Category Archives: Newsletter Archive

Newsletter Sunday 06/04/23

 In This Newsletter:

Special Feature
The Wines of Biondi-Santi
 
Echoes from the Tuscan Past
 
 
The warm sun on your shoulders. Shutters hanging open to the breeze and dusty cobblestone passageways snaking through the shade and the light. Your weary feet find the will to continue onward. Onward and upward through the streets of a place known only by name but whose sounds and glories are forgotten and buried with those that lived them. A trip to Tuscany can be both incredibly enlightening and simultaneously heart-wrenching. It’s hard and painful to explain this dichotomy to the uinitiated. It’s painful to discuss at all.

As one drives through Tuscany’s tranquil landscape and explores her imposing hillside settlements you are truly caught between two worlds. One world is fleetingly intoxicating. It spins tales of medieval goings and doings whose grandeur induces wide-eyed amazement and a desperate grasp at the inexperiencable. The other world is a sobering one. Streets that are full with the din of tourist voices find a way to feel alarmingly silent. The echoes of past lives bounce from the stone facades and ricochet off of the visitors that admire them, unable to be fully absorbed because they are long since lived. I wish, with all my being that we might truly be able to know what a place like Montalcino felt like, sounded like -perhaps not smelled like- and WAS like hundreds of years ago when it still was writing the stories that we now comfort ourselves with today. 

And it is in the depths of this inner turmoil that I’m reminded of one of wine’s great qualities: it’s ability to transport us into the palates and tastes of the past. I will never know what it was like to live in Tuscany over a hundred years ago; when it still thrived with a local culture unconcerned with the presentation it must make to a global audience. But with the wines of producers like Biondi-Santi, I can step into a moment of timelessness and feel satisfied knowing that the past itself has become a part of my personal experience.

When I thought about how to extoll the wines of Biondi-Santi to you all in this article, I found myself seeking to repeat much of what can easily be discovered through basic research. This winery, and the individuals that bore it into existence quite literally founded the region of Brunello di Montalcino, and through their approaching ~200 year history have embodied the indentity of quality, tradition, and longevity. But, I thought it more compelling to impress upon you the way these wines make people feel in a world where history is becoming the only currency which cannot be counterfeited. You should drink and collect the wines of Biondi-Santi not because of how well they are received and not because they represent a symbol of vinous status, but rather because there are fleeting opportunities in life to experience things that are truly iconic. Don’t let the past slip away from you. Drink it in. The streets of Tuscany will feel alive to you in a way they never have before.

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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 won’t be wrong. Tasting and comparing these wines side by side is an opportunity in wine education that should not be passed up.


Biondi Santi Tenuta Greppo Rosso di Montalcino, Tuscany 2018 750ml $99 special, 40 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 $109 special, 12 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 $249 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 2012 750ml $169 special, 9 bottles available
Wine Enthusiast 96 points “Underbrush, ripe berry, new leather and Mediterranean herb aromas slowly take shape in the glass. Showing youthful tension, the vibrant palate delivers red cherry, pomegranate, white pepper and pipe tobacco notes framed by bright acidity and taut, refined tannins. It already shows great balance and finesse but is still young and tight. Drink 2022-2035.”
James Suckling 95 points “Love the dried lemon rind, florals and red fruits. Medium to full body and a solid core of fruit and spices. Long and flavorful finish. Just a hint of sweet tobacco. Better in 2020.”

Biondi Santi Tenuta Greppo Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Tuscany 2016 750ml $235 special, 8 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. The fruit is compact and supple with dried cherry, blue flower, iron ore and candied orange peel. There is tobacco, balsam herb and gardening soil in a supporting role, and the wine is beautifully fleshed out but also rich in this balanced growing season. 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 $249 special, 12 bottles available
PRE-ARRIVAL EARLY JUNE
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 $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 $459 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 $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. Il Dottore’s magic touch is revealed in the level of fine detail and precision that transcends vintage, grape and territory. That extreme focus is an achievement of this estate alone located in the celebrated Il Greppo property. This Brunello pours from the bottle with a magnificent garnet color, and it evolves in the glass with dark fruit, candied orange peel, spice, licorice, anise seed, cola and balsam herb. The aromas are magical and ethereal, albeit slightly ripe and soft as expected of this vintage.”

Biondi Santi Tenuta Greppo Riserva, Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2013 750ml $649 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. The Riserva comes in numbered bottles, and I opened number 04277. To the palate, the wine is streamlined and silky with smooth tannins and a well-managed 13.5% alcohol content. The oak presence is reduced to a minimum, offering mild hints of spice and the delicate sandalwood or dried fig aroma I described above. 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 $749 special, 6 bottles available
PRE-ARRIVAL EARLY JUNE
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.”
James Suckling 98 points “Aromas of strawberries flowers fresh mushroom forest flower sandalwood and hints of balsamic. Full-bodied and tight on the finish. This is a linear and fine-tannined red. Available in March 2023. Needs another five years or so to show its full potential. New classic. Better after 2026.”

Biondi Santi Tenuta Greppo Riserva, Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 1983 750ml $1199 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.”
 

 
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Newsletter 6/02/23

 Arrivals
Clouet Champagnes Are Back And 2022 Rosés Are Here!
Hidden Gems
Three Gamays To Blow Your Mind
Featured Winery
Cune
Close Out Sales
DeFaix Chablis Discounted!
GD Vajra Barolo Sale
…And Baudana Too!
June Sale- Spanish Wines
Take a trip to Spain
Collector’s Corner
Burgundy: The Wine of Kings
New Arrivals 

France
 
“Andre Clouet”
Andre Clouet Brut Grande Reserve NV 750ml $39 special, 36+ bottles available
Vinopolnote: 100% Grand Cru Bouzy Pinot Noir! Clouet has quickly become one of Vinopolis’ favorite champagnes. There is nowhere else to find this level of fantastic quality for such value.
 
Andre Clouet Dream Vintage 2016 750ml $49 special, 12 bottles available
Vinopolnote: Dream Vintage by Andre Clouet is dedicated to the grand vintages of Champagne. In contrast to their other wines, Dream Vintage is 100% grand cru Chardonnay from their vineyards in Bouzy. Bottled one year after harvest.
 
“Joseph Drouhin”
Drouhin Clos Des Mouches Rouge 2020 750ml $159 special, 9 bottles available
James Suckling 97 points “This is exactly what Burgundy and pinot-noir freaks around Planet Wine are looking for. Enveloping nose of red and black raspberries that’s really hard to resist. So concentrated, suave and sophisticated on the rich but very precisely balanced palate. Extremely long and silky finish. From biodynamically grown grapes.”
 
Spain

“The L’ermita of Monsant”
Espectacle Del Montsant 2019 750ml $125 special, 36 bottles available
Wine Advocate 99 Points “It’s always an exciting moment tasting a new vintage of the wine from one of the most beautiful vineyards in Montsant, and the 2019 Espectacle del Montsant didn’t disappoint. It’s always Mediterranean, heady and ripe, decadent and hedonistic. 2019 was a warm and quite classical vintage in the zone, with good ripeness (the wine’s label lists 15.5% alcohol), and the wine is hedonistic, nuanced and complex, with very good acidity, which is one of the characteristics that makes this vintage so complete. Despite everything, the wine is medium to full-bodied and comes through as perfumed and ethereal. They do long macerations and long aging in foudre. 2019 is a very serious vintage for this wine; it’s a little closed and needs time in the glass, and it’s tight and seamless, a little austere for what this wine usually is. This is truly spectacular.”
 
***Lowest Price in the United States***
This wine is also party to our current discounted Spanish wine sale

Oregon

“Bergstrom”
Bergstrom Silice Pinot Noir 2021 750ml $99 special, 6 bottles available
Wine Advocate 94 Points “Medium ruby-purple, the 2021 Pinot Noir Silice Vineyard blossoms slowly to pomegranate, blackberry, watermelon, dried herbs and aniseed. The medium-bodied palate is loaded with wild berry fruit. Combining power and elegance, it’s silky and seamless in the mouth, and a flourish of spicy accents across the finish hints it has more to reveal over the next 2-3 years in bottle.”
Wine Spectator 95 Points “Supple, richly textured and elegantly complex, this Pinot opens with a burst of fresh raspberry, then unfolds with notes of forest floor and brown baking spices, plus a touch of licorice as it builds tension toward refined tannins. Drink now through 2032.”

Bergstrom Le Pre Du Col Pinot Noir 2021 750ml $114.50 special, 6 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!”
Wine Spectator 94 Points “Brooding, with an appealing earthy, forest floor accent to the blueberry and dusky spice flavors as this builds tension and density toward medium-grained tannins. Hands off for now. Best from 2024 through 2034.”

Bergstrom “Bergstrom Vineyard” 2021 750ml $141.80 special, 6 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.”
Wine Spectator 94 Points “Polished and sleekly structured, with a burst of fresh cherry and raspberry fruit flavors that draw in details of underbrush and black tea, ultimately building toward a spicy finish. Drink now through 2031. 610 cases made.”

“Composition: Romanee-Conti meets Willamette”
“The Composition Wines are a new project of Bertrand de Villaine– Yes, from the de Villaine family that brought us the famed Domaine de Romanee-Conti. Their estate 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. Their fields are dry farmed and biodynamique.”
Composition Chardonnay Willamette Valley 2021 750ml $89 special, 6 bottles available 
Composition Pinot Noir Willamette Valley 2021 750ml $89 special, 12 bottles available

California

 “Hyde De Villaine”
Hyde De Villaine Belle Cousine 2019 750ml $99 special, 6 bottles available
Wine Advocate 94 Points “The 2018 Belle Cousine is an elegant blend of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon and 45% Merlot from the Hyde Vineyard. It was matured in about 20% new French oak for 22 months and aged an additional two years in bottle before release. Deep ruby-purple in color, it has pure aromas of cassis, bouquet garni, tobacco leaves, sandalwood and graphite, with bright bursts of red cherry and flowers. Full-bodied, the palate is surprisingly lifted, with granular tannins, seamless acidity and a long, mineral-driven finish.”
 
 
Italy

“Rocca Di Montegrossi”
Rocca Di Montegrossi Rosato Tuscano 2022 750ml $20.90 special, 36+ bottles available
Vinous 92+ Points “A burst of sour melon and crushed rocks gives way to green apples and fresh mint as the captivating 2022 Rosato blossoms in the glass. This blends vibrant acidity with zesty mineral tones and sweet spice to create a truly harmonious and high-energy vibe on the palate. Nothing is out of place as the 2022 finishes with a tinge of crisp minerality, leaving the mouth-watering as gingery spice hints fade. This is stunning today, yet it may get even better over the coming months in bottle.”
 
Hungary
 
“Royal Tokaji”
Royal Tokaji Dry Mezes Maly Great 1st Growth 2021 750ml $39 special, 18 bottles available
Vinopolnote: “Mézes Mály is one of just two vineyards classified as a Great First Growth. Its volcanic bedrock is overlaid with deep loess soil, giving elegance, finesse and floral notes to its wines. Royal Tokaji owns 11 of its 19 hectares, facing south with views to the Great Plain in the distance.”
Importer’s Note: “Mézes Mály (MAIZE-esh my) is arguably the world’s original “superstar” vineyard. The first classification of the already legendary vineyards of Tokaji took place in the 1730’s, the earliest of any wine region, and Mézes Mály was designated as a “Great First Growth” – one of only two vineyards with that classification. Royal Tokaji and Hugh Johnson jointly own this vineyard, which is the winery’s only vineyard with deep loess topsoil over volcanic bedrock. Vine age ranges from 20 to 60 years old.”
 
Royal Tokaji Urgaya Dry Furmint 1st Growth 2021 750ml $39 special, 18 bottles available
Importer’s Note “A fresh, crisp wine showing all the fine qualities of the unique Furmint grape. Aromas of grape flowers, apple and pear combine with flavours of ripe apricot and peach to produce a sleek, intense dry wine with a long, refreshing finish.”

New Zealand
 
Te Pa Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2021 750ml $17 special, 36 bottles available
Te Pa Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2021 Case of 12 750ml bottles $199 special
Raymond Chan Wine Reviews “Bright, pale yellow with a slight green hue, even colour throughout […] The wine is ethereally smooth flowing, guided by integrated, spicy acidity, carries concentrated fruit with elegance. There is a subtle, fine-textured, chalky minerality that adorns the mouthfeel. This is a well-rounded Sauvignon Blanc with concentrated flavours of white cassis and gooseberries, elderflower and spice on an ethereally smooth-flowing palate.”
 

New Arrival Rosés 
 
“Chateau Pradeaux”
Chateau Pradeaux Provence Rose 2022 750ml $22.50 special, 36 bottles available
Winemaker’s Note “Made from 45% Cinsault and 40% Mourvedre, with the balance split among Grenache and Carignan, the pale-iron-colored Côtes de Provence Rose is closer to Bandol-level complexity and concentration than we have yet seen from this wine”
 
Chateau Pradeaux Bandol Rose 2022 750ml $29.50 special, 36 bottles available
Chateau Pradeaux Bandol Rose 2022 1.5L $69 special, 6 bottles available
Winemaker’s Note “Robust, rich, and complex with an ability to age gracefully, this wine is based on Cinsault (50%) and Mourvèdre (50%), taking its slight orange tint from the latter cépage. The younger vines of the domaine (average age: 25 years) are utilized to produce a rare rosé with staying power and exceptional complexity. The Rosé is vinified by a direct pressing for 24 hours followed by fermentation in cement tanks at a controlled temperature of 18 degrees Celsius for about 15 days.”
 
“Domaine Les Grand Bois”
Grands Bois Cotes Du Rhone Rose 2022 750ml $14 special, 36 bottles available
Vinopolnote “50% Grenache, 50% Mourvèdre. 13% alc. Certified Organic.
The epitome of quality & value in the Côtes-du-Rhône, Marc Besnardeau’s wines are ripe, vibrant & delicious! Direct press only, 20 days low temperature fermentation in stainless steel tank. Lychee color and peach/lychee bouquet. Very fresh on the pallet with peach and fruit drop flavors.”

“Pascal et Nicholas Reverdy”
Reverdy Sancerre Rose Terre De Maimbray 2022 750ml $26 special, 36 bottles available
Vinopolnote 100% Pinot Noir, Hand harvested, Direct Press. Aged in stainless-steel. Sustainable. A classic: light pink, long and superb mineral acidity.
 
“Domaine La Bastide Blanche”
Domaine La Bastide Blanche Bandol Rose 2022 750ml $26 special, 36+ bottles available
Vinopolnote “78% Mourvedre, 18% Grenache, 4% Cinsault. Limestone soil, hand-harvested. Certified Organic. Bottled exclusively for Weygandt-Metzler Importing & the American market. The 2022 is fresh, typical Bandol with more spices this year than in previous years. A lot of character, less dark – classic. Lower yields than last 2 vintages, so more substance but great acidity. Partial malo and maceration of the Cinsault and Mourvèdre.”

“Chateau De Manissy”
Manissy IGP La Belle Etoile Rose 2022 750ml $11.90 special, 36 bottles available
Importer’s Note Rosé wine. Southern Rhône, France. Organic. 50% Cinsault, 25% Syrah, 25% Grenache. Covering an area of 1.5ha, this site is bathed by the sun and swept by the mistral on a flat plain that rich in limestone with a clay subsoil. Entirely hand-harvested organic grapes that have a cold maceration before being pressed. Low temperature fermentation with indigenous yeasts, which allow the yeast to develop its fruit flavors. Aged in stainless steel tank. Given the name “beautiful star” by the Manissy Brotherhood’s missionary preist, the grapes originate from organically certified vineyards owned by wine-maker Florian André’s mother.
 
Manissy Tavel Cuvee Des Lys Rose 2022 750ml $17 special, 36 bottles available
Importer’s Note “50% Grenache , 25% Syrah, 25% Clairette Rose, Direct Pressing. 13.5%. Certified Organic. Young Florian Andre manages Château Manissy, a property of an ancient religious order of Monks in Tavel. These full-bodied Grenache-Clairette rosés fill the bistros & fine restaurants of Paris
each summer. Quintessentially ‘Tavel’ in character, the 2022 is crammed with juicy red berries (strawberries and raspberries) lifted by a touch of grapefruit and citrus zest.”
 
Manissy Tavel Tete De Cuvee Rose 2021 750ml $26 special, 24 bottles available
Importer’s Note “Grenache , Clairette, Cinsault. 13.5% alc. Certified Organic. 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.”

Hidden Gems
 
Is there a single wine grape with a better work ethic than gamay? Once banished by the Duke of Burgundy from his Kingdom for its heartiness and rusticity, Gamay has found new life in the hands of innovative vignerons in viticultural areas across the world.
Domaine Serol Eclat De Granite Cote Roannaise 2021 750ml $21.90 special, 24 bottles available
Vinopolnote “100% Gamay St Roman, a clone of Beaujolais’ Gamay Noir. And a rather delicious alteration of Gamay Noir. The Gamay St Roman grape from Domaine Serol has tones that combine Burgundy’s Pinot Noir and North Rhone’s Syrah, along with the parent, Gamay Noir.”
 
 
 
Grosjean Gamay Vallee D’aoste 2021 750ml $24 special, 11 bottles available
Vinopolnote “A Burgundian native, Grosjean’s Valdôtain Gamay comes from the valley’s steep, south-facing upper slopes in the villages of Quart, Saint Christophe and Villeneuve. An excellent partner to traditional charcuterie, including salami, motzetta and thinly sliced lard, along with traditional Aosta soups. Four to five days of maceration followed by aging in stainless steel, Grosjean’s example is always well balanced, fruit-forward, lightly tannic and fresh with abundant aromatics.”
Anne-Sophie Dubois Sans Detour VDF 2021 750ml $29 special, 5 bottles available
Vinopolnote “This is one for the wine geeks. Produced from 20% Gamay and 80% Gamaret (pronounced like “Gamma Ray”) a clone of Gamay first created in Switzerland. Expect Blackberry and Strawberry, plus mild tannins and a soft undercurrent of earthy minerality. Highly recommended.”
 

Featured Winery
CUNE & CVNE


 
The story of Compañía Vinícola del Norte de España (or CVNE) commonly known as “Cune” begins in 1879 when two brothers, Eusebio and Raimundo founded the company in the Rioja region of northern Spain. The brothers were experienced in the wine industry,
having previously worked at wineries in Bordeaux, France.

In the following decades, CVNE experienced significant growth and success. In the 1920s, the company began exporting its wines to other countries, including the United Kingdom and the United States. During this time, CVNE also acquired several other wineries in the Rioja region, including Viña Real and Contino.
 
In the 1960s, CVNE began to modernize its winemaking techniques, introducing stainless steel tanks and temperature control systems to improve the quality and consistency of its wines. The company also expanded its vineyards, planting new grape varieties and experimenting with new winemaking techniques.
 
All these years later, CVNE is still a family-owned winery, with the fifth generation of the family now involved in the business. The company is known for its commitment to traditional winemaking techniques and its focus on producing high-quality Rioja wines. CVNE has won numerous awards and accolades over the years, cementing its position as one of the top wineries in Spain.

CVNE Organic Tinto Rioja 2019 750ml $12.50 special, 27 bottles available
Wine Advocate 91 points “There is a new organic red, the debut of which is the 2019 Cune Organic, a blend of 60% Garnacha, 30% Tempranillo and 10% Graciano from external suppliers. That’s quite an unusual blend for them, as they tend to use more Tempranillo, and it brings a different combination of freshness and power. The grapes were handpicked and fermented separately by variety with indigenous yeasts, and the wine matured in used 300-liter oak barrels for six months. I nearly fell off my chair when I put my nose in the glass, as the wine screamed GARNACHA—but traditional Garnacha at its floral and herbal best, with the sweet cherry fruit, red licorice and the chalky tannins from the limestone soils. It’s balanced, tasty and juicy, truly delicious. The idea is to eventually produce this wine with their own grapes, as they are moving toward organic farming and removed herbicides years ago. They have never released a wine like this or such a young red. Amazing young Garnacha for the by-the-glass market. Bravo!”

CVNE Vina Real Crianza 2017 750ml  $14.50 special, 22 bottles available
James Suckling 93 points “A Rioja with plum, blackberry, black truffle and hints of chocolate. Some walnut, too. It’s medium-to full-bodied with firm, chewy tannins and a flavorful finish.”

CVNE Imperial Reserva Rioja 2016 750ml $39 special, 11 bottles available
93 Points Wine Advocate “The prototype of red from Rioja Alta could very well be the 2016 Imperial Reserva, fine, precise and powerful. The grapes for this cuvée were picked between October 10th and 25th, and it’s a canonical blend of 85% Tempranillo and the rest Graciano, Mazuelo and Garnacha with 14% alcohol and balancing freshness. It fermented with their own Imperial yeasts in oak vats of different sizes and matured in French and American oak barrels for 24 months. This wine has a very defined style that should not change; it has more oak than the Asúa Reserva and is made with grapes not only from Haro but also from Torremontalvo, Villalba and Briones. 2016 was a cooler year, and the wines are fresher and balanced. This has the mushroomy touch from the old cave and plenty of tannins that are going to require powerful food and/or time in bottle. A classic among classics. 150,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in June 2019.”

CVNE Contino Blanco 2017 750ml $49 special, 10 bottles available
Vinous 92 points “Limpid yellow. Vibrant Anjou pear and tangerine aromas show very good clarity and pick up suggestions of buttered toast, honey and chamomile with air. Juicy and broad on the palate, offering ripe citrus and orchard fruit flavors that slowly tighten up and take on a floral nuance with aeration. A vanilla flourish sweetens the finish, which hangs on with strong, spicy tenacity.”

CVNE Contino Gran Reserva 2016 750ml $59 special, 13 bottles available
Wine Spectator 91 points “A graceful red, well-defined by sleek, taut tannins and bright citrus peel acidity, this is tightly meshed at first but notes of black raspberry, cherry reduction, eucalyptus, graphite and anise unfurl on the palate and linger on the finish. Tempranillo, Graciano, Grenache and Viura. Drink now through 2030.”

CVNE Imperial Gran Reserva 2015 750ml $79 special, 13 bottles available
James Suckling 97 points “This is very ripe with blackberries, dried fruit, toasted oak and black licorice on the nose. Full-bodied with ultra-fine, linear tannins and a racy, refined finish. This has fantastic structure and length. It goes on for minutes. It needs time to open and refine even more. One of the best Imperiale Gran Reservas in a very long time. Drink after 2023.“

CVNE Imperial Gran Reserva 2014 750ml $84.50 special, 7 bottles available
Vinous 94 points “Shimmering ruby-red. An intensely perfumed nose displays cherry cola, cassis, licorice and smoky oak; floral and vanilla qualities emerge in the glass. Juicy, penetrating red and dark fruit flavors are given spine by a core of tangy acidity, and bitter chocolate, candied rose and spicecake nuances develop with air. Gently gripping tannins add shape to an impressively long, incisive finish that leaves more vanilla and cherry notes behind. Raised for 22 months in a combination of French and American oak barrels.”
 
These wines are also part of our current Spanish wine sale


Close Out Sale
Daniel-Etienne Defaix Chablis

 
“A genial gourmet, Daniel-Etienne Defaix is one of Chablis’s personalities, and his wines are no less characterful. He releases his sapid, gourmand expressions of Chablis at maturity—that’s to say, some 15 years after everyone else in the region.”
-Wine Advocate
 
Daniel-Etienne Defaix Chablis Les Lys 2006 750ml Was $59 Now $49 special, 14 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, 15 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.”
GD Vajra Barolo Sale
And Luigi Baudana Too! 
 
Gd Vajra Barolo Bricco Delle Viole 2017 750ml Was $78 Now $69 special, 33 bottles available
Jeb Dunnuck 96 Points “The 2017 Barolo Bricco Delle Viole is the darker fruited of the G.D. Vajra sites and has rounded floral aromatics of crushed roses, resin, and cranberry cocktail. The palate is ripe and inviting, with building structure and notes of fresh red cherry, blood orange, and clove. The warmth of the vintage is felt without sacrificing lift. Drink 2025-2050”
 
Gd Vajra Barolo Bricco Delle Viole 2018 750ml Was $79 Now $69 special, 22 bottles available
#9 Top 100 Cellar Selections 2022 – Wine Enthusiast
Wine Enthusiast 95 Points “Cellar Selection. Heady aromas of violet, camphor, leather and tobacco lead the way on this fragrant red. On the palate, tightly knit, fine-grained tannins accompany ripe Marasca cherry, crushed raspberry and licorice. Fresh acidity keeps it balanced. Drink 2025–2035.”
 
Gd Vajra Barolo Coste Di Rose 2017 750ml Was 54.50 Now $49 special, 24 bottles available
Wine Enthusiast 96 Points “Wild berry, menthol and tilled earth aromas mingle with whiffs of dark spice. Linear and savory, the lithe palate is already immediate, featuring juicy raspberry, red cherry, crushed mint and star anise accompanied by taut, polished tannins. Tangy acidity keeps it fresh and bright.”
 
Gd Vajra Barolo Coste Di Rose 2018 750ml Was $62.50 Now $57.50 special, 29 bottles available
Vinous 92 Points “The 2018 Barolo Coste di Rose is a delicate, understated Barolo that will need a bit of time to fully emerge. There’s lovely purity to the fruit here, but also some angular contours that need to resolve. The 2018 is a mid-weight wine in the style of the vintage, and yet there is fine balance.”
 
Gd Vajra Barolo Ravera 2017 750ml Was $75 Now $69 special, 22 bottles available
Wine Enthusiast 97 Points ” From the township of Novello and from what is now widely recognized as one of the denomination’s top vineyard sites, this is just stunning, offering intense aromas of wild berries, new leather, floral notes, camphor and grilled herb. The delicious, structured palate shows finesse and power, featuring ripe red cherry, blood orange, cedar, licorice and mineral notes suggesting tangy iron. Noble tannins provide support. Reflecting the vintage, this won’t need years to come around but will also age well for at least another decade.”
 
Luigi Baudana Barolo Baudana 2017 750ml Was $79 Now $69 special, 17 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, 18 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, 24 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.”
June Sale- All Spanish Wines
Big Savings On Our Top Brands

Buy 6-11 bottles for a 5% discount
Buy 12+ bottles for a 10% discount
 
Ends June 30th at 6pm… the best selection is NOW!

This is first come / first served and limited to stock on hand.
Discount does not apply to pre-arrival wines or case discounts.
Discount will not display online, we will adjust your invoice before charging your card.

Avancia Godello Cuvee De O 2019 750ml $18 special, 17 bottles available
Vinous 91 Points “Green-hued yellow-gold. Assertive aromas of fresh citrus and orchard fruits, along with hints of smoky lees, vanilla and melon in the background. Rich but impressively lively in the mouth, offering intense Anjou pear, white peach and Meyer lemon flavors underscored by a smoky mineral quality. Clings with strong tenacity on the penetrating finish, which leaves bitter citrus pith and floral notes behind.”

Avancia Mencia VV 2019 750ml $31.90 special, 36+ 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.”

Cuentavinas Cdvn Garnacha 2020 750ml $69 special, 16 bottles available
Guia Penn 94 Points “Style: taut;Colour: bright cherry; Aroma: complex, expressive, spicy, mineral, red berry notes, balsamic herbs;Flavour: elegant, full-bodied, long, great length;”
 
Clos Erasmus Priorat 2019 750ml $228 special, 15 bottles available
Wine Advocate 98+ Points “The serious and powerful 2019 Clos Erasmus feels quite classical Priorat, with notes of graphite, black fruit and licorice; it’s a solid Priorat with weight, concentration and clout. There are still some smoke, toast and spice notes from the élevage—100% in barrel, some 40% of them new, for around 18 months—and the wine always needs a little bit of time in bottle. Despite the 15.5% alcohol, the wine comes through as balanced and with freshness, there is no heat or sensation of alcohol; you need the tannins and acidity to counterbalance the alcohol, and they are doing that here. This is more balsamic, aromatic and exuberant. It’s showy, hedonistic and rich, a solid Erasmus. The tannins are still quite present and need some more time to be resolved. 3,300 bottles were filled in May 2020.”

Espectacle Del Montsant 2018 750ml $119 special, 17 bottles available
Wine Spectator 98 Points “As with other wines, I also tasted the 2018 Espectacle del Montsant next to the 2017 to catch up, as I last tasted the region some 16 months ago. 2018 was a cooler year of slow ripeness, and the grapes achieved an amazing 16% alcohol. The wine is truly spectacular, true to its name. It has tons of violet notes and aromatic herbs, the palate is gentler, and the tannins are rounder, polished and elegant. It has full body but isn’t heavy. There is a lot of complexity, and the wine developed slowly in the glass, showing nuances of cereals, kirsch, orange peel and lots of spices and herbs. It’s opulent and full, deep and complex. Amazing in its style. Some 6,500 bottles produced.”

Galia Villages 2015 750ml $39 special, 21 bottles available
Wine Advocate 95 Points “The regular Galia has been renamed and is now the 2015 Villages since there are two more reds in the portfolio this year. It’s a blend of grapes from different soils in all the villages they work (Piquera de San Esteban, Fuentelcesped, Hontangas, Cuevas de Provanco and Trigueros del Valle), trying to represent the Duero Valley as a whole. It has an intoxicating, perfumed and really attractive nose full of flowers, wild herbs and spices. The palate is medium-bodied and has the elegance and poise the nose was pointing out, with ultra refined tannins, great balance and freshness. It has to be one of the most elegant wines produced from the Ribera del Duero zone, and it doesn’t show any of the heat from the warm and dry 2015 vintage … I was really blown away by this.”

Bodegas Muga Aro 2019 750ml $349 special, 4 bottles available
Jeb Dunnuck 100 points “Pure magic, the 2019 Aro is 70% Tempranillo and 30% Graciano from a plant by plant selection of the Muga family’s oldest vines of Tempranillo, blended with a substantial portion of Graciano. This dense purple behemoth has a primordial bouquet of pure cassis, graphite, crushed stone, lead pencil, new leather, and hints of spring flowers. Building incrementally on the palate, with full-bodied richness, a huge mid-palate, and ripe, velvety tannins, this is one heavenly Rioja that deserves 7-8 years of bottle age and will age like a First Growth from Bordeaux. Hats off to the team at Muga for another incredible wine.”

Vinedos Paganos El Puntido Rioja Gran Reserva 2008 750ml $69 special, 19 bottles available
Wine Advocate 97 Points “I was greatly impressed by the 2008 El Puntido Gran Reserva, a wine with a more traditional profile than the majority of wines from the Eguren family. At age 14, the wine is glorious, still young and with a mixture of primary and more developed notes. It goes more in the direction of the old wines, with balsamic notes of incense and cedarwood, mushrooms and some berries and herbs. It’s complex and elegant, with fully resolved tannins.
 
This is a small sample of our Spanish wines. Shop for brands like
Muga Artuke Breca Lopez Heredia Palacio Pingus Vega Sicilia 
and more on our website!
Collector’s Corner
The Wine of Kings
 
Known both as the wine of Kings and the King of wines, Burgundy is one of the most famous and coveted wines in the world. We are proud to offer a wide selection of Burgundy’s finest crus and producers.

Red Burgundy
 
Barthod Chambolle Musigny Les Cras 2019 1.5L $879 special, 1 bottle available
Wine Advocate 96 Points “The 2019 Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru Les Cras is similarly compelling, soaring from the glass with aromas of red berries, exotic spices, orange rind, musk and rose petals. Medium to full-bodied, concentrated and tightly wound, with a deep and vibrant core of fruit that’s framed by fine, powdery tannins, it concludes with a long, penetrating and intensely mineral finish. This is a magical Chambolle-Musigny worth a special effort to seek out.”
 
Olivier Bernstein Clos De La Roche 2016 750ml $619 special, 1 bottle available
Wine Spectator 96 Points ” Boysenberry, plum, black cherry, earth and underbrush flavors are allied to an opulent texture and muscular structure in this beefy red. Impressive, but will need time for all the components to fall into place. Offers big tannic grip on the finish. Best from 2023 through 2047.”

Coche-Dury Hospices Cuvee Chaudron Pommard 2019 750ml $899 special, 1 bottle available


Faiveley Mazis Chambertin 2019 750ml $419 special, 5 bottles available
Wine Advocate 93-95+ Points “Wild and brooding, Faiveley’s 2019 Mazis-Chambertin Grand Cru wafts from the glass with aromas of smoked meats, spices, wild berries and forest floor. Full-bodied, layered and sapid, it’s broad and muscular, with a deep core of fruit and youthfully chalky tannins. This is a serious Mazis built for the long haul.”
 
Hubert Lignier Clos De La Roche 2018 750ml $519 special, 2 bottles available
Hubert Lignier Clos De La Roche 2018 1.5L $1049 special, 1 bottles available
Decanter 96 Points “Laurent Lignier uses 0.8ha of his two holdings in the climats of Les Fremières and Monts Luisants to produce this refined expression of Clos de la Roche. Savoury and sweet, with 30% whole clusters adding aromatic spices and extra structure in 2018, this is graceful, subtle and concentrated with palate-caressing summer berry fruit and refreshing palate length. Drinking Window 2026 – 2036.”
Wine Advocate 95+ Points “Revisited in bottle, Lignier’s 2018 Clos de la Roche Grand Cru lives up to its fine performance in barrel, wafting from the glass with aromas of dark berries, cherries and orange rind mingled with truffle, espresso roast, loamy soil and dark chocolate. Full-bodied, concentrated and seamless, it’s layered and vibrant, with a deep core of pure fruit that largely conceals impressive reserves of fine, powdery tannins. Concluding with a long and saline finish, it will merit and reward at least a dozen years’ patience, likely hitting its stride around age 20.”
 
Hubert Lignier Griotte Chambertin 2016 750ml $459 special, 2 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 91-94 Points “Healthy full red. Pungent aromas of purple fruits, menthol and crushed rock. Quite pliant on entry, then precise and perfumed in the middle palate, showing noteworthy energy and lift to its flavors of small wild red fruits, minerals and spices. Not a particularly tannic wine but juicy, refined and long.”
 
Hubert Lignier Griotte Chambertin 2017 750ml $519 special, 1 bottle available

 
Louis Latour Romanee St Vivant Journaux 2016 750ml $599 special, 3 bottles available
James Suckling 100 Points “This is a grand cru that shows its intensity and complexity and greatness from the beginning. Blackberry, licorice and stone aromas. Full body and a center palate that shows ripe fruit and full richness. Then the tannins kick in. Great wine. Drink in 2024.”
 
Meo Camuzet Clos De  Vougeot Grand Cru 2019 750ml $419 special, 2 bottles available
Vinous 95-97 Points “The 2019 Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru is quite closed on the nose, offering discreet blackberry, raspberry and light violet aromas that you might mistake for a Vosne-Romanée. The palate is medium-bodied with succulent ripe tannins. This is a juicy Clos de Vougeot, a little savory and quite peppery on the finish, which you might misconstrue as a result of some stem addition. Sculpted with Jean-Nicolas Méo’s finest chisel, this is a wonderful Clos de Vougeot.”
 
Montille Vosne-Romanee 1er Malconsorts 2017 1.5L $949 special, 1 bottle available
Decanter 95 Points “The de Montille Malconsorts has lightened up in 2017, which may be a vintage thing. This is less oaky and chewy than some of its predecessors. The 100% whole bunches are very well done, adding some savoury, sappy notes to the layered red and black fruits, with floral top-notes wafting above the surface.”
 
Hudelot Noellat Vosne Romanee Beaux Monts 2019 $469 special, 5 bottles available
Vinous 94-96 Points “The 2019 Vosne-Romanée Les Beaumonts 1er Cru is well defined on the nose, a mixture of red and black fruit displaying fine mineralité and tension. The palate races out of the blocks with fine structure and delineation, and again, superb mineralité; palpable tension propels it through to the finish. You can almost feel the rock that lies just 20cm under the soil of this vineyard. Outstanding.”
 
Ponsot Clos De La Roche Vieilles Vignes 2016 750ml $799 special, 5 bottles available
Wine Advocate 97 Points “The 2016 Clos de la Roche Grand Cru Cuvée Vieilles Vignes is superb, bursting from the glass with aromas of juicy cherries, peonies, blood orange, licorice, raw cocoa and espresso roast. On the palate, it’s full-bodied, deep and succulent, with a concentrated, layered mid-palate, satiny structuring tannins and vibrant underlying acidity, concluding with a long finish. Harvested on October 7 at a comparatively high yield by Ponsot’s standards of 38 hectoliters per hectare, this year seems to have been perfectly adapted to Ponsot’s style. Vibrant, elegant and expressive, the 2016 is quite different from the richer, more powerful 2015, but in the fullness of time, I wouldn’t be surprised to see it surpassing its brawnier elder sibling.”
 
Armand Rousseau Clos St Jacques 2013 750ml $1449 special, 1 bottle available
Vinous 94-97 Points “Rousseau’s 2013 Gevrey-Chambertin Clos St. Jacques possesses gorgeous aromatic lift and energy. Polished and refined throughout, the 2013 is super-expressive. Winemaker Frédéric Robert adds that the grapes were especially small in 2013, with virtually no juice. Once again, Rousseau’s Clos St. Jacques looks to be one of the wines of the vintage.”
 
Cecile Tremblay Chambolle 1er Feusselottes 2019 750ml $999 special, 7 bottles available
Wine Advocate 95 Points “The 2019 Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru Les Feusselottes has also turned out beautifully, wafting from the glass with a complex bouquet of raspberries and blackberries mingled with hints of orange rind, violets and exotic spices. Medium to full-bodied, satiny and enveloping, it’s deep and fleshy, with a layered core of fruit, lively acids and remarkable structural finesse for such a young, undeniably concentrated wine. This might well be the finest Feusselottes that Tremblay has produced to date.”
 
Cecile Tremblay Morey St Denis Tres Girard 2013 750ml $399 special, 5 bottles available
Vinous “(vinified with 50% whole clusters): Medium red. Soil-driven aromas of mocha, earth and smoky, rocky minerality. Ripe and sweet, with a pungent mineral spine and sound acidity intensifying the wine’s red fruit flavors. Finishes with good mineral energy.”
 
White Burgundy
 
Domaine Dujac Puligny 1er Folatieres 2019 1.5L $599 special, 1 bottle available

Decanter 91 Points “The aromas are rich, almost tropical and the wine feels dense, almost a bit heavy, reflecting the character of the year more than the position on the slope. From 1.16ha of fairly young vines, this is fermented and aged with relatively modest use of new oak. Drinking Window 2024 – 2049.”
 
Domaine Dujac Puligny 1er 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.”
 
Lucien Le Moine Chablis Les Preuses Grand Cru 2016 1.5L $379 special, 1 bottle available
Vinous 92-95 “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.”
 
Domaine Leflaive Batard Montrachet 2020 750ml $1899 special, 1 bottle available

 
Domaine Leflaive Chevalier-Montrachet 2020 750ml $2499 special, 1 bottle available

 
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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.
 

Newsletter 5/31/23

 In This Newsletter:

Arrivals
Bergstrom, Espectacle de Monsant, Joseph Drouhin, and more
Staff Pick
Torre Beati Cerasuolo
Featured Winery
Arterberry Marsh and Tan Fruit
GD Vajra Barolo Sale
…And Baudana too!
June Sale- Spanish Wines
Wines from Espectacle, Erasmus, Muga, and more!
Collector’s Corner
High-end Champagnes
New Arrivals 

Oregon

Failla Seven Springs Pinot Noir Eola-Am 2018 750ml $49 special, 36+ bottles available
Vinous 95 Points “The 2018 Pinot Noir Seven Springs Vineyard is another stellar wine in this range. Deep, layered and full of nuance, the Seven Springs has so much to say. Layers of inky red/purplish fruit flesh out as this pliant, powerful Pinot shows off its stunning beauty and textural depth. The 2018 is such a gorgeous and expressive wine.”
 
Spain
 
Marques Murrieta Pazo Barrantes Albarino 2019 750ml $48 special, 36 bottle available
Wine Advocate 94 Points “When some are releasing their 2021 wine, Pazo Barrantes took a break and are now releasing their 2019 Gran Vino Albariño, after a hiatus of almost two years. Because they changed almost everything… They have 12 hectares of 35-year-old vineyards divided into eight different plots around the winery in the Val do Salnés plus one hectare they rent from the archbishopric. The soils are degraded and sandy granite and the pruning the traditional “parrón,” “emparrado” or pergola at 1.8 to two meters high … The wine is extremely balsamic and medicinal, with an explosive nose with notes of white flowers, but the nose changes, as we know. What impressed me was the seamless structure and the harmony on the palate. It’s titillating, elegant, detailed and nuanced, with terrific balance. I was gobsmacked!”
 
Arriving Friday

Spain

“The L’ermita of Monsant”
Espectacle Del Montsant 2019 750ml $125 special, 36 bottles available
Wine Advocate 99 Points “It’s always an exciting moment tasting a new vintage of the wine from one of the most beautiful vineyards in Montsant, and the 2019 Espectacle del Montsant didn’t disappoint. It’s always Mediterranean, heady and ripe, decadent and hedonistic. 2019 was a warm and quite classical vintage in the zone, with good ripeness (the wine’s label lists 15.5% alcohol), and the wine is hedonistic, nuanced and complex, with very good acidity, which is one of the characteristics that makes this vintage so complete. Despite everything, the wine is medium to full-bodied and comes through as perfumed and ethereal. They do long macerations and long aging in foudre. 2019 is a very serious vintage for this wine; it’s a little closed and needs time in the glass, and it’s tight and seamless, a little austere for what this wine usually is. This is truly spectacular.”
 
***Lowest Price in the United States***
This wine is also subject to our current discounted Spanish wine sale

Oregon

“Bergstrom”
Bergstrom Silice Pinot Noir 2021 750ml $99 special, 6 bottles available
Wine Advocate 94 Points “Medium ruby-purple, the 2021 Pinot Noir Silice Vineyard blossoms slowly to pomegranate, blackberry, watermelon, dried herbs and aniseed. The medium-bodied palate is loaded with wild berry fruit. Combining power and elegance, it’s silky and seamless in the mouth, and a flourish of spicy accents across the finish hints it has more to reveal over the next 2-3 years in bottle.”
Wine Spectator 95 Points “Supple, richly textured and elegantly complex, this Pinot opens with a burst of fresh raspberry, then unfolds with notes of forest floor and brown baking spices, plus a touch of licorice as it builds tension toward refined tannins. Drink now through 2032.”

Bergstrom Le Pre Du Col Pinot Noir 2021 750ml $114.50 special, 6 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!”
Wine Spectator 94 Points “Brooding, with an appealing earthy, forest floor accent to the blueberry and dusky spice flavors as this builds tension and density toward medium-grained tannins. Hands off for now. Best from 2024 through 2034.”

Bergstrom “Bergstrom Vineyard” 2021 750ml $141.80 special, 6 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.”
Wine Spectator 94 Points “Polished and sleekly structured, with a burst of fresh cherry and raspberry fruit flavors that draw in details of underbrush and black tea, ultimately building toward a spicy finish. Drink now through 2031. 610 cases made.”

“Composition: Romanee-Conti meets Willamette”
“The Composition Wines are a new project of Bertrand de Villaine– Yes, from the de Villaine family that brought us the famed Domaine de Romanee-Conti. Their estate 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. Their fields are dry farmed and biodynamique.”
 
Composition Chardonnay Willamette Valley 2021 750ml $89 special, 6 bottles available 
Composition Pinot Noir Willamette Valley 2021 750ml $89 special, 12 bottles available
 
California

 “Hyde De Villaine”
Hyde De Villaine Belle Cousine 2019 750ml $99 special, 6 bottles available
Wine Advocate 94 Points “The 2018 Belle Cousine is an elegant blend of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon and 45% Merlot from the Hyde Vineyard. It was matured in about 20% new French oak for 22 months and aged an additional two years in bottle before release. Deep ruby-purple in color, it has pure aromas of cassis, bouquet garni, tobacco leaves, sandalwood and graphite, with bright bursts of red cherry and flowers. Full-bodied, the palate is surprisingly lifted, with granular tannins, seamless acidity and a long, mineral-driven finish.”
 
France
 
“Joseph Drouhin”
Drouhin Clos Des Mouches Rouge 2020 750ml $159 special, 9 bottles available
James Suckling 97 points “This is exactly what Burgundy and pinot-noir freaks around Planet Wine are looking for. Enveloping nose of red and black raspberries that’s really hard to resist. So concentrated, suave and sophisticated on the rich but very precisely balanced palate. Extremely long and silky finish. From biodynamically grown grapes.”
 
“Chateau Pradeaux”
Chateau Pradeaux Provence Rose 2022 750ml $22.50 special, 36 bottles available
Winemaker’s Note “Made from 45% Cinsault and 40% Mourvedre, with the balance split among Grenache and Carignan, the pale-iron-colored Côtes de Provence Rose is closer to Bandol-level complexity and concentration than we have yet seen from this wine”
 
Chateau Pradeaux Bandol Rose 2022 750ml $29.50 special, 36 bottles available
Chateau Pradeaux Bandol Rose 2022 1.5L $69 special, 6 bottles available
Winemaker’s Note “Robust, rich, and complex with an ability to age gracefully, this wine is based on Cinsault (50%) and Mourvèdre (50%), taking its slight orange tint from the latter cépage. The younger vines of the domaine (average age: 25 years) are utilized to produce a rare rosé with staying power and exceptional complexity. The Rosé is vinified by a direct pressing for 24 hours followed by fermentation in cement tanks at a controlled temperature of 18 degrees Celsius for about 15 days.”
 
Italy

“Rocca Di Montegrossi”
Rocca Di Montegrossi Rosato Tuscano 2022 750ml $20.90 special, 36+ bottles available
Vinous 92+ Points “A burst of sour melon and crushed rocks gives way to green apples and fresh mint as the captivating 2022 Rosato blossoms in the glass. This blends vibrant acidity with zesty mineral tones and sweet spice to create a truly harmonious and high-energy vibe on the palate. Nothing is out of place as the 2022 finishes with a tinge of crisp minerality, leaving the mouth-watering as gingery spice hints fade. This is stunning today, yet it may get even better over the coming months in bottle.”
 
Hungary
 
“Royal Tokaji”
Royal Tokaji Dry Mezes Maly Great 1st Growth 2021 750ml $39 special, 18 bottles available
Vinopolnote: “Mézes Mály is one of just two vineyards classified as a Great First Growth. Its volcanic bedrock is overlaid with deep loess soil, giving elegance, finesse and floral notes to its wines. Royal Tokaji owns 11 of its 19 hectares, facing south with views to the Great Plain in the distance.”
Importer’s Note: “Mézes Mály (MAIZE-esh my) is arguably the world’s original “superstar” vineyard. The first classification of the already legendary vineyards of Tokaji took place in the 1730’s, the earliest of any wine region, and Mézes Mály was designated as a “Great First Growth” – one of only two vineyards with that classification. Royal Tokaji and Hugh Johnson jointly own this vineyard, which is the winery’s only vineyard with deep loess topsoil over volcanic bedrock. Vine age ranges from 20 to 60 years old.”
 
Royal Tokaji Urgaya Dry Furmint 1st Growth 2021 750ml $39 special, 18 bottles available
Importer’s Note “A fresh, crisp wine showing all the fine qualities of the unique Furmint grape. Aromas of grape flowers, apple and pear combine with flavours of ripe apricot and peach to produce a sleek, intense dry wine with a long, refreshing finish.”
Staff Pick
Torre Beati Cerasuolo Rosa-Ae 2022 750ml $19.50 special, 35 bottles available
“This is a fantastic little wine for your summertime consumption. Notes of fresh strawberry, blooming roses, and wet stones. A nice glass of this wine in the warm weather makes the long winter feel worth it.”
-Tracy
 

Featured Wineries
Arterberry Maresh and Tan Fruit
 
You almost certainly know the Maresh family for the stunning wines from the stunning Pinot Noir and Chardonnay they produce under their Arterberry Maresh label and if you’re lucky you’ve already tried Jim Maresh’s new cult project Tan Fruit which is being described as producing some of the finest chardonnays anywhere in the world.

While Jim likes to say he started Tan Fruit to “experiment and play around with technique,” he maintains a very minimalist approach. He prefers picking the grapes early (“al dente” he calls it), aging in a combination of steel and oak, and to ferment bone dry. As he says in his most recent Wine Advocate profile, his philosophy in the winery is “Just get the Hell out of the way.”

Sourcing from vineyards throughout the Willamette Valley, these represent dry-farmed artistry at its finest. These Chardonnays exhibit a complete and unique showing of Oregon’s terroir. Regardless of vineyard location, vine age and elevation these are both delightfully accessible now and will only get better with age.
 
 
Vintage Wine Points Price/Quantity
2021 Arterberry Maresh Pinot Noir Dundee Hills 750ml Wine Advocate 97 $33 special, 36+ bottles
2021 Arterberry Maresh Pinot Noir Old Vines 750ml Wine Advocate 98  $56.50 special, 36+ bottles 
2021  Arterberry Maresh Vineyard Chardonnay 750ml  Wine Advocate 96 $72 special, 35 bottles
2021 Arterberry Maresh Vineyard Pinot Noir 750ml Wine Advocate 98+ $72 special, 36+ bottles
2021 Arterberry Maresh Pinot Noir Weber Vyd 750ml Wine Advocate 97+ $72 special, 22 bottles
2021 Tan Fruit Cuvee Tan Fruit Chardonnay 750ml Wine Advocate 97 $39 special, 36+ bottles
2019 Tan Fruit Votilla Vineyard Chardonnay 750ml Wine Advocate 97 $56.50 special, 36 bottles
2019 Tan Fruit Maresh Vineyard Chardonnay 750ml Wine Advocate 97 $59 special, 36+ bottles
2021 Tan Fruit Oak Grove Chardonnay 2021 750ml Wine Advocate 97 $59 special, 36+ bottles
2021 Tan Fruit Sophie’s Vineyard Chardonnay 750ml Wine Advocate 93 $59 special, 36+ bottles
2021 Tan Fruit Tank Fruit Chardonnay 750ml Wine Advocate 97 $59 special, 36+ bottles
2021 Tan Fruit Maresh Vineyard Chardonnay 750ml Wine Advocate 97 $59 special, 36+ bottles
2021 Tan Fruit Fairview Chardonnay 750ml Wine Advocate 95 $66 special, 17 bottles
GD Vajra Barolo Sale
And Luigi Baudana Too! 
 
Gd Vajra Barolo Bricco Delle Viole 2017 750ml Was $78 Now $69 special, 33 bottles available
Jeb Dunnuck 96 Points “The 2017 Barolo Bricco Delle Viole is the darker fruited of the G.D. Vajra sites and has rounded floral aromatics of crushed roses, resin, and cranberry cocktail. The palate is ripe and inviting, with building structure and notes of fresh red cherry, blood orange, and clove. The warmth of the vintage is felt without sacrificing lift. Drink 2025-2050”
 
Gd Vajra Barolo Bricco Delle Viole 2018 750ml Was $79 Now $69 special, 22 bottles available
#9 Top 100 Cellar Selections 2022 – Wine Enthusiast
Wine Enthusiast 95 Points “Cellar Selection. Heady aromas of violet, camphor, leather and tobacco lead the way on this fragrant red. On the palate, tightly knit, fine-grained tannins accompany ripe Marasca cherry, crushed raspberry and licorice. Fresh acidity keeps it balanced. Drink 2025–2035.”
 
Gd Vajra Barolo Coste Di Rose 2017 750ml Was 54.50 Now $49 special, 24 bottles available
Wine Enthusiast 96 Points “Wild berry, menthol and tilled earth aromas mingle with whiffs of dark spice. Linear and savory, the lithe palate is already immediate, featuring juicy raspberry, red cherry, crushed mint and star anise accompanied by taut, polished tannins. Tangy acidity keeps it fresh and bright.”
 
Gd Vajra Barolo Coste Di Rose 2018 750ml Was $62.50 Now $57.50 special, 29 bottles available
Vinous 92 Points “The 2018 Barolo Coste di Rose is a delicate, understated Barolo that will need a bit of time to fully emerge. There’s lovely purity to the fruit here, but also some angular contours that need to resolve. The 2018 is a mid-weight wine in the style of the vintage, and yet there is fine balance.”
 
Gd Vajra Barolo Ravera 2017 750ml Was $75 Now $69 special, 22 bottles available
Wine Enthusiast 97 Points ” From the township of Novello and from what is now widely recognized as one of the denomination’s top vineyard sites, this is just stunning, offering intense aromas of wild berries, new leather, floral notes, camphor and grilled herb. The delicious, structured palate shows finesse and power, featuring ripe red cherry, blood orange, cedar, licorice and mineral notes suggesting tangy iron. Noble tannins provide support. Reflecting the vintage, this won’t need years to come around but will also age well for at least another decade.”
 
Luigi Baudana Barolo Baudana 2017 750ml Was $79 Now $69 special, 17 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, 18 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, 24 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.”
June Sale- All Spanish Wines
Big Savings On Our Top Brands

Buy 6-11 bottles for a 5% discount
Buy 12+ bottles for a 10% discount
 
Ends June 30th at 6pm… the best selection is NOW!

This is first come / first served and limited to stock on hand.
Discount does not apply to pre-arrival wines or case discounts.
Discount will not display online, we will adjust your invoice before charging your card.
 
Espectacle Del Montsant 2018 750ml $119 special, 17 bottles available
Wine Spectator 98 Points “As with other wines, I also tasted the 2018 Espectacle del Montsant next to the 2017 to catch up, as I last tasted the region some 16 months ago. 2018 was a cooler year of slow ripeness, and the grapes achieved an amazing 16% alcohol. The wine is truly spectacular, true to its name. It has tons of violet notes and aromatic herbs, the palate is gentler, and the tannins are rounder, polished and elegant. It has full body but isn’t heavy. There is a lot of complexity, and the wine developed slowly in the glass, showing nuances of cereals, kirsch, orange peel and lots of spices and herbs. It’s opulent and full, deep and complex. Amazing in its style. Some 6,500 bottles produced.”
 
Clos Erasmus Priorat 2019 750ml $228 special, 15 bottles available
Wine Advocate 98+ Points “The serious and powerful 2019 Clos Erasmus feels quite classical Priorat, with notes of graphite, black fruit and licorice; it’s a solid Priorat with weight, concentration and clout. There are still some smoke, toast and spice notes from the élevage—100% in barrel, some 40% of them new, for around 18 months—and the wine always needs a little bit of time in bottle. Despite the 15.5% alcohol, the wine comes through as balanced and with freshness, there is no heat or sensation of alcohol; you need the tannins and acidity to counterbalance the alcohol, and they are doing that here. This is more balsamic, aromatic and exuberant. It’s showy, hedonistic and rich, a solid Erasmus. The tannins are still quite present and need some more time to be resolved. 3,300 bottles were filled in May 2020.”

Bodegas Muga Aro 2019 750ml $349 special, 4 bottles available
Jeb Dunnuck 100 points “Pure magic, the 2019 Aro is 70% Tempranillo and 30% Graciano from a plant by plant selection of the Muga family’s oldest vines of Tempranillo, blended with a substantial portion of Graciano. This dense purple behemoth has a primordial bouquet of pure cassis, graphite, crushed stone, lead pencil, new leather, and hints of spring flowers. Building incrementally on the palate, with full-bodied richness, a huge mid-palate, and ripe, velvety tannins, this is one heavenly Rioja that deserves 7-8 years of bottle age and will age like a First Growth from Bordeaux. Hats off to the team at Muga for another incredible wine.”
 
Vintage Wine Points Price/Quantity
2019 Avancia Godello Cuvee De O 750ml Vinous 91 Points $18 special, 17 bottles available 
2021 Ameztoi Txakolina Rubentis Rosado 750ml Vinous 91 Points $21.90 special, 36+ bottles available
2018 Muga Anden La Estacion Rioja Crianza 750ml Vinous 90 $19 special, 46 bottles available
2020 Gramona Mart Rosat Xarel-Lo Vermell Penedes 750ml   $20.90 special, 15 bottles available
2017 Cvne Cune Contino Blanco Rioja 750ml Vinous 92 Points $49 special, 10 bottles available
2021 Envinate Palo Blanco Canary Islands 750ml   $54.50 special, 10 available
 
This is just a small sample of the Spanish wines we offer. Shop for brands like
Muga Artuke Breca Lopez Heredia Palacio Pingus Vega Sicilia Zorzal
and More on our website!
Collector’s Corner
High-end Champagne
 
Pommery Cuvee Louise Rose 2004 750ml $219 special, 39 bottles available
James Suckling 95 Points “This is a new release and shows wonderful finesse and beauty. You know that the moment you see the pale-amber color. It’s medium bodied with freshness and energy and a long, vivid finish. A joy to taste. Drink now.”

De Venoge Louis Xv Brut 2008 750ml $249 special, 22 bottles available
James Suckling 95 Points “This is really punchy and broad-shouldered with muscular structure and citrusy undertones. Full body. Lightly tannic and a fresh and vivid finish. This is the first vintage without malolactic fermentation ever. One for the cellar. Better in 2022.”

Taittinger Comtes Champagne Blanc De Blancs 2004 750ml $279 special, 15 bottles available
Vinous 96 Points “I am thrilled with the way the 2004 Comtes de Champagne continues to evolve in bottle. A few years ago, the 2004 was quite focused and linear, in the style of the vintage, but more recently, the wine has begun to fill out beautifully. The 2004 remains bright, with a full range of citrus, white flower and mineral nuances that dance on the palate. A brisk, saline-infused finish rounds things out beautifully in a Comtes that impresses for its crystalline purity.”

Bollinger R.D. 2004 1.5L $519 special, 4 bottles available
Wine Enthusiast 98 Points “Top 100 Cellar Selection in 2019. The wine’s name stands for recently disgorged and this vintage Champagne was taken off its lees in 2018. That gave many years for it to develop its depth of flavor, richness and beautifully memorable toasty flavors.”
Wine & Spirits 98 Points “Time has graced this wine, proving the value of Bollinger’s policy of long aging on the lees followed by prompt release after disgorgement. This RD (Recently Disgorged) 2004 is a joyous wine, staunch, cold and powerful at first, transforming to fresh fruit shadowed by darker tones of barrel fermentation. As it opens in the glass, revealing racy energy, a range of floral pear and apple flavors emerge, resonant with a sense of limestone capturing the sun and reflecting it back in pale power.”

Laurent Perrier Grand Siecle Alexandra Rose 1990 750ml $599 special, 2 bottles available
Wine Spectator 94 Points “Beautifully done. Vigorous and almost chewy, this intense, full-bodied rosé exudes mint, berry and wood aromas and flavors. Muscular and dense, with a character that engages the palate and needs contemplation or food.”
Wine Enthusiast 94 Points “It’s a pale wine, on the rose side of gold, a beautiful visual introduction to a stunning wine. The strawberry flavors are wrapped in a silvery texture, crisply dry, and despite the intensity of fruit, the wine seems weightless on the palate. It’s gorgeous now, but, amazingly, just a baby. It’s long-term future is assured. Twenty years from now, this will be heavenly.”

Louis Roederer Cristal Rose 2013 750ml $619 special, 3 bottles available
Wine Advocate 99 Points “A candidate for wine-of-the-vintage honors in Champagne, Roederer’s 2013 Cristal Rosé is showing brilliantly, unfurling in the glass with notes of crisp orchard fruit, white flowers, red berries, stone fruit, freshly baked bread and tangerine oil. Full-bodied, layered and multidimensional, the vintage’s bright girdling acids are amply cloaked in exuberant, expressive and notably concentrated fruit; so while this Cristal is as tensile and age-worthy as one would expect […] This is another banner vintage for what I consider the reigning champion of the region’s tête de cuvée bottlings, and it will be worth an effort to acquire.”

Louis Roederer Cristal Vinotheque 1999 750ml $1,245 special, 3 bottles available
James Suckling 98 Points “The nose has such beautiful, autolysis character with brown-mushroom and toasted-almond aromas. The nose has still-fresh lemons and oyster shell. Very smooth, pastry-like texture on the palate with even layers and a core of fresh lemons and peaches. The striking thing here is the balance and melted-together complexity. In a very great place. This spent seven years sur latte, seven sur pointe and was disgorged in 2014. Drink now.”
 
 Vintage  Wine Points Price/Quantity
2015  R. Pouillon Method Fabrice Chemin Du Bois Extra-brut 750ml     $199 special, 5 bottles available
2017 Christophe Baron Champagne Les Alouettes 1.5L 95 Points Wine Advocate $259 special, 8 bottles available
2017 Christophe Baron Champagne Dessus Marie 1.5L 96 Points Vinous $259 special, 4 bottles available
2018 Georges Laval Les Chenes 1er Cru Brut Nature 750ml    $269 special, 2 bottles available
2004 Pommery Cuvee Louise Brut 1.5L 95 Points James Suckling $279 special, 8 bottles available
2000 Duval-Leroy Femme De Champagne 1.5L 94 Points Wine Spectator $299 special, 3 bottles available
2013 Pol Roger Cuvee Sir Winston Churchill Brut 750ml 98 Points Wine Enthusiast $319 Special, 8 bottles available
2014 Louis Roederer Cristal 750ml 98 Points Wine Spectator $349 special, 11 bottles available
2007 Louis Roederer Cristal 750ml 97+ Vinous Points $399 special, 1 bottles available
2015 Georges Laval Cumieres 1er Cru Brut Nature 3L 94+ Points John Gilman $599 special, 1 bottle available
2013 Georges Laval Les Longues Violes Brut Nature 750ml  96 Points Vinous $779 special, 1 bottle available
 
 
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Thank you from the team at Vinopolis!
Be well & drink well.

Markus Molitor: A Golden Revelation: May 2023

 In This Newsletter:

Markus Molitor
A Golden Revelation

It’s truly a revelation when wine forms a seamless and expansive bond with the food that it accompanies. This is the premise of why food and wine pairing is such a proselytized aspect of culture and fine dining. I’ve seen the scenario play out for restaurant guests numerous times in the course of my career, and Riesling has often been the vehicle of delivery.

I used to run wine service at a pan-Asian restaurant which had a beautiful array of indigenous dishes and a wine list of Grand Award caliber to boot. The crown jewels of the wine program were the deep verticals we had of classic German Riesling, and numerous bottles aged to peak maturity. Customers would come in and say, “Wow! That’s a lot of sweet wine! Do people typically drink that with their meal?” All I needed was one statement like this and I’d be off to the races.

Do you know what happens when spicy Szechuan peppercorns and fatty duck collide with the sweet fruit of a Mosel masterpiece? Or when Thai chilies are quenched and redefined by lush, late-harvest juice? Smiles. Wide eyes. Numerous additional bites and sips.

It’s a tragedy that such experiences are unknown to so many. Sweet wine is our hedonistic ally and not a secret we have to keep in the dark. Once you’ve seen the wizardry it can perform with food, you’ll come to appreciate the joy it inspires completely on its own. I personally drink bottles of Markus Molitor gold capsule wines in both scenarios and trust me…..I have no regrets.

Below you’ll find all the available Molitor wines in the Gold Capsule category at Vinopolis. If you’re a sweet Riesling veteran, then this is your playground. If you’re a newbie, here’s your opportunity to start your journey with the very best.

 

 WINE WEB LINK VWS PRICE RETAIL PRICE AVAILABLE CAPSULE COLOR
MOLITOR BERNKAST BADSTUBE AUSLESE*** GK 2017 375ML Link  $             59.00  $               69.95 19 Gold
MOLITOR BERNKAST BADSTUBE AUSLESE*** GK 2017 750ML Link  $             99.00  $              119.95 21 Gold
MOLITOR BERNKAST BADSTUBE AUSLESE*** GK 2019 375ML Link  $             66.00  $                79.95 12 Gold
MOLITOR BERNKASTELER LAY AUSLESE*** GK 2013 750 Link  $             99.00  $              119.95 5 Gold
MOLITOR ERDENER TREPPCHEN AUSLESE *** GK 2017 750 Link  $             99.00  $              139.95 14 Gold
MOLITOR GRAACHER HIMMELREICH AUSLESE** GK 2019 Link  $             59.00  $                69.95 10 Gold
MOLITOR GRAACHER DOMPROBST AUSLESE** GK 2019 Link  $             49.00  $                59.95 24 Gold
MOLITOR KINHEIMER HUBERTUSLAY BA GK 2019 375ML Link  $             79.00  $                99.95 11 Gold
MOLITOR KINHEIMER HUBERTUSLAY BEERENAUSLESE 2017 375ML Link  $             79.00  $                99.95 10 Gold
MOLITOR KINHEIMER HUBERTUSLAY AUSLESE*** GK 2016 Link  $             89.00  $                99.95 10 Gold
MOLITOR KINHEIMER HUBERTUSLAY AUSLESE*** GK 2017 Link  $             99.00  $              179.95 14 Gold
MOLITOR KINHEIMER HUBERTUSLAY AUSLESE*** GK 2019 Link  $           119.00  $              149.95 12 Gold
MOLITOR KINHEIMER HUBERTUSLAY AUSLESE***GK ’13 375 Link  $             39.00  $                59.95 11 Gold
MOLITOR KINHEIMER ROSENBERG AUSLESE*** GK 2017 Link  $             89.00  $              119.95 17 Gold
MOLITOR KINHEIMER ROSENBERG AUSLESE*** GK 2019 Link  $           119.00  $              149.95 11 Gold
MOLITOR KINHEIMER ROSENBERG SPATLESE GK 2016 750 Link  $             27.00  $                34.95 2 Gold
MOLITOR OCKFENER BOCKSTEIN AUSLESE *** GK 2019 Link  $           119.00  $              149.95 11 Gold
MOLITOR SAARBURGER RAUSCH AUSLESE** GK 2017 750ML Link  $             69.00  $                89.95 17 Gold
MOLITOR SAARBURGER RAUSCH AUSLESE*** GK 2017 750ML Link  $             99.00  $              179.95 17 Gold
MOLITOR URZIGER WURZGARTEN BEERENAUSLESE GK 17 375ML CASE-6 Link  $           849.00  $              979.95 1 Gold
MOLITOR URZIGER WURZGARTEN BA GK 2019 375ML Link  $             79.00  $                99.95 11 Gold
MOLITOR URZIGER WURZGARTEN BEERENAUSLESE 2017 375ML Link  $           149.00  $              179.95 8 Gold
MOLITOR URZIGER WURZ SPATLESE GK 2017 750 CASE-6 Link  $           219.00  $              299.95 1 Gold
MOLITOR URZIGER WURZGARTEN AUSLESE** GK 2017 750ML Link  $             49.00  $                59.95 33 Gold
MOLITOR URZIGER WURZGARTEN AUSLESE** GK 2019 750ML Link  $             49.00  $                59.95 24 Gold
MOLITOR URZIGER WURZGARTEN AUSLESE*** GK 2015 750 Link  $             89.00  $              119.95 7 Gold
MOLITOR URZIGER WURZGARTEN AUSLESE*** GK 2017 750 Link  $           119.00  $              149.00 19 Gold
MOLITOR URZIGER WURZGARTEN AUSLESE*** GK 2018 750 Link  $             99.00  $              119.95 9 Gold
MOLITOR URZIGER WURZGARTEN AUSLESE*** GK 2019 750 Link  $           125.00  $              149.95 19 Gold
MOLITOR URZIGER WURZGARTEN KABINETT GK 2018 Link  $             29.00  $                34.95 7 Gold
MOLITOR URZIGER WURZGARTEN KABINETT GK 2019 Link  $             26.00  $                29.95 24 Gold
MOLITOR URZIGER WURZGARTEN SPATLESE GK 2017 750 Link  $             39.00  $                49.95 22 Gold
MOLITOR URZIGER WURZGARTEN SPATLESE GK 2019 750 Link  $             33.00  $                37.95 25 Gold
MOLITOR WEHLENER KLOSTERBERG AUSLESE** GK 2015 750 Link  $             49.00  $                69.95 9 Gold
MOLITOR WEHLENER SONNENUHR AUSLESE*** GK 2013 375M Link  $           149.00  $              179.95 1 Gold
MOLITOR WEHLENER SONNENUHR AUSLESE*** GK 2016 750 Link  $             99.00  $              119.95 11 Gold
MOLITOR WEHLENER SONNENUHR AUSLESE*** GK 2017 750 Link  $           128.00  $              149.95 12 Gold
MOLITOR WEHLENER SONNENUHR AUSLESE*** GK 2019 750 Link  $           125.00  $              149.95 17 Gold
MOLITOR WEHLENER SONNENUHR KABINETT GK 2018 Link  $             27.00  $                34.95 21 Gold
MOLITOR WEHLENER SONNENUHR SPATLESE GK 2019 Link  $             33.00  $                37.95 16 Gold
MOLITOR ZELTINGER HIMMELREICH AUSLESE*** GK 2017 750ML Link  $             99.00  $              119.95 17 Gold
MOLITOR ZELTINGER HIMMELREICH AUSLESE*** GK 2019 750ML Link  $           115.00  $              134.95 9 Gold
MOLITOR ZELTINGER SCHLOSSBERG AUSLESE** GK 17 375M CASE-6 Link  $           166.00  $              208.95 6 Gold
MOLITOR ZELTINGER SCHLOSSBERG AUSLESE** GK 17 375M Link  $             29.00  $                34.95 20 Gold
MOLITOR ZELTINGER SCHLOSSBERG AUSLESE*** GK 2016 Link  $             89.00  $                99.95 15 Gold
MOLITOR ZELTINGER SCHLOSSBERG AUSLESE*** GK 2019 Link  $           119.00  $              149.95 12 Gold
MOLITOR ZELTINGER SONNENUHR KABINETT GK 2018 Link  $             28.00  $                31.95 25 Gold
MOLITOR ZELTINGER SONNENUHR KABINETT GK 2019 Link  $             29.00  $                34.95 19 Gold
MOLITOR ZELTINGER SONNENUHR AUSLESE** GK 2015 750 Link  $             59.00  $                69.95 8 Gold
MOLITOR ZELTINGER SONNENUHR AUSLESE** GK 2016 750 Link  $             59.00  $                79.95 7 Gold
MOLITOR ZELTINGER SONNENUHR AUSLESE** GK 2019 750 Link  $             69.00  $                79.95 23 Gold
MOLITOR ZELTINGER SONNENUHR AUSLESE*** GK 13 375ML Link  $           149.00  $              179.95 6 Gold
MOLITOR ZELTINGER SONNENUHR AUSLESE*** GK 15 MAG Link  $           199.00  $              219.95 1 Gold
MOLITOR ZELTINGER SONNENUHR AUSLESE*** GK 2016 750 Link  $             99.00  $              119.95 9 Gold
MOLITOR ZELTINGER SONNENUHR AUSLESE*** GK 2017 750 Link  $           299.00  $              399.95 13 Gold
MOLITOR ZELTINGER SONNENUHR AUSLESE*** GK 2019 750 Link  $           128.00  $              149.95 13 Gold
MOLITOR ZELTINGER SONNENHUHR BEERENAUSLESE* 2018 375ML Link  $           119.00  $              149.95 12 Gold
MOLITOR ZELTINGER SONNENHUHR BEERENAUSLESE* 2017 375ML Link  $           199.00  $              249.95 19 Gold
MOLITOR ZELTINGER SONNENHUHR BEERENAUSLESE * 2017 750ML Link  $           399.00  $              499.95 12 Gold
MOLITOR ZELTINGER SONNENUHR TBA GK 2019 375ML Link  $           249.00  $              299.95 18 Gold
MOLITOR ZELTINGER SONNENUHR TBA GK 2019 750ML Link  $           499.00  $              599.95 12 Gold

 
We continue to extoll the virtues of Markus Molitor throughout the month of May. If you missed our most recent Newsletter deep dive into the wines of this ambitious Mosel estate, you can find it on our Website with a complete listing of Molitor wines in-stock.


We’re open 10 AM – 6 PM daily
Order Online / By Phone / By Email
Thank you from the team at Vinopolis!
Be well & drink well.

Newsletter 5/29/23

In This Newsletter:

Pre-Arrivals
2022 Bandol Roses, Tavels, and more!
Staff Pick
Thibaud Boudignon Rose 
Featured Winery
Weingut Max Ferdinand Richter 
May Sale- Rhone Wines
FINAL DAYS– Ends Wednesday!
June Sale- Spanish Wines
Monsant, Rioja, Priorat, and more!
Hidden Gems
“The Other White Burgundy,” Romanee-Conti goes to Provence, and more
Special 3 Day Collector’s Sale
Bond Estates
Pre-Arrivals

Arriving June 2nd
 
Grands Bois Cotes Du Rhone Rose 2022 750ml $14 special, 36 bottles available
Vinopolnote “50% Grenache, 50% Mourvèdre. 13% alc. Certified Organic.
The epitome of quality & value in the Côtes-du-Rhône, Marc Besnardeau’s wines are ripe, vibrant & delicious! Direct press only, 20 days low temperature fermentation in stainless steel tank. Lychee color and peach/lychee bouquet. Very fresh on the pallet with peach and fruit drop flavors.”
 
Reverdy Sancerre Rose Terre De Maimbray 2022 750ml $26 special, 36 bottles available
Vinopolnote 100% Pinot Noir, Hand harvested, Direct Press. Aged in stainless-steel. Sustainable. A classic: light pink, long and superb mineral acidity.
 
Domaine La Bastide Blanche Bandol Rose 2022 750ml $26 special, 36+ bottles available
Vinopolnote “78% Mourvedre, 18% Grenache, 4% Cinsault. Limestone soil, hand-harvested. Certified Organic. Bottled exclusively for Weygandt-Metzler Importing & the American market. The 2022 is fresh, typical Bandol with more spices this year than in previous years. A lot of character, less dark – classic. Lower yields than last 2 vintages, so more substance but great acidity. Partial malo and maceration of the Cinsault and Mourvèdre.”
 
Manissy IGP La Belle Etoile Rose 2022 750ml $11.90 special, 36 bottles available
Importer’s Note Rosé wine. Southern Rhône, France. Organic. 50% Cinsault, 25% Syrah, 25% Grenache. Covering an area of 1.5ha, this site is bathed by the sun and swept by the mistral on a flat plain that rich in limestone with a clay subsoil. Entirely hand-harvested organic grapes that have a cold maceration before being pressed. Low temperature fermentation with indigenous yeasts, which allow the yeast to develop its fruit flavors. Aged in stainless steel tank. Given the name “beautiful star” by the Manissy Brotherhood’s missionary preist, the grapes originate from organically certified vineyards owned by wine-maker Florian André’s mother.
 
Manissy Tavel Tete De Cuvee Rose 2021 750ml $26 special, 24 bottles available
Importer’s Note “Grenache , Clairette, Cinsault. 13.5% alc. Certified Organic. 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.”
 
Manissy Tavel Cuvee Des Lys Rose 2022 750ml $17 special, 36 bottles available
Importer’s Note “50% Grenache , 25% Syrah, 25% Clairette Rose, Direct Pressing. 13.5%. Certified Organic
Young Florian Andre manages Château Manissy, a property of an ancient religious order of Monks in Tavel. These full-bodied Grenache-Clairette rosés fill the bistros & fine restaurants of Paris
each summer. Quintessentially ‘Tavel’ in character, the 2022 is crammed with juicy red berries (strawberries and raspberries) lifted by a touch of grapefruit and citrus zest.”
 
Arriving July
 
Chateau Laforge St Emilion 2009 750ml $75 special, 36 bottles available
Wine Advocate 96 Points “From proprietor Jonathan Maltus, this blend of three terroirs, two on sand and one on gravel, is a blend of 92% Merlot and the rest Cabernet Franc. About 2,000 cases are produced, and the prodigious 2009 is the finest vintage to date. Inky blue/purple, with notes of licorice, camphor, black truffle, blackberry and blueberry, this full-bodied wine has massive concentration yet at the same time displays elegance and harmony. The equilibrium and 60+-second length make for a huge, massive, but incredibly well-balanced wine, like a shadow of the proprietor himself. Drink it over the next 15 or more years.”
Staff Pick
“Thibaud Boudignon Rose De Loire 2022 750ml $24 special, 36+ bottles available
This Rose is amazingly fresh with notes of citrus, orange blossom, and other floral notes. Very savory. You understand why they call the Loire the garden of France when you drink this wine.”
-Joanna
Featured Winery
Weingut Max Ferd. Richter
 
Founded in the 17th century and family run for 9 generations, Weingut Max Ferd. Richter has been instrumental in establishing the reputation of Mosel as one of Germany’s finest wine regions.

Known for their supreme committment to quality, all of their grapes are kept to low yields, hand-picked, soft-pressed, and cold fermented in old oak barrels. Each single vineyard bottling represents a unique experience that reflects the varied patchwork of soil types that make up their estate vineyards.

These are wines of great clarity and concentration, as engaging as they are elegant.
 
Vintage Wine Points Price/Quantity
2018 Max Richter Sonnenuhr Kabinett Feinherb 750ml 93 Wine Advocate $21.90 special, 7 bottles available
2018 Max Richter Veldenzer Elisenberg Kabinett 750ml 92-94 Wine Advocate $21.90 special, 30 bottles available
2018 Max Richter Graacher Himmelreich Kabinett Trocken 750ml 93+ John Gilman   $24 special,  20 bottles available
2018 Max Richter Sonnenuhr Kabinett 750ml 93-95 Wine Advocate $24 special, 27 bottles available
2018 Max Richter Veldenzer Elisenberg Spatlese 750ml 94-96 Wine Advocate $29 special, 36+ bottles available
2018  Max Richter Juffer Sonnenhuhr Spatlese 750ml  95-96 Wine Advocate $33 special, 18 bottles available
2018 Max Richter Wehlener Sonnenhuhr Uralte Reben 750ml 91 Mosel Fine Wines $39 special, 42 bottles available
2018 Max Richter Juffer Sonnenhuhr GG 750ml 94 James Suckling  $45 special, 28 bottles available
2018  Max Richter Juffer Sonnenhuhr Auslese 750ml  96-97 Wine Advocate $49 special, 47 bottles available
2018 Max Richter Wehlener Sonnenhuhr Auslese*** 375ml 97 Wine Advocate $59 special, 7 bottles available
May Sale- All Rhone Wines
Last Three Days To Save!

Buy 6-11 bottles for a 5% discount
Buy 12+ bottles for a 10% discount
 
Ends May 31st at 6pm… the best selection is NOW!
 
 
Discount does not apply to pre-arrival wines or case discounts.
Discount will not display online, we will adjust your invoice before charging your card.
Each 1.5L (Magnum) bottle will be counted as 2 bottles when applied to the discount.
Each 3.0L bottle will be the equivalent of 4 bottles.
6.0L bottles will be counted as 8 bottles.
This is first come / first served and limited to stock on hand.

Saint Cosme Cote Rotie 2018 750ml $69 special, 30 bottles available
Jeb Dunnuck 92-95 Points “One of the gems in the Northern Rhône lineup is the 2018 Côte Rôtie, which, as with all of Louis’ wines, wasn’t destemmed and was brought up in 30-40% new oak. Stunning aromatics of black raspberries, olive tapenade, ground pepper, violets, and assorted meat notes all flow to a medium to full-bodied, opulent, seamless Côte Rôtie that has a smoking good texture. Count me impressed.”

Saint Cosme Cote Rotie 2020 750ml $69 special, 23 bottles available
Jeb Dunnuck 94-96 Points “I loved the 2020 Côte Rôtie, which is certainly the standout from the North. Coming from both the southern and northern ends of the appellation, it’s full-bodied, ripe, and textured, yet never loses a sense of Côte Rôtie elegance. Lots of bacon fat, exotic flowers (I wrote liquid violet in my notes), and gamey blue fruits define the nose, and the balance is spot on, it has silky tannins and is just another brilliant wine.”

Saint Cosme Gigondas Le Claux 2017 750ml $99 special, 6 bottles available
Vinous 96 points “Brilliant violet. Highly perfumed black raspberry and cherry liqueur aromas are accompanied by potpourri, mocha, vanilla and baking spice nuances, along with a smoky mineral flourish that builds in the glass. Juicy and appealingly sweet, displaying palate-staining red and blue fruit, spicecake and floral pastille flavors that show superb depth and a smooth, seamless texture. Deftly balances richness and vivacity and finishes extremely long and spicy, with smooth, harmonious tannins and a subtle echo of candied flowers and kirsch.”
 
Saint Cosme Gigondas Le Claux 2018 750ml $99 special, 21 bottles available
Wine Advocate 95-97 Points “Everything about the all-Grenache 2018 Gigondas le Claux is big. From the huge black cherry and blackberry fruit, to the insane levels of concentration, the rich, velvety tannins and the never-ending, licorice-tinged finish, this beauty should evolve positively for at least a decade and a half.”
 
Saint Cosme Gigondas Le Claux 2020 750ml $119 special, 30 bottles available
Vinous 98 Points “Opaque red. Sharply defined red fruit, floral and Moroccan spice aromas, along with intense mineral, garrigue and cola nuances. Shows superb depth as well as vivacity on the palate, offering juicy red and blue fruit, floral pastille and spicecake flavors and an exotic hint of blood orange. Finishes impressively long and precise with firm tension, discreet tannins and reverberating red fruit and floral notes.”
 
Saint Cosme Gigondas Le Poste 2020 750ml $119 special, 14 bottles available
Wine Spectator 96 Points “A behemoth of a wine, with dense layers of sweet, ripe plum sauce and mulled cherry that take a dark, savory turn on the palate, coated in melted iron, black licorice, balsamic reduction and singed herbs. Despite its massive power and coiled energy, this is surprisingly delicious now, with beautiful harmony to the texture and structure. A wine to savor and contemplate. Drink now through 2040.”
 
Saint Cosme Gigondas Hominis Fides 2020 750ml $128 special, 16 bottles available
Jeb Dunnuck 97-100 points “At the moment, the 2020 Gigondas Hominis Fides looks to be the standout of the three single vineyards, although all three are beautiful wines in the making. It certainly offers the most power and concentration, with lots of ground pepper, Provençal garrigue, violets, and loamy soils notes, as well as a darker cassis and berry-driven core of fruit. It builds beautifully on the palate, with ample structure, incredible balance, and a great, great finish.”
 
Vintage Wine Points Price/Quantity
2020 Saint Cosme Crozes Hermitage 750ml 90-92 Jeb Dunnuck $39 special, 36+ bottles available
2020 Saint Cosme St Joseph 750ml Jeb Dunnuck 91-93 $39 special, 54 bottles available
2017 Saint Cosme Deux Albion Rouge 1.5L   $39 special, 4 bottles available
2018 Saint Cosme CDP 750ml Wine Spectator 93 Points $45 special, 36+ bottles available
2019 Saint Cosme CDP 750ml   $49 special, 36+ bottles available
2018 Saint Cosme Gigondas 750ml Jeb Dunnuck 93 points $49 special, 9 bottles available
2020 Saint Cosme Gigondas 750ml Wine Spectator 94 points $49 special, 36+ bottles available
2017 Saint Cosme Cote Rotie 750ml Jeb Dunnuck 94 Points $55 special, 8 bottles available
2019 Saint Cosme Cote Rotie 750ml Jeb Dunnuck 95-97 Points $69 special, 4 bottles available
2018 Saint Cosme Gigondas 1.5L Jeb Dunnuck 93 points $79 special, 26 bottles available
2020 Saint Cosme Condrieu 750ml Wine Spectator 94 Points $84.50, 9 bottles available
2019 Saint Cosme Gigondas 1.5L Wine Specator 95 points $99 special, 11 bottles available
2020 Saint Cosme Gigondas 1.5L Wine Spectator 94 points $99 special, 23 bottles available
 
June Sale- All Spanish Wines
Big Scores and Big Savings

Buy 6-11 bottles for a 5% discount
Buy 12+ bottles for a 10% discount
 
Ends June 30th at 6pm… the best selection is NOW!

This is first come / first served and limited to stock on hand.
Discount does not apply to pre-arrival wines or case discounts.
Discount will not display online, we will adjust your invoice before charging your card.
 
Vinedos Paganos El Puntido Rioja Gran Reserva 2008 750ml $69 special, 19 bottles available
Wine Advocate 97 Points “I was greatly impressed by the 2008 El Puntido Gran Reserva, a wine with a more traditional profile than the majority of wines from the Eguren family. At age 14, the wine is glorious, still young and with a mixture of primary and more developed notes. It goes more in the direction of the old wines, with balsamic notes of incense and cedarwood, mushrooms and some berries and herbs. It’s complex and elegant, with fully resolved tannins. This was bottled back in May 2011, so it’s been in bottle for over a decade, and the texture shows it. It has 14% alcohol and a pH of 3.55. This matured in brand-new French oak barrels for 28 months, and the wine has absorbed the oak completely.”

Espectacle Del Montsant 2018 750ml $119 special, 17 bottles available
Wine Spectator 98 Points “As with other wines, I also tasted the 2018 Espectacle del Montsant next to the 2017 to catch up, as I last tasted the region some 16 months ago. 2018 was a cooler year of slow ripeness, and the grapes achieved an amazing 16% alcohol. The wine is truly spectacular, true to its name. It has tons of violet notes and aromatic herbs, the palate is gentler, and the tannins are rounder, polished and elegant. It has full body but isn’t heavy. There is a lot of complexity, and the wine developed slowly in the glass, showing nuances of cereals, kirsch, orange peel and lots of spices and herbs. It’s opulent and full, deep and complex. Amazing in its style. Some 6,500 bottles produced.”
 
Sierra Cantabria Finca El Bosque Rioja 2019 750ml $139 special, 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.

Terroir Al Limit Les Tosses Priorat 2014 750ml $219 special, 7 bottles available
Wine Advocate 98 Points “Already bottled in June 2016, slightly earlier as it usually spends two years in foudre to avoid excessive fatigue because of too much oxygen in the wine, the 2014 Les Tosses is pure Cariñena from an old vineyard on slate soils at some 650 meters altitude. There is none of the rusticity I often link to the grape, this is extremely floral and perfumed, with plenty of violets, a little earthy too. The palate is extremely balanced, and I don’t remember tannins as elegant as these in a Cariñena before. There is length, freshness and a very, very long finish. This might very well be the best vintage of Les Tosses so far. This wine feels very young and it’s a bit shy, but giving it time it is just amazing. It should be much better with a little more time in bottle. If you decide to pull the cork soon, make sure you give it some time to breathe. There are 1,946 bottles produced. The vineyard is almost two hectares, and Dominik Huber only used part of it for this bottling, and the rest goes to Torroja. But, his idea is to increase the volume so he’ll take longer to sell this vintage so he can keep the wine for one year longer in bottle before selling it. Smart thinking…”
 
Clos Erasmus Priorat 2019 750ml $228 special, 15 bottles available
Wine Advocate 98+ Points “The serious and powerful 2019 Clos Erasmus feels quite classical Priorat, with notes of graphite, black fruit and licorice; it’s a solid Priorat with weight, concentration and clout. There are still some smoke, toast and spice notes from the élevage—100% in barrel, some 40% of them new, for around 18 months—and the wine always needs a little bit of time in bottle. Despite the 15.5% alcohol, the wine comes through as balanced and with freshness, there is no heat or sensation of alcohol; you need the tannins and acidity to counterbalance the alcohol, and they are doing that here. This is more balsamic, aromatic and exuberant. It’s showy, hedonistic and rich, a solid Erasmus. The tannins are still quite present and need some more time to be resolved. 3,300 bottles were filled in May 2020.”

Bodegas Muga Aro 2019 750ml $349 special, 4 bottles available
Jeb Dunnuck 100 points “Pure magic, the 2019 Aro is 70% Tempranillo and 30% Graciano from a plant by plant selection of the Muga family’s oldest vines of Tempranillo, blended with a substantial portion of Graciano. This dense purple behemoth has a primordial bouquet of pure cassis, graphite, crushed stone, lead pencil, new leather, and hints of spring flowers. Building incrementally on the palate, with full-bodied richness, a huge mid-palate, and ripe, velvety tannins, this is one heavenly Rioja that deserves 7-8 years of bottle age and will age like a First Growth from Bordeaux. Hats off to the team at Muga for another incredible wine.”
 

Hidden Gems
Some great bottles lurking the Vinopolis shelves 
Triennes Sainte Fleur Viognier IGP 2020 750ml $18 special, 36+ bottles available
Two of Burgundy’s greatest names – Jacques Seysses, founder of Domaine Dujac, and Aubert de Villaine, co-owner of Domaine de la Romanée-Conti – are the partners behind this pioneering property in Provence, northeast of Marseille and due east of Aix-en-Provence. In less than two decades, they have transformed this stunning 46-hectare site into one of the top wine estates in Southern France.
Moillard Bourgogne Aligote 2021 750ml $19.50 special, 36+ bottles available
“The other White Burgundy.” Aligote is a fresh, slightly herbal white grape that that likely evolved from Pinot Noir. It’s been a small prescence in Burgundy for  It’s pretty fantastic as a pairing for seafood and pork.
Bow & Arrow Rhinestones Red 2021 750ml $21.90 special, 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. We follow this stricture with all the Pinot and Gamay fruit we source from Johan Vineyard. 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.”

Special 3 Day Collector’s Sale
Bond Estates
 
“Critics say Napa has an ego. But what it really has is a gargantuan appetite for life and a palpable hunger for success.”

-Karen MacNeill, The Wine Bible

After his first winery (Harlan Estates) became a critical and financial success, Bill Harlan began Bond Estates to focus exclusively on high quality single vineyard bottlings from five vineyards: Melbury, Quella, St. Eden, Vecina, and Pluribus. Calling them his “Grand Crus,” each wine is crafted as a celebration of the unique characteristics of each vineyard.

Ego or not, the wines of Bond Estates are made to last. Bill Harlan, the owner, thinks in the long-term, having purchased his winery and vineyards thinking of his children and grandchildren and preserving the character of the Napa Valley long into the future. It’s a 200 year plan, he says.

For three days only we’re offering these wines on sale. Sale ends Thursday at 6pm

Buy 1-2 bottles 5%
Buy 3+ bottles 10%
 
This is first come / first served and limited to stock on hand.
Discount will not display online, we will adjust your invoice before charging your card.
 
Vintage Wine Points Price/Quantity
2003   Melbury 750ml 97 points Wine Advocate $449 special, 6 bottles
2015   Melbury 750ml 98 points Vinous $649 special, 1 bottle
2018   Melbury 750ml 98 points Vinous $819 special, 1 bottle
2010 Melbury 1.5L 98+ Points Robert Parker $849 special, 1 bottle
2015 Quella 750ml 97 points Vinous $649 special, 1 bottle
2018 Quella 750ml 97 points Vinous $819 special, 1 bottle
2015 St Eden 750ml 100 points Dunnuck $699 special, 1 bottle
2018 St Eden 750ml 97 points Vinous $819 special, 1 bottle
2003 Vecina 750ml 96+ points Wine Advocate $379 special, 5 bottles
2018 Vecina 750ml 99 points Vinous $819 special, 1 bottle
2003 Pluribus 750ml 98 points Wine Advocate $399 special, 4 bottles
2012 Pluribus 750ml 97 points Vinous $419 special, 1 bottle
2018 Pluribus 750ml 99 points Vinous $819 special, 1 bottle
 
We’re open 10 AM – 6 PM daily
Order Online / By Phone / By Email
Thank you from the team at Vinopolis!
Be well & drink well.
 
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