the lower part of the site and made with more botrytis grapes than the regular Auslese, the 2017 Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese ** is clear and elegant on the perfectly ripe, intense and spicy nose. Lush and generous on the mouth-filling palate, this is a vibrantly fresh, salty-piquant and sensual Auslese with remarkable tannin structure and expression. A great, food-friendly wine that should be cellared for 10 to 15 years, even though it already drinks extremely well. Tasted in March 2019.”

Spain

Sierra Cantabria Finca El Bosque Rioja 2019 750ml WAS $139  NOW $119, 12 bottles available
Jeb Dunnuck 98 Points “The 2019 Finca el Bosque is another single vineyard and comes from a site on a deep, gravelly escarpment overlooking the Ebro River. It offers more ripe blue fruits and cassis as well as sappy herbs, flowers, violets, graphite, and chalky minerality. It shows a more elegant, flawlessly balanced, incredibly pure style on the palate, with ultra-fine tannins, wonderful overall balance, and no hard edges. This is pure class. Give bottles 3-4 years in the cellar and enjoy over the following two decades of more.”
 
USA
 
Sine Qua Non The Inaugural Grenache 2003 750ml WAS $3,199  NOW $2,499 special, 1 bottle available
Jeb Dunnuck 100 Points “In addition to these new releases, I was also able to taste through a number of older vintages, including the 2001 Albino, 2006 Hoodoo Man, 2003 The Inaugural, 2004 Ode to E, 1998 E Raised, 2001 On Your Toes, 2005 Nail in My Cranium and 2007 Syrah Dangerous Birds. To say I came away impressed would be an understatement. Anyone who claims this big, rich style can-t age needs to taste these wines. I opted to just list my scores for the older releases as I find Bob-s initial write-ups spot on.”
 
Postmark By Duckhorn Paso Robles Cabernet 2019 750ml WAS $18 NOW $16 special, 36+ bottles available
Wine Enthusiast 91 Points “Fresh and fruity aromas of cherry and strawberry meet with notes of French toast and light herbs on the nose of this bottling. Those juicy fruits come through on the palate as well, with a baked red-cherry flavor that is framed by cigar-box and nutmeg accents.”
 
Cadence Bel Canto Red 2019 WAS $69 NOW $59 special, 18 bottles available
Jeb Dunnuck 96 points “The 2019 Bel Canto is more Cabernet Franc-dominated and includes 17% Merlot. While it doesn’t match the 2018, it’s a beauty offering impressive redcurrant and spiced plum fruits, notes of spicy oak, dried flowers, and leafy herbs, medium to full body, a pure, seamless, gorgeous texture, and ultra-fine tannins. It’s just a stunning Cabernet Franc from Washington State that offers incredible pleasure today given its balance and texture yet will evolve for 20+ years. 290 cases.”
 
Italy
 
Castello Terriccio Lupicaia Toscana IGT 2009 750ml WAS $149  NOW $128 special, 10 bottles available
Wine Advocate  95 Points “Beautifully resonant in the glass, the 2009 Lupicaia is a standout. Sweet red cherries, flowers, mint, anise, savory herbs and spices all ring out in a supple, gracious wine loaded with class. The 2009 needs a few years for some of the contours to soften, but it is a gorgeous wine with tons of personality. This is a decidedly round, sexy Lupicaia that is going to offer plenty of enjoyment over the course of the next fifteen years or so.”
 
Castello Di Volpaia Balifico Toscana IGT 2018 750ml WAS $85  NOW $74.50 special, 26 bottles available
Vinous 96 Points “The 2018 Balifico, Volpaia’s Sangiovese/ Cabernet Sauvignon blend, is fabulous. Rich and inky, the 2018 offers up a compelling mélange of dark berry fruit, dark spice, licorice and espresso. I especially admire the wine’s textural richness. I imagine the 2018 will drink well for many, many years to come. In this tasting it is a total knock-out.”
 
5 Day Sale
Weingut Prinz: From Garage to Greatness

Prinz was originally a “garagiste” or home winemaking operation in 1991, serving as a hobby for owner Fred Prinz. From these humble beginnings he quickly wowed the industry and received an invitation to join the legendary VDP consortium in 2005. The progress has been nothing but stellar with great reviews and 11.5 hectares of bio-dynamically farmed estate vineyards, including multiple “Grosses Gewachs” (or Great Growth) vineyards.
 
With a house style that aims for “minerality, elegance, finesse and ageing ability” they reflect the Rheingau perfectly. True story: Prinz is the winery that really got me thinking of Riesling as something more than a handy wine for food pairing. Their whole range of wines has an incredible amount of concentration, with bright fruit flavors and crackling acidity. They are always pulling the palette in different directions but remain focused and harmonious. This kabinett is a fantastic wine with just enough sweetness to complement the brighter tones and deeply structured minerality.
 
Buy any 6-11 bottles for a 5% discount
Buy any 12+ bottles for a 10% discount
 
Prinz Jungfer Riesling Grosses Gewachs 2020 750ml $49 special, 36+ bottles available
Stuart Pigott 97 Points “Very cool and reserved, but with great underplayed power, this is in every sense a very serious wine. Major structure crammed into a sleek package. Stunning depth at the very long, herbal and mineral finish. From organically grown grapes. Drink or hold.”
 
Prinz Jungfer Riesling Spatlese 2019 750ml $34.50 special, 36+ bottles available
Stuart Pigott 97 Points “Give yourself a holiday and forget all your cares! This super fine Spätlese has a stunning floral-honey, white-currant and dried-herb nose. Very succulent and concentrated with super bright acidity that interlocks beautifully. At the very mineral finish it’s almost dry. From organically grown grapes. Drink or hold.”
 
Prinz Hendelberg Riesling Trocken 2020 750ml $28 special, 36+ bottles available
Stuart Pigott 94 Points “Quite funky nose that needs some air to open up, then ripe-quince, apricot and lilac notes develop. Excellent structure behind the ripeness and creaminess, the herbal and mineral notes cascading over the palate at the firm, dry finish. From organically grown grapes.”
 
Prinz Jungfer Riesling Kabinett 2020 750ml $21.90 special, 36+ bottles available
James Suckling 94 Points “A stunning Kabinett that’s brimming with red apple, white peach and pomegranate. Very tense interplay of fruit, racy acidity and mountain-stream freshness. From organically grown grapes. Drink or hold.”
 
Prinz Hallgartener Riesling Trocken 2020 750ml $19.50 special, 36+ bottles available
Stuart Pigott 93 Points “Still a bit closed, but this has serious depth and quite some weight for 12.5% alcohol. Complex mint, tarragon and candied-lime aromas, married to fine tannins and crisp acidity. Intense, but quite austere finish. From organically grown grapes. Drink or hold.”
 
Prinz Hallgartener Wurz Riesling Eiswein 2016 375ml $99 special, 22 bottles available
Mosel Fine Wines 93 Points “It develops a beautifully zesty and fresh nose of candied grapefruit, orange jelly, and spices, joined by riper notes of quince, pear puree, and almond cream after some airing. The wine is superbly balanced and refined on the palate, and leaves a rather pure and smooth feel in the very long and light finish. The sweetness still dominates the acid core in the after-taste at this stage, but this should change after a few years of cellaring. 2024-2036.”
 
Prinz Rheingau Riesling Trocken 2020 750ml $16 special, 36+ bottles available
Stuart Pigott 92 Points “Very cool herbal, reine-claude plum and green-apple nose. Firm and racy with a firm mineral core. Mountain freshness at the finish. From organically grown grapes. Drink or hold. Screw cap.”
 
Prinz Vom Bunten Schiefer Riesling Feinherb 2020 750ml $16 special, 36+ bottles available
Stuart Pigott 92 Points “Very clean, crisp and slatey, this has wonderful brightness and lightness of touch. Sleek and tight with a very dry balance for this (theoretically) medium-dry category. Firm finish that doesn’t let go. From organically grown grapes. Drink or hold. Screw cap.”
 
SALE ENDS @6PM FRIDAY
Collector’s Corner
Only The Best Bordeaux
 
Angelus Saint Emilion 2016 1.5L $899 special, 12+ bottles available
Wine Enthusiast 100 Points “Top 100 cellar selection in 2019. This is a rich, perfumed wine, with dense tannins and intense layers of black plum and spice. The palate is firmly built yet broadened out by plump dark-fruit tones and honed by a solid, dry core. Drink from 2025.”
Wine Advocate 98+ Points “Sporting a deep garnet-purple color, the 2016 Angélus erupts from the glass with powerful notes of blackberry pie, ripe black cherries and juicy black plums with an undercurrent of star anise, rose petals, chocolate mint, pencil shavings and woodsmoke plus a waft of allspice. The palate is pure decadence. Medium to full-bodied, rich and generously fruited, this wine is by no means heavy—it positively glimmers with freshness and vivacity, lending an ethereal nature to all that richness and power, beautifully framed by velvety tannins and finishing with epic length. The generosity, layers and plushness make for an absolutely DELICIOUS drink right now, but I’d suggest waiting 3-5 more years for the fireworks to really begin.”

Pichon Baron Pauillac 2019 750ml $199 special, 14 bottles available
Wine Advocate 97-100 Points “Very deep purple-black in color, the nose skyrockets from the glass with vibrant scents of freshly crushed blackberries, black raspberries and blackcurrant pastilles followed by perfumed sparks of fragrant earth, clove oil, lilacs, crushed rocks, molten chocolate and cinnamon toast. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is packed with layer upon layer of black fruit, mineral and exotic spices, framed by beautifully ripe, finely-grained tannins and tons of freshness, finishing with a lingering soft-spoken whisper of floral and earth notions. This is an absolutely beguiling expression that is classic Pauillac, and yet it is Pauillac like no other.”

Chateau Leoville Barton St Julien 2019 750ml $119 special, 16 bottles available
Jeb Dunnuck 97 Points – #7 TOP 100 “The flagship 2019 Château Léoville Barton is brilliant, showing both the style of the estate as well as the vintage beautifully. It’s never the biggest or richest wine, yet it has a classic, vibrant, structured style that ages beautifully. Pure cassis, black currants, scorched earth, new leather, and graphite are just some of its nuances, and it’s medium to full-bodied, with a lively spine of acidity, beautiful overall balance, and a great finish. This textbook Léoville Barton demands a decade of bottle age and will keep for 30-40 years.”

Chateau Belair Monange Saint-Emilion 2018 750ml $249 special, 11 bottles available
James Suckling 99 Points “Very intense blackberries, black olives, blueberries and dried flowers. Stony minerality. Even some pine. Full-bodied with superb depth of fruit and ultra fine tannins that are intense and polished. The finish is so long and delivers so much flavor, from wet earth to blackberry again. Seamless palate. Try after 2026.”
 
Chateau Canon St. Emilion 2015 750ml $349 special, 12+ bottles available
James Suckling #1 Wine of the Year
Vinous 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.”
 
Chateau Canon La Gaffeliere St Emilion 2019 750ml $89 special, 6 bottles available
Vinous 97 Points “The 2019 Canon La Gaffelière is utterly fabulous. All the elements come together in a Saint-Émilion that dazzles with its completeness and total sense of balance. Raspberry jam, blood orange, spice, lavender and dried flowers infuse the 2019 with captivating nuance. La Gaffelière is a rich, potent wine that exudes class and pedigree right out of the gate. In a word: superb.”
Jeb Dunnuck 97 Points “The 2019 Château Canon-La-Gaffelière is another brilliantly perfumed wine in the vintage that shines for its complexity, finesse, and nuances. Giving up awesome notes of red and black currants, tobacco, exotic flowers, cedarwood, and loamy earth, it hits the palate with medium to full-bodied richness, beautifully polished, integrated tannins, no hard edges, and a great, great finish. This is serious juice that warrants at least 4-5 years of bottle age and will evolve for 30 to 40 years.”
 
Chateau Leoville Barton St Julien 2019 750ml $119 special, 16 bottles available
Jeb Dunnuck 97 Points – #7 TOP 100 – “The flagship 2019 Château Léoville Barton is brilliant, showing both the style of the estate as well as the vintage beautifully. It’s never the biggest or richest wine, yet it has a classic, vibrant, structured style that ages beautifully. Pure cassis, black currants, scorched earth, new leather, and graphite are just some of its nuances, and it’s medium to full-bodied, with a lively spine of acidity, beautiful overall balance, and a great finish. This textbook Léoville Barton demands a decade of bottle age and will keep for 30-40 years.”
 
Pichon Baron Pauillac 2019 750ml $199 special, 14 bottles available
Inside Bordeaux 98 Points “Highest proportion of Cabernet Sauvignon on record, a reflection of how exceptionally well this grape did in 2019. The aromatics are all-enveloping, powerful and nuanced and totally delicious, drawing you in and refusing to let go. Slate, pencil lead, cassis, damson, layer upon layer of brilliance, if not quite the over-aweing concentration and enveloping character of the 2016. 80% new oak.”
Wine Advocate 97-100 Points “Medium to full-bodied, the palate is packed with layer upon layer of black fruit, mineral and exotic spices, framed by beautifully ripe, finely-grained tannins and tons of freshness, finishing with a lingering soft-spoken whisper of floral and earth notions. This is an absolutely beguiling expression that is classic Pauillac, and yet it is Pauillac like no other.”

Pichon Lalande Pauillac 2019 750ml $249 special, 17 bottles available
Jeb Dunnuck 99 Points “Deep, full-bodied, and pure perfection on the palate, it has this incredible marriage of Latour-like stature and regalness buffered by wonderful, sexy, seamless fruit, which no doubt comes from the higher Merlot content and makes Comtesse de Lalande so singular and unique. It builds slowly with time in the glass and has remarkable purity of fruit, ultra-fine tannins, perfect balance, and a finish that just begs you to pour another glass. It has a seductive, seamless profile that offers pleasure even today (although it needs lots of air to show at its best) yet needs 7-8 years of bottle age to hit the early stages of its prime drink window and will evolve for another 40-50 years if stored properly.”
 
Trotanoy Pomerol 2018 750ml $399 special, 4 bottles available
Jeb Dunnuck 100 Points “Another heavenly Pomerol in the vintage, the 2018 Château Trotanoy checks in as 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc brought up in (I suspect) lots of new French oak (although it’s certainly not apparent). Revealing a dense purple hue as well as a smorgasbord-like bouquet of blackcurrants, dried flowers, cured meats, violets, tobacco, and chocolate, it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a sexy, seductive texture, building yet sweet tannins, and just a rich, concentrated, yet flawless profile on the palate that’s already impossible to resist. Nevertheless, a good 7-8 years of bottle age are warranted, and this magical elixir is going to evolve for 40 years or more.”

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

Vinopolis Newsletter– 9/22/23

 
Special Arrival
 
“Vietti”
Hailing from northern Piedmont, Timorasso has long been thought an interesting native varietal with exceptional aging potential. Ten months in ceramic vessels, stainless steel tanks and large oak casks – on the fine lees, which are kept in suspension with frequent batonnage tame this into a complex and expressive wine worthy of Vietti’s name
 
Vietti Timorasso Derthona Colli Tortonesi 2021 750ml $38 special, 18 bottles available
Jeb Dunnuck 92 Points “A pale straw color, the 2021 Derthona Timorasso is set to be released in May of 2023. It has a savory richness to its aromatics of pine resin, fresh lime flower, and melon and is tangy on the palate, with medium body, saline, the stony texture of wet asphalt, Meyer lemon, and chamomile. It feels very much like a Chenin Blanc, but a fresh style in a warm vintage. It is long on the palate with mineral persistence.”
 
New Arrivals
 
Oregon
 
“Beaux Freres, Newberg”
 
Beaux Freres Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 2021 750ml $69 special, 12 bottles available
Wine Advocate 95 Points “I tasted the 2021 Pinot Noir Willamette Valley about a month after it was bottled, but it doesn’t seem to matter—it bursts from the glass with generous pomegranate, cranberry and raspberry preserves aromas and accents of orange peel, aniseed and tea leaves. The palate is stunning: it strikes a balance between highly concentrated, nuanced fruit and an uplifted, silky structure, and it has a particularly elegant finish.”
Winery Note “Our Willamette Valley cuvée features fruit grown on select vineyard sites in the Northern Willamette Valley. The wines benefit from the same integrity in the winemaking process as our estate wines. The sites are farmed sustainably and managed to very low yields. We age the wines in the same French oak barrels used in our estate bottling, however the percentage of new oak is intentionally lower.  This wine is not fined or filtered.”
 
“Benton Lane, Monroe”
 
Benton Lane First Class Reserve Chardonnay 2019 750ml $24 special, 12 bottles available
Winery Notes “Complex and elegant with bright aromas of unripe tropical green pineapple and mango. The wine reveals notes of dry sweet herbs, grapefruit zest, and white pepper that unfold into flavors of Asian pear, honeysuckle, quince, and ginger. Medium bodied with a balanced palate, creamy mouthfeel, and bright acidity.”
 
Benton Lane Estate Grown Pinot Noir WV 2021 750ml $21.90 special, 24 bottles available
Winery Notes “From the southernmost region of Willamette Valley wine country, And tasty! 750ml of red berry richness.”
 
California
 
Faust “The Pact” Cabernet Sauvignon 2019 750ml $89 special, 8 bottles available
James Suckling 96 Points “Redcurrants and blackcurrants with some violets and crushed earth. Full-bodied with round, creamy tannins. Fine, velvety tannins that are open and grounded. Firm and tight finish. Drinkable now, but better in 2024.”
 
Flowers Chardonnay Sonoma Coast 2021 750ml $33 special, 13 bottles available
James Suckling 93 Points “A linear and tight white with sliced lemon and green apple, as well as hints of honeysuckle. Medium body with a creamy texture and a salty, jasmine undertone to the fruit at the finish. Solid phenolics. Drink now or hold.”
 
Leviathan Proprietary Red California 2020 750ml $28 special, 12 bottles available
James Suckling 93 Points “Lots of black olive, tar and asphalt with black fruit. Medium to full body with firm and linear tannins that run the length of the wine. This is a multi-region blend with a large percent from Sonoma. 56% cabernet sauvignon, 15% merlot, 13% petite syrah, 7% syrah, 5% petit verdot and 4% cabernet franc. Drink or hold.”
 
Champagne 

Guy Larmandier Cramant Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Brut NV 750ml $59 special, 34 bottles available
Importer’s Note “From Chardonnay vines in the Grand Cru village of Cramant. The total absence of any sense of sweetness in this Brut Zéro allows the limestone to take center stage, and it presents in a more piercing and saline manner than in Larmandier’s Brut wines. Despite its relative rigorousness and austerity, however, this is by no means a difficult wine. Rather, it will appeal to those who relish the sort of palpable, intense mineral character Champagne is capable of when made in such a straightforward fashion. Aged 3 years sur lattes.”
 
Italy
 
Brovia Barolo 2019 750ml $69 special, 36 bottles available
Wine Advocate 95 Points “On a shortlist of “Annata” wines to buy from Piedmont this year is the Brovia 2019 Barolo. Made from a blend of fruit from Castiglione Falletto and Serralunga d’Alba, this wine delivers a very sharp and chiseled performance that puts a priority on directness, freshness and length. This pretty wine has a pronounced fruity side and a mineral side, and these two parts converge beautifully. There are hints of dried mint and licorice on the close of this must-have wine.”
 
Renato Ratti Nebbiolo Ochetti 2019 750ml $19 special, 24 bottles available
Wine Advocate 91 Points “Softly pliant and silky, the Renato Ratti 2019 Langhe Nebbiolo Ochetti shows fine and nuanced detailing with lots of genuine and delicate character of the grape. The fruit is subtle in this wine, but the bouquet affords more room to crushed stone, blue flower and powdered licorice. The wine’s finely shaped texture would work next to a simple plate of egg noodles and grated Parmigiano.”
 
France
 
“Domaine Alphonse Mellot, Loire Valley”

Alphonse Mellot Sancerre Blanc La Moussiere 2022 750ml $36 special, 12 bottles available
Winemaker’s Note “La Moussière is the estate’s flagship cuvee, its richness, energy and precision defining the Alphonse Mellot style. This 100% Sauvignon white wine has a floral and fruity nose combining white flowers with citrus fruits, a resplendent golden robe with glints of green, and a lively, refreshing palate.”
 
Alphonse Mellot Sancerre Blanc La Demoiselle 2022 750ml $49 special, 6 bottles available
Not yet reviewed, 2021 review provided for reference
Vinous 92 Points “La Demoisellle is part of the narrow slice of Sancerre vineyards that are planted on clay-flint. The vines tumble towards the Loire to the east of the village, separated from the rest of the appellation’s limestone-based vineyards to the west of the fault line that slices through the area. The 2021 is a crisp, pure style with the flint giving a sense of direction throughout while the mid palate is suffused with a fragrance akin to elderflower, pineapple and pear. Tangy and balanced, it is very attractive in youth for its primary aromas but can evolve.”
 
Alphonse Mellot Sancerre Blanc “Le Paradis” 2022 750ml $79 special, 6 bottles available
Importer’s Note “From a south-facing, 1.4-hectare plot with 55-year-old vines on clayey limestone soils, the 2014 Sancerre Les Paradis is very bright and clear on the nose, displays spicy white and green fruit aromas and lemony flavors. The wine was fermented in conical wooden vats and in oval casks and aged on the fine lees for ten months before it was stored for another six months in vats.”
 
Alphonse Mellot Sancerre Edmond 2020 750ml $99 special, 5 bottles available $99 special, 6 bottles available
Not yet reviewed, 2019 review provided for reference
Wine Advocate 93+ Points “Compared to other whites, Mellot’s 2019 Sancerre Edmond is definitely from another world of thinking and winemaking. The nose indicates a more “natural” approach since it is more generous in its autumn-like fruit aromas (from dry old vines in fact) as well as more oxidative and phenolic. However, as it takes in more air, the purer and finer the wine becomes. The intensity and richness is combined with mineral structure, fine tannins and a sustainability coming from the soils. This wine has enormous energy and is, in the end, a great one and with lots of iodine.”
 
Alphonse Mellot Sancerre Generation XIX 2019 750ml $99 special, 6 bottles available
Not yet reviewed, 2018 review provided for reference
Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate 94 Points “The 2018 Sancerre Génération Dix-Neuf (XIX) opens with a very clear, pure and, given the warm and dry vintage, beautifully fresh and mineral-scented bouquet with flinty and yeasty notes intermingled with white fruit aromas. Generously fruity but also salty, pure and tensioned on the palate, this is a full-bodied and elegant but thrilling 2018 Sancerre with a spectacularly long and iodine-laced finish.”
10 Reds Under $25
 
Saint Cosme Micro-Cosme Grenache-Pinot Noir NV 750ml $13.50 special, 36+ bottles available
Winemaker’s Note “This fusion of Grenache and Pinot Noir delivers aromas and flavors of strawberry, gingerbread, almond, cinnamon and heirloom rose.”
 
Palacio Quemado La Zarcita Extremadura 2018 750ml $16 special, 22 bottles available
Palacio Quemado La Zarcita Extremadura 2018 Case of 12 bottles $199 (That’s $16.58 per bottle) 2 cases available
Vinous 91 Points “Opaque magenta. Red and blue fruit, floral and spice qualities on the expressive nose. Supple and appealingly sweet, offering spice-accented raspberry and boysenberry flavors and a musky hint of licorice. Finishes long and juicy, with repeating florality and gentle tannins adding final grip.”
VinopolNote “A vineyard blend of the rich and dark Port grapes Trincadeira Prieta and Touriga Nacional in addition to Garnacha and Syrah.”
 
Bodega Diaz Bayo Roble Ribera Del Duero 2020 750ml $13.50 special, 36+ bottles
Winery Note “100% Tempranillo, between 900 – 920 meters; vines planted 1960 – 1995 in clayey-calcareous limestone; hand harvested; fermented in temperature controlled stainless steel tanks; aged 8 months in used French and American oak barrels; aged 6 months in bottle.”
 
Castello Di Camigliano Poderuccio 2018 750ml $16 special, 36+ bottles available
Castello Di Camigliano Poderuccio 2018 Case of 12 750ml bottles $175 special, 8 cases available (That’s $14.58 per bottle!)
Castello Di Camigliano Poderuccio 2018 Case of 6 750ml bottles $91.50 special, 4 cases available (That’s $15.25 per bottle!)
Vinopolnote “A blend of 65% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 5% Sangiovese.”
James Suckling 90 Points “Lots of blackberries and tar, together with black-olive character on the nose and palate. Full-bodied and structured. A little raw, but should come around nicely with bottle age. Drink from 2020.”
 
Domaine La Solitude Cotes Du Rhone Rouge 2020 750ml $16 special, 30 bottles available
James Suckling 92 Points “Tons of black-cherry and ripe-blackberry fruit, but not a jot overripe. This is a bold and substantial wine for the appellation, thanks to the healthy dose of soft tannin. Plenty of licorice and spice, plus a hint of tar at the long finish. Carries 14% alcohol effortlessly! A GSM blend of 50% grenache, 40% syrah and 10% Mourvèdre. Drink now.”
 
Chateau Goubau “La Source” Cotes De Castillon 2015 750ml $18 special, 22 bottles available
Chateau Goubau “La Source” Castillon 2015 Case of 6 750ml bottles $99 special, 6 cases available (That’s $16.50 per bottle)
Winery note “The second wine of Chateau Goubau comes from the vineyard parcels facing south and south-west on the slopes bordering the domain’s natural source. Made from a blend of 95% Merlot grapes and 5% Cabernet Franc grapes, the wine is spicy and fresh with aromas of red fruits, plums and spice. On the palate the wine is crunchy and fruity with black fruit flavours and a touch of spice; the finish is lively and appealing. Drink now for next three years.”
 
Bow & Arrow Rhinestones Red 2021 $19 special 750ml 36+ bottles available
Winery Note “To understand Rhinestones we have to talk about the Cheverny region of France’s Loire Valley where, by law, the red wines must be a blend of Gamay and Pinot Noir. The blend is determined by nature and vintage. Aged in a mixture of concrete and old barriques, this wine is the flagship of the Bow & Arrow operation and communicates what we’re about as much as anything we make. Effortlessly drinkable but rewards detective work if you’re in the mood.”
 
Muga El Anden De La Estacion Rioja 2018 750ml $19 special, 19 bottles available
Muga Rioja El Anden La Estacion 2018 750ml Case of 12 750ml bottles $199 special, 5 cases available (That’s $16.58 a bottle!)
Vinous 90 Points “Dark ruby. Ripe red fruits, vanilla and pipe tobacco on the nose, with spice and woodsmoke nuances emerging as the wine stretches out. Gently sweet and supple on the palate, offering juicy cherry liqueur and spicecake flavors braced by a spine of tangy acidity. Smooth tannins add shape and subtle grip to the persistent finish, which leaves a warm red fruit preserve note behind. Drink: 2022-2027.”
 
D’Angelo Aglianico Del Vulture 2019 750ml $21.90 special, 36+ bottles available
WINE SPECTATOR #49 – TOP 100 WINE OF 2022 “Compact and fresh, this medium- to full-bodied red reveals macerated black raspberry fruit accented by notes of dried sage, graphite, fig cake and mineral, with firm, dusty tannins. Let this open in the glass or decant ahead of time. Best from 2023 through 2029. 7,000 cases made, 2,500 cases imported.”
 
Coe Cellars Mission Hill Sangiovese 2020 750ml $24 special, 36 bottles available
STAFF PICK!!!
Vinopolnote “Coe Cellars produces just one wine: a 100% Sangiovese Grosso (the specific clone used in Brunello Di Montalcino) grown exclusively in the Mission Hill Vineyard in Walla Walla. Dedicated to making “as old world of a wine in the New World as possible,” Coe Cellars’ Sangiovese has a ripe cherry profile, with hints of savory dried herbs around the edges, lithe tannins, and a pleasantly tart finish. Blind fold us and we’d swear this is from Tuscany.”
Staff Pick Winery
Domaine Catherine et Claude Marechal

 

Maybe it would be a misnomer to call this Domaine “underrated” when they frequently receive great reviews from magazines like Burgundy Report. Maybe a better way to describe them is “flying under the radar.”
 
These wines are more representative of older-styled Burgundy, so many of the bigger periodicals pay them no mind. But for aficionados in the know, these wines are great and they are an absolute steal.
Volnay and Pommard for under $60? These are price points that have all but evaporated from Burgundy in the recent past.
 
Catherine et Claude Marechal Bourgogne Gravel 2020 750ml $33 special, 11 bottles available
Catherine et Claude Marechal Chorey Beaune 2019 750ml $41.90 special, 9 bottles available
Catherine et Claude Marechal Ladoix 2019 750ml $41.90 special, 12 bottles available
Catherine et Claude Marechal Pommard Chaniere 2017 750ml $59 special, 3 bottles available
Catherine et Claude Marechal Savigny Beaune VV 2017 750ml $49 special, 11 bottles available
Catherine et Claude Marechal Volnay 2019 750ml $59 special, 7 bottles available
 
Close-out Sale

Germany
 
Emrich-Schonleber Fruhtau Riesling Trocken 2020 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 Spatlese Riesling 2018 750ml WAS $41.90 NOW $33 special, 18 bottles available
Vinous 93 Points “Lightly poached pear and white peach gain a welcome bit of brightness from fresh lime, so that an effusively ripe and soothingly creamy Riesling still delivers animation and refreshment. At the same time, there is a sense of lift and delicacy here that goes beyond what was exhibited by this year’s Kabinett, and which perfectly fits the floral perfume that wafts through this wine’s entire performance. A bittersweet hint of cassis and subtle piquancy of fruit pit add counterpoint to the complexly layered, bell-clear finish.”
 
Emrich-Schonleber Halenberg TBA Riesling 2018 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.”
 
Emrich-Schonleber Monzinger Kabinett Riesling 2018 750ml WAS $28  NOW $21.90 special, 17 Bottles available
Vinous 90 Points “This wine’s 10% alcohol is a tip-off not just to its modest level of residual sugar but also to the extreme ripeness of the 2018 vintage, which, as Schönleber acknowledged, represented a challenge to the Kabinett genre. It was picked in the last days of September. It manages in fact to display more than enough delicacy and refreshment to justify its labeling.”
 
Emrich Schonleber Riesling Lenz 2020 750ml WAS $28  NOW $21.90 special, 36 bottles available
Stuart Pigott 93 points “Such a joyful and delicious dry riesling with a tidal wave of stone and citrus fruit, as well as berry and herbal notes. Long, succulent finish that says “drink me!” Drink or hold.”
 
Screaming Eagle The Flight 2019 750ml WAS $1099  NOW $999 special, 5 bottles available
James Suckling 99 Points “Extremely floral and aromatic with violets and lavender throughout. Black olives, too. It’s medium-to full-bodied with firm, very fine-grained tannins that run the length of the wine. Goes on for minutes. A greenish undertone comes out at the end with some spearmint, green tea and green olive. About two-thirds merlot. Best after 2028, but already stunning.”
 
J.H. Selbach Zelt Himmelreich Riesling Kabinett 2019 750ml WAS $18  NOW $14 special, 36+ bottles
VinopolNote “Purchased fruit from the one of the “Grand Cru” vineyards of the Mittelmosel.”
 
Selbach-Oster Bern Badstube Riesling Spatlese 2019 750ml WAS $33  NOW $28 special, 36+ bottles
Wine Advocate 93 Points “The 2019 Bernkasteler Badstube Riesling Spätlese is very clear, pure and flinty on the intense, elegant, crunchy and slatey nose. Salty, piquant and lush on the palate, this is a crystalline, pure and salty Badstube that is juicier and rounder than the 2018. Tasted at the domain in September 2020.”
 
Selbach-Oster Estate Riesling Feinherb 2019 750ml WAS $21.90  NOW $17.50 special, 36+ bottles available
Winery Note “Selbach-Oster Rieslings are not ‘Zeitgeist’-trendy wines that change according to the whims of fashion. Nor are they ‘made’ according to a recipe. Though they are deeply delicious, they do not seek to ‘seduce’ with short-term exotic aromas from specially cultured yeasts, aromatic enzymes or ice-cold fermentations.”
 
Selbach-Oster Zeltinger Schloss Schmitt Auslese 2021 750ml WAS $69  NOW $59 special, 19 bottles available
Wine Advocate 95-96 Points “The 2021 Zeltinger Schlossberg Auslese Schmitt exhibits a very clear, coolish and piquant bouquet with concentrated white (stone) fruit and crushed stone aromas with some hints of caramel. Very delicate and finessed on the palate, this is a piquant and saline, crystalline and playful Auslese in a digestible sweet style. The finish is crunchy, crystalline and slatey, which gives iodine flavors and lots of tension that uplifts the richness of this promising beauty.”
 
Selbach-Oster Zeltinger Riesling Kabinett Trocken 2019 750ml WAS $28  NOW $21.90 special, 36+ bottles available
Mosel Fine Wines 90 Points “The 2019er Zeltinger Riesling Kabinett Trocken comes from Estate holdings mainly in the Himmelreich (90%) as well as Schlossberg (10%). It offers a beautifully refreshing and light nose of white peach, apple, mint, herbs, anise, and spices. The wine develops good presence and the intensity of a Spätlese on the palate and leaves a nicely herbal and spicy feel in the surprisingly assertive but very satisfying finish.”
 
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 bottles 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 2018 750ml WAS $16 NOW $14 special, 36+ bottles available
Vaglio Chacra Malbec 2018 Case of 12 750ml bottles WAS $169 NOW $149 special, 4 bottles 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 2018 750ml WAS $16 NOW $14 special, 36+ bottles available
Vaglio Temple Malbec 2018 Case of 12 750ml WAS $169 NOW $149 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.”
 
Italy
 
Rizzi Barbaresco Riserva Boito 2015 750ml WAS $99  NOW $89 special, 15 bottles available
Wine Enthusiast 96 Points “Cellar Selection. Camphor, pipe tobacco, iris and mature black-skinned fruit aromas shape the nose on this full-bodied red. Delicious and structured, the firm palate delivers succulent black cherry, raspberry and licorice framed in firm, tightly knit but noble tannins. Drink 2023–2030.”
 
Rizzi Barbaresco Nervo 2017 750ml WAS $59  NOW $49 special, 13 bottles available
Wine Enthusiast 95 Points “Rose, violet and perfumed berry aromas lead the nose followed by whiffs of camphor and culinary spice. Full bodied, supremely elegant and surprisingly fresh for the hot vintage, the savory palate delivers ripe Marasca cherry, crushed raspberry, licorice and crushed mint alongside taut, refined tannins. Fresh acidity keeps it impeccably balanced. Drink 2022–2032.”

Salvioni Cerbaiola Brunello Di Montalcino 2017 750ml WAS $199 NOW $159 special, 11 bottles available
Wine Advocate 95 Points “The 2017 Brunello di Montalcino La Cerbaiola grows in intensity in the glass, with delicate aromas that are especially floral and light in character. Instead of blackberry or blackcurrant, this elegant wine delivers cassis and cranberry. Instead of overt spice, you get licorice, balsam herb and camphor ash. The Salvioni house style is ethereal and light, and although that extra vintage ripeness and concentration does register on the palate, farming and winemaking at this estate puts an emphasis on acidity over power or structure. These choices were particularly important in 2017.”
 
Salvioni Cerbaiola Rosso Di Montalcino 2018 750ml WAS $89 NOW $79 special, 23 bottles available
Vinous 93 Points “The 2018 Salvioni Rosso di Montalcino leads off with a zesty, fresh display of Sangiovese fruit, as a mix of cherry and strawberry is complemented by hints of sweet spice, leather and gorgeous exotic florals. On the palate, I’m finding a wonderfully pure expression, focused on ripe red fruits with energizing acids and subtle spice, as pretty inner rose develops toward the close. Hints of fine tannin and minerals mingle throughout the finish, and a staining of black cherry lingers on and on. What a beautiful, feminine, and truly enjoyable vintage for the Salvioni Rosso.”
 
Collector’s Corner
White Burgundy

 

Domaine Dujac Puligny 1er Folatieres 2019 1.5L $599 special, 1 bottle available

 
Domaine Dujac Puligny Montrachet 1er Cru Folatieres 2020 750ml $259 special, 2 bottles available
Domaine Dujac Puligny 1er Cru Folatieres 2020 1.5L $599 special, 1 bottle available
Vinous 90-92 Points “The 2020 Puligny-Montrachet Les Folatières 1er Cru has a nicely detailed bouquet with fine delineation, orange pith and light linen scents developing with time. The palate is well balanced with tangy orange zest on the entry, quite linear and strict with a fresh finish, though it does not quite possess the mineralité of the Combettes.”
 
V. Girardin Quintessence Corton Charlemagne 2017 750ml $219 special, 35 bottles available
Wine Advocate 93+ Points “The 2017 Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru Quintessence de Corton-Charlemagne was one of the most introverted wines in the range when I revisited it from bottle, unwinding to reveal scents of pear, white flowers, confit citrus and a delicate top note of petrol. On the palate, it’s full-bodied, ample and satiny, with a deep and intensely concentrated core, but it’s still very reserved after its recent bottling. Some patience will be in order here, though at maturity, I’m sure my score will look conservative.”
Wine Advocate 93-95 Points “From a single parcel in Aloxe that neighbors one of Domaine Coche-Dury’s, the 2017 Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru Quintessence de Corton-Charlemagne offers up a lovely bouquet of ripe citrus fruit, white flowers and honeycomb. It’s full-bodied, textural and massively concentrated, with a deep and layered mid-palate, succulent acids and a long, expansive finish. This expresses the ampler, more powerful side of Corton-Charlemagne and it’s one of Girardin’s finest 2017s.”
 
Jadot Corton Charlemagne Heretiers 2016 750ml $249 special, 17 bottles available
Wine Enthusiast 96 Points “From vineyards owned by the inheritors of the Louis Jadot estate, this wine has all the power expected from this vineyard. Its density and richness are palpable, even when crispened by a fresh citrus edge. Wood aging adds spice and enhances the aging potential.”
 
Lucien Le Moine Chablis Les Preuses Grand Cru 2016 1.5L $379 special, 1 bottle available
Vinous 92-95 Points “Musky scents of citrus fruits, gardenia, white rose, anise, smoke, fresh herbs and earth. Very dry, rich and thick, but with a remarkably sappy, penetrating quality to its citrus and floral flavors. The extremely slow-building, edge-free finish stains the palate with licorice and menthol. Utterly distinctive grand cru Chablis–but then this bottling has been consistently stunning since its inaugural 2012 vintage.”
 
Lucien Le Moine Chablis Les Preuses Grand Cru 2017 750ml $179 special, 2 bottles available
No reviews for 2017, see 2016 review above for reference.
 
Domaine Leflaive Batard Montrachet 2020 750ml $1,899 special, 1 bottle available

 
Domaine Leflaive Chevalier-Montrachet 2020 750ml $2,499 special, 1 bottle available

 
Marc Colin Batard-Montrachet Grand Cru 2019 750ml $699 special, 1 bottle available

 
Marc Colin Batard-Montrachet Grand Cru 2021 750ml $799 special, 1 bottle available
Wine Advocate 93-95 Points “The 2021 Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru unwinds in the glass with aromas of pear, confit orange, lemon zest, white flowers, crisp green apple and buttery pastry. Full-bodied, satiny and multidimensional, it’s rich but chiseled, with chalky structuring extract and a long, expansive finish.”
 
Marc Colin Montrachet Grand Cru 2020 750ml $1,999 special, 1 bottle available
Jasper Morris-Inside Burgundy 97-99 Points “Two barrels of one year old wood, racked yesterday but not sulphured. Clear noble lemon and lime. I think the racking has brought the bouquet forward: this certainly is more immediately readable than the Bâtard. Sublime, racy with such depth of character, picks out all the best bits of the preceding wines. Nothing super ripe, nothing over tense, just the correct balance at a majestic scale.”
 
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Vinopolis Newsletter – Wednesday 09/20/2023

 In This Newsletter:

New Arrivals
Domaine Alphonse Mellot, Guy Larmandier, and more!
Staff Pick
The most underrated Italian wine veriatal?
Better Know A Wine Region
The Queen of Beaujolais
Close-out Sale
Save on top wines from Italy, France, and Germany!
Collector’s Corner
Pacific Northwest Best
 
Arriving Friday
 
“Domaine Alphonse Mellot, Loire Valley”
One of the oldest producers in Sancerre known for their famed “La Moussière” vineyard. Local records mention the Mellot family in connection with this land dating back to 1513 and it has been passed from father to son ever since… 19 generations of excellence and counting.
 
Alphonse Mellot Sancerre Blanc La Moussiere 2022 750ml $36 special, 12 bottles available
Winemaker’s Note “La Moussière is the estate’s flagship cuvee, its richness, energy and precision defining the Alphonse Mellot style. This 100% Sauvignon white wine has a floral and fruity nose combining white flowers with citrus fruits, a resplendent golden robe with glints of green, and a lively, refreshing palate.”
 
Alphonse Mellot Sancerre Blanc La Demoiselle 2022 750ml $49 special, 6 bottles available
Not yet reviewed, 2021 review provided for reference
Vinous 92 Points “La Demoisellle is part of the narrow slice of Sancerre vineyards that are planted on clay-flint. The vines tumble towards the Loire to the east of the village, separated from the rest of the appellation’s limestone-based vineyards to the west of the fault line that slices through the area. The 2021 is a crisp, pure style with the flint giving a sense of direction throughout while the mid palate is suffused with a fragrance akin to elderflower, pineapple and pear. Tangy and balanced, it is very attractive in youth for its primary aromas but can evolve.”
 
Alphonse Mellot Sancerre Blanc “Le Paradis” 2022 750ml $79 special, 6 bottles available
Importer’s Note “From a south-facing, 1.4-hectare plot with 55-year-old vines on clayey limestone soils, the 2014 Sancerre Les Paradis is very bright and clear on the nose, displays spicy white and green fruit aromas and lemony flavors. The wine was fermented in conical wooden vats and in oval casks and aged on the fine lees for ten months before it was stored for another six months in vats.”
 
Alphonse Mellot Sancerre Edmond 2020 750ml $99 special, 5 bottles available $99 special, 6 bottles available
Not yet reviewed, 2019 review provided for reference
Wine Advocate 93+ Points “Compared to other whites, Mellot’s 2019 Sancerre Edmond is definitely from another world of thinking and winemaking. The nose indicates a more “natural” approach since it is more generous in its autumn-like fruit aromas (from dry old vines in fact) as well as more oxidative and phenolic. However, as it takes in more air, the purer and finer the wine becomes. On the palate, this is a pure and finessed as well as rich and intense Sancerre with a very long and complex finish. I wouldn’t say this is enormously powerful, but it is pretty powerful and truly intense in all dimensions. The intensity and richness is combined with mineral structure, fine tannins and a sustainability coming from the soils. This wine has enormous energy and is, in the end, a great one and with lots of iodine.”
 
Alphonse Mellot Sancerre Generation XIX 2019 750ml $99 special, 6 bottles available
Not yet reviewed, 2018 review provided for reference
Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate 94 Points “The 2018 Sancerre Génération Dix-Neuf (XIX) opens with a very clear, pure and, given the warm and dry vintage, beautifully fresh and mineral-scented bouquet with flinty and yeasty notes intermingled with white fruit aromas. Generously fruity but also salty, pure and tensioned on the palate, this is a full-bodied and elegant but thrilling 2018 Sancerre with a spectacularly long and iodine-laced finish.”
 
New Arrivals

Oregon
 
Bow & Arrow Cabernet Franc 2021 750ml $29 special, 36 bottles available
Vinopolnote “If you don’t know Scott Frank’s wines yet, you are missing out on some the best varietal focused wines at value prices in the market. Specializing in the styles and varietals of the Loire Valley, this cab franc clocks in at 12.5% alcohol and captures the magic of Chinon with Willamette fruit.”

Mellen Meyer Willamette Valley Brut Nature NV 750ml $31.90 special, 24 bottles available
Winery note: 60% Pinot Noir & 40% Chardonnay. Disgorged March 20, 2021. Aged 30 months on the lees. Produced from non-irrigated vines.
 
Austria
 
“Nikolaihof”
The vineyards have essentially been organic since Roman Times, tended by German monks for millennia before they were purchased by the Saah family in the 19th century. The family took Nikolaihof to the next level and converted to Bio-dynamic farming in 1971, making them one of the longest practicing Bio-dynamic wineries in history.
 
Nikolaihof Riesling Federspiel 2021 750ml $39 special, 12 bottles available
Nikolaihof Riesling Steiner Hund 2017 750ml $99 special, 6 bottles available
Nikolaihof Riesling Vom Stein Smaragd 2017 1.5L $169 special, 3 bottles available
Nikolaihof Riesling Vom Stein Smaragd 2017 750ml $79 special, 12 bottles available
 
Arriving September 22nd
 
“Champagne Guy Larmandier”
In the village of Vertus at the southern base of the Cote des Blancs, the Larmandier family has crafted their champagnes since 1982. Since Guy Larmandier’s death, his wife Colette and their two children, Francois and Marie-Helene, have continued business with no alteration in production or quality. Harvests are still conducted manually, the wines are still aged a minimum of 36 months on the lees and all Champagnes for US export are disgorged on order. These memorable and pure Cru champagnes are a love letter to Guy’s vision and dreams.

Guy Larmandier Cramant Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Brut NV 750ml $59 special, 36 bottles available
Importer’s Note “From Chardonnay vines in the Grand Cru village of Cramant. The total absence of any sense of sweetness in this Brut Zéro allows the limestone to take center stage, and it presents in a more piercing and saline manner than in Larmandier’s Brut wines. Despite its relative rigorousness and austerity, however, this is by no means a difficult wine. Rather, it will appeal to those who relish the sort of palpable, intense mineral character Champagne is capable of when made in such a straightforward fashion. Aged 3 years sur lattes.”
 
“Brovia, Piedmont”
 
Brovia Barolo 2019 750ml $69 special, 36 bottles available
Wine Advocate 95 Points “On a shortlist of “Annata” wines to buy from Piedmont this year is the Brovia 2019 Barolo. Made from a blend of fruit from Castiglione Falletto and Serralunga d’Alba, this wine delivers a very sharp and chiseled performance that puts a priority on directness, freshness and length. This pretty wine has a pronounced fruity side and a mineral side, and these two parts converge beautifully. There are hints of dried mint and licorice on the close of this must-have wine.”
 
Staff Pick
Sicily

Giovanni Gurrieri Frappato 2021 750ml $21.90 special, 31 bottles available
“Bright and lively, with vibrant notes of cranberry and wild red fruit. The nose is nuanced with hints of white pepper hiding behind a floral bouquet. Light in tannin and beautifully expressive, this is a lovely introduction to Frappato!”
-Justin
Know A Wine Region
Fleurie

“Fleurie is Central in every way. Good, young Fleurie epitomizes the spirit of the region: the scent is strong, the wine fruity and silky, limpid. A joy to Swallow.”
-Jancis Robinson
 
Known as the “Queen of Beaujolais,” Fleurie (meaning floral) is famed for beautiful medium bodied wines with strong aromas of rose and violet on the nose. Other regions of Beaujolais may create more structured or earthy burgundy-like wines, Fleurie wines are very balanced and crowd-pleasing. They are an excellent place to start if you’re just learning about the region but they are also just fantastic wines to be enjoyed for their own merits.
 
Domaine Anita Fleurie Les Moriers 2020 750ml $24 special, 17 bottles available
James Suckling 93 Points “Stunning black-cherry fruit is married to generous, fine tannins and very lively acidity that lights up this rather bold wine. So many violets and ripe blackberries that this well-structured wine slips down very easily. Quite some allspice character at the long finish.”
 
Domaine Anita Fleurie Poncie 2020 750ml $24 special, 2 bottles available
James Suckling 93 Points “Dense violet and sour-cherry nose with just a hint of licorice. Very fresh and vital with quite a serious tannins structure for a Beaujolais Cru, this is still very young with tremendous energy. Quite dry finish, but in a very positive way, and one that reminds me of wines from cooler locations in the Northern Rhone. Drink or hold.”
 
Anne-Sophie Dubois Fleurie Les Cocottes 2021 750ml $29 special, 12 bottles available
Importer note “Starting with the 2015 vintage, Anne-Sophie has decided to release a different side of her Fleurie. Up until then, all of her Fleuries were 100% destemmed and fermented in a Burgundian-style. In stark contrast to her usual style, she is making Les Cocottes with 100% whole cluster and using carbonic maceration. It is released the spring after the vintage and is intended to be fruit driven and drunk early & often.
 
Anne-Sophie Dubois Fleurie L’Alchimiste 2021 750ml $33 special, 18 bottles available
Anne-Sophie Dubois Fleurie L’Alchimiste 2021 1.5L $79 special, 3 bottles available
Vinous 91 Points “The 2021 Fleurie L’Alchimiste is well-defined and focused on the nose, with blackberry and raspberry fruit as well as a touch of loam and orange rind. Detailed, though never powerful. The palate is medium-bodied, cohesive and smooth with fine-grained tannins. It shows fine precision and a little more depth than the Labourons this year. Lightly spiced on the finish, this is a very endearing Fleurie from Anne-Sophie Dubois.”
 
Jean Foillard Fleurie 2019 750ml $59 special, 2 bottles available
Vinous 94 Points “Dark, bright-rimmed ruby. Incisive, spice-accented red and blue fruit and allspice scents show excellent clarity and pick up floral and smoky mineral flourishes with air. Juicy and alluringly sweet, offering vibrant black raspberry, boysenberry and five-spice powder flavors that deepen through the midpalate. Shows impressive energy and finishes seamless and impressively long, with discreet tannins and a strong echo of juicy red fruit.”
 
Lafarge Vial Fleurie 2020 750ml $49 special, 5 bottles available
 
Lafarge Vial Fleurie Clos Vernay 2020 750ml $49 special, 4 bottles available
 
Close-out Sale
 
Germany
 
Joh. Bapt. Schafer Burg Layer Scloss Spatlese 2015 WAS $59  NOW $49 special, 17 bottles available
Wine Advocate 93 Points “The 2015 Burg Layer Schlossberg Riesling Spätlese was auctioned in Bad Kreuznach in September 2016. Sourced from vines that are less than 30 years old, it opens with a very clear, ripe and almost tropical fruit aroma intertwined with delicate, flinty notes from the reddish/silvery slatey clay soils. This is another reductive styled, racy, piquant and finesse-full Riesling with tropical fruit aromas, some toasted speck and date flavors.”
 
Schafer-Frohlich Felseneck Spatlese Riesling 2017  750ml WAS $39  NOW $33, 24 bottles available
Vinous 93 Points “Elder flower and peony, ripe quince and white peach on the nose presage a lusciously-fruity and profusely floral inner-mouth performance. The feel is glossy but buoyant. The succulent and superbly-concentrated finish remains transparent to floral nuances as well as revealing a shimmering sense of crystalline and flinty stoniness.”
 
Schafer-Frohlich Felsenberg GG Riesling 2017 750ml WAS $79  NOW $69 special, 19 bottles available
John Gilman 96 Points “The 2017 Felsenberg GG is a masterpiece in the making, with the bouquet soaring from the glass in a youthful and very elegant constellation of pink grapefruit, wild yeasts, tart peach, plenty of smokiness, a great base of salty soil tones, dried flowers and a topnote of citrus peel.”
 
Schafer-Frohlich Felseneck Spatlese Goldkapsel 2018 750ml WAS $59  NOW $49 special, 17 bottles available
John Gilman 93+ Points “The 2018 Goldkapsel Spätlese from the Felseneck vineyard was made solely with shriveled golden berries and there is not a trace of botrytis in this beautiful wine this year. The bouquet is nicely youthful at the present time and takes a bit of coaxing to offer up a gorgeous blend of pear, white cherries, wild yeasts, a lovely undertow of salty slate, white flowers and a whisper of upper register smokiness.”
 
Weingut Schatzel Nierstein Riesling Kabinett 2017 WAS $29  NOW $24 special, 20 bottles available
Decanter 92 Points “This Riesling, from red slate soil on ultra-steep, south-facing slopes, ferments and matures in a 670-year-old cellar to produce a floral, fresh and pure vineyard wine, with just 7.5% abv, the 42g/l sugar and 11.5g/l acidity in perfect balance. Quite lovely.”
 
Weingut Schatzel Nierstein Silvaner 2017 WAS $29  NOW $24 special, 15 bottles available
Vinous 90 Points “This legally dry bottling essentially represents the Silvaner from Hipping that served as a major component of Schätzel’s “Naturweiss” cuvée. The nose is subtly inflected by the mineral and cereal notes that subsequently achieve prominence on the palate, but there are also hints of iris and lemon zest.”
 
Weingut Schatzel Pettental Riesling Kabinett S 2017 750ml WAS $79  NOW $69 special, 13 bottles available
Stuart Pigott 95 Points “Forget the rules, pack your bag, grab this bottle and leave your old life behind! Savage mineral beauty, combined with light body and enormous brightness. Drink or hold.”
 
France
 
St Jean du Barroux La Pierre Noire 2015 750ml $33 special, 31 bottles available
No review available, 2014 review  provided for reference
Decanter 96 Points “Lifted loganberry, leaf tea and tarragon. Beautifully mouthcoating, elegant and harmonious, long and svelte, with a tapered finish. Gently perfumed, beautifully balanced. It’s concentrated without over-extraction, combining the elegance of the northern Rhône with the generosity of the south. A beautiful wine.”
 
Vieux Telegraphe CDP La Crau Rouge 2018 1.5L WAS $199 NOW $179, 13 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.”
 
Vieux Telegraphe CDP Telegramme 2019 750ml WAS $49 NOW $45 special, 36+ bottles available
Vieux Telegraphe CDP Telegramme 2019 Case of 12 750ml bottles WAS $519 NOW $499, 2  available
Vinous 93 Points “Deep violet. Ripe, spice-accented dark berry and cherry preserve scents show strong garrigue and floral accents. Pliant in texture and broad in the mouth, offering sappy boysenberry, bitter cherry and floral pastille flavors and a peppery topnote.”
 
Chermette Vissoux Brouilly Pierreux 2018 750ml WAS $29 NOW $24 special, 32 bottles available
Wine Advocate 91 Points “Aromas of raspberries, plums and orange rind preface the 2018 Brouilly Pierreux, a medium to full-bodied, fleshy wine with a satiny attack that segues into a fine-boned, elegantly structured mid-palate, with lively acids and a fragrant, expansive finish.”
 
Chermette Vissoux Saint Amour 2018 750ml WAS $29 NOW $24 special, 25 bottles available
Wine Advocate 92+ Points “The 2018 Saint-Amour Les Champs-Grillés is a serious wine, “not just for Valentine’s Day,” as Jean-Étienne Chermette observes. Revealing attractive notes of raspberries, rose petals and cherries, it’s medium to full-bodied, layered and spicy, with a muscular chassis of fine, powdery tannins.”
 
Domaine Du Tunnel Cornas 2018 750ml WAS $79 NOW $69 special, 31 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.”
 
Italy
 
Vietti Barolo Cerequio 2018 750ml WAS $219 NOW $199 special, 7 bottles available
Vinous 97 Points “The 2018 Barolo Cerequio is a new wine in this range. Soaring aromatics and bright, red-toned fruit give the Cerequio its effusive personality. Nuanced and deep, with tremendous complexity and tons of character, the Cerequio is dazzling. This is everything a great Barolo from Cerequio should be. In other words: textbook. More-over, it’s one of the best wines of this very uneven vintage.”
 
Tua Rita Toscana Giusto di Notri 2015 750ml WAS $79  NOW $69 special, 22 bottles available
James Suckling 96-97 Points ” Best Giusto di Notri ever? Full body, ripe and powerful tannins, as well as beautiful fruit. Chewy yet polished tannins and a lingering finish. This is dense and structured with beautifully polished tannins and plenty of currant and blackberry character. Full body and chewy tannins yet refined and juicy. Lots of Mediterranean herbs with the dark fruit. Blend of mostly cabernet sauvignon with merlot and cabernet franc.”

San Giusto a Rentennano Percarlo Toscana IGT 2016 750ml WAS $199  NOW $179 special, 22 bottles available
Vinous 99 Points “The 2016 Percarlo captures all of the beauty it has always shown in the cellar. Pliant, silky and exceptionally polished, the 2016 simply has it all. Freshly cut flowers, rose petal, mint, spice and blood orange add striking aromatic nuance to a core of brilliant Sangiovese fruit. Powerful and ample, with superb aromatic lift, the 2016 Percarlo is exceptionally beautiful and moving from the very first taste.”
 
Collector’s Corner
Pacific Northwest Best: Top Pinot Noirs of the Willamette Valley

 
Beaux Freres “The Beaux Freres Vineyard” Pinot Noir 2021 750ml $124.95 special, 10 bottles available
Wine Advocate 95+ Points “Medium ruby-purple, the 2021 Pinot Noir The Beaux Frères Vineyard opens slowly on the nose to a core of wild blackberry and blueberry, revealing tones of forest floor, licorice, bitters and floral potpourri as it spends time in the glass. The light-bodied palate is soft and juicy with surprisingly concentrated flavors for its delicate frame, and it has a long, floral finish. This is elegant, expressive and easy to drink!”
 
Bergstrom Estate Pinot Noir 2021 750ml $141.80 special, 4 bottles available
Wine Advocate 94 Points “Pale ruby-purple, the 2021 Pinot Noir Bergström Vineyard segues from gentle flinty tones to scents of raspberry, cranberry, lavender, dried herbs and touches of orange peel. The light-bodied palate is delicate and perfumed with a softly chalky texture, fireworks of fresh acidity and a long, ethereal finish with wafts of floral and citrus. Offer it another 2-3 years in bottle.”
 
Bergstrom Le Pre Du Col Pinot Noir 2021 750ml $114.50 special, 2 bottles available
Wine Advocate 94 Points “Medium ruby, the 2021 Pinot Noir Le Pré du Col Vineyard has pretty scents of raspberry, cranberry, bergamot and mushroom, revealing more aromatic detail as it spends time in the glass. The light-bodied palate is chalky and refreshing with concentrated fruit and loads of botanical and floral accents on the long, layered finish. I love this fragrant, detailed expression!”
 
Caballus Cellars Pinot Noir WV 2014 750ml $79 special, 34 bottles available
Wine Enthusiast  95 Points “Co-winemakers Véronique Drouhin-Boss and Isabelle Dutartre call this “the story of our friendship in a bottle,” and what a fine bottle it is. It’s a full throttle wine, thoroughly expressing the richness and power of the best Oregon Pinot Noirs. Dense and detailed around potent black cherry fruit, it extends itself with lovely threads of toast and coffee, from fermentation with native yeasts, and aging in roughly one-third new French oak”
 
Composition Pinot Noir WV 2021 750ml $89 special, 11 bottles available
Vinopolnote “The Composition Wines are now a project of Bertrand de Villaine. Yes, the de Villaine family that brought us the famed Domaine de Romanee-Conti. The vineyard sits on a south-facing ridge in the southern Eola-Amity Hills AVA. The terroir evokes volcanic soils, cooler temperatures, and an ideal elevation range.”
 
Drouhin Roserock Zephirine Pinot Noir 2021 1.5L $128 special, 4 bottles available
James Suckling 97 Points “Beautifully fragrant notes of cocoa-dusted raspberries and crushed blueberries with dried rose petals, sencha tea, cherry chocolate and crushed rocks. Ground spices, too. It shows both delicacy and power, with a compact and silky feeling to the tannin structure and impressive acidity which carries the freshness and tone through to the finish. Attractive tension of crunchy blue fruit and spices. Drink or hold.”
 
Hope Well Sunday’s Child Pinot Noir 2021 750ml $75 special, 2 bottles available
Mimi Casteel Note “The three children of 2021 were born from a single lot of Pinot noir, a few rows of perfectly ripe fruit from all corners of the vineyard combined into one lot in the field, then separated at birth into three parts before vinification. For me, this was about pulling perfect Pinot Noir ripeness through a prism to see what was on the other side… Sunday’s Child went through a fully traditional Pinot noir maceration, on skins until dryness, and then to barrel to sleep for the next.”
 
Kelley Fox Maresh Vineyard Liminal Pinot Noir 2021 750ml $89 special, 11 bottles available
Winery Note “The Maresh bottling is one I feel very deeply entrained with each year, and more so with each vintage. These vines planted on their own roots in 1970. This time spent each year working in these blocks has changed me. I have the utmost love and respect for these plants of great and sometimes mischievous character.
 
Nicolas Jay Bishop Creek Pinot Noir 2021 750ml $99 special, 2 bottles available
Winemaker Notes “Just a spectacular vintage from this unparalleled, ungrafted old-vine site in the NW corner of the Yamhill-Carlton district. It opens with anise, pencil led and a gamey quality as the dark-colored wine moves slowly around the glass. After further aeration there’s a roasted plum and cassis aroma, then a forest floor freshness emerges with a candied fennel and balsamic element. It’s quite spectacular, there’s a lingering earth quality but as the wine warms there’s the classic Bishop Creek crushed granite and blackberry crumble nuances interwoven with new French oak and dusty river stones. Its distinctive, a wine of nobility with a long finish comprised of minerals and delicious black fruits interlaced a medium-weight, dusty tannin structure.”
 
Nicolas Jay Own Rooted Pinot Noir 2019 750ml $89 special, 3 bottles available
Wine Spectator 94 Points “Floral and savory, this Pinot offers elegance and dimension, with cherry and pomegranate flavors that mingle with orange peel, fresh violet and dusky spice. Finishes with polished tannins.”
 
Zena Crown Slope Pinot Noir Eola Amity 2019 750ml $99 special, 6 bottles available
Wine Spectator 93 Points “Like a brooding teenager, this Pinot has a lot going for it but patience is required. Offers notes of blueberry, stony minerality and forest floor framed by a tannic bite on the finish. Best from 2023 through 2030.”
 
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