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Category Archives: Newsletter Archive
Vinopolis Newsletter – Monday 07/10/2023
| In This Newsletter: Arrivals Dom Perignon, Domaine Drouhin, Felsina, Mt Brave, and more!Staff Pick Coe Cellars SangioveseTop Rose Picks Our Staff Selects Their Favorites Three Day Sale 2021 Roses One Week Sale 2015 BarolosClose Out Sales Savings for Sale! Collector’s Corner The Pride of Piedmont New Arrivals Oregon”Domaine Drouhin”Drouhin Roserock Zephirine Pinot Noir 2021 750ml $59 special, 13 bottles availableJames 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.” Domaine Drouhin Arthur Chardonnay 2021 750ml $37.50 special, 12 bottles available James Suckling 94 Points “This has a beautiful nose of lemon curd, cream, sliced green apples and cardamom buns. Some toasted hazelnuts, too. It’s medium- to full-bodied with a deliciously creamy, gently spicy palate, married with vibrant acidity. Drink or hold.” “The Eyrie”Eyrie Pinot Noir Daphne Vineyard 2019 750ml $77 special, 12 bottles available Wine Advocate 97 Points “The 2019 Pinot Noir Daphne is juicy, highly aromatic and irresistible! Medium ruby, it has pure scents of raspberry and strawberry preserves, tangerine peel, Earl Grey tea leaves, star anise and tar. Light-bodied with powdery tannins and fireworks of fresh acidity, it features perfumed, crunchy red fruit and detailed floral and spice accents that fan across the finish.”California Mt Brave Mt Veeder Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 750ml $89 special, 24 bottles available Vinous 97 Points “The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon from Mt. Brave is fabulous. Inky, rich and explosive, the 2018 possesses tremendous depth and tons of personality. Graphite, blue/purplish fruit, blackberry jam, bittersweet chocolate, sage, lavender, menthol give the 2018 tons of character to match its explosive feel. The brooding, backward wine is going to need quite a bit of time to unwind, but boy is it gorgeous.” Jeb Dunnuck 97 Points “Lots of cassis and black raspberry fruits as well as classic Mount Veeder notes of lavender, violets, bouquet garni, and rocky, mineral-like notes emerge from the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon. A deep, full-bodied mountain Cabernet Sauvignon, it has a plush, layered texture, beautiful tannins, a deep, concentrated mid-palate, and a great finish. Another head-turning wine from this label, it’s a candidate for the best Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon out there at the price point.”France Dom Perignon 2012 750ml $289 special, 5 bottles available Decanter 98 Points “What a magnificent bouquet for this Dom Pérignon 2012! Pastry, a hint of smoke and autolytic notes provide a compelling counterpart to eager yet elegant aromas of citrus (lime, tangerine and kumquat) joined by those of fresh fruit, herbs, liquorice, and menthol. There is even a refreshing note of ivy. The palate is tense, vibrant, and very fresh despite its impressive density, which meets its match with an unending finish. This 2012 incarnates the very essence of Dom Pérignon with such a concentrated degree of intensity, along with a capacity for ageing, that it is surely destined for a second life in a P2 edition.” Vinous 97 Points “The 2012 Dom Pérignon is a dense, powerful wine. I am almost shocked by its vinous intensity and raw, unbridled power. The 2012 reminds me of the 2003, but with more finesse and not quite as pushed. Mildew, rain and frost were challenges and resulted in low yields, something that was further compounded by warm, dry weather that concentrated the fruit even more. Those qualities result in a dense Dom Pérignon endowed with real phenolic intensity. It is one of the most reticent young Doms I can remember tasting, I wouldn’t even think of opening a bottle for at least a few years.” Wine Advocate 96+ Points “The 2012 Dom Pérignon has turned out very well indeed, unwinding in the glass with notes of Anjou pear, smoke, toasted nuts, freshly baked bread and crisp stone fruit. Medium to full-bodied, deep and concentrated, it’s still tightly wound, its incipiently fleshy core of fruit framed by racy acids and chalky grip, complemented by a classy pinpoint mousse. A touch drier and a touch less reductive than the 2008 out of the gates, these two vintages are clearly destined to be compared for some time to come; but at this early stage, my instinct is that the 2012 will have the edge in the long term.”ItalyFelsina Chianti Classico 2020 750ml $26 special, 36 bottles available The Wine Independent 93 Points “The 2020 Felsina Chianti Classico Berardenga has a gentle nose of sweet oak spice with a little pepper, baking spices and some just-ripe cherry. On the palate is has perfumed cherry flavors with a hint of crunchy greenness but also a sharp bitter cherry note. It has lots of gravelly textured, quite drying tannins but it is long on the finish. It is a wine with some class. Alcohol 13.5%. Drink: 2023-2030.” Felsina Chianti Classico Riserva “Rancia” 2019 750ml $49 special, 24 bottles available James Suckling 95 Points “Darker fruit on the nose with walnut, spice box, incense and espresso bean, too. Medium-bodied, firm and structured with polished tannins and a creamy, compact mid-palate. Quality dark oak spice throughout. Long and rich.” Jeb Dunnuck 94 points “Amplified even further is the 2019 Chianti Classico Riserva Rancia, which offers up a musky cologne of cedar, cherry licorice, cracked pepper, and menthol. It is medium to full bodied, with a rich tannin structure, a broad mid-palate, and a long, fragrant finish. This will certainly be a wine that needs time in cellar and will continue to improve over the coming 10-15 years.” Wine Advocate 94 points “An icon wine of Tuscany, the Fèlsina 2019 Chianti Classico Riserva Rancia (with 48,000 bottles made) is distinguished by its special aromatic fingerprint that truly brings us to a sense of place. At its heart, the wine reveals dark fruit and plum. More interesting, however, are the dusty mineral sensations that give so much texture and depth to the Rancia. These aromas can only be found in Sangiovese from the galestro and alberese-rich soils of Chianti Classico. This vintage follows up with sweet tobacco, toasted chestnut and scorched earth. Give this wine more time to flesh out and evolve in the bottle.”Spain Bodegas Muga Rioja Reserva 2018 750ml $28 special, 12 bottles available James Suckling 94 Points “This was the only red that Muga made in 2018, and the wines from the best vineyards went into the blend. In other words, top vineyards were declassified. Medium-bodied with very fine tannins that are caressing and refined. Plenty of subtle berries, chocolate and walnuts. Tempranillo with garnacha, mazuelo and graciano. January 2021 release. Drink or hold.” Jeb Dunnuck 91 Points “The 2018 Muga Reserva is a similar blend and has pretty, slightly fresher notes of darker, almost blue fruits as well as violets, spring flowers, and cedary oak. More medium-bodied on the palate, it shows the fresher, elegant style of the vintage, has beautiful tannins, no hard edges, and outstanding length on the finish.” Wine Spectator 91 Points “A harmonious red, medium-bodied and lightly juicy, layering light, creamy tannins with a pretty range of black cherry reduction, mocha, pomegranate puree and eucalyptus notes. Fresh, focused finish. Tempranillo, Garnacha, Mazuelo and Graciano. Drink now through 2028. 80,000 cases made, 15,000 cases imported.” Re-ArrivalsEyrie Estate Chardonnay 2021 750ml $39 special, 24 bottles available Wine Advocate 96 Points “The 2021 Chardonnay Estate offers exotic aromas of ripe peaches, honey, pie crust, tangerine oil and musky floral perfume. The medium-bodied palate is satiny and expansive with an impressively concentrated core of spicy fruit. Its broad, mouth-coating texture is balanced by fireworks of fresh acidity, and it has a long, spicy finish with flavor that goes on and on.” Eyrie Estate Pinot Gris 2021 750ml $24 special, 12 bottles available Winery Note “The desire to stay true to place and limit our impact on nature educates Eyrie’s viticulture and winemaking practices. In the winery, we refrain from unnecessarily manipulating the wines during their fermentation and maturation, allowing them to reflect the vintage. When Alsatian clones of Pinot blanc became available in Oregon, a small test plot was planted in Eyrie’s Sisters Vineyard. The block was doubled in the late 1990s. The crop is picked by hand, destemmed, pressed, and run to small stainless steel tanks to ferment and age. We take a slow approach; our Pinot blanc ages 3-4 times longer than most commercial versions before bottling.” Eyrie Pinot Blanc 2021 750ml $31.90 special, 12 bottles available Winery Note When Alsatian clones of Pinot blanc became available in Oregon, a small test plot was planted in Eyrie’s Sisters Vineyard. The block was doubled in the late 1990s. The crop is picked by hand, destemmed, pressed, and run to small stainless steel tanks to ferment and age. We take a slow approach; our Pinot blanc ages 3-4 times longer than most commercial versions before bottling.  Staff PickWalla Walla  Coe Cellars Mission Hill Sangiovese 2020 750ml $24 special, 24 bottles available“The biggest problem I’ve had with domestic Sangiovese I’ve tried in the past has been the treatment. New French Oak and hardcore maceration can make this fantastic grape taste like just another miscellaneous merlot/cab blend… but this wine is different. Coe Cellars is making this single vineyard, 100% Sangiovese Grosso bottling that actually tastes like Tuscany. It has the tart cherry, dried herbs around the edges, and lithe tannins you’d expect from an old world expression of Sangiovese. This is a perfect wine for pizzas, grilled meats, or your favorite ragu.” Top Rosé Picks Staff Favorites Collotte Marsannay Rosé 2022 750ml $21.90 special, 28 bottles available NOT YET REVIEWED, 2021 REVIEW INCLUDED FOR CONTEXT Vinous 91 points “Vivid orange-pink. Fresh red berries, candied rose and a dusty mineral nuance on the fragrant nose. Gently chewy and tightly wound on entry, then more fleshy in the mid- palate, displaying juicy cherry and tangerine flavors that turn sweeter on the back half. The floral note repeats on a long, focused finish that leaves a refreshingly bitter suggestion of cherry pit behind.” Manissy Tavel Tete De Cuvee Rosé 2021 750ml $26 special, 21 bottles available Winery Note “Over 100 years old, the Tête de Cuvée was the first wine to be made by the Château starting in 1915 by the Brothers of the Holy Family and is still made in the traditional way; Grapes are destemmed, crushed and cold-soaked for 24-48 hours before pressing, native yeast fermentation for 15 days. Aged in 225-litre barrels for 12 months. Rich and complex, this unusual cuvee develops flavours of candied fruit and spices. Delicious flavours, excellent length.” Clos Cibonne Tibouren Provence Rosé Tradition 2021 $39 special, 7 bottles available Wine Spectator 91 Points “Rich and full, this intensely savory rosé is texturally very pure and integrated, with a beguiling mix of sea salt–coated pink grapefruit, rose petal and tangerine flavors. Notes of chamomile tea and a green herbal thread add complexity through the succulent, penetrating finish. Tibouren and Grenache” 3 DAY SALE2021 RosesBuy 6-11 bottles for a 5% discount* Buy 12+ bottles for a 10% discount Von Winning Pinot Noir Rose Pfalz 2021 750ml $18.50 special, 11 bottles available Skurnik Wines Note “A 100% Pinot Noir Rose from Pfalz. Bright and lively fruit notes and acidity. St Damien Gigondas Rose 2021 750ml $28 special, 35 bottles available Wine Advocate “The medium salmon-hued 2021 Gigondas Rose features scents of pink grapefruit, guava and melon. A blend of 50% Cinsault, 30% Mourvèdre and 20% Grenache, it’s medium-bodied, with a lovely, silky texture and a long finish that echoes of crushed stone and paraffin.” Chateau Soucherie Rose De Loire L’astree 2021 750ml $26 special, 17 bottles available Rosenthal Wine Merchant Importer Note “This dry, mineral-driven Rosé is produced from Grolleau (70%) and Gamay (30%). The vines are planted to clay, sandstone and schist soils. The wine is a product of the direct press method of vinification and the elevage is in cuve with bottling occurring usually in April of the spring following harvest.” Chateau Pradeaux Bandol Rose 2021 750ml $36.50 special, 28 bottles available Wine Advocate ” …the 2021 Bandol Rose nevertheless showed exceptional promise in my blind tasting. A blend of 80% Mourvèdre and 20% Cinsault, it’s a coppery flamingo-pink in color, with more extraction and tannin than your typical Bandol rosé. It’s round and ripe on the palate, medium to full-bodied, with cherry and lime notes and a long, softly dusty finish.” Peyrassol Le Clos Peyrassol Rose 2021 750ml $69 special, 33 bottles available Vinous 94 Points “Vivid onion skin color. A highly perfumed and complex bouquet evokes fresh citrus and pit fruits, strawberry and pungent flowers, along with building mineral and succulent herb elements. Shows excellent clarity and depth to its juicy red fruit, nectarine and mango flavors, which are sweetened by a background of vanilla note. Finishes impressively long and silky, with the mineral and floral note resonating. “ Chateau Peyrassol Provence Rose 2021 750ml $38 special, 57 bottles available Vinous 92 Points “Translucent orange. White peach, strawberry, mango and a touch of honey on the highly fragrant nose. Offers fleshy red berry and pith fruit flavors, along with hints of lavender, fennel and orange zest. Closes long, smooth and gently spicy, with the peach and floral notes repeating.” Domaines Ott Chateau Romassan Bandol Rose 2021 750ml $54.50 special, 20 bottles available Wine & Spirits 96 Points “Chateau Romassan sits at the foot of the hilltop village Le Castellet, a few miles north of the Bay of Bandol. The Otts rely on mourvedre for the bulk of their rose, this one includes 30 percent cinsault and 15 percent grenache), and, thought 2021 was another hot summer here, Romassan’s poor limestone and sandstone soils produced a deeply savory wine. This pale Bandol seems to have inhaled the local scrubland and seaside breezes, presenting that savory edge alongside husk cherry, grapefruit and pale melon flavors. Firm and versatile, it would pair nicely with anything from bouillabaisse to a Nicoise salad; or take it abroad alongside chicken yakitori.” Domaines Ott By Ott Cotes Provence Rose 2021 750ml $21.90 special, 36+ bottles available Wine Advocate “Call it a down year if you must, but the 2021 Cotes de Provence Rose Chateau de Selle remains one of the region’s top wines. Scents of tangerine, peach, crushed stone and lime zest mark the nose, while the medium-bodied palate is plump and juicy, finishing long and layered. The assemblage this year is 55% Grenache, 30% Cinsault, 10% Mourvèdre and 5% Syrah.” Gobelsburg Cistercien Rose Kamptal 2021 750ml $18 special, 21 bottles available Winery note “Rosé on the estate is not seen as a secondary product to red wine. So we are not doing ‘saignée’ in order to concentrate the reds, but we are working our vineyards in order to get the perfect Gobelsburg Rosé–style, which is somehow closer to a white wine than towards a red wine style. We are seeking a nice and elegant aroma, fresh and lean texture and a acidity for pure drinking pleasure.” Domaine Cassagnoles Gascogne Rose 2021 750ml $11.90 special, 22 bottles available Importer note “Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon grown on clay and limestone soils. Average vine age is 19 years old.” Burlotto Elatis Vino Rosato 2021 750ml $24 special, 30 bottles available Vinous The nose shows ripe honeydew and crushed yellow apple with sweet herbs and smoky minerals. On the palate, the 2019 Burlotto Elatis Rosato coasts with ease. It is cool-toned and riding a core of vibrant acids, minerals, and citrus-tinged fruits. The finish is long, buzzing with energy, and just begging for another sip. This is a unique and wonderfully stimulating blend of 60% Pelaverga, 35% Nebbiolo and 5% Barbera.” Beurer Rose Trocken Wurttemberg, Germany 2021 750ml $20.90 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.” Bagnol Cassis Rose 2021 750ml $33 special, 36 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%). Ameztoi Txakolina Rubentis Rosado 2021 750ml $21.90 special, 36+ bottles available Vinous “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.” Also Featuring PRADEUX, MOURAT, BECKHAM ESTATE, FALKENSTEINWant To See All Our Remaining 2021 Roses? Click here!*Sale ends Wednesday @6 pm. Discount will not display online, we will adjust your invoice before charging your card. All Week Sale2015 Barolos: These beauties Are Just Starting to Hit Their PrimeBuy 6-11 bottles for a 5% discount* Buy 12+ bottles for a 10% discountElvio Cogno Barolo Ravera Bricco Pernice 2015 750ml $99 special 36+ bottles available Wine Enthusiast 97 Points “Cellar Selection. Enticing scents of rose, iris, perfumed berry and an earthy whiff of truffle shape the fragrant nose on this dazzling wine. The delicious, full-bodied palate boasts structure and a weightless elegance, delivering juicy Marasca cherry, cherry compote, cinnamon and star anise. Taut polished tannins and fresh acidity provide balance and an elegant structure. It’s already irresistible but will also age well for years.” Brovia Barolo Villero 2015 750ml $88 special, 11 bottles available Brovia Barolo Villero 2015 1.5L $199 special, 5 magnum bottles available Wine Advocate 94 Points “The 2015 Barolo Villero offers richness and darkness with fruit from Castiglione Falletto, and it’s one of the more intense wines I tasted within this selection. The Villero is a balanced and polished Barolo that opens to nicely integrated fruit and spice tones, expertly interwoven and united. The wine has a beautiful entry to the palate. Indeed, this pretty wine presented a united front, with seamless and graceful integration.” Bruna Grimaldi Barolo Badarina 2015 750ml $45 special, 12 bottles available Wine Advocate 93+ Points “This wine has already evolved to show some tar and savory aromas. The 2015 Barolo Badarina offers pretty color saturation with linear and fresh lines of plum, black fruit, dark spice and tilled earth. The wine delivers much of the heft and power promised by this Badarina cru in Serralunga d’Alba. If you’re looking for a Barolo vintage to pair with a rich meat like liver or game, this could be the one. This is Bruna Grimaldi’s flagship Barolo, as her mother was born in Badarina and this site has always had special meaning to her family.” Marcarini Barolo Brunate 2015 750ml $69 special, 26 bottles available Wine Enthusiast 96 Points “From one of the most celebrated vineyards in the denomination, this stunning red opens with enticing scents of rose, camphor, aromatic herbs and a whiff of sandalwood. The succulent, elegant palate delivers juicy Marasca cherry, crushed pomegranate, licorice and sweet tobacco framed by taut, polished tannins. It’s nicely balanced by fresh acidity.” Pecchenino Barolo Bussia 2015 750ml $69 special, 18 bottles available Vinous 93 Points “The 2015 Barolo Bussia is a very pretty, effusive wine that will drink well right out of the gate. Spice and floral notes open first. Silky and pliant, with lovely depth, the 2015 is so expressive today. Fine mineral notes extend the finish effortlessly while adding freshness and cut to balance the open-knit fruit. Readers looking for a Barolo to drink now will find so much to admire in the 2015 Bussia.”Also Featuring MAURO MOLINO, LA SPINETTA, GAJA CONTEISA, LAPO BERTI, PAOLO SCAVINO, E. PIRA Want to Browse all of our 2015 Barolos? Click here!*Sale ends Friday July 14th @6 pm.Discount will not display online, we will adjust your invoice before charging your card. Magnum and 750ml bottles ship seperately, additional shipping charges apply.Close Out Sales Savings for Sale! Waris-Hubert Blanche Bdb Millesime Extra Brut 2012 750ml WAS $79 Now $69 special, 23 bottles available Importer note “To the eye, a luminous champagne, wrapped in a yellow robe with pronounced golden highlights. The first scents encompass the universe of herbal and garrigue flowers like lime blossom, eucalyptus and mint. Then, they give way to exotic fruits: pineapple, lychee and mango. On the palate the wine is tender and voluptuous. This gives it a silky, full-bodied dimension, thanks to yellow peach and apricot flavors. It is a profound wine with fine harmony and perfect balance. The heady complexity of the 2012 vintage is perfectly expressed in this 2012 Blanche Millésime Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs from Waris-Hubert.”$85 ELSEWHERE IN THE USA Waris-Hubert Grand Cru Bdb Brut Albescent NV 750ml WAS $59 Now $49 special, 19 bottles available Importer Note “It has the finesse and exceptional potential of the Chardonnay Grand Cru of Côte des Blancs. To the eye, a pale golden robe with discrete green highlights. The wine’s aromas announce its extreme purity, airy dimension and elegance. Timid at first. Then hazelnut and almond characterize the rich, creamy dimension of this cuvee. The mouthfeel is just as elegant as the aromas: one begins with lemon zest and white fruits’ aromas and tastes. Chrystalline, with barley sugar accents, it highlights our preferred grape variety, Chardonnay. An excellent dinner and aperitif wine.” Waris-Hubert Grand Cru Bdb Lilayle NV 750ml WAS $59 Now $49 special, 20 bottles available Importer note: “Pale golden colour with intense glints of emerald green. Fine and lively effervescence; lasting beads of bubbles. The aromas are elegant and expressive with a floral and springlike tone. Notes of lime blossom, mint and freshly mown grass develop, which evolve to white fruit and fresh Mirabelle plum. The scent of Viennese pastries and brioche fill the senses. The palate is full and with a rich attack. Firm and powerful. Dense in the evolution phase with lively lemon flavors, complimented by minerality and hints of wild citrus fruits. It’s the purity, and elegance of the chardonnay grand cru of the Côte des Blancs. Elegant and expressive.”Isole E Olena Chianti Classico Gran Selezione 2015 WAS $89 NOW $79, 6 bottles Vinous 96+ Points “The 2015 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione, essentially a selection of the best barrels of Cepparello, is a gorgeous wine. More than anything, the 2015 is remarkable considering the challenges of a growing season in which rain during harvest created significant challenges. Nevertheless, Paolo De Marchi coaxed all of the potential out of his vines in 2015, adding a good dollop of Petit Verdot to the Sangiovese in crafting the Gran Selezione. Dense, powerful and beautifully textured, with intense underpinnings of saline minerality. The 2015 has a brilliant future, but it won’t see the light until fall 2020 at the very earliest.” Caiarossa Aria Di Caiarossa Toscana 2015 750ml WAS $33 NOW $29, 45 bottles available Wine Advocate 92 Points “The selection of grapes in this blend has changed a bit, with much younger vines of Syrah, older Alicante vines, filled out by Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. The 2015 Aria di Caiarossa goes through 20% new oak and shows a nice richness and velvety mouthfeel. It is immediate and exuberant and a bit sweeter than past vintages.” Daniel-Etienne Defaix Chablis Les Lys 2006 750ml WAS $59 Now $49 special, 6 bottles available Advocate 94 Points “The 2006 Chablis 1er Cru Les Lys is showing beautifully, offering up inviting aromas of pear, honeycomb, mandarin oil, warm bread and oyster shell. Medium to full-bodied, satiny and incisive, with an enveloping core of fruit, racy acids and a long, saline finish, it’s fleshy but controlled, with more texture than the Côte de Léchet and more structure than the Vaillons.” Daniel-Etienne Defaix Chablis Vaillons 2008 750ml WAS $59 $49 special, 6 bottles available Wine Advocate 94 Points “The 2008 Chablis 1er Cru Vaillon is a brilliant wine from Defaix. Unwinding in the glass with scents of citrus oil, drawn butter, clear honey and oyster shell, it’s medium to full-bodied, racy and chiseled, with a deep core of fruit, tangy acids and a long, saline finish. It’s already sold out at the domaine, but readers may be able to find bottles circulating on the marketplace.” Caiarossa Toscana Rosso 2016 750ml WAS $66 NOW $59 special, 26 bottles available Wine Advocate 96 Points “The 2016 Caiarossa will be released in September. This wine is a blend of seven grapes—42% Cabernet Franc, 25% Merlot, 15.5% Syrah, 6% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Petit Verdot, 4.5% Sangiovese and 1% Alicante. This vintage sees a slightly higher percentage of Cabernet Franc than usual, but I am told that the 2018 edition will see more Syrah instead. The bouquet presents a beautiful first wave of dark fruit that pushes the limits of ripeness but remains safely within the realm of elegance. The aromas are balanced and focused with blackberry, cassis, and light touches of salty or rusty mineral. The wine is not too constructed or big in the mouth, rather is shows a delicate level of elegances that absolutely seals the deal.” Cantina Del Pino Barbaresco Ovello 2017 750ml WAS $59 NOW $49 special, 23 bottles available Wine Advocate 94+ Points “Considering the untimely passing of Renato Vacca in March of 2020, there is a lot of emotion coming back to this wine: It has always been an expression of Barbaresco nostalgia and romanticism, even when its creator was alive and well, working in these vines located directly under his family house. The Cantina del Pino 2017 Barbaresco Ovello bears his winemaking imprint with balance and elegance that never misses a beat. This vintage offers more density and concentration for sure, and the positioning of the Ovello cru overlooking the Tanaro River Valley sets the wine up for open-knit characteristics and suave softness. Those impressions are amplified in this vintage but are not overblown.” Luigi Baudana Barolo Baudana 2017 750ml WAS $79 NOW $69 special, 16 bottles available Wine Enthusiast 96 Points “Balsamic aromas of camphor and cedar mingle with rose and leather on this full-boded, savory red. Structured and delicious, the juicy palate is still youthfully austere, delivering ripe Marasca cherry, crushed raspberry, baking spice and licorice framed in noble tannins before a black tea finish.” Luigi Baudana Barolo Baudana 2018 750ml WAS 84.50 NOW $69 special, 17 bottles available Wine Advocate 94 Points “With fruit from Serralunga d’Alba, the 2018 Barolo Baudana is a very different wine when compared to the other single-vineyard expressions from this estate. This has to do with site and soil, and in the case of this celebrated subzone, the wines are always more powerful, more structured and mineral-driven. Dark fruit is followed by rusty notes of iron ore and crushed clay. This wine offers good substance both in terms of finish and texture. Cascina Adelaide does a great job with the Baudana.” Luigi Baudana Barolo Cerretta 2018 750ml WAS $79 NOW $69 special, 18 bottles available Vinous 93 Points “The 2018 Barolo Cerretta is a potent, searing wine, its mid-weight structure notwithstanding. Scorching tannins wrap around a core of dark red/black fruit, gravel, smoke, crushed rocks, menthol, licorice and game. The 2018 is going to need a number of years to come around and for those formidable tannins to soften.” Luigi Baudana Barolo Serralunga 2018 750ml WAS $59 NOW $51.50 special, 21 bottles available Vinous 91 Points “The 2018 Barolo del Comune di Serralunga d’Alba is redolent of savory and ferrous notes woven into a core of dried red cherry fruit. Spice, mint and tobacco develop later, adding pretty shades of nuance. Readers will find a super-classic Serralunga Barolo, but one that won’t need more than a few years to be at its best.” Mastrojanni Brunello Vigna Loreto 2015 750ml WAS $125 NOW $115 special, 23 bottles available Wine Advocate 96 Points “The Mastrojanni 2015 Brunello di Montalcino Vigna Loreto shows a creamy and robust constitution with loads of black fruit and spice. If you are looking for a soft and more contemporary expression of Sangiovese, this will fit the bill. It offers profound richness and texture that is laced with black fruit, spice and tobacco. This wine moves one step beyond the comforting boundaries of Brunello in terms of both richness and extraction. If you are going to go big, you might as well do so in style. Only 8,000 bottles were released in January 2020.” Vinous 96 Points “Mastrojanni’s 2015 Brunello di Montalcino Vigna Loreto shows depths of dusty red berry fruit and subtle spice, with minty herbs, crushed stone, sweet tobacco and the slightest hint of animal musk, all in a remarkably pretty expression. On the palate, I find silky textures with cool-toned red fruits, savory spice, saline-minerals, and energizing acidity, in an expression that is both polished yet also firmly rooted in the earth, as it glides effortlessly across the senses. The finish is long, showing ripe red fruits, salty-savory-minerals, leather, and wonderfully balanced tannins. It is so pleasurable already, yet full of potential.” Wine Spectator 95 Points “Expressive aromas of strawberry, black cherry, black currant and rose are the hallmarks of this elegant Brunello. Though firm and slightly lean, this is balanced and possesses the requisite ripe fruit to match the dusty tannins. Lively acidity helps to keep this focused. Offers a long, mineral-tinged aftertaste. Best from 2023 through 2042.” Rampolla Sammarco Toscana IGT 2017 750ml WAS $69 NOW $59 special, 20 bottles available James Suckling 98 Points “Such beautiful balance and refinement to this legendary red with cherries, chocolate, walnuts, hazelnuts and autumn leaves. It’s medium to full-bodied with wonderful, creamy tannins and a persistent and complete finish. Better than the exquisite 2015? A blend of cabernet sauvignon, sangiovese and merlot. Needs three to four years to show all it has. Definitely one for the cellar.” Wine Enthusiast 96 Points “A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Sangiovese and Merlot, this delicious, juicy red offers inviting aromas of new leather, blue flower, ripe black-skinned fruit and grilled herb. On the smooth, savory palate, tightly knit, fine-grained tannins seamlessly support fleshy black cherry, raspberry compote, licorice and tobacco before closing on a mocha note. Drink through 2029.” Matrot Blagny La Piece Sous Le Bois 1er 2018 750ml WAS $79NOW $69 special, 12 bottles available Wine & Spirits 93 Points “This pinot noir grows in the same block as the chardonnay vines for Matrot’s Meursault-Blagny 1er Cru, high up the hill, at the border with Puligny. The thin soils leave the vines in close contact with limestone, providing a wine with buzzing energy and a delicate frame. This is a beautiful, old-fashioned Burgundy, its scent parallel to equally old-fashioned roses, its sleek raspberry and black-cherry flavors lasting with textural grace. The silken weave draws you into a wine that fells completely integrated, lovely to drink now and over the next five years.” Merkelbach Kinheimer Rosenberg Auslese #1 2018 WAS $33 NOW $29 special, 31 bottles available John Gilman 93 Points “The 2018 Rosenberg Auslese AP #1 from Alfred and Rolf Merkelbach is a beautiful wine in the making. The complex nose offers up a constellation of passion fruit, a hint of the yellow plum to come, incipient notes of honeycomb, salty minerality, violets, lavender and a gentle glaze of very clean botrytis. On the palate the wine is fullish, pure and nascently complex, with a lovely core of fruit, fine mineral undertow, bright acids and lovely length and grip on perfectly balanced and very promising finish. I have the impression this was made from very lightly botrytized fruit. It will want some bottle age before it really starts to blossom, but it will be a lovely bottle when it start to get rolling!” Merkelbach Kinheimer Rosenberg Auslese #12 2018 WAS$33 NOW $29 special, 27 bottles available John Gilman 93+ Points “The AP #12 Rosenberg Auslese is a bit more glazed in personality than the AP #1 version, but it is really a pristine coating of botrytis and one could not ask for better! The beautiful bouquet wafts from the glass in a blend of pear, white grape, lavender, violets, bee pollen, a lovely touch of minerality and a whiff of apple blossoms in the upper register. On the palate the wine is vibrant, fullish and complex, with zesty acids, excellent focus and grip, a superb core and a very long, filigreed and extremely classy finish. This is a beautiful wine in the making.”We’ve marked down select wines from top brands like BORGOGNO, CONTERNO, GUY CHARLEMAGNE, VAJRAWant To See All 62 Of Our Deeply Discounted Close-Out Wines? Click here! Or go to our website and search for “Close-out.” In store look for our yellow close-out price tags or ask a sales associateCollector’s Corner The Pride of Piedmont: Top Producers From Barbaresco and Brunello Gaja Sori San Lorenzo Barbaresco 2017 750ml $599 special, 3 bottles available Wine Spectator 96 Points “This tightly wound red is dense with black cherry, black currant, plum, tar and iron flavors as well as tannins. Shows a lot of power and persistence, with all the components in the right proportion, ending with a long, resonant aftertaste. Needs time. Best from 2024 through 2048. 300 cases imported.” Wine Advocate 95+ Points “The 2017 growing season saw a couple of violent hail events in the Barbaresco appellation, and this celebrated vineyard suffered some damage during a storm that hit on July 19th. Yields were reduced, but the wine holds its own thanks to the careful fruit selection process put in place by the Gaja family. Their 2017 Barbaresco Sorì San Lorenzo is a shade richer in terms of flavor concentration, as is always the case with fruit from this slightly warmer growing site. However, like the other two single-vineyard Barbaresco expressions, this wine reveals a thin, sharp and nervous personality that is driven in large part by tannic firmness and acidity. Sorì San Lorenzo adds lots of dark mineral definition to cassis, wild cherry, rose and Provence herbs. Like the other wines, it needs extra cellar aging time.” Bruno Giacosa Barbaresco Asili 2019 750ml $289 special, 6 bottles available James Suckling 98 Points “Sweet and succulent aromas of tangerines, freshly cut ripe strawberries, cherries and flowers follow through to a full-bodied palate with sleek and dense tannins that run the length of the wine and then fan out into a dense, vivid finish of fruit. It’s chewy and seriously structured with finesse and energy. Silky texture. This needs at least four or five years to come together and open. Try after 2027.” Bruno Giacosa Barbaresco Rabaja 2017 750ml $249 special, 3 bottles available Wine Advocate 95 Points “The Bruno Giacosa 2017 Barbaresco Rabajà is a fine and delicate wine that throws a curveball at our expectations of this notoriously hot and dry vintage. The wine is exceedingly generous when it comes to its fruit, especially its blackcurrant and plum, but what steals the show is that elegant mineral note that so seamlessly cedes to spice, licorice and cinnamon.” Paitin Barbaresco Riserva Vecchie Vigne 2004 750ml $149 special, 12 bottles available Wine Advocate 94 Points “The 2004 Barbaresco Sori’ Paitin Vecchie Vigne is marvelous. Dark red berries, crushed flowers, smoke, ash and tar are just some of the notes that emerge from this big yet beautifully articulated Vecchie Vigne. The 2004 shows superb class and fabulous overall balance. As always this is a fairly large-scaled Barbaresco, but all of the elements meld together beautifully. A long, sensual finish rounds things out in style. With air the 2004 is approachable today, but it clearly has the stuffing and freshness to drink well to age 25, perhaps beyond. The Vecchie Vigne captures the essence of this great Piedmontese vintage in spades. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2029.” Paitin Barbaresco Riserva Vecchie Vigne 2008 750ml $128 special, 5 bottles available Wine Advocate 94 Points “The blackest of cherries, spices, incense, tar and scorched earth are some of the many nuances that emerge from the 2008 Barbaresco Sori’ Paitin Vecchie Vigne. This dark, brooding Barbaresco is all about power. The 2008 impresses for its fabulous balance and pure length. With time in the glass, the wine becomes increasingly more refined. It is a striking Barbaresco to drink now and over the next 10-15 years, perhaps longer. The 2008 was aged in 25-hectoliter cask and bottled in June 2012. Anticipated maturity: 2016-2028.” Vietti Barbaresco Masseria Roncaglie 2018 750ml $119 special, 3 bottles available Vinous 95 Points “The 2018 Barbaresco Masseria Roncaglie is a captivating, layered wine full of character. Effusive aromatics make a strong opening impression. Rose petal, lavender, sage, blood orange and red berry fruit all run through this vibrant, focused Barbaresco. The 2018 is charming and nuanced from start to finish. This is the first vintage from a parcel that previously belonged to Socré. It’s an impressive debut, to say the least. All this nervy Barbaresco needs is time.” G. B. Burlotto Barolo Monvigliero 2018 750ml $399 special, 2 bottles available Wine Enthusiast 98 Points “This wine is just stunning, starting with aromas of fragrant blue flower, red berry, camphor, dark spice and underbrush. Reflecting the aromas, the smooth, delicious palate delivers raspberry compote, ripe cherry, and licorice accompanied by polished tannins while fresh acidity offers youthful tension. Drink 2024–2038.” Cappellano Barolo Pie Rupestris 2010 750ml $335 special, 8 bottles available Vinous “This third flight comes to a rousing finish with the 2010 Barolo Otin Fiorin Piè Rupestris – Nebioli. A towering, statuesque Barolo, the 2010 dazzles from the very first taste. It is, of course, too young, but it is a wine I chose for this tasting because I wanted Vinous readers to have a chance to experience it. When all is said and done, 2010 is the greatest young vintage I have tasted at Cappellano. Drink 2025-2060.” Cavallotto Barolo Riserva San Guiseppe 2016 1.5L $399 special, 5 magnum bottles available Wine Advocate 98 Points “A certified organic wine, the Cavallotto 2016 Barolo Riserva Bricco Boschis Vigna San Giuseppe is born in vineyards on a beautiful ridge in Castiglione Falletto with wide views of both the sunrise and the sunset. From this magical site at the heart of the Barolo appellation comes a wine that represents the very best of vintage and territory. Dark fruit, dried cherry, wild plum, rose and iron ore meet a perfect intersection that gives this Barolo a beautiful sense of balance and inner energy. Fruit comes from a 2.4-hectare plot with southwest-facing vines that are 60 years old. After destemming, the grapes see 28 days of skin contact (semi-submerged caps) in steel tanks. Secondary fermentation occurs in cement in the spring following the harvest. The wine is aged in Slavonian oak for 60 months. Production is 8,794 bottles and other larger formats.” Cavallotto Barolo Riserva Vignolo 2016 750ml $139 special, 1 bottle available Wine Advocate 96+ Points “The Cavallotto 2016 Barolo Riserva Vignolo is an organic wine that shows superb balance and great intensity. Elegance and power are in fact the twofold hallmark of this iconic vintage. This is a polished and silky wine with an almost glossy or latex-like quality to its tannins (that I love, by the way). This 5,333-bottle production hails from a two-hectare vineyard with 40-year-old vines. It has southwest exposures at a breezy 220 to 310 meters in altitude Aldo Conterno Barolo Bussia Colonnello 2016 750ml $179 special, 5 bottles available James Suckling 96 Points “Very fine-grained with pretty berry, spice, roasted-nut and cedar aromas and flavors. It’s full-bodied and chewy, yet polished and intense. Very, very long. Try after 2022.” Conterno Fantino Barolo Mosconi 2017 750ml $119 special, 18 bottles available Decanter 96 Points “Among the 27 hectares of Conterno Fantino is Vigna Ped, an east-facing cru within the Mosconi MGA. Similar to Ginestra, in 2017 it seems to be a bit rounder and less austere. The wine undergoes malolactic fermentation naturally in the spring. It displays intense leafy lightness with wild strawberry puree and liquorice root, but also whiffs of truffle and cocoa powder. The attack is firm and assertive, with both acidity and tannins – which are large, grainy and ripe. The structure is well balanced by fruit concentration, vibrancy and complexity. Despite its meatiness, it’s not ready to drink yet. For the long haul. Drinking Window 2022 – 2040.” E. Pira Chiara Boschis Cannubi Barolo 2015 750ml $119 special, 6 bottles available #33 – JAMES SUCKLING’S TOP 100 WINES OF THE YEAR James Suckling 99 Points “Impressive roses and finely ground spices with a bright red-cherry core, as well as a fresh wild-herb thread. The sense of focus and purity here is stunning. The palate has a deeply juicy and fresh core of tightly knit tannins that carry immense power with impeccable balance. Elegantly executed wine with profound length. Try from 2025.” Giacomo Conterno Barolo Arione 2018 750ml $235 special, 8 bottles available Wine Advocate 94-96 Points “Tasted from barrel, the 2018 Barolo Arione still has another year in botte and time in bottle before its commercial release. However, the wine shows a distinct personality that is immediately gentle and open-knit despite its very young age. With fruit from Serralunga d’Alba, there is ethereal softness here, but this characterization is relative considering the ample power and depth always associated with this site. It feels like this 2018 vintage is still warming up and is slowly putting on volume and weight. Its metamorphosis is far from complete. However, what you can read into the wine now is the quality of its fruit and its classic Nebbiolo aromas of wild berry, pressed violet, rust and blood orange.” Gaja Conteisa Barolo Docg 2015 750ml $249 special, 8 bottles available Wine & Spirits 98 Points “From the La Morra side of the Cerequio MGA, the 2015 is deeply resonant, its dark fruit tones layered with notes of cedar, tobacco and porcini. The Gaja family has worked extensively on canopy management since the warm 1997 and 2003 vintages, and this shows in the pleasantly tart flavors of black cherry and strawberry they achieved in the warm, dry 2015 growing season. The flavors weave together in a suave, seamless texture, expanding with air while maintaining precision and freshness.” La Spinetta Barolo Campe 2015 750ml $119 special, 4 bottles available James Suckling 97 Points “Very distinctive nose with violets and very pure blackcurrants and blueberries, as well as leafy nuances, all of which deliver a fresh impression. The palate has impressive depth and density and the cool, blue fruit at the center sits fresh and vibrant. Smoothly resolved tannins shape a distinguished, balanced and long palate. Drink or hold.” We’re open 10 AM – 6 PM dailyOrder Online / By Phone / By Email Thank you from the team at Vinopolis! Be well & drink well. |
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Vinopolis Newsletter – Special Feature Muller-Catoir: July 2023
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Vinopolis Newsletter – Wednesday 07/12/2023
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Newsletter 7/07/23
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